Donald! Trump!

 I’m passionate about banning Assault Trifles

Penalties for serious offenders include custardy

I really do feel sorry for the normal people in the US. When you sit back and take a long hard look at the situation, you just end up at how? How is that man running for office, let alone POTUS?

I do, often. My family says things like, “Trump is good for farmers,” while ignoring the fact that his trade war with China nearly killed soybean exports when he was in office. The farm in question? A soybean farm. They can’t fact-check a single thing. Even when the Cheeto nearly destroyed their livelihood, they still think he’s a great businessman.

I see his social media company shares are tumbling and thatll be leaving the chumps that bought into it, out of pocket

Race is still incredibly tight, polling is still 50/50 in those swing states

He does seem to be low energy these days, even saying he wont run in 2028

I haven’t dipped into the election lately but I did read the article about not going in 2028. It kind of gave off a whiff of vulnerability, the acknowledgement however slight that he might not win this year.

How does it work there?

Can you serve more than 2 terms if they are not consecutive?

No, just two terms however you do it.

I haven’t dipped into the election lately but I did read the article about not going in 2028. It kind of gave off a whiff of vulnerability, the acknowledgement however slight that he might not win this year.

A lot of the election campaign is just about motivating people to get out and vote, he is probably trying to get his base worried that this is their last chance to get him in office so they have to do it now.

Can you serve more than 2 terms if they are not consecutive?

I read on the BBC that it’s 2 terms max, so you can’t go away then come back.

I do, often. My family says things like, “Trump is good for farmers,” while ignoring the fact that his trade war with China nearly killed soybean exports when he was in office. The farm in question? A soybean farm. They can’t fact-check a single thing. Even when the Cheeto nearly destroyed their livelihood, they still think he’s a great businessman.

It is crazy, the truth just does not seem to matter to huge numbers of voters.

The “deplorables” aren’t big enough on their own to give him a majority, however without them the Republicans have no practical way of assembling an election coalition of voters.

The main thing that they care about is immigration.

Fox and the Murdochs despise him, as do most of the people who’ve worked for him, but they love the money that he brings them. However the fascination that he holds is starting to wear thin, even with Fox news watchers.

No, just two terms however you do it.

Technically no, you can serve as VP and if the pres steps down the remaining term doesn’t count.

I’m passionate about banning Assault Trifles

But there’s hundreds and thousands of them!

Technically no, you can serve as VP and if the pres steps down the remaining term doesn’t count.

Only if it’s less than two years. The president can’t step down just after inauguration and then the VP gets to serve three full terms. However, it says “elected,” so there may be a loophole whereby a two-term president could be appointed as the speaker of the house and then both the president and VP resign, in which case the speaker of the house is next in line to the throne.

The odds are still pretty much 50/50 with Harris as the fave according to the bookies…

How on earth can that be possible?

I mean, If you said to me, who is the most reprehensible person alive, Trump would probably top the list, but only because Epstine ‘hung himself’.

You can watch live counts of mail in ballots in Florida, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania here

Pretty meaningless obviously with 40 days still to go!

https://projects.votehub.us/pages/early-voting-tracker

I mean, If you said to me, who is the most reprehensible person alive, Trump would probably top the list, but only because Epstine ‘hung himself’.

Trump will end up implicated in the P Diddy scandal, either supplying underage models via his agency or a video of him at a party will emerge………….. and the MAGA loons would still vote for him

As far as I know he hasn’t yet shot anyone on 5th Avenue, so there’s a long long way to fall before anyone might change their mind

How on earth can that be possible?

Because, at a fundamental level, a sizable chunk of the American public pays very little attention to politics but really objects to having to pay tax.

As a result, in a 2 party system there will always be a sizable audience for whichever party is perceived to be the one that will tax you the least.

People are happy to tie themselves in rhetorical knots to try and justify this morally but a vast swath of US political discourse can largely be boiled down to this and so long as Trump remains the candidate who is perceived as the lower tax option he will remain in contention because for a vast swath of America that is what decides their vote.

as Trump remains the candidate who is perceived as the lower tax option he will remain in contention

And a lot rests on ‘perception’. Trump’s all about who he seems to be and what he seems to do.

He marketed his tax cuts as being of benefit to the ‘middle classes’* but they were very heavily skewed towards the rich – under those cuts the richest 400 people in the US ended up paying a lower rate of tax than the poorest 40%. People who actually saw the most noticeable diffence in their take home pay would have been in the 98th percentile – household incomes over $360,000. Those tax cuts in turn added $2 Trillion** to the US national debt.

While Trump has is core fans, theres a sizeable chunk who will hold their nose and vote for him even though they don’t like him just because they believe they will be taxed less or because of a largely unfounded belief in the US that the economy does better under republican presidencies.

Bear in mind…. those Tax Cuts have not been reversed – what Trump is offering voters is what they already have –  even with a Democrat president at the helm.

sizable chunk of the American public pays very little attention to politics but really objects to having to pay tax.

To be frank we have the same childish rhetoric about tax here, across the whole political spectrum. It would be political suicide to just talk about tax like adults.

* middle class is a pretty nebulous term in the US – its an income bracket rather than a social class but even then seems to span the bit between ‘poverty’ and ‘millionaire’ although many millionaires would still term themselves middle class, So it’s a very easy term to throw around politically as almost everyone who hears it thinks it pertains to them. (it would perhaps be better phrased as The Working class – as its the people in between the people unable to work and people who can afford not to work maybe – which is why millionaires feel ‘middle class’ if they’re actually working to earn their millions rather than having their millions work for them)

** thats $6000 of dept for every US citizen just from that one measure

Just watched the Ch4 documentary which puts more substance and focus to the ‘steal’ news stories. Wow!

Wall to wall lifetime Republicans seeing it for what it really is. A total **** clown show.

Yet here we go again…

Well, there’s a surprise.

Trump’s “Vastly Overpriced” $100,000 “Swiss Watch” Is Probably Made in China, Experts Say

I see Vance seems to have sleezed to a narrow victory in the VP debate last night

I doubt will change many minds but polls are still 50/50 and a few lately edging back toward Trump in the swing states, plus war in middle east (& rising pump prices) and hurricane all are headwinds for Harris

Dementia Don will be pleased on the whole

Judging by what I read, the VP debate was unremarkable and probably won’t be remembered after the weekend.

Donald spoilt the tone by posting insults about Walz on Truth Social during the debate

I watched the debate and Vance came across as slick and polished, much like a plastic faced Fox News host so that’s trump won the election, walz came across with facts and figures but not as polished in delivery.

I find this is pretty convincing.

Vance had a good night- it’s pretty interesting, because it’s really obvious that his move to trumpworld is entirely cynical and tactical and that it’s not his natural stance, but that’s true of a lot of people and often they seem to forget it themselves and end up basically gaslighting themselves. Whereas clearly with Vance it’s something he’s continuing to decide to do and he can actually still be more reasonable and civil, he just mostly chooses not to. Urgh.

Walz was stodgy but solid enough, he did land some pretty good blows though. It was never likely to be the part of the job that he shone at tbf. But across the entire debate I think it was a pretty clearcut if narrow Vance win. And not just a “Trump win” of “he didn’t just shit his pants and speak in tongues so he exceeded expectations”. Vance was dishonest both in position and in statement while Walz was mostly pretty straight but, that’s the game.

Thing is though, when you look away from the total debate and put it into the 10 second videos and buzzwords and such, it’s a bit different. Walz’s handful of direct attacks like on January 6th end up looking better, and he didn’t really do anything that makes for a 10 second <bad> video. Whereas Vance inevitably had a bunch of lies that will play really well to the Trumpists, but he also had a couple of really bad moments that look bad to everyone- getting caught outright lying, fact checked, then responding with whiny mumbling and “the rules were that you weren’t going to fact check” is a terrible look and was almost perfectly delivered for the internet age.

In the end, it’s almost the definition of the “do no harm” debate but it was more of an opportunity for Walz.

Well, there’s a surprise.

Trump’s “Vastly Overpriced” $100,000 “Swiss Watch” Is Probably Made in China, Experts Say

Sounds familiar…

I wonder if that’s a Trumpian standard play, or Charlie sheen mixing himself up with Ray Cohn?

Vance kept himself under control which is what Trump can never do – there was a degree of political good behaviour.

Which means that Vance would be a better Prez than his running mate. #shudder#

Fascist **** already dialled up to 11 on the right wing rhetoric. God knows how unhinged he’ll be come election day. The within people are presumably the election officials.

“I think the bigger problem are the people from within. We have some very bad people. We have some sick people,” he said on Fox’s Sunday Morning Futures programme.

“It should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by the national guard, or if really necessary, by the military, because they can’t let that happen.”

I did think him stranding all his fans in the desert he cause he hadn’t paid his coach bill was quite amusing

What’s not so funny is that everyone of them will still vote for him, without once wondering if he can’t run a small gathering of people on a farm, why he’d be able to run a country

Polls are still incredibly tight, especially in the swing states, 5 million votes have already been cast and it’s exactly 3 weeks until polling day.
It’s hard to be optimistic at this stage.

Atm I’m reading an interesting book about narcissists. Apparently there are varying degrees. But there is no doubt that Trump is in the highest degree, the worst type. Lying, cheating, making up stories, unable to show love, care or consideration to others, let alone his own family members, especially his children. He’s probably envious of his children (sons). Has to control, be in power, is needy and usually an extrovert (read show off).

Throwing childish comments at Harris eg,” I’m better looking than she is, she’s bad, bad, so bad”, is typical narcissistic behaviour. I’ve not yet finished reading the book, but it was clear from the first chapter that he’s the real thing. Interestingly, the book also states, that these people are genuinely unhappy and usually something happened very early on in their life to make them this way.

It’s hard to be optimistic at this stage.

I’m gloomy.

At what point is prejudice against the people of a nation justifiable/understandable? Whichever way it goes, a sufficiently large number of the US electorate will have voted for him that becoming president is a realistic possibility. For the third election in a row. This is the richest nation in the world – so they have collectively got the intelligence to make stuff happen. And they should have the funds to have great education for all. They should be able to see through him, yet they still see him as a reasonable prospect as their leader. Which leads me to the only logical conclusion – they are just an unpleasant nation of people in terms of their collective personality that I’ll never understand or want to spend time around.

I was optimistic for a while. I do think there could be a silent group who will vote against Trump in quite large numbers, that even a republican state or 2 could flip, I still think he will be trounced in the popular vote, but I am losing confidence that he will lose the election due to the rigging of the election system.

Yegads it is stressful, and we’re still 3 weeks out. As far as I can see, if Kamala wins Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin she’s home and dry. Lose either Michigan or Wisconsin and she’d need to win either North Carolina or Georgia. Or win both Nevada and Arizona. Lose Pennsylvania and she’d need two of Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina or Arizona (though not Nevada/Arizona combo as she’d be two short). Lose Pennsylvania and one of either Wisconsin and Michigan and she’s basically done unless there’s a massive upset in the Southern States (ie she might well win one of North Carolina, Georgia and Arizona, more than that would be a surprise..)

Complicated.

As said above, most voters focus on the micro issues relevant to them (usually tax) and the US is no different (other than being even more so). The fact that someone as obviously incompetent as DT is even in the running though is incredible. Fingers are crossed and really hoping that the Harris plagiarism thing that seems to have appeared doesn’t get traction..

Anyone seen Trump’s one-man disco last night?

Apparently declared that he’d take a few more questions, didn’t take any, and just stood around on stage looking weird for half an hour while they played a few classic power ballads:

So Trump is still just standing around on stage listening to music. They played Nothing Compares 2 U and now it’s November Rain. Once again, he’s just been standing there for almost half an hour. It’s cheap to ask “what if Biden had done this?” but I think you have to at this point.

— Spooky Cooper Lund (@cooperlund.bsky.social) 2024-10-15T00:30:39.882Z

I am increasingly pessimistic I have to confess. Yes it’s too tight to call but that’s the point, it really shouldn’t be.

There did seem to be some Harris momentum but lately it seems that there’s lots of mud n shit being thrown at trump but it doesn’t stick. It seems a little desperate.

It’s incredible that we are now about 3 weeks out from such an important event, and we’re reduced to crossing fingers.

I’m optimistic. Just spent a few days in deepest redneckistan and there was hardly a trump banner to be seen. Somewhat reminiscent of the recent UK GE when our very safe tory seat hardly had any billboards in the fields. (the seat remained tory but on a very small margin this time.)

Coincidentally, I was also here in 2016 when Trump won very marginally. That felt very different.

It’s as much about energy and turnout as it is opinions and preferences.

Because, at a fundamental level, a sizable chunk of the American public pays very little attention to politics but really objects to having to pay tax.

There’s a demographic in current US voters referred to as “boat people”, and  it’s not an immigration slur this time.

It’s those stereotypical midwestern, middle income, middle aged men.  They’ve bought a big house in the suburbs, drive a big truck, and thanks to Don’s tax cuts bought a boat.

Trump needs to get his far right base to vote for him as well, but that’s not the 50%.  The 50% is people who just want to pay less tax. And in a country where you don’t get healthcare in return for your tax, you can sort of see why.  You’ve finished with school, you’re not at war, your only interactions with the police are getting speeding tickets.  Where’s the intrinsic benefit benefit in paying tax? A boat on the other hand is cool, you can drink Coors light on a boat.

There did seem to be some Harris momentum but lately it seems that there’s lots of mud n shit being thrown at trump but it doesn’t stick. It seems a little desperate.

Those voting for him are already holding their noses, they can’t smell whatever s*** is thrown his way.

Last time (well I mean 2016) there was all the “but her emails” nonsense even coming from democrat-leaning educated women that we were talking to. And that still came out as a really close election (remember Clinton actually got more votes). I can’t help think that the comparison this time is much more favourable for Harris. She’s not Clinton for starters! And Trump is much more obviously a batshit-crazy senile fascist. Last time he still had a bit of charisma.

If Trump wins, I’ll be straight down the bookies with a £100 that Trump will be assassinated before the completion of his term.

I’d have a chance of doubling my money.

If he does get elected I expect he’ll spend a bunch of those tax dollars on reinforcing his secret service protection. This year we’ve had 3 known situations where an armed individual has been close to him and he knows that becoming POTUS is likely to flush a few more out

kimbers
Full Member

I did think him stranding all his fans in the desert he cause he hadn’t paid his coach bill was quite amusing

What’s not so funny is that everyone of them will still vote for him, without once wondering if he can’t run a small gathering of people on a farm, why he’d be able to run a country

Even while it was still happening they were hatching conspiracy theories, it was all Harris’s fault, she’d personally cancelled all teh buses, that sort of thing.

This despite the fact that Trump did <literally the same thing> at at least one rally in 2020.

And it seems like it’s not even “hadn’t paid the bill”, both times it looks like they literally just booked the buses one way. The audience only matters until they turn up, afterwards they might as well die.

Theoretically, Can Trump win, then cut a deal and concede the presidency to the Dems in order for them to not prosecute.. ever?