I just can't figure out what the hell Trump is doing

[Anonymous]

First, let me make it clear that I am not a Trump supporter but I find this election fascinating and worrisome given that both the major nominees are seriously flawed candidates.

There is something bizarre about how Trump has reacted to the Khan controversy. He just seems to be digging himself into a deeper hole when he should have just left it with praise for the son who died serving his country. He was baited into the attacking the Khans and just fell for it and even now he will not let it go when there are so many other issues that he could focus on where the Clinton is vulnerable whether it is jobs, trade, the economy or how she lied in the interview with Wallace.

Having said this, I am cautious because he seems to have a certain instinctive feel for the sensitivities of many Americans as evidenced by how he has overcome so many other screw ups which would have killed anyone else's campaign. I once heard Jeff Greenfield when Trump was into the primaries and leading to everyone's surprise that Trump had what Greenfield referred to as a "feral instinct" for the aspirations and sensitivities of many Americans.

The so-called experts have been just completely wrong on so many occasions. I remember after the RNC convention and Trump's speech the talking heads on CNN were ranting about how Trump's speech was "dark" and pessimistic and had been a disaster. About an hour later, CNN's own instant poll showed that 75% of those polled thought the speech was very good or good! The talking heads criticizing Trump then shut up about his speech.

So despite what seems a fiasco by Trump in how he is dealing with the Khans, I wonder if his approach, given how he has fared in the past with other controversies, may be successful despite all the odds and despite what conventional wisdom would suggest.

[Anonymous]

Trump can't admit he's wrong. He can't let anything slide. It's too hard for his fragile ego.

There's no sense of the bigger picture or the greater good or all that. It's all about how he feels people should treat Donald Trump and being liked.

It's all about appearances and facades. No substance. He cares what other people think because that's all he has.

[Anonymous]

Yes it will be successful. A lot of Americans love the "never back down" mentality. Right or wrong, Trump stands by what he says and doesn't back down. People respect that, believe it or not.

[Anonymous]

Trump can't figure out what he's doing or saying either. How many times has the man had to clarify what he "meant" just in the past few months, most recently about his comments about Russia and Crimea, or that he was being "sarcastic" or it was "metaphorical".

I thought he was the man who says what he means.

[Anonymous]

This election is so fucking depressing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trump can't admit he's wrong. He can't let anything slide. It's too hard for his fragile ego.

There's no sense of the bigger picture or the greater good or all that. It's all about how he feels people should treat Donald Trump and being liked.

It's all about appearances and facades. No substance. He cares what other people think because that's all he has.

But the reality is that he not only won the nomination, he has actually done fairly well in the polls against Clinton since becoming the nominee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trump can't admit he's wrong. He can't let anything slide. It's too hard for his fragile ego.

There's no sense of the bigger picture or the greater good or all that. It's all about how he feels people should treat Donald Trump and being liked.

It's all about appearances and facades. No substance. He cares what other people think because that's all he has.

And psychologically, people have been groomed for being told what to do. The country is ripe and ready for the pickin'! So they'll look to Donald as someone with a backbone, someone who appears confident and strong - unwavering. There are enough clips on Hillary showing how she's changed positions as often as she's changed her underwear.

It is what it is. 

[Anonymous]

I agree with you, pp. He could have easily let this go. Hell, Fox News cut away from the Khan's entirely during the actual speech, so half (or more!) of trump's supporters didn't even see it.

But you're right, he can't let anything go, and he gets away with it. He just blusters his way through. You have to imagine there will come something he can't bluster through, but he literally has no shame. If you never admit you are wrong and just keep repeating outrageous things over and over, eventually the media moves on. Will he outlast this? I really don't know.

And I don't know the response to counter this. Khan at least seems strong enough to keep pushing back. Maybe it'll keep him rattled and looking "unpresidential."

Because, I'll admit this - i'm a liberal D who is eager to vote for Hilary. And when i watched the speech by Khan, I had this little though in the back of my head - hmm, that's weird, why is she standing there not talking? What Trump does well is take things that do appear a little off and just running with them. As normal human being, once she did talk, I understand why she didn't that night.

Trump is resetting all the rules for what is acceptable in public discourse. It's fascinating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes it will be successful. A lot of Americans love the "never back down" mentality. Right or wrong, Trump stands by what he says and doesn't back down. People respect that, believe it or not.

Yes, it's unAmerican to be humble and compassionate these days.

Trump doesn't even know what he's saying half the time. He's always having to clarify himself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trump can't admit he's wrong. He can't let anything slide. It's too hard for his fragile ego.

There's no sense of the bigger picture or the greater good or all that. It's all about how he feels people should treat Donald Trump and being liked.

It's all about appearances and facades. No substance. He cares what other people think because that's all he has.

But the reality is that he not only won the nomination, he has actually done fairly well in the polls against Clinton since becoming the nominee.

Yes, I don't know why it appeals to people. But we know narcissists are good at drawing people in, despite their abusive tendencies.

One way they do is by making you feel loved/special while rejecting others. "All those other people are terrible, but you're special, wonderful, you get me." They make you feel like you're part of a special, elite group. In this case it's poor, disenfranchised whites and/or racists and/or people who believe in some sort of nostalgic America that never really existed.

Another way is by channeling peoples feelings without forcing them to confront the reasons behind them. Scapegoating rather than solving. They make you feel better without resolving anything.

I'm sure there are others.

[Anonymous]

My brother and I had been hoping Trump was a mad genius who got control of the political party and was "throwing" the election in order to get Hillary elected. But now we've agreed he's just an ego-maniac, the likes of which haven't been seen since Hitler.

[Anonymous]

When Trump was asked what sacrifices he had made, a far better response than the one he gave would have been to say that he has spent $50 million of his own money on this campaign and he did it because he wanted to serve his country which he felt was in trouble based on current policies.

He did not need to spend the money or undergo the pressures of a campaign including the attacks on him but it was important to him to do what he could for a country that had given him so many opportunities.

[jsteele]

Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo has written extensively about what he calls "dominance politics" which he believes explains Trump. Using my words rather than Marshall's, this concept is sort of like the idea of being the alpha dog in a pack. Trump's success lies in not only beating his opponents, but utterly dominating them. Chris Christie is the best example of a tough guy bully who was beat down to the point of going out for Trump's McDonald's orders. But even John McCain was insulted, humiliated, treated like crap, but then endorsed Trump. Rubio is another example, going from "Little Marco" to endorsing and campaigning for Trump. Trump really knows no other way to behave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First, let me make it clear that I am not a Trump supporter but I find this election fascinating and worrisome given that both the major nominees are seriously flawed candidates.

There is something bizarre about how Trump has reacted to the Khan controversy. He just seems to be digging himself into a deeper hole when he should have just left it with praise for the son who died serving his country. He was baited into the attacking the Khans and just fell for it and even now he will not let it go when there are so many other issues that he could focus on where the Clinton is vulnerable whether it is jobs, trade, the economy or how she lied in the interview with Wallace.

Having said this, I am cautious because he seems to have a certain instinctive feel for the sensitivities of many Americans as evidenced by how he has overcome so many other screw ups which would have killed anyone else's campaign. I once heard Jeff Greenfield when Trump was into the primaries and leading to everyone's surprise that Trump had what Greenfield referred to as a "feral instinct" for the aspirations and sensitivities of many Americans.

The so-called experts have been just completely wrong on so many occasions. I remember after the RNC convention and Trump's speech the talking heads on CNN were ranting about how Trump's speech was "dark" and pessimistic and had been a disaster. About an hour later, CNN's own instant poll showed that 75% of those polled thought the speech was very good or good! The talking heads criticizing Trump then shut up about his speech.

So despite what seems a fiasco by Trump in how he is dealing with the Khans, I wonder if his approach, given how he has fared in the past with other controversies, may be successful despite all the odds and despite what conventional wisdom would suggest.

What do you mean both of the nominees are seriously flawed candidates? Only one of them is.

Every reservation you have about Hillary Clinton is the result of 20 years of relentless right-wing propaganda. Her only "flaw" is not being a particularly good orator in front of crowds. But on matters of policy and general competence, she's more than qualified to be president.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
What do you mean both of the nominees are seriously flawed candidates? Only one of them is.

Every reservation you have about Hillary Clinton is the result of 20 years of relentless right-wing propaganda. Her only "flaw" is not being a particularly good orator in front of crowds. But on matters of policy and general competence, she's more than qualified to be president.

I am voting for HRC, but don't kid yourself. She is seriously flawed, too. As much as Trump has a PR problem, so does Hillary. That's why Sanders was so popular. But, I agree, she is way more qualified than Trump is or ever could be.