"Joy and pleasure are as real as pain and sorrow and one must learn what they have to teach. . . ." -- Sean Russell, from Gatherer of Clouds

"If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right." -- Helyn D. Goldenberg

"I love you and I'm not afraid." -- Evanescence, "My Last Breath"

“If I hear ‘not allowed’ much oftener,” said Sam, “I’m going to get angry.” -- J.R.R. Tolkien, from Lord of the Rings

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Look At It This Way

Donald Trump is at 32% support in the latest polls from New Hampshire, significantly ahead of his rivals for the Republican nomination going into the primary. However, that means that 68% of Republicans in New Hampshire do not support him.

Jeanne Cleveland, a retired teacher, pursed her lips sourly at the mention of his name and tried to summarize her distaste in diplomatic terms.

“I think he’s arrogant,” she said. “I think he’s rude. I think——”

She paused, reaching for the right words. “Let’s just say, I don’t like the way he represents us as a country.”

To avoid any confusion, Mrs. Cleveland put it plainly: “I don’t like Trump.”

In this, the retired teacher, 70, from Hollis, N.H., has ample, baffled and agonized company in New Hampshire as the presidential primary enters its final, frenzied weeks, with Donald J. Trump remaining atop poll after poll of the state’s Republican electorate.

Or is he? So deep is the dislike for him in some quarters that people like Mrs. Cleveland’s husband, Doug, question the accuracy of polls that so consistently identify Mr. Trump as leading the field with around 32 percent. “I’ve never met a single one of them,” Mr. Cleveland said about those said to be backing Mr. Trump. “Where are all these Trump supporters? Everyone we know is supporting somebody else.”

Via Digby.

Footnote: Also via Digby, this is funny:

The Republican National Committee has disinvited National Review from participating in the Feb. 25 GOP debate because of its outspoken opposition to Donald Trump. . . .

The RNC's decision, which was confirmed by a committee spokesperson, was made after the committee concluded that National Review was no longer an impartial participant.

2 comments:

Pieter said...

Fascinating to watch the Republicans shatter. I notice that Michael Bloomberg, arguably a much better businessman than Trump, is also thinking about running for President, as an independent. His politics are less straightforwardly conservative but his appeal would arguably do more to fragment the conservatives than the liberals, given his history as mayor of New York.

Glenn Ingersoll said...

At least you didn't say 68% oppose Trump. Cuz that just ain't true. Trump is not the first choice of all but the 32% who have decided he is. Some of the 68% haven't yet decided but will decide on Trump. Some of the 68% will turn to Trump when their first choice drops out or looks like a loser. Despite the tenor of the quotes in that article Trump is not whistling past an angry anti-Trump 68%.

I am giving Trump the Republican nomination.

This, however, is an interesting article about how second choices may influence the race:

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/poll-trump-leads-when-it-comes-second-choice-cruz-top