Trump officially lost his chance of being president today

[Laura PourMeADrink]

Last edited Sat Mar 12, 2016, 11:45 PM - Edit history (1)

He was handed a golden opportunity on a silver platter.

He could have:
denounced violence in any shape or form,
talked about tolerance,
called for ALL people to join his cause
apologized for his tough guy behavior, he meant no harm
welcomed the opposition, let them speak
denounced bigotry in all forms


But, he doubled down. Stupid, stupid move Donald !!

He actually mocked Bernie for the time he let people take the mike. As weakness.
When he actually shut down the whole event.

I read there's a voting constituency of pragmatic, any-establishments who were torn between Bernie and Trump. Guess what, you lost them.

ON EDIT AFTER KC: I have watched this man (in the background while working from home) for months. When I wrote this - I thought - business brainiac - why isn't he smart enough to look at what he is throwing away. After tonight - I am 100% convinced, that the man is turning insane - literally.

[CurtEastPoint]

1. All this does is embolden and inflame his supporters further.

[onecaliberal]

2. That's exactly right. Read a few Twitter threads and was shocked.

The hate and bigotry.

[lame54]

7. but he already has their votes...

they can't vote twice

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. That's true - thought the trumps were good strategists - big

picture - total fail here.

[Blue_Adept]

45. They infect others, however.

And the next generation as well that ends up viewing it as acceptable.

[lame54]

68. I agree that damage is being done...

But he won't be pres

[ohnoyoudidnt]

79. That's okay. He only has so many of them.

I see his continued behavior costing him independent voters, making some Republicans stay home, and making people who don't usually bother to vote to show up and vote against him.

[marions ghost]

3. I think you're right

--I hope some of the more rational "anti-establishments" who had been leaning tRump got a good picture of what he's like when things get rough. And they look elsewhere...

[MowCowWhoHow III]

4. Hmmmmm

[DCBob]

5. Yeah, I believe this incident will hurt him.

It confirmed the fears of "normal" Republicans. Of course his hard core supporters will just be more hard core but the vote on Tuesday could be affected. If this stops him from taking Ohio and Florida they have a chance to take this to a contested convention.. then who knows what could happen.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. It's still amazing to me that he is not smart enough to get that he

really did have a chance. This is where his ego is getting in the way of good strategic thinking.

You are right - not the incident, but his reaction, will deepen the rift between his supporters and supporters of other GOP candidates.

Holy crap, the convention will be a madhouse

[asjr]

62. I do not think Trump really wants to be president. He is going to get out of the way now

and step back and watch what happens. He will tell us mea culpa and let the others--Cruz, Rubio, etc fight for the job of presidency. He knows he would make a lousy president and only stepped in to make trouble. Maybe I am off base but truly that is how I feel. Now the others can take their turns talking with bad words about Hillary Clinton. I bet Cruz will beat Rubio to let himself make trouble.

[graegoyle]

69. I only disagree with you on some details.

He thinks he would be YUUUGE! as president. But he doesn't want to be the actual president with the demands the position has. He'll put out another book and mention how YUUUUGE! he would have been.

[truegrit44]

73. I have said all along that Trump does not

want to be president, he just wants all the attention he is getting. I can't believe this ass would want to be held hostage in the White House for 4 years, having to follow protocol and the restrictions it involves. No way would he want that life style. He just wants to cause this huge uproar before he finds a way to bow out at the last minute.

But he will cause huge damage to this country before he goes..........

[3catwoman3]

89. He would love the title.

No way in hell he wants the job. Way too demanding.

Plus, he would spend all his time demeaning and striking back at everyone who criticized him and have no time for all the actual work a president has to do.

[Dustlawyer]

6. This is why Bernie would trounce Trump!

Many of Trumps supporters are turned off by the xenophobia, the just want the Establishment out, they will switch to Bernie! Hillary would force them to stay with the hateful orange man!

[oberliner]

10. Either one should beat him

He will have nearly zero support among non-whites.

[RT_Fanatic]

47. Ben Carson

LOL

[oberliner]

9. It's actually the complete opposite

This will be the greatest thing that ever happened to his campaign. It will lead to more and stronger support. He will do very well on Tuesday and will secure the nomination relatively quickly.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. We'll see Tue. I agree it will harden his supporters - just do zero to gain more. nt

[oberliner]

16. It will soon be a two person race between Trump and Cruz

Lord help us all.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

18. Entertaining, Appalling, Gross, Scary, Sad - all wrapped up together nt

[oberliner]

19. Cruz might be even worse than Trump

In fact, I am pretty confident that he would be.

[griloco]

39. in the sense that Mao was worse than Hitler...

[earthside]

24. This turns Trump into a hero for Trumpians.

For Trump supporters nothing could be greater evidence that he is the leader they want than the fact that he can elicit this kind of action from his detractors.

Indeed, I actually think yesterday's protest probably sealed the deal for 'The Donald'.

Rubio and Cruz only dream that they could be so controversial as to be protested in those numbers.

[oberliner]

29. Agreed

It will embolden his supporters.

[earthside]

31. Already on Facebook

An image with this message:

"Trump should have called his Chicago rally a "job fair" ... none of those idiots would have shown up."

I am all for the protest, but in the topsy-turvy election of 2016, yesterday's event was a gift to Trump and his supporters as far as the GOP nomination is concerned.

[840high]

63. It will.

[Old Crow]

64. Agreed. Most in this thread have no idea how dangerous Trump is. (N/T)

[StoneCarver]

72. Trump is not dangerous

He is a bully and a dick but he's a rational actor. Cruze is the scary one. Cruze would take us to very bad places. We lived through Jessie Ventura. Ventura had the chance to make a third party but made it all about himself just like Trump will. What a waste.
stonecarver

[Old Crow]

74. Wish I could agree with you, but I can't.

And I'm aware that your take on this situation is in alignment with Jimmy Carter's view. I absolutely agree that Ted Cruz is a dangerous ideologue. I revile the man and think he'd do a lot of harm. But pace Jimmy Carter, I find Trump even more dangerous. Why? Because the harm a leader can do is largely dependent on how much ugly energry he can stir up among the populace. Trump has tapped a bigoted, racist, neofascist nerve among a large swath of America and he seems determined to harness it for his own ends. This is something I haven't seen in a presidential candidate in my lifetime.

I guess it's evidence of how debased the Republican party has become that they have at least two people running for the presidency that should never, in a million years, be let anywhere near the White House.

[Hoyt]

11. I think a lot of white wingers would support Trump's version of apartheid. He'll attract votes

for this. Throw in a pledge for universal healthcare, increased Social Security, higher minimum wage, Nationalism, etc., who knows how many Independent and even Democrats he'll attract.

[Volaris]

71. I wonder very seriously if white racists would back legit

Economic reforms (universal healthcare, etc) as long as they could be openly racist and have that be politically acceptable?

[ladjf]

12. The question is are there enough sadistic barbarians in America

to elect Trump President? I don't think so.

[Old Crow]

66. Unfortunately, I disagree.

What you are seeing now, at the rallies, are the Trump supporters who are either shameless or who are happy to be seen supporting a demagogue. What you won't see until the election results come in is the sizable number of people who didn't want to tell a polster or their friends that they support Trump, but who pull the Trump lever in the privacy of the voting booth.

Trump will be difficult to beat.

[ryan_cats]

14. Will

Will they protest Trump's inauguration as well? Congratulations, the SJW's passion for a cause, any cause, will ensure a Trump win but at least they'll feel good about themselves. They should go back to using the talking stick and mic checks.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

17. too early...what is SJW? duh. Speaking of inauguration - I actually

dreamed the other night - that Trump wouldn't have a dignified, historic inauguration speech like all presidents do. He was on the mall talking about his water and hotels and big hands

[starroute]

30. SJW=Social Justice Warrior -- used as an insult by right-wingers

Killer Mike calls himself a social justice warrior. They're the people who are fighting for equality on every front.

But the right wing has attempted to reduce the term to a label for people whose activism is confined to complaining about sexist depictions of women on comic book covers, with the result that "SJW" has become an all-purpose insult in certain circles.

Basically, anybody who uses it here is asking to be ignored.

[LiberalElite]

84. and this one added a swipe at Occupy Wall Street with the

"mic check" mention.

[Warren Stupidity]

20. No he didn't.

His base is eager for a fight. The republican establishment either gets on board with Trump or gives (the democratic nominee) Clinton the presidency.

[debunction.junction]

48. Yes, his base is eager for a fight. All they know is building themselves up by tearing others down.

After years of listening to all of the hate and intolerance on right wing talk radio, why would we expect anything different?

My concern at this point is what sort of retaliation can we expect from the Chicago incident. I would like to think that cooler heads will prevail, but am not going to hold my breath.

[rhett o rick]

21. The grass-roots in both Parties are revolting against the corrupt culture of the Establishment.

The Establishment is bipartisan. I do believe that some anti-Establishment Republicans will support Sanders in the General but never, ever support Clinton.

Those that don't want a repeat of 2000 shouldn't support the DLC candidate. The hubris of the Party Elite did us in in 2000 and unless we stop them, they will do us in again.

[FLPanhandle]

22. I disagree, it was a smart move

He is trying to win the Republican nomination right now, not the presidency.

This will make him more popular and, now, he is a champion of order vs. protesters.

This will win him primary votes.

It was a smart move.

[Kip Humphrey]

23. He can do nothing else. He's a psychopath.

[AngryOldDem]

25. Don't think so.

In fact, I think he'll probably win big on Tuesday.

That's why he did this. To incite his base. It will work. He will NEVER, EVER denounce ANYTHING that he thinks will help him in the end.

The response to Chicago was classic Trump: People are angry. They're broke, out of work, and scared. Never mind the fact that his demagoguery fans the flames and makes it okay to punch people out, just like in the good old days.

Make America great again! Use fists, if necessary.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

38. Well maybe it will could be a wash. Think the Trump supporters are

made up of two types - the pure bigots (yes, who will be incited) and the more moderate types - like I call them Joe six packs. They are not driven by hate - but driven by "the government" not listening to them. jobs, wages, etc. I have met plenty of them - pretty much average people.

This, to me, is where he is screwing up - if I can play make believe Trump strategist. Everyone is saying he has a ceiling. If, he denounced - at least in a lukewarm way - toeing the line between his two constituencies - he would get more primary votes and set himself up better for the general.

[Metric System]

26. Don't underestimate Trump's appeal. Unfortunately this will probably energize his supporters.

[CanonRay]

27. You're not "thinking" like one of his supporters

I know that's probably impossible for you, but they see this as bold leadership, toughness in the face of America deteriorating in an onslaught of "mud people". This will only harden their love for him. I know. It's nuts.

[gwheezie]

28. I think this is a win for trump in the short term

I don't know how it plays out for the GE. I think Trump can win a GE, no matter if he runs against Bernie or Hillary.

[jalan48]

32. Imagine all the mini-Trumps that are being spawned.

He may lose this round but let's see where we are in four years.

[Cryptoad]

35. With Another Democrat

in the White House and changes to SCOTUS that will bring forth, the mini-Trumps will be nipped at the bud!

[jalan48]

41. I hope you're right.

Hitler actually spent time in prison for his political activities in the 1920's only to rise to power in the 1930's. Trump's ideas are what scare me because others will run with them.

[lunatica]

33. The violence will lead to more violence

The people who are Trump supporters want violence. Once it starts it will then be OK and more of those immensely angry people will feel liberated to commit more violence.

Don't be surprised if guns come into play soon.

[leftyladyfrommo]

36. Yes. He can't shut up.

His support depends on rabble rousing. That's what is attracting all those violence prone people.

I keep thinking his support will just die down and he will go away but it's not happening. This is some really scary shit.

[watoos]

34. Trump shutting down the rally

did something else. The big plum is Ohio. If Trump wins Florida and Ohio it's supposed to be game over. Ohio is the closest race. When Trump shut the rally down the prime time town hall for Kasich also got shut down. It was a win/win for Trump. He gets to play the victim card, blame Bernie protesters, and shut down Kasich's town hall.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

43. And, I did hear too that everyone KNEW there would be trouble in Chgo

for many hours before it happened.

[Bestuserever]

37. People have been claiming he will lose his chance at POTUS 10,000 times

Unfortunately it hasn't panned out yet

[Old Crow]

67. Exactly. The establishment and the pundits have been...

... in a state of denial for the past nine months. How long will it take before they wake up and realize that horrible economic policy and Fox News propaganda have made many people in this country eager to elect a neofascist demagogue?

Many will continue to deny the possiblity of a Trump presidency until the man--God forbid--is in the White House.

[randr]

40. He also just acknowledged that Bernie is the real champion

of civil discourse and the real threat to his campaign.

[Johnny2X2X]

42. White Supremacist

Trump is a full on out of the closet White Supremacist. There is nothing partisan about that statement. His rallies are basically Klan tallies where half the audience are Klan members and the other half are OK with going to a tally with Klan members.

The non white supremacist parts of the Republican Party do not support Trump.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

44. I don't really believe that. He may be playing one - but I don't think

he is one.

[3catwoman3]

57. Which is even worse, IMO.

Bad enough to actually think that way. Far more reprehensible to fake such reprehensible beliefs in order to stir up hostility.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

83. I agree 100%

[Paladin]

46. Never underestimate the stupidity and violence-prone nature of Trump's supporters. (nt)

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

49. Trump seems to be running with George Wallace's playbook. nt

[yourpaljoey]

50. He will still be the nominee and he will best Hillary with ease

We BETTER see that ALL the votes are counted in this Primary... Hill is unelectable

[DawgHouse]

51. Sadly, I think it's the opposite.

[GoldenMean]

52. Drumpf's wall

From now on getting in to a T.rump rally will be like getting into klan rally.
Bigger, meaner, bouncers, profiling and high grading, before the "lucky" get to go inside and pledge their loyalty to the master of disaster.
If the human Mucinex orange phlegm gets anywhere near where I live, I will do all I can to "Stomp the Trump"

[fbc]

53. Thanks to Bernie supporters!!!

Bernie chants start around 30 seconds in.

[SDJay]

54. Disagree.

He gets to be the victim now.

At every turn he stuns me, because before every turn I think there's no way he could ever be more despicable. Then he does it again.

I've never seen anything like it.

[asiliveandbreathe]

55. I am beginning to think the good people, who

just kicked trump out of Chicago, have brought war vets and generals to comment - as one General has stated, an order to harm families of terrorists would go unheaded due to it being an unlawful act and against the Geneva Convention...as well, Jon Soltz, very well stated observation TRUMPS KRYPTONITE..

Finally, when the many voices come out against hate and bigotry will we begin to see the wheels of justice turn to the good....

http://www.votevets.org/press/trumps-kryptonite-members-and-veterans-of-the-military


and Jim Wallis -

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/trumps-islamophobia-must_b_9442520.html

[Herman4747]

56. THAT'S BAD NEWS FOR HILLARY!

TRUMP'S THE ONLY ONE SHE WOULD LIKELY BEAT!!

[gordianot]

58. I have thought from the start Trump is on some sort of suicide mission.

He really does not want to be President and all of this has some potential financial benefit.

[noamnety]

59. Hitler Grandma just became the face of his campaign

That won't deter the people who support him because, hey, racism.

And yes, I absolutely agree, the independents who were supporting him because he's anti-establishment while looking the other way at the racism have to come to terms with that image as their mascot.

[flamingdem]

60. S'true as Trump says

He can't pivot, doesn't have the skill.

[Lil Missy]

61. I agree with those who think it will only make him stronger. I think it was intentional too. n/t

[Trust Buster]

65. I've been waiting for a Trump to appear for two decades.

I'm sick and tired of slick Republicans getting away with their dog whistling for decades. Trump and his followers merely represent the unvarnished ugliness that is the Republican Party. That's why the Republican Party is pooping their pants over this guy. Last night sealed his nomination IMO. That's how I want it. The shadow saw Trump and now this nation will have six more months of Trump and the lie that is the Republican Party will be totally out in the open. (Drop the Mic).

[nadinbrzezinski]

70. If this was normal politics, you would be correct

this is not normal politics

[davidn3600]

75. His supporters will only double down now

Trump is pissing off the people his supporters are very angry at.... establishment, political correctness, Muslims, immigrants, Democrats, etc...

[gollygee]

76. He never really had a chance but I suppose he's reduced his probability even more

There is a certain percentage of people who will vote for him, and they love this stuff and it will solidify their votes. But most people won't be willing to go there, even a lot of Republicans.

This might have affected some Republicans who woul generally plug their nose and vote for him over letting Bernie or Hillary get the presidency.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

82. If you watched him in KC tonight - he was utterly bordering on

insanity

[Cleita]

77. I think he should be arrested for inciting violence.

None of this is happening to this extent at the other candidate rallies, even the ones with thousands attending.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

86. Agree. But, it's not the number of people - it's the opposition crashing, no?? nt

[Cleita]

87. The other candidates have had rallies and some of them into the thousands

even 10,000 in one space. There have been very few minor incidents at any of them. It's only his rallies that seem to get people steamed up and I have listened to him egg them on. He needs to be arrested for inciting violence. Every thing he says is to divide factions with hate speech. He is endangering the citizens of the places he goes to.

[VMA131Marine]

78. Assuming he's the nominee, his followers are going to riot when he loses the election

He does not lose gracefully.

[backscatter712]

80. I wish that were true.

If enough Americans were paying attention, and knew the dangers, Trump's candidacy would have sunk a long time ago.

I fear that the latest scuffles in Chicago and elsewhere will just fire up the authoritarian right, and they will go even more apeshit.

I'd like to think that Trump's level of support in the US has a ceiling, and that ceiling is, at minimum, below 50%, but if enough people get apathetic or cynical and don't vote, Trump could actually win.

We need to be working to keep Trump out of the White House, by any means necessary. Yes, I can't stand Hillary, but I will hold my nose and vote for her, if only to keep Trump out.

[Hydra]

81. I'm sorry, those are the values of the Left

Not the Right. Our party establishment doesn't even believe in values you listed.

No, Trump may flame out because of something else, but it won't be his lack of basic humanity that makes him unelectable- he is the epitome of everything America worships in the era of greed.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

85. Guess I was hoping that there one day could be a person with a mix of our core values, and

someone unbeholden, that had the business acumen and depth to actually make what we want - happen. Four more years of having everything we want just sitting on the shelf is depressing.

[Hydra]

91. That's why we're having a fight over core values now

It isn't a matter of having someone who can make the changes- I could do it if I had to. No, Obama touched on it when he talked about the hunger for change.

We need people to want and believe in things that help everyone. That's all it would take...but the Reagan revolution/coup was too successful, and it wound up rotting our own party out from the inside as well. Things that help other people are seen as evil, and the excuse that we have no money for things like universal healthcare or housing for everyone is believed by too many now.

We've spent 1 trillion dollars on the F-35 program...and it's not even finished!

We've let the GOP and the RW in our party control the dialogue, and from there to control what policies were "possible." All we need to do is change that dialogue...but no one currently in power is just going to let us do that.

[L. Coyote]

88. One word, Alzheimer's

He has our sympathy. But not our love

[Ken Burch]

90. Never assume that. There's a huge block of people who back the guy

who will never deviate from supporting him. It's a cult as much as a campaign.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

92. Yup- agree he is solidifying his support.

On MoJoe this morning - they all talked about it. For every vote he is gaining (or solidifying) in the Republican party, he is losing 3 potential suburbanite indie/ cross-over votes. And that Trump is ignoring the long game.

Maybe I am looking at this all too traditionally. Typically, candidates want more voters - outside their sphere. Perhaps Trump's long game is this: In the general, his sole goal will be to "take out" Hillary or Bernie like he has done to all his opponents now. In other words, trash and wound them so badly that LESS people vote overall but he will have more.