US Politics

[Mark B]

Hitler, Stalin and Mao might have all been thoroughly objectionable but you cannot compare them intellectually with Trump. Trump doesn’t have an intellect. Nothing he says is ever worth listening to.

I don't know, the US economy seems to be kicking the crap out of every other country, basically ended illegal border crossings into the US and he even managed to get the rest of NATO to actually invest in defense.

So yeah, I think he has some things worth listening to. I would be hard pressed to name a politician who people listen to more then Trump globally.

You not liking what he had to say is not the same thing as it not being worth listening to.

 

[Mark B]

Hitler, Stalin and Mao might have all been thoroughly objectionable but you cannot compare them intellectually with Trump. Trump doesn’t have an intellect. Nothing he says is ever worth listening to.

I don't know, the US economy seems to be kicking the crap out of every other country, basically ended illegal border crossings into the US and he even managed to get the rest of NATO to actually invest in defense.

So yeah, I think he has some things worth listening to. I would be hard pressed to name a politician who people listen to more then Trump globally.

You not liking what he had to say is not the same thing as it not being worth listening to.

 

[Spiderman]

I don't know, the US economy seems to be kicking the crap out of every other country, basically ended illegal border crossings into the US and he even managed to get the rest of NATO to actually invest in defense.

So yeah, I think he has some things worth listening to. I would be hard pressed to name a politician who people listen to more then Trump globally.

You not liking what he had to say is not the same thing as it not being worth listening to.

Wasting your breath, Mark. He is a founder member of the TDS Club 😂

 

[chris123]

I don't know, the US economy seems to be kicking the crap out of every other country, basically ended illegal border crossings into the US and he even managed to get the rest of NATO to actually invest in defense.

So yeah, I think he has some things worth listening to. I would be hard pressed to name a politician who people listen to more then Trump globally.

You not liking what he had to say is not the same thing as it not being worth listening to.

A quarter of global gdp, 3% global population.

 

[eaglesdare]

Hitler, Stalin and Mao might have all been thoroughly objectionable but you cannot compare them intellectually with Trump. Trump doesn’t have an intellect. Nothing he says is ever worth listening to.

You have more in common with Trump in this case than you care to admit.

 

[Mark B]

A quarter of global gdp, 3% global population.

And it is actually down from WW2 when the US was half of the global GDP.

The part that some people don't get is that the US just keeps picking up many of the best minds from around the world who come to the US so this train isn't likely to stop any time soon.

Unlike the Chinese one that derailed in 2008 and people haven't caught on to.

 

[silvertop]

As long as he is still an American citizen, sure.

The only thing they should be barred from is campaigning for a specific candidate as that would be foreign election interference.

That would be a bizarre constitutional conundrum.

 

[Mark B]

That would be a bizarre constitutional conundrum.

It would seem that way and we would likely see it taken to the Supreme Court to get an adjudication on it. This is just more high profile because it is the Pope and he and Trump openly hate each other.

Normally, US citizens who run other countries tend to renounce their US citizenship, like Janet Jagan did in Guyana or George Papandreou in Greece.

Gold Meir in Israel never did renounce but I don’t know if she ever actually voted in a US election afterwards.

 

[chris123]

A Democrat landslide it seems. I wonder if there's a potential leader now.

 

[Badger11]

Trump is now a lame duck President, whatever he says or does the Dems can overrule him. Either Trump becomes more conciliatory with the Dems or he doubles down and gets even nastier. I don't expect much from him over the next two year, dead man walking.

 

[Matov]

Trump is now a lame duck President, whatever he says or does the Dems can overrule him. Either Trump becomes more conciliatory with the Dems or he doubles down and gets even nastier. I don't expect much from him over the next two year, dead man walking.

And what actually changes? This is the point.

We have a Republican President - Same old same old.
We have a Democrat President - Same old, same old.

At least Trump, initially, presented a genuine break from the old order. But now?

Trump has suffered this defeat because of fuel costs. That's how it works in the US. People vote based on what they perceive as the personal cost to them by way of filling up their car.

Its merely a change of brand, as it is in the UK and most of the Western World. But the contents of the tin stay the same.

Literally zero point even voting at the moment. The people we elect do not run things.

 

[Eden Eagle]

And what actually changes? This is the point.

We have a Republican President - Same old same old.
We have a Democrat President - Same old, same old.

At least Trump, initially, presented a genuine break from the old order. But now?

Trump has suffered this defeat because of fuel costs. That's how it works in the US. People vote based on what they perceive as the personal cost to them by way of filling up their car.

Its merely a change of brand, as it is in the UK and most of the Western World. But the contents of the tin stay the same.

Literally zero point even voting at the moment. The people we elect do not run things.

The cost of fuel affects so much more than the price of filling up the car though - it is the key driver in the global inflation that we are experiencing, through significantly increased manufacturing and transportation costs leading to much higher prices across the board.

Trump’s decision to attack and start a war with Iran has directly led to increased costs for all of us and, in my opinion, having his Republican party take a battering is good news for us all (with the exception of Trumps mates in Russia).

 

[georgenorman]

I'm old enough to remember the days when there was no real difference between the Democrats and Republicans.

 

[silvertop]

And what actually changes? This is the point.

We have a Republican President - Same old same old.
We have a Democrat President - Same old, same old.

At least Trump, initially, presented a genuine break from the old order. But now?

Trump has suffered this defeat because of fuel costs. That's how it works in the US. People vote based on what they perceive as the personal cost to them by way of filling up their car.

Its merely a change of brand, as it is in the UK and most of the Western World. But the contents of the tin stay the same.

Literally zero point even voting at the moment. The people we elect do not run things.

You are right and wrong.

How can one government possibly control a population and economy the size of e.g. the USA. It is largely run by the economy itself and an experienced civil service. Same here.

Trump is a populist so his "vision" is of the cuff and largely presentation. The economy runs itself. Giving any real credit to him for US relative prosperity is largely misplaced, although low tax and small government tends to produce better results.

However, governments do take responsibility as well, usually for the brash, vote-gathering, marquee stuff that seemed like a good idea at the point of sale. Thus, petrol prices have soared and we are suffering consequent economic shock due to the decision to go to war with Iran. And we are still picking the bits out of the Truss budget.

Governments receive too much blame and get too much credit for stuff where they are largely observers. However, they are not pointless.

 

[silvertop]

The cost of fuel affects so much more than the price of filling up the car though - it is the key driver in the global inflation that we are experiencing, through significantly increased manufacturing and transportation costs leading to much higher prices across the board.

Trump’s decision to attack and start a war with Iran has directly led to increased costs for all of us and, in my opinion, having his Republican party take a battering is good news for us all (with the exception of Trumps mates in Russia and here).

EFA

 

[Wisbech Eagle]

You have more in common with Trump in this case than you care to admit.

The irony of that comment at least made me smile.

 

[chris123]

I'm old enough to remember the days when there was no real difference between the Democrats and Republicans.

A lot of them would have served in the war.

 

[Wisbech Eagle]

Wasting your breath, Mark. He is a founder member of the TDS Club 😂

A club that exists only in the minds of those unable to see the completely obvious.

It’s taken more than a decade for the majority of the US voters to wake up and see what is so obvious to so many here and around the world. Excepting, of course, those who still, despite the overwhelming evidence being laid in front of them every day, cling to the idea that Trump has some merit. There’s nothing delusional about considering Trump an out of control, narcissistic gifter whose only interest is milking his position. He is and always has been. Some of us knew that 20 years ago.

 

[Wisbech Eagle]

A Democrat landslide it seems. I wonder if there's a potential leader now.

Eventually yes. I was the first person here to notice and mention James Talarico. I watched him interviewed before he won the primary and thought he looked to possess leadership qualities, perhaps even Presidential. So I am glad to see him in the Senate.

I don’t share his religious convictions but I do share the morality they give him. He is not a Christian Nationalist. He is everything they aren’t. He has no selfish ambitions. His motivation is to serve, to inspire and to lead. I can see him leading a moral crusade against the grifters and those seeking to buy influence. He is someone who offers hope, so I can easily imagine him being swept up into positions of influence very quickly.

 

[Mark B]

Trump is now a lame duck President, whatever he says or does the Dems can overrule him. Either Trump becomes more conciliatory with the Dems or he doubles down and gets even nastier. I don't expect much from him over the next two year, dead man walking.

Trump 's position as President is the same as it was two years ago, very little changes with a new congress because of how the US system is designed. The only thing you are going to see is the bi-weekly impeachment of Trump and Hegseth which will end up going no where but will be done purely for political theater.

You need a two-thirds majority to override a Presidential veto, that is why things rarely get done unless the President's party has that two-thirds majority in Congress. There are rare exceptions to that, such as second term Clinton, but that is usually driven by the ability to make a deal that works for both parties and that won't be happening any time soon.

What he isn't going to be is a lame duck as the Executive powers allow him a fair amount of leeway, especially when it comes to diplomacy. He's issued 292 Executive Orders so far in his second term and I'll be shocked if he doesn't get over 500 before his term is up.