President Trump and US politics catchall

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Apparently this is really a thing

and Vietnam got their sanctions reduced by saying they'd fast-track planning for his hotel there, & Qatar are giving him a 747 bugged to the N-th degree, & Britain have now magically added his golf courses to the Open rotation, & the Saudis are going to invest billions in who the fuck knows what, but we can probably guess !!

He makes other kleptocracy's seem normal !

I read yesterday that the plane is being lent because the Boeings on order to replace Air Force 1 are very late and in any case it needs a refit that is unlikely to be ready before he leaves office

Yeah, the Register has a good summary of it. It'll never happen because it's utterly impractical and expensive, and will then be quickly forgotten about amongst all the other idiocy and madness. But the orange rapist will think he's done a great deal and remove tariffs from Qatar. Great bit of business by the Qataris, stupid Don gets his ego stroked and thinks he's winning.

https://forums.theregister.com/forum/al ... 747_qatar/

[robmatic]

Apparently this is really a thing

A known terrorist offers Trump a tower, and suddenly the sanctions disappear.

This isn’t diplomacy. It’s corruption in plain sight.

To be fair, the sanctions on Syria are senseless given that the Assad regime is no longer in place.

[Niegs]

Read a bluesky thread in which someone referenced Steinbeck. Someone else said to have a look at a Jack London story that's not about dogs and all about socialism, so never got much support ... damn, from 1908:

The Oligarchy is the largest monopoly of trusts (or robber barons) who manage to squeeze out the middle class by bankrupting most small to mid-sized business as well as reducing all farmers to effective serfdom. This Oligarchy maintains power through a "labor caste" and the Mercenaries. Laborers in essential industries like steel and rail are elevated and given decent wages, housing, and education. Indeed, the tragic turn in the novel (and Jack London's core warning to his contemporaries) is the treachery of these favored unions which break with the other unions and side with the Oligarchy. Further, a second, military caste is formed: the Mercenaries. The Mercenaries are officially the army of the US but are in fact in the employ of the Oligarchs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Iron_Heel

Step forward the UAW, Teamsters & Police Unions !

Yup! I also thought about something that probably wasn't specifically outlined in 1908, but small farmers being bought out by megafarm corps and ending up working for them doing monoculture rather than the diverse things they would have been doing back then.

People are speculating that Trump et co are tanking their system so the big firms can buy out the smaller operations.

[Hal Jordan]

and Vietnam got their sanctions reduced by saying they'd fast-track planning for his hotel there, & Qatar are giving him a 747 bugged to the N-th degree, & Britain have now magically added his golf courses to the Open rotation, & the Saudis are going to invest billions in who the fuck knows what, but we can probably guess !!

He makes other kleptocracy's seem normal !

I read yesterday that the plane is being lent because the Boeings on order to replace Air Force 1 are very late and in any case it needs a refit that is unlikely to be ready before he leaves office

Yeah, the Register has a good summary of it. It'll never happen because it's utterly impractical and expensive, and will then be quickly forgotten about amongst all the other idiocy and madness. But the orange rapist will think he's done a great deal and remove tariffs from Qatar. Great bit of business by the Qataris, stupid Don gets his ego stroked and thinks he's winning.

https://forums.theregister.com/forum/al ... 747_qatar/

They got burnt last time around when they didn't accommodate Kushner well enough, lesson learned, here's your "gift".

[mat the expat]

Rachel Maddow articulates the rage...

It's no longer TDS - I've got TFS - Fatigue and the non-sensical acts and obvious corruption

[Niegs]

Corruption, you say?

[fishfoodie]

I read yesterday that the plane is being lent because the Boeings on order to replace Air Force 1 are very late and in any case it needs a refit that is unlikely to be ready before he leaves office

Yeah, the Register has a good summary of it. It'll never happen because it's utterly impractical and expensive, and will then be quickly forgotten about amongst all the other idiocy and madness. But the orange rapist will think he's done a great deal and remove tariffs from Qatar. Great bit of business by the Qataris, stupid Don gets his ego stroked and thinks he's winning.

https://forums.theregister.com/forum/al ... 747_qatar/

They got burnt last time around when they didn't accommodate Kushner well enough, lesson learned, here's your "gift".

It's not even a decent gift. It turns out Qatar has been trying to sell this plane for years, & previously gave away another one, as they just cost too much to maintain; & of course before it could ever be used as AF1 it would need to be stripped down to it's frame & rebuilt, which would take years, by which time the ones being built will be ready anyway.

This is just a pathetic corrupt individual who thinks gold shitters are classy, being impressed with another tacky piece of bling

[TB63]

Orange cockwomble just landed at Mildenhall, wtf is he doing here?..

[fishfoodie]

Orange cockwomble just landed at Mildenhall, wtf is he doing here?..

Is there a McDonalds nearby ?

[Guy Smiley]

Orange cockwomble just landed at Mildenhall, wtf is he doing here?..

Is there a McDonalds nearby ?

https://www.google.com/maps/search/Mild ... FQAw%3D%3D

[fishfoodie]

Orange cockwomble just landed at Mildenhall, wtf is he doing here?..

Is there a McDonalds nearby ?

https://www.google.com/maps/search/Mild ... FQAw%3D%3D

and a KFC too !

Bit of luck the fucker will do an Elvis & die on the shitter mid-atlantic !

[Guy Smiley]

The Flying Gold Shitter...

has a ring to it.



I'll see myself out.

[Hal Jordan]

Supreme Court kicks the Alien Enemies Act attempt to deport people whose faces we don't like onto touch. Naturally, Alito and Thomas dissent, but fuck them.

And Moody's downgrades the US credit rating for the first time in history. 

So. Much. Winning. 

[lemonhead]

Rachel Maddow articulates the rage...

It's no longer TDS - I've got TFS - Fatigue and the non-sensical acts and obvious corruption

You'd have to assume some of that is by design.

We're only a few months in and I can barely touch the news anymore, much less laugh or get angry at it.

[Biffer]

Supreme Court kicks the Alien Enemies Act attempt to deport people whose faces we don't like onto touch. Naturally, Alito and Thomas dissent, but fuck them.

And Moody's downgrades the US credit rating for the first time in history. 

So. Much. Winning. 

Downgrading the credit rating is huge.

[Slick]

Supreme Court kicks the Alien Enemies Act attempt to deport people whose faces we don't like onto touch. Naturally, Alito and Thomas dissent, but fuck them.

And Moody's downgrades the US credit rating for the first time in history. 

So. Much. Winning. 

Downgrading the credit rating is huge.

Yup, biggest news so far really

[TB63]

Trump: "Think of it, this trip, I made 12 times the money that we're talking point. I made that money in a few days. I've always been good with money. I make money. In four days, I made 12 times what we spent in Ukraine."

How many times have you gone bankrupt??

Jessica: We have big headlines, getting investment like $8.5 billion out of Qatar, that was already announced in 2023 and 2024. Abu Dhabi, he says $200 billion… announced during the Biden administration… He likes to show up and take credit for things other people did

[dpedin]

Rachel Maddow articulates the rage...

It's no longer TDS - I've got TFS - Fatigue and the non-sensical acts and obvious corruption

You'd have to assume some of that is by design.

We're only a few months in and I can barely touch the news anymore, much less laugh or get angry at it.

Absolutely deliberate tactic - flood the zone to destablise you enemy, multiple attacks and keep them off guard. It's the equivalent of the Nazi Blitzkrieg on the battlefield.

[geordie_6]

Supreme Court kicks the Alien Enemies Act attempt to deport people whose faces we don't like onto touch. Naturally, Alito and Thomas dissent, but fuck them.

And Moody's downgrades the US credit rating for the first time in history. 

So. Much. Winning. 

Yet to rule on the birthright citizenship case, which could be another massive "fuck you" to the Tango Twat.

Ted Cruz was recently saying how he thinks birthright citizenship is a bad idea despite, ya know, being a beneficiary of it himself

[Niegs]

[mat the expat]

It's no longer TDS - I've got TFS - Fatigue and the non-sensical acts and obvious corruption

You'd have to assume some of that is by design.

We're only a few months in and I can barely touch the news anymore, much less laugh or get angry at it.

Of course - it's all part of the Project 2025 Plan.

It's going to take decades to fix, if it's even possible ..... Broken empire

[Uncle fester]

It's no longer TDS - I've got TFS - Fatigue and the non-sensical acts and obvious corruption

You'd have to assume some of that is by design.

We're only a few months in and I can barely touch the news anymore, much less laugh or get angry at it.

Of course - it's all part of the Project 2025 Plan.

It's going to take decades to fix, if it's even possible ..... Broken empire

It's been coming a long time unfortunately. People have become so disengaged from modern democracy that their answer seems to be "elect a tyrant who will only tyrannise the people who are not me".

[Slick]

Is the Springsteen rant on Truth doing the rounds real?

[Jockaline]

Is the Springsteen rant on Truth doing the rounds real?

Seems so, but for a deranged rant it's the response that is ridicules.

https://x.com/TheMaineWonk/status/1923401512262181281

[Uncle fester]

Is the Springsteen rant on Truth doing the rounds real?

Seems so, but for a deranged rant it's the response that is ridicules.

https://x.com/TheMaineWonk/status/1923401512262181281

Went off on one about Taylor swift as well.
That's a bit risky. Those swifties are fairly mental.

[Gumboot]

Sleepy Joe GOOOOOO...ing!

Diagnosed with prostate cancer that's spread to his bones.

[Dogbert]

With Biden's cancer diagnosis , it will be interesting to see if Trump pulls back on the attacks on 'Sleepy Joe'

[Guy Smiley]

With Biden's cancer diagnosis , it will be interesting to see if Trump pulls back on the attacks on 'Sleepy Joe'

Like he did with John McCain?

[Dogbert]

With Biden's cancer diagnosis , it will be interesting to see if Trump pulls back on the attacks on 'Sleepy Joe'

Like he did with John McCain?

That's a fair point , you would have hoped that any decent human being would tone down the vitriol - but then again this is Trump we are talking about.

[Dogbert]

With Biden's cancer diagnosis , it will be interesting to see if Trump pulls back on the attacks on 'Sleepy Joe'

Like he did with John McCain?

That's a fair point , you would have hoped that any decent human being would tone down the vitriol - but then again this is Trump we are talking about.

[Uncle fester]

With Biden's cancer diagnosis , it will be interesting to see if Trump pulls back on the attacks on 'Sleepy Joe'

There'll be some performative fake sympathy where he bigs himself up and then the digs will continue.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Cancer like heart disease seems worried about finding the right target, 'tis a shame.

[mat the expat]

You'd have to assume some of that is by design.

We're only a few months in and I can barely touch the news anymore, much less laugh or get angry at it.

Of course - it's all part of the Project 2025 Plan.

It's going to take decades to fix, if it's even possible ..... Broken empire

It's been coming a long time unfortunately. People have become so disengaged from modern democracy that their answer seems to be "elect a tyrant who will only tyrannise the people who are not me".

Yeah, I get a fair amount of flak from friends for being a policy wonk - but at the end of the day if you're "Too busy to bother with Politics", I don't have much sympathy for you

I come from a poor background, but getting a good education was hammered into us as kids

You're literally consigning your children to a worse life if you aren't engaged

[Slick]

Is the Springsteen rant on Truth doing the rounds real?

Seems so, but for a deranged rant it's the response that is ridicules.

https://x.com/TheMaineWonk/status/1923401512262181281

Sorry, I meant the Trump response

[Kiwias]

With Biden's cancer diagnosis , it will be interesting to see if Trump pulls back on the attacks on 'Sleepy Joe'

Like he did with John McCain?

That's a fair point , you would have hoped that any decent human being would tone down the vitriol - but then again this is Trump we are talking about.

Don Jr rides to the rescue

[Slick]

Like he did with John McCain?

That's a fair point , you would have hoped that any decent human being would tone down the vitriol - but then again this is Trump we are talking about.

Don Jr rides to the rescue

Jesus

[dpedin]

Of course - it's all part of the Project 2025 Plan.

It's going to take decades to fix, if it's even possible ..... Broken empire

It's been coming a long time unfortunately. People have become so disengaged from modern democracy that their answer seems to be "elect a tyrant who will only tyrannise the people who are not me".

Yeah, I get a fair amount of flak from friends for being a policy wonk - but at the end of the day if you're "Too busy to bother with Politics", I don't have much sympathy for you

I come from a poor background, but getting a good education was hammered into us as kids

You're literally consigning your children to a worse life if you aren't engaged

This 100%! My Granny, who worked her whole life in the Dundee jute mills, wouldn't allow Maggie Thatcher on her tv and even at the age of 80+ drilled it into all of us her grandkids that we had to vote. She told us in no uncertain terms that if we didn't vote we would end up with a world where things would be no better that she had. She was absolutely clear that a vote for all was hard won and not using it was a crime. She was a very forceful old lady! As a result I have always voted and I have made sure my kids have done the same. If you don't engage and vote then stop the feckin moaning!

[Yeeb]

It's been coming a long time unfortunately. People have become so disengaged from modern democracy that their answer seems to be "elect a tyrant who will only tyrannise the people who are not me".

Yeah, I get a fair amount of flak from friends for being a policy wonk - but at the end of the day if you're "Too busy to bother with Politics", I don't have much sympathy for you

I come from a poor background, but getting a good education was hammered into us as kids

You're literally consigning your children to a worse life if you aren't engaged

This 100%! My Granny, who worked her whole life in the Dundee jute mills, wouldn't allow Maggie Thatcher on her tv and even at the age of 80+ drilled it into all of us her grandkids that we had to vote. She told us in no uncertain terms that if we didn't vote we would end up with a world where things would be no better that she had. She was absolutely clear that a vote for all was hard won and not using it was a crime. She was a very forceful old lady! As a result I have always voted and I have made sure my kids have done the same. If you don't engage and vote then stop the feckin moaning!

Agree totally with ‘don’t whinge if you don’t vote’ - but you kind of have to respect people’s wishes not to vote if it doesn’t interest them or can’t be arsed or genuinely don’t think it makes any discernible difference which shambles is in power. People who don’t give a shit are often the most amiable types going, and content , which is admirable.

I’ve always voted and as has been said, enfranchisement has been hard won over the years and I respect that - but deffo fall into Venn diagram of seeing little discernible difference to anything really, and each election comes closer to old man ranting at cloud for meaningful effect.

[robmatic]

Sleepy Joe GOOOOOO...ing!

Diagnosed with prostate cancer that's spread to his bones.

And that's why it was a risk to persist with him as a presidential candidate at his age.

We might see it with Trump before his term is out but having an incapacitated leader of a superpower is not a great prospect.

[Biffer]

Like he did with John McCain?

That's a fair point , you would have hoped that any decent human being would tone down the vitriol - but then again this is Trump we are talking about.

Don Jr rides to the rescue

Her doctorate is in education.

Don Jr is a moron.