As Trump ranted and rambled in Phoenix, his crowd slowly thinned

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

As Trump ranted and rambled in Phoenix, his crowd slowly thinned

By Jenna Johnson August 23 at 6:55 AM

-snip-

Then Trump took the stage.

He didn't attempt to continue the carefully choreographed messaging of the night or to narrow the ever-deepening divide between the thousands of supporters gathered in the convention center hall before him and the thousands of protesters waiting outside.

Instead, Trump spent the first three minutes of his speech — which would drag on for 75 minutes — marveling at his crowd size, claiming that “there aren't too many people outside protesting,” predicting that the media would not broadcast shots of his “rather incredible” crowd and reminiscing about how he was “center stage, almost from day one, in the debates.”

-snip-

But as the night dragged on, many in the crowd lost interest in what the president was saying.

Hundreds left early, while others plopped down on the ground, scrolled through their social media feeds or started up a conversation with their neighbors. After waiting for hours in 107-degree heat to get into the rally hall — where their water bottles were confiscated by security — people were tired and dehydrated and the president just wasn't keeping their attention. Although Trump has long been the master of reading the mood of a room and quickly adjusting his message to satisfy as many of his fans as possible, his rage seemed to cloud his senses.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/08/23/as-trump-ranted-and-rambled-in-phoenix-his-crowd-slowly-thinned/

[Achilleaze]

1. Most encouraging omen yet

C'mon republicans. Snap out of it. I mean, a lying, cheating, raving, traitorous draft-dodging republican casino sharpie? Holy shit. For crying out loud. Wake up and act like decent American citizens. We need you.

[FakeNoose]

20. Well they were getting paid to be there

Most of them probably weren't even "supporters" just people who needed the money.

[HopeAgain]

2. Reminds me of Castro or Chavez...

Droning on for hours just to hear themselves talk. How long before we are forced to attend these rallies?

[malaise]

7. Then you were never listening to either

Both talked sense not incoherent psychobabble. Were their speeches often long - sure but they were both literate and articulate.

[bigbrother05]

13. Don't think all those Soldiers at Ft. Mead were volunteers

Pretty sure there would have been far fewer in attendance if it was an off-duty, optional event.

While an afternoon address doesn't feed a prime time ego, most folks don't mind getting out of the office early as opposed to coming back in to be a backdrop.

[GreenEyedLefty]

16. I saw some grim faces in that crowd.

[DownriverDem]

21. Go

Lions!

[dixiegrrrrl]

36. Were there actually "thousands" there?

I caught video of the tail end of the blather, it appeared to be in a convention center that was 1/3 full at one end.

[MyOwnPeace]

17. Hey! That was an important speech!

It's what made it possible for US to pay for his flight and expenses so that he could have his Jr. High pep rally later in the day!

[maddiemom]

42. I wish all the networks, except Fox, (wouldn't expect it of them, of course),

would just STOP broadcasting these Trump rally events (they're bizarre and unprecedented to begin with). Stick to his legitimate speeches, only. Just months into his first term, the networks are giving him free publicity yet again. Think of three and a half more years of this if we aren't able to get rid of him before that (let's hope Mueller doesn't take as long as has been projected).

[HopeAgain]

45. Exactly

The worse he gets, the more coverage he gets. He and CNN are like a horrible codependent marriage that won't end...

[LiberalFighter]

50. If nothing else actually turning the cameras around to show the crowd.

[Dulcinea]

3. Maybe people are finally catching on.

The Donald's act is getting old, even with them.

[democratisphere]

4. drumpf was stinking up the place spewing tons of his BS!

[cwydro]

5. As that video finishes, and the screen goes black, you see the words:

"Democracy Dies in Darkness."

Chilling.

[rpannier]

6. His supporters have the attention span of a flea

He needed more clowns and tight rope walkers and less ring master

[bucolic_frolic]

8. They were turned off by the painfully obvious hardening of the soul

though they wouldn't admit it, and felt it more than realized it

[Achilleaze]

10. Astute observation

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. Trump is a fad, a pet rock, a fidget spinner, Menudo

His sell-by date is nearly up, and there will be nothing left of Trump but discount rack left-overs that just embarrass anyone who looks at them, his loyal fans most of all.

[stevesinpa]

19. unfortunately, i don't think so

trump will fade away eventually, but I truly believe he is only giving voice to the true republican base, and they are going no where. trump says what many republicans think, but they realize it would be political suicide. we need to keep fighting trump, because the more he spreads his hate, the more it will embolden others.

[lunasun]

27. 100 % Agree with your post

Welcome to DU

[John1956PA]

33. Welcome to DU, Steve!

I have despised Trump ever since he got on the ridiculous "birther" bandwagon in 2011. The spiteful Rethugs who resented Obama's presidency were thrilled in Trump's attempts bring its legitimacy into question. Arpaio is still a birther, and Trump is going to pardon him. By association, the Rethug base is as evil as Trump.

[olegramps]

38. You are absolutely correct.

The 35% or so that make up the base of the Republican Party are firmly committed to the immoral principles that Trump has shares with them. Only a very slim minority of the party doesn't support him without any reservations. This has been certified by numerous polls. If anyone thinks that his base will desert him they are badly mistaken. In contrast, I believe that if the grossly immoral and flagrantly fascist swill that his Republican swine feast on was spewed by a Democrat their base would quickly desert them.

We have to come to the hopeless realization that our nation is faced with a serous problem. A significant percentage of the citizens have been literally brainwashed by 40 years of insidious propaganda by ultra-right wing demagogues that have cast anyone who doesn't agree with their fascist ideology as un-American, immoral , impious sexual perverts who are hell bent on corrupting the nation and especially the youth. Absolutely nothing you say will make them think otherwise.

This nation has faces numerous challenges throughout it history just as serious as the present situation. However, before reason can be restored and steps taken to mitigate the dangerous use of propaganda to control the less discerning we can only hope to mitigate the damage that Trump will impose in the name of nationalism. This runs the entire gamut from the environment, freedom to the press, reckless use of military resources, corruption of education, to ad infinitum. This will be a challenge especially to the youth who will be the unfortunate recipients of this disastrous situation.

[rzemanfl]

39. Welcome to DU. n/t

[pat_k]

47. Welcome! And...

... I agree. Where Trump is supported, the support is deeply entrenched. The tirades getting "bad press" are met with approval. A great article in the New Yorker last month offers some interesting insights into the Trump "phenomenon."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=9506771

[Skittles]

49. they are vastly outnumbered

America is stronger than Donald Fucking Trump and his sick fans

[Doreen]

52. Welcome to DU.

[redstateblues]

53. Great first post! Welcome.

[TeamPooka]

41. How dare you insult Menudo like that. Menudo is no trump

Menudo is 4ever.
I love you Ricky Martin!

[LeftInTX]

46. Sorry, no menudo for me.

Can't stomach it!

[mcar]

11. Even his rabid base got bored

[HughBeaumont]

12. I see they tear gassed and pepper-sprayed protesters.

Protect the terrorists, assault and arrest the terrorized.

Business as usual.

[WePurrsevere]

32. Yeah, from what I've heard it was started over one idiot...

Throwing their water bottle at the riot gear clad police.

There's a few video snips making the rounds on Twitter. For instance, one shows the crowd being good and then proof gas and another is a Fox on the scene reporter who had been gassed trying to get a word in to tell the the scripted Fox fool at the station that it wasn't the protesters fault from what he saw. It shows him finally turning away in disgust.

[ginnyinWI]

14. Donnie's worst nightmare,

when people no longer pay attention to him.

[Johnny2X2X]

18. It's why he went on and on about the crowd size

There were less than 2000 people at this rally and it was closer to 1000 by the time he got done. He went on and on about the Yuge Crowd, it obviously bothered him that he couldn't fill a space that small.

Great crowd outside in the heat though. As this goes on, Trump's rallies will get smaller and smaller and the protesters will grow in number. If he's still President a year from now he'll be met with hundreds of thousands of protesters wherever he goes.

[thbobby]

15. American Prejudice

Well, at least he's not Obama.

We should be proud White America!

After 8 years of suffering an intelligent, moral, uniting BLACK president we have:

A hateful, stupid, vengeful bigot WHITE president. Sure shows all the "others" how superior we WHITE people are.

Even the bigots who love Trump can't stomach him.

Also, Obama was really handsome. I mean wow! Trump is well disgusting, putrid, hideous, nauseating, words really fail me.

[DownriverDem]

23. Not all whites

What bothers me the most is that not all white folks (like me) think like trump and his supporters. I go out of my way to make sure folks I meet know I'm not a white hater.

[thbobby]

26. Trump Supporters

Look at the people at Trump's rally last night. Thriving on hatred. Steeping in their self-righteous bigotry.

I am 60, white, and look like many of his redneck supporters. None should be judged by their appearance but like you, I worry I will be.

I doubt any of us here on DU think like that. But damn! A lot of people do.

[NewJeffCT]

22. maybe the paid part of the crowd

only had to be there for a certain amount of time and then started exiting after that?

[kacekwl]

29. BINGO n/t

[NewJeffCT]

31. I hope they got paid up front

otherwise, Trump will screw them over

[Owl]

24. Any interviews with those who left early?

[RussBLib]

25. He says he wants to unite the country

By dividing the country?

He wants to unite everyone in hate?

[Wounded Bear]

30. The only way he knows to "unite" people is...

be reasonable, do it MY way.

In that, he's the perfect Republican.

[neeksgeek]

28. What would happen if this pretender gave a speech, and none of the media showed up?

[fierywoman]

34. Or if they reported crowd sizes as they really were?

Is that too much to ask?

[LakeArenal]

35. "his rage seemed to cloud his senses. "

Gee, I never noticed... much... Oh, okay, the guys a nut.

[Jim Dandy]

37. Dude certainly has his barrier problems

Probably comes from having his ass kissed 24/7.

[NurseJackie]

40. I'd love to see an overhead time-lapse shot of the crowd's size and behavior.

[jcmaine72]

43. At least Mussolini on his balcony could keep his ignorant masses enthralled.

Der TrumpenFuhrer is a total dud to all but his most rabid, low-IQ worshipers and ass-sniffers.

[zentrum]

44. Actually, he told

.....the people in the auditorium and also, with hopes for the clip for the evening news, that there are only "a few people outside".

A few.

[Politicub]

48. Why did the idiots attend in the first place?

perhaps they wanted to just touch the hem of Cheeto Jesus' garment.

[The_Casual_Observer]

51. The convention center was boxed in with partions

So that only a fraction of the space was used. Even with that it was a weak turnout, more protesters outside than in that goddamn place.

[MFM008]

54. He doesn't even

Care about his own supporters.
Who would ask people to wait
In 107 degrees no matter how stupid they are.