2016 Election
Mar 2nd 2016 | 12:45 pm
#5086
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 79,866
From: Homeostasis
Re: 2016 Election
I think this misses the point, it doesnt matter if he instigates it, he accepts and uses it. He is an opportunist. We do not know where his limits on opportunism lie. We should assume any instances of it are potential pointers for the future from him.
Times when fascism have risen are when populations view an existential threat to their way of life, people respond to the left and to the right. Boiler pointed to a link a week or so ago that indicated some of Sanders supporters are political naives, likely to be racist, they are the ones jumping to the left, Trump is getting those that jump to the right.
I do think many people see in America see immigration as an existential threat to their way of life. (As ridiculous as that may seem to many of us) Obama is a seen as symbolic of it. Economically America is not in a bad position, but you wouldnt know it, by the gloom.
Business is wary of opportunist populists, but when it is a choice between those on the left or those on the right, history tells us that when push comes to shove, they choose the right. The Republican core is against Trump now, but I worry as that battle plays out to defeat for them. Christie will probably be just the first of many defectors as the weeks go by
Times when fascism have risen are when populations view an existential threat to their way of life, people respond to the left and to the right. Boiler pointed to a link a week or so ago that indicated some of Sanders supporters are political naives, likely to be racist, they are the ones jumping to the left, Trump is getting those that jump to the right.
I do think many people see in America see immigration as an existential threat to their way of life. (As ridiculous as that may seem to many of us) Obama is a seen as symbolic of it. Economically America is not in a bad position, but you wouldnt know it, by the gloom.
Business is wary of opportunist populists, but when it is a choice between those on the left or those on the right, history tells us that when push comes to shove, they choose the right. The Republican core is against Trump now, but I worry as that battle plays out to defeat for them. Christie will probably be just the first of many defectors as the weeks go by
I've wanted to go into a full on "Trump IS Hitler" tirade so many times. HOWEVER, because of internet shaming, I live in fear of having stupid Godwin's Law thrown in my face. All I can say is screw Godwin, this is one time when it is actually apropos to the discussion.
Mar 2nd 2016 | 2:01 pm
#5087
Bloody Yank
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,186
From: USA! USA!
Re: 2016 Election
Bret Stephens, the conservative WSJ editorialist least likely to pull any punches captures my feelings on Trump perfectly:
Staring at the Conservative Gutter - WSJ
Make no mistake, we are watching the implosion of the Republican party, an implosion that has been decades in the making. Instead of traditional social liberal, fiscal conservative policies of Republicans, the exact opposite has taken over. Over the last 15 years, the defensible, considered tenets of classic big "L" Liberalism have been overrun by a bunch of selfish, childish, fearful, economically ignorant bigots with the IQs of carrots.
Today, the WSJ hammered the message home by making it clear who's to blame here:
Trump Voters Need a Mirror - WSJ
The answer is: look in the mirror. We voted for this garbage. We expect the government to save us from our own idiocy. We want to have our cake and eat it too. We love pointing the finger at others for our own problems. We refuse to pay now that the bill's coming due. We refuse to make hard decisions. We are prepared to ride this gravy train into the dirt because dammit, the world owes us. We refuse to grow the f%^k up.
This is the nightmare of an election we deserve.
Staring at the Conservative Gutter - WSJ
Make no mistake, we are watching the implosion of the Republican party, an implosion that has been decades in the making. Instead of traditional social liberal, fiscal conservative policies of Republicans, the exact opposite has taken over. Over the last 15 years, the defensible, considered tenets of classic big "L" Liberalism have been overrun by a bunch of selfish, childish, fearful, economically ignorant bigots with the IQs of carrots.
Today, the WSJ hammered the message home by making it clear who's to blame here:
Trump Voters Need a Mirror - WSJ
The answer is: look in the mirror. We voted for this garbage. We expect the government to save us from our own idiocy. We want to have our cake and eat it too. We love pointing the finger at others for our own problems. We refuse to pay now that the bill's coming due. We refuse to make hard decisions. We are prepared to ride this gravy train into the dirt because dammit, the world owes us. We refuse to grow the f%^k up.
This is the nightmare of an election we deserve.
This is akin to going to a Nazi rally and being surprised at the levels of anti-Semitism. You invited these clowns to the party, now you get to dance with 'em.
And before the conservative movement suffers yet another bout of amnesia, I should note that its voice the National Review was defending segregation back in the 50s, based upon the premise that white culture was superior to black culture. So this is nothing new: this is part of the right-wing DNA, the National Review was just more polite about it.
Mar 2nd 2016 | 3:30 pm
#5088
BE Practitioner (Level 2)
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,403
From: San Diego, CA
Re: 2016 Election
Watching the BBC for American political coverage when there's CNN/ABC, etc. 
Not just blatant bias in favour of the Dems but pretty clueless reporting. How they justify sending reporters out here to cover something most Brits don't care about I'll never know, it's not as if it's even the election yet
Not just blatant bias in favour of the Dems but pretty clueless reporting. How they justify sending reporters out here to cover something most Brits don't care about I'll never know, it's not as if it's even the election yet
. The Beeb produces a nightly news segment for PBS here; the same material likely gets rehashed for domestic consumption in the UK.They also have bureaux in Miami and LA, not sure what for though.
I've been watching a lot of CBS News recently. Scott Pelley and Peggy Noonan are ghastly, but Contessa Brewer is a top piece of totty.
Mar 2nd 2016 | 5:05 pm
#5089
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: 2016 Election
Someone suggested to me that Trump is a Clinton plant. Sort of makes sense.
Mar 3rd 2016 | 1:57 am
#5090
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 261
From: SF Bay area - Jersey bound, bring on the chills!
Re: 2016 Election
Trump releases health care plan
Donald Trump releases health care reform plan - CNNPolitics.com
The guy is worst than a Politician, pathetic!
Donald Trump releases health care reform plan - CNNPolitics.com
The guy is worst than a Politician, pathetic!
Mar 3rd 2016 | 2:08 am
#5091
Thread Starter
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,106
From: Phoenix, AZ
Re: 2016 Election
Trump releases health care plan
Donald Trump releases health care reform plan - CNNPolitics.com
The guy is worst than a Politician, pathetic!
Donald Trump releases health care reform plan - CNNPolitics.com
The guy is worst than a Politician, pathetic!
Mar 3rd 2016 | 2:19 am
#5093
I love my brick!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 9,304
From: Peachy
Re: 2016 Election
Lovely post.
I've wanted to go into a full on "Trump IS Hitler" tirade so many times. HOWEVER, because of internet shaming, I live in fear of having stupid Godwin's Law thrown in my face. All I can say is screw Godwin, this is one time when it is actually apropos to the discussion.
I've wanted to go into a full on "Trump IS Hitler" tirade so many times. HOWEVER, because of internet shaming, I live in fear of having stupid Godwin's Law thrown in my face. All I can say is screw Godwin, this is one time when it is actually apropos to the discussion.
Hey do all y'all remember when it was suggested than Bernie Sanders was a Nazi? Well...
5 Ways Donald Trump Perfectly Mirrors Hitler's Rise To Power | Cracked.com
5 Ways Donald Trump Perfectly Mirrors Hitler's Rise To Power | Cracked.com
Mar 3rd 2016 | 2:25 am
#5094
Thread Starter
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,106
From: Phoenix, AZ
Re: 2016 Election
The problem with the trump is Hitler meme is it is being broadcast in an echo chamber. The people that need to see it (and understand its implications, but that's another problem) think it is just a plot to discredit him so become more fervent.
Mar 3rd 2016 | 3:24 am
#5095
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,432
From: WA state
Re: 2016 Election
Calling anyone Hitler has been so overdone that it has no impact and people don't care. Discredit someone by pointing out their failings, not by comparing them to bad people of history.
Except for when people are making silly comparisons to Hitler, then you can spit back the same thing at them for their favourite people.
Except for when people are making silly comparisons to Hitler, then you can spit back the same thing at them for their favourite people.
Mar 3rd 2016 | 3:38 am
#5096
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 431
From: Grand Rapids MI
Re: 2016 Election
Trump likes Tug Boats!!
Some poor guy with a Twitter account with basically 0 followers and tweets did a tweet in support of Trump that Trump retweeted ( why, for FFS?? ) and now the Internet seems to be piling on the guy and he's not happy
Some poor guy with a Twitter account with basically 0 followers and tweets did a tweet in support of Trump that Trump retweeted ( why, for FFS?? ) and now the Internet seems to be piling on the guy and he's not happy
Mar 3rd 2016 | 3:42 am
#5097
Thread Starter
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,106
From: Phoenix, AZ
Re: 2016 Election
Trump likes Tug Boats!!
Some poor guy with a Twitter account with basically 0 followers and tweets did a tweet in support of Trump that Trump retweeted ( why, for FFS?? ) and now the Internet seems to be piling on the guy and he's not happy
Some poor guy with a Twitter account with basically 0 followers and tweets did a tweet in support of Trump that Trump retweeted ( why, for FFS?? ) and now the Internet seems to be piling on the guy and he's not happy
Mar 3rd 2016 | 3:59 am
#5098
Banned
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 19,367
From: Mallorca
Re: 2016 Election
I think Romney may have just clinched a Clinton victory in November. Not that it was all that remote a possibility.
Mar 3rd 2016 | 4:10 am
#5099
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 13,212
From: San Francisco
Re: 2016 Election
Romney is a very easy target for Trump and his supporters, so this may benefit him in the primaries. As for the general election, we'll see. It really depends on whether the Republicans promote an alternative candidate in the even Trump is the Republican nominee.
Mar 3rd 2016 | 4:15 am
#5100
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,526
From: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Re: 2016 Election
And Peter King and his ilk didn't misunderstand anything. They were terrorist enablers and murderers at one remove.
