Is anyone thinking about the condition of the United States. Why is Trump so popular? Could it have anything to do with our awful economy, which many, if not most people, blame illegal immigrants and bad trade deals like NAFTA? Can they trust Democrats when Clinton has a penchant for lying about her email problems, and goes back and forth on TPP? President Obana, a Democrat, is still pushing for its passage, and he just signed the DARK act, which many progressives opposed due to the lack of clear labeling reqirements.
25
Trump hates to lose and a big loss will hurt the Trump brand which is his most important asset.. Don't dismiss the idea that the Republican leadership won't convince Donald to drop out so they can put together a more competitive ticket
A negotiation on the campaign trail straight from the book "Art of the Deal" might go something like this:
So listen, Donald- you and Pence are going to step down immediately, see. You don’t have the numbers and you can’t win. Its going to be Ryan/Kasich
And Trump says: "But there will be riots in the street - if your don’t get on my train it will run you over".
Donald - we have a take-it-or leave three part offer: "We get charges against you dropped for the Trump University fraud. We get you a major discount on foreign worker visas and we have a major cable channel ready to agree to sign you up for a multi-year $100 million contract as star of a new Reality TV show called “So you Wanna Be President” It’s that or nothing".
And Trump says: "OK", and the papers are signed on the spot.
A negotiation on the campaign trail straight from the book "Art of the Deal" might go something like this:
So listen, Donald- you and Pence are going to step down immediately, see. You don’t have the numbers and you can’t win. Its going to be Ryan/Kasich
And Trump says: "But there will be riots in the street - if your don’t get on my train it will run you over".
Donald - we have a take-it-or leave three part offer: "We get charges against you dropped for the Trump University fraud. We get you a major discount on foreign worker visas and we have a major cable channel ready to agree to sign you up for a multi-year $100 million contract as star of a new Reality TV show called “So you Wanna Be President” It’s that or nothing".
And Trump says: "OK", and the papers are signed on the spot.
40
Living with establishment media news is like being chained in a theater watching Sharknado 5 in an endless loop . Between now and November is a good time to invest in the makers of booze and tranquilizers.
34
Give that purple heart back. You should have graciously declined it in the first place.
62
What would happen if journalists and papers gave Trumpolini NO coverage for a day, a week? Do you think the followers would calm down? They are on a roll. It would be interesting to imagine no coverage.
26
Anybody who has been paying attention knows that at whatever point the usual person would kick back and relax, Hillary will dig and and work harder. Thank God. You go, girl! We're counting on you!
45
I have come across more than a few Trump supporters, who in all sincerity, have asked God who to vote for. They told me that they were surprised that God answered their prayers and told them to vote for Trump. How does one present any argument against the man's intellectual and temperament suitability when despite EVERYTHING, God told them to vote for Trump. I am speechless.
64
I accept that she's more hawkish than I am, but what about Iraq? That invasion seemed like a total non sequitur to the 9/11 attacks.
9
Dear Hillary: No tax returns no debates. You will be sparring with smoke and mirrors while he knows everything about you. Please, Please Please, stand up straight and tall to him (whose name shall not be mentioned).
33
Go for it Queen Hillary--Brexit was behind at this point, too. Media was savagely against them, too, so was Obama and The New York Times. How'd that happen?
13
anyone besides me wish we could vote tomorrow and get this over with? i am concerned for the mental health of our citizens being subjected to the ongoing trauma being unleashed in this campaign. will we all have PTSD after November?
64
The one crucial point that emerges from all these reactions is this: take action. Help get out the vote to not only elect HRC but a Democratic majority in congress. Help make sure the Bernie supporters, the young people, the scared-for-Israel people, the I-just-hate-Hillary-so-won't-vote-for-anyone people are moved to participate in this most fundamental exercise of their freedom. And send $$$ to the HRC and congressional campaigns. Actions speak WAY LOUDER than words, folks.
46
All Hillary has to do is simply refer to Trump as a TALK SHOW HOST every day for the next 100 days and she will win this. It will stick.
21
Hillary is leading the Democrats, now the 2nd party of the super wealthy.
But more scary is her war hawkishness. Hillary's main public agenda is "not Trump".
“But this new mindlessness (against Trump)-- now justified in part to block Trump's path to the White House -- could very well set the stage for a catastrophic escalation of big-power tensions under a Hillary Clinton presidency. Former Secretary of State Clinton has already surrounded herself with neocons and liberal hawks who favor expanding the war against Syria's government, want to ratchet up tensions with Iran, and favor shipping arms to the right-wing and virulently anti-Russian regime in Ukraine, which came to power in a 2014 coup supported by U.S. policymakers and money
http://www.consortiumnews.com
***********
Colin Powell’s Former Chief of Staff Thinks Hillary Clinton Is Too Eager to Resort to War.
Colin Powell’s Former Chief of Staff Thinks Hillary Clinton Is Too Eager to Resort to War - Truthdig
http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/colin_powells_former_chief_of_staff...
*********************
Jill Stein 2016
agenda similar to Bernie’s.
see Jill’s Website
Jill Stein for President
http://www.jill2016.com/
But more scary is her war hawkishness. Hillary's main public agenda is "not Trump".
“But this new mindlessness (against Trump)-- now justified in part to block Trump's path to the White House -- could very well set the stage for a catastrophic escalation of big-power tensions under a Hillary Clinton presidency. Former Secretary of State Clinton has already surrounded herself with neocons and liberal hawks who favor expanding the war against Syria's government, want to ratchet up tensions with Iran, and favor shipping arms to the right-wing and virulently anti-Russian regime in Ukraine, which came to power in a 2014 coup supported by U.S. policymakers and money
http://www.consortiumnews.com
***********
Colin Powell’s Former Chief of Staff Thinks Hillary Clinton Is Too Eager to Resort to War.
Colin Powell’s Former Chief of Staff Thinks Hillary Clinton Is Too Eager to Resort to War - Truthdig
http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/colin_powells_former_chief_of_staff...
*********************
Jill Stein 2016
agenda similar to Bernie’s.
see Jill’s Website
Jill Stein for President
http://www.jill2016.com/
14
I am still waiting for the Times to report on the pay for hostages swap with Iran. This is a journalistic paper correct? And, that isa bit of real news, so......
All you write about is your ideology and trying to sway voters with opinions, not journalism. So unbalanced, so much opinion, so little journalism, this paper has gone down the tubes over the years.
By the way, I know you and your readers adore this president and Hillary, but when the president lies to the American people about the swap and hides the Iran deal from Congress and when Hillary always lies on top of lies, how can you not report it and even condone it?
One of the 4 hostages who was released in Iran said yesterday that they were held on the tarmac in their plane until another plane landed (the one with the illegal US payment). Isn't this news, not a coincidence like the president wants us to believe? Come on......and did you report on the fact that Hillary lied on top of her lies on the Sunday Chris Wallace interview, saying the FBI found nothing wrong with what she did with her e-mails. How many lies can be told by this women; in my opinion she is mentally unbalanced and can't tell the truth from the lies at this point.
You are so fixated on Trump you have lost all journalistic perspective, very sad. Please don'y destroy your Sunday Book Review like you have to the rest of what was once a paper to be proud to read.
All you write about is your ideology and trying to sway voters with opinions, not journalism. So unbalanced, so much opinion, so little journalism, this paper has gone down the tubes over the years.
By the way, I know you and your readers adore this president and Hillary, but when the president lies to the American people about the swap and hides the Iran deal from Congress and when Hillary always lies on top of lies, how can you not report it and even condone it?
One of the 4 hostages who was released in Iran said yesterday that they were held on the tarmac in their plane until another plane landed (the one with the illegal US payment). Isn't this news, not a coincidence like the president wants us to believe? Come on......and did you report on the fact that Hillary lied on top of her lies on the Sunday Chris Wallace interview, saying the FBI found nothing wrong with what she did with her e-mails. How many lies can be told by this women; in my opinion she is mentally unbalanced and can't tell the truth from the lies at this point.
You are so fixated on Trump you have lost all journalistic perspective, very sad. Please don'y destroy your Sunday Book Review like you have to the rest of what was once a paper to be proud to read.
32
Have you ever considered the fact that Trump's crowds are receeding, and it's impossible to "write him off" because he has become such a permanent fixture in the media spotlight?
Honestly. The whole Trump phenomenon has been analyzed, and re-analyzed to within an inch of its life --- WE GET IT ALREADY!!
We know that everytime Trump opens his mouth, his foot is sure to follow.
We know he hates EVERYONE, and won't make America great again.
We know uneducated White males think he's God.
We know the RNC has created this monster and now it's out of control.
We know that if he's elected, it will mean the decline and fall of this great Nation.
But what we DON'T know, is how to prevent this from happening.
Honestly. The whole Trump phenomenon has been analyzed, and re-analyzed to within an inch of its life --- WE GET IT ALREADY!!
We know that everytime Trump opens his mouth, his foot is sure to follow.
We know he hates EVERYONE, and won't make America great again.
We know uneducated White males think he's God.
We know the RNC has created this monster and now it's out of control.
We know that if he's elected, it will mean the decline and fall of this great Nation.
But what we DON'T know, is how to prevent this from happening.
63
You folks at the New York Times really don't have any idea, do you, how with your Bernie bashing, Trump demonizing and beatification of Hillary Clinton you are stoking this movement.
35
Clearly the person who wrote the headline didn't write the article. They have nothing to do with each other. However, I do agree with the headline. Lots of people thought Delusional Don was a joke in the primary. I thought it would be political malpractice to do it again. Plus, the only way we can show that we reject this level of hate as a country is to completely humiliate him at the polls.
22
the critical point of this article is the HRC is still her own worst enemy. someone needs to take her by the shoulders and give her a good shake. If she gives the same lame and obviously false excuses to cover up her mistakes using a private email server then trump is going to make mince meet of her. that's probably what he and the republicans are counting on to save them. this is the one thing more than anything else that keeps eating away at her credibility. the fact of the matter is that use of a private mail server is actually a non-issue. its only the Clinton style cover up that's keeping it on the front page.
21
I do not understand why all Hillary haters are flocking under Trump. They can get some solace under the Libertarian party leaders (two ex-GOP governors). Even some conservatives opposing the indecency of Trump could support Libertarian Party to increase their viability as a third party. That may be best option to avoid bipartisan gridlock in the congress and the senate. Mr. Johnson should propose some libertarian senate candidates to compete in the next election as well to have a three way opinions.
6
" Second, Donald J. Trump is not only unqualified for the job, but he may well pose a threat to our national security."
I am not usually a nervous person about terrorism; but one could easily imagine, immediately before the election, a Russian( or other US Enemy ) facilitated "Reichstag Fire" that would propel Trump into POTUS.
This is how dangerous Trump is to US National Security.
Putin and other despots and bad actors have a "clear choice" in this election, and the choice that would no doubt benefit them is a Trump presidency presiding over a rattled America.
I am not usually a nervous person about terrorism; but one could easily imagine, immediately before the election, a Russian( or other US Enemy ) facilitated "Reichstag Fire" that would propel Trump into POTUS.
This is how dangerous Trump is to US National Security.
Putin and other despots and bad actors have a "clear choice" in this election, and the choice that would no doubt benefit them is a Trump presidency presiding over a rattled America.
38
Note statements:
"It is also highly unlikely that there will ever emerge a “better” Mr. Trump. We are far more likely to witness an even worse one."
"Mr. Trump’s bad week suggests he will not evolve into a politician whom anyone can count on or predict."
I think candidates for President must be required to take a series of psych exams - to include CAT scans and a PET Scan of the brain.
Given the demonstrated behavioral patterns of Trump, it is certainly possible that he may suffer from early-onset Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
He has demonstrated severe memory problems, as well as a great deal of confused thinking.
He has been known to say one thing in one sentence and then to contradict himself almost immediately thereafter.
We have been continually exposed to his obvious memory problems, his inability to focus on the matter at hand, tendency to wander off topic, confusion regarding facts and figures, and his desire to avoid the task of answering questions in Q & A forums - for all of the prior stated reasons.
Another attribute of AD can be irascible behavior and poor anger management.
Brain scans - PET scan - can determine possible AD.
Observation, testing, and close questioning by a neurologist would be called for in any and all cases - especially those cases of a far reaching nature - for the sake of possible damage control.
If Trump is so afflicted the sooner we know this the better. Any delay will only serve to further damage the country and all its citizens.
"It is also highly unlikely that there will ever emerge a “better” Mr. Trump. We are far more likely to witness an even worse one."
"Mr. Trump’s bad week suggests he will not evolve into a politician whom anyone can count on or predict."
I think candidates for President must be required to take a series of psych exams - to include CAT scans and a PET Scan of the brain.
Given the demonstrated behavioral patterns of Trump, it is certainly possible that he may suffer from early-onset Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
He has demonstrated severe memory problems, as well as a great deal of confused thinking.
He has been known to say one thing in one sentence and then to contradict himself almost immediately thereafter.
We have been continually exposed to his obvious memory problems, his inability to focus on the matter at hand, tendency to wander off topic, confusion regarding facts and figures, and his desire to avoid the task of answering questions in Q & A forums - for all of the prior stated reasons.
Another attribute of AD can be irascible behavior and poor anger management.
Brain scans - PET scan - can determine possible AD.
Observation, testing, and close questioning by a neurologist would be called for in any and all cases - especially those cases of a far reaching nature - for the sake of possible damage control.
If Trump is so afflicted the sooner we know this the better. Any delay will only serve to further damage the country and all its citizens.
39
I think diehard Trump supporters and diehard Sanders supporters are flip sides of the same coin--"people who disbelieve conventional politicians, who detest a Washington they think has betrayed them." The difference lies in whom they trust to "ease their pain" and, more important, the nuts-and-bolts specifics of how that person intends to go about it. Voters want--or should want--specifics, not generalities, and concrete plans of action, not slogans and platitudes, from their politicians. They deserve no less, but they frequently get less. And although it's the hardest to puzzle out amidst all the buzz and chatter, voters might want to stop and think about what makes long-term sense for them and for the country, not just what sounds or feels good in the heat of the moment.
26
This is sickening. 5 more Opinion page pieces that are stridently anti-Trump. Hillary Clinton has received a full pardon and pass form the mainstream media. When will The Times address the budget busting proposals that she has made to appease the Sanders wing of the Democrat Party? How will she propose paying for free college for every American family making less than $125,000 yearly? How will she address the mushrooming entitlement costs that eat up most of the federal budget? What will she do about the federal debt which has nearly doubled to $20 trillion in Obama's presidency? What will she do about exploding illegal immigration? When will The Times put Hillary's fet to the fire and force her to answer these questions?
21
Trump's supporters are the very "losers" he attacks and scoops at. By identifying with him, they believe themselves to be Winners. They are a version of the teen boppers, screaming over their idol. Do not under estimate them.
The question is do the real self perceived "winners" in our country outnumber those that deep down know they are losers: intellectually, economically, morally. And who will vote in greater numbers? Look at the www.fivethrityeight.com website and the simulation in just how few additional White, uneducated voters it would take voting in greater numbers than they have in the past to turn many a Blue state into a Red one.
Name of this election game as any other: Identify your supporters; get them registered; get them to the polls election day.
The question is do the real self perceived "winners" in our country outnumber those that deep down know they are losers: intellectually, economically, morally. And who will vote in greater numbers? Look at the www.fivethrityeight.com website and the simulation in just how few additional White, uneducated voters it would take voting in greater numbers than they have in the past to turn many a Blue state into a Red one.
Name of this election game as any other: Identify your supporters; get them registered; get them to the polls election day.
7
Even if my bed was on fire on Election Day, I don't think Hillary Clinton could get me out of it. Having to run on fear and fear alone is despicable. She must be thanking her lucky stars, day and night, that Trumps' lunacy drove Sanders and Warren fleeing into her tent and that she's not running against someone who could actually present a cogent proposal or two. Thanks once again DNC.
13
Hope one party rule works out. Obama for the past 7.5, Clintons for the next 8 years. The Dem's big challenge is to get a majority in both house of Congress. And of course the Supreme court stacked. New normal coming our way.
9
Whereas I generally agree with the main thrust of the editorial, I'm slightly struck by the art of language that indicates the bias in favor of Hillary Clinton.
When the write up talks about Donald Trump, it says.."Mr. Trump doubled down on his 'insults of the Muslim parents' of a fallen American serviceman...'booted a crying baby out' of a rally in Virginia.
Many of your readers like me wouldn't see them that way factually. Plus there's verbal exaggeration.
On the other hand, when it comes to dealing with Hillary Clinton, the editorial sugar coats "the lingering distrust of her" by pointing out that she asserted "untruthful claims about her careless handling of government emails." As you know, for this reason Trump and his supporters call Hillary "a liar" or "a crooked Hillary."
All in all, the message here is that language and demeanor matter, more so in election campaigns.
Donald Trump has shown on more than one occasion that he's brash in his language and etiquette. His fans want him that way.
However, his campaign must understand that his demeanor makes many well-meaning Republicans cringe. If they sit at home, the angry slogan shouting followers of Trump will not be numerically enough to carry him through.
As more of Bernie's supporters jump on the Hillary bandwagon, defection will be seen more on the Trump side than on the other.
One personality trait I notice in Donald is that even if he surrounds himself with the best advisers, he may reject them all "on whim".
When the write up talks about Donald Trump, it says.."Mr. Trump doubled down on his 'insults of the Muslim parents' of a fallen American serviceman...'booted a crying baby out' of a rally in Virginia.
Many of your readers like me wouldn't see them that way factually. Plus there's verbal exaggeration.
On the other hand, when it comes to dealing with Hillary Clinton, the editorial sugar coats "the lingering distrust of her" by pointing out that she asserted "untruthful claims about her careless handling of government emails." As you know, for this reason Trump and his supporters call Hillary "a liar" or "a crooked Hillary."
All in all, the message here is that language and demeanor matter, more so in election campaigns.
Donald Trump has shown on more than one occasion that he's brash in his language and etiquette. His fans want him that way.
However, his campaign must understand that his demeanor makes many well-meaning Republicans cringe. If they sit at home, the angry slogan shouting followers of Trump will not be numerically enough to carry him through.
As more of Bernie's supporters jump on the Hillary bandwagon, defection will be seen more on the Trump side than on the other.
One personality trait I notice in Donald is that even if he surrounds himself with the best advisers, he may reject them all "on whim".
16
You should never underestimate your opponent. Everybody wrote off this clown with the funny mustache in 1930s Germany and look what happened.
44
The debates will do in Trump. Hil. will kill him. But even now, one professional forecast looks like this: http://pollyvote.com. 4.8% comprehensive lead by Hillary and the trend is for widening the lead.
Trump has no chance. He's a disaster for the Republican Party, but clearly, it will be extremely important to definitively understand why he is even here. They will be studying this for years to come, but this country needs to know who we are. I don't think we know ourselves. That's why Trump was a surprise.
Trump has no chance. He's a disaster for the Republican Party, but clearly, it will be extremely important to definitively understand why he is even here. They will be studying this for years to come, but this country needs to know who we are. I don't think we know ourselves. That's why Trump was a surprise.
12
How can Mrs. Clinton present anything when the Media, including the Times are besotted with Trump and cannot get their heads around the endless lies they tell about Clinton?
15
It's only August-no one should be written off.
12
Everyone frightened by Trump must get the unregistered voters they know to register and vote for Hillary. Michael Moore is right: every single angry white Trumpite will be at the polls. The low Dem voter turnout has been lethal and could be again.
See: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/08/01/us/elections/nine-percent-...
See: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/08/01/us/elections/nine-percent-...
15
commodities market prediction:
popcorn futures up for months of September, October - Presidential debate season...
popcorn futures up for months of September, October - Presidential debate season...
5
As a journalist who writes about presidential history, I can say that Trump is the most dangerous candidate ever, so no one should make the mistake that was urged on us in 2000 when we were told Bush and Gore were the same. Here's the documentation on why everyone of principle needs to be active for Clinton: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/open-letter-sanders-supporters-scott-s-sm...
15
NY Times narrative for the summer of 2016.
* spend all summer writing off the Trump campaign
* but caution readers not to write off the Trump campaign
Sure, that makes tons of sense.
* spend all summer writing off the Trump campaign
* but caution readers not to write off the Trump campaign
Sure, that makes tons of sense.
23
Why the slap at Mrs Clinton? Trump and his supporters will never like the NYT, other than perhaps poor Betty Boop, who churns out one pro Trump op-ed after another. It's almost like you have an AI bot which says, oops, gotta be even-handed here. But given the candidate Trump is, even-handedness is impossible, so drop the petty swipes. Her rationale for the emails is: "I wasn't going to run again after my bad defeat by Barrack, and I didn't want all my private emails out there for the right wing to claw over. Then I saw Joe Biden wasn't running, after his family tragedy, so I thought I might have a shot. Mistake, born out of not being able to predict the future."
12
Why can't we rest easy and write off Mr. Trump? Ladies and gentlemen, may I present David Duke, your wannabe future senator from Louisiana? Don't underestimate the man - and like this editorial says, don't write him off, either. Mr. Trump may lose the battle, but could Mr. Duke win the war?
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/08/05/488802494/former-kkk-l...
'He was confident that Trump backers in Louisiana would support his Senate run. "We've already polled inside the Trump voters, and we know that we're going to carry 75 to 80 percent of those who are going to vote for Trump," he said.'
'In his interview with NPR's Steve Inskeep, Duke claimed there is "massive racist, racial discrimination against European-Americans" and a "very vicious anti-white narrative" in the media. Hollywood, he said, is not controlled by European-Americans. Inskeep broke in to ask whether Duke was referring to Jews.
Duke responded with, "Well they're from the Middle East, that's not European. That's not European, is it? That's Middle Eastern."
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/08/05/488802494/former-kkk-l...
'He was confident that Trump backers in Louisiana would support his Senate run. "We've already polled inside the Trump voters, and we know that we're going to carry 75 to 80 percent of those who are going to vote for Trump," he said.'
'In his interview with NPR's Steve Inskeep, Duke claimed there is "massive racist, racial discrimination against European-Americans" and a "very vicious anti-white narrative" in the media. Hollywood, he said, is not controlled by European-Americans. Inskeep broke in to ask whether Duke was referring to Jews.
Duke responded with, "Well they're from the Middle East, that's not European. That's not European, is it? That's Middle Eastern."
14
Yes. Disregard the polls and proceed as if Trump was 20 points ahead. The biggest enemy in an election like this is complacency.
Always run from behind.
Always run from behind.
17
C'mon, folks, Richard Luettgen is a troll. Don't bother responding.
4
th puss on his face as he displays his latest toy is truly grotesque
1
Perhaps what we have learned is that what we see is actually the real Mr. T. Underesimating Mr. T has been a mistake that many have made, one which has helped him and his campaign. Never underestimate the underdog in American society!
9
Hillary as a morally serious leader? Who writes this stuff? She needs to campaign and let Trump continue his suicide. He is the only person she could beat. Cruz probably would have beaten her and he is Nixon without the charm.
4
Trump will drop out of the race by labor day.
1
1. And then what?
2. What if he doesn't?
2. What if he doesn't?
3
Mr. Donald Trump, psychopathic spewer of lies and hate, regurgitated out of the bowls of the Republican Party is now their nominee for President.
Why Governor Mike Pence, by joining TeamTrump, exhibits his eagerness to become political WormChow (with apologies to Evelyn Harper) is of his own understanding.
However, there is a solution for Republican voters:
1). Enter voting booth.
2). Quietly repeat Mr. Charles Dickens lament, "Tis a far, far, better thing I do than I have ever done."
3). Pull lever, as I will do absentee, for Senator Hillary Clinton.
Why Governor Mike Pence, by joining TeamTrump, exhibits his eagerness to become political WormChow (with apologies to Evelyn Harper) is of his own understanding.
However, there is a solution for Republican voters:
1). Enter voting booth.
2). Quietly repeat Mr. Charles Dickens lament, "Tis a far, far, better thing I do than I have ever done."
3). Pull lever, as I will do absentee, for Senator Hillary Clinton.
16
I heard a Republican strategist say on NPR that the GOP should pressure Trump to step aside by the end of the month. Good luck with that. I am no fan of Trump but I dislike the idea of party operatives dismissing the will of voters or favoring one candidate over another a la DWS. Like it or not, Republican voters chose Trump and they will try to get him in the WH or they will share his defeat, and that is their collective right as American voters. Of course other voters have the right to vote for Hillary or for third-party candidates.
7
Hilary needs to get out of her mindset that the email controversy will bring her down unless she repeatedly attacks any suggestion that she did anything wrong. She didn't, she may have done some stupid things, which she has admitted.
Take a lesson from the Donald, if you are in a hole stop digging and just conduct your self in a Presidential way, thus contrasting herself very clearly from the Donald.
Take a lesson from the Donald, if you are in a hole stop digging and just conduct your self in a Presidential way, thus contrasting herself very clearly from the Donald.
3
Donald Trump wants to establish his own rules. He lives in a world of his own; with the belief that his wealthy accomplishments make him rightful to lead this country. His lifestyle and egotistic views, prevents to establish an “interconnection” with the economic needs, sufferings or misfortunes of others. Most alarming is his lack of experience and vision with regards to foreign affairs; the eminent threat of “Isis” and his Jihadists’ groups represent to American and the world.
Donald Trump says the U.S. has no choice but to send around 20 to 30 thousand combat troops to fight Isis when the majority of the American people are against any military deployment. They haven’t forgotten that Isis was born out of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in which 4,491 U.S. service members lost their lives.
Donald Trump, welcome into the real world.
Donald Trump says the U.S. has no choice but to send around 20 to 30 thousand combat troops to fight Isis when the majority of the American people are against any military deployment. They haven’t forgotten that Isis was born out of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in which 4,491 U.S. service members lost their lives.
Donald Trump, welcome into the real world.
3
Please -- we must not make the mistake of bashing Trump in self-congratulatory language.
Rather, we must stubbornly stick to cool-headed, fact-based repudiations that, over time, may convince voters on the fence of Secretary Clinton's superior fitness for the Presidency. Additionally, I think it would be enormously helpful if she made a statement very soon about the veracity of her denials of wrongdoing in the Email controversy. An early 'coming clean' of any kind would go a long way to bringing back voters resentful of what they assume to be self-serving obfuscations on her part. The majority of voters in the post-HOUSE OF CARDS era understand that Secretary Clinton is a professional politician in an ugly business. Politicians routinely shade the truth, and always have. The Internet makes it harder to get away with it. Die-hard Trump supporters cannot be swayed, but fence-sitters can. She may need them.
Rather, we must stubbornly stick to cool-headed, fact-based repudiations that, over time, may convince voters on the fence of Secretary Clinton's superior fitness for the Presidency. Additionally, I think it would be enormously helpful if she made a statement very soon about the veracity of her denials of wrongdoing in the Email controversy. An early 'coming clean' of any kind would go a long way to bringing back voters resentful of what they assume to be self-serving obfuscations on her part. The majority of voters in the post-HOUSE OF CARDS era understand that Secretary Clinton is a professional politician in an ugly business. Politicians routinely shade the truth, and always have. The Internet makes it harder to get away with it. Die-hard Trump supporters cannot be swayed, but fence-sitters can. She may need them.
6
To the Editorial Board:
Polls show that most of your readers do not know a single Trump supporter. It would be a service to the readers if you profiled a cross section of supporters. Besides revealing their thought processes and their emotions. I believe such profiles would reveal a disconnect between Trump and them. His views on the military and immigration and Russia are almost certainly out of step. And most important, I believe you would find that his supporters have detailed economic concerns while Trump has the sketchiest of plans. Finally, you will also surely find that the supporters are not all dumb white men, and you could tell us who they really are.
Polls show that most of your readers do not know a single Trump supporter. It would be a service to the readers if you profiled a cross section of supporters. Besides revealing their thought processes and their emotions. I believe such profiles would reveal a disconnect between Trump and them. His views on the military and immigration and Russia are almost certainly out of step. And most important, I believe you would find that his supporters have detailed economic concerns while Trump has the sketchiest of plans. Finally, you will also surely find that the supporters are not all dumb white men, and you could tell us who they really are.
7
They are not going away. They have existed in this country since the Puritans arrived, appearing at various times as witch hunters, slavers, Know-Nothings, klansmen, White Citizens' Councils, Birchers, and Tea-Partiers. The Trump campaign, in energizing and mobilizing them, has done one good thing: identifying them and reminding the rest of us of their existence and number.
12
When the Editors say "repeatedly asserting untruthful claims", are the Editors implying that Clinton is a serial liar? Surely not.
When the Editors refer to "careless handling of government emails", is that liberal speak for irresponsible (criminal?) handling of classified information?
Because a "morally serious leader" would surely not be a serial liar, as implied by "careless handling of government emails".
When the Editors refer to "careless handling of government emails", is that liberal speak for irresponsible (criminal?) handling of classified information?
Because a "morally serious leader" would surely not be a serial liar, as implied by "careless handling of government emails".
3
Trump is the flowering of American Exceptionalism. From a beginning as individuals, fending of England via a revolution, to a country of selfish, money-worshiping, uneducated, bigoted provincial dolts. We have become like someone with very little education who works out at a gym and who thinks his muscles make him an expert on everything. I know not all Americans are this way; however, how do you explain tRump's rise to such prominence?
That so many Americans honestly can't see that tRump is a carcinogen, infecting the body politic bodes very badly for our future. I am 72 and unmarried, but I fear for anyone with children and grandchildren, and anyone who is rational having to live in a tRumpian future.
I sure hope that this November proves me wrong and that the forces of light overcome the heart of darkness hurricane that is battering our country and Constitution.
That so many Americans honestly can't see that tRump is a carcinogen, infecting the body politic bodes very badly for our future. I am 72 and unmarried, but I fear for anyone with children and grandchildren, and anyone who is rational having to live in a tRumpian future.
I sure hope that this November proves me wrong and that the forces of light overcome the heart of darkness hurricane that is battering our country and Constitution.
7
There is no margin of victory large enough. Trump and his GOP Tea Party followers must be crushed in November. This grave threat to our system of law and government must never be allowed to hijack a major political party again.
14
One thing is certain: Mrs. Clinton will not write off or underestimate Donald Trump. She is running hard and will continue running right through the finish line. She will never become complacent. And neither should those of us who wish to see her in the White House. This is a fight that together we must win.
9
I think those five, ten and twenty dollar donations is really all he was about, all along. Just another con game. He can do whatever he wants with his campaign funds, pay whichever of his unqualified family members or his caddies he hires without having to show anyone where the money is going.
He won't show his tax returns because he's just a loser, and a liar.
He won't show his tax returns because he's just a loser, and a liar.
7
One could lose an awful lot of money by betting against Clinton to be unprepared.
6
Right on target. Three months is a lifetime in the world of politics. Hillary should continue to campaign as if she were 10 points behind. Take nothing for granted.
14
Where it leaves Mrs. Clinton is she has to stay focused, keep talking about policy, and keep it positive. Where it leaves the rest of us is we have to vote. Only three months to go!
11
Hopefully they learn the lessons of Bill Belichick of the New England patriots, that you don't win by assuming you have won. Hillary needs to get the message out there continuously, to keep Donald from stealing the stage and to give people something to think about. It is easy to laugh at Trump, but if Hillary gives the idea this is a laugher, a lot of people may not vote, thinking it didn't matter, and trump could energize the mob enough to get elected. Not to mention that they need to keep aligning Donald with the GOP, to make clear he is the GOP nominee, that he represents the party, to make sure that GOP candidates for congress lose, too. Donald is an ideal candidate to paint the GOP as what they are, an extreme right, out of control party who don't match most people in this country. If we leave the GOP in congress, then it doesn't matter who wins.
9
Mr. Trump clearly seems to be the most dangerous and iill-prepared president the United States has ever known. It seems that there is nothing that will dissuade his followers from changing their minds for they are bigots just like the candidate himself.
It just means, that the Hillary can't afford to sit back and assume that the Trump campaign is going to implode. We can only hope it will though.
It just means, that the Hillary can't afford to sit back and assume that the Trump campaign is going to implode. We can only hope it will though.
11
Trump's rallies reminds me of a standard operating procedure for manipulating TV coverage: To make a small man look large, surround him with even smaller people. Then, press that number into a tiny room, and the effect is explosive but false. Unless you are there in person, you don't get it. You see what the event managers want you to see. To not fall prey to these false fronts, we need to work hard -- and we really need the media's help -- to unpack these machinations.
4
The problem isn't that Trump is Trump, the Problem is Clinton is Clinton.
She has pocketed $40,000,000 in bribes, she has supported and directed our blunders in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya.
The Iraqis, the Syrians and the Libyans are not going to let us steal their oil no matter how many bombs we drop and people we kill, and oil is what we are fighting for. But Clinton is ready to fight to the last drop of other peoples blood to try and get that oil.
Trump may have cheated a lot of people to get his money but Clinton has killed hundreds of thousands in our oil wars while becoming fantastically rich through bribes. The Editors of the Times would have gone ballistic if a Republican Candidate had pocketed $250,000 from Goldman Sachs, but it's just not a problem if Hillary does it.
The Editors of the Times just can't see that many people don't see a lot of difference between Clinton and Trump. They are both dishonest warmongers who will keep our oil wars going and growing, just one lies to the left and the other lies to the right. The forked toughs of the American Elite.
She has pocketed $40,000,000 in bribes, she has supported and directed our blunders in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya.
The Iraqis, the Syrians and the Libyans are not going to let us steal their oil no matter how many bombs we drop and people we kill, and oil is what we are fighting for. But Clinton is ready to fight to the last drop of other peoples blood to try and get that oil.
Trump may have cheated a lot of people to get his money but Clinton has killed hundreds of thousands in our oil wars while becoming fantastically rich through bribes. The Editors of the Times would have gone ballistic if a Republican Candidate had pocketed $250,000 from Goldman Sachs, but it's just not a problem if Hillary does it.
The Editors of the Times just can't see that many people don't see a lot of difference between Clinton and Trump. They are both dishonest warmongers who will keep our oil wars going and growing, just one lies to the left and the other lies to the right. The forked toughs of the American Elite.
8
Are they positive that all of the donations to Trump came from U.S. supporters? I've heard rumblings from other sources that some of it may have come from Russia, but that its origin is well camouflaged. I don't want to go all conspiracy theory ballistic here, but I really do want to know the truth.
4
What Trump will do if elected President. Shortly after taking office, he will announce to the world that now that he has access to real inside information, he's become aware that things "are far worse than I thought. A disaster." This will allow him to eschew his campaign promises ("sorry folks, but we have been lied to about everything"), demand greater authority, and embark on whatever misguided schemes appeal to his whims of the moment.
8
When faith and bigotry baited by sidshow barkers become misidentified as facts, reason will not prevail in its victims. We should all be concerned about the monkey army which follows Trump.
3
to resurrect an old campaign slogan: "it's the economy, stupid"
Still is-- to all the respondents citing job growth and our recovery from the precipice of an economic depression-- you are living in a bubble--the recovery has not spread equally among our fellow countrymen and the decline in the middle class goes farther back than 2008--take a look at the heartland--take a look at the ever increasing number of homeless-- take a gander at any inner urban city center--this recovery has left far too many behind-with little or no hope of bettering their economic future--the barbarians are at the gate and they are us in our bubble- unless we take back our government from corporate ownership-and unfortunately ms clinton is in thrall to this oligarchy-and mr trump is nothing but another resurrection from the past, Adolf Hitler. Lest we forget, Mr. Hitler was elected (appointed) Chancellor--
Still is-- to all the respondents citing job growth and our recovery from the precipice of an economic depression-- you are living in a bubble--the recovery has not spread equally among our fellow countrymen and the decline in the middle class goes farther back than 2008--take a look at the heartland--take a look at the ever increasing number of homeless-- take a gander at any inner urban city center--this recovery has left far too many behind-with little or no hope of bettering their economic future--the barbarians are at the gate and they are us in our bubble- unless we take back our government from corporate ownership-and unfortunately ms clinton is in thrall to this oligarchy-and mr trump is nothing but another resurrection from the past, Adolf Hitler. Lest we forget, Mr. Hitler was elected (appointed) Chancellor--
2
It is stunning to me that Republicans believe Trump, who has never honored a promise, or any contract civil or religious, would honor his promise to appoint conservative to the Supreme Court. He is far more likely to use those nominations as a tool of revenge against a party that did not give him the full support he thought he deserved as a Presidential candidate.
7
Please do not underestimate the amount of anger out there among those who live st the margins of the new economy. Think about the Brexit vote. There are vast numbers out there who see their only recourse as a No vote against the system . I don't think many of them actually believe in Trump or his policies. They are simply mad at a system that no longer serves anyone but the top earners.
11
I think Tim Kaine and Joe Biden used exactly the right approach to countering Donald Tchump's bluster, self-promotion, and angry, infantile rhetoric -- they were mildly sarcastic and used subtle irony to point out Trump's shortcomings and make Tchump look small.
The boastful self-promoter won't hesitate to belittle any of his opponents and yet his own ego bruises super quickly. The candidate epitomizes a psychological condition called "Narcissistic Personality Disorder (Sub-type; thin-skinned)".
The best way to see Tchump unravel is to keep up the gentle chiding in public. He doles out harsh medicine to others, but cannot tolerate even a mild dose of the same himself. A classic case of being a thin-skinned narcissist.
The boastful self-promoter won't hesitate to belittle any of his opponents and yet his own ego bruises super quickly. The candidate epitomizes a psychological condition called "Narcissistic Personality Disorder (Sub-type; thin-skinned)".
The best way to see Tchump unravel is to keep up the gentle chiding in public. He doles out harsh medicine to others, but cannot tolerate even a mild dose of the same himself. A classic case of being a thin-skinned narcissist.
7
The point at which it would be fair to sing "Turn out the lights, the party's over" (props the the late Don Meredith) will be after the first debate - assuming there is one and Trump doesn't weasel out of it. His loss will be painfully evident and his unhinged twitter-storm that follows will seal his fate once and for all.
he wont attend
and his fans will cheer that he stood up to ' th man ' ( in this case, hillary )
and showed her what fer
Just curious how Trump's supporters would respond to a candidate who is still hiring staff using foreign worker visas. What about someone with deep ties in the Muslim world through business contracts, including one negotiated through the campaign? Media stories reflect stories about issues if interest to its readership it have no.resomance in the broader community with. Trump applied for foreign worker visa for Fla. He has a large licensing and management in Dubai with a huge picture of Trump, Ivanka and the traditionally dressed Muslim head of the developer. He also signed a contract for licensing in Indonesia. The speaker of Indonesia's legislature was at his launch. It s as if things he does outside the US don't matter.
5
Since 2010, nearly 300 United States residents have applied or been referred for jobs as waiters, waitresses, cooks and housekeepers there. But according to federal records, only 17 have been hired. In all but a handful of cases, Mar-a-Lago sought to fill the jobs with hundreds of foreign guest workers from Romania and other countries.
In his quest for the Republican presidential nomination, Mr. Trump has stoked his crowds by promising to bring back jobs that have been snatched by illegal immigrants or outsourced by corporations, and voters worried about immigration have been his strongest backers.
But he has also pursued more than 500 visas for foreign workers at Mar-a-Lago since 2010, according to the United States Department of Labor, while hundreds of domestic applicants failed to get the same jobs.
Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/431908/donald-trump-immigration-hyp...
In his quest for the Republican presidential nomination, Mr. Trump has stoked his crowds by promising to bring back jobs that have been snatched by illegal immigrants or outsourced by corporations, and voters worried about immigration have been his strongest backers.
But he has also pursued more than 500 visas for foreign workers at Mar-a-Lago since 2010, according to the United States Department of Labor, while hundreds of domestic applicants failed to get the same jobs.
Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/431908/donald-trump-immigration-hyp...
I agree 100%, there is no room for complacency, no rest until 11/9.
I have noticed that Trump is unable to vary his methods (attack, attack, attack, and never apologize), and he is unable to resist having his buttons pushed. I foresee several bad weeks ahead for him, since I can't be the only one who has noticed how easy it is to work him into a lather.
I have noticed that Trump is unable to vary his methods (attack, attack, attack, and never apologize), and he is unable to resist having his buttons pushed. I foresee several bad weeks ahead for him, since I can't be the only one who has noticed how easy it is to work him into a lather.
6
A person should not be president if they are:
1. Dishonest
2. Crazy
3. Lacking in a basic 10th grade knowledge of international affairs, economics and science
Democrats should not be overcome with glee and happiness just because Hillary fails only one of these tests while Trump fails all 3.
1. Dishonest
2. Crazy
3. Lacking in a basic 10th grade knowledge of international affairs, economics and science
Democrats should not be overcome with glee and happiness just because Hillary fails only one of these tests while Trump fails all 3.
5
When I was around 10 or 11 years old I watched a documentary called The World at War, it was a very complete, with file footage of Hitlers rise with subtitled speeches through the death camps to liberation. At that time there was no censoring of images, black and white, from beginning to end, all was told and shown. There was no illusions just the truth from the TV to a child's eyes, mine.
First hearing GWB proclaiming Your with us or against us, and now Donald Trump's appeals raising fears and division, I worry the similarity to what I saw in that documentary as a child, that there is not enough backlash from the Republicans by now, as there should be. Haven't they heard enough!!
First hearing GWB proclaiming Your with us or against us, and now Donald Trump's appeals raising fears and division, I worry the similarity to what I saw in that documentary as a child, that there is not enough backlash from the Republicans by now, as there should be. Haven't they heard enough!!
11
Trump isn't going anywhere because this was never really about winning the election. Free publicity for Trump enterprises; but who knew he would actually get the nomination-least of all The Donald. Now a marketing campaign gone horribly wrong, he has no choice but to stay in and try to save what's left of his reputation.
5
As we move further from this terrible week for Trump, the memory of his ignorance and jaw-dropping insults will too. Just watch, the polls will get close again, especially as we move into October, and most likely sooner than that. The race almost always grows tight. Americans' memory is a short-term one.
7
August 5, 2016
Disappointing his loving supporters has its own calculus and then one would consider a win by DT would evoke a military coup should he obtain Commander in Chief.
A guy with huge assets and questionable intellect as witnessed as a known: DT " I am a counter puncher."
So politics is not a game and worst when pretending that let the natural rights take its course - yet what makes a great country is for it leaders of all degrees and interest to pull together to set a goal for the common good - if not exactly a national emergency to implement options for plans of remedy. Somewhere in the constitutional writ society has a right to litigate the physical mental health of those that are capable of understanding the meaning of oath inclusive of it legal act of acceptance. We already have Mr. Khan offering his Constitution booklet for the taking, and did DT accept the generous offer even when of issues of right naturalized citizenry - Well let's conclude great minds find solutions to our problems - and we can all win when our actions are grounded in the best of our writ and enforcement with clarity to all the populace - Again toxicity in our body politic is not often a matter of such apparent protracted chaos - but at times we all must confront our demons before the demons metastasize like with ha happen in Syria, Ukraine, and a near Coup in Turkey ... greatness is for those that prevent the abyss from our steps afoul and impure to natural god given governance
Disappointing his loving supporters has its own calculus and then one would consider a win by DT would evoke a military coup should he obtain Commander in Chief.
A guy with huge assets and questionable intellect as witnessed as a known: DT " I am a counter puncher."
So politics is not a game and worst when pretending that let the natural rights take its course - yet what makes a great country is for it leaders of all degrees and interest to pull together to set a goal for the common good - if not exactly a national emergency to implement options for plans of remedy. Somewhere in the constitutional writ society has a right to litigate the physical mental health of those that are capable of understanding the meaning of oath inclusive of it legal act of acceptance. We already have Mr. Khan offering his Constitution booklet for the taking, and did DT accept the generous offer even when of issues of right naturalized citizenry - Well let's conclude great minds find solutions to our problems - and we can all win when our actions are grounded in the best of our writ and enforcement with clarity to all the populace - Again toxicity in our body politic is not often a matter of such apparent protracted chaos - but at times we all must confront our demons before the demons metastasize like with ha happen in Syria, Ukraine, and a near Coup in Turkey ... greatness is for those that prevent the abyss from our steps afoul and impure to natural god given governance
2
Mrs. Clinton and her supporters must keep their eye on the prize and we must never forget that 30%-40% of the electorate hates our black President and therefore oppose his achievements (e.g. Obamacare, nuclear disarmament of Iran thru negotiation) and will not admit to stunning job growth, drop in unemployment, record highs for the stock market or increase in average wages. In their Fox news driven alternate reality any economic good news is explained away, usually by claiming the statistics are misleading. That same 30-40 percent will never vote for a woman however well qualified especially if she embraces Barack Obama. They really don't care if Trump is a racist, a bigot and misogynistic at his core. If asked they believe Trump is just telling it like it is and they are done with "political correctness." If Trump tells lies easily exposed through the most casual investigation, they really could care less because the lies fit in with their alternative view of reality. Many of them still believe President Obama was born in Kenya and is a muslim who is actually siding with the terrorists because he refuses to make the fight against terrorism a religious war of Christians against all Muslims. So keep up efforts to fund and support Democrat efforts to get out the base and get out the diversity vote.
5
I would not be measuring the drapes at this time. There is still time where Mrs. Clinton can "DeSean Jackson" the situation and drop the ball just before the end zone. Lets face facts. The economic growth is still below 2%, Hilary's trust and likeable numbers would have doomed any other candidate and the outside factors like another terrorist attack or leaked e-mails could turn this winning situation south very quickly. What she has to do is keep the fire going and be merciless. Expand the map so that Trump and his elk are always on defense and make the party a much larger tent.
1
One of the very best comments here was written by Joe Arena. Outstanding! There is little I could add to the editorial or Arena's comments. I do think Ms. Clinton would do well to avoid the personality issues and instead, address the real issues. These are things like the national debt, the environment, income inequity, and many others. It is with reluctance that I strongly recommend backing off on gay rights and black issues. Though these are reasonably important, they pale when compared to those mentioned above.
1
The ground has shifted. There are cracks in the facade, and they will be exploited and affect our international standing.
Four years from now, a more organized and structured effort can be put forward by a different candidate, whatever the actual platform. The demagogue's playbook is being written and demonstrated as a promising option. For a candidate, being against something (or someone) holds as much or more appeal than being for something; negative emotions can hold more sway than facts.
After the drama of government shutdown threats, refusals to vote on a Supreme Court vacancy, and the turmoil of this presidential campaign, the world knows that in the US we have done a good job of destabilizing ourselves with internal factors.
Four years from now, a more organized and structured effort can be put forward by a different candidate, whatever the actual platform. The demagogue's playbook is being written and demonstrated as a promising option. For a candidate, being against something (or someone) holds as much or more appeal than being for something; negative emotions can hold more sway than facts.
After the drama of government shutdown threats, refusals to vote on a Supreme Court vacancy, and the turmoil of this presidential campaign, the world knows that in the US we have done a good job of destabilizing ourselves with internal factors.
2
Nothing has changed so much as one iota since the primaries.
The Donald, through extreme and severe positions that would have sunk any normal politician, cultivated a solid base of support. That base feeds off of the consternation and antagonism that gets directed at the Donald after every eruption. I.e., every 24 hours or so. That got him a solid 35% of the vote, and that's a number that really didn't change that much from state to state or coast to coast.
Those self same extreme and severe positions pretty much guaranteed a lack of interest in his candidacy from anyone else. Those folks didn't vote for him and aren't going to now.
Soooooo.......what's with all the shock and awe? This is where we are, and this is where we will stay. The Donald, while seemingly coming unhinged, is essentially the same whack job he's always been (just under a little more pressure). And that's just fine with his supporters. So let's stop with the amazed wonderment, relentless and meaningless polling and endless punditry, and settle in for three more months of the exact same thing.
The Donald, through extreme and severe positions that would have sunk any normal politician, cultivated a solid base of support. That base feeds off of the consternation and antagonism that gets directed at the Donald after every eruption. I.e., every 24 hours or so. That got him a solid 35% of the vote, and that's a number that really didn't change that much from state to state or coast to coast.
Those self same extreme and severe positions pretty much guaranteed a lack of interest in his candidacy from anyone else. Those folks didn't vote for him and aren't going to now.
Soooooo.......what's with all the shock and awe? This is where we are, and this is where we will stay. The Donald, while seemingly coming unhinged, is essentially the same whack job he's always been (just under a little more pressure). And that's just fine with his supporters. So let's stop with the amazed wonderment, relentless and meaningless polling and endless punditry, and settle in for three more months of the exact same thing.
3
Frankly I am quite tired of the constant fear mongering by the Democrats and their media surrogates. While I agree that Donald Trump is not a viable choice for POTUS. I don't believe that he is to be feared in the way that we are being lead to believe.
Frankly I find Hilary Clinton to be an equally unappealing choice for the presidency. If either of these candidates want my vote they need to spend less time attacking each other and more time telling the American Citizens who make up the pool of eligible voters how they plan to address the challenges facing the American Republic.
To date the candidates that have given me some idea of what they will change, to the extent that a POTUS can change anything are Senator Bernie Sanders and Dr. Jill Stein.
Since Senator Sanders has effectively taken himself out of the running I am planning to vote for Dr. Stein.
It would help greatly if the NY Times actually recognized Dr. Steins candidacy as it has recognized Gary Johnson's. Why isn't it possible to spend less time on scare tactics and more time actually discussing the real policy options for the future of the American Republic and its citizens?
Frankly I find Hilary Clinton to be an equally unappealing choice for the presidency. If either of these candidates want my vote they need to spend less time attacking each other and more time telling the American Citizens who make up the pool of eligible voters how they plan to address the challenges facing the American Republic.
To date the candidates that have given me some idea of what they will change, to the extent that a POTUS can change anything are Senator Bernie Sanders and Dr. Jill Stein.
Since Senator Sanders has effectively taken himself out of the running I am planning to vote for Dr. Stein.
It would help greatly if the NY Times actually recognized Dr. Steins candidacy as it has recognized Gary Johnson's. Why isn't it possible to spend less time on scare tactics and more time actually discussing the real policy options for the future of the American Republic and its citizens?
5
August 5, 2016
Disappointing his loving supports has its own calculus and then one would consider a win by DT would evoke an Obama military coup as Commander in Chief. As well a guy with assets and questionable intellect as witnessed has a known that as said DT " I am a counter puncher." So politics is not a game and worst is pretending that let the natural rights take its course - yet what makes a great country is for it leaders of all degrees and interest to pull together to set a goal for the common good - if not exactly a national emergency to implement options for plans of remedy. Somewhere in the constitutional writ society has a right to litigate the physical mental health of those that are capable of understanding the meaning of oath inclusive of it legal act of acceptance. We already have Mr. Khan offering his Constitution booklet for the taking, and did DT accept the generous offer even when of issues of right naturalized citizenry - Well let's conclude great minds find solutions to our problems - and we can all win when our actions are grounded in the best of our writ and enforcement with clarity to all the populace - Again toxicity in our body politic is not often a matter of such apparent protracted chaos - but at times we all must confront our demons before the demons metastasize like with ha happen in Syria, Ukraine, and a near Coup in Turkey ... greatness is for those that prevent the abyss from our steps afoul and impure to natural god given governance
Disappointing his loving supports has its own calculus and then one would consider a win by DT would evoke an Obama military coup as Commander in Chief. As well a guy with assets and questionable intellect as witnessed has a known that as said DT " I am a counter puncher." So politics is not a game and worst is pretending that let the natural rights take its course - yet what makes a great country is for it leaders of all degrees and interest to pull together to set a goal for the common good - if not exactly a national emergency to implement options for plans of remedy. Somewhere in the constitutional writ society has a right to litigate the physical mental health of those that are capable of understanding the meaning of oath inclusive of it legal act of acceptance. We already have Mr. Khan offering his Constitution booklet for the taking, and did DT accept the generous offer even when of issues of right naturalized citizenry - Well let's conclude great minds find solutions to our problems - and we can all win when our actions are grounded in the best of our writ and enforcement with clarity to all the populace - Again toxicity in our body politic is not often a matter of such apparent protracted chaos - but at times we all must confront our demons before the demons metastasize like with ha happen in Syria, Ukraine, and a near Coup in Turkey ... greatness is for those that prevent the abyss from our steps afoul and impure to natural god given governance
1
I agree with the challenge if writing about him but that is only half the equation. There still seems a reluctance to write about Mrs. Clinton's occasional lapses as equivalent. This is based on all of the fa t checkers where she is nowhere close to Trump. There is rarely a mention of her effeciveness when she is able to talk to small groups. This election should make everyone think about the "standards" in what us covered. While there are op eds about hyper partisanship there seems to be a resistance to looking at whether her approach has the potential to create the more civil politics say they want. Just think about it a little.
7
The Democrats and HRC need to heed the warning in this editorial. I think at least some Democrats do. But elites of the Democratic party is so tone deaf to the anger and frustrations culminated into the Trump and Sanders phenomenons, they had yet to came up with a strategy to address these voters' deeply felt powerlessness. The often highlighted "white males without college education" have the same voting rights as any other citizens of the country. When one is frustrated and angry and feeling voiceless, and DJT presents himself as "I am your voice" in the national stage, that is your chance to be heard. Torpedoes be damned. Maybe someone from the Democratic party can for once come up with a way to speak directly and openly to these disaffected people without the boiler-plate political platitudes then we will see the real tide turning. Without straight talk, people will not really hear and listen to what is being communicated. Most of the people understand and see reality and can decide for themselves. Most of them detest phoniness and see evasions to explain as untrustworthy.
8
Donald Trump inspires all the regular citizens of our country to realize that they too can be Great, they too can live in a country that is not obsessed with supporting strangers in far away places. That our sons and daughters won't be called upon to possibly fight and die for countries who's own children won't fight for themselves.
Trump lets us believe that usurpers won't suck up all the US largesse and deny our children the genourosity and bounty of our country.
Trump gives a glimmer of hope that these internationalists won't tie our people to the problems of the entire world, our children, our religions, our people must be number one. We don't need additional people here from war zones, we dont need undocumented strangers threatening our families and friends. We need to care for our people, people who believe in the American way, folks that want to be American.
Trump lets us believe that usurpers won't suck up all the US largesse and deny our children the genourosity and bounty of our country.
Trump gives a glimmer of hope that these internationalists won't tie our people to the problems of the entire world, our children, our religions, our people must be number one. We don't need additional people here from war zones, we dont need undocumented strangers threatening our families and friends. We need to care for our people, people who believe in the American way, folks that want to be American.
7
NEVER become complacent in this race. Our country will not be secure until Trump is hard pulling 0% in the polls. Even then it would be misguided to put our guard down until Election Day has passed and the numbers have been counted. Keep whittling away at those you know, driving home that they need to vote for the only reasonable choice for president, even if there is no "best" choice. It's the only way to save our country from the Trumpistas, and ensure that our progressive revolution will have the opportunity to arise, live, and thrive another day.
2
Donald Trump came to my neck of the woods, Harrisburg, Pa., looked at an area of the "rust belt" that is actually thriving (growing population, increase in business starts, lively arts and culture scene) and called it a "war zone." Yes, the rotting Bethlehem Steel Mills are horrible, but they are not emblematic. Even the city itself is currently recovering from years of mismanagement, and young people are flocking to live there. Everyone I have spoken to is horrified, angry or both - and this include die-hard Republicans, the vast majority here. It may be fun to listen to Trump insult others, but when he comes to your house and insults you, it's a different story. Republicans are proud of living in the capital region and they don't take kindly to insults. Talk like this really could lose the election for Trump.
3
Anything goes in this election. I wouldn't count out anything in the next 95 days. Most people won't remember Khan, or they will see him in a different light when the opposition reveals his profiteering from refugees entering the country. Wikileaks is still a wild card. More emails could really make Hillary look like more of a liar (the euphemism here is "untrustworthy"). Trump is an extremely flawed candidate but I agree with the article he is voicing the anger of millions. After all, he did get more Republican votes than any other candidate in history. 6 weeks out from the general election polls begin to count. Jill Stein AND Gary Johnson are attracting voters mostly from Hillary's campaign. Hillary has lost many voters herself. When third parties are included in polls rather than head-to-head Clinton's numbers decline significantly. In addition, if an incumbent (or incumbent party) is polling less than 50 consistently prior to the election they are deemed to be vulnerable. If they consistently can't rise above 45% they lose most of the time. Hillary has yet to consistently crack the 50 point mark consistently. Mostly she is in the 44 - 47% range. Trump's advertising campaigns will be brutal and he will go places no other candidate would dare to go. Even if she does win, this country will be ungovernable. No one wants an puppet so bought in the White House.
2
Having family members who support Trump, I have first hand knowledge of just how willfully oblivious they want to be about him. It's inexplicably mind numbing because these are middle middle-class professed Christians that are good people. I have no rational explanation, but I believe that he is speaking to their darkest, until-now, forbidden racist/xenophobic/fascist tendencies. There is almost this cathartic glee he releases in them when he behaves so trollishly. A few wins in some battleground states, combined with the usual red states, and we could have a president Trump. I'm worried.
5
The problem with Mr Trump is that he is already damaging America, without even getting into the White House.
His pronouncements on foreign policy have encouraged Russian adventurism in Eastern Europe. The Kremlin's contingency planning for regaining the Baltic states has already been updated to include the idea that NATO, if it acts at all, will do so without American air cover or intelligence. Even if Trump loses by a landslide, that possibility is now much more real than it was.
They must also be wondering in Taiwan if the policy of abandoning US allies in the Far East is near or perhaps postponed. So China too will be looking at the possibility of an easy run into a Taiwan suddenly bereft of US warships. A President Clinton, and her successors, will now have to work harder to balance military spending with support for long-term allies, since both they are the looming big powers that threaten them, will not be as sure that the US really "means it".
That's just the foreign policy. Civil liberties, cultural diversity, reproductive choice, environmental progress - all areas where Trump stirs up the most primitive emotions which will not calm down in the event of a defeat - especially a contested defeat.
To repeat - this is what Trump has *already done*. He can cause still more harm by the manner of a defeat. And it would be most unwise to assume that he will be defeated. If the UK can go for Brexit, the US can go for Trump.
Keep worrying.
His pronouncements on foreign policy have encouraged Russian adventurism in Eastern Europe. The Kremlin's contingency planning for regaining the Baltic states has already been updated to include the idea that NATO, if it acts at all, will do so without American air cover or intelligence. Even if Trump loses by a landslide, that possibility is now much more real than it was.
They must also be wondering in Taiwan if the policy of abandoning US allies in the Far East is near or perhaps postponed. So China too will be looking at the possibility of an easy run into a Taiwan suddenly bereft of US warships. A President Clinton, and her successors, will now have to work harder to balance military spending with support for long-term allies, since both they are the looming big powers that threaten them, will not be as sure that the US really "means it".
That's just the foreign policy. Civil liberties, cultural diversity, reproductive choice, environmental progress - all areas where Trump stirs up the most primitive emotions which will not calm down in the event of a defeat - especially a contested defeat.
To repeat - this is what Trump has *already done*. He can cause still more harm by the manner of a defeat. And it would be most unwise to assume that he will be defeated. If the UK can go for Brexit, the US can go for Trump.
Keep worrying.
3
Trump’s spectacularly bad week has not eroded his core support – but apparently nothing will do that. What is important is for Democrats and the Clinton campaign to not allow him opportunities to expand his support over the next four months. That basically means diligently holding onto the numbers now seen supporting the Democratic coalition. And if it ends up turning into a landslide, that will basically demonstrate that the American people, except for the 10% or so that support Trump, still adhere to certain tenets of basic decency.
3
I just want to respond to many commenters in divers NYT conversations who protest that Trump is too much covered in the press, and that the press seems to be in the tank for Hillary.
The press does indeed seem pretty unusually biased in favor of Hillary just now. The NYT has always liked her, no secret there, but the trend runs across virtually every mainstream outlet. There's a reason for this, though, and I don't believe it's a conspiracy amongst the elite or anything to do with these organizations being paid off with dark money. It's Trump.
Journalists aren't primarily arms of the ruling class, though they're undoubtedly sometimes manipulated. They're also the force that stands between citizens and the oceans of misinformation, disinformation and political ignorance that can really wreck a nation.
The first thing that demagogues in history have tried to do, often with much success, is to discredit the press. There's a reason why Trump has spent a lot of time and energy to that end, and it's the responsibility of journalists to refuse to buckle. Trump requires constant rebuttal, because he's not just any candidate, he's dangerous, and seductive. History is unkind to those who didn't speak out. Carry on, NYT, and very good work.
The press does indeed seem pretty unusually biased in favor of Hillary just now. The NYT has always liked her, no secret there, but the trend runs across virtually every mainstream outlet. There's a reason for this, though, and I don't believe it's a conspiracy amongst the elite or anything to do with these organizations being paid off with dark money. It's Trump.
Journalists aren't primarily arms of the ruling class, though they're undoubtedly sometimes manipulated. They're also the force that stands between citizens and the oceans of misinformation, disinformation and political ignorance that can really wreck a nation.
The first thing that demagogues in history have tried to do, often with much success, is to discredit the press. There's a reason why Trump has spent a lot of time and energy to that end, and it's the responsibility of journalists to refuse to buckle. Trump requires constant rebuttal, because he's not just any candidate, he's dangerous, and seductive. History is unkind to those who didn't speak out. Carry on, NYT, and very good work.
3
Clinton should maintain the pressure on Trump in order to lure independents and moderate Republicans. Trump acts more like an out of touch royal than a man of the people, though he has crafted a message stating the opposite and garnered support from voters upset with the system.
Clinton's camp and PACs supporting her should utilize published information on Trumps horrifc relationship with contractors he has ripped off and other business connections who have similar stories to tell.
True, Trump's base may not lose faith in him, but there is a great opportunity to secure support and votes from people who need a nudge to vote for Hillary Clinton.
Clinton's camp and PACs supporting her should utilize published information on Trumps horrifc relationship with contractors he has ripped off and other business connections who have similar stories to tell.
True, Trump's base may not lose faith in him, but there is a great opportunity to secure support and votes from people who need a nudge to vote for Hillary Clinton.
3
After submitting an earlier post here warning against educated white Americans who will secretly vote for Trump, I read a story in my local newspaper about the candidate attending a fundraiser at the home of a wealthy Long Island supporter. While Trump's helicopter landed at a state park, the reporter interviewed bystanders on why they supported Trump. Teachers and others with respectable professions expressed their undying loyalty to the man. This is region, folks, where many teachers earn in the six figures and also have health and retirement benefits that are often far richer than those of the taxpayers who support the schools.
My point is that these Trump backers were no poor rednecks carrying guns and living in trailers. These were educated middle- and upper-middle-class people. These are the voters that Hillary really needs to worry about, not the thugs who populate most Trump rallies.
My point is that these Trump backers were no poor rednecks carrying guns and living in trailers. These were educated middle- and upper-middle-class people. These are the voters that Hillary really needs to worry about, not the thugs who populate most Trump rallies.
7
His followers believe whatever he says. He is a deity to them and that's what he wants to be. He may have bottomed out to all his true believers and the white supremacist groups. More and more the press has accepted his racism and mysogenistic remarks. They show him non stop. He could easily come back with a few rational statements because then the republicans will tell us how great he is.
9
Amen. Well said.
4
There have been more than 250,000 jobs created in the last two months. This tells me that there are jobs out there to be had if one tries hard enough. I see "now hiring" signs all over the place these days. Trump's followers are always whining about not being given a chance or being heard, their life is hard, they can't find a job, blah, blah, blah. Instead of going to those rallys of Trump's , go out and find a job.
28
@Alan_Brown, why won't you give the same advise to African Americans who, as a group, have nearly 8 times the unemployment rate as general population? Most of the jobs created are in low-level areas, and pay close to or slightly better than minimum wages. That is not the type of jobs that lead to robust middle-class economy. Get it?
6
@sonny
Are you somehow inferring that African-Americans are only viable for low-level jobs that pay close to, or slightly better than minimum wage??...sounds like it.
Are you somehow inferring that African-Americans are only viable for low-level jobs that pay close to, or slightly better than minimum wage??...sounds like it.
How about this: Hillary an Tim sit down this week and come up with some clear plans for just one infrastructure issue, start with the one that most of us see the most — roads and bridges. How about a plan to have citizens catalog all of the worst problems in their district? Then we hire people to prioritize those projects; let contracts for repairs with stipulations that they use local contractors and workers to the extent possible. People have to know that this is a long term project which won't be done right away and may take more than four years to complete but just seeing the improvements, not only opinion the roads but also in the wages of the people working again would do more for the whole country than empty promises.
15
DJT is the greatest threat to our Republic in my lifetime (55 years). His followers don't care about his blunders. I haven't seen such blind devotion since Jim Jones and the People's Temple. The appalling mix of bigots, supremacists, religious zealots and hate groups who support him are a constant reminder of the decades of the politics of division and defamation. Our country has failed the working man. Trump is the creature who has risen from that failure. Vigilance and perseverance until long after the Oath of Office is demanded. A Trump America is NOT a country in which I would wish to reside.
41
We spent the money on war that we should have spent retraining the workers abandoned by corporations rushing to the poorer/cheaper workers abroad. If we have any real leaders out there, they need to see the Trump followers as a cry for something, anything. more than more war and more profits for the very few. I've been struck by how vehement some Bernie supporters were and still are. I hear talk of revolution. There is a great groundswell of people who still hold hope for real change but are on the verge of giving up. For too many, giving up could mean (more) violence. What have we done.
3
When has Hillary Clinton ever "sat back?" She's one of the most hardworking, determined people to work in our government.
36
The people at Trump's rallies, his natural base, are not the people who may put him over the top. Those would be the white college-educated suburban men who usually vote Republican and who are looking for a new broom to sweep Washington clean. These are precisely the voters who may finally be turned off enough by Trump's increasingly irrational rampages to desert him.
9
How ironic...The dear Editorial Board is warning that there are perils in writing off Donald Trump...
After all, they have been writing him off ever since he got in the race...
And all the while attacking him with about as much vitriol that they can offer.
Are the esteemed Editorial Board finally twigging to the fact that a lot of Americans are fed up with business as usual in Washington and the Clintons and their thinly veiled corruption?
After all, they have been writing him off ever since he got in the race...
And all the while attacking him with about as much vitriol that they can offer.
Are the esteemed Editorial Board finally twigging to the fact that a lot of Americans are fed up with business as usual in Washington and the Clintons and their thinly veiled corruption?
10
Please provide verifiable evidence of Clinton corruption.
7
Dear Owl: You are the perfect breed as Donald Stranglove would likely usher in a nuclear holocaust and rid us of Washington and the status quo while you with your night vision, would be sitting pretty as nuclear winter besets the Earth.
Yes, the vitriol pumps having been working overtime, but you should check the commentary on the WSJ -- you don't know vitriol until you've seen that.
Further, I think the NYT Editorial Board is justifiably fearful of what Dr. Don has been prescribing and is doing what it can to try to convince non-starters like you that you ought to think just a tad more deeply about what and who you are advocating.
I'm not sure which reality TV show Trump is vying to land, seems to be a toss up between Donald Duck Dynasty and Donald Strangelove and How I learned to Love Da Bomb. Do you know?
Yes, the vitriol pumps having been working overtime, but you should check the commentary on the WSJ -- you don't know vitriol until you've seen that.
Further, I think the NYT Editorial Board is justifiably fearful of what Dr. Don has been prescribing and is doing what it can to try to convince non-starters like you that you ought to think just a tad more deeply about what and who you are advocating.
I'm not sure which reality TV show Trump is vying to land, seems to be a toss up between Donald Duck Dynasty and Donald Strangelove and How I learned to Love Da Bomb. Do you know?
Anyone making a realistic evaluation of Mr. Trump's campaign so far must conclude that pretty much any of the potential challengers to Hillary's 2016 nomination which the Democratic establishment has ruthlessly discouraged over the past 7+ years would probably now have at least a 20 point poll lead and we could at least begin to relax. Sadly, the party leaders - including the editors of this newspaper - chose to go with Hillary and, as is correctly pointed out out here, the country remains at risk for a Trump presidency.
8
The risk of a Trump Presidency has less to do with this Editorial and a Clinton endorsement, than it has to do with people who will actually go out and vote for this shamelss bigot.
3
I quote directly from the FBI Statement on Hillary Clinton"s emails;
"From the group of 30,000 e-mails returned to the State Department, 110 e-mails in 52 e-mail chains have been determined by the owning agency to contain classified information at the time they were sent or received. Eight of those chains contained information that was Top Secret at the time they were sent; 36 chains contained Secret information at the time; and eight contained Confidential information, which is the lowest level of classification."
"With respect to the thousands of e-mails we found that were not among those produced to State, agencies have concluded that three of those were classified at the time they were sent or received, one at the Secret level and two at the Confidential level."
So note there were definitely classified emails sent and received by Clinton. She keeps stating that there were none. Now either the FBI is lying or she is. She lied again in this regard this week.
"From the group of 30,000 e-mails returned to the State Department, 110 e-mails in 52 e-mail chains have been determined by the owning agency to contain classified information at the time they were sent or received. Eight of those chains contained information that was Top Secret at the time they were sent; 36 chains contained Secret information at the time; and eight contained Confidential information, which is the lowest level of classification."
"With respect to the thousands of e-mails we found that were not among those produced to State, agencies have concluded that three of those were classified at the time they were sent or received, one at the Secret level and two at the Confidential level."
So note there were definitely classified emails sent and received by Clinton. She keeps stating that there were none. Now either the FBI is lying or she is. She lied again in this regard this week.
8
And everyone who communicated with her by email knew that they were sending emails to her personal server.
As it was with Colin Powell.
The emails are a red herring.
The criminal is Donald Trump, who doesn't pay his workers and contractors, who declared bankruptcy periodically in order to stiff his creditors, and who lies and lies about everything.
And then says, Believe me. It's going to be really big. We're going to be great.
As it was with Colin Powell.
The emails are a red herring.
The criminal is Donald Trump, who doesn't pay his workers and contractors, who declared bankruptcy periodically in order to stiff his creditors, and who lies and lies about everything.
And then says, Believe me. It's going to be really big. We're going to be great.
3
We get it.
But how can repeating the same thing over and over possibly compete with Trump's daily creation of new lies and chaos. Yes, the private server, and Benghazi, and Vince Foster, and Whitewater - terrible, horrible crimes in your mind for which she should be in jail. She's been exonerated from every one of them and the populace outside of FOX and Breitbart has moved on. They won't get any traction because they are old news. Old and done with. Trump, on the other hand, keeps creating new lies and nonsense and chaos to keep the old dusty Hillary stuff out of the paper.
But how can repeating the same thing over and over possibly compete with Trump's daily creation of new lies and chaos. Yes, the private server, and Benghazi, and Vince Foster, and Whitewater - terrible, horrible crimes in your mind for which she should be in jail. She's been exonerated from every one of them and the populace outside of FOX and Breitbart has moved on. They won't get any traction because they are old news. Old and done with. Trump, on the other hand, keeps creating new lies and nonsense and chaos to keep the old dusty Hillary stuff out of the paper.
5
Trump is as big a liar as Hillary is, maybe bigger. Do we vote for the candidate who lies less? Do we resurrect Abe Lincoln who never told a lie?
1
“He promises nothing of substance to ease their pain, but he gives voice to their rage." This beautifully describes Trump, but if ever I also heard a description of our shameful, partisan Congress for the last eight years, it is written here. Unfortunately, Congresses’ intransigence is a huge part of America's discontent and it is incumbent upon voters to change those flawed statistics with a wholesale cleansing of Congress. Unfortunately, I fear, it is too much to ask of the voters.
Sadly, Trumps supports can't see that far in front of their noses. As I see it, Trump has already imploded, but I also agree that Hillary needs to press forward aggressively. However foolish we dub Trump's supporters, they will not go away. The voters need to make sure they do.
Sadly, Trumps supports can't see that far in front of their noses. As I see it, Trump has already imploded, but I also agree that Hillary needs to press forward aggressively. However foolish we dub Trump's supporters, they will not go away. The voters need to make sure they do.
15
I intend to vote for Clinton, but I tire of the endless comments about how everyone voting for Trump is an ignorant racist. I know open-minded, respectful people voting for him because Democrats don't look out for them. Working-class white people (and I include plenty with a college education due to their low incomes relative to the cost of living) deserve real representation, the way they did until two decades ago. The perception that the Democrats either represent the liberal (or not so liberal) rich and inner-city poor people is accurate. They have done nothing for other groups. The Republicans have also failed working-class and middle-class people outside of cities, especially in the exurbs. White people are not the enemy and they deserve to be represented, not dismissed by liberals as ignorant racists. I was a Sanders fan because he had the interests of all people in mind. Regardless of who wins, the disgust and despondency people feel on both sides of the aisle is not going away. I hope Hillary wins, and that she serves all Americans. I doubt that will happen though.
18
Elizabeth, I appreciate your thoughtful analysis.
Here's the thing: people think Trump supporters are racist because Trump has said a number of racist things. Now we know why Trump was the most prominent Birther, which was a racist conspiracy theory. The fact is that all of these angry people could have supported non-racist candidates who were independent non-establishment outsiders (Fiorina, Carson, Paul, Sanders). But they chose Trump. That's why people think they are racist.
Here's the thing: people think Trump supporters are racist because Trump has said a number of racist things. Now we know why Trump was the most prominent Birther, which was a racist conspiracy theory. The fact is that all of these angry people could have supported non-racist candidates who were independent non-establishment outsiders (Fiorina, Carson, Paul, Sanders). But they chose Trump. That's why people think they are racist.
6
th blind and total faith people have in dt to perform his claims is astonishing
esp since he has never done a thing for anyone but himself
whence this new found concern for 'th american worker ', coming at th age of 70 ?
his whole life has been a shafting of th public -- importing his stuff from china, importing workers for Romania, beating his business partners out of money
and suddenly he has th answers to all your problems, and is willing to fix them for you
if you swallow this garbage, youre bigger suckers than even i thought you were
17
The whole universe is just one big casino, isn't it?
1
ouch! although if you change "dt" to "hrc" the comment read about the same especially the "suckers" part
1
Actually, you couldn't be more wrong about Trump not doing anything for anyone but himself. Back in 1992, when Mike Tyson was tried and convicted of raping a young black woman by an ALL-WHITE jury in Indiana, the ONLY celebrity of any persuasion to come to Tyson's defense, was Donald J. Trump. There is no way anyone could argue that Trump took that position for any self-serving reason, because it couldn't have done anything but hurt him in the eyes of his peers. A few years earlier, he made a point of going to visit the Central Park Jogger in her hospital bed, while she was still in a coma. I doubt that affected his balance sheet one way or the other.
I sincerely doubt if the Clintons, by contrast, have ever done a kind or unselfish thing for anyone privately or publicly, when they weren't getting something back out of it.
I sincerely doubt if the Clintons, by contrast, have ever done a kind or unselfish thing for anyone privately or publicly, when they weren't getting something back out of it.
2
full disclosure: this dem is angrier at being stuck with hrc than facing a possible trump presidency, a zero proposition until you lot (k street media division) started in on him, making even fox news look good.
here's the nub of the rub, one example only: one could sense the tension in the potus press conference when he was asked if trump could be trusted with intel briefings...when the only candidate under a shadow of doubt concerning "carelessness" with classified material is hrc...put that in your editorial pipe and smoke it.
while it's easy to understand why drumming on trump beats parsring the issues (which would expose hrc;s lack of grasp as well - see bernie's thoughtful list of climate concerns vs her bloviation, "i'm for SYYYYYENCE!"
and you'll get the drift) it's time to look into to the problems of the unheard and frustrated voices of an america rather fractioned by its differences than nourised by its founding ideals, rather "no way" than "can do".
here's the nub of the rub, one example only: one could sense the tension in the potus press conference when he was asked if trump could be trusted with intel briefings...when the only candidate under a shadow of doubt concerning "carelessness" with classified material is hrc...put that in your editorial pipe and smoke it.
while it's easy to understand why drumming on trump beats parsring the issues (which would expose hrc;s lack of grasp as well - see bernie's thoughtful list of climate concerns vs her bloviation, "i'm for SYYYYYENCE!"
and you'll get the drift) it's time to look into to the problems of the unheard and frustrated voices of an america rather fractioned by its differences than nourised by its founding ideals, rather "no way" than "can do".
9
In reality, the staffs of both Mrs. Clinton and President Obama are exceptionally leak-free.
1
Thank you for being one of the few voices of reason in this column. There is indeed no hope for this country if people think Hillary Clinton is less of a security risk than Trump.
2
but, in reality, only one has earned the coveted "careless" award from federal officials...the leaks btw will come not from the camps but from the collectors.
1
The hardcore Trumpisti are lost in the GOP swamp and have been for many years now (think of all the working-class whites who voted for McCain/Palin or Romney/Ryan, both of whom espoused policies that would make their lives significantly worse).
While they've woken up the GOP con game, they've fallen for another, in the form of Trump. Expect 40% or more of the electorate to vote for him, no matter what. Remember that 46% of Americans thought it was a good idea to have Sarah Palin one heartbeat away from the Oval Office. So this quorum of Americans is politically lost.
What matters is how many of the other 60% turn out to vote, and how HRC conducts herself in the coming few months. Complacency would be a catastrophic error. People have to turn out. This message must be driven home every day from now until Nov. 8.
On another note, as many have noted here, the damage Trump has done is here to stay. Under the guise of not being "politically correct," he's given cover to all the bigots and racists to make themselves heard. He's made it OK to demonize openly segments of the population. He's flirted with violence. He's harnessed racial rage and resentment, and directed it at scapegoats. In short, he's brought a fascist brand of politics to America.
A key task of the next administration will be figuring out how to defuse that particular bomb, since it cannot be allowed to remain armed and possibly destroy us all.
While they've woken up the GOP con game, they've fallen for another, in the form of Trump. Expect 40% or more of the electorate to vote for him, no matter what. Remember that 46% of Americans thought it was a good idea to have Sarah Palin one heartbeat away from the Oval Office. So this quorum of Americans is politically lost.
What matters is how many of the other 60% turn out to vote, and how HRC conducts herself in the coming few months. Complacency would be a catastrophic error. People have to turn out. This message must be driven home every day from now until Nov. 8.
On another note, as many have noted here, the damage Trump has done is here to stay. Under the guise of not being "politically correct," he's given cover to all the bigots and racists to make themselves heard. He's made it OK to demonize openly segments of the population. He's flirted with violence. He's harnessed racial rage and resentment, and directed it at scapegoats. In short, he's brought a fascist brand of politics to America.
A key task of the next administration will be figuring out how to defuse that particular bomb, since it cannot be allowed to remain armed and possibly destroy us all.
28
Gfagan, when you refer disparaging to "hardcore Trumpisti" you're actually describing millions and millions of American citizens, your own neighbors. You sound, when you speak this way, exactly like Donald Trump, filled with contemptuous hatred rather than problem-solving ethos. I often wonder how those who profess to hate Trump can justify sounding so much like him, and ignoring the many valid reasons that millions of Americans have for supporting him. White she has dodged news conferences for months, I have not heard one word from Hillary Clinton as to how she plans to constructively deal with these outraged Americans, nor have I heard any of her supporters demanding that she step out of the shadows and answer reporter questions about a whole host of extremely worrying aspects of her own character and conduct rather than hiding.
This is no way to unify America or address the regrettable aspects of Trump's conduct and character that many are protesting.
This is no way to unify America or address the regrettable aspects of Trump's conduct and character that many are protesting.
1
Speaking of giving voice to bigots and racists, did you read Blow's rant yesterday and Kristof's last week? Now, those were some serious racist bloviating, complements of the sagely New York Times.
2
Not only should Democrats not simply write Trump off, but they also should not so gleefully and ignorantly assume that Trump will lead to the demise of the GOP. Far from it. Trump could walk away tomorrow, but his supporters and their corresponding attitudes, ferocity, and misguided resentment will still remain, as will all of the negative characteristics (e.g. xenophobia, paranoia). The drivers of their followers (right wing pundits, politicians, etc) will still remain. Democrats cannot sit idly by and assume Trump will do all the work for them.
The GOP still controls and even after 2016 will still control the vast majority of Governorships, statehouses, majorities in the House of Representatives and in the Senate. Gerrymandering, Voter ID/Voter suppression etc is a big influence, but so is Democrat apathy in mid-term elections.
Democrats need to stop complaining among themselves and instead need to get people registered and out to vote. Part of the reason the tea party and Trump are allowed to rise is because Democrats simply sit on their rear ends in mid election years, plus I have not seen any major effort to combat Gerrymandering, Voter Suppression, and mass efforts to mobilize people to register and vote.
The GOP still controls and even after 2016 will still control the vast majority of Governorships, statehouses, majorities in the House of Representatives and in the Senate. Gerrymandering, Voter ID/Voter suppression etc is a big influence, but so is Democrat apathy in mid-term elections.
Democrats need to stop complaining among themselves and instead need to get people registered and out to vote. Part of the reason the tea party and Trump are allowed to rise is because Democrats simply sit on their rear ends in mid election years, plus I have not seen any major effort to combat Gerrymandering, Voter Suppression, and mass efforts to mobilize people to register and vote.
25
On the contrary, the Obama administration has been energetically attempting to enable voter fraud in favor of the Democrats by encouraging Democratic leaders to use public resources to fast-track illegal aliens to citizenship in order to be able to register in time for the election. For example, there is currently a program working out of the New York Public Library specifically designated for this purpose. Voter ID laws are the only reasonable protection against massive voter fraud on the part of Democrats, who have enabled illegal aliens to vote in the last two elections.
2
@observer
Only someone who wants Donald Trump to build a wall could come up with this kind of logic.
You do realize that President Obama has tried to greenlight citizenship for illegal aliens for YEARS, don't you?
Only someone who wants Donald Trump to build a wall could come up with this kind of logic.
You do realize that President Obama has tried to greenlight citizenship for illegal aliens for YEARS, don't you?
Someone somewhere needs to investigate where all of these "Small Donations" are coming from. I would hardly be surprised to learn that they are coming from big pocketed donors who have managed to scam the system into recording them as small, individual donations.
Amazing how all of the "disaffected voters" who can't find a job or make a living wage can afford to part with $20 for Donald Strangelove.
Amazing how all of the "disaffected voters" who can't find a job or make a living wage can afford to part with $20 for Donald Strangelove.
30
Yes, and who might those big pocketed donors be? Can we look more closely at Trump's connections with Russian oligrachs?
2
It's so hard to get behind the "we have to stop Trump for the good of the country/world" argument. Maybe I'm a pessimist by nature but I see Trump's candidacy as part of a no-win scenario. If Clinton wins in November, even by a landslide, it doesn't reduce the sting of shame and embarrassment of coming so close to putting this person in a position to influence world events. It's hard not to concur with Trump's assessment that the country is headed in the wrong direction. It gives me no solace that his nomination is proof of that decline, rather than the solution.
9
I really don't think the Clinton campaign will relax. This is way too important. trump's supporters just show the level of ignorance and intolerance in this country. He is scary, his supporters are really scary.
18
America's founders were people like Trump: politically incorrect (immigrants who left their countries), brash, dangerous, willful, high energy, and hard working. They conquered the West and built America with a tough, no-nonsense spirit.
Today America has evolved in a country divided, where elites tells us to pussyfoot if we want to get any crumbs, or else we are shamed and shunned, and sometimes even sued, and where various petulant minority groups tells us non-stop how blunt, candid talk makes them feel hurt, wronged and insulted.
These elites and their weaklings will vote for Crooked Hillary, the Queen of Establishment Politics, as they need be coddled even as they are lied to (in the smoothest, glossiest made in Hollywood fashion, as seen at the DNC).
The rest – the brash, the strong, the pioneers, the rebels - will vote for Trump.
Wait and see until November!
Today America has evolved in a country divided, where elites tells us to pussyfoot if we want to get any crumbs, or else we are shamed and shunned, and sometimes even sued, and where various petulant minority groups tells us non-stop how blunt, candid talk makes them feel hurt, wronged and insulted.
These elites and their weaklings will vote for Crooked Hillary, the Queen of Establishment Politics, as they need be coddled even as they are lied to (in the smoothest, glossiest made in Hollywood fashion, as seen at the DNC).
The rest – the brash, the strong, the pioneers, the rebels - will vote for Trump.
Wait and see until November!
10
My immigrant grandparents were nothing like Mr. Trump.
They were hardworking, honorable people. They didn't earn their living by stiffing others.
They sent their son off to fight in World War II.
You know nothing, it seems, about the immigrant experience.
They were hardworking, honorable people. They didn't earn their living by stiffing others.
They sent their son off to fight in World War II.
You know nothing, it seems, about the immigrant experience.
5
Sorry, I happen to be an immigrant. You can say that I have direct information on this topic, not one passed down from my grandparents. World War II was a legitimate war, unlike Vietnam, Iraq and all the coups and regime changes in the last decades.
2
Second that!
When Democrats rejoice in Trump's self-defeating scandals, they are saying that such scandals solidify their already negative perspectives on Trump. The problem is, for Trump supporters, those very same "scandals" are literally further proof of a rigged establishment that needs to be taken down. Since the beginning, it's been clear that this year's race for president is not about "truth" or "right" and "wrong." It's about a visceral (irrational, but still real) response to our society's present state.
12
Mark Twain once said of someone, “I did not attend his funeral; but I wrote a nice letter saying I approved of it.”
I wonder if he could have been anticipating Donald.
I wonder if he could have been anticipating Donald.
15
Didn't Twain also say something to the effect that the news of his death was premature?
1
His supporters are going to be his supporters. The rest of the nation needs to work together to elect Hillary Clinton and stop trying to convince those other people to change their minds. They won't. We can only hope his antics will dissuade those who haven't decided and/or those who haven't been engaged yet (assuming they read or watch any political news). But if not, then what we need to do is engage more people, educated them on the issues and concerns, get them registered and out to vote. It's a waste of energy trying to be logical, factual, rational or even to point out emotional inadequacies and plain old mean-spirited behavior and vile, vulgar language. Obviously, there is a whole swath of people immune to truth and reason.
14
You should cherry pick the issues and concerns that you choose in your little catechism of the ignorant and uninvolved, because Clinton does not look too good in the bright light of noontime sun. Avoid emails, Libya, Iraq, Monica & Bill, and Wall Street speeches at all costs.
1
If elected, Trump will either quit or push the button. Remember fallout shelters?
10
Every vote that can be mustered against Trump is necessary to ensure his defeat and that of all he represents: racism, sexism, nativism, xenophobia, anti-intellectualism, not to mention the tropes of those who support him including white supremists and religious extremists whose homophobia is part of their purported religious freedom (supported by Pence). The GOP has wrought a candidate that embodies the subtext of the politics they have practiced for many years.
Clinton has to come clean on mistake she has made and promise that she has learned and do better. She has to stop parsing words and being lawyerly. That just feeds the untrustworthy numbers. This is not in the bag for her no matter how self-destructive the Donald is. She still needs to earn votes and humbly ask for the support of the electorate. With some humility and honesty she will win the support of independents and the more rational segment of GOP votes and the Dems will regain control of the Senate and House as well as down ballot positions at state levels. The GOP will have to remake itself as a plausible alternative rather than the "say no" party, the party of racists, etc.
Clinton has to come clean on mistake she has made and promise that she has learned and do better. She has to stop parsing words and being lawyerly. That just feeds the untrustworthy numbers. This is not in the bag for her no matter how self-destructive the Donald is. She still needs to earn votes and humbly ask for the support of the electorate. With some humility and honesty she will win the support of independents and the more rational segment of GOP votes and the Dems will regain control of the Senate and House as well as down ballot positions at state levels. The GOP will have to remake itself as a plausible alternative rather than the "say no" party, the party of racists, etc.
8
Mr. Trump and his campaigners sound spine-chillingly familiar to most of us older Germans.
23
Those "thousands" aren't going to see DT the next president but rather DT the entertainer. They wait for hours just to hear him say something more outrageous than what what he said the day before. I do not for one minute underestimate the voting power of certain angry group of voters but please stop giving him credit for drawing in huge crowds because they actually want him as their next president.
2
trump's not the problem. it's the simpletons who believe him. it's incredible that he is perceived as being the best candidate for whatever agenda his followers believe the problems to be....and I don't mean the 17 who started the race. I mean of all the people who call themselves republicans.
7
"Morally serious," surely you jest. Morally BANKRUPT is more like it!
5
Thank you for this realistic wake up call and I couldn't agree more that Hillary cannot assume anything is safe. Even Bernie beat the odds spectacularly catching Hillary off guard at first. My reaction goes beyond the topic of this opinion but I wonder how to reach a Trump supporter who is totally dismissive of any of the opinions here. Can an opinion article in the NYT reach out to Trump supporters?
5
as of today,
DJT can still command his base,
at a minimum of 38% of the actual voters,
to do his bidding...
this core is hardened and not likely to ever be dissuaded ...
HRC, on the other hand,
needs to garner the majority of the non-affiliated electorate,
while shoring up the relatively squishy democrats
in order to secure an electoral college win...no easy task, this.
DJT has spent a lifetime of successfully surviving every attempt to disqualify him from doing whatever he wishes to do - - -
a real-life version of the One Clown Bop Bag of children's playtime:
knock it down and it always manages to pop-back-up ...
'tis long past time to let the air out of this guy for once and for all.
to do so will require a very large number of non-voters to get out and to actually vote.
the time for rest and reflection will only begin sometime after November 9th.
in the meantime, much work remains to be done.
1
We cannot let up. Everybody has to vote and to vote Trump out of his games.
5
How can I ignore Trump when the NYT publishes a dozen articles a day about him?
5
Richard Luettgen,
Re: Your ".....the Clintons thought he could be baited by such an obvious and offensive frontal assault on him" by Mr. Kahn at the Democratic National Convention.
That's what it was all right.
And Mr. Trump had a right to respond in kind, even as offensive.
IMHO as a verified Independent,
in this case as one who argues against the NYT repeatedly lambasting Donald Trump for his response;
not as a committed opponent of the NYT nor Mr. Kahn;
but to determine the validity of attacking Mr. Trump for exercising his right to do so in the way he chooses.
Re: Your ".....the Clintons thought he could be baited by such an obvious and offensive frontal assault on him" by Mr. Kahn at the Democratic National Convention.
That's what it was all right.
And Mr. Trump had a right to respond in kind, even as offensive.
IMHO as a verified Independent,
in this case as one who argues against the NYT repeatedly lambasting Donald Trump for his response;
not as a committed opponent of the NYT nor Mr. Kahn;
but to determine the validity of attacking Mr. Trump for exercising his right to do so in the way he chooses.
5
I feel Trump probably started his quest with a distant hope that he'd win but more importantly thinking win or lose (in the Primaries) that he'd strengthen his brand and increase his business returns. There seems to be some recent information that his run is hurting his businesses. If this persists I wouldn't be surprised if he withdraws. When a huckster is revealed, his only journey is downhill.
2
Future events and voter turnout will determine this election, not sleepy Summer August polls nor silly statements by both candidates.
7
The wrongs claimed and fanned by the media were ridiculous, and they left us, Trump supporters, cold.
First, Trump didn't insult the Muslim parents, he simply relied to their attack that he lacks moral compass and that he made no sacrifices for the country if he didn't serve in the military. Does Hillary has a moral compass? Did she sacrifice anything for the country and enrolled in the military? Nope. The selection outraged of the Muslim man and his veiled wife was obviously another gotcha, hit job planted to destroy Trump.
His reluctance of endorsing Ryan was smart; he paid him back for his reluctance; we, Trump supporters liked that, a sign of strength.
And the crying baby, give me a break, I watched the video and it was funny, Trump handled it nicer than most people would.
So yes, for us, his supporters, he's done everything right, while the NYT tipped its hand once again in how tilted its coverage was. Where was the week-long of side-bars on Hillary's role in colluding with DWS at the DNC to steal the primary from Sanders? Crickets. Or Hillary's new lies in her interview at Fox News? Criickets.
First, Trump didn't insult the Muslim parents, he simply relied to their attack that he lacks moral compass and that he made no sacrifices for the country if he didn't serve in the military. Does Hillary has a moral compass? Did she sacrifice anything for the country and enrolled in the military? Nope. The selection outraged of the Muslim man and his veiled wife was obviously another gotcha, hit job planted to destroy Trump.
His reluctance of endorsing Ryan was smart; he paid him back for his reluctance; we, Trump supporters liked that, a sign of strength.
And the crying baby, give me a break, I watched the video and it was funny, Trump handled it nicer than most people would.
So yes, for us, his supporters, he's done everything right, while the NYT tipped its hand once again in how tilted its coverage was. Where was the week-long of side-bars on Hillary's role in colluding with DWS at the DNC to steal the primary from Sanders? Crickets. Or Hillary's new lies in her interview at Fox News? Criickets.
8
Bernie gave a platform for people's discontent with the Establishment, Trump gives his supporters a platform from which to spew hate. The only thing we can count is is that the Trump supporters won't change no matter what he says or does, and that Hillary has a significant battle ahead to convince undecided voters that she is a trustworthy person.
8
Trump's core supporters who turn out to see him in person are undoubtedly fine with whatever he does. The question is how large are their numbers? And are they concentrated in already-red geographical areas?
3
Give Trump enough rope.....
The one truth we all agree on. He will not change. He'll continue in attack mode until he's alienated every voter left in America.
And BTW, just because he draws "thousands" to his rallies, does not mean he'll have the tens of millions of voters needed to win. Evenso, he must not be underestimated.
The one truth we all agree on. He will not change. He'll continue in attack mode until he's alienated every voter left in America.
And BTW, just because he draws "thousands" to his rallies, does not mean he'll have the tens of millions of voters needed to win. Evenso, he must not be underestimated.
2
"He promises nothing of substance to ease their pain, but he gives voice to their rage."
"It does present opportunities — to lure wavering Republicans and Independents, not merely by stoking outrage at his statements, but by addressing in policy terms the economic anxiety and fear that underlie Mr. Trump’s appeal."
Anger.
Isn’t that the amorphous driver of this election?
Isn’t that what needs to be acknowledged, examined and understood?
Trump's strategy is to stoke the anger. That's easy.
Here we jump from rage to policy.
That misses a step.
The more difficult task will be to listen and begin to understand the origins of this modern day anger in order to move forward.
That's the opportunity.
"It does present opportunities — to lure wavering Republicans and Independents, not merely by stoking outrage at his statements, but by addressing in policy terms the economic anxiety and fear that underlie Mr. Trump’s appeal."
Anger.
Isn’t that the amorphous driver of this election?
Isn’t that what needs to be acknowledged, examined and understood?
Trump's strategy is to stoke the anger. That's easy.
Here we jump from rage to policy.
That misses a step.
The more difficult task will be to listen and begin to understand the origins of this modern day anger in order to move forward.
That's the opportunity.
2
Large crowds at rallies are no measure of support at the ballot box. Ask Bernie Sanders about that one.
7
Andy,
Sanders maybe a Socialist but he votes as a Democrat. A Democratic candidate, cannot win without the Black & Hispanic Vote, which went overwhelming to Clinton.One Black Voter said it all when asked if he would vote for Sanders, he said he didn't know Sanders from Madoff, reminds me of Rev. Jackson & his hymie comment when he referred to New York City.
Sanders maybe a Socialist but he votes as a Democrat. A Democratic candidate, cannot win without the Black & Hispanic Vote, which went overwhelming to Clinton.One Black Voter said it all when asked if he would vote for Sanders, he said he didn't know Sanders from Madoff, reminds me of Rev. Jackson & his hymie comment when he referred to New York City.
1
I would not vote for Trump is a million years but I am pleased that the public showed they would not allow the media and the left to tell them what to think and how to think it. The left has been barking the predictable "racism" and "xenophobia" mantra to know avail. They seem amazed that this has not worked to silence Trump or shame his supporters into denouncing Trump. I hate to bring up the story about the boy who cried wolf but that's exactly what it is. The illegal immigrant, Muslim, and black lobby are the leftwing Domestic versions of AIPAC: they are unreasonable, selfish, indifferent to people outside their group, and quickly slur people as racist for not saying "how high" when them command "jump". The left treats any slight towards their favored groups (blacks, Muslims) as a national emergency while turning a blind eye to the enormous amount of hatred both groups espouse towards others. Democratic Georgia Rep Hank Johnson called Isrealis "termites" a week ago. No outcry from the left, media, or activists who go so ballistic over Trump's comments about Mexicans or any slight towards Muslims and blacks. Select sensitivities are the norm of the left. Sick of it. And I've never voted Republican in my life.
4
What has happened to liberals these days when they use the same red-scare tactics of Sen. Joe McCarthy in branding Trump a "Manchurian candidate" and accusing him of being a secret agent for Putin and even labeling him as a "traitor" because he has suggested détente with Russia instead of confrontation--? Shouldn't the issue of our policy with Russia like any other issue be rationally discussed and debated instead of being immediately dismissed? I can recall the old right-wing tactic of calling anyone who disagreed with them of being "soft on Communism." Have liberals now regressed to that same low level of name-calling and innuendo instead of being open to serious debate on the issues? "Sir, have you no decency?" they now ask of Trump as if they have thought of the most clever and original way to put him down, but they should be asking it of themselves.
7
Second to last paragraph: "untruthful claims" about her. Why is the Times repeating this false allegation -- which will only benefit the Trump campaign. Imagine: "Even the New York Times is calling her a liar!!!"
3
Never underestimate the power of stupid.
5
OMG I can't believe you brought up the e-mail. She was exonerated. To imply a comparison between her email issue and Trump's odious behavior is not acceptable. Let it go. If you have really damning evidence about Clinton we should know, bring it on, but stop carrying around the Republican torch of the bloody email issue.
6
I wholeheartedly agree that it will be a terrible mistake for Hillary to become complacent at this, or any stage of this election. Complacency can lead to apathy and a low voter turnout among her supporters. Trump's supporters are passionate about his vitriolic and hateful positions toward minorities and immigrants and their hatred of Hillary. It will be dangerous not just for the country, but for the world if Trump is elected.
4
A major peril of writing off Trump is the corollary of writing off his supporters. The current structure of society does not satisfy them or cater to them. I can accept American Exceptionalism in foreign policy because of the ethics that undergird our governance and civilization. Nevertheless, too many Americans do not understand that governance or its constitutional basis. Indeed, the GOP has been engaged, consciously or otherwise, in destroying that ethical undergirding.
Racism has provided the GOP with a base of support since the 1960s. That is not ethical or civilized or exceptional. Until the GOP accepts this, they cannot cater to the needs of the bewildered, aged, white minority. Neither can the Democrats cater to them while they are conned by the GOP into seeing us Democrats as the enemy. It's tempting to say that these misfortunate racists fear the Brown, but that the real damage to America has been done by the Pink.
Traditionally, rural dwellers are conservative, while the ugliness of cities forces their inhabitants to contend with the ruling classes, contend for relief. As our cities grow, their dehumanizing effects, noted for decades but ignored by the wealthy, bewilder more and more of us. Unless our rulers recognize and address this problem, I can't see peace raising its head soon.
Racism has provided the GOP with a base of support since the 1960s. That is not ethical or civilized or exceptional. Until the GOP accepts this, they cannot cater to the needs of the bewildered, aged, white minority. Neither can the Democrats cater to them while they are conned by the GOP into seeing us Democrats as the enemy. It's tempting to say that these misfortunate racists fear the Brown, but that the real damage to America has been done by the Pink.
Traditionally, rural dwellers are conservative, while the ugliness of cities forces their inhabitants to contend with the ruling classes, contend for relief. As our cities grow, their dehumanizing effects, noted for decades but ignored by the wealthy, bewilder more and more of us. Unless our rulers recognize and address this problem, I can't see peace raising its head soon.
1
Agree with most of this article about Trump. However, the editorial board and many other commentators are giving a free pass to Trump supporters. Advising Hillary Clinton to proceed "not merely by stoking outrage at his statements, but by addressing in policy terms the economic anxiety and fear that underlie Mr. Trump’s appeal, as well as lingering distrust of her" is to willfully misunderstand the nature of Trump's support.
These supporters will not be swayed by any policy arguments. Obama/Clinton proposes an infrastructure bill/investment and their cry is "socialism!", "debt!", and "Big Government!". When Trump proposes the same thing...crickets.
Their support is much better represented by comments from a Trump supporter in the video that NYT published - "I feel this is the last chance...to preserve the culture I grew up in."
Facts don't matter to Trump's supporters. Policy even less so. It's a raw sense of tribalism and prejudice that they haven't been able to express open till now that underlies Trump's support. To deny this, and let them shelter behind percieved economic woes is doing a disservice to the nation by not correctly identifying the terms of the debate.
These supporters will not be swayed by any policy arguments. Obama/Clinton proposes an infrastructure bill/investment and their cry is "socialism!", "debt!", and "Big Government!". When Trump proposes the same thing...crickets.
Their support is much better represented by comments from a Trump supporter in the video that NYT published - "I feel this is the last chance...to preserve the culture I grew up in."
Facts don't matter to Trump's supporters. Policy even less so. It's a raw sense of tribalism and prejudice that they haven't been able to express open till now that underlies Trump's support. To deny this, and let them shelter behind percieved economic woes is doing a disservice to the nation by not correctly identifying the terms of the debate.
5
I doubt Hillary will ease up no matter what the polls say. Commenters who write that voter turnout for the Democrats will be a huge factor are dead right.
A few months ago I thought that Republican voters making a lot of noise in favor of Trump would come to their senses once they faced hard reality in a voting booth. So much for my understanding of anything.
The sad thing is, I'm really starting to believe that progress is not achieved through cooperation, but by a large portion of my fellow humanity's false hopes and dreams being crushed whenever necessary.
We are a nation seriously divided right now, and, unfortunately, I don't see an end soon.
A few months ago I thought that Republican voters making a lot of noise in favor of Trump would come to their senses once they faced hard reality in a voting booth. So much for my understanding of anything.
The sad thing is, I'm really starting to believe that progress is not achieved through cooperation, but by a large portion of my fellow humanity's false hopes and dreams being crushed whenever necessary.
We are a nation seriously divided right now, and, unfortunately, I don't see an end soon.
3
This is not an original idea, though it bothers me so much that I'm repeating plausible morning television commentary.
It is very possible that terror incidents prior to November 8th would elect him.
Direct popular mob democracy is imperfect, and the above scenario is an excellent contemporary reason to be for the Electoral College, which I must suppose is its intended pragmatic function.
It is very possible that terror incidents prior to November 8th would elect him.
Direct popular mob democracy is imperfect, and the above scenario is an excellent contemporary reason to be for the Electoral College, which I must suppose is its intended pragmatic function.
2
Donald’s Trump’s nomination reflected voter discontent with the current administration, whose policies Hillary Clinton has promise no only to continue but expand. Now that Trump has revealed himself to be unfit for office, the Republicans should devote all their electoral energies to protecting their majorities in the House and Senate. They should launch a “Dump Trump but Vote Republican” campaign, encouraging voters to cast their ballots for a third-party presidential candidate who might have no chance of winning while voting for Republican congressional candidates. This would refocus the election on issues rather than on personalities. Republicans could run on the Republican Party Platform vs the Democratic Party Platform rather than on Donald’s and Hillary’s rhetoric.
1
One of the few things Trump has done correctly was to point out just how rotten the Republicans in the House and Senate are. It's unlikely that people are suddenly going to embrace them.
3
I disagree that voter discontent with government is aimed at President Obama's policies. His latest approval rating is at 54 percent. His policies have helped the country recover from a nearly cataclysmic financial crisis, among other things
Government policies require congressional cooperation, and the President hasn't received much of that. Disaffection with the government, I believe, has its roots in the cynical, do nothing U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Congress has the ability to help struggling Americans but has chosen not to.
Government policies require congressional cooperation, and the President hasn't received much of that. Disaffection with the government, I believe, has its roots in the cynical, do nothing U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Congress has the ability to help struggling Americans but has chosen not to.
Be nice if you could at least just get the misogyny out of your platform.
Hilary is a fighter and she'll be fighting Trump right up to election night. The question is, will she have to keep fighting him after she's elected. Trump's rabid supporters have been told so repeatedly by Fox News, the GOP, and Trump himself that Hilary Clinton is a criminal and should be in jail, that now with Trump beginning to allege that the election will be rigged, I fear for the aftermath of this election as never before.
5
Hillary needs to keep up the full court press to November 4th and take this guy out of the election!
2
Run scared until 1/21/2017.
1
Yes, Hillary Clinton and her campaign better not forget that we're now living in opposite land, where the crazy means entertaining and popular not scary. Trump is reaching a place where he has nothing to lose; there's a core group of the general public watching him who are people out of touch with how government does impact their daily lives, and they're cheering on the craziness with no sense of what it in reality it could mean.
2
Untruthful claims about her emails? Why continue to pump hot air into this partisan hot air ballon?
She was not prohibited from using her own server. She did not knowingly send information that was classified at the time. There is no evidence that any of the emails she sent using her private server fell into the wrong hands or compromised the security of th US in any way.
She was not prohibited from using her own server. She did not knowingly send information that was classified at the time. There is no evidence that any of the emails she sent using her private server fell into the wrong hands or compromised the security of th US in any way.
4
It's a national emergency. A crisis which endangers our civil society, our Republic, our national security - at home and abroad.
We must take action.
A man has lost his reason, cannot contain himself, is sowing his own madness and inner chaos into supporters at his rallies. That can be seen on the video the Times put together. In addition to ample evidence from his rallies, his interviews, the madness which so many ordinary people now see - with alarm.
If he were a patent of mine, I'd tell him: you have two choices. Either agree to hospitalization. Or I'll call the police and they will transport you.
So what is a form of national authority, designated to take action in a national emergency?
Dept of Homeland Security.
We've got to get them involved! Along with retired GOP elders. And Trump's family.
This may not be easy, but severe mental illness deprives someone of an ability to act rationally. For his own welfare. And the welfare of society.
And mark my words: Donald Trump is a danger to civil order, to our Republic, to our national security. At home. And abroad.
For the good of the country, for the good of the world, action must be taken.
To do nothing, under these circumstances, is Madness.
We must take action.
A man has lost his reason, cannot contain himself, is sowing his own madness and inner chaos into supporters at his rallies. That can be seen on the video the Times put together. In addition to ample evidence from his rallies, his interviews, the madness which so many ordinary people now see - with alarm.
If he were a patent of mine, I'd tell him: you have two choices. Either agree to hospitalization. Or I'll call the police and they will transport you.
So what is a form of national authority, designated to take action in a national emergency?
Dept of Homeland Security.
We've got to get them involved! Along with retired GOP elders. And Trump's family.
This may not be easy, but severe mental illness deprives someone of an ability to act rationally. For his own welfare. And the welfare of society.
And mark my words: Donald Trump is a danger to civil order, to our Republic, to our national security. At home. And abroad.
For the good of the country, for the good of the world, action must be taken.
To do nothing, under these circumstances, is Madness.
1
This election will define the segment of the U.S. electorate (who vote for Trump) so steeped in fear, hate and ignorance that facts have no value, replaced by blind allegiance to a demagogue. The Democratic Party must do what it can to temper the irrational mindset of Trump supporters even though Republicans have failed completely to do so.
I love the editorial and I agree, agree, a thousand times agree. To quote our very successful cousin who sells life insurance..."if you have adequate life insurance coverage, then nothing bad will happen (prematurely)". The same applies to all of us who support Hillary for President in November. We must protect our Democratic candidate. We must neither let down our guard for a moment, nor ever assume that one bad week will ensure a take down of Trump. We who are behind her must remain vigilant with our support in words and by donations, as well as take friends to the polls with us in November. Period.
1
HRC needs to address the legitimate grievances of the white male working class in some legitimate manner. Some of their grievances are indeed legitimate--others not--but she cannot ignore them. She must bring the country together in some way--it doesn't have to be in every way.
111
Don't laugh at Trump. Don't stay home. Take no chances.VOTE.
4
I am also witnessing many defections away from the Democratic party right in to the hands of Donald Trump. People may tell pollsters that they are voting Hillary, me included, but when I am in the booth you can bet I will vote for Donald Trump. Why? Because you are so negative in your reporting that each time I read your anti Trump stories I become more and more convinced it is the right thing to do.
6
What a lovely tantrum. You live in a state that has born the effects of the GOP and Trumpism for generations, and now you want more. If Trump gets elected very bad things will happen to many people. And those who voted for him will deserve them. Unfortunately, their children may deserve better.
4
An addendum:
Actually a lot of bad things may happen to those voting for Trump whether or not he wins. Their actions will have demonstrated both their unworthiness as citizens and their choice of personal obsolescence in the 21st century. With age I have learned that whatever imprecations I could wish upon reprobates are exceeded by what they do to themselves.
Actually a lot of bad things may happen to those voting for Trump whether or not he wins. Their actions will have demonstrated both their unworthiness as citizens and their choice of personal obsolescence in the 21st century. With age I have learned that whatever imprecations I could wish upon reprobates are exceeded by what they do to themselves.
2
I don't think Democrats and Hillary Clinton in particular are getting complacent about Donald Trump. Her campaign is recruiting volunteers and she can point to large numbers of people financially supporting her campaign as well. She is a far superior candidate, even though many continue to try and normalize Trump. As far as the "untruthful" charge, what did she really say? She said Comey said she was truthful and she also said that what she said was consistent. Comey said she didn't lie to the FBI. I understand Wallace's question was about what she said to the public, but using the word consistent seems to mean that her public statements match what she told the FBI. Comey acknowledged that nothing was properly marked classified and as Clinton amended her statements that's what she says. As for Comey's charge that people 'should have known' information was classified, they apparently didn't--which was why they kept emailing it--a point she addressed when she said she worked with professionals. Unlike some, I think Comey carefully parsed his words to achieve in the court of public opinion what the law didn't support and that's not his job. It offends me.
2
Through his surrogate Roger Stone, Trump is floating the idea that the election is "rigged," which will become a coded invitation to his supporters to intimidate and harass voters, especially minorities. He is setting up a coup. Anyone who doubts this need only look at the recent NYT compilation of the hate speech and thuggery at his rallies. Keep in mind that many of these thugs are armed. We must not only work to defeat Trump, but also to ensure our voting rights.
3
The sad thing is that come the day after the election, the majority of the country is going to be unhappy. Both Clinton and Trump are not liked and neither one is going to successfully deal with the economic concerns of the dwindling middle class.
We had someone who offered us hope eight years ago and here we are still looking for it.
We had someone who offered us hope eight years ago and here we are still looking for it.
3
It's not just writing off Trump--thinking that calling a sexist, racist xenophobic, erratic, demagogic liar, 'sexist', ''racist', xenophobic' 'erratic', 'demagogic' and 'liar' is enough to dissuade his supporters. They obviously don't care.
The danger is making excuses for them--thinking there must be some underlying thread of rationality to their support. There must be a reason. And if you could just identify it, you could address it too--and win them over. So many Americans can't be so irrational.
But it may well be that the only way to do that is to become another Trump--sexist, racist ...etc etc. Realize that many many Americans really are irrational.
Then ask how that happened. Fox News is part of it. The GOP since Reagan is another part. This degeneration has been cooking for quite a while--the politics of big lies, half truths and hatreds.
The danger is making excuses for them--thinking there must be some underlying thread of rationality to their support. There must be a reason. And if you could just identify it, you could address it too--and win them over. So many Americans can't be so irrational.
But it may well be that the only way to do that is to become another Trump--sexist, racist ...etc etc. Realize that many many Americans really are irrational.
Then ask how that happened. Fox News is part of it. The GOP since Reagan is another part. This degeneration has been cooking for quite a while--the politics of big lies, half truths and hatreds.
3
American Academia is another part of the problem: the silence of critical thinkers. This in turn is partly due to threats to academic freedom by politicians ans institutions under the sway of dogmatisms--political and religious.
Dogmatism is belief as though infallible--which is pure folly. It's the antithesis of Academic dialectical discourse--idea, logical critique, better idea--on and on.
But "true believers"--ideologues"-market dogmatism as self-righteousness--"superior (if not holier) than thou".
That puts Trumpians on a par with ISIS terrorists--lacking only the conviction that suicide bombing is the path to all those virgins and paradise.
Dogmatism is belief as though infallible--which is pure folly. It's the antithesis of Academic dialectical discourse--idea, logical critique, better idea--on and on.
But "true believers"--ideologues"-market dogmatism as self-righteousness--"superior (if not holier) than thou".
That puts Trumpians on a par with ISIS terrorists--lacking only the conviction that suicide bombing is the path to all those virgins and paradise.
Is it really "economic anxiety and fear that underlie Mr. Trump's appeal"? Or is it racism, a sense of white entitlement, and an inveterate commitment to ignorance?
2
Its important to keep the foot on the neck of Trump's campaign right up to the election. A close win by Hillary would engender even more of "the stabbed in the back" and "rigged" rhetoric from Trump that would be disruptive even after he's defeated. It is also important that voters even in states like mine that will go Democratic to vote for Hillary since even if the Democrats win the Senate, we need to make a concerted effort to break the anti-constitutional hijinks of that other threat to democracy Mitch McConnell
and his use of the filibuster in ways that it has never been used to gridlock any progress. A popular vote landslide would be a powerful arrow in the people's quiver to fight this.
and his use of the filibuster in ways that it has never been used to gridlock any progress. A popular vote landslide would be a powerful arrow in the people's quiver to fight this.
2
Hillary is making a somewhat Trumpian mistake in continuing to defend herself in the email controversy. When asked about it, she should simply say she cooperated with the investigations which made decisions. She might mention that Trump invited the Russians to hack DNC emails. Then change the subject to the economy. (Remembering her husband's famous, "It's the economy, stupid.") The American electorate really doesn't care that much about emails. She should stay on message about her agenda to help the American middle class, which needs help.
Let her PAC ads attack Trump. They seem to be effective in PA where her poll numbers are increasing. The ads are so effective because they show Trump doing something disgusting, like mocking a disabled reporter. And it's not hard to find multiple images of Trump doing something disgusting. There should be an ad that raises the very real question of Trump using nuclear weapons and starting WWIII.
Let her PAC ads attack Trump. They seem to be effective in PA where her poll numbers are increasing. The ads are so effective because they show Trump doing something disgusting, like mocking a disabled reporter. And it's not hard to find multiple images of Trump doing something disgusting. There should be an ad that raises the very real question of Trump using nuclear weapons and starting WWIII.
130
Judith,
instead of attack ads, I'd like to see a real presentation of the issues in this paper instead of endless propaganda against one side.
I'd like to see a debate that raises Trump's AND Hilary's propensity to use nuclear weapons as well, especially within a context of Hilary's war and regime change history as Secretary of State. I'd like to see some reportage about her involvement in Honduras, Libya, Ukraine, Iraq. And given her hatred of Putin, how she would change that hatred to actually engaging in detente- remember that old-fashioed word?- instead of provocation?
instead of attack ads, I'd like to see a real presentation of the issues in this paper instead of endless propaganda against one side.
I'd like to see a debate that raises Trump's AND Hilary's propensity to use nuclear weapons as well, especially within a context of Hilary's war and regime change history as Secretary of State. I'd like to see some reportage about her involvement in Honduras, Libya, Ukraine, Iraq. And given her hatred of Putin, how she would change that hatred to actually engaging in detente- remember that old-fashioed word?- instead of provocation?
3
I recently downloaded a meme that, in this case, would describe Trump and many Republicans in Congress.
Picture of two guys sitting at a bar and one comments "I keep shooting myself in the foot." and the other replies "Maybe you should aim a little higher."
Picture of two guys sitting at a bar and one comments "I keep shooting myself in the foot." and the other replies "Maybe you should aim a little higher."
3
True, perhaps even more, about the Democrats. Numerous poll showed Clinton to be the weaker Democratic presidential candidate.
1
But, but, but, what you're suggesting is misogynistic AND liberal female democrats are far less likely to own a firearm...
The problem for Trump is that he's simply preaching to the choir right now. The money he has received, the crowds he is drawing, come from the people who were going to support him anyway. To win the election, he must win over a lot more than his core base of supporters. According to the (admittedly early) polls, he's not doing that. If anything, he's driving the fence sitters away.
3
The weirdest part of Donald Trump's "I have always wanted a purple heart. This ismuch easier." statement isn't the second part but the first.
You've always wanted a purple heart? Really? Who thinks that's a normal thing to say? The guy is not living on the same planet as everyone else.
You've always wanted a purple heart? Really? Who thinks that's a normal thing to say? The guy is not living on the same planet as everyone else.
5
the one thing I am totally not concerned about is Mrs. Clinton letting up. This is a woman who is made of pure determination and grit. She traveled to 112 countries as Secretary of State. She lost 8 years ago in the primary & is back for more. She can see the finish line and I have no doubt she will get there.
5
Axelrod is right. Hillary should take the summer off and lay low until Labor Day. Don't say anything, for sure don't laugh in public and, most especially, don't send or receive any e-mails.
1
she gets free snail mail anyway
I'm not very impressed that the NYT is coming out heavy against Trump at this point. For one, the Times is largely preaching to the choir, so it's low risk. Two, the Times, like the rest of the news media, spent a year giving Trump all the free coverage he wanted, and it's too late to take that back. So... sorry, but the Times is part of the problem.
6
There is a single plausible explanation for each one of Donald Trump's moves and that is he is a Manchurian candidate for the Democratic Party. He seeks to see the insanely stupid GOP leadership trumped into the ground in the three races -- President, Senate and House. Maybe then the GOP can cast off its McConnell and William F. Buckley III single-issue-voter-coalition yoke and start thinking sanely about sustaining our democracy.
1
I'm with her, but let's remember that we have a about 3, or so months till the election and a lot can happen in that time.
We must not assume that this is a done deal until it's over and Hillary becomes the first woman president.
We must not assume that this is a done deal until it's over and Hillary becomes the first woman president.
3
You are right. Trump will continue to be Trump, Assange may release the 30,000 emails (emails are never truly deleted), possibility of a terror attack on US soil , etc.
"repeatedly asserting untruthful claims" - is that NYTimesSpeak for pathological lying?
1
This is Mrs. Clinton’s chance to present herself not just as a safe and conventional alternative, but as a morally serious leader determined to address the country’s real problems.
-----------------------------------------
Hillary is a conventional alternative to unconventional Trump alright but she will not be a SAFE alternative, what with her penchant to rattle sabers and with her past record of favoring regime changes.
As for morally superior alternative, you must be kidding, right? She is the state of the art in pay to play politics, and her several six-figure speaking fees and her emailgate will put paid to any claim to moral superiority. She is more tainted than Trump is, and all it takes for her campaign to end is another email dump from Assange.
The more liberal media writes off Trump, the more he gets invincible. Go figure.
-----------------------------------------
Hillary is a conventional alternative to unconventional Trump alright but she will not be a SAFE alternative, what with her penchant to rattle sabers and with her past record of favoring regime changes.
As for morally superior alternative, you must be kidding, right? She is the state of the art in pay to play politics, and her several six-figure speaking fees and her emailgate will put paid to any claim to moral superiority. She is more tainted than Trump is, and all it takes for her campaign to end is another email dump from Assange.
The more liberal media writes off Trump, the more he gets invincible. Go figure.
6
Hillary supporters have a real opportunity here, of winning over Republican voters who are on the fence. Yet, in forums in various media outlets, we're instead seeing all this hooting and crowing, lots of name-calling and taunting of Trump and supporters. The anonymity of the internet generates virtual mob behavior, and in this case, it plays into Trump's hands. Work instead to court the Republican voters, or just hang back and watch and listen, rather than spewing filth.
7
If, and this is a very big 'if' Trump can stop his self-destructive behavior, and focus on the issues, and on the corrupt hack, Hillary instead and economy, there is a good chance that he could garner enough support to pull it off.
It is profoundly sad to me that he may himself kill his chances, because the thought of 4 more years of 'Obama" with business as usual, corruption, and the bloated government oozing cash is abhorrent to me.
And, of course look at Obama with his lying about the pure coincidence of paying Iran the money we owe them on the day the hostages were released. He like Hillary, can stand there and 'lie like a rug', when the question is "why not wait a day or two to release the money?" And of course, "Why cash in the middle of the night, etc"?. So, for Hillary, the "apple does not fall far from the tree" as he is her role model, and if she is elected, 4 more years of the Obama policies, and more lying to the American people, purely if it suits her.
In conclusion, there is a strong possibility Trump will stay on message from now on, and if he can do that, he has a good chance of being our next president and rescue us from the democratic swamp.
It is profoundly sad to me that he may himself kill his chances, because the thought of 4 more years of 'Obama" with business as usual, corruption, and the bloated government oozing cash is abhorrent to me.
And, of course look at Obama with his lying about the pure coincidence of paying Iran the money we owe them on the day the hostages were released. He like Hillary, can stand there and 'lie like a rug', when the question is "why not wait a day or two to release the money?" And of course, "Why cash in the middle of the night, etc"?. So, for Hillary, the "apple does not fall far from the tree" as he is her role model, and if she is elected, 4 more years of the Obama policies, and more lying to the American people, purely if it suits her.
In conclusion, there is a strong possibility Trump will stay on message from now on, and if he can do that, he has a good chance of being our next president and rescue us from the democratic swamp.
4
Trump will wander off message as soon as the electrodes are removed. You are a wild-eyed dreamer.
1
You are supporting a man, seeking the Presidency of the United States, you say may not be able to suppress his" self-destructive behavior". That is profoundly sad and a danger to the nation.
Good lord!! The only swamp we've lived in is due to the GOP -- oh, excuse me, no corruption within the GOP, right? What universe do you people live in?? Obama policies dug this country out of the mess Bush left it in. Want to see the impact of 'good" Republican economic Reagan-like policies? Check out Kansas and how Brownback gutted his own state! And THAT is what you want for the rest of the country?
Trump's existence alone is an insult to decent humanity. None of Hillary's sins match the horrendous future that would await us if Trump should become president.
Vote, people vote for Hillary!!
Trump's existence alone is an insult to decent humanity. None of Hillary's sins match the horrendous future that would await us if Trump should become president.
Vote, people vote for Hillary!!
The complacency has two problems. First, the obvious concern that if Clinton is way ahead in the polls come November then many people will not take any extra efforts to get to the polls on election day.
But perhaps more important ... Trump must be defeated in a historic landslide of such epic proportion that it deters the likes of him from seeking office in the foreseeable future. It must be made perfectly clear on election night that a message of bigotry, misogyny, xenophobia, etc. will never have a chance in America. This is essential.
But perhaps more important ... Trump must be defeated in a historic landslide of such epic proportion that it deters the likes of him from seeking office in the foreseeable future. It must be made perfectly clear on election night that a message of bigotry, misogyny, xenophobia, etc. will never have a chance in America. This is essential.
7
"but as a morally serious leader determined to address the country's real problems." Interesting how the writer did not specify what these were. Therein lies the crux of America's greatest problem. America is so divided in it's philosophy and ideology that the outcome of this election could go either way. Mrs. Clinton did, after all, appear on the Ellen show and invite Ellen DeGeneres to be her running mate. Ellen turned down the job, apparently because windows in the White House, where she thought she would live, cannot be opened. Well that would be a major dilemma for me too.
I don' think that she should start touring national parks any time soon.
I don' think that she should start touring national parks any time soon.
1
According to the NYT Trump was finished last year. For a tradtional candidate in earlier times many of Trump's actions would have been fatal, but part of his movement calls into question how the :game: has been played up to now. Like him or not, Trump has become the vessel that is upending what has been the ploitical game for the last 50 years. He has exposed it.
Those who thnik never Trump would have been better served by someone other than Hilary running-she and the DNC are the gift that keeps giving and Imagine what a candidate other than Trump could have done with the DNC scandal (but not the media, or the walkouts and protests at the convention-not reported) then comes her answer about lying in an interview. then the administration ransome-imgine the US shippiong $400 million in cash at night. and then pretending it's OK?
Now she will spend $2 billion in negative ads-and that is fine, if she wins.
I predict there will be other e-mail surprises, and more terror attacks, if,especially in the US will insure Trump's election-no matter what he does
Those who thnik never Trump would have been better served by someone other than Hilary running-she and the DNC are the gift that keeps giving and Imagine what a candidate other than Trump could have done with the DNC scandal (but not the media, or the walkouts and protests at the convention-not reported) then comes her answer about lying in an interview. then the administration ransome-imgine the US shippiong $400 million in cash at night. and then pretending it's OK?
Now she will spend $2 billion in negative ads-and that is fine, if she wins.
I predict there will be other e-mail surprises, and more terror attacks, if,especially in the US will insure Trump's election-no matter what he does
3
“He is speaking to people who disbelieve conventional politicians, who detest a Washington they think has betrayed them. He promises nothing of substance to ease their pain, but he gives voice to their rage.”
The NY Times has this one very right. But the true magnitude of this deeply negative public attitude goes far beyond his current white, male, disaffected, faltering middle class, constituency.
The Donald is what you see and hear, there is no alter-persona waiting to burst forth in full conventional presidential regalia.
Hillary is what you see and hear, but also what can’t be penetrated, the Clinton dodge, and deflection, and rigorous, almost pathological damage control. The liberal progressive rhetoric aside, she is still guarded establishment.
Neither the Donald nor Hillary concede much of anything regardless of how obvious the transgression or mistake. It seems Trump is utterly clueless before he opens his mouth, while HR Clinton takes few if any risks with forays into genuine self revelation.
Trump will not fade, and Hillary may not prevail.
The NY Times has this one very right. But the true magnitude of this deeply negative public attitude goes far beyond his current white, male, disaffected, faltering middle class, constituency.
The Donald is what you see and hear, there is no alter-persona waiting to burst forth in full conventional presidential regalia.
Hillary is what you see and hear, but also what can’t be penetrated, the Clinton dodge, and deflection, and rigorous, almost pathological damage control. The liberal progressive rhetoric aside, she is still guarded establishment.
Neither the Donald nor Hillary concede much of anything regardless of how obvious the transgression or mistake. It seems Trump is utterly clueless before he opens his mouth, while HR Clinton takes few if any risks with forays into genuine self revelation.
Trump will not fade, and Hillary may not prevail.
3
Yes, thank you for the note on Hillary lying again this week about the emails. She continues and continues with it although CNN has started hitting her hard with it as they should.
She sent or received several thousand emails that were already classified and keeps denying it. Who could vote for a person who is a perpetual lier?
She sent or received several thousand emails that were already classified and keeps denying it. Who could vote for a person who is a perpetual lier?
4
This election for American values will be no easier than winning the Civil War. It will be won only if all decent Americans get off their behinds and vote against Trumpian prejudice, ignorance, selfishness and authoritarianism.
If we have learned anything from this election, it is that there are far more cowardly bigots in American than we believed before Trump so successfully fear-mongered and hate-baited.
Evidently, there are a great manyf immoral, weak and hateful Americans seeking scapegoats to blame for their own deficiencies and a strong Big Brother to relieve the of personal responsibility for managing their own flailing lives.
Vote, and urges your family and friends to vote for Americans and against Trumpians.
If we have learned anything from this election, it is that there are far more cowardly bigots in American than we believed before Trump so successfully fear-mongered and hate-baited.
Evidently, there are a great manyf immoral, weak and hateful Americans seeking scapegoats to blame for their own deficiencies and a strong Big Brother to relieve the of personal responsibility for managing their own flailing lives.
Vote, and urges your family and friends to vote for Americans and against Trumpians.
5
Fear not, NYTimes, this lifelond Dem of more than a half century takes nothing for granted in politics. Hillary's lead in the polls fools me not. In fact, it has done nothing but to further empower me to mark off the days till November 8th. I am tanned, rested and ready, to cast my vote for Hillary, and if Trump believes it possible, as many times as the NYState Board of Elections allows me to. See you all at the polls.
DD
Manhattan
DD
Manhattan
5
The stark, strident and wide divide between Trump and Clinton and their respective supporters is startling and disturbing and, perhaps, reflects irreconcilable differences. Partisans from both sides fan divisive flames in support of their own agendas. Unfortunately, one of these two will win the election. Then what? Its hard to believe that this election will resolve anything and it has the potential to make things worse. None of us is old enough to know how we felt as a nation 156 years ago when Southern States cited irreconcilable differences and seceded sparking our bloodiest war. I imagine this is as close to that as we want to get. Partisans on both the left and right should remember that one word is necessary for us to function, united, as one nation; COMPROMISE.
6
The dilemma, being of course, that if we can't "write off" Mr. Trump, then it becomes necessary to write off traditional American liberties. Mr. Trump's basic appeal is that of a return to a golden age when white male American's received a free pass to the head of the prosperity line. They natter on about "unfair" trade deals and "cheap" foreign labor, but all that means is that when required to compete on a level playing field with the rest of the world -- and without the benefit of their traditional privileges -- they find that things are no longer as rosy as they "ought" to be. And they resent it!
Now Mr. Trump promises that class a return to those golden days. Obviously its' a promise he can't deliver on -- certainly not in a 21st century post-industrial economy -- nor should any thinking person want him to deliver on it. But, contrary to all logic, Trump's supporters don't care that he promises the impossible in returning their class to a position of unchallenged supremacy. But the fact remains that if a candidate is capable of running a truly competitive campaign on that promise -- well then we are in a very dark place indeed.
Now Mr. Trump promises that class a return to those golden days. Obviously its' a promise he can't deliver on -- certainly not in a 21st century post-industrial economy -- nor should any thinking person want him to deliver on it. But, contrary to all logic, Trump's supporters don't care that he promises the impossible in returning their class to a position of unchallenged supremacy. But the fact remains that if a candidate is capable of running a truly competitive campaign on that promise -- well then we are in a very dark place indeed.
6
I believe this is going to wind up being an election between the diehard Hillary Clinton supporters and the diehard Donald Trump supporters. Those in Trump's camp aren't going to change their minds because Mr. Trump insulted the Khan's.
We have a real problem this election cycle and the other voters, and especially independents like myself who were in the Bernie Sanders camp,
are faced with two unpalatable choices. Vote for the candidate who has no filter and says anything in the moment to hear the roar of the crowd or vote for the candidate who throughout her political career has lied and dissembled. You can ask yourself will the crazy guy shape up and tone it down if he wins - is it all a bad media show? Or, once the final victory is complete, will the liar morph into an open, transparent President?
Then again, we have the military issue. Are the remarks about the use of nuclear weapons gorilla style chest thumping? Will a history of supporting disastrous Middle East engagements, including the Libya fiasco, come to an end?
With every day I move closer and closer to just sitting the whole thing out and that's the danger Donald Trump is the bigger threat.
We have a real problem this election cycle and the other voters, and especially independents like myself who were in the Bernie Sanders camp,
are faced with two unpalatable choices. Vote for the candidate who has no filter and says anything in the moment to hear the roar of the crowd or vote for the candidate who throughout her political career has lied and dissembled. You can ask yourself will the crazy guy shape up and tone it down if he wins - is it all a bad media show? Or, once the final victory is complete, will the liar morph into an open, transparent President?
Then again, we have the military issue. Are the remarks about the use of nuclear weapons gorilla style chest thumping? Will a history of supporting disastrous Middle East engagements, including the Libya fiasco, come to an end?
With every day I move closer and closer to just sitting the whole thing out and that's the danger Donald Trump is the bigger threat.
3
Sitting the election out is a vote for Trump.
Never write off Trump. That's when he wins big. Even if he seems to self-destruct, the rules that normally apply to politicians never seem to apply to him. Hillary has to fight him strategically and address the core economic and security issues that his supporters care about most. Call him out on every ludicrous comment and tweet because it brings out the big baby in him. That's the only way to keep him from growing his base and making sure he steers clear of the White House.
6
I don't sleep at night fearing he might win. None of his supporters ever saw Dr. Strangelove?
6
While a Trump victory would be devastating to this country, what upsets me most is that there are so many people who are wiling to support Trump, who by any measure, is the most ignorant, unqualified, morally bankrupt, pathological liar ever to run for any office. Next to the Donald, Hillary looks like the patron saint of truth and honesty.
The fact that you slept through out Libya, Benghazi, Syria, Iran's post-agreement missile tests, North Korea's and the rise of Islamic State, the overall terror-festival of the Barack Hussein Obama administration and the doubling of our national debt indicates that you are probably better off lying awake at night a bit pondering the state of the world and our union. Have you not seen The Manchurian Candidate?
1
Ditto all of the above.
It's a race defined by whose worst tendencies will do them in first. Neither seems capable of learning from their mistakes.
I've got an uneasy feeling--it's still early in this campaign, and we have a lot of time till November 8.
It's a race defined by whose worst tendencies will do them in first. Neither seems capable of learning from their mistakes.
I've got an uneasy feeling--it's still early in this campaign, and we have a lot of time till November 8.
It is a waste of efficacious energy to spend any time on those who actively support the Republican nominee. We must attend exclusively to those who are on the fence and those who are inactive supporters that person.
"We" refers to each one of us who cares and to every editorial board and public writer who cares.
The strategy is to smother the existing Clinton assertions that are negative with new and eloquent Clinton assertions that are positive -- and true! The tactics are twofold and I hope we are not too late.
Tactic #1. Repeated clear, simple, "sound bite"-based, true stories of her successes, from the most human interest level to policy level. Each of us has a responsibility to repeat and share these stories in person and on social media.
Tactic #2. Repeated clear, simple, "sound bite"-based refutations of the specific anecdotes purported to prove her "crookedness." The refutations must not be stated as such. Instead, each can be presented as an interesting anecdote that in its telling includes the clear truth of what occurred ... clearly opposite to the publicized opposite.
Find and write articles that tell the truth; then share as widely as possible! The negatives have been under development for two decades, so are pretty solidly rooted. We must do all we can to replace them in the short time available.
"We" refers to each one of us who cares and to every editorial board and public writer who cares.
The strategy is to smother the existing Clinton assertions that are negative with new and eloquent Clinton assertions that are positive -- and true! The tactics are twofold and I hope we are not too late.
Tactic #1. Repeated clear, simple, "sound bite"-based, true stories of her successes, from the most human interest level to policy level. Each of us has a responsibility to repeat and share these stories in person and on social media.
Tactic #2. Repeated clear, simple, "sound bite"-based refutations of the specific anecdotes purported to prove her "crookedness." The refutations must not be stated as such. Instead, each can be presented as an interesting anecdote that in its telling includes the clear truth of what occurred ... clearly opposite to the publicized opposite.
Find and write articles that tell the truth; then share as widely as possible! The negatives have been under development for two decades, so are pretty solidly rooted. We must do all we can to replace them in the short time available.
5
Many of us were just as frightened by candidates Ronald R. Reagan and George W. Bush. As it turned out, we were right. Nevertheless, you all managed to elect, and re-elect, both.
So, this time some of us went so far as to switch voter registration in order to vote against Donald J. Trump.
I pray you all maintain your common sense when casting your votes, and yet...
So, this time some of us went so far as to switch voter registration in order to vote against Donald J. Trump.
I pray you all maintain your common sense when casting your votes, and yet...
4
Trump perplexes me. It is just too difficult to imagine that he is serious with all his rhetoric. Whenever I hear him speak I am reminded of Don Rickles act. Surely, Don Rickles is not the man of the act in real life. Is it possible that Trump has been this person we see and hear now the real Donald Trump of the past?
For certain, the folks who are at his rallies seem to want someone to stir the pot, so to speak. They surely are not considering the consequences of such a person being the Commander-in-Chief in comparison to George Washington, for example. Ike, where are you? We need you!
For certain, the folks who are at his rallies seem to want someone to stir the pot, so to speak. They surely are not considering the consequences of such a person being the Commander-in-Chief in comparison to George Washington, for example. Ike, where are you? We need you!
3
You are equating the manufactured issue of the email server, a non-issue with Trump's stream of vile words, grotesque ignorance, and literally nonstop lies? Please get real.
7
Well I agree with this editorial, I think is far too soft on what we are really facing -- the psychology of Donald Trump. We need to understand that he is, to put it bluntly, sociopathic. A sociopath lies incessantly to get his way. He has little concern for others. Nor does he have much respect for the rights or feelings of others. A sociopath is frequently charming and charismatic, but uses that to manipulate others and situations in self-centered ways. Such a person is too unstable and is unfit to be president of the United States.
8
To paraphrase a great American:
Don't gloat --VOTE!
Don't gloat --VOTE!
8
The WWE couldn't have picked two creepier candidates.
They should each have to wear masks every day between now and the election.
7
This editorial is absolutely correct. The shocking thing about this election is not that Trump will go on being Trump, it's the stunning fact that there are 10's of millions of Americans who think this shallow, self-absorbed, conman cares about them and would be good for them.
In an effort to be kind, pundits describe those Trump supporters as justifiably angry at elites who haven't done right by them.
Well, that's just as true of Clinton (and Sanders) supporters. The difference is that the Democratic group is not made up of gullible fools.
The Trump supporters are immune to reason, fact and logic. Trump reeks of shallow, egocentric, look-at-me patter of the kind most of us haven't seen since playing in the sandbox in preschool days. Sadly, his fans won't be changed by anything he says or does, as they proudly assert.
The take-away for those of us supporting Clinton is very simple: Be afraid! Be very afraid, and make darn sure you vote!
In an effort to be kind, pundits describe those Trump supporters as justifiably angry at elites who haven't done right by them.
Well, that's just as true of Clinton (and Sanders) supporters. The difference is that the Democratic group is not made up of gullible fools.
The Trump supporters are immune to reason, fact and logic. Trump reeks of shallow, egocentric, look-at-me patter of the kind most of us haven't seen since playing in the sandbox in preschool days. Sadly, his fans won't be changed by anything he says or does, as they proudly assert.
The take-away for those of us supporting Clinton is very simple: Be afraid! Be very afraid, and make darn sure you vote!
13
You don't need a master's degree or a 6 or 7 figure bank account, to put an 'X' on a ballot box. This is what so many of the rich, entitled, over-educated, elitist snobs, who disregard the opinions of the ordinary person on the street, need to remind themselves of.
1
Rage may not be the best driving force in a political contest, but it’s in any case a human reaction to something going wrong, and often a source of inspiration and willingness to fight on; therefore it needs to be addressed properly by political elites on each side. This did not seem having happened until Trump (and, to some extent, Sanders) appeared on stage.
Trump supporters know too well that Hillary Clinton is going to keep things exactly as they are now (and perhaps even worse), and that she is ready to say everything just to get elected. So they have no other legitimate choice than voting for Trump, hoping that the current system will break and something good will come out for them. It was the same ideological mechanism behind Brexit: if the current system stubbornly refuses to give you voice, just blow it up and see what happens.
MSM constant effort of portraying HRC as rational and reliable, as opposed to a “lunatic” Trump, simply won’t work: definitively, this is not what a large segment of the electorate is interested in. And describing them as a bunch of crazy bigots will onlyreinforce their determination.
Trump is an imperfect candidate, but Hillary is the perfect wrong one for many - that's why they will vote massively against her, irrespective of how unpleasant Trump may sound to some ears.
Trump supporters know too well that Hillary Clinton is going to keep things exactly as they are now (and perhaps even worse), and that she is ready to say everything just to get elected. So they have no other legitimate choice than voting for Trump, hoping that the current system will break and something good will come out for them. It was the same ideological mechanism behind Brexit: if the current system stubbornly refuses to give you voice, just blow it up and see what happens.
MSM constant effort of portraying HRC as rational and reliable, as opposed to a “lunatic” Trump, simply won’t work: definitively, this is not what a large segment of the electorate is interested in. And describing them as a bunch of crazy bigots will onlyreinforce their determination.
Trump is an imperfect candidate, but Hillary is the perfect wrong one for many - that's why they will vote massively against her, irrespective of how unpleasant Trump may sound to some ears.
36
Your "large segment" of the electorate is about 30%. That sort of number doesn't win many elections. And let's be honest. Substantial numbers of that segment ARE crazy bigots. They've earned the label.
1
We're here because we ignore and wrote off supplied side economics, gun lobby and religious lobby.
I hope that every one of us, who truly believes in United States Constitution, works hard for November and beyond.
We need to work hard for years to come to eliminate GOP hate machine.
We ignored GOP for past 30 years and now we're reaping the fruit.
Our battle starts now, and we can't stop never ever and can't be ignorant to GOP style dictatorships.
I hope that every one of us, who truly believes in United States Constitution, works hard for November and beyond.
We need to work hard for years to come to eliminate GOP hate machine.
We ignored GOP for past 30 years and now we're reaping the fruit.
Our battle starts now, and we can't stop never ever and can't be ignorant to GOP style dictatorships.
5
The Trump phenomenon goes much deeper than apparent at first glance. I have encountered Clinton supporters who call for Sanders supporters to be thrown in jail and to deny them freedom of speech. Name calling of any sort of your opponent is apparently acceptable, including for example calling them stupid morons. I am deeply be concerned about the state of our public discourse, the lack of understanding of basic rights and the meaning of democracy among the population at large. I am concerned about the pervasiveness of violence in how we talk to each other and on the streets. Clinton will win the elections in November, but I have doubts that she is the candidate to heal divisions and bring the disaffected into the fold. For one, she needs to appeal to Trump supporters, tell them that while she doesn't like the vehicle they have chosen to express their disaffection, she hears their concerns about the lack of funding in the public infrastructure, the lack of well-paying jobs and educational opportunities.
2
If the Times is so alarmed by the prospect of a Trump presidency, why has it supported the weakest general election candidate the Democratic could muster?
HRC's 'play[ing] into that distrust this week by repeatedly asserting untruthful claims about her careless handling of government emails' should come as a surprise to no one.
She's clearly the far and away superior candidate for holding the office, but she's also clearly the far and away weakest candidate for winning the election. Should disaster come to pass because of HRC's weakness as a candidate, the Times need only look in the mirror to find a responsible party.
As the Times reported, only 5% of the American people voted for HRC in the primaries (only 4% voted for Trump). She's going to need about 5 times that number to win the general election.
HRC's 'play[ing] into that distrust this week by repeatedly asserting untruthful claims about her careless handling of government emails' should come as a surprise to no one.
She's clearly the far and away superior candidate for holding the office, but she's also clearly the far and away weakest candidate for winning the election. Should disaster come to pass because of HRC's weakness as a candidate, the Times need only look in the mirror to find a responsible party.
As the Times reported, only 5% of the American people voted for HRC in the primaries (only 4% voted for Trump). She's going to need about 5 times that number to win the general election.
4
A conservative friend posted a Breitbart article on Facebook about how Khan believes sharia law should override the Constitution and other people responded, "Trump was right!" The news cycle is different for Trump supporters. They also seem motivated by an overwhelming fear of Muslims. I hope they will eventually see that Trump is the one they should fear.
4
Main stream media like NYT should highlight not just Trump's inflammatory remarks but also what he says in between. He talks about how the elites have abandoned the working class. These resonate with people who are tired of hearing the same tired speeches from the Republican leaders. Yes, his supporters may be racist but that is not the only thing that is driving them to Trump.
2
"He talks about how the elites have abandoned the working class." That may resonate with people who don't follow Trump's actual policy positions. ALL of Trump's tax policies have shown huge tax cuts for the top 1%. Clinton's, conversely, show a reasonable tax increase for the very wealthiest. In short, Trump supporters who believe what comes out of Trump's mouth are foolish, indeed. They probably are dizzy as well, from having to recalibrate every time Trump contradicts himself.
1
"(Clinton) played into that distrust this week by repeatedly asserting untruthful claims about her careless handling of government emails."
Both sides do it! Both sides do it! My god, Trump just had a week of HEINOUS behavior and statements, but the NYT feels the need to say that somehow.. Hillary Clinton is just as bad!
She actually was cleared of wrongdoing in all this email nonsense. But never mind, the NYT can't stand her, so it all equals out, Hillary is just as bad as the monstrous Trump, really.
Really? The NYTimes is rapidly losing its credibility with me, with nonsense like this.
Both sides do it! Both sides do it! My god, Trump just had a week of HEINOUS behavior and statements, but the NYT feels the need to say that somehow.. Hillary Clinton is just as bad!
She actually was cleared of wrongdoing in all this email nonsense. But never mind, the NYT can't stand her, so it all equals out, Hillary is just as bad as the monstrous Trump, really.
Really? The NYTimes is rapidly losing its credibility with me, with nonsense like this.
6
No, Clinton was not "cleared of wrongdoing". The FBI did not find evidence supporting an indictment, which is not the same as clearing Clinton of wrongdoing.
The email issue is not "nonsense". It speaks strongly to Clinton's dishonesty and lack of judgment.
No, the "NYT can't stand" Clinton. The NYT has, to its discredit, been a strong Clinton supporter.
With its biased and misleading reporting, the NYT has lost credibility with many, including with me.
The email issue is not "nonsense". It speaks strongly to Clinton's dishonesty and lack of judgment.
No, the "NYT can't stand" Clinton. The NYT has, to its discredit, been a strong Clinton supporter.
With its biased and misleading reporting, the NYT has lost credibility with many, including with me.
Quote from the Editorial “……behind the scenes, some Republicans began fashioning plans in case Mr. Trump quit the race, on his own or under duress.”
It is wishful thinking on the part of the pundits, party establishment, media spinners, his opponents and all those against changing to a new direction.
Different situations demand different kind of leadership. The current problems facing the country demand a leader of Trump’s demeanor, resolve and strength. The crowds that throng his rallies and millions more that enjoy follow him on TV are not dumb. What matters to those who admire him are the economy, jobs, national debt, trade imbalance, homeland security, unfettered illegal immigration; not the manufactured issues that feed the media and masses. The American people will decide in the end.
The stars are lining up in Mr. Trump’s favor. He will win, and to conclude otherwise is futile for his party members trying to undermine his bid.
It is wishful thinking on the part of the pundits, party establishment, media spinners, his opponents and all those against changing to a new direction.
Different situations demand different kind of leadership. The current problems facing the country demand a leader of Trump’s demeanor, resolve and strength. The crowds that throng his rallies and millions more that enjoy follow him on TV are not dumb. What matters to those who admire him are the economy, jobs, national debt, trade imbalance, homeland security, unfettered illegal immigration; not the manufactured issues that feed the media and masses. The American people will decide in the end.
The stars are lining up in Mr. Trump’s favor. He will win, and to conclude otherwise is futile for his party members trying to undermine his bid.
1
"Lacking workable ideas or intellectual ballast, Mr. Trump’s candidacy thrives on his refusal to be “politically correct,” a term he deploys to give license to declarations that should be called bigotry, or cruelty, or verbal battery. That behavior is what many of his supporters most admire."
It is unfathomable to think that there is a large enough segment of American voters who would support this troglodyte because of this kind of mentality to actually put him in the White House. That is a very sad commentary on America. I can only hope, indeed I pray daily, that America wakes up from this monstrous nightmare and casts this fool back onto the trash heap he crawled out from underneath.
It is unfathomable to think that there is a large enough segment of American voters who would support this troglodyte because of this kind of mentality to actually put him in the White House. That is a very sad commentary on America. I can only hope, indeed I pray daily, that America wakes up from this monstrous nightmare and casts this fool back onto the trash heap he crawled out from underneath.
9
David Axelrod's comment is beyond foolish. A vacation? Now, more than ever is the time for the Democrats to mercilessly hammer Trump. They need to do this every single week until the election is over. Every single week.
6
Much like a shark Trump sees a victim drowning. The victim is the Repulican party.
3
I remember well in January of 2010 when MA. AG Martha Coakley thought here senate race with male model Scott Brown was such a sure thing that she took off the month of December from campaigning for Christmas fun.
The rest is history.
Democrats have gone from the presidential election being a sure thing to taking back the senate as a sure thing to know giddily speaking of taking back the House.
democrats forget they are at their lowest level of electoral representation at all levels of government in almost 100 years.
Only the demonization of Trump supporters, their shunning, their ostracization can help save the nation. The name Trump or Trumpism must become an epithet the same way conservatives have made the word liberal into one.
The rest is history.
Democrats have gone from the presidential election being a sure thing to taking back the senate as a sure thing to know giddily speaking of taking back the House.
democrats forget they are at their lowest level of electoral representation at all levels of government in almost 100 years.
Only the demonization of Trump supporters, their shunning, their ostracization can help save the nation. The name Trump or Trumpism must become an epithet the same way conservatives have made the word liberal into one.
5
Trump is going nowhere. The country is left to Hillary Clinton. She'll probably keep to what Obama is doing. She is a corporatist status quo candidate. The problem is that she is a foreign policy disaster waiting to happen.
3
I am uneasy about the prospect of Trump not making it through until November, a possibility contemplated by some Republicans and alluded to in the editorial. It will be up to the Republican Party, following their rules, to put up a candidate in his place. Unfortunately, almost anyone with some stature can beat Hillary Clinton. Paul Ryan running against Clinton?
So much is at stake to the Republican establishment, not only the shaping of policy for the next four years but also disunity and shame (rightly) brought down upon them with this candidate. One could let her imagination run wild and envision Trump being eliminated through some accident. Trump's mercurial nature also permits a more likely scenario of his dropping out; he seems to be setting up a cover with his remarks about rigged elections.
With this in mind, Clinton must be regarded and supported as a candidate of worth in her own right, and must gain strength on those grounds and not as merely the anti-Trump.
So much is at stake to the Republican establishment, not only the shaping of policy for the next four years but also disunity and shame (rightly) brought down upon them with this candidate. One could let her imagination run wild and envision Trump being eliminated through some accident. Trump's mercurial nature also permits a more likely scenario of his dropping out; he seems to be setting up a cover with his remarks about rigged elections.
With this in mind, Clinton must be regarded and supported as a candidate of worth in her own right, and must gain strength on those grounds and not as merely the anti-Trump.
3
The dems should be happy it's Trump, as many people will not vote for him due to lunacy. The need to present that democratic domination at every level is our only hope.
Hillary Clinton is simply the most qualified and hard-working public servant, has been her entire adult life, period.
This election is about much more than two candidates. Trump represents a social movement of the right, based in reactionary nationalism. Movements don't disappear with an electoral loss. The conditions which gave rise to this hard right movement must be changed. That means a fight against economic inequality, jobs, and a firm stand against racism. That's why the Sanders campaign was so important. It built a progressive social movement in opposition to the hard right. Yes, lets elect Clinton. But the task ahead for progressives goes way beyond a Clinton presidency, to making a progressive left agenda real.
7
Then you'll all have to vote Democratic up and down the ticket, she'll need help to do all that from a Democratic congress.
1
The Clinton campaign better lawyer up now for a challenge from Trump that the election results are rigged. Let's hope Obama doesn't need to call out the troops to quell irate Trump supporters with guns.
6
Or as Sharon Angle once said, using "Second Amendment" remedies.
1
Very good column here. I agree that Dems need to fight for every vote, every Green Party, every Libertarian Party vote. If those alternatives weren't available (and it's useless in the Internet age for NYT to pretend they're not), then Clinton, bad a choice as she is, would have clear sailing. That said, I think McCain lost support for seeming just a tad unhinged when the Great Recession set in and Lehman Bros. closed. Trump is so far past that tad, I can't imagine him winning, but I can easily see people picking None of the Above by pulling the Green or Libertarian lever, or writing in Sanders.
2
Because, in the end, stupidity abounds in the USA @Blue state
" Instead, she played into that distrust this week by repeatedly asserting untruthful claims about her careless handling of government emails."
Yes, but let's not play into the the 'equally deeply flawed candidate' narrative pushed by the right to get us to play eany-meany-miny-mo in the polling booth. This false equivalency is like comparing Mt Sassafra, the highest mountain in South Carolina, with Mt. Everest.
Yes, but let's not play into the the 'equally deeply flawed candidate' narrative pushed by the right to get us to play eany-meany-miny-mo in the polling booth. This false equivalency is like comparing Mt Sassafra, the highest mountain in South Carolina, with Mt. Everest.
8
Agree! I for one will not sleep until he is defeated in November. I continue to be amazed at the seemingly intelligent people who are prepared to ignore his demagogy. However, I am witnessing many defection and that has given me hope!
9
Trump rallies do draw thousands, but I'm betting some are there just for the spectacle and not planning to vote for him. I'd never vote for him, but if he hosted a rally near me, I might go just for the schadenfreude.
8
"Instead, she played into that distrust this week by repeatedly asserting untruthful claims about her careless handling of government emails."
By repeatedly asserting untruthful claims? Why not simply say, "by repeatedly lying?"
By repeatedly asserting untruthful claims? Why not simply say, "by repeatedly lying?"
9
Raj: "lying" has literal, moral, and legal meanings. None of those apply to HRC.
2
One of the commentators has said (he?she?) will vote for Hillary only because she isn't Trump. Personally, I welcome every vote for Hillary regardless of the source. Trump is a threat we must quash. We must also realize that Mrs. Clinton is Clearly qualified to be an exceptional President who will get things done for our country. Voting for her is a "no brainer" regardless of who her opponent may be. Enough lies have been told about her and repeated so often that some people have come to believe they are true.
7
Complacency is a very bad thing! It is the reason why we have this Congress, with 12% of the eligible vote. Hang in there. We won't know the winners, for sure, until November 9. Vote Democratic! (Hillary needs to ratchet it up several levels, and stop planning transition, as if it's a done deal.)
7
A "morally serious leader" does not tell lies, which is precisely what Clinton did with her "untruthful claims about her careless handling of government emails".
Pity that the NYT is so reluctant to use the L word, liar, about Clinton. Both candidates are so richly deserving of that description.
Clinton is probably a better candidate than Trump. But given the NYT grossly deficient and biased reporting about both, we will never know for sure.
Pity that the NYT is so reluctant to use the L word, liar, about Clinton. Both candidates are so richly deserving of that description.
Clinton is probably a better candidate than Trump. But given the NYT grossly deficient and biased reporting about both, we will never know for sure.
6
Give us a break, please. It has been proven so many more times by fact-checkers that Donald Trump lies constantly. He tells so many lies that I and most would not trust anything he says, nor his spokespeople on all the cable news networks. You have been watching Fox News too much. Saying they both deserve the description of "liar" is nonsensical and laughable. Just look at these states about Clinton and Trump and lying, and then try to defend your ridiculous statement:
Trump: http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/
Clinton: http://www.politifact.com/personalities/hillary-clinton/
Trump: http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/
Clinton: http://www.politifact.com/personalities/hillary-clinton/
Indeed, crooked lying Trump cannot be discounted yet, in spite of his outrageous hate-filled utterances; his irresponsible stance on any subject worth discussing is overwhelming; his unpredictability is legendary, as we have witnessed over and over again, as a 'yes' today will, most assuredly, be a 'no' tomorrow, fluctuating his loud-mouthing blubber according to his convenience, and without prior pause or reflection whatsoever. He must be fought with all our strength; humiliated, if that were even possible, given his shameless bullying of the issues...and the people that stand behind them. I would concur that, as dangerous as this vulgar brute is, we must pay attention to the millions of 'admirers' support of the unsupportable, now mainstream of what used to belong to the fringes of idiocy. And the republican party, now devoid of any moral authority, has joined, however reluctantly, the fight for arrogant Trump, likely to save their petty souls in spite of its hypocrisy and cowardice. In brief, do not, at our peril, write Trump off yet, as his mob cannot attend to reason. Instead, an extra effort must be made to knock on doors, even pick folks up to vote, so this hurting democracy can work for all, and not just for the 'rich and powerful'.
1
The tragedy is that things have been allowed to get this far. It is not as though we have not had warning; we have been an increasingly polarized nation since the Viet Nam war and the Civil Rights movement of the 60s.
I fervently hope for a Clinton victory, but even if she wins this election we will still have within us a very large population of extremely dissatisfied and, yes, angry people. A Clinton victory will not change this.
It is easy and even satisfying to belittle Trump and his clearly ridiculous posturing, but that does nothing to address the core problem, that being that we have made a lot of mistakes over the last fifty years, mistakes difficult now to rectify. As a result, we have grown a population of people who cannot now find meaningful work, can barely afford the homes they live in if, indeed, they have homes, and cannot hope for a better future for their children. We have failed these people and at some point must own up to it.
I’m not optimistic. Trump may fall, but others will rise, and might not make the same mistakes. A Clinton victory, yes, we hope for that. But it will not solve the problem.
I fervently hope for a Clinton victory, but even if she wins this election we will still have within us a very large population of extremely dissatisfied and, yes, angry people. A Clinton victory will not change this.
It is easy and even satisfying to belittle Trump and his clearly ridiculous posturing, but that does nothing to address the core problem, that being that we have made a lot of mistakes over the last fifty years, mistakes difficult now to rectify. As a result, we have grown a population of people who cannot now find meaningful work, can barely afford the homes they live in if, indeed, they have homes, and cannot hope for a better future for their children. We have failed these people and at some point must own up to it.
I’m not optimistic. Trump may fall, but others will rise, and might not make the same mistakes. A Clinton victory, yes, we hope for that. But it will not solve the problem.
7
Agreed. Clinton has GOT to generate policy direction that addresses the core issues fueling this rage. White men without education (referred to frequently in the polls I've seen as Trump's core supporters) will likely go back to sitting on the couch with the remote if they can have the satisfaction of meaningful/decent-paying work and a better future for their families.
1
So.
The editors pontificate that it is Trump's "declarations that should be called bigotry, or cruelty, or verbal battery".
This, from a newspaper that has become a press outlet for the Hillary Clinton Campaign (when not shilling for Planned Parenthood) and whose own venomous and hysterical jihad against Trump finds no nit too small to pick, thoroughly vindicating the papers critics who maintain that it is not about applying canons of journalistic professionalism and neutral principles; it is about whom the Times likes.
So blindly partisan has this paper become that I expect to read any day now a headline accusing Trump of cheating at court tennis.
Of course, Hillary's 33,000 deleted emails, her lies about them, Hillary's treatment of the Benghazi Gold Star parents, her lies to them, the Clinton Foundation as slush fund for pay to play schemes involving foreign governments and shady individuals looking for favors from the Secretary of State, and on and on, all these go largely unexamined, much less rebuked.
Trump and Clinton: with the former the Time's strains out the gnat; with the latter, the Times swallows the camel.
The editors pontificate that it is Trump's "declarations that should be called bigotry, or cruelty, or verbal battery".
This, from a newspaper that has become a press outlet for the Hillary Clinton Campaign (when not shilling for Planned Parenthood) and whose own venomous and hysterical jihad against Trump finds no nit too small to pick, thoroughly vindicating the papers critics who maintain that it is not about applying canons of journalistic professionalism and neutral principles; it is about whom the Times likes.
So blindly partisan has this paper become that I expect to read any day now a headline accusing Trump of cheating at court tennis.
Of course, Hillary's 33,000 deleted emails, her lies about them, Hillary's treatment of the Benghazi Gold Star parents, her lies to them, the Clinton Foundation as slush fund for pay to play schemes involving foreign governments and shady individuals looking for favors from the Secretary of State, and on and on, all these go largely unexamined, much less rebuked.
Trump and Clinton: with the former the Time's strains out the gnat; with the latter, the Times swallows the camel.
4
About those untruthful claims about Hillary's handling of government emails:
Let's look at one of Hillary's so-called lies. Comey said there were 3 eMails that were marked classified on her server. I don't know about the 3rd which has not been made public, but he is dead wrong about the 2 which have been.
To be classified, a document has to have an official cover sheet that lists the classification which is the highest of any info in that document. Also each paged has to be stamped with that classification. In addition, each paragraph has to be marked with the classification of that paragraph. This is primarily so that the paragraphs which are not classified can be quoted.
The two documents in question did not have the necessary cover sheet nor did they have the page stamp. All they had were "(C)"'s in the margin of a few paragraphs. If this text editor were better, I could put "(C)"'s in the margin of this comment, but that surely would not make it classified.
In addition, it turns out that the margin letter C's were placed there in error. The info in them was not classified.
You can read about this at http://www.factcheck.org/2016/07/revisiting-clinton-and-classified-infor...
Let's look at one of Hillary's so-called lies. Comey said there were 3 eMails that were marked classified on her server. I don't know about the 3rd which has not been made public, but he is dead wrong about the 2 which have been.
To be classified, a document has to have an official cover sheet that lists the classification which is the highest of any info in that document. Also each paged has to be stamped with that classification. In addition, each paragraph has to be marked with the classification of that paragraph. This is primarily so that the paragraphs which are not classified can be quoted.
The two documents in question did not have the necessary cover sheet nor did they have the page stamp. All they had were "(C)"'s in the margin of a few paragraphs. If this text editor were better, I could put "(C)"'s in the margin of this comment, but that surely would not make it classified.
In addition, it turns out that the margin letter C's were placed there in error. The info in them was not classified.
You can read about this at http://www.factcheck.org/2016/07/revisiting-clinton-and-classified-infor...
8
Please. Trump's supporters aren't backing him because of economic anxiety. What solutions has he offered to address the nation's income inequality? How is he giving voice to the concerns of people whose wages are stagnated? Trump is giving voice to bigots who think brown and black people are the cause of their problems. These same supporters say they support him because he isn't PC. But what that really means is he is an unabashed bigot, and they like it. Democrats will never get these people. The only mistake that Democrats can make at this point is underestimating how many registered voters hold unfortunate, racist views. Dems best bet is to get out the vote and maybe--maybe--pluck off some Trump supporters who perhaps support his bigotry but understand he would be a disastrous president.
9
Trump campaigns directly to his core supporters. To Hillary's benefit, he doesn't campaign to his could be/would be supporters. It's almost like those groups are not invited to join an exclusive club.
Best editorial I have read in some time. Right on target. The November surprise could still be the Trumpster.
2
Many may not care for Hillary, but Trump is another matter. What we witness in his outrage is the way he will govern. That's bad for our nation and the world.
You are correct. He is not going away. That leaves it to voters to say no. That's not the America we are. Hopefully the next congress will get serious and listen to the fears of those who are hurting and stem the tide of their discontent. I look forward to collaboration not bias. Cooperation is what we need to get things done.
A better America is ahead. But not with Trump at the helm. Have faith.
You are correct. He is not going away. That leaves it to voters to say no. That's not the America we are. Hopefully the next congress will get serious and listen to the fears of those who are hurting and stem the tide of their discontent. I look forward to collaboration not bias. Cooperation is what we need to get things done.
A better America is ahead. But not with Trump at the helm. Have faith.
2
I'm with her - the stateswoman with a 2 billion dollar, uh, charity.
3
I am a 80 year old disabled veteran who has been reading the NYT for many, many years. I have never seen it print such an obvious bias toward supporting Hillary, and all negative articles over and over about Trump.
I did not plan to vote for Trump, but the NYT has changed my mind. I, and many vet friends, all are now going to vote for Trump.
Hillary is, and always been a war Hawk. She will destroy our country.
I did not plan to vote for Trump, but the NYT has changed my mind. I, and many vet friends, all are now going to vote for Trump.
Hillary is, and always been a war Hawk. She will destroy our country.
7
So you don't vote based on facts or your own best interests, you vote out of some kind of childish spite? Do you really want to brag about that?
Not even whitewash sticks to Trump.
I'm not sure I believe that Trump's fundraising matched Hillary's this past month. Did Trump say so? Trust but verify!!!
5
I don't believe Trump is going anywhere. Trump is in the "there is no such thing as bad publicity" camp, I suspect. He'll never quit so long as there is a TV camera or a crowd for him to stand before and massage his narcissism.
Trump loves even negative publicity, so long as it is about him. But what Trump cannot abide is losing. I suspect that, if on Nov. 1 the polls show him being trounced, by a woman no less, Trump will find a reason to withdraw from the race on Nov. 7. He'll milk his adoring crowds and having his mug splashed all over the media as long as he can. But losing is not in his stable of things with which he can cope, and he'll do whatever he has to to avoid crossing that line.
Trump loves even negative publicity, so long as it is about him. But what Trump cannot abide is losing. I suspect that, if on Nov. 1 the polls show him being trounced, by a woman no less, Trump will find a reason to withdraw from the race on Nov. 7. He'll milk his adoring crowds and having his mug splashed all over the media as long as he can. But losing is not in his stable of things with which he can cope, and he'll do whatever he has to to avoid crossing that line.
1
Trump's failings aside, how are the legitimate issues from his base being addressed by the candidate or by the "Republican party"? Trump is merely a conduit for these issues, but he is simply incapable of articulating any sensible platform or agenda on their behalf. This is the true failure of the so-called "Republican party", as it has no coherence or logic in their pretense of being capable to govern anything that the vast majority of Americans can support, even if we were ready to sign up for it. By default, the Democrats win this round.
He is compulsively self-destructive and is certain to lose. Equivalent to another bankruptcy, with the collateral damage being the Republican Party.
His diagnosis is established. There is no effective therapy.
But media has to keep up suspense. There's no other news.
His diagnosis is established. There is no effective therapy.
But media has to keep up suspense. There's no other news.
4
All the pundits who saw Donald Trump's rise in the polls and unchallenged popularity during the Republican primary race as emblematic of the people's unbridled disappointment in losing the American Dream were wrong. The making of Donald Trump as the Republican nominee for president was never based on economic issues; it was always based on a mob psychology of hate. All you have to do is watch the NY Times reporters' videos of Trump supporters at his rallies to see that.
So how do we now put the genie of hate back in the bottle? We are not a lawless country. We have laws against hate crimes. When mobs are encouraged by their leader to physically assault protesters who disagree with them, is this not a crime? So why is Donald Trump not being charged with instigating hate crimes?
So how do we now put the genie of hate back in the bottle? We are not a lawless country. We have laws against hate crimes. When mobs are encouraged by their leader to physically assault protesters who disagree with them, is this not a crime? So why is Donald Trump not being charged with instigating hate crimes?
3
Amen!
HRC and her campaign ignores your well written editorial at her (our) peril.
Thank you.
HRC and her campaign ignores your well written editorial at her (our) peril.
Thank you.
4
Beware, though the candles are lighted, the midnight hour still comes.
Those who want progress and to make sure that Mr. Trump does not win the right to sit in the Oval Office must work doubly hard to avoid a sucker punch. Quiet unrelenting hard work is the only route that progressives may assure themselves that reason will prevail.
There are some who will see a close decision as voter tampering and the crowd that Mr. Trump appeals to is the one most prone to have 20 guns hidden in the basement. These good old boys might make Ruby Ridge look like kids play. Whereas, a "huge" win by Hillary and the down ticket Dems would signal a shift that would strengthen all US alliances, Let there be no doubt, lots of our partners are worried about what the heck is going on in America?
Don't be a tortoise thinking that we can win because we have the numbers with us and don't be hares, running fast at the outset, We must set our hearts to break the 2 hour marathon and accept no goal less than that. Force the good parts of the Bernie supporters and also have some good things for the disenchanted white men who feel that they are getting left out. Let's welcome them if they will come as brothers in goodwill, break bread and fix our problems, together.
Peace
Those who want progress and to make sure that Mr. Trump does not win the right to sit in the Oval Office must work doubly hard to avoid a sucker punch. Quiet unrelenting hard work is the only route that progressives may assure themselves that reason will prevail.
There are some who will see a close decision as voter tampering and the crowd that Mr. Trump appeals to is the one most prone to have 20 guns hidden in the basement. These good old boys might make Ruby Ridge look like kids play. Whereas, a "huge" win by Hillary and the down ticket Dems would signal a shift that would strengthen all US alliances, Let there be no doubt, lots of our partners are worried about what the heck is going on in America?
Don't be a tortoise thinking that we can win because we have the numbers with us and don't be hares, running fast at the outset, We must set our hearts to break the 2 hour marathon and accept no goal less than that. Force the good parts of the Bernie supporters and also have some good things for the disenchanted white men who feel that they are getting left out. Let's welcome them if they will come as brothers in goodwill, break bread and fix our problems, together.
Peace
4
The good old boys with 20 guns in the basement...
In the Constitution, the purpose of 2nd Amendment rights is to have arms to rise up against an unjust government, not just to hunt deer for food. With agitation by Trump about the unfair, rigged, stolen election, a percentage of the population would undoubtedly consider a Clinton presidency invalid. The reaction of a (hopefully) relatively small group, with incitement by the defeated candidate, cannot be predicted.
The potential for voting machine hacks by outside forces (Russian or otherwise) that cannot be proven due to lack of back-up hard copy documentation is also truly frightening.
Scary indeed!
In the Constitution, the purpose of 2nd Amendment rights is to have arms to rise up against an unjust government, not just to hunt deer for food. With agitation by Trump about the unfair, rigged, stolen election, a percentage of the population would undoubtedly consider a Clinton presidency invalid. The reaction of a (hopefully) relatively small group, with incitement by the defeated candidate, cannot be predicted.
The potential for voting machine hacks by outside forces (Russian or otherwise) that cannot be proven due to lack of back-up hard copy documentation is also truly frightening.
Scary indeed!
It would perilous for Mrs. Clinton if she failed to understand and address Trump supporters’ fear of immigration, trade and so called “radical Islamic terrorism.”
Unchecked borders, H1B visa and other programs have a deleterious effect on people. While businesses may benefit from cheap labor, it does displace American workers. Both parties have been doing the bidding of businesses while neglecting its adverse impact on people.
With trade, it is important for politicians to educate people of the harm protectionist trade policies will do. Policies that’d retrain workers who are displaced because of trade are equally important.
Fear of terrorism should be thoughtfully addressed, as the President did yesterday: “… How we react to this [terrorism] is as important as the efforts we take to destroy ISIL …. The reason it is called terrorism, as opposed to just a standard war, is that these are weak enemies that can't match us in conventional power. But what they can do is make us scared. And when societies get scared, they can react in ways that undermine the fabric of our society. It makes us weaker, makes us more vulnerable, creates politics that divide us in ways that hurt us over the long-term. So if we remain steady and steadfast and vigilant, but also take the long view and maintain perspective and remind ourselves of who we are and what we care about most deeply, what we cherish and what is good about this country, … then we are going to be ok….”
Unchecked borders, H1B visa and other programs have a deleterious effect on people. While businesses may benefit from cheap labor, it does displace American workers. Both parties have been doing the bidding of businesses while neglecting its adverse impact on people.
With trade, it is important for politicians to educate people of the harm protectionist trade policies will do. Policies that’d retrain workers who are displaced because of trade are equally important.
Fear of terrorism should be thoughtfully addressed, as the President did yesterday: “… How we react to this [terrorism] is as important as the efforts we take to destroy ISIL …. The reason it is called terrorism, as opposed to just a standard war, is that these are weak enemies that can't match us in conventional power. But what they can do is make us scared. And when societies get scared, they can react in ways that undermine the fabric of our society. It makes us weaker, makes us more vulnerable, creates politics that divide us in ways that hurt us over the long-term. So if we remain steady and steadfast and vigilant, but also take the long view and maintain perspective and remind ourselves of who we are and what we care about most deeply, what we cherish and what is good about this country, … then we are going to be ok….”
7
The Democrats should campaign as if they are behind in the polls and should try to win as many states as possible. It should be their goal to win the Presidency, Senate, House, and as many governorships and states legislatures as possible. I hope that the election results in each state are by wide margins; if they are close the republicans will try to pull another Florida or multiple Floridas.
Obviously, I like the Democrats but Democrats tend to be nice people of above average intelligence who haven't spent their lives lying and stealing to get where they are. They are good people to be around but when they go up against the republicans they are at a great disadvantage. Some democrats also tend to overthink and over-intellectualize the situation. I am sure that there are some Democrats right now searching for reasons to skip the election all together.
If you want to have any hope of winning, the first thing to do is show up and get your supporters to show up. And while you are waiting for the perfect candidate, support the best one that we have now.
Obviously, I like the Democrats but Democrats tend to be nice people of above average intelligence who haven't spent their lives lying and stealing to get where they are. They are good people to be around but when they go up against the republicans they are at a great disadvantage. Some democrats also tend to overthink and over-intellectualize the situation. I am sure that there are some Democrats right now searching for reasons to skip the election all together.
If you want to have any hope of winning, the first thing to do is show up and get your supporters to show up. And while you are waiting for the perfect candidate, support the best one that we have now.
13
"who haven't spent their lives lying and stealing to get where they are"
You sure about that?
You sure about that?
Trump's refusal to be politically correct may indeed have given license for expressions of bigotry etc., but on the other hand, it also added tremendous value and freshness for becoming a more honest and more accountable society. Let's take the baby case as an example. It doesn't take a genius to know that a crying baby is a distraction, whether in a theatre or in a meeting, particularly a meeting for which thousands waited for hours and time is precious, but it's a BABY! He first asked the mother politely, if obliquely, to take the baby out while crying, but when she didn't get the message he was direct and solved the problem. The fact that it was a baby (BABY!) didn't stop him, and that was refreshing. There was no cruelty, no bigotry. For every utterance that gave license for objectionable rhetoric, one can find two that corrected holy cows that are routinely unquestioned even when they are unjustified or even wrong. We will all be better off if politicians act and speak more honestly (but within bounds of fairness), which would be a worthwhile lasting legacy of his candidacy irrespective of how the election outcome turns out. Wouldn't that be great!!
8
Are you serious? So, he tells a woman with a baby to get out and that is ok? In addition, since when is bigotry, racism,etc. equivalent to value and freshness. Are you proposing that we are lucky that this nasty vile man who has brought out the worse racist element in this country should be thanked for his honesty? Why don't we invite the KKK to give press conferences, after all they are honestly racist and have been since the beginning.
1
The main issue of concern is Democratic party turnout. This is what matters, and it matters all the way down the ticket. Vote, encourage family and friends, this is crucial. That so many Democrats stayed home for the last two midterms was suicidal.
10
"The vast majority of Mr. Trump’s fans were not only untroubled, but were willing to stand in line for hours to hear him say the same things all over again."
The weakest criticism of Trump yet. (What's next?? Boxers vs. briefs??) A politician repeating his stump speech -- imagine that. (Sanders likely lost because he kept he repeating his, he never adapted to the situation.) Why do you think so many politicians' spouses look brain-dead -- they have to keep listening to the same speech.
"That behavior is what many of his supporters most admire. He is speaking to people who disbelieve conventional politicians, who detest a Washington they think has betrayed them. He promises nothing of substance to ease their pain, but he gives voice to their rage."
That the Times can write this w a straight face; who disbelieve conventional politicians?? Who think Washington has betrayed them?? HELLO!!! "He promises nothing of substance" -- yes, compared to Clinton's promise of more war, more favors for her rich friends, and Kosovo Bill back in the White House. Unbelievable. Yet not.
Trump vs. Clinton -- from the time the Mayflower hit Plymouth Rock, this was always the endgame. Good news: it will be over soon.
The weakest criticism of Trump yet. (What's next?? Boxers vs. briefs??) A politician repeating his stump speech -- imagine that. (Sanders likely lost because he kept he repeating his, he never adapted to the situation.) Why do you think so many politicians' spouses look brain-dead -- they have to keep listening to the same speech.
"That behavior is what many of his supporters most admire. He is speaking to people who disbelieve conventional politicians, who detest a Washington they think has betrayed them. He promises nothing of substance to ease their pain, but he gives voice to their rage."
That the Times can write this w a straight face; who disbelieve conventional politicians?? Who think Washington has betrayed them?? HELLO!!! "He promises nothing of substance" -- yes, compared to Clinton's promise of more war, more favors for her rich friends, and Kosovo Bill back in the White House. Unbelievable. Yet not.
Trump vs. Clinton -- from the time the Mayflower hit Plymouth Rock, this was always the endgame. Good news: it will be over soon.
3
Most White People I talk with here in one of the Bluest corners of New York are Trump Supporters and intend to vote for him. They are college educated, men and women, millennial and baby boomers. They work for the government and private sector. I have to keep my support for Clinton and the Dems to myself, simply because of the distemper discussing politics with Trump supporters brings to any set of relationships.
If all of these Trump supporters vote on November 8, we might have a HUGE Surprise notwithstanding what any poll was telling us the day before.
If all of these Trump supporters vote on November 8, we might have a HUGE Surprise notwithstanding what any poll was telling us the day before.
2
Does anyone ever ask them why they are Trump supporters? Do they want to be annihilated by a nuclear bomb? If they are people who have been downsized or lost their jobs, does anyone ever ask why they believe a businessman who benefits hugely from free trade would ever, ever, bar such deals?
This whole article seems to ignore a simple fact: appealing more to the people that he's already appealed to isn't going to win Trump an election. They may be loud and they may look like a lot of people at a rally, but that doesn't make them a majority. For every person champing at the bit to get into a Trump rally, how many are not interested in going? All presidential nominees appeal to a hardcore of supporters during primaries before pivoting to the swinging middle during the campaign proper. This is something that Trump is clearly failing at.
66
Good points. Sarah Palin drew thousands to rallies in 2008.
1
All presidential nominees?
HRC and the Don - two examples of why James Madison et al. were wary of directly electing the POTUS. These guys understood the pitfalls of factional politics but, of course, some of them were slaveholders so what did they know?
1
It blows my mind to see how Trump has somehow come to be the champion of the downtrodden middle class. Do any of these people seriously believe that this absolute prototype of the ultra-rich top 1% billionaires will, if he becomes president, really champion their cause? Why would you think that? His only real cause is self-aggrandizement.
4
Donald Trump's candidacy is not based on ideas or visions of a better tomorrow. They are rooted in a fear and a hatred on a scale not seen in the United States in our lifetime. The emotive power of that dystopia will attract a large following among white males, best described yesterday by Charles Blow, who feel marginalized in a changing world. That said, Trump is a clear and an present danger to our country and our duty this November is to soundly crush him and everything that he represents. Whether he is a fascist or harbors fascist inclinations is besides the point, he simply has to be kept far from the levers of power for all our sakes.
2
Far from "writing this election off," the Democrats should be pounding Trump for refusing to release his tax returns, for failing to provide an accurate and thorough health examination report (as opposed to an absurd letter clearly written by Trump himself, and signed by his purchased MD), and most ominously, for refusing to come clean about his business pursuits in Russia - and the lengthy history of close business and political ties between Paul Manafort and Russian politicians. HRC should be asking what Trump is hiding at every turn, and it would be great if media outlets would combine forces to do an in-depth investigation of all of those shady business dealings - the American voters have every right to know this information. This is no "cake walk" - I almost wish we weren't subjected to multiple daily polls, because it is too far out until the election for anyone to take anything for granted. It is terrifyingly clear that Trump is temperamentally, intellectually and emotionally unfit for this office; I believe him to be a grave threat to the nation's security, and to that of the entire world. However, failing to recognize and confront the anger of those who have been left behind would be a disaster - struggling working class people of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds have been gutted, and nothing has been done to provide a pathway for their restored hope. Something has to give here, and it is the corporations and plutocrats who must finally pay their fair share.
3
If you go hang out in the comments sections at conservative strongholds you'll see a growing dismay and disgust at Trump. Many comments seem to embody as much dislike for Trump as they level at Clinton. I cannot see the Clinton campaign taking their foot off the gas for a moment. This is historic election and we need not just a Clinton victory in November but a landslide that sweeps GOP from as many elected positions as possible. Then we can start out fresh and they can rebuild a decent opposition.
4
One thing we need to remember is that half the voting age population has an IQ under 100. While there is no data, I think one would be hard pressed to claim that one party or the other has a greater proportion of the low information voters.
But this is a democracy and there is no IQ test for voting. In fact election laws require that voting be widely accessible to both physically and mentally disabled people. We will not get candidates that only the elite deem qualified. We will get candidates that the people want.
As H. L. Mencken said: "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard."
But this is a democracy and there is no IQ test for voting. In fact election laws require that voting be widely accessible to both physically and mentally disabled people. We will not get candidates that only the elite deem qualified. We will get candidates that the people want.
As H. L. Mencken said: "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard."
Here comes the inevitable media correction in the name of supposed "neutrality". He has simply disqualified himself from holding the job. There is no need to pretend otherwise and save his campaign just to keep things interesting. He has nothing to offer and the media needs to stay on that and not try and balance out the first week of actual tough reporting on Trump we have had.
1
Narcissistic individuals have a remarkably dangerous way of lashing out when confronted with facts.
5
DJ Trump is banking upon the 1/3 of registered voters that did not vote and the 40% of eligible voters that haven't registered to put him over the top and into the presidency. Judging by his popularity and ability to raise money, there is a pretty good chance that will happen.
Then what?
One guess is that he will do something radical as President and be forced to resign. Then Pence will take over, and we'll see a Pence-McConnell-Ryan government working for the 1/4%.
Then what?
One guess is that he will do something radical as President and be forced to resign. Then Pence will take over, and we'll see a Pence-McConnell-Ryan government working for the 1/4%.
3
One of the first things a Trump presidency will accomplish will be punishment for those who repudiated him.
Recall, if nothing else, Mr. Trump's saying that Mike Bloomberg's business is "vulnerable." Of course. the FCC, under a Trump administration, could pull Bloomberg's licenses. And it will.
Think about our media -- "how unfair, how unfair," according to Mr. Trump -- the demonizing of newspapers that report facts, the barring of journalists who report lies spoken by Mr. Trump. Ever hear Mr. Trump, at one of his rallies, say "Get 'em out of here. Get 'em out of here" in regard to a protestor? The aura of presumption and disgust for anyone who disagrees with him.
A Republican senate and House of Representatives. A conservative Supreme Court enabling outrageous moves by Congress. An angry, vicious, vindictive president.
We have got to provide Hillary Clinton with a landslide victory. It can't be a margin of just 10-15 points.
She's got to trounce Trump everywhere.
Recall, if nothing else, Mr. Trump's saying that Mike Bloomberg's business is "vulnerable." Of course. the FCC, under a Trump administration, could pull Bloomberg's licenses. And it will.
Think about our media -- "how unfair, how unfair," according to Mr. Trump -- the demonizing of newspapers that report facts, the barring of journalists who report lies spoken by Mr. Trump. Ever hear Mr. Trump, at one of his rallies, say "Get 'em out of here. Get 'em out of here" in regard to a protestor? The aura of presumption and disgust for anyone who disagrees with him.
A Republican senate and House of Representatives. A conservative Supreme Court enabling outrageous moves by Congress. An angry, vicious, vindictive president.
We have got to provide Hillary Clinton with a landslide victory. It can't be a margin of just 10-15 points.
She's got to trounce Trump everywhere.
3
We have always had a person like Donald Trump in our politics, spouting false statements and racists slogans to get attention.
What fuels and empowers them are their followers who believe each false statement and racists slogan made as a vindication of the anxiety and strive they feel in their lives.
20, 30 years ago Donald Trump would not have lasted the first primary Republican debate if he had said and acted the way he has during this election.
He would not have had the support to go on.
So what has happened since that 20, 30 year period that has made so many American voters agree with the way he acts and says and have willingly confirmed their support in as crude and vulgar way as he has?
It is something that we in this country have to address for the sake of the health of our democracy.
What fuels and empowers them are their followers who believe each false statement and racists slogan made as a vindication of the anxiety and strive they feel in their lives.
20, 30 years ago Donald Trump would not have lasted the first primary Republican debate if he had said and acted the way he has during this election.
He would not have had the support to go on.
So what has happened since that 20, 30 year period that has made so many American voters agree with the way he acts and says and have willingly confirmed their support in as crude and vulgar way as he has?
It is something that we in this country have to address for the sake of the health of our democracy.
1
What is the Republican Party's endgame? The party has encouraged and supported Trump; it hopes to profit from stirring up its base into an apoplectic fit. At the same time the party is not blind to Trump's failings, but they thought they could take a walk on the wild side, hold the tiger by the tail and claim victory in November. But now they are scared, the wild side is wilder than they ever dreamed, the tiger is loose and snapping at their tails. Holy cow Batman! What to do?#!!!
Will Trump pick up his loose marbles and go home? Can the masked "R" Duo (Ryan and Rand) save the day? Find out...same Bat-ty time, same Bat-ty channel.
Yes, is it possible Trump will willingly step aside (fire himself?!) and Ryan step in? Has the Trump candidacy been a comic farce from the beginning? Has the Great and All Powerful Trump chump-ed America? Is his candidacy just the 2016 season of "The Menace," a new reality TV show? Has he and the Republican Party been masquerading in a diabolical plot to defeat the evil villain, Hillary The Horrid? Find out...same Bat-ty time, same Bat-ty channel.
What is the Republican Party's endgame? Please tell us Mr. Ryan.
Will Trump pick up his loose marbles and go home? Can the masked "R" Duo (Ryan and Rand) save the day? Find out...same Bat-ty time, same Bat-ty channel.
Yes, is it possible Trump will willingly step aside (fire himself?!) and Ryan step in? Has the Trump candidacy been a comic farce from the beginning? Has the Great and All Powerful Trump chump-ed America? Is his candidacy just the 2016 season of "The Menace," a new reality TV show? Has he and the Republican Party been masquerading in a diabolical plot to defeat the evil villain, Hillary The Horrid? Find out...same Bat-ty time, same Bat-ty channel.
What is the Republican Party's endgame? Please tell us Mr. Ryan.
3
It occurred to me that the non-existant 'pallets of cash' video that Donald Trump was braying about may be something he saw during his security briefing and then blurted out to his admirers.
He told them about it on two, separate occasions before he tweeted (this morning) that - no - the video he actually saw was of the hostages.
This is someone who has a demonstrably fraught relationship with self-discipline and self-editing.
Could he have been speaking about one of the 'classified' briefings he received?
He told them about it on two, separate occasions before he tweeted (this morning) that - no - the video he actually saw was of the hostages.
This is someone who has a demonstrably fraught relationship with self-discipline and self-editing.
Could he have been speaking about one of the 'classified' briefings he received?
2
Ninbus (love the picture), yes, I thought that was what Obama was alluding to in his comments.
A wounded and cornered animal is at its most dangerous. And Donald Trump is wounded and cornered. The poll reversals due to his erratic and vindictive behavior starting with the Democratic convention can turn around by keeping to his message and waiting for Hillary Clinton to slip up, as she did this week by blatantly overstating the FBI Director's reluctantly clearing her of indictable wrong-doing in the eMail scandal. And that was followed by the Obama administration's dumb move of turning over $400 million to Iran on the same day hostages were released. Yes, I know that money was from 1979 and was agreed to by the recent agreement, and I know the hostages were released as a separate agreement...BUT...It LOOKS BAD and the GOP is using the wise tactic of playing it up.
In other words, Hillary Clinton's and Barack Obama's ability to bumble into trouble can EASILY become the leading story if Trump can stop riffing and stick to his message. Politics is always who messed up last.
So, while now's the time for Clinton to keep her head down and stick to HER message while Trump struggles with his, she cannot get complacent because her own penchant for being caught flat-footed and trying to sweep it under the rug, as the recent statement on Comey's assessment shows, give the Republicans the grist they need to attack her.
In other words, Hillary Clinton's and Barack Obama's ability to bumble into trouble can EASILY become the leading story if Trump can stop riffing and stick to his message. Politics is always who messed up last.
So, while now's the time for Clinton to keep her head down and stick to HER message while Trump struggles with his, she cannot get complacent because her own penchant for being caught flat-footed and trying to sweep it under the rug, as the recent statement on Comey's assessment shows, give the Republicans the grist they need to attack her.
6
Yes, Trump had yet another week of outrageous, sociopathic behavior and rhetoric. Expected. What I found most disturbing about last week, though, was that, despite his ignorant, racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, stupid, vulgar, cruel, borderline treasonous rhetoric, his attacks on Sen. McCain over his status as a tortured POW and the Khans, and his obviously unfitness and even dangerousness, the thing that seemed to finally get standard-bearer Republicans abandoning his ship, the 'final straw' for them was nothing more than his disloyalty to the Republican party when he said he would not endorse Paul Ryan and John McCain. While I guess I wasn't surprised by it, because I do believe the GOP resembles a cult now more than a mainstream political party, I was nonetheless sickened that, up to that point, they had tolerated, if distanced themselves, from his venality and that it was only an act of party disloyalty that outraged them enough to finally decide he's not fit to be president.
Trump is but a symptom of a disease ravaging the right wing in America. Being willing to put into the presidency a man one knows is unfit and even dangerous, but drawing the line in doing so at party loyalty is the disease.
Trump is but a symptom of a disease ravaging the right wing in America. Being willing to put into the presidency a man one knows is unfit and even dangerous, but drawing the line in doing so at party loyalty is the disease.
11
I am having a very hard time seeing how Mrs. Clinton will ever be able to be "a morally serious leader determined to address the country’s real problems", judging by her morally misguided hawkish record and her immoral actions in Honduras and Haiti to name just a few.
If the latest Wikileaks revelations about her ties to Lafarge company and Julian Assange's promise to release even more damaging material are any indication, the country might be heading into a serious crisis no matter what Mr. Trump says or does in the weeks to come.
If the latest Wikileaks revelations about her ties to Lafarge company and Julian Assange's promise to release even more damaging material are any indication, the country might be heading into a serious crisis no matter what Mr. Trump says or does in the weeks to come.
7
Hillary Clinton and the words morally serious should never be used in the same sentence. Sure, Trump is a dumpster fire but Clinton is so profoundly morally flawed that she should never be allowed anywhere near the White House.
3
I'm still waiting for the people who constantly say Mrs. Clinton is so morally flawed to give me provable specifics. I''ve been watching her closely for more tan 20 years and on the plus side, I have seen a woman who works obsessively hard and by and large works for things that one cannot argue have a moral imperative, such as the welfare of children, women's rights, decent pay for a days work, education, etc. Has she slipped up? Of course. I dare anyone to say that they are perfect ... that they have never told a lie, never been rude, never taken unfair advantage of someone else even in the smallest things. But Mrs. Clinton must be perfect or she is "so profoundly morally flawed. Let me remind you of what Jesus Christ said of judgemental people like you, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
In my opinion Mrs. Clinton is one of the most "morally strong" people I have every seen. Isn't it time to stop believing the largely groundless attacks and actually look at what the woman has done, what she has worked toward and how much she has accomplished for all of us? I think it is way past time.
In my opinion Mrs. Clinton is one of the most "morally strong" people I have every seen. Isn't it time to stop believing the largely groundless attacks and actually look at what the woman has done, what she has worked toward and how much she has accomplished for all of us? I think it is way past time.
1
I thought Russia was handling Hillary Clinton's emails on behalf of Trump? Listening, the enthusiasm and defiance of some Trump supporters appear to be dwindling in this neck-of-the-woods, a temporary respite and rest, perhaps they are taking a brief vacation during August and are in need of time to take back their 'Voice'.
Regardless, some of us continue to play the sweepstakes and go to Atlantic City. One more Trump casino, The Taj Mahal, is about to close but the seagull scavengers continue to hover over the gamblers.
Do you ever wonder where you will be spending Thanksgiving in November when the weather is colder? Mrs. Clinton is not a safe or conventional alternative to Trump for this American. She already is a morally serious leader and shows passion in wishing to address our Country's 'real' issues. Perhaps it is time to listen to what she has to say. If at first, you do not succeed, try, try again.
Regardless, some of us continue to play the sweepstakes and go to Atlantic City. One more Trump casino, The Taj Mahal, is about to close but the seagull scavengers continue to hover over the gamblers.
Do you ever wonder where you will be spending Thanksgiving in November when the weather is colder? Mrs. Clinton is not a safe or conventional alternative to Trump for this American. She already is a morally serious leader and shows passion in wishing to address our Country's 'real' issues. Perhaps it is time to listen to what she has to say. If at first, you do not succeed, try, try again.
1
At this time I don't know a single person who is writing Trump off. Some originally laughed him off, but now everyone I speak with is either scared to death that he'll win, or euphoric at the prospect of him winning. Unlike a good number of people who've written here I spend a good amount of time listening to those who don't share my political views. Perhaps it's because I grew up among people who worked themselves to the bone to survive and understood that real hope that things would improve was necessary for them to endure. I predicted early on that Trump would win the Republican nomination and could win the presidency. Trump's an incredibly dangerous demagogue; racist and reckless in word and action, but he's tapped into more than bigotry. John McCain and Mitt Romney in their failed presidential bids attacked the Democrats and President Obama for waging class warfare when they were doing nothing of the sort. In reality, Democrats have failed to honestly acknowledge the staggering growth of income inequality and the deteriorating employment prospects for most Americans. Further, many Americans don't believe things will improve if the establishment of either party prevails. So there's a major revolt. If Trump wasn't around some other demagogue would be waiving the same flag. Trump must be stopped, but unless leadership similar to that FDR embodied emerges and actually addresses the needs of a majority of Americans we will likely wind up facing a full-blown fascist movement.
2
Trump appears to be on the verge of a complete mental breakdown. He cannot speak in complete sentences, only phrases. His whole convention was a disgustingly loud put down of Hillary, but let a mourning Gold Star couple make a small critique of him and its all out war. Hillary just needs to keep on talking sensibly about ways she feels can help our country grow, even though the republican congress will do everything in its power to stop that growth. The fact that the only thing the republicans can talk about her is Benghazi and email, neither of them serious charges. She did not run the day to day dealings with all of the embassy staffing when she was Secretary of State so really has less blame on the Benghazi tragedy than the republican congress who cut the embassy budgets the previous year. The email flack has been much ado about nothing. It is time for the media to do their job and push for Trump's tax records - from any year that is not being currently audited - and see just why he is trying so hard to hide them from the American people. We need to hear more stories from the people he ripped off through the years in his crooked business dealings. And we need to vote, not just for Hillary as president, but to vote out the republicans in congress who stopped doing anything for our country (other than tax cuts for the rich and deregulation of air and water restrictions) about 40 years ago.
9
Trump's continuing appeal to his core supporters despite ever more outrageous behavior should not come as a surprise. After all, the "Donald Trump" character is a villain, and his fans are enjoying the panic and disgust he is generating. Given what he has been up to so far, there is no reason to think there is any particular boundary he could cross that would change that.
But there is another angle that could eventually erode his support, namely that he is a con artist, whose latest marks are none other than his supporters. Now people don't like to be conned, but if it has already happened, they don't like to admit it, either. This is where his supporters are right now - having too much fun enjoying the show to check their wallets.
This is why it so important to continue to hammer on two things: his refusal to release his taxes, and his long history of questionable and self-serving business practices. When people are sold on a con, you have to show them how it was done, in detail. Fortunately, he has been running one version or another of this same scheme most of his life, so that should be possible.
Support for Trump could be like a Gestalt psychology test - rabbit or duck? He looks like a tough guy taking on "the establishment" now, but that could suddenly switch to a grifter fast-talking his way out of trouble, and the tough guy might vanish without a trace.
But there is another angle that could eventually erode his support, namely that he is a con artist, whose latest marks are none other than his supporters. Now people don't like to be conned, but if it has already happened, they don't like to admit it, either. This is where his supporters are right now - having too much fun enjoying the show to check their wallets.
This is why it so important to continue to hammer on two things: his refusal to release his taxes, and his long history of questionable and self-serving business practices. When people are sold on a con, you have to show them how it was done, in detail. Fortunately, he has been running one version or another of this same scheme most of his life, so that should be possible.
Support for Trump could be like a Gestalt psychology test - rabbit or duck? He looks like a tough guy taking on "the establishment" now, but that could suddenly switch to a grifter fast-talking his way out of trouble, and the tough guy might vanish without a trace.
5
This is spot-on, and the subject is no laughing matter . Finding the balance between exposing a bigot and phony and articulating a serious economic plan that addresses the emotional hurt of the dispossesed is the job of people like Mr. Axelrod and company, and they seem to be on task. The jokes like the one quoted need to stay private and not for publication lest Mrs. Clinton be Cantored in November.
4
We have to understand the reality of Trump. He is not a politician, and he is proud of it. He probably never will be. He is a winner, as the so often boasts, and to prove it, he boasts that he beat a very large field of Republican presidential wannabes quite handily despite the well acknowledged qualifications of most of them. If you want a politician, look to Pence. That is why Pence is on the ticket. That is his job.
In the primaries, Sanders and Trump tapped into the frustration of many of the electorate and their clear anger with career politicians and the establishment that supports them. They were both onto something, and, although Sanders was denied the DNC nomination, perhaps through DNC bad behavior, the RNC at least listened to the voices of the many people who voted for Trump preconvention.
Trump is not going to implode, but he will make mistakes, sometimes big mistakes, a career politician would not. He will try to learn from them without becoming like a career politician. We are still in the early days of the actual campaign, and there is a lot more coming. If Trump can keep his core supporters and harness the discontent of the disaffected Sanders supporters and many others, this could be a real contest come November. Extremely careless Clinton (I do not like Trump's Crooked Hillary, but Untruthful might work) carries a lot of baggage that the politically uncorrect Trump is going to learn how to exploit to his advantage. Stay tuned...
In the primaries, Sanders and Trump tapped into the frustration of many of the electorate and their clear anger with career politicians and the establishment that supports them. They were both onto something, and, although Sanders was denied the DNC nomination, perhaps through DNC bad behavior, the RNC at least listened to the voices of the many people who voted for Trump preconvention.
Trump is not going to implode, but he will make mistakes, sometimes big mistakes, a career politician would not. He will try to learn from them without becoming like a career politician. We are still in the early days of the actual campaign, and there is a lot more coming. If Trump can keep his core supporters and harness the discontent of the disaffected Sanders supporters and many others, this could be a real contest come November. Extremely careless Clinton (I do not like Trump's Crooked Hillary, but Untruthful might work) carries a lot of baggage that the politically uncorrect Trump is going to learn how to exploit to his advantage. Stay tuned...
25
We on the other side strongly support your candidate sticking to what he and you perceive as working.
Trump has proved time and time again that he does not learn from previous mistakes, instead he doubles down on them.
1
I tripped on the line "He will try to learn from them..."
1
Clinton is rational and offers detailed policies. The Democrats ran a well organized PR event called a convention. It was replete with flag waving and other patriotic manipulations and featured a rainbow of American faces.
But voters have seen it all and heard it all before. What they remember is the banks got a bailout and they didn't. They know their wages have been flat for thirty years. They see their kids going to jail for drug crimes and the HSBC bank simply getting a fine for worse conduct. They drive on streets with potholes and their kids join the army or National Guard because they can't find a job. When a son or daughter goes to college the discussion is who's going to co-sign the loan note? And the casualty list from 14 years of over seas wars doesn't even make the evening news anymore.
Trump has no answers to these problems, but he has at least recognized the frustration and anger that people have over them. Yes, he's endorsed racism, nativism and ridiculous schemes. But to many of his supporters anything seems better than nothing---and nothing is what they're feeling from both the Democrats and the old guard of the GOP. The media may call it gridlock but the people simply see nothing productive coming from government.
The challenge for Clinton is how can she become Bernie Sanders? As they say, the leopard can't change its spots, so we will see what we will see.
But voters have seen it all and heard it all before. What they remember is the banks got a bailout and they didn't. They know their wages have been flat for thirty years. They see their kids going to jail for drug crimes and the HSBC bank simply getting a fine for worse conduct. They drive on streets with potholes and their kids join the army or National Guard because they can't find a job. When a son or daughter goes to college the discussion is who's going to co-sign the loan note? And the casualty list from 14 years of over seas wars doesn't even make the evening news anymore.
Trump has no answers to these problems, but he has at least recognized the frustration and anger that people have over them. Yes, he's endorsed racism, nativism and ridiculous schemes. But to many of his supporters anything seems better than nothing---and nothing is what they're feeling from both the Democrats and the old guard of the GOP. The media may call it gridlock but the people simply see nothing productive coming from government.
The challenge for Clinton is how can she become Bernie Sanders? As they say, the leopard can't change its spots, so we will see what we will see.
62
Donald Trump lets all the regular citizens of our country realize that they too can be Great, they too can live in a country that is not obsessed with supporting strangers in far away places. That our sons and daughters won't be called upon to possibly fight and die for countries who's own children won't fight for themselves.
Trump lets us believe that usurpers won't suck up all the US largesse and deny our children the genourosity and bounty of our country.
Trump gives a glimmer of hope that these internationalists won't tie our people to the problems of the entire world, our children, our religions, our people must be number one. We don't need additional people here from war zones, we dont need undocumented strangers threatening our families and friends. We need to care for our people, people who believe in the American way, folks that want to be American.
Trump lets us believe that usurpers won't suck up all the US largesse and deny our children the genourosity and bounty of our country.
Trump gives a glimmer of hope that these internationalists won't tie our people to the problems of the entire world, our children, our religions, our people must be number one. We don't need additional people here from war zones, we dont need undocumented strangers threatening our families and friends. We need to care for our people, people who believe in the American way, folks that want to be American.
3
you sure youre not thinking of superman ?
"Instead, she played into that distrust this week by repeatedly asserting untruthful claims about her careless handling of government emails." Wow an incredibly rare moment of truth from this newspaper, has the Republican dirty tricks squad been putting sodium pentothal in the NYT water supply again?
4
As a physician I spend my day talking to people of all political stripes. Times readers who spend all day talking to other Times readers get a false sense of security about Republican self-destruction. In the past week I spoke to someone who thinks that Don the Con will bring back manufacturing jobs by "making tougher trade deals," someone else who said, "No, I never vote," and a third person who did not know ANYTHING about this past week's events, never heard of the Khans, knew nothing about any political news but said, "I like Trump." All three are scary. All three were impervious to anything I had to say on the subject.
Democrats should keep truckin'. Aim for a landslide and maybe we will get it and have a congress that President Hillary Clinton can work with. But also keep in mind that we could lose everything.
Democrats should keep truckin'. Aim for a landslide and maybe we will get it and have a congress that President Hillary Clinton can work with. But also keep in mind that we could lose everything.
12
Hillary - talk about economic growth for God's sake. Not redistribution.
7
I think concerns over small donations and rally attendance indicating an ability for Trump to win the election are overblown. If the average contribution is $10, Mr. Trump's fundraising in July merely indicates that he has about 8.2 million supporters -- less than 1/8 of what he would need to win. Similarly, rally attendance doesn't translate to huge votes.
That being said, I see plenty of reason for concern in terms of social cohesion, civility of discourse, and safety and harmoniousness of our society that Mr. Trump has let loose the worse angels of his supporters' natures. His supporters view his campaign as a 21st Century version of the Redemption, in which black people and other "others" are put back in their place in the pecking order. It will take a long time -- and perhaps a lot of social discord and violence -- for those effects of Mr. Trump's campaign to be put behind us.
That being said, I see plenty of reason for concern in terms of social cohesion, civility of discourse, and safety and harmoniousness of our society that Mr. Trump has let loose the worse angels of his supporters' natures. His supporters view his campaign as a 21st Century version of the Redemption, in which black people and other "others" are put back in their place in the pecking order. It will take a long time -- and perhaps a lot of social discord and violence -- for those effects of Mr. Trump's campaign to be put behind us.
1
In addition, target the 24 Republican Senators up for reelection in 2016. Regardless of who is in the Whitehouse, little or no responsible governance will occour if McConnell’s majority remains intact.
11
" Instead, she played into that distrust this week by repeatedly asserting untruthful claims about her careless handling of government emails."
As a voter, I am forced to weigh the quality/importance of these things: shaving the truth, the obfuscation, her judgement, her pandering, that I dislike about Hillary Clinton with what scares me about Trump, so totally unfit to be POTUS. I have no sense that either one of them will change. The sane choice has to be Hillary Clinton.
As a voter, I am forced to weigh the quality/importance of these things: shaving the truth, the obfuscation, her judgement, her pandering, that I dislike about Hillary Clinton with what scares me about Trump, so totally unfit to be POTUS. I have no sense that either one of them will change. The sane choice has to be Hillary Clinton.
6
Washington has betrayed the middle class with Clinton, Greenspan, and Gramm leading the deregulation. Can Hillary be trusted not to knuckle under for her Ivy league banker cronies. That is the question? Trump is sooo not the answer!
1
You left out an important name in that list, Bush.
To the Clinton and Down-Ballot Campaigns:
Do NOT, I repeat DO NOT, gloat, relax, pose, preen, or joke about the recent difficulties of Stupid Donald. If tempted, please find the photo with the then-newly-elected President Truman grinning while holding a copy of the Chicago Tribune whose banner headline read, "Dewey Defeats Truman."
Continue to press for tax returns disclosure. Continue to point out both inconsistencies and vague policy positions. Attack personal lack of humanity. Attack the amateurish nature of his campaign. Continue to point out the chaos in the Republican party.
Stupid Donald, his sycophants, and tunnel-vision supporters are on the run. Keep them running.
Remember the lessons of the past.
Do NOT, I repeat DO NOT, gloat, relax, pose, preen, or joke about the recent difficulties of Stupid Donald. If tempted, please find the photo with the then-newly-elected President Truman grinning while holding a copy of the Chicago Tribune whose banner headline read, "Dewey Defeats Truman."
Continue to press for tax returns disclosure. Continue to point out both inconsistencies and vague policy positions. Attack personal lack of humanity. Attack the amateurish nature of his campaign. Continue to point out the chaos in the Republican party.
Stupid Donald, his sycophants, and tunnel-vision supporters are on the run. Keep them running.
Remember the lessons of the past.
12
Trump supporters need to hear two messages constantly.
1) Trump's economic policies are hardly different than the policies that caused the long term decline of middle class opportunity. Tax and fiscal policy that panders to the donar class. Trump is the same wolf…in populist clothing.
2) Trump is a heartless con man. Of all the people on this earth, he is the least likely to take to heart another person's problems or suffering. He's proven it this week and if you want an example of the most craven, criminal, intentional rip off of average Americans, just research Trump University on the Web and YouTube.
Utterly nauseating to see how he wantonly preyed on people. A billionaire ripping off the little guy.
Why the Clinton campaign doesn't make the scam of Trump University more prominent is beyond me.
Hopefully they will.
He'll be lucky if the pitchforks don't come out to get him.
1) Trump's economic policies are hardly different than the policies that caused the long term decline of middle class opportunity. Tax and fiscal policy that panders to the donar class. Trump is the same wolf…in populist clothing.
2) Trump is a heartless con man. Of all the people on this earth, he is the least likely to take to heart another person's problems or suffering. He's proven it this week and if you want an example of the most craven, criminal, intentional rip off of average Americans, just research Trump University on the Web and YouTube.
Utterly nauseating to see how he wantonly preyed on people. A billionaire ripping off the little guy.
Why the Clinton campaign doesn't make the scam of Trump University more prominent is beyond me.
Hopefully they will.
He'll be lucky if the pitchforks don't come out to get him.
8
"Adding to an already impressive list of blunders and outrages, Mr. Trump doubled down on his insults of the Muslim parents of a fallen American serviceman; refused to endorse the re-election bid of Paul Ryan, the highest-ranking elected official in his party; and booted a crying baby out of a rally in Virginia."
While I agree that Trump is destroying his candidacy, your language is a distortion. He did not actually "insult" the Khans. He asked why Mrs. Khan was so silent. He has not endorsed Paul Ryan but Pence endorsed Ryan WITH Trump's support. And he did not "boot" the baby out. First he said that he loved babies but then he asked that the baby be taken out.
But a lot of people, out of laziness or lack of time, do not read the original remarks, they read your headlines instead.
This is not intended to be a defense of Trump. The man is far too narcissistic.
However, it is a suggestion that the NYT practice HONEST journalism.
While I agree that Trump is destroying his candidacy, your language is a distortion. He did not actually "insult" the Khans. He asked why Mrs. Khan was so silent. He has not endorsed Paul Ryan but Pence endorsed Ryan WITH Trump's support. And he did not "boot" the baby out. First he said that he loved babies but then he asked that the baby be taken out.
But a lot of people, out of laziness or lack of time, do not read the original remarks, they read your headlines instead.
This is not intended to be a defense of Trump. The man is far too narcissistic.
However, it is a suggestion that the NYT practice HONEST journalism.
7
sounds like a defense to me
I do not really agree with the claim that the Times is being dishonest about Trump, though one can quibble about exaggeration instead of cautious precision. My problem is with the statement that Clinton was untruthful about her emails In fact, Comey was misleading in his testimony. He testified that she sent a small number of classified emails, so marked. When pressed he had to acknowledge that the number sent was 3, that they were marked obscurely so it would be easy not to see the mark, and that the classification was a mistake (of at least two not sure about the third). I think what the Times really thinks is that it is strategically an error for Clinton to try to explain the nuances of the classification system and the rules governing the use of email in the government. That may be true. In that case, the Times should simply say that whatever the facts are, Clinton should always do a mea culpa when queried and not an explanation. KISS is the idea.
He was heavily implying that she was not allowed to speak because of her religion.
About the baby. He said "Actually I was only kidding, you can get the baby out of here," he said to laughs. "I think she really believed me that I love having a baby crying while I'm speaking. That's OK. People don't understand. That's OK."
Maybe you should lookkup the facts.
About the baby. He said "Actually I was only kidding, you can get the baby out of here," he said to laughs. "I think she really believed me that I love having a baby crying while I'm speaking. That's OK. People don't understand. That's OK."
Maybe you should lookkup the facts.
No, we must never dismiss Trump. He may be absurd, but Trump is no laughing matter, not only because he is now an official party nominee, but also because of what his very candidacy is doing to our nation. We can't laugh while Trump stokes the flames of fear against Muslims, immigrants, refugees and others. We can't laugh while Trump disparages women. We can't laugh while Trump gratuitously mocks people, even one with a disability. We can't laugh while Trump compares his 'sacrifices' for his enterprise with those of a gold-star family. We can't laugh while Trump submits that a military hero would have eluded capture.
Even if Mrs. Clinton wins in November, Trump will harm us all if we treat his destructive campaign lightly.
Even if Mrs. Clinton wins in November, Trump will harm us all if we treat his destructive campaign lightly.
175
It's what this generally spot on Editorial fails to address that is most troubling! Why do millions upon millions of Americans seem to support Trump?! If you have taught at the secondary level, ridden our roads, listened to the music, followed our mass media, observed the dealings of folks with one another, seen the non military folks covered with tattoos, and generally homed in on American culture, like I have these past twenty years or so, the answer is clear! We've become dumb downed, mean spirited, nihilistic, full of envy, overly materialistic, and lost our sense of the other, along with the breakdown of cohesion which family structures once kept strong! Trump's supporters say with the way immigration has become, they don't recognize the nation they grew up in anymore?! Well, neither do I, for the reasons I enunciated! Where is that city on the heal which I once thought, always appealed to the better angels of our nature?!!!
14
Clearly, very few of the esteemed Editorial Board have to drive on the approaches on the Manhattan side to the George Washington Bridge or live in the areas if Brooklyn that will be effectively without subway service for a year or so.
They might actually understand what poor infrastructure really is. But then again, they may have become so used to the sub-par experience that they no longer notice.
They might actually understand what poor infrastructure really is. But then again, they may have become so used to the sub-par experience that they no longer notice.
1
Never underestimate the stupidity of people in large numbers.
4
It seems to me that both the Democrats and the Republicans have missed the point of why so many people will vote for Trump regardless of the fact that he is a complete racist, misogynist, bigot, and unqualified candidate. The perception is that Republicans look out for the rich and Democrats look out for minorities. The average blue collar worker has no voice at all, hence the anger over the "rigged system".
Republicans sent their sons and daughters over to fight in wars and upon their return were treated terribly. Trickle down economics does not work, although the taxes on the rich continue to be cut, Social programs if they are not being cut, seem to help "others".
And the Democrats? They offered NAFTA and trade policies that resulted blue collar jobs (especially in the Midwest) going overseas. It's not a surprise that the Midwest states are key battleground states.
Actually, blue collar workers feel betrayed by both parties and "by the system". Both Democrats and Republicans which should have had everyone's interest at heart have not. The Republicans only take care of the interest of the rich, and the perception is that the Democrats only take care of the interest of minorities. It's not a coincidence that the major battle ground states are in the Midwest. And both parties should pay attention because even if Donald Trump loses in November, the anger and resentment are not going away.
Republicans sent their sons and daughters over to fight in wars and upon their return were treated terribly. Trickle down economics does not work, although the taxes on the rich continue to be cut, Social programs if they are not being cut, seem to help "others".
And the Democrats? They offered NAFTA and trade policies that resulted blue collar jobs (especially in the Midwest) going overseas. It's not a surprise that the Midwest states are key battleground states.
Actually, blue collar workers feel betrayed by both parties and "by the system". Both Democrats and Republicans which should have had everyone's interest at heart have not. The Republicans only take care of the interest of the rich, and the perception is that the Democrats only take care of the interest of minorities. It's not a coincidence that the major battle ground states are in the Midwest. And both parties should pay attention because even if Donald Trump loses in November, the anger and resentment are not going away.
6
The thing is the Democrats have not overlooked the poor whites or blue collar workers. That is plainly bogus. It's something that T and all want everyone to believe. There hasn't been a program for any minority that didn't also benefit poor whites. T and all GOP "friends" have been battling unions (the real friends to blue collar workers) for years. This is a battle of words and perceptions, not actual ideas, ideals or programs.
Perceptions might be reality to some. But some of us know better. Now the real problem is how to change those perceptions -- if that is possible. If not, then we simply must enlist new voters and work on those who are more rational.
Perceptions might be reality to some. But some of us know better. Now the real problem is how to change those perceptions -- if that is possible. If not, then we simply must enlist new voters and work on those who are more rational.
Not a bad warning against complacency for Hillary supporters. Unfortunately, the line about Hillary as a "morally serious leader" is rather laughable. What morals are we talking about?
9
She has been investigated continuously for 20 years by her political opponents.
She has never been charged with anything. What more do you want?
More importantly, what are the men of the Republican establishment so afraid of? The Criminal Murdoch and Rove's GOP have done all that they can to destroy her and she is still standing.
That's who I want as my President. Not a fool who can't differentiate btw fiction and reality.
She has never been charged with anything. What more do you want?
More importantly, what are the men of the Republican establishment so afraid of? The Criminal Murdoch and Rove's GOP have done all that they can to destroy her and she is still standing.
That's who I want as my President. Not a fool who can't differentiate btw fiction and reality.
Those who those who are disenchanted with both HC and DT and want to cast a kind of protest vote better think two or three times about doing so. Casting such a protest vote has no ability to elect that fringe candidate but it can affect the outcome of the election for the top two candidates. Dislike both of them? You are in good company but you are still obligated by patriotism to vote. So choose the one who will do the least damage to you and your nation but don't throw away your vote altogether by meaningless "protest." Who are you protesting to?
12
Here's how you avoid the peril of complacency. Watch the video in yesterday's NYT of unfiltered voices from Trump's campaign. Then bookmark it and review it once a week until the election. The hideous loathsome epithets and the half-baked regurgitation of Trump's lies and twisted ideology will remind you that these are the people who want to take over our country.
13
And so please know Steve, that the NYT is intentionally manipulating you to be afraid of anyone not in agreement with the Dems.
You are being manipulated into an equal hysteria and you are embracing it.
You are being manipulated into an equal hysteria and you are embracing it.
1
Republicans win when Democrats stay home. Remember this.
19
Republicans win when Democrats go to the polls and vote for Republicans, Veronique.
That has happened quite often, you know.
That has happened quite often, you know.
I seldom agree with Mika Brzezinski, but Friday morning she said Mr. Trump claimed to be a deal maker.
If Trump wants to win the White House, and if Republicans want the White House, then Trump better start making deals with the Republican "Establishment".
There may be differences and hurt feelings on both sides, but they have a shared objective in the White House.
If Trump wants to win the White House, and if Republicans want the White House, then Trump better start making deals with the Republican "Establishment".
There may be differences and hurt feelings on both sides, but they have a shared objective in the White House.
4
I watched the people in the video at Trump's rallies. Even if all the manufacturing jobs returned to America, what manager, white or black would hire these people? Who would want any of these people running out side, grabbing their privates, jumping around and saying hurtful words to your customers on a day to day basis. Even if you hired them, you would have to fire them in a couple days. No, their time has passed. Yes, they have been left behind, but they are the reason. Their time is not coming back. Best thing for these men and women to do is to go have that beer now while you can afford it.
24
"...but they are the reason."
Seems to me it wasn't all their fault. Maybe we should mention that it was all the work of their own "peeps" who did 'em in. There was no private replacement for all the outsourcing and dumping of what had been the job security of so many of the middle and working classes. And those "peeps" are never gonna voluntarily "feed the beast" no matter how much the demonstrators behave like children in the marketplace throwing gigantic, profane hissy fits.
Seems to me it wasn't all their fault. Maybe we should mention that it was all the work of their own "peeps" who did 'em in. There was no private replacement for all the outsourcing and dumping of what had been the job security of so many of the middle and working classes. And those "peeps" are never gonna voluntarily "feed the beast" no matter how much the demonstrators behave like children in the marketplace throwing gigantic, profane hissy fits.
Who would hire them, Larry?
Most employers.
Why? Because they are willing to work. That's why.
Most employers.
Why? Because they are willing to work. That's why.
1
Excellent point.
Yes, the article is correct in it’s assessment of Trump’s support, but it leaves out the main reason that Trump has not lost the following in spite of his insensitive remarks & lack of knowledge.
His supporters represent A Black & Hispanic backlash, which doesn’t emanate only from the white working class but from the Republican Middle & upper Class as well.The Middle & upper Classes are not as vocal as the working class, but they are Trumps ace in the hole, & will be the deciding vote, to make him President. Racism is alive and well in America.
His supporters represent A Black & Hispanic backlash, which doesn’t emanate only from the white working class but from the Republican Middle & upper Class as well.The Middle & upper Classes are not as vocal as the working class, but they are Trumps ace in the hole, & will be the deciding vote, to make him President. Racism is alive and well in America.
12
Yes, it is the middle working class that will make the difference & vote for Trump, who speaks & thinks not unlike James Comey when he addressed the Homeland Security Committee about our borders & Syrian Refugee Flows. Read it (November 2015)
"We can query our databases until the cows come home, but nothing will show up because we have no record of that person. You can only query what you have collected"
Don't believe polls, look at the polls regarding Britex, it was the British working class that made the difference, the elitists got it all wrong.
"We can query our databases until the cows come home, but nothing will show up because we have no record of that person. You can only query what you have collected"
Don't believe polls, look at the polls regarding Britex, it was the British working class that made the difference, the elitists got it all wrong.
1
That backlash, Ultraliberal, is quite different from that which you allege.
It is a backlash against...well...er...ultraliberals, the politics as usual ethic that has taken over our governance, the disinterest in the will of The People, and the corrupt, self-serving practices of the Clintons.
You should be far more in tune with this world-wide distrusts ot what liberalism...er...progressiveism...er...whatever it is that you are calling yourselves these days to evade the tsunami of votes against the failed programs and policies that you have imposed upon the world.
In short, the support of Trump is a repudiation of your and your views, sir.
It is a backlash against...well...er...ultraliberals, the politics as usual ethic that has taken over our governance, the disinterest in the will of The People, and the corrupt, self-serving practices of the Clintons.
You should be far more in tune with this world-wide distrusts ot what liberalism...er...progressiveism...er...whatever it is that you are calling yourselves these days to evade the tsunami of votes against the failed programs and policies that you have imposed upon the world.
In short, the support of Trump is a repudiation of your and your views, sir.
1
Spot on assessment.
Can anyone really place their trust in The Donald's business records? Who really knows how much money he's raking in from those donors? This, after all, is a man who's determined that his tax returns will never see the light of day.
4
Plus both he and Paul Manafort do a ton of business with the Russian oligarchs. They should not get near the WH.
1
I'm with HER. . .
2
The elites are flocking to Hillary and the non-elites, non-educated are flocking to Trump.
Why? Because the non-elites, non-educated have been told for decades they are not important and are not "in the club" so they don't care about any Trump mistakes. He is the only person who gives any indication that he cares.
Uneducated black and white males have one very large issue (i.e. good jobs for good pay) that they share and if they ever come together this country is going to be flipped upside down.
Why? Because the non-elites, non-educated have been told for decades they are not important and are not "in the club" so they don't care about any Trump mistakes. He is the only person who gives any indication that he cares.
Uneducated black and white males have one very large issue (i.e. good jobs for good pay) that they share and if they ever come together this country is going to be flipped upside down.
5
That's simply not true. Democrats have been fighting for health care, clean air and water, education etc. for all Americans, not just a chosen few. If the people you speak of would read or watch some actual news and pay attention to what is going on they would see this.
Clinton did the smart thing this past week.
Stayed out of the wag while Trump did his self inflicted damage.
Anything she did too draw attention away from that spectacle would have been tactically dumb. (And I'm not sure his crazy display will entirely fade this time)
Once Trump stops digging his own grave - well, with him it may only be a pause - she should focus on the main issue that many sane people among his supporters want addressed.
Namely, the tilt toward favoring the most powerful and connected in economic policy and the resulting detriment to the large middle class.
Tell a little history lesson and pin it on the very Republican policies and intransigence that Trump still promotes.
And, signal a break from any Democratic complicity as well.
Something bold if Trump puts down his shovel at some point.
Stayed out of the wag while Trump did his self inflicted damage.
Anything she did too draw attention away from that spectacle would have been tactically dumb. (And I'm not sure his crazy display will entirely fade this time)
Once Trump stops digging his own grave - well, with him it may only be a pause - she should focus on the main issue that many sane people among his supporters want addressed.
Namely, the tilt toward favoring the most powerful and connected in economic policy and the resulting detriment to the large middle class.
Tell a little history lesson and pin it on the very Republican policies and intransigence that Trump still promotes.
And, signal a break from any Democratic complicity as well.
Something bold if Trump puts down his shovel at some point.
2
Several comments suggest that Donny does not want to be president. Wether or not that is true, he does want to win. What he wants to win now is this election. Donny will do everything he can to close this deal on his terms.
The Dem's need to keep pointing out his numerous short comings and failures. This should not be done by the headliners (Clinton, Kaine, Obama, Biden and Sanders) but by others who Donny will feel don't have the standing. He will continue to over react.
Clinton needs to become more personable (by appearing with senate and house candidates and showing some interpersonal warmth?) and paint a vision of where she will lead.
The Dem's need to keep pointing out his numerous short comings and failures. This should not be done by the headliners (Clinton, Kaine, Obama, Biden and Sanders) but by others who Donny will feel don't have the standing. He will continue to over react.
Clinton needs to become more personable (by appearing with senate and house candidates and showing some interpersonal warmth?) and paint a vision of where she will lead.
1
This article is somewhat confusing in its ask to ignore empirical data (polls) in favor of fundraising numbers (ok fair) and anecdotal crowd size (what???). This feels like it was written by the single extraterrestrial on The Editorial Board who has never witnessed an election and has no clue how elections actually work from a strategic perspective or how to gage the horserace based on advanced analytics (which are still not always right, but way more accurate than the crowd size eye test) and estimates of ground support operations. Clearly the Clinton campaign shouldn't become complacent, but big live crowds to bolster minimal ad buys is not the reason. Thanks for the insight NYT E.T.! Always nice to hear from a true outsider.
Americans should take no joy in the irony of this man's humiliation, as his popularity is a result of misapplied anger at a GOP that has refused to tax and govern and willed all reasonable policy to fail in order to gain power. As with any tragedy, the learning comes after the fall and it will require more than Hillary to redirect the Humpty Dumpty culture of anger, hate and anti-intellectualism toward a better use of our resources and our humanity.
6
Each day the Washington Post has about 8 anti Trump stories.The Times usually produces about 5 daily anti Trump stories.It is quite obvious these 2 news outlets will continue Trump bashing until election day.At the same time,there are few to no Hillary stories about her lies,and the flaws in the Clinton Foundation.The anti Trump biases only reinforce the Trump supporters.Any Democrat who believes Hillary will win in a landslide is flirting with disaster.This election will be decided by white male/female voters who comprise 71% of the votes.Hillary will receive the Black/Hispanic 29%.
4
If Donald wants to have positive stories written about him, he's going to have to start acting like a big boy and not an mentally-disabled toddler.
Trump's voter turnout will be very high. Those who support Hillary must get to the polls and drag all of their friends and relatives with them
3
Make it a party, go out for a meal at a local restaurant or have a potluck dinner.
My parents always threw a party on election day. It was their way of celebrating being Americans with the right to vote. It made a profound and lasting impression on me.
My parents always threw a party on election day. It was their way of celebrating being Americans with the right to vote. It made a profound and lasting impression on me.
Times editorial board is right. Many of us expect the worst of Trump but many of us hope for the best of Clinton. I have no doubt that Clinton will be a fine president as her husband was. However, similar to President Bill Clinton, she will not get the respect and admiration that President Obama enjoys unless she acts with much more integrity and candor. She is running now as a technician that will sweat the details of governmental policies but she is not yet running as a president who can inspire the best of Americans. There is a big difference and may even determine the election if Trump stops shooting himself on the foot. This is not an election about details but about different world views. In Mr. Douthat's language, Trump has chosen the "dark" side. Mrs. Clinton has not yet shown herself to be worthy of the mantle of the "light".
2
Hillary Clinton is 9 points ahead of Donald Trump? I don't care if Clinton is 19 points ahead of Trump, or she's even 29 points ahead of him. No margin is enough.
We have three months until the election. Anything can happen, in this election cycle in which, in fact, so many unexpected things already have happened. In this environment, Axelrod's joking advice to Clinton to visit national parks sounds like "slam dunk" to me, and not appreciated even in jest.
What happens if Clinton "merely" wins? Republicans could retain the Senate, as well as the House. Republicans will be encouraged to keep behaving as they did during President Obama's tenure. Trump's supporters will still be considered by Republicans to be ripe for pandering and exploitation. Clinton will be forced to carry on the least appetizing parts of Obama's legacy, as an embattled executive. We will have gotten nowhere.
In 2008 looking at what had happened under W., I saw the Obama/Biden vs McCain/Palin race as a war. I bled green beyond my modest means. But I was wrong. That Presidential race was merely a battle. The war clearly goes on, and in the current battle, the stakes are even higher than in 2008.
Clinton and the Democrats must not merely win. They must crush their opponents. Republicans must be convinced that they cannot, and for their own good must not, operate as they have while Obama has been President, and that they must renounce Trump's tactics, which only ever amplified their own cynical appeals.
We have three months until the election. Anything can happen, in this election cycle in which, in fact, so many unexpected things already have happened. In this environment, Axelrod's joking advice to Clinton to visit national parks sounds like "slam dunk" to me, and not appreciated even in jest.
What happens if Clinton "merely" wins? Republicans could retain the Senate, as well as the House. Republicans will be encouraged to keep behaving as they did during President Obama's tenure. Trump's supporters will still be considered by Republicans to be ripe for pandering and exploitation. Clinton will be forced to carry on the least appetizing parts of Obama's legacy, as an embattled executive. We will have gotten nowhere.
In 2008 looking at what had happened under W., I saw the Obama/Biden vs McCain/Palin race as a war. I bled green beyond my modest means. But I was wrong. That Presidential race was merely a battle. The war clearly goes on, and in the current battle, the stakes are even higher than in 2008.
Clinton and the Democrats must not merely win. They must crush their opponents. Republicans must be convinced that they cannot, and for their own good must not, operate as they have while Obama has been President, and that they must renounce Trump's tactics, which only ever amplified their own cynical appeals.
24
Advising Clinton to become more of a priggish goody two shoes will only incite her humorless establishment side even more.
The more she focuses on Trump, the less she talks about all the Republican policies that have brought us to this place. Those policies are the disease; Trump is just the symptom. Address the disease and the symptom goes away.
The Republican leaders put up with Trump because he is the perfect smoke screen for their empty pool of ideas.
The media owns this one because they play the smoke screen and don't show what is going on behind it. Look at how many stories the NYT's publishes that have Trump at the center. Every other media outlet is doing the same. The crowds go because he has become a hot celebrity, not a presidential candidate. Do some journalistic digging in questioning the money sources.
By the end of September the Trump crowds will be watching the World Series and if the media doesn't give him more air time, his loud presence will just become a background noise the no one hears anymore.
The more she focuses on Trump, the less she talks about all the Republican policies that have brought us to this place. Those policies are the disease; Trump is just the symptom. Address the disease and the symptom goes away.
The Republican leaders put up with Trump because he is the perfect smoke screen for their empty pool of ideas.
The media owns this one because they play the smoke screen and don't show what is going on behind it. Look at how many stories the NYT's publishes that have Trump at the center. Every other media outlet is doing the same. The crowds go because he has become a hot celebrity, not a presidential candidate. Do some journalistic digging in questioning the money sources.
By the end of September the Trump crowds will be watching the World Series and if the media doesn't give him more air time, his loud presence will just become a background noise the no one hears anymore.
5
Reading your editorial today (Aug. 5) on Donald Trump (once more) I became even more convinced that he has very good chances to be the next president of the U.S.
It is proven time and again that vicious attacks on a daily basis against a single person by an alliance of big media, big business and the political and intellectual establishment only make the candidate more and more appealing to the popular masses. This is exactly what happens with M. Trump who has also the political instinct to echo the sentiment of the white working-class and middle income people even as his political message is evident;y simplistic and populist.
More than this I believe that there is a vast undercurrent of resistance against the economic downgrading and marginalization of low-income people brought to a large extent by the forces of capitalist globalization that is at the same time directed against the governing elites both in the U.S. and Europe. These were actually the forces behind the Brexit vote in June.
P.S. G. Khan's personal attacks, bordering to defamation, against D. Trump in the democratic convention are to my much more provocative than D. Trump's aggressive reaction.
It is proven time and again that vicious attacks on a daily basis against a single person by an alliance of big media, big business and the political and intellectual establishment only make the candidate more and more appealing to the popular masses. This is exactly what happens with M. Trump who has also the political instinct to echo the sentiment of the white working-class and middle income people even as his political message is evident;y simplistic and populist.
More than this I believe that there is a vast undercurrent of resistance against the economic downgrading and marginalization of low-income people brought to a large extent by the forces of capitalist globalization that is at the same time directed against the governing elites both in the U.S. and Europe. These were actually the forces behind the Brexit vote in June.
P.S. G. Khan's personal attacks, bordering to defamation, against D. Trump in the democratic convention are to my much more provocative than D. Trump's aggressive reaction.
4
P.S. You find racism unprovocative?
Mr Khan's personal attacks? Are you kidding me? Words said against an adult who has called other people names for over a year?
When was the last time you heard someone over the age of 6 call anyone else a name?
When was the last time you heard someone over the age of 6 call anyone else a name?
I liked the part when wiki leaks exposed the DNC primaries fraud and the polls got close for a minute. how fast the security/media/neoliberal apparatus whipped out this pre-packaged "The Russians are Coming" narrative.
Krugman even jumped the gun by a day with his Russian conspiracy theory column a day before all the other stuff hit the fan. He must be clairvoyant.
Either that or the whole thing was concocted in Brooklyn.
Krugman even jumped the gun by a day with his Russian conspiracy theory column a day before all the other stuff hit the fan. He must be clairvoyant.
Either that or the whole thing was concocted in Brooklyn.
7
"The Trump Junta" is possible if people don't put down their chai teas, skip soccer practice, get out of their safe spaces, and do some work.
And Bernistas, what makes you think you won't be the first ones put in camps? Will the Bernie tattoo be above or below the Nader one? Make sure to leave room for a serial number.
Who might I talk to today about Donald in a civil fashion should be everybody's question.
And Bernistas, what makes you think you won't be the first ones put in camps? Will the Bernie tattoo be above or below the Nader one? Make sure to leave room for a serial number.
Who might I talk to today about Donald in a civil fashion should be everybody's question.
1
When will the NYT's, see Blow's piece from yesterday, stop playing the race card and blaming white males for the rise of Trump?
The reason Trump might very will win is because the majority of voters know that our political establishment exists to serve corporate America and the 1% above all else. Trump is the vessel to drop your protest vote into.
The reason Trump might very will win is because the majority of voters know that our political establishment exists to serve corporate America and the 1% above all else. Trump is the vessel to drop your protest vote into.
8
I'm sorry but the demographics don't lie. All you have to do is take a look at the people attending his rallies.
Here's what Mrs. Clinton has not addressed....
"The Federal Government is now under severe attack for its inability to bring resources to bear, quickly and effectively, on such problems as the poor, the decay of the cities, the inadequacy of public education, the inequity of health care. What is new about these problems is not the awareness of them, but the level of public intolerance for their continued existence."
This statement was written in 1971! By my reckoning, that is 45 years ago. Forty-five years includes more than two generations of the current electorate.
So far she has invoked the obvious, failing, large Federal bureaucracies to provide public services.
"The Federal Government is now under severe attack for its inability to bring resources to bear, quickly and effectively, on such problems as the poor, the decay of the cities, the inadequacy of public education, the inequity of health care. What is new about these problems is not the awareness of them, but the level of public intolerance for their continued existence."
This statement was written in 1971! By my reckoning, that is 45 years ago. Forty-five years includes more than two generations of the current electorate.
So far she has invoked the obvious, failing, large Federal bureaucracies to provide public services.
3
All spending originates in the House of Representatives.
Until the gerrymandered House is replaced in 2020, nothing will change.
Until the gerrymandered House is replaced in 2020, nothing will change.
Joking or no Mr. Axelrod, Secretary Clinton should NOT take the summer off. Nor should the suggestion that the finish line is in sight and we’re in the lead even be floated. Indeed now is the time for Secretary Clinton to REDOUBLE her efforts to defeat Trump.
Coaches the world around will tell you the key to any win is “FINISH”: never quit, never assume it’s in the bag. Don’t let up. Run THROUGH the tape!
You can bet your last dollar the republicans will be pulling out every stop to besmirch Secretary Clinton. Trey Goudy will be foraging for every pot and pan he can bang together to make as much empty noise as he can. Jason Chaffetz will be up to his hyper-chafed backside in innuendo, slur and implication. O’Reilly, Hannity, Baier and the Faux Noise Network will be auguring the entrails of every dead goat and dumpster within their reach.
No Secretary Clinton, do NOT take the summer off. In fact ESCALATE the pressure! Trump responds to organized pressure with disorganized harangue. He responds petulantly to challenge. The angrier he gets the more deranged and unfocused he gets. Stay with it Secretary Clinton….up the ante, help Trump self-destruct! The more Trump reveals the real Trump, the less Trump the country will tolerate.
But don’t let off the gas. Never underestimate the power of ignorance and hate….especially in large groups.
Coaches the world around will tell you the key to any win is “FINISH”: never quit, never assume it’s in the bag. Don’t let up. Run THROUGH the tape!
You can bet your last dollar the republicans will be pulling out every stop to besmirch Secretary Clinton. Trey Goudy will be foraging for every pot and pan he can bang together to make as much empty noise as he can. Jason Chaffetz will be up to his hyper-chafed backside in innuendo, slur and implication. O’Reilly, Hannity, Baier and the Faux Noise Network will be auguring the entrails of every dead goat and dumpster within their reach.
No Secretary Clinton, do NOT take the summer off. In fact ESCALATE the pressure! Trump responds to organized pressure with disorganized harangue. He responds petulantly to challenge. The angrier he gets the more deranged and unfocused he gets. Stay with it Secretary Clinton….up the ante, help Trump self-destruct! The more Trump reveals the real Trump, the less Trump the country will tolerate.
But don’t let off the gas. Never underestimate the power of ignorance and hate….especially in large groups.
9
Peril Number 1 against writing off Mr. Trump is that a majority of Americans are of white European heritage and they voted 57% and 59% in 2008 and 2012 for McCain/Palin and Romney/Ryan.
Peril Number 2 against writing off Mr. Trump is that he defeated 16 Republican primary and caucus opponents in his first run for political office.
Peril Number 3 against writing off Mr. Trump is that his major general election opponent is Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Strike Three! You are out of there!
Peril Number 2 against writing off Mr. Trump is that he defeated 16 Republican primary and caucus opponents in his first run for political office.
Peril Number 3 against writing off Mr. Trump is that his major general election opponent is Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Strike Three! You are out of there!
2
On Wednesday in Florida, Trump told a group, recorded for national media:
America is a third world nation”.
One can argue whether America is number 1 and unique.
But third world?
This trump statement give aid and comfort to the enemy. This is treason. Trump should be indicted, unless, as some claim, he should be institutionalized for Narcissistic Personality Disorder- a serious mental illness.
By Section 110 of Article III. of the Constitution of the United States, it is declared that:
"Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.
1
The Donald Trump plan is to enrage and activate a significant number of white voters and turn out enough of them on election day to overwhelm the Hillary voters. To do that he must double down on the outrageous statements. To pivot to the center would cost him too much. He would lose a portion of his base, and not gain a significant amount of moderate voters.
3
I suppose that if Mr. Trump is discovered to be in some kind of secret business dealings, direct or indirect, with Russia, he may indeed have to withdraw from the race, in which case the GOP's standard bearer would be Mike Pence.
2
Are you sure that's true? Does the party not replace the nominee with another nominee voted on by the electors?
In other words, Pence does not automatically "move up." Cruz still has the most votes after Trump.
In other words, Pence does not automatically "move up." Cruz still has the most votes after Trump.
Well said, excellent advice NYT. As any trial lawyer will tell you, you're an idiot to let up off the gas right through to the end of your case, to the very last word of your summation. No one can EVER predict how the jury will decide, and you'd be a fool to do so.
6
"Instead, she played into that distrust this week by repeatedly asserting untruthful claims about her careless handling of government emails."
I don't care about that. All candidates for president have their flaws. What matters to me is Ms. Clinton qualified for the job? Of course she is qualified. For example look at her foreign policy experience.
I recently threw out the Republican Party for numerous reasons. I am now a conservative Democrat. I'm voting for the best candidate, Ms. Clinton. I stand by my future president.
I don't care about that. All candidates for president have their flaws. What matters to me is Ms. Clinton qualified for the job? Of course she is qualified. For example look at her foreign policy experience.
I recently threw out the Republican Party for numerous reasons. I am now a conservative Democrat. I'm voting for the best candidate, Ms. Clinton. I stand by my future president.
12
From the editorial:
"Lacking workable ideas or intellectual ballast, Mr. Trump’s candidacy thrives on his refusal to be “politically correct,” a term he deploys to give license to declarations that should be called bigotry, or cruelty, or verbal battery. That behavior is what many of his supporters most admire. He is speaking to people who disbelieve conventional politicians, who detest a Washington they think has betrayed them. He promises nothing of substance to ease their pain, but he gives voice to their rage."
If one replaces "Trump", "he", and "his" in the following manner, you get this:
"Lacking workable ideas or intellectual ballast, Republican ideology thrives on its refusal to be “politically correct,” a term it deploys to give license to declarations that should be called bigotry, or cruelty, or verbal battery. That behavior is what many of its supporters most admire. Republican ideology speaks to people who disbelieve conventional politicians, who detest a Washington they think has betrayed them. Republican ideology promises nothing of substance to ease their pain, but it gives voice to their rage."
Trump = Republican Ideology, and Republican Ideology = Trump
This result comes as no surprise to anyone possessing even a modest amount of wits, because it has been in the making for over 35 years. Unfortunately, decades of media-driven "both sides are equally bad" meme of false equivalency played a huge role in getting us to this sorry state.
"Lacking workable ideas or intellectual ballast, Mr. Trump’s candidacy thrives on his refusal to be “politically correct,” a term he deploys to give license to declarations that should be called bigotry, or cruelty, or verbal battery. That behavior is what many of his supporters most admire. He is speaking to people who disbelieve conventional politicians, who detest a Washington they think has betrayed them. He promises nothing of substance to ease their pain, but he gives voice to their rage."
If one replaces "Trump", "he", and "his" in the following manner, you get this:
"Lacking workable ideas or intellectual ballast, Republican ideology thrives on its refusal to be “politically correct,” a term it deploys to give license to declarations that should be called bigotry, or cruelty, or verbal battery. That behavior is what many of its supporters most admire. Republican ideology speaks to people who disbelieve conventional politicians, who detest a Washington they think has betrayed them. Republican ideology promises nothing of substance to ease their pain, but it gives voice to their rage."
Trump = Republican Ideology, and Republican Ideology = Trump
This result comes as no surprise to anyone possessing even a modest amount of wits, because it has been in the making for over 35 years. Unfortunately, decades of media-driven "both sides are equally bad" meme of false equivalency played a huge role in getting us to this sorry state.
6
Wrong. This is an extension of the tired argument by Democrats to make themselves feel better and superior, and to ignore the other, serious differences between Republicans, stemming from Democrats' bias in favor of government control of everything.
Trump, and the people who support him.
Trump, and the people who support him.
Hillary should not go after Republicans. The NYT and other establishment media sources completely underestimate the hatred of Mrs Clinton. They won't vote for her, ever! The best we can hope for is that they stay home, then at least they won't be voting down ticket either.
7
Also a lot of Democrats won't vote for her ever.
1
Trump is such a clear and present danger to the republic that the democrats should run as hard as they can. Furthermore the US government should be prepared for trouble if the election goes against Trump. As reported by Ruth Marcus in the Washington Post not only is Trump currently complaining about the 2016 election but in 2012 when Romney Lost Trump was tweeting that the election was rigged and stolen. He recommended marching on Washington. Add to that the fact that his supporters are violent and heavily armed. We have to be prepared for his defeat because it could cause civil unrest / rebellion by armed and violent supporters of Domald Trump.
12
Unfortunately many smart Republicans still refuse to see Trump as the logical conclusion of the last few decades of reactionary irrationality,as the embodiment of Fox News and Hate Radio.
They are horrified because of his boorishness and bemoan his destruction of their party, whereas he is merely the living expression of what it had become. Nonetheless, they dislike Hillary and can't bring themselves to vote for anyone.
This is what is dangerous and why Diaboloical Donald could get in.
They are horrified because of his boorishness and bemoan his destruction of their party, whereas he is merely the living expression of what it had become. Nonetheless, they dislike Hillary and can't bring themselves to vote for anyone.
This is what is dangerous and why Diaboloical Donald could get in.
9
They are horrified because of his boorishness
no
thats what draws them to him
he was plumbed th lowest common denominator in america, and struck th mother lode
no
thats what draws them to him
he was plumbed th lowest common denominator in america, and struck th mother lode
Trump will be Trump, but despite the new polls, I agree we cannot write him off. Every pundit thought he wouldn't make it through the primaries. They were wrong. Trump may put on his big-boy pants and follow the advice of his campaign. However, if he falls off track, it will not sway those who voted for him because they hate everyone Trump hates. But it will also be up to Hillary to not screw it up either...and her pandering has always been her downfall.
The only way to defeat him is with our votes...especially in Swing States.
The only way to defeat him is with our votes...especially in Swing States.
3
I've known her for over 20 years. I have never seen her pander.
Her turnaround on many Bernie issues....most of those promises won't be kept.
And during her last run she tried to get gas stored because she thought it would get her votes.....
Telling people she was shot at in a war zone.....
The list goes on. Read "Game Change".
And during her last run she tried to get gas stored because she thought it would get her votes.....
Telling people she was shot at in a war zone.....
The list goes on. Read "Game Change".
1
People have been writing off Trump since he declared he was running for president. They need to stop it and fight to keep him out of office.
He's popular because he breaks the rules and doesn't act like a politician. The fact that he's running against a career politician who speaks like a robot only works in his favor in this respect.
He's popular because he breaks the rules and doesn't act like a politician. The fact that he's running against a career politician who speaks like a robot only works in his favor in this respect.
72
\
maybe he should adopt outback restos old slogan
no rules, just right
maybe he should adopt outback restos old slogan
no rules, just right
Dems cannot take the election for granted.
Over 40% of US voters support DJT, even after his unthinkable assault on the Gold Star mother.
DJT support includes many with legitimate grievances that have nothing to do with racism, xenophobia or DJT insults/narcissism.
Dems would do well to start to find common ground with some DJT supporters regarding their legitimate grievances.
This would be wise not for political reasons, but more importantly, for reasons of preservation of the union.
Over 40% of US voters support DJT, even after his unthinkable assault on the Gold Star mother.
DJT support includes many with legitimate grievances that have nothing to do with racism, xenophobia or DJT insults/narcissism.
Dems would do well to start to find common ground with some DJT supporters regarding their legitimate grievances.
This would be wise not for political reasons, but more importantly, for reasons of preservation of the union.
90
The democrats presented their version of the Babu character from Seinfeld, and then claimed you could not criticize him because he is a gold start parent. So they are gaining ground base on an absurd argument, so of course it can be reversed.
1
What about the unthinkable assault on the Gold Star mother named Patrica Smith. That's right it was a republican so it was ok to attack her. I likes Bernie but that is why Bernie voters and others are running to Trump. They are tired of the medias double standard. Bernie was an old man according to the media but Clinton was portrayed as young and full of ideas even if they are separated by a few years. I will vote for Trump because I would to egg on the medias biased face
1
...And because it's just the right thing to do -- to pay attention to people's (legitimate) grievances.
I dislike Mrs. Clinton. She embodies Dick Nixon without his liberal chops. I see her as a pragmatic war monger and Plutocrat. She was head and shoulders better then Bernie Sanders and light years better then Donald Trump. This is the easiest vote for President I have every cast with the possible exception of War monger John McCain against President Obama.
This isn't Hillary Clinton against George Bush Sr. or Mitt Romney. This is Hillary Clinton against Donald Trump. I don't believe for a minute the American voting public will vote for Mr. Trump in droves when actually confronted with the responsibility of electing the next President.
This isn't Hillary Clinton against George Bush Sr. or Mitt Romney. This is Hillary Clinton against Donald Trump. I don't believe for a minute the American voting public will vote for Mr. Trump in droves when actually confronted with the responsibility of electing the next President.
38
OK, let's say she wins the election and gives the Stater of the Union speech. But the Dems don't win either the Senate or the House. The first day of the next session Mitch McConnell says his number one job is to make sure Hillary Clinton is a one term President, Chuck Grassley says he will not confirm any Supreme Court nominees until the people have spoken in 2020, Paul Ryan refuses to negotiate any budget measure of the new administration and McCain and Lindsay Graham want to invade any country whose name they can pronounce. How is it going to make any difference?
I wish Hillary would craft some positions that would answer the frustration of those who turn to Trump, and repeat them, ad nauseum. She should state clearly that we need a Constitutional amendment to erase Citizens United, she should call for clear and real regulation of banks. She could begin every rally admitting her past mistakes -- the crime bill, the Iraq war vote, the cozying up to big banks -- and pledge to do everything to reverse their harmful effects.
1
She has done a lot of those things but they don't get any news coverage.
The whole discussion of banking, monetary policy, and fiscal policy is frozen at "stupid". The zero lower bound of interest rates is a trap that nobody knows how to escape in an orderly way.
Admit her past mistakes? No one would believe her, nor should they.
1
The only poll which matters is the one that takes place on Election Day.Then, and only then, we will see if the blatant dishonesty and distortions which have been the hallmark of the Liberal media reportage on Trump have succeeded. If they have and Clinton gets in then the inescapable conclusion is the insanity and delusion which re-elected Obama to a second term is still afflicting that portion of the electorate which presumably has the minimum IQ to understand the error of their previous decision.
4
I think the elites are beginning to feel the heat if not the bern. And by the way, there are many recent polls that show Trump and Hillary head to head. Not that I trust them more than your polls showing a 9 point lead, but still . . . you mislead your supporters only at your and their own peril.
4
"And by the way, there are many recent polls that show Trump and Hillary head to head"
Which ones would those be?
Which ones would those be?
Sadly the Sanders campaign has provided Trump with the fodder to cry foul over a "rigged" election system. In fact Sander's most die-hard supporters continue to insist it's what happened in the primaries - every Clinton win was fixed while every Sanders win was legitimate. Forgetting apparently that it is the States that determine voting rules and access - many of these in Republican hands - a party that had no interest in a Clinton win. Since Bush II broke the ice and litigated himself into the White House with the help of his father's appointments to the Supreme Court we must be even more vigilant to preventing that from happening again by ensuring that polling operations are adequately funded and poll workers are responsibly trained. In addition to voter suppression, the NYT and other media can help by shedding even more light than it has already on States that are either benignly or malevolently neglecting their voting operations and not let up until the States in question fix their election system's problems. While our system is not rigged it could stand improvement.
6
Are his crowds surging because they want to see a presidential candidate or because they want to see a clown?
5
I have said from the time Trump started winning primaries that Trump is frightening, but scarier than him are all of his folllowers. Even if (when, I hope!) he loses the elections, all those followers will still be out there. What do we do about them?
6
Raised 80 million in small donations in July, has solid 45% of vote, 15% third party or whatever and Hillary loses. All this ganging up is just solidifying my vote for Trump.Waiting for October surprise which will be a doozy.
6
Are we positive that his campaign is telling the truth in regards to this? Did Trump receive this many campaign contributions, or is his campaign counting the number of requests for contributions and tallying those up? I question this for obvious reasons. Can we trust them to give us the honest facts? --By the way, I received a request for a contribution to Trump's campaign. Why, I don't know. I threw it away. Is his campaign counting this as a contribution? Just wondering...
5
Unfortunately, Hillary Clinton lives in a dream world of truthiness, but Donald Trump's world is an outright nightmare of mendacity. This editorial is correct that Clinton's current advantage is very ephemeral, notwithstanding today's substantial polling lead. Her tenuous relationship with truthfulness leaves her vulnerable to charges of dishonesty from a pathological liar who nonetheless successfully rallies support from America's rage brigade.
Even if Clinton wins in a landslide, Trump is fixing to play the stolen-election card, loudly, legally and totally tendentiously. He has given ample evidence that the sanctity of America's democratic tradition means less to him than his megalomaniacal need to avoid the "loser" tag. Other people are losers, not The Donald.
This battle is far from over.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
Even if Clinton wins in a landslide, Trump is fixing to play the stolen-election card, loudly, legally and totally tendentiously. He has given ample evidence that the sanctity of America's democratic tradition means less to him than his megalomaniacal need to avoid the "loser" tag. Other people are losers, not The Donald.
This battle is far from over.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
5
// booted a crying baby out of a rally in Virginia.//
i stopped reading when i read this. Lies.. Typical standard hit piece based on conspiracy theories and none facts.
i stopped reading when i read this. Lies.. Typical standard hit piece based on conspiracy theories and none facts.
8
Yes he did. Watch and listen to the video. He asked the crying baby to go.
perhaps my eyes are showing their 'truth bias' again because i swear i saw this with them.
Trying to invent a narrative saying Trump may quit the race is journalism?
Panicking much?
Panicking much?
10
"The idea that Mr. Trump will quit if his all-important poll numbers fall far enough seems like wishful thinking."
It's the Republican party, not journalists, who are fantasizing about Trump quitting the race.
It's the Republican party, not journalists, who are fantasizing about Trump quitting the race.
To the editorial board.
Please give the facts.
I'm just a casual observer. But did Trump actually kick out a crying? Look at the video, your statement is untrue.
Please give the facts.
I'm just a casual observer. But did Trump actually kick out a crying? Look at the video, your statement is untrue.
11
He told the baby's mother to get the baby out of there. And belittled her for not understanding that he was being sarcastic when he said he loves crying babies. "Some people don't understand." Terrible, indefensible optics, no matter how you look at it.
1
It is unlikely that Trump will fade away and any hopes that he will become "the better Trump" is slim to none, as it should be expected that he will become even more outrageous. Trump's base include not only those who are truly disinterested with the status quo of Washington and are a functional part of American society, but many of the disenfranchised who do not fit in functional society. These include the KKK type who are poor, uneducated and infrequently employed who refuse to blame themselves for their failure to maintain a skill set that is needed in an American society that is changing, global trade is killing American manufacturing but American companies are going overseas as Americans will not accept, or be able to live on, wages that are a few dollars an hour. Their position in American society is slipping, sometimes by no fault of theirs but sometimes for their unwillingness to change. As long as Trump fails to provide specifics, and continue to pander on a secret solution that he will reveal later after he is elected, the disenfranchised worker will support Trump more fervently, and as the poll numbers slip and more republicans leave him, Trump will be more emboldened by his remaining and more enthusiastic crowds. With the infusion of campaign money from Trump's devoted following, this thing is going all the way and Trump will give his people what they expect.
3
The idiotic support of Trump is something that defies EVERYTHING I thought of
as reasonable, logical,arguable.(and so on..) There is nothing to do or say about it. People who support Trump are an embodiment of an alternate universe. The regular world just isn't the same as the alternate world. It's like trying to stop
a suicide bomber from blowing himself up…..If somebody wants to blow themselves up. they can and will. How do you talk someone out of it?
as reasonable, logical,arguable.(and so on..) There is nothing to do or say about it. People who support Trump are an embodiment of an alternate universe. The regular world just isn't the same as the alternate world. It's like trying to stop
a suicide bomber from blowing himself up…..If somebody wants to blow themselves up. they can and will. How do you talk someone out of it?
2
Offer them a vacation in Nantucket with full golf privileges. That's how.
I would like to see Clinton try to directly engage Trump supporters. Say something like, "I hear you. You've been left behind. But please don't let all this hatred poison your body and your soul. You're not going to love me, but you'll see me fight for you. Let me work for a fair playing field for you."
Can you imagine how unhinged Donald would become?
Can you imagine how unhinged Donald would become?
5
It may be possible that her bucket of lies is already full and there isn't room for any more of them.
1
HRC couldn't have an easier path to the White House. Half the people in the country don't like her and three quarters of the people don't trust her, but she should, and probably win easily. Most of us will fell relieved that the wildcard Trump has been defeated.
The scary part is we are left with a President that wouldn't have won in most other election cycles. I know the object is to win for Hillary, but the system really is broken, and having an old line connected politician for another term, or two might be too much for our country to handle.
How many of us would really like to see, and hear HRC just tell the truth, and see who she really is, and what she really represents? I am disturbed that HRC has not held a press conference since January. I mean a real press conference with all media present asking rapid fire questions. I cant stand Trump but at least I know who he is, and what he represents.
Please do the country a favor, and allow us to know you away from the teleprompter, and the prepared speeches. I know you have baggage in the closet, but everyone has baggage. Its OK. We need to see how you react under the fire of the press machine
The scary part is we are left with a President that wouldn't have won in most other election cycles. I know the object is to win for Hillary, but the system really is broken, and having an old line connected politician for another term, or two might be too much for our country to handle.
How many of us would really like to see, and hear HRC just tell the truth, and see who she really is, and what she really represents? I am disturbed that HRC has not held a press conference since January. I mean a real press conference with all media present asking rapid fire questions. I cant stand Trump but at least I know who he is, and what he represents.
Please do the country a favor, and allow us to know you away from the teleprompter, and the prepared speeches. I know you have baggage in the closet, but everyone has baggage. Its OK. We need to see how you react under the fire of the press machine
2
Hillary give an unscripted press conference? Not a chance. Obama --far more thoughtful and sincere than Hillary-- can do that. Hillary is not Obama. Every word, every thought is a pander. In a real press conference, she is too likely to stumble, contradicting herself or party's platform. Her handlers will never allow it.
I've known her for over 20 years. She has been written about, investigated, interviewed. What else is there to know?
I guess we just perceive reality differently.
I guess we just perceive reality differently.
He will not quit as long as the money keeps pouring in. Exactly right. Beyond that, the question should be why people continue to support him. Racism, dislike of Hillary and fear of terrorism has much to do with it. Fox misinformation also contribute. Beyond all those things is growing inequality and poverty. Donald Trump may go away, but his supporters and their issues will still be here.
1
Who on Earth is "writing off Mr. Trump"? The danger at this point is that outside the bell jar/echo chamber of the Times and the Post, none of this narrative penetrates. And even within the Times, the coverage is mostly limited to the latest stupid or ill-thought-out quip (Putin should read Hillary's emails? The Khan family hasn't sacrificed? Great for scoring points, hardly a serious analysis of the issues).
And on the other side? We've got Melania naked pictures in the Post (look, a shiny object!). A juicy sexual harassment fight over at Fox News...
In short, no serious coverage of Trump's policies in ANY major news outlet, least of all in the ones his supporters frequent.
I would say the danger is not taking the prospect of President Trump seriously enough.
And on the other side? We've got Melania naked pictures in the Post (look, a shiny object!). A juicy sexual harassment fight over at Fox News...
In short, no serious coverage of Trump's policies in ANY major news outlet, least of all in the ones his supporters frequent.
I would say the danger is not taking the prospect of President Trump seriously enough.
182
The NYT still doesn't get it. The elite, the establishment Republicans and Democrats still don't get it, the globalists still don't get it, the open borders fanatics still don't get it, and the mainstream media doesn't get it. Hillary sure doesn't get it.
The election is about the hope and change we didn't get with Obama. The change that focuses the policies of the above "class of the clueless" to start recognizing, talking about, and developing policies that will benefit those citizens in a host nation first, before the multinationals and immigrants, and elite.
It's that simple. They don't want to acknowledge or enact any policy that takes away from their 99% gravy train. People understand this. And they remember how they were cast aside to rescue the banks from 2008 through today.
There is nothing that Hillary can do at this point. She didn't address these concerns and issues at the convention. She hasn't had a press conference. The media (including this editorial at the NYT) fall all over themselves to tell people they are stupid for voting for, or supporting the policies of D. Trump (and Bernie Sanders).
That isn't a winning strategy. And it won't win in Novmeber, She'll lose and deservedly so.
The election is about the hope and change we didn't get with Obama. The change that focuses the policies of the above "class of the clueless" to start recognizing, talking about, and developing policies that will benefit those citizens in a host nation first, before the multinationals and immigrants, and elite.
It's that simple. They don't want to acknowledge or enact any policy that takes away from their 99% gravy train. People understand this. And they remember how they were cast aside to rescue the banks from 2008 through today.
There is nothing that Hillary can do at this point. She didn't address these concerns and issues at the convention. She hasn't had a press conference. The media (including this editorial at the NYT) fall all over themselves to tell people they are stupid for voting for, or supporting the policies of D. Trump (and Bernie Sanders).
That isn't a winning strategy. And it won't win in Novmeber, She'll lose and deservedly so.
5
You don't get get it. Trump isn't about hope. He's about retribution and payback. What part of "we'll help if they pay up" sounds hopeful? What part of building a wall sounds hopeful? What part of nuking ISIS in the ME sounds hopeful? The widening poll numbers are just the beginning. Trump is heading for an epic fail in November. There's a reason the party is coming apart at the seams, and it isn't because of any hope coming from Trump.
II can appreciate that Trumps followers are seeking change in government and how it works for the people. The system is broken and it needs to change but, is Trump the person we want as an agent of change? Is Donald Trumps America the America we want to pass on to future generations not only in this country but all around the world? Rational people need to consider the ramifications of a Trump presidency AFTER the elections are over, the dust has settled and we try to unite and move the nation forward.
2
The NY Times wrote off Trump for 9 months. Calling him a buffoon, a clown, a racist, a fascist, a sexist and a joke...then putting out a hit piece on him about women which was immediately discredit. ALL the columnist. All the articles. ALL the readers laughed at Trump with disdain.
Now we see articles supposed providing insight and analysis of Trump. What part of totally discredited does the NY Times not understand?
Now we see articles supposed providing insight and analysis of Trump. What part of totally discredited does the NY Times not understand?
3
I agree with the proposition that we discount Trump's campaign at our own peril. Clearly, he has a substantial cadre of supports who will back him come hell or high water. Sadly, it represents a plurality of the electorate who see their socioeconomic position in the US being pushed to the margins. Most of whom seem to be white-working class who have had their preconception of the importance of race and ethnicity in explaining their plight reinforced by Trump's siren song.
However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that there is a problem in our nation (and in others) that has been driven by changes in international trade, technological, and social institutions, which has led to a hollowing out of the middle class and dramatic redistribution of income and wealth. And regardless of how the election turns out this problem will still be with us and needs to be addressed by smart fiscal and economic policies, and if not will lead to more extreme social unrest.
However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that there is a problem in our nation (and in others) that has been driven by changes in international trade, technological, and social institutions, which has led to a hollowing out of the middle class and dramatic redistribution of income and wealth. And regardless of how the election turns out this problem will still be with us and needs to be addressed by smart fiscal and economic policies, and if not will lead to more extreme social unrest.
4
This is Trump in a nutshell: He promises nothing of substance to ease their pain, but he gives voice to their rage.
3
The Times is correct, of course, that we shouldn’t write off Mr. Trump but fails to mention the main reason why. His supporters don’t believe a word that is written in this paper or in any other mainstream media outlet. This paper was once great, a place for rational examination of the issues facing our nation but now it has turned itself into a bastion of the worst aspects of the Left, identity politics and political correctness, which exist despite the Right' over the top use of the terms.
At some point we are going to have to ask ourselves how Donald Trump, the gravest threat to our Democracy, came to be. Clearly, the Republican party bears the brunt of the blame but all of our institutions have fallen into disrepute in the eyes of the public. A Left that no longer cares about workers, at least not White ones and is eager to write off a large portion of this country because they don’t agree with their silly notions on race and gender is another reason. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that a large number of white people don’t accept the notion of racist America and to label them as bigots is ridiculous. The Left will never admit that it helped create Trump, like everyone else they are too busy pointing fingers, too busy fighting the culture wars. So busy in fact that nothing gets done for anyone.
The worst offender in spreading the silly notions of the Left is this paper and it is about time the Times looked in the mirror and asked itself how it created Trump.
At some point we are going to have to ask ourselves how Donald Trump, the gravest threat to our Democracy, came to be. Clearly, the Republican party bears the brunt of the blame but all of our institutions have fallen into disrepute in the eyes of the public. A Left that no longer cares about workers, at least not White ones and is eager to write off a large portion of this country because they don’t agree with their silly notions on race and gender is another reason. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that a large number of white people don’t accept the notion of racist America and to label them as bigots is ridiculous. The Left will never admit that it helped create Trump, like everyone else they are too busy pointing fingers, too busy fighting the culture wars. So busy in fact that nothing gets done for anyone.
The worst offender in spreading the silly notions of the Left is this paper and it is about time the Times looked in the mirror and asked itself how it created Trump.
6
I'm sorry but that is just insane.
Facts are facts. Reporters assiduously gather information, check facts, weigh counter arguments, and present the information.
There is no left or right wing fact-based reporting.
There is, however, ignorance. People who were not paying attention in school, people whose families did not train them to read newspapers and watch reliable news outlets, are simply uneducated and uninformed.
~
Facts are facts. Reporters assiduously gather information, check facts, weigh counter arguments, and present the information.
There is no left or right wing fact-based reporting.
There is, however, ignorance. People who were not paying attention in school, people whose families did not train them to read newspapers and watch reliable news outlets, are simply uneducated and uninformed.
~
We are, in my opinion, one to two domestic terrorist attacks away from Trump being our President. Unfortunately fear and anger reduce our capacity for reasoning skills, and any significant attack on our soil will ratchet up the fear and anger. Here is what me must do now:
As horrible as it is, accept the fact that there WILL be more incidents of terrorism within our borders. Our society is too open, there are too many guns, mental illness is too pervasive.....it's just the way it is. Recognize, even mentally practice that when the inevitable terrorist incident occurs it does not mean that our leaders are suddenly incompetent, that we are losing the battle against ISIS, or that our culture and freedoms are at risk. It's not true. Indeed, it is to the extraordinary credit of our intelligence services, the police, and our leaders that we haven't suffered more attacks!
If we all just rehearse this in our minds repeatedly, then maybe; just maybe, when a terrorist attack does occur, we won't suffer such anger and fear that we surrender our reasoning and logic and embrace an incompetent, narcissistic, demagogue that falsely promises to deliver us, through his greatness, to victory.
As horrible as it is, accept the fact that there WILL be more incidents of terrorism within our borders. Our society is too open, there are too many guns, mental illness is too pervasive.....it's just the way it is. Recognize, even mentally practice that when the inevitable terrorist incident occurs it does not mean that our leaders are suddenly incompetent, that we are losing the battle against ISIS, or that our culture and freedoms are at risk. It's not true. Indeed, it is to the extraordinary credit of our intelligence services, the police, and our leaders that we haven't suffered more attacks!
If we all just rehearse this in our minds repeatedly, then maybe; just maybe, when a terrorist attack does occur, we won't suffer such anger and fear that we surrender our reasoning and logic and embrace an incompetent, narcissistic, demagogue that falsely promises to deliver us, through his greatness, to victory.
2
I believe that the damage has already been done.
It's like, if you get drunk and run naked through your office, you may be able to apologize but you will never regain any credibility you once had.
Same with Trump. He'll get "Bush's base" of 28-32% but no more. He's done.
It's like, if you get drunk and run naked through your office, you may be able to apologize but you will never regain any credibility you once had.
Same with Trump. He'll get "Bush's base" of 28-32% but no more. He's done.
Remember the Brexit vote that nobody thought would be won by the leave campaign? The remain side were complacent and businesse seriously affected by the decision never put their money fully behind a campaign to educate people about the benefits of remaining, and lies being told by the Brexiters.
Don't do the same here, forget about NYT readers, it's Trump's base you need to reach out to: let them know they are voting for someone who really doesn't care about them at all. Whose economic plans will hit them hardest, who outsourced jobs in the past and will again, whose plans will lead to economic disaster, the exact opposite of what he says. That you can believe in America and put it, and themselves, first by voting for Hillary.
Help lift the curtain aside so the ordinary voter can see who the Wizard of Oz really is - a blustery aged man pulling levers to scare us into obeying him.
Don't do the same here, forget about NYT readers, it's Trump's base you need to reach out to: let them know they are voting for someone who really doesn't care about them at all. Whose economic plans will hit them hardest, who outsourced jobs in the past and will again, whose plans will lead to economic disaster, the exact opposite of what he says. That you can believe in America and put it, and themselves, first by voting for Hillary.
Help lift the curtain aside so the ordinary voter can see who the Wizard of Oz really is - a blustery aged man pulling levers to scare us into obeying him.
8
Actually Geraldo Francisco, the Infamous. Trump is exhibiting his arrogance and might. He already has money, power and a beautiful trophy wife. I guess the old saying "The World is Not Enough" fits the man. Let's hope he goes down in flames.
2
Clinton should make an ad featuring all the people who did work for Trump and said he never paid them. Just show Trump's "regular guy" supporters that he is not a "Man of the People" but what he really is. That is another rich guy who is out for himself and couldn't care less for ordinary people. Just run that ad again and again and erode Trump's false "Man of the People" image.
11
Trump has a raucous core of supporters who will not desert him. In his own words, "I could probably shoot someone on 5th Avenue and still....." I could understand why people feel left out and search for a savior. But, Donald Trump? He's never shown concern for the working person in his own business endeavors. If he's not a tax cheat he's certainly a manipulator who doesn't pay his fair share. He not only has zip experience in foreign affairs but has demonstrated a profound ignorance of recent events. How can anyone visualize him as a leader? Yet, they are there and in our faces. And they will pay dearly for their misguided trust if he wins. Unfortunately, so will the rest of us.
7
You write - "Mr. Trump’s bad week suggests he will not evolve into a politician whom anyone can count on or predict."
His bad week? Is that a joke? Does that mean if what had happened in the past week hadn't happened Trump would still look to the NYT editorial board like a viable candidate for highest office?
Then, for the love of Pete! the board goes on to bang that hollow drum of theirs concerning Hillary's emails. No media entity has done more than the NYT to keep that overblown and totally irrelevant nonsense at the top of voter's minds when then consider their option either to go for the most supremely qualified candidate for president anyone has ever seen or the orangey chest thumping buffoon whose deficit in the properly functioning brain department poses the clearest existential threat to our precious Mother Earth humankind has ever seen.
His bad week? Is that a joke? Does that mean if what had happened in the past week hadn't happened Trump would still look to the NYT editorial board like a viable candidate for highest office?
Then, for the love of Pete! the board goes on to bang that hollow drum of theirs concerning Hillary's emails. No media entity has done more than the NYT to keep that overblown and totally irrelevant nonsense at the top of voter's minds when then consider their option either to go for the most supremely qualified candidate for president anyone has ever seen or the orangey chest thumping buffoon whose deficit in the properly functioning brain department poses the clearest existential threat to our precious Mother Earth humankind has ever seen.
9
It is not just about defending against a Trump resurgence, it's also about flipping congress. If Hillary Clinton voters want to give her agenda the best chance possible, they need to raise every possible dime and turn out each potential vote. Disaffected republicans should also take this rare political moment to let her try to finally move us forward again. Allow Hillary to move us all beyond the maddening, divisive logjam. Let her reform immigration, stabilize social security and kick off a desperately needed, job creating infrastructure program. Give her four years to try, or at least two. Let's finally move the nation past this ludicrous logjam of our own making.
13
As a father and a minority, among the most troubling elements of the Trump insurgency is the base which it is predicated upon: a large cohort of people who have channeled their disenchantment of their current standing in the political and economic order into a vitriol which I suspected existed but have never seen so forcefully or visibly expressed. This editorial misses the larger point. Come November, even in the setting of a flamed out Trump campaign, we will be left to contend with the smoldering embers of a racist and bigoted ideology that will continue to simmer, to be exploited again. As troubling as Trump is, I worry equally (perhaps more) that we send out our children into a thicket of those with a fond eye towards their savior and a leery eye towards them.
155
And therein lies the dilemma. Electing Hillary Clinton solves nothing and only exacerbates the estrangement felt by those who support Trump.
Until Election Day is over and a president that is not named Trump is installed in the White House I would not write off Donald Trump. I'm expecting him to win, not because I support him but because he appeals to enough Americans that the flaws in his character are being overlooked or touted as assets rather than the liabilities they are. A person who cannot tolerate criticism, who makes every speech about him/herself, who tells our frenemy Russia to find more emails to release, and who has such a poor grasp of foreign policy, economics, and tells his supporters to beat up others is not to be trusted with any responsibility for anyone or anything. But I'm not a Republican. I'm not a white male.
I'm a Jewish lesbian with a handicapped brother who has seen exactly how intolerant well educated Americans can be when it comes to differences among people. Trump frightens me because, although he's not presidential material, he is dictator material. He may not look like a Hitler or a Mussolini or a Stalin but a good bit of what he's saying runs along those lines. The GOP may not remember early and mid 20th century history but I do. Hitler was seen as a joke until he did exactly what he said he'd do. Trump has the veneer of respectability but he is not honorable or worth respecting. Clinton is both even if she has made mistakes.
I'm a Jewish lesbian with a handicapped brother who has seen exactly how intolerant well educated Americans can be when it comes to differences among people. Trump frightens me because, although he's not presidential material, he is dictator material. He may not look like a Hitler or a Mussolini or a Stalin but a good bit of what he's saying runs along those lines. The GOP may not remember early and mid 20th century history but I do. Hitler was seen as a joke until he did exactly what he said he'd do. Trump has the veneer of respectability but he is not honorable or worth respecting. Clinton is both even if she has made mistakes.
96
If I were remaking the movie "1984", I would want to cast Trump as the snarling visage of Big Brother.
1
Why is NYT in a full panic mode?
Shouldn't they be celebrating that Trump is imploding?
Editorial Board needs an INTERVENTION...
Shouldn't they be celebrating that Trump is imploding?
Editorial Board needs an INTERVENTION...
3
If Trump spent two weeks appearing half-way sane and just attacking HRC on emails, he could close the poll gap.
1
According to the 2014 census, about 60% of the eighteen-year + population was registered to vote and about 38% did vote, or about 63% of those eligible. DJ Trump thinks that he can mobilize enough of those non-participating 37% in addition to his already-voting followers and added new registrants to win the election. Nobody knows how realistic that assessment is, but his fund raising ability and popularity makes it look a good bet. There is a big untapped fraction of the population out there.
The Republicans supporting DJ Trump think it is a good bet that he will win the election. It isn't clear what they will do then.
One scenario is that they hope DJ Trump will go off the rails (a pretty safe bet), be forced to resign (like Nixon) by threat of impeachment, Pence put in charge. That would put the Republican elite in complete control of Congress, the Presidency, and very quickly, the Supreme Court. Already the Republicans control the majority of state legislatures.
A Pence-McConnell-Ryan triumvirate is the end of democracy in America. Fair treatment of all citizens and freedom of belief and of speech will vanish. Democracy will be replaced by a combination of Oligarchy and Theocracy enforced by an unreasoning mob of lemmings.
The Republicans supporting DJ Trump think it is a good bet that he will win the election. It isn't clear what they will do then.
One scenario is that they hope DJ Trump will go off the rails (a pretty safe bet), be forced to resign (like Nixon) by threat of impeachment, Pence put in charge. That would put the Republican elite in complete control of Congress, the Presidency, and very quickly, the Supreme Court. Already the Republicans control the majority of state legislatures.
A Pence-McConnell-Ryan triumvirate is the end of democracy in America. Fair treatment of all citizens and freedom of belief and of speech will vanish. Democracy will be replaced by a combination of Oligarchy and Theocracy enforced by an unreasoning mob of lemmings.
5
What "untruthful claims?" If Comey thought she had lied, she would have been indicted. It seems the press must always strike a "balance" of sorts . . . it cannot lambast one candidate for too long without getting in a dig about the other.
6
Hillary must kick him when he's down, all the way until November. He's a bully and a gutter snipe and he should be treated that way. And Democrats have to vote en masse. He's a bad guy.
11
To the Editor:
The New York Times with all its anti-Trump rhetoric ( justified) and articles by all their opinion writers have become no different than Fox News of 2008 and 2012, when every opinion writer predicted a loss for President Obama.
I am a democrat and at the start when there were 16, I wished that poor, thrice bankrupt Trump would be the nominee so that it would be easy for the Democratic Party to win the presidential elections. But today I am very afraid that the poor, thrice bankrupt Trump will win.
The key to poor, thrice bankrupt Trump’s victory lies in what he said at the convention ’I alone can fix America’. The emphasis on ‘I’ will be the key to his victory because that single statement appeals more to Americans today than anything else. Five Thirty Eight not withstanding let me tell you who will power poor, thrice bankrupt Trump to victory .
The people who believe that
• ‘I’ can protect myself with guns.
• ‘I’ know how to teach my children.
• ‘I’ do the right thing , everyone else is a moocher.
• ‘I’ only have the right to live here as I was here before you.
• ‘I’ know that I will live to a hundred years and do not need stinking insurance.
• ‘I’ know that everything the government tells me is a lie.
• ‘I’ know and you do not.
• ‘I’ cannot say anything because I will lose my opportunity for a cabinet position.
It is time that ‘WE’, no matter how we define that come together. Till that time though I will be doing all I can to ensure democrats win.
The New York Times with all its anti-Trump rhetoric ( justified) and articles by all their opinion writers have become no different than Fox News of 2008 and 2012, when every opinion writer predicted a loss for President Obama.
I am a democrat and at the start when there were 16, I wished that poor, thrice bankrupt Trump would be the nominee so that it would be easy for the Democratic Party to win the presidential elections. But today I am very afraid that the poor, thrice bankrupt Trump will win.
The key to poor, thrice bankrupt Trump’s victory lies in what he said at the convention ’I alone can fix America’. The emphasis on ‘I’ will be the key to his victory because that single statement appeals more to Americans today than anything else. Five Thirty Eight not withstanding let me tell you who will power poor, thrice bankrupt Trump to victory .
The people who believe that
• ‘I’ can protect myself with guns.
• ‘I’ know how to teach my children.
• ‘I’ do the right thing , everyone else is a moocher.
• ‘I’ only have the right to live here as I was here before you.
• ‘I’ know that I will live to a hundred years and do not need stinking insurance.
• ‘I’ know that everything the government tells me is a lie.
• ‘I’ know and you do not.
• ‘I’ cannot say anything because I will lose my opportunity for a cabinet position.
It is time that ‘WE’, no matter how we define that come together. Till that time though I will be doing all I can to ensure democrats win.
4
Mr. Trump has long been a novelty act. When he first intimated that he "may" run for President, throngs of media turned and ran to him. The thought was that this was good fodder for news programs. CNN , Meet the Press et al questioned guests about his possible run. No one took him seriously but it filled airtime. After time the campaign began to gain traction, everything he said became headlines and he loved the attention. A true media creation and he was helping the ratings grab. His statements and insults about his opponents and Muslims became more strident. Now reality has set in, his lack of substance and use of simple descriptors as "love me",and "we will have the greatest" do not a platform make. The broadcast media helped create this "monster" and are now doing their best to tear him down, though admittedly, he is doing a great job on his own. What should not be lost in all of this is that "Gen-forward" wants no part of this. They are making it clear that Mrs. Clinton has not won them over either. They will have their say in this election. They do not form their opinions from Broadcasts. They believe that the whole system is rigged. What did Mr. Trump say yesterday ? The system is rigged. That will not win them over. The Republicans need to come to terms with how they have let their party spin out of control. They have no one that is willing to say no to the Tea Party, Obstructionists and Far Right. And so we have Mr. Trump.
5
It isn't Herr Trump we have to worry about writing off, since he's not really the problem. The problem is his supporters, who won't go away or change their minds even if, G-d willing, he is defeated in November. We have allowed, if not encouraged, the development of a culture in which there is no shared idea of what is real, and no respect for either argument or evidence. We have truthyness (or is it truthiness?) instead of truth, appearance instead of substance, PC following or rejection instead of empathy, what sells most as the definition of quality or value, and the most implausible fiction labeled as Reality TV. As someone said in the days when the "Death of G-d" was in the news: "When people cease to believe in something, they don't then believe in nothing -- they believe in everything."
8
Fear as a strategy. Fear of the fear monger as a counter strategy.
Be afraid of the war monger candidate that wants us to be so afraid of the fear monger candidate.
I can think of more productive ways to spend the day.
3
How many of the "small contributions" that make up the sudden surge in donations to Donald Trump's campaign are in rubles?
11
As the polls indicate, the demographic chunk that is drawn to Clinton are college educated Whites, Afro-Americans, Latinos, Asians, and the Bernie Millennial generation.
The Trump voters are 'working class/blue collar' high school educated white men or women who may or may not be employed.
Neither candidate represents the whole cohort, or even large chunks of it. This is an election where most voters will hold their noses and vote in November for either a qualified sane triangulator, or an unqualified mentally ill compulsive liar.
The Trump voters are 'working class/blue collar' high school educated white men or women who may or may not be employed.
Neither candidate represents the whole cohort, or even large chunks of it. This is an election where most voters will hold their noses and vote in November for either a qualified sane triangulator, or an unqualified mentally ill compulsive liar.
5
Trying to understand why more is not being made of the Monday article in the Times about the actual number of American voters who actually are responsible for our two major candidates - 9%!
I find this, not only, part of the problem, but very scary.
Doesn't anyone else? Perhaps I have missed something.
I find this, not only, part of the problem, but very scary.
Doesn't anyone else? Perhaps I have missed something.
5
@Lisa—The reason that there is not more mad if this news is because it is not new. In 2012, the math is the same when Romney was chosen and it's about the same in 2008 when it was Obama and McCain. Primaries always draw about 10% of the electorate.
There is more to be scared of. Trump appeals to a large swath of the population, some of which will register in order to vote for him, and some already registered who haven't gone to the polls recently. These citizens are enough to sweep DJ Trump into office.
To avoid that result everyone opposed to Trump has to vote.
To avoid that result everyone opposed to Trump has to vote.
1
I agree with the editorial staff, the durability of Donald Trump's campaign is being seriously underestimated. But that is not the only concern in this political season, we also need to rid the country of the Tea Party Lunacy at both the national and state levels to make government once again viable and a force for good. I have no problems with conservatives or conservative ideas. If they address issues with workable prescriptions they are essential to the national debate. Right now our choice seems to be liberal ideas versus governmental shutdown. The liberal ideas may well be the best ones but without the debate how we will ever know? Republicans have long abrogated their role in the national debate of ideas choosing instead to be the party of tax cuts for the 1%, endless war and pandering to an extremist religious viewpoint. Trump may well have ended this orientation and nowhere is this better illustrated than the gulf between his rhetoric and the GOP party platform. Despite the issues raised by Trump the candidate, his candidacy at least shows the issues that need to be addressed by both parties. The issues of poor less well educated whites must be addressed, not doing so will leave them open to racist nationalistic appeals that could rival and even exceed what we have seen with Trump.
11
Clinton's razor thin lead in Ohio underscores the importance of this editorial. According to Realclearpolitics, Clinton has just a 0.8 lead in Ohio and her national lead is nothing compared to the near-implosion this past week by Trump.
Rage is fueling the Trump campaign and to the extent that Clinton can address at least some of that rage in terms of jobs, technological displacement, globalization and middle class pain, it is clear that she needs to focus like a laser on the economy.
Rage is fueling the Trump campaign and to the extent that Clinton can address at least some of that rage in terms of jobs, technological displacement, globalization and middle class pain, it is clear that she needs to focus like a laser on the economy.
104
She needs to remember Carville's best and winning line from the 92 election, "It's the economy stupid"
Write Trump off? It's not just the rubes who are in Trump's corner. Around here, I know two retired Fortune 500 senior execs, one originally from NY, the other from California, who are staunch Trump supporters. Same for the retired IBM guy originally from Minnesota. These are educated, supposedly sophisticated people, all firm in their support of Trump - and their hatred of Clinton. Then there are the rednecks. The serious issues that have given rise to Trump's support are decades in the making, aided and abetted by two parties tone deaf to the struggles of the middle class. Matters of degree don't count for much anymore. I hear many comment that there is scant difference between the demagogue and the "establishment candidate" - neither will have the congress to effect meaningful change, so why not go for the perceived "change agent", if only to send a message. One can point to the court, international relations, etc., but that simply does not break through the palpable anger and frustration. So, no, don't write Trump off. Better to make contingency plans in the event he's elected, because I suspect that many of those who intend to pull the lever for him are not willing to say so in polite company.
14
They don't actually support Trump, they support a Republican Obstructionist Congress. THEY don't think he can win, either, but they would like him in there to sign all the regressive legislation they're planning to write. THEY assume they will retain power in Congress. Let's prove these immoral knuckle draggers WRONG.
1
It is a myth that senior executives are always intelligent, well-informed and good judges of character--especially as they age out of power. Many have been promoted beyond their level of competence into positions where they can do little harm (Tenure for public school teachers has nothing on well-connected males with marginal performance in big companies). Senior executives of a certain age generally are very comfortable with an authoritarian culture and are accustomed to giving orders and consider that effective leadership. Needless to say, they are more and more obsolete in competitive global markets where innovation is necessary. It is not surprising that aging white senior executives and poorly educated white males are attracted to the bombast of Mr. Trump since they represent two segments of the population fast losing power.
The gaffe proof Donald Trump has to be by far, the strongest example of a cult of personality in American political history.
Romney was shattered by the "47 %" gaffe. Obama nearly derailed by "you didn't build that". Dukakis humiliated by riding in a tank. They got nothing on Donald. How do you defeat a candidate that's imperious to gaffes?
Romney was shattered by the "47 %" gaffe. Obama nearly derailed by "you didn't build that". Dukakis humiliated by riding in a tank. They got nothing on Donald. How do you defeat a candidate that's imperious to gaffes?
9
You need to put the fear in most people's minds. That he is unfit to be president.
"Do you trust Trump with the Nukes?" Of course not... He is unbalanced.
"Do you trust him with our Armed Forces?" Are you joking? He is unpredictable.
"Do you trust him with the nation's economy?" Nope, He has ruined many of his own companies and has stiffed his vendors.
"Is he the example you want to bestow on your children?" Our children are watching this clown and wondering what world we live in.
"Do you want someone who is a racist?" I would hope not.
"Do you trust Trump with the Nukes?" Of course not... He is unbalanced.
"Do you trust him with our Armed Forces?" Are you joking? He is unpredictable.
"Do you trust him with the nation's economy?" Nope, He has ruined many of his own companies and has stiffed his vendors.
"Is he the example you want to bestow on your children?" Our children are watching this clown and wondering what world we live in.
"Do you want someone who is a racist?" I would hope not.
1
This is where I get nervous. Hillary Clinton has a bad habit of getting smug and complacent when she thinks she has a big lead, and then she goes on to lose it. Just ask Senators Barack Obama and Sanders.
4
Maybe Pence and Trump diverging on endorsements is a calculated strategy. Trump can continue to appeal to his fanatical supporters while Pence wins the support of more moderate politicians and voters.
3
Purple Hearts are not given - they are earned and this buffoon has no clue about that. He stayed as far away from Vietnam as W did.
6
It's quite likely Mr. Trump is broke. If he quits, doesn't he basically get to keep his campaign money? That's the story to watch.
2
Trump is quite a master at inducing his own endorphin cocktail in the brains of his adoring crowds. He makes them feel like him. Spooky action at a distance.
8
Both major parties have abandoned the white working class to desperation in the face of lost economic opportunity. The Republican Party's embrace of "free trade" and "free market economics" has benefited big corporations, but not working citizens. The contempt that the Democratic Party holds toward the racism of the white working class, has severed the historic bridge between these groups.
Populist political uprisings in America are almost always right-wing, anti-democratic and ugly. But political stability for our democracy requires that both parties make sincere efforts to develop solutions to address the plight of the working class. We can no longer pursue economic policies that benefit the big corporations, while trusting the invisible hand of the market to care for the disenfranchised.
Populist political uprisings in America are almost always right-wing, anti-democratic and ugly. But political stability for our democracy requires that both parties make sincere efforts to develop solutions to address the plight of the working class. We can no longer pursue economic policies that benefit the big corporations, while trusting the invisible hand of the market to care for the disenfranchised.
9
We can rule out that Mr. Trump would ever drop out. If he dropped out, someone else would have to stand forward. That person would then be regarded as the hero, even if they lost.
In other words, Mr. Trump would then lose face twice.
Never going to happen. He could be polling at 5% he would stay in, for merely that reason. Better to lose at 5% than to lose, resign, and have someone try to take over and be showered in glory for doing so.
You have to think like a pure ego here.
In other words, Mr. Trump would then lose face twice.
Never going to happen. He could be polling at 5% he would stay in, for merely that reason. Better to lose at 5% than to lose, resign, and have someone try to take over and be showered in glory for doing so.
You have to think like a pure ego here.
2
The GOP candidate is clearly violating child-labor laws. His advisors coach him like a kindergartener: insult your opponent, bully the weak, pout when scolded, and whine that it is all unfair.
1
Are you quite sure David Axelrod was joking when he said Clinton should take the summer off and tour the national parks? I've been suggesting that to the few true Clinton supporters I could find anywhere--which is to say, both of them. Every time she talks, she loses votes, and rightfully so. The Times and other media have been trying to help her, in text and by running only photos of her looking passably sympathetic (in contrast to its coverage of Trump and the many photos of him quite fairly showing his dictatorial scowl), but Trump needs no one's help to wreck his own chances, The media have helped Clinton enormously this week in one key way: they have virtually ignored her. If Trump shuts up and lets her get the coverage for once, he will have a chance. Otherwise, the only thing standing in the way of Clinton and a return to her old Washington address is Clinton herself and Julian Assange of WikiLeaks (if he really has some more Clinton truths to reveal to us).
1
This editorial is the perfect example of the liberal ideal that if you just reason with people, they will see that your ideas and policies are superior, and vote for Democrats.
What liberals tend to not get, and what conservative politicians DO get, is that emotion -- not brilliant reasoning for your policies -- wins elections.
Great ideas win space in the editorial column, but the proper and responsible use of emotional political tools, including fear, desire, patriotism and anger, can give flesh to the bare bones and hollow echo cave or only being correct.
Liberals really have to start taking notes from the likes Donald Trump. Examine his toolbox, and 3-D print a Democratic box.
I am so sick and tired of my fellow liberals think they can reason and debate their way into office. It takes more tools.
What liberals tend to not get, and what conservative politicians DO get, is that emotion -- not brilliant reasoning for your policies -- wins elections.
Great ideas win space in the editorial column, but the proper and responsible use of emotional political tools, including fear, desire, patriotism and anger, can give flesh to the bare bones and hollow echo cave or only being correct.
Liberals really have to start taking notes from the likes Donald Trump. Examine his toolbox, and 3-D print a Democratic box.
I am so sick and tired of my fellow liberals think they can reason and debate their way into office. It takes more tools.
4
Liberals really have to start taking notes from the likes Donald Trump? Sinking to that level is the way to a Pyrrhic victory -- merely shifting the locus of intolerance.
The better angels of our nature can surely sing a catchy tune. "Imagine" that!
The better angels of our nature can surely sing a catchy tune. "Imagine" that!
Here on Marco Island, Fla $300,00 will get you a "starter home" that will need another $200,000" to make it "habitable". Million dollar homes are the norm, not the exception. Four out of five homes and condos are only occupied "in season", the cold northern months. This past winter, the hot new car was the $240,000 Bentley and $180,000 Maserati.
My job sends me all over this 4 x 6 miles island every day and I am amazed but the number of Trump signs and bumper stickers I see. Granted they are in the yards and on the cars of years round residents, mostly older folks that don't do seasonal migration and longer.
You have to be wealthy to live here, John Boehner owns a 1.4 million dollar beach front condo here. These people are "have mores" in a land of "haves"
What do these angry old white men have to be angry about? From where I sit with the $17,801.00 I made last year scrubbing their toilets, they have everything,
My job sends me all over this 4 x 6 miles island every day and I am amazed but the number of Trump signs and bumper stickers I see. Granted they are in the yards and on the cars of years round residents, mostly older folks that don't do seasonal migration and longer.
You have to be wealthy to live here, John Boehner owns a 1.4 million dollar beach front condo here. These people are "have mores" in a land of "haves"
What do these angry old white men have to be angry about? From where I sit with the $17,801.00 I made last year scrubbing their toilets, they have everything,
5
Did you say this little 4 x 6 patch of prime real estate (Bentleys and all) is called "Marco" Island? LOL!
Yes, Trump is messing up big time but these surging polls for Hillary and the establishment people condemning him mean nothing.
The people who support Trump don't care if the establishment is writing him off now. They like it.
And all Trump needs is a good performance in the first debate to be back in the contest in a big way. He can't be counted out yet. I heard on MSNBC that her team is now aiming for a landslide. They've made lots of mistakes thus far and should now just run the best campaign they can and NOT assume she has this in the bag. Remember, she lost in 2008. It can happen again.
In addition Hillary needs to stop going on tv and contradicting everything Comey said about her - she looks like a liar.
In addition, she said yesterday she wanted to admit an additional 60,000 Syrian refugees. I don't oppose this. But if there's a major terrorist attack in this country before the election, she's going to be in the same hot water Angela Merkel is in - and she'll lose if that happens. It would be smart to stop talking about admitting any more refugees from Syria during the campaign. It seems obvious to me not to give Trump any advantage if there's an attack here before the election. He will directly blame her and many people will be so freaked out they won't listen to reason.
Seriously....
The people who support Trump don't care if the establishment is writing him off now. They like it.
And all Trump needs is a good performance in the first debate to be back in the contest in a big way. He can't be counted out yet. I heard on MSNBC that her team is now aiming for a landslide. They've made lots of mistakes thus far and should now just run the best campaign they can and NOT assume she has this in the bag. Remember, she lost in 2008. It can happen again.
In addition Hillary needs to stop going on tv and contradicting everything Comey said about her - she looks like a liar.
In addition, she said yesterday she wanted to admit an additional 60,000 Syrian refugees. I don't oppose this. But if there's a major terrorist attack in this country before the election, she's going to be in the same hot water Angela Merkel is in - and she'll lose if that happens. It would be smart to stop talking about admitting any more refugees from Syria during the campaign. It seems obvious to me not to give Trump any advantage if there's an attack here before the election. He will directly blame her and many people will be so freaked out they won't listen to reason.
Seriously....
1
Apparently, only a microscopically small number of Republicans are willing to put Country ahead of Party. The party that holds themselves up as paragons of virtue and moral courage are petty, small minded, amoral hypocrites.
5
Complacency will be the more dangerous foe to sane people in November. Get your tushes off the couch, vote, volunteer, talk to other people, write, comment, register, call, organize. Remember Martin Luther's adage - pray as though everything depended on God (if you believe in God, at least) but work as though everything depended on you. Take nothing for granted. We haven't just the chance to elect the first woman to the Oval Office, but retake the Senate and keep federal courts as instruments of reason rather than fanaticism.
Let's not waste such a wonderful opportunity.
Let's not waste such a wonderful opportunity.
2
"Donald Trump seemed to do everything wrong this week. But what if, to his supporters, he’s done everything right?"
Then America, and the World, had better pray long and hard that Trump's Chumps...make that 'supporters'...are insufficient to convince the electoral college to elect Donald Trump president of the U.S.
Then America, and the World, had better pray long and hard that Trump's Chumps...make that 'supporters'...are insufficient to convince the electoral college to elect Donald Trump president of the U.S.
4
Clinton's best hopes are that the two 3rd-party candidates evenly split the votes of the party ship jumpers. I won't vote for Trump, but I could NEVER vote for Hillary Clinton. Fiscally (extremely) conservative, socially liberal voters like myself have no home in either of the two major parties. I'll "waste" my vote on Gary Johnson again, and will continue to do so until the day the Republican party once again represents true small government and gets God out of the party platform. If my vote - and I'm guessing I'm not alone between Libertarian and Green party supporters - tips the scales one way or another, so be it. Either of these execrable candidates will hopefully be limited to a single term.
2
I, too, am fiscally conservative and social "liberal." But I stay up at night worrying about the Supreme Court were Trump to win. Or win and then decamp, leaving Pence to run the show. And third in line is Ryan, the Inquisitor.
Hillary Clinton stands between this country and a country led by an Erdogan or Putin wannabe.
Hillary Clinton stands between this country and a country led by an Erdogan or Putin wannabe.
You could NEVER vote for Hillary?? That's like being on the Titanic and saying you'd NEVER get on one lifeboat because, even though it's more likely than the other lifeboat not to sink, it's still not a very good lifeboat. So vote Green or Libertarian - but beware breaking your arm patting yourself on your back for being so principled as you drown.
If this were a football game, we have just finished the first half with Clinton leading by two scores. Like in football, anything can happen and it could well go down to the last 2 minutes. Why? Because Clinton has just as many skeletons (deserved or not) in her closet as any politician who has ever run for office and because things cannot get much worse for Trump given his spate of missteps and miscues. Couple this with the percentage of undecided being one of the highest we have seen in decades, we seem to have the perfect setup for the last minute deciding this election. So yes it still is anybody's game as much as many of us wish it weren't the case.
3
Can you point out any specific skeletons in Clinton's closet? Those only exist in the minds of people who have bought into the Rush Limbaugh, Fox News line of thought.
All of Trump's ideas are sound and workable:
Radical Islam is a problem.
NAFTA has led to loss of jobs.
Manufacturing has declined.
NATO members do not pay enough (See article in The Economist)
Walls can be effective in keeping people out--Houses are walls after all.
Whites--especially-not too well off ones--do feel down.
Political correctness has nullified the first amendment.
The elites--you-NYT included--are panicky.
I love the man. May he win and punch through your de facto membership of the Democratic party.
Radical Islam is a problem.
NAFTA has led to loss of jobs.
Manufacturing has declined.
NATO members do not pay enough (See article in The Economist)
Walls can be effective in keeping people out--Houses are walls after all.
Whites--especially-not too well off ones--do feel down.
Political correctness has nullified the first amendment.
The elites--you-NYT included--are panicky.
I love the man. May he win and punch through your de facto membership of the Democratic party.
4
I recommended your comment (I'll probably be the only one here). I did so because the first nine lines are quite true; large numbers of people can relate to those ideas, and there is some horse sense in them, missing from the scripted speeches and policies of regular politicians. The problem is that Trump can't and won't fix any of that. He's just another con man taking us for a ride. On top of that, he's getting a little crazy and less sensible as the campaign wears on. He can't take the pressure, and he's cracking up. He can't even stand a baby crying. The presidency is a lot worse pressure.
Hilarious post! If you love the guy, you love the guy. There are, after all, a few staunch members of the right wing's Hook, Line, and Sinker Club. Cheers!
"All of Trump's ideas are sound and workable."
Let's start with the Wall. Half of undocumented immigrants from Mexico enter the US by airplane, not by walking across the border. The Wall would not be effective against that half.
Need I continue? Or were you being sarcastic?f
Let's start with the Wall. Half of undocumented immigrants from Mexico enter the US by airplane, not by walking across the border. The Wall would not be effective against that half.
Need I continue? Or were you being sarcastic?f
And Trump's loving every minute of it! Rational people who are traditional political candidates attempting to confront somebody like this person eventually (if ever) realize it's like trying to argue with a child or drunk. The latter always ironically "wins" because the attempt backfires from coming across as foolish. Trump has it down to a science, in profoundly knowing that what is noticed and remembered by the majority of simpleminded viewers and listeners is the *process* of the interaction, not the content. Fifteen other Republican candidates tried it and failed. Rubio tried to out-Trump Trump and failed, too, because Trump's method works only for people who have a reputation for it, and boy, does Trump have one heck of a reputation. (It was way out of place for Rubio.) To rational and traditional politician, he'll come back with more absurd remarks which will gain him even further points in the entertainment show that "elections" are nowadays, thanks to corporate financing of candidates who hire the P.T. Barnum advertising agency.
The challenge for rational/mature people is how to address such a person without strangely looking foolish. The usual approach with children and drunks is "don't go there," but in this situation it could look like running away. There are ways to short-circuit it, but the traditional politician either doesn't know them or because of the "traditional" itself remains vulnerable.
The challenge for rational/mature people is how to address such a person without strangely looking foolish. The usual approach with children and drunks is "don't go there," but in this situation it could look like running away. There are ways to short-circuit it, but the traditional politician either doesn't know them or because of the "traditional" itself remains vulnerable.
2
I will be voting for Hillary Clinton, Reluctantly. I like very little about her except that she isn't Donald Trump. Herein lies the problem. Trump will not only get the die-hard Republicans and rabid Clinton haters, but also people who consider him a big-shot because they love reality TV and tabloids, plus the wafflers who are swayed in his direction at the particular moment that they cast their ballot. Then there's the lot who actually agree with his distorted and ugly worldview.
If you think showing Trump for what he is will help, think again. I live if a small city in the south where 68% of the adults are college graduates, and cringe every time a luxury car with a Trump bumper sticker goes by. These are people who can reason, but choose not to.
End the Trumpery.
If you think showing Trump for what he is will help, think again. I live if a small city in the south where 68% of the adults are college graduates, and cringe every time a luxury car with a Trump bumper sticker goes by. These are people who can reason, but choose not to.
End the Trumpery.
9
Many of his supporters do not have the ability to think critically, to even see or weigh his behavior according to the norms of the high office he is seeking. They don't register that he lacks even basic levels of self control. He literally can't stop himself from attacking anyone (no matter how insignificant) who has criticized him, including opponents he already defeated in the primaries. This tendency to vindictive rage alone is extremely dangerous. So, the average Trump supporter will not be reached by reasoning or pointing out his dangerous flaws.
The only hope is that there are enough voters not caught in this mentality who will be swayed by Hillary's sharp condemnation of him, as she did back in June. That was an excellent speech. She needs to hammer home the messages about his unstable and dangerous personality, his profound ignorance of national and international affairs, and the grim future under Trump's economic policies, all the while offering her vision for economic growth, equality, and stability under her far more experienced leadership.
This is not an ordinary campaign about two candidates with different views but an existential one about the very meaning of American democracy, leadership, and values.
The only hope is that there are enough voters not caught in this mentality who will be swayed by Hillary's sharp condemnation of him, as she did back in June. That was an excellent speech. She needs to hammer home the messages about his unstable and dangerous personality, his profound ignorance of national and international affairs, and the grim future under Trump's economic policies, all the while offering her vision for economic growth, equality, and stability under her far more experienced leadership.
This is not an ordinary campaign about two candidates with different views but an existential one about the very meaning of American democracy, leadership, and values.
10
I don't believe for one minute that Clinton thinks she can coast; she's much too smart for that. As for defeating Trump, well, as long as right-thinking people turn out to vote, he's toast. If they don't, they'll deserve him as President.
8
I agree with you, except you're leaving out the possibility of voter-fraud.
Given the near universal acknowledgement that we are confronted by [to be kind] two deeply flawed candidates - could the media give at least a trickle of recognition to the libertarian ticket of two arguably successful former governors Johnson/Weld? Why must the choice be between an ignorant lout and a safe and conventional money machine?
7
Because 3rd parties threaten the Anointed One.
1
In reality - you know, reality - the choice is Clinton or Trump. To bemoan that fact is childlike and delusional. Trump is in reality - you know, reality - beyond dangerous. Whatever you think of Hillary, she is in reality - you know, reality - the candidate who will not promote widespread fear and insanity. Reality.
Did you have to try this hard to instill some worry into non-Trump supporters? You talk as though he has vast legions of people who will vote for him all the while the rats are jumping ship. Not so/
Only thing I agree with is we have to fight till the end to ensure down ticket wins but the buffoon of the century will not prevail with his ugly foul approach to campaigning.
Only thing I agree with is we have to fight till the end to ensure down ticket wins but the buffoon of the century will not prevail with his ugly foul approach to campaigning.
6
"It is also highly unlikely that there will ever emerge a “better” Mr. Trump. We are far more likely to witness an even worse one. His support isn’t contingent on exhibiting “presidential” behavior, or shifting his energies to lofty discussions of public policy. In fact, it is contingent on the opposite."
This is a sobering truth facing all of us. However much we detest the language and beliefs of Mr. Trump and his rabid, highly vocal supporters, they are here to say. To discount them or think they will abandon their candidate is totally crazy.
I want Clinton and Kaine to continue to battle hard for every single vote, as if she were up against Jesus Himself. She's off to a good start, courting the very voters least likely to vote for her: displaced white workers.
Today's economic numbers were reported, and they are robust. Jobs up, unemployment down by the barest smidgen, and distinct growth in healthcare and hospitality services. The majority of jobs were created in the private sector.
However good the data, it can't be to dismiss the pain of workers in dying industries--coal mining, steel manufacturing, and other industries that have either disappeared in the age of new technology or outsourced because of the wage issue. Somewhere, somehow the Democrats need to find a way to talk to former $40 per hour workers who have seen their jobs disappear because unions have been crushed by GOP leaders in red states and or, overseas wages are simply so cheap.
This is a sobering truth facing all of us. However much we detest the language and beliefs of Mr. Trump and his rabid, highly vocal supporters, they are here to say. To discount them or think they will abandon their candidate is totally crazy.
I want Clinton and Kaine to continue to battle hard for every single vote, as if she were up against Jesus Himself. She's off to a good start, courting the very voters least likely to vote for her: displaced white workers.
Today's economic numbers were reported, and they are robust. Jobs up, unemployment down by the barest smidgen, and distinct growth in healthcare and hospitality services. The majority of jobs were created in the private sector.
However good the data, it can't be to dismiss the pain of workers in dying industries--coal mining, steel manufacturing, and other industries that have either disappeared in the age of new technology or outsourced because of the wage issue. Somewhere, somehow the Democrats need to find a way to talk to former $40 per hour workers who have seen their jobs disappear because unions have been crushed by GOP leaders in red states and or, overseas wages are simply so cheap.
7
Do you seriously expect a candidate who gives six-figure speeches to Goldman Sachs to talk to or, more importantly, listen to union workers? The blue collar, union folks are deserting the Democrats in droves, and with good reason. Both candidates are craven liars but of the two, Trump communicates better with middle class America and comes across as the more sincere.
1
Dear Christine McMorrow,
You are correct. We do not what a President Trump; however, the democrats and republicans must do more than "...find a way to talk to former $40 per hour factory workers." They must devise real solutions and quit yammering about how they are the champions of the middle class.
I have heard both sides say they are going to take care of those workers but there is no real specificity. I hear from Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump that they are going to re-build our infrastructure and that is well and good, but temporary construction jobs will not cure the problem of the middle class hourly worker, who now is either at home or working at minimum wage.
I hear a lot about re-training but re-training to do what?
I know it is a complex problem and not easily addressed in sound bites, but I think I will know when someone proposes a real plan. I have not heard it yet.
You are correct. We do not what a President Trump; however, the democrats and republicans must do more than "...find a way to talk to former $40 per hour factory workers." They must devise real solutions and quit yammering about how they are the champions of the middle class.
I have heard both sides say they are going to take care of those workers but there is no real specificity. I hear from Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump that they are going to re-build our infrastructure and that is well and good, but temporary construction jobs will not cure the problem of the middle class hourly worker, who now is either at home or working at minimum wage.
I hear a lot about re-training but re-training to do what?
I know it is a complex problem and not easily addressed in sound bites, but I think I will know when someone proposes a real plan. I have not heard it yet.
The Democrats must combat not Trump so much, but voter ennui. GOTV efforts must be redoubled and tripled to insure a Democratic juggernaut on Election Day.
The looming danger for Clinton is lack of fervor for her candidacy. It's the only aspect of this race in which Trump beats her hands down.
The looming danger for Clinton is lack of fervor for her candidacy. It's the only aspect of this race in which Trump beats her hands down.
94
If by fervor, you mean mindless rage--yes, Trump's candidacy brings that out in people. It's appalling. That's the kind of rage that fuels demagogues.
Perhaps the looming danger for Clinton isn't known yet. That, or a major terrorist event on American soil, could bring her down.
Never underestimate the gullibility of the voter, they've got him this far ...
There is a powerful trope that his success in the nomination confirms his skill which makes him ready to lead the country to greatness; and his bluster is but strategy. Beware, people who think themselves smart have discerned this and are quietly waiting to show us all.
There is a powerful trope that his success in the nomination confirms his skill which makes him ready to lead the country to greatness; and his bluster is but strategy. Beware, people who think themselves smart have discerned this and are quietly waiting to show us all.
I keep coming back to these quotes from Heath Ledger's the Joker. Like the famous villain, never underestimate someone who enjoys creating mayhem for the sake of mayhem.
"Those mob fools want you gone so they can get back to the way things were. But I know the truth: there's no going back. You've changed things... forever."
"Do I really look like a guy with a plan? you know what i am? i'm like a dog chasing cars- i wouldn't know what to do with one if i caught it, y'know? i just DO things."
"Those mob fools want you gone so they can get back to the way things were. But I know the truth: there's no going back. You've changed things... forever."
"Do I really look like a guy with a plan? you know what i am? i'm like a dog chasing cars- i wouldn't know what to do with one if i caught it, y'know? i just DO things."
4
A footnote to all of this might be my insistence that reality is NOT a binary term. Reality is all there is, known and unknown, discovered and not yet discovered. This underlies a move of the world from binary to triadic thought. To see Trump as unreal has been quite normal but of course he is just as real as we all are. The corollary of this is that we are all a spectrum. To see anyone or any group as impossible to change is simply not the case. What we can do is assess the actual harm and hurt that takes place in life and do what we can to minimize it. The effort is humbling as the actualities are immense.
To all Independents and fence-sitters:
If you thing things are strange, chaotic and disruptive now, think about what will happen is Hillary wins by 1 or 2 points. Cries of fraud, rigged voting and other nonsense will ring out through the land. Based on his past actions, Trump will dine out on conspiracy theories of the rigged election for months, if not years.
A Democratic president will already have a (likely) Republican majority in Congress to deal with.
Get off the fence, vote for Hillary. Can we take more DJT even after November, poisoning our political discourse and efforts to come together after the election?
An exhausting thought, isn't it?
If you thing things are strange, chaotic and disruptive now, think about what will happen is Hillary wins by 1 or 2 points. Cries of fraud, rigged voting and other nonsense will ring out through the land. Based on his past actions, Trump will dine out on conspiracy theories of the rigged election for months, if not years.
A Democratic president will already have a (likely) Republican majority in Congress to deal with.
Get off the fence, vote for Hillary. Can we take more DJT even after November, poisoning our political discourse and efforts to come together after the election?
An exhausting thought, isn't it?
4
It seems doubtful that the Trump faithful even care about his policy statements, given that they remain untroubled by his glaring mistakes of fact and law. They find his vulgarity and bombast reassuring proof that he and they are in sync about everything that matters.
Unhappily, the Khan dispute demonstrated the extent to which the general public and the news media are also aloof to major questions of policy, law, and fact; while remaining highly attuned to the emotional triggers pulled by Trump. Hopefully, the debate season will re-focus this contest on serious issues, which will expose Trump for the empty suit that he is.
Unhappily, the Khan dispute demonstrated the extent to which the general public and the news media are also aloof to major questions of policy, law, and fact; while remaining highly attuned to the emotional triggers pulled by Trump. Hopefully, the debate season will re-focus this contest on serious issues, which will expose Trump for the empty suit that he is.
1
this is the point Citizen United has led to. In an unrelated news mr. Trump has gathered some 80 milion in July fund-raising, mainly from middle target donations, matching an so-far unrivaled Clinton's political machine.
When unlimited donations can came in, a media entertainer, and ex star of a popular program raises money by the minute to support his own political agenda.
Moreover i think polls are misguided at their best, because more voters fearing the blaming effect the anti-Trump campaign is building-up are less likely to state clearly their preferences, engulfing the ranks of indipendents and last minute deciders, more affected by last-day doom predictions and alarming news alike.
When unlimited donations can came in, a media entertainer, and ex star of a popular program raises money by the minute to support his own political agenda.
Moreover i think polls are misguided at their best, because more voters fearing the blaming effect the anti-Trump campaign is building-up are less likely to state clearly their preferences, engulfing the ranks of indipendents and last minute deciders, more affected by last-day doom predictions and alarming news alike.
1
Perhaps in some future time, historians will point to Trump (and Sanders) as doing America a service in raising important issues that Candidate Clinton co-opted, altered slightly, and called her own.
Then, as President, she did the hard work at getting legislation passed to the mutual benefit of all.
Perhaps.
Then, as President, she did the hard work at getting legislation passed to the mutual benefit of all.
Perhaps.
Perhaps, but I doubt it. "President" Clinton will more likely continue to serve the rich and privileged that her declared policies and Foundation support. Somewhere in the 80's and/or 90's the Hillary of the Children's Defense Fund era appears to have gotten lost.
1
Thank you Michjas...Trump voters care little for the messenger, it is the message. It probably has little to do with make America great again but make America stop whining...If as a liberal and sympathetic to many causes I've had enough of this ceaseless desire for POLITICAL CORRECTNESS! God knows I never would have thought I would agree with Clint Eastwood on anything of a political nature but he's right about this PC fetish. Trump voters are not all insane but I think we may be pushing them into unstable territory. They know when they are being bludgeoned. They are frightened not by loss of power so much as they are by things not making sense to them. They are being told that others can be violent and somehow it is justified. That others can partake of public and private funds for education and still protest ill treatment. These millions of people when they have finally had enough will be the ones who come for you in your ivory towers. It pains me to write such a statement, but they need a better voice and if we don't hear them we do so at the peril of this nation.
5
Clinton cannot be "morally serious" but dishonest and untrustworthy.
She can "present herself" as anything, covering up who she really is.
She can "present herself" as anything, covering up who she really is.
5
Donald Trump is as bombastic as he is unprepared for the Presidency.
Hillary Clinton is an opportunistic criminal.
Time to vote third party. If most voters who are unsatisfied with either major party candidate voted for Johnson, he would win, that's how many people are dissatisfied. What a great message that would be to the entrenched special interests and party leaders on both sides of the aisle.
Hillary Clinton is an opportunistic criminal.
Time to vote third party. If most voters who are unsatisfied with either major party candidate voted for Johnson, he would win, that's how many people are dissatisfied. What a great message that would be to the entrenched special interests and party leaders on both sides of the aisle.
2
We should keep in mind recent studies that indicate conservative and liberal minds are wired differently. These studies seem to show that, to a certain type of right wing mentality, facts quite literally do not matter if they conflict with accepted dogma. Hence Trump's continuing support from an ill-educated, ethnocentric demographic should not come as a surprise. Further, the more outrageous he becomes, the more entrenched that support will be. America's Archie Bunkers are not dissuaded by the espousal of superficial and offensive opinions that in fact mirror their own. This demographic can not be reasoned out of their opinions. They are impervious to logic and fact. Hopefully they can be out-voted but to do so, the rest of us are going to have to get to the polls in November. Excuses are not acceptable. Walk, fly or crawl if need be - go in a wheel chair or be carried on a litter but get there!
1
As if there were anything at all equatable between Clinton's alleged "repeatedly asserting untruthful claims about her careless handling of government emails," and what spews from the mouth of Donald Trump.
What the Post said was "While Comey did say there was no evidence she lied to the FBI, that is not the same as saying she told the truth to the American public -- which was the point of [Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace's] question. Comey has repeatedly not taken a stand on her public statements."
It may not be "the same," but it may not be different, either. Enough parsing every word on this email non-scandal, just like the Benghazi non-scandal and all the other non-scandals that have preceded them. It seems The Times - whose coverage of Mrs. Clinton has been proved excessively negative - is clinging to this story because it's easy to understand.
Sort of like the hit-piece on Patrick Murphy, running for the Senate from Florida, claiming that he "never worked as a CPA" just because he worked in Florida and his CPA license was from Colorado and he didn't prepare people's tax returns. All this shows is the ignorance of the press.
What the Post said was "While Comey did say there was no evidence she lied to the FBI, that is not the same as saying she told the truth to the American public -- which was the point of [Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace's] question. Comey has repeatedly not taken a stand on her public statements."
It may not be "the same," but it may not be different, either. Enough parsing every word on this email non-scandal, just like the Benghazi non-scandal and all the other non-scandals that have preceded them. It seems The Times - whose coverage of Mrs. Clinton has been proved excessively negative - is clinging to this story because it's easy to understand.
Sort of like the hit-piece on Patrick Murphy, running for the Senate from Florida, claiming that he "never worked as a CPA" just because he worked in Florida and his CPA license was from Colorado and he didn't prepare people's tax returns. All this shows is the ignorance of the press.
It has been shown over and over again that when decisions are based on anger, the result is always later regretted. Anger is a poor substitute for reason. If the angry electorate prevails, we will all suffer terribly.
1
What Democrats and Independents should do is turn out in record numbers to repudiate the repulsive Mr. Trump. There should be a clear message to the Republican Party. Never again propel such a ludicrous buffoon to the head of your ticket or cease to exist as a serious major Party. Showing up to stand in line for a half an hour is the least voters can do to register their disgust at the repulsive Mr. Trump, who has dominated their television screens for half a year with his ranting babel. Another benefit of such a mass turnout would be to loosen the vice like grip a do nothing Congress has had on this country. The massive infusion of capital into Trump's campaign is the dying gesture of uneducated white males that see their chances of having a voice in this country melt away.
20
The crying baby episode was funny but his other behavior that you mention was ridiculous. As a conservative I have always voted for the Republican candidates but I will not vote for Trump. I hate the idea of Hillary being our president but I find solace in my belief that Bill will actually be running things. He certainly has the experience and, unlike his wife, is easy to like.
2
Then you're not a conservative. All you have to think about his the Supreme Court.
Why would you think Bill will be running things? That's patently ridiculous.
But its NOT about sexism.
Blarrgh
Blarrgh
This is the first time The Times has scolded Ms. Clinton's 'untruthfulness' in this campaign. For some of us who have never and would never attend a Trump rally, it's a breath of fresh air. If there were a candidate somewhere in the middle of Trump and Clinton, we all might be able to breathe. But there is not and she is the worst candidate, garnering no sympathy from those fascinated by Trump's rise. Listen, I don't want to see him as President. I don't dislike her because she is a woman. The rest I can not figure out.
6
The NYT and all media: stop feeding the troll. It withers out of the spotlight. If all Trump reads and responds to is himself, don't give him anything. Make him work for coverage by reporting only words and deeds that comply with American law and policy, both foreign and domestic. That's all it takes to shut this monster up and down.
11
I am less concerned about Donald Trump’s unfitness for the presidency than I am about the millions of people who think he’s just fine and will vote for him. THAT is scary!
I am very concerned about Hillary Clinton’s propensity for lying about things. She is delusionally infallible and cannot can’t seem to face the truth.
The idea that either one can become president is chilling.
I am very concerned about Hillary Clinton’s propensity for lying about things. She is delusionally infallible and cannot can’t seem to face the truth.
The idea that either one can become president is chilling.
9
I find the endless false equivalencies between the vicious, sociopathic Trump (a man I would be terrified to have a role to play in the governing of this country) and Hilary Clinton (who is finally, a politician, and better than most) exhausting.
1
Finally a NYT editorial which acknowledges that the rage of Trump supporters is borne out of economic anxiety. Happy and contented voters are far less susceptible to racist demagoguery than struggling workers, who have lost their sense of economic security and personal dignity.
Already Aristotle understood that "people in the middle" were the bedrock of democracy, because comfortable citizens were susceptible to be governed by reason. With the U6 (real) unemployment rate at almost 10% and about 50% of Americans making less than 25k a year, the center has collapsed and is no longer willing to be reasonable.
Already Aristotle understood that "people in the middle" were the bedrock of democracy, because comfortable citizens were susceptible to be governed by reason. With the U6 (real) unemployment rate at almost 10% and about 50% of Americans making less than 25k a year, the center has collapsed and is no longer willing to be reasonable.
147
The old "silent majority" theory again. It works, but this time the majority is frustrated and angry. So, we are going to hear from them big time.
2
I've lost count of the number of times blacks and other minorities have been told over the years -- particularly the last twelve months -- that their rage can never justify irresponsible, destructive conduct. That cannot be allowed to be any less true for Trump's cohort.
2
"Happy and contented people ..." - who are these people? Let me point out the obvious: The overwhelming majority African Americans and Hispanics have "lost their sense of economic security and personal dignity" - they're used to it! However - have they spewed hate and armed themselves to the hilt? Are they behaving like Trump rally-goers? If they were, we all know they'd be arrested. So even in their "new" status, white working class men have privileges.
1
Trump has captured the non-college male white vote. That group gives every indication of sticking by him no matter what he might say. Yesterday, Thursday, there was no embarrassing headline coming out of Trump's campaign. If he can manage to sustain that, he will calm some of the anxiety he has raised among mainstream Republicans and Independents. He could start with an attack on Hillary Clinton's misrepresentation of the FBI director's remarks and her adoption of the Bernie Sander's left-wing agenda. This election could be close if Trump can restrict his more thoughtless tweets.
31
There was a headline yesterday that, while not embarrassing, should not be ignored. Trump unleashes serious demons by singling out refugees and turning local people against them. I'm surprised that the NY Times did not report on this.
In Maine, Trump takes aim at Somali refugeeshttps://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/08/04/donald-trump-speak-portland...
In Maine, Trump takes aim at Somali refugeeshttps://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/08/04/donald-trump-speak-portland...
All this talk of Trump throttling down his impulses or giving in to the RNC to act more presidential to get elected is very worrisome, although not without an element of humour.
Suppose he wins then what?
Will he really have changed?
Who or what will control president Trump?
I have this wonderful image of him sitting on his golden chair (throne) saying "Aha now I've gotcha!".
Suppose he wins then what?
Will he really have changed?
Who or what will control president Trump?
I have this wonderful image of him sitting on his golden chair (throne) saying "Aha now I've gotcha!".
One day out of the next 99? You really think Trump has that kind of discipline?
Many Trump supporters do not "think" Washington has betrayed them; they know it deep down in their bones. They are certainly correct, and based on the polling, most of the nation concurs. This editorial, by focusing on the shortcomings of Trump, ignores the concrete reasons that are fueling their discontent. Compared to Trump's blunders, Washington's incompetence is child's play.The hysterics directed against Trump belie the underlying fear that a Trump victory, (at least a fifty fifty proposition} will upend the status quo, the establishment, the self-entitled elites. As for Hillary Clinton, her flaws go deeper than mere temperament. She is a prevaricator par excellence. She is an unrepentant war hawk, and the epitome of the "insider." But most of all is her uncanny lack of judgment.
12
@ You assert that "compared to Trump's blunders, Washington's incompetence is child's play".
That very child play - namely sulking when not getting their will - started the minute when leading Republicans and scribes got together on the eve of Mr. Obama's first inauguration and Mitch McConnell declared that their only goal for the next years was to make him a one-termer.
Instead of co-governing for the betterment of the country as a 'loyal' opposition should, they stopped legislating and later even closed the government by not getting their candy.
And what about Herr Drumpf's canny judgement, not knowing what the nuclear triad is, not knowing the word Brexit, not knowing the difference between Sunni and Shia, not knowing that Russia has already been in Ukraine for two years, saying that he would not protect NATO members should they be attacked by Russia if they had not paid their 'fair share, and the list goes on and on.
His very childish temperament - who has the attention span of a Kindergartener, and lack of intellect makes him a danger not only for our own country, but the rest of the world.
That very child play - namely sulking when not getting their will - started the minute when leading Republicans and scribes got together on the eve of Mr. Obama's first inauguration and Mitch McConnell declared that their only goal for the next years was to make him a one-termer.
Instead of co-governing for the betterment of the country as a 'loyal' opposition should, they stopped legislating and later even closed the government by not getting their candy.
And what about Herr Drumpf's canny judgement, not knowing what the nuclear triad is, not knowing the word Brexit, not knowing the difference between Sunni and Shia, not knowing that Russia has already been in Ukraine for two years, saying that he would not protect NATO members should they be attacked by Russia if they had not paid their 'fair share, and the list goes on and on.
His very childish temperament - who has the attention span of a Kindergartener, and lack of intellect makes him a danger not only for our own country, but the rest of the world.
1
There's a core group of Trump supporters that's never going to be alienated. It's the people who refuse to hear anything against the candidate. The people that defended Trump against charges of racism against Judge Curiel. The people who defend Trump against a patriotic gold star family.
Then, there's a group of voters Trump is trying to inherit: true conservatives and those that traditionally vote Republican. This (and the independents) are the people Mrs. Clinton needs to target, in different ways.
The independents feel (not think) that Trump will be a good choice as he is a successful businessman. He isn't. That's the message. Keep it simple. He is running as "Mr. Fix it". Show that he hasn't fixed anything in his life. If he had fixed it, there wouldn't be 4 bankruptcies. He just couldn't fix his failing business. Fixing a golf course is what a landscaper and gardener do. Not a successful businessman. Trump has fixed nothing in his businesses (let's not forget Trump vodka, Trump steaks, Trump airlines ... all failures). He can't fix anything for his life. He's just held on to his money and gamed bankruptcy laws. There's another message of stiffing contractors. But, that's message #2.
To core Republicans: the message needs to focus on temperament and Russia which should give everyone pause. He is too volatile and lacks control needed of a president. Also, he lacks the empathy and can lead us into the next World War, cause you know, "he's always wanted to have one".
Then, there's a group of voters Trump is trying to inherit: true conservatives and those that traditionally vote Republican. This (and the independents) are the people Mrs. Clinton needs to target, in different ways.
The independents feel (not think) that Trump will be a good choice as he is a successful businessman. He isn't. That's the message. Keep it simple. He is running as "Mr. Fix it". Show that he hasn't fixed anything in his life. If he had fixed it, there wouldn't be 4 bankruptcies. He just couldn't fix his failing business. Fixing a golf course is what a landscaper and gardener do. Not a successful businessman. Trump has fixed nothing in his businesses (let's not forget Trump vodka, Trump steaks, Trump airlines ... all failures). He can't fix anything for his life. He's just held on to his money and gamed bankruptcy laws. There's another message of stiffing contractors. But, that's message #2.
To core Republicans: the message needs to focus on temperament and Russia which should give everyone pause. He is too volatile and lacks control needed of a president. Also, he lacks the empathy and can lead us into the next World War, cause you know, "he's always wanted to have one".
7
Trump talks about Iran humiliating America. Trump's actions are humiliating America. To end the humiliation Trump must lose in a landslide. Only then will the world know that he represents at best a fringe element.
9
Trump will not go quietly into the night. His core supporters love him for his big mouth and bully talk. Hillary and the sane people here will have to fight and keep their guard up till November 9th!
7
Trump draws large crowds because he entertains and fascinates. Like Trump himself most of his supporters do not think ahead to how he would govern. For now he is a spectacle. But if Trump were to win the entertainer will be caged in the White House lashed to speech writers and teleprompters, kept from news conferences, longing for the adoring crowds and his power over them. He will fail miserably at being the leader of the free world but for right now his supporters don't care. The megalomaniac tells them what they want to hear.
8
I wonder why every one dumps on Trump - some one voted for him over other decent folks like Bush. It is these folks who voted for Trump - they are the haters and racists?
There's a well-worn aphorism among political consultants and it's one that's worth heeding now: When your opponent is drowning, throw the jerk an anchor.
"jerk" isn't the word that James Carville used, but this is a polite newspaper.
"jerk" isn't the word that James Carville used, but this is a polite newspaper.
5
Everybody's piling on Trump and of course he deserves it. If Miss Hillary really wants to put things away, here are a few suggestions: (1) Hold a press conference instead of hiding behind HER enablers; (2) Try telling the truth for a change in every interview; and (3) Quit trying to placate Bernie supporters by moving so far left as to fall off the table. If she can do those three things, it should be an easy win with lots of GOP and Independent help.
7
He made us laugh and we thought he was a joke. Who's laughing now?
Donald Trump possible President of the United States.
Donald Trump possible President of the United States.
3
The Republicans have shown us that politics is a blood sport. Don't be nice. Don't compromise. Take no prisoners. Go for the kill. OK, Democrats, give them a taste of their own medicine.
Go after Trump until their is nothing left but a foreclosure sign on his campaign. Tie every Republican candidate to him and label them as a threat to democracy. Use Trump as battering ram to smash Republican driven hate and fear that is tearing this nation apart. Use Trump as the prime example of Republican anti-truth. They have gutted economic policy, (Kansas is a great example).
When a boxer sees his opponent falter, he finishes the job. He doesn't toy with his opponent. He know that even a struggling fighter can land that one punch which can defeat him. Don't give Trump the opportunity to land that one desperate blow. Finish Trump off and all connected to him.
The Republicans are powered by hate, fear and stupidity. Those characteristics are unlimited.
Go after Trump until their is nothing left but a foreclosure sign on his campaign. Tie every Republican candidate to him and label them as a threat to democracy. Use Trump as battering ram to smash Republican driven hate and fear that is tearing this nation apart. Use Trump as the prime example of Republican anti-truth. They have gutted economic policy, (Kansas is a great example).
When a boxer sees his opponent falter, he finishes the job. He doesn't toy with his opponent. He know that even a struggling fighter can land that one punch which can defeat him. Don't give Trump the opportunity to land that one desperate blow. Finish Trump off and all connected to him.
The Republicans are powered by hate, fear and stupidity. Those characteristics are unlimited.
46
Believe I'll vote for Trump. My biggest FEAR and what I'd HATE to see is a continuation of the STUPID policies that will turn this Nation into a third-world country.
1
Plays right into his strategy. He wants the kind of fight you propose. 32 people like your post. You know what that means? You might get what you want but it's the wrong strategy.
1
The silly season of the 2016 election is underway as the summer of discontent among a large number of angry voters is about to get a temporary relief as the Olympics begin. Trump's fearless talk continues to pack campaign rallies and then some more overflow crowd. The editorial board of NY Times has finally realized that Trump still has a fighting chance of becoming our next president. He will make history by being the first non politician who has never held an elected office in recent times who is not an attorney by profession. Trump's fund raising has picked up and almost matches the level of his opponent whose well oiled formidable machine is getting support from the usual suspects with deep pockets. American democracy is being truly tested in this election cycle. Can the average American masses really overcome the support to Clinton from the establishment, the other billionaires, the intellectuals, the regular democratic voters to defy the polls and succeed in electing Trump even when the GOP is going through a transformation and a possible renaissance? Independents like me are perplexed by the choices of 2 equally unliked nominees from the 2 major parties. There is nothing perilous about a Trump presidency other than his rhetoric and undiplomatic statements. With checks and balances in places in our nation, Trump's actions cannot speak louder than his words. Trump's presidency will be an intriguing novel experiment for USA. I remain open to a Trump presidency.
6
I don't like to name call, but you are being truly naive if you think there is no real danger in turning over the country in this complicated world to Donald Trump. Read the earlier TImes articles on executive actions and other things our powerful presidency permits despite checks and balances. They are designed to prevent presumably sane people in any of the three branches from running amok over the rights and duties of the others, but having a sociopath as president is a whole different ballgame, especially with his minions of gun-toting supporters roving the land.
This is not the America we want, I hope. And I can't even begin to challenge your statement about no diplomatic harm from his statements. There already is major concern and disbelief being expressed by our allies about the U.S. actually electing this man. Read today's endorsement by the former CIA head. Donald Trump is national security risk to this country.
This is not the America we want, I hope. And I can't even begin to challenge your statement about no diplomatic harm from his statements. There already is major concern and disbelief being expressed by our allies about the U.S. actually electing this man. Read today's endorsement by the former CIA head. Donald Trump is national security risk to this country.
For this Republic to survive it is not enough to reject the mindless rage Trump represents. We must also reject the cynical, calculated mendacity and relentless thirst for power that Clinton represents. Only a third candidate will save us. A Trump or Clinton Presidency will take us down different paths but ultimately, and for different reasons, both paths lead to perdition. Perhaps Bloomberg will reconsider.
8
A quick suicide vs slow suicide.
To continue to make equivilancies between Mr. Trump and Sec. Clinton at this point is just willful ignorance.
1
I remember feeling this way when W ran for office - both times….incredulous that he was being so enthusiastically considered, even by people I respected! And how that turned out. I am not sure this country can take another ridiculous clown for its president - and survive. Pray for Mr. Bloomberg or Mr. Johnson - or even Mrs. Clinton to collect more votes.
Write off Trump. He likely going to lose.
His supporters cannot be written off however. Let's stop with the name calling and demonization and patronization and figure out what reasonable actions can be taken to address the issues they are so obviously passionate about.
These people are hurting and they are reaching critical mass. Writing them off as racist and stupid will only make things worse.
His supporters cannot be written off however. Let's stop with the name calling and demonization and patronization and figure out what reasonable actions can be taken to address the issues they are so obviously passionate about.
These people are hurting and they are reaching critical mass. Writing them off as racist and stupid will only make things worse.
44
Oh, yes, I'm constantly being told to listen to them, the disenfranchised, who didn't pick Bernie Sanders, who actually had their interest at heart, but instead chose Donald Trump as their spokesperson, as nonsensical as that sounds. So I listened to them: "Unfiltered Voices from Donald Trump's Crowds," August 3, 2016. And all I hear are vile, disgusting, sexist, racist slurs and chants. I don't think those guys would ever listen to any rational argument from a Clinton supporter. They proudly disenfranchise everyone who isn't like them.
Tump isn't the disease, he's the symptom.
Allow the tiniest sliver of the population to redistribute trillions of dollars in wealth upward to themselves.
Permit these same folks to rip the heart out of a middle class living wage job lifestyle for a large swath of Americans in the process.
Drown the country in handguns and assault weapons.
Then saturate the airwaves with right wing hate speech and blame game politics and what do you have?
Today's America.
Washington has in fact failed Trump's supporters. These folks remember when their parents had good manufacturing jobs at the local plant, bought cars, and went on vacations. Give them credit. They may not know how what happened happened. But they darned well know it did.
Given Hillary Clinton's .1% donor base we can expect nothing more than the status quo regardless of her margin of victory, assuming she wins.
Which simply means the pot will continue to boil, and unrest will continue to fester. Even grow.
What happens next?
That's anybody's guess, but with the amount of guns sloshing around in the country, you can bet it will include violence.
What a sad, sad state of affairs.
Allow the tiniest sliver of the population to redistribute trillions of dollars in wealth upward to themselves.
Permit these same folks to rip the heart out of a middle class living wage job lifestyle for a large swath of Americans in the process.
Drown the country in handguns and assault weapons.
Then saturate the airwaves with right wing hate speech and blame game politics and what do you have?
Today's America.
Washington has in fact failed Trump's supporters. These folks remember when their parents had good manufacturing jobs at the local plant, bought cars, and went on vacations. Give them credit. They may not know how what happened happened. But they darned well know it did.
Given Hillary Clinton's .1% donor base we can expect nothing more than the status quo regardless of her margin of victory, assuming she wins.
Which simply means the pot will continue to boil, and unrest will continue to fester. Even grow.
What happens next?
That's anybody's guess, but with the amount of guns sloshing around in the country, you can bet it will include violence.
What a sad, sad state of affairs.
29
If and when HC wins the election she will likely be faced with the same bunch of intransigents that President Obama has had for six years. If your representative is a Republican he is largely responsible for your economic situation by not acting in any way to alleviate your pain. It isn't enough to repudiate DT and not vote for him, you have to dump all the obstructionists in Congress. I am not holding my breath. The hate filled behavior of a sizable minority of Republican voters impedes their own progress and that of the nation.
1
Washington may have failed these angry, frightened voters but the real culprit is both the Republican Party and a changing world. The Republican party allowed its base to simmer in hatred and fear while catering to the needs and wants of the 1%. They created a do nothing Congress that carry the party line and dial for dollars. The SCOTUS also became much less about justice but pushing the Republucan agenda for the 1%. It is necessary to add that the Democratic Party failed somewhat but much less.
As to the changing world, we must adapt to survive and that may be that the Manufacturing jobs are gone for ever. Human's need to allow their creativity and thinking to open new vistas.
As to the changing world, we must adapt to survive and that may be that the Manufacturing jobs are gone for ever. Human's need to allow their creativity and thinking to open new vistas.
I have heard it said about the composer Wagner,
"He is not as bad as he sounds".
Perhaps, by analogy, president Hillary will be more sensible than SoS Clinton.
Trump was the SOS for many Americans. But he did not answer their call in a way which made any sense.
"He is not as bad as he sounds".
Perhaps, by analogy, president Hillary will be more sensible than SoS Clinton.
Trump was the SOS for many Americans. But he did not answer their call in a way which made any sense.
This editorial is spot on. Complacency will put this monster and his monstrous supporters (see The New York Times, "Unfiltered Voices from Donald Trump's Crowds," August 3, 2016) into the Oval Office, in charge of the nuclear codes.
29
I wonder how many Clinton supporters actually know & talk to (if they can) a Trump supporter. I am fortunate in that I do have those contacts. One is a conservative republican who does not support Trump, but supports the platform & all the "down ballot " candidates & one is an out & out Trump supporter who will tell you, they are against the "establishment.
Here is what we all need to understand: These people have legitimate complaints! And they feel denigrated & left out by our congress members, for yrs.! Be aware , they will not just go away--- they need to be heard & the problems resolved.!
"He promises nothing of substance to ease their pain, but he gives voice to their rage."
Here is what we all need to understand: These people have legitimate complaints! And they feel denigrated & left out by our congress members, for yrs.! Be aware , they will not just go away--- they need to be heard & the problems resolved.!
"He promises nothing of substance to ease their pain, but he gives voice to their rage."
38
Rage is not a legitimate response. Racism and Bigotry are not legitimate responses. They are pathological responses no matter what challenges people face. I know plenty of people who are also struggling, but they sure aren't using that as an excuse to vote for an ignorant demagogue who expresses their inner Id for them.
13
So someone in Georgia who feels denigrated and left out by the Republicans he has voted into office time and time again now chooses yet another Republican for messiah, or elects more Republicans "down-ballot?" Well, sorry, Georgia, you elected the Republicans who are apparently ignoring your "legitimate complaints" for decades.
1
These paycheck to paycheck people with legitimate complaints keep voting for conservatives who then screw them for their rich benefactors. Don't boo, vote for Progressive candidates!
2
Any Democrat who thinks this election will be a Clinton cakewalk is flirting with disaster. She must win, and win big. It's not enough that Hilary should squeak by with a one or two percent majority. She needs a blow-out that leaves zero question of her victory and Trump's repudiation by a wide margin of the entire electorate. Trump is already setting the stage for claims of a fraudulent election: a "rigged" election; if he loses. Given the hatred, bigotry and violence of Trump's "poorly educated" supporters, I believe muddled election day results (remember Florida in 2000) and its aftermath would imperil us all unless Hillary wins conclusively.
128
Actually the results in 2000 were clear, Gore won, but W's dads Supreme Court Justices stole the election for junior. Vote HRC, the Supreme Court matters.
Trump is working off the same game plan he applied in the Republican primaries: maximize media coverage by saying anything, the crazier the better; sit back while the pollsters, academics and talking head hacks hammer away there's no way Trump can pull it off; his core supporters come out in droves to vote for him, along with those who quietly believe that something has to substantially change to shake-up both parties, which are unresponsive to the ordinary in favor of the wealthy and well-connected. Trump wins.
Hillary just can't escape the miasma of her continuous misrepresentations and close relationships and constant networking with the power elite. Her policy platform and its intellectual underpinnings look pretty, convincing and on the surface ought be the "right thing" to support; but, much resemble President Obama's nicely presented offerings over 8 years. She's e-mailing this one in, letting others take the lead in pummeling Trump, certain in her belief she's historically got this one in the bag. Her core and potential voters share the same non-urgent belief and will stay home, in droves, relying on others to go to the polls. Trump wins, again.
Hillary just can't escape the miasma of her continuous misrepresentations and close relationships and constant networking with the power elite. Her policy platform and its intellectual underpinnings look pretty, convincing and on the surface ought be the "right thing" to support; but, much resemble President Obama's nicely presented offerings over 8 years. She's e-mailing this one in, letting others take the lead in pummeling Trump, certain in her belief she's historically got this one in the bag. Her core and potential voters share the same non-urgent belief and will stay home, in droves, relying on others to go to the polls. Trump wins, again.
16
The press is on Hillary's side, they will misrepresent everything which Trump says, and Trump, with his clumsiness has given them plenty of material.
I did wonder if there would be a pivot after Trump was nominated because he would understand that he would now be facing the general public. But he has not.
His rallies are full of enthusiastic fans who hate Hillary, and he does not realize that his rallies do not represent the American voter.
Maybe his daughter will read Trump the riot act, but I am not sure he will listen even to HER.
I did wonder if there would be a pivot after Trump was nominated because he would understand that he would now be facing the general public. But he has not.
His rallies are full of enthusiastic fans who hate Hillary, and he does not realize that his rallies do not represent the American voter.
Maybe his daughter will read Trump the riot act, but I am not sure he will listen even to HER.
This election is in the minds and universe of the few undecided voters. If they were driven by finding the most dry, familiar, rational, and intelligent candidate, they would not still be undecided. If they were driven by the most dangerous, unpredictable and entertaining candidate who might throw a Hail Mary pass to revolution and glory, then they would not still be undecided. What drives the undecided voters? Will they storm the Bastille, or just order a double expresso at the coffee shop and discuss Marie Antoinette's new hairstyle?
10
" the most dry, familiar, rational, and intelligent candidate" who laughed and clapped her hands when Gaddafi was lynched.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgcd1ghag5Y
Libya is still a basket case and more than half of the people drowned in the Mediterranean this year are people fleeing Libya.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgcd1ghag5Y
Libya is still a basket case and more than half of the people drowned in the Mediterranean this year are people fleeing Libya.
2
In a democracy, the answer is straightforward. GOTV for Hillary Clinton.
12
My hope is that there is only a finite number of bigots and bullies in the US that the small donations that he is getting will run out and the larger donors won't be encouraged by what they see from the support he is getting. We all know that Donald Trump is a vindictive con-artist from his early youth. We will not see an about face but more of the same, or, if he gets properly motivated from his base, a more aggressive dogma. Let's pray that there are more rational citizens than irrational ones.
13
It is three months to the election. One quarter of a year in which anything can happen. Another terrorist attack on US soil could tip the scales. A tanking economy could tip the scales. Trump being dragged off for a nice rest in an asylum could tip the scales.
The fact is, it's much too early to be taking victory laps.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"
The fact is, it's much too early to be taking victory laps.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"
23
Oh, for heaven's sake!! I want to read your editorial, learn something from it, have it provoke my thought, and then I get to "[Trump] booted a crying baby out of a rally in Virginia."
He didn't, either . . . it was a joke, albeit not a great one. "NBC News reporter Katy Tur said in a television interview that the baby was allowed to stay at the rally." [per Politico]
Just as Trump is sloppy with his language, you are being sloppy with your portrayal of him. It hurts your message, because then the reader thinks, "Can I put stock in this interpretation of things?"
He didn't, either . . . it was a joke, albeit not a great one. "NBC News reporter Katy Tur said in a television interview that the baby was allowed to stay at the rally." [per Politico]
Just as Trump is sloppy with his language, you are being sloppy with your portrayal of him. It hurts your message, because then the reader thinks, "Can I put stock in this interpretation of things?"
21
I'm so tired of people excusing Trump's behavior by claiming that it's a joke. Grow up.
1
I cannot believe that my fellow citizens will be so taken by an individual that accumulates more political and personal negatives than all the Republican legislators put together. It's a dark morning where I am sitting and I am looking for something to brighten it. Granted that Trump is getting big crowds, that many of them are enthusiastic supporters, that they are funding a campaign that Trump said was self-funding. However...and here is the bright note...is it possible that these crowds are all part of the 35% of the people that supported him in the primaries and no more. From looking at what I can see of the shots of the crowds, I see a goodly number that are not shouting. Could it be that some of this crowd is here to see a circus phenomenon, and could it be that some of the unconvinced will exit turned off by the next insulting or ignorant remark?
The sage of Baltimore warned us not to underestimate the stupidity of the American electorate. Let's hope that he was wrong.
The sage of Baltimore warned us not to underestimate the stupidity of the American electorate. Let's hope that he was wrong.
8
This should perhaps be a solitary instance in recent political history of the US that a person like Trump with all the wrong reasons not only succeeds to extract presidential nomination from the reluctant Republican party but also built up a charm circle around him simply on lending a loud voice to the raw and left out elements of America's mainstream without doing anything to lessen their pain and suffering, rooted primarily in their ignorance and reluctance for self effort. This in itself is hardly a matter of relief for Hillary Clinton. For, she has before her an opponent who knows no civility or democratic restraints and could be confronted only through striking a better rapport with the public and overcoming the trust deficit she has accumulated over her public career of many years.
27
For all his bluster and professed love, I wonder how many of these low class supporters, if any, would he ever invite to dine with him at his dinner table atop Tramp Tower?
17
How many have Hillary or Obama invited?
We all remember clearly Mr. Obama declaring that working class Americans were "bitter, and clinging to their guns and religion". We know what he thinks of us.
We all remember clearly Mr. Obama declaring that working class Americans were "bitter, and clinging to their guns and religion". We know what he thinks of us.
2
In the past week it has been reported that the Trump campaign has seen a terrific inflow of donations, especially from small donors. Reports vary from 60 to 80 million dollars. But raising money for a campaign is only half the story. The other half is, how is that money used.
Does Trump use the funds to hire field staff, to sway new voters and get out the vote of his base, especially in key swing states? Does he use it to buy air time for effective campaign adds? Or, does he use it to repay loans he made to his primary campaign? Is it used to pay for "campaign events" at Mar A Lago, and other Trump owned properties? Is it used to buy thousands of Trump ties?
Earlier in the primaries Trump bragged about making money on a Presidential campaign. He may just be doing that. Is this entire run for the Presidency just another Trump business venture? So, as they say, follow the money.
Does Trump use the funds to hire field staff, to sway new voters and get out the vote of his base, especially in key swing states? Does he use it to buy air time for effective campaign adds? Or, does he use it to repay loans he made to his primary campaign? Is it used to pay for "campaign events" at Mar A Lago, and other Trump owned properties? Is it used to buy thousands of Trump ties?
Earlier in the primaries Trump bragged about making money on a Presidential campaign. He may just be doing that. Is this entire run for the Presidency just another Trump business venture? So, as they say, follow the money.
26
Watch Trump pay the money to himself to recoup inflated costs of running for the nomination.
1
The election of a president is unfortunately not a rational undertaking, although it should be. It is more like a national rorschach card test in which candidates and parties spew out words and images and video bearing some resemblance to possible futures, the voters free associate to these, and then everyone rolls the dice. Democracy in action, ugh. The least worst form of government. Trump remains a threat because he is like the Jungian shadow self, the ugly dark side of the national character: bigoted, greed obsessed, power hungry, selfish, narcissistic, the list goes on. The attraction is to shine a light on that shadow space, confront it, embrace the ugly self that in reality drives so much of what actually happens in America. Yes, huge segments of our culture are ugly. The quest to become “more perfect” involves admitting the presence of this darkness. Shock therapy for the national soul. This election is an opportunity to look inward and to ask what kind of nation we want to become, to be guided, as Lincoln once said, by the better angels of our nature. Then the choice is clear and Hillary will win in a landslide. Because even though the shadow is terribly real, the shadow is not who we want to become.
6
Everyone relax; Hillary will be elected president and it will be four to eight more years of nothing.
18
Janis, the lefty media must not believe that -- or why all the hysteria? Why 5 articles a day bashing Trump?
3
Janis, it won't be nothing.
Whoever is prez will be, will be presiding over another economic collapse worse than the last one.
When their housing values plummet, their pensions dissolve, their 401 K's dissolve, then the Democrats will understand what we working class proles- we the stupid, the uneducated, scrabbling between the coasts have been living with since 2008..
Nothing short of an economic catastrophe will force them to see what's beyond their-for now- comfortable bubble.
http://wallstreetonparade.com/2016/07/citigroup-has-more-derivatives-tha...
Whoever is prez will be, will be presiding over another economic collapse worse than the last one.
When their housing values plummet, their pensions dissolve, their 401 K's dissolve, then the Democrats will understand what we working class proles- we the stupid, the uneducated, scrabbling between the coasts have been living with since 2008..
Nothing short of an economic catastrophe will force them to see what's beyond their-for now- comfortable bubble.
http://wallstreetonparade.com/2016/07/citigroup-has-more-derivatives-tha...
1
With Donald Trump being unalterably who he is, one might say that the race is Hillary Clinton's to lose. Unfortunately, she's proven to be adept at self-impairment. We winced and groaned when, in that interview this week, she repeated her prevarications about use of a private e-mail server. Why did she do that? Why not take ownership of that particular failing and move on? Is she, too, bound and driven by her own set of self-destructive compulsions? Is she, too, incapable of admitting to having erred?
Oh, for the uncomplicated, calm serenity and normalcy of Adlai vs. Ike.
Oh, for the uncomplicated, calm serenity and normalcy of Adlai vs. Ike.
17
Trump offers nothing but racism, and the hope of a boost to white supremacy. That is the only fuel driving his election. Fear is used as a handy tool. Trump's supporter don't care about anything else. The mainly white males who rabidly support Trump get an intoxicating high to feel a sense of wish fulfillment through the appalling Trump. This is sick and extremely sad, but it must be roundly defeated.
23
I disagree...the visceral dislike of Sec. Clinton is the real fuel. I know many people who shake their head at Trump, disagree completely with almost everything he says, and will still vote for him because they dislike her that much.
2
The Editorial Board is right to worry. I like the suggestion that Mrs.Clinton needs to hammer more on solutions to people's economic security and to ending Republican style crony capitalism and Congressional paralysis. The Trumpsters I know have a legitimate brief that the establishment has served to make their cronies rich while not solving the people's problems. I hate Trump so I am anxious for Hill to be more effective in attacking Republican cronisim and paralysis of Congress.
29
The republican candidate,a runaway clown from B&B?Beware of a western leadership under Trump!
4
Isn't this just what the NYT wants, plenty of click bait and a horse race they can breathlessly milk all the way to November? Wasn't that the point of all the free press they have given Trump?
19
Yes.
2
DR you hit it. I am shocked to see no one else gets it. I agree with you very greedy media (let's include CNN in this list) evolves to new macabre Dr. Frankenstein creating and nurturing monsters.
1
Thank you NYT. My friends think I'm being a little demented when I say that Trump just might win. They once referred to the collected Republican hopefuls as the clown car and watched them avidly because they thought they were funny. We are finding out that it was the wrong kind of funny. We were wrong. And I hope we don't make the same mistake in the coming days.
51
The first half of this article well accounts for Trump's appeal among his staunch supporters, but the second half stumbles when it refuses to give him credit for having workable ideas. One of them that particularly appeals to me is his openness to the idea of detente with Russia and even to friendship with Putin. Hillary, however, whose strength is supposed to be her experience in foreign policy, seems stuck on the assumptions that have prevailed since the beginning of the Cold War Era. There is also Russia's grievance that the USA and the West have gone back on their word to Gorbachev during perestroika when certain promises were made about not expanding NATO to Russia's borders. We have also meddled in Ukraine which is in Russia's sphere of influence. Putin has responded by reclaiming the Crimea. It's a fait accompli. Does that surprise us. We pushed him. Why provoke Russia in this way? Why engage in the brinkmanship of the past? Why not at least be open to the continuing promise of glasnost which means "openness" for us as well? Trump also points out the expense that we have been footing not only for NATO but for our military presence in Korea and Japan as well. It's been 60 years already. How much longer can this go on? Hillary just promises more of the same. Historically, the Democrats have been called the "war party." Must it continue to be so?
21
Ed
You have fallen into Trump's trap.
He presents an idea with no specifics about how that will be accomplished.
You supply a "this is how he will do it" response. Since everyone is free to fill in the blanks that he leaves, if you do so, you THINK or IMAGINE that he would do it your way. And then you buy into his position. The next person fills in the blanks differently, and thinks THAT is the way you do whatever. Trump has not said he would do whatever it is by either procedure, so how do you know how he will accomplish whatever he intends to do?
However, his lack of detail belies two things: 1. He really does NOT have any of the detail down. And 2. He is pandering to people who are not even considering if some idea is feasible, let alone how you would even actually try to accomplish the goal, but who accept the general goal, whether it is legal or not.
Thank you for the great example.
You have fallen into Trump's trap.
He presents an idea with no specifics about how that will be accomplished.
You supply a "this is how he will do it" response. Since everyone is free to fill in the blanks that he leaves, if you do so, you THINK or IMAGINE that he would do it your way. And then you buy into his position. The next person fills in the blanks differently, and thinks THAT is the way you do whatever. Trump has not said he would do whatever it is by either procedure, so how do you know how he will accomplish whatever he intends to do?
However, his lack of detail belies two things: 1. He really does NOT have any of the detail down. And 2. He is pandering to people who are not even considering if some idea is feasible, let alone how you would even actually try to accomplish the goal, but who accept the general goal, whether it is legal or not.
Thank you for the great example.
1
Not much is spoken about the oil price war between the US, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.
Excuse me, but would you please go back to "We have also meddled in Ukraine" and explain that one in terms that, I don't know, a Ukranian might accept? Is the US ruling Crimea? Are there American troops in eastern Ukraine?
Are you aware of the debates within the Obama administration the President's policy and those who are concerned that it offers too much accomodation? That, even among Republicans, only Mr. Trump seems to feel a need to cozy up to Mr. Putin?
Are you aware of the debates within the Obama administration the President's policy and those who are concerned that it offers too much accomodation? That, even among Republicans, only Mr. Trump seems to feel a need to cozy up to Mr. Putin?
The stakes are higher in this race. As others have stated here: Hillary needs to win in a blow out against a clearly unstable and unqualified candidate. Republican officials and office holders, who have almost universally continued to endorse a candidate so obviously unfit to be president and a danger to the world, must be taught a lesson. It is up to the voters to tell them that Trump is unacceptable to the vast majority of Americans. If he loses by a little he will claim fraud and his voters will learn nothing. Nor will the Republican establishment. The possibility of another hate mongering future candidate remains a possibility. A blow out will, perhaps, teach the Republican establishment that they better find a backbone and some integrity the next time a blowhard ignoramous takes over their party.
127
I am constantly shocked at how passive and indifferent many on the Left seem to be about Trump. All the gleeful schadenfreude we feel every time he makes a gaffe means nothing.
Enough insightful analysis at brunch! And screaming at his supporters at rallies just provides click bait for the media. We have to get out the vote, make calls, do whatever we can to ensure a clear and decisive victory for her.
Stop complaining! Stop analyzing! Start fighting!
Enough insightful analysis at brunch! And screaming at his supporters at rallies just provides click bait for the media. We have to get out the vote, make calls, do whatever we can to ensure a clear and decisive victory for her.
Stop complaining! Stop analyzing! Start fighting!
345
I have a question on his July fundraising. We get this from his campaign? They have so much credibility on everything else, stenography much?
33
Democrats need to remind themselves that this election is much more than Trump. This election needs to be reshaped and messaged as a repudiation of the GOP itself.
Trump is merely the symptom of a party and an electorate that has become diseased with a notion that party power is greater than country, which uses ugly fear and bigotry to achieve its goal. This election must send a clear message that this country's underlying values are not those of the GOP and its voters.
While most of us believe in a strong two-party system in this country, in this election, we must work to remove a party that cannot govern and hopefully, lay the seeds for a new substitute to arise.
Trump is merely the symptom of a party and an electorate that has become diseased with a notion that party power is greater than country, which uses ugly fear and bigotry to achieve its goal. This election must send a clear message that this country's underlying values are not those of the GOP and its voters.
While most of us believe in a strong two-party system in this country, in this election, we must work to remove a party that cannot govern and hopefully, lay the seeds for a new substitute to arise.
240
You believe in a two party system, but you call to destroy ONE of the parties ("in the hopes another new party will arise"...presumably another Democratic liberal party?).
Yeah, that makes sense.
(NOT!)
Yeah, that makes sense.
(NOT!)
3
Bikerman,
You are totally misunderstanding a crucial thing here:
the repub base voted for Trump in the primaries BECAUSE he wasn't part of the GOP; their voting for him was/is a REPUDIATION of the GOP.
It may be, or maybe not- that those voters ARE laying the seeds for a party that finally acknowledges the base, and not the interests of the rich.
Time will tell.
Whatever you think of Trump, he is threatening the republican status quo and their entrenched donors.
I don't see a Dem. base standing up to it's status quo.
You can call us stupid, uneducated, but we are standing up to the elites; you aren't; you are part of them.
You are totally misunderstanding a crucial thing here:
the repub base voted for Trump in the primaries BECAUSE he wasn't part of the GOP; their voting for him was/is a REPUDIATION of the GOP.
It may be, or maybe not- that those voters ARE laying the seeds for a party that finally acknowledges the base, and not the interests of the rich.
Time will tell.
Whatever you think of Trump, he is threatening the republican status quo and their entrenched donors.
I don't see a Dem. base standing up to it's status quo.
You can call us stupid, uneducated, but we are standing up to the elites; you aren't; you are part of them.
2
Yes, Trump's fans love him for being a bad boy. They believe, as they say over and over, that Islam is not a religion, but a political system intent on "taking over the world," i.e., they view it as an alien threat and even moderate Muslims as intent on destroying this country. So, attacking a set of Muslim parents is simply red meat to them. One Trump fan in the NYTimes video said that Trump would restore the nation to be the one he grew up in. That would be a nation of domination by white Christian males where sexism and racism were acceptable; a country where real estate red lining was rampant and segregation acceptable (even if not quite so by law).
There is no hope for Trump's ardent fans. His bullying, disrespect, and superman proclamations are why they love him. He is their savior who will not only fix everything wrong with their world, but will also do so in a very satisfying fit of revenge against all those whom they resent and loathe. We can only hope that saner elements of society prevail.
There is no hope for Trump's ardent fans. His bullying, disrespect, and superman proclamations are why they love him. He is their savior who will not only fix everything wrong with their world, but will also do so in a very satisfying fit of revenge against all those whom they resent and loathe. We can only hope that saner elements of society prevail.
175
Leadership 101: the leader does what is right.
Demagoguery 101: what the leader does is right.
Demagoguery 101: what the leader does is right.
182
No complacency. Trump needs to lose by 60 points (80 to 20). It's not enough that he lose the election. The American people need to send a clear message that a candidate such as Trump is simply unacceptable.
566
Don't misunderestimate Trump's base.
9
I would still worry who those other 20% are ... assuming 50% of the voting age population votes, that's almost 30 million people who have drunk Trump's Koolaid. Granted, many are old white guys (like me) but they are not going to die off fast enough and there is going to be a festering sore that has to be addressed.
You are so right - especially as regards the Allies as the rest of the world.
Otherwise, he would be given "credibility" ! This is not was America needs, and it will be used by other extremist-populist parities in countries round the world.
Otherwise, he would be given "credibility" ! This is not was America needs, and it will be used by other extremist-populist parities in countries round the world.
1
Do you actually trust a pathological liar when he says he raised HUGE amounts of cash, mostly from small donors? Thanks for starting my my day off with a laugh.
66
You forgot to put the (s) in front of "he", I am sure , as we know that the pathological liar to whom you are referring is Mrs. Clinton. Your comment did indeed make me laugh.
3
The Republicans just had their convention, with all the hoopla and hate for HRC in display. It could be that the Cult of Trump was motivated to donate.
It will be interesting to see hoe much he collects in August, with no big event, and lots of bad news being reported about his campaign. I would think there might be a sizable drop off.
It will be interesting to see hoe much he collects in August, with no big event, and lots of bad news being reported about his campaign. I would think there might be a sizable drop off.
You, on the other hand, are apparently going to vote for a pathological, congenital liar.
1
As I have written before, polls show that more than half of Democrats do not know a single Trump supporter. The comments so far reflect that fact. They haven't a clue how Trump supporters think and so they make all kinds of unfounded assumptions and allegations that merely reflect their ignorance. I have previously discussed what my Trump supporter friends say. This time I'll do a little speculation. First of all, Trump's poll numbers are way too high to justify the view that his supporters are just dumb white men. But the polls don't make it clear where the rest of his support is coming from. I have a hunch. It wasn't that long ago that this paper was telling us about the shrinking and angry middle class. Well, I believe Trump has most of the votes of the middle class locked up and that they aren't crazed lunatics. Tthey are angry for the very reasons that this paper has discussed in great detail. Democrats used to say that the middle class doesn't know their own interests. Now, they're saying they're all insane. Well, trust me, they're not all insane.
And that's today's lesson.
And that's today's lesson.
90
Actually, we're speaking of the working class, not the middle class, when we say they vote against their interests over and over. A good working definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. Class dismissed.
3
I'm part of the shrinking and angry middle class. By all accounts, my husband should be one of those angry white men; his brothers are. However, we also happen to be college educated back in the day when we went to class (not the bars where weekends started on Wednesday night) and were taught how to think. We wouldn't vote for Trump or his demagoguery if given all of Mitt Romney's money.
2
Some truth in your observation about middle class discontent. Most, however, don't seem to recognize that the impact of technology driven market forces is the culprit, not government. Or at least, not THIS government.
The added communications bandwidth that enabled offshore service workers was installed ...both undersea cables and satellite networks... when I was getting my MBA in 1983-85. Computers evolved. Automation evolved. Required skillsets changed, and many trailing edge boomers failed to evolve.
The steel industry was a business case we analyzed in grad school. By '85 foundries had gone to nations with closer supplies of ore and energy, leaving the US and Germany only specialty steels and rolling mills. (If it doubt, read the history of Bethlehem Steel). It was clear back then that those jobs weren't coming back. So here we are, 30 years later...and folks are still believing TD's bedtime stories with happy endings?
...."" believe me, folks, we're bringing back Steel....""
On what planet, Donald?
Government's failing...and by that I mean Congress as well as the executive branch... is that they did very little to educate the affected workers, to equip them for relevant jobs...and to encourage corporate investments which would create jobs here, rather than abroad.
National borders are fixed. Investment capital is free to roam. As a result, nations are in competition for investment. Ireland's tax rate is 12.5%. Ours is 42.
Duh!
The added communications bandwidth that enabled offshore service workers was installed ...both undersea cables and satellite networks... when I was getting my MBA in 1983-85. Computers evolved. Automation evolved. Required skillsets changed, and many trailing edge boomers failed to evolve.
The steel industry was a business case we analyzed in grad school. By '85 foundries had gone to nations with closer supplies of ore and energy, leaving the US and Germany only specialty steels and rolling mills. (If it doubt, read the history of Bethlehem Steel). It was clear back then that those jobs weren't coming back. So here we are, 30 years later...and folks are still believing TD's bedtime stories with happy endings?
...."" believe me, folks, we're bringing back Steel....""
On what planet, Donald?
Government's failing...and by that I mean Congress as well as the executive branch... is that they did very little to educate the affected workers, to equip them for relevant jobs...and to encourage corporate investments which would create jobs here, rather than abroad.
National borders are fixed. Investment capital is free to roam. As a result, nations are in competition for investment. Ireland's tax rate is 12.5%. Ours is 42.
Duh!
Mr. Trump's millions of supporters have long ago abandoned any belief in of any the political and cultural institutions that are trying to expose him. They have invested that belief in him. Every time some political, religious, media or military figure points out something ignorant, dishonest or childish that Mr. Trump has said or done, it confirms their contempt for everyone but him.
Even if Mr. Trump loses the election and abandons politics for some other means of self-gratification, his supporters will still be alienated. They are not going to move to North Korea. They will continue to despise all cultural institutions except those--like the rather large fringes of the Republican party and the media--that have long made a career of telling them that the world is wrong and they are right. Those cynical establishment Republicans who were willing to risk the natiion's security for their own power will remain in power. Journalists will still not be respected. We will congratulate ourselves on catastrophe averted. But nothing will have changed.
Even if Mr. Trump loses the election and abandons politics for some other means of self-gratification, his supporters will still be alienated. They are not going to move to North Korea. They will continue to despise all cultural institutions except those--like the rather large fringes of the Republican party and the media--that have long made a career of telling them that the world is wrong and they are right. Those cynical establishment Republicans who were willing to risk the natiion's security for their own power will remain in power. Journalists will still not be respected. We will congratulate ourselves on catastrophe averted. But nothing will have changed.
633
Yours is a dark view of our future but it's well grounded. We will be with the hate and the divide as long as Republican elected officials see it as a way to retain power. Red state, Blue state...on with our undeclared Civil War.
6
Go ahead, Martin, tell Mr. Trump's millions of supporters that they are wrong and "the world" is right. Just don't be surprised by their resentment and righteous indignation.
6
What worries me most in a blow out win for Dems is the fact that their deep need to clean house will be lost in the celebration.
4
Writing off Trump would be foolish - he has staying power, or he would never have made it through the primaries.
Basic voter dynamics don't change.
Some people will vote party no matter what. Normally that means that about 47% vote GOP, 47% vote Democrat and they fight for the 6% in the middle. This year the numbers may change somewhat because some people really loathe Hillary and some people really loathe Trump, but a lot of the loathing follows party lines, too. So how much the aggregate dislike will influence the vote is up in the air.
Trump is the candidate and he is going to get a lot of votes even though I cannot comprehend why. Clinton is the candidate and will get a lot of votes, even though I know people who cannot comprehend why.
We are still a wildly divided, wildly polarized nation. That doesn't change, and that means the race is likely to be too close for my comfort.
Basic voter dynamics don't change.
Some people will vote party no matter what. Normally that means that about 47% vote GOP, 47% vote Democrat and they fight for the 6% in the middle. This year the numbers may change somewhat because some people really loathe Hillary and some people really loathe Trump, but a lot of the loathing follows party lines, too. So how much the aggregate dislike will influence the vote is up in the air.
Trump is the candidate and he is going to get a lot of votes even though I cannot comprehend why. Clinton is the candidate and will get a lot of votes, even though I know people who cannot comprehend why.
We are still a wildly divided, wildly polarized nation. That doesn't change, and that means the race is likely to be too close for my comfort.
375
Some of the loathing is for career politicians and the establishment that supports them. Those people may see a solution in Trump. Regardless, when you add those who loath career politicians to those who loath Clinton, we could be in for a big surprise, come November.
1
I frankly don't care about Trump's supporters because there simply aren't--and won't be--enough of them to put him in the White House. Wishful thinking? Whistling past the graveyard? If the past 10 days are any guide, and barring any national catastrophe between now and November, he is doing nothing to attract people who aren't already supporting him. Even educated Republicans are pulling their support from Trump's GOP. No Republican nominee has ever won without that demographic. Trump is campaigning as an entertainer, not a serious presidential candidate. I simply refuse to believe that there are more people willing to put a 4 times failed casino-owner-slash-reality TV star Into the White House than don't. Especially with virtually the entire political establishment and mainstream press corp recoiling in horror at the implications of Trump's outbursts and adolescent vendettas. If anything, he has grown the national coalition that already elected Obama to two terms by alienating significant portions of a Republican Party that Democrats wouldn't have had anyway. The numbers for a Trump victory just don't add up--particularly among voters who seek a serious nominee for the office. And there's no evidence I've seen suggesting he's registering new voters in greater numbers than he's losing. Americans may be angry and frustrated, but things just aren't so bad, and Trump in no way so seductive, as to warrant such a leap into the unknown. In my mind, Trump is done.
92
I am hoping you are right but with the mainstream press "recoiling in horror," Trump gets 3-10X the air time on the local and national news that Hillary does. My local Des Moines station just yesterday covered one of his rallies, with sound bites plus commentary from 3-4 observers, both local and national. They showed data analyzing the poll numbers, and at the very end they noted where Hillary was campaigning, showing video of her giving a speech, but with no audio. THAT is how Trump may win this thing, just as he did the primaries. Free air time. And if his crowds are only growing, watch out. It's all Trump, all the time in the media.
9
Poll numbers suggest he is even with Hillary. We ought to be concerned about the number of crypto-Trump supporters who will pull his lever behind the curtain.
3
This kind of complacency cost Maryland Democratic candidate Anthony Brown the governorship in 2014 to a Christie acolyte. I hope Hillary continues to show real ideas and leadership, while telling the truth about Trump. I strongly support her because I appreciate her leadership and ideas; we don't need a Sanders revolution and we certainly don't need Trump demagoguery as a substitute for leadership and ideas.
As a side note, I believe that she (wrongly) used a private email server to protect herself (to no avail) from the types of unjust, irresponsible, and unrelenting Republican attacks that she has endured for over 20 years. She responsibly apologized for the server mistake last year; the issue deserves no repetition.
As a side note, I believe that she (wrongly) used a private email server to protect herself (to no avail) from the types of unjust, irresponsible, and unrelenting Republican attacks that she has endured for over 20 years. She responsibly apologized for the server mistake last year; the issue deserves no repetition.
2
Add ourselves to the list of those who must be motivated now. The stakes are too big. Put up yard signs, talk to anyone who will listen (and even those who at first will not), work the polls, exhort others to vote, be brave and not complacent. On Nov. 9 we must know that we did all we could to repel this monster. Don't leave it to others.
39
Good post but don't just talk to them, listen first and then ask them questions, questions that will (hopefully) help them realize what's really going on.
6
"to lure wavering Republicans and independents, not merely by stoking outrage at his statements, but by addressing in policy terms the economic anxiety and fear that underlie Mr. Trump’s appeal, as well as lingering distrust of her"
This is exactly what Hillary Clinton did this week in the speeches in PA, Ohio and Las Vegas, which I listened to on line. Did the NYTimes listen to any of them or just read a report about the Fox interview that focused on one email question? Has anyone on the NY Times Editorial Boatd actually read her proposals?
https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/
Until and unless the press focuses its reporting on policy proposals instead of personalities, all attention will gravitate to the outrageous uninformed Trump
This is exactly what Hillary Clinton did this week in the speeches in PA, Ohio and Las Vegas, which I listened to on line. Did the NYTimes listen to any of them or just read a report about the Fox interview that focused on one email question? Has anyone on the NY Times Editorial Boatd actually read her proposals?
https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/
Until and unless the press focuses its reporting on policy proposals instead of personalities, all attention will gravitate to the outrageous uninformed Trump
42
If Donald Trump gets elected as president of this country , he would prove to be the worst president America ever had, he may not even last one term, his presidency might end up like Nixon. Most of the world agrees that Donald is dangerously dumb. His win will be a dream for the ISIS and a nightmare for the rest of the world.World leaders are rattled by Trump ( except for Putin of course) for good reason as President Obama said. A survey conducted in 6 countries by the market research group ( United Kingdom, France, Germany, Mexico, Canada and Japan) showed that he is the most hated candidate. In my opinion he may not win this election, but anything is possible in America.
12
a country that elected bush knows no bottom
35
You say a Trump presidency may wind up like Nixon's, "he may not even last one term." Let's not rewrite history: Nixon was reelected in a landslide. Just saying...
7
Padman,
All those "world leaders" politicans hate him because he is calling their gravy train mentality on the mat.
He is exposing them for the status quo elites addicted to American largesse ( paid for by you and me) that they really are.
Of course they hate him.
He threatens their desire to continue live off the American tax payer.
All those "world leaders" politicans hate him because he is calling their gravy train mentality on the mat.
He is exposing them for the status quo elites addicted to American largesse ( paid for by you and me) that they really are.
Of course they hate him.
He threatens their desire to continue live off the American tax payer.
2
The people we really have to worry about are the educated white folks, who will nod in agreement over the Trump disgrace in mixed company. But on Election Day, they'll throw their morals away and vote for him.
His tax plan is pretty enticing to people who care most about their fortunes and little else. Giving another $800K in tax breaks to someone who already makes $6 million a year? Well, that's an awful lot of "free stuff" from the government.
Also enticing to some of these closet Trump supporters are his views on immigration and minorities, although they would never admit that to you and me.
We are deluding ourselves if we think it'll be a cakewalk for Hillary. We really need to get out and vote.
His tax plan is pretty enticing to people who care most about their fortunes and little else. Giving another $800K in tax breaks to someone who already makes $6 million a year? Well, that's an awful lot of "free stuff" from the government.
Also enticing to some of these closet Trump supporters are his views on immigration and minorities, although they would never admit that to you and me.
We are deluding ourselves if we think it'll be a cakewalk for Hillary. We really need to get out and vote.
111
Unlike the statistics in the PEW report, I am a Clinton supporter who has friends who will vote for Trump. Note that I said "will vote for" rather than "support". These folks can not bring themselves to vote for Clinton because they actually believe the lies spread by the GOP and the right wing media (Fox News and talk radio). They truly think she is a corrupt criminal. They may wince when they pull the lever or push the button for Trump, but they quake at the thought of a Clinton presidency.
Quite frankly, Clinton may have handled the email situation poorly, but this should not rise to the level of vitriol encouraged by Trump.
One can only hope that the constant drone of responsible leaders, like Michael Morel in today's op-ed, who point out the dangers of a Trump presidency, will finally be heard by those who don't fully believe the hype against Clinton. These responsible leaders need to sing their Clinton endorsements loudly and at every opportunity - not just in the NYTimes, but also in the beasts' lair.
Quite frankly, Clinton may have handled the email situation poorly, but this should not rise to the level of vitriol encouraged by Trump.
One can only hope that the constant drone of responsible leaders, like Michael Morel in today's op-ed, who point out the dangers of a Trump presidency, will finally be heard by those who don't fully believe the hype against Clinton. These responsible leaders need to sing their Clinton endorsements loudly and at every opportunity - not just in the NYTimes, but also in the beasts' lair.
35
The constant focus on Trump's personality & style is going to come back to haunt neoliberals. He'll beat up Mrs Clinton during debates, reiterating the reasons people do not like her, and if there is one kind of guy many people love it's the guy who tells off someone you'd like to tell off. All the "what a horrible guy" rhetoric will become forgotten.
How about focusing on his positions? Oh wait, Neoliberals can't because he's more like Sanders in many spots than is Hillary. Oh well, maybe go after the hair, and Trump can go after her looks, and we can have a real pop culture political rodeo and clean up the mess in 4 years. (No I do not support him.)
How about focusing on his positions? Oh wait, Neoliberals can't because he's more like Sanders in many spots than is Hillary. Oh well, maybe go after the hair, and Trump can go after her looks, and we can have a real pop culture political rodeo and clean up the mess in 4 years. (No I do not support him.)
17
Trump is already trying to avoid the debates. He knows that he doesn't stand a chance against HRC when it comes to discussions of policy.
9
Ask Bernie about Trump before you go comparing their positions.
1
You wish.
"Lacking workable ideas or intellectual ballast, Mr. Trump’s candidacy thrives on his refusal to be “politically correct,” a term he deploys to give license to declarations that should be called bigotry, or cruelty, or verbal battery."
I've always suspected that political correctness always was white America wanting to call blacks the "N word" without having to pay the penalty of being called a racist. Racists that I have known have never shied way from using the word so it must be that they simply don't want to be called racist for doing so. While demanding their pc rights they want to deny everyone else the right to call them racists.
I've always suspected that political correctness always was white America wanting to call blacks the "N word" without having to pay the penalty of being called a racist. Racists that I have known have never shied way from using the word so it must be that they simply don't want to be called racist for doing so. While demanding their pc rights they want to deny everyone else the right to call them racists.
13
Is there any actual evidence that there is a trend to write off Donald Trump? Axelrod's comment was obviously a joke and Hillary will soldier on with equal determination and energy no matter what the polls are suggesting.
From conversations I'm having with those opposed to Trump I would suggest that we are anything but sanguine about the current stated of this election.
When a category 5 hurricane 400 miles out at sea veers a few degrees from a path to your home you don't unpack your stuff and remove the boards from your windows. We will wait for the storm to disappear from radar before we breathe easily again.
From conversations I'm having with those opposed to Trump I would suggest that we are anything but sanguine about the current stated of this election.
When a category 5 hurricane 400 miles out at sea veers a few degrees from a path to your home you don't unpack your stuff and remove the boards from your windows. We will wait for the storm to disappear from radar before we breathe easily again.
17
Voters should make no mistake about the fact that Mr. Trump is a very dangerous candidate who puts himself above everyone and everything else and who's demagoguery is a kin to that of Hitler and Goebbels as the Nazi's took over Germany in the 1930s.
Mr. Trump reaches for the underbelly of America and seeks to unite the haters, the bigots, the disenfranchised and foster fear and division.
There is simply no good that can come from Mr. Trump as President.
All Democrats, Independents and patriotic Republicans must unite to elect Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine.
Mr. Trump reaches for the underbelly of America and seeks to unite the haters, the bigots, the disenfranchised and foster fear and division.
There is simply no good that can come from Mr. Trump as President.
All Democrats, Independents and patriotic Republicans must unite to elect Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine.
21
In a nutshell the Clintons were the folks who perfected GOP-LITE and pulled the Democrats as far as possible into the game of courting moneyed elites into our party. They worked with Phil Gramm to destroy Glass-Steagall. In a grand irony, Dems are now the party of the elite (personified by Hillary) and the electoral mob has embraced the party that started the modern big money game by employing phony populism whose only agenda is to attack betraying elites. God works in wondrous ways. I will articulate what is whispered in back rooms: anti-intellectualism and know-nothing-ism have attracted millions of underqualified voters to participate angrily in a process that has the ability to damage, if not destroy real democracy in this country. This is not being a snob, but being educated and aware, which is nothing that requires an apology. The grand experiment of 1776 stands at a precipice fueled by the very party that embraced resentment and stupidity as noble in an effort to get blue collar Democrats to give them am electoral advantage starting with Nixon's moral majority. What was unleashed as a tactic has now taken over one entire party. The mob feels it's own power and I don't know how we put the toothpaste back in the tube. It Can't Happen Here? Huey Long has been reborn.
15
I used to be a believer that getting rid of Glass-Steagal was bad. But I listened to an interview with Barney Frank who explained it had become antiquated and did not prevent the short selling of the mortgage market that precipitated the Great Recession. Hillary supports an updated Glass Steagal. Sure, she has taken Wall St. money. Some on Wall St. support the Democratic Party. And Citizen's United has made it political suicide to not take it.
4
"Sometimes, the abyss looks back". F. Nietzsche
And, occasionally, one falls into the abyss much like Germany did in 1933.
Mr. Trump's followers do not believe much beyond their fear of losing the country to the unwashed masses of immigrants and terrorism they bring with them. They believe we have a black president who is a Muslim and has a secret plan to destroy the country. Ms. Clinton is merely an extension of that perfidious plot.
That being said, if another large scale terrorist attack by a "lone wolf", self radicalized individual occurs before the November election, then Mr. Trump might just receive the boost he needs in the actual voting.
Remember, these people believe what they want to hear AND they will vote.
With voter turn out these days at historic lows, the vision of a Trump presidency is all too real.
Simply put, the election is in the hands of those who choose not to affiliate with either of the two money glutted organizations that are presented as our only choices. Ms. Clinton may not be the murderer whom Trump supporters scream should be "locked up" but one can rightly argue that the country would've never heard of her if it weren't for her husband. She's given very expensive "prep talks" to the banks the rest of us had to bail out not that long ago and seem ready to do it again in the near future.
But she's certainly "the FAR lesser of two evils" but it's not really a "lock" yet by any means.
And, occasionally, one falls into the abyss much like Germany did in 1933.
Mr. Trump's followers do not believe much beyond their fear of losing the country to the unwashed masses of immigrants and terrorism they bring with them. They believe we have a black president who is a Muslim and has a secret plan to destroy the country. Ms. Clinton is merely an extension of that perfidious plot.
That being said, if another large scale terrorist attack by a "lone wolf", self radicalized individual occurs before the November election, then Mr. Trump might just receive the boost he needs in the actual voting.
Remember, these people believe what they want to hear AND they will vote.
With voter turn out these days at historic lows, the vision of a Trump presidency is all too real.
Simply put, the election is in the hands of those who choose not to affiliate with either of the two money glutted organizations that are presented as our only choices. Ms. Clinton may not be the murderer whom Trump supporters scream should be "locked up" but one can rightly argue that the country would've never heard of her if it weren't for her husband. She's given very expensive "prep talks" to the banks the rest of us had to bail out not that long ago and seem ready to do it again in the near future.
But she's certainly "the FAR lesser of two evils" but it's not really a "lock" yet by any means.
14
People wrote off BREXIT and Trump's primary runs as having very little chance of success.
2016 could be the year the world becomes a much darker place unless Democrats continue to work hard for Hillary Clinton.
2016 could be the year the world becomes a much darker place unless Democrats continue to work hard for Hillary Clinton.
25
I'll work hard to defeat Trump, but the thought of working hard for Hillary Clinton makes me want to puke. Please don't remind me -- for the sake of defeating Trump.
3
Most of the whinging about the Brexit came from people who had been overly confident and haughty about "those stupid low-class voters" who could NEVER possibly win.
That's why there even WAS a Brexit vote -- it was a horrible miscalculation by Cameron, who was overly confident that the voters would re-enforce membership in the EU and get rid of any negative segment of the population.
And of course, we all know that AFTER the vote....the POOR LOSERS were stomping their feet, and claiming it was "wrong" and demanding a "do over".
Believe me, I know when Trump wins in November....the SAME THING will occur in the US. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth -- the usual whingers will claim to be "moving to Canada!" -- and all kinds of nonsense about doing the elections over.
But it will happen. You'd better start practicing saying "President Trump".
That's why there even WAS a Brexit vote -- it was a horrible miscalculation by Cameron, who was overly confident that the voters would re-enforce membership in the EU and get rid of any negative segment of the population.
And of course, we all know that AFTER the vote....the POOR LOSERS were stomping their feet, and claiming it was "wrong" and demanding a "do over".
Believe me, I know when Trump wins in November....the SAME THING will occur in the US. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth -- the usual whingers will claim to be "moving to Canada!" -- and all kinds of nonsense about doing the elections over.
But it will happen. You'd better start practicing saying "President Trump".
2
It's important to remember that the Brexit vote was a pure referendum, while the vote for President is not. There's the Electoral College mediating between voters and the eventual choice of President. Trump faces long odds of winning an Electoral College majority unless he musters an unlikely substantial majority of the popular vote. Right now his prospects in the states that matter most like Florida and North Carolina are dimming, and his dreams of winning Pennsylvania and Michigan pure fantasies.
1
Would you go to a Trump rally? Not me. To walk into the mouth of hell's inferno amid hateful, rabbid people is dangerous. They spit and cuss vulgar things and avow evil. If the crowds get larger only means that evil grows inside Trump and hateful racism and the base of the GOP are undeserving of the vote.
21
"They spit and cuss vulgar things and avow evil."
And these were the religious ones!
And these were the religious ones!
20
Oh yes, New York Times readers so comfortable waking up each morning and being deluged with juicy derogatory NY Times articles about the Evil one. It gives them such a 'high' within their bubble of like-minded friends. But outside this comforting bubble zone in the real world there are Yuuuuge numbers of hard-working Americans who are fed up with the way the establishment increasingly controls our country and they are going to vote for 'the Donald' in November. Sorry to ruin your day :)
25
And unfortunately Donald has neither the means not abity to deliver on his "promises". Remember, he has had many failed business ventures, so I wouldn't put my faith in this god.
23
You didn't ruin our day, you made it brighter. Who doesn't like a hearty chuckle with the morning coffee?
5
Scold his supporters -- see where that gets us!
1
Ultimately, Mr Trump is an excellent reflection of the decline of a state. Perhaps the ship won't go down without out a fight, but truly: Trump is nothing but reality TV and that is what apparently, a large number of "American" "citizens" want. Nixon thought Bush I was joke, yet the latter became president. Ditto for the son. Never ask how low you can go! Why? In the fear that someone is always willing to trump the previous low.
11
Eisenhower expressed similar disregard for Nixon.
I don't know when Nixon said this about Bush 41....but Bush 41 was a legitimate war hero in WWII....a congressman....an ambassador.....head of the CIA....and VP for 8 years.
I didn't vote for him, but to call him "a joke" is clearly grossly unfair.
Now, GW...that's another story.
I didn't vote for him, but to call him "a joke" is clearly grossly unfair.
Now, GW...that's another story.
2
Most elected Republican office holders at local, state and Federal level know that their candidate will be a real problem for all of us if he is elected President. Yes, Clinton is a very unattractive and uninspiring candidate but in a choice of two - no comparison. As a matter of duty to constituents, Republican office holders must publicaly denounce Trump.
14
Ah!
We wait to see if both of the somewhat poor choices for President "change" lifelong habits do we?
We wait for Trump, raised by a father arrested in 1927 at a Ku Klux Klan rally, to suddenly appear and be reasonable.
We wait for Hillary, an individual who has spent a lifetime cloistered in lies and deceit, to step up to owning up, and, honesty.
This is where we are now, sadly. Waiting for two people, both poor choices for President, to .....
change.....
and neither will.
So, flip and coin, and go to the polls knowing that either way.......
one of them will be President.
We wait to see if both of the somewhat poor choices for President "change" lifelong habits do we?
We wait for Trump, raised by a father arrested in 1927 at a Ku Klux Klan rally, to suddenly appear and be reasonable.
We wait for Hillary, an individual who has spent a lifetime cloistered in lies and deceit, to step up to owning up, and, honesty.
This is where we are now, sadly. Waiting for two people, both poor choices for President, to .....
change.....
and neither will.
So, flip and coin, and go to the polls knowing that either way.......
one of them will be President.
10
A: I'm an Independent voter not registered with any party.
B: A veteran who served in the US Army Reserves for 7 years
C; Compassionate of those who are struggling in this economy.
D: I have no psychological training but great at Googling.
If the symptoms fit the man, than they seem undeniable....
I understand that NY Times my object to "copy and paste" but
according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, the
DSM-5 criteria for narcissistic personality disorder include these features:
Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
Exaggerating your achievements and talents
Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people
Requiring constant admiration
Having a sense of entitlement
Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations
Taking advantage of others to get what you want
Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
Being envious of others and believing others envy you
Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner
B: A veteran who served in the US Army Reserves for 7 years
C; Compassionate of those who are struggling in this economy.
D: I have no psychological training but great at Googling.
If the symptoms fit the man, than they seem undeniable....
I understand that NY Times my object to "copy and paste" but
according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, the
DSM-5 criteria for narcissistic personality disorder include these features:
Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
Exaggerating your achievements and talents
Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people
Requiring constant admiration
Having a sense of entitlement
Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations
Taking advantage of others to get what you want
Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
Being envious of others and believing others envy you
Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner
26
Are you describing Obama?
6
Well yes -- you and other armchair shrinks are NOT psychiatrists or psychologists.
Also, having a narcissistic personality disorder is not like having schizophrenia -- it's not a disability but more of a quirk. It's nothing that would put you in a mental hospital or on drugs. I don't even think there is a drug protocol to treat this.
That's assuming it is EVEN TRUE. There is no evidence Trump has ever sought any mental health care.
Also, any REAL psychiatrist would tell you that it is NOT POSSIBLE to diagnose someone you have never treated in PERSON....people often put on a kind of "showboat persona" to appear in public, whether as an actor or politician, that is not how they are at home.
I have read testimony by people who know Trump in his personal life, and describe him as a pleasant, warm & friendly person with a loving family and that he is a very good father. I am not saying that is true either -- it's hearsay -- but it shows you that it depends on the situation, and the other person, and a host of other factors.
Frankly, what you describe could be applied to many politicians -- certainly Obama -- Hillary -- and don't forget Ted Cruz!
Also, having a narcissistic personality disorder is not like having schizophrenia -- it's not a disability but more of a quirk. It's nothing that would put you in a mental hospital or on drugs. I don't even think there is a drug protocol to treat this.
That's assuming it is EVEN TRUE. There is no evidence Trump has ever sought any mental health care.
Also, any REAL psychiatrist would tell you that it is NOT POSSIBLE to diagnose someone you have never treated in PERSON....people often put on a kind of "showboat persona" to appear in public, whether as an actor or politician, that is not how they are at home.
I have read testimony by people who know Trump in his personal life, and describe him as a pleasant, warm & friendly person with a loving family and that he is a very good father. I am not saying that is true either -- it's hearsay -- but it shows you that it depends on the situation, and the other person, and a host of other factors.
Frankly, what you describe could be applied to many politicians -- certainly Obama -- Hillary -- and don't forget Ted Cruz!
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Sounds just like obama and hellary.
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The general advice for Democrats here is not to take their foot off Donald Trump's proverbial neck.
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More than anything, if the GOP takes down its own democratically elected nominee, it is subverting democracy at best, inviting civil war at worst.
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Trumpty Dumpty sat on a wall...
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There are many things bothering me about Trump's candidacy, bu t for months now we've been blasted with his rallies, day after day, we've had to listen to a
sea of lies; blasphemies, crudeness et al that surely were heard by his fans.
True some were skinheads, racists (we heard them) but others not so. Did they
pull down blinders, shut their ears, not hear what we all heard? Who are they?
Why does so much ugliness appeal to them? How do they allow that in their
lives.? This will always puzzle me and frankly, it demeans our country to me and
to the world that is listening and seeing it. I will never feel the same about America again. I know the twisted, mentally ill have a foot in it all. It's all so insane. I will forever be embarrassed by it.
sea of lies; blasphemies, crudeness et al that surely were heard by his fans.
True some were skinheads, racists (we heard them) but others not so. Did they
pull down blinders, shut their ears, not hear what we all heard? Who are they?
Why does so much ugliness appeal to them? How do they allow that in their
lives.? This will always puzzle me and frankly, it demeans our country to me and
to the world that is listening and seeing it. I will never feel the same about America again. I know the twisted, mentally ill have a foot in it all. It's all so insane. I will forever be embarrassed by it.
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Exactly what rallies for Trump have you attended?
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I didn't need to attend them. as I said ,they've been well covered
on tv. I saw videos of his "fans"who attended- I heard the ugly
retorts many of them made, I could hear the racism and hate
being expressed along with the anger. It was revolting. Where have you been? Aren't you embarrassed?
on tv. I saw videos of his "fans"who attended- I heard the ugly
retorts many of them made, I could hear the racism and hate
being expressed along with the anger. It was revolting. Where have you been? Aren't you embarrassed?
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Jan, attendance is not a criterion.
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I look forward to the day when we chuckle at the memory of this clown named Donald Trump.
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All this over confidence that it won't happen, it can't happen, there will be no Trump victory scares me no end. That's what the Stay people were saying in the Brexit referendum which lulled the stay voters in to staying home on election day. If Trump and his crooked, dirty tricks team cannot find an unconventional, dishonest manoeuvre to surprise us and disbar Hillary by some means, then this non-voting, stay-home, complacent Hillary voter might cause the nightmare result
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nanda: good points. And recall that the Brexit was pushed over the edge by the Murdoch media which, in spite of the travails of Roger Ailes, still blight our country.
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Couldn't agree with you more. This complacency is what netted the results of the republican race being what they are. This isn't a time for anyone to sit on the sidelines. This is the time for everyone to actually get up and VOTE.
We are facing our own Brexit. I hope we are more successful in saving our country.
We are facing our own Brexit. I hope we are more successful in saving our country.
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The "crooked, dirty tricks team" sounds a lot like what Sanders was saying about the DNC. Are you sure you have your facts straight? I have heard people call Trump totally politically incorrect, but never anything about a "crooked, dirty tricks team." Usually, they criticize Trump for not having a team.
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Why stop at demanding to see his tax records? He saw fit to pester President Obama for his birth certificate didn’t he?
So how about his draft records, his bone spurs, his divorce settlements, his prenup agreements, his lawsuits, his bankruptcy records, his nondisclosure agreements, the damage he did to Atlantic City, the recollections of the people he has evicted and harassed in the course of becoming a great man of business, the stories of the small business people he has cheated, the charitable pledges he has forgotten to honor and -- most important of all -- his mental health records, all on the very legitimate grounds that millions of Americans are understandably concerned that a whole lot of things are seriously wrong with him.
So how about his draft records, his bone spurs, his divorce settlements, his prenup agreements, his lawsuits, his bankruptcy records, his nondisclosure agreements, the damage he did to Atlantic City, the recollections of the people he has evicted and harassed in the course of becoming a great man of business, the stories of the small business people he has cheated, the charitable pledges he has forgotten to honor and -- most important of all -- his mental health records, all on the very legitimate grounds that millions of Americans are understandably concerned that a whole lot of things are seriously wrong with him.
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He continued to bash Romney to show his taxes....DT(s) total liar and hypocrite.
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What do you mean, "mental health records"? Doctor-patient confidentiality is something that cannot be violated, even under such dire circumstances as we are now experiencing.
Are you calling for more armchair psychoanalysis in the popular press, or more professional assessments given in violation of their own ethical guidelines? Both are nonstarters as far as I am concerned.
I favor our President's attitude, delivered very cogently and calmly at his news conference at the Pentagon yesterday: "Listen to what the man says and decided for yourself.." (if the man should be trusted anywhere near the football).
And, speaking of which, I seriously doubt anyone who watched our chief executive at the aforementioned presser could ever imagine Donald Trump having the gravitas to tie our President's shoes.
Are you calling for more armchair psychoanalysis in the popular press, or more professional assessments given in violation of their own ethical guidelines? Both are nonstarters as far as I am concerned.
I favor our President's attitude, delivered very cogently and calmly at his news conference at the Pentagon yesterday: "Listen to what the man says and decided for yourself.." (if the man should be trusted anywhere near the football).
And, speaking of which, I seriously doubt anyone who watched our chief executive at the aforementioned presser could ever imagine Donald Trump having the gravitas to tie our President's shoes.
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Not to mention his newly confirmed ties both thru Paul Manafort indirectly and to Vlad Putin directly.
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The perils of writing off Trump are many, but in the great scheme of things we should consider God, who has a tremendous respect for Trump's faith in Him, Mother Nature, who can vouch for Trump that global warming is a hoax of Science, pernicious China, for if we are not careful she could trump us in unimaginable nefarious ways, and, of course, Putin, who loves Trumps so much that he could go beserk in Ukraine if Trump doesn't win, him (Putin) being there (in Ukraine) being only a wicked figment of our (collective) sick imagination...that can be doctored by insulting the Pope next! (What, he already did that?)
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It's hard to disagree with the Board, but last night as I was watching a clip of a Donald rally where he was spouting about a film clip of money being unloaded in Iran, I looked at the faces of the people behind him. I was saddened. As he flamed on, their heads wagged up and down in agreement to his nonsense. And there are so many people of the same ilk. One wonders how we ever move forward.
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On the other hand, did you happen to notice the wild-eyed zombies at the Democrat convention screeching and snorting every time HRC managed to utter a complete thought? Pretty scary that they're probably going to show up on Election Day. And if they happen to live in Philly, they'll probably show up at several voting sites on Election Day.
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We need people to stop their false equivocating and go to the polls and vote for Hillary.
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They are large in number, but not a majority.
Bravo.
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Reporting on the Trump-Hillary race hs become especially unreliable. Both sides are indulging in hysteria.
The media is joining in that on one side or the other without restraint or checking.
Our media reports can't be trusted, even from what are usually our more reliable sources.
This is inconvenient and annoying.
It does not even help the candidates it is meant to help, as compared with the benefit they could get from sound reporting, That presumably would benefit the better candidate. It would be more persuasive to at least try to present both sides fairly and tone down the outright hysteria.
The media is joining in that on one side or the other without restraint or checking.
Our media reports can't be trusted, even from what are usually our more reliable sources.
This is inconvenient and annoying.
It does not even help the candidates it is meant to help, as compared with the benefit they could get from sound reporting, That presumably would benefit the better candidate. It would be more persuasive to at least try to present both sides fairly and tone down the outright hysteria.
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This is the best post in today's NYT. the coverage of both candidates has been extremely biased, not only in editorials but also in the "news" articles.
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I spoke of false equivocation in an another comment. Here, M ark gives a good example: that both sides are indulging in hysteria. Thanks, Mark!
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Let us be skeptical of this narrative: Trump "is speaking to people who disbelieve conventional politicians, who detest a Washington they think has betrayed them." Tea Party and now Trump supporters are very happy for politicians who give them what they want--an Iraq war to be patriotic about, ending Estate taxes, disenfranchisement of poor and minority voters, restrictions on women's reproductive rights, a stacked judiciary, years of Senate filibusters, the Hastert rule for preempting congressional voting, and so on.
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"Tea Party and now Trump supporters are very happy for politicians who give them what they want--an Iraq war to be patriotic about"
That is backwards. The endless wars are part of the Washington against which they are rebelling. It is Hillary who urges continuation of all of them, and more. It is Trump who is accused by Hillary of "isolationism" for wanting to pull back from some of the wars.
That is backwards. The endless wars are part of the Washington against which they are rebelling. It is Hillary who urges continuation of all of them, and more. It is Trump who is accused by Hillary of "isolationism" for wanting to pull back from some of the wars.
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You must be mistaken because an Iran war is tied to the serious meddling by Israel in politics, backed by Clinton. She is the regime-change war hawk in this race with plenty of blood already on her hands to prove that she will back a fly-zone in syria -- get into an air war with Russia and move on to a war in Iran backed by Israel.
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You have it backwards, Trump would not have started Iraq. Confused?
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What seems like mistakes very well could be part of his calculated strategy to get more of the kind of voters he is after. He is not worried about those he knows will not support him so why cater to them.
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Whereas Hillary is not worried about those she presumes must support her. Therefore both candidates are fighting for the same Republican votes.
They are probably both wrong. Trump is wrong that his base is numerous enough without more. Hillary is wrong that she can win over those who hate Hillary, and wrong that she can take for granted her own base.
Not only is this a race to the bottom with two candidates few voters like, they are both making strange choices and indulging early and often in wild talk and hysteria.
They are probably both wrong. Trump is wrong that his base is numerous enough without more. Hillary is wrong that she can win over those who hate Hillary, and wrong that she can take for granted her own base.
Not only is this a race to the bottom with two candidates few voters like, they are both making strange choices and indulging early and often in wild talk and hysteria.
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