If we take the audience change between the two debates on each channel, we can derive the rate of audience loss per week. The rates are:

Fox News : 461K/week
CNN : 384K/week
Fox Bus. : 300K/week

If Fox’s audience had declined at the same rate as CNN’s, it would have had 15 million viewers instead of 13 million. If it had declined at the rate of Fox Business News, it would have been 17.2 million viewers.

Based on the comparison I did, Fox lost at least 2 million viewers and maybe as many as 4.2 million viewers.

The impact of Trump’s withdrawal is probably something only Fox and its advertisers know. Certainly, Trump’s absence did not cost Fox News 12 million viewers, but it did have a significant impact.

The supporters of T-yrant, better hope they can maintain Trump’s populism. Because if they fail to do so… the consequences will be obvious. It won’t matter what international Ultras and Mil Rightists say. It won’t matter what VoxDay says. The bullet is going to do the voting.

I’d vote for any of them, including the Donald, as against Hillary or Bernie (except for Rand Paul), and I think most of us would — but I certainly don’t think Trump is the best candidate.

While I think Trump will do well against H or B, I think he’ll do terribly against Good Old Uncle Joe(TM), whom I’m betting ends up as the Dem candidate. Bullying a guy who seems as harmless as a footstool and has the sympathy vote is not a winning strategy.

It is a form of bullying and intimidation – even if containing an acute and observant truth of some kind, even if provoked somehow.

Which is why I’ve long thought a comparison with the Italian business magnate turned PM, Silvio Berlusconi is called for.

To start with:

A review of major media reports from that 1994 campaign shows the Italian media mogul’s approach during his first campaign has a striking resemblance to Trump’s own controversial – and, so far, highly effective – star turn on the political stage. It sheds a light on how a charismatic, successful and shrewd business tycoon can translate his resume, the frustrations of his fellow citizens and a shrewd campaign into a political movement.

Numerous U.S. pundits, publications and politicians have sounded a similar tone about Trump as did The Economist about Berlusconi’s ideological core – or lack thereof….

http://www3.blogs.rollcall.com/white-house/big-men-brash-trump-resembles-italys-berlusconi/?dcz=

The parallels continue. However, drawing broad implications about governance – as the Roll Call piece does – strikes me as far too simplistic and easy. And therefore misleading.

1) The hyper deflation that is underway is centered upon AMERICA — not Red China.

2) The locus of the hyper deflation is Obama-care.

No matter how detailed my exposition — it flies straight over the heads of the majority.

Forgive me.

Just accept it.

The Ming dynasty permitted bimetalism to destroy their economy.

The American dynasty is permitting Obamacare to destroy the GLOBAL economy.

Yes, it’s impact is not limited to America.

America is the economic Atlas that is holding the ENTIRE planet on its shoulders.

&&&&&&&&

In business — in trade goods — there are two critical metrics

Volume
Profits

The dull are impressed with volume.

These folks are natural Communists — Socialists.

The ONLY thing that makes the economic engine really go is profit.

%%%%%

America is the Atlas of the world because — across ALL SECTORS — America is where EVERYONE makes their profits.

There are virtually no profits to be had trading // doing business in Red China — in Japan — in Korea — in Europe.

Why?

Those are LOW productivity societies. Only a trivial fraction of those populations have the $$$$ to spend FREELY.

Everyone else is pinching pennies — like mad.

&&&&

What does that mean?

It means that NEW products can’t get launched off the pad.

Try selling Rolex watches in North Korea.

Get it?

&&&

Red China was selling everywhere — and in volume.

BUT…

It was making all of its profits in North America.

Even Germany and elsewhere make their PROFITS in America.

That reality is suppressed… universally.

Did you know that Daimler-Benz (Mercedes) made 50% gross profit margins on its cars during the 1970s — but ONLY in the USA ?

That astounding reality only came out when Daimler wanted to merge with Dodge.

It was allowed to merge with Dodge — which was the better company — by every metric. Sales, profits, etc. etc.

Daimler LOOTED Dodge to save Germany.

That’s why Daimler is even able to stay in business — with a labor content per auto that is in ORBIT compared to its peers.

&&&&

While Trump gets most of “it” — he’s carrion for the MSM vultures.

They LOVE Trump.

He’s devil sent.

He has so MANY negatives — Hillary could just kiss him — if he weren’t a man.

Trump has single-handedly obliterated the Overton window in this election cycle. That is a good thing and has nothing to do with recommending him as a president.

&&&

You can’t destroy an opening. It can only expand or contract.

The Overton window is dialated — and a political birth is to hand.

Trump has made viable Cruz’s extreme positions — such as observing the rule of law WRT illegal immigrants.

I’m more towards Heartiste.

sixty year (i.e., three generations) immigration moratorium

deportation of all illegals

end of birthright citizenship

end of H-1B program (and similar wage-gutting loopholes)

favored immigrant status extended to NW Europeans when immigration flow is re-opened

South and East Europeans receive second favored status
immigrants from all other groups admitted based on

education/skill and only in trivial numbers

&&&&&&&

America is not empty anymore.

Our modern welfare state can’t possibly absorb the billions that lust for our standard of living.

Indeed, we can’t even make a DENT in the suffering of general humanity by importing ANYBODY.

1) The ONLY folks that can make the leap from the 3rd World hell holes are exactly the folks that must NOT leave the 3rd World.

For they are exactly those talents that can effect change.

Permitting them to flee their brothers — is to screw… everybody.

2) The numbers are so staggering that the are warping our society so perversely that it can no longer function as the economic engine for the world.

THIS is what’s triggering this — the Greatest Depression.

Trump I hope committed the Howard Dean scream.

I don’t put my faith in a man.

I put my faith in conservative ideas and I’ll vote for the candidate that will elevate the discussion and make conservatism attractive.

Trump can’t do that.

That is a serious error of interpretation on your part.

Saying something not negative about a person is not the same as supporting their agenda lock-stock-and barrel. Nor does it infer that one is supporting their agenda at all. That is precisely the tactic that the left and the MSM uses when they criticize any non-Progressives (Against gay marriage? Clearly one is a homophobe). My point was that Trump returns that tactic in spades and I certainly have no sympathy for the MSM when someone turns those tables on them.

Trump has single-handedly obliterated the Overton window in this election cycle. That is a good thing and has nothing to do with recommending him as a president.

Civility is difficult under the continual uncivil assault of the left. I agree the fox news response was low ball, their decision to descend to the donald’s level of discourse was not necessary. The response should have been something like “We have the right to choose who will be the moderators, Mr. trump has the right to choose to not participate in the debate.”

I think we all understand “what the other guys think”.