“Mainstream” Democrats Could Go for Trump

Posted by Tina

US News runs the headline, “Trump Could Win It All,” citing a survey by Washington-based Mercury Analytics of likely voters. The results were determined by to questions andthe groups response in a “dial-test” of Trump’s first campaign ad. Mercury Analytics found:

Nearly 20 percent of likely Democratic voters say they’d cross sides and vote for Trump, while a small number, or 14 percent, of Republicans claim they’d vote for Clinton. When those groups were further broken down, a far higher percentage of the crossover Democrats contend they are “100 percent sure” of switching than the Republicans.

Twenty percent would go for Trump over Clinto!. That’s pretty darn good, actually; gives me hope for America!

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53 Responses to “Mainstream” Democrats Could Go for Trump

  1. Chris says:

    “Gives you hope for America?” God, why?

    At his rally in Burlington, Trump exhibited the following behaviors:

    –Giving out 20,000 tickets at a venue that only seats 1,400

    –Making each audience member pledge their loyalty to Trump before entering the rally (you know if Obama did this, you would use this as evidence of his narcissism and probably compare him to Hitler)

    –Saying about protesters who interrupted his speech, “”I respect what they’re doing — unless they have a substance-abuse problem, which they probably do.”

    –This: ‘Several minutes after that, when another demonstrator interrupted, he told staff to throw the man out but confiscate his coat, which the campaign would return in a few weeks.’It’s about 10 degrees below zero outside,’ Trump said. The temperature was 25.”

    http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2016/01/07/trump-campaign-lumbers-into-vermont/78375274/

    Presidents don’t behave this way. Decent, responsible people don’t behave this way. If Trump supporters want to be ruled by a man who talks and acts like a deranged hobo, then they’re idiots, be they Republican or Democrat.

    And yeah, Hilary’s no saint either. But even if she’s as evil as Republicans think, then the correct answer when asked to choose between her and Trump is “Neither.” There is nothing inspiring, hopeful or positive about support for Trump in this country. The correct words are “depressing, embarrassing, humiliating.”

    • Tina says:

      I don’t think you’re in any position to talk about how “decent” people behave.

      Obama’s record is one of arrogance, deceit, stubbornness, destruction, and lying

      Hillary’s record is one of deceipt, destruction, felonious behavior, and lying.

      Pelosi’s record is one of shameless pandering, deceit, dirty tricks and lying.

      Reids record is one of dirty tricks, shadey deals, deceit and lying.

      Kerry’s record is one of selling out to our enemies.

      Bill Clinton’s record includes the apparent abuse of women, selling technology to the Chinese, working deals through the State Department for the benefit of his foundation…the wrap sheet is extensive.

      Al Gore, formerly known for being VP, is now known for perpetrating the biggest world-wide hoax evah!

      These are not just incidences of personal failings (afairs-indulging in drink or porn)…these are major flaws in character that have had a profound effect on our nation. And you lefties defend them to the ground with excuses and deflection.

      “But even if she’s as evil as Republicans think, then the correct answer when asked to choose between her and Trump is ‘Neither.’”

      Yeah go ahead and sit in the corner and suck your thumb. You can pretend you’re above the fray but in truth when you sit out the election you are still risking with your chance to vote that the least desirable candidate will win the seat.

      You need to calm down a bit. You seem to mistake our discussions of things currently in the news for full blown support. What is it…panic?

      It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve been governed by a less than perfect candidate…just think of the last seven years…or the Carter years.

      • Tina says:

        You also seem to think that democrat candidates don’t insult the supporters of their opposition, or manage who is allowed to be present at their events, or arrange the (soft) questions they will be asked, or look like total clowns and fools at times. You also like to pretend that Obama had enough experience to be president…after seven years you should avoid that subject!

        You actually think of yourself competent to evaluate these candidates. Astounding! Think again!

        Most of the people on this blog have indicate they favor someone other than Trump. You seem to think we exist to promote him. No dimwit, we exist to discuss issues and the stories in the news on any given day. This story was in the news. Clinton is a likely felon, so yes, word that 20% of Trump supporters are Democrats gives me hope for America. it means that not all Democrats in the same vein as the radical leadership in the party.

  2. Chris says:

    *sigh* I think I know what’s happening. You think Trump has a chance of being the Republican nominee, and now you feel compelled to start ignoring everything wrong with him just in case, right?

    Look, I know you’re a partisan loyalist to the grave, but this isn’t worth it. Don’t sacrifice what integrity you still have for this a-hole. He’s not going to be president. Ever. Charlatans always do well before the primaries; they’re always cast aside once people sober up and realize the real work of winning a general election and, y’know, governing is a lot more than a sideshow act.

    • Steve says:

      Your theory about charlatans didn’t work with Obama, and doesn’t seem to be stopping Clinton either.

      • Chris says:

        You realize both those people had actual experience in government prior to running for president? And that their political positions are within the mainstream of their respective parties? And that neither of them ever got into a Twitter feud with a writer from Modern Family?

        Clinton and Obama are charlatans in the same way every politician is a charlatan. But they were always serious candidates. Trump is a clown, a distraction, a media sideshow act. He’s a reality TV star and he still acts like one. The difference is clear.

        • Steve says:

          Obama was a community organizer and a first term senator. He didn’t have enough experience. Hillary was a carpet bagger who rode her sexually assaultive husband’s sleazy coattails. There’s really not much difference in my eyes. You want sideshow? Look up Howard Dean.

      • Tina says:

        Good point Steve. “Charlatans” are in the eye of the beholder and seem only to be defeated early when they’re Republican…Liberals are faithful to the grave

    • Tina says:

      Carnac the Magnificent you’re not!

      Get over yourself Chris there is very little you understand about how I think or know about what I’m doing in posting this.

      “Charlatans always do well before the primaries; they’re always cast aside once people sober up and realize the real work of winning a general election ”

      You mean like the poser Obama who pretends to love America and rules like a tin horned dictator? He was elected twice…explain that!!!

      “…governing is a lot more than a sideshow act.”

      You have learned to be a good little Saul Alinsky soldier. Just keep spitting out the liberal talking points. Continue to follow the leader rather than give some thought yourself. How about you go back and look at the “style” and posture you swallowed whole in 2008…I mean halo lights above his head? Comparisons to Jesus? Greek pillars? Organized fawning, fainting crowds? Creating a fake “Obama for America” presidential seal?

      At this point a lot of Americans will gladly risk a bit of bombastic foot in mouth behavior over the absolute failure to successfully lead that mars the last seven years. A world in chaos that’s much more dangerous, a sluggish economy that also keeps the world in economic doldrums, lousy job and pay figures, attacks on our personal freedoms, shenanigans against individual Americans that reach to the level of criminal that are not prosecuted, making deal with our enemies…A sideshow would bring welcome relief!

      More importantly Trump is an American with business acumen that would serve us well economically and world wide negotiating experience that would serve him in taking advice in areas where his personal experiece is weak. he stands head and shoulders above the guy you bought in 2008 who was a complete phony without adequate (real) credentials.

      You are so full of yourself!

  3. J. Soden says:

    There’s a difference between Democrats and Demwits. Democrats don’t like the establishment political class of Demwits in DC either.
    BOTH parties consider themselves deserving of being re-elected indefinitely, hence our need for Term Limits.
    And both parties deserve the same treatment that Hercules gave the Agean Stables.

  4. Peggy says:

    Off topic: The latest on Benghazi

    Rescue Interrupted:
    http://fullmeasure.news/news/politics/rescue-interrupted

  5. Chris says:

    Tina, to quote you back to yourself: you’re incapable of making distinctions.

    Trump is far below the caliber of any past president or current candidate–Republican or Democrat–that it’s comical. One need not defend Obama, Bush, Clinton, Cruz or anyone else to point out how disgusting and awful Trump’s behavior is. (Has any other candidate ever threatened to steal a protester’s jacket?)

    If you can’t see it, you’re part of the problem.

    • Tina says:

      Oh my, threatening to steal a protesters jacket, probably when the protester was being “rude” as Hillary just told a reporter who deigned to ask her a legitimate question….

      …so much more disgusting than insulting and targeting women who accused Bill Clinton of assault or rape…

      …so much more disgusting than Bill Clinton’s remark to Ted Kennedy in 08, “A few years ago, this guy (Obama) would be getting us coffee.” …

      …so much more bombastic than Barrack Obama telling his followers that his opponents were the “enemy” or, “If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun.” (This “joke” is from the same man that shames Americans about gun violence.)

      Your remark, “Trump is far below the caliber of any past president or current candidate” is complete crap.

      You don’t have to like Trump or his style but, please, “far below” a blatantly racist remark, street gang language and veiled threats of violence, or politically incorrect, and quite possibly criminal, treatment of women by a lefty feminist?

      Think again.

      • Chris says:

        Tina: “…so much more disgusting than insulting and targeting women who accused Bill Clinton of assault or rape…”

        Correct. And if someone accused your husband of such a crime, and you believed he was innocent, I’ve no doubt you’d fight for him just as hard.

        It’s also worth noting that the Donald has also been accused of rape. (His ex-wife has retracted the allegation, much like how Clinton’s accusers’ stories also changed frequently.)

        I don’t know if either Trump or Clinton are guilty. But I’m certain Hilary believes her husband, and as much as I find her capable of dishonesty and deceit, I don’t see her staying with someone she believes is a rapist.

        “…so much more disgusting than Bill Clinton’s remark to Ted Kennedy in 08, “A few years ago, this guy (Obama) would be getting us coffee.” …

        Correct. That comment could be taken any number of ways; the uncharitable reading is that Clinton was mourning the loss of a time when black men were treated as servants. The more likely, IMO, reading of that comment is that it was remarking on how far we had come in this country that a black man could become president. Without context (which I’m not sure if we ever heard) it’s impossible to know.

        It’s also important to note that even if the uncharitable reading of this comment is true, it was said in private, and reported second hand. I find open expressions of assholery to be worse. Most politicians try to hide their nastiness; Trump embraces it, and his fans love it. The latter is ultimately worse for our country, because it destroys the idea that our politicians should even appear civil and respectable. And if they shouldn’t, then none of us should. That’s exactly the mindset that Trump’s fans find so appealing: Trump gives them license to say things that most people find uncivil.

        “…so much more bombastic than Barrack Obama telling his followers that his opponents were the “enemy” or, “If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun.” (This “joke” is from the same man that shames Americans about gun violence.)”

        Correct. While both comments were abhorrent, Obama was clearly using metaphor.

        None of these rise to the level of open theft.

  6. Peggy says:

    While I’m not a Trump fan after seeing this I’m beginning to understand why others are. Is he coming across to them fulfilling the 80% rule? (I saw the portion aired on Sunday. Here is also what was not aired.)

    COMPLETE INTERVIEW: Chuck Todd Interviewes Donald Trump On “Meet The Press” (1/10/2016)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlKrSR7Wzt0

  7. Post Scripts says:

    Tina, it appears to me that Trump will get a number of cross-over voters, all kinds, dems, libertarians, etc. and independents. Trump is starting to win the trust of voters. He’s moving up the ladder of credibility now and right on schedule. He’s counter punched like no other and scared the opposition. Every time some one has come after him, he punched back so hard they had to back off.

    Now he’s raising his image away from a street fighter to a more confident and articulate candidate. One that has a plan, not a great plan, perhaps not even a good plan, yet. But he’s saying, look this is all in the idea stage, wait until we can sort it all out and we will have a GREAT plan…trust me.

    I think voters are ready to do just that. They are feeling abused by the regular bunch of politicians on both sides. I think they are willing to trust Trump, before they would any of these other candidates. Now having said that, Ted Cruz is right on Trump’s heels. If Trump messes up, you know Cruz is going to leverage off it and take the lead! But, Trump will really have to make a big mistake for that to happen!

    So far, Trump has been immune to mistakes – mostly because he’s saying exactly what so many American’s have been saying all along, while the far left was trying to shout them down and make them be quiet! Now they have found their voice in Donald Trump. He’s got a huge segment of the population behind him, its absolutely amazing to see what is happening. Everywhere he goes he’s like a rock star, this has got to be killing the democrats.

    I’m starting to think Trump could actually pull it off.

    In a perfect world I would rather have Cruz and then Rubio, only because I think I know what they will do in office. Trump is a wildcard. I have no idea what he will be like as President. That part has me nervous… but, I like a lot of what he says and if he gets the nomination I am voting for him, albeit with fingers crossed and hoping for the best!

    • Chris says:

      “Articulate?” Trump? The guy who talks like a fourth grader?

      http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/10/21/analysis-donald-trump-talks-to-voters-at-a-fourth-grade-level/

      You’ve entered the Twilight Zone, Jack.

      The voters who trust him are stupid. I posted his record of lies recently; its extensive. He has the lowest percentage of true-rated statements in Politfiact’s history. But I guess those fact-checkers are just a bunch of liberal elitists; real Americans trust their gut to tell them that thousands of New Jersey Muslims cheered 9/11 and it was totally on the news, or that unemployment is 40%, or that Trump never said all those horrible things about women that he’s on camera saying, or whatever new lie he’ll tell tomorrow.

      But the voters who like Trump will still rate him as “trustworthy” because they’re idiots.

      You’re not an idiot, Jack. Don’t talk like one.

  8. Tina says:

    I think voters are willing to trust Trump as well, although at some point those specifics will to have to come out for him to sustain their support. The next debate happens Thursday on FOX business. It will be interesting to see if anyone breaks through with more specifics. It’s difficult to get into the issues in depth with so many on stage…lets hope this also serves to peel a few away.

    Hillary has LOADS of money and money can buy just about anything. That has to have been the reason Susan McDougal sat in jail for months, for instance. I agree the FBI will diligently pursue this on a legal basis and be very upset if they recommend indictment and Hillary is protected.

    My candidate is Cruz. I got to thinking about a dream ticket last night. Cruz as President, the Constitutional expert with fabulous debating skills, and Trump the deal maker as VP, who could take on the Dems and Reps as president, and tie breaker, in the Senate. In terms of getting things we want done it could be a winning ticket!

    • Dewster says:

      so can we start talking policy? How does Cruz view the TPP?

      USA lost the right to use USDA and country of origin labels on meat because Canada and Mexico claim they could have potential profits if Americans have no idea what they are buying on NAFTA treaty.

      TransCanada is Suing us now in the WTO courts because they could have made more profit destroying major US aquifers carrying oil for export in a pipeline..

      Foreign countries corporations dictating to the USA what we can do because they can make more money if we have no say.

      Sovereignty is going fast

      let’s talk about this….. What is the cruz position?

      • Tina says:

        One at a time Dewey. You too can . If you want to discuss these things submit an article for the front page.

        I would guess that Cruz would fight for American sovereignty.

        If you want to know Cruz’s position in detail try asking him or his campaign…or you could hold onto your britches and wait until the campaign is down to two actual contenders. It’s only January.

  9. Dewster says:

    This is hilarious!

    Wake up. Besides the fact Trump is an unqualified Goon who thinks America is a company that needs a CEO #Fascism

    The RNC is planning to have a convention if trump wins to take him out.

    Now I heard a soundbite from morning Smoe that someone in the DNC is trying to get the idea of Dems doing the same if Bernie wins.

    The establishment wanted a Clinton/Bush election. I remember I said that a couple years ago here and you called me crazy…. The foreign, domestic corps and banks need their people back in… only difference is the GOP feeds the military complex more spending on military and blaming the poor for deficits caused by tax cuts and endless war contracts. #WallStreet

    Seriously turn off the TV and breath a bit

    The fascist trump will never be President. And I mean that Trump speaks like a traditional fascist because it rallies the GOP Base.

    No sane person republican or Democrat will vote for Trump nor allow him to destroy democracy for a fascist regime CEO style.

    • Tina says:

      Dewey maybe you need to seriously turn off that whirling dervish brain. You assume and assign things to people that they do not think or say. You might as well go ahead and converse with yourself.

  10. Steve says:

    I have to vaguely, ahem, agree with Chris in that I don’t think Trump is all that he presents himself to be. The Trump phenomenon has a lot in common with the Arnold Schwarzenegger effect when he first ran. Like Arnold, I fear that Trump will not stand by his conservative convictions when he is tested by fire.
    Of course, when Arnold changed course he became one of the most environmental progressive governors in the country. Only sleazy union tactics derailed his million solar roof initiative.
    My fear is Trump could be the same. Tell us what we want to hear and then flounder in office. Of course anyone can do that, but officeholders have records that can be looked over. Sanders is clearly a socialist and Hillary’s record is clearly criminal.

    Ted Cruz has a history of standing by his word and has my vote, but I’m not going to bash the other candidates as long as they’re not an establishment stooge. I will be voting for the eventual nominee as we do not need the White House sold to the Clintons’ highest bidders.

  11. Tina says:

    Steve you’re a good man.

    Arnold, like Trump, was popular mostly b ecause it was thought he would improve economic conditions and he too could be outspoken too (girly-men). I think he made quite an effort on the economic front and then he ran into the wall of inflexible, my way or the highway, democrat machine and finally just gave up. He found a point of agreement on the environment (who knew?) and ran out the rest of his term on that. A big disappointment.

    This nation has never been more deeply divided. We on the right are in a fight for the principles of our founding and the strength that made America the envy of the world. We can’t have the one when so many of our citizens haven’t a clue about the other, We have a lot of educating to do.

    Trump, if he’s elected, will be another bump in the road. He will perform better than the current president on the economy and jobs, he will also do better in terms of foreign relations and policy with some good advisers. He will do some things that disappoint but what president hasn’t? Elections aren’t the be all and end all.

    Like you, still rooting for Cruz.

    • Chris says:

      Trump believes that the unemployment rate is 40% and that we can force Mexico to build and then pay for a wall.

      Why do you think he knows anything about either the economy or foreign relations?

  12. Tina says:

    “Trump believes that the unemployment rate is 40%”

    Oh what a deceitful statement. You make it sound like he was quoting the official unemployment rate which only includes people on unemployment looking for work.

    In fact he was talking about the state of unemployment which has been deplorable for seven long years! the official unemployment figure of 5.??% doesn’t take into consideration those people that no longer qualify for unemployment and have given up finding work, those who are working part time but want to work full time, and those who gave up finding work and in desperation managed to get themselves put on SS disability.

    Leave it to a liberal to talk about “forcing” others to do something. NO, Trump said he would negotiate, something he’s learned to do very well, to get Mexico to pay for the wall. Now whether he can get them to pay for all of it or not is yet to be seen but at least he has intentions that would reverse Obama’s open borders, come one come all, policy!

    He knows about the economy after being in business and negotiating in the business world for a number of decades and by working with cities, counties, and foreign countries to get his hotels built. I imagine he has also overseen investments, made loans and navigated the various tools our country has in place for when the bottom drops out and companies are forced to file chapter 7 or chapter 11….both the positive and negative side of the economy. He knows first hand how government overreach can tank and economy and jerk companies around forcing them to make difficult decisions…like laying people off.

    In terms of foreign affairs Trump knows at least as much as the man you voted for in 08 and probably a lot more having lived longer and having done business around the world. You have to have some idea what’s going on in politics before you make a decision to spend a few billion dollars to build a hotel.

    • dewster says:

      Tina

      You always fail to admit where our jobs went. This liberal/Conservative crap is just that crap.

      Bottom Line as long as we pay CEO’s in stock Options they will continue to move jobs overseas because they can raise the price of stock.

      The real Problems are not ever discussed. There are tax loopholes to move jobs overseas to which the corporatist congress protects (mostly conservatives).

      Bottom Line conservative Policies brought this country to it’s knees with the help of the corportist Blue Dog Democrats.

      Trump is right about tariffs though. Tariffs were called the “American System” It worked well until Reagan abolished it. China uses it now. To bring tariffs back is something to discuss…

      We need to reverse Reaganomics! We need to repeal Clinton’s NAFTA!

      On foreign policy doing business is not the same as running a country. Seems like the RW has become fascists thinking we are a business. Trump has neither the temperament nor skills to deal with the world. He is a dictator type. People cower to him as employees. The world hates Trump as well he is embarrassing us.

      Bottom Line the wall is a bunch of crap. Military Contractors want these contracts and if you think Trump will not find a way to profit off it you do not know trump.

      Walls to lock in the United States Citizens what a grand Idea ! USA is going into lockdown. Pleases conservatives it seems. Tunnels are the way the criminals come in and you know that very well being a Californian.

      Teapublicans remind me of how the german people bought into the nazi dream. The Utopia does not exist my friend.

      You ever read the Powell Memo? Right before he became a SCOTUS and decided on the Buckley vs Vallejo Case?

      You say I do not not what I am talking about but yet you never read the historical docs to which I speak. The fascists may have failed in the 1930’s but they have succeeded in the 21st century.

      You read the TPP yet? Of course not!

      We need to stop the TPP and reverse NAFTA that giant sucking sound of our Jobs is still being heard and the candidates are funded by those who destroy us.

      Name a Trade deal that helped the middle class of the USA. They are taking away our sovernighty for corporate rule by the WTO which is the new world order politicians always quote. not those crazy conspiracy theories conservatives love.

      Go Ahead Name one…..there is not a one that was good for us!

      We are being sued again for projected profits by a foreign corporation. Profit over life. greed Kills.

      Trump thinks the poor make too much money? The economy does well when people spend money not when CEO’S increase their wages.

      • Tina says:

        “You always fail to admit where our jobs went.”

        That’s a load of crap Dewey.

        YOU always scream about CEO’s doing evil things to make more money but you can’t really back up your specious claim that they do it just to make more money. So you just make longs lists of grievances and offer no solutions yourself while expecting me to be on top of it. To borrow a phrase…it’s time to put on the big boy pants and offer a few solutions yourself.

        How do we incentivize CEO’s to bring their companies back to America and the jobs with them?

        You sound like a schizophrenic with politic drivel dribbling out of your mouth.

        Stick to one subject. Quit holding me responsible when you have offered nothing but Bernie Sanders the job killer as a fix to the problems. You do the research and write an article! Or better yet, get your own blog.

        What you suffer from is a crappy attitude.

    • Chris says:

      Tina: “Oh what a deceitful statement.”

      Yes! I’m so glad to see you finally admit that what Trump said was incredibly deceitfu–

      Oh. Wait. You’re talking about what I said, aren’t you? You’re saying that directly quoting Trump’s words is somehow deceitful, aren’t you?

      *sigh*

      “You make it sound like he was quoting the official unemployment rate which only includes people on unemployment looking for work.”

      Yes, how dare I insist that when people say they are talking about the unemployment rate, they should actually talk about the unemployment rate. The audacity.

      “the official unemployment figure of 5.??% doesn’t take into consideration those people that no longer qualify for unemployment and have given up finding work, those who are working part time but want to work full time, and those who gave up finding work and in desperation managed to get themselves put on SS disability.”

      You are right. The official unemployment rate does not take into account people who are not, by definition, unemployed. ¡Que siniestro!

      More importantly, even if you did consider all of those groups as unemployed, the figure still wouldn’t come anywhere CLOSE to 42%. Politifact crunched the numbers; it’s actually only about 14%.

      We started with the 94 million Americans age 16 and up who are not either (1) employed, (2) unemployed, (3) in the military or (4) institutionalized. We then subtracted the number of people who have good reasons not to be working or looking for work. Here’s a summary.

      Neither working nor officially unemployed, age 16 and up, civilians and noninstitutionalized only
      94.0 million

      Subtract: Ages 16 to 19
      9.7 million

      Subtract: Ages 65 and over
      37.8 million

      Subtract: Students, age 20 to 24
      4.3 million

      Subtract: Students, age 25 to 29
      1.4 million

      Subtract: Students, age 30 to 34
      771,000

      Subtract: Stay-at-home moms
      10.3 million

      Subtract: Stay-at-home dads
      2.0 million

      Subtract: Those receiving disability checks
      9.0 million

      Subtract: Those in job training, ages 24 to 29
      745,000 (estimate)

      Remainder:
      18.0 million

      In other words, there are perhaps 18 million Americans who do not have obvious reasons for not working (though they could be full-time students between 34 and 65, undergoing job training over age 29, or be affluent enough to be able to forgo work or retire early).

      If you turn this into a new type of “unemployment” rate, it comes out to 14.8 percent. That’s higher than the U-6 rate of 10.3 percent, but it’s only a small fraction of the 42 percent Trump claimed.

      http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/sep/30/donald-trump/donald-trump-says-unemployment-rate-may-be-42-perc/

      I understand that you don’t see any problem with inflating a number by a factor of three in order to make Obama look bad. But people who care more about the truth do.

      Even the total number of people not working–including all of the categories subtracted by Politifact’s analysis above–is not enough to make up 42% of the American population! That’s only about 30% of the population. How can the number of unemployed possibly be more than the total number of non-working Americans over the age of 16? THINK!

      (Politifact does cite one economist who found a 42% unemployment rate, but he did this by counting hours vs. potential hours instead of individual workers. As the article explains, his peers were…unimpressed by this nonsensical methodology.)

      Trump’s statement was asinine, as is any defense of it.

      “Leave it to a liberal to talk about “forcing” others to do something. NO, Trump said he would negotiate, something he’s learned to do very well, to get Mexico to pay for the wall.”

      Idiotic, not to mention hypocritical. This is what Trump said in his position paper:

      Mexico must pay for the wall and, until they do, the United States will, among other things: impound all remittance payments derived from illegal wages; increase fees on all temporary visas issued to Mexican CEOs and diplomats (and if necessary cancel them); increase fees on all border crossing cards of which we issue about 1 million to Mexican nationals each year (a major source of visa overstays); increase fees on all NAFTA worker visas from Mexico (another major source of overstays); and increase fees at ports of entry to the United States from Mexico [Tariffs and foreign aid cuts are also options]. We will not be taken advantage of anymore.

      I’ve little doubt if such retributive policies were placed on, say, oil companies for not following certain regulations, you would say that Obama was “making” those companies do as he pleased.

      “Now whether he can get them to pay for all of it or not is yet to be seen”

      No, it isn’t! It’s not going to happen! No rational person would think that that could ever happen! Use your brain!

  13. Tina says:

    Oh, and by the way…the figure you quote wasn’t a solid number but rather the top of a range of estimates that people in the political, investment and commercial world had been considering based on the above employment considerations.

    Our readers should know that several industries are bleeding good jobs right now, the oil industry is the most obvious but also companies like Apple. This after losses of over the last year, see here

  14. Chris says:

    “Many of Trump’s positions are abhorrent. Many are inconsistent with traditional American values, Republican Party dogma, various articles of the Constitution, and Trump’s own views…. But substance is, in a way, less important than style. Trump couldn’t possibly do half of what he promises, and probably doesn’t really want to do much of the rest.

    The important thing is that Trump, by being transgressive in the way he speaks, gives listeners the license to be transgressive in the way they think. When he rails against ‘political correctness,’ he’s talking about the manners and courtesies that many of us would call being ‘civil.’ But his in-your-face bullying strikes a chord with the large segment of the Republican electorate that is tired of being polite: lower-middle-class, non-college-educated white voters who have not prospered over the past two decades and see demographic change as a threat.

    * * *

    Trump’s arena-size rallies have become set pieces in which big, boisterous crowds get to act out their ‘Make America Great Again’ fantasies. If protesters didn’t show up to advocate the Black Lives Matter movement or tolerance toward Muslims, Trump would have to hire actors to play those parts. Antagonists are necessary for the moments of catharsis when interlopers are identified, scorned, and physically ejected. It is theater, not politics, a symbolic enactment of the grand purification Trump promises.”

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dont-underestimate-trumps-ability-to-harness-a-wave-of-voter-disgust/2016/01/11/9ba4e70e-b898-11e5-829c-26ffb874a18d_story.html?hpid=hp_no-name_opinion-card-c%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

    • Tina says:

      Chris I imagine you believe yourself to be of generous spirit, understanding, inclusive, and capable of reasoning and deep thought.

      Your description is arrogant, judgmental, pedantic, and anything but inclusive, generous, or understanding. You are a phony liberal who tilts and windmills…so typical of the progressive left.

      We get it. You can’t stand Trump. You may be in for a long, long term of frustration and upset should he win.

      On the other hand you might be surprised at what happens, and doesn’t, if he wins.

      We will never forget the theater of the Obama campaign that has lasted for more then seven years. In many ways politics is theater. Might as well get used to it.

      • Chris says:

        Tina: “We get it. You can’t stand Trump. You may be in for a long, long term of frustration and upset should he win.”

        Not going to happen.

        At Trump’s most recent event, he once again repeated the birther lie that Ted Cruz is not eligible for president; unleashed a stream of profanity that several news sources had to bleep out; berated a sound engineer for a faulty mic and publicly announced he would not pay him; and went on to brag, once again, about how much money and property he owns.

        You are not just wrong about Trump, you are obviously wrong.

        It is morally wrong to even consider voting for Trump.

        Donald Trump had a new enemy during a campaign stop Wednesday night –- his microphone.

        The real estate mogul at one point during his packed rally in Pensacola, FL paused and went on a rant.

        “And by the way I don’t like this mic, whoever the hell brought this mic system don’t pay the son of a b**** who brought it in,” the crowd laughed but the Donald was visibly annoyed.

        “No this mic is terrible, stupid mic keeps popping…Don’t pay him. You know I believe in paying but when somebody does a bad job like this you shouldn’t pay the b******,” Trump said –- with a few mic pops.

        Ahead of the first GOP debate of the year, the Republican frontrunner declared he will win the Sunshine State. “I am kicking a** in Florida,” Trump told the crowd.

        Trump took aim at the two men who do call Florida home, that just go happen to be running against him. “So you have the Governor who’s got very low energy, named Bush. You have Rubio who is a sitting senator and you have Trump. Now I have a lot of property…lot of stuff, all over Florida,” the billionaire said.

        The real estate mogul again dug into the Texas Sen. Ted Cruz — after raising the issue of whether he is eligible to run for president given his Canadian birth.

        “Supposing he [Cruz] runs and everybody is backing on him, and then the courts rule that he can’t run. That’s not so good. What do you do? Concede the election to Hillary Clinton or to crazy Bernie? Right. I mean Bernie. I don’t know who I want to run against more, I don’t know.”

        Cruz has brushed off Trump’s suggestions about his citizenship — he was born to an American mother — and eligibility for the presidency.

        http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-angry-terrible-stupid-microphone-rally/story?id=36279072

  15. Libby says:

    Dream on, Tina.

    For all his political ineptitude, Cruz is reputed to be quite bright.

    Wait, … maybe it’s not ineptitude. Maybe he just looks like a moron from trying to relate (aka, court) morons.

  16. Tina says:

    Whatever Libby. You might as well be talking to the mirror.

  17. Libby says:

    Well, come on, Tina! Is Cruz going to pick a running mate who has gone all birther on him? … a circumstance that has got us on this side of the eisle positively chortling with glee.

    • Chris says:

      Libby, likely circumstances don’t even factor into it any more. Reality doesn’t even enter into it.

      Didn’t you hear? The unemployment rate might be 42%, even though that’s larger than the entire number of adults not in the workforce. There were thousands upon thousands of Muslims in New Jersey cheering for 9/11, and it was on the teevee, even though no videos or police reports or any other objective evidence of such can be found. We’re totally gonna make Mexico build and pay for a wall. The sailors who wandered into Iranian waters should have opened fire on their captors so that they could have all died nobly instead of being safely returned within 24 hours.

      And if you take exception to any of these pronouncements, you’re just being PC and not getting the “point.” Because the point isn’t to talk about reality as it exists. The point isn’t truth. The point is to beat one’s chest, recite the litany and prove onself as a member of the Tribe. The above statements, all of which have either been said by Trump, the bloggers here over the past week, or in some cases both, aren’t designed to be facts; they’re designed to express contempt for the current President/state of affairs and signal that one is loyal to the Tribe.

      And yes, Jack and Tina, what I’m saying is condescending, and arrogant, and makes me sound like I’m better than you.

      Good.

      Be better.

      • Tina says:

        I’d prefer it if you’d ask your candidates to be better but then that would make me a dreamer like you. I could waste my time ‘gathering all of the truly stupid things lefties have said through the years to counter yours. The thing is I don;t have to. there’s a good chance that Trump will be elected President and that will suffice.

        You two really don’t want to talk about the Presidents abominable economic record…

        …or his petulant childishness, his adolescent arrogance, his mind numbing stubbornness, or his blinding narcissism. It’s much easier to focus on our candidates…I get it. But please, don’t act like you’re one up cause not only do you have a miserable administration to defend you also have miserable candidates in the race. We get that too.

        • Chris says:

          Oh, I’m glad to discuss his economic record, and just did so here a few hours ago. As I pointed out, unemployment has fallen by every measure under his watch. Millions more have health insurance. Progress has been made; you refuse to acknowledge it.

          The rest is merely unsupported ad hom, but we all have our skill sets.

    • Tina says:

      There you go bringing up birther issues again.

      • Chris says:

        “The thing is I don;t have to. there’s a good chance that Trump will be elected President”

        No, there isn’t, and it is stupid to think that there is.

        “There you go bringing up birther issues again.”

        I did not bring the issue up. Donald Trump did. Why are you blaming me for something Donald Trump said? I’m not the one cheerleading for him.

        Do you believe Ted Cruz is eligible?

  18. Chris says:

    “Sure, it was just a moment and a mic, just as Dewey’s Waterloo was a moment and a train. Small incidents can be regarded as having signature significance, and then they are tipping points in public perception, the unplanned moment that pulls everything together and makes people realize that whatever the limits are to the personality flaws they will tolerate in their national leaders, this exceeds it.

    Maybe the popping microphone will be Trump’s Dewey moment, when ordering his staff to throw a protester into the cold without his coat, mocking a reporter’s physical maladies, insulting prisoners of war and other boorish, ugly moments weren’t enough to drop those veils. You never know: tipping points are often cumulative.

    I am certain that even if this wasn’t it,Trump’s Dewey moment is coming. The nation can only hope that it happens before the Republican Convention, and not after.”

    http://ethicsalarms.com/2016/01/14/in-search-of-a-tipping-point-trump-the-microphone-and-thomas-deweys-ghost/#more-30659

  19. Chris says:

    Tina, tell me, really: what would Trump have to do to be disqualified as an acceptable candidate in your eyes?

    Mock the physically disabled? He’s already done that.

    Insult John McCain for being a POW? He’s done that too.

    Lie about Ted Cruz’s eligibility to be president? Done.

    Imply that the reason Megan Kelly asked him a tough question about his remarks re: women was because she was on her period? Check.

    Imply that Vladimir Putin’s killing of journalists doesn’t matter because “at least he’s a leader?” Bazinga.

    Gloat about stealing a protester’s jacket and throwing him out into the cold? Yatzee.

    So if none of these things disqualify him in your eyes…how low does he have to go? Is there ANYTHING that would make you call out this man for the boor he is, or will you continue to refrain from any criticism toward him until you are 100% sure he will not be the Republican candidate for president?

  20. Tina says:

    Sorry Chris but you don’t qualify as someone who can ask that question. You voted for a man who insulted white people, police officers, the Christian right, and has spent his presidency as an activist pitting groups against each other. You voted for a guy that has alienated our allies and caused them to distrust the United States. You voted for a guy that sat in the church of a man that said, “God da** America and that wasn’t a big deal to you. I could go on…I wont.

    And I’m supposed to believe you’re concerned about a New Yorker that’s rough around the edges and has insulted a few folks? I don’t think so.

    If you have something to say about the man say it and leave me out of it.

    • Chris says:

      I wish you’d answer the question. What would make you decide not to vote for Trump?

    • Chris says:

      “Sorry Chris but you don’t qualify as someone who can ask that question. You voted for a man who insulted white people,”

      Evidence, please. Did Obama ever call white people murderers and rapists? Did he ever say we should put all white people on a national database?

      “police officers,”

      Evidence, please. I remember he said one particular police officer “acted stupidly,” but he also attempted to make amends. Has Trump attempted to make amends with any of the many people on both the left and right he has insulted?

      “the Christian right,”

      See the first response.

      “You voted for a guy that has alienated our allies and caused them to distrust the United States.”

      Evidence, please.

      “You voted for a guy that sat in the church of a man that said, “God da** America and that wasn’t a big deal to you.”

      Obama immediately distanced himself from Wright and said his comments were unacceptable. He’s expressed his admiration for our country too many times to count. Has Trump apologized for any of the terrible things he has said?

  21. Chris says:

    Tina, do you still believe that the unemployment rate could be as high as 42%, even though you know that the total number of Americans aged 16-68 not in the work force only makes up 30% of our country? If so, can you explain how the unemployment rate can be so much higher than the percentage of Americans not in the labor force?

  22. Libby says:

    People have to be “qualified” to ask you a simple question?

    You don’t want to answer, then don’t answer … and we will take note. But if you’re telling us that you won’t discuss issues with people who don’t agree with you … well, we knew that already, didn’t we.

    Still, you might want to consider how many times you have been disappointed by your political leadership, precisely because you let stuff like this “42%” slide. And that you let these prevarications slide because your entire relationship to anything like objective reality is dictated by what you want to believe … not by what is.

    The Donald pushes your buttons … and you let him. The republic cannot survive this kind of stupidity for long.

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