Republican Party Representatives have done nothing but say no for 8 years. When you go on strike for that amount of time, this what happens. Voters are thinking that at least Trump will do something, while the rest of us fear just that.
53
But where does he fit in the Republican party?
How many Republican senators and congressmen subscribe to his political beliefs? Who can tell what those political beliefs are, from one week to the next?
How many Republican senators and congressmen subscribe to his political beliefs? Who can tell what those political beliefs are, from one week to the next?
10
I didn't think this would happen. The Repubs have their swords out and kneeling before the money Buddha getting ready to take their own lives. It couldn't happen to a nicer group of people.
17
I'm waiting for Trump to complain about the electoral college. Does he realize that the Presidency is NOT determined by popular vote or number of delegates?
13
America should be celebrating right now, rather than wringing its hands and asking itself where it went wrong. Rather than hanging our heads in shame before the rest of the world in such an overt display that maybe all our high-minded democratic rhetoric was just a lot of hot air, America should be rising to the task and confidently announcing to the same incredulous world: Look, if we can make this work, the rest of you can with regardless of what you've got to work with.
Maybe this is our chance to show the rest of the world we're made of - this generations WW2 moment, if you will.
What's that? No APP for this sort of thing? Well maybe if we used our hands and heads, for a change, and for possibly the first time, we'd see what we'd walked away from.
Maybe this is our chance to show the rest of the world we're made of - this generations WW2 moment, if you will.
What's that? No APP for this sort of thing? Well maybe if we used our hands and heads, for a change, and for possibly the first time, we'd see what we'd walked away from.
3
"G.O.P. Steps Deeper Into the Darkness"?
The GOP has been sliding into darkness for YEARS...
Willie Horton, Swift-boating, ketchup as a 'vegetable,' "voodoo economics" enshrined as legitimate policy (Paul Ryan now!), race-baiting and overtly racist bilge directed at the President of the United States, attempts to restrict voting rights, outrageous gerrymandering, and (perhaps worst of all) using gridlock and filibustering to utterly prevent the government from doing its most basic job: governing!
Our nation is failing, largely due to the GOP's "descent into darkness"! Sadly, they're spreading darkness all over our nation and the world and essentially making "the lights go out" all over our nation and the world (cf. Sir Edward Grey). They may not go on again in anyone's lifetime, unless things change!
The GOP has been sliding into darkness for YEARS...
Willie Horton, Swift-boating, ketchup as a 'vegetable,' "voodoo economics" enshrined as legitimate policy (Paul Ryan now!), race-baiting and overtly racist bilge directed at the President of the United States, attempts to restrict voting rights, outrageous gerrymandering, and (perhaps worst of all) using gridlock and filibustering to utterly prevent the government from doing its most basic job: governing!
Our nation is failing, largely due to the GOP's "descent into darkness"! Sadly, they're spreading darkness all over our nation and the world and essentially making "the lights go out" all over our nation and the world (cf. Sir Edward Grey). They may not go on again in anyone's lifetime, unless things change!
41
How sweet it is. The complete implosion of the party that scorns science and facts, hates anything non-white, denigrates women, and embraces war and not peace is nearly complete. How sweet it is. Thank you Mr. Trump!
31
Yes, it is a sad day for the USA but not a hopeless one. I would refer readers to the March 14, 2016, Volume 302, Number 11 of The Nation, specifically page 20, titled Bernie Sanders. The Foreign-Policy Realist. He s likened to George Kennan, Hans Morgenthau and (lately) Robert Gates.
4
"... House Republicans are developing a bold, pro-growth agenda to take to the country."
Lemme guess: Tax cuts for the filthy rich.
Lemme guess: Tax cuts for the filthy rich.
36
Centered in today's NYTimes online front page:
"Electoral Map Looks Challenging for Trump
Current polls show that Donald J. Trump has a lot of ground to make up against Hillary Clinton."
"Victory for Trump Has Some in G.O.P. Bolting
Some Republican operatives are so disgusted with their presumptive nominee that they will support Mrs. Clinton."
"G.O.P. Steps Deeper Into the Darkness
Instead of rejecting what Trump stands for, the Republican Party is falling in line behind his nomination."
"The Defeat of True Conservatism
With his victory over Ted Cruz in Indiana, Trump has beaten a second theory of the future of the G.O.P."
Wow. Panic in the streets. I can hardly wait to see how frantic this paper becomes when the true presidential race begins -- yet months off -- and Trump shows signs of, possibly, actually, winning.
Curious sidelight: Freedom House, a US-based organization which promotes freedom and democracy around the world, just downgraded Israel to "partly free" because it has one somewhat popular newspaper, Israel Hayom, that is a mouthpiece for its owner, Sheldon Adelson, who supports Netanyahu.
On that basis, they should be considering the effects of this dominant US newspaper and its attempts to manipulate the public, and downgrade the United States.
"Electoral Map Looks Challenging for Trump
Current polls show that Donald J. Trump has a lot of ground to make up against Hillary Clinton."
"Victory for Trump Has Some in G.O.P. Bolting
Some Republican operatives are so disgusted with their presumptive nominee that they will support Mrs. Clinton."
"G.O.P. Steps Deeper Into the Darkness
Instead of rejecting what Trump stands for, the Republican Party is falling in line behind his nomination."
"The Defeat of True Conservatism
With his victory over Ted Cruz in Indiana, Trump has beaten a second theory of the future of the G.O.P."
Wow. Panic in the streets. I can hardly wait to see how frantic this paper becomes when the true presidential race begins -- yet months off -- and Trump shows signs of, possibly, actually, winning.
Curious sidelight: Freedom House, a US-based organization which promotes freedom and democracy around the world, just downgraded Israel to "partly free" because it has one somewhat popular newspaper, Israel Hayom, that is a mouthpiece for its owner, Sheldon Adelson, who supports Netanyahu.
On that basis, they should be considering the effects of this dominant US newspaper and its attempts to manipulate the public, and downgrade the United States.
10
The smartest thing that Trump can do (not that he will) will be to pick up Bernie as a VP candidate. If he does that it will be checkmate for the democratic party.
That being said, I am well traveled and understand the needs of the Midwest and understand the mentality of the coasts (east/west) and get the international view (europe).
What people from the coasts and urban centers do not get is that after the tea party explosion and the fight over ACA and the financial mess, is that their needs were completely ignored. 100%
This vitriol that is being seen and being pushed outwards is the rest of America stating this is enough. You don't listen, you don't care, and your are ignorant to our needs. The hyperfocus on the individual though important does not out weigh the need to feed and cloth and provide for families, which Washington DC has not provided nor produced for the rest of the country.
So what happens .... Bernie and Trump. Call it the nuclear option. It is your right to be horrified and disgusted, but understand the rest of the country was backed into this corner and there is no more space to give.
I don't agree with the mentality or view ... but until the media and liberal leaning folks and democrats get this and figure out a way to really help those in the center/independents and liberal republicans. This is what is going to happen.
What I am really scared about is if Clinton is nominated and wins ... what these folks will do.
That being said, I am well traveled and understand the needs of the Midwest and understand the mentality of the coasts (east/west) and get the international view (europe).
What people from the coasts and urban centers do not get is that after the tea party explosion and the fight over ACA and the financial mess, is that their needs were completely ignored. 100%
This vitriol that is being seen and being pushed outwards is the rest of America stating this is enough. You don't listen, you don't care, and your are ignorant to our needs. The hyperfocus on the individual though important does not out weigh the need to feed and cloth and provide for families, which Washington DC has not provided nor produced for the rest of the country.
So what happens .... Bernie and Trump. Call it the nuclear option. It is your right to be horrified and disgusted, but understand the rest of the country was backed into this corner and there is no more space to give.
I don't agree with the mentality or view ... but until the media and liberal leaning folks and democrats get this and figure out a way to really help those in the center/independents and liberal republicans. This is what is going to happen.
What I am really scared about is if Clinton is nominated and wins ... what these folks will do.
7
Remember that Trump supporter that sucker punched a protestor In NC? One Mr. McGraw. In McGraw we have a man whose life story is analogous to that of a rodeo clown or a carnival worker. But he’s old enough to have lived in a time when it was enough to just be white. Even if you were down and out white trash you had the luxury of in an unassailable belief that you are better than other ‘non-whites’.
McGraw is emblematic of the failing white working class who, having been shut out of economic development (re: trickled-on economics, globalization), they turn to Fascism (white nationalism) and reactionary politics in direct proportion to their loss of economic, political, and social power to the political elites.
Through the allure of Trump's proto-fascism, McGraw, and legions of people like him, get to think of themselves as powerful again. That's why they don't give a damn about policy, or Trump's multitude of vulgarities, frauds, and lies. They only know that Trump offers to make them feel strong again.
You'll never see a clearer demonstration of fascism - except from the inside of a prison camp.
McGraw is emblematic of the failing white working class who, having been shut out of economic development (re: trickled-on economics, globalization), they turn to Fascism (white nationalism) and reactionary politics in direct proportion to their loss of economic, political, and social power to the political elites.
Through the allure of Trump's proto-fascism, McGraw, and legions of people like him, get to think of themselves as powerful again. That's why they don't give a damn about policy, or Trump's multitude of vulgarities, frauds, and lies. They only know that Trump offers to make them feel strong again.
You'll never see a clearer demonstration of fascism - except from the inside of a prison camp.
32
Who will want to be his running mate? I cannot imagine it would be anyone who is serious about a future career in politics.
18
The Republicans have made their bed. Now, they can lie in it (in all meanikngs of that word.)
7
True Conservatism has no place in today's age. It is a thing of the past and Trump has drove a sword through it's little heart. Is this was Trump meant when he said he will make America great again.
3
The media created this monster, and there's no way of getting away from it. Who gave him the millions worth of free publicity? Who sat back in abject silence while he roared on and on with no specifics about big walls and making American great? Who repeated his schoolyard slurs at rivals and made them into weapons? Who neglected real news in favor of Trump mindless rants? Megan Kelly was the only reporter who showed she had guts, and she had to put up with the usual anti-woman ridicule. If and when the media goes back to reporting and analyzing, not just typing, the country will be in better shape.
16
It is his Party, but it's loud, rude, unruly. Those party's are always shut down.
2
The Republican Party made a Faustian bargain: to win statehouses and control of Congress, they would promote racial animus, bigotry, fear-mongering and discontent. It worked, and they won big in the last election.
Now the devil is here to collect. Oh, Paulie... won't see him no more.
Now the devil is here to collect. Oh, Paulie... won't see him no more.
14
The Republican Party stopped being such in 1964. To keep calling it the "Party of Lincoln" stopped there too. They became the old South's Democratic Party. Flip #1. Flip #2 was to take that misnomer and use it to become the 'fundamentalist' and Tea Party. Many years ago the so-called "evangelists" (as they are more than just fundamentalists), admitted they were using the structure of the Republican Party because it was there to use. The Republican Party is long gone.
8
although I cannot support Trump, how can anybody support the current crop of representatives and senators when they revel in their three day work week? What example does that set for any young generation?
10
Indiana should be proud: this compares favorably with the election of Dan Quayle.
4
Party before loyalty to the nation. Disgraceful.
12
George W. Bush. Worst president ever? Perhaps, not.
8
It may be his party, but I'll cry if I want to, cry if I want to, cry if I want to. You should cry too as it happens to you.
5
A failure to plan is a plan to fail. The Grand Old Party has mastered that tactic and now has its hands full.
9
I would like to have seen the Republican leaders reject what Ted Cruz and his Tea Party stand for, namely widening the income gap at a time when we can least afford to do it.
6
I know too many educated people in NJ who have a deep dark secret: they are going to vote for Trump.
Why? Because they dabble in politics, taking their information from the very biased news channels. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, they actually deem Donald Trump as having more ethics and abilities than Hillary Clinton.
Good job, GOP. You did such a thorough job vilifying Hillary Clinton, than reasonable Americans now believe Donald Trump to actually have higher integrity than she does.
It's time for the Republican elders to look in the mirror and their own ethics. To ask themselves what they are first: Republicans or Patriots?
Because if the answer is patriot, the responsible thing to do is to endorse Hillary Clinton. Not because she is the end-all-be-all to their dreams but because Donald Trump is a disaster waiting to happen to ALL OF US, GOPs and Dems alike.
Lincoln's words have come to roost: divided we fall. united we stand.
Why? Because they dabble in politics, taking their information from the very biased news channels. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, they actually deem Donald Trump as having more ethics and abilities than Hillary Clinton.
Good job, GOP. You did such a thorough job vilifying Hillary Clinton, than reasonable Americans now believe Donald Trump to actually have higher integrity than she does.
It's time for the Republican elders to look in the mirror and their own ethics. To ask themselves what they are first: Republicans or Patriots?
Because if the answer is patriot, the responsible thing to do is to endorse Hillary Clinton. Not because she is the end-all-be-all to their dreams but because Donald Trump is a disaster waiting to happen to ALL OF US, GOPs and Dems alike.
Lincoln's words have come to roost: divided we fall. united we stand.
13
G-d Almighty, the whole thing reminds me of General Custer, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, with the American people playing the part of General Custer.
I wonder if the Chief Justice could refuse to swear Trump in on the grounds of general principles.
I wonder if the Chief Justice could refuse to swear Trump in on the grounds of general principles.
6
I didn't realize until now that The Walking Dead series was actually a political documentary.
3
Trump, thy name is pure profanity. Let us label the Uni9ted States of America differently while we still have the chance.
http://www.endthemadnessnow.org
http://www.endthemadnessnow.org
1
Yes it's Trumps party. Now he has to find qualified people to help him lead his party. Asked about a running mate Trump said (I paraphrase here) " It will have to be someone who knows how government works and knows how to pass legislation." I believe the POTUS should know these things before taking office. God help us if this guy wins.
10
The Republicans are reaping what they sow. I doubt they'll learn anything from Trump's rise and popularity. We'll still have obstructionists like Mitch McConnell in Congress who believes that accomplishing nothing is progress, and that the 1950's was a great era because everyone knew his or her place in society. No wonder voters are fed up. The party's arrogant approach seems to be, "We keep screaming our policies to the American people but they just don't hear us." It never seems to occur to them that maybe we Americans don't like those policies and prefer to tune them out.
3
Those who should know better (Huntsman, Rubio, etc.) fall in line behind Trump, putting party over country. Profiles in cowardice.
11
gonna sit this election out, I think.
I watched Trump's speech from Trump Tower using his own media control feed last night. As I told my wife, how tempting to support Trump: he put forth every gripe, fear, prejudice and suspicion the average middle-aged white guy has about the state of America circa 2016... just laid'em right out there, cloaked in a nationalistic fury, and implied he had a fix for all of those problems, fears and suspicions without giving even the slightest hint of who, what, why, when, where or how.
But we are going to be so happy, and we are going to get so used to winning, and Bobby Knight is going to be vice-President. We are going to be great, and anybody who disagrees with Trump is a loser and will be shouted down.
But we are going to be so happy, and we are going to get so used to winning, and Bobby Knight is going to be vice-President. We are going to be great, and anybody who disagrees with Trump is a loser and will be shouted down.
6
The whole narrative will change when after the Republican convention John Kasich announce an independent campaign with Mayor Bloomberg as his VP candidate.
I could vote for that ticket.
I could vote for that ticket.
1
The intellectual vanguard of the current GOP is a bunch of former disc jockeys, wannabes and also-rans, and we'e surprised this happened? Really?
5
Didn't the GOP claim that they were going to fix what's wrong in America six years ago? That's what they said, but the reality is that they did nothing to improve the lives of Americans, except for a handful at the very top. How Americans can fall for this line every few years amazes me. I reckon that we're going to have to hit the very bottom before we can reverse direction. Sadly many people will have their lives turned upside down when we get there.
3
The inmates have taken over the asylum but it is good news for America...Hilary will clean his clock in the general election. The uneducated angry voters who voted for Trump would do well to go back to school and find out how a viable democracy works. I suggest viewing the 7-part "John Adams" series to see what kind of men formed our country. A Trump-like buffoon was nowhere to be seen.
8
Donald John Trump is Jefferson Davis plus Woodrow Wilson plus Strom Thurmond plus Barry Goldwater plus Richard Nixon plus Gerald Ford plus Ronald Reagan plus George H.W. Bush plus George W. Bush plus a multibillionaire media and real estate empire minus any acting ability, political experience and euphemism.
4
Evidently the GOP establishment are now pinning their hopes on 2020 election. Good luck fellas. Hillary will win this year and her vice president will capture the next two elections.
1
It appears Paul Ryan may expend his political career telling us what he's going to do.
4
I wouldn't call what's happening to the GOP, suicide.
It's more like an overdose.
And overdose of fear mongering, race baiting, and out an out paranoia that the GOP has been engaged in since at least the days of Nixon.
You can't chase the dragon for decades without some lasting damage.
RIP GOP...you won't be missed.
It's more like an overdose.
And overdose of fear mongering, race baiting, and out an out paranoia that the GOP has been engaged in since at least the days of Nixon.
You can't chase the dragon for decades without some lasting damage.
RIP GOP...you won't be missed.
7
"Mr. Trump, who would be the most volatile and least prepared presidential candidate nominated by a major party in modern times"
Sounds like Barack. In fact it is Barack, even after 7-1/2 years of on the job training.
President Trump will be fine, and he really doesn't care a lot about what the NYT has to say.
And BTW, did you notice Clinton lost another open primary? That's like the third one, she lost them all.
The independents, and a huge chunk of her party, doesn't want to vote for her.
Sounds like Barack. In fact it is Barack, even after 7-1/2 years of on the job training.
President Trump will be fine, and he really doesn't care a lot about what the NYT has to say.
And BTW, did you notice Clinton lost another open primary? That's like the third one, she lost them all.
The independents, and a huge chunk of her party, doesn't want to vote for her.
2
Well, Bernie's supporters will pick our next president after all. If they vote for HRC, she'll win. If they register their protest by not voting, then Trump will win. Fortunately polls are showing that they plan to hold their noses and vote HRC. It's an awesome responsibility.
6
Donald isn't a real Republican. He isn't a wingnut, but let us face it, most of his base isn't wingnut, either. His base knows they've been done wrong economically, be it a treaty that closes a factory, or the simple fact every transaction a middle class person does has an MBA going over it with the idea "how can we wring $5 more out of them ?". Donald only ran as an R because the US Political system allows Team A or Team B, but fights off Team C like an infection. When he magically backtracks from some of the more wingnut positions, only the primary voters will care, and they don't carry the general election no matter how noisy they are.
1
People keep talking about Trump as if he is some sort of mistake. But, in fact, he perfectly embodies Republican ideals. Ultra-rich, white, xenophobic, you-name-the-ism: what more could they ask for?
5
The GOP is darkness, has been for a while now and darkness has come full circle.
2
For Republicans, for whom self-enrichment is more important than anything including country, winning is everything. Just wait and see, once they apply a little lipstick, Republicans will have no trouble convincing themselves that Trump isn't a pig after all.
3
Most the complaints uttered here apply, quite aptly and quite hypocritically, to the Democratic establishment: failing to account, not "grappling," "falling into line," as "myopic as ever", etc. The lazybrain cowardly establishment Democrats, with the New York Times in vanguard, are lining up to obsess on months of nauseatingly mind-numbing dynastic coronation hurrahs to cheer on as first female president one of the oldest, most nepotistic and opportunistic, and least trustworthy American politicians ever.
2
Given a choice between a dangerous con man and the devil incarnate, Republicans have chosen the con man. I guess that shows good judgment?
2
The number of people on the GOP side of the aisle who seem to think their election to office turns them into Kings is just amazing.
So let's out some of the Democrats now.
So let's out some of the Democrats now.
Move over Washington, Jefferson. For what he's doing to the republican establishment, and that would have to include the Clintons, he deserves a spot on Mount Rushmore
I think it's premature - not to mention ahistorical - for so many commentators to be saying that Trump will destroy the Republican Party for a generation.
Just four years after the Barry Goldwater debacle (lost 44 states + DC), a Republican was in the White House.
And just four years after George McGovern's 49-state blowout loss, a Democrat was in the White House.
And Trump has not, by any means, even lost this year's election yet. No matter how things look today, this election is not a foregone conclusion. Voters should never go to sleep on any election, ever.
Just four years after the Barry Goldwater debacle (lost 44 states + DC), a Republican was in the White House.
And just four years after George McGovern's 49-state blowout loss, a Democrat was in the White House.
And Trump has not, by any means, even lost this year's election yet. No matter how things look today, this election is not a foregone conclusion. Voters should never go to sleep on any election, ever.
5
The only way this could get any scarier for the Republican party was if Mr. Trump choose the equally crass Ms. Ann Coulter, as his VP.
5
Donald Trump now has a 50% chance of becoming the next leader of the free world. To most, perhaps even to himself, this is odd, even bizarre. But the Framers of the Constitution planned it this way. The field is open to anyone, statesman or otherwise. As long as you're a natural born citizen age 35 and over who's lived here at least 14 years, you're free to compete for for the job. No minimum SAT scores or GPA required. Trump competed. America watched and reacted. And now, here he is, a slew of professional politicians vanquished in his wake. Only one contest yet remains. Let's see what happens and then move on.
1
The problem everyone seems to miss and/or ignore if that both the parties are more concerned with getting their "man" in office than actually fixing this country.
But the Republican Party is no longer the party of Lincoln, nor has it been for some time. It is, or was as of last year, the party of Thurmond.
2
Much of what Trump says and what he stands for are what the Republican elite have suggested obliquely to their base for the last 25 years. If they believed their own propaganda, they should love Trump, but of course they have actually misled. Although expressed in far more palatable terms, the same is true of the Democratic elite.
2
Question resounding scientific evidence on evolution or climate change. Pretend that loose gun laws lowers gun deaths when the evidence shows the opposite. Pretend that lowering taxes will help balance a government budget. You become the party of stupidity. And so here is your king - the most unashamedly stupid and lazy candidate possible.
7
Paul Ryan's limp comments to the Georgetown University student reminds me of my favorite Dilbert cartoon, that goes, "We need a plan for making our plan. Then we need to plan the plan's planny plan."
9
Good Riddance to the GOP! You know, I can't help but think [and these are loose estimations] the tremendous amount of money wasted on these clowns: JEB $140 million, Ted $75 million, Kasich $45 million... If the Republican standard is Christian values a'la charitable donations- think of all the "good will" they could have demonstrated by simply handing this money over to legitimate, charitable organizations like the Salvation Army, a Veterans Fund, Red Cross, or Doctors Without Borders. Instead they blew it on 3 complete buffoons who are no more deserving of the Presidential Office than Donald Trump.
5
Democrats are toast: 50% less primary votes than in 2008. Hillary herself got 50% less votes against Obama in '08. GOP, meanwhile, has a 60% increase in primary voting.
Let those numbers sink in.
Let those numbers sink in.
2
I did not expect this. But, in retrospect, it makes sense that the party that thought Sarah Palin was qualified to be Vice-President could think that Donald Trump is qualified to be President.
9
Trump can fool some of the GOP all of the time.
He can't fool all of the people all of the time.
But can he fool enough of the people some of the time (November)?
Forget the problems that the party of Trump has created for themselves.
It's the country that matters here.
He can't fool all of the people all of the time.
But can he fool enough of the people some of the time (November)?
Forget the problems that the party of Trump has created for themselves.
It's the country that matters here.
4
It's no surprise that the GOP hierarchy chooses to recover its control from within. The question is, can it?
The NY Times Editorial Board just does not get it, just like most of their opinion writers and the rest of the news media in general.
The Trump candidacy success has nothing to do with the Republican Party. In fact it has nothing to do with any party. It is a reflection that a large section of American Society is fed up with BOTH parties and with ALL the established so-called statesmen.
America has deep problems that need to be addresses. In many instances we need to try things to deal with them. Some of those things will work and some will not. But, because of narrow ideological lenses of both parties and a willingness to put re-election ahead of the good of the county by trying something that the "other" puts forward...we are in the mess we are in.
People do not care what Trump says. It is the fact that he is not part of the existing group of so-called statesmen that matters.
Just as the people who took polls last years and doubted Trump could ever get this far, I think everyone is sticking their head in the sand as to his ability to beat Clinton in the general election.
Trump is going to be our next president as both existing parties have become worthless to the real world of solving problems no matter from where the ideas come from.
The Trump candidacy success has nothing to do with the Republican Party. In fact it has nothing to do with any party. It is a reflection that a large section of American Society is fed up with BOTH parties and with ALL the established so-called statesmen.
America has deep problems that need to be addresses. In many instances we need to try things to deal with them. Some of those things will work and some will not. But, because of narrow ideological lenses of both parties and a willingness to put re-election ahead of the good of the county by trying something that the "other" puts forward...we are in the mess we are in.
People do not care what Trump says. It is the fact that he is not part of the existing group of so-called statesmen that matters.
Just as the people who took polls last years and doubted Trump could ever get this far, I think everyone is sticking their head in the sand as to his ability to beat Clinton in the general election.
Trump is going to be our next president as both existing parties have become worthless to the real world of solving problems no matter from where the ideas come from.
3
From distilling the comments of various would be Trump voters below, their rationale for voting for Trump is simply the promise of removing the Republican Party from standing in its own way and the nation's in implementing any legislation of any kind - other than bills restricting abortion or transgender access to public bathroom facilities.
Donald Trump - running on the dog whistle amalgam default of Talk-Radio combined with America's most Wanted and the Shopping Network, promises to ''Make America Grate Again'' - Just put the cheese in over here and hold it over your pizza and put in the oven. . .
The magic ingredient they are selling - is to elect the obstruction rather than remove it. This seems like a very unsound medical procedure.
Donald Trump - running on the dog whistle amalgam default of Talk-Radio combined with America's most Wanted and the Shopping Network, promises to ''Make America Grate Again'' - Just put the cheese in over here and hold it over your pizza and put in the oven. . .
The magic ingredient they are selling - is to elect the obstruction rather than remove it. This seems like a very unsound medical procedure.
2
The Republican Party is dead. It is beyond comprehension that they, in the highest echelons expected more than what has been presented. This is a low point for America.
3
It has been more than the Republican Party's failings that has made Donald Trump's ascension possible.
Decades of Democratic Party indifference to working people and the adverse effects on them of unfettered immigration, along with trade deals designed mainly for corporate America have been part of the problem.
But it is the absolute surrender of the progressive movement to the purveyors of Identity politics that has driven blue collar America into the arms of an ignorant loud-mouth from Manhattan.
We the people who retain some traditional values believe that all of our neighbors deserve respect until proven otherwise, but are sick to death of being told we need some guy in skinny jeans to come and teach us about diversity. We could care less who someone else sleeps with but would fight with our last breath to prevent some confused teenager with a ding-a-ling from showering with our daughters. We think that diversity in all avenues of life is a good thing, but competency should never be sacrificed on the altar of some fuzzy idea of fairness. We respect hard working people who get rich, but will never understand how it is that no one on Wall Street had to pay for the crimes against us they committed.
If - God forbid - Trump should become President - it will have more to do with the myopia and cowardice of the left than anything the Republicans did or did not do.
Decades of Democratic Party indifference to working people and the adverse effects on them of unfettered immigration, along with trade deals designed mainly for corporate America have been part of the problem.
But it is the absolute surrender of the progressive movement to the purveyors of Identity politics that has driven blue collar America into the arms of an ignorant loud-mouth from Manhattan.
We the people who retain some traditional values believe that all of our neighbors deserve respect until proven otherwise, but are sick to death of being told we need some guy in skinny jeans to come and teach us about diversity. We could care less who someone else sleeps with but would fight with our last breath to prevent some confused teenager with a ding-a-ling from showering with our daughters. We think that diversity in all avenues of life is a good thing, but competency should never be sacrificed on the altar of some fuzzy idea of fairness. We respect hard working people who get rich, but will never understand how it is that no one on Wall Street had to pay for the crimes against us they committed.
If - God forbid - Trump should become President - it will have more to do with the myopia and cowardice of the left than anything the Republicans did or did not do.
4
Trump may not intend to be but he is an old fashioned man on horseback type of authoritarian leader in the tradition of dictators since the French Revolution. Political parties that have become the vehicle for such leaders do not survive the end of their terms of leadership. If Trump becomes President and does not resign after a year, which he is likely to do, the Republican Party will likely be unrecognizable in four years.
3
Two Trump Statements regarding foreign policy are selling me.
Under Obama "We’ve made the Middle East more unstable and chaotic than ever before. We left Christians subject to intense persecution and even genocide." The Christian part was omitted by most media
strengthening the military and cutting back on foreign adventures sounds impossible until one recalls our policy of "Peace through Strength" Sure beats "red lines' and incrementalism.
Under Obama "We’ve made the Middle East more unstable and chaotic than ever before. We left Christians subject to intense persecution and even genocide." The Christian part was omitted by most media
strengthening the military and cutting back on foreign adventures sounds impossible until one recalls our policy of "Peace through Strength" Sure beats "red lines' and incrementalism.
1
Come now he is going to be the Republican candidate for president. He is not in total control of the Republican party especially at the state and local level. Nobody controls the party since it is not run from the top only.
It really makes my skin crawl to think this really repulsive creep with the air head trophy wife attached to his arm ever has the remote possibility of being elected President of the United States.
6
What's happening in the GOP at the moment is just fascinating to watch, especially for me as a German. So a highly popular demagogue has emerged. He's mostly on the left concerning the economy (aka socialism), but on the far right on security, immigration and minority rights (aka nationalism). The political elite has tried to contain him, and now, when they realize that they failed, they rally behind him and hope that he can be controlled. The parallels are uncanny, really. Just make sure you don't take the last step and elect him as your leader. Don't repeat that part as well. The irony would be delicious, but no good will come of it, believe me.
4
I woke up to this news and feel sick. And I am terrified Trump can win. In particular, I am terrified of how young people will vote. For a variety of reasons, they "don't like Clinton." More generally, coarsened by our ugly popular culture--a culture in which a man who behaves and talks like Trump is the norm--coming of age in a rigged system that offering them dead-end jobs, instead of life-long careers, hopelessly saddled with debt by over-the-top costs for higher education, this is a demographic group that is ripe for a demagogue like Trump.
2
I have commented before and I will again - Voters are not voting for Donald Trump, they are voting against Washington.
In my profession, engineering, when something goes wrong, we look for the root cause and don't try to correct symptoms. Trump is a symptom. Business as usual in Washington is the root cause.
In my profession, engineering, when something goes wrong, we look for the root cause and don't try to correct symptoms. Trump is a symptom. Business as usual in Washington is the root cause.
2
This has gone from weird to scary now. And I am sure the Republicans do have a plan for Congress. If the Dems win they will continue to block every bill, every suggestion, every attempt to address the nation's problems. I see no hope for the future of the US, no matter what happens in November.
2
Donald shattered the establishment of this insular party essentially by shooting from the hip and winging it. Amazing.
Mrs. Clinton must not underestimate this man who always seems to defy conventional political wisdom. She should assume it will be a close, bruising race. Fortunately, she's one of the most resilient, battle scarred creatures in modern political history.
Mrs. Clinton must not underestimate this man who always seems to defy conventional political wisdom. She should assume it will be a close, bruising race. Fortunately, she's one of the most resilient, battle scarred creatures in modern political history.
2
Our political 2 party system is failing the American public. There is an unprecedented number of voters who choose not to be affiliated with either party (Democrat or Republican). Given their choice, both Hillary and Trump would be defeated.
Closed primaries must end.
Closed primaries must end.
2
First of all I am not a Republican. I'm a registered Democrat. That being said, I am fascinated with watching the Republican Party destroy itself from the inside.
How can a major political party not take someone, even someone as fringe as Trump seriously after he won a series of early primaries. Once he got momentum it was hard to stop him, however, the party did not even make an effort until it was way too late in the game.
Now it is like watching a speeding freight train heading for a cliff with no one able to stop it until it goes over the edge. I believe we have seen the last of the Republican Party as we know it and they have no one to blame but themselves.
RIP
How can a major political party not take someone, even someone as fringe as Trump seriously after he won a series of early primaries. Once he got momentum it was hard to stop him, however, the party did not even make an effort until it was way too late in the game.
Now it is like watching a speeding freight train heading for a cliff with no one able to stop it until it goes over the edge. I believe we have seen the last of the Republican Party as we know it and they have no one to blame but themselves.
RIP
3
I have watched many political races and can honestly say that we are lucky to have a man like Donald Trump running for president. First he is a business, media and people savvy genius - he really is! Think of it when he announced I truly believe in the back of his mind he knew this was not a joke, he was running to win! He put forth his opponents weaknesses! None of his opponents ever created a single job! This country as Mr. Trump says is losing jobs by the masses to unfair and more savvy government leaders. We need the best in our government, persons like Mr. Trump who know how businesses work, know how to create jobs and are not naive. The last 7.5 years have been a complete destruction of American jobs, companies in the United States have no incentives to keep jobs here or bring money back. It is ludicrous to think the policies of the past are good for our country - they are not! all the pundits that say tariffs dont work have never visited Japan - there are no American cars on the roads there same for Korea and Germany. The fact is that all capitalist countries play dirty and help their own industries. We need to do this. We need to put an end to outsourcing jobs. We need to make it difficult for top management in companies to raise their compensations by sending jobs overseas- in Japan the goal is to give every worker life time employment and security. We need to a country that supports our workers and not the top management of a company.
So it has finally come down to Hill vs. Professor Harold Hill. Mr. Trump is completely unfit and unprepared for the White House. In addition to being a demagogue, he is nowhere near as rich as he claims (why won't he release his tax returns?), he avoided service during Vietnam, he stoked the ridiculous Birther claims. One could go on and on. But I am angry at Hill for screwing up what should have been a cakewalk. Her and her husband's astounding money grab, the absurd email arrangement that anyone who works in an office knows was inappropriate, all the little white lies that seem to have little benefit even if they were true. One could go on and on. But she is very capable and knowledgeable. So I pray that she makes it to the White House.
3
When will the ultra conseervatives wake up to the fact that their policies do nothing but dupport the ultra rich rent seekers. Doubling down on lassiez faire policies while ignoring the national disintegration of infrastructure, the middle class a
2
I can only image what kind of platform the Republicans will present at their convention. Will it be as disjointed and incomprehensible as Trump's foreign policy speech a few weeks ago?
5
Ryan says
"We do not like the direction the country is going, and we have an obligation to offer an alternative. That’s why House Republicans are developing a bold, pro-growth agenda to take to the country. By giving the people a clear choice in 2016, we can earn a mandate to do big things in 2017 and beyond.”
What does that really mean (if anything)?
Not exactly a party of "ideas."
"We do not like the direction the country is going, and we have an obligation to offer an alternative. That’s why House Republicans are developing a bold, pro-growth agenda to take to the country. By giving the people a clear choice in 2016, we can earn a mandate to do big things in 2017 and beyond.”
What does that really mean (if anything)?
Not exactly a party of "ideas."
5
If it wasn’t so disastrous, embarrassing, and unbelievable, it would be laughable. The conservatives reaped what they sowed by feeding a continuous stream of lies for years to their constituents. Now they have a real problem – how to convince an emotional tidal wave to change direction.
5
What never ceases to amaze me is how Donald Trump can say something that a great number of Americans agree with, like enforcing the borders, but equally great numbers of Democrats and the press go into spasms of disgust. I could be wrong, but if the strategy is to villainize Trump while not thoughtfully responding to his policy initiatives, I think it will fail. You may disagree with Trump, but the election results so far show that a great number of Americans agree with him. To refuse to debate the merits and just make ad hominem attacks on the man, is to risk a GOP landslide.
4
All the Kings men and all the Kings horses could not stop Trump from getting to this point. Try as the NYT Editorial Board has, along with the stop Trump crowd which included all of the media and the elite from both parties, to stop Trump from becoming the GOP nominee they have failed to stop the will of the people. How does it feel to lose so much power to, in your words, "a Clown"? Trump no longer has to attack his GOP rivals and can focus on "Crooked" Hillary, the NYT choice, from now on. Hillary has been running for President for about 10 years now and is being given a real run for her money by a relatively unknown Bernie Sanders. Time will tell how she will actually do against Trump. Of course that is if she doesn't get charged by the FBI for her deliberately reckless handling of government classified and secret information. We all know Hillary should be charged but that may never happen for political reasons. Regardless of whether she is charged or not, we know we do not want such a reckless person who can't tell the truth be President of the United States again. That would be two in a row.
2
Low Information voters are setting the table in 2016.
The Republicans have been courting voters by appealing to their fears and anger for at least a generation have now seen their scheme manifested in one Donald J Trump. The operatives on the Democratic Party have been selling a War Hawk, NeoLiberal Insider who has little support outside of her true believes as the only real chance they have in 2016- one Hillary Rodham Clinton - a.k.a. "The Goldwater Girl" d.b.a. A Progressive That Likes To Get Things Done.
No Thank You.
Thanks to the endless pounding of the meme that Bernie is unelectable and unqualified by the New York Times and every Beltway institution the Democrats look poised to nominate someone who might well lose to Trump over someone who beats him handily. If the goal of Democrats was to retain the White House they would be better served by Senator Sanders rather than the worst and most inept Secretary of State in modern history who left office with the entire Muslim World on fire and a resurgent Russia scaring Eastern Europe witless.
Hillary is no Democrat and Trump no Republican. Neither is worthy of the office.
The Republicans have been courting voters by appealing to their fears and anger for at least a generation have now seen their scheme manifested in one Donald J Trump. The operatives on the Democratic Party have been selling a War Hawk, NeoLiberal Insider who has little support outside of her true believes as the only real chance they have in 2016- one Hillary Rodham Clinton - a.k.a. "The Goldwater Girl" d.b.a. A Progressive That Likes To Get Things Done.
No Thank You.
Thanks to the endless pounding of the meme that Bernie is unelectable and unqualified by the New York Times and every Beltway institution the Democrats look poised to nominate someone who might well lose to Trump over someone who beats him handily. If the goal of Democrats was to retain the White House they would be better served by Senator Sanders rather than the worst and most inept Secretary of State in modern history who left office with the entire Muslim World on fire and a resurgent Russia scaring Eastern Europe witless.
Hillary is no Democrat and Trump no Republican. Neither is worthy of the office.
4
Many, many commenters are saying that Trump, and GOP voters in general are "dumber," or not as smart as the super smart folks who vote for democrats. Bow is a link to the left-leaning fivethirtyeight blog. Trump voters make 20% more than Hillary voters. And it's long known wealthier suburbs, even in true blue Massachusetts vote GOP. So how are these people uniformed, angry, and dumb Nytimes commenters??? Are these people somehow able to make more money and be financially better off but at the same time be dumber than the Deomocrats who apparently can't compete with them?
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-mythology-of-trumps-working-clas...
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-mythology-of-trumps-working-clas...
I think an important point is being missed in the circus of these Republican primaries, i.e., it's time to reconsider the power and influence of the Tea Party, Christian Evangelists and the hard right . If they cannot defeat a clown like Trump then they surely do not represent much of the general population.
The Democratic Party has its own "trek into darkness" with Clinton the presumptive nominee.
Many Democrats are unenthusiastic supporting an oligarch, considered dishonest and unethical by many, who would be soundly defeated by Sanders if not for voters who believe that OJ Simpson was innocent of murder.
Many Democrats are unenthusiastic supporting an oligarch, considered dishonest and unethical by many, who would be soundly defeated by Sanders if not for voters who believe that OJ Simpson was innocent of murder.
3
The Republicans have forgotten what it's like to be "Moderate". So have the Democrats. Most Americans want middle of the road, and some common sense solutions to this country's daunting economic and social problems. Trump is the answer for those people. He is not stupid. He knows how to play the game, and will beat Hillary, and it doesn't matter what he does to get there because in the end a new Republican populist and national party will set the rules for a political establishment that's been corrupt for years.
1
It's terrifying really. I think, "it will be OK in the end because Clinton will beat him." That is the rational outcome. But all of this doesn't feel rational! We've got six months for the fever to break and buyer's remorse to set in for all of his voters. At least we don't have to worry about Cruz any more. He would have been the most dangerous person nominating people for the Supreme Court, because he understands that world. He'd have nominated Bork after Bork until one got through.
3
The GOP has been sick at its core for decades. The ghost of Lee Atwater re-emerged in all of the mini-demagogues, the so called Tea Party, the GOP has in Congress and in state houses throughout the land. They were elected by the GOP media arms -- Rush Limbaugh and his mean spirited ilk, Fox/Murdoch/Ailes -- who whipped citizens into a frenzy on social issues so they could ignore the day to day economic realities of their lives. The GOP has nothing to offer but divisiveness at all costs. Trump is their guy.
2
The least prepared? I doubt it. Just go back to thee future and read Gail Sheey's Vanity Fair article (March 7, 2007).
Hillary's "march to the nomination" is more like and exhausted stagger at this point.
2
I'm trying to be optimistic: At least we can be certain that this will be an entertaining campaign. The news media will be thrilled. Trump means big ratings and lots of ad revenue. New York is going to be relevant, with 2 home state candidates. Israel will have 2 candidates with Jewish family members to bring a voice of compassion to the future president's ear.
OK, I am really just scared. Both candidates are weak and it is just sad that this is the best that America can offer.
OK, I am really just scared. Both candidates are weak and it is just sad that this is the best that America can offer.
1
It is time for Hilary to find a nick name for Mr. Trump.. like his" Lyin Ted" or
" Little Marco" slams. How about the "Wizard of Oz" as a refernce to the dog pulling back the curtain on an ordinary man exposed by a simple dog.
Because this is what will happen if Trump is President. He may be able to make land deals arpound the world with men like himself. But his limps will shrink
his first go round at the diplomatic table… He will be pounding his fists at any middle east get together and sadly and most frieghtenly the "Wizard" may pull the wrong lever as his frustration with real diplomacy ..not like scams on building sites that eventually teter on bankruptcy become. But the lives he will be responsible for as he contemplates more war. … What about "Rosebud"
" Little Marco" slams. How about the "Wizard of Oz" as a refernce to the dog pulling back the curtain on an ordinary man exposed by a simple dog.
Because this is what will happen if Trump is President. He may be able to make land deals arpound the world with men like himself. But his limps will shrink
his first go round at the diplomatic table… He will be pounding his fists at any middle east get together and sadly and most frieghtenly the "Wizard" may pull the wrong lever as his frustration with real diplomacy ..not like scams on building sites that eventually teter on bankruptcy become. But the lives he will be responsible for as he contemplates more war. … What about "Rosebud"
1
The Times editorial writers missed the point of this primary season. The people are angry at Republicans AND Democrats because they collude and work for the big money boys on Wall Street and the George Soroses of the world. HRC is old school and cannot win with this electorate. Trump will gain 20% or more of the Sanders' voters when he loses the nomination. Honesty and integrity won last night. Trump is just a vehicle, a convenient vehicle to move the revolution. Watch how quickly the RINOs move to support him as they try to save their own skins. Money was the big loser last night. The people said, simply, you cannot buy me anymore.
10
Republicans for Hillary. It is the GOP's only hope of salvaging the mess they have created. I would give them some respect if they supported Hillary and spent the next four years working with the president for the benefit of the people of this nation rather than the benefit of their own self-importance.
57
As a lifelong Democrat I know I should be filled with glee at this turn of events because I truly believe that the American people are too good and too smart to fall for this con man. But the prospect of the upcoming fight fills me with dread. It's going to be ugly folks.
48
I'm not sure how he managed to pull it off but Trump will be the nominee. I wanted a candidate who had been a governor, Bush or Kasich. I didn't get it. I will support Trump with my vote in November. Why? Because I could never support Hillary or Bernie. I say again you only get to choose from the candidates that choose to run. In todays world you have to be slightly insane to go through the process of running for president. Our friends in the media have a lot to do with the nastiness of the process. We the people get what we deserve. Good luck everybody but keep in mind we so far survived Obama.
2
The downward spiral of the GOP started with the Republican revolution led by Newt Gingrich who shut down the government, evolved into the Tea Party conservatives led by Ted Cruz, who shut down the government, and now the metamorphosis is complete with Donald Trump being the standard bearer.
You reap what you sow.
You reap what you sow.
2
“Maybe he’s trainable.”
In other words, Trump himself is "The Celebrity Apprentice."
In other words, Trump himself is "The Celebrity Apprentice."
22
Trump's ascendancy is America's Waterloo.
4
Help! We are going overseas shortly for two weeks and all our friends over there can say is "You Americans have lost your minds!" What should we say to them?
3
That dustbin of history is going to getting mighty full...
Is Paul Ryan endorsing Donald Trump as the nominee and de facto Party leader or not? Is the Party's nominee for President the voice, the leader and the very moral/value compass of the Party or not? Just like the Democratic Party is about to become the Party of Hillary Clinton, so too The Republican Party is now the Party of Donald Trump. You break it - you own it. Time for Dems and Repubs to own it, and state we are what we are and there is no turning back.
Dearest The Donald:
1. Can't wait to see ya when you try to debate the Democratic nominee.
2. Can't wait to see ya in that lion's cage that will be the GOP convention.
3. Can't wait to see ya lose in a landslide this November.
In a phrase, Mr. The Donald: Wouldn't wanna be ya.
1. Can't wait to see ya when you try to debate the Democratic nominee.
2. Can't wait to see ya in that lion's cage that will be the GOP convention.
3. Can't wait to see ya lose in a landslide this November.
In a phrase, Mr. The Donald: Wouldn't wanna be ya.
5
Republicans have made a mockery of democracy, religion and the United States of America. We are worried about ISIS and foreign enemies while the worst of it has already infiltrated American politics destroying everything good this country stands for from within. Trump is a perfect example of “you always get what you deserve in the end.
3
Better than a Sacha Baron Cohen movie.
4
What does Trump stand for? Who knows. But, his vague and oft-shifting policies barely resemble anything the present Republican Party stands for. He has shown nothing but disdain and disrespect to all of the GOP standardbearers in the primary. Now, they want to back him?
1
Trump is a buffoon. But...
When did it become xenophobic or isolationist to take a practical stand against ILLEGAL immigration and the importation of potential terrorists?
I would rather eat dirt, but I may have to vote for him because Hillary turns my stomach.
When did it become xenophobic or isolationist to take a practical stand against ILLEGAL immigration and the importation of potential terrorists?
I would rather eat dirt, but I may have to vote for him because Hillary turns my stomach.
3
Trump is already selecting his cabinet ... based on how hot their wives are.
4
I'm Pumped for Trump. He's a great, great man, isn't he?
He's started with so little. Yet he's done nothing but win all his life; and he's going to make me and every other loser out there a winner.
He's got a plan that will eliminate ISIS in a heartbeat; I know he does. He told me so. He could share it with world leaders today, and ISIS would be gone tomorrow...but he's too smart for that.
He's gonna make American great again...and he can do it all by himself. He's been making American great for decades. Look at all the amazing, amazing things that he has created. Golf courses, casinos, luxury hotels. They're great. Most of them have spas.
Everybody loves him; who wouldn't? Women love him. He's got a hot wife who loves him. Who wouldn't love a guy with a hot wife. His daughters are hot, too. He told me so.
And when he's done with China...well, you're just not going to believe it. They are going to be on their knees pleading for jobs, and golf courses, and hot wives.
America is going to be so great again, you're not going to believe it.
He's started with so little. Yet he's done nothing but win all his life; and he's going to make me and every other loser out there a winner.
He's got a plan that will eliminate ISIS in a heartbeat; I know he does. He told me so. He could share it with world leaders today, and ISIS would be gone tomorrow...but he's too smart for that.
He's gonna make American great again...and he can do it all by himself. He's been making American great for decades. Look at all the amazing, amazing things that he has created. Golf courses, casinos, luxury hotels. They're great. Most of them have spas.
Everybody loves him; who wouldn't? Women love him. He's got a hot wife who loves him. Who wouldn't love a guy with a hot wife. His daughters are hot, too. He told me so.
And when he's done with China...well, you're just not going to believe it. They are going to be on their knees pleading for jobs, and golf courses, and hot wives.
America is going to be so great again, you're not going to believe it.
6
What seems most tragic here, even reading the letters in the NYT Picks, is that an awful lot of people are not happy (and are totally justified), but have NO IDEA how the US came to be where it is, and how they came to be where they are.
You can't fix anything if you don't understand what's broke, who broke it and how it broke.
You can't fix anything if you don't understand what's broke, who broke it and how it broke.
52
Republicans were vulnerable to lies of previous previous campaigns, voted repeatedly to create the "establishment" they say they now object while falling AGAIN to the bluster of a member of that establishment.
1
Firstly..for the first time in many years the Republican party is now the Peoples party....Secondly, this paper's veiled attempts at slamming the right is of no more concern to me than the rest of the slighted mainstream media that are all over both our countries...I, like ma,y these days, take what we need and disregard the rest as you cannot be trusted. Having said that... History never provides us with the ideal person we would want for office to confront serious treats to the country and people but History does periodically provide what we 'need.'. It's your challenge to recognize this and disregard those who would keep us where we are for their own gain...Vote Trump!!
1
trump will not become the next president for one frivolous reason, the women's vote. women will vote overwhelmingly for a woman who most resembles them. upon looking in the mirror, they will resent trump's beautiful wife melanie and daughter, ivanka. they will resent the fact that these two women are quiet. polite and modest in manner. hilliary is loud and pushy, being that she is typical of many women of her generation and more so of women of the millennial generation.
that is the regrettable reality for trump and a joyful one for the Left.
that is the regrettable reality for trump and a joyful one for the Left.
2
Quite a sexist view, I'd say.
1
why so much fuss now? After the 2008 election, GOP leaders did not take corrective action at all. They let tea party leaders disrupted the normal functioning of the government. Not only that they objected all to any proposal Obama brought forward because he was elected as a black president. Few examples are:
1) ACA objected and misused congress's valuable times for over 68 resolutions against it.
2) GOP congressman shouting at the President at the state of union address - it has proven no respect for the highest office of the land. He should have been reprimanded.
3) Background check for gun law - over 90% people supported it but guns hawks of GOP were totally unreasonable. They did not want black President succeed in anything
4) Comprehensive immigration law failed. Again, no rational thought. How could immigrants belong to GOP to vote for the GOP leaders?
5) Arizona Governor showing fingers at the President - what for other than he being black?
6) Many more like the above
If the party is not organized before to correct itself with a vision and a concrete plan of actions let the situation play its own course.
1) ACA objected and misused congress's valuable times for over 68 resolutions against it.
2) GOP congressman shouting at the President at the state of union address - it has proven no respect for the highest office of the land. He should have been reprimanded.
3) Background check for gun law - over 90% people supported it but guns hawks of GOP were totally unreasonable. They did not want black President succeed in anything
4) Comprehensive immigration law failed. Again, no rational thought. How could immigrants belong to GOP to vote for the GOP leaders?
5) Arizona Governor showing fingers at the President - what for other than he being black?
6) Many more like the above
If the party is not organized before to correct itself with a vision and a concrete plan of actions let the situation play its own course.
2
It is very interesting that the Republicans, the party of big business and free enterprise, has nominated a person who said again last night that the government should have veto power over where a company, like Carrier, can locate its plants. He said it was okay to go to other states, but not other countries. What is the difference to a worker in Illinois if Carrier relocates to Mexico or South Carolina in search of workers who will work for lower wages? Would Trump have prevented Boeing from opening its plant in North Charleston? Sounds like the party has forgotten its antipathy to "Big Gov'ment."
I have a hard time understanding the theme of these articles. If a vote for Trump is a vote for darkness, then I suppose a vote for Cruz is a vote for liberty, equality, and fraternity? The thought of either at the helm of our federal government is scary, but I find Cruz to be the more frightening by far.
2
Donald Trump has received over $2 billion in free media coverage.
At the very least political pundits and news organizations should say what is plain at day about his candidacy.
He does not win in spite of his bigotry, he wins because of it. His voters aren't simply a bunch of blue collared workers angry about NAFTA. In many states his voters had median incomes of over $100,000. The median income for voters who support Hillary Clinton is lower than Trump's base.
This entire candidacy is, always has been, and always will be about pure bigotry. Spin it all you want, but that is the only common theme here.
At the very least political pundits and news organizations should say what is plain at day about his candidacy.
He does not win in spite of his bigotry, he wins because of it. His voters aren't simply a bunch of blue collared workers angry about NAFTA. In many states his voters had median incomes of over $100,000. The median income for voters who support Hillary Clinton is lower than Trump's base.
This entire candidacy is, always has been, and always will be about pure bigotry. Spin it all you want, but that is the only common theme here.
2
The last time they gave us a "trainable" president, we got the feckless George W. Bush. This time, they thought that Rubio would be a usefully "trainable" choice, but he was still in diapers. One reason why the Republican establishment can't stand Cruz is that he wanted to train them, out in the open where his fanaticism was all too clear. Now Trump is actually doing that instead.
"We have a stable of strong candidates," the Republicans repeatedly said when all this started, meaning that all of those candidates might be malleable as usual, wolves clothed as sheep once again. And instead they got us Trump, the perfect public embodiment of Republican attitudes and intentions, revealing Republican hypocrisy. Let us all pray for the sake of this country and the entire world that he is soundly defeated in November.
"We have a stable of strong candidates," the Republicans repeatedly said when all this started, meaning that all of those candidates might be malleable as usual, wolves clothed as sheep once again. And instead they got us Trump, the perfect public embodiment of Republican attitudes and intentions, revealing Republican hypocrisy. Let us all pray for the sake of this country and the entire world that he is soundly defeated in November.
1
The chickens have come to roost and the gop has no one to blame but themselves. These "party first, country second" so called republican "leaders" are hypocrites who have alienated their own party by pandering to the extreme factions of their party to gain votes (I'm looking at you tea party). They have allowed the tail to wag the dog and now it's too late. Obstructionism, devotion to tax cuts, and their slavish devotion to the 1% (while neglecting everything else) has caused a civil war within their party and has saddled us with an egomaniac that has no business running for president. Now they're doubling down and rationalizing a Trump presidency. They would rather have the us suffer under this clown and drag down the US. They're idiocy has created an opportunity to doom us all.
1
100 years from now "the party of Lincoln" may well be referred to as "the party of Trump".
But the GOP really started down this path with Reagan.
The choice of Cruz would have made very little difference. Trump's triumph has more to do with style than substance. If anything, with regard to "social" issues (religion, abortion, gay marriage) he is probably slightly left of the mainstream GOP though at the moment he will probably advocate any position if he thinks it solidifies his position.
But the GOP really started down this path with Reagan.
The choice of Cruz would have made very little difference. Trump's triumph has more to do with style than substance. If anything, with regard to "social" issues (religion, abortion, gay marriage) he is probably slightly left of the mainstream GOP though at the moment he will probably advocate any position if he thinks it solidifies his position.
1
When will the ulta conservatives realize their lassiez faire policies do nothing but support the rent seeking rich and corporations? Francis Fukuyama once the darling of the right stated in the Jan/Feb 2012 issue of Foreign Affairs stated small government is the end bane of the middle class, the wealthy will always use their power to protect their interests. As he atated rhe reaction has come from the right (tea party) and not the left for a change. So they get a goon to run their party. I hope the center holds.
1
Donald Trump is an outrageous choice for a Republican presidential candidate, but Ted Cruz would have been even worse. And Rep. Paul Ryan is going to come to the rescue with an economic plan from the House of Representatives? Rep. Ryan, the con man? Let me guess. It will be a nice-sounding plan solving all of our country's problems, but there will be asterisks wherever factual support is required.
1
The true "Lucifer" of the Republican Party is Paul Ryan. If the 99% does not get together to oust the current congressional majorities, the next stage of deconstruction of the social contract will be implemented soon, regardlessly of who will hold the White House. Mr. Ryan, incidentally,
has a "golden parachute" of family money. But before he may be forced to jump off he will do his "big things": hand over Social Security and Medicare to private enterprise, further deregulate consumer protection, environmental control and the rest of the Koch Brothers agenda. This is the "horizon"
that he want to paint.
The questions is: This is the America you want for yourself and your fellow citizens?.
has a "golden parachute" of family money. But before he may be forced to jump off he will do his "big things": hand over Social Security and Medicare to private enterprise, further deregulate consumer protection, environmental control and the rest of the Koch Brothers agenda. This is the "horizon"
that he want to paint.
The questions is: This is the America you want for yourself and your fellow citizens?.
2
After I read about DT's approval of his sons' canned hunting trips in east Africa, in which they slaughtered innocent animals for no reason at all except to prove a false bravado--could anything be more shameful than to take the life of an innocent, four legged creature for your own enjoyment?--my esteem for the candidate and his family decreased considerably. DT is truly an erratic individual, and the contempt that many have for him is comprehensible.Initially I favored his candidacy because he seemed to be alone in defending our vulnerable middle and working classes against the elites of both parties who have been in collusion with lobbyists pushing for overseas trade deals,offshoring of jobs and open borders to the detriment of those voters who put them into office. On the other hand, to threaten to vote for someone as sleazy as HRC just because one dislikes Trump is not right either.Perhaps becoming an independent, and personally choosing to stay home on election day may be the "solution la moins mauvaise"if one sees nothing virtuous in either party.
1
What both parties need to own up to, the Republicans especially, is that Trump is their creation. How many years of giving the average working Americans the short end of the stick economically with the abject failure of "supply-side 'voodoo' economics" did they think they could get away with before the people would realize they've been played? How long could they keep the seemingly endless war and political interventions going before the people said "enough?" How much could they allow Wall Street to plunder Main Street, with the debacle of the tech crash of 2000 and the mortgage crash of 2008 through the repeal of Glass-Stegall? The Party establishment has been weighed in the balance and found wanting.
A vote for Clinton is a vote for the well-known status quo, more of the same. Trump is the most unorthodox of presidential candidates, but it may well be this alone that empowers him to do something that no conventional politician like Hillary and Obama ever do, keep their campaign promises. Wouldn't that be something...
A vote for Clinton is a vote for the well-known status quo, more of the same. Trump is the most unorthodox of presidential candidates, but it may well be this alone that empowers him to do something that no conventional politician like Hillary and Obama ever do, keep their campaign promises. Wouldn't that be something...
1
The fact is, Donald Trump is superbly prepared to lead America. His business, academic credentials are superb. He is a deeply loved parent, husband, a compassionate humanitarian, is liked, respected by mainstream America. He has become the messenger for a new movement, one that has the potential to renew the America we so deeply love, and so deeply miss. He will make an excellent POTUS. Alternatively, to fully understand, to comprehend, the utterly disastrous, failed obama years, one must become familiar with the classic Peter Sellers movie 'Being There.' Familiarize yourself with the words, impostor, poseur, buffoon. Only then will one realize today's face of America, represented by a hapless president president. Alas, we remain a deeply humiliated, embarrassed America..
1
The elites of both parties have kept out of focus the plight of a vast and increasing swath of disadvantaged Americans . The Right seems to worry about Saving Souls while the Left worries about humane preparation of meat at their Whole Foods store.
There is no point in just scolding Americans about "racism, bigotry" and the glories of Immigration and/or International trade and/or Free Markets and/or Diversity.
Been tried! Don't work!
Hence, we have gotten the Trump we deserve...poised to cross pikes and pitchforks with Hilary, the established champion of the Established. At this point, there seems little doubt that he will be vanquished in a manner not unlike the demise of Wat Tyler in an earlier time.
However, if the legitimate concerns of the much maligned lower economic stratum of society (epitomized by the Left as "redneck white males" and by the Right as "the Romney 47") these people are going to try other and perhaps more "interesting" experiments with leadership. And you can believe that - even with a much compromised system of democracy - they still may have the tools to do it!!
The efforts by leadership of the two parties (and adjunct media) to tamp down economic aspirations on one hand while offering disingenuous solutions on the other is akin to bolting down the lid of a pressure cooker and turning up the heat.
Good luck with that!!
There is no point in just scolding Americans about "racism, bigotry" and the glories of Immigration and/or International trade and/or Free Markets and/or Diversity.
Been tried! Don't work!
Hence, we have gotten the Trump we deserve...poised to cross pikes and pitchforks with Hilary, the established champion of the Established. At this point, there seems little doubt that he will be vanquished in a manner not unlike the demise of Wat Tyler in an earlier time.
However, if the legitimate concerns of the much maligned lower economic stratum of society (epitomized by the Left as "redneck white males" and by the Right as "the Romney 47") these people are going to try other and perhaps more "interesting" experiments with leadership. And you can believe that - even with a much compromised system of democracy - they still may have the tools to do it!!
The efforts by leadership of the two parties (and adjunct media) to tamp down economic aspirations on one hand while offering disingenuous solutions on the other is akin to bolting down the lid of a pressure cooker and turning up the heat.
Good luck with that!!
Trump should not be president. The country (and the rest of the world) should not be put through another incompetent Republican president and likely blunder just because it was "a fresh alternative" or "I hate Hillary."
Ask the many thousands of widows and parent-less children of dead soldiers because of the advocacy for war that Bush/Cheney pushed for. What would you do after the nuclear bomb is detonated because of Trump's inexperience and naiveté? Such chance ("to do") may not be available as we may not be around.
Ask the many thousands of widows and parent-less children of dead soldiers because of the advocacy for war that Bush/Cheney pushed for. What would you do after the nuclear bomb is detonated because of Trump's inexperience and naiveté? Such chance ("to do") may not be available as we may not be around.
5
I am not nearly as fearful of the prospect of a Trump presidency as I was of, say, a Cruz term. The antichrist we don't need. In the final analysis, the president cannot make war without the approval of Congress. Immigration? Check what's up with Obama's plan to limit exportations. No wall will be built anywhere unless funded by Congress. Trade? Trump may actually have a point there. What I really fear is at least four more years of political impotence in a time of climate change, social, religious and political upheaval, and which would likely become even worse than it has been with the GOP's all-out effort to thwart any and all things Obama. The US would once again become the laughing stock of the civilized world, a frightening one at that, but we've already been there, done that - just under eight years ago. In its current form, the GOP is utterly incapable of nominating anyone remotely qualified to lead the nation forward. I just hope conventional wisdom will hold - that Trump is so incapable that Clinton will win in a landslide, with long coattails. But, of late, conventional wisdom sports a very poor track record.
2
I retain some confidence in the wisdom of the American people, despite evidence to the contrary. Now that Trump has cleared the path, his words and deeds will come under much, much greater scrutiny.
Where I lack confidence is in the skill of journalists to push through his bluster and evasion, forcing him to actually answer a question. Fortunately, November is a long way away for a candidate with no substance.
Where I lack confidence is in the skill of journalists to push through his bluster and evasion, forcing him to actually answer a question. Fortunately, November is a long way away for a candidate with no substance.
41
Faced with Trump as their probable (losing) candidate, the GOP establishment, in statements made by Trump's campaign manager, is already making clear their strategy for the rest of the election cycle -- secure the Republican majority in Congress so that the likely Democrat president is still prohibited from moving forward with a progressive agenda. The Democrats must forcefully counter with a winning strategy for the legislature if anything is going to change in this country.
36
I live in a working class town and was raised in one. I've been posting for a few years that the policies that liberals push so well meaningly and so determinedly--sometimes I listed them--are devastating to the working class. Clinton stands for all those polices.
The GOP on the other hand, had even worse policies because they didn't even care to mitigate their devastation of the middle class with a safety net.
I don't like Trump's boorish behaviour, particularly because I find his ideas reasonable.
The big objection to them here is that he isn't always completely right, or he won't follow through. But the liberal mainsteam wants to continue policies that don't rise to "aren't always completely right " but are wrong and harmful and contribute to inequality. Even though they are nicer people who aren't boorish and certainly aren't racist.
The GOP on the other hand, had even worse policies because they didn't even care to mitigate their devastation of the middle class with a safety net.
I don't like Trump's boorish behaviour, particularly because I find his ideas reasonable.
The big objection to them here is that he isn't always completely right, or he won't follow through. But the liberal mainsteam wants to continue policies that don't rise to "aren't always completely right " but are wrong and harmful and contribute to inequality. Even though they are nicer people who aren't boorish and certainly aren't racist.
2
I admit it - I was steeped in denial - I thought Trump's presidential bid was silly, funny, and an amusing alternative to the standard Republican orthodoxy of tax cuts for the wealthy and dismantling of the safety net; however, last night the truth smashed me in the face when I finally realized that a bombastic, ignorant and dangerous buffoon could very well be elected president.
And then a much more horrendous thought punched me in the nose. Specifically, just as Ralph Nader's presidential candidacy threw the 2000 election to the unqualified and horrific George W. Bush, could it be that Bernie Sander's ludicrous campaign will so damage Hillary Clinton that Trump will be elected?
This is not a time for optimism.
And then a much more horrendous thought punched me in the nose. Specifically, just as Ralph Nader's presidential candidacy threw the 2000 election to the unqualified and horrific George W. Bush, could it be that Bernie Sander's ludicrous campaign will so damage Hillary Clinton that Trump will be elected?
This is not a time for optimism.
71
It is the only move left to them if they want to keep the voters that Trump has energized.
Even if Trump loses the general, his disaffected base is not going away. They can be leveraged to secure political control at the local level and to mount a Presidential bid following what will likely be a contentious third Clinton Presidency.
While Mr. Trump carries stylistically a measure of unpredictability, Hillary Clinton is transparent given her already sizable (and troubling) policy and personal record.
If she is elected, it will be business as usual — at home and abroad. Probably not great news for the working poor and the middle class here. Almost certainly not great news for the rest of the world.
However, I don't think the foreign distractions she favors (i.e. destabilization, regime-change, chaos, and war) will be as effective as American pols have found them to be over the last 30-40 years.
Even if Trump loses the general, his disaffected base is not going away. They can be leveraged to secure political control at the local level and to mount a Presidential bid following what will likely be a contentious third Clinton Presidency.
While Mr. Trump carries stylistically a measure of unpredictability, Hillary Clinton is transparent given her already sizable (and troubling) policy and personal record.
If she is elected, it will be business as usual — at home and abroad. Probably not great news for the working poor and the middle class here. Almost certainly not great news for the rest of the world.
However, I don't think the foreign distractions she favors (i.e. destabilization, regime-change, chaos, and war) will be as effective as American pols have found them to be over the last 30-40 years.
I have lived in the US, well New York, twice in my life time, in total a 7-year experience. Two out of our three kids were born there, we loved every minute of it, in short there was a very strong emotional connection to NY, to the US. Yes "was" as I simply do not recognise the country any longer when a very large portion of it feels that someone like Donald Trump best reflects what it stands for. From where I sit, Donald J. Trump lives for one thing and one thing only and that is Donald J. Trump, he really does not care about anybody else. His aggressive use of eminent domain in his business dealings is, to me at least, eminent testimony to that. Up until recently, I was very much encouraging my kids to consider the US as a place to go and do their Master degrees, not any longer. If Mr. Trump and for that matter Mrs Clinton is really the best you can do then the country will be a diminished place, no longer a place with a grand vision but one where a wall will take away the view of the horizon and that shining city on the hill. I am truly saddened!
1
It has been pointed out for years that economic inequality in this country, as measured by the GINI coefficient, was diagnostic of political instability according to CIA statistics and standards.
Now, these chickens are coming home to roost. Trumpism is just the beginning. It is unfortunate that Trump has no clue how to reverse the ever-increasing inequality in this country, which is symptomatic of a host of problems -- social (the breakdown of community), economic (true capitalism should result in wages rising faster than profits, as happened in the reviled Gilded Age and until recently), and political (much of the problem is regulatory and tax policies designed to make the rich even richer at everyone else's expense).
Now, these chickens are coming home to roost. Trumpism is just the beginning. It is unfortunate that Trump has no clue how to reverse the ever-increasing inequality in this country, which is symptomatic of a host of problems -- social (the breakdown of community), economic (true capitalism should result in wages rising faster than profits, as happened in the reviled Gilded Age and until recently), and political (much of the problem is regulatory and tax policies designed to make the rich even richer at everyone else's expense).
The Trump phenomena and its emphasis on xenophobia and racism is not new. For the Times editorialist to act as if this is some new, strange turn for the GOP is historically inaccurate and misleading. The GOP Southern strategy was racist. Their opposition to the ERA was sexist. Their voter suppression plans are not just about politics, its about holding power over others. The GOP has supported almost every regressive policy from anti-gay legislation to union busting and throttling the EPA.
These aren't just policy differences with the Democrats. These are class based initiatives designed to enhance the prospects of one class at the expense of another. While the language of class conflict is an anathema to the NY Times editors they are none the less played out in the news that is reported every day.
The difference with Trump is that his racism is more open than Reagan's was and his view of foreign policy is as unpredictable as it is erratic and ill informed. But the GOP has been going down this dark road fro some time now. What is scary is that many Trump supporters relish the fact that their anti-other sentiment now has a national standard bearer and expect to unleash the full force of their sentiments as national policy.
Trump's 'Make America Great Again' slogan might as well have been taken right from "Birth of a Nation." The genie is out of the bottle and we will truly reap what has been sown.
These aren't just policy differences with the Democrats. These are class based initiatives designed to enhance the prospects of one class at the expense of another. While the language of class conflict is an anathema to the NY Times editors they are none the less played out in the news that is reported every day.
The difference with Trump is that his racism is more open than Reagan's was and his view of foreign policy is as unpredictable as it is erratic and ill informed. But the GOP has been going down this dark road fro some time now. What is scary is that many Trump supporters relish the fact that their anti-other sentiment now has a national standard bearer and expect to unleash the full force of their sentiments as national policy.
Trump's 'Make America Great Again' slogan might as well have been taken right from "Birth of a Nation." The genie is out of the bottle and we will truly reap what has been sown.
2
It was a memorable night in the American political history as a complete political novice captured what is left of the Republican Party. It is truly frightening, and was made even more so as an almost humble Mr. Trump hit some strong populist notes in talking about trade, especially NAFTA, corporate greed in moving jobs offshore, and the need to focus on rebuilding America while curtailing our military expenditures abroad, helping our veterans, but also praising rather than disparaging Ted Cruz and others in a subdued victory speech. For a moment I and my wife, both Democrats, thought it was Bernie Sanders. If Mr. Trump keeps to this script, he may, as he has throughout the nomination process, confound the critics and skeptics and prove to be a very formidable opponent to Hillary Clinton who could, if she ignores the Sanders' agenda, find herself outflanked on the left on domestic economic issues while being too far on the right on foreign policy. Mr. Trump is riding the wave of populist discontent with the current political establishment which Sec. Clinton represents. If Mr. Trump succeeds in uniting the Republican Party and Sec. Clinton does not accommodate Sanders' supporters, that wave could turn into a tsunami with all its devastating consequences. So as much as "it's Donald Trump's party now," it will soon be Hillary Clinton's party and her responsibility to unite it while attracting disaffected Republicans to secure a significant victory in November.
The demise of the Republican Party is being greatly exaggerated. I may agree on Wednesday morning, November 2 but not yet. The smart people have been counting out Trump since he announced, why should we believe them now? The scary part is that once nominated he will be only one election away from the Presidency. He has been breaking every rule of campaigning and no doubt will continue to do so against Clinton. His insulting, disinforming, hyperbolic, and flat-out untruthful style will go on steroids against Clinton. He will be merciless, and he appears to be relishing the opportunity. Clinton and the Democratic Party had best strap on all their armor and be prepared for the equivalent of an ultimate fighting, no holds barred, cage match. Trump sees himself as a winner, believes that nothing else matters, and that how he wins is irrelevant as long as he wins. He will surprise Clinton, and he will dominate the media with his obsessive histrionics. She must be prepared to be dismissive of his daily trashings of her as just more "Donald being Donald." She must play offense and keep Trump on the defense by (1) chiding and denigrating him and attacking his vulnerabilities: his narcissism and his inflated yet delicate masculinity, (2) by pressing the point of his intellectual incompetency and psychological unsuitability, and (3) by making obvious that he is dangerous.
When and if she wins, then maybe we can celebrate the end of the Republican Party.
When and if she wins, then maybe we can celebrate the end of the Republican Party.
3
"House Republicans are developing a bold, pro-growth agenda to take to the country." The problem with this statement by Speaker Ryan is that Republican ideology is in conflict with growth. Trickle down hasn't worked. Inequality is increasing while opportunity declines.
Free markets create winners and losers. When people begin to realize they are among the losers, they get angry and afraid. Those emotions don't promote clear thinking.
As long as most people felt they were on an upward path, blaming the losers worked. That began to change with the Crash of 2008. Now Republicans are so bound to their economic ideology that they have nothing to offer.
The Never-Trumpers have some reason to hope that when Kasich and Trump go head-to-head, Kasich will do much better. I'm predicting that won't happen, but maybe there are more sane Republicans than I think.
Free markets create winners and losers. When people begin to realize they are among the losers, they get angry and afraid. Those emotions don't promote clear thinking.
As long as most people felt they were on an upward path, blaming the losers worked. That began to change with the Crash of 2008. Now Republicans are so bound to their economic ideology that they have nothing to offer.
The Never-Trumpers have some reason to hope that when Kasich and Trump go head-to-head, Kasich will do much better. I'm predicting that won't happen, but maybe there are more sane Republicans than I think.
1
I've said it before, and I will say it again. Democrats would be unwise to take Donald Trump in a general election for granted. Democrats always assume that rationality, logic, and discussing the vagaries of issues will win out in a general election. Instead, slogans, platitudes, and punchlines tend to be far more dominant, and a disproportionate amount of Americans vote instead based on emotion, appearances, fear, sensationalism, and lore. That in a nutshell is how we got W.
Moreover, Hillary Clinton is a tremendously flawed and vulnerable candidate, rife for targeting by Trump's tactics.
Moreover, Hillary Clinton is a tremendously flawed and vulnerable candidate, rife for targeting by Trump's tactics.
Speaker Ryan has consistently promoted tax cuts for the rich, deregulation, increased defense spending while cutting everything else, converting Medicare into a voucher program, and block granting Medicaid and other safety net programs so his Republican brethren can divert the federal funds to things other than safety net programs.
We have millions of unfilled jobs fixing our infrastructure that Republicans have chronically underfunded despite agreeing that the work needs to be done.
Trickle down economics is a proven failure. Expansionary austerity is a proven failure. Blindly cutting regulation increases government because the pound of cure for things like bank bailouts and cleaning up environmental disasters is way more costly than reasonable regulation of industry.
Republicans took possession of the House in 2011 and have held the House and Senate since 2015. Anti-Obama and scorched earth obstruction has been the Republicans MO the entire time they have held power. Anyone who believes that Speaker Ryan or the Republican Party will have positive new ideas is delusional.
We have millions of unfilled jobs fixing our infrastructure that Republicans have chronically underfunded despite agreeing that the work needs to be done.
Trickle down economics is a proven failure. Expansionary austerity is a proven failure. Blindly cutting regulation increases government because the pound of cure for things like bank bailouts and cleaning up environmental disasters is way more costly than reasonable regulation of industry.
Republicans took possession of the House in 2011 and have held the House and Senate since 2015. Anti-Obama and scorched earth obstruction has been the Republicans MO the entire time they have held power. Anyone who believes that Speaker Ryan or the Republican Party will have positive new ideas is delusional.
2
Donald Trump as the standard-bearer for the GOP will be really wonderful, believe me, really, really wonderful. We can't believe just how wonderful Trump will be as President of the United States of America. The wonderfulness of it all will be beyond all imagining, that's how wonderful it will all be. Corporations will be hiring again and everyone will have great, really, really great jobs and we'll all have wonderful lives.
The Donald loves the people, believe me, and all the people love The Donald, they really, really do. It's really, really great how much love there is between The Donald and The People of the United States of America. And The Donald's Love will spread beyond the borders of the United States, even the Wall against Mexico cannot contain the Love which The Donald has even for the people of Mexico.
Despite the Wall, all Mexicans will come to love The Donald because he is so wonderful, incredible and great, as will African-Americans, Muslims, Jews, Women, Asians, and everyone on the planet, believe me, will come to Love The Donald. Even Americas enemies (if we still have them) will Love The Donald and through The Donald they will come to Love all Americans and this great country of ours.
We just can't believe how great it will be when The Donald is President. Believe me, it will be really, really great when millions and millions of people around the world all Love The Donald and us and America. It will all be really, really great, believe me!
The Donald loves the people, believe me, and all the people love The Donald, they really, really do. It's really, really great how much love there is between The Donald and The People of the United States of America. And The Donald's Love will spread beyond the borders of the United States, even the Wall against Mexico cannot contain the Love which The Donald has even for the people of Mexico.
Despite the Wall, all Mexicans will come to love The Donald because he is so wonderful, incredible and great, as will African-Americans, Muslims, Jews, Women, Asians, and everyone on the planet, believe me, will come to Love The Donald. Even Americas enemies (if we still have them) will Love The Donald and through The Donald they will come to Love all Americans and this great country of ours.
We just can't believe how great it will be when The Donald is President. Believe me, it will be really, really great when millions and millions of people around the world all Love The Donald and us and America. It will all be really, really great, believe me!
2
The corporate media and the Democratic establishment have been depicting the Sanders campaign as if it were now a clownish show at this "late stage" in the game. The true clowns are those who fail to understand that Mrs. Clinton is a deeply flawed candidate whose chances against Donald Trump are far from ironclad. Whatever you think of them, both Sanders and Trump convey an air of authenticity that Mrs. Clinton completely lacks.
It is not clear whether Mr. Trump can overcome his current negatives. However, his sense of marketing and the perfect timing he demonstrated in executing his campaign strategy, should give Democrats some pause.
On the other hand, the deep character issues most of our fellow citizens seem to perceive in Mrs. Clinton, and her proven past lapes in judgment, should be cause for concern. At the end of the day, how many of us will be ready to bite the bullet and pull the lever for somebody we simply do not trust?
It is not clear whether Mr. Trump can overcome his current negatives. However, his sense of marketing and the perfect timing he demonstrated in executing his campaign strategy, should give Democrats some pause.
On the other hand, the deep character issues most of our fellow citizens seem to perceive in Mrs. Clinton, and her proven past lapes in judgment, should be cause for concern. At the end of the day, how many of us will be ready to bite the bullet and pull the lever for somebody we simply do not trust?
This election contest really isn't about politics in the deepest sense anymore. It's about the fact that our country now appears more frighteningly, fundamentally, and perhaps irreparably divided than at any time in the past 40 years. On the one side are millions and millions of Americans who are willing to directly express their racial, ethnic, sexist, misogynistic, and xenophobic views by attending rallies for, and voting for, an individual who embodies those views. On the other side are the millions and millions of Americans who believe in actual policies based in reality, rather than bluster, for moving the country forward, who believe that helping the poor is a moral duty and helping the middle class will put our country on the right economic path, who believe women have a right to control their own bodies, who believe in the power of a good education, and who are frightened out of our wits by the swiftness with which a powerful demagogue has emerged as a serious contender for the nation's highest office.
1
The GOP gambled and, by trotting out woefully unqualified candidates months ago, they must now contend with the cards they hold. To say the party is out of touch with real problems, much less be able to present logical solutions to them, would easily count as the understatement of the year. But then again, should we, as voters, be surprised by any of this ? Everything Trump has said or done recently, as xenophobic or misogynistic as they are, is a logical progression in the downward spiral the GOP has become since Obama took office. The party now resembles the Real Housewives of Capitol Hill, sans the inside jokes and hint of irony those televised franchises actually contain.
1
Donald Trump's party does not do the bidding of the GOP donor class whose policies have been carried out by puppet politicians dependent on donor class money to finance campaigns, especially in the Citizens United era. Whether the GOP becomes Trump's party will depend upon whether he can get like-minded politicians elected without the donor class,who will abandon any politician not supporting their tax cuts, deregulation, and protection of tax loopholes and havens, all inimical to the workers and middle class Trump professes to fight for. If Trump's candidates cannot defeat the well-funded donor class puppets sure to continue to run in every local and state contest, then the donor class GOP will defeat him in the long run, as it has so many others who have stood in its way. Trump has a brief time to engineer the reversal of Citizens United, eliminate tax deductions for unlimited contributions to donor class political organizations, and reinstate campaign finance reform, if he is to wrest the GOP from the billionaires who have controlled it since Reagan. It's not Trump's Party until he does.
1
This editorial (and most comments) read as if this political groundswell is the Republicans cross to bear.
The successes of both Trump and Sanders, although a world apart politically, are symptoms of a bigger picture that effects the entire system, both GOP and Dems. People are fed up with the status quo. Fed up with lying politicians, dynastic families, empty promises, out of control political correctness, and stagnation of the American dream. Both Trump and Sanders are breaths of fresh air, an enema for this system to rid us of the few privileged folk who make big decisions for both parties.
Im not a big fan of either one. Both have made comments that make me cringe. But if takes electing one to change the system as we know it, I'm all for it.
The successes of both Trump and Sanders, although a world apart politically, are symptoms of a bigger picture that effects the entire system, both GOP and Dems. People are fed up with the status quo. Fed up with lying politicians, dynastic families, empty promises, out of control political correctness, and stagnation of the American dream. Both Trump and Sanders are breaths of fresh air, an enema for this system to rid us of the few privileged folk who make big decisions for both parties.
Im not a big fan of either one. Both have made comments that make me cringe. But if takes electing one to change the system as we know it, I'm all for it.
1
I joined the Republican Party in 1980, when it represented itself has a responsible alternative to the Democrats who at that time appeared to me to be too liberal with taxes and spending. I was attracted to the party because I was a fiscal conservative and socially moderate. I voted for Reagan twice and continued to support Republican candidates until George W. Bush became the nominee. I simple believed that the President of the United States should be at least as smart as me, and I do not think he was. His presidency further alienated me by engaging in two wars, one of which was unnecessary, and cutting taxes when there was no reason to do so. (I did not need the $600.00 check that was sent to me.)
By cutting taxes, engaging in two wars, and nation building in Iraq (something I thought the GOP was opposed to), he inflicted massive deficits on our country that our children and their children will never be able to pay off. McCain in 2008 was not the same McCain as in 2000, having consumed the Tea Party Kool-Aid. Thereafter, fair or not, it seemed to me that all the Republicans wanted to do is cut programs that helped the working person so that they could give big tax cuts to the rich. In 2008 it seemed as if both parties were more concerned with saving the people who destroyed the economy rather than their victims. Is it any wonder that people who once considered themselves Republicans feel as if they have no where to turn?
By cutting taxes, engaging in two wars, and nation building in Iraq (something I thought the GOP was opposed to), he inflicted massive deficits on our country that our children and their children will never be able to pay off. McCain in 2008 was not the same McCain as in 2000, having consumed the Tea Party Kool-Aid. Thereafter, fair or not, it seemed to me that all the Republicans wanted to do is cut programs that helped the working person so that they could give big tax cuts to the rich. In 2008 it seemed as if both parties were more concerned with saving the people who destroyed the economy rather than their victims. Is it any wonder that people who once considered themselves Republicans feel as if they have no where to turn?
3
For those who had any question about what republicans stand for, Trump's success should provide an unequivocal answer. Putting Senator Elizabeth Warren in as a VP, or better yet, as the Democratic candidate for president, would probably result in a landslide victory.
Far more important than who becomes the president (I assume a Democrat wins), is the need to purge Congress as well as state legislators of conservatives, and to fill the Supreme Court with jurists, not politicians.
Far more important than who becomes the president (I assume a Democrat wins), is the need to purge Congress as well as state legislators of conservatives, and to fill the Supreme Court with jurists, not politicians.
The Republican establishment must be heartbroken to see Trump win because Trump will not bow to special interests within and outside the parties. He is a true businessmen and will make them pay for what they want.
I truly believe the pullout was well engineered by Cruz and has everything to do with the photograph in the National Enquirer showing Ted's father with Lee Harvey Oswald. No friend of Lee Harvey Oswald who killed a very popular President or a friend of Fidel Castro can win an election. Expect Cruz to retire his political career because Texans just learnt that Cruz is born in a family that was not Patriotic and was friends of a murderer who killed a beloved President on their soil.
National Enquirer did in one photograph that Trump could not for nearly a year. I actually would not mind a beautiful model in the white house. She has really conducted herself very well throughout her life so far and Cruz and her supporters found nothing of her except her in a bikini to show to the "abused" women of Utah.
I don't for once believe Cruz pulling back has anything to do with Indiana because the numbers pointed to him never winning for the last three months. Cruz and Kasich were only hoping to go to the convention with Trump short of delegates and hoping the delegates with back stab the popular vote and reject Trump.
I think Trump is going all the way to the White House.
I truly believe the pullout was well engineered by Cruz and has everything to do with the photograph in the National Enquirer showing Ted's father with Lee Harvey Oswald. No friend of Lee Harvey Oswald who killed a very popular President or a friend of Fidel Castro can win an election. Expect Cruz to retire his political career because Texans just learnt that Cruz is born in a family that was not Patriotic and was friends of a murderer who killed a beloved President on their soil.
National Enquirer did in one photograph that Trump could not for nearly a year. I actually would not mind a beautiful model in the white house. She has really conducted herself very well throughout her life so far and Cruz and her supporters found nothing of her except her in a bikini to show to the "abused" women of Utah.
I don't for once believe Cruz pulling back has anything to do with Indiana because the numbers pointed to him never winning for the last three months. Cruz and Kasich were only hoping to go to the convention with Trump short of delegates and hoping the delegates with back stab the popular vote and reject Trump.
I think Trump is going all the way to the White House.
The late Mario Cuomo famously said that one campaigns in poetry and governs in prose. In this election season, there's been zero poetry from anyone, though there has at least been a very inspiring display of vision and character from Bernie Sanders. In Donald Trump, we see not the remotest gift for poetry, of course. Further, even at his most articulate moments we see nothing but the most atrocious , grammatically-challenged prose for the most vulgar brand of bluster, abuse of opponents, and self-promotion. Zero character there! And the vision is reduced to ad nauseam and vacuous repetitions of "We will make America win again ; we shall make America great again."
I have been a witness to presidential campaigns since 1972. This man's chest thumping is absolutely the worst I have ever seen. And yet here we are, looking at the serious possibility of Trump occupying the Oval Office.
I have been a witness to presidential campaigns since 1972. This man's chest thumping is absolutely the worst I have ever seen. And yet here we are, looking at the serious possibility of Trump occupying the Oval Office.
1
"Confident America" is perhaps not the wisest choice of words to promote a policy. There is no doubt that part of Mr. Trump's appeal is that his authoritarianism more or less matches that of Islamic fundamentalism, a threat. This is part of the nature of his demagogy. Over and above that, to think that the party which has been responsible for the shutting down of Congress on at least two occasions for lack of funding and inability to agree on the same, will be willing to appropriate the necessary funds to bring about Mr. Trump's main slogan is to be misled in much the same way that he accomplishes it. The essence of politics in this country, given the state of too many people's lives is "confidence", that is, it is a confidence game. What Mr. Trump stands for, other than Mr. Trump, is the American dream, which, according to key people, is no longer attainable. That said, what would be needed is the development of policy which seeks to eliminate waste, inequality, and perhaps the oil standard. We definately do not need a self-deluded braggart who flies around in a gilt-edged airplane, making promises that could not be kept.
1
With the nomination of an ignorant, racist, bigoted psychopath, and the sycophantic Republicans falling in line, I guess the essential Republican core values, hidden for so long and expressed only in policy decisions, are now fully in the open.
It is notable that being sycophantic is a core trait of corporate survival, so I'm sure it comes naturally to Republicans.
It is notable that being sycophantic is a core trait of corporate survival, so I'm sure it comes naturally to Republicans.
1
Dwight Eisenhower was a soft-spoken, intelligent man who had the vision to warn us of the military industrial complex. So how strange that Trump is second only to Eisenhower in being the only non-politician to get the GOP nod -- almost. When Trump started I really didn't think he wanted the nomination, not seriously. Then came all the machinations by fellow Republicans to thwart the will of GOP voters. I'm a Democrat and will vote that way. But even I am put out by the derail Trump movement. One thing about the Republican leadership: they never accept responsibility for their actions. It's Obama's fault for the deficit (not those high end tax cuts) It's the borrowers fault for the mortgage defaults not the predatory lenders etc. Now they can't face the fact that they are the cause for the anger that is sweeping Trump right to the convention with more delegates than he needs or could use. I am a Bernie Sanders supporter, who will be voting for Hillary Clinton this fall. I just hope my fellow Americans help elect a Democratic majority in both houses.
3
He will wrap himself in a flag made possible by the blood of millions before him who did not dodge the draft, and a good swath of Americans will wildly cheer on his threats to send our soldiers into any and every skirmish on the planet.
I don't think that Trump so much spells the death of the GOP as it does the death of The Conservative Coalition and its control over the Republican Party. The emperor's clothing ('conservatism') has fallen away and the party is now revealed as it has been for many years: the party of resentment, hatred, and embitterment, tainted further with denial. America is changing, and the GOP with Trump has become the party of those who fear and loathe gays, blacks, Hispanics, Islam, intellectuals, foreigners and other groups anathema to the old core of white, middle-class people who (very realistically) feel America and The American Dream has left them behind. They honestly think they are a majority. Their denial of thinking based on facts, data, science, or truth allow them to live in a comforting fantasy world. They really think that the America they alternately imagine and remember (from the 1950s) can rise again. We shall see.
1
It will soon be Donald Trump's country now. Time for some common sense on economics, the borders and immigration.
1
Don't forget rounding up the Muslims and Mexicans already here, Mr. Paine, as part of your holistic Common Sense governance.
Republican congressmen will be falling all over themselves to ensure they have a "Protective Custody Community" in their district to accommodate the groups.
As states our traditions, those facilities must be "separate, but equal" for the Christian and Islamic faithers.
Oration will soar forth from the well in the Senate on the new processes that will ensure that the (don't look much like) citizens can prove their patriotism. The process will leverage the learnings from the Japanese Internment Camp experience to ensure a true Road to Real Citizenship to ensure America is indeed Great Again.
Republican congressmen will be falling all over themselves to ensure they have a "Protective Custody Community" in their district to accommodate the groups.
As states our traditions, those facilities must be "separate, but equal" for the Christian and Islamic faithers.
Oration will soar forth from the well in the Senate on the new processes that will ensure that the (don't look much like) citizens can prove their patriotism. The process will leverage the learnings from the Japanese Internment Camp experience to ensure a true Road to Real Citizenship to ensure America is indeed Great Again.
Yeah, that's the problem. The Don - er, I mean, The Donald - would handle America as if it were his own principality. His fiefdom.
Republicans offer a smoke screen. That is all. They have nothing to offer and that has been the case since 2010. Their leaders are small time ideologues thrust upon the national scene by accident and now, they do not know what to do. And now they want to unite behind Trump? A big sweep is needed in that party. Will it come? Remember November 2016.
“Maybe he’s trainable.” If the Elders think that, they certainly have not been paying attention. To many voters, being "trainable" reads being a puppet---think "little Rubio" or "low-energy Bush". Establishment Republicans should explain to party members how volatility and petulance---another dimension of not being trainable---is terrifying in an age of existential threats.
2
The Donald is exactly what the electorate wants. A 'successful' business man who has billions, just like every American thinks they are or will be.
Now, ask The Donald or The Banksters the definition of civilization and you will get a blank stare or a lie about competition.
United States: land of the their and home of the slave. W.B. Dubois
Now, ask The Donald or The Banksters the definition of civilization and you will get a blank stare or a lie about competition.
United States: land of the their and home of the slave. W.B. Dubois
It goes without saying that Trump represents more Republican voters than does anyone else. It necessarily follows that Trump's racism, sexism and xenophobia constitute the actual spirit of the modern GOP.
Decent Americans now must decide whether those who remain Republicans should be ostracized as moral lepers.
Decent Americans now must decide whether those who remain Republicans should be ostracized as moral lepers.
2
What will his rapid emotion-driven supporters think/say when it's revealed most of the money Trump has spent on his campaign have been set up as loans? Is there any doubt that this coy businessman expects the RNC to repay him as part of their fund raising? Self funding indeed.
2
Good luck getting the well-paid establishment Republican apparatchiks to engage in some reflection and self-criticism. That is like asking the pharmaceutical giants, what are some of the "costs" to society, people, children, and health from Big Pharma's practices?
The Republicans have been playing a very dangerous game since the Nixon and Reagan years by turning conservatism into a weapon of mass destruction against the well being of society. The GOP Party over Country strategy to please big corporate and big money special interests has rightfully backfired.
To win elections (which was all that mattered), the GOP and right-wing media decided to play on the worst of human instincts, such as bigotry, hatred of the "other," fears, and insecurity to garner votes. But, as the editorial says, the party never did anything for the working and middle classes it was exploiting both economically and politically. Some of those folks finally figured it out and went for Trump
This is what the Trumpster picked up on that the party failed to acknowledge, and Trump knows just how to exploit emotions, far better than Rush, Fox, and the rest of the negative mouthpieces the GOP encouraged.
To many of us, Trump is really the logical conclusion to the GOP's long march to fascism and destruction. The Republicans broke it, and they own it.
PS: Paul Ryan is no savior, but probably even more destructive to our economic and social malaise than Trump. The GOP is the problem & has no solutions.
The Republicans have been playing a very dangerous game since the Nixon and Reagan years by turning conservatism into a weapon of mass destruction against the well being of society. The GOP Party over Country strategy to please big corporate and big money special interests has rightfully backfired.
To win elections (which was all that mattered), the GOP and right-wing media decided to play on the worst of human instincts, such as bigotry, hatred of the "other," fears, and insecurity to garner votes. But, as the editorial says, the party never did anything for the working and middle classes it was exploiting both economically and politically. Some of those folks finally figured it out and went for Trump
This is what the Trumpster picked up on that the party failed to acknowledge, and Trump knows just how to exploit emotions, far better than Rush, Fox, and the rest of the negative mouthpieces the GOP encouraged.
To many of us, Trump is really the logical conclusion to the GOP's long march to fascism and destruction. The Republicans broke it, and they own it.
PS: Paul Ryan is no savior, but probably even more destructive to our economic and social malaise than Trump. The GOP is the problem & has no solutions.
3
There is an old saying; you can fool some of the people all of the time and you can fool all of the people some of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time...the GOP may have just learnt that (maybe and at last) and Mr Trump will (I expect) find that out (in spades) in November
1
The Republican Party after 30+ years of courting the far right and their racist, bigoted, anti-government, war-on-women, right wing evangelical narrow minded voters are now reaping the chaos they have sowed. Why any rational thinking, sane individual would vote for a Republican candidate escapes many of us more progressive thinkers. Those Americans who chant "build the wall"at Trump rallies are disgusting Americans who wish to impose their narrow minded and bigoted policies on the rest of the country. The hopefully will, and should lose, big in November.
3
Next party to crumble and dismantle itself: the Democratic Party. RIP two party system.
1
In essence, the democratic party has basically just morphed in to the Republican lites. The country could use an alternative SECOND party.
1
It was *always* Donald Trump's party. The republican brand is: "rich people tricking poor people who think they are smarter than they actually are to vote against their own interests." That's exactly what Trump is and does.
6
This country has lost its collective mind. This is not a reality show, this is about deciding who will be the president of the United States -- the leader of the free world. Donald Trump doesn't have a clue. I hope the grownups in the Republican Party takes a good look at what they have done to this country. After years of promising to take care of the middle class and doing nothing but creating gridlock in Washington and sowing dissent and division they have produced the ultimate anti-establishment horror/reality show, with no way to cancel it if Trump reaches the magic number of delegates. Maybe the Democratic Party's' idea of super delegates isn't so bad after all. It would certainly given the Republican establishment a chance to pull the plug on Trump.
3
Like George W. Bush had a clue?
How quickly we forget.
How quickly we forget.
tired of this individual giving the apple a bad name and making it a less attractive city. gambling money is dirty money.
Trump has been “ridiculed by many prominent Republicans”, because he has so many things to be ridiculed about. The fact is that Trump did read the GOP base better than its leadership and, he is great at only one thing I can think of: Marketing.
He high-jacked the party. That does not make him qualified for the White House. That makes him an opportunist, who took advantage of much unhappiness of the forgotten masses. Not a Domingo Peron. He is an Evita without the “glamour”. He is playing the “descamisados”.
I hope that Trump's newly found support from the establishment of the Republican party relates more to an Stockholm syndrome and not to "a how to manual" for Machiavelli’s “the Prince”. Otherwise, this country will have Trumpism well after Trump; the same way that Argentina and Venezuela will have Peronismo and Chavismo for a long, long time. I will not even go into Brazil’s Carnival.
Fortunately for our country, Clinton is ahead in the polls for November with an advantage of 10+ points. The more Trump talks, the more the gap will grow.
A humbly suggest a three day GOP conclave for post mortem brainstorming workshops. And soul searching. The people is everybody, not a little club.
He high-jacked the party. That does not make him qualified for the White House. That makes him an opportunist, who took advantage of much unhappiness of the forgotten masses. Not a Domingo Peron. He is an Evita without the “glamour”. He is playing the “descamisados”.
I hope that Trump's newly found support from the establishment of the Republican party relates more to an Stockholm syndrome and not to "a how to manual" for Machiavelli’s “the Prince”. Otherwise, this country will have Trumpism well after Trump; the same way that Argentina and Venezuela will have Peronismo and Chavismo for a long, long time. I will not even go into Brazil’s Carnival.
Fortunately for our country, Clinton is ahead in the polls for November with an advantage of 10+ points. The more Trump talks, the more the gap will grow.
A humbly suggest a three day GOP conclave for post mortem brainstorming workshops. And soul searching. The people is everybody, not a little club.
1
When the dust settles around Trump maybe it's a good thing that he won the nomination. Now the recalcitrant party of religious extremists, science deniers and apologists for the one percent have been given their comeuppance.
1
NYTimes editorial board:
This opinion page and your front page go far to tell the world why Trump won.
You and your "money before everything" media cohorts gave him more publicity/free advertising then he could ever have bought. You all know that most people don't read the media - they scan it and seeing 'TRUMP" in giant letters or even small letters over and over for months kept him right where he needed to be - first and foremost in a huge number of voter minds.
I hope he at least sends you all thank you cards!
This opinion page and your front page go far to tell the world why Trump won.
You and your "money before everything" media cohorts gave him more publicity/free advertising then he could ever have bought. You all know that most people don't read the media - they scan it and seeing 'TRUMP" in giant letters or even small letters over and over for months kept him right where he needed to be - first and foremost in a huge number of voter minds.
I hope he at least sends you all thank you cards!
7
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Donald Trump, inevitable Republican nominee. A low point in American history.
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Donald Trump, inevitable Republican nominee. A low point in American history.
5
I don't like the guy and wouldn't vote for him but would vote against the media darling HRC. Anyone that has ever inhaled should do the same and look out for the bankers spin also. They keep fooling the people. Maybe this time the public will have had it with the criminal justice system, the bankers and the military industrial complex offering you protection in the classic mafia sense. Remember J Edgar Hover of FBI fame telling us there is no organized crime. They are all government insiders now, at least the smart ones.
1
We are on a truly dangerous course.
When the great unwashed see weakness in their detested leaders, mob mentality takes over. This has been the course of recorded history since before Roman times. On some occasions, the results have been an improvement over dysfunctional or despotic government. But on many others, the results have proven disastrous, lasting for centuries.
And in those disastrous occasions, for the most part, leadership of the masses was hijacked by opportunistic hustlers, unfit for the job they seek, but lustful for its trappings, fame and fortune.
One would think that a two party system would offer a safety valve to check this chaos. But even on the democratic side there are rumblings of disenchantment evidenced by the fervor and enthusiasm for the Sanders philosophy.
Add to the mix the American political history and tradition of "jumping on the bandwagon" and the new Republican leader will soon be canonized by those same party establishment regulars whose living the high life depends on boarding the right gravy train. And the snow ball will grow exponentially.
But even when the Emperor has no clothes, his bravado and self confidence convince the anxious masses that nakedness is the new norm, ignorance is the new bliss and in spite of, or evidenced by his personal gold plated toilets, vulgarity is now cool.
These are truly dangerous times.
When the great unwashed see weakness in their detested leaders, mob mentality takes over. This has been the course of recorded history since before Roman times. On some occasions, the results have been an improvement over dysfunctional or despotic government. But on many others, the results have proven disastrous, lasting for centuries.
And in those disastrous occasions, for the most part, leadership of the masses was hijacked by opportunistic hustlers, unfit for the job they seek, but lustful for its trappings, fame and fortune.
One would think that a two party system would offer a safety valve to check this chaos. But even on the democratic side there are rumblings of disenchantment evidenced by the fervor and enthusiasm for the Sanders philosophy.
Add to the mix the American political history and tradition of "jumping on the bandwagon" and the new Republican leader will soon be canonized by those same party establishment regulars whose living the high life depends on boarding the right gravy train. And the snow ball will grow exponentially.
But even when the Emperor has no clothes, his bravado and self confidence convince the anxious masses that nakedness is the new norm, ignorance is the new bliss and in spite of, or evidenced by his personal gold plated toilets, vulgarity is now cool.
These are truly dangerous times.
5
Why would Republicans have a "moment of reckoning?" As if Carson, Fiorina, Cruz, Christie, Rubio et al were better choices? The same party which fecklessly put Sarah Palin on the ticket? Ha! The Republican Party is the party of clowns, fools and pretenders. Who better to carry that banner than Donald?
Now, the only remaining question is who will be Donald's VP pick. Christie, Trump's errand-boy-du-jour, is too disgusting even for him. Most likely, Donald will have a new reality TV show, where contestants can practice bowing and scraping before the Great One, and the most obsequious one will get the job. This is how America works, right?
Now, the only remaining question is who will be Donald's VP pick. Christie, Trump's errand-boy-du-jour, is too disgusting even for him. Most likely, Donald will have a new reality TV show, where contestants can practice bowing and scraping before the Great One, and the most obsequious one will get the job. This is how America works, right?
11
It is also the party of Reagan who had about as little an idea of foreign politics as Trump does, and then of course there was GW, i still have some recordings of his craziest blunders and mispronunciations. So clearly the Republicans do have a long history of incompetence and clownery, nothing really new there with Trump, except maybe he's upping the ante a bit.
Ever since the Reagan era, Republicans have been the party of "We can do what the Democrats do, only more so!"
20th century Democrats have always been about taking more taxes from Americans and spending more. 21st century Ds are even more so. The toe-the-line party Rs have simply aped them for the past 30+ years.
George W. Bush spent like a drunken sailor.
Ronald Reagan spent like a drunken sailor, and helped Congress turn the worlds biggest creditor nation into the world's biggest debtor nation.
Is it any wonder that the American public is fed up with the drunken-sailor stupidity that is the Republican party?
Trump needs to set policy goals:
1. De-fang Obamacare. Its costs are already growing beyond expectations (which is no surprise, given Medicare's identical path).
2. Remove regulations on industrial production to bring jobs back to America.
3. Destroy any climate change agenda. It's bogus, always has been, always will be.
20th century Democrats have always been about taking more taxes from Americans and spending more. 21st century Ds are even more so. The toe-the-line party Rs have simply aped them for the past 30+ years.
George W. Bush spent like a drunken sailor.
Ronald Reagan spent like a drunken sailor, and helped Congress turn the worlds biggest creditor nation into the world's biggest debtor nation.
Is it any wonder that the American public is fed up with the drunken-sailor stupidity that is the Republican party?
Trump needs to set policy goals:
1. De-fang Obamacare. Its costs are already growing beyond expectations (which is no surprise, given Medicare's identical path).
2. Remove regulations on industrial production to bring jobs back to America.
3. Destroy any climate change agenda. It's bogus, always has been, always will be.
1
It's perilous to assume Trump will lose just because we can't imagine him winning. It appears to be Hillary's job to avoid the Trump catastrophe.
Bernie's victory in Indiana is understandable, a rust-belt state searching for hope in the form of change. But his persistent popularity points out Hillary's weakness in addressing the mood of the country. Obama's audacity of hope was embraced 8 years ago, and people are now crying out for some sign of it. Gridlock has severely limited what could have been a great presidency.
Hillary could be the most qualified presidential candidate in recent memory, but her image doesn't inspire hope.
It seems to me Hillary needs to better understand the gut feeling abroad in the country, the reasons for the attractiveness of Trump and Sanders, and tap in to it, not in a flamboyant way, but to address assertively the issues that have fired Bernie's base. For one thing, the perception of Hillary being in bed with Wall Street needs fixing, but the affirmative side of Bernie's message is important as well.
Trump has convinced people that we've been "losers". People don't feel our government is doing its job and advancing our interests, either on a national or personal level. Hillary's message/image must be inclusive and positive, and must give people reason to hope. No matter how richly deserved, simply bashing Trump would be a fraught strategy.
Bernie's victory in Indiana is understandable, a rust-belt state searching for hope in the form of change. But his persistent popularity points out Hillary's weakness in addressing the mood of the country. Obama's audacity of hope was embraced 8 years ago, and people are now crying out for some sign of it. Gridlock has severely limited what could have been a great presidency.
Hillary could be the most qualified presidential candidate in recent memory, but her image doesn't inspire hope.
It seems to me Hillary needs to better understand the gut feeling abroad in the country, the reasons for the attractiveness of Trump and Sanders, and tap in to it, not in a flamboyant way, but to address assertively the issues that have fired Bernie's base. For one thing, the perception of Hillary being in bed with Wall Street needs fixing, but the affirmative side of Bernie's message is important as well.
Trump has convinced people that we've been "losers". People don't feel our government is doing its job and advancing our interests, either on a national or personal level. Hillary's message/image must be inclusive and positive, and must give people reason to hope. No matter how richly deserved, simply bashing Trump would be a fraught strategy.
5
This is not a moment of reckoning for the Republican Party. Why does the Times refuse to see it? This is a revolution. The irrelevant 160-year-old GOP is over and a new era is beginning as it must. We're allowed to call each other names when we're children, but we're in the adult section now and we need a leader who can get us out of the economic disaster we are in. Last time I looked the Times was in trouble financially. So many companies are. We need a guy to get us out of trouble. And anyone would do better against ISIS than Obama.
Who needs Republicans when we have Clinton Democrats?
Ya know? The party didn't commit suicide. It's leaders for the past half-dozen years murdered it. McConnell. Hastert. Ryan. This goes on and on, all those baying hound voices of pro-life and anti-liberal of the Congressional Republican caucus. You played the God card.
And now God's rewarding you.
Yes, you played to what you thought was your constituency: the nattering nabobs of negativism. And you got what you wished for: their attention.
But there's no "there" there.
And now God's rewarding you.
Yes, you played to what you thought was your constituency: the nattering nabobs of negativism. And you got what you wished for: their attention.
But there's no "there" there.
4
As a life-long democrat who demonstrated against the Vietnam war I will never vote for Hillary Clinton who is a militaristic hawk. She is simply lacks the judgement and leadership skills to be a good president. The Times keeps talking about her experience. Yes she is experienced but her experience shows that she is incompetent.
2
Inane simplistic "solutions" to complex problems - and flat out lies - are most always easier to believe than the truth. Especially among the uneducated. The repub party and the fact that so many of its members get elected are testimony. The fact trump will be their candidate the inevitable end point.
After many decades on the planet I've concluded that a kind of mental illness has infected most of the repubs.
Most are inflexible, war mongers ... incapable of putting any limits on banks and corporations, no environmental regulation needed, no taxes required for the 1%, no health care for a third of the country and so forth. There is no such thing as the common good in their little minds. What's good for me is all that matters.
And of course no reasonable compromise on any of these issues is allowed, let's not make use of common sense in solving problems. They have become a party of buffoons like grump, sliding into the dust bin. They'll go down hard this Nov if we all get out and vote.
After many decades on the planet I've concluded that a kind of mental illness has infected most of the repubs.
Most are inflexible, war mongers ... incapable of putting any limits on banks and corporations, no environmental regulation needed, no taxes required for the 1%, no health care for a third of the country and so forth. There is no such thing as the common good in their little minds. What's good for me is all that matters.
And of course no reasonable compromise on any of these issues is allowed, let's not make use of common sense in solving problems. They have become a party of buffoons like grump, sliding into the dust bin. They'll go down hard this Nov if we all get out and vote.
3
One can easily argue that Trump isn't a republican, but an independent that had to pick one of the two parties. Shows how silly the two party system is. "Real republicans" can take a rest and, since they think so highly of themselves, be ashamed they couldn't come up with a decent likeable (winning?) candidate for the third presidential election in a row.
1
I will dearly miss President Obama.
8
The one thing Ted Cruz had right.......Trump is textbook Narcissism. The Republican primary voter has been snookered for decades. Those two facts combined to create one of the most frightening political circumstances this nation has seen.
God help us.
God help us.
5
"Year after year, the party’s candidates promised help for middle-class people who lost their homes, jobs and savings to recession, who lost limbs and well-being to war, and then did next to nothing." The same can be said of the Democratic Party as well. There is much public anger that is due to the failure of both political parties to address the issues most of us are concerned about. The end result is congressional gridlock and a congress that works less than 150 days a year. To make matters even worse, the media has failed to focus on this aspect and has even grant free time to give maximum exposure to every inane utterance of "the Donald". This is no game.
Both political parties are at a cross roads and need to rediscover their roots, and jettison all of this "tea party" nonsense, as well as Reaganomics. The task at had is to rebuild the middle class and restore the American dream. The Republicans need to return to the New Nationalism expounded by Theodore Roosevelt, whereas the Democrats need to restore the same spirit and concern for the common good that was characteristic of the FDR administration. However, to do that requires unselfish and caring leaders -- instead of authoritarians-- which both parties , except for Bernie Sanders, appear to lack.
Both political parties are at a cross roads and need to rediscover their roots, and jettison all of this "tea party" nonsense, as well as Reaganomics. The task at had is to rebuild the middle class and restore the American dream. The Republicans need to return to the New Nationalism expounded by Theodore Roosevelt, whereas the Democrats need to restore the same spirit and concern for the common good that was characteristic of the FDR administration. However, to do that requires unselfish and caring leaders -- instead of authoritarians-- which both parties , except for Bernie Sanders, appear to lack.
1
Depends what you mean with Republic party. Its voters, its party establishment, or the established GOP donor class ? Please clarify
From politico
"But the most absolutist opposition to Trump is held largely by the GOP’s donor class and Washington-based establishment — the very people Trump and his supporters have delighted in offending from the start. "
That is now seriously considering Clinton. See Charles Koch.
No surprise, a Ms. Clinton is friend of Wall Street, and the pitchforks, to paraphrase a famous Obama quote of him being the only obstacle from taking Wall Street, are electing Trump. Panic !!
We would see none of this, had the President prosecuted those responsible for the Great Depression.
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/republicans-clinton-trump-indiana-...
From politico
"But the most absolutist opposition to Trump is held largely by the GOP’s donor class and Washington-based establishment — the very people Trump and his supporters have delighted in offending from the start. "
That is now seriously considering Clinton. See Charles Koch.
No surprise, a Ms. Clinton is friend of Wall Street, and the pitchforks, to paraphrase a famous Obama quote of him being the only obstacle from taking Wall Street, are electing Trump. Panic !!
We would see none of this, had the President prosecuted those responsible for the Great Depression.
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/republicans-clinton-trump-indiana-...
Clinton is the new Republican corporatist type no doubt, so we really don't need the old GOP guard anymore. What we need is a real progressive Social Democratic party that is left of Center. Its constituency already exists by the millions and the current leader is called Bernie Sanders.
So some Bernie supporters are both OK with Sander's harsh take on self-interested billionaires or just going ahead and voting for Trump. Fundamentalism is the new concussion.
4
A corporatist with no experience in nor knowledge of governance, the Constitution, history, or United States foreign policy is one election away from leading the free world. Let that sink in.
6
The teachers used to have a bumper sticker that said "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance." Looks like the Republicans have chosen implementing this as their cost cutting prime mover. Good luck.
8
Let's translate a couple of things Trump said last night, from another article today in the Times:
"Mr. Trump asserted, without offering any names, that many of those who had mocked him in the past were now privately pledging their support."
Translation: No, they aren't. No one is pledging their support, privately, publicly or otherwise.
“They are calling now,” he said, with characteristic bravado. “And they are calling to say, ‘We’d love to get on the train.’ The Trump train. We have a lot of people coming.”
Translation: No one is calling. No one wants to get on the Trump train. You have no people coming.
"Mr. Trump asserted, without offering any names, that many of those who had mocked him in the past were now privately pledging their support."
Translation: No, they aren't. No one is pledging their support, privately, publicly or otherwise.
“They are calling now,” he said, with characteristic bravado. “And they are calling to say, ‘We’d love to get on the train.’ The Trump train. We have a lot of people coming.”
Translation: No one is calling. No one wants to get on the Trump train. You have no people coming.
4
More banality from the Republican party. When will it ever stop?
3
When reading comments of Trump supporters here, it becomes quite clear that they live in a different universe free of facts and logic.
They repeat the empty slogans of their beloved Leader, one who constantly contradicts himself in really lousy and grammatically incorrect English.
When moving to these shores several decades ago, I was dismayed about the education system in the supposedly greatest country in the world. Nothing has really changed in the meantime.
To paraphrase a former president: "It is not the economy, stupid. It is the education, stupid".
They repeat the empty slogans of their beloved Leader, one who constantly contradicts himself in really lousy and grammatically incorrect English.
When moving to these shores several decades ago, I was dismayed about the education system in the supposedly greatest country in the world. Nothing has really changed in the meantime.
To paraphrase a former president: "It is not the economy, stupid. It is the education, stupid".
5
Those Republicans who fall into lockstep behind Trump are despicable. They show their irredeemable grasping and ambition and their lack of any courage in backing such a loathsome creature. They all need to remember that their own seats will soon be up for election, and while they may support him now it will make little difference once they are out of office.
2
Although I don't believe that a Democrat winning the White House is a lock, I think the party should shift more resources to some of the key senate and house races where Democrats could pick up seats. Even if HRC or Bernie becomes president they still have to deal with GOPers who will most likely be no more willing to work with them then they were with President Obama. With such a lame top-of-ticket, this could be the best opportunity the Democrats will have to get back in control of congress and make some progress again.
5
It was foolish to think that candidates like Ted Cruz could have stopped Donald Trump . The GOP is disintegrating . There were many aspiring candidates in the GOP field , but few sensible , acceptable ones , like Kasich . The Republican primary voters choose the worst one possible . Now the GOP will go to a sound defeat in the general election . And they should be defeated because the alternative will be a Trump presidency and what that would look like : social unrest ? , a diminished America in the eyes of the World ? , economic depression? , trade wars ? , actual wars ? , impeachment ? , a military coup like a banana republic ? . That may look like an exaggeration , and most probably is , but who could have thought a year ago that such a flawed man could be the nominee of one of the two main parties in America , the most advanced Country in the World .
3
Maybe this is who we really are? Maybe Trump's vision of America is the America we want and love? Maybe the mirror reflects the Trump in all of us? I hope not, but there must be some truth to these possibilities when he wins the GOP nomination.
1
We are in danger. Trump CAN win the general election. Americans like alternating government in and of itself; they like it a lot. Americans hate thinking their government is a shadow-play produced by unseen hands with 'secret knowledge' of everything and only their own interests in mind, supported by a roomful of "messaging professionals" scheming to make us all swallow the indigestible. The candidate that represents this is Hillary Clinton -- indeed, Democrats think they got the perfect opponent, but it is possible the opposite is true. A certain segment of the population hates two things above all: a black commander-in-chief and the feeling that Citizens United turned America into a non-democracy by putting all the power into the hands of a few mean-spirited oligarchs. The first 'problem' (not a problem but a prejudice) is solved by time, which leaves them to focus on the second. The fact that a gaffe-proof sociopath New York real estate developer has convinced supporters that "he is his own man" and that is the only thing that matters is very dangerous.
67
You wanted it, you got it.
We know that 45% of eligible voters will vote for Trump just because he's not a Democrat.
The question is, are there another 7% or so that are so sick of the status quo and/or "mischievous" that they would be willing to take a flyer on somebody as potentially catastrophic as Trump?
When you get this close to pulling off a "prank" of this magnitude (electing a reality star demagogue as the "real" president), the momentum is inexorably going to shift to make it happen, even for some people who should "know better".
As a center left Democrat, I would never consider voting for him, but to be entirely truthful, I'm kind of curious myself.
That's how I know that it is possible.
We know that 45% of eligible voters will vote for Trump just because he's not a Democrat.
The question is, are there another 7% or so that are so sick of the status quo and/or "mischievous" that they would be willing to take a flyer on somebody as potentially catastrophic as Trump?
When you get this close to pulling off a "prank" of this magnitude (electing a reality star demagogue as the "real" president), the momentum is inexorably going to shift to make it happen, even for some people who should "know better".
As a center left Democrat, I would never consider voting for him, but to be entirely truthful, I'm kind of curious myself.
That's how I know that it is possible.
2
So many assume that Hillary Clinton will be the next president. It ain't necessarily so. There are a lot of people who dislike her intensely. And Bernie Sander's chances of being elected are remote. I fear that Donald Trump may win the election. The United States is in deep trouble.
4
All Republican leaders in Congress and States, during last 7 years fanned the anger of white Americans on first black President. They always obstructed the successful social program like ACA, student loan, and immigration reform. Now the Party got a Presidential candidate that reflects this chemistry of anger - Donald Trump - egoistic, slow to learn, no experience on government, hate mongers with low self esteem. What a disgrace for the party of Lincon.
I hope the Republican Party, under the leadership of Paul Rayn will take a constructive conservative path for the development of the country and try to cool down slowly this anger of the white males. The result of anger is always a destructive consequence, it is absolutely necessary to control it. The defeat of Ted Cruz is the starting event and I hope with the defeat of Donald Trump at General Election, Republican leaders will get back their control. They will get the chance to guide the Party to right direction - we need strong Republican Party for the success of our democracy.
I hope the Republican Party, under the leadership of Paul Rayn will take a constructive conservative path for the development of the country and try to cool down slowly this anger of the white males. The result of anger is always a destructive consequence, it is absolutely necessary to control it. The defeat of Ted Cruz is the starting event and I hope with the defeat of Donald Trump at General Election, Republican leaders will get back their control. They will get the chance to guide the Party to right direction - we need strong Republican Party for the success of our democracy.
2
Now might be a good time for Mitch and his devoted followers in the Senate to re-think their position on President Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court.
3
The Republican Party could not stop Trump, the voice of fear, isolation and the loathing of humanities fringe. When Trump says we have to come together as one, who really believes that?
The Democrats are the voice of inclusion and reason. Facts should prevail. Do you want to go forward, or backward.? Be proud of trying to make America better, always better, or be an embarrassment to the world?
The Democrats are the voice of inclusion and reason. Facts should prevail. Do you want to go forward, or backward.? Be proud of trying to make America better, always better, or be an embarrassment to the world?
4
Trump is better prepared tha Obama was And more trustworthy Than Hillary
1
I entirely think it is possible that Donald Trump could be out next President. Though it will be rough, I have to believe that after not accomplishing anything he set out to do, he will be a one term President. I also think that nothing will win back the House and the Senate for Democrats faster than a Trump Presidency.
I do love his foreign policy (not), "We are going to make the world bend to our will, and they will love us more". I suspect that as the nominee once the hard questions start getting asked of him, he will show himself for who he really is. McCain had a decent shot until Sarah Palin started doing interviews.
I do love his foreign policy (not), "We are going to make the world bend to our will, and they will love us more". I suspect that as the nominee once the hard questions start getting asked of him, he will show himself for who he really is. McCain had a decent shot until Sarah Palin started doing interviews.
2
Our collective first step into a rational new world. The media led by the times will try to rig this election in favor of Clinton with propagandist tactics many will still fall for.
Voters of superior intelligence have given Trump the most votes ever received in a GOP primary for logical, sane reasons.
We should not import tens of thousands of Syrian refugees after seeing how they collectively behaved on this past new years Eve in Munich where 1000 women were reportedly sexually assaulted by migrants.
The United States is a sovereign country well within its right to secure its border. The mass importation of educationally deficient illegal aliens under cuts American labor, bolsters 1% capitalists like Zuckenberg and erodes at the traditional culture of the United States.
Only a bully like Trump can coral the occupywallstreet blacklivesmatter radical left which suppresses freedom of speech and thought by blocking highways "shutting down" campaign events and shaming college campuses into limiting the free market place of ideas.
Voters of superior intelligence have given Trump the most votes ever received in a GOP primary for logical, sane reasons.
We should not import tens of thousands of Syrian refugees after seeing how they collectively behaved on this past new years Eve in Munich where 1000 women were reportedly sexually assaulted by migrants.
The United States is a sovereign country well within its right to secure its border. The mass importation of educationally deficient illegal aliens under cuts American labor, bolsters 1% capitalists like Zuckenberg and erodes at the traditional culture of the United States.
Only a bully like Trump can coral the occupywallstreet blacklivesmatter radical left which suppresses freedom of speech and thought by blocking highways "shutting down" campaign events and shaming college campuses into limiting the free market place of ideas.
Didn't the party get a preview of Trump the last election cycle? Except for Romney all the candidates on the stage where versions of Trump, yes, Trump Lite, but all that inner Trump in them.
2
The GOP better change its tack now and give President Obama's Supreme Court nominee a fair hearing. A moderate justice would be better for them than one appointed by a President Clinton, and certainly better than one appointed by a President Trump, who no doubt would choose one based on her bra size.
4
Betting that mere obstructionism of President Obama would work for America was a historic mistake. No one can deny that now. The G.O.P. has been a "party first, country second" outfit since the 1980's. They never had the country in mind. The "problems" they wanted to solve were transgenders in the bathroom, "the war on Christmas," and making sure you could carry your gun in a National Park. Are there tough issues there, or were they just just pulling your chain with fluff, distraction, fear and faux-anger? That the loathsome Ted Cruz was the panic-button alternative to Trump is the final piece of evidence that causes to judge to close his folder in a huff, rise, and eye the jury with a look that says "I hope to high heaven you get this right."
4
Time for the Senate to confirm Merrick B. Garland before Trump can nominate some clown.
5
So much lament about the Republican party and not a word about the Democrats. Indeed, the Republican party is in terrible shape but at least they have a winning candidate. On the other hand, the Democratic establishment seems to be successful in its manipulations to stay in control. But the Crooked Hillary will not win. This country will end up with one-party rule and this will be the end of American democracy. Everyone will have their share of the blame for this outcome, but by far the largest blame goes to the Democrats who have failed to change and failed to see the light.
To say that Trump is the demise of the Republican Party is the glass half empty view.
The glass half full view says that Trump is causing a reexamination of the Republican party's core principles.
The party establishment is being forced by an outsider to adjust and reprioritize historical platform planks.
Trump is shifting the power structure of the party, which is why he makes so many so nervous. As just one example, religious conservatives and their social policies would likely be deemphasized under Trump.
A realignment and modernization of the Republican Party is surely a good thing. Transformation is hard, and organizations, being comprised of humans, do not voluntarily transform themselves that often.
The Democrats offer up Clinton, of the 1970s vintage Democrat machine. Democrats have used the same playbook for a little too long now.
Can Bernie actually be a transformative force in the Democrat party or will, as we have seen, he remain stifled and hidden from view by the establishment in favor of the same old same old.
The glass half full view says that Trump is causing a reexamination of the Republican party's core principles.
The party establishment is being forced by an outsider to adjust and reprioritize historical platform planks.
Trump is shifting the power structure of the party, which is why he makes so many so nervous. As just one example, religious conservatives and their social policies would likely be deemphasized under Trump.
A realignment and modernization of the Republican Party is surely a good thing. Transformation is hard, and organizations, being comprised of humans, do not voluntarily transform themselves that often.
The Democrats offer up Clinton, of the 1970s vintage Democrat machine. Democrats have used the same playbook for a little too long now.
Can Bernie actually be a transformative force in the Democrat party or will, as we have seen, he remain stifled and hidden from view by the establishment in favor of the same old same old.
1
It's interesting to look at how Trump got to where he is. It certainly wasn't because of the support of the Republican "establishment" - whatever that is. It also wasn't because the Koch brothers, Sheldon Adelson, or other big-money contributors were on his side.
What did he have? Well, first of all, celebrity, which is increasingly important in the US today when the marketing techniques of Hollywood and Madison Ave are applied to politics. But most important, Trump had the votes of the people, including many independents and Democrats. You can decry the stupidity and cluelessness of the American electorate but in the end we get the government we deserve.
What did he have? Well, first of all, celebrity, which is increasingly important in the US today when the marketing techniques of Hollywood and Madison Ave are applied to politics. But most important, Trump had the votes of the people, including many independents and Democrats. You can decry the stupidity and cluelessness of the American electorate but in the end we get the government we deserve.
1
To Republicans and GOP-leaners, you should by now be well accustomed to the Party's suicide watch. It's nothing new; it has been going on for at least 30 years. The self-administered poison of endless bile is aimply now taking hold.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
www.endthemadnessnow.org
3
Trump represents major change in all government policies/programs.Hillary represents the same policies that have failed or been marginally successful since LBJ's Great Society began in 1964.I'll vote Trump.I don't believe the naysayers who predict a Hillary landslide.Hillary tells us she relishes running against Trump.Really?The truth is just the opposite.She and her aides are quite apprehensive about battling Trump.
Politicians whose only qualification is the ability to parrot talking points provided by their wealthy backers will never be able to understand or react to problems in real time. These people are not leaders, they are propagandists, and expecting them to lead change is like asking the marketing department to plan a major company's future. Trump is the natural culmination of the GOP's cynical manipulation of and utter disinterest in its base, and the shattering defeat and conflagration that will attend his presidential run is well-deserved by that brain-dead party.
I can hardly wait for the right-wing "analysis" that says they'd have won if they'd have run "a real conservative." Yes, please keep thinking that GOP!
I can hardly wait for the right-wing "analysis" that says they'd have won if they'd have run "a real conservative." Yes, please keep thinking that GOP!
2
"Instead of rejecting what Trump stands for, the Republican Party is falling in line behind his nomination"
What exactly do you expect the Republican Party to do? Trump holds the majority delegates and will clinch the nomination according to G.O.P. rules. You've applauded this same process with Hillary Clinton's delegate lead over Sanders for months now while essentially calling for Sanders to drop out because of Clinton's insurmountable delegate lead.
So why is this nomination process wonderful for the Democratic Party but foreboding for the Republican Party? You laud the process for your endorsed candidate, but then wish for the other side to reject that process because you disapprove of the choice that Republican voters have made.
So which is it?
What exactly do you expect the Republican Party to do? Trump holds the majority delegates and will clinch the nomination according to G.O.P. rules. You've applauded this same process with Hillary Clinton's delegate lead over Sanders for months now while essentially calling for Sanders to drop out because of Clinton's insurmountable delegate lead.
So why is this nomination process wonderful for the Democratic Party but foreboding for the Republican Party? You laud the process for your endorsed candidate, but then wish for the other side to reject that process because you disapprove of the choice that Republican voters have made.
So which is it?
3
The Republican party may deserve the nominee they have worked so hard to create - Donald Trump - but do Americans deserve to have this man as a presidential candidate? How can an out-of-touch ignorant bullying narcissist billionaire possibly offer disaffected, suffering Americans any solutions to their problems? I feel sorry for the American voter who even has to consider choosing this fraud of a candidate for president.
2
What is most likely is that Mr. Trump will be the Republican nominee, the Republican cadre will circle their wagons around him, and Republican partisans will cast their votes for him in November. Same as it always was... The questions about Mr. Trump's abilities, or morality, or experience, or policies will be irrelevant. The primary has proven that most Republican voters don't give a fig about the traditional criteria that distinguish a candidate. They want someone who can make a nickname stick, and make broad, unexplained promises, and sling plenty of adjectives. As for the Republican establishment, what choice do they have? Run Mitt as an independent? I don't think so. Fait accompli.
3
President Obama challenged the Nation in 2009 not to just hang in there, but to "discovery great opportunity in the midst of a great crisis"
And so should the GOP.
And so should the GOP.
Yes, Trump is vile.
But it's a delight to see the Republican party go down. After decades of promising smaller and less expensive government, spending and debt has only grown.
So the Republican Party and its authoritarian statism is going down.
There's more to be happy about: the Democratic party isn't doing too well either. It's commiting suicide at a slower rate. It also rarely delivers on its promise of ever-expanding goverment solving every problem faced by "working families". The Democrats are also nominating a vile person to be president. Clinton is an insider establishment player, crony capitalist, pro-war, government-growing chameleon.
So, the Democratic Party and it authoritarian statism is going down.
Time to sit back, pop open a beer ( or a 2008 Cabernet for New York Times readers), and enjoy the show.
But it's a delight to see the Republican party go down. After decades of promising smaller and less expensive government, spending and debt has only grown.
So the Republican Party and its authoritarian statism is going down.
There's more to be happy about: the Democratic party isn't doing too well either. It's commiting suicide at a slower rate. It also rarely delivers on its promise of ever-expanding goverment solving every problem faced by "working families". The Democrats are also nominating a vile person to be president. Clinton is an insider establishment player, crony capitalist, pro-war, government-growing chameleon.
So, the Democratic Party and it authoritarian statism is going down.
Time to sit back, pop open a beer ( or a 2008 Cabernet for New York Times readers), and enjoy the show.
2
Republicans aren't turning to Trump, so much as the Republican Establishment is turning away from Republicans.
.
Republicans have a list of core values, some good, some understandable, some bad: strict immigration laws; a small government that gets out of the way and let's people succeed; low taxes; an 'Americans First' view of globalization and international policy; a powerful military. Some of these things are frankly distasteful: strong immigration laws are all too often rooted in xenophobia. Some of them are baffling: how can you square a desire for low taxes with a desire to continue to grow what is already the most powerful military in the world? But these are the values they hold, and over the past 25 years, Republican politicians have repeatedly gone against these values - often ignoring criticism from within.
.
Add to that the fact that the past ten years have not been good to socially conservative, blue collar whites (the Republican Party base). Job losses. Stagnant wages. The meth epidemic ravaging small towns the way crack did big cities.... Instead of doing anything substantive to help, Republican in Washington have devolved into brainless obstructionists - with no real policy goals other than to block President Obama in everything he does.
.
Along comes Donald Trump: selling an unrealistic political platform the way he sells luxury condos: saying all the right things and hitting all the talking points.
I am not a Republican. They're lapping it up.
.
Republicans have a list of core values, some good, some understandable, some bad: strict immigration laws; a small government that gets out of the way and let's people succeed; low taxes; an 'Americans First' view of globalization and international policy; a powerful military. Some of these things are frankly distasteful: strong immigration laws are all too often rooted in xenophobia. Some of them are baffling: how can you square a desire for low taxes with a desire to continue to grow what is already the most powerful military in the world? But these are the values they hold, and over the past 25 years, Republican politicians have repeatedly gone against these values - often ignoring criticism from within.
.
Add to that the fact that the past ten years have not been good to socially conservative, blue collar whites (the Republican Party base). Job losses. Stagnant wages. The meth epidemic ravaging small towns the way crack did big cities.... Instead of doing anything substantive to help, Republican in Washington have devolved into brainless obstructionists - with no real policy goals other than to block President Obama in everything he does.
.
Along comes Donald Trump: selling an unrealistic political platform the way he sells luxury condos: saying all the right things and hitting all the talking points.
I am not a Republican. They're lapping it up.
2
Well, you know the GOP, they will follow the delusive Pied Piper aka Donald Trump, over the cliff because he says he is a Republican.
2
I think that this is a fantastic article based on a reasonable analysis of where the GOP is now, however I think that you lost a significant number of Republicans once you used the word, "demagogy". Such high flautin' terms immediately label you as a liberal.
And yes, I'm laughing and crying about that at same time.
And yes, I'm laughing and crying about that at same time.
I have been saying this for a long time.
Republicans will have to decide if they love their party more than they love their country.
This is where the rubber hits the road.
Republicans will have to decide if they love their party more than they love their country.
This is where the rubber hits the road.
2
The nomination of Trump as the GOP standard bearer this year is a sign of that party's almost complete disconnect with white middle class voters. Yet the doomsday predictions by the papers and pundits is premature; Republicans still control many of the levers of power in the US: from Congress to state houses and governorships. With voter suppression, gerrymandered districts, and smoke and mirror hashtags like #ConfidentAmerica, the Republicans should be able to survive the Trump candidacy and continue to represent the interests of the very wealthy for years to come. The reckoning predicted by the NYT will be a long time coming.
4
Amazing to me that there are so many Americans that support him - that is what is most frightening. It is one thing to have a fringe candidate in a fringe party, or a bigot that never gets the nomination.
But for the most successful nation on the planet to have sunk this low should cause us all to question what is truly in store for America should he ever somehow become POTUS. Just what have we become as a nation?
Can a reality TV racist, sexist bigot with ZERO experience governing or have a basic understanding of our form of govt actually ascend to be POTUS?
But for the most successful nation on the planet to have sunk this low should cause us all to question what is truly in store for America should he ever somehow become POTUS. Just what have we become as a nation?
Can a reality TV racist, sexist bigot with ZERO experience governing or have a basic understanding of our form of govt actually ascend to be POTUS?
4
Hopefully, the perceived "train wreck" the GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE has become will finally head full steam off the "Election Cliff" in November.
But the voters, the "few and the proud", will have the final say and the question is, basically, are there enough gun toting white folks out there for Mr. Trump to win the election (Remember 2000 and the "hanging chads"? The saving grace is an evenly split SCOTUS may not be able to jump in again)?
Mr. Dylan's song, "The Times They are a Changing", is quite appropriate but the "change" may not be in the direction he desired.
I suggest we all sit back and watch the veritable tsunami of "negativism" that will engulf television stations across the land. Heck, we may wish for the simpler times of mere "Swift Boating" compared to the evisceration both candidates will display in this contest.
Just remember to pop enough popcorn for this one!
But the voters, the "few and the proud", will have the final say and the question is, basically, are there enough gun toting white folks out there for Mr. Trump to win the election (Remember 2000 and the "hanging chads"? The saving grace is an evenly split SCOTUS may not be able to jump in again)?
Mr. Dylan's song, "The Times They are a Changing", is quite appropriate but the "change" may not be in the direction he desired.
I suggest we all sit back and watch the veritable tsunami of "negativism" that will engulf television stations across the land. Heck, we may wish for the simpler times of mere "Swift Boating" compared to the evisceration both candidates will display in this contest.
Just remember to pop enough popcorn for this one!
Another analysis says that Trump represents not a revolt against the Party, but an embodiment of its ideals and talking points. Xenophobia, misogyny, racism, ---these have been recurrent themes on the right, dogwhistled then simply shouted in recent years. Trump is the better shouter, the punchier fictionalist.
"Year after year, the party’s candidates promised help for middle-class people who lost their homes, jobs and savings to recession, who lost limbs and well-being to war, and then did next to nothing." Doesn't this sound more like a complaint against the Democrats? Promising help? Not really the Republicans' style. Promising to hurt somebody else, maybe.
Trump has positioned himself at the front of the deluded crusader army assembled by the standard right. He has tramped his muddy boots on the carpet, dropped his cigar in the punchbowl. But it's their party.
"Year after year, the party’s candidates promised help for middle-class people who lost their homes, jobs and savings to recession, who lost limbs and well-being to war, and then did next to nothing." Doesn't this sound more like a complaint against the Democrats? Promising help? Not really the Republicans' style. Promising to hurt somebody else, maybe.
Trump has positioned himself at the front of the deluded crusader army assembled by the standard right. He has tramped his muddy boots on the carpet, dropped his cigar in the punchbowl. But it's their party.
1
Everything you write is true. I just hope that Hillary is not so foolish though to think her election is a cake walk. If she does, we will be talking about a President Trump next November.
1
She gives it her all. If the American people wind up electing trumpie, it will be their bad.
Mr. Olsen's lament for the suicide of the Republican Party is premature. It's too big, or certainly too rich, to fail. Or at least not for long. Richard Nixon, or surely the latter Bush, should have been its end, but were not. What Guy Lombardo once said of New Year's Eve -- that when he goes, he's taking it with him -- the Republicans, with no tongue in cheek, could say of America. The danger is not that Trump will lose and take down the GOP with him. The danger is that the Republicans' successful training of the American public to persistently vote against its own self-interest will continue, and that we will all soon be calling Herr Trump "Mr. President."
2
Republicans took the House in 2010. They have been saying they will come up with a plan to replace Obamacare for years. Republicans now control both the House and Senate. If they had a plan they could have passed it long ago.
The Republicans have no plan other than tax cuts and deregulation. Crying wolf doesn't count.
The Republicans have no plan other than tax cuts and deregulation. Crying wolf doesn't count.
5
If all this is true, why isn't the media acknowledging its part in the debacle? Trump has received more free press than any candidate in the running. More than most combined. If he'd had to pay for the coverage, his campaign might have derailed months ago.
7
The disappointing thing about trump winning the republican nomination is the likelihood of a Clinton presidency. If there was ever a candidacy born of establishment elitism and political calculus it is hers. if there is anyone who represents the system, the elite, the 'hangers on' doing very nicely thank you it is Hilary. She's had so many views and taken so many positions and made so many promises to so many people I dont even know who or what she stands for.
Rather than vote party over candidate, I think I'll just stay home come November!
Rather than vote party over candidate, I think I'll just stay home come November!
2
The summary on the front page tells us that instead of rejecting what Trump stands for, the Republicans are falling in line behind him.
So, what, exactly does Trump stand for?
There has been a whole lot of yelling, a whole lot of whoopin' and hollerin' and as far as I can tell, a single speech on policy in which a lot of platitudes were displayed, but not a lot of policy. (This was deemed a serious speech - Trump read from the teleprompter rather than freewheeling his own absurdity.)
If the GOP is falling in behind Trump, it is because they calculate that Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell will be calling the shots, shutting out Trump as thoroughly as they did President Obama, but leaving him to bask in public glory while they get their work done.
Trump is a narcissist and a smart one. The GOP is living a pipe dream if they think they can control or ignore him.
So, what, exactly does Trump stand for?
There has been a whole lot of yelling, a whole lot of whoopin' and hollerin' and as far as I can tell, a single speech on policy in which a lot of platitudes were displayed, but not a lot of policy. (This was deemed a serious speech - Trump read from the teleprompter rather than freewheeling his own absurdity.)
If the GOP is falling in behind Trump, it is because they calculate that Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell will be calling the shots, shutting out Trump as thoroughly as they did President Obama, but leaving him to bask in public glory while they get their work done.
Trump is a narcissist and a smart one. The GOP is living a pipe dream if they think they can control or ignore him.
4
This is what happens when traditional Republicans refused to throw its Tea Party wing over the side of the ship. Now, Captain Queeg has taken command: "Ahh, but the strawberries that's... that's where I had them. They laughed at me and made jokes but I proved beyond the shadow of a doubt and with... geometric logic... that a duplicate key to the wardroom icebox DID exist, and I'd have produced that key if they hadn't of pulled the Caine out of action. I, I, I know now they were only trying to protect some fellow officers..."
2
Again, the Democratic primary is not over. The super delegates Mrs. Clinton had "locked up" in 2008 quickly unlocked themselves for Mr. Obama at that Democratic convention. So, erase the so-called shoo-in super delegate numbers you keep piling on top of Mrs. Clinton's delegates and you can see there's still a primary campaign going on with Mr. Sanders in reach.
3
If Republicans were less self involved and more intelligent, they would question why television media gave Donald Trump millions of dollars in free air time. Joe Scarborough was the worst of them, giving America Trump with their morning coffee. So here's the question: was the destruction of the GOP at the top of their agenda?
1
We are one step closer to, and one heartbeat away from, eliminating political correctness and multiculturalism from this country.
"Political correctness", as you call it, and multiculturalism are established facts. The election of one man (assuming that he actually gets elected) will not alter that reality. The country has changed. Get over it.
The GOP has spent decades serving the interests of the wealthy so it makes a certain kind of sense that Donald Trump is now their standard bearer. Sad too that Trump's supporters believe he won't also serve the interests of his wealthy brethren once he gets into office. He is following the GOP's playbook -- say whatever you need to get people to vote for you. Trump has been flying back to New York after most of his appearances. If he can't bear to spend even a night outside his gilded castle, how concerned is he really about his supporters' problems?
4
The GOP leadership believed that the way to presidency was to repeat the past of Presidents Bush and Reagan. Yet what they embraced more than anything was deep, disruptive and divisive ultra-rightwing conservatism of religion, women's rights, abortion debates, voter ID, militarism, racism, and financial and economic policy that over the last thirty years has impoverished millions of Americans. Finally, after losing jobs, homes, industry and opportunity for advancement in a greatly unequal society, many Republicans have realized that the politics and policies of the Tea Party and the deep conservative right wing has not benefited a great majority of Americans.
Americans want a secure future. They want to work. They want their kids to be able to go to college, raise a family and own their own home. They want fair trade not free trade. And they want relief from the destructive policy of Republican elites that have lost touch with most of America.
The Republicans who rejected Mr. Cruz, Mr. Bush, Rubio and all the others are fed up. They are disgusted. They are hurt. Hurt enough to demand change.
Very sadly, and perhaps tragically the Republican majority has reached out to another racist demagogue who is more like a fascist of the mid 20th century. Donald Trump.
Maybe after November the trains may run on time. But that's all we'll get.
Americans want a secure future. They want to work. They want their kids to be able to go to college, raise a family and own their own home. They want fair trade not free trade. And they want relief from the destructive policy of Republican elites that have lost touch with most of America.
The Republicans who rejected Mr. Cruz, Mr. Bush, Rubio and all the others are fed up. They are disgusted. They are hurt. Hurt enough to demand change.
Very sadly, and perhaps tragically the Republican majority has reached out to another racist demagogue who is more like a fascist of the mid 20th century. Donald Trump.
Maybe after November the trains may run on time. But that's all we'll get.
4
I have yet to hear or read anything about Trump's plan to put his empire into a blind trust.
It is to be assumed his daughter --the ''hot'' one -- will take the reins, but that can hardly be considered independent.
Trump gives no thought to what he says. There is a serious disconnect between his brain and his mouth. What he will say if this, God forbid, becomes an issue?
It is to be assumed his daughter --the ''hot'' one -- will take the reins, but that can hardly be considered independent.
Trump gives no thought to what he says. There is a serious disconnect between his brain and his mouth. What he will say if this, God forbid, becomes an issue?
4
Trump supporters I know are gleeful about Trump's victory, saying that now we will show them in November with a win and a new regime in the White House. They think that Trump will somehow cause it to happen that more money will somehow flow into their possession. Trump will not - he doesn't know how to do this and if such money becomes available he will take it for himself. This is the Trump first policy described in Fortune this month. I guess 'anybody but a traditional Republican' is the new motto of the disaffected.
Speaking for me, I worry that Trump as president will end the world by, in a fit of impetuosity, dropping a nuclear bomb on somebody. JFK had the wisdom to ignore Curtis LeMay and trade missiles in Turkey for missiles in Cuba. Trump has no such wisdom.
Paul Ryan to the rescue?
Speaking for me, I worry that Trump as president will end the world by, in a fit of impetuosity, dropping a nuclear bomb on somebody. JFK had the wisdom to ignore Curtis LeMay and trade missiles in Turkey for missiles in Cuba. Trump has no such wisdom.
Paul Ryan to the rescue?
1
This election/campaign cycle should be a wake up call to both parties that the American people are disgusted with you. The GOP has an opportunity to start building a better, more humane party. The Democrats still aren't dealing with the power of Sanders, and, fortunately, they're not dealing with someone who isn't qualified, as is the case with the GOP. I can only hope that both parties seriously re-examine what they're continued corruption of principles of our founding and backing of inequality has done to this country. Let's bring back a moral America that stands with for the people and by the people, rather than by the people for the corporate interest!
1
We've reached a low point as a country and we have FOX News to thank for it. 20 years of FOX News race baiting, 20 years of FOX News stirring up resentment among stupid white poor people, and 20 years of poor white people being brainwashed by FOX News to vote against their own economic interests has led us to this point. But as FOX News has become more extreme over the years, the clowns the Republicans trot out there are also becoming more extreme. But they're only the result of a party that has pushed to the extreme right, a party that hates anyone who isn't a Christian white heterosexual male in the top 1%.
Republicans have been on a war against the 99% and this country for decades now. Republicans have stonewalled Obama from doing anything to fix Bush's mess because Republicans don't care about fixing anything. They could care less if oceans flood the major coastal cities and Global Warming renders Earth uninhabitable. They could care less that our infrastructure is rotting and that government can't do its job because Republicans have strangled Washington with budget cuts.
If Republicans want this country to fail, then they should cease to exist as a political party. They're not the solution, they're part of the problem and we don't need their kind here anymore if they're going to stonewall Obama at every turn and make fun of him and shout 'You lie' like a little 6th grader. These Republicans make me sick and ashamed to be an American.
Republicans have been on a war against the 99% and this country for decades now. Republicans have stonewalled Obama from doing anything to fix Bush's mess because Republicans don't care about fixing anything. They could care less if oceans flood the major coastal cities and Global Warming renders Earth uninhabitable. They could care less that our infrastructure is rotting and that government can't do its job because Republicans have strangled Washington with budget cuts.
If Republicans want this country to fail, then they should cease to exist as a political party. They're not the solution, they're part of the problem and we don't need their kind here anymore if they're going to stonewall Obama at every turn and make fun of him and shout 'You lie' like a little 6th grader. These Republicans make me sick and ashamed to be an American.
6
“I would just ask you to raise your gaze and look at the horizon that we’re trying to paint,” - Paul Ryan
The horizon is a point we never get to.
The horizon is a point we never get to.
4
Trump voters get no respect. Their candidate is vilified for defying the "serious" people. I expectantly await the day if (when?) Trump does win the presidency. Will the editorial board all move to Canada in protest? One can only hope.
1
I hope the Republican establishment has formed a long line to slap Mitt Romney in the face repeatedly for 'endorsing' Trump.
3
So here it is finally. The chickens have all come home to roost for the Republican Party. As with everybody and every organization, the deepest and most difficult to heal of wounds are usually self-inflicted.
1
The party of Lincoln, of Hays, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, Nixon, Reagan and GW Bush, Joe McCarthy and Donald Trump. Eisenhower and Rockefeller and those Republicans who believed in good government are dismissed by today’s GOP. The economy is better when Dems are in charge and the middle class does better. We have the Dems to thank for Social Security, Medicare, Obamacare, civil and voting rights laws and the social safety net which the GOP would tear to shreds.
The irony is that the party which hates democracy and voting with a passion has got a voter revolt and the fat cats and the smoke filled room has been trampled by actual Republican votes. The patsies have revolted and the GOP has the choice of change or cease to be a major national party. The party of voter suppression and plutocrats is being swamped by the votes of furious voters and a xenophobic, monarchist will be their candidate for president. How delicious. How dangerous.
The irony is that the party which hates democracy and voting with a passion has got a voter revolt and the fat cats and the smoke filled room has been trampled by actual Republican votes. The patsies have revolted and the GOP has the choice of change or cease to be a major national party. The party of voter suppression and plutocrats is being swamped by the votes of furious voters and a xenophobic, monarchist will be their candidate for president. How delicious. How dangerous.
3
Oh will you people who think you know everything just stop it. You have absolutely no idea what Trump would do if he's elected president. All the man did was say whatever he had to say to get the majority of ordinary people to vote for him which is what politicians have done for centuries. The only difference is that he said it in the manner and words of the ordinary people, unlike the mealymouthed politicians who use convoluted and stilted language meant to put themselves on a higher level and convey the impression that somehow they deserved to lead. Unlike them, and I mean all of them, he sounded, and still does, like a drinking buddy. Much to the consternation of all the media pundits who from the very beginning never understood it and still don't because they themselves are part of the political world they love to drone on about ad nauseum.
1
We have absolutely no idea what Trump would do if he's elected president. But neither does he.
"The Republican Party’s trek into the darkness took a fateful step in Indiana on Tuesday."
I think this statement misses the point. If 40-50% of GOP voters embrace "The Donald" (DT) then the GOP has a crisis of identity. A large fraction of the GOP "base" now rejects classic conservatism. Voters may be grasping at straws in the wind, but the old rhetoric no longer attracts the traditional GOP base (and why should it).
The GOP establishment needs to sit down and ask itself "who are we. Are relevant anymore?"
I think this statement misses the point. If 40-50% of GOP voters embrace "The Donald" (DT) then the GOP has a crisis of identity. A large fraction of the GOP "base" now rejects classic conservatism. Voters may be grasping at straws in the wind, but the old rhetoric no longer attracts the traditional GOP base (and why should it).
The GOP establishment needs to sit down and ask itself "who are we. Are relevant anymore?"
Sometimes I think that Bob Dylan, 50 years ago, was writing his verses to today's soon-to-expire Republican party:
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him he calls you, you can't refuse
When you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you've got no secrets to conceal
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him he calls you, you can't refuse
When you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you've got no secrets to conceal
Maybe someone should turn on the lights inside Andy's radical cocoon at the editorial board. When you constantly point the finger and namecall instead of rational, logical discourse in defense of your positions anyone with half a brain knows where that finger is really pointing. Why blame Trump for stealing a page out of Mr. Rosenthal's book? Mr. Trump as a New Yorker reads the NYT every day and I'm sure he's gotten a useful tutorial as to the fine art of propaganda from the wonderful, open minded editorials, that broaden our perspectives in such a progressive and uplifting way. Certainly no one here could be in any way responsible for the debasement of political dialog and the concurrent rise of the Trump phenomenon now could they?
1
It's pretty pathetic, not that Donald Trump won the nomination, but that the only alternative the G.O.P. could offer to Trump was "Stop Trump."
Trump (except for his lack of homophobia) is a:
Bigot
Misogynist
Privileged tycoon who exploits the working class
Xenophobe
I.e., he's almost everything the G.O.P. stands for.
In fact, Hillary Clinton only came to accept gays as worthy of full civil right recently, so Trump will be able to compete for the gay vote since not all gays are liberals.
Trump (except for his lack of homophobia) is a:
Bigot
Misogynist
Privileged tycoon who exploits the working class
Xenophobe
I.e., he's almost everything the G.O.P. stands for.
In fact, Hillary Clinton only came to accept gays as worthy of full civil right recently, so Trump will be able to compete for the gay vote since not all gays are liberals.
High and mighty. Convinced they are in the right to the end despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Imperial and mocking. Filled with hate for he who they loath. Blind and twisted liars. Betrayers of the public trust. Who do I describe? Why they Times editorial board of course. Trump will go on to win the nomination and face serial liar, poll panderer, neo-con military expansionist hawk Hillary who will turn on a dime to suite her sponsors and whims. The Times board can be counted on to continue to disinform and lead the gullible down the dark path. The Republican party has chosen nothing. The people have made the choice.
Now that Cruz is out of the picture, perhaps Sanders and Clinton can begin to campaign against Trump, going into the finer details that Clown Car passengers were afraid to mention.
Cruz supporters in the remaining primary states might be tempted to put their useless votes to a better purpose by creating a contested convention in the Democratic Party. That event might even re-open the contest in the Republican Party.
Having burnt down the house, Trump might find that crossover prospect to be a good reason to mend at least the fences and doors as a prelude to a round of rebuilding.
Possibly this thought has crossed Cruz's mind?
Cruz supporters in the remaining primary states might be tempted to put their useless votes to a better purpose by creating a contested convention in the Democratic Party. That event might even re-open the contest in the Republican Party.
Having burnt down the house, Trump might find that crossover prospect to be a good reason to mend at least the fences and doors as a prelude to a round of rebuilding.
Possibly this thought has crossed Cruz's mind?
It would seem that Trump has pronounced mental issues. Why isn't there some sort of screening test for potential candidates to determine if they are mentally fit to hold office?
3
And intelligence screening.
Yes, it’s Donald Trump’s Party Now. This means that the Republican voters have rejected most of the ideology that the G.O.P. has stood for, namely, *free trade*, military interventionism, and deregulation (especially of Wall Street).
This would be the best year for a liberal Democrat to run as an independent, because Hillary is a Rockefeller Republican, so she and Trump would split the old Republican vote, and Bernie Sanders would easily be elected President.
Like Trump, Sanders is opposed to *free trade*, military interventionism, and Wall Street deregulation (Wall Street owns Hillary). Like Clinton, Sanders is a liberal on social issues. Bernie is the true liberal, and the other two are the blue-blooded Republicans.
5/4 @ 6:33 am
This would be the best year for a liberal Democrat to run as an independent, because Hillary is a Rockefeller Republican, so she and Trump would split the old Republican vote, and Bernie Sanders would easily be elected President.
Like Trump, Sanders is opposed to *free trade*, military interventionism, and Wall Street deregulation (Wall Street owns Hillary). Like Clinton, Sanders is a liberal on social issues. Bernie is the true liberal, and the other two are the blue-blooded Republicans.
5/4 @ 6:33 am
2
The traditional news media will never allow it. They are simply not going to take the high road in their coverage, and too many voters rely on them. NY Times is a shining example of how biased and politically influenced our media has become.
2
Perhaps the Republicans have not made the best choice, but of one thing I am certain, on that fateful night in Benghazi, Donald Trump would not have chosen to do nothing and let our men die.
At a loss, it seems, as to what to do with the Big, Orange Baby that the GOP conceived and now birthed, Reince Priebus as chairman of the RNC, is now urging the party to capitulate to their spoiled, clueless, narcissistic brat.
He is urging the party to support a vulgar, despotic, megalomaniac who has had great fun playing to the racism, sexism and xenophobia of his rabid followers
Any elected politician who campaigns for this person who has demonstrated his profound ignorance on what it means to be President of the United States, and whose sole goal, it seems, is to continue to bask in the glow that his vile rants have wrought, is just as morally and politically corrupt as he seems to be.
Trump has an excuse for his behavior. He seems to have a personality disorder. The GOP is worse. In it's successful efforts to divide the country to it's advantage beginning with the "Southern Strategy", is without a doubt, a destructive, American disorder.
He is urging the party to support a vulgar, despotic, megalomaniac who has had great fun playing to the racism, sexism and xenophobia of his rabid followers
Any elected politician who campaigns for this person who has demonstrated his profound ignorance on what it means to be President of the United States, and whose sole goal, it seems, is to continue to bask in the glow that his vile rants have wrought, is just as morally and politically corrupt as he seems to be.
Trump has an excuse for his behavior. He seems to have a personality disorder. The GOP is worse. In it's successful efforts to divide the country to it's advantage beginning with the "Southern Strategy", is without a doubt, a destructive, American disorder.
3
They have gotten what they deserve.
2
He has given new meaning to "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow." He has caused so many of us to be thinking greatly about tomorrow, and in specific, about the next six months. Yes, it will be here soon. For some of us it can not come soon enough.
It's all about the ratings. From Fast and Furious to TV news, it's style over substance. The hamstrung, Kenyan's hope and change show is over. Now we'll get the ultimate reality show: Dynamic Donald vs Boring, Unpopular old Hillary.
Are you not entertained?
Are you not entertained?
Donald Trump may be the one man who can galvanize support for Hillary Clinton in the face of her uninspiring and wooden candidacy.
NYT is stuck in old paradigm.
Yesterday the editorial headline was 'Bernie Sanders's Gift to His Party.' Bernie Sanders caucuses with Dems, but he's an independent calling himself a Social Democrat, 'his' party misses the point. Misses the meaning.
Today: 'It's Donald Trump's Party Now'...Trump is an outsider too, GOP is barely a party. What's left isn't his party, it's simply road-kill on his way to narcissitic nirvana.
NYT's uses an old lens, doesn't understand why Hillary will lose to Trump (yes, horrifying but true). NYT was relentlessly dismissive and biased against Sanders, a candidate who consistently polled better against Trump and Cruz.
Grandmother research: you're neighbors will surprise you, they'll vote for Trump...everyday i'm surprised by people who will vote for 'change' regardless of the lists of Trump short-comings and deficiencies you espouse in these comments.
Pyschologically Trump has already won and HRC & the Donald aren't even in the ring yet.
I wish I were wrong.
Yesterday the editorial headline was 'Bernie Sanders's Gift to His Party.' Bernie Sanders caucuses with Dems, but he's an independent calling himself a Social Democrat, 'his' party misses the point. Misses the meaning.
Today: 'It's Donald Trump's Party Now'...Trump is an outsider too, GOP is barely a party. What's left isn't his party, it's simply road-kill on his way to narcissitic nirvana.
NYT's uses an old lens, doesn't understand why Hillary will lose to Trump (yes, horrifying but true). NYT was relentlessly dismissive and biased against Sanders, a candidate who consistently polled better against Trump and Cruz.
Grandmother research: you're neighbors will surprise you, they'll vote for Trump...everyday i'm surprised by people who will vote for 'change' regardless of the lists of Trump short-comings and deficiencies you espouse in these comments.
Pyschologically Trump has already won and HRC & the Donald aren't even in the ring yet.
I wish I were wrong.
1
Let's take a deep breath. On social issues, Trump is a very moderate Republican with bad manners. Trump is not a fascist or a racist. Neither is he a misogynist, homophobe, or bigot. He has spoken out against illegal aliens and he is guilty of talking before thinking. He is not against women's right to choose but he did attempt to answer a hypothetical trick questions about abortion in a clumsy fashion. The reason why he is hated by the establishment is that he does not support globalism and internationalism if it harms American people. He has also dared, like Bernie Sanders, to challenge US companies that relocate their businesses overseas to take advantage of cheap labor and lower tax rates.
Wrong on every count.
Paul Ryan: “I would just ask you to raise your gaze and look at the horizon that we’re trying to paint."
The GOP incessantly asks us to look beyond today to their vision of some better tomorrow. The problem with that plan is that the GOP refuses to govern today. Until they prove that they are willing to successfully undertake the messy business of government--including the compromises necessary to get good work done--why should anyone trust in their promised "horizons" of tomorrow?
The GOP incessantly asks us to look beyond today to their vision of some better tomorrow. The problem with that plan is that the GOP refuses to govern today. Until they prove that they are willing to successfully undertake the messy business of government--including the compromises necessary to get good work done--why should anyone trust in their promised "horizons" of tomorrow?
5
Who could be more republican than Trump?
He's a washed-up TV actor - like Ronald Reagan.
He's a trust-fund baby, business school graduate who failed at business - like "W".
He's a bellicose isolationist xenophobe like Goldwater.
And the editorial board is surprised at his success?
Clearly, he Times needs a new editorial board which pays attention.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
He's a washed-up TV actor - like Ronald Reagan.
He's a trust-fund baby, business school graduate who failed at business - like "W".
He's a bellicose isolationist xenophobe like Goldwater.
And the editorial board is surprised at his success?
Clearly, he Times needs a new editorial board which pays attention.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
3
It is a good news/bad news day today. Ted Cruz is out of the presidential race, and that is nothing but good news for most of us. The leadership of a zealot like Cruz might have destroyed this country.
The bad news is that Donald Trump is not. It is a ridiculous outcome to a ridiculous Republican presidential race, but that is what has happened. The sad thing is that the Republican Party allowed it. Mr. Priebus seems paralyzed in the headlights of Trump's campaign bus; transfixed, so to speak; crushed by the weight of too many dispossessed voters. He, and most of the other members in the Republican leadership, insist that they must support the winner of their primary races. Republican House members, and more notably, Senators, say the same, or say nothing. Trump's the winner; the leader, but a buffoon. How very strange, indeed!
Whether disgruntled Republicans form a new party, stand back from this election, or support the Democratic nominee, it is past time the parties reformed themselves.
Most of us know that Donald Trump should not be candidate for President of the United States. We can produce better, smarter persons to run our nation. Hillary Clinton, with her lurking, dark past, and many ties to big money and corruption does not make a much better candidate. We can do better. Much as I have derided the Republicans, both parties need massive reform to represent the people of this nation. It's time.
The bad news is that Donald Trump is not. It is a ridiculous outcome to a ridiculous Republican presidential race, but that is what has happened. The sad thing is that the Republican Party allowed it. Mr. Priebus seems paralyzed in the headlights of Trump's campaign bus; transfixed, so to speak; crushed by the weight of too many dispossessed voters. He, and most of the other members in the Republican leadership, insist that they must support the winner of their primary races. Republican House members, and more notably, Senators, say the same, or say nothing. Trump's the winner; the leader, but a buffoon. How very strange, indeed!
Whether disgruntled Republicans form a new party, stand back from this election, or support the Democratic nominee, it is past time the parties reformed themselves.
Most of us know that Donald Trump should not be candidate for President of the United States. We can produce better, smarter persons to run our nation. Hillary Clinton, with her lurking, dark past, and many ties to big money and corruption does not make a much better candidate. We can do better. Much as I have derided the Republicans, both parties need massive reform to represent the people of this nation. It's time.
5
Donald is the best thing that has come to this party in years yet most of you readers and the NYTimes Ed Board don't know how to recognize a diamond in the rough.
-from a WASP, grad school educated, informed voter
-from a WASP, grad school educated, informed voter
3
How did you feel about Mr. Trump's investigation of Obama's birth certificate? I felt like that indicated that Trump was no diamond in the rough but a cow patty.
Paul Ryan said “We do not like the direction the country is going, and we have an obligation to offer an alternative. That’s why House Republicans are developing a bold, pro-growth agenda to take to the country. By giving the people a clear choice in 2016, we can earn a mandate to do big things in 2017 and beyond.”
Basically that is just a long winded, empty rhetorical form of "Make America Great Again".
The Republican Party offers nothing except tax cuts for the wealthy, a license to steal for corporations, destruction of the environment, endless wars for the masses, elimination of the middle class, government bashing, fear mongering, race baiting, poor demonizing, immigrant hating xenophobia !
We can only hope that this disgusting charade of a political party is in its death throes and not a portent of things to come.
Basically that is just a long winded, empty rhetorical form of "Make America Great Again".
The Republican Party offers nothing except tax cuts for the wealthy, a license to steal for corporations, destruction of the environment, endless wars for the masses, elimination of the middle class, government bashing, fear mongering, race baiting, poor demonizing, immigrant hating xenophobia !
We can only hope that this disgusting charade of a political party is in its death throes and not a portent of things to come.
12
You reap what you sow, and what the Republicans have been sowing for the last 40 years they are now reaping in the person of Donald Trump. "Karma" comes to mind.
Enough said.
Enough said.
9
Go to the light, Republicans, vote for Hillary.
7
It will be interesting to see how Trump does, without Ted Cruz making him look like a reasonable choice.
3
A charlatan versus a war monger in November. America loses.
6
It's obvious that this left wing rag in in panic mode and its followers are marching in lock step.
5
Now the rest of us must mobilize to stop this evil. Trump represents xenophobia and racism. It is American fascism, at long last. All he needs is a cadre of goons in special uniforms to surround him. This will be an ugly summer.
14
Mr. Trump is neither evil or any of the other epithets you may hurl. In particular he is not a racist or xenophobic and all that. He represents an opportunity for America. Both the Republican and Democratic establishments are corrupt. The country is not going to go to hell and beyond. It is ok. We are ok. I prefer Mr. Sanders and voted for Obama, twice, but I will not vote for return of the Clintons. No way.
He is crazy. Trump is crazy. Do we want that as a president? If people would get over their belief that women shouldn't be in charge and giving orders, then we could get on with the business of reviving our economy. Instead, men and even some women won't elect a woman as president.
2
Confirms what we already know:
The Republican Party is the single greatest threat to the security and prosperity of the United States.
The Republican Party is the single greatest threat to the security and prosperity of the United States.
12
Henry Olsen said he's "watching a 160-year-old political party commit suicide..."
What did you expect given the last 20 years of policy inaction, attempts to eviscerate the middle classes earnings and safety nets, tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations, constant attacks against women's reproductive choice, theocratic leanings and ignoring the state of our union?
Trump is the inevitable conclusion to your wicked, exclusionary actions.
What did you expect given the last 20 years of policy inaction, attempts to eviscerate the middle classes earnings and safety nets, tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations, constant attacks against women's reproductive choice, theocratic leanings and ignoring the state of our union?
Trump is the inevitable conclusion to your wicked, exclusionary actions.
7
All the shock and righteous indignation is starting to give me a headache. A nation that made "The Walking Dead" the number one TV show for six years is more than capable of making Donald Trump President for four years.
3
Trump vs Hillary will become the nastiest political fight of all time.
I've already cancelled my cable TV and I'm about to have my landline telephone disconnected.
Politicians: Leave me Alone.
I've already cancelled my cable TV and I'm about to have my landline telephone disconnected.
Politicians: Leave me Alone.
2
I feel there's a chance that when Trump is way out in front, he'll dump the Republican Party and go as an independent, just for the fun of it.
I've watched a couple of Trump speeches and I can can only say that Republicans as a group are not very bright. Next comes the intelligence test for all Americans.
4
Rather than lament their fate, the Republican leaders should see what they can do with Trump at the helm. Despite the many concerns about him, Trump has raised a number of issues that have obviously resonated well with the rank and file of the Party, many of whom have been on the sidelines for years. He has drawn them in and given them a voice. This is an important accomplishment. The Party regulars should not squander it. Clinton is vulnerable. That should be the primary focus now. The manta should be "Defeat Clinton and increase control of Congress." The regulars have to work with what they have, not with what they wish they had. They have a lot of work they need to do. It will be better than sitting on the sidelines crying about what happened.
Unbelievable. The man is a joke. To say that he is unprepared for and unworthy of the office of the presidency is an understatement. He is a carnival barker and a conman.
3
Huffing and puffing, calling Trump names is a waste of time. It may feel good temporarily for one's political digestion, but one might as well just go out and celebrate with a rich slab of velveteen cake.
A friend in the humanitarian community once asked how to spell the word 'whew', and it is with this in mind that it is a comfort that Cruz is off the racetrack for the Presidency. For the latter, 'nice guys finish last' might be of some solace although this does not ring true to my ears.
Gone Republican Party? It will come back one of these days, and while hoping that Trump is bluffing about his 'beautiful wall' and other inedible notions, it is an honor and pleasure to pledge my vote to Mrs. Clinton.
A friend in the humanitarian community once asked how to spell the word 'whew', and it is with this in mind that it is a comfort that Cruz is off the racetrack for the Presidency. For the latter, 'nice guys finish last' might be of some solace although this does not ring true to my ears.
Gone Republican Party? It will come back one of these days, and while hoping that Trump is bluffing about his 'beautiful wall' and other inedible notions, it is an honor and pleasure to pledge my vote to Mrs. Clinton.
Ask your Republican friends if they intend to support Trump. Their answers will reveal if they place party over country, if not the world.
Trump has said that nuclear war is a viable option.
Trump has said that nuclear war is a viable option.
2
How is this a surprise to anyone? The GOP always falls in line behind anyone who proves themselves the "Great White Hope." All they know is power/money and worshipping the above.
2
The guy resonates while ink peddlers and beltway bandits make goofy, geeky, self promoting twitter pledges of refusal to support like babies . The Donald is crass, maybe. But is he shaking things up like no politician before him? The time has come to overhaul this sputtering engine. No more tune ups. And that's why he's where he is. People are hurting and sick of Clinton esque politics.
4
Tithe Republican Party has become an obstructionist party, a party of NO, always negative. We have most nonworking Congress for 5 years. People do not like it. They want results. Lobbyists are running the congress. Then comes Tea Party, the most aggressive violent obnoxious few people pushed the party to extreme right. But most people are in the middle, they are the silent majority who do not like too much partisanship. The establishment leaders lost the touch of reality and ordinary people. So we got Trump the leader of the Republican Party.
2
Donald loves me, this I know
for his campaign told me so
I am weak but he is strong
that is why to him I do belong.
Blacks, Hispanics, Muslims, Chinese, Asians, educated white males, women, the media, not so much.
for his campaign told me so
I am weak but he is strong
that is why to him I do belong.
Blacks, Hispanics, Muslims, Chinese, Asians, educated white males, women, the media, not so much.
3
Look on the bright side America. Donald is going to bring back all those out-of-country, and overseas jobs you've lost. Your next iPhone will be assembled in Idaho perhaps. It'll cost you $2300, but you'll love it. Trust me. It'll be yuuuge ;)
3
NYT writes "Year after year, the party’s candidates promised help for middle-class people who lost their homes, jobs and savings to recession, who lost limbs and well-being to war, and then did next to nothing" - this statement is equally applicable to the political system as a whole. So, that's the reason both Bernie and Don got the votes. I think the ruling class (Congress, Media, Corporations, Elites) wake up and see themselves in the mirror. They were once part of the "ruled" group but now feel "uncomfortable" with Bernie and "shocking" with The Donald. The media had a big part in The Donald becoming the nominee for the Republicans and Bernie losing the nomination on the Democratic side. I was hoping Bernie would make it through.
2
I keep reading about how the Trump nomination is emblematic of the destruction of the Republican Party. I'm less concerned about that than I am of the country as a whole. Should the GOP's myopia lead to them to back Trump regardless of all the warning signs against such a nomination, it will only underscore that they not only care about themselves more than the nation as a whole, but also their inability to recognize where they have gone wrong for the past several years in their lack of understanding why so many Americans feel disenfranchised with the political process in general.
3
GOP - kaputt!
Electing Trump will damage the Presidency, will wreck the GOP, and will damage US prestige.
We should stop calling our President, Leader of the Free World. Only our bumptious media do that. People in other countries, even in next-door Canada call him leader of the US government's executive branch. Often times he is not leader even of that. Examples: Carter, both Bushes, W Clinton, B Obama, JFK,
Electing Trump will damage the Presidency, will wreck the GOP, and will damage US prestige.
We should stop calling our President, Leader of the Free World. Only our bumptious media do that. People in other countries, even in next-door Canada call him leader of the US government's executive branch. Often times he is not leader even of that. Examples: Carter, both Bushes, W Clinton, B Obama, JFK,
1
The New York Times Editorial Board will now unleash the resources at its disposal to discredit Trump from this day forward, something it'll never do to the corrupt and power-hungry Hillary Clinton. The bottom line here is that the members of the NYT Editorial Board are full-pledged members of a political and social Establishment that millions of hard-working, average Americans no longer trust.
7
You know, if I were the Times, I would tread carefully on what you believe might occur on Election night. You might be surprised and Trump may win. Then, well, it will be a difficult four years for you as a paper.
...Just sayin'...
...Just sayin'...
4
Trump is absolute proof the "running the Government like a business" is just plain nonsense.
fwa
fwa
1
High and mighty. Convinced they are in the right to the end despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Imperial and mocking. Filled with hate for he who they loath. Blind and twisted liars. Betrayers of the public trust. Who do I describe? Why they Times editorial board of course. Trump will go on to win the nomination and face serial liar, poll panderer, neo-con military expansionist hawk Hillary who will turn on a dime without a second thought. The Times board can be counted on to continue to dis-inform and lead the gullible down the dark path. The Republican party has chosen nothing. The people have made the choice.
1
Really? Oh Please!
Some of the republican party members have made a choice. They represent less than 10% of voters of our great nation.
Some of the republican party members have made a choice. They represent less than 10% of voters of our great nation.
The Party of No has no ideas, no solutions and no candidate that can win the presidential election. I am continually amazed that almost no one talks about how unqualified The Donald is for the most challenging job on the planet. He lacks the experience, morals, and temperament for the role and he has no real solutions. If we were corporate recruiters searching to fill the role of the presidency, this con man wouldn't even be given a second thought.
3
People with 401k plans had better pray he doesn't win, and do anything that interferes with US trade. If he does, with the record level of debt throughout the global financial system, it could result in a financial collapse leading to another Great Depression. Over leveraged financial system are highly unstable. It wouldn't take much to bring everything down, especially with interest rates already near zero.
Here's what I thought from the beginning: The people have a right to be heard, and iif an extreme populist could do that, so be it, but -- and here's the good part --the uber extreme always gets to the middle at some point, so let it play out, even if we are scared -- oh, and have faith in our demoracy, in the end it is really quit wonderful.
1
Although almost everything the NYT editorial board said is superficially true, they need to remember one more thing. People, including liberals, independents, and neo-libertarians such as techies, are just as fed up with Hillary Clinton's traditional left-of-center stance as Republicans are for their establishment's non-solutions to real problems. That Mr. Trump fails to meet the TRADITIONAL criterion for presidential leadership is exactly the point: some would rather make a powerful post-modern joke about how REALLY BAD both democrats-republicans and so-called liberal-conservatives have been at getting ANYTHING truly useful done. Obamacare is a half-measure to liberals. To conservatives, Bush was not only wrong to intervene in the Middle East, but totally incompetent at winning. Liberals won't let immigrants take away working-class jobs, even if they do them better.
Ross Perot, who was more intelligent and well-intentioned than Trump, could have won if he had stayed republican and not backed down and quit more than once. Trump won't quit. Like an athlete who cheats a little, but still wins on the field, most fans love Trump.
Myself, I'll probably vote for Hillary and I would still place a bet on her to win, but it'll be closer than pundits think. I prophesy she won't anything truly significant done, because she is traditional and won't be able to sway what will still be a Republican congress.
In a democracy, you don't get the best government, just the one you deserve.
Ross Perot, who was more intelligent and well-intentioned than Trump, could have won if he had stayed republican and not backed down and quit more than once. Trump won't quit. Like an athlete who cheats a little, but still wins on the field, most fans love Trump.
Myself, I'll probably vote for Hillary and I would still place a bet on her to win, but it'll be closer than pundits think. I prophesy she won't anything truly significant done, because she is traditional and won't be able to sway what will still be a Republican congress.
In a democracy, you don't get the best government, just the one you deserve.
1
The Democratic president is the heir to Lincoln, and the main Republican candidate finds his cultural heritage in Jim Crow. How ironic history can be.
4
Why is everyone at The Times so sure Mrs. Clinton will be the nominee when it is obvious neither the Clinton nor the Sanders campaign believes that to be the case?
You can see it for yourself. Simply ignore what the candidate is saying. Pay attention instead to the candidate's spouse.
—Jane Sanders tells us Bernie's eye is on Comey.
—Bill Clinton tells us Hillary's eye is on Comey.
Mrs. Sanders comment last week was as straightforward as Bernie. It requires no further discussion.
But Mr. Clinton's was as convoluted as his wife. The other day, Clinton called the FBI email probe of his wife "a game." (He supported this claim with a specious anticipatory-speeding-violation analogy, as though Mrs. Clinton were not the one setting the speed limit.)
Mr. Clinton mentioned the FBI email probe of his wife for the first time. Why?
Answer: Precisely because on Friday, the FBI issued a FOIA denial for the wife's emails, etc. on the grounds the material is part of a "law enforcement matter," which renders the wife's claim, that the FBI investigation is simply a "security review," nonoperational.
You can see it for yourself. Simply ignore what the candidate is saying. Pay attention instead to the candidate's spouse.
—Jane Sanders tells us Bernie's eye is on Comey.
—Bill Clinton tells us Hillary's eye is on Comey.
Mrs. Sanders comment last week was as straightforward as Bernie. It requires no further discussion.
But Mr. Clinton's was as convoluted as his wife. The other day, Clinton called the FBI email probe of his wife "a game." (He supported this claim with a specious anticipatory-speeding-violation analogy, as though Mrs. Clinton were not the one setting the speed limit.)
Mr. Clinton mentioned the FBI email probe of his wife for the first time. Why?
Answer: Precisely because on Friday, the FBI issued a FOIA denial for the wife's emails, etc. on the grounds the material is part of a "law enforcement matter," which renders the wife's claim, that the FBI investigation is simply a "security review," nonoperational.
1
America will be as great as Denmark or Sweden where they have universal education according to merit not money and universal healthcare when
Americans vote at the same rates as they do in Denmark and Sweden, which is over 80% and occasionally over 90%.
Americans vote at the same rates as they do in Denmark and Sweden, which is over 80% and occasionally over 90%.
5
A masterful and scathing denunciation! Trump has an awful lot of voters fooled and I am still waiting to see the Democrats unite their party and the United States. I wish with all my heart I felt more comfortable. Of course I am glad Cruz is gone but now that the Republican choices are narrowed down, we have to think very hard about getting a working Congress back to Washington. The candidates are just half the equation.
4
I can't see Trump surrounding himself with qualified people who will tell him things he does not want to hear. But I can't see him winning either in the general but then again I didn't see what just happened coming until a month or so ago. The rest of the world is in shock right along with thinking Americans.
Heading down to Sydney next week where I lived for four years recently and anticipating endless questions from my Aussie friends about Trump.
Heading down to Sydney next week where I lived for four years recently and anticipating endless questions from my Aussie friends about Trump.
6
Will Donald Trump remake the Republican Party, perhaps by initiating it's immolation? I vividly recall 1980, when Ronald Reagan, another celebrity (albeit with some government experience), ran for President and many thought him a ridiculous lightweight candidate. Celebrity in the age of infotainment is real power. Donald Trump could be our next president. We will need to get out the vote more than ever.
4
With the rise of both Trump and Sanders (NO... the Democratic nomination is NOT sewed up), maybe the voters are saying they are dissatisfied with the choices each party is offering. Maybe the voters can see what the NYTimes editorial board is missing: the voters see that both parties are beholden to interest groups and big donors and neither party is paying attention to their needs. One reason that some polls show Trump beating Clinton is that Ms. Clinton represents the speak-out-of-both-sides-of-the-mouth politician the bought-and-paid-for party system prefers. One reason those same polls show Sanders beating Trump is that Mr. Sanders has a proven record of consistently standing up for those who have been overlooked by "the system" even though it leaves him out of the mainstream. Registered independents will decide the general election... they constitute 42% of the electorate. I think they strongly prefer Sanders over Trump but might just stay home if it's Clinton vs. Trump. Get Nate Silver on this before the Democrats hold their convention...
3
'Republicans will all but certainly nominate Mr. Trump, who would be the ... least prepared presidential candidate nominated by a major party in modern times." No, that award goes to Barrack Obama who never held a real job as he was a "political organizer / agitator" and spent a few days in the Senate voting "present". Now that's unprepared!
5
I think this article misses a critical issue. The key point is that this campaign is Trump's "negotiation". If he wins, I expect him to show a very different persona when governing.
1
I think Trump's appeal is that he is not Hillary Clinton.
2
This election will be a referendum on Washington and the "Establishment". The establishment is threatened by Trump, and indeed the voters will vote for anybody but the Washington crooks who shamelessly have usurped the power for decades without a real mandate from the people. Yes, I will vote for Trump as I would rather have a real estate crook in the White House than a politician crook. It is a sad choice for a country that is visibly losing it....
2
Let's give credit where credit is due. Trump - for all his flaws - did not mention God once during his victory speech. Nor did he engage in the disgusting fake patriotism that is the hallmark of a Cruz (or Hillary) speech. Instead he talked about jobs and the need to stop paying for everyone else's global problems.
Wake up NYT - you may despise him for a laundry list of reasons - but Donald Trump has something to say which resonates with many Americans. Even people like me who will vote (with such great reluctance and disappointment) for Hillary.
Wake up NYT - you may despise him for a laundry list of reasons - but Donald Trump has something to say which resonates with many Americans. Even people like me who will vote (with such great reluctance and disappointment) for Hillary.
3
Conservatism is a failure. It has been for years. That a buffoon like Trump could so easily take over the GOP should be proof enough. So you end this article with a, what I am sure he considers uplifting, speech from the emptiest suit in Congress, Paul Ryan. "We do not like the direction the country is going, and" Yada Yada. The country YOU helped put in that direction?
7
Frankenstien's monster has arisen it is the creation of the party's leaders. It is the manifestation of their do nothing policy and a focus on defying the will of their base and pander to special interest.
5
Here we go again, the ritual NYT anti-Trump "say it ain't so" chant masked as opinion. Once again, clueless in now-familiar stupendous disbelief. Once again, let's clear the air.
The Republican Party has been arm-twisted by the people and through Trump from their traditional far-right position, to center-right. In other words, they've been democratized. But they've acquiesced to the new reality as this editorial unhappily notes, fast coming around, even if kicking and screaming. Getting of their high horses to work on the ultimate prize, the presidency.
Contrast now with the Democrats. Veering from left to extreme left, a pitiful choice of two questionable still-bickering candidates (leftovers if you will), both enjoying, at best, hesitant nervous support of top bosses, who otherwise seem perfectly content tweeting #doyourjob and watching their party developments from afar.
In other words, Democrats are staying put on high horses, their leadership preferring only fleeting glances to burning Rome on the left. Which can mean only one thing: a uugge prize of disaffected voters eager and ready to move center-left, republicanized by their new hero, Donald Trump.
In the end, it's what makes Trump champion disrupter of this era: shaking things up even more with Democrats than with Republicans, while at the same time moving both parties center from their extreme left and right dig-outs. A genius move huh, working not one but both aisles for success…
...right Barack?
The Republican Party has been arm-twisted by the people and through Trump from their traditional far-right position, to center-right. In other words, they've been democratized. But they've acquiesced to the new reality as this editorial unhappily notes, fast coming around, even if kicking and screaming. Getting of their high horses to work on the ultimate prize, the presidency.
Contrast now with the Democrats. Veering from left to extreme left, a pitiful choice of two questionable still-bickering candidates (leftovers if you will), both enjoying, at best, hesitant nervous support of top bosses, who otherwise seem perfectly content tweeting #doyourjob and watching their party developments from afar.
In other words, Democrats are staying put on high horses, their leadership preferring only fleeting glances to burning Rome on the left. Which can mean only one thing: a uugge prize of disaffected voters eager and ready to move center-left, republicanized by their new hero, Donald Trump.
In the end, it's what makes Trump champion disrupter of this era: shaking things up even more with Democrats than with Republicans, while at the same time moving both parties center from their extreme left and right dig-outs. A genius move huh, working not one but both aisles for success…
...right Barack?
3
So far, The New York Times has been wrong every time about Mr. Trump. It is comical watching them make their hopeful, dreadful predictions that don't come true instead of just reporting the news.
4
With no competition left in the GOP, expect Republicans to vote for Bernie in droves, as they try to further damage Hillary, but don't be fooled.
Sanders knows that the remaining primaries, especially the 'open' ones, are meaningless. He has started to shift from winning the nomination to further influencing the party. He should have the respect and admiration of all Democrats.
But now the GOP slander machine shifts into ultra-drive. We should believe none of it... as compelling as they will try to make it. They have feared Hillary for a decade or more.
Democrats, and the nation, have a great opportunity.
Relax, think, and unite. There is no ambiguity in the choice between Trump and Hillary. None!
And there is no rationale worthy of the term 'sanity' for going 3rd party or sitting on your hands.
Let's honor Bernie's effort, courage and genius and bring home the party that he adopted and that adopted him.
Sanders knows that the remaining primaries, especially the 'open' ones, are meaningless. He has started to shift from winning the nomination to further influencing the party. He should have the respect and admiration of all Democrats.
But now the GOP slander machine shifts into ultra-drive. We should believe none of it... as compelling as they will try to make it. They have feared Hillary for a decade or more.
Democrats, and the nation, have a great opportunity.
Relax, think, and unite. There is no ambiguity in the choice between Trump and Hillary. None!
And there is no rationale worthy of the term 'sanity' for going 3rd party or sitting on your hands.
Let's honor Bernie's effort, courage and genius and bring home the party that he adopted and that adopted him.
5
The country is broken and desperate citizens have made a very bad decision.
Who is at fault? The obstructionist and elitist republicans. Period.
Who is at fault? The obstructionist and elitist republicans. Period.
9
I have never been so scared as now, watching a seemingly educated populace pick this absurd person to possibly become president of the most powerful country on earth! Though I despise Cruz, trumps nonsense about Cruz' father being connected with Oswald should have been a sign that Trump is not playing with a full deck!
2
It is time for the Democratic Party and the New York Times to realize that it is Bernie Sanders and not Hilary Clinton that is the candidate that can defeat Donald Trump in the General Election in November.
Clinton supporters need to realize that Secretary Clinton with all her political baggage and her tepid programs will be steamrollered by the Trump message.
Hilary slogan is "No We Can't" "Be Satisfied with what you get".
The only real Chance to beat Trump is Senator Sander!
Only Bernie Sanders offers "A Future We can Believe In"
Clinton supporters need to realize that Secretary Clinton with all her political baggage and her tepid programs will be steamrollered by the Trump message.
Hilary slogan is "No We Can't" "Be Satisfied with what you get".
The only real Chance to beat Trump is Senator Sander!
Only Bernie Sanders offers "A Future We can Believe In"
2
"but offering only xenophobic, isolationist or fantastical ideas" the details to emerge once elected; actually makes some sense for the type of leader who provides a vision for others to blanks fill. I'n not among the worried; mainly because the argument that Trump "is the least experienced" is wildly overblown.
Trump does not come to us from having lived a monastic life; actually he is well acquainted with legalistic, political, business, and nationalistic machinations. Unlike Cruz he cannot recite the Constitution; who can? - other than some - not all - lawyers, politicians, or scholars - and those who reside in "think tanks"; oh, and Obama - who ignores its principles regularly. The plus is that Trump's mind does not wallow in an ivory tower; he is, in fact, completely practical and skilled in personal dealings.
And the fact that he is not a true Conservative (or Liberal) means that he is not an Ideologue; about time the nation had a leader not committed to jamming a party's often counterproductive wish list upon a helpless citizenry.
Trump does not come to us from having lived a monastic life; actually he is well acquainted with legalistic, political, business, and nationalistic machinations. Unlike Cruz he cannot recite the Constitution; who can? - other than some - not all - lawyers, politicians, or scholars - and those who reside in "think tanks"; oh, and Obama - who ignores its principles regularly. The plus is that Trump's mind does not wallow in an ivory tower; he is, in fact, completely practical and skilled in personal dealings.
And the fact that he is not a true Conservative (or Liberal) means that he is not an Ideologue; about time the nation had a leader not committed to jamming a party's often counterproductive wish list upon a helpless citizenry.
2
It's a bad reality show and I can't turn the channel.
1
Wait until Trump finds out he's not the boss of America. Rather a person who has to work within an institution, one that needs conssensus to get things done. Like it or not!
Another delirious editorial from "liberal" NYT , to file with the (ridicule does not kill anymore) endorsement of HRC describing her as none other than the "best presidential candidate" ever seen !!
When you say : "On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders won an unexpected victory over Hillary Clinton" : you , and only you , OWN the "unexpected".
I have good news for you , you will be able to copy/paste this quote next November , replacing Bernie with Donald in your text ..
When you say : "On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders won an unexpected victory over Hillary Clinton" : you , and only you , OWN the "unexpected".
I have good news for you , you will be able to copy/paste this quote next November , replacing Bernie with Donald in your text ..
1
Watching Hillary dissemble The Donald on world wide TV will be most appealing, especially with Bill in the background smirking while planning how he will run the White House this time. Never been a soap opera with so many possibilities. Can't wait.
2
It's simple: you lie down with dogs, you get fleas.
The upside, if there is one, is America has a chance to rebrand itself: Trump must go down in the largest landslide in history.
The upside, if there is one, is America has a chance to rebrand itself: Trump must go down in the largest landslide in history.
7
"It's Donald Trump's Party Now"
It certainly is.
Congratulations Trump supporters. An egomaniacal buffoon calculates that he can commandeer the Republican party by spouting nothing but vapidity and banalities---and he's right.
Dear God.
It certainly is.
Congratulations Trump supporters. An egomaniacal buffoon calculates that he can commandeer the Republican party by spouting nothing but vapidity and banalities---and he's right.
Dear God.
11
As quoted in the editorial, Paul Ryan to a young Republican:
“I would just ask you to raise your gaze and look at the horizon that we’re trying to paint.”
This has been the problem for the longest time...politicians on both sides trying to make a fictional version of a physical, albeit shifting, reality. A fictional version which somehow they can brand as their own and convince others to want it as theirs as well.
No wonder humans are so miserable- listening to drivel like this and thinking it means something.
“I would just ask you to raise your gaze and look at the horizon that we’re trying to paint.”
This has been the problem for the longest time...politicians on both sides trying to make a fictional version of a physical, albeit shifting, reality. A fictional version which somehow they can brand as their own and convince others to want it as theirs as well.
No wonder humans are so miserable- listening to drivel like this and thinking it means something.
1
It is time for the US political parties, both Republican and Democratic, to nominate the 'best of the best' and not the 'best of the what is available'. Hopefully, this will be the lesson learned form this years dismal electoral process.
1
Nothing did more to convince me to vote for Donald Trump than the hand wringing, race baiting, doom and gloom, Clinton lap dog editorial board of the New York Times.
Trump has said that he will fight for fair trade deals with China (i.e. remove the tariffs they impose against our products that even the New York Times acknowledges exist), and insist that the citizens of Mexico, that dysfunctional opium capital of the western hemisphere, keep their drugs and their social problems on their side of the Rio Grande so that we can begin to get a handle on the problems that plague fifth and sixth and seventh generation U.S. citizens. That the New York Times could object to these goals is indicative of that brand of progressive narcissism that turns my stomach.
Trump has said that he will fight for fair trade deals with China (i.e. remove the tariffs they impose against our products that even the New York Times acknowledges exist), and insist that the citizens of Mexico, that dysfunctional opium capital of the western hemisphere, keep their drugs and their social problems on their side of the Rio Grande so that we can begin to get a handle on the problems that plague fifth and sixth and seventh generation U.S. citizens. That the New York Times could object to these goals is indicative of that brand of progressive narcissism that turns my stomach.
6
The old guard Republican leaders are under the impression that some other "element" is voting for Trump. Well no, his votes are coming from Republicans. This is the party they've created. They do not like the old guard and they don't care what they do or think. Their time is over.
6
“Offering only xenophobic, isolationist or fantastical ideas” This is simply not true. You criticise the GOP for not seeing the Trump freight train coming then burying their heads in the sand as the NYT Editorial board places its fingers in its ears and chants "I can't hear you!" in response to the cries of the millions of Trump supporters. Tell me what is truly fantastical, isolationist or xenophobic about Trump's policy of reigning in the neocons who wish to continue the failed foreign policy of ill thought out, costly in lives and treasure, military interventions and reckless idiotic adventures in regime change? Isolationist? Only if you think the only way to engage the rest of the world is from the business end of a gunboat or bomber. Xenophobic? Since when is deciding to take a break from two decades of record killing of foreign civilians xenophobic? If this is xenophobia the rest of the world wants more. As to Trump's position on illegal migrants. Many would argue enforcing the current law and securing a country's borders is not the equivalent of xenophobia -- ask Europe. Fantastical? The idea that someone not bought and paid for by the special money interests that control our current Tweedledum Tweedledee Republican Democratic, in theory, two party state could become president? Well, maybe you got me there. But just watch what happens if the powers that be leave voters a choice of HRC the cynical corrupt hawk versus Trump. Still time for the sane to go with Bernie.
2
Have we not seen that both parties belong to their donors?
It's not Donald Trump's party now.
Whether Trump wins or loses in November, the Republican Party will belong ever more to the Koch Brothers and their ilk. Whether it's Trump or Clinton in the White House in January, the G.O.P. will belong ever more to the Kochs et al. Whether President Trump is supported or obstructed by the G.O.P., the G.O.P. will belong to the Kochs.
No one who either wrote this piece, or who is reading and commenting on this piece, seems to have considered that, unless the media continues to “fund” Trump’s campaign with free coverage at the current rate, someone is going to have to come up with upwards of $1 billion for the G.O.P. Presidential campaign, as well as more money to fund the down-ticket campaigns. Is Trump going to come up with that money himself? Not a chance. Is he going to work to raise it, for himself or any other G.O.P. candidate? We’ve seen that Trump is a somewhat lazy, sloppy candidate. He’ll sit down with the real money. They’ll write checks. Trump will accept strings. Remember the art of the deal. Trumps deal always is: My brand, your money. The Kochs will own Trump, too.
It's not Donald Trump's party now.
Whether Trump wins or loses in November, the Republican Party will belong ever more to the Koch Brothers and their ilk. Whether it's Trump or Clinton in the White House in January, the G.O.P. will belong ever more to the Kochs et al. Whether President Trump is supported or obstructed by the G.O.P., the G.O.P. will belong to the Kochs.
No one who either wrote this piece, or who is reading and commenting on this piece, seems to have considered that, unless the media continues to “fund” Trump’s campaign with free coverage at the current rate, someone is going to have to come up with upwards of $1 billion for the G.O.P. Presidential campaign, as well as more money to fund the down-ticket campaigns. Is Trump going to come up with that money himself? Not a chance. Is he going to work to raise it, for himself or any other G.O.P. candidate? We’ve seen that Trump is a somewhat lazy, sloppy candidate. He’ll sit down with the real money. They’ll write checks. Trump will accept strings. Remember the art of the deal. Trumps deal always is: My brand, your money. The Kochs will own Trump, too.
2
Wall Street trembles, as farmers with their pitchforks and workers with their anvils swarm the streets of downtown Manhattan. This election is much more frightening to the elites than the unfocused Occupy movement ever was.
2
The GOP created a monster, but it isn't Donald Trump, it's the dumbed down voters they've been working on since Ronald Reagan was elected.
Using all possible wedge issues, pandering to the Christian fanatics and racists, blaming Government for everything that is wrong, denying science, they succeeded in convincing millions of poor whites to vote against their own interests. All to the benefit of the 1% or .1%, who gladly financed the election of their bought and paid for Senators and House Members who in turn, blocked or dismantled everything the 1% didn't like.
That ploy has been working for 40 years. But now people are stuck in a rut and are angry about it, but having been raised in an Orwellian parallel universe where up is down and war is peace, they are clueless.
And we wonder why they are eager to join Donald trump's crusade against the establishment?
Using all possible wedge issues, pandering to the Christian fanatics and racists, blaming Government for everything that is wrong, denying science, they succeeded in convincing millions of poor whites to vote against their own interests. All to the benefit of the 1% or .1%, who gladly financed the election of their bought and paid for Senators and House Members who in turn, blocked or dismantled everything the 1% didn't like.
That ploy has been working for 40 years. But now people are stuck in a rut and are angry about it, but having been raised in an Orwellian parallel universe where up is down and war is peace, they are clueless.
And we wonder why they are eager to join Donald trump's crusade against the establishment?
12
Bernie Sanders pulled off another major upset, and yet there's barely mention of it in the NYT. Instead, it's all Trump all the time.
538 gave a 90% probability of Clinton winning Indiana. The story should have been about Sanders. Meanwhile everyone expected Trump to win Indiana, so there's no story there.
With the lavish attention the NYT showers upon Trump, is it any wonder he is winning?
One has to wonder what would happen if the media gave even a fraction of the attention to Sanders.
538 gave a 90% probability of Clinton winning Indiana. The story should have been about Sanders. Meanwhile everyone expected Trump to win Indiana, so there's no story there.
With the lavish attention the NYT showers upon Trump, is it any wonder he is winning?
One has to wonder what would happen if the media gave even a fraction of the attention to Sanders.
3
Most candidates promise more than they intend to deliver, and once in office, deliver consequential edicts they never promised. Most candidates are short on specifics, but repetitiously long on vague generalities. As for bright shining optimism, look no further than the star in the GOP firmament, the Ronald, who gave us a new morning in America, so we could feel good again about ourselves and our country. As for the dire predictions about a possible Trumpedency, what matters most is the personnel the president choses for influential positions, as was the case with George W. Bush, another candidate considered to be unprepared for the Oval Office. And lastly, presidential power has been shrinking, hemmed in by a combative congress and at times a Supreme Court ever alert to assert its power, as the recent eight years have shown.
I remember 1965 when America was at its Zenith. It was the shining city on the hill for a young man in an ultra conservative church run stratified and compartmentalized Province of Canada where too many lived in an institutional poverty from where the was no way out.
Fifty one years ago Donald was 18 years old and in those fifty one years America middle class has decline in wealth and power and Donald has watched and learned and now for me stands a better than even chance of being the next President of the USA.
I must admit to having a strong negative reaction to the Donald Trumps of this world but it wasn't Donald who precipitated fifty years of decline in America's middle income population. It wasn't Donald who was responsible for 50 years of decline in the sense of psychological well being in America's largest single demographic. It wasn't Donald who turned the land of opportunity into the least upwardly mobile of all the Western Democracies. Donald just seized the day.
Before condemning Donald every American should read Oxfam America's paper Broken at the Top. It is about America's fifty largest corporations but more than anything else explains why in 2016 America justly deserves President Trump. When a country leading the world on the road to democracy suddenly abandons that road for Top down oligarchy Donald Trump happens.
The city on the Hill no longer shines and nobody says it better than Donald Trump.
Oxfam got it right America is Broken at the Top.
Fifty one years ago Donald was 18 years old and in those fifty one years America middle class has decline in wealth and power and Donald has watched and learned and now for me stands a better than even chance of being the next President of the USA.
I must admit to having a strong negative reaction to the Donald Trumps of this world but it wasn't Donald who precipitated fifty years of decline in America's middle income population. It wasn't Donald who was responsible for 50 years of decline in the sense of psychological well being in America's largest single demographic. It wasn't Donald who turned the land of opportunity into the least upwardly mobile of all the Western Democracies. Donald just seized the day.
Before condemning Donald every American should read Oxfam America's paper Broken at the Top. It is about America's fifty largest corporations but more than anything else explains why in 2016 America justly deserves President Trump. When a country leading the world on the road to democracy suddenly abandons that road for Top down oligarchy Donald Trump happens.
The city on the Hill no longer shines and nobody says it better than Donald Trump.
Oxfam got it right America is Broken at the Top.
4
Donald Trump no more represents the GOP than the GOP represents Republican voters
1
The media is flaying itself over its complicity in getting Donald Trump nominated for president. Most of what I read suggests that it was doing its duty: 'Look at this crazy man.' Where it and American society failed is in not doing its part in educating the American public in either democratic or republican governance.
Reporters can report the 'what' of an event but fail miserably in attaching a why to it. This election is only the latest sin in this regard. Reporters and their editorial bosses lack education in history necessary to give context to current events.
The losses experienced by this country in wars since Vietnam continue to reflect ignorance on the part of the press. The alleged sinking of the Maine took the US down the path of colonialism in the Philippines, Cuba, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. American foreign policy still goes down the yellow journalism path set by the Chicago Tribune more than a century ago. The specific antecedent to the treatment of Trump in this election was the emotionalism in the press during the Goldwater-Johnson election.
Reporters can report the 'what' of an event but fail miserably in attaching a why to it. This election is only the latest sin in this regard. Reporters and their editorial bosses lack education in history necessary to give context to current events.
The losses experienced by this country in wars since Vietnam continue to reflect ignorance on the part of the press. The alleged sinking of the Maine took the US down the path of colonialism in the Philippines, Cuba, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. American foreign policy still goes down the yellow journalism path set by the Chicago Tribune more than a century ago. The specific antecedent to the treatment of Trump in this election was the emotionalism in the press during the Goldwater-Johnson election.
5
Donald Trump is what the Republican Party deserves- but the nation doesn't deserve him. It will be incumbent on the media to stop giving free airtime to Trump for the benefit of ratings and start to vet him for the american people. They have investigated every part of Clinton's life over the years and taken joy in doing it- time to do the same for Trump. This election has to be about the issues and if it is Clinton will win in a landslide- unless every media outlet becomes the national enquirer and disregards them and fails to talk about the future of the nation.
16
What amazing gall is espoused by the Editorial Board. Have you forgotten the basic tenet of democracy - the voice of the people. The Republican Party should heed what its members have said with their votes, not reject them as your editorial states. While I still do not think Mr. Trump could or should be president, it behooves the republican Party leaders to pay attention to what their voters are saying - no more business as usual.
The Democratic party may be safe this time because no viable alternative to Mrs. Clinton is extant, but beware the future.
The Democratic party may be safe this time because no viable alternative to Mrs. Clinton is extant, but beware the future.
6
It is quite easy to blithely assume that Trump is an absolute clown who has no chance against the polished politician Mrs. Clinton. But I wouldn't be so sure about that.
I would expect that in the near future, with his party's nomination sewn up, Trump will do his best to look very moderate and presidential and exert himself to smooth over many of the outrageous statements he has made. He could well become a totally different man with regard to policy views. Add to this the certain barrage of attacks which will be thrown at Mrs. Clinton and her husband (White Water, Vince Foster, Monica Lewinsky, Benghazi, the Iraq Vote, Libya in general, the private email server, etc. etc.), and the public might very well start wondering if they ever want to hear the name Clinton again.
I think Trump is very much an unknown politician at this time. He was smart enough to earn all his support within conservative ranks by making all the outrageous statements he has made. But that does not mean he will continue to support those positions. It may simply have been a tactic to gain the nomination. With conservative support sewn up, watch for him to slide more to the middle.
I would expect that in the near future, with his party's nomination sewn up, Trump will do his best to look very moderate and presidential and exert himself to smooth over many of the outrageous statements he has made. He could well become a totally different man with regard to policy views. Add to this the certain barrage of attacks which will be thrown at Mrs. Clinton and her husband (White Water, Vince Foster, Monica Lewinsky, Benghazi, the Iraq Vote, Libya in general, the private email server, etc. etc.), and the public might very well start wondering if they ever want to hear the name Clinton again.
I think Trump is very much an unknown politician at this time. He was smart enough to earn all his support within conservative ranks by making all the outrageous statements he has made. But that does not mean he will continue to support those positions. It may simply have been a tactic to gain the nomination. With conservative support sewn up, watch for him to slide more to the middle.
4
re Paul Ryan's "plan to create a plan"
It's the likes of Paul Ryan that has set the climate in the GOP for the dysfunctional do nothing obstructionists atmosphere of the Republican Congress for the last 8 or so years, and allowed these fringe types like Trump and Cruz to even contemplate the GOP nomination. He sets the example of remarkably crass politics. His mealymouthed plea for civility in politics rings hollow when he himself was an active member of a group of senior GOP leaders who in 2009 met during Obama's inauguration to plot to sabotage his presidency. These senior GOP members strategized to bring congress to a standstill regardless how much it would hurt the economy by pledging to obstruct and block Obama on all legislation. This skullduggery emerged into a GOP party of "NO" where the extreme acrimony of the current absurd political theatre took root. Ryan is a shameful and shameless hypocrite.
It's the likes of Paul Ryan that has set the climate in the GOP for the dysfunctional do nothing obstructionists atmosphere of the Republican Congress for the last 8 or so years, and allowed these fringe types like Trump and Cruz to even contemplate the GOP nomination. He sets the example of remarkably crass politics. His mealymouthed plea for civility in politics rings hollow when he himself was an active member of a group of senior GOP leaders who in 2009 met during Obama's inauguration to plot to sabotage his presidency. These senior GOP members strategized to bring congress to a standstill regardless how much it would hurt the economy by pledging to obstruct and block Obama on all legislation. This skullduggery emerged into a GOP party of "NO" where the extreme acrimony of the current absurd political theatre took root. Ryan is a shameful and shameless hypocrite.
8
The problem for me isn't Trump so much. It's my fellow citizens who vote for him. I had no idea there were so many haters. Is it my next door neighbor, or my friend at the hospital volunteers? Is it one of my friends? People don't talk politics anymore, but it's obvious now that dark hearts are everywhere.
Maybe it would be better if we DID talk politics. At least I'd know who to avoid.
Maybe it would be better if we DID talk politics. At least I'd know who to avoid.
12
Republicans all over this nation are terrified and, yet, can be counted on to do nothing to stop him, or his supporters. It's a leaderless vacuum, cowering and quivering underneath mesmerizing coverage and sermons of hating everything you can about our nation and fellow Americans. No one can pray the Trump away now. It's a sorry spectacle.
5
Why should the GOP reject DT – and who exactly is the GOP, if not their voters, the GOP 'owners'? The NYT has been so consistently biased & wrong throughout this election cycle, and that should keep its own billionaire owner Carlos Slim happy, at least until DT wins in Nov.
Thanks, NYT, for continuing to marginalize Bernie, the Dem who has the best chance of beating DT.
Thanks, NYT, for continuing to marginalize Bernie, the Dem who has the best chance of beating DT.
8
The fact of the matter is that the Republican Party could not even table a candidate more palatable than Trump to run for President. This even makes the previous McCain/Palin ticket seem genuine. Haha, I don't believe I just said that.
9
The newspapers keep predicting a democratic win.....Has it occurred to them that between Gerrymandering, voting restrictions (illegal ones) and the supreme court Trump may actually be the next president. I'm visiting friends in Europe who are both a little frightened and aghast and what is happening. You members of the press.....take a bow for your crazy contribution to this garbage.....everything from erroneous reporting on Al Gore, to supporting the Iraq invasion to your endlessly ridiculous focus on Trump, to your non-coverage of Bernie Sanders. One BBC headline this morning was Sanders creeping up on Clinton while yours was.....well take a look at it. Believe me the NYTimes is a major contributor to Trump's possible presidency.
9
This editorial is more name calling than substance. What a shock. The NY Times editorial board doesn't like Donald Trump.
Swaths of people are fed up with politicians and a bloated Washington beauracracy that fails to get spending under control and properly enforce our immigration laws. That is the real story.
Swaths of people are fed up with politicians and a bloated Washington beauracracy that fails to get spending under control and properly enforce our immigration laws. That is the real story.
6
What's so bad if Trump win the election ? The country needs real strong leadership that can not be anybody else, but Donald Trump.
For those who judged him as being racist, perhaps it's time to clean up and get rid of the weaknesses. Mr. Trump speaks from the heart so those who can't handle then suck it up and follow the leader.
For those who judged him as being racist, perhaps it's time to clean up and get rid of the weaknesses. Mr. Trump speaks from the heart so those who can't handle then suck it up and follow the leader.
2
If Trump can bring down the GOP, don't be surprised when he brings down an unpopular, uncharismatic Democratic nominee. Remember, 50 percent of the population is on the other side of the Bell curve and about, oh, 80% of the population isn't as smart as you, NY Times reader. Trump is, though. He gets the joke.
6
It was certain to be Trump (when so many lined up to run) simply because he was a pure Fox News bantering type without humility. Now the GOP is finished and they either become Trump lap dogs or join the DNC. Many business and trade types that crave stability will back Sec. Clinton as well as the entire GOP international security intellengece types. The GOP core is now forced to move left and like it. The congressional races are now the new battle field as the General Election for President is over.
5
TIMES should not prejudge. No one knows what kind of a chief of state Mr. TRUMP would make if elected. I refer back to the 1964 election when LBJ and the Democratic Party successfully portrayed Goldwater, who was a much better man than some of those around him, as a hawk, prepared to take us into a nuclear war, yet it was LBJ who proved to be the extremist who widened our involvement in VN, causing the deaths of over 50,000 American soldiers and untold numbers of permanently wounded. TRUMP is above all and before all a businessman, and business people fear instability, because it is bad for the bottom line. TIMES has been wrong before, and I believe it is "jumping the gun,"guilty of a hasty analysis once again.
3
"Laissez-faire" applied to everything but to anything Obama. It applied to the unfolding of the GOP primaries. It has bitten the GOP where it hurts, Will they learn the lesson?
8
Oh, balderdash. The Republican Party will survive. It's survived a lot worse.
Present times that you describe are more like a look at the dark moonless sky than a look into a tunnel. The latter look is more akin to what Democrats are veering into, out of the field of sanity and into the Clinton House of Cards.
Republicans should thank their lucky stars this moment to reflect.
Present times that you describe are more like a look at the dark moonless sky than a look into a tunnel. The latter look is more akin to what Democrats are veering into, out of the field of sanity and into the Clinton House of Cards.
Republicans should thank their lucky stars this moment to reflect.
1
To everybody who now crows: "The GOP created their monster Trump", I would caution: "So did the Democrats". The two-party system is broken. They are 2 sides of the same coin.
3
Will the US become the laughing stock of the entire world? Stay tuned. We're about to find out if the ignorance and stupidity of the average American voter has reached the point of no return.
The idea that a man of Donald Trump's extraordinary limitations would be the standard bearer of one of the two major parties would have been unthinkable -- until one began to examine the endless decline of the GOP over the past several decades, beginning in earnest with Ronald Reagan (with a hat tip to Nixon's dishonesty and racism and Goldwater's dangerous extremism).
Now, we are faced with the spectacle of a man who is totally unqualified for the presidency running against a highly qualified woman who is almost as unliked as Trump. The question is when they run head-to-head whose negatives will suffer more? I expect the media to spare no effort to make Hillary Clinton the most unpopular candidate ever to run for president. Meanwhile, Trump will continue being the vile, boorish cad that he's always been. Will the American people warm to him? Probably, given the tireless efforts of the mainstream media to portray HRC is as unfavorable a light as possible. Or will the media realize that there is something more important than tomorrow's ratings -- like the future of the country? I'm not optimistic.
If Donald Trump wins in November, it will be the triumph of electoral ignorance coupled with the final descent of the American media into utter worthlessness.
The idea that a man of Donald Trump's extraordinary limitations would be the standard bearer of one of the two major parties would have been unthinkable -- until one began to examine the endless decline of the GOP over the past several decades, beginning in earnest with Ronald Reagan (with a hat tip to Nixon's dishonesty and racism and Goldwater's dangerous extremism).
Now, we are faced with the spectacle of a man who is totally unqualified for the presidency running against a highly qualified woman who is almost as unliked as Trump. The question is when they run head-to-head whose negatives will suffer more? I expect the media to spare no effort to make Hillary Clinton the most unpopular candidate ever to run for president. Meanwhile, Trump will continue being the vile, boorish cad that he's always been. Will the American people warm to him? Probably, given the tireless efforts of the mainstream media to portray HRC is as unfavorable a light as possible. Or will the media realize that there is something more important than tomorrow's ratings -- like the future of the country? I'm not optimistic.
If Donald Trump wins in November, it will be the triumph of electoral ignorance coupled with the final descent of the American media into utter worthlessness.
12
Instead of focusing on Donald Trump's bombastic personality and unabashed lack of tact, it would be more useful to consider the socio-political conditions which have facilitated the rise of such a demogogue on the American scene. Trump capitalizes on the bewildering challenges posed by globalization which have definitely diminished America's pseudo-messianic vision of itself as an exceptional country. To the average American's chagrin, the cards have been reshuffled several times since the end of the Cold War and the emergence of social media which have empowered for better or worse millions of impoverished and disenfranchised people to challenge the American Way with dangerous results. This is why supporters of Donald Trump find his nativist claptrap to be an effective salve for their wounds.
2
Fairly certain it's a Republican litmus test for candidates to "demonstrate nothing but a willful refusal to learn" so Trump should fit right inside the Grand Old Party.
3
An excellent analysis, but it leaves out the 800-pound gorilla in the room: television. Trump's ace in the hole has always been his innate skill at manipulating the televised media, and they bought into his blowhard carny act hook, line and sinker. As Paddy Chayefsky pointed out in "Network" 40 years ago, television is an amusement park, and Trump emerged with the biggest, shiniest new act and TV execs saw one of their own, and bestowed on him thousands of hours of free coverage and gushing support, an oversized amount so extreme that not even the Bushes (to say nothing of any other candidate, of either party) could afford. The GOP's propaganda arm FOX "news," and its lickspittle wanna-be CNN did their duty, and consequently now Trump is the newest "reality" star of his own presidential run, and absent-minded viewers followed right along with the latest "show" and have voted accordingly. Trump's rise not only points to the problem of much of the country's populace being so easily seduced by propaganda, but the total abdication of responsibility and professionalism by the major "news" networks.
10
The bias and petulance from the NYT Editorial Board never ends.
Do you know why he is winning?
Because of people like you who want to bring everyone down to the lowest denominator instead of lifting up those who do the most in our society.
Do you know why he is winning?
Because of people like you who want to bring everyone down to the lowest denominator instead of lifting up those who do the most in our society.
7
Today I saw that Hillary Clinton said in a public meeting with people that she "plans to put Bill in charge of trade" because "he has an idea a minute" - obviously NAFTA is not an error that she was ever against after all. Currently, Obama is publicly vowing that he intends to make the TPP part of his "legacy", regardless of the opposition of a large majority of Democratic voters - he only narrowly won the fast-track authority to even negotiate it (on his 2nd try) through the support of a precious few Democratic legislators, and a *vast* majority of Republican legislators. Like Bill with NAFTA.
Well, Republican *voters* (not to be confused with Republican political figures) have just shown that *they* aren't fans of free trade deals either. The Democrats are about to nominate a candidate with the political instincts to put Bill Clinton, the champion of NAFTA, in charge of trade, and who's viewed as untrustworthy and dishonest to the point that no disavowal of her advocacy for the "gold standard" TPP she spent years selling will be believed, based on her past support and history - in an antiestablishment election after 8 years of economic "recovery" that most people don't feel they've been a part of. Maybe that won't be enough for Donald Trump to overcome his other problems, but I wouldn't want to gamble on it.
Well, Republican *voters* (not to be confused with Republican political figures) have just shown that *they* aren't fans of free trade deals either. The Democrats are about to nominate a candidate with the political instincts to put Bill Clinton, the champion of NAFTA, in charge of trade, and who's viewed as untrustworthy and dishonest to the point that no disavowal of her advocacy for the "gold standard" TPP she spent years selling will be believed, based on her past support and history - in an antiestablishment election after 8 years of economic "recovery" that most people don't feel they've been a part of. Maybe that won't be enough for Donald Trump to overcome his other problems, but I wouldn't want to gamble on it.
2
I've been saying for two years now that the former GOP is committing hara-kiri, painting themselves into a progressively smaller corner with their cynical phobias camouflaging their plutocracy, so that no viable nationwide candidate could win their rigged Primary. I, too, did not foresee Trump, who is apparently the disemboweling knife, in which scenario the death is assured by down-ticket and even gerrymandered losses as well.
Hillary now has no choice but to choose Bernie as her running-mate, and he has no choice but to accept—to unite the Party and to protect the country from Trump. It's happened before, when JFK chose LBJ to secure Texas, though each man despised the other. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Hillary now has no choice but to choose Bernie as her running-mate, and he has no choice but to accept—to unite the Party and to protect the country from Trump. It's happened before, when JFK chose LBJ to secure Texas, though each man despised the other. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
3
Many commenters blame Trump's rise on the machinations of the GOP. HUH? The primary voters want him! This was not engineered, or a result of GOP planning failures. The voters want him. And our democracy is going to deliver - warts and all.
4
Some mission Paul Ryan has come up with - could there be a more vague vision of the future? But I suppose that's the best you can do when your party has been hijacked by a megalomaniac bound for destruction.
I had coffee with a friend who supports Trump the other day who said, "People are just mad." This person is well off, has a good life, successful business, great family. I asked what he's mad about, and he said, "Well, Washington." That's as specific as he could get. I begged him to consider the possible ramifications of a Trump presidency, but he said that it couldn't get any worse than it is now. Oh, but it could, I told him. It could get much, much worse...
I had coffee with a friend who supports Trump the other day who said, "People are just mad." This person is well off, has a good life, successful business, great family. I asked what he's mad about, and he said, "Well, Washington." That's as specific as he could get. I begged him to consider the possible ramifications of a Trump presidency, but he said that it couldn't get any worse than it is now. Oh, but it could, I told him. It could get much, much worse...
10
Donald Trump has a very important role to play. He is the logical and inevitable result of all the delusions and sins of the Republican Party in the last 30 years.
Trump is going to be the catalyst that will result in the self-destruction of the Republican Party in the near future) and it's eventual rebirth as a less insane party (say, in 10-20 years or so).
Trump is going to be the catalyst that will result in the self-destruction of the Republican Party in the near future) and it's eventual rebirth as a less insane party (say, in 10-20 years or so).
6
The idea that there is even the smallest risk of America lurching from the Barack Obama Presidency of dignity, tolerance and cool-headedness fueled by a powerful intellect, to a presidency under the vulgar, mean spirited and unstable Donald Trump is unbearable. This electoral campaign has plumbed the depths of our national character and only by decisively defeating Trump in November can American voters show the world that we have not lost all sense of decency.
14
Few others besides Trump could wrest control from the cynical old leadership of the GOP. The ones with the contrived coalition of religiously self-righteous anti-abortionists,gun-lovers, Romney-wannabe tax-evaders, and Koch-funded Big Oil addicts---all while ignoring the plight of the working middle class. Moreover, the GOPs abandonment of its prior middle class backbone also enabled the Democrats to assemble its own cynical coalition that ignored the working middle class too-- one-issue pro-choice, LGBT, welfare-dependent minorities, families hiding illegal immigrant kin, all funded, with a wink and nod, by Wall Street with assurances that taxes on the super rich won't go up,
All while all the decent jobs evaporated.
This is the angry middle third that both parties ignored and took for granted, eking out their cynical victories knowing the backbone of America had been disenfranchised.
Turn you nose up at them if you wish, but ,Trump has now harnessed them and given them a voice. Instead of noses in the air, you should have your ear to the ground --listening for the rumbling stampede of democracy on the horizon
Trump is saving America..
All while all the decent jobs evaporated.
This is the angry middle third that both parties ignored and took for granted, eking out their cynical victories knowing the backbone of America had been disenfranchised.
Turn you nose up at them if you wish, but ,Trump has now harnessed them and given them a voice. Instead of noses in the air, you should have your ear to the ground --listening for the rumbling stampede of democracy on the horizon
Trump is saving America..
9
I'm sorry, but I feel sorry for Mitch McConnell. Now not only will Donald Trump be the nominee of his party, but Ted Cruz is returning to the senate. Not a very good day for the majority leader. Well, who knows, it might get worse in November. One can only hope.
5
"Maybe he's trainable." We're not talking about a puppy who accidentally creates a mess on the rug. Trump is untrainable by his own choice, and with Cruz out of the race, his vaulting ambition will be hitting even more dangerous heights than we've witnessed, with horror, over the past months.
Trump would be the worst -- and possibly the last -- President of our once-functioning nation. But we can rebound from this dreadful, terrifying situation. Our first step is to show up at the polls in November, armed with whatever voter identification we're being told we need, and vote for our Democratic nominee.
Trump would be the worst -- and possibly the last -- President of our once-functioning nation. But we can rebound from this dreadful, terrifying situation. Our first step is to show up at the polls in November, armed with whatever voter identification we're being told we need, and vote for our Democratic nominee.
12
The Times is terrified of a voting public that refuses to follow a pair of political parties and media outlets that have decided that the US political process is solely in place to enrich themselves until the end of time. Their support for a candidate that has no integrity and has used her political position to put hundreds of millions of dollars in her bank account simply shows that they stand for the status quo versus the American people.
7
To note the final quote:
"It is the Republicans who are making a clear choice in 2016, one that seemed unimaginable a year ago: To stamp what they still like to call the party of Lincoln with the brand of Donald Trump."
The electoral ascendency of Trump is a rebuke to the GOP by the Republican electorate of a certain demographic makeup.
What this group will actually do in the voting booths come November is yet to be determined.
The GOP has imploded and this event could not have happened to a more deserving political entity.
The GOP has done nothing of real and lasting value, certainly since the stolen election of 2000 by GW Bush and Party operatives and possibly since the Reagan/Bush Administration of 1980.
The GOP has given little or no thought to the concepts of social and economic justice.
It has negated the concept of government.
It has scoffed at the concept of government of, by, and for the American people.
In addition it has severaly trampled on the concept of the Common Good.
The GOP been instrumental in its own demise and ........
We are finally and at long last the better for it.
"It is the Republicans who are making a clear choice in 2016, one that seemed unimaginable a year ago: To stamp what they still like to call the party of Lincoln with the brand of Donald Trump."
The electoral ascendency of Trump is a rebuke to the GOP by the Republican electorate of a certain demographic makeup.
What this group will actually do in the voting booths come November is yet to be determined.
The GOP has imploded and this event could not have happened to a more deserving political entity.
The GOP has done nothing of real and lasting value, certainly since the stolen election of 2000 by GW Bush and Party operatives and possibly since the Reagan/Bush Administration of 1980.
The GOP has given little or no thought to the concepts of social and economic justice.
It has negated the concept of government.
It has scoffed at the concept of government of, by, and for the American people.
In addition it has severaly trampled on the concept of the Common Good.
The GOP been instrumental in its own demise and ........
We are finally and at long last the better for it.
15
Yes. This is another dark moment for the GOP, but not as dark or scary as the one that would have have been signaled by a Cruz nomination. Mr. Bruni's piece today about Cruz is spot on.
On a related point, Trump's nomination has basically been inevitable for a long time, so this dark moment is really just the media and establishment finally being forced to acknowledge a reality that they have not wanted to face.
On a related point, Trump's nomination has basically been inevitable for a long time, so this dark moment is really just the media and establishment finally being forced to acknowledge a reality that they have not wanted to face.
6
Volatile, least prepared, ridiculed, failure, xenophobe, isolationist, myopic, vile, yep, its the usual NYT treatment for Trump. Nothing about the same ol, same ol, bought and Wall Street paid for, email criminal, incredibly wooden and fake, war hawk, will tell anyone anything to get elected, plastic Hillary in this, or any, NYT editorial. If smugness and arrogance were fuel, Trump is ready to rocket to victory in November, and the establishment in both parties deserves no better.
5
"Republicans will all but certainly nominate Mr. Trump, who would be the most volatile and least prepared presidential candidate nominated by a major party in modern times."
Well, I guess the NYT Editorial board has forgotten that President Obama was woefully, woefully unprepared to be president. Not only that, he had accomplished virtually nothing with his life except education and community organizing. Volatile he is not. In fact, he is the exact opposite---taciturn and inscrutable. And unable to make crucial decisions when his bluff is called. Syria is in the mess it is because he failed to stand by his "red line". No courage. His famous "Then what?" question asks the impossible---seeing the future. Aversion to risk is the hallmark of his administration's legacy.
So, maybe the people have decided to give someone who knows business, warts and all, has a record of successes and failures, knows how to recover from failure, knows how to negotiate, understands how to face down bullies, gets publicly excited, even volatile. Maybe the electorate sees that openness as a refreshing change to the most closed administration in history during the past 8 years---after promising more transparency. Never happened.
So, Trump is likely going to surprise everyone, again. How about a Trump-Sanders ticket? That would fry all the elitist's brains. And scare the Oligarchs half to death.
Well, I guess the NYT Editorial board has forgotten that President Obama was woefully, woefully unprepared to be president. Not only that, he had accomplished virtually nothing with his life except education and community organizing. Volatile he is not. In fact, he is the exact opposite---taciturn and inscrutable. And unable to make crucial decisions when his bluff is called. Syria is in the mess it is because he failed to stand by his "red line". No courage. His famous "Then what?" question asks the impossible---seeing the future. Aversion to risk is the hallmark of his administration's legacy.
So, maybe the people have decided to give someone who knows business, warts and all, has a record of successes and failures, knows how to recover from failure, knows how to negotiate, understands how to face down bullies, gets publicly excited, even volatile. Maybe the electorate sees that openness as a refreshing change to the most closed administration in history during the past 8 years---after promising more transparency. Never happened.
So, Trump is likely going to surprise everyone, again. How about a Trump-Sanders ticket? That would fry all the elitist's brains. And scare the Oligarchs half to death.
5
The Republican establishment (dating back to Reagan) deserve to be congratulated for re-awakening hate and bigotry in America. Great work men!
9
No worries, folks. Trump has Chris Christie and Sarah Palin on his team....and Bobby Knight.
7
In December 2008, Republican leadership met and unified around a plan to oppose everything Obama suggested. Instead of proposing serious policy alternatives, they nursed along deluded conspiracy theories and racial resentment about Obama.
Trump embodies a lot of the worst elements that Republicans have spent the last 8 years trying to manipulate. They absolutely deserve this moment of reckoning for spending the last 8 years focusing more on their power in Washington than the needs of those they were sent there to represent.
Trump embodies a lot of the worst elements that Republicans have spent the last 8 years trying to manipulate. They absolutely deserve this moment of reckoning for spending the last 8 years focusing more on their power in Washington than the needs of those they were sent there to represent.
14
The Republicans have earned and deserve Trump. For years,Republican oriented talk radio has stirred up the trash,including many racists,and Trump is the result. Anyway,the general election will be great for the Dems,and the nation should be happy about that. I know that I am.
19
The Editorial board should be giving the same advice to the Democratic party as well. If you think Hillary Clinton is going to sail to Presidency, you are greatly mistaken. Unfit or not, Trump is going to tear her into pieces on everything she has stood for. And no, Bernie Sanders is not to blame. Hillary Clinton made the conscious decision to run as the party elite beholden to her donors. She could've done exactly what Bernie did, but she chose not to.
The people are taking their country back, like it or not, that's how it's going to be.
The people are taking their country back, like it or not, that's how it's going to be.
8
If only We the People were "trainable," eh? Look around you, Editorial Board.
Surely you notice the mess.
Surely you notice the hoi polloi's "willful refusal" last night to bow to a corrupt, inept, failed and dangerous Establishment was bipartisan.
You are part of that Establishment, Editorial Board. Your decades of Faustian deals with dangerously unfit candidates was a necessary cause of this mess.
Without you, Editorial Board, SoS Clinton would not have been in a position to effect hundreds of thousands of deaths of innocents, incalculable future deaths, the unleashing of ISIS, the destabilization of four continents, the Armageddon the pope, the generals and King Abdullah call WWIII.
And now you and the rest of The Establishment are scheming to put this dangerously corrupt and incompetent fool in the White House.
Are you all mad?
Answer: (Insert Einstein's definition of insanity here.)
Surely you notice the mess.
Surely you notice the hoi polloi's "willful refusal" last night to bow to a corrupt, inept, failed and dangerous Establishment was bipartisan.
You are part of that Establishment, Editorial Board. Your decades of Faustian deals with dangerously unfit candidates was a necessary cause of this mess.
Without you, Editorial Board, SoS Clinton would not have been in a position to effect hundreds of thousands of deaths of innocents, incalculable future deaths, the unleashing of ISIS, the destabilization of four continents, the Armageddon the pope, the generals and King Abdullah call WWIII.
And now you and the rest of The Establishment are scheming to put this dangerously corrupt and incompetent fool in the White House.
Are you all mad?
Answer: (Insert Einstein's definition of insanity here.)
6
"Republican leaders have for years failed to think about much of anything beyond winning the next election" Seriously? You say that as if the Dems are any different.
4
Is the GOP going to implode with this election? I don't think so. After years of hate mongering, the "Better dead than Democrat" minions will continue to select party over principles and pull the same lever come November. Mr. Trump has continually said things that should have disqualified him for local office, say nothing of commander in chief. But, sadly his adoring fans really don't care. And if the Democratic voters sit this one out, as they in the last mid-term election, we could see Trump Steaks served in the White House for the next four years (or the start of WW III).
6
For starters, the Republican party ceased to be "the party of Lincoln" just over a century ago when it rejected Theodore Roosevelt's progressive agenda and his bid for the nomination in 1912 and instead became the party of entrenched wealth and reactionary conservatism.
Secondly, I wish the NYT Editorial Board would spare us its moral outrage over Trump's nomination. In addition to willfully ignoring the Sanders campaign, I'm guessing that Trump received as much or more coverage in these pages than all of the candidates of both parties combined.
Secondly, I wish the NYT Editorial Board would spare us its moral outrage over Trump's nomination. In addition to willfully ignoring the Sanders campaign, I'm guessing that Trump received as much or more coverage in these pages than all of the candidates of both parties combined.
12
My fear is that the Trump movement is like an iceberg. Until now, we’ve only seen a small portion of those that will vote for him. The rest of the “non-voting” population that will sweep him to victory are still hidden beneath the surface. Movements turn out to be bigger than people expect. It’s only in hindsight, when trying to put things back together, do we realize, “How stupid was that?”
9
Trump is no dummy. He knows that first he has to have the Nomination. Unfortunately, part of Republican base is so crazy that you can not win the Nomination without taking extreme right position. After Trump gets the Nomination, he will start moving to the Center and may even choose a woman running mate.
The liberal media also had similar comments when Reagan was seeking nomination. None of their doom & gloom scenarios happen during the Reagan Presidency
The liberal media also had similar comments when Reagan was seeking nomination. None of their doom & gloom scenarios happen during the Reagan Presidency
5
So when democrats vote for clinton, it is the right thing to do but when republicans vote for trump, it is wrong?
Both represent the same corrosive forces and concentration of power - why not strive for consistency - if you are going to praise clinton, at least show some respect to trump.
Both represent the same corrosive forces and concentration of power - why not strive for consistency - if you are going to praise clinton, at least show some respect to trump.
7
We may never know Trump's central motivation for entering the presidential race, but he may have decided the political establishment -- of both parties, but more so the Republicans -- had become toxic to the country, both its economy and its governance. To borrow and adapt from Tom Friedman, Trump could be choosing to do the Lord's work by destroying the intransigent version of the Republican party.
In that case and on the assumption of a defeat of Trump and down ballot Republicans in November, we should applaud each member of the Republican establishment who now embraces him.
We should also be mindful that a substantial majority of the combined primary votes of both parties have gone to non/anti-establishment candidates in 2016. A Trump victory in November is possible, and it's reasonable that voters would constrain him by electing a Democratic Congress. I take Trump at his word that much of what we see from him in the primaries, the patently obnoxious part, is an act. A Republican-In-Name-Only (RINO) President Trump working with a Democratic Congress might surprise on the upside.
Win or lose, Trump could get "the nation's politics unstuck".
In that case and on the assumption of a defeat of Trump and down ballot Republicans in November, we should applaud each member of the Republican establishment who now embraces him.
We should also be mindful that a substantial majority of the combined primary votes of both parties have gone to non/anti-establishment candidates in 2016. A Trump victory in November is possible, and it's reasonable that voters would constrain him by electing a Democratic Congress. I take Trump at his word that much of what we see from him in the primaries, the patently obnoxious part, is an act. A Republican-In-Name-Only (RINO) President Trump working with a Democratic Congress might surprise on the upside.
Win or lose, Trump could get "the nation's politics unstuck".
3
No, Mr. Trump will not bring down the GOP. Do not underestimate the American people who see him as their salvation because they have been told (and believe) the Democrats will ruin them. They don't understand high finance, international politics, how the government operates or other things that seem important to the ruling classes. They do not care to care. What matters to them, strongly, is food, shelter, education, health care, job security and recreation. And their cars.
Blame the GOP. They allowed corporate greed to run rampant, sending manufacturing jobs overseas, allowing corporations to register in other countries to avoid paying taxes, allowing mean nasty obstructionist laws to stymie government policies that help the frail and sick, the young and the elderly, and the impoverished. They allowed so-called Christians to hi-jack common sense in the press, the media and on the web with extremist ideology. They created false reasons to go to war and lied to the American people. They have helped the likes of the Kochs, Abelson, and bulging coffers, and supported the unpunished, selfish cons on Wall Street that brought the economy to its knees.
Joe Average thinks The Donald understands him so don't write Trump off. He could give the Democratic candidate a real fight. Mr. Average sadly thinks Trump will change things. He will find out otherwise if Trump wins.
Blame the GOP. They allowed corporate greed to run rampant, sending manufacturing jobs overseas, allowing corporations to register in other countries to avoid paying taxes, allowing mean nasty obstructionist laws to stymie government policies that help the frail and sick, the young and the elderly, and the impoverished. They allowed so-called Christians to hi-jack common sense in the press, the media and on the web with extremist ideology. They created false reasons to go to war and lied to the American people. They have helped the likes of the Kochs, Abelson, and bulging coffers, and supported the unpunished, selfish cons on Wall Street that brought the economy to its knees.
Joe Average thinks The Donald understands him so don't write Trump off. He could give the Democratic candidate a real fight. Mr. Average sadly thinks Trump will change things. He will find out otherwise if Trump wins.
293
Don't underestimate the American People? Really? Enthroning Trump is not enough underestimating?
Nothing you write here is untrue, but Ms. Clinton offers very much the same. After Sanders has been vanquished, with the help of the same media which has elevated Trump to his current position, Ms. Clinton will begin to tack right, as she did yesterday when speaking to coal miners. It's Wall Street and military might to the rescue. Forget about making the necessary investments to save our economy, combat religious extremism using intelligent measures and saving the planet from humanities' greedy grab of resources and wealth. It's what is good for tomorrow will be good enough forever when it comes to our future, as far as Ms. Clinton is concerned.
It takes a lot of courage to stand up and refuse to go with the flow when you know you are right, no matter how much pressure you must endure. Ambition is one thing, but it should be limited by the difference between what is right vs. what is wrong. I know right from wrong. Do you?
It takes a lot of courage to stand up and refuse to go with the flow when you know you are right, no matter how much pressure you must endure. Ambition is one thing, but it should be limited by the difference between what is right vs. what is wrong. I know right from wrong. Do you?
The real story here is how the GOP used language to obscure their real intent while the same words charmed the blue collar workers into the belief the GOP was all for them, a snow job the GOP one percent has been working on since FDR.
Wait until you see Trump's tax returns.
You do want to see them before you vote in the general election, don't you? Hillary's are available, going back 30 years.
You do want to see them before you vote in the general election, don't you? Hillary's are available, going back 30 years.
29
I thought I could never dislike or disdain any Republican more than Sarah Palin, but Donald Trump surpasses her in every way. Sarah is a joke but Donald is a nightmare. How can a TV celebrity who has never held any elected office be the Republican candidate for President of the United States? It's absolute insanity!
15
The Republicans are getting the candidate they deserve. That might be true for the Democrats as well. But Hillary Clinton is more qualified than Trump, and more presidential than Trump. Still, I do not think that Trump is a fool, even though he may from time to time act like one, and it would be a mistake to pretend he is a fool.
The larger story here, as I see this, is that both candidates are deeply flawed. Obama we now know as capable, but Mitt Romney, imperfect as he may have been, and still may be, is certainly a better choice than Trump. But who has stepped forward to lead the Republicans? A bunch of terrible choices, with Trump maybe the least bad one. As for Clinton, although she is my choice here, I see someone who has made some bad decisions. But then, I guess, who hasn't?
The larger story here, as I see this, is that both candidates are deeply flawed. Obama we now know as capable, but Mitt Romney, imperfect as he may have been, and still may be, is certainly a better choice than Trump. But who has stepped forward to lead the Republicans? A bunch of terrible choices, with Trump maybe the least bad one. As for Clinton, although she is my choice here, I see someone who has made some bad decisions. But then, I guess, who hasn't?
5
this is great for democracy, great for america. one person one vote has been vindicated and the elitist media vanquished.
6
Lining up an assortment of Trump Family 'Stepford Wives' behind Trump seems his new management's idea of a solution for his negatives with women. Keep digging, Team Trump.
4
The leadership falling in line behind the demands & desires of the people seems like a thing to be CELEBRATED.
4
These Republican leaders following in line behind Trump have been hollering for years that the recovery under Obama has gone too slowly, without mentioning what we're recovering from: Republicans. Yet the party will survive this self-built catastrophe because bigots, fools & greedheads need a political place to hang out.
10
NAFTA, China gets favored trade status, repeal Glass-Stigel. All done by the Democrats. Obama had 2 years to fix or do anything he wanted.
6
To say the GOP deserves this is true but cruel. They have had their heads so far up their....okay I'll stop. I could go all Trumpian on the sorry state of affairs, as could any thirteen year old boy with a mouth on him...but this reflects on all Americans, as once again, after a respite from an awesome Obama, are seen as fools. Sure George the Lessor was pitiful but he seemed to have a heart. His father was, is, a smart man if not the most coherent leaders...thousands points... St. Ron had a handle and good handlers, he knew he would need help. What would the Donald do? Heaven help us!
3
OK then; time for a Reality Check:
Hands up all those who think that HRC has any chance - any chance whatsoever - of winning in November..........
Really?
Hands up all those who think that HRC has any chance - any chance whatsoever - of winning in November..........
Really?
3
Paul Ryan needs a good set of hearing aids--he must be completely deaf not to have heard the Republican grassroots' complete rejection of his "pro-growth" policies. If this is what the GOP establishment is peddling for 2020, the Republican Party is dead as a doornail.
13
Oh please, Chicken Little. The sky's not falling. I'm no fan of Trump but writing that he offers "only xenophobic, isolationist or fantastical ideas" fails to look at the bigger picture that spawns him and Sanders. People are tired of feeling impotent under the gears of the machine. They want to blow it up, at any cost. Personally, on a day to day level, from dealing helplessly with health care to banks to bureaucratic institutions so mired in uncontested self-interest and corruption, I welcome a shock to the system.
20
"..the most volatile and least prepared presidential candidate nominated by a major party in modern times..." as if you think we can forget 1980 and St. Ronald.
"Republican leaders have for years failed to think about much of anything beyond winning the next election. ..." because they have consistently benefited by claiming it is the End Times, and Jesus will be coming back any day, so long-term planning is irrelevant.
"Republican leaders have for years failed to think about much of anything beyond winning the next election. ..." because they have consistently benefited by claiming it is the End Times, and Jesus will be coming back any day, so long-term planning is irrelevant.
24
Paul Ryan's new "Roadmap for America" now appears to be the Exit.
Also, George Will recently wrote, in WaPo, that if Trump is the GOP nominee, the Party should make sure that he does not win even one state.
Realizing that Trump really is that bad, Why don't the just cancel their Convention, and don't nominate anyone at all?
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
Also, George Will recently wrote, in WaPo, that if Trump is the GOP nominee, the Party should make sure that he does not win even one state.
Realizing that Trump really is that bad, Why don't the just cancel their Convention, and don't nominate anyone at all?
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
9
OK, Trump is the Republican standard-bearer. Where is he going to get money to run a campaign in the fall? From the tepid RNC? From corporations who can't afford to offend consumers? From Evangelical PAC's? From his raggedy supporters out in America's trailer parks, living from Social Security disability check to disability check?
From his own pocket? Never. Trump doesn't bet on losers.
From his own pocket? Never. Trump doesn't bet on losers.
10
GOP congressional leaders set out to create gridlock in Congress, specifically because they hated, yes hated, President Obama. But, the people do not want gridlock. They want leaders who work together in a spirit of compromise.
A strategy of gridlock means the few an control the many. The American people don't want that. Republicans don't want to hear that.
A strategy of gridlock means the few an control the many. The American people don't want that. Republicans don't want to hear that.
11
How fitting that Trump drives the last, almost viable contender (sorry Governor K. but no one really knows what it is your trying to accomplish) on the same day he cited The National Inquirer as a legitimate news source in order to trash the father of said contender, by...get this... alleging the man played a role in the Kennedy assassination. Wow. I didn't actually hear what it was he said because I make a habit of not listening to FOX morning shows or any other FOX shows, but if the host did not stop Trump in mid sentence and say, "Have you no shame, sir? Have you no shame?" Well then, yet another opportunity lost.
So I guess it's time to offer congratulations to the new Republican standard bearer. And to all you rank and file party members, who have sat back for going on a generation while your party was taken over by talk show hucksters and right wing obstructionist, no argument on this one: you most definitely built it.
So I guess it's time to offer congratulations to the new Republican standard bearer. And to all you rank and file party members, who have sat back for going on a generation while your party was taken over by talk show hucksters and right wing obstructionist, no argument on this one: you most definitely built it.
18
"He is still trainable."
The Republican Party what is left of it is not the dog whisperer. They think if they ignore their pit bull it will not bite them on the rump. So sorry pit bulls. Most of you really are wonderful animals.
Trump swares he is trainable, but he seems incapable of controlling his potty mouth. Putting a muzzle on him only makes him more crazy And I would trust his silence less than his growls.
the behavior of dogs is determined by their owners. Republicans, you now own him and when he runs a muck it is your responsibility.
The Republican Party what is left of it is not the dog whisperer. They think if they ignore their pit bull it will not bite them on the rump. So sorry pit bulls. Most of you really are wonderful animals.
Trump swares he is trainable, but he seems incapable of controlling his potty mouth. Putting a muzzle on him only makes him more crazy And I would trust his silence less than his growls.
the behavior of dogs is determined by their owners. Republicans, you now own him and when he runs a muck it is your responsibility.
4
It was time to march off the cliff. There was no other outcome.
7
I grew up in a rust belt state and saw how tragic it was for families to be plowed under by jobs that vanished and opportunities that evaporated. And then in the next generation we had the banks, the Bush wars, the widening gap between haves and have nots. I understand the anger and frustration. But this scares me.
6
This is a colossal failure on so many levels. While I get that the disenfranchised voter is angry..is this not how Fascists come to power.?...the miopic blame everyone else for "our woes" and Trumps tapping into that negative energy is why the Republican party is here today. But to say that this is what Lincolns party has become is the ultimate tragedy. We here in Canada and the rest of the world hold our breath....so tragic to see such a fine nation beginning to rip herself apart. Sadly other than education there is no help arriving from anywhere else to aid US.
6
Enough hang-wringing please - it was inevitable, and we are better for it now that the real GOP will be laid bare for all to see. And my hope is that the GOP, as we know it today, will be decimated in the next election. Actually, I was really hoping for a Cruz victory because he is in many ways even more extreme that Trump. Who would have ever thought that men such as these - with fairy-tale policy proposals and voodoo economics - are now the standard-bearers . . . ps
6
The thing about trying to back Hillary is that there are Many Bernie supporters that will never vote for her. In November the Independent voters will also not vote for her. They are a large part that put Obama in Office. They sure wont be putting her in office since they had nothing to do with her last election. Right now Bernie and Hillary are only 300 delegates apart for all proposes. If the DNC wants to even have a fighting chance in November they really need to roll over to Bernie's side, because he has a large chance to beat Trump. I would imagine that many of the Republicans that were backing other candidates wont be wanting to Vote for Trump or Hillary either. Bet there is a Yuge change in the next few months... :)
4
"That’s why House Republicans are developing a bold, pro-growth agenda to take to the country. By giving the people a clear choice in 2016, we can earn a mandate to do big things in 2017 and beyond."
Yes, because legislating morality and fussing over women, minorities, and non-Christians will most certainly improve the status of the middle class. Of course, an honest minimum wage and trade policy along with sensible taxation are completely irrelevant.
What utter nonsense. The Republican party really does deserve its miserable death.
RIP GOP 2016
Yes, because legislating morality and fussing over women, minorities, and non-Christians will most certainly improve the status of the middle class. Of course, an honest minimum wage and trade policy along with sensible taxation are completely irrelevant.
What utter nonsense. The Republican party really does deserve its miserable death.
RIP GOP 2016
15
I am all for kicking a door down on an organization and stirring it up. I completely understand the frustration of the Republican voters. They sent people to Washington to do something and nothing got done. What they fail to understand is that the GOP's position for the last seven and a half years - well articulated by their leaders -- was, in fact, to do nothing . Nothing that is with this President. So now they have kicked the door down and set the house on fire. And, as a result of the GOP's ongoing recklessness this nation could put the nuclear codes in the hands of a man who professes that he hates to lose. Nice going GOP.
19
The Republican Party long ago stopped being the party of Lincoln. When he accepted the Democratic nomination for president in 1960, John Kennedy said "The party of Lincoln has now chosen a candidate who believes in charity for none and malice toward all." I can't think of any of the Republican candidates this year or even any Republican members of Congress who don't fit that description with the exception that they all want charity for the one percenters and hold no malice toward them.
20
It's refreshing that the Republicans remain true to form...ideology trumps rationality.
8
Yes, it is Trump's party but he didn't do it alone. He stood on the shoulders of some severe racists - starting the day Ronald Reagan launched his presidential campaign at the Neshoba County Fair in Mississippi and delivered his dog-whistle "states' rights" speech. Then there was Lee Atwater and a whole parade of hate and fear. Racist fears became the key to GOP success.
Welfare Queens.
Willie Horton.
The list sickens me too much to continue.
No, Trump did not just happen. History shows that Trump grew. And many reprehensible people provided the fertilizer - in every sense of that word.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
Welfare Queens.
Willie Horton.
The list sickens me too much to continue.
No, Trump did not just happen. History shows that Trump grew. And many reprehensible people provided the fertilizer - in every sense of that word.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
35
The GOP has succeeded in finding a nominee that actually makes George W. Bush look halfway decent. Don't be surprised when the anti-intellectual, xenophobic wave sweeps Trump into office. For the first time in my adult life, we're actually faced with a dangerous presidential nominee.
20
I don't see why Trump will "certainly" be nominated. The delegates can still do whatever they want. The "pledges" are made on the honor's system alone. There's no law that says the delegates have to follow the will of the people. The party decides at the convention, period.
2
The Republican party is DEAD!
It's been building for years and now and this is the end game. Anybody who gets behind Trump is either ignorant, bigoted, xenophobic, paranoid or any combination of all of the above.
The Republican party I grew up with was none of the above.
This demographic cannot be considered politically legitimate in any sense other than the fact they have a right to vote.
If it wasn't so pathetic, it would be laughable.
It's been building for years and now and this is the end game. Anybody who gets behind Trump is either ignorant, bigoted, xenophobic, paranoid or any combination of all of the above.
The Republican party I grew up with was none of the above.
This demographic cannot be considered politically legitimate in any sense other than the fact they have a right to vote.
If it wasn't so pathetic, it would be laughable.
22
I was at Georgetown for Speaker Ryan's talk and frankly, it exemplified the very reason Trump resonates with a Republican movement that opposes the establishment. Mr. Ryan was stuck harping on small business owners and job creators, when the vast majority of Republican voters are blue-collar workers who've seen their wages stagnate through two decades of trade agreements for "small business owners." To be honest as a young voter, it's impossible for me seeing myself voting for a Republican ever. It seems unlikely that my generation will experience the same neo-con shift that happened to many Cold War liberals, because as your editorial so sharply put it, they've stamped (branded really) the party of Lincoln with the sear of Trump. I hope this election leads to a collapse of the constraints of two-party politics and well-meaning Republicans vote libertarian, or green, or write-in Bloomberg for goodness sake, but please help us, not Trump.
233
Democrats and their acolytes have to stop basking in their own self-proclaimed sunlight and realize that they are part of the problem as well. Continue to blame the system and those who are creating the wealth and the jobs. Continue to delude yourselves in thinking that father (or mother) State will make things better for all and we will end up in the same place that Trump is steering the country a demagoguery, populist based political system that only benefits those working for the Party. In the end, the extreme right and the extreme left are the same side of the coin, they just get there through different paths.
7
I believe it is my duty as a U.S. citizen to do all I possibly can to Keep America Great by keeping Donald Trump out of the White House.
38
There's a lot of puffery in this article. That America has a political histpry better than Trump, or P.T Barnum, is wishful myth. Trump doesn't represent a new low but another version of the status quo. Trump isn't the problem, as they say, but a symptom.
7
"-the party’s candidates promised help for middle-class people who lost their homes, jobs and savings to recession, who lost limbs and well-being to war, and then did next to nothing."
But - the GOP made it clear they were really about cutting taxes for the rich. That has not changed. And yet, these poor saps voted Republican, year after year after year - essentially voting against themselves and their children.
Interesting.
But - the GOP made it clear they were really about cutting taxes for the rich. That has not changed. And yet, these poor saps voted Republican, year after year after year - essentially voting against themselves and their children.
Interesting.
22
It's Donald's Party Now. This is the epitome of the Republican Party, isn't it?
Having someone on the determining primary election night, the winner who will go on to become the Republican presidential nominee, say he 's going to unify the Republican Party, when he doesn't have a clue what he's doing.
Remember when Barack Obama was elected in 2008 and on his inauguration night, the wonders of the Republican Party got together and started scheming and conniving how they were going to not only demonize President Obama, but how they were going to get their next Republican president.
Ho, ho. What goes around comes around. Their evil and devilish spirits have given them a handful. Their wishes have come true. They have their anti-Obama presidential candidate. They have Donald Trump.
And they cannot begin to figure out what to do. Ho, ho!
Having someone on the determining primary election night, the winner who will go on to become the Republican presidential nominee, say he 's going to unify the Republican Party, when he doesn't have a clue what he's doing.
Remember when Barack Obama was elected in 2008 and on his inauguration night, the wonders of the Republican Party got together and started scheming and conniving how they were going to not only demonize President Obama, but how they were going to get their next Republican president.
Ho, ho. What goes around comes around. Their evil and devilish spirits have given them a handful. Their wishes have come true. They have their anti-Obama presidential candidate. They have Donald Trump.
And they cannot begin to figure out what to do. Ho, ho!
15
Who of any of the Republican candidates or potential candidates like Paul Ryan were better than Trump? Unlike all the others, Trump didn't seek to demonize Planned Parenthood or play on bigotry toward the LGBT community or pretend that W. was right in getting us into an unnecessary war in Iraq.
Let's face it, what the core of the Republican Party fears isn't that Trump isn't too nutty but that he isn't nutty enough.
Let's face it, what the core of the Republican Party fears isn't that Trump isn't too nutty but that he isn't nutty enough.
17
NYT - please stop putting Bernie down: "On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders won an unexpected victory over Hillary Clinton, though it was not enough to halt her march to the nomination." - if Hillary wins by the same margin, or less, it is a decisive victory. Bernie's win today WAS expected and a reflection of his appeal.
13
Once again, the NY Times Editorial Board shows how out-of-touch they are with middle America. Middle class Americans are convinced the US is going down a path were hard work, initiative, and accountability are under-appreciated and political correctness is the currency of the realm. Like his rhetoric or not, Trump has tapped into this wellspring and captures the essence of it with his catch-phrase "Make America Great Again". I don't like everything he says and does, but he's our last chance to turn this country around again.
58
You're right that Trump wants to make America "great" again by "turning this country around." What that means is reversing all the social gains we have made in the last 60 years or so, including gains for people of color, disabled people, LGBT. It also means reversing all the political/economic gains we have made in the last century -- including the New Deal, including regulation of polluters, financial thugs, gross exploitation of workers by employers. If reversing all these things will make America "great" -- then I say America should not be "great".
3
Yes, we have been adding private sector jobs for 73 straight months. I have no doubt that Donald Trump could turn that around and put us back on the path to job losses.
1
That was the same bill of goods that Hitler and Mussolini sold their respective peoples, that is, that he would make them great again. A dozen years later, they were both dead and their countries were in ruins...
1
This primary season has proven that the bar for Trump is much lower than for his fellow "politicians." Since last summer, pundits predicted a flame out after every insult, curse, clueless tweet and lie. Rubio lowered the bar in his discussion of the size of Trump's hands and was out of the race within weeks. Was the bar always lower? Was the media complicit in lowering it due to its inability to get a straight answer and a symbiotic relationship with the ratings he brought? I for one am no longer outraged or fascinated. I am now BORED and RESIGNED. I will vote for HRC, but if Trump wins I will sit back. realizing I don't have much to lose personally when all is said and done with a Trump presidency, and watch his supporter get more angry for 2020 because he cannot deliver any of his promises.
8
Yes, I know people are angry with the government. I am too, It got us into this mess. But how could so many think that a loud mouth billionaire could solve the serious problems facing all of us. Leading a country is complex and not like negotiating a real estate deal and undercutting your opposition. Those who are making Trump the Republican nominee are not "doing The Lord's work" Perhaps the devil's.
5
Will the Times finally expose Trump's phony claim that he was against the Iraq invasion? It has been careless in ignoring Trump's revisionism.
6
It's not only Republicans who are responsible for Trump but also progressive Democrats like the New York Times editors. They have steadfastly supported a candidate who goes against everything Democrats supposedly oppose - misuse of office for personal gain, lack of transparency while in government service and in dealings with Wall Street, lack of competency (see the e-mail scandal and Benghazi), kowtowing to special interest for personal gain (see $675,000 for speeches to Goldman Sachs). Voters under 45 have deserted her, and for good reason. This incompetent, morally flawed candidate is a terrible choice for her party, as bad as Trump.
14
Mr. Luettgen,
I read that you "believe that traditional priorities of solid communities, prudent and limited government, an appreciation for American exceptionalism based on individual independence, and a strong national defense, will continue to mark us as Republicans...". But my question is, since 2008, what has the GOP done to promote solid communities, etc.? The agenda they proclaimed, and carried out, was to try to block anything Obama tried to do. And he entered office hoping to collaborate, compromise, or whatever it would take to get problems solved. I believe the GOP failed to carry out their responsibility to help govern the country. As long as the GOP is fixated on lowering taxes on the upper incomes and refusing to work with Democrats on anything, the party will continue to lack credibility. They need to show by actions that they want to help people other than the very rich. Trump does not appear to have any concern about being credible, so I find it hard to imagine how the GOP could become relevant again.
I read that you "believe that traditional priorities of solid communities, prudent and limited government, an appreciation for American exceptionalism based on individual independence, and a strong national defense, will continue to mark us as Republicans...". But my question is, since 2008, what has the GOP done to promote solid communities, etc.? The agenda they proclaimed, and carried out, was to try to block anything Obama tried to do. And he entered office hoping to collaborate, compromise, or whatever it would take to get problems solved. I believe the GOP failed to carry out their responsibility to help govern the country. As long as the GOP is fixated on lowering taxes on the upper incomes and refusing to work with Democrats on anything, the party will continue to lack credibility. They need to show by actions that they want to help people other than the very rich. Trump does not appear to have any concern about being credible, so I find it hard to imagine how the GOP could become relevant again.
10
The GOP is incapable of self-critique.
Thanks to 24/7 propaganda they are completely blind. What they did during the Obama years was a grotesque misuse of the voter's time-. Their voters should be tarring and feathering Rush Limbaugh, but no.
Thanks to 24/7 propaganda they are completely blind. What they did during the Obama years was a grotesque misuse of the voter's time-. Their voters should be tarring and feathering Rush Limbaugh, but no.
19
I think the Republicans are all thinking, as long as Trump elects a tolerable vice-president they can always impeach him after the first or second year. Et tu, Brute? The problem is, with Trump as the presidential nominee those same Republicans won't be earning a seat in Congress in the next election.
"On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders won an unexpected victory over Hillary Clinton, though it was not enough to halt her march to the nomination."
The EARNED delegate count is:
Clinton 1682
Sanders 1361
It takes 2383 to win the nomination. The Anti-Democratic Primary is far from over.
On the Republican side....the another Teddy Roosevelt was just nominated. To understand Trump you need to understand how big of a break TR was from the traditional Republican Party before him. It will be fun to watch destroy the Limousine Liberal the Democrats are about to nominate.
The EARNED delegate count is:
Clinton 1682
Sanders 1361
It takes 2383 to win the nomination. The Anti-Democratic Primary is far from over.
On the Republican side....the another Teddy Roosevelt was just nominated. To understand Trump you need to understand how big of a break TR was from the traditional Republican Party before him. It will be fun to watch destroy the Limousine Liberal the Democrats are about to nominate.
7
America is all about everything we have to look at the will of its people, we are a group that wants to succeed have the liberties that made us and have promise for our next generations.We here the boarders need to be strong to keep a migration out to secure our country,I would say the jobs they take in landscaping and at fast food. But those dont set policy The banking industry and stock market do , Trump and Bernie address that so what is so wrong . It seems the further they get in elections the press and the powerbrokers get nervious. We need to get serious on what comes across the oceans more . The atlantic and pacific that seems to be a issue in banking ,jobs and over all policy that the country has taken for generations.Or if it may never be a topic then all will go as usual and no person can complain it will be business as usual.
1
Trump is America. Racist, selfish, narcissistic, xenophobic, greedy, misogynist, unscientific, pugilistic, uninformed, rude, self-righteous, win-obsessed.
We are meeting ourself up close and personal. Hasn't the rest of the world been telling us this is who we are for decades? The cows have come home, the chickens to roost.
We are meeting ourself up close and personal. Hasn't the rest of the world been telling us this is who we are for decades? The cows have come home, the chickens to roost.
31
The NYT would like nothing better then to believe that the GOP belongs to Trump; it fits the paper's Manichaeism. Their readers like that black and white dualism; children of light and all. It may well be his party now for however long this Uber political ride goes, but that is not yet a sure thing. Clearly the NYT is Mrs. Clinton's paper now; always has been despite secret leanings towards the Colonel's refried socialism. The NYT would like to rally everyone they can to Mrs. Clinton's cause, the only problem with that is she is too far left, unlikeable, and may yet despite the political attempts at a legal fix be indicted. There may yet be people of integrity despite Obama's best efforts to stamp out those impulses working in the DOJ; Nixon found out the hard way. I suggest we all stay tuned. The most entertaining but tragic out come for America would Col. Sanders verses Trump. Some poor content and bad style verses 100% bad content. The apotheosis by the Democrats will leave the NYT with am opportunity to add "To Notify" to their Masthead; some of the NYT workers will rejoice.
4
This is a tragic and momentous point in US history. Historians, *our* historians, have for years asked themselves how megalomaniacs, harbingers of hate, have risen to the apex of educated civilizations that once proved themselves capable of great achievements --where the potential of individuals, law, the creative spirit elevated the lot of humanity.
Today the US totters into true Banana Republic status. Today as the GOP embraces a caudillo that easily surpasses an Evita or a Peron, a Santa Ana, or a Chavez --as the GOP attempts to unify behind a Putin-wannabe who has the openness of an Ayatollah, the education of a Mussolini, the tyranny and wackiness of a Mao or a Kim, the moral compass of a Borgia, our democracy suffers a true loss --for the GOP, in all of its failures, did represent an honest center-right alternative.
Today the US totters into true Banana Republic status. Today as the GOP embraces a caudillo that easily surpasses an Evita or a Peron, a Santa Ana, or a Chavez --as the GOP attempts to unify behind a Putin-wannabe who has the openness of an Ayatollah, the education of a Mussolini, the tyranny and wackiness of a Mao or a Kim, the moral compass of a Borgia, our democracy suffers a true loss --for the GOP, in all of its failures, did represent an honest center-right alternative.
12
Political suicide is the only measure that can save the Republican party at this time. They went so far towards the deep end, they brought than on themselves.
I feel no pity.
I feel no pity.
14
What Republicans need to understand is that Trump will own the GOP. They better prepare themselves to be subservient to him. He will try to appease them now but afterwards, once they have pledged their allegiance to him, he will call the shots.
3
I believe that Donald Trump has one thing on his mind. And it isn't "Making America Great Again." It isn't immigration, or Mexico, or Muslims or women, or threats to our country. No! It's about him. It's winning. Nothing more; nothing less. It's proving to himself; to his ego; that he can achieve our nation's biggest prize. I firmly believe that's all there is to it.
Moreover, because he's not "distracted" by ethics or gaining the necessary knowledge needed to run a country and be leader of the free world, or considering the crises someone completely inexperienced can cause at home and globally, that he's been able to use all his energies instead to focus on ways to win; to keep himself constantly in the news; to destroy his opponents (no holds barred); to manipulate and pander to vulnerable souls.
And even more terrifying is a comment made by people who know him. That once he achieves a goal, he loses interest in it. That's a thought that should cause us even more sleepless nights.
Go Hillary!
Moreover, because he's not "distracted" by ethics or gaining the necessary knowledge needed to run a country and be leader of the free world, or considering the crises someone completely inexperienced can cause at home and globally, that he's been able to use all his energies instead to focus on ways to win; to keep himself constantly in the news; to destroy his opponents (no holds barred); to manipulate and pander to vulnerable souls.
And even more terrifying is a comment made by people who know him. That once he achieves a goal, he loses interest in it. That's a thought that should cause us even more sleepless nights.
Go Hillary!
18
The nation has been in darkness since 2001 and only got worse over last 7 years.. I used to be a Democrat but left that party when Obama turned a ness into a disaster. (I voted for Obama twice )
Never voting Democrat again since I now hate that party. I had already hated tge Republican Party.
BUT Trump stepped up to the plate and I love Trump! He has more common sense than any politician.
Obama has charisma and no common sense. I will vote for Trump!!
Never voting Democrat again since I now hate that party. I had already hated tge Republican Party.
BUT Trump stepped up to the plate and I love Trump! He has more common sense than any politician.
Obama has charisma and no common sense. I will vote for Trump!!
5
Trump followers are gullible. Prone to believe anything from years of exposure to Fox and talk radio. The non-racist followers may have legitimate reasons to be upset with the establishment, but with Trump they are being snookered by a city slicker.
10
The NYTimes has not endorsed a Republican for President of the United States for sixty-- count 'em, 60-- years. The disingenuousness of the "editorial board" beggars belief.
What the paper wants, as it has always wanted, is simply-- a Republican who loses. That's all. They'd like a nice fellow-- so long as he loses. They will always lecture the people about the shortcomings of the Republican candidate, and gently deplore his views. Now, they just don't gently deplore-- but it's all the same.
What the paper wants, as it has always wanted, is simply-- a Republican who loses. That's all. They'd like a nice fellow-- so long as he loses. They will always lecture the people about the shortcomings of the Republican candidate, and gently deplore his views. Now, they just don't gently deplore-- but it's all the same.
3
Somehow, in this photo, Trump looks more satanic than he ever has. Maybe it's the way that self-satisfied smirk makes him look like he's got a red goatee. Maybe it's the way his hair is barely hiding his horns here.
Anyhow, we had better not let him get the presidency, because nobody knows what he might do. He comes up with a different outrageous and uninformed statement every week. Trade war with our main importer, crazy walls to destroy the environment, slashing the minimum wage to $2.50, God only knows what disasters might emanate from this narcissistic maniac.
Anyhow, we had better not let him get the presidency, because nobody knows what he might do. He comes up with a different outrageous and uninformed statement every week. Trade war with our main importer, crazy walls to destroy the environment, slashing the minimum wage to $2.50, God only knows what disasters might emanate from this narcissistic maniac.
9
Paul Ryan saying “I would just ask you to raise your gaze and look at the horizon that we’re trying to paint,” is like Presidents Harding and Hoover sitting tight on the Depression, saying it's just a correction, and everything will be all right eventually. Meanwhile the average citizen suffers, often greatly.
I think it would be far preferable if someone in the Republican party acted like a responsible adult and tried to solve the problems of the here and now, instead of putting it off to the future, as Woody Guthrie satirized: "There will be pie in the sky when we die."
I think it would be far preferable if someone in the Republican party acted like a responsible adult and tried to solve the problems of the here and now, instead of putting it off to the future, as Woody Guthrie satirized: "There will be pie in the sky when we die."
8
The Grand Old Party has quite a track record. They brought us Iraq, the Great recession, and now the demagogue who is Trump. Place Iraq and the Great recession on the Party leadership plate, but Trump is purely someone where the responsibility can be placed on the Parties voters. They alone have given this man his large pluralities. They alone have given his racist and authoritarian rants their roars of approval as they turn out in record numbers at his rallies. It seems there is nothing he can say or do that diminishes their zeal for his nationalistic and racist messages. No more deflection to blaming the Republican Party for Trump, they did try to stop him. Time for the press to acknowledge and focus on the ugly strain that runs through the heart of the majority of Republican voters. Stop being so politically correct in not wanting to label these people for what they really are.
16
The GOP has reached that pivotal point in its history when it must answer the question Joseph Welch posed to Joseph McCarthy: "At long last, have you no sense of decency?" The answer appears to be a resounding, "No."
20
Democracy is that system of government under which the people, having 60 million native-born adult whites to choose from, including thousands who are handsome and many who are wise, pick out a Coolidge to be head of the state. It is as if a hungry man set before a banquet prepared by master cooks and covering a table an acre in area, should turn his back upon the feast and stay his stomach by catching and eating flies.
H. L. Mencken
"The Citizen and the State"
H. L. Mencken
"The Citizen and the State"
10
The GOP deserves Trump and everything he brings to the party! They have refused to listen to their constituents, so they end up w Trump. Shame on you Republicans and more power to you! perhaps Trump will push you further.... like on gay/equal rights/women rights. I hope the GOP falls flat on their face and repairs itself to rationality. Hopefully, Americans will become less evil and more bipartisanship oriented.
1
I predict the Republican leadership will not seek to "account for the failures and betrayals that led to this, and find a better way to address them than the demagogy on offer." Instead they will quickly jump into bed with Trump. To their shame.
2
Most people seem to forget that you don't HAVE to vote for major party candidates. The Libertarian party will have a candidate in all 50 states.
3
"The Republican Party’s trek into the darkness " It appears you may need to be reminded of what Lincoln's view was of Democracy - it does not mean you get to hear what you want to hear in the way you want to hear it.
‘It was one of Lincoln’s ways of working out his chief value to the country, and that value was his clear sense from the start it was our democratic scheme that was at stake, and that if it was to be saved, every citizen who could aid must help to give all that was in them.
Lincoln seems to have put it something like this to himself:
“Everybody in the country has had a part in bringing this thing about; everybody feels they have a right to say how things shall be handled; everybody that is worth their salt is going to exercise that right, and they are going to do it according to the kind of person they are – according to their temperament, their training, their self-control, their meanness, and their goodness. If we are going to put this thing through and prove that citizens can govern themselves, we must get from them what they can give, and we must let them give it in their own way.” Source: The Life of Lincoln, Tachell
‘It was one of Lincoln’s ways of working out his chief value to the country, and that value was his clear sense from the start it was our democratic scheme that was at stake, and that if it was to be saved, every citizen who could aid must help to give all that was in them.
Lincoln seems to have put it something like this to himself:
“Everybody in the country has had a part in bringing this thing about; everybody feels they have a right to say how things shall be handled; everybody that is worth their salt is going to exercise that right, and they are going to do it according to the kind of person they are – according to their temperament, their training, their self-control, their meanness, and their goodness. If we are going to put this thing through and prove that citizens can govern themselves, we must get from them what they can give, and we must let them give it in their own way.” Source: The Life of Lincoln, Tachell
2
"Maybe he's trainable" a quote from a GOP operative hopeful. What was he referring to an uncontrollable dog. Oh yes, I get it, his reference was about training Donald Trump to be presidential. Really? Not being able to muzzle Trump during his candidacy or put him away, the GOP is getting in line, hopefully to find a good (dog?) trainer and teach him what? How to behave? After he's well trained and proper what becomes of all the garbage that spewed forth from that man all these months, just forget it, that it all a ploy to gain attention.
What's awfully, awfully sad, bordering on despicable are his believers who in desperation think that Trump will give them what their republican representatives, making false promises year after year, failed to do for them or the country.
What's awfully, awfully sad, bordering on despicable are his believers who in desperation think that Trump will give them what their republican representatives, making false promises year after year, failed to do for them or the country.
4
We have all the evidence we need about what kind of president Trump would be. The ONLY course for a thinking Republican in this election is to vote for Hillary Clinton, who after all voted the same as the mainline Republican votes on practically every issue. Trump would be a dangerous disaster -- domestically and abroad. But let's see how many Republicans have the courage to come out and encourage others to vote for Hillary. The vast majority, maybe all, will be cowards and say, "I don't like his views so much, but I'll vote for him anyway." One good test for any down ticket Republican candidates: do you plan to vote for Trump? If the answer is yes, you vote for someone else.
2
I am not a Republican. I can certainly understand why many Republicans would not vote for Donald Trump, who seems unqualified and unfit to be president. But your argument seems to go as follows: Republican leaders ignored their own voters' concerns for decades, until those voters mutinied and picked a renegade candidate, Donald Trump. The party should respond by defying the will of their voters yet again by shunning the party's nominee, chosen by Republican voters. What could possibly go wrong?
5
A misogynistic reality show star, endorsed with enthusiasm by The National Enquirer. Best friends with the head of the World Wrestling Federation. Former owner of the Miss Universe pageant and bankrupt Atlantic City Casino's. A broadly public and seldom disputed reputation for having thin skin and a record setting ego. What could possibly go wrong?
10
Paul Ryan is deluded. The horizon he's trying to paint will likely turn into a mushroom cloud as a result of the fool his party is trying to stomach as its nominee. As before, we depend on the Democratic party to bail us out again.
5
"politicians that betrayed them" the truest statement ever published by this newspaper. Those politicians couldn't have succeeded if the 4th Estate had not turned into the 5th Column.
Not only politicians but the media left the people down by not investigating obvious grievances and abuses of power.
Whatever Trump's shortcomings he is a patriot and will work for the people.
Not only politicians but the media left the people down by not investigating obvious grievances and abuses of power.
Whatever Trump's shortcomings he is a patriot and will work for the people.
3
The election of Trump will complete Republican efforts to shut down the federal government. Under Republican leadership Congress cannot function and proudly boasts of its plans to do nothing. The Supreme Court that declared corporations religious persons is now at stalemate. Having Trump in the executive branch will guarantee that nothing gets done there, either. He will run our government like a business . . . like a casino business. Trump will Make America Grate Again! I never thought anyone could grate on my nerves like Warpresident Bush!
Yeah, yeah. And if the Democrats had nominated Bernie we'd have the same editorial talking about the Democrats embracing the evils of socialism and falling into line to support a candidate whose political lineage leads straight back to the gulag, so "in line" is this paper already with an existing order that is horrific.
6
Trump is the result of racism in this country. Six years of republican congress on strike, being unable to put up with the black president, takes its toll on the whole country. Possibly, on the whole world, if media does not stop its advertising of Trump for free. There would be no Trump if all TV channels were not talking about him 24/7.
What's clear to any housewife in this country, is too complicated to the minds of the best journalists, political analysts, politicians, etc. The shows for ratings and ridiculous salaries substitute the news. And conscience and responsibility for that matter.
What's clear to any housewife in this country, is too complicated to the minds of the best journalists, political analysts, politicians, etc. The shows for ratings and ridiculous salaries substitute the news. And conscience and responsibility for that matter.
5
No mention of Trump's sordid Joe McCarthy moment yesterday, implicating Cruz's father in the JFK assassination?
Surely, this is evidence of a sick mind, and should be a cause of grave concern to any sane voter.
Surely, this is evidence of a sick mind, and should be a cause of grave concern to any sane voter.
10
So, Times Editors, what is your issue with The Donald, exactly? Is it “xenophobic” to think we are a sovereign country with a right to control our borders? Is it “isolationist” to think we should not presume to make silk purses of democracy out of sow’s ears in the Middle East? His foreign policy address does not show any “willful refusal to learn” on his part, but I do detect a willful refusal to understand it on yours. Finally, The Donald’s ideas are “fantastical”? Well yes, here I agree—in the sense that they are extraordinarily good. And, I would add, long overdue.
5
Farewell GOP it's been nice to know you. I'm switching parties right after Trump is officially the nominee. No, I don't consider myself a Democrat but I only have a binary choice as I don't want to be disenfranchised 50% of the time. I plan on supporting Gary Johnson in November somebody with actual experience running an executive branch of government. I'll be a Democrat for at least four more years. Maybe then I'll be able to choose a serious candidate whose appeal is broader than a relaity TV star who gets 24/7 news coverage for insulting his way to the nomination. Yes all Mexicans are rapists so they need to build a wall to prevent them from doing jobs that no one else is willing to do that contributes billions to our economy but hey they're Mexican so let's blame them and make ourselves feel better. Yes freedom of religion is anathema to the moral fiber of our country so we need to ban all members of the World's second largest religion from coming here as tourists and spending billions to see Harry Potter. I know let's start a trade war with China and see what happens when people go to Walmart and find 90% of the store empty. Hey who needs the female vote when 98% of the KKK support you. So yes until an actual serious candidate with political experience is nominated, I'll be a pro-life, small government, pro-business, robust free trade, supporter of legal immigration Democrat.
3
Donald Trump is the result of eight years refusing to govern. Maybe he can do something other than channel thier hatred twoard the first black president. One thing we all understand now is how both parties free traded away our middle class. These primaries have set a new national course for the little people. Hopefully Hilary is paying attention to the shift to the left or we will have a reality star for president.
5
We should salute Trump for killing the GOP, and Hillary for trying to do the same to the Democrats. Let's now salt that earth, and nurture seedlings elsewhere.
7
"With Mr. Trump’s success, “I’m watching a 160-year-old political party commit suicide,” said Henry Olsen, an elections analyst with the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative think tank."
NOW he's concerned? Never mind the GOP giving away the store with gratuitous tax cuts for the 1%, selling out the country to the highest bidder.
Never mind Sarah Palin, the religious nuts, and gun maniacs, the "judges"......
Rip Van Olsen has awakened?
NOW he's concerned? Never mind the GOP giving away the store with gratuitous tax cuts for the 1%, selling out the country to the highest bidder.
Never mind Sarah Palin, the religious nuts, and gun maniacs, the "judges"......
Rip Van Olsen has awakened?
16
Please Sulzberger's, you are out of touch. Even if I don't vote for the bum, he has tapped a nerve. Other people who have voted Democrat their whole lives have said to me that the financial divide, for example, 94 million to the head of Expedia has finally gotten to them as well as so many wealthy liberals patronizing the "downtrodden." It looks like the Democrats are now the party of the rich. What these people say, admittedly only a few, is that the "system" has to be shaken up even by a no nothing.
6
"On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders won an unexpected victory over Hillary Clinton"
Really?
The Editorial Board has become just like the Clinton campaign. Non Stop lies.
Really?
The Editorial Board has become just like the Clinton campaign. Non Stop lies.
7
There are rules to play and rules to win, and they rarely have anything in common. Trump plays by the latter ones, and he wins. How will he govern? Probably, as any other billionaire in America...same saccharine water for 99%; same piles of money for 1%. So, relax and enjoy the ride.
1
I do not recall this level of condemnation when Reagan was contesting with Carter? Is Trump really as bad as Reagan? This Editorial is over the top negative and reflects poorly on the NYT. Reminder: let the voters (citizens) decide! Love him or hate him he swept the other candidates away. I say, let the voters decide and tone down the extreme negativity toward Mr. Trump.
10
The Republican Party is utterly discredited. Time for a new party - or better yet, eliminate the party system altogether.
3
Is there anywhere else, according to the New York Times, the GOP has ever been or can go but into the darkness?
I mean, come on. For liberals, the only good Republican is a retired, senile, or dead Republican.
Save me the more in sorrow than anger routine.
I mean, come on. For liberals, the only good Republican is a retired, senile, or dead Republican.
Save me the more in sorrow than anger routine.
9
Trump is the equal of Republican con men Strom Thurmond, Phil Gramm, and Newt Gingrich.
Trump isn't fit to shine Eisenhower's or TRoosevelt's shoes ... much less Lincoln's.
Trump isn't fit to shine Eisenhower's or TRoosevelt's shoes ... much less Lincoln's.
8
The GOP have fooled themselves into accommodating Murdoch's monster. They will likely go belly up as a result.
Whilst Paul Ryan walks backwards, and speaks new age gibberish, about a big rock candy mountain.
Break out the large butterfly nets.
Whilst Paul Ryan walks backwards, and speaks new age gibberish, about a big rock candy mountain.
Break out the large butterfly nets.
14
The article distorts the truth. Not all Repubs are "falling into line." Many won't, and I suspect Trump will get very marginal support down the road with party leaders.
2
This screed represents the epitome of a detached elite with no idea of what is going on beneath the upper decks. You must be subliminally aware, though, that you are part of the problem for which Trump's supporters are seeking a solution. Your "special interest" in survival as an elite is probably why you cannot stop focusing on your own self-generated mischaracterizations of Trump and instead recognize the positive and unifying message that he is voicing for many millions.
9
The 800-pound gorilla -
There is no law that says Trump cannot run his company and be POTUS at the same time. He says he might "let his kids run it" but I suspect his ego would never allow complete a complete divesting of control.
Trump claims his name is worth $3billion as an asset in calculating his net worth. So, if Trump wins, he will have the ability to use the name (and gravitas) of the President of the United States as a brand asset?
I can find no law proscribing such behavior. Tell me I'm wrong.
There is no law that says Trump cannot run his company and be POTUS at the same time. He says he might "let his kids run it" but I suspect his ego would never allow complete a complete divesting of control.
Trump claims his name is worth $3billion as an asset in calculating his net worth. So, if Trump wins, he will have the ability to use the name (and gravitas) of the President of the United States as a brand asset?
I can find no law proscribing such behavior. Tell me I'm wrong.
3
Republicans, as a political party have become accustomed to doing absolutely nothing, except oppose ideas. As a result they have become ill-prepared to handle the likes of Donald Trump, other than "oppose" him. As with all things republican since 2008, they failed miserably.
While they have no one to blame but themselves, they continue to blame the media, pundits and of course the democrats for the unenviable position they find themselves. Like an alcoholic, until they accept responsibility for where they find themselves, they are doomed to continue failing as a political force.
While they have no one to blame but themselves, they continue to blame the media, pundits and of course the democrats for the unenviable position they find themselves. Like an alcoholic, until they accept responsibility for where they find themselves, they are doomed to continue failing as a political force.
19
I do not support Mr. Trump for president but I don't see how rational people could describe this statement, from his foreign policy speech, as "confused":
‘I will also look for talented experts with new approaches, and practical ideas, rather than surrounding myself with those who have perfect résumés but very little to brag about except responsibility for a long history of failed policies and continued losses at war.’
"Perfect résumés, failed policies, continued war." Sounds like the NYT Editorial Board.
‘I will also look for talented experts with new approaches, and practical ideas, rather than surrounding myself with those who have perfect résumés but very little to brag about except responsibility for a long history of failed policies and continued losses at war.’
"Perfect résumés, failed policies, continued war." Sounds like the NYT Editorial Board.
21
The Republican party created Trump by ignoring the devastating effects of the 2008 crash, creating endless wars which turned young men and women and their families into people without VA support, and finally, putting their own party's interests over those of its country. Most of the rural white wing will never vote for a Democrat and Hillary is the most uninspiring candidate in some time, so they are left with a smirking, ego-driven brand manager who will tell them how to cure their ails like the snake-oil salesman he is
14