Do people not realise that every time Trump is thwarted by judges his grip on power

[redgunamo]

No, this was a poll of his supporters' view of him. I think you're making the mistake of thinking in Democrat/Republican terms. Trump's not a Republican, he's an independent who got in on the Republican ticket. His supporters like his 'outsider' status and actively want to see him attacking pillars of the establishment. Every perceived 'insider' who is seen to thwart him actually makes him stronger because it vindicates his narrative of 'the swamp' trying to protect itself.

Right. And even more importantly, *this* is his wife and C-Span have their Nielsen share to worry about

[Peter]

No, this was a poll of his supporters' view of him. I think you're making the mistake of thinking in Democrat/Republican terms. Trump's not a Republican, he's an independent who got in on the Republican ticket. His supporters like his 'outsider' status and actively want to see him attacking pillars of the establishment. Every perceived 'insider' who is seen to thwart him actually makes him stronger because it vindicates his narrative of 'the swamp' trying to protect itself.

So he is polling well among his own supporters?

This does not overly surprise or concern me.

[Peter]

Not really - it may embolden his support base but it won't make it grow particularly and every time he attacks one of the pillars of the establishment and threatens their sacred constitution, he alienates more and more of the conservative base that he still needed to elect him

Moderates and the undecided....cant win without them.

Still, aside from gaining another four years his popularity only equates to political capital and I don't think you can measure that in the same way with Trump. Alienating most of Washington seems to be his default position.

[redgunamo]

Yeah, it's complicated.

So he is polling well among his own supporters?

This does not overly surprise or concern me.

[Burney]

So he is polling well among his own supporters?

This does not overly surprise or concern me.

The assertion was that he would lose support by constantly bumping up against pillars of the governmental structure. In fact, the reverse appears to be the case.

[Burney]

Moderates and the undecided....cant win without them.

Still, aside from gaining another four years his popularity only equates to political capital and I don't think you can measure that in the same way with Trump. Alienating most of Washington seems to be his default position.

It's his raison d'etre as far as his voters are concerned.

[Luis Anaconda]

No, this was a poll of his supporters' view of him. I think you're making the mistake of thinking in Democrat/Republican terms. Trump's not a Republican, he's an independent who got in on the Republican ticket. His supporters like his 'outsider' status and actively want to see him attacking pillars of the establishment. Every perceived 'insider' who is seen to thwart him actually makes him stronger because it vindicates his narrative of 'the swamp' trying to protect itself.

Yes - you're right I am thinking in terms of Republican/Democrats - and agree with what you are saying in terms of his supporter base. But he needs more than that supporter base, I would say, to strengthen his grip on power, which was Monty's assertion. He has undoubtedly given a bloody nose to the establishment but he hasn't knocked it out. I was thinking in terms of a potentially increasingly fractious relationship with Congress and the damage that will eventually do to him. His base will stay with him whatever.

Mind you, he's proved me utterly wrong about most things over the past two years (and a fair few others), so we'll see

[Luis Anaconda]

The assertion was that he would lose support by constantly bumping up against pillars of the governmental structure. In fact, the reverse appears to be the case.

I was talking specifically about people who voted for him either because he wasn't Hillary or he was running on a Republican ticket - not people who were dogmatically behind what he stands for (whatever that is). Do you not think this is significant body of votes?

[Peter]

It's his raison d'etre as far as his voters are concerned.

And I understand that. The only minor difficulty is that it is an incredibly ****ing stupid thing to do if you want to actually achieve anything. He was little understanding of what his job entails. I suspect he doesn't really care.

[Sir C]

And I understand that. The only minor difficulty is that it is an incredibly ****ing stupid thing to do if you want to actually achieve anything. He was little understanding of what his job entails. I suspect he doesn't really care.

I wonder if he thinks 'everyone's been doing this the same way for years, concensus and deals and compromise, fúck it, let's try sheer will and braggadocio'.

It might even be worth a go.