Trump cheats at golf - the ONE and ONLY politics thread

On a related note, if Hillary doesn't win the presidency it will only be because of sexism. And a vast right-wing conspiracy.

 

Now that's funny.

 

According to the poli scientists, who have had a rough election so far for sure, the two most accurate leading indicators of a Presidential election are 1. Incumbent's approval rating and 2. State of economy six months prior to November, or late spring.
Obama's approval rating has been amazingly stable for over a year, barely on the plus side of 50-50 on good days, barely on the minus side on bad ones. As far as can be foretold, state of economy in a couple months will be about what it is now, neither horrible nor terrific.
This posits a close election all things being equal. But all things are not equal. We have no idea on Trump's eventual impact in a general election.

 

The election isn't about the basic tenants of conservatism.

That's not what Trump is running on. He's running on emotion -- on anger and dissatisfaction. (Which he was criticized for. Then, when Bernie cleaned Hillary's clock in New Hampshire, she told voters they're anger was justified.)

BOTH parties have nearly identical positions on trade, immigration, and Wall St.

BOTH parties have sold out the middle class in favor of the 1%.

This is what Trump is tapping into. He is going to get the vote of a lot of union democrats, and out of work people who used to work in manufacturing.

 

The grassroots rise of Trumpism in Texas.

Travis County GOP Apoplectic Over New Chairman

 

Wut?

 

Rubio is about as establishment as they come. He tried a Tea Party facade for a while in an effort to fool people, but his policy agenda is pure establishment driven by the wealthy people he's trying to please. The base doesn't give a fuck about any of that crap, which is why he's getting no traction.

 

How so? Rubio's supporters are pushing a #NeverTrump message. Ben Sasse has already said he won't vote for him.

He'll do better with independents and Democrats than previous Republican nominees. But he won't win unless Republicans support him in numbers comparable to what Bush received.

 

But he's won four states.

 

Note to old GOP: Look in the fucking mirror.

If you're so concerned with the basic tenets of conservatism, perhaps you shouldn't have abandoned them at the drop of a hat over and over again for the past decade-plus. The conservative "movement" comes up with Rubio and Cruz amid the "Dear God, Stop Obama!" Era. Great work, guys.

 

Rubio and Cruz each were elected Senators as insurgents, beating so-called "establishment" candidates in GOP primaries. The trouble for the Republicans is that to said base, just by holding office these guys go from insurgent to sellout. And should Trump be elected, it'll happen to him, too. The conservative entertainment-media complex loses audience and money in the role of cheerleader.

 

This ...

... is not that same as this: