The Trump Presidency 2.0

[Flasch186]

They’re culling the fbi by the thousands


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[RainMaker]

Well we finally defunded the police. Welcome to the resistance Donald Trump.

[Fidatelo]

I think the world will be lucky if you guys just go the route of 90's Russia. I suspect it will look a lot more like 30's Germany.

[JPhillips]

Don't know if it will last, but early on JB Pritzker is easily the highest profile Dem Presidential hopeful who understands what the rank and file of the party wants to see in response to Trump.

[GrantDawg]

Isn't it funny that it is yet another billionaire?

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[Mota]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Like I said, it feels a lot like we're going the 1990's Russia route. Except our Yeltsin isn't a drunk, he's just really dumb. I guess the annoying part of this is the uncertainty. One minute there's 25% tariffs on a country, the next it's delayed, then it's back on, then it's going to encompass Europe, then who fucking knows. People are just winging it.

He's not dumb, he's evil. This is malicious.

He is single handedly turning the USA into an enemy of the world. He is currently an enemy to every other country, and it could negatively change the long-term relationships if this is allowed to fester long enough.

On a good note, his character archetype is going to make a great antagonist for many many movies in a few years. I give it 2 years before you start seeing "evil dictator tries to take over the world" movies.

[PilotMan]

He wants the world to look at him the way it looks at Putin. Out for himself, the desire to be the most important person in the world, out to poke fingers at people who resent him, willing to stab anyone in the back or the front to further his personal advantage, willing to take advantage of stability through inserting instability when it will give him an advantage, whether or not it's moral or ethical.



This is not who the USA is. It's not the USA I was raised in. It's never been who the USA is, and frankly, it paints a giant target on all our backs.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

This is not who the USA is. It's not the USA I was raised in. It's never been who the USA is, and frankly, it paints a giant target on all our backs.

I think you're wrong. Despite knowing what he is he won the popular vote and an electoral college landslide. Made gains in young people and minorities. Despite Jan 6th, the arrests and convictions, the chaos of his first term, people chose him. This is exactly who we are and that is what is most depressing to me.

[JPhillips]

A majority of voters picked someone other than Trump.

[JPhillips]

NTSB says they won't provide information through channels other than X.

X is the official state media now.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

A majority of voters picked someone other than Trump.

I never said otherwise. In fact I purposely didn't say a majority picked him.

It doesn't change the fact that millions sat out either from apathy or protest and here we are.

The fact that he was even on the ticket is a disgrace.

Like it or not this IS who we are now.

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

A majority of voters picked someone other than Trump.

This is different from other democracies how exactly? The American voters made their choice.

[JPhillips]

I think it's important to keep saying Trump was the choice of a minority of voters. There isn't such overwhelming support that nothing can be done to stop what's happening.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I think it's important to keep saying Trump was the choice of a minority of voters. There isn't such overwhelming support that nothing can be done to stop what's happening.

Then why isn't something being done?

He hasn't been in office 2 weeks and he is already committing impeachable offenses.

[JPhillips]

Because too many people, including electeds, think there's overwhelming support for Trump and they're scared to do anything.

[Danny]

I do think its an important point. This isnt what say 75% of the population voted for. Yes a lot of people are getting what they voted for but there is still time to turn thingd srpund. Even 1-2% from the trump voters and 1-2% of non voters is enough to swing future elections.

[cuervo72]

If we emerge from this at some point, we’re gonna need a new system now that Elon’s exfiltrating everyone’s SSN.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Because too many people, including electeds, think there's overwhelming support for Trump and they're scared to do anything.

Liz Cheney says hello...

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Danny

I do think its an important point. This isnt what say 75% of the population voted for. Yes a lot of people are getting what they voted for but there is still time to turn thingd srpund. Even 1-2% from the trump voters and 1-2% of non voters is enough to swing future elections.

There is nothing to indicate that will happen. The man led a coup, committed treason, is a felon, and oversaw the most chaotic 4 year period in our history. That is on top of him so blatantly a horrific person. All that being said he gained 3 million voters and won the election in an EC landslide. He also chipped away in traditionally blue states like mine and made inroads with minorities and young people..

You guys need to come to grips with the fact this is who we are and what people want and that magic line you guys think he will cross someday does not exist.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Because too many people, including electeds, think there's overwhelming support for Trump and they're scared to do anything.

He has literally driven all opposition from the party. He controls the courts. He is putting unqualified yes men in high profile positions to do his bidding.

No one is coming to help. Our only hope at this point is the hamberders do their job.

[JPhillips]

Literally 2 GOP House members can stop any legislation. 4 GOP Senators. They aren't immune to public pressure. Giving up and saying there's nothing to be done is no better than complying before it's necessary.

And if we're at a point where the next election won't happen it's even more important to build as much opposition as possible. Trump's going to win a lot, but those wins don't have to be easy.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Literally 2 GOP House members can stop any legislation. 4 GOP Senators. They aren't immune to public pressure. Giving up and saying there's nothing to be done is no better than complying before it's necessary.

.

Look at the people they are confirming to high level cabinet positions.

You're fooling yourself if you think there will be any resistance. Hopefully when midterms roll around there is some semblance of democracy left, but I suspect some gerrymandering will happen.

[JPhillips]

Your choices are throw up your hands and say nothing can be done or fight back wherever you can.

[Danny]

Were not quite nazi germany yet. There will still be opportunities to get back to some semblence of democracy and justice (though the days of being possibly the greatest country in the world or almost certainly over).

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Your choices are throw up your hands and say nothing can be done or fight back wherever you can.

My point was this is who we are as a nation. People want this, they voted for this. There isn't going to be some epiphany for these people.

I will fight like hell. I have a daughter and a gay son. We are a one income household. I stand to lose a lot if we continue down this path.

None of that changes the fact that for the next 4 years, and maybe more, this is who we are because more people chose this over normalcy and decency. It says something about who we are as a nation that 77 million people, full well knowing what they were doing, voted for him.

I'm on your side man. I get it, you are afraid for your daughter, and should be, but you also have to be real. For the next 2 years at least this is a dictatorship and oligharchy.

[JPhillips]

A minority of people voted for Trump and we're already seeing approval ratings dropping. There's definitely not majority support for a lot of the shit going on now and letting people know they are the majority will only help grow the opposition.

I have no illusions about how bad the next two or four years will be, but I'm not willing to let them do it while I hide in the corner. Most Americans are decent.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Most Americans are decent.

77 million of them either actively support that shit or are OK with it because they were told eggs would be cheaper.

If you want to be like Edward and split hairs, fine, but lets not act like a huge number of people are decent. They chose this.

[JPhillips]

There are 330 million Americans.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

There are 330 million Americans.

You realize at no point have I tried to claim a majority supports him?

We elected him under our process. This is who we are now.

[Lathum]

I am seeing reports Canadas plan to retaliate to the Trump tariffs is to hurt the red states.

I laughed.

[JPhillips]

We got a win today and the money for PEPFAR has been restored. Literally millions of people have lived longer lives because of PEPFAR and the outrage from lots of different angles changed the policy.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I am seeing reports Canadas plan to retaliate to the Trump tariffs is to hurt the red states.

I laughed.

The smart approach would be to target the oligarchs. Heavy tariffs on Tesla products. Loosen tariffs on Chinese EVs. If we're going to just turn into a Russia style economy, treat it that way in retaliation.

[cuervo72]

I’ve seen rumblings that some Canadians are discussing that, yeah.

Would also be interesting if countries seized Trump properties. Bold, but interesting.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Liz Cheney says hello...

A person objectively more evil than Trump.

I don't think much has changed besides optics. Politicians did evil things and most Americans support those evil things. But it's acceptable to do those things as long as you hide it behind some fancy political speech or wave a pride flag every year for a few days.

What throws people off about Trump is he's more transparent in the grift and what he's doing. He isn't hiding this shit behind dogwhistles and intermediaries. I think that's why it's been so difficult for Democrats to counter him. They treat him as some aberration that will go away when he's really just a run-of-the-mill conservative with some populist ideas who doesn't care about the optics.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

A person objectively more evil than Trump.

I don't think much has changed besides optics. Politicians did evil things and most Americans support those evil things. But it's acceptable to do those things as long as you hide it behind some fancy political speech or wave a pride flag every year for a few days.

What throws people off about Trump is he's more transparent in the grift and what he's doing. He isn't hiding this shit behind dogwhistles and intermediaries. I think that's why it's been so difficult for Democrats to counter him. They treat him as some aberration that will go away when he's really just a run-of-the-mill conservative with some populist ideas who doesn't care about the optics.

I get your Neocon schtick, but this is such next level horseshit.

He's putting Kash fucking Patel in charge of the FBI

[RainMaker]

Her family killed a million innocent civilians to juice the stock in their family business.

[PilotMan]

FBI will be replaced by Trump Troopers. Hell, all the forces that he's using might as well be called that.

[RainMaker]

And wait till you find out about some of the other fine gentlemen that have run the FBI over the years. They literally had a domestic operation to assassinate civil rights leaders and destroy their organizations for decades. Reagan put in charge a guy who would go on to be the lawyer for one of the most notorious Russian mobsters in history. Heck, James Comey, the liberal icon spent most of his tenure violating civil rights and installing morally bankrupt tactics.

Sorry to say but Kash Patel fits right in with what the FBI has always been.

[Mota]

Originally Posted by Lathum

My point was this is who we are as a nation. People want this, they voted for this. There isn't going to be some epiphany for these people.

I will fight like hell. I have a daughter and a gay son. We are a one income household. I stand to lose a lot if we continue down this path.

None of that changes the fact that for the next 4 years, and maybe more, this is who we are because more people chose this over normalcy and decency. It says something about who we are as a nation that 77 million people, full well knowing what they were doing, voted for him.

I'm on your side man. I get it, you are afraid for your daughter, and should be, but you also have to be real. For the next 2 years at least this is a dictatorship and oligharchy.

If the people voted for Trump because they suffered through COVID and the post-COVID inflation and are pissed, this is also very similar to post WWI Germany who had massive inflation and the Great Depression. They were angry and they voted for someone who would provide revenge. The parallels are quite similar, and frightening.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Don't know if it will last, but early on JB Pritzker is easily the highest profile Dem Presidential hopeful who understands what the rank and file of the party wants to see in response to Trump.

He's been the only major Dem to understand things the past few years. Not afraid to speak up or stand up to people. He should be #1 on the list for 2028 but he's not part of the Clinton/Obama in-crowd so he probably won't make it far on the national level.

[JPhillips]

I've got a high school friend, a big Trump supporter, who is pissed because the tariffs are potentially going to ruin his employer. He's really pissed at Trump today. Now that may not last, but people can be persuaded by what happens.

Here is one of a few posts:

Trump has just ruined the U.S. China has stopped importing our products. I'm sorry but he really screwed us. No one outside the US will deal with the US now, and our dollar will crumble. Someone, please tell me how you think this will work.

[Ksyrup]

Fuck 'em all and fuckin' no regrets.

[JPhillips]

There's no minimum amount for the tariffs, so in theory every purchase from Canada, even say one book through Etsy, is supposed to have the tariff. There's no possible way we have the manpower to make that work without massive delays in shipping.

[Danny]

There were a lot of people simply mad at Biden and their lives who voted Trump or didnt vote. Those people will end up mad at Trump. I dont have the mindset of screw them anymore because all the help against Trump is important. The tariffs will indeed start to hurt Trumps support. If anything is done to social security or medicaid etc he will lose tons of support. Maybe then he blames Musk and reverses course, who knows but im with jphillips that alienating people just because they voted stupid isnt the solution.

[Ksyrup]

I really don't care. This country is lost either way. The same people mad about this will be distracted by some ridiculous social issue and vote against their self-interest in 2/4 years. So, I hope they get everything they voted for.

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I am seeing reports Canadas plan to retaliate to the Trump tariffs is to hurt the red states.

I laughed.

Haha. Please tell me this is true.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Haha. Please tell me this is true.

The Canadian tariffs are broad but it sounds like they are specifically including some goods like bourbon and whiskey to target red states. There was also talk of a 100% tariff on Tesla but EVs aren't happening until the 2nd round of tariffs later this month.

[Edward64]

Little more details on Canadian tariffs

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...ump-rcna190314

"Like the American tariffs, our response will also be far reaching and include everyday items such as American beer, wine and bourbon, fruits and fruit juices, including orange juice, along with vegetables, perfume, clothing and shoes," Trudeau said. "It'll include major consumer products like household appliances, furniture and sports equipment, and materials like lumber and plastics, along with much, much more."

Mexico hasn't gone to the next level of details yet

Also on Saturday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said in Spanish in a post to X that she had instructed her secretary of the economy "to implement the Plan B we have been working on, which includes tariff and non-tariff measures in defense of Mexico’s interests." Details about that plan have not yet been announced.

[Edward64]

Depressing stuff.

I'm all for strategic and/or targeted tariffs for national security purposes & to protect embryonic industries/technologies, but this is way too broad and for the wrong reasons.

Fentanyl and illegals are serious issues but Trump can take other actions and be less disruptive to our economy. And typically, there are negotiations to try fix the problem. I haven't read of any serious effort to talk to Mexico & Canada about fixing the problems. Just seems unnecessarily retaliatory at this time.

Additional 10% on China, no problem. Trump started it, Joe continued it, haven't seen much adverse impact to us.

Interesting to see how this thing eventually plays out.

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Haha. Please tell me this is true.

CBC article on stop buying red-state liquor

Also, the fetanyl link is so he can impose the tariffs in the name of "national security", instead of having Congress do it. He needs money to fund everything, so is trying to use the US bully power to generate funds. Whether it will work or not.. last time they tried this (with China and corn), 92% of the money they generated through tariffs went to bail oout the farmers who were affected.