Donald Trump and the art of self-sabotage

[ABX]

The 2016 election was supposed to be an easy one for Republicans. Despite the inherent demographic advantage for Democrats in presidential election years, it’s normal for the country to want to replace even a popular, two-term president with his polar opposite — especially if his successor is as disliked as Hillary Clinton. Just nominate someone who can win with 51% and let the country do what comes naturally. That didn’t happen.

http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/301078/donald-trump-and-the-art-of-self-sabotage/

[Oceander]

It has finally begun to dawn on Trump that his words are starting to catch up with him. In national and swing state polls, he has sunk deeper into a political grave more than anyone in the modern era. His unfavorables are simply staggering. But that still hasn’t stopped him from saying that the only way he could lose is if the election is “rigged” and Democrats steal states like Pennsylvania.

Rather than moderate his rhetoric and pivot, Trump has instead, to borrow a phrase from “30 Rock,” gone deeper Into The Crevasse. Trump fired his corrupt, international Bond villain campaign chairman Paul Manafort, installed Breitbart boss Steve Bannon at the top of his campaign, brought on sexual nightmare Roger Ailes to help with debate prep, and even urged his supporters to act as election monitors. There will be no pivot. Only the same red meat strategy that won him the primaries.