It's not just cards he's severely lacking.
299
Suffering from a severe lack of cards? Just because he's a few cards short of a full deck, doesn't mean the one card he has doesn't matter -- because, of course, it's the Trump Card.
221
Okay, somebody else must have said this by now but . . .
If Hillary is playing the woman card, then it seems Trump's card of choice is the joker.
If Hillary is playing the woman card, then it seems Trump's card of choice is the joker.
295
A letter from a friend this week kept referring to "Donald Tramp."
I've got it! "The Lady and the Tramp" - a new slogan for this year's
shenanigans.
I've got it! "The Lady and the Tramp" - a new slogan for this year's
shenanigans.
144
Say what you will about Trump, but he did not mispronounce Tanzania.
11
Brilliant as always, Gail! Thank you! This campaign just gets richer and richer!
71
Hysterical! "Do not ask yourself how many votes Donald Trump would get if he were a woman and he was the way he is. Truly, you don’t want to go there."
Oh, and Trump doesn't contribute much to charity? That's something I haven't heard much about....I remember NY Gov Pataki's abysmal record on that, one year the bulk of his donations "used clothing to charity" valued at $something like 12,000!" Pathetic on the cheap-ness level and the truthful-ness level....
Oh, and Trump doesn't contribute much to charity? That's something I haven't heard much about....I remember NY Gov Pataki's abysmal record on that, one year the bulk of his donations "used clothing to charity" valued at $something like 12,000!" Pathetic on the cheap-ness level and the truthful-ness level....
79
Trump speaks his mind and for that I am grateful. It is a mind that I don't want anywhere near the White House, the nuclear arsenal, Washington, D.C. for that matter.
Is the electorate really that stupid? or is it just the Republicans? His supporters include wives, sisters, nieces, grandmothers,, daughters. Good grief. It is unbelievable that any woman would support this comb-over of a man.
Is the electorate really that stupid? or is it just the Republicans? His supporters include wives, sisters, nieces, grandmothers,, daughters. Good grief. It is unbelievable that any woman would support this comb-over of a man.
292
He is indeed suffering "from a severe lack of cards". Donald J. Trump isn't playing with a full deck.
127
Hmmm, didn't Obama win by not playing the black card? Seems to me she should've folded this hand dealt by Trump, not upped the ante.
11
"The poor guy hasn’t got anything to talk about except real estate. He’s suffering from a severe lack of cards."
Thank you, Gail, for your summation. The sooner more Americans realize the truth contained in your few, but effective, words, they will realize he should never be president.
Thank you, Gail, for your summation. The sooner more Americans realize the truth contained in your few, but effective, words, they will realize he should never be president.
132
I hate to say this but if Hillary Cliton was male most of the people who are lecturing the rest of us on having to vote for her regardless of our objections to her policies would have to be silent. She wouldn't be claiming that everyone has to be with her to make HISTORY.
If Hillary Clinton was male, she might have already been a Republican President, who knows. But she isn't and she and her big money supporters want us to vote for her regardless of the fact that she is a corporatist and has flaws in here judgement a mile wide because she's a woman and it's time!
I hate to say it but in this case the Donald is right!
If Hillary Clinton was male, she might have already been a Republican President, who knows. But she isn't and she and her big money supporters want us to vote for her regardless of the fact that she is a corporatist and has flaws in here judgement a mile wide because she's a woman and it's time!
I hate to say it but in this case the Donald is right!
65
"Do not ask yourself how many votes Donald Trump would get if he were a woman and he was the way he is. Truly, you don’t want to go there."
That is hilarious - I'm trying to picture it.
That is hilarious - I'm trying to picture it.
71
Yep, I enjoyed watching Clinton trump Trump.
Guess we've finally entered 'House of Cards' territory ;)
Guess we've finally entered 'House of Cards' territory ;)
62
There is little doubt that Donald Trump isn't playing with a full deck of cards. The more important question is what this says about that slice of the voting public.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
www.endthemadnessnow.org
77
Great humor, great truths.
53
What comes to mind, "in a battle of wits, he is unarmed". Let the debates begin.
118
I for one think it's fair for him to say she's playing the woman card. He's been playing the man card from day one. The male chauvinist pig card, actually, but we'll call it the "man" card, because most readers here are probably too young to remember the mcp sobriquet.
136
The real estate developer, empty- headed huckster, is no man. Period.
86
My theory is that Donald Trump does not want and never has wanted to be president. We're being punked. The purpose of his campaign is to hype his business interests. Sure, Trump is all of the vile things people say he is, but how else to explain how *hard* he is trying to alienate women, Hispanics, the LGBT community, .....
93
Don Trump’s substanceless foreign policy speech, with his new! improved! "humility"— reading a prepared text from a teleprompter—shows that, were he elected President*, he would instantly become another in a long line of Republican Establishment “potiches”.
Because he’s got nary a clue about conducting high-level affairs of the type politic, diplomatic, economic or historic.
He is not alone in this incompetence, among present and past Republican contenders. Just louder.
I use the French term potiche, being pressed for time, and since I do not immediately find the American-English equivalent fully expressing my thought. Been in exile too long!
It is a politician who, reaching the pinnacle of power by talking big, acting tough and being aggressive, then turns into a willing tool of more experienced handlers—by virtue of cluelessness. The literal counterpart is an empty vessel, shaped like a flat-bottomed amphora, with a flared mouth at the top, but no directing spout.
Whichever it way you tip it, it will pour the liquid you put into it, that direction.
Should RNC “thinkers” “get” this, they may suddenly, unanimously, rally round him, in a last-ditch, jerry-built attempt to get the White House back! You heard it here first!
BTW, “…if he were a woman and … the way he is…”? Makes ya miss Mae West!
* I am part existentialist, so imagining even the worst calamity doesn't scare me at all. At this point, “It’s all in your mind, it’s all in your mind.” --Jimi Hendrix
Because he’s got nary a clue about conducting high-level affairs of the type politic, diplomatic, economic or historic.
He is not alone in this incompetence, among present and past Republican contenders. Just louder.
I use the French term potiche, being pressed for time, and since I do not immediately find the American-English equivalent fully expressing my thought. Been in exile too long!
It is a politician who, reaching the pinnacle of power by talking big, acting tough and being aggressive, then turns into a willing tool of more experienced handlers—by virtue of cluelessness. The literal counterpart is an empty vessel, shaped like a flat-bottomed amphora, with a flared mouth at the top, but no directing spout.
Whichever it way you tip it, it will pour the liquid you put into it, that direction.
Should RNC “thinkers” “get” this, they may suddenly, unanimously, rally round him, in a last-ditch, jerry-built attempt to get the White House back! You heard it here first!
BTW, “…if he were a woman and … the way he is…”? Makes ya miss Mae West!
* I am part existentialist, so imagining even the worst calamity doesn't scare me at all. At this point, “It’s all in your mind, it’s all in your mind.” --Jimi Hendrix
55
Do Trump supporters really believe he will be a credit to the US and the world, if elected? Do any of his supporters believe that Trump is a rational person? Do any women actually plan to vote for this person?
94
I've often wondered what Gail would write on days when there just wasn't anything to ridicule. I guess that would have to be a day when politicians were not ridiculous.
82
A reasonable, knowledgeable, experienced, non-racist, non-xenophobic conservative would not get 5% of the Republican vote, male or female.
117
I wonder if Trump were a man, would he have play that card.
41
Gail, I am for Hillary, but reluctantly. The president's most important role is in foreign policy. Hil has shown herself to be hawkish, and delights in hanging out with military leaders, a cozy relationship which our founders wisely discouraged. She calls Kissinger-- who should be in prison for his Vietnam era war crimes-- a friend and advisor. She has apologized for the Iraq vote, I get that. But what is her plan for decreasing the department of war and ending these escapades into the Middle East? If she is the realistic champion of women that you say, then she should know that ANY country which has sanctified policies encouraging female genital mutilation cannot possibly be our ally, and cannot be moved toward our style of democracy. Oh, I will vote for her, but not with the enthusiasm you espouse here. My son is 20-- and I fear for our ever increasing militarism, on behalf of him and his peers.
26
Too bad Ms Collins does not evolve. She is absurdly one-sided in her commentary and would be more interesting to read if she occasionally surprised her readers.
9
If it is a Trump vs Clinton general election, I don't care how much you dislike Hillary Clinton you would be a fool to vote for Donald Trump.
89
I usually get saddened and depressed at the state of the upcoming election.....so thank you Gail for giving me a big laugh with the line "second in command of the Donner party"
49
Hi Gail!
Could you write a piece on "election survival strategies"?
I'm mean seriously, how are we going to get through this. In the beginning it was kinda fun for the obsurdity of it all, but that wore off long ago....
Please help us!
Could you write a piece on "election survival strategies"?
I'm mean seriously, how are we going to get through this. In the beginning it was kinda fun for the obsurdity of it all, but that wore off long ago....
Please help us!
36
It is obvious from the comments the reporter is totally biased for HRC, and that is her prerogative as she is only speaking for herself, and her own insights. I lived in the South when HRC was in ARK and every job was manufactured by Bill for her, after she flunked the DC bar exam. Her claim to fame about ARK schools and various other women issues is way over=hyped, as she hogged the credits and ignored about 20 other women that had been working on those same issues long before her husband was AG then Gov. She did not prove herself in ARK but rather left with multiple serious real estate illegal dealings, and self-serving insider trades her broker buddy tipped her off on. All of you NYC folks that fawn over "the Butcher of Baghdad" might, for once, just take a critical eye to her real self serving record. The editorialist doesn't seem to know or care. There are numerous other well qualified women that could easily provide much more moral clarity, ethics and truthfulness than HRC, so why drool over one of the least qualified women in America?
18
And don't forget D) His sales plan is based solely on tossing outlandish word bombs into crowds of distressed people who are unsure of where to direct their anger.
39
Ms. Collins zinged: "He’s suffering from a severe lack of cards." Priceless! What a wonderfully-subtle way of stating his deck is missing (more than) a few cards. Ms. Collins can make even a disgusting person laughable at the same time.
44
Last Tuesday Trump got 53% of the women's vote.
If Trump was a woman SHE would've been President long ago.
And if Hillary hadn't married Bill would we ever have heard of her?
If Trump was a woman SHE would've been President long ago.
And if Hillary hadn't married Bill would we ever have heard of her?
18
Second in command of the Donner party. Priceless!
23
Trump is right this time. Right to highlight the double standards we have for male and female politicians.
If Trump were a woman, his comments and idiocy would be taken as seriously as Sarah Palin's.
Instead, the media and public hangs on his every word as if he actually "commands fire".
Refudiate Trump. Bigly.
If Trump were a woman, his comments and idiocy would be taken as seriously as Sarah Palin's.
Instead, the media and public hangs on his every word as if he actually "commands fire".
Refudiate Trump. Bigly.
63
Mr. Trump, If you were a real man you would have respect for women. As a 70 plus year old woman who came up through the trenches fighting for job equality; a single mom for many years who raised her sons to be respectful, appreciative and in many instances in awe of the strength of women, I can only say, you Mr. Trump are a throwback to all those negatives we have fought so hard to overcome. Go get him Hillary! I know a lot of men who are on your side, my sons and grandsons included.
368
To all my Republican friends who are now despairing their likely nominee, let me quote the great coach and philosopher, Mr Robert Knight, "When rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it". N'est-ce pas?
32
I myself am convinced that Trump's bizarre rant about John Kasich's eating habits ("Disgusting!") the other day will be reckoned by future historians as the day the American experiment in democracy officially jumped the shark.
40
Go Gail!
21
I wonder if people are really listening to Trump, I mean the actual words coming out of his mouth. On the Mexican wall for example he insists “I would build a great wall, and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me”. And it doesn't stop there. Consider these dillies ...
> “I will be the greatest jobs president that god ever created”
> “No one knows the system better than me”
> “No one would be tougher on ISIS than Donald Trump”
> “No one loves the bible better than I do”
> “There’s nobody bigger or better at the military than I am”
> “I could be more presidential than anybody”.
When asked about his information sources he asserts "All I know is what’s on the internet”. This guy has serious mental health issues.
> “I will be the greatest jobs president that god ever created”
> “No one knows the system better than me”
> “No one would be tougher on ISIS than Donald Trump”
> “No one loves the bible better than I do”
> “There’s nobody bigger or better at the military than I am”
> “I could be more presidential than anybody”.
When asked about his information sources he asserts "All I know is what’s on the internet”. This guy has serious mental health issues.
103
And as a white male over here, all I've got is this #VictimCard - I guess I'll have to play that...
23
"Second in command of the Donner party"
Got a great laugh out of that one
Got a great laugh out of that one
29
Yet people keep voting for him. Sigh...
27
The best advice for Hillary is to remember the words of George Bernard Shaw and not to engage Trump when he taunts her.
"I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it." George Bernard Shaw.
"I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it." George Bernard Shaw.
107
Trump is crazy like a fox. The part on Hillary, ‘...women don’t like her’. Yeah, they don’t like him, but do they like her?
I sure don’t like everything Trump says, but I identify as an ‘outsider’ in many ways, so I love to see Trump (and Sanders) stirring the pot. And – it’s humorous to see how the pundits just continue to say ‘this is far as he can go’, time after time, only to once again underestimate him...
To those who say Hillary will stomp Trump in November, I say: We’ve got a long way to go. I say Trump will EASILY defeat Hillary. And – while that may seem crazy now, but it won’t seem so crazy by the time we get there. And – if I am wrong, Hillary (and Bill and his ‘legacy’) will be badly tarnished. Either way, not good for Hillary, and the legacy of the Clintons...
I sure don’t like everything Trump says, but I identify as an ‘outsider’ in many ways, so I love to see Trump (and Sanders) stirring the pot. And – it’s humorous to see how the pundits just continue to say ‘this is far as he can go’, time after time, only to once again underestimate him...
To those who say Hillary will stomp Trump in November, I say: We’ve got a long way to go. I say Trump will EASILY defeat Hillary. And – while that may seem crazy now, but it won’t seem so crazy by the time we get there. And – if I am wrong, Hillary (and Bill and his ‘legacy’) will be badly tarnished. Either way, not good for Hillary, and the legacy of the Clintons...
12
Like the song says " if ya want to stump it, bump it with a trumpet" because after all "you gotta have a gimmick if you want to get a hand". Seems like some in the Republican party have devolved to the point of unifying behind this blowhard, trumpeting his misogyny, racism, and calls for violence as their "gimmick" for 2016. The scary question is - will they stump it to the White House?
17
I checked "C." Almost chose "B," but realized that was a trick question because Trump wouldn't know what "gravitas" was.
The guy doesn't seem to realize that the "woman's card" is exactly what is going to trump his pair. (Pun upon pun, here.)
Come on, sisters. We've got the upper hand!
The guy doesn't seem to realize that the "woman's card" is exactly what is going to trump his pair. (Pun upon pun, here.)
Come on, sisters. We've got the upper hand!
44
Once again, another stupid, sexist, anti-white column against the NON-bully Trump. The way people write and talk about him makes it obvious that THEY are the bullies. Since when has it been that any comment made by a white male is by default, sexist and/or stupid. I thought Trump's foreign affairs speech yesterday made a lot of sense but again, the simplistic, pc leftist media--esp. CNN and the NYTimes--tried to say the speech was incoherent, badly delivered and contradictory. The speech was anything but, something this sexist moronic commentator Gail Collins needs to understand.
12
If you want to stun Donald Trump, show him a picture of Hillary Clinton from when she was in college. She was jaw-dropping beautiful. Not that that should matter, but if you want to impress Trump, you've got to use memes that he understands.
26
What will be the most fun is, after President Hillary Clinton is sworn in by Justice Roberts in January, they can release the YouTube video of The Donald being paid off with suitcases full of cash in some New York alleyway by Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
17
So Trump accuses Clinton of "playing the woman's card. Is he "playing the man's card"? And what would that be? Certainly not "the gentleman's card"!
26
Trump:
Two sayings come to mind.
1) Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
2) Don't kill the Golden Goose that lays the Golden Egg.
Does Trump pay "equal-pay for equal work"? Doubt it, so his fortune is largely based on ripping women off on their pay-checks... that would be 20-30% per paycheck, per week, per woman he employs. That's a lot of moola.
Thief.
As for killing Golden Geese, Trump wants real jail time for any woman claiming that her body and its functions are none of Trump's business. That's a lot of women he wants in jail ("punished") that he won't be able to rip off on their paycheck.
Aw, the poor boy won't be able to survive.
He's a crook. He's a thief.
Let's hope that "the great Bobby Knight" can think of some way to stick it to him.... then he can "relax and enjoy it", for they are two peas in a pod.
You're a thief, Donald.
Stop stealing from women.
Two sayings come to mind.
1) Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
2) Don't kill the Golden Goose that lays the Golden Egg.
Does Trump pay "equal-pay for equal work"? Doubt it, so his fortune is largely based on ripping women off on their pay-checks... that would be 20-30% per paycheck, per week, per woman he employs. That's a lot of moola.
Thief.
As for killing Golden Geese, Trump wants real jail time for any woman claiming that her body and its functions are none of Trump's business. That's a lot of women he wants in jail ("punished") that he won't be able to rip off on their paycheck.
Aw, the poor boy won't be able to survive.
He's a crook. He's a thief.
Let's hope that "the great Bobby Knight" can think of some way to stick it to him.... then he can "relax and enjoy it", for they are two peas in a pod.
You're a thief, Donald.
Stop stealing from women.
36
So just how hard will Clinton campaign FOR Trump in Indiana? I mean ....can she ask for a better candidate to run against in the general election?? A man ( I use the term as a reference to gender only) who is Hated by his own party! I can not wait !!
17
I'll be playing the woman card when I vote for Hillary in November!
80
Gail, it must be great fun being you with such a rich seam of absurd stuff to lampoon. I laughed out loud, and it felt good. Keep on working that seam. There's a lot more absurdity there, I'm sure.
You can't make this stuff up, it just happens...more and more and...
Thanks for the perspective you bring.
You can't make this stuff up, it just happens...more and more and...
Thanks for the perspective you bring.
43
"Severe lack of cards" - perfect
20
Oh Gail, thank you for making us laugh.
We wouldn't be in this debacle of an election if the clowns hadn't been treated as "candidates" by a media selling reporting as entertainment.
We wouldn't be in this debacle of an election if the clowns hadn't been treated as "candidates" by a media selling reporting as entertainment.
28
Gail Collins is a treasure. For the Bernie voters in the room, this is why I hope you don't take your proverbial balls (no pun intended, really) and stay home in November.
41
Please, we need some gratuitous servings of Ted Cruz before he has to drop out and it is too late. Am I the only one who thinks this candidate chose a VP who talks and even looks like himself. Doesn't this violate some rule somewhere? Fiorina accepted because she has loads of spare time - that's it. Can you imagine these two headlining the Easter Roll - with children? I am convinced that a Cruz presidency will be a first stop toward an American theocracy. Do Cruz voters really want this?
22
Say what you want about Trump and I will agree-obnoxious, narcissistic, dangerous, etc. But for Clinton to be the champion of women's rights, etc., is laughable. How many women's lives were destroyed by her husband's philandering and she and his aides stood by and watched. Strong woman? She stood there and was made a fool by Bill. A strong woman would have left him.
14
Trumpy is doing a wonderful job of uniting the Dems against him. Keep it up Donny - we love it!
13
Mrs. William Jefferson Clinton is for women's rights except for women like Margaret Chase Smith, Ella Baker, Shirley Chisolm, Barbara Jordan, Carol Mosely-Braun, Monica Lewinsky, Gennifer Flowers, Sister Souljah, Ursula Burns, Kamala Harris, Donna Edwards, Black Lives Matter and Black 100 founders. The Hillary is for women like her only daughter child.
Mr. Melania Knauss Trump is for foreign born and raised women like his Scottish mother, Czech super model first wife and Slovenian super model third current wife. The Donald is also for American born actress model women like his second wife and women like his American born first daughter.
The woman card, like the race card, is white male supremacist speak for denying and dismissing misogyny and bigotry as fictional "political correct" mythology. The Golden Rule of treating others the same way that you expect and think that you deserve to be treated is the essence of political correctness.
The undeniable DNA genetic biological evolutionary fit gender card reality is that human females have two strong XX chromosomes while being human egg and milk donors. That biological truth trumps a Y male sperm donor card. There are all female vertebrate species. And there are peaceful matriarchal primate apes like the bonobo and there are violent patriarchal primate apes like the chimpanzee. The man card is a loose lazy loser for all gaming seasons.
Mr. Melania Knauss Trump is for foreign born and raised women like his Scottish mother, Czech super model first wife and Slovenian super model third current wife. The Donald is also for American born actress model women like his second wife and women like his American born first daughter.
The woman card, like the race card, is white male supremacist speak for denying and dismissing misogyny and bigotry as fictional "political correct" mythology. The Golden Rule of treating others the same way that you expect and think that you deserve to be treated is the essence of political correctness.
The undeniable DNA genetic biological evolutionary fit gender card reality is that human females have two strong XX chromosomes while being human egg and milk donors. That biological truth trumps a Y male sperm donor card. There are all female vertebrate species. And there are peaceful matriarchal primate apes like the bonobo and there are violent patriarchal primate apes like the chimpanzee. The man card is a loose lazy loser for all gaming seasons.
6
Ask yourself how bad someone can be if Hillary Clinton- someone with a rather elastic recall and a profound lack of respect for the truth- looks good by comparison.
"Hold Your Nose And Vote For Her"
"Hold Your Nose And Vote For Her"
10
Donald, if playing the women's card means not calling them a number, not speculating about their hormones, not boasting about bedding the top ones in the world, not saying they "should be punished" for reproductive rights, then DEAL ME IN!
39
Playing the woman's card is the same as saying she is pandering to women.... There's nothing wrong with that but let's call it what it is. I believe she cares about whatever her polls tell her to believe in and that is anything that will get her elected. She is not sincere. And, whether you like him or not Trump is genuine.
10
Trump is playing the Trump card. Deal me out.
121
Any woman who thinks about voting for this guy for even a millisecond, well, there's nothing to say except "Are you crazy?" Probably not, you're simply mean and uninformed. There's no other possible rational explanation. Sorry.
45
Trump (and the rest of the republican clown car members for that matter) would be hilarious, were it not for the number of people who voted for him.That makes him a tragedy waiting to happen (should he ever occupy the White House as other than a visitor).
24
Whatever you may say about Trump, he did not mispronounce Tanzania.
4
"Do not ask yourself how many votes Donald Trump would get if he were a woman and he was the way he is."
..Why, he'd be Carly Fiorina!
..Why, he'd be Carly Fiorina!
26
I am beginning to worry, but not about Mr. Know-nothing Trump. I worry about those voters who think knowing nothing has advantages.
51
I think Trump mispronounced "Tasmania". He correctly pronounced "Tanzania".
4
Thanks, Gail. Perfection.
17
And Donald Trump is playing the man card.
He's ill informed. He's unqualified. He is embarrassing and he looks like a clown. He's belligerent and obnoxious with ideas that should make people afraid.
And yet here he is as a nominee for a major political party.
This scenario plays out in boardrooms across America day in and day out.
We have a woman who is so qualified it's amazing competing against a man who has nothing going for him but a Y-chromosome.
And he is a real threat to HRC getting the job just because he has an outtie instead of an innie.
He's ill informed. He's unqualified. He is embarrassing and he looks like a clown. He's belligerent and obnoxious with ideas that should make people afraid.
And yet here he is as a nominee for a major political party.
This scenario plays out in boardrooms across America day in and day out.
We have a woman who is so qualified it's amazing competing against a man who has nothing going for him but a Y-chromosome.
And he is a real threat to HRC getting the job just because he has an outtie instead of an innie.
55
For years the GOP has been waging a veritable war of attrition on the Clintons ... their legacy and their character. They have used every propaganda trick and legislative gimmick deliberately designed to literally destroy them ... code-words, dog whistles. endless congressional investigations and widely publicized kangaroo-court-style hearings, and even pointless impeachment proceedings ... all based on contrived lies and obfuscations ... ultimately going no where. The "woman card" is just another variation. Yet these exaggerated notions of Hillary Clinton's being "untrustable" and baseless one sided attacks on her record persist as evidenced in Trump's constant blabbing about it.
35
Actually, I think Trump was right -- if she were a man, Hillary wouldn't get 5% of the vote -- she'd get 95%!
18
Thank you for the gallows humor, its the most positive thing you can say about this person. Although I loved the analogy of "being picked second in command of the Donner party" that's right up there with tying your dog to the roof of the car! We love your humor!!
11
Trump deals the woman card? He sure does. There is a bit of a consensus in Texas Hold 'em Poker, a 7-2 off suit is the worst hand to be dealt.
Trump is the "dealer," so why does he keep dealing 7-2 off suit hands to himself with his big mouth, especially with regard to women, Muslims, Mexicans, foreigners, etc., etc., etc.? Not a winning strategy.
For explanation see: https://www.gambling.com/online-poker/strategy/the-worst-hand-in-texas-h...
Trump is the "dealer," so why does he keep dealing 7-2 off suit hands to himself with his big mouth, especially with regard to women, Muslims, Mexicans, foreigners, etc., etc., etc.? Not a winning strategy.
For explanation see: https://www.gambling.com/online-poker/strategy/the-worst-hand-in-texas-h...
1
Chauncey Gardner, anyone?
11
Trump is unable to cope in a mature manner with the hands that are dealt to him, thus his unseemly convoluted woman card attack.
Here's hoping he huffs and puffs enough, to bring down his whole flashy, shoddy pack of lies house of cards.
Here's hoping he huffs and puffs enough, to bring down his whole flashy, shoddy pack of lies house of cards.
11
et tu, Gail? I thought Hillary's first job was as a corporate lawyer for Monsanto, followed eventually by Walmart board. just Because Trump is a buffoon doesn't mean that Clinton is a saint...
5
"There's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other." That's not playing the woman's card?
10
Thanks Gail. Totally agree with you.
Republican voters have spoken on who they want as leader – the lying, stupid, unthinking, cad named Trump.
How proud Republicans must be. Trump has repeatedly and forcefully disrespected, degraded and cheated on women (including his multiple wives and countless women who he has no relationship with) throughout his entire lifetime, has glorified his racist, insular attitude towards all immigrants and anyone who is not Caucasian, has shown poor judgment in his many costly business failures, has never served in elected office, has never worked out complex social issues through coordinated, careful and respectful efforts to work with folks of all walks of life, has no qualms about making up facts, and is constantly inconsistent in his positions on key issues. And that is the guy the strong majority of Republican voters want to be president.
Michael Kinsley wrote an interesting op-ed this morning in the Post on why Republican voters have given Trump a thumbs up. It advertises how short-sightedness and narrow thinking can affect outcomes. It concludes with some interesting observations, including how disastrous it can be going into negotiations as the crazy one. See https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/what-do-voters-see-in-trump-his-...
Congratulations Republicans – live with the choice you have made.
Republican voters have spoken on who they want as leader – the lying, stupid, unthinking, cad named Trump.
How proud Republicans must be. Trump has repeatedly and forcefully disrespected, degraded and cheated on women (including his multiple wives and countless women who he has no relationship with) throughout his entire lifetime, has glorified his racist, insular attitude towards all immigrants and anyone who is not Caucasian, has shown poor judgment in his many costly business failures, has never served in elected office, has never worked out complex social issues through coordinated, careful and respectful efforts to work with folks of all walks of life, has no qualms about making up facts, and is constantly inconsistent in his positions on key issues. And that is the guy the strong majority of Republican voters want to be president.
Michael Kinsley wrote an interesting op-ed this morning in the Post on why Republican voters have given Trump a thumbs up. It advertises how short-sightedness and narrow thinking can affect outcomes. It concludes with some interesting observations, including how disastrous it can be going into negotiations as the crazy one. See https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/what-do-voters-see-in-trump-his-...
Congratulations Republicans – live with the choice you have made.
15
Best content I've read about the election so far this week - and perhaps the only one addressing what ANY candidate has done in the past on women's issues. And it's funny. THANK YOU!
21
I am looking forward to see Hillary deals Trump his card in November. I think it will be pink, not red.
12
"Second in command of the Donner party." Nice laugh-inducer to start the day.
19
I disagree with your assertion that Trump is a 'man'.
His actions are noting other than those of a petulant, spoiled rich Boy.
His actions are noting other than those of a petulant, spoiled rich Boy.
40
Who says Donald Trump isn't generous? He is getting all ready to give Hillary Clinton the Presidency, and throw in some nice Senators and Congressmen on the side. What a guy!
319
Great column! Women are objects to Trump, scored on boobs and faces. They may not use the bathroom or laugh too loud, because, well that's just disgusting. Hillary, born with a jet pack of ambition strapped to her back, has had to deal with these righteous boys club members her entire life. They have never wanted to share their toys or cede any power. I don't like the fact that she gave $250,000 speeches to the Boys Club World Headquarters of Wall Street, but she did roll those fellas of quite a few Benjamins. Donald is easy; you can see him coming a mile away, and there is not a lot of strategery there. She is going to make short work of Donald and from what I can tell, she is going to relish it.
226
"Do not ask yourself how many votes Donald Trump would get if he were a woman and he was the way he is. Truly, you don’t want to go there." But with you writing, Gail, we CAN go there. You demonstrate that laughter can indeed overcome the real threat of presidential misogynist idiocy. Thank you.
14
Well, one has to concede to Trump the obvious point: after our first African-American President Hillary IS capitalizing on the historical fact of wanting to be the first female president of the US. His further comment of how low a vote she'd get is what really bites. We should name Trump after the late John Gotti, "the teflon Don[ald]." No matter how outrageous his statements, they only seem to broaden his appeal and bounce off like the attempted convictions of the aforementioned mobster. In the end, however, Mr. Gotti was brought to justice when his "teflon coating" wore out. Methinks Mr. Trump will find the same happening to him if and when he stands for the general election. I wonder if he'll get what went wrong?
7
And here we are... Two fundamentally dishonest people undeserving of the trust required to bring a nation together, who have verifiable records of the politics of self-interest, media manipulation and lying, appear to be our "best" options for POTUS... Not since James Cox and Warren Harding have the American voters been so disserved by their two major political parties...
Ironically, they are both right. While Hillary has intellect and discipline, she clearly hates the political process. Bill, a great intellect himself, benefitted greatly from Hillary, but it was his charisma and absolute love for the political/campaign process that made them a political force. They both needed each other, but she - and many of her supporters - seem to resent the fact that her ticket to national prominence is community property. And she just can't bring herself to be honest....
Trump is a misogynist. He just is. One only needs to watch the dynamic of his relationships with women. His idea of empowerment is allowing a woman exec to report directly to him. He clearly has a problem with alpha women. And he has an overwhelming need to win-for-approval - dangerous for a man in command of the most powerful military on the planet...
And, oh, yeah, thanks to both for the divisiveness... And you, Gail, for the wedge politics...
Ironically, they are both right. While Hillary has intellect and discipline, she clearly hates the political process. Bill, a great intellect himself, benefitted greatly from Hillary, but it was his charisma and absolute love for the political/campaign process that made them a political force. They both needed each other, but she - and many of her supporters - seem to resent the fact that her ticket to national prominence is community property. And she just can't bring herself to be honest....
Trump is a misogynist. He just is. One only needs to watch the dynamic of his relationships with women. His idea of empowerment is allowing a woman exec to report directly to him. He clearly has a problem with alpha women. And he has an overwhelming need to win-for-approval - dangerous for a man in command of the most powerful military on the planet...
And, oh, yeah, thanks to both for the divisiveness... And you, Gail, for the wedge politics...
1
Frankly, HE is playing with less than a full deck of cards. And his trump card is not all that it is cut out to be. There - despite my best instincts, I too have gotten into the muck with those cheap potshots!
7
Great column Gail!
My favorite...Chris Christie "maintained his now-traditional demeanor of a partially brainwashed cult member."
So spot on. Thank you for starting my day with a laugh.
My favorite...Chris Christie "maintained his now-traditional demeanor of a partially brainwashed cult member."
So spot on. Thank you for starting my day with a laugh.
10
Dear Gail - your "woman card" column is the bees' knees, the very best! Congratulations on cleanly defining the vomitrocious misogyny of Donald Trump. Also a hearty guffaw and tears for your remembrance of the Donner Party, those in command now being Cruz and Fiorina.
How lovely - during his "important foreign policy speech" - to watch Trump eye-wrestling, squinting at his two teleprompters the heights of which caused him to lower his head and pronounce the African country as "Tan - ZANE - ia". And as for his Indiana rambling on and on yesterday afternoon with "the great Bobby Knight" (sic) - mega-blabber time.
Hillary Clinton's accomplishments championing women and their issues are legion - in ancient Greek days she would have been a Titan, a Hera, an Amazon! But the carny-barker, real-estate "git", who may well be our next President, says if Hillary Clinton were a man, "she'd get virtually no votes."
Just as Trump played the "Birther Card" with President Barack Obama, he is now playing the "Woman card". S'Marvelous. s'revolting! The Donald is old, from Queens, very rich, of German descent, and not given to vast donations to charitable causes. He has amassed a yuge and angry following of old white males who believe every word that spews from his Edsel mouth. Red hatted - his base - while Les Miz desire a revolution and are not ripe or rich enough to mount one. Your last words - that the Donald is "suffering from a severe lack of cards" are worthy and brilliant!
How lovely - during his "important foreign policy speech" - to watch Trump eye-wrestling, squinting at his two teleprompters the heights of which caused him to lower his head and pronounce the African country as "Tan - ZANE - ia". And as for his Indiana rambling on and on yesterday afternoon with "the great Bobby Knight" (sic) - mega-blabber time.
Hillary Clinton's accomplishments championing women and their issues are legion - in ancient Greek days she would have been a Titan, a Hera, an Amazon! But the carny-barker, real-estate "git", who may well be our next President, says if Hillary Clinton were a man, "she'd get virtually no votes."
Just as Trump played the "Birther Card" with President Barack Obama, he is now playing the "Woman card". S'Marvelous. s'revolting! The Donald is old, from Queens, very rich, of German descent, and not given to vast donations to charitable causes. He has amassed a yuge and angry following of old white males who believe every word that spews from his Edsel mouth. Red hatted - his base - while Les Miz desire a revolution and are not ripe or rich enough to mount one. Your last words - that the Donald is "suffering from a severe lack of cards" are worthy and brilliant!
8
Trump is unpopular with women, that's no surprise. What isn't mentioned is that Hillary's negatives, among women, are also at historic levels. For someone who supposedly has been fighting for women (unless you're Paula Jones, Juanita Broederick or Kathleen Willey), that shows how unlikable she really is.
4
If Donald (You call him Mr. Trump!) Trump hasn't any cards, how come his has so many delegates and according to most of those who should know, is going to be the Republican nominee? Those who should know, one of whom writes for this page, said recently 'Oh, he will never get the nomination. You can bet on it.'.
The hapless Republicans don't how to stop him.
The hapless Republicans don't how to stop him.
4
If Donald Trump were a woman... she would be the object of far worse ridicule than anything he has hurled at anyone thus far.
8
This cracks me up. Trump is a buffoon, but Hillary is a sociopathic criminal lacking a moral compass and willing to lie and say anything to further her goal for power.
I'll swallow the vomit in my throat if Trump is the R nominee and vote for him but Hillary as President is unthinkable.
I'll swallow the vomit in my throat if Trump is the R nominee and vote for him but Hillary as President is unthinkable.
6
I would rather "play" the woman card than be the Joker.
11
Agree with Trump on Hillary playing the woman card. Further, she would not even be where she is today if she had not married Bill.
6
You missed one of his cards, Gail. He could talk about his…hands.
10
Gail-- I loved you before you described Chris Christie partially brainwashed cult-like demeanor, I loved you even more for sharing with me the image of Carly as second in command in the Donner Party. But Rubio in the Bay of Pigs. That elicited an LOL so loud people looked. Thanks for making my day
19
"The bottom line on Hillary Clinton is that she’s spent her life championing women and their issues."
Except of course Monica Lewinsky, Gennifer Flowers, Kathleen Wiley, Paula Jones, et al.
Except of course Monica Lewinsky, Gennifer Flowers, Kathleen Wiley, Paula Jones, et al.
5
You probably mean Dahmer instead of the Donner Party.
1
Trump suffers not from a "severe lack of cards." But he does suffer from a severe lack of the "beholden" votes that Hillary has inherited as Democrat contender. The simple fact is that there are more beholden votes. So the Queen of Cards trumps trump. That simple.
That said, Trump is right on this one: "... if Hillary Clinton were a man, I don’t think she’d get 5 percent of the vote. The only thing she’s got going is the women’s card,...And the beautiful thing is, women don’t like her.”
What he failed to say was she holds the beholden cards. More she does not need. More she does not have. What will we have? 8 more years of stalemate.
That said, Trump is right on this one: "... if Hillary Clinton were a man, I don’t think she’d get 5 percent of the vote. The only thing she’s got going is the women’s card,...And the beautiful thing is, women don’t like her.”
What he failed to say was she holds the beholden cards. More she does not need. More she does not have. What will we have? 8 more years of stalemate.
15
Gail, you had me hook, line and sinker at the "second in command of the Donner Party" analogy.
14
Trump wins 5 out of 5, on Tuesday and immediately buries his own triumphant lead by making this idiotic statement. Does he really want to be President?
10
Hillary has always played the woman's card!
6
He went there for the same reason as he always goes there: an article about it in the Times, and tons of outraged media people thrusting him back into the spotlight just as he starts to wane. I bet if you stop, he'll stop.
8
I never thought I would find anything funny about the Donner Party until I read this brilliant piece. You missed a great opportunity to re-brand the Republican Party as the new-age Donner Party, though.
This election cycle may well turn a number of commentators into humorists, merely by pointing out the simple facts. Humorists haven't had it so easy in living memory.
This election cycle may well turn a number of commentators into humorists, merely by pointing out the simple facts. Humorists haven't had it so easy in living memory.
15
I predict an endless array of huffy, icy responses from liberal female columnists, which will faze Trump not one whit. Which is a large part of why people are voting for him.
The "woman card" is real, and Hillary plays it all the time.
The "woman card" is real, and Hillary plays it all the time.
12
I submitted a comment early this morning that the NYT might be wise to delete, since it reveled in the fantasy (suggested by Gail Collins) of transforming Donald Trump into a woman. Physically. Part by part.
I'll be less explicit this time.
Let's simply, peacefully imagine that a couple of us (women) attend one of his rambling, mean, macho rallies, and we drop a small bag of pixie dust onto the podium, which changes this Fake Tanned Man into a Miss America contender. Put him/her in a teeny swimsuit. Bring out a Donald Trump avatar to judge and declare whether all this woman's parts are sufficiently large, or small.
Then send her to Indiana, give her a rowdy boyfriend, make it difficult for her to seek safe contraception or abortion, and watch what happens next.
Sorry to be so mean about this. But the dream is delightful. Thank you, Gail Collins.
I'll be less explicit this time.
Let's simply, peacefully imagine that a couple of us (women) attend one of his rambling, mean, macho rallies, and we drop a small bag of pixie dust onto the podium, which changes this Fake Tanned Man into a Miss America contender. Put him/her in a teeny swimsuit. Bring out a Donald Trump avatar to judge and declare whether all this woman's parts are sufficiently large, or small.
Then send her to Indiana, give her a rowdy boyfriend, make it difficult for her to seek safe contraception or abortion, and watch what happens next.
Sorry to be so mean about this. But the dream is delightful. Thank you, Gail Collins.
23
Even if it were true that Hillary only has the woman card, that's still one more card than Trump has.
50
Trump is a petty, vulgar imperious man
This is tolerable when you are Chief Executive of Trump Casinos -- it is his prerogative
However, it has no place as Chief Executive of the United States.
This is tolerable when you are Chief Executive of Trump Casinos -- it is his prerogative
However, it has no place as Chief Executive of the United States.
55
"Do not ask yourself how many votes Donald Trump would get if he were a woman and he was the way he is. Truly, you don’t want to go there."
Rebecca Solnit went there: "In which I give Donald Trump a woman card: Donaldina Trump's body and its countless shortcomings immediately become a subject of discussion and revilement, and everyone pities her for her psycho-cotton-candy hair and mocks her histrionic, twitchy, leering facial expressions. At almost 70 she's regarded as too old for almost everything, and her frequent references to sex, including inappropriate comments about her own child, are considered to disqualify her from holding any office, while her serial adultery and habits of constant interruption are frequently described as out of control. Men offer her lots of tips on tone of voice and how to speak into a microphone. Everyone wants to know why she is so angry. She is often called hysterical. Her extraordinarily high opinion of herself becomes grounds for everyone else's low opinion, and her total inexperience in politics is not overlooked. Her belligerence, boastfulness, and overconfidence become insurmountable liabilities, and she faces incarceration for her business antics, medication for her delusions of grandeur and inability to play well in a group, and total financial collapse as an empire built on branding herself as a bully disintegrates. Farewell Donaldina. America was not ready for its first orange lady president. #womancard"
Rebecca Solnit went there: "In which I give Donald Trump a woman card: Donaldina Trump's body and its countless shortcomings immediately become a subject of discussion and revilement, and everyone pities her for her psycho-cotton-candy hair and mocks her histrionic, twitchy, leering facial expressions. At almost 70 she's regarded as too old for almost everything, and her frequent references to sex, including inappropriate comments about her own child, are considered to disqualify her from holding any office, while her serial adultery and habits of constant interruption are frequently described as out of control. Men offer her lots of tips on tone of voice and how to speak into a microphone. Everyone wants to know why she is so angry. She is often called hysterical. Her extraordinarily high opinion of herself becomes grounds for everyone else's low opinion, and her total inexperience in politics is not overlooked. Her belligerence, boastfulness, and overconfidence become insurmountable liabilities, and she faces incarceration for her business antics, medication for her delusions of grandeur and inability to play well in a group, and total financial collapse as an empire built on branding herself as a bully disintegrates. Farewell Donaldina. America was not ready for its first orange lady president. #womancard"
106
Message to the American people: you can count on American women. We will vote in droves against this nightmare oompa monster of a republican presumptive nominee. African American and Latino men will join us. We will save you from yourselves, American white men (and sliver of republican women too close minded to vote for a democrat).
Drumplstiltskin will not prevail.
Drumplstiltskin will not prevail.
69
If Trump had not been born with the Rich Daddy Card, not only would he not get even 5% of the vote, but he would also be shunned by all decent people.
57
It´s disconcerting the number of GOP women who turn a blind eye to the GOP´s extremist assault on women.
GOP congresswoman McMorris Rodgers for example voted against the Fair Pay Act insisting that women do get paid equally, and sees no problem with overturning roe vs wade taking away a woman´s right to choose or dismantling planned parenthood entirely, supports the personhood law essentially abolishing abortion entirely, and banning the pill through constitutional
amendment.
GOP congresswoman McMorris Rodgers for example voted against the Fair Pay Act insisting that women do get paid equally, and sees no problem with overturning roe vs wade taking away a woman´s right to choose or dismantling planned parenthood entirely, supports the personhood law essentially abolishing abortion entirely, and banning the pill through constitutional
amendment.
34
What if Trump said something and no one commented? What if no one followed links to any Trump issues, would they dry up?
That is my policy on all things Kardashian and will be hereafter on DT.
There are more important things to worry about.
Editorialists take the easy route by pandering to Trump. Stop it.
He. Just doesn't matter.
That is my policy on all things Kardashian and will be hereafter on DT.
There are more important things to worry about.
Editorialists take the easy route by pandering to Trump. Stop it.
He. Just doesn't matter.
44
The big problem is that Americans tend to vote on some belief in a candidate's morality rather than their positions and importantly, their record. Clinton's record and legislative positions are consistent and centrist. But most Americans have completely bought into the zeitgeist that she is unreliable. The facts speak otherwise. You don't have to like her politics, but you should be fair about her record.
67
Trump is basically the same person as those guys writing the emails and tweets to women sportswriters, only with an orange comb-over. It's really depressing to see how far we haven't come.
66
Clinton has a strong record. Trump does not. But beyond that, any woman in this country running for president will be accused of playing "the woman card." Are Trump, Cruz, and Sanders playing "the man card?" How many thousands of years do we have to wait before women will just be seen as people? Trump has made it clear he doesn't like women unless they are silent and kept. He's not interested in a woman politician's views and positions on issues. Any woman voting for him needs her head examined. DItto Cruz.
80
Women are over half the voters in the U.S., not exactly a marginal population. There's no "card" here, it's practically the whole game. It's like saying you're playing the "man card," except no one ever says that.
61
HRC couldn't have invented a better general election opponent. I voted for Bernie, but the more Trump bullies her and demeans Hillary, the more I am inclined to look past her Goldman/Clinton Foundation transgressions. The gall of this man - who has never held a single elected position, who wants to eliminate the "Department of Environmental" and who does not know how to spell "choke" or "honor" - actually challenging the credentials of a Wellesley valedictorian, Yale Law School grad, two term senator and former Secretary of State! Wow. Only in a deeply sexist world does Trump get to blather about the "woman card" and her "loud" voice unchallenged, as he did on Morning Joe recently. The children and grandchildren of men and (especially) women who are supporting Trump will one day try to hide this embarrassing heritage - much like the descendants of Nazis and KKK members.
60
It has been clear for a while that Collins will need lots and lots of therapy to deal with reality as this election closes. The repetitive whining and inwardness of these columns would make any psychiatrist worried.
2
Hillary has a whole deck of cards. She's sane first of all, she actually knows something about foreign policy, can even pronounce Tanzania, has fought for civil right's, women's rights, family rights, is well respected by world leaders, and is socially progressive and not xenophobic, misogynistic,homophobic nor racist, and is the most qualified person running to become our next President. Deal me in!
35
Gail, Trump's bad behavior against women is synthetic because Manhattan Doctors treat the "Trophy Bride Syndrome" by prescribing topical testosterone to old men that marry much younger women. It's common in New York but the Rx comes with strict warnings regarding overdose. Too much of the anabolic steroid causes overt glibness and manliness, certainty and egocentricity. Trump is on his third bride and he shows all the signs of overdose including doughy, puffy face and chubby waistline. Very high energy and sleep deprived eyes. The manly persona include a distorted notion that women serve men in all matters of intellect and life.
8
Drumph has only the Fear Monger dumb folks card. Problem is way too many dumb voters due mainly to a lack of Americans with a passport with more than a Canada or Mexico stamp in it and States governed by Republicans where they like their electorate cowardly fools.
14
I am dispirited by Donald Trump's campaign for president. The more I hear him, the more I fear that he would be a disaster for this country should he become president. He is unqualified and unpredictable. He is a racist and misogynist and worst of all a narcissist who cares only about himself. It is shameful that he has even gotten this close to becoming our president. Shame on anybody who takes this clown serious.
29
I recall how Trump sent some investigators to Hawaii to check out Obama's birth status. He then took to TV and announced that the investigators had come up with some spectacular findings. Of course, nothing ever came of it. That was stupid and dishonest and pretty much defined Trump's character.
41
I recently had a family disagreement over politics.
My sister a confirmed Hillary supporter, grew up glad and proud to be a woman. Recently she said she would much rather be born a man.
This struck me as odd. I remember as a child after we had seen the movie “Damn Yankees’ her singing the melody ‘Whatever Lola wants Lola Gets’ reveling in her new found self awareness.
And though we were grew up in poverty, she did very well and has only good recollections.
As the female she got the bedroom for her privacy, while I slept in the living room. Rich boys wooed her. She graduated valedictorian and went on to Harvard and then became a state attorney. I couldn’t afford to date. I was drafted for the Vietnam War and had close friends killed.
When it came to work I put aside even considering applicable Civil service and academic jobs. As a white male, correctly or not I assumed being talented but not a genius would disqualify me.
My sister married a rich guy and when she divorced got a good settlement. (since remarried) I did not save up enough to even consider getting married until late in life. When we separated (i lost my job) the judge asked my wife – how much she wanted from me.
We are back together. Still poor, still struggling but we enjoy life. But I resent Hillary’s fomenting divisiveness. It seems to me, there are advantages to being a woman and advantages to being a male. There are differences, which is why we & couples work best as team.
My sister a confirmed Hillary supporter, grew up glad and proud to be a woman. Recently she said she would much rather be born a man.
This struck me as odd. I remember as a child after we had seen the movie “Damn Yankees’ her singing the melody ‘Whatever Lola wants Lola Gets’ reveling in her new found self awareness.
And though we were grew up in poverty, she did very well and has only good recollections.
As the female she got the bedroom for her privacy, while I slept in the living room. Rich boys wooed her. She graduated valedictorian and went on to Harvard and then became a state attorney. I couldn’t afford to date. I was drafted for the Vietnam War and had close friends killed.
When it came to work I put aside even considering applicable Civil service and academic jobs. As a white male, correctly or not I assumed being talented but not a genius would disqualify me.
My sister married a rich guy and when she divorced got a good settlement. (since remarried) I did not save up enough to even consider getting married until late in life. When we separated (i lost my job) the judge asked my wife – how much she wanted from me.
We are back together. Still poor, still struggling but we enjoy life. But I resent Hillary’s fomenting divisiveness. It seems to me, there are advantages to being a woman and advantages to being a male. There are differences, which is why we & couples work best as team.
6
Sadly the substance here is zero. 'Hillary has spent her whole career fighting...' is sadly not a great replacement for 'she managed to get these pieces of legislation passed, these programs in these countries that are still going,' etc. Would be like advancing the case of an artist as 'she's been applying paint to that canvas for 60 years!' Politicians, sadly, are just promoters. Someone has to actually implement things for them to make a difference, unless you are making the argument that just showing fight was enough to inspire others to do great things, like the Rs claim all the time about Reagan.
3
One of Trump's casino companies is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The court just gave the green light to its plan to significantly cut pensions to its retired workers. Great example of his plan to protect the little guy.
31
Donald Trump is afraid of women. Okay, not models. Not women who rely on and focus on their physical attributes primarily (and no disrespect intended, but that's just Donny's "type." Not threatening.) Can you imagine how deeply disconcerting it is for someone like Trump to acknowledge the possibility of not just not winning, but losing to a woman.
His only recourse will be attacks of the personal kind. When he's said in recent months, "...and we haven't even started on Hillary yet," you know what we're in for. Not a policy debate. (The man can't even pronounce Tanzania, for pity sake.) No, it's going to be all personal attacks, all the time. Not even 24 hours past his 5-state sweep and he's attacked her for being a woman and playing that card, and for "shouting," at her rally. These barbs are so ridiculous one can't even be offended. And Hillary, never my favorite, but one I do admire, has been brilliantly taking his taunts and turning them on him, while promoting her record.
My only fear about the coming campaign is that my two teenage daughters will have their life experience affected by seeing a powerful white male hurling personal attacks on a woman (women) on national TV and no one will call him on it. Sad, really.
His only recourse will be attacks of the personal kind. When he's said in recent months, "...and we haven't even started on Hillary yet," you know what we're in for. Not a policy debate. (The man can't even pronounce Tanzania, for pity sake.) No, it's going to be all personal attacks, all the time. Not even 24 hours past his 5-state sweep and he's attacked her for being a woman and playing that card, and for "shouting," at her rally. These barbs are so ridiculous one can't even be offended. And Hillary, never my favorite, but one I do admire, has been brilliantly taking his taunts and turning them on him, while promoting her record.
My only fear about the coming campaign is that my two teenage daughters will have their life experience affected by seeing a powerful white male hurling personal attacks on a woman (women) on national TV and no one will call him on it. Sad, really.
35
In real estate they say it’s all about, “location, location, location.” After his questionable (until tax returns prove otherwise) success in that domain, Mr. Trump is now trying to relocate to the most powerful piece of real estate in the world – 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC.
But occupying that heady location requires more than “the art of a deal.” Let’s say the presidency is about “communication, communication, communication.” This is an art that Trump has a serious problem with as his latest dealing of the woman card proves.
Trump might have thus far gotten away with insulting Mexicans, Muslims, Latinos, Jews, immigrants and what have you. But by taking on women, he is literally putting himself up against 51% of the U.S. population. He better beware because as the old adage goes, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” His potty mouth might just empower an American band of sisters to propel Hillary Clinton into the “location, location, location” that he so desires.
But occupying that heady location requires more than “the art of a deal.” Let’s say the presidency is about “communication, communication, communication.” This is an art that Trump has a serious problem with as his latest dealing of the woman card proves.
Trump might have thus far gotten away with insulting Mexicans, Muslims, Latinos, Jews, immigrants and what have you. But by taking on women, he is literally putting himself up against 51% of the U.S. population. He better beware because as the old adage goes, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” His potty mouth might just empower an American band of sisters to propel Hillary Clinton into the “location, location, location” that he so desires.
18
What I want to know is, how do women listen and applaud men like Trump to say these things about them? What is the cognitive dissonance they must endure to hear this man demean women and yet literally stand there and cheer him on? Does it land anywhere in their heads or their hearts? Do they quickly snuff out any voice inside them that squirms (and maybe screams) inside as he and other conservative males condescend to make decisions about their reproductive abilities, family needs and income levels? Have they been belittled so much and so long in their lives that they truly believe that they don't deserve something, anything better? As much as I hate to say it, when it comes to equal rights, domestically and worldwide, women are as much of the problem as the men are.
24
I do not care for Clinton, but criticizing Clinton for being a women is incredibly low brow.
If Trump wants to stand a chance in November, he must begin looking past looks, sex, his twitter account and his penchant for basking in his own glory. It is time for him to act presidential.
If Trump wants to stand a chance in November, he must begin looking past looks, sex, his twitter account and his penchant for basking in his own glory. It is time for him to act presidential.
6
The Woman's Card? I call it a Badge of Honor. Women have the most to lose in the coming election. Little things like surrendering their reproductive rights, elimination of health care for uniquely female issues, saying goodby to access to food stamps to help feed her family or adequate support for preschool, equal pay for equal work and a liveable minimum wage. The alternative is, as promised, a packed Supreme court, nominees all suggested by the Heritage Foundation. So say a long goodby to Universal Health Care, SS and Medicare as we know it and of Campaign Finance reform, no chance. So, shout all you want Hillary, that's the only way to be heard above the masculine, atavistic rant.
148
It's worthy of mention that not only were the New Jersey Generals a "deeply unsuccessful football franchise" owned by Trump, and not only did the Generals spend more money on their team than any other team in the USFL en route to their zero titles, Trump was also the driving force behind the USFL's quixotic and spectacularly failed attempt to move their spring football league to the fall so that they could sue the NFL for being a monopoly. They "won" and received $3 in damages, causing the league to fold and its franchises to go bankrupt. Pretty sure Hillary Clinton, or you and me for that matter, could have probably done a better job.
29
Both Trump and Clinton are getting a lot of passes from their supporters. Clinton's deviousness and incompetency are being overlooked by her supporters who care about nothing except the fact that she is a woman, Trump is coasting along on the basis of his name recognition, TV celebrity and highly publicized life style. We have known everything about them for years now and neither scandal or failure seem to affect the reputation of either. They are both a disgrace to the political process and their respective parties should both be hanging their heads in shame over what they have wrought in presidential politics.
15
My advice to you . . . vote for neither.
LOL. Thank you, Gail. Just a joy. Lack of cards. Well, of course. A silly and I suppose largely ineffectual human being. And talk about lateral arabesque. My concern is the electorate that actually sees the Donald as the President. I mean I see the Donald as a sometimes charming and emotionally generous entertainer. I personally care for the populist feints I hear. But it emanates from a puckish adolescence that might be OK for TV entertainment. A savior to fix what ails us? The question remains what ails us such that the Donald is the solution? Really troubling and need to know. I guess I wasn't paying attention.
24
“Well, if fighting for women’s health care and paid family leave and equal pay is playing the ‘woman card,’ then deal me in,” she said during her own victory speech.
By this, Clinton tips her hand. Attn: liberal men. Take your place under the bus before you're thrown there.
Women's health care? Men die sooner than women by about five years.
They die sooner than women of 14 of the 15 leading causes of death, including stroke, cancer, and heart disease.
See: "The sexes' 15 leading causes of death, 2009" http://malemattersusa.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/the-15-leading-causes-of-...
Paid family leave? Of course, there are no specifics. But any cost to employers is passed on to consumers and/or to employees -- including females -- in the form of lower wages or slow-growing wages.
Equal pay? Why have no Democrats realized that this was Obama's first and foremost promise? And Bill Clinton's before that?
Why does H. Clinton think employers would not hire only women if, as she implies, employers get away with paying females at a lower rate than males for the same work?
Much more in:
"Salary Secrecy — Discrimination Against Women?" http://malemattersusa.wordpress.com/2014/10/27/salary-secrecy-discrimina...
By this, Clinton tips her hand. Attn: liberal men. Take your place under the bus before you're thrown there.
Women's health care? Men die sooner than women by about five years.
They die sooner than women of 14 of the 15 leading causes of death, including stroke, cancer, and heart disease.
See: "The sexes' 15 leading causes of death, 2009" http://malemattersusa.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/the-15-leading-causes-of-...
Paid family leave? Of course, there are no specifics. But any cost to employers is passed on to consumers and/or to employees -- including females -- in the form of lower wages or slow-growing wages.
Equal pay? Why have no Democrats realized that this was Obama's first and foremost promise? And Bill Clinton's before that?
Why does H. Clinton think employers would not hire only women if, as she implies, employers get away with paying females at a lower rate than males for the same work?
Much more in:
"Salary Secrecy — Discrimination Against Women?" http://malemattersusa.wordpress.com/2014/10/27/salary-secrecy-discrimina...
6
Paid family leave is not necessarily a cost to employers at all. The new NY legislation creating the best family leave program in the country will be paid by TDI-type contributions from workers and administered by the same state agency that run the disability program. No cost at all to Employers! Imagine that! There are solutions that motivated, well-intentioned people can find.
17
Men don't get thrown under any bus because women get healthcare. By healthcare she is probably not talking about how long women live as opposed to meal longevity. If only.
She is talking about contraception and reproductive services, getting insurance without having some religious nut tell you they don't feel like you having that. The GOP neanderthals are still fighting about getting rid of clinics that screen for cancer, ultrasounds, citizenship for a fertilized egg, murder charges or jail time for miscarriages.
She is talking about contraception and reproductive services, getting insurance without having some religious nut tell you they don't feel like you having that. The GOP neanderthals are still fighting about getting rid of clinics that screen for cancer, ultrasounds, citizenship for a fertilized egg, murder charges or jail time for miscarriages.
23
Donald Trump's bombast and idiocy are not the real problem. The real problem is the veil of denial he's ripped down for those of us who would have even thought that so many Americans harbored such hateful, ill-informed, bigoted views of our country and of the world. And what's more, that there is not an insignificant number who blame President Obama for this brand of hate and stupidity among the populace. And so now, he moves onto a brilliant opponent, a woman whose entire adult life has been devoted to the uplift and empowerment of women and children. He does so because his devotees love him for it. Even when (please, Lord) he loses, we must face that cadre of resentful bigots.
125
If only his gut feelings about a woman's place, face and biological issues were all, dayenu. But on the long list of his other dastardly ideas and deeds, why is nobody screaming about all of his Trump products made in big, bad, all-our-jobs are going- there, China? And Ivanka too... Thousands of rayon scarves under the Ivanka brand and "Made in China" were recalled because of dangerous toxins in the fabric. And then there's the Trump project underway in Dubai which a billboard proclaimed will be the"Beverly Hills of Dubai." Nowhere does the billboard say that Pakistani men, among other nationalities, came to work on the project, had their passports taken away by the company, are receiving slave wages and live in abominable conditions. Somebody really needs to interview him about that.
109
The only card that seems to be left in The Donald's deck is the joker. While I'm a progressive Democrat who is no fan of Hillary the hawk and Wall Street darling, if he keeps it up the "joke will be on him." The irony, of course, is that the strongest card in Hillary's deck is her fierce advocacy for women's rights. And, in case the bilious billionaire has not noticed, women vote and they vote in greater numbers than men.
60
Many, many thanks to you, Gail Collins. I'm looking for what I can, in order to try and be halfway calm, stay on the phone from now until November to call people anywhere in the country to get out the vote for Hillary Clinton, and maybe the wisest action if I find myself connected with a Trump person is to say a polite goodbye and hang up quietly.
I am confident that meanwhile, Hillary Clinton will leave Trump space to dig his own grave.
I am confident that meanwhile, Hillary Clinton will leave Trump space to dig his own grave.
37
The War Of The Sexes has certainly changed since Thurber's day. But is that progress?
6
I get it that the voters are angry at politicians in Washington who have turned dysfunction into a political weapon. And when you look at the "solid bench" of wannabe Republican candidates, can you blame GOP voters for saying essentially "none of the above"?
What I don't get is a willingness to turn the reins of government over to the likes of The Donald. Why is it that we vacillate every eight years or so between a well-spoken, thoughtful President followed by a George W. Bush, then Obama, and now, God forbid, Hair Trumpkopf.
What I don't get is a willingness to turn the reins of government over to the likes of The Donald. Why is it that we vacillate every eight years or so between a well-spoken, thoughtful President followed by a George W. Bush, then Obama, and now, God forbid, Hair Trumpkopf.
45
What is so beautifully ridiculous about Trump saying that if she were a man she'd only get 5% of the vote is that, let's face it folks, it (obviously!) is easier to elect a black man as President than it is a woman (no disrespect to President Obama).
18
Now that Trump is growing up and using a teleprompter and pivoting to a more presidential role even off the golf course, the more presidential and adult man emerges. Doesn't it? He simply plays one of the several songs written about Hillary by others thru the years on his harmonica/accordion and the crowd, his crowd, seems to think this is fine. Bobby Knight's remark about rape has also been attributed to Clayton Williams who ran against Ann Richards and stated that same canard. Bobby's an outta control man and I was surprised to see he lives and has not had a major cardiac arrest; he coached at Texas Tech and I believe was successful, but left. I can see why The Donald and Bobby are brothers.
16
Well, Joe Walsh, one of Tammy Duckworth's potential Republican opponents, said recently that she could only expect "sympathy votes."
Just as Hillary did with "the woman card," she ought to play that. "If enough Americans feel sympathy for injured veterans, the House and Senate will look very different a year from now."
Just as Hillary did with "the woman card," she ought to play that. "If enough Americans feel sympathy for injured veterans, the House and Senate will look very different a year from now."
53
Any women who votes for Trump should be ashamed of herself. They will be supporting a racist, bigoted, and misogynistic person who will tarnish the reputation of the US and act as the baboon he is. White people in this country have walled themselves off for too long in boring and unenlightened suburbia and have lost touch with real people struggling with real life anxieties.
64
The Democrats are desperate to cover up Hillary's unprecedented sky-high unfavorable and untrustworthy ratings. It will be a miracle (or more likely, additional Democrat lawlessness) if she's not in prison in 6 months.
4
Larry,
There are few things more dishonest in US politics today then the endless, baseless, assertions that Ms. Clinton is about to face legal sanction. Repeating such an absurd and debunked fantasy is not opinion, it is lying. And it is sleazy too. Please show more respect of yourself and the rest of us by stopping.
There are few things more dishonest in US politics today then the endless, baseless, assertions that Ms. Clinton is about to face legal sanction. Repeating such an absurd and debunked fantasy is not opinion, it is lying. And it is sleazy too. Please show more respect of yourself and the rest of us by stopping.
9
so, according to Trump, the "man's card" is the default card, and being a woman somehow equates cheating?
Any woman voting for Trump has no self-respect. Any man voting for Trump doesn't deserve his mother, wife, or daughter.
Any woman voting for Trump has no self-respect. Any man voting for Trump doesn't deserve his mother, wife, or daughter.
106
Bullying works. The ones who stand up to the bully get beat up. The ones who can't take the beating cower behind him and try to justify their support. They come up with reasons why he's not so bad. They can delude themselves into believing that he's not beating them up because he likes them. The mind is so clever, but it follows the character of its owner. One with strength of character makes choices that may be difficult. Cowards make choices that will keep them from being the outsider. If you are a Trump supporter, at least admit why. With other good options available, you chose the Bully.
42
Was thinking along these lines just recently. Schoolyard bullies HAVE TO be stood up to and slapped down. I did it, in 8th grade and a few times since. When the young bully is allowed to get away with it.....he turns into a grown-up bully. Genus: Trump.
6
With other good options? You mean Cruz? Carson? George Washington Bridge Christie? Tea Party Rubio? Bush the III?
2
Trump always seems to have plenty of cards when he's building casinos and towers. He just need to recycle a few from his previous failed ventures.
12
There's really nothing new to say about Trump. We've seen and heard it all: the still-unrenounced birther stuff, McCain bashing, disability-mocking, Klan ignorance, woman insulting, etc. Isn't it time to put the blame for Trump's political success and upcoming Republican nomination where it belongs? And that would be on the millions and millions of our fellow citizens who, despite their feelings of economic or nationalistic unhappiness, cannot see past the thin, thin curtain of Trump's political theater? Quite a while ago the joke became a problem, and that problem is much larger and more serious than a know-nothing candidate.
92
Hillary is a bad candidate because of her all consuming ego. Without gender she is vapid. Sadly there are so many great women out there with actual ideas that are squeezed out by the Clinton bohemeth. In the long run Hillary will cause great damage to the women's movement.
34
As a staunch feminist for close to half a century, I believe she already has.
3
Good thing Trump has no ego.
6
This is snark, right, tbs? How you can say Hillary has an "all consuming ego" while Trump is in the room is amazing.
Without his ego the size of Manhattan, Trump would be all orange hair.
Without his ego the size of Manhattan, Trump would be all orange hair.
6
Excellent article. Hillary will and should play the woman card . All she has to do is air commercials showing the Donald's remarks about Megyn Kelley and Carly Fiorina and most women will see how that card can be played effectively against the GOP's frankenstein candidate.
263
And now Fiorina will be out there attacking Clinton, again. This is supposed to be a presidential election, not a cat fight.
Trump plays the " I am a businessman card" which the GOP has given the rank of Ace in the card deck. We are told that businessmen, men only please, are efficient, job creators, honest and smart. But scientists, academics, journalists, and all government employees are given cards of maybe just a two of clubs value, not great. Trump was also dealt a large cache of chips from the family business along with owning the casino for home-court advantage. Trump has failed repeatedly at business; bankruptcy 4 peat and an unknown number of out of business signs from Trump University ,condos, sports teams, etc.
Hopefully the American voter will realize that Trump and the GOP card deck only works well for rich guys and doesn't have any good deals for: women's health,
safety nets, diplomacy, fair and balanced economy, etc.
Hopefully the American voter will realize that Trump and the GOP card deck only works well for rich guys and doesn't have any good deals for: women's health,
safety nets, diplomacy, fair and balanced economy, etc.
21
I thought that it would be wise if Hillary practiced with Trump stand in for the upcoming national debates. But not anymore, I think just stand silently and let Trump be Trump, let him roll, let him be huge, and magnificent, and let him have his day on his beloved balcony --- at some point, he will resemble the Captain of Caine Mutiny, the one with the marbles in his small hands.
13
Trump is about to find out that the card Clinton has is an ace.
The stale time machine act from last century complete with that ridiculous ducktail hair-doo and menstrual hut ideas about American women are about to hit the proverbial fan.
The stale time machine act from last century complete with that ridiculous ducktail hair-doo and menstrual hut ideas about American women are about to hit the proverbial fan.
43
Trump's pronouncement on Hillary's female gender is strange for a candidate that wears girlie hair- so pronounced that it is hard not rename her Donna Frump.
Why does he persist in this girlie hair? Subliminal desire to be a girl? Does this explain his constant rants against women in general- and in particular- Carly and Hillary and whomever wears a dress.
Yes, consistent with his bully character, which is his hallmark. But there seems to be more here, Donna.
Why does he persist in this girlie hair? Subliminal desire to be a girl? Does this explain his constant rants against women in general- and in particular- Carly and Hillary and whomever wears a dress.
Yes, consistent with his bully character, which is his hallmark. But there seems to be more here, Donna.
14
The Republicans hopefully have a severe wakeup call. If Trump becomes the nominee, I hope self-respecting men and women Republicans will not vote for Trump, and knowing how they loathe democrats, will at least write in another candidate. Voting for Trump is losing self-respect.
8
How can Clinton 'play the woman card' if 'women don't like her'? Those are contradictory assertions. The only advantage of a 'woman's card,' assuming such a thing even exists, would be that playing it gets women to 'like' you and vote for you on the basis of gender identification, regardless of any other factors that might be in play (such as experience, policies, platform). Granted, 'identity politics' is an unfortunate reality, and rather than weigh issues people will vote for someone just because they'd like to have a beer with him or her. But if the approximately half the population that is in possession of an XX chromosome does not respond to 'playing the woman card' - does not identify with Clinton and support her because she is a woman - exactly who is supposed to be won over by the 'woman card'? Where is the advantage?
Is there any gatekeeper in Mr Trump's brain, or failing that, at least among his advisors, to get him to stop saying things that just do not make sense? Evidently not.
Is there any gatekeeper in Mr Trump's brain, or failing that, at least among his advisors, to get him to stop saying things that just do not make sense? Evidently not.
28
"The bottom line on Hillary Clinton is that she’s spent her life championing women and their issues." That means she has spent 68 years "fighting" as politicians like to say? Yet the nytimes.com assures us in most other articles that the U.S. is a Living Hell for women. Don't these two data points call into question Hillary Clinton's effectiveness?
8
Seriously? Lets hope that anyone who can push such a specious argument is not associated with the famous educational institutions in Cambridge. Did you not notice that the US is way ahead of many places in women's rights, but that we still have many miles to go. In the US she has been involved in equal pay for equal work and the glass ceiling, which remain major sources of difficulty for women. She is also involved in some glass ceiling breaking of her own and that has made her very unpopular with misogynists on the right and left.
19
Just stick with the story maybe - if she has championed women and their issues, then those stuck in bad circumstances get some help from her.
Sounds pretty effective to me.
Sounds pretty effective to me.
10
“Isn't that just like a man."
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
7
Trump must have had a difficult time with his mother. I think that's the same reason why a lot of men are intimidated by women and when they feel threatened they tend to overreact. Trump constantly tries to re-assert his dominance by attacking his rivals whether they're male or female. He insults their appearance and character because he is trying to distract people from his own appearance and public record as a swindler, not to mention his lack of knowledge about history and foreign affairs. His whole act is a comb over.
Don is still trying to get back at his mother for her attempts to discipline him. Unfortunately his father must have tried to make it up to him by treating him like a little emperor. His mother didn't have much success but his father did and their little boy turned into a loud-mouth spoiled brat.
Don is still trying to get back at his mother for her attempts to discipline him. Unfortunately his father must have tried to make it up to him by treating him like a little emperor. His mother didn't have much success but his father did and their little boy turned into a loud-mouth spoiled brat.
42
"His whole act is a comb over." Best line of the day.
8
The only explanation for Trump and his lack of shame or his family's must be a conspiracy to guarantee Clinton's election and the destruction of the Republican party and Senate majority.
15
As if we haven't already suffered through the non-content hyper boil of the GOP primaries. I guess I have to pull the plug on the general election as well, or go screaming into the night from listening to more nonsense from the orange dumpster.
30
Let me remind Collins that Hillary did NOT begin her career with the Children's Defense Fund.
She began her career as a Republican who supported Barry Goldwater. Remember him?
The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree. Sometimes it gets moved by a squirrel. But it is still an oak tree.
Hillary is still a Republican. She is strongly pro war, strongly supports Wall Street, strongly supports coal industry and continued pollution, is not really interested in raising the minimum wage which would help children and we wouldn't need Children's Defense fund and better schools.
So the situation is: we have two Republicans running for the presidency. One, Hillary we know; the other we don't know. I will go for the unknown.
She began her career as a Republican who supported Barry Goldwater. Remember him?
The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree. Sometimes it gets moved by a squirrel. But it is still an oak tree.
Hillary is still a Republican. She is strongly pro war, strongly supports Wall Street, strongly supports coal industry and continued pollution, is not really interested in raising the minimum wage which would help children and we wouldn't need Children's Defense fund and better schools.
So the situation is: we have two Republicans running for the presidency. One, Hillary we know; the other we don't know. I will go for the unknown.
5
This is only true if you think she started her career when she was a teenager living with her Republican parents. Let's not be absurd.
6
If Hillary Clinton was a man, she would have been elected for the White House in 1993.
It is true that she is not that likable to women or men. This Presidential election is about who will be the best president and it is not Trump.
If Trump was a woman, he would be a very submissive house wife married to a bully and spending all his time doing his hair.
But. He is the GOP front runner and tries to talk about “foreign policy”. His speech was like Sarah Palin all over again.
By the way, I heard the most weird expression ever: “Trump Doctrine”. That is an oxymoron.
It is true that she is not that likable to women or men. This Presidential election is about who will be the best president and it is not Trump.
If Trump was a woman, he would be a very submissive house wife married to a bully and spending all his time doing his hair.
But. He is the GOP front runner and tries to talk about “foreign policy”. His speech was like Sarah Palin all over again.
By the way, I heard the most weird expression ever: “Trump Doctrine”. That is an oxymoron.
17
I think the really scary part is, that of all the possible choices the members of the Republican Party could make, they have decided, by close to a majority by now, to pick the person behaving the most anti-social way; making the bullying of anybody you don't think you have to be nice to, into the default mode of behaviour.
It means that a large part of the American people consider bullying of people with no significance to them, to be not only acceptable, but also something to be enjoyed.
It means that a large part of the American people consider bullying of people with no significance to them, to be not only acceptable, but also something to be enjoyed.
19
the women's card that trump refers to is clinton's retailing of her gender (woman president) not the whole deck of unequal or unfair conditions facing women that she is trying to shuffle past we the people in trumps name, (check the rising volume as she recites the litany to the growing amens from the congregation - wages, education, etc. - (choice being conspicuously absent in the last few iterations)...not a shred of policy, just pander.
as for cruz and fiorina, please...(if we're going to be snide as you were with the christies), let's just say that when this debacle is over their agents can send them up for parts on "the hunger games " remakes.
as for cruz and fiorina, please...(if we're going to be snide as you were with the christies), let's just say that when this debacle is over their agents can send them up for parts on "the hunger games " remakes.
2
In the simplistic, skip-the-details world in which Donald Trump lives, he draws what he thinks is a clever distinction between saying what he believes and saying what he thinks he can get away with.
Trump avoids saying that a woman should never become president and says, instead, that if his likely opponent, Hillary Clinton, were not a woman, nobody would vote for her. He accuses her of playing the “women’s card.”
The majority of people who have found Trump an attractive candidate up to now and who drank the lemonade long ago will probably buy into his remarks.
You and I are saying, “Wait a minute, it’s Trump, not Clinton, who’s playing the woman card!”
Let us take comfort in the mental image of millions of women married to staunch Trump supporters going into the voting booth in November, extending the middle digit of one hand and using the other hand to vote for Hillary Clinton.
Trump avoids saying that a woman should never become president and says, instead, that if his likely opponent, Hillary Clinton, were not a woman, nobody would vote for her. He accuses her of playing the “women’s card.”
The majority of people who have found Trump an attractive candidate up to now and who drank the lemonade long ago will probably buy into his remarks.
You and I are saying, “Wait a minute, it’s Trump, not Clinton, who’s playing the woman card!”
Let us take comfort in the mental image of millions of women married to staunch Trump supporters going into the voting booth in November, extending the middle digit of one hand and using the other hand to vote for Hillary Clinton.
18
As a woman, I agree with Trump on this. After all, what is the true message of Hillary? That if you marry a President then all the doors will open to you and you'll have 24 hours advice and help from him on how to get elected? I would have more respect for Elisabeth Warren or Nancy Pelosi running for POTUS on their own.
From where I stand, the people who vote for Hillary are elderly ladies and minorities who are under the carefully planted illusion that Hillary will favor them, or people with some sort of business government who are happy with someone who takes money in form of donations for the Clinton Foundation or speeches in return for access and influence.
The young and idealists are voting for Bernie. The self-reliant are voting for Trump.
From where I stand, the people who vote for Hillary are elderly ladies and minorities who are under the carefully planted illusion that Hillary will favor them, or people with some sort of business government who are happy with someone who takes money in form of donations for the Clinton Foundation or speeches in return for access and influence.
The young and idealists are voting for Bernie. The self-reliant are voting for Trump.
7
Trump is absurd. Many of the people who support him are so sad. Mrs. Clinton does make hay out of the fact that she is a female. I expected Trump to start in on her 'femaleness'. He is ill equipped to talk about things that really matter. All politicians have extensive records that can be used to criticize them. I am no fan of Mrs. Clinton. Trump doing this is no surprise. However, he needs to get onto something more meaningful. Please not another show about the size of his private parts/hands and the fact that Mrs. Clinton does not have the same thing going for her because she was born female. Trump is so tiresome and boring. But then Mrs. Clinton is kind of the same way.
1
The self reliant vote for Trump because they know that's who they will have to rely on when he inevitably fails to deliver on every single thing he has promised. Every single thing that people like about him has turned out to be a lie or misconception. I doubt his presidency would be different.
16
I definitely agree that if Trump becomes President we will all have to become self-reliant, because there will be no help coming from him to right social wrongs.
10
Here is what many politicians and pundits don't get. Most women except the young (who by the very nature of being young are mostly liberal idealists as we all once were) don't vote on "womens" issues and to assume that we all only care about abortion rights or gender issues is ridiculous. We care about the economy and whether or not we can support our families and whether or not our kids have a decent future. We care about healthcare and our careers and whether or not the country is going to be dragged into another needless war dragging our brothers, fathers and children with it. We care about whether our hard earned dollars are going to keep this country great and secure or whether they are going to support millions of illegal immigrants that continue to sneak into the country instead of doing it legally and who under this administration are getting free passes to get entitlement benefits, tax refunds (that they didn't contribute toward), drivers licenses, in state college tuition etc... I think this country will be very surprised come this November to see how many women and New Yorks end up voting for Trump.
7
Saw the Bobby Knight endorsement. Had to be reminded who he was by this column. Reminded me of Clint Eastwood with the chair. How many women has Clint gone through? He probably beats Trump. In any event, line of the night was when Bobby went off on Trump's military credentials, Draft dodging fellow that he was. Knight says he will be the best commander in chief ever, beating the likes of General Washington and Eisenhower, I guess.
15
Oh Gail! "second in command of the Donner party," made me laugh out loud. This primary season has been extremely humorless for me, even with Trump being Trump. Thank you.
Here in Calfornia, of course, we have had both the Donner party and Carly Fiorina. I'm not sure which was worse.
Here in Calfornia, of course, we have had both the Donner party and Carly Fiorina. I'm not sure which was worse.
28
The fact that we are talking about a woman "playing a card" -- a woman who has spend 30+ years demonstrating she is willing to fight for human rights on a global stage -- truly tells us how far we have to go. The reason she has the votes is because of her efforts and her track record. The only reason we have heard from Trump at all is thanks to a completely unmoored Republican party, the press, and because he is a man.
617
Clearly, Trump can never be presidential in posture or prose, even when scripted and using teleprompters. Despite (or perhaps because of) his largely inherited wealth, he lacks "class." One can psychoanalyze Trump for hours on end but the result will be that he's content with who he is; a self-invented character who sees no flaws or faults in himself (i.e. a total lack of humility) and therefore no need to really change, or grow from his still-adolescent mindset and worldview. Trump plays roles and easily pivots to whatever positions he believes will serve his interests at that moment. He believes none of those roles and is painfully transparent. Yet, in this "One Flew Over the Cuckoo Nest" election cycle, perhaps none of this matters.
(Sidenote: I certainly prefer Ms. Collins' solo pieces to those she co-authors with Mr. Brooks.)
(Sidenote: I certainly prefer Ms. Collins' solo pieces to those she co-authors with Mr. Brooks.)
7
"The rising of the women is the rising of the race"' so go the lyrics to a suffragette song. The way a person speaks about women and their issues says volumes about their character. If your candidate is dismissive regarding women they will also be dismissive regarding any other group they see as the "other". It is indeed impressive that Secretary Clinton has actively and tirelessly worked to improve the status of women worldwide. I believe she will use that seem energy to address the issues of the American people. In a dismal political season, Gail your sense of humor is a welcome ray of sunshine.
11
I'm a Bernie supporter, not a Hillary fan, but will vote for whomever the democratic nominee is. Until yesterday, I fully supported Bernie taking his campaign all the way to the California primary. But after Trump's latest salvo in his ongoing sexist campaign, I am no longer just a Dem resigned to supporting Hillary, but a Dem who's support for Hillary has been transformed. I suspect I'm not alone. Whatever my reservations about some of Hillary's judgments, it is, of course, absurd to suggest that she is garnering votes because she is a women, and not because she is highly qualified for the job -- intelligent, hardworking, well-versed in the political process. And while I have, myself, railed against attempts by Hillary and others to appeal to voters on the basis that her election would be history making, I don't believe that her support is derived from anyone voting for her just because she's a woman. (That's my point. People don't cast their votes for a candidate for the office of President just because of the candidate's gender.) Good work, Trump. You may have managed to drive the final nail into the coffin of your candidacy.
26
I had hoped for that bright red line Cruz vs Sanders would present to the Electorate however, Trump vs Clinton will suffice. As John Adams once famously stated, "Democracy never lasts long; it soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide"
He was talking about when a society bases its political power on a majority vote, it is inevitable that those wishing to have power will seek to satisfy the needs of those who will provide it (vote) by transferring wealth. This leads to ever increasing public spending fueled by the self-interest of producers. The needs of the voters will eventually exceed the treasury’s ability, so fiscally unsound policies will be undertaken.
So have crossed the Rubicon? That is what this plebiscite is all about.
Which brings to mind another (in)famous quip - "That which costs little is less valued" - Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616), Spanish writer. Don Quixote, pt. 1, bk. 4, ch. 7 (1605; tr. by P. Motteux).
He was talking about when a society bases its political power on a majority vote, it is inevitable that those wishing to have power will seek to satisfy the needs of those who will provide it (vote) by transferring wealth. This leads to ever increasing public spending fueled by the self-interest of producers. The needs of the voters will eventually exceed the treasury’s ability, so fiscally unsound policies will be undertaken.
So have crossed the Rubicon? That is what this plebiscite is all about.
Which brings to mind another (in)famous quip - "That which costs little is less valued" - Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616), Spanish writer. Don Quixote, pt. 1, bk. 4, ch. 7 (1605; tr. by P. Motteux).
1
It is undeniable that Hillary and her supporters often tout the fact that she would be the first woman president. They argue that this would be a great benefit to the country. I am sure that Hillary and her supporters never thought that anyone would seriously challenge that assertion. To them it is simply unassailable truth.
Why can’t Trump say that just being a woman is not enough in this election? Perhaps being a woman is not even a positive in this particular election.
The voters will choose between ideas. We have political campaigns to give the candidates the chance to express their ideas even if such ideas are not presently considered to be politically correct.
Why can’t Trump say that just being a woman is not enough in this election? Perhaps being a woman is not even a positive in this particular election.
The voters will choose between ideas. We have political campaigns to give the candidates the chance to express their ideas even if such ideas are not presently considered to be politically correct.
4
Answer to John Goodman:
Historically, the Clintons' misogyny has been expressed as violence-against-women-in-fact. The Broaddrick case you mention is among the more egregious examples.
Just as the Clintons take race anxiety & turn it, simultaneously, into calculated indifference toward blacks, (e.g., Rwanda), and support by blacks, (e.g., "Hillary's firewall"), the Clintons take Roe anxiety & turn it, perversely & cynically, into support for themselves by their very victims.
Holding up a woman who rode to notoriety on the backs of her predatory husband & the women they abused as feminism's champion is both repugnant & dangerous.
This is not about "the war on women," as Clinton would have us believe. It's about morality. It's about a Faustian bargain that knowingly rests on a false premise–that one's virtuousness is determined by one's policy positions rather than whether one has a moral core.
This compartmentalization spills toxicity into–corrupts–the culture. This delusory thinking produces disturbing dissonance, often w/ dangerous consequences. Examples–The Clintons cloak their reflexive abuse of women w/ VAWA, cloak their complicity in Rwanda genocide w/ a few policy crumbs.
Women (and blacks) made their Faustian bargain long ago, betraying not only themselves, but all of us. The devil is now getting his due.
Historically, the Clintons' misogyny has been expressed as violence-against-women-in-fact. The Broaddrick case you mention is among the more egregious examples.
Just as the Clintons take race anxiety & turn it, simultaneously, into calculated indifference toward blacks, (e.g., Rwanda), and support by blacks, (e.g., "Hillary's firewall"), the Clintons take Roe anxiety & turn it, perversely & cynically, into support for themselves by their very victims.
Holding up a woman who rode to notoriety on the backs of her predatory husband & the women they abused as feminism's champion is both repugnant & dangerous.
This is not about "the war on women," as Clinton would have us believe. It's about morality. It's about a Faustian bargain that knowingly rests on a false premise–that one's virtuousness is determined by one's policy positions rather than whether one has a moral core.
This compartmentalization spills toxicity into–corrupts–the culture. This delusory thinking produces disturbing dissonance, often w/ dangerous consequences. Examples–The Clintons cloak their reflexive abuse of women w/ VAWA, cloak their complicity in Rwanda genocide w/ a few policy crumbs.
Women (and blacks) made their Faustian bargain long ago, betraying not only themselves, but all of us. The devil is now getting his due.
7
Hillary Clinton is the only one of the Clintons' currently running for the office of President. Sounds like you are confused
4
I hope you know you speak only for yourself. Your "dissonance" is your own as well.
Characterizing Clinton's support as hoodwinked "victims" making some "Faustian bargain" they will pay for is just dumb.
Characterizing Clinton's support as hoodwinked "victims" making some "Faustian bargain" they will pay for is just dumb.
4
Why did Trump go there?
Well, it's early and early predictions risk being overtaken by events. But the answer seems obvious.
Trump will attack Clinton throughout the campaign for "playing the woman card". His attack will be most effective when he wants to deflect media attention from Hillary Clinton's competence. The media will devote coverage of Trump's "woman card" attack and ignore Hillary Clinton and her demonstrated competence in favor generating ratings by reporting the controversy generated by Trump's misogyny. That is how Trump has become the presumptive nominee.
Given Hillary Clinton's negative favorability ratings, Trump's "woman card" attacks will be ignored by a large segment of voters who believe she is not trustworthy enough to get "5 percent of the vote".
Trump will vary his attacks. He will shift from "woman card" to "establishment candidate" to "loves Wall Street". And Hillary Clinton will have to fight an uphill battle to get mainstream media coverage.
My prediction, expect a toss-up on November 8.
Well, it's early and early predictions risk being overtaken by events. But the answer seems obvious.
Trump will attack Clinton throughout the campaign for "playing the woman card". His attack will be most effective when he wants to deflect media attention from Hillary Clinton's competence. The media will devote coverage of Trump's "woman card" attack and ignore Hillary Clinton and her demonstrated competence in favor generating ratings by reporting the controversy generated by Trump's misogyny. That is how Trump has become the presumptive nominee.
Given Hillary Clinton's negative favorability ratings, Trump's "woman card" attacks will be ignored by a large segment of voters who believe she is not trustworthy enough to get "5 percent of the vote".
Trump will vary his attacks. He will shift from "woman card" to "establishment candidate" to "loves Wall Street". And Hillary Clinton will have to fight an uphill battle to get mainstream media coverage.
My prediction, expect a toss-up on November 8.
3
Reading Gail's column, and reading through the comments, reminds me of why my November vote will be cast for the lesser of two evils.
Trump is a sexist creep. He cares about women to the extent that they are beautiful and willing to go to bed with him, or willing to rent his properties.
Clinton is a craven opportunist. I don't mind that she stood by her husband as long as there was reasonable doubt, but to have forgiven him and never attempted reparations for the women she slandered might as well be a definition of someone without honor.
These two are our choices. As personalities go, both are hopeless. I find other qualities I can use to differentiate them. But I don't think I can trust either of them to act on their campaign promises.
Trump is a sexist creep. He cares about women to the extent that they are beautiful and willing to go to bed with him, or willing to rent his properties.
Clinton is a craven opportunist. I don't mind that she stood by her husband as long as there was reasonable doubt, but to have forgiven him and never attempted reparations for the women she slandered might as well be a definition of someone without honor.
These two are our choices. As personalities go, both are hopeless. I find other qualities I can use to differentiate them. But I don't think I can trust either of them to act on their campaign promises.
2
I have seen this criticism before and have to ask : In what alternate universe is the cheated-on spouse required by "Honor" to salve your outsider/onlooker doubts about "standing by her man"? or be likewise required to "attempt reparations" to the other cheater???
Is this even possible to imagine of a male politician if his wife was cheating? He would be expected to be nice to the guy his wife cheated with to have Honor? He would be criticized for staying with the wife?
This is insane, I'm sorry.
Is this even possible to imagine of a male politician if his wife was cheating? He would be expected to be nice to the guy his wife cheated with to have Honor? He would be criticized for staying with the wife?
This is insane, I'm sorry.
11
Wow, it is dishonorable to forgive? And you seem to believe that divorce is always the best alternative?
3
Donald Trump expects that he will not only pay no price for his derogatory sexist remarks, but that it will actually win him votes among men, and maybe, in his delusional brain, women. He is the epitome of rich guy privilege, old and ugly himself, he feels entitled to judge women only by their looks on a 10 point scale on which he himself would be lucky to get a 2, and then only if you spotted him a point just for showing up. Hillary Clinton is way too disciplined to make comments like the one I just did, but I hope the Donald keeps going there so that anyone who votes for him can stop trying to persuade me that, really, there is no such thing as sexism or misogyny, and that it's all a figment of my imagination.
34
We should give Mr. Trump's statement the careful consideration it deserves.
He said that if Clinton were a man, she would only get 5% of the support she's currently getting. Another way of stating his assertion is that women enjoy a political advantage in running for president such that a female candidate will receive twenty times the support she would otherwise enjoy as a man.
If this were true, this "natural advantage" would have to be reflected in the number of women elected to the highest office in the land. So how many presidents have been women?
He said that if Clinton were a man, she would only get 5% of the support she's currently getting. Another way of stating his assertion is that women enjoy a political advantage in running for president such that a female candidate will receive twenty times the support she would otherwise enjoy as a man.
If this were true, this "natural advantage" would have to be reflected in the number of women elected to the highest office in the land. So how many presidents have been women?
21
It's fortunate that we have Gail Collins to cheer us up but the reality is depressing. The people supporting Trump are not temporarily off course politically and morally. And they are not going to disappear after Hillary wins the election. Trump's followers and their ilk in previous generations are part of the fabric of our society. They may have kept their heads down and passed as "compassionate conservatives" or even "moderates". Most of us have known these people. They may be neighbors and friends or even family members. Most of us have found ways to get along with them or at least agree tacitly to avoid certain subjects. But now their heads are up and their mouths are open. They have permission from the likely Republican presidential candidate and, by implication, the Republican party itself. But the Republican party really has been maneuvering in this direction for years. By denying women's rights, suppressing minority voters, supporting defacto segregation in southern school districts, fighting the health care plan, and tacitly approving the so-called " birther" lies, the Republican party has placed itself firmly in the role of fighting against all of the noble principles this country supposedly stands for.
35
An additional comment, with suggestions. The Democratic party is moving to the left, both because the younger generation of voters is more progressive and due to the increasing participation (despite vote suppression legislation) of African-American and Latino voters. I agree that Bernie's falling behind is a disappointment -- but given that the majority of the Party is comprised of more centrist, middle-aged, middle-class voters, not a surprising one.
Yet as the GOP learned as it took over state legislatures and built a majority in Congress and Bernie has told us, change does not occur from the top down, but rather from the bottom up. With an increasingly liberal Democratic Party, progressives have an opportunity to build a Democratic Party that reflects the values of the young voters who have been working for Sanders, as well of those older progressives who have seen their values eclipsed as the Party "triangulated" to woo right-leaning Independents.
President Obama told Black Lives Matter leaders who met with him in the Oval office that the time had come to channel their protests into the political process. I think that Democrats should check out the demographics, which favor progressive policies, and work to elect progressive candidates to local office, state legislature and, where the support is there, the U.S. Congress.
Today Hillary- not perfect, but not Trump- in a couple of decades, maybe one of Bernie's present campaign workers. Think local to go global.
Yet as the GOP learned as it took over state legislatures and built a majority in Congress and Bernie has told us, change does not occur from the top down, but rather from the bottom up. With an increasingly liberal Democratic Party, progressives have an opportunity to build a Democratic Party that reflects the values of the young voters who have been working for Sanders, as well of those older progressives who have seen their values eclipsed as the Party "triangulated" to woo right-leaning Independents.
President Obama told Black Lives Matter leaders who met with him in the Oval office that the time had come to channel their protests into the political process. I think that Democrats should check out the demographics, which favor progressive policies, and work to elect progressive candidates to local office, state legislature and, where the support is there, the U.S. Congress.
Today Hillary- not perfect, but not Trump- in a couple of decades, maybe one of Bernie's present campaign workers. Think local to go global.
19
Sorry, Gail.
Hillary Clinton is a former member of Walmart's Board of Directors. According to the National Organization for Women: "Walmart employs 815,000 women — 57 percent of its U.S. workforce — and has a history of unfair treatment of these female employees: they are often underpaid, underrepresented and given few opportunities for advancement. Although women make up the majority of Walmart workers, most of them occupy low-wage positions and few are in management roles."
The company has fought vigorously against unionization, which would benefit its workforce by increasing the wages and bettering the working conditions of this largely female workforce. According to Forbes, we taxpayers pay an estimated $6.2 billion annually in public assistance to the working poor of Walmart, including food stamps, to help them make ends meet.
So will you please tell me again how Hillary Clinton has "spent her life championing women and their issues"? I seem to be missing something.
Hillary Clinton is a former member of Walmart's Board of Directors. According to the National Organization for Women: "Walmart employs 815,000 women — 57 percent of its U.S. workforce — and has a history of unfair treatment of these female employees: they are often underpaid, underrepresented and given few opportunities for advancement. Although women make up the majority of Walmart workers, most of them occupy low-wage positions and few are in management roles."
The company has fought vigorously against unionization, which would benefit its workforce by increasing the wages and bettering the working conditions of this largely female workforce. According to Forbes, we taxpayers pay an estimated $6.2 billion annually in public assistance to the working poor of Walmart, including food stamps, to help them make ends meet.
So will you please tell me again how Hillary Clinton has "spent her life championing women and their issues"? I seem to be missing something.
7
Trump needs more scrutiny and less amazement from the press. After carefully reviewing the text of Trump's foreign policy speech I found that more than 50% of the statements he presented as facts are demonstrably false, while much of the remainder is substantially misleading. Therefore, Trump's speech was an audacious scam. The public deserves to see a responsible, intellectually respectable rebuttal of the half of Trump's speech that is false on its face.
17
Although Hillary has consistently lost to Bernie among independents and millennials, there is evidence that her independents and millennials "problem" suddenly vanishes when she is pitted against Trump.
A poll released very recently by Harvard Institute of Politics found Hillary beating Trump 61% to 25% among millennials. That being the case, why would Hillary even bother playing the so-called "woman card" when Trump's unprecedented negatives are, pun intended, her "Trump card", which she undoubtedly intends to deal again and again, from the bottom of the deck?
The attack ads reminding voters of just who Trump is practically write themselves, considering how much original material starring Trump himself has been produced, not just since last June with his now infamous "rapists" speech announcing his candidacy, but back to the "birther" era and beyond!
A poll released very recently by Harvard Institute of Politics found Hillary beating Trump 61% to 25% among millennials. That being the case, why would Hillary even bother playing the so-called "woman card" when Trump's unprecedented negatives are, pun intended, her "Trump card", which she undoubtedly intends to deal again and again, from the bottom of the deck?
The attack ads reminding voters of just who Trump is practically write themselves, considering how much original material starring Trump himself has been produced, not just since last June with his now infamous "rapists" speech announcing his candidacy, but back to the "birther" era and beyond!
10
Trump is entertaining. Hillary is diligent and boring, with a reputation for lying. She needs a running mate who can effectively point out that Trump is a joke (Al Franken) or can respond quickly (Elizabeth Warren). Either of those running mates can bring us Berned losers on board. If she is over-confident, she will choose a boring running mate and lose this wrestle-mania contest.
2
"...if (Trump) were a woman and he was the way he is." The first image this conjured up for me is a completely inarticulate version of Lisa Lampanelli.
2
Thank you Gail. If only my fellow angry misogynistic Americans would hear you. Well said.
3
Every day I wonder how this can be the best the GOP can offer, and I see Paul Ryan on CNN talking about the platform which is 180 degrees apart from their candidate Trump's plans. They must live in a different world.
5
Mr Trump has managed to appeal to people's worst instincts in an entertaining way. He's like a Doctor who tells you it's OK to smoke and eat a slab of Bacon for breakfast everyday.
4
Oh, ok. So Real Women don't shout, per Donald Trump.
Hmmm.....real women would not be women athletes, right? They may shout when their teams have just triumphed. Real women would not be police officers or firefighters, because their shouting might save someone's life, right? Real women would not be teachers, out on the playgrounds, playing with their students and role modeling in having group fun, right? Real women would not be protesters who may shout when gathering supporters to assure women's reproductive rights, employment rights, family rights, educational rights, gender rights....and more. Real women would not have been down at Occupy Wall Street, because they may shout about the downturn in the economy and how their families were affected, right?
Donald Trump - please call me a real woman. I shout, and I think women shouting serves a purpose.....perhaps more of a purpose than what your idea of a real woman serves....as in Numero Uno, Numero Duo, and Numero Tres.
Hmmm.....real women would not be women athletes, right? They may shout when their teams have just triumphed. Real women would not be police officers or firefighters, because their shouting might save someone's life, right? Real women would not be teachers, out on the playgrounds, playing with their students and role modeling in having group fun, right? Real women would not be protesters who may shout when gathering supporters to assure women's reproductive rights, employment rights, family rights, educational rights, gender rights....and more. Real women would not have been down at Occupy Wall Street, because they may shout about the downturn in the economy and how their families were affected, right?
Donald Trump - please call me a real woman. I shout, and I think women shouting serves a purpose.....perhaps more of a purpose than what your idea of a real woman serves....as in Numero Uno, Numero Duo, and Numero Tres.
12
Gawd! I LOVE this column!!! When Gail plays the Trump Card, it's deja vu all over him.
3
Honestly, quit attacking Trump over the woman card if you are not going to attack Clinton over it as well. When you have someone who frequently mentions that it is time for America to have its first female president, making it one of the cornerstone's of the campaign, then why can someone not call her out on that?
Look, if we want gender equality then we need to act like it. Allowing one person to be sexist while attacking another one for being sexist is not what equality is. Either we let them both spew their sexist rhetoric, or will condemn both.
Look, if we want gender equality then we need to act like it. Allowing one person to be sexist while attacking another one for being sexist is not what equality is. Either we let them both spew their sexist rhetoric, or will condemn both.
6
If nothing else, this campaign has exposed the degraded educational system. Only the severely uninformed and uneducated could support Drumpf and his vile behavior.
15
"Lack of charitable causes"? What an understatement! Many Mexican immigrants manage to send a third to a half of their meager earnings home to help their families. Trump has threatened to impound these remittances to form Mexico to pay for his wall. The meanest proposal yet from our candidate for Meanest Man on Earth.
10
Yikes. I just had a flashback to the 1980's. The white boss guy with the weird hair is dissing the competent woman by complaining about her voice and her gender. He is showing his age.
9
And every competent woman who has ever been dissed by a boss for those reasons just became a Hillary voter.
7
Clinton's gender card forces us to consider settled law—the intersection of female & fitness.
Not to worry, fellow females. Carly, self-made, brilliant & the only terror/tech-savvy candidate on either side, is the counterexample.
Petite in size, large in stature. Her mind/experience/worldview render opponents small/parochial.
Her verbal jujitsu delivers the coup de grâce cleanly, efficiently, w/ elan.
True, being female inoculates her against Clinton's only incontestable play, but her ability to destroy Clinton goes beyond chromosomes.
Carly has that rare ability to speak w/ intelligence fearlessly, bluntly, simply, powerfully, w/ a pin-focused clarity. She exudes competence, honesty & arguably, good will.
Fiorina systematically dismantles Clinton w/ objective analysis, not ad hominem attack, & thus does not activate, & may even de-activate the Clinton voter.
Carly renders Hillary's only rationale for running nonoperational.
Hillary, by contrast, is slow, programmed, robotic, visionless, anachronistic.
In her book, 'Political Fictions,' Joan Didion indicts the fakery of access journalism practiced by vacant politicos like the Clintons, whom she sees as "purveyors of fables of their own making, or worse, fables conceived by political strategists w/ designs on votes."
Hillary has done 1 Sun. show in 4 yrs
One would expect “the smartest woman in the world” to relish "the raucous give & take of American democracy," as Charles Kuralt once put it.
Carly clearly does.
4
Poor little DT. He must have been the kid who knew he didn't fit in the exclusive schools his parents got him into because his daddy's money was "new" money and not acceptable in the "right" crowds. He's been trying to fit in ever since, trying to get their respect, but he just doesn't cut it. Mr. Obnoxious. Can you even imagine having to look at those lips and that hair much longer? He needs to get knocked off that pedestal of hot air he is on - the sooner the better - and Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton is the one to do it.
11
Trump not only owned an unsuccessful pro football team, but he also is credited with single-handedly destroying the new league of which it was a part by insisting the league play its schedule in the fall (and compete with the established NFL) when it was enjoying some success as a spring enterprise.
8
In 1990, the inimitable and much-missed Ann Richards ran for Governor of Texas against a Republican named Clayton ("Claytie") Williams. Williams was so grossly offensive in his sexism, so unrelentingly and stupidly crude about and to Ms. Richards that, in the end, he drove a substantial minority of Republican women away. My dear friend and colleague Jeanie Stanley and I studied the 1990 Texas election and found that 25% of Republican women wound up voting for Ann Richards -- they just couldn't stomach any more of Claytie. Ann Richards was running an incredibly uphill battle: she was a progressive Democrat in a state where the Republican Party was ever more ascendant.
That race should have been any Republican's to lose...and that's just what Williams did. Every time he flung another irrational, mush-headed slew of misogyny at Ann, you could hear Democratic women all over the state say "Yes!" He wasn't even clever about it: the banality and stupidity of his comments were equaled only by his hostility and his apparently threatened sense of his masculinity. Many Republican women were every bit as offended as were Democrats.
Ann Richards took it all with grace, strength, humor, smarts, and unflappable aplomb, and won an enormous victory in Texas in 1990. Hillary absolutely has all the qualities Ann radiated. But oh, for the days when even the stupidest man will not think mindless misogyny is a civic debate!
That race should have been any Republican's to lose...and that's just what Williams did. Every time he flung another irrational, mush-headed slew of misogyny at Ann, you could hear Democratic women all over the state say "Yes!" He wasn't even clever about it: the banality and stupidity of his comments were equaled only by his hostility and his apparently threatened sense of his masculinity. Many Republican women were every bit as offended as were Democrats.
Ann Richards took it all with grace, strength, humor, smarts, and unflappable aplomb, and won an enormous victory in Texas in 1990. Hillary absolutely has all the qualities Ann radiated. But oh, for the days when even the stupidest man will not think mindless misogyny is a civic debate!
66
If you think only Republicans are sexist, see Clinton's sexism:
At the First Ladies’ Conference on Domestic Violence in San Salvador in 1998, Clinton said, “Women have always been the primary victims of war. Women lose their husbands, their fathers, their sons in combat. Women often have to flee from the only homes they have ever known. Women are often the refugees from conflict and sometimes, more frequently in today’s warfare, victims. Women are often left with the responsibility, alone, of raising the children.”
Women do not become war’s primary victims by surviving genocides and being driven away from their homes to camps where they have the hope, however dim, of rescue.
An example of why there always is the hope of rescue after the women are captured and the men slaughtered:
Nigeria’s military has rescued 234 more women and children from a forested area of northeastern Nigeria controlled by Boko Haram extremists who have kidnapped hundreds of girls in recent years, the Nigerian defense ministry said Saturday. The latest rescue, announced by the Nigeria Defense Headquarters on Twitter, brings the total for the week to more than 677 females the Nigerian military claims to have rescued. –USA Today, May 2, 2015
War’s primary victims have always been the men who are killed — the husbands, fathers, and sons of the women who are often spared.
"The Greater Outrage for Female Victims of Governments’ Brutality Helps Perpetuate Risk to Both Sexes"
archive.is/DAcMZ
At the First Ladies’ Conference on Domestic Violence in San Salvador in 1998, Clinton said, “Women have always been the primary victims of war. Women lose their husbands, their fathers, their sons in combat. Women often have to flee from the only homes they have ever known. Women are often the refugees from conflict and sometimes, more frequently in today’s warfare, victims. Women are often left with the responsibility, alone, of raising the children.”
Women do not become war’s primary victims by surviving genocides and being driven away from their homes to camps where they have the hope, however dim, of rescue.
An example of why there always is the hope of rescue after the women are captured and the men slaughtered:
Nigeria’s military has rescued 234 more women and children from a forested area of northeastern Nigeria controlled by Boko Haram extremists who have kidnapped hundreds of girls in recent years, the Nigerian defense ministry said Saturday. The latest rescue, announced by the Nigeria Defense Headquarters on Twitter, brings the total for the week to more than 677 females the Nigerian military claims to have rescued. –USA Today, May 2, 2015
War’s primary victims have always been the men who are killed — the husbands, fathers, and sons of the women who are often spared.
"The Greater Outrage for Female Victims of Governments’ Brutality Helps Perpetuate Risk to Both Sexes"
archive.is/DAcMZ
1
Unfortunately, in a later run for Governor of Texas, Richards ran into the newly minted tactics of Karl Rove and his whisper campaign, implying there was gay somewhere around and she lost to George Bush thanks to his slimy campaign. A real loss for Texas and as we saw later, the rest of America paid too.
5
The vulgarity of this know-nothing megalomaniac is, now more clearly than before, in full display, even when he seems in control of a nearly 'inevitable' grab of the republican nomination, which would, under normal circumstances, confer the chance for some grace in respecting his opponents, conceding they may, after all, have some redeeming value. Can you imagine two opposing teams playing, say, basketball, where one of them, a bully, keeps harassing the other as incompetent, ugly, worthless and cheating, just to destroy their spirit so it stops fighting the fight? And get away with it? With such a loud and filthy mouth, how could any decent adult conversation be undertaken, and a politics of inclusion even be considered? This individual, in the process of being sanitized by a team of cosmetic experts, is a lost cause, given than his character is sealed, his cult of personality in the stratosphere, immune to be shamed by any of his outrageous comments against anybody pointing to his nasty behavior. If this individual becomes president, we will have no one but ourselves to blame; and the crying of buyer's remorse. That there are women supporting him in spite of his misogyny, is beyond comprehension. This "ugly" macho- type abuse of what education, decency and common sense represents, ought to suffice to disqualify him for any political advantage, let alone the presidency of a reputable nation.
33
I'm tired of the "no one to blame but ourselves" trope. If Trump wins it won't be by my vote. And since I won't have voted for him I would refuse to blame myself. or anyone else who did not vote for him. His supporters would be to blame for his Presidency.
5
I'm not sure that gender war is the right description. There are some voters who will vote for Clinton because she's a woman regardless of her policy prescriptions, and others who will vote for Trump (or whomever) for the exact same reason.
Beyond these polarized extremes it's just politics as usual. Accusing Clinton of "playing the woman card" is a normal tactic as is the 1% card from her.
Beyond these polarized extremes it's just politics as usual. Accusing Clinton of "playing the woman card" is a normal tactic as is the 1% card from her.
4
I am thinking the Great Trumpkin, superior orange being that he is, means "Make America Grate Again", as he slathers his unwanted patriarchal love on the women folk he was created to denounce and demean. That is why he needs a new one every few years or so, as each wife can only take so much even in exchange for billions in baubles. But what is it with The Donald's short stumpy fingers?
127
And he was cheating on each before he divorced them, sleeve. There is nothing decent or moral about Donald trump.
3
Trump is an unrepentant, proud bully and shameless lewd misogynist. But give him credit for being so mild, so reserved in his opening attack on Hillary. Remember he has previously brought up the size of his penis, alluded to women's toilet needs and women's menstruation. He has a theme going--male dominance and shaming of the opposite sex for not being male. The question is, since he knows no boundaries, where does he go next with his crude juvenile mind; how much more disgusting can he get? I would not underestimate his capacity for bringing up bodily functions, body image and male-female body differences (Gail was right to mention bra size). We truly have a 12-year old boy, a spoiled juvenile delinquent, running for the Republican nomination.
So Hillary is playing the women's card? You go girl! Time for a woman to kick some ass (i.e., Trump).
So Hillary is playing the women's card? You go girl! Time for a woman to kick some ass (i.e., Trump).
416
So Trump is "a spoiled juvenile delinquent running for the Republican nomination".
Perhaps Trump can't be diagnosed as a narcissist.
Perhaps what he has is actually "affulenza?"
Perhaps Trump can't be diagnosed as a narcissist.
Perhaps what he has is actually "affulenza?"
5
What I can't figure out is how did Trump get all those people to drink his coolaid? What will it take to get him off the ballot? It's like Trump could beat up some poor homeless person on live TV and even more people would vote for him.
91
His presence on the ballot is signal evidence of the stupidity of the average republican voter (as for that matter, is the same that can be said Cruz and most of the rest of the republican clown car).
4
Trump has not made them drink anything. He just took the cover off of what they were drinking for the last twenty years in the Republican media.
Trump is just reaping the fruits of it
Trump is just reaping the fruits of it
5
..boy, do I agree with you...maybe they voted for hm because America is stupid...just visit a WalMart and ask someone a current event question...oy...
1
I enjoyed this column and the amusing writing.
Thanks for reminding people that Clinton has fought hard on critical issues for decades. Thus, it was outrageous recently when Bernie claimed she was "unqualified' to be president, and his followers continue to attack her for not being enough of an activist. At first enthused by, then charmed by Bernie, I am now getting disgusted.
As for Trump, he will be a more formidable opponent than some people think. America is becoming a much cruder and ruder nation. He fits right in. And the election is held in the middle of football season, when testosterone, fake patriotism and male dominance are at full flow and whipped-up by media, advertisers, etc. In this milieu, Trumpism will flourish. Hang on to your hats.
Thanks for reminding people that Clinton has fought hard on critical issues for decades. Thus, it was outrageous recently when Bernie claimed she was "unqualified' to be president, and his followers continue to attack her for not being enough of an activist. At first enthused by, then charmed by Bernie, I am now getting disgusted.
As for Trump, he will be a more formidable opponent than some people think. America is becoming a much cruder and ruder nation. He fits right in. And the election is held in the middle of football season, when testosterone, fake patriotism and male dominance are at full flow and whipped-up by media, advertisers, etc. In this milieu, Trumpism will flourish. Hang on to your hats.
202
Let's at least be honest about all the "unqualified" palaver. Hillary prevaricated, refusing to answer a question about whether Bernie was qualified to serve as nominee/president. Bernie responded to that. And since then the kool aid drinking media has continued to beat the drum about Bernie "saying Hillary is not qualified."
As far as any "woman card" tossing goes, Hillary champions herself as an "outsider" simply because she is a female running for president, then complains that her opponent's "tone" is too harsh, while also claiming some nebulous moral high ground. And when legitimate questions are raised about her "Wall Street" speeches, she deflects with claims that "others" haven't released their transcripts, tossing in innuendos that Bernie MUST be hiding something because he hasn't released his tax records - like anyone would believe he's been secretly squirreling away millions.
Note also that the media continues to tout Hillary's "insurmountable" lead in the delegate count when in reality Bernie only trails her by about 300 delegates to date. In truth, the undemocratic "superdelegates" are not bound to any candidate. Period. One has to wonder whether a superdelegate, faced at the convention with, say, a rough Sanders parity with Clinton in allocated delegates, perhaps including majorities in the superdelegate's own district, would still feel 'bound' to support Clinton. Sorry, got a bit off topic there, but it needs to be said.
As far as any "woman card" tossing goes, Hillary champions herself as an "outsider" simply because she is a female running for president, then complains that her opponent's "tone" is too harsh, while also claiming some nebulous moral high ground. And when legitimate questions are raised about her "Wall Street" speeches, she deflects with claims that "others" haven't released their transcripts, tossing in innuendos that Bernie MUST be hiding something because he hasn't released his tax records - like anyone would believe he's been secretly squirreling away millions.
Note also that the media continues to tout Hillary's "insurmountable" lead in the delegate count when in reality Bernie only trails her by about 300 delegates to date. In truth, the undemocratic "superdelegates" are not bound to any candidate. Period. One has to wonder whether a superdelegate, faced at the convention with, say, a rough Sanders parity with Clinton in allocated delegates, perhaps including majorities in the superdelegate's own district, would still feel 'bound' to support Clinton. Sorry, got a bit off topic there, but it needs to be said.
4
That's what's so darn frightening about this unvarnished egotist.
1
I am confident that Hillary Clinton will be an effective president who will make us proud. Take away the various "scandals" The Great Right-Wing Conspiracy have manufactured and inflated since she was First Lady, and what's left is disagreement over policy positions or her Wall Street speaking engagements. To paraphrase Teddy Roosevelt, Hillary has been "in the arena" for three decades. She's tougher than nails, with a few blemishes and almost certainly a desire to have made some different decisions. Anyone in her demographic who doesn't have blemishes and a desire for a few do-overs, let us know your secret. Perfection is difficult to attain.
188
I don't have a problem with her speaking to Wall Street groups, or even getting paid for it. It seems to me anyone who'd turn down an honorarium is a fool - heck, I wish someone would give ME money for talking. And if, for whatever reason, they want to hear what she's got to say, why shouldn't she say it? maybe she'll change someone's mind. (I know, I know. No one ever changes his mind about anything now. You're supposed to hold the 'right' opinions from the day you pop out of the womb, cast in concrete, and any signs of flexibility are dismissed as 'flip-flopping' or weakness.) Would I like her to release the transcripts? Well, yes. And if she doesn't, I'd like a reason why not. But it's not a fatal flaw as far as I'm concerned.
3
Even a blind pig fins an acorn occasionally. It is obviously true that Hillary Clinton would not be the likely nominee if she were not a woman. Or spent 8 years as First Lady to gain national attention as a springboard to office in her own right. It is also true that her principal accomplishments relate to promoting rights for women. Outside that area, achievements are few.
But while true, Trump's remark mostly reflects the importance of gender in politics and society. No president to date could have been elected if he were not a he. Not JFK or Nixon or Harding or Lincoln or Bush. Many men of few solid positive accomplishments prior to taking office have been elected, including the current occupant. See also Kennedy, Nixon and Harding.
Trump would be a race baiting small time real estate agent or a Duane-Reed store manager dreaming of moving up to a pizzeria of his own in Queens were he not born to a wealthy developer.
All of this is true. But to all of it the answer is: So what? The relevant questions are current talent, temperament and policy plans between the nominees we are presented with, flawed as they may be. When focused on those factors, the better choice is obvious. Gender is irrelevant, even if at a prior time in the candidate's biography it was decisive.
But while true, Trump's remark mostly reflects the importance of gender in politics and society. No president to date could have been elected if he were not a he. Not JFK or Nixon or Harding or Lincoln or Bush. Many men of few solid positive accomplishments prior to taking office have been elected, including the current occupant. See also Kennedy, Nixon and Harding.
Trump would be a race baiting small time real estate agent or a Duane-Reed store manager dreaming of moving up to a pizzeria of his own in Queens were he not born to a wealthy developer.
All of this is true. But to all of it the answer is: So what? The relevant questions are current talent, temperament and policy plans between the nominees we are presented with, flawed as they may be. When focused on those factors, the better choice is obvious. Gender is irrelevant, even if at a prior time in the candidate's biography it was decisive.
8
With Hillary Clinton's resume, the most knowledgeable and prepared of all the candidates in both parties, if she was a male, she'd be at 95%.
13
'Her accomplishments are few?' Please. Your comments are terribly sexist.
2
It is not obviously true that Hillary Clinton would not be the likely nominee is she were not a woman.
2
Trump --just another fuzzy math Republican. Is Trump really as smart as he says he is, and does he actually know how to make a deal? Why would Trump decide to insult more than half the US population as a "winning strategy" to be President of 320 million people, and the most powerful country in the world.
There are 157 million women in the U.S, who make up 51% of the population.
26% of women identify as Republican (41% Dem.; 26% Ind.)
47% of women who are Republican say they would never vote for Trump
70% of women have a negative view of Trump.
63% of women voted in the 2012 election (58% of men)
The gender gap was already evident in the 2012 election, with Obama getting 20% more of the women's vote than Romney.
For both women and men, If you subtract unfavorable ratings from favorable: Trump gets -23 (Hillary gets -12) and by gender: Trumps unfavorable ratings by women are more than 10% higher than men's negative ratings for Hillary.
Not so minor point: The only pres. candidate with higher favorable than unfavorable ratings (for both men and women together and separately) was: Bernie Sanders
Imagine President Trump talking with Angela Merkel (doctorate in physical chemistry and Chancellor of Germany).
Maybe Trump needs to "fire" his new set of advisors. He is not off to a very good re-start with his foreign policy speech and stand against women.
And we thought G.W. Bush was embarrassing for our country.
There are 157 million women in the U.S, who make up 51% of the population.
26% of women identify as Republican (41% Dem.; 26% Ind.)
47% of women who are Republican say they would never vote for Trump
70% of women have a negative view of Trump.
63% of women voted in the 2012 election (58% of men)
The gender gap was already evident in the 2012 election, with Obama getting 20% more of the women's vote than Romney.
For both women and men, If you subtract unfavorable ratings from favorable: Trump gets -23 (Hillary gets -12) and by gender: Trumps unfavorable ratings by women are more than 10% higher than men's negative ratings for Hillary.
Not so minor point: The only pres. candidate with higher favorable than unfavorable ratings (for both men and women together and separately) was: Bernie Sanders
Imagine President Trump talking with Angela Merkel (doctorate in physical chemistry and Chancellor of Germany).
Maybe Trump needs to "fire" his new set of advisors. He is not off to a very good re-start with his foreign policy speech and stand against women.
And we thought G.W. Bush was embarrassing for our country.
112
I don't think Trump even understands the division of powers in our government, sure he has never read the Constitution. He seems to think he will be "king", when most of the power lies in the House which controls the $.
8
Yea, but he would sure give Angela a good shoulder rub...unless he thought she was not hot enough.
3
Now hold on a second.
Donald is an expert on women.
Heck, he's married enough of them.
Should The Haircut win would we refer to his current wife as The Third Lady?
Donald is an expert on women.
Heck, he's married enough of them.
Should The Haircut win would we refer to his current wife as The Third Lady?
87
Humorous as usual but just a tad disingenuous.
HRC's supporters have been playing the "woman card" since Day One. The not-so-silent refrain, "It's our turn", etc.
While many find Trump truly distasteful many also find Clinton deeply flawed. To vote for Clinton simply on the basis of her body parts is every bit as distasteful as Trump.
HRC's supporters have been playing the "woman card" since Day One. The not-so-silent refrain, "It's our turn", etc.
While many find Trump truly distasteful many also find Clinton deeply flawed. To vote for Clinton simply on the basis of her body parts is every bit as distasteful as Trump.
16
For 200+ years we've been voting for men simply on the basis of their body parts. Why should it suddenly be a problem if we do it because Mrs. Clinton is a woman. This woman will certainly vote for her, body parts and all.
12
I personally don't care about Secretary Clinton's body parts.
It's her body of work that impressed me.
Heck, by the time Trump filed for bankruptcy for the fourth time Secretary Clinton already had some 35 years of political experience under her belt.
Nah, I'll take the focused, touch as nails candidate who's had to work and fight for everything she had over the guy who won the birth canal lottery and changes wives the way you and I change underwear.
It's her body of work that impressed me.
Heck, by the time Trump filed for bankruptcy for the fourth time Secretary Clinton already had some 35 years of political experience under her belt.
Nah, I'll take the focused, touch as nails candidate who's had to work and fight for everything she had over the guy who won the birth canal lottery and changes wives the way you and I change underwear.
3
Then why vote for Ttump?
I mean other than the three wives, four bankruptcies and one haircut?
I mean other than the three wives, four bankruptcies and one haircut?
2
While Hillary Clinton was defending women, she was slandering and ruining the lives of Paula Jones, Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Willey and Monica Lewinsky. Why? For telling the truth about her husband. So please, let's ease up on the Hillary for women grandstanding. She's for women, when it's for her benefit. Not when it gets in the way of her quest, or her husband's quest, for power.
25
What Bill Clinton did was wrong and inexcusable, but it is disgusting to blame his wife for what he did wrong, or to blame her for sticking with her commitment even when he had not. And in no world, feminist or otherwise, is a cheated spouse required to rise to the defense of those who cheated with his/her partner. You are making up a preposterous argument that no person who has ever been cheated -- or even partnered -- will buy. If you hate Hillary, find a more intelligent and persuasive reason.
7
John,
Nice try at re-litigating things that have already been resolved. But hey, you want to throw your temper tantrum? Go ahead.
Nice try at re-litigating things that have already been resolved. But hey, you want to throw your temper tantrum? Go ahead.
3
I forget Johnny, during that time what number wife was Donald on?
Was it number two or three?
Secretary Clinton took an oath before the priest when getting married, the one time, to be faithful through the good times and bad...sorry, better or worse.
Trump, on the other hand, trades in his old wives for newer models...literally.
That must be another example of the Party of Traditional 'American Values huh?
Nah...I'll stick with Secretary Clinton thank you very much.
Was it number two or three?
Secretary Clinton took an oath before the priest when getting married, the one time, to be faithful through the good times and bad...sorry, better or worse.
Trump, on the other hand, trades in his old wives for newer models...literally.
That must be another example of the Party of Traditional 'American Values huh?
Nah...I'll stick with Secretary Clinton thank you very much.
3
Trump attacks anything that gets in his way. Notice though his message is always pitched perfectly towards white bullying males. Whether it is tearing down minorities (Mexican rapists) or entire non Christian religions (oh wait he even went after the Pope) and describing women in the most demeaning and condescending terms, his true instinct is to always go in the direction a racist, bigot, nationalist, or misogynist would chose. It is his true north. This is the kind of language one would expect in the jock locker room of an all white elite privileged college. Perfect that the psycho chair throwing coach from Indiana now comes out and endorses him. And as he moves toward the Republican nomination and Presidency, we can all look forward to the tittering and peals of laughter on "Morning Joe" from Joe and Mika as Trump unloads his arsenal on Hillary.
64
Donald Frump, I mean Dump, oh, right, Trump, is a total fraud and the creation of the Fox/Murdoch right-wing propaganda machine!
24
Oh yes, added to Donald Trump's bigoted language of derision, along with “political correct,” he now uses “playing the woman card.” When Trump’s and others deck of derision has all played out those addicted to the game of smearing others attempt to play the “card playing card”:
The pejorative inventions of propagandists in service to conservatism attempt to hide the concerns of others with various terms of derision that they invent whole cloth. Such is the case with Trump and followers that inflame the anger and provoke further resistance from those targeted with such “cards”--- be they the “gender card,” “woman card,” “race card” or the next hollow begging of meaning that attempts to hide hate and disregard by pretending some kind of great and self-evident meaning. Doing this has lost its effect and if anything it makes clumsy counter point to what is supposedly note--- to the point that in mock note of right-wingers doing this it can be said that they have plaid the “card playing card,” and oh my the conservative digs out from his played out deck a “whole cloth card!”
The pejorative inventions of propagandists in service to conservatism attempt to hide the concerns of others with various terms of derision that they invent whole cloth. Such is the case with Trump and followers that inflame the anger and provoke further resistance from those targeted with such “cards”--- be they the “gender card,” “woman card,” “race card” or the next hollow begging of meaning that attempts to hide hate and disregard by pretending some kind of great and self-evident meaning. Doing this has lost its effect and if anything it makes clumsy counter point to what is supposedly note--- to the point that in mock note of right-wingers doing this it can be said that they have plaid the “card playing card,” and oh my the conservative digs out from his played out deck a “whole cloth card!”
5
Trump's bleating misogyny would be tiresome by now if it wasn't so dangerous to women.
81
So true, Michael. Whether he wins the election or not, his words, carried worldwide by the media, are setting a tone that's damaging to women. Enabling misogynists everywhere that they, too can spew the coarsest vitriol, and millions of other men - along with some pathetic women - will cheer them on.
9
Well I have read through several of the comments. This was a fabulous piece of satire! Give the Lady some credit. Great double reverse layup with the gender dance. Hats off!
19
This from Mr. all infantile id - all the egotistical time. After you set the bar with "smaller bikinis, higher heels", where do you go but to the White House?
17
Where to begin with Trump?
1. He is God's gift to the Democratic Party.
2. He has alienated so many minorities that they have become a 2016
Electoral Majority.
3. His constant sniffling during his Foreign Affairs outline made me think that
he likely had sniffed a white substance before his FA diatribe.
4. How have we as a Nation descended so low in accepting him as the probable GOP Candidate?
5. God Bless America
1. He is God's gift to the Democratic Party.
2. He has alienated so many minorities that they have become a 2016
Electoral Majority.
3. His constant sniffling during his Foreign Affairs outline made me think that
he likely had sniffed a white substance before his FA diatribe.
4. How have we as a Nation descended so low in accepting him as the probable GOP Candidate?
5. God Bless America
40
And if Trump weren't an offensive, boorish lout, he wouldn't get 5% of the vote. But why dwell on hypotheticals?
40
Gail:
Way to deflate that big air bag.
Way to deflate that big air bag.
16
Your last line may be one of the most creative double entendres in the history of punditry!
15
Trump is a vulgar buffoon who had the good fortune to have been born into a wealthy family. He's the sort of guy who was born on third base and thinks he got there by hitting a triple.
But the prospect of this man becoming president is not in the least, funny. He is a know nothing bigot who hasn't the faintest idea of what it takes to be president.
But the prospect of this man becoming president is not in the least, funny. He is a know nothing bigot who hasn't the faintest idea of what it takes to be president.
76
Donald Trump's clumsy, neanderthal comments about Hillary are self-defeating and rude. The sensationalism of them may overwhelm the fact that Hillary is a scandal waiting to happen. Her vulnerability to endless controversy is one reason I have supported Bernie Sanders. Four more years of squabbling over almost-illegal matters which have settled around her will be wasteful of the nation's energies at a time when we need focus.
4
The President of the US is the highest executive role in the world. Hillary Clinton had no executive job until she became part of President Obama's Government. As Secretary of State she failed miserably protecting the lives of her emissaries in Bengazi. Do you really want her as your Commander in chief?
4
Benghazi has been thoroughly investigated, including an entire day with the secretary answering questions on television. The republicans, admitted the whole thing was to hurt her "numbers". McCarthy lost the Speakership over this. The republican controlled Congress had been cutting money for more security there if you must blame someone.
4
Bengazi is not something you can blame on Hillary. You obviously know nothing about how our embassies work overseas.
3
"Executive job"? So the way to get to be POTUS ought to be have the corporate boards of the biggest corporations in America get together to decide on our CEOOTUS?
1
Reality TV seems to have replaced the allure of cults and churches, and Trump seems to be its master. To him it is obvious that Hillary is running because she's a woman trying to break into his macho game. The fact that she is more, and better educated than he doesn't seem to resonate. He thinks that her spending 8 years in the White House has only taught her how to supervise making better cookies. Hillary's experience as a senator means nothing to Trump because he sees senators as commodities to be bought and sold. Her experience as Secretary of State means even less to the wannabe Emperor. She failed to have the entire world pledge their fealty to the USA. His idea of the world outside of the USA is that they are mere vassal states. His kind of thinking ran its course in the "Soviet Union," whereby Russia controlled soviet countries to the point that they were virtually vassals. Remember Hungary in 1956 when Russian tanks went up against students in Budapest? To Trump the world outside the USA is like Budapest. It's even simpler than that to Trump. The biggest kid in the school yard is boss, and he's the biggest kid in the world's school yard.
443
Exactly, it's a perfect storm of name recognition, reality television, misinformed voters and outrageous bombast of a known commodity (known in the sense of familiar, competency assumed, inaccurately). Trump is more a commodity than an actual person and his popularity is directly related to his name recognition. Thus, he can contradict himself in one sentence, and does, without voters noticing or caring. As president, the unmasking of his ignorance and ego would be swift and dangerous to all.
4
But as written long ago, "The Emperor has no clothes!".
1
Spot on!
13
The Donald got to the top of the mountain, looked, and what did he see? He saw November 2016, when his campaign for president will go the way of his university, his football franchise, his casino, and a good number of his real estate ventures. And it's not that Hillary Clinton is unbeatable or even likeable. Its that whether its candidate be a war hero (Dole and McCain), a successful businessman (Romney), or a blowhard from New York City, the GOP stands for policies of economic royalism, sexism, racial bigotry, militarism and xenophobia that are not acceptable to the voting public, and for which it no longer has camouflage in the person of Ronald Reagan.
21
Ms. Collins, you make my day every day your column appears. Whether I agree with you or not (mostly yes), your writing is just superb. Thank you.
29
Grateful for learning about the New Jersey Generals, a bit of american sports aracana I did not know of before.. Could owning the Generals perhaps be construed as a military experience for the candidate?
17
Irony is Trump attacked a Woman who was wronged and humiliated publicly by her wayward husband the whole World being the audience. The same Woman Hillary Clinton rose from all and now ready to fight back to be the leader of the free World.
This demeaning a Woman card will work against Trump just as Bernie's comment " She is not fit to be the President".
This demeaning a Woman card will work against Trump just as Bernie's comment " She is not fit to be the President".
34
“And it came to pass, barely seconds after he became the near-inevitable Republican presidential nominee, that Donald Trump began a gender war.”
Actually, Hillary started that a long time ago. Still, Trump is a jerk for being so misogynistic. Just as Hillary is a jerk for being so misandrist. Besides, Trump also demeans most men, whereas Hillary directs 99% of her venom at men.
The gender issue is an electoral wash. So, Hillary’s “then deal me in” lost her as many votes from men as it gained votes from women. Likewise, Trump’s stupid comments about women lost him as many votes from women as it gained votes from men.
“The bottom line on Hillary Clinton is that she’s spent her life championing women and their issues.” Same conclusion: it is a wash.
I think that Trump gets that Hillary Clinton has spent her life championing women and their issues. He is simply trying to appeal to men the way she appeals to women.
“Trump is a white, male offspring of an extremely rich New Yorker of German descent”. True. But as a nation, we need to get away from *identity politics* because that obscures the really big issues of war and peace, and economic inequality.
4/28 @ 7:35 am
Actually, Hillary started that a long time ago. Still, Trump is a jerk for being so misogynistic. Just as Hillary is a jerk for being so misandrist. Besides, Trump also demeans most men, whereas Hillary directs 99% of her venom at men.
The gender issue is an electoral wash. So, Hillary’s “then deal me in” lost her as many votes from men as it gained votes from women. Likewise, Trump’s stupid comments about women lost him as many votes from women as it gained votes from men.
“The bottom line on Hillary Clinton is that she’s spent her life championing women and their issues.” Same conclusion: it is a wash.
I think that Trump gets that Hillary Clinton has spent her life championing women and their issues. He is simply trying to appeal to men the way she appeals to women.
“Trump is a white, male offspring of an extremely rich New Yorker of German descent”. True. But as a nation, we need to get away from *identity politics* because that obscures the really big issues of war and peace, and economic inequality.
4/28 @ 7:35 am
2
What you don't get, Mr. Bal, is that women need championing. Men have refused women their equal rights as human, have demeaned women, have slaughtered them throughout our history. So, no, we dare not "get away from *identity* politics."
I'll vote for anyone who recognizes that I am woman, and I am roaring.
I'll vote for anyone who recognizes that I am woman, and I am roaring.
3
Ummm, supporting women's issues isn't being anti-man. What an odd take on things.
4
"Second in command of the Donner Party". Hmmmm......I wonder....who will eat who? And how long will it take?
Has there ever been a more useless waste of time and money in history than Cruz/Fiorina?
Has there ever been a more useless waste of time and money in history than Cruz/Fiorina?
15
My problem with that is that I wonder if everybody knows who the Donner Party was ...
Yes. According to OpenSecrets.org, Ted and Carly raised a total of 111,000,000.00 (84.8 mil for Cruz, 26.3 for Carly) but JEB! blew through 155 million. Now that's a monumental waste of money. But he seemed to have a lot of time on his hands, so he wasted it.
1
"it tires me to talk to rich men. You expect a man of millions, the head of a great industry, to be a man worth hearing; but as a rule they don't know anything outside of their business."
Teddy Roosevelt
How very sad and true.
Teddy Roosevelt
How very sad and true.
65
Things are so out of control over on the right side of the world that the Koch brothers are thinking of buying a Democrat or two.
32
I want more in a president than someone who spent endless hours in a plane championing women's craftspeople. Good grief. You're escaping his point, deliberately. It's the same one Geraldine Ferraro made about Obama -- his bi-racialness got him extra votes. Clinton (and I wrote her in in 2008) things being first woman president is enough.
4
What is wrong with championing craftspeople -- of either sex?
What do you believe, Liz, is Trump's point?
Are you actually thinking of voting for a guy who wants to be the country's first self-made nincompoop?
What do you believe, Liz, is Trump's point?
Are you actually thinking of voting for a guy who wants to be the country's first self-made nincompoop?
3
If Trump is the best the Republicans can come up with, their end is near. Hopefully.
18
Per usual spot own. The Donald has no second act and will continue to beat the AOWG (angry old white guy) mule. I worked as an election worker on Connecticut primary day and two sharp images. I saw more under 25's in the primary then in general elections with 50% higher total turnout, and the Trumpian glint in the eyes of many.
Voters sometimes are so psyched they share , or rant . depending on whether they were registered to a party since a closed primary. Tell a proto Trumpian they can't vote since not registered as a Republican and the fun begins , calling the news crews, the Justice department, and questions about your Facist instincts.....and have a nice day. The AOWG vote is is dead set solid for the man from the golden tower. Substance and specifics are for wimps!
Voters sometimes are so psyched they share , or rant . depending on whether they were registered to a party since a closed primary. Tell a proto Trumpian they can't vote since not registered as a Republican and the fun begins , calling the news crews, the Justice department, and questions about your Facist instincts.....and have a nice day. The AOWG vote is is dead set solid for the man from the golden tower. Substance and specifics are for wimps!
8
Trumps comment about Senator Clinton playing the women's card was SO predictable. Given his distain and utter lack of respect for women as evidenced in his to numerous to mention comments, e.g. Megyn Kelly, Carly Fiorina, Rosie O'Donnell, his daughter, what else would we expect? With regard to the then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton flying to obscure corners of the world celebrating, championing and encouraging women, I'm sure he will have disparaging comments to make about this also. He does not recognize that women are a 50% underutilized resource in the business of 'the world' and she does. Who is the smarter business person? Hillary.
383
Delicious irony: the male candidate is the ditsy emotional one,sulking and moody; while the female candidate is the hard headed policy wonk.
If Clinton is playing the woman card, but "women don't like her" then who is voting for her? Must be the vast number of feminist men out there. "Beautiful!"
If Clinton is playing the woman card, but "women don't like her" then who is voting for her? Must be the vast number of feminist men out there. "Beautiful!"
37
Donald Trump scares me. Plain and simple. I hope that the millions of people who are goggle-eyed now move through the infatuation stage of this love affair and come to their senses before they push the lever in the voting booth.
17
I know many women millenials who are totally dedicated to Bernie Sanders and I respect them for it. However, they are young and don't realize the years of struggle for women's rights that went before them. Hillary has spent many years championing and standing up for women. She is an amazing role model. One can only hope that, in the end, women in America will realize who truly has their best interests at heart and vote accordingly.
60
Hillary Clinton is going to beat Trump like a drum on election day in November. Women, of every color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, educational background, and social strata will play the "woman card" which will trump the wealthy, old white guy boor who ducked the Vietnam War because he had bone spurs. And, the husbands, sons, and significant others of those women who vote will also be voting for Clinton because intelligent people who value the women in their lives know that there is nothing in the GOP or Trump that supports the women in their lives -- a group that also includes their mothers and daughters and sisters.
731
The guys who actually went to Vietnam and were awarded medals, (Kerrie) got soundly thumped running for President. No one cares about battlefield exploits today, where honestly, smart people don't go to fight in U.S. senseless conflicts. Trump, was certainly smart enough to get out of it, as was anyone else who had a world view of the conflict, (Clinton).
We all secretly know that every war since WWII has had virtually no rational for any armed conflict. It's all under the heading of "Military Exercises." Feeding the beast of the Military Industrial Complex, which includes the military schools, and the Southern states that rely on Military expenditures.
We all secretly know that every war since WWII has had virtually no rational for any armed conflict. It's all under the heading of "Military Exercises." Feeding the beast of the Military Industrial Complex, which includes the military schools, and the Southern states that rely on Military expenditures.
I can't help but think about Wolf Hall and it's portrayal of Henry VIII--a man of reasonable ability who is surrounded by courtiers who are more than ready and willing to massage his ego and tell him how great he is. You want this woman as your wife, we will gladly tell you how right you are and construct arguments to het you what you want. You don't want her as your wife and more, we will gladly tell you how right you are . . .
3
Gail -- Trump is channeling the same men who savage female sports writers and TV anchors. He's after the mensplainers who dominate conversations and disparage accomplishments of women writers, scientists and cultural stars. If you were to interview him in front of a national audience, he would say, "you are really funny."
There is a misogynist underbelly in our society that he is tapping like a
There is a misogynist underbelly in our society that he is tapping like a
15
Donald Trump seems to have stayed in the club of little boys--you know, the ones who build a fort and then put up a sign that says "No girls allowed!" Most little boys do outgrow this. Not this man who thinks he is qualified to be president.
Part of me says that this man could never wind a presidential context. The other part of me is terrified that he could.
Part of me says that this man could never wind a presidential context. The other part of me is terrified that he could.
314
Oops: "could never win a presidential contest."
1
Thanks Gail, I read this to my son this morning over breakfast and we laughed out loud. It was funny...
And then it wasn't. Because I wouldn't even begin to know where to comment on Mr. Trump's profound offensiveness to essentially every group of people except his own.
To Trump, I'd be a middle aged woman with "that face" who believes women should receive equal pay for equal work. I'd be a "non-issue" immediately erased by his blithe dismissal. Which feels, frankly, awful from a potential presidential candidate. Don't we all hope our president has at least a glimmer of respect for all his constituents.
Which is why I hope the following; that Trump is his party's repudiation of the extreme right embodied by people like Ted Cruz, that the Republican voters mean to say "we want something else, something that works better for us" and not "we want Trump". Because the latter, with all its implications for anyone who isn't a white man, is too grim to contemplate
And then it wasn't. Because I wouldn't even begin to know where to comment on Mr. Trump's profound offensiveness to essentially every group of people except his own.
To Trump, I'd be a middle aged woman with "that face" who believes women should receive equal pay for equal work. I'd be a "non-issue" immediately erased by his blithe dismissal. Which feels, frankly, awful from a potential presidential candidate. Don't we all hope our president has at least a glimmer of respect for all his constituents.
Which is why I hope the following; that Trump is his party's repudiation of the extreme right embodied by people like Ted Cruz, that the Republican voters mean to say "we want something else, something that works better for us" and not "we want Trump". Because the latter, with all its implications for anyone who isn't a white man, is too grim to contemplate
438
Despite numerous polls that claim Drumpf will be soundly 'trumped' by either Hillary or Bernie, I'm not 100% convinced that he will not prevail in his quest to be president and rename our country the United States of Trump. Each gaff, insult, outrageous lie and attempt at self-aggrandizement give me hope that he will go back to his gold plated condo and leave us alone.
However, each insane, obnoxious word coming out of his mouth only attracts more supporter and more media coverage. I've come to believe that he actually could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and remain the GOP front-runner. There must be some smart reporter who could dig up a deal breaking scandal that would send this rat back into his luxurious hole. I was sure that the cringe inducing interview with his then wife Marla where he speculated on his infant daughter's gorgeous legs and possible boobs would disgust even his most ardent supporters.
His campaign has embarrassed this country whether his supporters want to admit it or not. I will remain on pins and needles until the threat of this miscreant becoming our president is over.
However, each insane, obnoxious word coming out of his mouth only attracts more supporter and more media coverage. I've come to believe that he actually could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and remain the GOP front-runner. There must be some smart reporter who could dig up a deal breaking scandal that would send this rat back into his luxurious hole. I was sure that the cringe inducing interview with his then wife Marla where he speculated on his infant daughter's gorgeous legs and possible boobs would disgust even his most ardent supporters.
His campaign has embarrassed this country whether his supporters want to admit it or not. I will remain on pins and needles until the threat of this miscreant becoming our president is over.
14
Hillary has been around so long that the initial facts of her entry into politics get forgotten, not once, but many times. Hillary went from being First Lady of Arkansas to First Lady of the US and then onto being a Senator from NY, where she moved in order to find a powerful base of operations. No links to NY. Just a spot to pivot from. Despite having done precious little, she was the elite choice in 2008 for president and blew it. Having blown it, she was rewarded by the winner with the top desk at Foggy Bottom. Why? Probably because Michelle Obama vetoed her being Veep. And at State? The less said the better. This year she's managed to run against a "Democratic Socialist" and she's about to close the deal. Hillary has only negative talents as a politician. She's where she is simply because she married Bill Clinton. That's what Trump is talking about. She has been the first woman president in waiting since around 1994...And she's growing very impatient.
9
Spoken like a true misogynist, Burroughs. Not a mote of truth; buckets full of venom.
So discouraging, yet so expected.
So discouraging, yet so expected.
1
I will take the woman card any day of the week as compared to the bully card, blowhard card and small-minded card.
44
"Do not ask yourself how many votes Donald Trump would get if he were a woman and he was the way he is. Truly, you don’t want to go there."
Well great, now I can't go anywhere else!!! Make it stop!!! Sorry, didn't mean to shout.
Well great, now I can't go anywhere else!!! Make it stop!!! Sorry, didn't mean to shout.
6
You are attempting to make sense of someone who is incoherent in thought and actions. He is intellectually lazy and says what he feels without analysis. He has the ability to be calculating but remember this is a P.T. Barnum real estate salesman doing what he has learned to do best over time.
18
Remember when Lazio crossed the debate stage and stuck his finger in Senate candidate Clinton's face? He played the male card and was going to put that woman across the stage in her place. He would have never puffed up like that had his rival been male. Women were watching. At Lazio's third step across the stage he lost the race.
26
Sure, Hillary Clinton played the "woman card". And we'll take our cue from the uncomfortably uncomfortable Chris Christie: The game is Bridge.
Well, this year, these are the true toss-up states according to http://thehill.com/latino/277824-hispanics-in-swing-states-create-daunti...
New Hampshire
Pennsylvania
Virginia
North Carolina
Ohio
Wisconsin
Iowa
And the way things are going, Secretary Clinton could complete a Grand Slam in November ... with a bid of Seven No-Trump.
Well, this year, these are the true toss-up states according to http://thehill.com/latino/277824-hispanics-in-swing-states-create-daunti...
New Hampshire
Pennsylvania
Virginia
North Carolina
Ohio
Wisconsin
Iowa
And the way things are going, Secretary Clinton could complete a Grand Slam in November ... with a bid of Seven No-Trump.
12
If that's your bid, you'll lose. For one, Trump had more voters voting for him than did Hillary. She'll have trouble in Iowa and North Carolina. And don't forget those Southern states where she did so well. Trump gets all of them.
1
Gail just what has Hillary accomplished in the US Senate and / or as Secretary of State for women? or families?
I cannot think of one piece of legislature that focuses on families, children or women with her name on it. How are women, families and children better off because of her?
She used her position as a reluctant First Lady to bully her way into the NY Senate seat when she had never lived in NY. The most important vote of the era, the Iraq war vote, she got wrong with disastrous results. Those who were against the Iraq war had no one, except Sen. Webb and Sen. Feingold to vote against the invasion which destabilized the Middle East and resulted in ISIS.
Having no foreign policy experience except as a First Lady , Hillary bullied Obama into making her Secretary of State. She advised Obama to destabilize Libya. Again her poor judgement has disastrous results. ISIS is now in Libya.
She and her retired husband , both public servants, amassed a fortune within 7 years of his retirement of over 100 million dollars. That did not come from giving speeches. She is also corrupt.
Hillary is not a trailblazer for women. She is a disgruntled former First Lady whose womanizing husband embarrassed her throughout her whole marriage, and who developed an overbearing sense of entitlement that obscures her incompetence and poor judgement and questionable ethics.
The American public does not owe her the presidency.
I cannot think of one piece of legislature that focuses on families, children or women with her name on it. How are women, families and children better off because of her?
She used her position as a reluctant First Lady to bully her way into the NY Senate seat when she had never lived in NY. The most important vote of the era, the Iraq war vote, she got wrong with disastrous results. Those who were against the Iraq war had no one, except Sen. Webb and Sen. Feingold to vote against the invasion which destabilized the Middle East and resulted in ISIS.
Having no foreign policy experience except as a First Lady , Hillary bullied Obama into making her Secretary of State. She advised Obama to destabilize Libya. Again her poor judgement has disastrous results. ISIS is now in Libya.
She and her retired husband , both public servants, amassed a fortune within 7 years of his retirement of over 100 million dollars. That did not come from giving speeches. She is also corrupt.
Hillary is not a trailblazer for women. She is a disgruntled former First Lady whose womanizing husband embarrassed her throughout her whole marriage, and who developed an overbearing sense of entitlement that obscures her incompetence and poor judgement and questionable ethics.
The American public does not owe her the presidency.
15
What one thing has Donald Trump done for Americans? Has he contributed anything duri g his career to the betterment of the US?
2
Some defenders of Trump have claimed for some time that, after he had won the nomination, he would moderate both his tone and his message. The candidate, himself, has offered similar assurances, bragging about how presidential he would become, once he had vanquished his foes in the GOP.
Well, Senator Cruz, the gecko who mistakes himself for a dragon, has puffed his last smoke ring in the form of the Fiorina nomination, so Trump has effectdively snatched the leadership mantle of the GOP. His foreign policy speech yesterday, far more scripted than most of his utterances, did represent an attempt to showcase the new Donald Trump, although the moderation appeared more in the tone of his voice than in the content of his message.
But Tuesday night Trump had not yet donned his new mask, and the authentic man was on display. Any attempt to parse his comments, using logic, will achieve nothing. We need Freud, not Aristotle, to probe this man's psyche. We don't require a psychiatrist, however, to conclude that his obsessive need to demean women renders him incapable of serving the interests of a free people. No attempt to convert him into a mature adult, at least when he appears in public, can conceal this fundamental truth about Trump. He doesn't respect women, especially not those who refuse to leave their brains at home when in his presence. Any shortcoming of Clinton pales into insignificance in comparison to this one character flaw.
Well, Senator Cruz, the gecko who mistakes himself for a dragon, has puffed his last smoke ring in the form of the Fiorina nomination, so Trump has effectdively snatched the leadership mantle of the GOP. His foreign policy speech yesterday, far more scripted than most of his utterances, did represent an attempt to showcase the new Donald Trump, although the moderation appeared more in the tone of his voice than in the content of his message.
But Tuesday night Trump had not yet donned his new mask, and the authentic man was on display. Any attempt to parse his comments, using logic, will achieve nothing. We need Freud, not Aristotle, to probe this man's psyche. We don't require a psychiatrist, however, to conclude that his obsessive need to demean women renders him incapable of serving the interests of a free people. No attempt to convert him into a mature adult, at least when he appears in public, can conceal this fundamental truth about Trump. He doesn't respect women, especially not those who refuse to leave their brains at home when in his presence. Any shortcoming of Clinton pales into insignificance in comparison to this one character flaw.
8
Trump is great. He's kind of like a living Confederate flag. You see one on a truck or in front of a house or on a guy's clothes, you have saved a lot of time -- you know exactly what you're dealing with.
You discover yourself talking with a Trump voter? Same thing.
Bobby Knight...That's the kind of wise intellect I want helping me pick my presidential candidate. hahahahahaha.
You discover yourself talking with a Trump voter? Same thing.
Bobby Knight...That's the kind of wise intellect I want helping me pick my presidential candidate. hahahahahaha.
5
This is not an endorsement of trump, but I have trouble with the clinton meme of her working her whole career for women's rights. If she was so committed to women's rights why did sh/ the foundation take huge amounts of money from Saudi Arabia? don't they spread a very intolerant view of islam towards women throughout the world? In fact it's not just Saudi arabia, You can't portray someone as a champion of women's rights who takes money from human rights violators on a regular basis. Do the rights of women whose lives have been disrupted by conflicts clinton have supported count? The failure to have a day after plan for lybia has surely hurt the women there. Her public stance towards women seems very much art odds to reality to me. How many Syrian women have you asked about clinton? I assume as head of state the destabilizing of that country involved her input as well. I'd have no problem if the nytimes gave both sides of this women's/ human rights view of clinton and let the public make their own choice, but as usual the editorial page as of late hasn't been very honest with their readership
8
The angry white guy card only plays so well in primaries where angry white guys vote. If he gets the GOP nomination, it will be fun to see him destroyed on election night, and proceed to claim the electoral college is rigged.
321
The great America that Trump supporters want to take us back to includes women being barefoot and pregnant, not to mention African-Americans "knowing their place".
I'm surprised so many women are supporting him in the hope that America will somehow revert to some magical place where we all watch "Leave it to Beaver" and "Ozzie and Harriet" after a hard day at the mill where the men made good money and the wife stayed home with the kids.
Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, when men were men and America ruled.
I'm surprised so many women are supporting him in the hope that America will somehow revert to some magical place where we all watch "Leave it to Beaver" and "Ozzie and Harriet" after a hard day at the mill where the men made good money and the wife stayed home with the kids.
Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, when men were men and America ruled.
217
Pure fear mongering. Supposedly Hillary has this endless list of qualifications and accomplishments and all her intellectually lazy supporters can do is fear-monger. Pathetic
1
"I'm surprised so many women are supporting him in the hope that America will somehow revert to some magical place where we all watch "Leave it to Beaver" and "Ozzie and Harriet" after a hard day at the mill where the men made good money and the wife stayed home with the kids." Mike
I am surprised ANY women support him. Lest we all forget, those housewives on "Leave it to Beaver" and "Ozzie and Harriet," were underpaid working women. Same goes for "Father Knows Best."
I am surprised ANY women support him. Lest we all forget, those housewives on "Leave it to Beaver" and "Ozzie and Harriet," were underpaid working women. Same goes for "Father Knows Best."
1
To quote you , " But Trump is a white, male offspring of an extremely rich New Yorker of German descent. He’s had an unusual lack of charitable causes for a guy that wealthy. " . Please explain why lower middle class and blue collar workers are flocking to and standing and often rioting behind this " fortunate son" they have nothing in common with! The answer is simple, common hatred of those different, those of color, and those of different opinions and ideals. He has tapped into the most disgusting, revolting and frightening parts of the American electorate that the GOP has been coddling and stoking since Nixon, a true Manchurian candidate. .
17
Excellent point. Listening to Trump's self-congratulatory victory speech was the worst case of rinse and repeat ever seen. Either he really has so little on his mind that he has to repeat after two or three sentences or he has to avoid talking about anything of substance due to lack of knowledge. A sterling example of the reality that coming from money in modern America seems to also buy a free pass through U of Penn...Sad.
7
Money, money money! Just as Howard Johnson famously said location location location- and was correct, for trump it's all about the money. Got money? Well you can pretty much get away with anything in this country. Probably even murder. Got money? You can probably say anything you want. Got money? You can do whatever you want because you know and everybody else knows that where there is a lot of money, there's probably a lot of lawyers also. Your lawyers. But really, look at the women who are surrounding mr trump. Aren't they really Americas ideal hood ornament for your yacht ! Got money, plenty of hot babes willing and able to help you spend it. The trump presidential reality show. Stay tuned
2
Trump is just deluded enough to think he can really beat Hillary Clinton. That's what makes his ultimate downfall in November that much more epic. It think I feel a wave election coming on for the Democrats.
10
From your mouth to God's ears! (And I say this as an atheist.)
2
It does not forebode well for this country that so many ignorant and mindless Americans have voted for Trump.
Trump, his repugnant ideas and behavior, and his voters need to be strongly repudiated at the voting booth this November!
Trump, his repugnant ideas and behavior, and his voters need to be strongly repudiated at the voting booth this November!
15
You need to stop demeaning your fellow Americans. Many of them can't afford to live where in the suburbs or in affluent communities. Many are educated but have lost their jobs, their homes, their sense of value. Many people rightly see both parties as having failed them, failed to protect their jobs, etc. Some of these people find Trump as the man saying for them, "I'm mad as Hell and I'm not going to take it any more." If Hillary is the Democratic party's nominee, she does not speak for these people. There are millions of them and they will vote for Trump.
3
In reality he called the voters to judge Hillary Clinton as a man would be judged. By her record. That's what he said means.
Hillary Clinton's campaign - and all the other campaigners who are not officially on her list of employees - used the woman card, and count on using it lavishly. That much is obvious.
Hillary Clinton's campaign - and all the other campaigners who are not officially on her list of employees - used the woman card, and count on using it lavishly. That much is obvious.
5
Gee, Attila, maybe it's because she's a woman?
2
A man would never get by with scandals Clinton has especially the "Clinton foundation". Americans want a woman president so they can believe they are progressive just like they wanted to give Obama a chance. Well we have seen where that has not gotten us.
3
To say "She's playing the woman card," is itself a card that has been played. It seems to imply that there is really no genuine concern or even a genuine issue there, but a feigned concern for women. So, when anyone brings up an issue vital to women's health, wages, childcare, family leave does that automatically become "playing the woman card?" When are these matters not playing the card? We do not use that phrase to describe billionaires concerned with higher taxes--we do not saying, "Oh, there they go again, playing the tax card." Or when we talk about spending for defense, we do not saying "they're playing the defense card." When we talk about wages for men, do we saying, "They're playing the male card?" The very idea of deploying the phrase "woman card" should itself be regarded as extremely sexist. When Trump talks about his wonderful daughter, is that "the woman card?" Is it only okay to deploy that card when it benefits the speaker, as in "my mother was a wonderful woman," or "my daughters are very successful," or "I love women, my best friends are women." Anyone who utters the phrase "woman card" should be excoriated as if they had just uttered the N word. It is patriarchal, condescending and shows a mind unschooled and weak.
23
Trump must figure that his Twitter threat against the Clintons (when Hillary accused him of sexism) was effective, so he can now get away with more blatant sexism. But months of oppo research are about to land on Trump like a ton of bricks. SAD!
4
I always find it interesting when admirer's and fans of HRC talk about how she's been fighting her whole life for women's issues.
Some health care for children was good and this or that - but I've been around nearly as long as she has, and honestly, I can't remember anything that really made an impact anywhere. She was never out front on any issue or leading the charge.
For the most part, this whole "fighting for women her whole life" thing - is more that everyone's (including her) been saying that she's been doing that her whole life. Excellent P.R. but not really accurate or if you examine it, very beneficial to women or children.
HRC served on Walmart's board and never raised a word about pay, or labor rights or working conditions - which impacted women greatly. Even now, when not just equal pay, but a living wage, would benefit women or children, she still is tepid on minimum wage - doesn't want to upset business. She cheered gutting welfare - hurting women and children. She is a huge supporter of bombing in the Middle East hurting women and children (and wants to bomb some more as CIC) -
Yes, she flew around the world pushing American business and military interests and encouraged micro loans for struggling women in foreign lands - a real neoliberal, corporate-generated endeavor.
Support Clinton if you will, like her for whatever tenuous reason. But it would be nice if people could make a cogent argument instead of the same stale stuff.
Some health care for children was good and this or that - but I've been around nearly as long as she has, and honestly, I can't remember anything that really made an impact anywhere. She was never out front on any issue or leading the charge.
For the most part, this whole "fighting for women her whole life" thing - is more that everyone's (including her) been saying that she's been doing that her whole life. Excellent P.R. but not really accurate or if you examine it, very beneficial to women or children.
HRC served on Walmart's board and never raised a word about pay, or labor rights or working conditions - which impacted women greatly. Even now, when not just equal pay, but a living wage, would benefit women or children, she still is tepid on minimum wage - doesn't want to upset business. She cheered gutting welfare - hurting women and children. She is a huge supporter of bombing in the Middle East hurting women and children (and wants to bomb some more as CIC) -
Yes, she flew around the world pushing American business and military interests and encouraged micro loans for struggling women in foreign lands - a real neoliberal, corporate-generated endeavor.
Support Clinton if you will, like her for whatever tenuous reason. But it would be nice if people could make a cogent argument instead of the same stale stuff.
9
The problem with the minimum wage law is by raising it exponentially and pretending it's giving people a living wage is just encouraging businesses to turn more full-time jobs into part-time jobs with their attendant assumption that "minimum wage laborers" are just drones to turn out more widgets or sling more fries, no hope of working up to a better position or achieving better benefits...like vacations, normal hours, etc. Minimum wage jobs should be for teenagers who need summer/school year jobs. They shouldn't be for adults who need/want full-time employment. That's where the focus should be. Perhaps Hillary understands it.
2
Many Americans don't classify what they see on TV by anything other than its entertainment value. So reality, virtual reality, and fantasy are blended in one big cocktail. At one end of some spectrum or other, Trump is entertaining; at the other end, Bernie is entertaining. For too many, war is fireworks on TV, splattered brains in Hollywood "drama," and sore thumbs on video games. And here we are, watching the party without adults lining up to kiss Trump's ring and call him My Lord!
6
Hillary should play the combover hand and ask Trump what is he hiding under that hair. And how many times does he have to go to the bathroom to make sure whatever stays hidden. Is Trump hiding scars from failed transplants or a head beating? Or is there nothing?
4
Whether women like or do not like Hillary entirely depends upon where they live, along with a host of other factors, so Trump is in one sense right. I come from a fairly conservative part of the country, and, indeed, huge numbers of women here actually don't like Hillary Clinton and will vote for Trump against her. I imagine the women writing for and reading the NYT (not to mention commenting therein) have a very different view, and I know from reading the Times that they DO like Hillary. Not all women are the same. It may come as a surprise, but New York Times Women and Altoona, Pennsylvania Women do not respond to Trump or cast their votes as a unified block.
2
It's great when men tell us what women think. (Just in case Mr Mead is a trump supporter, I'd like to make clear that this is sarcasm)
1
Donald Trump’s core constituency is white male voters. At the same time, Hillary Clinton’s weakest polling is among white males – whether they are Bernie bros, or their fathers and grandfathers: http://nyti.ms/1UENFOj Thus, while it seems ridiculous for Trump to accuse Hillary of playing the “woman card,” it shores up Trump’s support among the one demographic he has going for him. It’s not much of a strategy for the general election, but he’s playing the cards he has: mostly jacks and jokers.
12
"The poor guy hasn’t got anything to talk about except real estate. He’s suffering from a severe lack of cards."
So Trump's not playing with a full deck?
That explains a lot. All he's got is the Rich card and the Star card, neither of which are useful for playing a hand that favors the health, happiness, peace and prosperity of the little people who aren't even dealt into the game.
So Trump's not playing with a full deck?
That explains a lot. All he's got is the Rich card and the Star card, neither of which are useful for playing a hand that favors the health, happiness, peace and prosperity of the little people who aren't even dealt into the game.
273
His deck is stacked with hate. Unfortunately hate wins a large demographic.
2
As long as you haven't had an affair with Bill Clinton, Hillary is all about women's rights.
9
I tried to write a clever response to this column - Gail Collins deserves clever responses. But it is too depressing.
Because right now, the GOP hate machine is firing up, and they will attack Clinton because her vocal tone is not profundo basso, and when she raises her voice she will be labeled shrill. The depressing part is that tons of Americans will buy that package of nicely boxed garbage, lock stock and barrel. Hooray for another arrow in the GOP Hate Quiver.
Meanwhile they will avidly follow a man who cannot speak in anything but a shout, possibly because he learned the lesson early that if you have nothing to say, yell. And Trump has profoundly little to say.
I have been thinking that we get the leaders we deserve, but really we don't. My kids don't deserve Trump, or Cruzorino. They don't deserve Mitch McConnell. They don't deserve Paul Ryan.
So I will keep plodding along trying to convince people that electing the competent candidate, even if she cannot sing "Old Man River" is the right thing to do.
Because right now, the GOP hate machine is firing up, and they will attack Clinton because her vocal tone is not profundo basso, and when she raises her voice she will be labeled shrill. The depressing part is that tons of Americans will buy that package of nicely boxed garbage, lock stock and barrel. Hooray for another arrow in the GOP Hate Quiver.
Meanwhile they will avidly follow a man who cannot speak in anything but a shout, possibly because he learned the lesson early that if you have nothing to say, yell. And Trump has profoundly little to say.
I have been thinking that we get the leaders we deserve, but really we don't. My kids don't deserve Trump, or Cruzorino. They don't deserve Mitch McConnell. They don't deserve Paul Ryan.
So I will keep plodding along trying to convince people that electing the competent candidate, even if she cannot sing "Old Man River" is the right thing to do.
856
There is a confusing, and frightening, subtext here that deserves attention.
Bob Knight's endorsement of Donald Trump.
Consider:
Trump has a history of advocating violence at his rallies.
He's wistfully recalled how protesters were handled in the "old days."
“You know what they used to do to guys like that when they were in a place like this?" Trump asked one crowd.
"They’d be carried out on a stretcher.”
At one Las Vegas event, he doubled down. "I'd like to punch him (a protester) in the face, I'll tell ya!"
Knight, despite winning three national basketball titles at Indiana, is remembered primarily for his viciously abusive temper.
Among Knight's more "notable" eruptions:
*Throwing a metal chair across the court because he disagreed with a referee's call. He was aiming at the referee. He missed.
The chair hit a group of photographers instead.
*Choking a player in practice.
*Verbally and physically assaulting a player for (allegedly) calling him by his last name, instead of "Coach," or "Mister." (It was this last incident that led to his firing in 2000.)
Seeking Knight's endorsement is confusing in light of (no longer) private remarks made by Trump's new guru, Paul Manafort, about Trump's bluster being an "act" and how Trump will change his "act" for the general election.
Knight's endorsement, simply to get more votes, enhances Trump's image as a "bully."
What's frightening is that one bully's endorsement of another actually WILL get more votes.
A lot more votes.
Bob Knight's endorsement of Donald Trump.
Consider:
Trump has a history of advocating violence at his rallies.
He's wistfully recalled how protesters were handled in the "old days."
“You know what they used to do to guys like that when they were in a place like this?" Trump asked one crowd.
"They’d be carried out on a stretcher.”
At one Las Vegas event, he doubled down. "I'd like to punch him (a protester) in the face, I'll tell ya!"
Knight, despite winning three national basketball titles at Indiana, is remembered primarily for his viciously abusive temper.
Among Knight's more "notable" eruptions:
*Throwing a metal chair across the court because he disagreed with a referee's call. He was aiming at the referee. He missed.
The chair hit a group of photographers instead.
*Choking a player in practice.
*Verbally and physically assaulting a player for (allegedly) calling him by his last name, instead of "Coach," or "Mister." (It was this last incident that led to his firing in 2000.)
Seeking Knight's endorsement is confusing in light of (no longer) private remarks made by Trump's new guru, Paul Manafort, about Trump's bluster being an "act" and how Trump will change his "act" for the general election.
Knight's endorsement, simply to get more votes, enhances Trump's image as a "bully."
What's frightening is that one bully's endorsement of another actually WILL get more votes.
A lot more votes.
16
Assuming Trump does not win the presidency, the question is whether Republicans can actually learn anything this time.
The much-touted Republican ''autopsy'' of their 2012 defeat was quickly abandoned in favor of anti-woman, anti-immigrant, anti-minority, anti-LGBT and anti-worker policy actions at both national and state levels.
Trump slaughtered his more ''moderate'' Republican adversaries in the debates because he shouted what they only dog-whistled to the base.
But he can't argue with demography, and there is nothing that can stop the electorate from becoming more diverse. The shrinking base to which Trump appeals is desperate to stop the change, but that is impossible, even for Trump, the master marketer.
Republicans need to learn to just relax and enjoy it.
The much-touted Republican ''autopsy'' of their 2012 defeat was quickly abandoned in favor of anti-woman, anti-immigrant, anti-minority, anti-LGBT and anti-worker policy actions at both national and state levels.
Trump slaughtered his more ''moderate'' Republican adversaries in the debates because he shouted what they only dog-whistled to the base.
But he can't argue with demography, and there is nothing that can stop the electorate from becoming more diverse. The shrinking base to which Trump appeals is desperate to stop the change, but that is impossible, even for Trump, the master marketer.
Republicans need to learn to just relax and enjoy it.
16
Your last sentence nails it.
Everything you say here is true, Gail, but I remain convinced that Ted Cruz would be even more of a disaster for women's issues. Trump randomly lets loose crazy guano about women, but Cruz methodically wants to deprive us of autonomy. Trump was only logical in saying that if abortion were illegal then women should be treated as criminals; that's why abortion should remain a legal medical option, and why the position of Cruz and other fanatics is hypocritical, nonsensical, and truly misogynist under the cover of viewing women as passive "victims" of abortion. I can't believe that Trump wants to criminalize abortion (I'm guessing that he knows women who have had one and hasn't resorted to stoning them), but I do believe that Ted Cruz relishes the prospect of forcing women to bear children.
I suppose what I'm trying to say is that while Trump is a celebrity who isn't qualified to be president, the novelty of his presence in the race obscures the real horror that Ted Cruz is the top candidate who arose from the GOP in the conventional way. Trump can be explained as a product of celebrity culture. Cruz's rise is frightening.
I suppose what I'm trying to say is that while Trump is a celebrity who isn't qualified to be president, the novelty of his presence in the race obscures the real horror that Ted Cruz is the top candidate who arose from the GOP in the conventional way. Trump can be explained as a product of celebrity culture. Cruz's rise is frightening.
68
they're both awful!
1
The general election hasn't even started yet. I wonder what or who Trump will insult and how far he will go during the campaign.
6
He's going to lose his outlaw chic wholesale as he moves closer to "Presidential" on the Candidate-O-Meter, and this will not endear him to his foaming-at-the-mouth base over the long haul. Yesterday's foreign policy roam in the gloaming, despite its usual lack of perspective, veracity, and proper pronunciation, clearly demonstrated that with Teleprompters in front of him and without Trump-branded jet behind him, there really isn't a whole lot of "there" there once he stoops to talking policy. Unfortunately for him and his fanboys and girls, and fortunately for the rest of us, this is something he going to have to at least attempt to do in order to win over those who actually pay attention to such things.
6
"Do not ask yourself how many votes Donald Trump would get if he were a woman and he was the way he is. Truly, you don’t want to go there."
I laughed so hard at the above I almost froze my computer. Truly--isn't that the essence of this American Berlusconi poised for a huge male-female contest?
I cannot imagine a better screenplay than this contrast between the hyperbolic real estate king who think's he's building "classy" buildings but lacks class himself and a female leader who has had a lifetime helping women advance in various sexist societies. And yes, sexism is alive and well, and lest anyone think feminist goals were resolved in the 60s, think again.
If the Donald continues in this vein, he's going to realize in a big fat hurry that he's hitting the wrong chord. Look, the man is undeniably "great" at reading the room, but if he thinks he's siding with the right gender, he's liable to find he's bought himself a Goldwater legacy.
As sophomoric and moronic as the "women's card" is, women won't forget it. They may hate Clinton--I know many do--but if their choice is supporting a candidate that reminds them of every boss or boyfriend who put them down--or an accomplished female leader--I suspect Trump may find a different line of attack.
I laughed so hard at the above I almost froze my computer. Truly--isn't that the essence of this American Berlusconi poised for a huge male-female contest?
I cannot imagine a better screenplay than this contrast between the hyperbolic real estate king who think's he's building "classy" buildings but lacks class himself and a female leader who has had a lifetime helping women advance in various sexist societies. And yes, sexism is alive and well, and lest anyone think feminist goals were resolved in the 60s, think again.
If the Donald continues in this vein, he's going to realize in a big fat hurry that he's hitting the wrong chord. Look, the man is undeniably "great" at reading the room, but if he thinks he's siding with the right gender, he's liable to find he's bought himself a Goldwater legacy.
As sophomoric and moronic as the "women's card" is, women won't forget it. They may hate Clinton--I know many do--but if their choice is supporting a candidate that reminds them of every boss or boyfriend who put them down--or an accomplished female leader--I suspect Trump may find a different line of attack.
318
Excuse me but compared to Trump, even Berlusconi had class.
Boys will be boys and girls will be girls. Why still concerned with that boyfriend who put you down? Just emulate Hillary who has made a lucrative career out of the very public put downs of her boyfriend.
The female version of Trump would be a great SNL skit. I hope they are already working on it.
2
It is amazing to watch these two parties, that have divided the country between themselves, get hijacked by a couple of outsiders. It's not just that the parties built themselves into opposing "teams" to which loyal members pledge eternal fealty, but the lack of substance and the movie set foundations of their political positions has set them up to be taken over by two guys that weren't even considered members eighteen months ago. Of course, the competition these two guys have had is pretty thin, with only our presumptive next president being a viable candidate, the intentions of term limit laws and definition of dynasty set aside.
This political system is a broken as our gun laws, where a two year old can pick up a weapon, kill their parent, everyone harrumphs about what can be done about it, and nothing is ever done about it.
This political system is a broken as our gun laws, where a two year old can pick up a weapon, kill their parent, everyone harrumphs about what can be done about it, and nothing is ever done about it.
25
Pete in WI, you point out that the 'political system is broken...and nothing is ever done about it.'
Well, here in California we have done something about it, and the rest of the states should too. For the last ten years we have had one big primary, for all parties and independents too. The two Top Dogs become the general election candidates. They can be from the same party, different parties, or no party.
This reduces the power of the extreme right wing frauds. No Republican has been elected to statewide office here since the new system started.
We also do re-districting after each census by a panel of non-partisan judges. It works better than letting the party in power gerrymander themselves in for life.
To see what we should do go to YouTube, watch Comedy Party Platform (2 min 9 sec). Send a buck to Bernie, invite me to speak. Thanks, America, you can do it! [email protected]
Well, here in California we have done something about it, and the rest of the states should too. For the last ten years we have had one big primary, for all parties and independents too. The two Top Dogs become the general election candidates. They can be from the same party, different parties, or no party.
This reduces the power of the extreme right wing frauds. No Republican has been elected to statewide office here since the new system started.
We also do re-districting after each census by a panel of non-partisan judges. It works better than letting the party in power gerrymander themselves in for life.
To see what we should do go to YouTube, watch Comedy Party Platform (2 min 9 sec). Send a buck to Bernie, invite me to speak. Thanks, America, you can do it! [email protected]
3
So - to pause and summarize:
Exhorting women to vote for Clinton simply because she would be the first female president is OK and even expected.... see Albright, Steinem et al.
On the other hand - voting for Trump simply because he is a male is very... very... bad. You know - misogynistic... patriarchal... et al.
OK - I think I finally have it now.
Exhorting women to vote for Clinton simply because she would be the first female president is OK and even expected.... see Albright, Steinem et al.
On the other hand - voting for Trump simply because he is a male is very... very... bad. You know - misogynistic... patriarchal... et al.
OK - I think I finally have it now.
15
You missed the part where Steinem and Albright were broadly panned for their comments about Hillary. The mainstream Democratic Party does NOT think its ok or expected to vote for Hillary simply because she is a woman.
6
Huh ?
How does this have anything to do with the article. No one said to vote for Hillary because she is a woman but because she is an advocate for woman's issues. Lord knows that no one is suggesting that we vote for The Donald because he is a man.
How does this have anything to do with the article. No one said to vote for Hillary because she is a woman but because she is an advocate for woman's issues. Lord knows that no one is suggesting that we vote for The Donald because he is a man.
6
I’m planning to vote for Hillary Clinton because I agree with most of her positions on any number of issues. It will be nice to cast a vote for a woman for president, but that’s not the reason I support her. I have voted for a lot more men than women over the course of my voting life – who hasn’t? – but I wouldn’t vote anyone on the basis of gender. As for Trump, I can’t begin to count the reasons I wouldn’t vote for him, but the fact that he’s a man isn’t on the list. There are plenty of men who aren’t misogynistic or patriarchal. Trump isn’t among them. In fact, he seems to be quite proud of the fact that he’s misogynistic, racist, clownish and a bully. He says it’s easy to act presidential, but so far the ability to act as anything other than a buffoon has eluded him.
9
I certainly hope that Hillary Clinton did a lot more than promote women's rights in her endless travels as Secretary of State.But it seems the author is focused on only one thing. Mrs.Clinton has many other virtues and skills and should be elected for these.
40
When will Trump play the "afluenza" card? - there must be something altering his mind and attitudes, something that explains a point of view so odd and ridiculous. It's a curious disease though. By twisting Trump it at the same time makes him attractive to a solid 15% of the US population. Happily, a very solid majority of the country is immune to both the effects and appeal of affluenza - we're not rich, nor do we enjoy people who bombastically flaunt their wealth and primitive thinking.
48
Such a marvelous comment. Trump does seem to believe that flaunting his wealth will result in supporters and votes...and bully for him to carry on. It does seem clear that he listens to counsel only from himself.
3
Thank you, Gail. Fortunately many voters know that Trump is not "dealing with a full deck,' but your writing wit brings us some light-hearted moments which we need to have if we are going to get through this election cycle. Write on!
70
" He’s suffering from a severe lack of cards." I'm going to be using this one, Gail - thanks!
42
Let's say, for argument sake that Trump is correct that Hillary is playing the woman's card with an electorate that is 52% female in a game where 50%+1 in states with 270 electoral votes wins. Remind me again which one of these candidates knows the art of the deal?
60
To check on the veracity of the "eye roll" you need to talk to Gov. Christie. I'm betting he's seen it often.
39
I voted for Bernie Sanders in the primary, but not because I did not like Hillary Clinton. I voted for Sanders because he is a progressive. Clinton is too hawkish for me.
Also, your friends - the people you spend your time with – affect your attitudes, even if they are not paying you $250,000 for a speech. She and Bill have been spending their time with conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans in the financial community. To me, what she regards as pragmatism makes for bad deals and unnecessary compromises. She may not have traded votes for cash, but her overall outlook has been influenced by the life she leads and the people with whom she deals. I prefer Bernie's liberal community.
However, I will vote for Clinton in November. I would have voted for her, even if the Republican candidate had not turned out to be Trump, a demagogic, ignorant idiot. I would have voted for Clinton because, regardless of the fact that Bernie Sanders'politics are closer to my own, Clinton is far more palatable to me politically than anyone the Republicans have to offer. As it turns out, thanks to ignorant Republican primary voters, they are offering a dangerously inept buffoon.
I think that Trump will find that women who supported Bernie in the primary will have little difficulty voting for Hillary Clinton. Most of us who disagree with her do not dislike her. The few who do, could not possibly dislike her more than they disdain Donald Trump.
Also, your friends - the people you spend your time with – affect your attitudes, even if they are not paying you $250,000 for a speech. She and Bill have been spending their time with conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans in the financial community. To me, what she regards as pragmatism makes for bad deals and unnecessary compromises. She may not have traded votes for cash, but her overall outlook has been influenced by the life she leads and the people with whom she deals. I prefer Bernie's liberal community.
However, I will vote for Clinton in November. I would have voted for her, even if the Republican candidate had not turned out to be Trump, a demagogic, ignorant idiot. I would have voted for Clinton because, regardless of the fact that Bernie Sanders'politics are closer to my own, Clinton is far more palatable to me politically than anyone the Republicans have to offer. As it turns out, thanks to ignorant Republican primary voters, they are offering a dangerously inept buffoon.
I think that Trump will find that women who supported Bernie in the primary will have little difficulty voting for Hillary Clinton. Most of us who disagree with her do not dislike her. The few who do, could not possibly dislike her more than they disdain Donald Trump.
1395
I understand your position. But I am a woman, and a feminist, and a Sanders supporter, and in the midst of much soul-searching and agonizing, I may not vote for Hillary CLinton.
5
Thank you. It is a relief to be hearing from Bernie supporters. I am hoping that sanity prevails in November.
17
I think its the men who supported Bernie that she'll have difficulty with. I find it very interesting that her weakest demographic is men of all types even those on the far left.
4
Trump's misogyny is so deeply burned into his psyche that he can't help himself. Instead of political criticisms, he trashes Clinton for being a woman, for yelling, etc. His odd prissiness and disgust over women's bodies trump any rudimentary political knowledge he has. He's every woman's nightmare boss. We're on our way to the biggest gender gap since "Lysistrata."
108
Lysistrata? Thank the electronic gods for word search that goes back to 411 BC.
Just another nail in the old Republican party's coffin. You don't have much left when you have boiled a party down to a bunch of grouchy old uncles who no longer care whether you think they are racist, sexist, and homophobic.
I'm sure there is a contingent of people who will be voting against Clinton even though they cannot stand Trump. But, when you add them to the grouchy uncles, the numbers don't add up.
Let's hope a better conservative party rises from this mess.
I'm sure there is a contingent of people who will be voting against Clinton even though they cannot stand Trump. But, when you add them to the grouchy uncles, the numbers don't add up.
Let's hope a better conservative party rises from this mess.
23
"Grouchy old uncles who no longer care whether you think they are racist, sexist, and homophobic. "
Due to my interest in sports, I regularly come in contact with the above - Gail Collins is right.
Due to my interest in sports, I regularly come in contact with the above - Gail Collins is right.
Trump is pointing out something about Hillary that probably escaped most voters' attention up to now: She is a woman who plays the "women's card" that Trump says accounts for 95% of her support. But even with the natural (if unfair) advantage that being a woman gives her, Trump says that women don't like Hillary. Which leads to the question: Who is voting for her? The answer must be men who have just been ignoring the fact that Hillary is a woman -- a woman who, despite wearing pants suits, is ineligible to play the "men's card" yet is winning a lot of votes from men.
How is Trump going to triumph when so many men like Hillary? How is Hillary going to win when so many women don't like her? The answer is that the winning candidate will be the one best able to play the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender card. As this is a dynamic demographic, it's going to be a close election, beset with gender identity issues.
How is Trump going to triumph when so many men like Hillary? How is Hillary going to win when so many women don't like her? The answer is that the winning candidate will be the one best able to play the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender card. As this is a dynamic demographic, it's going to be a close election, beset with gender identity issues.
3
You have distilled the entire Trump phenomenon into one sentence:
"He’s suffering from a severe lack of cards."
"He’s suffering from a severe lack of cards."
50
Trump badly needs to earn the forgiveness of American women.
The standard method is:
a) Apologize
b) Smile sheepishly
c) Offer a bouquet of roses.
And since a president should offer more than roses
d) Promise that mothers will receive the same kind of royal treatment which he is promises veterans. (As a Republican he cannot promise anything to those who do not WANT to be mothers.)
e) Choose a woman for vice. Condi would be an excellent choice and I would love to see two ex-secretaries of state battling it out.
And surely someone will compose a doggerel based on the fact that rice rhymes with vice.
The standard method is:
a) Apologize
b) Smile sheepishly
c) Offer a bouquet of roses.
And since a president should offer more than roses
d) Promise that mothers will receive the same kind of royal treatment which he is promises veterans. (As a Republican he cannot promise anything to those who do not WANT to be mothers.)
e) Choose a woman for vice. Condi would be an excellent choice and I would love to see two ex-secretaries of state battling it out.
And surely someone will compose a doggerel based on the fact that rice rhymes with vice.
5
There once was a woman named Rice
Who was mentioned for President - Vice.
But with Trump at the fore
She could not ignore
That the voters she'd never entice.
Happy to oblige.
Who was mentioned for President - Vice.
But with Trump at the fore
She could not ignore
That the voters she'd never entice.
Happy to oblige.
5
Forget Trunp. As long as Mrs. Clinton's own supporters don't denigrate women, as Madeline Albright and Gloria Steinem did, she will be alright.
Mrs. Clinton's campaign may also want to stop portraying Sanders supporters as some sort of cult and start paying attention to why they are attracted to--and are funding--Sanders' campaign. That may go a long way to getting her into the White House than paying attention to the outbursts of Trump.
Mrs. Clinton's campaign may also want to stop portraying Sanders supporters as some sort of cult and start paying attention to why they are attracted to--and are funding--Sanders' campaign. That may go a long way to getting her into the White House than paying attention to the outbursts of Trump.
35
Madeline Albright was also woman enough to issue a public apology on these op-ed pages. Trump has so far never been man enough to do the same regarding any of his endless insults.
The Clinton campaign must indeed stop dissing Sanders' supporters. Take up Ronald Reagan's mantra of never speaking ill of a fellow party member and open wide the tent flaps.
The Clinton campaign must indeed stop dissing Sanders' supporters. Take up Ronald Reagan's mantra of never speaking ill of a fellow party member and open wide the tent flaps.
6
Did Trump play the woman card or was he pointing out that Clinton was running on that card, what ever that card is? We do know that he was the first one to hire a woman to supervise construction of a skyscraper. She was 33 years old which is pretty young for anyone of any gender to be in charge of such a project. But how does Clinton act when something comes closer to home. She proclaims that all women should be believed when they claim rape. But many women who crossed Bill's path, report that she was a major force in suppressing their claims even to the point of attacking them. Maybe she did believe them. The NYT has a responsibility to seek the truth for us and they have the staff that knows how to do that. She is running for the highest office in the land. We should be able to know if her actions follow her words.
10
Terrific! One of your best. My Lord.., the image of Trump as a woman behaving the way that he does. Absolutely right..., don't want to go there! Oh, I can't wait to see him humiliated in November when the American public remembers this isn't a TV show. He'll have to take his name off of all those buildings and go into hiding just like Mitt! It's going to be delicious!
16
If Trump was a drinking man (he's not) I would have thought he had a serious hangover on that CNN call. Probably he was just tired from sending nonsensical tweets at 3:00 am.
That being said, if it does end up Trump v Clinton, "the woman card" is going to one of Clinton's smaller worries.
- Trump will be on her left about war
--- Iraq, Libya, Syria, Honduras - all bad judgement
- Trump's already calling her "crooked Hillary" and that is going to stick
--- Bernie left her alone about the FBI, her e-mail server the pay-to-play between the Clinton Foundation - SoS
--- The number of votes and positions she's changed after receiving money is something else Bernie has not gone after
- Trump will hound and mock her about her 80+ bank speech transcripts. When Trump is the only other person in the race, what will be Hillary's excuse then?
- Trump will crush her on NAFTA, CAFTA, TPP, and Panama
- etc.
Hillary *has* been playing "the woman card" hard in this primary. Trump says he's great with women. Not true, but here a bonus. Trump is really saying she is "weak". Hillary will (as usual) play the victim, helping Trump's claim where he has little to lose, much to gain. Trump is a horrible politician, but an awesome marketer and image maker.
Clinton's favorability went negative in April 2015 and continues downward. It is very unclear who will be less liked in 6+ months. Clinton is a big roll of the dice for the DNC. Don't say we didn't warn you. Remember Jeb?
06:15 EST (4 comments)
That being said, if it does end up Trump v Clinton, "the woman card" is going to one of Clinton's smaller worries.
- Trump will be on her left about war
--- Iraq, Libya, Syria, Honduras - all bad judgement
- Trump's already calling her "crooked Hillary" and that is going to stick
--- Bernie left her alone about the FBI, her e-mail server the pay-to-play between the Clinton Foundation - SoS
--- The number of votes and positions she's changed after receiving money is something else Bernie has not gone after
- Trump will hound and mock her about her 80+ bank speech transcripts. When Trump is the only other person in the race, what will be Hillary's excuse then?
- Trump will crush her on NAFTA, CAFTA, TPP, and Panama
- etc.
Hillary *has* been playing "the woman card" hard in this primary. Trump says he's great with women. Not true, but here a bonus. Trump is really saying she is "weak". Hillary will (as usual) play the victim, helping Trump's claim where he has little to lose, much to gain. Trump is a horrible politician, but an awesome marketer and image maker.
Clinton's favorability went negative in April 2015 and continues downward. It is very unclear who will be less liked in 6+ months. Clinton is a big roll of the dice for the DNC. Don't say we didn't warn you. Remember Jeb?
06:15 EST (4 comments)
20
"Make the New Jersey Generals Great Again!"
This hits the nail right on the head. Trump makes claims about how he is always successful, how he always wins. Well what the heck happened to the the NJ Generals? And what if what happened to the Generals happens to the US of A? Very scary thought! Sad!
This hits the nail right on the head. Trump makes claims about how he is always successful, how he always wins. Well what the heck happened to the the NJ Generals? And what if what happened to the Generals happens to the US of A? Very scary thought! Sad!
16
Every liberal should be required to watch the 1915 film, "the Birth of a Nation."
Once considered one of the world's greatest films, this classic in fact glorifies the Klu Klux Klan. The fact that it was accepted as an honest representation of what might have happened during the period after the civil war underscores how what is "known for sure" by the majority changes over time.
The problem is that much of what is "known for sure" now is likely also false.
One of those notions is that it is "wrong" to criticize women like Hillary Clinton who may try to appeal to women voters by suggesting that we live in a patriarchal society.
The issue is somewhat more complex. The roles of the sexes are complicated and liberal columns like this one of Collins make matters worse.
The other side of the issue: No, women are not discriminated against. The vast majority of American prisoners are men. And America's per capita incarceration rate is 14 times as high as that of Japan.
That is prima facie evidence that in fact American discriminates against men with a vengeance.
And liberals cannot see this discrimination. It is invisible to them.
But consider why it has happened. The American manufacturing worker, typically male, has been denigrated by the liberal elite.
They wage a campaign of hatred against the "white patriarchy."
Yet those white males are now dying at younger ages because they do not get adequate health care.
It is women in American society who are privileged.
Once considered one of the world's greatest films, this classic in fact glorifies the Klu Klux Klan. The fact that it was accepted as an honest representation of what might have happened during the period after the civil war underscores how what is "known for sure" by the majority changes over time.
The problem is that much of what is "known for sure" now is likely also false.
One of those notions is that it is "wrong" to criticize women like Hillary Clinton who may try to appeal to women voters by suggesting that we live in a patriarchal society.
The issue is somewhat more complex. The roles of the sexes are complicated and liberal columns like this one of Collins make matters worse.
The other side of the issue: No, women are not discriminated against. The vast majority of American prisoners are men. And America's per capita incarceration rate is 14 times as high as that of Japan.
That is prima facie evidence that in fact American discriminates against men with a vengeance.
And liberals cannot see this discrimination. It is invisible to them.
But consider why it has happened. The American manufacturing worker, typically male, has been denigrated by the liberal elite.
They wage a campaign of hatred against the "white patriarchy."
Yet those white males are now dying at younger ages because they do not get adequate health care.
It is women in American society who are privileged.
3
You write for The Onion, don't you.
15
Blaise, You forget the most obvious example of bias against men.
It starts in grade school. The educational system in the US expects school age boys to sit in their chairs and listen to the teacher. This favors girls.
There have been many articles siting the difference between boys and girls and how they learn and how the system favors girls by both male and female teachers.
It starts in grade school. The educational system in the US expects school age boys to sit in their chairs and listen to the teacher. This favors girls.
There have been many articles siting the difference between boys and girls and how they learn and how the system favors girls by both male and female teachers.
2
Birth of a Nation was controversial from the first screening. It continues to be considered a landmark in film history not because of the script, but because of the innovative filming techniques used by the director, D.W. Griffith.
Nobody disagrees that incarceration rates in the U.S. are too high, but you seem to be the only one arguing that women commit and equal (or more) number of crimes. Let's just say, the data doesn't support that claim.
Please provide one -- just one -- example of the American manufacturing worker, "typically male", who has been denigrated by the liberal elite. If anyone has shown contempt for the American manufacturing employee, it is the conservative who fights minimum wage legislation, safety legislation, health care initiatives, and responsible corporate tax reform to keep US jobs in the US.
I'm finding it hard to choose from among the abundance of statistics that show the pervasive discrimination against women to dispute your comment about women being more privileged than men. So let me just point out that state legislatures haven't spent decades trying to keep you from having a vasectomy, or limiting your access to condoms.
Nobody disagrees that incarceration rates in the U.S. are too high, but you seem to be the only one arguing that women commit and equal (or more) number of crimes. Let's just say, the data doesn't support that claim.
Please provide one -- just one -- example of the American manufacturing worker, "typically male", who has been denigrated by the liberal elite. If anyone has shown contempt for the American manufacturing employee, it is the conservative who fights minimum wage legislation, safety legislation, health care initiatives, and responsible corporate tax reform to keep US jobs in the US.
I'm finding it hard to choose from among the abundance of statistics that show the pervasive discrimination against women to dispute your comment about women being more privileged than men. So let me just point out that state legislatures haven't spent decades trying to keep you from having a vasectomy, or limiting your access to condoms.
17
Seven out of ten women hate Trump. He is working vvertime to
get the last three.
Mrs. Christie looked like she was waiting for the UFO to take her
away.
Trump can't help himself. He is a sexist pig. He keeps telling us
who he is; believe him.
Lies a lot too.
HRC will beat him like a rented mule.
get the last three.
Mrs. Christie looked like she was waiting for the UFO to take her
away.
Trump can't help himself. He is a sexist pig. He keeps telling us
who he is; believe him.
Lies a lot too.
HRC will beat him like a rented mule.
77
I fear you are wrong. I hope you are right. I believe that Drumpf will slaughter Clinton in the general. He will have high voter turnout on his side, driven by his own popularity and by a mad misogyny aimed at Hillary, which is outrageous and undeserved, but still real. She, unfortunately, will not have the troops backing her up to defend herself. As the nominee, she will depress voter turnout. A substantial number of Bernie supporters will not be there for her, whether through deliberate boycott, or by just melting away in cynicism and despair. She is distrusted and disliked by enough that she will not attract independents the way Bernie could. She cannot attract the moderate Republicans who are horrified by Trump. It will be a hideous spectacle, and much as I distrust Hillary, I almost cannot bear to contemplate it. Such a shame that so many primary voters do not realize the disaster that is coming. Alas, unless California and other states come through in an incredible landslide for Bernie, we are looking at Trump for President.
1
The main card that Trump holds is the Idiot Card and he is not holding it close to his chest - it is right out there for all to see.
Other cards in his deck are all Club cards:
The Menace card.
The Dictator card.
The Big Mouth card.
The War card.
The Hustler card.
The Snake Oil card.
The Male Chauvinist card.
Etc.
But there is an end to it because in the last analysis Trump does NOT have a full deck.
Other cards in his deck are all Club cards:
The Menace card.
The Dictator card.
The Big Mouth card.
The War card.
The Hustler card.
The Snake Oil card.
The Male Chauvinist card.
Etc.
But there is an end to it because in the last analysis Trump does NOT have a full deck.
111
Gail, I always enjoy your column, and often chuckle. I actually laughed out loud at "The idea of being named [Cruz's] running mate was a little like being named second in command of the Donner Party."
Thanks. A good start for my day.
Thanks. A good start for my day.
59
"...ask yourself how many votes Donald Trump would get if he were a woman and he was the way he is."
Actually, I think we already have an answer for that, Sarah Palin.
Actually, I think we already have an answer for that, Sarah Palin.
136
But she's prettier.
1
Absolutely loved your spot on description of Chris Christy. The only thing missing from the picture of him just behind and to the right of Trump were the strings Trump uses to manipulate the Christer.
17
"The idea of being named his running mate was a little like being named second in command of the Donner Party." Gail, you are a total rock star!
39
Let's not forget that Trump failed to win in his own cozy little "upper class 1%" voting district in Manhattan last week...
36
To "EJ in NJ" - That's because they're not "poorly educated"....
6
Trump's message about the "woman-card" plays well in the trailer parks across the land, where men are men. lying around proudly in their "wife-beater" undershirts, waiting on this month's social security disability check, and calling out to the little lady for another "co-cola."
In all actuality, Trump wouldn't have 1% of the support he has without playing the "bigot-card." You know how this ends for Trump; just like a house of cards in a hurricane.
In all actuality, Trump wouldn't have 1% of the support he has without playing the "bigot-card." You know how this ends for Trump; just like a house of cards in a hurricane.
31
Clinton has had more political, governmental, social, and cultural experiences in her left pinky than Trump has had in his life. He makes PT Barnum into a piker!
38
Yes, as they say, he's not playing with a full deck.
32
First: I'm glad you're back. I almost thought I was someone else and bought an elephant red tie, with little yellow heads splattered about.
Trump failed at everything from Vodka to airlines. He made it big in real estate because his daddy made it big in real estate. He also got started in the early 80's after the great 70's Noo Yawk crash. No place to go but up.
My guess is that he's ruminating about Hillary's sex because he's either predicting that the transgender bathroom debate will be the issue to end all issues next November, or he is touting his considerable knowledge of international affairs. Remember, Germany is run by Angela Merkel and they make Mercedes Benz!!!!!!!
Trump failed at everything from Vodka to airlines. He made it big in real estate because his daddy made it big in real estate. He also got started in the early 80's after the great 70's Noo Yawk crash. No place to go but up.
My guess is that he's ruminating about Hillary's sex because he's either predicting that the transgender bathroom debate will be the issue to end all issues next November, or he is touting his considerable knowledge of international affairs. Remember, Germany is run by Angela Merkel and they make Mercedes Benz!!!!!!!
18
Gail, you crack me up - thanks!
15
Hillary has spent her life championing women? She didn't champion Lewinsky nor any other woman by standing mute while her husband lied. Of course, that depends on what your definition of 'didn't' is.
11
Is it worth noting that few women are sympathetic to another woman who is having an affair with her husband?
22
And I take issue, also, with Clinton's so-called reputation for helping children. No. She was a major force behind the dismantling of welfare in the 1990s, probably one of the single biggest harms done since the NEw Deal to poor women and children. Sorry.
3
Really ? That's all you've got ? How many men have cheated ?? The numbers are high. And how many women have forgiven and stayed ? More than we would probably think. Many dynamics in life. Not sure I would stay, but I don't see it as character flaw in someone if they do. It's personal.
5
Nice ending, give that guy a card or two. Why be greedy, give him a whole deck and let him deal the hand he wants.
5
Donald Trump will say what a nine year old bully has been saying on school playgrounds for a century and a percentage of voters see that as refreshing?
28
I'm in a nightmare and can't wake up. Between the inevitability of a buffoon becoming the republican nominee and Beyonce being the lead NYT story for the next century I need a media-less extended vacation.
113
redmist-
I have nothing better to say than I liked this comment, thank you for it.
I have nothing better to say than I liked this comment, thank you for it.
Donald Trump is the gift that keeps on giving to Hillary's Clinton's quest to become the first woman president. Trump's endemic sexist mind set and bullying nature were on full display yesterday. His 5% reference will live in infamy as Mitt Romney's notorious 47 % remark did. Bobby Knight is the perfect campaign companion for Trump.They both admire General George Patton and Knight is a serial bully. John Feinstein's classic "Season on the Brink"written about a season he spent with the Indiana basketball program thoroughly chronicles Knight's abusive nature. The visual image of these two bombastic ego's, basking in each other's political incorrectness, will be indelible.
43
I share your sentiments, but would like to add two observations. First, beyond the borders of Indiana, Bobby Knight's influence will be nil to anyone who is not already a Trump supporter.
Second, while Trump's "5 %" comment should be held against him, he said it boldly and out loud, which is what thinking-impaired people love about him. If Romney put "47 %" into a stump speech, he would've been cheered. If Trump were caught on tape with his "5 %" comment, he would be raked over the coals. We're a twisted lot.
Second, while Trump's "5 %" comment should be held against him, he said it boldly and out loud, which is what thinking-impaired people love about him. If Romney put "47 %" into a stump speech, he would've been cheered. If Trump were caught on tape with his "5 %" comment, he would be raked over the coals. We're a twisted lot.
2
and we may safely assume that Trump has gone so far because there are enough men worrying about their "tiny fingers"? Imagine the mass emasculation if Hillary is elected!
23
Consider:
—Gender is her rationale for running, but not her reason for running.
—Bernie's decision to persevere is not a mathematical calculation. It is a moral imperative.
Clinton's endgame, at once rigged & bifurcated, leads to the WH & away from the slammer.
Her presidential term would conveniently extend past her crimes' statutes of limitations & provide her w/ the opportunity to spoliate, obstruct & pardon.
The statutes of limitations angle is not arcane theory. In a recent interview, Trump told O'Reilly that if Comey fails to recommend indictment, or if Lynch fails to indict, he would, if elected, reopen the case as statutes of limitations would not have run.
Two things are true: Bernie is not done by a long shot & Hillary is exploiting the electorate to save her own neck.
The FBI probe, not a rigged election, will determine Clinton's fate. Even if Obama chooses to obstruct, Clinton will be mortally wounded.
VEGAS
Her slot machine is her server sins
Her poker chips, her superdel'gate roll
Her roulette wheel, Director Comey spins
Her indictment, Bernie's ace in the hole.
Our democracy hangs by one frayed thread, that we are all equal before the law. FBI Director Comey must recommend indictment. The prima facie case against Clinton is simply too compelling & massive to ignore. A failure to recommend indictment by Comey, or a failure to indict by Obama via Lynch, would not only undermine our democracy; it would compromise our national security in perpetuity.
7
As a Bernie supporter who was bitterly disappointed in my state's election of Clinton as nominee, let me say this with feeling: just can it, "Marian". Your cut and paste screed can't even state for the record ONE criminal thing she did. This is just mindless, Alex Jones-ish babble. And stop pretending you have anything in common with a real Bernie voter. You shame both us and yourself.
29
Cue the laugh track.
8
I think you commented on the wrong column?
4
Hillary availed herself of her sex soon enough when she needed to counter Bernard and that guy from Maryland. She did the same in her 2000 election for U.S. Senate against Rick Lazio of NY, at a debate where he crossed the intervening space to hand her a piece of paper as prop and she shriveled as if he was physically attacking the helpless (now THAT’S entertaining) little blonde. Her numbers rose dramatically after that debate as she played it for all she could get.
Trump went there to declare that the war proper (finally) had begun. It’s about time. I’ve watched presidential campaigns avidly since 1964 (I was 9), and never before have I and the country aged as in this one.
She should be happy he’s starting with gender, instead of charges of Bill’s wanderings, along with actions by both to destroy Bill’s victims; IRSGate (Hillary’s back in the day, not the latest), TravelGate, Whitewater; FileGate; Vince Foster; looting the White House in 2001; missing Arab Spring; Benghazi; ChinaGate, in which some accuse the Clintons of selling high-tech secrets to China in return for foundation donations; SpeechesGate, where Hillary charges outlandish speaking fees and solicits donations to the foundation, some charge for return favors inimical to the interests of the U.S.; and emailGate, which some believe warrants a prison sentence for Hillary.
Seems to me that Trump eventually has a LOT to talk about, other than Hillary’s gender. She could WISH he’d stick with gender.
Trump went there to declare that the war proper (finally) had begun. It’s about time. I’ve watched presidential campaigns avidly since 1964 (I was 9), and never before have I and the country aged as in this one.
She should be happy he’s starting with gender, instead of charges of Bill’s wanderings, along with actions by both to destroy Bill’s victims; IRSGate (Hillary’s back in the day, not the latest), TravelGate, Whitewater; FileGate; Vince Foster; looting the White House in 2001; missing Arab Spring; Benghazi; ChinaGate, in which some accuse the Clintons of selling high-tech secrets to China in return for foundation donations; SpeechesGate, where Hillary charges outlandish speaking fees and solicits donations to the foundation, some charge for return favors inimical to the interests of the U.S.; and emailGate, which some believe warrants a prison sentence for Hillary.
Seems to me that Trump eventually has a LOT to talk about, other than Hillary’s gender. She could WISH he’d stick with gender.
14
Hillary Clinton has more than a few "Gates" up her sleeve as well:
BankruptcyGate
ExploitingUndocumentedWorkersGate
WasOnceforEverythingHeisNowAgainstGate
DoingBusinesswiththeMobGate
Doesn'tHaveaClueGateAboutForeignAffairsGate (confirmed by yesterday's incoherent policy address)
She also has a trove of video clips provided by The Donald himself that she'll be able to use in ads, making a "pivot" impossible on a host of issues. Pick a constituency crucial to winning a national election; he's offended it.
Much more skillful opponents than Donald Trump have tried and failed to bring down Hillary Clinton. He's going to get crushed.
BankruptcyGate
ExploitingUndocumentedWorkersGate
WasOnceforEverythingHeisNowAgainstGate
DoingBusinesswiththeMobGate
Doesn'tHaveaClueGateAboutForeignAffairsGate (confirmed by yesterday's incoherent policy address)
She also has a trove of video clips provided by The Donald himself that she'll be able to use in ads, making a "pivot" impossible on a host of issues. Pick a constituency crucial to winning a national election; he's offended it.
Much more skillful opponents than Donald Trump have tried and failed to bring down Hillary Clinton. He's going to get crushed.
18
Well, NA, I almost never make predictions, despite the insistence by some in this forum that I do. We'll have to remember your prediction about Trump being crushed by Hillary. Frankly, I think it's going to be too close to call until it's called.
2
Future president Hillary Clinton has been barraged with this fact-free nonsense for three decades. It has taken a toll on her "favorability" ratings, but has not diminished her power or her inevitability. It must be horrible to believe that this list of prosecutable misconduct is real and not see the institutions of our society act accordingly. Either the Clintons control all levers of power in America (including the Republican Cpngress) or this list is fiction. Blindered ideology has caused a rot in the right wing mind.
11
Swift Boating worked before, so why not now? In the GOP universe white is always black. If Hillary has a record of helping women, it REALLY means she wants to hurt them, right?
59
Trump's "If Hillary Clinton were a man…" is a perversely satisfying & revealing thought experiment.
The consensus: Clinton, a man would be spending his remaining days contemplating his next illegality, as is his wont, but from the slammer & in relative obscurity.
Mrs. Clinton rode to notoriety on the backs of her predatory husband & the women they abused…
This, unlike self-made women, & in opposition to the very tenets of first-wave-Friedan feminism that she was a part of, if only by chronology, empty words, phony poses & false allegiance.
Holding up Mrs. Clinton as feminism's champion is both repugnant & dangerous.
This is not about "the war on women," as Mrs. Clinton would have us believe. It is about morality.
It is about the retrograde feminists' Faustian bargain, a model that knowingly rests on a false premise–that one's virtuousness is determined by one's policy positions rather than whether one has a moral core. This compartmentalization spills toxicity into–corrupts–the culture.
This delusory thinking produces disturbing dissonance, often w/ dangerous consequences: The Clintons cloak their reflexive abuse of women with VAWA, cloak their complicity in Rwanda genocide w/ a few policy crumbs.
If policy positions make one virtuous, they just represent virtuousness; this systematically deconstructs our society as a democracy.
The retrograde feminists made their Faustian bargain long ago, betraying not only women, but all of us. The devil is now getting his due.
14
Clinton has spent 45 years working for laws, funding, protections and awareness of problems facing women and families, such as day care, early education, access to birth control, and, overseas, protections agains genocidal rape and kidnapping.
That you don't like her is your right, of course. But, it you would spend your life doing one one thousandth of what Clinton has done for women, the world would be a better place.
That you don't like her is your right, of course. But, it you would spend your life doing one one thousandth of what Clinton has done for women, the world would be a better place.
21
People said that GW Bush was a guy you'd like to have a beer with.
For many, Donald Trump is the guy they'd like to have their seventh beer with.
For many, Donald Trump is the guy they'd like to have their seventh beer with.
11
Yeah, another round on me. Oh, where's that Secret service guy with the launch codes? He should have another one too, get him over here.
4
That's great, Peter. You've added a third dimension and perspective. Where's Fiorina? I've got something to say to Fiorina!
1
If Donald Trump were a woman he would be Carly Fiorina. We know how many votes she got.
39
Trump has made his first surge in a ham-handed gender war
By drawing deep thoughts from his limited reservoir.
It’s not very hard
To say “playing a card,”
But for POTUS he’s chosen a meaningless metaphor.
By drawing deep thoughts from his limited reservoir.
It’s not very hard
To say “playing a card,”
But for POTUS he’s chosen a meaningless metaphor.
7
What I have long predicted to myself has now begun: if Clinton is the nominee, we will be treated to a hideous spectacle of an election battle shot through with gender politics and hideous misogyny. Drumpf, in my view, and sadly, will win this game. Hillary, although articulate and intelligent, cannot stand up to that assault without massive numbers of troops behind her. And she won't have them. As a nominee, she will depress voter turnout. Bernie supporters will abandon her in at least some measure, and she cannot attract independents and moderate Republicans the way Bernie can. It will be a hideous spectacle. It's probably too late now, but our only hope is that California and other states somehow miraculously come through with large numbers for Bernie. Otherwise, it's looking like a Trump for President, people.
1
Never has there been during my lifetime, 1947-present, has there been a more qualified and competent individual to be President. Hillary Clinton has my support. There has also never been someone more unqualified or incompetent, but I cannot figure out if its Trump or Cruz. As for Hillary, she should continue to run as a woman, promoting women's rights. I am married to a woman and I care greatly about women all over being given the same access to health care as she has.
278
Despite Ms. Collins injunction to not 'go there', we must ponder the parameters of The Donald transmuting into La Trumpa.
This thought process may cause damage to cerebral functions: be forewarned.
For starters, La Trumpa would concentrate more on cosmetics than he does currently (if that is remotely possible). Rouge and lipstick would not come amiss were he a she. Imagine red fingernails and toenails (peeking out from his open-toed 6-inch high heels). Red nails suggest hand-to-hand combat and coming out the winner every time, bloody but unbowed.
An assortment of wigs, with artificial tresses flowing down his backless gowns, would match his artificial policy pretense. Imagine La Trumpa twirling a curl around his finger whilst insulting male candidates for their poorly cut suits and their lack of manly appeal. That face ! Those flabby muscles ! The thinning hair !
Speaking of which, La Trumpa could not tolerate normal aging. Little time to campaign when plastic surgery is paramount in your mind and on your face. Would he go for the classic New York model's nose ? We need not imagine any other anatomical improvements.
We can be absolutely certain of one thing: La Trumpa will have no more empathy or concern for others than does The Donald. Artifice is all.
Viva La Narcissism !
This thought process may cause damage to cerebral functions: be forewarned.
For starters, La Trumpa would concentrate more on cosmetics than he does currently (if that is remotely possible). Rouge and lipstick would not come amiss were he a she. Imagine red fingernails and toenails (peeking out from his open-toed 6-inch high heels). Red nails suggest hand-to-hand combat and coming out the winner every time, bloody but unbowed.
An assortment of wigs, with artificial tresses flowing down his backless gowns, would match his artificial policy pretense. Imagine La Trumpa twirling a curl around his finger whilst insulting male candidates for their poorly cut suits and their lack of manly appeal. That face ! Those flabby muscles ! The thinning hair !
Speaking of which, La Trumpa could not tolerate normal aging. Little time to campaign when plastic surgery is paramount in your mind and on your face. Would he go for the classic New York model's nose ? We need not imagine any other anatomical improvements.
We can be absolutely certain of one thing: La Trumpa will have no more empathy or concern for others than does The Donald. Artifice is all.
Viva La Narcissism !
22
Trump played the woman insult card right at the end of his speech because he knew it would dominate the news cycle for the next 48 hours and it has done that. It was a lob to the press. And he didn't have to spend any money to stay in the limelight and overshadow Hillary 's primary victories. He is operating out of a marketing paradigm for his election strategy cause his goal is to win, not to lead. The negativity doesn't bother him cause "negative strokes are better than none." He still gets to be the lead story and it is a cheer, Trump, Trump, Trump! He gets to frame the conversation. At least you spent most of your column naming Hillary's woman strengths, but Trump manipulated us again! The press should boycott Trump unless he says something substantive! If that were the measure, we'd never hear from him again. Or if we did, he would have to be paying for it. Thanks.
69
Wow. Can you run the media, please? I like your rules.
8
I really doubt that Trump made a conscious decision to end his speech with a comment on the woman card in order to dominate the news cycle. I don't believe he really plans things like that. The words just tumble out of his mouth unbidden and the media play them on a loop. You have ascribed too much planning and insight to the candidate and his campaign.
3
The problem to me is that Hillary is just as sexist. When you talk about helping women as much as she does, and not about helping men as well, you are taking a very sexist stance. Both genders need to be helped, not just one. Some of her policies are blantantly unequel. Giving paid family time off to mothers (what about paid family time off to fathers?). The gender pay gap is a ruse. There are even men who do not get equal pay for equal work in the same company as their co-workers (whether their co-workers are men or women). I do like how she started talking about helping all Americans in her speech, but then she went right back into helping women, not men.
She needs to be judged just as harshly as Trump is judged. I am tired of Democrats getting a free pass on their sexist and racist talks, and how they focus so much on certain demographics for votes.
For the record, I hate both parties, they only serve the interest of the rich and can care less about the regular people. Votes and power is all they care about, and most of the time if a minority group is actually helped, it was helped by a state government or a federal court. The federal politicians do not give a damn about any of us.
She needs to be judged just as harshly as Trump is judged. I am tired of Democrats getting a free pass on their sexist and racist talks, and how they focus so much on certain demographics for votes.
For the record, I hate both parties, they only serve the interest of the rich and can care less about the regular people. Votes and power is all they care about, and most of the time if a minority group is actually helped, it was helped by a state government or a federal court. The federal politicians do not give a damn about any of us.
2
Great column! Trump is the first cyberbully running for president of the U.S. He tweets insults nightly, and his retrograde Mad Man/Playboy adolescent views towards women that have been so prominently on show are nauseating. Forget being Secretary of State, senator of one of the largest and most diverse states in the union, and all her achievements such as CHIP, violence against women office, 9/11 responders support, military benefits for National Guardsmen and reservists, etc. If real estate is Trump's only card (you don't think the casino owner one counts here?), then this house of cards cannot fall soon enough. Poof! from the blowfish Donald whose cheeks are always pouched up and whose mouth is always open.
However, with each insult, another Republican or Independent woman or man votes for Clinton.
However, with each insult, another Republican or Independent woman or man votes for Clinton.
54
And what, pray tell, is Trump running on?
Two divorces.
Three marriages.
Four bankruptcies.
His record of courage and patriotism, like dodging the Viet Nam draft.
His four 20 year old aircraft he bought used, the big 757 third hand.
His Chinese made suits and ties.
His ability to stir up the yahoos and bring out their worst.
Trump "University".
Two divorces.
Three marriages.
Four bankruptcies.
His record of courage and patriotism, like dodging the Viet Nam draft.
His four 20 year old aircraft he bought used, the big 757 third hand.
His Chinese made suits and ties.
His ability to stir up the yahoos and bring out their worst.
Trump "University".
195
Nobody's perfect.
1
Trump is very seductive in his promises. Promises he never ever keeps nor could in the real world keep. Like deporting 11 million people or building the HUGH wall-as he says similar to the Great Wall of China. Trump fits the classic definition of a fraudster:(1)Makes false promises (2) he knows that they are false(3)he intends to make people believe they are true (4)people believe in his falsehoods (5)they act on the falsehoods-vote for him (5)and are damaged by his false claims. Trump is the one person who should be impeached for just running for the office of the President of the United States.
28
Den--
Your list of 5 ways a fraudster works is exactly what Mitch McConnell and the Republican establishment have been doing for years. Mitch himself campaigned for Ted Cruz saying that if the voters sent Ted to Washington, he'd be able to overturn Obamacare. And what happened, they did it, and he didn't--and he knew he'd never be able to when he said it.
So, Trump is just the latest to use the Republican fraudster tactic. And woe unto us if he is elected and the hoi polloi find out he never intended to build the wall or deport all those people. Today's anger won't be anything to their rage then.
Your list of 5 ways a fraudster works is exactly what Mitch McConnell and the Republican establishment have been doing for years. Mitch himself campaigned for Ted Cruz saying that if the voters sent Ted to Washington, he'd be able to overturn Obamacare. And what happened, they did it, and he didn't--and he knew he'd never be able to when he said it.
So, Trump is just the latest to use the Republican fraudster tactic. And woe unto us if he is elected and the hoi polloi find out he never intended to build the wall or deport all those people. Today's anger won't be anything to their rage then.
5
Here we go. As expected, we will now have to gird our loins for the onslaught of despicable Trumpisms about Hillary. No surprise here that he is oblivious to how he is perceived when His Hairness speaks, but we know, we just know, that we are going to have to endure another episode of discussing Bill's transgressions.
I hope and I pray that Hillary plays the "Marriage" card, and points out that she has only been married once, and is still married to the same person. I hope and I pray that she is credited with successfully holding together a sorely tested marriage despite the odds against it. I know I would have left Bill, but I've got to hand it to her for preserving her marriage.
All she has to do is to point out that she never gave up on partner or her vows; and, oh, by the way, Donald, how did you do?
I hope and I pray that Hillary plays the "Marriage" card, and points out that she has only been married once, and is still married to the same person. I hope and I pray that she is credited with successfully holding together a sorely tested marriage despite the odds against it. I know I would have left Bill, but I've got to hand it to her for preserving her marriage.
All she has to do is to point out that she never gave up on partner or her vows; and, oh, by the way, Donald, how did you do?
150
Good lord, let's hope and pray Hillary doesn't trot out her marriage to Bill as a positive, healthy, or successful one)! Talk about the world turned upside down. And why on earth would you give a woman credit for staying in a bad marriage? Whatever your thinking on that subject, I've got news for you: she stayed for political reasons.
7
Trump's serial marriages are no big deal on the (R) side (see Gingrich, Newt). Playing the marriage card opens up another possible line of attack on Hillary. She's all for women's rights, unless that woman accused Bill of sexual advances, wanted and unwanted. At this point that is not a small club. Hillary ought to think twice about how much she wants her bullying of Monica Lewinsky an co. to be part of the national dialogue.
3
Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton does not need to play any "cards" that will only bring the conversation further down. She has Great Ideas and knows how to implement them. Isn't that what we want in a President? Enough of the gossipy, childish blather we've been getting from the press. They all need to get serious.
14
My question is, why do so many women allow themselves to be used by men like Trump? Why did he get even one woman's vote? Where is the self-respect in being arm candy? And on a side issue, when did anyone besides the press start taking this bully seriously as a presidential candidate?
103
"He’s suffering from a severe lack of cards."
That's not fair. There are a lot of cards Trump hasn't played yet. For instance, he seldom boasts about his appearances on the Howard Stern show, where he often touched on policy matters. These conversations deserve more attention. Sadly, many can't be repeated in a family newspaper, but they do gives voters a peak into how TrumpCare will make America great again:
For one thing, he told Stern, he is grateful he can trust his wife Melania to take her birth control pills every day. So surely he'll slip contraceptive coverage into TrumpCare when Republicans aren't looking.
And Trumpcare will cover STDs, which Trump compared to going to war: "It's scary, like Vietnam. Sort of like the Vietnam-era. It is my personal Vietnam. I feel like a great and very brave soldier."
Also, there will be catastrophic coverage. Stern asked Trump what he would do if Melania were in a terrible car accident, & her arm, her foot & an eye were mangled. Would he stay with her?
"How do the breasts look?" Trump asked Stern.
"The breasts are okay," Stern said.
"Then, yeah, of course," Trump said. "Because that’s important."
TrumpCare will include family coverage, too: "I like kids." he told Stern. "I mean, I won’t do anything to take care of them. I’ll supply funds and she’ll take care of the kids. It’s not like I’m gonna be walking the kids down to Central Park.”
The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com
That's not fair. There are a lot of cards Trump hasn't played yet. For instance, he seldom boasts about his appearances on the Howard Stern show, where he often touched on policy matters. These conversations deserve more attention. Sadly, many can't be repeated in a family newspaper, but they do gives voters a peak into how TrumpCare will make America great again:
For one thing, he told Stern, he is grateful he can trust his wife Melania to take her birth control pills every day. So surely he'll slip contraceptive coverage into TrumpCare when Republicans aren't looking.
And Trumpcare will cover STDs, which Trump compared to going to war: "It's scary, like Vietnam. Sort of like the Vietnam-era. It is my personal Vietnam. I feel like a great and very brave soldier."
Also, there will be catastrophic coverage. Stern asked Trump what he would do if Melania were in a terrible car accident, & her arm, her foot & an eye were mangled. Would he stay with her?
"How do the breasts look?" Trump asked Stern.
"The breasts are okay," Stern said.
"Then, yeah, of course," Trump said. "Because that’s important."
TrumpCare will include family coverage, too: "I like kids." he told Stern. "I mean, I won’t do anything to take care of them. I’ll supply funds and she’ll take care of the kids. It’s not like I’m gonna be walking the kids down to Central Park.”
The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com
358
Hi Marie - so nice to read one of your comments again - I've missed you!
5
Lordy. Well said.
He probably carries that bone spur that got him out of Viet Nam on a gold chain around his neck. I guess rich folks in NYC didnt have access to surgeons during the 60s. Think of how Donald mustve suffered not getting to serve. Thinking of him limping around his golf courses like Tiny Tim brings a tear to veterans' eyes I'm sure.
He probably carries that bone spur that got him out of Viet Nam on a gold chain around his neck. I guess rich folks in NYC didnt have access to surgeons during the 60s. Think of how Donald mustve suffered not getting to serve. Thinking of him limping around his golf courses like Tiny Tim brings a tear to veterans' eyes I'm sure.
8
The scariest thing about Donald Trump is that so many people support and vote for him. It would be foolhardy to dismiss the possibility that he could take the White House.
41
Let's not forget Jesse Ventura!!!
4
Looks like the Democrats will get just what they wanted. Lady Hillary against Donald. And Hillary will have no problem steamrolling Donald as she and Bill waltz back into the White House.
No problem at all. The whole world loves Hillary.
Right?
No problem at all. The whole world loves Hillary.
Right?
5
Yup, got that right. Boo-yah
4
"The whole world loves Hillary" Right?
The "whole world" doesn't need to "love" Hillary to understand that the choice between her and Trump should be easy, even if--as many of my more conservo friends and relatives have said, that they will hold their noses and vote for Hillary if Trump is the alternative.
The "whole world" doesn't need to "love" Hillary to understand that the choice between her and Trump should be easy, even if--as many of my more conservo friends and relatives have said, that they will hold their noses and vote for Hillary if Trump is the alternative.
22
I think it is very obvious that it isn't what the Democrats want. It is just unfortunate that Trump is the best that the Republicans could come up with.
When Trump said, "If Hillary Clinton were a man, I don't think she'd get 5% of the vote", my first thought was, "And if you WEREN'T a man, this conversation would be over."
1219
Excellent. Comment of the day (week ? month?). Thank you.
11
But, deep down, so many of us feel Trump is not really a man. He's more a boy--and a not particularly good boy. His immaturity cannot be overlooked.
7
there is the candidate you don't trust because she has been endlessly attacked, and the candidate you shouldn't trust because he only cares about attention and money. i pick the one with the decades of advocacy for children and women of all sorts, the one who was attacked for being progressive before it was cool.
283
Hillary has been championing the rights of the 1 percent while she smoothly talks the talk about the rights of women and children and the citizen majority.
But the rights of women depend on economic self sufficiency. That means jobs with decent pay, benefits, benefits and security. Bill Clinton’s presidency undermined the security of women and kids in many ways, 1st by jailing fathers with excessive sentences.
He sent jobs out of the country, undermined welfare to women/kids, and deregulated protective bank laws that has protected the economy since the '30s. Hillary won’t go too far in contradicting her husband’s policies. That’s why we shouldn’t let family members run for prez.
Bill’s Wall St cabinet engineered bank mergers into such huge conglomerates, that their crimes ruined many and jeopardized us all. Now we wait to see which Wall Streeters Hillary will name for her inner circle. The Times continues misrepresenting the issues in the 2016 campaign.
Herr Trumpf’s compulsive insults to woman and to everyone are more fun for the punditocracy to write about. But let's start discussing the true basis for women's economic inequality---it's the economy, stupid.
But then, who knows where that would lead.
But the rights of women depend on economic self sufficiency. That means jobs with decent pay, benefits, benefits and security. Bill Clinton’s presidency undermined the security of women and kids in many ways, 1st by jailing fathers with excessive sentences.
He sent jobs out of the country, undermined welfare to women/kids, and deregulated protective bank laws that has protected the economy since the '30s. Hillary won’t go too far in contradicting her husband’s policies. That’s why we shouldn’t let family members run for prez.
Bill’s Wall St cabinet engineered bank mergers into such huge conglomerates, that their crimes ruined many and jeopardized us all. Now we wait to see which Wall Streeters Hillary will name for her inner circle. The Times continues misrepresenting the issues in the 2016 campaign.
Herr Trumpf’s compulsive insults to woman and to everyone are more fun for the punditocracy to write about. But let's start discussing the true basis for women's economic inequality---it's the economy, stupid.
But then, who knows where that would lead.
18
Meredith, connecting the Crime Act of 1994 with undermining women's rights is a total canard. The rest of your comment is similarly full of sloppy history and economics. I detect an angry Sanders supporter trying to sail under objective colors.
27
Rather than those chummy, foolish, very safe chats with Arthur Brooks, a weekly discussion between Gail and Meredith would very likely yield something real and important.
4
"A) He analyzed Clinton’s entire public career and decided her weakest point was the possibility of being the first woman president."
And here you have it. Donald Trump's modus operandi. Just like a wrestler. Find the weakest point and push and push on it. This is how he took down the 17 (or is it 19 or 29) other potential candidates.
"Jeb Bush is weak" over and over again. Etc. Etc.
Let us see how this plays out in the general election.
And here you have it. Donald Trump's modus operandi. Just like a wrestler. Find the weakest point and push and push on it. This is how he took down the 17 (or is it 19 or 29) other potential candidates.
"Jeb Bush is weak" over and over again. Etc. Etc.
Let us see how this plays out in the general election.
8
What, exactly, does that man mean when he says 'playing the woman card'? Does he mean that her being a woman has something wrong with it, or does he mean that she addresses women's issues with decency, concern, compassion and has worked her bum off for years in the interests of women? And, if that is what he means, there is something wrong with that?
Clinton isn't saying vote for me BECAUSE I am a woman. She is saying vote for me because I have your interests as mine and I don't call women ugly pigs or insult them or imply when they do something I don't like that they are bleeding from, well, YOU know where!
When that man insults women, and women still think he is worth voting for, IMO, they must believe that THEY are not the women he is speaking about. If a man has, time and time again shown no respect for women, they are deluding themselves. When he calls a woman like Fiona too ugly to be POTUS, do plain women believe he would find them attractive? When a man puts down women, he is saying, in effect, I'm scared of you and the only way I know to show control over you is to belittle, demean, denigrate and destroy you.
Clinton isn't saying vote for me BECAUSE I am a woman. She is saying vote for me because I have your interests as mine and I don't call women ugly pigs or insult them or imply when they do something I don't like that they are bleeding from, well, YOU know where!
When that man insults women, and women still think he is worth voting for, IMO, they must believe that THEY are not the women he is speaking about. If a man has, time and time again shown no respect for women, they are deluding themselves. When he calls a woman like Fiona too ugly to be POTUS, do plain women believe he would find them attractive? When a man puts down women, he is saying, in effect, I'm scared of you and the only way I know to show control over you is to belittle, demean, denigrate and destroy you.
1212
"...When he calls a woman like Fiona too ugly to be POTUS, do plain women believe he would find them attractive?"
Hopefully they won't bother to think about that one way or another. The further we can get from someone's looks being equated to their self worth the better.
Hopefully they won't bother to think about that one way or another. The further we can get from someone's looks being equated to their self worth the better.
1
It was Trump's dumb cheap shot- he means Clinton having an opinion while female to leverage some power while also hoping she doesnt play the card he is clearly playing. Women have seen this stupid stuff before in case he thinks he is inventing some knee-capper strategy.
Sexism is a political act as well as a personal one when it is about your job. Telling the American public that if Clinton was male she would be dragging at 5% is about as close as he could get to actually scratching his behind on national news as his "proof" of his dominance. Ugh. Looked like Christie's wife caught a whiff of it.
Sexism is a political act as well as a personal one when it is about your job. Telling the American public that if Clinton was male she would be dragging at 5% is about as close as he could get to actually scratching his behind on national news as his "proof" of his dominance. Ugh. Looked like Christie's wife caught a whiff of it.
6
After listening to Herr Trumps incoherent speech and his comment about Hillary playing the woman's card it has become abundantly clear that he is not playing with a full deck.
I actually feel sorry for this man. He is a walking sociopath. Something happened to him when he was a yute and deformed his character and personality. He confuses nastiness with competence. And as a result
he has become the poster child for the Peter Principle in this years election.
I actually feel sorry for this man. He is a walking sociopath. Something happened to him when he was a yute and deformed his character and personality. He confuses nastiness with competence. And as a result
he has become the poster child for the Peter Principle in this years election.
108
"The bottom line on Hillary Clinton is that she’s spent her life championing women and their issues."
Ms. Collins-- it's an interesting fact that every time Trump drops one of his nasty, seemingly unguided verbal barrel bombs, rational people like you "transition" into explanations (see above)-- that are historical, factual, logical... And that's the entire methodology of Trump the highly successful campaigner who appeals to the basic, vile, bigoted and most ugly of any and all prejudices. Understanding, compassion, civility, facts force a thoughtful response... and thought has absolutely no place in response to Trump's most effective weapons as a campaigner. Consider -- Trump's uncharacteristic attempt to entone a foreign policy agenda yesterday. That's not the angry bigot that elicits such loyalty among his followers... he was attempting to be logical, historical, thoughtful...and he was entirely, and uncharacteristically civil. He may lose the election simply by having to play the "phony "role of attempting to sound presidential, and civil, and logical, and uncharacteristically logical.
Ms. Collins-- it's an interesting fact that every time Trump drops one of his nasty, seemingly unguided verbal barrel bombs, rational people like you "transition" into explanations (see above)-- that are historical, factual, logical... And that's the entire methodology of Trump the highly successful campaigner who appeals to the basic, vile, bigoted and most ugly of any and all prejudices. Understanding, compassion, civility, facts force a thoughtful response... and thought has absolutely no place in response to Trump's most effective weapons as a campaigner. Consider -- Trump's uncharacteristic attempt to entone a foreign policy agenda yesterday. That's not the angry bigot that elicits such loyalty among his followers... he was attempting to be logical, historical, thoughtful...and he was entirely, and uncharacteristically civil. He may lose the election simply by having to play the "phony "role of attempting to sound presidential, and civil, and logical, and uncharacteristically logical.
6
Seriously -- you found "logic" in anything that Trump said yesterday in regard to foreign policy? I heard a bellicose, tyrannical buffoon who presumes that he can dictate to China their policy in regard to North Korea, I heard a fool firing off the first shot designed to alienate our traditional allies, I heard a guy with a slogan "America First" that is totally offputting to anyone who really thinks about the hubris and obnoxiousness in conveys.
29
My favorite joke from my college days when ms Clinton first came into the national spotlight - she and Bill were driving from Arkansas to Washington and stop for gas. Hillary sees her ex-boyfriend pumping the gas and tells bill. Bill asks -"aren't you glad you married me? I'm about to be President." To which Hillary says, "If I'd married him, he'd be President". So excited to have a chance to vote for this great woman.
524
So, why exactly did she decide to marry (and stayed married) to a serial predator?
4
Great post, Dana. Thanks.
8
May I insert MY favorite Clinton-esque joke?
Years after he became president, former Eli - Dubya - was told that Bill and Hillary had met at the Yale library.
"Gee," he replied. "That's amazing...I didn't know Yale had a library."
(Sorry....couldn't resist).
Years after he became president, former Eli - Dubya - was told that Bill and Hillary had met at the Yale library.
"Gee," he replied. "That's amazing...I didn't know Yale had a library."
(Sorry....couldn't resist).
14
The most disturbing part of Trump's ridiculous statements were the women who cheered it. Even if you love Trump the candidate - those comments should upset every woman who heard them. trumps sexist remakes perfectly illustrate why women still earn 79 cents to his dollar, why women over 50 have a brutally hard time finding employment and why once we hit 45 we are deemed invisible by the Trumps of the world. Thank you Ms Clinton for dealing us in!
458
She is the only choice! Thanks Gail for putting some humor into what is a frightening thought - Trump running for president...
13
D) In progressive rhetoric the white man is the other.
There have been sizeable gender gaps apparent in the last election. Colorado's special election comes to mind. It is just not the trendy gap to speak about.
Smart attack on identity politics. The pendulum can swing back in a cultural war. Anything to avoid policy would be wise from him. Independents may not love her or like the moralism of progressives but she is unquestionably a capable wonk.
But then that isn't the point of these opeds is it?
There have been sizeable gender gaps apparent in the last election. Colorado's special election comes to mind. It is just not the trendy gap to speak about.
Smart attack on identity politics. The pendulum can swing back in a cultural war. Anything to avoid policy would be wise from him. Independents may not love her or like the moralism of progressives but she is unquestionably a capable wonk.
But then that isn't the point of these opeds is it?
The truth can be painful and it is not gender biased.
4
Trump has been playing the angry white male card for some time now.
And if Trump were a real man he would have not gotten out of the draft by playing the bone spur card. He would have either been drafted, fled to Canada, or gone to prison.
Trump was dealt a royal flush at birth, but thinks he was handed a pair of deuces.
Come November, Donald will be left with a pair of aces and eights and will be sent packing back to reality TV.
And if Trump were a real man he would have not gotten out of the draft by playing the bone spur card. He would have either been drafted, fled to Canada, or gone to prison.
Trump was dealt a royal flush at birth, but thinks he was handed a pair of deuces.
Come November, Donald will be left with a pair of aces and eights and will be sent packing back to reality TV.
220
In life, you have to "dance with the one that brought you"...and nothing's been kinder to Donald Trump's political fortune - or Don Rickles' fortune - than the public insult.
Remember how Trump - one of the world's most successful professional bloviators - started his political campaign.
By championing the right-wing lie and insult of Barack Obama as a Kenyan-born bad guy to a bunch of rabid, right-wing white guys upset at the President's pigmentation who all secretly wished they could still dress up in white robes like they did in the good old days when America was 'great'.
One of 'low-energy' Jeb Bush's insightful assertions was that Trump cannot insult his way to the Presidency.
But Trump can insult his way to the Republican nomination....and he has.. because Republicans love to vote based on spite, animus, insults and ill will toward others.
Il Trumpolini's campaign against Mexicans, Muslims and for Male Chauvinism was a fine Angry White Male strategy for GOP Neanderthals...for the swimsuit portion of the Presidential pageant.
But as we enter the talent portion of the pageant, Mr. Trump will have to convince independents and some Democrats that a real estate gambler born with a silver spoon in his mouth and a platinum ego in his derriere will magically gold-plate America with his 'amazing' ideas, his 'terrific people' and his Trump branding of the Presidency.
Hillary Clinton is no bargain, but at least she's not another Trump bankruptcy filing waiting to happen.
Remember how Trump - one of the world's most successful professional bloviators - started his political campaign.
By championing the right-wing lie and insult of Barack Obama as a Kenyan-born bad guy to a bunch of rabid, right-wing white guys upset at the President's pigmentation who all secretly wished they could still dress up in white robes like they did in the good old days when America was 'great'.
One of 'low-energy' Jeb Bush's insightful assertions was that Trump cannot insult his way to the Presidency.
But Trump can insult his way to the Republican nomination....and he has.. because Republicans love to vote based on spite, animus, insults and ill will toward others.
Il Trumpolini's campaign against Mexicans, Muslims and for Male Chauvinism was a fine Angry White Male strategy for GOP Neanderthals...for the swimsuit portion of the Presidential pageant.
But as we enter the talent portion of the pageant, Mr. Trump will have to convince independents and some Democrats that a real estate gambler born with a silver spoon in his mouth and a platinum ego in his derriere will magically gold-plate America with his 'amazing' ideas, his 'terrific people' and his Trump branding of the Presidency.
Hillary Clinton is no bargain, but at least she's not another Trump bankruptcy filing waiting to happen.
1043
Socrates I love you!
8
Hillary Clinton is no bargain? It seems as though you've been drinking the Republican anti Hillary Kool-aid too. You disappoint me Socrates.
44
Gail, there could be a D) to your A, B and C. Like it or not, Trump was attempting to capture the misogynist votes. Like it or not, there are quite a few in America. Who knows, some could be women themselves! You know, people like Coulter and Bachmann.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but your colleague Maureen Dowd may be onto something when she mentioned in a column a long time ago that some people in this country actively vote against their self-interest. Seriously, how else can you explain 8 years of prosperity of the Clinton Administration could give way to 8 years of disaster of the Bush Administration? So people might blame it on Florida and the Supreme Court but there were social conservatives who said then they would forego economics for their ideologies. And boy, did they get their wish!
So after 8 years of recovery, some people are itching to careen America into the deep end again. Perhaps Trump could reuse his slogan of making America great again after 4 years of his administration if he was elected.
Back from the alternate future, I saw Gov Christie and his wife behind Trump on TV yesterday. I feel sorry for her. I feel worse for the people in NJ though. I mean, first Mr Christie nixed the 3rd tunnel, then the traffic jam, and the endless downgrade of the state credit ratings. Now their governor is becoming a prop for the snake oil salesman. Talking about humiliation!
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but your colleague Maureen Dowd may be onto something when she mentioned in a column a long time ago that some people in this country actively vote against their self-interest. Seriously, how else can you explain 8 years of prosperity of the Clinton Administration could give way to 8 years of disaster of the Bush Administration? So people might blame it on Florida and the Supreme Court but there were social conservatives who said then they would forego economics for their ideologies. And boy, did they get their wish!
So after 8 years of recovery, some people are itching to careen America into the deep end again. Perhaps Trump could reuse his slogan of making America great again after 4 years of his administration if he was elected.
Back from the alternate future, I saw Gov Christie and his wife behind Trump on TV yesterday. I feel sorry for her. I feel worse for the people in NJ though. I mean, first Mr Christie nixed the 3rd tunnel, then the traffic jam, and the endless downgrade of the state credit ratings. Now their governor is becoming a prop for the snake oil salesman. Talking about humiliation!
492
Trump remains the king of the regressive party because you have characters like Sen Cruz and Ms Florina. The only thing rational about the GOP is that it sees Mr Cruz the lesser of two evils. But really, if that is the best show of rationality, lord helps America. At least Trump could lock up the misogynist votes, Ms Florina has destroyed so many middle class families as a failed CEO, she could be an handicap for Cruz in California.
51
While New Jersey may be somewhat humiliating to some, try living in North Carolina!
21
Kentucky just elected a governor who promised to dismantle Obamacare, including our successful Medicaid expansion. Some of his strongest showings were in our poorest, most Medicaid-dependent counties.
Xenophobia's triumph over self-interest? You tell me.
Xenophobia's triumph over self-interest? You tell me.
16
Out of Tea Parties what can you get,
The Donald is their best ill met,
A minimal mind,
GOP designed,
With soulful Chris Christie, his pet.
A mouth that a barrel of soap
Would falter, unable to cope,
With misogyny dealing
To Discontents appealing,
Hellbent for that slippery slope.
The Donald is their best ill met,
A minimal mind,
GOP designed,
With soulful Chris Christie, his pet.
A mouth that a barrel of soap
Would falter, unable to cope,
With misogyny dealing
To Discontents appealing,
Hellbent for that slippery slope.
253
I suppose we can forgive Mr. Trump for not realizing that he’s a brainless buffoon. He’s got millions of voters in his thrall, ready to applaud his every childish taunt and cheer for his churlish insults. His comments don’t have to make sense. He doesn’t even have to speak in complete sentences for people to hoot and holler their approval.
So what if he makes an utterly absurd statement about Hillary Clinton? Making absurd statements is what he does, and he’s cruising to the Republican nomination in spite of (or is it because of?) his clueless condemnations. A serious politician might have criticized Hillary for accepting money from the Saudis, who have a less then sterling record when it comes to their treatment of women. Or he might have mentioned her hesitance to support a $15 minimum wage, which disproportionately impacts working women.
Instead, he criticizes her for simply being a woman, and in the process he demeans all women, including the ones standing by him, and cheering him on.
The problem with Trump is that he’s a joker who’s not playing with a full deck. That’s probably why he lets Christie stand behind him. At least he’s famous for having played a disastrous bridge game couple of years back. But when it comes to a showdown with the Republican front runner for his presidential bid, let’s hope that the country declares One, No Trump.
So what if he makes an utterly absurd statement about Hillary Clinton? Making absurd statements is what he does, and he’s cruising to the Republican nomination in spite of (or is it because of?) his clueless condemnations. A serious politician might have criticized Hillary for accepting money from the Saudis, who have a less then sterling record when it comes to their treatment of women. Or he might have mentioned her hesitance to support a $15 minimum wage, which disproportionately impacts working women.
Instead, he criticizes her for simply being a woman, and in the process he demeans all women, including the ones standing by him, and cheering him on.
The problem with Trump is that he’s a joker who’s not playing with a full deck. That’s probably why he lets Christie stand behind him. At least he’s famous for having played a disastrous bridge game couple of years back. But when it comes to a showdown with the Republican front runner for his presidential bid, let’s hope that the country declares One, No Trump.
792
Is America playing with a full deck? Our Country appears to be off-course as Trump comes down the track like 'American Pharoah', the latter a much more worthy winner.
The women suffering the aftermath of the Recession are the ones making a salary in upstate rural New York, while the men have been laid off. The former are often sporting a bruised expression and some are missing teeth.
Listening to some staunch elderly Republican men in the region, it all goes back to J.F.K. because Americans voted for his good looks? The Democrats are responsible for our boots covered in horse manure?
Voting for Trump, the cute 'Energizer Bunny' and motor-mouth, has a certain appeal it appears for some of us because the rancid political carrots he spews requires no thinking.
For some reason, I forget that Hillary Clinton is a woman. What is important for this American voter is that she is steadfast, supportive of women's rights, a stabilizing influence during these times when one wonders if America will emerge in one piece in November. We may be at one as a Nation in pondering over this state of affairs, and while hope springs eternal, please keep writing because there still may be time for many of us to grow up.
The women suffering the aftermath of the Recession are the ones making a salary in upstate rural New York, while the men have been laid off. The former are often sporting a bruised expression and some are missing teeth.
Listening to some staunch elderly Republican men in the region, it all goes back to J.F.K. because Americans voted for his good looks? The Democrats are responsible for our boots covered in horse manure?
Voting for Trump, the cute 'Energizer Bunny' and motor-mouth, has a certain appeal it appears for some of us because the rancid political carrots he spews requires no thinking.
For some reason, I forget that Hillary Clinton is a woman. What is important for this American voter is that she is steadfast, supportive of women's rights, a stabilizing influence during these times when one wonders if America will emerge in one piece in November. We may be at one as a Nation in pondering over this state of affairs, and while hope springs eternal, please keep writing because there still may be time for many of us to grow up.
20
Well played.
5
HRC does not resist a $15 minimum wage. She supports that, and more, where there is a realistic path to it. But clowns, and you Gemli, are increasingly donning the greasepaint, don't see the value of a united front in politics. HRC's association with the lower figure is due to her solidarity with Congressional Democrats who have picked a lower stepping stone.
Many Americans seem to have replaced religion with politics. Heretics are now those who disagree with them politically--forgetting, as they seem to do, that politics is the art of the possible. Religion it its various forms the trap of superstition, whether it is the religion of one orthodoxy or another.
Many Americans seem to have replaced religion with politics. Heretics are now those who disagree with them politically--forgetting, as they seem to do, that politics is the art of the possible. Religion it its various forms the trap of superstition, whether it is the religion of one orthodoxy or another.
19
"Trump and his companies have either sued or been sued at least 1,300 times since 2000"
http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2016-trump-lawsuits/
That works out to over 81 lawsuits a year or almost seven lawsuits each and every month. I don't even think a CEO holds meetings that often. Trump was essentially running his companies from courthouses.
We have someone running for president who possibly holds a record for the most lawsuits for and against him. I seriously can't believe anybody else has been involved in more lawsuits.
I'll take Hillary's woman's card over Trump's lawsuit card any day of the week and twice on Sunday. I only hope I will have the ability to sue his a** after he makes a mess of the U.S. of A.
http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2016-trump-lawsuits/
That works out to over 81 lawsuits a year or almost seven lawsuits each and every month. I don't even think a CEO holds meetings that often. Trump was essentially running his companies from courthouses.
We have someone running for president who possibly holds a record for the most lawsuits for and against him. I seriously can't believe anybody else has been involved in more lawsuits.
I'll take Hillary's woman's card over Trump's lawsuit card any day of the week and twice on Sunday. I only hope I will have the ability to sue his a** after he makes a mess of the U.S. of A.
511
Trump doesn't go to courthouses. His little people do that for him.
11
And this is the party whose only response to health-care costs is "greedy lawyers."
5
If women don't like Hillary, then it's a mystery why so many of them voted for her in the NY primary, where she received twice the votes that Trump received in his home state.
She has been consistent in her fight for women and families and has the strongest position on gender pay equity. Her call for pay transparency makes some business owners and executives shudder, precisely because it would expose unjustified inequities.
In the world inhabited by Trump and the sycophants who surround His Omnipotence as he jets from Trump resort to Trump tower to campaign stage, his views on women, minorities, workers and immigrants apparently aren't often challenged. Maybe that is why he thinks he is living in the 1950s.
Maybe no one told him that his view that women should be punished for having an abortion would be less than popular, for example.
She has been consistent in her fight for women and families and has the strongest position on gender pay equity. Her call for pay transparency makes some business owners and executives shudder, precisely because it would expose unjustified inequities.
In the world inhabited by Trump and the sycophants who surround His Omnipotence as he jets from Trump resort to Trump tower to campaign stage, his views on women, minorities, workers and immigrants apparently aren't often challenged. Maybe that is why he thinks he is living in the 1950s.
Maybe no one told him that his view that women should be punished for having an abortion would be less than popular, for example.
980
Please don't let the truth stand in the way of Donnie "Il Duce" Trumps opinions.
6
I think of Clinton as a known supporter of the X chromosome and those who carry it-
2
And his cards are up his sleeve.
1