Has the Trump Meltdown Begun?

 

Many pundits wondered what would happen if Trump fell behind in the polls. Would he mellow a bit, lash out, or meltdown completely. Now that Dr. Ben Carson is running neck-and-neck with The Donald and has led in several surveys, we’re beginning to see what a desperate Trump looks like. According to Washington Post reporter Jenna Johnson, the marathon speech he gave in Fort Dodge, IA, Thursday night was something to behold.

Here’s how Donald Trump says he would fight the Islamic State: “I would bomb the [expletive] out of them.” Then he would take their oil. [unredacted link]

Either Trump was having an off night, he popped an Ambien before the speech, or the meltdown several people predicted has begun.

The question is, do his polls shoot up five points or 10?

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  1. Eustace C. Scrubb Member
    Eustace C. Scrubb
    @EustaceCScrubb

    So, you’ve gone over to team Jeb! I see, Gabriel.

    • #1
  2. Brian Watt Inactive
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    Always a winning strategy with voters: “How stupid are the people of Iowa?”

    Good Grief! This is the man whose sound judgement we’re supposed to be impressed with?

    Let the meltdown continue. I’ll pop some corn and watch the butter melt down right along with it.

    Thanks for the post, Jon. You’ve made my night.

    • #2
  3. Eric Hines Inactive
    Eric Hines
    @EricHines

    Sounds like a lot of wishful thinking to me.  Lots of pundits have been predicting the collapse of the Trump campaign Any Day Now for the last several months.

    For good or ill, it looks like he’s going to be hanging around for awhile.  I think, too, that Daniel Henninger might not be far wrong.

    Eric Hines

    • #3
  4. Brian Watt Inactive
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    “I know more about ISIS than the generals do. Believe me.”

    How did that happen? Did he check out a book from the library?

    • #4
  5. Max Ledoux Coolidge
    Max Ledoux
    @Max

    Brian Watt:“I know more about ISIS than the generals do. Believe me.”

    How did that happen? Did he check out a book from the library?

    That’s the only reported comment that concerns me. Too close to Obama’s “I’m a better x than my x advisors” riff.

    Also, on Special Report tonight Trump told Bret Baier he would approve the Keystone XL pipeline and take 25% of TransCanada’s profits. Okay…banana anyone?

    • #5
  6. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Trump on Carson’s changing stories: “How stupid are the people of Iowa? How stupid are the people of this country to believe this crap?”

    That was in Fort Dodge? Tactical brilliance, baby!

    • #6
  7. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    The people who love Trump are going to continue loving him, regardless of what he says.  Unless he calls Ben Carson the “N” word or says that Carly Fiorina is going to menstruate all over important legislation (I stole that line from an old article in The Onion) his fans are not going to turn their backs on him.

    • #7
  8. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    Randy Weivoda: his fans are not going to turn their backs on him.

    Because that’s what they are: fans.

    • #8
  9. She Member
    She
    @She

    Brian Watt:“I know more about ISIS than the generals do. Believe me.”

    How did that happen? Did he check out a book from the library?

    More likely, he was stablemates with Al-Baghdadi and then they were on the same television show in different segments that were filmed in different continents on different days.  In that case, he’d have ‘got to know [ISIS] very well.’  I bet the ratings were yuuuuuge, too.

    Or maybe he just misheard Bill Clinton talking about what the meaning of IsIs.

    • #9
  10. Cat III Member
    Cat III
    @CatIII

    She:Or maybe he just misheard Bill Clinton talking about what the meaning of IsIs.

    Bravo.

    • #10
  11. Cat III Member
    Cat III
    @CatIII

    Brian Watt:Always a winning strategy with voters: “How stupid are the people of Iowa?”

    Liz Mair was kicked out of Walker’s campaign for similar statements.

    • #11
  12. Jim Kearney Member
    Jim Kearney
    @JimKearney

    One man’s “meltdown” is another’s performance art.

    Trump angers serious political reporters, who leave journalistic dispassion behind when it comes to him. Trump’s digs and the occasional tirade are intermittent. The journalo-pundits have sustained their hate for months: for some, every word tries to bring the man down. It’s like Order in the court! You’re in contempt! Get off my lawn! How dare the polls ignore our dismissal of this interloper! Banish him!

    Comedians, meanwhile, love Trump. Like Leno used to say about Clinton’s sex scandal, the gift that keeps on giving. To the audience, the feuds and the narcissism are a small price to pay for the entertainment.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US621qT4S44

    • #12
  13. Fake John Galt Coolidge
    Fake John Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    Sadly I believe that Trump does know more about ISIS than the generals. But that speaks more to our generals quality under Obams’s leadership then Trumps knowledge.

    • #13
  14. Xennady Member
    Xennady
    @

    This is roughly the twenty-seventh prediction of the last zero Trump meltdowns/collapses/fades/etc.

    Perhaps one of them will be correct, sooner or later. Or not. Keep hoping.

    But imagine how well Trump would be doing if he’d only demonstrate a passing familiarity with his own proposals, or learn a little bit about  the government.

    I take Trump and his popularity as a sign of just how despised the GOP establishment has managed to make itself. To quote Mike Murphy (again) the base always shows up.

    Until now. This is the fruit of thirty years of establishment contempt for the base, blooming right now.

    Have a cold one, establishment. You’re a not just one man of genius, but a whole stinkin’ bar full of liquored up geniuses.

    • #14
  15. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    Trump doesn’t have the physical or mental stamina to do 2 hour debates and daily campaign appearances. He’s wearing down.

    • #15
  16. Rudolf Halbensinn Inactive
    Rudolf Halbensinn
    @RudolfHalbensinn

    Brian Watt:“I know more about ISIS than the generals do. Believe me.”

    How did that happen? Did he check out a book from the library?

    No, he read about it in the Wall Street Journal.

    p.s. google HRC, Cattle Futures

    • #16
  17. David Deeble Member
    David Deeble
    @DavidDeeble

    Clearly, demanding to know how stupid Iowans are is Trump’s attempt to raise his numbers in Iowa.

    • #17
  18. OkieSailor Member
    OkieSailor
    @OkieSailor

    Brian Watt:“I know more about ISIS than the generals do. Believe me.”

    How did that happen? Did he check out a book from the library?

    What makes you think he would read a whole book?

    • #18
  19. iWe Coolidge
    iWe
    @iWe

    He sounds like a b-tchy little girl. If he is not fading, he really should be.

    • #19
  20. John Hendrix Thatcher
    John Hendrix
    @JohnHendrix

    “How stupid are the people of this country to believe this crap?”

    Well, they reelected Obama.  Just how smart can they be and still choose to reelect Obama?

    I will wait.

    • #20
  21. OkieSailor Member
    OkieSailor
    @OkieSailor

    Donald Trump is all theatre and no substance. If the voters elect him President we deserve to lose what freedom we have left. And we have multiple serious candidates to choose from. I don’t think Carson is ready to be President but he would be better than this Barnum & Bailey act.
    We are upset with Republican leadership, that’s true, but Trump is not the answer.

    • #21
  22. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    John Hendrix:

    “How stupid are the people of this country to believe this crap?”

    Well, they reelected Obama. Just how smart can they be and still choose to reelect Obama?

    I will wait.

    If Obama was on the ballot a 3rd time (not a forgone conclusion he will not be) he wins in a walk.

    • #22
  23. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    OkieSailor:Donald Trump is all theatre and no substance. If the voters elect him President we deserve to lose what freedom we have left. And we have multiple serious candidates to choose from. I don’t think Carson is ready to be President but he would be better than this Barnum & Bailey act. We are upset with Republican leadership, that’s true, but Trump is not the answer.

    I agree, but I am not sure I see the answer in this crowd. I think we are about to see a turn for the worse from Cruz and Rubio when their latest tussle expands.

    • #23
  24. Man With the Axe Inactive
    Man With the Axe
    @ManWiththeAxe

    Randy Weivoda:The people who love Trump are going to continue loving him, regardless of what he says. Unless he calls Ben Carson the “N” word or says that Carly Fiorina is going to menstruate all over important legislation (I stole that line from an old article in The Onion) his fans are not going to turn their backs on him.

    I wish this were true. My feeling is nothing, absolutely nothing, this man could say would turn away his supporters. It doesn’t matter what he believes, what he would do, what he thinks, what he says.

    Anyone who continues to support him at this point after all the crazy and stupid and ignorant and mean and self-aggrandizing and untrue things he has said is probably in for the duration. Has there ever been a candidate with any substantial following less suited for the presidency?

    • #24
  25. John Hendrix Thatcher
    John Hendrix
    @JohnHendrix

    BrentB67:

    John Hendrix:

    “How stupid are the people of this country to believe this crap?”

    Well, they reelected Obama. Just how smart can they be and still choose to reelect Obama?

    I will wait.

    If Obama was on the ballot a 3rd time (not a forgone conclusion he will not be) he wins in a walk.

    Hmmm….

    I was wrong about Obama being unelectable twice. Back in 1980 I had qualms about Reagan’s electability.

    Now that I’ve established that you’d be better off examining the entrails of a goat than listening to my opinions about anybody’s electability you’re about to get my opinion regarding Obama’s chances for being reelected a third time.  Twenty second Amendment aside, I doubt it. Because Obama is term-limited he has been uninhibited about alienating voters and his unpopularity shows it.

    That said, knowing he could be elected to a third term Obama might have behaved less offensively had the 22nd Amendment not been ratified and, conceivably,  be reelected yet again.

    • #25
  26. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    God I hope he’s through.  Let it be.  What an unbelievable ass.

    • #26
  27. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    Brian Watt:“I know more about ISIS than the generals do. Believe me.”

    How did that happen? Did he check out a book from the library?

    LOL, why do people take this moron seriously?  It’s amazing.

    • #27
  28. She Member
    She
    @She

    John Hendrix:

    BrentB67:

    John Hendrix:

    “How stupid are the people of this country to believe this crap?”

    Well, they reelected Obama. Just how smart can they be and still choose to reelect Obama?

    I will wait.

    If Obama was on the ballot a 3rd time (not a forgone conclusion he will not be) he wins in a walk.

    Hmmm….

    I was wrong about Obama being unelectable twice. Back in 1980 I had qualms about Reagan’s electability.

    Now that I’ve established that you’d be better off examining the entrails of a goat than listening to my opinions about anybody’s electability you’re about to get my opinion regarding Obama’s chances for being reelected a third time. Twenty second Amendment aside, I doubt it. Because Obama is term-limited he has been uninhibited about alienating voters and his unpopularity shows it.

    That said, knowing he could be elected to a third term Obama might have behaved less offensively had the 22nd Amendment not been ratified and, conceivably, be reelected yet again.

    Who said anything about being reelected?

    Can’t he just wait until the ninth inning, call his own number, issue an executive order, and move back in?

    WARNING: Sports metaphor alert. I’ve probably bungled it.

    • #28
  29. BrentB67 Inactive
    BrentB67
    @BrentB67

    JH, I think much of his behavior has endeared him even more to his base and to date I’ve not seen a credible alternative on the right, some good folks, but nobody we are willing to die for in the voting booth.

    If/when Hillary is indicted at Obama’s direction in late summer 2016 look for another crisis, most likely financial, and all heck breaks loose. Obama magnanimously agrees to run again – it isn’t like he’s adhered to the Constitution or been held accountable by Congress for 8 years – every snowflake at Mizzou etc. drops the protest signs and runs to vote for him. Combined with the typical left constituencies and he retains the White House.

    Do you expect Ryan/McConnell to impeach or SCOTUS to reign rein (h/t Mama T) in the terror?

    • #29
  30. Scott Wilmot Member
    Scott Wilmot
    @ScottWilmot

    Man With the Axe: Has there ever been a candidate with any substantial following less suited for the presidency?

    Yes – Obama.

    • #30
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