Donald Trump for president?

[newtogolf]

Where we are at depends on who you ask.   Most republicans may believe things are in such a bad shape since Obama took over.  Per Trump, everything is a "disaster."   But Obama supporters and many Dems will disagree.   It's how you look at the glass half full or empty.   Take the economy recovery for example.   From where I am at in Bay Area, there is no doubt that the economy recovery has taken place.  The evidence is all around me: house prices that shot past the height of housing boom days, extreme traffic jams during work hours, number of H1B folks imported to fill the new jobs filling BART, apartment rent going through the roof, price on Chinese menu going up, more new house complexes being built, ....    There is nothing that suggests US is at its worst in economy if you are in Bay Area.   Of course there are exceptions even in Bay Area and your mileage may vary from which part of US you are at.    But to believe in Fox News & Trump's rhetoric of everything is bad  everywhere in US b/c of Obama Administration has screwed up in the last 7 years is, well, crap.

A couple of other examples on how strong US is ... if China or EU had their way, US dollar would have lost its position as the world's currency years ago.   But yet it is stronger than ever.  People in many foreign countries are accumulating US dollar under their bed.  US stock market also happens to be the most trusted & stable as any.  And yet, nobody from far right will give credit to Obama for resurrecting it from the dark days of 2007 & 2008.   As you may recall, the stock market crash then had nothing to do with Obama administration.   If any blame to go around, one must looked to the GB's administration.   The far right thinks stock market is still bad (or corrected by itself?).

Despite what far right or far left says about America, the truth is somewhere in between.   My thought is that we need to compromise, and collaborate to make the best of the differences.  One of the reasons that makes me think Trump is a bad POTUS choice is that he only sees my way of highway.   If any of you think Obama was my way of highway kind of POTUS, wait until Trump becomes one ( if he ever makes it).   Once the love affair with Trump erodes, even some Trump supporters will be left wondering how in the world they voted for Trump.

Sorry Rick, I'll give you a pass on the other stuff since I don't know how things are going in CA, but you're wrong about China and EU wanting to have stronger currency than the US.  China especially wants to keep their dollar weak to place American businesses selling products into China at a disadvantage.  The stock market is not stable, have you read the news or WSJ the last month?

Part of the reason the market is so high is because Obama decided to print a ton of money to stimulate the economy and most of it ended up in the market (because banks weren't paying any interest to keep it there) so that now businesses have ridiculous P/E ratios that will eventually have to be adjusted for reality.  We have a looming student loan default crisis looming and we're still not seeing banks lending money.

Unemployment is down because most people fell off of it without getting a job and no longer count against the number.  You don't get to blame GW after Obama has had 6 years to fix things and has done nothing but leave us with a broken health care system, a weakened military, a divided country, a crap deal with Iran and a $17,000,000,000,000 deficit.  Oh wait, he did rename a mountain range in Alaska - great job!

[Gunther]

Sorry Rick, I'll give you a pass on the other stuff since I don't know how things are going in CA, but you're wrong about China and EU wanting to have stronger currency than the US.  China especially wants to keep their dollar weak to place American businesses selling products into China at a disadvantage.  The stock market is not stable, have you read the news or WSJ the last month? Part of the reason the market is so high is because Obama decided to print a ton of money to stimulate the economy and most of it ended up in the market (because banks weren't paying any interest to keep it there) so that now businesses have ridiculous P/E ratios that will eventually have to be adjusted for reality.  We have a looming student loan default crisis looming and we're still not seeing banks lending money. Unemployment is down because most people fell off of it without getting a job and no longer count against the number.  You don't get to blame GW after Obama has had 6 years to fix things and has done nothing but leave us with a broken health care system, a weakened military, a divided country, a crap deal with Iran and a $17,000,000,000,000 deficit.  Oh wait, he did rename a mountain range in Alaska - great job!

Let's not forget median income down from '08, which is almost unheard of, 94MM people out of work, most since the 70s, 50MM on food stamps, ISIS growing, Iran about to be given $150B to continue its jihad against Israel and us. Yeah, things are just peachy. Hence, the Trump phenomenon. I'm good with the Denali name change, incidentally. Alaskans have always referred to it that way and they wanted the change.

[Golfingdad]

Iran about to be given $150B to continue its jihad against Israel

Wait, what???  A middle eastern country in conflict with Israel??  Well that is definitely Obama's fault because those countries were all besties prior to 8 years ago, right?

Still not buying that Obama's "failures" have much of anything to do with Trumps popularity.  Many, if not all, of the rest of the Republican clan also have polar opposite views of Obama but they're not getting the same buzz - why not?

[rkim291968]

Sorry Rick, I'll give you a pass on the other stuff since I don't know how things are going in CA, but you're wrong about China and EU wanting to have stronger currency than the US.  China especially wants to keep their dollar weak to place American businesses selling products into China at a disadvantage.  The stock market is not stable, have you read the news or WSJ the last month?

Sorry about the misunderstanding.  I meant to say "global currency" when I wrote "strong."   My bad.

US stock market has been stable.  Corrections, and choppy market happen for any market.  Relatively speaking, US market has been one of the best over an extended period of time.

Your other comments are OT and I can think of many reasons to counter your statements but won't list them here.

Bottom line, for people to say Trump is where he is at b/c of Obama's 7 years of abomination ( @Gunther 's word) is plain wrong. Trump is running b/c of his ego, no other reason.  He is being popular b/c of all the BS politics displayed by both parties for the last 10 - 15 years have left a foul taste in many people's mouth against the establishment.   Don't just blame Obama or Dems when it takes and took two to tango.  Watching these jokers (REPs & DEMs) fight on just about everything was like watching a bad divorce happen.   That's what is making Trump popular now.   Not Obama, not Bush.

[newtogolf]

I'm going to exit this thread for now, no need to applaud

Trump isn't my guy but I appreciate his attempt to bring certain issues to the fore front.  I find myself defending someone I don't like because he is the only one thus far with the nerve to say the non-politically correct things we need said to start some conversations.

Much like the religion thread we're never going to agree and I know some of you take my comments to heart rather than as objective discussion.  I came here to learn about golf and to share the passion I have for golf.  Threads like the Captains Tips made me realize that I much prefer to talk golf with you all than argue over stupid political points that we'll likely never agree on.

My last comment in this thread;

I will vote for whoever I think will break the chain of career politicians, who convinces me that they love this country as much as I do and can demonstrate a plan to fix it.  Trump is 2 out of 3 so far so he won't get my vote at this point because he hasn't demonstrated he has a plan.

[Gunther]

I'm going to exit this thread for now, no need to applaud  :dance: Trump isn't my guy but I appreciate his attempt to bring certain issues to the fore front.  I find myself defending someone I don't like because he is the only one thus far with the nerve to say the non-politically correct things we need said to start some conversations. Much like the religion thread we're never going to agree and I know some of you take my comments to heart rather than as objective discussion.  I came here to learn about golf and to share the passion I have for golf.  Threads like the Captains Tips made me realize that I much prefer to talk golf with you all than argue over stupid political points that we'll likely never agree on. My last comment in this thread; I will vote for whoever I think will break the chain of career politicians, who convinces me that they love this country as much as I do and can demonstrate a plan to fix it.  Trump is 2 out of 3 so far so he won't get my vote at this point because he hasn't demonstrated he has a plan. :beer:

Agree with every single word here. I'm out too.

[Golfingdad]

I'm going to exit this thread for now, no need to applaud  :dance: Trump isn't my guy but I appreciate his attempt to bring certain issues to the fore front.  I find myself defending someone I don't like because he is the only one thus far with the nerve to say the non-politically correct things we need said to start some conversations. Much like the religion thread we're never going to agree and I know some of you take my comments to heart rather than as objective discussion.  I came here to learn about golf and to share the passion I have for golf.  Threads like the Captains Tips made me realize that I much prefer to talk golf with you all than argue over stupid political points that we'll likely never agree on. My last comment in this thread; I will vote for whoever I think will break the chain of career politicians, who convinces me that they love this country as much as I do and can demonstrate a plan to fix it.  Trump is 2 out of 3 so far so he won't get my vote at this point because he hasn't demonstrated he has a plan. :beer:

[quote name="Gunther" url="/t/82688/donald-trump-for-president/750#post_1200475"] Agree with every single word here. I'm out too.[/quote]Me three! #commonground!!!!!

[DaveP043]

I've largely ignored this thread, other than for its entertainment value, but I have just a single thought to add.  In 2009 Donald Trump bought Lowes Island Golf Club in Virginia.  I knew the director of golf at Lowes at the time, as he'd started his career as an assistant pro at my club.  I got a chance to talk to him over that summer, and of course I asked him what it was like working for Trump.  He told me that Trump has more personal magnetism and charisma than anyone he'd ever met.  Trump occasionally would call him in the middle of the night about something, and by the end of the conversation my friend would be absolutely ready to jump out of bed and run though walls for Trump.  Trump didn't care what the members wanted, and at times didn't care about what local government regulations would allow, he simply did things exactly the way he wanted to do them.

In my mind, this is both Trump's biggest asset, and his biggest drawback.  His single-minded pursuit of his goals is admirable (assuming you agree with his goals, of course), but I find it hard to believe his approach can be effective in a job where you need to get some kind of consensus from Congress to get anything done.

[rkim291968]

In my mind, this is both Trump's biggest asset, and his biggest drawback.  His single-minded pursuit of his goals is admirable (assuming you agree with his goals, of course), but I find it hard to believe his approach can be effective in a job where you need to get some kind of consensus from Congress to get anything done.

That has been my point.   He is suited for a strong dictatorship and that works for private business which he can fully controls.   He seems to make all the decisions when running his enterprises.  The POTUS is not that kind of job and a lot more is at stake than making $$$.   E.g, the POTUS is the commander in chief for US.   He controls the lives of our soldiers, and whoever they have to go to war against.  If Trump listens to his own advisers and make sound judgement, that'd be not a problem.  But I have not seen that from Trump.  He behaves like know-it-all, arriving at decisions without doing all due diligence work.  Moreover, he seems to take "if you cross me, I will hurt you" approach when dealing with anyone, re Meygan, Carson, Fiorina, ....    What if he believes Puitin seriously insulted him?  Is he going to tweeter him to death at 3:00 am?

[saevel25]

Trumps a flat out lier Fact check: Donald Trump said he never lobbied Jeb Bush for casinos in Florida. At the prime-time debate, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush knocked Trump, saying, "The one guy that had special interests that I know of that tried to get me to change my views and was generous and gave me money was Donald Trump. He wanted casino gambling in Florida." Trump flatly replied, "No, I didn't." RELATED: Jeb Bush: The man who killed Trump's casino dreams But Trump actually did lobby Bush for casino gambling in Florida, and he ultimately lost. Trump hosted a high-dollar fundraiser for Bush in 1998, shortly before he won office, and gave $50,000 to the Florida Republican Party. But upon taking office, Bush stuck to his stance against gambling and Trump's proposed casino never materialized.

[rkim291968]

Trumps a flat out lier

Fact check: Donald Trump said he never lobbied Jeb Bush for casinos in Florida.

At the prime-time debate, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush knocked Trump, saying, "The one guy that had special interests that I know of that tried to get me to change my views and was generous and gave me money was Donald Trump. He wanted casino gambling in Florida."

Trump flatly replied, "No, I didn't."

RELATED: Jeb Bush: The man who killed Trump's casino dreams

But Trump actually did lobby Bush for casino gambling in Florida, and he ultimately lost. Trump hosted a high-dollar fundraiser for Bush in 1998, shortly before he won office, and gave $50,000 to the Florida Republican Party. But upon taking office, Bush stuck to his stance against gambling and Trump's proposed casino never materialized.

He has been a liar throughout his campaign, likely, all his life.   Nothing new there but I am glad everyone got to see what he really is on prime time.   Most of his opponents came ready for him, with CNN help setting the stage for exposing Trump.  If Trump didn't like Meygan's questions, he has no reason to like the way CNN moderated the debate.  More importantly, Trump didn't rise to the occasion.   He looked like a boy among men (including Fiorina).   He kept repeating the personal attacks, and the same rhetoric without offering specifics.    Will see if the next poll numbers will align with my assessment of the debate.

BTW, I am hugely disappointed in CNN's debate moderation.  Fox did a much better job.

[saevel25]

-Trump states that walker lost 2.2 billion and has a budget deficit.

Truth: Wisconsin is a balanced budget state. They can't have a deficit. In 2014 they were projected to have a 1 billion surplus going into 2015-17. That became a 2.2 billion shortfall. It was just the difference between expected revenues and the amount of money requested by state agencies. The shortfall never became a deficit.

-Trump says Mexico doesn't have a Birthright Citizenship.

Truth: They do, " The Mexican Constitution says the Mexican "nationality" is obtained by birth if the person is born "within the Republic’s territory whatever their parents’ nationality might be," among other circumstances."

-Trump says we are the highest taxed nation in the world

Truth: Depending on the type of tax you are looking at we are either in the middle or on the lighter end of taxation.

-Trump says our companies are moving into Mexico more than almost any other place.

Truth: China beats out Mexico, but Mexico still gets a lot of our companies outsourcing.

-Trump says illegal immigration wasn't on anyone's mind before he entered the race

Truth: The amount of times illegal immigrants was mentioned on Fox News is equal before and after Trump entered the race. He had no influence on this subject.

-Trump says Black income unemployment worse now than just about ever.

Truth: It's been higher in the past. Actually it has improved significantly under Obama's administration.

It's amazing how much BS this man can say

[Kenny Lee]

Trump's a savage.

But he isn't running for president. He is toying with everyone.

[Patch]

Well, he seemed to hold his own against those other (very political) candidates last night. I watched about an hour of it. I thought the only thing missing was a game show score counter behind each contestant.

Trump, unless he drops out, or the GOP bigwigs, and their media screws him out of it, should win the Elephant Party's nomination. Once nominated, he can start campaigning for those 270 votes needed for him to be elected the next potus.

I think Trump's only future problem "might" be who he would select for his VP. A wrong choice there, could cost him the election.

[Elmer]

Watched bits of the debate last night.

I am disappointed with Trump.

Jeb Bush was touting his brother's record for keeping us safe.

Trump staring right at him had every opportunity to remind him that 9/11 happened on bush's watch.

I can't stand how Bush and his ilk will tell you GWB kept us safe, forgetting that 1 major event or the 13 embassy attacks.

As a NY'er and as someone who knows people who were down there, or lost people it is always amazing to me when a politician tailors this event to suit their dialogue.

Trump had every opportunity to call Bush out on this and did nothing!!!!

[saevel25]

9/11 would have happened on Clinton's watch as well or any president who was in office at the time.

Actually it was 12 attacks on US diplomatic facilities, only half were embassies.

Let's put it this way. It is IMPOSSIBLE to stop Gorilla warefare from happening. It's the reason why the USA, a superior fighting force pretty much got trounced in Vietnam. This is Gorilla Warfare in modern terms. You have small, very hard to detect groups of people who basically hit and run, or hit and die in some cases. You can't stop it. You can only retaliate. The only way you stop that is by somehow get rid of every weapon in the middle east. It's impossible. To say that Bush let it happened is ignorant to the fact that you can't stop it.

Yes, I don't really like that Bush is using his brothers clout to bolster his campaign. Not a big fan of that tactic.

I don't care if Trump didn't call him out. Probably because Trump had no clue about it. Also because Trump would probably say something incorrect and just basically think he's saying the truth and lie about it if he is called out on it.

Trumps tactic is

First, make outrageous claims even if you are lying

Second, never admit you lied or you are wrong

Third, be an assclown as much as possible

Fourth, make the whole system a big clown show so you can be the biggest assclown as possible

[rkim291968]

Well, he seemed to hold his own against those other (very political) candidates last night. I watched about an hour of it. I thought the only thing missing was a game show score counter behind each contestant.

Trump, unless he drops out, or the GOP bigwigs, and their media screws him out of it, should win the Elephant Party's nomination. Once nominated, he can start campaigning for those 270 votes needed for him to be elected the next potus.

I think Trump's only future problem "might" be who he would select for his VP. A wrong choice there, could cost him the election.

Just about every pundit rated Trump's performance as average or worse.  None thought he did well.   Whereas everyone else appears to come with better debate plan/strategy than the 1st debate, Trump stuck to his same broad brush rhetoric and threw more insults.   I don't think he gained new supporters.   If anything, he may have lost some of his supporters to Fiorina, Bush, and others.

In 2nd half hour of debate, Trump was less present.  I think it was b/c he didn't have enough subject knowledge to jump into the foray.

[Elmer]

9/11 would have happened on Clinton's watch as well or any president who was in office at the time.

Actually it was 12 attacks on US diplomatic facilities, only half were embassies.

Let's put it this way. It is IMPOSSIBLE to stop Gorilla warefare from happening. It's the reason why the USA, a superior fighting force pretty much got trounced in Vietnam. This is Gorilla Warfare in modern terms. You have small, very hard to detect groups of people who basically hit and run, or hit and die in some cases. You can't stop it. You can only retaliate. The only way you stop that is by somehow get rid of every weapon in the middle east. It's impossible. To say that Bush let it happened is ignorant to the fact that you can't stop it.

Yes, I don't really like that Bush is using his brothers clout to bolster his campaign. Not a big fan of that tactic.

I don't care if Trump didn't call him out. Probably because Trump had no clue about it. Also because Trump would probably say something incorrect and just basically think he's saying the truth and lie about it if he is called out on it.

Trumps tactic is

First, make outrageous claims even if you are lying

Second, never admit you lied or you are wrong

Third, be an assclown as much as possible

Fourth, make the whole system a big clown show so you can be the biggest assclown as possible

If I recall the Republicans called Clinton out for bombing the Taliban as a means to distract from the Lewinsky affair.

But who knows it would have happened under anyone else. Maybe, maybe not!

But using their logic that Bush kept us safe, (not counting 9/11 and 12 over seas attacks). how do they reconcile Obama has made us "unsafe", when he has had no attacks on American soil and benghazi (BENGHAZI!!!!!!!)?

To bring this back to topic, I think Trump will start to lag, since he will not have specific foriegn policy talking points. He is not a polished candidate like the others. The closer we get to the finish line, the more the voters want that flashy, polished candidate, no matter how much they say they dont want a politician!