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[Coriolanus]

From that one time Jacobin got some filthy lefty eggheads to answer the question on benji's mind:

Is Donnie a fascist?

Spoiler

(betteridge's law spoilers)

What say you, Jennifer Roesch who is an activist with the International Socialist Organization in New York City?

Unlike in Italy or Germany in the 1920s and 1930s, the US ruling class doesn’t face the kind of political crisis that would lead a section of it to abandon its “democratic” forms and resort to fascism. In fact, the bulk of the ruling class sees Trump as a threat to its ability to carry out its political agenda. A poll of millionaires was revealing: Clinton leads the pack with 31 percent of millionaires supporting her.

For these establishment figures, charges of fascism are a cynical ploy to distance their own rhetoric and policies from Trump’s open displays of racism and bigotry. But for millions of people horrified by his hate-mongering, there is a genuine fear about what Trump represents. I am in full solidarity with that sentiment. Trump has given confidence to some of the most right-wing elements in society.

And you, Richard Steigmann-Gal, who is an associate professor of history at Kent State University?

Fascism insists that the existing political authority is “illegitimate” and offers itself as a parallel authority, complete with paramilitary violence, which will restore the “true” nation against impostors. By articulating the Birtherism found in the Tea Party and Oath Keeper movements, Trump exploits and expands distrust of legitimate electoral politics among disaffected, downwardly-mobile white Americans.

If Trump lacks his own militia, there is nonetheless a violent ethos at his rallies. But also relevant here are the Oath Keepers. A nationwide militia movement, like Mussolini’s squadristi, they are composed of veterans who promise to fight an “illegitimate” state and create a parallel authority that “protects” the nation from its own elected authorities. They are not (yet) tied to Trump organizationally, but they represent a similar current of militant — indeed militarist — radicalism.

When we apply “fascism” as a descriptive category, as most commentators are doing, we risk using external criteria like matching shirts or armbands to form a sterile check-list. But when we apply “fascism” as an analytical category, we understand its past social messages and following, and recognize the danger is poses today.

And you, Dylan John Riley, an associate professor of sociology at UC Berkeley and a member of the New Left Review editorial committee?

No, Donald Trump is not a fascist, and yes it matters very much that he is not one.

see benj? The left gets it. All this branding is just a ploy from the elites to undermine him.

 

[kingkitty]

Congrats, kingkitty

thanks!

 

[Retromelon]

Have no fear, Carson's got this.

it's sad how transparent he is in that about making it seem like foreign policy is a slam dunk for him. He knows that a large reason for his collapse in support was the recent spate of terrorism and voters not feeling like a bumbling neurosurgeon is the best choice to fight it.

 

[Fenderputty]

Just caught up after a weekend of pretty much ignoring this thread. The Rubio rumors are amazing.

 

[Bowdz]

Just caught up after a weekend of pretty much ignoring this thread. The Rubio rumors are amazing.

I can't even fathom how the establishment would react if Rubio legitimately imploded. Would Bush resurface as the establishment candidate? Would Christie continue to roll up in the polls? Would the Ohio golden boy get his chance to speak? I feel like in a Rubio implosion scenario, there would be no viable establishment option and Trump/Cruz would instantly become the main event.

 

[Cerium]

Not all Bernie supporters are self identified progressives.

Oh okay now it all makes sense.

By all means build the wall and begin printing the Muslim IDs.

 

[Coriolanus]

I can't even fathom how the establishment would react if Rubio legitimately imploded. Would Bush resurface as the establishment candidate? Would Christie continue to roll up in the polls? Would the Ohio golden boy get his chance to speak? I feel like in a Rubio implosion scenario, there would be no viable establishment option and Trump/Cruz would instantly become the main event.

would happen before jeb

 

[Fenderputty]

would happen before jeb

Would be amazing on so many levels.

 

[PhoenixDark]

Romney's family must have vetoed a run. I don't believe a man that ambitious/arrogant would sit out this election given what has happened. Hillary is the perfect candidate for him to run against. Not saying he'd win but the weaknesses he had against Obama wouldn't apply to the Clintons, given their wealth and questionable charity situation. Not to mention Romney could run an "I told you so" campaign on foreign policy.

 

[A Human Becoming]

Oh okay now it all makes sense.

By all means build the wall and begin printing the Muslim IDs.

Insufferable, which is too bad since we probably agree on many things.

 

[Coriolanus]

Romney's family must have vetoed a run. I don't believe a man that ambitious/arrogant would sit out this election given what has happened. Hillary is the perfect candidate for him to run against. Not saying he'd win but the weaknesses he had against Obama wouldn't apply to the Clintons, given their wealth and questionable charity situation. Not to mention Romney could run an "I told you so" campaign on foreign policy.

Good thing Bernie is getting the nom, then.

Spoiler

 

[Veritigo_X]

i agree, but how many of Trump's voters are well versed in this? especially if he's attracting new voters out of the woodwork. i don't necessarily see them watching the tremendous and high energy Donald losing in Iowa and thinking to themselves, "oh, it's just Iowa."

I think Trump supporters see Trump as the inevitable nominee, so it'll take more than losing one state to drive them away. Especially if the race is close in Iowa.

Trump himself will probably come out and say the same thing too. "We don't need 'em!"

 

[Iolo]

My favorite part:

“If you don't know, I was his Iowa 'Apprentice' girl," Trump state campaign co-chair Tana Goertz said during a training session Saturday, referring to the reality TV show on which she appeared with the New York businessman.

Mr. Trump is into “all the details,” she said, so he'll know which Iowans herd more Trump voters to their neighborhood precinct than volunteers for Ted Cruz, Ben Carson or any other candidate can lure in.

“And I know he does nice things. So I know you will be recognized. And a lot more could happen; we don't know,” Goertz said, tantalizingly.

He's making a list
And checking it twice,
Gonna find out who's Iowa nice
Donald Trump is coming to town.

He's into all the details
He knows when Jeb's awake
I know you will be recognized
And I know he does nice things.

 

[Joe Shlabotnik]

I can't even fathom how the establishment would react if Rubio legitimately imploded. Would Bush resurface as the establishment candidate? Would Christie continue to roll up in the polls? Would the Ohio golden boy get his chance to speak? I feel like in a Rubio implosion scenario, there would be no viable establishment option and Trump/Cruz would instantly become the main event.

I submit that Jeb! is still one strong debate performance or stump speech or even a damn sound bite from rallying establishment support again. It'll just never happen.

 

[RustyNails]

I submit that Jeb! is still one strong debate performance or stump speech or even a damn sound bite from rallying establishment support again. It'll just never happen.

Isn't it weird that I think Jeb has more personality than Mittens? Jeb gets frustrated, angry and tries to keep face sometimes. Romney is something that was created in the Heritage Foundations laboratory with the help of Rove and party bosses.

 

[sc0la]

He's making a list
And checking it twice,
Gonna find out who's Iowa nice
Donald Trump is coming to town.

He's into all the details
He knows when Jeb's awake
I know you will be recognized
And I know he does nice things.

Amazing

 

[Plinko]

Romney's family must have vetoed a run. I don't believe a man that ambitious/arrogant would sit out this election given what has happened. Hillary is the perfect candidate for him to run against. Not saying he'd win but the weaknesses he had against Obama wouldn't apply to the Clintons, given their wealth and questionable charity situation. Not to mention Romney could run an "I told you so" campaign on foreign policy.

I honestly think last election crushed him. Because he bought into the "unskewed polling"garbage, he genuinely thought he was going to win. They were flabbergasted on election night that they got beaten so badly.

I think it hurt the man's ego and he said he was done.

 

[Angry Grimace]

One huge question mark in Iowa: Trump's ground game operation.

The Des Moines Register did a piece on this very subject:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/st...rn-out-for-trump-volunteer-training/77278342/

My favorite part:


This tease - it reminds me of Monty Hall on Let's Make A Deal, where the Mystery Box is being dangled in front of the contestant. It could be anything!

It still makes me laugh how every single person associated with the Trump campaign talks the exact same way. "His ground game is amazing. Like, its incredible, you won't believe it until you see it; it's just so-so-so good. It's gonna be great. Just wait."

 

[Butts-a-plenty]

I honestly think last election crushed him. Because he bought into the "unskewed polling"garbage, he genuinely thought he was going to win. They were flabbergasted on election night that they got beaten so badly.

I think it hurt the man's ego and he said he was done.

Remember how he didn't have a concession speech even prepared?

 

[Plinko]

Remember how he didn't have a concession speech even prepared?

To be fair to him, all his advisers had bought into that polling as well. They filled his head with the idea that it was a slam-dunk. They had zero idea. I remember reading that article about what was happening behind the scenes on election night and I couldn't believe high-ranking political advisers were that blind.

 

[j_k_redtail]

To be fair to him, all his advisers had bought into that polling as well. They filled his head with the idea that it was a slam-dunk. They had zero idea. I remember reading that article about what was happening behind the scenes on election night and I couldn't believe high-ranking political advisers were that blind.

I really think the conservative media bubble is an existential threat to the GOP.

 

[Rubenov]

The Rubio rumors are amazing.

Please explain, I'm uninformed :/

 

[B-Dubs]

Please explain, I'm uninformed :/

The rumor is that he's been having an affair with a lobbyist. Nobody seems to have a smoking gun, but everyone can see the smoke. The funniest part is that there was an article in the Times yesterday about how great his relationship with his wife is.

 

[Butts-a-plenty]

Please explain, I'm uninformed :/

 

[PhoenixDark]

To be fair to him, all his advisers had bought into that polling as well. They filled his head with the idea that it was a slam-dunk. They had zero idea. I remember reading that article about what was happening behind the scenes on election night and I couldn't believe high-ranking political advisers were that blind.

I've heard conflicting reports on this. We've got the reports that his polling was trash, and he legit thought he was up 1-3 points in nearly every swing state. But I could have swore I read that his campaign wasn't skewing national polls, whereas the consultants were.

 

[Rubenov]

The rumor is that he's been having an affair with a lobbyist. Nobody seems to have a smoking gun, but everyone can see the smoke. The funniest part is that there was an article in the Times yesterday about how great his relationship with his wife is.

Ouch, thanks. Maybe Jeb! will come back for the establishment if this catches on.

 

[Holmes]

Ouch, thanks. Maybe Jeb! will come back for the establishment if this catches on.

Yeah maybe he'll eat up most of Rubio's support and reach 8% in the polls.

 

[RustyNails]

Jeb got this.

 

[Macho Madness]

Howard Dean. Man.

 

[Yellowtail]

Fucking Liebermen.

 

[Incognito]

I think Trump supporters see Trump as the inevitable nominee, so it'll take more than losing one state to drive them away. Especially if the race is close in Iowa.

Trump himself will probably come out and say the same thing too. "We don't need 'em!"

exactly, they're emotionally invested and have a personal, visceral attraction to Trump and what his candidacy represents. so i can easily see Trump losing Iowa and his supporters framing NH and SC as last stands and the GOTV just shooting off the charts since every last Trump supporter is gonna vote.

 

[Incognito]

The rumor is that he's been having an affair with a lobbyist. Nobody seems to have a smoking gun, but everyone can see the smoke. The funniest part is that there was an article in the Times yesterday about how great his relationship with his wife is.

show me a hot wife/girlfriend, and i'll show you a guy who's tired of......hrmph.

 

[PBY]

show me a hot wife/girlfriend, and i'll show you a guy who's tired of......hrmph.

Wait his wife used to be an NFL cheerleader?

 

[Wilsongt]

A GOP think tank stole PoliGAF's debate thread idea.

Complete with caption:

This evening on a network not so far away...

It is a time of unrest...

The evil Sith Lord President Barack Obama and his apprentice Darth Hillary have wreaked havoc upon our great nation.

Fortunately there is hope. Four men have emerged to lead the fight and win back the Republic for the people. With whom is the force the strongest? — with Hillary Clinton, Marco Rubio, Donald J. Trump, Barack Obama, Ted Cruz and Dr. Ben Carson.

Oh boy oh boy oh boy

 

[B-Dubs]

Wait his wife used to be an NFL cheerleader?

Yes. That's what makes it all so crazy!

 

[ivysaur12]

Remember how he didn't have a concession speech even prepared?

It's my favorite thing in the entire world.

 

[Plinko]

I've heard conflicting reports on this. We've got the reports that his polling was trash, and he legit thought he was up 1-3 points in nearly every swing state. But I could have swore I read that his campaign wasn't skewing national polls, whereas the consultants were.

That's what I meant--that his advisers bought into what the consultants were saying.

 

[kingkitty]

It's bullshit that we won't get Rand Paul and Lindsey Graham in the same debate. Rand was almost there!

 

[PhoenixDark]

That's what I meant--that his advisers bought into what the consultants were saying.

Ah ok. I thought there was some conflict in the campaign over which to believe. If that's true jeez, he must have been crushed emotionally. He looked pretty shellshocked in the Netflix documentary (which is a great documentary btw).

I read McCain's camp pretty much knew he'd lose on election night, but they also did some skewing which at least gave them a chance if xyz could happen (lower turnout from dem bases, for example).

 

[FloydtheFathead]

A GOP think tank stole PoliGAF's debate thread idea.

Complete with caption:



Oh boy oh boy oh boy

Makai better start collecting checks from them.

 

[Teggy]

A GOP think tank stole PoliGAF's debate thread idea.



Complete with caption:



Oh boy oh boy oh boy

Poor Jeb, left out again.

 

[A Human Becoming]

Poor Jeb, left out again.

They wouldn't even make him Yoda.

 

[Farmboy]

Predicting a Christie 'win' (in the same way the last debate was 'won' by Rubio). Predicting it once again won't move the needle much.

 

[B-Dubs]

Predicting a Christie 'win' (in the same way the last debate was 'won' by Rubio). Predicting it once again won't move the needle much.

I think it might move the needle if Trump goes in hard on Cruz, but outside of that there's nothing else to look forward to.

 

[ivysaur12]

I hope they ask all the candidates tonight about where they stand on Bayonetta in Smash.

 

[Suikoguy]

I hope they ask all the candidates tonight about where they stand on Bayonetta in Smash.

The real question; would that give any more substance than typical political questions?

 

[kingkitty]

bayonetta is in smash? oh shit

 

[Orbis Tabula]

I hope they ask all the candidates tonight about where they stand on Bayonetta in Smash.

I'm gonna support Christie because I know he supports the Popo.

 

[Plinko]

I hope they ask all the candidates tonight about where they stand on Bayonetta in Smash.

I may vote for whomever says it is a ridiculous inclusion.

 

[HylianTom]

I'm gonna support Christie because I know he supports the Popo.

What about Nana?

Spoiler

(I'm so sorry)