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Originally posted by passer:
Surely everybody, including Trump himself, acknowledges that he isn't going to be elected as POTUS. Based on that premise, and his great wealth, and his narcissistic personality, and his realization that he can take advantage of the free speech maxim he so abuses, he's just an everyday sociopath who's having a laugh at everyone's expense, for his own amusement, because there's no-one to stop him. Perhaps he hopes to trigger an uprising or something, without considering that such an event would almost certainly result in the loss of all the manifestations of mammon upon which he rests, and the disappearance of his hangers-on. There's a phrase in a song:

"A piece of the action, pieces of gold, everyone's paid well and does what they're told"


I do wonder who will turn up for his funeral, when that eventually comes to pass. There will be a lot of people quietly making lists of those attendees!

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Barnabas62: If so, then I think he may actually be "in it to win it" now, given the success of his outrageous posturing.

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Originally posted by saysay:
If I had to guess, I'd say he's treating it like a reality TV show. Part reality, part reality manipulated by the producers. It's a game he wants to win for the sake of winning and he hasn't given much thought to what would happen if he actually did.

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Originally posted by Brenda Clough:
A sensible American's take on the Donald.

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Originally posted by saysay:
Voting him off the island is the only way he'll get my vote.

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Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
What the hell, let Trump come over, and give him the welcome he deserves.

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Originally posted by passer:
This is a rather good analysis of the Trump phenomenon.

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Originally posted by Honest Ron Bacardi:

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Originally posted by passer:
This is a rather good analysis of the Trump phenomenon.

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To a large extent, what is missing from all this stuff is some sort of cogent analysis as to why such a amateurish loon as Trump has ever made it to the top of the dung-heap.

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Where is the viable alternative narrative that will convince his current supporters that they are on a wild goose chase?

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In what sense does the John Scalzi column above not do that (other than provide some form of exculpatory reasoning that will allow blame to be avoided by both the participants, and the conservative strategists who have used triangulation to drive politics rightwards).

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It sounds like you are laying the blame for the right ratcheting up dog whistle politics at the feet of the left.

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Originally posted by saysay:
If I had to guess, I'd say he's treating it like a reality TV show. Part reality, part reality manipulated by the producers. It's a game he wants to win for the sake of winning and he hasn't given much thought to what would happen if he actually did.

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Originally posted by saysay:

Here's a different take on why he's so popular.

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I do find this article to be an accurate indication of why Trump is so popular, but not for the reasons the article states.

Sure, there is liberal extremism, and that certainly doesn't help Dems appeal to mainstream moderate Republicans. But when the author slams liberals for things like recognizing/ addressing transgender issues he shows his true colors. He represents the so-called moderate wing of the GOP: appalled by Trump's over-the-top hate-filled rhetoric and worried about the inevitable destruction to the party, but unable to see their own culpability. Unable to see they are still spouting hate and denying science-- but in a quieter, more genteel way that sounds "moderate" when you're standing next to the ranting loon that is Trump. And then having the audacity to blame liberals for it.

Yeah.

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"Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid." -Frederick Buechner

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Originally posted by Doublethink.:
That petition has now passed 100,000 signatures.

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cliffdweller: Winning-- being the best, coming out on top-- is everything. In the end, the job itself will be too much work for too little pay for someone like the Donald.

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Originally posted by Eutychus:

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Originally posted by Doublethink.:
That petition has now passed 100,000 signatures.

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You made me sign something online. That is some kind of precedent.

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Brenda Clough: You can hire people to do all that sort of thing for you, the same way you hire gardeners and people to iron your laundry.

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Originally posted by Honest Ron Bacardi:
The right wing can take the blame for all their sleazy corruption and the rest of it. I am pointing out that if the left wing (or in the case of America, whoever these days looks after their interest, which is probably no-one) cannot provide a more compelling narrative for the working class than the farcical lies of Donald Trump, then does it not occur to you that there may be a colossal problem in that department?

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chris stiles: Sure, and I'd agree with arguments that the parties of the left have lost their way (largely by adopting a neo-liberal agenda and accompanying narrative).

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Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
I wonder if Trump's ideas, if put into practice, would create much greater radicalization of young Muslims, not just in the US, but in other countries. I suppose you could also argue that even if not put into practice, this may happen.

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Originally posted by lilBuddha:
A massive problem in America, and the U.K., is money. The money it takes to be in politics at a serious level means that the working-class is ever more irrelevant as those who claim to be on the left have much more in common with their Tory/republican opponents than they do their supposed constituents.
Trump succeeds through fear and through frustration.

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Originally posted by passer:
I was interested in this article on Corbyn, reflecting on "Britain’s permanent political class". With the Bush and Clinton clans to the fore, perhaps the finances involved are pushing the US in that direction also.

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Originally posted by passer:

Or perhaps Trump is such a scumbag that he truly appeals to the lowest echelons of the educationally and ethically and morally challenged.

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Originally posted by Golden Key:
saysay--

I don't understand why you chose this particular link. Would you help me understand, please?

AIUI, Pat Buchanan is saying that the liberal media are driving everyday GOP folks towards Trump, by leveling the same criticisms at both for being politically incorrect.

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His popularity is traceable to the fact that he rejects the moral authority of the media, breaks their commandments and mocks their condemnations. His contempt for the norms of political correctness is daily on display.

And that large slice of America that detests a media whose public approval now rivals that of Congress relishes this defiance. The last thing these folks want Trump to do is to apologize to the press.

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Yet, now that the fourth estate is as discredited as the clergy in 1789, the larger problem is that there is no arbiter of truth, morality and decency left whom we all respect. Like fourth-century Romans, we barely agree on what those terms mean anymore.

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Except...Trump has said a bunch of thoroughly racist stuff. And, from various of your past posts, racism is something you're very much against.

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Quoted by saysay: His popularity is traceable to the fact that he rejects the moral authority of the media, breaks their commandments and mocks their condemnations.

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Originally posted by saysay:
I've just read way to many media pieces about what Trump supporters really think and really feel and what is actually motivating them by people who appear to have never actually spoken to a Trump supporter.

But I think he makes some valid points about at least one of the factors driving Trump's popularity. People like the fact that he's holding his middle finger up to the media. A lot of people really hate the media but are dependent on it for information. Trump is doing what people wish they could do.

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Sure, and I'd agree with arguments that the parties of the left have lost their way (largely by adopting a neo-liberal agenda and accompanying narrative). However, ISTM that to dwell on that in isolation ignores a fairly important problem of agency.

Supporters of Trump (and others) are demonstrating that they believe some form of weaponised viciousness towards some 'other' is the answer to their problems. I'm not sure that they wouldn't find social democracy (coupled by whatever level of economic critique) to be a fairly bland answer

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Originally posted by cliffdweller:
But when the author slams liberals for things like recognizing/ addressing transgender issues he shows his true colors.

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Originally posted by saysay:

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Originally posted by cliffdweller:
But when the author slams liberals for things like recognizing/ addressing transgender issues he shows his true colors.

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And yet he doesn't. He criticizes Progressivism. And its Humpty Dumpty habit of making words mean whatever it wants them to mean and expecting the masses to accept it.

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Of the choices on tap, the establishment is the least of all evils and the only conceivable route to a non-Trump, non-progressive presidency next year.

<snip>

The author advises Marco Rubio's campaign for president.

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Originally posted by Crœsos:
Mr. Miller's article was lengthy, but its entire purpose can be summed up from two lines near the end.

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What Are Typical Hate Speech Targets?

Hate speech is typically directed towards another person or group on the grounds of race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, colour, ethnic origin and religion. Hate speech can be shown in many forms, typically verbal abuse, written speeches, harassment or gestures. The intention of hate speech is to harass and distress the intended target. In many cases the use of hate speech can incite violence from one group towards another.

What UK Laws Offer Protection Against Hate Speech?

There is no actual law against hate speech itself in the UK. Legal protection is provided under various statutes. The Public Order Act 1986 forbids racial hatred against individuals of groups including colour, race, ethnic origin and nationality. This can include threatening behaviour and written material that is designed to cause harassment and distress. In 2006; The Public Order Act was been amended to include religious hatred. In 2008, the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act amended the Public Order Act to forbid the incitement of hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation.

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The UK has banned entry to many individuals for hate speech. The same principles should apply to everyone who wishes to enter the UK.

If the United Kingdom is to continue applying the 'unacceptable behaviour' criteria to those who wish to enter its borders, it must be fairly applied to the rich as well as poor, and the weak as well as powerful.

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Originally posted by saysay:

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Originally posted by cliffdweller:
But when the author slams liberals for things like recognizing/ addressing transgender issues he shows his true colors.

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And yet he doesn't. He criticizes Progressivism. And its Humpty Dumpty habit of making words mean whatever it wants them to mean and expecting the masses to accept it.

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