* From WBEZ…
WBEZ’s Jenn White: What was it about this tape that pushed you to call for Donald Trump to step aside as the Republican presidential nominee?
Senator Mark Kirk: I just feel like he has become a malignant clown. The RNC should [hold] an emergency meeting to make sure we have a new candidate.
Q: Trump has apologized for his remarks. He also dismissed it as locker room talk. Why was that not enough of a satisfying response for you?
A: It’s not enough because I think it reveals who he really is and we shouldn’t elect such a misogynistic candidate to the presidency. […]
Q: Do you feel like some of those Republicans will follow your lead?
A: It’s likely. I don’t think Trump is wearing well. […]
Q: If Donald Trump remains on the ballot, what does that mean for your party?
A: For our party it means that the American people will likely figure out what’s going on and they will figure out we’ve nominated the wrong guy.
Q: But what do you think it means for the future of your party, and for those down-ticket races like yours?
A: It means that the Trump disaster could cost us the Senate and the House.
Sen. Kirk is embarking on another statewide bus tour, so we’ll see what sort of reaction he gets from the party faithful.
* For a possible preview, let’s look at something else which happened Saturday…
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis has withdrawn his support for Donald Trump and hopes running mate Mike Pence will move to the top of the ticket.
Davis, a Taylorville Republican who represents the 13th Congressional District, released a statement Saturday in which he said he also has asked to be removed from Trump’s agriculture advisory committee.
“As parents of a teenage daughter and teen twin boys, my wife and I teach them to respect women and that they will be judged by their words and actions,” Davis said in the emailed statement. “The abhorrent comments made by Donald Trump are inexcusable and go directly against what I’ve been doing in Washington to combat assaults on college campuses.
“Because of this, I am rescinding my support for Donald Trump and asking to have my name removed from his agriculture advisory committee. With the terrible options America has right now, I cannot cast my vote for any of the candidates, so I hope Donald Trump withdraws from the race so the American people can elect Mike Pence as our next president.”
* Congressman Davis also posted that statement on his Facebook page Saturday. His page exploded, with commenter reaction ranging from…
What in heaven’s name are you doing? Are you a democrat in disguise? Shame on you. Evidently you want Hilary elected. I just do not understand you.
To…
Rodney - you have become another establishment, elitist Republican that conservatives like me are tired of! I sure don’t condone what Trump said but we all say things we regret! Do you like the alternative better? You not supporting Trump is a vote for Gollary!
To…
I am very proud of this decision Rodney. I have always respected our differences in parties and opinions but I am proud of the choice you have made.
To…
Where is your apology for supporting him in the first place?? You apparently were fine with his continuous racist remarks, denigration of John McCain & Muslim Gold star parents, mocking of a disabled reporter, “stiffing” of middle class businesses and spewing of lie after lie after lie. And none of this touches his bragging about not being stupid enough to pay any Federal taxes which support all of the things YOU say are important. You should be ashamed of yourself for supporting him in the first place and also ashamed for this phony sense of outrage you’re showing now! You will win your election again because of the district gerrymandering but the truth is you aren’t worthy of representing anyone in Illinois!!
* But this one was my favorite because it made me chuckle…
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 9:30 am:
He is correct. But it also makes the GOP officials look weak. People might disagree but this is akin to officials who got behind him look like first-time skydivers who realize they made a bad life decision and pull the ripcord a bit too early. Officials who backed Trump because “he is the nominee” cannot backtrack. This is like JACK! Ryan all over again - only on a national stage.
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 9:31 am:
Dumping Trump now is no sign of political courage. In fact, it might be even more politically craven than supporting him in the first place. At least most of those sticking with Trump are transparent as to putting their party above their country and catapulting racism and sexism back to the top of the governing fabric of our country.
- MSIX - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 9:32 am:
=… it means that the American people will likely figure out what’s going on and they will figure out we’ve nominated the wrong guy.=
Waaay ahead of you, Big Guy.
- Belle - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 9:38 am:
I wonder how much TV alters American opinions:
‘Will and Grace’=normalize Gay life
‘The Apprentice’=win money by bullying your competitiors
‘The Apprentice’=helps us understand those afflicted with an orange complexion
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 9:38 am:
“[Donald Trump] has become a malignant clown.”
Has become?
Donald Trump has been a malignant clown since the very beginning.
– MrJM
- Amalia - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 9:39 am:
whatever. it should cost the Republican party more than that. It was literally painful watching/listening to Trump in that debate. He is rude, lies and lies and lies, treats the moderators horribly, has no real ideas, and paces and moves on the chair like he is an animal. the fear of the party nationally to stand up to his sexism, racism, and xenophobia has led us to this point. it’s painful.
- Last Bull Moose - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 9:42 am:
I knew Trump would be a disaster. Just did not know how he would self destruct.
The possible loss of the Senate and the House could make this a true change election. Much will be change I don’t want. But Hillary will be smarter about it than Obama was.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 9:43 am:
Trying to dump trump at this late date opens a can of worms that will ensure that the election does not take place on Nov. 8th. Ballots have been printed. Voting has started.
The republican’t party doesn’t have a mechanism to remove trump from the ticket if he doesn’t willingly go by himself.
If the republican’t party is successful in removing trump from the ticket, do the people who have already voted, get to voted again for the new candidate?
What a mess.
- illini - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 9:44 am:
Yet, Shimkus and Bost are righteously feigning outrage and disgust with The Donalds words and actions but continue to support him !!!!!
- Northsider - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 9:46 am:
Trump is and always has been the Republican id run amok. Republicans bought him, they own him.
That 35-40 percent of Americans will happily vote for him speaks volumes — and nothing good — about us as a nation.
- Delimma - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 9:51 am:
What happens if Hillary brings 3 or 4 models that happen to look like his daughter and most recent wife to the next debate and sit them in the front row? Sorry, that’s the kind of stupid cheap stunt that should never be part of presidential politics. Saddens me that I even thought it.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 9:53 am:
Those who ever want to see a Republican elected president again would be wise to read that 2012 RNC autopsy — for comprehension, this time.
If you’re just in it to indulge your anger for entertainment purposes, you’ll end up next time with Ted Nugent, or Honey Boo-Boo, or a Duck Dynasty guy — choices just as reasonable as Trump was a year ago.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 9:55 am:
If anything, this election shows that the Democratic Party’s use of “superdelegates” and generally being able to have an extra layer of vetting has proven to be very wise in comparison to the Repub’s process. They put the brakes on Bernie and were able to stifle his “movement” at an opportune time; the R’s were not so fortunate with Trump, a disaster waiting to happen.
- RetiredStateEmployee - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 9:55 am:
As long as he was insulting those thought to be Democrats, they went along with him. That tells you much more about the Republicans than about the Donald. Reminds me a lot of the Dems supporting Blago for a second term.
- Aldyth - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 9:57 am:
The Republican Party created a monster, who is now eating them alive.
A month from now, we’ll know just how badly damaged the party is. They really should have paid attention to their autopsy report after 2012, because they totally blew off every recommendation that was made.
Can Rauner and friends’ personal fortunes buy enough races to help Illinois’ Republican legislators? The fallout from the top of ticket on down could be devastating.
- Nick Name - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 10:07 am:
I’m with the fourth comment that Rich pasted: “Where is your apology for supporting him in the first place?? …”
Trump’s racism, misogyny, serial philandering, incitements to violence at his rallies, tax dodging (and bragging about it), cheating almost every one of his business partners, as well as draft dodging and insulting veterans, wasn’t bad enough for you to abandon him, but this was?
Well, I’m glad it took Trump bragging about sexual assault, at least, to turn people off, but after this, the GOP is finished. And good riddance.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 10:16 am:
If nothing else, this race validates the D’s stronger vetting process (including the use of superdelegates) that made Bernie’s brief climb an unobtainable one, and the lack of which allowed a Trump as the R nominee.
- AlfondoGonz - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 10:18 am:
It must be difficult for thoughtful Republicans to proceed knowing that they need the support of people who support Donald Trump. I don’t believe that any truly thoughtful person could actually believe that Donald Trump would be a good president. But his rabid supporters swarm anyone who doesn’t show unflinching loyalty to him no matter how foolish he proves to be.
I can’t wait for November 9th.
- Sue - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 10:19 am:
Kirk is not helping. He could and should have allowed someone with a prayer of winning replace him. He is the weakest candidate running in the US. LAME
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 10:21 am:
===allowed someone with a prayer of winning replace him===
And who might that be, genius? Which Republican of any stature could win Illinois during a presidential year?
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 10:21 am:
The “not voting for Trump enables Hillary to win” argument CANNOT be applied, IMO, to any Republican or non-Democratic voter who lives in IL, for the following reasons:
1. The only vote that counts is the electoral vote — which is, barring some truly cataclysmic event, already in the bag for Hillary in IL. Nothing one does or fails to do gives Hillary any electoral votes she would not have had otherwise.
2. For Trump or any non-Democrat candidate to even come close to winning IL (close enough for, say, one or two votes per precinct to be decisive) would require a yuuuuge shift in public opinion nationally that would ensure the candidate a Reagan-esque landslide nearly everywhere else. So winning IL can only serve as “icing on the cake” to an overwhelming electoral vote margin for a non-Democratic candidate. Therefore, voting for a non-Democratic candidate in IL can do nothing to help them win nationally.
So, I say if you’re going to vote for POTUS, don’t worry about which candidate is the lesser of two evils or about “enabling” the candidate you hate more to win. Your POTUS vote in IL is, for all practical purposes, simply a “beauty contest” vote for the candidate you like best, and you may feel free to treat it as such and go third-party, write in, or none of the above. Anyway, that’s just my perspective.
- L.A. - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 10:22 am:
-A month from now, we’ll know just how badly damaged the party is.-
I don’t think we will really know the amount of damage Trump does to the GOP for a while. maybe not until the midterms in 2018, or even after that. Can the GOP act like Trump never happened? Will they keep the base intact? Is the base even the GOP base anymore? Is it the Tea Party base? I could keep going…..
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 10:31 am:
“[Kirk] could and should have allowed someone with a prayer of winning replace him.”
Kirk did win. In the primary. That’s why he’s the Republican candidate in the general election.
“He is the weakest candidate running in the US.”
Kirk isn’t even the weakest candidate running in Illinois. (Yeah, I’m looking at you Jeffrey Leef.)
– MrJM
- L.A. - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 10:34 am:
-Your POTUS vote in IL is, for all practical purposes, simply a “beauty contest” vote for the candidate you like best, and you may feel free to treat it as such and go third-party, write in, or none of the above.-
I am ssssooooo tired of hearing this same old tired, played out, unimaginative line. This cannot be farther from the truth. You should vote for the best candidate at all times. Every vote counts. You should not feel free to go third-party, or write in, or none of the above. This is not a freebie. There are no do-overs. Picking the leaders of our country is or should be) a serious matter. This is not throwing darts at a dart board.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 10:38 am:
“It means that the Trump disaster could cost us the Senate and the House.”
The war is raging right now between Trump and Republicans. Trump has been going nuts on Twitter this morning, calling Speaker Ryan weak and Republicans disloyal.
Though I am very much opposed to many policies favored by Republicans, I have to praise the many Republicans who rejected Trump over the hot mic recording. I understand that they sometimes have to make tough choices between political survival and their consciences. So much is at stake for them and for all of us, that sometimes we have to make choices that are the least unsavory of other options.
That being said, what Trump said on the recording is so offensive that it’s impossible to put politics over that.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 10:41 am:
Sue - since Illinois isn’t like Florida (where someone can run for concurrent offices) then it’s tougher for both parties to convince a rising star like a Kinzinger or Bustos to give up a Congressional seat. Before he became damaged goods Aaron Schock would’ve been a good choice - but he would’ve been required to give up his Congressional career (for not a sure thing) and that’s a tough sell. There’s a reason why people who run for statewide office are usually mid-term officials: they can go back to their current seats if they lose. Christine Radogno, Dan Rutherford, Mike Frerichs and Jim Oberweis have all done that. Tom Cross giving up a career is the exception and not the norm.
- Bogey Golfer - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 10:46 am:
I believe this could be the beginning of the end for the GOP. It could splinter into 2 or 3 factions regionally. Though some will have control in congressional and state races, the Democrats will have cakewalks in future Presidential races.
- slow down - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 10:47 am:
I think it’s worth giving credit to Republicans who stood up from the beginning and said Trump is not fit for the Presidency and who have never wavered from that principled view. People like Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney come to mind.
This is in stark contrast to Mark Kirk who pledged to support Trump (support that lasted for a number of months) after Trump had revealed repeatedly in broad day light that he was racist, xenophobic, and a misogynist. For Kirk to now be campaigning on his anti-Trump position is highly disingenuous.
- Responsa - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 10:47 am:
Candidates/office holders really do not need to issue a comment, reaction, or statement every single time they are asked for one. It is not necessary and they would usually be far better off if they did not do so.
Repubs are on the hot seat right now. But neither party, I think, has truly come to grips with how social media and the use/misuse of technology has changed politics forever–and not in a good way. With the idiocy I see posted regularly on facebook and twitter, and with the horrific pattern of “politics of personal destruction” which seems to be unashamedly practiced and accepted by many on both sides, it will be hard to find a viable, suitable candidate for any office before long.
- Last Bull Moose - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 10:52 am:
The Know Nothing party destroyed the Whigs. Today’s Republican party has more structure, but will not be the same party going forward.
- walker - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 10:56 am:
They won’t lose the House regardless of any Trump impact this cycle.
This whole experience might become a drain on moderate republican support for the party. It has dragged into the light the effective takeover by more narrow factions in the party.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 11:05 am:
Those bailing on Trump now are doing so because they think he could drag them down to a loss. Those sticking with Trump are doing so because he helps them. There’s no sudden epiphany as to who he is.
Plus, he’s shaping up to be a yooge loser. By my count, Clinton has banked 272 electoral votes.
That’s without, FL, OH, NC, IA, AZ or NV. And Trump has no ground game or analytics. He could very well lose all those states.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 11:12 am:
“There are more important things than that,” Chris Christie referencing why he can look past the Republican Presidential candidate’s comments about sexual assault apparently committed and still support Trump. wonder why your party is losing? exhibit A.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 11:25 am:
Dear Mark Kirk,
Donald Trump shows the same amount of respect for us ‘hoes’ as you do.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 11:27 am:
Also, it’s too late, GOP. The ballots are printed, people have voted. You can’t back out of having this miserable excuse for a human being running at the top of your ticket.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 11:32 am:
Which Republican of any stature could win Illinois during a presidential year?
Can you print a list of those statutory Republicans?
I thought not.
System failure…Trump led the TeaBaggers in a Karmic circle right back to teabaggin’!
What remnants stands left of the GOP will need to send out invitations to a new Party.
The current party is over.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 11:39 am:
Pretty amazing commentary on some pretty amazing times in politics on this issue in this posting.
On the GOP side of things, the party has lurched further to the right. No big secret there. One needs to be astonished by the RINO label that is now being pinned on conservative stalwarts such as Rep. Roskam and Speaker Ryan. Yes, even Roskam and Ryan are now RINO. Consider that one for a moment in trying to figure out what is happening internally within the GOP, both nationally and locally.
I spent over 30 years holding various positions in the party as a conservative Republican, and now I am branded a RINO. I’m not the only one and I’m just an itty-bitty fish in the GOP ocean.
The war on the political “elites” (i.e. majority of Republicans) has been ongoing in the Illinois GOP for over two decades now by various feisty minority coalitions, and when the “elite” supported candidates win primaries by overwhelming margins, then the “fix” is in, the entire process is “rigged” according to these perpetual civil warriors. Common sense would dictate that the majority of Republicans reject the feisty minority coalitions then faced with a choice of Kirk or Alan Keyes. Keyes got thumped. Kirk as of this posting has never lost an election in those same two decades.
Yet Senator Kirk is expected to 100% support his party platform by the minority within the GOP. So are all candidates running as Republicans according to the feisty civil warriors who make up the “anti-coalition” within the party. Ronald Reagan is adored by them, but the Reagan 80% rule, his tax increases, his amnesty towards illegal immigrants? They Ignore all that because it doesn’t fit their narrative.
Who pumps up the feisty ones? Try listening to talk radio, locally and nationally. Their ratings are dependent upon GOP chaos. My buddy former Congressman Joe Walsh routinely proclaims the GOP to be “dead.” He has been saying this for years. He’s not the only one of this group making those statements, or egging on the GOP into supporting candidates or positions that are unsupportable.
So for those who refuse to support Donald Trump who are also on the ballot this election for other offices:
1. If you disavowed Trump at the very start of the primary cycle, you were principled and saintly in the eyes of now harsh critics. This means a large chunk of the party would immediately oppose you, despise you, disparage you (example: Senator Mark Kirk) while independents and Democrats would still oppose you, despise you or disparage you, calling your position a ruse.
2. If you later became frustrated with the repeated non-stop Trump transgressions and decided to pull your loyal GOP party support, this means a large chunk of the party would immediately oppose you, despise you, disparage you (example: Rep. Rodney Davis, see above) while independents and Democrats would still oppose you, despise you or disparage you, calling your position a ruse.
3. If you disavow Trump even at some point or at the start, you have to deal with local party groups that still work to tie you to him, Democrats who still work to tie you to him and Democratic opponents who still work to tie you to him. Sangamon County? Lake County? Just two recent examples of many. This isn’t a complaint, they are ALL doing their jobs during the election season, including the Democrats.
What then does a “true” Republican candidate do?
My advice to them is to just ride out the storm and try to reach as many voters as humanly possible and do the best you can under these ridiculous circumstances.
Then start paying attention to who is running your party, Nationally, in Illinois, your County and local GOP groups. Most of you haven’t, and you’ve allowed the “feistier” groups to take over and run the GOP into the ground. And your neglect is the cause of your present angst this election cycle.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 11:43 am:
“Because of this, I am rescinding my support for Donald Trump and asking to have my name removed from his agriculture advisory committee.- Davis
Translation…I am crawfishin’ backwards as fast as my ass will move and Rauner can find another mope to be his Ag stooge…and ruin that dudes political career…as He sets sail for Richie Island…after he decimates Illinois… by at least half!
Who is Donald Trump…in Reality?
What a Show!
- Just Fred - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 11:57 am:
Kirk’s not a Republican anyway so no loss there. It’s open season on Rinos. Time to thin the herd.
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 12:24 pm:
“Kirk’s not a Republican anyway so no loss there. It’s open season on Rinos. Time to thin the herd.”
Delicious.
– MrJM
- Amalia - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 12:29 pm:
Exhibit B. Dr. Ben Carson was just on CNN claiming that the offensive Trump comments are, in fact, common, boasting talk. and he told the anchor, Briana Keiler, that she needed to get out and hear what people(men) are saying, because they are saying those things . Yes, a Trump surrogate just did that.
- Federalist - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 12:34 pm:
I remember in the early stages of the primaries that Trump was constantly badgered to say he would support the Republican nominee no matter who that is. Fair enough.
But the favor is certainly not being returned by much of anybody in the Republican establishment.
Double standard by the Republican elites? Yes!
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 1:08 pm:
Just Fred - says who?! You?! Thankfully you have only one vote. I hate - and I mean HATE - the term RINO. Mark Kirk has won six consecutive general elections and one special election. He won his first term during a presidential election and survived the Obama wave in 2008. How many other Republicans in tough districts have fared that well - especially over a lengthy period of time? He may note “vote with the party” all the time but he may well just be the deciding vote in the Senate. So advocating the thinning of the herd is just dumb.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 1:09 pm:
Louis - that was a great post and very well thought out. Thank you.
- Ray Batman - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 1:33 pm:
I am very proud of Rodney Davis’s decision to not support Donald Trump. It is not important when he came to this conclusion but that he did. He can look his daughter and sons in the eye and tell them he does not support Trump’s behaviors. I see it as a fine example practicing family values instead of talking about it.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 1:40 pm:
Louis, I’m pretty sure Democrats are supposed to oppose Republicans in elections.
You might be a little confused on that, given what’s going on in the Republican Party right now.
- Federalist - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 1:47 pm:
So if Davis, Kirk et al do not support Trump whom do they support?
They need to make it clear, or if they do not plan to support anyone, make that clear. Otherwise they look rather petulant and a little silly politically.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 2:06 pm:
wait, is this the interview where Kirk talked about the president as a sort of father figure for the nation? cause he could have helped himself by talking about the presidency as a father or mother figure, as in not just the menz.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 2:18 pm:
. . . Louis, I’m pretty sure Democrats are supposed to oppose Republicans in elections. . . .
I did say that Word. I did say they were just doing their jobs. I also said I had no complaint about that. Problem with comprehension or just a problem with me?
- walker - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 3:05 pm:
Lous G. Thanks for your comment about current tactics available.
My concern is what the Republican Party does next year and ongoing. I fear the moderate, and traditional conservative members will feel squeezed out. I hope the RINO trend you describe is a short-term problem.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 3:11 pm:
=If you disavowed Trump at the very start of the primary cycle, you were principled and saintly in the eyes of now harsh critics. This means a large chunk of the party would immediately oppose you, despise you, disparage you (example: Senator Mark Kirk=
You history on this is a bit fuzzy. Kirk didn’t disavow Trump at the beginning of the cycle. In fact he made the argument that he could provide the moderate voice that Trump needed. He waited to disavow Trump when he attacked a Mexican judge. Kirk and others like him aren’t being “courageous” they’re making calculated political decisions. The only thing that separates them is timing.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 3:13 pm:
===Kirk and others like him aren’t being “courageous” they’re making calculated political decisions===
I think it’s a bit of both. Some of the Trump fans are, shall we say, a bit aggressive.
- Last Bull Moose - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 3:38 pm:
I think the divisions this year will take some time to heal. I find myself avoiding conversations because there is no common ground for discussion.
The Republican party does need to find a way to move its candidates to the center.
- LessAnon? - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 3:41 pm:
The problem with Trump is that he (by his own admission) is only a Republican out of convenience. He predicted he would “take over” the GOP, and he did. I would argue it was more like a hijacking. He was assisted by too many alternatives for too long. However, what Republicans (and anyone else who wants to survive into the future) need to take from this is the call for change the movement that got Rauner elected was moved by and the genuine outrage that has propelled Trump this far are real and important parts of the electorate. That doesn’t mean you have to have a vulgar, arrogant, nutball as the flag-bearer. In a year when the GOP should have been drooling to run against Hillery, they managed to find the absolute worst candidate to take her on. The race isn’t over yet, but the fact that these two candidates are the mainstream party nominees should cause us all to pause. How did we get HERE?!
Personally, I’ve voted in every major election and nearly every local election since I was of age. This year, I will vote more for down-ballot races that this trainwreck contest at the top of the ticket. But if things don’t improve, I could see myself washing my hands of the whole mess for a while.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 8:21 pm:
The Republican party will find a way to push the reset button after the November election.
At that time they will need to finally find a way to move to the center where the majority of the American people have been waiting for them for so long.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 8:45 pm:
“And Trump has no ground game or analytics.”
Trump is running ads here in Illinois, when he’s hopelessly down in the polls. FiveThirtyEight has Clinton at 99% to win Illinois. What’s the point of the ads?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Oct 11, 16 @ 9:54 pm:
There was so much evidence before the famous Friday tape that Trump was abusive to women. What there wasn’t was a collective rush for the exits by Republican office holders based on a perception that endorsing Trump had tipped over into being a net negative politically.