Anything is possible in the United States.
I ruled out Ronald Regan. George W. Bush.
The terminator - Arnold S. who made it to
Governor. So don't rule out Trump. He's a
clever businessman. Americans admire money.
If he can convince them that he'll give them a
slice of the pie. He just may sneak in.
Americans like winners. And they seem to love
his TV show. He already has a celebrity profile.
And he talks tough.
He's the ideal candidate.

Yes, anything usually is possible in the US, however, Trump is really just too 'out there' for the Americans.
Bush, Reagon and Arnie never had mad policies like "We need to stop all Muslim immigration".

I can't ever see Trump getting in. I would bet money on it.

In relation to the US - this might be a terribly cynical thing to say - but people get the governments they deserve.

No, that would be too cruel.

Joe

Dear Suse,

You're probably right perhaps Trump may be
a bridge too far.

I'm trying to remember - did anyone expect
Barack Obama to win at the time?

Trump is a very intelligent and unscrupulous person. He is not a racist or a xenophobe, but he knows that racism and xenophobia appeal to part of the US electorate so he makes his pitch to them. He also gets respected for his ability to make a lot of money. The people who have invested in his schemes wind up fleeced as the schemes go bankrupt, but somehow Trump winds up with a lot of money. If enough people admire his skill at financial finagling and his appeal to primitive emotions of fear, envy and hate he could be the next president of the US.

Dear Joe,

I think sometimes nobody gets the government they deserve. Germany didn't deserve Hitler. Russia didn't deserve Stalin and Lenin. Chinese didn't deserve Mao. Americans didn't deserve Dubya. Scum rise to power by one means or another, and people are stuck with them.

Suse,

What's mad about we need to stop all Muslim immigration?

Seems like self preservation to me.