Trumps is in!

[Rajoo]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Former CIA director Michael Hayden believes there is a legitimate possibility that the U.S. military would refuse to follow orders given by Donald Trump if the Republican front-runner becomes president and decides to make good on certain campaign pledges.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...mes-president/

Trump will claim that he never said anything about torturing or killing families of terrorists. Then what?

[Dondilion]

Officer Corps have a tendency to fall in line, especially if there is a significant attack against the homeland.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

Officer Corps have a tendency to fall in line, especially if there is a significant attack against the homeland.

I don't entirely support your rather cynical view but it does occur to me that, if Trump were to be elected, al Qaeda or DAESH or both would pull out all the stops to create something on the order of 9/11 (but worse) to goad Trump (us) into doing all the horrible things he's talked about.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

Most definitely he does not want to elect Trump...Trump did not survive the litmus test: Trump says he wants to be an honest broker re any Israeli/Palestinian negotiation.

For Bloomy that is a big NO, NO.

Here it is.

1. Some Republican voters and independents hate Trump, but may not like the Democratic nominee much either. So some of the ones that would have voted Democratic anyway because they hate Trump will choose to vote for Bloomberg instead. Some Democratic votes are wedged off.

2. Some Democrats may not like the Democratic nominee, but would do a 'hold your nose' vote rather than vote for Trump. If there's a Bloomberg alternative some will desert the Democrat to vote for him. More Democratic voters wedged off.

3. I don't see many Trump voters deserting him to vote for Bloomberg. So Bloomberg's votes are going to mostly come from the anti-Trump blocs. Meanwhile Trump's ability to appeal to authoritarians will activate these tendencies among people who normally vote Democratic. Basically, Trump's ability to wedge off these Democrats is unchanged, while Bloomberg interferes with the Democrat's corresponding ability to wedge off Trump-hating Republicans.

Bloomberg is probably convincing himself he can get a plurality be putting together Republicans who hate Trump and Democrats who don't like their nominee. He's kidding himself. He'll come in third. But he'll wedge off lots of the anti-Trump vote from the Democrat, as well as some hold-your-nose Democrats. But he won't hurt trump much. So, that's how Trump could win.

[Rajoo]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

Here it is.

1. Some Republican voters and independents hate Trump, but may not like the Democratic nominee much either. So some of the ones that would have voted Democratic anyway because they hate Trump will choose to vote for Bloomberg instead. Some Democratic votes are wedged off.

2. Some Democrats may not like the Democratic nominee, but would do a 'hold your nose' vote rather than vote for Trump. If there's a Bloomberg alternative some will desert the Democrat to vote for him. More Democratic voters wedged off.

3. I don't see many Trump voters deserting him to vote for Bloomberg. So Bloomberg's votes are going to mostly come from the anti-Trump blocs. Meanwhile Trump's ability to appeal to authoritarians will activate these tendencies among people who normally vote Democratic. Basically, Trump's ability to wedge off these Democrats is unchanged, while Bloomberg interferes with the Democrat's corresponding ability to wedge off Trump-hating Republicans.

Bloomberg is probably convincing himself he can get a plurality be putting together Republicans who hate Trump and Democrats who don't like their nominee. He's kidding himself. He'll come in third. But he'll wedge off lots of the anti-Trump vote from the Democrat, as well as some hold-your-nose Democrats. But he won't hurt trump much. So, that's how Trump could win.

A very good post Don and here is how this applies to me.

I should vote for Hillary to prevent Trump from winning, not vote for Bloomberg since that would make Hillary lose to Trump, yet Hillary will be a rotten President. What a dilemma!

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by BeamOn

A very good post Don and here is how this applies to me.

I should vote for Hillary to prevent Trump from winning, not vote for Bloomberg since that would make Hillary lose to Trump, yet Hillary will be a rotten President. What a dilemma!

It's not clear to me that Hillary will be a bad president but I'm in no doubt whatsoever that Trump would be. Hillary would benefit hugely from Bill's wisdom and from her own experience as a First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State. Her problem is that I don't see her having any coattails at all.

Bernie, on the other hand, would have YUUUUGE coattails. Frighteningly, though, I think Trump could too.

[barbara]

Originally Posted by Boreas

It's not clear to me that Hillary will be a bad president but I'm in no doubt whatsoever that Trump would be. Hillary would benefit hugely from Bill's wisdom and from her own experience as a First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State. Her problem is that I don't see her having any coattails at all.



Bernie, on the other hand, would have YUUUUGE coattails. Frighteningly, though, I think Trump could too.

What do you mean by 'coattails' ?

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by Boreas

It's not clear to me that Hillary will be a bad president but I'm in no doubt whatsoever that Trump would be. Hillary would benefit hugely from Bill's wisdom and from her own experience as a First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State. Her problem is that I don't see her having any coattails at all.

Bernie, on the other hand, would have YUUUUGE coattails. Frighteningly, though, I think Trump could too.

I fear Hillary, because I feel at heart she is a Neocon.

[icenine]

Originally Posted by barbara

What do you mean by 'coattails' ?

Old slang for a Presidential winner to bring in members of his own party to the Senate and House so as to gain control of Congress. Bernie would not have too many as he is an independent.

Coattails may be a thing of the past anyway.

[nailer]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

Here it is.

1. Some Republican voters and independents hate Trump, but may not like the Democratic nominee much either. So some of the ones that would have voted Democratic anyway because they hate Trump will choose to vote for Bloomberg instead. Some Democratic votes are wedged off.

2. Some Democrats may not like the Democratic nominee, but would do a 'hold your nose' vote rather than vote for Trump. If there's a Bloomberg alternative some will desert the Democrat to vote for him. More Democratic voters wedged off.

3. I don't see many Trump voters deserting him to vote for Bloomberg. So Bloomberg's votes are going to mostly come from the anti-Trump blocs. Meanwhile Trump's ability to appeal to authoritarians will activate these tendencies among people who normally vote Democratic. Basically, Trump's ability to wedge off these Democrats is unchanged, while Bloomberg interferes with the Democrat's corresponding ability to wedge off Trump-hating Republicans.

Bloomberg is probably convincing himself he can get a plurality be putting together Republicans who hate Trump and Democrats who don't like their nominee. He's kidding himself. He'll come in third. But he'll wedge off lots of the anti-Trump vote from the Democrat, as well as some hold-your-nose Democrats. But he won't hurt trump much. So, that's how Trump could win.

In a Bloomberg/Clinton/Trump election I think Trump's Dorian Gray picture, which doesn't work on all, will slowly but surely lose its power. This will lose him votes he already has in hand and harm his ability to draw from the undecided. Against Clinton alone, Trump's hideous portrait's power remains in play. This is Bloomberg's chance at the brass ring. How can he resist?