The Next American President Thread (2016)

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  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    Wrong thread, @chrisisall. Put it on "Sir Henry's".... 8-}
    Sorry.

    =))
  • Posts: 725
    The thing about Trump, or more precisely his voters, that just amazes me, is that many of them are not only conservative Republicans, but also many are very conservative Evangelical Christians who detest almost everything he stands for except for one overriding issue. Trump or as my youngest daughter calls him,Thump, has taken very liberal stands in the past on almost everything many of his voters hate. I think the immigration and anti-Muslim fears in the US have become so visceral, he's just sailing through the primaries. But he won!t win the general election. There is a huge, very diverse electorate out there that will cream him.. There are some things about Trump that I actually like. But I can't abide his temperament or zenophobia. When is the last time we heard a major US republican claim that Bush lied us into Iraq. I mean you are talking some serious wild stuff here.that's why we are all watching the republican debates, they are crazy food fights. I can't remember anything like it. It's literally entertainment.

    I've got a sick 10 yr old kid at home with really bad flu. Today was my turn to stay up all last night and stay home from work today. We have a baby monitor in her room because she is constantly sick to her stomach and we are being the usual over protective types. I'm so bored, I'm posting everywhere and just babbling. Sorry.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    ALL the front-runners are dangerous jerks except for Bernie. Hillary is a sort of kinda acceptable 2nd choice... 8-|
  • SarkSark Guangdong, PRC
    Posts: 1,138
    giphy.gif
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    Haha, YES!!!
  • Posts: 725
    chrisisall wrote: »
    Bernie will surprise y'all. B-)

    @chrisisall, you or somebody in you family has to order you this soon...

    http://toyland.gizmodo.com/buy-the-first-bernie-sanders-action-figure-and-help-sup-1761009402
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    Murdock wrote: »
    I'd move into a Hollowed out Volcano in Japan somewhere. ;)
    You can join me, Murdock. I'd make room. I hear there is a lot of space in Hokkaido. ;)

  • Posts: 1,631
    smitty wrote: »
    The thing about Trump, or more precisely his voters, that just amazes me, is that many of them are not only conservative Republicans, but also many are very conservative Evangelical Christians who detest almost everything he stands for except for one overriding issue. Trump or as my youngest daughter calls him,Thump, has taken very liberal stands in the past on almost everything many of his voters hate. I think the immigration and anti-Muslim fears in the US have become so visceral, he's just sailing through the primaries. But he won!t win the general election. There is a huge, very diverse electorate out there that will cream him.. There are some things about Trump that I actually like. But I can't abide his temperament or zenophobia. When is the last time we heard a major US republican claim that Bush lied us into Iraq. I mean you are talking some serious wild stuff here.that's why we are all watching the republican debates, they are crazy food fights. I can't remember anything like it. It's literally entertainment.

    Trump is doing well with Evangelicals, as well as other groups that you wouldn't automatically think he would do well with, because a lot of the population has reached the point where voting against certain held beliefs doesn't outweigh the desire to have someone go to Washington and basically tear the government down from within and get it working again.

    Trump isn't who the Evangelicals would normally vote for, at least not the majority of them if voting strictly from that perspective, but combined with the fact that block of voters has been catered to by an extremely weak and openly dishonest candidate (Cruz), that group of voters, along with a sizable chunk of the rest of the Republican electorate, is angry with their party and wants to hit the reset button. Trump is the only candidate that represents that reset button, as the rest of the candidates are very much the establishment, aside from Carson (and this also explains his rise to the top of the polls earlier in the process).

  • SarkSark Guangdong, PRC
    Posts: 1,138
    http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/how-america-made-donald-trump-unstoppable-20160224?page=12

    Super insightful article that I'd encourage you to read all the way through (it's pretty funny as well). I have newfound respect for Trump (not his bigotry, his ability) and newfound worry that if it's Clinton v Trump he'll crush her by running to her 'left' on things like prescription drugs, trade agreements, corporate influence, etc. Issues that the 'donor class' who contribute to establishment republicans and democrats feel one way on, but the vast majority of people feel another.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    smitty wrote: »
    chrisisall wrote: »
    Bernie will surprise y'all. B-)

    @chrisisall, you or somebody in you family has to order you this soon...

    http://toyland.gizmodo.com/buy-the-first-bernie-sanders-action-figure-and-help-sup-1761009402
    Thanks man!!!
    :-bd
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited February 2016 Posts: 23,883
    When I was in NYC on vacation in January, I was roaming around the Theatre District and went into one of the many 'Tourist' stores. They had a lot of trinkets, memorabilia, and some of these small action figures/dolls of US celebrities.

    They had nearly everyone except for "Mr. Trump". I spoke to the proprietor (a small Chinese lady who didn't speak too much English) and explained the error of her ways and the fact that she likely was losing a lot of sales by not having one of the famous figures in the world in her collection. She didn't seem impressed.

    I also did a tour of the Woolworth building (I was the only guest so it was a one on one) and when I brought up Trump to the tour guide he almost lost it on me.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    @bondjames

    We see this more relaxed in Switzerland. For us this is all great entertainment like only the US can provide.
    I almost wish Trump gets to the White House. Just to see the dumb faces of Angela Merkel, Monsieur Hollande and other European Leaders who think they are the best thing since sliced bread, when they are in fact destroying Europe faster than we realise.
    Compared to the state Europe will be in, in 5 years, a Trump ruled US will look like paradise.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited February 2016 Posts: 23,883
    @BondJasonBond006, I'm one of his advocates (crazy, I know!). I don't think he's half as bad as he's made out, or how he projects. He's all bombast and bluster on the outside, but underneath it all he's a very sharp guy. I've followed him for years as I do some consulting to the real estate industry. Tough operator.

    He has the exact opposite skill set to Obama, who is an intellectual with great public speaking skills but generally aloof and introverted. Trump will be able to get things done (he's a dealmaker and these guys always know how to bring people together when it counts due to their confidence and strength of personality).

    I can appreciate how the rest of the world is panicking though, because there will be no pushing him around, unlike the current incumbent.

    The European Project is a precarious one imho. I think it's going to be very difficult to hold that place together in its current form for too much longer given economic, demographic & cultural trends. They will have to go 'all in' or just break it up in my view. Or 'two tier' it.
  • I hope Trump wins. He has very sensible opinions on foreign policy and immigration. He believes in looking after his own country and doesn't give a damn what the pious 'international community' think.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited February 2016 Posts: 23,883
    You know, something just came to mind.

    From my perspective at least, I think Obama's halo was pricked during the infamous 'red line' incident on Syria WMD.

    The Repubs made a big thing out of it (and him being weak and indecisive) even though he was smart not to launch an attack then (given he would have helped ISIL). Even worse, Putin came in and saved the day with the face saving disarmament proposition. Ever since then, I think a portion of the US public has been subconsciously craving a little toughness from their future leaders.

    Enter Trump.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    He'd turn the West Wing into a casino. 8-|
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    chrisisall wrote: »
    He'd turn the West Wing into a casino. 8-|

    Didn't Clinton rent out the Lincoln bedroom?... Who knows what shenanigans happened there.

    http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/02/26/clinton.lincoln/
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    Ho ho, this is great....

  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    Haha. Makes Joffrey Baratheon look like a chump.

    The late night guys will have a field day if Trump wins. Pity Jon Stewart is not in the game any more.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    Great video. :))
  • TripAcesTripAces Universal Exports
    edited February 2016 Posts: 4,585
    chrisisall wrote: »
    Bernie will surprise y'all. B-)

    It's not gonna happen. And in the meantime, his supporters are not helping the liberal cause with their anti-Hillary rhetoric. The nom WILL BE Clinton's, and the Berners better get behind her or else we're stuck with Trump, Cruz, or Rubio, and four years of their SCOTUS appointments.
  • edited February 2016 Posts: 725
    TripAces wrote: »
    chrisisall wrote: »
    Bernie will surprise y'all. B-)

    It's not gonna happen. And in the meantime, his supporters are not helping the liberal cause with their anti-Hillary rhetoric. The nom WILL BE Clinton's, and the Berners better get behind her or else we're stuck with Trump, Cruz, or Rubio, and four years of their SCOTUS appointments.

    You're right. Bernie is not going to win. Most of the remaining primary states have large black populations and they are voting heavily for Clinton. She'll win most of the Super Tuesday primaries and she also has the unpledged delegates totally locked up and that is a very big block of votes that haven't been counted yet. I'm no fan of Clinton but on some issues like Bernie's plan to dump Obamacare and try to put up single payer Is just hopeless bad judgement, and like free tuition, it just ain't going to happen, even with a democratic congress. Sanders legacy will possibly be that congress will tighten up some crappy Wall Street abuses, but the US electorate is moderate, not left, and Sanders won't win the nomination, even against Clinton, who carries a lot of negative baggage. the Republucan debate tonight will be a food fight.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    TripAces wrote: »
    chrisisall wrote: »
    Bernie will surprise y'all. B-)

    It's not gonna happen. And in the meantime, his supporters are not helping the liberal cause with their anti-Hillary rhetoric. The nom WILL BE Clinton's, and the Berners better get behind her or else we're stuck with Trump, Cruz, or Rubio, and four years of their SCOTUS appointments.
    It's all or nothing. If Bernie does not win we are F**KED. Simply put.
    Hillary might slow the slide a bit, but she's a player. Even IF her heart's in the right place she OWES. Unless she's ready to piss off the Military Industrial Complex that funds her campaign (not likely) she won't change much.
    By comparison the Republicans are OWNED.
    Trump is a businessman NOT a person who understands the geo-political game. He will destroy us. Possibly literally.



  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited February 2016 Posts: 23,883
    If you want change there is no choice but to take an admittedly risky chance on the 'Trump card' imho. Bernie is going down and Hills is status quo. Otherwise just accept that things aren't going to change for a while.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801
    bondjames wrote: »
    If you want change there is no choice but to take an admittedly risky chance on the 'Trump card' imho. Bernie is going down and Hills is status quo. Otherwise just accept that things aren't going to change for a while.
    Trump will certainly start WWIII.
    Like I said, he's a BUSINESSMAN.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited February 2016 Posts: 23,883
    chrisisall wrote: »
    bondjames wrote: »
    If you want change there is no choice but to take an admittedly risky chance on the 'Trump card' imho. Bernie is going down and Hills is status quo. Otherwise just accept that things aren't going to change for a while.
    Trump will certainly start WWIII.
    Like I said, he's a BUSINESSMAN.
    Sadly that is likely irrespective of who is in charge post-Obama. There's no business like war, true. Carver, like a good businessman too, understood this.
  • Posts: 1,631
    WWIII would be much more likely under a Cruz administration than a Trump administration. For all of Trump's faults, he hasn't gone around spewing rhetoric about making the desert "glow" and carpet bombing the Middle East.

    As has already been stated, Trump isn't financially beholden to any special interests and is a good dealmaker. In other words, he's not ideologically driven in the way that Cruz is. I think that, knowing that it would be a bad deal for himself and the US, he would ultimately back down from WWIII (or at least I hope he would). Cruz, I fear (with good reason), most likely would not.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,801

    dalton wrote: »
    WWIII would be much more likely under a Cruz administration than a Trump administration. For all of Trump's faults, he hasn't gone around spewing rhetoric about making the desert "glow" and carpet bombing the Middle East.

    As has already been stated, Trump isn't financially beholden to any special interests and is a good dealmaker. In other words, he's not ideologically driven in the way that Cruz is. I think that, knowing that it would be a bad deal for himself and the US, he would ultimately back down from WWIII (or at least I hope he would). Cruz, I fear (with good reason), most likely would not.
    True, Trump is better than Cruz by a long shot.
    Like rabies is better than cancer.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    Trump's play is to scare the enemies into submission rather than actually start wars to be honest. He has criticized the Iraq war severely and says that it resulted in a destabilized middle east. I like his honesty on this (no one else, including Hills, has made these statements).

    The real fear with Trump is spending on military buildup, but not so much actual engagement. Big puppy at the end of the day.
  • Posts: 1,631
    chrisisall wrote: »
    dalton wrote: »
    WWIII would be much more likely under a Cruz administration than a Trump administration. For all of Trump's faults, he hasn't gone around spewing rhetoric about making the desert "glow" and carpet bombing the Middle East.

    As has already been stated, Trump isn't financially beholden to any special interests and is a good dealmaker. In other words, he's not ideologically driven in the way that Cruz is. I think that, knowing that it would be a bad deal for himself and the US, he would ultimately back down from WWIII (or at least I hope he would). Cruz, I fear (with good reason), most likely would not.
    True, Trump is better than Cruz by a long shot.
    Like rabies is better than cancer.

    I don't disagree, although I think that Trump is much better in comparison to Cruz than the given example.

    If we had been having this discussion all the way back at the beginning of the campaign, when all (or most) of the 17 Republican candidates were options, then I think the conversation here would be much different.

    Everything being equal, I think the Republicans would have been best off with one of the governors taking the nomination (Bush, Kasich, or Christie). My pick, in a field where everything was equal, would have been Kasich.

    We're now down to a point where it's the usual vote between the lesser of evils. The way that most people seem to feel about Trump, I feel about Cruz. A Cruz presidency scares me. I'm slightly nervous about a Trump candidacy, but given his business acumen, I think there's a potential risk/reward possibility there that there isn't with Cruz. And Rubio is essentially the GOP's version of Obama, except for the fact that Obama at least went to work when he was in the Senate and did the job he was elected to do. Rubio has skated by on the taxpayer's dime by only going to 40% of the committee sessions he was supposed to attend, not to mention the countless votes that he's missed on the Senate floor.
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