Do you think that Donald Trump's campaign was serious from the start?

[Beefalow and the Consumer]

He's a delusional megalomaniac, so yes, it was serious.  It just so happens that Donald's delusions lined up with the delusions of 40% of the electorate.

[Beefalow and the Consumer]

He's a delusional megalomaniac, so yes, it was serious.  It just so happens that Donald's delusions lined up with the delusions of 40% of the electorate.

40% of the primary electorate is one thing, but it's likely that Trump will get more than 40% of the general electorate as well.  Whether or not many people will vote for him because he is the "lesser of evils" or because of political tribalism, it shows that there is still swath of people in this country who at least nominally accept his vile rhetoric.  We have a lot of work left to do when it comes to making this country's political atmosphere less toxic and polarized.  Hillary needs to win in the short term, but I just fear that we will have to confront the terrifying prospect of someone like Trump being president at some point again.

Next time he/she will be a 40-something with fantastic hair and the smooth demeanor of a televangelist.  He will speak in soothing tones about how much he "believes in America," in "putting America first," in tearing down the corrupt elites and taking a hard line against all threats against us.  He will speak social progressivism out of one side of his mouth, but stoke xenophobia and nationalism out of the other.  Many Democrats will flock to him.  He might even run as a Democrat.

[Beefalow and the Consumer]

Trump knows more about politics than anyone on Atlas.  Indeed, he knows more about politics than most folks who are political pros.  That's the reason he's where he's at today, period.

Donald Trump knows show business, playing the media, and how to influence masses of people.  That, combined with him accidentally hitting the right note at exactly the right time, is why he's where he's at today.