ex-POTUS DONALD TRUMP-and U.S. Politics catch-all

[Fat Old Git]

What is trump going to do if it turns out China wasn't actually the original source of the virus and that it may actually have been around for longer than anyone originally thought? There are apparently some studies suggesting this, although I haven't seen the details.

[Sensible Stephen]

What is trump going to do if it turns out China wasn't actually the original source of the virus and that it may actually have been around for longer than anyone originally thought? There are apparently some studies suggesting this, although I haven't seen the details.

Its just one professor in Oxford throwing an idea out there, not any actual studies.

But regardless, if it turned out to be true Trump would ignore it.

Also, wouldn't change the fact that China covered it up and made it much worse than it could have been. So still plenty of Chyna for Trump to lean on.

[DOB]

What is trump going to do if it turns out China wasn't actually the original source of the virus and that it may actually have been around for longer than anyone originally thought? There are apparently some studies suggesting this, although I haven't seen the details.

He’s going to keep saying it was Chy-NA until his dying day, no matter what evidence is presented. Have you not paid attention these past 4 years? There is no version of how this turns out where Trump and his supporters don’t tell us they were/he was right all along.

[Fat Old Git]

True, but is a bit like blaming the person who knocked over a candle for your house burning down because you couldn't be bothered getting a fire extinguisher or even a pot full of water while it was still just smouldering on the carpet.

[Sensible Stephen]

True, but is a bit like blaming the person who knocked over a candle for your house burning down because you couldn't be bothered getting a fire extinguisher or even a pot full of water while it was still just smouldering on the carpet.

More like, telling you don't worry, the fire can't spread. The house was already on fire. Nothing to see here.

And then when your house does catch fire, not worrying about it as its only the roof and it will burn itself out.

[4071]

True, but is a bit like blaming the person who knocked over a candle for your house burning down because you couldn't be bothered getting a fire extinguisher or even a pot full of water while it was still just smouldering on the carpet.

More like, telling you don't worry, the fire can't spread. The house was already on fire. Nothing to see here.

And then when your house does catch fire, not worrying about it as its only the roof and it will burn itself out.

And don't forget to blame the other people living in their house for not putting out the fire as it spread to their rooms.

[piquant]

True, but is a bit like blaming the person who knocked over a candle for your house burning down because you couldn't be bothered getting a fire extinguisher or even a pot full of water while it was still just smouldering on the carpet.

As long as you stress it was a really slow burn wherein he had months to get that fire extinguisher and still did nowt, actually it's not just that, other people offered to get the fire extinguisher and he ordered them to do nothing also

[Fat Old Git]

Not to mention throwing down a couple a dry straw to block off the fire.

[Big Nipper]

I am beginning to suspect that Stephen isn't very sensible after all

[eldanielfire]

Fox news cropping out Trump from a photo with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell

https://twitter.com/i/status/1280095046918983680

[piquant]

I am beginning to suspect that Stephen isn't very sensible after all

Miller? Not so much no

[Taranaki Snapper]

What is trump going to do if it turns out China wasn't actually the original source of the virus and that it may actually have been around for longer than anyone originally thought? There are apparently some studies suggesting this, although I haven't seen the details.

Its just one professor in Oxford throwing an idea out there, not any actual studies.

But regardless, if it turned out to be true Trump would ignore it.

Also, wouldn't change the fact that China covered it up and made it much worse than it could have been. So still plenty of Chyna for Trump to lean on.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/scientists- ... march-2019

[Ted.]

I'd say nobody would be stupid enough to vote for West, but people voted Trump so an IQ over 75 puts people in the running with the voters

Well yes.

If the last 4 years has taught us anything it's that you don't have to be particularly smart to be the President of the US of A.

Maybe not, but you certainly should have at least average intelligence and most of all a feel for the issues, a recognition of your own limitations, empathy and leadership. Ok, self interested rather than empathy has been in abundance with many political leaders, so the empathy one is really a nice and probably should be essential but often as not, isn't present.

[Fat Old Git]

What a president should have and what a good percen of the US electorate are willing to put up with a clearly at odds though.

[Rinkals]

What a president should have and what a good percen of the US electorate are willing to put up with a clearly at odds though.

I don't know: it's like they've elected a deity, who, once elected, can do no wrong.

If the President wasn't a complete buffoon, if he had just a modicum of intelligence, his powers could be practically limitless. One could argue that the Senate could sanction him and Congress could restrict his funds, but anyone with the smallest ability (especially, given the gerrymandered constituencies, if he were GOP) would ensure support from those entities.

[Sensible Stephen]

What a president should have and what a good percen of the US electorate are willing to put up with a clearly at odds though.

I don't know: it's like they've elected a deity, who, once elected, can do no wrong.

If the President wasn't a complete buffoon, if he had just a modicum of intelligence, his powers could be practically limitless. One could argue that the Senate could sanction him and Congress could restrict his funds, but anyone with the smallest ability (especially, given the gerrymandered constituencies, if he were GOP) would ensure support from those entities.

If he gets re-elected...

Surely now swing voters who went for Trump because he was an outsider etc will have abandoned him. It will just be the hardcore and they won't be enough to win it for him. Surely.

[piquant]

Voter suppression looks the only path to victory for Trump given what's known as of today

[Rinkals]

What a president should have and what a good percen of the US electorate are willing to put up with a clearly at odds though.

I don't know: it's like they've elected a deity, who, once elected, can do no wrong.

If the President wasn't a complete buffoon, if he had just a modicum of intelligence, his powers could be practically limitless. One could argue that the Senate could sanction him and Congress could restrict his funds, but anyone with the smallest ability (especially, given the gerrymandered constituencies, if he were GOP) would ensure support from those entities.

If he gets re-elected...

Surely now swing voters who went for Trump because he was an outsider etc will have abandoned him. It will just be the hardcore and they won't be enough to win it for him. Surely.

My point is that, if he'd played it sensibly, his re-election would be certain. As it is, he could still get back in, but that is starting to look a little doubtful, four month out.

For any other President, the covid outbreak would have been the perfect catalyst to get the American people behind him and pulling together.

Any other President would have made sure that he avoided controversy prior to the mid-terms to make sure that Congress, which was Republican at that time, was held.

And with both Congress and the Senate, an intelligent President could do anything he liked, completely unchecked.

[Sensible Stephen]

What a president should have and what a good percen of the US electorate are willing to put up with a clearly at odds though.

I don't know: it's like they've elected a deity, who, once elected, can do no wrong.

If the President wasn't a complete buffoon, if he had just a modicum of intelligence, his powers could be practically limitless. One could argue that the Senate could sanction him and Congress could restrict his funds, but anyone with the smallest ability (especially, given the gerrymandered constituencies, if he were GOP) would ensure support from those entities.

If he gets re-elected...

Surely now swing voters who went for Trump because he was an outsider etc will have abandoned him. It will just be the hardcore and they won't be enough to win it for him. Surely.

My point is that, if he'd played it sensibly, his re-election would be certain. As it is, he could still get back in, but that is starting to look a little doubtful, four month out.

For any other President, the covid outbreak would have been the perfect catalyst to get the American people behind him and pulling together.

Any other President would have made sure that he avoided controversy prior to the mid-terms to make sure that Congress, which was Republican at that time, was held.

And with both Congress and the Senate, an intelligent President could do anything he liked, completely unchecked.

Yeah, I agree with you. George Bush, McCain, Cruz etc would be a shoo-in for a second term.

I don't think his problem is as much his intelligence as it is his ego and narcissistic nature though.

[Rinkals]

What a president should have and what a good percen of the US electorate are willing to put up with a clearly at odds though.

I don't know: it's like they've elected a deity, who, once elected, can do no wrong.

If the President wasn't a complete buffoon, if he had just a modicum of intelligence, his powers could be practically limitless. One could argue that the Senate could sanction him and Congress could restrict his funds, but anyone with the smallest ability (especially, given the gerrymandered constituencies, if he were GOP) would ensure support from those entities.

If he gets re-elected...

Surely now swing voters who went for Trump because he was an outsider etc will have abandoned him. It will just be the hardcore and they won't be enough to win it for him. Surely.

My point is that, if he'd played it sensibly, his re-election would be certain. As it is, he could still get back in, but that is starting to look a little doubtful, four month out.

For any other President, the covid outbreak would have been the perfect catalyst to get the American people behind him and pulling together.

Any other President would have made sure that he avoided controversy prior to the mid-terms to make sure that Congress, which was Republican at that time, was held.

And with both Congress and the Senate, an intelligent President could do anything he liked, completely unchecked.

Yeah, I agree with you. George Bush, McCain, Cruz etc would be a shoo-in for a second term.

I don't think his problem is as much his intelligence as it is his ego and narcissistic nature though.

You don't go bankrupt operating a casino, particularly if Daddy buy millions of chips to help you out.

His ego and narcissism may contribute to (or may even be the over-riding drive for) that.

But his complete lack of smarts is staggering.

Seriously: you're on a 'phonecall to the President of Ukraine with dozens of people listening in and you think it's a good idea to threaten the withholding of military aid unless they announce an investigation into a political rival?

[Sensible Stephen]

You don't go bankrupt operating a casino, particularly if Daddy buy millions of chips to help you out.

His ego and narcissism may contribute to (or may even be the over-riding drive for) that.

But his complete lack of smarts is staggering.

Seriously: you're on a 'phonecall to the President of Ukraine with dozens of people listening in and you think it's a good idea to threaten the withholding of military aid unless they announce an investigation into a political rival?

Oh, I am not saying hes a smart man.

Just him insulting foreign leaders etc seems to be more that he has to be the boss, needs respect etc.

[Rinkals]

Understood.

My point is that Trump has shown that the checks-and-balances are completely ineffectual and the President can basically do what he likes.

Imagine what a Bond villain could do with that.

(Damn. I think I may have given away the plot of my next novel. )

[Sawtooth the Beaver]

Grapplepussy?

[Petros]

In an interview with
@greta
, President Trump slams Dr. Fauci for saying we're still "knee-deep" in the first COVID-19 wave. He says, "I think we are in a good place. I disagree with him." He says he thinks we'll be in "very good shape" in a few weeks.

Evidence of insanity?

[Rinkals]

In an interview with
@greta
, President Trump slams Dr. Fauci for saying we're still "knee-deep" in the first COVID-19 wave. He says, "I think we are in a good place. I disagree with him." He says he thinks we'll be in "very good shape" in a few weeks.

Evidence of insanity?

I think he just has a distrust of scientists and believes that his own intuition is a better indicator of what is happening.

If thinking you were an expert on every topic were evidence of insanity, over half of Internet users would find themselves sectioned, starting with Bimbo.

[Anonymous 1]

So Trump is now demanding that the black NASCAR driver apologies apologies about the noose on his garage that someone reported as a hate crime. It turns out it was just a rope that had been there for ages. The guy didn't report it so it's got nothing to do with him but Trump is still demanding he and only he apologies. He is sounding more and more like yeeb every day.

[Anonymous 1]

In an interview with
@greta
, President Trump slams Dr. Fauci for saying we're still "knee-deep" in the first COVID-19 wave. He says, "I think we are in a good place. I disagree with him." He says he thinks we'll be in "very good shape" in a few weeks.

Evidence of insanity?

Trump should sack Fauci now and replace him with one of his puppets. Fauci is going to keep telling the truth that much is obvious. Trump need to take the hit now and hope people forget about Fauci by November.

[redderneck]

True, but is a bit like blaming the person who knocked over a candle for your house burning down because you couldn't be bothered getting a fire extinguisher or even a pot full of water while it was still just smouldering on the carpet.

More like, telling you don't worry, the fire can't spread. The house was already on fire. Nothing to see here.

And then when your house does catch fire, not worrying about it as its only the roof and it will burn itself out.

Sure why would he worry? It's not like he paid for it with his own money.

[Nolanator]

The absolute state of these people. Whole thread is awful, but the one linked is particularly nauseating.

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1280 ... 23648?s=19

[Sensible Stephen]

The absolute state of these people. Whole thread is awful, but the one linked is particularly nauseating.

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1280 ... 23648?s=19

Pence is such a weasel.

Sexually repressed too.

[Mr Mike]

My point is that Trump has shown that the checks-and-balances are completely ineffectual and the President can basically do what he likes.

Little heavy on the eggs there, but one of the good things about the last three years is a more robust (and very overdue) discussion about the extent and nature of Article 2 powers and reassessing things like the 2001 AUMF.

[Ted.]

I don't doubt that Kanye West will accrue a significant amount of votes, but I doubt they'll come at Trump's expense.

I do, though I also didn't imagine people could actually bring themselves to vote for someone so obviously corrupt, thick and unpleasant as Trump.

Has West made any practical moves to actually register anywhere as an option people could vote for? Because there is some slim chance he just wants his name in the news

As I understand it, they look at his wealth and assume that

a) he's a smart businessman and
b) that he is already so rich that (in rather flawed logic) he is incorruptible. I'm told that his salary as President is paid to charity, although Trump's history of donating to charity does have a pretty dismal track record.

As I mentioned to Anon, I'm specifically referring to the youth vote which will find it a lot easier to identify with KW than either Biden or Trump. The BLM agitators, too, may feel that he can represent them better than Biden (old, white male) or Trump (old, white idiot).

But will he actually be an option for anyone to vote for? When this story broke there was nothing to suggest that would be the case, leaving West just wanted some publicity as the only thing to take from it

Possibly.

If he takes votes from anyone, though, I suspect it'll be from Biden. Trump's voters are probably already committed.

That may well depend on who Biden chooses as a running mate. Young, not white and possibly female is the correct answer, though whether that actually happens is another thing. The Dems seem to have an immutable ability to aim at their own feet.

[TheFrog]

Looks like the daily death rates could soon be on the increase in the US again. The trend was downward but there was a surge which could be the beginning of an upward trend again...

[Rinkals]

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/08/entertainment/kanye-trump-coronavirus-forbes/index.html

Kanye says that he and Trump are no longer chums.

I hope Donald doesn't take the news too badly. Actually, scratch that; I'm rather hoping he goes ballistic on twitter.

[Anonymous 1]

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/08/entertainment/kanye-trump-coronavirus-forbes/index.html

Kanye says that he and Trump are no longer chums.

I hope Donald doesn't take the news too badly. Actually, scratch that; I'm rather hoping he goes ballistic on twitter.

Could you imagine if he does run. He will get slaughtered. One minute he is not bipolar then he is then he isn't as it was a misdiagnosis as he was suffering from sleep deprivation.. One minute he is MAGA all in. Now he isn't.

[4071]

So... um....

Clinical psychologist Dr. Mary Trump claims that Donald not only fits the nine criteria of clinical narcissism, but also suggests that he suffers from antisocial personality disorder, dependent personality disorder and a “long undiagnosed learning disability that for decades has interfered with his ability to process information.”

The latter probably being why - she alleges - he paid someone to take his SATs for him, which was how he managed to get into the University of Pennsylvania.

[Anonymous 1]

My point is that Trump has shown that the checks-and-balances are completely ineffectual and the President can basically do what he likes.

Little heavy on the eggs there, but one of the good things about the last three years is a more robust (and very overdue) discussion about the extent and nature of Article 2 powers and reassessing things like the 2001 AUMF.

The worst thing about the last three years is they show just how much Trump could rip through the "checks and balances" if he gets another 4 years.

I see Putins constitutional reform to let him basically be president for as long as the fuck he wants has gone swimmingly

[Mr Mike]

My point is that Trump has shown that the checks-and-balances are completely ineffectual and the President can basically do what he likes.

Little heavy on the eggs there, but one of the good things about the last three years is a more robust (and very overdue) discussion about the extent and nature of Article 2 powers and reassessing things like the 2001 AUMF.

The worst thing about the last three years is they show just how much Trump could rip through the "checks and balances" if he gets another 4 years.

I see Putins constitutional reform to let him basically be president for as long as the fuck he wants has gone swimmingly

Which checks and balances do you think are most under threat under a Trump second term? Rinks assumed control of both houses in his scenario, are you working off the same assumption or talking with just the Presidency and the Senate?

[Rinkals]

My point is that Trump has shown that the checks-and-balances are completely ineffectual and the President can basically do what he likes.

Little heavy on the eggs there, but one of the good things about the last three years is a more robust (and very overdue) discussion about the extent and nature of Article 2 powers and reassessing things like the 2001 AUMF.

I missed this post. Sorry.

I don't think it is a little heavy on the eggs.

The Mueller Report established that the President is all but above the law and could never be prosecuted as a sitting President and the impeachment trial showed us that, as long as the President controls the Senate, he can never be held to account.

It's only through his own fuckwittery that he lost control of Congress; otherwise he would have been able to do whatever the hell he wanted with impunity.

A more savvy President could do anything he wanted with nothing to stop him or slow him down.

However, I can't see anything changing, even if they do revisit the debate about Presidential powers.

[Mr Mike]

My point is that Trump has shown that the checks-and-balances are completely ineffectual and the President can basically do what he likes.

Little heavy on the eggs there, but one of the good things about the last three years is a more robust (and very overdue) discussion about the extent and nature of Article 2 powers and reassessing things like the 2001 AUMF.

I missed this post. Sorry.

I don't think it is a little heavy on the eggs.

The Mueller Report established that the President is all but above the law and could never be prosecuted as a sitting President and the impeachment trial showed us that, as long as the President controls the Senate, he can never be held to account.

It's only through his own fuckwittery that he lost control of Congress; otherwise he would have been able to do whatever the hell he wanted with impunity.

A more savvy President could do anything he wanted with nothing to stop him or slow him down.

However, I can't see anything changing, even if they do revisit the debate about Presidential powers.

You stand by “completely ineffectual”?