This is one smart SOB

[Colonel Hogan]

He effectively argues against why even I thought Trump had little chance at re-election.

What have changed are the political fault lines that have driven the debate since the early 1980s. Until now, the ideological divides between the parties were largely differences around social issues, defense spending and trade, as well as tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. Today, the central issue has become populism as voters have moved away from the two political parties and increasingly self-identified as independents.

In 2016, Trump capitalized on this changing political environment. He consolidated the growing number of angry voters who felt let down by the people and institutions controlling power in the country. Trump’s support from these voters is personal, not ideological. That explains their willingness to stick with him despite his failures of leadership.

Since Trump’s inaugural address, his focus has been on maintaining his support among this loyal base rather than expanding it. As counterintuitive as it may seem, this could be a winning political strategy.

First, Trump knows that gaining the support of a majority of voters in a presidential election is not a requirement; it’s simply an aspiration. In fact, two out of the last three presidents were elected despite losing the popular vote.

Second, the continued decline in support for both political parties works to Trump’s advantage. The lack of voters’ faith in both parties increases the probability that there will be a major third-party candidate on the 2020 ballot. It will also lead to other minor-party candidates joining the presidential race. The multi-candidate field will further divide the anti-Trump vote, making it possible for him to get reelected simply by holding on to his current level of support.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-is-on-track-to-win-reelection/2017/10/06/91cd2af0-aa15-11e7-850e-2bdd1236be5d_story.html?undefined=&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

Forget the possibility of a MAJOR third party candidate. If anything like the author's speculation takes place, Democrats are in trouble.

It strikes me as an intriguing theory. What say you?

 

[islandman]

A third-party candidate - Flake or Kasich - might unite what passes as the Republican and Democrat middle today and take Trump to the cleaners.

Failing that, the Republicans are setting themselves up for a disastrous mid-term cycle, so even if the President is re-elected, he'll become the latest 'do-nothing' President.

 

[Rightguide]

He effectively argues against why even I thought Trump had little chance at re-election.



Forget the possibility of a MAJOR third party candidate. If anything like the author's speculation takes place, Democrats are in trouble.

It strikes me as an intriguing theory. What say you?

I agree. The writing was on the wall in 2016 and underscored with the Alabama primary that promoted Moore by a margin of ten unanticipated points over the establishment candidate. Democrats are indeed on thin ice as they no longer reflect the core values of the American voting majority with their promotions of far left solutions and policy.

 

[Adre]

Now is he smart enough to explain the point of this Presidency? Or a second term of it? Does such a point even exist?

 

[coachdb18]

He effectively argues against why even I thought Trump had little chance at re-election.



Forget the possibility of a MAJOR third party candidate. If anything like the author's speculation takes place, Democrats are in trouble.

It strikes me as an intriguing theory. What say you?

The major problem for Democrats, (and Republicans who do nothing more than give it lip service) are the aspirations for ever bigger and more important/invasive government, when government doesn't produce anything to support its appetite for 'more'. The appetite for more can only be fed by more taxes and a bigger deficit that devours more and more of those taxes just to support the interest payments on things borrowed. Our national debt will eventually reach a point, if unchecked, where the interest payment required eventually exceeds the revenues from taxation. It's all a big 'Bernie Madoff' scheme, only on a colossal scale. And as was seen in that debacle, when you promise people something, (and call it 'free'), and they find out it was a Ponzi scheme for which there was never a plan to make good on a return, people get a tad upset.

 

[ToucheAmore]

trump has zero chance of re-election and barely a chance of making it out of his first term.

the voters who abstained and created this mess are wiser now and won't let another shitfest like the current one happen again.

or maybe that's wishful thinking on my part idk.

 

[coachdb18]

trump has zero chance of re-election and barely a chance of making it out of his first term.

the voters who abstained and created this mess are wiser now and won't let another shitfest like the current one happen again.

or maybe that's wishful thinking on my part idk.

That's what we said about Obama having a snowballs chance in hell at getting reelected in view of his unconstitutional and impeachable overreaches too....

 

[jaF0]

What say you?

I say 'Rump will be dead, in prison, or exiled.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

He effectively argues against why even I thought Trump had little chance at re-election.



Forget the possibility of a MAJOR third party candidate. If anything like the author's speculation takes place, Democrats are in trouble.

It strikes me as an intriguing theory. What say you?

It is an interesting take and it might have some validity, but what is even more valid is the idea that the Progressive/Socialist Left enjoys too many voters in two few places and are so hostile towards anyone who refuses to embrace their ideas of living and governing that they make it near impossible to get their candidate elected in places where they do not dominate. That is one of the reasons we are seeing the increased use of the word Gerrymandering. They want the courts to undo the results of elections and hand over the gerrymandering process to them so that they can win elections...



http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2017/01/20/how_trump_won_--_conclusions_132846.html

http://www.thirdway.org/report/why-demography-does-not-equal-destiny

 

[Rightguide]

I say 'Rump will be dead, in prison, or exiled.

Probably ought to quit the LSD.

 

[EternalFantasies]

I spend many months growing hair on my fingers typing same thing, and more, about those who always were like that and went into the 'voting pool' once they saw the trump way, a different way etc.

Do they call me smart sob? nooooo....

But some data compiler from the washington post over a year later?

Yeaaa.. that's the WP!


http://mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Glee1.gif

Bouhouhouhou

 

[zipman]

Now is he smart enough to explain the point of this Presidency? Or a second term of it? Does such a point even exist?

His supporters don't care about that or truth or facts.

 

[EternalFantasies]

https://media.giphy.com/media/11vbOXkJHKxC6Y/giphy.gif

"an intreaguing theory" too?


http://mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Glee1.gif

 

[Rightguide]

Now is he smart enough to explain the point of this Presidency? Or a second term of it? Does such a point even exist?

The point is to take down the swamp and act in the lawful interests of ordinary Americans again.

 

[Wrmfd]

It's called "decentralization" and it means the downfall of statist and statism alike.

Once blockchain tech (true blockchain tech) penetrates, government bureaucracy - ALL THAT INFAMOUS RED TAPE - will be a thing of the past. Monstrous, repetitive, wasteful government agency networks? POOF - all gone.

ANYTHING that code can do better than government-employed humans means ALL those humans will be looking for other ways to waste time because code costs virtually nothing to employ in comparison, just as its productive efficiency is incomparably greater.

Codified law inserted into the blockchain will be NATURALLY, DIGITALLY interpreted TOTALLY OBJECTIVELY, each and every time, over and over again...

...which means SUBJECTIVE interpretation of LAW will soon be a thing of the past, too. Which will = no need of judges for most aspects of the law, meaning more quality judges for the really vital aspects of the law.

Bitcoin's blockchain is the code that's introduced this possibility to the world; Bitcoin was specifically created so EVERY INDIVIDUAL ON EARTH could be their very own banker without ANY need of any traditional financial institutions OR any government fiat money AT ALL. Consider how INDIVIDUALLY POWERFUL that decentralization makes every human who wishes to employ it.

It's that REVOLUTIONARY blockchain that makes 1 bitcoin right now = app $4,362, when just 7 years ago when bitcoin was first traded, it had no practical worth at all.

It's the blockchain, stupid.



BAD NEWS for LEMMINGS: you have to actually desire to be TOTALLY responsible for YOUR OWN PROPERTY and INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, instead of relying on Uncle Sugar and crony cousin Wall St. to "help" you...

Decentralization = self-government (in ways America's framers would gush over), and as history as shown consistently, the great, great majority of folks simply do not care to shoulder that individual responsibility.

 

[EternalFantasies]

The point is to take down the swamp and act in the lawful interests of ordinary Americans again.

A little NB:

As a theory. as a description of what happened, and how. Yes.

Now, what to do with it, is a different story.

It may continue as such, or, may be a trojan horse situation.

So far? It's only leaning to the former.


I'm keeping a careful eye on that one...

 

[coachdb18]

The point is to take down the swamp and act in the lawful interests of ordinary Americans again.

Americans who actually produce, and watch the ones who do not produce continually using the power of government to take from them for the sheer purpose of giving freebies to the lazy and the entitled, eventually say 'enough'. Democrats miss the point that conservatives aren't the bigots they wish they were, just tired of the robbery at their expense.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Americans who actually produce, and watch the ones who do not produce continually using the power of government to take from them for the sheer purpose of giving freebies to the lazy and the entitled, eventually say 'enough'. Democrats miss the point that conservatives aren't the bigots they wish they were, just tired of the robbery at their expense.

There is a conflict between a political philosophy based upon the self sacrifice of the individual for the benefit of others and the philosophy of self interest which argues that if I cannot take care of myself, how will I ever be able to help others; this is viewed as selfishness.

 

[Libsam]

Here's my prediction, and I've had this in my head for a few months now and have shared it with a few friends irl:

I think Trump's presidency is opening the door for Rand Paul. Technically he is a (R), but ideologically he is libertarian-ish.

Remember how the "tea party" was falsely demonized, and those cucks just took the beating? And the neo-con republicans didn't stand up for them? Welp, now we have a big bully in the white house dozing a path.

I can't wait to see who the next president will be!

 

[cowslinger64]

The point is to take down the swamp and act in the lawful interests of ordinary Americans again.

Lol.. omg, you actually believe that.


Like when he pardoned someone who had defied a court order? That sort of lawful pursuit?

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Rand Paul is too ideologically driven and unwilling to compromise.


In this, he reminds me of President Obama.


And I'm a Libertarian!





He tends to hold out for the perfect over the possible. No one is going to forget that he decided to keep Obamacare in place if he could not get his result.

 

[coachdb18]

There is a conflict between a political philosophy based upon the self sacrifice of the individual for the benefit of others and the philosophy of self interest which argues that if I cannot take care of myself, how will I ever be able to help others; this is viewed as selfishness.

The problem becomes one where the needy depend upon the productive to continue to feel the plan is fair. When the needy become abusive and demanding, and feeling they are entitled to that which they have in no way worked to produce or contribute, and those who produce are constantly getting a thumb in the eye from ingrates, that the tap begins to turn off, and those who formerly were quite willingly givers to the less productive begin to tell them to fuck off.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

The problem becomes one where the needy depend upon the productive to continue to feel the plan is fair. When the needy become abusive and demanding, and feeling they are entitled to that which they have in no way worked to produce or contribute, and those who produce are constantly getting a thumb in the eye from ingrates, that the tap begins to turn off, and those who formerly were quite willingly givers to the less productive begin to tell them to fuck off.

Agreed.


This is why charity should be voluntary and not a function of the Federal Government.


People begin to see it as their "right" to be taken care of and they give little thought as to where the money comes from, to witness, a blast from the past:

"Why are you here?"

"To get some money."

"What kind of money?"

"Obama money."

"Where's it coming from?

"Obama."

"And where did Obama get it?"

"I don't know... his stash, I don't know. I don't know where he got it from, but he's givin' it t'us to help us. We love him. That's why we voted for him... Obama! Obama!"

Originally posted by ByronInExile

 

[ToucheAmore]

The point is to take down the swamp and act in the lawful interests of ordinary Americans again.

hey you ignorant sonofabitch he hired people to drain the swamp and immediately fired them or they quit due to your hero's dumbshit and asinine behavior.

 

[Comshaw]

He effectively argues against why even I thought Trump had little chance at re-election.



Forget the possibility of a MAJOR third party candidate. If anything like the author's speculation takes place, Democrats are in trouble.

It strikes me as an intriguing theory. What say you?

Smart? Not really. Anyone with one good eye, half a brain and not blinded by ultra conservative or liberal view points could see that the vast majority of voters in the middle are fed up with the crazys on both sides.

There are a lot of us that hold view points from both sides of the arbitrary, imaginary but for some cast in stone philosophical political dividing line 'twixt the right and left. And that large patient group are starting to grow weary of the stupid ass way our country is being run.

Look up the Centrist Project sometime. I can't post a link but it's at centristprojerct dot org. It's time the middle took back the political high ground and sent the zealots from both extremes back where they belong, ignored, minimized and out of the limelight.

Comshaw