O/T:- Trump Presidency 2.0 [hic sunt dracones]

[Jampie]

Don't think Trump or his supporters would give a toss about any so called 'kompromat', he's been to trial, he's been shot at, his wife doesn't care what he's done in the past - what's a bit of kompromat to the allegedly most powerful man in the world? Or is that Elon?

I actually sort-of hoped this was true. I figured after his fraud conviction, what could a little video of whatever he did in a Moscow hotel in the 90's or whatever.... what could that do to him? Maybe we'd finally see him treat Putin like he treats everyone else on the planet - hot and cold, you're a source of profit to me or worthless etc etc

But no, he treats Putin the way he treats nobody else. So whatever Putin's got on him (be it financial support or a video or whatever), Trump doesn't think he's immune.

[forwardmagpie]

I always thought Brexit was a really bad idea, but I never thought it would get this bad.

Thanks for reply Elite it?s probably the last bit that you omitted that I don?t understand. Why would it get this bad just because we aren?t members of the EU. Do you think if we were members that Putin and Trump would change their positions because I don?t think so.

Just an open question without googling it how many on here could name all the EU members?

[frenchmagpie]

Thanks for reply Elite it?s probably the last bit that you omitted that I don?t understand. Why would it get this bad just because we aren?t members of the EU. Do you think if we were members that Putin and Trump would change their positions because I don?t think so.

Just an open question without googling it how many on here could name all the EU members?

Not answering for Elite but do you think Putin may have changed his mind if Ukraine was a member of NATO or the EU ? I suspect he might. So alliances work. As for Trump might the American people change their minds if there was a concerted EU economic response to Trump. It would certainly make them think a bit harder.

As for your second question, how many can name every English county or US state. I don't think the names matter.

In an increasingly confrontational world having friends matters.

[SmiffyPie]

Thanks for reply Elite it?s probably the last bit that you omitted that I don?t understand. Why would it get this bad just because we aren?t members of the EU. Do you think if we were members that Putin and Trump would change their positions because I don?t think so.

Brexit is irrelevant to the Ukraine issue. We (Europe) are as united about it as we would ever have been. If anything, the UK not being lumped in with Trump's twisted concept of the EU is probably an avantage.

[forwardmagpie]

Not answering for Elite but do you think Putin may have changed his mind if Ukraine was a member of NATO or the EU ? I suspect he might. So alliances work. As for Trump might the American people change their minds if there was a concerted EU economic response to Trump. It would certainly make them think a bit harder.

As for your second question, how many can name every English county or US state. I don't think the names matter.

In an increasingly confrontational world having friends matters.

I agree of course it would matter if Ukraine was in the EU or NATO. As for the rest of your reply I can?t agree.

The reason for the question isn?t just the fact of naming the EU members it was the surprise to me who some of the members were.

[Elite_Pie]

Why would it get this bad just because we aren?t members of the EU. Do you think if we were members that Putin and Trump would change their positions because I don?t think so.

No, I'm sure they wouldn't change their positions. I can only repeat what I said earlier - The EU would be a bit stronger with us in it, and we don't have the power to do a lot on our own.

[forwardmagpie]

No, I'm sure they wouldn't change their positions. I can only repeat what I said earlier - The EU would be a bit stronger with us in it, and we don't have the power to do a lot on our own.

So basically Brexit has made very little difference.

[drillerpie]

Trump knows this. He could support Ukraine for a while longer and have Russia on its knees and have them completely out of the picture as any sort of superpower. A massive win for the US and the security of the West.

On the other hand there are those p!ss tapes.

Like others have said I'm not sure he would be motivated by piss tapes. If they exist, the smart money for him would probably be to just brazen it out. He has overcome various scandals quite easily and I don't think his appeal is based on being a paragon of virtue.

From the beginning there have been a remarkable number of liaisons between Trump's / Trump's orbit and Russia. The most charitable explanation is that 1) it's a geopolitical long game to charm Russia and separate it from China (kind of like a reverse 1971 Kissinger) because together they will be too strong.

Less charitably, it could be because 2) Russia is white, ostensibly religious and traditional and Putin is an anti-woke icon for MAGA people. It could be because 3) Russia offered him or offers him some favourable business opportunities - that would interest him more than piss tapes I think, or it could just be 4) because he just admires ruthless people like Putin and wants recognition from him, not from some pen pushing NATO ally.

People who worked with him in the Trump 1.0 administration have written and spoken about how there is something going on there, but even they couldn't put their finger on it. If I had to guess, I would say it's number 4. I hope I am still around when/if it ever gets declassified on the Russian side.

[Jampie]

Yeah, it's not a pee tape.

If anything could still influence him it would be something with someone under age.

[the_anticlough]

To add an alternative theory...

5) It's one long game of good cop bad cop. Words are cheap (especially's Trump's). While the US supplies arms and funds to Ukraine, and stretches Russia just as the old U.S.S.R was stretched before it's collapse...the US's priority, or that of its mega corporations and military-industrial complex will also be hegemonic control and the defeat of any remaining hold-out to its world dominance. It's wanted a Yeltsin-like regime back in Moscow for 25 years now.

It doesn't matter what Trump says, or even does, it won't affect any of the above. In the meantime, how disorientating must it be for the Russians to be drawn into negotiating with a regime that pretends to be on its side?

[i961pie]

No, I'm sure they wouldn't change their positions. I can only repeat what I said earlier - The EU would be a bit stronger with us in it, and we don't have the power to do a lot on our own.

With us not being in the EU could give Starmer more power and act as a go between with Trump and the EU.

[Elite_Pie]

With us not being in the EU could give Starmer more power and act as a go between with Trump and the EU.

It could, but it's not a role I'd envy.

Being stuck between the two could mean upsetting both.

[SmiffyPie]

No, I'm sure they wouldn't change their positions. I can only repeat what I said earlier - The EU would be a bit stronger with us in it, and we don't have the power to do a lot on our own.

No we don't have a strong military force thanks to successive, shortsighted, defence cuts but what we can do, as we are doing, is lead a European response.

[Elite_Pie]

No we don't have a strong military force thanks to successive, shortsighted, defence cuts but what we can do, as we are doing, is lead a European response.

I've long been of the opinion that many scoff at - an EU army is a good idea. Defence spending takes an obscene amount of what's in the pot, but it has to be done as a deterrent because there are some very nasty people in positions of power. Armies are only really needed in times of conflict, the rest of the time we have to have them as a 'just in case they're needed' scenario. When there are no wars, armies spend their time on training exercises at huge cost, so spread that cost around. I don't want to upset forwardmagpie again, but we can't take that option because we decided to leave the EU.

Bloody Brexit yet again!

[forwardmagpie]

I've long been of the opinion that many scoff at - an EU army is a good idea. Defence spending takes an obscene amount of what's in the pot, but it has to be done as a deterrent because there are some very nasty people in positions of power. Armies are only really needed in times of conflict, the rest of the time we have to have them as a 'just in case they're needed' scenario. When there are no wars, armies spend their time on training exercises at huge cost, so spread that cost around. I don't want to upset forwardmagpie again, but we can't take that option because we decided to leave the EU.

Bloody Brexit yet again!

Those pesky 52% still annoy you Elite.

You must hate democracy.

Thank goodness for them as an EU army is an absolute disaster in the making. Did you manage to take a look at the EU members, if you think that would work out well then respectfully we must again disagree.