Even if a US Pres.'s task is to keep Americans safe Mr.Trump is way off the course that will achieve that.In a short space of time innocents were victimized in ,Istanbul and Dhaka not just in Orlando.In these and the attacks in Paris + Brussels the victims and those who r spared include several foreigners including some Americans.So, hastily declaring a policy of keeping all Moslems out was un wise not the magic B..The terrorist and other regional stability hurting phenomena require a concerted effort which accommodates all those who will make a good company,both strategically and tactically speaking.As to the often repeated boring labeling H. " not trust worthy", we don't live at a time where the agonizing decision is on philosophical Q. of " To be or Not to Be" or where the most dangerous weapon the sides in a conflict r armed with r knives and daggers as in West Side Story , it is a period where a moment may arise that calls 4 making the right call to the Q. To press or Not to Press.Who will b trusted 4 such trying time?, that is the type of Q. voters should way most when deciding 4 whom to cast.1 repeated danger,even in the most Democratic and Educative process as in the US election is that not major weaknesses or a fabricated 1 get directed at a capable candidate like HRC, that gets too much airing and ends up elevating a much less deserving candidate with a highly disastrous consequences.Americans should stay clear of repeating Brexit Crowd's blunder.Happ 4th 2 all,TMD.
Hillary is the target of a criminal investigation and today was interviewed by the FBI. Old style politics? This is unprecedented.
"Some voters appear to be taking a look at Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate." As well they should. Both major parties have given us a classic lesser of two evils choice and we don't want either. Hopefully he'll get in the debates, but given the 15% threshold polling requirement and the fact that he (or the Green Party for that matter) are not included in the polling question, the powers that be are keeping alternative to the R and D monopoly off the debate stage. We need to hear all options... the Libertarian and Green Parties should be in the presidential debates!
1
I don't think HRC has a prayer to take away voters already committed to Trump. Let's just hope the opposite is true, and Trump doesn't have a reasonable path to the WH.
Not that I feel much better about HRC as POTUS.
We live in a year of bad choices, but choose we must.
Not that I feel much better about HRC as POTUS.
We live in a year of bad choices, but choose we must.
2
Hillary needs a zinger of a TV ad. How about showing Trump and Putin in luxurious surroundings discussing how far you can get by promising a few extra dollars to the middle class.
I can see the reason people a want a trustworthy person as president. I wonder how people can believe a person with the business record Trump is forthcoming . They think a person who made lots of money working the system will help the middle class. These same people think everything the Clintons day is a lie.
2
It's clear that the media are simply trying to make this close when it isn't, to maximize advertising revenues and generate interest where there isn't any. I'll be worried when more objective measures like the Iowa Electronic Markets show that people are willing to bet money on him. By that standard, he is currently being crushed by Clinton. Thankfully, we only have another four more months of enduring those who know so little, who say so much.
1
She will never win over the angry white working class. Her only chance is to get on that debate stage and RIDICULE him! Parties rarely get a 3rd term. The natural tendency is to give the other side a turn. If Hilary allows Trump to be perceived as a legitimate candidate that she just happens to disagree with, we're sunk.
It doesn't matter. The history of obfuscation and evasion.
The scapegoating of an American to hide something , we aren't quite sure what, about the death of our ambassador in Libya. The email to her daughter proving that.
The $2 billion (!) needed to elect her.
The secret speeches.
The millions paid to the foundation with the atypical financial structure.
Untrustworthy cannot be redeemed by her campaigning.
NO. I am not voting for Clinton.
The scapegoating of an American to hide something , we aren't quite sure what, about the death of our ambassador in Libya. The email to her daughter proving that.
The $2 billion (!) needed to elect her.
The secret speeches.
The millions paid to the foundation with the atypical financial structure.
Untrustworthy cannot be redeemed by her campaigning.
NO. I am not voting for Clinton.
15
I don't think that Mrs. Clinton will be able to recover the support of the average American voter. Like him or hate him, Trumps words echo with them. Mrs. Clinton is fatally hobbled by her self-appointed elitist-in-chief attitude, her rigorously socialist solutions, and her corporatist links to the same bankers that destroyed the finances of hundreds of thousand of people without serving any jail time.
She is part of the problem, not part of the solution.
REgards
She is part of the problem, not part of the solution.
REgards
14
The image of HC as dishonest has been created by her opponents calling her a liar for nearly three decades. Propaganda works. The sad--and dangerous--thing is there are apparently no restrictions on politicians or their agents slandering or libeling their opponents. Ordinary citizens and coworkers are expected to be honest with one another; businesses have to be truthful about the ingredients and performance of their products and services; government agencies are required to be complete, accurate, and objective in their communication with the public; but the people who decide the fate of our economic well-being, health, and safety are given a free pass. I know it's not realistic, but I'd like to see political campaigns fined for dishonest, misleading, or incomplete messaging; and/or a way to (as boxers can lose points for low blows in a fight) take votes away from a politician for false advertising. The only parties who benefit from the current model are unqualified, inept candidates; the army of consultants, staffers, and marketing agencies supporting them; and of course the special interests trying to gain financially from electing low-integrity flunkies. If campaigns were forced to be truthful (so sad that it's come to this), we'd be able to focus on issues and problem solving instead of this truly deleterious noise.
29
I don't have a good grasp of why anyone would vote for Trump. None of his supporters can possibly predict what he would actually do as president. He has been caught in numerous lies about his own business history, and he has frequently during the campaign flip-flopped away from statements he just made. His vision of the presidency is ridiculous. Even in our current degraded state, I cannot believe Americans will accept a dictator-king, which is his idea of the job. His "plans" consist of promised simple solutions to complex problems, and he has no relevant knowledge or experience on how to accomplish any of them. He has shown contempt for the governmental system devised by the founders, imagining he can bully the Congress and Supreme Court. We need to stop treating him as entertainment and look much more closely at this actual history. NYT please help with that !
31
Breaking news....the FBI just concluded a 31/2 hour grilling of Clinton over her lying about her email server. Two observations:
1) It's about time!
2) This is the first time in history that a presumptive candidate for POTUS has come under FBI investigation.
This will probably be of no concern to those Clinton supporters who are obsessed with identity politics or Free Stuff but you have to be totally morally bankrupt to vote for this woman. Assuming she's not indicted for her criminal actions.
1) It's about time!
2) This is the first time in history that a presumptive candidate for POTUS has come under FBI investigation.
This will probably be of no concern to those Clinton supporters who are obsessed with identity politics or Free Stuff but you have to be totally morally bankrupt to vote for this woman. Assuming she's not indicted for her criminal actions.
11
Hopefully, straight-up common sense will trump Trump.
17
Trump supporters accept Trumps's incoherent pseudo-policies about the economy because they are primarily attracted by his his open expression of their racism and xenophobia. Trump uses a bull horn not dog whistles. And his adoring fans love it. The say he is "anti-PC" and he tells it like it is when what they mean is that he voices their fear and hatred. All of the Trumpian garbled mumbling about the economy is an afterthought and window dressing.
Trump is a disgrace to the world of hate-mongering demagogues. He is a nothing more than a Charlie Chaplin imitation. TV at its worst.
Trump is a disgrace to the world of hate-mongering demagogues. He is a nothing more than a Charlie Chaplin imitation. TV at its worst.
20
Trump's campaign is a mess on so many levels....he is "tapped-out" and will likely remain to.....so what if he's "courting" donors...they aren't responding to him. Why throw money at a sinking ship.
This piece is based on slim pickings. Not to say Clinton won't have to work for her victory, but Trump will have difficulty getting past 40% support.
This piece is based on slim pickings. Not to say Clinton won't have to work for her victory, but Trump will have difficulty getting past 40% support.
11
I do not know what other NY Times readers feel, but every day I have to resist the temptation of becoming a cynic i.e. someone who assumes he already knows the truth and beneath it all it is bad. I do find it very bad that so many left-wing political columnists and commentators have become (or as neo-liberals, always were?) so dishonest, especially in their support of Clinton.
Today, I heard a columnist for what was once a liberal media outlet say that it is very easy to believe that Lynch and Clinton actually spent 30 minutes talking just about their grandchildren. Never once did this commentator admit that the whole meeting was inappropriate or that Lynch had to know that. Instead he “cleverly” challenged the word “meeting” being used to describe this “brief chat,” now being claimed to have taken only 20 minutes instead of 30.
Watching all these defensive contortions you see how much the facts are being twisted (and have always? been) by these media men and women to support their chosen candidate. Trump’s campaign is one big lie by itself. But so many Clintonites are bringing up the rear in this parade of liars. And people wonder why Sanders supporters find it so difficult to think of voting for HRC – if she is the nominee. The whole thing makes you want to puke, but I hope no one uses all this falsity to lessen their efforts in behalf of Sanders, and far into the future, for the political revolution he has been one heck of an honest spokesman for.
Today, I heard a columnist for what was once a liberal media outlet say that it is very easy to believe that Lynch and Clinton actually spent 30 minutes talking just about their grandchildren. Never once did this commentator admit that the whole meeting was inappropriate or that Lynch had to know that. Instead he “cleverly” challenged the word “meeting” being used to describe this “brief chat,” now being claimed to have taken only 20 minutes instead of 30.
Watching all these defensive contortions you see how much the facts are being twisted (and have always? been) by these media men and women to support their chosen candidate. Trump’s campaign is one big lie by itself. But so many Clintonites are bringing up the rear in this parade of liars. And people wonder why Sanders supporters find it so difficult to think of voting for HRC – if she is the nominee. The whole thing makes you want to puke, but I hope no one uses all this falsity to lessen their efforts in behalf of Sanders, and far into the future, for the political revolution he has been one heck of an honest spokesman for.
10
Beyond the ugly combo of The Clntons' screwups and the far right's hysterial screeching--and make no mistake, it's far-right hysterial screeching--the Clintons, like our President, are caught in a bind.
It's pretty simple: a lot of voters have legit gripes about the current state of capitalism, but believe in capitalism, are ignorant as hell, flip out when you mention realities to them, insist that everything could be fixed if we just go back to 1955--and stir some really nasty racial and religious hatreds into that mix.
Trump does well with those folks, because he simply doesn't try to mention reality of any kind. He thinks he's just selling something, what could go wrong, so as far as he is concerned, doesn't matter what he says.
HIllary Clinton, for all her flaws, is stuck with being pretty much honest about reality.
We're not going back to 1955.
We can't just turn our back on the world.
We have to fight overseas sometimes.
NAFTA and TPP mostly did not cause your joblessness.
We are not being drowned in illegals.
More guns will not make you more safe.
Gay people are not lurking in the bushes.
You don't get to have government shove your religion.
Sometimes you just don't get that promotion.
You don't get to order women around.
Kids, rich or poor, deserve a meal, a good school, and their shots.
We are not gonna pay what single-payer costs right now.
We would need to ration college and raise taxes to pay for free college.
You're gonna have to get off your duff.
It's pretty simple: a lot of voters have legit gripes about the current state of capitalism, but believe in capitalism, are ignorant as hell, flip out when you mention realities to them, insist that everything could be fixed if we just go back to 1955--and stir some really nasty racial and religious hatreds into that mix.
Trump does well with those folks, because he simply doesn't try to mention reality of any kind. He thinks he's just selling something, what could go wrong, so as far as he is concerned, doesn't matter what he says.
HIllary Clinton, for all her flaws, is stuck with being pretty much honest about reality.
We're not going back to 1955.
We can't just turn our back on the world.
We have to fight overseas sometimes.
NAFTA and TPP mostly did not cause your joblessness.
We are not being drowned in illegals.
More guns will not make you more safe.
Gay people are not lurking in the bushes.
You don't get to have government shove your religion.
Sometimes you just don't get that promotion.
You don't get to order women around.
Kids, rich or poor, deserve a meal, a good school, and their shots.
We are not gonna pay what single-payer costs right now.
We would need to ration college and raise taxes to pay for free college.
You're gonna have to get off your duff.
21
Election years are painful. When I listen to my fellow citizens I hear so much sheer stupidity, all I can do is despair. The New York Times, the Washington Post, the LA Times, USA Today - all have been doing their job in exposing Trump's shoddy business history. Every time the man speaks he shows how little he knows and how ill-suited he is to lead a great country. So how could this race even be close?
23
Perhaps Hillary and her team could take a cue from the Brexit situation. The voters in the UK broke strongly along demographic lines. Get the younger voters to the polls, reminding them that they'll have to live with the results of this election longer than anyone else. Bernie could help out here - if he's serious about defeating the Republicans, he should stress this to the young people who responded to his ideas. And she should continue to reiterate a sentence that I heard some time ago, and that I personally found quite affecting, coming from a working class background: "I will fight for you even if you don't vote for me." This might strike a chord with the disaffected white working class, without whose votes it will be extremely difficult to beat the Republican candidate, vile as he is.
13
By all rights, given his temperament, his meanness, his lack of knowledge about the issues and his crazy ideas, Trump should be down by 20 points at this point but he's not...
Scary times for America
Scary times for America
25
NYT writes that Clinton's talk was a ". . .thoughtful presentation of issues. But it wasn’t rousing. . ."
I find that troubling---this is a voting population that needs "rousing" shouting and blustering of the kind Trump offers, but thoughtful presentation of the issues---which we need---leaves them cold.
I've never dreaded an election as I dread this one.
I find that troubling---this is a voting population that needs "rousing" shouting and blustering of the kind Trump offers, but thoughtful presentation of the issues---which we need---leaves them cold.
I've never dreaded an election as I dread this one.
18
Re: "The tragedy in Benghazi":
I'm sick of this rubbish. Look, Benghazi was not a tragedy. It was a natural outgrowth of what happens when diplomats get stationed in trouble zones, regardless of exactly why the bad things happen.
The Marine Barracks bombing in Beiruit - now THAT was a tragedy.
St. Ronnie sent our military into a place where it definitely did not belong to rattle a sabre or two at Hamas, and got exactly what he deserved. Unfortunately, instead of just getting his ego bruised, a couple hundred Americans had to die before our troops were quietly slipped off shore and their ships silently sailed away. Where was the $7 million Congressional investigation into that little slip-up?
Tragedy is what happens when an entire administration chooses to ignore intelligence estimates that imply that there will be a terror attack leveled at the United States during a specified time period, and then act surprised when over 3,000 Americans are killed in three coordinated attacks upon our shores. And that tragedy was multiplied by factors of many tens when these attacks were used as an excuse to go to war in Iraq. Where's the investigation of those little faux pas?
Republicans act is as though HRC deliberately acted to have FOUR Americans killed. Funny thing: Even Americans get killed in global trouble zones, and spending years and millions digging for details about who was at fault won't bring any of them back. And then they have the audacity to give us Trump...
I'm sick of this rubbish. Look, Benghazi was not a tragedy. It was a natural outgrowth of what happens when diplomats get stationed in trouble zones, regardless of exactly why the bad things happen.
The Marine Barracks bombing in Beiruit - now THAT was a tragedy.
St. Ronnie sent our military into a place where it definitely did not belong to rattle a sabre or two at Hamas, and got exactly what he deserved. Unfortunately, instead of just getting his ego bruised, a couple hundred Americans had to die before our troops were quietly slipped off shore and their ships silently sailed away. Where was the $7 million Congressional investigation into that little slip-up?
Tragedy is what happens when an entire administration chooses to ignore intelligence estimates that imply that there will be a terror attack leveled at the United States during a specified time period, and then act surprised when over 3,000 Americans are killed in three coordinated attacks upon our shores. And that tragedy was multiplied by factors of many tens when these attacks were used as an excuse to go to war in Iraq. Where's the investigation of those little faux pas?
Republicans act is as though HRC deliberately acted to have FOUR Americans killed. Funny thing: Even Americans get killed in global trouble zones, and spending years and millions digging for details about who was at fault won't bring any of them back. And then they have the audacity to give us Trump...
42
The next time you post a YouTube video, ask yourself if it could be twisted into a defense of Clinton's leadership.
Mr. Donald Trump, psychopathic spewer of lies and hate; regurgititated out of the bowls of the Republican Party is now their Presumptive nominee for President. Would any Republican out there cover my $50 bet that Senator Hillary Clinton "will become President before the polls close in California"?
[email protected]
[email protected]
11
I really don't understand why the Democrats are running Hillary Clinton for President. Last time out, in this clearly racist country, she was beaten by a black man. Just think about that for a minute.
9
A black man with a huge following - behind her!
Think about that!
I'm not black. But I stand with all those who supported Obama, whose chose HRC as Sec'ty of State, who is behind her now - all the way!
It's a great coalition!
Think about that!
I'm not black. But I stand with all those who supported Obama, whose chose HRC as Sec'ty of State, who is behind her now - all the way!
It's a great coalition!
19
Obama: as White as he is Black!
7
Exactly...
"The challenge is not to underestimate Hillary Clinton's continuing ability to ignore the concerns of aggrieved working-class voters."
Her remarkable ability was best summed up by another NYT commenter, perfectly capturing the gist of Clinton's highly publicized put-down of coal miners shortly before the West Virginia primary. What she actually said (with a smile) was that "we're going to put coal companies and coal miners out of business." Predictably, that didn't go over well with the crowd, which included several out-of-work coal miners. Not to worry, she hastily added -- we'll train out-of-work coal miners for jobs in the "new economy."
Or, as that NYT commenter inimitably paraphrased her solution:
"Why, let's retrain the soot-faced little darlings!"
"The challenge is not to underestimate Hillary Clinton's continuing ability to ignore the concerns of aggrieved working-class voters."
Her remarkable ability was best summed up by another NYT commenter, perfectly capturing the gist of Clinton's highly publicized put-down of coal miners shortly before the West Virginia primary. What she actually said (with a smile) was that "we're going to put coal companies and coal miners out of business." Predictably, that didn't go over well with the crowd, which included several out-of-work coal miners. Not to worry, she hastily added -- we'll train out-of-work coal miners for jobs in the "new economy."
Or, as that NYT commenter inimitably paraphrased her solution:
"Why, let's retrain the soot-faced little darlings!"
9
The Times' board operates under the assumption that Mrs. Clinton is the best thing since buttered popcorn. She's not. A deeply flawed record follows all her public work and it is the simple truth that people neither like nor trust her. Not many among us favor family dynasties in high office, nor are many comfortable with Mr. Clinton back in the White House in any capacity. While some folks may be considering he Libertarian Party candidate, a whole lot of us are already vested in supporting the Green Party and it's candidate, Dr. Jill Stein.
8
One can only hope because if Trump wins the election this country will be on its way to oblivion.
5
Like several others, I am profoundly appalled by Trump and deeply disgusted with the party that produced him. I like to think there are enough responsible Republicans to keep him from the nuclear codes. Still, I am worried and anxious about the election. So far, the debates are giving me hope. Former senator and Secretary of State vs. the "7/11" Kid? If there are any responsible Republicans left who have not abandoned Trump, that should do it.
5
The Democrats and Hillary have the money. Now they need to make sure their voters show up. They need to help voters get registered. They need to provide the transportation to people who need it to get to the polls. Get the legal team ready, get the volunteers in motion. Don't wait until it's too late (again). And please keep Bill on that short leash that he still seems to require, most unfortunately.
3
To paraphrase George Carlin -you cannot defeat an idiot on their own terms. Hillary should not get into a mud wrestling match with Trump. Trump's fans don't care what Hillary says or how she says it. It makes more sense for her to talk sense to those who can understand what is at risk.
In the end, the real problem facing the US electorate is whether or not the Democratic Party will unite in the face of the threat posed by Trump. He is potentially a dangerous and unpredictable tyrant and if he is elected there will be no coming back.
In the end, the real problem facing the US electorate is whether or not the Democratic Party will unite in the face of the threat posed by Trump. He is potentially a dangerous and unpredictable tyrant and if he is elected there will be no coming back.
12
Brexit shows just how self-defeating democracy can become. There is no law that says that a majority of voters always arrive at the right solution to a problem. Just the opposite: history shows how easily democracy can become a mobocracy, a rule of the rabble. Contempt for the "elites", anti-intellectualism, elevation of emotion over reason - all these contribute to Hillary's low polling numbers and the seemingly incomprehensible enthusiasm for Trump. His voters are the people who finally feel that it's OK being stupid.
8
I have been discouraged by the sampling of positive ads for Ms. Clinton that I have viewed. They sound fake. I wish there was someone in her inner circle who better understood the changing public mood regarding authenticity.
5
I intend to vote for Hillary with enthusiasm--no lesser of evils from my perspective, but one of the best potential presidents ever---but how can I get her to stop robocalling me? We've been getting at least one call a day, and I think two on one recent day. Please, for the love of God, Hillary, use your money somewhere else.
3
This is an unprecedented election year. If our Founding Fathers were alive today they would not comprehend the state we're in. The republicans had eight years to pull it together and put forth a reasonable candidate. Instead they have Trump. The democrats are recycling the Clintons who are at best skilled at negotiating the inner circle and at worst untrustworthy. HRC should not be elected POTUS. She used poor judgement as Secretary of State in the worst possible way risking classified information with cavalier disregard. How can she be trusted to make sound decisions ?
6
It's very distasteful to read articles like this. The entire tone is Trump is a great salesman so he is great. HRC is dull. So don't vote for her. Despite the fact she is the most qualified candidate to run for President in the last 100 years. Since when do we elect carny barkers to the Oval office?
The media better watch itself and what it's messaging to the people. It's already gotten Donald Trump nominated by it's non-stop over-the-top coverage. If it gets him elected President we'll all suffer.
One has to wonder if anyone proof reads these pieces with an eye toward reality. The NYTimes endorsed HRC and it can't even seem to come up with a reason to vote her. But it has plenty of wall to wall coverage of the latest moronic chapter of Il Trumpo the Magnificent.
I'm teetering on unsubscribing from the Times. There coverage of this current train-wreck is tainting the reputation of the Gray Lady. Someone at the news desk needs to wake up and stop the extemporizing.
The media better watch itself and what it's messaging to the people. It's already gotten Donald Trump nominated by it's non-stop over-the-top coverage. If it gets him elected President we'll all suffer.
One has to wonder if anyone proof reads these pieces with an eye toward reality. The NYTimes endorsed HRC and it can't even seem to come up with a reason to vote her. But it has plenty of wall to wall coverage of the latest moronic chapter of Il Trumpo the Magnificent.
I'm teetering on unsubscribing from the Times. There coverage of this current train-wreck is tainting the reputation of the Gray Lady. Someone at the news desk needs to wake up and stop the extemporizing.
7
Behind every flashy, strutting band and drum major throwing a baton into the sky is a quiet musical director, carefully rehearsing the group to hone perfection at the performance. We need a quiet, thoughtful leader coordinating all the forces of the govt. to perform with alacrity and skill in all situations here and abroad. Donald is the strutting drum major throwing his shallowness into the sky. I prefer the more sober thinker who makes studied decisions and acts only after weighing the consequences. Therefore.... I'm with Hillary !
8
If one studies how President Obama has conducted himself and what he, his staff, and his agencies have accomplished it is quite remarkable.
I have been riveted by each of his major speeches which he knows will be in his permanent record and on which his performance will be based decades and centuries form now. He knows they are footprints in stone, not sand.
He accomplished great civil rights shifts by introducing his notions in the military where at first gay and lesbian rights became protected and now the same for transgender Americans. He saw marriage equality put into law.
There is so much more. Her saw recovery from the financial cliff, has pushed for gun safety regulations while we all suffer a Republican Party smitten by the NRA and its report cards. This is a party which for eight years has stalled our progress and has ended up without a bench with any experience in governance. He has watched as GOP-controlled State houses have enacted laws with impunity which harm others while the proponents are not injured in any way.
He has watched the opposition party fight with perpetual nonsense and fog and that now wants the keys back.
The approach which Barack Obama and Joe Biden will now take to work with the Democratic Party and its candidates to further its goals is going to be history in the making.
There now is no counterpart force within the Republican Party because of the colossal failure of its foundation -- Mitch McConnell's Political Doctrine.
I have been riveted by each of his major speeches which he knows will be in his permanent record and on which his performance will be based decades and centuries form now. He knows they are footprints in stone, not sand.
He accomplished great civil rights shifts by introducing his notions in the military where at first gay and lesbian rights became protected and now the same for transgender Americans. He saw marriage equality put into law.
There is so much more. Her saw recovery from the financial cliff, has pushed for gun safety regulations while we all suffer a Republican Party smitten by the NRA and its report cards. This is a party which for eight years has stalled our progress and has ended up without a bench with any experience in governance. He has watched as GOP-controlled State houses have enacted laws with impunity which harm others while the proponents are not injured in any way.
He has watched the opposition party fight with perpetual nonsense and fog and that now wants the keys back.
The approach which Barack Obama and Joe Biden will now take to work with the Democratic Party and its candidates to further its goals is going to be history in the making.
There now is no counterpart force within the Republican Party because of the colossal failure of its foundation -- Mitch McConnell's Political Doctrine.
10
As I read many of the comments here, I've come to a conclusion: if the election were held today, Mr. Trump would win. To be sure, he's a "johnny one note", but, that one note has resonance with many voters. And, his presumed voters are absolutely passionate about that note.
The Clinton approach has been a cacophony of notes: attacks on Trump along with complicated policy prescriptions. If she has a central theme, I've missed it.
Waiting for Mr. Trump to commit a fatal misstep? Forget that. Short of a murder or rape charge, there's almost no misdeed that matters.
What I fear the most is that he'll be elected. Then, his missteps will matter much more than one election.
The Clinton approach has been a cacophony of notes: attacks on Trump along with complicated policy prescriptions. If she has a central theme, I've missed it.
Waiting for Mr. Trump to commit a fatal misstep? Forget that. Short of a murder or rape charge, there's almost no misdeed that matters.
What I fear the most is that he'll be elected. Then, his missteps will matter much more than one election.
1
Hillary Clinton should take a good hard look at the Brexit vote. The pollsters said it would lose, as did the leaders of the Conservative party. The reason for the miscalculation by these pollsters and leaders was a nearly complete disconnect, bordering on obliviousness to the anger of the millions of workers left behind by globalization. Trump understands this anger and knows how to exploit it, while Clinton, whose understanding seems stuck in 1995, is tarred with her husband's free trade policies which have caused so much of this anger. Hillary must be more fortright on trade, but at this point who's going to believe her? Very dangerous times indeed.
8
Ah, but what was the anger fueled by? Lies and false promises!
They knew about the anger. But a Demagogue, riding mendacious "facts" and larcenous promises, rode to pyrrhic "victory" - without an end game.
It's the whole CON here that was the problem!
They knew about the anger. But a Demagogue, riding mendacious "facts" and larcenous promises, rode to pyrrhic "victory" - without an end game.
It's the whole CON here that was the problem!
4
It is a given that the dull or average person resents anyone smarter. This is what's happening in front of our noses right here with folks who dislike Hillary Clinton.
It's not her emails, or her work as Secretary of State (and how many of you have held such a position?), or what her husband did or didn't do. It's her intelligence that the man in the street -- and his little woman -- hates.
Reminds me of grade school where the bullies always pick on the kids who "think they're so smart."
It's not her emails, or her work as Secretary of State (and how many of you have held such a position?), or what her husband did or didn't do. It's her intelligence that the man in the street -- and his little woman -- hates.
Reminds me of grade school where the bullies always pick on the kids who "think they're so smart."
14
So anyone not on board with the Clintons is an idiot? What an ego, and what foolishness. I think that anyone that doesn't see the warts on Secretary Clinton, and will blindly support her despite her obvious shortcomings, is nearly delusional. I may vote for her, if I can pinch my nose hard enough, but like her? Today she is speaking with the FBI. While much partisan baloney has ensued from the emails and Bengazi, the DOJ probe is not a partisan hatchet job, per se, but is a potentially deep self-inflicted wound. Those rules about use of non-sanctioned servers were there for a reason, a reason she thought wasn't important. It speaks to her judgement, and if anything is supposed to sway us away from the Donald it's her judgement, as indicated by past behavior.
9
What a ridiculous premise.
3
Clinton can sell herself only so far and only so long on her credibility and experience. After a set time she's just preaching to the choir. The Clinton brand has taken its knocks over the years. And God only knows the presumptive GOP nominee gives HRC a blast every time he can manage it.
Not to debase Clinton's message, I think the method of attack needs an adjustment. How to battle an egoist extraordinaire, full of vinegar and spite? I'd say reduce him to what he is: a poor caricature of a rich person. Use humor and sarcasm, in the vein of The Daily Show (and similar shows), stop calling him by his name, his most recognizable feature. Ok, that's wrong. His most recognizable feature would be the color orange. Go with a 'Apples not Oranges' message. Liven up the dialogue and debate and have some fun with this character!
After all, popular as he is, he's just a talk show host; rather game show host, isn't he?
Not to debase Clinton's message, I think the method of attack needs an adjustment. How to battle an egoist extraordinaire, full of vinegar and spite? I'd say reduce him to what he is: a poor caricature of a rich person. Use humor and sarcasm, in the vein of The Daily Show (and similar shows), stop calling him by his name, his most recognizable feature. Ok, that's wrong. His most recognizable feature would be the color orange. Go with a 'Apples not Oranges' message. Liven up the dialogue and debate and have some fun with this character!
After all, popular as he is, he's just a talk show host; rather game show host, isn't he?
6
I don't think a lot of political analysts really understand what's going on. For many people across the country, this election isn't about Trump versus Clinton. It's simply a yes/no answer to the question "Do you want to blow the system up?" A large percentage of the electorate is convinced that the government is a hopelessly corrupt game and they want to see somebody - anybody - throw the table over.
15
I was just struck by a statement in a highly rated comment "At this point, the thing that American want most is simply not to be lied to."
I really doubt this, for many people. I think a large plurality are hearing confirmation of their biases in Trump's lies. They DO want to be lied to. They want to hear simple answers.
Trump's success comes from telling people the lies they want to hear. His narcissistic skill is discerning what people want to hear and then telling the best lie over and over. His lies are working.
His megalomania, his narcissism, his insanity, is obvious to me, but apparently not to a large percentage of voters and he remains within striking distance of becoming our first fascist president.
This is why I will support Hilary despite my misgivings.
Trump is a man who I think would lead us into existential military confrontations and Hitlerian evil. I believe some of his plans. I believe he would arrest and deport millions of illegals using existing executive powers. The paramilitary forces necessary for mass arrests, the prison camps and prison guard forces (sadists hired), would also be available to him to crush and suppress dissent after he takes power. His psychopathic cruelty would be freed to be turned against his enemies lists. Trump is a great evil who threatens our nation as it has never been threatened before. So yes I will give my support to Hillary, seeking to do a small part to prevent a historic disaster that could literally destroy us.
I really doubt this, for many people. I think a large plurality are hearing confirmation of their biases in Trump's lies. They DO want to be lied to. They want to hear simple answers.
Trump's success comes from telling people the lies they want to hear. His narcissistic skill is discerning what people want to hear and then telling the best lie over and over. His lies are working.
His megalomania, his narcissism, his insanity, is obvious to me, but apparently not to a large percentage of voters and he remains within striking distance of becoming our first fascist president.
This is why I will support Hilary despite my misgivings.
Trump is a man who I think would lead us into existential military confrontations and Hitlerian evil. I believe some of his plans. I believe he would arrest and deport millions of illegals using existing executive powers. The paramilitary forces necessary for mass arrests, the prison camps and prison guard forces (sadists hired), would also be available to him to crush and suppress dissent after he takes power. His psychopathic cruelty would be freed to be turned against his enemies lists. Trump is a great evil who threatens our nation as it has never been threatened before. So yes I will give my support to Hillary, seeking to do a small part to prevent a historic disaster that could literally destroy us.
16
Existential military confrontations? Have you been hibernating for the last several decades? Our military permeates every corner of the planet. Trump had nothing to do with that. Clinton cannot say the same thing.
6
Clinton needs Elizabeth Warren as Veep. Warren has passion and is a populist in a populist year.
5
It is amazing how many smart progressive comment writers here have bought the right wing lies about Clinton. It must be the same throughout the Nation. Clinton is an ambitious woman and she, like all politicians, can be somewhat loose with her promises and her philosophies. But she is not a crook.
She is not a power hungry megalomaniac. She has been a hard worker for women and children's issues. She fought hard to change the way health care was delivered during her husband's term. She might have voted for the invasion of Iraq, but we had better admit it; women have to look smarter, tougher, and more......(fill in the blank).....just to measure up in most folk's opinions. If she hadn't supported the invasion an equal number of people would be accusing her of being weak and incapable of making those tough decisions.
She wants to be president because she wants to be historic. But she also wants to serve the Nation.
That is not the case with T rump. He just wants applause.
If the n.r.a. is still using Benghazi and four people's deaths as fodder against her, why is it not pointed out that 400,000 American deaths can be laid directly at the feet of the republican party's lips pressed hard against the nra's derriere.
She is not a power hungry megalomaniac. She has been a hard worker for women and children's issues. She fought hard to change the way health care was delivered during her husband's term. She might have voted for the invasion of Iraq, but we had better admit it; women have to look smarter, tougher, and more......(fill in the blank).....just to measure up in most folk's opinions. If she hadn't supported the invasion an equal number of people would be accusing her of being weak and incapable of making those tough decisions.
She wants to be president because she wants to be historic. But she also wants to serve the Nation.
That is not the case with T rump. He just wants applause.
If the n.r.a. is still using Benghazi and four people's deaths as fodder against her, why is it not pointed out that 400,000 American deaths can be laid directly at the feet of the republican party's lips pressed hard against the nra's derriere.
23
It is clear: Democrats have a weak candidate.
12
If Trumps gets even a partially fair hearing in mainstream media for his ideas he'll win in a landslide.
1) No illegal immigration.
2) No more supporting Europe, Saudi Arabia, S. Korea, Japan, etc and the rest of the world. They can pay their own way for defense.
3) Bring back decent manufacturing jobs to the US (rather than paying burger flippers $15 per hour.)
1) No illegal immigration.
2) No more supporting Europe, Saudi Arabia, S. Korea, Japan, etc and the rest of the world. They can pay their own way for defense.
3) Bring back decent manufacturing jobs to the US (rather than paying burger flippers $15 per hour.)
9
Trump keeps promising to "bring the jobs back". Why would we want those jobs back? They are largely unskilled jobs with salaries lower than eight dollars an hour. You can't raise a family on that. The loss of those jobs have more to do with the advance of technology and manufacturing techniques than immigrants. We need to increase training and trade skill education opportunities for better jobs and careers. Let the third world countries and China keep those jobs!
3
But he has no clue how to accomplish any of what he promises....
4
Hillary needs to make two or three bold, clear and exciting promises about her first year. They can be based on her existing positions, just stated more simply with a visionary tilt. Stabilize and enhance Social Security for this and all generations by increasing the payroll tax on individuals and employers by 1% each and removing the contribution wage cap. Add some enhancements. Call it the "Social Security Permanence Act" Make it tax neutral to the middle class and small business, with corresponding regular deductions of 1% on incomes under 150k and small business with less than 100 employees. Pass the "Dream Act Plus", fixing immigration and enhancing border security. Pass the "New Century Tax Fairness and Reform Act" that taxes millionaires and forces them to pay their share and stabilize the debt. Pass the "Build and Grow America Act" which includes all the new infrastructure and R&D spending. Simple names, clear ideas, fast action. Put immigration, social security, tax reform and infrastructure behind us in your first 300 days. The core campaign messages? America needs to rapidly and finally put all of these divisive issues in the rear view mirror and start growing again. Our politics will benefit as well, if we can finally move beyond today's grand stalemate on these critical problems.
6
Would Congress be involved in any of these feel good ploys?
2
A very good political analysis from NY Times.
5
The Clinton camp has the advantage of an organized ground game. While the Trump soundbites make the evening news, the nuts and bolts will get voters to the polls and will win the day for Hillary.
5
What Trump defines as "Political Correctness" I define as "Being Civil".
Racism is extremely easy to rile up as Trump and other Demagogues have demonstrated through the millennia. It is much harder to be civil during times of economic distress.
In today's society, why should any minority put up with daily racist insults and innuendo from a leading political figure? If Trump wins the Presidency, he find that he has sown the seeds for further social destruction. Trump will face a country that is even more ungovernable and grid locked than today.
Racism is extremely easy to rile up as Trump and other Demagogues have demonstrated through the millennia. It is much harder to be civil during times of economic distress.
In today's society, why should any minority put up with daily racist insults and innuendo from a leading political figure? If Trump wins the Presidency, he find that he has sown the seeds for further social destruction. Trump will face a country that is even more ungovernable and grid locked than today.
7
I wish the NYT had thought of these sentiments during the primary cycle, when it served as a de facto arm of the Clinton campaign and helped her eliminate the Democrat's best chance to beat Trump as a proven populist candidate - Bernie Sanders. Too little, too late. You people sound like Boris Johnson after Brexit.
6
Trump Lies constantly in an environment that seldom challenges his lies. There is no concept that the buck stops anywhere near him. At 70 years of age he is a loose cannon, with no experience, and a vastly overinflated ego that is barely tolerable as a private citizen. In the Whitehouse he will become more than one disaster, on that you may be certain.
7
Mrs Clinton is up against not only Trump, but against unremitting attacks from a press that will mock her hairstyle, clothes, voice, husband (remember the ridicule of Al Gore's earth tones?); while sending camera crews to record the landings and takeoffs of Trump's aircraft. Want to know how much the media hate her? Read the petty viciousness in the columns of Maureen Dowd in this newspaper.
8
The Clintons have serious honesty and integrity issues; it's not about her hairstyle.
6
Did you notice that the Editorial Board of the New York Times, the flagship of the liberal media, endorsed Clinton for President several months ago?
3
I think it is time for someone who will be heard (maybe HRC herself) to start loudly and clearly and simply pointing out that Donald Trump is a con man, a grifter. He is taking low income voters for a ride in the most mercantile way possible. Nobody likes to be a sucker. Point out to Trump voters that they are being suckered, in very simple language. That is the only thing that will erode his support -- because as much as it is an argument, it is emotional, and it draws on some of the same atavistic emotions that led his supporters to support him in the first place.
2
You forgot to add that we Trump supporters are low information, poorly credentialed, angry and mostly white males. Oh, and don't forget the part about being rural. I did like the atavistic part, although I don't know what that means - damn rural schools.
4
Trump says if you are not happy with the way things are going, I am going to change them. He threatens radical change, that cannot be done. H-Rod says "trust me." She promises trivial changes that amount to nothing. Neither candidate has indicated what would be done if elected because neither has indicated what are the critical challenges facing the country, why they think these are critical and what must be done to deal with them.
Reagan capitalized on the appreciation of most Americans that matters were not good and their apprehension that they only will get worse. The Democrats did not take him seriously and lost. Clinton is now making the same error. She has not been able to produce a single overarching vision for where she wants to take the country to provide a framework for the myriad of minor changes she proposes. Indeed, her grab bag of increments smacks of the Clinton small ball, micro-directed strategy of offering something to everyone, although all these initiatives amount to nothing. Clinton's campaign thus far is nothing more than having an advantaged white woman claiming that she is disadvantages and appealing to all who feel aggrieved to support her.
The electorate will decide who they trust less, and the campaign will be run, not on policies and positions that sound good, but are empty of serious plans for implementation, but simply on trust, and "trust me" will not be a sufficient campaign slogan because neither candidate is trusted.
Reagan capitalized on the appreciation of most Americans that matters were not good and their apprehension that they only will get worse. The Democrats did not take him seriously and lost. Clinton is now making the same error. She has not been able to produce a single overarching vision for where she wants to take the country to provide a framework for the myriad of minor changes she proposes. Indeed, her grab bag of increments smacks of the Clinton small ball, micro-directed strategy of offering something to everyone, although all these initiatives amount to nothing. Clinton's campaign thus far is nothing more than having an advantaged white woman claiming that she is disadvantages and appealing to all who feel aggrieved to support her.
The electorate will decide who they trust less, and the campaign will be run, not on policies and positions that sound good, but are empty of serious plans for implementation, but simply on trust, and "trust me" will not be a sufficient campaign slogan because neither candidate is trusted.
2
The real question is "will BIG democracy-destroying money masters be successful in getting their operatives, including DT, elected?" My limited money is on the most qualified candidate with the most national and international political capital who just happens to be the first woman in America's 240 year HIStory to compete to be our next President.
Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton has my grateful vote!
Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton has my grateful vote!
9
Many comments talk about what Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton "must" do for us to win the election. People seem to have forgotten what JFK said during his inauguration speech, "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." It's our country and President Rodham-Clinton, like President Obama, can only do what WE demand and support. She has my grateful vote to lead us out of the swamp 40+ years of BIG democracy-destroying money masters have done to OUR America.
6
Speaking of BIG democracy-destroying money masters, Mx. Rodham Clinton sure cleaned up with her cozy speeches to the Wall Street Masters of the Universe. It must cost a lot of money to be just one of the folks, one of the masses.
3
The race comes down to whether minorities, women and liberal college-educated whites can offset the percentage of aggrieved whites—not necessarily all working class, but overwhelmingly male—in key swing states. It's that simple. While telling Clinton to try to broaden her appeal with a more emotional resonate message sounds like good advice, it wouldn't matter to Trump's core supporters who are, let's face it, nihilists willing to to burn down the country because they don't see it as "their" country any more. A Warren pick for VP would help immeasurably, mostly by galvanizing Democrats to get out and vote; because GOTV is the only practical solution to Trump's appeal. His voters will be out in force on Election Day; countering them on the ground is the only meaningful strategy.
5
Trump isn't just appealing to aggrieved working-class voters: he is appealing to all bigots, and some are responding with great enthusiasm. But at the same time, he is repulsive to many other Americans such as women, educated people, and those who value traditional American principles such as equality, civility and common sense. His rallies appeal to white supremacists, homophobic, misogynists, and others. Trump more credible supporters know that he is crazy but he is giving voice to their own prejudices and fears. Will Rogers said, "We don't know what we want, but we are ready to bite somebody to get it."
Clinton may be muted in comparison to Trump's megaphone of hatred, but she is reliable, knowledgeable, experienced, and has a long record of supporting the rights of Americans including those of women and children, veterans, and others. Also, she is sane, rational, and a grown up.
Clinton may be muted in comparison to Trump's megaphone of hatred, but she is reliable, knowledgeable, experienced, and has a long record of supporting the rights of Americans including those of women and children, veterans, and others. Also, she is sane, rational, and a grown up.
41
What I am looking forward to is a substantive debate about the platforms of the candidates .
The Democrats have issued their platform and I see little discussion on this topic and its detail in the NYT and in cable TV.
Please NYT lead this discussion .
The Democrats have issued their platform and I see little discussion on this topic and its detail in the NYT and in cable TV.
Please NYT lead this discussion .
1
We can't kid ourselves. There is a low-level, latent majority for authoritarian nationalism pretty much all the time. When the right set of events meets the right kind of rhetoric, it emerges.
We are very lucky that this political moment hasn't produced a more capable proto fascist than Donald Trump. A more capable politician could use our divided politics and a ratings hungry media to lay the foundations of the fascist message: the need for national rebirth, an end to the rule of corrupt elites, and hypernationalism.
Trump isn't a Democrat, and he isn't a Republican, but his point of view can still command a majority. We aren't used to that. Our Founders devised a system to constrain such people, "A Republic, if you can keep it." We are complacent about human nature and our role in history if we think that the people of the United States are immune.
Authoritarian nationalism emerges as a popular movement, not through an elitist coup. It is also a threat to our way of life. That is why neither of our major parties can afford to ignore it, no matter whose party was hijacked for the project.
We are very lucky that this political moment hasn't produced a more capable proto fascist than Donald Trump. A more capable politician could use our divided politics and a ratings hungry media to lay the foundations of the fascist message: the need for national rebirth, an end to the rule of corrupt elites, and hypernationalism.
Trump isn't a Democrat, and he isn't a Republican, but his point of view can still command a majority. We aren't used to that. Our Founders devised a system to constrain such people, "A Republic, if you can keep it." We are complacent about human nature and our role in history if we think that the people of the United States are immune.
Authoritarian nationalism emerges as a popular movement, not through an elitist coup. It is also a threat to our way of life. That is why neither of our major parties can afford to ignore it, no matter whose party was hijacked for the project.
5
The Democratic Party elite forgot that after losing to an unknown in 2008, Hillary only won her NY Senate race because of a very public gaffe by her opponent Rick Lazio. Until then he was ahead. She only was nominated because she was a former first lady and the sycophants like Charlie Schumer were still sucking up to Bill. For all her claimed feminism, she has gotten to this position because of her misbegotten marriage to a powerful man of charm and deceit.
6
If I were Hillary, I'd be very afraid, even if all of her polling suggests that she's in good shape.
A GOP "ham sandwich" starts with an automatic 45% of the electorate, these modern day presidential elections are always fought on a razors edge.
She's got to turn out all of our people, and the best way to do that is to get Sanders and his crew on board fast and enthusiastically.
If that means putting Warren on the ticket, so be it. Hillary is nothing if not careful, and her instinct will be to pick somebody "safe", like a Tim Kaine.
A Sherrod Brown would maybe split the difference, plus he's from Ohio which may help there.
I'd go "full fem" and ask Warren, I don't think they can afford to be conservative with this pick, this election is going to be closer than everybody thinks.
Trump has found a real foothold with the Trade issue and that is going to erode Hillary's natural constituency as this process drags on.
A GOP "ham sandwich" starts with an automatic 45% of the electorate, these modern day presidential elections are always fought on a razors edge.
She's got to turn out all of our people, and the best way to do that is to get Sanders and his crew on board fast and enthusiastically.
If that means putting Warren on the ticket, so be it. Hillary is nothing if not careful, and her instinct will be to pick somebody "safe", like a Tim Kaine.
A Sherrod Brown would maybe split the difference, plus he's from Ohio which may help there.
I'd go "full fem" and ask Warren, I don't think they can afford to be conservative with this pick, this election is going to be closer than everybody thinks.
Trump has found a real foothold with the Trade issue and that is going to erode Hillary's natural constituency as this process drags on.
2
I don't care what he says nor what he does. I am still voting Donald Trump. Would have voted for Bernie but NEVER CLINTON.
7
Kentucky is already a certainty for the Republican candidate whether or not you decide to vote.
But you never know, the last time Kentucky went for a Democrat was a Clinton.
But you never know, the last time Kentucky went for a Democrat was a Clinton.
1
Chris Hope you never have any work to do for Trump, He will cheat you , just like he has cheated other people who worked for him. And I hope you realize that he cheated people out of their money when they attended his fake University and Institute.
3
It's frightening that even with his consistently outrageous statements coupled with his his train wreck of a campaign, Clinton isn't beating Trump by 50 percentage points. It demonstrates just how disconnected from reality American voters have become. Even Trumps short list of VP candidates - which includes Newt Gingrich and Chris Christie - should be an insult to the GOP constituency. But since nothing he's said or done has mattered much thus far in this campaign, perhaps nothing ever will until it's too late.
4
I'm afraid Hilary will lose unless she comes up with a practical, wonkish way to implement Sander's proposals; better yet, how about Bernie for VP?
3
I hope people can except the faults of Clinton and make every effort to get her elected. Because even if she is a poor speaker, and even if she has made self-interested decisions, she is far superior to Trump.
Trump really has a chance to be elected, and that should frighten responsible people into working for Hillary's campaign.
Trump really has a chance to be elected, and that should frighten responsible people into working for Hillary's campaign.
3
It's frightening that an intelligent fact filled speech is denigrated by so many while a screaming lying rant is admired. I don't get it. We should want the steadiest, most brilliant person to be our president, not the one who appeals to our basic instincts and fear. Which candidate will be able to understand and solve our nation's problems. Any sane person should see it's Hillary. Our Supreme Court and foreign affairs depend on this. Can anyone imagine the thin skinned reactive Trump near the nuclear codes? He is a fraud (Trump U) and a serial liar and with 4 bankruptcies!
6
My focus is more on the Republican and Democratic Party establishment, not the candidates.
There are a whole lot of Republicans that are going to vote for Trump knowing full well that the Republican Party establishment and elite are giving him tepid support. It would seem that the conservative base of the GOP is clearly not happy with their disingenuous and duplicitous elected representatives. They have been promised much and little to nothing has been delivered.
The Democratic Party establishment and elite, on the other hand, have put all their support behind Clinton and in the process have turned a deaf ear to the progressives (and I would argue the traditional core) in of the party. The Democratic establishment embraces a corporate centrist agenda and Hillary Clinton fits the bill.
This is an election like no other in my long life and it is because of an unprecedented level of wealth and income inequality. People are mad and frustrated and poll after poll confirms enormous disapproval of Congress. The electorate is virtually screaming at our political duopoly to STOP representing the best interests of the 1% and START representing the best interests of the 99%.
Can old-style politics work for any candidate today? My answer is unequivocally NO! And, voting for the lesser of two evils isn't going to work this time around either. If there was ever time for a third party independent populist candidate to emerge and win an election, this is the time.
There are a whole lot of Republicans that are going to vote for Trump knowing full well that the Republican Party establishment and elite are giving him tepid support. It would seem that the conservative base of the GOP is clearly not happy with their disingenuous and duplicitous elected representatives. They have been promised much and little to nothing has been delivered.
The Democratic Party establishment and elite, on the other hand, have put all their support behind Clinton and in the process have turned a deaf ear to the progressives (and I would argue the traditional core) in of the party. The Democratic establishment embraces a corporate centrist agenda and Hillary Clinton fits the bill.
This is an election like no other in my long life and it is because of an unprecedented level of wealth and income inequality. People are mad and frustrated and poll after poll confirms enormous disapproval of Congress. The electorate is virtually screaming at our political duopoly to STOP representing the best interests of the 1% and START representing the best interests of the 99%.
Can old-style politics work for any candidate today? My answer is unequivocally NO! And, voting for the lesser of two evils isn't going to work this time around either. If there was ever time for a third party independent populist candidate to emerge and win an election, this is the time.
5
The DNC insists, insists, on running a candidate who could actually loose to an opponent who you would think couldn't possibly win. An obvious jerk. A guy who could do real harm by direct action and give the court by two seats to conservatives. Can they be that stupid? I guess not. This looks like Hubert Humphrey all over again. He was an obvious looser and they ran him. God help us.
2
This election was decided the day Hillary Clinton announced she was going to run. Voters simply don't like her and it doesn't matter how many millions/billions she pays TV outlets, she's not going to change anyone's minds. All Trump has to do is keep reminding voters how crooked the Clintons are, as evidenced by Bill's stupid actions in Arizona this week. Incidentally, among likely voters, Clinton trails Trump. That means a lot of people who are responding to polls may be registered voters, but they don't plan to vote. The most recent poll of likely voters has Trump ahead by almost five points.
5
Can old style politics beat Donald Trump?
Not judging by Hillary Clinton's sliding favorable/unfavorable ratio. As recently as March of this year, her favorability rating was equal to her unfavorability one. Now her unfavorability % is 15 points over that for her favorability. This is after outspending Donald Trump by enormous sums and the later's endless litany of gaffes.
You begin to wonder that if Donald Trump could make slight adjustments to his campaign, he might defeat her. Hillary Clinton probably can't make those adjustments, as, after 25 years at the sharp end of US politics, the electorate's opinions of her are already formed.
Not judging by Hillary Clinton's sliding favorable/unfavorable ratio. As recently as March of this year, her favorability rating was equal to her unfavorability one. Now her unfavorability % is 15 points over that for her favorability. This is after outspending Donald Trump by enormous sums and the later's endless litany of gaffes.
You begin to wonder that if Donald Trump could make slight adjustments to his campaign, he might defeat her. Hillary Clinton probably can't make those adjustments, as, after 25 years at the sharp end of US politics, the electorate's opinions of her are already formed.
4
Perhaps Mrs. Clinton would be doing better if the New York Times moderated its drumbeat of negative coverage (see Shorenstein Center Report). You continue to report that she lacks passion -- whatever that means -- on her "scandals," on Bill's scandals, that nobody likes her, on how Bengazi, long discredited as a Republican misinformation campaign, is still a question, and on and on. You label her as "old style," for what reason it is unclear. The characterization shouldn't be about her style, but Trump's. In fact, reporting shouldn't be about style at all, but substance. Most Democrats I know are very enthusiastic about her and her policies. This editorial has one sentence about a thoughtful presentation on policy, not a lot on what those policies could mean to American citizens. If Donald Trump is our next president, the Times will have played no small part.
12
I'm sure news editors may no even know they are doing it, but when I read an editorial like this,coupled with the $1 billion-plus in free advertising this individual has gotten from the corporate media, what comes to mind is the propaganda technique of "repetition." There are quite many others that apply (Google "propaganda techniques").
Here's the strange thing. This individual is uniquely unqualified for the office of the presidency, and yet the barrage of non-stop coverage by the corporate media has "normalize him" in the eyes if a large segment of the public.
I have a sneaking suspicion that as we move from the proto-fascist stage we've been on since 9/11, an individual like this may represent a natural progression towards outright fascism.
Here's the strange thing. This individual is uniquely unqualified for the office of the presidency, and yet the barrage of non-stop coverage by the corporate media has "normalize him" in the eyes if a large segment of the public.
I have a sneaking suspicion that as we move from the proto-fascist stage we've been on since 9/11, an individual like this may represent a natural progression towards outright fascism.
4
The fallout from Brexit should sober up enough Trump supporters to win the day in November
1
Here's an attack ad taken directly from the Trump playbook:
He's a crook...that's why he won't show us his tax return. Trump is a crook! Show your tax return! He's not so rich nor so successful. He's just a big crooked snake oil salesman. Show us your tax return!!
He's a crook...that's why he won't show us his tax return. Trump is a crook! Show your tax return! He's not so rich nor so successful. He's just a big crooked snake oil salesman. Show us your tax return!!
3
How about the press expose Trump to the same scrutiny as the Clintons. Imagine the outcry if Bill Clinton were the subject of a suit by a girl contending she was raped as a child as is the case with Trump. The reporters would be breathlessly circling the girl, her witness and her attorney like vultures. Yet there's hardly a blip about Trump. Or, how about the same scrutiny to Trump's multimillion dollar scams as to Whitewater which involved a few thousand dollars and in which the Clintons lost money.
4
Yeah. Old style politics is where the rich guy buys the candidate. New Style is where the rich guy eliminates the middle man.
But I have been disappointed with the media's greater interest in sales and entertainment than information.
But I have been disappointed with the media's greater interest in sales and entertainment than information.
5
Vote for Drumpf! America richly deserves its own Boris Johnson. Let's show the Brits that we can have a far bigger bull in our china shop than they could ever dream of unleashing within their own!
2
Yeah, we can cut off our nose to spite our face with the best of em.
2
Secretary Clinton is the 1/2 Billion Dollar Super-Pac Woman candidate. She was integrally involved with passing self proclaimed "free" trade deals that favored Finance, Wall Street and Tech over the middle class. Her foreign policy blunders were documented by this paper. She has outspent Trump on campaigning at least 10 to 1.
She is a bad campaigner whose true colors come shining through- she is a greedy, opportunistic, self righteous egomaniac.
Despite spending millions on training and image making with the best spin-monsters money can buy she is just barely ahead of the other Narcissist.
She is a bad campaigner whose true colors come shining through- she is a greedy, opportunistic, self righteous egomaniac.
Despite spending millions on training and image making with the best spin-monsters money can buy she is just barely ahead of the other Narcissist.
6
If you mean by old style politics, greed and corruption, I don't know. For both Hillary and Obama are greedy and corrupted. They both represent what is wrong with our country in politics and business. Even those who attacked them, like Bernie is not attacking Hillary anymore. It must mean that Bernie thinks Hillary is the lesser of two evils. Is that what we are left to vote for the lesser of two liars.
4
Please detail this "greed and corruption." Be detailed. Be exact. Provide evidence.
I dislike Clinton's hugginess with Wall Street, but at least she doesn't trade there (like Trump), isn't married to one of its execs (Cruz), and isn't a stunning hypocrite about it (the rest of the Republican field), and isn't pretending that capitalism has nothing to do with it.
And the claims about the President are plain and simple stupid.
So put up, or shut up: let's see your facts. Real facts, please, not something from Newsmax.
I dislike Clinton's hugginess with Wall Street, but at least she doesn't trade there (like Trump), isn't married to one of its execs (Cruz), and isn't a stunning hypocrite about it (the rest of the Republican field), and isn't pretending that capitalism has nothing to do with it.
And the claims about the President are plain and simple stupid.
So put up, or shut up: let's see your facts. Real facts, please, not something from Newsmax.
2
Can you cite a single example of corruption by either of these people? If so, please contact the FBI at once with your evidence. Otherwise, this is the usual smear job. Swift boating, Kenyan birth, etc. Easy to insult everybody and that is Trump's language also.
2
"both Hillary and Obama are greedy and corrupted."
Seeing as how obama is from Chicago, the shining example of a corrupt democrat political machine that should be expected.
Seeing as how obama is from Chicago, the shining example of a corrupt democrat political machine that should be expected.
2
Quit giving him free press-that would help.
13
The American people are about to find out what the Brits learned after their vote to leave the EU. They were sold a political bill of goods aimed at building political careers, packaged as an anti-immigrant, we're better off alone argument. The next day, the "go it alone is better" plan was disavowed by those selling it.
Trump is selling the same corruption.
Trump is selling the same corruption.
7
What America needs is a better class of voters. How can a loud mouth like Trump attract so many voters? Something is very wrong...
7
Education! Education! Education!
Without a good educational system, you get a bunch of lemmings, ready to run off a cliff in search of a mirage sold as real!
Without a good educational system, you get a bunch of lemmings, ready to run off a cliff in search of a mirage sold as real!
3
America needs a better class of politicians, in both parties. It isn't the voters, it is the choices.
5
Mrs. Clinton needs to start focusing on who really betrayed the white working-class male:
The Republican obstructionist Congress, particularly the House. ideologues who systematically destroyed every important measure President Obama proposed to improve the domestic economy – including an original health care plan that would have really worked had it not been for picked at and compromised.
Large corporations, who put profit before their workers;
Dark money from the Kochs and their ilk, who have infiltrated the corporate world, state houses and even universities.
The facts are on her side; and she needs to use them. If she can't get to Trump's base, there are those independents and angry blue dog democrats who still might listen. And she could help the down-ticket candidates in the process.
The Republican obstructionist Congress, particularly the House. ideologues who systematically destroyed every important measure President Obama proposed to improve the domestic economy – including an original health care plan that would have really worked had it not been for picked at and compromised.
Large corporations, who put profit before their workers;
Dark money from the Kochs and their ilk, who have infiltrated the corporate world, state houses and even universities.
The facts are on her side; and she needs to use them. If she can't get to Trump's base, there are those independents and angry blue dog democrats who still might listen. And she could help the down-ticket candidates in the process.
4
Infrastructure is also a big issue, and the Republicans have ignored it for much too long. It would add jobs, and it is an absolute need for this country, given all of the dangerous bridges, roads, and other projects. Rebuilding and repairing America as well as bringing it back to the forefront of infrastructure that will improve every single American's daily life.
4
"Mrs. Clinton needs to start focusing on who really betrayed the white working-class male"
Yes. If she could bring some authentic anger to that, and authentic commitment to do better, she could tear him apart with that.
Unfortunately, she does not feel that, nor does she have that commitment.
Yes. If she could bring some authentic anger to that, and authentic commitment to do better, she could tear him apart with that.
Unfortunately, she does not feel that, nor does she have that commitment.
6
The white working-class male belongs with the dinosaurs. There is no going back to the 1950s, and the sooner people realize it, the better. Protectionism will crash the economy, a trade war with Cnina will tank your 401 K, and without a college diploma, you won't be part of the middle class. This is the way the world is today, and people should adapt to it instead of hoping Trump will build a time-machine, to take you back to the past that never existed.
1
Trump = Gridlock
Hillary = Gridlock
Johnson = Bipartisanship
You can use your head AND vote your conscience. Crazy right?
Hillary = Gridlock
Johnson = Bipartisanship
You can use your head AND vote your conscience. Crazy right?
3
Yeah, Congress' play huggy-face for a guy who wants to cut Defense 20%, offer unlimited gun and reproductive rights, legalize gay marriage and dope, and...
Oh, and who hasn't held office in how many years?
Oh, and who hasn't held office in how many years?
Angry white guys are going to be led by a privilegd white guy who has no reason to be angry. These supporters are going to take back the country, and/or make it great again, by not being politically correct, by discriminating against religions, ethnicities, disabilities and genders.
They and Trump watch too much TV. Trump spends too much time on his trivial Tweets. He only knows what he sees on talk shows. He's only sees s headline and thinks he knows the whole story. So, he's not good with math, history, or the law. Isn't good at thinking on his feet. Hasn't bothered with policies that reveal a hold on reality or opinions that don't come straight from right-wing media and the tabloids.
Whatever he says, he himself comes to believe and by repetition, makes his supporters believe. It's disheartening that so many Americans are so gullible, needful, envious, frustrated and angry that this hideous Trump creation appeals to them.
So how to beat Trump? With satire. Show him to be the loser he is. Get more Elizabeth Warrens to poke holes in his nonsense, mock him with all of the mockable material he provides daily, and there is a lot. Do it in easy-to-take little, undeniably clever, memorable gems. Ridicule his stupid statements and contradictory positions just generally reveal him to be the simpleton loser he is. Not even all those angry white-guy losers like losers.
They and Trump watch too much TV. Trump spends too much time on his trivial Tweets. He only knows what he sees on talk shows. He's only sees s headline and thinks he knows the whole story. So, he's not good with math, history, or the law. Isn't good at thinking on his feet. Hasn't bothered with policies that reveal a hold on reality or opinions that don't come straight from right-wing media and the tabloids.
Whatever he says, he himself comes to believe and by repetition, makes his supporters believe. It's disheartening that so many Americans are so gullible, needful, envious, frustrated and angry that this hideous Trump creation appeals to them.
So how to beat Trump? With satire. Show him to be the loser he is. Get more Elizabeth Warrens to poke holes in his nonsense, mock him with all of the mockable material he provides daily, and there is a lot. Do it in easy-to-take little, undeniably clever, memorable gems. Ridicule his stupid statements and contradictory positions just generally reveal him to be the simpleton loser he is. Not even all those angry white-guy losers like losers.
10
What does this tell you about the money-grabbling media. Even left=leaning MSNBC gives Trump lots of free air time, which is merely much to do about nothing. His "rallies" are merely: lots of boil;er-plate ;its, innuendo and fodder for even l;azure Fact Checkers.
For instance, his assertion, while standing in front of a baled trash, that George Washington vowed--during his Inaugural Address--to keep manufacturing jobs in the America. Consider that the Industrial Revolution didn't reach America until 1820. So, when exactly, and how, did our First President accomplish that feat?
So, how can the media give such free air time, and look at the number of print media "stories" about The Orange-Haired One", and yet, charge other candidates for even a little self-produced media coverage?
Snake oil, anyone?
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
For instance, his assertion, while standing in front of a baled trash, that George Washington vowed--during his Inaugural Address--to keep manufacturing jobs in the America. Consider that the Industrial Revolution didn't reach America until 1820. So, when exactly, and how, did our First President accomplish that feat?
So, how can the media give such free air time, and look at the number of print media "stories" about The Orange-Haired One", and yet, charge other candidates for even a little self-produced media coverage?
Snake oil, anyone?
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
3
I think the two of them should face off in a debate ASAP.
That way we all get to see what we are dealing with. It would be best for all parties if they did it before the conventions.
That way we all get to see what we are dealing with. It would be best for all parties if they did it before the conventions.
1
The same theme comes up with the media in portraying Hilary "She needs to manufacture more enthusiasm". Never an analysis as to why she's not able.
She cannot because she lacks authenticity. She will say anything to reflect the current favorable position of the particular city, county or state she is in.
She's exactly the typical politician that people are rebelling against.
Yes she has her 'support". It's those who are nervous about change and the anti-Trump crowd.
Both Bernie and Trump have risen in reflection to people wanting real change. The economic power of the working/middle class have been eroding for years under the policies of the Democrats/Republicans. They are willing to overlook the outrageous antics of Trump. Does it matter so much to them when they cannot provide for their families? Let the pundits continue to analyze ever misstep taken by Trump. It makes good television.
The swing states seem to favor Trump in many ways. Those particular states have a large demographic that has been hurt by the global economies and trade deals that seem to reduce the economic power to the working class.
She cannot because she lacks authenticity. She will say anything to reflect the current favorable position of the particular city, county or state she is in.
She's exactly the typical politician that people are rebelling against.
Yes she has her 'support". It's those who are nervous about change and the anti-Trump crowd.
Both Bernie and Trump have risen in reflection to people wanting real change. The economic power of the working/middle class have been eroding for years under the policies of the Democrats/Republicans. They are willing to overlook the outrageous antics of Trump. Does it matter so much to them when they cannot provide for their families? Let the pundits continue to analyze ever misstep taken by Trump. It makes good television.
The swing states seem to favor Trump in many ways. Those particular states have a large demographic that has been hurt by the global economies and trade deals that seem to reduce the economic power to the working class.
4
"Can old style politics beat Donald Trump?" I'd like to rephrase that: "Can the electorate hang onto Sanity in the face of a Paranoid Pull?"
Trump is selling Paranoia. Whether he believes in it or not does not matter.
If I were Hilary right now, I'd be looking to the Brexit vote. Which to me was the triumph of a paranoid view of the EU. A narrow conception of present reality, lacking in an end game (if one throws out the baby with the bath water). Versus a more nuanced view of the present, along with a clear-eyed conception of the Danger of following a Demagogue and an emphasis on courage and unity.
I realize the Editorial is looking at the nuts and bolts aspect of the two campaigns. But I'm not sure it's nuts and bolts that will win this. I think it's hearts and minds. Particularly Sane Minds. Versus hearts pulled astray by a paranoid philanderer..
As I see it, Trump supporters are potentially "lost" unless, sadly, they are pried from one paranoid view to another. While it's the folks in the middle, whose sanity, in terms of an ability to think based on reality, must be appealed to. And mobilized.
Maybe I'm wrong. But if so, that portends a time of paranoia in our land.
It's a question of risk. How to deal with risk. Do we want a risky vote like Britain woke up to? A vote for "break it"? Or do we need a vote for sanity. For clear-eyed reality? For unity and "we're all in this together"?
Go with the courageous, inspiring pick for VP: Warren!
Trump is selling Paranoia. Whether he believes in it or not does not matter.
If I were Hilary right now, I'd be looking to the Brexit vote. Which to me was the triumph of a paranoid view of the EU. A narrow conception of present reality, lacking in an end game (if one throws out the baby with the bath water). Versus a more nuanced view of the present, along with a clear-eyed conception of the Danger of following a Demagogue and an emphasis on courage and unity.
I realize the Editorial is looking at the nuts and bolts aspect of the two campaigns. But I'm not sure it's nuts and bolts that will win this. I think it's hearts and minds. Particularly Sane Minds. Versus hearts pulled astray by a paranoid philanderer..
As I see it, Trump supporters are potentially "lost" unless, sadly, they are pried from one paranoid view to another. While it's the folks in the middle, whose sanity, in terms of an ability to think based on reality, must be appealed to. And mobilized.
Maybe I'm wrong. But if so, that portends a time of paranoia in our land.
It's a question of risk. How to deal with risk. Do we want a risky vote like Britain woke up to? A vote for "break it"? Or do we need a vote for sanity. For clear-eyed reality? For unity and "we're all in this together"?
Go with the courageous, inspiring pick for VP: Warren!
29
This election will be a choice for old-style politics or fed up with old style politics.
The boldness of the corruption in the system is out of hand. This lack of shame and sense of entitlement from politicians has turned the public against them. Not to mention the two major parties seem to spend most of their time figuring out how to prevent anything productive from being done.
When a sitting Secretary of State, after signing an agreement that her Foundation will not seek foreign contributions while she is in office, proceeds to accept massive foreign contributions from shady foreign players we must question their self control. The Clintons attempted to hide these donations by setting up a foreign branch of the Clinton Foundation in Canada and then funneled all of the contributions through there. That way the donors don't have to be reported to the US. At the same time, Bill was out hustling for million dollar speech fees from these same crooked foreign entities.
Greed overcomes the Clintons sense of self-control.
We do not need this woman running our country. It is patently obvious that she is going to look out for nobody's interests but her own.
The boldness of the corruption in the system is out of hand. This lack of shame and sense of entitlement from politicians has turned the public against them. Not to mention the two major parties seem to spend most of their time figuring out how to prevent anything productive from being done.
When a sitting Secretary of State, after signing an agreement that her Foundation will not seek foreign contributions while she is in office, proceeds to accept massive foreign contributions from shady foreign players we must question their self control. The Clintons attempted to hide these donations by setting up a foreign branch of the Clinton Foundation in Canada and then funneled all of the contributions through there. That way the donors don't have to be reported to the US. At the same time, Bill was out hustling for million dollar speech fees from these same crooked foreign entities.
Greed overcomes the Clintons sense of self-control.
We do not need this woman running our country. It is patently obvious that she is going to look out for nobody's interests but her own.
7
Trump is all retail sales, he knows what captures our attention, even liberal attention. During the Republican debate, Jeb attempted to evoke patriotic allegiance to W, claiming W protected us after 9/11. Trump thrilled many liberals and independents with this answer: "He did not protect us on 9/11". Sale made!
We all buy stuff for irrational reasons most of the time and frequently it disappoints, yet we justify our disappointments, indeed hide them.
Clinton has to treat Trump and his candidacy as a defective product, and then offer a superior product. Tit for tat responses solidify Trump's sale. Like Apple, Clinton must offer a superior product packaged in a superior way. Her policies are not far from that goal but they do require a better ad campaign....like the "I want to buy the world a Coke..."campaign: same old wonderful product with a brand new twist...like Bernie's "America" ad. Bernie has a lot to teach Hillary. She needs to listen! Bernie didn't need to go negative, neither does Hillary.
A Public Option will give us Universal Healthcare, a $15 minimum wage will raise all wages "We can raise all wages by raising the minimum wage", green energy create many more jobs than coal: "who wants to dig coal when they can build windmills?", we want fair trade, not free trade, we need all immigrants to pay their fair share in taxes and citizenship will get us $1.4 trillion in GDP, ISIS and Al Qaeda are not Islam they are heretical cults.
It's a sale stupid!
We all buy stuff for irrational reasons most of the time and frequently it disappoints, yet we justify our disappointments, indeed hide them.
Clinton has to treat Trump and his candidacy as a defective product, and then offer a superior product. Tit for tat responses solidify Trump's sale. Like Apple, Clinton must offer a superior product packaged in a superior way. Her policies are not far from that goal but they do require a better ad campaign....like the "I want to buy the world a Coke..."campaign: same old wonderful product with a brand new twist...like Bernie's "America" ad. Bernie has a lot to teach Hillary. She needs to listen! Bernie didn't need to go negative, neither does Hillary.
A Public Option will give us Universal Healthcare, a $15 minimum wage will raise all wages "We can raise all wages by raising the minimum wage", green energy create many more jobs than coal: "who wants to dig coal when they can build windmills?", we want fair trade, not free trade, we need all immigrants to pay their fair share in taxes and citizenship will get us $1.4 trillion in GDP, ISIS and Al Qaeda are not Islam they are heretical cults.
It's a sale stupid!
2
All of these things are lies or at best, half-truths. Free trade is fair trade; immigrants already pay more than their share in taxes; raising minimum wage will not necessarily raise other wages; you need education to work in renewable energy; ISIS is Islamic and Islam has no central authority to declare them heretics anyway. If you try to beat Trump's lies by manufacturing lies of your own, you'll lose. How about speaking the truth for a change?
Biblical standards wisely encourage us to listen to all and reject every kind of evil. Modern political standards force us to choose between the lesser of two packages that are likely 80% or 90% evil depending on one’s knowledge of Donald and Hillary’s positions. Most of us can fashion a litmus test based on jobs, pro-life, judicial nominees, immigration or affirmative action and ignore the myriad of other presidential issues. In other words we don’t need a campaign to further polarize the obvious partisan differences.
Imagine the kind of campaign that could happen if Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton realized that they had to come clean to sway the small number of undecided voters in the few swing states. Each might admit they were wrong about A, B & C and ask for understanding and even forgiveness. The ability to sincerely change and grow on the issues is quite different from the ability to pivot and pander to the voters. It takes genuine strength of character to be presidential. Trump has been so obnoxious in his long conversion from Democrat to Republican that he is positioned well to acknowledge his uncertainty on some issues (which is apparent to the voters anyway). Trump is also positioned to accept public financing of the presidential campaign and show the left and swing voters that less is more. It could be the biggest news at the GOP convention.
Imagine the kind of campaign that could happen if Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton realized that they had to come clean to sway the small number of undecided voters in the few swing states. Each might admit they were wrong about A, B & C and ask for understanding and even forgiveness. The ability to sincerely change and grow on the issues is quite different from the ability to pivot and pander to the voters. It takes genuine strength of character to be presidential. Trump has been so obnoxious in his long conversion from Democrat to Republican that he is positioned well to acknowledge his uncertainty on some issues (which is apparent to the voters anyway). Trump is also positioned to accept public financing of the presidential campaign and show the left and swing voters that less is more. It could be the biggest news at the GOP convention.
2
Trump won against all the other Republican candidates because they ran as who the are. Cruz ran as Cruz, Rubio as Rubio and Bush ran as Bush. Clinton won't lose because of the way Trump campaigns. She will lose because she will run as Clinton and that's the problem. It was foretold in New Hampshire. On exit poles, Democrats who voted in their primary were asked how they made their choice. They said they looked for honesty and trustworthiness. Saunders won 87% of the votes. At least some of the videos I watched let her tell her story and it is concerning. They show her talking about gay marriage. She says it is just between one man and one woman and then in another discussion she says she always supported gay marriage. In one speech she describes her dangerous landing and then running across the tarmac because of sniper fire in Bosnia. The news reporters have a video that show nothing like that. When confronted with the facts, she says something like, "Well I made a mistake. It just shows I'm human." There is also her claim she believes that women who claim rape should be believed, But another time she claims a teen age girl was claiming rape just because she wanted to be with an older man. The op-ed is touting the old way, more money, more adds, more volunteers will always win. Trump is where he is without any of those. close and in a couple of poles lately, he is ahead. His advantage is he is running against Clinton who is running as Clinton.
2
Forget about old style politics, let's talk common sense. Is it possible for anyone to believe that Donald Trump would be anything but a disaster as president unless they were lacking any sense whatsoever.
Only eight years ago Republicans could not stop telling us about the lack of experience by Barack Obama. This man from out of nowhere rises to the top defeating a most formidable candidate like Hillary. Who was this man of mystery? Republicans painted Barack as someone of little substance, perhaps not even born here, not to be trusted with a 3 am. call on the Red Phone.
On the other hand, Republicans could not hold back their initial enthusiasm for the abbreviated governor from Alaska who came across as a rootin' tootin' straight shootin' gal out of the wilderness who would be John McCain's sidekick and someday the GOP's candidate for president. As she says: How'd that work out for them?
With Palin as the prototype one can now see how the lunatic fringe of Republican rank and file voters could further approach the edge of sanity and nominate a slug like Trump. They just don't care anymore. They don't know where to turn, or whom to turn to, so they are willing to bet the country on the con artist owner of bankrupt gambling casinos, his snake oil sales pitch inviting them to buy his product, a potion so potent it will make America great, again, and all they have to do is "Trust Trump". Now who would be so stupid to buy into that?
DD
Manhattan
Only eight years ago Republicans could not stop telling us about the lack of experience by Barack Obama. This man from out of nowhere rises to the top defeating a most formidable candidate like Hillary. Who was this man of mystery? Republicans painted Barack as someone of little substance, perhaps not even born here, not to be trusted with a 3 am. call on the Red Phone.
On the other hand, Republicans could not hold back their initial enthusiasm for the abbreviated governor from Alaska who came across as a rootin' tootin' straight shootin' gal out of the wilderness who would be John McCain's sidekick and someday the GOP's candidate for president. As she says: How'd that work out for them?
With Palin as the prototype one can now see how the lunatic fringe of Republican rank and file voters could further approach the edge of sanity and nominate a slug like Trump. They just don't care anymore. They don't know where to turn, or whom to turn to, so they are willing to bet the country on the con artist owner of bankrupt gambling casinos, his snake oil sales pitch inviting them to buy his product, a potion so potent it will make America great, again, and all they have to do is "Trust Trump". Now who would be so stupid to buy into that?
DD
Manhattan
2
"Is it possible for anyone to believe that Donald Trump would be anything but a disaster as president "
That is only half the problem.
Is it possible for anyone to believe that Hillary would be anything but a disaster as president? That is the other half of the problem.
That is only half the problem.
Is it possible for anyone to believe that Hillary would be anything but a disaster as president? That is the other half of the problem.
4
IF the old style is all fluff, and does not include pointing out Trumps lies and propaganda - then no, the old style wont work. IF the Clinton campaign uses good old politicking with some up to date improvements, like providing actual contrary facts, real ones, to Trumps rhetoric - then yes the old style can be helpful...but it cant be done all old-school.
The Clinton campaign and by extension the PACS, and the Democratic party has to beat Trump with his own clubs...his lies. He makes things up, calls them "huge or tremendous" then leaves them on the table for the Trumplodites to pick up and run around clubbing people with. And the media, and especially the Democrats let him. They rarely challenge his absurdities, and when they do its half-hearted and weak. Like a tired grade school teacher not caring anymore what dumb things her students say out loud.
The Democrats have to take Trump seriously and take him head-on, and simply keep pointing to his lies and if need be tally them up and present them in an ongoing attack. Use them in commercials, or at the Clinton rally's...but use them against him!
Trump hasn't changed the rules, as so many keep saying, he's just a riderless horse that the GOP let into the paddock amidst all the well-groomed and practiced horses who follow the lead of the party trainers. So now he's messing them up with his unrestrained trampling all over the place...
The Clinton campaign and by extension the PACS, and the Democratic party has to beat Trump with his own clubs...his lies. He makes things up, calls them "huge or tremendous" then leaves them on the table for the Trumplodites to pick up and run around clubbing people with. And the media, and especially the Democrats let him. They rarely challenge his absurdities, and when they do its half-hearted and weak. Like a tired grade school teacher not caring anymore what dumb things her students say out loud.
The Democrats have to take Trump seriously and take him head-on, and simply keep pointing to his lies and if need be tally them up and present them in an ongoing attack. Use them in commercials, or at the Clinton rally's...but use them against him!
Trump hasn't changed the rules, as so many keep saying, he's just a riderless horse that the GOP let into the paddock amidst all the well-groomed and practiced horses who follow the lead of the party trainers. So now he's messing them up with his unrestrained trampling all over the place...
2
The contest between Clinton and Trump will be decided in a way which defines who "we" are. Are "We the People" the rational, responsible people assumed by the Constitution or the rampaging, emotion-fueled mob feared in the Federalists Papers? But the answer only tells us the winner of an election, likely Clinton. But it must leave us with a knowledge that a significant portion of the electorate is anti-democratic and, in its embrace of bigotry, un-American. Going forward, the questions of politicians and political scientists is how to address this continuing conflict of fundamental beliefs. We do not need another Civil War, this one between neighbor and neighbor.
1
"We the People" the rational, responsible people assumed by the Constitution would not have these two choices.
We already let rampaging emotion fueled behavior give us two choices both bad. There is no "good" choice now to prove us rational, responsible people. That ship sailed.
We already let rampaging emotion fueled behavior give us two choices both bad. There is no "good" choice now to prove us rational, responsible people. That ship sailed.
3
An interesting reply. Even if one grants that Clinton's inclination to secretiveness is unattractive and her use of a private email server problematic--I grant the former but not the later--her record of public service in public life is markedly different from Trump's record of privateering. Clinton has walked her talk; Trump has talked--often on both sides of an issue--but not walked it. So I think that the contrast which I draw is a real, not an illusory, one.
Trump is volatile, unpredictable, and negative. He gets three stories for every Hillary one. Trump is being heard. Hillary is not. When they debate, the headlines will be sure to highlight what Trump said.. Speaking of a Hillary strategy, therefore, is mostly beside the point. Trump will win or lose this election pretty much on his own. And July is much too far out to know. His popularity rises and falls like the ocean in a storm. Not until election day are we likely to know the outcome. This is frustrating for us Hillary supporters. And I feel particularly bad for the feminists who will eventually come to understand that Hillary will be in the kitchen during this campaign while Trump is out there winning or losing the election.
1
"Part of the challenge is not to underestimate Mr. Trump’s continuing appeal to aggrieved working-class voters. Fueling anger, as Mr. Trump does, is different from addressing it and converting it into enthusiasm for solutions. That is the task that remains ahead for Mrs. Clinton."
Good luck with that. The liberal professional class including news media people, specifically NYTs people, and Hillary Clinton just don't see the fact that most people, (families) can't make it here anymore as a problem. The Times, Clinton, the DNC and leading Democrats take the base for granted. The lesson of Sanders, Trump, and the Brexit are lost on them. Actually it is worse than that. You have seen it right here in the Times as the Times has universally sneered at Sanders supporters. Is Clinton talking jobs, protections for working people in a meaningful way? No, is she all buddy buddy with corporate America? You betcha!
So what do we get? Times editorial blaming Sanders and supporters for Clinton's lack of appeal and her inability to connect with voters let alone offer policy ideas to correct the glaring imbalance in todays rigged US economy.
Good luck with that. The liberal professional class including news media people, specifically NYTs people, and Hillary Clinton just don't see the fact that most people, (families) can't make it here anymore as a problem. The Times, Clinton, the DNC and leading Democrats take the base for granted. The lesson of Sanders, Trump, and the Brexit are lost on them. Actually it is worse than that. You have seen it right here in the Times as the Times has universally sneered at Sanders supporters. Is Clinton talking jobs, protections for working people in a meaningful way? No, is she all buddy buddy with corporate America? You betcha!
So what do we get? Times editorial blaming Sanders and supporters for Clinton's lack of appeal and her inability to connect with voters let alone offer policy ideas to correct the glaring imbalance in todays rigged US economy.
5
"The liberal professional class including news media people, specifically NYTs people, and Hillary Clinton just don't see the fact that most people, (families) can't make it here anymore as a problem. The Times, Clinton, the DNC and leading Democrats take the base for granted."
Hear, hear. That is the essence. Trump is a symptom of that disease, not cause. Certainly not a cure either.
Hear, hear. That is the essence. Trump is a symptom of that disease, not cause. Certainly not a cure either.
5
Hillary Clinton's biggest enemies are Hillary and Bill Clinton.
Ms. Clinton still doesn't get it: Using a private server for government business is a BIG deal. Clinton's response (essentially "Trust me") is not an adequate response. And it doesn't matter if some other Secretary of State did it and got away without being questioned. It was a stupid act.
And Bill Clinton could have simply exchanged greetings with Atty. General Lynch and then went on his way. Having a conversation with her was totally INAPPROPRIATE no matter what Lynch says.
Before last week I was thinking each candidate had a 50% chance of being elected.
This week I give Trump a 60%.
The difference is that Trump's people, including his rank-and-file ordinary voters, embrace corruption as a way to get ahead at everyone else's expense. So Trump CANNOT turn off his base so matter what he says or does.
On the other hand, the ordinary people like me who might vote for Hillary Clinton reject corruption and business-as-usual politics. We wanted Bernie Sanders because Bernie Sanders has the personal gumption to beat Trump. Sadly Hillary Clinton may not. But the Democrat Party insiders, not the voters, have chosen Clinton because traditional political wisdom says that Trump can't possibly win.
But Trump can win.
Ms. Clinton still doesn't get it: Using a private server for government business is a BIG deal. Clinton's response (essentially "Trust me") is not an adequate response. And it doesn't matter if some other Secretary of State did it and got away without being questioned. It was a stupid act.
And Bill Clinton could have simply exchanged greetings with Atty. General Lynch and then went on his way. Having a conversation with her was totally INAPPROPRIATE no matter what Lynch says.
Before last week I was thinking each candidate had a 50% chance of being elected.
This week I give Trump a 60%.
The difference is that Trump's people, including his rank-and-file ordinary voters, embrace corruption as a way to get ahead at everyone else's expense. So Trump CANNOT turn off his base so matter what he says or does.
On the other hand, the ordinary people like me who might vote for Hillary Clinton reject corruption and business-as-usual politics. We wanted Bernie Sanders because Bernie Sanders has the personal gumption to beat Trump. Sadly Hillary Clinton may not. But the Democrat Party insiders, not the voters, have chosen Clinton because traditional political wisdom says that Trump can't possibly win.
But Trump can win.
3
Much to be said for Bernie, but actually, contrary to what you suggest, the voters themselves, not just the insiders, have preferred Hillary. She got more votes.
2
Far more of us ordinary people voted for Hillary Clinton. She's made it to this point because of the gumption she's needed to survive the constant attacks against her. Trump isn't the first or the worst blowhard Hillary has had to deal with and neither was Bernie.
Racism is alive and well and no amount of campaigning will change that. Trump is going to draw that vote. The republicans haven't been openly racist in the past but they don't seem to mind it being open. McConnell and Ryan certainly aren't bother by Trump's racism.
2
The Trumpster will win this election. It's inevitable, because the NYT and the DNC fixed this election with the wrong candidate.
5
The difference between Old-Style and New-Style is donor class financed vs self-funded - or in Bernie's case , internet funded.
Money is the mother's milk of politics.
Jesse Marvin Unruh (September 30, 1922 – August 4, 1987)
Money is the mother's milk of politics.
Jesse Marvin Unruh (September 30, 1922 – August 4, 1987)
3
This is the 2016 political campaigning dynamic.
It appears the N.C. voters are approximately split, as 2 points isn't much if anything.
Let's realize that polls are subject to being wrong and headlines can change the lead and the real vote in November of course.
Trump has the luxury of low expectations, and seemingly his voters do not hold him as a fount of knowledge nor propriety.
To think that Hillary has the election made, because of what overall opinion polls seem to indicate, I agree, is a mistake.
Trump's most remarkable act is that he keeps his millions of fans in spite of daily faux pas' and trademark lack of politically conventional behavior, and his fed-up voters angrily dismiss/discount media as based upon politeness/correctness.
He is a volatile, demagogic personality, and it is working well enough to scare me and allegedly a few.
It appears the N.C. voters are approximately split, as 2 points isn't much if anything.
Let's realize that polls are subject to being wrong and headlines can change the lead and the real vote in November of course.
Trump has the luxury of low expectations, and seemingly his voters do not hold him as a fount of knowledge nor propriety.
To think that Hillary has the election made, because of what overall opinion polls seem to indicate, I agree, is a mistake.
Trump's most remarkable act is that he keeps his millions of fans in spite of daily faux pas' and trademark lack of politically conventional behavior, and his fed-up voters angrily dismiss/discount media as based upon politeness/correctness.
He is a volatile, demagogic personality, and it is working well enough to scare me and allegedly a few.
Trump has an Achilles heel, and he knows it.......his tax records. Why is the media givng him a pass on revealing them?
It is highly likely that they will further expose Trump as a grasping, selfish opportunist. No donations to charities, to veterans, etc.
Our national security is at stake. We simply cannot risk having such an unstable, ignorant narcissist as President.
It is highly likely that they will further expose Trump as a grasping, selfish opportunist. No donations to charities, to veterans, etc.
Our national security is at stake. We simply cannot risk having such an unstable, ignorant narcissist as President.
9
Sadly and frighteningly, I doubt showing his tax returns will have any effect at this point wif his anti-American worker, anti-decency, not paying for services due, cheating on everything and anyone for his personal gain and on and on having no effect.
How about a tally all of the selfless good DT has done vs what HRC has done. likely he's got a big fat goose egg.
your still ok with this, then I suspect you will deserve what you will get. sadly I won't deserve it.
How about a tally all of the selfless good DT has done vs what HRC has done. likely he's got a big fat goose egg.
your still ok with this, then I suspect you will deserve what you will get. sadly I won't deserve it.
You don't get Trump's appeal at all. First of all, he is the un-Clinton. To us who were Bernie supporters, that means a lot; we don't want another untrustworthy Clinton in the White House. In fact, that may be Trump's only appeal. He is not a puppet of the establishment, including the NY Times. We need to get off the path of the elitist status quo, and electing Trump seems to be the only way to do this.
19
Trump is the epitome of elitism even more so than the Clinton's whom at least lifted themselves up from common beginnings. Have you never seen him before this campaign? Trump is the typical born with a silver spoon in his mouth elitist.
I have a hard time believing you were a Bernie supporter based on what you have said here. The two things are not compatible.
I have a hard time believing you were a Bernie supporter based on what you have said here. The two things are not compatible.
3
Donald Trump isn't an elitist? He is a billionaire who can afford to run for president and say whatever he wants. Is your only definition of elite that someone be a career politician?
2
You want someone trustworthy and you think of Trump? Seriously? The man who appeals to those uneducated workers left behind by the 1% is the 1% himself. Recently he tried to disallow some staff at a Las Vegas hotel/casino he owns to join a union. So they could get higher wages. You want to vote for the guy who has his products made overseas by cheap labor so he won't have to pay you a decent wage. Think ! Read ! Learn !
2
We have thousands of multi-talented, intelligent, thoughtful and charismatic people in this nation who would make outstanding leaders... yet Hillary and Trump are our choices. I just don't get it.
6
The question is whether Hillary Clinton can bring the fight to Donald Trump. Does she possess the moxie to keep after him without a letup.
When Trump say's "America First", the other side immediately mimics "racist" only because it's worked so well for Obama. Anyone who didn't like Obama's campaign message of la-la-hope-and-change was racist! What specifics beyond "hope and change" did he ever talk about? NONE!!! But whenever anyone asked any specifics beyond "hope and change" the collective media screamed "racist! racist! racist!"
Protecting our borders and determining who is coming into the country is racist? Deporting criminal illegal aliens currently protected in sanctuary cities is racist?
There are those who claim we already have strict oversight on those crossing the border. No amount of those blatant lies resonates with anyone.
All Hillary can do for job prospects is say the minimum wage should be $15. How about real jobs? Silence. That's what is racist. Locking low income workers and minorities in the minimum wage trap with no prospects of higher employment is racist. Basically saying "You owe me for $15 an hour now shut up" is even worse than dopey hope-and-change.
Hillary's own staff is unable to list one accomplishment for her. But as long as the NYT and the rest of the media were the keepers of Hillary's coronation crown she figured she had nothing to worry about.
FBI investigations? Emails and private server questions? Bill and Lynch's scheduled (oops, "coincidental") meeting? Next to no press conferences?
It's amazing anyone trusts her.
Protecting our borders and determining who is coming into the country is racist? Deporting criminal illegal aliens currently protected in sanctuary cities is racist?
There are those who claim we already have strict oversight on those crossing the border. No amount of those blatant lies resonates with anyone.
All Hillary can do for job prospects is say the minimum wage should be $15. How about real jobs? Silence. That's what is racist. Locking low income workers and minorities in the minimum wage trap with no prospects of higher employment is racist. Basically saying "You owe me for $15 an hour now shut up" is even worse than dopey hope-and-change.
Hillary's own staff is unable to list one accomplishment for her. But as long as the NYT and the rest of the media were the keepers of Hillary's coronation crown she figured she had nothing to worry about.
FBI investigations? Emails and private server questions? Bill and Lynch's scheduled (oops, "coincidental") meeting? Next to no press conferences?
It's amazing anyone trusts her.
5
"Part of the challenge is not to underestimate Mr. Trump’s continuing appeal to aggrieved working-class voters." You think? I used to live in North Carolina on the Outer Banks, near Kitty Hawk. The economy there is real estate: buying and selling it for the middle class; building it for the working class. During my time on the Outer Banks, which was in the rcent past, there was widespread displacement of native construction workers by newly arrived, Spanish-speaking immigrants. Legals? Illegals? Who knows. But it didn't matter. Either way -- they worked for less and anger at them by the locals, based on the loss of jobs attributed to them, was palpable. Liberals -- especially middle class liberals -- have to understand this anger and stop dismissing it as "racist" or benighted. It's what Trump has tapped into and it has to be addressed: respectfully and comprehensively. A good start would be acknowledging that globalization has by and large worked against the working class, not for them. See, e.g., Brexit. Just mouthing the same old liberal platitudes is not going to get it.
8
What do low paid Mexican immgrants in the US have to do with globalization? The latter is the free flow of capital across borders toward the cheapest labor markets and it started under Reagan, when the US became a service economy, not Clinton. The US never adapted sufficiently and maintained the fantasy that low education and low skill was sufficient for a high standard of living. Without cheap imports from China, the US middle and lower classes would be far worse off.
1
Never underestimate the support Donald Trump has in fly-over country. I live in Texas and many people I know that rarely vote are out in droves supporting Trump. If I could point to a failure among the main stream media it would be not reporting what is really happening in America and among middle-class voters.
6
You wouldn't watch Fox News if it made you feel stupid.
2
And they are still not reporting/seeing this, and probably won't. Apres them, the deluge.
1
The only group with a lower favorability poll than Congress, is the main stream media.
And right now that media is all in for Hillary, and disparaging Trump at every turn.
The American public is not that stupid. Trump doesn't need paid Ads, you folks are doing it for free.
And right now that media is all in for Hillary, and disparaging Trump at every turn.
The American public is not that stupid. Trump doesn't need paid Ads, you folks are doing it for free.
8
Anyone who expect honesty from Trump is too stupid to breathe.
3
Mr. Trump has proven himself immune to old style political conventions. His candidacy is an uprising if you will, a rebellion against 7 years of tepid leadership at home and abroad, a rejection of the executive unconstitutional "pen" that Mr. Obama used to brag about wielding, a reaction to radical muslim terrorists that this President derisively labeled the "JV Team" that now threaten America, and the prospect of the tainted unsteady hand of Mrs. Clinton and her husband as the only alternative. Old style politics and corruption is what the Clintons represent and what Mr. Trump is relishing to run against.
4
To add to the unprecedented nature of this year's presidential race, the Democrats have a candidate for the nomination under FBI investigation for a serious felony. If Hillary gets indicted the Democrat convention will be more interesting than most.
5
I just can't get over how you self-proclaimed gunners for liberty drool over witch-hunt investigations of your skeptics.
Another liberal experiencing certainty. You know nothing about me much less what I self proclaim. Personally I prefer to wait for the Justice Department before pronouncing on Hillary's guilt or innocence - I think the FBI is serious and is not conducting a witch hunt.
2
I know you here as a consistent advocate of being armed to intervene in politics.
Trump's losses are not Clinton's gains, you say. "Some" voters are "looking at" Gary Johnson. Actually 11% of voters plan to vote for him, and about 3% plan to vote for Jill Stein.
What makes this election unpredictable is how few voters plan to vote for either major candidate. They are so unpopular that less than 80% of voters in some polls are planning to vote for them.
The NYT and the Clinton campaign are far too sanguine. This is a highly contested election.
Democrats were crazy or stupid not to nominate Sanders, who actually gets a majority of votes in polls against Trump.
What makes this election unpredictable is how few voters plan to vote for either major candidate. They are so unpopular that less than 80% of voters in some polls are planning to vote for them.
The NYT and the Clinton campaign are far too sanguine. This is a highly contested election.
Democrats were crazy or stupid not to nominate Sanders, who actually gets a majority of votes in polls against Trump.
6
The Dems, though they are stupid, didn't ignore Sanders for that reason. They are dead-set against any upheaval to the status quo, of which they are the co-guardians, along with the Republicans.
3
Baloney. Sanders has, for all intents and purposes, been left unexamined by the media, especially the right-wing media. The RNC knew that Sanders was no real threat to Hillary, but would chew up her resources and time (see the BernieBots capriciousness in California, for instance).
The hagiographic view of Sanders is getting wearisome.
The hagiographic view of Sanders is getting wearisome.
4
Bernie may well yet get it. FBI has Clinton in the cross hairs and thanks to Bill, Ms. Lynch has promised not to intercede.
1
I deeply mistrust both presumed candidates for the next Presidency and I am seriously considering to write-in someone else, such as perhaps Dwight David Eisenhower II or "the nearest descendant of Theodore Roosevelt". Alas, such a write-in vote would only strengthen each of the two unworthies.
2
Hilary Clinton should be polling 75/25. It is shocking to see how poorly she polls against such an obviously terrible candidate in Trump. His success reinforces nothing more than how poorly she is thought of. Campaigning and money wont change the deep mistrust most have of the Clintons. I worry for this country that Trump may actually win.
5
"Can Old Style Politics Beat Donald Trump?" The Donald is the political monster that we have created because we've had it with Old Style Politics. Isn't that the point? Anything, just about, would be an improvement on the dead weight in Washington.
4
What ever happened to that new-fangled campaign thing, the internet, that Obama and his people mastered to grow a following and win in 2008?
4
I think Hilary should worry more about controlling her husband and her fervent female defenders than about Trump. Bill Clinton meeting secretly with Loretta Lynch did it for me. I took the insults Bill, Chelsea, Albright, Boxer, et al., hurled at us Bernie supporters. I have lived with the abuse by Clinton supporters in my surroundings who now demand my vote. But this clandestine Clinton-Lynch meeting has taken it over the top for me.
No, I still will not vote for Trump; and yes, I will vote for a woman, but her name is Jill Stein. I am so over the Clinton Dynasty.
No, I still will not vote for Trump; and yes, I will vote for a woman, but her name is Jill Stein. I am so over the Clinton Dynasty.
8
Perhaps a better than Stronger Together" would be "She's not perfect but at least she ain't nuts!"
5
If this is the Editorial Board's way of setting up a dog-fight. Congratualtions.
But do we really need yet ANOTHER roll-call of transgressions??
If people don't know what's going on by now, they never will.
Trump is a bully.
Hillary is crooked.
Anything else?
But do we really need yet ANOTHER roll-call of transgressions??
If people don't know what's going on by now, they never will.
Trump is a bully.
Hillary is crooked.
Anything else?
3
Which candiate has wisdom? Wisdom leads to wise decisions. Trial and error has it's teaching points -- but can America afford to wait til Trump gets wisdom.
He would use a ream of paper to write a complete sentence.
He would use a ream of paper to write a complete sentence.
4
I think many voters also believe Secretary Clinton brought us to where we are now. Why would one keep doing the same thing over and over again?
4
It doesn't matter how absurd the words that come out of Trump's mouth are, his supporters are simply deaf to logic.
There are democrats who are also not using common sense. For example, BS's supporters who keep saying that they will not vote for Hillary just because she defeated the "candidate of their dreams". Don't they realize that having a"president Trump" defeats what they stand for? It seams that there are unity among the republicans who will not under any circumstances put country first (because supporting Trump is not putting country first) but instead do anything possible just to get the White House, not matter how horrible the consequences would be. And there is non-unity among the democrats, a party of notorious whiners.
There are democrats who are also not using common sense. For example, BS's supporters who keep saying that they will not vote for Hillary just because she defeated the "candidate of their dreams". Don't they realize that having a"president Trump" defeats what they stand for? It seams that there are unity among the republicans who will not under any circumstances put country first (because supporting Trump is not putting country first) but instead do anything possible just to get the White House, not matter how horrible the consequences would be. And there is non-unity among the democrats, a party of notorious whiners.
4
What is mind boggling is that over 65% of the people polled think Hilary Clinton is dishonest but will still vote for her to be President. The fact that we would deliberately elect a person who we believe to be dishonest is scary. I know the argument about the lessor of two evils. It is bogus and fed to you by left machine.
4
Good for you, and thank you for this comment.
1
Old style Democrat politics is duplicity and lies with the backing of whatever they say by the main stream media and the hundreds of millions of dollars in attack ads they spend smearing and destroying their opposition. Of course they will win. There is little doubt that they will win. This whole run by Hillary Clinton, which has been planned and funded for over a decade will not go down in flames with the FBI report, because there will not be a damaging FBI report. It is one of situations where "Are you going to believe what your lying eyes are telling you or are you going to believe the Loretta Lynch and Obama FBI that their chosen candidate for President is innocent of wrong doing and broke no laws"? Trump should announce that he is stepping down at the GOP convention, because in America there is no chance for him to beat the “machine”. The Democrats don’t really need any help in sinking Trump but they are getting it from the “stupid party” without asking. I have never seen anything like what is being done to Donald Trump in all my years as a close observer of the political process in the US. Our country as we knew it is changing for the worse and in a couple of decades we will not recognize it anymore and by then it will be too late to get it back. We are going the way of the Roman Empire and fast.
3
Quit with the drama queen stuff.
The Roman Empire, including the easter portion, lasted 2,000 years.
The Roman Empire, including the easter portion, lasted 2,000 years.
Old-Style Politics is politics approved of and financed by the donor class.
New-Style Politics is financed either by crowd funding (Sanders) or self-funded augmented by free social media publicity (Trump)
The donor shall will win. Doubly so, as it not only funding the campaign of its candidate, it enriched her personally.
New-Style Politics is financed either by crowd funding (Sanders) or self-funded augmented by free social media publicity (Trump)
The donor shall will win. Doubly so, as it not only funding the campaign of its candidate, it enriched her personally.
7
My State has a large rasist and anti-Obama voting block. Some actually believe the birther nonsense and think he favors Muslims. They see Hillary as a crook. The State has a dreadful governor who will help Trump. In short we need every honest sensible vote to defeat Trump. The Stare's educational community needs to be very active and if they are Trump can be beaten, at least I hope so.
3
This is going to be a very dynamic campaign and, similar to Brexit, full of surprises. Attorney General Lynch has stated that the recent secret meeting with Mr. Clinton was a stain of the Justice Department which is altering the way we evaluate Mrs. Clinton's sole and exclusive use of a private server in her home to conduct the foreign policy of the US for the entirerty of her tenure of Secretary of State. We also know that General Petraeus was going to be indicted for a felony for sharing a few of his personal notebooks with an uncleared recipient. This might suggest Mrs. Clinton, who shared everything with a host of uncleared recipients, has some serious problems ahead. What sort of stain does this give Mrs. Clinton, and when are people going to realize that? When they do, what will be the impact?
One can only hope that these problems get resolved before Mrs. Clinton gets nominated. It would be a very serious problem if they arose following the election or later.
One can only hope that these problems get resolved before Mrs. Clinton gets nominated. It would be a very serious problem if they arose following the election or later.
1
OMG, my best friend is potentially going to make a huuuuge mistake. But wait, she's smarter than that. She'll do the right thing logic tells me. And yet there is a little part of me that can't be sure. He's done it before to others...sold them a bill of goods and then hits the road looking for another mark to hit on. The uncertainty is killing me.
1
Mrs. Clinton cannot win by resorting only to logical argument and evidence. She must convey to followers, opponents, and the apathetic the emotional force of her deeply felt moral beliefs These she learned from her mother, her religion, and other early mentors and drove her to take up a political life.
3
The Times and Hillary-biased media continue to portray Trump supporters as "aggrieved working-class voters". This characterization may accurately describe the people showing up at rallies ignores the droves of informed, substantive, contemplative voters who are loathe to openly admit to supporting Trump because of his unpredictability, tactlessness and political naivete, Such people, along with many women, Blacks and Hispanics, will vote for Trump when the curtain closes at the polls in November. Hillary will only go downhill from this point. The election is Trump's to lose.
3
Trump is a reflection of the populace. Unfortunately no campaign can change their intelligence.
3
I just cannot vote for Hillary.Not a week goes by without another Clinton ethical blunder.This week it was Bill's "meeting" with Lynch.Nixon was forced to resign over Watergate.The Clintons have skated on thin ethical ice for over 30 years.How can you trust anything Hillary tells you?If she's elected and the terrorists attack the US,will Hillary just tell us it's a minor disturbance?
3
To Bud from McKinney, Texas,
Bear in mind that Hillary's unethical behavior is simply trumped up charges from Republicans who have had a smear campaign going for 30 years. From White Water to Emailgate. Millions of tax payer money spent. Years of investigations, time wasted. All revealing -- nothing against her, or in the case of emails, nothing prosecutable, nothing that others haven't done. She's the most "vetted" candidate in history.
In addition, you say you fear Hillary would tell us a terrorist attack is just a minor disturbance. Bear in mind that many people accuse her of being too militant, too ready to send in the troops.
Bear in mind that Hillary's unethical behavior is simply trumped up charges from Republicans who have had a smear campaign going for 30 years. From White Water to Emailgate. Millions of tax payer money spent. Years of investigations, time wasted. All revealing -- nothing against her, or in the case of emails, nothing prosecutable, nothing that others haven't done. She's the most "vetted" candidate in history.
In addition, you say you fear Hillary would tell us a terrorist attack is just a minor disturbance. Bear in mind that many people accuse her of being too militant, too ready to send in the troops.
5
Intelligent thinking people will critically evaluate the candidates and reject the unqualified buffoon Trump outright and select clinton, the most qualified candidate regardless if want to sit and have a beer or cup of tea with her.. The angry whites Americans who believe his doom and his nonsensical blathering and who are so uninformed that they believe every word from the Pied Piper will vote for him...and will regret their decision soon after. The man is an embarrassment and he is dangerous and unqualified and would do this country irreparable harm..
5
In 2008, William Hung auditioned for American Idol. A truly terrible singer. A YouTube video of his inept but sincere act drew 2,500,000 "hits."
His popularity, somehow, did not translate into an audition with the Met.
Donald "Daffy" Trump is 2006's William Hung. Hard to imagine anyone seriously considering him as presidential material, despite his somewhat large "fan" base.
Trump's incoherent auditions have been truly awful; more Gong Show than The Voice.
That's America's choice: A political William Hung or a professional who tries — and knows how — to get things done.
His popularity, somehow, did not translate into an audition with the Met.
Donald "Daffy" Trump is 2006's William Hung. Hard to imagine anyone seriously considering him as presidential material, despite his somewhat large "fan" base.
Trump's incoherent auditions have been truly awful; more Gong Show than The Voice.
That's America's choice: A political William Hung or a professional who tries — and knows how — to get things done.
5
2016, obviously. Old Timer's disease.
Trump go to Germany and help European development. There is no place of Trump in this side of Atlantic. We going to change the name "America" very soon. Its toxic European name related to an individual who was basically a PIRATE.
1
So many words and the problem is simple: people don't like or trust Hillary Clinton. This weakness is Trump's momentary strength. Ultimately, she will win but few will celebrate it.
1
Speak for yourself. Comments like this do nothing but perpetuate a myth that is supposedly common -- but in the end, 4+million votes what counts.
Look. Hold your nose, or vote for the racist.
The choice is yours.
Look. Hold your nose, or vote for the racist.
The choice is yours.
WHERE ARE TRUMP"S TAX RETURNS?
Why doesn't he release them? Has he paid his fair share of taxes?
All voters should want to know.
Why doesn't he release them? Has he paid his fair share of taxes?
All voters should want to know.
18
Great Point!
WHERE ARE TRUMP"S TAX RETURNS?
All media events should open with this question.
WHERE ARE TRUMP"S TAX RETURNS?
All media events should open with this question.
2
It seems remarkable that the possibility of Clinton losing in North Carolina is considered alarming. Since the civil rights era this state has gone democratic only 2 out of 10 times in presidential elections. Does that mean Ohio, Florida, and Virginia are not even worth discussion anymore? (which would mean the Republicans are in deep trouble)
1
To me it is quite a positive sign that Hillary Clinton leads Herr Drumpf by a couple of points in North Carolina, a state that President Obama has won by less than 1/2 of one percent in 2008.
As to those looking at Johnson or Stein as an alternative, they waste their votes the same way as those who voted for Nader in 2008, but one with unforeseen consequences in Florida, which, helped by little brother Jeb! and the Supreme Court gave this country the worst president of modern times.
It seems that these third or fourth party voters have missed the course of logic and deduction.
We are not living in a parliamentary system where everyone can pick and choose from numerous parties according to their political platforms.
And as nationalism based on hate fear of 'others' in Britain with Nigel Farage, Marine le Pen in France, and D.Trump in the US rises, too many on our shores are unable to see the dangerous and close relationship of that nationalism to the fascism of the last century.
As to those looking at Johnson or Stein as an alternative, they waste their votes the same way as those who voted for Nader in 2008, but one with unforeseen consequences in Florida, which, helped by little brother Jeb! and the Supreme Court gave this country the worst president of modern times.
It seems that these third or fourth party voters have missed the course of logic and deduction.
We are not living in a parliamentary system where everyone can pick and choose from numerous parties according to their political platforms.
And as nationalism based on hate fear of 'others' in Britain with Nigel Farage, Marine le Pen in France, and D.Trump in the US rises, too many on our shores are unable to see the dangerous and close relationship of that nationalism to the fascism of the last century.
10
I am not sure which is more annoying, the editorial or the comments from disaffected Sander supporters; all so very knowledgeable about how to beat Trump. The election will be all about getting the vote out, period. So focus on your vote, the vote of those you know, consider volunteering for the Clinton campaign and above all, stop the second-hand guessing.
13
If, as the Trump candidacy suggests, all bets are off, then perhaps Mrs. Clinton (and her handlers) ought to bring up the recently re-filed rape allegation against The Donald. He, along with his BFF Jeff Epstein, have been implicated in cavorting with underage women.
Again, if there are no boundaries, let the games begin.
Again, if there are no boundaries, let the games begin.
5
Channeling the old story where the father has his sons break individual sticks and then show them that they can't break a bundle, "Stronger Together" is a really great message. Unfortunately, in this time of political division, half of America simply won't listen to the messenger. It reminds me of W's being a 'United, not a divider'. We saw how well that worked out.
Of course, because the Democratic coalition is made up of a large number of single issue groups, perhaps the intention is to bundle them together to beat a foe that is at once a divider and a unifier who uses hate of the "other" to go after her.
I hope she succeeds...the alternative would be a nightmare.
Of course, because the Democratic coalition is made up of a large number of single issue groups, perhaps the intention is to bundle them together to beat a foe that is at once a divider and a unifier who uses hate of the "other" to go after her.
I hope she succeeds...the alternative would be a nightmare.
8
This election seems not so much about campaign media or mechanisms, but about message and tone. Messrs. Trump and Sanders appeal to the hearts of those who feel unheard and left behind. Mrs. Clinton to their heads. She may well have sounder, more workable plans to help those who feel aggrieved, but unless she can connect with them on a gut level, I fear older voters especially, who feel the recovery never came to them, will turn to Trump as a respite from politics as usual. And the US will be stuck with its own version of Boris Johnson: all hat and no cattle!
1
Why is it ok for most of Donald's business ventures be produced in other countries? He is making hefty profits by having his factories in China and the many other countries he uses. That is taking away American jobs isnt it? Yet he has the under-educated believing that it is the trade pacts that have cost jobs. We lost many of the jobs because rich business owners (like Trump) can get by paying slave wages in other countries, but getting a huge profit margin - that is what is causing the outflow of jobs. We need to change the inversion laws so this is no longer a practice.
7
You seem thunderstruck Clinton is not doing well. Perhaps because of your amnesia regarding her lack of qualifications (sorry, time served or frequent flier miles may count as "experience," but certainly not as talent or success), her lack of candor (to be polite about it), her lack of judgement, her apparent willingness to adopt any position the moment demands, and last, but certainly not least, the distinct possibility she will be convicted of a felony for carelessly making state secrets available to any teen hacker interested in obtaining them. I am sure Trump can and will beat her. I think, frankly, any Republican nominee would have beater her. And clearly, Joe Biden or ELizabeth Warren, had they thrown their hats in the ring, would have beaten her too. Hilary Clinton is the dying gasp of a party out of ideas.
3
If you honestly think that a racist like Donald Trump can do ANYTHIGN for this country, you are probably part of the demographic he appeals to.
Another thing.
In this country, nobody is considered a felon until there is a conviction --the only dying gasp is your hope for one.
Another thing.
In this country, nobody is considered a felon until there is a conviction --the only dying gasp is your hope for one.
1
Bernie Sanders didn't beat her.
I'm not by any stretch of the imagination in any demographic that Trump appeals to. But I will vote for him because he is a transparent jerk and not a phony, and most of all he is not pandering to the status quo power elites. His presidency, which might not survive an impeachment, will do more to change the country than all of Hillary's new-found populist inclinations will.
2
Partly, I think Trump will lose overwhelmingly because, well, he's Trump -- a vulgar, undisciplined con man who will say anything at any given time, and except for a thin sliver of voters, Americans are well aware of his character. And partly, I think Trump will never be president because he will find some excuse to drop out before the election actually takes place.
4
Just a thought: If Hillary can't control Bill, like his airplane meeting with Loretta Lynch, kiss her campaign goodbye, at least down here. The blue collar workers are angry with Bill already for his advocacy for Wall Street and other idiot actions during his terms. If she can't control him and keep his big mouth shut, speak out strongly and convincingly to that part of population she has no chance of drawing out the voters she wants and needs to win in NC.
3
When Trump speaks, the whole world listens (possible exaggeration). When Clinton speaks does anybody listen? They listen for entertainment value, to hear the next lie, to get more reinforcement for their bigotry and racism, to hear all the good stuff he'll do for the working class, and not to make much judgement about his qualification to be President.
Trump is theater and Clinton is not. I think Clinton is simply becoming "the alternative" rather than a potent candidate on her own terms. I hope she can find a compensating running mate.
Trump is theater and Clinton is not. I think Clinton is simply becoming "the alternative" rather than a potent candidate on her own terms. I hope she can find a compensating running mate.
3
It will be a landslide victory in the style of Johnson v Goldwater in '64. And the GOP will reassess themselves yet again. Nothing will change.. they will continue to focus on electing hayseeds to state offices bringing the states down slowly but surely. Now the mid west is the 'new south'.
3
Again, Trump serves as a test. Opinion about Trump says less about Trump, the nature of whom is by now transparently clear, than about the holder of that opinion. Three examples: It defines, outlines, or exposes something about personal values at the individual level, the nature of the Republican Party at the level of the group, and, in the end, what kind of a nation, taken as a whole, we presently are.
One can hope that at least the nation passes the test.
One can hope that at least the nation passes the test.
2
Hillary is doing just fine, and shouldn't make dramatic adjustments, which would only increase the impression of some people that she is insincere.
5
It's the binary stupid.
The Editors of the Times seem unable to grasp the fact that many Progressive Democrats like myself despise the Clintons and all their works.
I could never consider supporting Trump, but I think the Clintons have turned the Democratic Party over to the same self serving super rich people who almost destroyed the economy of the world in 2008 by their mindless greed and total disregard for anything but their own wealth.
Hillary Clinton is a Neo Conservative war monger who still doesn't realize that the endless Bush/Obama Oil Wars are the greatest blunder the United States history and the "War on Terrorism" is only creating more and more terrorists.
The Editors of the Times do not grasp that this isn't a standard election, where one supports one side or the other. Many of us simply can't support either Candidate and feel neither should be President.
I can't put this more strongly: I would vote for Richard Nixon before I would vote for Hillary because I feed Richard Nixon was a more decent and honest person than Hillary Clinton and cared about America more than she dose.
I could never consider supporting Trump, but I think the Clintons have turned the Democratic Party over to the same self serving super rich people who almost destroyed the economy of the world in 2008 by their mindless greed and total disregard for anything but their own wealth.
Hillary Clinton is a Neo Conservative war monger who still doesn't realize that the endless Bush/Obama Oil Wars are the greatest blunder the United States history and the "War on Terrorism" is only creating more and more terrorists.
The Editors of the Times do not grasp that this isn't a standard election, where one supports one side or the other. Many of us simply can't support either Candidate and feel neither should be President.
I can't put this more strongly: I would vote for Richard Nixon before I would vote for Hillary because I feed Richard Nixon was a more decent and honest person than Hillary Clinton and cared about America more than she dose.
7
Thank the Republican Supreme Court for ruling that money is speech.
2
You didn't get the MEMO??? -- Richard Nixon is dead.
OK, so you ARE supporting Trump by not supporting Clinton. As the saying goes, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Like it or not, the only solution to stopping Trump is Hillary. Period. Decide which side you want to be on, but there is no such thing as neutral here.
1
In 2004, after it was obvious that the Bush administration had lied the U.S. into a disastrous, illegal war, Republicans thronged to the polls out of fear that gay people might gain some rights.
Now, Republicans in North Carolina seem possibly likely to support a blatantly unqualified and unstable candidate for President out of fear of transgenders in their restrooms, or someone interfering with their right to own semi-automatic assault weapons with 30 round clips, or to protest political correctness.
God help us.
Now, Republicans in North Carolina seem possibly likely to support a blatantly unqualified and unstable candidate for President out of fear of transgenders in their restrooms, or someone interfering with their right to own semi-automatic assault weapons with 30 round clips, or to protest political correctness.
God help us.
5
No speculation will be correct if almost nobody comes out to vote. Both parties have large numbers of disaffected members. Whoever wins will be elected by the small minority of the population that actually turns out at the polls. Those people will be older and mostly white. And everyone else will have to be satisfied with what we give you.
If more than fifty percent of registered voters would actually get out to the polls and cast their votes, that would be the real sea change.
If more than fifty percent of registered voters would actually get out to the polls and cast their votes, that would be the real sea change.
3
No need to resort to old or new politics, Trump is doing a bang up job of beating himself. Trumps self destruction, other than baseball, is the most entertaining, comical, enjoyable, and rewarding pastime to watch until fall.
3
It won't be entertaining, comical, enjoyable, or rewarding, until it results in his complete self-inflicted annihillation.
A better question might be "Can common decency beat Donald Trump?" This is about much more than politics and gamesmanship. This is about the soul of the Republic.
8
The NRA claiming Hillary was responsible for Benghazi.
Now if that isn't just mouth watering propaganda coming from the organization truly responsible for terrorism in the United States, the NRA. Sick.
Now if that isn't just mouth watering propaganda coming from the organization truly responsible for terrorism in the United States, the NRA. Sick.
12
If the sentiment of this editorial is a guide (Hillary voting professionals vs. "blue collar" and rural) then Hillary may lose the election. The established elite have run this country into a dead end and America's workers understand this.
6
The word "elite" has been run into the ground, and there's more than "elites" who are voting.
At this point, the ONLY thing that matters is if America's workers are going to vote a card-carrying racist into the White House ... who happens to be an elite himself.
WAKE UP.
At this point, the ONLY thing that matters is if America's workers are going to vote a card-carrying racist into the White House ... who happens to be an elite himself.
WAKE UP.
Trump' s success against all odds is a result of voters asleep at the wheel unwilling to look inside themselves to find their better and wiser Selves. Who but an unconscious human being would vote to put a gambling casino executive in the highest office in the land when it's obvious who is running the casinos to anyone with a modest intellect. Will we have to endure the nightmare of a fractious bully with a sub-par intellect with his finger on the nuclear football in these times of intense religious fractionalism and violent nationalistic opportunism? A vote for Trump is a vote for unreason and for violence.
10
Trump's following, which is obviously diverse, is dismissively labelled as blue collar. Clinton's following is also diverse, but it, too, merits a dismissive label. I suggest snobs in Saabs.
4
Oh no, I'm cut to the quick. You didn't mention Subaru snobs?
Please remember that Hillary Clinton has won support from the overwhelming majority of African-American and Hispanic voters for two reasons. 1) she's established a record as a reliable advocate for progressive politics over years, and 2) many people do not trust a red-faced, pontificating, preachy very self-righteous white scold from Vermont. See: polls. See: votes.
Please remember that Hillary Clinton has won support from the overwhelming majority of African-American and Hispanic voters for two reasons. 1) she's established a record as a reliable advocate for progressive politics over years, and 2) many people do not trust a red-faced, pontificating, preachy very self-righteous white scold from Vermont. See: polls. See: votes.
1
"I suggest snobs in Saabs."
It might be worth noting that Saab automobiles are no longer being made.
It might be worth noting that Saab automobiles are no longer being made.
1
Interesting auto analogy...except for the fact that Saab no longer exists.
1
While demagoguery is no stranger to politics, Trump's is at a much higher level - proto fascist. When it gets to the point where he might as well be speaking in tongues and they still support him, we should be worried. We know that 35% of Americans are barking mad. Unfortunately it looks like an additional 15% could support him out of plain bad judgement.
6
You hope to be roused by passion when you should be choosing whom to select as the most powerful person in government. Passion, celebrity, entertainment, are the wrong criteria, and it shows the Times to be shallows when it keep judging the candidates by them. Write instead, please, about what was said, not by the excitement it generated: the better candidate should make people nod in agreement not roar at the punch lines.
5
Close attention to the final paragraph of this editorial is essential.
"Part of the challenge is not to underestimate Mr. Trump’s continuing appeal to aggrieved working-class voters.
Fueling anger, as Mr. Trump does, is different from addressing it and converting it into enthusiasm for solutions.
That is the task that remains ahead for Mrs. Clinton."
Trump appeals to "aggrieved working-class voters".
Why is this the case and where are the queries, interviews, and polls asking this class of voters why Trump appeals to them.
It cannot be anyone's guess as I am sure this group is more than happy to tell why they feel aggrieved, if anyone cares to ask them.
Trump "fuels anger". We cannot address this anger until we know why he can so easily bring about this outcome.
I think it is fairly safe to say that the immigration issue is the overriding one at hand.
Trump's opening salvo was the matter of the Hispanic/Latino immigration, both illegal and legal. His wall-building, clarion-call promise was embraced. Never mind how impractical or impossible it might be.
His following immediately sprang forward and into political existence.
Working-class voters are concerned only with this issue.
They could care less about any of Trump's obvious failings - personal traits, financial standing, and business practices.
The "task ahead for Mrs. Clinton" is to ask and listen to how immigration impacts the lives of "aggrieved working-class voters".
Nothing more or less will do.
I
"Part of the challenge is not to underestimate Mr. Trump’s continuing appeal to aggrieved working-class voters.
Fueling anger, as Mr. Trump does, is different from addressing it and converting it into enthusiasm for solutions.
That is the task that remains ahead for Mrs. Clinton."
Trump appeals to "aggrieved working-class voters".
Why is this the case and where are the queries, interviews, and polls asking this class of voters why Trump appeals to them.
It cannot be anyone's guess as I am sure this group is more than happy to tell why they feel aggrieved, if anyone cares to ask them.
Trump "fuels anger". We cannot address this anger until we know why he can so easily bring about this outcome.
I think it is fairly safe to say that the immigration issue is the overriding one at hand.
Trump's opening salvo was the matter of the Hispanic/Latino immigration, both illegal and legal. His wall-building, clarion-call promise was embraced. Never mind how impractical or impossible it might be.
His following immediately sprang forward and into political existence.
Working-class voters are concerned only with this issue.
They could care less about any of Trump's obvious failings - personal traits, financial standing, and business practices.
The "task ahead for Mrs. Clinton" is to ask and listen to how immigration impacts the lives of "aggrieved working-class voters".
Nothing more or less will do.
I
7
IN answer to your question, yes we can beat Trump. Who wants another broke, old white man with fake hair to be our president. You're not polling POC correctly. I know bc Norm Ornstein, told you so in an opinion piece. Norm said that Quinnipac & lots of others got the last election wrong polling too,few POC.
It's comforting that Hillary is ahead or a few points behind bc they don't count turnout. You told us last time Mitt would win. A ground game in battle states make all the difference in close races.
It's comforting that Hillary is ahead or a few points behind bc they don't count turnout. You told us last time Mitt would win. A ground game in battle states make all the difference in close races.
1
How do you write about North Carolina and never address the shame of the bathroom gender bill, along with the extremely conservative legislature overturning localities' laws on minimum wage and improving the environment? Those got residents' attention but good. North Carolina is definitely in play for the Democrats this fall, although it will take work. Voters may not be as reactionary as their bought and paid for state government might make it appear.
9
Our working and middle class families have been harmed by trade deals made by and for the rich. We've lost generations of productive knowledge to outsourcing. Lives have been cut short due to worry and addiction. We're not crazy, we know what's been done to us. At least Trump acknowledges it. If Democrats want to tell the victims of free trade that they'really just butthurt, racist losers, that's their business. But it might not be a winning campaign strategy.
9
Trump only acknowledges the trade deals FOR NOW -- But he'll forget it as soon as he's (God forbid!) elected.
EVER WONDER WHERE ALL HIS TRUMP MERCHANDISE IS MADE????
Hint.
It's NOT America.
EVER WONDER WHERE ALL HIS TRUMP MERCHANDISE IS MADE????
Hint.
It's NOT America.
1
Too late, Billary and Lynch just put Donny T in the White House. Way to go, you arrogant duplicitous jerks.
4
I wish I could figure out this "political correctness" meme. I really cannot figure out what it means to so many people, mostly white people though Dr Good Hands Carson is in love with this linguistically bankrupt phrase. From other sites I have gotten the great phrase substitution of "treating people with respect" or "political realism" for "political correctness". Try it out. When Dr Good Hands says "Black lives matter is political correctness run amok" try "Black lives matter is treating people with respect run amok or political realism run amok". Somebody told me people have been fired over political correctness, Bull hockey! There is no human resources handbook that mentions political correctness. Sure, call your Hispanic co-worker a wet back and you might be let go. But don't cry political correctness when basically you are a jerk and a menace to productivity. As for the out of work coal miners and factory workers, that is a big problem. Trump says he is going to bring back the 1950's, I heard a report of an out-of-work steel worker shout in a bar '"I don't care if he is a racist, if he will just bring back one steel mill". The Donald is not bringing back steel mill jobs or re-opening the coal mines, but we may have to let him try. We need a big WPA program or a universal basic income for people whose parents and grand parents and left behind factory workers built this country. Honestly, we owe them. Now how we pay for a WPA or a UBI? Gulp!
6
You obviously have no problem with "the Donald" being endorsed by the KKK.
P.S.
You won't get back your steel mill.
P.S.
You won't get back your steel mill.
Dear Editors of the New York Times,
Your question and analyses are incorrect. How does Secretary Clinton run against rabid racism and misogyny while also trying to win angry white voters. Voters who despises minorities, hate immigrants, and blame them for their poor education, career, and voting choices? It's such a contrast; why do the majority of women of any race and minorities agree with progressive politics? Why do those who vote against their best economic and quality of life interests have a blind allegiance to people like Trump?
Your question and analyses are incorrect. How does Secretary Clinton run against rabid racism and misogyny while also trying to win angry white voters. Voters who despises minorities, hate immigrants, and blame them for their poor education, career, and voting choices? It's such a contrast; why do the majority of women of any race and minorities agree with progressive politics? Why do those who vote against their best economic and quality of life interests have a blind allegiance to people like Trump?
3
CLINTON THUMPS TRUMP'S RUMP Hillary's mastery of the facts, years of experience and intelligence will Trump Trump and Thump his Rump. Donald can spew all the insanities and inanities he wishes. He'll get lots of noise from the poisoned Purple Kool Aid bunch who'll swallow anything. Hillary meanwhile has more money and rational strategies. Her organization has been focusing on registering many new voters including lots of them from college campuses. Since Trump is running out of money, is severely understaffed and lacks any discernible strategy other than a polluted stream of consciousness masquerading as political discourse. Trump more closely acts like the late Muhammed Ali, going around after winning fights crowing about being the best and the greatest. Except Donald is having trouble fighting his way out of a paper bag. His giving one speech this week that was well-crafted and delivered will hardly compensate for months of primal screaming that sounds closer to Tarzan of the Apes than a presidential hopeful making his case to the American voters. Maybe he'll get a spot in a side show of a Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum.
5
Donald Trump and his angry blue collar rightwing voting workers are a never ending reminder of the willingness of many American Voters to cut off their nose to spite their face.
Their support of Trump over their anger with a broken system that is in large measure the result of the intransient and anti-worker policies of the rightwing is made all the more ironic since they are largely an instrument of their own plight by voting time after time for the rightwing.
Their support of Trump over their anger with a broken system that is in large measure the result of the intransient and anti-worker policies of the rightwing is made all the more ironic since they are largely an instrument of their own plight by voting time after time for the rightwing.
9
Want to bet Trump releases phony tax returns just before the election when it is too late to actually verify anything?
Given all the financial shenanigans he has already pulled in his campaign its a wonder there is no drum beat of outrage among his supporters or the media for him to release his returns now.
Given all the financial shenanigans he has already pulled in his campaign its a wonder there is no drum beat of outrage among his supporters or the media for him to release his returns now.
6
To the Editors,
Really, yet another "battleground state"? First Iowa, then Ohio, then Florida, all just grist for the media mills to chew upon.
As for North Carolina, aren't these the people that are paranoid about a "Transgender Invasion" of their restrooms?
I think Mr. Trump's got this "battleground" pretty much settled, if that's the case.
Really, yet another "battleground state"? First Iowa, then Ohio, then Florida, all just grist for the media mills to chew upon.
As for North Carolina, aren't these the people that are paranoid about a "Transgender Invasion" of their restrooms?
I think Mr. Trump's got this "battleground" pretty much settled, if that's the case.
1
Most Southerners take it as a given that Washington is a mess. And they blame it on all the politicians. They don't blame it on either party -- they blame it on both. Trump reflects the anger. That's the easy part. Hillary, with apologies to Obama, needs to sell hope and change. That isn't her message. She hasn't differentiated herself from Obama and she can't win on his platform. $5 says Trump wins North Carolina.
4
Hillary Clinton's ads are horrible.
If Trump says something negative about a woman who crossed him, in Clinton's ads is an attack on all women; same for disabled, etc.
Hillary for Prison 2016. This is what half+ the country wants.
If Trump says something negative about a woman who crossed him, in Clinton's ads is an attack on all women; same for disabled, etc.
Hillary for Prison 2016. This is what half+ the country wants.
1
I've been convinced since he announced this is Trump's election to lose. Given his strong polls following unforced errors, naked racism, revelations about corruption & generally offensive behavior, that remains true.
This contest echoes Isaiah Berlin's essay "The Fox and the Hedgehog." "A fox knows many things, a hedgehog knows one important thing." Hillary sees the world through many complicated ideas & experiences. She seems unfocused & frequently changes positions. Her pitch is carefully & dispassionately about her intelligence, wide-ranging experience & cautious temperament.
These things would work for her in any year but this one. Trump, the hedgehog, knows one thing but it's one really big important thing: this is a change election. Trump's determined to be authentic & stand for change. His supporters believe a single powerful thing: the government is corrupt & doesn't care about them. Their precarious economic problems are proof. Trump claims he alone hears their concerns & will fix things.
Trump message is singular: I hear you, you're right this is awful & I alone will fix it. His supporters don't understand everything wrong in their lives - but they feel it. This year, feeling it emotionally overrides all other concerns. On this, Trump is clear as a bell.
Calling Trump a fraud/racist/demagogue doesn't matters to folks who don't feel represented.
The current Hillary campaign is clueless about this & can't compete with it. She must change or she'll lose.
This contest echoes Isaiah Berlin's essay "The Fox and the Hedgehog." "A fox knows many things, a hedgehog knows one important thing." Hillary sees the world through many complicated ideas & experiences. She seems unfocused & frequently changes positions. Her pitch is carefully & dispassionately about her intelligence, wide-ranging experience & cautious temperament.
These things would work for her in any year but this one. Trump, the hedgehog, knows one thing but it's one really big important thing: this is a change election. Trump's determined to be authentic & stand for change. His supporters believe a single powerful thing: the government is corrupt & doesn't care about them. Their precarious economic problems are proof. Trump claims he alone hears their concerns & will fix things.
Trump message is singular: I hear you, you're right this is awful & I alone will fix it. His supporters don't understand everything wrong in their lives - but they feel it. This year, feeling it emotionally overrides all other concerns. On this, Trump is clear as a bell.
Calling Trump a fraud/racist/demagogue doesn't matters to folks who don't feel represented.
The current Hillary campaign is clueless about this & can't compete with it. She must change or she'll lose.
77
Quite simply, many do not trust Ms. Clinton, and no matter how bad Trump is, trust is the biggest issue out there. Ms. Clinton must do more to make it clear she can be trusted and the only way to do that is discard the old ways. In my opinion, Bernie Sanders on her ticket could forge the way, as much as Clinton may find that distasteful.
1
@ fastfurious: En pointe analysis!
2
I don't think she can change, and I hardly ever feel that way about a person. I don't think she wants to change. She wants to pass all that she's amassed, power and wealth, to her daughter and grandchildren. She's not about to become St. Francis.
1
I am afraid that the irrational force that Trump has tapped into will not be conquered by any rational means.
We have all seen this movie before. The crowd gets angry and goes wild and is only tamed after it has caused a considerable amount of damage.
The anger and frustration of the American electorate this year will surely test our democracy in November.
We have all seen this movie before. The crowd gets angry and goes wild and is only tamed after it has caused a considerable amount of damage.
The anger and frustration of the American electorate this year will surely test our democracy in November.
6
Democracy really? Oh that binary thing where u are either blue or red, with me or with the terrorists, on or off....yeah that democracy, the leader of the FreeWorld were America lives on the edges of healthcare and Wall Street exchanges. Happy Independence Day.
1
I voted for Obama. I supported Bernie and now I have switched to Trump. I am that classic minority "gay and of color" and "a college degree and professional" that democrats take for granted. Clinton has failed to address her wall street connections, support for TPP and issues of income inequality and not to mention her record on criminal justice/welfare policies of 90s. Both democrats and republicans have sold out to corporate interests. This election has effectively pushed many democrats like me towards Trump.
3
Two words: Supreme Court. If you are a gay person of color, you'll be very unhappy with the decisions coming down from a court containing a Trump nominee.
1
@coloredqueer, if you believe DJT isn't cut from the same cloth, only consider his recent brazen pandering to the NRA, the epitome of special interest groups, suggesting it would be a "beautiful sight" if an armed club patron had shot the Orlando shooter between the eyes.
The NRA had to walk back the ludicrous suggestion, pointing out that not only would it violate state and federal laws, but common sense: even they don't want people packing firearms in a club where alcohol is served.
DJT doesn't care about offering actual implementable solutions, only about selling a pipe-dream, a placebo that only makes the electorate feel better.....
The NRA had to walk back the ludicrous suggestion, pointing out that not only would it violate state and federal laws, but common sense: even they don't want people packing firearms in a club where alcohol is served.
DJT doesn't care about offering actual implementable solutions, only about selling a pipe-dream, a placebo that only makes the electorate feel better.....
2
A nearly two page spread in our local paper this morning discussed the resurgence of the KKK in America, especially in Mississippi, North Carolina and Arkansas. I wonder which candidate is most inspirational to them!
10
Trump's idea of "Old Style Politics"=
No campaign offices
No campaign volunteers
No campaign monies
No platform
No advisers
No experience
Welcome to the Brave New World.
No campaign offices
No campaign volunteers
No campaign monies
No platform
No advisers
No experience
Welcome to the Brave New World.
4
What about an appeal to patriotism? President Kennedy said "Ask not what the country can do for you, ask what you can do for the country." The country is in great danger. Among those dangers is Donald Trump. Kennedy created the Peace Corps, Roosevelt created the Conservation Corps. These agencies engaged people in action.
Trump has a rally and people go away feeling a swell of patriotism and that Trump will secure them from harm by building walls, by keeping Muslims out of the country, by canceling trade agreements, etc. But other than engaging toughs to keep opponents at bay, Trump does not engage the people in the manner of Kennedy.
Trump has a rally and people go away feeling a swell of patriotism and that Trump will secure them from harm by building walls, by keeping Muslims out of the country, by canceling trade agreements, etc. But other than engaging toughs to keep opponents at bay, Trump does not engage the people in the manner of Kennedy.
3
The GOP and America are whistling Dixie if they think Trump would actually PRESIDE over the duties one expects a President to handle.
Once in the White House, he'll return to his important Trump branding and filing and responding to lawsuits, including the biggest one on hand, dealing with the massive fraud charges and class action lawsuit against his phony Trump University.
So while he's in court and on Twitter and Facebook, and flying around the world to try and prop up his brand and seek constant new "Trump Deals," he'll turn the running of America over to the Trump Kids and there won't be a thing we can do about it.
It's one thing to be belligerent and NOT like the politicians you elected, it's quite another to put this egomaniac in charge of anything!!!
That's just another reason I'm With Her...
Once in the White House, he'll return to his important Trump branding and filing and responding to lawsuits, including the biggest one on hand, dealing with the massive fraud charges and class action lawsuit against his phony Trump University.
So while he's in court and on Twitter and Facebook, and flying around the world to try and prop up his brand and seek constant new "Trump Deals," he'll turn the running of America over to the Trump Kids and there won't be a thing we can do about it.
It's one thing to be belligerent and NOT like the politicians you elected, it's quite another to put this egomaniac in charge of anything!!!
That's just another reason I'm With Her...
8
Barbie,
Please don't use " I'm with her". That tone deaf slogan sadly represents Hillary's campaign. She, so far, seems able only to hear the roar of the crowd who loves her, rather than hearing the plights of others and bringing them to her. That slogan sounds good to her but turns off those who see her as uncaring about them. What savvy pol would use a slogan to turn anyone off?
Please don't use " I'm with her". That tone deaf slogan sadly represents Hillary's campaign. She, so far, seems able only to hear the roar of the crowd who loves her, rather than hearing the plights of others and bringing them to her. That slogan sounds good to her but turns off those who see her as uncaring about them. What savvy pol would use a slogan to turn anyone off?
1
Magpie, sorry, I just thought that was nicer than saying "Dump Trump!"
So many voters have their minds made up, regardless of what she says or does, or what he says or does -- kind of mind-boggling. Hope she can pivot and capture the undecided voters...
So many voters have their minds made up, regardless of what she says or does, or what he says or does -- kind of mind-boggling. Hope she can pivot and capture the undecided voters...
Magpie, the slogan was designed to counter polls that showed a reluctance of young white male democratic voters to side with HRC (vs Sanders), a play on the old stereotypical, "she's with me" misogynistic sexist attitude of women as mere possessions of some male.
Perhaps you've been listening to Fox et al, but it's not a reflection of her ego, but designed to overcome the old sexist tendency to think of women as "with" a man....
That said, it is a bit esoteric concept for most voters (i.e. It's elitist language), which ironically may be the Achilles heel of this election: HLC talks over the heads of many people in her audience, whereas DJT doesn't.
Perhaps you've been listening to Fox et al, but it's not a reflection of her ego, but designed to overcome the old sexist tendency to think of women as "with" a man....
That said, it is a bit esoteric concept for most voters (i.e. It's elitist language), which ironically may be the Achilles heel of this election: HLC talks over the heads of many people in her audience, whereas DJT doesn't.
2
Donald Trump releases the worst instincts among a justifiably disgruntled electorate by scapegoating constituencies more victimized than culpable. If he should win, the aftermath of the Brexit vote should provude insight into what might happen here.
In Britain, xenophobia and bigotry have been given the patina of respectability as immigrants are now routinely subjected to street-level insults, taunts and intimidation. Following a dreaded Trump victory in November,we can expect similar results here. The difference here is that our bigots carry loaded guns.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
In Britain, xenophobia and bigotry have been given the patina of respectability as immigrants are now routinely subjected to street-level insults, taunts and intimidation. Following a dreaded Trump victory in November,we can expect similar results here. The difference here is that our bigots carry loaded guns.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
10
It is unthinkable that THE essential nation in the postwar period, one which has taken its huge responsibilities largely seriously, should suffer this overreaction to its own relatively minor shortcomings so radically.
But many of my 'ANGRY' acquaintances seem more than ready to blow up the house to solve the termite problem.
Shameful.... Irresponsible.... Cannot be allowed to happen....
Are they tired of the responsibilities of leadership... of democracy ? Too lazy ? Too uncaring ?? Too easily led and full of hate and blame ??
Is thinking too hard ? Is caring too hard ?? Is adapting and becoming more productive too hard ??
'They' are an embarrassment and 'we' should declare a war on their antipathy.
'They' are among the most privileged people in history.... and if they want to throw reason out the window and allow their pique to dominate, they will pay a very steep price, indeed....
They get no sympathy from me....
But many of my 'ANGRY' acquaintances seem more than ready to blow up the house to solve the termite problem.
Shameful.... Irresponsible.... Cannot be allowed to happen....
Are they tired of the responsibilities of leadership... of democracy ? Too lazy ? Too uncaring ?? Too easily led and full of hate and blame ??
Is thinking too hard ? Is caring too hard ?? Is adapting and becoming more productive too hard ??
'They' are an embarrassment and 'we' should declare a war on their antipathy.
'They' are among the most privileged people in history.... and if they want to throw reason out the window and allow their pique to dominate, they will pay a very steep price, indeed....
They get no sympathy from me....
5
Wow! Compassion could triumph over all this judgment. Word like this are fuel to that angry fire.
2
There is only one reson why anyone would vote for a bufoon like Trump: to stick a thumb in the eye of the establishment. This of course is misguided as that
boorish lout's money makes him one of the 1%.
boorish lout's money makes him one of the 1%.
5
It was old-style politics that beat Bernie Sanders in the primary. It seems that when it comes to getting out the vote, it's still about the ground game.
1
Every time I read news about Trump's popularity and outright dismissiveness of the competent and "right-on-the issue" Clinton, I am overcome with deep anger mixed with disgust and sadness.
ANGER at right-winged, self-serving organizations like the NRA who buy and control our politicians. What in the world does the NRA know about Benghazi or anything for that matter other than how to turn myopic members into a sinister cult?
DISGUST with so many mindless voters hoodwinked by speciousness who cheer hate-filled nonsense and have no capacity to recognize sloganeering and lameness on the campaign trail or in government.
SADNESS that we have allowed our government officials to become puppets controlled by narrow special interest groups run by the very few. Rather than working to protect us and to advance a civil and functional society, our federal, state and local governments proactively advance the gun violence epidemic, the flow of toxic drinking water, and the massive destructive of our environment --- witness the current algae disaster in St. Lucie County as but one example among so many.
ANGER at right-winged, self-serving organizations like the NRA who buy and control our politicians. What in the world does the NRA know about Benghazi or anything for that matter other than how to turn myopic members into a sinister cult?
DISGUST with so many mindless voters hoodwinked by speciousness who cheer hate-filled nonsense and have no capacity to recognize sloganeering and lameness on the campaign trail or in government.
SADNESS that we have allowed our government officials to become puppets controlled by narrow special interest groups run by the very few. Rather than working to protect us and to advance a civil and functional society, our federal, state and local governments proactively advance the gun violence epidemic, the flow of toxic drinking water, and the massive destructive of our environment --- witness the current algae disaster in St. Lucie County as but one example among so many.
5
America is going to elect a buffoon and he will destroy this country.
4
I really do not think old style politics will work here. She is trying to keep the high ground however for the good of America it's time to take the gloves off and call him out on everything he ever did.
5
Do not make the mistake that we have in England of believing a self aggrandising blowhard with a pompadour and no plan or policy ! Is all sounded great until Brexit actually happened, 1 billion was wiped off the financial world, the U.K. Is in utter chaos & everyone now realises they were had.
Trump is the same, and probably worse. Look at the state of England now & save yourselves from lying, ignorant politicians that are great at rallying big crowds into a frenzy... And nothing else.
Trump is the same, and probably worse. Look at the state of England now & save yourselves from lying, ignorant politicians that are great at rallying big crowds into a frenzy... And nothing else.
11
Someone made a comment that I found relevant if true: the voters for Brexit didn't lose that money, they didn't have money to lose. The people who lost the money are those who profited from Globalization.
I'll add, in those circumstances those with nothing might profit a bit. Home prices fall, more government programs.
The same could happen in this country, only those profiting from the status quo will lose if we change the status quo, and those who profit seem to be a minority. I don't think Trump will win, but eventually the inequality needs to addressed.
I'll add, in those circumstances those with nothing might profit a bit. Home prices fall, more government programs.
The same could happen in this country, only those profiting from the status quo will lose if we change the status quo, and those who profit seem to be a minority. I don't think Trump will win, but eventually the inequality needs to addressed.
1
I think Trump's popularity is dependent only on Hillary Clinton. If Trump was running against someone less controversial than Hillary & Bill then Trump would hardly be noticed.
Speaking of old-style politics, wasn't it George Wallace who ran his wife, Lurlene, successfully for Governor of Alabama when George could no longer run?
Speaking of old-style politics, wasn't it George Wallace who ran his wife, Lurlene, successfully for Governor of Alabama when George could no longer run?
Everybody has advice for Hillary. If the press would only document Trump's outrageous lies and behavior, her course might be easier.
9
41% of this country believe man walked with dinosaurs. Not surprising Trump is polling within this margin of the "poorly educated".
9
Although even 24 hours can be a long time in politics, I think the idea that between now and Election Day Trump might do or say something so appalling and terrifying that the Curiel attacks and Orlando tweets might pale in comparison and cause any of his supporters to have second thoughts, is no longer even a remote possibility; This goes ditto for any financial and fiscal revelations. You are either "for or agin" him. There might still be a few "sitting on the fence" among the Republican establishment who are frantically trying to calculate where their interests lie, but I don't expect Trump's numbers to change significantly between now and the election. His base will vote for guns and God, and against "Big Guv'mint," foreigners, and abortion and they're not changing their minds anytime soon.
3
"...aggrieved working class voters" Trump has the strength, focus and shrewdness to help these voters. Warts and all he seems to love the USA.
1
This presumes that the ignorant cannot recoginise dumb and stupid. However, Trump automatically slips into his trance of "whatever" and blathers. Even people who are anti-trade shop at WalMart and secretly have a sense that "free trade" likely matters and unbridled isolationism is unworkable unless you're a mushroom. So, the question is are there 50% of voters in NC ignorant to an extent to turn the reigns of government over to a blathering idiot incapable of holding a reliable thought without stepping on his logo.
4
Terry:
Nowhere but in your comment and a few like it have I read that Trump is against free trade. Why do you say he is? He proposes smarter trade agreements which are not big regional packages.
Nowhere but in your comment and a few like it have I read that Trump is against free trade. Why do you say he is? He proposes smarter trade agreements which are not big regional packages.
1
Clinton as the Democratic presidential candidate in 2016 is not inevitable......yet.
If she is incapable of pulling ahead of Trump in the next few weeks, in my opinion, she should withdraw voluntarily before, or at the convention. That would be the honourable thing to do.
There are many Democratic politicians who could thump the Donald.
If she is incapable of pulling ahead of Trump in the next few weeks, in my opinion, she should withdraw voluntarily before, or at the convention. That would be the honourable thing to do.
There are many Democratic politicians who could thump the Donald.
2
With Trump, it's a street fight.
Act like it.
Act like it.
1
"Mr. Trump, who is largely depending on rallies, Twitter and free media promotion..." The last of which the Times has disgracefully provided over and over again. Way beyond what normal coverage would be.
3
This election is remarkably focusing the power that racism, sexism, and poor education have our on system of democracy. It's a clear choice, a woman who has concrete rational plans, an incredible amount of experience. strong connections, etc. .... or a huckster who's made his career scamming people with false promises who appeals to their racism and sense of injured masculinity.
6
This election needs to be considered in the context of an historic global popular shift to the far right. That makes all calculations based on previous elections more or less irrelevant, and conjectures about D.T. destroying himself nothing more than wishful thinking. He is part of a new and highly dangerous political tidal wave. Hillary is absolutely the wrong choice to hold it back, and by choosing her, the Democratic party will have consigned itself--and our country--to oblivion.
2
She has to be very specific about how she would help dispossessed, out of work or in low paid job people who live all across the rural areas of NC. They are desperate and need to see some way out. Bernie Sanders connected with those people. Hillary does not unless she does something. Funny, having spent time in Arkansas, you'd think she'd be willing to gut a fish or milk a cow to show she's not just some hoity toity.
No mush talk. Specifics for the white dispossessed. Now!
No mush talk. Specifics for the white dispossessed. Now!
34
Yes, Bernie touched that nerve but he had no specific remedies to offer either. Truth is, it's not just POTUS who can unilaterally provide meaningful jobs, affordable health care (and not just another insurance company scheme), and all the rest. You need a working (emphasis on working) federal Congress, functional state governments and a much less greedy corporate environment.
Democrats and Independents must get out and VOTE in November, for all offices up and down the ticket. And just remember, who do you want to fill that vacant Supreme Court position or have fingers on the nuclear code? Trump? God forbid.
Democrats and Independents must get out and VOTE in November, for all offices up and down the ticket. And just remember, who do you want to fill that vacant Supreme Court position or have fingers on the nuclear code? Trump? God forbid.
2
"She has to be very specific about how she would help dispossessed, out of work or in low paid job people who live all across the rural areas of NC. They are desperate"
So -- she has got to lie to them, and make them believe it with some stunt like milking a cow.
That really isn't the problem.
So -- she has got to lie to them, and make them believe it with some stunt like milking a cow.
That really isn't the problem.
3
For too many years both parties have served the interest of the donor class and not voters. The widespread belief of campaign professionals is that winners drive the base to the polls and money is the critical success factor.
Trump is with us because he engages working class whites with the vocabulary and ideas of a third grader and it's working. Hillary continues her conventional campaign in the year of the Brexit.
Trump is with us because he engages working class whites with the vocabulary and ideas of a third grader and it's working. Hillary continues her conventional campaign in the year of the Brexit.
2
It's very frustrating that these "disaffected blue-collar workers and rural residents" don't realize their salvation is with the Democratic party. As long as we put Republicans in charge of the executive and legislative branch, both state and national, the problems of poor and working-class Americans will not be addressed.
5
Freud said that the human mind is not rational. The world never forgave him for his insight.
Unless something changes, this election is not about the facts.
Unless something changes, this election is not about the facts.
6
This may be addressed down thread, but where is the front-page headline about Trump's illegal solicitation of campaign funds from foreign nationals - British and Scottish MPS as well as Aussies and Danes? It is black letter law that this forbidden. Why a pass on this from the Gray Lady, yet a lot of Sturm und Drang about Bill talking to Loretta Lynch about his grandkids.
5
With shock and horror we looked upon the votes coming in as the Leavers won and are now taking the UK out of the EU. Many of those voters were white working class English women and men angry about government, feeling left behind and also feeling threatened by foreigners and modern life. They needed to pin a lot of their problems on someone and the EU was the perfect target. Forget that much of the inequality in this country is related to policies coming from London and not Brussels. Forget rationality, facts, well thought out arguments. They did not work well enough. They worked in Scotland, London, Northern Ireland and a few other areas in the UK but not in the heartlands of England or Wales. They worked among those with university educations but not at all with those with only secondary school qualifications. I don' have a suggestion for the Clinton campaign to follow except it needs to be less intellectual and more emotional, more passionate. The Leave campaign here was passionate in their lies and a few key political headline adverts became impossible to circumvent: Make Britain Great Again, Take Back Our County, £350 million More for the NHS, Don't let Brussels Make Our Laws. Our version of Trump, Boris Johnson, won the day. His personality and larger than life persona won the argument and yet today he is disgraced so quickly after the referendum. If Trump wins, and I feel it very possible given the dynamics of the US at the moment, it will be more dangerous for us all
68
"Forget that much of the inequality in this country is related to policies coming from London and not Brussels."
Do not forget that voting Leave was voting against both of the parties in London. The leadership of both parties campaigned for Remain. Both were rejected. That is the message, as much or more than the action regarding Brussels.
Do not forget that voting Leave was voting against both of the parties in London. The leadership of both parties campaigned for Remain. Both were rejected. That is the message, as much or more than the action regarding Brussels.
1
"Meaty", "policy oriented", and "thoughtful", but evidently not enough for, of all places, the NYT. Clinton does not do "rousing" because people complain she is shrill. If trump is elected because "rousing" overcomes "racist" and without any meat, policy, or thought, it will not be Ms. Clinton's fault, and America will Get what it deserves (and voted for). Sad!
4
Bill Clinton knew that his meeting with Attorney General Lynch was completely inappropriate. But he deliberately forced himself on the Attorney general to show her that she does not matter. He wanted to show her that only he matters. He wanted to let her know that he wants a favorable outcome for Hillary in the ongoing investigations and he put her in a difficult position to make his point that he is powerful.
Did Hillary know what he was doing? Probably yes, she likely put him up to it.
Do you really want this person in the White House?
Did Hillary know what he was doing? Probably yes, she likely put him up to it.
Do you really want this person in the White House?
5
It indeed is difficult to fight common sense which Trump is using?
1
It is inconceivable that any US voter is currently undecided between HRC and DT.
Thus, all the appeals need to be toward those who would sit out the election or give a "protest vote" to a non-viable candidate.
Thus, all the appeals need to be toward those who would sit out the election or give a "protest vote" to a non-viable candidate.
3
The Democrats made two big errors this week. One was the meeting between Bill Clinton and Loretta Lynch which contributed to the dishonesty issue with Hillary. The other was the transgender policy change in the military. It is not politically correct but the average Joe on the street thinks of the fighting military as a man thing and not a place for wimps or women pretending to be men.
1
Once again the MYT today is putting votes imto the Trump box. Like yesterday (when I began to count) there was more exposure for Trump than Clinton. Yesterday 3 against 0 for Hillary; today 4 against 0 for Hillary. Even though the reporting may show him as the dangerous idiot that he is, the effect is strong paychologically of keeping his (ugly) face and name in the public eye and subconscious. It's called free publicity and may get him elected!
4
To be perfectly candid, I don't think that Donald Trump believes what he is espousing at his rallies or in his teleprompter speeches. I find it disgraceful as to how he badmouths people who don't agree with his rhetoric, which appears to flip flop from moment to moment. I try to follow his line of reasoning and policy advancements, but I get lost in his poor delivery and bombastic language. Woe is to us if the American public falls for this SALESMAN who exploits our intelligence for his own personal advantage!
2
After steamrolling ahead blinders up, with the Clinton 2.0 Coronation, it is a little late now to be paying attention to consequences of such closemindedness.
5
A lot of this is really Bernie's fault. The whole election could be broken wide open if Bernie would come out with a full-throated endorsement of Hillary. It is his responsibility to do that, and if he does not, and if Trump winds up winning, he is the one who will have caused it. By not endorsing her, he continues to implicitly send the message that she is not worthy, hence, all of this nonsense from radical Sanders supporters.
6
Old-Style politics? Not necessary. Donald Trump will defeat Donald Trump. Just watch...........
4
How can Hillary possible appeal to the hard core Trump Supporters who attend his rallies and cheer when he talks of building a wall and banning Muslims from entering this country? Moreover, why should she? Trump has appealed and given voice to the ugliest and darkest side of the American people. The same appeal that Father Coughlin had as well as the Klu Klux Klan and George Wallace. They have been seething silently for a long time believing that the more outwardly civilized and politically correct elected Tea Party and Conservative elected officials would accomplish the task of making America White Again. But in Donald Trump they have a candidate that announces loudly and proudly all of his hate for all those who are different. Why should Hillary try to appeal to them ? What needs to be said and broadcast is that there is no place for people like Donald Trump and his aberrant views and racist misogynist talk as well as those that cheer him on!
2
The task of converting anger into enthusiasm for solutions is a tall order for Mrs. Clinton, who objectively looks rather staid compared with Trump's fire in the belly.
2
Trump will beat himself. That's the only way Clinton will win. Speaking as the proverbial lifelong Democrat -- and my life has been long -- I have not seen a less attractive candidate of our party. Her liberalism is a half-hearted veneer. (Can a veneer be half-hearted?) I'd like to be enthusiastic about our Democratic nominee -- but with Clinton, what is there to be enthusiastic about?
3
Its a shame neither party paid any attention --or in the case of the Democrats, pointedly ignored-- the undercurrent of resistance to the two candidates we will apparently have the pleasure of choosing between in November. At least the Republicans bowed to the anti-dynasty pressure and allowed JEB! to be eased out the back door. But they let Trump in before the door closed and Donald did the heavy work of ushering Bush the Younger over the threshold. So now the Republicans are treating Trump like stick of dynamite with a lit fuse that, the rules of the game say, can't be allowed to touch the ground, or the Democrats win by default. The goal? Don't be the one holding him when he goes off.
But Hillary has an industrial-size drum of tiara polish and an unlimited supply of buffing cloths. Tarnish is, after all, only skin deep, in a manner of speaking. She certainly has the smarts, the wile, the cunning. Even Republicans in large numbers agree with that. But there are cracks in the crown, and tarnish invades, beyond the reach of cleanser and rag.
Enter Gary Johnson, late of New Mexico. Former governor with a tight fist and veto pen on full-automatic. A likable enough guy, if you have all your needs taken care of and don't expect any in the future. There is much to like about the Libertarian philosophy. And just as much to fear. It sounds great from the individual's perspective. From the group's, not so much. And the larger the group, the less appealing it is.
But Hillary has an industrial-size drum of tiara polish and an unlimited supply of buffing cloths. Tarnish is, after all, only skin deep, in a manner of speaking. She certainly has the smarts, the wile, the cunning. Even Republicans in large numbers agree with that. But there are cracks in the crown, and tarnish invades, beyond the reach of cleanser and rag.
Enter Gary Johnson, late of New Mexico. Former governor with a tight fist and veto pen on full-automatic. A likable enough guy, if you have all your needs taken care of and don't expect any in the future. There is much to like about the Libertarian philosophy. And just as much to fear. It sounds great from the individual's perspective. From the group's, not so much. And the larger the group, the less appealing it is.
3
If Trump voters are angry now, just wait until they elect him and he doesn't deliver on any of his promises, because he can't. How will they act as no jobs are repatriated, gun violence and terrorist acts continue unabated and they see his imperial presidency entourage leading the high life while the cost of everything imported has increased from tarriffs and regulations? Will it be pitchforks and AR-15's to the White House?
4
So, duck, for whom should they vote?
1
Opinions matter to the one giving them. Trump tosses them around as insults, where he cajoles you to agree. Where does insulting individuals get anyone? Not too far in my perspective.
And policy? "We're looking into that." Or "I have many people who will take care of that."
There is only so much that can be delegated and a President owns it all. Policy becomes legislated acts or executive enforcements. What's important is the direction these take.
I see Trump as restrictive, Clinton as constructive. I need nothing more to decide: Clinton gets my vote.
And policy? "We're looking into that." Or "I have many people who will take care of that."
There is only so much that can be delegated and a President owns it all. Policy becomes legislated acts or executive enforcements. What's important is the direction these take.
I see Trump as restrictive, Clinton as constructive. I need nothing more to decide: Clinton gets my vote.
6
The most effective strategy for Mrs. Clinton -- a charismatic-deficit establishment candidate -- is to let Trump be Trump.
Let Senator Warren to continue to get into Donald's huge ego. Force Donald to air disparate ideas in his stand up gig/rallies.
Donald Trump will be defeated by Donald Trump. He is GOP's terminator and god send from heaven to a bruised Democratic party.
Let Senator Warren to continue to get into Donald's huge ego. Force Donald to air disparate ideas in his stand up gig/rallies.
Donald Trump will be defeated by Donald Trump. He is GOP's terminator and god send from heaven to a bruised Democratic party.
3
Hillary has two major problems:
1. She and the DNC (and MSM) have completely underestimated - nay, dismissed - the pent up anger of many Americans at the status quo, and she is the poster child of the status quo.
2. She is thought by a majority to be dishonest and untrustworthy. This week's "meeting" between her husband and the AG simply compounds that image.
Given these two problems, no matter who her opponent is she's going to have difficulty, as evidenced by the completely inept campaign Trump is running, and yet he's hanging with her. If the Republicans are smart, they'll dump Trump and run someone at least semi-capable, and that will put Hillary's quest in jeopardy.
1. She and the DNC (and MSM) have completely underestimated - nay, dismissed - the pent up anger of many Americans at the status quo, and she is the poster child of the status quo.
2. She is thought by a majority to be dishonest and untrustworthy. This week's "meeting" between her husband and the AG simply compounds that image.
Given these two problems, no matter who her opponent is she's going to have difficulty, as evidenced by the completely inept campaign Trump is running, and yet he's hanging with her. If the Republicans are smart, they'll dump Trump and run someone at least semi-capable, and that will put Hillary's quest in jeopardy.
7
For the reasons you cited her quest is in jeopardy even with Trump.
2
People really do not change. Both Hillary and Trump are awful candidates for President. So, each needs a running mate who would attract voters. Elizabeth Warren would be the best pick for Mrs. Clinton. Bernie Sanders would be the best pick for Donald, but he's not a Republican, and besides, Sanders can't stand Trump.
If Trump wins, the main reason will be that the news media have underestimated him from the beginning, and have insulted his supporters without trying to figure out why they support Donald. Hint: they are tired of policies which help the elites but hurt white people who are not rich.
Trump's supporters are racist. But so are Hillary's.
I still hope I can vote for either Bernie or Elizabeth, for President.
[Submitted on July 2 at 6:35 am.]
If Trump wins, the main reason will be that the news media have underestimated him from the beginning, and have insulted his supporters without trying to figure out why they support Donald. Hint: they are tired of policies which help the elites but hurt white people who are not rich.
Trump's supporters are racist. But so are Hillary's.
I still hope I can vote for either Bernie or Elizabeth, for President.
[Submitted on July 2 at 6:35 am.]
3
The Democratic Party rejected Bernie sanders outright because of an imaginary fear of his inelectability, and now they're legitimately worried the candidate of no change and more of the same will lose to a former pro wrestling character, time for these neo-libs to learn calling working people stupid while sipping martinis and Starbucks from an ivory tower will get you no where
5
What is this preoccupation with North Carolina that the Times seems to be focusing on latel!y?! Do the staffers want to leave their love of Brooklyn and join me in the Tar Heel State like I do?! Since all politics is local and my sleeve will always be in the southern Brooklyn, my concern right now is which candidate for President will help this new generally Republican led state clean up the mess on 77 between southern Statesville and Huntersville! If Hilary of the Donald looks like the one to complete that bankrupt construction project, they will probably get this Independents' vote! And it was a South American construction company that was chosen for the project! Indeed it will be a lot closer than us supposedly well educated and inclined for Hilary think!
1
Here we go again. Forced to vote for a candidate who doesn't make the grade to keep a bullying philandering monster out of the white house. And to think that the candidate I prefer has to raise money to send to Philadelphia sympathetic delegates who have to take time away from jobs and can't afford to get there on their own. What kind of democracy is this? You have to be affluent to participate in the convention. The Republicans are on the verge of nominating someone who in no way supports their values. The Democrats have such a rigged structure their candidate is assured nomination before the primaries begin. Washington is ruled by PACs and lobbyists' largesse. I don't feel hopeful.
10
Hillary Clinton got more votes than Bernie Sanders. Probably because she is by far the better candidate. End of controversy.
9
I smell some Wishful Thinking here. If Mr. Trump fizzles out before Labor Day, you people are going to have to get off your expansive rear ends and hunt up some Domestic News; on the Foreign Front, I’m sure the ISIS-Lunatics will provide you with Daily Doses of their Mental Illness.
Face it, Mr. Nixon was right in 1962 when, after losing to Pat Brown, I think, he said, “You won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore.”. The only difference was that Mr. Nixon suffered the mental illness of Paranoia, whereas Mr. Trump knows exactly what he is doing.
Would it be too “Over the Top” to conclude “The-Donald” is running for Der Fuehrer?
Face it, Mr. Nixon was right in 1962 when, after losing to Pat Brown, I think, he said, “You won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore.”. The only difference was that Mr. Nixon suffered the mental illness of Paranoia, whereas Mr. Trump knows exactly what he is doing.
Would it be too “Over the Top” to conclude “The-Donald” is running for Der Fuehrer?
There is no reason to trust Hillary. She is being swallowed up in her email scandal while one scandal continues to follow the other despite the best efforts of this paper to ignore them.
Hillary is massively corrupt. Bill is massively corrupt. Together they build a fortune of over 230 million dollars to launder money called the. Clinton Foundation. Foreign operatives gave millions to the Clinton Foundation and received favors from Secretary of State Clinton.
Her son in law, whose father was in prison for corruption , received inside information for his hedge fund company.
She put a donor on a national security committee with Brent Scowcroft! No mention in the article about the security clearance of this guy.
Each day a new wrinkle is revealed. Is it any wonder that Hillary is floundering?
The DNC and Wasserman -Schultz are being sued for fraud by the law firm Beck & Lee in Miami on behalf of Sanders supporters and others who believe ,rightfully, the DNC conspired to give the nomination to Hillary before the primaries even started. Some of their evidence comes from the Romanian cabbie who hacked into Hillary's email and found a cache of emails revealing the conspiracy.
I am terrified of Hillary and her cult of fanatical supporters who refuse to acknowledge what the rest of us do: she is a white colar sociopath who habitually breaks the law.
Unless the DNC replaces Hilary , Trump will beat her in November.
Hillary is massively corrupt. Bill is massively corrupt. Together they build a fortune of over 230 million dollars to launder money called the. Clinton Foundation. Foreign operatives gave millions to the Clinton Foundation and received favors from Secretary of State Clinton.
Her son in law, whose father was in prison for corruption , received inside information for his hedge fund company.
She put a donor on a national security committee with Brent Scowcroft! No mention in the article about the security clearance of this guy.
Each day a new wrinkle is revealed. Is it any wonder that Hillary is floundering?
The DNC and Wasserman -Schultz are being sued for fraud by the law firm Beck & Lee in Miami on behalf of Sanders supporters and others who believe ,rightfully, the DNC conspired to give the nomination to Hillary before the primaries even started. Some of their evidence comes from the Romanian cabbie who hacked into Hillary's email and found a cache of emails revealing the conspiracy.
I am terrified of Hillary and her cult of fanatical supporters who refuse to acknowledge what the rest of us do: she is a white colar sociopath who habitually breaks the law.
Unless the DNC replaces Hilary , Trump will beat her in November.
8
Please provide examples of when Hillary Clinton actually broke the law. Be sure to include when she was arrested, what the charges were, and when she was found guilty and punished.
Otherwise, you're just another Republican victim of wishful thinking and poor Google skills.
Otherwise, you're just another Republican victim of wishful thinking and poor Google skills.
5
Tut, Tut, David. What are you? Another Hillary supporter who can't make a point without talking down to someone? That's one reason you are " with her" and others aren't.
2
Everyone knows Hillary is corrupt, rigged the primaries and is under criminal investigation being influenced by Obama and Lynch. Sure, she would avoid prison but she certainly will not win this election despite the attempts by mainstream media and globalist elites to fool masses who have woken up to the corrupt politicians like her.
1
I've long felt that Hillary's campaign slogan should be, "Rebuild America," embodying both hope, and concrete proposals to put people back to work on restoring our infrastructure.
She'll never convert the angry white men who support Trump, but she can inspire those on the fence, the undecided, the disappointed Sanders supporters.
Above all she can – and must – give people a reason to vote on Election Day.
She'll never convert the angry white men who support Trump, but she can inspire those on the fence, the undecided, the disappointed Sanders supporters.
Above all she can – and must – give people a reason to vote on Election Day.
8
Secretary Clinton would be well served by taking lessons in public speaking. Perhaps she already has, but she still needs to learn how to speak to voters' hearts. She knows how to speak to our heads, but there is national hunger for someone who will inspire us. Trump appeals to our worst emotions. She must appeal to our best and learn how to lift our spirits. Although she isn't a natural politician, she surely has the intelligence to develop more effective oratorical skills. The ability to speak in poetry would also serve her well as president, during the inevitable dark times.
10
After all these years, assume Hillary Clinton has studied with the best voice coaches money can buy. For all we know, she's now a hundred times better speaker than she was five or 10 years ago. She just has no talent for it unlike, say, Obama, who was seemingly born knowing how to give a great speech. Listening to her being interviewed or speaking off script, my impression is that she has no real interest in language, which plays a part in her being wooden and uninspiring. Just because someone is intelligent doesn't mean they're interested in or attuned to the sound and meaning of words. And news reports about the authors and genres she likes to reads support the idea she's tone-deaf to language as some people are tone-deaf to music.
1
I don't see the Brand Name giving the Democratic candidate trouble, but the American news media is SO devoid of talent and professionalism, the seemingly endless back and forth will tarnish the rest of the year, already having stolen part of the summer and all of the spring, 2016. The Brand Name just repeats his looping display of ignorance. A statement for The Brand Namee: "You are not only wrong in everything you say and suggest and infer, you are wrong at the top of your voice!" Life for any responsible citizen/voter has been made a nightmare with the media's endless broadcasting of the ranting garbage of the Brand Name. The Brand Name is definitive junk mail. Discard it. Do NOT recycle it.
2
Real Democrats i.e. those who still believe the word democracy means something unlike the present Democratic Party which has had a presumptive nominee since 2008 for 2016 and did it's darnedest to sideline Bernie Sanders, should write in Sanders name in November as a mass exercise in civil disobedience. Saying that Hill should be elected because she's the less awful of the two candidates isn't good enough, as the Clintons have taken contributions from Trump in the past. The American 99% have been sold down the river in this election.
3
No mention here that I can see of the role of Bernie Sanders in helping Clinton get elected and win over his voters. According to Bernie and some of his voters, it's up to Clinton to win them over. Instead of making decisions in their own interest, with their own brains, they are looking to be courted and seduced while Rome burns and Trump moves toward triumph. Sad! Hope it's not Tragic!
4
Hillary spoke at the NC State Fairgrounds Expo Building, to 2,000 folks, but the capacity for the building is 3,500. Trump spoke at the Fairgrounds at Dorton Arena to 6,000 (capacity) with over a thousand overflow. ( I own a business at the Fairgrounds). What does that tell you?
4
It tells us what we all already know. People always coalesce around the lowest common denominator.
1
That P. T. Barnum was right?
3
David,
Are you not a "people"?
Are you not a "people"?
1
Some perspective. It's 2016 and the race for President, a close race in battleground states, is between a former Senator and Secretary of State, and a spray painted man/child entertainer. For a people who are quick to loudly and proudly claim a special and enduring relationship with democracy, Trump's competitiveness is shameful. The man is a living, breathing caricature and he's doing well. The rest of the world is watching with morbid fascination. What are you people doing?
3
And if the angry white guys vote for Trump ,even though he does not share his wealth with them, it is their own fault.
Hillary and her democratic following will have to work hard to woo all the voters regardless of which party they belong to.
We hope Hillary gets the WH for the sake of the country.
Hillary and her democratic following will have to work hard to woo all the voters regardless of which party they belong to.
We hope Hillary gets the WH for the sake of the country.
3
Aggrieved working-class voters need to ask themselves 'what does Trump really intend on doing for me?'. Cutting taxes for the 1%, antagonizing trade partners and blundering and blustering his way into another foreign conflict(s) will do nothing to enhance their lives or break the financial stagnation. They, once again, are being duped by a egomaniacal flim-flam artist and the same establishment G.O.P. that has turned their back on working America since the Reagan era. If the working class can't see through those smoke and mirrors, they are doomed to repeat the same Republican cycle of income inequality, reckless fiscal policy and foreign policy blunders that we are still paying for years later.
4
Patience patience people.
We are not even at the convention yet. Hardly anyone will pay attention going into the holiday weekend except us wonks & advocates.
The lady is just warming up for the general and is ahead.
Patience.
We are not even at the convention yet. Hardly anyone will pay attention going into the holiday weekend except us wonks & advocates.
The lady is just warming up for the general and is ahead.
Patience.
3
"Mr. Trump, who is largely depending on rallies, Twitter and free media promotion,..."
Yes. The media couldn't be doing more to advance this man's effort to win the White House and for free. Of course, there is one more force helping Trump's rise -- Bernie Sanders. Sanders' continuing reluctance to support Clinton may bring about our worst nightmare. He may go down in history as Trump's biggest asset.
Yes. The media couldn't be doing more to advance this man's effort to win the White House and for free. Of course, there is one more force helping Trump's rise -- Bernie Sanders. Sanders' continuing reluctance to support Clinton may bring about our worst nightmare. He may go down in history as Trump's biggest asset.
3
This editorial is not about how to build the future; it is about how to preserve the past. The two goals are not necessarily in conflict but the editorial does not show how it can be done.
Its language reveals this fact. Let me give a couple of examples. The editorial speaks about voters’ “irritation with politics . . . etc.” This word is too mild to express the anger and frustration with the establishment on both sides of the aisle. The editorial also writes that Trump “fuels” anger. The anger is there with or without Trump. Trump merely uses it.
The recommendation to convert the anger of voters (and by the way, the working class voters are not the only one angry with the establishment; this picture is misleading and underestimates the extent of the problem) into enthusiasm for solutions is vague and borders on inane.
Let’s start from the fact that Clinton simply does not have solutions. Moreover, neither she nor this editorial even understands the causes. So how can there be solutions?
The source of the discontent is what many have been describing for quite some time as “the deficit of democracy” or the “legitimation crisis.” This phenomenon is global. We can see its effects in the Arab Spring, the Maidan movement in Ukraine, the Occupy Wall Street movement, and others. The solution is in eliminating this deficit. How? That’s a separate issue and not for this post. But Clinton’s approach does not even address it.
Its language reveals this fact. Let me give a couple of examples. The editorial speaks about voters’ “irritation with politics . . . etc.” This word is too mild to express the anger and frustration with the establishment on both sides of the aisle. The editorial also writes that Trump “fuels” anger. The anger is there with or without Trump. Trump merely uses it.
The recommendation to convert the anger of voters (and by the way, the working class voters are not the only one angry with the establishment; this picture is misleading and underestimates the extent of the problem) into enthusiasm for solutions is vague and borders on inane.
Let’s start from the fact that Clinton simply does not have solutions. Moreover, neither she nor this editorial even understands the causes. So how can there be solutions?
The source of the discontent is what many have been describing for quite some time as “the deficit of democracy” or the “legitimation crisis.” This phenomenon is global. We can see its effects in the Arab Spring, the Maidan movement in Ukraine, the Occupy Wall Street movement, and others. The solution is in eliminating this deficit. How? That’s a separate issue and not for this post. But Clinton’s approach does not even address it.
3
Hillary Clinton doesn't have solutions? Please visit her website, which is filled with detailed position papers that, yes, contain solutions.
1
I did not say that she does not have detailed position papers. I said that she did not have solutions (and I explain the reasons in the comment that you have evidently read very selectively).
If only...
the party elite had not rushed to endorse Hillary
there had been more debates at prime times and not on cable
the media had taken Sanders & O'Malley's campaigns seriously
independents were allowed to participate in more primaries
the press had not put ratings over being actual journalists
If only...
the party elite had not rushed to endorse Hillary
there had been more debates at prime times and not on cable
the media had taken Sanders & O'Malley's campaigns seriously
independents were allowed to participate in more primaries
the press had not put ratings over being actual journalists
If only...
6
The more important question is whether Hillary Clinton can beat Donald Trump?
1
If you're suggesting that the 'new' style of politics is going to be demagoguery laced with a constant menu of bold-faced lies, and that 'staid' campaigns of platforms for solutions to problems are a thing of the past, then what you're suggesting is that the death of democracy is imminent.
2
After Democrats (myself included) voted for an inexperienced, 1/2 term Senator), it's hard to now say experience matters.
Hillary should worry if her lead is less than 7 points, since polls are sometimes "+ or -" 2 points, and I'd put fully 5% of folks who will vote for Trump- but won't tell anyone for fear of being called a racist (my informal poll in my liberal leaning town, and campus was telling--- try it, you might be surprised how many "normal" folks are might be willing to give Trump a try).
And there's the continued stench of scandal around the Clinton name that is tiresome. This week's Lynch/Clinton brought it all up again- there's only so many times one I can hear "the appearance of impropriety..." and "Clinton" in the same sentence.
Trump is a fool. But this article details what worries me about Clinton. Because this race seems to be a referendum on her.
Hillary should worry if her lead is less than 7 points, since polls are sometimes "+ or -" 2 points, and I'd put fully 5% of folks who will vote for Trump- but won't tell anyone for fear of being called a racist (my informal poll in my liberal leaning town, and campus was telling--- try it, you might be surprised how many "normal" folks are might be willing to give Trump a try).
And there's the continued stench of scandal around the Clinton name that is tiresome. This week's Lynch/Clinton brought it all up again- there's only so many times one I can hear "the appearance of impropriety..." and "Clinton" in the same sentence.
Trump is a fool. But this article details what worries me about Clinton. Because this race seems to be a referendum on her.
Democrats are right to be worried. As a fearless leader once said, "This sucker could go down."
1
@MATTHEWCARNICELLI: No offense intended, but ur comment is anti-historical. When is the last time you heard DT proclaim,"I am anti modernity,"or "Every time I hear the words, 'French Revolution,'I reach for my gun."Fascism is a system of ideas confined to a particular time and place(Europe 1919-1939), and encompassed not only social engineering but above all anti communism, which was Hitler's main selling point as a retail politician. W/o communism,there would have been no fascism. Knew fascists in the OAS, namely JJ Susini, and enjoyed many a dejeuner with him, prepared by his charming spouse, Marie Antoinette Luciani,an atty. with monarchist sympathies.U need to do more indepth research on this "ism,",and I recommend works such as Tannenbaum's"The Fascist Experience," as well as the writings of Stefano delle Chia,leader of Vanguardia, who also earned his living as a "tueur a gage"for Andean dictatorships in the 1970's. Remember Operation Condor? DT has done more to raise the political consciousness of the American people, particularly those at the bottom of the hill, than any other politician in recent history.He is neither a bigot, nor a racist, but a populist in the tradition of Bryan, Lafollette and Long. DT has emboldened those who have been cowed, intimidated by the politically correct crowd for generations. Whoever is elected, we r in for greater surveillance, curtailment of our civil liberties in the name of national security, and a ME war without end.
Why, oh why, Times, do you refer to Trump's rantings as 'fiery talk'?
Please have the editorial guts to refer to your fellow New Yorker's
words as a continuous pack of lies!
You help legitimatize a completely unfit and dangerous seeker
of public office.
Please have the editorial guts to refer to your fellow New Yorker's
words as a continuous pack of lies!
You help legitimatize a completely unfit and dangerous seeker
of public office.
1
There is always a "yes but."
Ken Herman of the Austin American Statesman reported this from a person outside a Trump rally in Dallas:
"Later Thursday as marchers protested outside, I ran into Ruth Correa, a Dallas law student carrying a sign that read "Without immigrants Trump would have no wives."
The point she said is "we're a land of immigrants. I asked her if there is a difference between foreigners who come here legally and foreigners who come here illegally?
Legal immigration" she said, "is definitely the ideal way for it to be. But when you make the system so hard some people just don't have the opportunity, don't have the literacy, don't have the knowhow, don't have the money, to go through all of the red tape to come here legally. So when it comes to providing a better life for your hungry children you might have to break some laws."
So how do we deal with this situation?" It requires an understanding all of the layers for each person and family and the discounted impact that compassion will have in deciding what to do.
President Obama and presidents on all sides have confronted this dilemma before and have been compassionate leaders. That is why we have Presidents -- to help close the divides which always happen because of human nature.
So you can see why I side with our Presidents and Ruth Correa.
Ken Herman of the Austin American Statesman reported this from a person outside a Trump rally in Dallas:
"Later Thursday as marchers protested outside, I ran into Ruth Correa, a Dallas law student carrying a sign that read "Without immigrants Trump would have no wives."
The point she said is "we're a land of immigrants. I asked her if there is a difference between foreigners who come here legally and foreigners who come here illegally?
Legal immigration" she said, "is definitely the ideal way for it to be. But when you make the system so hard some people just don't have the opportunity, don't have the literacy, don't have the knowhow, don't have the money, to go through all of the red tape to come here legally. So when it comes to providing a better life for your hungry children you might have to break some laws."
So how do we deal with this situation?" It requires an understanding all of the layers for each person and family and the discounted impact that compassion will have in deciding what to do.
President Obama and presidents on all sides have confronted this dilemma before and have been compassionate leaders. That is why we have Presidents -- to help close the divides which always happen because of human nature.
So you can see why I side with our Presidents and Ruth Correa.
1
Part of Trumps baloney is that he is apparently considering Gov.Scott, another con artist, elected by the good people of FloriDUH, in spite of his HCA, being sued by the Feds for swindling Medicare.
1
The FBI may have other plans for Sec. Clinton.
2
Full exoneration with a sincere apology from the Republican smear artists who concocted this non-scandal would be appropriate.
1
There is a faction of people in this country who will always think with their hearts instead of with their heads, their anger at others propelling them to the voting booth so they can stick it to somebody and bring the system down. The absence of logical proposals, decency, and truth does not matter; what matters to them is the chance to burn the whole house down. These people will vote for Mr. Trump.
4
This is the candidate that the Times Board of Ed endorsed back at the end of January, not having compared her to the two (at the time) remaining Democratic opponents, but as superior to any potential Republican opponents.
You guys were in the tank for her when you assigned Amy Chozick to a dedicated Hillary Clinton beat in February, 2013.
You own it. Were witheringly dismissive of Bernie Sanders, and never even gave an ounce of coverage to Jim Webb, Lincoln Chaffee, or Martin O'Malley.
Congratulations, for the first time you have mentioned Gary Johnson. Why, because it is your hope that he will bleed votes from Trumplestiltskin? Funny how you don't dare mention Jill Stein, a potential alternative for disaffected Democrats. Just another demonstration of the Times' thorough incompetence at any, let alone objective, political coverage.
She's YOUR candidate. Now, for the good of the world, drag her uninspired campaign across the line, by any means necessary. And that free publicity that is the lifeblood of the Trumpty Dumpty campaign? Thanks for your complicity there, too.
You guys were in the tank for her when you assigned Amy Chozick to a dedicated Hillary Clinton beat in February, 2013.
You own it. Were witheringly dismissive of Bernie Sanders, and never even gave an ounce of coverage to Jim Webb, Lincoln Chaffee, or Martin O'Malley.
Congratulations, for the first time you have mentioned Gary Johnson. Why, because it is your hope that he will bleed votes from Trumplestiltskin? Funny how you don't dare mention Jill Stein, a potential alternative for disaffected Democrats. Just another demonstration of the Times' thorough incompetence at any, let alone objective, political coverage.
She's YOUR candidate. Now, for the good of the world, drag her uninspired campaign across the line, by any means necessary. And that free publicity that is the lifeblood of the Trumpty Dumpty campaign? Thanks for your complicity there, too.
11
With today's access to multiple news outlets, daily exposure to tweets, snapchats, video clips combined with a world history full of despots and demagogues one would think Trump would be behind in the polls by a "huuuuge," margin and not just a few points. If somehow he gets elected and his administration is a disaster, which surely it will be, we and our future descendants will look back and wonder, how so many people could be convinced to vote for a con man.
3
It will be the result of a Con Woman!
When one looks back and sees that the likes of Joe McCarthy (Red Scare) and George Wallace (segregation) could command large followings, it is less difficult to imagine many people falling for a con man. This fact is very unfortunate, of course, but it is nonetheless a fact. One can wish that it was otherwise, but the reality is that demagoguery can work, even in the US. One necessary ingredient is that fact and logic be supplanted by raw emotion.
1
So now the NRA is going after Hillary on Benghazi. Didn't they see the 8th and latest Congressional report saying that She did nothing wrong.
Since the NRA cares so much about 4 dead Americans (yes, a tragedy) in Benghazi, they should care about over 30,000 dead Americans from guns in America. The answer is not to provide more guns, it is to allow fewer people to won guns.
It is interesting that the Republican National Convention in Cleveland will not allow guns to be brought into the Convention Hall.
Hypocritical? or a smart move?
Since the NRA cares so much about 4 dead Americans (yes, a tragedy) in Benghazi, they should care about over 30,000 dead Americans from guns in America. The answer is not to provide more guns, it is to allow fewer people to won guns.
It is interesting that the Republican National Convention in Cleveland will not allow guns to be brought into the Convention Hall.
Hypocritical? or a smart move?
6
The American voters are showing disturbing signs of defying the New York Times editorial board and electing president Donald Trump. Like the triumphant Brexit vote, this exercise is one that shows how real public opinion, filtered through the old-fashioned sieve of the ballot box, overtakes the homogeneous 'choices' offered by elitist reactionaries who are hiding behind the label of 'progressivism'.
8
So the "American voters" are "defying the New York Times editorial board and electing president Donald Trump"?
Are you speaking for the collective American voters, or jus for yourself and the others that have fallen for this con-man?
As to the "elitist reactionaries", they have their home in one party, and one party alone, and it has ironically a big R in their name.
Are you speaking for the collective American voters, or jus for yourself and the others that have fallen for this con-man?
As to the "elitist reactionaries", they have their home in one party, and one party alone, and it has ironically a big R in their name.
1
Trump is running one of the nastiest campaigns ever, where he spends all his time trashing Hillary, Bill, & liberals, hoping that while people may not vote for his negative policies (which are awful but keep his angry base in line), they may vote against Hillary.
Hillary is gaining in the polls against Trump and she needs to capitalize on what voters say are their biggest worries about Trump: he is a hot head, obnoxious and insulting, politically inexperienced, and they worry about him making decisions for this country. She mustn't let Trump put her on the defensive, but handle him like she handled the GOP Benghazi fizzle. Ask voters to imagine Trump as POTUS, with his finger on the red button, negotiating with world leaders, or carrying out any of the inane policies he has proposed.
However, while 83% of Democrats support Hillary and GOP support for Trump is weak, 39% of Independents favor Trump versus 31% for Hillary. But Independents tend not to pay attention to politics and may not vote.
Clinton is a hard worker, with a solid resume, but she must demonstrate to Americans she is not playing an establishment political strategy game but cares about every state, every vote, and all the American people.
I heard Hillary has a great sense of humor and likes to laugh; she needs to display it in debates and on the campaign trail. I think she will know where to poke at Trump to show his extraordinary vulnerabilities.
If we don't want Pres. Trump, then be sure to vote
Hillary is gaining in the polls against Trump and she needs to capitalize on what voters say are their biggest worries about Trump: he is a hot head, obnoxious and insulting, politically inexperienced, and they worry about him making decisions for this country. She mustn't let Trump put her on the defensive, but handle him like she handled the GOP Benghazi fizzle. Ask voters to imagine Trump as POTUS, with his finger on the red button, negotiating with world leaders, or carrying out any of the inane policies he has proposed.
However, while 83% of Democrats support Hillary and GOP support for Trump is weak, 39% of Independents favor Trump versus 31% for Hillary. But Independents tend not to pay attention to politics and may not vote.
Clinton is a hard worker, with a solid resume, but she must demonstrate to Americans she is not playing an establishment political strategy game but cares about every state, every vote, and all the American people.
I heard Hillary has a great sense of humor and likes to laugh; she needs to display it in debates and on the campaign trail. I think she will know where to poke at Trump to show his extraordinary vulnerabilities.
If we don't want Pres. Trump, then be sure to vote
6
The liberal media establishment has been praying and asking this question for over a year. Obviously, were it ever going to work, it would have by March or April.
You should go add up how much money was spent so far to try to keep Trump out of the Presidency. You could have built a college somewhere with the total.
You should go add up how much money was spent so far to try to keep Trump out of the Presidency. You could have built a college somewhere with the total.
4
Trump supporters are angry. They have been lied to by the political class for 3 decades and just now waking up to that fact. They know that politicians have been dishonest and HRC is the only politician on the ballot. The Orange Sleeze Ball is the non-politician. Who will they vote for? Obvious. Can HRC counter this? I doubt if she has the trust of the electorate that is needed. The working class is in for a long winter of discontent.
It is not too late for the Republican Party to save this country from a Trump disaster.
All that is needed is a declaration from the party stating that they will not nominate any candidate for the presidency who has not made public his tax returns for the past ten years.
This could be done tomorrow.
All that is needed is a declaration from the party stating that they will not nominate any candidate for the presidency who has not made public his tax returns for the past ten years.
This could be done tomorrow.
5
I am not certain that Mr. Trump will be defeated. But I am quite confident that he will be impeached.
5
Old, new or whatever politics, if they become the nominees, will DT actually debate Clinton?
Mr. T's election will be due to the fact that Madam-Me-Me-Me! is completely unlikeable, unreliable, unstable, unbelievable and eventually, unelectable. Her curriculum vitae is long on opportunistic carpet-bagging and resume-building appointments, but woefully short of accomplishments for anyone's benefit. In contrast, her record of personal aggrandizement, flip-flopping fem-bot finagling, and downright deceitful demonstrations looms ever larger in the public mind. She is toxic. Better an adolescent as Chief Executive, or a gadfly in socialist clothing, than a dangerous congenital striver.
2
Shouldn't be any trouble for even an idiot to beat Hillary:
What is it about CRIMINAL that you do not understand?
In theory anyway, except for the fatalistic limitations of human nature!
What is it about CRIMINAL that you do not understand?
In theory anyway, except for the fatalistic limitations of human nature!
1
You don't have to look far for the genuine criminal in this presidential race. Only one of the candidates is in court for pulling a massive fraud on Trump University students and stealing their tuition money without delivering what they paid for. And only one candidate (according to court depositions) brutally raped his own wife, and then brutally raped a 13-year-old girl. That court case is going on now, complete with eyewitnesses.
Criminal activity? HRC is an innocent babe in the woods compared to Donald Trump.
Criminal activity? HRC is an innocent babe in the woods compared to Donald Trump.
1
I will be voting for Jill Stein. Of the Green Party that will be on the ballot everywhere.
I cannot in good conscience vote for Republican in Sheep's Clothing Hillary Rodham Clinton or the Idiot Donald Trump. America wants change and we get two, 1%ers thanks to the celerity obsessed so-called news media that is directly responsible for both of these candidates getting to where they are today.
We do not have to limit ourselves to Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Ms Stein is going to be on your ballot in November and we can tell Hillary and Trump to go home. The only thing stopping you is you.
I cannot in good conscience vote for Republican in Sheep's Clothing Hillary Rodham Clinton or the Idiot Donald Trump. America wants change and we get two, 1%ers thanks to the celerity obsessed so-called news media that is directly responsible for both of these candidates getting to where they are today.
We do not have to limit ourselves to Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Ms Stein is going to be on your ballot in November and we can tell Hillary and Trump to go home. The only thing stopping you is you.
4
A lot of people thought the primary would be close here in Cali but our traditional work on behalf of Hillary paid off. She's ahead in North Carolina, by the way. It's early, and it's not a big lead, but the average at Realclearpolitics shows her ahead, which is great.
3
In vain did I look for a comment from someone actually in North Carolina. Those of us Democrats in the western part of the state would like to know where this so called "in-state network" is hiding. There is no meaningful campaign for Hillary Clinton at this point. All we see are a few Cruz bumper stickers and an occasional Confederate flag. Wake up Democrats. We can win this state (as we did in 2008) but it will take more than wishful thinking on the part of opinion writers back East.
1
No, Donald Trump is beating Donald Trump.
So, just relax and remember to vote.
So, just relax and remember to vote.
4
I hope that the answer will be yes, eventually. 1. Obama, Biden, Warren et al. will energize Hillary on the stump through the summer. It will help. 2. Trump's convention may look just too weird, even to his supporters. 3. The debates will give people a clearer view of Trump than we've seen yet.
Still, that the polls are as close as they are, is indeed scary.
Still, that the polls are as close as they are, is indeed scary.
2
I would exclude all Bernie responses from Vermont. They are all the same. Bernie was cheated is their mantra. Some threaten to vote for Trump.
They will spend the rest of their lives bitter that their candidate didn't win, oblivious to history. Every voter has voted for a person who didn't win. Join the club.
They will spend the rest of their lives bitter that their candidate didn't win, oblivious to history. Every voter has voted for a person who didn't win. Join the club.
4
Trump is The Birther.
Birthers have no credibility.
Birthers have no credibility.
4
Trump fights dirty and slings mud and lies. To beat him, you have two study Hitler and George Wallace and all the old time segregationists. Then you need some psychologists to tell you how to counter hate and fear and lies.
3
If Hillary were running against only Donald Trump, she might win easily. She is running against Donald Trump, the Justice Department, Bill Clinton, the Clinton Foundation, Bernie Sanders (from which there is no escape) and yes, Hillary Clinton herself. Or at least the versions of Hillary Clinton who come out over time to spin her 'misstatements' into non believable narratives which convince that she has been less than forthcoming and truthful and will only continue to do so. Clowns Trump Privileged Liars.
1
Though just looking at the guy breeds complacence, the Times is right in warning that Trump is dangerously effective. What HRC is missing is the incredible opportunity to co-opt Trump's rhetorical revolution and speak honestly & forthrightly to the American people. E.g., "politics has been about gaffes and gotcha questions for so long that I found myself making the stupid mistake of using a personal email server so stuff about my yoga routine and other ultimately irrelevant personal details wouldn't leak out and deny me the opportunity to work fulfill my lifelong dream of changing this country for the better. I was cautious. I was scared. I want to thank Donald for bringing a level of authenticity to political discourse that's been missing for far too long, and I want to level with the American people: Yes, I am ambitious; yes, I want to win this; but I will never again try to hide my true self from the American people."
3
Yes, this editorial makes all the right points except one - to realize how flawed Ms. Clinton is. She has taken vast amounts of money from corporate interests for personal gain, has degraded women who protested her husband's sexual advances, and has recklessly endangered national security by conducting the most confidential government business by private e-mails. Progressive forces like the NY Times should have stopped her cold so the Democratic party could have nominated someone worthy of the public trust. By not doing so, this awful candidate is all that stands between the presidency and Trump. NY Times, you have let us all down.
5
The New York Times is not and never has been a "progressive force."
Be careful what you wish for.
It would be great if more Americans were aware of what has just happened in Britain.
Disgruntled voters were promised money and a simple life by a mendacious Brexit campaign and many people never thought it would win but voted in protest.
They are in a mess and Johnson, the man who propelled this nightmare, has been shown up for a fraud and betrayed by his partner in crime.
It would be great if more Americans were aware of what has just happened in Britain.
Disgruntled voters were promised money and a simple life by a mendacious Brexit campaign and many people never thought it would win but voted in protest.
They are in a mess and Johnson, the man who propelled this nightmare, has been shown up for a fraud and betrayed by his partner in crime.
3
Yes, Trump will give Hillary a much harder time than the old realities would suggest. It's many people's fault in a way. Me included.
I've hated politics as usual for so long and was so grateful when Bernie came on the scene but truth be told, myself and many others should have pushed long ago for someone like Bernie. And Bernie is a wise alternative to politics as usual. But we didn't push hard enough and long ago enough so that instead it was just too much of a shock for progressive this season. Not by much though.
We almost did it.
However, on the other side of the equation, with many who don't think like I (we) do but who detest politics as usual like I do; they have Trump.
I can just barely live with a politician like Hillary, but I can is the bottom line.
Those on the other side can't. Their hate for someone like Hillary is Texas size to put it mildly.
Now it's time to wait and see just how deep that angry rabbit hole goes.
I'm not betting on it one way or the other. These are scary times.
I've hated politics as usual for so long and was so grateful when Bernie came on the scene but truth be told, myself and many others should have pushed long ago for someone like Bernie. And Bernie is a wise alternative to politics as usual. But we didn't push hard enough and long ago enough so that instead it was just too much of a shock for progressive this season. Not by much though.
We almost did it.
However, on the other side of the equation, with many who don't think like I (we) do but who detest politics as usual like I do; they have Trump.
I can just barely live with a politician like Hillary, but I can is the bottom line.
Those on the other side can't. Their hate for someone like Hillary is Texas size to put it mildly.
Now it's time to wait and see just how deep that angry rabbit hole goes.
I'm not betting on it one way or the other. These are scary times.
3
Clinton and her husband fail to inspire.
She has failed also to pivot sufficiently (or believably) leaving Sanders supporters in a hardening state of resentment and disdain.
She truly is the Democrat's Nixon.
She has failed also to pivot sufficiently (or believably) leaving Sanders supporters in a hardening state of resentment and disdain.
She truly is the Democrat's Nixon.
5
It is no longer a secret: pollsters are being gamed in more ways than one. First, supporters of anti-establishment candidates/themes are preferring to not fess-up anywhere but the polling booth. Second, low-tech telephone polling never reveals how many actually respond, as opposed to ignoring, hanging-up or going through the motions with "proper" answers. Let's face it: poll calls are junk calls. And therefore any discussion they stir-up are have large sides of junk.
And finally, people gaming the pollsters are obviously taking delicious pleasure when pollsters are inevitably proven wrong, as has happened time and again, and most recently with Brexit.
All of which is good for the country, and great for Donald. One development still needed is banning exit polls, they too serve no purpose other than muddy results and interfere with the electoral process.
The other great plus for Donald is his not polluting the air waves with ads. What a great way to not spend money one doesn't have. Just for that alone, he deserves less money and more votes. He'll get them both.
Truth is, all polls are doing at this stage is camouflaging the bad news for Hillary. Bottom line is she's on all the wrong sides of issues that matter: immigration, trade, the FBI, and wooing Sanders supporters. Add to the mix her chief supporters are Barack and Bill. It really can't get any worse, truly a lost cause. Only one way out: hope Trump nominates Christie. John Doe for veep? Don't think so.
And finally, people gaming the pollsters are obviously taking delicious pleasure when pollsters are inevitably proven wrong, as has happened time and again, and most recently with Brexit.
All of which is good for the country, and great for Donald. One development still needed is banning exit polls, they too serve no purpose other than muddy results and interfere with the electoral process.
The other great plus for Donald is his not polluting the air waves with ads. What a great way to not spend money one doesn't have. Just for that alone, he deserves less money and more votes. He'll get them both.
Truth is, all polls are doing at this stage is camouflaging the bad news for Hillary. Bottom line is she's on all the wrong sides of issues that matter: immigration, trade, the FBI, and wooing Sanders supporters. Add to the mix her chief supporters are Barack and Bill. It really can't get any worse, truly a lost cause. Only one way out: hope Trump nominates Christie. John Doe for veep? Don't think so.
3
We don't know who we are voting for; the candidates read words prepared by others and offer positions crafted by their team. With the outspoken Donald, you have the belief you are seeing the real thing, whether you agree or not. And it's proving to resonate louder than 8 figure advertising campaigns. Good sense big organization and well financed campaigns don't always win the day - look at Britain. He could win.
30
If one only looks at what the candidates are saying now, emphasis "now," one might not know who he/she is voting for. That is why it is so important to get the truth about what the candidates have stood for all their lives. Where have they put their energies? Whom have they helped? What has their focus in life been? Back to the old cliche, "Actions speak louder than words." And having done this, can anyone deny that Hilary is far more qualified than Donald to be president?
"With the outspoken Donald, you have the belief you are seeing the real thing, whether you agree or not."
And whether he contradicts himself or not.
And whether what he says bears any connection to the truth or not.
That is the key to Trump. Appeals to consistency and truth miss the point entirely.
An effective attack on The Donald would need to focus on his authenticity of lack thereof. There is much reason to doubt he is authentic. He can easily be seen as playing this like a game, or a reality TV show.
Unfortunately for Hillary, that is an attack she is especially unable to make. She is already the loser in the authenticity contest in too many minds.
And whether he contradicts himself or not.
And whether what he says bears any connection to the truth or not.
That is the key to Trump. Appeals to consistency and truth miss the point entirely.
An effective attack on The Donald would need to focus on his authenticity of lack thereof. There is much reason to doubt he is authentic. He can easily be seen as playing this like a game, or a reality TV show.
Unfortunately for Hillary, that is an attack she is especially unable to make. She is already the loser in the authenticity contest in too many minds.
We were not ready to hold Presidential Elections, while the World is on fire and the only person contained is The President. It gave this American a bit of a jolt to feel that neither Party had a viable candidate.
Sloppy in many ways, fragmented and dispersed, we ended up with Trump. We can look at the Causes for this State of Affairs, but the bell has begun tolling with the Consequences. Do not ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for Thee America, for you and me.
Sloppy in many ways, fragmented and dispersed, we ended up with Trump. We can look at the Causes for this State of Affairs, but the bell has begun tolling with the Consequences. Do not ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for Thee America, for you and me.
I sent some emails to the Clinton campaign suggesting it "out" Trump as a possible possessor of a mood disorder. You don't need three guesses to pick what that might be. I suspect the Clintonites would never take me seriously and exploit a shaming and naming opportunity to stigmatize their opponent. Would he and she agree to psychological evaluations and their public disclosure? Just refusing to do so would raise questions once the issue is raised.
They do need to come up with something because the milquetoast Stronger Together is wronger together after the Brexit shock, a shot heard 'round the world. Their campaign should stop with the deck-chair arrangements, look up and discern the possibly ignominious end they're so confidently sailing towards.
They do need to come up with something because the milquetoast Stronger Together is wronger together after the Brexit shock, a shot heard 'round the world. Their campaign should stop with the deck-chair arrangements, look up and discern the possibly ignominious end they're so confidently sailing towards.
Both Clintons might do more poorly on psychological evaluations than you suspect. Entitlement, denial, promiscuity, chronic lying and being willing to do literally anything for money are not evidence of sterling mental health.
2
Both mainstream parties are no longer relevant nor do they represent the best interests of common citizens who they largely view as peasants. They are too vested in the current system to change and probably couldn't gain back any credibility with dissatisfied voters even if they tried. Can't wait for the next wave that will replace them and sweep them into the dustbin of history.
5
Isn't this the way change always happens? Someone does something the rest of us consider unacceptable - something that should "never" happen, that happens?
Man will never fly. The Japanese will never build a quality automobile. Computers will never replace vinyl records. The UK will never leave the EU. Private enterprise can never put a legitimate space craft into orbit.
A man who knows nothing about politics, has little desire to help or understand his fellow Americans, and almost nothing in common with any of them - will never become President of the United States.
Come the second week of November we'll be here talking about how the world is coming to an end because something that can't be done, was.
Who needs to learn more - the ones who broke the "it can never be done" law of nature, or the ones who think there will never be a self-driving electric car?
Time to adapt.
Man will never fly. The Japanese will never build a quality automobile. Computers will never replace vinyl records. The UK will never leave the EU. Private enterprise can never put a legitimate space craft into orbit.
A man who knows nothing about politics, has little desire to help or understand his fellow Americans, and almost nothing in common with any of them - will never become President of the United States.
Come the second week of November we'll be here talking about how the world is coming to an end because something that can't be done, was.
Who needs to learn more - the ones who broke the "it can never be done" law of nature, or the ones who think there will never be a self-driving electric car?
Time to adapt.
3
Brexit was first. Trump is next. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
4
I hope that Mrs. Clinton would win but I am fully aware that historical tide is with Mr. Trump. I am an immigrant and a liberal. However, I may not be aware earlier that I am also a patriot. I do not care about campaign style but I do care about what America stands for. For me, America stands for everyone to have the same right and opportunities regardless of your race, religion, wealth, background or personal choices. If Mr. Trump would win, what saddens me most are not my personal disadvantages but his win would sully one of the best society that mankind has created. I think that fighting for the ideals that are America is enough for me to oppose the rise of Mr. Trump and his ideology. We may not win but this is a generational fight for the American soul. If you support Trump just because of economic injustice, just because that you have been ignored by the elites, just because that your world is changing beyond your recognition, or just because you are mad, you must ask if these are good enough reasons to support a selfish salesman who will surely undermine the foundational principles of America for his personal glory. You must ask if you can live with your conscience.
119
@ PeterS Thank you! You ARE the heart, soul, conscience & future of America; who sees beyond personal needs the vision of our founding fathers. Hopefully there are many like you in the majority.
2
I'm a little afraid that we have just forgotten how to think. What else could explain Donald Trump? Even my fairly smart in-laws are mesmerized by this clown. Is this the result of decades of reduced education funding? Have we forgotten that critical thinking is something to strive for, to be proud of?
2
The depressing implication of this editorial seems to be that Clinton must hone (i.e., dumb down) her message to appeal to the ill-informed (or worse) that currently find Trump so appealing.
Isn't that just wonderful.
Isn't that just wonderful.
1
Ah, "political correctness." It just makes folks so darn mad when others refuse to accept their cretinous language and have the nerve to talk back! Way back in the good ol' days (you know, when America Was Great), "PC" was known by other names, such as civility or common courtesy or adult discourse or simple respect for other people -- especially people of so-called "minority" status who hadn't been treated with much respect in the past and in the present. And back in those rose-tinted, hazy days of yore (rediscovered by prospector Ronald "Back to the Future" Reagan around 1980), con men, charlatans and snake-oil salesman might be tarred, feathered and run out of town on a rail. So, why is Trump still at large?
3
If you are going to buy a house you research neighborhoods, school systems, services. You analyse your finances: your downpayment and the amount you'll need for the mortgage, insurance and other expenses. You hire an inspector to check out the house. You shop around for the best loan.
Trump says he'll build a giant fence, defeat ISIS, create a great health care plan, make great trade deals. Yet, he hasn't done any of the preparation. Hillary has made detailed plans to accomplish her goals. I can't believe 45% of our citizens are so delusional that they will continue to ignore sense and logic. They have had to deal with planning and finances in their lives and businesses. The ads are just beginning. The debates are to come. Hillary will win.
Trump says he'll build a giant fence, defeat ISIS, create a great health care plan, make great trade deals. Yet, he hasn't done any of the preparation. Hillary has made detailed plans to accomplish her goals. I can't believe 45% of our citizens are so delusional that they will continue to ignore sense and logic. They have had to deal with planning and finances in their lives and businesses. The ads are just beginning. The debates are to come. Hillary will win.
3
My tea leaves say that this is the year of the Populist, not that of the old-style machine politician. It is the time of revolution, reformation, death & rebirth.
We had a choice between two styles of Populist reformation, and blew it. We could have gone with the one based on ideals, on truth, on a healthy assessment of all that is rotten, and how it can be healed.
But we didn't deserve it, evidently...so now we're likely to see what the other style looks like: racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, ignorant, destructive, fascist, megalomaniacal.
But the Clintons' time is past...they and their Establishment supporters just haven't accepted it. All the king's horses and all the king's men have been trying to put Hillary together again for a year now, and have failed. Unbelievably, all they've managed to achieve is to prevent a kindly old man, who truly DOES have the Country's best interests at heart, from having a chance to help us heal.
What's left is "the fire, next time." It is said that Destiny leads those who will follow...and drags those who won't. I'm afraid we're about to be dragged into a very painful enlightenment, this Fall.
We had a choice between two styles of Populist reformation, and blew it. We could have gone with the one based on ideals, on truth, on a healthy assessment of all that is rotten, and how it can be healed.
But we didn't deserve it, evidently...so now we're likely to see what the other style looks like: racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, ignorant, destructive, fascist, megalomaniacal.
But the Clintons' time is past...they and their Establishment supporters just haven't accepted it. All the king's horses and all the king's men have been trying to put Hillary together again for a year now, and have failed. Unbelievably, all they've managed to achieve is to prevent a kindly old man, who truly DOES have the Country's best interests at heart, from having a chance to help us heal.
What's left is "the fire, next time." It is said that Destiny leads those who will follow...and drags those who won't. I'm afraid we're about to be dragged into a very painful enlightenment, this Fall.
4
Secretary Clinton could pledge her campaign to winning massive debt relief for working households. Mr. Trump's supporters would forget him and fight for her. Sanders supporters would join the fight too. Offer working voters a pragmatic reason to hope for a glimpse of blue sky next year.
2
In my opinion this whole issue is overthought. The way I see it the issue is about intelligence.
The average IQ, by definition, is 100, which is not that bright. I would wager that the average hard core Trump supporter falls at or below that range, hence your '49%' polling.
In order to play the new internet troll, low IQ, low info of Trump style politics Clinton simply needs to dumb down her delivery.
Demagogue? Whoa, guaranteed to cause automatic tune out. Try 'freaker outer in chief'. Xenophobic? Way too many consecutive letters. Try 'browner hater'. Ex: "Whtr you thinkin'? You vote for that browner hater for freaker outer in chief? I show you freakin' Mr. Tangerine man!"
While it might not raise the level of intellectual discourse or provide policy direction, I promise many Trump supporters would respond positively to it and might come over to the Dem side. You're welcome Madame President.
The average IQ, by definition, is 100, which is not that bright. I would wager that the average hard core Trump supporter falls at or below that range, hence your '49%' polling.
In order to play the new internet troll, low IQ, low info of Trump style politics Clinton simply needs to dumb down her delivery.
Demagogue? Whoa, guaranteed to cause automatic tune out. Try 'freaker outer in chief'. Xenophobic? Way too many consecutive letters. Try 'browner hater'. Ex: "Whtr you thinkin'? You vote for that browner hater for freaker outer in chief? I show you freakin' Mr. Tangerine man!"
While it might not raise the level of intellectual discourse or provide policy direction, I promise many Trump supporters would respond positively to it and might come over to the Dem side. You're welcome Madame President.
3
I still can't take the Democratic party seriously when it insists that it's primary goal is to bet Trump. I'm an Independent, (female, fwiw) working class Sanders supporter and probable 3rd party voter who will never ever vote for either Clinton or Trump, but i could still be persuaded to vote Democratic. If i were a Democrat who wanted to win the WH for my team in the name of decency, i'd hope against hope that Clinton got indicted or otherwise knocked out of the running ASAP so a better Dem could be drafted. Uncle Joe would crush Trump in the general.
1
Relax, Clinton is going to be our next president. Everything is going to be fine. Just remember to vote.
2
Elizabeth Warren stands for economic protection and promotion of the middle class. Having her as a running mate would speak to Hillary's motivation to those who doubt her.
Bernie Sander's supporters will easily vote for Hillary if Elizabeth Warren is on the ticket.
With Bernie's voter's support, Hillary Clinton will win the White House.
Bernie Sander's supporters will easily vote for Hillary if Elizabeth Warren is on the ticket.
With Bernie's voter's support, Hillary Clinton will win the White House.
3
Of course Trump can beat the serial-grifter master criminal Hillary. She and Bill sold America to the highest bidders....for cash.
She will be under indictment soon. And the Dems will parachute in Biden.
She will be under indictment soon. And the Dems will parachute in Biden.
3
What's going to defeat Clinton is the fact she is the most venal, truth-challenged cadidate to ever run for POTUS. A fact which most Americans understand and which more are understanding with every passing day. Beyond that, her record of abject failure as Secretary of State and her connection to that giant Slush Fund known as the Clinton Global Initiative are 2 more nails in her coffin.
2
Trump has received an estimated $2 billion in free media coverage. Unsurprisingly, he expects it to continue in the general election.
So far, the press has covered him uncritically, as if a national candidate inflaming fear and hatred is a natural phenomenon.
CBS CEO Les Moonves spoke for the media industry (you too, NYT) when he said ''It May Not Be Good for America, but It's Damn Good for CBS..the money is rolling in..'' http://bit.ly/29a6Jkb
It is time for us to ask our media moguls who put money before country the question Joseph Welch asked Senator Joe McCarthy 62 years ago:
''Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?''
So far, the press has covered him uncritically, as if a national candidate inflaming fear and hatred is a natural phenomenon.
CBS CEO Les Moonves spoke for the media industry (you too, NYT) when he said ''It May Not Be Good for America, but It's Damn Good for CBS..the money is rolling in..'' http://bit.ly/29a6Jkb
It is time for us to ask our media moguls who put money before country the question Joseph Welch asked Senator Joe McCarthy 62 years ago:
''Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?''
2
It's heartening that so many commentators have adopted the tactic of referring to the apparent GOP nominee as 'Drumpf', because it suggests how he is going to be beaten - with ridicule.
For me, it's his hairdo. Since men stopped wearing hats, has there ever before been a serious political candidate with a combover? So the obvious question is: How does Drumpf get away with the most ridiculous combover in history?
Up until Drumpf entered politics, it was the "Emperor's New Clothes" effect. Sycophants and grifters would suppress their smirks hard and look Drumpf in the eye and say "Yes" whenever he stopped talking to draw breath. How does he get away with it now?
For the media, it's more of the same. Drumpf performs like a sassy drag queen and makes money hand over fist for the broadcasters. I've actually seen an old New York local news interview where he was asked about his hairdo and, without the audience of syndication, he had to admit being mocked for it.
So what protects him from being mocked by political opponents now? In a surreal twist, I think it's good manners. But imagine if Drumpf had a full head of hair and it had been Jeb! with the lacquered hair helmet on his head. Can you imagine what Drumpf would have had to say about it?
It takes one look at Drumpf to know he is ridiculous, we just need people to accept that this is too important for good manners. Just state the obvious - Drumpf is hairdo, and a really stupid one at that, not a presidential candidate.
For me, it's his hairdo. Since men stopped wearing hats, has there ever before been a serious political candidate with a combover? So the obvious question is: How does Drumpf get away with the most ridiculous combover in history?
Up until Drumpf entered politics, it was the "Emperor's New Clothes" effect. Sycophants and grifters would suppress their smirks hard and look Drumpf in the eye and say "Yes" whenever he stopped talking to draw breath. How does he get away with it now?
For the media, it's more of the same. Drumpf performs like a sassy drag queen and makes money hand over fist for the broadcasters. I've actually seen an old New York local news interview where he was asked about his hairdo and, without the audience of syndication, he had to admit being mocked for it.
So what protects him from being mocked by political opponents now? In a surreal twist, I think it's good manners. But imagine if Drumpf had a full head of hair and it had been Jeb! with the lacquered hair helmet on his head. Can you imagine what Drumpf would have had to say about it?
It takes one look at Drumpf to know he is ridiculous, we just need people to accept that this is too important for good manners. Just state the obvious - Drumpf is hairdo, and a really stupid one at that, not a presidential candidate.
1
You underestimate him. And if there are enough voters like you, that will elect him.
"Ban Muslim and Mexican immigrants". Every time I see these errors in journalism I must respond. I know the Left thinks that Trump voters are Neanderthal, but they can see the bias that's baked in to his critics. That is in fact why millions are going to defend him. That may a new politics, but it seems the war against him is becoming more transparently prejudiced. Many just want to defeat the real liars.
Maybe this conundrum has to do with her being a thoroughly corrupt politician who thinks she is above the law. That leaves DT.
1
no, that makes two of them. That leaves 3rd parties.
1
More appearences with Elizabeth Warren,which energizes Hillary is one likely answer,since the 2 seem to have fun in each others' company.But I expect that Trump by being Trump in his most offensive ways will prove to be his own worse enemy,providing Hillary's campaign with lots of very offensive clips for ads.
2
The real question is, can the bulk of Americans use a grain of common sense for just one minute in a voting booth?
Hillary Clinton is a self-absorbed, money hungry manipulator with an artificial personality. But if the alternative is Donald Trump, a rampaging psycho-something with no understanding of how our government (or any other's) works, and who takes absolute personal glee in destroying ordinary people, I'll hold my nose and vote for her. Because when the show is over, if Trump wins the clean-up won't be pretty.
Hillary Clinton is a self-absorbed, money hungry manipulator with an artificial personality. But if the alternative is Donald Trump, a rampaging psycho-something with no understanding of how our government (or any other's) works, and who takes absolute personal glee in destroying ordinary people, I'll hold my nose and vote for her. Because when the show is over, if Trump wins the clean-up won't be pretty.
3
The aggrieved working class voters have aggrieved for so long they remember when Ronald Reagan first taught them what "aggrieved" meant. They are like the pitchman in TV with the newest shammy cloth. 40 years ago Reagan taught then "you are aggrieved because of unions". Then it was "you are now aggrieved now because of the oil embargo". Now you are aggrieved because you are white, not wealthy, did not keep up with technology and biggest aggrievment of all "all your neighbors are not white". Whats a poor bigot supposed to do? Fall for the biggest phony salesman of aggrievment around Donald Trump?
3
Clinton is who she is. Changing horses in the middle of the stream would be inauthentic, inefficient and quite possibly disastrous. Time now to just let the horse run.
1
Modern Campaigning? Like it or not, mass communication in America has become a 140 character proposition. Luckily for Mr. Trump, his lack of depth perfectly fits the times. “Make America Great Again.” 25 characters. Plenty of room left for “Crooked Hillary” or similar.
American people: “Give me a 140 character message that I can read quick and is occasionally funny and outrageous. Save Ms. Clinton's meaty, policy-oriented, thoughtful, and commanding. I never listened to that stuff anyway.”
Sponsors, endorsements, rallies, traditional media buys, conventions, grass-roots campaigning. Increasingly irrelevant. 140 characters will be read and will stick. Like it or not.
American people: “Give me a 140 character message that I can read quick and is occasionally funny and outrageous. Save Ms. Clinton's meaty, policy-oriented, thoughtful, and commanding. I never listened to that stuff anyway.”
Sponsors, endorsements, rallies, traditional media buys, conventions, grass-roots campaigning. Increasingly irrelevant. 140 characters will be read and will stick. Like it or not.
1
There is virtually NOTHING Clinton can do to dissuade or convert those ignorant Trump supporters; the best she/we can hope for is that he continues to screw up and that some get fed up and don't vote at all. I don't think Clinton needs any "catchy" phrases--we have had plenty of those in politics and they mean nothing. She needs to firmly counter the lies Trump and the other republicans keep spewing about her and Benghazi and she needs to talk about why Donald's vacuous solutions won't work and contrast them with what SHE plans to do. Warren, Bernie, and Obama can help her a lot, but she needs to send Bill to Tierra Del Fuego for the election cycle and refrain from mentioning his name. AND, most importantly, DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS, AND ANYONE SANE NEED TO ACTUALLY GET OUT AND VOTE.
4
The real challenge is that Trump's candidacy exists in a fact-free zone, an alternative reality based on a web of innuendo, rumor, fabrication and outright lies, all intended to stoke the fear and hatred of a low-information populace. Outlets like FOX News, WorldNetDaily, and Drudge are reaping the diseased harvest they have sown over decades when a virtual industry of Clinton hatred arose and flourished on talk radio and in right-wing propaganda publishing, all laying the groundwork for a Trump candidacy. Trump voters are not, by and large, NYTimes readers. Following the poison pen Tweets of their reality TV avatar, they are not likely to be swayed by detailed documentation of Trump's House of Cards birtherism, hucksterism, and outright lies.
Trump true believers take the worst allegations against the Clintons as accepted truth to the point that many view Hillary as the Devil incarnate. The anti-Clinton forces have so poisoned the well of public perception that the innuendo of Clinton untrustworthiness became a factor in the Democratic primary campaign. Hillary's years of child advocacy, leadership in the struggle for healthcare for all, her grueling work to forge and strengthen diplomatic ties as an advocate for human rights and world peace are for naught in the face of the onslaught of innuendo and outright hatred that have already contaminated this discourse.
In the face of such opposition, Hillary's campaign is a source of reassurance and hope.
Trump true believers take the worst allegations against the Clintons as accepted truth to the point that many view Hillary as the Devil incarnate. The anti-Clinton forces have so poisoned the well of public perception that the innuendo of Clinton untrustworthiness became a factor in the Democratic primary campaign. Hillary's years of child advocacy, leadership in the struggle for healthcare for all, her grueling work to forge and strengthen diplomatic ties as an advocate for human rights and world peace are for naught in the face of the onslaught of innuendo and outright hatred that have already contaminated this discourse.
In the face of such opposition, Hillary's campaign is a source of reassurance and hope.
106
DK Thank you for your comment.
1
Here here. Exactly
"Trump true believers take the worst allegations against the Clintons as accepted truth to the point that many view Hillary as the Devil incarnate."
They do.
If it was only them, it would not matter. Every loser still gets some of the vote.
The real problem for Hillary is not located among the Trump true believers, and it is not what they are thinking. It is the others, who have other problems with Hillary than believing FOX News.
If you see only the stupid of the extremists, you don't see the actual problem on which victory or defeat will turn.
They do.
If it was only them, it would not matter. Every loser still gets some of the vote.
The real problem for Hillary is not located among the Trump true believers, and it is not what they are thinking. It is the others, who have other problems with Hillary than believing FOX News.
If you see only the stupid of the extremists, you don't see the actual problem on which victory or defeat will turn.
1
Trump's children are his biggest selling point. But they're supporting him.
What does that mean? I guess that blood is thicker than brains.
What does that mean? I guess that blood is thicker than brains.
2
People may dream or aspire to be middle class but after all most people in reality are working class! And Clinton doesn't connect very well with the "blue collar" voters! How could she? And it won't get better even if she spends a zillion dollars and gets the best speech writers in the world!
Jan Larsen She connects very well to this daughter of a "blue collar worker". She, unlike Trump did not inherit her money. She earned it. Stop watching FOX and learn more about these candidates before you make false statements about them.
1
"...It would seem her experience and in-state network should allow Mrs. Clinton to eke out a win in North Carolina, as Mr. Obama did in 2008..."
Mrs. Clinton is not John McCain. And Donald Trumps electoral popularity in North Carolina (or any other Southern or border state) will never fall below the level of President Obama's in North Carolina in 2008. Donald Trump's super-majority of the white male vote in the Southern and Border states, will keep those states in the Donald's column in 2016.
Donald's electoral lock on the Texas to North Dakota axis, coupled with the Southern and Border states, means he only needs Michigan Ohio and maybe NJ to win the election.
Mrs. Clinton is not John McCain. And Donald Trumps electoral popularity in North Carolina (or any other Southern or border state) will never fall below the level of President Obama's in North Carolina in 2008. Donald Trump's super-majority of the white male vote in the Southern and Border states, will keep those states in the Donald's column in 2016.
Donald's electoral lock on the Texas to North Dakota axis, coupled with the Southern and Border states, means he only needs Michigan Ohio and maybe NJ to win the election.
Donald Trump may destroy himself. Trump,Univesity trial decision will come out soon. He must provide income tax soon and other business work are coming out. His positions on issues and knowledge make little sense. Moderate Republicans and many Independents will never support Domald Trump. Yes Hilary Clinton has changed her mind on some issues but that does not make her a liar.
4
You write, "Fueling anger, as Mr. Trump does, is different from addressing it and converting it into enthusiasm for solutions. That is the task that remains ahead for Mrs. Clinton."
What that statement says to me is this: you can throw out common sense and good judgment. They have no place in Trump/Republican politics. A Clinton victory will depend on exceptional campaigning by Hillary, Sanders supporters joining her ranks, and the scariest and most difficult requirement: the awakening of America.
What that statement says to me is this: you can throw out common sense and good judgment. They have no place in Trump/Republican politics. A Clinton victory will depend on exceptional campaigning by Hillary, Sanders supporters joining her ranks, and the scariest and most difficult requirement: the awakening of America.
2
It seems there is a narrow, pivotal, middle group of voters who may tip one way or another depending on the events of these next months, especially those driven by terrorism. Hillary's best chance is to articulate persuasive plans and policies that assuage voter fear, especially in contrast to Trump's bombast and vacuity. If she can concomitantly do the same on economic policy, especially job creation, she may pull into her column enough of the electorate hungry for hope that they can be kept safe and live better.
The rest -- their personas, their integrity or lack thereof, their experience, voter opinions of them, are now thoroughly known variables. The only front weapon left to her is her ability to totally outgun him on presenting voters with substantive positions. But they have to appeal to peoples' gut instincts and be at the ready, as with Orlando, when the headlines create an opening.
The rest -- their personas, their integrity or lack thereof, their experience, voter opinions of them, are now thoroughly known variables. The only front weapon left to her is her ability to totally outgun him on presenting voters with substantive positions. But they have to appeal to peoples' gut instincts and be at the ready, as with Orlando, when the headlines create an opening.
1
I trust Hillary to stiff the American workers to benefit bankers and greedy corporations.
2
I spend much computer time on real clear politics, 538, Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball. All with electoral maps and all agreeing that Hillary has a built-in advantage. Still, I'm both sure America could never elect the orange comb-overed buffoon, and scared to death that they might. Likely wins for Hillary in Florida and Virginia, make Donald's path tiny (hopefully nonexistent.)
I like Hillary, don't see her as dishonest, think she is the most qualified, extremely smart, capable- all that. But I live in a very blue state. I don't really know the problems or sentiments in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Hillary's appearance with Elizabeth Warren was boffo. Her appearances with Obama and Biden should be hits. Donald is sure he has "the best" of everything- but when it comes to surrogates who can excite a crowd and guarantee media coverage, Hillary wins easily.
Donald has a way of putting his foot in his mouth, sometimes both feet and his tiny hands. He is thin-skinned, totally unqualified, and ignorant and about the job he is applying for. There shouldn't be any possibility of him becoming President of the U.S.
Still I worry.
I like Hillary, don't see her as dishonest, think she is the most qualified, extremely smart, capable- all that. But I live in a very blue state. I don't really know the problems or sentiments in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Hillary's appearance with Elizabeth Warren was boffo. Her appearances with Obama and Biden should be hits. Donald is sure he has "the best" of everything- but when it comes to surrogates who can excite a crowd and guarantee media coverage, Hillary wins easily.
Donald has a way of putting his foot in his mouth, sometimes both feet and his tiny hands. He is thin-skinned, totally unqualified, and ignorant and about the job he is applying for. There shouldn't be any possibility of him becoming President of the U.S.
Still I worry.
9
Interesting comments from the Ed. Board. One reason that old-style politics could defeat Trump is that Trump has yet to define his organization. True, he attracts the disaffected, but the old-style rules dictate that a politician be associated with some organization. There aren't enough "disestablishmentarians" out there to form a winning block of voters.
On the other hand, Hillary Clinton, while she has the organization, also has a debilitating reputation, or, polarizing reputation. The fact is that Trump and Clinton are vying for that undecided voter who will switch his or her vote at the drop of a news article. It seems to me that having a good organization can target these particular people proactively to try to swing their votes.
Trump relies only on the prevalence of the media (so far; the Ed. Board writes here that Trump is building some sort of organization); it's a risk for Trump to depend on what people might read or watch in an era of dispersed media outlets. True, he's been pretty good at it so far.
A candidate has to get out there to shake hands and kiss babies. He or she needs the organization to bring him or her to the hands and the babies.
On the other hand, Hillary Clinton, while she has the organization, also has a debilitating reputation, or, polarizing reputation. The fact is that Trump and Clinton are vying for that undecided voter who will switch his or her vote at the drop of a news article. It seems to me that having a good organization can target these particular people proactively to try to swing their votes.
Trump relies only on the prevalence of the media (so far; the Ed. Board writes here that Trump is building some sort of organization); it's a risk for Trump to depend on what people might read or watch in an era of dispersed media outlets. True, he's been pretty good at it so far.
A candidate has to get out there to shake hands and kiss babies. He or she needs the organization to bring him or her to the hands and the babies.
2
Old-style or any other style Politics is fine as long as Trump is defeated. And I hope this Libertarian Gary Johnson or whoever does not become a spoiler splitting votes. Remember, Al Gore? Ralph Nader was just that. And look how he changed the course of our Country. Ralph Nader could never, ever win but he most certainly made our country lose.
3
No justification for Dems to get complacent, and certainly no need to panic. Start doing the delegate math. Clinton has 211 pretty much guaranteed, meaning she needs 59 to win. There are 140 delegates available in 10 'swing' states that Obama won twice. Trump has repeatedly shown us who he is and will keep doing so, interspersed with some brief respites of appearing presidential.
3
Can tremendous knowledge and experience and intelligence beat an ignorant, clueless narcissist who thinks he is a genius? Can tolerance and open-mindedness beat racism and bigotry? Can someone who has withstood twenty years of insults from the right wing press with grace and courage beat a lying fraud who pretends to be a businessman? Can someone who has dedicated their entire adult life to public service beat a Reality TV clown?
The American people will answer all these questions with a resounding YES!! Old-style politics vs blithering nonsense is an easy choice for anyone who truly loves their country.
The American people will answer all these questions with a resounding YES!! Old-style politics vs blithering nonsense is an easy choice for anyone who truly loves their country.
4
"Some voters appear to be taking a look at Gary Johnson, the libertarian candidate." The question is, will the media take the same look? So far, it appears the answer is no.
With all the polling and punditry going on a fundamental question is not being asked. What percentage of the electorate believes neither Mr. Trump or Ms. Clinton is qualified to be president? My guess is the number is at least sixty percent. But this phenomenon, and it is that, is the great uncovered story of the campaign.
It is a given, even among conservatives, that Donald Trump is a rolling train wreck. While the media notices this, it does not seriously examine Ms. Clinton's record and notable lack of achievement. We are routinely told she is perhaps the most qualified candidate for the presidency in decades. This is simply not true and no objective commentator would make the claim.
One candidate is where he is because of name recognition from reality TV. In a way, so is the other. It seems there was never a time when Hilary Clinton wasn't in front of a TV camera. "Being there" is not the same as being qualified. It is time the media, and voters, began taking Mr. Johnson seriously.
With all the polling and punditry going on a fundamental question is not being asked. What percentage of the electorate believes neither Mr. Trump or Ms. Clinton is qualified to be president? My guess is the number is at least sixty percent. But this phenomenon, and it is that, is the great uncovered story of the campaign.
It is a given, even among conservatives, that Donald Trump is a rolling train wreck. While the media notices this, it does not seriously examine Ms. Clinton's record and notable lack of achievement. We are routinely told she is perhaps the most qualified candidate for the presidency in decades. This is simply not true and no objective commentator would make the claim.
One candidate is where he is because of name recognition from reality TV. In a way, so is the other. It seems there was never a time when Hilary Clinton wasn't in front of a TV camera. "Being there" is not the same as being qualified. It is time the media, and voters, began taking Mr. Johnson seriously.
1
The issue is not old-style politics beating Trump. The real question is can Trump continue to trip himself up enough to lose the election by default? So far, it's working.
25
Do Democrats have a plan to help disaffected workers? Aside from telling them to go back to school? Nobody seems to have a good answer. And that void makes Trump appealing, because maybe high tariffs are a bad idea but maybe they would indeed bring back manufacturing jobs.
Democrats have ignored these folks for a long time. Of course, so have Republicans. At least Trump is listening to them. He's probably just using them, but at least he's not ignoring them.
Democrats have ignored these folks for a long time. Of course, so have Republicans. At least Trump is listening to them. He's probably just using them, but at least he's not ignoring them.
2
Hillary Clinton is essentially an incumbent. There is a rule in politics that no one defeats an incumbent but the incumbent. President Bush and President Carter are two of the most recent presidential examples. To worry about "beating" a challenger is to fall into a trap and, every day, one can see how Donald Trump sets that trap with "bait" -- race bait, religion bait, nationality bait, class bait. To win, the incumbent must avoid taking the bait and articulate not why one shouldn't vote for the challenger, but articulate one's own vision. Ultimately, the majority of voters don't cast their votes for personalities, but for visions.
2
The Clintonistas need to recognize that, in Trump, it's nothing person between the two of them. Politics at the level being played is a blood sport. There will be anger, vitriol and tactical/strategic gaming of the field of battle; and in huge amounts, and by both sides. But the Clintonistas need to recognize they are battling a figurehead; a mist. One that has arisen out of a populist anger, and that angers need for making itself felt among the Elites who don't comprehend it. Trump represents inchoate rage and fear, much as the Brit vote did for the United Kingdom. The Clintonistas should not be taking the war to the figurehead. They need to address the source of it, directly.
And this is their main problem. For as good as the Clintonistas may be; as capable as they like to think they are they - like all of their ilk in our American Political class - seem tone deaf to some fundamental realities being lived day in and day out by the average American. Let me be clear, I will not vote for Trump. He does not have the qualities of leadership I require. He's more an ambitious grifter aiming at the prize. But it's matched by my distaste for the Clintonistas and the bastion of privilege they represent. A more clueless group I have not seen in some time. Which leave me, the voter, in something of a pickle. Regardless, it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out.
John~
American Net'Zen
And this is their main problem. For as good as the Clintonistas may be; as capable as they like to think they are they - like all of their ilk in our American Political class - seem tone deaf to some fundamental realities being lived day in and day out by the average American. Let me be clear, I will not vote for Trump. He does not have the qualities of leadership I require. He's more an ambitious grifter aiming at the prize. But it's matched by my distaste for the Clintonistas and the bastion of privilege they represent. A more clueless group I have not seen in some time. Which leave me, the voter, in something of a pickle. Regardless, it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out.
John~
American Net'Zen
55
John The name is Clinton. They are American.
1
Exactly.
Trump's continuing appeal to angry working-class voters, his promises that he will ban Muslim and Mexican immigrants, build a wall along our southern states and make Mexico pay for it, tear up foreign trade agreements, and inculcating in his supporters his disdain for political correctness, is the ticket to ride that has made him the Republican Presumptive Nominee for the Presidency. Defeating his 16 GOP Primary colleagues by name-calling, like a beefy bully in a school yard has allowed him to rise to the top of the crumbling Republican heap, though he is loathed by some in his own party; two former Republican Presidents and a GOP candidate who fell to Trump's vicious name-calling ("low energy, weak JEB") refuse to attend the RNC Convention in Cleveland. Hillary Clinton will become our next President if her old-style politics will work against Trump's demagoguery, the excitement he whomps up in his appearances all over the country, flying in on his magic carpet jet, delivering his message of hate-mongering and fear and "making America great again". There is no secret to Hillary Clinton's win - her campaign still has time to get out the vote among young people, old disadvantaged people, among blacks and hispanics and especially women of all faiths and colours. Voters must be registered in every venue where she speaks. Secretary Clinton can win the Presidency, by hook or by crook, by old-style politics and new style social media and an optimistic appeal to e pluribus unum.
1
Trump continues putting the Con into "conservative". Check out Trump U, and Trump Institute. The place sounds like some Scientology revenge project for the grads/poor saps who piped up about wanting their $$$ back for plagiarized HooHaw offered as real estate genius.
Britain just saw what its version of Trump, i.e., Boris Johnson, wrought on their political system: Big mouth, tore the place up, and then got bored with the wreckage. Trump has shown that he is a opinion windmill, turning in any direction, saying anything.
Finally, the NRA getting on its hind legs about the Benghazi tragedy while falling all over itself to help people on a terrorist watch list right here in America to get military weaponry without inconvenience is some rich, rich poo. Wow. Wonder who thought THAT up- we know Wayne LaPierre is too busy bashing the Sandy Hook parents to have time to write ads- maybe Ted Nugent is the face of fake concern.
Britain just saw what its version of Trump, i.e., Boris Johnson, wrought on their political system: Big mouth, tore the place up, and then got bored with the wreckage. Trump has shown that he is a opinion windmill, turning in any direction, saying anything.
Finally, the NRA getting on its hind legs about the Benghazi tragedy while falling all over itself to help people on a terrorist watch list right here in America to get military weaponry without inconvenience is some rich, rich poo. Wow. Wonder who thought THAT up- we know Wayne LaPierre is too busy bashing the Sandy Hook parents to have time to write ads- maybe Ted Nugent is the face of fake concern.
1
Hillary should win now that Bill Clinton secured Loretta Lynch as the Clinton Foundations new very well paid lawyer.
The 1% just don't get it. The Middle class have eyes and ears.
The Hampton's are not a defensible position. Low lying beaches will be breached with ease.
The 1% just don't get it. The Middle class have eyes and ears.
The Hampton's are not a defensible position. Low lying beaches will be breached with ease.
3
The Brexit vote will likely turn out to be a disaster for the very working-class people who enthusiastically voted for it.
In an odd parallel, if Trump is elected, the results will be similarly disastrous for working-class people who vote for him.
The lesson here (as I see it) is that you should never vote based on the principle of "sticking it" to another class of people.
In an odd parallel, if Trump is elected, the results will be similarly disastrous for working-class people who vote for him.
The lesson here (as I see it) is that you should never vote based on the principle of "sticking it" to another class of people.
2
A two woman ticket would certainly stand traditional politics on it's head.
Nobody could argue that to vote for Hillary/Elizabeth would be politics as usual, or a vote for Wall St.
Elizabeth Warren is fired up. Hillary needs her. Nobody else on the list can do this.
Nobody could argue that to vote for Hillary/Elizabeth would be politics as usual, or a vote for Wall St.
Elizabeth Warren is fired up. Hillary needs her. Nobody else on the list can do this.
2
Has Warren given up her philosophical stand on Wall St. which is diametrically opposed to Clinton's ?
1
"Let's get this country moving again." It worked for JFK and in the current climate it will not be seen as a rebuke of Obama. But it will cast shadows on every congressional and senate race. There's film of JFK in Allentown saying all this days before the 1960 election. It would make compelling viewing at the convention.
2
DJT has been given a free pass by HRC by not being called out to offer specifics, one example being his Muslim ban: even momentarily setting aside the unconstitutional nature of such 'religious tests' (!), how exactly would DJT implement his ban?
Would he have State Dept officials rely on an application form, where if the person answers, 'Yes, I'm a Muslim", the form will immediately be stamped as rejected?
And sure, that approach makes perfect sense, as obviously jihadists are going to respect our laws; hence the 'honor system' should work AOK (eg the wife in San Bernardino lied to obtain her visa; they modified their weapons in violation of CA laws, etc).
Perhaps gov't officials will rely on truth-detectors? Oh, wait: we still don't have reliable versions in 2016.
Perhaps DJT will have officials resort to using old-fashioned methods to determine one's true beliefs, using a modern-day version of dunking suspected witches to see if they float? Is that why DJT has no objections to water-boarding?
Point being: since we have no reliable method of objectively verifying what a person actually believes, the suggestion remains just as ill-conceived as when Cruz suggested allowing only Xian Syrian refugees into the U.S.
It's remains just as stupid a suggestion when DJT stole the same concept to use as the centerpiece of his campaign.
Would he have State Dept officials rely on an application form, where if the person answers, 'Yes, I'm a Muslim", the form will immediately be stamped as rejected?
And sure, that approach makes perfect sense, as obviously jihadists are going to respect our laws; hence the 'honor system' should work AOK (eg the wife in San Bernardino lied to obtain her visa; they modified their weapons in violation of CA laws, etc).
Perhaps gov't officials will rely on truth-detectors? Oh, wait: we still don't have reliable versions in 2016.
Perhaps DJT will have officials resort to using old-fashioned methods to determine one's true beliefs, using a modern-day version of dunking suspected witches to see if they float? Is that why DJT has no objections to water-boarding?
Point being: since we have no reliable method of objectively verifying what a person actually believes, the suggestion remains just as ill-conceived as when Cruz suggested allowing only Xian Syrian refugees into the U.S.
It's remains just as stupid a suggestion when DJT stole the same concept to use as the centerpiece of his campaign.
1
Clinton is the premier American oligarch.
She has amassed a huge personal fortune and the most powerful political machine in the country by trading political influence for cash even while Secretary of State.
Her dishonesty is visible for all to see.
This is not attractive to Americans and cannot be reversed by political ads.
Democrats are committed to her because they have no choice.
That is the power of oligarchs.
She has amassed a huge personal fortune and the most powerful political machine in the country by trading political influence for cash even while Secretary of State.
Her dishonesty is visible for all to see.
This is not attractive to Americans and cannot be reversed by political ads.
Democrats are committed to her because they have no choice.
That is the power of oligarchs.
4
The question is whether you can win without a sizeable share of the "disaffected white man" vote. I think it's arguable that the answer is "yes" -- that changing demographics and the growth of the Millennial age group (which has now surpassed Boomers) make it less critical to appeal to the bloc of voters that Trump is speaking to.
Pittsburgh is a good example of a city that is being redefined by tech and biomedical research, and by a surge in younger and more diverse residents. The pandering appeal that "we'll bring back the steel industry" (not very likely) is falling on a diminishing set of ears. You can make this case for city after city around the country, and it's the cities and suburbs that will define this election.
All this being said, can Clinton take a more consistently populist tone? Sure, and "I feel your pain" was a Bill Clinton specialty during the 1992 recession. I often feel that she is trying to cover every possible wedge issue (check her Twitter feed on any given day) instead of remembering that "it's the economy, stupid."
Pittsburgh is a good example of a city that is being redefined by tech and biomedical research, and by a surge in younger and more diverse residents. The pandering appeal that "we'll bring back the steel industry" (not very likely) is falling on a diminishing set of ears. You can make this case for city after city around the country, and it's the cities and suburbs that will define this election.
All this being said, can Clinton take a more consistently populist tone? Sure, and "I feel your pain" was a Bill Clinton specialty during the 1992 recession. I often feel that she is trying to cover every possible wedge issue (check her Twitter feed on any given day) instead of remembering that "it's the economy, stupid."
67
"The question is whether you can win without a sizeable share of the "disaffected white man" vote."
The problem is how much of the women's vote and minority vote would go along the same lines. No one faction isolated could prevent a win, but this old white man's vote is not just isolated.
Don't turn a blind eye to others than old white men who feel as they do. That is were the balance is to be found.
The problem is how much of the women's vote and minority vote would go along the same lines. No one faction isolated could prevent a win, but this old white man's vote is not just isolated.
Don't turn a blind eye to others than old white men who feel as they do. That is were the balance is to be found.
1
If Clinton wants to make a strong statement addressing popular anger, she could start by denouncing the unanimous Supreme Court decision to overturn the corruption conviction of McDonnell the former Virginia Governor who and along with his wife took expensive gifts for favors. This canary in the coalmine ruling, about just how broken the system is, endangers of other high-profile political corruption convictions across the country.
2
What would you expect from Supreme Court Justices who themselves receive expensive gifts, multiple yearly paid vacations, and are suddenly very popular friends of the politically active rich who invite them to parties, dinners, and private plane rides to their vacation mansions?!
1
I trust that enough Old-Style Republicans will be more afraid of the prospect of Donald as president than Hillary. They may not agree with Clinton, but at least with her they get a known quantity and can prepare accordingly. With Trump they get a question mark. Old-Style Republican politicians could be counted on to safely and stably reward a certain class of the electorate, but Trump is a loose cannon with no loyalty to anybody but himself. This is of course dangerous for the country and the world, but more to the point for Republicans, it's potentially very dangerous for their own wallets. I hope Hillary Clinton makes this point.
I continue to get the impression from wheel horses of the Democratic establishment - such as the NYT - that they wake up at night in a cold sweat with the fear that a terrible mistake has been made by selecting Hillary as their 2016 candidate years ago and never reconsidering that decision in light of more recent developments such as Mr. Trump.
2
This election presents very stark choice.
Vote for a corrupt, warmongering Republican...
or vote for Donald Trump.
Vote for a corrupt, warmongering Republican...
or vote for Donald Trump.
5
In other words, don't forget to vote!
1
I think the nation may be in for a real surprise in November from the Trumpster.
If the FBI investigation concludes that HRC's private email violated national security, all bets are off. If it recommends that she be indicted, the race is over.
But even if she survives this latest self-inflicted wound, Hillary is vulnerable simply because many voters are tired of her and tired of the Clinton's constant skating along the edge of ethical behavior. People seem to be in a nasty mood, and they are venting their anger at a political process that is both toxic and inefficient. In such a negative environment we could be looking at a cathartic moment in our history, leading to a total charlatan in Trump winning in November, and four or eight long years of remorse to follow.
But even if she survives this latest self-inflicted wound, Hillary is vulnerable simply because many voters are tired of her and tired of the Clinton's constant skating along the edge of ethical behavior. People seem to be in a nasty mood, and they are venting their anger at a political process that is both toxic and inefficient. In such a negative environment we could be looking at a cathartic moment in our history, leading to a total charlatan in Trump winning in November, and four or eight long years of remorse to follow.
73
So people worry about Clinton supposedly "skating along the edge of ethical behavior" while ignoring the fact that Trump is totally unethical. (see reports of Trump Institute and Trump University as well as his employment of workers from Slovenia in Florida) As he himself said, he could shoot someone the middle of Fifth Avenue and no one would care. One letter writer claims Clinton is all about "me, me, me" but I suppose that letter writer considers that Trump is just being generous and self effacing when he plasters the name Trump all over everything for a payoff.
2
Wouldn't eight years mean Trump's first 3 years were somewhat successful ? In today's politics "what have you done for me lately" is the key to re-election.
What has surprised me this cycle is that there are not stronger candidates from both parties; it worries me that the environment is so toxic in D.C. that it no longer draws top talent.
I know the Democrats are enamored by the idea of the first female President following on the heals of the first black President. There is a huge difference between President Obama and Mrs. Clinton though. When the President ran on a message of hope he inspired voters. His message wasn't I am black, vote for me. Many of us admire the man, his commitment to his family and his causes even as we are frustrated by the unconstitutional approach he has taken to pursue them. I may not agree with the President but I do believe he is sincere. Mrs. Clinton has all the emotional connection of an empty cereal box.
What has surprised me this cycle is that there are not stronger candidates from both parties; it worries me that the environment is so toxic in D.C. that it no longer draws top talent.
I know the Democrats are enamored by the idea of the first female President following on the heals of the first black President. There is a huge difference between President Obama and Mrs. Clinton though. When the President ran on a message of hope he inspired voters. His message wasn't I am black, vote for me. Many of us admire the man, his commitment to his family and his causes even as we are frustrated by the unconstitutional approach he has taken to pursue them. I may not agree with the President but I do believe he is sincere. Mrs. Clinton has all the emotional connection of an empty cereal box.
1
PaulB When you speak of unethical behavior you should also mention the very unethical behavior of Trump. How he has cheated people out of payment for their services, how he has cheated people taking his phony University and Institute courses, etc. I know you said he is a "charlatan" , but he is worse than that.
2
A good number of people will always follow the "party line" though matter the candidate. Another number will actually analyze the situation and make their decision on either who is best for their own interest and/or our nation's. If Hillary is elected the gridlock in Congress will not be broken unless people vote out the GOP crowd who put their party's interests ahead of the nation. The problem is that many have no idea how our system works. If people really cared about "the voice of the people" there would have been rage against the Electoral College system in 2000, instead of barely a whimper.
75
"there would have been rage against the Electoral College system in 2000, instead of barely a whimper"
That overlooks a key problem in 2000 -- a lot of people really did not like Gore very much. Looking back, we can see what Bush was, but at the time Gore's problem was being Clinton's VP while running away from Clinton.
Gore failed to carry his own state. Gore had the tiniest possible margin of victory in Florida, if that.
If people had really wanted Gore more than they did, they would have done more than whimper about a stolen election.
That overlooks a key problem in 2000 -- a lot of people really did not like Gore very much. Looking back, we can see what Bush was, but at the time Gore's problem was being Clinton's VP while running away from Clinton.
Gore failed to carry his own state. Gore had the tiniest possible margin of victory in Florida, if that.
If people had really wanted Gore more than they did, they would have done more than whimper about a stolen election.
2
I detest Hillary, but Trump horrifies me. One of his weak spots is those tax returns: his opponents have got to just keep hammering that point until it's all anybody ever talks about.
3
It is very easy for Hillary to give up her tax returns. She and Bill have been feeding at the public trough for 30+ years. Her income is already largely a matter of public record and has been most of her life. It will be interesting to see Donald Trump's tax returns when/if they are made public. I would imagine, given the amount of activity in his portfolio, his tax returns will be open to a lot of interpretation.
1
We are that state electing governors like the slime ball Pat McCrory, with HB2 to shame us -- don't look here for any semblance of political sanity this election year.
2
The Clinton campaign surrogates and super pacts should hammer home to independent voters and to Mr. Trump's blue collar and Christian fundamentalist supporters the following points:
Mr. Trump is a plutocrat who spends all of his time with his fellow plutocrats--golfing with them, grifting them, suing them, etc.
Mr. Trump's campaign is built upon a foundation of lies, misinformation, and the distracting misdirection of his supporters' wrath.
Mr. Trump is an extremely wealthy narcissist who is totally into self aggrandizement and fleshing out Thorstein Veblen's thesis that the purpose of accumulating obscene amounts of wealth is to conspicuously display that wealth: multiple homes, a series of trophy wives, private jets, etc.
Mr. Trump, who has always been extremely wealthy and who has always pursued nothing other than his own self interests, has never felt your pain and has nothing in common with you.
What sane "little person" could possibly believe that Mr. Trump is the formerly avaricious leopard who has now changed his spots and who will now shake up Washington D.C. for the benefit of "the little people"--for the benefit of the "losers" whom he has always held in contempt?
Mr. Trump is a plutocrat who spends all of his time with his fellow plutocrats--golfing with them, grifting them, suing them, etc.
Mr. Trump's campaign is built upon a foundation of lies, misinformation, and the distracting misdirection of his supporters' wrath.
Mr. Trump is an extremely wealthy narcissist who is totally into self aggrandizement and fleshing out Thorstein Veblen's thesis that the purpose of accumulating obscene amounts of wealth is to conspicuously display that wealth: multiple homes, a series of trophy wives, private jets, etc.
Mr. Trump, who has always been extremely wealthy and who has always pursued nothing other than his own self interests, has never felt your pain and has nothing in common with you.
What sane "little person" could possibly believe that Mr. Trump is the formerly avaricious leopard who has now changed his spots and who will now shake up Washington D.C. for the benefit of "the little people"--for the benefit of the "losers" whom he has always held in contempt?
17
Bjelland Sr.,
Mrs. Clinton isn't Bernard Sanders; and no Trump supporter is ignorant of the true nature of a 10+ year long reality cable TV host and star. He's been an all too familiar face for too long.
Trump's value (to his voters) is his genuine sharing of their despising of the Clinton's and the Obama's class of sycophants' to the now global plutocracy. I use the Clinton's and the Obama's as examples that easily come to mind. But you can add Robert Rubin, Henry Paulson, Timothy Geithner, Mika Brzezinski, Andrea Mitchell, Albert Gore Jr., and Harold Ford Jr. to that list.
People who only talk to each other, and their plutocratic masters. People who were absolutely certain that the British, would never be so foolish, as to actually choose, to leave the European Union; or; make Donald Trump, their Party's presidential nominee.
Mrs. Clinton isn't Bernard Sanders; and no Trump supporter is ignorant of the true nature of a 10+ year long reality cable TV host and star. He's been an all too familiar face for too long.
Trump's value (to his voters) is his genuine sharing of their despising of the Clinton's and the Obama's class of sycophants' to the now global plutocracy. I use the Clinton's and the Obama's as examples that easily come to mind. But you can add Robert Rubin, Henry Paulson, Timothy Geithner, Mika Brzezinski, Andrea Mitchell, Albert Gore Jr., and Harold Ford Jr. to that list.
People who only talk to each other, and their plutocratic masters. People who were absolutely certain that the British, would never be so foolish, as to actually choose, to leave the European Union; or; make Donald Trump, their Party's presidential nominee.
Neither Clinton nor Trump nor our hopelessly idiotic Congress will do much, if anything, to address the problems everyday Americans face.
I can't stand either one of them. Trump is a joke and Hillary takes money from the Wall Street gamblers who ruined the economy, wrecked lives, and are still getting fatter than ever.
Gun control? Workers' rights? The environment? Quality education? Amnesty for immigrants? Support for refugees? Look to your own state legislatures, city councils and school boards.
Get off your butts, turn off Fox News and NPR, and make a difference in your own world.
I can't stand either one of them. Trump is a joke and Hillary takes money from the Wall Street gamblers who ruined the economy, wrecked lives, and are still getting fatter than ever.
Gun control? Workers' rights? The environment? Quality education? Amnesty for immigrants? Support for refugees? Look to your own state legislatures, city councils and school boards.
Get off your butts, turn off Fox News and NPR, and make a difference in your own world.
11
Trump could win. It's up to Sanders' supporters and liberal (that's to say "sane") Republicans to stop him. No one else can.
3
President Obama said one of his guiding principles is don't do stupid stuff
I don't want Trump for too many reasons to list so I will give just one; I view Trump as incapable of learning anything new and so unable to comprehend reality because Trump sees all through the fixed filter of his preconceived ideas
Hillary can do many things but instead Hillary is determined to do stupid. In poll after poll & focus group after focus group the views of Hillary are firmly baked in; untrustworthy, money grubber, rules don't apply to a Clinton etc
Hillary's old style politics is to dispatch surrogates who make preposterous claims: Hillary is the most prepared ever to be commander in chief as if a number of presidents never commanded in war like Dwight Eisenhower; most prepared to govern: really? LBJ was prepared to govern & he got the Civil rights, voting rights & a lot more done. Bill is best known for triangulating & that helped the 1% much more than the 99% Oh, Bill also rented out the Lincoln bedroom so great fundraiser
Hillary stop trying to ignore the elephant in the room. Say it was a mistake to take all of that Wall St money because appearances count even if you "intended" to do the right thing & then maybe people might begin to believe you. Promise that you & Bill will stop charging for speeches now & forever. T.R. & FDR knew they couldn't play nice with the Big Money interests & keep us on the path to Progress so get real & stop worshiping the lords of Finance
I don't want Trump for too many reasons to list so I will give just one; I view Trump as incapable of learning anything new and so unable to comprehend reality because Trump sees all through the fixed filter of his preconceived ideas
Hillary can do many things but instead Hillary is determined to do stupid. In poll after poll & focus group after focus group the views of Hillary are firmly baked in; untrustworthy, money grubber, rules don't apply to a Clinton etc
Hillary's old style politics is to dispatch surrogates who make preposterous claims: Hillary is the most prepared ever to be commander in chief as if a number of presidents never commanded in war like Dwight Eisenhower; most prepared to govern: really? LBJ was prepared to govern & he got the Civil rights, voting rights & a lot more done. Bill is best known for triangulating & that helped the 1% much more than the 99% Oh, Bill also rented out the Lincoln bedroom so great fundraiser
Hillary stop trying to ignore the elephant in the room. Say it was a mistake to take all of that Wall St money because appearances count even if you "intended" to do the right thing & then maybe people might begin to believe you. Promise that you & Bill will stop charging for speeches now & forever. T.R. & FDR knew they couldn't play nice with the Big Money interests & keep us on the path to Progress so get real & stop worshiping the lords of Finance
9
The task of converting anger into enthusiasm for solutions is a tall order for Mrs. Clinton, who objectively looks rather staid compared with Trump's fire in the belly.
3
For many people voting for Mr. Trump, this isn't a substantive choice based on the issued. They either like him and everything that spews from his mouth or they dislike Hillary Clinton so much that she could be running against a three headed alien and they would vote for it. To the rest of us, who understand what's at stake this election - its' frightening and infuriating. But, at this point - i'm not sure what, if anything, Ms. Clinton can do?
49
Dana California will vote for Hillary. So, reach out to friends and relatives in other States.. Make sure they understand the stakes and ask them to be sure to vote. Absentee ballots are available in every State for those who can't make it to the polls.
2
This correctly identifies the problem, but does not follow out the logic of its own words.
"they dislike Hillary Clinton so much that she could be running against a three headed alien and they would vote for it"
The problem is Hillary.
"i'm not sure what, if anything, Ms. Clinton can do"
Nothing. She's Hillary. That is the problem.
"they dislike Hillary Clinton so much that she could be running against a three headed alien and they would vote for it"
The problem is Hillary.
"i'm not sure what, if anything, Ms. Clinton can do"
Nothing. She's Hillary. That is the problem.
2
Dana, I'm from the other California. The liberal left likes to caricature everything that comes from "The Donalds" mouth as "Spew".
I play tennis with fourteen white, hispanic and muslim men twice a week. We are friends because of tennis, not neccasarily ideology. They are almost all college educated and solidly middle class(public tennis courts).
Suprisingly, while discussing Brexit last week they all said Trump is a imperfect messenger, but they basically agree with his viewpoint and wish he would think before he talks.
All 14 would never vote for "the liar-corrupt" Hillary. They reluctantly will vote Trump.
later that day, I was talking to 3 women who are nurses. One young and white, one from the Phillipines and one older women from LA. All said they would never vote for Hillary.
Interesting, is all I can say, 17 out of 17!
I play tennis with fourteen white, hispanic and muslim men twice a week. We are friends because of tennis, not neccasarily ideology. They are almost all college educated and solidly middle class(public tennis courts).
Suprisingly, while discussing Brexit last week they all said Trump is a imperfect messenger, but they basically agree with his viewpoint and wish he would think before he talks.
All 14 would never vote for "the liar-corrupt" Hillary. They reluctantly will vote Trump.
later that day, I was talking to 3 women who are nurses. One young and white, one from the Phillipines and one older women from LA. All said they would never vote for Hillary.
Interesting, is all I can say, 17 out of 17!
2
On my walk this morning, I saw a little Mexican kid wearing a tee shirt with a really cool response to trump;
"I am what Great is!"
"I am what Great is!"
3
Unfortunately for Trump fans, people who play with fire get burned; more tax cuts for the rich, deficit, default, trade wars, no health care, failing social supports, won't help struggling workers, and turning our people against each other will destroy us for sure. Hillary needs to really show people she means to help them, and she needs to expose Trump as the opportunistic, cruel charlatan that he is.
"Stronger Together" isn't dull, unless you consider essential truth to be boring; it defines exactly who Americans are. Out of many, one. United we stand. If we can't get that -- we got nothing at all.
"Stronger Together" isn't dull, unless you consider essential truth to be boring; it defines exactly who Americans are. Out of many, one. United we stand. If we can't get that -- we got nothing at all.
6
I don't understand why Clinton doesn't talk more about student loan refinancing and more programs and incentives for student loan forgiveness. That would easily put her 10 points ahead. Even Sanders didn't talk about it as much as I'd have liked him to.
That's old-fashioned politics, in a nutshell, and Clinton better do it before Trump does. It's the single issue, even above immigration reform, that would make him a serious candidate.
That's old-fashioned politics, in a nutshell, and Clinton better do it before Trump does. It's the single issue, even above immigration reform, that would make him a serious candidate.
3
A combination of the"base," i.e., those souls who somehow really believe that Trump will make all the bad things go away, and the mainline Republicans who don't care what Trump's philosophy and programs are (or whether he has anything in mind at all) will very likely lead to a Trump triumph. It's the latter group that is morally culpable. They know what Trump is: they just don't care as long as their party "wins."
1
I fear Americans have a tendency to complicate rather than simplify things. The simple fact is that Trump is manifestly unqualified to be President of the United States. Has he uttered one syllable, as of even date, that suggests he knows what he is talking about? Or even that he cares? How difficult is it for Hillary to put that across to the meanest intelligence?
1
No, old style politics doesn't matter this time around, and perhaps forever.
TV ads only sway low information voters. Ads or no ads, white low information voters will be voting for Trump, and the minorities in this group are going with Hillary no matter what. So why waste money?
The vast majority of the votes for Trump will be votes against Hillary, and there is nothing she can do about them.
The only thing that will matter going forward are the debates.
TV ads only sway low information voters. Ads or no ads, white low information voters will be voting for Trump, and the minorities in this group are going with Hillary no matter what. So why waste money?
The vast majority of the votes for Trump will be votes against Hillary, and there is nothing she can do about them.
The only thing that will matter going forward are the debates.
Hillary's problem of winning isn't "old-sytle politics" - it's a lack of policy that benefits the average American citizen; it's the self-inflicted wounds over many, many years that show a lack of judgment.
Trump's defeat won't come from "old-style politics" since that was tried and failed by the other Republicans candidates in this race. Trump will only be defeated by himself. His policies are popular, his understanding of the abandonment of "old-style politics" as a value in this election, and the understanding that change is what many people want.
The NYT refuses to understand it's the economy, ILLEGAL immigration (which impacts wages and jobs), bad trade deals, VA scandals, Wall St. bailouts, establishment, mainstream media and elite talking points that are lies and exposed as such, finally, and the tiring of the public for "old-style politics" as being the ineffective garbage that has been peddled to voters for years.
Voters will vote the candidate that can understand that. And it's not the NYT or their chosen candidate, Hillary, at the moment.
Trump's defeat won't come from "old-style politics" since that was tried and failed by the other Republicans candidates in this race. Trump will only be defeated by himself. His policies are popular, his understanding of the abandonment of "old-style politics" as a value in this election, and the understanding that change is what many people want.
The NYT refuses to understand it's the economy, ILLEGAL immigration (which impacts wages and jobs), bad trade deals, VA scandals, Wall St. bailouts, establishment, mainstream media and elite talking points that are lies and exposed as such, finally, and the tiring of the public for "old-style politics" as being the ineffective garbage that has been peddled to voters for years.
Voters will vote the candidate that can understand that. And it's not the NYT or their chosen candidate, Hillary, at the moment.
4
When people say they are irritated with political correctness they are really saying they want to be free to be racist. From his first speech about Mexicans sending murders and rapists to the United States, Trump has given permission for his supporters to be be racist and in turn his supporters are lapping it up. The "freedom" to be racist is the only thing that Trump offers his supporters but for many of them, it is enough.
We have just witnessed the same tactic" fear of Foreigners" succeeding in the UK with Brexit campaign. Of course now we see that the Brexit leaders have actually no clue how to proceed now that they won. Where England failed was that all the passion was on the side of Bexit while the Remain side tried reasoned arguments when the public doesn't seem to care about reasoned arguments anymore. You are correct that old-style politics are not enough, the prospect of a Trump presidency should make everyone terrified, the objective is to get past" knowing" you should be terrified to actually viscerally feeling terrified at the prospect. Bring the passion!
We have just witnessed the same tactic" fear of Foreigners" succeeding in the UK with Brexit campaign. Of course now we see that the Brexit leaders have actually no clue how to proceed now that they won. Where England failed was that all the passion was on the side of Bexit while the Remain side tried reasoned arguments when the public doesn't seem to care about reasoned arguments anymore. You are correct that old-style politics are not enough, the prospect of a Trump presidency should make everyone terrified, the objective is to get past" knowing" you should be terrified to actually viscerally feeling terrified at the prospect. Bring the passion!
10
What you are really asking is can old fashioned hard work and grit beat Trump? And the answer is yes. The smart girl in the class will prevail against the spoiled rotten bully who doesn't do his homework and thinks he is entitled to be the best and always win just because. Not this time.
4
Better to not underestimate underestimate Mr. Trump’s continuing appeal to educated 1% voters like me. For me, a Harvard graduate, Hillary is by far the greater of the evils.
7
Hillary, for all her faults, will not drive the train off a cliff the way Trump would. I didn't go to Hah-vard, but I do have several graduate degrees, and I don't know how *any* educated person could support Trump. ...or did you mean Harvard Community College?
1
In other words, the "educated 1%" increasingly favors the candidate who is a bonafide birther; who thinks women should be punished for having abortions (even in cases of rape and incest); who claims he knows more about ISIS than do US military generals; who shouts that he will build a wall to keep out Mexican rapists; wants to ban Muslims to varying degrees depending on what sounds good on any given day.
This is who the educated support.
LOL....right...
This is who the educated support.
LOL....right...
1
If Clinton continues to mount a two-pronged campaign, with one prong premised on political correctness, and one prong premised on serving corporatism and militarism, she will lose in a landslide.
The first prong receives support from 30% of the population but is fiercely opposed by the other 70%
The second prong receives support from 0.1% pf the population but is fiercely opposed by the other 99.9%.
The first prong receives support from 30% of the population but is fiercely opposed by the other 70%
The second prong receives support from 0.1% pf the population but is fiercely opposed by the other 99.9%.
5
Hillary Clinton should start talking directly to "aggrieved working class voters," for it is them, their grandfathers, fathers and mothers who built this country. If the American middle class factory cannot compete with similarly skilled workers in China, Vietnam or Mexico, then we must adapt. America at the beginning of the 21st century needs a massive infrastructure investment. We need health care workers, engineers, entrepreneurs, skilled trades, service industries that haven't yet been imagined. Imagination is what we need. Where are the Hoover Dams or the wonderful civic buildings built during the Depression of today?
Let's stop obsessing on distractions and unite to rebuild and invest in our people and our country.
Let's stop obsessing on distractions and unite to rebuild and invest in our people and our country.
11
'We need health care workers, engineers, entrepreneurs, skilled trades, service industries that haven't yet been imagined'
Absolutely but the federal government allows the manipulation and abuse of H1b visas to import foreign workers for all those jobs and refuses to truly enforce immigration laws that allow millions of illegal immigrants to take those jobs at lower wages with no income taxes paid.
Investing in our own people means that we need to actually define who our own people are and not continue to allow the free flow of cheaper alternatives for political gain.
Absolutely but the federal government allows the manipulation and abuse of H1b visas to import foreign workers for all those jobs and refuses to truly enforce immigration laws that allow millions of illegal immigrants to take those jobs at lower wages with no income taxes paid.
Investing in our own people means that we need to actually define who our own people are and not continue to allow the free flow of cheaper alternatives for political gain.
The Times seems to think that Clinton's carefully staged theater regarding Orlando will somehow make people want her to lead them instead of Trump. But no one needed convincing that Clinton has professional political staff with whom she can assemble a speech and read it from a prompter with all their right emphases.
Theater aside, the problem remains that Clinton is offering people nothing but more of the same: more neoliberalism, thus further increasing the already massive inequality, and more neoconservatism, with all the new wars and war expenditures that will mean.
This election is all about whether voters who want change want it enough to stomach voting for Trump. It's Trumps sale to make -- at the convention, in the debates, and in the final run-up to the vote. If he ups his game enough, these voters will put him over the top.
Theater aside, the problem remains that Clinton is offering people nothing but more of the same: more neoliberalism, thus further increasing the already massive inequality, and more neoconservatism, with all the new wars and war expenditures that will mean.
This election is all about whether voters who want change want it enough to stomach voting for Trump. It's Trumps sale to make -- at the convention, in the debates, and in the final run-up to the vote. If he ups his game enough, these voters will put him over the top.
3
I am ashamed to say that the Trump candidacy and the millions of people who have voted for him have deeply shaken my faith in the United States. Lose, or (gag) win, I can see NO good coming out of this national election. Congress is so gerrymandered, and will remain so, that the Republican Party has successfully short-circuited majority rule. I will volunteer and vote for Democrats down the ticket, but I despair of ever seeing a functional, representative government again on the federal level in what remains of my lifetime. Thank the quantum foam of the SpaceTime Continuum that I was lucky enough to be born in California. Not a perfect state by any means, but at least we aren't beholden to the far right.
4
Likewise, the millions of voters who pulled the lever for someone under FBI investigation, a gung ho neo-con who takes millions from Wall Street for speeches (the contents of which she will not reveal) and then would have us believe she will regulate them to within an inch of their lives.........
shaken my faith in the wisdom of the voter.
shaken my faith in the wisdom of the voter.
1
There's not much point in trying to coach Hillary on how to give passionate speeches at every whistle stop in early July. In the past, Hillary's attempts to reveal her emotions on cue have mostly looked staged and fallen flat. When she is truly moved by an event such as Orlando, it comes through vividly and speaks to her emotional depth and sincerity. It's going to be a long, bitter slog through summer and fall, and rather than peaking too soon trying to match Trump's overheated outbursts, she only needs continue to display the steadiness and commitment to the common good that have brought her this far.
2
When opposing Trump there is no option but to fight fire by fire. Hillary can take the high road but there are enough surrogates, such as Senator Warren, who are effectively acerbic in taking on Trump. One stream of counter attack would be to point out Trump’s autocratic style. There are many examples from his life to make the point that it could be a one-man government with almost dictatorial rule. Even Republicans can see this coming. If he wins with only a lukewarm support from the Republican Party, Trump will not be beholden to anyone, least of all to the poor and less educated in the US. There is nothing in Trump’s past that shows any sense of public service, all his life Trump has lived only for self-centered fame and fortune. So a message that must be conveyed cogently and unequivocally by the Clinton campaign is that if people were to vote for Trump and he wins, it be a de facto Government of Trump, by Trump and for Trump.
9
As this editorial suggests, Hillary Clinton needs to adapt to the tactics of Donald Trump. It should not, however, involve an abandonment of the old-style rallies, stump speeches and occasional policy speeches. Those appearances are as important for energizing the Clinton campaign workers, as they are for making contact with the voters.
What Mrs. Clinton must do is borrow a page from the Trump playbook – to the extent that one exists – and call impromptu news conferences and media appearances in response to breaking news and to some outlandish pronouncement by Trump. It will require a more nimble staff and better, punchier lines delivered with humor or outrage, as the occasion dictates.
In short, Donald Trump makes his appearance before a camera an event. He is unpredictable, so viewers watch. There follows the word-of-mouth spreading of news about the latest Trump stunt. He, in fact, becomes the news.
Mrs. Clinton needs to do the same, while still maintaining her lead position as the only serious, presidential person in the race.
What Mrs. Clinton must do is borrow a page from the Trump playbook – to the extent that one exists – and call impromptu news conferences and media appearances in response to breaking news and to some outlandish pronouncement by Trump. It will require a more nimble staff and better, punchier lines delivered with humor or outrage, as the occasion dictates.
In short, Donald Trump makes his appearance before a camera an event. He is unpredictable, so viewers watch. There follows the word-of-mouth spreading of news about the latest Trump stunt. He, in fact, becomes the news.
Mrs. Clinton needs to do the same, while still maintaining her lead position as the only serious, presidential person in the race.
2
Trump is the most vulnerable candidate in decades, but this campaign will not be easy. Trump has a cult following that will never desert him. He is very attractive to the middle-aged, working class white man (and yes, some women), who sees his way of life disappearing and desperately needs a scapegoat to blame it on. Reasoning with these people will not work. (I know - I have tried.) There are enough disaffected people in the country to hand Trump the presidency if Hillary does not get it together. She does not seem to understand that the election will be won in the center, among undecided voters in a handful of battleground states. Wonkish policy speeches will not appeal to these voters. She needs fire in her belly, an arsenal of dirty bombs directed at Trump, and the will to use them. She needs to inspire trust and come across as the passionate champion of the downtrodden, struggling, middle class American. If she can do this, people may just forget about her wealth, ties to Wall Street and those pesky e-mails.
2
"She needs to inspire trust and come across as the passionate champion of the downtrodden, struggling, middle class American."
Good luck with that.
Good luck with that.
As an avid follower of national politics since the 1970s, I am well aware of how large Democratic leads can dissipate into thin air in a very short time.
Those of you who are old enough might remember the 1988 presidential campaign of Mike Dukakis. Then running against George HW Bush, Dukakis had a commanding lead coming out of the Democratic convention. That lead vaporized in no time due to Dukakis' refusal to fight fire with fire based on principle alone. (That tank ad didn't help, either.)
The national media also had a role to play as they seemed to give more sway and favorable coverage to the Republican candidate when it really counted. (In my opinion, this happens all too frequently.)
Dukakis refused to fight back. It was so depressingly frustrating to those of us who yearned for a Democratic victory (after enduring 8 years of Reagan). It literally took the wind out of the sails that seemed so promising coming out of what was a very positive Democratic convention.
Hillary should not hold back her venom when it comes to attacking Donald Trump. She needs to hammer home the profound flaws in personality and character of Donald Trump. His egocentric nature effectively precludes his ability to see the "larger picture" in a compassionate and wholesome light.
I am of the opinion that Hillary needs a dynamic and powerful motivator for VP. Although I was hesitant at first, I am now of the opinion that Elizabeth Warren would fit this bill PERFECTLY.
Those of you who are old enough might remember the 1988 presidential campaign of Mike Dukakis. Then running against George HW Bush, Dukakis had a commanding lead coming out of the Democratic convention. That lead vaporized in no time due to Dukakis' refusal to fight fire with fire based on principle alone. (That tank ad didn't help, either.)
The national media also had a role to play as they seemed to give more sway and favorable coverage to the Republican candidate when it really counted. (In my opinion, this happens all too frequently.)
Dukakis refused to fight back. It was so depressingly frustrating to those of us who yearned for a Democratic victory (after enduring 8 years of Reagan). It literally took the wind out of the sails that seemed so promising coming out of what was a very positive Democratic convention.
Hillary should not hold back her venom when it comes to attacking Donald Trump. She needs to hammer home the profound flaws in personality and character of Donald Trump. His egocentric nature effectively precludes his ability to see the "larger picture" in a compassionate and wholesome light.
I am of the opinion that Hillary needs a dynamic and powerful motivator for VP. Although I was hesitant at first, I am now of the opinion that Elizabeth Warren would fit this bill PERFECTLY.
7
A proportion of the populace (40%?) are lost for good in the Republican swamp. They voted for W twice, then Palin, then Romney. They'll vote for Drumpf.
The difference is that this time there is a broad sense of anger at the whole system that is drawing in more people to vote. They are likely to vote against their own interesrs to stick it to The Man, as the British did last week.
Drumpf represents this anger.
Hillary represents what people are angry at.
This huge shortcoming was evident from the get-go and many of us warned about it early. But we and our candidate were variously ignored, derided, and dismissed by the DNC and the corporate media.
Even this week, when Sen. Sanders wrote a clear manifesto in these pages that might draw some angry protest voters over to the Democratic column, the commenters here hurled abuse at him.
The policies Sen. Sanders advocated need to be part of Hillary's platform. If not, she'll be pinned as business-as-usual and we could face the worst.
The difference is that this time there is a broad sense of anger at the whole system that is drawing in more people to vote. They are likely to vote against their own interesrs to stick it to The Man, as the British did last week.
Drumpf represents this anger.
Hillary represents what people are angry at.
This huge shortcoming was evident from the get-go and many of us warned about it early. But we and our candidate were variously ignored, derided, and dismissed by the DNC and the corporate media.
Even this week, when Sen. Sanders wrote a clear manifesto in these pages that might draw some angry protest voters over to the Democratic column, the commenters here hurled abuse at him.
The policies Sen. Sanders advocated need to be part of Hillary's platform. If not, she'll be pinned as business-as-usual and we could face the worst.
17
Global warming threatens the planet.
The disasters wrought by the military misadventures of the GWB administration continue to manifest themselves.
The world still struggles to recover from the 2008 economic collapse which threatened to become another Great Depression.
Yet, a significant percentage of North Carolina voters seem more concerned with the threat posed by political correctness, where a transgender person will use the restroom, whether they will have any trouble
The disasters wrought by the military misadventures of the GWB administration continue to manifest themselves.
The world still struggles to recover from the 2008 economic collapse which threatened to become another Great Depression.
Yet, a significant percentage of North Carolina voters seem more concerned with the threat posed by political correctness, where a transgender person will use the restroom, whether they will have any trouble
9
"Can old-style Politics Beat Trump" is not really the apposite question. It is "can anything heal this mess?"
The GOP control of Congress has brought public approval of that institution to the lowest in living memory, and yet the intrenched and gerrymandered public does not appear willing or able to throw the bums out. Instead Congressional politics appears to be degenerating to new levels of rancor and inability to respond to the clear will of large majorities of the American public on major issues -- a conspicuous example is universal background checks for guns.
The presidency matters profoundly, but the public cannot be well served by even the greatest of presidents, if Congress is so dysfunctional that Caligula's horse might seem a positive addition.
Trump has destroyed the GOP as a party -- Seen nationally it is now three factions, the largest of which is Trump's -- a Berlusconi-like neo-fascist personality cult. But there are no Trump-party congressionals running! If elected Trump will face the highest level of legislative obstinacy in the history of our Republic. The GOP and its candidates have descended to being nothing more than a perpetual tantrum, all its legislators vying to yell "NO" more loudly ... what was the question? He who does not will be primaried by someone who will-- the tantrum party with Trump for President!
HRC as President, with the tantrum party in control of Congress should make angels weep, but it will be better than Trump.
The GOP control of Congress has brought public approval of that institution to the lowest in living memory, and yet the intrenched and gerrymandered public does not appear willing or able to throw the bums out. Instead Congressional politics appears to be degenerating to new levels of rancor and inability to respond to the clear will of large majorities of the American public on major issues -- a conspicuous example is universal background checks for guns.
The presidency matters profoundly, but the public cannot be well served by even the greatest of presidents, if Congress is so dysfunctional that Caligula's horse might seem a positive addition.
Trump has destroyed the GOP as a party -- Seen nationally it is now three factions, the largest of which is Trump's -- a Berlusconi-like neo-fascist personality cult. But there are no Trump-party congressionals running! If elected Trump will face the highest level of legislative obstinacy in the history of our Republic. The GOP and its candidates have descended to being nothing more than a perpetual tantrum, all its legislators vying to yell "NO" more loudly ... what was the question? He who does not will be primaried by someone who will-- the tantrum party with Trump for President!
HRC as President, with the tantrum party in control of Congress should make angels weep, but it will be better than Trump.
7
Nonsense. Trump as president will do what the GOP wants him to do, ensuring him more years in the most prestigious real estate in the world: the White House.
These campaigns are such big business, as the media frets and analyzes and pundits try to maintain an aura of knowingness so we will read their pearls of wisdom and chew on our anxieties about uncertain outcomes.
Wouldn't it be nice to take a vacation from this until the conventions and then really start to focus on matters when the debates begin? But no, the entertainment value of stimulating our digestive juices is too high, especially this time around.
Because of the success of Sanders and Trump, the screeds of the right and left wing of American politics are truly in the mix this time. For the left, the world is about the domination of the investment class, which they portray as some kind of monolithic and organized group dedicated to the exploitation of ordinary people.
From the right, it is the fear of the invading immigrants and their resentment of the more highly educated professional class.
The issue isn't so much about the differences between Hillary and Donald as it is about the intense anger and expansion of the fringes in both parties. The longer the two parties fail to show the nation they are capable of governing, the more dangerous the situation becomes.
For the most part, I blame the Republican obstructionism for this mess.
Wouldn't it be nice to take a vacation from this until the conventions and then really start to focus on matters when the debates begin? But no, the entertainment value of stimulating our digestive juices is too high, especially this time around.
Because of the success of Sanders and Trump, the screeds of the right and left wing of American politics are truly in the mix this time. For the left, the world is about the domination of the investment class, which they portray as some kind of monolithic and organized group dedicated to the exploitation of ordinary people.
From the right, it is the fear of the invading immigrants and their resentment of the more highly educated professional class.
The issue isn't so much about the differences between Hillary and Donald as it is about the intense anger and expansion of the fringes in both parties. The longer the two parties fail to show the nation they are capable of governing, the more dangerous the situation becomes.
For the most part, I blame the Republican obstructionism for this mess.
3
As best I can ascertain, about 80% of people have already decided who they will vote for (including everyone reading this column!), and the outcome in the majority of states can reliably be predicted today. Thus, who will be our next President will be determined by the decisions made by the minority of people who are currently undecided in the swing states; Florida again may be the key determining state. The key for each candidate is to deeply understand the demographics of these undecided voters, and the 1 or 2 issues that will swing their vote. With today’s technologies, including Facebook and Google targeting approaches, it would seem old style political tactics are almost irrelevant. I would suspect there isn’t a single person at a rally who is undecided.
On Independence Day (remember the Declaration was actually signed on July2), enjoy your inalienable right to Happiness!
On Independence Day (remember the Declaration was actually signed on July2), enjoy your inalienable right to Happiness!
6
During the primary, the Times’ editorialists took pains for conflate Trump with the other GOP candidates. After all, if he’s just one of 16 other inhuman cretins, then so what if he actually wins? And of course Ted Cruz is even more of an inhuman cretin than Trump is anyway.
So now that they got the election they want, here they are tearing their hair out fretting that Donald Chump (not a typo) could actually be president. Hoe boy.
Okay, to those who fear a Chump presidency: relax. It isn’t going to happen. He hasn’t got the constituencies he needs, and he isn’t going to get them. It’s as simple as that.
Why, it is such a sure thing that even if, say, Bill Clinton were to get caught colluding with AG Lynch over the server investigation, it would affect absolutely nothing, and Mrs. Clinton would still win big on November eighth! (Wait, bad example, forget that one.)
All laughs aside; no, it’s not going to happen. We will not have a president Chump. And solely because Trump is her opponent, Hillary Clinton will have the presidency foisted upon her completely regardless of how awful a candidate she may be, and regardless of whatever flabbergasting antics Bill Clinton can surprise us with again and again.
So now that they got the election they want, here they are tearing their hair out fretting that Donald Chump (not a typo) could actually be president. Hoe boy.
Okay, to those who fear a Chump presidency: relax. It isn’t going to happen. He hasn’t got the constituencies he needs, and he isn’t going to get them. It’s as simple as that.
Why, it is such a sure thing that even if, say, Bill Clinton were to get caught colluding with AG Lynch over the server investigation, it would affect absolutely nothing, and Mrs. Clinton would still win big on November eighth! (Wait, bad example, forget that one.)
All laughs aside; no, it’s not going to happen. We will not have a president Chump. And solely because Trump is her opponent, Hillary Clinton will have the presidency foisted upon her completely regardless of how awful a candidate she may be, and regardless of whatever flabbergasting antics Bill Clinton can surprise us with again and again.
What I'd like to see is an apolitical fact checking App that takes pains to weigh equally on both sides so either party can't yell foul. Not only fact checking but in depth analysis on how each fact considered has been handled before by the candidate and its history per party stance. For instance Trump has reiterated his approval of waterboarding saying it's the only way to extract information and keep us safe. Dig into that! Is it constitutional, true, false or falling into an area of gray, ramifications, comparing to it to what other countries believe..in short every aspect or part of the thing under examination.
3
I think it's perfectly in keeping with Americans' Constitutional rights of self-expression for Trumps' supporters to attend his 'revival meetings' to express their hates, bigotry, xenophobia, white-supremacy, fears, etc. In the non-politically-correct ' atmosphere that Trump revels in, just so long as they remember on Election Day that Trump has never held any elective office and has zero military, foreign-affairs, or legislative experience and is, therefore, totally unqualified for the Presidency of the United States.
11
I always take analyses of voter popularity with a grain of salt. It is far more important how many of your supporters actually vote. With participation frequently less than fifty percent (a disgrace) this is orders of magnitude more important than who leads in the polls. It would probably be more useful for Democrats to spend the money on getting the vote out than in trying to convert Trump supporters into Hilary supporters
4
exactly right
With the benefit of an outsider's view, the comments so far are a brilliant exposition of the liberal thinking that flat out refuses to comprehend that those citizens who don't live in the urban bubbles where their thinking is de rigeur might actually have some opinions of their own.
Sadly, the liberal response is to insult, denigrate, belittle, and ultmately ignore those who have an opposing view. How many comments here are rich in words such as 'fascism,' 'racism,' and 'xenophobia'? The latest fashion is to refer to Trump as 'Drumpf' as if anyone else outside the liberal bubbles cares, after everyone is descended from a name-changing immigrant (think Spiro Agnew). Frankly if that's all you've got then are out of ammo just as the battle is getting under way.
The super-intelligent, ever-so-well educated liberal elites have ignored too many people for too long. But elites will never change, mainly because they are the most intolerant people one could ever hope to meet even as they condemn Joe Six-Pack's intolerance (and I forgot to mention 'nativism.')
The Brexit result shows what happens when those know who better than the little people are so convinced of their success come face to face with an apocalypse when the solid citizens bite back. Learn the lesson and enough with the insults already!! I'd love to be present for the inauguration of President Trump.
Sadly, the liberal response is to insult, denigrate, belittle, and ultmately ignore those who have an opposing view. How many comments here are rich in words such as 'fascism,' 'racism,' and 'xenophobia'? The latest fashion is to refer to Trump as 'Drumpf' as if anyone else outside the liberal bubbles cares, after everyone is descended from a name-changing immigrant (think Spiro Agnew). Frankly if that's all you've got then are out of ammo just as the battle is getting under way.
The super-intelligent, ever-so-well educated liberal elites have ignored too many people for too long. But elites will never change, mainly because they are the most intolerant people one could ever hope to meet even as they condemn Joe Six-Pack's intolerance (and I forgot to mention 'nativism.')
The Brexit result shows what happens when those know who better than the little people are so convinced of their success come face to face with an apocalypse when the solid citizens bite back. Learn the lesson and enough with the insults already!! I'd love to be present for the inauguration of President Trump.
14
You want Trump as a leader? Take him, I hear you're looking for a new resident for 10 Downing St.
The solid citizens that were completely bamboozled by the lies of Farage and Johsnson, which they more or less retracted the next day (and which had been debunked before the vote). Those who now say the regret voting for the Brexit?
And the Drumpf thing, which is no longer in fashion anyway, was meant to illustrate that he should stop bashing more recent immigrants, as his family was once to. It was juvenile, I agree, but you seem to be missing the point. Trump and his supporters are the ones that want to forget that everyone's family was once an immigrant.
And the Drumpf thing, which is no longer in fashion anyway, was meant to illustrate that he should stop bashing more recent immigrants, as his family was once to. It was juvenile, I agree, but you seem to be missing the point. Trump and his supporters are the ones that want to forget that everyone's family was once an immigrant.
This article shows clearly why Hillary need Bernie. Although I am always disappointed that Bernie is not more specific with his alls for more equitable distribution of money, the bottom line is our tax system. Examples with actual numbers from people like Romney,who with a "22,000,000 income pays 14%, pocketing $5,000,000 more than a person who would earn the money by hard work (if thee were such a person) might help show how we have abandoned even the pretense of fair taxes. Of course, Hillary has to believe there is a need for change too.
9
There is an interesting suggestion--all the way at the bottom of this editorial--that makes a lot of sense, but cuts against the grain just a little.
The suggestion is that Clinton should attempt to address "working class populist anger" with solutions.
It's interesting because up until now, the overwhelming focus in this paper and in other outlets of the northeast Liberal base, the focus has been on dismissing and belittling these people.
They are outmoded failures who need to be phased out by history. Our greatest progress has been to make these people shut up.
Even President Obama, whom I otherwise like and admire, revealed his strong bias against these people with his now-famous "guns and religion" jab.
So now the editors think the right solution is to address their concerns with solutions. It's a major change of heart. But will anyone really trust Democrats to support the needs of the disaffected working class, when every Democrat from the President to the lowly message-board cyber grunt has spent the past months to years trying to invalidate and undermine them?
The suggestion is that Clinton should attempt to address "working class populist anger" with solutions.
It's interesting because up until now, the overwhelming focus in this paper and in other outlets of the northeast Liberal base, the focus has been on dismissing and belittling these people.
They are outmoded failures who need to be phased out by history. Our greatest progress has been to make these people shut up.
Even President Obama, whom I otherwise like and admire, revealed his strong bias against these people with his now-famous "guns and religion" jab.
So now the editors think the right solution is to address their concerns with solutions. It's a major change of heart. But will anyone really trust Democrats to support the needs of the disaffected working class, when every Democrat from the President to the lowly message-board cyber grunt has spent the past months to years trying to invalidate and undermine them?
33
President Obama was [in that instance] talking about rural Pa., where I have lived for 40 years. And basically he was correct.
3
I share the editorial board's concerns. Benghazi was a mistake that can be tied to Hillary. Why did we still have our embassy there if we were bombing the Libyan government? Thanks to Bill, it is now up to prosecutors whether to prosecute her for her unforced email blunder. I presume that there will be enough evidence that they could easily justify doing what they are trained to do-go after her hard. Right at election time!? That's a nightmare scenario. Even if they don't prosecute her, the GOP attack dogs will use it along with other items against her. Some people don't care if Trump lies, swindles and cheats. They don't care that he will be using the presidency as a personal business venture. They seem not to notice his schizophrenic rants on complicated issues like trade. He connects with them on a gut level. Hillary's intellectual approach to problems just makes them more angry.
11
Many white-collar educated people who are moderate Republicans are voting for Trump for many reasons. He does not support big government, increasing our national debt, or initiating many more social programs that do not include most of the taxpayers who are paying for these programs, He is concerned about Isis and the continuous/growing threat to every American. He is concerned about illegals who are not vetted properly. Many people do not want increased socialism in this country by an unethical, scandalous, lying, dishones thief who has a violent temper with the name of Hilary Clinton.
6
Really! Have you even listened to this man? Have you given any thought to what he's proposing? Wake up my friend. You are in for a rude awakening. Even the vilest, most corrupt Hillary is better than this man who will bring nothing but hate and an economy that will leave you in the dust.
Rather a narcissistic, serial disassembler, with no filter or coherent plan.
White-collar educated people, Republican or otherwise know Donald Trump is for Donald Trump. The sketchy budget priorities that he has presented thus far increases the national debt by over $10 trillion dollars. One more thing, white-collar and blue-collar educated people don't get their "news" and talking points from Fox.
2
I'm a Democrat and I'm worried. This election is shaping up to be one of the toughest elections ever for the Democratic Party. My friends and neighbors view Donald Trump with fear and loathing. He is losing my home state faster than a snowball melts on the 4th of July. But Minnesota is not a bellwether state.
Donald Trump is not a leader or even a politician. He's a reality TV celebrity giving the performance of a lifetime. Mr. Trump is neither a fool nor an evil genius. He knows that working-class voters have grievances and are angry. Mr. Trump senses that he can win by using his showmanship to channel that anger. He is the perfect Republican candidate because he realizes that angry voters won't even listen to solutions until they have been assured that they have been heard and their grievances are just.
The challenge is not to underestimate Hillary Clinton's continuing ability to ignore the concerns of aggrieved working-class voters. Ignoring their grievances, as Mrs. Clinton does, is different from addressing those grievances and assuring working-class voters that their grievances are just and will be addressed by her administration. That is the task that remains ahead for Hillary Clinton.
Donald Trump is not a leader or even a politician. He's a reality TV celebrity giving the performance of a lifetime. Mr. Trump is neither a fool nor an evil genius. He knows that working-class voters have grievances and are angry. Mr. Trump senses that he can win by using his showmanship to channel that anger. He is the perfect Republican candidate because he realizes that angry voters won't even listen to solutions until they have been assured that they have been heard and their grievances are just.
The challenge is not to underestimate Hillary Clinton's continuing ability to ignore the concerns of aggrieved working-class voters. Ignoring their grievances, as Mrs. Clinton does, is different from addressing those grievances and assuring working-class voters that their grievances are just and will be addressed by her administration. That is the task that remains ahead for Hillary Clinton.
230
"He is losing my home state faster than a snowball melts on the 4th of July. But Minnesota is not a bellwether state."
I see my neighbors coming around to him as the lesser evil, not because they see him any better than they did before. That is the danger of "hold your nose" political appeals.
I see my neighbors coming around to him as the lesser evil, not because they see him any better than they did before. That is the danger of "hold your nose" political appeals.
1
Hillary in no way 'ignores the grievances' of the working class. She just has a brain and talks intelligently instead of spewing hatred and bigotry. Get real
2
If Clinton right now can't do better than a statistical tie with Trump among all registered voters - as a Quinnipiac poll just reported - it's Democrats (and the country), not Republicans, that are facing a disaster in November.
Clinton has always been a weak candidate, widely disliked and mistrusted for whatever reasons. But that's not the main reason she (and we) are in trouble.
If half of the nation's registered voters are saying now they would vote for Trump, then not all of his support is coming from ignorant, uneducated, racist, sexist, xenophobes as her supporters keep telling us. It also means that half the country is still not scared of a Trump victory, despite the best efforts of most of the mainstream media.
The problem is that she is unsuited and unable to convince most voters that she stands for anything more than the status quo. That might work in a normal election year, but this is not a normal year.
She may be throwing Sanders a grudging bone or two, but she doesn't seem to get that the majority of voters are sick of the status quo. They believe, with justification, that they have been betrayed by the status quo, that dramatic, even inspiring, changes are needed. Incrementalism isn't selling this year.
If Clinton cannot show convincingly that she's ready and willing to make dramatic changes, she (and we) will likely lose. The mood of the country demands inspiration, as provided by Obama and now Sanders. Otherwise, we will get impatience and anger.
Clinton has always been a weak candidate, widely disliked and mistrusted for whatever reasons. But that's not the main reason she (and we) are in trouble.
If half of the nation's registered voters are saying now they would vote for Trump, then not all of his support is coming from ignorant, uneducated, racist, sexist, xenophobes as her supporters keep telling us. It also means that half the country is still not scared of a Trump victory, despite the best efforts of most of the mainstream media.
The problem is that she is unsuited and unable to convince most voters that she stands for anything more than the status quo. That might work in a normal election year, but this is not a normal year.
She may be throwing Sanders a grudging bone or two, but she doesn't seem to get that the majority of voters are sick of the status quo. They believe, with justification, that they have been betrayed by the status quo, that dramatic, even inspiring, changes are needed. Incrementalism isn't selling this year.
If Clinton cannot show convincingly that she's ready and willing to make dramatic changes, she (and we) will likely lose. The mood of the country demands inspiration, as provided by Obama and now Sanders. Otherwise, we will get impatience and anger.
212
It is time for Sanders to step up to the plate and fully endorse Hillary Clinton.
If he really cares about the country he will do that. If he really cared about what he says, he would have appointed people to the Platform Committee that had knowledge about his issues and at least one woman. He did not do that.
If he really cares about the country he will do that. If he really cared about what he says, he would have appointed people to the Platform Committee that had knowledge about his issues and at least one woman. He did not do that.
3
Entirely true, and terrifying, Guy. This is the candidate the Times has been in the bag for since February, 2013, when they assigned Amy Chozick to a dedicated Hillary Clinton beat.
Since there are some (relatively) reasonable Republicants saying they'd support Trumplestiltskin, how about trying to coopt them with one of their own. My choice would be retired Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine.
Since there are some (relatively) reasonable Republicants saying they'd support Trumplestiltskin, how about trying to coopt them with one of their own. My choice would be retired Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine.
2
I wonder if Mrs. Clinton's best option is to make her best iron-clad promise that this is her last presidential election campaign. That might make it more palatable for those who do want change but also want to stop Mr. Trump to accept the least bad choice of voting for Mrs. Clinton this one time.
Hillary could forget about Trump if she were to take off the 'establishment blinders' and recognize what people are worried about. We are worried about a Congress that cannot protect us from "free but not fair" trade deals, a tone-deaf political establishment that only listens to the loudest voice in the room, then goes back to DC to work on laws that appease that voice. American workers are suffering while the oligarchs keep pushing for more and more of the economic pie. In effect, if Hilary were to realize the power inherent in Bernie Sanders' surprisingly successful campaign, she could forget about Trump. She could run with the people. Not with the bankers.
To her credit, she does that with reproductive rights, children's health, and many other issues. But in the central disenchantment of the American working class who get by with earning a living, she has a base. But so far she is unwilling to play to it except for occasional teasers made to look genuine and failing. We are fed up with the .1%, the 1% and the best government money can buy. She seems clueless that this is the issue. It is the issue all over the world, and political establishments are failing everywhere because the politicians are tone deaf to it. Probably because they owe their existence to the very thing that is making life intolerable for the majority of people: the overweening greed and blind desire for profit of the rich and powerful.
To her credit, she does that with reproductive rights, children's health, and many other issues. But in the central disenchantment of the American working class who get by with earning a living, she has a base. But so far she is unwilling to play to it except for occasional teasers made to look genuine and failing. We are fed up with the .1%, the 1% and the best government money can buy. She seems clueless that this is the issue. It is the issue all over the world, and political establishments are failing everywhere because the politicians are tone deaf to it. Probably because they owe their existence to the very thing that is making life intolerable for the majority of people: the overweening greed and blind desire for profit of the rich and powerful.
224
Who voted for this congress that they are so worried about and angry at? I believe it was Republican voters.
1
Dwain You intimate that the Clinton's owe their existence to "greed and blind desire for profit".
You left out the part that Trump has swindled thousands of people out of their money. He has not paid contractors doing work for him, he has cheated people who paid to attend Trump University and Trump Institute, etc.
Given his record of cheating people and lying, how can anyone vote for him?
You left out the part that Trump has swindled thousands of people out of their money. He has not paid contractors doing work for him, he has cheated people who paid to attend Trump University and Trump Institute, etc.
Given his record of cheating people and lying, how can anyone vote for him?
1
The "rabble" were never intended to rule themselves. Real decision-making is better left to their "betters". ........after decades of ruling with the 1%'s politicians and media, a Clinton-type begins to feel that the status quo is for the best and the system just needs fine tuning. Brexit is the 1%'s most recent example of their "needed" Ayn Rand rule.
1
Elizabeth Warren is the obvious solution to Clinton's less-than-inspiring campaign. Warren's fiery attacks on Trump attract the same excited media coverage as his crazed rants do, but Warren's remarks have substance. She combines an intellectual grasp of the political and economic forces that are driving this election with a fierce delivery that excites crowds the way Clinton never will. Warren's entire political career aligns with the defining issue of this election -- the anger of workers and the middle class about the plundering of our economy by the wealthy. Clinton's newfound concern with the concentration of wealth at the top at everyone else's expense is a tough sell, given her past trade stances and Wall Street connections, but Warren's impassioned arguments ring true. The Sanders following that can hardly bring itself to back Clinton, even against the infantile and fascist Trump, would come roaring out with Warren on the ticket.
Clinton can choose a "safe" running mate and slog along with a conventional campaign in this anything-but-conventional election, hoping Trump's own incompetence drags him down and that cooler-headed voters will prevail in a most heated contest; or she can address the issues and the mood of the electorate head-on with the choice that would bring real fire to her campaign: Elizabeth Warren.
Clinton can choose a "safe" running mate and slog along with a conventional campaign in this anything-but-conventional election, hoping Trump's own incompetence drags him down and that cooler-headed voters will prevail in a most heated contest; or she can address the issues and the mood of the electorate head-on with the choice that would bring real fire to her campaign: Elizabeth Warren.
192
Unfortunately, it's too late. The Lynch-Clinton meeting pounded the last nail into the coffin. Lynch must stand down as AG and Hillary must not be confirmed as the nominee. This election is too important to lose.
1
Warren is a bigger target that HC. It's like shooting two ducks with one shot.
Besides, the Democrats cannot afford to put her seat (T.Kennedy) back into play. Massachusetts is a special election state, and the way it's going, Dems have little chance.
Besides, the Democrats cannot afford to put her seat (T.Kennedy) back into play. Massachusetts is a special election state, and the way it's going, Dems have little chance.
1
If we can't have Bernie for President, at least Warren for VP would give some hope. But that is papering over the problem, not solving it. The problem is Hillary.
3
The founders believed in collective wisdom- I still believe that the majority of Americans know the difference between a fool and a hard worker. Through sheer perseverance , Hillary Clinton has earned the respect of people who have taken the time to see through the witch hunts and the smear campaigns and the insults. In the absence of any evidence that her trumped up transgressions amounted to anything that harmed the lives of citizens as much as, say, closing the government or refusing to vote on confirmations or consider issues that effect real lives of the 99%, I would be surprised if there are enough haters to vote otherwise. The tyranny of the Electoral College may write another story , especially in the suppress the vote states, but in the end, we would rather endure , like Hamlet, those ills we have than fly to others that we know not of.
3
Why won't she release those TPP emails until after the election? Maybe not even then. No one is making an issue out of this but this TPP is a big issue for voters concerned about another NAFTA. There is just so much baggage and distrust with both candidates.
3
Sorry, but you are missing the point. In my experience, Trump supporters don't read newspapers (including this one), watch only Fox News, never listened to the Benghazi hearings, never read details from the Benghazi report, and certainly don't want some strong willed woman having power. She could be mother Theresa and considered a crook. No clever and inspiring oratory will change it. It's maddening and depressing. Especially when editorials imply that it is her fault.
5
Of course, Hillary delivered a meaty policy oriented speech. She has dozens of people to write it for her.
She needs to stop being a person who sees the forest but not the trees.
People need her to have focus, here's what Trump says, and here's why the facts are wrong and here's why the idea is wrong. She needs to find a way to say clearly, if I am President here's 5 ways that your life would be better, or that things in general would be better. It is her inclination to say 30 things. I've been to her website, and yes, it had 30 topics, and not even in order of importance, but in alphabetical order.
She has to stop talking in metaphors, like Trump wants to build walls, but I want to build bridges. What kind of bridges, I really don't understand.
Trump is winning people over talking on a second grade level, and repeating everything twice on top of it. She has to STOP speaking as if she is making a presentation in graduate school.
No coincidence that the rally had 2000 people. That itself is telling.
She needs to stop being a person who sees the forest but not the trees.
People need her to have focus, here's what Trump says, and here's why the facts are wrong and here's why the idea is wrong. She needs to find a way to say clearly, if I am President here's 5 ways that your life would be better, or that things in general would be better. It is her inclination to say 30 things. I've been to her website, and yes, it had 30 topics, and not even in order of importance, but in alphabetical order.
She has to stop talking in metaphors, like Trump wants to build walls, but I want to build bridges. What kind of bridges, I really don't understand.
Trump is winning people over talking on a second grade level, and repeating everything twice on top of it. She has to STOP speaking as if she is making a presentation in graduate school.
No coincidence that the rally had 2000 people. That itself is telling.
3
Clinton needs to stop covering all her bases and shift toward covering the base that matters: Trump on 1st. Those who support her are likely those who support Democratic party initiatives generally; they will not shift. She needs to go for Trump at a visceral level and undermine his perceived strengths (a sound businessman? an effective leader? honest? these claims can all be easily eviscerated). The goal should not be to persuade Trump voters to her side, but to dissuade his lukewarm supporters. End of.
1
The unconquerable problem with Hillary Clinton in the season of political change and upheaval is that she represents status quo and a continuation of Obama's presidency. Worse, among the many voters - young, educated, liberal, progressive, urban, professional - that she depends on, she is seen as a moderate Republican, not a progressive Democrat, who favors trade deals at the expense of American jobs and blue collar workers and who is perceived as beholden to big business and Wall Street. In the year of the electorates yearning for big changes, her domestic policies, despite the details, are timid and incremental that, to many voters critical to her winning, amount to business as usual.
7
the US political ecosystem — media, consultants, power brokers, think tanks, foundations, officeholders, the whole thick network of institutions and individuals involved in national politics — cannot deal with a presidential election in which one candidate is obviously and uncontroversially the superior choice. The machine is simply not built to handle a race that's over before it's begun. So there will be a push to lift Donald Trump up and bring Hillary Clinton down, until they are at least something approximating two equivalent choices. It's not a conspiracy; it won't be coordinated. It doesn't need to be. It's just a process of institutions, centers of power and influence, responding to the incentive structure that's evolved around them. The US political ecosystem needs this election to be competitive. What's more, the campaign media's self-image is built on not being partisan, which precludes adjudicating political disputes. How does that even work if one side is offering up a flawed centrist and the other is offering up a vulgar xenophobic demagogue?
3
During the primary, the Times’ editorialists took pains for conflate Trump with the other GOP candidates. After all, if he’s just one of 16 other inhuman cretins, then so what if he actually wins? And of course Ted Cruz is even more of an inhuman cretin than Trump is anyway.
So now that they got the election they want, here they are tearing their hair out fretting that Donald Chump (not a typo) could actually be president. Hoe boy.
Okay, to those who fear a Chump presidency: relax. It isn’t going to happen. He hasn’t got the constituencies he needs, and he isn’t going to get them. It’s as simple as that.
Why, it is such a sure thing that even if, say, Bill Clinton were to get caught colluding with AG Lynch over the server investigation, it would affect absolutely nothing, and Mrs. Clinton would still win big on November eighth! (Wait, bad example, forget that one.)
All laughs aside; no, it’s not going to happen. We will not have a president Chump. And solely because Trump is her opponent, Hillary Clinton will have the presidency foisted upon her completely regardless of how awful a candidate she may be, and regardless of whatever flabbergasting antics Bill Clinton can surprise us with again and again.
So now that they got the election they want, here they are tearing their hair out fretting that Donald Chump (not a typo) could actually be president. Hoe boy.
Okay, to those who fear a Chump presidency: relax. It isn’t going to happen. He hasn’t got the constituencies he needs, and he isn’t going to get them. It’s as simple as that.
Why, it is such a sure thing that even if, say, Bill Clinton were to get caught colluding with AG Lynch over the server investigation, it would affect absolutely nothing, and Mrs. Clinton would still win big on November eighth! (Wait, bad example, forget that one.)
All laughs aside; no, it’s not going to happen. We will not have a president Chump. And solely because Trump is her opponent, Hillary Clinton will have the presidency foisted upon her completely regardless of how awful a candidate she may be, and regardless of whatever flabbergasting antics Bill Clinton can surprise us with again and again.
1
Some of my former colleagues relocated to N Carolina when my former company moved one of its campuses there. They did not last long when they discovered who their neighbors are. One couple are now retired to Florida. Whether they went from the frying pan to the fire is another story for another time but this illustrates the migration path of some voters.
So I don't think it is about old-style vs new-style, whatever that means, politics. Rather, as Dan Rather, the former CBS News anchor, has pointed out, the news media are partial to blame for giving Trump a free ride - granted that he himself is quite a manipulator - by allowing him to dominate the news cycle for free. Then, there is the "got you" for the Clintons. John Harwood couldn't contain himself on CNBC yesterday when the news broke the AG Lynch had an impromptu meeting with President Clinton. And don't forget what CNN did. Hiring Lewandowski is absolutely revulsive.
In the end, it comes down to how smart the American voters are. BREXIT is a wakeup call worldwide and I am hopeful the U.S. is more thoughtful and pragmatic than our U.K. cousin
So I don't think it is about old-style vs new-style, whatever that means, politics. Rather, as Dan Rather, the former CBS News anchor, has pointed out, the news media are partial to blame for giving Trump a free ride - granted that he himself is quite a manipulator - by allowing him to dominate the news cycle for free. Then, there is the "got you" for the Clintons. John Harwood couldn't contain himself on CNBC yesterday when the news broke the AG Lynch had an impromptu meeting with President Clinton. And don't forget what CNN did. Hiring Lewandowski is absolutely revulsive.
In the end, it comes down to how smart the American voters are. BREXIT is a wakeup call worldwide and I am hopeful the U.S. is more thoughtful and pragmatic than our U.K. cousin
10
It is still early to predict what will happen except for two things. The Republican Convention in Cleveland will at best be contentious and at worst highlight just how unhappy many mainstream Republicans are with Trump and how divided that party remains. The other thing that is predictable involves Trump’s propensity to steal defeat from the jaws of victory. Consider his speech in Colorado on Friday where instead of describing why he should be president, Trump went off on a childish and petulant rant about Ted Cruz and the Colorado primary delegates! Instead of highlighting his strengths Trump did an excellent job highlighting his weaknesses. You cannot make this stuff up.
11
Yet, it got him extra attention, Jason. The media have contributed to this nightmare.
"Stronger Together" isn't uninspiring. It encapsulates the contrast between the two campaigns, and the tone is upbeat and positive. The notion of strength taps into a key concern of the electorate, security, and should appeal to constituencies Sec. Clinton needs to make inroads with in order to build a winning coalition. Contrast it with "Make Anerica Great Again," which is implicitly negative.
Of course, the most accurate Clinton slogan would be the one LBJ used in 1964: "The stakes are too high for you to stay home." Old-style politics, new politics. None of it matters if people don't feel they have a reason to get out and vote. In 2016, do they ever.
Of course, the most accurate Clinton slogan would be the one LBJ used in 1964: "The stakes are too high for you to stay home." Old-style politics, new politics. None of it matters if people don't feel they have a reason to get out and vote. In 2016, do they ever.
11
Except that 'Stronger Together' is now so utterly disingenuous and expedient.
Proselytize all forms of identity politics for electoral advantage and then expect those excluded or out of favor to be 'all in this together'. Not likely.
Proselytize all forms of identity politics for electoral advantage and then expect those excluded or out of favor to be 'all in this together'. Not likely.
1
Since you use North Carolina as your primary example - I think that it reflects most of the country in that most of those likely to vote have already made their choice. The election hangs in the balance on the thin sliver of undecided, and in my view it'll take someone with passion to lure them to the polls. Now, which candidate comes across as more passionate? That's what scares me. It's not fun hanging one's hat on one candidate being less frightening than the alternative, but I think that's where we are. In our time, appeals to reason clearly fall on too many deaf ears, and appeals to fear, hate and paranoia seem to find all-too-fertile ground.
One other thing - until gerrymandering held sway, NC was a largely Democratic state. There are plenty of us here who are, to grossly understate things, displeased with the current state of affairs in Raleigh. Hopefully enough will turn out to voice their objection to that and pull the top lever to the left in the process. That might be what it takes to put Clinton over the top here. But I hate to have to count on that.
One other thing - until gerrymandering held sway, NC was a largely Democratic state. There are plenty of us here who are, to grossly understate things, displeased with the current state of affairs in Raleigh. Hopefully enough will turn out to voice their objection to that and pull the top lever to the left in the process. That might be what it takes to put Clinton over the top here. But I hate to have to count on that.
27
I can't relax until Donald is defeated and done as a threat to American values and the well being of the planet. Hillary is far from perfect, but she should be winning by 20 points come November,
20
I disagree -- strongly -- with one editorial assessment. I think "Stronger Together" is great campaign theme. Far better than "I'm with her." It contains an implicit contrast with Trump's divisiveness. It is a rallying cry for how we must come together -- Dems, independents, progressives, Bernie supporters -- to defeat Trump. And how we as a nation need to come together to deal with our challenges. It's even a message to Republicans in Congress to stop obstructing and opposing everything. And it speaks to how we deal with global problems -- from terrorism to climate change -- by working with other nations, not flipping them off.
27
Why should we come together? Wouldn't our democracy benefit from a plethora of parties, each advocating for a segment of the population? Why must we be stuck with two parties? Corporate and Corporate Lite? How is this democracy?
1
I agree
"Stronger Together" is a good theme.
"Stronger Together" is a good theme.
I don't know if old style politics can beat Demagogue Don the Con but we will be in a world of hurt if it doesn't.
14
With apologies to Meghan Trainor:
Because you know it's all about that base,
'Bout that base!
And Bill has yet to connect with Hillary's base.
Because you know it's all about that base,
'Bout that base!
And Bill has yet to connect with Hillary's base.
Hillary needs the young vote (under 45), but she acts like she could care less. What does she stand for except a coronation.
27
Hillary does not connect w/ younger voters and young women, they do not relate to her in any way. Why would they? Now she is pandering to them by offering $ to young neck entrepreneurs...hmm not just all entrepreneurs, just young tech entrepreneurs....talk about pandering to a specific demographic, Hillary is desperate for the Millennial votes, I doubt she will wrangle them up as she simply does not share their values nor does she understand them.
Well she got health care back in the 90s for low income kids when the GOP ripped up her efforts for healthcare. She has the endorsement of Planned Parenthood which IS healthcare for a lot of women and the GOP would like to abolish. That seems important to me for people under 45. (The young vote is 45??) Trump does offer to punish women if that is of interest.
Saying this doesn't make it so. Clinton, despite her shortcomings, is a qualified candidate, unlike all the GOP candidates this year.
Vote against her, but at least do it for real reasons. Moreover, the polls show that she has the support of young people, so I don't know where you are getting your information from.
Vote against her, but at least do it for real reasons. Moreover, the polls show that she has the support of young people, so I don't know where you are getting your information from.
If Trump wins this election, it will be because working class white males, with a high school or less education, will come out in large numbers to support him. They are furious that major corporations over the decades have abandoned them to search out cheaper sources of labor abroad. The irony is that when their new found hero struts through the lobby of one of his hotels, he is decked out in his own brand named suit and tie made in Mexico and China, when he looks admiringly at the crystal vases and figurines adorning his lobby and hallways they too are foreign made, and when he finally enters one of his hotel rooms it is to be greeted by furnishings manufactured in Turkey. And if Trump decides to get some room service, it most likely be delivered by a non unionized worker. As far as a these white male working men ever being able to afford such extravagant lodgings, it will never happen. They will never have the uplifting experience of rubbing shoulders with all of Trump's rich decadent capitalist friends. But one can always dream. Some populist hero.
36
In many cases, those poorly educated white guys, who often voted Republican in the past, were foreclosed from voting for Sanders, as in many states, Dems held closed primaries. But they will never vote Clinton. So, Dems, you shut them out. For good.
4
So you're saying they were never democrats to start with, and vote party over country.
1
"But they will never vote Clinton."
So they're about to make another mistake in a long line of bad judgements.
So they're about to make another mistake in a long line of bad judgements.
1
Donald Trump, by happenstance, simply fell upon the political power of making people feel they've been heard and understood regardless whether or not it's sincere. And because being listened to is unique these days when it makes a visit it feels emotionally good, even terrific. As a result, Trump's followers have become bonded to him, stuck like cat fur on dark clothing. Thus, they close their eyes and ears to his absurdities and limited knowledge, and divisive dangerous rhetoric--and especially to the fact that he can't supply the simple solutions to complex problems he promises like jobs, immigration, globalization, trade, or even "Make America Great Again" whatever those code words mean to him and his followers.
Yet, that said, It would be good, in a modified intelligent way, if Hillary took a page from Trumps playbook and let fence-sitters know she speaks their language and that they in no uncertain terms have been listened to and heard. Also let them know that unlike her competitor's vacant promises, she can deliver, in spades. And that come November (unlike those who vote for the guy) her voters won't have buyers remorse.
Yet, that said, It would be good, in a modified intelligent way, if Hillary took a page from Trumps playbook and let fence-sitters know she speaks their language and that they in no uncertain terms have been listened to and heard. Also let them know that unlike her competitor's vacant promises, she can deliver, in spades. And that come November (unlike those who vote for the guy) her voters won't have buyers remorse.
20
Well put. A window of opportunity opened for Trump when the Tea Parties diminished and those voters needed some blustering pied piper to follow over the cliff. I hear words like "brilliant" used to describe Trump's tactics. What often passes for brilliance in politics -especially where the repubs are concerned- is usually nothing more than the willingness to stoop as low as they feel they need to stoop to win. In the world of 'Party First', 'Winning is Everything', trolling human pettiness often works. Start adding up delegates in states that are a lock for Clinton, though, and she probably only needs one of the larger 'purple states' to win.
1
"she can deliver, in spades". Really? If Mitch McConnell and the gang were able to stymie the squeaky clean Barak Obama imagine what fun they'll have in tying up any Hillary presidency in non-stop litigation and 'investigations." Hillary supporters owe her the opportunity to respond to this. Maybe she will have an adequate plan after all.
Secondly, Obama beat McCain because McCain came across as one who thought he had already earned the 'right' to be president. That's exactly how Hillary comes across.
Thirdly, unlike her husband, Hillary does not 'feel your pain.' I rather wonder if she feels anything.
Secondly, Obama beat McCain because McCain came across as one who thought he had already earned the 'right' to be president. That's exactly how Hillary comes across.
Thirdly, unlike her husband, Hillary does not 'feel your pain.' I rather wonder if she feels anything.
Dear George, it's great to hear that you are a dedicated supporter of our excellent present president and will be of Hillary, our first woman president too....
2
The fact that Mr Trump is trailing Mrs Clinton by single digits despite the disastrous month of June with no organized campaign and an almost empty bank account should be sending shock waves through the Democratic establishment. If Mrs Clinton does not figure out that the old style of politics is out and quickly change her game, the possibility of a Trump presidency will be a reality in November.
7
Thank you! I don't think people appreciate just how dangerous this election is and how likely, yes likely, it is that Trump will win. I think Clinton is so unpopular that this election is Trump's to lose. I hope people who are unenthusiastic about Clinton will make a real effort to get to the polls this November to vote against Trump. It would be a disaster if Trump were elected.
5
I've been holding my nose and voting Democratic for 30 years- never because I was genuinely excited by the person running but only because they were less repulsive than the conservative Republican choice. I'm sorry but this is exactly what both parties want us to do to keep them in power and let the charade of representative democracy continue. We live under two parties that serve the elite and corporate interests. Why should I enable this game to continue?
1
Trumpet isn't getting the nomination.........mark my words.
I don't plan to watch the convention, because it will get super-ugly at times. None of the "front-runners" will be nominated, and egos will clash for days.
I don't plan to watch the convention, because it will get super-ugly at times. None of the "front-runners" will be nominated, and egos will clash for days.
1
Although crooked lying Trump may have gained points on the basest emotional level, that is no reason to consider his irresponsible, incongruous and crazy ideas as a sign of leadership. Far from it; this arrogant bully is an opportunist capable of reading, and acting upon, the frustrations of a segment of the population that feels being left behind by a globalized economy (and this includes what he is fighting against, trade). Trump is a know-nothing loser, who pretends to be a successful businessman...if that means cheating his way to success while leaving everybody else holding the bag. Trump's appeal is purely emotional, unfortunately similar to a used-car salesman selling you a "lemon". The support he gets, and this includes a reluctant and hypocritical G.O.P., is sustainable only as long as you hold your nose to avoid the stink, deceit and shame, by association. In spanish we say:'dime con quien andas y te dire' quien eres' (tell me whose company you keep...and I'll tell you who you are). And if Trump is machiavellic (the end justifies the means), Ms Clinton certainly can wield the emotional bravado to match his empty rhetoric by a mile. Dangerous charlatans have no room to tell a nation what to think nor what to do.
7
This editorial cites Hillary Clinton's speeches in Ohio and North Carolina, but excludes her San Diego speech a month ago - and that was her strongest one. It combined both humor and substance, like describing Trump as having not so much policies, but a series of bizarre rants. And it caught Trump flat-footed. He couldn't respond to it, other than to call names and tweet juvenile assessments. In one fell swoop, Hillary showed The Donald to be ignorant, absurd, dangerous and personally weak. Mrs. Clinton needs to keep drawing on the elements of her San Diego speech as she campaigns, and let him give her continuous updated fodder. For only that, we can count on him.
16
Actually what Mr Trump is dependent on is free coverage from the NYTimes and other mainstream media which will give him free airtime while those organizations refuse to do any actual reporting while turning the entire campaign into a he said/she said while pointedly refusing to actually analyze the truth value of Mr Trump's statements or any integrity they might possess with past Trump statements.
We will continue to have a NYTimes that holds traditional politicians, especially Hillary Clinton to different standards.
Yes, the NYTimes wants the horserace to be as close as possible, and they will fight tooth and nail for that conclusion. America be damned for the only story the Times actually wants.
This is what Donald Trump depends on, the New York Times selling out America for a cheap, easy to write story that fits a point and click narrative.
We will continue to have a NYTimes that holds traditional politicians, especially Hillary Clinton to different standards.
Yes, the NYTimes wants the horserace to be as close as possible, and they will fight tooth and nail for that conclusion. America be damned for the only story the Times actually wants.
This is what Donald Trump depends on, the New York Times selling out America for a cheap, easy to write story that fits a point and click narrative.
18
Well Ed, rather than rant about what you consider the nefarious intentions of the New York Times, why don't you educate us and tell us what newspaper or news source you believe is covering the election properly? All my life I have considered the New York Times and the Washington Post the two premier US newspapers. Do you feel the same way about Public Radio and Public Television or the BBC? Where should we go to get the "right :) " perspective on the news?
Of course, anything is possible, but I don' share your sense of doom. As old-pro Dan Rather said recently on TV, the polls at this early date are almost meaningless and will remain that way until after Labor Day, when the real race begins. However, that doesn't mean Democrats should just coast until then.
8
Trump is the electoral equivalent of a street riot. People are not voting for him because of his positions (what positions?) or his policies (what policies?), they are voting for him as a protest. Truxit.
24
This piece misses the bigger picture: If North Carolina is a battleground state, Trump is in big trouble.
11
Hillary will lose in November if she remains as tone deaf as she's been. Bernie and Trump both understand this election is different: it's all about channeling voter anger and acknowledging their demand for radical, not incremental, change. Hillary has to shift her focus away from herself and her policy ideas and direct it to voters' need to be heard.
She is not doing that and no matter how organized she is, no matter how many ads she airs, no matter how colossally dysfunctional Trump's campaign is, the voters will reject her unless they feel like she truly gets how angry they are, and that she'll use that anger to raise hell in Washington.
Time is running out. September will be too late to convince voters she suddenly understands them. It might already be too late.
She is not doing that and no matter how organized she is, no matter how many ads she airs, no matter how colossally dysfunctional Trump's campaign is, the voters will reject her unless they feel like she truly gets how angry they are, and that she'll use that anger to raise hell in Washington.
Time is running out. September will be too late to convince voters she suddenly understands them. It might already be too late.
31
In the middle night, my sleep is fitful. I see something in red or orange--I can't distinguish clearly what it is--chasing me. I have enough wits to know that my very life depends on getting away from it. But I can't move; I'm stuck and the creature gains on me. No, wait. It's not me.
Hillary Clinton seems like she's trying to fit the keys to the White House locks; the doors won't open. She's in a panic. She looks over her shoulder and drops the keys. She must open the door and get inside or else...She turns again and sees a horrible sight: carried high on the shoulders of a mob is Donald Trump. They sweep by her astonished, stricken face. They grab her and lift her into a shield, their roars deafening. Her screams cannot be heard as they disappear onto Pennsylvania Ave.
Trump appears at the South Portico. He cannot be heard for the cheering. "Make America great!" "Make America great!" He is smiling. Chris Christie appears behind him holding the flags of Mexico and China. Trump grins as he sets a match to them. The noise is deafening. Then Christie presents the new president with an American flag. Trump sets fire to it. The noise sounds like Air Force One leaving Andrews.
I wake up screaming as I realize that it's not a dream.
Hillary Clinton seems like she's trying to fit the keys to the White House locks; the doors won't open. She's in a panic. She looks over her shoulder and drops the keys. She must open the door and get inside or else...She turns again and sees a horrible sight: carried high on the shoulders of a mob is Donald Trump. They sweep by her astonished, stricken face. They grab her and lift her into a shield, their roars deafening. Her screams cannot be heard as they disappear onto Pennsylvania Ave.
Trump appears at the South Portico. He cannot be heard for the cheering. "Make America great!" "Make America great!" He is smiling. Chris Christie appears behind him holding the flags of Mexico and China. Trump grins as he sets a match to them. The noise is deafening. Then Christie presents the new president with an American flag. Trump sets fire to it. The noise sounds like Air Force One leaving Andrews.
I wake up screaming as I realize that it's not a dream.
8
Someone in an article called Trump Cheeto Jesus. Maybe you saw him.
Sadly, Mr. Trump will continue to get the bulk of the coverage. Outrageous remarks, including racism, xenophobia, and misogyny will always catch more public attention than will thoughtful policy speeches which require time consuming careful listening. There is also something titillating in Mr. Trump's outlandish behavior which speaks to the kid in many who didn't dare (or did) to sass the teacher, their parents, or the cops and who cannot now say what they really want to say to the boss or their spouse.
In our present culture, the term "politically correct" is code for restrictions on various types of hate speech. Not being "politically correct" has now become fashionable on the right, which is actually the granting of permission to let all of those various bigoted thoughts be verbalized - and to have saying them now be socially acceptable. Maybe we are a more honest country for that; certainly it is good (though sad) to know just how bigoted and hate filled a people Americans really are. We are, though, also showing ourselves to be a tribal and fear-filled people - at least in some segments of society.
In our present culture, the term "politically correct" is code for restrictions on various types of hate speech. Not being "politically correct" has now become fashionable on the right, which is actually the granting of permission to let all of those various bigoted thoughts be verbalized - and to have saying them now be socially acceptable. Maybe we are a more honest country for that; certainly it is good (though sad) to know just how bigoted and hate filled a people Americans really are. We are, though, also showing ourselves to be a tribal and fear-filled people - at least in some segments of society.
44
You expect the press NOT TO COVER a GOP nominee for president?
1
It would be helpful if the Times would take a more substantive approach to editorials like this one. After a generalized discussion of political strategies and a summary of recent news bits, the board concludes that Clinton needs to remember the group of voters that it assumes trump appeals to most, "aggrieved working-class voters." But what does this tell us? Almost nothing. Let's have some economic analysis please, or at least some more insightful and informed discussion of demographics. Anyone who reads the daily digest of the rapid news cycle could have come up with this. I guess the Times' establishment is no more well-informed than it wants its readers to be.
22
The main issue for aggrieved working class voters in the over 65 demographic is Social Security.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-s...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-s...
2
"I guess the Times' establishment is no more well-informed than it wants its readers to be."
It's a conspiracy. It assumes readers get their news and opinions from ONE source. Maybe that's true for you, but the internet makes this almost impossible.
It's a conspiracy. It assumes readers get their news and opinions from ONE source. Maybe that's true for you, but the internet makes this almost impossible.
Whenever I see a commenter referring to "Drumpf", I am reminded of the racist wingos who used to try to disparage our President by calling him "Barack Huessein Obama".
Come on, "progressives". A lot of Americans had ancestors with funny names from the old country. They either got changed at Ellis Island or somebody decided to Anglicize it to better assimilate into Ameriva. Do you really think that Bernie Sanders family name in Poland was "Sanders"? Why not refer to him by his Polish family name?
Somehow, it makes this commenter believe you are marooned back in the 19th century, when only candidates with Anglo Saxon English names were to be trusted.
Come on, "progressives". A lot of Americans had ancestors with funny names from the old country. They either got changed at Ellis Island or somebody decided to Anglicize it to better assimilate into Ameriva. Do you really think that Bernie Sanders family name in Poland was "Sanders"? Why not refer to him by his Polish family name?
Somehow, it makes this commenter believe you are marooned back in the 19th century, when only candidates with Anglo Saxon English names were to be trusted.
21
I think they find it fun and ironic, because Trump makes fun of so many people for such minor differences.
Drumpf to a German, and to anyone who gets around, sounds perfectly normal. Only to a provincial American, who has no awareness that there is a world outside their narrow world-view, does the name sound funny. On the Dick Van Dyke show in the 60s, when Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) asked her friend Millie (Ann Morgan Guilbert), what her middle name was, Millie, reluctantly and embarrassed said,"Fiona." The audience roared with laughter.
Personally, I think tRump is more appropriate.
Personally, I think tRump is more appropriate.
2
As if this is a major issue. Sorry Bernie lost, but you assume he was "cheated," right?
So who are going to vote for? Trump? Vermont is a blue state so luckily it doesn't matter, another reason for you to feel bitter and deprived. You can also rant for four years.
So who are going to vote for? Trump? Vermont is a blue state so luckily it doesn't matter, another reason for you to feel bitter and deprived. You can also rant for four years.
This is an election we have not seen in modern United States history.
One could say what we are seeing is a third world campaign, with an electorate that is functionally illiterate and developmentally arrested.
So, like what we saw in the UK, the losing stategy is assuming you can connect with the voters on an adult, rational manner.
Instead, Hillary Clinton needs to get it into her head that today's typical voter is barely capable of processing a single thought or two.
Thus, the winning strategy is defining yourself as the strongest symbol.
So, Hillary pick a symbol - will you be stronger as a triangle or circle?
One could say what we are seeing is a third world campaign, with an electorate that is functionally illiterate and developmentally arrested.
So, like what we saw in the UK, the losing stategy is assuming you can connect with the voters on an adult, rational manner.
Instead, Hillary Clinton needs to get it into her head that today's typical voter is barely capable of processing a single thought or two.
Thus, the winning strategy is defining yourself as the strongest symbol.
So, Hillary pick a symbol - will you be stronger as a triangle or circle?
1
How about a "$$$" ?
6
Two thoughts: 1) Sanders out-spent Clinton in the primaries. 2) If Trump is elected you will have to worry about the $$$ in your own pocket.
Right on all counts, Mike.
This is why Hillary -- experienced, capable but timeworn and conventional -- needs to pick Elizabeth Warren or another representative of the party's progressive wing like Sherrod Brown as her running mate. She needs to lock down all wings of her party and expand her appeal to voters who have not done well in the recent past and who have no faith in recent Democratic (or Republican) policies.
5
Do you think those Wall Street backers would continue contributing with Warren on the ticket? I understand that they have already laid down the law. No Warren.
13
As long as Bernie Sanders and others on the left continue to treat Ms. Clinton as a pariah, she is being held back. It is past time for the Democratic party to unify, and push back against the Hillary Hate meme.
17
What about picking a less polarizing candidate, not under FBI investigation?
4
No one is holding Hillary (or the Clintons) back from anything. Any problems Hillary is having is because she is a weak candidate...stop blaming Bernie and stop saying we need to unite behind Hillary. Hillary is not the solution, she is very much part of the problem.
2
Stop blaming Bernie Sanders for Hillary's inability to generate enthusiasm. Nobody is treating her like a "pariah". But so far, I haven't heard her give a speech to the base in order to bring us in. Her speeches have all been geared to appealing to Republicans and War hawks. She is to blame for the lack of Democratic party unity. She needs to show the base and Bernie's followers that she doesn't just expect us to vote for her because "Trump's so much worse"
How about she tell us what she's going to do that's different than the same old third way centrist corporate neoliberal gruel served to us for the past 30 years. I don't hate her. I just don't see a strong desire in her to break from business as usual. And that business as usual is the problem. It's the cause of gross income inequality, hopelessness, and frustration for the many. Are you listening Hillary?
How about she tell us what she's going to do that's different than the same old third way centrist corporate neoliberal gruel served to us for the past 30 years. I don't hate her. I just don't see a strong desire in her to break from business as usual. And that business as usual is the problem. It's the cause of gross income inequality, hopelessness, and frustration for the many. Are you listening Hillary?
Donald J. Trump is the product of corporate media....the Reality Show...
and that is ALL Trump is....a SHOW....which garners mega campaign dollars
from advertising for The Trump Show...and MSNBC...and CNN ,...and FOX..
are the aides to this Trump Show,,,
Well....the actual debates for the election will take place...and hopefully
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump and Gary Johnson and Bill Weld..
will ...have to answer .../to deliver answers to questions.
And Trump is just not going to be able to answer ANY questions...because
he does not know any answers...and Trump is NOT interested in any subject
but the subject of
TRUMP.
Is that SO hard to comprehend Editors....and let us get on to why the
USA is not up to standards as far as a moral imperative for an acceleration
of a globalization of trade and integration of cultures...
Let's get beyond trite tabloid news....such a waste of your journalist's abilities.
and that is ALL Trump is....a SHOW....which garners mega campaign dollars
from advertising for The Trump Show...and MSNBC...and CNN ,...and FOX..
are the aides to this Trump Show,,,
Well....the actual debates for the election will take place...and hopefully
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump and Gary Johnson and Bill Weld..
will ...have to answer .../to deliver answers to questions.
And Trump is just not going to be able to answer ANY questions...because
he does not know any answers...and Trump is NOT interested in any subject
but the subject of
TRUMP.
Is that SO hard to comprehend Editors....and let us get on to why the
USA is not up to standards as far as a moral imperative for an acceleration
of a globalization of trade and integration of cultures...
Let's get beyond trite tabloid news....such a waste of your journalist's abilities.
5
Trouble is, Trump people don't ask questions and think DT IS the answer. The one or two Trump people I know that I thought had a brain simply say "anybody is better than Hillary".
It is a farce that the pundits, the journalists the editors....
simply.....pretend that Trump is even capable of answering
ANY questions.....This supposition that Trump can answer ANY
questions...only makes Editors of NYTimes seem also incapable
of asking any pertinent questions....but my guess is that
the media want the TRUMP SHOW to continue...since their
Audience is engaged in this serial soap opera and this gets
the ratings...and readership and mega advertising dollars.
The MEDIA...is baiting the BEAR...aka the TRUMP SHOW..
this is the REALITY SHOW promoted for mega bucks...
This is the farce...the MEDIA disguises as TRUMP...but it is
really the MEDIA...and the MEDIA should be exposed...as I
am doing at this point.
simply.....pretend that Trump is even capable of answering
ANY questions.....This supposition that Trump can answer ANY
questions...only makes Editors of NYTimes seem also incapable
of asking any pertinent questions....but my guess is that
the media want the TRUMP SHOW to continue...since their
Audience is engaged in this serial soap opera and this gets
the ratings...and readership and mega advertising dollars.
The MEDIA...is baiting the BEAR...aka the TRUMP SHOW..
this is the REALITY SHOW promoted for mega bucks...
This is the farce...the MEDIA disguises as TRUMP...but it is
really the MEDIA...and the MEDIA should be exposed...as I
am doing at this point.
The fact that Trump is competitive anywhere in the United States says more about the electorate then it does about politics, old style or new. When an obviously unqualified candidate like Trump can make a play for the White House it shows you how unqualified the populace is to be voters. I have been told frequently that I must take Trump voters seriously and not paint them with a broad brush because their anger is legitimate. The fact that their anger is directed at the wrong party and the wrong candidate while their rhetoric flirts with fascism, racism and a general lack of decency should be discounted because you don't want to hurt their feelings while they're stomping on everyone else's feelings. I can't believe I have walked around this long thinking that the American people and our politics were better than all the other nations of the world. This election is like a cold slap in the face as I've watch my beloved American democracy diminished by a bunch of ill informed, easily mislead, frustrated (but not frustrated enough to bother to figure out the con) FOX viewers voting for a moron. You ask if old style politics can beat Donald Trump. I was hoping that old style patriotism, decency and American values would have made that unnecessary.
84
Why can't someone get DTs people to channel their anger into the awakening that he is a phony, a liar and a delusion? They need to get angry about someone who is not only not going to solve their problems, but make them worse... He has separated A LOT of believers from their money. Maybe ads like "Even if you think Donald Trump is really God in disguise"...
3
Thank goodness you finally sent a warning to Dem voters (and, hopefully, the Hillary campaign). JEB!'s $120 million in advertising yielded zilch against Trump, this utterly untraditional candidate. There's a reason Donald is prioritizing his tweets and free media, counting on them to get out more votes than the dull grey trench warfare espoused by both the RNC and the Dems - even with Obama's wunderkind numbercrunchers onboard. His method gets proven results.
Bill Clinton's campaign famously said, "It's the economy stupid," and for years, every political operative within my ear shot has heard me say that Bill (and Carville and Steph) were wrong: It's the CANDIDATE, stupid. Whatever the issue (and, yes, the economy is usually issue #1 for most people), the larger factor is HOW that issue is sold by the personality of the candidate. Trump gets this, and it's worked.
I'm a super-lefty, yet I have several beers betting that Trump will win. Start volunteering, Dems !!!
Bill Clinton's campaign famously said, "It's the economy stupid," and for years, every political operative within my ear shot has heard me say that Bill (and Carville and Steph) were wrong: It's the CANDIDATE, stupid. Whatever the issue (and, yes, the economy is usually issue #1 for most people), the larger factor is HOW that issue is sold by the personality of the candidate. Trump gets this, and it's worked.
I'm a super-lefty, yet I have several beers betting that Trump will win. Start volunteering, Dems !!!
2
It is a shame for America that he even is in the race. He represents a new type fascism. It might have been hilarious for some when Mr. Trump called his colleges "the low energy", "lying Ted" and "little Marco", but the laugh is stuck in the throat considering that a shameless bully could be elected President of the most important country in the world.
20
Then you need to consider what this country was built on. We stole land from the original inhabitants. We went around the world, along with other Europeans, and exploited simple cultures in order to take their natural resources.
A reflection that this country may not be "the most important (interesting word choice) country in the world ?
The absolute least Mr. Trump could make is 38%, the total of the xenophobic vote, which remains constant from Europe to Africa and is likely genetic. Also, Republicans are normally voting anti-Democratic, not pro Republican. The higher her profile and the more likely her win, the higher the participation of "genetically conservatives" will be and Clinton will not get that vote either, whatever she does. Give it another 10% of pure anti-establishment votes and he's at 48%. Of that vote he'll likely lose at least half to the Libertarians. On the other hand, no minority will go Trump to more than 15% and nobody under 35, either. The vote she has to get out is the Anti-Trump vote among the younger Democrats, Bernie's people. Now is the time to run ads describing the Glastonbury folks who didn't cast a vote and then bemoaned the Brexit. (They have to register and this is the time for students to get Photo IDs etc...). Now, she could get some of her husbands white vote by vowing to get rid of H1-Bs, which should pacify/depress the vote of a few of the "aggrieved working-class voters" (Times-speak for "trailer park"). Why dontcha, Hillary?
5
"Mrs. Clinton delivered a meaty, policy-oriented speech to a crowd of about 2,000 people, which was a contrast to Mr. Trump’s general volatility. It was a thoughtful presentation of issues. But it wasn’t rousing, "
So that is where we are. Rousing slogan- filled speeches trump detailed thoughtful policy proposals.
Unfortunately, most of the people who dominate TV "news" are entertainers with hairdos, neither informed about nor interested in policy.
But at least those of us who care about policy can circulate these proposals for discussion
https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/
So that is where we are. Rousing slogan- filled speeches trump detailed thoughtful policy proposals.
Unfortunately, most of the people who dominate TV "news" are entertainers with hairdos, neither informed about nor interested in policy.
But at least those of us who care about policy can circulate these proposals for discussion
https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/
9
Hillary speech was "rousing" "2000 people"...this is not impressive compared to Bernie's speeches which were truly inspiring and packed in crowds over well over 10,000 time after time. Hillary is a boring wonky speaker, and does not pull in large crowds of supporters. If she would just release her private speaking Wall St transcripts we might know why some people pay her to speak. Why not release them? That worries me far more then Trump's tax returns.
Look, I'm a Bernie guy, but I think Hillary is a great candidate. I don't think she needs to do any more "rousing" or "drawing sharper distinctions" than she already is and will be. NYT, get off her back.
If the nation elects Trump, it will have only itself to blame. Voters are now choosing between two very-well-known candidates, one of whom is a thoughtful and experienced woman with a flaw or two; and the other of whom is a hardcore bigot, a personality disorder with a combover. If we as a nation can't make that choice in our sleep, we don't deserve to wake up.
If the nation elects Trump, it will have only itself to blame. Voters are now choosing between two very-well-known candidates, one of whom is a thoughtful and experienced woman with a flaw or two; and the other of whom is a hardcore bigot, a personality disorder with a combover. If we as a nation can't make that choice in our sleep, we don't deserve to wake up.
49
The Supreme Court under Trump will take us back to the Dark Ages.
Brexit leader is lost - so those who voted in favor have no cut their collective noses to spite their collective faces. So will the Trump voters and the US citizens.
Bottom line. If people vote for Trump and he wins, they will have the same regret the Brexits have now.
7
More on the myth, repeated in this editorial, that the typical Trump supporter is "working class".
http://www.salon.com/2016/06/03/birtherism_and_bigotry_these_are_the_vil...
Trump supporters typically are white, male, and, as Digby puts it:
"...after all is said and done, the analysis showed that these voters are primarily motivated by racial and ethnic animosity and resentment of social change. There’s just no way around it."
There are some working class Trump supporters to be sure, but the majority aren't working class. Whether someone is economically comfortable or not doesn't determine who is drawn to Trump. More than any other attributes, being white, male, and racist are the determining factors.
http://www.salon.com/2016/06/03/birtherism_and_bigotry_these_are_the_vil...
Trump supporters typically are white, male, and, as Digby puts it:
"...after all is said and done, the analysis showed that these voters are primarily motivated by racial and ethnic animosity and resentment of social change. There’s just no way around it."
There are some working class Trump supporters to be sure, but the majority aren't working class. Whether someone is economically comfortable or not doesn't determine who is drawn to Trump. More than any other attributes, being white, male, and racist are the determining factors.
31
Thanks, Joe. It's frustrating to constantly read nonsense about Trump's supporters. They're racist. Period. Doesn't matter how some of them deny this simple fact. If you support this bigot, you deserve the label.
Even racists don't want cuts to their Social Security benefits.
2
Well here is one 'white male', that enjoys reading, travel, culture (etc) who is mortified, sad and frightened by Trump and his army of 'troglodytes'. Will my vote count? Or am I doomed to be a mere demographic of derision?
All Trump has to do is keep repeating this secret meeting with Bill and Lorreta Lynch. Just shows how the Clintons think they are above the law. There is no way Lying Hilliary can defend this... Go Trump Go!
8
Didn't seem like a very secret meeting to me since everyone knows about it. I'm pretty sure if Bill wanted to keep it a secret he could have.
4
if the meeting was secret, why is it on the front page of the times?
2
The fact that Clinton is leading in North Carolina by any margin is astonishing. The southern state is heavily Republican, and if Trump isn't leading by a wide margin in those states, he's very unlikely to come close to winning this election.
By the way "Mr Trump's continuing appeal to aggrieved working-class voters" is repeating a myth. Trump's supporters have an average income of $72K a year. This is not a fortune by New York City standards but it's much higher than the national average, making the typical Trump supporter solidly upper middle class.
Just repeating talking points you've heard somewhere without doing the work to find out yourselves could be seen as shoddy journalism.
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-mythology-of-trumps-working-clas...
By the way "Mr Trump's continuing appeal to aggrieved working-class voters" is repeating a myth. Trump's supporters have an average income of $72K a year. This is not a fortune by New York City standards but it's much higher than the national average, making the typical Trump supporter solidly upper middle class.
Just repeating talking points you've heard somewhere without doing the work to find out yourselves could be seen as shoddy journalism.
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-mythology-of-trumps-working-clas...
20
Yeah, it's so close.
One of the most qualified, experienced candidates who have ever run for President, and,
The least qualified one ever, a money grubbing grifter, con artist, no swindle too low, a quadruple bankruptee, a thrice married serial philanderer, another preening pretentious, tough talking republican Viet Nam draft dodging chicken hawk pretender to Commander in Chief.
One of the most qualified, experienced candidates who have ever run for President, and,
The least qualified one ever, a money grubbing grifter, con artist, no swindle too low, a quadruple bankruptee, a thrice married serial philanderer, another preening pretentious, tough talking republican Viet Nam draft dodging chicken hawk pretender to Commander in Chief.
50
I think your description fits Bill Clinton perfectly.
From Reading the title I was hoping that you were going to question the two-party-lesser-of-two-evils-winner-take-all 'system.' How naive of me. You just laid all the responsibilities on the shoulders of one person. So the answer is no, old style politics are of no help rather they are at the root of the problems you expect one person to resolve.
2
HRC is not a very inspiring candidate when she gives her typical 12 point wonky speeches.
What she needs to do is to directly attack Trump for every one of his business failures, which are matters of record.
She needs to make the argument that far from being the "success" he likes to have people believe, he is in fact a business loser. He runs companies into the ground, he runs scams (Trump U, Trump Institute), he stiffs vendors, workers and creditors.
He has no idea how government works. She can pound him on the issue that he will tear stuff down, but he has never explained what he is going to do to deliver services that 300 million Americans expect to receive.
In the debates, she needs to ask him directly how he is going to bring back coal mining jobs when fracked gas is much cheaper and is in oversupply. Who is going to be buying all that coal? No buyer, no demand, no mining. Real simple.
She needs to POUND HIM, not worry so much about presenting her wonky plans.
What she needs to do is to directly attack Trump for every one of his business failures, which are matters of record.
She needs to make the argument that far from being the "success" he likes to have people believe, he is in fact a business loser. He runs companies into the ground, he runs scams (Trump U, Trump Institute), he stiffs vendors, workers and creditors.
He has no idea how government works. She can pound him on the issue that he will tear stuff down, but he has never explained what he is going to do to deliver services that 300 million Americans expect to receive.
In the debates, she needs to ask him directly how he is going to bring back coal mining jobs when fracked gas is much cheaper and is in oversupply. Who is going to be buying all that coal? No buyer, no demand, no mining. Real simple.
She needs to POUND HIM, not worry so much about presenting her wonky plans.
10
Trump its indeed like the US equivalent of Boris Johnson (without the eloquence or University embellishment) but still a liar, a charlatan, egoist whose only true passion is the cult of havoc and narcissistic puerility.
Hillary Clinton hasn't excited anyone for decades.
She doesn't know how to do that.
Apparently it can't be learned.
Good luck fellow Democrats.
She doesn't know how to do that.
Apparently it can't be learned.
Good luck fellow Democrats.
2
So 'excitement' is now a prerequisite for responsible leadership?
1
Part of the problem in coping with a candidate like Trump stems from the temptation to imitate his methods. Some pundits have stressed the effectiveness of his stump speeches, in which he appeals to the emotions rather than the intellect. Clinton, by contrast, delivers wonkish orations that clarify her proposals but fail to arouse enthusiasm even among her supporters.
The editorial implies that Clinton should infuse more emotion into her message without incorporating the toxic elements that infect the very core of Trump's proposals. Clinton has the capacity to alter her approach, as she did in the speech that demolished Trump's pretensions to expertise in foreign policy. But she cannot shift the focus of her entire campaign unless she first decides on a theme that encapsulates her goals for this country.
Bernie Sanders challenged her effectively, because he hammered incessantly at the problem of growing economic inequality and championed a few policies to reverse that harmful trend. Clinton, by contrast, has emphasized the need to ameliorate a litany of weaknesses in American society and the economy. She has not developed an overarching theme that would link the reforms she proposes and clarify her vision of the nation's future.
Trump has championed an America that protects itself from hostile outsiders through walls. Clinton needs to counter with a passionate reminder that our openness to, and engagement with, the outside world made us great in the first place.
The editorial implies that Clinton should infuse more emotion into her message without incorporating the toxic elements that infect the very core of Trump's proposals. Clinton has the capacity to alter her approach, as she did in the speech that demolished Trump's pretensions to expertise in foreign policy. But she cannot shift the focus of her entire campaign unless she first decides on a theme that encapsulates her goals for this country.
Bernie Sanders challenged her effectively, because he hammered incessantly at the problem of growing economic inequality and championed a few policies to reverse that harmful trend. Clinton, by contrast, has emphasized the need to ameliorate a litany of weaknesses in American society and the economy. She has not developed an overarching theme that would link the reforms she proposes and clarify her vision of the nation's future.
Trump has championed an America that protects itself from hostile outsiders through walls. Clinton needs to counter with a passionate reminder that our openness to, and engagement with, the outside world made us great in the first place.
173
Trump is a cheerleader. We haven't seen one since Reagan. And Mr. T is one of the best at it. He litters his rallies with words like, love, terrific, wonderful, fantastic, the best.
America is tired of the lecture hall "speeches"
America is tired of the lecture hall "speeches"
1
It's not just a matter of upping her delivery. The real issue is whether she can up her believability, something that falls closer and closer to the ground by the day. It's possible that Clinton will win, but in my estimation it's equally possible that Trump, with all his ignorance and bluster, will beat her. If the Democratic Party cares about the country, it must not confirm Clinton as the nominee. Biden, Sanders, or any one of a number of other excellent people would be a better standard bearer
1
"as she did in the speech that demolished Trump's pretensions to expertise in foreign policy"
That speech was not as good or well received as you credit. It was an attack, but it did not present her contrast, it was only attack. We know she can do that.
"Clinton, by contrast, has emphasized the need to ameliorate a litany of weaknesses in American society and the economy."
Again this credits her with too much. The problem is not that she sees too many weaknesses, it is that too many who hear her do not believe that she would do anything about any of them.
They don't think she would really make even the incremental changes she speaks of. They hear just the same old campaign talk that would turn into the same old government by Wall Street and hawks for their own agenda. That is Hillary's problem, not just lack of focus.
That speech was not as good or well received as you credit. It was an attack, but it did not present her contrast, it was only attack. We know she can do that.
"Clinton, by contrast, has emphasized the need to ameliorate a litany of weaknesses in American society and the economy."
Again this credits her with too much. The problem is not that she sees too many weaknesses, it is that too many who hear her do not believe that she would do anything about any of them.
They don't think she would really make even the incremental changes she speaks of. They hear just the same old campaign talk that would turn into the same old government by Wall Street and hawks for their own agenda. That is Hillary's problem, not just lack of focus.
1
At this point, the thing that American want most is simply not to be lied to.
That was Bernie Sanders’ strongest quality, and it got an old Jewish socialist farther than anyone thought possible a year ago.
Trump is a born liar, he can’t help himself. But a lot of his fans consider that a feature, not a fault.
Hillary needs to look America in the eyes and tell the truth, every chance she gets. It’s the one area Trump can’t possibly compete.
That was Bernie Sanders’ strongest quality, and it got an old Jewish socialist farther than anyone thought possible a year ago.
Trump is a born liar, he can’t help himself. But a lot of his fans consider that a feature, not a fault.
Hillary needs to look America in the eyes and tell the truth, every chance she gets. It’s the one area Trump can’t possibly compete.
469
From Politifact:
Trump's statements by ruling
True (2%)(3)
Mostly True (7%)(11)
Half True (15%)(24)
Mostly False (16%)(25)
False (41%)(64)
Pants on Fire (19%)(30)
************************************
Clinton's statements by ruling
True (22%)(47)
Mostly True (28%)(58)
Half True (22%)(45)
Mostly False (15%)(32)
False (11%)(24)
Pants on Fire (1%)(3)
Sanders's statements by ruling
True (14%)(14)
Mostly True (37%)(38)
Half True (20%)(20)
Mostly False (18%)(18)
False (12%)(12)
Pants on Fire (0)
Trump's statements by ruling
True (2%)(3)
Mostly True (7%)(11)
Half True (15%)(24)
Mostly False (16%)(25)
False (41%)(64)
Pants on Fire (19%)(30)
************************************
Clinton's statements by ruling
True (22%)(47)
Mostly True (28%)(58)
Half True (22%)(45)
Mostly False (15%)(32)
False (11%)(24)
Pants on Fire (1%)(3)
Sanders's statements by ruling
True (14%)(14)
Mostly True (37%)(38)
Half True (20%)(20)
Mostly False (18%)(18)
False (12%)(12)
Pants on Fire (0)
5
What you miss is the difference in perception and personality. Trump is viewed as a salesman who exaggerates and then settles back to a more reasonable position. Clinton is viewed as a politician who lies and then defends her lies by telling us they don't exist or they are not important.
4
I believe you are counting on Hillary for the point she is least strong on: truthfulness. Good luck with that.
4
Trump supporters have already processed and accepted his faults. Just running negative ads depicting him as a buffoon won't work. Hillary has to make a positive emotional connection with the angry white guys, which, given her personality and gender, will be a challenge.
228
Andy, she neither can, nor will, convince avid Trumpistas, not to vote for her.
She needs to consolidate the Democratic base by trying to show Sanders supporters that she's at least vaguely sincere about his positions she has coopted, with the Times approval.
Then she needs to court independents and thevanishingly small number of Republicants with integrity. That can be done by showin not Trump's fact free boviations, but the people at Trump rallies, the hateful slogans they sport on T shirts, and the hateful things that they say.
Another idea might be to try to consolidate people of reason by drafting a moderate Republican to be her VP choice. My preference would be Olympia Snowe, who showed more integrity than her former Maine Senate Colleague Susan Collins, but Collins could work, too.
She needs to consolidate the Democratic base by trying to show Sanders supporters that she's at least vaguely sincere about his positions she has coopted, with the Times approval.
Then she needs to court independents and thevanishingly small number of Republicants with integrity. That can be done by showin not Trump's fact free boviations, but the people at Trump rallies, the hateful slogans they sport on T shirts, and the hateful things that they say.
Another idea might be to try to consolidate people of reason by drafting a moderate Republican to be her VP choice. My preference would be Olympia Snowe, who showed more integrity than her former Maine Senate Colleague Susan Collins, but Collins could work, too.
3
You have to appreciate the comedic value of the phrase "angry white guys" as it most often is used in conversation by other angry white guys, just of a different political persuasion.
Imagine if this phrase was used with regard to any other demographic group. If it is a valid construct is it not reasonable to think there are angry partisans from every conceivable group? But we seldom hear this phrase used other than with white males.
When this term is used it is used for a reason. It is a shortcut to dismiss viewpoints an individual does not agree with but does not want to invest the time to intelligently counter.
Trump is everything his critics say and probably more. But that does not mean every position his supporters take is incorrect. The irony is if we lived in a more civil society where ideas could be debated openly with less anger on all sides there would be fewer marginalized groups to rally behind the likes of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.
Imagine if this phrase was used with regard to any other demographic group. If it is a valid construct is it not reasonable to think there are angry partisans from every conceivable group? But we seldom hear this phrase used other than with white males.
When this term is used it is used for a reason. It is a shortcut to dismiss viewpoints an individual does not agree with but does not want to invest the time to intelligently counter.
Trump is everything his critics say and probably more. But that does not mean every position his supporters take is incorrect. The irony is if we lived in a more civil society where ideas could be debated openly with less anger on all sides there would be fewer marginalized groups to rally behind the likes of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.
3
A woman can make a connection to an angry white guy. A strong and admirable woman can do it very well. They'd put her on a pedestal.
It was angry white guys who rallied to and still worship Joan of Arc or Marianne in France, or Queen Boadicea when early Britain needed a hero against the Romans. Those were not just women, they were strong women.
Don't hide this problem behind gender. It is Hillary the person who has this problem, not a woman who happens to be Hillary.
It was angry white guys who rallied to and still worship Joan of Arc or Marianne in France, or Queen Boadicea when early Britain needed a hero against the Romans. Those were not just women, they were strong women.
Don't hide this problem behind gender. It is Hillary the person who has this problem, not a woman who happens to be Hillary.
2
I have decided to vote "none of the above", and will do so by voting Jill Stein. And before you Clintonistas tell me that I am helping elect Trump, forget it. I was formerly leaning Trump.
No, I will not be voting the "Sold American" candidate with the loose cannon husband. I will let you be responsible for the resulting chaos.
No, I will not be voting the "Sold American" candidate with the loose cannon husband. I will let you be responsible for the resulting chaos.
15
I too am happily voting for the Green Party's Dr Jill Stein who remains the only candidate of integrity that could help pull the USA together again. Hopefully she will be our first female president.
Admitting "leaning Trump" exposes you, no matter who you ultimately vote for. Luckily, Vermont is a blue state, so your vote against Clinton doesn't matter, but you can pretend the person in the mirror is rational. Then you can rant for four years claiming "I didn't vote for Trump."
3
So, what you're saying is, "I'm not voting".
How brave.
How brave.
3
NYT persists in magnifying differences between two extremely unworthy candidates for president. How different are Trump and Clinton, one an economic nationalist, the other in favor of globalization, when these are mere alternative strategies to the same end: unilateral global dominance achieved through military means!
Fascism is in the political air, whichever major party succeeds. For Trump, the gut-kind of fascism, grounded in hatred, frustration, fear, largely on the part of a white working class that thinks of itself as threatened; for Clinton, a more sophisticated fascism, founded on corporatism (an interpenetrated structure of government and business, and devotion to Wall Street. For one, waterboarding, the other, Goldman--possibly the worst choice ever in US political history.
NYT has lost its journalistic will and integrity by ignoring the fundamental harm each candidate can do, and has already done, to American democracy. Emphasize Trump's bigotry, but why skip over Clinton's meglomaniac drive for power and questionable practices, not least the habit of grazing the truth. The Clinton's as a couple, for Bill, too, would have a place, albeit informal, in the White House, are on the same low moral plane as Trump: arrivistes, money-mad, unscrupulous, and driven by visions of military greatness.
Fascism has come to wear many faces, raw and deft, neither of which is appropriate to the American Dream, and both antithetical to the heritage of FDR and the New Deal.
Fascism is in the political air, whichever major party succeeds. For Trump, the gut-kind of fascism, grounded in hatred, frustration, fear, largely on the part of a white working class that thinks of itself as threatened; for Clinton, a more sophisticated fascism, founded on corporatism (an interpenetrated structure of government and business, and devotion to Wall Street. For one, waterboarding, the other, Goldman--possibly the worst choice ever in US political history.
NYT has lost its journalistic will and integrity by ignoring the fundamental harm each candidate can do, and has already done, to American democracy. Emphasize Trump's bigotry, but why skip over Clinton's meglomaniac drive for power and questionable practices, not least the habit of grazing the truth. The Clinton's as a couple, for Bill, too, would have a place, albeit informal, in the White House, are on the same low moral plane as Trump: arrivistes, money-mad, unscrupulous, and driven by visions of military greatness.
Fascism has come to wear many faces, raw and deft, neither of which is appropriate to the American Dream, and both antithetical to the heritage of FDR and the New Deal.
96
Aren't you even a little ashamed of so blantly using the argument of guilt by association or perhaps you believe that a woman always does what he husband tells her to?
4
Clinton's "megalomaniac drive for power"? Could it be that this is the female version of "wanting to be president"?
6
" two extremely unworthy candidates for president"
False equivalence in every sense. Your "sky is falling" hysteria over fascism is even sillier.
Clinton, despite her shortcomings, is better and more qualified than all of the GOP candidates this year, not only Trump. So what's your point?
False equivalence in every sense. Your "sky is falling" hysteria over fascism is even sillier.
Clinton, despite her shortcomings, is better and more qualified than all of the GOP candidates this year, not only Trump. So what's your point?
6
As the Brexit fiasco would reveal it's easier to ride the tiger of populism than to get off safely. Faced with the unpleasant consequences of the Leave vote aren't the champions of the exit vote backpedalling on their promises of heaven, and soon bound to face the wrath of the Brexiteers hit hard by the EU subsidy loss and other economic hardships. The Trumpian phenomenon too is akin to a proverbial storm in tea-cup not to last long. Again, politics in general, and democartic practice, in particular, go beyond the elections, which is just one aspect of it. At its core, politics remains an instrument to serve society and guide its course to a better future. The nuances of political practice as also its priorities might change from time to time but not the primary purpose of serving people, and adjusting with shifting public aspirations. As such there's no need to change the substance and style of politics in response to the Trump induced political upheaval that involves all the baser instincts of human nature and the destructive negativities rooted in the racist xenophobia, fit for the medieval ages but not in the context of modern civilised society. The ordinary lay man could sometime loose balance out of fear and anxieties but soon returns to his/ her better sense and judgment.
4
No, what it proves is that the Establishment controls the financial markets, but last week it could not resist the buying opportunities unleashed by their own reactionary selloff last Friday.
9
Your beef is against capitalism. There will always be a percentage of people who make money off of others' misfortune. Maybe even you.
Hillary has to give fiery speeches full of policy, yes, but the kind of give them hell speeches that Bernie is so good at. The issue of income inequality is clear, climate change is clear, but she has to not only address these issues but most importantly hammer what, I believe will come up again and again, that Trump is a criminal racist bigot. Of course he will get a lot of votes from white men who don't have jobs and little hope but this is a central problem in this country. And investigative reporters, do your work!
50
You think calling Trump a criminal racist bigot is the way to win swing votes? You want Hillary to play Trump's game? How about she becomes a real estate magnate, too?
2
The press and those who hate her would pounce like hungry jackals if
Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton gets down in the mud with DT. She must leave the attacks to people like Senator Elizabeth Warren and those of us who actually know DT's background. Apparently Senator Sanders would rather stroke his own ego than stand with them and us against a shyster like DT. Very disappointing.
Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton gets down in the mud with DT. She must leave the attacks to people like Senator Elizabeth Warren and those of us who actually know DT's background. Apparently Senator Sanders would rather stroke his own ego than stand with them and us against a shyster like DT. Very disappointing.
1
The Clinton campaign should post examples of Trumps business practices. His treatment of hired workers, and then not paying, and note that he is a swindler. His using others to finance his businesses, but paying himself for running them, then loading them up with debt and putting them into bankruptcy. There are several example of these.
She does not have to call him names as he does with her, she just has to say these are swindles, and look very much like Ponzi schemes. Just ask, "Do you think a swindler should be running the country?"
Also challenge his wealth, what is his income, and where does it come from. From what we have read, just about everything he claims to own is heavily mortgaged or has bond holders. Force him to reveal his declared wealth. The campaign should use some of it money to hire forensic accountants to investigate the Trump holdings and businesses.
It should also publicize the fraudulent university and real estate courses, and the recent discovery of plagiarism. Just publish all unethical and close to criminal actions by him. The GOP Cult will still vote for him, but notice all the major corporations that are refusing to finance the GOP convention.
He will win states like Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Oklahoma, that is a given. Just force his hand, make him defend his ways and means, he will fail.
She does not have to call him names as he does with her, she just has to say these are swindles, and look very much like Ponzi schemes. Just ask, "Do you think a swindler should be running the country?"
Also challenge his wealth, what is his income, and where does it come from. From what we have read, just about everything he claims to own is heavily mortgaged or has bond holders. Force him to reveal his declared wealth. The campaign should use some of it money to hire forensic accountants to investigate the Trump holdings and businesses.
It should also publicize the fraudulent university and real estate courses, and the recent discovery of plagiarism. Just publish all unethical and close to criminal actions by him. The GOP Cult will still vote for him, but notice all the major corporations that are refusing to finance the GOP convention.
He will win states like Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Oklahoma, that is a given. Just force his hand, make him defend his ways and means, he will fail.
256
She should also call him out on the fiction that's he's a self-made billionaire. Throughout his career and certainly all through this campaign, he has carefully and consciously avoided mentioning the name Fred Trump- the father who built the successful business that the son inherited. I'm guessing that The Donald actually despised his father (why else would he be insisting that every American pay homage to his own brilliance, cunning and prosperity?) but the fact that he takes credit for all that the dead man accomplished is pretty despicable whatever the reason. How many of his fellow citizens would treat their parents with so much contempt?
107
I hadn't picked up on his failure to mention his father -- all the more striking because he talks about his mother with regularity, and his children. Striking in a different way that he doesn't talk about his wife, other than that Melania/Heidi photo comparison travesty.
1
People are mightily impressed that Trump's name is on so many big, impressive, flashy buildings and casinos -- what they don't realize is that many of these are owned by someone else! (Carl Icahn and the Trump Taj Mahal come to mind). He has sold or otherwise unloaded them, with the provision that his name remain for everyone to be impressed by. Talk about an empty suit! He is all facade and flash, but no substance.
4
The headline of the editorial reflects how the NYT and the mainstream media have let the American people down with old and conventional thinking. Sanders was not taken seriously by the establishment and even so he gave the already anointed Hillary Clinton a serious challenge. The Democratic Party let us down with the compromised Debbie Wasserman Schultz as DNC chair letting her hide the early Democratic debates on Sunday nights when the majority of TV watchers were tuned to end of season football games.
Indeed "Old-Style" politics is having a hard time focusing on the danger that the self-promoting and deeply ignorant Donald Trump presents to the United States. It's not clear what Trump has accomplished in his life but waste a lot of money and get his face and brand everywhere. Where are his tax returns? Does he have any? Why is there so little serious investigative reporting about him and his "empire"? Just a few weeks ago he didn't even know what Brexit was! How can anyone besides the disaffected and left behind working class take him seriously as a candidate for president?
I'm an active Democrat, born in 1942. I fear for our country and the future of the world. Clinton has a ton of serious government experience but she's hawkish on foreign policy and much too cozy with Wall Street.
All over the world the rich are getting richer and the rest of humanity is left to suffer. If the floods of refugees don't get our attention then there are airport bombings.
Indeed "Old-Style" politics is having a hard time focusing on the danger that the self-promoting and deeply ignorant Donald Trump presents to the United States. It's not clear what Trump has accomplished in his life but waste a lot of money and get his face and brand everywhere. Where are his tax returns? Does he have any? Why is there so little serious investigative reporting about him and his "empire"? Just a few weeks ago he didn't even know what Brexit was! How can anyone besides the disaffected and left behind working class take him seriously as a candidate for president?
I'm an active Democrat, born in 1942. I fear for our country and the future of the world. Clinton has a ton of serious government experience but she's hawkish on foreign policy and much too cozy with Wall Street.
All over the world the rich are getting richer and the rest of humanity is left to suffer. If the floods of refugees don't get our attention then there are airport bombings.
205
I am not sure that hiding debates on Saturdays was bad for Sanders. I was very open to him initially. But the more opportunities I had to hear about details of the of his plans, the more I realized that any and all details are missing. In fact, I did not see any plans of action, no analysis of costs and benefits -- all I heard were slogans. And then I voted for a poor campaigner, Clinton. Yes, as any politician she also speaks in slogans -- and since she is not a "natural politician" her slogans sound uninspiring. But there were some details behind the slogans, there was understanding of issues, knowledge how society, government, and laws work.
4
Sir, do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. I could take eight more years of a hawkish Wall Street loving Democrat over anything R's have on offer. Every day, and twice on Sunday.
6
Sorry, Sanders was not taken seriously because of his own flaws. This from someone who gave him a real shot and hard look and then concluded that he's not the right guy for the job. I was not fooled by his big rallies just as we should not be fooled by Trump's. Being right about the issues is one thing. Instilling confidence that he can lead, build the coalitions in the trenches, and get stuff done is another. I kept looking -- and well beyond traditional media for substantive and practical proposals from Sanders. Came up empty. Shouting out "no to free trade" and "free tuition" and the "greed is bad" and "let's "take back America from the 1%" is sloganeering almost on par with Trump. It all sounds good but such messaging is dangerous. Simplistic and specious blame-placing about complex challenges is not enough. Our issues are better tackled by someone who truly understands that hard work and not magic wands are required to advance positive change.
4
I would argue that the question is less one of old-style versus celebrity fascist politics as one of whether a substantial segment of the American people is capable of recovering their souls.
The German people were not specifically voting for concentration camps and blitzkrieg when they put Adolph Hitler into power, but that's what precisely what they empowered by electing him.
With Drumpf, nobody knows what to expect - but with a candidate as hungry for power and adoration as he is, not to mention as emotionally volatile and accustomed to getting his way, it is reasonable to expect abuses of power and barbarism unlike any we have experienced in American memory.
Hitler was a madman, for sure, but a confluence of people-driven events also helped convince him that destiny was on his side, and would remain so for the duration. In the wake of his utterly improbable capture of the Republican presidential nomination, and charmed life despite business failure after failure, can you not also imagine Drumpf concluding the same?
Only the voters of this nation can dissuade Drumpf from the fantasy that he is a man of destiny. To vote for Drumpf, in light of everything we know about him, is to both encourage his fantasies and invite extraordinary crisis in the years to come.
In our democratic form of government, it is the voters who inevitably demonstrate themselves as its weakest link or its ultimate salvation. In these times that again try men's souls, which will you be?
The German people were not specifically voting for concentration camps and blitzkrieg when they put Adolph Hitler into power, but that's what precisely what they empowered by electing him.
With Drumpf, nobody knows what to expect - but with a candidate as hungry for power and adoration as he is, not to mention as emotionally volatile and accustomed to getting his way, it is reasonable to expect abuses of power and barbarism unlike any we have experienced in American memory.
Hitler was a madman, for sure, but a confluence of people-driven events also helped convince him that destiny was on his side, and would remain so for the duration. In the wake of his utterly improbable capture of the Republican presidential nomination, and charmed life despite business failure after failure, can you not also imagine Drumpf concluding the same?
Only the voters of this nation can dissuade Drumpf from the fantasy that he is a man of destiny. To vote for Drumpf, in light of everything we know about him, is to both encourage his fantasies and invite extraordinary crisis in the years to come.
In our democratic form of government, it is the voters who inevitably demonstrate themselves as its weakest link or its ultimate salvation. In these times that again try men's souls, which will you be?
476
For recovering souls, could we say clear-eyed reality testing, devoid of propaganda? Think Zen Masters. Clear Thinking!
Matthew,
"Hungry for power" fits Hillary too! You and most here would still vote for her in an Orange Jumpsuit!
"Hungry for power" fits Hillary too! You and most here would still vote for her in an Orange Jumpsuit!
1
The other 16 Republican candidates tried everything, including Jeb's $100 million head start. None worked.
Worse, they did not even come close. They stayed in single digits.
Conventional approaches of money and identity politics were tried. They failed. Yet this article seems to treat those conventional approaches as proven wisdom, still effective against Trump. It even presents Trump as in need of adopting what failed against him instead of doing what worked for him.
Hillary and her supporters hope this is true. There is much reason to doubt it.
Worse, they did not even come close. They stayed in single digits.
Conventional approaches of money and identity politics were tried. They failed. Yet this article seems to treat those conventional approaches as proven wisdom, still effective against Trump. It even presents Trump as in need of adopting what failed against him instead of doing what worked for him.
Hillary and her supporters hope this is true. There is much reason to doubt it.
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Republicans never attacked Trump's policies (or lack of thereof) because they their own proposed policies were not any different (maybe with the exception of Trump's pretend trade protectionism; and I say pretend because to the degree he participates in manufacturing industry, he sends jobs overseas). Instead they talked comparative sizes of body parts. I agree that whatever the truth, one can't bit Trump by talking about body parts. And Clinton won't be talking about the size of Trump's... hands.
Her job is to effectively unmask all those issues that matter: Trump is just a good used car salesman who happened to inherit millions; Trump is a failed businessman who cheated his contractors and investors saddling them (as well as taxpayers) with the bankruptcies on which he made millions; Trump is a bigot and a racist; his big (yuuge, I tell you yugee!) words don't exceed three syllables; the list can go on...
And if one is to talk about Trump-style attacks -- while this is beneath the future president of the USA, Clinton already has very effective surrogates who regularly and beautifully get under Trump's thin skin.
Her job is to effectively unmask all those issues that matter: Trump is just a good used car salesman who happened to inherit millions; Trump is a failed businessman who cheated his contractors and investors saddling them (as well as taxpayers) with the bankruptcies on which he made millions; Trump is a bigot and a racist; his big (yuuge, I tell you yugee!) words don't exceed three syllables; the list can go on...
And if one is to talk about Trump-style attacks -- while this is beneath the future president of the USA, Clinton already has very effective surrogates who regularly and beautifully get under Trump's thin skin.
7
Except you don't provide any reasons, just pointless idle speculation.
2
Partisan hype. Trump is behind in almost every poll, sometimes in double digits.
1
Unhappily, Donald J. Trump could be the next U.S. President and the DNC and the media -- both of whom wrote off Bernard Sanders -- will bear a share of responsibility. The manifest failure of Government, at all levels, to rein in and cause to criminally account those who destroyed the U.S. economy, destroyed U.S. manufacturing and polluted everything from air, water, food, is the cause of malaise that births fascism. Donald J. Trump is, to too many, is Huey Long redux, something we may only have avoided by Long's being murdered. It means little that the failure of Government was, in part, occasioned by Republican racism; it was also brought on by an Obama Presidency that was too soft to root out economic criminality and to demonstrate "equal justice under law" was a farce while creating welfare for the insurance industry and a safety net for billionaire crooks.
133
Brilliant analysis, but of course it will be ignored while the Dem's juggernaut lurches on, hoping that Sanders, the man they smeared when they couldn't stifle or ignore him, will save them from themselves by unleashing his hoards of Progressive voters on Hillary's behalf....
Dream on.
I think we are about to have a lesson, this Fall, in the true meaning of the phrase, "Too clever by half," as the Clintons are hoisted on their own petard.
Dream on.
I think we are about to have a lesson, this Fall, in the true meaning of the phrase, "Too clever by half," as the Clintons are hoisted on their own petard.
1
".. it was also brought on by an Obama Presidency that was too soft to root out economic criminality and to demonstrate "equal justice under law".."
Ronald, no administration can. They own the government, because our elected officials feel their job security depends on keeping the scam going to keep the checks coming.
Ronald, no administration can. They own the government, because our elected officials feel their job security depends on keeping the scam going to keep the checks coming.
Sanders would have done even worse.
Oh, please, Hillary Clinton would be leading a fence post 51-49.
36
Well, given Trump's base, "fence post" is a likelier description than one would think.
2
She would be leading hitler 51-49. And not the hitler before people knew who he was but hitler at the end. Republicans wouldn't have a problem justifying s vote for hitler. Paul Ryan would patiently explain to us that hitler would get his agenda passed.
2
No it can't. Trump isn't a political figure. He isn't a politician, a leader or a problem solver. He is a personality, a celebrity and a salesman. He tells people what they want to hear regardless of the facts or consequences. He isn't policy driven. He is complaint driven, accusation driven, blame driven.
He has no solutions, no methodology, no plans. But yet he is within striking distance of Hillary. Many are saying that he is so close to Hillary because so many dislike her so very much. There is another way to look at it. He is close to Hillary because they really do like Trump and would still vote for him regardless of his opponent. I'm beginning to believe that this is the reality of the situation.
Trump is a celebrity, a made for TV personality that knows how to direct anger, animosity and hatred better than any of the old line right wing politicians ever have. How do you defeat someone like that?
Trump is what nearly half of the nation has become. She can only win by appealing to those who have not fallen under the hate spell. She must show people a way out. She must present specific plans and sell them hard. She is not a good seller. Most of all, she has to convince those on the fence that she really will back them up. That she truly has their backs. That she cares about them. She is not very good at that either and the media exaggerates that weakness ten times over. The 40 to 45% that want Trump will never change.
He has no solutions, no methodology, no plans. But yet he is within striking distance of Hillary. Many are saying that he is so close to Hillary because so many dislike her so very much. There is another way to look at it. He is close to Hillary because they really do like Trump and would still vote for him regardless of his opponent. I'm beginning to believe that this is the reality of the situation.
Trump is a celebrity, a made for TV personality that knows how to direct anger, animosity and hatred better than any of the old line right wing politicians ever have. How do you defeat someone like that?
Trump is what nearly half of the nation has become. She can only win by appealing to those who have not fallen under the hate spell. She must show people a way out. She must present specific plans and sell them hard. She is not a good seller. Most of all, she has to convince those on the fence that she really will back them up. That she truly has their backs. That she cares about them. She is not very good at that either and the media exaggerates that weakness ten times over. The 40 to 45% that want Trump will never change.
494
How do you defeat someone like that?
Answer:
Trump is The Birther.
Birthers have no credibility.
Answer:
Trump is The Birther.
Birthers have no credibility.
1
A woman who is under 2 FBI criminal investigations and lied the American public over and over again, on important issues, caught on TV, is her own biggest enemy, and a liability, regardless how much the media is propping her up.
3
Unfortunately there is a solid percentage of
the electorate that is quite low information and insular.
However HRC will win a hard fought battle because of her campaigns focus on the details in the swing states.
We will avert a disaster but still have to deal with a block of blockheads on all matters. Truly sad and regressive.
the electorate that is quite low information and insular.
However HRC will win a hard fought battle because of her campaigns focus on the details in the swing states.
We will avert a disaster but still have to deal with a block of blockheads on all matters. Truly sad and regressive.
2
Ms. Clinton's solutions will only be effective if there's a Democratic majority in both houses and how likely is that? Much has been said of Republican gerrymandering and that is the problem Ms. Clinton faces. There's also the element of trust. Can the American people trust her enough to think she can achieve her program? Again, it will depend on Congress. Trump has easy answers and if he gets a Republican congress we are in for the roughest ride this country has seen since the Civil War.
105
That's true of any Democrat, and perhaps most Republicans these days.
3
A harsh rogering indeed.
Do the American people want 4 years of headlines about the Clintons, their wheelings and dealings, the drama, because, well, they are so omnipotent, instead of headlines about solutions to their problems?
No thanks. What Donald will bring is 4 years of nothing getting done. That's better than wars.
No thanks. What Donald will bring is 4 years of nothing getting done. That's better than wars.
2
All campaign season, Hillary will be facing an asymmetric threat in Drumpf - and there's even an outside chance that the GOP'er convention will wind up nominating someone else, depending on how badly Drumpf performs between now and then.
To fight the asymmetrics, as well as the probability any debate with Drumpf will be a cornucopia of more pants-on-fire lies, Hillary needs to keep talking about his tax returns; she should ask him to tell us all what he lists as his occupation on those returns, since we know he won't show them to us. Drumpf's claimed business expertise is more and more tarnished, and she and her surrogates should keep on diminishing his brand :)
History is repeating itself for Progressives, but did we learn anything from the 2000 election ?
She needs to remind Progressives that no one has yet found any of the Nader supporters from Florida in 2000, who could enlighten us all as to whether they feel their voting for Nader instead of Gore (which directly enabled Dubya to put Roberts and Alito at SCOTUS for decade upon decade, not to mention myriad other planetary travesties) might seem in retrospect to have been seriously misguided.
And, Hillary must tell Dems to vote vote vote, no matter what the obstacles; vote early if possible, in case election day weather is inclement.
To fight the asymmetrics, as well as the probability any debate with Drumpf will be a cornucopia of more pants-on-fire lies, Hillary needs to keep talking about his tax returns; she should ask him to tell us all what he lists as his occupation on those returns, since we know he won't show them to us. Drumpf's claimed business expertise is more and more tarnished, and she and her surrogates should keep on diminishing his brand :)
History is repeating itself for Progressives, but did we learn anything from the 2000 election ?
She needs to remind Progressives that no one has yet found any of the Nader supporters from Florida in 2000, who could enlighten us all as to whether they feel their voting for Nader instead of Gore (which directly enabled Dubya to put Roberts and Alito at SCOTUS for decade upon decade, not to mention myriad other planetary travesties) might seem in retrospect to have been seriously misguided.
And, Hillary must tell Dems to vote vote vote, no matter what the obstacles; vote early if possible, in case election day weather is inclement.
269
I voted for Nader in Florida in 2000 and am not ashamed, why should I be? Because I'm one of the few Americans to vote with my principles instead of voting *against* the other guy? Give me a break, and drop the Nader myth--theres plenty of other reasons why Gore didn't get the office besides 500 Nader voters in Florida who exercised their democratic duty to vote for who best represented them.
2
How far Right does the Democratic party have to move before you stop voting the lesser of two evils? When do you put your foot down?
I wouldn't have told that.
In the light of Brexit I do fear
Hill's lead's less than it may appear,
Some anti-NAFTA fire
Is just what may inspire
A campaign in much higher gear.
Adopting more of Bernie's planks,
And scorching Trump's prolific pranks,
Regrets for Iraq,
Full blooded attack
On Wall Street's too big to fail Banks.
Hill's lead's less than it may appear,
Some anti-NAFTA fire
Is just what may inspire
A campaign in much higher gear.
Adopting more of Bernie's planks,
And scorching Trump's prolific pranks,
Regrets for Iraq,
Full blooded attack
On Wall Street's too big to fail Banks.
105
You nailed it! :)
1
Larry,
No matter what you hear.
The "Peasents" are revolting, I fear.
As revolting in Europe as here.
Revolting elsewhere I fear.
The "educated" consider them so.
That's not quite true, you know!
"Education" is only "good", if it teaches what it should.
If it teaches "down is up", applying it will be tough.
"Peasants", live next to the land.
They often know how things stand.
They are the majority, if not.
That's how Democricy's" taught.
After war from the Somme to Senna.
"Elites" have a record, not good.
"Education" is fine, so true!
Understanding "History" and "Peasents" helps too!
No matter what you hear.
The "Peasents" are revolting, I fear.
As revolting in Europe as here.
Revolting elsewhere I fear.
The "educated" consider them so.
That's not quite true, you know!
"Education" is only "good", if it teaches what it should.
If it teaches "down is up", applying it will be tough.
"Peasants", live next to the land.
They often know how things stand.
They are the majority, if not.
That's how Democricy's" taught.
After war from the Somme to Senna.
"Elites" have a record, not good.
"Education" is fine, so true!
Understanding "History" and "Peasents" helps too!
2
If old style politics could defeat Trump, Jeb Bush would now be the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. As he’s not, it could be safe to say that if Mrs. Clinton is depending on “old style politics” for a win, she could be in for a rude disappointment come November 8 – perhaps not by a lot, but perhaps by just enough.
I’ll share with the readership what could co-opt a lot of Republican and independent votes, as well as mine, and it has NOTHING to do with “old time politics”.
She could make clear how she intends to convince a Republican Congress to enact her policy preferences and, better yet, be candid about what compromises she sees as necessary to do that, how the resulting outcomes would TRULY benefit working stiffs in America, and how she would bring America closer together by reducing the monumental chasms developing between our polar ideological extremes.
This is nothing more or less than what I expect from Trump, once the dust settles from the conventions. If he can’t or won’t pull it off, then I’ll simply conclude that while he offers the higher potential value, the risk he represents is simply too great. If he can and does, however, he’ll get my support, my vote and may very well win. Unless … Hillary does it as well, and more compellingly. She’s clearly the lower-risk option, but at present she’s also the near-zero-value one, as well.
Mrs. Clinton needs to convince America that she’s more than low-risk: that she’s the higher-value option, as well.
I’ll share with the readership what could co-opt a lot of Republican and independent votes, as well as mine, and it has NOTHING to do with “old time politics”.
She could make clear how she intends to convince a Republican Congress to enact her policy preferences and, better yet, be candid about what compromises she sees as necessary to do that, how the resulting outcomes would TRULY benefit working stiffs in America, and how she would bring America closer together by reducing the monumental chasms developing between our polar ideological extremes.
This is nothing more or less than what I expect from Trump, once the dust settles from the conventions. If he can’t or won’t pull it off, then I’ll simply conclude that while he offers the higher potential value, the risk he represents is simply too great. If he can and does, however, he’ll get my support, my vote and may very well win. Unless … Hillary does it as well, and more compellingly. She’s clearly the lower-risk option, but at present she’s also the near-zero-value one, as well.
Mrs. Clinton needs to convince America that she’s more than low-risk: that she’s the higher-value option, as well.
56
I think Richard overestimates Jeb. He couldn't even mobilize old-style politics. Nor did he seem to care.
92
Why is it that HRC needs to "convince a Republican Congress to enact her policy preferences" when we don't know for certain that Congress will remain in Republican hands next year? More to the point, what exactly are The Donald's policy preferences? Will we be hearing them during his convention speech? How about some time before the election? He wants to build a wall and have Mexico pay for it. I want to walk on the soil of Mars and have the Koch brothers pay for it. Neither one of us is likely to get his wish. On the other hand, I'd be willing to settle for tax policies that would compel the affluent to pay for the social services of the poor, thereby freeing the middle class to take care of itself. I'd also be willing to see single-payer medical care become the law of the land as well as an end to all attempts to impair the Supreme Court's rulings on reproduction rights and same-sex marriage. And I'd like to see an end to this country's involvements in the Middle East (barring a joint effort to destroy ISIS and al-Qaeda via a U.N.-authorized military force that would mandate components from every nation threatened by said jihadists), along with real reduction in income inequality, government-funded attempts at job creation via education and infrastructure, and a major effort to combat man-made global warming. Hillary's views on some of these items are sketchy at best. The Donald's are pretty much nonexistent. How's that for "high risk"?
139
Luettgen shows just how far removed from reality his opinions are. He will vote for a swindler and documented con man. And he calls himself a follower of old fashioned values. I guess those are traditional GOP values, say what?
He seems to be typical of the hate Hillary faction just because. He is willing to help cause major damage to the country by believing his own facts.
Recent discover of Trump soliciting funds from Irish and Scottish politicians in violation of FEC code, if fund to be factual, could result in criminal charges, I would love to see the circus. The trial of Trump University as a fraud comes after the election, what do you think the jury will find? I'll give odds he does not have the liquidity to pay the awards.
Bet me a few $K Luettgen ?
He seems to be typical of the hate Hillary faction just because. He is willing to help cause major damage to the country by believing his own facts.
Recent discover of Trump soliciting funds from Irish and Scottish politicians in violation of FEC code, if fund to be factual, could result in criminal charges, I would love to see the circus. The trial of Trump University as a fraud comes after the election, what do you think the jury will find? I'll give odds he does not have the liquidity to pay the awards.
Bet me a few $K Luettgen ?
110
When she is good, she's very, very good. But when she's bad, she is rotten.
Never has that nursery rhyme been more appropriate. I guess you could say the same of Trump, if by "good" you mean "effective with his base."
I think the convention should give her some juice. So would her picking Elizabeth Warren as running mate. In all my years of watching Hillary, I've never seen a more electric performance or crowd, from both of them. Their energy was greater than the sum of their parts.
I don't think you can judge how the race is going at this point of transition to nomination. That said, nobody should underestimate Trump. He may have a ton of faults but he knows how to play to his base. How they will respond should the unthinkable occur and he win, it won't take long for them to realize he's just a cheap, empty suit.
Made in China neckties and all.
Never has that nursery rhyme been more appropriate. I guess you could say the same of Trump, if by "good" you mean "effective with his base."
I think the convention should give her some juice. So would her picking Elizabeth Warren as running mate. In all my years of watching Hillary, I've never seen a more electric performance or crowd, from both of them. Their energy was greater than the sum of their parts.
I don't think you can judge how the race is going at this point of transition to nomination. That said, nobody should underestimate Trump. He may have a ton of faults but he knows how to play to his base. How they will respond should the unthinkable occur and he win, it won't take long for them to realize he's just a cheap, empty suit.
Made in China neckties and all.
319
Worse than Trump's "base" is the knee-jerk Republican voter base that dislikes or despises Trump but will vote for him anyway. Just look at what their leadership is doing and extrapolate. Or read comments here at the Times and extrapolate.
173
@thomas Zaslavsky: oh I'm well aware there are two bases, with some overlap. Just look at Christie and Gingrich salivating to be on his ticket. I don't know which one is worse. Yes, they both are.
152
Trump may be a cheap suit but some of things he says are true. Sanders is saying some of them and so was Warren until she decided to sell out to Hillary.
It is plausible that NAFTA has been bad for American workers. That question needs to be settled independently of whether Trump is awful or not.
It is absolutely undeniable that Hillary played a big role in destabilizing Libya.
It is a far bigger issue than her emails. Hundreds of thousands are dead and millions displaced. But "Hey, they are not Americans," so the Republicans do not really care, and SHE did it, so the Democrats do not care either. She is their golden girl who can do no wrong.
It does, I am afraid, make sense for Japan to have nuclear weapons. If Pakistan and North Korea (not to mention the two repeat aggressors US and Israel) have them. why not Japan? Just to keep China in check?
We do need to tighten our immigration policy. Trump's proposals are totally unworkable, but it would be interesting to see how someone who starts with Yuuge Wall and NO Muslims, will moderate his stance rather than someone starting with, "Come one come all, it is only Christians who commit terrorist acts anyway."
NATO is outdated. The "threat from Russia" is a total invention, believed only because Putin is not exactly lovable.
So you may dislike and I certainly do not admire the man, but he might be better for the country than Hillary. Maybe his "fresh air" is mere flatulence, but it is at least new.
It is plausible that NAFTA has been bad for American workers. That question needs to be settled independently of whether Trump is awful or not.
It is absolutely undeniable that Hillary played a big role in destabilizing Libya.
It is a far bigger issue than her emails. Hundreds of thousands are dead and millions displaced. But "Hey, they are not Americans," so the Republicans do not really care, and SHE did it, so the Democrats do not care either. She is their golden girl who can do no wrong.
It does, I am afraid, make sense for Japan to have nuclear weapons. If Pakistan and North Korea (not to mention the two repeat aggressors US and Israel) have them. why not Japan? Just to keep China in check?
We do need to tighten our immigration policy. Trump's proposals are totally unworkable, but it would be interesting to see how someone who starts with Yuuge Wall and NO Muslims, will moderate his stance rather than someone starting with, "Come one come all, it is only Christians who commit terrorist acts anyway."
NATO is outdated. The "threat from Russia" is a total invention, believed only because Putin is not exactly lovable.
So you may dislike and I certainly do not admire the man, but he might be better for the country than Hillary. Maybe his "fresh air" is mere flatulence, but it is at least new.
3
When the political systems becomes corrupted, shows a total disregard for the rule of law, geared at protecting and defending the economic needs of the “upper class,” we have feelings of abandonment, become angry and lose perspective; our human values begin to crumple because we’ve lost our support system, governance. This is the America of today.
We, as Americans must regain our human values; it provides motivation, wisdom, success and kindness toward the human race. The true question is: are we ready to oust corrupted politicians; clearly define those who’ve taking advantage of our emotions and economic needs for his/her political gain? Are we ready to oust corrupted politicians; to share information with others; have a democracy that works for the whole populations where there is fair political justice and an economy that works for all Americans?