I am a Republican

[AlbqOwl]

I hate all politicians equally. And that includes any politician that you think that I should like.

ANd to be sure no one made up what the president has said (except the president) and what his lawyers are trying to peddle to us.
What every Republican should question is why Trump and his Republican supporters are not pushing for talking away some of that Presidential power that has perverted the oval office over the history of this nation?
It would be highly likely that if a bill came across Trumps desk stripping him of all that perverted power that he is wielding, that he would would not sign it. Of course that is a guess but I highly doubt that he would ruin his own defense, that he is using to try to get out obstruction of justice charges. Think of this as a chance for Trump to show that he isnt full of ****.

Instead Trump is going on about how he cannot be checked unless impeached. And since he believes that Republicans will not impeach him then he must believe that he has no one to answer too. ANd when any politician believes themselves unapproachable you get things like Trump using 'national security' to apply tariffs against our allies.

He is not doing that. Have a pleasant evening.

 

[Howard the Duck]

He is not doing that. Have a pleasant evening.

Of course he is.

 

[tres borrachos]

I've been a registered Republican since June 1980. But at this point, I'm pretty done with them. But I am keeping my registration in order to continue voting in the NH primary as a Republican. I want someone to primary that vile man in the Oval Office.

 

[JMR]

I do feel really sorry for those who hate him so much, they are unable to enjoy all the benefits and optimism that all the rest of us are enjoying.

:lol: That was funny. Perhaps at least you can now imagine how most of the country enjoyed all the benefits and optimism of the Obama years which you were not able to do.


(I hope Trump at some point acknowledges your steadfast support on message boards. As you claim, this is how he gets a lot of his BS out there and relies on people to repeat his absurdities.)

 

[AlbqOwl]

:lol: That was funny. Perhaps at least you can now imagine how most of the country enjoyed all the benefits and optimism of the Obama years which you were not able to do.


(I hope Trump at some point acknowledges your steadfast support on message boards. As you claim, this is how he gets a lot of his BS out there and relies on people to repeat his absurdities.)

I sensed optimism when Obama was first elected because he gave such glowing rhetoric about all the wonderful things he intended to do. It didn't take more than a few months however, before he had backtracked on pretty much all of it and his true leftism became very obvious. And the optimism quickly faded into the empty jingoisms and talking points faithfully repeated in the echo chamber and by the diehard loyalists.

And during that first term I was still running my business and saw the bottom lines of business after business faltering, declining, slipping into the red. And I saw up close and personal those that folded their tents and closed up shop rather than risk their limited operating capital on a very black looking future. I listened to people I know who lost their good paying jobs with benefits due to Obamacare and were forced to go on part time with lessened or no benefits and worked extra jobs when they could get them. I watched my personal physician leave and then my husband's cancer doctor and then my cancer doctor, all of whom we trusted and depended on. All because of Obama care. We saw the urgent care centers and emergency rooms glutted with waiting times stretching into hours and hours for many all because of Obamacare. I watched young men and women change their minds about going into the military and those who had previously thought they would make a career there choose not to re-up.

I eventually closed down my own business as the work dried up as I was close to retirement anyway and others I had mentored needed the work more to support their families.

So don't tell me about optimism during the Obama administration. For many millions of Americans it just wasn't there.

 

[Hawkeye10]

I sensed optimism when Obama was first elected because he gave such glowing rhetoric about all the wonderful things he intended to do. It didn't take more than a few months however, before he had backtracked on pretty much all of it and his true leftism became very obvious. And the optimism quickly faded into the empty jingoisms and talking points faithfully repeated in the echo chamber and by the diehard loyalists.

And during that first term I was still running my business and saw the bottom lines of business after business faltering, declining, slipping into the red. And I saw up close and personal those that folded their tents and closed up shop rather than risk their limited operating capital on a very black looking future. I listened to people I know who lost their good paying jobs with benefits due to Obamacare and were forced to go on part time with lessened or no benefits and worked extra jobs when they could get them. I watched my personal physician leave and then my husband's cancer doctor and then my cancer doctor, all of whom we trusted and depended on. All because of Obama care. We saw the urgent care centers and emergency rooms glutted with waiting times stretching into hours and hours for many all because of Obamacare. I watched young men and women change their minds about going into the military and those who had previously thought they would make a career there choose not to re-up.

I eventually closed down my own business as the work dried up as I was close to retirement anyway and others I had mentored needed the work more to support their families.

So don't tell me about optimism during the Obama administration. For many millions of Americans it just wasn't there.

Ya, I was done with him by May because it became clear that he had no intentions of trying to do what he promised to try to do.

 

[code1211]

Agree. The President is not a professional politician/member of the permanent political class, and he is no partisan or ideologue. He is results oriented and approaches each issue or problem with an end goal in mind. He rejects the status quo in pretty much everything and goes from Plan A to Plan B and beyond as necessary until he finds something that works. He is willing to scrap a plan that turns out to be unworkable and looks for one that will work. And he looks for win-win solutions wherever possible and isn't into the one-upmanship that most professional politicians and bureaucrats.

Comparing him to any other President or politician is like comparing Earth to the moon. I voted for his vision and his track record for accomplishing great things and solving big problems. For the most part, he has not disappointed.

I sure wish the Republicans (and Democrats) would take lessons but they are all mostly of the permanent political class that has greatly enriched them personally and they do not want to mess with the status quo and screw that up for themselves.

Agreed! I'm mystified when the weak minded, left wing drones attack Trump and just make crap up to do it. I'm looking at you, Mika.

It's like they've been dragged out of the ocean onto a life boat and now industriously set about drilling holes in the hull.

What are they thinking?

 

[gulfman]

I will support the Republican party until I retire.Then I will vote Democrat.I'll want my free stuff then.

 

[code1211]

That may be true. But his obnoxious personality has kept him at or near the 40% level. Trump started out at 44% on inauguration day and according to the RCP averages, he's still at 44%.

With Trump, you either love him or hate him with very little in-between. That little in-between pretty much keeps him mired right where he is. If one goes down the list of issues, one find independents are fairly split evenly on being for or opposing them. This normally would lead to around a 50% approval rating among independents. It doesn't, Trump's job approval is at 39%. I think it all comes back to character. That independents don't like which in my opinion is hold Trump back. gallup had an interesting article along those lines.

Trump Approval Lower Than U.S. Mood Might Predict

Trump Approval Lower Than U.S. Mood Might Predict

The thing is as history has shown, one usually doesn't vote for someone you dislike. Elections are more or less a beauty contests. When you dislike a candidate, for whatever reason, normally you won't vote for that candidate. At least it means you consider other candidates first before perhaps returning to the candidate you dislike. But how many Hillary Clinton's are out there to make you look good or slightly better liked than her?

Well said!

How many Hillary Clintons are there? It seems like not many. However, by the look of things, the Dems are going to be crying for one when the time comes.

Are you, could you ever, feel the Bern? I'm thinking the Dems are about to put forth a 2020 version of George McGovern.

That said, at the 500 day mark, Trump has the second highest "own party" approval rating among all presidents since WW2. He's beat out by only Bush after 9/11. This puts him ahead of such legends as Reagan or JFK.

In spite of the constant, unending, unjustified and almost entirely untrue negative press from the shrieking left, his popularity is rising.

Could be the public is starting to believe their own lyin' eyes instead of the left's lyin' lies.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/timot...arty-approval-rating-at-500-day-mark-n2486936

 

[code1211]

I can see trying to make a case that Trump is a “pretty credible” Republican. He has sure embraced the platform of the GOP since he attained office.

But to suggest that one of the biggest proven liars to occupy the presidency is a “straight shooter”, or that someone who has spent the last year and a half trying to keep from telling investigators the truth behind his campaign is “transparent”... is, at the least, delusional... and likely more indicative of willful and intentional ignorance.

With respect, the Republican platform has molded to Trump, not the other way around. The old style Republicans are more against Trump than any fair minded proponent of sensible government.

I have posted here often that the left is publishing and broadcasting lies to deceive the weak minded.

Your post does nothing to dissuade me from that conclusion.

Trump said EXACTLY what he was planning to do and is delivering on what he promised. Far from being an ideologue, Trump is likely to oppose a person's ideas one day and embrace his different ideas the next.

Schumer could take a lesson.

The Muldoon goons have asked for nothing that they have not received from Trump's administration. You need to post the link that demonstrates whatever fantasy it is that you think supports your assertion of obstruction.

The Congress asking for documents from the obstructive DOJ is not finding the same cooperative spirit.

Are you seriously asserting that Trump's thoughts are not apparent to anyone with a Twitter Account?

 

[Perotista]

Well said!

How many Hillary Clintons are there? It seems like not many. However, by the look of things, the Dems are going to be crying for one when the time comes.

Are you, could you ever, feel the Bern? I'm thinking the Dems are about to put forth a 2020 version of George McGovern.

That said, at the 500 day mark, Trump has the second highest "own party" approval rating among all presidents since WW2. He's beat out by only Bush after 9/11. This puts him ahead of such legends as Reagan or JFK.

In spite of the constant, unending, unjustified and almost entirely untrue negative press from the shrieking left, his popularity is rising.

Could be the public is starting to believe their own lyin' eyes instead of the left's lyin' lies.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/timot...arty-approval-rating-at-500-day-mark-n2486936

I think with Trump's overwhelming job approval among Republicans could be a result or protecting and defending one's own. I noticed that 55% of Republicans strongly approve along with 23% who somewhat approve for a total 88%. Question 67

https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/dtt00zl5up/econTabReport.pdf

The problem with comparing that to the past or past presidents is breaking the question down to strongly approve/somewhat approve and strongly disapprove/somewhat disapprove is relatively new. Another problem is each individual has a different definition of what somewhat approve or disapprove means. It's not cut and dried. Regardless, I take somewhat approve to mean that they aren't strongly in Trump's corner.

The thing is even if all that 88% was strongly approve, what would that mean when it came to elections? You can't win elections with just your party's vote. You could in certain states and congressional districts, but not in the majority of them and certainly not the presidency. Trump is sitting in the White House today because he won the independent vote 46-42 over Hillary with 12% voting third party. It's among independents that Trump has a huge problem. That problem with independents could mean a change in control of the House this November. Back at the end of January 2017 independents gave Trump a 36% approval to a 28% disapproval with 35% not sure. Independents were willing to give Trump a chance to govern before making up their minds about him. Question 34

http://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/pyonz5d0lq/econTabReport.pdf

Today it is among independents 33% approve/51% disapprove. Same question 67 of the first URL or link. That's a huge rise of 23 points since January of 2017 in the disapprove. I think it's safe to say that Trump wouldn't win independents today. As of 10 May 2018 Gallup puts independents as making up 43% of the total electorate vs. 26% for Republicans and 29% for Democrats. The bottom line is independents decide most elections, not a party's base. If independents aren't happy with you, you and your party are in trouble regardless of how many in your party approve of your job or actions.

 

[AlbqOwl]

That may be true. But his obnoxious personality has kept him at or near the 40% level. Trump started out at 44% on inauguration day and according to the RCP averages, he's still at 44%.

With Trump, you either love him or hate him with very little in-between. That little in-between pretty much keeps him mired right where he is. If one goes down the list of issues, one find independents are fairly split evenly on being for or opposing them. This normally would lead to around a 50% approval rating among independents. It doesn't, Trump's job approval is at 39%. I think it all comes back to character. That independents don't like which in my opinion is hold Trump back. gallup had an interesting article along those lines.

Trump Approval Lower Than U.S. Mood Might Predict

Trump Approval Lower Than U.S. Mood Might Predict

The thing is as history has shown, one usually doesn't vote for someone you dislike. Elections are more or less a beauty contests. When you dislike a candidate, for whatever reason, normally you won't vote for that candidate. At least it means you consider other candidates first before perhaps returning to the candidate you dislike. But how many Hillary Clinton's are out there to make you look good or slightly better liked than her?

I agree that elections are generally more popularity contests than anything else. But this time I think the political landscape had become so bad, so negative, so destructive, so inefficient and ineffective if not downright damaging, that we are seeing a shift away from 'star power' to something of substance. They might find President Trump off putting at times--I certainly do--but they saw in him a potential greatness and offering a hope that we haven't had in decades now.

 

[AlbqOwl]

Agreed! I'm mystified when the weak minded, left wing drones attack Trump and just make crap up to do it. I'm looking at you, Mika.

It's like they've been dragged out of the ocean onto a life boat and now industriously set about drilling holes in the hull.

What are they thinking?

They are thinking that they won't support him because he is showing them up for being so wrong about almost everything. And they long ago gave up on being Americans and are now purely partisans/ideologues.

The leftists/Democrats/pundits hate President Trump because they were so sure Hillary would easily win against somebody like him, and they wound up with egg on their faces, plus he is accomplishing what they deep down know she would not have done.

Many Republicans of the permanent political class hate him because he, not one of them, defeated 16 worthy Republican candidates to win the nomination, and won an election he was not supposed to have won. In so doing, he is pretty much a repudiation of the Republican Party as much as he is the Democrat Party. And he is not doing things as they would have done them and is accomplishing things that they have not even seriously tried to accomplish which makes them look bad.

But those who voted for President Trump were not voting for a party, or an ideology, or a personality. They were voting for a principle, a vision, a realization that what we have had is not efficient or effective. They were voting for real change and not just words/lip service that will be promptly put on the shelf once the election is over.

Rasmussen's daily rolling poll is illustrating that yes, a majority of people don't like the President personally so much though as you pointed out his approval rating among conservatives/Republicans is higher than for any previous President except for George W. Bush in the year or so following 9/11. And overall, his approval rating is on a par with previous presidents at this point in the first term.

And what gives me hope that the haters won't win in November and 2020 is that when Rasmussen bypasses the personality and goes straight to the issues, on each one that President Trump is pushing and supporting, the approval rating is over 50% with a few exceptions.

 

[Perotista]

I agree that elections are generally more popularity contests than anything else. But this time I think the political landscape had become so bad, so negative, so destructive, so inefficient and ineffective if not downright damaging, that we are seeing a shift away from 'star power' to something of substance. They might find President Trump off putting at times--I certainly do--but they saw in him a potential greatness and offering a hope that we haven't had in decades now.

2016 didn't feature any beauties, that was for sure. I don't think it was greatness seen in Trump neither. It may have been folks being dissatisfied by the business as usual routine. Our elected officials kowtowing to corporations, wall street firms, lobbyists, special interests, mega money donors, doing and taking care of those who provided them most of the money for campaigns. Regardless of party. With Trump, as a friend of mine said, we opted for the devil we didn't know, Trump being a businessman, a reality TV show host, not a career politician, we didn't know how he would govern or if he would kowtow and be business as usual. He was politically, a totally unknown. We opted for the devil we didn't know over the devil we did. Everyone knew exactly how Hillary Clinton would govern, exactly what to expect from her. She even promised to be a third Obama term. You couldn't get anymore business as usual than that. With all the name calling and negative personal attacks, I didn't see much substance at all in 2016.

Perhaps the question now becomes, are the people happy with their choice? To find that answer, I'd throw Republicans and Democrats out of the equation. Concentrate on independents, the more or less non-partisan group that make up roughly 45% of the electorate. At least according to Gallup and Pew Research. We know what most independents think about Trump's character, his personality, his shall I say, uncouth persona. I think Trump has lost quite a lot of them. Remember Trump won the independent vote 46-42 over Clinton with 12% voting third party.

Back at the end of January 2017 independents gave Trump a 36% approval vs. 28% disapproval with most independents, non-partisan sitting on the sidelines waiting to see how he would govern. Question 34 shows 35% of independents not sure on his job approval.


http://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/pyonz5d0lq/econTabReport.pdf


Today or as 5 June 2018, Trump job approval among independents is 33% approve, 51% disapprove, Question 67.


https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/dtt00zl5up/econTabReport.pdf


The vast majority of independents accounting for the 23 point rise in disapproval of Trump came from those who were originally sitting on the sidelines waiting to make up their minds. Not sure now have dropped to 16% down from 35% at the end of January 2017. If independents are split on the issues or closely split, then what is it. Why so many now disapproving of Trump?

63% of independents think Trump is arrogant, only 17% of indies think Trump is sincere, 17% think Trump is honest and 21% think his use of twitter appropriate. Then take a look at questions 78 and 79 from the link above and you'll see why independents have moved from the not sure into the disapproval column.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the next few years with Donald Trump as President? Independents only, 32% optimistic, 41% Pessimistic.

Do you want Donald Trump to run for re-election in 2020? Independents only, 26% yes, 52% no.

I kind of think independents have moved from being tired of business as usual to being or becoming tired of Trump and his obnoxious personality. substance or no substance, perhaps that doesn't matter.

 

[AlbqOwl]

2016 didn't feature any beauties, that was for sure. I don't think it was greatness seen in Trump neither. It may have been folks being dissatisfied by the business as usual routine. Our elected officials kowtowing to corporations, wall street firms, lobbyists, special interests, mega money donors, doing and taking care of those who provided them most of the money for campaigns. Regardless of party. With Trump, as a friend of mine said, we opted for the devil we didn't know, Trump being a businessman, a reality TV show host, not a career politician, we didn't know how he would govern or if he would kowtow and be business as usual. He was politically, a totally unknown. We opted for the devil we didn't know over the devil we did. Everyone knew exactly how Hillary Clinton would govern, exactly what to expect from her. She even promised to be a third Obama term. You couldn't get anymore business as usual than that. With all the name calling and negative personal attacks, I didn't see much substance at all in 2016.

Perhaps the question now becomes, are the people happy with their choice? To find that answer, I'd throw Republicans and Democrats out of the equation. Concentrate on independents, the more or less non-partisan group that make up roughly 45% of the electorate. At least according to Gallup and Pew Research. We know what most independents think about Trump's character, his personality, his shall I say, uncouth persona. I think Trump has lost quite a lot of them. Remember Trump won the independent vote 46-42 over Clinton with 12% voting third party.

Back at the end of January 2017 independents gave Trump a 36% approval vs. 28% disapproval with most independents, non-partisan sitting on the sidelines waiting to see how he would govern. Question 34 shows 35% of independents not sure on his job approval.


http://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/pyonz5d0lq/econTabReport.pdf


Today or as 5 June 2018, Trump job approval among independents is 33% approve, 51% disapprove, Question 67.


https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/dtt00zl5up/econTabReport.pdf


The vast majority of independents accounting for the 23 point rise in disapproval of Trump came from those who were originally sitting on the sidelines waiting to make up their minds. Not sure now have dropped to 16% down from 35% at the end of January 2017. If independents are split on the issues or closely split, then what is it. Why so many now disapproving of Trump?

63% of independents think Trump is arrogant, only 17% of indies think Trump is sincere, 17% think Trump is honest and 21% think his use of twitter appropriate. Then take a look at questions 78 and 79 from the link above and you'll see why independents have moved from the not sure into the disapproval column.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the next few years with Donald Trump as President? Independents only, 32% optimistic, 41% Pessimistic.

Do you want Donald Trump to run for re-election in 2020? Independents only, 26% yes, 52% no.

I kind of think independents have moved from being tired of business as usual to being or becoming tired of Trump and his obnoxious personality. substance or no substance, perhaps that doesn't matter.

But I think you are failing to see the forest for the one tree you are focused on.

I do think those who voted for President Trump did so not because they like him personally. They voted for hope
--hope for something to shake up the destructive and non productive iron hold the permanent political class has on our government. . .
--hope for something to shake the stagnant economy out of its malaise that President Obama and his supporters had decided was the 'new normal' . . .
--hope for a restoration of the best of American values . . .
--hope for a better chance for all to reach for the American dream again. . .

And there was something in President Trump that inspired confidence that he had the vision and ability to provide the leadership we needed to realize our hopes. We didn't care that he wasn't a status quo, polished, poll tested, and scripted politician or loyal to the Republican Party or any other party. We wanted real change and not just more promises from politicians who said all the right things in all the right ways and then promptly forgot about them or ignored them once in office.

President Trump so far has not disappointed.

 

[PirateMk1]

I've been saying that for a long time. How can we change the status quo if we are so embedded in the partisan fight though? Hey, it may be a bad idea, but last time around the country chose an outsider. May be it is time to continue that trend and just vote 3rd party. Let the chips fall where they may.

You can always do what I do. If they are in office, I vote them out. If they have been in office I don't vote for them, I vote for the person who hasn't been elected. I do this regardless of their political affiliation. So if all that is left is the equivalent of a radical militant Black Panther, or Communist or KKK member, they get my vote BEFORE someone who has been in office. The political herd needs culling.

 

[digsbe]

I registered as a Republican mainly to try and vote Trump out during the next primary.

 

[Josie]

I registered as a Republican mainly to try and vote Trump out during the next primary.

That would be nice. I don't know if it's even possible, though.

 

[Fiddytree]

I used to have more of an identity with the Republican Party after the Democrats shafted the Blue Dogs in the mid-to-late 2000s. Now, barely at all. So, I am a man without a home.

 

[gmeyers1944]

I answered "YES" to the poll question because that is the way I vote most of the time. Because too many Republicans are only "Democrat-lite" I affiliate with "The Conservative Party of New York State".

 

[code1211]

I think with Trump's overwhelming job approval among Republicans could be a result or protecting and defending one's own. I noticed that 55% of Republicans strongly approve along with 23% who somewhat approve for a total 88%. Question 67

https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/dtt00zl5up/econTabReport.pdf

The problem with comparing that to the past or past presidents is breaking the question down to strongly approve/somewhat approve and strongly disapprove/somewhat disapprove is relatively new. Another problem is each individual has a different definition of what somewhat approve or disapprove means. It's not cut and dried. Regardless, I take somewhat approve to mean that they aren't strongly in Trump's corner.

The thing is even if all that 88% was strongly approve, what would that mean when it came to elections? You can't win elections with just your party's vote. You could in certain states and congressional districts, but not in the majority of them and certainly not the presidency. Trump is sitting in the White House today because he won the independent vote 46-42 over Hillary with 12% voting third party. It's among independents that Trump has a huge problem. That problem with independents could mean a change in control of the House this November. Back at the end of January 2017 independents gave Trump a 36% approval to a 28% disapproval with 35% not sure. Independents were willing to give Trump a chance to govern before making up their minds about him. Question 34

http://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/pyonz5d0lq/econTabReport.pdf

Today it is among independents 33% approve/51% disapprove. Same question 67 of the first URL or link. That's a huge rise of 23 points since January of 2017 in the disapprove. I think it's safe to say that Trump wouldn't win independents today. As of 10 May 2018 Gallup puts independents as making up 43% of the total electorate vs. 26% for Republicans and 29% for Democrats. The bottom line is independents decide most elections, not a party's base. If independents aren't happy with you, you and your party are in trouble regardless of how many in your party approve of your job or actions.

I don't disagree with anything you posted.

I suppose we'll just have to sit back and enjoy the 5th out of 5 straight Predicted Blue Wave Elections.

4 or 5 months is a life time in American politics.

It seems amazing to me that the outcome of a team effort between Trump, Kim and Dennis Rodman may be what decides our next President. We live in an amazing world.

 

[cuban smokes]

I am a Republican


sorry to hear that; I hope it gets better .........

 

[Fearandloathing]

I am registered Republican as you have to be registered to a party in order to vote in the primary elections, but I do not consider myself a Republican as the Republican Party has pretty much left me as the Democrat Party did some time ago. I consider myself a classical liberal or libertarian (little "L") but there s no designation for that on party affiliaton questionnaires or here at DP.

On the world stage it no longer matters. I doubt Europeans or any Canadians really give a **** what party our "enemies" belong to.

We are, after all, a threat to your national security according the president of the people.

 

[AlbqOwl]

2016 didn't feature any beauties, that was for sure. I don't think it was greatness seen in Trump neither. It may have been folks being dissatisfied by the business as usual routine. Our elected officials kowtowing to corporations, wall street firms, lobbyists, special interests, mega money donors, doing and taking care of those who provided them most of the money for campaigns. Regardless of party. With Trump, as a friend of mine said, we opted for the devil we didn't know, Trump being a businessman, a reality TV show host, not a career politician, we didn't know how he would govern or if he would kowtow and be business as usual. He was politically, a totally unknown. We opted for the devil we didn't know over the devil we did. Everyone knew exactly how Hillary Clinton would govern, exactly what to expect from her. She even promised to be a third Obama term. You couldn't get anymore business as usual than that. With all the name calling and negative personal attacks, I didn't see much substance at all in 2016.

Perhaps the question now becomes, are the people happy with their choice? To find that answer, I'd throw Republicans and Democrats out of the equation. Concentrate on independents, the more or less non-partisan group that make up roughly 45% of the electorate. At least according to Gallup and Pew Research. We know what most independents think about Trump's character, his personality, his shall I say, uncouth persona. I think Trump has lost quite a lot of them. Remember Trump won the independent vote 46-42 over Clinton with 12% voting third party.

Back at the end of January 2017 independents gave Trump a 36% approval vs. 28% disapproval with most independents, non-partisan sitting on the sidelines waiting to see how he would govern. Question 34 shows 35% of independents not sure on his job approval.


http://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/pyonz5d0lq/econTabReport.pdf


Today or as 5 June 2018, Trump job approval among independents is 33% approve, 51% disapprove, Question 67.


https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/dtt00zl5up/econTabReport.pdf


The vast majority of independents accounting for the 23 point rise in disapproval of Trump came from those who were originally sitting on the sidelines waiting to make up their minds. Not sure now have dropped to 16% down from 35% at the end of January 2017. If independents are split on the issues or closely split, then what is it. Why so many now disapproving of Trump?

63% of independents think Trump is arrogant, only 17% of indies think Trump is sincere, 17% think Trump is honest and 21% think his use of twitter appropriate. Then take a look at questions 78 and 79 from the link above and you'll see why independents have moved from the not sure into the disapproval column.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the next few years with Donald Trump as President? Independents only, 32% optimistic, 41% Pessimistic.

Do you want Donald Trump to run for re-election in 2020? Independents only, 26% yes, 52% no.

I kind of think independents have moved from being tired of business as usual to being or becoming tired of Trump and his obnoxious personality. substance or no substance, perhaps that doesn't matter.

Rasmussen's daily rolling polls--since Gallup dropped out of that they are the only ones doing them--shows a different picture. And Rasmussen was the closest in getting it right in several preceding elections. For sure most polling organizations sure got the 2016 election wrong.

And I was encouraged that maybe every media source has not lost the ability for objective, intellectually honest journalism/commentary. Take this article in March in "Time":

. . .That is not to say his supporters like everything about him. Many wish he would calm down with the tweeting, the boasting, the undignified lashing out at detractors. But they tolerate these things because they see a president doing what they want done, just as they are prepared to overlook stories like the Stormy Daniels saga: you wouldn’t want to be married to him, they say, but “we didn’t elect him to be a saint, we elected him to be a leader.” . . .

. . .Meanwhile, most of those who chose him see President Trump doing his best to keep his promises with precious little help from the professional political class. His actions may be worthy or wicked, and might lead to triumph or disaster — but anyone who thinks he doesn’t know what he’s doing is 180 degrees wrong.​

Don'''t Doubt Donald Trump. He Could Get Reelected in 2020 | Time

 

[Perotista]

But I think you are failing to see the forest for the one tree you are focused on.

I do think those who voted for President Trump did so not because they like him personally. They voted for hope
--hope for something to shake up the destructive and non productive iron hold the permanent political class has on our government. . .
--hope for something to shake the stagnant economy out of its malaise that President Obama and his supporters had decided was the 'new normal' . . .
--hope for a restoration of the best of American values . . .
--hope for a better chance for all to reach for the American dream again. . .

And there was something in President Trump that inspired confidence that he had the vision and ability to provide the leadership we needed to realize our hopes. We didn't care that he wasn't a status quo, polished, poll tested, and scripted politician or loyal to the Republican Party or any other party. We wanted real change and not just more promises from politicians who said all the right things in all the right ways and then promptly forgot about them or ignored them once in office.

President Trump so far has not disappointed.

Yes, that they did. They did that in November of 2016 though. As time have passed, Trump continues to make his base extremely happy. But Trump is losing the one group that made November 2016 possible. I highly doubt if we had a redo election today that independents, the non-partisan which made a Trump presidency possible, would go his way as they did in 2016. What was hoped for in 2016, that one group, independents aren't happy with Trump. They moved on. Support isn't static, it is dynamic. Hope comes and goes. That may be what you're missing.