is it really possible that Donald trump could be president?????

[Bishopsbuddy]

I have zero understanding of American politics and wondered could some one give me an idiots explanation pls. Could trump really win???

[ArgyMargy]

Well it's certainly a new idea claig - that people should support a politician because he probably WON'T do all the things he says he's going to do...

[claig]

ArgyMargy, that is precisely why Trump leads in the polls. The people love it!

The press asked Rubio today when he would start attacking Trump and he said the difficulty is that Trump has no policies - it's build a wall and Mexico is going to pay for it, that's it. They can't lay a finger on him. It's genius. That's Trump. Tony Blair is studying it trying to understand how the hell it works.

[CoteDAzur]

"Tony Blair is studying it trying to understand how the hell it works."

Is he now?

I do love a good claig thread because it provides hours of entertainment, but do wish sometimes that we could have a serious talk about politics on here once in a while.

[claig]

CoteDAzur, your posts are the serious content, mine add the light touch together with the profound insights, a bit like Trump's campaign.

[claig]

As for George W Bush, I think he was quite stupid, but it didn't really matter because Cheney was probably making the real decisions and George W had a sense of humour, that is the key thing to be popular.

George's brother, Jeb, is smarter than George, but he has no real sense of humour which is why he is not popular and is why Trump, who is so funny that a Fox host said that the comedian must be praying that he wins and gets 4 years in office, is so much higher than Jeb in the polls.

[CoteDAzur]

Oh dear. You have totally missed why they say comedians are hoping Trump wins. It's not because he is funny.

It's because he is ridiculous, with much to laugh at - from that hideous wig he calls hair to his choice in wives, from his idiotic facial expressions to his nonsense "solutions" to economic & political issues.

And your contribution to all these threads isn't a "light touch", either.

[ArgyMargy]

claig writing statements as if they were facts, when there is no evidence for any of them, is just annoying. It's not light entertainment. Now I see the connection between you and Trump.

[Helicoptermom]

Oh dear the thought of President Trump- a man who does not complete his thoughts- hmmm!

[squoosh]

I seriously doubt he'll become President. He's a self serving narcissist with no political experience who's all hideous hair and bigoted bluster.

But it's certainly entertaining to watch!

[Varya]

Trump is unsuitable for US presidency.

[ClaraBorne]

It is certainly possible.

I can see it now, Donald Trump and Boris Johnson slapping each other on the back in a man-hug

[GruntledOne]

You know, claig, I've heard a lot of vox pop amongst Trump supporters, and read a lot from them, but not one has said they support him because they love the fact that he won't do what he says he's going to do. What's your evidence that they do?

[GruntledOne]

Tony Blair is studying it trying to understand how the hell it works

Somehow I don't think the man who never lost an election is that interested.

[claig]

GruntledOne, the reason Trump is so popular and will win comes down to many reasons, which the Guardian and elites are desperately trying to understand. Most articles of the mainstream media don't get it and the BBC is usually part of that, but the article by the BBC's New York correspondent is an exception and gets very close to understanding what is going on.

One aspect of his success is his bragadaccio and couldn't care less exaggeration which people love even though they don't believe he means it and won't do what he says.

Bill O'Reilly on Fox says to him "but you're not going to do that" and Trump says "Bill, I will, I will". Everyone agrees with Bill, but no one knows, but the fact that Trump dares says things no other spun, fearful politician would dare say is part of his appeal to the people.

The BBC correspondent expresses it brilliatly at the end of his article.

"Clues to Trump's success are to be found in his autobiography, The Art of Deal. "I play to people's fantasies," he wrote, back in the late-80s.

"I call it truthful hyperbole. It's an innocent form of exaggeration - and a very effective form of promotion."

Well currently his "truthful hyperbole" is propelling him towards the Republican presidential nomination.

What many wrote off as fantasy politics is becoming real."

www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2016-35529286

[claig]

'Somehow I don't think the man who never lost an election is that interested.'

Then I don't think you understand Blair. Blair still wants to be taken seriously. No one apart from Cameron takes him seriously. He wants to count on the world stage, he wants people to listen to his advice, he wanst people to listen to his speeches, he wants to communicate and count.

Trump will end up as a sensation and when he does people like Blair and their politically correct agendas will have no influence anymore.

[lavenderhoney]

Personally, I'm quite surprised Blair hasn't found a way to run for president.

I have a longstanding bet with someone that he will manage it and become president of the USA. I stand to win quite a lot:)

[claig]

'Personally, I'm quite surprised Blair hasn't found a way to run for president.'

lavender, remember how he wanted to run for President of the European Commission. But even the puppets revolted at that. Blair is just too unpopular, his credit has all been used up, his spin doctors can't revive his former appeal, he is now irrelevant - a pantomime villain who can't scare audiences anymore.

[claig]

There is talk about who will become Secretary General of the UN.

It is said that Obama wants it, but that Hillary might push for Bill getting it, and some people said that Blair might even pop his head up and have a go. But no one will give it to him, he is too unpopular.

[lavenderhoney]

Claig, the European president thing was part if my bet as well, many years ago - I predicted he would be uk pm, go for Europe and then USA.

[Terribleknitter]

The way I see it is that the American voters are using Trump and Sanders to express their dissatisfaction with American politics (I think Fox has been covering this angle) in the same way that Farage and UKIP became so popular in the run up to our last General Election.
I reckon when it's time to stop with the popularity contest and actually consider who to vote for most people will turn very conservative and go for a safer option.
Trump is only saying what people want to hear while they're waving placards and cheering at rallies, Sanders is a socialist which will scare most Americans away from him.

[claig]

lavender, I think Blair would have loved to do his spin job with his team of spinners in a high EU role, but that will never now happen for him and his team. He can't ever be US President (fortunately) because you have to be "naturally born citizen" of the United States.

[claig]

Terribleknitter, your're right and that is what the Establishment and its media is saying. But I don't think it will happen. Poor old Sanders might not make it due to Establishment stitchups in the Democratic Party where at the moment most super delegates are said to support Hillary. But she is not a popular candidate and the youthful optimism of Sanders' supporters could possibly force the Democratic Establishment to change their minds, but I doubt it will.

As for the Republicans, they are toast without Trump. Some of their elite would rather Hillary won than Trump, but I think the ordinary Republican and independent and blue collar Democrats will put Trump in and they won't be able to stop him.

The Guardian's Executive Editor, Jonathan Freedland, wrote an article a while back saying we have got to start using "fire against fire" to beat Trump, but his latest article written after his visit to New Hampshire where the full import of the Trump phenomenon slowly dawned on him shows a slight change in tune

"Donald Trump tore up the rulebook of American politics – and is winning
...
It’s a strong word, but it captures well the wave that Trump rode to victory in New Hampshire. It defies the usual laws of political gravity. And right now it’s not obvious who or what will stop it carrying him all the way to the White House."

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/09/donald-trump-tore-up-rulebook-american-politics-winning-new-hampshire

It wouldn't surprise me if we don't soon see Blair and the top Guardian executive branch wearing "Trump 2016" badges in the front row of a packed Trump rally waving a homemade "Trump 4 Truth" banner.

It's desperate times for them, it's a right laugh for the people.

[lavenderhoney]

Claig, there are ways and means - non us born people have married well - into the Kennedy's for instance and become senators.

I agree Tony missed his chance - but I think the opportunity should be there - running the country is about balancing the books surely - have to say giving a flying fuck about the ordinary people isn't awfully high on anyone's list. I'd be ok with someone intent on making things work. I couldn't give a crap where he/ she was born. He/ she can't influence that.

[claig]

'married well - into the Kennedy's for instance and become senators'

True, but Arnie can't become President unless the Constitution is changed though if I remember rightly, some people were talking about trying to do that to help his case. But it would never fly.

'running the country is about balancing the books surely'

No, it's about a lot more than that, and anyway all the politicians just make promises and spin based on their teams of spinners and advisers. No one believes any of that.

[Terribleknitter]

That article makes Jonathan Freedland sound rather scared of the whole thing
It's interesting to be watching this from an outsiders perspective, Fox News is fascinating to see - they're so desperately Republican but equally detest Trump so badly. The election coverage if he gets the nomination is going to be interesting to say the least!
It'll also be interesting to see how the candidates go down in South Carolina, I believe it's a very traditionalist, religious part of the country and I haven't heard any of the front runners trumpeting their Christian credentials in any coverage I've seen so far.