[matwood]

The doom and gloom was of course a lot of fear mongering (the Hitler comparisons grow old very quickly). Trump talked so little of policy during the campaign we really have no idea what he is going to do. That in of itself is also scary because it is an unknown. While he was not my pick for POTUS, I'm holding a wait and see attitude. Historically Trump's public views were liberal, and he leaned democrat so we'll see how his actions break from the rhetoric. So far, he certainly does not seem to be following a playbook that anyone could have guessed.

[mattferderer]

As someone else who didn't vote for Trump, I too am sick of seeing all this fear mongering. Though in all fairness I've listened to people use it on Obama, Bush & both Clintons for the past few decades. For me, it reduces the credibility of someone's view points when they overuse this tactic.

[drewrv]

> the Hitler comparisons grow old very quickly

I agree in general. But when Auschwitz survivors make the Hitler comparison up we should listen. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/in-the-age-of-trump-...

[damptowel]

Hitler seemed like a more capable leader though, and less of a bigot. I believe he also had better taste in furniture.

(Yeah sure downvote me all you want, gneeeh!)

[67726e]

My grandparents grew up and lived under Hitler. I was practically raised by my grandmother in fact, and I asked a lot of questions. To compare the two is an absolute joke. If you took any politician, I guarantee you could make comparisons. That does not mean they're the next Hitler at all.

[zpallin]

I have a problem with this comment.

Not only did Trump talk plenty about his policy ideas and followers notably chose him based on these policies, Trump's views have never been expressly "liberal".

Furthermore, plenty of people have predicted exactly how Trump would turn out. During the race, the left media continually argued that Trump would be appointing "1%ers" to his cabinet, and that is exactly what has happened.

As for his "playbook", he clearly doesn't have one, and this has been consistently stated by opponents. But he's still as predictable as any other politician. This myth that he is somehow unpredictable is absurd. It's pretty clear exactly how he intends to run this country.

[matwood]

Historically his views have been liberal, even though many have flipped and flopped again [1].

The policy ideas appear in hindsight to be inflaming rhetoric. Make deals, build a wall, and deport people in the US illegally. The funny part is that those things are exactly what is happening today. Maybe the deals will be different, but there is already a fence across large parts of the Mexican border (fun aside, Obama and Hilary voted yes for it as senators[2][3]), and under Obama more people have been deported than ever before[4]. So really, no change.

Appointing DC elite and/or 1%ers to cabinet positions is basically par for the course. Maybe Sanders would have appointed more normal people?

I hate being put in a position to defend Trump because I think he also has tons of problems. But, this is who we have for the next 4 years so I'm going to watch what happens and hope it's more good than bad.

[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/07/09/th...

[2] http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2016/aug/15/d...

[3] https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/109-2006/s262

[4] http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/oct/...

[zpallin]

You don't have to defend Trump if you don't want to.

1. WP article reads like a "top 10" clickbait article. Only a few things in that list are accurately associated with economic or social liberalism. Liking Hillary Clinton doesn't make you a liberal, for example. The press thing at the end is also absurd.

2. Being right about Hillary Clinton's wall thing doesn't make you a liberal. I don't know why you included this.

3. ??? See #2.

4. Once again, Obama or Hillary being less "liberal" doesn't make Trump more liberal.

>The policy ideas appear in hindsight to be inflaming rhetoric. Make deals, build a wall, and deport people in the US illegally. The funny part is that those things are exactly what is happening today. Maybe the deals will be different, but there is already a fence across large parts of the Mexican border (fun aside, Obama and Hilary voted yes for it as senators[2][3]), and under Obama more people have been deported than ever before[4]. So really, no change.

and

> Appointing DC elite and/or 1%ers to cabinet positions is basically par for the course. Maybe Sanders would have appointed more normal people?

Yea, which is the point: he is actually totally predictable, and like I said, the junk about him being hard to predict is nonsense. You said he was unpredictable... but now you're disagreeing with yourself? I'm super confused on what you're trying to say.