Donald Trump is a RINO. Reply to Charley3, to avoid hijacking Cheap Charlie's thread

[Tiny]

Originally Posted by Lucas McCain

I'm not sure what world you live in dude, but conspiracy theorists are not that bright to put it mildly. In my world, they are odd people who are probably scared and/or paranoid of their own shadow.

When I think of people who believe in conspiracy theories, I think of people who are not smart enough to use basic logical reasoning to think for themselves. Therefore, they find random bullshit whether online, the radio or cable TV to fit their foolish narrative and claim complete falsehoods to be facts.

Originally Posted by 1blackman1

Don’t worry, I’ll keep working on you. I know for a fact you’re capable of learning.

The Trumpys on this site are damned dumb and say and believe in the dumbest shit. And that’s not even because I disagree with them, but because the shot they say is damned dumb. But that’s also a function of what they read. When people Fox, Hannity, Lying Tuck, Revolver, Townhall, Newsmax, etc their brains, they just get dumber and dumber.

I work with a large number of attorneys who voted trump because they are Republicans but they never fell for the stupid conspiracies flouted after the loss. In fact they laugh at anyone that even tries to provide any validity to that shit.

There’s a far distance between being gullible enough to fall for the dumbest of conspiracy theories and have a difference in opinion on tax and economic theory. I totally disagree with you on your looney belief that the Trump cuts have caused every positive economic indicator since while not contributing to any negative indicators. That doesn’t make me think you’re dumb, just a touch misguided and you allowed trickle down to form the basis of your economic belief. Now, when you start falling for the looney shit spouted by Salty, Lev, Waco, Bambino, Why, Neverthink, Ace, Stud, Dil, etc, I’ll start to rethink my view of you.

Gentlemen, I spent about 30 minutes while on the stationary bike this morning and another 8 minutes while defecating researching this point so now I'm an expert.

I don't think people who believe in conspiracy theories are dumber than people who don't. Apparently those who don't believe may have better critical thinking skills, while those who do are more likely to be free thinkers. So maybe the conspiracists are more creative. Texassapper and WYID have in fact exhibited remarkable creativity in the COVID threads.

I actually came across an article in the Guardian, "Why smart people are more likely to believe fake news -- Research shows that smart people are more susceptible to fake news and conspiracy theories – but why?"

I think the emotional make up of a person is more important than intelligence. This is interesting,

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34240638/

If you believe the paper, McCain pretty much hit the nail on the head in his post above. People who believe in conspiracies are more likely to be odd and eccentric, dramatic and emotional, and anxious. But maybe not always. I'm odd, eccentric and anxious and don't believe in conspiracy theories any more than the next guy. From other sources, many conspiracists are a tad bit narcissistic as well.

And Blackman, you have a very distorted view of what I think about taxes, it's nothing like what you described. But that's for a different time and place, because now I've got to go home to my significant other who's a bigger believer in conspiracy theories than anyone on this board. I could recycle about half of the Instagram links she sends me into the COVID threads and I'd become texassapper's and WYID's best buddy.

[bambino]

https://t.me/candlesinthenight/54482

[SpeedRacerXXX]

Originally Posted by bambino

Then why did he get 75 million legitimate votes? More than any sitting President in history? Your comments lack logic. He’s a threat to the DS. He’s not a gift to them. And he and others will take them down. Even a Trump hater like you will benefit from it.

Trump did get 75 million votes in 2020 but Trump's approval rating since November 2020 has hit rock bottom, or close to it. 31% in a December 2022 Quinnipiac poll. It was 45% on election day 2020. His continued unfounded claims of voter fraud have hurt him badly.

Trump can't win with only the support of his base. His only hope, if nominated, is that Biden goes into a free fall in the next 18 months. Right now he is 10% under water in approval ratings at 42.6% approve. Not good but better than 31%.

Prior to the 2020 election I noted several times that the approval rating was the best predictor of who would win the presidential election. If the incumbent's approval rating was positive, he wins. If negative, he loses.

[Texas Contrarian]

Yes, Donald is an absolutely quintessential RINO, at least with respect to how the acronym was viewed in pre-Trump years. That's not remotely arguable.

First, what ever happened to Republicans' supposed concern with fiscal responsibility? It always seems to pull a disappearing act when Republicans hold the White House as well as congress. Just look at the last few decades.

Look at the 2017-2019 deficit trends and the debt-accumulation trajectory. It wasn't good, as we quickly started hurtling toward trillion-dollar deficits. Of course, under Joey and today's Democrats, the picture is manifestly worse. But statements like, "Hey, the other side is a whole lot worse than we are!" should not be an excuse for a poor record.

Still, Donald at least got a few big picture issues right (For example, border security, a much-needed corporate tax cut, and a trimming of the worst effects of the administrative state and the regulatory regime). Obviously, that's a lot more than you can say for the hildebeest and Joey.

Remember former Speaker Paul Ryan? During the Obama years, he continually preached fiscal prudence and articulated fears that we may soon face a debt crisis. But did he seem worried about that in 2017? No wonder he got the hell out of Washington, DC the very next year!

During a couple of interviews, when asked about the growing deficits, Donald referred to himself as "the king of debt," apparently alluding to his willingness to let his casinos and other businesses and properties take on a lot of debt. (Well, I suppose he does have a point there!)

[Charley3]

Originally Posted by Levianon17

The flip side of that coin is if you don't agree with Democrats you're a Conspiracy theorist or a racist.

Correct. I’m a Republican and hate Trump, think conspiracy theorists are idiots and I’m not racist.
Im called a racist by liberals and a RINO from the Trump 30% club.

[Levianon17]

Originally Posted by Charley3

Correct. I’m a Republican and hate Trump, think conspiracy theorists are idiots and I’m not racist.
Im called a racist by liberals and a RINO from the Trump 30% club.

I think we are being played from both sides. Since the Pandemic my confidence in both parties has diminished a great deal. What we see on Television with these Politicians is a big act. Voters whether they realize it or not are just voting for the lesser of two evils. We aren't getting what we bargained for with any of them. Eventually both parties will band together so tightly that it will be impossible to tell the difference it will be one party pretending to be two. We are at least 50% there now.

[Tiny]

Originally Posted by Texas Contrarian

Yes, Donald is an absolutely quintessential RINO, at least with respect to how the acronym was viewed in pre-Trump years. That's not remotely arguable.

First, what ever happened to Republicans' supposed concern with fiscal responsibility? It always seems to pull a disappearing act when Republicans hold the White House as well as congress. Just look at the last few decades.

Look at the 2017-2019 deficit trends and the debt-accumulation trajectory. It wasn't good, as we quickly started hurtling toward trillion-dollar deficits. Of course, under Joey and today's Democrats, the picture is manifestly worse. But statements like, "Hey, the other side is a whole lot worse than we are!" should not be an excuse for a poor record.

Still, Donald at least got a few big picture issues right (For example, border security, a much-needed corporate tax cut, and a trimming of the worst effects of the administrative state and the regulatory regime). Obviously, that's a lot more than you can say for the hildebeest and Joey.

Remember former Speaker Paul Ryan? During the Obama years, he continually preached fiscal prudence and articulated fears that we may soon face a debt crisis. But did he seem worried about that in 2017? No wonder he got the hell out of Washington, DC the very next year!

During a couple of interviews, when asked about the growing deficits, Donald referred to himself as "the king of debt," apparently alluding to his willingness to let his casinos and other businesses and properties take on a lot of debt. (Well, I suppose he does have a point there!)

Yes, perhaps Trump figured we could do the same thing with the national debt as what he did with the casinos. Default and come out smelling like a rose! The Donald even ended up with a $900 million carried forward tax loss from the bankruptcy that he was able to use to shelter future taxable income.