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Doctor Jack

(3,072 posts)
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 08:51 PM Jun 2016

A 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?

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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A Terrorist Attack Changes the Presidential Race? (Original Post) Doctor Jack Jun 2016 OP
Probably rhetoric intended to fire up the gun nuts liberal N proud Jun 2016 #1
Fear makes people do really stupid shit geomon666 Jun 2016 #2
+1. n/t Bonhomme Richard Jun 2016 #20
Bush did get reelected Skink Jun 2016 #3
So they assume people will flock to the dumbest man in the room? Doctor Jack Jun 2016 #4
It comes from Poll data. Who's most trusted on individual issues. BlueNoMatterWho Jun 2016 #5
they're hoping fear will make people irrational Enrique Jun 2016 #6
Talking tough takes skill and a certain amount of tactfulness Doctor Jack Jun 2016 #10
I agree Enrique Jun 2016 #14
Couldn't have put it better myself Doctor Jack Jun 2016 #18
I think it would hurt... Mike Nelson Jun 2016 #7
I don't think you will see a Presidential briefing doc.. Lance Bass esquire Jun 2016 #8
I remember in '04 there was speculation that a video BootinUp Jun 2016 #9
I fully expect a bump for Trump BUT his tone and comments may negate that Southerncomfy Jun 2016 #12
I don't think it did Doctor Jack Jun 2016 #15
Don't underestimate the collective stupidity of the american electorate Southerncomfy Jun 2016 #11
Try not to be so cynical on your first day here Doctor Jack Jun 2016 #13
Are you serious or is that a joke? In all seriousness, it's the only explanation for why Trump is Southerncomfy Jun 2016 #16
His numbers might go up in Florida Dalziel3979 Jun 2016 #17
I am personally worried about Florida now. I'm just worried in general because I have kids and Southerncomfy Jun 2016 #19
Magical right wing thinking C_U_L8R Jun 2016 #21

Enrique

(27,461 posts)
6. they're hoping fear will make people irrational
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 08:56 PM
Jun 2016

it has happened. It won't necessarily happen this time.

Doctor Jack

(3,072 posts)
10. Talking tough takes skill and a certain amount of tactfulness
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 09:13 PM
Jun 2016

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.

Doctor Jack

(3,072 posts)
18. Couldn't have put it better myself
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 09:22 PM
Jun 2016

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)
7. I think it would hurt...
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 09:02 PM
Jun 2016

...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)
8. I don't think you will see a Presidential briefing doc..
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 09:10 PM
Jun 2016

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)
9. I remember in '04 there was speculation that a video
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 09:13 PM
Jun 2016

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.

Doctor Jack

(3,072 posts)
15. I don't think it did
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 09:18 PM
Jun 2016

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)
16. Are you serious or is that a joke? In all seriousness, it's the only explanation for why Trump is
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 09:19 PM
Jun 2016

even where he is. So don't lecture me on cynicism when FACTS are slamming me directly in the face.

Dalziel3979

(72 posts)
17. His numbers might go up in Florida
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 09:21 PM
Jun 2016

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)
19. I am personally worried about Florida now. I'm just worried in general because I have kids and
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 09:23 PM
Jun 2016

don't want that man defining this country and the world we live in.

C_U_L8R

(44,897 posts)
21. Magical right wing thinking
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 09:27 PM
Jun 2016

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.

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