You can't scare me. I lived through Richard Nixon. On second thought, you can scare me.
74
Gail,
One of your best. I wrote a comment but posted it to an op-ed about staying put when it snows through the extremely sensitive web page of the Times. I have no idea how it happened but it is embarrassing.
Oh well, I am learning, but want you to know that I only read your column for the political passing scene.
You make it interesting.
What about that Trump endorsement from Bob Dole, who said that the party would suffer “cataclysmic” and “wholesale losses” if Mr. Cruz were the nominee, and that Donald J. Trump would fare better. Trump's star keeps rising.
I hope you will try to get a statement from Mike Bloomberg, I always thought he would run. He has experience in leading complex public systems and he believes in global warming. I want to see if Trump calls him a whacko.
One of your best. I wrote a comment but posted it to an op-ed about staying put when it snows through the extremely sensitive web page of the Times. I have no idea how it happened but it is embarrassing.
Oh well, I am learning, but want you to know that I only read your column for the political passing scene.
You make it interesting.
What about that Trump endorsement from Bob Dole, who said that the party would suffer “cataclysmic” and “wholesale losses” if Mr. Cruz were the nominee, and that Donald J. Trump would fare better. Trump's star keeps rising.
I hope you will try to get a statement from Mike Bloomberg, I always thought he would run. He has experience in leading complex public systems and he believes in global warming. I want to see if Trump calls him a whacko.
20
Ms. Collins, you do understand Trump. We do too. The Tea Party and the other Republicans? Unfortunately, not so much.
21
Stop comparing Bernie Sanders in 2016 to Barack Obama in 2008. There's no comparison. Obama was 47 and playing full-court basketball. The election was over when he swished a three-pointer on his first try at an army base and the whole world saw it. Reverse the numbers, and you get the 74-year-old, slightly stooped, Bernie Sanders who looks every year of his age. The optics don't work. The Republicans haven't attacked him because they're convinced Hillary will get the nomination so they're busy attacking her. If Sanders gets it they'll paint him as a communist---Trump has already referred to him in that way---and we'll have anti-communist fears as well as ISIS fears as campaign issues. Besides, Obama couldn't lose. John McCain didn't have a prayer because of what W. did to the country in his eight-year reign. Sanders is not Obama. Don't delude yourselves.
43
The cover of the issue of the National Review that you mentioned lists the columnists who write inside about how awful Trump is. The first name on the list is Glenn Beck. Is there any better example of how the Republicans, who now lambaste Trump, are the very Republicans who created him? Poetic justice indeed.
44
Right now, Gail, I'd go with a politician who's got his name on golf courses over one who was Sec State and can't remember what happened in Benghazi, let alone all her husband's assignations. Oh, and then like the dog on the roof, there's all those darn emails.
I loved your description of your journalistic colleauges as a "cynical" bunch. That doesn't begin to describe your level of cynic. Acting like one side is responsible for all the irresponsibilty will do that to you.
We are in strange times and we are not your "people." You've got to stop that assignation too, Gail. Many of us are far, far from your people.
I loved your description of your journalistic colleauges as a "cynical" bunch. That doesn't begin to describe your level of cynic. Acting like one side is responsible for all the irresponsibilty will do that to you.
We are in strange times and we are not your "people." You've got to stop that assignation too, Gail. Many of us are far, far from your people.
5
But he IS the pretty girl who can belt out the Country and Western! Say what you will, he's one of the very few candidates on either side with a personality.
5
'People are strange when you're a stranger.
Faces look ugly when you're alone.'
Jim Morrison
Faces look ugly when you're alone.'
Jim Morrison
4
Why does anyone think HRC could "handle foreign affairs"? She is the one who persuaded the president to enforce a No Fly Zone over Libya to topple Qaddafi even though ISIS was already in Libya, looking to conquer more territory. Clinton doesn't seem to have thought through the likely scenario that killing Qaddafi would benefit ISIS.
When HRC was head of the State Department, the U.S. organized Ukrainians to rise up against their duly-elected president for favoring Russia. This resulted in the on-going war between the Ukraine and Russia.
It cannot be said that HRC can take care of foreign policy. Her actions have made the world more tense and violent.
When HRC was head of the State Department, the U.S. organized Ukrainians to rise up against their duly-elected president for favoring Russia. This resulted in the on-going war between the Ukraine and Russia.
It cannot be said that HRC can take care of foreign policy. Her actions have made the world more tense and violent.
16
Trump reminds me of someone.
Let's see - Talks tough, but no military combat experience. Very decisive, doesn't "do nuance". Born on third base, and talks like he hit the triple that put him there.
Who could it be? Oh, that guy. 9/11, Katrina, total economic meltdown. That guy.
No one could vote for "that guy" again. Could they?
Let's see - Talks tough, but no military combat experience. Very decisive, doesn't "do nuance". Born on third base, and talks like he hit the triple that put him there.
Who could it be? Oh, that guy. 9/11, Katrina, total economic meltdown. That guy.
No one could vote for "that guy" again. Could they?
67
When I saw a clip of Trump shaking his body in order to demean a disabled newsman, I saw into the depths of a truly evil person. What could be worse? Maybe the vile Cruz is a worse human being. I liked the quote from his freshman roommate at Princeton that goes something like this: I would never vote for him; I'd rather vote for someone picked at random from a phone book than Ted Cruz. Who can evaluate you better than your freshman roommate? These are not strange times, but truly scary times.
90
Gail, I really enjoy your columns but I desperately want you to find someone or something else to write about. Just the mention of Trump or Cruz and I have to force my hand away from putting a finger down my throat. What was the old phrase, "Gag me to the max?"
I understand that there is a distinct shortage of candidate material, but gee . . .
I understand that there is a distinct shortage of candidate material, but gee . . .
12
"Their own needs"
2
'Donald Trump actually could become the Republican presidential nominee.'
Or worse - MUCH worse - the president of the Unitd States!!
Voting in elections may very well be beyond the intellectual capacity of American voters.
Or worse - MUCH worse - the president of the Unitd States!!
Voting in elections may very well be beyond the intellectual capacity of American voters.
30
Donald Trump literally has rewritten the script for running a presidential campaign. Having succeeded as a television "reality" host, he has realized that Americans' brains have been permanently rewired by billions of hours of watching the boob tube. He knows that we are all about any message that can be dispensed in a few minutes between commercials. Clearly, be sat down with his campaign staff and identified all the red meat issues that would make those hinterland masses swoon. Hate Obama? Check. Hate Hillary? Check. Hate immigrants, especially Muslims? Check. Build a wall? The Chinese did it (of course, it didn't really protect anyone). Those who think Trump doesn't really believe any of his positions are missing the point. If be is willing to run (and win). with these ideas, why should he abandon them in the White House?
Got to keep those Neilson ratings up there.
Somewhere, Paddy Chayefsky is whispering "I told you so!"
Got to keep those Neilson ratings up there.
Somewhere, Paddy Chayefsky is whispering "I told you so!"
11
I just don't buy the polls. I just don't. Whenever I'm asked to give my opinion, voluntarily fill out a form (even the ones sent to me occasionally by this newspaper), or "answer a few survey questions at the end of this phonecall," I say no. I'm too busy.
We know the poll numbers paint one picture, but they don't tell you how many busy, hardworking people refused to answer for one reason or another. What THOSE people think interests me more, but we'll never know, will we?
Until, at long last, there WILL be a caucus vote that means something.
Not much, but something.
If Trump is still leading after Iowa and New Hampshire -- then it's time to worry for real.
For now, I love that he gives us more reason to read Gail Collins' column.
We know the poll numbers paint one picture, but they don't tell you how many busy, hardworking people refused to answer for one reason or another. What THOSE people think interests me more, but we'll never know, will we?
Until, at long last, there WILL be a caucus vote that means something.
Not much, but something.
If Trump is still leading after Iowa and New Hampshire -- then it's time to worry for real.
For now, I love that he gives us more reason to read Gail Collins' column.
4
Dear Ms. Collins,
Let's face it; in every can of "mixed nuts", there's one that stands out from the others. Donald Trump is just the biggest nut in this particular GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE offering, kind of like the "cashew" of the bunch with the other "nuts" paling in comparison.
I realize that I've just denigrated "cashews".
My apologies to the "world of nuts" but it was the best I could manage at 6 in the morning and after having spent an evening with a bunch of conservative folks, I had to vent somehow.
By the way, these "conservatives" would sooner vote for Satan himself versus Hilary Clinton so everyone out in voter land pay heed; Mr. Trump is not only leading in the polls but his "message" is resonating with these scared, well armed, voting white folks.
So I am preparing myself for the campaign itself where unfettered spending should lead to "2016; the Year of Negativity" as each side tries to eviscerate the other with 30 second sound bytes/bombs.
This may be a way to lead a "can of nuts".
As for leading a country?
Let's face it; in every can of "mixed nuts", there's one that stands out from the others. Donald Trump is just the biggest nut in this particular GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE offering, kind of like the "cashew" of the bunch with the other "nuts" paling in comparison.
I realize that I've just denigrated "cashews".
My apologies to the "world of nuts" but it was the best I could manage at 6 in the morning and after having spent an evening with a bunch of conservative folks, I had to vent somehow.
By the way, these "conservatives" would sooner vote for Satan himself versus Hilary Clinton so everyone out in voter land pay heed; Mr. Trump is not only leading in the polls but his "message" is resonating with these scared, well armed, voting white folks.
So I am preparing myself for the campaign itself where unfettered spending should lead to "2016; the Year of Negativity" as each side tries to eviscerate the other with 30 second sound bytes/bombs.
This may be a way to lead a "can of nuts".
As for leading a country?
8
One would be hard put to name a comparable candidate in history to Trump or Cruz.
5
Trump scares me. I'm frightened.
5
It's about time that conservatism goes, conservatism is what is bringing this country down. And this is the reason, the publication’s editors condemned the real estate mogul and reality TV star as a “philosophically unmoored political opportunist who would trash the broad conservative ideological consensus within the GOP in favor of a free-floating populism with strong-man overtones
7
"I keep thinking about the time, years ago, when I worked for The Daily News and was summoned back from vacation because Donald was splitting with his first wife, Ivana."
--------------------------------
You can always tell when famous couples are splitting - divorce lawyer start orbiting their space like planets. One of those lawyers was Richard Golub - he kept visiting, for any mundane excuse, the second floor of the Plaza Hotel where Ivana Trump had her office. Three months later Ivana was divorced but using a different orbiting lawyer.
Richard did quite well though, alimony wise, when he divorced the actress Marisa Berenson (which made Ms Berenson quit acting).
--------------------------------
You can always tell when famous couples are splitting - divorce lawyer start orbiting their space like planets. One of those lawyers was Richard Golub - he kept visiting, for any mundane excuse, the second floor of the Plaza Hotel where Ivana Trump had her office. Three months later Ivana was divorced but using a different orbiting lawyer.
Richard did quite well though, alimony wise, when he divorced the actress Marisa Berenson (which made Ms Berenson quit acting).
6
There are so many businessmen who don't 'make a better deal' for the American people. Could the person who fought to 'build' have some instincts that need to be heard? He could have just as easily run third party from the start or ... even democratic.
3
In dire times it helps to keep your sense of humor. I, for one, find it hilarious that the National Review has now become part of the "lame steam media".
8
While Trump has done things in the real world, for better or worse (I´d say worse), with his past and present reality shows, and his name on everything, he mainly seems famous for being famous. Kim Kardashian, move over.
11
Guess Republicans answer to coming to terms with both The Donald and The Canadian Rafael is they want desperately to leave no doubt they wish to retain the title: The Stupid Party. Congrats, they're guaranteed that.
DD
Manhattan
DD
Manhattan
13
I still don't understand why all pundits write that until now they didn't take Trump's candidacy seriously. I took it from day one, and thought that a guy who is a self-made billionaire, is not busying himself with trifles.
Pundits, it seems, are only looking at reality to confirm their wishful thinking. I really believe that it's time for the NYT to fire all his op-ed columnists and hire smarter staff...
That's not to say that the younger writers at the Upshot are any better, they are even worse, writing propaganda hit pieces instead of trying to understand reality for what it is, not what they want to shape it into (probably because their bosses ask them to, or because their own teribilism.)
Pundits, it seems, are only looking at reality to confirm their wishful thinking. I really believe that it's time for the NYT to fire all his op-ed columnists and hire smarter staff...
That's not to say that the younger writers at the Upshot are any better, they are even worse, writing propaganda hit pieces instead of trying to understand reality for what it is, not what they want to shape it into (probably because their bosses ask them to, or because their own teribilism.)
10
Coming to terms with The Donald shows how desperate they've become. Their hatred for Cruz is so deep they are willing to forego any semblance of reason and logic as use the Blowhard Billionaire as a buffer against the Carpet Bomber. Sweet Jesus, Dems will be laughing all the way to November should this dream ticket come to pass.
DD
Manhattan
DD
Manhattan
11
I can just imagine Trump after each day's events, kicking back, smiling and saying: "I can't believe how easy this running-for-prez-thing is. You just say whatever the crowd of people want to hear, smile and give them a thumbs up. Way easier than golf."
31
The mass media, including the venerable NYT, are largely to blame for the Trump sensation because his antics, as an accomplished reality TV star, are good for ratings, which in turn increase advertising revenue. Every stupid, nasty and riduculous thing he says is treated as a revelation from Holy Scripture and then launched into TwitterLand and YouTube. It's all good for ratings and attracts millions of viewers/readers. Without Trump, what would cable TV find to talk about now that Bengazi and Kim Kardashina have lost their shine?
30
It would seem the Republicans are confused about elections in general. In the past political parties have put forth their best candidates. This time the line up for the GOP more resembles contestants in the Ugliest Dog Contest. Really GOPers, even with big Oligarch money, your ugly dogs will not win in November.
If Bob Dole thinks Trump has the right personality to run this country....Canada here I come! If in your face & racist is a winning combination for the next people in the White House, why not Rowdy Roddy Piper? Is he still a thing? Oops, no, he's dead. But hey, why not Rowdy Roddy Piper?
With Civil War 2 right around the next corner, why not elect a dead guy? This time around soldiers won't have to travel to kill, we'll all be shooting at the guy across the street. With the firepower the majority of Americans have today won't be any need for field hospitals...which means it's a great time to invest in the body bag industry.
Or perhaps if Trump is elected China will come & sit on us like we're a 3rd world country at war. Sorta feels like we're a 3rd world country at war, doesn't it? Oh well, checking my watch I see the 20 year Bush-Cheney timeout for the Republicans still has at least 8 years to go, so relax America, the next President of the United Corporate States of America will not be Trump or Cruz or the other rat pack candidates & I do mean rats.
What we need, people, are some great deals made at home! Fix the USA first! Then worry about foreigners. VOTE
If Bob Dole thinks Trump has the right personality to run this country....Canada here I come! If in your face & racist is a winning combination for the next people in the White House, why not Rowdy Roddy Piper? Is he still a thing? Oops, no, he's dead. But hey, why not Rowdy Roddy Piper?
With Civil War 2 right around the next corner, why not elect a dead guy? This time around soldiers won't have to travel to kill, we'll all be shooting at the guy across the street. With the firepower the majority of Americans have today won't be any need for field hospitals...which means it's a great time to invest in the body bag industry.
Or perhaps if Trump is elected China will come & sit on us like we're a 3rd world country at war. Sorta feels like we're a 3rd world country at war, doesn't it? Oh well, checking my watch I see the 20 year Bush-Cheney timeout for the Republicans still has at least 8 years to go, so relax America, the next President of the United Corporate States of America will not be Trump or Cruz or the other rat pack candidates & I do mean rats.
What we need, people, are some great deals made at home! Fix the USA first! Then worry about foreigners. VOTE
18
The idea that Trump might get the nomination did seem unthinkable not so long ago. Now it seems a certainty that he will get the nomination.
What bothers me most about this is not Trump, but the fact that there are enough people in the U.S. who would support him in getting the nomination. At the foundation is the problem that, to put it very simply, he is a terrible person. He is rude, crude, scarily self-centered, lacks compassion, is ignorant of many things (and revels in his ignorance), lies with impunity, and does not get along well with others.
This is acceptable to a good number of Americans and that is what really bothers me. If he were not famous and rich; if you did not know him from Adam and you were subjected to his presence for any length of time, knowing everything about him that you now know, would you walk away thinking "What a great person! He is the epitome of what America is and should be."? Would you set him up on a date with your sister? Would you recommend him as a role model to your son?
We are debasing ourselves for something. What that something is I cannot figure out or maybe just cannot understand, but I do know that I am ashamed for my country.
What bothers me most about this is not Trump, but the fact that there are enough people in the U.S. who would support him in getting the nomination. At the foundation is the problem that, to put it very simply, he is a terrible person. He is rude, crude, scarily self-centered, lacks compassion, is ignorant of many things (and revels in his ignorance), lies with impunity, and does not get along well with others.
This is acceptable to a good number of Americans and that is what really bothers me. If he were not famous and rich; if you did not know him from Adam and you were subjected to his presence for any length of time, knowing everything about him that you now know, would you walk away thinking "What a great person! He is the epitome of what America is and should be."? Would you set him up on a date with your sister? Would you recommend him as a role model to your son?
We are debasing ourselves for something. What that something is I cannot figure out or maybe just cannot understand, but I do know that I am ashamed for my country.
174
Are we really living in such strange times in regard to everyone who is a potential voter? The media has focused on Trump, Cruz and, in general, the Evangelical right wing of the Republican Party since they make the most noise. In the case of Trump and a little bit of Palin, it's nothing but hogwash but entertaining in its own strange way. Let's wait and see how many other Americans step up to the plate and vote rationally for someone who has some substantive policies. There may be more out there than you think.
4
A commenter on MSNBC the other day posited that Mr. Trump employs the Dead Cat" strategy. That is to say that no matter what the public debate is currently being discussed, if you walk in and throw a dead cat on the table, the discussion will be totally dominated by the dead cat. Sara Palin was the dead cat a couple days ago just as having the Mexican government pay for Donald's fence few months ago (at a time when we have a net 0% immigration status) and that he would halt all Moslems from entering this country.
Gravitas need not apply in this race. Facts are inconvenient. Ramifications are unimportant. Truth is very malleable.
Mr. Barnum must be smiling from his grave.
Gravitas need not apply in this race. Facts are inconvenient. Ramifications are unimportant. Truth is very malleable.
Mr. Barnum must be smiling from his grave.
14
It reminds me of the days when Ronald Reagan first began to move toward running for president. All the Democrats outside California said, "Are you kidding? A failed Hollywood actor? Don't make me laugh!" They thought all they had to do was bring up "Bedtime for Bonzo," and the former GE Theater host would be laughed off the set. Most of the Smart People thought Trump was a joke (they might still prove to be right -- he might still flame out when the voting gets going in earnest), but that is because Smart People always assume that the experience of familiar history will prevail again, that nothing is new under the sun, and Trump decidedly is something new
2
Completely snowed in here in Washington DC, I am about to indulge the fantasy of NYT Columnist Gail Collins.
(she's old enough to be my grandmother, so please don't go there)
As a Black attorney with a degree in American History, I studied "Historiography" which analyzes history across decades, generations and even centuries. Less than 50 years from now, historians will portray the Obama presidency as the lowest point of American Politics, where a failed community organizer with no credible foreign policy or leadership experience was invented into the White House by a news media run amok, determined to invent news instead of reporting it.
Misusing every critical historical and societal benchmark of the Civil Rights Movement and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, the media (with no objections from a fame seeking, integrity-challenged jack of all personalities) shoehorned a biracial man with a dubious past into the White House with no real or credible look at who this man was before becoming President.
Every single moment of his 8 year presidency, the establishment news media shielded Obama from any criticism using the race card as a silver bullet to stop accountability. Then the news media whitewashed a failed Presidency into faux legacy for someone whose only accomplishment was the skin color he was born with.
Mark it down. That's exactly what consensus history will say about the Obama presidency.
(she's old enough to be my grandmother, so please don't go there)
As a Black attorney with a degree in American History, I studied "Historiography" which analyzes history across decades, generations and even centuries. Less than 50 years from now, historians will portray the Obama presidency as the lowest point of American Politics, where a failed community organizer with no credible foreign policy or leadership experience was invented into the White House by a news media run amok, determined to invent news instead of reporting it.
Misusing every critical historical and societal benchmark of the Civil Rights Movement and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, the media (with no objections from a fame seeking, integrity-challenged jack of all personalities) shoehorned a biracial man with a dubious past into the White House with no real or credible look at who this man was before becoming President.
Every single moment of his 8 year presidency, the establishment news media shielded Obama from any criticism using the race card as a silver bullet to stop accountability. Then the news media whitewashed a failed Presidency into faux legacy for someone whose only accomplishment was the skin color he was born with.
Mark it down. That's exactly what consensus history will say about the Obama presidency.
6
I thought we tried a businessman! George W. Bush had an MBA owned an oil company and sports franchise. now... we had two endless wars, foreign and domestic blunders, moral turpitude, violations of international law and treaty and, to deflect attention from a burning globe, the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression. It wasn't a Depression only because W wasn't good at his job.
so... do we really want another business person so soon?
so... do we really want another business person so soon?
14
Trump seems to talked about as if he were a disease, troublesome but inevitable. Really? The only reason he is so high in the polls, is because he is supported by a group of people in the GOP who are totally clueless and want to move the clock backward to the 1950s. The sad truth is that a large part of the American electorate is fairly clueless when it comes to government and how it works. That is the sorry state of our country. BTW, Italy under Berlusconi, was in a similar situation a decade or so ago. Trump = Berlusconi!
7
I'm just amazed at how fragile the entire process seems to be. You would think that, by this time, there would have been someone, with actual political substance, who would have emerged as at least being in contention for front-runner status on the Republican side. But the 'politics of personality' seems to be the only rule of the game. No depth-of-field, nothing skewed in favor of experience, lack of policies given equal time to 'talking tough'. On the other side of the aisle, you have Hillary - not perfect, but reasonably accomplished and battle-tested - falling behind a guy with good ideas, but no realistic chance of winning. There's neither logic, nor predictability, to any of this.
4
When I think Trump, and who doesn't, I mentally go over my personal Enemies List: Wesley Crusher, Country Music, Mao Tse Tung, etc. I just can't get myself to put Trump on the list. Politically, I'm to the left of Stalin, if that is even possible, so Trump would be a natural candidate for the List, but I just can't do it. To my own horror I've even caught myself contemplating: Hmm, maybe he wouldn't be so bad (admittedly, these thoughts only flash by when I'm also thinking "Cruz"). I don't know if this is a self-hate thing or another thing about being criminally non-judgmental. In any case, if I can figure out my own dilemma, we may have the answer to the spectacle of the Trump Candidacy.
2
The mere fact that Ted Cruz and Donald Trump exhibit humanity and some semblance of understanding of what the United States has meant to the world and could again, places them so far in the stratosphere when compared to the current reprehensible federal democrat government makes all recent NYT bloviation as believable as Hillary Clinton, Rahm Emanuel and Barack Obama.
That my good people is not a complement.
That my good people is not a complement.
2
I believe Trump has no principles except what's good for Donald Trump. He'll say or do anything that helps Donald Trump. If people believe otherwise, they are falling into his buffonery.
7
With all due respect to T. S. Eliot, I offer a new take on an old favorite, most appropriately titled, "The Hollow Men."
"This is the way the G.O.P. ends
"This is the way the G.O.P. ends
"This is the way the G.O.P. ends
"Not with a bang but a liar and a pariah"
"This is the way the G.O.P. ends
"This is the way the G.O.P. ends
"This is the way the G.O.P. ends
"Not with a bang but a liar and a pariah"
4
The republican party, on a track from Lincoln at its start, down to Trump and Cruz, is traveling on a ski jump trajectory. Will it now take to the air and land somewhere far below in a tangle of skis and broken limbs? I would pay good money to sign the casts.
5
There's a sucker born every minute.
The donald knows it and, with the MSM acting as his personal free barker, gets more and more people under the freak show tent.
How many suckers will get trampled, when someone yells fire or a real fire gets ignited by one too many selfies?
Almost feel sorry for those misguided people.
The donald knows it and, with the MSM acting as his personal free barker, gets more and more people under the freak show tent.
How many suckers will get trampled, when someone yells fire or a real fire gets ignited by one too many selfies?
Almost feel sorry for those misguided people.
6
Both Trump and Sanders supporters say that "we need to take our country back."
When Trump supporters say it, they mean take it back from illegal Mexicans and liberals.
When Sanders supporters say it, they mean take it back from Wall St., the military industrial complex, and the neocons.
When Trump supporters say it, they mean take it back from illegal Mexicans and liberals.
When Sanders supporters say it, they mean take it back from Wall St., the military industrial complex, and the neocons.
23
One of the very finest columns from - perhaps - the finest of a good group of op-ed page writers.
My only reservation comes as she wraps up her piece, probably striving to stay under some word count and/or looking for balance and punchiness.
Hillary's "deal making" rivals Trump's. Both of them will/would/have probably say anything they think will poll well. Yes, Hillary's slicker, but that's the difference between having been born with the proverbial silver spoon and ... not, as was the case with the Clintons.
Really, do we know how far she'd go to serve the people who've made her rich? Do we know what war(s) she'd have us wage? I really wish I could be optimistic on either of those. I most certainly cannot and wish I knew a wise person who could make a good case for such optimism. 4 years of HRC would probably be followed by 10-20 of people like Cruz or Rubio, because the Clintons will throw what's left of the middle class under the bus.
But while Trump could fit into a couple of Shakespearean plays or ones like them, so could the Clintons. The latter are not ALL evil, but their greed and ambition is right up there with Cruz', make no mistake.
FWIW, I take enormous comfort in the news article about the not-so-silent MAJORITY (of Republicans) who despise Trump for all sorts of reasons.
Maybe, enough of them will vote - and enough evangelicals and racists will not - with the sunny outcome that both parties nominate someone not so very awful.
My only reservation comes as she wraps up her piece, probably striving to stay under some word count and/or looking for balance and punchiness.
Hillary's "deal making" rivals Trump's. Both of them will/would/have probably say anything they think will poll well. Yes, Hillary's slicker, but that's the difference between having been born with the proverbial silver spoon and ... not, as was the case with the Clintons.
Really, do we know how far she'd go to serve the people who've made her rich? Do we know what war(s) she'd have us wage? I really wish I could be optimistic on either of those. I most certainly cannot and wish I knew a wise person who could make a good case for such optimism. 4 years of HRC would probably be followed by 10-20 of people like Cruz or Rubio, because the Clintons will throw what's left of the middle class under the bus.
But while Trump could fit into a couple of Shakespearean plays or ones like them, so could the Clintons. The latter are not ALL evil, but their greed and ambition is right up there with Cruz', make no mistake.
FWIW, I take enormous comfort in the news article about the not-so-silent MAJORITY (of Republicans) who despise Trump for all sorts of reasons.
Maybe, enough of them will vote - and enough evangelicals and racists will not - with the sunny outcome that both parties nominate someone not so very awful.
2
An odd election campaign? That's an understatement. Especially when you find that, of all the candidates, only Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders have expressed any opposition to the infamous H1-B tech work visa program - the one that made it more attractive for big tech companies to hire virtual indentured servants from abroad (What else would you call someone who can be deported for losing a job?) than to accept our own citizens or green card holders. Result? Roughly two U.S. STEM graduates for every available position in those fields. And our fearless 'establishment' candidates, including Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio? All slavish supporters of this fiasco, thanks in no small part to big donations from Big Tech. And how much have Trump and Sanders collected from that crew? One big goose egg.
The voters who've been mauled by the current Depression 2.0 ("It's a recession when the other fellow loses his job. It's a depression when you lose yours." - Harry S Truman) are starting to catch on, and they're not exactly happy campers. "Fasten your seat belts, you're in for a bumpy ride." - Bette Davis in 'All About Eve'. Amen.
The voters who've been mauled by the current Depression 2.0 ("It's a recession when the other fellow loses his job. It's a depression when you lose yours." - Harry S Truman) are starting to catch on, and they're not exactly happy campers. "Fasten your seat belts, you're in for a bumpy ride." - Bette Davis in 'All About Eve'. Amen.
7
When one listens to Trump (and Cruz) one would think that the POTUS runs the show singlehandedly without any input or agreement from anyone else. In fact, I've not heard either Trump or Cruz (and especially Cruz) speak about how well they intend to work with congress. This Republican congress claims that Obama never, ever wanted to work with them, although whenever he might have tried their rebuttal was "hades no as its our way or the highway".
Does Trump actually think he will have the singlehanded power to uproot 11 million people and frog march them across the border without a single protest from congress? Has he forgotten there are still Republicans who might talk big about illegals, but who have no intention of following him? Does he think the Democrats in congress will roll over and let him scratch their bellies?
And Cruz. He is hated so much in the senate that it is a wonder he doesn't have the bomb squad check his desk daily. No one will work with him now, so when he supposedly becomes POTUS, everything will change? Does everyone's MIL suddenly go from hating their kid's new spouse to loving them?
Does Trump actually think he will have the singlehanded power to uproot 11 million people and frog march them across the border without a single protest from congress? Has he forgotten there are still Republicans who might talk big about illegals, but who have no intention of following him? Does he think the Democrats in congress will roll over and let him scratch their bellies?
And Cruz. He is hated so much in the senate that it is a wonder he doesn't have the bomb squad check his desk daily. No one will work with him now, so when he supposedly becomes POTUS, everything will change? Does everyone's MIL suddenly go from hating their kid's new spouse to loving them?
7
At the track, the horse well in the lead on the back stretch probably loses more than half of the time. He or she loses in one of three ways.
The lead horse begins to fade back into the following group of horses who are better able to maintain the pace. Or, the early leader is passed by one or more accelerating horses who had been hanging back intentionally or who just normally run that way. Or, that impressive lead horse pulls up lame.
Everyone thought Donald Trump would pull up lame. Well, he hasn’t, and he seems to have legs to finish the race at the same or even quicker pace.
It’s up to one of the other horses to catch a second wind, accept the whip and make a passing move. It better be soon – before The Donald catches a glimpse of the home stretch.
The future of a nation rides on those trailing horses.
The lead horse begins to fade back into the following group of horses who are better able to maintain the pace. Or, the early leader is passed by one or more accelerating horses who had been hanging back intentionally or who just normally run that way. Or, that impressive lead horse pulls up lame.
Everyone thought Donald Trump would pull up lame. Well, he hasn’t, and he seems to have legs to finish the race at the same or even quicker pace.
It’s up to one of the other horses to catch a second wind, accept the whip and make a passing move. It better be soon – before The Donald catches a glimpse of the home stretch.
The future of a nation rides on those trailing horses.
1
No problema.
Hillary will not have legal problems from transferring "need to know" government secrets on her personal server.
Hillary is trusted by a majority of Americans and has earned that trust over the years by always being forthright as to her ideas, plans and motivations.
Hillary carries the mantle of Barack Obama and was always a big supporter, especially of his foreign policy because she was there to help create it.
Hillary does not cozy up to Wall Street and the Clinton Foundation does not accept money from foreign governments who need to have good contacts in American government and wish to bypass lobbyists.
Hillary told the truth about Benghazi and did not stick to the Administration story that our ambassador was murdered because an obscure Florida pastor produced an anti-Islam video.
Hillary did not ignore Bill's predations on women and was merely working through her marital issues like many troubled couples do and anyway it is none of our business.
Therefore, Trump has no hope of being President even if he is a nominee because the relationship between Hillary and the American people is rock solid based solely on Hillary's record.
Hillary will not have legal problems from transferring "need to know" government secrets on her personal server.
Hillary is trusted by a majority of Americans and has earned that trust over the years by always being forthright as to her ideas, plans and motivations.
Hillary carries the mantle of Barack Obama and was always a big supporter, especially of his foreign policy because she was there to help create it.
Hillary does not cozy up to Wall Street and the Clinton Foundation does not accept money from foreign governments who need to have good contacts in American government and wish to bypass lobbyists.
Hillary told the truth about Benghazi and did not stick to the Administration story that our ambassador was murdered because an obscure Florida pastor produced an anti-Islam video.
Hillary did not ignore Bill's predations on women and was merely working through her marital issues like many troubled couples do and anyway it is none of our business.
Therefore, Trump has no hope of being President even if he is a nominee because the relationship between Hillary and the American people is rock solid based solely on Hillary's record.
12
It's that New York frame of mind, the rest of the country loves him. People who are die hard Hillary fans will be going down with the ship, and the "anyone but Hillary" fans have a 75 year old socialist who can't talk without yelling. Besides, how will either one be able to legislate when Obamacare set back the Democrats in Congress 40 years? All this wonderful free stuff, and nowhere to go! Double the employer payroll tax? Forget it Bernie, not even the Democrats will vote for that one. One fantasy idea after another!
And now Hillary is swinging back to Barack in an attempt to fight off the socialist, when she should be talking to the FBI to find out exactly what her retirement will be.
The thing about Trump, he's a people person who gets things done. And he has done something very interesting, cut out the middlemen. No donors, no super pacs, no pre-arranged media, he's just talking to the people. He makes all the others look like a bunch of stiffs.
And now Hillary is swinging back to Barack in an attempt to fight off the socialist, when she should be talking to the FBI to find out exactly what her retirement will be.
The thing about Trump, he's a people person who gets things done. And he has done something very interesting, cut out the middlemen. No donors, no super pacs, no pre-arranged media, he's just talking to the people. He makes all the others look like a bunch of stiffs.
10
If Americans could elect George W. twice, they can elect Trump - guess it's true anybody can be president.
21
My worry - If we elect him, the Whitehouse will be renamed the Trumphouse and it will be in Neon lights.
7
Gail, perhaps Donald and Sarah and Ted have done the Republican Party a huge favor. Members of the Grand Old Party of Abraham Lincoln and my grandparents have had enough. They want intelligence, reason and civility to rule - not bombast and ignorance. So maybe, just maybe, members of Congress will wake up to the same truth and finally, at long last, we will have some Statesmen who care more about the State of the Union than they do about themselves. All Americans will benefit from this return to thought before action.
46
I think Trump is OK. Why? (and this comment never makes it past the censors at the times who now censor content not form) Because the Donald speaks his mind. And that is a sign of strength. Obama did,or made us believe he did. Hilary doesnt. Cruz doesnt. McCain sold himself to the devil with drill baby drill Palin, Kerry was too political, Gore was saddled with Lieberman, while Clinton had Gore and his infidelities was a sign of genuine person not a political spectre or a real person.
And Trump is right about China, right about bringing industrialization home, right about tariffs and right about the political danger and "correctness" or referring to law breaking illegals as "undocumented" either you have laws or you dont. And right to even say, as a politician, that DC lines up for cash and so is corrupt.
So a ton of people, myself included think a lot more of our political system because it has given us Trump, and if the Times could only bring themselves to admit this mans strengths it would show that they have not hunkered down with the received champagne liberals.
Now Trump is wrong on the wall, gun law, and obamacare- and that is scary, but give the man his due.
And Trump is right about China, right about bringing industrialization home, right about tariffs and right about the political danger and "correctness" or referring to law breaking illegals as "undocumented" either you have laws or you dont. And right to even say, as a politician, that DC lines up for cash and so is corrupt.
So a ton of people, myself included think a lot more of our political system because it has given us Trump, and if the Times could only bring themselves to admit this mans strengths it would show that they have not hunkered down with the received champagne liberals.
Now Trump is wrong on the wall, gun law, and obamacare- and that is scary, but give the man his due.
24
The least discussed difference in this election campaign is the fact that it began two years ahead of the election. There hasn't even been ONE caucus or primary yet, and people are talking as if the nomination is sewn up. The only poll that really matters is the one taken at the ballot box. I'm showing my age, I know. But I remember a time when the presidential nominee wasn't really certain until after the party conventions in August. These opinion polls, conducted continuously and taken seriously for TWO YEARS simply turn the campaign into a sporting event. They're box scores of teams competing to be in the Super Bowl or World Series. As a retired journalist, I hate to say this, but...The Media share much of the blame for this screwy situation. You've made the campaign for the most important office in the nation -- the world -- a reality show. I can only hope that real voters at real polls will put some sense back into the discussion.
4
Gail Collins is wrong. We don't live in "strange times" we live in a time of change. To people, political parties and the news media that like the status quo especially is they make money from it, change is strange (rhyming not intentional).
What people are struggling to come to terms with is that Trump has been totally underestimated by many of the people who read the NYT's, politicians, pundits, party loyalists who hate him and the news media. He is continuously denigrated and called names but look who is winning. The proof is in the pudding that he is likely smarter and more nimble than all these detractors and they are in denial so cannot admit it.
It's also very difficult to know what Trump really will do if he becomes President because he is always several moves ahead of his detractors and pivots 180 degrees with no notice. He is not a predictable party loyalist.
So if past is prologue Trump will continue to surprise and dominate the news cycle and destroy all the conventional thinking. The only counter to Trump is probably Sanders.
Clinton will likely have to face Trump waving checks in the air that he made out to the Clintons over the past 20 years, her record as Sec of State and her coronation by the DNC which people despise.
What people are struggling to come to terms with is that Trump has been totally underestimated by many of the people who read the NYT's, politicians, pundits, party loyalists who hate him and the news media. He is continuously denigrated and called names but look who is winning. The proof is in the pudding that he is likely smarter and more nimble than all these detractors and they are in denial so cannot admit it.
It's also very difficult to know what Trump really will do if he becomes President because he is always several moves ahead of his detractors and pivots 180 degrees with no notice. He is not a predictable party loyalist.
So if past is prologue Trump will continue to surprise and dominate the news cycle and destroy all the conventional thinking. The only counter to Trump is probably Sanders.
Clinton will likely have to face Trump waving checks in the air that he made out to the Clintons over the past 20 years, her record as Sec of State and her coronation by the DNC which people despise.
5
Yeah, Cruz is worse than Trump but Trump is a disaster as well.
I agree with the National Review article. And I remember when my father subscribed to Buckley's new literary review. How that magazine has changed!
Either Trump or Cruz would be a disaster for this country. So would Bernie. If people would just get over their hatred of having a woman president, we could again have a great economy and no wars.
I agree with the National Review article. And I remember when my father subscribed to Buckley's new literary review. How that magazine has changed!
Either Trump or Cruz would be a disaster for this country. So would Bernie. If people would just get over their hatred of having a woman president, we could again have a great economy and no wars.
1
If the media would spend more time writing about reasonable Republican candidates--John Kasich of Ohio comes to mind--than maybe we wouldn't be having this conservation of the choice of GOP voters between two evils. Both candidates are inventions of the media and both will fade if they're ignored.
3
Well, that's it in a nutshell. Trump's "opening bids" to angry white man will become "let's make a deal" to the Washington elite. The Donald's main goal in life is being loved and respected for his omnipotent acumen and who, in the two factions just mentioned, can better advance his perpetual self absorbed cause on the national stage? Angry white man beware.
2
If the media gave as little attention to Trump as they do the other candidates, we might not be in this mess. Trump himself declared this week that he didn't need to spend any money on ads--the media has been covering him constantly every single day and he doesn't have to pay a penny! Now he says he' feeling guilty and will start putting in a few million to run some ads. Where is the rage from the other candidates?
2
Neither the caucus-attenders of Iowa nor those who brave the weather to vote in the New Hampshire primary will control the outcome of a national election just because they are early birds. Their events do let the rest of the country see some attempts at electoral performance and get a deeper look at temporary front runners. As Gail says, this is the moment in time for Ted Cruz to show why people who know him wish they didn't. And for Donald Trump to figure that in reality he's got better things to do to make a buck than having to downsize to live in the White House.
1
I cannot believe the dilemma we face. I would vote for Bloomberg in a minute, if he were to enter the race, and so would half the Republicans and maybe a third of the Democrats. That could win. We could call the race a trilemma. If he didn't win, it would probably give the edge to the Democrat, which would be better than Cruz or Trump.
1
1) Ironic, but when he ran, Bob Dole had the likability of Ted Cruz.
2) Running against Donald Trump is the equivalent of competing with Don Rickles. (I'd pay money to see them face off.)
2) Running against Donald Trump is the equivalent of competing with Don Rickles. (I'd pay money to see them face off.)
2
You compare and contrast Trump and Hillary. But is Hillary's experience impressive? Health care: a badly created plan, badly packaged and ultimately a policy and political shambles. Next, Iraq: she votes yes, then says the "surge" won't work and then says her vote was a mistake. The reset with Russia, "Assad's a reformer", doing nothing during the Iranian uprising, the Libya chaos, the "video" explanation, the email debacle. On top of that, nobody believes anything she says: a distrust I think she has earned.
Hillary is smart and earnest and I wanted her to be president in '08 much more than Obama - and I do give her some slack because she, as Sec. Of State, can only do what the president instructs - but I find it harder and harder to rationalize a vote for her. Perhaps I'm just less forgiving than I once was. In any event, I hope the GOP doesn't nominate Trump or Cruz because I don't want to cast a negative vote and I would like a viable option other than Hillary.
Hillary is smart and earnest and I wanted her to be president in '08 much more than Obama - and I do give her some slack because she, as Sec. Of State, can only do what the president instructs - but I find it harder and harder to rationalize a vote for her. Perhaps I'm just less forgiving than I once was. In any event, I hope the GOP doesn't nominate Trump or Cruz because I don't want to cast a negative vote and I would like a viable option other than Hillary.
3
If Bush had taken some of the positions Trump has, in a nicer way, he could be out in front in the polls. Trump is saying things that many middle class Americans believe. Why do the other candidates not adopt some of his positions? Are they in the financial, Wall Street bag like HC?
5
Trump and Rubio are the only two candidates running who favor controlling immigration. I find this position neither silly, nor racist, nor xenophobic.
3
The notion of having The Donald as the Republican'ts nominee is more than a little frightening. What I'm confused about is why no one is asking this so called self made billionaire what kinds of government largess he has received over the years for his various real estate deals, golf courses, and casinos. I would suggest that government handouts have as much to do with his success as does "The Art of the Deal."
4
I think Trump compares much better to Bernie Sanders in that each has tapped into the dissatisfaction some on each end of the political spectrum are feeling.
4
Given everything we know about The Donald and his qualifications for the White House, if he were to become the GOP nominee, what should one infer about those states he carries in the November election?
2
Trump and Cruz are a blessing and occurred only because of the horrnendus job mr. Obama has done running and ruining this country. Also because of establishment ruling class headed by the GOP and dems.
You radical progressive fascist leftists only have yourselves to blame. For the rest of us we have a choice between a candidate that is proud to be a wealthy American free market capitalist and is through with political correctness, and another that is driven by the meaning and substance of the U.S. Constitution.
You did well - you created two at once now the only problem we have is deciding on president trump or president Cruz.
Thank you.
You radical progressive fascist leftists only have yourselves to blame. For the rest of us we have a choice between a candidate that is proud to be a wealthy American free market capitalist and is through with political correctness, and another that is driven by the meaning and substance of the U.S. Constitution.
You did well - you created two at once now the only problem we have is deciding on president trump or president Cruz.
Thank you.
3
Me: Black attorney in Washington DC, with a degree in American History who has lived and worked in Washington the entire Obama presidency.
Me: Registered Republican, Trump supporter.
Come to grips with the fact that I am not the only one.
Me: Registered Republican, Trump supporter.
Come to grips with the fact that I am not the only one.
7
I think that not only may Mr. Trump be the republican nominee, but also has a possibility of becoming president. I say this because there is a sizable percent (>50) of Americans who believe in things that are not real (astrology, Bigfoot, goofy conspiracies, etc), and who disbelieve in things that are real (e.g., climate change). Linked to this is the fact that a goodly number (changes on the question and how it is asked) of Americans have a racist attitude against some group. Mixed in with all of these is the number of Americans who through either a lack of intellectual ability or education are deficient or completely lacking in higher order thinking. What you wind up with is an ignorant, racist and dumb part of America who have long been waiting for a candidate to bring the issues down to their level - voila! Mr. Trump
6
I view Trump as the Hummer vehicle of our political presidential field. He is big, strong and totally unfit for the American highway just as those vehicles were. The Hummer was a "hot" buy for awhile and the roads could be seen dotted with them. And then reality struck. They were costly, gas guzzling and ill fitting for the way the American people really live. So I predict Trump will go the way of the Hummer, as he should.
6
For Republicans still sane, this must be their worse nightmare. A Sophie's Choice: The Con Man versus the Cruz missile. The Huckster and the Carpet Bomber. How did the GOP sink so low? How could a nation with only two political parties have one of them taken over by two goof balls?
Sweet Jesus H. (the H is silent), can you believe it? They crazier it gets the more Republicans attach themselves to these aptly McCain labeled wackadoodles. The more criticism heaped on this Dysfunctional Duo by the Establishment the greater the ferocity of push back by the salivating die hard right wing nuts out in the Hinterlands.
This Republican Race To The Bottom of the pickle barrel has managed to pick the two most odious kerosene-infused cucumbers as front runners. I have followed politics since the mid-Sixties and not since Bombs Away Barry and Segregationist George have I witnessed such bellicosity. The Carpet Bomber ranks up there with Curtis LeMay, Wallace's running mate, and Trump's modest(?) "Solution" to the Muslim Problem conjures up comparisons to that little dictator with the funny mustache.
Good God, have Republicans become so removed from reality that they would actually support either a Reality Show host or a sneering scorched-earth quack to lead them to the White House? Apparently so. Supporters of Trump and/or Cruz are so angry they are willing to tank the American Dream to exact their revenge of hate. Kooks voting for Kooky candidates, what a country.
DD
Manhattan
Sweet Jesus H. (the H is silent), can you believe it? They crazier it gets the more Republicans attach themselves to these aptly McCain labeled wackadoodles. The more criticism heaped on this Dysfunctional Duo by the Establishment the greater the ferocity of push back by the salivating die hard right wing nuts out in the Hinterlands.
This Republican Race To The Bottom of the pickle barrel has managed to pick the two most odious kerosene-infused cucumbers as front runners. I have followed politics since the mid-Sixties and not since Bombs Away Barry and Segregationist George have I witnessed such bellicosity. The Carpet Bomber ranks up there with Curtis LeMay, Wallace's running mate, and Trump's modest(?) "Solution" to the Muslim Problem conjures up comparisons to that little dictator with the funny mustache.
Good God, have Republicans become so removed from reality that they would actually support either a Reality Show host or a sneering scorched-earth quack to lead them to the White House? Apparently so. Supporters of Trump and/or Cruz are so angry they are willing to tank the American Dream to exact their revenge of hate. Kooks voting for Kooky candidates, what a country.
DD
Manhattan
22
In a word: sociopathy. They have made politics hostile to social people.
6
Best of times worst of times.... 500 pages later... And it is a far, far better thing that we have ever done before.
I don't understand why Trump's opponents don't state the obvious: Trump, you claim to be able to do all these things in areas where you have no experience. Why were you not able to be successful in starting a new basketball league or fixing Atlantic City?
11
When the history of this era of the NY Times op-ed columnists is written, the wise author will put Gail Collins near the top of the heap. It will be due to the hilarious tone which animates her writing. A combination of her light touch, wry sensibilities, and deadly accurate assessments leads the happy reader to learning while laughing along with her. I never would have said Trump's candidacy has any resemblance to Hillary Clinton's campaign, but, there it is in Gail's 3rd to last paragraph. Strange times, indeed. In one sense, this 2016 Presidential contest is the greatest one in decades, but only if one is using weirdness as the gauge of its virtues.
4
Delegates are required to vote as per the primaries outcome. BUT only for a round or two. After that the deal-making begins. The 1%ers will trot out a reasonable sounding person. Hillary cannot beat that. Bernie might.
3
Trump recognizes that it's been an extremely tough road for many lower middle and lower class republicans economically for a long time. I have some old high school friends who have to compete with illegal immigrants (how many reading this have I wonder) - they see that global warming is real, they know the Iraq war was unjustified, but the have come to realize that the people who make out like bandits by hiring illegal immigrants are generally Republicans.
Our trade deals have also abandoned millions while they make a few of the Romney's of the world rich AND EMPOWER TOTALITARIANS in China.
Everyone knows that many should have gone to jail in banking 8 years ago, none have in this country.
The elite in neither party talks about this stuff.
I sure didn't think a Sanders vs Trump race was possible six months ago, now I know it's possible. Both of them are coming at these issues more directly and clearly than any of the other candidates.
Our trade deals have also abandoned millions while they make a few of the Romney's of the world rich AND EMPOWER TOTALITARIANS in China.
Everyone knows that many should have gone to jail in banking 8 years ago, none have in this country.
The elite in neither party talks about this stuff.
I sure didn't think a Sanders vs Trump race was possible six months ago, now I know it's possible. Both of them are coming at these issues more directly and clearly than any of the other candidates.
8
The irony must tickle Trump no end: "Losers for Trump!"
3
One word: Idiocracy.
16
Hillary can handle Donald Trump. I talk to people on the train going to work and I have never met a black person, woman or latin person who would vote for Trump. This one older black man I spoke with says Hillary would do fine. One thing about Ronald Reagan divorce. He still had an intact nuclear family. His 2 children from his first marriage were grown. So Mr. and Mrs. Reagan with their 2 children looked like a more classic family picture.
The 3rd wife sitting with Trump's children from Ivanna look cold sitting together. It is hard to imagine Trump hugging this wife in public with any warmth. The Obama family is a role model and there appears they honestly love an care for each other. I am sure 3rd step-mothers are not fun for the children of Ivanna and Marla to deal with. And looking on Trump's history likely a 4th.
I remember when Chelsea went off to university she started out studying medicine. She changed to finance. I can't imagine any of the Trump children to have any other choice but the Trump business. The Obama children seem to be able to follow their interests in life. Plus it's a bit creepy how Ivanka appears more like his political wife than his 3rd one does. I am guessing Trump's 3rd wife has an accent and that is why she never speaks in public.
Trump with his 3 marriages and children from 3 marriages looks more like collateral damage than a family. Hillary will have the Democratic nominations and Trump will lose either by delegate or vote.
The 3rd wife sitting with Trump's children from Ivanna look cold sitting together. It is hard to imagine Trump hugging this wife in public with any warmth. The Obama family is a role model and there appears they honestly love an care for each other. I am sure 3rd step-mothers are not fun for the children of Ivanna and Marla to deal with. And looking on Trump's history likely a 4th.
I remember when Chelsea went off to university she started out studying medicine. She changed to finance. I can't imagine any of the Trump children to have any other choice but the Trump business. The Obama children seem to be able to follow their interests in life. Plus it's a bit creepy how Ivanka appears more like his political wife than his 3rd one does. I am guessing Trump's 3rd wife has an accent and that is why she never speaks in public.
Trump with his 3 marriages and children from 3 marriages looks more like collateral damage than a family. Hillary will have the Democratic nominations and Trump will lose either by delegate or vote.
6
An attractive actress in trouble with the McCarthyites could always find solace on union president Reagan's casting couch.
4
While I am "Feeling the Bern" with great enthusiasm and optimism, I am also feeling somewhat relieved that Trump is leading the GOP race. After all, consider the alternatives.... they're an absolutely frightening array of incompetent zealots, idiots, charlatans, and has-beens/never-weres. I just wish the pundits and press wouldn't pollute the news with so much coverage of the Donald.... It's bad for American self-esteem.
10
I love it when you free associate - it is superior to Sarah Palin's work.
1
I'm no Trump fan, but he becomes somewhat more palatable if you accept that he never tells the truth. It's like that mental puzzle where there is one guy who always lies. It doesn't mean that you can't trust him, you can, you can trust that he will always lie. Now, if the liar is otherwise talented and you can predict his behavior despite what he says, than, perhaps, he is useful.
1
There aren't any constraints on how, exactly, one can lie.
4
Newt Gingrich once said, "The problem with the GOP is that we are not nasty enough!" But that was a long time ago and they certainly got over that little problem, didn't they?
12
Sociopath don't come much nastier than Gingrich.
17
it's all about the quality of the republican electorate..... or lack there of..... i think he asked for palin's endorsement for two reasons:
1. to edge cruz in iowa
2. the ensure that he cannot win in the general election
he is happily bamboozling his supporters but does not want to be president. he is not stupid, he knows his more controversial positions make him unelectable.
1. to edge cruz in iowa
2. the ensure that he cannot win in the general election
he is happily bamboozling his supporters but does not want to be president. he is not stupid, he knows his more controversial positions make him unelectable.
2
It's very tiring to hear Trump's backers say "he tells it like it is". When all his comments are strung together, any person of reasonable intelligence would certainly ponder whether Trump is seriously qualified, by his comments, to be a serious candidate to receive one's vote. Being debilitated psychologically by their fear and anger they flock to hear a megalomaniac preach his plan of rescue to relieve their troubled lives. Never giving full thought beyond his reassurance that he will make American great again.
It's not Trump that really bothers me; after he returns to Trump Tower far to many delusional voters remain in this country for the next megalomaniac to take a crack at being president.
It's not Trump that really bothers me; after he returns to Trump Tower far to many delusional voters remain in this country for the next megalomaniac to take a crack at being president.
6
I've managed to (almost) get myself into a place where I believe (hope) the system (bureaucracy) will trudge along no matter how incompetent (crazy) a person we elect. After the integrity and competence of Obama, such a sad place to have to get to.
3
If Flint MI is any indication, it's not clear that the system 'will trudge along no matter how incompetent (crazy) a person we elect.'
But I agree that no matter who's elected in Nov, Obama will be sorely missed.
But I agree that no matter who's elected in Nov, Obama will be sorely missed.
4
The Republican Congress works very hard to discourage competent bureaucrats with frivolous investigations that require them to lawyer up.
4
One theme that seems to have gotten lost in the last 6 months is campaign finance. Commenters at the NYT were nearly unanimous in their denunciation of the Kochs as they and other donors were expected to buy the nomination and perhaps the election for Jeb. Jeb's burned through most of his 100 million and has less than 5% to show for it. Instead, Trump is way in front--without the help of the Kochs or any other fat cats. And he has the support of a sizable portion of the electorate and may become president. If he does win the White House will this be seen by liberals as a victory of democracy over its capitalist overlords? Of course not. They will bemoan "low information voters," "people voting against their interests", and all the rest. Whatever their reasons or motives, it will be democracy at work if Trump wins. And it will come as a shock to many.
4
Koch money isn't spent to support anyone. It is all directed at crashing the whole system.
10
In business situations, people negotiate because they think they have something to gain or have no other options, their backs against the wall because of low profits, high costs, etc. In government and foreign affairs, people negotiate to try to demonstrate they are reasonable, when they are not, to stall for more time so matters can get a lot worse and because holding out, talking, often yields huge political capital
We are in an era when getting nothing thing done is more popular than doing things. Bridges, roads, dams and other critical infrastructure are being allowed to slip away to the point where bringing them back to standard could become beyond reasonable capacities. The Republican Congress is intent on punishing people for being poor, while the rich insist that everyone should be willing to take a low paying job that barely pays the rent+dog food
So, Trump's gonna fix this? He would have one advantage. Like a wild, undisciplined tennis player trying to make the pros, confusion on his shots would work for him...for a couple of weeks. Then he, and we, would be in the soup
Trump seems to think if you yell something loud enough your opposition will run from the room and do what you want. Cruz acts like having friends could cause the immediate onset of disease. Each of them is piling up votes on the hate-o-meter to make actual governing nearly impossible. Do Republicans want to vote themselves out of existence? Sanity will likely prevail, but great damage will remain.
We are in an era when getting nothing thing done is more popular than doing things. Bridges, roads, dams and other critical infrastructure are being allowed to slip away to the point where bringing them back to standard could become beyond reasonable capacities. The Republican Congress is intent on punishing people for being poor, while the rich insist that everyone should be willing to take a low paying job that barely pays the rent+dog food
So, Trump's gonna fix this? He would have one advantage. Like a wild, undisciplined tennis player trying to make the pros, confusion on his shots would work for him...for a couple of weeks. Then he, and we, would be in the soup
Trump seems to think if you yell something loud enough your opposition will run from the room and do what you want. Cruz acts like having friends could cause the immediate onset of disease. Each of them is piling up votes on the hate-o-meter to make actual governing nearly impossible. Do Republicans want to vote themselves out of existence? Sanity will likely prevail, but great damage will remain.
3
Thinking ahead, if Trump goes all the way, I look forward to NBC's "West Wing Apprentice", where the President meets with contestants in the Oval Office assigning them challenges like building the wall along the Mexican border (with Mexico footing the bill), making us all winners and converting Yellowstone National Park to Trump Ski and Sauna Resort. Midway through each episode Trump has the congressional branch throw a wrench in the works to keep things interesting. The winner gets a one year internship in the State Department to settle the Middle East crisis. Celebrity guest stars like Sarah Palin and Tom Brady offer their mentoring talents to the teams. Who knows, the actual machinery of government could become must-see TV.
3
Ted Cruz is the reincarnation of demagogue Joe McCarthy.He looks like him, has the same nasal vocal tone, and is a savant of prevarication.He will lose to Trump.Every time Donald Trump does something politically inappropriate, he becomes a metaphorical extended middle finger in the face of the political establishment his supporters despise. When the National Review publishes the collective rebuke of Trump by a bunch of Chicken Hawks and Neo Cons that nobody outside of their elitist coop has ever heard of, Donald Trump wins. When the smug Republican establishment types criticize Trump, the more his poll numbers rise When you read the transcript of Sarah Palin's manic endorsement speech it can only be described as "bizarre"or "surreal" but the next day Trump's poll numbers were higher. The Republicans can't win. If Trump gets the nomination he will be crushed by a record minority voter turn out.If he wins a plurality of delegates, but not a majority, and the party elite orchestrates giving the nomination to another candidate at the convention, does anybody really think Trump and his supporters will support the Republican candidate?
3
Trump's "brilliance" is understanding the swath of the public that are easily persuaded to believe whatever the next "savior" trumpets to them. There is no questioning in depth, there is no nuance, no depth, there are mostly simple declarative statements that have little or no relation to the truth.
Most television journalists do not ask follow up questions or push for clarification. They know ratings are money and they know Trump equals ratings. Surely you won't bite the hand that feeds you. Trump knows that too.
Most television journalists do not ask follow up questions or push for clarification. They know ratings are money and they know Trump equals ratings. Surely you won't bite the hand that feeds you. Trump knows that too.
2
The nation may be forced to choose between a loud mouthed non-politician who says whatever comes to mind and a nasty, conniving, dishonest, professional politician who doesn't even believe herself when she speaks.
5
On he Trump vs. Cruz thing, my understanding, which I have expressed before, is that the crooks can't stand Cruz, and are willing to live with Trump. The wackos on the other hand are (temporarily?) besotted with Cruz, and would be happier with him than Trump, and of course they would rather poke their own eyes out than see a Dem in the White House. It is not clear to me that they hate Trump as much as the thieves hate Cruz.
Cruz has concentrated the minds of the fraudsters the way an impending hanging is supposed to do for the condemned man.
Cruz has concentrated the minds of the fraudsters the way an impending hanging is supposed to do for the condemned man.
1
I had never considered it a serious possibility, but now am beginning to believe that if the GOP convention is brokered and the only choice is between a completely crazy reality teevee star and a guy everyone hates, we may actually see Mitt Romney dragged from the shadows to try to save the party as their nominee.
It could be the most fascinating political convention in decades rather than the usual coronation ceremony. I can hardly wait and am already stocking up on popcorn.
It could be the most fascinating political convention in decades rather than the usual coronation ceremony. I can hardly wait and am already stocking up on popcorn.
1
My husband read an article this week that homes in Canada were selling at a rapid rate. He said it might be due to the valuation of the Canadian dollar, but I think it might be Americans who are getting their "Trump/Cruz Emigration Plan" in order. Forewarned is forearmed.
4
Donald makes the press and typical politicians uneasy. He's apart from their talking points, you know, the talking point reporter or columnist (Gail) with the talking point questions to the talking point politicians with their talking point answers. Case in point, when Hillary called Donald sexist he responded by calling her an enabler of her husband who abused women. She nor Bill, had no response, something other Republicans (or Gail) would ever say. Its the value that Donald brings to this campaign. As to Hillary's experience, her time as NY Senator was note worthy for nothing. On that point Donald has done more for NY than she was capable of. All of these candidates have flaws, but the interesting aspect of this campaign is how uneasy Donald has made them and the national media. Other than Nixon in 1972, I cant recall a more damaged presidential candidate than Hillary.
5
Bush II, prior to his reelection bid, had already:
1) proposed privatizing Social Security
2) Lowered taxes (mostly for the very rich)
3) Started an unjustified war
4) Allowed banks to use FDIC insured deposits to make risky margin investments
5) #2 and #3 exploded the debt (that had been going down as a % of GDP under Clinton) #5 led to a global financial crisis.
Bush was reelected
Hillary has a chance (of course so does Trump)
1) proposed privatizing Social Security
2) Lowered taxes (mostly for the very rich)
3) Started an unjustified war
4) Allowed banks to use FDIC insured deposits to make risky margin investments
5) #2 and #3 exploded the debt (that had been going down as a % of GDP under Clinton) #5 led to a global financial crisis.
Bush was reelected
Hillary has a chance (of course so does Trump)
3
Trump is really quite jealous of the way Bill Clinton mesmerizes women.
3
This is all an elaborate set-up to insure a brokered convention. At the appointed time, Mitt Romney will be called from the wings to save the day.
Mitt tested the waters a year ago, said no, and disappeared. I can't believe the the actual leaders of the GOP would leave this much to chance without hedging their bets. Having no plan B is a rookie mistake. If they can rig the election process, they can certainly rig the nomination process.
Mitt tested the waters a year ago, said no, and disappeared. I can't believe the the actual leaders of the GOP would leave this much to chance without hedging their bets. Having no plan B is a rookie mistake. If they can rig the election process, they can certainly rig the nomination process.
1
Since Congress stopped governing 30 years ago, the American people have said OK, lets just make it a big party. Politics is all about polls, media and whose on top. It is not about fixing roads, improving our lives or making society work. Unfortunately, even the sane lemmings go over the cliff.
4
Such a strange world, indeed. This is House of Cards, only better. HRC could end up under indictment, Cruz, a snake. Trump, of celebrity TV, and Sanders, a 74 year old Socialist. At least, it will be interesting.
2
I have never seen more money wasted on frivolous investigations than what has been blown trying to discredit the Clintons.
7
People have correctly focused on 'race', but there is also the issue of age. We focus on white, black, brown, yellow and red, but leave out gray. The GOP has become The No Party for Old Men (and Women). They've waged an 80-year war on programs that are absolute necessity for seniors (which mostly means white people). This defying gravity can't last. Trump has said.....said... that he supports Social Security and Medicare with" no cuts". This might have something to do with his success. Abolishing Social Security and Medicare (along with the V.A. and all other public pensions) is the holy grail of American conservatism. The country is simply becoming too nonwhite and the Grand Old Party has simply become too old for classical American-style conservatism.
2
The matter of most importance to the Republican Party is no longer the 2016 election of the president. Far more important is how the party deals with Donald Trump. Elections come and go but schisms last forever. I have heard Republican leaders say that they expect Republicans to unite around the eventual candidate – even if it is Mr. Trump. They seem to think that the worst that could happen with Mr. Trump as the candidate is that Republicans who disagree with him will stay home on election day. They don’t think he has any chance of being elected in the general anyway, so they believe that no matter the outcome of the election, Republicans will come back together afterward. They are wrong, wrong, wrong. Acceptance of Mr. Trump as any kind of representative is anathema to many of us and the fact that he has the support of so many purported Republicans is in itself enough to cause us to leave the party for good. To be clear: for people who put patriotism above party, it isn’t good enough to simply withhold support for Mr. Trump; he must be ejected from the race for cause and his views unambiguously repudiated and condemned.
97
If he is the nominee every Republican running for Congress will have to choose whether to support him. Obviously in some races this will be no problem since there'll be enough wacked-out voters that supporting Trump will be an easy call. On the other side there will probably a few races where the Republican candidate will know he has to disavow Trump. but there will be a lot of races where the Republican candidate will be in a bind: enough Trump supporters among the Republican voters to make a disavowal very dangerous but enough anti-Trump folks among the independents to make supporting Trump equally dangerous.
I say if Trump is the nominee then we need to make this election an anti-racism crusade. There really is no place for outright racists in 21st century America. Let this be their last stand. Then they can retreat to their holes and tell each other that they tried, they really tried to keep America white.
I say if Trump is the nominee then we need to make this election an anti-racism crusade. There really is no place for outright racists in 21st century America. Let this be their last stand. Then they can retreat to their holes and tell each other that they tried, they really tried to keep America white.
1
Hey, if John Scott (formerly of the Arizona Coyotes) can be voted to be in the NHL All-Star game, and even selected as one of the tri-captains, why can't the poofie-haired guy be voted in as his party's candidate? Stranger things have happened.
3
Gail, not a word about Bernie Sanders? Jeeeeshh....
Maybe the republican establishment is kissing up to T rump because they think he will lose some support with the brown shirts who support him if they think he is part of the establishment. "Make him seem like one of us so the knuckle draggers cheering him on will just go home."
If we don't go all out fascist after this election Barack Obama's legacy is going to be in good hands, with or without Clinton. He has done a stellar job serving our Nation.
But we still have some ways to go to relieve ourselves of the burden of the oligarchs' and the banks' hold on our congress and our Country and I'm not convinced Hillary is up to the task. She really hasn't had any real new ideas since the republicans crushed her health care initiative in the 90's and we are desperate for new ideas. At least, new tries at different ideas.
Maybe the republican establishment is kissing up to T rump because they think he will lose some support with the brown shirts who support him if they think he is part of the establishment. "Make him seem like one of us so the knuckle draggers cheering him on will just go home."
If we don't go all out fascist after this election Barack Obama's legacy is going to be in good hands, with or without Clinton. He has done a stellar job serving our Nation.
But we still have some ways to go to relieve ourselves of the burden of the oligarchs' and the banks' hold on our congress and our Country and I'm not convinced Hillary is up to the task. She really hasn't had any real new ideas since the republicans crushed her health care initiative in the 90's and we are desperate for new ideas. At least, new tries at different ideas.
1
It appears that Mr. Trump's gift for deal making is a legend of his own creation. His deals, many of which yield no winners, including himself with numerous bankruptcies, might be good for him, but disastrous for others. Why we would trust him to make deals for us as President that would be in anyone's best interest other than his own is beyond my comprehension.
2
And here we have a spot from a lass that no doubt is a Clintonite.. Hillary Rodham Clinton ....................
were we to attempt to list positive achievements from any moment of her droll and winey existence in government .. we we would find ......nothing !! The public has been led to believe that there is some sort of "intellectual" overlord
talent with Socio-Demo Party ... but look and listen a little closer ... Ms (and Mr for that matter) Clinton is of average or near average gray matter power at best.. Her word choice is most indicative She sounds appealing to the non discerning..she clicks with the auto-womenists... but really there's not much there folks ... put her in and you get
zilch......
were we to attempt to list positive achievements from any moment of her droll and winey existence in government .. we we would find ......nothing !! The public has been led to believe that there is some sort of "intellectual" overlord
talent with Socio-Demo Party ... but look and listen a little closer ... Ms (and Mr for that matter) Clinton is of average or near average gray matter power at best.. Her word choice is most indicative She sounds appealing to the non discerning..she clicks with the auto-womenists... but really there's not much there folks ... put her in and you get
zilch......
2
"Mr. Trump, have you thought about who you might name as your secretary of state?"
"Well, you know that's a tough one because there are a lot of really great people out there, people who would know how to do things and get things done like it's never been done before. And believe me when I tell you, they're going to know how to build a great wall, a beautiful, fantastic wall, and then we're going to make Mexico pay for it."
"So, someone from the outside?
"Well, look, up until recently I was thinking that Carl Icahn might make the best secretary of state because he really knows how to get things done. And what a negotiator -- you wouldn't believe how he'd deal with those Chinese.
"But the other day, Sarah Palin sure looked terrific, didn't she? I mean, the wonderful things she was saying about me. So it sure would be nice to have as a secretary of state someone who feels the anger that's out there in America and who can feel the pulse of America.
"So, your pick would be Sarah Palin for secretary of state?"
"No, I didn't say that. Look, she's a great person, but in the end you've got to go with what your head tells you. And my head is telling me Carl Icahn. I mean, just look at how fantastic the guy is. You know he'd make a great secretary of state, because he's one of the few people who has more money than me. Look, you don't get to the situation where Carl and I are both at without having great talent and knowing how to make successful deals. So he's my pick."
"Well, you know that's a tough one because there are a lot of really great people out there, people who would know how to do things and get things done like it's never been done before. And believe me when I tell you, they're going to know how to build a great wall, a beautiful, fantastic wall, and then we're going to make Mexico pay for it."
"So, someone from the outside?
"Well, look, up until recently I was thinking that Carl Icahn might make the best secretary of state because he really knows how to get things done. And what a negotiator -- you wouldn't believe how he'd deal with those Chinese.
"But the other day, Sarah Palin sure looked terrific, didn't she? I mean, the wonderful things she was saying about me. So it sure would be nice to have as a secretary of state someone who feels the anger that's out there in America and who can feel the pulse of America.
"So, your pick would be Sarah Palin for secretary of state?"
"No, I didn't say that. Look, she's a great person, but in the end you've got to go with what your head tells you. And my head is telling me Carl Icahn. I mean, just look at how fantastic the guy is. You know he'd make a great secretary of state, because he's one of the few people who has more money than me. Look, you don't get to the situation where Carl and I are both at without having great talent and knowing how to make successful deals. So he's my pick."
2
how about this, you go to the elections with the Republicans you have, not the ones you want.
3
Just the guy I want representing my country to the world. The best sex Marla Maples ever had. Put that on the list of required presidential qualifications. It will come in handy when negotiating with Islamists. Oh, I forgot, those guys rape and pillage, so they will probably appreciate Trump's sexual prowess. Never mind. I once thought I was embarrassed, to the max, by Bill Clinton and George Bush. Ha.
3
The Republicans can choose their nominee be it Donald 'The Birther' Trump or Ted Cruz who has to lash his own family to the couch and force them to sing his praises (and is willing to do that on camera) or any of the others. The solutions are coming from Democrats these days despite what the Right Wing megaphone shouts out every day. And the majority of Americans know it.
1
I would rather be the gullible person who bought the Brooklyn Bridge than the exploitative, self-aggrandizing person selling it.
P.S. This insightful humorous piece by Gail Collins is a classic. One of her best.
P.S. This insightful humorous piece by Gail Collins is a classic. One of her best.
3
What a hoot! I love listening to those that elected George W. Bush and Barak Obama complain about how unqualified current voters supporting Trump, Cruz, Sanders, etc. are. Wake up and smell the coffee, folks. We're reaping what we have sown.
1
Let us face facts. Obama cried about the people killed in San Bernardino.
But he is also the one whose drones have killed thousands, mostly Muslims, without the benefit of a trial.
And having continued the policy of harming Muslims, albeit in a "nice way" he wants to take 10,000 Syrians into the US.
And he wants to antagonize Russia (because of Snowden?) while claiming that he wants to fight ISIS.
No doubt the tears were sincere. But they were the tears of a man who is, ultimately no better than Bush. And the rich have gotten richer in the Obama regime. Hillary will be no better.
Sanders is the only candidate worth supporting, although I am appalled at his lack of compassion for the unborn. But it is only one failing. The others have dozens.
But he is also the one whose drones have killed thousands, mostly Muslims, without the benefit of a trial.
And having continued the policy of harming Muslims, albeit in a "nice way" he wants to take 10,000 Syrians into the US.
And he wants to antagonize Russia (because of Snowden?) while claiming that he wants to fight ISIS.
No doubt the tears were sincere. But they were the tears of a man who is, ultimately no better than Bush. And the rich have gotten richer in the Obama regime. Hillary will be no better.
Sanders is the only candidate worth supporting, although I am appalled at his lack of compassion for the unborn. But it is only one failing. The others have dozens.
4
Congratulations on being the first at the NYT for finally heeding to the wake-up call. Everyone else has been hitting the snooze button, and continue to do so. Still, a late reckoning is better than no reckoning. Yes, NYT, New Yorker Trump has more than a decent shot at the WH, landslide not ruled-out. Hurry-up with the U-turn, get of the high horse, and start giving your local homeboy his due, before your embarrassment gets anymore noticeable. Thank you.
4
Gail, you seem to be suffering from Moreendowdism: the belief that every column must contain an oblique slam at Hillary Clinton. You started this column with the premise of being able to tell people in 1990 what's going to happen in the 21st century with the hope of amazing them. There is nothing startling in Hillary Clinton's ambition and promise. One who forwards positions and adjusts them to ensure they reflect the will of the people, are in the best interests of the people and can be agreeably legislated are the things one would normally associate with a person seeking to be America's chief executive. If you remained true to your premise, you would have ignored Clinton and mentioned instead that a self-proclaimed socialist had charmed a sizable chunk of the electorate. Stick to your guns, Gail, and stay away from the tendencies that have tainted Maureen Dowd's writing. Become the better writer.
4
Donald Trump on policy at one of his rallies. And I quote...
"On day one, *I* [said with emphasis] will repeal Obama care. We're going to get rid of it, and replace it with something really, really good."
The crowd goes NUTS! Cheers all around!
Do you have a favorite Donald policy specific quote?
"On day one, *I* [said with emphasis] will repeal Obama care. We're going to get rid of it, and replace it with something really, really good."
The crowd goes NUTS! Cheers all around!
Do you have a favorite Donald policy specific quote?
3
The public is finally sick of the luegenpresse and political correctness. This is nothing less than a revolt.
2
Only a xenophobic racist would use the term "luegenpresse". The only revolt here is by the ignorant against decency, reason and intelligence.
3
If Trump or Cruz wins, it might be Canada that has to build a big wall to keep the hordes of fleeing Americans out.
8
The GOP choice is quite terrible.
Hist’ry has nothing comparable.
One decision to dump
Both Ted Cruz and Don Trump
Can make the old party repairable.
Hist’ry has nothing comparable.
One decision to dump
Both Ted Cruz and Don Trump
Can make the old party repairable.
3
Let's not forget Trump's association with Sarah Palin. As a running gag that offers more possibilities than Romney and Seamus.
4
In his way, Trump is a Chauncey Gardener. He is there, and he says the imponderable.
2
Great analogy but Chauncey didn't self promote whereas Trump does nothing but self promote. The "establishment" read deep, profound meaning into Chauncey's wandering comments whereas Trump's appeal is anti-establishment. Same results, though...the country that birthed the reality show now has a chance to elect a reality Prez. You get what you create so here we are. Netflix would have loved to have created this binge-worthy "show".
2
What really scares me is not that Donald Trump is ahead but that millions of Americans believe this racist warmongering demagogue is the solution to achieving increased prosperity for all Americans and in improved international reputation and relations that will lead to a more peaceful World. They are just as delusional as this narcissistic egomaniac has clearly demonstrated he is.
6
"Extra, extra, read all about!" American public agree to divorce Donald Trump. Media protests. Republicans agree to join Matt Damon on Mars. Evangelicals embrace Ted Cruz in an end-of-times death dance as they await "the rapture." Hillary "feels the Bern" after losing the first four primaries and decides to join Goldman Sachs as CEO. Fantasy Future is so much more fun than Fantasy Past; you have so much more to look forward to.
Oh, Ms. Collins, your nearly final sentence sums up the Trump: "he's got his name on a ton of golf courses."
Unfortunately, most of the media coverage of Mr. Trump makes him seem like a teddy bear who will eventually allow himself be controlled by whoever can tap into his egomania. I fear the Republican "establishment" thinks they have another Bush II in Trump: someone who can be given "handlers" who will run the country while he reads books to children.
Mr. Trump presents a real danger. The serious problem with never holding any elected office prior to this presidential run is that the Trump has never had to answer to voters or constituents. I doubt he understands how this connection between voters and their elected (not bought) representative works; I doubt he respects the power of democracy when his whole life experience seems to be authoritarian.
Unfortunately, most of the media coverage of Mr. Trump makes him seem like a teddy bear who will eventually allow himself be controlled by whoever can tap into his egomania. I fear the Republican "establishment" thinks they have another Bush II in Trump: someone who can be given "handlers" who will run the country while he reads books to children.
Mr. Trump presents a real danger. The serious problem with never holding any elected office prior to this presidential run is that the Trump has never had to answer to voters or constituents. I doubt he understands how this connection between voters and their elected (not bought) representative works; I doubt he respects the power of democracy when his whole life experience seems to be authoritarian.
6
I am puzzled by left-brained commentary on Trump (and Palin). It is beside the point. Trump's appeal is not to reason or logic. Trump is talking to the heart, or maybe some other organ lower down, but let's stop for now at the heart.
The American heart is a lot harder and colder than we'd care to admit. D. H. Lawrence wrote that "The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted."
Television is verbal and visual. It bypasses the written and thoughtful. Television goes for the heart. And Trump is skilled at using it. So is Palin, a one-time TV weather girl. We've been primed for this. If it isn't Trump, it would be someone else like him. Watch Paddy Chayefsky's " Network" again. He explains it all.
The American heart is a lot harder and colder than we'd care to admit. D. H. Lawrence wrote that "The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted."
Television is verbal and visual. It bypasses the written and thoughtful. Television goes for the heart. And Trump is skilled at using it. So is Palin, a one-time TV weather girl. We've been primed for this. If it isn't Trump, it would be someone else like him. Watch Paddy Chayefsky's " Network" again. He explains it all.
3
Palin is not skilled at using it - that's why she lost her show. Surely you notice the lack of clarity, clear connections and complete thoughts when she talks?
Trump has a doctorate in English and debate by comparison.
Trump has a doctorate in English and debate by comparison.
1
There is a difference between John McCain's birthplace--his father, a Naval officer, was stationed in the then Panama Canal Zone, administered by the U.S.--and Ted Cruz, who was born in Canada, a foreign country. Sen. Cruz held dual citizenship until a few years ago when he denounced his Canadian citizenship.
5
I dunno if he DEnounced it, but he certainly REnounced it.
1
Let us not forget, Donald is in nobody's pocket. Donald has not spent his money like a fool in this election. Donald is a businessman ala supreme. Donald knows how to make good deals, he is for a strong military and the best friend of the Vets. Donald has the know how to surround himself with the brightest & clever staff to man various offices, such as the Secretary of State, etc. It is time, rest of the contenders line up behind Donald so he can face the liar of all time, Hillary Clinton, and sends her home.
3
Folks: It's being said that the average American citizen is fed up with the state of the State. It's being touted that they're fed up with feeling powerless when it comes to the needs of the common good being ignored. And the reactionary nature of today's political circus is proof of the truth of this sentiment. In times past, in other societies, when the majority have felt so disenfranchised this would be the moment for pitch-forks, firebrands and the ever popular guillotine.
But here in our "civilized" Democratic times the masses go to......Trumpie! He is the populist protest vehicle of choice, albeit one being rolled around in a gilded cart. We all know how this ends; wreckage and ruin all across the political landscape. And for all the usual reasons; the political class has grown too insular, too elite in attitude and effect. They ignore the needs of the many to benefit the few. Consequently, though they wring their hands and bemoan the state of things, all orchestrated by a complicit media State, they are unable to comprehend that they are repeating history. They are the sole architect of all that is occurring now. I leave them all; the sycophants, the power brokers, the wealthy elite families with their plans to enhance their advantage, I leave them all to their fate. Let's go to the voting booth, it's time to be OFF with their HEADS!
John~
American Net'Zen
But here in our "civilized" Democratic times the masses go to......Trumpie! He is the populist protest vehicle of choice, albeit one being rolled around in a gilded cart. We all know how this ends; wreckage and ruin all across the political landscape. And for all the usual reasons; the political class has grown too insular, too elite in attitude and effect. They ignore the needs of the many to benefit the few. Consequently, though they wring their hands and bemoan the state of things, all orchestrated by a complicit media State, they are unable to comprehend that they are repeating history. They are the sole architect of all that is occurring now. I leave them all; the sycophants, the power brokers, the wealthy elite families with their plans to enhance their advantage, I leave them all to their fate. Let's go to the voting booth, it's time to be OFF with their HEADS!
John~
American Net'Zen
2
Tactically, the Senate Republicans should meet in caucus and agree to expect Ted Cruz. That would tangle him up through election.
"expel" not "expect" -- done in by auto-correct.
I knew there had to be a good reason I quit playing golf at age 20.
Ms. Collins writes that until now, nobody was taking the Trump candidacy seriously. Even now, there's very little reason to take him any more seriously than he deserves. Notwithstanding his polling lead his unfavorability ratings are high, even among Republicans.
The real worry is that the GOP "establishment" insists upon its continuing hike on a path toward self-immolation by refusing to unite behind a sane candidate. (Oh wait, there's only one sane candidate but he's TOO sane for what the Party has become. Sorry, Mr. Kasich.)
The GOP can halt the ascendency of The Donald and The Ted, but the signs hardly favor that it will.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
Ms. Collins writes that until now, nobody was taking the Trump candidacy seriously. Even now, there's very little reason to take him any more seriously than he deserves. Notwithstanding his polling lead his unfavorability ratings are high, even among Republicans.
The real worry is that the GOP "establishment" insists upon its continuing hike on a path toward self-immolation by refusing to unite behind a sane candidate. (Oh wait, there's only one sane candidate but he's TOO sane for what the Party has become. Sorry, Mr. Kasich.)
The GOP can halt the ascendency of The Donald and The Ted, but the signs hardly favor that it will.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
4
Kasich is responsible for the sale of public education to private interests. He is no moderate.
2
Trump doesn't believe half the things he says. Cruz, on the other hand, doesn't say half the things he believes!
4
When a man who has not presented a single workable policy is the top choice for becoming the GOP presidential candidate, the party has become utterly desperate.
4
There's always the possibility that Trump struck a deal with his old Democrat friends the Clintons in order to drag the Republicans so far to the right and away from common decency that they're unelectable. He's created a situation where Ted Cruz of all people is the second option for Rep. candidate!! The Rep. establishment is lying dazed in the dust. Clinton just needs to make some kind of accommodation with Sanders to blunt his threat, and she's in. Eight years of Hillary and the US electoral landscape will have shifted towards more diversity and social liberalism, and the angry white brigade will have died away.
Here's footage of Trump calmly and rationally being a standard liberal NYC Democrat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcUCLwWCihE
Here's footage of Trump calmly and rationally being a standard liberal NYC Democrat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcUCLwWCihE
So let's see - the top four candidates based on polling today are: a pathological liar with lots of skeletons, a socialist, a reality TV star and an Alfred E Newman lookalike who is hated by his own party.
Makes you think our next president will be none of these. Either someone will rise from the lower ranks of the republicans (Christie, Rubio, Kasich?) or someone new will jump into the democratic race (Biden?)
Makes you think our next president will be none of these. Either someone will rise from the lower ranks of the republicans (Christie, Rubio, Kasich?) or someone new will jump into the democratic race (Biden?)
1
GOP: Seriously... Are these guys the best you can come up with?!
5
The Washington Tourism Industry will really buzz off the charts if Trump were to ever become president. Visits to “TrumpWorld” (District) would be hawked by peddlers in Times Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, outside Faneuil Hall, and literally anywhere that lost souls might congregate. “Come to TWD, soon to be the new end-all. Just trust me!”
The White House would become the new TW, where Donald Trump would rise in the morning, and set in the evening. The Trump Monument. The cherry trees would remain; however, the Basin would become Donald’s (dare I say, new and improved) WaterWorld. There is but one question that I have: How will DT ever re-name the Lincoln Memorial and the National Zoo? Oh that’s right, he now has “Ya betcha!”
http://thetruthoncommonsense.com
The White House would become the new TW, where Donald Trump would rise in the morning, and set in the evening. The Trump Monument. The cherry trees would remain; however, the Basin would become Donald’s (dare I say, new and improved) WaterWorld. There is but one question that I have: How will DT ever re-name the Lincoln Memorial and the National Zoo? Oh that’s right, he now has “Ya betcha!”
http://thetruthoncommonsense.com
I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me how a sitting US Senator, namely Cruz, whose base salary is $174,000 per year, is eligible for ACA.
And, since he makes so much money on that salary alone, why can't he be a good husband and father and provide for his family by paying for the health insurance to which he is entitled as a Senator, or through private pay?
Why in the name of God (or whichever Sky Fairy you want) did no one in The Media question his alleged enrollment in ACA, aqnd how, with such a high income, he was eligible?
All members of Congress get excellent health care coverage through their positions. We taxpayers pick up the tab for them, their families, their staff, and their families.....
Simply put, then, Cruz is an insurance crook.
And, since he makes so much money on that salary alone, why can't he be a good husband and father and provide for his family by paying for the health insurance to which he is entitled as a Senator, or through private pay?
Why in the name of God (or whichever Sky Fairy you want) did no one in The Media question his alleged enrollment in ACA, aqnd how, with such a high income, he was eligible?
All members of Congress get excellent health care coverage through their positions. We taxpayers pick up the tab for them, their families, their staff, and their families.....
Simply put, then, Cruz is an insurance crook.
6
Elise -- this is all a political flap, perhaps stunt, of Cruz's. He is insured under his very generous Senate plan. The issue is his family: wife and two daughters.
He gave a rant in New Hampshire about how his family healthcare getting canceled and having no coverage, but it turns out that he'd been automatically moved to a continuing plan ...
He gave a rant in New Hampshire about how his family healthcare getting canceled and having no coverage, but it turns out that he'd been automatically moved to a continuing plan ...
3
Senators and U.S. House representatives were forced to sign up for America's Affordable Healthcare Act and give up their cushy insurance. Maybe that's why they hate it so much?
2
I cannot fathom why anyone would believe that Trump would, as President, ever do anything that might lessen his power as a billionaire in favor of the public good. All those ordinary folk who are supporting him must be delusional to think that Trump stands for anyone but Trump. HIs entire identity revolves around his money. Without it, he is nothing. So what makes anyone believe that he's capable of representing those without the power that money brings? The fact that he's self-funding his campaign is irrelevant. All it really means is that he sees himself as accountable to no one, including the public who might elect him.
7
lols.. the NYT, a once great newspaper, coming to terms with reality... Trump took your best shots and is not only still standing he is surging in the polls.
come to terms with that Ms Collins.
come to terms with that Ms Collins.
3
The last sentence reminded me of the Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times". We seem to have been really cursed but not by the Chinese!
3
Really, Ms. Collins? You were "summoned back from vacation because Donald was splitting with his first wife, Ivana."? Was that around the time of Dallas and "greed is good"? I call it the harmonic convergence of greed when our entire country lost it's mind over more money and scandals. This is what we get now that the mania has sent all the wealth to the top. DT, SP, TC and the entire ALEC/Koch brothers/Sheldon Adelson owned republican field. The good news is that we also have Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders!
3
Ya know ... one of the thing about the Donald is that all of his wives have been imported immigrants ... blonde ones.
2
DONALD threatens to Trump his opponents. But not government experts. No president could possibly make an informed decision about the use of nuclear weapons without knowledge of the nuclear triad. Trump seems to be suffering from a neurological condition that affects his language, thought processes and reality testing. For example, texting that Paris is in Germany and sneering that Cruz was not debating him because Cruz went "where the votes are," seem to show extremely poor judgment and insight. His frequent use of profanity is more than folksy. It seems to be a loss of impulse control. Before settling for Trump, I believe that the nation must demand that an impartial medical team give him comprehensive neurological and psychoneurological evaluations, with the results to be made public. We will not find it funny if he's in office, has severely impaired judgment and must be relieved of his official duties as unfit to govern. We must make that determination well before the election. I say, Donald's not "that bad." He seems to be far worse. Now if Michael Bloomberg had decided to bid for the candidacy, we'd have a potential candidate who's brilliant, well-seasoned and incorruptible. The people who come closest to Bloomberg--which isn't really that close--are Rubio and Kasich. Probably in reverse order. But they don't pass the test for ideological purity. So what are we going to do? Beg Sarah Palin to take her word salad to the White House? I'll get back to ya!
4
There are dozens of things wrong with Trump: misogyny, racism, narcissism, profligacy, dishonesty, hucksterism, insincerity, chronic lying
There's 1 thing right about him so far: He's not accepting campaign donations. More importantly he's not taking $ from the Koch Brothers, Sheldon Adelson, Foster Friess, Paul Singer, Robert Mercer, Woody Johnson, Norman Braman, Ken Langone, Joe Ricketts, Peter Thiel - they're already in the bag for Cruz, Bush, Christie, Rubio, Paul.
Among the big donors for Democrats, these regular guys have donated to Hillary's PAC (Priorities USA Action), some like Katzenberg and Saban more than a million $: Bob Iger (Disney), Drew Houston (Dropbox), Steve Schwarzman (Blackstone), Robert Penske (Penske), Jeffrey Katzenberg (Dreamworks), Haim Saban (Saban Entertainment Group), Ronald Cameron (Mountaire).
What are all these nice people getting for their money? You might well ask.
I doubt most of the people currently supporting The Donald are doing so primarily because they're creeped out/disgusted by all the soft/dark/big $ floating to the other candidates - but funding his own campaign certainly isn't hurting him with the suspicious.
Suspicious? Count me in.
I'm spending the storm reading Jane Mayer's new book "Dark Money" (currently excerpted in The New Yorker online) and cringing. It makes me wanna hide under the covers.
What to do when the GOP/Democratic nominations are for sale to the highest bidders?
Vote Bernie. He can't be bought.
There's 1 thing right about him so far: He's not accepting campaign donations. More importantly he's not taking $ from the Koch Brothers, Sheldon Adelson, Foster Friess, Paul Singer, Robert Mercer, Woody Johnson, Norman Braman, Ken Langone, Joe Ricketts, Peter Thiel - they're already in the bag for Cruz, Bush, Christie, Rubio, Paul.
Among the big donors for Democrats, these regular guys have donated to Hillary's PAC (Priorities USA Action), some like Katzenberg and Saban more than a million $: Bob Iger (Disney), Drew Houston (Dropbox), Steve Schwarzman (Blackstone), Robert Penske (Penske), Jeffrey Katzenberg (Dreamworks), Haim Saban (Saban Entertainment Group), Ronald Cameron (Mountaire).
What are all these nice people getting for their money? You might well ask.
I doubt most of the people currently supporting The Donald are doing so primarily because they're creeped out/disgusted by all the soft/dark/big $ floating to the other candidates - but funding his own campaign certainly isn't hurting him with the suspicious.
Suspicious? Count me in.
I'm spending the storm reading Jane Mayer's new book "Dark Money" (currently excerpted in The New Yorker online) and cringing. It makes me wanna hide under the covers.
What to do when the GOP/Democratic nominations are for sale to the highest bidders?
Vote Bernie. He can't be bought.
12
Strange times, indeed, Gail.
I, too, have a fantasy, but not nearly as amusing as yours. I see Trump in a sort of bizzaro "West Wing" episode, striding into the oval office on the first working day of his Presidency and taking his seat at the desk behind the big, gold nameplate with the single word TRUMP.
But I see him deflate, like the cartoon character he is, as he realizes that after the TV show of his campaign - the crowds, the cheers, the adoration of his fans - he must take on the lonely task of governing.
He must make good on all those inane promises: build walls and make others pay for them; direct mass deportations without increasing bureaucracy or budget; defeat ISIS; solve the Middle East problem; bring financial prosperity to a nation when he couldn't do it to a company and... and... make us all say Merry Christmas!
And – he must do this all not as a CEO, a billionaire or even a reality show host where the little people seek his favor and the sycophants say “How high” but with a recalcitrant and equal Congress, a headstrong and equal Supreme Court (who he can’t fire), foreign leaders unimpressed with his resume, and an electorate as fickle as his taste in women.
And – he must do it without exceeding the powers constitutionally given to the executive branch lest he be accused of being like his power-grubbing presidential predecessor.
Strange times, indeed, Gail.
I, too, have a fantasy, but not nearly as amusing as yours. I see Trump in a sort of bizzaro "West Wing" episode, striding into the oval office on the first working day of his Presidency and taking his seat at the desk behind the big, gold nameplate with the single word TRUMP.
But I see him deflate, like the cartoon character he is, as he realizes that after the TV show of his campaign - the crowds, the cheers, the adoration of his fans - he must take on the lonely task of governing.
He must make good on all those inane promises: build walls and make others pay for them; direct mass deportations without increasing bureaucracy or budget; defeat ISIS; solve the Middle East problem; bring financial prosperity to a nation when he couldn't do it to a company and... and... make us all say Merry Christmas!
And – he must do this all not as a CEO, a billionaire or even a reality show host where the little people seek his favor and the sycophants say “How high” but with a recalcitrant and equal Congress, a headstrong and equal Supreme Court (who he can’t fire), foreign leaders unimpressed with his resume, and an electorate as fickle as his taste in women.
And – he must do it without exceeding the powers constitutionally given to the executive branch lest he be accused of being like his power-grubbing presidential predecessor.
Strange times, indeed, Gail.
7
Are we shocked by this circus? The majority of our electorate can't name the three branches of government let alone their function. If they were facing a ferocious tiger or poisonous snake and their life depended on them naming their two a Senators and their U.S. Rep, they'd have to accept being dinner.
On the GOP side, we have had two men in the past three elections who were supposedly a master statesman and a savvy negotiator who will read all the world leaders' "tells" while he bluffs and plays poker face but both got the Lucy v Charlie Brown the day after touting Palin. Vetting, anyone?
The bottom line is both parties put all their eggs in one basket or too many banshees for one microphone. The GOP doesn't care or the 158 families controlling it. They have the house, senate and a lot of local and state governments. They are better off distracting the masses with their bread and circuses. And the Dems arrogantly didn't produce a viable third candidate. The importance of this election isn't Wall Street or ISIS or immigration, it's SCOTUS seats. Period.
On the GOP side, we have had two men in the past three elections who were supposedly a master statesman and a savvy negotiator who will read all the world leaders' "tells" while he bluffs and plays poker face but both got the Lucy v Charlie Brown the day after touting Palin. Vetting, anyone?
The bottom line is both parties put all their eggs in one basket or too many banshees for one microphone. The GOP doesn't care or the 158 families controlling it. They have the house, senate and a lot of local and state governments. They are better off distracting the masses with their bread and circuses. And the Dems arrogantly didn't produce a viable third candidate. The importance of this election isn't Wall Street or ISIS or immigration, it's SCOTUS seats. Period.
3
Would a Republican majority House prefer working with (or, most likely, against) a President Hillary Clinton or a President Ted Cruz? Working with a President Donald Trump (Heaven forbid) would be a blast.
Thirty years from now, we'll be looking back at the election of 2016 as the most interesting in American history--and perhaps worthy of a mini-series or a Broadway show.
Imagine the cast of characters--with Democrats putting forward an unaccomplished serial liar, facing indictment by the federal government--who is married to a former president and fellow serial liar. And then, tagging along not far behind, a delusional old Socialist who couldn't quite understand his chance of winning was never more than zero.dot.zero.
And then there are the Republicans--with an equally colorful lot--headlined by Donald Trump. But I would ask all of you Lefties out there, who tend to sneer at the idea of Donald Trump as our next president--is anyone who is MORE qualified? Honestly--think about it.
Take a look at real accomplishments of the other candidates and compare them to Trump. He done more, built more and is worth more than all the rest combined. Think that's easy? Dismiss him at your peril.
His empire has hundreds of companies and employees.
He's negotiated countless agreements, built hundreds of projects, worked with thousands of entities, created an iconic brand-- navigated the land mines of building things all over the world. Along the way he has persuaded a few politicians--not an invaluable skill for a U.S. president.
Liberals may think of Trump in buffoonish terms--seeing hot air and bombast. But think deeper. Did Ralph Kramden ever became a billionaire?
Imagine the cast of characters--with Democrats putting forward an unaccomplished serial liar, facing indictment by the federal government--who is married to a former president and fellow serial liar. And then, tagging along not far behind, a delusional old Socialist who couldn't quite understand his chance of winning was never more than zero.dot.zero.
And then there are the Republicans--with an equally colorful lot--headlined by Donald Trump. But I would ask all of you Lefties out there, who tend to sneer at the idea of Donald Trump as our next president--is anyone who is MORE qualified? Honestly--think about it.
Take a look at real accomplishments of the other candidates and compare them to Trump. He done more, built more and is worth more than all the rest combined. Think that's easy? Dismiss him at your peril.
His empire has hundreds of companies and employees.
He's negotiated countless agreements, built hundreds of projects, worked with thousands of entities, created an iconic brand-- navigated the land mines of building things all over the world. Along the way he has persuaded a few politicians--not an invaluable skill for a U.S. president.
Liberals may think of Trump in buffoonish terms--seeing hot air and bombast. But think deeper. Did Ralph Kramden ever became a billionaire?
2
Now your best line is and I strongly believe in "if Trump wins , he`ll owe it all to the terribleness of Ted Cruz."
Bob Dole was the last Republican I ever voted for is still alive with a sane mind and does not shy away from saying whatever comes to his mind sort of like mama Bush. But she has her own agenda her son Jeb the loser.
Ted Cruz the Mr. Haney of " Green Acres" simply can not win the nomination. It could be a colossal loss but could we take that kind of chances ?
Only time will tell. But if Cruz wins any more numbers yours truly might cross the party like to voter for Trump.
There I said it.
Bob Dole was the last Republican I ever voted for is still alive with a sane mind and does not shy away from saying whatever comes to his mind sort of like mama Bush. But she has her own agenda her son Jeb the loser.
Ted Cruz the Mr. Haney of " Green Acres" simply can not win the nomination. It could be a colossal loss but could we take that kind of chances ?
Only time will tell. But if Cruz wins any more numbers yours truly might cross the party like to voter for Trump.
There I said it.
1
“Really, they’re very similar in that sense. Except that she’s been a senator and secretary of state, and he’s got his name on a ton of golf courses.
We live in strange times, people. Strange times.”
At the heart of the whole shebang is an electorate that is deeply fed up with broken and corrupt politics as usual: Big money driven, insanely partisan, too often gridlocked and often ineffective, and apparently incapable of being rationally reformed from within.
Voters are angry, befuddled and delusional all at the same time. They desperately cling to the shaken belief that picking a Trump, a Cruz, a Clinton or a Sanders just might be a seminal game changer, but now more than ever its a matter of just not making a grievous mistake, avoiding a disastrous choice.
One thing seems certain, that the unfolding of this election process will become far more ugly and disconcerting we rumble towards November.
We live in strange times, people. Strange times.”
At the heart of the whole shebang is an electorate that is deeply fed up with broken and corrupt politics as usual: Big money driven, insanely partisan, too often gridlocked and often ineffective, and apparently incapable of being rationally reformed from within.
Voters are angry, befuddled and delusional all at the same time. They desperately cling to the shaken belief that picking a Trump, a Cruz, a Clinton or a Sanders just might be a seminal game changer, but now more than ever its a matter of just not making a grievous mistake, avoiding a disastrous choice.
One thing seems certain, that the unfolding of this election process will become far more ugly and disconcerting we rumble towards November.
4
When I was a child the only reality television show on TV was a groundbreaking series on PBS called The Louds. News was on the networks at 6 and 11. Period.
Now in 2016 on any day, on any network or cable tv platform, reality television is rampant. People watch it, feed off of it and compare their own lives to its characters'. Why does it surprise anyone in a country dominated by reality television and twenty four hour news outlets that the man who is king of one and who can manipulate the other is winning? This is what we have become and he recognizes it and capitalizes on it. God Bless America, land of the free and oh, so real.
Now in 2016 on any day, on any network or cable tv platform, reality television is rampant. People watch it, feed off of it and compare their own lives to its characters'. Why does it surprise anyone in a country dominated by reality television and twenty four hour news outlets that the man who is king of one and who can manipulate the other is winning? This is what we have become and he recognizes it and capitalizes on it. God Bless America, land of the free and oh, so real.
6
Have I missed it, or has Gail not yet picked up on the delightful possibilities that come from Donald Trump's hair looking a lot like an Irish Setter?
8
Strange times , indeed. Thanx for the laffs.
1
A majority of citizens are sick and tired of people coming into this country illegally, taking jobs from Americans all the while breaking the law. A majority of Americans are sick and tired of political correctness Islamic style. A Pakistani woman makes it thru the "detailed and intensive" background check, comes into this country and shoots up San Bernardino in the name of Islam. Trump asks what is wrong with this picture and is labeled a racist by the politically correct left. A majority of Americans are sick of that type stuff. THATS what Trump is all about, the alpha and omega of his story.
2
Yes, but what magnificent golf courses! They're the greatest! The longest! The most expensive! The best!
5
It's all too surreal, a bad dream and we're going to wake up in Kansas- but it's not. The wicked witch from the north, Sarah Palin, is back, someone is parading Glen Beck around like he's not really crazy and now I'm afraid to turn on CNN because there are sane people talking to crazy people like they're not crazy. Have the angry "ranchers", Cliven and Amman Bundy, given their endorsement yet?
12
Little Teddy seems to think that his Princetonian debate speaking style plays well as a presidential candidate. I have bad news for him!
4
Well then, imagine this: Hillary and Cruz are forced out of the picture by legal problems and so we're left with Trump vs Sanders. How many of us have to think twice about choosing between these two?
4
Once upon a time Americans actually elected the richest President in their history. His name was George Washington.
Trumpolini sure isn't George Washington, and today's column sure isn't funny, Gail.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg is calculating, "Well, hey, if they would like to nominate a rich guy..."
Trumpolini sure isn't George Washington, and today's column sure isn't funny, Gail.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg is calculating, "Well, hey, if they would like to nominate a rich guy..."
5
Another rich guy - FDR.
Enter Bloomberg!
Enter Bloomberg!
2
The smartest of all the billionaires. The one who front ran all the rest of them who used his quote terminals.
1
Ms. Collins is right in comparing the campaign of Trump to Clinton's. One is doubtful that either truly believes what they are saying and that they are doing so simply to attract attention. I remember that probably a couple of years ago Trump was on Letterman's show and advocated a single payer healthcare system.
Of course, one doubts any of the other Republican candidates truly believes in what he or she is saying either (one gets the feeling that Christie would say he'd never heard of New Jersey if he could get away with it).
By the way, it was interesting how The Times did an article on how unimportant local issues such as advocating ethanol in Iowa had become for presidential candidates just a few days before the governor came out against Cruz solely because of his position on this issue. Obviously the paper's crystal ball is a bit cloudy.
Of course, one doubts any of the other Republican candidates truly believes in what he or she is saying either (one gets the feeling that Christie would say he'd never heard of New Jersey if he could get away with it).
By the way, it was interesting how The Times did an article on how unimportant local issues such as advocating ethanol in Iowa had become for presidential candidates just a few days before the governor came out against Cruz solely because of his position on this issue. Obviously the paper's crystal ball is a bit cloudy.
2
I fear only one thing--that US voters will make the same mistake sone Californian voters did awhile back and elect a stage personality. We endured 8 years of Arnold who left the state in a mess. It took Brown 8 years to get it fixed and start to put aside some money for the lean times.
If Trump is elected we will as a whole country will be in the same problem as CA was at the end of Arnold's governorship.
Do you really want that?
If Trump is elected we will as a whole country will be in the same problem as CA was at the end of Arnold's governorship.
Do you really want that?
10
I don't want to rain on anybody's parade, but our current president had practically zero experience as well. Community organizer and one absent senator term. I don't think he did a terrible job but let's get real.
2
Yes, let’s get real. Comparing President Obama’s electoral experience to Donald Trump is like comparing Tom Brady to a high school QB! Maybe you forgot that President Obama actually won office at the state level before running and winning a national office? And that only compares the political experience, comparing President Obama’s intellect to Trump's is like comparing Einstein to Donald Duck.
1
Lets ask Rupert what he thinks. He built this Frankenstein.
9
You can see what Matt Taibi says Murdoch thinks about Trump on Rolling Stone, and it's not pretty.
Payback is sweet.
Payback is sweet.
1
It's a sick funny. Core Republicans don't want Trump. Democrats sure as heck don't want Trump.
So who are all these people who, as Trump would say, "put his numbers way up there"? Can they all be Independents? Really?
We can't question who is getting polled any more, like we did in the beginning of this weird race. There have been way too many polls to leave that a factor. So we have to admit, there are real people out there who consistently rise Trump on the pedestal.
But many of us are still trying to figure out - who are these love, love, love Trump people? And further - why can't the other candidates reach them in the same way The Donald can?
Regardless, let's hope that there is a wake up call - the United States is not one great big stage...it's a real place in a real world. And we need more than a Donald Trump production.
So who are all these people who, as Trump would say, "put his numbers way up there"? Can they all be Independents? Really?
We can't question who is getting polled any more, like we did in the beginning of this weird race. There have been way too many polls to leave that a factor. So we have to admit, there are real people out there who consistently rise Trump on the pedestal.
But many of us are still trying to figure out - who are these love, love, love Trump people? And further - why can't the other candidates reach them in the same way The Donald can?
Regardless, let's hope that there is a wake up call - the United States is not one great big stage...it's a real place in a real world. And we need more than a Donald Trump production.
3
Trump is brilliant. He tells it like it is. The Emperor has no clothes and he says it. He has no trouble putting the NY Times Editorial Board in their place unlike myself who will just be deleted after submitting this piece for publication. He embodies the best of the Republican and Democratic Parties. He is friendly and a nice guy and all this talk of bigotry, sexism, extremism is nonsense from the Media which doesn't want to give the perfect candidate a break. Go vote for the mealy-mouthed Rubio or O'Malley if you have to. I've changed to Trump.
4
You are, of course, being sarcastic, aren't you?
"Believe me, don’t worry. We’re going to make such great deals.” So promises The Trumpster, the GOP's say-anything businessman running for President of the United States.
The Donald is like those used-car salespeople and financial advisers who make all kinds of claims they hope we won't check out and verify.
Okay Trump has experience making lots of business deals, so how did these deals work out for him & his employees? Some inconvenient facts:
Trump Air Lines: purchased by Trump in 1988; bankrupt by 1992 when T. defaulted on his loan
Trump Casinos: owns 3 in Atlantic City, all bankrupt by 2014; T. says he had nothing to do with it, tho he owns 28% of the stock
Trump Vodka: 2006-2011, which T. claimed “demand the same respect and inspire the same awe as the international legacy and brand of Donald Trump himself.”
and my favorite:
Trump University: started by Trump in 2005 as a for-profit, non-accredited university; it lasted a year; T. was sued for defrauding students
For more, see: http://time.com/3988970/donald-trump-business/
And about GOP claims that we need a businessman/woman to be POTUS and run the country like a business. Not so fast!
A British study ranked 20th & 21st century U.S. Presidents from most to least successful. At the bottom of the list were 3 businessmen who became POTUS: Harding, Hoover, and G.W. Bush.
Yes, businessmen like Trump know how to make deals, but what kind of deals? Like the water deal GOP MI Gov. Snyder did for Flint?
The Donald is like those used-car salespeople and financial advisers who make all kinds of claims they hope we won't check out and verify.
Okay Trump has experience making lots of business deals, so how did these deals work out for him & his employees? Some inconvenient facts:
Trump Air Lines: purchased by Trump in 1988; bankrupt by 1992 when T. defaulted on his loan
Trump Casinos: owns 3 in Atlantic City, all bankrupt by 2014; T. says he had nothing to do with it, tho he owns 28% of the stock
Trump Vodka: 2006-2011, which T. claimed “demand the same respect and inspire the same awe as the international legacy and brand of Donald Trump himself.”
and my favorite:
Trump University: started by Trump in 2005 as a for-profit, non-accredited university; it lasted a year; T. was sued for defrauding students
For more, see: http://time.com/3988970/donald-trump-business/
And about GOP claims that we need a businessman/woman to be POTUS and run the country like a business. Not so fast!
A British study ranked 20th & 21st century U.S. Presidents from most to least successful. At the bottom of the list were 3 businessmen who became POTUS: Harding, Hoover, and G.W. Bush.
Yes, businessmen like Trump know how to make deals, but what kind of deals? Like the water deal GOP MI Gov. Snyder did for Flint?
16
Hey -- please. Facts and a look at history have no place in American politics.
2
Considering the circumstances of this election who would be immoral enough to send Amerian kids to die in a foreign country to bring them our kind of democracy?
6
The Donald? Most other Republicans?
2
So Trump is at 32%. That's 32% of Republicans which make up 42% of Americans. If we take 32% of 42% we arrive at about 13% which means Trump does not have the support of 87% of the people.
12
Hillary Clinton is a serious candidate who cares about the country. Although these should be minimal qualifations, the other guy gives us real cause for doubt.
6
We could improve on Ms. Collins' tag line as follows:
"Donald Trump doesn't look so bad when the alternatives are Ted Cruz or Hillary Clinton."
"Donald Trump doesn't look so bad when the alternatives are Ted Cruz or Hillary Clinton."
5
I've said it before:
I'd take The Donald over Cruz in a heartbeat.
Now excuse me, I need to take a shower, my skin is crawling...
#FeeltheBern
I'd take The Donald over Cruz in a heartbeat.
Now excuse me, I need to take a shower, my skin is crawling...
#FeeltheBern
7
When I see Trump in action I can't help but think of Nietzsche's übermensch: The truth? "Na, that's for wimps." Facts? Geez, don't bother me with that stuff. Morality? "You can't be serious!"
Then again, I kind 'a understand much better now why he and Putin can be buddies. "A cup of tea, comrade?"
Then again, I kind 'a understand much better now why he and Putin can be buddies. "A cup of tea, comrade?"
5
Trump could very well beat Hillary.
More than anything, Trump wants to *win*.
Trump will certainly tack to the left, once nominated. There is a huge opportunity to attack Hillary from the left on reform. On the day Trump is nominated, he will begin talking about what a puppet Hillary is. He will ask: Why did Goldman Sachs pay Hillary $600,000 *personal* income in *one* year, for "speeches"? He will ask that question every day into November.
Trump will point to Hillary's previous support for the Trans Pacific Partnership. He will connect that to past trade deals, our persistent trade deficit, and lost manufacturing jobs.
If he is smart, he will also start talking about lack of demand, and how he can get infrastructure spending through congress, that Hillary *can't* - and that means *jobs*.
The model Hillary backers are using, is that of a linear scale, running from extreme right, through "centrist", to extreme left. The assumption is that more "centrist" is more electable.
This is the wrong model.
The public realizes that current policy means a bleak future for the typical worker. That means "establishment" candidates are completely unacceptable to a huge percentage of voters.
Hillary is much more vulnerable to Trump than to Sanders.
To a populace that sees their economic prospects on an ever-downward slide, the word "socialist" is not as scary as "status quo", or "establishment". Current faiked policy is unsustainable, and Hillary wants more of the same.
More than anything, Trump wants to *win*.
Trump will certainly tack to the left, once nominated. There is a huge opportunity to attack Hillary from the left on reform. On the day Trump is nominated, he will begin talking about what a puppet Hillary is. He will ask: Why did Goldman Sachs pay Hillary $600,000 *personal* income in *one* year, for "speeches"? He will ask that question every day into November.
Trump will point to Hillary's previous support for the Trans Pacific Partnership. He will connect that to past trade deals, our persistent trade deficit, and lost manufacturing jobs.
If he is smart, he will also start talking about lack of demand, and how he can get infrastructure spending through congress, that Hillary *can't* - and that means *jobs*.
The model Hillary backers are using, is that of a linear scale, running from extreme right, through "centrist", to extreme left. The assumption is that more "centrist" is more electable.
This is the wrong model.
The public realizes that current policy means a bleak future for the typical worker. That means "establishment" candidates are completely unacceptable to a huge percentage of voters.
Hillary is much more vulnerable to Trump than to Sanders.
To a populace that sees their economic prospects on an ever-downward slide, the word "socialist" is not as scary as "status quo", or "establishment". Current faiked policy is unsustainable, and Hillary wants more of the same.
6
Hillary favors evolution. The US apparently doesn't believe in the reality of of evolution.
2
Neither Trump nor Cruz have been put to the test yet. Seriously, does anyone really think that the Iowa caucuses effectuate any screening or review and analysis of a candidate's position(s) on the issues?
It will be much tougher going for both of them when they leave the Bible/Corn Belt and have to face people (with some actual brains) in the rest of the country who want to know what they really stand for or plan to do. Then it will get to the real uglies of Trump's 3 Russian wives, their citizenship, Cruz's Wall Street "loans" and connections, (more) money laundering charges, and everything opposition research can come up with. Many Republicans are betting that the two will eventually shred each other to pieces, with Bush coming out on top as the only "sane" choice.
And how will Trump play the "outsider" when he starts taking money from GOP politicians?
I'm enjoying the Breaking News here that Bloomberg might run as an independent..... Let the games continue. Unfortunately, it seems the country is the biggest loser.
Scrutiny will be the big decider.
It will be much tougher going for both of them when they leave the Bible/Corn Belt and have to face people (with some actual brains) in the rest of the country who want to know what they really stand for or plan to do. Then it will get to the real uglies of Trump's 3 Russian wives, their citizenship, Cruz's Wall Street "loans" and connections, (more) money laundering charges, and everything opposition research can come up with. Many Republicans are betting that the two will eventually shred each other to pieces, with Bush coming out on top as the only "sane" choice.
And how will Trump play the "outsider" when he starts taking money from GOP politicians?
I'm enjoying the Breaking News here that Bloomberg might run as an independent..... Let the games continue. Unfortunately, it seems the country is the biggest loser.
Scrutiny will be the big decider.
3
If Hillary Clinton becomes the nominee, Donald Trump actually _could_ become president.
May you live in interesting times, as the Chinese say.
May you live in interesting times, as the Chinese say.
4
It just occurred to me: is The Donald that much more improbable and bizarre a candidate than Arnold Schwarzenegger was?
3
Just now we hear from the NYTimes that former mayor Bloomberg is jumping in for President. Larry Ellison of Oracle can afford the US Presidency too. The comeback his yacht had in the Americas cup cinches it. The cup cost nearly a billion too. Rich people run anything. Or at least buy it.There is always Citizens United too. Can't Trump that. Or maybe some can.
I have grown accustomed to your face... so go the words of a famous song that accurately express my feelings about Donald Trump. His shock value is ebbing. The greatest threat to him but salvation for the country is that his audience will become bored. Bravado can only take him so far.
4
A banner just went up at the top of the page saying Bloomberg is considering running as an independent! America, are you ready for a three-way race with the boys from NYC?
Thank you, Bloomberg. Go, boy, go! Split that Republican vote the way Nader did to the Dems in 2000! It is a service to your country. It will be billionaire vs. billionaire, and the Kochs will howl as their millions are wasted yet again on political tinkering.
Bernie will win the election, and we will all bless you for saving us from the GOP.
Don't worry, Republicans. It will give you time to split into two parties: the Republicans and the libertarians, otherwise known as the Tea Party. Both new parties will be far happier after their divorce.
Thank you, Bloomberg. Go, boy, go! Split that Republican vote the way Nader did to the Dems in 2000! It is a service to your country. It will be billionaire vs. billionaire, and the Kochs will howl as their millions are wasted yet again on political tinkering.
Bernie will win the election, and we will all bless you for saving us from the GOP.
Don't worry, Republicans. It will give you time to split into two parties: the Republicans and the libertarians, otherwise known as the Tea Party. Both new parties will be far happier after their divorce.
8
Bob Dole was the watershed moment. When Sunshine doesn't like you like you, you have to be bad.
Back when actual primaries were still a twinkle in the candidate's eyes, I played a game trying to determine which Wizard of Oz character each candidate resembled. Trump kept veering between the giant head projection of the Great and Powerful Oz, and the Cowardly Lion (I'll fight you all! With one hand tied behind my back! Grrr!)
Cruz - I just never could nail it down. Was he the Wicked Witch, or one of the Flying Monkeys? C'Mon, you can jus picture him in the little hat - a nasty little package of malevolence.
It stopped being funny when I realized that the neither the Tin Man, nor the the Scarecrow, or even a grumpy talking tree (Katich) had a chance, and we were looking likely to get giant Image of Power, or a nasty little critter.
Back when actual primaries were still a twinkle in the candidate's eyes, I played a game trying to determine which Wizard of Oz character each candidate resembled. Trump kept veering between the giant head projection of the Great and Powerful Oz, and the Cowardly Lion (I'll fight you all! With one hand tied behind my back! Grrr!)
Cruz - I just never could nail it down. Was he the Wicked Witch, or one of the Flying Monkeys? C'Mon, you can jus picture him in the little hat - a nasty little package of malevolence.
It stopped being funny when I realized that the neither the Tin Man, nor the the Scarecrow, or even a grumpy talking tree (Katich) had a chance, and we were looking likely to get giant Image of Power, or a nasty little critter.
1
If any of the GOP candidates gets his hands on the Supreme Court, it's the end of the country as we know it.
If you love the idea of child labor or of eliminating taxes for the 1%, vote GOP.
Welcome to the gardens of Versailles.
If you love the idea of child labor or of eliminating taxes for the 1%, vote GOP.
Welcome to the gardens of Versailles.
8
And now the incoherent Sara Palin has joined the circus, as if the absurdity factor could rise any higher. That a couple of buffoons like this could gain the trust and admiration of any percentage of the electorate is a truly frightening illustration of where "reality" TV has brought us.
6
"Strange times" indeed...a gross understatement if I ever heard one.
2
Trump makes me vaguely sentimental for the innocence of joking about Mitt and Seamus. Now we are are taking about a sexist, misogynistic (blood coming out everywhere!) unrepentant racist demagogue with the vocabulary of a fourth grader and the heartless sensibility of an immature mafia don.
6
Republicans must be longing for the good old days of Barry Goldwater, Mike Huckabee, and Rick Santorum when the party regulars supported normal folks. Oh. for those days to come again!
1
Trump is indeed a phenomenon. More to the point is the phenomenon of the support he gets among Americans. They resemble an undisciplined, untrained force with sound but unfocused instincts that suit the populist manipulator.
Long ago and far away, fox hunting was common near where I lived. We often drove to watch the hunt: the horses galloping across fields, often crossing the roads in front of us, jumping walls and hedges; the hounds in full cry, the huntsman guiding them with his horn, the whips (now a parliamentary term!) keeping the younger, less disciplined ones with the pack. The hounds were indeed well trained. And that was a long process.
America gave up on training its people. Call it civics, call it education, call it common sense--it didn't suit the GOP to have too many knowledgeable people going to the polls.
Long ago and far away, fox hunting was common near where I lived. We often drove to watch the hunt: the horses galloping across fields, often crossing the roads in front of us, jumping walls and hedges; the hounds in full cry, the huntsman guiding them with his horn, the whips (now a parliamentary term!) keeping the younger, less disciplined ones with the pack. The hounds were indeed well trained. And that was a long process.
America gave up on training its people. Call it civics, call it education, call it common sense--it didn't suit the GOP to have too many knowledgeable people going to the polls.
8
At least Trump hasn't sacrificed the security of the U.S. in order to keep his actions private. Trump or a person who purposely set up an UNCLAS system and then allowed Top Secret and SAP materials to be put on it at the expense of the United States for her own benefit.
2
In a scene from Mike Rubbo's wonderful children's film, Vincent and Me, the central character from the present tells van Gogh how much his paintings sell for, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNClPpCm_Vs
1
If in some nightmare scenario Trump becomes President we'll have to be renamed "The United Markets of America."
2
She had me with the cardinal.
1
How is this GOP spectacle any different from a season of "Lost" or "Survivor"?
Can someone explain, please?
And, if not, what does that say about our (USA) democracy?
Can someone explain, please?
And, if not, what does that say about our (USA) democracy?
3
“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.” H. L. Mencken, 9/19/1926
5
Meanwhile, most of the country is more shocked that a 74 year old Socialist is beating Hillary Clinton.
4
Gail, as a Democrat, I'l vote for Hillary - if there's that opportunity. However, if I had to vote Republication for some odd reason, like Dole, I would select Trump - for many of the reasons you've identified. Rubio/Christie/Bush are all establishment Republicans and backed by far too much dark money. Rubio is too slick for his own good. Cruz is as you describe, not liked, not nice and is hiding something it seems all the time (he seems to be one that once he became President would pass sweeping laws and executive orders to put himself firmly in control of this country for a decade or more (read more than two terms(. Trump --- maybe not the most qualified, but as a single term President, everyone could work with him.
1
As I recall over the last four presidential election cycles, the extreme reactionary conservative wing has been waging a war against the moderate/establishment wing for the heart, mind, and soul of the Republican Party and Donald Trump is just the latest personification of the attitude and aspirations of the extreme reactionary conservative wing of the Republican Party.
3
I have to admit: I'm curious about who Trump would name to his cabinet. How many positions could Carl Icahn hold at the same time? Will Sarah Palin's first oration as U.N. Ambassador be delivered in the form of a single, two hour long sentence? In the Presidential debates will Trump continue to refer to polls?
7
Gail keeps reminding us that Hillary was a Senator and a Secretary of State, probably because that record is so forgettable--except for the scandals that she generates everywhere she goes. She's a kind of scandal genius. As for beating Trump in the sweepstakes? Don't count on it. She's wilting already. And talk about "low energy." Then there's those darn emails. As for Trump--the US survived Harding and W. Bush. It can survive a blowhard with bad hair. And he's certainly preferable to the Grand Inquisitor Cruz who plans to govern with the mandate of heaven. Get used it to. Trump is looking more and more like the man.
3
I often wonder why but I'm voting for Trump despite some of his crazy ideas. He may or may not be a disaster but at least it will be interesting.
1
Return some blows, but mostly stay low. If the Republicans are working hard at losing the general election, do not interrupt them.
6
A very witty and well written column as always. I would prefer Christie, but anyone other than Clinton will do.
It's been bad enough having to put on the news and face another Trump
rally. But then Sarah Palin appeared, and we heard her shrill, incoherencies
pummeling the airwaves. Please, please, put this woman away somewhere ,
a place where she can do no harm. And, that goes for Trump as well. This idiot
Palin had the nerve to blame the President for her son's violence. That surely
lays on her dysfunctional shoulders. I'm glad England tried to ban Trump from their country. I wish New York City could ban Trump, as well. Fat chance, he's
glitzed up our city for years now. Tacky, tasteless buildings from the master of
grossness.
rally. But then Sarah Palin appeared, and we heard her shrill, incoherencies
pummeling the airwaves. Please, please, put this woman away somewhere ,
a place where she can do no harm. And, that goes for Trump as well. This idiot
Palin had the nerve to blame the President for her son's violence. That surely
lays on her dysfunctional shoulders. I'm glad England tried to ban Trump from their country. I wish New York City could ban Trump, as well. Fat chance, he's
glitzed up our city for years now. Tacky, tasteless buildings from the master of
grossness.
8
Well, the party leaders should really think about why these guys are number 1 & 2 as should all the GOP congress people and Governors. Could it be that the folks in their own party are fed up with taking care of the 1% and the do nothing congress.
As far as Hillary goes, she really does not give out the warm and fuzzy's. She can probably work with congress better than Obama, is good in foreign affairs, at least she knows where the middle east is! I do not think she will wreck the country, Trump or Cruz will make Brush look great.
As far as Hillary goes, she really does not give out the warm and fuzzy's. She can probably work with congress better than Obama, is good in foreign affairs, at least she knows where the middle east is! I do not think she will wreck the country, Trump or Cruz will make Brush look great.
2
If Trump became president, will he pledge not to turn the White House into a luxury hotel?
2
You mean like the Clintons did?
1
I bet he won't steal the china.
1
Small correction: during the Trump divorce, it was "all hands on dork".
It is deeply amusing how many times Trump has said he'd get the best people to work with/for him... then gets Sarah Palin, the Weapon of Moose Destruction. Who could be convicted of linguacide, if that were an actual crime.
It is deeply amusing how many times Trump has said he'd get the best people to work with/for him... then gets Sarah Palin, the Weapon of Moose Destruction. Who could be convicted of linguacide, if that were an actual crime.
6
Gail Collins has done it again - made the points while being immensely enteraining.
3
Although this piece was written about he-who-must-not-be-named, I was laughing out loud at "Or I inform George Wallace that he never gets to be president, but a black guy does." Thanks Gail!
2
Donald Trump he of 5 Draft deferments, bone spurs?, 4 bankruptcies, 3 marriages and the other GOP Candidates are so quiet? Who haven't one of them asked "Donald we know about the bankruptcies and marriages tell us how many Abortions have you paid for?" To me this seems like the logical next question after all he is so Yuuugggee and women cant resist him.
5
It is a clever ploy (but we see through it) to serve two totally inedible dinner courses and tell diners that perhaps the putrid chicken is better than the burnt beef, as if we didn't realize that since we pay for our meals, we can easily just visit another restaurant.
1
Ave Cesar, morituri te salutant!
That used to be the battle cry of the Roman troops getting ready for the next bloody battle. It meant: “Hail, Emperor, those who are about to die fighting for the Rome salute you”
Those undemocratic foolishly patriotic ancient societies!
The current patriotic crop of the national leaders running for the White House from Donald Trump on the extreme right to Bernie Sanders on the extreme left sees nothing wrong with our current economic policies that teach the younger generations that’s socially acceptable to move the big corporations overseas and leave the dozens thousand American workers unemployed and several hundred thousands of their immediate family members with the shattered lives so that the wealthy individuals could shave off several percentages of their taxes and increase their wealth from a few billion dollars for the additional couple hundred million bucks over the next several years.
Ave communist China, the tax-avoiding wealthy Americans are saluting your low corporate tax rates!
If that’s patriotism, then we have no idea what the patriotism is any longer!
That used to be the battle cry of the Roman troops getting ready for the next bloody battle. It meant: “Hail, Emperor, those who are about to die fighting for the Rome salute you”
Those undemocratic foolishly patriotic ancient societies!
The current patriotic crop of the national leaders running for the White House from Donald Trump on the extreme right to Bernie Sanders on the extreme left sees nothing wrong with our current economic policies that teach the younger generations that’s socially acceptable to move the big corporations overseas and leave the dozens thousand American workers unemployed and several hundred thousands of their immediate family members with the shattered lives so that the wealthy individuals could shave off several percentages of their taxes and increase their wealth from a few billion dollars for the additional couple hundred million bucks over the next several years.
Ave communist China, the tax-avoiding wealthy Americans are saluting your low corporate tax rates!
If that’s patriotism, then we have no idea what the patriotism is any longer!
3
There's a trend at work here on the GOP side.
Ronald Reagan was a B movie actor with a predilection for remembering stuff that didn't happen, and forgetting stuff that did.
George H.W. Bush was a man who'd spent his life collecting job titles that looked good on his resume, but never hung around long enough to actually get much real experience at them - moving on before anyone got too close a look at what he'd been up to.
George W. Bush was the MBA president who run every business he'd headed into the ground before getting put in the White House by the Supreme Court - and left office keeping his string of failures intact.
You don't have to be competent or even sane to be a GOP candidate for president. Republicans have reduced public service to performance art - and Trump is just better at it.
Ronald Reagan was a B movie actor with a predilection for remembering stuff that didn't happen, and forgetting stuff that did.
George H.W. Bush was a man who'd spent his life collecting job titles that looked good on his resume, but never hung around long enough to actually get much real experience at them - moving on before anyone got too close a look at what he'd been up to.
George W. Bush was the MBA president who run every business he'd headed into the ground before getting put in the White House by the Supreme Court - and left office keeping his string of failures intact.
You don't have to be competent or even sane to be a GOP candidate for president. Republicans have reduced public service to performance art - and Trump is just better at it.
6
Strange times made worse by dyspeptic candidates that are bile and bite driven. Trump's Facebook personality of "I like or dislike" something is beyond adolescent pondering of why red is his favorite color. The GOP is cooked, done, finished forever.
2
Nobody's voted yet. Maybe there's some hope that everybody hasn't lost their mind.
How about going back and telling Abby Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, et al that their antics would result in an epoch in which the right wing held sway no matter how ridiculous they and their policies were.
How about going back and telling Abby Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, et al that their antics would result in an epoch in which the right wing held sway no matter how ridiculous they and their policies were.
1
The fact that folks like Trump and Cruz (not to mention Dr. Carson and Carly Fiorina) would be seriously considered as candidates for anything shows how much the Republicans are reaping what they've sown with their pandering to the fringe elements of "conservatism".
I can't imagine voting for any of the current crop, but at least Bush and Kasich have some relevant experience and they're barely registering on the dial.
Pitiful.
I can't imagine voting for any of the current crop, but at least Bush and Kasich have some relevant experience and they're barely registering on the dial.
Pitiful.
1
It's well past the time, fellow citizens, to stop wondering why a no-nothing, self-aggrandizing xenophobe will probably win the Republican nomination. The reason is that enough of you fellow citizens have lowered your expectations of what this country should be, and you have bought into the most base and crass huckster who would have been completely unimaginable just a few election cycles ago. The reason Trump exists on the political scene is the same reason we have Congressmen who think women who are raped won't get pregnant, global warming isn't happening, and Jesus Christ guides the United States. It's because enough of our fellow citizens elect these people.
9
When he was still mayor of NYC, before he wore out his welcome with overturning term limits and buying a poorly received third term, Mike Bloomberg was asked about running for President. His response was that a short, Jewish billionaire could never be elected. Given the rise of Trumplestiltskin and Rafael E Crudes, it no longer seems quite as far fetched. Witness the Times breaking the news that he's considering an independent run.
If "short, Jewish billionaire" was a handicap, how about doing it on a third party run?
He would be my second choice behind Bernie Sanders.
If "short, Jewish billionaire" was a handicap, how about doing it on a third party run?
He would be my second choice behind Bernie Sanders.
5
I'm not sure if the emergence of Donald Trump means that after 240 years our Republic is heading for the dust bin of history but I know this. when you put someone who is unprepared for and ignorant about leading a massive, complex organization, that person becomes the unwitting tool of unscrupulous and ambitious people with their own agendas who whisper ..."This is what you are supposed to say ... this is what you are supposed to do ..." Sure, I'm talking about W, but the fact is that for all his baloney and bluster, Donald Trump knows very little about the structure, operation, and workings of the American government. Here's the thing - would Trump be willing to turn the management of his entire real estate holdings, resorts, and investments over to someone who never worked a day in his life in any business setting whatsoever? Exactly.
2
All good - as Republican voters are deeply divided and my conservative American grandfather and all of his friends won't vote at all if the... 'person' you mentioned will become the Republican presential nominee - and there will be the chance of a lifetime to get Bernie into the White House.
And if this hopefully will happen we -(the Women for Bernie) - will give a lot of thanks to a hairpiece - and the NYT which keeps it -(involuntarely?) in the headlines.
And if this hopefully will happen we -(the Women for Bernie) - will give a lot of thanks to a hairpiece - and the NYT which keeps it -(involuntarely?) in the headlines.
1
The column says nothing about the policies promoted by Cruz or any other candidate. I don't see this form of journalism promoting good political choices, yet it typifies the tendency to base them on stereotypes and cliches.
If you want to know what God thinks of money just look at to whom He gives it.
Donald Trump may not be Gods favourite however he may have become the peoples' favourite simply by saying what he thinks when so many others were having similar thoughts but cowered into silence by political correctness.
Someone who publicly speaks what he thinks is arguably a far better person than one who says and thinks one thing in private and another in public.
Donald Trump may not be Gods favourite however he may have become the peoples' favourite simply by saying what he thinks when so many others were having similar thoughts but cowered into silence by political correctness.
Someone who publicly speaks what he thinks is arguably a far better person than one who says and thinks one thing in private and another in public.
1
Perhaps these times are emblematic of Hunter Thompson's line, apropos of the whole culture now, "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
3
"The polls" Trump has been ahead in for so long are mainly of Republicans,of whom more than 60 % have preferred someone else the whole time.But it's still a very crowded field of someone elses,including 4 " moderates who continue to cancel other out,even as combined they're the choice of less rhsn half of Republicans,of whom more a clear majority prefer Trump and Cruz combined.Which is what has the GOP "establishment " in such a panic that some of it's members now support Trump.Which turn probably helps Cruz with enough anti-establishment Republicans to keep the 2 of them splitting the majority of caucus/ primary voters all the way through .Meaning a GOP Convention where no one has clinched the nomination.In which case we haven't likely come anywhere close to seeing how ugly the GOP race will become.
This will provide the Democrats a great opportunity for a resounding victory in November, IF Hillary and her supporters don't blow by continuing to go overboard trying to destroy Bernie.
This will provide the Democrats a great opportunity for a resounding victory in November, IF Hillary and her supporters don't blow by continuing to go overboard trying to destroy Bernie.
1
"Strange times" indeed Gail.
One more note on cruz. Most people I am sure are aware of the fact that this lizard was a champion debater at Princeton. What are the qualities of a good debater? A good debater has the ability to convince listeners that he or she passionately believes the topic being supported (at the moment) and then must be able to equally compassionately and convincingly argue the opposite point. This guy does not believe in anything but himself.
In more ways than I could detail in this short post, cruz is a clone of nixon.
I submit the same challenge I did to the trumpster in a previous comment.
Yes I know that proper nouns are supposed to be capitalized. Those three do not(or did not in tricky dickie's case) deserve proper noun status.
ted, I challenge you to an MRI. Mine are definitely bigger than yours -- frontal lobes that is, the seat of the conscience -- if you have any at all.
choose your clinic ted.
One more note on cruz. Most people I am sure are aware of the fact that this lizard was a champion debater at Princeton. What are the qualities of a good debater? A good debater has the ability to convince listeners that he or she passionately believes the topic being supported (at the moment) and then must be able to equally compassionately and convincingly argue the opposite point. This guy does not believe in anything but himself.
In more ways than I could detail in this short post, cruz is a clone of nixon.
I submit the same challenge I did to the trumpster in a previous comment.
Yes I know that proper nouns are supposed to be capitalized. Those three do not(or did not in tricky dickie's case) deserve proper noun status.
ted, I challenge you to an MRI. Mine are definitely bigger than yours -- frontal lobes that is, the seat of the conscience -- if you have any at all.
choose your clinic ted.
5
There's a very simple solution to any discomfort The Donald's candidacy may cause you: don't vote for him. And of course if ~50.1% of voters go with him in the end, well there you go -- he's our President for a while. (In which case, watch out all of you, the many, many millions far less insulated from his whims than am I.) I have a bit of trouble imagining that Bernie -- or even Hillary! -- might be seen as more frightening than Mr Trump, but then I have heard that for many, thinking we might have to contribute somewhat more of our talents and take-home pay to begin turning around all that is wrong with this country invokes some sort of panic. Reminds me of that great '60's movie, 'The Socialists Are Coming, The Socialists Are Coming!'
1
Bill, thank you!
This Republican woman is voting for Hillary; a Senator & Secretary of State
who knows our country and the world better than any candidate is exactly what we want for president. If she didn't exist we would have to invent her.
Not just because the Republican platform is literally harming women --not just poor women, but all women and families are affected.
I was a representative when anti-choice was put on the platform years after Row v Wade. Women would be insane to vote Republican on any level-especially now when the push to destroy health care is so high. Republican governors are closing health centers where mainly poor women get contraceptives and health care. A Republican president will hurt us all.
Stop the madness!!!
This Republican woman is voting for Hillary; a Senator & Secretary of State
who knows our country and the world better than any candidate is exactly what we want for president. If she didn't exist we would have to invent her.
Not just because the Republican platform is literally harming women --not just poor women, but all women and families are affected.
I was a representative when anti-choice was put on the platform years after Row v Wade. Women would be insane to vote Republican on any level-especially now when the push to destroy health care is so high. Republican governors are closing health centers where mainly poor women get contraceptives and health care. A Republican president will hurt us all.
Stop the madness!!!
2
Why is everybody panicking about Trump? Trump is the GOP's problem. He is a brilliant show-man, who knows how to keep the Bread and Circus crowds entertained and "fed" with sarcastic humor, which he focuses on his enemies as well as theirs.
But statistically Trump is appealing to only a small fraction of all voters, even though it's a big fraction of GOP primary folk - who enjoy the red meat he is constantly coming up with.
But look at the GOP elites. Many of them would vote for a Dem in November in order to save their party for another day. And many R's would follow in their footsteps.
The statistical chance of Trump being the GOP candidate may be high. Fine - that's not the end of the world for the country. But it may spell the end of the GOP as we know it.
However the statistical chance of a President Trump? With his alienation of blacks, Hispanics, immigrants, Muslims, most sane voters, etc? Think again!
It's the GOP that's in trouble here! As so many have stated, they are reaping what they have done lowed: no-info voters, no-info fundies, poorly educated, mostly male, white working-class, resentful, misguided folk.
Stay calm. Think clearly. Study a bit of statistics. Maybe meditate, exercise, eat well. Carry on with your life. We will survive this!
But statistically Trump is appealing to only a small fraction of all voters, even though it's a big fraction of GOP primary folk - who enjoy the red meat he is constantly coming up with.
But look at the GOP elites. Many of them would vote for a Dem in November in order to save their party for another day. And many R's would follow in their footsteps.
The statistical chance of Trump being the GOP candidate may be high. Fine - that's not the end of the world for the country. But it may spell the end of the GOP as we know it.
However the statistical chance of a President Trump? With his alienation of blacks, Hispanics, immigrants, Muslims, most sane voters, etc? Think again!
It's the GOP that's in trouble here! As so many have stated, they are reaping what they have done lowed: no-info voters, no-info fundies, poorly educated, mostly male, white working-class, resentful, misguided folk.
Stay calm. Think clearly. Study a bit of statistics. Maybe meditate, exercise, eat well. Carry on with your life. We will survive this!
7
We have friends from Iowa--both farmers and both long-time Republicans--who were discussing why they were going to vote for Donald Trump.
"By golly, he gets things done!" said one. And the other strongly agreed.
For them, that's about it: "He gets things done." They didn't know much about his background--divorces, business failures, bluster, untruths, total lack of political or foreign affairs experience...nor did they care.
"He gets things done!" It was good enough for them and, apparently, for millions of other Americans. And with that, and only that qualification, will our possible future captain guide our Ship of State into the stormy waters of the world today.
"By golly, he gets things done!" said one. And the other strongly agreed.
For them, that's about it: "He gets things done." They didn't know much about his background--divorces, business failures, bluster, untruths, total lack of political or foreign affairs experience...nor did they care.
"He gets things done!" It was good enough for them and, apparently, for millions of other Americans. And with that, and only that qualification, will our possible future captain guide our Ship of State into the stormy waters of the world today.
111
"He gets things done!" is good enough for them...
The devil is in the details. What 'things' will he get done? Why doesn't anyone who will vote for him ask precisely what things will he get done? Why doesn't it matter?
Turns out George W. Bush got almost all of his agenda passed, leaving us with a decade of useless war, and global economic meltdown. But he sure did get things done!
The devil is in the details. What 'things' will he get done? Why doesn't anyone who will vote for him ask precisely what things will he get done? Why doesn't it matter?
Turns out George W. Bush got almost all of his agenda passed, leaving us with a decade of useless war, and global economic meltdown. But he sure did get things done!
2
One should ask your friends what they will do once Trump is done getting the United States of America undone, and quite likely in very short order.
1
He gets things started, not done.
Thump is ArtOfTheDeal
not WorkOfTheFollowThrough
Thump is ArtOfTheDeal
not WorkOfTheFollowThrough
End Days.
1
What's the word for the opposite of civics?
We may need a new word for it.
We may need a new word for it.
4
Anarchy!
2
I'd like to rewrite the headline here: "Coming to terms with media myopia."
Not as witty as "I'm shocked that gambling is going on here," but more accurate.
But I am shocked that the media is shocked, and continues to remain agape that a modern carnival barker took the cue from GOP grifters before him, and ran with it. Shocked that they didn't see this coming down the pike from a mile away. Because a lot of us did. But we're not in the Beltway, or the echo room, or whatever bubble you readers of the chicken bones call yourselves.
And you didn't (or still don't) see Sanders coming, either. And you will express shock, surprise and feign wisdom when what a lot of other people saw coming happened. Because no could have predicted. No one you knew, anyway.
Not as witty as "I'm shocked that gambling is going on here," but more accurate.
But I am shocked that the media is shocked, and continues to remain agape that a modern carnival barker took the cue from GOP grifters before him, and ran with it. Shocked that they didn't see this coming down the pike from a mile away. Because a lot of us did. But we're not in the Beltway, or the echo room, or whatever bubble you readers of the chicken bones call yourselves.
And you didn't (or still don't) see Sanders coming, either. And you will express shock, surprise and feign wisdom when what a lot of other people saw coming happened. Because no could have predicted. No one you knew, anyway.
3
Maybe what the Republican Establishment is realizing is that the entire group of Republican candidates are all so bad that Trump is in fact no worse then any of the rest of them and might just have a better chance of winning in November then any of them, especially if the Democrats are crazy enough to nominate Bernie Sanders.
3
As a large D Democrat Trump if nominated will probably get Reagan Dems and might present a formidable challenge to whoever the Democratic nominee will be. Additionally he is much less scary than the crypto-facist element in the GOP and Sarah and her mugwump groupies. (I live in NY and I can see Russia on my Atlas). Will Rogers never met Sarah Palin.
It must irritate the heck out of Cruz and Hillary that, while they can't get more than a few dozen people to show up to their events without bribing or threatening them, Bernie and Trump are filling stadiums to capacity and more.
That says more than any poll out there.
That says more than any poll out there.
2
Gail: I think you nailed it.
2
It's interesting about Cruz. I had an instant dislike for him and I was not even sure why. It is one of those gut reactions you have to investigate further. My reaction to Trump is far for complex. On the one hand I disagree with what is coming out of his mouth, but as a born and bred New Yorker, there is something about his bravado that I am very familiar with. I recognize him.
That THE DONALD appeals to the lowest common denominator is a given. The interesting aspect of this narcissistic putsch is how what once seemed ridiculous, now seems the better choice for the Party of Bushes.
The control for the hearts and minds of the Republican Party has become a tug of war between a host of loathsome creatures. I observe the GOP candidates in action and cringe at the idea that one of them might touch something in the party base. My brain tells me that the effect of the Fox News propaganda machine is much stronger than thinking America imagines. Fox has ginned up so much hate against everybody who is not wealthy/white that moderate positions favoring humanity over assets can no longer exist. A President Trump may be mildly better than a Cruz Presidency - but really, how much worse could either be than W?
The control for the hearts and minds of the Republican Party has become a tug of war between a host of loathsome creatures. I observe the GOP candidates in action and cringe at the idea that one of them might touch something in the party base. My brain tells me that the effect of the Fox News propaganda machine is much stronger than thinking America imagines. Fox has ginned up so much hate against everybody who is not wealthy/white that moderate positions favoring humanity over assets can no longer exist. A President Trump may be mildly better than a Cruz Presidency - but really, how much worse could either be than W?
2
So why is Trump still where he is in the polls? My theory is that he actually has a sense of humor and can deliver a joke. And come on, no one takes his policy pronouncements seriously. From building the wall to deporting 11 million people to shutting door on immigrants just because of their religion. Ain't happening even under President Trump. Ted Cruz, on the other hand, is as funny as a heart attack. His smugness and self-love makes Hillary look humble by comparison. So this dalliance with Trump by about 1/3rd of the Republican primary voters polled is purely comic relief from the unrelenting Obama (and now (Hillary) bashing their accomplishments and experience not withstanding. My bet is that the day after the New Hampshire primary we will be talking about John Kasich more than the Donald or the man from Calgary.
After reading the witty column of Gail Collins I wonder if the GOP
establishment can "warm up" enough to really support Trump.
If so they could use him as a kind of puppet pulling the string
above his head if the suspicion that he does not entirely believe
anything he says is accurate. The question is can the GOP tame
Trump and can Trump make one of his great deal ?
establishment can "warm up" enough to really support Trump.
If so they could use him as a kind of puppet pulling the string
above his head if the suspicion that he does not entirely believe
anything he says is accurate. The question is can the GOP tame
Trump and can Trump make one of his great deal ?
1
My friend's mother lives in Boston and has voted Democrat for 50 years. She says if Clinton is nominated, she's voting for Trump. I'm with her; serious, serious Clinton fatigue is the reason
1
Trump's agreement to allow Palin to speak on his behalf is one of the worst errors of judgement he has committed so far. It shows he is unsuitable to be a candidate, let alone President.
3
Campaign Song for the 2016 Republican Trump-Palin Presidential Ticket:
(With apologies to Stephen Sondheim)
Isn't he rich?
She shot a bear,
She left Alaska in ruins,
He has red hair.
But don't you love clowns?
Send in the clowns,
Don't bother: They're here!
(With apologies to Stephen Sondheim)
Isn't he rich?
She shot a bear,
She left Alaska in ruins,
He has red hair.
But don't you love clowns?
Send in the clowns,
Don't bother: They're here!
4
Strange times, indeed. Just totally weird and getting weirder.
1
"We live in strange times, people". Right you are, Collins. Electing an idiot like Obama for president, and with the Democrats unraveling this country, maybe is time for someone who hears the grief of the American people, like Trump.
1
"We live in strange times, people. Strange times."
You ain't seen nothin' yet, sister. Wait until Trump's sworn in and he says to his flunkies, "Okay, now I'm president. Do this, do that, and do the other."
And they'll say, "We can't, boss." They start to list all the limitations inherent to the office.
"What about emergency powers?" he'll say.
"Oh, sure, if there's a national emergency, then you could rule by executive order."
And the Donald will say, "Well, if me not being able to do what I want isn't a national emergency, I don't know what is. Write up the proclamation or whatever, and I'll sign it after lunch."
And then away we go. Out into the blue air beyond the cliff's edge.
You ain't seen nothin' yet, sister. Wait until Trump's sworn in and he says to his flunkies, "Okay, now I'm president. Do this, do that, and do the other."
And they'll say, "We can't, boss." They start to list all the limitations inherent to the office.
"What about emergency powers?" he'll say.
"Oh, sure, if there's a national emergency, then you could rule by executive order."
And the Donald will say, "Well, if me not being able to do what I want isn't a national emergency, I don't know what is. Write up the proclamation or whatever, and I'll sign it after lunch."
And then away we go. Out into the blue air beyond the cliff's edge.
4
The people who support the potential nominees of the GOP are blind, stupid, manipulated and, in my opinion, just pathetic. They believe in hate, in fear and in selfishness. They hate science, education and the arts. They want to cram their version of religion down our throats. They want guns in every hand, even those of thugs and crooks, even at church. They are a sad and sorry lot who have help generate a group of candidates that reflect that which is darkest in the human race. American? Not to me.
We now have fake vitamins, fake spices, fake medications.....yet they say, "too much regulation". Fake dietary guidelines, an EPA that doesn't protect the environment, and a congress that can't function. Does this have anything to do with all the people cheering Cruz and Trump at their rallies and actually applauding Ms. Palin (who sounded completely bizarre). Ya think?
What's the matter with Kansas? And with Flint? and with so many places? The people who elected these posers are the matter. If the Democrats were smart they would spend most of their money on EDUCATING the masses, because they are incredibly, amazingly, profoundly gullible and oh so easily duped.
"President Trump" is very scary to contemplate, but President anyone else in the GOP is terrifying. All of these men make W Bush look good and how is that possible?
We now have fake vitamins, fake spices, fake medications.....yet they say, "too much regulation". Fake dietary guidelines, an EPA that doesn't protect the environment, and a congress that can't function. Does this have anything to do with all the people cheering Cruz and Trump at their rallies and actually applauding Ms. Palin (who sounded completely bizarre). Ya think?
What's the matter with Kansas? And with Flint? and with so many places? The people who elected these posers are the matter. If the Democrats were smart they would spend most of their money on EDUCATING the masses, because they are incredibly, amazingly, profoundly gullible and oh so easily duped.
"President Trump" is very scary to contemplate, but President anyone else in the GOP is terrifying. All of these men make W Bush look good and how is that possible?
4
The difference is that a lot of people believes Trump is "something else", but no one believes Hillary Clinton is. Hillary Clinton is establishment personified.
That's why you should support Bernie Sanders. Of course you won't and you know why you won't. Because Hillary is way more establishment than Bernie is.
That's why you are going to have Donald Trump as President of the United States.
You really should come to terms with that.
That's why you should support Bernie Sanders. Of course you won't and you know why you won't. Because Hillary is way more establishment than Bernie is.
That's why you are going to have Donald Trump as President of the United States.
You really should come to terms with that.
2
Post-Obama America looks pretty dreary.
5
Behold Trump’s all or nothing, no holds barred reckless fling at self destruction and dragging his immediate world down with him with a despotic and utter disregard of them as individuals … what an amazing spectacle! How is this possible? It’s possible because of the glaring incompetence and dangerousness of each and every GOP candidate, particularly Cruz. A Trump candidacy could well win the Presidency, the Senate, and maybe even the House for the Democrats. Even districts that are 55% GOP might not be safe with Trump leading the ticket.
2
Trump is not a Republican, nor is he a politician - in actuality, he is a pragmatist. When he lost most of his real estate fortune he started selling ties, shirts and other things and got back on the money-making train. The two major parties continue to move farther apart and their positions have hardened into concrete, and while the American people want change the direction is unclear. I never thought I would say this, but maybe a deal-making president could move America forward.
21
I like how Jerry Falwell, Jr. said he liked the Donald because he was a self-made man conveniently ignoring that his fortune was the result of his inheritance from his father.
1
As you say he makes deals for ties & shirts but not for all the people who lost jobs when he closed his casinos (now there's a great business for an aspiring world leader). Capitalists like him don't make deals that benefit anyone except their fellow cronies. The whole deal making thing is highly overrated.
1
Trump wasn't born on third base like some suggest, but it's fair to say he started out on first and stole second.
Gail, the great thing about being a subscriber to the online NYT is that when I move to Germany (have family there), Belize, Canada, New Zealand, Australia (all English-speaking), or Vietnam (the only foreign country I really have any personal knowledge of), assuming Trump or Cruz actually do top Cpt. Sullenberger's Miracle on the Hudson but with the opposite result, it won't cost me one cent more for my twice-weekly dose of Collins' Certified Sanity.
The Republican party was high jacked years ago by the likes of Cheney and Rumsfeld.
Selling fear and hatred was their specialty.
You reap what you sow.
I was only a matter of time until the GOP learned (to late) that their tactics would jump up and bite them.
I's laugh but it is not funny.
Selling fear and hatred was their specialty.
You reap what you sow.
I was only a matter of time until the GOP learned (to late) that their tactics would jump up and bite them.
I's laugh but it is not funny.
4
If Trump becomes the GOP nominee the party will have to get behind his proposal to deport 11 million people in two years, using a special force. Never mind that it actually cannot be done, Trump has made this the centerpiece of his campaign and cannot abandon it until he is in office. Such a commitment will be a disaster for the GOP and the question is how many candidates further down on the ticket would be enthusiastic about a platform plank that could cost them the election. The subset of angry Americans who support this crazy idea is not enough to sweep Trump into office, but it is enough to defeat many on the lower rungs.
1
Cruz is, as you suggest, scarier, but just how scary next to Trump isn't all that clear. Trump is scary for his egomania and apparently some people drink in too much of that and get the "DT's," but a little drunken craziness is preferable to the true believing Cruz, whose craziness borders on delusional. The last century's lessons in what these true believers can bring to humanity should be sufficient justification to run this guy out of town or at least neutralize him. Find the Molly Ivins in you, Ms. Collins, and give us some real perspective on this prospective demagogue. You seem to be holding back.
1
There haven't been three consecutive Democratic presidential terms since FDR had his three. We have a hard fight ahead. Such fights cannot be won with wishful thinking. A solid 50-state campaign is needed and an all-hands on deck effort.
5
...I have this recurring nightmare...Trump is elected to be president and one of his first actions as president, is not deporting all muslims, rather he signs a presidential order requiring "all bathroom fixtures should be gold" and those of lesser means are permitted to use "gold plated finishes"...
2
Can't wait for the Trump-Palin ticket. We'll see just how dumb this place really is.
4
Dear American Voters,
Have your fun but please do not go all the way with this anger thing. At some point get real. The illusion from fear baiting at some point has to be overcome with common sense and real leadership. Running the U S is complex and nuanced and our leaders have to deal with reality not narrow ideology. A fool can rant to get your vote but don't sell it cheap. When we do that the price we pay is way too great.
Have your fun but please do not go all the way with this anger thing. At some point get real. The illusion from fear baiting at some point has to be overcome with common sense and real leadership. Running the U S is complex and nuanced and our leaders have to deal with reality not narrow ideology. A fool can rant to get your vote but don't sell it cheap. When we do that the price we pay is way too great.
3
There is no understanding the average American citizen today. Donald Trump, President of the United States? Awful! But, certainly better than Ted Cruz. My vote? Bernie!!
6
There was a great interview with Rand Paul on PBS - he distilled Trump's popularity to media exposure- all that free ait time. The media is shirking it's duty and allows itself to be exploited!
2
In his time, Bach was not even known as a composer, but as a keyboard player and expert on organ construction. I'd like to go back and tell him he is today regarded as one of the three greatest composers in history, if not the greatest.
3
Unless some way is found to vote the CIA, the FBI, the Pentagon and Wall Street out of control of the White House not even Bernie makes much difference.
1
Gee, don't forget the Supremes...
1
Strange daze indeed. Cruz is scary. With due respect to the faithful, I don't want any person to be president and have his/her finger on the button--who believes in a next life. Nor wood the environment get a fair shake. This nest will continue to be fowled as they are just waiting for their "real" nest--their heaven.
1
we don't live in strange times!
we live in an age when the Main Stream Media are tools of DC and have little integrity.
Trump will be President of the United States!
You Ms Collins, weather it be the MSM, nor the National Review, nor the DNC, nor the RNC, are not going to be happy given the fact that collectively you represent the Establishment - more accurately called:
The Clinton / Bush Establishment Party.
The End is Near. Be very, very afraid of the Trumpster!
we live in an age when the Main Stream Media are tools of DC and have little integrity.
Trump will be President of the United States!
You Ms Collins, weather it be the MSM, nor the National Review, nor the DNC, nor the RNC, are not going to be happy given the fact that collectively you represent the Establishment - more accurately called:
The Clinton / Bush Establishment Party.
The End is Near. Be very, very afraid of the Trumpster!
2
If you elected W two times, then why not the Donald. W appeared sane (mouthed 'compassionate'), but his actions were anything but. I would guess the Donald is more saner than W, despite the appearances.
1
A thrice married adulterous draft dodging bloviating corrupt crony capitalist plutocrat oligarch welfare king like Donald John Trump is the iconic socioeconomic political mass media entertainer that America has earned and deserves. With his Scottish immigrant mother and Slovenian immigrant wife, the Donald has intimate biological familiarity with the alien foreign horde threatening our way of life.
2
I find it interesting that no candidate, editorial writer, or talking head on TV or radio, mentions the fact that Trump says that he will bring manufacturing back to the U.S. He will not eat another Oreo cookie because they are leaving Chicago for a foreign country. He will tell the head of the Ford Motor Co. not to build their new 2.9 billion dollar plant in Mexico and if they do he will make them pay or every car they send back here. This kind of talk can sooth the fear and frustration in America. It may be "just talk" at this point but it has to start somewhere.
5
Hillary is the only real candidate running, Dem or Rep.
4
That plays into the stereotype of women working to be "qualified" for a job. Presidential elections are an arena fight, come as you are. Last person standing wins.
Yes, the public is angry, including me. Fed up with likes of Hillary (the enabler and liar ) Bernie the unelectable, 1960's political hack. The Republicans like Bush who have done nothing but run for political office there entire life. Trump ???? who knows what is real ? In California once it was proposed to have "NONE OF THE ABOVE " YES
I should be on the Times payroll. I was in NY all those years that Trump and his business and personal life ate up media space. His public rep was such that any responsible adult could not remotely imagine him being elected POTUS....ever! But here he is. Ms. Collins' column is on the money. Cruz is a deplorable candidate--the grating of his voice, the nasal unctuousness of his every word, makes me want to (metaphorically) strangle the guy. Not to mention the warped, reactionary demagoguery of his politics. Compared to Cruz, Trump is the guy you hope could actually turn out OK, could be the exception that proves the rule. I'm for Bernie, but if he goes down, and somehow Trump becomes president, I wouldn't move to Canada....at least not right away.
2
Trump would be nowhere if he didn't come from New York City, and indeed he should be regarded as New York's candidate. He precisely sees himself this when he compares himself to another very rich, very entitled, very determined New Yorker, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Trump is as much to be identified with New York as is George Wallace with Alabama, and the fact that Trump's and Wallace's rhetoric on matters of race are nearly identical should furnish everyone plenty of food for thought. ( Is Trump to be seen as a populist? Well, George Wallace was also a populist.) The strangest thing of all is that the press ignores the point. New Yorkers, and especially the billionaires and power brokers among them, are understandably content to overlook it entirely. Gail Collin's herself, a favorite of mine, has yet to explore it. This fact should tell us a lot about Trump's momentum, if not his success, and if New Yorkers don't take it to heart, they will be telling the other forty-nine states all they need to know about those so-called "New York values".
1
Please, Gail, start writing about someone normal. All you media types are so fascinated with Trump and Cruz that you've helped make them the poll-leading monsters they are. I know he's not as horribly fascinating as them, but write about Kasich for a change, will you? I won't vote for the GOP nominee but I'd prefer that whoever it is not be a lunatic or a delusional narcissist. And yes, that eliminates most of the current field.
2
I'm honestly confused. Of course, none of us wants a President who can't make Congress do what he or she needs it to do to make change. And of course we don't want anyone whose narcissism has progressed to a true personality disorder. But it's pretty clear that, regardless of one's party affiliation, to avoid a disordered President, all a citizen can do is vote Democrat in November. Hillary is as much of an egotist as all politicians, but she isn't actually personality disordered. Bernie isn't either. And the reason we know that is because each of them has held public office through which we've been able to gather evidence of their capacity to get something -- anything -- done.
3
Trump is all about the competition to land on top. Once he gets there he would be the most inept president since Warren G. Harding. My apologies to Harding.
1
The "establishment" Republicans may settle for the least worse choice (they believe) of Trump but they are really rooting - super enthusiastic - all for Bernie Sanders.
1
Trump and Cruz: Two minds without a single thought. (With apologies to Laurel and Hardy.)
2
It would be nice if they were mentally inept. The fact that they aren't is what makes all of this so very dangerous.
1
Trumps' appeal is clear in contrast to Cruz, as Ms.Collins rightly observes. Despite Trump's racism, xenophobia, protectionism, homophobia and apparently total disregard for our Constitution, his thoughts of the moment designed to elicit outrage, distrust of government, he rises in polls. His vague promise that in some unexplained way he will improve our standard of living apparently resonates.
His canidacy is not a publicity stunt.
There can be no doubt that he will focus on the rather well documented general distrust of Hillary Clinton in the general campaign. Of course, should it be Bernie, Trump will brand him a communist. The irony is that what Bernie advocates, which is not more of the same that Hillary promises, is likely to be a better path for the country, and I say this in recognition of the increases in taxes on those whose hard work has benefited them with significant income. As a business owner, I do not welcome his initiatives at all, but I distrust of Hillary. The other problem that Hillary has is her lack of any clear vision for the country. She needs a weapons grade message that will inspire. Apparently she has abandoned her earlier message to improve life for "everyday Americans." Neither, do most trust her foreign policy acumen, despite the many miles she logged as Sec. of State.
The privacy of the voting booth will make the choice between either HRC or Bernie and Trump difficult for more than most may have thought possible as recently as last summer.
His canidacy is not a publicity stunt.
There can be no doubt that he will focus on the rather well documented general distrust of Hillary Clinton in the general campaign. Of course, should it be Bernie, Trump will brand him a communist. The irony is that what Bernie advocates, which is not more of the same that Hillary promises, is likely to be a better path for the country, and I say this in recognition of the increases in taxes on those whose hard work has benefited them with significant income. As a business owner, I do not welcome his initiatives at all, but I distrust of Hillary. The other problem that Hillary has is her lack of any clear vision for the country. She needs a weapons grade message that will inspire. Apparently she has abandoned her earlier message to improve life for "everyday Americans." Neither, do most trust her foreign policy acumen, despite the many miles she logged as Sec. of State.
The privacy of the voting booth will make the choice between either HRC or Bernie and Trump difficult for more than most may have thought possible as recently as last summer.
1
With apologies to the musical ''Hamilton,'' ''If you stand for nothing, Trump, what will you fall for?''
One can only imagine the ''deals'' that will be proposed to a President Trump, whether by business cronies or nutty dictators. His previous dealings with government have mostly been exploitative, so what respect might he give to the advice of career foreign service or budget office professionals who actually know what is going on? Picture the strained smiles on the faces of Speaker Ryan and Leader McConnell at their first meeting with the new President.
It could hardly be better with Cruz, the toxic product of organized right wing advocacy since he was a teenage a debater and a father with crazed born-again beliefs about the role of religion in government. Cruz, a graduate of Princeton and Harvard, former clerk to Chief Justice Rehnquist, representative of G.W. Bush in the 2000 Florida recount, and Solicitor General of Texas is nothing if not a product of the establishment.
Gallup reports that 26% of Americans self-identify as Republicans, so Trump's 35% support among likely Republicans voters translates to about 9% of the population.
Maybe it's 15%, including those who are too embarrassed to admit their support to pollsters, but Trump also is the most disliked candidate among independents, women, Hispanics, and, of course, Democrats.
One can only imagine the ''deals'' that will be proposed to a President Trump, whether by business cronies or nutty dictators. His previous dealings with government have mostly been exploitative, so what respect might he give to the advice of career foreign service or budget office professionals who actually know what is going on? Picture the strained smiles on the faces of Speaker Ryan and Leader McConnell at their first meeting with the new President.
It could hardly be better with Cruz, the toxic product of organized right wing advocacy since he was a teenage a debater and a father with crazed born-again beliefs about the role of religion in government. Cruz, a graduate of Princeton and Harvard, former clerk to Chief Justice Rehnquist, representative of G.W. Bush in the 2000 Florida recount, and Solicitor General of Texas is nothing if not a product of the establishment.
Gallup reports that 26% of Americans self-identify as Republicans, so Trump's 35% support among likely Republicans voters translates to about 9% of the population.
Maybe it's 15%, including those who are too embarrassed to admit their support to pollsters, but Trump also is the most disliked candidate among independents, women, Hispanics, and, of course, Democrats.
1
This election could actually turn on the perception of least damaging candidate over a 4 year time frame.
So when will the GOP learn from their mistakes and take care of the middle and lower class, in 2000 they almost lost to Gore but went back to their old ways, 2004 happened again, 2008 the magic ended but shrugged it off and stuck their heads in the sand, 2012again, 2016 guess what genie is out of the bottle,,, hence The Donald, after this election an immense vacuum will be created and the GOP will no longer be round s we know it.
The Trumpster was spawned on TV - the son of the American romance with celebrity and intolerance, brought together through the fine whines of the tea party and their echo chamber. In mastering the art of appealing to our basest instincts , this salesman has given the media just what they deserve- a clever character who ignores facts when they get in the way of audience appeal. We the people should be ashamed that this is the result of 240 years of democracy- but methinks his 15 minutes of fame should end when we realize that polling a handful of Iowans last resulted in a win for Rick Santorum . Democrats should enjoy the ship of Frankensteins that the conservative minority has foisted upon this once grand old party. Who knows where the story ends? Perhaps Mitt may yet have another road trip in him .
1
I am the same age as Trump and also grew up in Queens but without the limo. It feels like Trump's face has been on the cover of either the NY Post or Daily News since the seats on the subway were made from wicker or Fifth Avenue was a two-way street. Donald burst forth onto New York's camera lens with a multi-million dollar loan from real-estate mogul Dad and lots of family connections. He has been a camera-hog since birth. I find his ego boring but it appears others do not. All of NYC has lived thru his marriages,divorces, children, bankruptcies and his numerous guest appearances. He is a used-car salesman's super-hero. He can sell fashion photos of Chris Christie to Vogue,high-heel boots to Mayor DeBlasio or stock-tips to Mike Bloomberg.
The problem is that Donald is usually selling hot air, glitz or nonsense. But now he is selling fear, revenge and false promises and he is good at the sell.
The problem is that Donald is usually selling hot air, glitz or nonsense. But now he is selling fear, revenge and false promises and he is good at the sell.
3
I don't think Ted Cruz is hated for his ego. More likely he is intimidating to the rest of Washington. There's a very simple explanation why he's in second place after Donald: he's good at what he does, very good at strategy.
I'll be happy if either one of these two capable men win. Bernie Sanders may say all the right things but don't you think he's a bit out of his league? I suspect Sanders will embarrass America, the rest of the world will have no respect for him.
I'll be happy if either one of these two capable men win. Bernie Sanders may say all the right things but don't you think he's a bit out of his league? I suspect Sanders will embarrass America, the rest of the world will have no respect for him.
Elsewhere in the NYT is an appreciation of historian Dr. Forrest McDonald:
"In his book “The American Presidency: An Intellectual History,” published in 1994, Dr. McDonald concluded that “the caliber of the people who have served as chief executive has declined erratically but persistently from the day George Washington left office.”
Were Mr. Trump to be elected President, Dr. McDonald's conclusion would be the understatement of all time.
"In his book “The American Presidency: An Intellectual History,” published in 1994, Dr. McDonald concluded that “the caliber of the people who have served as chief executive has declined erratically but persistently from the day George Washington left office.”
Were Mr. Trump to be elected President, Dr. McDonald's conclusion would be the understatement of all time.
I suppose there will come a point at which we need to actually need to really worry and plan for a Trump, or Cruz, or Christie, or Rubio (or some combination) administration....could it really be that somehow America actually elects one of these people that will nominate anywhere from one to four SCOTUS jusdges and lead the free world? There is absolutely nothing that any of these people have said that in any way represents an America I recognize....
The last GOP President who never held elective office was Herbert Hoover. Think about that the the history of his 4 years in office. Yes, Trump would be different, very different. But a lack of experience in serious politics is a tremendous handicap.
1
Hoover had won respectability by his management contributions to the relief of Europe after WW I.
And I believe the convention that spat out Hoover was brokered. As this one seems to be shaping up to be.
The Republican party is reaping what it has sown. After spending decades ratcheting up the rhetoric, to the point where words lost their meaning, they now have one candidate who says nothing and another who means nothing. Wow.
199
'Strange times', Gail? No, utterly bizarre.
If Republicans, from Tea Party fools to the dwindling sensible to big GOP money can't get this
Cukoobird Donald out, they have zero chance to win the White House.
A brokered convention is the only answer. And if the world is lucky enough,
a potential sound-of-mind leader and diplomat might become the new media
darling, one that has a real chance to lead a powerful democracy.
If Republicans, from Tea Party fools to the dwindling sensible to big GOP money can't get this
Cukoobird Donald out, they have zero chance to win the White House.
A brokered convention is the only answer. And if the world is lucky enough,
a potential sound-of-mind leader and diplomat might become the new media
darling, one that has a real chance to lead a powerful democracy.
all true except the last paragraph should read that you live in the united states of America....or perhaps the united states of hysteria.
1
Dear Gail, I'm really going to need your columns in this upcoming election cycle. Thank you for providing the service of being informed, bemused, amused and level-headed, all at once. These are difficult things to juggle, and I'm often dropping one or more at a time.
3
Wasn't the Electoral College set up to counter surges of local collective madness? It may, for the first time, become necessary and useful.
3
I think Trump and Sander's supporters have a lot in common, they want to believe so much that there is someone who can wave a wand and change the world that they overlook the candidates glaring inexperience and have taken on a cult like worship as they bath themselves in a river of promises. The Democrats have the most experienced candidate, Hillary Clinton. She favors reducing the cost of college, including college loans for graduates. She recognizes the need to improve the health care plan and is capable of getting change there. Her international experience is a lot more than one vote in the Senate.
The Republicans had no candidate that the party would follow, Donald Trumps candidacy was born from that vacuum. If they want to stop him from getting the nomination, they will need to stop spending money attacking Hillary and start spending money letting the public know what a scary guy Trump is.
The Republicans had no candidate that the party would follow, Donald Trumps candidacy was born from that vacuum. If they want to stop him from getting the nomination, they will need to stop spending money attacking Hillary and start spending money letting the public know what a scary guy Trump is.
3
For a while, Trump's lead seemed based on his being the lesser of two evils. His buffoonery was a comic alternative to Bush and then he had that bully's gift for sniffing out the Achilles heel of each of his opponents, which made him interesting. He was the untrammeled Id. The other Ids responded, claiming to like his freedom from "political correctness," but, really, it was lack of inhibition. Being rich seemed like being intoxicated all the time and getting away with it. People went around with a contact high, chuckling, "low-energy," "child-molester," "poor Chris Christie," "worst CEO ever," and felt maybe the magic was working already, greatness was at hand. Now that there seems to be only one other person on the island, and he is the Prince of Darkness, the more sensible Repubs are pretending that maybe Trump is somehow different from what they know him to be (the "Trump is a centrist" mantra) simply because he is not . . .. Stranger than this contortion, however,is the effect it is having on the Democratic primary, in which the voters seem to be overreacting to the Republican debacle by rejecting their own party--a party that has rescued the economy, passed significant healthcare legislation, drawn down forces from two wars, helped to pass gay marriage laws, etc--and celebrating an inexperienced alternative candidate who permits himself, among other extravagant claims, Hudibrastic criticisms of the marital infidelity of his opponent's husband. Strange times indeed.
2
Trump is a P.T.Barnum throwback to Showmanship with a dollop of an Elmer Gantry feel good revival. Facts, substance or content can be distilled to simple 3 word slogans with pistache and frisson that invite the audience. Barnum's advertising slogan, 'What is it?' comes to mind 'all calculated to extort attention'.
My surprise is that pundits, op-ed contributors, journalists are surprised. The conservatives in my neighborhood, along with my Dad's friends, were mouthing Trumpisms for the last ten years. I was surprised it took so long for the GOP to "wake up" and smell the hair.
1
The nomination of either Trump or Cruz diminishes America's standing in the eyes of the rest of the civilized world.
Indeed, the election of ANY of the Republican nominees to President would be a disaster for our country and all of the free world.
Indeed, the election of ANY of the Republican nominees to President would be a disaster for our country and all of the free world.
3
The American voters somehow think being a wealthy celebrity qualifies you to be president of the United States. I asked my sister-in-law a few weeks ago, Why are you voting for Trump? She said "because people I know are voting for him." Then I asked, "Is there a specific policy of his that you agree with? Her response was, "his economic plan." What about his economic plan do like?" I queried. She responded, "umm I don't know." She is a school teacher.
This jumping on the celebrity band wagon is not just stupid, but potentially incredibly dangerous given the current state of affairs in Washington and the world. America needs to get smart.
This jumping on the celebrity band wagon is not just stupid, but potentially incredibly dangerous given the current state of affairs in Washington and the world. America needs to get smart.
346
I agree. Recently, I was talking with an acquaintance who works in finance. She mentioned that Cruz looked interesting. When I asked her if she was aware that one of his platforms was a return to the gold standard, she was shocked. Americans need to start studying in depth about the candidates who might just get their votes. The stakes are too high not to.
1
Nothing new in this. Almost 100 years ago H.L. Mencken said nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.
Would this teacher accept this sort of answer from her students on an essay or critique of a historical work, book, etc. Hope my kids don't have her for a teacher.
1
The sad part of this is that you Gail don't take responsibility for your roll in this. I notice how you act as if writing headlines to pander to the masses has not added to the problem. The problem is that we need to focus on real issues and you and the rest of the news media are a big part of the problem. Your column is a bit nauseating in the way you act as if it was a force of nature to pander to the masses and their desire for solicitous details about Trump. Even this column doesn't really talk about any of the issues does it?
2
Greg, you are so right. The emperor (in this case, the media) has no clothes. It is contributing to the problem every time it gives Trump airtime for his most recent idiotic, narcissistic, belligerent, anger fomenting comment. He is vacuous and unelectable but the circus sells, so bring on the clown!
1
If the people wanted to discuss issues substantively, the policy wonk Hillary Clinton would be at the top of all polls.
4
The only way to defeat these two is for the mainstream Republicans to coalesce around one of the mainstream Republican candidates. What's taking them so long???
1
Coalescing around one GOP candidate assumes that supporters of one would automatically gravitate to another.
If even the oligarchs continue to support their favorite, why would voters be any different?
The problem the GOP has goes back to Citizens United. Apparently GOP citizens do not unite!
The Law of Unintended Consequences.
If even the oligarchs continue to support their favorite, why would voters be any different?
The problem the GOP has goes back to Citizens United. Apparently GOP citizens do not unite!
The Law of Unintended Consequences.
Like millions of others, I will continue to tell pollsters I support Trumphoey, but vote for ANYONE else. This includes, oh dang, Clinton. This confounds the establishment AND the press.
1
Threw that blurb about Clinton at the end just to get comments.....and look, it worked! Clinton is also an accomplished attorney, worked as a staffer on the Rodino Committee, was First Lady of a state and the US, led task forces, works with her husband, one of the best presidents in the last half century, on a huge international foundation that promotes democracy and human rights, has worked for half a century on women's rights issues.....AND was a senator and a really effective Secretary of State. Without her work, right now Iran would likely be within a few months now of having nuclear weapons. Instead, they likely never will. Comparing trump to Clinton might be a fun little journalistic exercise, but it is really just comparing sports radio yakker to Babe Ruth.
8
Bottom line: Cruz is going nowhere near the presidency and may have ruined any chance of power in the Senate. Yes, he has improved Donald Trump's likability quotient. Inasmuch as the remainder of those running for president on the Republican side have about as much charisma as a houseplant, or valid plans for our future, Donald Trump may capture the nomination.
1
Had to laugh, well, out loud when I realised GC is admitting to agreeing with 'serious Republicans'--a group that she has heretofore never once ackowledged with anything other than utter explicit disdain. Hilarious.
When liberals begin acting like the see their mortal enemies as all-of-a-sudden having a serious faction, they must be scared to death.
Scared, yes, Gail, at having all of your worst fears about being irrelevant found out as true.
All of the serious Republicans I know--and there are legions--are ready to unseat the entire city of Washington. We love this country that much.
When liberals begin acting like the see their mortal enemies as all-of-a-sudden having a serious faction, they must be scared to death.
Scared, yes, Gail, at having all of your worst fears about being irrelevant found out as true.
All of the serious Republicans I know--and there are legions--are ready to unseat the entire city of Washington. We love this country that much.
Gail, you ended with "strange times" - but the phrase that struck me was (that republicans are starting to) "abandon hope" and that reminded me of Dante's Inferno. Which actually provides some useful lessons for us in these strange times:
Dante starts out his long poem with being lost, mid-life, in the middle of a dark wood....
Now the "abandon hope" part, in case you've forgotten (or were deprived of a liberal education) refers to the sign over the entrance of Hell: "Abandon hope all ye who enter here." But before he gets there, he is visited with a Muse, Beatrice, who will guide him on his "travels" through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven.
It might be useful for some of us, Gail could do it, to reread that poem. (Or failing that to find a summary.). Think of the possibilities though!
I'm imagining Trump and Cruz, for example: Trump in Purgatory. But surely Cruz is a spectre from Hell. (Definitely an abandoned soul! Due to his own bad behavior.).
You can decide where the others might show up.
But how about Gail for Beatrice? Our guide to the underworld. Our beacon of humor with hope of light.
In any case if Gail cares to go back in time to reveal things to those in her past, I suggest we may need to travel into the literature from the past (Greek tragedies, Plato's Republic, Shakespeare, Milton, Goete's Faust..) for guidance in these strange times.
And speaking of times: A big shout-out to The NY Times! Thank God for sanity, good reporting, and Gail,
Dante starts out his long poem with being lost, mid-life, in the middle of a dark wood....
Now the "abandon hope" part, in case you've forgotten (or were deprived of a liberal education) refers to the sign over the entrance of Hell: "Abandon hope all ye who enter here." But before he gets there, he is visited with a Muse, Beatrice, who will guide him on his "travels" through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven.
It might be useful for some of us, Gail could do it, to reread that poem. (Or failing that to find a summary.). Think of the possibilities though!
I'm imagining Trump and Cruz, for example: Trump in Purgatory. But surely Cruz is a spectre from Hell. (Definitely an abandoned soul! Due to his own bad behavior.).
You can decide where the others might show up.
But how about Gail for Beatrice? Our guide to the underworld. Our beacon of humor with hope of light.
In any case if Gail cares to go back in time to reveal things to those in her past, I suggest we may need to travel into the literature from the past (Greek tragedies, Plato's Republic, Shakespeare, Milton, Goete's Faust..) for guidance in these strange times.
And speaking of times: A big shout-out to The NY Times! Thank God for sanity, good reporting, and Gail,
3
It's astoundingly disturbing to me that the pretenders to this throne are so uniformly bad--save one. What is it about our country that allows for this to happen? I certainly don't know...what I do know is that the GOP brain trust (such as it my be so described) is apoplectic over the possibility that either Cruz or the blond gas bag will grab their scepter. I wish I could just pull the covers up over my head, and make it all go away. But that's not working any more unfortunately.
3
"The big question is why is Trump at the top. Why are so many favoring him?"
That comment reveals how few people understand the devastating effect of the dumbing down of America which has been going on for decades. The problem is with the electorate, not the crazies the Republicans have offered up.
We are reaping what we have sown.
That comment reveals how few people understand the devastating effect of the dumbing down of America which has been going on for decades. The problem is with the electorate, not the crazies the Republicans have offered up.
We are reaping what we have sown.
8
The US took the name of God in vain, and boy did that ever backfire.
Nah, it's not the dumbing down of the electorate.
It's the light bulb going off for the electorate that they've been had by career politicians who allowed 11 million people without passports to enter our country. That's where the rubber met the road in this election.
It's the light bulb going off for the electorate that they've been had by career politicians who allowed 11 million people without passports to enter our country. That's where the rubber met the road in this election.
I wish I could view this situation as funny or "cute", but it isn't. However, it is something to be expected given the state of our economy, our education system, and culture. Unfortunately, I agree that Trump is the lesser of two evils and hope he prevails as Republican nominee. Cruz has shown that he would destroy the nation in order to rebuild it in his right-wing, evangelical Christian image.
2
A flippant comment of GOP candidates - with "not much difference" - all running around Iowa and New Hampshire. I wish more would open their eyes and take a hard look at John Kasich - who will probably win New Hampshire or be a close 2nd. Kasich is the most experienced + pragmatic contender who will also capture the historically vital state of Ohio for the GOP.
1
All I see in Kasich is an enabler of Newt Gingrich.
2
This is all getting less and less funny as it goes on.
Bob Dole is the main guy saying that Trump would be better than Cruz -- he's got a variety of rationalizations ... but the real reason is that Cruz, the cat's paw of Texas oil money, is against the Ethanol scam, and "New York values" Trump is not. Branstad, the guy who has been governor of Iowa for so long that he looks like Lenin in his tomb, is of the same persuasion.
These two would rather have the guy that Rick Wilson described (too icky for here in my opinion, but said on MSNBC) as owning the "alt right" crowd (Dylann Roof's people) ... really? really?
And of course there's Sarah. Speaking strictly as a Democrat -- hey, can I get a hallelujah?
But then that all tells you what they think of Cruz. On the other hand National Review had a cattle call for people to dish Trump, and they did a good enough job that NR is disinvited from the Republican debates.
With friends like these, who needs enemies?
And here's the really sad thing, it doesn't get any better really, in the rest of the candidates. Kasich is considered "the most reasonable" of the bunch. In 1990 Kasich was one of only 21 congressmen (16 R, 5 D) to vote against GHWB's Clean Air Act. And Kasich is maybe the strongest right-to-lifer in the crowd.
Bob Dole is the main guy saying that Trump would be better than Cruz -- he's got a variety of rationalizations ... but the real reason is that Cruz, the cat's paw of Texas oil money, is against the Ethanol scam, and "New York values" Trump is not. Branstad, the guy who has been governor of Iowa for so long that he looks like Lenin in his tomb, is of the same persuasion.
These two would rather have the guy that Rick Wilson described (too icky for here in my opinion, but said on MSNBC) as owning the "alt right" crowd (Dylann Roof's people) ... really? really?
And of course there's Sarah. Speaking strictly as a Democrat -- hey, can I get a hallelujah?
But then that all tells you what they think of Cruz. On the other hand National Review had a cattle call for people to dish Trump, and they did a good enough job that NR is disinvited from the Republican debates.
With friends like these, who needs enemies?
And here's the really sad thing, it doesn't get any better really, in the rest of the candidates. Kasich is considered "the most reasonable" of the bunch. In 1990 Kasich was one of only 21 congressmen (16 R, 5 D) to vote against GHWB's Clean Air Act. And Kasich is maybe the strongest right-to-lifer in the crowd.
5
Cars go 5 to 10% further on a gallon of pure gasoline than they do on 10% ethanol, and pure gasoline is less costly than ethanol.
1
Put me in the "Trump is worse than Cruz column".
1
One thing about Donald Trump, he doesn't even put money in those golf courses. He MAKES money by licensing his NAME to them.
I can't stand the narcissistic s.o.b. but he seems to have an uncanny ability to hornswaggle other people.
I can't stand the narcissistic s.o.b. but he seems to have an uncanny ability to hornswaggle other people.
7
I only wish my good friend, Dr. Hunter S Thompson, was here to share the moment with us!
3
Alas, Hunter Thompson couldn't take it anymore. He became a gun suicide statistic.
1
It is times like these that I miss Hunter Thompson the most. Thankfully we have Gail, even without the guns and whiskey.
2
Ms. Collins:
With all due respect, we do live in "strange times," but not for the reasons you describe.
We live in a strange time where hard-working people are wondering exactly how 11 million people quietly walked across our guarded border without a passport. They are wondering where all our steel mills and manufacturing plants (and their defined-benefits pensions) disappeared to. Times are so strange, in fact, that heroin flows into this country in such quantities that it's cheaper than beer and drug dealers can give away free samples to addict a new clientele of kids.
For better or worse, Trump addressed those issues which the other candidates were too politically correct to even mention.
With all due respect, we do live in "strange times," but not for the reasons you describe.
We live in a strange time where hard-working people are wondering exactly how 11 million people quietly walked across our guarded border without a passport. They are wondering where all our steel mills and manufacturing plants (and their defined-benefits pensions) disappeared to. Times are so strange, in fact, that heroin flows into this country in such quantities that it's cheaper than beer and drug dealers can give away free samples to addict a new clientele of kids.
For better or worse, Trump addressed those issues which the other candidates were too politically correct to even mention.
Define "addrrssed," please.
Trump points out (shouts out, with wild gestures and grimaces) that these problems exist.
Which everyone already knew.
But he offers no actual solutions.
He describes problems, but has no answers beyond the generic (stop drug abuse) or the fantasy (build a great big wall).
He ignores or glosses over the only important question -- HOW?
He has no experience in public administration -- quite different than CEO shouting orders that employees must obey -- so is clueless about HOW anything could actually be fixed.
He is not a problem solver -- he is just a shouting, bleached-blonde, over-tanned Cassandra carnival barker.
He repeats and echoes what is already well understood and then shrugs when asked so HOW will YOU fix it. When literally cornered by a reporter who asked HOW could we physically remove 11,000,000 people from the U.S., his answer was "with great management skills." and then he scurried away.
Trump attracts people like Conservative Democrat by shouting really loudly about their fears and concerns, and so far his best pathetic answer to what he would actually DO is 'hire some great people." He is Pied Piper, Peter Pan, the guy they see on teevee looking powerful by firing B-level celebs. And sadly, for millions, judt hearing their abger vented is enough -- and somehow they believe in Tinkerbelle and the Tooth! Fairy, that the Donald can vanquish the people they hate and bring them free stuff. He does it on teevee!
Trump points out (shouts out, with wild gestures and grimaces) that these problems exist.
Which everyone already knew.
But he offers no actual solutions.
He describes problems, but has no answers beyond the generic (stop drug abuse) or the fantasy (build a great big wall).
He ignores or glosses over the only important question -- HOW?
He has no experience in public administration -- quite different than CEO shouting orders that employees must obey -- so is clueless about HOW anything could actually be fixed.
He is not a problem solver -- he is just a shouting, bleached-blonde, over-tanned Cassandra carnival barker.
He repeats and echoes what is already well understood and then shrugs when asked so HOW will YOU fix it. When literally cornered by a reporter who asked HOW could we physically remove 11,000,000 people from the U.S., his answer was "with great management skills." and then he scurried away.
Trump attracts people like Conservative Democrat by shouting really loudly about their fears and concerns, and so far his best pathetic answer to what he would actually DO is 'hire some great people." He is Pied Piper, Peter Pan, the guy they see on teevee looking powerful by firing B-level celebs. And sadly, for millions, judt hearing their abger vented is enough -- and somehow they believe in Tinkerbelle and the Tooth! Fairy, that the Donald can vanquish the people they hate and bring them free stuff. He does it on teevee!
1
No, not all the other candidates. Mr Billionaire may appear to share your concerns, but so does Bernie Sanders, who has spent a lifetime working towards seeing that the needs of everyday working people are addressed by the political structure. Please find thirty minutes -- you got thirty minutes, and an internet connection? -- to read up on his positions regarding jobs, pensions, healthcare, immigration, the big banks, lobbying and political contributions, and so forth. Do it for yourself, not because I asked you to.
Please describe Trump's stated policy positions regarding these problems. We need you to provide quotes.
How can one expect to make "America Great Again," being led by a senior citizen who dyes his hair and combs it so ridiculously. Absolutely the only thing Trump believes is that he wants to be the President. Thus, he will say anything the mob wants to hear. Defying logic is an old time political gambit practiced by most of the contenders. Trump simply takes it to a higher visibility like one of those old time tent preachers. He is part of the American myth like the robber barons. He blatantly talks about government accountability when he has none. From his diatribe one might conclude that he is running for dictator, not president. It's sort of like McBeth's assumption that he was immortal because he could not be killed by any man of woman born. "Lay on Macduff, and damn'd be him that first cries, Hold enough!" McDuff was born by Caesarian section and so Macbeth proves to be a mere mortal. So too, will Trump prove to be vulnerable to forces he cannot control. The mob will follow anyone anywhere. Philosophers of the mind tell us that consciousness doesn't grasp change while it is happening. We pick up change after its onset. Change is in the air. Identifying where it came from and where it's going is yet to happen. Be patient! Trump will implode.
4
When the US was purportedly the greatest, the rest of the world was largely in ruins.
1
It's the pre-primary season, and not a vote has been cast. Messrs. Trump and Cruz, having made the most noise, have garnered the lion's share of media. While this results in a high polling profile, it garners them not a single delegate. The GOP is not my party, but every Republican I've ever known loves this country as much as I do and, in my opinion, takes their responsibility in the political process quite seriously. So, while each may have some early "victories" -- if defined as finishing first but with a lot less than 50% in any caucus/primary -- I simply don't see either of these gentlemen obtaining their party's nomination. And I sure hope I'm right on that.
1
Trump has done the impossible. He has replaced the image of himself as the sideshow huckster by creating a scarier Carnival Cruz. Donald the mainstream choice?! Who would have thought. Not in a million years.
4
As always, Gail Collins is a refreshing read. However, I have to differ with her statement that "policywise, Cruz isn't much different from every other Republican...." Au contraire. He calls for a return to the gold standard, which seems uniquely wrongheaded. He has embraced his endorsement by Troy Newman, head of Operation Rescue, who has called for the murder of abortion providers and whose visa application was recently rejected by Australia due to his violent rhetoric. Cruz similarly embraces radical pastors (including his father) who follow the tenets of Seven Mountains Christian Dominionism, which seeks a biblical form of government, society, and economy (including the previously mentioned gold standard). At a Religious Liberties Conference, Cruz happily shared the same stage with Rev. Kevin Swanson who at that conference had called for the death penalty for gay people. See http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/16/opinion/campaign-stops/ted-cruz-and-th... .
Cruz is not only unlikeable; he is unfit to occupy the Oval Office. It is appalling that such an extremist and "true believer" of values that are hostile to our secular, constitutional form of government is even competitive to be the nominee of a major party.
Cruz is not only unlikeable; he is unfit to occupy the Oval Office. It is appalling that such an extremist and "true believer" of values that are hostile to our secular, constitutional form of government is even competitive to be the nominee of a major party.
7
Gold is purportedly God's currency. That's why simpletons like Cruz tout it.
The continued rise in popularity of Mr. Trump is also due in large part to all the solicited and unsolicited media coverage he receives. Not only due to his often crass and outlandish statements, but because they resonate so well with a vast majority of people who think it, but dare not say it aloud. It's hard to tell which is more frightening.
5
There is a good reason to avoid coming to terms with Donald Trump: he has a take no prisoners approach to this campaign, exposing his opponents to ugly, belittling ridicule and threats of even more ridicule. He brings a verbal knife to his fights and just carves up opponents. I write this not out of envy but deep concern because he will do this to Hillary in ways we cannot yet imagine, nor can she. I worry that we will witness her fall at the hands of a very clever marketer and a vicious populist. Accept Trump as the nominee? Okay, fine, but what comes next is even scarier.
4
I think down deep, she's a lot meaner than he is and she'll take him on and puncture him. that icy glare -- and the fact that she's 100 x smarter than he is. Can't wait to see it.
Nah. Bernie will eat his lunch. We will recognize the difference between unthinking name-calling and thoughtful, caring concern for our country.
Reality.
American's prefer mythology over reality. We prefer reality shows over reality...we'll watch 'Survivor' but show little patience for people who are really in survival situations.
We mythologize our history...and perpetuate it in our culture and politics thru paper thin media points. It gets embedded, then we call it 'tradition'. Individuals then embody our mythical beliefs and they become 'legends' or 'heros'.
When facts or science undermine our personal or societal mythology we move to denial and often anger...I believe this is what is happening with Trump. This is what is happening with Climate Change. Wealth inequality. Racism. The entire list...
We're in denial and living in a false 'reality'...Donald is in his element.
American's prefer mythology over reality. We prefer reality shows over reality...we'll watch 'Survivor' but show little patience for people who are really in survival situations.
We mythologize our history...and perpetuate it in our culture and politics thru paper thin media points. It gets embedded, then we call it 'tradition'. Individuals then embody our mythical beliefs and they become 'legends' or 'heros'.
When facts or science undermine our personal or societal mythology we move to denial and often anger...I believe this is what is happening with Trump. This is what is happening with Climate Change. Wealth inequality. Racism. The entire list...
We're in denial and living in a false 'reality'...Donald is in his element.
5
the media backing and filling as trump cuts his trench is more fun to see than than even the early , irrational fulminations, "he's a clown," etc.
ms collins bail-out is cruz, fair enough, he is a horror, a huckster who would, and has, thrown his own under the bus, the inaccurate and demeaning description of his wife's role in the decision to put big money into his run should do for openers, anyone else, as cruz control demands, is next.
still cranky at trump (but now we know why) ms collins remains on page six, not grasping the full import of trumps success, a spreading stain of mistrust and, as we learn more about banks and bureaucrats, a sense of betrayal by our electeds and the corporate state for which they stand.
what's happened is that trump's relentless recitation of these ills has, finally awakened many who were so taken in by the republican party's coded class warfare rhetoric, that, as the pundits said, they voted against their own self-interest
...remember the commercial that has a group of firemen cast as decision makers, the head man announces an agendum, "clean water!? those in favor?" all shout "yea!"...motion carried...it's sort of what trump is doing.
for those of you still looking for his achillies heel, keep an eye on sarah palin's heels, those are the spikes that could do some damage to the trump balloon, as they did to mccain's.
ms collins bail-out is cruz, fair enough, he is a horror, a huckster who would, and has, thrown his own under the bus, the inaccurate and demeaning description of his wife's role in the decision to put big money into his run should do for openers, anyone else, as cruz control demands, is next.
still cranky at trump (but now we know why) ms collins remains on page six, not grasping the full import of trumps success, a spreading stain of mistrust and, as we learn more about banks and bureaucrats, a sense of betrayal by our electeds and the corporate state for which they stand.
what's happened is that trump's relentless recitation of these ills has, finally awakened many who were so taken in by the republican party's coded class warfare rhetoric, that, as the pundits said, they voted against their own self-interest
...remember the commercial that has a group of firemen cast as decision makers, the head man announces an agendum, "clean water!? those in favor?" all shout "yea!"...motion carried...it's sort of what trump is doing.
for those of you still looking for his achillies heel, keep an eye on sarah palin's heels, those are the spikes that could do some damage to the trump balloon, as they did to mccain's.
2
I am surprised that no one has brought up the reason for the Donald's first divorce. The darling of Evangelical pastors got his mistress, Marla, pregnant. After some dithering he decided to divorce Ivana and marry his mistress. That marriage did not last long. He divorced Marla right before her payout under the prenup was about to escalate. These facts were plastered all over the newspapers at the time.
6
Evangelicals are far more consumed with their hatred than worried about Christian values. Trump has violated almost all of Jesus' teachings, but the Evangelicals don't care, because they are so full of hatred that they don't realize Christ would tell them to repent.
I always thought it would be the first Latino candidate for Prez that woud get Latinos to come out to vote in large numbers, instead it will be The Donald.
3
I wonder what will happen when the Tea Party turns against the Tea Party?
3
All groups that scorn others ultimately turn on themselves.
1
The Tea Party has been schizoid from its inception.
They'd better hope he doesn't believe anything he says, because if he does, he'll try to do it. And the number of black marks in American history will be staggering.
1
Marla never said that about me!
1
To use Trump's own words "it's not incompetence it's stupidity." That's with regards to the GOP's leadership skills in grooming capable new legislators the last 30 years. In essence we are looking at the downward spiral of an American political party.
Trump is where he is becasue he is the brightest bulb in the set. He's the shiny object. The rest of the set makes Trump look good. That's why he is leading. Say it the way it is.
No one of the GOP leadership could make it as a ball team manager.
Yikes they even tired that once too.
The last word. The GOP has been drinking it's own whiskey ever since William F. Buckley Jr. started brewing the party's spirits.
Trump is where he is becasue he is the brightest bulb in the set. He's the shiny object. The rest of the set makes Trump look good. That's why he is leading. Say it the way it is.
No one of the GOP leadership could make it as a ball team manager.
Yikes they even tired that once too.
The last word. The GOP has been drinking it's own whiskey ever since William F. Buckley Jr. started brewing the party's spirits.
3
How many of these anti-government people, including those in elected office, will need assistance during the storm?
People need to realize that the government is there to help. And that we need to pay taxes to fund that help.
People need to realize that the government is there to help. And that we need to pay taxes to fund that help.
9
The Koch brothers see it otherwise -- that government is a pariah, not a helper.... and their long term campaign to discredit government plays right into where Trump is pointing. An unfortunate convergence.
1
It's so scary it's funny, not unlike realizing that Caribou Barbie could really have been president.
It's going to be a fringe Republican, either of which couldn't hold together a Boy Scout group, a centrist Republican masquerading as a Democrat but hated by the Republicans more than the devil (who we never hear about anymore) or a FDR Democrat everybody thinks is a socialist.
If you took that script to Hollywood twenty years ago they would have laughed you out of town.
It's going to be a fringe Republican, either of which couldn't hold together a Boy Scout group, a centrist Republican masquerading as a Democrat but hated by the Republicans more than the devil (who we never hear about anymore) or a FDR Democrat everybody thinks is a socialist.
If you took that script to Hollywood twenty years ago they would have laughed you out of town.
As Mark Twain said the difference between real life and fiction is that fiction has to be plausible.
I hope this is the election that disproves the rule that a candidate must win Iowa or NH to win the nomination. As for coming to term with Donald Trump or Ted Cruz being the nominee: I. Just. Can't.
4
What's all the hoopla about? Trump is an ideal representative of America's rightwing political party. It's like belonging to the Mickey Mouse Club for 30 years and then freaking out when Mickey shows up to claim top billing.
The truth is, Trump's no worse than any other Republican. In fact, there are many who I'd consider to be worse. He does lean toward having a more reserved foreign policy than establishment Republicans, and he does state that the US government is broken and corrupt. How many other Republicans are saying that?
Choose your metaphor. If you stand out in the rain, expect to get wet. Trump embodies all that Republicans have been preaching for at least the last 30 years, with a positive dash of honesty and charisma. Let's simply have our election, let the left vote for what they want and the right vote for what they want, and let the chips lie where they fall. If America wants a President Trump, let it be so. And maybe someday, SOMEDAY, the rest of us will stop being so lily livered and apathetic about our Republic, and start standing up for ourselves, demanding better. We tend to forget, our government exists to serve US.
The truth is, Trump's no worse than any other Republican. In fact, there are many who I'd consider to be worse. He does lean toward having a more reserved foreign policy than establishment Republicans, and he does state that the US government is broken and corrupt. How many other Republicans are saying that?
Choose your metaphor. If you stand out in the rain, expect to get wet. Trump embodies all that Republicans have been preaching for at least the last 30 years, with a positive dash of honesty and charisma. Let's simply have our election, let the left vote for what they want and the right vote for what they want, and let the chips lie where they fall. If America wants a President Trump, let it be so. And maybe someday, SOMEDAY, the rest of us will stop being so lily livered and apathetic about our Republic, and start standing up for ourselves, demanding better. We tend to forget, our government exists to serve US.
4
Ah, it isn't the people who forget the "government exists to serve US." It is the elected officials. They take care of their "constituency", and that is not the person on the street - unless the street in question is Wall Street.
The problem is, we've let it happen, and that was my point. Our complacency has done this to us. A democracy is like a garden. It's hard work that requires constant attention. If it means taking to the streets, then so be it.
But you're right, we no longer have a government that represents us, the American public. We have to take measures that will remedy that. It won't be easy because we're up against some of the most powerful people in the world. They like things just as they are. They will resist change. They have the means of convincing a lot of us that their ideas are best for everyone and that any ideas disrupting that are bad for everyone. They can make history disappear and create fear-inducing monsters out of thin air. But no matter what they throw at us, we need to keep our eye on the prize, and that is a US government that represents and serves the American people. If we want lower costing healthcare, we should get it. If we want sensible gun regulations, we should get it. If we want campaign finance reform, then that should happen.
But you're right, we no longer have a government that represents us, the American public. We have to take measures that will remedy that. It won't be easy because we're up against some of the most powerful people in the world. They like things just as they are. They will resist change. They have the means of convincing a lot of us that their ideas are best for everyone and that any ideas disrupting that are bad for everyone. They can make history disappear and create fear-inducing monsters out of thin air. But no matter what they throw at us, we need to keep our eye on the prize, and that is a US government that represents and serves the American people. If we want lower costing healthcare, we should get it. If we want sensible gun regulations, we should get it. If we want campaign finance reform, then that should happen.
The poor, poor Republican Party. Its members are reduced to two questions: Which of the dozen or so remaining wannabes will embarrass us the least?
and What would Sarah do?
and What would Sarah do?
3
Trump's talent for not being Cruz. Priceless !
5
Trump will probably defeat Clinton and he would destroy Sanders. This is true in large part because Democrats have arrogantly stood by and allowed him to develop his position without powerfully challenging him. "Really, he's just not seriously a contender?" Yes, he is, and he has more to offer in the eyes of many Americans than either a socialist revolutionary or an extension of the current White House. Wasserman-Schultz should be immediately canned, along with most of Clinton's campaign advisors. They need to get off of their ineffectual, impotent whining about the 100M voting gun owners in this country and boldly attack Mr. Trump for what he is. My party has given xenophobic Republican racists a virtual free run, and it is about to hand the presidency to a dunce.
1
Looking at Trumps face when Sarah Palin was blithering reminded me of Wile E. Coyote cartoon " HELP" how soon I can fire this babbling Prima donna ?
6
ifMr. Trump wins the nomination and loses the election will the GOP suffer from PTSD? Post Trump Shellacking Disorder.
3
Gail says that Hillary's campaign pitch is a lot like Trump's. "She's less about a new vision..." That's a problem. People want a vision. Trump's problem is that with him it feels like we're handing our country back over to a bunch of numbskulls like we did with Bush and Cheney. Shiver me timbers!
6
Most of the east coast is snowed in, winds blowing...a few days of challenge. Meanwhile, Trump snows most Republicans, blowing foul winds NJ to LA...months (possibly years) of agony. Climate change is here...it means certain disaster for our country unless sane people act...vote!
If the media would pay more attention to sensible Republicans in the presidential race, like Gov. Kasich of Ohio, maybe we would not have this silly melodrama about how Trump, horrible as he is, is better than Cruz.
3
I think there is a high likelihood that the race will come down to Trump vs. Sanders in the general election, and that we will see a Trump inauguration next January. Not something I'm pulling for, but I think it has a high degree of probability.
1
I think it will be Trump vs. Sanders and Sanders will prevail. When people hear him, they resonate with what he is saying. Truth just has a ring to it. In the general election, enough independents, first time voters, and disaffected former Republicans will hear Sanders and vote for him.
Yes, America, change is coming. Not "change you can believe in" from a neophyte; change you can feel and fight for from a seasoned campaigner.
Yes, America, change is coming. Not "change you can believe in" from a neophyte; change you can feel and fight for from a seasoned campaigner.
Trump is the evil of two lessers.
One is a lying racist bully. The other is a lying
demagogue.
They are today's GOP and the GOP has reaped what
it has sown since Nixon.
Both are the argument for retroactive birth control.
One is a lying racist bully. The other is a lying
demagogue.
They are today's GOP and the GOP has reaped what
it has sown since Nixon.
Both are the argument for retroactive birth control.
5
Trump's appeal is not that he has a well thought and clear agenda of what will make' America great again'. It is himself, The Donald the Outsider, by the force of his personality and ' greatness ' that will bring these things to pass. Classic demagoguery.
Should he win the nomination, he will likely alter the way he manipulates, changing his positions dramatically, even to the extent of supporting positive progressive initiatives that he expects will expand his base, proving that having no principles is the best principle of all. His supporters in the primaries could simply shrug and not hold him to account as it was his dynamic persona that they embraced not so much his position on issues.
Whether or not he is able to give new and additional meaning to what makes the successful demagogue we will see.
Should he win the nomination, he will likely alter the way he manipulates, changing his positions dramatically, even to the extent of supporting positive progressive initiatives that he expects will expand his base, proving that having no principles is the best principle of all. His supporters in the primaries could simply shrug and not hold him to account as it was his dynamic persona that they embraced not so much his position on issues.
Whether or not he is able to give new and additional meaning to what makes the successful demagogue we will see.
51
@splg,
"Should he win the nomination, he will like alter...supporting positive progressive initiatives..."
Really? Could you please give a few examples of anything this man's said or done within the last 6 months that suggests this actually happen?
1-23-16@12:01 pm est
"Should he win the nomination, he will like alter...supporting positive progressive initiatives..."
Really? Could you please give a few examples of anything this man's said or done within the last 6 months that suggests this actually happen?
1-23-16@12:01 pm est
1
Ah yes! Finally a candidate for President with two failed marriages and four bankruptcies. With a deal maker like that we wouldn't need the State Department or the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines--although given his views on immigration the Coast Guard and Border Patrol might be pretty busy.
3
Take a look at the other Republicans running for the nomination.
There's no 'pretty girl who can belt out country-and-western.' And that's why here in real life, there's no game to drop.
There's no 'pretty girl who can belt out country-and-western.' And that's why here in real life, there's no game to drop.
2
People still aren't tracking Trump's appeal. The public isn't dumb. It knows how hard it to move things through Congress. Trumpists look to him for executive action in two areas where the executive makes a difference. First, ordering enforcement of laws; in this case, the existing immigration laws. No court can challenge him for enforcing the law as written. Second, better trade agreements with our overseas partners that will stop the hemorrhaging of blue collar jobs.
That's it. You know that a Trump presidency will do those things. To a Trumpist, that's all ye need to know. For the rest of us, it's a horror show.
That's it. You know that a Trump presidency will do those things. To a Trumpist, that's all ye need to know. For the rest of us, it's a horror show.
As with many of Ms. Collins wonderful columns, especially those dealing with Donald Trump, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. But I must second the remarks of gemli: know-nothing buffoons like Trump have run for president before (see Herman Cain in 2012), but the fact that so many of my fellow Americans have been fooled by and are drawn to this racist, prevaricating fearmonger makes me weep for my country.
8
George Pataki was wrong when he said this wasn't a TV competition. That's exactly how shallow his party's primary is.
No two death spirals are alike. I saw this begin with GW Bush and Dick Cheney, but I did not foresee how long the obvious would take. Bring on the Donald. Let bathos crown the king of the crazy.
The Republicans made a pact with the Devil after the 60's civil rights acts when they went for the racist vote with Nixon's Southern Strategy, Reagan's states rights campaign kickoff in Neshoba County, Willie Horton, etc. They used racism to bait and switch white working class voters who wound up with tax cuts for the rich and nothing for them. Now the Devil has collected his due, installed Trump and left the Republican party with no party. When you sell your soul to the Devil, sooner or later he collects.
4
Pact with the Devil: Perfect!
And now they're stuck with it. Karma!
And now they're stuck with it. Karma!
Given only 2 options, I'd rather pick a candidate who has no clear strategy, or policy position, then the one who is hell-bent on doing what is harmful for America.
1
Cruz: Hell Bent! How apt. How dreadful!
Maybe he can take my party back to Efficient Government as a focus and shut the extremists in the party down. It is time to get some things done in America that make us all proud; roads would be a great place to start.
1
I am shocked that folks want to elect a president who has no experience in governing or foreign affairs as our president. What other business looks for the most inexperienced and least qualified person to hire? And yet we are willing to put someone of these limitations into the most powerful position of the world. I am baffled!!
298
Lynette,
Why would you be shocked? We elected President Obama who had never managed anything. And Bush had managed a Texas baseball team, of all things. We voters are crazy. The slate of possible candidates presented by both parties is awful. Imagine a USA with Trump, Cruz, Clinton, or Sanders as president. Could any prospect be worse? I'm considering moving to Canada...or maybe New Zealand!
Why would you be shocked? We elected President Obama who had never managed anything. And Bush had managed a Texas baseball team, of all things. We voters are crazy. The slate of possible candidates presented by both parties is awful. Imagine a USA with Trump, Cruz, Clinton, or Sanders as president. Could any prospect be worse? I'm considering moving to Canada...or maybe New Zealand!
To amplify your concern, I cannot for the life of me understand how Carson, Trump or Carley came to believe they could possibly be president with no experience in office of any sort. Then, I remembered. Norquest, one of the controlling arms of the GOP, told us during Romney's campaign that all the Republicans required of a president was the ability to sign a document. The oligarchs will take care of what is written on it.
You didn't think Obama should have been elected?
Looking at the history of American politics since World War II, it's fascinating to try to figure out how we got from there to here.
No puzzle with FDR and Truman. Eisenhower made sense as a Republican back then, but now wouldn't even be allowed through the door of today's GOP.
JFK started the change into the cult of personality with the whole Camelot meme, but also proved to be a thoughtful man, when he was actually thinking with his "big" brain instead of the other one. He was also so rich he could not be bought. A big threat to certain powers behind the throne. Enter Dallas.
LBJ was a DC insider and an establishment guy who nonetheless got things done domestically while letting Vietnam destroy his presidency.
Nixon started the trend of Republicans stealing elections, not by rigging votes, but by sabotaging the Vietnam peace talks. Resigned in disgrace. Like that would happen now. Republicans disgrace themselves regularly. See Flint - 9/11 - Katrina - weekly mass shootings because of no gun control.
Carter was a pro-business place holder and the national nag. Reagan was a figurehead who tripled the debt and deficit, but made us feel good. Poppy tried to embrace fiscal reality, but after Reagan the Republicans were done with that. Clinton did some good and bad stuff and his legacy was a stained dress.
Dubya was simply a disaster, but two stolen elections allowed him to pack the SCOTUS with pro-oligarch hacks while he played dress-up. No more space.
No puzzle with FDR and Truman. Eisenhower made sense as a Republican back then, but now wouldn't even be allowed through the door of today's GOP.
JFK started the change into the cult of personality with the whole Camelot meme, but also proved to be a thoughtful man, when he was actually thinking with his "big" brain instead of the other one. He was also so rich he could not be bought. A big threat to certain powers behind the throne. Enter Dallas.
LBJ was a DC insider and an establishment guy who nonetheless got things done domestically while letting Vietnam destroy his presidency.
Nixon started the trend of Republicans stealing elections, not by rigging votes, but by sabotaging the Vietnam peace talks. Resigned in disgrace. Like that would happen now. Republicans disgrace themselves regularly. See Flint - 9/11 - Katrina - weekly mass shootings because of no gun control.
Carter was a pro-business place holder and the national nag. Reagan was a figurehead who tripled the debt and deficit, but made us feel good. Poppy tried to embrace fiscal reality, but after Reagan the Republicans were done with that. Clinton did some good and bad stuff and his legacy was a stained dress.
Dubya was simply a disaster, but two stolen elections allowed him to pack the SCOTUS with pro-oligarch hacks while he played dress-up. No more space.
4
Strange times, indeed. If people want to begin contemplating what a Trump white house would be like, dig through some news reports about Silvio Berlusconi of Italy. Another billionaire demagogue elected to the highest office in the country. Morally bankrupt and incompetent.
No easy problems come across the desk of the President - those are all solved by underlings. Can the bluster of "the deal" solve ISIS? Relations with Russia? Chinese aggression in the South China Sea? There is no reason to think these people will blink when the Donald bluffs.
No easy problems come across the desk of the President - those are all solved by underlings. Can the bluster of "the deal" solve ISIS? Relations with Russia? Chinese aggression in the South China Sea? There is no reason to think these people will blink when the Donald bluffs.
2
Republicans have nominated presidential candidates with no prior political experience before. Sometimes it works out; sometimes not. Remember Eisenhower? His experience was war so Republicans were sure he would back major military expenditures. But nearing the end of his administration, Ike warned of the "military-industrial complex" that was challenging American democracy and free enterprise alike. Hoover was another matter; his experience was engineering so he didn't quite know how to deal with the Great Depression.
Trump is exactly the kind of non-politician the Republican establishment wants: He's totally behind HUGE expansion of our military, with more wars to follow, while he's also committed to deregulating finance and business and reducing taxes. And he loves to negotiate and make "deals" with anyone and everyone.
Trump is exactly the kind of non-politician the Republican establishment wants: He's totally behind HUGE expansion of our military, with more wars to follow, while he's also committed to deregulating finance and business and reducing taxes. And he loves to negotiate and make "deals" with anyone and everyone.
73
Considering the fact that our current president can't step across the aisle to make a deal with his fellow Americans but can with Iran, I'll take a deal maker.
The last paragraph of Richard's comment is the first time I have seen anyone suggest what will actually happen in a Trump presidency. Yes: more war; more deregulation; more tax breaks for wealthy, maybe more infrastructure spending through privatization, but more poverty, and a greater divide between haves and have-nots. What else does "make America great again" actually mean?
Eisenhower had a lifetime career in a government organization, and he had to answer to executive government at high levels. I believe that many business people have no conception of the immensity and complexity of government, and are astounded and flummoxed by the differences once they get into office —but then it's too late and they have to pretend they know what they're doing. Government is a different beast, and it takes actual experience to begin to know how to function in that realm.
I don't think Trump wants to be President, but he does want to win the nomination. He will then reveal himself to be the master of what he has always claimed himself to be, "The Art of the Deal." The GOP convention will be a brokered deal, with Trump naming the transfer of his won delegates to the candidate of his choosing. Let us pray that it is not Ted Cruz.
Maybe the most depressing thing for me is that Trump talks to his live audiences like they are children and they respond in kind. "And what do we call the politicians? (wait for response, "stupid!" as he just instructed) Right? Right?"
I still think although the GOP party is presently ( only presently I hope) paralyzed by the twin demagogues (Cruz) most voters see a non-Presidential person at the top of these GOP-voter polls. I could be wrong of course. We will deserve what we get, won't we?
I still think although the GOP party is presently ( only presently I hope) paralyzed by the twin demagogues (Cruz) most voters see a non-Presidential person at the top of these GOP-voter polls. I could be wrong of course. We will deserve what we get, won't we?
1
@Richard Leuttgen: you should check the most recent polls, because right now it doesn't look like Hillary would "clobber" anybody. Bernie Sanders wins against all Republicans by a significantly wider margin.
I am a lifelong Democrat, but if I were a Republican and had any kind of financial insecurity, I would vote for Trump because he alone among the Republicans is against cutting social security and is against trade pacts like NAFTA and TPP that have sent millions of manufacturing jobs overseas.
Democrats are always saying, "When is the Republican base going to wake up and stop voting against its own interest? Can't they see that as soon as the election is over, they throw the 99% under the bus and do the bidding of their billionaire donors?"
Well, in supporting Trump, they really have finally realized that they've been had in a major way for a long time. That's why they're going for the nonEstablishment candidate.
If Hillary won the Democratic nomination, I would seriously consider voting for Trump because I don't her trust her at all, particularly not on things like social security and TPP. Especially where she seems to be promising she'll follow Obama's path. Many of us feel he sold us out on these issues.
I don't know how anyone can say that any of the other Republican candidates would be better for the formerly middle class Republican base. They'll ignore them just as their predecessors have been doing for nigh unto forty years.
I am a lifelong Democrat, but if I were a Republican and had any kind of financial insecurity, I would vote for Trump because he alone among the Republicans is against cutting social security and is against trade pacts like NAFTA and TPP that have sent millions of manufacturing jobs overseas.
Democrats are always saying, "When is the Republican base going to wake up and stop voting against its own interest? Can't they see that as soon as the election is over, they throw the 99% under the bus and do the bidding of their billionaire donors?"
Well, in supporting Trump, they really have finally realized that they've been had in a major way for a long time. That's why they're going for the nonEstablishment candidate.
If Hillary won the Democratic nomination, I would seriously consider voting for Trump because I don't her trust her at all, particularly not on things like social security and TPP. Especially where she seems to be promising she'll follow Obama's path. Many of us feel he sold us out on these issues.
I don't know how anyone can say that any of the other Republican candidates would be better for the formerly middle class Republican base. They'll ignore them just as their predecessors have been doing for nigh unto forty years.
3
Trump today said he doesn't mind changing the Bill of Rights to stop Muslim immigration and strengthen our national security.
What helps acquiesce to Trump's presidency is - the huge wall, beautiful Trumpcare, and spanking new constitution (minus the second amendment with a little bit of luck and deal making) .. and the entertainment that comes with the package.
What helps acquiesce to Trump's presidency is - the huge wall, beautiful Trumpcare, and spanking new constitution (minus the second amendment with a little bit of luck and deal making) .. and the entertainment that comes with the package.
Plus a lot of huge ugly buildings.
2
How irresponsible can you be, Gail?
Another PR piece for the name and antics of Trump? This keeps your Trump-to-Bernie ratio at 50 to 1. Same as that of the rest of the Times.
America needs serious information on the major issues, which would call for major discussion of Bernie.
Instead, you -- like the whole Times political-election team -- keep feeding us Trump and lightweight horserace trash.
The only place at this website were we find responsible discussion for the coming election is this readers Comments corner. If not for that, it would be better for America that the Times shut down its political news and opinion sections until after the election
Another PR piece for the name and antics of Trump? This keeps your Trump-to-Bernie ratio at 50 to 1. Same as that of the rest of the Times.
America needs serious information on the major issues, which would call for major discussion of Bernie.
Instead, you -- like the whole Times political-election team -- keep feeding us Trump and lightweight horserace trash.
The only place at this website were we find responsible discussion for the coming election is this readers Comments corner. If not for that, it would be better for America that the Times shut down its political news and opinion sections until after the election
2
Bob Dole is still with us?
I think this column shows prejudice against the dull witted members of our society who are the bulk of the Trump supporters. They vote too and there are millions of them. Perhaps more than you realize. How else do you explain Bush 43? The first openly dull witted individual ever to become president. You can talk about Reagan or Warren Harding but surely neither exhibited comprehension problems of Bush 43. Everyone thought that would be the end of making fun of those somewhat slower members of our society and we'd take them more seriously. But no, only Trump has reached out to them. The rest of us ought to feel shame for not seeing how important a voting bloc they could be. Trump gives them permission to spout dumb stuff like no other candidate since George Wallace. Take heed America, mock and laugh at these people at your peril.
2
"It’s fascinating how much his fellow Republicans hate this guy." They hate him because he has purposefully, willfully courted their hate through his (rude) words and actions. He thrives on being hated. That chicken is coming home to roost, though, it appears.
157
*
*
Gail, Donald Trump is so disconnected from the real business of governance that if he were President, he'd nag Congress to pass a law giving him a trademark on the phrase "No Trump". Every time a bridge player bid "One No Trump" or "Two No Trump" -- all the way to 7 No Trump -- he would get a royalty.
And he's so factually-challenged that I believe he would insist that the law have an exemption for Omar Sharif. ("I like him. He spent a lot of money in my casinos." Sharif was, indeed, known not only for analysis of bridge games, but also for spending a lot of money in casinos.) No one would be able to convince Trump that Mr. Sharif, sadly, passed away. A President Trump would listen to no one but Sarah Palin, and she's even more fact-challenged than he is.
So I try to look on the bright side. First, all these conservative "thinkers" such as Rich Lowry, who took all this time to notice Trump's lack of true conservatism, may actually have to think about what true conservatism would look like. It doesn't look like Congressman Amash voting against everything, it doesn't look like Sarah Palin blaming everyone, and it doesn't look like Donald Rumsfeld finding new ways to spend trillions of dollars.
Much more important, if Donald Trump runs for President, Arlo Guthrie could go on an anti-Trump concert tour: Arlo's father Woody used to rent an apartment from Donald's father Fred! www.npr.org/2016/01/22/464013683/aint-got-no-home-why-woody-guthrie-desp...
*
Gail, Donald Trump is so disconnected from the real business of governance that if he were President, he'd nag Congress to pass a law giving him a trademark on the phrase "No Trump". Every time a bridge player bid "One No Trump" or "Two No Trump" -- all the way to 7 No Trump -- he would get a royalty.
And he's so factually-challenged that I believe he would insist that the law have an exemption for Omar Sharif. ("I like him. He spent a lot of money in my casinos." Sharif was, indeed, known not only for analysis of bridge games, but also for spending a lot of money in casinos.) No one would be able to convince Trump that Mr. Sharif, sadly, passed away. A President Trump would listen to no one but Sarah Palin, and she's even more fact-challenged than he is.
So I try to look on the bright side. First, all these conservative "thinkers" such as Rich Lowry, who took all this time to notice Trump's lack of true conservatism, may actually have to think about what true conservatism would look like. It doesn't look like Congressman Amash voting against everything, it doesn't look like Sarah Palin blaming everyone, and it doesn't look like Donald Rumsfeld finding new ways to spend trillions of dollars.
Much more important, if Donald Trump runs for President, Arlo Guthrie could go on an anti-Trump concert tour: Arlo's father Woody used to rent an apartment from Donald's father Fred! www.npr.org/2016/01/22/464013683/aint-got-no-home-why-woody-guthrie-desp...
2
Yeah, I've told friends and family before & I'll say it here, I can live with a President Trump, as unlikely as that sound(*definitely gagging right now*). I can't live with a President Cruz. Period. He's intelligent as media and fellow repubs(maybe even Pres. Obama?) admit, but that's as far as they go because in short he's just an asshat. But as president he'd be an incredibly dangerous one, one that, I fear, would not stop with the fire & brimstone rhetoric that has gotten him this far. A purely selfish man who seems capable of lying about anything to get what he wants. And all he seems to want is power for power's sake. I really don't think I've ever witnessed an American politician as ferociously ambitious as Mr. Cruz yet(though I am young so I missed out on Nixon and perhaps the Ronald).
The world would not end if Cruz became the nominee or President somehow, but the United States would become a darker, more cynical place than it already is.
If either of these bozos become the nominee I believe we'll see Michael Bloomberg run a third party bid. I'm not interested in another billionaire in the race, but hey, the people must be entertained right?!
But here's to the hope that president Obama has laid down ever so lightly...and here's to Bernie, the right man to hammer the hope down in actual policy that works for the people!
The world would not end if Cruz became the nominee or President somehow, but the United States would become a darker, more cynical place than it already is.
If either of these bozos become the nominee I believe we'll see Michael Bloomberg run a third party bid. I'm not interested in another billionaire in the race, but hey, the people must be entertained right?!
But here's to the hope that president Obama has laid down ever so lightly...and here's to Bernie, the right man to hammer the hope down in actual policy that works for the people!
1
Perilous Times. Thank you Gail.
Ahh, Gail, and the rest of you progressive dolts- Thank you for the negative article about Mr. Trump. His supporters love you and your progressive ilk for hating him. Soon you will find out how the coalition that won it for Obama won't show up for Hillary or Bernie.
A ways back you wrote a column about America becoming more like Texas. That at one time would have been a stretch. No longer. We're now seeing the Evangelical state of Iowa about to cast its vote in the Republican primary for a brash and crude materialist. Acts 3 will be for the country going totally crazy and putting Trump in the oval office.
2
I am not too scared by Donald Trump because like the Republicans you mentioned I think he is only riffing and does not particularly believe what he says. He is a bright guy who is as yet unbought and I think we could easily do worse. But he has an uncanny ability to mirror us and thats what we should be worried about. We are a nation of Trumps who really believe it, the Liberals not much less than the Conservatives, and it scares me very much.
2
How can you be so confident that Trump is "not yet bought"? You're taking the word of a guy who "is only riffing and does not particularly believe what he says," but knows that every last one of his supporters do?
That's a treacherous trail you tread.
That's a treacherous trail you tread.
3
I think I should explain why I say Trump mirrors all of us on both sides of the partisan divide. Because we love ourselves so much that we think it is wonderful to be the 800 pound gorilla in the room. Because we think that it is glorious to spread death destruction and tyranny all over the world, on order to break all other countries to our will. Because we equate the interests of our psychopathic rulers with the interests of humanity. Because we are evil and we think that it is good.
DJ I agree with you that it is risky to believe anything that Trump says. I don't know what he would do as President. But I know where Clinton stands. I know that she would intensify our warlike foreign policy and is likely to get us into a nuclear exchange with Russia. So as I said we could easily do worse.
DJ I agree with you that it is risky to believe anything that Trump says. I don't know what he would do as President. But I know where Clinton stands. I know that she would intensify our warlike foreign policy and is likely to get us into a nuclear exchange with Russia. So as I said we could easily do worse.
1
i would like to point out that all of the democratic presidential candidates take the role of president seriously. there is no need to think that whatever candidate the republicans nominate will actually end up in office as president of the united states. also, i fervently hope that i am right about that.
4
Strange times indeed...however no less strange than electing a man who had no leadership experience other than organizing community rallies in the most murderous major metro in the United States. Challenge yourself to truly consider if we could possibly do worse than the prior 8 years.
There is no gentleman and scholar of President Obama's stature in your whole sociopathic Republican Party.
1
Hey, you know what's more likely and believable, AND exciting than a Trump nomination? A Bernie Sanders nomination on the Democratic side. And polls show that Bernie beats Trump in a head to head matchup, better than Hillary would fare.
If the GOP and its voters are dumb enough to nominate a buffoonish businessman who has no business being near government, then the Democrats will yet again hail victorious come November.
If the GOP and its voters are dumb enough to nominate a buffoonish businessman who has no business being near government, then the Democrats will yet again hail victorious come November.
1
I thought Reagan was a buffoon until George W. Bush came along and made him look almost Churchillian by comparison. Astonishingly, with Trump there appears to be yet another iteration, another downward revision, of that dreary trend.
582
It goes hand in hand with the dumbing down of America.
"I thought Reagan was a buffoon until George W. Bush came along..."
Trump is actually smarter than either of those two (admittedly, not a high bar).
I do agree, though, that Reagan at least seemed to "get" the importance of taking the job seriously. A president is asked to take an "oath of office", and it is the closest thing to a sacred one that this country asks of an individual.
Bush never even came close to understanding this (he thought it was just something he was entitled to as a birth right, and treated it as such) and Trump thinks it's just going to be another TV show.
There is undoubtedly an element of showbiz in politics, especially the presidential kind, but if the person running thinks that's all there is, we're all going to be in for a very rough ride if that person manages to get elected.
Trump is actually smarter than either of those two (admittedly, not a high bar).
I do agree, though, that Reagan at least seemed to "get" the importance of taking the job seriously. A president is asked to take an "oath of office", and it is the closest thing to a sacred one that this country asks of an individual.
Bush never even came close to understanding this (he thought it was just something he was entitled to as a birth right, and treated it as such) and Trump thinks it's just going to be another TV show.
There is undoubtedly an element of showbiz in politics, especially the presidential kind, but if the person running thinks that's all there is, we're all going to be in for a very rough ride if that person manages to get elected.
I didn't agree with Reagan's policies and never voted for him but there's no comparison to Trump or Cruz. He was Governor of California (one of the largest economies in the world) for 8 years and was twice elected President of the Screen Actors Guild, a union, before that. You can also read David Gergen's book, Eyewitness to Power, to learn how impressed he was with Reagan's executive leadership ability compared to other Presidents he worked for. Reagan also knew how to compromise and work with legislators. Trump is no Reagan.
Amusing, but I'm surprised Ms. Collins doesn't mention Trump's call to ban Muslims from the U.S. If you ask me, this is why he is popular with a certain slice of the electorate, and the fact that he is willing to exploit that point of view makes him worse than noxious: Trump is either a lying egotist, or a racist, or both. Such a person should not be given so much power.
1
If the Donald plans on leveraging his negotiating skills to resolve domestic and international issues he will be facing people who may not be motivated by what he is used to using, money. More money solves most deal problems. The highest bidder usually wins. So exactly how is that going to work with people who have ideologies, be it the Bundy's or al Queda or Israelis? We don't have the money to buy them off.
Trump sure hasn't got the mojo to undermine religious fanatics.
You have to wonder what kind of "deals" Trump would make with Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell on the issues sure to confront him as Prsident. Health care? Wall St. regulation? Curbs on fossil fuels? Trade and tariffs? The Iran arrangement?
Isn't it about time voters and the news media started pressing Trump for details on his "deals?" Bluster simply isn't sufficient, not with the world economy, climate and peace at stake.
Isn't it about time voters and the news media started pressing Trump for details on his "deals?" Bluster simply isn't sufficient, not with the world economy, climate and peace at stake.
335
The media has no time for policy wonks. People switch to other channels.
1
Why bother asking Trump? Or Cruz? Just kick out all republicans. Problem solved. Leave the party in power that wants to do something beneficial and sensible for the whole country instead of the obscene rich and the giant corporations.
1
Electing anyone who asserts that government is inherently incompetent to any public office is a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Is it possible that the Donald is the least conservative Republican in the race? Could he turn into a David Souter in office? Are we sure he is as bad as, say, Cruz or even Rubio -- those alternate options who actually have political convictions that could damage the environment, shrink government programs, deport undocumented immigrants and gut the economy?
143
Here's Trump being decidedly unconservative.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcUCLwWCihE
I usually despise conspiracy theories, but could his candidacy have been a Democrat set-up from the start? Clinton, Obama and Trump are all very bright - one might even say cunning - people, and what is completely incontrovertible about this situation is that it is an absolute disaster for the Republican establishment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcUCLwWCihE
I usually despise conspiracy theories, but could his candidacy have been a Democrat set-up from the start? Clinton, Obama and Trump are all very bright - one might even say cunning - people, and what is completely incontrovertible about this situation is that it is an absolute disaster for the Republican establishment.
I believe Amy has a valid point regarding Donald Trump's underlying liberal bent. Many of his comments when pushed to defend outrageous right wing positions are qualified by thoughtful and liberal elements.
He's too crazy to take that chance- he has no plans for any of his bellowing - he's like the loudest drunk in a neighborhood bar- so all the blue collar drunks think he's great- what a pity if we all have to learn the hard way that Trump will be the guy who destroyed America.
And there you have it.
A Broadway revue with no rhythm in an ocean of jazz.
Donald Trump as P. T. Barnum.
Ted Cruz as Tail-Gunner Joe McCarthy.
Hillary Clinton as herself, whoever that is.
Bernie Sanders as your favorite loopy uncle.
Who could ask for anything more?
A Broadway revue with no rhythm in an ocean of jazz.
Donald Trump as P. T. Barnum.
Ted Cruz as Tail-Gunner Joe McCarthy.
Hillary Clinton as herself, whoever that is.
Bernie Sanders as your favorite loopy uncle.
Who could ask for anything more?
18
Hillary is a policy wonk. It is amazing to me how scared Americans are of smart people, particularly smart women.
1
There's nothing loopy about Mr. Sanders, Gordon.
I get the feeling we are about to witness the first part of Abraham Lincoln's "you can fool all of the people, some of the time..." ....
8
Gail, you're missing the point - Trump actually made deals and actually got those golf courses BUILT.
Can't recall too many things Hillary actually got done... other than her own career.
Can't recall too many things Hillary actually got done... other than her own career.
4
And lost his shirt via bankruptcy on some of his deals. Interested in seeing the U.S. bankrupted and in a depression. ISIS are not bankers. They have a geopolitical agenda which includes the destruction of the U.S.
1
Read news accounts or watch the documentary "You've Been Trumped," about his heavy-handed efforts to get a course built in Aberdeen, Scotland. Then you'll have a sense of how he gets things done. In Scotland, he destroyed coastal sand dunes and insulted local residents, and in the end complained about how badly he'd been treated.
Could be you're missing the point.
Could be you're missing the point.
2
She married a future President...that's pretty impressive.
Thank Gail Collins for the fresh air!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4
Your former employer, The Daily News, ran a cover showing Trump and Palin with the headline, "I'M WITH STUPID!"
With Palin's support, Trump may win the GOP nomination but with headlines like "I'm with stupid" he is unlikely to New York in a national election.
California, New York, and Florida have substantial hispanic population, a group that Trump has alienated. Without the electoral votes of those three states, Trump is unlikely to be president.
It is way too early to predict the outcome in November, but the current projection shows Democrats winning 338 electoral votes and the presidency.
http://www.270towin.com/maps/5Bl1v
So, Gail, don't come to terms with Donald. Keep hope alive!
With Palin's support, Trump may win the GOP nomination but with headlines like "I'm with stupid" he is unlikely to New York in a national election.
California, New York, and Florida have substantial hispanic population, a group that Trump has alienated. Without the electoral votes of those three states, Trump is unlikely to be president.
It is way too early to predict the outcome in November, but the current projection shows Democrats winning 338 electoral votes and the presidency.
http://www.270towin.com/maps/5Bl1v
So, Gail, don't come to terms with Donald. Keep hope alive!
10
I don't think any Republican is likely to win NY or CA.
Trump said, "My legacy has its roots in my father's legacy." There were cases brought against the Trumps, father and son, in 1973 and 1978 by the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department. Doormen who worked for the Trumps testified they were told to tell any black people who enquired about renting or buying from the Trumps that the apartments were already taken or to quote a phony rent price that was unreasonably high.
Believe it or not, Woody Guthrie actually rented a house from Trump's father. He wrote a song about him, mentioning Trump by name, when Trump wouldn't rent to black people. Guthrie wrote, "I suppose Old Man Trump knows just how much racial hate he stirred up."
This was in yesterday's Guardian newspaper.
Believe it or not, Woody Guthrie actually rented a house from Trump's father. He wrote a song about him, mentioning Trump by name, when Trump wouldn't rent to black people. Guthrie wrote, "I suppose Old Man Trump knows just how much racial hate he stirred up."
This was in yesterday's Guardian newspaper.
77
And...when does the NYT reporter get over to the Beach Haven Apts on Avenue Q, Brooklyn, to interview the sad tenants of this Trump holding (currently? not sure) with their roaches, leaks, and cold, cold rooms...Guthrie blew the whistle on the Trumps years ago and we really need to listen to the lyrics.
Wow. This is why we need to read the non-American press to find out what they are saying about us. We'll definitely learn more from their papers than ours.
1
This story was also on "All Things Considered" Friday 1/22/16
http://www.npr.org/2016/01/22/464013683/aint-got-no-home-why-woody-guthr...
Guess The Donald apple didn't really fall far from the Fred Trump tree.
http://www.npr.org/2016/01/22/464013683/aint-got-no-home-why-woody-guthr...
Guess The Donald apple didn't really fall far from the Fred Trump tree.
The Republican leaders who argue amongst themselves about which of this unholy duo they can live with are doing a disservice not only to their party but to our country.
What they need to do is get Rubio, Bush, and Kasich in a room and make a choice, using rock-paper-scissors if there's no rational basis. Somehow two of them must drop out, leaving the remaining one to unite the non-crazy Republican primary voters that I pray still constitute a majority.
What they need to do is get Rubio, Bush, and Kasich in a room and make a choice, using rock-paper-scissors if there's no rational basis. Somehow two of them must drop out, leaving the remaining one to unite the non-crazy Republican primary voters that I pray still constitute a majority.
5
I would rather have Trump than Rubio. They are both liars but Trump knows he is. Marco "I'm no scientist man" Rubio thinks he's smart and chosen by god. BTW the Earth is 6,000 years old.
Which of the three little choirboys is best to get the party right with God?
Strange times. The establishment wing of the GOP is far right reactionary and would undo all of the New Deal and the Great Society, end Social Security and Medicare, and deregulate the banks. Except they can't come right out and say it. Right wing radio and Fox News fills the vacuum with its own brand of xenophobia and fear. The Republican base, meanwhile, is too innocent to grasp the profound cynicism of the money managers and politicians exploiting their economic and social anxieties, This is the toxic brew that serves up the Donald.
17
Strange how we are actually trying to imagine a Trump presidency. A friend and I (both liberal) were talking today, and we drifted into a conversation of who should be in Trump's cabinet. I had to stand back and say- can you imagine that we are actually conceptualizing a Trump presidency?? Neither of us will vote for him, but the fact that we are starting to speculate about his cabinet is just plain scary.
14
I think it's inevitable that Trump will be the Republican nominee. Then, I predict the media will usher him straight to victory and we will be doomed. The cable networks have led about 99.9% of their newscasts with Trump for months and months now. Their insatiable hunger for melodrama and manufactured excitement has transformed him into an extremely unlikely long-shot to a sure thing. Now, it appears they are starting to get a little bored with him, so they're turning on Hillary Clinton again. I haven't seen a single story about her that's even remotely balanced. They're pretty much all hatchet jobs. So, they're pretty much paving the way for Trump to assume the throne.
17
There may have been arena audiences who heard the siren call of the snake oil salesman but it was the press who made the man an electable candidate for America's highest office. Of course, the media cannot help itself when it must pursue ratings and the accompanying good graces of advertisers just as the candidates must pursue self-aggrandizement, fame and the fortunes of the wealthiest nation in the world. And that bottomless military weapons pit, oh what toys they are!
19
I'm reminded of the seven stages of grief, I think the Republican Party is in the negotiation stage (Trump might not be so bad, maybe we can work with him. At least he's not Cruz)
14
The republican establishment must figure that both Trump and Cruz will be be defeated in a general election but the GOP will have a firewall in maintaining control of both houses of Comgress. Being an opposition party isn't such a bad thing when you can stifle a democratic president from getting anything done.
That should be depressing to party leaders because our country suffers in the gridlock but they are resigned to this fate that either Trump or Cruz will be the nominee in 2016.
That should be depressing to party leaders because our country suffers in the gridlock but they are resigned to this fate that either Trump or Cruz will be the nominee in 2016.
6
I was wrong about Trump thinking he'd fade long before this. The only chance of him losing the nomination now is if he unexpectedly loses a state or two and implodes. But we are wrong to fear for our country. These folks voting in these primaries represent a small sliver of the electorate: they are loud, they are angry, but they are the equivalent of the Malheur occupiers in terms of real influence. It will be Hillary or Bernie in a walk.
8
"Really, they're very similar..."
Um. No.
Hillary, while smart and qualified on paper, has no sense of what are the issues that people really are concerned with. Donald, while not educated on politics, has a great sense of the issues people are concerned with.
Please let me know, Gail, what Hillary stands for. I can't figure it out. She's triangulated and studied and pandered, but I still don't really feel I get a sense of what she is running for, other than it's "her time." She had the race stolen out from under her in 2008, but other than that, she's been making terrible decisions on what to do politically. And now (I think) she wants us to vote for her so she can continue as Obama's 3rd term.
Donald Trump is about 1) stopping illegal immigration; 2) security; 3) American jobs. And he roasts the other Republican candidates and destroys PC culture along the way. What could be clearer and more appealing?
Strange and sad times that Hillary, who is one of the smartest, and most accomplished women in politics could have charted a course so dumb over the past 8 years. But it's one of her own making. And I can't support her at this point. She's become irrelevant.
Um. No.
Hillary, while smart and qualified on paper, has no sense of what are the issues that people really are concerned with. Donald, while not educated on politics, has a great sense of the issues people are concerned with.
Please let me know, Gail, what Hillary stands for. I can't figure it out. She's triangulated and studied and pandered, but I still don't really feel I get a sense of what she is running for, other than it's "her time." She had the race stolen out from under her in 2008, but other than that, she's been making terrible decisions on what to do politically. And now (I think) she wants us to vote for her so she can continue as Obama's 3rd term.
Donald Trump is about 1) stopping illegal immigration; 2) security; 3) American jobs. And he roasts the other Republican candidates and destroys PC culture along the way. What could be clearer and more appealing?
Strange and sad times that Hillary, who is one of the smartest, and most accomplished women in politics could have charted a course so dumb over the past 8 years. But it's one of her own making. And I can't support her at this point. She's become irrelevant.
19
I would go further and say that Clinton represents a huge liability to the Democratic party. She has virtually no positive message, indeed in recent weeks, seems to have carved out the position of "No, we can't!" in response to the groundswell of enthusiasm and optimism for Senator Bernie Sanders. She generates no enthusiasm, which we need for turnout in the general election. She cannot attract independent voters, or any moderate Republicans, the way Bernie Sanders can. Finally, like it or not, right or wrong, if Clinton ends up as the nominee, a big swathe of Dems, dispirited or bored, or both, will sit out the general or write in Bernie. We cannot afford that. It makes sense to get behind Bernie Sanders.
2
"Donald Trump is about...3) American jobs."
And he's against raising the minimum wage. How will that help anybody?
Read up minzh.
And he's against raising the minimum wage. How will that help anybody?
Read up minzh.
1
Many of the people of the US have no sense of cause and effect, so they can't tell when somebody has a workable plan.
1
Politically speaking, Trump is the most powerful candidate of our time. He may confuse the "establishment", but culturally, he is the establishment. He maybe the most accurate symbol of what our culture is all about and what it has become. That's what people of like, not administrators, not great thinkers. I'm certain he will become the next president of the United States.
8
Trump is so vain, he knows the whole country is about him.
1
Candidates like Trump and Cruz have widespread appeal because so much of the voting public doesn't understand how the federal government works; doesn't realize a president needs reliable allies who are confident in his abilities; and attributes too much importance to the powers of the president.
39
America is a nation that has achieved brilliance in most fields of human endeavour with an abundance of notable citizens who are intelligent, compassionate and charismatic in varying degrees. How can Trump, Cruz and Clinton possibly be the best candidates you can come up with for the world's most important political leadership?
My suggestion is that the marathon election campaign system you have is rotten to the core. A run for the top job is only open to self-funded billionaires, corporate puppets and party favourites willing to stir up the populace with whatever they want to hear while disguising their true agenda to serve the interests of the party manipulators and big business interests who made their candidacy possible.
In Australia, it took only six weeks from when an election was called for an election result. That may be brief but exactly how long does it take for candidates to put their policies out there to the public? What is the point of these drawn-out campaigns where candidates constantly tweak their message to whatever will get them elected, rather than what they actually believe or plan to do? If the campaigns were briefer, you might get a better quality of candidate who hasn't had to sell his or her soul to fund their campaign.
That said, I would love to see Bernie Sanders overcome all these obstacles to reach the White House but the system seems weighted against the most credible and sincere candidates who genuinely want to serve the American people.
My suggestion is that the marathon election campaign system you have is rotten to the core. A run for the top job is only open to self-funded billionaires, corporate puppets and party favourites willing to stir up the populace with whatever they want to hear while disguising their true agenda to serve the interests of the party manipulators and big business interests who made their candidacy possible.
In Australia, it took only six weeks from when an election was called for an election result. That may be brief but exactly how long does it take for candidates to put their policies out there to the public? What is the point of these drawn-out campaigns where candidates constantly tweak their message to whatever will get them elected, rather than what they actually believe or plan to do? If the campaigns were briefer, you might get a better quality of candidate who hasn't had to sell his or her soul to fund their campaign.
That said, I would love to see Bernie Sanders overcome all these obstacles to reach the White House but the system seems weighted against the most credible and sincere candidates who genuinely want to serve the American people.
91
Excellent observation from the other side of the globe.
We also have the problem of candidates ignoring their constituencies. Christie, who has zero chance of getting the nomination, has pretty much decamped from New Jersey. Mark Rubio was called out on his almost 40% vote miss and replied basically that he was too busy campaigning to do his job.
We also have the problem of candidates ignoring their constituencies. Christie, who has zero chance of getting the nomination, has pretty much decamped from New Jersey. Mark Rubio was called out on his almost 40% vote miss and replied basically that he was too busy campaigning to do his job.
3
These two year presidential campaigns are only about money. Lots and lots and lots of money going to Big Media. And about 6 companies own all of America's media. Yep, it's them that are benefitting - and only them. Everything else suffers because the elites want to make MONEY.
2
If America is going to continue these two year slogs to the presidency, then I believe every candidate who already holds an elected office should be required to resign from that office so that their constituents could continue to be represented by a working official, not a two year candidate. Marco Rubio is a disgrace. So is Christie. Give up on the people you're supposed to be representing so that you can further your own career. That is just so wrong.
3
This is the greatest nation in the world. Despite the clowns, everyday people go out everyday and do great things. That is our enduring strength. In the midst of the carnival which is our politics I want to recognize those who really do what makes a difference.
14
In this situation making a choice between two evils is especially difficult. Trump is an ignorant clown but Cruz strikes me as being just plain evil.
56
Trump is not a clown. He just doesn't realize his limitations.
Cristino, unfortunately Donald Trump is also just plain evil, a nasty bully. If you want proof, all you need to do is watch the documentary "You've Been Trumped," in which Trump and his minions run roughshod over a bunch of low-income Scottish people who refuse to give up their homes for his golf courses for the super-rich. Golf courses which also destroy a pristine coastal habitat. It's a stark wake-up call.
3
The conservatives view the GOP establishment a group of effete and ineffectual elites that at best couldn't stop from an African American's ascension to the presidency and at worst co-conspired it. No doubt, this is deeply emotional for many conservatives, vengeful for the love lost, seeking remedy for a broken heart. Given this, I believe Trump's bluntness, his contempt for just about everyone around him, is exactly what they have been waiting for, the expression of raw anger.
8
The article concentrates on two subjects: Trump and Cruze. There is no shortage of weird and vicious persons, so in themselves they are not remarkable. What is of great importance is the people of America allow these two to come to the foreground. Why are the tens of thousands of better qualified persons not getting popular attention? It's the system that needs to be examined, not the two individuals who are merely its symptoms.
23
The media, including The Times, clearly isn't interested in qualified persons. Hence the lack of Bernie coverage.
1
Sane people don't go into US politics.The culture is the problem.
1
"It's all da fault of da billionayuhs!" sums up Bernie's pitch.
1
A long time ago there was a 'clown' who tried to start a revolution in a bar. It didn't work and he became a joke for quite a number of years until one day he became the Chancellor of Germany. The joke wasn't as funny after that.
Trump is so laughable that people assume he's acting as a caricature of his own public persona. But that's not quite true. He means it. Every word of it. And he means to become President. And he might. And maybe we ought to take that possibility rather more seriously.
Trump is so laughable that people assume he's acting as a caricature of his own public persona. But that's not quite true. He means it. Every word of it. And he means to become President. And he might. And maybe we ought to take that possibility rather more seriously.
36
Trump is simply demonstrating his executive and negotiating MO.
GOTPers, embrace your inner darkness.
The Party created this monster, ever since the likes of George "Segregation now , segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever!" Wallace, Barry "Extremism in Defense of Liberty is No Vice" Goldwater, and the Sainted One, Ronald "Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem" Reagan.
Party members must not have read (or obviously not learned anything from) the results of the infamous GOP "Autopsy" of a few years ago - its ideological rigidity, its preference for the rich over workers, its alienation of minorities, its reactionary social policies and its institutionalized repression of dissent and innovation (per T. Edsall in these pages 3.20.2013).
Enjoy the self-induced farce. The Republican front-runner makes a lunatic carnival barker look good. Sad that the country needs to suffer as a result.
The Party created this monster, ever since the likes of George "Segregation now , segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever!" Wallace, Barry "Extremism in Defense of Liberty is No Vice" Goldwater, and the Sainted One, Ronald "Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem" Reagan.
Party members must not have read (or obviously not learned anything from) the results of the infamous GOP "Autopsy" of a few years ago - its ideological rigidity, its preference for the rich over workers, its alienation of minorities, its reactionary social policies and its institutionalized repression of dissent and innovation (per T. Edsall in these pages 3.20.2013).
Enjoy the self-induced farce. The Republican front-runner makes a lunatic carnival barker look good. Sad that the country needs to suffer as a result.
55
George Wallace was a democrat who, when rejected as an extremist by the Democratic party, ran as an independent for president in '68 & '72. Note also that Wallace repented during his waning years, saying to the marchers on the 30th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery march, "May your message be heard. May your lessons never be forgotten. May our history be always remembered."
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-03-11/news/1995070104_1_marchers-m...
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-03-11/news/1995070104_1_marchers-m...
1
The big question is why is Trump at the top. Why are so many favoring him? If Trump doesn't believe what he says should we believe the other "legitimate" candidates who make so many promises that they never keep. Why does money run to the likely nominee? Is it because favors are expected? Lastly, we white liberals are tired of being denigrated by the press for always being the bad guys in the room. I suspects it may cause many to run over to the Republican side while the party still exists. Who are these bad white guys, Wall street, big businesses who transplant their companies overseas so as not to pay taxes. What will further deteriorate our democracy money, power, monopolies, certainly not justice and liberty for all.
8
Trump and Cruz are favored by ignorant, fearful white people who are entranced with the bullying, and posturing and incapable of recognizing the consequences of the candidates' hate speech, xenophobia and secularism to our country and to themselves. The Republican Party, like the Confederacy, has always relied on the loyalty of people who vote against their own best interests. People who hate our government, who hate democracy and vote against democratic principles are the base of the Republican Party. Cruz is distasteful to Republican establishment types because he is the epitome of their feigned positions. You see, the Republican establishment is not stupid. The Republican establishment believes scientific evidence, global warming, and wants to keep the cheap labor immigrants here. The Republican establishment doesn't really mean it hates immigrants or rejects climate change or thinks that fetuses are persons with rights. They just use those issues to seduce the stupid, the gullible, and the fearful to vote for them.
1
People who denigrate liberals don't even know what liberty is. Language embodies cultural experience. Liberal and liberty derive from the same Roman root, relating approach and result.
US politics is so stupid it is beneath contempt.
US politics is so stupid it is beneath contempt.
2
I was just watching a movie on network TV when a news flash featuring Trudeau, Canada's PM. My mind immediately went to what would Trump or Cruz look like, what would they say? My mind crunched in failure to imagine any sort of positive outcome. Their across the board unsuitability for the job can be no more nakedly plain than the expression on Trudeau's face, expressions impossible for the likes of Cruz and Trump.
18
As usual, Gail is very funny, but the basic premise of this column -- Donald as the Republican presidential nominee -- is too scary to contemplate. Back in the summer, pundits said he was a sideshow and distraction who would wither away once the real candidates stepped up their game. Now, deep into winter, Trump is riding high in the polls, and even David Brooks is desperately casting about for ways to stop Trump. It certainly doesn't help matters that the leading alternative is Ted Cruz, a politician so loathsome that he makes Trump, the ultimate non-politician, a more viable choice.
Trump has shown remarkable resilience -- and that's the scary part. Logically, either Clinton or Sanders should handily beat him, but Trump has so far defied that kind of logic. If Trump actually becomes the Republican standard bearer, all bets are off. We live in strange times, people. Strange times.
Trump has shown remarkable resilience -- and that's the scary part. Logically, either Clinton or Sanders should handily beat him, but Trump has so far defied that kind of logic. If Trump actually becomes the Republican standard bearer, all bets are off. We live in strange times, people. Strange times.
209
I actually am more concerned with the other lizard. If trump gets elected, I believe he would be so incompetent trying to navigate congress and all the other aspects of government about which he is totally clueless, that he would quickly be impeached. On the other hand, cruz is very knowledgeable of the ins and outs of government as was nixon from whom he was cloned. If that lizard -- if it gets elected, it will entrench itself in that political knowledge and it will take us as long to get rid of him as it did with nixon -- with possibly even more dire consequences to our country and the world.
Wow kaw7. This is some great writing.
1
Trump continues with his constipation of the brain and diarrhea of the mouth, and the media seems to enjoy covering it all.
As Bush I would say, I am not much for this vision thing. Actually, I don't know what we seek in a visionary candidate. What is it that they promise other than the true and tested pieties: unity of the people, justice for all. Nothing bad about either of them. But what does it mean or, rather, how are you going to define them or put them into effect. And what is justice, as Socrates would ask. So, vision is nothing but a way, a device, to make people think hat they are better than they are in the hopes that they will support you. The rub (yes, there is a rub) is that vision must be translated into programs: are you for government supported health? Are you for reducing tax on the wealthy in the hopes that they will create job? Are you for abortion, prayers in school, increasing in military budget? As Truman might say: the vision thing stops here.
7
At least Trump won't have a number on his shirt
I am a Yankee in Charleston and don't let anyone tell
you they aren't racist here. This state is one generation
from a white hood. They don't even realize they are racist.
And if you think Sanders can get elected in this country
you're smoking something that never should have been illegal.
I am a Yankee in Charleston and don't let anyone tell
you they aren't racist here. This state is one generation
from a white hood. They don't even realize they are racist.
And if you think Sanders can get elected in this country
you're smoking something that never should have been illegal.
2
Who sees through what other people are doing?
That is vision.
That is vision.
1
Gail, Trump will literally say anything to get elected. That should worry any reasonable person.
As we used to say back in the day, anyone who wants power THAT BAD is the last person that you should consider giving it to.
Any American seriously considering voting for Trump in either a Republican primary or general election needs to understand that The Donald's fabled volatility - his tendency to strike back at his critics - is real and not going away. It could easily have tragic consequences for the nation given the immense power that a President has at his disposal.
Moreover, any voter who believes that Trump will be capable of getting his populist economic agenda through a House or Senate controlled by movement conservatives needs their head examined. Even if The Donald controls the Oval Office, the Koch Brothers and The Heritage Foundation, will control the halls of Congress (unless the Democrats can manage to take back the Senate). And the Koch Brothers and Jim DeMint are not getting on board Trump's populist express.
Trump's popularity should be a wake-up call for Democrats as well. Hillary's negatives remain as high as ever, any self-identified socialist in America is going to be easy to effectively smear in a circus-like general election. I can visualize the offending ads now.
My recommendation is that Democrats view Sanders as Eugene McCarthy, and Hillary as a cross between Humphrey and LBJ. We need a Bobby Kennedy in this race, before it is too late.
As we used to say back in the day, anyone who wants power THAT BAD is the last person that you should consider giving it to.
Any American seriously considering voting for Trump in either a Republican primary or general election needs to understand that The Donald's fabled volatility - his tendency to strike back at his critics - is real and not going away. It could easily have tragic consequences for the nation given the immense power that a President has at his disposal.
Moreover, any voter who believes that Trump will be capable of getting his populist economic agenda through a House or Senate controlled by movement conservatives needs their head examined. Even if The Donald controls the Oval Office, the Koch Brothers and The Heritage Foundation, will control the halls of Congress (unless the Democrats can manage to take back the Senate). And the Koch Brothers and Jim DeMint are not getting on board Trump's populist express.
Trump's popularity should be a wake-up call for Democrats as well. Hillary's negatives remain as high as ever, any self-identified socialist in America is going to be easy to effectively smear in a circus-like general election. I can visualize the offending ads now.
My recommendation is that Democrats view Sanders as Eugene McCarthy, and Hillary as a cross between Humphrey and LBJ. We need a Bobby Kennedy in this race, before it is too late.
31
Elizabeth Warren
1
That would be Elizabeth Warren.
1
Are there any US politicians anyone really likes?
1
Imagine, Trump versus Sanders...
18
If this nation has the gumption and will to turn itself around, and the common sense to recognize a man of integrity, Bernie Sanders will beat the pants off Donald Trump, and the turnout will give us a Senate that will back him up. Then we have to keep our eyes on the ball and turn the House around in 2018. If enough of us, Independents, Democrats, old-fashioned Republicans and more, will put our shoulders to the wheel, we can clean up campaign financing (the crucial precondition to everything else), fix our country's worst ills, and become a world leader in alternative energy, creating jobs and starting to reverse climate change. If on the other hand too many Americans would rather listen to the hate-mongering Trump and bash one another and scrabble for the scraps of our crumbling economic structure while the top 1% keep getting ever more obscenely rich with no concern for their country, I suspect that the decline of America, and a livable world, will go on, unchecked or worse, hastened.
2
Imagine a landslide of Goldwater proportions for Trump.
America will elect a loudmouth, egotist, bully, philandering capitalist over a perceived (Jewish) socialist anytime.
America will elect a loudmouth, egotist, bully, philandering capitalist over a perceived (Jewish) socialist anytime.
1
Good morning, President Sanders.
It is true: Hillary has more experience than Trump. But he beats her in something crucial: electability. Mrs. Clinton will never be elected President. She is not likeable. (Elizabeth Warren is likeable, but that's another story.) Trump is liked by a lot more people than Clinton, so he would beat her. But hope is not lost. Sanders would defeat Trump in a landslide. Bernie is much more likeable than The Donald.
36
Hillary was married to a president, she was not president. Hillary watched in the Senate preparing to leave the day she arrived. Hillary watched as S of S, preparing to leave the day she arrived. Watching is not an accomplishment and is faint experience.
Trump has actually accomplished things. Yes, he also has gone bankrupt 4x; married 3x; etc., etc.
Trump has actually accomplished things. Yes, he also has gone bankrupt 4x; married 3x; etc., etc.
4
I like her - and so do a lot of other people I know.
1
At the end of the day, Americans are not that stupid. They will elect a Democrat whether it is Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton. Either way it's better than what the other side has to offer. Thank goodness.
2
Trump's Theatre of the Absurd: a fool's paradise where honor, integrity and decency have no starring roles.
The grotesque spectacle which Trump proffers has been buffoonish and contemptible.
At the play's finale, we will be left holding a bag filled with existential angst, hollow laughter and warped theatrical politics.
Not much choice for the Gop between a glory-grabbing billionaire and an extremist Senator. The Republican Theatrical Ticket could have a double billing of the Donald for Prince and the Cruz for Princeling.
HRC will yank these bad actors off the stage and send them packing to a venue for Pretenders to the Throne.
Three Cheers for Hillary !
The grotesque spectacle which Trump proffers has been buffoonish and contemptible.
At the play's finale, we will be left holding a bag filled with existential angst, hollow laughter and warped theatrical politics.
Not much choice for the Gop between a glory-grabbing billionaire and an extremist Senator. The Republican Theatrical Ticket could have a double billing of the Donald for Prince and the Cruz for Princeling.
HRC will yank these bad actors off the stage and send them packing to a venue for Pretenders to the Throne.
Three Cheers for Hillary !
29
It is truly amazing that these are the people that have been put forth by both parties that we must make a choice about. What a said state of affairs. The only one who, at least is honest and forthright, is Sanders. His sole agenda is for the betterment of the American People. But I guess it is possible that the Class Clown can become the President and I guess Palin could become the Sec of State. At that point I am going to lock the door to my room and not come out for 8 years.
21
In the past too many people have gone to their rooms and vowed "not to come out for eight years." But the damage is done. If we look at past elections we see poor Supreme Court choices (imagine someone rational believing that campaign finance reform should not be enacted), wars we shouldn't have gotten in, and leaders believing that we can have it all with reduced taxes, especially for the ultra rich.
6
I refuse to accept any of the polls being done. The days are gone (if they were ever here at all) in which people responded honestly to polls. Witness all the recent elections here and overseas. Poll-takers have been often very wrong in their predictions. Donald Trump will not be first in any of the upcoming primaries/caucuses and may not even be second.
6
I suspect you're right Larry. In a few short days we will begin to see.
No one is stating the obvious: Trump is the leading contender he has the most within an overly crowded field of candidates most of whom hung in there way too long and have only themselves to blame if either Trump or Cruz become the nominee. and speaking of his supporters, as angry and as disenfranchised as they feel, the Republican party failed to offer then a suitable alternative.
14
"We live in strange times, people. Strange times."
For a period I struggled to understand the significant support these terrible people had among my fellow Americans. Like my efforts to understand how people can kill innocent children, understanding eluded me.
Like produce, I think the human race must have an expiration date.
For a period I struggled to understand the significant support these terrible people had among my fellow Americans. Like my efforts to understand how people can kill innocent children, understanding eluded me.
Like produce, I think the human race must have an expiration date.
21
One can only hope. And think how relieved the other species will be. What's left of them.
1
I think most of the support for Trump centres on the public's disdain for politics as usual. He is financing his own campaign. He's not a politician. He has a successful track record making money in business (regardless of his bankruptcy close calls etc) and he talks a big line about positivity, trust in me, and my success, and feeds into the oft unspoken aloud bigotry and hatred that many folks hold deep in their hearts about illegal immigrants and the fear of Muslims, and countries that would dare aim a rocket at the USA.
Hillary represents the establishment of politicians, the same old, same old, only in highlighted hair and a dress (on rare occasion when the pant suits are at the dry cleaners). She has skeletons that are yet to be revealed I suspect, and when the time is right the guns will come a-blazing for her. If Ronald Reagan could get elected in America, so can Donald Trump!
Hillary represents the establishment of politicians, the same old, same old, only in highlighted hair and a dress (on rare occasion when the pant suits are at the dry cleaners). She has skeletons that are yet to be revealed I suspect, and when the time is right the guns will come a-blazing for her. If Ronald Reagan could get elected in America, so can Donald Trump!
13
He is politics as usual on steroids. He says whatever he wants without regard to the facts. What is more like a politician than that?
1
It's not about coming to terms with Trump. It's about coming to terms with the fact that so many people are cynical, angry and disenfranchised.
Donald will likely go away but the issues he has tapped into will not until this seemingly growing constituency feels heard by their government.
We needs to come to terms with how we got here and what to really do about it besides name calling and denigrating.
Norman Lear said it best: 'Trump is the middle finger'.
Donald will likely go away but the issues he has tapped into will not until this seemingly growing constituency feels heard by their government.
We needs to come to terms with how we got here and what to really do about it besides name calling and denigrating.
Norman Lear said it best: 'Trump is the middle finger'.
357
60% don't vote at all, meaning they believe the system is rigged and nonsensical. That is a majority of people who have given the middle finger back to America. Beware the stirring beast.
1
The greatest irony of those who support Trump and are angry with Congressional sitting on hands is that these legislators are the very ones that these people sent to Congress! So apparently, anyone who consistently brags about their getting things done seems like the one to save them. If these angry voters would think for a nanosecond they might realize that by throwing out their Do-nothing congressman they could get some real change. But emotion rules all and the evidence for it is that Trump can string together a series of belittling comments towards others and self-aggrandizing comments about himself and his abilities and those voters are just swooning. Like many who fall in love with a person unworthy of them, they have lost the ability to be self protective. Let us hope that if he does become the candidate of the Republican Party, the majority of them are still able to recognize a bounder and to reject him.
1
The main "issue" he has tapped into is the angst that some anglo whites feel as they realize that they will not be the majority for that much longer and that already the country is quite capable of electing a president that a strong majority of anglos are against.
After Trump gets stomped in the general election these folks will have to come to terms with reality. If we're really lucky they will lose interest in politics.
After Trump gets stomped in the general election these folks will have to come to terms with reality. If we're really lucky they will lose interest in politics.
1
Bernie Sanders is barely mentioned here. Although he is not as far out as either Trump or Cruz, he is the one ignored by the media unless they pause to pronounce him unelectable before returning to Trump and Cruz.
But he has a good chance of being both nominated and elected and that would be the best thing that could possibly come out of this pathological campaign.
But he has a good chance of being both nominated and elected and that would be the best thing that could possibly come out of this pathological campaign.
97
Please show the states that would give BS the 270 electoral college votes needed.
I can only speak from my personal experience, but I have never seen a campaign like Bernie Sanders'. I've volunteered for candidates, Democratic and Republican, off and on since I was 10 years old (when I worked for Bobby Kennedy). From the day Bernie Sanders announced he was running for President in April 2015, his supporters in Florida have self-organized, not just in college towns like Gainesville but in lots of cities and towns that are definitely majority "red." The age range is everything from kids to Korean War vets. We've smelled the coffee, we know we have to pull our country out of the swamp of corruption, set limits on income inequality, fix our infrastructure, provide fair economic and educational playing fields and make America both strong inside and a leader in fighting climate change. We've made our own flyers, buttons, car decals and signs. We communicate via Facebook, Reddit and other social media. We've gone door to door, set up tables at farmers' and flea markets, lined bridges with sign wavers, talked to our friends and neighbors and made sure they were registered as Democrats (temporarily in many cases) to vote in our state's primary. All this long before a national rep showed up in Jacksonville -- and 200 of us carpooled there from just NE Florida to sign up for phone banks and data entry. I'm hearing from all over the country where other determined, concerned Americans are doing the same. We will win, and start turning the Congress too.
1
The country that propelled the reality TV genre to the top of the charts is about to get The Bilious Billionaire as its Commander-in-Chief. Unless Bernie wins the Democratic nomination.
Few Democrats and no Republicans or Independents trust Mrs. Clinton. This is killing her in New Hampshire (Sanders 60-33%) and in Iowa (Sanders 51-43%).
And yet, we still hear the drumbeat from the Clintonistas, "No one will vote for a Jewish atheist socialist," "He's too old," "His agenda is too radical," and so on.
Sounds strangely reminiscent of what they said back in 2008: "No one will vote for a Black man whose middle name is Hussein," "He's too young," "His agenda is too radical to enable him to win a general election."
Campaigns are notoriously fluid quantum events, and things change rapidly. Mrs. Clinton's emails are still looming out there and I am afraid of what will happen if President Obama pardons her just as Mrs. Clinton's husband pardoned former CIA director John Deutch for what was substantively the same very serious offense. I am even more afraid of what will happen if she is the nominee and he doesn't.
Which gets us back to Mr. Trump. My bet is that outside of the know-nothing 25% of the electorate that comprise his personal Sturmabteilung, most people can't stomach the man's smarmy and vain personal life and personality.
Given the chance, enough of them will vote for Bernie Sanders to defeat Mr. Trump and continue the tradition of civility in the White House.
Few Democrats and no Republicans or Independents trust Mrs. Clinton. This is killing her in New Hampshire (Sanders 60-33%) and in Iowa (Sanders 51-43%).
And yet, we still hear the drumbeat from the Clintonistas, "No one will vote for a Jewish atheist socialist," "He's too old," "His agenda is too radical," and so on.
Sounds strangely reminiscent of what they said back in 2008: "No one will vote for a Black man whose middle name is Hussein," "He's too young," "His agenda is too radical to enable him to win a general election."
Campaigns are notoriously fluid quantum events, and things change rapidly. Mrs. Clinton's emails are still looming out there and I am afraid of what will happen if President Obama pardons her just as Mrs. Clinton's husband pardoned former CIA director John Deutch for what was substantively the same very serious offense. I am even more afraid of what will happen if she is the nominee and he doesn't.
Which gets us back to Mr. Trump. My bet is that outside of the know-nothing 25% of the electorate that comprise his personal Sturmabteilung, most people can't stomach the man's smarmy and vain personal life and personality.
Given the chance, enough of them will vote for Bernie Sanders to defeat Mr. Trump and continue the tradition of civility in the White House.
53
"My bet is that outside of the know-nothing 25% of the electorate that comprise his personal Strumabeilung most people can't stomach the man's smarmy and vain personal life and personality."
I believe we can say the same about Hillary only change the percent to a minimum of 40. Even among those people I know that continue to support Mrs.Clinton, they all mistrust her, consider her dishonest, a liar and all but impossible to like. It would seem a significant percentage of US potential voters passionately dislike the other camp's candidate. We aren't discussing shades of policy difference between candidates, but down right visceral feelings of dis-like. Interesting times and really too bad we are so disconnected a populace.
I believe we can say the same about Hillary only change the percent to a minimum of 40. Even among those people I know that continue to support Mrs.Clinton, they all mistrust her, consider her dishonest, a liar and all but impossible to like. It would seem a significant percentage of US potential voters passionately dislike the other camp's candidate. We aren't discussing shades of policy difference between candidates, but down right visceral feelings of dis-like. Interesting times and really too bad we are so disconnected a populace.
3
Jackson wasn't civil. Andrew Johnson wasn't civil. Harding was a relative drunk. Nixon wasn't civil.
America has a storied history of electing quite repugnant people to the White House.
America has a storied history of electing quite repugnant people to the White House.
1
I was speaking of the current incumbent. See: http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/01/19/gun-debate-at-the-o-k-cor...
1
Today, Brooks wrote, The Anxieties of Impotence. It's become a pandemic.
When trying to comprehend how America has changed, and why we feel overwhelmed, like we've been attacked by a swarm of random variables, emotional reasoning overrides analytical reasoning. People want straight uncomplicated answers and a way to release.
Trump simplifies life on Earth. "It's freezing and snowing in New York- we need global warming!" "I will build a great, great, wall on our southern border and I will make Mexico pay for that wall." On Isis: "I would take away the oil." Too, he's a walking, talking catharsis. He provides a channel for that desperately, needed release.
He gets away with all this because on the surface he appears to be a major success, a billionaire who's on your side! To my mind it's malarkey, but sometimes voters do't want to be confused by the facts. They want justification of their beliefs!
When trying to comprehend how America has changed, and why we feel overwhelmed, like we've been attacked by a swarm of random variables, emotional reasoning overrides analytical reasoning. People want straight uncomplicated answers and a way to release.
Trump simplifies life on Earth. "It's freezing and snowing in New York- we need global warming!" "I will build a great, great, wall on our southern border and I will make Mexico pay for that wall." On Isis: "I would take away the oil." Too, he's a walking, talking catharsis. He provides a channel for that desperately, needed release.
He gets away with all this because on the surface he appears to be a major success, a billionaire who's on your side! To my mind it's malarkey, but sometimes voters do't want to be confused by the facts. They want justification of their beliefs!
23
And at least 25% of voters have what, and IQ of 60?
3
George Wallace would have gained some comfort from learning, that although a "black guy" became President, a large portion of the electorate refused to recognize the legitimacy of his presidency, and that the leader of the opposition to his legitimacy is now the front-runner for the Republican nomination.
23
It's weird, but as someone who usually votes Democrat, I'm kind of enjoying Trump. The way he eviscerates his fellow Republican opponents with such skill is truly a magnificent thing to behold. I'm particularly excited anticipating his next victim, the smarmy, hypocritical Ted Cruz. Boy this is a fun election year.
15
I find Cruz's conviction scary. He knows what he wants and we know what he stands for. But Trump is flighty, changes his mind often, and seems easily influenced depending on the environment. This may seem like a 'good' quality to the Republican establishment because Trump will listen. Does this not remind us of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney? A man without conviction is a man with no judgment.
Trump is scary, but Cruz is terrifying.
Trump is scary, but Cruz is terrifying.
56
When I served on a school board it was interesting to watch how frustrated business people were by a public system that required transparency. You couldn't simply purchase a copier from the friend you golfed with, but had to write a bid and accept the lowest realistic offer. The Donald may be accustomed to dealing with banks and investors, but I doubt he will find the public method of negotiating much to his liking. Maybe he as former governor Sarah P. will quickly tire of playing President and retire early as did a former Pope.
17
Trump's heart is so bursting with self-love that he can't take time to think about what are the actual consequential issues, much less what we should do about them, but hey, having a sun-king as president might provide some real entertainment value.
8
The Republican presidential campaign reminds me of the recent one-and-a-half billion dollar lottery game. Everybody in the country seemed to fall for it and bought a ticket.
Of course, the more tickets we bought, the crazier the bounty became. We ended up chasing our own money. And that is exactly what has happened with the top tier of the presidential dreamers.
The media in particular, has given these candidates enough attention that they can't stop from talking simply because we listen to anything they say, no matter how silly it is. All you have to do is hear the old silly "drill-baby-drill" expression recently brought to life at a time when drilling will keep sinking oil prices.
If we keep paying attention to these kinds of candidates, we might end up with these kinds of presidents as well. What kind of a nation that will be no one knows.
Of course, the more tickets we bought, the crazier the bounty became. We ended up chasing our own money. And that is exactly what has happened with the top tier of the presidential dreamers.
The media in particular, has given these candidates enough attention that they can't stop from talking simply because we listen to anything they say, no matter how silly it is. All you have to do is hear the old silly "drill-baby-drill" expression recently brought to life at a time when drilling will keep sinking oil prices.
If we keep paying attention to these kinds of candidates, we might end up with these kinds of presidents as well. What kind of a nation that will be no one knows.
5
I am not surprised by last two paragraphs of the article (fun Donald stuff aside). Donald says what he believes public wants to hear based on his previous rally. Mrs. Clinton says what polls tell her people want to hear. Clintons have always piivoted based on weekly polls since Bill Clinton became president.
I find it amusing that the article implies that Mrs. Clinton has more "experience" than Donald Trump. Being an ineffective "senator" for eight years and probably one of the worst secretaries of state does not count as "experience." Now, it i possible that the article implies that they both are terrible candidates, but I was not able to discern that from the tone.
When I look as the Republican field as well as the Democratic slate, I have a sinking feeling. The only person who seems to have intellectual honesty and a good moral compass is Bernie Sanders, and he is not even mentioned in the article. The man is ahead in state polls, pulling extraordinary crowds in his rallies, but all we hear is Trump and Clinton.
For once, I would like someone in NYTImes to expend some ink on Mr. Sanders.
I find it amusing that the article implies that Mrs. Clinton has more "experience" than Donald Trump. Being an ineffective "senator" for eight years and probably one of the worst secretaries of state does not count as "experience." Now, it i possible that the article implies that they both are terrible candidates, but I was not able to discern that from the tone.
When I look as the Republican field as well as the Democratic slate, I have a sinking feeling. The only person who seems to have intellectual honesty and a good moral compass is Bernie Sanders, and he is not even mentioned in the article. The man is ahead in state polls, pulling extraordinary crowds in his rallies, but all we hear is Trump and Clinton.
For once, I would like someone in NYTImes to expend some ink on Mr. Sanders.
49
I would like them to write about Senator Sanders, too; but it seems to be against editorial policy.
2
"Probably one of the worst secretaries of state." https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2013-04-03/clinton...
Republican establishment types and pundits now openly admit that they are being forced to choose between two incredibly awful and embarrassing men for the nomination. Just when they think that it can't get any worse, Sarah Palin rises from the dead to endorse Trump in a speech that will be dissected for years to come to try to make sense out of it. (Does Sarah realize that, like all of the women in his life, Donald just wants use her and then throw her away?)It's so bad that even the Koch brothers might decide to sit this one out.
Even more distressing to the Republican power brokers has to be the fact that the undercard of Christie, Kasich and Rubio are not very impressive and have been reduced to political mud wrestling with one another to become the chosen one of the party if it ever comes to its senses. (Ben Carson has faded.)
This can't be happening, can it? This is all a spoof, or a reality show, right? I can't help but believe that Trump, wanting the attention but not really wanting to be President, will drop out. Making America great again is a lot of work
Even more distressing to the Republican power brokers has to be the fact that the undercard of Christie, Kasich and Rubio are not very impressive and have been reduced to political mud wrestling with one another to become the chosen one of the party if it ever comes to its senses. (Ben Carson has faded.)
This can't be happening, can it? This is all a spoof, or a reality show, right? I can't help but believe that Trump, wanting the attention but not really wanting to be President, will drop out. Making America great again is a lot of work
6
" . . . the suspicion that he doesn’t particularly believe anything he says. . . . His positions are more like thoughts of the moment ..."
Nope.
I see no basis for the oft-repeated claim that Trump's positions are impulsive. He has a set of policy themes -- anti-immigrant, white supremacist, militaristic nationalism, combined with nominal opposition to Republican attacks on Social Security and Medicare and nominal sympathy for the plight of working class Americans -- that play out whenever a particular issue arises.
These themes are working because racism is as American as cherry pie, because no one has successfully articulated an alternative "strategy" for white workers whose world seems to be in decline, and because the G.O.P. laid the groundwork for these resentments for decades.
Don't think that Trump's success is somehow an accidental result of spontaneous and unplanned appeals The basic plan was set out by Nixon and Goldwater with the Southern strategy five decades ago; he's just more open about it.
Nope.
I see no basis for the oft-repeated claim that Trump's positions are impulsive. He has a set of policy themes -- anti-immigrant, white supremacist, militaristic nationalism, combined with nominal opposition to Republican attacks on Social Security and Medicare and nominal sympathy for the plight of working class Americans -- that play out whenever a particular issue arises.
These themes are working because racism is as American as cherry pie, because no one has successfully articulated an alternative "strategy" for white workers whose world seems to be in decline, and because the G.O.P. laid the groundwork for these resentments for decades.
Don't think that Trump's success is somehow an accidental result of spontaneous and unplanned appeals The basic plan was set out by Nixon and Goldwater with the Southern strategy five decades ago; he's just more open about it.
10
"So if Trump does win this thing, he'll owe it to the terribleness of Ted Cruz." Yes, immediately it does, but looking back, Trump's possible nomination owes to:
1. Fox News for having previously given Trump air time to comment on topics like "Is Obama's foreign policy a complete disaster?" as if The Donald was an expert;
2. Other media, including CNN, for having previously given Trump air time to comment on Obama's birth certificate, repeatedly, as if it merited debate;
3. Congressional Republicans treating President Obama as illegitimate and un-American;
4. The GOP's dearth of quality candidates;
5. Sarah Palin having previously dropped the bottom out for national politics;
6. Congressional Republicans, notably Rubio, for treating both the Iran accords and agreement with Cuba as non-binding "bad deals" to walk away from;
7. Congressional Republicans, for failing to pass an immigration reform bill, opting to keep their heads in the sand and threaten President Obama;
8. Notable Republican hypocrites, like Gingrich and Hyde, who had extramarital affairs while slamming Bill Clinton for infidelity;
9. The Republicans at every governmental level who made unfettered gun access their security platform;
10. The failure of Trump's competition, from day one, to keep him from setting the tone and showing their haplessness.
1. Fox News for having previously given Trump air time to comment on topics like "Is Obama's foreign policy a complete disaster?" as if The Donald was an expert;
2. Other media, including CNN, for having previously given Trump air time to comment on Obama's birth certificate, repeatedly, as if it merited debate;
3. Congressional Republicans treating President Obama as illegitimate and un-American;
4. The GOP's dearth of quality candidates;
5. Sarah Palin having previously dropped the bottom out for national politics;
6. Congressional Republicans, notably Rubio, for treating both the Iran accords and agreement with Cuba as non-binding "bad deals" to walk away from;
7. Congressional Republicans, for failing to pass an immigration reform bill, opting to keep their heads in the sand and threaten President Obama;
8. Notable Republican hypocrites, like Gingrich and Hyde, who had extramarital affairs while slamming Bill Clinton for infidelity;
9. The Republicans at every governmental level who made unfettered gun access their security platform;
10. The failure of Trump's competition, from day one, to keep him from setting the tone and showing their haplessness.
15
This situation resembles very much the weather where I am currently sitting (actually, lying in bed). That is, people who really knew what was going on with the Republican Party could pretty easily predict Donald's rocket ascent, just as weather experts predicted this storm of the century some time ago. But the odd thing is that most of the actual "leaders" of the GOP apparently had no idea what was coming, and the same was true of the political "experts" in the news media.
The people who were clued in to reality knew that the GOP trend for years (driving the intelligence of the public down into the ditch by appealing to raw emotion) was leading directly to something like the Trump-Cruz death struggle. But those people were mostly on the left, so no one took their crazy ideas seriously.
The people who were clued in to reality knew that the GOP trend for years (driving the intelligence of the public down into the ditch by appealing to raw emotion) was leading directly to something like the Trump-Cruz death struggle. But those people were mostly on the left, so no one took their crazy ideas seriously.
5
Donald Trump.
Why has a man with no coherent political philosophy captured the lead in the contest for the nomination to be the GOP's candidate for President of the United States?
The contributors to The Nation proved that he is unacceptable to the conservative intelligentsia on ideological grounds.
Like McCain and Romney, he hardly passes muster as "the real conservative" who will win the hearts and the minds of the American people and win the Presidency if only given the opportunity.
Do Evangelicals honestly think that he shares their world view and their agenda?
Does Grover Norquist really think that Trump will be more faithful than Reagan and George H.W. Bush and George W.Bush in cutting taxes and reducing the Federal government to the size that it can be drown in a bath tub?
Trump is not behold to the Club for Growth or to the Koch brothers or to Sheldon Adelson or to any of the other billionaires, and their funded organizations, who were so hopeful in the wake of the Citizens United decision that they could elect a puppet who would implement their political agenda.
White supremicists have embraced Trump because of his anti-Muslim and anti-immigration positions. This has to be embarrassing to a party that insists that it is not the bastion of racism, The Southern Strategy not withstanding.
To date, the best explanation I have heard for Trumps's success is irrationality - fueled by economic insecurity and fear and the competing agendas of the GOP coalition.
Why has a man with no coherent political philosophy captured the lead in the contest for the nomination to be the GOP's candidate for President of the United States?
The contributors to The Nation proved that he is unacceptable to the conservative intelligentsia on ideological grounds.
Like McCain and Romney, he hardly passes muster as "the real conservative" who will win the hearts and the minds of the American people and win the Presidency if only given the opportunity.
Do Evangelicals honestly think that he shares their world view and their agenda?
Does Grover Norquist really think that Trump will be more faithful than Reagan and George H.W. Bush and George W.Bush in cutting taxes and reducing the Federal government to the size that it can be drown in a bath tub?
Trump is not behold to the Club for Growth or to the Koch brothers or to Sheldon Adelson or to any of the other billionaires, and their funded organizations, who were so hopeful in the wake of the Citizens United decision that they could elect a puppet who would implement their political agenda.
White supremicists have embraced Trump because of his anti-Muslim and anti-immigration positions. This has to be embarrassing to a party that insists that it is not the bastion of racism, The Southern Strategy not withstanding.
To date, the best explanation I have heard for Trumps's success is irrationality - fueled by economic insecurity and fear and the competing agendas of the GOP coalition.
4
"The contributors to The Nation proved that he is unacceptable to the conservative intelligentsia"
This is precisely why he will likely win.
The nation has had enough of the intelligentsia on both sides. The intelligentsia have proven their incompetence and stupidity as it relates to improving the lives of working class people.
This is precisely why he will likely win.
The nation has had enough of the intelligentsia on both sides. The intelligentsia have proven their incompetence and stupidity as it relates to improving the lives of working class people.
4
Good point.
1
Hardly anyone in the USA has a coherent political philosophy.
1
Call me an optimist, but I'm still not convinced that Trump really wants to be the nominee, much less the President. If he can come out of this process as not the nominee because of some conspiracy against him by the Republican Establishment, he can declare himself the Winner! He'll have increased enormously the value of his Brand. If he were President, by law, he would lose control of his business empire, and I doubt if he has intention of doing that.
8
Strange is right. But how about trying these propositions on for size?
- There is no way in the world that Donald Trump is going to come into the Republican convention with control of a majority of votes. He has his 30 or so percent, at which points he hits the anyone-but-Trump wall and stops cold;
- The same goes double with sugar on top for Ted Cruz, who is just not going to poll well outside the evangelical block.
- Neither one of them will concede to the other.
That would add up to a Republican convention with no candidate in control of a majority. So then what happens? A variation on the same thing:
- Anyone-but-Trump will not be in a mood to hand Trump a majority on the first, second, or any subsequent ballot;
- Cruz's dedication to having no working relationships with anyone else in the party will similarly prevent him from coming up with a majority.
All of which leads to the thought that the convention, being incapable of handing a majority to either one, will have to pitch both of them and settle on the compromise candidate that the primary fiasco failed to deliver.
Note to Democrats: don't get too excited about running against either of these guys. It could be a completely different landscape in the fall.
- There is no way in the world that Donald Trump is going to come into the Republican convention with control of a majority of votes. He has his 30 or so percent, at which points he hits the anyone-but-Trump wall and stops cold;
- The same goes double with sugar on top for Ted Cruz, who is just not going to poll well outside the evangelical block.
- Neither one of them will concede to the other.
That would add up to a Republican convention with no candidate in control of a majority. So then what happens? A variation on the same thing:
- Anyone-but-Trump will not be in a mood to hand Trump a majority on the first, second, or any subsequent ballot;
- Cruz's dedication to having no working relationships with anyone else in the party will similarly prevent him from coming up with a majority.
All of which leads to the thought that the convention, being incapable of handing a majority to either one, will have to pitch both of them and settle on the compromise candidate that the primary fiasco failed to deliver.
Note to Democrats: don't get too excited about running against either of these guys. It could be a completely different landscape in the fall.
5
They'll set on Paul Ryan again: the economic policy wonk who doesn't know why double-entry book-keeping was invented.
1
Trump is not a libertarian. Trump rejects the foolish view that government is the enemy, that it should be made tiny and then "drowned in the bathtub."
For all his faults, Trump recalls another era, when both parties recognized that government is _always_ involved in private enterprise.
And that democracy to be effective must have a strong, active, engaged, and competent government with, at a minimum, a seat at the table wherever the public interest is concerned.
For all his faults, Trump recalls another era, when both parties recognized that government is _always_ involved in private enterprise.
And that democracy to be effective must have a strong, active, engaged, and competent government with, at a minimum, a seat at the table wherever the public interest is concerned.
1
Did you know the death penalty is banned in all of Europe? Of course, it still remains a sacrament in the US. Our gun deaths per capita are off the charts compared with the other industrialize nations in the world. By the way, we are the only one of those that doesn't provide health insurance for it's citizens.
We were the only nation that had to fight a civil war to end slavery. And, when the US Battleship "Maine" blew up in Havanan Harbor because of improperly stored ammunition we declared war on Spain.
Can you imagine the French banning wine or the Germans beer? No? Well, we did it here! We also elected Richard Nixon President in 1968 because he had a "secret plan" to end the Vietnamese War. How prejudiced, gullible and stupid can people be?
"American Exceptionalism" isn't always pretty. It is not just the candidates for office that is appalling. It is often us. We arrogantly tell everyone on the planet that the US is "the best nation in the history of the world". P.S. Our God is the true one. This kind of exceptionalism is how we could wind up with a President named Trump.
We were the only nation that had to fight a civil war to end slavery. And, when the US Battleship "Maine" blew up in Havanan Harbor because of improperly stored ammunition we declared war on Spain.
Can you imagine the French banning wine or the Germans beer? No? Well, we did it here! We also elected Richard Nixon President in 1968 because he had a "secret plan" to end the Vietnamese War. How prejudiced, gullible and stupid can people be?
"American Exceptionalism" isn't always pretty. It is not just the candidates for office that is appalling. It is often us. We arrogantly tell everyone on the planet that the US is "the best nation in the history of the world". P.S. Our God is the true one. This kind of exceptionalism is how we could wind up with a President named Trump.
15
I listened to much of the rise of talk radio during the 80's and 90's where GOP operatives simultaneously dumbed down and organized up the most ignorant third of the country. At the end of a day of Rush, Sean, Michael and [insert local hothead] they tucked the listeners in with an all-night UFO show. It was all the same piece.
It became less funny which their perfect icon George W Bush was elected President off the cover of Mad Magazine, but yet I still listened fascinated because I knew these people, had escaped from the midwest Ozarks and South where ignorance is enforced with guns and nearly weekly terrorist attacks emanate documented for decades by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
And now the convergence of the Fox News willfully ignorant 1/3 with the Entertainment-replaces-Reality Reagan redux which absorbs another third, the master showman and Ringmaster of Circus Bizarro about to pump that majority into another Presidency of flimflam, nonsense, magical thinking, contempt of the whole world. There is no civic involvement, just hordes drawn to the show like bloodthirsty Romans in the Coliseum.
The slim hope falls to the remaining third to create such a movement and roar against such ignorance and for the future that it captures the attention and wakes up some of the others. Doubtful if it would be Hillary that could do this, but Bernie could possibly lead by teaching what real citizenship is, how great nations conduct themselves and invest properly.
It became less funny which their perfect icon George W Bush was elected President off the cover of Mad Magazine, but yet I still listened fascinated because I knew these people, had escaped from the midwest Ozarks and South where ignorance is enforced with guns and nearly weekly terrorist attacks emanate documented for decades by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
And now the convergence of the Fox News willfully ignorant 1/3 with the Entertainment-replaces-Reality Reagan redux which absorbs another third, the master showman and Ringmaster of Circus Bizarro about to pump that majority into another Presidency of flimflam, nonsense, magical thinking, contempt of the whole world. There is no civic involvement, just hordes drawn to the show like bloodthirsty Romans in the Coliseum.
The slim hope falls to the remaining third to create such a movement and roar against such ignorance and for the future that it captures the attention and wakes up some of the others. Doubtful if it would be Hillary that could do this, but Bernie could possibly lead by teaching what real citizenship is, how great nations conduct themselves and invest properly.
8
I don't believe that Hillary can beat Trump.
While being disliked isn't helpful, having such lousy instincts is a much bigger problem for someone auditioning to be a leader on the national stage.
Hillary displayed bad instincts when she chose to repeatedly tell a story about coming under sniper fire, and she is displaying horrific instincts now by doubling down on being the establishment candidate in a year when the electorate is united on just one thing: the status quo is unacceptable. It's tone deaf, and she can't help herself.
Her husband might feel our pain, but Hillary does not. Worse, she tries to make up for it by being perfect. She probably works harder than anybody, and that punishing perfectionism makes her appear stiff and wooden, which only further aggravates her inability to connect.
It must be so frustrating.
Trump connects with his crowds on a primal level, and for his supporters, that perceived feeling of connection probably has as much to do with his appeal as his status as an outsider.
The next president will be the candidate who most closely embodies the zeitgeist, although impressive sounding policies are helpful.
Hillary is betting that voters will rely entirely on their prefrontal cortex when choosing a president.
Funny that someone with such a messy life doesn't quite grasp that humans are messy.
While being disliked isn't helpful, having such lousy instincts is a much bigger problem for someone auditioning to be a leader on the national stage.
Hillary displayed bad instincts when she chose to repeatedly tell a story about coming under sniper fire, and she is displaying horrific instincts now by doubling down on being the establishment candidate in a year when the electorate is united on just one thing: the status quo is unacceptable. It's tone deaf, and she can't help herself.
Her husband might feel our pain, but Hillary does not. Worse, she tries to make up for it by being perfect. She probably works harder than anybody, and that punishing perfectionism makes her appear stiff and wooden, which only further aggravates her inability to connect.
It must be so frustrating.
Trump connects with his crowds on a primal level, and for his supporters, that perceived feeling of connection probably has as much to do with his appeal as his status as an outsider.
The next president will be the candidate who most closely embodies the zeitgeist, although impressive sounding policies are helpful.
Hillary is betting that voters will rely entirely on their prefrontal cortex when choosing a president.
Funny that someone with such a messy life doesn't quite grasp that humans are messy.
7
Nat'l Review elites vs DC GOPers thinking art of the deal, leaving Jeb and Marco's expensive well-laid plans to waste as Trump starts to extinguish Cruz.
These elites- others chasm is on blue side as well. Democratic party elites need to pay attention to Bernie Sanders and the passion of his supporters, what it's about.
There's one and only thing Trump (so far) and Sanders have had in common--their national party has done all it can to marginalize and demonize them, which has only made them more popular. For vastly different reasons yet bits of overlap.
Both Trump and Sanders pulled back the curtain on our politics, that the people have been realizing for some time. Both refusing Big Money, one cos a billionaire, the other on principle.
The people know our politics have been bought and are yelling out their window they're not taking it anymore.
They're happy to see someone tell them the truth about any of it, and those in charge of the parties are still not understanding.
This is a different election runup, already unusual for shaking things up on both sides.
These elites- others chasm is on blue side as well. Democratic party elites need to pay attention to Bernie Sanders and the passion of his supporters, what it's about.
There's one and only thing Trump (so far) and Sanders have had in common--their national party has done all it can to marginalize and demonize them, which has only made them more popular. For vastly different reasons yet bits of overlap.
Both Trump and Sanders pulled back the curtain on our politics, that the people have been realizing for some time. Both refusing Big Money, one cos a billionaire, the other on principle.
The people know our politics have been bought and are yelling out their window they're not taking it anymore.
They're happy to see someone tell them the truth about any of it, and those in charge of the parties are still not understanding.
This is a different election runup, already unusual for shaking things up on both sides.
9
Correction: Trump has now taken millions in "big money". Not so with Mr. Sanders.
When I arrived in France 40 years ago I was told never to discuss politics at meals with guests and never ask people who they planned to vote for in presidential elections. Although certainly politically naive, I remember (smugly) telling my French friends at the time that essentially the Republican /Democratic divide was minor and politics could be discussed over dinner in as civil a manner as the weather.
Flash forward to the 2016 US presidential elections, with Donald Trump coming into full flower and a resurgent Sarah Palin, ( please don't tell Ted Cruz that despite his striking similarities with Marine LePen he has largely passed under the French radar ) and I find that In order to avoid being taxed with explaining "le Donald" and "la Palin," I'm the one who has to remind them of their own rule so I can enjoy my food and wine in peace.
In any case, I'm still hoping that the American electorate shows enough common sense to never give Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Christie or any of the other Republican candidates the opportunity to proclaim " l'État C'est Moi "
Flash forward to the 2016 US presidential elections, with Donald Trump coming into full flower and a resurgent Sarah Palin, ( please don't tell Ted Cruz that despite his striking similarities with Marine LePen he has largely passed under the French radar ) and I find that In order to avoid being taxed with explaining "le Donald" and "la Palin," I'm the one who has to remind them of their own rule so I can enjoy my food and wine in peace.
In any case, I'm still hoping that the American electorate shows enough common sense to never give Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Christie or any of the other Republican candidates the opportunity to proclaim " l'État C'est Moi "
14
If Trump really wants to become President--not as yet a certainty--he could succeed but not if he continues behaving as a buffoon beyond the GOP primaries. Even though many in the voting public are now highly vulnerable to his right-wing propaganda, they would gradually catch up with the reality of his irresponsible candidacy as November 8 approaches. Trump recognizes this reality and will shift from clowning during the primaries to become a serious candidate, establishing himself as a middle-of-the-road independent. There are strong signs in his political past of his centrist orientation.
What I am most afraid of is that he would continue with his shocking but effective buffoonery and gain the republican nomination; then switch from this attention-getting nonsense to cleaning-up his act as a mainstream, establishment republican and succeed in becoming President. This is, unfortunately, not an unlikely scenario given the gullibility and apathy of the voting public.
In his appearance on Meet the Press a few weeks ago, he answered Chuck Todd’s questions like a middle-of-the-road statesman, proving that he can switch from buffoonery to seriousness effortlessly and convincingly. Even if he is not elected President, following this scenario is also his best way for expanding the reach of the TRUMP BRAND and actually hit the $12 billion mark he now falsely claims to have achieved.
What I am most afraid of is that he would continue with his shocking but effective buffoonery and gain the republican nomination; then switch from this attention-getting nonsense to cleaning-up his act as a mainstream, establishment republican and succeed in becoming President. This is, unfortunately, not an unlikely scenario given the gullibility and apathy of the voting public.
In his appearance on Meet the Press a few weeks ago, he answered Chuck Todd’s questions like a middle-of-the-road statesman, proving that he can switch from buffoonery to seriousness effortlessly and convincingly. Even if he is not elected President, following this scenario is also his best way for expanding the reach of the TRUMP BRAND and actually hit the $12 billion mark he now falsely claims to have achieved.
10
And should he succeed in making this switch from Krazy Klown to Mature Statesman, what will his fans (I can't call them followers) --- who have been gratified by his bizarre antics --- do? Will they not feel betrayed, yet again? Will they swallow the anger that he has so skillfully amplified, or will they react? After all, a good many of them speak of "Second Amendment remedies" and the crowds that cheer his provocations often sound like blood-thirsty lynch mobs. Interesting times, indeed.
1
"We have fallen through the looking glass!"
Trump and Sanders phenomena owes its origin to people feeling powerless in the face of our corrupt campaign finance system, which simply buys out politicians. Trump, in spite of all his flaws "cannot be bought," because he is already rich. Sanders stands on principles and refuses PAC money and so cannot be bought either. "It is a revolt against the system, stupid!"
There is a well-known and widely-spread technique used by pick pockets to prey on tourists in some countries. It is very simple. It requires 3 people, one to distract the victim somehow by staging a manufactured event, so that the victim pays exclusive attention to that event. Meanwhile, the second person steals the victim's wallet. In the remote case the victim realizes what happens, not to worry. The second man hands over the wallet to a third man surreptitiously and the third man vanishes with the wallet. The victim has no chance and feels so helpless in the face of such a well-executed theft.
In our political system, the first man is the extreme wing politicians/policies distracting the public from their pocket book issues, so they vote against their own ECONOMIC self interest. The second man is represented by bought-out politicians, who harm the people's economic welfare by unfair tax and fiscal policies. The third man is of course the billionaires and corporations that benefit from those policies! They all then share the spoils! No wonder people are fed up!
Trump and Sanders phenomena owes its origin to people feeling powerless in the face of our corrupt campaign finance system, which simply buys out politicians. Trump, in spite of all his flaws "cannot be bought," because he is already rich. Sanders stands on principles and refuses PAC money and so cannot be bought either. "It is a revolt against the system, stupid!"
There is a well-known and widely-spread technique used by pick pockets to prey on tourists in some countries. It is very simple. It requires 3 people, one to distract the victim somehow by staging a manufactured event, so that the victim pays exclusive attention to that event. Meanwhile, the second person steals the victim's wallet. In the remote case the victim realizes what happens, not to worry. The second man hands over the wallet to a third man surreptitiously and the third man vanishes with the wallet. The victim has no chance and feels so helpless in the face of such a well-executed theft.
In our political system, the first man is the extreme wing politicians/policies distracting the public from their pocket book issues, so they vote against their own ECONOMIC self interest. The second man is represented by bought-out politicians, who harm the people's economic welfare by unfair tax and fiscal policies. The third man is of course the billionaires and corporations that benefit from those policies! They all then share the spoils! No wonder people are fed up!
16
Just realize that Hillary is the other pick pocket. Sanders is the one who is old enough and wise enough to remind you to watch your valuables.
1
There is no more reason to come to terms with Trump than there is to come to terms with herpes. Both are treatable. For the latter consult a physician. For the former vote Democratic.
Of course, every cure has its uncomfortable side effects (HRC) and holistic remedies (Sanders) may not work but might be worth a try.
Of course, every cure has its uncomfortable side effects (HRC) and holistic remedies (Sanders) may not work but might be worth a try.
558
Fred, it certainly is better than any of the alternatives.
Great metaphor! uncomfortable side effects and holistic remedies ... an acute short summary of the problem.
1
Except there's no cure for herpes...
This is fascinating window gazing for someone (me) who is going to vote Democrat no matter what and would like very much to elect the first woman president of the U.S. So, for me, this is mainly a question of who Hillary will face in the general election. For those of my friends and family who want to vote Republican (and we all get along just fine by the way), I can't imagine the quandary they face as educated, sensible hard-working people with lovely families, on who they want to support as the Republican presidential nominee. Donald Trump? Really? Ted Cruz? I actually would go with Cruz just to stick it to the "Republican Establishment" in D.C. that tried (and failed) to stick it to President Obama for the past 7 years.
11
Whatever keeps smart people in the Republican Party of Sarah Palin?
1
They'll vote for Bernie, of course.
The weird predicament of modern intelligence is, everything is right here, available for us to peruse, but our attention spans and addiction to the flood of information *now* makes us perversely mute before all the wealth of information that is right there, right in front of us, if we spent just a few reasoned moments to take the time.
You can find old advertisement online, of Trump selling steaks through The Sharper Image. A distillation of what Trump has actually been up to for decades -- self-branding, and specifically, branding mass-market "luxury" opportunities. He arose in the fever swamps of 80's self-absorption and one of the first "reality" shows -- "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" hosted by Robin Leech.
All this information on *who exactly Trump is* is all out there. If I had to place Mr. Trump in my overall memory of growing up on Long Island, I'd have to put him in the same mnemonic category as Crazy Eddie and New York Post front page headlines.
But that is where our head is at. Trump isn't winning despite his tabloid-y and cheap gimmick luxury huckster identity, but because of it. To use a sociological idea, he profits from this strange mode of social solidarity that forms exactly when people become all surface no depth -- a solidarity of the gossip rags, the lifestyle- and reality-TV genres, the infomercial, an integral part of our ludicrous 24 cable "news," and frankly, it is also the beat of the internet. Trump is, in fact, a man of the hour.
You can find old advertisement online, of Trump selling steaks through The Sharper Image. A distillation of what Trump has actually been up to for decades -- self-branding, and specifically, branding mass-market "luxury" opportunities. He arose in the fever swamps of 80's self-absorption and one of the first "reality" shows -- "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" hosted by Robin Leech.
All this information on *who exactly Trump is* is all out there. If I had to place Mr. Trump in my overall memory of growing up on Long Island, I'd have to put him in the same mnemonic category as Crazy Eddie and New York Post front page headlines.
But that is where our head is at. Trump isn't winning despite his tabloid-y and cheap gimmick luxury huckster identity, but because of it. To use a sociological idea, he profits from this strange mode of social solidarity that forms exactly when people become all surface no depth -- a solidarity of the gossip rags, the lifestyle- and reality-TV genres, the infomercial, an integral part of our ludicrous 24 cable "news," and frankly, it is also the beat of the internet. Trump is, in fact, a man of the hour.
29
Trump could very well beat Hillary.
More than anything, Trump wants to *win*.
Trump will certainly tack to the left, once nominated. There is a huge opportunity to attack Hillary from the left on reform. On the day Trump is nominated, he will begin talking about what a puppet Hillary is. He will ask: Why did Goldman Sachs pay Hillary $600,000 *personal* income in *one* year, for "speeches"? He will ask that question every day into November.
Trump will point to Hillary's previous support for the Trans Pacific Partnership. He will connect that to past trade deals, our persistent trade deficit, and lost manufacturing jobs.
If he is smart, he will also start talking about lack of demand, and how he can get infrastructure spending through congress, that Hillary *can't* - and that means *jobs*.
The model Hillary backers are using, is that of a linear scale, running from extreme right, through "centrist", to extreme left. The assumption is that more "centrist" is more electable.
This is the wrong model.
The public realizes that current policy means a bleak future for the typical worker. That means "establishment" candidates are completely unacceptable to a huge percentage of voters.
Hillary is much more vulnerable to Trump than Sanders.
To a populace that sees their economic prospects on an ever-downward slide, the word "socialist" is not as scary as "status quo", or "establishment". Current policy is unsustainable.
More than anything, Trump wants to *win*.
Trump will certainly tack to the left, once nominated. There is a huge opportunity to attack Hillary from the left on reform. On the day Trump is nominated, he will begin talking about what a puppet Hillary is. He will ask: Why did Goldman Sachs pay Hillary $600,000 *personal* income in *one* year, for "speeches"? He will ask that question every day into November.
Trump will point to Hillary's previous support for the Trans Pacific Partnership. He will connect that to past trade deals, our persistent trade deficit, and lost manufacturing jobs.
If he is smart, he will also start talking about lack of demand, and how he can get infrastructure spending through congress, that Hillary *can't* - and that means *jobs*.
The model Hillary backers are using, is that of a linear scale, running from extreme right, through "centrist", to extreme left. The assumption is that more "centrist" is more electable.
This is the wrong model.
The public realizes that current policy means a bleak future for the typical worker. That means "establishment" candidates are completely unacceptable to a huge percentage of voters.
Hillary is much more vulnerable to Trump than Sanders.
To a populace that sees their economic prospects on an ever-downward slide, the word "socialist" is not as scary as "status quo", or "establishment". Current policy is unsustainable.
11
I agree with you that Sanders can stand up better to the GOP attack machine in the general. Clinton's vulnerabilities are outsized. I believe her baggage is much riper for attack than Sanders' democratic socialism, which is he is already well on the road to normalizing, particularly among young voters. In addition, Sanders generates enthusiasm, which we need for increased turnout in the general. Clinton generates zero, or less than zero enthusiasm. Sanders can attract independent voters and even some moderate Republicans, Clinton cannot. Finally, if Clinton wins the nomination, a giant swathe of the Dem electorate, dispirited or bored or both, will sit out the election. We can't afford that. Best for the Dem party to own up to political realities and throw their weight behind Bernie Sanders.
2
They'll tattoo a hammer and sickle onto Bernie's forehead by the time the general election rolls around.
Within months of leaving the White House Reagan went to Japan and scored $2 million in speaking fees.
1
It must be a perhaps unanticipated effect of the pervasiveness of entertainment in the modern world that the definitions between what is perceived as real and perceived as entertainment get blurrier all the time. Gail alludes to this of going back in time to 1990 and telling her then co-workers that "The Donald" was going to run for, and quite possibly become the next president. In the 21st century, no less.
Gail would already be five years too late. In the fictional side of it, in 1985's "Back to the Future" Marty McFly told some people of our reality of then actor Ronald Reagan becoming president. To the same derision as Gail would have encountered in 1990.
Gail would already be five years too late. In the fictional side of it, in 1985's "Back to the Future" Marty McFly told some people of our reality of then actor Ronald Reagan becoming president. To the same derision as Gail would have encountered in 1990.
3
Watching Hillary Clinton campaign reminds me of why she lost to Obama. Her pasted-on smile, her allergy to candor, and her dubious connections to Wall Street all mark her as a deeply-flawed candidate. Yet her experience in the Senate and the State Department, combined with an authentic toughness and pragmatic sense of the limits imposed by our toxic political climate, make her probably the most qualified candidate in the race.
In a struggle with a truly strong candidate, her weaknesses might obscure her strengths. Against either the carnival barker or the oily televangelist, however, her virtues will shine like a beacon against the darkness they both represent. Trump's policy proposals may possess all the substance and permanence of cotton candy, but the man's vicious attacks on anyone he considers vulnerable, along with his contempt for democratic values, reveal a deeply ingrained hostility to the inclusiveness and sense of moderation required of any American political leader.
Cruz's pitch-perfect imitation of a salesman for his father's version of God cannot conceal the calculating charlatan who has gambled that a strategy of angering every politician he encounters will appeal to an alienated electorate. Potentially effective in the primaries, this strategy will strip him of allies in the general election.
These men appear as plausible candidates only in comparison to each other and the rest of the GOP field. Against Clinton, they will self destruct.
In a struggle with a truly strong candidate, her weaknesses might obscure her strengths. Against either the carnival barker or the oily televangelist, however, her virtues will shine like a beacon against the darkness they both represent. Trump's policy proposals may possess all the substance and permanence of cotton candy, but the man's vicious attacks on anyone he considers vulnerable, along with his contempt for democratic values, reveal a deeply ingrained hostility to the inclusiveness and sense of moderation required of any American political leader.
Cruz's pitch-perfect imitation of a salesman for his father's version of God cannot conceal the calculating charlatan who has gambled that a strategy of angering every politician he encounters will appeal to an alienated electorate. Potentially effective in the primaries, this strategy will strip him of allies in the general election.
These men appear as plausible candidates only in comparison to each other and the rest of the GOP field. Against Clinton, they will self destruct.
9
Trump's day-to-day world as a real estate mogul bears no resemblance to the qualities of thoughtfulness, perseverance, and integrity that Obama has pursued while performing his job. While many feel that the "no drama Obama" dictum has hurt his presidency to a large degree, it's with this sort of approach that he has prevented worsening of the situations he inherited - like the wars, a bottomed out economy, and a nation severely divided by racial issues, economic inequality, and judicial unfairness. He's also had to deal with the worst Congress in the history of the nation, primarily due to the redistricting and absolute obstructionist tactics that the GOP has employed. Then the Citizens United ruling to make it all worse.
Fast forward, Ms. Collins gets that Trump does not have core values, only nebulous thought fragments put into words to garner votes. This level of pandering is reflected by his impossible approach to economic growth (mega tax cuts for the wealthy), immigration (a wall and mass deportation), a war with ISIS that will alienate the Arab world and only deepen the tragedy, negate diplomacy and hopes for peace (Iran nuclear deal), and erase health care for 17 Million people.
Trump's most fundamental belief is that the US can bluff its way back to being the power it was in the 1950's. Nostalgia is a powerful force in America - Trump preys on this weakness, and proposes simple solutions to raise false hopes of supremacy and "winning." Strange indeed.
Fast forward, Ms. Collins gets that Trump does not have core values, only nebulous thought fragments put into words to garner votes. This level of pandering is reflected by his impossible approach to economic growth (mega tax cuts for the wealthy), immigration (a wall and mass deportation), a war with ISIS that will alienate the Arab world and only deepen the tragedy, negate diplomacy and hopes for peace (Iran nuclear deal), and erase health care for 17 Million people.
Trump's most fundamental belief is that the US can bluff its way back to being the power it was in the 1950's. Nostalgia is a powerful force in America - Trump preys on this weakness, and proposes simple solutions to raise false hopes of supremacy and "winning." Strange indeed.
19
You need to come to terms, not with Trump but the people who support him. The number of people who support Trump is vastly greater than the number of people who supported BLM, or the crowds in the Maidan in Kiev.
To liberals these two second groups represent democracy and the supporters of Trump represent a failure of democracy.
But Trump's support also is part of democracy. Respecting all voices is a fundamental aspect of democracy.
I do not see Trump as a competent president. But if the establishment manages to sideline him, who will speak for those who support him?
To liberals these two second groups represent democracy and the supporters of Trump represent a failure of democracy.
But Trump's support also is part of democracy. Respecting all voices is a fundamental aspect of democracy.
I do not see Trump as a competent president. But if the establishment manages to sideline him, who will speak for those who support him?
6
Dear Gail, indeed, we live in strange times! And the times will get stranger as this odd misfit of a Presidential Election year continues to its acme - ten months from now. Trump looks like the Carlos Danger of the bunch, and not a single other Conservative Republican Tea Party banana is showing such poll numbers, except for Ted Cruz who is the Pizza King/Michelle Bachman Redux of this campaign go-round. Laughable that you were called in to report on the earth-shattering divorce of The Donald and The Ivana. The best laid plans of the Koch Bros will gang aft agley. Take Dr. Ben Carson's statements that the Pyramids were built by the Pharoahs to serve as granaries - to store their grain. I ask you, what else is being reductio ad absurdum in this hinge of history? Trump is not so bad - given the caliber of the rest of the GOP bananas running. At least he's telling the hoi polloi not to worry, that "We're going to make such great deals!". Your fantasies of asking Van Gogh what he'd think of the prices his works are fetching from the 1% of the richest people in the world, and asking George C. Wallace ("Segregation Forever!) what he'd think of a Black President are wonderful! We still have to wait to find out what real life is going to dish out to this social media cyber-widgeted crowd of Americans this year. Maybe a Deus ex Machina will descend - let's face it, Barack Hussein Obama was a Deus ex Machina in 2008 and one of America's finest Presidents.
9
Donald Trump's idiot remarks don't seem real to me either. I believe he is just having a real good time shaking up the GOP. What fascinates me the most about the GOP field is that they all claim to love their families more than anything, but state clearly that they don't believe in global warming. The arrogance of these people that they don't care about their children's future on this planet. Donald too makes fun of the truth of our soon to be very hot planet. So, yes, I think Donald does understand global warming but is making sure the other candidates have say more stringently the ridiculous notions that Donald says. We have to hope there is reason behind his madness that will ultimately be made clear. America will realize they need a rational president who has true understanding of what humanity is facing. Hillary will withstand this onslaught of misguided negativity toward her and prove her knowledge that she has gathered from her experience we all need.
6
Hard to believe that Trump could be the lesser of two evils but, yes, I agree. The problem with Cruz is that, well, he IS evil. Go Trump??? It is a strange time indeed.
11
Lesser of two weevils?
Early in the race I was of the opinion that Trump would pull a Ross Perot and sabotage his own candidacy because he really didn't want to occupy the Oval Office; he was running just to get his issues aired and influence the election. Now I see how wrong I was. Unlike Perot, Trump has no issues that he cares deeply about, other than his own self-aggrandizement. And unlike Perot, the more likely it appears Trump might win, the more he wants it. God help us all.
403
Not to worry....Mayor Bloomberg is here....he is from MA!
Donald Trump? I haven't heard him say one substantive or rational idea yet regarding the pressing issues of the day.
18
Perhaps the "love" affair between Donald and his constituents and Cruz and his constituents is like a young couple infatuated with each other. And let's hope the day the Donald or the Cruz are about to "tie the knot" with their constituents, the constituents realize their horrible mistake and walk away.
5
Thank you for this Gail. I was nervous after Trump met with NYTimes editorial board that Trump had this amazing ability to schmooze and sell himself. I suppose he does but crazy mean quotes from him stay in my head. I think of pundits after debates rating candidates on how they say things-not what they say. Thank you for not being like that, Gail.
2
Exactly!
3
Ever since he flew Sarah Palin for her giddy, incomprehensible endorsement (actually, before then, but that sealed it), I've been thinking that Trump's candidacy is simply an elaborate prank he's playing just to see how much xenophobic blowhard bluster and trash talk he can get away with and still be in the running. Maybe it's an object lesson; holding up a mirror to how gullible and easily manipulated many GOP voters are. They'll vote for Trump, Cruz, or any other strutting anti-government loudmouth who rants insults, hate and anger. No serious policy discussions required, or even considered.
30
Typical liberal talking point, I can't explain it, so lets call them all stupid!
What's wrong with golf courses? A lot of politics gets done on golf courses!
3
Trump and Cruz are the outcome of 35 years of GOP bashing government as the problem, and denigrating the value of education.
50
Reading this piece something scary happened. And I believe it possibly means that I'm personally Trump inundated; that I've watched too many Trump rally broadcasts; listened to too many extended Trump phone calls (that early morning news shows gleefully accept); and cringed at too many repetitions of Trump's retaliatory insults. Because when I read the following Trump quote: "We've got to get things done folks, O.K.? Believe me, don't worry. We're going to make such great deals," I actually heard Donald Trump's voice in my head!
9
Sadly, Gail, this entire scenario makes me long for the saner days of Seamus the Dog. At least with him you could have some knowing laughs.
But, these two?
But, these two?
8
There is no Republican candidate for the 2016 election who is remotely credible as a potential President. All of the Democratic candidates are capable and credible. What's more, they are all real people who have serious thoughts about the world we live in in 2016.
At some point, folks will tire of the reality show that is the Republican campaign. They will look at the nonsense and wonder if candidates whose sole platform is comprised of insults and hot air or a vision of the US based on 'Ozzie and Harriet' and they will either not vote or vote for a Democrat.
At some point, folks will tire of the reality show that is the Republican campaign. They will look at the nonsense and wonder if candidates whose sole platform is comprised of insults and hot air or a vision of the US based on 'Ozzie and Harriet' and they will either not vote or vote for a Democrat.
14
I'm spooked. I suspect many of "my fellow Americans" are too. I can only hope we'll all turn out at our respective polls (no caucuses in the Bronx) and do the right thing for the nation (not the ego, not the party, not the ideology).
26
This buffoon began his Presidential campaign by making a ludicrous series of racial slurs. Nothing he has said since suggests that he is anything more than a narcissist on a joy ride. That the awful junior Senator from Texas is considered by party insiders to be an "unthinkable" option is a sure sign that we live in strange times. That Gail Collins even snidely indicates that we might need to come to terms with Donald is a sign that the Republic is crumbling.
59
Ms. Collins:
Please don't let us down! "Coming to Terms with Donald" hints at a plausible acceptance of Donald Trump as the Republican candidate! The Republicans certainly do unfathomable things, but how could they sanction an embarrassment in addition to blatant racism? Try to remember that old song that went something like this: "Somethin's gotta give, something's gotta give, somethin's gotta give. We're counting on it!
Please don't let us down! "Coming to Terms with Donald" hints at a plausible acceptance of Donald Trump as the Republican candidate! The Republicans certainly do unfathomable things, but how could they sanction an embarrassment in addition to blatant racism? Try to remember that old song that went something like this: "Somethin's gotta give, something's gotta give, somethin's gotta give. We're counting on it!
18
Looks like the Republicans are practicing their ABC's: Anybody But Cruz.
23
Gail,
You shot a hole in one!
You shot a hole in one!
18
Trump's brilliance is in his understanding of modern media. News shows have a limited number of minutes for political news. Even the 24-hour news channels can pay attention to only a limited number of stories that they run over and over again.
Trump feeds them with the juicy lines that the media can not resist covering, assuring that he become the center of the campaigns. Campaign coverage becomes Trump or other candidates responding to Trump's latest statements or antics. Either way, he becomes the center of the political universe.
You don't need political experience, you don't need well-developed policies -- you just need to be the center of attention day after day. Even the New York Times, despite its editorial positions, writes more about Trump than all the other candidates combined.
Trump feeds them with the juicy lines that the media can not resist covering, assuring that he become the center of the campaigns. Campaign coverage becomes Trump or other candidates responding to Trump's latest statements or antics. Either way, he becomes the center of the political universe.
You don't need political experience, you don't need well-developed policies -- you just need to be the center of attention day after day. Even the New York Times, despite its editorial positions, writes more about Trump than all the other candidates combined.
745
Right on, Igalb.
And totally consistent with Tim Egan's '8 Second Attention Span' piece.
You need more than that 8 second attention span to intelligently process issues. Trump's genius is he not only speaks in Twittertalk, his simplistic ideas can be articulated and grasped in 8 seconds. That in another 10 seconds most of these 'ideas' would be seen to be empty rhetoric doesn't matter because by then our attention span will have been exceeded and we would have moved on to something else.
And totally consistent with Tim Egan's '8 Second Attention Span' piece.
You need more than that 8 second attention span to intelligently process issues. Trump's genius is he not only speaks in Twittertalk, his simplistic ideas can be articulated and grasped in 8 seconds. That in another 10 seconds most of these 'ideas' would be seen to be empty rhetoric doesn't matter because by then our attention span will have been exceeded and we would have moved on to something else.
2
I agree: Trump is the ultimate "salesman". That is his great talent. He is a predator, like all successful salesman: identifies his prey, watches their movements, behaviours and hones in for the kill. Home-schooled, bible-thumpers, marginalized conspiracy theorists, racists...particularly the "soft" racists who would murmur between themselves in the past, have now been given a full-throated voice and feel liberated to express their xenophobia. A blend of business and fascism. His fanatic fans think he cares about them and their warped world view. In reality, they are simply a means to Trump's end. That said, there is a vast difference in his abilities to get elected and the ability to govern. I disagree that leading a nation is like leading a company. Flint, Michigan has brought that point painfully home and is a microcosm preview of Trump governance. Nations have budgets but the bottom line is the well-being of its citizenry: one cannot fire one's citizens because they are "cost" factor. International relations, laws and treaties are not like business deals...Mr. Trump overestimated his abilities here and his knowledge is pitiful. Mr. Trump in the end, if elected President, like all ego-maniac would-be kings before him will meet his Waterloo...the question is whether he will drag America down with him.
1
Trump is not a media genius. Unfortunately for America, ignorant Republican primary voters with the same muddled rationalization as those who support Vladimir Putin in Russia are supporting Trump. Puffed out egotism is not a substitute for leadership. Do we really want to follow a path similar to Russia with their Trump (aka Putin)?
3
Aside from guns, what worries me most about this country is Ted Cruz. He's Joe McCarthy with brains. The fact that he's intelligent, given his beliefs, makes him truly dangerous.
So I say, "Go, Donald." I'm voting for Hillary, but I don't want Cruz with even a CHANCE of entering the Oval Office as anything but a tourist.
So I say, "Go, Donald." I'm voting for Hillary, but I don't want Cruz with even a CHANCE of entering the Oval Office as anything but a tourist.
98
I totally agree, got help us if we got Cruz or Trump. We need B Sanders.
1
Ms. Collins, not very long ago (last fall), I would have taken gentlemanly issue with you about the electability of He-whom-I-refuse-to-name. On the eve of Iowa's "where the rubber meets the road" caucus and the New Hampshire primary, I see the Republicans dissolving into two camps: (a) He-whom-I-refuse-to-name and (b) the others. It looks for all the world that he's going to get his 1100-plus delegates. He reminds me of Mr. Toad, the reckless wastrel of Kenneth Grahame's classic with one exception: he doesn't have two steadfast friends trying to curb his dangerous, destructive, and comically willful tendencies. In The Wind In The Willows, Mr. Toad's last obsession was the motorcar; his batrachian descendant, also known as He-whom-I-refuse-to-name, has a similar foolish fixation, but it's no motorcar that has captured his fancy, it's the United States government. He hops, toad-like, from one deafening appearance to the next, his numbers swollen by his gleeful followers. A close observer may descry amusing similarities between the human being and the hopping amphibian, but smirk at your (and our) peril. He has clownishly entertained millions who are willing to hop right along behind him. A wrecked motorcar is easily replaced. A ruptured government and an incinerated social contract not so easily. If ever.
33
Stop writing about him.
77
BBC has an interesting take on Trump, "Unless there is a seismic shift in polling, Donald Trump stands to be nominated as the Republican candidate for the 2016 general election. Potentially the first ever president who has never held elected office or been in the military." Earthquake, anyone?
4
Let's just cut to the chase Ms. Collins: We live in not strange times but in terrifying times when a narcissistic buffoon like Trump could be considered by anyone in this country as presidential material.
97
If The Donald should get the Republican nomination and then win, the date he won will go down in history as the date the fall of the American Empire began.
23
The fall of the American Empire has been underway for some time and will continue quite well with or without Mr. Trump. Empires are about conquest and domination, and the American Empire had its origins in the genocide of the native population and the importation of slaves. Empires are based on grand injustices and thus lack stability from their beginnings. Mr. Trump is merely a symptom of how far along is the rot, but his ascendency in the polls is causative of nothing. If he were not in the headlines, some others could play the roles of Caligula or Nero.
8
No, that was when Tge former B actor Reagan was elected.
1
Actually it dates back further, to 1996 with the founding of Fox News, and 2008 with the Citizens United decision. Trump is just the cherry on top of the whipped cream.
5
Yes, I have fantasized about going back in time...with JFK or MLK on a ballot.
What choices do we have when campaigns and elections are run by the "big guns" and "big money" in Congress and Senate in Washington? What is the alternative? ... To vote, or not vote, that is the question.
What choices do we have when campaigns and elections are run by the "big guns" and "big money" in Congress and Senate in Washington? What is the alternative? ... To vote, or not vote, that is the question.
9
Today JFK could never get away with inviting call girls from the KGB escort service into the White House.
1
I like to think that in the dark catacombs of Trump's tower he called Hillary and said "I'm going to run with the republican clowns but I'm going to say the most reprehensible things and promise everything to everyone without any details and I'm going to appeal to those who's IQs are almost in single digits. All you have to do is win the Dem side and then you can become President. Because who in their right minds would vote for me." But then I also believe in the Easter Bunny and the Great Pumpkin.
49
Trump is just taking advantage of the marketplace...voters who are racist and feeling left out, voters who think a reality tv star who has money somehow will make their lives better and voters who are fed up with Washington and tired of gridlock and no solutions in sight.
The problem is he will not solve any problems, brings no actual solutions and is on ego trip that he feels is heading him to the White House without having to provide much except bluster and promises.
Are people that angry and is the GOP realizing that this is the tiger that they brought to life, that is the question and the answer is really scary.
The problem is he will not solve any problems, brings no actual solutions and is on ego trip that he feels is heading him to the White House without having to provide much except bluster and promises.
Are people that angry and is the GOP realizing that this is the tiger that they brought to life, that is the question and the answer is really scary.
508
The answer to all this is simple: DO NOT VOTE FOR ANY REPUBLICAN!
6
The problem is Clinton's positions are that they way things are now with regard to the most important things such as wage inequality and the health insurance system are as good as things are going to be. She says she will improve these but has presented no ideas how she will and only attacks Sanders for his.
1
@Lily
“voters who think a reality tv star who has money somehow will make their lives better”
-well said!
Every night on the news it showed people lining up for Powerball tickets! Even Chris Cuomo made the asinine comment that “1.3 billion divided up by 320 million Americans would give each American $4.3 million!! And one million Americans loved that tweet. Have we stopped teaching math? Most Americans WORSHIP wealth. They lined up at an Iowa State Fair to get a ride in Trump’s helicopter!! Oh WOW!!
Even Chris Christie, the guy who spent $70,000 of tax payers’ money to go to a Cowboys game and sit in THE BOX was beside himself nearly giggling at being able to ride in Marine One...with the president he had been badmouthing for the previous two years. Oh yeah..and he got to meet Bruce too thanks to Obama.
I’ve never gotten the appeal of lots and lots of money...I’d give it to the less fortunate...and I’m ONE of the less fortunate. I can’t believe that any other country has so many fools in their electorate as we do.
“voters who think a reality tv star who has money somehow will make their lives better”
-well said!
Every night on the news it showed people lining up for Powerball tickets! Even Chris Cuomo made the asinine comment that “1.3 billion divided up by 320 million Americans would give each American $4.3 million!! And one million Americans loved that tweet. Have we stopped teaching math? Most Americans WORSHIP wealth. They lined up at an Iowa State Fair to get a ride in Trump’s helicopter!! Oh WOW!!
Even Chris Christie, the guy who spent $70,000 of tax payers’ money to go to a Cowboys game and sit in THE BOX was beside himself nearly giggling at being able to ride in Marine One...with the president he had been badmouthing for the previous two years. Oh yeah..and he got to meet Bruce too thanks to Obama.
I’ve never gotten the appeal of lots and lots of money...I’d give it to the less fortunate...and I’m ONE of the less fortunate. I can’t believe that any other country has so many fools in their electorate as we do.
5
You mention the birtherism factor, not only the fact that this man sold snake oil to the unsophisticated rubes for 2+ years but, also, the fact that those rubes make up 60% of his constituency. This issue alone should tell you all you need to know about this confederacy of dunces. The sheer stupidity of this accusation should disqualify him from higher office and those who believe such drivel or, at least want to believe this drivel, should be stricken from the voter roles for being too gullible for the country's good. I know that can't happen but if he can make stuff up on the fly then so can we. And Sen. Cruz compares poorly to this unimaginable front runner. We live in scary times, Ms. Collins. Scary times.
29
It's one thing for the right wing media and establishment to have to deal with the Frankenstein monsters they have created.
But where is the fairness that we too have to lie in the same bed of their making?
But where is the fairness that we too have to lie in the same bed of their making?
32
More like the Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times."
9
Kind of hard to find the humor in the situation anymore. I'm baffled--left wondering which of my friends and neighbors are this whacked out that they see either of these 2 characters (Trump & Cruz) as viable presidential material. And what alternative universe did I wake up in? Maybe there's material for a column there, Gail--alternative planet America.
21
If the choices are Hillary and The Donald, it will be time for a third party candidate, maybe even fourth and fifth party candidates. Mayor Bloomberg should get in the race as a credible and likeable center-left candidate. Bernie can run as a Social Democrat. And maybe Mitt Romney can represent rational conservatism. It would mix things up, allow more viewpoints to be represented, and the worst thing that could happen would be that either Hillary or The Donald would be elected.
2
According to the Constitution, your multi third party candidate scenario would throw the election to the House of Representatives, where each state would have one vote, likely electing Paul Ryan President.
7
@Lynn: Up to a point you are correct. If no one receive 270 electoral votes, the House of Representatives elects the President, but they are limited to voting for the three individuals who received the highest number of electoral votes. So Paul Ryan would not be eligible. Furthermore, each state's delegation only gets one vote. The Republicans would have the power to select the President, if they united. I think in the scenario I laid out above, if Romney made the top three, the Republicans would choose him, but who knows.
1
As it turns out, Gail, there're several golf courses named after Dwight Eisenhower.
But he was neither a secretary of state, nor a senator.
So I guess that doesn't count.
Anticipating some questions...Yes, I know Ike wasn't the one who named them after him.
Yes, I know Ike wouldn't lead us into - or through - WW III.
Oops.
But he was neither a secretary of state, nor a senator.
So I guess that doesn't count.
Anticipating some questions...Yes, I know Ike wasn't the one who named them after him.
Yes, I know Ike wouldn't lead us into - or through - WW III.
Oops.
Yep, strange times.
5
My blog's masthead contains the collect: "God, comfort the mourning and warn the unruly." It seems nobody is listening!: conservatives are inconsolable; their think tank schemas and encyclicals can not block the heresies! The epiclesis invoking Reagan is hollow--one pastor endorsing Ted Cruz declared Oprah to be the anti-Christ! Ben Carson's confession of wanting to bludgeon his mother and stab his cousin and Palin's admission of allowing her PTSD-diagnosed son access to a gun (22 vet suicides a day!), his domestic violence explained by a commander-in-chief he never served under not giving him warm fuzzies is magic thinking better suited for Bellevue's 30 day review. And Cruz's idea of "love one another" is to shut down government, take away health care and make no "deals with Harry Reid."
In times so turbulent, I embrace "New York values," and turn to Marx. Trump's xenophobic, misogynistic world view of glad, sad, weak, and bad convinces voters they have “bourgeois influence.” That through him, their voices will be heard! White supremacists are making robo-calls in Iowa, on his behalf.
He brings together a “lumpen bourgeoisie,” a middle and working class movement using an old South dialectic: he speaks to minorities about their limits. It results in a pragmatic conservatism which allows hate and the appearance of a limited equality to coexist rather than a doctrinaire conservation that denies its bias and love of the rich.
How awful the hour, how marvelous the day!
In times so turbulent, I embrace "New York values," and turn to Marx. Trump's xenophobic, misogynistic world view of glad, sad, weak, and bad convinces voters they have “bourgeois influence.” That through him, their voices will be heard! White supremacists are making robo-calls in Iowa, on his behalf.
He brings together a “lumpen bourgeoisie,” a middle and working class movement using an old South dialectic: he speaks to minorities about their limits. It results in a pragmatic conservatism which allows hate and the appearance of a limited equality to coexist rather than a doctrinaire conservation that denies its bias and love of the rich.
How awful the hour, how marvelous the day!
30
The GOP let slip the dogs of war and now cannot control them.
2
There sure isn't any "God" or other personality of nature thinking about or responding to anything.
With each new day's coverage of Trump, Cruz and their respective followers, I'm reminded more and more of the great battle scene in "Gangs of New York". Daniel Day Lewis is the obvious choice to channel the Donald, and DiCaprio could handle Cruz well enough. But neither Scorsese, the Coen Bros. or Tarantino could bring forth the true horror that lies within this story. Until someone has a better suggestion, I'm going with the working title "No Country for Sold Men".
2
Not just strange times, Gail. Dangerous times.
47
Jeb, Ted, Donald, Hiliary…all establishment candidates, are equally abhorent to me. It's time for a change. It's time for the well being of the people to take precident over the power and greed of the gang that has run our country for the last thirty years, gaining power and dominance, not just in our country but around the globe. I'm voting for the candidate that is not lined up with these other candidates, but who has the best interest of the public in mind, not just for the past few weeks, but for all of his life, Bernie Sanders.
68
A very successful businessman, with no political or government experience was elected to the governorship of Michigan (twice) and look what happened to Flint.
Governor Rick Snyder thought the best thing to do with failing cities was to grab all power from their elected representatives and put an emergency city manager that he appointed in charge.
Flint went through several of them, probably because they couldn't reduce Flint's debt fast enough to Governor Snyder's satisfaction until he appointed Darnell Earley. In a short order, Mr. Earley submitted a plan to save Flint a million dollars a year by switching the city from its clean, safe Detroit lake water to untreated, thus unsafe, river water. It got Mr. Snyder's blessing, one of those great, cost cutting deals businessmen love to make.
This "great deal" turned into a tragic and horrific nightmare - lead leached into the drinking water and now tragically, thousands of young children may suffer the debilitating and devastating effects of lead poisoning, and a million dollar savings has become a billion dollar bill.
There is a grave lesson in the story of Flint. The American people should learn it before next November. Imagine what a businessman, with no political experience or knowledge of running a government representing 330 million people could do to an entire country. We've just seen what such a person can do to a city of just 100,000.
Governor Rick Snyder thought the best thing to do with failing cities was to grab all power from their elected representatives and put an emergency city manager that he appointed in charge.
Flint went through several of them, probably because they couldn't reduce Flint's debt fast enough to Governor Snyder's satisfaction until he appointed Darnell Earley. In a short order, Mr. Earley submitted a plan to save Flint a million dollars a year by switching the city from its clean, safe Detroit lake water to untreated, thus unsafe, river water. It got Mr. Snyder's blessing, one of those great, cost cutting deals businessmen love to make.
This "great deal" turned into a tragic and horrific nightmare - lead leached into the drinking water and now tragically, thousands of young children may suffer the debilitating and devastating effects of lead poisoning, and a million dollar savings has become a billion dollar bill.
There is a grave lesson in the story of Flint. The American people should learn it before next November. Imagine what a businessman, with no political experience or knowledge of running a government representing 330 million people could do to an entire country. We've just seen what such a person can do to a city of just 100,000.
2110
Republicans - businessmen all - suffer from the affliction of being penny-wise and pound foolish. They will spend whatever it takes to save a couple of bucks. Flint is an outstanding example of short-term thinking and externalizing the true cost.
6
Dear Mary Scott- I think you are short-changing the Donald. Why stop at our country's borders when estimating the potential damage of a Trump (or Cruz for that matter) Presidency? This, if it happens, will put not just our country at risk, but rather the entire globe.
The fourth estate is trying to do something about it, but I'm convinced we live in times similar to the movie "Idiocracy" where a man with an average IQ awakens in a future where he is absolutely the smartest guy on earth and everyone around him is an idiot. Welcome to the future!
The fourth estate is trying to do something about it, but I'm convinced we live in times similar to the movie "Idiocracy" where a man with an average IQ awakens in a future where he is absolutely the smartest guy on earth and everyone around him is an idiot. Welcome to the future!
2
In a 50-year career in machine design, one of the most important things I learned was that before implementing any cost-reduction you must ask the Question: "How much is it going to cost us to save this money?"
5
Like the best comedy, this captures the truth. Gail explains Trump and Cruz perfectly.
Trump, "His positions are more like thoughts of the moment, or opening bids."
Cruz, "Cruz isn’t much different from every other Republican running around Iowa and New Hampshire. So it’s just him."
She misses one thing though. Hillary too could lose to Trump. She too is the Establishment he's running against. She is much like every other Democrat running around. So it's just her.
She even captures Trump's weakness, "the suspicion that [s]he doesn’t particularly believe anything [s]he says." After each version she trots out to each audience, she has a private little grin as she evaluates how that version worked on that audience.
Bernie is anti-Establishment, and he believes what he is saying.
Like Trump, the Establishment reacts with "oh God, no" but that is a strength this year.
Trump, "His positions are more like thoughts of the moment, or opening bids."
Cruz, "Cruz isn’t much different from every other Republican running around Iowa and New Hampshire. So it’s just him."
She misses one thing though. Hillary too could lose to Trump. She too is the Establishment he's running against. She is much like every other Democrat running around. So it's just her.
She even captures Trump's weakness, "the suspicion that [s]he doesn’t particularly believe anything [s]he says." After each version she trots out to each audience, she has a private little grin as she evaluates how that version worked on that audience.
Bernie is anti-Establishment, and he believes what he is saying.
Like Trump, the Establishment reacts with "oh God, no" but that is a strength this year.
105
"...and he believes what he is saying."
Yeah, and that's a problem. Bernie certainly is a true believer. Granted, I find his beliefs infinitely more palatable than anything even remotely related to the conservative vision of things, but the true-believer aspect bothers me a lot. It transforms the problem of running the government from a pragmatic management venture of doing what needs to be done into what amounts to a religious exercise.
As with all good religions, it's inherently my-way-or-the-highway, exclusionary of nonbelievers, divisive. As one of its corrosive effects, Bernie has certainly attracted a following of zealot acolytes who are abusive of anyone who doesn't toe their line (try reading the comments to Paul Krugman's column yesterday and you'll see what I mean).
Personally, I've had my fill of fundamentalists of any stripe. We've been dealing with those of the far right for the last couple of decades. I don't find myself attracted to a similar cult on the left.
Don’t get me wrong: beliefs are important. It really matters to me what direction a candidate would take the county. But when beliefs become the main thing, count me out.
It's curious, in a way: on one hand, we have Trump riling the GOP establishment because he isn't a true believer, and Bernie riling the Democrat establishment because he is.
Yeah, and that's a problem. Bernie certainly is a true believer. Granted, I find his beliefs infinitely more palatable than anything even remotely related to the conservative vision of things, but the true-believer aspect bothers me a lot. It transforms the problem of running the government from a pragmatic management venture of doing what needs to be done into what amounts to a religious exercise.
As with all good religions, it's inherently my-way-or-the-highway, exclusionary of nonbelievers, divisive. As one of its corrosive effects, Bernie has certainly attracted a following of zealot acolytes who are abusive of anyone who doesn't toe their line (try reading the comments to Paul Krugman's column yesterday and you'll see what I mean).
Personally, I've had my fill of fundamentalists of any stripe. We've been dealing with those of the far right for the last couple of decades. I don't find myself attracted to a similar cult on the left.
Don’t get me wrong: beliefs are important. It really matters to me what direction a candidate would take the county. But when beliefs become the main thing, count me out.
It's curious, in a way: on one hand, we have Trump riling the GOP establishment because he isn't a true believer, and Bernie riling the Democrat establishment because he is.
10
Hillary will not lose to Trump. Trump has a minority of support even among Republicans, a minority party. Bernie could lose to anybody; they haven't attacked him at all yet because he is their preferred opponent. Yes, Hillary is a professional politician, finger to the wind, who has a venal side to her ambition. Still, I don't want to take any chances with this election. A completely Republican federal government--I can't even express what domestic and international disasters could result.
2
HIllary has been in public view for so long (much longer than
anyone else I can think of) that many things she says are bound to
seem contradictory. We also resent a woman being that smart.
Let's give her a break.
anyone else I can think of) that many things she says are bound to
seem contradictory. We also resent a woman being that smart.
Let's give her a break.
7
The Trump-Palin show Monday night was amazing. It was clearly the carnival barker and the magician's assistant.
The best part was watching Trump's reaction to what Palin was saying. I wonder if he was regretting giving her the microphone and all of the attention.
I'm not a big Hillary fan but you really can't compare her with Trump.
I wish Obama and Biden could stay.
The best part was watching Trump's reaction to what Palin was saying. I wonder if he was regretting giving her the microphone and all of the attention.
I'm not a big Hillary fan but you really can't compare her with Trump.
I wish Obama and Biden could stay.
378
Actually, they're both carnival barkers.
6
I had a similar thought about Trump during Palin's ramble -- that he must be thinking, "Oh Lord, please speak mostly English."
3
Yes, I noticed that while listening to Palin Trump had a forced smile on his face.
5
I swear, a good portion of the population is hungry for a scam, anyone who will persuade them to give up anything they have of value to an operator who tells them what they want to hear.
Bankruptcies, public divorces, exploitation, meanness, racism, who cares? This guy says he will make things great again. How he will do that is not his problem; he will always find some way to hurt or blame someone else.
That aw shucks look on his face with Sarah Palin shows just how shameless he is in pursuit of getting what he wants. But there is no possibility whatsoever he will be able to do anything he claims he can.
Meanwhile, we are covering ourselves in shame all around the world, and this is not helping with a number of very real problems. Telling a lot of lies tends to work out that way.
Also, people, will you stop with letting Republicans tell you how to think about Mrs. Clinton? She's got a lot of good qualities, and she knows how to work in the world, which has tarnished her a bit, but what the Republicans want is for you to stay home come November. Don't fall for it.
(I love Bernie, but ...)
Bankruptcies, public divorces, exploitation, meanness, racism, who cares? This guy says he will make things great again. How he will do that is not his problem; he will always find some way to hurt or blame someone else.
That aw shucks look on his face with Sarah Palin shows just how shameless he is in pursuit of getting what he wants. But there is no possibility whatsoever he will be able to do anything he claims he can.
Meanwhile, we are covering ourselves in shame all around the world, and this is not helping with a number of very real problems. Telling a lot of lies tends to work out that way.
Also, people, will you stop with letting Republicans tell you how to think about Mrs. Clinton? She's got a lot of good qualities, and she knows how to work in the world, which has tarnished her a bit, but what the Republicans want is for you to stay home come November. Don't fall for it.
(I love Bernie, but ...)
450
Oh, and Ted Cruz is indeed worse. An ugly customer bent on imposing Christian sharia on us all. And despite the adverts, a value added tax is like sales tax regressive. Tax should be fair and progressive, and speculators should have a tax on their transactions to prevent the skimming of value now prevalent which puts us all at risk.
270
Susan, a good portion of the population is truly hungry for a scam. When Trump boasts that he will make American great again, he's really saying he will turn back the clock on the 2008 recession. The pre-recession American economy was all smoke and mirrors, scams on top of scams, a casino economy where the players get played every time. The banksters and real estate speculators created a bubble of unprecedented proportions. When that economy crashed, people like Donald Trump did just fine. Ordinary Americans, however, were stuck with the bill. Trump offers empty promises and false hope. Sadly, the people who have the most to lose by putting such a man in office are the same people clamoring to see him.
10
"I love Bernie, but . . . " But what? He's unelectable? You wisely state don't let Republicans tell you how to think about Ms. Clinton, but you must take the same advice regarding pundits and Clinton supporters regarding Bernie. Hillary's inevitability mantra is fading into the reality of an issues driven campaign, rather than just coronation.
Most NYT's readers fail to understand the hate much of the nation has for Ms. Clinton. She motivates the radical right probably more saw than Cruz or Trump motivate the left. The Republicans salivate about running against her.
I have a friend who initially liked Sanders, but thought he could not beat Clinton. He is now fully onboard concluding we just don't need anymore Clintons or Bushes in the White House. If you want to have any hope for change, Bernie is your candidate, not Hillary.
Clinton inspires those who really believe the status quo is all we can hope for. Bernie inspires those who realize the status quo is quickly destroying this nation.
Vote for Bernie in the Mass. Primary. What have you got to lose?
Most NYT's readers fail to understand the hate much of the nation has for Ms. Clinton. She motivates the radical right probably more saw than Cruz or Trump motivate the left. The Republicans salivate about running against her.
I have a friend who initially liked Sanders, but thought he could not beat Clinton. He is now fully onboard concluding we just don't need anymore Clintons or Bushes in the White House. If you want to have any hope for change, Bernie is your candidate, not Hillary.
Clinton inspires those who really believe the status quo is all we can hope for. Bernie inspires those who realize the status quo is quickly destroying this nation.
Vote for Bernie in the Mass. Primary. What have you got to lose?
11
Thanks to the "genius negotiator's" business acumen, his companies have faced four bankruptcies. Are we willing to assume that this will not happen to the American economy while he's busy insulting Mexicans from the Oval Office? Not that this implies I'm all in for Mr. Cruz. Heaven knows there are more than two people running for the Presidency this year and any one of them- or, for that matter, any other citizen of this country ("natural born" or otherwise)- would represent a better choice than these latter day versions of Caligula and Nero.
187
And what makes you so certain that these aren't EXACTLY the caliber of candidates that this electorate deserves? The Lincoln-FDR archetypes are conspicuously absent as is the good sense and political acumen of this crop of voters.
1
At this point a dead chicken would be a better candidate.
2
Don't forget the Dems. Sec'y Clinton, Sen. Sanders and even Gov. O'Malley would be better than any person the Republicans have fielded so far. Best thing: forget the Republicans until they come out of their puerile phase and once again become adults.
7
In Utah, a person convicted of a capital crime was given a choice......hanging, or firing squad. When I was a kid, this impressed me as quite a choice for a person unfortunate enough to be in the position of having to make it.
And now, in my Medicare years, I have a similar choice. Should it be Trump or Cruz? Or even Rubio or Christie? Well, those Republicans will nominate somebody. And on the Democrat side, we have a wheel of fortune where every spot seems to say Hillary. Seems the DNC fixed it to be that way. But this guy Sanders threatens to mess it all up for Debbie and her gang. But no matter what, this dog is turning up his nose at the Clinton dog food.
Shooting or hanging? Unless Sanders is the nominee, the choice of who to vote for in November will be just as hard. I would move to Canada, but then "Ted" (whose real name is Rafael), disqualified to run for US President, might follow me back across the border.
And now, in my Medicare years, I have a similar choice. Should it be Trump or Cruz? Or even Rubio or Christie? Well, those Republicans will nominate somebody. And on the Democrat side, we have a wheel of fortune where every spot seems to say Hillary. Seems the DNC fixed it to be that way. But this guy Sanders threatens to mess it all up for Debbie and her gang. But no matter what, this dog is turning up his nose at the Clinton dog food.
Shooting or hanging? Unless Sanders is the nominee, the choice of who to vote for in November will be just as hard. I would move to Canada, but then "Ted" (whose real name is Rafael), disqualified to run for US President, might follow me back across the border.
581
Shooting or hanging? Unless Sanders is the nominee, the choice of who to vote for in November will be just as hard.
You can't be serious ...
You can't be serious ...
3
Hillary has a very good record with human rights, women, and a variety off other actions. Stop letting yourself be influenced by the operatives who say they're the same; they're nothing alike.
13
Turn up your nose? I'm with you - but please join me and countless others as we then hold our noses and vote for the candidate who will then nominate the least toxic federal justices, notably SCOTUS.
7
Sorry, it is 1AM, but just thinking of the Republican Party, bracketed by Abraham Lincoln on one side, and Trump, Palin, Cruz on the other - it gives me insomnia. I feel strangely insecure in a world where this is a reality.
643
Vote Democratic.
310
For the Hillarybot? Eek! Where is Chet Arthur when you need him?
Lincoln was the old Republican party -- they never, ever, ever talk about him now.
And then Teddy Roosevelt ... never ever talk about him either.
And then Eisenhower ... who truth-to-be-told wasn't really a Republican but was one of the best Republican presidents we've had ... never talk about himr!
Nixon? Never, ever talk about Nixon!!
And then GHWB -- pretty good president. Managed a war in the middle east and got in and out. And people might remember that it was GHWB who happily promoted and signed the Clean Air Act of 1990. How about that for a Republican? Never talk about GHWB!
And then GWB ... oh lord, don't talk about him!
This is why it's all Ronnie, all the time. As far as Republicans are concerned, he's the only Republican president there ever was.....
And then Teddy Roosevelt ... never ever talk about him either.
And then Eisenhower ... who truth-to-be-told wasn't really a Republican but was one of the best Republican presidents we've had ... never talk about himr!
Nixon? Never, ever talk about Nixon!!
And then GHWB -- pretty good president. Managed a war in the middle east and got in and out. And people might remember that it was GHWB who happily promoted and signed the Clean Air Act of 1990. How about that for a Republican? Never talk about GHWB!
And then GWB ... oh lord, don't talk about him!
This is why it's all Ronnie, all the time. As far as Republicans are concerned, he's the only Republican president there ever was.....
12
For those of a certain bent of mind, I recommend Alexander Stepanov's Algorithmic Journeys - recorded talks available on youtube.
I mention these talks because I learned from one of those talks about Abraham Lincoln's study of Euclid's Elements of Geometry. It was seemingly quite important in Lincoln's self-education -- I found this nice article here:
http://the-american-catholic.com/2012/08/16/lincoln-and-euclid/
"He studied and nearly mastered the Six-books of Euclid (geometry) since he was a member of Congress. He began a course of rigid mental discipline with the intent to improve his faculties, especially his powers of logic and language. Hence his fondness for Euclid, which he carried with him on the circuit till he could demonstrate with ease all the propositions in the six books; often studying far into the night, with a candle near his pillow, while his fellow-lawyers, half a dozen in a room, filled the air with interminable snoring."
Moreover: "In the fourth Lincoln Douglas debate Lincoln used Euclid to illustrate a point:
If you have ever studied geometry, you remember that by a course of reasoning, Euclid proves that all the angles in a triangle are equal to two right angles. Euclid has shown you how to work it out. Now, if you undertake to disprove that proposition, and to show that it is erroneous, would you prove it to be false by calling Euclid a liar?""
--- It is simply beyond my imagination that a modern day politician might show such good taste.
I mention these talks because I learned from one of those talks about Abraham Lincoln's study of Euclid's Elements of Geometry. It was seemingly quite important in Lincoln's self-education -- I found this nice article here:
http://the-american-catholic.com/2012/08/16/lincoln-and-euclid/
"He studied and nearly mastered the Six-books of Euclid (geometry) since he was a member of Congress. He began a course of rigid mental discipline with the intent to improve his faculties, especially his powers of logic and language. Hence his fondness for Euclid, which he carried with him on the circuit till he could demonstrate with ease all the propositions in the six books; often studying far into the night, with a candle near his pillow, while his fellow-lawyers, half a dozen in a room, filled the air with interminable snoring."
Moreover: "In the fourth Lincoln Douglas debate Lincoln used Euclid to illustrate a point:
If you have ever studied geometry, you remember that by a course of reasoning, Euclid proves that all the angles in a triangle are equal to two right angles. Euclid has shown you how to work it out. Now, if you undertake to disprove that proposition, and to show that it is erroneous, would you prove it to be false by calling Euclid a liar?""
--- It is simply beyond my imagination that a modern day politician might show such good taste.
246
Arun: beautiful commentary.
As for me, I'd be amazed if there were as many as two members of congress who could understand Euclid's premises. There is an acute dearth of the requisite intelligence for that.
As for me, I'd be amazed if there were as many as two members of congress who could understand Euclid's premises. There is an acute dearth of the requisite intelligence for that.
13
Good quote! Trump's entire MO is to call the other guy names and so disrupt the conversation that easily confused listeners just see his moxie. Look out Hilary and Bernie. You've both got plenty of deficits that he can pick away at, enough that people forget how he’s been repeatedly bankrupt and constantly misstates his net worth. Or his "respect for the troops" that Sarah Palin was screeching about. Ask John McCain about that. Trump thinks military school was the same as the Army. Or a million bucks from Dad’s a “small loan.” Or global warming’s "a hoax, a little wind, a little cold." Imagine going for a job interview where the boss asks for your plans. "I won't tell you," you say, "but I'll be great!" It’s not a carnival, folks. This used to be America.
11
That's the GOP argument against climate change in a nutshell.
4
waiting for the convention to nominate somebody else.
23
I find it a little scary that Gail is thinking it's time to come to terms with Trump. I truly hope we never have to do that. Nor with Cruz.
117
"We’re going to make such great deals.”
Well Trump is good at that, he makes bankruptcy deals and profits from them. So just elect him, and the country will go bankrupt, and we will get $0.30 on the dollar for it.
Yes Cruz is disliked by those in his party, but not as much as Mr.Obama is. Clinton has been tagged with all sorts of untruths. If she does not get the nomination, a whole lot of husbands will be sleeping on the couch.
Socialism is still a bad word here, and if sander gets the nomination, the right wing medial will portray him as the next Lenin. Maybe Clinton is dishonest, well it has been said " It takes a thief to know a thief."
Well Trump is good at that, he makes bankruptcy deals and profits from them. So just elect him, and the country will go bankrupt, and we will get $0.30 on the dollar for it.
Yes Cruz is disliked by those in his party, but not as much as Mr.Obama is. Clinton has been tagged with all sorts of untruths. If she does not get the nomination, a whole lot of husbands will be sleeping on the couch.
Socialism is still a bad word here, and if sander gets the nomination, the right wing medial will portray him as the next Lenin. Maybe Clinton is dishonest, well it has been said " It takes a thief to know a thief."
37
I would argue that if you were able to balance out Clinton's electability pros and cons and Sanders's electability pros and cons, they would end up about even. They both have strengths and weaknesses that are considerable, and quite a study in contrasts.
During past elections Hillary Clinton would seem the most electable, but we're seeing something different during this election cycle. What many traditional Democrats see as Hillary's strengths--her experience--many others see as a prohibitive weakness, inescapably a member of an establishment that has served the American people so poorly. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
During past elections Hillary Clinton would seem the most electable, but we're seeing something different during this election cycle. What many traditional Democrats see as Hillary's strengths--her experience--many others see as a prohibitive weakness, inescapably a member of an establishment that has served the American people so poorly. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
5
Guess what? Hardly anyone on the scene isn't dishonest. Have you read Fact-Checkers? And that's just skimming the surface. Some of our most popular leaders, politicians today are disingenuous.
4
Country is already bancrupt - morally and financially
1
It would be fun to go back to 2012 and tell Old Mittens Romney that just like in 2012, in 2016 there would also be a famous millionaire businessman Republican nominee that doesn’t particularly believe anything he says and was also willing to say anything to prove the point….and his name would be Trumpolini ---- the expression on Mitten’s face would be heavenly.
Mittens was a good dealmaker, too, just like Trumpolini.
Mitt made his money slicing and dicing companies and selling off the body parts for a handsome premium.
The Donald made his money by gambling with house money and his dad's money on casinos and real estate.
Both Mittens and The Donald struggled financially in their early years.
Who can forget the painful account Ann Romney offered about hers and Mitt's financially difficult college years.
“They were not easy years…neither one of us had a job, but Mitt had enough of an investment from stock that we could sell off a little at a time. The stock came from Mitt’s father..when he took over American Motors...Mitt cashed it in so we could live and pay for education.”
And poor Donald has told us: "It has not been easy for me, it has not been easy for me. And you know I started off in Brooklyn, my father gave me a small loan of a million dollars."
(Tissue break !)
The Republican Party in 2012 and 2016 has offered Americans two of the finest struggling millionaires in history.
How can Americans not support these two fine Horatio Alger political weathervanes ?
Mittens was a good dealmaker, too, just like Trumpolini.
Mitt made his money slicing and dicing companies and selling off the body parts for a handsome premium.
The Donald made his money by gambling with house money and his dad's money on casinos and real estate.
Both Mittens and The Donald struggled financially in their early years.
Who can forget the painful account Ann Romney offered about hers and Mitt's financially difficult college years.
“They were not easy years…neither one of us had a job, but Mitt had enough of an investment from stock that we could sell off a little at a time. The stock came from Mitt’s father..when he took over American Motors...Mitt cashed it in so we could live and pay for education.”
And poor Donald has told us: "It has not been easy for me, it has not been easy for me. And you know I started off in Brooklyn, my father gave me a small loan of a million dollars."
(Tissue break !)
The Republican Party in 2012 and 2016 has offered Americans two of the finest struggling millionaires in history.
How can Americans not support these two fine Horatio Alger political weathervanes ?
1088
Trump's experience with "poverty" reminds me of that great Steve Martin joke about how to become a billionaire: "First, get a million dollars..."
153
.
It's not only the Republicans: John F. Kennedy broke into politics entirely on the basis of his father's wealth.
And if one checks to see who the US Ambassador to Japan is, it's clear that the Kennedy money is still buying high office. Our Ambassador had no prior relevant experience; her grandfather was a terrible Ambassador; she had almost no Japanese language skills when she was nominated; she was approved without having to testify before a Senate Committee; and she has used a private email account for official State Department business.
Whether these power-hungry millionaires are Republican or Democrat makes no difference; that saying about the camel and the eye of the needle cuts both ways.
It's not only the Republicans: John F. Kennedy broke into politics entirely on the basis of his father's wealth.
And if one checks to see who the US Ambassador to Japan is, it's clear that the Kennedy money is still buying high office. Our Ambassador had no prior relevant experience; her grandfather was a terrible Ambassador; she had almost no Japanese language skills when she was nominated; she was approved without having to testify before a Senate Committee; and she has used a private email account for official State Department business.
Whether these power-hungry millionaires are Republican or Democrat makes no difference; that saying about the camel and the eye of the needle cuts both ways.
2
Yet your candidate, Bernie Sanders, would handily lose to either one.
Beware.
Beware.
5
When Trump first appeared on the presidential scene and garnered some support, my immediate theory was, he's a spoiler for Hillary. Meaning, he's going to say outrageous things that distract the coverage of the republican hopefuls, preventing any of them from getting a strong lead, and exposing the kind of rhetoric that many of them probably privately feel but would never admit. I have never felt he is truly serious about the job, but that he's helping the Clintons and having some fun along the way because the guy truly doesn't care what anyone thinks. I've had this vague assumption that when he's accomplished his mission, he'll claim some need to bow out of the race at a point where there isn't time for anyone else to effectively pick up the baton. But I don't know... I wonder if, as he gains support, is it possible he's getting pulled in? I still have a hard time believing he's serious.
180
There was a "Draft Trump" movement as far back as 1988, and Trump himself first considered running in 2000, long before he would have been a spoiler on behalf of Hillary. Please, give the conspiracy theories a rest.
1
I love it. There was a time when I thought that Republican operatives were infiltrating the Democratic party. Write a movie.
3
I think you may be on to something. I had a thought that Trump jumped in just for some time on the big soap box; to burnish his brand, in a way. The last thing he wanted was to actually end up in the Oval Office. The last thing he expected was to be so popular, and to become yet more so the more outrageous his statements. It was just an idea, a theory. I never thought of the Clinton angle. Do you think President Clinton would name Trump Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as a reward?
"Trump doesn’t look so bad when the alternative is Ted Cruz" says the sub-heading.
Maybe not. But then you start thinking Trump + Palin.....
Maybe not. But then you start thinking Trump + Palin.....
167
I'll raise you Cruz + Bachmann...
150
Holy Mackerel Stu, Warn us first !
I about had a heart attack thinking about that...
I about had a heart attack thinking about that...
7
Just where do you get Trump + Palin? She endorsed him; end of story.
1
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do nominate Donald John Trump as the Republican Nominee for the President of the United States.
It may be time to revisit "In God We Trust"!
It may be time to revisit "In God We Trust"!
81
Donald Trump doesn’t scare me, and neither does Terrible Ted. But the people who would vote for these guys scare me to death. So if I could go back in time, I wouldn’t visit Van Gogh. I’d look up the founding fathers and clue them in about the future of the United States.
As smart as the they were, I don’t think they could have envisioned a fledgling nation of uneducated farmers and fur trappers being foolish enough to vote for buffoons and charlatans. Otherwise they’d have explicitly mentioned a wall between doofus and state in the Constitution.
The specter of Trump, Cruz and the rest of the motley Republican crew could not have materialized without a serious misreading of our founding documents. Our country was supposed to be about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But life is hard, liberty is iffy, and instead of happiness Republicans pursue immigrants and gay people, and that’s with pitchforks and torches.
We could have hoped that the Second Amendment had been worded better. Guns should be for those trained in their use to repel invading armies, and not for clueless teens to shoot toddlers in gang fights, or for lunatics to build arsenals.
Then there’s that low, crumbling, porous and flimsy wall between church and state. Weren’t there building codes back then?
Of course, if the G.O.P. wins there will be an up-side. One day in the far future, we might finally get the chance to build a better country from the rubble.
As smart as the they were, I don’t think they could have envisioned a fledgling nation of uneducated farmers and fur trappers being foolish enough to vote for buffoons and charlatans. Otherwise they’d have explicitly mentioned a wall between doofus and state in the Constitution.
The specter of Trump, Cruz and the rest of the motley Republican crew could not have materialized without a serious misreading of our founding documents. Our country was supposed to be about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But life is hard, liberty is iffy, and instead of happiness Republicans pursue immigrants and gay people, and that’s with pitchforks and torches.
We could have hoped that the Second Amendment had been worded better. Guns should be for those trained in their use to repel invading armies, and not for clueless teens to shoot toddlers in gang fights, or for lunatics to build arsenals.
Then there’s that low, crumbling, porous and flimsy wall between church and state. Weren’t there building codes back then?
Of course, if the G.O.P. wins there will be an up-side. One day in the far future, we might finally get the chance to build a better country from the rubble.
1188
"As smart as the they were, I don’t think they could have envisioned a fledgling nation of uneducated farmers and fur trappers being foolish enough to vote for buffoons and charlatans."
Actually, that's exactly what they did fear. It's the reason we have the Electoral College, and why until the 17th Amendment was ratified in 1913 we did not have popular election of Senators.
Actually, that's exactly what they did fear. It's the reason we have the Electoral College, and why until the 17th Amendment was ratified in 1913 we did not have popular election of Senators.
13
Like it or not, Gemli, the "fledgling nation" was comprised of mostly uneducated farmers and fur trappers. There are still some of each around and it's their country too. Life, in fact, is hard, liberty isn't free and happiness is not an entitlement. They are extremely worthy goals, and require hard work to achieve, that's the nature of democaracy. There has always been and always will be those with loud voices, carrying pitchforks and torches, screaming the sky is falling and the wolf is at the door. Because they are so loud and visible it may seem like they're winning, but in the long run they don't, on average. You may wish the 2A was worded how you'd like it, but it wasn't, get over it.
Our system is imperfect, it constantly needs repair and improvement. If it didn't we'd be in really deep trouble. It could, and should be better, we strive to make it so every day, when we're at our best. Sometimes the pitchfork bearers get a moment in the spotlight and shut it down temporarily. It starts back up again, but even more imperfect than before, and with consequences for many that might have been avoided. At best we could minimize the times that happens and the damage it does, but you can't eliminate it. There's been trends, counter-trends, over-reaction and reformation. We continue to evolve, even with and for those who don't believe in evolution. What's required of all is participation, the essential life blood of representative government. Otherwise, we go extinct.
Our system is imperfect, it constantly needs repair and improvement. If it didn't we'd be in really deep trouble. It could, and should be better, we strive to make it so every day, when we're at our best. Sometimes the pitchfork bearers get a moment in the spotlight and shut it down temporarily. It starts back up again, but even more imperfect than before, and with consequences for many that might have been avoided. At best we could minimize the times that happens and the damage it does, but you can't eliminate it. There's been trends, counter-trends, over-reaction and reformation. We continue to evolve, even with and for those who don't believe in evolution. What's required of all is participation, the essential life blood of representative government. Otherwise, we go extinct.
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An up-side? With a right wing SCOTUS for another 40 years? No sir.
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