Trump cheats at golf - the ONE and ONLY politics thread

I disagree with the tweet saying that skipping the debate shows his confidence. Looks more like he doesn't want to get shown up again.

 

I sort of agree with you.

 

Can't you find any crappy Democratic politicians to compare Hillary to? Nixon was a plague on this country. He and his buddy Kissinger literally screwed a potential end to the Vietnam war when LBJ was in office to further his chances to get elected.

So he is responsible for the death of thousands of Americans.

 

He knows he's overmatched and that Cruz and Kasich - especially Cruz - will eat his lunch this time. He's trying to run out the clock.

 

By skipping the debate, Trump forces two unpalatable alternatives on Cruz and Kasich. One, they can spend the time seeking to see who can denounce Trump the most. The sound of candidates agreeing will lead to the sound of remote-clicking so loud it'll be heard in Europe. Two, they can beat each other up, making the absent Trump seem statesmanlike by comparison.

 

It's a lot harder to purposely turn it into a childish screechfest with only two other people on stage.

 

Perfect chance for the Cruz/Kasich Ticket announcement; turn the event into a 90 minute informercial.

 

Trump needs to pick better delegates.

Trump supporters avoiding delegates with foreign names?

 

It will get lower ratings than a real infomercial.

If Trump doesn't show, the debate for all practical purposes didn't happen.

 

BINGO.

What's more, this may be Fox's last chance to take him out and he knows it. Last time, they went all-in with that targeted A/V extravaganza on him while serving up warm cookies and milk to the other candidates. He'll deny them that chance and leave the network with no choice but to make it all about him (albeit negatively), grill Cruz and Kasich (thus making Trump grow stronger) or toss softballs over the plate to Cruz/Kasich (confirming that the establishment fix is in).

 

You gotta wonder if they can even get their shit together for 2018.

It's a hot mess.

Within the splintered party you've got:

(1) Evangelicals
(2) Tea Party Conservatives
(3) Fiscally conservative-socially moderates
(4) Flat taxer/libertarian types
(5) Establishment Republicans like Jeb Bush/Mitch McConnell/George Will
(6) Angry people who don't really know what they want-- they're just angry (Trump)

The Tea Party movement had a lot of angry people. Trump has stolen them, leaving the Tea Party pantsless.

The Tea Party can't figure out where it stands on trade, and that's a big one.

Whig Party, anyone ?

 

Lugnuts hit it on the screws.

Back in the 2000s (as Thomas Frank described in "What's the Matter With Kansas"), you had one major schism in the GOP: The religious-right/true believers, and the Chamber of Commerce old money folks. Theirs was a rocky marriage, and it's led to the chaos and splintering we have in the 2016 Republican Party.