Frankly, after failing to make it to the grownups' stage, the other losers who participated in the second 'kiddies' debate should fold up their tents and pack it in like Perry had the sense, surprisingly enough, to do...
Analysis of date here highly flawed ... coincidence does NOT imply causation!
Christie, for instance, lost supporters because of events in NJ -- more Bridge-gate disclosures, recent Port Authority/United scandal news, and declining conditions in NJ that have been widely reported nationally.
Christie simply LOST support of people, who then -- more or less coincidentally -- say they supported Trump. These people had to indicate SOME preference then and indicated Trump.
Christie, for instance, lost supporters because of events in NJ -- more Bridge-gate disclosures, recent Port Authority/United scandal news, and declining conditions in NJ that have been widely reported nationally.
Christie simply LOST support of people, who then -- more or less coincidentally -- say they supported Trump. These people had to indicate SOME preference then and indicated Trump.
3
Following Mr Trump's recent meeting with Reince Priebus, many assume that a back-room RNC agreement has promised Donald Trump the VP slot on the GOP ticket no matter which other is chosen as their presidential candidate.
1
Who would accept Mr. Trump as a running mate? You would have to be insane to do so. The VP is supposed to assist the president, or at least seem to, not the other way around, especially on the Republican side. Hence, Spiro Agnew, Dan Quayle, Dick Cheney, GHW Bush. No danger of any of those VP's upstaging the president at the time. Why would Mr. Trump want to be vice-president? Has he ever wanted to be #2 to anyone? Why would he suddenly change his mindset about life now in his late 60's? Finally, the RNC doesn't have the power to promise any position to anyone, except as an employee of the RNC. Can you imagine the rather inconsequential Reince Priebus trying to foist a running mate on the delegates at the convention whom the presidential candidate doesn't want? No, we'd best focus on the possibility that Mr. Trump will be the presidential nominee and imagine a world with a possible Pres. Trump...and cringe.
4
How many Trump fans would feel comfortable knowing the Donald has his finger on the nuke button?
2
So few people watch CNN, I wonder what the surveyed people based their decision on. Facts from where? They don't read the newspapers, either.
Mary Matilin wants all the Repub candidates to be more like Trump. This is surely a sign that James is winning his personal battle of the sexes. And yes the Conventional Wisdom crowd wish Kasich had announced much earlier. It would be so much more comforting to know that everyone, not just illegal aliens & other undesirables, would be treated the same by the Bosses... as in poorly. Don't kid yourself, all the clowns are basically the same, scratched or otherwise.
1
Yet another football-like analysis of players and which ones are winning against whom where, which tells the public little and implies that democracy should be thought of as little more than a game where any real analysis of what's going on politically in the country can be avoided. Coverage of politics in this country should focus on following the money, but it hardly ever does.
4
The Trump phenomenon is truly a gift from God for those of us trying to understand how so many poor, working class, and middle class white people could be voting for republican candidates whose ultra-free market and supply side "voodoo" economic policies are not aligned with the needs of these folks.
This phenomenon was dissected years ago with the classic "What is Wrong With Kansas" which tried to understand Republican ascendancy through examining their clever manipulation of the culture wars. Trump continues to march on with divisiveness (immigration, American exceptional ism) but apparently has not drunk the economic Kool-Aid the party elites binge on.
He has suggested that (gasp) the wealthy in certain cases could pay more in taxes or that we use tax policy to control the behavior of American corporations. His views are well known to the base, they are brought up repeatedly by his adversaries but he continues to lead.
Donald Trump represents an existential threat to the Republican party not because of the hateful views he has of Latinos but because he is exposing how little the base cares about the economic dogma the ultra-billionaires who now control the party insist upon. Donald Trump is showing us how shamefully the Republican party has exploited our "us vs. them" nature to further enrich the most privileged members of our country.
Today we have Trump who is not
This phenomenon was dissected years ago with the classic "What is Wrong With Kansas" which tried to understand Republican ascendancy through examining their clever manipulation of the culture wars. Trump continues to march on with divisiveness (immigration, American exceptional ism) but apparently has not drunk the economic Kool-Aid the party elites binge on.
He has suggested that (gasp) the wealthy in certain cases could pay more in taxes or that we use tax policy to control the behavior of American corporations. His views are well known to the base, they are brought up repeatedly by his adversaries but he continues to lead.
Donald Trump represents an existential threat to the Republican party not because of the hateful views he has of Latinos but because he is exposing how little the base cares about the economic dogma the ultra-billionaires who now control the party insist upon. Donald Trump is showing us how shamefully the Republican party has exploited our "us vs. them" nature to further enrich the most privileged members of our country.
Today we have Trump who is not
9
Nobody hurt the Republican candidates, but themselves. They are so pathetic so mean-spirited and intellectually challenged that a straw would have blown them away, period. The crowd they try to appeal to has more integrity than they do. At least they are what they claim to be. I find Donald Trump hard to swallow at times but respect him for exposing them for who they are, inept demagogues. Donald Trump is so smart he didn't spend a dime on advertising. He got millions of dollars worth of coverage for free. If he can do this I believe that he can actually make Mexico pay for the wall . If he's elected president and if the House of Representatives and the Senate reclaimed their Democratic base he will do a lot for this country. He has proven to be far more resilient than all the predictions put fourth by the press and political analysts. He will probably move to the commonsense center. After all he is a pragmatist. The American people made it clear that the issues that matter to them is putting an end to illegal immigration, bringing back manufacturing to the US, negotiating better trade deals and rebuilding the middle class. Not as a promissory note, but for real. Whether we vote for him or a Democrat the issues that matter to us are clearly stated . Going against this trend will be suicidal for any person elected to the highest office.
4
None of the Republican candidates are qualified to be President. They basically are in lockstep about a return to the fiscally ruinous policy of gearing tax rates overwhelmingly for the benefit of the most wealthy among us, want to re-engage military forces in unwinnable and unaffordable conflicts in the Middle East, and ignore the greatest threat our civilization and economy faces: climate change.
Not even the famously named John Ellis Bush is qualified. He was a governor, like Kasich, Walker, Jindal, Christie, and Huckabee, but the cost of his supply-side style of governing Florida was concealed by a housing boom. He is rigidly conservative on social issues, like almost everyone running for the GOP, and he is, to put it bluntly, a stiff on the stump.
Christie is a crook, Walker is a puppet of rich people who think the way to make America prosper is to pay people less for their work, Rubio is an empty suit, Cruz is a dangerous theocrat and an egotistical jerk who can't get along with anyone, Huckabee thinks that the Bible is the law and that evangelical "Christian" dogma should be the basis of all policy, and Paul looks lost and is only libertarian when it does not involve the fave social issues of the "Christians."
Fiorina nearly wrecked HP, Santorum is a right-wing ideologue who is obsessed with gay people, and Kasich is basically a John Birch Society kind of guy who shares Walker's hatred of a fair wage.
Jindal is a disaster for Louisiana.
Run, Joe, Run.
Not even the famously named John Ellis Bush is qualified. He was a governor, like Kasich, Walker, Jindal, Christie, and Huckabee, but the cost of his supply-side style of governing Florida was concealed by a housing boom. He is rigidly conservative on social issues, like almost everyone running for the GOP, and he is, to put it bluntly, a stiff on the stump.
Christie is a crook, Walker is a puppet of rich people who think the way to make America prosper is to pay people less for their work, Rubio is an empty suit, Cruz is a dangerous theocrat and an egotistical jerk who can't get along with anyone, Huckabee thinks that the Bible is the law and that evangelical "Christian" dogma should be the basis of all policy, and Paul looks lost and is only libertarian when it does not involve the fave social issues of the "Christians."
Fiorina nearly wrecked HP, Santorum is a right-wing ideologue who is obsessed with gay people, and Kasich is basically a John Birch Society kind of guy who shares Walker's hatred of a fair wage.
Jindal is a disaster for Louisiana.
Run, Joe, Run.
26
Sharp and to the point. Breathtakingly true. Thanks for Speaking your mind openly. Great summary.
7
Wow! An excellent analysis of the Republican Party. Thank you. And I agree with the author, Run, Joe, Run. You may be our savior.
3
"Is there anyone in either party who is qualified to lead this country forward?"
Obviously, after the Buffoon implodes, Santorum will pick up the pieces. The saga continues.
Well, Trump provides a new meaning to the "Whig" party.
9
Trump is proving that the USA may not be ready for democracy.
20
Good riddance to Rick Perry, the only Texas Republican who is less intelligent than George W. Bush. Whomever we elect, an ignorant theocrat or hick preacher who ignores science would be the worst possible choice. I dislike Trump with a passion, but his divorce of religion and politics is the most compelling thing about him.
31
Touche. Well said and my sentiments echoed precisely.
6
This list of people who want to lead our country is frightening: Carson, Fiorina, Cruz . . . Walker want to build a wall between us and Canada. Huckabee is treating criminal Kim Davis as a religious persecution victim . . .
Does anyone see the President of the United States amongst these people? Adding Trump to the mix does nothing more than turn up the volume of a bad broadcast.
The scariest aspect is that no one is asking these admirers to get serious because they already are.
Does anyone see the President of the United States amongst these people? Adding Trump to the mix does nothing more than turn up the volume of a bad broadcast.
The scariest aspect is that no one is asking these admirers to get serious because they already are.
19
Who would you rather make a deal Hilary, Jeb or Trump...HA! Being arrogant, selfish, and rude will prove enough to be victorious in 2016. Trump's marketing budget will consist of every news station that puts his one liner's on the 10pm across the country. Racist and ignorant comments will appeal to small towns in key states that will be sufficient to swing the door open for Trump to walk through. Like it or not, he says things that appeal to voters who hide in the shadows looking for someone with enough moxie to take no prisoners and equally offend every race along the way.
5
Amid that welter of statistics, I couldn't find a clear statement of which candidates were hurt most by Donald Trump. Could someone enlighten me with a simple 1 to x statement?
1
I have a theory on where the Trump bump came from. I observed this theory after hearing a number of my neighbors say they could vote for him as President (to my disbelief).
There was a week or two where a perfect storm gave a major hit to right wing ideology.
-The South Carolina murders of 9 black Christians by a young racist with a confederate flag.
-The Obama eulogy pointing out the latent and pervasive racism still alive in our country.
-The Supreme Court rulings on Obama care, gay marriage and gerrymandering.
-The banning of flying the Confederate flag in public places.
Many on the right felt low, very low, similar to when Romney lost in 2012.
And right then Trump appeared with his narrow minded rant on immigrants that went viral. It was lightning in a bottle for Trump. And it's still on a roll. The other candidates had no idea what hit them or how to respond.
There was a week or two where a perfect storm gave a major hit to right wing ideology.
-The South Carolina murders of 9 black Christians by a young racist with a confederate flag.
-The Obama eulogy pointing out the latent and pervasive racism still alive in our country.
-The Supreme Court rulings on Obama care, gay marriage and gerrymandering.
-The banning of flying the Confederate flag in public places.
Many on the right felt low, very low, similar to when Romney lost in 2012.
And right then Trump appeared with his narrow minded rant on immigrants that went viral. It was lightning in a bottle for Trump. And it's still on a roll. The other candidates had no idea what hit them or how to respond.
9
When Lee Atwater convinced the Republican Party to adopt the Southern Strategy, he made a deal with the Devil. By pandering to the Religious Right, Karl Rove ran up the tab. Now it looks like Old Scratch has come around to collect the bill.
14
@HANBARBARA
Many thanks for reminding the short-memory voters of Lee Atwater, who made that infamous deal with the Devil and then lived to confess his great sin on his deathbed. The man who made the deal ended up repudiating it, but Old Scratch makes his/her own rules.
By the way, as a card-carrying Olde Fogey, I am reminded of the great Hanna Barbera cartoons by the possibly-coincidental resemblance tof your screen name :-)
Many thanks for reminding the short-memory voters of Lee Atwater, who made that infamous deal with the Devil and then lived to confess his great sin on his deathbed. The man who made the deal ended up repudiating it, but Old Scratch makes his/her own rules.
By the way, as a card-carrying Olde Fogey, I am reminded of the great Hanna Barbera cartoons by the possibly-coincidental resemblance tof your screen name :-)
This suggests that Trump is winning the "swagger" contest, while Kasich is leading on the thinker factor. If this were the Miss America contest and swagger equates to the bikini contest, it looks like Trump can coast to victory.
1
It's beyond my comprehension how any voter with a heart and a brain could support ANY of these candidates. I've voted for Republicans in the past, but this crowd is the worst I can remember...and I'm not young.
20
Professor Vavreck notes "the importance of news media coverage in shaping people’s choices." Coverage of what? People like to back a winner. This entire article is about the Republican candidates' popularity relative to each other and that is all. This kind of coverage is what convinces egomaniacs that they are "presidential." Spare me. Put your findings where they belong, on the sports page.
8
I read this after writing my own comment, and find it interesting the others have also noticed the great similarity between media coverage of electoral politicals and sports. Sports is a game and coverage of it can be superficial - mostly people just care about the game and who wins or loses. Democracy shouldn't be. These candidates all have almost exactly the same message, and spending so much time on which one of the 15 or more of them is winning where (which the Times and MSNBC have done recently) tells the public almost nothing and avoids the analysis of their financial supporters, who are the real "players" and who manage to stay out of the "news".
4
The Presidency of George Bush Jr. heralded a new day in politics: a President can start a war based entirely on lies, and be reelected. That was a first in this country. Even President Johnson, as he led us down the path to war in 1965, had as least a few bits of reality on his side. Unlike Bush Jr. he felt responsible for his error, and did not seek reelection. But President Trump will create a new milestone in this age of Presidency By Utter Fabrication. He makes claims he neither understands, nor intends to make good on. News agencies and blogs report all he says, with a wink and a nod that it's all in good fun, just entertainment. Those who rally to him don't particularly believe him, either, but enjoy giving a kick in the pants to the more serious candidates. But by the time the newspapers and blogs are done milking the Trump Spectacle, all other serious candidates will have faded and withered away.
19
But by the time the newspapers and blogs are done milking the Trump Spectacle, all other serious candidates will have faded and withered away.
What other serious candidate are there on the Republican side?
What other serious candidate are there on the Republican side?
I believe Trump never imagined he would lead the GOP polls, nor that he was ever a serious candidate. I believe he and Roger Ailes merely wished to add some spice to the GOP primaries.
The real test will come during the large state primaries. In 2008 nearly twice as many democrats voted in primaries as republicans (for their respective candidates, of course) If the Trump parade leads to greater numbers of Republicans voting in the primaries, then he will have done his job.
And, don't worry, he will find a way to extricate himself from the race.
What is scary is after one removes the people without experience or brains from the race, there is little left. And, who is going to get excited about Bush/Kasich after you've seen the Trump?
The real test will come during the large state primaries. In 2008 nearly twice as many democrats voted in primaries as republicans (for their respective candidates, of course) If the Trump parade leads to greater numbers of Republicans voting in the primaries, then he will have done his job.
And, don't worry, he will find a way to extricate himself from the race.
What is scary is after one removes the people without experience or brains from the race, there is little left. And, who is going to get excited about Bush/Kasich after you've seen the Trump?
4
Reading this report about the GOP ' race' sends me to the bottle and then a cold shower.
7
The GOP is the party of sneering plutocrats, a party that holds a large proportion of americans in contempt (ie takers). Just look at them ... Boehner, McConnell, Paul, Cruz, and now Trump. They always have sneers on their faces as they speak, as if they distain everything around them and even what they´re saying. There is no conviction or sincerity in their delivery. They always comes off as artificial and contrived. O villains, villains, smiling, damnèd villains!
23
All of this data underscores the irrationality of employing simple plurality to determine a single winner among 17 candidates. The parties should be using instant runoff ballots to determine the ranked preferences of voters, which would make it more difficult for someone like Trump to win (because you need to attract 2nd and 3rd preferences to be successful, which isn't accomplished by ridiculing your opponents).
Read more about it here: https://americanirrationalism.wordpress.com/
Read more about it here: https://americanirrationalism.wordpress.com/
1
That's all fine but it doesn't address a major problem. This is a large, diverse country and we get a choice between only two candidates. We get lots of choices when it comes to jelly beans though.
Put aside the bombast. What if Donald really did raise taxes on the barons of Wall St.? What if he actually toughened our trade deals with China, who are pegging their currency illegally, and stopped the flow of illegal immigrants who have done much to push out of the labor market our less educated and less skilled citizens. Those actions would do a lot to tighten labor markets resulting in higher wages.
A populist GOP President who takes on the religious zealots and the billionaire propaganda machine could be a pretty good thing. His path to the nomination of zenophobia and race hate is an unfortunate but necessary evil, much like the democratic nominee having to give the store to the government unions and appease the fake liberals.
A populist GOP President who takes on the religious zealots and the billionaire propaganda machine could be a pretty good thing. His path to the nomination of zenophobia and race hate is an unfortunate but necessary evil, much like the democratic nominee having to give the store to the government unions and appease the fake liberals.
3
Sure and what if he gave everyone a pony and declared that Christmas would happen every week?! Voting is an important decision, it's not a time to indulge in childish fantasies.
8
I took the time to look at his past large donations to democratic candidates, his past statements supporting universal healthcare, his anti-gun and hunting comments, support for higher taxes and lack of religious extremism.
Those who are caught up in the bombast of the day are sorely lacking in historical perspective both about his past record and how primaries are won. The luckiest thing to happen to democrats is he winning the nomination.
Those who are caught up in the bombast of the day are sorely lacking in historical perspective both about his past record and how primaries are won. The luckiest thing to happen to democrats is he winning the nomination.
Of course this is really and actually nonsense. Since when is xenophobia and race hat necessary. One might appease a real liberal not a fake liberal.
3
Perhaps Trump is exactly what our times call for, post Citizens United. The two parties furiously trying to amass more money for ads while he gets free press every time he opens his mouth. Money can't buy everything, & he's showing it.
His candidacy is the best case for Campaign Finance Reform that could be made. Even the GOP might agree after this Trump season.
His candidacy is the best case for Campaign Finance Reform that could be made. Even the GOP might agree after this Trump season.
8
The scary thing is that Trump actually appeared more reasonable than many if not most of the Republicans with whom he shared the stage on Debate Night One. He's not ranting on and on about ending women's right to choose; he's not talking about ripping up the deal with Iran as soon as he gets into office. And he does take swipes at the extraordinary power of money to influence what goes on in this country. For all of his bombast and showmanship, he seems less unreasonable than many of the others.
16
Who were these 1418 people, and how were they chosen? Wouldn't the margin of error, even if they were demographically indistinguishable from likely voters, run nearly 4%?
1
Even more embarrassing for Christie, half of his supporters who defected to Trump were family.
9
While I find Trump to be racist and misogynistic, there is one aspect to his campaign that attracts me as an independent: his attack on the billionaire-funded super-PAC supported candidates that are making a total mockery of claims that America is a democracy. When 300 families control the nomination process, our nation is in serious trouble. The gridlock at the Federal Elections Commission is frightening. Maybe Trump's campaign like a strong wind from a dairy farm will motivate the members of the FEC to do something to control the super-PACs.
16
Both the Republican and the Democratic party elites have created this situation. For 30 years, labor rights, science research, fair wages, environmental protection, safety, health care, education, and the other bread and butter issues that the government is supposed to support have steadily eroded. The American people can see, very clearly, that neither of the establishments works hard to protect the best interests of the people because they rake in money from lobbyists, pacs, corporations, and special interests. Both parties have either actively or passively undermined, in vote after vote, policy after policy, the best interests of the American people.
It is no wonder that when Donald Trump calls out the rest of the Republican field for their acceptance of bribes that people respond. It is no wonder that Bernie Sanders fills stadiums. And while Donald Trump calls women names, the rest of the Republican field works day and night to deny women agency over their own bodies.
If the party establishments want to remain relevant, they need to take a good hard look in the mirror and ask themselves why millions of Americans of both parties are so angry, scared, and frustrated. Then they need to ask themselves how they personally contributed to this situation with their votes, their diffidence, their ignorance...
It is no wonder that when Donald Trump calls out the rest of the Republican field for their acceptance of bribes that people respond. It is no wonder that Bernie Sanders fills stadiums. And while Donald Trump calls women names, the rest of the Republican field works day and night to deny women agency over their own bodies.
If the party establishments want to remain relevant, they need to take a good hard look in the mirror and ask themselves why millions of Americans of both parties are so angry, scared, and frustrated. Then they need to ask themselves how they personally contributed to this situation with their votes, their diffidence, their ignorance...
23
This is a false equivalency. It is very clear which party supports women's rights, labor rights, science, health care, education, etc. No serious Democratic politician questions any of these concerns.
But yes, people definitely need to vote. If they don't like the candidate on an individual basis, they should vote on policy issues and keep in mind that the Supreme Court is at stake.
But yes, people definitely need to vote. If they don't like the candidate on an individual basis, they should vote on policy issues and keep in mind that the Supreme Court is at stake.
5
Yes, Mann and Ornstein have clearly shown how this type of false equivalency is just that ... false!
It's interesting that among all GOP candidates, Kasich supporters are the most loyal. That suggests they've thought about it and are convinced the party has no one better. They're not driven by fickle emotions like others in the GOP base are. It is also interesting because Kasich is clearly the most realistic and level-headed candidate among a collection of crackpots, bomb throwers and moon barkers. I'm not a republican but I would love to see Kasich make a race of it, if only to prove that basic facts and plain reason can survive the GOP nomination process.
9
Good luck with that. Every analyst and PR firm on the Republican payroll knows that appealing to reasonable, intelligent people is a losing strategy for this party. Even Steve Schmidt said during the 08 election contest that if the election is about real "issues" then the Republican party will surely lose. This prospect is even worse now given the shifting demographics and the populace, and to win any substantial amount of support from voters, the party must appeal to racists and nativists, since most people are registered as democratic voters or lean that way, to say nothing of the substantial advantage that the democratic party now has in the electoral college system, where they will get almost 2/3 of the electoral vote in this country without having to convince too many people of anything.
I would love to believe the Democrats have an electoral advantage but I won't be convinced until they control congress and the White House. Republican operatives are masters of gerrymandering and election rigging, and the Supreme Court is on their side in all things political, so Democratic victory far from assured.
Strange article. Original data was collected in June. Who was paying to the presidential election then? What is important is not only whose votes were "stolen," but also whose message was drowned out, i.e., whose potential growth was squelched. I think that Rick Perry and Chris Christie imploded on their own, and Trump was just there to pick up the pieces. On the other hand, Trump obviously stole a lot of thunder away from Scott Walker, and turned him from a leading candidate into an also-ran.
3
No doubt it was too late for Rick Perry to stake out moderate positions. However, he did try but his appeals for a more humane and rational policy approach fell on deaf ears. His exit speech was a fine one where he defended immigrants and attacked divisive Republican politicians. He said, "We cannot indulge nativist appeals that divide the nation further."
The Mad Haters Tea Party has dived head first down the rabbit hole in search of their very White Rabbit.
The Mad Haters Tea Party has dived head first down the rabbit hole in search of their very White Rabbit.
9
Trump is hurting America! He spews disparaging comments during his campaign speeches and does not deal with issues. The only issue is himself! But what is worst is that the major cable media give these speeches prime time breaking news status while Trump is talking about himself, denigrating the US President who has a very high approval rating overall (and I am not a fan of Obama), calling legislators elected by the people of this country "stupid" and stating that people who voted for them are "losers."
These rating stunts or whatever this strategy is to help Trump distract Americans from the business of this nation currently is hurting America. The rest of the world is supposed to take America seriously when this is how the democratic process is unfolding; this is where the interests of the US stand presently with so much turmoil and devastation in many countries (some of which America has had its hand in)? The "huge" polls and numbers for Trump representing one party in the nation gets all of this attention-- really its Trump about Trump. He said it, "it's all Trump all the time." It's about the country; it's not about the ratings.
Enough already! Trump sees and feels nothing is amazing other than himself and what he is doing. America can't win with this person. Americans that are chasing his persona may also be hurting America. It hurts to know that the state of America is about this self-serving individual pandering to his own interest with a self-inflated ego.
These rating stunts or whatever this strategy is to help Trump distract Americans from the business of this nation currently is hurting America. The rest of the world is supposed to take America seriously when this is how the democratic process is unfolding; this is where the interests of the US stand presently with so much turmoil and devastation in many countries (some of which America has had its hand in)? The "huge" polls and numbers for Trump representing one party in the nation gets all of this attention-- really its Trump about Trump. He said it, "it's all Trump all the time." It's about the country; it's not about the ratings.
Enough already! Trump sees and feels nothing is amazing other than himself and what he is doing. America can't win with this person. Americans that are chasing his persona may also be hurting America. It hurts to know that the state of America is about this self-serving individual pandering to his own interest with a self-inflated ego.
9
Hanna, while I agree with some of your points, I don't think you went far enough.
We, as a society, have allowed ourselves to become manipulated by a series of people who built an industry and a living around the entire election process. I'm not talking about the candidates, I'm talking about all the people behind the scenes manipulating them and the citizens of this country.
These people - the hidden manipulators - thrive on conflict, twisted messages, and insighting arguementative opposition to everything.
It's not just Trump. In fact, it's us. We let ourselves to be sucked into this situation when we abandoned our ability - and responsibility - to think for ourselves.
Regardless of which "side of the asile" we associate with, we have allowed ourselves to be fooled into thinking we must win at all costs, nobody else could possibility have a valuable idea, compromise is a sign of weakness and, nobody should ever say, "I'm not sure - I have to think about that."
Both parties are guilty here and while I still would not change our system of government for any other, we are approaching the point where we may have to begin thinking about doing just that - since this lunacy is unsustainable - with, or without The Donald.
We, as a society, have allowed ourselves to become manipulated by a series of people who built an industry and a living around the entire election process. I'm not talking about the candidates, I'm talking about all the people behind the scenes manipulating them and the citizens of this country.
These people - the hidden manipulators - thrive on conflict, twisted messages, and insighting arguementative opposition to everything.
It's not just Trump. In fact, it's us. We let ourselves to be sucked into this situation when we abandoned our ability - and responsibility - to think for ourselves.
Regardless of which "side of the asile" we associate with, we have allowed ourselves to be fooled into thinking we must win at all costs, nobody else could possibility have a valuable idea, compromise is a sign of weakness and, nobody should ever say, "I'm not sure - I have to think about that."
Both parties are guilty here and while I still would not change our system of government for any other, we are approaching the point where we may have to begin thinking about doing just that - since this lunacy is unsustainable - with, or without The Donald.
6
We have a Constitutional crisis given People United and rampant gerrymandering. We need a revolution, a bloodless one, to get money out of politics. Before we thank Trump, just consider how far his message would spread without his billions. He would just be crazy uncle Donald ranting at the holiday party.
America is now a plutocracy. We have to fix that and regain the sort of democracy that thrived briefly after WW II.
America is now a plutocracy. We have to fix that and regain the sort of democracy that thrived briefly after WW II.
You miss a simple point. He's not calling for war, and he's not backed by neocons who would do anything to avoid peace and keep as many war options on the table at all times as possible. Now, who is it that's hurting this country?
They surveyed 608 Republicans. Some of the candidates have barely measurable support in national polls. Do the math. It is not possible to draw meaningful conclusions from a survey that small. The story is absurd. A political science professor at UCLA ought to know better.
6
I agree. This article is embarrassing. By only using percentages (no numbers) for candidates who had very few votes to begin with in such a small sample, it attempts to draw conclusions that cannot be justified and tells us nothing useful.
3
So is Trump anything but a placeholder? Could he be changed out for just any bombastic, angry, racist, misogynistic bloviator? Or does he have some unquantifiable special sauce that many GOP-ers just can't quit?
I hope he's in it for the long haul. I like some of his ideas; single-payer healthcare, taxing hedge funds at higher rates, his stand on many social issues (before he changed them all to run as a Republican.) I want him to muddy the waters over there as much as possible- and then run third party when they throw him out.
I hope he's in it for the long haul. I like some of his ideas; single-payer healthcare, taxing hedge funds at higher rates, his stand on many social issues (before he changed them all to run as a Republican.) I want him to muddy the waters over there as much as possible- and then run third party when they throw him out.
8
I prefer the candidates with the smallest PACs. They are more likely to be professing what they think would be good for the nation, rather than what would be good for their donors.
5
I see two possible outcomes. In one, Trump doesn’t really want to be President; he wants the adulation of millions for pretending he wants to be President. Once he realizes he could actually be elected to do a job he would hate (he has far more latitude as CEO of his own company than he does working with, yeech, politicians), he walks away. Republicans pick an establishment candidate.
In the other, he goes through with it and wins the nomination. Hillary continues to sink but Biden is content to sit it out. Sanders ends up as the Democratic nominee. One or two of the Republican candidates, sensing the best opportunity in history for a third-party candidate, run as independents. In the Sanders-Trump faceoff, the nation sees record low turnout. With 40% of the vote, Sanders wins.
In the other, he goes through with it and wins the nomination. Hillary continues to sink but Biden is content to sit it out. Sanders ends up as the Democratic nominee. One or two of the Republican candidates, sensing the best opportunity in history for a third-party candidate, run as independents. In the Sanders-Trump faceoff, the nation sees record low turnout. With 40% of the vote, Sanders wins.
10
Our choices might be anger (Trump) vs. bitterness (Sanders)...
5
Please explain the bitterness of Bernie Sanders?
15
I think Steve is writing about Sanders' supporters. They are practically zealots.
Ummm. I like Sanders, I don't see myself as either bitter nor zealous.
I am rightfully frustrated and angry at the corruption of our political process and the steady erosion of the quality of life of this country as the gazillionaire class takes over (note how increasingly expensive it is just to pay the rent, go to school, have access to healthcare, etc have some meaningful security in old age while the roads and school buildings crumble, well- or at least decently-paid work disappears, as private debts balloon as the gazillionaire class gets yet another bone thrown its way for yet another tax cut (Jeb!), the police becoming the militarized defenders of plutocratic autocracy, as the legalized bribery of election rigging / buying continues, etc.
Sanders' platform of putting the US on a greater degree of political and economic equanimity hardly sounds like the campaign of an embittered or zealous class, which prefers something more politically extremist.
I am rightfully frustrated and angry at the corruption of our political process and the steady erosion of the quality of life of this country as the gazillionaire class takes over (note how increasingly expensive it is just to pay the rent, go to school, have access to healthcare, etc have some meaningful security in old age while the roads and school buildings crumble, well- or at least decently-paid work disappears, as private debts balloon as the gazillionaire class gets yet another bone thrown its way for yet another tax cut (Jeb!), the police becoming the militarized defenders of plutocratic autocracy, as the legalized bribery of election rigging / buying continues, etc.
Sanders' platform of putting the US on a greater degree of political and economic equanimity hardly sounds like the campaign of an embittered or zealous class, which prefers something more politically extremist.
5
Maybe or maybe just coincidence. Or bad polling, which is pretty epidemic these days. I always thought those two, plus Santorum & Huckabee, were the outliers, way behind Jindal or Kasich.
I think this analysis likely understates the real impact (so far) of Trump's candidacy on Jeb Bush. It's not just switchers who supported him earlier and now appear to have defected to Trump. It's also the support Bush could potentially have gained had Trump not emerged. Some of the defectors from Perry and Christie might conceivably have gone to Bush, but instead went to Trump. That, in my view, compounds the Trump effect on Jeb Bush, and should have been mentioned by the professor.
6
This is an important insight. Another would be that these percentages of supporters are meaningless for many of the candidates who start with such low numbers of supporters. Thus if you happen to have 5% of the total sample supporting you in a sample of about 1400-- that's a total of 70 voters. If you lose 20% that means 14 people switched. Can this be statistically significant? And several of these candidates hovered around 2% of the total
4
I'll tell you what Donald Trump has hurt the most. My feelings. How could such a great country produce such a horrible candidate.
34
George Bush was handed the office of POTUS once and served two terms. Talk about horrible candidates!! Look at what happened when that horrible candidate was elected.
13
George Bush was president for 8 years, his presidency caused seismic damage to this country and perhaps the whole world, Bush did not hurt your feelings?
12
This analysis seems to speak more to the weaknesses of the other candidates rather than the strength of Trump. Weaker candidates are going to lose more of their supporters than stronger candidates. What does the picture look like for those who changed their allegiance to, say Bush?
6
When our Founders were suspicious about democracy this is what they were worried about
34
Socrates said it was the least-bad of all the pretty terrible forms of government actually possible in the real world. At least a President Trump will have 2 other branches of govt. & 50 governors to contend with.
1
Socrates (nor Plato) never claimed this. You may be thinking of Winston Churchill:
“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”
In Plato's list of the 5 types of government from best to worst, democracy ranks near the bottom (as a type of mob rule):
1. Aristocracy (lit.: "the rule of the best"--with his philosopher kings, who are allowed no property and those with property cannot rule)
2. Timocracy (the quest for power and honor with no concern for civic duty)
3. Oligarchy (the rule of money when power and honor are seen as pitfalls to ruling)
4. Democracy (mob revolt over the former. Individual liberty as the satisfaction of base desires)
5. Tyranny (lawlessness)
It;s a sliding scale of how one form of governance can corrode into the one beneath it.
“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”
In Plato's list of the 5 types of government from best to worst, democracy ranks near the bottom (as a type of mob rule):
1. Aristocracy (lit.: "the rule of the best"--with his philosopher kings, who are allowed no property and those with property cannot rule)
2. Timocracy (the quest for power and honor with no concern for civic duty)
3. Oligarchy (the rule of money when power and honor are seen as pitfalls to ruling)
4. Democracy (mob revolt over the former. Individual liberty as the satisfaction of base desires)
5. Tyranny (lawlessness)
It;s a sliding scale of how one form of governance can corrode into the one beneath it.
Trump's hair is real. As I recall, many of those founders wore whigs.
The individual most negatively impacted by the Trump candidacy isn't listed in the chart: it's the voter.
48
Everything Trump is doing is a result of time-tested strategies of the GOP. W's team came up with dumb slogan upon dumb slogan, often printed many times on their backdrop. Insults and crossing the line? Lee Atwater. You think Trump is dumb? He's playing the party that doesn't believe in science and used fuzzy math. He is the devil spawn of 30 years of Republican policy, dating back to the doublespeak of another celebrity president who was senile.
49
One thing that all of this looniness may do is to convince people to actually vote in the primary. That is a good thing. Too bad it takes such bizarre behavior by a certain candidate to get the desired result.
13
I'd like to think that Jeb Bush has been hurt most by Trump's entry into the race. Trump's dislike of Bush is well known. The contrast between the two men is great. Entering a private sector based family business like Trump did is seen as perfectly fine by most Americans, especially conservatives.
But entering politics because that's basically your mediocre clan's family "business" just looks sad, especially when you're a bunch of conservative, warmongering reactionaries who wish to deprive low-income women of birth control and family planning services. I mean, Barack Obama's younger half-sister Maya Soetoro-Ng earned a PhD and made a name for herself entirely apart from her famous half-brother. Why the heck couldn't Jeb stay out of politics and do something in his own right?
But entering politics because that's basically your mediocre clan's family "business" just looks sad, especially when you're a bunch of conservative, warmongering reactionaries who wish to deprive low-income women of birth control and family planning services. I mean, Barack Obama's younger half-sister Maya Soetoro-Ng earned a PhD and made a name for herself entirely apart from her famous half-brother. Why the heck couldn't Jeb stay out of politics and do something in his own right?
40
You're right. He makes Bush look (even more) like a milquetoast -- something The Donald only points out every 2 hours or so.
7
Maybe because he is mediocrity personified.
I was at a family gathering last weekend at which a number of family members, who are Trump supporters, interrupted a conversation that I was having with my 92-year-old aunt, who is a Democrat, and a cousin, about the strengths and weaknesses of Hillary Clinton. The Trump defenders were loud, disruptive, and abusive -just like Trump. My family has blue-collar origins, but now includes many middle class professionals. Most of the guests at the gathering, however, were from white ethnic areas in Nassau and Suffolk counties, both Republican strongholds.
The Trump supporters made thinly-disguised racist comments about Barack Obama and immigrants, shouted down any effort to dispute their accusations with facts, insisted that Hillary's supporters were "socialists" and expressed admiration for Trump's so-called bluntness. When asked to define socialism, one, a woman in her 60s, replied, smirking, "giving things away." In other words, mention African-Americans, Latinos, or any project that is government-funded, and these people have been conditioned to have the Pavlovian response, "socialism." In fact, they wouldn't know a socialist if Eugene Debs materialized in their bedrooms.
These are Trump's supporters: racist, ignorant, angry, aggressive, unwilling to listen and unable to process. My aunt, cousin and I left the room (after I, I must admit, had stated some of the above). There is more at stake in this election than who will be President; these people are dangerous.
The Trump supporters made thinly-disguised racist comments about Barack Obama and immigrants, shouted down any effort to dispute their accusations with facts, insisted that Hillary's supporters were "socialists" and expressed admiration for Trump's so-called bluntness. When asked to define socialism, one, a woman in her 60s, replied, smirking, "giving things away." In other words, mention African-Americans, Latinos, or any project that is government-funded, and these people have been conditioned to have the Pavlovian response, "socialism." In fact, they wouldn't know a socialist if Eugene Debs materialized in their bedrooms.
These are Trump's supporters: racist, ignorant, angry, aggressive, unwilling to listen and unable to process. My aunt, cousin and I left the room (after I, I must admit, had stated some of the above). There is more at stake in this election than who will be President; these people are dangerous.
151
The followers of many movements are more dangerous than their leader. I like many things about Jesus, but his followers scare the crap out of me. Same applies to Trump -- he doesn't upset me -- but his followers sure make me think twice.
14
Re "When asked to define socialism, one, a woman in her 60s, replied, smirking, "giving things away.""
Fact: 1980-2005 80% of all income to top 1%. Metaphor: 100 people order a 100 sliced pizza, and when it arrives the 1st guy takes 80 slices. When suggested he just take 79 slices, that´s socialism.
Fact: 1980-2005 80% of all income to top 1%. Metaphor: 100 people order a 100 sliced pizza, and when it arrives the 1st guy takes 80 slices. When suggested he just take 79 slices, that´s socialism.
3
"These are Trump's supporters: racist, ignorant, angry, aggressive, unwilling to listen and unable to process. "
....and that my friends describes a huge .....and I would submit with the collapse of our education system and increasing dissolution of any kind of community (called 'social solidarity' in European politics) in this country... an ever growing portion of the American population.
As a long time French resident of the US once remarked to me during the Bush administration "In a democracy, a nation of idiots gets what it deserves.. an idiot for president".
....and that my friends describes a huge .....and I would submit with the collapse of our education system and increasing dissolution of any kind of community (called 'social solidarity' in European politics) in this country... an ever growing portion of the American population.
As a long time French resident of the US once remarked to me during the Bush administration "In a democracy, a nation of idiots gets what it deserves.. an idiot for president".
2
Since it is likely outsiders (Trump, Fiorina, Carson) will eventually crumble when voters turn serious, it seems likely Ted Cruz could be the main beneficiary as the most similar in tone and message but with at least one major statewide campaign under his belt.
2
Cruz is scarier than Trump.
3
Trump is popular with the same significant demographic that listens to Republican hate radio and watches Sean Hannity. Rush Limbaugh still seems a staunch supporter. Maybe, he recognizes a fellow b.s. artist? Anyway, Trumpism shouldn't be any surprise with this crowd. "Republican media", in James Joyce's words, is "the sow that eats it farrow."
49
There is a disconnect between the press, the parties and the average Joe. The press and the parties don't get it. We are sick and tired of being ignored and the only way out is to take the power away. Only Donald Trump can take the power from the party and the political elite. If that hurts the republican party, all the better. Now if we can find a similar person to do it to the democrats we'll see some positive changes. Trump's biggest asset? His assets. He doesn't have to do or say anything because the party demands it. Bernie Sanders will of course disappear if he doesn't make some nice noises about the democrats since they will control his campaign money.
7
There is a credible rumor that Trump is a closet socialist who is working as a mole within the Republican Party to destroy it. There are claims that he was a clandestine member of SDS in the 60's based on unsubstantiated documents. This rumor is as credible as anything Mr. Trump says.
15
If Trump is a closet socialist, a mole within the GOP, then I think I welcome the news because that would be good for 90% of the population!! And nothing like fighting from within which ensures certain, total victory. Not a bad outcome in the poisonous political milieu. jefflz I wish you had some substantiated documents.
3
I'm thinking maybe he plans on being a single-term president & will enact single payer & do other crazily sane things.
That's hilarious but, you're right, at least as credible!
I am a Democrat and my vote will happily go to Bernie Sanders. With his honest way of politicking the old-fashioned way, he could be a shot in the arm for our debased political system. But unfortunately for me, that is not going to happen. So just like the polls for the Republicans my loyalty would shift - to Trump! Let me clear, I detest the man. But I have to admit, that like Bernie Sanders he too is playing politics the old-fashioned way - minus big money, special interests or hostage to bizarre loyalties and getting media coverage FREE. With Trump what you see and hear is what you get ( however atrocious ). And most important he is taking on the Establishment unafraid. Who knows?He could be the lightening rod to jolt our corrupt political system.
8
Really? You are a Democrat but you would vote for this racist, misogynist man just because he doesn't try to hide these unforgivable traits? You would let this bully be in charge of the nuclear arsenal and trust him with foreign policy as well as expect him to do the right thing with regards to domestic policy? You really think HRC would be a worse alternative to Trump? With "Democrats" like you, we can expect Palin, Carson and the like to fill the SCOTUS positions that are likely to open up in the next four years. Marvellous.
1
So, if I read this correctly, Ben Carson would inherit and 18% increase in support while (I can't believe I'm asking this) Jeb!, he of the Bush "dynasty," would receive about 2 1/2 times fewer voters? Than Dr. Carson? Who votes for these people?
9
Every week I think, "This is the week that Trump's supporter's come out from under the ether, this is the week that they're going to start to wake up from this fevered dream", and every week, I am wrong.
The support for Trump just keeps getting stronger. What a peculiar time we live in.
The support for Trump just keeps getting stronger. What a peculiar time we live in.
19
More alarming is that the democrats still support Hillary Clinton lol!
4
Don't fret (yet), No Chaser. There's still a year to go. I'm still telling myself that the country is, collectively, perhaps sub-consciously, keeping this show going because at least it's entertaining, not the usual drag that our too-long campaigns always turn out to be.
Hey, it's how I get myself to sleep at night. The alternative is the thought of an actual Trump presidency. With that, we will prove to the world that the United States of America has finally lost its mind.
Hey, it's how I get myself to sleep at night. The alternative is the thought of an actual Trump presidency. With that, we will prove to the world that the United States of America has finally lost its mind.
28
Every week I think, "This is the week that Trump's supporter's come out from under the ether, this is the week that they're going to start to work up from this fevered dream", and every week, I am wrong.
The support for Trump just keeps getting stronger. What a peculiar time we live in.
The support for Trump just keeps getting stronger. What a peculiar time we live in.
1
Volatile, yes indeed. But the die has been cast. The most ludicrous candidate will win as the "base" is totally uninformed and only responds to knee-jerk jingoism.
14
Trump is doing nothing but pulling back the curtain on the ugly under belly of the GOP.
100
Hurting candidates? Dubious.
Helping disrupt the status-quo of democratic process, more likely.
Helping disrupt the status-quo of democratic process, more likely.
16
While one cannot predict history, the most likely outcome of this Republican circus will be what happened last time....ie a Romney type will get the nomination...although spouting the extreme party line, has a history of being a moderate...
Could be somebody like Jeb, or a dark house like Kasich, or somebody like the guy who was the amb to china and ran in the last Republican primaries.
In the unlikely event Trump wins the nomination or runs as an independent, Hillary will most likely win.
If Trump becomes President, he will probably be like the late President of Ven., a bombastic, comical blow hard that brought economic ruin to his country before he died.
Could be somebody like Jeb, or a dark house like Kasich, or somebody like the guy who was the amb to china and ran in the last Republican primaries.
In the unlikely event Trump wins the nomination or runs as an independent, Hillary will most likely win.
If Trump becomes President, he will probably be like the late President of Ven., a bombastic, comical blow hard that brought economic ruin to his country before he died.
6
So, the old and the "less educated" are attracted to the "orange one" ?
I don't think our "founding fathers" had those specific criteria in mind when they designed voter qualifications.
I don't think our "founding fathers" had those specific criteria in mind when they designed voter qualifications.
5
So, when all the dust settles, it will be "!", the one who runs from his last name. The chosen one. The party elite favorite. The people don't matter. We are in an oligarchy.
11
The people do matter. Romney wasn't able to buy the White House. Get out and vote.
30
The constitution designed the government as an oligarchy - remember that originally only white men who owned property could vote. Over time the vote was granted to more of the people. Whether a government designed to be an oligarchy can function as a democracy seems to me now in question.
Also, work/phone bank for your candidate---there's a level of engagement in our democracy that goes beyond voting.
1
Trump is hurting Christie, Cruz, Paul, and Santorum because those 4 would tend to be bullying and/or outrageous in their demeanor but they can't compete with the uber-brashness of the reality TV star (calling Trump a builder or entrepreneur or businessman at this point would be merely referencing his earlier career).
However, the reality is that Trump hurts Bush more than anyone. Trump is destroying the Republican brand. Everyday that Trump carries on is a day lost to Bush. Every voter who adheres to Trump is a voter lost to Bush. Permanently. Trump is putting on a great show, and those voters who are drawn to it will not be satisfied by the vanilla Jeb!
However, the reality is that Trump hurts Bush more than anyone. Trump is destroying the Republican brand. Everyday that Trump carries on is a day lost to Bush. Every voter who adheres to Trump is a voter lost to Bush. Permanently. Trump is putting on a great show, and those voters who are drawn to it will not be satisfied by the vanilla Jeb!
43
Except that that's what this article says at all. Ms. Vavreck clearly states that Trump hasn't hurt Cruz or Paul substantially. She probably doesn't mention Santorum because he's polling too low to be within the margin of error.
Absolutely correct, and its eerily strange than an article like this wouldn't say that. We can just imagine how dry and lifeless any of the candidates will seem compared to the Donald. Trump's suggestion that Jeb "put on a tie" is incredible, very devastating in how it shows the phoniness of his made-up personna/media image.
I'd like to an analysis of democratic voters jumping ship for Trump. It might shed the kind of light that shows us just how ugly this country and it's citizens have become.
9
The sample sizes for much of this analysis must be pretty tiny making it hard to believe that the differences reported achieve statistical significance.
Take, for instance, the comment that almost 70 percent of Kasich's supporters stuck with him in the second wave of polling. I cannot find the equivalent YouGov poll that Ms. Vavreck cites at Pollster, but there are a number of two-day polls by that organization in May that report figures between 1% and 4% for Mr. Kasich. So of the 608 people in the survey, perhaps a dozen of them expressed a preference for Kasich in May. To compare numbers with such absurdly low sample sizes makes not statistical sense, and I bet Ms. Vavreck knows that as well as I do.
Let's see those charts with the sample sizes on which each bar is based included. Just include a column of "N's" between the names and the bars.
Take, for instance, the comment that almost 70 percent of Kasich's supporters stuck with him in the second wave of polling. I cannot find the equivalent YouGov poll that Ms. Vavreck cites at Pollster, but there are a number of two-day polls by that organization in May that report figures between 1% and 4% for Mr. Kasich. So of the 608 people in the survey, perhaps a dozen of them expressed a preference for Kasich in May. To compare numbers with such absurdly low sample sizes makes not statistical sense, and I bet Ms. Vavreck knows that as well as I do.
Let's see those charts with the sample sizes on which each bar is based included. Just include a column of "N's" between the names and the bars.
21
It's weird. We knew that Republican primary voters hate Obama and all Democrats. But running a close second in their hatred is the Republican Party itself.
99
Actually, one can make a strong case that the Republican base hates the leadership and "establishment" of its own party EVEN MORE than it hates President Obama and the Democrats. To the Republican base, President Obama and the Democrats are "merely" enemies, while the Republican leadership and establishment are outright traitors.
26
Agree... astute analysis....they are in turmoil ... deciding whether to be a fringe extremist party or to be the party of Lincoln/Reagan..
5
The operative word there is "hate." They need someone or something to hate and it appears that anyone or anything will do.
9
The most disturbing thing I hear from Trump supporters is: "He just says out loud what everybody is thinking." Not true. Most Americans are not that racist, misogynistic or ignorant. To those of you who are I am glad you are getting an airing of your dark feelings. Now that they have seen the light of day perhaps they will dissipate. If not, seek counsel.
140
I think what is meant is "He just says out loud what some of the reactionary loudmouth fury that ordinary Joe Sixpack's feel, but have no ability to vocalize or make heard, even though they think it." This is far from "what everyone is thinking." it is rather, what a minority of reactionary barroom philosophers would love to be quoted as having said.
9
I actually think they mean "He just says out loud what he is thinking." While it is refreshing to see a politician not mince words, one wishes those words wouldn't be so ridiculously impossible, insulting, incendiary, egotistical or just plain hogwash.
2
Rene: Well said. I think Trump expresses the views of uneducated Americans, left behind by new high tech economy. However, as the old saying goes: the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Soon we'll find out whether Donald Trump has enough followers to win the GOP primaries.
2
Your analysis is like shifting the deck chairs on the titanic. We have one half of the group that wants to take us back to the 1830s, the other half back to the 1930s and the leader a demagogic, ego maniac carnival barker leading the group.
How has the party of Lincoln or even Reagan sunk so low?
How has the party of Lincoln or even Reagan sunk so low?
74
Today's Republicans are pretty much the opposite of everything Lincoln stood for....and Reagan is the one who put the first hole in the boat.
4
The current Republicans were never the party of Lincoln. These were old Dixiecrats who turned to the GOP when Nixon began his "southern strategy" and talking about the "silent majority."
How interesting that Trump is now using that phrase ("silent majority.") His campaign knows which buttons to push.
How interesting that Trump is now using that phrase ("silent majority.") His campaign knows which buttons to push.
1
Well mmwhite...not entirely true.imo..In his first yrs Reagan ended some of the worst abuses of the progressive yrs from 1933/1980 although great things were accomplished. People started abusing the welfare system big time.
However, in no time flat, he went back to big spending, letting business run amok, starting small corportacracy wars all over the world and helped contribute to the mess we are in today..
That is why the country is now moving center/center left starting with Obama, turning away from the right/center right that was started with Reagan.
However, in no time flat, he went back to big spending, letting business run amok, starting small corportacracy wars all over the world and helped contribute to the mess we are in today..
That is why the country is now moving center/center left starting with Obama, turning away from the right/center right that was started with Reagan.
1
Donald Trump is the best catalyst to clear the field of incompetents, lightweights and wannabe's. In the end it is him and Jeb left standing. This will be very interesting. Amazing how quickly Mr. Perry folded the tent after being humiliated by Trump. The new version of 'Bonfire of the Vanities' is playing out I hope a competent author is taking good notes.
31
Don't count Cruz out.
N B - Cruz isn't running for President, he's auditioning for a job at Fox.
Jumping from Christie to Trump isn't a big leap. It's merely moving from one bombastic bully to another.
101
It certainly appears that the Donald Trump "biggest clown wins" approach to politics has done long term damage to the American political process that goes well beyond the field of Republican primary challengers. This reality TV persona as political candidate (inherited from Sarah Palin) has dumbed down the debates, given personal attack precedence over policy positions, and made it ok to give more press time to hair than to leadership skill.
54
Trump is much better at bullying than Christie, and much wackier than Perry. This says much about Trump's supporters.
58
The fact that Trump's voters would turn next to Carson and Fiorina, then Cruz, says to me that the main driver for Trump's current popularity is distrust of politicians, and then secondarily identification with a "strong" person (i.e., a blowhard).
Regarding both of these factors, i can only say, as the Republicans have sown, so shall they reap.
That said: best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!
Regarding both of these factors, i can only say, as the Republicans have sown, so shall they reap.
That said: best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!
37
Trump has done a heroic thing for the nation by entering the race which supports his assertion that attending an expensive, private military academy builds a strong fighting spirit even more than say fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. By entering the race he has taken the spotlight off, and support of, people like Walker and Perry and Rubio who far less upfront about their own ugly plans for our nation and decreased the chances they would end up carrying the codes to the nukes. So bombast away Mr. "The Donald", bring down the whole right wing, "let's send your kids to war in Iran and privatize public education" scam machine.
115
Does it matter who has to sit in the back seat of the clown car? whoever is driving makes no difference. The general election is the cliff over which all of them will tumble to their collective ruin.
It appears the majority of the American voters, despite low information, private prejudices, and the influence of super big money can see clearly the Republican party and its field of candidates as short time comedy and not ready for prime time responsibilities for leading our country.
It appears the majority of the American voters, despite low information, private prejudices, and the influence of super big money can see clearly the Republican party and its field of candidates as short time comedy and not ready for prime time responsibilities for leading our country.
49
"It appears the majority of the American voters, despite low information, private prejudices, and the influence of super big money can see clearly the Republican party and its field of candidates as short time comedy and not ready for prime time responsibilities for leading our country."
I'd say the majority of voters feel the same way about both parties. Money seems have the biggest voice and yet that voice is just a sham for the alleged leadership running for public office.
I'd say the majority of voters feel the same way about both parties. Money seems have the biggest voice and yet that voice is just a sham for the alleged leadership running for public office.
4
yes and 3 talking points from Trump yesterday morning....I turned down 5 million from a person desperate to support me (i do not need and am not beholden)....the hedge fund managers are getting away with murder and I will change that...Are free enterprise system creates CEO high incomes...they have their buddies on their boards ( I note: while CARSON talks about sitting on boards why being interviewed elsewhere LOL) who take care of each other...these comments paraphase by me....