2016 elections - because it's never too early

[Malthus]

ahh, that's definitely sexual

No, only in your filthy mind.  Pretty sure he meant Mitt would drop to his knees to beg.

Sure.

And the follow-up line "He got a real pretty mouth, ain't he?" was just a random complement. 

[celedhring]

Heh? I can't hear that on the clips that have been divulged of the speech.

[Tonitrus]

People give the candidates crap for making crappy debates...but in this Fox one, the moderators were almost just as bad.

Bickering with the candidate about the factualness of their figures, even if the moderator is correct, is not their place or function.

But then it is Fox News. 

[Malthus]

Heh? I can't hear that on the clips that have been divulged of the speech.

That's because it's a blatant lie. One just made up for purposes of outrageous slander. 

Sort of like "Muslims danced in the streets of NJ after 9/11". 

[Legbiter]

Did Trump mention the size of his genitals during the last debate?

Obliquely; fortunately our media is considerably more vulgar than Trump.  What Trump said:

"And, he referred to my hands -- 'if they're small, something else must be small.' I guarantee you there's no problem. I guarantee."

What CNN reported:

Trump defends size of his penis

I thought his non-apology to Rubio was quite lulzy; "I also called him a lightweight, I'd like to take that back, he's really not that much of a lightweight...." 

[Savonarola]

The chaos of his events with protesters and general stupidity made me think of Morton Downey Jr. Basically the conservative political Jerry Springer.

I guess in the longer term, beyond Trump, of course assuming a Trump presidency does not result in a nuclear holocaust, is this a one off phenomena? Or are major national candidates somewhat unmoored from traditional politics a trend? It isn't quite the same thing, but Sanders in the US and especially Jeremy Corbyn in the UK are not the standard center left politicians normally leading their parties. But I think part of what makes it not quite the same thing is that on the right populism can tend toward racism and nativism, which isn't so connected with left politics.

I don't think Trump is an entirely new phenomena.  Since Watergate almost every successful presidential candidate has run as a "Washington outsider" for their first term (Carter, Reagan, Clinton, W, Obama.)  The sole exception is the senior Bush (and arguably Gore) who was running as a third term for Reagan.  Trump, having never held office (or even worked in the public sector) before, is simply a greater outsider.

A second trend that I see Trump as a continuation of is the cult of personality driven by media.  FDR, Kennedy, Reagan and Obama all were similar.  All were masters of the dominant form of media in their day (radio, television, television and social media respectively) and with the exception of Reagan it was an emerging media; something that their opponents didn't quite get yet.

So, to answer your question, I think the trend of "Washington outsiders" will continue; and probably more non-traditional politicians will run for office.  On the other hand, I think professional politicians will either copy, or find a way to counter Trump's mastery of media.

[DGuller]

People give the candidates crap for making crappy debates...but in this Fox one, the moderators were almost just as bad.

Bickering with the candidate about the factualness of their figures, even if the moderator is correct, is not their place or function.

But then it is Fox News. 

I think moderators did an excellent job.  Calling bullshit, when faced with bullshit, is not only their right, but their responsibility.  They have to be impartial while doing that, obviously, but that goes for everything.

[Norgy]

Does Trump have any other religion than his selfagrandising , though? Watching him fail so miserably at Liberty University was part funny and part OMG TEH PAIN.

[alfred russel]

I don't think Trump is an entirely new phenomena.  Since Watergate almost every successful presidential candidate has run as a "Washington outsider" for their first term (Carter, Reagan, Clinton, W, Obama.)  The sole exception is the senior Bush (and arguably Gore) who was running as a third term for Reagan.  Trump, having never held office (or even worked in the public sector) before, is simply a greater outsider.

A second trend that I see Trump as a continuation of is the cult of personality driven by media.  FDR, Kennedy, Reagan and Obama all were similar.  All were masters of the dominant form of media in their day (radio, television, television and social media respectively) and with the exception of Reagan it was an emerging media; something that their opponents didn't quite get yet.

So, to answer your question, I think the trend of "Washington outsiders" will continue; and probably more non-traditional politicians will run for office.  On the other hand, I think professional politicians will either copy, or find a way to counter Trump's mastery of media.

Trump isn't just an outsider in not having held office. Had Carly Fiorina been the leading nominee at this point, I think Republican office holders and Romney would be rallying around her as is traditional for a front runner.

I think there three ways Trump is different:

a) No political experience - As you say, this isn't entirely new. it will probably continue as the parties have been shown to be so weak and anyone with a billion dollars can self finance. In the grand scheme of things, Trump hasn't even spent much money.
b)Style - basically bringing the Jerry Springer show to the campaign. As you say, this can be imitated. Hopefully it won't, but it probably will. if people are cool with the in the GOP, the party of Ned Flanders, it is definitely going to be okay in a Democratic primary.
c) Politics - This is the big question mark for me. Trump is proposing stuff no one else is talking about. Going after the wives and children of ISIS members, keeping out muslim immigrants, getting a wall built and paid for by Mexico, etc. Even the "reasonable" proposals are "different" - it is standard in a republican primary to propose unrealistic tax cuts, but he just went and proposed truly gargantuan ones that are silly.

[Valmy]

Does Trump have any other religion than his selfagrandising , though? Watching him fail so miserably at Liberty University was part funny and part OMG TEH PAIN.

He is from New York so he is soulless.

[Martinus]

To be honest I saw the part where Trump talks about Mitt being on his knees, and I don't think he meant it as an innuendo/blow job reference.

[Norgy]

Does Trump have any other religion than his selfagrandising , though? Watching him fail so miserably at Liberty University was part funny and part OMG TEH PAIN.

He is from New York so he is soulless.

So basically European.

[Barrister]

To be honest I saw the part where Trump talks about Mitt being on his knees, and I don't think he meant it as an innuendo/blow job reference.

How was it anything but?

[Martinus]

To be honest I saw the part where Trump talks about Mitt being on his knees, and I don't think he meant it as an innuendo/blow job reference.

How was it anything but?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_XCy-vYMJs

[PDH]

ON YOUR FEET OR ON YOUR KNEES!