Donald Trump speaks to shrunken Atlanta crowd as poll numbers drop

[CPUd]

Donald Trump speaks to shrunken Atlanta crowd as poll numbers drop

Amid shrinking poll numbers and smaller crowds, Donald Trump’s rhetoric took a dark turn on Wednesday in Atlanta.

The presumptive Republican nominee struck an apocalyptic tone, projecting that the United States would not survive if he were not elected. He raised the notion of welcoming the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un, to the United States for negotiations. And he repeated his contention that Japan might have to “go nuclear” if it did not offer the United States better pay for its military protection.

Recent polls show Hillary Clinton leading Trump by double digits nationally. And his unfavorability ratings continue to rise.

That slowdown in support seemed evident on Wednesday when Trump spoke at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, which holds less than half the audience he commanded during his last appearance in Atlanta in February. “This place is packed,” he said, shielding his eyes against stage lights. “We have people outside who couldn’t get in. Does anybody want to give up their seat?”

Apparently Trump could not see the hundreds of empty seats in the theater’s second level. A similarly reduced crowd showed up at a recent campaign stop in Virginia.

The audience matched the tone of Trump’s speech. Before Trump came on stage an announcer asked – as is customary at Trump rallies – that supporters identify any protesters to security and shout “Trump! Trump! Trump!” until the dissenters were removed.

There were protesters, and their presence was particularly obvious in the smaller, dimly lit venue. When security escorted them out through the emergency exits, the opened doors shot rays of sunlight across the theater.

The suspicion of protesters reached a point at which Trump supporters were informing on each other for not being “real” supporters. One woman pointed security toward a couple sitting quietly in their seats. “Them,” she mouthed.

The couple seemed baffled and denied to a security agent that they were anything but genuine Trump admirers. He waved them toward the exit and said, “Let’s go.”

Afterward the informer, who declined to give her name, grinned as onlookers congratulated her. “I heard one of them say ‘Never Trump’,” she said. “And one held up three fingers, like this.”

She held up her hand in a Boy Scout salute.

What did the three fingers signify?

“I have no idea,” she said.

...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...illary-clinton

[tod evans]

Have you ever been to Atlanta?

I'm surprised 12 people turned out.

[jmdrake]

Have you ever been to Atlanta?

I'm surprised 12 people turned out.

Lot's of times. Yes Atlanta is liberal (if that's the point you're making) but the surrounding counties are quite conservative. Trump should have been able to draw a crowd. I wonder if he finally jumped the shark by betraying the 2nd amendment? And note, despite the fact that I despise Trump, and despite the fact that I would love to tell some of his insufferable supporters "I told you so", I take no joy in this news. Trump pisses me off. Hillary frightens me.

Dear God, please let me wake up and realize this current election is a bad dream. Thanks.

[CPUd]

Have you ever been to Atlanta?

I'm surprised 12 people turned out.

I saw Pearl Jam in that venue back in the 90's

[tod evans]

Lot's of times. Yes Atlanta is liberal (if that's the point you're making) but the surrounding counties are quite conservative. Trump should have been able to draw a crowd. I wonder if he finally jumped the shark by betraying the 2nd amendment? And note, despite the fact that I despise Trump, and despite the fact that I would love to tell some of his insufferable supporters "I told you so", I take no joy in this news. Trump pisses me off. Hillary frightens me.

Dear God, please let me wake up and realize this current election is a bad dream. Thanks.

This is the reality we've been given........

It's not just a choice of bad or worse, it's a choice between vile and repulsive.

Same coin, pick heads or tails.

[tod evans]

I saw Pearl Jam in that venue back in the 90's

My total Atlanta experience has been two trips to the IWF in the 2000's, between the union people at the airport and their clones at the exhibition center my views are severely tainted.

[RJ Liberty]

Have you ever been to Atlanta?

I'm surprised 12 people turned out.

The problem isn't that the rally was in Atlanta; this article points out the fact that Trump spoke in Atlanta to a packed crowd in February. The problem is that Trump seems to be fading. Slate is calling his poll numbers "catastrophic".

[jmdrake]

My total Atlanta experience has been two trips to the IWF in the 2000's, between the union people at the airport and their clones at the exhibition center my views are severely tainted.

My high school years were spent in Calhoun Ga. That's about 1:10 minutes drive from Atlanta. As an African American I learned to tune out all of the confederate flags and my friends saying "I know it would have been bad for you....but we could have won the civil war if....." I learned to accept that as "their heritage." One day I saw another friend drawing a swastika on the computer. I angrily said "Why are you doing that?" He said "I'm German. It's my heritage." I started to say something...then I just shut my mouth realizing I had nothing to say. If Trump can't draw a crowd from places like Calhoun, Rome and Dalton Georgia he's in big trouble.

[tod evans]

My high school years were spent in Calhoun Ga. That's about 1:10 minutes drive from Atlanta. As an African American I learned to tune out all of the confederate flags and my friends saying "I know it would have been bad for you....but we could have won the civil war if....." I learned to accept that as "their heritage." One day I saw another friend drawing a swastika on the computer. I angrily said "Why are you doing that?" He said "I'm German. It's my heritage." I started to say something...then I just shut my mouth realizing I had nothing to say. If Trump can't draw a crowd from places like Calhoun, Rome and Dalton Georgia he's in big trouble.

Friends of mine used to live in Southern Ga., almost in Fla., and the 'good ol' boys' there voted Democrat across the board, local and national....

Granted my experience is severely limited but my opinion is based on first hand experience and not some poll or pundits opinion...

[edit]

The 'good ol' boys' make their money off wetback labor so Trump's rhetoric isn't going to go over well with those I've met...

[Anti Federalist]

The problem isn't that the rally was in Atlanta; this article points out the fact that Trump spoke in Atlanta to a packed crowd in February. The problem is that Trump seems to be fading. Slate is calling his poll numbers "catastrophic".

The spotlight now fades, as the damage has been done.

The Stupid Party really outdid itself this go around.

Looking forward to 8 years of Hillary now...which was, of course, the point of this whole dog and pony show from day one.

Neutralize any real opposition.

[RJ Liberty]

The spotlight now fades, as the damage has been done.

The Stupid Party really outdid itself this go around.

Looking forward to 8 years of Hillary now...which was, of course, the point of this whole dog and pony show from day one.

Neutralize any real opposition.

Yes. Every time I see that $#@!ing photo, I wonder how achingly stupid people can be, to support Trump.

[wizardwatson]

My high school years were spent in Calhoun Ga. That's about 1:10 minutes drive from Atlanta. As an African American I learned to tune out all of the confederate flags and my friends saying "I know it would have been bad for you....but we could have won the civil war if....." I learned to accept that as "their heritage." One day I saw another friend drawing a swastika on the computer. I angrily said "Why are you doing that?" He said "I'm German. It's my heritage." I started to say something...then I just shut my mouth realizing I had nothing to say. If Trump can't draw a crowd from places like Calhoun, Rome and Dalton Georgia he's in big trouble.

Well, it really is some people's heritage.

My ex-wife of 15 years was Hindu. Swastika has religious meaning there. I believe that's where Hitler stole it from. It's actually a custom to put it above the doorway of your house. Had to have quite a few conversations with American visitors why that was there.

The confederate flag I never really understood was viewed as racist until later in life. Had kind of a biker redneck family for one, and really I think as a child, I just thought it was the General Lee/Dukes of Hazard logo.

[francisco]

The spotlight now fades, as the damage has been done.

The Stupid Party really outdid itself this go around.

Looking forward to 8 years of Hillary now...which was, of course, the point of this whole dog and pony show from day one.

Neutralize any real opposition.

Agreed, except that I think somewhere along the line, egomaniac Trump started believing his own bull$#@!

Yes. Every time I see that $#@!ing photo, I wonder how achingly stupid people can be, to support Trump.

pretty achingly stupid, in my experience

[Peace&Freedom]

The RCP average only shows a drop of 5.8% for Trump behind Hillary in recent weeks, and no double digit decline:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epo...nton-5491.html

[CPUd]

The RCP average only shows a drop of 5.8% for Trump behind Hillary in recent weeks, and no double digit decline:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epo...nton-5491.html

Another week or 2 of his $#@! and trailing by double digits will be the norm.

[RJ Liberty]

The RCP average only shows a drop of 5.8% for Trump behind Hillary in recent weeks, and no double digit decline:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epo...nton-5491.html

That's because the average includes polls from as far back as May 24th... almost a month ago. Clinton was only up +3 to +5 until about June 6th.

[acptulsa]

The RCP average only shows a drop of 5.8% for Trump behind Hillary in recent weeks, and no double digit decline:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epo...nton-5491.html

I'm sure you and your ilk are very reassured that the fact that the RCP average dating back to the end of May has yet to reflect the scope of the damage Trump is purposely doing to himself and the GOP in the last few days by attacking soldiers and alienating gun owners.

I, for one, am very pleased to see that even as Trump's numbers go down, Clinton's numbers are not going up. Until now, their numbers have looked like mirror images of each other; as one rises the other falls accordingly. Now one is dropping but the other is not rising. RCP is making a big deal out of the fact that Clinton now has a 5.8 point lead over Trump, but Trump is down five and Clinton is up less than a point.

People are opting out of the two parties. And about time, too.

[FindLiberty]

Sorry, but I still see Trump winning.

[CPUd]

I'm sure you and your ilk are very reassured that the fact that the RCP average dating back to the end of May has yet to reflect the scope of the damage Trump is purposely doing to himself and the GOP in the last few days by attacking soldiers and alienating gun owners.

I, for one, am very pleased to see that even as Trump's numbers go down, Clinton's numbers are not going up. Until now, their numbers have looked like mirror images of each other; as one rises the other falls accordingly. Now one is dropping but the other is not rising. RCP is making a big deal out of the fact that Clinton now has a 5.8 point lead over Trump, but Trump is down five and Clinton is up less than a point.

People are opting out of the two parties. And about time, too.

Correct. The LP is drawing both anti Trump and anti Clinton. The Green Party is also polling 3-5%.

[moostraks]

The suspicion of protesters reached a point at which Trump supporters were informing on each other for not being “real” supporters. One woman pointed security toward a couple sitting quietly in their seats. “Them,” she mouthed.

The couple seemed baffled and denied to a security agent that they were anything but genuine Trump admirers. He waved them toward the exit and said, “Let’s go.”

Afterward the informer, who declined to give her name, grinned as onlookers congratulated her. “I heard one of them say ‘Never Trump’,” she said. “And one held up three fingers, like this.”

This sums up why we don't live there any more. This mentality is common place there. They are relentless haters who abhor anyone who doesn't participate in their eternal quest for drama. I detest the Atlanta area.

I lived all over north Georgia for over twenty years. He should have packed that place and then some. He speaks their language.

“This place is packed,” he said, shielding his eyes against stage lights. “We have people outside who couldn’t get in. Does anybody want to give up their seat?”

Apparently Trump could not see the hundreds of empty seats in the theater’s second level. A similarly reduced crowd showed up at a recent campaign stop in Virginia.

To be sitting in the audience listening to him, with clear evidence to the contrary, well ordinary human beings would see how pathetic the charade is, but his marks will cover this over with every excuse in the book.

[jmdrake]

Well, it really is some people's heritage.

My ex-wife of 15 years was Hindu. Swastika has religious meaning there. I believe that's where Hitler stole it from. It's actually a custom to put it above the doorway of your house. Had to have quite a few conversations with American visitors why that was there.

Oh sure. I've known about the eastern religion aspect of that symbol ever since the Falun Gong cult surfaced. There were a lot of them in Birmingham when I lived there. And this was before the Chicoms cracked down on them. Hitler was into all kinds of mysticism. That said, my German friend who drew the swastika was not Hindu and probably didn't even know about that connection.

The confederate flag I never really understood was viewed as racist until later in life. Had kind of a biker redneck family for one, and really I think as a child, I just thought it was the General Lee/Dukes of Hazard logo.

Note I didn't use the word "racist." One of my friends who said "It would be bad for you but we could have won the (civil) war" had me in his wedding. I don't think he was racist. But I do see him as the kind of guy that would likely go for Trump.

[jmdrake]

The spotlight now fades, as the damage has been done.

The Stupid Party really outdid itself this go around.

Looking forward to 8 years of Hillary now...which was, of course, the point of this whole dog and pony show from day one.

Neutralize any real opposition.

I will +rep and donate to the medical bills of anyone who makes ^that a t-shirt and wears it to a Trump rally.

[jmdrake]

I'm sure you and your ilk are very reassured that the fact that the RCP average dating back to the end of May has yet to reflect the scope of the damage Trump is purposely doing to himself and the GOP in the last few days by attacking soldiers and alienating gun owners.

I, for one, am very pleased to see that even as Trump's numbers go down, Clinton's numbers are not going up. Until now, their numbers have looked like mirror images of each other; as one rises the other falls accordingly. Now one is dropping but the other is not rising. RCP is making a big deal out of the fact that Clinton now has a 5.8 point lead over Trump, but Trump is down five and Clinton is up less than a point.

People are opting out of the two parties. And about time, too.

So in other words Hillary has a solid miserable minority that will vote for her no matter what and while Trump has that same core he was getting a bump from the "anyone but Hillary crowd" but now that's starting to dissipate.

[Peace&Freedom]

That's because the average includes polls from as far back as May 24th... almost a month ago. Clinton was only up +3 to +5 until about June 6th.

That's why an average of polls is more sobering than 'this week' results that are impacted by momentary situations. The average does not justify the "Trump is dead" cheerleading going on here.

I'm sure you and your ilk are very reassured that the fact that the RCP average dating back to the end of May has yet to reflect the scope of the damage Trump is purposely doing to himself and the GOP in the last few days by attacking soldiers and alienating gun owners.

Alternatively, you "and your ilk" are goofily over-reacting to polls that clearly reflect the expected bounce Hillary was to get from securing the nomination, plus the press Johnson got upon getting the LP nomination. Since there is a "Trump flap' over his not abiding by PC etiquette or neocon dogma every other week, his current flaps are baked in and are not a major deal. By next month there will be another expected bump for Trump at the time of the GOP con, and another bump for Hillary at the Dem con. So take down the pom poms, there will be ups and downs for weeks to come.

[donnay]

I saw Pearl Jam in that venue back in the 90's

"I get so angry that I almost wish bad things upon these people. But I don’t have to because it seems like they happen anyways. It seems like every week I’m reading about a 4-year-old either shooting their sister, their dad, their dog, or their brother or themselves, because there’s $#@!ing guns laying around. But I guess it’s fun." ~ Eddie Vedder.

[francisco]

That's why an average of polls is more sobering than 'this week' results that are impacted by momentary situations. The average does not justify the "Trump is dead" cheerleading going on here.



Alternatively, you "and your ilk" are goofily over-reacting to polls that clearly reflect the expected bounce Hillary was to get from securing the nomination, plus the press Johnson got upon getting the LP nomination. Since there is a "Trump flap' over his not abiding by PC etiquette or neocon dogma every other week, his current flaps are baked in and are not a major deal. By next month there will be another expected bump for Trump at the time of the GOP con, and another bump for Hillary at the Dem con. So take down the pom poms, there will be ups and downs for weeks to come.

[acptulsa]

Alternatively, you "and your ilk" are goofily over-reacting to polls that clearly reflect the expected bounce Hillary was to get from securing the nomination, plus the press Johnson got upon getting the LP nomination. Since there is a "Trump flap' over his not abiding by PC etiquette or neocon dogma every other week, his current flaps are baked in and are not a major deal. By next month there will be another expected bump for Trump at the time of the GOP con, and another bump for Hillary at the Dem con. So take down the pom poms, there will be ups and downs for weeks to come.

Aw, you're just grumpy because people are finally getting sick of bouncing between these two major party psychos as each pisses them off in turn, and realizing that this is a fine year to make into The Year of the Third Party.

[jmdrake]

Friends of mine used to live in Southern Ga., almost in Fla., and the 'good ol' boys' there voted Democrat across the board, local and national....

Granted my experience is severely limited but my opinion is based on first hand experience and not some poll or pundits opinion...

[edit]

The 'good ol' boys' make their money off wetback labor so Trump's rhetoric isn't going to go over well with those I've met...

How do you explain this then?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electi...a_(U.S._state)
In presidential races, Georgia has given its electoral college votes to the Republican candidate all but four times since 1964: in 1968, segregationist George Wallace won a plurality of Georgia's votes on the American Independent Party ticket; former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter won his home state by landslide margins in 1976 and 1980 (sweeping every county in the state in 1976); and then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton won a plurality of votes in 1992 against incumbent Republican George H. W. Bush and Independent Ross Perot. Republican George W. Bush won Georgia by double-digits in 2000 and 2004, with 54.67% and 57.97%, respectively, of the vote. However, in 2008, John McCain won the state by a narrower margin of only 5 points, winning 52% to Democrat Barack Obama's 47%. In 2012, Mitt Romney won the state with 53% to Obama's 45%.

As for Florida, south Florida is Nuevo Cubana.

[CPUd]

I'm sure it's just an anomaly, and Trump is loved by more than just the 33% of GOP who voted for him in the primaries.

[jmdrake]

That's why an average of polls is more sobering than 'this week' results that are impacted by momentary situations. The average does not justify the "Trump is dead" cheerleading going on here.



Alternatively, you "and your ilk" are goofily over-reacting to polls that clearly reflect the expected bounce Hillary was to get from securing the nomination, plus the press Johnson got upon getting the LP nomination. Since there is a "Trump flap' over his not abiding by PC etiquette or neocon dogma every other week, his current flaps are baked in and are not a major deal. By next month there will be another expected bump for Trump at the time of the GOP con, and another bump for Hillary at the Dem con. So take down the pom poms, there will be ups and downs for weeks to come.

And what's your reaction to Trump's reversal on the 2nd amendment? Not a reversal actually as he never really was for it.