Althouse: "This is a president who doesn’t have a clue.... If he campaigns, that means I’m allowed to hit him, just like I hit Bill Clinton. I guess. Right?"

June 2, 2016

"This is a president who doesn’t have a clue.... If he campaigns, that means I’m allowed to hit him, just like I hit Bill Clinton. I guess. Right?"

"If he doesn't, I don't care. But if he campaigns, and I think he wants to...."

Said Donald Trump.

62 comments:

MadisonMan said...: I think Trump should run for the future. Obama is the past. Treat him that way.

You can say you're going to fix problems that Obama has started -- and list them. But I wouldn't directly engage with the President.; 6/2/16, 11:01 AM
The Bergall said...: To steal a quote:

"Is this the new abnormal"?; 6/2/16, 11:01 AM
Hagar said...: "If they hit you, hit back twice as hard!"
Barack Obama; 6/2/16, 11:06 AM
Owen said...: I think The Donald was just kissing Obama's fender. "Stay in your lane."

Could get interesting, I better make up another batch of popcorn. I have developed a new recipe, with FDA-disapproved seasoning: double salt and extra butter, with more butter, and then some butter. I'm calling it "Prog Cranial Implosion." Early market interest is positive.; 6/2/16, 11:13 AM
Original Mike said...: President Ego will campaign.

I think it's important to discuss the dangerous direction Obama has taken us. Not that I think Trump is a good vehicle for that discussion, but you campaign with the candidate you've got.; 6/2/16, 11:16 AM
Unknown said...: "PGA Tour moves tournament from Trump Doral to Mexico City" - http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/15876975/pga-tour-move-event-miami-trump-doral-resort-mexico-city-2017

"Mark Cuban questions whether Donald Trump is a billionaire"
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/mark-cuban-questions-whether-donald-trump-is-a-billionaire/

Imagine losing a golf tournament to Mexico. How ironic. And then being called out he has no where near the billions he says he has by a real billionaire. Poor Trump.; 6/2/16, 11:19 AM
eric said...: Obama will campaign because that's the only thing he does well. For almost eight years now, he has been campaigning. He doesn't know anything else, except maybe golf. And he likes to campaign. He likes the adulation. He doesn't like the job of governing.

So yes, Obama will campaign. He won't go out quietly like Bush. We will be sick of Obama.; 6/2/16, 11:19 AM
Achilles said...: Trump knows Obama as a paper tiger. The few times Obama has been challenged by foreign media he has been outed as a mediocre mind. Trump is just forcing Obama to face that reality before Obama jumps in.

I look forward to Obama being outed as an idiot. Maybe we should play his toast to the queen a few times.; 6/2/16, 11:20 AM
bwebster said...: I believe that's called a "brushback pitch" in baseball. Given how thin-skinned Pres. Obama is, I can only imagine what it would be like if Trump went after him hard.; 6/2/16, 11:22 AM
Owen said...: eric: "...And he likes to campaign. He likes the adulation." I agree that he likes to campaign. Or what he, Activist-in-Chief, calls "campaigning." But I think it's not the adulation he likes, so much as the chance to punish his enemies, with cheap shots and snide unanswerable comments and middle fingers just happening to stick up. Life in junior high is good!

He's got so many enemies, the work of punishing them is never done! But here is a chance for him to catch up a bit.

As I said, I think the popcorn business is going to boom.; 6/2/16, 11:26 AM
Anonymous said...: "We will be sick of Obama." Will be?; 6/2/16, 11:29 AM
Dan Hossley said...: It will be interesting to see how Trump chooses go after Obama. The economy - unemployment in the black community is terrible. It would be good to paint Hillary with that brush. Race relations - Obama has done a lot to enrich the leaders of the race grievance industry, but precious little to help everyday blacks. I think some of that would attach to Hillary only because her policies are straight from the democrat play book.

Trump's going after foreign policy failures anyway, so it would be best to stay focused on Hillary rather than spread the blame.; 6/2/16, 11:34 AM
Original Mike said...: "The economy - unemployment in the black community is terrible. It would be good to paint Hillary with that brush. Race relations - Obama has done a lot to enrich the leaders of the race grievance industry, but precious little to help everyday blacks."

Is this the election that African-Americans finally figure out that they are being taken advantage of by Democrats? I doubt it, but you figure it's got to happen someday.; 6/2/16, 11:40 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "If they hit you, hit back twice as hard!"
Barack Obama

Obama is associated with the quote ("“If you get hit, we will punch back twice as hard") but he did not say it.; 6/2/16, 11:44 AM
Bill, Republic of Texas said...: I think Trump may be right about going after Obama. One of the biggest indicators of the out party winning an election is the incumbents poll numbers.

It's a risky strategy but Obama's numbers go up when he is seen as above the fray. His numbers go down when he is pushing his agenda.; 6/2/16, 11:49 AM
traditionalguy said...: Competence replacing incompetence makes all the difference.

Trump is literally The War on Incompetence.

Obama has been the intentional destruction of the USA behind a crafty screen of incompetence. Thais will be light versus darkness level battle.; 6/2/16, 11:54 AM
Michael said...: “If they bring a knife to the fight , we bring a gun.” Barack Obama. Nobel Peace Prize winner.; 6/2/16, 11:56 AM
cubanbob said...: Hillary is running as the third Obama or Clinton term, maybe both so yes it's just fine for Trumpy to campaign against them.; 6/2/16, 12:00 PM
Etienne said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 6/2/16, 12:06 PM
HoodlumDoodlum said...: Ann Althouse said...Ann Althouse said...

Obama is associated with the quote ("“If you get hit, we will punch back twice as hard") but he did not say it.

100% correct, Professor. We can't have people attributing things said by staff to the boss, after all...that'd be downright wrong, and of course no right thinking person would ever blame a candidate for things their supporters might say or do. No sir.; 6/2/16, 12:06 PM
Michael in ArchDen said...: Althouse said...
Obama is associated with the quote ("“If you get hit, we will punch back twice as hard") but he did not say it.

I believe that line comes from Tina Fey in a SNL skit...; 6/2/16, 12:10 PM
gspencer said...: POS Obama is pretty thin-skinned. How dare anyone with clout (and DJT now has real clout) criticize the terrible things the One has brought on us.

The venal ("the bitch is strong in this one") Obama won't be able to help himself.

Go, Donald, go.; 6/2/16, 12:12 PM
HoodlumDoodlum said...: Have you seen ANY articles shaming President Obama for involving himself directly in this campaign, or arguing that it's wrong for a sitting President to do so, or that it's unseemly, or that it's a violation of a norm, or in any other way out of bounds?
I haven't.
Think waaaaaaay back to the 2008 campaign. Do you remember President GWBush attacking the Dem. candidate by name, repeatedly? I don't. I remember that Presidents weren't supposed to do that--they were supposed to talk in very general terms about why they think their party/nominee is the better choice, the plans they expect their party's nominee to put in place or continue, etc. My memory is that President Bill Clinton was a little more personal/involved himself a bit more in the campaign, but not too much.

Obama, though, sees nothing wrong with going after Trump repeatedly, by name, in the middle of the campaign. The Media apparently doesn't think this diminishes the office of President and doesn't find anything wrong with it. I'd bet real money that if the parties were reversed, though, the Media certainly would. Just another example of how the Right has to do the right thing and the Left gets a total pass. Explain again why it's appealing to some people on the Right when Trump disregards the normal, propriety-constrained behavioral norms? Inexplicable!; 6/2/16, 12:13 PM
Wilbur said...: It occurred to me earlier today that Trump is like a pitcher who is effectively wild.

I've seen Obama play golf. He's about as good as he is playing basketball, which is to say not very. That said, he's infinitely better at those than throwing a baseball. Not one of those things has anything to do with being president.

Obama has been a very effective president. He's transformed the nation, to what I consider our shame and degradation.; 6/2/16, 12:20 PM
Michael K said...: "President doesn't have a clue."

That's the punch line of a pretty funny joke.

A couple of famous guys go into a bank to cash a check but have no ID. They prove who they are,

Obama goes in and has no ID. The teller says "How would you prove who you are?

Obama says, "I haven't a clue."

The teller says, "How do you want the cash, mr president ? Tens or twenties ?; 6/2/16, 12:21 PM
mikee said...: Obama, the Jon Snow (or Sergeant Schultz) of presidents.; 6/2/16, 12:47 PM
johns said...: Does anyone think that Trump will talk about Obama's lisp? No one ever mentions that.; 6/2/16, 1:09 PM
The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...: "Is this the election that African-Americans finally figure out that they are being taken advantage of by Democrats? I doubt it, but you figure it's got to happen someday"

Not in our lifetimes. Not until the hand-outs dry up.; 6/2/16, 1:09 PM
Brando said...: Obama seems dismissive of Trump, as though the latter is a clown not worth his trouble, but Trump may have to go after him anyway. Obama's approval rating is over 50, and Hillary is running as his successor--if she holds his old coalition together, there's no way Trump beats that.; 6/2/16, 1:10 PM
Levi Starks said...: Oh yes, Obama wants to campaign. He dearly wants to campaign.
Just not for Hilary.; 6/2/16, 1:10 PM
Michael K said...: "Obama wants to campaign. He dearly wants to campaign. "

That is all he is good at. This has been an 8 years campaign.; 6/2/16, 1:22 PM
Lauderdale Vet said...: Did President Obama once say of Republicans: “If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun.”; 6/2/16, 1:29 PM
Nonapod said...: Barack Obama may not be able to resist the powerful pull of that sweet campaign high. The adulation of his crowds! The sound of his own voice! The joy of setting up strawmen! The constant validation of his campaign staff and yes-men. These are all feelings Obama dearly loves. He loves them like a junkie loves smack. He loves them like a fat kid loves cake. In these dark times, times of stress and doubt about the future of the Democrat party, times of uncertainty with his foreign policy in shambles, he may seek the solace of The Campaign.

But he must be carefgul. This time, he's not going up against a reserved punchingbag who'll just meekly roll over and show his belly.; 6/2/16, 1:42 PM
shiloh said...: "Trump knows Obama as a paper tiger. The few times Obama has been challenged by foreign media he has been outed as a mediocre mind. Trump is just forcing Obama to face that reality before Obama jumps in."

Indeed as one becomes the first African-American president by being a paper tiger. You mean the reality of the birther don believing Obama was a Muslim born in Kenya!

A refresher course on how much Obama fears Trump.

>

"If he campaigns, that means I’m allowed to hit him, just like I hit Bill Clinton. I guess. Right?"

Too funny as who's permission is he asking before he's allowed to criticize Obama.

From the guy who questioned whether Rafael Cruz was responsible for JFK's assassination.

Trump is making it up as he goes along and truly can't help himself. Bless his little heart.; 6/2/16, 1:51 PM
hombre said...: I find the idea of a Trump presidency absurd, embarrassing and terrifying. Nevertheless, it's difficult to see how he would be worse than Obama or Hillary.

The Constitution will suffer and the government will grow, but I pray he will have the integrity to stick by his Supreme Court list.

Here's a wishful thinking slogan: "If you want your country run for the next generation by a bunch of politically appointed judges, elect Hillary. If you want it run by the people you actually vote for, elect Trump."; 6/2/16, 2:10 PM
shiloh said...: "I find the idea of a Trump presidency absurd, embarrassing and terrifying."

A few points for honesty as that is a disappearing quality at Althouse among her con flock.

>

Wrapping up the nomination early against the Rep deep bench who couldn't shoot straight! is actually working against Trump as he is now totally in the spotlight and media research can hone in on all his bull shit!

Indeed as the donald loves the spotlight. What could possibly go wrong!; 6/2/16, 2:22 PM
Gk1 said...: Well if Obama's stuttering porky pig imitation is how he is going to go after Trump, maybe Donald wants to see more of that and is baiting President Porky? And I chuckle at the idea Obama's approval rating is anywhere near 50%. People don't want to be called racist so they keep their trap shut, not because they things are hunky dorey. There is a big difference.; 6/2/16, 2:24 PM
Just asking questions (Jaq) said...: "Punish your enemies, reward your friends."

Some of us thought we were all Americans.; 6/2/16, 2:27 PM
Larry J said...: bwebster said...
I believe that's called a "brushback pitch" in baseball. Given how thin-skinned Pres. Obama is, I can only imagine what it would be like if Trump went after him hard.

If hit hard (literally or figuratively), Obama would fold like a cheap suit. For 8 years, the PC mongers have labeled any criticism of Obama as racist. Since Trump is anti-PC and is already called a racist, there's little they could say about him that would matter.; 6/2/16, 2:29 PM
Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...: Somewhat O.T. but what Hammond finds particularly disturbing is Obama's apparent intent, post-Presidency, to move to a flashy D.C. crib for an energetic high profile life of kibitzing, lobbying, and influence peddling. Not gonna retire to no ranch somewhere, wouldn't be prudent.; 6/2/16, 2:48 PM
Comanche Voter said...: Well what the heck. If if if if if the stuttering Lightworker finally has his mouth catch up with the brilliant thoughts coursing through his head--and launches a campaign against Trump, The Donald will simply say, "Game on Barack Baby--let's talk about you!"

Barack is saying "no okeydoke" from Trump, and urging that we build on all the progress and racial healing that have occurred under his regime.

The Trumpster will say that all of Barack's boasts and shtick are just an okey doke.

Meantime, I'll pop some popcorn, pour myself a nice glass of iced tea and watch the action. Maybe put some butter (more than Mrs. Comanche Voter says is allowed) and more salt (than Obama's new guidelines say is allowed) on that bowl of popcorn. Munch munch whilst the fun is going on.; 6/2/16, 2:54 PM
David said...: Ohhh. Tag team. Trump against Clinton and Clinton and Obama and Harry Reid and the media and Bill Kristol and Biden and most of academia.

Looks like a fair fight to me.; 6/2/16, 3:16 PM
Achilles said...: shiloh said...

"If he campaigns, that means I’m allowed to hit him, just like I hit Bill Clinton. I guess. Right?"

Where is Bill? Why is he hiding? Is it because most of Americans think he is at best a harasser of women and a majority at this point think he is a rapist?

Is he watching the Cosby trial closely you think?

And Trump already has Obama's nickname picked out for him: Lightweight.

The best names are the true ones.; 6/2/16, 4:54 PM
Achilles said...: shiloh said...

" A few points for honesty as that is a disappearing quality at Althouse among her con flock."

Says a Hillary Clinton supporter who is too stupid to see the irony in using the word honesty in support of Hillary Clinton.; 6/2/16, 4:56 PM
Michael Fitzgerald said...: hombre said...
"I find the idea of a Trump presidency absurd, embarrassing and terrifying."
- I had those thoughts at first too. But the potential presidencies of Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton strike me as far more damaging to the republic than the leadership of a celebrity businessman.

6/2/16, 2:10 PM; 6/2/16, 5:18 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: All Obama knows is campaign. He lives to trash and hate. obama hates you.; 6/2/16, 5:42 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Obama doesn't like Hillary, but he adores Clooney and he hates most of America.
so - boom, he's gonna campaign. The community organizer is gonna campaign. that fun?; 6/2/16, 5:43 PM
shiloh said...: "Says a Hillary Clinton supporter who is too stupid to see the irony in using the word honesty in support of Hillary Clinton."

Hillary's a train wreck, but Trump is a bigger train wreck. Indeed as Reps have probably nominated the one fool Hillary can defeat. Irony indeed!

As always, thanx!; 6/2/16, 6:03 PM
Fritz said...: hombre said...
"I find the idea of a Trump presidency absurd, embarrassing and terrifying."

I've had that thought about every presidential candidate ever. So far, I've always been right.; 6/2/16, 6:33 PM
shiloh said...: "Shiloh, what is it that you think you have to offer to this forum?"

You mean like the 95/5 Althouse con majority sayin'/offering ad nauseam Obama sucks and is the worst president ever kind of insight.

Althouse is a con echo chamber so I don't fit the proper forum profile to be sure.

When Althouse as well as the majority of her con bloggers said (4) years ago that Romney would win quite easily I was totally impressed w/the in depth insight they were providing. So although I took a well deserved 3+ year vacation from the festivities I decided to return to get more of that keen political insight that no other blog can provide.

And just like 4 years ago the echo chamber is once again sayin' Trump will win in a landslide.

Hey, if you say something often enough it must be true.

>

Nichevo seriously, you have a friend?; 6/2/16, 7:34 PM
Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...: I find the idea of a Trump presidency absurd, embarrassing and terrifying. Nevertheless, it's difficult to see how he would be worse than Obama or Hillary.

I guess that explains why you're so often embarrassed and terrified.; 6/2/16, 7:35 PM
Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...: "This is a president who doesn’t have a clue.... If he campaigns, that means I’m allowed to hit him, just like I hit Bill Clinton. I guess. Right?"

The only thing Trump knows how to hit is the hair spray bottle, the mirror and his lawyers.; 6/2/16, 7:37 PM
Just asking questions (Jaq) said...: And just like 4 years ago the echo chamber is once again sayin' Trump will win in a landslide.

So you think your termagant candidate Hillary is going to get elected based on some reverse sympathetic magic invoked by the comments on Althouse?

KEEP HOPE ALIVE

PS: I know you don't understand that comment, it's fine. You don't have to.; 6/2/16, 7:40 PM
Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...: So you think your termagant candidate Hillary is going to get elected based on some reverse sympathetic magic invoked by the comments on Althouse?

I think she'll get elected based on this uncanny ability that Trump completely lacks: Self-control.; 6/2/16, 7:43 PM
FullMoon said...: shiloh said...

When Althouse as well as the majority of her con bloggers said (4) years ago that Romney would win quite easily I was totally impressed w/the in depth insight they were providing. So although I took a well deserved 3+ year vacation from the festivities I decided to return to get more of that keen political insight that no other blog can provide.

And just like 4 years ago the echo chamber is once again sayin' Trump will win in a landslide.

Damn, that truth hurts. I thought Romney had a lock on it. Every time I think Clinton cannot win, I remember how wrong I was about Romney.; 6/2/16, 7:55 PM
Just asking questions (Jaq) said...: I think she'll get elected based on this uncanny ability that Trump completely lacks: Self-control

Sigh... I wish I could think of some comeback.; 6/2/16, 8:14 PM
Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...: Don't worry, tim. She was once a Goldwater girl. Many Republicans will no doubt find her conservative enough for them. As they did her husband, a more rightward leaning Democrat (Peyronie's notwithstanding) than had ever existed before.; 6/2/16, 8:40 PM
Achilles said...: Rhythm and Balls said...
"Don't worry, tim. She was once a Goldwater girl. Many Republicans will no doubt find her conservative enough for them. As they did her husband, a more rightward leaning Democrat (Peyronie's notwithstanding) than had ever existed before."

No. A Hillary presidency signals the end of the rule of law. There are republicans that will be happy with her as they are happy with the current system. None of them are happy about trump. But a significant number of us actual citizens will just stop paying taxes, mortgages etc. The number of businesses and people who operate in cash under the table now would amaze you.; 6/2/16, 11:11 PM
Anonymous said...: Owen, responding to Eric, wrote, "eric: "...And he likes to campaign. He likes the adulation." I agree that he likes to campaign. Or what he, Activist-in-Chief, calls "campaigning." But I think it's not the adulation he likes, so much as the chance to punish his enemies, with cheap shots and snide unanswerable comments and middle fingers just happening to stick up. Life in junior high is good!

He's got so many enemies, the work of punishing them is never done! But here is a chance for him to catch up a bit."

Geez, Owen, are you talking about Obama or about Trump? I think the slipper would fit either one.; 6/3/16, 12:25 AM
jg said...: I don't mind people speaking truth to conservative commentariat power. It just has to be truth. Or an interesting claim at truth.; 6/3/16, 3:24 AM
jg said...: Well, at least Hillary can keep it in her depends.; 6/3/16, 3:24 AM
Just asking questions (Jaq) said...: Shilo thinks Hillary is a liberal. No liberal I know would gleefully, gleefully crow about putting good union working men out of work the way Hillary has the coal miners. Sure, she apologized, but the first was her unscripted response, the apology was her adviser's doing.

Harry Truman nuked Japan. It was not a tough decision for him. That's because Harry Truman was a true liberal who cared about the hundreds of thousands of troops that were going to have to fight in Japan. Hillary had Qaddaffy killed, there was no aggression against the US, no need to save American lives, no nothing like that. Then she left Libya to fester a "shit show" as Obama calls it. Hillary is no liberal.

Hillary intimidated the women who accused her husband of rape and sexual harassment and assault. Personally, in some cases. If Hillary is a liberal, we are starting to see a picture of liberalism that is somewhat less attractive than the PR.

Shilo, what values does Hillary stand for that make you so loyal to her? It's a serious question. From where I sit it seems to be the color of the uniform.; 6/3/16, 6:05 AM