Trump

[rstrong]

We're told not to judge someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes. So you should spend an hour on a scooter at Walmart before judging a Trump supporter.

[billy.pilgrim]

We're told not to judge someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes. So you should spend an hour on a scooter at Walmart before judging a Trump supporter.

Nah, my dumb-o-meter has super far-sight, I can get a pretty good reading from the street

[GoCubsGo]

Makes me proud of my country.....

https://www.yahoo.com/style/donald-trum ... 00927.html

[Vrede too]

So, a lot of cons are saying that Trump's intent from the start was to hand the WH to Hillary, or at least a Dem, and destroy the GOP. Tin foil hat stuff, I know, but if that was his scheme would he have done anything differently?

[billy.pilgrim]

So, a lot of cons are saying that Trump's intent from the start was to hand the WH to Hillary, or at least a Dem, and destroy the GOP. Tin foil hat stuff, I know, but if that was his scheme would he have done anything differently?

Cons will believe anything, but it was Bill's idea and Bill is a pretty smart guy.

[O Really]

So, a lot of cons are saying that Trump's intent from the start was to hand the WH to Hillary, or at least a Dem, and destroy the GOP. Tin foil hat stuff, I know, but if that was his scheme would he have done anything differently?

Probably. I don't think there's any rational person in the world (except maybe Trump himself) who would have thought this plan had any chance to succeed. For Trump to throw the election (by whatever means) he has to get the nomination, which now he will, but seriously, who woulda thunk it?

[billy.pilgrim]

So, a lot of cons are saying that Trump's intent from the start was to hand the WH to Hillary, or at least a Dem, and destroy the GOP. Tin foil hat stuff, I know, but if that was his scheme would he have done anything differently?

Probably. I don't think there's any rational person in the world (except maybe Trump himself) who would have thought this plan had any chance to succeed. For Trump to throw the election (by whatever means) he has to get the nomination, which now he will, but seriously, who woulda thunk it?

when he entered the race I told my wife to remember the governator before you credit the right with the intelligence required to distinguish fictional characters from real people

[O Really]

So, a lot of cons are saying that Trump's intent from the start was to hand the WH to Hillary, or at least a Dem, and destroy the GOP. Tin foil hat stuff, I know, but if that was his scheme would he have done anything differently?

Probably. I don't think there's any rational person in the world (except maybe Trump himself) who would have thought this plan had any chance to succeed. For Trump to throw the election (by whatever means) he has to get the nomination, which now he will, but seriously, who woulda thunk it?

when he entered the race I told my wife to remember the governator before you credit the right with the intelligence required to distinguish fictional characters from real people

Him, plus Jesse the Body, Bonzo, Sonny without Cher, lot of fictional people have won office. But really, most of them won in pretty traditional means and other than using the value of their famousosity, weren't particularly outrageous. But another difference is that the others really were what their fictional character appeared. Reagan really was an actor, Jesse a real entertainment wrestler, Sonny a real musical act. But Trump isn't even what he claims to be in real life.

[neoplacebo]

I still don't really think they'll give him the nomination.

[rstrong]

I still don't really think they'll give him the nomination.

At this point they have little choice. They've painted themselves into a corner.

As McCain lost and then Romney, Cruz, Palin and the Tea Partiers switched from being anti-Washington Establishment to being anti-Republican Establishment. They set up web sites and collected funds not to replace Democrats, but to replace "RINOs" - any Republican who would compromise on budget issues and act like adults. With Fox News backing them all the way, because impotent right-wing rage got higher ratings than actual conservativism.

Even the second-place finisher, Cruz, made "anti-Republican Establishment" his personal brand.

Trump has a clear mandate from Republican voters. Deny him the nomination, and the party proves every anti-Republican Establishment conspiracy theory.

I see three possible outcomes:

1) They deny Trump the nomination. THIS election the Tea Partiers form their own "REAL" Republican party. It's only a matter of whether Trump leads it. But they split the vote, and Hillary wins. Like the Canada's Reform Party, the Tea Partiers get far more press for the next four years than adult conservatives. And so in the next election the remaining Republicans cross over to the Tea Party.

2) They deny Trump the nomination. Tea partiers stay home or vote for a third party. Hillary wins. Option 1) happens, just a few months later.

3) They allow Trump the nomination. Hillary wins. Trump is no longer a winner. The rhetoric that got him into the nomination - whether from him or Cruz or Huckabee or the others - is no longer a winner. Only a few leave the party. The Republican Party lives.

Option 3 - letting the fringe burn itself out - seems the only rational option for the Republican Party at this point. Hillary is essentially a pre-2008 Republican anyway, so she'll make a few pre-election deals with Republican legislators and funders in return for their less than enthusiastic Trump support.

[neoplacebo]

I will take what's behind door number 2......your option 2 is what I think will happen.

[O Really]

I don't think the Klown Kar Konductors could pull off denying him the nomination. If they could organize a strong and united front; if they could take a public stand to say Trump's a ridiculous caricature of a bad politician; if they could agree that he's unacceptable, well, maybe. Brings up the thought about "if" wishes were diamonds...yada.

[Vrede too]

The problem with denying him the nomination is that they'll need some sacrificial lamb willing to take all the vitriol from the butthurt Trumpettes and s/he will still lose badly thanks to the chaos. I wouldn't bet the farm on it, but I'll go for the GOP giving him the nomination, blaming him and his Trumpettes for the crushing Nov. defeat that's likely to happen, regardless, then trying to rebuild the party without quite so much crazy in it. We'll see.

[O Really]

The problem with denying him the nomination is that they'll need some sacrificial lamb willing to take all the vitriol from the butthurt Trumpettes and s/he will still lose badly thanks to the chaos. I wouldn't bet the farm on it, but I'll go for the GOP giving him the nomination, blaming him and his Trumpettes for the crushing Nov. defeat that's likely to happen, regardless, then trying to rebuild the party without quite so much crazy in it. We'll see.

The crazy faction, like the Taliban and those the crazies refer to as "radical Islam" aren't going to change. They can only be contained, avoided, or beat down until, like old Auschwitz guards, they die out.

[Vrede too]

"beat down" is essentially what I meant. Either the GOP does that or it will keep losing.

[Vrede too]

http://act.freepress.net/sign/journ_cnn ... 021.6a6KKR

Trump’s former campaign manager :?: :?: :?:

[Vrede too]

Trump has "pulled the sheet off the Republican Party".

-- Charlie Rangel

Great line.

[billy.pilgrim]

Trump has "pulled the sheet off the Republican Party".

-- Charlie Rangel

Great line.

And by doing so have increased their base.

Like it or not there will be a president trumpshit

[Vrede too]

Well, aren't you the bluebird of happiness, billy.pilgrim.

[O Really]

Maybe increased their visible (or admitted) base by a little, but the Trumpster isn't converting anybody who'd have voted Dem anyway. And he has no means of making sure his fans actually show up (with properly issued photo ID, of course). Despite the media effort to try to keep up the appearance of a horse race going, there will be no President Trumpshit. As to "like it or not" I'll take "not." As will over 300 electoral voters.