2024 US Presidential Election

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

And yet, Trump’s handlers - you know, those people actually IN the campaign - are losing their minds over Trump’s incessant name calling, pleading with him to stay on policy.

Boru

Rock and a hard place.  No one likes their policies, not even magats, but the donalds cult of personality is based on donald being donald unfiltered.  When we normies see "character" we think "good character".  That's not what the magats see or judge on.  They mean the donald could better position himself if he had the discipline to cultivate loyalist character.  A list of things other people might call bad but the afflicted consider good.

He’s not going to lose the MAGAt no matter what he does. Either talking about policy or hurling epithets makes no difference to his base.

Trouble is, he can’t win this with just his base - he needs independents and non-MAGA Republicans (at a minimum), the very people have had enough of his insulting bombast. So, on balance, he’d have a better shot sticking to a policy-based script. Fortunately, he seems unable to do that.

Boru

[The Grand Nudger]

The people thinking that if he were more disciplined he'd get more votes are laboring under the impression that the american public actually agrees with his policies and only reject him due to delivery and style. Let it sink in.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

The people thinking that if he were more disciplined he'd get more votes are laboring under the impression that the american public actually agrees with his policies and only reject him due to delivery and style.  Let it sink in.

‘The American public’ doesn’t have to agree with his policies for this to work. As you’re so fond of saying, all he has to do is sway a handful of voters in a handful of counties.

But the point is moot. Try as he might, Trump is never going to have the discipline and self-control his handlers want him to have.

Boru

[Thumpalumpacus]

The people thinking that if he were more disciplined he'd get more votes are laboring under the impression that the american public actually agrees with his policies and only reject him due to delivery and style.  Let it sink in.

I'm thinking more of the independents who don't have a particular opinion about where the country is heading but only want mo money mo money -- not that they're being smart, because Ind =/= Smart. But because Inds can be fucking stupid too.

[Angrboda]

Independents tend to lean Republican from what I've seen. Not sure exactly what makes them independents.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Independents tend to lean Republican from what I've seen.  Not sure exactly what makes them independents.

It's complicated. I'm ind but have decided in the last six years to never vote for anyone who's supported Trump.

My reasoning is that I want financial responsibility, military strength, and a strong protection of our rights. I see both parties eroding our rights, albeit in different aspects. I see Dems being more responsible financially. I see Republicans more willing to support military strength.

However, over the last six years or more, I see the GOP as mounting a direct and powerful attack on our individual rights, and so while I may still have qualms about Dem policies, I don't see those objections as more pertinent. I've decided that the Republicans are pushing a great threat to our democracy and deem that most vital.

I obviously don't speak for anyone but myself, and clearly don't speak for independents who vote for Trump, but it's one view you could consider, for what it's worth. Datum, not data.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Independents tend to lean Republican from what I've seen.  Not sure exactly what makes them independents.

According to Pew, independents are pretty evenly split between Republicans and Democrats (and always have been).



I suspect (and that's all it is - a suspicion) that what makes them Independents is pretty much what Thump said - there are things they like about both parties, and may be more willing to cast a nuanced vote, rather than just ticking all the 'R' or 'D' boxes.

Boru

[Nanny]

I have never been enrolled in a political party. I'm socially liberal and laissez faire on economics. My politics: do no harm, live/let live, be a good neighbor.

[Angrboda]

Independents tend to lean Republican from what I've seen.  Not sure exactly what makes them independents.

According to Pew, independents are pretty evenly split between Republicans and Democrats (and always have been).



I suspect (and that's all it is - a suspicion) that what makes them Independents is pretty much what Thump said - there are things they like about both parties, and may be more willing to cast a nuanced vote, rather than just ticking all the 'R' or 'D' boxes.

Boru

In that poll, 25% of those identified as "Independent/Other" identify not as Independent but as "Something Other."

In a survey conducted last fall, shortly after the midterm elections, partisan leaners were less likely than partisans to say they registered to vote and voted in the congressional elections. About half of Democratic-leaning independents (48%) said they voted, compared with 59% of Democrats. The differences were comparable between GOP leaners (54% said they voted) and Republicans (61%).

https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/201...hey-think/

Notice the six-point gap in voting there.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Good observations, but the point I was making is that people who identify as Independents don’t necessarily lean Republican. The leaners are pretty evenly split between the parties.

On the other hand, Pew Research may have cocked things up - they’ve done it before.

Boru