Roz: I am not a Trump advocate, and am still very upset at what he said about true hero John McCain. However, I think your statements on Trump are equally offensive, off base, sexist, racist and highly inaccurate and inflammatory.

You offer no objective facts to support your slanderous comments that "Make America Great Again" simply means "Make White Males Great Again". Statistically, he numbers in the primaries show he is winning the non-white, female voters over his primary contenders. His message is not limited to white males, but to all Americans who are frustrated and upset at how our country is losing, on trade, on jobs, on national security, on immigration. Moreover, he is self funding his campaign, so unlike Hillary and his Republican challengers who are being funded by super pacs and are vulnerable to lobbyist, he can simply do what is right for this country, and not what is right for the lobbyist and special interest groups. All Americans, whether male or female, white or black, will have a President who is putting our country first, not lobbyist and special interests.

As to the violence at his rallies,it is not his supporters who are starting violence and inappropriate behavior with his supporters. People from Bernie and Hillary's group, and special interest groups like Black Lives Matters, are going to his rallies with the goal of causing a scene. They are trying to shut down political speech, which legally is the most protected first amendment speech, certainly more than commercial speech. Trump and his supporters have the right to have political rallies, to assemble, and these outside troublemakers who show up and yell inappropriate things and deliberately try to shut down the rally are the problem, and the FBI and US Attorneys Office should investigate them for hate crimes and political crimes for trying to shut down political speech. Yes, Trump saying "he would punch them" or "pay their legal fees" is not helpful, but is still protected political speech at a political rally, and once again, it is his rally, he decides what to talk about, it is his forum. They can discuss their issues at Hillary or Bernie's rally. If a Trump supporter showed up at Hillary's rally and started shouting and trying to start violence, Hillary's people would also get upset and try to stop the protest, just like Trump supporters did at his rally.

I support your opinions if you disagree with Trump on the issues, but you claiming he is like Hitler is highly inappropriate, and claiming he is only trying to help white males is sexist and racist. Again, I am not a Trump supporter, but I found your blog extremely offensive, inaccurate, and actually guilty of the same smear tactics you claim Trump guilty of.

You know, Trump has the delegate lead (prior to today), which means warm bodies are voting for him. Say what you want about him, but voters, so far, prefer him GOP wise. Is that more him or the GOP candidates kinda blow?
Beyond all that comparing him to Hitler? Really? You are aware of what Hitler did, yea? Are you inferring Trump would do the same?
bottom line, so far, Trump IS getting the majority of votes. I, myself, most likely will hold my nose and vote for Clinton.
Really want to see what GOP in Calif do votes wise. If Trump wins here, you should prepare yourself because Trump vs Clinton polls currently are very very close......if polls can be believed....ever....

"American" wrote: "All Americans, whether male or female, white or black, will have a President who is putting our country first"

In order to "put our country first", it would seem that one would have to have at least a small amount of respect for the people who make up our country. Donald Trump's demeaning taunts, condescending tone, and caricatures of those he holds in contempt have nothing to do with not being "politically correct", and all to do with his total lack of respect for those not actively stroking his ego.

For example, Mr. Trump has been real clear over the years on just how much women can expect from a Trump presidency. There's a new ad out that pretty much sums it up in Mr. Trump's own words:
- "It really doesn't matter what they write, as long as you've got a young and beautiful piece of ass."
- "I like kids. I mean, I won't do anything to take care of them; I'll supply funds, and she'll take care of the kids."
- "Women: you have to treat 'em like sh*t."
- "A person who is flat-chested is very hard to be a 10."
- "[She'd] make a pretty picture on her knees." (He also said something about Jeb Bush on his knees as well, but I digress!)
Mr. Trump's response? “It's a lot of sour grapes.” In this, and this only, I agree with Carly Fiorino, and truly hope "women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said." Web Link

And then there's Mr. Trump rebuke of his protesters, most of whom are black. I think his words at his St. Louis rally on 3/11/2016, and in Kansas City on 3/12/2016 are particularly telling of his views:
"You know, part of the problem and part of the reason it takes so long [to get rid of the protesters] is nobody wants to hurt each other anymore, right, and they're being politically correct the way they take them out, so it takes a little longer. Honestly, protesters, they realize it, they realize that there are no consequences to protesting anymore. They used to be consequences. There are none any more. Our country has to toughen up, folks. We have to toughen up. These people are bringing us down. Remember that. They're bringing us down. No reason for it. These people are so bad for our country, you have no idea, folks, you have no idea. They contribute nothing, nothing. They can get up, and when they're being whisked out they can raise their bad finger up in the air and drive people, which is very unfair, and some people get very angry at that because you know what that represents, and then when they get a little bit overly angry they're in trouble and the guy that raised his finger, no, that's no problem. That's no problem. Get out of here. Get 'em out. Hurting this country, folks, hurting this country. Big mouth. Get 'em out. Go home to mommy. Go home and get a job. Go home. Get a job. I'll tell you these are not good people folks, these are not good people. These are not good people. These are not the people that made our country great. But we're going to make it great again. But these are not the people. These are the people that are destroying our country. Get 'em out. C'mon, let's go. Get 'em out."

In Kansas City, MO, 3/12/2016 regarding the protesters:
"We're going to take our country back from these people. We're going to take it back. These are bad, bad people and we're going to take our country back from these people. We are going to take our country back from those people. Those people, they do nothing. They do nothing. We're going to bring it back and we're going to make America great again."

"These are not the people that made our country great . . . These are the people that are destroying our country." "We are going to take our country back from those people."
Aside from the optics of a rich white man berating black protesters with his mob of followers cheering him on, protesters, far from "destroying our country", have been responsible, for example, for the end of slavery aka the Civil War, the right to vote for women and people of color, Civil Rights including the fight against segregation & poll taxes, the right to marry inter-racially, the Labor Movement for safe working conditions, the end of the Viet Nam War, integrated sports teams, Gay rights, and, oh yeah, that original American protest: the American revolution.

Dismissing Mr. Trump's rally rhetoric as nothing more than "political speech at a political rally" is naive at best and dangerous at worst. He continues to ratchet up his rhetoric inciting his followers to violence, while taking absolutely no responsibility for any of it. It's difficult to mis-interpret his demand to followers regarding protesters to "Knock the crap out of them, seriously."

There's a reason Mr. Trump "loves the poorly educated", and his [mostly white] followers love him.

I wrote a great answer to American and SHale and my cat jumped on my PC and turned it off before I could post it. So I had to reboot and start over.

American, Trump's supporters were violating the protesters' First Amendment rights of Free Speech. This was a political rally for a Presidential Candidate. He was doing all the talking. A handful of protesters were practicing THEIR First Amendment rights of Free Speech. Read the First Amendment. It it to protect the rights of the minority to protest against the Government. Telling your Brown Shirts to "Punch them in the face" is NOT free speech.

I am not the first blogger or writer to compare Trump and his supporters to Hitler. When Hitler was elected Chancellor of Germany in 1933 he wasn't proposing eliminating Jews. First it was the Communists, then it was the Gays, then it was the Gypsies, then it was the Jews.

As I said in my blog, Trump will never oppose Jews. He has too many Jews in his family. Just insert "Muslim" for "Jew." Trump wanted to bar Muslims from immigrating to America. He softened this to say they needed to be properly vetted, but his original statement was to ban ALL Muslims, even American citizens returning from out of the country.

Would President Trump send American Muslims to Concentration Camps? At first I didn't think so but now I'm not so sure. Trump doesn't seem to care what happens to the people his supporters don't like. He wants to deport undocumented immigrants who have lived here for years. He might put them in "holding camps" until they can be shipped back to where they came from. Then they would probably be killed by the dictator they came here to escape.

When Pope Francis said Trump's immigration policies are not Christian, Trump called the Pope "weak." "No leader, especially a religious leader, should have the right to question another man's religion or faith." Well gee, isn't that what a Religious leader is supposed to do? Trump questions everybody's everything, but doesn't want anybody questioning him.

Billie, Thank you so much for adding your well-researched feedback. I started researching some of Trump's comments, but my blog is an Opinion piece and not a research paper. The more I see and hear and read about Candidate Trump, the more worried I am for the future of this country. He isn't going to "Make America Great Again." He is divisive, offensive, and manipulative. He is addressing the worst in Americans, not the best.

Roz

Here's a link to Marco Rubio's speech on dropping out of the race for President. While he doesn't mention Trump, it is clear he is not supporting or endorsing him. Marco has a great speech writer. This is the real "Keep America Great," speech.

Web Link

PS I'm pretty sure Marco is angling for VP, probably with Cruz (I prefer Kasich, but right now anyone is better than Trump).

Roz,

The 1st amendment most certainly DOES NOT use the word "minority" in its text. And given context of speech, what does "minority" mean anyways?

And you have it completely backwards with regards to who's speech needed to be protected in this circumstance. This was a TRUMP gathering. It was a political gathering that was disrupted by agitators who attempted to thwart TRUMP' right to free speech.

Now let's move on to the Hitler comparison. At no time have I heard Trump (or his spokespeople) EVER mention putting anyone in camps and it is absurd to think that he would! That you may THINK he would is more of a comment on your own reasoning than on him. The fact that he would seek to temporarily stop immigration from certain regions is not far fetched in a system where 80% of visitors here on Visa have over-stayed their visits.

And God-forbid we ask the Government to do its job and enforce our own immigration laws. The horror!

But comparing Trump to Hitler? Completely ridiculous!

Note: I am NOT a Trump supporter.

Dan

comparing Trump to Hitler is just wrong on every level. Regardless of intent.

'nuff said

Billie,

ACA (Healthcare.gov)
Iraq
Libya (and Benghazi)
Syria
TPP
Amnesty
Fast and Furious
IRS scandal
Coal Industry
Wall Street
Drone Warfare
VA Scandal

How does ANY of the above put "America First", I'd like to know.

And about violence at Trump rallies I don't remember you or any other libs bemoaning the antics of college students across the nation bullying conservative speakers which happens ALL THE TIME. Or, like what happened recently, splashing paint at prominent gay conservatives?

Silence from you.

Want civility, then act civil.

Like I told Roz, that was Trump' rally. His free speech was the one being trampled.

Thats the 1st amendment. Don't like it, tough.

Roz: I understand the First Amendment, had Constitutional Law almost 30 years ago in law school, and it certainly does not allow someone to show up at a political candidate's own event and start shouting and interrupting the speech, with the intent to shut it down. This was not an open debate, this was a scheduled speech by a candidate, and the candidate has the absolute right to have anyone removed who disrupts the speech and starts yelling and screaming and trying to shut down the speech. The protesters had the right to stand outside the forum, to hold signs, to voice their opinions outside on the public sidewalk, but not the right to go into the stadium and yell and disrupt the speech with the intent to shut it down.

If you understood the first amendment, you would understand that it is actually the protesters who are violating the first amendment, by trying to shut down a political candidate from speaking at his own event. It was his event, he obtained the permits, he paid for the hall, and he can control what occurs inside. The protesters are not allowed to go into the hall and try to shut it down. The first amendment is not a defense to the actions of the protesters. They could lawfully stand outside the event, on the public sidewalk with their signs, with their chants, but once they entered the stadium they were legally considered "guests" of Trump, who could have his guests legally removed, which he did.

Yes, over the years Trump has said some inappropriate things, but then again, so have most people in public view, i.e. Obama on Republicans "clinging to their guns and bibles", Hillary on the "right wing conspiracy making false claims against her husband", and Jessie Jackson calling New York "Hymietown".

Again, I am not a Trump advocate, and certainly do not condone a lot of his actions and words, but when people start comparing him to Hitler, and claim only white males are voting for him(elections so far show he is winning the non-white female votes in his party) and inaccurately interpret the first amendment and wrongly claim the protesters who started the problems with the intent to shut down a political speech are "victims", I have to defend him.

Your cat is very smart, and understands this, apparently better than you do.

Quote:

“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun. Because from what I understand, folks in Philly like a good brawl. I’ve seen Eagles fans.”

For the life of me I've been searching the database here at PW and it's funny, I haven't been able to find the slightest mention by Billie or Roz regarding the violent nature of this particular quote by Obama.

Funny that...

Dan

Without weighing in on whether a candidate who would impose a religious test on who is entitled to emigrate to this country, encourages his followers to physically assault those who oppose him, and has endorsed killing the families of our enemies is a fine American, I would like to note that the positions asserted (on all sides) as to the First Amendment are nonsense.

The First Amendment restricts the government's right to abridge freedom of speech. Trump isn't the government. The people protesting him aren't the government. Stated simply, the First Amendment has nothing to do with whether the protesters have the right to speak up at a Trump rally, or if Trump has the right to kick them out. "American" - 30 years is a long time. You seem to have forgotten some basics.

Physically assaulting people is a different,and unambiguously criminal matter. But all of the people prattling on about who violated who's "First Amendment rights" are talking nonsense.

Peter,

You're right re/ the 1st and its application in this regard.

But the larger point is that he had the right to kick the agitators out of HIS event, there's no question about this.

Part the earth...I actually agree with Peter/T...

I'll wait for the sea to turn red next.

@American, is a presidential hopeful stating that he would punch the protesters in the face or saying he would pay the legal fees of those that do so reasonable in your opinion? Is it conduct becoming a president to incite violence in this way? This is unacceptable.

@Roz I, too, was exceedingly offended at first at the comparison between Trump and Hilter, but listening to him gloat about what he will do when he is president was so close the to "manifest destiny" approach by Hitler, that I'm truly terrified.

I simply cannot believe people can overlook how dangerous this man is for our country. I'll take anyone over him.

Here's a more complete version of that Obama quote:

“Argue with neighbors, get in their faces… If you get hit, we will punch back twice as hard… I don’t want to quell anger. I think people are right to be angry. I’m angry…If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun. Because from what I understand folks in Philly like a good brawl. I’ve seen Eagles fans.”

As Brendan O'Niell posted on facebook, “Unless you think Trump is an insanely powerful political maestro who in the space of six months has utterly altered the character of America, then you have to conclude that the current ugliness and division everyone is complaining about has been brewing over the past eight years of Obamaism and ‘politics of hope’. For liberals now to throw their hands in the air over the state of America, when they’ve been running America for nearly a decade, strikes me as a bit rich. How the so-called politics of hope nurtured what we have today — that’s the question we should be asking.”

RE: Violence in America/Americas, take a good look at the history SINCE THE ARRIVAL of EUROPEANS in NORTH/CENTRAL/SOUTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN. It'S case after case of GENOCIDE of indigenous people.

As for Manifest Destiny, ask Native Americans scholars what they think it means.
They will tell you the T R U T H. no kidding...

The trump does indeed have a big mouth! I love all the fighting about him...keep it alive!

ps I like to think of myself as a UNITE-ER AND NOT A DIVID-ER! HOORAY!!!

Global Research: Web Link

Violence is the American way of life.

@"DKHSK"
Just a few comments [lol] on how a President Trump has said he'll handle some of your points in his effort to "make America [and Americans?] great again."

According to his website, a President Trump will "[c]ompletely repeal Obamacare" and "eliminate the individual mandate." The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) analysis finds that "his initiative could cause around 21 million people to lose coverage while costing as much as $500 billion more over 10 years." According to the analysis, "implementation of Trump's plan without penalties or subsidies to encourage individuals to purchase insurance would actually further increase the number of uninsured individuals.” Additionally, the cost would be even higher since the analysis doesn't include coverage for pre-existing conditions because it's not listed as being part of his plan. Of course, this assumes that once a President Trump has managed to repeal the ACA, the do-nothing Congress will allow any health care proposal to be put in place. Web Link
~~~
Iraq, Libya, Benghazi, and Syria are all outcomes of the WMD lies told by the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Ashcroft administration in order to preemptively start the war in Iraq. "Members of the Bush administration were dead set on invading Iraq, regardless of the facts. Their arrogance, their incompetence and their lies to the public and the president—all of it led to the greatest strategic disaster in American history, one that will damage this country for decades to come." Web Link

When asked this morning who his foreign policy advisors are, Donald Trump said: “I’m speaking with myself, number one, because I have a very good brain and I’ve said a lot of things. In fact, in my book in 2000 I talked about Osama bin Laden. So I know what I'm doing." Yep, I feel better.
~~~
Instead of amnesty, or a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who are working and law-abiding, Donald Trump has cited Eisenhower's infamous "Operation Wetback" as a model he would follow when he deports the estimated 12 million men, women and children "in a very humane way, a very nice way.” "Operation Wetback" was anything but. During the summer of 1955, hundreds of thousands of Mexicans were “dumped” in the desert around Mexicali, Mexico, where temperatures can reach 125 degrees. Eighty-eight died from heat stroke. Twenty-five percent of those deported were transported by boat from Texas to the Mexican Gulf Coast in vessels and conditions likened to an “eighteenth century slave ship." I sure don't see how this "make[s] our country great again." It seems to me it would be better to bring millions of people out of the shadows and add them into our tax base.

As a vet, whose father, ex-husband and brother were/are also vets, the VA situation is an absolute shame on our country. Will a President Trump fix it? I don't know. For all his professed "love" of veterans, he hasn't been in a real hurry to disburse the $6 million he received during his Iowa fundraiser for "Veterans and Wounded Warriors", if that's any indication. Web Link

As far as violence incited or acted out during a campaign rally/protest, I think Peter Kluget said it best.

Oh Billie,

Much as I'd like to rip apart the ONE article written by Newsweek regarding the supposed allegations of a dead CIA Director, I'm afraid you are peddling nonsense. Its surprising that I could find no other supporting document to back up the claims of this obvious OPINION piece. Hmmm...? Here's the bottom line: was there a crime committed or not? If there was, why hasn't the current administration served indictments?

One would have to be a complete moron to believe that the current state of Iraq, Libya (Benghazi included) and Syria is the result of BUSH, especially after 7 years of Obama. For example, remember the "crossing the red line" remark in Syria by Obama?? What did he do when it was crossed??

Who said this:

“I think that I’m a better speechwriter than my speechwriters. I know more about policies on any particular issue than my policy directors. And I’ll tell you right now that I’m gonna think I’m a better political director than my political director.”

But on to my main point. What I find [lol] (to borrow your term) is that you big government libs rail against incompetence in Republican government, but somehow seem to avert your eyes when it comes to the Democrats. Fancy that, huh big boy?

Dan

Educated,

I read that too and was going to quote it, but it doesn't matter to the libs. Notice how when this is pointed out not ONE of them say a word of condemnation, but they HOWL like monkeys when a Republican says it.

Hypocrites. Every darned one of them.

And btw I can point out a number of conservatives taking Trump to task for the level of discourse he's exhibiting.

Dan

I came here to say what Peter Kluget said, so I'll just add that I am astounded that a member of the profession could possibly miss the State Action issue in a discussion of the First Amendment's miss-application to the Chicago riot. Lay folk may be forgiven for mistakenly conflating "free speech" with the First Amendment. And there's a fair number of issues in Constitutional jurisprudence that may be subject to reasonable debate.

But State Action is not among them. And every lawyer knows that. Almost.

Leaned Paw (Irish Setter) - Who cares what the law is...certainly not Trump.

Peter you are correct about the First Amendment not being applicable in a political rally by a candidate. The Bill of Rights supports States' Rights and Individual or Group Rights to protest against the Federal Government.

However, physical abuse of protesters is not protected by the Bill of Rights. The fact that Trump said he would "pay the legal fees" of his supporters who "punch them in the face," means he knows perfectly well that physical violence is illegal on either side. This is a bad precedent for a potential President. This is very disturbing indeed.

Dan, stop with the Liberal crap. I am NOT a Liberal, and Trump is NOT a Conservative. Trump is a megalomaniac who would be a Dictator if he could. Honestly I would not have called Donald Trump that a few weeks ago, but this is the direction he appears to be headed in now.

Donald is picking at the preexisting divisions in our country and appealing to the worst possible elements. We are headed for war, labor camps, and mass deportations if this maniac is elected President.

I will be fine, most you posting here will be fine, but can we all turn our backs or worse on those Donald would "punch in the face." I can't do that.

Roz

The reality is that a person who has the Trump Personality Disorder will punch anybody in the face...he's not picky!

All you have to do is question his credibility, and SMACK...right in the snoot.

Roz...nobody is SAFE in the presence the T.

everybody is just one sucker punch from a bloody nose...

I sometimes forget that in the revisionist anti-"lib" history book, all evil in the world began when America elected a smart, black, Democratic man [who was a secret Muslim born in Kenya] to the office of President of the United States.

But this thread is about a President Trump and how his hateful rhetoric, full of demeaning taunts, condescending tone, and caricatures of those he holds in contempt, has ginned up [mostly white] *Republican* voter's anger that's been simmering for more than 8 years. We saw quite a bit of it when Trump Version 1.0 [Sarah Palin] took the stage in her run for VP. The "real Donald Trump" has made it OK in this election cycle to express that anger with violence, because, hey, he'll pay for any fallout. Unlike President Obama, however, Mr. Trump refuses to take *any* responsibility for violence at his rallies - violence he's actually called for from his supporters.

"With his own campaign regrets, Obama decries Trump’s ‘vulgar and divisive’ rhetoric" Web Link
"Trump on rally violence: 'I don't accept responsibility" Web Link
"Trump: I "should get credit, not be scorned" for tone of events" Web Link

Billie,

That "smart BlackDemocratic man" has a list of failures that I put above and you still won't address it.

Typical projection and you fool nobody.

Dan

Roz,

Did I call you a liberal or Trump a conservative?

I don't think so.

Dan,

You didn't call me a Liberal, but you keep harping on how terrible Liberals are. We know you feel that way, so you don't have to keep saying it again and again.

Roz

Billie,

Popular former MSNBC host: Web Link

Why do they hate women?

We can play this link thing all day, but I think this topic is kinda dying out.

No doubt that Trump is a demagogue with the emotional maturity of a typical elementary school 3rd-grade boy (and I probably insulted a lot of 3rd-grade boys by saying that because, in truth, there are a lot of 3rd-grade boys who are mare mature than Donald Trump).

Amazing that a large fraction of the Republican party has gone crazy and is promoting this clown as Presidential material. Even more amazing is the fact that these Trumpsters think that the rest of America is behind them.

Trump's daughter is a Jew! He has Jewish grandkids!!!! This title is incredibly offensive!!!!! Do your research before you make such horrible accusations.

She's a convert. Her children do not have a Jewish mother. in my book, she is not a Jew and neither are her children...i rest my case.

@Disappointed

I think that Roz stated quite clearly in her article "My comparison to Hitler does not mean that Trump is anti-Jewish."

Does everybody forgot what Hitler did? Saying he was anti-Jewish is the least of what made him evil. To compare any living human being to Hitler is just wrong on every level. And demonstrated very little thinking on history.

@DKHSK "We can play this link thing all day, but I think this topic is kinda dying out."

Oh gee, and here I thought you wanted to hear more of my ideas on a Trump presidency (lol).

As far as Keith Olbermann's 2008 remark regarding Hillary Clinton, it was terrible, he was immediately chastised, and he apologized for it within a couple of days.

Donald Trump not only never apologizes, he doubles down, re-tweets, and gleefully repeats his nasty rhetoric every chance he gets. Any bets a general election contest between Clinton and Trump are going to take his misogynistic hate speech to new lows?

"Keith Olbermann apologizes for his Clinton remark"
Web Link

SHale and Disappointed,

Hitler didn't say or do those things in 1933 either. Leni Riefenstahl's 1935 film, "Triumph of the Will," shows the reality of Germany's "rebirth" under Hitler. Hitler's transformation into the monster we now know he was took several more years.

Web Link

In a previous blog I compared Trump to Clarabell the Clown. I didn't take him seriously enough. Web Link

Edited for accuracy and link to a better copy of "Triumph of the Will." - Roz

Disappointed,

I'm not sure if you are criticizing me for saying his daughter is Jewish or comparing Trump to Hitler because his daughter converted to Judaism.

I said several times in my blog that he is NOT anti-Jewish. No Trump directs his bigotry against Muslims, which is much more (sadly) acceptable here these days.

Roz

I saw Triumph of the Will 50 years ago in film school because it is considered a masterpiece of motion picture propaganda. It is brilliantly made but terrifying in the aftermath of WWII. Robots, NAZI Robots.

It runs almost two hours, but Hitler's speech at the end is chilling.

Roz

@ ,

"To compare any living human being to Hitler is just wrong on every level."

I disagree. There could easily people today who wish to do as much or more evil than Hitler.

"Hitler didn't say or do those things in 1933 either."

Yes, exactly. We don't know what he is capable of if he manages to get more power.

I'm not at all offended by the comparison of Trump and Hitler.

I would certainly prefer any of the other candidates to Trump, from Cruz to Sanders, and I hope any reasonable, thinking person would as well.

Hi Roz
Your comparison Of Trump's oratory to that of Hitler is right on. Most people know of Hitler's ideas and actions after 1939 when he was firmly in power, but the parallels between Hitler's rise to political power in the1920's and early 1930's and Trump's rhetoric and effect on the electorate are disturbing. Check out Hitler's early political life on Wikipedia. Polemics.
However, there may be a difference because I'm not aware that Trump has a political manifesto. He reminds me of " The Candidate" movie: it's all about winning the race with no plan for "What do we do now" at the end of a successful race.

The Republicans:

They gave us John McCain and he ran a feckless campaign and lost.
Then they gave us Mitt Romney, who should have won in a landslide but caved on holding Obamas feet to the fire.
They promised us that if they could gain the House they could do "x". We delivered the house and they did nothing.
They promised us that if they gain the Senate they would do "y". We delivered the Senate and they still did nothing.

Trump is a viable candidate because the Republican establishment has failed to listen and respond to the middle of the voting class. They (the Repubs) get EXACTLY what they deserve.

I am concerned about Trump, not because he talks like a pseudo-alpha east coast moron, but because he is unpredictable. I can't tell if he is telling the truth because he slightly changes his opinion daily. To me, that is a sign of unreliability.

That he says things about women or minorities or whomever I don't care because that is his schtick, and if you don't get that now then you won't ever get it. What I care about is POLICY and on this, he is unreliable.

Ted Cruz, whom I personally support, is the candidate that both political parties fear the most.
They fear him because they know he won't bargain on personal and founding principles. He is way worse for the political and consultant class because they will have insufficient means of ripping off the taxpayer with him at the helm and for this, he is preferable to Trump.

He's also extremely intelligent and, unlike Obama, is a REAL constitutional scholar.

Voters are fed up with the Washington establishment, whether it be with the "community organizer in chief" that never started a business in his life, or the career Democrats & Republicans in congress, & we do not need another Clinton leftist or Sanders socialist/communist either. Trump has a track record of actually getting real things done. Give him a chance, he deserves it, & most of all the U.S. need a quality leader, not a screeching/barking Hillary.

It seems like Roz has joined a long list of DNC supporters that make this comparison. By my last count that would be fifteen Hollywood celebrities. How original of you.
Why do people rehash other peoples talking points? Are you devoid of original thought here? This comparison is an outrage. Trump is a mega ego maniac and a clown and I even feel sorry for that poor animal on his head but Hitler comparisons make YOU look bad. Good day.

Hard to give Trump a chance with his mouth running. and I'm all for an outsider and non-Politian as Prez (or any elected high office). Just his mouth is totally out of control.
I'm also for a woman Prez, but not Clinton, please?
Dam, we need MORE choices.

@Resident: "Give him (Trump) a chance, he deserves it..."

What has Trump done to "deserve" a chance at being President of the US over any other reality TV clown? And if you want to focus on just business experience, there are many other wealthy individuals - people who are self-made billionaires and were not simply born with a silver spoon in their mouths - who have better business track records and are wiser and more emotionally mature than Donald Trump.

Let's not forget our history Roz.....Franklin Roosevelt put countless Japanese, some of which were American citizens, into internment camps...and he was a liberal democrat. Trump simply wants to uphold our current laws and deport illegal aliens. To use Hitler's name when comparing anyone is wrong, but for gods sake point that judgemental finger at yourself first.

"Roz........your fired!"

Resident,

Trump has a track record of inheriting money, proudly womanizing, and going bankrupt.

Tom,

Did you read my blog or just the title? Try reading it first before you accuse me of being DNC or a copy cat.

Dan,

Romney came off as an elitist and being a Mormon didn't help either. But Romney is a SUCCESSFUL business man who has run profitable businesses and he was elected and served as Governor of Massachusetts. Trump is a real estate investor, which is very cyclical. His other businesses, except for the TV shows and beauty contests, were mostly flops.

I'm not a fan of Obama, but he did serve in the Senate for a couple of years before being elected President.

Really?

What FDR did to Japanese Americans was wrong, but we can't change history. We should learn from those mistakes and not make them again.

Trump says he would ban Muslims and deport Mexicans. I think that's a mistake that we should not repeat. You may not agree with me. So fine, vote for Donald Trump. He sounds like your kind of guy.

SHale,

I agree with you. None of the choices are any good right now. Trump has threatened riots if he isn't nominated, but I hope the Republicans can come up with someone else. I'd vote for Romney, Kasich, even Cruz.

If it comes down to Hillary vs. Donald, I'd vote for Hillary. I've said before (as have many others) if Donald Trump is the Republican nominee, that would be the best gift Hillary Clinton ever had.

Roz

American,

You said, "he is self funding his campaign, so unlike Hillary and his Republican challengers who are being funded by super pacs and are vulnerable to lobbyist, he can simply do what is right for this country, and not what is right for the lobbyist and special interest groups. All Americans, whether male or female, white or black, will have a President who is putting our country first, not lobbyist and special interests."

No he is not putting America first. He is putting Trump first. He is attempting to BUY the Presidency, like he would buy a business and makes himself CEO. This is just an ego-trip for Trump. He won't do what is right for this country, he will do what is right for Trump.

Roz

Goldwater was Hitler, Nixon was Hitler, Reagan was Hitler, Bush was Hitler, Trump is Hitler...

I guess if you label everyone Hitler, you're bound to get it right someday, eh?

Roz,

Romney was NOT a conservative. He lost for the same reasons that Dole and McCain lost; he had no support from the base. The base does not care about the wealth or religion of its candidates.

Roz: Did you read my entire comments? I am not a Trump advocate, and as stated I do not condone a lot of his words and actions. However, you started this discussion with the disgusting comment that Trump was the next Hitler, that only white males were supporting him, and that his supporters were to blame for the riots with no blame placed on the outside agitators who showed up with the single motive to shut down political speech and start a riot.

Comparing anyone but a mass murderer to Hitler is wrong. I am Catholic, and Hitler murdered thousands of Catholics, and as you know millions of Jews. Comparing Trump to Hitler is offensive to me, and should be offensive to all people. I do not like Trump, but felt the need to stand up for your outrageous and false comments. Trump is winning the non-white female voters in the primaries. It is not only white males supporting him. He is not a liar like Hillary Clinton, and you may not agree with his views but he is honest about them. and that is refreshing for any politician. He is also spending his own money, and not getting paid millions by Wallstreet(like Hillary did) to give "speeches" and owe them in return. It is his own money he is spending, so whatever he does if elected will not be decided by special interest and lobbyist.

I supported Chris Christie and Marco Rubio initially, and also liked Kasich ability to bring people together but Kasich has no chance of winning. Hillary is a liar, and I will never vote for a liar. You may not like Trump, and he is a self promoter, but at least he is honest and you know what you are getting. I will vote for a self promoter over a liar every time.

Finally, I am glad that the DMV pulled your license, as your own blog established that you were not physically and mentally capable of driving safely anymore, but you were apparently going to be selfish and risk the safety of others by claiming you were only going to drive during the day. I was worried of your safety and the safety of innocent people you would hurt driving. Please listen to the DMV and stay off the road. Your driving is more dangerous than Trump's hot air.

@American :"Comparing anyone but a mass murderer to Hitler is wrong."

That may be your opinion. The obvious comparison between Trump and Hitler that arises (and Roz is not the first to have noted this) is in the campaign style and rhetoric that both Trump and Hitler employed. Trump effectively harnesses the hate, bigotry and, yes, even racism of many of his supporters to form a core of unthinking, enthusiastic supporters. Supporters that are so hard-core that - as Trump himself boasted - he could shoot and kill someone on a busy street and they would not turn him in. What other politicians can you think of in recent times whose behavior is so outrageous and inflammatory and whose rhetoric against people of other ethnic groups is so hate-filled? One can't help but to ponder the similarities between Trump's rise and Hitler's rise.

Neither Roz nor anyone else has accused Trump of being a mass-murderer, and for you to suggest that that is the one and only criterion by which anyone could possibly by compared to Hitler is a bit disingenuous of you. You know very well that when the thought of similarities between Trump and Hitler rise in people's minds, they are not thinking of that.

Oh, and finally, knock it off with the final personal cheap-shot at Roz. How 'Trumpian' of you to throw that in.

@DKHSK :"Goldwater was Hitler, Nixon was Hitler, Reagan was Hitler, Bush was Hitler, Trump is Hitler"

Can't recall ever reading any comments that Goldwater, Nixon, Reagan, or Bush were like Hitler. Unlike Trump, none of the others ever made a 'Hitleresque' comment like saying that they could shoot and kill someone on a busy street and none of their supporters would turn them in. Unlike Trump, none of the others made bigoted and hateful statements designed to harness the bigotry and hate of their supporters. Trump and a significant fraction of Trump supporters run on hate like a car runs on gasoline.

"Give Trump a chance, he deserves it..."

Sure give Hitler a chance, he deserves it.

The comparison is appropriate.

The guy even tweets racist Nazi propaganda and doesn't apologize. That's Nazi not "Nazi".

Web Link

Who knows what this clown would do, given enough power. Give me Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders, Mitt Romney, or Hillary Clinton any day over this guy.

No support from the base -- what a laugh DH. The far right wing base is TINY -- that's why candidates from both sides "pivot to the middle" -- you know, where the voters are. Are you ten years old?

And puh-leeze don't haul out St. Ronnie -- by contemporary standards, that tax raising, deficit-tripling addict would have No place in your grand odious party.

Everyone seen this Saturday Night Live "Voters for Trump" video skit? Hilarious (except perhaps to Trump supporters):

Web Link

@American "[Donald Trump] is also spending his own money, and not getting paid millions by Wallstreet"

Not exactly true.

"From the start of his campaign in April through October last year, individual contributions made up about 67 percent of total money raised for his campaign." That is, until Mr. Trump gave his campaign a loan. "The vast majority of Trump’s contributions to his own campaign - about $12.6 million - are loans rather than donations. This means he could expect to eventually recoup these funds." It will be interesting to see who's going to pay the Donald back.

Donald Trump says he isn't beholden to any special interest, but he likes to point out that Sen Cruz is "owned" by Wall Street because he received $2 million in loans from Citibank and Goldman Sachs. Well, guess who's received *hundreds* of millions of dollars in loans from big banks, and not just Citibank and Goldman Sachs.

Politifact: "Is Donald Trump self-funding his campaign? Sort of" Web Link
"RedState: Donald Trump is OWNED by Every Bank on Wall Street" Web Link
RedState: Know Who Else Has Received Loans from Citibank and Goldman Sachs? Donald Trump" Web Link

@Damon "Oh, and finally, knock it off with the final personal cheap-shot at Roz. How 'Trumpian' of you to throw that in."

Well said and seconded!!

I can hardly wait for the "R" convention to begin. DING! BRING ON THE DRUNKEN BRAWL!!!

LIGHTS...ACTION...FISTS FLYING...I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!

signed,

Cholo Pololo Mololo
ringside...

Bob...would Carly do?

ps she is indeed ugly looking and ugly acting...

signed,

anony

I’m sick of these hypocritical hand-wringers, complaining about Trump’s coarse language, while ignoring the real violence Hillary committed as secretary of state, promoting illegal drone strikes that killed hundreds of little kids.

The only sane candidate is Sanders. I could never vote for that hippie, though. Too much Commie talk.

And all you indignant people upset about protesters getting kicked out of this or that political rally, you make me want to puke.

If you stand up at a movie and act like a douche, you get kicked out.

If you stand up in front of a bride at a wedding and tell her she is ugly, you get kicked out.

If you storm the stage while Miley Cyrus is twerking, you get kicked out.
That is how private events work.

When someone rents a hall and a PA system, it's THEIR party.

If you want to spread YOUR dumb message, rent your own freaking hall and PA system or go out on the street or in the town square.

Nobody owes you air time.

Are we straight on this?

Whew -- does something smell fishy?

Never mind, it's just Glates, dumping his usual rotting pile of red herrings on everyone. Carry on.

I swear, just like howler monkeys screeching!

Damon,

If you haven't heard or read the Hitler comparisons for each of the names I mentioned then you really haven't been paying attention. Doesn't surprise me for a self-professed Ivy leaguer! :)

Billie,

Take a look at President Goldman Sachs and Hillary' donations and get back to us, will you?

Fact is, Trump has put up his own money, more so that any other candidate AND he expects to get paid back.

Sounds like good business sense to me!

For the record, pretty much every Republican presidental candidate since Hitler has been compared to Hitler by the left. Some things never change.

Web Link

anyone who would hold their nose and vote for a Clinton is misguided. The body count for those left behind in the wake of serving or doing business with the Clintons is very high.
I think Cruz is more Hitleresgue than Trump in his sneaky slick condescending dramatic oratory.
At least with Trump you know what he is capable of he has worked the system, and knows how the behind the curtain and under the table deals work. He's honest about it, so he may have more integrity than the whole stinking bunch.
Both parties are corrupt machines and if you think one is better than the other or different or more "for the people" you are misled.

C. Hunt has a very familiar writing style...

Not very clever name though.

It's democrats and indepentents that are pushing Trump over the top. This is just one example:
Web Link

Roe,

"Condescending oratory"?

Sounds like someone suffers from an inferiority complex.

Did you ever notice that when leebrules post claims here they include links, while conservatives just post claims?

Why do you suppose that is?

Roe,

Thats because like all good conservatives, we think you should do your own work. ;)

And I've personally checked the links from you libs. To say you live in a echo chamber is to be too kind.

Sincerely.

Edit

Last comment was to C. Hunt

@DKHSK. :"Damon, If you haven't heard or read the Hitler comparisons for each of the names I mentioned then you really haven't been paying attention. "

Tell us all what it's like to go through life without a clue, Dan.

American,

You said, "I do not like Trump, but felt the need to stand up for your outrageous and false comments. Trump is winning the non-white female voters in the primaries. It is not only white males supporting him. He is not a liar like Hillary Clinton, and you may not agree with his views but he is honest about them. and that is refreshing for any politician. He is also spending his own money, and not getting paid millions by Wallstreet(like Hillary did) to give "speeches" and owe them in return. It is his own money he is spending, so whatever he does if elected will not be decided by special interest and lobbyist."


I'm not defending Hillary. My comments against Trump are aimed at voters in the Republican Primaries who accept his jingoism, prejudice, and simplistic ideas as "honesty." I'm a registered Republican so I would only vote for Hillary is Trump is her opponent.

I like Kasich. I contributed to his campaign and to Rubio's too. Instead of saying he doesn't have a chance, work to strengthen his chances. He has good experience as Governor of Ohio and in the Department of Treasury. He's the kind of candidate the Republicans need to defeat Hillary.

I like Rubio too but he's too young and green (experience wise not environmentally). He needs to do his job in the Senate for a couple of terms and then he'll be ready to run for President.

I really hope Trump is using his campaign to negotiate a deal at the Convention with one of the more traditional candidates. Trump is smart. I really hope he is pulling the ultimate deal to be the King, er President-maker. Trump would be better as a Lobbyist behind the next President and not the next President.

Roz

The only red herring is the argument that someone isn’t qualified to be president just because he uses naughty words.

When deciding who you want as president, a good place to start is considering who says we should blow up innocent people and who doesn’t.

D: "like all good conservatives, we think you should do your own work."

Fixed: "like all good conservatives, we think you should do our work for us."

When anybody makes a claim, that person bears the burden of persuading others. When you make a claim, you drop that burden, most of the time. It hurts your cause.

"Is Donald Trump the new Hitler?"

Donald Trump is getting a lot of support from angry, disaffected voters, voters who don't care that Donald Trump doesn't offer policy specifics, or that he is immature, or that he has no experience in government. These are the kind of people who in years past would write in "Mickey Mouse" on the ballot. From that perspective, Donald Trump is the new Mickey Mouse.

Roz,

Thank you for liven up the blog page.
This blog is entertaining, amusing, engaging, absorbing, compelling, comical.

Damon,

I prefer Mickey. He's nice and kind and has a better hat. He's well-known and respected around the World and never threatened to bomb innocent people.

Donald the Duck is irritable, argumentative, and throws a tantrum when he doesn't get his way. He inherited his money from his rich Uncle Scrooge, who cheated his employees and hoarded his money.

Any similarity to politicians living or dead is purely coincidental.

Roz

Michael,

"Thank you for liven up the blog page.
This blog is entertaining, amusing, engaging, absorbing, compelling, comical."

Much like your "opinion" piece calling out Patrick Gannon.

;)

Damon,

Oh...ouch! You really got me there...

Clearly, Roz struck a nerve among Republicans with this topic.

The rise of Trump among Republican voters doesn't surprise me. The false (and untenable) promises -- not to mention the veiled and not-so-veiled racism -- that the Republican Party used for so many year to lure hard-working, lower-wage, blue-collar voters into the Party, coupled with the moralist contempt in which the Party elites actually holds these voters, has finally back-fired on it.

The Republican Party is getting the candidate that it deserves -- as some posters here have already observed.

And true conservatives can hardly be heard to complain, when their Party's presidents and congresspeople have given them nothing but busted budgets and massive deficits over the years. Republicans aren't truly fiscally conservative. They just believe it is more moral to give government hand-outs to the wealthy and to government contractors (because those folks are somehow more morally entitled to it). Thirty-five years of of failed supply-side economics pretty clearly demonstrates what a failed economic policy that is.

Some have suggested Ted Cruz as an alternative. However, a President Cruz and his $10 trillion deficit budgets would just be a continuation of such failure. Although he might actually save some money in the Executive Branch. From what I hear, there aren't very many people who like him well enough to want to work with him.

The following from the Roz article is false: "Political Correctness simply means not being overtly hostile to other people based on race or religion. Trump encourages political incorrectness, like beating up protesters at his rallies."

Political correctness has nothing to do with hostility to anyone. Political correctness simply is the left's way of attempting to stifle free speech. Trump doesn't encourage political correctness, rather he simply is politically incorrect, and that attribute is exactly why I like Trump, & why he has so many other supporters. People are tired of being stifled by the left's "political correctness"!

But, too often, cries about "political correctness" are used falsely to fend off legitimate criticism of, or to excuse, overtly racist or prejudiced speech or behavior.

I think that most of us have no problems with recognizing political correctness. What's disturbing, though, is this recent fad of using the term "politically incorrect" as a cover for bigoted, xenophobic, sexist, or racist behavior. Seems that many of those who are most vocal about attacking "political correctness" have a problem themselves with calling a spade a spade.

"I will never vote for a liar." "Trump ... is not a liar like Hillary Clinton." - American

"I watched when the World Trade Center came tumbling down, and I watched in Jersey City, N.J., where thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down. Thousands of people were cheering." - stated by Donald Trump

"Whites killed by whites — 16%. Whites killed by blacks — 81%," - Tweeted by Donald Trump.

"If you're from Syria and you're a Christian, you cannot come into this country, and they're the ones that are being decimated. If you are Islamic ... it's hard to believe, you can come in so easily," - Donald Trump

"Look, we’re the most highly taxed nation in the world." - Donald Trump

I could go on but you get the drift. Donald Trump doesn't just "lie" - he lies to advance the worst sort of racist and xenophobic disinformation and to advance political points through falsehood. But from the right wing mind, those aren't "lies" even though they are objectively untrue. There weren't thousands cheering on rooftops on 9/11. Most white people are killed by other white people. America's taxes are relatively low for a first world country. But to the right wing mentality, Trump is telling the truth, and reality is lying.

Fascinating.

Trump is also stalling on making his tax reports public. He may be overstating his wealth. How much of his campaign is he financing and how much is free publicity from the mainstream media? Trump is a showman. P. T. Barnum proclaimed "There's a sucker born every minute." Trump's suckers are born every second.

Very interesting commentary on Trump by Dan Rather. Web Link

Roz

Roz,

A man who tried to use forged documents to bring down a President is not a man who's opinion is to be trusted.

Period.

Dan