This Is Terribly Damaging For Trump

[DonViejo]

By JOSH MARSHALL Published SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 2:48 PM

This may go without saying for some. But I do not think that Democrats are giving Trump some help or throwing him a lifeline at the price of accomplishing something really critical in policy terms – protecting the Dreamers. I think that gets this exactly wrong. I think pressing Trump for this deal is doing immense damage to Trump. Indeed, the more successful it is, the greater the damage.

If this deal falls apart, it will have done Trump – or more specifically his relationship with his core constituency – immense damage. If it comes to fruition, the damage is even worse. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying his ‘base’ abandons him en masse and suddenly those approval numbers drop to zero. But this is very, very damaging for Trump, just as it when any politician casually betrays a key agenda item for his or her staunchest supporters.

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/this-is-terribly-damaging-for-trump

[Girard442]

1. The Deplorables were just reminded...

...what it means when someone is a loose cannon.

[sarge43]

7. He conned them. Why should they feel left out?

Welcome to reality, snowflakes.

[keithbvadu2]

10. Trump betrays everyone: The president has a long record as an unpredictable ally

‘Trump betrays everyone’: The president has a long record as an unpredictable ally

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-betrays-everyone-the-president-has-a-long-record-as-an-unpredictable-ally/2017/09/08/9cf64768-94a8-11e7-89fa-bb822a46da5b_story.html?utm_term=.ddeaa4bac688

[pressbox69]

2. Good.

[Alice11111]

3. I think in the long run it's damaging to getting DACA done

& other Dem objectives. Trump floated this test balloon, whether intentional or inadvertent, and his base made it clear that he would be crushed. Thus, he is less likely to do such deals. He walked the agreement back.

[Ligyron]

11. Until and unless his poll numbers start climbing as a result.

Other than the fact he's a racist, he could possibly turn liberal on some policy matters if he got The Love for it.

[Alice11111]

17. I suppose if he lost his base, he would flip. No compunctions,

either way. However, given that since the release of the agreements with dems, and the RW meltdown, he has doubled down on the wall, Charletsville, equal blame, ....

Pelosi once said, "not on my watch, referring to impeachment of GWB, " who seems almost benign now, but she also intimated, she would not be interested in impeaching DT for the same reason...we need to get on to the work of the country. I wonder if that has something to do with DT wanting to get to know her, be personable.

[kentuck]

4. Josh is pretty savvy about politics.

I wonder how much of his base would he have to lose to relieve the pressure off the Republicans running for office. The weaker Trump gets, the stronger the Republican Party gets.

[Alice11111]

18. Ironically, it could be true.

[bearsfootball516]

5. The biggest threat to Trump is not Mueller, or the Democratic party. It's his base.

This was a massive campaign promise. So far, his base has been pretty much unwavering. But if he were to allow dreamers to stay, it could cause the first real crack in his base and making voters who voted for him in 2016 wonder if they'll do so again in 2020.

Not that they would vote Democratic, but they would just stay home like they did with McCain and Romney.

[louis-t]

6. Drumpf thinks he is being smart.

He thinks he is way more popular than he really is. Dems will NEVER vote for him and if he loses his base he is toast.

[spanone]

8. trump lied thru his teeth to his base. he has no ideology. he has no preferences.

he's a 'gut' guy.

he can't remember his lies.

keep it up, don.

[JDC]

9. If he gets behind it

I full expect lots of trumpanzees say DACA is ok.

Hearing the likes of Ann Coulter, Dobb's, Hannity or Breitbart print pan him means nothing. These folks weild no power w/ the base - certainly not the power they think they have. It is all *45. hus cult following is the coat tails on which these bozos all ride.

[Wounded Bear]

12. What did they expect?

He played "You Can't Always Get What You Want" at every rally, didn't he?

[Whiskeytide]

13. Shhhhhh. They'll hear you ... n/t

...

[Honeycombe8]

14. As others say, he has a history of reneging on deals. He's already backtracking on this.

He says he's not granting amnesty or whatever. He's hearing the criticism and the use of the "A" word (amnesty).

Who knows if he'll even honor this deal.

[McCamy Taylor]

15. Dreamers deserve a break. Don't care if Trump helps them get it.

If, by some miracle, he decides that he no longer wants to dance with the ones who brought him (Russia and the fascists) that is a good thing--but he will have to do a whole hell of a lot more dancing with Dems to convince me that he has had a change of heart.

[The_jackalope]

16. Someone behind the scenes had a really bright idea

This post is entirely personal speculation. I apologize up front that it's thin on detail and a bit abstract. The plotline is this:

Somewhere out there in the twilight zone of political disruption operatives, a very bright someone or maybe a very small group of people hatched a plan. The plan's outcome would be a psychologically powered arrow that would wound both Trump and his base simultaneously. Being political operatives, the bright guys were connected through a chain of intermediaries to some very senior Democratic Congresspeople. As a result they were able to pitch the idea to politicians who could make decisions. They may have positioned the proposal as a sort of "Hail Mary" play.

The bright guys sold the idea to the pols. Those decision-makers then turned around and worked their Congressional relationships to enlist other Congresspeople and their support staff. When those people were on board, everybody sat down and brainstormed possible developments during the disruption op. When they had a handle on what would and could be required, they all rehearsed their opening parts - and the plan went into play.

The plan was really pretty simple. It involved a series of opportunistic or contrived interactions between prepared Democratic Congresspersons and Trump. Initially they would have used meetings on the regular calendar; after a while they probably requested a series of private meetings with The Don. During these encounters they would have used all the psych profiles that have been developed on him, to perform a set of psychological manipulations that would back Trump into agreeing to the Dreamer Deal. Essentially they played to his ego and inflated his sense of self-importance to the point that he forgot about his base momentarily, and agreed to the deal.

The deal was the arrow - simply being able to announce that there was a deal was a guaranteed strike. Once the news was on the wires, the deed was done - the betrayal had been made public. Now Trump is screwed with his base no matter what he does. Trump could be mortally wounded.

Now, this could be just a godawful lucky event chock full of fortunate coincidences, or somebody played this game to perfection. I like option #2, just for the sake of speculation. Kudos to the bright guys!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

19. Maybe he knows his tenure is limited - until they get the proof

they need to indict him and his other cronies.

so, he's in a "whatever" mindset.

or, maybe he is finally trying to broaden his base

[PdxSean]

20. What deal?, says Trump.

Trump denies that a deal was made. With Trump, if it ain't on video and signed in blood, . . .
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_59ba570ee4b0edff971983ee?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

[louis c]

21. My mother taught me if you don't have anything good to say about someone, don't say anything at all

The staunchest Trump supporters are getting fucked.

GOOD