New KJ, I have some questions

[The Lone Ranger]

Trump is first and last a salesman, a very good one considering he started out at one percent and has cleared the the field of 16 other challengers. Like all good salesmen he tells the buyer what he or she wants to hear. The problem comes with the delivery of the finished product. Trump university, Trump airlines, Trump steaks, Trump vodka, etc. etc. etc. He is selling his brand, the real test will come when it comes time to come up with the billions plus dollars it will take to get elected. He as made his life by using other people's money, what is the first rule of all investors that are successful? Never use your own money. He has loaned his campaign 35 million dollars, he says he will finance his own campaign and will not be in the pocket of other rich million and billionaires. He refuses to release his tax returns, what is the reason? Could it be he doesn't have 10 billion dollars, that he pays no taxes, that he doesn't give to charities? For a man who is supposed to radiate confidence, he seems rather insecure.

[wiseguy]

Trump is first and last a salesman, a very good one considering he started out at one percent and has cleared the the field of 16 other challengers. Like all good salesmen he tells the buyer what he or she wants to hear. The problem comes with the delivery of the finished product. Trump university, Trump airlines, Trump steaks, Trump vodka, etc. etc. etc. He is selling his brand, the real test will come when it comes time to come up with the billions plus dollars it will take to get elected. He as made his life by using other people's money, what is the first rule of all investors that are successful? Never use your own money. He has loaned his campaign 35 million dollars, he says he will finance his own campaign and will not be in the pocket of other rich million and billionaires. He refuses to release his tax returns, what is the reason? Could it be he doesn't have 10 billion dollars, that he pays no taxes, that he doesn't give to charities? For a man who is supposed to radiate confidence, he seems rather insecure.

A salesman who flat out lies to his customers is a con man. Trump is also an opportunist in the way he takes advantage of stupid people. I don't think it will be long before it becomes known that Trump is not nearly as well off as he pretends. Certainly more failed business ventures and shady deals will be brought to light. He has been battling lightweights up to this point. The GOP has pretty much dug up the worst they can find (or devise) on Hillary for nearly a decade. Trump will not find much of anything new. On the other hand, Hillary's super pacs will be merciless at exposing Trump's very sordid past.

[The Lone Ranger]

A salesman who flat out lies to his customers is a con man. Trump is also an opportunist in the way he takes advantage of stupid people. I don't think it will be long before it becomes known that Trump is not nearly as well off as he pretends. Certainly more failed business ventures and shady deals will be brought to light. He has been battling lightweights up to this point. The GOP has pretty much dug up the worst they can find (or devise) on Hillary for nearly a decade. Trump will not find much of anything new. On the other hand, Hillary's super pacs will be merciless at exposing Trump's very sordid past.

That is the problem all of these political hacks are liars, who don't care anything about governing only getting the money to continue to stay in office and do nothing. These lobbyists have ruined our political system by the shameless bribing of our elected officials. We are not the first nation to suffer from outright corruption, but we are the one that pretends to be above all of this. The only way to avoid people like Trump from running for office is to take the money out of politics. It has gotten to the point that our Democracy is traded like some kind of stock on the open market. Many good people have quit public office because of the big money in politics corrupting the governing process.

Congress no longer does what is good for the majority of the voters, but rather what is good for American Business, sort of the old argument "what's good for GM is good for America". This is why so many dissatisfied voters have turned to Trump, a similar situation existed in the Weimar Republic before the rise of Hitler. A few brave members have tried to get the money out of politics, every time they pass a reform bill the good old Washington insiders get the measure watered down so they can continue to subvert our government. It has long been said we have the best legal system money can buy, now it seems the same can be said for our political system as well.

[wiseguy]

A salesman who flat out lies to his customers is a con man. Trump is also an opportunist in the way he takes advantage of stupid people. I don't think it will be long before it becomes known that Trump is not nearly as well off as he pretends. Certainly more failed business ventures and shady deals will be brought to light. He has been battling lightweights up to this point. The GOP has pretty much dug up the worst they can find (or devise) on Hillary for nearly a decade. Trump will not find much of anything new. On the other hand, Hillary's super pacs will be merciless at exposing Trump's very sordid past.

That is the problem all of these political hacks are liars, who don't care anything about governing only getting the money to continue to stay in office and do nothing. These lobbyists have ruined our political system by the shameless bribing of our elected officials. We are not the first nation to suffer from outright corruption, but we are the one that pretends to be above all of this. The only way to avoid people like Trump from running for office is to take the money out of politics. It has gotten to the point that our Democracy is traded like some kind of stock on the open market. Many good people have quit public office because of the big money in politics corrupting the governing process.

Congress no longer does what is good for the majority of the voters, but rather what is good for American Business, sort of the old argument "what's good for GM is good for America". This is why so many dissatisfied voters have turned to Trump, a similar situation existed in the Weimar Republic before the rise of Hitler. A few brave members have tried to get the money out of politics, every time they pass a reform bill the good old Washington insiders get the measure watered down so they can continue to subvert our government. It has long been said we have the best legal system money can buy, now it seems the same can be said for our political system as well.

I put the bulk of the blame for all of this on the American voters and those who choose not to vote. All the power is in our hands. People like to bitch about what the government is or isn't doing but can't be bothered to look into what is really going on. They let the media decide what they should believe. When I was a kid I can remember my father and his brothers and friends getting into real discussions about the government and officials. Of course then the news was actually the news and anchors like Walter CronKite, Chet Huntley, and David Brinkley reported the facts. It's harder to sort the truth from the BS now but it is possible with a little effort. If we would hold our elected officials feet to the fire they would do their job or lose it.

[The Lone Ranger]

In an election year already full of strange twists and turns it would seem Mitt Romney is trying behind the curtain to get someone to run as a third party challenger. In a way this is just as good as Game of Thrones, without all the killing of course. It would be nice if the Republicans would split their votes, it would insure the Clinton would win. I personally think it is too late to launch a third party bid. It would cost millions of dollars just in filing fees, and the filing date has passed in states like Texas. Realistically the conservative voter has three choices, support Trump, support Hillary like some will, or stay home and don't vote in protest.

[wiseguy]

In an election year already full of strange twists and turns it would seem Mitt Romney is trying behind the curtain to get someone to run as a third party challenger. In a way this is just as good as Game of Thrones, without all the killing of course. It would be nice if the Republicans would split their votes, it would insure the Clinton would win. I personally think it is too late to launch a third party bid. It would cost millions of dollars just in filing fees, and the filing date has passed in states like Texas. Realistically the conservative voter has three choices, support Trump, support Hillary like some will, or stay home and don't vote in protest.

There is a fourth choice... the write in vote... in 43 states anyway. That would give some Republicans a "way out" of voting for Trump. I think it is a real possibility that that there will be a third party run. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the candidate was Romney. Of course they know they could never win, and that they would be handing over the election to Hillary, but that is how badly they want Trump to lose.

[The Lone Ranger]

Historically write in candidates only get 2 or 3 percent of the vote, so this isn't really a viable fourth alternative. All of the conventional wisdom is that Trump should lose in a general election. Of course the conventional wisdom was wrong, because Bush should have been the choice of the Republican Party not Trump. That is what makes this election so unpredictable, the norms aren't working and we are in uncharted waters.

[wiseguy]

Historically write in candidates only get 2 or 3 percent of the vote, so this isn't really a viable fourth alternative. All of the conventional wisdom is that Trump should lose in a general election. Of course the conventional wisdom was wrong, because Bush should have been the choice of the Republican Party not Trump. That is what makes this election so unpredictable, the norms aren't working and we are in uncharted waters.

Never said it was viable... just a way out for Republicans, who would never vote for Trump or a Democrat, to vote for someone they believe in. If Trump was the Democratic nominee, and being there isn't a single Republican that ran that I would even consider voting for, I would write in a name.

On that note, what do you think Trump's chances would have been if he would have ran as a Democrat?

[The Lone Ranger]

Never said it was viable... just a way out for Republicans, who would never vote for Trump or a Democrat, to vote for someone they believe in. If Trump was the Democratic nominee, and being there isn't a single Republican that ran that I would even consider voting for, I would write in a name.

On that note, what do you think Trump's chances would have been if he would have ran as a Democrat?

Being a salesman first and last, Trump would have adjusted his message to the crowd he is playing to. It would have been more difficult since there were only two candidates on the Democrat side of the primaries. His message would have been on some points similar to Sanders, and if Sanders gets out of the race, some of his supporters might drift to Trump. The Donald took advantage of the big field on the Republican side and picked off the leaders in the early going one by one. Cruz made a major miscalculation in not attacking Trump early on and getting rid of him, instead he embraced Trump hoping to pickup his followers, when Trump threw in the towel. Everyone dismissed Trump as a clown and a fool, and they paid the price. I still think Hillary has the advantage as long as she doesn't squander it. She has to be tough, disciplined, on message, and be a good counter puncher. Both her and Trump are among the most disliked candidates to ever run for the office of President. The latest polls this morning shows how close this race might be, only a 3 point difference. There is still plenty of time before the election, 87% of the Democrats support Hillary and 87% of the Republicans support Trump, can't get tighter than that.

[wiseguy]

Never said it was viable... just a way out for Republicans, who would never vote for Trump or a Democrat, to vote for someone they believe in. If Trump was the Democratic nominee, and being there isn't a single Republican that ran that I would even consider voting for, I would write in a name.

On that note, what do you think Trump's chances would have been if he would have ran as a Democrat?

Being a salesman first and last, Trump would have adjusted his message to the crowd he is playing to. It would have been more difficult since there were only two candidates on the Democrat side of the primaries. His message would have been on some points similar to Sanders, and if Sanders gets out of the race, some of his supporters might drift to Trump. The Donald took advantage of the big field on the Republican side and picked off the leaders in the early going one by one. Cruz made a major miscalculation in not attacking Trump early on and getting rid of him, instead he embraced Trump hoping to pickup his followers, when Trump threw in the towel. Everyone dismissed Trump as a clown and a fool, and they paid the price. I still think Hillary has the advantage as long as she doesn't squander it. She has to be tough, disciplined, on message, and be a good counter puncher. Both her and Trump are among the most disliked candidates to ever run for the office of President. The latest polls this morning shows how close this race might be, only a 3 point difference. There is still plenty of time before the election, 87% of the Democrats support Hillary and 87% of the Republicans support Trump, can't get tighter than that.

I don't think Trump could have gotten anywhere as a Democrat regardless of his positions. Liberals are smarter than conservatives. Liberals would not tolerate being talked to at a 5th grade level. Liberals care about facts. Liberals don't tolerate bigotry. Trump cannot hide his history of bigotry and misogyny. Conservatives look at him as a savior while liberals look at him as a buffoon.

[The Lone Ranger]

I don't think Trump could have gotten anywhere as a Democrat regardless of his positions. Liberals are smarter than conservatives. Liberals would not tolerate being talked to at a 5th grade level. Liberals care about facts. Liberals don't tolerate bigotry. Trump cannot hide his history of bigotry and misogyny. Conservatives look at him as a savior while liberals look at him as a buffoon.

That all might be true wiseguy, but the fact remains that many staunch conservatives feel they can't support Trump because his conversion to their values is a con a scam. Cruz has maintained that The Donald is a closet liberal, and just another Democrat wolf in Republican's sheep's clothing. They both have New York values, and are not mainstream as far as the Republican party is concerned. Maybe Trump wouldn't have succeeded with Liberals, but there is a chance that some Sanders supporters could drift to him, because of his trade positions.

[The Lone Ranger]

I must clarify when I said they both have New York values I meant Hillary and Trump, at least as far as lying Ted is concerned.

[wiseguy]

doesn't answer the question

I don't think Trump could have gotten anywhere as a Democrat regardless of his positions. Liberals are smarter than conservatives. Liberals would not tolerate being talked to at a 5th grade level. Liberals care about facts. Liberals don't tolerate bigotry. Trump cannot hide his history of bigotry and misogyny. Conservatives look at him as a savior while liberals look at him as a buffoon.

That all might be true wiseguy, but the fact remains that many staunch conservatives feel they can't support Trump because his conversion to their values is a con a scam. Cruz has maintained that The Donald is a closet liberal, and just another Democrat wolf in Republican's sheep's clothing. They both have New York values, and are not mainstream as far as the Republican party is concerned. Maybe Trump wouldn't have succeeded with Liberals, but there is a chance that some Sanders supporters could drift to him, because of his trade positions.

Trumps "values" are neither left nor right. They are whatever benefits him personally. Regardless of political affiliation, anyone with an ounce of common sense has to realize that Trump brazenly lies on a regular basis. That he changes his position at the drop of a hat to whatever it "needs" to be at the time. The sad fact is that a large portion of American voters lack that ounce of common sense.

[The Lone Ranger]

Trumps "values" are neither left nor right. They are whatever benefits him personally. Regardless of political affiliation, anyone with an ounce of common sense has to realize that Trump brazenly lies on a regular basis. That he changes his position at the drop of a hat to whatever it "needs" to be at the time. The sad fact is that a large portion of American voters lack that ounce of common sense.

Sounds like a real politician to me, no core beliefs do anything say anything get in bed with anyone just to get elected. If you look at Bush II he spent more money than Bill Clinton who was paying down the debt with surpluses, and Bush was the Conservative. Obama ran on a platform of getting us out of Iraq and Afghanistan, right away, that didn't happen either. It is not so much a lack of common sense, but rather we are so use to news cycles, and sound bits that we only have short term memory, and have lost any sense of historical reference. The one candidate that would do what they say is Sanders, but because of a rigged system he won't even have a chance. Like it or not big money controls this country and the hacks that run it. If Sanders were to get elected he would end up like the Socialist President of Chile did, gunned down, by a C.I.A. backed coup.

[The Lone Ranger]

New polls our today shows a continued narrowing of the race, and Hillary still losing ground to Trump. The unfavorable ratings of both candidates are cause for concern. It will be a case of having to hold your nose and vote for the lesser of two evils. Right now either could be the next President of the United States. It's too late for a third party so we have choices, like it or not.