Cause of the Trump Phenomenon?

[houndawg]

Can any of you conks tell us why The Donald will be the Republican nominee over a dozen of their brightest minds? What does it say when you can't find somebody, anybody, that can get within a country mile of the polling numbers of a professional buffoon and serial bankruptcy-filer?

Do these clowns even want to win or have they decided that they hate government so much that they no longer want to even pretend to govern?

[CAA Flagship]

Can any of you conks tell us why The Donald will be the Republican nominee over a dozen of their brightest minds? What does it say when you can't find somebody, anybody, that can get within a country mile of the polling numbers of a professional buffoon and serial bankruptcy-filer?

Do these clowns even want to win or have they decided that they hate government so much that they no longer want to even pretend to govern?

You are so gullible.
Polls.

Christie will be the next President.

[JohnStOnge]

I honestly can't understand it. I don't see how ANYBODY could be foolish enough to put that guy forward as the candidate of their party in a national election. Beyond that I don't see how anybody could want that guy to be President. He has the emotional maturity of a 12 year old. He's obviously a bullshit artist.

I know he's intelligent because he wouldn't have been granted admission to Fordham and Penn if he wasn't. But at the same time he IS a buffoon.

It's just unbelievable. Here they are in a situation where there was a real chance that they could get both houses of Congress and the White House and somewhere around a third of them are committing mass political suicide. I have no doubt that the Democrats want him to win the nomination and they are keeping their powder relatively dry right now. If he gets nominated they will eviscerate him. Plus he will be an excellent foil to gin up their turnout so they may lose control of Congress and/or the Senate as well.

I do think the large field helps him. I suspect that if it were just a two person contest and, say, Marco Rubio was the other candidate he'd still be polling at about a third and Rubio would be up over 50%. But this is absurd. Who ARE these people?

[kalm]

I honestly can't understand it. I don't see how ANYBODY could be foolish enough to put that guy forward as the candidate of their party in a national election. Beyond that I don't see how anybody could want that guy to be President. He has the emotional maturity of a 12 year old. He's obviously a bullshit artist.

I know he's intelligent because he wouldn't have been granted admission to Fordham and Penn if he wasn't. But at the same time he IS a buffoon.

It's just unbelievable. Here they are in a situation where there was a real chance that they could get both houses of Congress and the White House and somewhere around a third of them are committing mass political suicide. I have no doubt that the Democrats want him to win the nomination and they are keeping their powder relatively dry right now. If he gets nominated they will eviscerate him. Plus he will be an excellent foil to gin up their turnout so they may lose control of Congress and/or the Senate as well.

I do think the large field helps him. I suspect that if it were just a two person contest and, say, Marco Rubio was the other candidate he'd still be polling at about a third and Rubio would be up over 50%. But this is absurd. Who ARE these people?

Run of the mill Republicans.

[CAA Flagship]

I honestly can't understand it. I don't see how ANYBODY could be foolish enough to put that guy forward as the candidate of their party in a national election. Beyond that I don't see how anybody could want that guy to be President. He has the emotional maturity of a 12 year old. He's obviously a bullshit artist.

I know he's intelligent because he wouldn't have been granted admission to Fordham and Penn if he wasn't. But at the same time he IS a buffoon.

It's just unbelievable. Here they are in a situation where there was a real chance that they could get both houses of Congress and the White House and somewhere around a third of them are committing mass political suicide. I have no doubt that the Democrats want him to win the nomination and they are keeping their powder relatively dry right now. If he gets nominated they will eviscerate him. Plus he will be an excellent foil to gin up their turnout so they may lose control of Congress and/or the Senate as well.

I do think the large field helps him. I suspect that if it were just a two person contest and, say, Marco Rubio was the other candidate he'd still be polling at about a third and Rubio would be up over 50%. But this is absurd. Who ARE these people?

Just relax. Nobody has voted for anyone yet.

[Skjellyfetti]

I know he's intelligent because he wouldn't have been granted admission to Fordham and Penn if he wasn't

You point out affirmative action to negate Obama's entrance to elite institutions. But, you do realize coming from a wealthy family increases your chances of getting into elite private schools greatly. And, it was even more true in the 60s than it is now.

[93henfan]

I know he's intelligent because he wouldn't have been granted admission to Fordham and Penn if he wasn't

You point out affirmative action to negate Obama's entrance to elite institutions. But, you do realize coming from a wealthy family increases your chances of getting into elite private schools greatly. And, it was even more true in the 60s than it is now.

I'll drink to that!

[Ibanez]

I'd ask democrats the same question.

[ASUG8]

I've said it all along, but Trump won't be the candidate. Carson is too nice and truthfully not very worldly. I'd rather have Cruz or Rubio.

Meanwhile, the Dems are fervently trying to hire the third black president for no good reason.

[CID1990]

I've said it all along, but Trump won't be the candidate. Carson is too nice and truthfully not very worldly. I'd rather have Cruz or Rubio.

Meanwhile, the Dems are fervently trying to hire the third black president for no good reason.

common sense tells me that Trump supporters break for Cruz if Trump implodes, but how can Trump implode? He literally checks all the worst populist boxes and his poll numbers go up

I'd like to think Rubio comes out of this on top, and logic would dictate that he is the best candidate (in both fields) but I think the key for him is to take second in the nuthouse primaries (Iowa and NH) and third in SC and then he'll have a shot at winning the rest

[houndawg]

I've said it all along, but Trump won't be the candidate. Carson is too nice and truthfully not very worldly. I'd rather have Cruz or Rubio.

Meanwhile, the Dems are fervently trying to hire the third black president for no good reason.

common sense tells me that Trump supporters break for Cruz if Trump implodes, but how can Trump implode?
He literally checks all the worst populist boxes and his poll numbers go up

I'd like to think Rubio comes out of this on top, and logic would dictate that he is the best candidate (in both fields) but I think the key for him is to take second in the nuthouse primaries (Iowa and NH) and third in SC and then he'll have a shot at winning the rest

Cruz seems to be the only one not trying to savage the Donald, I would say he sees it the same as you. As much as the prospect of a Trump nomination would cause me to jizz all over Baldy's chin , I just can't see the Republican establishment letting it happen. The RNC would not have the access to the White House they normally would. Trump would probably make them wash his limo.

[ASUG8]

The fact that I'm putting Trump and Hillary in the same sentence should define the decline in American politics. It's bad now, but will likely get worse next election.

[93henfan]

The fact that I'm putting Trump and Hillary in the same sentence should define the decline in American politics. It's bad now, but will likely get worse next election.

This country does seem to be in a bit of a funk since, oh, the late 90s. Dubya, Obama, and a dysfunctional Congress.

[Baldy]

common sense tells me that Trump supporters break for Cruz if Trump implodes, but how can Trump implode?
He literally checks all the worst populist boxes and his poll numbers go up

I'd like to think Rubio comes out of this on top, and logic would dictate that he is the best candidate (in both fields) but I think the key for him is to take second in the nuthouse primaries (Iowa and NH) and third in SC and then he'll have a shot at winning the rest

Cruz seems to be the only one not trying to savage the Donald, I would say he sees it the same as you. As much as the prospect of a Trump nomination would cause me to jizz all over Baldy's chin , I just can't see the Republican establishment letting it happen. The RNC would not have the access to the White House they normally would. Trump would probably make them wash his limo.

Jizz...eunuchdawg

[CAA Flagship]

I've said it all along, but Trump won't be the candidate. Carson is too nice and truthfully not very worldly. I'd rather have Cruz or Rubio.

Meanwhile, the Dems are fervently trying to hire the third black president for no good reason.

common sense tells me that Trump supporters break for Cruz if Trump implodes, but how can Trump implode? He literally checks all the worst populist boxes and his poll numbers go up

I'd like to think Rubio comes out of this on top, and logic would dictate that he is the best candidate (in both fields) but I think the key for him is to take second in the nuthouse primaries (Iowa and NH) and third in SC and then he'll have a shot at winning the rest

I'm thinking that a good portion of the Trump crowd would go to Christie.

[houndawg]

common sense tells me that Trump supporters break for Cruz if Trump implodes, but how can Trump implode? He literally checks all the worst populist boxes and his poll numbers go up

I'd like to think Rubio comes out of this on top, and logic would dictate that he is the best candidate (in both fields) but I think the key for him is to take second in the nuthouse primaries (Iowa and NH) and third in SC and then he'll have a shot at winning the rest

I'm thinking that a good portion of the Trump crowd would go to Christie.

Might be. Slightly dialed back from Trump in the buffoon department; I'd like to say smarter but I don't think that's clear. The Donald is smarter and more savvy than he seems.


..and then there is that camel-toe pic....... that ain't going to help....

[JohnStOnge]

You point out affirmative action to negate Obama's entrance to elite institutions. But, you do realize coming from a wealthy family increases your chances of getting into elite private schools greatly. And, it was even more true in the 60s than it is now.

What I've said is that affirmative action matters in terms of HOW smart I think somebody is. So are connections. For instance: I have written in that past that I have no doubt that Obama is smart. I think he'd have to be in the top 10 percent or so of the intelligence distribution to get into the schools he got into. Where affirmative action comes in is that I think that if you're dealing with somebody like a Bill Clinton who is a White guy that came from a modest background you're talking bout someone who's in a top fraction of 1% of the intelligence distribution to get into the schools he got into.

There's a picture of GW Bush above. He would not have gotten into Yale if he weren't notably above average intelligence. His SAT score was 1206. If you estimate his IQ from that using the table at http://www.iqcomparisonsite.com/oldSATIQ.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; you get 125 to 126. He's in the top 4 to 5 percent. That would not get him into Yale is he didn't have connections. But he's still way above average intelligence.

Same with Trump. He may not be smart enough to have gotten into those schools without family connections. But you'd do well to bet he's at least somewhere in the top 10 percent intelligence wise and that's being conservative.

[houndawg]

You point out affirmative action to negate Obama's entrance to elite institutions. But, you do realize coming from a wealthy family increases your chances of getting into elite private schools greatly. And, it was even more true in the 60s than it is now.

What I've said is that affirmative action matters in terms of HOW smart I think somebody is. So are connections. For instance: I have written in that past that I have no doubt that Obama is smart. I think he'd have to be in the top 10 percent or so of the intelligence distribution to get into the schools he got into. Where affirmative action comes in is that I think that if you're dealing with somebody like a Bill Clinton who is a White guy that came from a modest background you're talking bout someone who's in a top fraction of 1% of the intelligence distribution to get into the schools he got into.

There's a picture of GW Bush above. He would not have gotten into Yale if he weren't notably above average intelligence. His SAT score was 1206. If you estimate his IQ from that using the table at http://www.iqcomparisonsite.com/oldSATIQ.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; you get 125 to 126. He's in the top 4 to 5 percent. That would not get him into Yale is he didn't have connections. But he's still way above average intelligence.

Same with Trump. He may not be smart enough to have gotten into those schools without family connections. But you'd do well to bet he's at least somewhere in the top 10 percent intelligence wise and that's being conservative.

You bloviate just to hear yourself.

[Ibanez]

I honestly can't understand it. I don't see how ANYBODY could be foolish enough to put that guy forward as the candidate of their party in a national election. Beyond that I don't see how anybody could want that guy to be President. He has the emotional maturity of a 12 year old. He's obviously a bullshit artist.

I know he's intelligent because he wouldn't have been granted admission to Fordham and Penn if he wasn't. But at the same time he IS a buffoon.

It's just unbelievable. Here they are in a situation where there was a real chance that they could get both houses of Congress and the White House and somewhere around a third of them are committing mass political suicide. I have no doubt that the Democrats want him to win the nomination and they are keeping their powder relatively dry right now. If he gets nominated they will eviscerate him. Plus he will be an excellent foil to gin up their turnout so they may lose control of Congress and/or the Senate as well.

I do think the large field helps him. I suspect that if it were just a two person contest and, say, Marco Rubio was the other candidate he'd still be polling at about a third and Rubio would be up over 50%. But this is absurd. Who ARE these people?

A president needs more than intelligence, IMO. I want someone that has charisma, some personality. Carson...he has none of those attributes. Sadly, his dullness cannot be overlooked. He may be intelligent and a brilliant surgeon, but does that mean he'll have been a great diplomat.

Trump...the man is overflowing with personality and it's not necessarily a bad thing. This country is filled with whiny, complaining, pathetic people. Perhaps someone that would shake things up is needed. And honestly, could he do any worse than Bush, Obama, the US Congresses of the past 25 years?

[Pwns]

There's many more laps to the finish line and Trump is driving recklessly.

[JohnStOnge]

You bloviate just to hear yourself.

As long as you understand that I am correct. Or, if I think I'm incorrect, go ahead and tell me what I'm incorrect about and why you think that. For instance: Indicate why you think it's incorrect to say that, regardless of affirmative action and things like family connections, one has to be substantially more intelligent than average to be admitted to an Ivy League school.

Or here's a good one: If you think I am incorrect in thinking that you don't have to be as intelligent to get admitted to a prestigious educational institution if you are Black as you would be if you were White and all other things about your situation were equal, make your argument as to why.

You know, make an actual argument instead of just attempting to insult people (especially people who are pretty much impervious to insults).

[kalm]

You bloviate just to hear yourself.

As long as you understand that I am correct. Or, if I think I'm incorrect, go ahead and tell me what I'm incorrect about and why you think that. For instance: Indicate why you think it's incorrect to say that, regardless of affirmative action and things like family connections, one has to be substantially more intelligent than average to be admitted to an Ivy League school.

Or here's a good one: If you think I am incorrect in thinking that you don't have to be as intelligent to get admitted to a prestigious educational institution if you are Black as you would be if you were White and all other things about your situation were equal, make your argument as to why.

You know, make an actual argument instead of just attempting to insult people (especially people who are pretty much impervious to insults).

Your use of IQ testing is like relying on computers for rankings. Correct much of the time but in the case of Bush, he clearly does not pass the eyeball test.

[JohnStOnge]

Your use of IQ testing is like relying on computers for rankings. Correct much of the time but in the case of Bush, he clearly does not pass the eyeball test.

What I'd say is that you are biased. The reality is you're not going to score at the 95th percentile on the SAT if you're not substantially smarter than average. One of the biggest mistakes you can make in gauging intelligence is to base your assessment on how articulate they are as a public speaker. That's not a good measure.

Look, the guy not only scored at the 95th percentile. He graduated from Yale and he also got a graduate degree from Harvard. This thing of saying he's stupid is ridiculous. It really is and people who insist on saying that need to give it up.

[kalm]

Your use of IQ testing is like relying on computers for rankings. Correct much of the time but in the case of Bush, he clearly does not pass the eyeball test.

What I'd say is that you are biased. The reality is you're not going to score at the 95th percentile on the SAT if you're not substantially smarter than average. One of the biggest mistakes you can make in gauging intelligence is to base your assessment on how articulate they are as a public speaker. That's not a good measure.

Look, the guy not only scored at the 95th percentile. He graduated from Yale and he also got a graduate degree from Harvard. This thing of saying he's stupid is ridiculous. It really is and people who insist on saying that need to give it up.

His speaking issues were indeed fantastically funny.

But what anbout his policy positions?

His grasp of foreign policy?

How about his push to get poor people into home ownership?

Remember, he basically coined the phrase that Islam is a religion of peace.

His religiosity?

He was clearly a dope, John. Whether you're willing to admit it or not.

[Chizzang]

What I'd say is that you are biased. The reality is you're not going to score at the 95th percentile on the SAT if you're not substantially smarter than average. One of the biggest mistakes you can make in gauging intelligence is to base your assessment on how articulate they are as a public speaker. That's not a good measure.

Look, the guy not only scored at the 95th percentile. He graduated from Yale and he also got a graduate degree from Harvard. This thing of saying he's stupid is ridiculous. It really is and people who insist on saying that need to give it up.

His speaking issues were indeed fantastically funny.

But what anbout his policy positions?

His grasp of foreign policy?

How about his push to get poor people into home ownership?

Remember, he basically coined the phrase that Islam is a religion of peace.

His religiosity?

He was clearly a dope, John. Whether you're willing to admit it or not.

The son of the head of the CIA's test scores are mostly irrelevant
along with this son's miraculous ability to "get into Yale"

Seriously John did you wake up from a coma recently

Your argument is like talking about NCAA Football players grades at Clemson and Auburn
Seriously does anybody believe kids that can't even spell their own names
are legitimately graduating from Auburn



Please Johnny just let it go... it's going to be okay even if little silver spoon Bush was an idiot