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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA Terrorist Attack Changes the Presidential Race?
I was scouring some right wing news sites, including Fox, and saw a lot of news stories about the terrorist attack changes the fundamentals of the presidential race. I won't link any of those articles because fuck those sites but I have to ask, does it really? I have heard from a lot of commentators all year that "Trump will likely lose in November, unless there is an economic downturn or a major terrorist attack." My question is, where does this line of thinking come from? Where is the evidence that Trump is somehow a trusted leader when it comes to foreign or military policy? Why have I heard for nearly 6 months now that people, outside of Trump's brain dead base, would flock to Donald Trump en masse in the case of some kind of national tragedy? Has there ever been any type of research or even a single online poll to show that people think that Trump knows how to properly deal with Islamic fundamentalism?
Or is this just a concept that someone pulled out their ass and "political experts" just blindly repeat?
liberal N proud
(60,302 posts)geomon666
(7,512 posts)like pass The Patriot Act and re-elect George W. Bush.
Bonhomme Richard
(8,992 posts)Skink
(10,122 posts)There's that.
Doctor Jack
(3,072 posts)BlueNoMatterWho
(880 posts)Enrique
(27,461 posts)it has happened. It won't necessarily happen this time.
Doctor Jack
(3,072 posts)Even Bush and Co. had it down to a well crafted script that they all followed. They were ominous and vague but never sounded like a rambling madman with verbal diarrhea and no mental filter.
Trump on the other hand.....I guess I won't be surprised if he pulls out a shotgun and a noose tomorrow during his speech and tries to form a lynch mob. I'm more inclined people will see him as a know nothing opportunist that is seriously unhinged.
If his race baiting bullshit doesn't work after this, then I think Americans will have shown that they have grown up a lot in the last 15 years.
Enrique
(27,461 posts)i think Trump fortunately doesn't have the skill to exploit this.
Doctor Jack
(3,072 posts)I've seen elementary school class president campaigns run better than his. I'm surprised he hasn't forgotten to wear pants to a political rally yet.
Mike Nelson
(9,903 posts)...Trump. President Obama has been quick and effective with terrorists, although he doesn't "brag" like GWB (who had little to brag about). It is expected Hillary would be as tough, at least. I have reservations about their discussion with the public about drones and such... although they are infinitely better than Republicans. To me, Trump seems inept and scary with war powers. I guess Republican voters would trust him and had not thought about that... frightening.
Lance Bass esquire
(671 posts)That says Florida security gaurd determined to attack nite club on Obamas desk either.
Bush got a heads up on Bin Laden from Candy Rice a couple weeks before 911 and went on vacation.
BootinUp
(46,928 posts)released by Al Qaeda just before the election may have helped Bush secure re-election. Did it though? Hard to say. But the truth is that after events like terrorist attacks, people may be more sympathetic to right wing rhetoric and suporting right wing hard liners. In France, there was direct evidence of this and it did show up in their elections.
In America, since we have been living with this threat so long, and since we are already mobilized in wars it seems unlikely that this will have a noticeable effect. Also, consider that Trump is a pretty inept candidate.
Southerncomfy
(117 posts)Doctor Jack
(3,072 posts)Let's assume for a second that Bush didn't steal that election (i know, pure fantasy), he actually ended up losing ground in the final results compared to his polling in October. Maybe there was a quick blip upward but whatever effect it had clearly didn't last long.
Southerncomfy
(117 posts)Doctor Jack
(3,072 posts)Its unbecoming
Southerncomfy
(117 posts)even where he is. So don't lecture me on cynicism when FACTS are slamming me directly in the face.
Dalziel3979
(72 posts)But I think it's too many months before the election still to give him enough of a lasting boost to capitalize off this incident. Maybe if another atrocity happened in September or October, yeah I could see him getting enough votes.
Southerncomfy
(117 posts)don't want that man defining this country and the world we live in.
C_U_L8R
(44,897 posts)Trump is still Trump no matter what the circumstances.
A self-absorbed and manipulative buffoon who's accomplishments seems to be one disasterous failure after another.