Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Is Donald Trump Creating a Mafia-Like Culture of Thug-followers?
Constitution.com ^ | March 14, 2016 | Rob Knowles

Posted on 03/14/2016 7:56:18 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

I’ve reached a breaking point with those who continue to defend Donald Trump’s endless brutishness.

If you went back in time a year, and asked Trump supporters if they would ever vote for a man who made fun of POWs, mocked the physically handicapped, compared another candidate to a child molester, and shifted positions as frequently as a fat guy in a church pew, they would have likely said “No.”

How did we get here? How did we get to a place where Trump’s rhetoric and behavior is not only accepted, but emulated?

Donald Trump is a master manipulator. He came on the scene as a single issue candidate, with no other discernible positions. This was a necessity, because it allowed voters to fill in the rest with their own magic markers; the needs and ideas of millions of voters built Donald Trump from scratch. That’s why attributing any coherent policy position to the man is like trying to nail jello to a wall. His deliberately ambiguous and transitory rhetoric acts as a sort of scaffolding upon which anything can be built. This is a dangerous thing when you have an incredibly angry electorate.

When you pour yourself into an empty vessel, that vessel becomes personally linked to you. It harbors your needs, wants, and ideals in a way that nothing else can. Ultimately, what people see in Trump is their own reflection. When you see yourself in such a candidate, you’re much more likely to justify, defend, and even emulate their behavior–no matter how deplorable.

Given this, it comes as no surprise that we’re beginning to see violence at Trump rallies. Donald himself has made numerous comments passively or directly condoning violence against those who defy him.

(Excerpt) Read more at constitution.com ...


TOPICS: Cheese, Moose, Sister
KEYWORDS: donaldtrump; election2016; groupthink; gruppendenken; mobrule; specialsnowflakes; thuggery; violence
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 201-210 next last
To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Brain. Dead. Stupid.


21 posted on 03/14/2016 8:03:31 PM PDT by dynoman (Objectivity is the essence of intelligence. - Marilyn vos Savant)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

I’ve reached a breaking point

Want to borrow some rope?


22 posted on 03/14/2016 8:03:40 PM PDT by eyeamok
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #23 Removed by Moderator

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

AL FRANKEN KNOCKS DOWN DEAN HECKLER {Media, Dem, Cruz, Rubio, et al double-standard against Trump}
nypost.com ^ | January 27, 2004 | Vince Morris
Posted on 3/14/2016, 7:39:27 PM by drpix

EXETER, N.H. - Wise-cracking funnyman Al Franken yesterday body-slammed a demonstrator to the ground after the man tried to shout down Gov. Howard Dean.

The tussle left Franken’s trademark thick-rim glasses broken, but he said he was not injured.

Franken - who seemed in a state of shock and out of breath after the incident - was helped back to his feet by several people who watched the tussle. Police arrived soon after.

“I got down low and took his legs out,” said Franken afterwards.

Franken said he’s not backing Dean but merely wanted to protect the right of people to speak freely. “I would have done it if he was a Dean supporter at a Kerry rally,” he said.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3409310/posts


24 posted on 03/14/2016 8:03:54 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (I am just another low info/stupid and evil Trump supporter wanting to select my candidate!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Well he has a New York accent, so of course. Never mind that the left has used thugs to riot and attack people for years....lets focus on the people they attack and make wild conspiracy theories...


25 posted on 03/14/2016 8:04:04 PM PDT by AndyTheBear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Holy crap my man your gonna catch hell now. Some will be nasty and rude and a few maybe even threatening, all in an effort to counter these threads that they are in fact, civil. It’s the funniest irony, I, too, had my own turn in the FR barrel recently. Surrealistic. Stranger in a strange land. It’s like some folks have plain lost their minds. (And, to be fair, others, not).


26 posted on 03/14/2016 8:04:12 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo (I will post & reply with respect, manners and facts. I will not return insult for insult. Period.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

The only act of violence that I am aware of by a Trump supporter at a rally is the nearly 80 year old guy who hit a 20 something year old with his elbow. The guy who got hit by an 80 year old’s elbow was yelling profanities and making obscene gestures. The 80 year old got arrested and is facing the consequences. I have now scene the video at least two dozen times on network TV.

The question I would like answered is what would happen to me if I went to a Black Lives Matter gathering and started sharing my opinion?


27 posted on 03/14/2016 8:04:42 PM PDT by fireman15 (The USA will be toast if the Democrats are able to take the Presidency in 2016)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Now all of us are “thugs.”

Sorry, Hillary and GOPe, but insulting Trump’s supporters is not going to work any better, than your pathetic claim, blaming Trump for the violence of YOUR thugs.


28 posted on 03/14/2016 8:05:28 PM PDT by Innovative ("Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." -- Vince Lombardi)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Where is Hillary in all this?

You know.....the lying, thieving, murdering Hillary Clinton.


29 posted on 03/14/2016 8:05:29 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

LOL. Nice sophomoric psychology 101 attempt. Yes, that’s it, we who support Trump look in the mirror and see Trump. Man, this is flat out hilarious. Well, glad I do not see Cruz, a two-faced coward masquerading as an outsider, using religion as a means to an end. Or, even worse, could be Kasich or Rubio...enough said.


30 posted on 03/14/2016 8:05:30 PM PDT by taketheredpill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Tissue?


31 posted on 03/14/2016 8:05:55 PM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vehmgericht
Do you remember when Trump said, “I want you to argue with them and get in their face,” and “If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun?” Neither do I.

How funny you should bring this up, because every time I hear Trump pulling his vitriolic shtick, I hear Obama talking.

32 posted on 03/14/2016 8:06:14 PM PDT by TXSearcher (The RINO rebellion is being won by a NY RINO.......truth IS stranger than fiction.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Given this, it comes as no surprise that we’re beginning to see violence at Trump rallies.

The author knows full well that most of the violence at Trump rallies is perpetrated by radical Leftists, not Trump's supporters.

33 posted on 03/14/2016 8:06:20 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Refusing to be politically correct is now considered thuggish behavior.


34 posted on 03/14/2016 8:06:35 PM PDT by Rebelbase (Ideology of youth. 1968: Drugs, sex and rock-n-roll. 2016: Drugs, sex and free stuff.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GingisK

Trump went to a place where there are virtually no GOP voters (University campus) - in fact, I think he even changed his schedule to go there. Why?

One of the “protestors” said that this was all planned in advance. So how much money did Trump pay them to make a show of busting up the meeting?

Btw, he could have thrown them out had he wanted to do so. Campaign events are private events, and a candidate can lay down the rules and then hire police officers to enforce them. Maybe Trump was just too cheap to do this or doesn’t trust our system from the word go.


35 posted on 03/14/2016 8:06:45 PM PDT by livius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: All

Stopped reading at “who made fun of POWs, mocked the physically handicapped”....he didn’t do this.


36 posted on 03/14/2016 8:06:48 PM PDT by VerySadAmerican (Cruz voters: Wake up! Trump is our only chance of stopping the gopE. If not now, never!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

There are no Trump following mafia type thugs. Crude rhetoric, yes, but it’s only the Left that’s organizing and acting to induce violence.


37 posted on 03/14/2016 8:06:52 PM PDT by ctdonath2 ("Get the he11 out of my way!" - John Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

No, we are freedom fighters, fighting the fascism of the left and the Republican elites...


38 posted on 03/14/2016 8:06:55 PM PDT by Wpin ("I Have Sworn Upon the Altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The New Black Panthers show up outside of a polling place, and no one suggested Obama was creating an army of thugs. They fear Trump.
39 posted on 03/14/2016 8:06:57 PM PDT by pieceofthepuzzle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

This is the same crap they said about the Tea Party.


40 posted on 03/14/2016 8:07:40 PM PDT by ez ("Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is..." - Milton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 201-210 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson