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

[drillerpie]

What trump was actually convicted of was falsifying records to hide the illegal payments he made for keeping Stormy Daniels quiet. The actual payments are a breach of federal law, but the fraud was to cover it up. These payments influenced the election for his first win, so not exactly a small thing. He won that election with a margin of 70,000 votes over a population of 300+ million. One more scandal probably would've lost it for him. This is a big deal.

The fact that he lied about the value of his properties constantly is also very well documented but to my knowledge he's never been charged for it, although it, too, is criminal fraud and the evidence has been in the public domain since at least 2018 when Maddow published it.

As for the "real" right vs. the maga right? I don't believe the "real" right have any power in the US anymore. The current republican party have nothing to do with the one that put Reagan or Bush Sr forward. These guys don't believe in (or for that matter even understand) international trade, free markets, rule of law, tradition or christian values. Name a single tradition Trump upholds? A single christian value?

Nowadays in the USA the mainstream democrats are the conservatives - actually caring about traditions and wanting to maintain the status quo. Republicans have become the "burn it all down" mad radicals. It looks to me like they're turning the US into an oligarch-run authoritarian regime like Russia. You only need to glance at Russia over the last 30 years to know how absolutely terrible that idea is.

I think the last trial was for the property values but may be wrong. I don't think people vote for him because they think he's a Christian, they vote for him knowing full well who he is but knowing that as a transaction in return for their votes he will uphold certain policies they want. Putting people in central american giga prisons without a trial is not really a Christian thing to do but that's a whole other conversation. My point is not that he won't uphold parts of the bargain, but that it will come at a hell of a price.

[andy6025]

My take is slightly different.

To me the Dems and and GOP in the US are almost the exact same party; the uniparty, or the war party.

As such, people did not vote FOR Trump so much as they voted against the uniparty. Trump presents himself as a Washington outsider. His appeal is that he claims he will take on the traditional corruption of Washington and shut it down. He also presents a ?common sense? view on things like identity politics which to many Americans has been taken over by blue haired fanatics that want school children the option to p?ss in litter boxes and provide puberty blockers to minors. He also speaks about significantly reducing foreign aid, making Europeans pay ?their fair share? and ending support for unpopular wars.

This appeal is partly because, to an increasing number of Americans who are now in the majority, the MSM is no longer a reliable source of information. They see it as having an agenda, and a common viewpoint is that they will twist facts or outright lie in order to have people believe whatever the ?elites? want them to think. As such, Trump appears refreshing in that he will say and admit to many problems in America that the rest of the uniparty will not touch with a barge poll.

In short, for many a vote for Trump was more of a punishment to the Dems, whom I am sure we all can agree, learned nothing.

Personally I would not have voted for Trump - if I had the right, I would have voted Jill Stein. But I can certainly see his appeal as a possible lesser evil over the democrats, at least on some of his campaign issues. Whether he turns out to be any less of an evil by the end of his term, only time will tell.

[Old_pie]

So Musk says America is a land of Freedom and Opportunity and success should be a function of hardwork and talent and nothing else.

Well, a few cheques for a million dollars is something else in my book, and even AI can come up with leadership requiring ' integrity, empathy, accountability, confidence, resilience, and the ability to communicate effectively, inspire others, and empower their team, while also being self-aware and possessing a clear vision. '

I don't think team Musk and Trump tick too many of those boxes.

Anyhow, in Musk's own words, the Wisconsin Supreme court election race is 'critical to civilization' and it seems that civilisation won.

[i961pie]

I said in a earlier post that now would be a good time for China to invade Taiwan with America looking weak and appeasing Putin. Well they are increasing drills around Taiwan and calling their leader a warmonger, Could that he an excuse for them to act. And if they did what would Trumps reaction be?

[M0ufMk3]

I said in a earlier post that now would be a good time for China to invade Taiwan with America looking weak and appeasing Putin. Well they are increasing drills around Taiwan and calling their leader a warmonger, Could that he an excuse for them to act. And if they did what would Trumps reaction be?

If Trump is to be consistent then he would join in with China in giving Taiwan a kicking looking to share some spoils. He's a modern economic imperialist and old fashioned bully.

He needs to be careful with China, which may well be in a position of relative strength given the levels of US debt they hold, although he could always test whether his micro-tactic of declaring bankruptcy works on a macro scale (it doesn't of course).

[Mapperleypie]

It's nice to see that Trump is waiting until the US markets have closed before announcing any tariffs.

Not only is he reckless but he's a coward too. If it all hits the fan he could retire due to ongoing 'bone-spur' issues.

[Jampie]

In short, for many a vote for Trump was more of a punishment to the Dems, whom I am sure we all can agree, learned nothing.

Personally I would not have voted for Trump - if I had the right, I would have voted Jill Stein. But I can certainly see his appeal as a possible lesser evil over the democrats, at least on some of his campaign issues. Whether he turns out to be any less of an evil by the end of his term, only time will tell.

About sums it up really. "The dems suck so I voted for Trump" is like saying "my car broke down so I replaced it with this photograph of cheese" though

I really wish the US could import Australia's system... I can vote for any number of independents and minor parties before giving my last preference between the two major parties and my vote is always counted. In the US if you vote for someone like Stein you may's well just not vote.

[andy6025]

About sums it up really. "The dems suck so I voted for Trump" is like saying "my car broke down so I replaced it with this photograph of cheese" though

I really wish the US could import Australia's system... I can vote for any number of independents and minor parties before giving my last preference between the two major parties and my vote is always counted. In the US if you vote for someone like Stein you may's well just not vote.

Well in your analogy the car was at least presumed useful prior to its break down. I am not so sure that was ever the case with the Dems. But voting for. supposed lesser evil is nothing new under the sun. In fact, I would even go out in a limb and guess that most of the people voting for Harris, Biden and Hillary were not enamoured with them either but found them less unpalatable than trump.

Perhaps you really were implying that you loved and admired Harris as a candidate though. Maybe you think she purrs like a well tuned automobile?

Consistently is a wonderful thing.

I agree with you on the rest though. Any electoral systems are better than those of the US, Canada and the UK.

[Jampie]

Well in your analogy the car was at least presumed useful prior to its break down. I am not so sure that was ever the case with the Dems. But voting for. supposed lesser evil is nothing new under the sun. In fact, I would even go out in a limb and guess that most of the people voting for Harris, Biden and Hillary were not enamoured with them either but found them less unpalatable than trump.

Perhaps you really were implying that you loved and admired Harris as a candidate though. Maybe you think she purrs like a well tuned automobile?

Consistently is a wonderful thing.

I agree with you on the rest though. Any electoral systems are better than those of the US, Canada and the UK.

Obviously in the analogy I don't think the car is great: it broke down, after all. I think the dems at least functioned as a government, but they definitely needed replacing because they were allowing people to get consistently poorer over time.

Can't agree about any electoral systems... Russians and Iranians don't seem overly fond of theirs...

[drillerpie]

It's nice to see that Trump is waiting until the US markets have closed before announcing any tariffs.

Not only is he reckless but he's a coward too. If it all hits the fan he could retire due to ongoing 'bone-spur' issues.

You can still make money when markets go down dramatically, and I'm sure people close to the administration did.

[Mapperleypie]

You can still make money when markets go down dramatically, and I'm sure people close to the administration did.

Absolutely. Just as the funders of leave UK made a killing on the slumping pound during the Brexit referendum.

The economic stupidity is all under the guise of them personally making as much money from it as possible. Everyone else can get ****ed.

[drillerpie]

Absolutely. Just as the funders of leave UK made a killing on the slumping pound during the Brexit referendum.

The economic stupidity is all under the guise of them personally making as much money from it as possible. Everyone else can get ****ed.

Ah yes the Farage fake concession of defeat when he knew they'd probably won. The short sterling dream trade. Wonder if he'll issue a ****coin next few years?

[JoePass]

Ah yes the Farage fake concession of defeat when he knew they'd probably won. The short sterling dream trade. Wonder if he'll issue a ****coin next few years?

Get Trump to sort this country out, we need a real leader.

[ThePieWhoCameIn]

Get Trump to sort this country out, we need a real leader.

Trump's admitted he'll need lots of immigration to staff all the factories that are now going to make stuff there - he only wants people that love America though.

You sound like an ideal candidate.

[SwalePie]

Get Trump to sort this country out, we need a real leader.

Which of these two options do you prefer?