What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[Berkut]

On the other hand, I read our discussion and I am fairly certain, it must look exactly like the kind of discussion derspiess and his buddies had the past 8 years, about the end of America and the destruction of everything that's dear. So maybe that gives SOME hope that we are exaggerating.

The difference is in who we're discussing. Whatever people thought of Obama's politics, there was never any question that he was Presidential. We knew what was happening, where things were going. You may not agree with those things, but there was an understanding of what those things were.

With Trump, it's dangerous. Obama never threatened the press or made himself unavailable to them. In fact, the argument was that he wanted them around TOO much, that he pandered to them. Obama never called the intelligence community out as Nazis. He didn't bald-face lie about easily checkable facts.

You're comparing apples to oranges here. I'm not afraid of a Republican in office. I'm afraid of Trump in office, and there is a huge difference.

Of course, but what I am saying is, if you look at the facebook stuff Syt posts in the other thread, for instance, some people were absolutely convinced Obama was a loose cannon hell bent on destroying America. They looked at the presidential guy you (and I) saw, and saw some kind of monster. Same goes for Hillary.

I get what you are saying, but there is a key difference.

Those people were being dumbasses, and we are not.

It is just that simple. Just because two people react in similar ways to dis-similar things doesn't mean there is a parallel between their processes much less their conclusions.

People who think Obama was some secret Muslim who hates America and is hell bent on destroying it, and even worse persist in that belief despite the clear evidence to the contrary, are idiots. The fact that some people think Trump is taking actions that will very likely result in unprecedented harm to America based on the evidence of his character and the things he is actually doing does not at all compare.

This would be a valid comparison (Obama verssus....) if Kasich had been elected, or Jeb, or even Carson.

My despair over Trump would be precisely the same if he was identical except that he convinced the Democrats of the world to line up behind his narcissism and bigotry instead of the Republicans. He is a disaster because of who he is, his character, and what he wants - his party is secondary to all that*.


*It is important in that I don't think he could have done this with the Dems at this time however, due to the relevant specific factors around each party as they exist today.

[FunkMonk]

I dipped my toe into the alt right Twitter and they are talking about retaliation for the "punch a nazi" stuff.

Shit might just get real. Or they may just jerk off in their parent's basement.

Most alt-right boobs I think it's fair to say are giant Internet pussies. It's the organized neo-nazis I'm more worried about, especially if they feel more empowered with Donald in charge. But we'll see I guess.

[The Minsky Moment]

I get what you are saying, but there is a key difference.

Those people were being dumbasses, and we are not.

And this false equivalence is also at the heart of Trump's bitter tantrums with the press.  After months of allowing themselves to be played, the press finally moved off the ridiculous practice of giving equal and balanced consideration of the claims and statements of Normal Candidate A, and Trump's bizarro-world twitter feed.  The journalists have regained just enough self-respect that they are no longer covering outrageous falsehoods as some kind of abstract truth claim worthy of philosophical inquiry.  They are calling the whoppers for what they are and proceeding directly to inquiring about motivation and impact, as they would do when such things occur in any other setting.

[viper37]

But hey, everybody's 401k should make some mad bank the next few years.   What's good for ExxonMobil is good for ExxonMobil.  #UnitedFruit

I've pulled out all my investments from the US and redirected them to Asia and Europe.  Way too much volatility in the US right now.  Once Trump's 8 years are over and the US enters its reconstruction phase and get solidly implanted as a "recovering economy", kinda like Mexico, then it'll be time to reinvest there.

[viper37]

I hope all the people involved in impeachment discussions are keeping detailed notes.  I want to read about it when it's over.

My speculation is everyone who matters agrees in theory but prudent people are worried about violent reactions from Trump supporters.

The Republicans don't need to impeach him so long as he gives them what they want.  The proposal to remove 75% of the US Federal government and freeze federal hirings sounds like music to Tea-Partyers.  As I said before, it looks like he's dismantling the Federal government and the State would have to pick up what's left. 

I am not knowledgeable enough of your political system to know if it can be done though.  Can individual states regulate stock market, carbon emissions, trade tariffs from other US States, etc?

Anyway, the Tillerson appointment has proven that Republicans somehow fear Trump & his supporters and are willing to sacrifice their country for a tiny bit more of local power.

[viper37]

I simply don't think impeachment will happen.  It is four years of Trump.  Maybe eight.

Yeah, I thought it could happen, but it looks like the Republicans would need to grow a spine, and it's not happenning anytime soon.  Unless they can be proven beyond absolute facts that he's a Russian tool, it won't happen.

[viper37]

The only surprising thing is evangelicals and Midwestern working class stiffs embracing him as Man of the People.

It's no surprise.

Since childhood, these people have been told they are God's chosen and a Messiah will come and save them if they work toward achieving God's kingdom on Earth.  It's no surprise that a perceive strong man with a conservative agenda will be seen as a saviour.  We're talking the same kind of people that join sects and commit mass sacrifice to reach their newfound God.

[viper37]

The evangelical thing puzzles me.  I've come to the conclusion that they don't actually give a shit about Christian morality.

He's going to stop funding abortion on the international level.  He's going to fight abortion any way he can within the limits of Roe vs Wade, if he can't somehow get the Supreme Court to revisit that ruling.  He's going to make it hard on transgenders and gays as if they were living in hell.  He dislikes Blacks, the people marked by Cain.
Sounds like paradise to the ultra religious.

Sure, he ain't a saint.  But everyone will be living in some puratinical heaven (or hell, depending on one's point of view), so there's only soul left to be saved, not a million.  It's a victory for them.

[Razgovory]

Do you know any of these people, cause the "mark of Cain" thing made you sound like an idiot.

[viper37]

I wonder if LaCroix is just trying to simulate what it must be like to be Kellyanne Conway.

He voted for Trump and he's hoping for the best, but he's mostly trying to convince himself he didn't make the single greatest mistake of his entire existence.

[viper37]

Withdrawing from TPP is a colossal blunder for American geostrategic interests. It seems to me he's the one declaring victory after lining up three pawns on a chessboard.

I wouldn't say it's a colossal blunder, but I agree it's a mistake.

Surrendering american interests to foreign interests as a way to save 13$/hour jobs instead of creating 75$/hr jobs is a simple mistake to you? Wow.

[Berkut]

Withdrawing from TPP is a colossal blunder for American geostrategic interests. It seems to me he's the one declaring victory after lining up three pawns on a chessboard.

I wouldn't say it's a colossal blunder, but I agree it's a mistake.

Surrendering american interests to foreign interests as a way to save 13$/hour jobs instead of creating 75$/hr jobs is a simple mistake to you? Wow.

This is the guy who said Trump was a better option than Clinton because of her email server.

How can you even pretend surprise?

[viper37]

Do you know any of these people, cause the "mark of Cain" thing made you sound like an idiot.

Baptist segregation

The split between the Northern and Southern Baptist organizations arose over doctrinal issues pertaining to slavery and the education of slaves. At the time of the split, the Southern Baptist group used the curse of Cain as a justification for slavery. Some 19th- and 20th-century Baptist ministers in the Southern United States taught that there were two separate heavens; one for blacks, and one for whites.[22] Baptists have taught or practiced various forms of racial segregation well into the mid-to-late-20th century, though members of all races were accepted at worship services.[23] In 1995, the Southern Baptist Convention officially denounced racism and apologized for its past defense of slavery.[24]


I just don't think all of them are over it.  But I admit to using hyperbole.

[MadImmortalMan]

Restarting Keystone XL. But, do we really need it amymore? Seems like Alberta has become a basket case.

[viper37]

Withdrawing from TPP is a colossal blunder for American geostrategic interests. It seems to me he's the one declaring victory after lining up three pawns on a chessboard.

I wouldn't say it's a colossal blunder, but I agree it's a mistake.

Surrendering american interests to foreign interests as a way to save 13$/hour jobs instead of creating 75$/hr jobs is a simple mistake to you? Wow.

This is the guy who said Trump was a better option than Clinton because of her email server.

How can you even pretend surprise?

I know.  I keep hoping he'll wake up and see the world as it is.  He did say his honeymoon would quickly transform into some kind of hangover (I don't remember the exact words).