PDS

Michael: Do you serve Crow Omelettes at this OL Diner? That way I can pay my debts AND do so with appropriate egg on my face at the same time. I am very happy for you and the Gang of Trump here at OL. The word that comes to mind is prescient. That's what you were (and are). And, not that it matters what I hope, but I really hope the best for President-Elect Trump.* I very much look forward to many executive orders being repealed on Day 1. Once he does that, I will be pushing on the bandwagon with all my might. If he appoints a serious constitutionalist to the Supreme Court, I may just jump on that same bandwagon, assuming you guys let me in. *Not unforgotten is my $500 pledge if a balanced budget is signed by Trump into law. I really hope to have to pay up on that pledge, and buy you dinner in Chicago as I pay up..

Okay. But here's the deal: you seem to feel a need "win" every issue when it comes to Trump. Something in you is unwilling to give an inch. Your argument above was that if there is a terrorist attack in Rio, nobody will care how Trump talked to a grieving mother. With respect: no shit, Michael. If there is a terrorist attack in Rio, people are not going to care as much about a lot of different things. And this even assumes a US President can do something about terrorist activity in Brazil, let alone President Trump. I can assure you if the San Andres Fault cracks open tonight, people will also be less concerned with Trump's thin skin and/or his big mouth. But that is not the point. The point I was trying to make is that the man is supposed to be trying to win an election, and actions like this matter. Not Hillary's actions. Not Trump's actions a month ago. No. I am merely talking about Trump's particular actions with regard to a grieving mother. I'll give you an analogy. I am a pretty decent poker player. Literally. Not metaphorically. I play in expensive cash games, I've played in the World Series of Poker, etc. I've studied the game of poker more than most. There is a certain type of poker player: he is the guy that MUST win every hand. He unwilling to throw away a marginal hand. He "calls down" hands he has no business playing. Small pocket pairs look like aces to him. He goes "all in" way too often. And he usually goes home broke. You have become that guy when it comes to Trump. You see your best self in Trump. Trump has awakened something in you that seems to have been dormant a long time. This is well and good, assuming it is a wise thing to so heavily invest in a politician. So you think you are building your chip-stack with this strategy. Who knows. Maybe you are. I have serious doubts. In any event, I think I am going to join Steve W. and take a hiatus from OL until after the election.** **If Trump happens to win, however, be assured I will come here bright and early to eat my crow-sandwich like a man.

Okay. You win. Trump was 100% right once again. I hope he slaps her next time he sees her.

Did Hillary say anything about the women who spoke at the RNC convention? Did she even engage those persons? I will bet one of my two most precious body parts she did not This isn't a question of fairness or press bias. That is a seperste issue. All sentient beings are aware the press is biased and unfair. My point is that if Trump's goal is to win the election, this was a dumb move. Really dumb. Mark my words. This is going to hurt him.

You're 62? Wow. I never would have guessed. I thought you were in your 40's...* *Late 40's...

Trump is 70. Under my analogy, he should have stopped acting like a teenager 56 years ago (plus or minus).

No. The folks you are describing are neither silent, nor a majority.

And no, this isn't "Trump's America", any more than it's Obama's America. Silent Majority, my ass.

Your comment really doesn't make any sense. Maybe I'm missing something.

Right on cue, the mother now speaks. Anybody who thinks this is good for Trump is drinking some strong Kool-Aid.

His comments will be viewed by many who are undecided as an attack, especially mothers. My wife is an example. She is looking for a reason to vote for Trump but his thin skin and big mouth always get him in trouble with her. What was Trump's point? To impress people like Michael. Did you see how impressed Michael was? Trump's the alpha male 8th grader who just LOVES that attention. The problem is that he should have grown out of that about 56 years ago. I'm back to thinking Hillary is going to landslide him big time. Fuggin' Hillary. Probably the worst retail politician in anybody's lifetime.

I wouldn't be too proud of that one, Michael. Attacking the mother of someone who died in war will lose him votes. The people that love Trump trolling may like this the same they used to admire the cool guy in junior high having the guts to do another spit ball, but undecided voters will not. Oh, and this will not help him with women either.

By the way, as long as we're asking the question, what exactly has Hillary sacrificed?

Agreed.

How does this commentary survive Trump's call for a rise in the minimum wage? Some "ideology". I have 28 employees I pay twice a month. What business is it of Trump's to tell me what I'm required to pay them? Or am I being too "purist" in my wish not to be told by Trump what to pay my employees?

From the safety of your keyboard I am sure this sounds like a perfectly reasonable plan. After all, as our friend Greg might say, the women and children get what they deserve, right?

Is picking Mike Pence sort of an establishment pick? And isn't that the first and only thing Trump has done as a potential president? No need to answer.

Women and children too, or just men of a certain age? Let's be specific.

No problem at all, Baal, as long as you are the one picking who goes on the boxcars, and not the one being loaded on them. By the way, did somebody build a bridge across the Mediterranean while I was otherwise distracted, or are the "boxcars" going to be simply dumped on the shores of Tripoli?

I see WSS's previous dismantling of your box car meme did no good, eh?

This does explain a lot. In making this reference, you are giving Trump way too much credit and yourself way too little. I wouldn't invest so much psychologically in a politician if I were you, MSK...

This thread is certainly interesting. The pro-Trump crowd views Trump more like Howard Roark--with some warts that can be lived with. The anti-Trump crowd views him more like Peter Keating--maybe with a snarl. But nobody claims that Clinton is like Howard Roark.

You've been a roll lately.

I think this is an excellent argument, if there were only a single issue in play in the election. Alas, that is not what we have. We have foreign policy to be concerned about, for instance. This morning President Obama complained of Trump's lack of understanding of foreign policy. I will say this: it would be very difficult to for a president to screw up foreign policy any worse than Obama has--whatever his level of knowledge. A cold-eyed recognition of this fact blunts many concerns that I would otherwise have about Trump's lack of foreign policy knowledge, his instincts, or his jarring thin-skinnedness (assuming this is a word...).

Tee hee. Well played.