"I like to surprise them!" (Trump people pop in here)

So here's another interesting topic to discuss and examine.

Donald Trump has said he likes the element of surprise. He feels that we have failed because we announced months before that we were going into Mosul. We announced it for months before we actually did it, and he feels it all the bad guys left the minute they heard it.

I actually sort of see his point and agree.

But now it seems that we are having a surge of people crossing over the border. Thousands of people. They are trying to get ready to come here in case that wall does get built. These people are really sad and desperate and they're trying to escape awful gangs in Mexico. I kind of got a little choked up seeing all the little kids.

Then I thought about what he said about the element of surprise. I know he said that he doesn't mind people coming here legally (he mostly took issue with the criminals) but isn't this sort of counterproductive to everything that the Republican Party wanted? More people coming in? It just seems like all that talk about a wall has now led to an increase of people. And I thought part of his appeal was that "America" comes first.

I wonder. If his whole campaign wasn't solely based on the whole wall thing, would we be seeing such a surge?

Now look I don't like anyone illegally coming in either… And I actually do believe in borders. I can't see ripping families apart would've been here for years, though.

What do you think? I was wondering what the people who voted for him (those who believe in the wall and borders and everything) thought.

I understand if people don't feel comfortable responding, but figured I would ask anyway.

Message edited 11/17/2016 9:04:33 AM.

Re: "I like to surprise them!" (Trump people pop in here)

I wish he didn't focus so much on a physical wall. It's just not practical from a financial, eminent domain, environmental, or even a deterrent aspect.
I believe in border security, but I think they should focus on surveillance with cameras, drones, technology, etc. A technological "wall" could also be set up much faster than a physical wall.

I know nothing about military tactics, so I can't make judgement calls on how Mosul is being dealt with, but I do know that they made announcements in advance for a few reasons. One was to allow citizens to leave the city so they wouldn't be killed in the attacks. Another was because you can't move thousands of soldiers, hundreds of vehicles, plus all of the support needed, across the desert in secret.
I have to go with the assumption that the generals who have been trained for decades on military strategy have some idea of what they are doing.

Re: "I like to surprise them!" (Trump people pop in here)

Re: "I like to surprise them!" (Trump people pop in here)

Posted by chilltocam

Posted by GoldenRod

I have to go with the assumption that the generals who have been trained for decades on military strategy have some idea of what they are doing.

Nah. . . Trump knows way more than all the Generals

Re: "I like to surprise them!" (Trump people pop in here)

I think he had to focus on that aspect and stress it (giving up the element of surprise) to let people know what his goals were and to get voters to vote for him if they agree with his plan.

Re: "I like to surprise them!" (Trump people pop in here)

IMO as a campaign tactic I think it was used to mask his lack of knowledge and understanding of a lot of these topics. As much as I never supported his candidacy, as an outsider he could not be expected to have the same knowledge as those with government experience. But I also believe he could have built more knowledge and chose to do everything off the cuff which seems to be the way he likes to operate.

Going forward, I think that will have to change. But I can see him continuing to use this "I like to surprise them" as a way to keep the media, and therefore the rest of us, out of the loop.

I really hate that he has the nuclear codes. He is too impulsive and vindictive.

Re: "I like to surprise them!" (Trump people pop in here)

Ugh the wall.
No wall will EVER be tall enough. NOTHING will ever stop them. They just keep coming. Currently they say it's to get in before he's sworn in. They know they'll just find other ways in. Brokers will get more money to ship them in. More money that it costs to come here legally. They never stop because its always something. And we do nothing to deter, stop or punish them.

There's a reason they are called ILLEGAL but it's the only time the word is used so lightly and nearly as reward.