2016 USA Presidential election thread I: The warm-up

[Sho]

Trump won't run as an independent. He likes his money too much.

Not how Trump works brah. He seriously does not care about money like that. At least at this point.

[Gredival]

Not how Trump works brah. He seriously does not care about money like that. At least at this point.

I don't think it's not that he doesn't care about money, it's that he cares more about Trump.

And sticking it to the Republicans after they wrong him would be a bigger value for Trump than money would be.

[zoobernut]

I don't think it's not that he doesn't care about money, it's that he cares more about Trump.

And sticking it to the Republicans after they wrong him would be a bigger value for Trump than money would be.

Plus as we discussed earlier Trump has so many ways to get money back if he spends it all on a campaign.

[Sho]

I don't think it's not that he doesn't care about money, it's that he cares more about Trump.

And sticking it to the Republicans after they wrong him would be a bigger value for Trump than money would be.

Well I guess I phrased it wrong.

He's already taking multiple losses iust by continuing his campaign by way of him losing business deals. He doesn't care at all and is creating the image of being anti establishment and not being beholden to any master for any amount.

[Ksandra]

Linsey Graham's response to having his phone number leaked:



Fox news are a bunch of morons about trump (lol no surprise there). They keep insisting only "20%" of the people support trump and that he would never ever make the nomination.

But they will not fucking shut up about him which just increases his chances.

I swear they talk about him like 80% of the time now. sSo either they secretly want him to win or they just love shooting themselves in the foot.

[Tyche]

Linsey Graham's response to having his phone number leaked:



Fox news are a bunch of morons about trump (lol no surprise there). They keep insisting only "20%" of the people support trump and that he would never ever make the nomination.

But they will not fucking shut up about him which just increases his chances.

I swear they talk about him like 80% of the time now. sSo either they secretly want him to win or they just love shooting themselves in the foot.

Donald has to keep doing what he do. 20% is massive in a field of 14, but so many people hate him on both sides that he'll hit a low ceiling when the candidates widdle down to less than five, and that's assuming he stays in the race that long. Meanwhile, he'll get 90% of the media attention while the legit candidates claw at scraps. He's illegitimizing the entire party and making them look like absolute goons. The only good he's doing for the party is absorbing the attention off the stupid shit everyone else says because what he says is worse by a factor of ten.

I say Donald should have his fun in the sun and shine a big ass spotlight on the GOP's lunacy and watch as he continues to drive the party into the ground. Maybe enough dumbasses will donate to his cause that at least some money will dry up into his frivolous attempt at a presidency.

[Ragnus]

I'm not betting that any sort of donations he gets will make any significant impact on the GoP war coffers. People like the Koch brothers are going to lob their money at whoever is nominated, and that's not going to be Trump.

[Serra]

"I'll have to see how I'm being treated by the Republicans," Trump said, when asked if he would make an independent run. "Absolutely, if they're not fair, that would be a factor."

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/23/politi...xas/index.html

[Salodin]

They'll pay him to drop out before they let him walk away and run independent. This train is either going full steam after the debate or coming to a screeching halt. Can't wait for August.

[Sho]

They'll pay him to drop out before they let him walk away and run independent. This train is either going full steam after the debate or coming to a screeching halt. Can't wait for August.

Nope. He can't and won't be bought out to drop out. You're talking about a dude with a net worth over 10 billion, who also got dropped from 5+ top level business deals because he wants to stay in the race. He doesn't care about political contributions. And if he did, they don't have enough to pay him off. However, I do agree that the first Republican debate will be VERY interesting, and quite possibly the most watched debate ever in the history of candidate debates.

Linsey Graham's response to having his phone number leaked:



Fox news are a bunch of morons about trump (lol no surprise there). They keep insisting only "20%" of the people support trump and that he would never ever make the nomination.

But they will not fucking shut up about him which just increases his chances.

I swear they talk about him like 80% of the time now. sSo either they secretly want him to win or they just love shooting themselves in the foot.

The GOP is in the ultimate conundrum right now. They DO NOT WANT HIM IN THE PARTY, but they don't want to isolate his growing base by making him run as Independent. That was basically give away the Presidency to the Democrats (aka Hilary Clinton) for free. In this, they must continue to talk about him and make the conversation about him for as long as he's the front runner in the party. So what you are seeing right now is walking on eggshells and a balancing act. They have to push the GOP as far away from Trump as they can, without pushing him right out of the party, and at the same try to dismantle his rhetoric and bring the conversation back to things that matter.

With the GOP divided (the blue collar Dems of 20-30 years ago are progressive Republicans of today, then you have the pure bred, white collar conservatives), this will be exceptionally tough, and there's really no way to stop him from running as Independent at all. It's getting to the point where he will either be the Republican candidate or the Independent candidate, with no exceptions. And both work against the GOP at large.

Trump is basically running a campaign that is dividing the GOP into two perfect halves; the rich conservatives who want nothing to do with him but can't get rid of him and the poor, progressive base who are tired of politics as usual and want to see actual change and less bullshit. This problem is further compounded with the now 16 GOP candidates which has now crowded the field.

[Byrthnoth]

If Trump actually ran as an independent, it might cause the Republicans to abandon the most hardcore crazies and ultimately push the real parties to the left.

[Sho]

If Trump actually ran as an independent, it might cause the Republicans to abandon the most hardcore crazies and ultimately push the real parties to the left.

Exactly. There's no way this isn't a win for Leftists and Centrists.

[Sho]

The larger problem at hand for the GOP is the fact that they are diluted by so many candidates, each vying for votes. The first debate will chop off 6 or 7 candidates, but they honestly should not be waiting that long at all. Every day that passes that allows Trump to say something more outlandish will be a day that endears fans to him and away from everyone else. The base of the GOP has absolutely no one to rally behind for months to come, so whoever speaks loudest will get more people behind him (Trump).

The other large problem is that the GOP is way to far to the right, due to Tea Party shenanigans. They are going to have to trim the fat and move closer to the center on politics as well.

---

There is a way to defeat Trump on the grand stage, and that is to be the guy with the most facts and throw everything they have at him. Trump has always been exposed as a person who runs on pure spectacle and conspiracy, but he doesn't do his due diligence at all, nor has good enough minions to do this. However, Trump has pure clout and savy to cover this up (I like to call it "Reality Warping Field, Stage 2"). He's very smart and has years of TV experience, where as these politicians would rather not be in the spot light when they weren't running for higher offices.

Look forward to Bush, Rubio & Walker attacking him directly with facts, Perry going to to toe with him over immigration, and Cruz kissing all amounts of ass.

[6souls]

I'm sure it's mentioned in here that a WP/ABC poll from last week put Trump as #1, Walker #2. I'm really hoping that he wins the nomination and selects Bachmann as his VP and we see the most exciting campaign ever

[Sho]

I'm sure it's mentioned in here that a WP/ABC poll from last week put Trump as #1, Walker #2. I'm really hoping that he wins the nomination and selects Bachmann as his VP and we see the most exciting campaign ever

I hope he wins too. However it's looking like he's grooming the shit out of Cruz to be his possible VP. The synergy works better and he could run as an actual, legitimate candidate. Trump would be the face of the presidency, but secretly it would be Cruz who wields the greater power and influence.

[Ksandra]

This whole independent talk makes me realize I was a fool. Here I was worried about trump, only to realize he is the best thing to happen to America and the democratic party.

[archibaldcrane]

I'll be sad if Trump runs as an independent (he won't) because it'll give Republicans cover for when Hilldog destroys them.

I'd rather she smokes Bush or Walker straight up.

[Xantavia]

I'm not betting that any sort of donations he gets will make any significant impact on the GoP war coffers. People like the Koch brothers are going to lob their money at whoever is nominated, and that's not going to be Trump.

I can't recall who the host was I was listening to, but he had a theory about this. The Koch brothers really want Walker to get the nomination. They are also paying Trump to try and take down Bush and anybody else who isn't Walker. Then when he drops out, it puts their candidate at the top.

[Ragnus]

I can't recall who the host was I was listening to, but he had a theory about this. The Koch brothers really want Walker to get the nomination. They are also paying Trump to try and take down Bush and anybody else who isn't Walker. Then when he drops out, it puts their candidate at the top.

I can see that actually.

[kuronosan]

Makes perfect sense.