What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[Neil]

A lot of people are going to look very foolish if Trump turns out to continue his support for Ukraine, both on the pro-Putin wing of the Republicans and the people who have been telling us that Trump is a Russian agent.

[Syt]

It will come down to what he will get from Putin. If anything, he's looking at this as a bargaining situation, and he'll be happy to stop Ukraine support and "negotiate" a settlement if the price is right.

[Barrister]

It will come down to what he will get from Putin. If anything, he's looking at this as a bargaining situation, and he'll be happy to stop Ukraine support and "negotiate" a settlement if the price is right.

I'm still convinced Trump would happily sell Ukraine, and Zelenskyy, down the river.  Despite the fact that Zelenskyy has been trying hard to gain Trump's support I don't think Trump will ever forget that Ukraine was the reason for his first impeachment.

But it does seem like Putin isn't really prepared to give even a single inch on Ukraine.  At this point he's gambled his entire legacy and Presidency on being the next Peter the Great and "gathering Russian lands".

Putin seems unlikely to accept a mere cease-fire.  Trump seems to realize that just completely caving to Putin (which would mean a cease-fire and dropping sanctions) would make him seem weak.

I've mentioned I still use Twitter.  I've seen a few times an interesting style of posts - trying to establish Ukraine as a kind of MAGA-paradise.  Namely that's it's free market, church-going, trans-unfriendly, and the like.  Which has an element of truth to it, but it an interesting positioning.  Mind you it's nothing I think Trump really cares about.  Instead I think they should be offering to build Trump Tower Kiyev.

[viper37]

Did Trump's executive order just make everyone in the U.S. female?


So, ladies, how are you this morning?

[Sheilbh]

A lot of people are going to look very foolish if Trump turns out to continue his support for Ukraine, both on the pro-Putin wing of the Republicans and the people who have been telling us that Trump is a Russian agent.

I mentioned earlier but I think there's a possibility Trump will actually increase support for Ukraine (that's certainly been suggested by people around him) if he wants to do a deal and it's Putin saying no. I wouldn't be surprised if Trump tried to increase the pressure on Putin to force him to accept a deal.

And I don't think Putin wants to do a deal. I think his goals are maximalist and he thinks he's winning. That's something I've always thought that the Putinverstehers talking about a ceasefire have misunderstood (or - they're so into Russian propaganda they genuinely think the only cause of the war is Ukraine).

I've mentioned I still use Twitter.  I've seen a few times an interesting style of posts - trying to establish Ukraine as a kind of MAGA-paradise.  Namely that's it's free market, church-going, trans-unfriendly, and the like.  Which has an element of truth to it, but it an interesting positioning.  Mind you it's nothing I think Trump really cares about.  Instead I think they should be offering to build Trump Tower Kiyev.

I think Zelensky's team are fantastic at propaganda and will pivot as needed - I know his chief of staff was framing congrats to Trump on his inauguration as "America is back". It's ungrateful to Biden, but they've got a war to fight.

And it's sort of the inverse of what's previously been the case of positioning themselves as the "anti-Russia": pro-LGBT, basically a Western European country accidentally not in the EU. There's some truth to it, but also a lot of spin.

[Valmy]

I think Zelensky's team are fantastic at propaganda and will pivot as needed - I know his chief of staff was framing congrats to Trump on his inauguration as "America is back". It's ungrateful to Biden, but they've got a war to fight.

And it's sort of the inverse of what's previously been the case of positioning themselves as the "anti-Russia": pro-LGBT, basically a Western European country accidentally not in the EU. There's some truth to it, but also a lot of spin.

They also learned from the Soviets how the truth doesn't really matter.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

and in the mean time Ukraine has apparently reached a 33% self-sufficiency in military gear. And they're still expanding...

and of course Putins goals are maximalist. What he wants is control over Ukraine: direct or indirect. Either will do as long as he can control the state, its resources and its people to the advantage of Russia. Which is the main reason why Russia absolutely needs to lose this, and lose this 'bigly'.

[Barrister]

Did Trump's executive order just make everyone in the U.S. female?


So, ladies, how are you this morning?

I thought about writing something longer - but I think I'll just leave it at:

That article is just silly.

YOu can say whatever you will about Trump's anti-Trans EO, but it did not make everyone female.

[Sheilbh]

They also learned from the Soviets how the truth doesn't really matter.

I'm not a massive fan of the idea of "truth" generally - I think there are facts, but truth is always an analysis or interpretation. But I don't think any state at war (especially in an existential war) really cares about truth.

Ukraine does propaganda. They're very good at it and there's nothing wrong with that. Any country at war, particularly for their survival, does propaganda - they need to boost morale domestically and internationally and win support around the world.

[Valmy]

Did Trump's executive order just make everyone in the U.S. female?


So, ladies, how are you this morning?

I thought about writing something longer - but I think I'll just leave it at:

That article is just silly.

YOu can say whatever you will about Trump's anti-Trans EO, but it did not make everyone female.

It is the kind of bullshit that pisses me off. Trump and his crew want you to think everything is a joke and funny.

This shit isn't funny. It isn't cute. American Citizens are going to suffer due to this kind of shit.

[viper37]

It is the kind of bullshit that pisses me off. Trump and his crew want you to think everything is a joke and funny.

This shit isn't funny. It isn't cute. American Citizens are going to suffer due to this kind of shit.

There's not much else I can do.

It leaves a whole bunch of people in a legal void.

[The Minsky Moment]

A lot of people are going to look very foolish if Trump turns out to continue his support for Ukraine, both on the pro-Putin wing of the Republicans and the people who have been telling us that Trump is a Russian agent.

I'd be very happy to look foolish if it means Ukraine gets the aid it needs.  I'd gladly march up and down the street with an "I am a fool sign" if it means that  Trump gets the Russians out of Ukraine.

But I'm not rushing out to buy posterboard yet.