Countdown to Extinction: The 2016 Presidential Election

[Brian]

Yes, it should say something about the political current Trump is tapping into that he's polling so well despite the nasty elements of his character. You are eliding the fact he's tapping into some legitimate issues. The elites of both parties are hoping that emphasizing his character flaws will overwhelm the populism which he's ignited and for which neither party seems to care for.

This is true to some degree. Trump has exposed, and brought to the foreground, a prominent populist movement founded (mainly) on racism and ignorance. One might say his achievement is to "smoke out" the radical elements which had been hiding before.

Unfortunately, I do not think it will be at all productive if our immigration debate is reduced and dumbed down from debates over serious policy proposals to a straight "are immigrants good?" ultimatum.

[ibanezmonster]

[Karl Henning]

This is true to some degree. Trump has exposed, and brought to the foreground, a prominent populist movement founded (mainly) on racism and ignorance. One might say his achievement is to "smoke out" the radical elements which had been hiding before.

Unfortunately, I do not think it will be at all productive if our immigration debate is reduced and dumbed down from debates over serious policy proposals to a straight "are immigrants good?" ultimatum.

You didn't think asking Ramos, "Are gangs bad?" seemed . . . Presidential?

[Ken B]

This is true to some degree. Trump has exposed, and brought to the foreground, a prominent populist movement founded (mainly) on racism and ignorance. One might say his achievement is to "smoke out" the radical elements which had been hiding before.

Unfortunately, I do not think it will be at all productive if our immigration debate is reduced and dumbed down from debates over serious policy proposals to a straight "are immigrants good?" ultimatum.

Double. By which I mean to challenge your unsupported accusations of ignorance and racism. Got evidence? Better yet, can you explain how low-skill workers will not be adversely affected, and hence why they should be unconcerned, and the difference between guest worker programs as currently implemented and immigration?

[kishnevi]

The people are picking up on the hypocrisy of political elites. Here's Thomas Friedman's latest column:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/26/opinion/thomas-friedman-bonfire-of-the-assets-with-trump-lighting-matches.html

It's very easy for the likes of Thomas Friedman and Chuck Schumer to have these sort of sentiments because they both have an ethnically exclusive backup country in the form of Israel.

This is not the first time you have exposed yourself as someone who hates Jews.

[kishnevi]

Double. By which I mean to challenge your unsupported accusations of ignorance and racism. Got evidence? Better yet, can you explain how low-skill workers will not be adversely affected, and hence why they should be unconcerned, and the difference between guest worker programs as currently implemented and immigration?

The ignorance is proved by the kneejerk rejection of any reasonable attempt to reform immigration as "amnesty", and to insist on a secure border...which is not possible until we reduce the flow of illegal immigrants by allowing more of them to enter through legal immigration.  And the opposition does not come from low skilled workers, but from the white middle class that is the core if the GOP.

[lisa needs braces]

Jeez whiz...how does Israel deal with unwanted non-Jewish immigrants? Oh that's right...it deports them en masse immediately.

Israel also surreptitiously gave a fertility suppressant to Ethiopian Jews after the PR coup of letting them in wore off.

It's also perfectly legitimate to wonder why Chuck Schumer and many of his ilk are so eager about amnesty but are silent on Israel's aggressive guarding of its demographics.

Anti-semite: Someone who the Jews don't like.

[lisa needs braces]

The ignorance is proved by the kneejerk rejection of any reasonable attempt to reform immigration as "amnesty", and to insist on a secure border...which is not possible until we reduce the flow of illegal immigrants by allowing more of them to enter through legal immigration.  And the opposition does not come from low skilled workers, but from the white middle class that is the core if the GOP.

So, reduce the flow of illegal immigrants by allowing the would be illegal immigrants to come here legally?

Some thought process you have there!

[lisa needs braces]

All I'm saying is that the citizens of this country have as much right to guard their demographics as Israel does, and it's ASTOUNDINGLY hypocritical for someone to approve of Israel's ethno-nationalism while fearing and deploring that aspect in America, and I'm seeing much of that in certain East Coast liberal media publications.

[lisa needs braces]

Nationalism for me, but not for thee!!

[Purusha]

This is true to some degree. Trump has exposed, and brought to the foreground, a prominent populist movement founded (mainly) on racism and ignorance. One might say his achievement is to "smoke out" the radical elements which had been hiding before.

Unfortunately, I do not think it will be at all productive if our immigration debate is reduced and dumbed down from debates over serious policy proposals to a straight "are immigrants good?" ultimatum.

Ho, he is in fact smoking out all the radical elements that seem to infect our society. Its just that those radical elements all come from the left.

[Karl Henning]

This is not the first time you have exposed yourself as someone who hates Jews.

Well, and here we have someone defending Trump, and himself a bigot.  Who could have foreseen it?

[Karl Henning]

State Department officials routinely sent secrets over email

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2015/0826/State-Department-officials-routinely-sent-secrets-over-email-video

Call it a quirk of mine, but Did no more than was required to is hardly a commendation for the Presidency.

[Ken B]

State Department officials routinely sent secrets over email

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2015/0826/State-Department-officials-routinely-sent-secrets-over-email-video

Call it a quirk of mine, but Did no more than was required to is hardly a commendation for the Presidency.

Indeed. We are more careful with customers' addresses in our systems. This sort of thing gets people fired in the real world. Little people I mean, not rich ones with clout and campaign committees.

[Ken B]

From the platform:

[W]e must remain a nation of laws. We cannot tolerate illegal immigration and we must stop it. For years [...], Washington talked tough but failed to act...our borders might as well not have existed. The border was under-patrolled, and what patrols there were, were under-equipped. Drugs flowed freely. Illegal immigration was rampant. Criminal immigrants, deported after committing crimes in America, returned the very next day to commit crimes again.

Here http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29611

[Karl Henning]

Indeed. We are more careful with customers' addresses in our systems. This sort of thing gets people fired in the real world. Little people I mean, not rich ones with clout and campaign committees.

Yes.

[Purusha]

The real reason why Trump is popular:

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

[Purusha]

Well, and here we have someone defending Trump, and himself a bigot.  Who could have foreseen it?

Well, in all fairness, Jews can be bigots too:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jesse-benn/towards-a-concept-of-whit_b_7985986.html

Articles like this are another reason why Trump is popular. Or stuff like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRJnkBqwzOQ

Let's all keep pretending there isn't a problem with the radical left in the west and that this isn't what's causing people to move towards the hard-right as a counter measure. No no, the left never does anything wrong. Their track record is totally pure and immaculate. I mean, people being persecuted because of their opinions?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DTxwZggnbM

Why, we never saw stuff like this happening before.

[Karl Henning]

Well, in all fairness, Jews can be bigots too:

You have a curious, and indeed distasteful, notion of "fairness."

[Ken B]

Trump 1, Press 0
I didn't watch it all, but watch the first few minutes and then, after Ramos is back in, a few starting at the 18:00 mark.  http://youtu.be/d2Z7k75SnN4
This is a seriously impressive display. He seems genuine, sharp, and most importantly honest. (I am not saying he is; I am pointing out how unlike a scripted panderer he seems.)
(He also seems egotistical of course).