Donny Deutsch made a valid point about Trump "possibly" making a "populist pivot"...

[Miles Archer]

It came out of Rev. Al's remarks on Morning Joe about Trump playing to his base, and Scarborough's remarks about Trump insisting on playing "the politics of subtraction" versus "the politics of addition."

Deutsch floated the idea of Trump making a "pivot" into basically acting like an adult human being, so voters would say "THERE is the "presidential" guy we've been waiting for!"

He wouldn't have to SUSTAIN it past November 2020.

Based on his past performances, I don't think he could sustain it past 24 hours. Every time he's made "solemn" or "mature" remarks, he's back to racist and misogynist and immature ranting before the second shoe drops.

Of course, he's propped up by vile snakes whose sole purpose is to perpetuate his "brand," so don't be surprised if the ATTEMPT to shift perception becomes part of his "strategy." Right now, he is playing straight to the base. That means holding onto every single MAGAt and creating new ones....not exactly the most "winning" of "winning strategies."

[Ilsa]

1. We need to keep stressing, "Watch what he does, not what he says."

His actions as pres certainly are not populist.

[Miles Archer]

4. Deutch said that too...not in those words, but he said it.

"THIS is the guy who did the tax cuts for the 1%...THIS is the guy who wants to take health care from millions."

He's also the guy who is plotting to take SNAP benefits away from 3 million people, and while he's doing that, Mick Mulvaney is quietly working behind the scenes on re-defining the poverty index so that the Republican dream of gutting Social Security can become a reality.

My purpose in posting isn't to suggest that he can get away with a "pivot"...simply to suggest that the short-term "strategy" Deutsch laid out is absolutely devious enough to appeal to Trump, and his helper weasels like Brad Parscale.

[C_U_L8R]

2. It's hard to erase several recent years of awful behavior

Maybe it keeps a few half-hearted maga'ts from leaving the fold but Trump has almost zero ability to expand his base. Doesn't mean he won't try... with transparent tactics like suddenly standing up for an arrested rapper.

[moondust]

3. He's not that good at acting.

Old zebra has the stripes of a lying con man.

[Miles Archer]

7. Agreed 100%, but he thinks he is.

What was the first thing George W Bush did after getting slammed for his Katrina response?

He went to New Orleans and posed for photos of him hugging people.

Same principle.

[Hortensis]

5. Trump IS a RW nationalist populist leader. No pivot to it,

this IS how RW populist movements look and behave.

But a big oh-brother. That the Republican Party needs Trump to behave "normal-president" and even planned his electoral strategy around it is totally predictable. But he's been completely unable to even approach "normal-president" already. Trump's wired "cocked and loaded" and uncontrollable even by himself.

“I'm not looking for war, and if there is, it'll be obliteration like you’ve never seen before."

[JHB]

6. I think he could sustain it for 24 hours... if he's sedated.

48 hours? Unlikely.
72 hours?

[Bettie]

8. I don't think he's capable of

acting like an adult human being.

Plus, the MAGATs would hate it.

[faymer7]

9. Too late for that. He is still guilty of impeachable offenses and crimes.

Any pivot would be fake and ALL of the world would know it. It is up to the media to keep his crimes before the people and stop allowing the real "fake news" outlets to get away with their lies (FOX, Rush, Hannity etc.)

[True Blue American]

10. I keep remembering the little,old lady who said,

“ I did not know Trump did all of that, I only listen to Conservative News!”

Look at this! The same girl who has been behind Trump in many of his rallies! Found on Google.

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/11/conservative-college-women-university-of-north-carolina-republicans

[uponit7771]

15. +1, even people who'll vote for him again know he's scum

[JI7]

11. in 2016 Shortly before Election day, he stopped using Twitter as much and did not say too much

the idiots in the media started giving him credit for this shit .

[watoos]

12. We're talking about a right wing narrative again.

Mission accomplished.

[Miles Archer]

14. Not really.

If you're implying that I posted "right wing talking points," I take exception to that.

The point of posting was not to high-five this strategy or to even remotely suggest that it would work.

The point was to remain one step ahead of Trump and to draw attention to what is most likely his thought process.

My attitude toward the concept is cynical and astonished that he'd pull something like that, but I know he would, and I'd rather see it coming at a distance than be immersed in it when it happens.

I don't post right-wing talking points here. Period. It's your prerogative to disagree with my saying that. If you read everything I wrote, I think you'll see that I don't support Trump, I don't support the lock-step Republicans who prop him up, and I don't support the ploy that Deutsch laid out.

I don't know what "mission" you think I accomplished, but there was no "mission" intended.

[brush]

13. You're right. He won't be able to sustain it. He's who he is, a crude, nasty, low class racist who..

loves the attention his insults and chants bring him.

[SouthernProgressive]

16. Trump regularly relies on populist language.

He is on par with many populists throughout history. Populism, one of the most misunderstood concepts out there.