Trump's Guiding Principles: Conservative Columnist in Atlanta Decodes Deplorable Donald

by Nomad

An op-ed piece, Three Rules for Understanding All Donald Trump Says or Does, found in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is in some ways a remarkable testimony of the unpredictability of this election. 

First of all, there's the fact that it's a voice from the deep South.

From 1868 thru 1960, the state was a Democratic dependability in every election. That's a bit misleading in fact. In this period of American history, the party platforms were very different- practically the opposite than that currently are. 

(The often-heard boast that the Republican Party is the party of Lincoln overlooks the fact that the Grand Old Party was formed with the help of a newspaper mogul, Horace Greeley, who was not only a proud Socialist but the employer of both Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.)

By 1964, political sensibilities had shifted radically. The ultra-conservative Dixie-Crats,which had formed the Democratic Southern flank, were, after the Civil Rights Act, wooed into the arms of the GOP by the Republican  “southern strategy."  (A divide and conquer tactic was based largely on appealing to deep-seated prejudices, regional pride, and long-standing resentments.)

The Governor of Alabama and deeply flawed candidate George Wallace ran as an independent and won hearts in "Peach State" in 1968. However, since then, (with two exceptions, Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Bill Clinton in 1992) Georgians have sided with Republican presidential candidates.

Because of the GOP's choice of nominee, this year could just be another exceptional case. According to one poll, it is quite possible that Georgia could flip to Hillary Clinton this election.

The latest YouGov election model contains some shocking news for Republicans as it currently projects that Georgia will flip to Hillary Clinton on Election Day.

The new YouGov model projects that Hillary Clinton will defeat Donald Trump 48%-42% in the popular vote, and will win the Electoral College 362-176.

It seems unlikely and yet, the fact that Trump has been able to get this far was once thought implausible. We shall just have to wait and see. A lot of things can happen between now and November.  

Could We Soon Be Witnessing the Fall of ISIL?

by Nomad

Last Friday, while most of the US media was myopically focused on the collapse of Donald "Genitalia-Grabbing" Trump's campaign, there was, in fact, other news happening. With all the current talk about fights for survival and battleground states, it's easy to forget that a very genuine war is being fought.

And what happens in the battle for the capital of the Islamic State may have a profound effect on what happens next month in the US elections.

ISIS' Armageddon in Dabiq

At the end of last week, the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters scored a major and perhaps a decisive victory against the terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, otherwise known as ISIL or Daesh: the liberation of the strongholds of Dabiq and Soran. 

Since 24 August of this year, the Turkish military and Syrian rebel groups have joined together against ISIL forces in northern Syria in a cross-border operation called Euphrates Shield. 

Friday marked the Day 53 of that offensive with the Turkish military hitting at least 80 ISIL targets and reportedly killing 80 terrorists. Turkish news sources add:

Turkish warplanes also destroyed two military quarters and three buildings. The army added that since the beginning of the operation in late August, 28 mines and 1,156 handmade explosives of Daish terrorists have been safely destroyed.

After driving out the jihadist fighters, the FSA took control of the northern Syrian towns of Dabiq and Soran. Over the weekend, FSA fighters were still trying to neutralize the bombs set up by ISIL militants in the area, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Why is Dabiq so important? Well, Dabiq isn't just your average town in northern Syria.

"According to Islamic tradition, Dabiq will be the site of a final battle between Muslims and infidels heralding Doomsday."

To some devout Muslims, it's where Armageddon is to take place. For ISIL fighters, the loss of this symbolic town must have had extremely demoralizing implications, as they find themselves on the losing side in the battle of good and evil. 

Texas Senator's Passivity to Trump's Rigged Election Lies is Just an Example of GOP Weakness

by Nomad

We are in uncharted waters when it comes to this year's election. Clearly, GOP nominee Donald Trump's recent bizarre behavior coupled with a series of sexual misconduct allegations has thrown the Republican Party into a paralyzing panic.
Faced with a political nightmare of an unprecedented scale, they seem too shell-shocked to do much of anything. That's understandable. At no time in American history has a political party faced such a calamity like this.

Meltdown Dwarfing Chernobyl

Trump has said a lot of unnerving things and of late, his remarks go well beyond those of any responsible politician. They go beyond the limits of a public figure. Indeed, some are beginning to say Trump's statements reflect a disturbed mind. 

None of his remarks have been more destructive, in terms of national security, than Trump's repeated claims that the US elections will be rigged. Across the country, he has told his supporters it is a foregone conclusion that Democratic Hillary Clinton will "steal" the election away from him.

As the Dallas Morning News reported:

As recently as this week, Trump told his supporters that the election could be “stolen” from him, calling on them to “watch other communities” for fraud at the polls.

Nowhere is the confusion greater than in red-state Texas. A recent poll showed something that Republicans could never have thought possible. Trump leads Clinton by a mere four percentage points - with a margin of error of four percent. Technically, that might just mean that Trump and Clinton are neck and neck in- of all places- the Lone Star State. 

Why Donald Trump is the Last Person on the Planet to Think about Suing Anybody for Libel

by Nomad

After all of the malicious accusations, Donald Trump has dished out during this campaign, the very idea that he would threaten anybody with libel might seem highly improbable and incredibly hypocritical. 

Just when you thought things could get any more repulsive and disgusting, more allegations regarding sexual misconduct by the currently hard-pressed Donald Trump have come to light. In all five women have come forward to say that Trump sexually assaulted them.

These latest claims fly in the face of Trump's defense that his "hot-mic" comments were merely boys being boys and not actually sexual assault. Women now claim that Trump did more than just talk about it, but put words into actions.

Blustering and Bullying

Almost immediately, Donald Trump's attorney demanded both a retraction and an apology from the New York Times. The letter from Lawyer Marc E. Kasowitz called the article "reckless, defamatory and constitutes libel."

"It is apparent from, among other things, the timing of your article, that it is nothing more than a politically motivated effort to defeat Mr. Trump's candidacy."

Outside of Trump's adamant denials, there's nothing in the way of counter proof to show that the allegations are untrue. Not even any direct repudiation from the nominee. The allegations are untrue, says the attorney, simply because the individuals did not come forward until now. The statements by the two women are labeled "false and defamatory" and the claims are merely part of a "smear."

The letter concludes with a suitable amount of legal bluster. 

"We hereby demand that you immediately cease any further publication of this article, remove it from your website and issue a full and immediate retraction and apology. Failure to do so will leave my client with no option but to purse all available actions and remedies."

Eric Hoffer on Rudeness

by Nomad