A majority of Americans voted him in
More people didn't vote at all than voted for him
49.8% of the 63% the electorate who actually went to the polls voted for him. That means less than a third of eligible voters voted for him and more than two thirds either voted for someone else or didn't vote. The actual winner of the popular vote was 'nobody'.
I don’t think we can do much about the US, it would be nice if our own politicians were calling it out for what it is, instead of sucking up to fascism under the pretence of “the real world” .
I see mandleson is relishing the thought of burying his nose right up trumps arse, most suitable place for him and and a further stain on the Starmer government that a ****ing creep like mandleson is allowed anywhere near politics these days.
A majority of Americans voted him in
A plurality of voters voted him in. That's how democracy works, he won a fair election, but a plurality is not a majority. Not having a clear majority of voters, let alone of all eligible voters, should be a red flag that a leader doesn't have a mandate to make huge changes. (This applies to all leaders, not just Trump, pretty much every elected leader assumes that their mandate is much stronger than it really is.)
Yeah it is ****ing shameful. Surely they coulda found someone without the baggage.
Whatever you think of Mandelson he nailed it first time with accusations of Trump being a “bully” and “reckless and a danger to the world”.
Show some principles mother ****er!
He will just blame someone else if that happens (the radical left no doubt) and his followers will believe every word he says
Think the Poke has some videos of Trump supporters complaining that it was disrespectful that Martin Luther King didn't bother turning up to Trumps inauguration. Thats the level we're at now...
Yeah it is * shameful. Surely they coulda found someone without the baggage.
Whatever you think of Mandelson he nailed it first time with accusations of Trump being a “bully” and “reckless and a danger to the world”.
Show some principles mother *!
I see mandleson is relishing the thought of burying his nose right up trumps arse, most suitable place for him and and a further stain on the Starmer government that a **** creep like mandleson is allowed anywhere near politics these days.
You're 100% not seeing what people are doing. Mandleson, Lammy, Zuckerberg, Bezos haven't all collectively had some massive stroke, forgotten everything they've ever thought about Trump and now view him through some sort of rose tint. They've just accepted that he is who he is, and is where he is and he's been here before and you have to deal with him the best way you can - and they are just playing him the way he can obviously be played.
It's been demonstrated for the best part of 10 years being critical or trump doesn't work if you've got work to do. Theres no point pursuing a strategy that clearly fails no matter how noble the words youre saying sound. Nobody has suddenly fallen in love with him. But it's absolutely clear how to get what you want out of him, or at least minimise the harm he can do.
Non of these people are looking at Trump as anything other than a doormat and thats all Trumps political career has ever been. Sycophancy - even absolutely barefaced insincere sycophancy - works with Trump. A few well chosen, well timed empty platitudes cost nothing and could save countries or corporations money, political capital , lives even. And it doesn't matter if nobody, even Trump, believes a word you say.
Anyone else getting a lot of streaming "recommended for you" suggestions for both Civil War and Idiocracy? ...
A few well chosen, well timed empty platitudes cost nothing and could save countries or corporations money, political capital , lives even. And it doesn’t matter if nobody, even Trump, believes a word you say.
I absolutely and completely disagree. It emboldens the message of hate and striping essential services from the needy, and it is spreading to the UK and Europe, our politicians need to stand up to it and be seen to stand against everything that they represent.
I will repeat, if my meagre lifestyle is damaged by standing against facism, then so be it, if my meagre lifestyle continues to be degraded by our leaders capitulation to the oligarchs and the fascists that is completely pathetic and shows exactly who owns them.
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
In modern terms they are coming for the transgender, they are coming for the migrants, they are coming for the weak and the helpless, and then they will find other groups to hate, there is no sitting this out pretending it is the pragmatic approach.
Terrible news about the plane crash in Washington.
Nice to see DT v1.0 is still around.
US President Donald Trump says he has been briefed on the "terrible accident" and questions why the helicopter didn't "go up or down"
Well done.
So which way is the wind blowing today....?
BBC News - White House rescinds memo on freezing federal grants and loans
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyv48540n4po
US President Donald Trump says he has been briefed on the “terrible accident” and questions why the helicopter didn’t “go up or down”
That's the voice we need in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy - what a statesman... 🙁
Last week, the head of the TSA was fired and the Aviation Security Advisory Committee disbanded. I understand ATC in America was already short-staffed.
For Trump, the expert on all things, it's all part of the blame game and immediate pointing of fingers:
POTUS - "Why didn't the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane."
Aviation Expert -"It's standard for air traffic controllers to ask simply 'do you see the aircraft?'. There would be a very clear instruction - so this would be down to the pilot of the military helicopter to avoid the commercial aircraft."
But hey, let's blame some poor sod in the control tower who (unless proved otherwise) was just following standard operating procedure.
It isn’t just about resisting project25 in the US, the musks, bezos and other industrialists want the same in europe as well. This isn’t one nations problem, it is all of our problems, what we are seeing in the US is coming here soon.
What do you mean "coming here soon", their 'pilot' programme was Brexit...
Last week, the head of the TSA was fired and the Aviation Security Advisory Committee disbanded. I understand ATC in America was already short-staffed.
TBF, I don't think that is the issue in this instance. Apparently, military pilots in the USA have a 'See and Avoid' policy so it is pretty much their responsibility to ensure that their flightpath is safe (unless there was a direct miscommunication from someone in ATC).
That's fair, I'll be the first to say I'm speaking from a position of ignorance here - and not that that anyone's claiming otherwise but, for the avoidance of doubt, I'm not suggesting for a second a causal link between sacking the head of the TSA, the disbanding of ASAC and last night's disaster. Although I would suggest that the crash indicates the requirement to have robust safety and investigative boards to minimise the risks of them reoccuring.
Seems incredible to me that military aircraft can fly at night through the final approach of a civilian airfield. I mean, why would you even want to do that?
I see mandleson is relishing the thought of burying his nose right up trumps arse
BBC NewsNight yesterday evening (29th Jan) did a short feature on this, and compared it to the medieval practice of kissing the monarch's ring when asking for royal forgiveness or favour. How very apt. I suspect they knew exactly how that term would be interpreted by some.
Trump has banned criticism of Israel on college campuses.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/29/politics/executive-actions-trump-school-choice/index.html
Trump is also calling on the federal government to cancel student visas for what he called “Hamas sympathizers” on college campuses, according to a White House fact sheet.
He later signed an executive order calling on government agencies to submit a report within 60 days to identify civil and criminal authorities to combat antisemitism and “containing an inventory and analysis of all pending administrative complaints, as of the date of the report, against or involving institutions of higher education alleging civil-rights violations related to or arising from post-October 7, 2023, campus anti-Semitism.”
Trump obviously isn't a fan of the First Amendment..... “Congress shall make no law... abridging freedom of speech.”
You’re 100% not seeing what people are doing
Appeasement worked well with Hitler too. And the Brexiters, for that matter. It’s a well-proven strategy for dealing with tyrants and extremists everywhere.
Given a choice between showing some leadership and standing up for principles, or bending the knee and appeasing a fool or a bigot, give me appeasement any day.
For the avoidance of doubt perhaps I should say that the above post was meant as sarcasm. I realise in the current environment some people will think I meant it seriously, and others will even agree with it.
Trump has banned criticism of Israel on college campuses.
No, he's clamping down on antisemitism in that quote.
"You are free to do as we tell you".
Bill Hicks was right about EVERYTHING.
Trump is also calling on the federal government to cancel student visas for what he called “Hamas sympathizers” on college campuses, according to a White House fact sheet.
Is there going to be a tick box on the visa application?
[ ] Tick if you are, or have ever been a Hamas sympathiser?
Doh, you got me there Donald.
Appeasement worked well with Hitler too.
It actually gave time for the UK to rearm.
Sorry enormous diversion, but is that not what the 6 month phoney war did?
Is there going to be a tick box on the visa application?
[ ] Tick if you are, or have ever been a Hamas sympathiser?
According to a colleague they already ask you if you're a terrorist y/n
Apparently, military pilots in the USA have a ‘See and Avoid’ policy
Isn't that the case pretty much everywhere?
Night time might be fairly meaningless if the aircraft has enough instrumented vision - Black Hawks come with a night vision system for the pilots.
US President Donald Trump says he has been briefed on the “terrible accident” and questions why the helicopter didn’t “go up or down”
He missed out "stop" and "go backwards", which other directions available to a helicopter. NOT GOOD!!
No, he’s clamping down on antisemitism
Wtf do you think Donald Trump means by anti-semitism?
Of course it is about banning criticism of Israel. People like Donald Trump, Suella Braverman, etc, always claim that criticism of Israel is anti-semitic.
The argument goes along the lines of why would anyone criticise the only Jewish state in the world if they weren't anti-semitic. Even Jews who criticise Israel are accused of being anti-semitic ffs. It happens here, in Israel, and the world over.
Under Donald Trump's proposal anyone holding a placard saying "Stop the Genocide in Gaza" will be deemed as anti-semitic, and targeted. Which is why Trump's ol' buddy Benjamin Netanyahu (am I correct in thinking he is currently in the US as the first foreign leader to visit the new president?) staunchly claims that the International Court of Justice, the United Nations, the Irish government, the South African government, and a multitude of other countries and organisations across the globe, are anti-semitic for even suggesting that Israel might have committed genocide.
The far-right government in Israel and their zionist supporters across the world have rendered the term anti-semitic as utterly meaningless. Which is both tragic and dangerous, not that they care of course.
According to a colleague they already ask you if you’re a terrorist y/n
That's just to make life easier for them. It asks if you've had any dealings with any kind of terror organisation, and they can send you home at any whiff of dodginess because they can prove you lied on the form which it clearly says is grounds for deportation or refusal. Actually prosecuting you for whatever they think you might've done could be much more difficult. So it's quite a clever form.
Trump stopped $50 million worth of condoms going to Gaza.
Apparently it was part of a STD prevention project for Mozambique.
Wtf do you think Donald Trump means by anti-semitism?
I'm sadly confident that your expectations are likely to be correct, but you stated that he was banning criticism of Israel. We both know the two are different things. We both suspect the two things will get lumped together, though with Trump there's no guarantee that what he says today will be what he means tomorrow. But the quote you used was very specific about what he was banning.
Sorry enormous diversion, but is that not what the 6 month phoney war did?
No rearmament started about 1933 when Hitler gained power and exited some of the agreements.
Both the spitfire and hurricane projects started in 1934 and reached production in 1936 with pretty hefty orders. Radar became a serious project in 1936 as well.
Arms production continually ramped up even as they talked about peace in our time. Its a messy area with the problem which is often oversimplified into Churchill good and Chamberlain bad and also often decent hindsight eg if France/UK had challenged Germany earlier then records suggest Hitler would have backed down but it wasnt clear at the time who was in a better shape for a fight. Both sides were arming up.
But the quote you used was very specific about what he was banning.
The stated aim is not the issue, the actual aim of Trump's executive order is the only thing which we should be concerned about. And people like Trump, Braverman, and Netanyahu, equate all criticism of Israel with anti-semitism. Obviously they know it is not true but trivialities such as truth doesn't bother the likes of Trump, Braverman, and Netanyahu.
I don't think anyone should toe the line and go along with Trump's ridiculous pretence that he is concerned about anti-semitism, especially when he himself has even recently been guilty of blatant and "actual" anti-semitism.
The idea that there was previously an anti-semitism problem which Joe Biden couldn't deal with but a racist like Trump can is frankly absurd.
Trump Goes Full Anti-Semite in Room Full of Jewish People
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/12/donald-trump-anti-semitic-remarks
Trump’s long history of trafficking in antisemitic tropes
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/10/17/trump-history-antisemitic-tropes/
Appeasement hasn’t worked well with Putin either has it !!
So on the subject of the tragic air crash the political finger pointing without any substantive evidence has begun, of course it is all the Dems fault!!:
Trump also took a swipe at his political foes, this time at Barack Obama for allegedly hiring "mediocre" staff for air traffic control jobs that require "superior intelligence".
and
Trump has now - explicitly - blamed his predecessors in the Biden administration - particularly former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg - for allegedly hiring people with disabilities and psychological issues for air traffic controller positions.
He hasn't provided any evidence to support his claims. The Federal Aviation Administration is a large organisation with 35,000 employees - a fraction of whom are air traffic controllers.
"I don't think so," Trump says, remarking on whether he believes those hired in Buttigieg's time were qualified to safely control air traffic.
but of course....
The reporter then asks the president how he can claim at this moment that diversity hiring policies had something to do with this crash.
"Because I have common sense, and unfortunately a lot of people don't," Trump says.
I guess a brown woman is somehow involved. He is such a ****.
They're literally still pulling children's bodies out of the water. Somehow Trump just keeps finding new ways to be worse.
Unless the Validation (exams) and medical certificate standards have been lowered for US Atcos's (both very doubtful), he's talking utter garbage.
If you can do the job, you can do the job. If you can't pass the exams or the medical, you will not become an Atco.
Ethnicity, sexual orientation etc, have nothing to do with it.
If there is an element of Atco responsibility, that will come out in the investigation but he's politicising the deaths of dozens of people before any firm facts have been established.
If there is an element of Atco responsibility, that will come out in the investigation but he’s politicising the deaths of dozens of people before any firm facts have been established.
Nothing new there... annecdotally on reddit (yeah I know..) a lot of people are saying the blackhawk chopper was totally in the wrong, so if anything it's a millitary training issue.
Ethnicity, sexual orientation etc, have nothing to do with it.
Surely common-sense tells you that only white heterosexual men have the nerves of steel required to be competent air traffic controllers?
Have you not seen Airplane! ?
Looks like I picked the wrong week to give up ketamine!
Have you not seen Airplane! ?
Airplane!? What is it?
Airplane? What is it?
It's a good film, but that's not important right now
“Because I have common sense, and unfortunately a lot of people don’t,” Trump says.
The first part is bollocks but the second part is true judging by the idiots who voted for him.
His original tweet was moronic so to manage to get worse is sort of impressive.
