Half-baked Republican Presidential Fruitcakes (and fellow confections)

PopePalpatine

I don't suppose you know what "brigading" is in the context of online polls, do you? I'll give you a primer.

Peregrinus

recedite wrote: »

"Clean coal" actually refers to a process of burning it at very high temperatures (gasification), resulting in reduced pollution. Trump appeared to think it was a type of coal, but he was probably getting mixed up with the fracking gas that has been harnessed in recent years in a big way, in the USA.

You mean, his belief that "clean coal" is a type of coal is an extrapolation of his belief that "fracking gas" is a type of gas? A misconception constructed on a misconception?

Just how stupid is he, anyway?

I remember when the Republicans nominated George W. Bush and we though that a man who was so stupid that he couldn't reliably string together a coherent sentence had to represent the practical limits of stupidity. But, no, Trump has comprehensively smashed even Dubya's record of stupidity.

Have we reached peak stupid yet? Is Trump as stupid as it is realistically possible to be? Can we declare the quest for the most half-baked Republican presidential fruitcake officially closed? Or there yet new limits of stupidity to be explored?

Nick Park

Peregrinus wrote: »

You mean, his belief that "clean coal" is a type of coal is an extrapolation of his belief that "fracking gas" is a type of gas? A misconception constructed on a misconception?

Just how stupid is he, anyway?

I remember when the Republicans nominated George W. Bush and we though that a man who was so stupid that he couldn't reliably string together a coherent sentence had to represent the practical limits of stupidity. But, no, Trump has comprehensively smashed even Dubya's record of stupidity.

Have we reached peak stupid yet? Is Trump as stupid as it is realistically possible to be? Can we declare the quest for the most half-baked Republican presidential fruitcake officially closed? Or there yet new limits of stupidity to be explored?

As I got older I came to the conclusion that stupidity is limitless. But Trump is causing me to revise that opinion. I can't see how any other candidate could ever surpass him for crassness and bone-headedness.

I see his latest tactic is to threaten to attack the Clintons more fiercely if any more 'inappropriate tapes' of his own words are released.

Think about that for a moment. After declaring that the last tape 'doesn't reflect who I am' he is quite openly admitting that there are other tapes out there where he says equally damaging things. His advisors must be banging their heads off the walls in frustration.

BoatMad

Nick Park wrote: »

As I got older I came to the conclusion that stupidity is limitless. But Trump is causing me to revise that opinion. I can't see how any other candidate could ever surpass him for crassness and bone-headedness.

I see his latest tactic is to threaten to attack the Clintons more fiercely if any more 'inappropriate tapes' of his own words are released.

Think about that for a moment. After declaring that the last tape 'doesn't reflect who I am' he is quite openly admitting that there are other tapes out there where he says equally damaging things. His advisors must be banging their heads off the walls in frustration.

It doesn't matter. The Duck is dead , more and more republicans will disassociate themselves to save their own seats and not get in the inevitable Duck sh1te blast, that will flow from the Dead Duck to other republicans when ordinary voters get a chance to roast the Duck at the polls. It will be rats leaving a sinking ship

The duck will most likely go down as the idiot that sunk the Republican Party.

Nick Park

Meanwhile, in other news.

"New craze of creepy clown stalkers"

robindch

Nick Park wrote: »

"New craze of creepy clown stalkers"

"I'll appoint a special prosecutor to put you in jail."

At this stage, I can't help but wonder if Clinton went light on Trump so that he wouldn't lose the debate badly - if he had, there'd be a lot more pressure for him to resign his candidacy.

Anyhow, the latest in a long string of publications to break with tradition and reject Trump is Foreign Policy who published a strongly-worded condemnation of Trump and all he stands for. Oddly, they left out Trump's warning that he may reject the result of the election if he loses.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/10/09/foreign-policy-endorses-hillary-clinton-for-president-of-the-united-states/

Foreign Policy wrote:

In the nearly half-century history of Foreign Policy, the editors of this publication have never endorsed a candidate for political office. We cherish and fiercely protect this publication’s independence and its reputation for objectivity, and we deeply value our relationship with all of our readers, regardless of political orientation. It is for all these reasons that FP’s editors are now breaking with tradition to endorse Hillary Clinton for the next president of the United States.

Our readers depend on FP for insight and analysis into issues of national security and foreign policy. We feel that our obligation to our readers thus extends now to making clear the great magnitude of the threat that a Donald Trump presidency would pose to the United States. The dangers Trump presents as president stretch beyond the United States to the international economy, to global security, to America’s allies, as well as to countless innocents everywhere who would be the victims of his inexperience, his perverse policy views, and the profound unsuitability of his temperament for the office he seeks. The litany of reasons Trump poses such a threat is so long that it is, in fact, shocking that he is a major party’s candidate for the presidency. The recent furor over his vile behavior with women illustrates the extraordinary nature of his unsuitability, as does his repudiation by so many members of his own party — who have so many reasons to reflexively support their nominee.

Beyond this, however, in the areas in which we at FP specialize, he has repeatedly demonstrated his ignorance of the most basic facts of international affairs, let alone the nuances so crucial to the responsibilities of diplomacy inherent in the U.S. president’s daily responsibilities. Trump has not only promoted the leadership of a tyrant and menace like Vladimir Putin, but he has welcomed Russian meddling in the current U.S. election. He has alternatively forgiven then defended Russia’s invasion of Crimea and employed advisors with close ties to the Russian president and his cronies. Trump has spoken so cavalierly about the use of nuclear weapons, including a repeated willingness to use them against terrorists, that it has become clear he understands little if anything about America's nuclear policies — not to mention the moral, legal, and human consequences of such actions. He has embraced the use of torture and the violation of international law against it. He has suggested he would ignore America’s treaty obligations and would only conditionally support allies in need. He has repeatedly insulted Mexico and proposed policies that would inflame and damage one of America’s most vital trading relationships with that country.

Trump has played into the hands of terrorists with his fearmongering, with his sweeping and unwarranted vilification of Muslims, and by sensationalizing the threat they pose. He has promised to take punitive actions against America’s Pacific trading partners that would be devastating to the world economy and in violation of our legal obligations. He has dismissed the science of climate change and denied its looming and dangerous reality. He has promoted a delusional and narcissistic view of the world, one in which he seems to feel that the power of his personality in negotiations could redirect the course of other nations, remake or supplant treaties, and contain those tyrants he does not actually embrace.

He has repeatedly denigrated the U.S. military — its leadership, service members, veterans, and the families who stand behind them. He has also derided the intelligence community. Many of the most prominent Republican national security and foreign-policy specialists have repudiated him publicly. Indeed, he is not simply seen as a dangerous candidate by members of the Democratic Party, but virtually no single credible GOP foreign-policy advisor has joined his team. This is because Trump either undercuts or has placed himself in opposition to the best foreign-policy traditions of the Republican Party and to the standards and ideals of every GOP administration in modern history.

There are other reasons to oppose Trump. He has repeatedly demonstrated a complete disregard for America’s most important values, from tolerance to respect for the rule of law. He has treated the press with derision, demeaning individual reporters, and his campaign has employed exclusionary policies that targeted specific news organizations, suggesting a complete disregard for the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. He has shown such a complete disregard for the truth that he has arguably done more than any other single individual to seek to usher in a new and unwelcome post-fact era in America’s political debate. That is not just odious but if it becomes more accepted could compromise and undercut governance in the United States for generations to come. His proposed policies on immigration and for dealing with Muslims in America show scorn for the Fourth Amendment. Based on a lifetime of statements and actions, Donald Trump has revealed himself to be a racist and, again and again, a misogynist. Throughout this election he has cynically embraced the support of white supremacists and anti-Semites.

He would therefore put at risk our way of life, our freedoms, and our alliances. His reckless behavior has already undermined America’s standing internationally. His proposed embrace of some bad actors and his provocations toward others, his dangerous views on the use of weapons of mass destruction, his failure to understand how the global economy works, his lack of appreciation for the importance of alliances, and his temperamental defects all suggest that were he to claim the Oval Office, he would be a destabilizing force that would undercut American leadership instantly and for generations to come. His spotty track record as a businessman compounds these flaws further still.

Indeed, we are not the first to say it, but Trump is the worst major-party candidate this republic has ever produced.

[...]

Igotadose

BoatMad wrote: »

The nightmare for the GOP is staring it in the face, the weakest democratic candidate in decades , following on a even weaker ineffectual presidency , is going to beat the official republican candidate.

None of this should come as a surprise.

Once the GOP sold out to the teabaggers, its future as a minority party was sealed.
A political strategy around repealing a health care law, never passing any significant legislation in Congress, endless racist dogwhistles and lies from the party's official media mouthpiece, leads to a wealthy demagogue, one who successfully channels the hate-filled rhetoric that makes up the tGOP platform, becoming the nominee and a complete implosion once the real details of the candidate come to light.

Losing the Senate is looking more likely by the day, 538's calling it 57% chance, despite the retreat from Hair Furor.

Wouldn't it have been a much more interesting race if Romney were the nominee, but his wife's sick and he's got some character and did not run.

PopePalpatine

robindch wrote: »

"I'll appoint a special prosecutor to put you in jail."

No wonder he idolises Putin.

recedite

Ahh, so much love....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq_ZosSy_9I

BoatMad

robindch wrote: »

"I'll appoint a special prosecutor to put you in jail."

At this stage, I can't help but wonder if Clinton went light on Trump so that he wouldn't lose the debate badly - if he had, there'd be a lot more pressure for him to resign his candidacy.

Anyhow, the latest in a long string of publications to break with tradition and reject Trump is Foreign Policy who published a strongly-worded condemnation of Trump and all he stands for. Oddly, they left out Trump's warning that he may reject the result of the election if he loses.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/10/09/foreign-policy-endorses-hillary-clinton-for-president-of-the-united-states/

A fine summary and a summation of the terrible state of the GOP

robindch

robindch wrote: »

"I'll appoint a special prosecutor to put you in jail."

At this stage, I can't help but wonder if Clinton went light on Trump so that he wouldn't lose the debate badly - if he had, there'd be a lot more pressure for him to resign his candidacy.

Anyhow, the latest in a long string of publications to break with tradition and reject Trump is Foreign Policy who published a strongly-worded condemnation of Trump and all he stands for. Oddly, they left out Trump's warning that he may reject the result of the election if he loses.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/10/09/foreign-policy-endorses-hillary-clinton-for-president-of-the-united-states/

Though I am genuinely concerned that of 300m people they managed to end up with these two; I would be far more concerned with the optics and precedent that Hillary getting a 'walk' would set.

For better or for worse, the GOP and Trump have to see this one out imo.

Hotblack Desiato

"I believe that Hillary Clinton will set a standard in this country that will lead to more sexual assaults against women because she will be setting an anti-biblical agenda."
-- former Minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachmann

BoatMad

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

"I believe that Hillary Clinton will set a standard in this country that will lead to more sexual assaults against women because she will be setting an anti-biblical agenda."
-- former Minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachmann

Bachman, known as a stable and reasonable person !!!, whereas , arguably she is one of the prime examples why the GOP is in such a state as it is in

BoatMad

For better or for worse, the GOP and Trump have to see this one out imo.

well the GOP is already fracturing

you have to ask , will the GOP come out better if Trump resigned and they picked up the pieces, arguably they would improve their Senate and House votes

if they follow this op the presumed grave, the destruction of the republican vote will be impressive and disastrous for perhaps two terms at the very least

The wise motto of " cut your losses" might be now more appropriate then ever

Qs

They would kill their senate and house votes if they ousted Trump now. His supporters would crucify them.

oscarBravo

Qs wrote: »

They would kill their senate and house votes if they ousted Trump now. His supporters would crucify them.

It's lose-lose. Any candidate who stands by him will be rejected by the voters who are disgusted by him; any candidate who repudiates him will be rejected by his supporters.

It's hard to feel any great sympathy for the GOP, mind. The rise of Trump is an inevitable consequence of their dog-whistling.

BoatMad

Qs wrote: »

They would kill their senate and house votes if they ousted Trump now. His supporters would crucify them.

assuming they vote in the first place of course

robindch

oscarBravo wrote: »

The rise of Trump is an inevitable consequence of their dog-whistling.

Three men have been arrested in Kansas and charged with domestic terrorism in a federal court for planning to blow up an apartment complex which housed Somali immigrants.

http://www.kwch.com/content/news/Federal-officials-to-announce-arrests-in-major-investigation-397095961.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/14/us/mosque-attack-thwarted-kansas/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/10/15/it-will-be-a-bloodbath-inside-the-kansas-militia-plot-to-ignite-a-religious-war/
http://www.wsj.com/articles/feds-charge-3-kansas-militia-members-with-plotting-to-bomb-muslims-1476484668

While the three men called themselves "Crusaders" and openly targeted muslims, no article mentions their religion, if any.

The court docket makes for informative, if unpleasant, reading.

PopePalpatine

Don't you just love a guy who dishes out insults and yet whines "such a nasty woman" when he's losing the debate?

robindch

David French, lawyer and staff writer for the conservative National Review, writes how pro-Trump supporters targeted him after he announced that he wasn't going to vote for Trump:

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/441319/donald-trump-alt-right-internet-abuse-never-trump-movement

recedite

robindch wrote: »

Three men have been arrested in Kansas and charged with domestic terrorism in a federal court for planning to blow up an apartment complex which housed Somali immigrants.
The court docket makes for informative, if unpleasant, reading.

robindch wrote: »

David French, lawyer and staff writer for the conservative National Review, writes how pro-Trump supporters targeted him after he announced that he wasn't going to vote for Trump:
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/441319/donald-trump-alt-right-internet-abuse-never-trump-movement

If you are waiting for somebody to post here in defence of these white supremacist fringe groups, you'll be waiting a long time.
Just because they are likely to be Trump supporters does not mean Trump will support them.
Similarly, its a safe bet to assume that any Al Quaeda or IS supporters in the US will be voting Clinton, but it would be unfair to characterise all Clinton supporters as Islamic terrorists.

Water John

What is most disturbing is that DT has unleashed this knowing the consequences. He is like Boris Johnson, a naked opportunist.

robindch

recedite wrote: »

If you are waiting for somebody to post here in defence of these white supremacist fringe groups, you'll be waiting a long time.

I'm not expecting anybody to post in support of them - I'd like to think that the A+A posterhood is made of better stuff

The issue of dog-whistling on the edge of violence, as Trump does, is best summarized by former NSA director Michael Hayden:

Michael Hayden wrote:

[...] you get to a certain point in this business, you’re not just responsible for what you say, you are responsible for what people hear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBPaSBEB5c4

PopePalpatine

Another day, another Hair Furor f*ck-up.

BoatMad

this is now a race to prevent a general republican meltdown, The senate is easy transferred to the Dems, the house slightly less easy

silverharp

:pac:

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

recedite

Who'd have thought that Michael Moore would ever vote Republican.
Are the audience completely gobsmacked, or just in a very quiet mood?

PopePalpatine

Trump is revealed as an investor in Energy Transfer Partners and Phillips 66, respectively an operator and a sizeable shareholder in the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Water John

All the makings of a Berlusconni.

Hotblack Desiato

Except Berlusconi is smart as well as nasty