Donald J Trump

[maryportfuncity 10,017]

So, Trump laid into Nikki Haley as "an impostor" in his victory speech. Seems remarkably spooked by someone 12 points down on him. News discussions this morning suggest firstly that Haley might simply hang in there thinking a combi of the prosecutions of Trump plus the financial drain of campaigning and fighting multiple and massive legal cases might do for him. Secondly, that maybe she's already a busted flush, New Hampshire was her best chance and in a month's time in Carolina with a state firmly behind Trump she might be forced to pack it in. 

 

Interesting times etc. etc. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-us-canada-68010551

[prussianblue 792]

4 hours ago, maryportfuncity said:

So, Trump laid into Nikki Haley as "an impostor" in his victory speech. Seems remarkably spooked by someone 12 points down on him. News discussions this morning suggest firstly that Haley might simply hang in there thinking a combi of the prosecutions of Trump plus the financial drain of campaigning and fighting multiple and massive legal cases might do for him. Secondly, that maybe she's already a busted flush, New Hampshire was her best chance and in a month's time in Carolina with a state firmly behind Trump she might be forced to pack it in. 

 

Interesting times etc. etc. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-us-canada-68010551

 

I've yet to see anyone articulate what Haley stands for. She's undoubtedly Not Trump, but is there anything beyond that? The people of South Carolina presumably know more than most, so how she does there will say a lot. If she makes it, of course. Personally the idea the nominee will be anyone other than Trump is fantasy. 

[The Old Crem 3,181]

On 22/01/2024 at 06:58, MrWonderful said:

Yeah, it won't be him; that doesn't help Trump in any way.  The GOP now has Florida locked up in presidential elections, and DeSantis is also hard-right so it doesn't really help him pull from the pool of swing voters in swing states.  Pence was a strategic pick to try to get Evangelicals; we'll see where his campaign goes this time.  

I can see it being Marjorie Taylor Greene or someone just as controversial as her.

[Ulitzer95 11,087]

46 minutes ago, The Old Crem said:

I can see it being Marjorie Taylor Greene or someone just as controversial as her.

Nah, definitely won’t be her. She’s too much of a nut. He can’t risk losing because of a poor VP choice.

[Spade_Cooley 9,023]

Put your rent on Elise Stefanik: she's been part of the Republican "establishment" since the early 2000s, but still kept enough distance to be able to portray herself as an outsider. She's female, which if you buy the "Trump's downfall will be college-educated women" argument is a great buffer. She's Catholic, which can neuter Biden's advantages with left-footers. She's got history supporting gay marriage, and I've got a suspicion Trump might go with a "Drop the T" gimmick this time out, the 2024 equivalent of the "Based Black Man" moves so beloved by alt-righters. Her only weakness as far as I can see is she made a massive fuck-up by being a George Santos defender up until the point it was clear he couldn't continue. 

[RoverAndOut 3,486]

1 hour ago, Ulitzer95 said:

Nah, definitely won’t be her. She’s too much of a nut. He can’t risk losing because of a poor VP choice.

 

A.K.A. the John McCain strategy. 

[msc 17,763]

59 minutes ago, RoverAndOut said:

 

A.K.A. the John McCain strategy. 

 

For Trump yes. For my liking he can nominate Jeremy Corbyn on a pogo stick promising tax rises to all male Republican voters as VP!

[BonScott 121]

Trump will win by a landslide no matter who he appoints as VP, Biden been the worst president ever, if he is on the ballot paper Trump will win by a landslide, Dems need to dump Senile Joe and his beyond useless VP or face wipeout in November

 

Trump is going to win because he is not Biden similarly dullard  Starmer is going to win because he is not Sunak

[Great Uncle Bulgaria 1,051]

20 minutes ago, BonScott said:

similarly dullard  Starmer is going to win because he is not Sunak

Starrmer might yet not win because he is a dullard. The British people love charisma. The dullard (albeit principled, for a Tory) Theresa May did very badly against the unelectable Jeremy Corbin yet the charismatic (if generally unprincipled) Boris won a landslide against the same person.

 

He also might not yet win because the Tory press will spend the next 6-9 months mercilessly slagging him off. There's an awful lot of people over 70 still believing whatever they read in the daily mail/Torygraph/Sun. Inflation and interest rates will both be lower in 6-9 months too. I don't think a working labour majority is a done deal by any means. It should be but it isn't.

[MortalCaso 1,429]

5 hours ago, prussianblue said:

I've yet to see anyone articulate what Haley stands for. She's undoubtedly Not Trump, but is there anything beyond that? The people of South Carolina presumably know more than most, so how she does there will say a lot. If she makes it, of course. Personally the idea the nominee will be anyone other than Trump is fantasy. 

Nikki Haley's geopolitical beliefs are quite different. She wants to fund Ukraine, stay in the UN/NATO, and alter the perceptions the world has about us (aka no America First)

[YoungWillz 19,104]

If you want my tuppence, and why should you?

 

Trump is a coward who failed to do service for his country in Vietnam. He perceives himself as the big bully, but on an international footing he is quite happy to hang off the arm of bigger more experienced political bullies.

 

And give in to them.

 

Domestically folk think he’s a successful businessman, when nearly all his businesses have failed. You can’t simply declare America bankrupt and start again like his uni or casino or literally everything else.

His last term floated on Obama’s recovery plans. I see nothing from his lips as to how America reduces its debt and readies that country for a future. Because the voters’ children and grandkids will be dancing on a burning ball of fire. Those that remain above water.

 

That’s before you get to his king or even god delusion and his sexual assault and other things. 
 

Neither contender is really fit to continue a presidency. So unless there is something major changing in their candidacies, I fear USA will no longer be the beacon of hope some of us grew up with. 
 

Bon chance ordinary folks.

 

[BonScott 121]

25 minutes ago, Great Uncle Bulgaria said:

Starrmer might yet not win because he is a dullard. The British people love charisma. The dullard (albeit principled, for a Tory) Theresa May did very badly against the unelectable Jeremy Corbin yet the charismatic (if generally unprincipled) Boris won a landslide against the same person.

 

He also might not yet win because the Tory press will spend the next 6-9 months mercilessly slagging him off. There's an awful lot of people over 70 still believing whatever they read in the daily mail/Torygraph/Sun. Inflation and interest rates will both be lower in 6-9 months too. I don't think a working labour majority is a done deal by any means. It should be but it isn't.

If Starmer was up against Boris imho he would lose, you are right re charisma, but Rishi Sunak is just a slick used car salesman, has an irritating posh girly voice, polished gnashers, I don’t see him winning an election, will either be a Labour govt on its own or in coalition with Lib Dems/SNP IMHO

[The Old Crem 3,181]

4 hours ago, Spade_Cooley said:

Put your rent on Elise Stefanik: she's been part of the Republican "establishment" since the early 2000s, but still kept enough distance to be able to portray herself as an outsider. She's female, which if you buy the "Trump's downfall will be college-educated women" argument is a great buffer. She's Catholic, which can neuter Biden's advantages with left-footers. She's got history supporting gay marriage, and I've got a suspicion Trump might go with a "Drop the T" gimmick this time out, the 2024 equivalent of the "Based Black Man" moves so beloved by alt-righters. Her only weakness as far as I can see is she made a massive fuck-up by being a George Santos defender up until the point it was clear he couldn't continue. 

The times are saying either or Sarah Huckabee Sanders. 

The Tories (And by the time of the Election Labour as well) are already running a drop the T campaign in the UK.

[BonScott 121]

Its been said in GOP circles for some time that Trump wants Don Jr to succeed him in 4 years time so Don Jr as VP to train him up for POTUS in 2028? 

[Sod's Law 219]

31 minutes ago, YoungWillz said:

If you want my tuppence, and why should you?

 

Trump is a coward who failed to do service for his country in Vietnam. He perceives himself as the big bully, but on an international footing he is quite happy to hang off the arm of bigger more experienced political bullies.

 

And give in to them.

 

Domestically folk think he’s a successful businessman, when nearly all his businesses have failed. You can’t simply declare America bankrupt and start again like his uni or casino or literally everything else.

His last term floated on Obama’s recovery plans. I see nothing from his lips as to how America reduces its debt and readies that country for a future. Because the voters’ children and grandkids will be dancing on a burning ball of fire. Those that remain above water.

 

That’s before you get to his king or even god delusion and his sexual assault and other things. 
 

Neither contender is really fit to continue a presidency. So unless there is something major changing in their candidacies, I fear USA will no longer be the beacon of hope some of us grew up with. 
 

Bon chance ordinary folks.

 

While I'd agree with you there, the US seems to be blessed with a good amount of safeguards to protect against the incompetence of its own leaders which would be the envy of most countries, a lot of which is the result of its economic clout and the whole separation of powers thing. For example, a Liz Truss-type figure being president would never be in a position to damage the US economy in the same way the UK economy was damaged under Truss. There ironically seems to be even more at stake in the world outside of the US than in the US itself if Trump gets back in and starts opening the floodgates for Putin in Europe. Kind of a shame the rest of the 'free world' doesn't get to vote for the leader of it in a way. 

[BonScott 121]

1 minute ago, Sod's Law said:

While I'd agree with you there, the US seems to be blessed with a good amount of safeguards to protect against the incompetence of its own leaders which would be the envy of most countries, a lot of which is the result of its economic clout and the whole separation of powers thing. For example, a Liz Truss-type figure being president would never be in a position to damage the US economy in the same way the UK economy was damaged under Truss. There ironically seems to be even more at stake in the world outside of the US than in the US itself if Trump gets back in and starts opening the floodgates for Putin in Europe. Kind of a shame the rest of the 'free world' doesn't get to vote for the leader of it in a way. 

Bit harsh on Liz Truss tbf, she was full of great ideas such as free zones, massive tax cuts especially for the higher earners, a return of duty free shopping for tourists etc, but her ‘crime’ was bringing them all in in one go as opposed to over a few budgets

 

The blob in the civil service combined with the city bought her down, great shame as she had great ideas, plus she held the country together with great dignity when our beloved Queen died

 

Great policies but too much too soon, sad, she could have been one of the great PM’s 

[Joey Russ 7,119]

Yeah this is one of the TFGs folk (too far gone)

[YoungWillz 19,104]

38 minutes ago, Sod's Law said:

While I'd agree with you there, the US seems to be blessed with a good amount of safeguards to protect against the incompetence of its own leaders which would be the envy of most countries, a lot of which is the result of its economic clout and the whole separation of powers thing. For example, a Liz Truss-type figure being president would never be in a position to damage the US economy in the same way the UK economy was damaged under Truss. There ironically seems to be even more at stake in the world outside of the US than in the US itself if Trump gets back in and starts opening the floodgates for Putin in Europe. Kind of a shame the rest of the 'free world' doesn't get to vote for the leader of it in a way. 

If Trump’s first presidency perhaps told us anything, it showed how the safeguards you mention can easily have a coach and horses driven through them.

 

Trump has promised only those who bend the knee to him will get appointed to positions. That if anything should worry folks. Those who drew him back from nuking tornados for example won’t be there. 
 

The economy has its safeguards, true. But where does America’s future lie? Surely not in a deep and dim past of fossil fuels, racism and women’s bodies being controlled by men?

 

The promise of leading by innovation and entrepreneurship has been lost somewhere. All very worrying that a more dynamic president with more promise cannot find a way to deliver.

[prussianblue 792]

39 minutes ago, Joey Russ said:

Yeah this is one of the TFGs folk (too far gone)

 

I'd say he was one of the fucking morons.

[prussianblue 792]

For anyone thinking that Trump can't do much damage domestically, you might want to look up Project 2025. It's not a shadowy conspiracy theory, it's a think-tank crafted blueprint for overt totalitarianism that's had glossy press events and publicity. Tufton Street on steroids.

[jd24fan 66]

I've seen clips lately of Trump during rallies and interviews, and I think he's declining very rapidly with all of his indictments. Confusing Pelosi with Nikki Haley and thinking she ran security at the Capitol, thinking Obama's still president,  claiming Biden tried to get us into WW2, using made-up words like "debanking", and just all-around incoherence, and thinking E. Jean Carroll was his wife during a deposition at his civil trial. I'm sure the indictments and trials haven't helped him physically either. I know he's had the slurring and confusion during his presidency, but it seems to be getting worse. He doesn't look that great without the makeup. I believe he's in worse shape than Biden. I know Biden has his moments, but Trump's decline is worse.

[BonScott 121]

3 minutes ago, YoungWillz said:

If Trump’s first presidency perhaps told us anything, it showed how the safeguards you mention can easily have a coach and horses driven through them.

 

Trump has promised only those who bend the knee to him will get appointed to positions. That if anything should worry folks. Those who drew him back from nuking tornados for example won’t be there. 
 

The economy has its safeguards, true. But where does America’s future lie? Surely not in a deep and dim past of fossil fuels, racism and women’s bodies being controlled by men?

 

The promise of leading by innovation and entrepreneurship has been lost somewhere. All very worrying that a more dynamic president with more promise cannot find a way to deliver.

Don’t blame Trump, Biden has had nearly 4 years to stop the invasion of illegals, to put more money in people’s pockets, to turn the economy around, to give people hope for the future, he has done nothing, failed at everything, most useless president of my lifetime, any American voting for 4 years more of Biden is like a turkey voting for christmas 

[Windsor 2,143]

43 minutes ago, BonScott said:

Don’t blame Trump, Biden has had nearly 4 years to stop the invasion of illegals, to put more money in people’s pockets, to turn the economy around, to give people hope for the future, he has done nothing, failed at everything, most useless president of my lifetime, any American voting for 4 years more of Biden is like a turkey voting for christmas 

He hasn’t told Americans to inject themselves with bleach yet, so you know…

[TQR 12,197]

7 minutes ago, Windsor said:

He hasn’t told Americans to inject themselves with bleach yet, so you know…

 

Something which Trump's supporters should at least consider. Take the big man's advice and all that.

[YoungWillz 19,104]

1 hour ago, BonScott said:

Don’t blame Trump, Biden has had nearly 4 years to stop the invasion of illegals, to put more money in people’s pockets, to turn the economy around, to give people hope for the future, he has done nothing, failed at everything, most useless president of my lifetime, any American voting for 4 years more of Biden is like a turkey voting for christmas 

Baffled by this response to what I believed was a measured objective view of the great USA. 
 

At no point do I seek to blame Trump for America’s current issues (except perhaps the whole abortion thing - either it is a state responsibility or it isn’t and the Republicans having successfully returned that matter to the states still seem to want to have federal control of it).

 

I despair as probably many do that this is the choice. Both Trump and Biden have a track record on which they can be judged and neither seems to be a great option.

 

But it is for those citizens of that country to decide. Can you live with that decision on voting day? I don’t envy you guys.