What happens if Trump gets elected?

[Higgins86]

Waking up and Trump has runaway with another GOP primary. It's looking more and more likely that he's going to be the man for the Republicans and he has a very good chance at getting elected.
As Brits/Europeans what do we make of this and how will our governments respond? I mean this is a man I associate with Scottish golf courses and he could potentially be in charge of the most powerful nuclear arsenal on earth plus all the US armed forces on our soil. In a time of political unrest in the middle East and with Russia what harm could this do? From an outside point of view America had regressed significantly over the past 8 years in terms of global influence and now it looks like they are losing their minds....Time to start investing in defence.

 

[Gathomas88]

Waking up and Trump has runaway with another GOP primary. It's looking more and more likely that he's going to be the man for the Republicans and he has a very good chance at getting elected.
As Brits/Europeans what do we make of this and how will our governments respond? I mean this is a man I associate with Scottish golf courses and he could potentially be in charge of the most powerful nuclear arsenal on earth plus all the US armed forces on our soil. In a time of political unrest in the middle East and with Russia what harm could this do? From an outside point of view America had regressed significantly over the past 8 years in terms of global influence and now it looks like they are losing their minds....Time to start investing in defence.

The latter's a good idea either way regardless, to be honest.

In any case, however... Yeah. I share your concerns. I'm really hoping that Rubio pulls it off here, but that's hardly a given at this point. While I very highly doubt that Trump could actually win a national election (basically no minorities will vote for him, only a piddly number of women, and less than half of the white middle class unless he manages to pull an almost literal rabbit out of his hat), it's certainly a contingency we need to keep in mind either way regardless.

Best case scenario (which still sucks pretty hard, as far as I'm concerned), it turns that he was just bluffing on most of what he claims to believe, or finds himself blocked by overwhelmingly resistance in congress and the courts, and basically just winds up governing like an uncharacteristically militaristic "lame duck" democrat. Our over-seas position and credibility will undoubtedly suffer, just because of Trump's out of control mouth and uncouth image, but some variation of that's likely to happen either way regardless, simply given how the United States isn't as militarily or economically "all-powerful" as it used to be. In any eventuality, I doubt even Trump would be nuts enough to try and start another war.

Worst case scenario? Well... I'm not even really in the mood to talk about that right now. lol

 

[PIPEWRENCH]

Waking up and Trump has runaway with another GOP primary. It's looking more and more likely that he's going to be the man for the Republicans and he has a very good chance at getting elected.
As Brits/Europeans what do we make of this and how will our governments respond? I mean this is a man I associate with Scottish golf courses and he could potentially be in charge of the most powerful nuclear arsenal on earth plus all the US armed forces on our soil. In a time of political unrest in the middle East and with Russia what harm could this do? From an outside point of view America had regressed significantly over the past 8 years in terms of global influence and now it looks like they are losing their minds....Time to start investing in defence.

I wouldn't get too concerned. I think if he somehow wins he will surround himself with smart people. I would still be more concerned about someone like JFK who brought us to within hours of nuclear war. He was using uppers, downers, serious pain pills, and drinking with his finger on the button. Do I need to even mention W. or our current leader. This country and the world has survived quite a few extremely incompetent presidents. I think Trump actually has a pretty good head on his shoulders. He is just exploiting the media which shows his genius.

He hasn't won yet. Hilary could get in. She can't differentiate between people waving and cheering and people shooting at her. Talk abut delusional. You want her finger on the button while hallucinating about being attacked.

 

[Fiddytree]

The way this Nevada speech is going, I'm going to be that nostalgic American wishing for the politicians of yore.

 

[Higgins86]

I wouldn't get too concerned. I think if he somehow wins he will surround himself with smart people. I would still be more concerned about someone like JFK who brought us to within hours of nuclear war. He was using uppers, downers, serious pain pills, and drinking with his finger on the button. Do I need to even mention W. or our current leader. This country and the world has survived quite a few extremely incompetent presidents. I think Trump actually has a pretty good head on his shoulders. He is just exploiting the media which shows his genius.

He hasn't won yet. Hilary could get in. She can't differentiate between people waving and cheering and people shooting at her. Talk abut delusional. You want her finger on the button while hallucinating about being attacked.

JFK brought the world back from the brink and also handled the civil right movemenvery well considering the social unrest, the man was also a war hero.

The world could only dream of another JFK

 

[clownboy]

JFK brought the world back from the brink and also handled the civil right movemenvery well considering the social unrest, the man was also a war hero.

The world could only dream of another JFK

True, but there was also the darker side to him an his presidency. He wouldn't be able to survive the uncontrolled press scrutiny of today.

 

[clownboy]

The way this Nevada speech is going, I'm going to be that nostalgic American wishing for the politicians of yore.

When you're "of yore" yourself that happens from time to time. :mrgreen:

 

[Fiddytree]

JFK brought the world back from the brink and also handled the civil right movemenvery well considering the social unrest, the man was also a war hero.

The world could only dream of another JFK

I'm not going to go that far. His and his brother's handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis was beyond almost anything we have seen in human history. I won't dispute that. But the rest of his administration left plenty to be desired. His domestic policy platform wasn't really in existence. His reputation with the civil rights movement was rather mute; leaving his brother to do most of the work and keep the movement on their side. His foreign policy was fascinating, but started to pivot back toward his predecessor.

 

[Brochacholomigo]

If someone had told me a year ago that I would end up wishing for another Bush vs. Clinton election, or that I would think Bernie Sanders was the safest candidate I could hope for, I would've called them a paranoid dumbass. And now, here we are.

...Well, ****!

 

[clownboy]

If someone had told me a year ago that I would end up wishing for another Bush vs. Clinton election, or that I would think Bernie Sanders was the safest candidate I could hope for, I would've called them a paranoid dumbass. And now, here we are.

...Well, ****!

:mrgreen: Should I wait until after March 15th to tell you all I told ya so?

 

[Napoleon]

Best case scenario (which still sucks pretty hard, as far as I'm concerned), it turns that he was just bluffing on most of what he claims to believe...

That is actually the most likely scenario. I doubt very much that Trump actually believes many of the things he's said while campaigning. It would be a very very radical change in ideology from his remarks on his political positions made publicly over many years. Trump was really a textbook moderate who leaned left or right by a micron depending on the subject before he started campaigning. He's smart enough to know that no moderate will win this nomination or the general election so he leverages extremism, crassness, intimidation, and gutter-speak as a winning strategy to collect conservative votes and throw his opponents off in a debate. No one need fear Trump. What people should be afraid of are the hordes of conservatives who have dropped the facade and so raucously agree with his campaign rhetoric.

 

[Fiddytree]

That is actually the most likely scenario. I doubt very much that Trump actually believes many of the things he's said while campaigning. It would be a very very radical change in ideology from his remarks on his political positions made publicly over many years. Trump was really a textbook moderate who leaned left or right by a micron depending on the subject before he started campaigning. He's smart enough to know that no moderate will win this nomination or the general election so he leverages extremism, crassness, intimidation, and gutter-speak as a winning strategy to collect conservative votes and throw his opponents off in a debate. No one need fear Trump. What people should be afraid of are the hordes of conservatives who have dropped the facade and so raucously agree with his campaign rhetoric.

That's why you should fear Trump. If he governs as an unconventional man with a conventional platform, what's going to happen when people hate the conventional platform near an election year? The man's going to rely on his old schticks. As a President, he has much more power with his administrative pen. When he feels the need to put on the demagogue clothing again, that's precisely what should make conservatives and liberals alike worry.

 

[gunner]

Waking up and Trump has runaway with another GOP primary. It's looking more and more likely that he's going to be the man for the Republicans and he has a very good chance at getting elected.
As Brits/Europeans what do we make of this and how will our governments respond? I mean this is a man I associate with Scottish golf courses and he could potentially be in charge of the most powerful nuclear arsenal on earth plus all the US armed forces on our soil. In a time of political unrest in the middle East and with Russia what harm could this do? From an outside point of view America had regressed significantly over the past 8 years in terms of global influence and now it looks like they are losing their minds....Time to start investing in defence.

On the whole, I don't think America is that stupid. He will not get in because he won't persuade enough Democrats.

 

[reinoe]

Waking up and Trump has runaway with another GOP primary. It's looking more and more likely that he's going to be the man for the Republicans and he has a very good chance at getting elected.
As Brits/Europeans what do we make of this and how will our governments respond? I mean this is a man I associate with Scottish golf courses and he could potentially be in charge of the most powerful nuclear arsenal on earth plus all the US armed forces on our soil. In a time of political unrest in the middle East and with Russia what harm could this do? From an outside point of view America had regressed significantly over the past 8 years in terms of global influence and now it looks like they are losing their minds....Time to start investing in defence.

If electing Trump is what it takes to get Europe and the world to take care of their own problems militarily then I'll be sure to vote for his daughter and SONS if they decide to run.

 

[shrubnose]

Trump probably won't be elected. He may not even be the candidate!

We have some steps to go through before the Donald gets to replace the china in the White House or launch any nuclear attacks.

:lol:

 

[Mycroft]

Waking up and Trump has runaway with another GOP primary. It's looking more and more likely that he's going to be the man for the Republicans and he has a very good chance at getting elected.
As Brits/Europeans what do we make of this and how will our governments respond? I mean this is a man I associate with Scottish golf courses and he could potentially be in charge of the most powerful nuclear arsenal on earth plus all the US armed forces on our soil. In a time of political unrest in the middle East and with Russia what harm could this do? From an outside point of view America had regressed significantly over the past 8 years in terms of global influence and now it looks like they are losing their minds....Time to start investing in defence.

I think you guys in Europe should spend more time worrying about your own politicians being idiots than worrying about who Americans elect as President.

And yes...as an American whose country gives entirely too much of our own treasure...especially our human capitol...to the defense of Europe, I'd say it's way PAST time y'all started investing in your own defense.

 

[celticwar17]

He really isn't that bad.... his acts is just a little more obvious than most other politicians... that's about it...

 

[German guy]

Isn't it a given that Clinton will win the election, if Trump wins the nomination?

 

[HowardBThiname]

I think you guys in Europe should spend more time worrying about your own politicians being idiots than worrying about who Americans elect as President.

And yes...as an American whose country gives entirely too much of our own treasure...especially our human capitol...to the defense of Europe, I'd say it's way PAST time y'all started investing in your own defense.

This.

The EU needs to stand on its own.

Trump is looking more and more like the the GOP candidate, and, if he gets it...I don't know if Hillary can beat him. She has her own set of problems and it's a push against the establishment that's fueling Trump, after all. Hillary is nothing if not old, and tired, establishment.

Trump is gliding on the same magic carpet Obama rode into office...change.

Obama, of course, disappointed those who thought he would turn things around. Trump would most likely disappoint as well, just as nearly every President does, but he would not have the power to wipe out the rest of the world like some think he would.

I never thought Trump would get this far -- but his rise is a testament to how much the American people feel their voices are not being heard.

 

[HowardBThiname]

Isn't it a given that Clinton will win the election, if Trump wins the nomination?

Just the opposite, I think.

Clinton isn't as popular with her party as we thought she'd be. Too many old scandals under the carpet.

 

[PoS]

On the whole, I don't think America is that stupid. He will not get in because he won't persuade enough Democrats.

Not just democrats, the entire Latino population hates him and he will lose on that margin alone.

 

[Serenity]

You know when you read numerous articles relating to Trump and you consistently have to check to make sure he actually said those words and it's not satire from an onion article, that he's probably not Presidential material. Personally I can't find too much to like about the man when it comes to his Policies. (He actually has very few that he has campaigned on.) Regardless, he's not my problem, that's up to Americans to decide if he's their man for the job or not.

I'm more concerned about my own Country and our own Politicians. Currently they are certainly nothing to get excited about.

 

[joG]

Waking up and Trump has runaway with another GOP primary. It's looking more and more likely that he's going to be the man for the Republicans and he has a very good chance at getting elected.
As Brits/Europeans what do we make of this and how will our governments respond? I mean this is a man I associate with Scottish golf courses and he could potentially be in charge of the most powerful nuclear arsenal on earth plus all the US armed forces on our soil. In a time of political unrest in the middle East and with Russia what harm could this do? From an outside point of view America had regressed significantly over the past 8 years in terms of global influence and now it looks like they are losing their minds....Time to start investing in defence.

Oh, it is much worse that you seem to think. We are in the process of a major travers in international security from one structural state to another much less stable one. Syria or the Spratlys are only symptoms and relatively unimportant, as large as they might seem at present.

But it is wrong to think that the decision 8 years ago was much different than one for Trump now would be. At that time, we knew the travers had already started and put a total innocent in regards to international affairs in command. And it looks as though it might have been as bad as the fears were. If Trump is elected, he will be President. There is a chance that he could be good. His experience doe not support optimism on this point, however.

Also wrong is the statement that it is "time to start investing in defense". That was 20 years ago. The European countries with exceptions have been grossly negligent not only in things like the lousy construction of the Euro, the non-adherence to EU treaties, the unbelievable nonchalance of their Lisbon/Dublin fiasco or their crisis management. No. That would have been bad enough. They also largely shirked responsibility for getting ready for the present travers we are on. Countries like Germany were spending only half of what they had committed to spend on weapons and much less than that on international security, while using the already illegally small amounts on pet project to bolster corrupt industries, as we now know.

PS: This is not meant as an accusation. But it is important to understand the structure of the problems, should one want to fix them.

 

[Penderyn]

McCarthy did this - once you remove the possibility of a change of system, insane populists with fascist leanings are bound to loom hugely. Our tories are in enough trouble, despite establishing a near-dictatorship here, without having to lick a madman's posterior as their tribute to 'liberty'!

 

[Excon]

What happens if Trump gets elected?

He does his best to do what he said he would.