The Art of the Donald Trumpocalypse

[TheMix]

I'm still trying to process Palin's comments. Does she really think that Trump would show anyone respect? He's made it pretty clear that everyone else is inferior. I can't think of anyone that is more disrespectful than Trump. Wow...

[LordMortis]

I'm still trying to process Palin's comments.

Let Stephen Colbert help

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/01/stephen ... hilarious/

[Rip]

I'm still trying to process Palin's comments.

Let Stephen Colbert help

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/01/stephen ... hilarious/

No wonder his ratings are in the tank. He just isn't very funny these days.

[El Guapo]

I'm still trying to process Palin's comments.

Let Stephen Colbert help

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/01/stephen ... hilarious/

No wonder his ratings are in the tank. He just isn't very funny these days.

Are his ratings in the tank?

[hepcat]

The Rip rating, yes. He made fun of his girlfriend.

[RunningMn9]

Are his ratings in the tank?

That depends on the definition of "tank". I'm going to guess that you and Rip have wildly different definitions (Rip's is probably something like "not #1 = tank")

[Rip]

I'm still trying to process Palin's comments.

Let Stephen Colbert help

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/01/stephen ... hilarious/

No wonder his ratings are in the tank. He just isn't very funny these days.

Are his ratings in the tank?

http://www.alternet.org/media/colberts- ... am-america

http://dailycaller.com/2015/12/09/break ... t-ratings/

Stephen Colbert’s tenure got off to a hot start three months ago, but since then ratings have cooled off for CBS’s “The Late Show.”

The latest ratings released indicate Colbert has dropped to 4th place, behind NBC’s Jimmy Fallon, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel, and even NBC’s Seth Meyers.

Shockingly, Meyers’s NBC show “Late Night” airs an hour later than Colbert in a less desirable time slot.

Since the former Comedy Central satirist took over for the retiring David Letterman, Colbert’s ratings have dropped almost 45 percent since his debut week.

[LordMortis]

I don't keep close tabs but as far as I know his ratings are slipping, mainly because most people don't stay up to watch political satire, so they switch to pop culture.

Colbert vs Fallon or Kimmel may not be the appropriate comparison. Colbert vs Colbert or the Daily Show would be a better comparison.

Can political satire survive network television? *shrug*

Craig Ferguson got terrible ratings and he was for years the best thing about late night television.

[Rip]

Well I watched his old show because it made me laugh. I don't watch the new one because it doesn't.

I watch for entertainment not for serious political conversation. If it is political conversation that makes me laugh fine, but if it doesn't then I am not interested.

I could be wrong but I suspect for a lot of the audience it is as simple as that.

[ImLawBoy]

Colbert's the only late night host out there (on the big networks, that is) who isn't just having a race to the lowest common denominator. I appreciate that about his show. He's consistently booking interesting guests (political figures, business figures, etc.), and he's taking risks like having his panel discussion on religion and Catholicism when the Pope was in the country. He also makes me laugh with much of his political stuff, including with his spot-on parody of Palin's rambling, borderline incoherent endorsement. Of course he still does some goofy bits for the kids on the YouTubes, and he still has actors shilling their wares as the primary guests, but that's OK, too. He still needs some work as an interviewer (although he's no worse at it than anyone else, and he seems to flow with the conversation better than most), but that can come along. I'm hoping that CBS lets him continue doing the show he wants to do instead of trying to force him to be another Jimmy.

[edit]He does need to stop trying to find an excuse to sing with every guest, though.[/edit]

[Moliere]

National Review's Against Trump

he is not deserving of conservative support in the caucuses and primaries. Trump is a philosophically unmoored political opportunist who would trash the broad conservative ideological consensus within the GOP in favor of a free-floating populism with strong-man overtones.
...
Trump’s politics are those of an averagely well-informed businessman: Washington is full of problems; I am a problem-solver; let me at them. But if you have no familiarity with the relevant details and the levers of power, and no clear principles to guide you, you will, like most tenderfeet, get rolled. Especially if you are, at least by all outward indications, the most poll-obsessed politician in all of American history. Trump has shown no interest in limiting government, in reforming entitlements, or in the Constitution.

[Moliere]

You can always count on The Donald to provide a thoughtful reasoned response to criticism. Wait. Nevermind.

[Jaymann]

And this in a nutshell is the art of Trump - attack the messenger with no mention of the message.

[PLW]

And make two its/it's errors in the process.

[LordMortis]

No wonder his ratings are in the tank. He just isn't very funny these days.

Maybe you'll appreciate this more?

http://www.towleroad.com/2016/01/sarah-palin-remix/

With the caveat that in the this remix her verse is in sentences for the most part.

[Rip]

I just wish they would quit referring to National Review Online as NRO.

For me NRO is the Naval Reactors Office.

[Max Peck]

Naval Reactors Office

Worst typo for National Reconnaissance Office ever!

[Rip]

Naval Reactors Office

Worst typo for National Reconnaissance Office ever!

That as well, although operations involving them typically preclude mentioning them.

[tgb]

So who likes this guy, anyway?

Want more reason to worry about a potential Trump presidency? MacWilliams also identified 39 percent Independents and 17 percent Democrats who scored high for authoritarianism. And there are many more Americans whose fears of a terrorist attack can be exploited by a tough-talking strongman. As MacWilliams told Politico, “Take activated authoritarians from across the partisan spectrum and the growing cadre of threatened non-authoritarians, then add them to the base of Republican general election voters, and the potential electoral path to a Trump presidency becomes clearer.”

And that’s the way it could happen here.

[Teggy]

For me, this may be the scariest thing he's said yet:

"The power of our group of people together, I mean, if you add it up ... it could be 240, 250 million. And yet we don't exert the power that we should have. Now, I think some of the churches are afraid of their tax status, to be honest," he said.

"But you know the fact is that there is nothing the politicians can do to you if you band together. You have too much power. But the Christians don't use their power," Trump said. "We have to strengthen. Because we are getting — if you look, it's death by a million cuts — we are getting less and less and less powerful in terms of a religion, and in terms of a force," he continued.

Trump then complained that big department stores do not say "merry Christmas" during the holidays.

"When they don't want to say 'merry Christmas' in department stores anymore. I won't shop at places that don't say 'merry Christmas.' Guess what? I don't too much shopping," he said to applause. "No, no, it's true. When I see these stores, and they have a red wall and they have nothing on it. They don't want to say 'merry Christmas' anymore. I say, 'Why don't you say merry Christmas?'"

Trump vowed to change the department-store situation when it comes to wishing people "merry Christmas."

"I'll tell you one thing: I get elected president, we're going to be saying 'merry Christmas' again. Just remember that," he said. "And by the way, Christianity will have power, without having to form."

He added: "Because if I'm there, you're going to have plenty of power. You don't need anybody else. You're going to have somebody representing you very, very well. Remember that."

[Kraken]

So who likes this guy, anyway?

Want more reason to worry about a potential Trump presidency? MacWilliams also identified 39 percent Independents and 17 percent Democrats who scored high for authoritarianism. And there are many more Americans whose fears of a terrorist attack can be exploited by a tough-talking strongman. As MacWilliams told Politico, “Take activated authoritarians from across the partisan spectrum and the growing cadre of threatened non-authoritarians, then add them to the base of Republican general election voters, and the potential electoral path to a Trump presidency becomes clearer.”

And that’s the way it could happen here.

Especially plausible if we have a significant domestic terror attack, or even just slip into a garden-variety recession, as November draws near.

[Rip]

For me, this may be the scariest thing he's said yet:

"The power of our group of people together, I mean, if you add it up ... it could be 240, 250 million. And yet we don't exert the power that we should have. Now, I think some of the churches are afraid of their tax status, to be honest," he said.

"But you know the fact is that there is nothing the politicians can do to you if you band together. You have too much power. But the Christians don't use their power," Trump said. "We have to strengthen. Because we are getting — if you look, it's death by a million cuts — we are getting less and less and less powerful in terms of a religion, and in terms of a force," he continued.

Trump then complained that big department stores do not say "merry Christmas" during the holidays.

"When they don't want to say 'merry Christmas' in department stores anymore. I won't shop at places that don't say 'merry Christmas.' Guess what? I don't too much shopping," he said to applause. "No, no, it's true. When I see these stores, and they have a red wall and they have nothing on it. They don't want to say 'merry Christmas' anymore. I say, 'Why don't you say merry Christmas?'"

Trump vowed to change the department-store situation when it comes to wishing people "merry Christmas."

"I'll tell you one thing: I get elected president, we're going to be saying 'merry Christmas' again. Just remember that," he said. "And by the way, Christianity will have power, without having to form."

He added: "Because if I'm there, you're going to have plenty of power. You don't need anybody else. You're going to have somebody representing you very, very well. Remember that."

Tell me about it. Is there anything more terrifying than stores hurling Merry Christmases at you?

[Teggy]

For me, this may be the scariest thing he's said yet:

"The power of our group of people together, I mean, if you add it up ... it could be 240, 250 million. And yet we don't exert the power that we should have. Now, I think some of the churches are afraid of their tax status, to be honest," he said.

"But you know the fact is that there is nothing the politicians can do to you if you band together. You have too much power. But the Christians don't use their power," Trump said. "We have to strengthen. Because we are getting — if you look, it's death by a million cuts — we are getting less and less and less powerful in terms of a religion, and in terms of a force," he continued.

Trump then complained that big department stores do not say "merry Christmas" during the holidays.

"When they don't want to say 'merry Christmas' in department stores anymore. I won't shop at places that don't say 'merry Christmas.' Guess what? I don't too much shopping," he said to applause. "No, no, it's true. When I see these stores, and they have a red wall and they have nothing on it. They don't want to say 'merry Christmas' anymore. I say, 'Why don't you say merry Christmas?'"

Trump vowed to change the department-store situation when it comes to wishing people "merry Christmas."

"I'll tell you one thing: I get elected president, we're going to be saying 'merry Christmas' again. Just remember that," he said. "And by the way, Christianity will have power, without having to form."

He added: "Because if I'm there, you're going to have plenty of power. You don't need anybody else. You're going to have somebody representing you very, very well. Remember that."

Tell me about it. Is there anything more terrifying than stores hurling Merry Christmases at you?

If they're somehow being forced by the government to do so, uh, yeah.

[Exodor]

Tell me about it. Is there anything more terrifying than stores hurling Merry Christmases at you?

Yeah, a theocracy.

How do you think this would play out:

"I'll tell you one thing: I get elected president, we're going to be saying 'Allahu Akbar'. Just remember that," he said. "And by the way, Islam will have power"

[Rip]

Yea, because those two things are so likely to happen.

Funny that he can say he will build a wall and everyone says no way he can do that. He says he will make stores say Merry Christmas and that one people really think he could do. I suppose you believe that he is going to make Apple make all their iPhones in the US as well?

[Teggy]

Yea, because those two things are so likely to happen.

Funny that he can say he will build a wall and everyone says no way he can do that. He says he will make stores say Merry Christmas and that one people really think he could do. I suppose you believe that he is going to make Apple make all their iPhones in the US as well?

It has nothing to do with what may or may not happen. These are things he is saying. These are things his supporters expect him to do.

[Exodor]

Yea, because those two things are so likely to happen.

Funny that he can say he will build a wall and everyone says no way he can do that. He says he will make stores say Merry Christmas and that one people really think he could do. I suppose you believe that he is going to make Apple make all their iPhones in the US as well?

I don't believe he's going to do any of the stupid shit that he says - but I also don't want someone in the White House who thinks these things are a good idea.

[tgb]

I was about to point out that for once I agreed with Rip - but then Exodor had to go and ruin it by making sense.

[Grifman]

Trump scares me. Not because he's Trump, but because of what his popularity says about the American people, or at least a large segment of them. Not to Godwinize the thread, but now I see how a Hitler like authoritarian figure could come to power in the US.

People are angry because the government doesn't seem to be working for them and I get that. Trump channels that anger, he's angry, they like that. Hitler was also an angry man who promised to make the ineffective govt of Germany work again for the people.

People don't pay any attention to what he says, and if it is outrageous, they excuse it because he's just not being "politically correct", or well, he doesn't really mean it, he's just saying it for effect. Well, I despise political correctness and the left's thought police, but Trump isn't politically incorrect, what he says if far beyond that. He has publicly put down or mocked Latinos, women, the disabled and Muslims. Hitler attacked the Communists and Jews and other minorities, and nobody thought he's really do what he said or hinted he would. He would moderate when he actually got power, they thought.

Trump says he wants to make America great again. Well, Hitler promised the same thing, Germany need to force other nations to respect it, and it needed to take its rightful place in Europe. How is Trump's message any different?

Trump has a clear authoritarian streak. You see that in his ego-centric talk about how "I will do this, and I will do that". He has praised Russia's Putin, who has been recently revealed, probably ordered the poisoning of a dissident leader in London. Even more bewilderingly, he has said positive things about North's Korea's brutal dictator. How does he get away with that? If any other American leader had praised Kim Jung-un, they'd be ridiculed and raked over the coals. But no, people don't care because they're angry and Trump is angry.

Now, I'm not saying Trump is another Hitler, not by any means close. But it is interesting and sad, how closely his political campaign is similar. I think it shows that a large segment of Americans are willing to forget and compromise this country's fundamental principles if they can find someone who can channel their anger and frustration. That's the real scary thing about Trump's candidacy.

[Isgrimnur]

NY Times

He is strongest among Republicans who are less affluent, less educated and less likely to turn out to vote. His very best voters are self-identified Republicans who nonetheless are registered as Democrats. It’s a coalition that’s concentrated in the South, Appalachia and the industrial North, according to data provided to The Upshot by Civis Analytics, a Democratic data firm.

Mr. Trump’s huge advantage among these groups poses a challenge for his campaign, because it may not have the turnout operation necessary to mobilize irregular voters.
...
Mr. Trump’s best state is West Virginia, followed by New York. Eight of Mr. Trump’s 10 best congressional districts are in New York, including several on Long Island. North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana and South Carolina follow.

[Kraken]

War On Christmas II: The Revenge of Christmas, or Rudolph Gets Ugly

I don't believe he's going to do any of the stupid shit that he says - but I also don't want someone in the White House who thinks these things are a good idea.

It's an example of a candidate who has no filters telling his audience what it wants to hear. Good idea, bad idea, whatever, as long as it draws coverage.

Right now Cruz is Trump's main rival, so naturally he needs to peel away evangelicals. He'll drop the faux religiosity when Cruz is in the rearview mirror.

[Rip]

Yea, because those two things are so likely to happen.

Funny that he can say he will build a wall and everyone says no way he can do that. He says he will make stores say Merry Christmas and that one people really think he could do. I suppose you believe that he is going to make Apple make all their iPhones in the US as well?

I don't believe he's going to do any of the stupid shit that he says - but I also don't want someone in the White House who thinks these things are a good idea.

If we failed to put people in the WH that suggested things that were unrealistic or stupid it would be empty and stay that way.

[Holman]

Trump scares me. Not because he's Trump, but because of what his popularity says about the American people, or at least a large segment of them. Not to Godwinize the thread, but now I see how a Hitler like authoritarian figure could come to power in the US.

[...]

Now, I'm not saying Trump is another Hitler, not by any means close. But it is interesting and sad, how closely his political campaign is similar. I think it shows that a large segment of Americans are willing to forget and compromise this country's fundamental principles if they can find someone who can channel their anger and frustration. That's the real scary thing about Trump's candidacy.

+1 to the whole post.

Trump is partly a clown, and it's possible (I don't want to bet the country on it) that the complexities of the presidency would put him off his stated goals. But still: Trump entered politics with racist conspiracy fantasies about Obama, he launched his campaign with racist conspiracy fantasies about Latinos, he has all but declared all Muslims our national enemy, and he tailors his candidacy exclusively to white Americans fearful of foreigners and looking for a strong man to hit them. A billionaire maverick hoping to shake up the GOP could have chosen another appeal, but Trump picked this one, and he has stuck to it even against pushback.

It's awful that Trump's appeal to nativism, jingoism, racism, and domestic bullying has succeeded with so many Americans. Even if a President Trump failed to follow through on the hard work of authoritarianism, other politicians are definitely watching. They'll be trying to out-Donald the Donald in future election cycles. If Trump wins 2016, the Republican representatives of 2018 will make him look like a moderate.

I don't think many of us want to see the GOP become America's 21st-century white nationalist party, but that's what a Trump victory threatens to make of it.

[Hipolito]

Another +1 to Grifman's post. It saddens me that so many Americans support Trump. I shouldn't even call them Americans.

Trump has a clear authoritarian streak. You see that in his ego-centric talk about how "I will do this, and I will do that". He has praised Russia's Putin, who has been recently revealed, probably ordered the poisoning of a dissident leader in London. Even more bewilderingly, he has said positive things about North's Korea's brutal dictator. How does he get away with that? If any other American leader had praised Kim Jung-un, they'd be ridiculed and raked over the coals. But no, people don't care because they're angry and Trump is angry.

Plus, to defend his anti-Muslim policy, Trump brings up FDR's imprisonment of Japanese Americans as if that had been the right thing to do!

[Isgrimnur]

I'm sure no one will bring up what St. Reagan did.

In 1988, President Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act to compensate more than 100,000 people of Japanese descent who were incarcerated in internment camps during World War II. The legislation offered a formal apology and paid out $20,000 in compensation to each surviving victim. The law won congressional approval only after a decade-long campaign by the Japanese-American community.
...
In 1980, Congress responded by establishing a commission to investigate the legacy of the camps. After extensive interviews and personal testimonies from victims, the commission issued its final report, calling the incarceration a "grave injustice" motivated by "racial prejudice, war hysteria and the failure of political leadership."

Japanese-Americans then serving in Congress, including Robert Matsui and Norm Mineta, helped turn that report into legislative language, providing for tax-free compensation and a formal apology. Mineta has served in two presidential Cabinets, but he says that bipartisan effort remains one of his proudest achievements.

"Today [2013] I just feel that Congress is so polarized that I'm not sure a grassroots movement like this would have the kind of impact that we see resulting in the signing of the bill by President Reagan in 1988," he says.

[hepcat]

Trump scares me. Not because he's Trump, but because of what his popularity says about the American people, or at least a large segment of them. Not to Godwinize the thread, but now I see how a Hitler like authoritarian figure could come to power in the US.

[...]

Now, I'm not saying Trump is another Hitler, not by any means close. But it is interesting and sad, how closely his political campaign is similar. I think it shows that a large segment of Americans are willing to forget and compromise this country's fundamental principles if they can find someone who can channel their anger and frustration. That's the real scary thing about Trump's candidacy.

+1 to the whole post.

+1000

Couldn't agree more.

Trump is a hateful little man who represents all the worst traits in a politician. And the fact that he's a serious contender in this race makes me more and more pessimistic about our ability to remain the land of the free.

[Rip]

[GreenGoo]

It's easy to be intolerant of someone who is intolerant.

[hepcat]

You just couldn't resist sticking an unflattering Hillary Clinton photo in your reply, could you?

[AWS260]

The Donald Trump erotica you've been waiting for.