How is Donald Trump even qualified to be president?

[Human]

As we all know, Trump doesn't have any prior political experience.

BUT MUH PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERIENCE

You guys have to remember that Donald Trump inherited around $200 million in 1974 from daddy. That's equivalent to $800 million in 2016 numbers. Every single one of his business ventures outside of real estate have been absolute failures, and his record in real estate his mediocre at best. His business record is basically an absolute disaster. He's only wealthy because he inherited nearly $1 billion (in 2016 numbers) from daddy. He's basically a heir and a celebrity, not a businessman. He isn't a self-made billionaire (unlike Bloomberg). He also got into Wharton due to his daddy's connections and got terrible grades.

He has no real public or private sector experience.

He literally has no qualifications to be president. If he wasn't born into a rich family, he would be a college dropout working at Target right now. Why are people even taking this guy seriously? Even a mailman with no high school education is more qualified. Why is this election even close? Why isn't Donald Trump losing in a landslide?

[‼realJohnEwards‼]

Because some people put policy ahe- oh wait, I forgot, the Donald has no articulate policies. I guess I'm at a loss... sunspots?

[Xing]

He isn't; simple as that. If it weren't for stubbornness, hyper-partisanship, and low-information voters, he wouldn't have a chance.

[Hilldog]

On questions like this we typically hear partisan answers.  We can argue Trump has never held office, governed anything, or effected policy other than donations. On the other hand Hillary Clinton can be argued to have ridden her husband's coattails to office in a state she's not even from, practically ran unopposed the second time, messed up Benghazi as Secretary of State killing four innocent Americans, and now wants to be the most powerful person in the world.  Holding office and having alot to say doesn't mean someone is qualified and knows what they're talking about.  Obama was also accused of being inexperienced.  He had only served two years in the senate before claiming he should be the most powerful person in the world in February 2007.  Arguments can be made both ways.  Trump has an issue with experience but I haven't heard many others talk about it or be concerned.

[Rules for me, but not for thee]

He is over 35 and an natural-born American and been a resident for 14+ years.  The only qualifications you need.

[Ljube]

He is over 35 and an natural-born American and been a resident for 14+ years.  The only qualifications you need.

[RINO Tom]

A scalding hot take.

[Hermit For Peace]

He is over 35 and an natural-born American and been a resident for 14+ years.  The only qualifications you need.

Is that good enough for you?

[Human]

He is over 35 and an natural-born American and been a resident for 14+ years.  The only qualifications you need.

Republican logic:
Obama was a one-term senator before running for president: HE'S UNQUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT!!

Donald Trump has absolutely no experience whatsoever: "He is over 35 and an natural-born American and been a resident for 14+ years.  The only qualifications you need."

[Phony Moderate]

He is over 35 and an natural-born American and been a resident for 14+ years.  The only qualifications you need.

Is that good enough for you?

I would hope and assume not, but the point is that those are the only official and objective qualifications. Beyond that it's up to the employer to decide whether a potential employee is qualified or not. If NBC thinks that an alcoholic cocaine-addicted pedophile with several murder convictions is qualified to read the nightly news then that is what matters, regardless of the inevitably swift consequences. If the US electorate thinks that a loudmouth race baiting misogynist is qualified to be president then that is what matters, regardless of the inevitably swift consequences.

[Phony Moderate]

He is over 35 and an natural-born American and been a resident for 14+ years.  The only qualifications you need.

Is that good enough for you?

I would hope and assume not, but the point is that those are the only official and objective qualifications. Beyond that it's up to the employer to decide whether a potential employee is qualified or not. If NBC thinks that an alcoholic cocaine-addicted pedophile with several murder convictions is qualified to read the nightly news then that is what matters, regardless of the inevitably swift consequences. If the US electorate thinks that a loudmouth race baiting misogynist is qualified to be president then that is what matters, regardless of the inevitably swift consequences.

[Hermit For Peace]

He is over 35 and an natural-born American and been a resident for 14+ years.  The only qualifications you need.

Is that good enough for you?

I would hope and assume not, but the point is that those are the only official and objective qualifications. Beyond that it's up to the employer to decide whether a potential employee is qualified or not. If NBC thinks that an alcoholic cocaine-addicted pedophile with several murder convictions is qualified to read the nightly news then that is what matters, regardless of the inevitably swift consequences. If the US electorate thinks that a loudmouth race baiting misogynist is qualified to be president then that is what matters, regardless of the inevitably swift consequences.

And with that post, you just made 11111 posts! Quite a feat.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

As we all know, Trump doesn't have any prior political experience.

BUT MUH PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERIENCE

You guys have to remember that Donald Trump inherited around $200 million in 1974 from daddy. That's equivalent to $800 million in 2016 numbers. Every single one of his business ventures outside of real estate have been absolute failures, and his record in real estate his mediocre at best. His business record is basically an absolute disaster. He's only wealthy because he inherited nearly $1 billion (in 2016 numbers) from daddy. He's basically a heir and a celebrity, not a businessman. He isn't a self-made billionaire (unlike Bloomberg). He also got into Wharton due to his daddy's connections and got terrible grades.

He has no real public or private sector experience.

He literally has no qualifications to be president. If he wasn't born into a rich family, he would be a college dropout working at Target right now. Why are people even taking this guy seriously? Even a mailman with no high school education is more qualified. Why is this election even close? Why isn't Donald Trump losing in a landslide?

Because, 1) a lot of people in the US are economically hurting (or scared), are disturbed by seeing the world they grew up in change drastically, and our whole system of governance is both corrupt and increasingly unable to do its basic job.

And 2), TrumpMiller is a really talented con artist who has the willing and eager cooperation of the whole dinosaur media establishment.

[LLR]

Wendell Willkie, Ross Perot, Ronald Reagan, etc.

[Dr. Arch]

Wendell Willkie, Ross Perot, Ronald Reagan, etc.

Eh? Reagan was a governor.

[Human]

Wendell Willkie, Ross Perot, Ronald Reagan, etc.

Ronald Reagan was the governor of California and Ross Perot wasn't a major party candidate.

[Bismarck]

Wendell Willkie, Ross Perot, Ronald Reagan, etc.

Ronald Reagan? Governor of the most populous state in the nation? He had more experience than many of our presidents.

[dax00]

He is over 35 and an natural-born American and been a resident for 14+ years.  The only qualifications you need.

[Hilldog]

Wendell Willkie, Ross Perot, Ronald Reagan, etc.

Ronald Reagan? Governor of the most populous state in the nation? He had more experience than many of our presidents.

Exactly and it's not like he governed Arkansas or somewhere with a low population.  Wilkie can barely be considered a candidate.  Ross Perot wasn't for a major party.  Most Americans think a random selection from the phone book would do better than our current congress and I'm sure their view of the presidency isn't much better.  They're all crooks and liars.

[‼realJohnEwards‼]

Wendell Willkie, Ross Perot, Ronald Reagan, etc.

Ronald Reagan? Governor of the most populous state in the nation? He had more experience than many of our presidents.

Exactly and it's not like he governed Arkansas or somewhere with a low population.  Wilkie can barely be considered a candidate.  Ross Perot wasn't for a major party.  Most Americans think a random selection from the phone book would do better than our current congress and I'm sure their view of the presidency isn't much better.  They're all crooks and liars.

...and some, you assume, are good people?

[Vosem]

Wendell Willkie, Ross Perot, Ronald Reagan, etc.

Ronald Reagan? Governor of the most populous state in the nation? He had more experience than many of our presidents.

Exactly and it's not like he governed Arkansas or somewhere with a low population.  Wilkie can barely be considered a candidate.  Ross Perot wasn't for a major party.  Most Americans think a random selection from the phone book would do better than our current congress and I'm sure their view of the presidency isn't much better.  They're all crooks and liars.

Why can Willkie barely be considered a candidate? He was nominated by a major party and received 45% of the national vote; there's probably some chance our next President will be elected with less.

[Hilldog]

Wendell Willkie, Ross Perot, Ronald Reagan, etc.

Ronald Reagan? Governor of the most populous state in the nation? He had more experience than many of our presidents.

Exactly and it's not like he governed Arkansas or somewhere with a low population.  Wilkie can barely be considered a candidate.  Ross Perot wasn't for a major party.  Most Americans think a random selection from the phone book would do better than our current congress and I'm sure their view of the presidency isn't much better.  They're all crooks and liars.

Why can Willkie barely be considered a candidate? He was nominated by a major party and received 45% of the national vote; there's probably some chance our next President will be elected with less.

I was thinking of Alfred Landon.  Voters look for decisiveness in campaigns and don't think much of experience.

[Panda Express]

He is over 35 and an natural-born American and been a resident for 14+ years.  The only qualifications you need.

Dumb argument. Eligible is NOT the same as qualified.

[Fuzzy Bear]

He is over 35 and an natural-born American and been a resident for 14+ years.  The only qualifications you need.

Republican logic:
Obama was a one-term senator before running for president: HE'S UNQUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT!!

Donald Trump has absolutely no experience whatsoever: "He is over 35 and an natural-born American and been a resident for 14+ years.  The only qualifications you need."

Trump has immense EXECUTIVE experience; more than any Presidential candidate since Eisenhower.  And he's seeking the ultimate executive job in the US.

His experience is all in the private sector.  If elected, he'll experience the difference in a hurry.  But to say that he is "unqualified" in the sense that his career in business is irrelevant to the job he's seeking is just not true.

[Arbitrage1980]

He is over 35 and an natural-born American and been a resident for 14+ years.  The only qualifications you need.

Republican logic:
Obama was a one-term senator before running for president: HE'S UNQUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT!!

Donald Trump has absolutely no experience whatsoever: "He is over 35 and an natural-born American and been a resident for 14+ years.  The only qualifications you need."

Trump has immense EXECUTIVE experience; more than any Presidential candidate since Eisenhower.  And he's seeking the ultimate executive job in the US.

His experience is all in the private sector.  If elected, he'll experience the difference in a hurry.  But to say that he is "unqualified" in the sense that his career in business is irrelevant to the job he's seeking is just not true.

Sure, he has executive experience, and as a conservative Republican, I greatly value private sector experience (I'm a huge fan of Romney and also like Bloomberg). But these men had both business AND executive political experience. And unlike Trump, they understood policy and knew how the government worked. You may disagree with them politically, but Romney and Bloomberg are serious thoughtful knowledgeable men. One cannot say the same about Trump. His expertise is in real estate, but that knowledge does not help with macroeconomics, fiscal policy, budgets, national security, executive orders, geopolitics, military, and a host of other complex issues that the President must deal with on a daily basis. And even in the business realm, Trump has been mediocre; whenever he ventured outside of real estate, he has failed spectacularly. He inherited a massive fortune from his dad, got lucky a few times, and then slaps his name on everything like the vulgar charlatan that he is.