Thoughts on the Trump presidency

[ainsworth74]

Trump has been laying the groundwork for a while now. His argument is that his two terms weren't consecutive, so he can go for a third one. Clearly nonsense, but when he has the Supreme Court stuffed with his supporters, who is going to argue?

Unless cholesterol gets him, he'll run in 2028. And the Republicans will lap it up. Swing voters? Probably not, but that's OK if you gerrymander them out of the way by changing electoral boundaries. Which is what they've been doing.

I also seriously doubt the election will be either free or fair.

Quite. And what will happen to those swing voters and Democrat voters who are black or latino when the only way they can vote is in person at a polling place (after all Trump is on the record that they're coming after mail-in voting) and Trump's private army ICE is patrolling outside the polling place pulling anyone who isn't white aside? Will those voters really risk it and go out to vote or will they stay home? When gerrymandering is dialled up to 11 (by both sides to be fair but Republican's control 28 of the 50 State legislatures and in 23 states they control the Governorship as well) to block out Democrat candidates? Once they've finished using the Supreme Court to gut the Voting Rights Act (which helps ensure the Southern states actually gave their minorities representation in elections)?

There will be elections in 2026 and 2028 (and 2030 and onwards). It's too engrained in the US psyche for there not to be elections. If they straight up cancelled the elections that might actually be enough of a shock to trigger sustained serious and violent unrest and the disintegration of the Republican party. So they won't do that. They'll just ensure that they're not free or fair anymore. And they're quite clearly laying the groundwork to do that right now as we speak.

 

[Tester]

Quite. And what will happen to those swing voters and Democrat voters who are black or latino when the only way they can vote is in person at a polling place (after all Trump is on the record that they're coming after mail-in voting) and Trump's private army ICE is patrolling outside the polling place pulling anyone who isn't white aside? Will those voters really risk it and go out to vote or will they stay home? When gerrymandering is dialled up to 11 (by both sides to be fair but Republican's control 28 of the 50 State legislatures and in 23 states they control the Governorship as well) to block out Democrat candidates? Once they've finished using the Supreme Court to gut the Voting Rights Act (which helps ensure the Southern states actually gave their minorities representation in elections)?

There will be elections in 2026 and 2028 (and 2030 and onwards). It's too engrained in the US psyche for there not to be elections. If they straight up cancelled the elections that might actually be enough of a shock to trigger sustained serious and violent unrest and the disintegration of the Republican party. So they won't do that. They'll just ensure that they're not free or fair anymore. And they're quite clearly laying the groundwork to do that right now as we speak.

I think it's fair to say that Trump believes he has the right to win.

Everything else flows from that.

 

[brad465]

The ongoing US shutdown (now over 3 weeks) usually means the military are not paid, which you'd think is something a President using the military to cement their own power would be afraid of. Turns out to keep them onside, a "mystery donor" has fawked up $130 million to pay the military so far in the shutdown, which essentially means the military are a private enterprise currently:

Myster Trump supporter gives $130m to US military for paying troops during shutdown

The man is a US citizen and a Trump supporter, the president has said, but no one in the government will identify him.

www.bbc.co.uk

An unnamed donor is giving $130m (£100m) to the Pentagon to help pay US troops during the government shutdown, sparking ethics concerns.
US defence officials confirmed the gift, which President Donald Trump said will make up for shortfalls in paying the country's 1.32m service members, but declined to identify the donor.
Trump has provided a few clues, though, saying on Saturday "he's a big supporter of mine" and a US citizen.
The government shut down more than three weeks ago, after lawmakers failed to approve a funding deal. The Trump administration paid troops last week by shifting $8bn from military research, but it is unclear what will happen on the next payday at the end of the month.
Now in it's 25th day, the shutdown is poised to become one of the longest in US history.
"The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members' salaries and benefits," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told reporters on Friday, adding that the money was allowed under the department's "general gift acceptance authority."
Trump had previewed the donation on Thursday, while also declining to identify the donor, saying, "he doesn't really want the recognition".
Before leaving for Asia on Saturday, Trump told reporters at the White House that the donor is "a great gentleman", "a patron", a "patriot" and a "wonderful man" who "doesn't want publicity".
"He prefers that his name not be mentioned, which is pretty unusual in the world I come from," Trump said. "In the world of politics you want your name mentioned."
"He put up $130 million in order to make sure — that's a lot of money — in order to make sure that the military got paid, and he's a big supporter of mine," he continued.
The funds amount to around $100 per servicemember.
While the White House was able to reallocate defence funds to pay troops last week, it remains to be seen what will happen on the next payday for the military, on 31 October. Congress has been unable to pass a bill that would keep troops being paid during the shutdown.
Most government workers have been furloughed, or in some cases, told to work without pay while the shutdown lasts.
According to defence department rules, donations over $10,000 must be reviewed by ethics officials "to determine whether the donor is involved in any claims, procurement actions, litigation, or other particular matters involving the Department that must be considered prior to gift acceptance."
Donations from non-American citizens require additional scrutiny.
While unusual, the Pentagon does sometimes accept gifts from donors, but they normally must be given to fund specific projects, such as a school, hospital, library, museum, or cemetery.
Critics questioned why the US military would accept anonymous funds.
"Using anonymous donations to fund our military raises troubling questions of whether our own troops are at risk of literally being bought and paid for by foreign powers," said Delaware Senator Chris Coons, the top Democrat on the Senate's defense appropriations subcommittee.

 

[najaB]

Turns out to keep them onside, a "mystery donor" has fawked up $130 million to pay the military so far in the shutdown, which essentially means the military are a private enterprise currently

Though, the donor's funds only amount to around $100 for each serviceperson. Better than a kick in the teeth, but not by much.

 

[Cloud Strife]

And what will happen to those swing voters and Democrat voters who are black or latino when the only way they can vote is in person at a polling place (after all Trump is on the record that they're coming after mail-in voting) and Trump's private army ICE is patrolling outside the polling place pulling anyone who isn't white aside?

There is one 'but' here. There's no guarantee that Trump is going to be popular at the end of this term, especially once the low income/low information voters realise that they've been left with gaps in their healthcare and other benefits. We pay a lot of attention to the poor brainwashed types, but I wouldn't underestimate the backlash from other voters. There's also evidence that Trump is now underwater in places like Georgia and Arizona, and he will need to pull something out of the bag to keep control of Congress after the midterms.

What is probably more of a concern for America as a whole isn't Trump, but the fact that he's managed to build a coalition of techbros who are all on the side of turning America into a dystopian hellhole: more surveillance, less protection, and the transformation of America into something that will resemble the later years of Franco.

 

[najaB]

What is probably more of a concern for America as a whole isn't Trump, but the fact that he's managed to build a coalition of techbros who are all on the side of turning America into a dystopian hellhole: more surveillance, less protection, and the transformation of America into something that will resemble the later years of Franco.

What I don't understand about those folk is how they expect to be able to enjoy their wealth when the economy crumbles and their assets become next to worthless.

 

[edwin_m]

What I don't understand about those folk is how they expect to be able to enjoy their wealth when the economy crumbles and their assets become next to worthless.

I think the amount of inequality is such that they can insulate themselves from the rest of the country.

 

[Bantamzen]

Though, the donor's funds only amount to around $100 for each serviceperson. Better than a kick in the teeth, but not by much.

Per person it's not a lot I agree. But isn't it more than a bit disconcerting that a presumably private donor is paying for the US Military? Has the donor set any conditions? Is this the start of the US Military being available for hire? Sci-Fi films are full of this kind of thing.

What I don't understand about those folk is how they expect to be able to enjoy their wealth when the economy crumbles and their assets become next to worthless.

Because they can easily move their assets and themselves to a country where they can continue to enjoy their wealth?

 

[ainsworth74]

There is one 'but' here. There's no guarantee that Trump is going to be popular at the end of this term, especially once the low income/low information voters realise that they've been left with gaps in their healthcare and other benefits. We pay a lot of attention to the poor brainwashed types, but I wouldn't underestimate the backlash from other voters. There's also evidence that Trump is now underwater in places like Georgia and Arizona, and he will need to pull something out of the bag to keep control of Congress after the midterms.

That's certainly fair, I've been seeing a few posts circulating on social media that certainly suggest that some of the MAGA faithful are beginning to question the orthodoxy of the Dear Leader. Though that's the definition of anecdata! Perhaps more reliably his polling figures are increasingly awful amongst large sections of US society. But I remain highly concerned that the regime is setting itself up to ensure that future elections produce the "correct" result. For now it seems likely the tactic is to simply supress "problematic" voters but I reckon it'll move further if needed.

I think the amount of inequality is such that they can insulate themselves from the rest of the country.

Because they can easily move their assets and themselves to a country where they can continue to enjoy their wealth?

I think it depends on the nature and extent of the collapse! If it's just the US then yes the billionaires will just take their money and move (I hear Dubai is popular this time of year). But if they manage to bring out a more comprehensive collapse of society then who knows. There is a reason I think that they seem to be investing heavily in bunkers, including very large bunkers that suggest the expectation of a long stay including with a staff. That being said I reckon the likes of Zuckerberg probably over-estimate the loyalty of their security guards in a truly apocalyptic scenario.

Perhaps one crumb of comfort will be, as we're all huddling around the fire in the ruins of what were once towns and cities, the knowledge that Zuckerberg, Musk, and co met their end cowering in a corner when their guards inevitably turned on them.

 

[nlogax]

That's certainly fair, I've been seeing a few posts circulating on social media that certainly suggest that some of the MAGA faithful are beginning to question the orthodoxy of the Dear Leader.

When a huge swathe of MAGA's poorest supporters notice how they'll not be able to get food stamps from next week then we'll see a true test of their loyalty. Of course, somehow it's all the Dems' fault..

 

[cb a1]

I think it depends on the nature and extent of the collapse! If it's just the US then yes the billionaires will just take their money and move (I hear Dubai is popular this time of year). But if they manage to bring out a more comprehensive collapse of society then who knows. There is a reason I think that they seem to be investing heavily in bunkers, including very large bunkers that suggest the expectation of a long stay including with a staff. That being said I reckon the likes of Zuckerberg probably over-estimate the loyalty of their security guards in a truly apocalyptic scenario.

Perhaps one crumb of comfort will be, as we're all huddling around the fire in the ruins of what were once towns and cities, the knowledge that Zuckerberg, Musk, and co met their end cowering in a corner when their guards inevitably turned on them.

You're pretty much describing Love, Death and Robots: Season 3, Episode 1 albeit with slightly different variations.

 

[Gloster]

I think that those working behind Trump reckoned on two years of continuing blind loyalty from the MAGA crowd: that would take them to the mid-terms and should ensure that they keep a compliant Congress. They would then use the last two years of Trump’s term to carry through the radical and undemocratic changes that they have been preparing, so ensuring that future presidential elections are, effectively, rigged. What has thrown them out is Trump’s obvious decline and, to a lesser extent, the risk that the Epstein files might cause a drastic loss of support for him, with the result that they will fail to get the Congress they want. They are doing the only things they can do: pushing on with the changes as fast as possible and gerrymandering.

 

[ainsworth74]

They are doing the only things they can do: pushing on with the changes as fast as possible and gerrymandering.

Well, that and keep Congress closed. Perhaps I'm reading it wrong but there doesn't seem to be much interest from Trump and the Republican's in getting Congress back to work. Not that it was doing much to begin with anyway to be fair. But I guess we'll see how long they let it go and how bad it will get soon. The first SNAP (food stamps) benefits that are expected to be missed are the middle of November I think?

You're pretty much describing Love, Death and Robots: Season 3, Episode 1 albeit with slightly different variations.

Sounds a bit like Black Mirror. Another show that has felt worryingly prescient from time to time...

 

[Annetts key]

I think it depends on the nature and extent of the collapse! If it's just the US then yes the billionaires will just take their money and move (I hear Dubai is popular this time of year). But if they manage to bring out a more comprehensive collapse of society then who knows. There is a reason I think that they seem to be investing heavily in bunkers, including very large bunkers that suggest the expectation of a long stay including with a staff. That being said I reckon the likes of Zuckerberg probably over-estimate the loyalty of their security guards in a truly apocalyptic scenario.

Perhaps one crumb of comfort will be, as we're all huddling around the fire in the ruins of what were once towns and cities, the knowledge that Zuckerberg, Musk, and co met their end cowering in a corner when their guards inevitably turned on them.

Ahh, the AI bubble and the on-line market place will be hit significantly if there is a fall off in discretionary spending.

When millions of people concentrate on paying for food and other essentials, sales from other goods normally fall. Advertising revenue falls, income from web site operators falls. Goodbye to the AI bubble etc...

And when (not if) the U.S.A. goes into recession, generally, the overall world also suffers a decline. Including China. That in turn means a surplus of oil reducing the price. And hence less income for oil producing countries (including the U.S.A.). And the reduced number of discretionary goods being imported into the U.S.A. will mean less tax income from Trumps tariffs...

 

[brad465]

Just in case there was any doubt left:

Trump does not rule out seeking third term - but says he will not use VP loophole

But he rules out running for vice-president, an idea floated by supporters to circumvent the constitution that bars him from running again.

www.bbc.co.uk

US President Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility of seeking a third term for the White House, saying he would "love to do it".
But Trump rejected the possibility of running for vice-president in 2028 - an idea floated by some supporters as a way for him to circumvent the US constitution that bars the president from running for a third term.
Speaking to reporters during his trip to Asia, Trump described the idea as "too cute" and said it "wouldn't be right".
It is unclear what method he would use to run again. Last week, former Trump strategist Steve Bannon said that a "plan" was in place to secure the 79-year-old president another term.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Japan from Malaysia, Trump said that while he would "be allowed" to run again as vice-president, he had no plans to do so.
"I think people wouldn't like that," he said. "It's too cute. It wouldn't be right."
Talking about the possibility of a third term, Trump said: "I haven't really thought about it. But I have the best poll numbers that I've ever had."
Additionally, Trump also suggested vice-president JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as potential successors, calling them "unstoppable".
"All I can tell you is that we have a great group of people, which they don't," he added, referrring to Democrats.

The 22nd amendment of the US constitution bars presidents from seeking a third term.

Repealing the amendment would require approval from two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures - a process viewed as highly unlikely.

Last week, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon - who remains a vocal supporter - claimed there was a "plan" to secure a third term for Trump.

"Trump is going to be president in '28, and people ought to just get accommodated with that," Bannon told The Economist. "At the appropriate time, we'll lay put what the plan is."

In March, Trump told CNBC he would "probably not" run again, though he later said he was "not joking" about the possibility.

It is still unclear which Democrats intend to run for the White House in 2028, although several have already expressed an interest.

On Sunday, California Governor Gavin Newsom told CBS, the BBC's US partner, that he would "be lying" if he said he was not giving serious thought to a presidential bid.

Former vice-president Kamala Harris also told the BBC she may run again and that she could "possibly" be president in the future.

 

[ainsworth74]

There won't be fair elections anymore:

Despite all of this, the Radical Left Losers are taking fake ads, not showing REAL Polls, but rather saying that I’m Polling at low levels. These are the people that I’ve been beating for years, and am continuing to do so, but by even bigger margins. These ads should not be allowed to run because they are FAKE!

Truth Social

Truth Social is America's "Big Tent" social media platform that encourages an open, free, and honest global conversation without discriminating on the basis of political ideology.

truthsocial.com

He's going to angle to make sure that Democrat adverts don't run and considering so much of the media is controlled by a handful of right wing owned broadcasters it might not even be that hard...

 

[Trainguy34]

Well guess it's just time to wait for nature to take it's course on him then...

 

[Yew]

Perhaps one crumb of comfort will be, as we're all huddling around the fire in the ruins of what were once towns and cities, the knowledge that Zuckerberg, Musk, and co met their end cowering in a corner when their guards inevitably turned on them.

it's worth remembering that the Zuckerberg bunker is in Hawaii, which is prone to bad weather and natural disasters.

 

[Annetts key]

Despite all of this, the Radical Left Losers are taking fake ads, not showing REAL Polls, but rather saying that I’m Polling at low levels. These are the people that I’ve been beating for years, and am continuing to do so, but by even bigger margins. These ads should not be allowed to run because they are FAKE!

Or maybe the orange idiot lives in his own orange tinted information bubble world:


Image above is a chart "Do Americans approve of Donald Trump?" showing the decline in his approval rating. With the current figures being 43.8% approving and 52.4% disapproving.

The above chart comes from this site. The sources are detailed on this web page.

 

[Bantamzen]

Or maybe the orange idiot lives in his own orange tinted information bubble world:

It's very much the case, Trump has completely surrounded with sycophants that are so utterly compliant, they've created a whole alternative universe around hm.

 

[JamesT]

It's very much the case, Trump has completely surrounded with sycophants that are so utterly compliant, they've created a whole alternative universe around hm.

Is that any different from the other side of the fence? Telling Biden he was fit to stand, or Harris that she had a chance?

 

[Bantamzen]

Is that any different from the other side of the fence? Telling Biden he was fit to stand, or Harris that she had a chance?

Maybe, but Trump's alternate reality deficit is on a totally different scale. Inflation is on the charge thanks to tariffs, healthcare cover is getting more expensive by the day, he's sending in the military to cities to defend against protestors in dinosaur outfits, an he still can't make his mind up if Putin is good or bad. But he can p*** a $Billion+ on a White House ballroom and retro-fitting a gifted 747 that will become his outright in 2028, he can demand his own Justice Department give him $230 million because they investigated him for doing bad things, he's attempting to prosecute and possibly jail every political figure that's opposed him in any way, and his family are running a crypto-scam that will net them billions. Heck, he's even negotiating his escape plan to Argentina if things go south for him in the US.

Yeah, comparing Biden / Harris with Trump is like comparing apples with the Floridian swamp. But what is worse that his human meat shield he has gathered will in no way seek to get him to focus on the real issues, or even just to sit down and think about his policies. Instead they act as cheerleaders, even when he's clearly gone completely off reservation, simply magnifying his fragile ego & emboldening his crazy decision making. I agree that Biden was way too old to run, but even as he is now he still wouldn't be close to the level of crazy Trump is achieving. And clearly whilst she wasn't fully ready, there is no way Harris would have done anything like as badly as the giant Umpa Lumpa is doing in the White House right now.

 

[Annetts key]

Yes, and if people did not already know the criteria used by Trump when appointing people, Trumps own comments are revealing...

President Trump in June named Witkoff, a real estate developer, the Special Envoy for Peace Missions. Witkoff joined Ukraine's President Zelenskyy last month during a "coalition of the willing" summit and has already met one-on-one with Russian President Vladimir Putin several times.

During Mr. Trump's address to Israel's parliament last week, the American president spoke about Witkoff's first meeting with Putin, which took place in St. Petersburg in April.

"Steve had no idea about Russia, had no idea about Putin too much, didn't know too much about politics, wasn't that interested," Mr. Trump said.

The president continued, explaining that the planned 20-minute conversation between Witkoff and Putin had spun into a five-hour affair. "I said, 'What the hell were you talking about for five hours?'" Mr. Trump recalled.

Source

Being an expert, or knowing or learning about the subject is apparently not a criteria in Trumps administration...

Being nice to Trump, looks to be the most important criteria.

 

[AlterEgo]

An insane way to conduct politics in a western democracy. I am in Saudi Arabia at the moment and knowing or being nice to the king/crown prince is how you get a government position. Truly a horseshoe of politics going on.

 

[najaB]

Is that any different from the other side of the fence? Telling Biden he was fit to stand, or Harris that she had a chance?

Numerous people asked Biden to stand down well ahead of the debates, and there is more than a suspicion that the GOP had their thumb on the scale in the general election.

 

[generalnerd]

This morning a UK republican spokesperson (or something like that) was on LBC and said that Donald’s Trumps response to the criticism garnered from Harrison Ford would be that he is low IQ…

Playground insults

 

[D6130]

This morning a UK republican spokesperson (or something like that) was on LBC and said that Donald’s Trumps response to the criticism garnered from Harrison Ford would be that he is low IQ…

Playground insults

I would venture to suggest that he probably has a higher IQ than Trump.

 

[najaB]

I would venture to suggest that he probably has a higher IQ than Trump.

Given that DJT has the IQ of a piece of mouldy toast, that's almost a given.

 

[Tester]

Given that DJT has the IQ of a piece of mouldy toast, that's almost a given.

But but but he says he's a very smart person

And indeed when challenged about not paying tax, he allegedly said, "That makes me smart".

 

[brad465]

The current government shutdown is now 32 days, having gone over a month in length. It only needs to last another 4 days and it's the longest on record. It is already the longest full shutdown (double the length of the previous, which was the 2013 shutdown under Obama).