What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[Syt]

I'm confident that I care about preserving democracy in America

What are actions you're taking towards that end?

[Admiral Yi]

What are actions you're taking towards that end?

Trying to get Democrats to shut up.

[Oexmelin]

I couldn't know what you do or do not do, and I do not doubt your commitment to American democracy, even if I know you dislike mass demonstrations. My comment about apathy wasn't directed at you specifically. It stems from my experience in the US, and my impression that  general shrugging of shoulders, a belief about "pendulum" or "arc of justice", or rationalizing, or waiting for something to happen, or the illusion of activism that stems from engaging in fights on social media, is somehow going to change things.

Maybe I am wrong, and mass demonstrations won't change a thing. Maybe phone calls is still the way to do. Maybe it's TikTok. Or teach-ins at tailgate parties. Maybe it's suing in court, and waiting for it to effect change. Maybe it's still giving billions to the Democrats. Whatever it is, it's not being done with nearly the sense of urgency, dedication, and seriousness, that I think is warranted. And I think part of the answer is that the Democrats' leadership, and a bunch of their confortable, professional supporters, are, on some level, convinced that they, at least, will be alright and get through this unscathed. As of now, my despair stems from the sentiment that Democrats have tried nothing and are all out of options; and that very little pressure is applied to institutions, representatives, and Senators to trace lines in the sand.

I see messages from former colleagues writing stuff like "joy is an act of resistance" or that scholarship is the true form of resistance and I want to tear my eyeballs out at the sheer naïveté, or political stupidity of some many. As if another article about Puritan's stance on mariage or the nature of a media franchise is the perfect response to the time we live in. They spend hours agonizing over the sort of message of grief they should craft to their students but can't seem to fathom how to use tenure to put collective pressure on their own instituons that are right now giving every sign of rushing to comply even as all government funding is about to be politicized and weaponized.

Anger is a very strong political motivation. So far, the only angry people are those who have elected those self satisfied ghouls and parasites who are now running the show. I wouldn't want to wait patiently for the lesson to kick in if I were you.

[crazy canuck]

What are actions you're taking towards that end?

Trying to get Democrats to shut up.

And there it is, the way to a better democracy is no democracy.

[Grey Fox]

What are actions you're taking towards that end?

Trying to get Democrats to shut up.

Why do you want that, Yi?

[viper37]

Ok, but that does not explain why the Dems have been caught so flat footed now.  If anything your observations indicate the Dems should definitely have been better prepared with their own plan on day 1.

No-bo-dy-was-lis-te-ning.

They-we-re-deaf.

I am nearly deaf and I could hear the message loud and clear at the Federal level: "Your rights are in danger, democracy is in danger, our nation is in danger, what makes America great is in danger, vote for us".

People weren't listening.  "My eggs are expensive!  My house cost too much!  Gas cost too much!  Israel bombs Gaza!  The Democrats have not done anything for the Black people!  Time to teach them a lesson!  We Latinos must place our Faith on God and vote for the party of God!  Abortion is a sin!"

A) You can't fight ultra religious people who have been brainswashed and under educated for 2 or 3 generations in 4 months

B) You can't educate people about inflation when they aren't reading newspapers and the social medias are controlled by your enemmies.  People get their info on X and TikTok.  Musk decides who gets to see what on X.  So does Tik Tok execs.

C) Harris had 4 months to prepare herself and form a coherent strategy, that's not a lot of time.

D) I agree with Valmy that the fossils needs to go, but I don't see much hope in the young ones either.  The AOC wing is the same as Bernie Sanders and while they may appeal to the young populist, they repulse anyone with an education in economics/finance/business, people from the center, people whom the Democrats absolutely need.

E) You can talk as much as you want, but I have learn from very personal experience that when people refuse to listen and educate themselves, there is no point arguing with them or even trying to point them in the right direction.  Everything is a conspiracy, everything is a lie and they know the truth.  See vaccinations causes autism, finance is wizardry, or closer to home: all lawyers are ambulance chasing scumbags (or alternatively, they belong to the same race as scavengers birds). 

F) People in Europe are voting AfD, RN or other Far Right extremist party.  In Canada, the younger generation has been turning toward the Conservative Party of Pierre Poilièvre for a time.  The same age group that elected Justin Trudeau with a majority government in 2015, the same people who split their votes between the NPD and LPC are now saying they prefer a Conservative Party majority government.  Though that might change with Mark Carney, it still indicates a shift to the right as he is slightly more right-leaning than JT on many issues. 

We have a thread here started by Jacob about this very movement where many of the new gen is turning right, more conservative leaning.  Mix it with religion and you have an explosive mix in the making to turn to fascism.

[viper37]

Btw, say hello to your new history programs:

"Patriotic education" means a presentation of the history of America grounded in:
(i)    an accurate, honest, unifying, inspiring, and ennobling characterization of America's founding and foundational principles;
(ii)  a clear examination of how the United States has admirably grown closer to its noble principles throughout its history;
(iii)  the concept that commitment to America's aspirations is beneficial and justified; and
(iv)  the concept that celebration of America's greatness and history is proper."

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-indoctrination-in-k-12-schooling/

There isn't supposed to be a Federal department of education, so it shouldn't be a problem.
/s

[viper37]

Even as your country descends into fascism, you'd rather continue to cheer about dead Palestinians, and blame anyone but your corrupt institutions, inept political party, and authoritarian countrymen.

Some Republicans will gladly endure some pains as long as they own the Libs!!!

Anything to fuck with other people.

Raz may vote for the Dems, but he only does so he won't lose  his Medicaid.  For the rest, at heart, he is a very good Republican and rejoice in the suffering of others just as much as the average GOPtard.

[viper37]

So how many unattached European Languishites are willing to engage in a marriage of convenience, in order to help save some of our North American brethren? 

The way things are going in Canada, we might need refuge too.

[viper37]

I dread waking up now. It seems that the awfulness will just never slow down and that every day some fresh hell awaits trans folks (amongst so many others). 

An adult in a blue State might be spared the worst.  But I'd hate being a teen discovering myself in one of those fucked up places.

[viper37]

I remember you were bitter when Hezbollah had their pager accidents, so I figured you shared the David Duke vision of the Middle East.

I've had my disagreements with Oex, and I know I wasn't the most agreeable of person at some times and that's the reason he now ignores me.

But you know what Raz?  You're a fucking moron, and I sincerely hope you lose your medical coverage, maybe, just maybe it will teach you humility and compassion, but I doubt it.

You're a fucking moron, and you belong to the NeoNaziGOP party with your brethren FFS.

[viper37]

So I guess the only answer to all upcoming fascist shit simply needs to be: Americans were warned that would happen if Trump got reelected?

Yes.  The only way the US gets better is if Trump voters learn an object lesson from the consequences of their choices.

Did Putin voters learn an object lesson fromt he consequences of their choices?

[Valmy]

Those protests really hurt us in this election.

The whole conflict did. We got hurt from both directions.

[Tamas]

A thought, and I am not even sure how directly it feeds into what you guys are arguing about: it doesn't matter how Trump won. He has won and will shape the country for 4 years. Orban didn't win the 2010 election so much as the leftist parties utterly lost it. Didn't slow him down in taking the chance given to make sure he would never have to run on a fair election ever again.

Also I deeply disagree with Yi's shut up and let them suffer stance even if I sympathise with it. Apathy is now well documentedly the chief weapon of the Putin-style modern elective autocracy (can't think of a better term). The stupid madness they sell as their program and world view can only actually convince a minority. They need the passivity and division of the majority to maintain their hold.

[viper37]

There are plenty of object lessons.  UK fishermen learned that leaving the EU negatively impacted their livelihoods.  Trump voters will hopefully learn that mass deportations and mass tariffs affect them negatively through higher prices for goods and services.  Arab voters will hopefully learn that voting for Trump does not create a beneficial outcome for Gazans.

UK Fisherman did not face the dismantling of their democratic institutions and government.
US voters do so.

Legal citizens of the United States are arrested and detained because they are of the wrong skin color.  Eventually released, but they are nonethelessed harassed.  This is political intimidation.

Republican politicians who do not fall in line are intimidated, either politically, and, if it does not work, death threats follows for them and their families.  Proud Boys have been released for jail, and it was not simply an act of mercy or reward for loyal supporters of the President.  The militia serve a purpose, and they are rounding up anyone who does not look like a White American in some sectors.

Even if Arab voters change their mind in Michigan, it's too late.  There's not going to be another fair Presidential election and the next mid terms do not favor Democrats by default, even if it wasn't likely to be rigged by cheaters.

D. Trump his already boasting that his pal Elon helped him rigg the voting machines in Pennsylvania and I honestly do not know what to think about it.  On the one hand, it's easy to dismiss as another sillyness from Trump who knows nothing, on the other, both Musk and Trump have boasted about cheating before and after the elections and seemed very confident of the electoral result well in advance.

In any case, what will happen next will be voter suppression in key districts to prevent the vote from going out.  Good luck trying to do anything about it.
The Republican party has a lock on another Presidential mandate, they will keep control of both chambers of Congress, they will naturally keep the Supreme Court, and there won't be a Federal State left to reverse anything, unlike in the UK.

There will be no lessons to be learnt here.

Democrats have not been sitting around patiently waiting for Trumpists to learn object lessons.  They have been talking nonstop about all the ways that Trumpists are wrong.  All that talking led to an *increase* in Trump's vote.  That has led me to the conclusion that the only people capable of changing their minds are themselves.

I totally agree with that.  People are unwilling to listen.

A lot of Americans agree with what they see.  People like Raz are happy to see that others are suffering more than they are, so long as they don't suffer too much.

I don't care if you take a jab at my "apathy."  I'm confident that I care about preserving democracy in America

But you caring is not enough.  This is what Oex has been saying for the last 6-7 years.

I care about Democracy too.

And I'll have to resign myself into giving money to the LPC as well as the Bloc if things keep going like that, as I can't allow Canadian MAGAs to come anywhere close to reaching a position of authority in my country.  This is the only stand I can make.

I will feel dirty for it, I will have to ritually cleanse myself, but at least, I will feel like I have done my part for the country I live in.

I can't allow the moron who refuses to get his security clearance to become Prime Sinister.