*2016 US Presidential Elections* - Candidates, Statistics, Campaign Timelines, Debates

Mayhem

Mayhem

Banned
D-rock said:
Someday in the future I wonder if we or historians will look back at this time in history as the beginning of the end of the Republican Party. I have to admit it's amusing watching it slowly disintegrate.
Click to expand...

strict machine said:
like Detroit.
Click to expand...

I've never been to Detroit but I've been to the general neighborhood. It's actually pretty sad to see....and "disintegrate" is a very apt description. Outsourcing hit here first and it's a damn shame to see what was and what state it's in now.
 
D

D-rock

strict machine said:
like Detroit.
Click to expand...

They better hope that isn't an apt metaphor for their situation. To be honest though Detroit wasn't that great even before it's fall,...then again neither has the Republican Party been for about 152 years now. I can at least feel for much of Detroit's people, the republicans not so much.
 
The Yak

The Yak

I found this amusing

t3_4w43kq
 
Little Red Wagon Repairman

Little Red Wagon Repairman

MFOMBSoPGA
Add me to the list that is taking a look at Gary Johnson. He, at least, seems like a decent human being. Mine may be a wasted vote but my voting in California is a waste of time anyway.

johnson.jpg
 
Jagger69

Jagger69

Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
Dino Velvet said:
Add me to the list that is taking a look at Gary Johnson. He, at least, seems like a decent human being. Mine may be a wasted vote but my voting in California is a waste of time anyway.

johnson.jpg
Click to expand...

I tend to concur, Dino. If either major party were to embrace a philosophy of fiscal conservatism, personal freedoms and that less government is better government, they would theoretically be unstoppable from my view. Problem is, we've been classically conditioned all our lives to consider the two-party system to be the limitations of our choices. It's all because of money that has bought and paid for politicians within the ranks of those two parties that perpetuates this ongoing travesty. My vote won't affect anything anyway (except from a popular standpoint which, in reality due to the ridiculous electoral college system we use, is without impact) since I live in Texas which is still a solid red state (although demographics are inevitably going to force change to purple and perhaps even blue). I don't like either major nominee at all so Gary Johnson is looking more like my guy. What a shame it is that he won't be participating in the debates nor will he have any legitimate chance at being elected. Lots of my liberal friends disagree....they say a vote for Johnson is, in effect, a vote for Trump. If I lived in a toss-up state, I might have to hold my nose and vote for Clinton simply because she isn't Donald Trump. As it is, I've 90% made up my mind that I'm going Libertarian because that's what my conscience tells me. You may disagree....fine by me. That's what America is all about. Trump, although I do admire his passion, is just too unstable and impulsive (even narcissistic if you look at him closely) to trust to make complicated and rational decisions that we need from our commander-in-chief. The republicans made a huge mistake when they nominated him. With all of Clinton's issues, latest polls show her with double-digit leads in many battleground states over Trump. I wonder what those polls would look like now if a more reasonable candidate were on the republican ticket (fill in the blank with your establishment choice of consideration). My guess is it they would look quite different (and, no, Ted Cruz would not be the answer). Kasich or (I hate to say it) Jeb Bush or even Christie would be much more palatable for not only hard-core conservatives but swing voters and independents as well. As it is, unless there is something that drastically changes between now and the election (totally possible by the way), I see Trump's campaign sinking like the Titanic. He's his own worst enemy and his vanity and lack of diplomatic skills (I mean, the dude has bossed people around his whole life!) won't allow him to tone down the rhetoric, take a more reserved reaction to criticism or consider compromise as an option to gain more votes. That's a fatal flaw in a politician and the reason you are starting to see the rats deserting the ship....more to come I'm afraid unless he can reign himself in. Doubtful to say the least.

We are in such trouble that I can't even describe it. God help us because neither one of these nominees is going to regardless of which one of them wins the election.
 
Straight Shooter

Straight Shooter

Iceman322 said:
Clinton leads Trump by 10 points
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...s-trump-by-10-points-both-seen-as-flawed.html

Clinton leads Trump by 9 points
http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/01/politics/trump-vs-clinton-presidential-polls-election-2016/

Clinton leads Trump by 15 points
http://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-biggest-lead-donald-trump-2016-8
Click to expand...

Clinton is tied with Trump in Utah. A state that hasn't voted Democrat in 50 years
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box...088-utah-poll-clinton-in-dead-heat-with-trump

Clinton and Trump tied at 45% in Georgia
http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2016/0...-donald-trump-and-hillary-clinton-in-georgia/
 
Straight Shooter

Straight Shooter

Iceman322 said:
Clinton is tied with Trump in Utah. A state that hasn't voted Democrat in 50 years
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box...088-utah-poll-clinton-in-dead-heat-with-trump

Clinton and Trump tied at 45% in Georgia
http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2016/0...-donald-trump-and-hillary-clinton-in-georgia/
Click to expand...

Larry Sabato Presents Newest Electoral Map: ‘Not a Landslide, But a Very Healthy Win’ For Clinton
http://www.mediaite.com/online/larr...landslide-but-a-very-healthy-win-for-clinton/

I'm not saying that Clinton is going to win but I'm having a hard time seeing how Trump will win. IMO too much has to go right for him to win. Not only does he have to win the swing states and flip some traditional blue states(PA) but he has to keep the solid red states which at this point is looking 50/50 particularly in Utah and Georgia
 
Little Red Wagon Repairman

Little Red Wagon Repairman

MFOMBSoPGA
Jagger69 said:
I tend to concur, Dino. If either major party were to embrace a philosophy of fiscal conservatism, personal freedoms and that less government is better government, they would theoretically be unstoppable from my view. Problem is, we've been classically conditioned all our lives to consider the two-party system to be the limitations of our choices. It's all because of money that has bought and paid for politicians within the ranks of those two parties that perpetuates this ongoing travesty. My vote won't affect anything anyway (except from a popular standpoint which, in reality due to the ridiculous electoral college system we use, is without impact) since I live in Texas which is still a solid red state (although demographics are inevitably going to force change to purple and perhaps even blue). I don't like either major nominee at all so Gary Johnson is looking more like my guy. What a shame it is that he won't be participating in the debates nor will he have any legitimate chance at being elected. Lots of my liberal friends disagree....they say a vote for Johnson is, in effect, a vote for Trump. If I lived in a toss-up state, I might have to hold my nose and vote for Clinton simply because she isn't Donald Trump. As it is, I've 90% made up my mind that I'm going Libertarian because that's what my conscience tells me. You may disagree....fine by me. That's what America is all about. Trump, although I do admire his passion, is just too unstable and impulsive (even narcissistic if you look at him closely) to trust to make complicated and rational decisions that we need from our commander-in-chief. The republicans made a huge mistake when they nominated him. With all of Clinton's issues, latest polls show her with double-digit leads in many battleground states over Trump. I wonder what those polls would look like now if a more reasonable candidate were on the republican ticket (fill in the blank with your establishment choice of consideration). My guess is it they would look quite different (and, no, Ted Cruz would not be the answer). Kasich or (I hate to say it) Jeb Bush or even Christie would be much more palatable for not only hard-core conservatives but swing voters and independents as well. As it is, unless there is something that drastically changes between now and the election (totally possible by the way), I see Trump's campaign sinking like the Titanic. He's his own worst enemy and his vanity and lack of diplomatic skills (I mean, the dude has bossed people around his whole life!) won't allow him to tone down the rhetoric, take a more reserved reaction to criticism or consider compromise as an option to gain more votes. That's a fatal flaw in a politician and the reason you are starting to see the rats deserting the ship....more to come I'm afraid unless he can reign himself in. Doubtful to say the least.

We are in such trouble that I can't even describe it. God help us because neither one of these nominees is going to regardless of which one of them wins the election.
Click to expand...

I don't think I'd ever register with one political party but there's much less for me to object to as far as what I see with the Libertarians. The stench of a pathological liar like Hillary and someone who sticks his foot in his mouth so often and is baited so easily like Trump make Gary Johnson a breath of fresh air. I wish they'd let Gary Johnson and Jill Stein in the debates so it would be more a contest of ideas with 4 instead of a battle of egos between 2.
 
B

BCsSecretAlias

Closed Account
Straight Shooter

Straight Shooter

Iceman322 said:
Clinton is tied with Trump in Utah. A state that hasn't voted Democrat in 50 years
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box...088-utah-poll-clinton-in-dead-heat-with-trump

Clinton and Trump tied at 45% in Georgia
http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2016/0...-donald-trump-and-hillary-clinton-in-georgia/
Click to expand...

Clinton holds 3-point lead over Trump in Arizona
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box...nton-holds-3-point-lead-over-trump-in-arizona

We're less than 100 days from the election and it looks like three red states(AZ,GA,and UT) are now in play for Clinton.

Jagger69 said:
I wonder what those polls would look like now if a more reasonable candidate were on the republican ticket (fill in the blank with your establishment choice of consideration). My guess is it they would look quite different (and, no, Ted Cruz would not be the answer). Kasich or (I hate to say it) Jeb Bush or even Christie would be much more palatable for not only hard-core conservatives but swing voters and independents as well.
.
Click to expand...

If you put a gun to my head and told me I had to pick between Cruz or Trump for president, I'd pick Cruz in a second. And this is a man with whom I disagree with on almost 99.9% of the issues. That tells you how I feel about Trump
 
B

Bloodshot Scott

The Supreme Court for our children's children is on the line, and Trump's proposed list of Justices is light years better than Hillary.


That alone should cause anyone concern and cause them to vote for Trump (though...Trump more and more looks like a plant who's deliberately trying to throw the whole fuckin' think for Hillary).
 
Mayhem

Mayhem

Banned
Ace Boobtoucher said:
https://imgur.com/gallery/n1VdV

This pretty much firmed up my decision.
Click to expand...

If you're famous for anything, it's your contemplative, nuanced deliberations while weighing both sides of an issue.

Bloodshot Scott said:
The Supreme Court for our children's children is on the line, and Trump's proposed list of Justices is light years better than Hillary.


That alone should cause anyone concern and cause them to vote for Trump (though...Trump more and more looks like a plant who's deliberately trying to throw the whole fuckin' think for Hillary).
Click to expand...

Considering that last sentence.....I really don't understand the first.
 
B

Bloodshot Scott

Mayhem said:
If you're famous for anything, it's your contemplative, nuanced deliberations while weighing both sides of an issue.



Considering that last sentence.....I really don't understand the first.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it really doesn't. This whole scenario/presidential election doesn't make sense.


Trump (in my view - in many people's views) is trying to throw it on purpose for his old friend(s) Clinton, but maybe he will still get in, and therefore the proposed list of Justices would be used.
 
Mayhem

Mayhem

Banned


http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/insiders-to-trump-drop-out-226689
Amid widespread chatter that Donald Trump could drop out of the presidential race before Election Day, Republican insiders in key battleground states have a message for The Donald: Get out.

That’s according to The POLITICO Caucus — a panel of activists, strategists and operatives in 11 swing states. The majority of GOP insiders, 70 percent, said they want Trump to drop out of the race and be replaced by another Republican candidate — with many citing Trump’s drag on Republicans in down-ballot races. But those insiders still think it’s a long-shot Trump would actually end his campaign and be replaced by another GOP candidate.

“I’d rather take our chances with nearly anyone else than continue with this certain loser who will likely cost the Senate and much more,” said a New Hampshire Republican — who, like all respondents, completed the survey anonymously.

“The effect Trump is having on down-ballot races has the potential to be devastating in November,” added a Florida Republican. “His negative image among Hispanics, women and independents is something that could be devastating to Republicans. Trump's divisive rhetoric to the Hispanic community at large has the potential to be devastating for years to come.”

Trump has given no indication that he's considering quitting, and his campaign insists his perseverance is one of his best attributes. But two network reports recently suggested senior GOP leaders were eyeing how that process would work, just in case.

A Trump exit from the race after he's been formally nominated would trigger a rarely used vacancy rule in the national Republican Party's rulebook. That rule empowers the Republican National Committee — a 168-member panel that includes three GOP leaders from every state and territory — to select a replacement. The RNC is also authorized to reconvene the national convention, which would be all but logistically impossible.

The RNC is extremely sensitive to any suggestion that it — the party establishment — is attempting to supplant the will of grassroots Republicans, so invoking this process is already fraught with peril. Yet if the 168 members convened to pick a substitute candidate, each state's votes would be weighted based on the size of their delegation to last month's convention.
In this scenario, Republicans would likely struggle to find a consensus nominee, but immediate options would include Sen. Ted Cruz (the runner-up in the GOP primary), Trump running mate Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Insiders suggested a handful of replacement candidates: A Florida Republican said Ryan “is the only one who can unite the party,” while multiple others plugged Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
But just because GOP insiders want Trump out of the race doesn’t mean they think he will oblige them. Asked about the possibility, a 58-percent majority think it’s certain Trump will stay in through Election Day, including many who want him out of the race. Two insiders compared the odds of Trump dropping out to them winning the Powerball drawing — two extremely unlikely events with relative equal desirability.


“I also wish I could lose 20 pounds, cut 5 shots off my handicap and play the piano,” a New Hampshire Republican added. “None of those things will happen, and neither will Trump drop out.”

“Here is the quandary I find myself in,” an Ohio Republican said. “While I would love for Trump to drop out and anyone else to take the mantle, that kind of talk will only harden his supporters. We cannot let them think we stole this from them. There has never been a better example of ‘damned if you do, damned if you don't.’”
A number of insiders cited Trump’s ego as proof he won’t slink away from the campaign before voters have their say.

“He is an egomaniac,” a Colorado Republican said. “There is no chance he would voluntarily exit the race.”

“He's not going anywhere. His ego wouldn't allow it,” a Virginia Republican added. “He'll dominate the news for the next three months, each day more painful than the last, finally lose, say it was rigged, and get a new [television] show.”

Democrats mostly agreed Trump would see his campaign through to the end. A similar percentage, 55 percent, expressed confidence Trump would stay in the race, while 45 percent said it was possible he could drop out.

“Not for a second do I believe that to be a possibility,” said a New Hampshire Democrat. “His ego is way too big for that. It is also too big to entertain the possibility of a loss. Thus, we see this week the beginning of a very vocal narrative about the ‘rigged’ system that may cost him the election. If he loses, and I believe he will, God help us all because Trump and his minions will foment an uprising of epic proportions.”

A handful of insiders said they wanted Trump to stay in, but not because they believe in his ability to win or capability to serve as president. If Trump stays in and loses, they said, it could help the party heal itself after the election.

“Trump won the nomination,” a Michigan Republican said. “He should lose fair and square. Only then will the party base have to reckon with what they've done.”
“I want Trump to feel the blame for this loss,” added an Iowa Republican, “not put it on the doorstep of ‘the Establishment.’”
The Iowa Republican predicted that rumors of a Trump exit are only likely to get louder: "Talk of Trump dropping out will reach a fevered pitch next week, when his poll numbers bottom out," the Republican said. "We need to brace ourselves."

These are the members of The POLITICO Caucus, not all of whom participated in this special survey:
Colorado: Ryan Call, Laura Carno, Matt Chandler, Will Coyne, Adam Eichberg, Mark Ferrandino, Cole Finegan, Michael Fortney, Andrew Freedman, Ted Harvey, Craig Hughes, Owen Loftus, Pete Maysmith, Frank McNulty, Karen Middleton, Christopher Murray, BJ Nikkel, Josh Penry, Rick Ridder, Alan Salazar, Janice Sinden, Pat Steadman, Pat Waak, Steve Welchert, Taylor West, Roxane White, Rob Witwer

Florida: Fernand Amandi, Scott Arceneaux, JP Austin, Tim Baker, Dennis K. Baxley, Slater Bayliss, Dave Beattie, Wayne Bertsch, Ron Book, Pamela Burch Fort, Jose Calderon, Kevin Cate, Kelly Cohen, Gus Corbella, Brian Crowley, Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder, Justin Day, Judith Diaz, Nelson Diaz, John Dowless, Ryan Duffy, Jessica Ehrlich, Joe Falk, Alia Faraj-Johnson, Mark Ferrulo, Damien Filer, Marty Fiorentino, Rich Heffley, Nick Iarossi, David Johnson, Eric Johnson, Marian Johnson, Eric Jotkoff, Chris Korge, Jackie Lee, Susan MacManus, Beth Matuga, Fred Menachem, Jon Mills, Joe Mobley, Ben Pollara, Andrea Reilly, Steve Schale, April Schiff, Max Steele, Roger Stone, Richard Swann, Kevin Sweeny, Christian Ulvert, Steve Vancore, Ashley Walker, Andrew Weinstein, Andrew Wiggins, Ryan Wiggins, Rick Wilson

Iowa: Tim Albrecht, Brad Anderson, Rob Barron, Jeff Boeyink, Bonnie Campbell, Dave Caris, Sam Clovis, Jerry Crawford, Sara Craig, John Davis, Steve Deace, John Deeth, Derek Eadon, Ed Failor Jr., Karen Fesler, David Fischer, Ben Foecke, Doug Gross, Steve Grubbs, Tim Hagle, Bob Haus, Joe Henry, Drew Ivers, Jill June, Lori Jungling, Jeff Kaufmann, Brian Kennedy, Jake Ketzner, David Kochel, Chris Larimer, Chuck Larson, Jill Latham, Jeff Link, Dave Loebsack, Mark Lucas, Liz Mathis, Jan Michelson, Chad Olsen, David Oman, Matt Paul, Marlys Popma, Troy Price, Christopher Rants, Kim Reem, Craig Robinson, Sam Roecker, David Roederer, Nick Ryan, Tamara Scott, Joni Scotter, Karen Slifka, John Smith, AJ Spiker, Norm Sterzenbach, John Stineman, Matt Strawn, Charlie Szold, Phil Valenziano, Jessica Vanden Berg, Nate Willems, Eric Woolson, Grant Young

Michigan: Jill Alper, Saul Anuzis, Andrea Bitely, Lori Carpentier, Howard Edelson, Jordan Gehrke, Steve Hood, Darwin Jiles Jr., Joe Lehman, Dennis Lennox, Katie Packer, Ronna Romney McDaniel, John Truscott, Stephanie White, John Yob

Nevada: Mac Abrams, Greg Bailor, Barbara Buckley, Yvanna Cancela, Bob Cavazos, Linda Cavazos, Jim DeGraffenreid, Andrew Diss, Peter Ernaut, Ryan Erwin, Chip Evans, Jay Gerstema, Oscar Goodman, Ryan Hamilton, Dan Hart, Pat Hickey, Zach Hudson, Jeremy Hughes, Megan Jones, Lindsey Jydstrup, Adam Khan, Peter Koltak, Roberta Lange, Sam Liberman, Laura Martin, Michael McDonald, Chuck Muth, Erven Nelson, Kristen Orthman, Neal Patel, Nick Phillips, Jon Ralston, Andres Ramires, Emmy Ruiz, Scott Scheid, Mike Slanker, James Smack, Paul Smith, Jack St. Martin, Mari St. Martin, Daniel Stewart, Brendan Summers, Riley Sutton, Robert Uithoven, Michelle White, Ed Williams, Heidi Wixom

New Hampshire: Charlie Arlinghaus, Arnie Arnesen, Patrick Arnold, Rich Ashooh, Dean Barker, Juliana Bergeron, D.J. Bettencourt, Michael Biundo, Ray Buckley, Peter Burling, Jamie Burnett, Debby Butler, Dave Carney, Jackie Cilley, Catherine Corkery, Corriveau, Fergus Cullen, Lou D’Allesandro, James Demers, Mike Dennehy, Sean Downey, Steve Duprey, JoAnn Fenton, Jennifer Frizzell, Martha Fuller Clark, Amanda Grady Sexton, Jack Heath, Gary Hirshberg, Jennifer Horn, Peter Kavanaugh, Joe Keefe, Rich Killion, Harrell Kirstein, Sylvia Larsen, Joel Maiola, Kate Malloy Corriveau, Maureen Manning, Steve Marchand, Tory Mazzola, Jim Merrill, Jayne Millerick, Claira Monier, Greg Moore, Matt Mowers, Terie Norelli, Chris Pappas, Liz Purdy, Tom Rath, Colin Reed, Jim Rubens, Andy Sanborn, Dante Scala, William Shaheen, Stefany Shaheen, Carol Shea-Porter, Terry Shumaker, Andy Smith, Craig Stevens, Kathy Sullivan, Chris Sununu, James Sununu, Jay Surdukowski, Donna Sytek, Kari Thurman, Colin Van Ostern, Deb Vanderbeek, Mike Vlacich, Ryan Williams

North Carolina: Don Davis, Francis X. De Luca, Anita Earls, Jonathan Felts, Tami L. Fitzgerald, Dylan Frick, Taylor Griffin, Robin Hayes, Morgan Jackson, Patsy Keever, Theresa Kostrzewa, Michael Luethy, Ray Martin, Thomas Mills, Melissa L. Reed, Chris Sgro, Paul Shumaker, Dee Stewart, Brad Thompson, Bruce Thompson, Charlie Wallin, Doug Wilson
Ohio: Jerry Austin, Greg Beswick, Matt Borges, Erica Bruton, Tim Burke, Janet Carson, Jai Chabria, Martha Clark, Bob Clegg, Damareo Cooper, Jo Ann Davidson, Michael Dawson, Bill DeMora, Cindy Demse, Kathy Dicristofaro, Katie Eagan, Michael Gonidakis, Wes Goodman, Joe Hallett, Ian James, Melissa Klide Hedden, David Leland, Nick Martin, Rhine McLin, David Pepper, Molly Shack, Mark R. Weaver

Pennsylvania: Chris Borick, Larry Ceisler, Valentino DiGiorgio, Jason Ercole, Dan Fee, Charlie Gerow, Marcel Groen, Leslie Gromis Baker, Mark Harris, Nan McLaughlin, Aubrey Montgomery, Christopher Nicholas, Nachama Soloveichik, David Sosar, Todd Stephens, Doc Sweitzer, David Thornburgh, Ray Zaborney
Virginia: Ray Allen, Sandra Brandt, Marc K. Broklawski, Patsy Brown, Janet Carver, John Cosgrove, Brian Coy, Doris Crouse-Mays, Tom Davis, Julie Dime, Abbi Easter, Mike Farris, John Findlay, Joe Fitzgerald, Sean Harrison, Margo Horner, Robert Hurt, Gaylene Kanoyton, Chris LaCivita, Sue Langley, Frank Leone, Robert G. Marshall, Tucker Martin, Ed Matricardi, Susan J. Rowland, Peter Snyder, Susan Swecker, Jo Thoburn

Wisconsin: Meg Andrietsch, Mary Arnold, Kevin Barthel, Mike Basford, Rebecca Bonesteel, Barry Burden, Terri Burl, Jim Camery, Patrick Guarasci, Robert Hansen, Gary Hawley, Marian Krumberger, Emily Nehring, Jason Rae, Brandon Scholz, John Zapfel
Click to expand...
 
Mayhem

Mayhem

Banned
Former CIA chief: Putin recruited Trump as an 'unwitting agent' of Russia

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/michael-morell-endorses-clinton-226707

For former acting CIA Director Michael Morell, Donald Trump does not have what it takes to be commander in chief.
In a New York Times op-ed published Friday, the 33-year agency veteran notes that he has been heretofore private with his political preferences and is registered as neither a Democrat nor a Republican.

"No longer. On Nov. 8, I will vote for Hillary Clinton. Between now and then, I will do everything I can to ensure that she is elected as our 45th president," wrote Morell.

Morell also suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin has successfully co-opted Trump's message in complimenting the political neophyte and getting exactly what he wanted in return with more praise even in light of his strongman tendencies toward journalists and dissidents.

"In the intelligence business, we would say that Mr. Putin had recruited Mr. Trump as an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation," Morell wrote.

Morell laid out "two strongly held beliefs" that led him to the conclusion that Clinton should be president. The first of those, Morell explained, is that Clinton is "highly qualified" for the job and "will deliver on the most important duty of a president — keeping our nation safe."

"Second, Donald J. Trump is not only unqualified for the job, but he may well pose a threat to our national security," he continued, noting his work with Clinton in her capacity of secretary of state and her resolute advocacy of the raid that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011.
Trump "has no experience on national security," Morell wrote.

"Even more important, the character traits he has exhibited during the primary season suggest he would be a poor, even dangerous, commander in chief," Morell said, naming Trump's "obvious need for self-aggrandizement, his overreaction to perceived slights, his tendency to make decisions based on intuition, his refusal to change his views based on new information, his routine carelessness with the facts, his unwillingness to listen to others and his lack of respect for the rule of law. The dangers that flow from Mr. Trump’s character are not just risks that would emerge if he became president. It is already damaging our national security."
Trump's evolving proposal to ban Muslim immigrants from the U.S. has also undermined national security, playing "into the hands of the jihadist narrative that our fight against terrorism is a war between religions," he continued.

"My training as an intelligence officer taught me to call it as I see it. This is what I did for the C.I.A. This is what I am doing now," Morell concluded. "Our nation will be much safer with Hillary Clinton as president."

The forceful words from the former top official represent only the latest denouncement of Trump from within the intelligence community. Former CIA Director Michael Hayden, for example, has expressed strong reservations about Trump leading the nation's armed forces.

Clinton's campaign featured Hayden and other conservative voices criticizing Trump's temperament and preparedness in a new 30-second ad out Friday titled "Unfit."
Trump responded to the latest attack on his foreign policy chops with a statement directly blaming both Clinton and President Barack Obama for "destabilizing the Middle East, having let ISIS take firm hold in Iraq, Libya and Syria, not to mention their allowing Americans to be slaughtered at Benghazi."

"Clinton’s home email server that she lied to the American people about was a profound national security risk, and it should come as no surprise that her campaign would push out another Obama-Clinton pawn (who is not independent) to try to change the subject in a week when Clinton’s role in putting Iran on the path to nuclear weapons and this Administration being called out for sending $400 million in cash to the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism is on every front page in the country," Trump said in a statement, in reference to the amount of money paid in cash to Iran earlier this year on the same day four American prisoners were freed. "Hillary Clinton has bad judgment and is unfit to serve as President,' he added.

A slew of Republicans have either said they will not support Trump or outright defected to supporting Clinton, including Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman, New York Rep. Richard Hanna, former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft, former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson.

Frank Lavin, who served as director of the Office of Political Affairs under Ronald Reagan and ambassador to Singapore under George W. Bush, also endorsed Clinton in a statement provided to POLITICO.

“Having served under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, I’ve seen what it takes to be commander-in-chief, and to make split second decisions under extreme pressure – Donald Trump doesn’t have that," Lavin said, calling Trump “temperamentally unfit to be president of the United States, and just the thought of him having access to nuclear codes is unnerving.

"I simply can’t support someone as erratic as Donald Trump," Lavin continued. “That's why for the first time in my life, I am voting for a Democrat for president, I’m voting for Hillary Clinton because she has what it takes to keep our country safe from threats here at home and abroad."
Click to expand...

OK, now seriously, I have to break down that one part, just out of sheer, delicious enjoyment:

  • he would be a poor, even dangerous, commander in chief,
  • his obvious need for self-aggrandizement,
  • his overreaction to perceived slights,
  • his tendency to make decisions based on intuition,
  • his refusal to change his views based on new information,
  • his routine carelessness with the facts,
  • his unwillingness to listen to others
  • and his lack of respect for the rule of law.
  • It is already damaging our national security.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Johan
Climate change : Good and bad news
Replies
10
Views
2K
Luxman
Luxman
Johan
Hillary's official presidential bid announcement
2 3
Replies
58
Views
9K
Straight Shooter
Straight Shooter
Johan
Marco Rubio goes for President
Replies
17
Views
2K
MMMariah
M
sean miguel
Camille Paglia: Who the hell is this woman??
Replies
13
Views
2K
Rey C.
Rey C.
Johan
Demographics are changing in the US, unlike GOP tactics
2
Replies
20
Views
3K
darthtexan
darthtexan
Top