President Trump and US politics catchall

[Hugo]

I think lemonhead said Trump was like a mafioso last week and in terms of accent, vocabulary and mindset that was exactly what Trump was in that exchange with the Ukrainian PM. It was straight NY mob boss style, it was a sitdown and he got his balls broken.

Also, I've not seen any other VP play the prominent role that Vance has in his short term in the office. He is front and centre. It's like he is the consigliere, the Tom Hagen of the Trump admin.

Come to think of it, aesthetically Rubio gives off Michael Corleone vibes, with all that intensity.

[TB63]

[Gumboot]

Maureen Dowd nails the futility of stroking an uber-fragile ego like Trump's...

Everyone is so obsequious around Trump that he now gets huffy at the least pushback. He can make any claim, no matter how outrageous — that Ukraine started the war with Russia, that Zelensky is a “dictator.” But if anyone points out that he is wrong, he blows a gasket.

[Raggs]

Just to point out that Ukraine is currently making advancements, retaking lost ground and encircling russian troops. This war is not just going in a single direction.

[fishfoodie]

"Bone Spurs", is offended because guy who's been facing death the last ~4 years every day didn't have time to put on a suit....

Zelensky should have just said he couldn't understand what the Traitor was saying because he still had Putins cock in his mouth.

Like I said before, Europe needs to kick off a "Freedom Bond", & let people invest in Ukrainian freedom !

Fuck the US !!, Fuck Russia !!!, Fuck China !!!!

[Kiwias]

Maureen Dowd nails the futility of stroking an uber-fragile ego like Trump's...

Everyone is so obsequious around Trump that he now gets huffy at the least pushback. He can make any claim, no matter how outrageous — that Ukraine started the war with Russia, that Zelensky is a “dictator.” But if anyone points out that he is wrong, he blows a gasket.

Or he merely ignores any factual claims made and continues spouting his lies. He has been corrected several times about the amount of aid the US has offered, which he claims to be $350bn but is really something between $100bn~150bn, but he is sticking to his belief that it is $350bn.

[Niegs]

Maureen Dowd nails the futility of stroking an uber-fragile ego like Trump's...

Everyone is so obsequious around Trump that he now gets huffy at the least pushback. He can make any claim, no matter how outrageous — that Ukraine started the war with Russia, that Zelensky is a “dictator.” But if anyone points out that he is wrong, he blows a gasket.

Keep pressing him, show how unhinged he is, and maybe even blow his gasket.

[Calculon]

The stupid are those who believe the MIC media stories. This war is all about money and land. Not about big bad Russia and evil Putin. These are just stories for the very stupid

Looking at your posting record, you joined a couple of weeks ago just to spout this shit. Why don’t you fuck off to twitter and find some mates. That place is full of window lickers and AI PR bots, you’ll fit right in.

I get that trolls get their kicks from winding people up and getting a reaction. But on a topic like this, for weird little men to get a kick out of deliberately winding up people about what could be existential threats to Europe, and the threat of a major war, just reflects on them and truly awful they are as people.

isn't it DAC? don't think he is trolling, he genuinly believes all of it. like a welsh MAGA twat

[Uncle fester]

An example on how the new immigration policy is going.
https://www.kpbs.org/news/border-immigr ... n-facility

Spoiler: not great

[TedMaul]

Carlos Slim take a bow.

[GrahamWa]

JD Vance told to ‘go ski in Russia’ as protesters invade his family trip to the slopes

Crowds lined Route 100 near the Sugarbush ski resort in Waitsfield where Vance was visiting with his family to protest following the explosive Oval Office meeting.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/worl ... 07557.html

[Chilli2]

[Guy Smiley]

Carlos Slim take a bow.

Yup. He didn't fuck around, either.

[sockwithaticket]

JD Vance told to ‘go ski in Russia’ as protesters invade his family trip to the slopes

Crowds lined Route 100 near the Sugarbush ski resort in Waitsfield where Vance was visiting with his family to protest following the explosive Oval Office meeting.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/worl ... 07557.html

Can't imagine why the state that routinely re-elects Bernie Sanders would be happy to have him.

Although Republicans/righties seem to have this expectation that there shouldn't be consequences to being a prick.

You see it everywhere from music, even typically left wing genres like punk/hardcore, to the serious issues like abortion debates. "It's just my opinion" or "Why can't we just agree to disagree" as if their political beliefs and voting choices don't have material negative impact on others or they simply think that those in the firing line of oppression should still be civil to those who vote for the oppression.

[_Os_]

I totally agree with this. Distasteful as it is Zelensky has to accept that he is in no position to negotiate that condition.

Pretty sure he accepted that a long time ago

Yeah. But the attitude that some people here have that it should be his starting point for negotiations, and then give up more, is fucking stupid. His starting point is ‘we want our territory’. Then you give up stuff as the other side does, in his case, territorial guarantees and external support of that. Anyone who thinks Russia giving guarantees without any external enforcement is a fucking idiot.

Agreed. But what Trump has done is worse.

Article 5 and the nuclear deterrent are a threat. Their meaning comes from the other side believing the threat will be acted upon. Trump is saying there's nothing there beyond an empty threat. Trump said in the Zelensky meeting he would support Poland if it was attacked, but came very close to saying the US would not support the Baltics. In truth the nuclear deterrent isn't credible now and US involvement at all is questionable. He's undermine the entire purpose of NATO.

Trump has made it quite clear he doesn't give a fuck about Ukraine. If the US was somehow forced into a security guarantee it wouldn't be worth anything whilst he or another MAGA type was president. Everyone knows Trump's real view is that he will never defend Ukraine and other parts of Europe. Everyone now knows the US is weak, Trump has told them.

He's surrendered the US means to secure a lasting outcome that's good for Ukraine, or even keep Europe stable. Which is why Starmer/Macron have formed a "coalition of the willing".

[Gumboot]

So, if the US is effectively walking away from NATO, is there any chance European leaders will ignore Trump's objections and invite Ukraine into the organisation, or whatever post-NATO iteration emerges?

[Enzedder]

Yanks eh? No surprises here

Trump's approval rating revealed in new poll
President Donald Trump's rapid pace of spending cuts, deportations and foreign policy flexes are winning him new admirers, according to a new DailyMail.com poll. Our Trump tracking poll, launched today with J.L. Partners, shows his approval rating has ticked up by one point in the past two weeks.

Admittedly, it's the Daily Mail so almost 100% certain this is false

[fishfoodie]

Yanks eh? No surprises here

Trump's approval rating revealed in new poll
President Donald Trump's rapid pace of spending cuts, deportations and foreign policy flexes are winning him new admirers, according to a new DailyMail.com poll. Our Trump tracking poll, launched today with J.L. Partners, shows his approval rating has ticked up by one point in the past two weeks.

Admittedly, it's the Daily Mail so almost 100% certain this is false

Well it's hard to get real answers when you lie with the state of affairs !

The spending cuts data is a pack of lies, & the savings are fantasy, as demonstrated by most of them being taken down when they were shown to be bullshit.

Deportations were falling already under Biden, so the idea that this is down to any new policies is bullshit.

The only foreign policy flex is the US bending over to take it up the wrong 'un from Russia !

[Paddington Bear]

So, if the US is effectively walking away from NATO, is there any chance European leaders will ignore Trump's objections and invite Ukraine into the organisation, or whatever post-NATO iteration emerges?

Only if we want to go to war with Russia, which we do not want to do

[Gumboot]

So, if the US is effectively walking away from NATO, is there any chance European leaders will ignore Trump's objections and invite Ukraine into the organisation, or whatever post-NATO iteration emerges?

Only if we want to go to war with Russia, which we do not want to do

Well, Putin's already 3 years into his 3-day war with lowly Ukraine and he's still a long way from winning much of anything. Is anyone still impressed with his nuclear sabre-rattling schtick? Shirley taking on the whole of a united Europe would be suicidal for Russia?

Create a timeframe for Ukraine's entry into NATO and give Putin a concrete deadline for complete withdrawal by then or face the military consequences. That stupid little pissant has been calling the shots for far too long and needs to be put in his place. See how the prick likes having a few sabres rattled in his own face for a change. Trump won't do it, so it's up to Europe.

[fishfoodie]

So, if the US is effectively walking away from NATO, is there any chance European leaders will ignore Trump's objections and invite Ukraine into the organisation, or whatever post-NATO iteration emerges?

Only if we want to go to war with Russia, which we do not want to doua

Well, Putin's already 3 years into his 3-day war with lowly Ukraine and he's still a long way from winning much of anything. Is anyone still impressed with his nuclear sabre-rattling schtick? Shirley taking on the whole of a united Europe would be suicidal for Russia?

Create a timeframe for Ukraine's entry into NATO and give Putin a concrete deadline for complete withdrawal by then or face the military consequences. That stupid little pissant has been calling the shots for far too long and needs to be put in his place. See how the prick likes having a few sabres rattled in his own face for a change. Trump won't do it, so it's up to Europe.

Putin's mouth pieces have already repeatedly said this is a de-facto war with NATO, but as you say, they haven't responded as if it actually were, & NATO has actually incorporated Finland & Sweden, regardless of Russian threats about dire consequences if they did !!

Putin might be delusional, but I don't think he's so far gone that he thinks he can just casually extend the front a few thousand more kms from the Baltic to the Med & not end up with his balls as an aperitif !

Ukraine is kicking his vaunted army's arse with kit that is 30 years old, so Europe doesn't need to build the latest MBTs to defeat them, they can just build lots of those 20-30 year old stuff with some mods & he'll die in a hole like Gaddafi, or at the end of a rope like Hussein

[Gumboot]

President Donald Trump is ordering military aid to Ukraine to be paused after his Friday Oval Office spat with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, a White House official told CNN.

“The President has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution,” the White House official said.

What a cunt.

[Niegs]

[Paddington Bear]

So, if the US is effectively walking away from NATO, is there any chance European leaders will ignore Trump's objections and invite Ukraine into the organisation, or whatever post-NATO iteration emerges?

Only if we want to go to war with Russia, which we do not want to do

Well, Putin's already 3 years into his 3-day war with lowly Ukraine and he's still a long way from winning much of anything. Is anyone still impressed with his nuclear sabre-rattling schtick? Shirley taking on the whole of a united Europe would be suicidal for Russia?

Create a timeframe for Ukraine's entry into NATO and give Putin a concrete deadline for complete withdrawal by then or face the military consequences. That stupid little pissant has been calling the shots for far too long and needs to be put in his place. See how the prick likes having a few sabres rattled in his own face for a change. Trump won't do it, so it's up to Europe.

I am less sanguine about the prospects of nuclear war than you, and there is not an army in western Europe worthy of the name.

[Hal Jordan]

Meanwhile, Linda McMahon is to be in charge of the Department of Education, with the express goal of delivering multiple steer chair shots to eliminate it entirely, and essentially teaching the kids to be good little fascist drones for the workplace (well, the right sort of white ones, anyway, fuck the rest).

Draft statement

After President Trump's inauguration last month, he has steadily signed a slate of executive orders to keep these education promises: combatting critical race theory, DEl, gender ideology extremism, and discrimination in admissions. President Trump has also been focused on eliminating wasteful bureaucracy and harmful programs in the federal government. To that end, today he signed [Executive Order XYZ, entitled "Eliminating the Department of Education,] which has given us a clear and final mission.

We are to identify which of the Department's functions, programs, and offices are not mandated by statute, and eliminate them. This reorganization will impact staff, budgets, reporting, and more —and in coming months, we will determine how it can be accomplished with minimal delay and disruption. The President further tasked us with creating a plan to reallocate and reassign functions of the Department of Education that would be more effectively managed by other agencies. This plan will offer Congress a road map toward fulfilling the expectations of the President and the American people.

The new vision—which I hope each of you will embrace going forward—can be expressed as four main convictions:
Parents are the primary decision makers in their children's education.
Students deserve to be protected from physical violence, racial discrimination, medical tyranny, and gender extremism ideology on campus.
Postsecondary education should be a path to a well-paying career aligned with workforce needs.

Taxpayer-funded education should refocus on meaningful learning: proficiency in math, reading, and core subjects, and patriotism in American history and civics.

As we move to reduce the Department's middleman role in education, these four convictions must guide us toward conscientious and pragmatic action. The elimination of bureaucracy should free us, not limit us, in our pursuit of these goals

Removing red tape and bureaucratic barriers will empower parents to make the best educational choices for their children.

[dpedin]

This is a bit mental mate

Only a little. The likes of Stephen Miller, the far right weirdos from the PayPal mafia, Steve Bannon, the religious crazies, etc are all very much gearing up to turn the US into a hellhole of their design. Things like Project 2025 show they're serious about this, along with the insane executive orders we've seen.

It is really difficult to talk about the extent of how fucked this all is without sounding nuts, but...

Nutter

Apparently I was a nutter and a bit mental just a few weeks ago, now it seems everyone is getting on the same page now? I am not sure I have enough Tin Foil Hats to go round!

On a serious point I accept it is difficult for folk to handle or accept the complete destruction of system of government in the so called biggest and greatest democracy in the world but that is what is happening in plain sight. The coup is well underway and its chances of success are very very high. The pillars of Government are now completely powerless - Trump controls, mostly through coercion etc, both Houses and they just ignore the judiciary and carry on. Even if the courts find against the Gov who implements the court findings - the DOJ - and who heads that up? A certain Pam Bondi a leading light in the development of Project 2025! They actually told us what they were going to do and to be fair to them they are sticking to their promises as listed in Project 2025. The clever nutters behind Trump have ensured they have their zealots in place in every position of authority and power in the US Government, including the military. Couple this with the financial backing of the Tech Bros and other right wing capitalists and the coup is almost complete. The US has all but gone! This will not end after 4 years, by then the dictatorship will have been well established and future elections will be no fairer than those in Russia. The Prussians are not coming over the horizon to win the battle for the goodies!

[PornDog]

Maureen Dowd nails the futility of stroking an uber-fragile ego like Trump's...

Everyone is so obsequious around Trump that he now gets huffy at the least pushback. He can make any claim, no matter how outrageous — that Ukraine started the war with Russia, that Zelensky is a “dictator.” But if anyone points out that he is wrong, he blows a gasket.

Narcissism 101

[dpedin]

Only a little. The likes of Stephen Miller, the far right weirdos from the PayPal mafia, Steve Bannon, the religious crazies, etc are all very much gearing up to turn the US into a hellhole of their design. Things like Project 2025 show they're serious about this, along with the insane executive orders we've seen.

It is really difficult to talk about the extent of how fucked this all is without sounding nuts, but...

Nutter

Apparently I was a nutter and a bit mental just a few weeks ago, now it seems everyone is getting on the same page now? I am not sure I have enough Tin Foil Hats to go round!

On a serious point I accept it is difficult for folk to handle or accept the complete destruction of system of government in the so called biggest and greatest democracy in the world but that is what is happening in plain sight. The coup is well underway and its chances of success are very very high. The pillars of Government are now completely powerless - Trump controls, mostly through coercion etc, both Houses and they just ignore the judiciary and carry on. Even if the courts find against the Gov who implements the court findings - the DOJ - and who heads that up? A certain Pam Bondi a leading light in the development of Project 2025! They actually told us what they were going to do and to be fair to them they are sticking to their promises as listed in Project 2025. The clever nutters behind Trump have ensured they have their zealots in place in every position of authority and power in the US Government, including the military. Couple this with the financial backing of the Tech Bros and other right wing capitalists and the coup is almost complete. The US has all but gone! This will not end after 4 years, by then the dictatorship will have been well established and future elections will be no fairer than those in Russia. The Prussians are not coming over the horizon to win the battle for the goodies!

This explains the Project 2025 action plan ... from October 2024.

https://www.americanprogress.org/articl ... residency/

[tabascoboy]

[Uncle fester]

It's would be kind of nice if the opposition started showing some backbone.

[Sandstorm]

It's would be kind of nice if the opposition started showing some backbone.

Opposition Party has been disbanded. Government Efficiencies in action.

[Slick]

Only a little. The likes of Stephen Miller, the far right weirdos from the PayPal mafia, Steve Bannon, the religious crazies, etc are all very much gearing up to turn the US into a hellhole of their design. Things like Project 2025 show they're serious about this, along with the insane executive orders we've seen.

It is really difficult to talk about the extent of how fucked this all is without sounding nuts, but...

Nutter

Apparently I was a nutter and a bit mental just a few weeks ago, now it seems everyone is getting on the same page now? I am not sure I have enough Tin Foil Hats to go round!

On a serious point I accept it is difficult for folk to handle or accept the complete destruction of system of government in the so called biggest and greatest democracy in the world but that is what is happening in plain sight. The coup is well underway and its chances of success are very very high. The pillars of Government are now completely powerless - Trump controls, mostly through coercion etc, both Houses and they just ignore the judiciary and carry on. Even if the courts find against the Gov who implements the court findings - the DOJ - and who heads that up? A certain Pam Bondi a leading light in the development of Project 2025! They actually told us what they were going to do and to be fair to them they are sticking to their promises as listed in Project 2025. The clever nutters behind Trump have ensured they have their zealots in place in every position of authority and power in the US Government, including the military. Couple this with the financial backing of the Tech Bros and other right wing capitalists and the coup is almost complete. The US has all but gone! This will not end after 4 years, by then the dictatorship will have been well established and future elections will be no fairer than those in Russia. The Prussians are not coming over the horizon to win the battle for the goodies!

Nutter

[sockwithaticket]

It's would be kind of nice if the opposition started showing some backbone.

One of the benefits of 'flooding the zone' is creating such a shitstorm that focusing on any particular issue is difficult.

The Dems can arrange protests (which many are) and have judges/governors/state legislatures refuse to allow or adhere to unlawful orders, but without either of the houses or the supreme court, there is a limit to what can effectively be done without staging a coup and taking over*. With pretty much everything being done by executive order and the approved cabinet appointments in their respective departments there's not even the opportunity to play house games like deploying the filibuster to block things.

*The Dems will absolutely not be the ones to ring the bell on Civil War 2. They'll be hoping that the shitshow created now will help them take legislative control with the midterms.

[sockwithaticket]

Been a throughline I've seen a lot through the 'time for everyone else to pull their weight' rhetoric, various nations who assisted the US in Afghanistan and Iraq rightly utterly fucked off with the disrespect being shown.

That, of course, is the whole point of Vance opening his mouth. Drive division, weaken international relations, destroy the established order and make it easier for the billionaires to expand the corporate dystopic hellscape.

[C T]

Maureen Dowd nails the futility of stroking an uber-fragile ego like Trump's...

Everyone is so obsequious around Trump that he now gets huffy at the least pushback. He can make any claim, no matter how outrageous — that Ukraine started the war with Russia, that Zelensky is a “dictator.” But if anyone points out that he is wrong, he blows a gasket.

Or he merely ignores any factual claims made and continues spouting his lies. He has been corrected several times about the amount of aid the US has offered, which he claims to be $350bn but is really something between $100bn~150bn, but he is sticking to his belief that it is $350bn.

I wonder what these these numbers are in percentage terms, rather than the big scary number (and even bigger, scarier made up number). Has the US contributed more as a % than the EU as a %? Not sure how US vs EU economies compare.

[Uncle fester]

It's would be kind of nice if the opposition started showing some backbone.

One of the benefits of 'flooding the zone' is creating such a shitstorm that focusing on any particular issue is difficult.

The Dems can arrange protests (which many are) and have judges/governors/state legislatures refuse to allow or adhere to unlawful orders, but without either of the houses or the supreme court, there is a limit to what can effectively be done without staging a coup and taking over*. With pretty much everything being done by executive order and the approved cabinet appointments in their respective departments there's not even the opportunity to play house games like deploying the filibuster to block things.

*The Dems will absolutely not be the ones to ring the bell on Civil War 2. They'll be hoping that the shitshow created now will help them take legislative control with the midterms.

I'm not so sure about this. Things have been so batshit the last month that waiting two years for mid term elections is a very risky move.

[Sandstorm]

It's would be kind of nice if the opposition started showing some backbone.

One of the benefits of 'flooding the zone' is creating such a shitstorm that focusing on any particular issue is difficult.

The Dems can arrange protests (which many are) and have judges/governors/state legislatures refuse to allow or adhere to unlawful orders, but without either of the houses or the supreme court, there is a limit to what can effectively be done without staging a coup and taking over*. With pretty much everything being done by executive order and the approved cabinet appointments in their respective departments there's not even the opportunity to play house games like deploying the filibuster to block things.

*The Dems will absolutely not be the ones to ring the bell on Civil War 2. They'll be hoping that the shitshow created now will help them take legislative control with the midterms.

I'm not so sure about this. Things have been so batshit the last month that waiting two years for mid term elections is a very risky move.

Agreed. Dems need to find one thing like "Hillary's Emails" ; I suggest: "MAGA billionaires are stealing your 401(k)..." and just keep repeating it over and over and over.
Flood the news channels and social media with that one thing. It's the only way you get any traction in the modern news cycles and (possibly) change people's minds.

Whether that will slow the destruction is another thing, but playing nice is over for the Dems. Get dirty or GTFO.

[dpedin]

It's would be kind of nice if the opposition started showing some backbone.

One of the benefits of 'flooding the zone' is creating such a shitstorm that focusing on any particular issue is difficult.

The Dems can arrange protests (which many are) and have judges/governors/state legislatures refuse to allow or adhere to unlawful orders, but without either of the houses or the supreme court, there is a limit to what can effectively be done without staging a coup and taking over*. With pretty much everything being done by executive order and the approved cabinet appointments in their respective departments there's not even the opportunity to play house games like deploying the filibuster to block things.

*The Dems will absolutely not be the ones to ring the bell on Civil War 2. They'll be hoping that the shitshow created now will help them take legislative control with the midterms.

I'm not so sure about this. Things have been so batshit the last month that waiting two years for mid term elections is a very risky move.

In two years time just imagine the control the Trump presidency will have over all the arms of Gov and the media! The Big Tech guys will make sure all the social media will be flooded with pro Trump info, the newspapers are almost already all fawning over Trump - look at Bezos and the Washington Post, TV channels are mostly very careful in what they are saying about the Tango Twat - witness recent CBS handing over transcripts of Harris interview and ABC settling case, the White House are already controlling the WH Press Pool, etc. Trump and republican states are already trying to restrict voting rights and in particular postal voting.

The Dems will face an uphill battle trying to win mid terms regardless how bad the Trump Gov is!

[Hal Jordan]

I understand that Trump's meeting with the King has been downgraded to lunch with Prince Andrew.

[Dogbert]

I understand that Trump's meeting with the King has been downgraded to lunch with Prince Andrew.

At least they will have common interests