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[HylianTom]

For the record, even though I promised to eat a fake hat if Trump won the nomination, I still welcome that outcome. I promise you, though I will be shocked, there won't be a single tear on my cheek. More just bewildered amusement.

I'm encouraging fellow Democrats:
if our contest is settled by the time the primary reaches your state, and if your state has an open/blanket primary system - consider crossing over and messing with the GOP's process by voting for Trump. The man's negatives are pretty high outside of the GOP, and a record-setting gender gap would doom him in November '16.

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

As a Trump supporter, I would be willing to give any elected candidate ultimate power.

Well, I've heard enough. Good luck.

 

[Blader]

As a Trump supporter, I would be willing to give any elected candidate ultimate power.

A big part of what I see as the problem is that there's too many laws. If you think about it, literally all politicians doo all day is sit around making new laws. That's the whole point of their job. Republicans make laws, Democrats make laws, everyone keeps making laws. Sometimes the laws even contradict each other. So more and more laws keep getting made, creating a mountainous pile of red tape and legal hurdles to jump through to get anything done. As soon as you propose something, 800 different special interest groups start talking about how it violates some law.

Instead of Congress, I would replace the entire system of checks and balances with something much more simple.

1) The President can pass any policy he wants, except policy concerning the length of his term or the election process.
2) Laws can be overturned by a subsequent president, but will also expire naturally after a period of 8 years.

For starters, this would probably quadruple voter turnout.

Secondly, what works and what doesn't would become completely obvious in a very short amount of time. Currently we have this situation where there is so much red tape to cut through to implement some policy that you never know if changes in economic indicators are due to the current administration, the previous administration, or maybe even the one before that.

Third, You've still got checks and balances here, but they are after-the-fact checks and balances. Anything that's bad would just be instantly killed as soon as the next administration came to office.

And fourth, it would force them to focus on what's really important as the laws would expire after 8 years, and they would have to focus on keeping the really important ones active.

At least now I feel better knowing there aren't actually reasonable people supporting Trump. You had me fooled for a little there.


Less snarky version: What you're advocating for is, essentially, a dictator with complete control over what is and isn't law. Every subsequent dictator would then have to continuously decide how many of his predecessors' laws are worth keeping in what would have to become an enormous waste of time and resources. Not only that, but you're essentially giving no long-term program any room to breathe -- if it doesn't work in 8 years, then must it never be able to work, right? After all, anything worth doing can be accomplished in 8 years.

I mean, Jesus. Just move to another country or something. You're living in a complete fantasyland that you've convinced yourself isn't something totally fascist.

 

[joedan]

I would like to see a poll of Trump supporters and how comfortable they are with giving him power if they could. There's a dictatorial vibe that is pretty scary. I wouldn't be surprised if they are cool with him amending the constitution on his own or bypassing congress or even courts.

Best comparison I could think of is Putin right now.

Sounds like them rightwing folks saying Obama will go for a third term.

 

[cpp_is_king]

At least now I feel better knowing there aren't actually reasonable people supporting Trump. You had me fooled for a little there.


Less snarky version: What you're advocating for is, essentially, a dictator with complete control over what is and isn't law. Every subsequent dictator would then have to continuously decide how many of his predecessors' laws are worth keeping in what would have to become an enormous waste of time and resources. Not only that, but you're essentially giving no long-term program any room to breathe -- if it doesn't work in 8 years, then must it never be able to work, right? After all, anything worth doing can be accomplished in 8 years.

I mean, Jesus. Just move to another country or something. You're living in a complete fantasyland that you've convinced yourself isn't something totally fascist.

You don't think the current system is a complete waste of time and resources? It takes an entire presidential term to pass one or two laws right now. If that isn't a waste of resources I don't know what is.

Anyway, look. Obviously what I proposed would never happen. The point is that people are fucking sick and tired of nothing getting done, and it leads to people thinking up crazy stuff about how to just get something done in this country, or voting for the crazy guy who promises to get stuff done.

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

Sounds like them rightwing folks saying Obama will go for a third term.

"I'll take a dictator as long as he's my dictator"

 

[B-Dubs]

You don't think the current system is a complete waste of time and resources? It takes an entire presidential term to pass one or two laws right now. If that isn't a waste of resources I don't know what is.

Anyway, look. Obviously what I proposed would never happen. The point is that people are fucking sick and tired of nothing getting done, and it leads to people thinking up crazy stuff about how to just get something done in this country.

That's more a problem with how Congress functions than anything else.

 

[HylianTom]

You don't think the current system is a complete waste of time and resources? It takes an entire presidential term to pass one or two laws right now. If that isn't a waste of resources I don't know what is.

Anyway, look. Obviously what I proposed would never happen. The point is that people are fucking sick and tired of nothing getting done, and it leads to people thinking up crazy stuff about how to just get something done in this country, or voting for the crazy guy who promises to get stuff done.

Even if those promises are built on fairy tales, based not at all whatsoever on how our government is actually structured with respect to checks and balances?

This is the political equivalent of Tinkerbellism, where if we clap our hands and believe, the Magical Fairy of Getting Shit Done™ can work her magic.

Absolutely remarkable.. sheesh..

 

[water_wendi]

im starting to think that a Trump Presidency might not be a disaster. There was an interview i saw the other day where Trump is adding to his Hillary donation question talking about how legalized bribes were basically how the country functions. He said his usual stuff about how he would be above influence because hes already filthy rich. That was when it dawned on me that as President he would get much the same treatment from the Right (and to the Right) as his is now.

Think about it like this, which administration would be easier for opposition to work with: the Trump Administration or the Cruz Administration? Cruz is driven by party ideology. Trump doesnt have that at all. Like i think you could actually convince Trump with mathematics and science whereas you would hit a brick wall otherwise.

 

[Blader]

You don't think the current system is a complete waste of time and resources? It takes an entire presidential term to pass one or two laws right now. If that isn't a waste of resources I don't know what is.

Literally, no.

Anyway, look. Obviously what I proposed would never happen. The point is that people are fucking sick and tired of nothing getting done, and it leads to people thinking up crazy stuff about how to just get something done in this country, or voting for the crazy guy who promises to get stuff done.

First the problem was that Congress makes too many laws, now it's that they get nothing done.

Partisan gridlock isn't a function of Congress, it's an effect of marginalized radicals given disproportionate amounts of power. The solution to that isn't to invest all power into a single executive.

I'm glad you recognize that your proposal would never happen, but it's ridiculous that you think it's somehow a better alternative to the current system. I get the "shit sucks right now, it's driving us to crazy ideas like voting for Trump" sentiment -- but doesn't that then mean voting for Trump is a crazy idea? Why are you giving a vote to an admittedly crazy choice?

 

[moomoo14]

You don't think the current system is a complete waste of time and resources? It takes an entire presidential term to pass one or two laws right now. If that isn't a waste of resources I don't know what is.

Anyway, look. Obviously what I proposed would never happen. The point is that people are fucking sick and tired of nothing getting done, and it leads to people thinking up crazy stuff about how to just get something done in this country, or voting for the crazy guy who promises to get stuff done.

Our system exists to have compromise. The reason nothing gets done is because voters don't go out and vote for people on a local/state level. The system should be slow; it allows for us as a nation to actually be sure of what we do. America is extremely diverse and, as such, has a diverse array of interests by its constituents. To have nearly half of the constituents desires ignored on a grand scale because of a single person elected on the other side of the political spectrum is an idea that is very dangerous, in my opinion.

 

[Jeevesmeister]

Mussolini sure had those trains running on time.

Untrue, his propaganda department was simply effective of convincing people that was the case. Fascism in a nutshell, folks.

 

[SlowRevolution]

Hoping that he picks Omarosa for VP.

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

Hoping that he picks Omarosa for VP.

Yesssssss.

 

[water_wendi]

Hoping that he picks Omarosa for VP.

Does there have to be a Vice President?

 

[Log4Girlz]

im starting to think that a Trump Presidency might not be a disaster. There was an interview i saw the other day where Trump is adding to his Hillary donation question talking about how legalized bribes were basically how the country functions. He said his usual stuff about how he would be above influence because hes already filthy rich. That was when it dawned on me that as President he would get much the same treatment from the Right (and to the Right) as his is now.

Think about it like this, which administration would be easier for opposition to work with: the Trump Administration or the Cruz Administration? Cruz is driven by party ideology. Trump doesnt have that at all. Like i think you could actually convince Trump with mathematics and science whereas you would hit a brick wall otherwise.

Trump is the only decent GOP contender

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

im starting to think that a Trump Presidency might not be a disaster. There was an interview i saw the other day where Trump is adding to his Hillary donation question talking about how legalized bribes were basically how the country functions. He said his usual stuff about how he would be above influence because hes already filthy rich. That was when it dawned on me that as President he would get much the same treatment from the Right (and to the Right) as his is now.

Think about it like this, which administration would be easier for opposition to work with: the Trump Administration or the Cruz Administration? Cruz is driven by party ideology. Trump doesnt have that at all. Like i think you could actually convince Trump with mathematics and science whereas you would hit a brick wall otherwise.

It's strange to me that 7 years after a financial meltdown people are okay with a guy who wants regulations on business and wall street to basically go away.

5 years after the BP oil spill people would be okay with a guy who says climate change is a hoax and would almost always favor business over environment for short term gain.

3 years after finally getting out Iraq people would be okay with a guy who says he would send troops back into Iraq and Syria on top of that to "take the oil" but he'll need private contractors to do anything with those oil fields.

He doesn't need special interest money from wall street or oil/coal industries because he'd be doing what they want for free.

 

[Livingskeletons]

Say what you will about Stalin, the man got shit done.

The Holodomor created a lot of job growth.

 

[Omega Kirby]

Oh boy

 

[Crisco]

Even if Trump gets 49.9999% of the popular vote, he won't one win a single battleground state. Head to head vs Hillary, his ceiling 191 EVs. Fun show though.

Hell, that's the ceiling for any of the current GOP candidates vs Hillary. Trump would likely do far worse than that, maybe Texas plus a handful of states in the Southeast.

 

[FinalStageBoss]

Some of you actually believe this racist ass clown has a chance at winning? Lol

As if these polls mean anything.

 

[speculawyer]

Untrue, his propaganda department was simply effective of convincing people that was the case. Fascism in a nutshell, folks.

Yes . . . and isn't that how Trump works? He says that he'll solve problems. If he gets in office he'll try to solve some problems with some half-assed measures that he is able to pass. And then he'll spend lots of time selling to the people that he completely solved the problem with euuuuuge gold-plated luxurious solution (that really didn't do much).

 

[Rival]

Only in America. Trump trump trump!!!!

 

[Rafa=FedKilla]

Hoping that he picks Omarosa for VP.

Thanks for this. That brought back a conflagration of memories.

 

[danwarb]

Some of you actually believe this racist ass clown has a chance at winning? Lol

As if these polls mean anything.

8 years of George W. Bush. Anything is possible.

 

[Kadayi]

Crazy. But then again. I can't say I'm a fan of HC either. I think HC is all about HC and far less about being a good president. In all honesty I'd rather the two terms thing be repealed and Obama be able to run again.

 

[linkboy]

You don't think the current system is a complete waste of time and resources? It takes an entire presidential term to pass one or two laws right now. If that isn't a waste of resources I don't know what is.

Anyway, look. Obviously what I proposed would never happen. The point is that people are fucking sick and tired of nothing getting done, and it leads to people thinking up crazy stuff about how to just get something done in this country, or voting for the crazy guy who promises to get stuff done.

Then tell the dipshits that currently makeup the majority in Congress to stop bitching about Obamacare, Hilary's emails and Benghazi and do their damn job.

Maybe, just maybe, the system might work as its intended.

 

[cpp_is_king]

Then tell the dipshits that currently makeup the majority in Congress to stop bitching about Obamacare, Hilary's emails and Benghazi and do their damn job.

Maybe, just maybe, the system might work as its intended.

It's attitudes like yours that are the problem. The bitching exists equally on both sides. When Republicans propose laws there is just as much garbage from the Democrats preventing the system working as intended. I bet you think the democrats are innocent of this just because it's the side you happen to agree with.

If it were up to me I'd fire every member of Congress and hold new elections across the board. that still wouldn't solve the root of the problem - which is the fact that we no longer have a government that represents the people, but rather one that represents the donors - but it would make a statement.

 

[Zach]

As a Trump supporter, I would be willing to give any elected candidate ultimate power.

A big part of what I see as the problem is that there's too many laws. If you think about it, literally all politicians doo all day is sit around making new laws. That's the whole point of their job. Republicans make laws, Democrats make laws, everyone keeps making laws. Sometimes the laws even contradict each other. So more and more laws keep getting made, creating a mountainous pile of red tape and legal hurdles to jump through to get anything done. As soon as you propose something, 800 different special interest groups start talking about how it violates some law.

Instead of Congress, I would replace the entire system of checks and balances with something much more simple.

1) The President can pass any policy he wants, except policy concerning the length of his term or the election process.
2) Laws can be overturned by a subsequent president, but will also expire naturally after a period of 8 years.

For starters, this would probably quadruple voter turnout.

Secondly, what works and what doesn't would become completely obvious in a very short amount of time. Currently we have this situation where there is so much red tape to cut through to implement some policy that you never know if changes in economic indicators are due to the current administration, the previous administration, or maybe even the one before that.

Third, You've still got checks and balances here, but they are after-the-fact checks and balances. Anything that's bad would just be instantly killed as soon as the next administration came to office.

And fourth, it would force them to focus on what's really important as the laws would expire after 8 years, and they would have to focus on keeping the really important ones active.

I knew I shouldn't have entered this thread.

 

[Firestone77]

I've said this before...going to say it again...Trump is the black swan...all the data, etc, is going to fail because of chaos and uncertainty due to the variable of the Trump card. The guy is gobbling up mind-share and perception. The funny thing how so many hear beef about his lack of details, all he does is reiterate general ideas, proposed results, etc. Regardless if they are highly unlikely. All of it is intentional, and geared toward communicating with people on an 8th-12th grade level...(a.k.a the masses)

What hes saying, how hes saying it and the repetition via ignoring the call for details is creating imagery in the minds of many. Hes a painting a picture in peoples heads and the truth of it is not going to matter as much as their perception and belief. You combine that with his own genuine belief in the fundamental ideas hes presenting, the whole honesty and straight shooter bit. Him also being a billionaire in business adding validity to his ability to "get shit done".

Throw in some people pissed of at the status quo, add a lack of worthy competition, etc. and you have a perfect storm for a black swan. Trump is rocking it fucking P.T. Barnum style and is going to take it all. You guys think that because there is a lot of time left its going to work against him? Pfft...exact opposite. It's going to work for him. It's just more time to build penetrate and deploy...

As others said hes also appealing to things lots of Americans care about, all Americans of all races and minorities that are legal. Watch out for them closet Trump supporters, self preservation and expansion even if its just an idea or possibility has some strong gravitational pull.

Nailed it! Dude with Mexican heritage Trump supporter here. Hope there's a lot more of us. Swallow that one GAF.

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

Nailed it! Dude with Mexican heritage Trump supporter here. Hope there's a lot more of us. Swallow that one GAF.

Welcome to the 13 percent.

Hispanics represent one group where Trump's image, perhaps understandably, has soured since his negative comments about Mexican illegal immigrants. Trump's unfavorable ratings among Hispanics rose sharply from 60 percent in May to 81 percent now. His favorable ratings are 13 percent among Hispanics, little changed from the previous survey.

 

[cpp_is_king]

Welcome to the 13 percent.

If 13% is dozens, i guess the other 87% don't matter either.

 

[linkboy]

It's attitudes like yours that are the problem. The bitching exists equally on both sides. When Republicans propose laws there is just as much garbage from the Democrats preventing the system working as intended. I bet you think the democrats are innocent of this just because it's the side you happen to agree with.

If it were up to me I'd fire every member of Congress and hold new elections across the board. that still wouldn't solve the root of the problem - which is the fact that we no longer have a government that represents the people, but rather one that represents the donors - but it would make a statement.

No, actually I don't, and I would call them on it if they were the majority and did the same thing the Republicans have since Obama was elected.

I despise the two party system, it's a load of pure shit.

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

If 13% is dozens, i guess the other 87% don't matter either.

The only number that matters in your view should be the number one. One omnipotent leader to rule over us all.

 

[You Are Viewtiful]

Nailed it! Dude with Mexican heritage Trump supporter here. Hope there's a lot more of us. Swallow that one GAF.

He just called Trump supporters 8th grade level thinker and you raised your hands with "nailed it!" lmao.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_idiot

 

[GavinGT]

He just called Trump supporters 8th grade level thinker and you raised your hands with "nailed it!" lmao.

He doesn't read at an 8th grade level.

 

[Firestone77]

Welcome to the 13 percent.

Can't speak to the masses so easily swayed by the media smear campaign being levied against him. Quite base actually. Luckily that part of the electorate only represents 28 million people last I heard. And as such, I represent about 4 million people.....not 48. Nice block to be a part of, all things considered, thank you very much.

 

[danm999]

If 13% is dozens, i guess the other 87% don't matter either.

Not really how elections work.

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

Can't speak to the masses so easily swayed by the media smear campaign being levied against him. Quite base actually. Luckily that part of the electorate only represents 28 million people last I heard. And as such, I represent about 4 million people.....not 48. Nice block to be a part of, all things considered, thank you very much.

If only elections were like golf scores. Where less is more.

 

[GavinGT]

Can't speak to the masses so easily swayed by the media smear campaign being levied against him. Quite base actually. Luckily that part of the electorate only represents 28 million people last I heard. And as such, I represent about 4 million people.....not 48. Nice block to be a part of, all things considered, thank you very much.

I don't need a smear campaign to tell me he's a lunatic. His own Twitter page is telling enough.

 

[Firestone77]

He just called Trump supporters 8th grade level thinker and you raised your hands with "nailed it!" lmao.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_idiot

Really, dude? First of all he didn't say that and leave it at that. He said he's presenting his views with the lowest denominator to garner as much support as possible. Brilliant strategy. Second of all, I just agreed that it was a brilliant strategy. Who's the idiot? lmao

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

Really, dude? First of all he didn't say that and leave it at that. He said he's presenting his views with the lowest denominator to garner as much support as possible. Brilliant strategy. Second of all, I just agreed that it was a brilliant strategy. Who's the idiot? lmao

Appealing to the lowest denominator is easy. George Wallace was doing it 50 years ago. It's not some breakthrough.

 

[Firestone77]

If only elections were like golf scores. Where less is more.

I know they're not. That's why I said "all things considered". Glad there are at least 13% of us that don't base important decision on media edited sound bites and talking heads telling us what to think. Hope there are more come election time.

 

[Firestone77]

Appealing to the lowest denominator is easy. George Wallace was doing it 50 years ago. It's not some breakthrough.

I see what you did there, Mr. CNN.

 

[Glass Joe]

Analysis: Trump supporters are really stupid:

http://www.cato.org/blog/does-donald-trump-really-do-best-among-less-educated-voters

Wow, this really sounds like you enjoy looking down at others to feel superior. I am a college graduate with a 4-year degree and I find your conclusion to be lazy, snooty, and lacking in critical thought. The conclusion is actually probably correct, but there's always a "but."

For example: A "more educated" person is also more likely to have crippling student loan debt and relate to a candidate who makes that part of her platform. A "less educated" person economically (as a whole) is likelier to live in a lower-class environment with dangers such as crime and drugs affecting them directly instead of just being read about. It's not only a simple smart v.s. dumb. It's also about campaign specifics appealing to different people in different ways.

First-hand I've seen smart friends not get an education because they didn't have the opportunities I had. I've seen dumb as bricks people leave with a degree (whether they be an athlete, they cheated, got lucky, just barely skidded by, etc). Maybe you just simply read this blog quickly and said so in jest, but I felt the need to respond.

 

[You Are Viewtiful]

Really, dude? First of all he didn't say that and leave it at that. He said he's presenting his views with the lowest denominator to garner as much support as possible. Brilliant strategy. Second of all, I just agreed that it was a brilliant strategy. Who's the idiot? lmao

What makes you think you're "one of the smart ones"? I'm pretty sure all Trump supporters think that of themselves.

And I didn't call you an idiot. I called you a useful idiot. Two different things

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

I see what you did there, Mr. CNN.

Well, you're in a thread about a CNN poll...

 

[Hopfrog]

I know they're not. That's why I said "all things considered". Glad there are at least 13% of us that don't base important decision on media edited sound bites and talking heads telling us what to think. Hope there are more come election time.

Are the media responsible for the statements coming directly from Trump himself, either in interviews or through Twitter, etc.? Because that seems to offer plenty for anyone to base their decision on.

 

[Firestone77]

What makes you think you're "one of the smart ones"? I'm pretty sure all Trump supporters think that of themselves.

And I didn't call you an idiot. I called you a useful idiot. Two different things

You're really going back track and deny that's not what you implied? lol Really? Wow. No backbone.

 

[You Are Viewtiful]

You're really going back track and deny that's not what you implied? lol Really? Wow. No backbone.

All you literally had to do was read the next sentence.