Will you mind if Trump wins?

Me: no.

he's not going to be a dictator though is he cause it looks like the Republicans are losing control of the house in the autumn (hilariously helped by Trump's supreme court letting them all go mental on reproductive rights that voters hate)

I kinda wonder if it is better that he just gets on with a presidency now and fcuks off rather than he clings on and we have to hear about him in background and he comes back in 2028 and is even more dementia addled? 

I can’t stand the idea that someone so fooking amoral and awful would be put in a position of power over others. Even Americans.

So yes.. I’d very much mind. 

And the vast majority of conflict globally right now is the direct result of his first Presidency. You really wanna give him a second shot. 

And the vast majority of conflict globally right now is the direct result of his first Presidency. 

I would have said it's the result of Republicans and SCOTUS having STOLEN the 2000 election.

Guy, he has convinced his base that NATO is a subscription service and the US is the beneficiary who ain't getting paid.  

Steele Dossier was mostly about Putin's plans for NATO and how he could undermine it through Trump.

would have said it's the result of Republicans and SCOTUS having STOLEN the 2000 election.

****

I’d love to hear your thinking on that. 

genuinely. 

I see Trump’s leaking of Nat sec info as critical to current events, as well as his blatant lack of support for NATO, allies and various armament treaties.

I’m more than willing to accept the 2000 events built the bonfires .. so to speak. 

But I feel like Trump threw on the gas and lit a match. 
 

winning the 2000 election in the way they did was quite a coup.  It was clear from the outset that Dubya was a moron and that someone else was in control.  I was convinced that a half intelligent man could exploit the "patriotic" libertarian types, I didn't expect it to be the half wit Trump.  

Didn't someone once say that the tyrant would come holding a bible wrapped in an American flag?

Scylla04 Apr 24 14:00

I see Trump’s leaking of Nat sec info as critical to current events, as well as his blatant lack of support for NATO, allies and various armament treaties.

I’m more than willing to accept the 2000 events built the bonfires .. so to speak. 

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There is something in this but I also think it gives Trump too much credit 

Biden was very in favour of winding down Afghanistan and really does have to carry the can for cutting and running and I am pretty sure that made the US and Nato look a million % weaker than they actually are 

I wouldn't be so sure Chuffy.  He will be installing ultra loyalists this time and this time he knows who they are.

The good thing is that the ultra loyalists are either not very bright or they have been committing some sort of crimes all their lives that will come sharply into focus.

Eddie2Shoes04 Apr 24 14:23

I wouldn't be so sure Chuffy.  He will be installing ultra loyalists this time and this time he knows who they are.

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I think we've already seen that Trump's version of "loyal" bares very little relevance to the established dictionary definition of "loyal" and his loyalists share that understanding 

I’ve got faith Eddie (hopefully not misplaced) in the system and the checks and balances to do their job. His first 4 years were a lot of bluster and drama but not a lot of anything of note. He is ultimately not very bright, not very organised and has no decent people around him which gives me hope.

"His first 4 years were a lot of bluster and drama but not a lot of anything of note". 

Just the attempted insurrection and overthrow of a presidential election result...

the thing is, and always has been, ultra loyalists to any cult leader / dictator are convinced they'll never be in jeopardy.

It always comes as a surprise to them when their dear leader turns on them.

Threeepwood04 Apr 24 14:48

Yes.  Ukraine would be turbofvcked.

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I think Europe (or Nato minus USA) is well capable of supporting Ukraine alone against Putin's army confused, under equipped, expendable conscripts 

a more worrying situation is if Europe does exactly that, Russia gets smashed and the EU (germany in particular) gets a sudden taste for being a militarily relevant power 

a world with 2 americas or a world where europe doesn't need to keep america as a friend would look very different to the way it looks now 

Well maybe but it would take years to ramp up production, even of basic things like shells.  In the meantime Ukraine loses tens of thousands more soldiers.  Let's just not have Trump and let the Americans send lots of lovely warframes their way.

a combination of increasing domestic production (am pretty sure rheinmetall has upped shell production considerably and it talking about new factories in Saxony - possibly a himars production line licenced from lockheed) and buying power to turn i.e. turkish and korean factories to the task makes me hopeful 

be good to see mike johnson call MTG's bluff but I suspect the chance for him to show he has actual balls has passed

Also, although Trump wants to be Putin, I'm not sure he'd be clear cut on ukraine 

He would do exactly what he has promised on Ukraine IMO (which is what he has been told to do by Putin), which is to do everything in his power to stop all aid, US military industrial complex notwithstanding.

Voters can compare him with Biden side by side. Under trump the economy and foreign stuff was quite good 

Where do you get your information?  Fox business news?

He wanted to bomb mexico to stop the cartels and pretend it wasn't the US that did it.  He brought the US to within minutes of starting a war with Iran.  Under his presidency, drone attacks in Syria and Afghanistan increased dramatically.  He suggested nuking a hurricane.  

He sold America and us to his bros, Putin, Kim and Erdogan.

The trajectory of the economy under Trump was already heading that way from the Obama administration.  He added trillions to the national debt through the one policy he got passed, tax cuts for billionaires and trillion dollar companies.

His new healthcare plan is only two weeks away!  Anyone for infrastructure week?

Scylla, I was thinking how different the US's reaction to 9/11 would have been (or if it even would have happened) had Gore not had the election stolen from him, and in turn what that means in terms of the rise of ISIS, etc.

"He is ultimately not very bright, not very organised and has no decent people around him which gives me hope."

His general lack of smarts, organisation and most critically, interest in actually governing is precisely what makes him so dangerous, and is exactly the reason that - despite the fact that pretty much every thing about the way he has actually lived his life is in direct contrast to their alleged ideals - so many potentially very powerful right wing interest groups have been so desperate to support him.  They are pretty sure that, if he becomes president, by virtue of their closeness to him and his willingness to let them just get on with it, they could in all meaningful ways be running one of the most powerful countries in the world.  And unless you are an actual dribbling buffoon (here's looking at you, Hugh), that should worry everyone.  A lot.

And, if you think that this is just hyperbole, take a bit of time to read the Project 2025 manifesto produced by the Heritage Foundation, they are not even hiding, they are literally saying the awful stuff out loud.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_2025

https://www.project2025.org/

 

Anything less than identifying Trump as the devil incarnate who will initiate the end of the world will get you labelled as a Trump supporter on RoF. 

Truth is that when I compare all of the doom-mongering and end of world sentiment around the time of Trump’s election to what actually happened, I’m not that worried at the prospect of him being re-elected. I find either outcome uninspiring tbh.

And, if you think that this is just hyperbole, take a bit of time to read the Project 2025 manifesto produced by the Heritage Foundation, they are not even hiding, they are literally saying the awful stuff out loud.

Saying it is one thing. Doing it is totally different. I’ve asked some of the other sensationalists on here before and have never once received a clear answer: do you think Trump would try to remove the constitutional term limit and then run again, or do you think he would attempt another insurrection to remain in power after allowing the normal election process to run its course?  If the latter, what makes you more worried that he wi be able to secure military backing this time? A thousand red necks with pitchforks was enough to cause 12 hours of chaos but came nowhere near to bringing down the systems of government.

I’m with Gorlami. People need to chill. Very easy to treat day to day politics and the antics of individuals as seismic when most of it is inconsequential and forgotten tomorrow.

Although to be clear, I do think the US is in danger of slipping into serious long term decline if it doesn’t get its house in order but 4 years of Trump will not change the fundamental problems the county has.

I'm pretty sure that the Heritage Foundation and similar interest groups are not run by "a thousand rednecks with pitchforks".

No, they’re not. But as well you know, that was a reference to 6 January 2021 (and nothing to do with the Heritage Foundation) which seems to be the keystone of all of the hysteria around Trump and his grand plans to emulate Putin.

But that still hasn’t answered the questions ^^^

Trump is a lunatic off the fvcking scale. This time his team is far better run. Check out the 2025 plan lunacy. They have clear plans how to disable democracy. Ignoring that, scoffing with contempt is to behave in ignorance of history and in ignorance of what the MAGAs are up to. But, y’know, you all do you, and see what fvcking happens, dipshits.

Yes.  One of the futures that could happen within my lifetime is that the US splits into two states along current political lines.  I would not like to die knowing humanity is subject to the terrible consequences of such a schism, which a Trump victory would make far more likely.

Calm down Bertha…..don’t want any of those Trump-esque racist remarks to come out again. We’re all adults here engaging in exchange of open views. No need to resort to childish slurs.

Please can you link me to the exact page of the Project 2025 site where it outlines their plans to “disable democracy” (not certain what that means precisely but maybe the page you share will enlighten me on that).

RR - Unlike Bertha, I am remaining civil. No pretense about it. I won’t protest my sincerity further since that’s unlikely to convince you or Bertha but even if we assume that I’m not sincere, shouldn’t it be pretty simple to find the page that supports the view that Trump and his supporters pose an existential threat and then just drop that here?  I have looked but can’t find it.

Am I right to assume RR that you share the same views as Bertha (hence dropping in to protect him despite not having shared any views of your own on this thread)? It’s pretty weak for both of you - on a forum for lawyers -  to be unable to provide evidence to back up your position. Instead, you have to pull the emergency ejector seat handle of “sea-lioning” to escape from the thread.

Biden was very in favour of winding down Afghanistan and really does have to carry the can for cutting and running and I am pretty sure that made the US and Nato look a million % weaker than they actually are …

****

Nope. I do not accept that. 

By the time Biden came to power there were less than 4 months before the withdrawal date Trump had agreed with the Taliban. During the transition period the Trump WH refused to provide any of the required documents or records or info to the Biden team. 

So Biden got to the WH in January. With no knowledge of what planning had been done for the withdrawal scheduled for less than 4 months away … and found out that nothing .. NOTHING had been planned. 

And US troops in the country were at the lowest numbers in decades with most withdrawn to the main cities. 

The Taliban had made it very very clear that if the US didn’t leave on that date they would resume attacks. And that was after Trump released 5000 of the most dangerous Taliban fighters as part of the ‘withdrawal deal’.

Biden’s choice was either go with the withdrawal as best he could with ZERO plans in place to do so by the Trump admin. Or put in place a massive surge operation to enable a more planned withdrawal. 

The Afghan withdrawal debacle is Very very very much on Trump. 

 

And don’t even get me started on what Trump did to the Kurds.

But it’s fascinating to see that the usual anti Israel voices on here are also Trump ass lickers. 

It explains an awful lot. 

I’ve got faith Eddie (hopefully not misplaced) in the system and the checks and balances to do their job.

****

Except they really didn’t. Because the Senate didn’t do its job…  and SCOTUS is now completely owned by the right wing  billionaires. 

And trump won’t care about the voters this time because he no longer needs them to be re elected.  His sole goal will be to establish himself as untouchable, remove all opposition, install loyalist and stay.  The same way he intended last time.  He has ZERO respect for the constitution or term limits. 

And the senator from Alabama has created a MASSIVE backlog in senior senate approved military appointments so that  any new Trump admin can politically take over on day one.

The only meaningful checks and balance left now are the voters… and never letting him near power again.

if he gets in.. it will take nothing short of a civil war to remove him. 

 

^^^this needs saying, and keep saying until November. There is still a complacency about Trump that is potentially fatal to democracy. Obvs there are some morons on here but few have a vote. It’s not a spectator sport. Speak up is all people have to do. Pay attention. Trump is the tip of the iceberg and a captive now of the MAGA movement himself, as he’s running to stay out of jail. But if he wins, god forbid, he will unleash hell and it will affect the whole world. 

And Trump was the one who invited the Taliban to Camp David ON THE ANNIVERSARY of 9/11 to negotiate the withdrawal…

Simultaneously completely cutting out the Afghan government  from those talks and thereby undermining any chance for legitimacy or governance by the civil authorities after the withdrawal.

 

Except it’s not hysterical fear mongering

It’s a SCOTUS that has agreed to hear arguments related to an application for complete presidential immunity for criminal acts and which has refused to expedite the hearing.

 

The simply fact that  the argument that…  POTUS can use Seal Team 6 to unilaterally assassinate their political rivals without any legal recourse… has even been made in SCOTUS … is terrifying. 

Let alone that on the basis of that argument SCOTUS has agreed to hear it… 

Or that the entire judiciary has been incapable of holding Trump to account for his OBVIOUS crimes… in the three years since..

Just proves how ineffectual the ‘check’ of  the rule of law really is… 

Let’s wait and see how they decide on those arguments shall we Scylla. You know…..going off of a Court issued ruling rather than just something that was said by one of the parties during the proceedings. If the SCOTUS rules that there is no limit to the Presidential immunity then I’ll join you on the end of world prophecy.

 

But it’s fascinating to see that the usual anti Israel voices on here are also Trump ass lickers. 

The pro-Israel voices (and there aren’t many in case you’re paying attention) are now almost entirely within the GOP. I’m pretty sure that you, and certainly Cruella, have made this point before on the Trump v Biden threads to support the notion that anyone who is pro-Palestine should be the most fervent Biden supporters. The Nation ran a good piece on this GOP support for Israel point a few days ago as well: 

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/tim-walberg-gaza-comments-gop/
 

 

Let’s wait and see how they decide on those arguments

****

Did you read the DC judgement? 

It was a master piece. 

There is absolutely no reason why SCOTUS should have even accepted the application.  They should have simply affirmed the lower courts decision. 

The fact they are even CONSIDERING the issue of giving POTUS 100% total immunity is ridiculous. 

oh and waiting till they’ve decided that he does will be TOO fookIN late.

 

And for the record

I’m not predicting the end of the world.

I think he will lose in November in a fooking landslide and that DEMS will take the House and the Senate. 

 

How anyone of sound mind (including the Republican Party generally) could be indifferent to this demonstrably morally and financially corrupt simpleton lunatic is beyond me. 
Be very very careful what you don’t care about. 
 

Not sure whether that was directed at me PS or just a general statement. I’m not indifferent to Trump at all. I’ve said before and will repeat again; he’s an unmitigated piece of shlt. But I am confident that, should he be elected (which I don’t think he will) then he will not be able to act as a dictator and I don’t think that any form of civil war will occur in the US. Any attempts to exceed his presidential authority would be frustrated by the SCOTUS who - as evidenced in the link I shared above - have not been the puppets that the likes of Scylla feared that they would become.

Generally Gorlami but I am surprised by your stance tbh. You strike me as having a good moral compass. 
Of Trump I would simply say, don’t judge him by whose side you think he might be on but only by whether you would possibly want ever to be on his. His potential for bad is unfettered. 
That simple principle should unreservedly answer this question. 

SCOTUS has overturned Roe v Wade, which is exactly what the Christian far right backed Trump for and was his intention with his judicial appointments. See also the effect Aileen Cannon is now having. The Christian right is now going for a national abortion ban. Trump is due to make a statement next week on his current position, which means rn he’s getting schooled by those who own him about what he has to say. If he were to get into power again this issue would be only one of the many that would erupt across the US, possibly given it’s a domestic issue having more of an effect on the psyche than the fact he would pull out of nato, hand Ukraine to Putin. And on and on. There would be no effective checks on him at all. And any complacency about that is heinous.

Thing is PS, I don’t know how much more clearly I can say this but I despise him as an individual. If I’m guilty of anything, it would be placing too much faith in the rigours of the system in which the POTUS operates. We’ve had a Trump presidency before and it was - as most “expert” opinion agrees - amongst the worst of all presidencies but here we are; the system hasn’t broken. No civil war. No dictatorship.

It too shall pass.

The system was stretched by the last Trump presidency Gorlami, it didnt break but came close, particularly at the end.   The system doesn't break until it does.  Attempts to criminilise the opposition will be a huge feature of a Trump presidency which in itself will threaten the system.

Bertha thinks the path to dictatorship is through domestic abortion policy and yet has the temerity to call others morons and dipshits. You couldn’t make this up.

it didnt break but came close, particularly at the end

A couple of thousand people storming the Capitol to try to get Mike Pence not to ratify the election result was nowhere near to being close. 
 

If you want to control the populace, controlling their reproductive rights is a good place to start. If you weren’t worried by the sight of the Capitol heaving with a bloodthirsty mob you’re even more of a moron than your posts suggest. You are doing exactly what you accuse others of - trying to shut down discussion. Now go away, read some history, and come back prepared to participate in society on a responsible basis. You’re welcome. 

The only saving grace of Trump right now is that he is such a narcissistic egoist that he doesn’t understand he needs to also win the Senate and House.

By taking every single dollar out of the RNC fundraising for himself, and basically bankrupting the GOP he leaves every single other GOP candidate financially crippled for campaigning. 

 

It too shall pass.

****

I bet the citizens of Rome said that too.. 

And Eygpt… 

And every other great civilisation that was perfectly ok… right up until it wasn’t. 

What you don’t seem to understand is that democracy itself is one of those things that ‘it too shall pass’ one day. 

The only question is when and how. 

And if you’ve ever driven Route 66 across the US.. you’d realise that America  and American values have been on the decline since the 70’s. 

This isn’t just a Trump thing… it’s a systemic collapse. 

Trump is just eagerly undermining the remaining foundations in the hope he and his mates will become the equivalent of the Russian Oligarchs when it all comes tumbling down. 
 

If you want to control the populace, controlling their reproductive rights is a good place to start.

I think you may be giving Trump credit for a longer lay than he is capable of even contemplating let alone executing.

 

The entire break up of the Soviet Union took less than 3 and a half years.. from the start of Perestroika to the formal dissolution. 

 

That’s just one second  Trump term.

 

I bet the citizens of Rome said that too.. 

And Eygpt… 

And every other great civilisation that was perfectly ok… right up until it wasn’t. 

What you don’t seem to understand is that democracy itself is one of those things that ‘it too shall pass’ one day. 

The only question is when and how. 

Democracy is being eroded by Biden and other Western countries right now but you’re happy to overlook that and focus only on when Republicans act in a manner that you disapprove of.

On the rest, I completely agree. All nations/civilizations shall pass at some time. I just don’t see the US coming apart at the seams because of Trump. It will take a far better politician with more intellect to achieve what you and Bertha fear.

I think you may be giving Trump credit for a longer lay than he is capable of even contemplating let alone executing.

 

*****

That’s because it’s not just Trump. It’s the Christian Fascists and  others he uses…like Project 2025

Trump couldn’t care less about abortion or reproductive rights. 

 

And by Trump learnt… I mean the team of people around him.

The only thing Trump learned is he can do whatever he pleases and no one can really stop him and there are no consequences.. because by the end of this term he will be dead or so demented it won’t matter. 

Trump is entirely transactional, yes, he’s not a politician in any real sense, he has no ideology, he just assumes the brand that bought him. Same way he licensed his name to all those businesses he didn’t own. And he doesn’t need to be a politician to bring down the country he just needs to be in the WH. His backers will do the rest. 

As I said above, it’s the complacency that lets this stuff happen. And yes, look at Germany in the 20s and 30s, fuelled by grievance, a polity hobbled. Farage is trying the same thing here. All it needed were a few troll farms to push fake Facebook courtesy of Russia, and boom, Europe skewed by Britain leaving the EU. History before our eyes.