Alpha male Trump could herald Republican split

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/11/alpha-male-trump-could-herald-republican-split

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Having intently watched the latest Trump v Clinton debate I find it strange beyond self-deception that Nigel Farage (and others) can talk of tough alpha male qualities (Nigel Farage defends ‘silverback’ alpha male boasting, 11 October). What struck me most was the feeble weakness of poor Trump, a total walking cliche, devoid of any originality or inspiration, a shallow copycat of empty male stereotypes, marionette rather than human, a sad lost soul in a mire of platitudes. And he was trounced by Hillary Clinton not least with her catalogue of things done – from 9/11 reconstruction, to improved child adoption and 400 bills carrying her name. The pitiful Donald Trump must, we hope, rediscover something more meaningful within himself so that after this humiliating experience (and he will be humiliated) he can live comfortably with the children Clinton had good cause to praise. Ian FlintoffOxford

• I am appalled to see that three women who claim they were assaulted by Bill Clinton are prepared to stand alongside Donald Trump. It is about time that decent Republicans disowned him (Top Republican turns back on Trump as outrage intensifies, 11 October). I wonder what took them so long? Right from the start, even before Trump was nominated, they knew he was an arrogant and nasty person, so why did they let him get this far? They weren’t blinded by all his (untaxed) money were they?

But we must all be worried that even now, after his vileness has been repeatedly exposed, Hillary Clinton only just has a double-digit lead over him, and two-thirds of those polled thought Trump did better than expected in Sunday’s “debate”. It may be “locker-room talk”, but it’s OK by many of his supporters, Nigel Farage included. Too many alpha males, not enough intelligence or decency.David ReedLondon

• With reference to your article “What is locker room ‘banter’ really like?” (Shortcuts, G2, 11 October), I would suggest that the damning evidence isn’t to be found in the locker rooms of professional sportsmen – by definition achievers in their particular fields. The Trumpish attitudes will more likely be found in those last bastions of resistance to female members, ethnicities other than white and resenters of the disabled for having to waste money building those pesky wheelchair ramps into the clubhouse (I have heard this one first-hand). That is, the golf clubs. This is the environment where the various Trumpers are most likely to be found, festering away with their amateur ability levels and disliking the intrusion of anyone who isn’t of the tribe. And no prizes for guessing the sports environment Trump is most familiar with.Clint Backhouse Carlisle

• Your editorial (11 October), which says that “Rarely … can the … debate have been so low, so dark, so personal and so damaging as … in the US race”, has clearly forgotten Karl Rove, the prince of darkness and innuendo. In 2004, John Kerry’s campaign was derailed by a smear operation said to have been orchestrated by Rove. Similarly, in 2014 Rove said of Hilary Clinton: “Thirty days in the hospital? And when she reappears, she’s wearing glasses that are only for people who have traumatic brain injury?” – a hint at brain damage: a Rove speciality. Thus Al Gore fudged the truth; John Kerry was an elitist; Barack Obama wasn’t fully American and Mitt Romney didn’t care about ordinary people. Once public suspicion about opponents is kindled, it’s easy to keep throwing logs on the fire.David MurrayWallington, Surrey

• It is abundantly clear to anyone not invested in the Republican party that it should be preparing for a much-needed split. Parliamentary parties form voting coalitions after their elections; in the US we form them before. How else can we describe the GOP but as an increasingly untenable coalition between a socially moderate party of business and high income, and a socially hard right, religiously oriented party that has now revealed itself to be far less inclined to business and wealthy interests than we had thought.

These two wings – call them the Trump and the Ryan parties – should stand for election on their own terms and, once elected, form voting coalitions with each other or the Democrats as they see fit on each issue. This is how it’s done throughout the world, and for once perhaps America should be no exception. Shel Khipple Wilmette, Illinois

• Any man who defends another man for being an “alpha male” (gorilla) as did Nigel Farage with Donald Trump has big personal problems. Or possibly a very small one. Being called Nigel and going to public school does not help.David ReedNorthampton

• I should imagine most of your readers know what Donald Trump looks like by now. I’d really rather not have to look at yet another one (or six) pictures of him every morning with my breakfast (Front page, 11 October)!Sylvia DunkleySheffield

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