The 2016 United States Presidential Election

Didn't see a thread discussing the election so figured I'd start one. We're in the final four+ weeks.What prompted my search for an election thread was today's news about the 11 year-old Trump video of demeaning and sexually aggressive comments toward women. I just wanted to comment that the surprise, and only a slight one at that, is that Trump ever allowed himself to be recorded making such comments, not that he made them and said exactly what he believes.--Percy

I have to say that I almost offered my thanks to the imaginary god when I heard that this morning.

But his supporters will continue to support him. There is a possibility that because he spoke this way about white women there may be some backlash, but I won't hold my breath.Never underestimate the stupidity of the American people.

We need to remember that life was much better back before women could vote and the Bible itself forgives knocking off a husband if necessary to bed a broad or even banging a virgin and knocking her up before the wedding.

He can't have forgotten he made those remarks. He knew now was the time to shoot himself in the foot, by releasing this info, so that Hillary is assured victory.Looks as though he is another ringer for the Clintons. It's a tragedy that the American people have no one they can trust.

I can see the spirit flowing through those remarks! Trump displays a similar spirit. National prayers may be answered!

Who's Clinton a ringer for?

More to the point - who is Billy Bush? And how is he related to George Jnr and Snr?

Welcome back, Big Al.

Just another clown in the clown show.

A growing list of Republicans call for Trump to step down, writes today's Washington Post. Reading the article I'm struck by the insincere "taken unawares" reactions of many Republicans as if they had no idea of the true nature of the man. They knew, they were just holding their collective breaths hoping Trump could avoid calling too overt attention to it in the few weeks left before the election. The insincerity reeks.Some Republicans are reacting like Republican representive Martha Roby of Alabama:

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As disappointed as I’ve been with his antics throughout this campaign, I thought supporting the nominee was the best thing for our country and our party. Now, it is abundantly clear that the best thing for our country and for our party is for Trump to step aside and allow a responsible, respectable Republican to lead the ticket.

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But one has to ask, "Why now?" Trump's true nature is no secret and has been no secret. As Trump's campaign management team is being repeatedly taught, it isn't possible to stop "Trump being Trump." As the antics mount more and more Republicans are finding their reserves of stoicism drained and their ability to continue expressing support exhausted.To most minds the "responsible, respectable Republican" described by Roby would be Republican vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence, but can he make any claim to those qualities after backing Trump and becoming his running mate, thereby demonstrating near fatal levels of both blindness and irresponsibility.Trump seems unlikely to lose significant voter support, but you can't blame the voters. The message voters are sending this year is, "You politicians have done a terrible job running the country, we're angry, and we're demonstrating that anger by voting against anything smacking of the status quo." Voting for Trump still sends that message, maybe even doubly so now.The Republican party was complicit in creating an environment where someone like Trump could win the primary battle, but leave that aside. Once Trump won the primaries it is to Republican Party's eternal shame that they could not find their way to repudiation of Trump, not that some didn't try, Mitt Romney most prominent among them.--Percy

Similar sentiment is expressed here:
We're shocked: Donald Trump is a sexist | CNN

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Republicans are acting as if they are in a state of shock about their nominee.

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But all of the Republican rhetoric over the past 24 hours seems a bit hypocritical to those who have been following the campaign. This is not the first time that Trump has made statements that are controversial and offensive. This has been a campaign that has seen sexism, nativism and Islamophobia front and center.
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It is too late for Republicans like Jeff Sessions or Mike Pence to suddenly express shock.

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To my mind, Pence is a wing-nuts wing-nut. He is not electable nationally.

George H bush (the elder one) is his uncle.

I guess it's a bit like the Problem Of Evil; it's one thing to think about it theoretically and another to have your nose rubbed in it.

This tape plus the new revelations that he boasted of walking into the dressing room at the Miss Universe "contest" in order to see the contestants naked. -- add peeping tom pervert to the list.Curious that these are being suddenly released now, in counterpoint to the wikileaks about Clinton and the Podesta emails. The Clinton machine built him up and got him a lot of that extra media exposure -- you can be sure that they also had the dirt to use when necessary.Frankly I am thoroughly disgusted by this years election garbage, these cess-pool occupying candidates, by far the worst choices in decades.yechh