(Soon to be) Former President Donald Trump

[Stairway 2 7]

Sometimes you can only see what a nation is like when you're looking from the outside in.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q50p_lr0HPk

Youtubers bit small sample. In this poll Germany and US were both similar for how many agreed that their nation is superior to all other nations 49% and 47% agreed, UK well behind with 32% agreeing, ten years old but I'd bet it is lower now. Over 1k polled in each nation

https://www.statista.com/statistics/219377/share-of-respondents-who-think-their-country-is-superior-to-others/

[lapsedhibee]

Youtubers bit small sample. In this poll Germany and US were both similar for how many agreed that their nation is superior to all other nations 49% and 47% agreed, UK well behind with 32% agreeing, ten years old but I'd bet it is lower now. Over 1k polled in each nation

Probably the same half of Americans who (still) think the US is superior to all other countries just voted on the basis that their country has been completely ruined by radical leftist Joe Biden.

[Hibrandenburg]

“Trump is starting to ensure his dictatorship. Three Generals are on a list to be arrested for treason.
Flynn has been given authority to fire senior Generals if they don't swear an oath to Trump. Several will refuse.
Some have already taken evasive action.
Generals swear an oath to uphold the constitution .... not to the President.”

Read this earlier. He appears to be trying to make his mark early.

I can’t see him living long tbh…

He's learnt his lesson from his first period in office, he has to act quickly before people (his supporters in particular) wake up and smell the coffee.

[Hibrandenburg]

Youtubers bit small sample. In this poll Germany and US were both similar for how many agreed that their nation is superior to all other nations 49% and 47% agreed, UK well behind with 32% agreeing, ten years old but I'd bet it is lower now. Over 1k polled in each nation

https://www.statista.com/statistics/219377/share-of-respondents-who-think-their-country-is-superior-to-others/

Actions speak louder than words or at least answering questions in an anonymous survey. Policy is driven by the electorate, which is a much more accurate pulse test of national opinion and at present that is isolationism in the US and to some extent the UK.

[Stairway 2 7]

Actions speak louder than words or at least answering questions in an anonymous survey. Policy is driven by the electorate, which is a much more accurate pulse test of national opinion and at present that is isolationism in the US and to some extent the UK.

People agree with surveys that say what they agree with and vice versa. You say they voted Trump because they as a nation feel superior, then why did they vote Biden previously or did Obama walk it. In every poll the younger generation are less patriotic and the populous is more diverse, Trump did tremendous with Hispanic voters

UK went left, Germany will go right, Scotland went against the SNP. It was nothing to do with identity politics it was due to the economy and being an incumbent.

As has been said before it's no coincidence that for the first time ever, every democracatic nation in the world that had an election this year the incumbent heavily lost votes

[Ozyhibby]

History is good for learning from the past but shouldn’t be for judging people in the present.


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[Hibrandenburg]

People agree with surveys that say what they agree with and vice versa. You say they voted Trump because they as a nation feel superior, then why did they vote Biden previously or did Obama walk it. In every poll the younger generation are less patriotic and the populous is more diverse, Trump did tremendous with Hispanic voters

UK went left, Germany will go right, Scotland went against the SNP. It was nothing to do with identity politics it was due to the economy and being an incumbent.

As has been said before it's no coincidence that for the first time ever, every democracatic nation in the world that had an election this year the incumbent heavily lost votes

I didn't say that they voted Trump because they as a nation feel superior, that's you're false interpretation of what I said and one of the reasons I normally stop discussing any particular subject with you, that and the fact you make up facts that are simply untrue, not every incumbent lost in democratic elections in 2024, that's simply not true.

[Stairway 2 7]

I didn't say that they voted Trump because they as a nation feel superior, that's you're false interpretation of what I said and one of the reasons I normally stop discussing any particular subject with you, that and the fact you make up facts that are simply untrue, not every incumbent lost in democratic elections in 2024, that's simply not true.

You read what I wrote wrong that why it's hard discussing anything with you. If you read it again it says heavily lost votes.
https://www.ft.com/content/e8ac09ea-c300-4249-af7d-109003afb893
"Every governing party facing election in a developed country this year lost vote share, the first time this has ever happened"

You said due to the US past it's brainwashing kids ect it's no wonder they voted Trump, doesn't really explain why they voted Biden over him or they voted Obama to huge wins. I think it's shoehorning in a reason the nation voted Trump but it falls apart when they didn't. The past has been a constant for America who they voted for has fluctuated

[Stairway 2 7]

History is good for learning from the past but shouldn’t be for judging people in the present.


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Thought Doug Stanhope was funny when saying similar

https://youtu.be/QsPDT5qHtZ4?si=cuKKEq_z8Wor3FLT

[Ozyhibby]

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/muslims-who-voted-trump-upset-by-his-pro-israel-cabinet-picks-2024-11-15/

Some people just can’t be helped.


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[cabbageandribs1875]

Exclusive: Woman told House Ethics panel she witnessed Gaetz having sex with minor, lawyer says - ABC News (https://abcnews.go.com/US/exclusive-woman-told-house-ethics-panel-witnessed-gaetz/story?id=115897603)


An attorney representing two women who were witnesses in the House Ethics Committee's investigation into now-former Rep. Matt Gaetz is calling for the release of the committee's report, telling ABC News that one of his clients testified that she witnessed the Florida congressman having sex with a minor (https://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-testified-house-ethics-committee-gaetz-sex-17/story?id=115867555).
"My client testified to the House Ethics Committee that she witnessed Matt Gaetz having sex with a minor," Florida attorney Joel Leppard told ABC News.


Speaker Mike Johnson says he will 'strongly request' that Ethics Committee withhold its Matt Gaetz report (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/speaker-mike-johnson-says-will-strongly-request-ethics-committee-withh-rcna180354)

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Friday that he would "strongly request" that the House Ethics Committee not release a report detailing its investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.
The Ethics panel had been investigating Gaetz (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senators-want-details-matt-gaetz-ethics-probe-vote-attorney-general-rcna180164) — who resigned this week after President-elect Donald Trump chose him to serve as attorney general (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/justice-department-stunned-trumps-choice-matt-gaetz-attorney-general-rcna180071) — off and on since 2021 (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senators-want-details-matt-gaetz-ethics-probe-vote-attorney-general-rcna180164). He has denied any wrongdoing.

[McD]

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/muslims-who-voted-trump-upset-by-his-pro-israel-cabinet-picks-2024-11-15/

Some people just can’t be helped.


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I mean, it must be hard when there’s no recent history of how the man will act and specifically whether he’d be pro Israel or not…

[JimBHibees]

I mean, it must be hard when there’s no recent history of how the man will act and specifically whether he’d be pro Israel or not…

Indeed wow.

[Smartie]

I saw some clips pre-election when (I think) Sky News went into various pro-Trump Muslim communities, who were backing him on the basis that “he’ll end the wars”.

It made me wince a bit, knowing that whilst he may eventually contribute towards bringing an end to certain wars, it’s unlikely to lead to an outcome those people would be happy with.

There’s no doubting the comprehensive nature of Trump’s victory but you can’t help but feel there’s going to need to be an awful lot of manipulation and delusion if he’s to avoid letting an awful lot of people down.

[Stairway 2 7]

There was a good documentary last year on the BBC talking about the links between evangelical groups and Israeli groups. Trump was heavily involved in both. Both groups openly want a one state solution and use the bible to justify it.

Baffling that people thought he would anger his closest allies and want Israeli restraint

[lapsedhibee]

There’s no doubting the comprehensive nature of Trump’s victory but you can’t help but feel there’s going to need to be an awful lot of manipulation and delusion if he’s to avoid letting an awful lot of people down.

Less than 2% of a difference in the popular vote, so about twice as close as the Brexit referendum. Only appears comprehensive because of the bizarre electoral system. Trump didn't so much 'sweep to victory' as 'squeak to victory'. Let's hope that the half of the country he's already letting down gets another chance to rid themselves of him in four years.

[cabbageandribs1875]

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:yly3aulwiwaboatf2v2pjkhc/bafkreif7z42g34d73sfaefx4ywkrmfitsbkrysf7o2htphkp5 vp2dh3rtq@jpeg

[grunt]

:coffee:

[Keith_M]

While meeting Biden in the White House, Trump has promised the 'Smoothest Transition ever'.


Why does that guy continually go for hyperboles, no matter what he's discussing?

[Bostonhibby]

I mean, it must be hard when there’s no recent history of how the man will act and specifically whether he’d be pro Israel or not…Whodathunkit.

As many Americans are about to find out, they got who they voted for, but maybe not what they thought they'd voted for.

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[Bostonhibby]

While meeting Biden in the White House, Trump has promised the 'Smoothest Transition ever'.


Why does that guy continually go for hyperboles, no matter what he's discussing?He knew that very short slogans would resonate with a helluva lot of people?

Think about Bozo's billions for the NHS on the side of a bus, getting brexit "done"...etc.

Delivery doesn't actually matter once the election or referendum is won....

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[Jones28]

While meeting Biden in the White House, Trump has promised the 'Smoothest Transition ever'.


Why does that guy continually go for hyperboles, no matter what he's discussing?

People swallow it up.

Shirt, simple messages that his thick as **** supporters can lap up.

He did Trump steaks a few years ago and the advert was him talking the exact same way about mail order meat. Now he leads the free world.

[jamie_1875]

People swallow it up.

Shirt, simple messages that his thick as **** supporters can lap up.

He did Trump steaks a few years ago and the advert was him talking the exact same way about mail order meat. Now he leads the free world.

All parties across the world use short and sharp messages, doesn't make you thick if you read it and understand it. The average reading age in Scotland for adults is that of a 9-11 year old so keeping things simple is unfortunately the way that works. Whether you are trying to get across a political point, inform people about something or sell something.

The Scottish Government own guidelines suggest writing for 9-11 year olds to make it easier for people to understand.

Short and simple messages work so you would be foolish not to use them.

[Hibernian Verse]

All parties across the world use short and sharp messages, doesn't make you thick if you read it and understand it. The average reading age in Scotland for adults is that of a 9-11 year old so keeping things simple is unfortunately the way that works. Whether you are trying to get across a political point, inform people about something or sell something.

The Scottish Government own guidelines suggest writing for 9-11 year olds to make it easier for people to understand.

Short and simple messages work so you would be foolish not to use them.

I had to google this as it really surprised me.

https://servicemanual.gov.scot/creating-content/readability#:~:text=Why%20writing%20for%20a%20read ing,11%20years%20old%20to%20understand.

Quite an interesting publication from ScotGov.

[Keith_M]

All parties across the world use short and sharp messages, doesn't make you thick if you read it and understand it. The average reading age in Scotland for adults is that of a 9-11 year old so keeping things simple is unfortunately the way that works. Whether you are trying to get across a political point, inform people about something or sell something.

The Scottish Government own guidelines suggest writing for 9-11 year olds to make it easier for people to understand.

Short and simple messages work so you would be foolish not to use them.


Fair enough, but it's the hyperbole Trump uses that I was referring to.

Everything he does is 'The Greatest/Bestest/Biggliest.... ever'

[greenginger]

Fair enough, but it's the hyperbole Trump uses that I was referring to.

Everything he does is 'The Greatest/Bestest/Biggliest.... ever'

Maybe his mum supported the Gorgie mob .:greengrin

[Jones28]

All parties across the world use short and sharp messages, doesn't make you thick if you read it and understand it. The average reading age in Scotland for adults is that of a 9-11 year old so keeping things simple is unfortunately the way that works. Whether you are trying to get across a political point, inform people about something or sell something.

The Scottish Government own guidelines suggest writing for 9-11 year olds to make it easier for people to understand.

Short and simple messages work so you would be foolish not to use them.

There’s a massive difference between short, sharp phrases and what Trump uses.

[Northernhibee]

Linda McMahon education secretary.

Most powerful nation on earth and they can’t find a single person who knows how to sell a stunner to run it.

[overdrive]

Linda McMahon education secretary.

Most powerful nation on earth and they can’t find a single person who knows how to sell a stunner to run it.

Effectively put there to be the last education secretary and wind up the Education Department in an effort to end "wokeness" in schools :rolleyes:

[Ozyhibby]

Effectively put there to be the last education secretary and wind up the Education Department in an effort to end "wokeness" in schools :rolleyes:

All their domestic stuff I’m just going to ignore. They want to go full taliban on education then I’m not going to worry about it. It’s like when they have a school shooting. They don’t care about their kids so why should I?


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[Bristolhibby]

All their domestic stuff I’m just going to ignore. They want to go full taliban on education then I’m not going to worry about it. It’s like when they have a school shooting. They don’t care about their kids so why should I?


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Think of it like the Hitler Youth. Once the Red States have full control of Education and content then the schools themselves will produce more deep red kids.

J

[lapsedhibee]

Think of it like the Hitler Youth. Once the Red States have full control of Education and content then the schools themselves will produce more deep red kids.


Don't start talking about red kids, please. Some of these children will be of Indian heritage and Trump will start giving speeches about John Wayne and how he wants to put him in charge of homeland security.

[CropleyWasGod]

Don't start talking about red kids, please. Some of these children will be of Indian heritage and Trump will start giving speeches about John Wayne and how he wants to put him in charge of homeland security.

The hell he won't.

[Hibby70]

The hell he won't.

I remember being forced to drink my milk at school.

[Ozyhibby]

https://bsky.app/profile/lewisgoodall.com/post/3lbhz2xifrk2s

Gaetz withdraws from AG nomination.


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[grunt]

https://bsky.app/profile/lewisgoodall.com/post/3lbhz2xifrk2s

Gaetz withdraws from AG nomination.
1. That still leaves the 40 other unsuitable appointments
2. He'll be replaced by someone equally hideous inappropriate.

[Bostonhibby]

1. That still leaves the 40 other unsuitable appointments
2. He'll be replaced by someone equally hideous inappropriate.Shame, he ticked so many of Trump's own behavioural boxes. Probably wasn't nasty enough in the end.

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[cabbageandribs1875]

i see that Ellen DeGeneres and her wife have left America to live in England after Trumps win

[RyeSloan]

https://bsky.app/profile/lewisgoodall.com/post/3lbhz2xifrk2s

Gaetz withdraws from AG nomination.


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A new record even for Trump?

Said earlier his administration would be a revolving door and it’s proving to be the case even before he’s got to the White House!

[grunt]

A long read. Fantasy, or what ...?

https://bylinetimes.com/2024/11/04/donald-trump-us-presidential-electionon-2024-analysis/

[lapsedhibee]

A long read. Fantasy, or what ...?

https://bylinetimes.com/2024/11/04/donald-trump-us-presidential-electionon-2024-analysis/

Not fantasy. What's going to stop it all happening? :dunno:

[Smartie]

Not fantasy. What's going to stop it all happening? :dunno:

The fact that the "deep state" is actually pretty robust?

I have no doubting his intentions and if he gets a bit of momentum, the results could be terrifying.

But there are an awful lot of people and institutions who will have to be overpowered and I don't think that will be as easy as anyone will think - even Trump.

[Caversham Green]

https://bsky.app/profile/lewisgoodall.com/post/3lbhz2xifrk2s

Gaetz withdraws from AG nomination.


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When can we start calling this Gaetzgate?

[lapsedhibee]

The fact that the "deep state" is actually pretty robust?

I have no doubting his intentions and if he gets a bit of momentum, the results could be terrifying.

But there are an awful lot of people and institutions who will have to be overpowered and I don't think that will be as easy as anyone will think - even Trump.

Hasn't he already set about dismantling the 'deep state', which is basically anyone who disagrees with him? And the three or four Republicans responsible for ending Gaetzgate will shirley be hounded out soon enough, like Cheney.

[Ozyhibby]

Hasn't he already set about dismantling the 'deep state', which is basically anyone who disagrees with him? And the three or four Republicans responsible for ending Gaetzgate will shirley be hounded out soon enough, like Cheney.

I think they are all insulated to a certain extent in that two are from Dem leaning states and would win a primary challenge and two are retiring in two years anyway.


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[Smartie]

Hasn't he already set about dismantling the 'deep state', which is basically anyone who disagrees with him? And the three or four Republicans responsible for ending Gaetzgate will shirley be hounded out soon enough, like Cheney.

It's certainly his intention.

I think it was maybe Anthony Scarramucci who I heard talking on the American offshoot podcast to "The Rest is Politics" to his co-host about how sluggish the "deep state" is. Part of the reason that Donald Trump wants to dismantle it in the first place is why he'll find it so difficult and probably not succeed - there are checks, balances and legalities that stop Donald Trump doing whatever he wants.

The terrifying article is exactly what he'd do if he had his own way - ok, he's won an election and is in office but there's a long way to go before America becomes an autocracy. Whilst I wouldn't entirely rule it out, I think it's more likely that he pisses off and plays golf or watches himself on tv most of the time.

[Ozyhibby]

It's certainly his intention.

I think it was maybe Anthony Scarramucci who I heard talking on the American offshoot podcast to "The Rest is Politics" to his co-host about how sluggish the "deep state" is. Part of the reason that Donald Trump wants to dismantle it in the first place is why he'll find it so difficult and probably not succeed - there are checks, balances and legalities that stop Donald Trump doing whatever he wants.

The terrifying article is exactly what he'd do if he had his own way - ok, he's won an election and is in office but there's a long way to go before America becomes an autocracy. Whilst I wouldn't entirely rule it out, I think it's more likely that he pisses off and plays golf or watches himself on tv most of the time.

His only positive characteristic as far as I’m concerned is he is not a workaholic.


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[lapsedhibee]

It's certainly his intention.

I think it was maybe Anthony Scarramucci who I heard talking on the American offshoot podcast to "The Rest is Politics" to his co-host about how sluggish the "deep state" is. Part of the reason that Donald Trump wants to dismantle it in the first place is why he'll find it so difficult and probably not succeed - there are checks, balances and legalities that stop Donald Trump doing whatever he wants.

The terrifying article is exactly what he'd do if he had his own way - ok, he's won an election and is in office but there's a long way to go before America becomes an autocracy. Whilst I wouldn't entirely rule it out, I think it's more likely that he pisses off and plays golf or watches himself on tv most of the time.

I don't think legalities are going to slow him down now that the Supreme Court has effectively rendered him above the law. Let's see how robust the checks and balances of the US state are. They've done nothing to stop an insurrectionist winning a presidential election.

[lapsedhibee]

I think they are all insulated to a certain extent in that two are from Dem leaning states and would win a primary challenge and two are retiring in two years anyway.


It would be a shame if anything happened to the windows in their houses during that time, though.

[Stairway 2 7]

What significant did he do last time, built a few miles of walls and waffled a lot. He's tied to the stock market, I don't think wall street will let him do anything too significant

[Ozyhibby]

What significant did he do last time, built a few miles of walls and waffled a lot. He's tied to the stock market, I don't think wall street will let him do anything too significant

This is my hope as well although a bit of me thinks Americans need to feel some pain for electing him but that’s just me being vindictive.


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[lapsedhibee]

What significant did he do last time, built a few miles of walls and waffled a lot.

Last time he deferred to a trained scientist in the Covid epidemic. Otherwise he'd have been pouring bleach or shining very bright lights down people's throats to cure them. This time he's had enough of experts and has put a conspiracy theorist, great guy, in charge of the nation's health. Things could be very very different from last time, whether or not he sits and watches a lot of gowf on TV.

[lapsedhibee]

This is my hope as well although a bit of me thinks Americans need to feel some pain for electing him but that’s just me being vindictive.


They will. Or at least parents of children who contract measles or polio will.

[Kato]

They will. Or at least parents of children who contract measles or polio will.Back street abortionists however, will be rubbing their hands.

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[grunt]

1. Trump's pick for Counter Terrorism role (warning, sweary stuff)

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:y4zs4cabaezzwx3bz2e5nnj2/bafkreibn463jat6tldurf7r7oc4u2bsxu53dgnask2znhuw6j s73aupidu@jpeg

2. Also Trump's pick for Counter Terrorism role

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:y4zs4cabaezzwx3bz2e5nnj2/bafkreicblqsmijwlahyt2zscb4jicc7voc6ml4vlgooqjfwha lreyf2dhy@jpeg

[Bostonhibby]

1. Trump's pick for Counter Terrorism role (warning, sweary stuff)

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:y4zs4cabaezzwx3bz2e5nnj2/bafkreibn463jat6tldurf7r7oc4u2bsxu53dgnask2znhuw6j s73aupidu@jpeg

2. Also Trump's pick for Counter Terrorism role

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:y4zs4cabaezzwx3bz2e5nnj2/bafkreicblqsmijwlahyt2zscb4jicc7voc6ml4vlgooqjfwha lreyf2dhy@jpegAll it needs is for Gaetz to get Womens rights, or maybe the big Orange guy thinks he himself is the man for the job?

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[Bristolhibby]

I don't think legalities are going to slow him down now that the Supreme Court has effectively rendered him above the law. Let's see how robust the checks and balances of the US state are. They've done nothing to stop an insurrectionist winning a presidential election.

Don’t forget rapist. Everyone always forgets the raping.

J

[lapsedhibee]

Don’t forget rapist. Everyone always forgets the raping.


Won't the DoJ scrub that result from its records, or at least alter it so that he becomes a non-rapist? :dunno:

[BS44]

Prosecutor Jack Smith has asked that cases against Trump be dismissed, classified documents and election interference

Is that Trump now in the clear or are there anymore charges against him? Will it matter as he'll soon have immunity once sworn in as president

[Ozyhibby]

Prosecutor Jack Smith has asked that cases against Trump be dismissed, classified documents and election interference

Is that Trump now in the clear or are there anymore charges against him? Will it matter as he'll soon have immunity once sworn in as president

He was in the clear the minute he was re-elected.


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[grunt]

Is that Trump now in the clear or are there anymore charges against him? Will it matter as he'll soon have immunity once sworn in as president
Recognition of the fact that no prosecutor is going to get charges to stick against an incoming POTUS.

[Ozyhibby]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241126/99df00c5c3c9df9b8aa6fb630882ac45.png
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241126/944a390962c4a4da9f44b89f35f23109.png

First tariffs announced.


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[Callum_62]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241126/99df00c5c3c9df9b8aa6fb630882ac45.png
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241126/944a390962c4a4da9f44b89f35f23109.png

First tariffs announced.


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkThat will definitely help Americans who are struggling already

Getting Mexico, Canada and China to pay tariffs is a brilliant idea

[emoji6][emoji3][emoji23]

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[Bostonhibby]

That will definitely help Americans who are struggling already

Getting Mexico, Canada and China to pay tariffs is a brilliant idea

[emoji6][emoji3][emoji23]

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using TapatalkIf that doesn't work maybe he will want to try bleaching everyone at the border?. RFK could help him out here?

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[Kato]

It's interesting to look at the American electorates perception of the demograph in the US.

Percentages polled as..

Transgender: 21 percent
Muslim: 27 percent
Jewish: 30 percent
Black: 41 percent
Live in New York City: 30 percent
Gay or lesbian: 30 percent

The reality is...
Transgender: 1 percent
Muslim: 1 percent
Jewish: 2 percent
Black: 12 percent
Live in New York City: 2 percent
Gay or lesbian: 3 percent

I don't think those perceptions mean the electorate are stupid. The gaps between reality and what is imagined are such that they must be manipulated towards those outcomes. And, they're aren't all keen on "doing your own research".

Can't see a similar poll on the UK which I bet would see similar distortions.

https://www.thebulwark.com/p/americans-have-one-very-strange-cognitive


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[Ozyhibby]

It's interesting to look at the American electorates perception of the demograph in the US.

Percentages polled as..

Transgender: 21 percent
Muslim: 27 percent
Jewish: 30 percent
Black: 41 percent
Live in New York City: 30 percent
Gay or lesbian: 30 percent

The reality is...
Transgender: 1 percent
Muslim: 1 percent
Jewish: 2 percent
Black: 12 percent
Live in New York City: 2 percent
Gay or lesbian: 3 percent

I don't think those perceptions mean the electorate are stupid. The gaps between reality and what is imagined are such that they must be manipulated towards those outcomes. And, they're aren't all keen on "doing your own research".

Can't see a similar poll on the UK which I bet would see similar distortions.

https://www.thebulwark.com/p/americans-have-one-very-strange-cognitive


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Just adding up the perception percentages makes it fun.[emoji23]


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[Kato]

Just adding up the perception percentages makes it fun.[emoji23]


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkAye, there's a very complicated Venn diagram to be made there. [emoji16]

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[Ozyhibby]

Aye, there's a very complicated Venn diagram to be made there. [emoji16]

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And some very confused/funny looking people walking about the US.[emoji23]


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[lapsedhibee]

Aye, there's a very complicated Venn diagram to be made there. [emoji16]


The number of Jewish Muslims must be in seven figures.

Also think there's a chunky Venn of 'stupid' and 'easily manipulated'.

[grunt]

I don't think those perceptions mean the electorate are stupid. I do.

[overdrive]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241126/99df00c5c3c9df9b8aa6fb630882ac45.png
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241126/944a390962c4a4da9f44b89f35f23109.png

First tariffs announced.


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Never mind the tariffs. Where do I see this caravan with thousands of people in it?

[Moulin Yarns]

Never mind the tariffs. Where do I see this caravan with thousands of people in it?

https://youtu.be/ehfiQd7lcPY?si=uuYNJlv5D8d5oy07

[wookie70]

I don't think those perceptions mean the electorate are stupid. The gaps between reality and what is imagined are such that they must be manipulated towards those outcomes. And, they're aren't all keen on "doing your own research".

Can't see a similar poll on the UK which I bet would see similar distortions.

https://www.thebulwark.com/p/americans-have-one-very-strange-cognitive


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I think those perceptions does mean the electorate are stupid. I can see similar individual stats in the UK where Muslim numbers are assessed to be triple what they are by those polled. I bet the figures would have been far less before Farage etc arrived on the scene. It really isn't hard to find out the real figures and given we have fairly regular census info and the ONS if you are guessing and getting it so wrong then you are stupid imo. I reserve the right to to similarly stupid perceptions about Scottish Football Refereeing.

Those types of survey stats show how powerful mainstream and social media is and how fear is used to channel votes to particularly hateful individuals who promise to irradicate the problem. The greater the fear caused by the bigger the lie equates to more votes of stupid people and there are enough to win elections/referendums both sides of the pond

[Smartie]

This whole tariff business... is there any sort of logic behind it possibly leading to success of any sort for America?

The only thing I've ever seen from anyone who knows anything suggests it will lead to multiple lose/lose situations with America set to lose significantly itself.

What is the actual thinking behind it?

[Bostonhibby]

This whole tariff business... is there any sort of logic behind it possibly leading to success of any sort for America?

The only thing I've ever seen from anyone who knows anything suggests it will lead to multiple lose/lose situations with America set to lose significantly itself.

What is the actual thinking behind it?The only successful outcome for Americans this naive poster can see is,if somehow the orange messiah can get them everything they import from his target countries produced at home at a much cheaper price and at similar quality that all the Maga's can afford and will buy.

Gotta wonder why they haven't thought of this before, especially during his previous presidency. Maybe he was too focussed on not building the wall.

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[grunt]

This whole tariff business... is there any sort of logic behind it possibly leading to success of any sort for America? The only thing I've ever seen from anyone who knows anything suggests it will lead to multiple lose/lose situations with America set to lose significantly itself. What is the actual thinking behind it?
One possibility I've seen is that he's threatening these tariffs in the hope that Mexico and Canada will offer concessions before they get introduced.

[Smartie]

One possibility I've seen is that he's threatening these tariffs in the hope that Mexico and Canada will offer concessions before they get introduced.

I sincerely hope that Canada, Mexico and China seek alternative trade opportunities with one another and parties elsewhere and leave the Americans to keep punching themselves in the face.

I'm actually wondering if this will affect me - I use an American company for quite a substantial amount of my work. They have a massive factory just the other side of the Mexican border, it's an area where quite a lot of medical and pharmaceutical companies have done likewise. It'll be interesting to see how it affects them. And me.

[wookie70]

I'm listening to the podcast Trumped at the moment on BBC Sounds. The story is about Trump's golf course up in Aberdeenshire. He really is a piece of work and it makes me feel completely sick he managed to bully his way into Scotland helped greatly by Labour and SNP First Ministers and other MSPs who were in support. Half way through and a good listen but it strikes me that tariffs are just his usual MO of bullying his opponent to get his own way. He won't be looking for tariffs unless he is mental(highly possible) it is just to bully the other side in to some sort of concession.

[lapsedhibee]

Multiple bomb threats against new Trump administration. My first thought is that these will have been somehow instigated by the Trump team, perhaps trying to prepare the ground for declaring state of emergency/martial law or that.

[JimBHibees]

It's interesting to look at the American electorates perception of the demograph in the US.

Percentages polled as..

Transgender: 21 percent
Muslim: 27 percent
Jewish: 30 percent
Black: 41 percent
Live in New York City: 30 percent
Gay or lesbian: 30 percent

The reality is...
Transgender: 1 percent
Muslim: 1 percent
Jewish: 2 percent
Black: 12 percent
Live in New York City: 2 percent
Gay or lesbian: 3 percent

I don't think those perceptions mean the electorate are stupid. The gaps between reality and what is imagined are such that they must be manipulated towards those outcomes. And, they're aren't all keen on "doing your own research".

Can't see a similar poll on the UK which I bet would see similar distortions.

https://www.thebulwark.com/p/americans-have-one-very-strange-cognitive


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Incredible to be honest. Why would democrats not try and explain that?

[Northernhibee]

Incredible to be honest. Why would democrats not try and explain that?

I genuinely fear we’re sleepwalking into a Reform government next time around for similar reasons. The media are desperate to make immigration the #1 issue and make Farage seem harmless what with reality TV show appearances. I suspect Musk may play a part.

There are a significant enough amount of people who don’t realise the benefits of immigration to this country and how British culture is not being “eroded” that it’s a distinct possibility.

The issue is I don’t know how we stop it. Everywhere people look there’s right wing propaganda and the figures trying to push this have been painted as the good guys.

[Ozyhibby]

I genuinely fear we’re sleepwalking into a Reform government next time around for similar reasons. The media are desperate to make immigration the #1 issue and make Farage seem harmless what with reality TV show appearances. I suspect Musk may play a part.

There are a significant enough amount of people who don’t realise the benefits of immigration to this country and how British culture is not being “eroded” that it’s a distinct possibility.

The issue is I don’t know how we stop it. Everywhere people look there’s right wing propaganda and the figures trying to push this have been painted as the good guys.

You stop it by having a strong economy and housing that is affordable for anyone who is working.
If you have a sizeable amount of the population working but can’t afford a house then you are going to have problems and it’s fertile territory for the far right.


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[Northernhibee]

You stop it by having a strong economy and housing that is affordable for anyone who is working.
If you have a sizeable amount of the population working but can’t afford a house then you are going to have problems and it’s fertile territory for the far right.


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I’d love to say that’s the case as it’s been the case in the past but the level of weapons grade propaganda just now, I genuinely don’t know if that’s the case anymore.

[McD]

I’d love to say that’s the case as it’s been the case in the past but the level of weapons grade propaganda just now, I genuinely don’t know if that’s the case anymore.


Having a media regulator that is fair and unbiased with the teeth to penalise those who continually spout nonsense, lies, and half-truths could help.


It wouldn’t stop all the propaganda, but it would be a start.

[Northernhibee]

Having a media regulator that is fair and unbiased with the teeth to penalise those who continually spout nonsense, lies, and half-truths could help.


It wouldn’t stop all the propaganda, but it would be a start.

Problem is social media - log on and have endless Russian created propaganda that backs up the beliefs in the back of your head you wouldn’t say in the office at work in case you end up in front of HR, 24/7. Who needs experts when you have memes and “alternative facts”?

[Hibs4185]

On Farage, I noticed Elon Musk had retweeted one of his tweets. Can’t remember the exact post or wording but it basically said Farage would be good as prime minister.

The fact he has Musk in his corner is worrying. He might not make it all the way to PM but he will def become far more prominent.

In my case, hopefully it increases the Chances of independence

[AgentDaleCooper]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BsAa_94dao&t=1809s

very interesting perspectives here from Yanis Varoufakis r.e. trade/not-trade between the US and China.

[McD]

Problem is social media - log on and have endless Russian created propaganda that backs up the beliefs in the back of your head you wouldn’t say in the office at work in case you end up in front of HR, 24/7. Who needs experts when you have memes and “alternative facts”?


Sadly this is an excellent point

[cabbageandribs1875]

what a shame he's leaving as a Lying president, just like the Liar He replaced and is replacing him in January Biden’s pardon of his son makes presidential history (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/biden-s-pardon-of-his-son-makes-presidential-history/ar-AA1v63cq?ocid=BingNewsSerp)

[Bristolhibby]

what a shame he's leaving as a Lying president, just like the Liar He replaced and is replacing him in January Biden’s pardon of his son makes presidential history (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/biden-s-pardon-of-his-son-makes-presidential-history/ar-AA1v63cq?ocid=BingNewsSerp)

Good on him. As a father I’d have done exactly the same.

He has nothing to lose.

J

[Jones28]

Good on him. As a father I’d have done exactly the same.

He has nothing to lose.

J

It sets an incredibly dangerous precedent. What’s to stop Trump for pardoning himself when he gets in to office?

[grunt]

It sets an incredibly dangerous precedent. What’s to stop Trump for pardoning himself when he gets in to office?
1. It's not really a precedent - they all do it. Just happens that Biden pardoned a close relative. Other US presidents have pardoned relatives too
2. Nothing to stop Trump who will no doubt do it. Nothing to stop him doing other worse things too. The US is in deep deep ****.

[JimBHibees]

Good on him. As a father I’d have done exactly the same.

He has nothing to lose.

J

Got to be said i think if my son had broken the law difficult though that would be he should face justice particularly if i was the president of that country.

[Bostonhibby]

It sets an incredibly dangerous precedent. What’s to stop Trump for pardoning himself when he gets in to office?Or pardoning the insurrectionists he incited to overthrow their democracy which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries?

Suppose it might come down to whether or not he takes any responsibility for them being there in the first place.

Responsibility and accountability for his actions doesn't seem to be in his DNA.

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[overdrive]

1. It's not really a precedent - they all do it. Just happens that Biden pardoned a close relative. Other US presidents have pardoned relatives too
2. Nothing to stop Trump who will no doubt do it. Nothing to stop him doing other worse things too. The US is in deep deep ****.

Correct - they all do it. I think Trump pardoned his daughter's father-in-law and Clinton pardoned his brother.

Even though they do it, I'm really uncomfortable that they do.

[Bostonhibby]

Correct - they all do it. I think Trump pardoned his daughter's father-in-law and Clinton pardoned his brother.

Even though they do it, I'm really uncomfortable that they do.Completely agree, makes you wonder if there's a crime too far/new low. I suspect we might be about to find out.

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[Smartie]

Good on him. As a father I’d have done exactly the same.

He has nothing to lose.

J

He has his legacy, the respect of the nation and his own self respect to lose.

In fairness to him - he was presented with a dilemma and I think many of us would have done what he did.

He’d probably also have looked a bit weak in the long term if he hadn’t done it, given the absolute torrent of appalling behaviour that is surely shortly on its way.

Would have been nice to see him remain principled though.

[Hibs Class]

It sets an incredibly dangerous precedent. What’s to stop Trump for pardoning himself when he gets in to office?

At the end of his first presidency he looked into whether or not he could pardon himself so it's definitely in his mind. But I think presidential pardons extend only to federal crimes so he won't be able to pardon himself for his NY fraud conviction. He previously pardoned Kushner's father, enabling him to now be proposed as US ambassador to France


Or pardoning the insurrectionists he incited to overthrow their democracy which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries?

Suppose it might come down to whether or not he takes any responsibility for them being there in the first place.

Responsibility and accountability for his actions doesn't seem to be in his DNA.

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He has previously said he'd pardon the "January 6 hostages" on day 1 of his presidency. Time will tell if that was a true intention or just another Trump lie, but given he pardoned Stone, Manafort and Bannon it's clear that he values fealty and subservience.

[Ozyhibby]

This undermines the democrats going forward to their claim to the moral high ground. It’s embarrassing.


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[Bostonhibby]

At the end of his first presidency he looked into whether or not he could pardon himself so it's definitely in his mind. But I think presidential pardons extend only to federal crimes so he won't be able to pardon himself for his NY fraud conviction. He previously pardoned Kushner's father, enabling him to now be proposed as US ambassador to France



He has previously said he'd pardon the "January 6 hostages" on day 1 of his presidency. Time will tell if that was a true intention or just another Trump lie, but given he pardoned Stone, Manafort and Bannon it's clear that he values fealty and subservience.I think it's sadly inevitable, the message seems to be crimes, and their much vaunted Constitution as it applies to crimes and trials can be neatly swerved round if it suits the gang in power if it's their foot soldiers that are convicted by jury.





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[AgentDaleCooper]

This undermines the democrats going forward to their claim to the moral high ground. It’s embarrassing.


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Yup. Complete facepalm.

[grunt]

This undermines the democrats going forward to their claim to the moral high ground. It’s embarrassing.
I dont think that "moral high ground" counts for very much in a country where 71m voted for Trump.

[DaveF]

I dont think that "moral high ground" counts for very much in a country where 71m voted for Trump.

Yep. Politics in the US is so far down the toilet that Bidens appalling pardon will soon be forgotten.

[AgentDaleCooper]

Yep. Politics in the US is so far down the toilet that Bidens appalling pardon will soon be forgotten.

Not by Trump's lot, they will milk it for everything. It's more fuel.

[grunt]

Not by Trump's lot, they will milk it for everything. It's more fuel.They dont need fuel. They make their own fires. Even if Biden hadn't done this, Trump would have lied about it and millions would have believed him anyway.

[Ozyhibby]

With the levels of corruption we are about to see, I really hope it opens up the space for someone like AOC to run on a cleaning up politics platform.


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[lapsedhibee]

With the levels of corruption we are about to see, I really hope it opens up the space for someone like AOC to run on a cleaning up politics platform.

She would be branded a traitor and hounded by the 71 million. And you're kind of assuming there will be more elections.

[Smartie]

She would be branded a traitor and hounded by the 71 million. And you're kind of assuming there will be more elections.

At this stage I think I’d settle for “more elections” and “a bloody awful Republican who isn’t quite as awful as Trump” up next.

[Ozyhibby]

She would be branded a traitor and hounded by the 71 million. And you're kind of assuming there will be more elections.

First person on Bluesky to get 1 million followers. She def has an appeal other dems don’t have.


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[wookie70]

Just listened to the Trumped podcast on BBC Sounds. Pretty disgusted in the politicians and establishment including the Police in the welcome and protection Trump got. He really is a nasty piece of work

[grunt]

Trump has suggested he wants Kash Patel to head the FBI. A strong and vocal supporter of the Big Steal, Patel has also written children's books about how Hillary Clinton tried to say Trump was paid by Russia. Here's the first of three:

https://cdn.prod.dailykos.com/images/1374197/large/plotking.jpg

If you want to be really depressed, read the reviews on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Plot-Against-King-Kash-Patel/dp/1955550123

And then remember this guy is slated to run the FBI ...

[Northernhibee]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIdqrUfoZ1Q

An excellent video from James O'Brien in regards to Hunter Biden.

[500miles]

This undermines the democrats going forward to their claim to the moral high ground. It’s embarrassing.


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The moral high ground isn't worth anything, and without pardon, Hunter Biden would have been hounded, regardless of guilt, to appease Trumps rabid, conspiracy riddled base.

Biden chose his son over his pride. Given he's already lost one son, I would give him a bit of moral leeway here.

[Hibs4185]

I would’ve pardoned him if it was me.

Purely because Hunter Biden is like cat nip to the republicans and Trump. If the democrats had won, I don’t think he would’ve pardoned him.

Trump and MAGA are very good at being outraged at anything seen as suspicious by the democrats but nothing is ever said about their many shortcomings.

It will be used by MAGA for years to come that he’s been pardoned so overall it’s going to erode trust in politics and the democrats but under Trump there isn’t as much chance of a fair trial or fair naritive.

As a father I would’ve done the same thing, unless he was guilty of murder or such other heinous crime

[Mon Dieu4]

It reeks, it wasn't just pardoning him for the crimes he committed, it covers any Federal Crimes over a 10 year spell, so if something even dodgier than crack, illegal firearms, tax avoidance and prostitutes crops up nothing happens

Don't care which side you are on its pretty shocking behaviour

[Caversham Green]

It reeks, it wasn't just pardoning him for the crimes he committed, it covers any Federal Crimes over a 10 year spell, so if something even dodgier than crack, illegal firearms, tax avoidance and prostitutes crops up nothing happens

Don't care which side you are on its pretty shocking behaviour

Maybe it's just to circumvent the incoming regime from hounding Hunter on Trumped up charges (sorry about the pun).

I think Biden has just become a bitter old man who has decided that, for whatever time he has left, his family is more important to him than the country (and party) that has comprehensively rejected and insulted him. In any case the election result shows that honesty and integrity count for very little in today's USA and Biden is too old to try to change that.

[McD]

Apologies if this is a stupid question, or if I’ve even asked it before and forgotten - is there an equivalent power in the Prime Minister (or other role) here? Can Starmer just unilaterally pardon someone without anyone else being involved?


It strikes me as a power that shouldn’t rest with a single person (arguably, should it exist at all?), as it’s open to abuse

[Caversham Green]

Apologies if this is a stupid question, or if I’ve even asked it before and forgotten - is there an equivalent power in the Prime Minister (or other role) here? Can Starmer just unilaterally pardon someone without anyone else being involved?


It strikes me as a power that shouldn’t rest with a single person (arguably, should it exist at all?), as it’s open to abuse

I think the power of pardon in the UK lies with the monarch - i.e. a royal pardon. It's very rarely used, but I did wonder if it could have been used for the wrongly convicted sub-postmasters.

[Mon Dieu4]

Apologies if this is a stupid question, or if I’ve even asked it before and forgotten - is there an equivalent power in the Prime Minister (or other role) here? Can Starmer just unilaterally pardon someone without anyone else being involved?


It strikes me as a power that shouldn’t rest with a single person (arguably, should it exist at all?), as it’s open to abuse

Ministers can recommend a pardon but other people would have to look at it and as Caversham says they ultimately send it to Charlie for sign off since the courts act on his behalf

[Ozyhibby]

I think the power of pardon in the UK lies with the monarch - i.e. a royal pardon. It's very rarely used, but I did wonder if it could have been used for the wrongly convicted sub-postmasters.

They don’t want pardoned as that still says you are guilty.
Have Labour sorted that yet?


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[wookie70]

I think the power of pardon in the UK lies with the monarch - i.e. a royal pardon. It's very rarely used, but I did wonder if it could have been used for the wrongly convicted sub-postmasters. I would rather there were re-trials and verdicts changed. I would then look to take anybody who presented false evidence to court and get them banged up. That particular type of UK justice is for the bosses to use though it doesn't apply to them. I think it is a terrible look pardoning a family member. I get he has been a bit of a political pawn but nonetheless a pardon is too far

[J-C]

I think what Biden should've done was make sure his sentence was reduce and a fine paid, so no jail time, maybe full rehab and social work.

[Jones28]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIdqrUfoZ1Q

An excellent video from James O'Brien in regards to Hunter Biden.

Much like JOB I've reversed my thoughts on it. I hadn't looked in to things properly.

[McD]

I think the power of pardon in the UK lies with the monarch - i.e. a royal pardon. It's very rarely used, but I did wonder if it could have been used for the wrongly convicted sub-postmasters.


Ministers can recommend a pardon but other people would have to look at it and as Caversham says they ultimately send it to Charlie for sign off since the courts act on his behalf



Thanks folks :aok:

[cabbageandribs1875]

Good on him. As a father I’d have done exactly the same.

He has nothing to lose.

J


there's a lot of calls out there for Biden giving Liz Cheney a preemptive pardon, Biden needs to get a move on and do this for a lot of people Trump has sworn to get even with, Trump despises her and once jokingly(i think) said she should be in front of a firing squad, the corrupt judges in SCOTUS already gave him the green light to do whatever the **** he wants to. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4966421-trump-revenge-tour-threats/ , what a wonderful human being Donald Trump really is, i hope he chokes one day soon on his stupid looking MAGA cap

Trumps first pardons will be for a rake of erses that sit in prison after Jan 6th

[lapsedhibee]

there's a lot of calls out there for Biden giving Liz Cheney a preemptive pardon, Biden needs to get a move on and do this for a lot of people Trump has sworn to get even with, Trump despises her and once jokingly(i think) said she should be in front of a firing squad, the corrupt judges in SCOTUS already gave him the green light to do whatever the **** he wants to. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4966421-trump-revenge-tour-threats/ , what a wonderful human being Donald Trump really is, i hope he chokes one day soon on his stupid looking MAGA cap

Trumps first pardons will be for a rake of erses that sit in prison after Jan 6th

Doubt whether Trump would consider putting anything as nutritious as that in his gob. He wasn't talking about firing squads for Cheney, though. He was trying to make a point about her being a warmonger (what with him being a future Nobel Peace Prize winner and all, it makes sense) and suggested her views would be different if she was at the sharp end.

[Smartie]

I’m certainly not relishing the forthcoming Trump administration but I am slightly torn between thinking he’s actually planning to act on all his intentions and writing them off as bluff, bluster, pish and posturing with a view to making his much vaunted deals.

I’d really rather not be in a position where we were going to find out, one way or another.

[grunt]

America, y'all.

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qjzrpzlcmir3bkss4b5nh6ox/bafkreiclfnyeymplvencm7eahcpp6vlywewms64f5vfz54mkk l6pk3xwsi@jpeg

[cabbageandribs1875]

jesus wept

https://scontent.fman1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/469750075_8906267142763371_3031266338581941228_n.j pg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=aa7b47&_nc_ohc=dh5KXbszsPwQ7kNvgGDaf3S&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fman1-2.fna&_nc_gid=A5CkP-d8FbqHGJWg9_-v-XQ&oh=00_AYCGdVaxOxNNxBQHRpMrbV0rns6HTvG4ZFl6LqfK0Yh8 2A&oe=675A6F8E

[cabbageandribs1875]

ouch talk about the cold shoulder, the Bidens completely blanked Kamala Harris :tin hat: (3) American.357 on X: "Joe and Jill Biden completely ignore a beaming Kamala Harris at Kennedy Center Honors 🤣😡 https://t.co/nHZCl2zsz0" / X (https://x.com/ASimplePatriot/status/1866150685953171486)

[grunt]

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:jm6bsfuwl2ylkg66fskywvfd/bafkreigrgihwcolpkgnr4mg2ly7duw4jbvxv4mgj2jrh43g6m jsqhydyxm@jpeg

[cabbageandribs1875]

i'm not sure if rfk jr just likes winding people up or if he actually eats this :rolleyes:

Jack E. Smith: "Bobby Jr. shares his secret to getting brain worm." — Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jack-e-smith.bsky.social/post/3ldgf6gaecs2q)

[s.a.m]

i'm not sure if rfk jr just likes winding people up or if he actually eats this :rolleyes:

Jack E. Smith: "Bobby Jr. shares his secret to getting brain worm." — Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jack-e-smith.bsky.social/post/3ldgf6gaecs2q)

I think his head is wasted with privilege, money and fame more than it is by beasties.

[lapsedhibee]

i'm not sure if rfk jr just likes winding people up or if he actually eats this :rolleyes:

Jack E. Smith: "Bobby Jr. shares his secret to getting brain worm." — Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jack-e-smith.bsky.social/post/3ldgf6gaecs2q)

Louis Pasteur, that's where it all started to go wrong.
Louis Pasteur, that's where it all started to go wrong.

[Ozyhibby]

https://bsky.app/profile/cnn.com/post/3ldjgphoph22u

Stupid idea once again from the Dems.


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[K-Zazu]

What’s all this Bluesky guff?

[Ozyhibby]

What’s all this Bluesky guff?

Just a better version of Twitter.


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[Moulin Yarns]

What’s all this Bluesky guff?

Like twitter, came along after Threads.

[cabbageandribs1875]

Me Too is dead. This is the era of I believe ‘him’ (https://inews.co.uk/opinion/me-too-movement-dead-believe-him-era-3441682?fbclid=IwY2xjawHRf0FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQFST Aavk-QNzZjMFvwkXL3mIp1oluFTmY_6FxKDpjuSlXWb-vldpQBvtQ_aem_maOTDbkAod1ibUjmgL6CnQ)


Matt Gaetz, the former congressman picked by Donald Trump to become attorney-general, is plotting revenge on the enemies who torpedoed his bid.
Hoping to prevent lawmakers from releasing a report into allegations that he had sex with underage girls, he is mischievously toying with the idea of taking up his new seat in January and filing a motion to expose all the secret “Me Too” settlements (https://www.thedailybeast.com/matt-gaetz-plots-congressional-return-to-exact-revenge-on-me-too-critics/) paid by congress to victims of sexual harassment.

[grunt]

Matt Gaetz, the former congressman picked by Donald Trump to become attorney-general, is plotting revenge on the enemies who torpedoed his bid. Hoping to prevent lawmakers from releasing a report into allegations that he had sex with underage girls, he is mischievously toying with the idea of taking up his new seat in January and filing a motion to expose all the secret “Me Too” settlements (https://www.thedailybeast.com/matt-gaetz-plots-congressional-return-to-exact-revenge-on-me-too-critics/) paid by congress to victims of sexual harassment.
This is the guy that Trump wanted to be his Attorney General.


Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican who briefly stood to become President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be attorney general, was found by congressional ethics investigators to have paid numerous women — including a 17-year-old girl — for sex, and to have purchased and used illegal drugs, including from his Capitol Hill office, according to a final draft of a comprehensive investigative report obtained by CBS News.

From 2017 to 2020, Representative Gaetz made tens of thousands of dollars in payments to women that the Committee determined were likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use," noted the report, which lists payments totaling more than $90,000 to 12 different women.

The report found "substantial evidence" Gaetz engaged in rampant illicit drug use.

In addition to sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, the report also accused Gaetz of accepting gifts of luxury travel in excess of permissible limits with the 2018 trip to the Bahamas. And, it said he arranged for his chief of staff to assist a woman with whom he had engaged in sexual activity in obtaining a passport, falsely indicating to the State Department that she was one of his constituents.

The next 4 years are going to be WILD.

[Ozyhibby]

This is the guy that Trump wanted to be his Attorney General.



The next 4 years are going to be WILD.

My only hope is it’s a bit like last time where he doesn’t really get anything done because he can’t unify his own party and therefore can’t get any bills passed.


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[Bostonhibby]

My only hope is it’s a bit like last time where he doesn’t really get anything done because he can’t unify his own party and therefore can’t get any bills passed.


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkThere's a lot of plundering to be done behind all the bluster about building walls, hating Nato and deporting all their cheap labour

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[Ozyhibby]

There's a lot of plundering to be done behind all the bluster about building walls, hating Nato and deporting all their cheap labour

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If that’s all he’s doing then I’ll live with it. The American deserve some Trump consequences anyway. I’m only really concerned with his foreign policy from now on.


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[Bostonhibby]

If that’s all he’s doing then I’ll live with it. The American deserve some Trump consequences anyway. I’m only really concerned with his foreign policy from now on.


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkSame here, I think it will be all about filling the coffers, revenge politics and doing those big signatures on presidential decrees that he is so fond of.

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[CropleyWasGod]

Greenland back on the hit-list.

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/greenland-is-not-sale-its-leader-says-response-trump-2024-12-23/

[Ozyhibby]

Greenland back on the hit-list.

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/greenland-is-not-sale-its-leader-says-response-trump-2024-12-23/

Think he just says these things to distract for the filling of his coffers.


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[Bostonhibby]

Greenland back on the hit-list.

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/greenland-is-not-sale-its-leader-says-response-trump-2024-12-23/Someone needs to sit him down for the umpteenth time and convince him Santa is a mythical figure, it's Musk who has been coming down his chimney and filling his sack.

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[CropleyWasGod]

Someone needs to sit him down for the umpteenth time and convince him Santa is a mythical figure, it's Musk who has been coming down his chimney and filling his sack.

Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk

Not going there :greengrin

[grunt]

Flu surges in Louisiana as health department barred from promoting flu shotshttps://arstechnica.com/health/2024/12/flu-surges-in-louisiana-as-health-department-barred-from-promoting-flu-shots/?comments-page=1#comments

https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screen-Shot-2024-12-23-at-12.11.11-PM-1440x740.jpeg

[Bostonhibby]

Flu surges in Louisiana as health department barred from promoting flu shotshttps://arstechnica.com/health/2024/12/flu-surges-in-louisiana-as-health-department-barred-from-promoting-flu-shots/?comments-page=1#comments

https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screen-Shot-2024-12-23-at-12.11.11-PM-1440x740.jpegKennedy will sort it all out[emoji16]

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[grunt]

A letter circulating in a coastal county in rural Oregon encourages community members to track and report people of color who may be undocumented immigrants, according to the sheriff’s office, which discouraged residents from heeding the call.

The letter told people to write down the license plate numbers of cars driven by people of color in order to identify people who might not have permanent legal status. It told people to send the information to the Department of Homeland Security shortly after Jan. 21 so that the department could “round up” undocumented immigrants.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/22/us/oregon-anti-immigrant-letter-investigation.html?unlocked_article_code=1.jU4.pDS 5.8-VBJeaBj0oX&smid=bs-share#

[Ozyhibby]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241223/13658d88ca3a0832940a90ce1aaa30ce.jpg


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[Colr]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241223/13658d88ca3a0832940a90ce1aaa30ce.jpg


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Elon’s certainly finding it easy to manipulate these old dotards by dazzling with his electronic box of tricks - and no scrutiny! What could possibly go wrong?

[Colr]

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:jm6bsfuwl2ylkg66fskywvfd/bafkreigrgihwcolpkgnr4mg2ly7duw4jbvxv4mgj2jrh43g6m jsqhydyxm@jpeg

Its all in here:

https://godblesstheusabible.com/?srsltid=AfmBOor0fz7bHGXd69vzDKstjS8SIOHmEb1b8XmBx g6ImT2ojiuI2fE7

[Ozyhibby]

https://bsky.app/profile/meidastouch.com/post/3le2qonbyos2z

Love this.[emoji23]


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[cabbageandribs1875]

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:t6ubj2wlhc34awzcymh3qpur/bafkreifeur3vkhgmnmdhq2k2ynsa6elebp2aibwwhomfebpfd zz3chotdi@jpeg

[Bridge hibs]

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:t6ubj2wlhc34awzcymh3qpur/bafkreifeur3vkhgmnmdhq2k2ynsa6elebp2aibwwhomfebpfd zz3chotdi@jpegThats a superb guitar, pity it lowers itself to be worn by orange features 🤮

[tamig]

Panama could be a very interesting one to watch over the coming months. A big spanner in the works for his lovely tariffs potentially.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/22/trump-panama-canal?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

[Ozyhibby]

Panama could be a very interesting one to watch over the coming months. A big spanner in the works for his lovely tariffs potentially.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/22/trump-panama-canal?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

I just can’t see how they could do it? I mean, they can take Panama really easily but it would not take much for a resistance group to block the canal? Then where would he be?


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[Bostonhibby]

I just can’t see how they could do it? I mean, they can take Panama really easily but it would not take much for a resistance group to block the canal? Then where would he be?


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkSitting on the cludgie with a macdonalds in one hand and his phone in the other, as per usual?

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[Ozyhibby]

Musk kicking all the Maga account off X for daring to criticise him on immigration.
So much for free speech.


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[cabbageandribs1875]

outside Trump Tower NYC, i imagine Canada will be included soon enough

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gfur4rcX0AAEvMB?format=jpg&name=900x900

[Ozyhibby]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241228/a2c4a7a1e8bdca752e48f842ee0dcf48.png
This sort of thing is giving me hope that the next four years while being very chaotic won’t see very much getting done.


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[lapsedhibee]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241228/a2c4a7a1e8bdca752e48f842ee0dcf48.png
This sort of thing is giving me hope that the next four years while being very chaotic won’t see very much getting done.


Why does 'Steve Bannon' put 'inverted commas' round 'things which don't need them'? He can go FHITF for that alone.

[Hibs4185]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241228/a2c4a7a1e8bdca752e48f842ee0dcf48.png
This sort of thing is giving me hope that the next four years while being very chaotic won’t see very much getting done.


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Fascism meets entrepreneurial and economic needs.

Only been a month and it’s falling to pieces

[Keith_M]

My theory is that Trump died a few years ago and the current incarnation is an AI generated hologram controlled by Elon Musk.

[cabbageandribs1875]

get donating folks :agree: i coincidently just made my yearly donation a few weeks back

https://scontent.fman1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/471534422_1016133763889336_4166216592604029320_n.j pg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=833d8c&_nc_ohc=XRobNlq19bsQ7kNvgF-1ZMv&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fman1-1.fna&_nc_gid=A4EiRxX9NeR6HsGt0t3PBiP&oh=00_AYC9_2gbKjyJOaCCsPH9VkCOWhqSoLxC69v1qGu4jD-hQQ&oe=67779F41

[cabbageandribs1875]

Justin Trudeau resigns as Canadian PM

[grunt]

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:ckia47p4xlas3xpmisgrllck/bafkreics7athfaqxjeiwtlwwns2y2qny3e5gatcfa6ysrcrom wpzzytc5i@jpeg

[Ozyhibby]

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:ckia47p4xlas3xpmisgrllck/bafkreics7athfaqxjeiwtlwwns2y2qny3e5gatcfa6ysrcrom wpzzytc5i@jpeg

I think it’s safe to ignore any of the chat about invading the UK, annexing Canada or buying Greenland as the ramblings of mentally ill men. It won’t happen.


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[sleeping giant]

I think it’s safe to ignore any of the chat about invading the UK, annexing Canada or buying Greenland as the ramblings of mentally ill men. It won’t happen.


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You've got previous for saying things won't happen :-)

[Ozyhibby]

You've got previous for saying things won't happen :-)

Fair point but slightly different magnitude. [emoji23]
They could probably invade Canada or Panama but for zero benefit as they couldn’t hold them. UK and Greenland almost impossible.

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[Lendo]

What's NATO's policy on one member nation annexing another......? Asking for a friend.

[lapsedhibee]

I think it’s safe to ignore any of the chat about invading the UK, annexing Canada or buying Greenland as the ramblings of mentally ill men. It won’t happen.


Johnson happened. Truss happened. Trump happened, twice. Anything can happen if enough people want it, and if enough other people ignore it.

[Stairway 2 7]

Johnson happened. Truss happened. Trump happened, twice. Anything can happen if enough people want it, and if enough other people ignore it.

All three got voted out, well Truss by the sword. To compare tories voting in Truss to USA invading the UK is pretty ******g wild

[lapsedhibee]

All three got voted out, well Truss by the sword. To compare tories voting in Truss to USA invading the UK is pretty ******g wild

Unless I'm mixing you up with someone else, in which case apologies, you previously scoffed at the idea of Farage becoming Prime Minister.

Obama and Clinton scoffed at the idea of Trump becoming President. An irrational mob is now in the ascendancy in the US. Scoffing won't stop it.

[Ozyhibby]

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/meta-ends-fact-checking-program-community-notes-x-rcna186468

Facebook to get rid of fact checking and become like X. Time to delete Facebook now as well I think.
BTW, should have switched to Bluesky ages ago. Far better experience.


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[Ozyhibby]

Unless I'm mixing you up with someone else, in which case apologies, you previously scoffed at the idea of Farage becoming Prime Minister.

Obama and Clinton scoffed at the idea of Trump becoming President. An irrational mob is now in the ascendancy in the US. Scoffing won't stop it.

Farage isn’t PM?
Trump will struggle to get tax cuts through congress, nevermind start any foreign adventure. The closeness of the election means he has a razor thin majority in Congress. He will struggle to get anything done, just like in his first term. I don’t think he passed a single meaningful bill last time?


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[lapsedhibee]

Farage isn’t PM?
Trump will struggle to get tax cuts through congress, nevermind start any foreign adventure. The closeness of the election means he has a razor thin majority in Congress. He will struggle to get anything done, just like in his first term. I don’t think he passed a single meaningful bill last time?


Farage isn't PM but he was referred to on BBC the other night as a potential PM, unthinkable only 12 months ago. Musk looks like the best bet to prevent that possibility now. The BBC's continuing support for Farage is unwavering.

I'm not as confident as you that Trump's second term will pass off uneventfully. Let's hope you're right.

[Jones28]

Farage isn't PM but he was referred to on BBC the other night as a potential PM, unthinkable only 12 months ago. Musk looks like the best bet to prevent that possibility now. The BBC's continuing support for Farage is unwavering.

I'm not as confident as you that Trump's second term will pass off uneventfully. Let's hope you're right.

No wonder, they give him a seat on any show he wants, he's got more appearances on Question Time than Lewis Stevenson has for Hibs.

[Stairway 2 7]

Unless I'm mixing you up with someone else, in which case apologies, you previously scoffed at the idea of Farage becoming Prime Minister.

Obama and Clinton scoffed at the idea of Trump becoming President. An irrational mob is now in the ascendancy in the US. Scoffing won't stop it.

Stop The bus what has Farage got to do with fact Johnson or Trump becoming leader has got zero similarities to the US invading the UK.

Fwiw I also still think there is zero chance of Reform winning the general election, they do too poor in cities and also take votes from the tories. A strong Reform gives Labour a better chance of winning than a strong tories

[Smartie]

Farage isn't PM but he was referred to on BBC the other night as a potential PM, unthinkable only 12 months ago. Musk looks like the best bet to prevent that possibility now. The BBC's continuing support for Farage is unwavering.

I'm not as confident as you that Trump's second term will pass off uneventfully. Let's hope you're right.

I’d be very surprised if Trump’s time in charge is uneventful.

I’m not sure it will be apocalyptic though.

[Ozyhibby]

I’d be very surprised if Trump’s time in charge is uneventful.

I’m not sure it will be apocalyptic though.

I’m sure it will be chaos every single day and very bad for Americans. Just not sure how bad they can make it for the rest of the world? I’m thinking a global recession with their mad tariffs etc. but I’m less worried about them invading a friendly nation.


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[grunt]

I’m not sure it will be apocalyptic though.
Let's hope you're right.

[Bostonhibby]

What's NATO's policy on one member nation annexing another......? Asking for a friend.Fat orange guy selectively dislikes Nato when convenient, but on this one he might have to defer to what the rubber faced guy who pulls his strings thinks.

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[lapsedhibee]

I’m sure it will be chaos every single day and very bad for Americans. Just not sure how bad they can make it for the rest of the world? I’m thinking a global recession with their mad tariffs etc. but I’m less worried about them invading a friendly nation.


Trump's more or less promised to help Putin take Ukraine, hasn't he?

[Bostonhibby]

No wonder, they give him a seat on any show he wants, he's got more appearances on Question Time than Lewis Stevenson has for Hibs.I half expected to see him on Homes under the Hammer as the face you see when they lift the lid on a blocked toilet, then spouting off about broken crockery on Bargain Hunt before gliding effortlessly into Martin Edwards old seat as head of propaganda/Newsreader on BBC News, such is the free pass he seems to enjoy at the national broadcaster.

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[Ozyhibby]

Trump's more or less promised to help Putin take Ukraine, hasn't he?

No


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[Smartie]

I’m sure it will be chaos every single day and very bad for Americans. Just not sure how bad they can make it for the rest of the world? I’m thinking a global recession with their mad tariffs etc. but I’m less worried about them invading a friendly nation.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I expect him to destroy their economy with an unwinnable trade war - which will have global ramifications.

I expect some heavy handed and careless foreign policy decisions. These might go for us, might go against us.

I don’t expect any invasions of friendly nations and I expect a reduction in overseas adventurism, not an increase.

I also expect him to bang up against dead end after dead end in his attempts to dismantle what he calls the “deep state” as the deep state is actually incredibly strong and resilient.

He’s also going to fall out with numerous “friends”.


They’ll be desperate to get rid of him by the end of his administration and I think we’ve almost got to let the nut jobs ruin things for a certain period of time around the world so we can rediscover a desire for adults to come back into the frame and fix things.

[cabbageandribs1875]

https://scontent.fman1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/472613576_9074814692575281_5322239066187267990_n.j pg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=bd9a62&_nc_ohc=UAjZEHsr378Q7kNvgH31w_8&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fman1-1.fna&_nc_gid=Au3-I0lLYWKjlf5UB9FLx91&oh=00_AYAcI723N3KaFno2e7qPptlU5d9Rr0V0QfjiAzAUhZiI 5Q&oe=6783315A

[lapsedhibee]

I expect him to destroy their economy with an unwinnable trade war - which will have global ramifications.

I expect some heavy handed and careless foreign policy decisions. These might go for us, might go against us.

I don’t expect any invasions of friendly nations and I expect a reduction in overseas adventurism, not an increase.

I also expect him to bang up against dead end after dead end in his attempts to dismantle what he calls the “deep state” as the deep state is actually incredibly strong and resilient.

He’s also going to fall out with numerous “friends”.


They’ll be desperate to get rid of him by the end of his administration and I think we’ve almost got to let the nut jobs ruin things for a certain period of time around the world so we can rediscover a desire for adults to come back into the frame and fix things.
Yet he did all sorts of mad things already in his first administration, and people weren't desperate to get rid of him. Biden squeaked home and Trump got back in with an increased vote share. Why do you think Americans will behave more rationally from now on?

[lapsedhibee]

No


Sorry, I thought he still wanted to withdraw US support for Ukraine.

[grunt]

Today's press conference:

Q: Can you assure the world that as you try to get control of areas like Greenland or Panama you are not gonna use military or economic coercion?

TRUMP: No. I can't assure you. I'm not going to commit to that. It might be that you'll have to do something.

Q: You didn't rule out using military coercion --

TRUMP: Well, we need Greenland for national security purposes. People don't even know if Denmark has any legal right to it. But if they do, they should give it up.

[grunt]

Also:

Trump: "We're going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America."

(He's serious.)

Trump: "We're gonna try and have a policy where no windmills are being built."

Trump: "The windmills are driving the whales crazy. Obviously."

And:

Trump says he plans to use "economic force" to make Canada a state

[Smartie]

Yet he did all sorts of mad things already in his first administration, and people weren't desperate to get rid of him. Biden squeaked home and Trump got back in with an increased vote share. Why do you think Americans will behave more rationally from now on?

I think there's a decent chance the Dems will get their act together.

The Dems were a mess going into the last election and it was still pretty close.

The nature of their bizarre repeat two horse race seems to be that it is always pretty close and I don't see that changing.


Trump managed to create a false narrative about all sorts of stuff this most recent time - mainly I think he managed to pin the fact that folk feel a bit poorer on the Dems (in spite of the fact that relatively speaking, their economy is actually doing fine). He's got to improve that, or come up with a reason why it hasn't improved.

They did kick him out before, when their country was descending into a chaotic mess following covid and George Floyd. They'll become a chaotic mess again and anyone MAGA minded is going to have a job on their hands winning the next election as a result. If he follows through on his promises Americans are going to feel a lot poorer in 4 years time and he's going to find it hard to wriggle out of that.

[Smartie]

Sorry, I thought he still wanted to withdraw US support for Ukraine.

He's keeping his cards close to his chest for now although a while ago he appeared to be more pro-Russia and anti-Ukraine.

Ultimately he doesn't like being associated with failure so he's going to fall on the side of who appears to be winning, to get it over with asap and deliver on his promises of ending the war. There's quite a lot of "battlefield shaping" going on right now as both sides jostle for position to give the impression they are gaining the upper hand.

He could go either way imo.

[Ozyhibby]

He's keeping his cards close to his chest for now although a while ago he appeared to be more pro-Russia and anti-Ukraine.

Ultimately he doesn't like being associated with failure so he's going to fall on the side of who appears to be winning, to get it over with asap and deliver on his promises of ending the war. There's quite a lot of "battlefield shaping" going on right now as both sides jostle for position to give the impression they are gaining the upper hand.

He could go either way imo.

And he is not the only game in town. The Europeans can still find the Ukrainians. In fact they will have to or else Russia will be at their door step. The Poles are very unlikely to want to share a border (Kaliningrad excepted) with a victorious Russia. So Trump can stop aid to Ukraine but it’s unlikely he has the numbers in Congress to lift sanctions etc but he is not the decider on what happens.
If he does withdraw and Ukraine hold on long enough without the US then it weakens the US and strengthens Europe.


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[Ozyhibby]

Today's press conference:

Q: Can you assure the world that as you try to get control of areas like Greenland or Panama you are not gonna use military or economic coercion?

TRUMP: No. I can't assure you. I'm not going to commit to that. It might be that you'll have to do something.

Q: You didn't rule out using military coercion --

TRUMP: Well, we need Greenland for national security purposes. People don't even know if Denmark has any legal right to it. But if they do, they should give it up.

Threatened to tariff Denmark at high level. Denmark is in the EU so that involves tariffing the whole EU. That would be a mistake.
First thing the EU will do is tariff Tesla just for fun but other retaliations would follow. Especially on investment. A lot of EU pension funds invest in the US and it’s long been a desire for that to be invested in the EU instead. Starmer has the same desire for UK pension funds. Would really hit the US hard.


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[lapsedhibee]

And he is not the only game in town. The Europeans can still find the Ukrainians. In fact they will have to or else Russia will be at their door step. The Poles are very unlikely to want to share a border (Kaliningrad excepted) with a victorious Russia. So Trump can stop aid to Ukraine but it’s unlikely he has the numbers in Congress to lift sanctions etc but he is not the decider on what happens.
If he does withdraw and Ukraine hold on long enough without the US then it weakens the US and strengthens Europe.


If the US withdraws from its traditional role of global policeman, the rest of the world catches a cold. Think that's how the saying goes. A lot of people, not just Putin, will be emboldened, with unknown consequences.

[Ozyhibby]

If the US withdraws from its traditional role of global policeman, the rest of the world catches a cold. Think that's how the saying goes. A lot of people, not just Putin, will be emboldened, with unknown consequences.

Absolutely. Obama’s withdrawal from the role in 2008 is what emboldened Putin in the first place.
If the US pulls back, everyone else will need to step up.


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[cabbageandribs1875]

i honestly don't know if the Felon is serious or just being the clown that he is :hmmm:

https://scontent.fman1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/472223476_1000751215410975_8674652857773931865_n.j pg?stp=cp6_dst-jpg_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=833d8c&_nc_ohc=pyEbmb6B6-sQ7kNvgHb2tkA&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fman1-1.fna&_nc_gid=A7qtwRDiOLd9YI3b4FK1Eof&oh=00_AYB96xM6brBkRUS-w06G-uPpOnT-4K3fC0n5OjvBFYbG9g&oe=678353CB

[Ozyhibby]

i honestly don't know if the Felon is serious or just being the clown that he is :hmmm:

https://scontent.fman1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/472223476_1000751215410975_8674652857773931865_n.j pg?stp=cp6_dst-jpg_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=833d8c&_nc_ohc=pyEbmb6B6-sQ7kNvgHb2tkA&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fman1-1.fna&_nc_gid=A7qtwRDiOLd9YI3b4FK1Eof&oh=00_AYB96xM6brBkRUS-w06G-uPpOnT-4K3fC0n5OjvBFYbG9g&oe=678353CB

He did well to hide the real crazy during the election campaign.


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[Stairway 2 7]

Remember before his first time in office he said he'd build a wall all across the Mexican border and make Mexico pay. Instead he managed 500 miles only, it was a fence, it was in places mostly that already had fencing and the US paid $21 billion to build it.

He said he'd deport all 11 million undocumented migrants, he deported 250k

Said he'd leave NATO, ended up talking up his commitment

Said he'd bring back torture and waterboarding Pompeo after the election said no chance would it get approved

Said he'd prosecute Hillary Clinton, his tone changed once in office.


I'm surprised anyone listens to his ramblings

[grunt]

I dont think I can take four years of this crap

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/bafkreigk7bmamgy52akvzxjqvrexe4zssdrvrbqvnaku6aag3 5qqz7clju@jpeg

[DaveF]

I dont think I can take four years of this crap

https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/bafkreigk7bmamgy52akvzxjqvrexe4zssdrvrbqvnaku6aag3 5qqz7clju@jpeg

How sad that this is deemed normal in today's US.

[Ozyhibby]

How sad that this is deemed normal in today's US.

Domestic issue. Americans deserve this.


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[Viva_Palmeiras]

Between the muppetry of Trump winding up reasonable minded folks to keep everyone second guessing (just watch what he does not what he says), Elon and Zuckerberg running about unchecked where truth is the ultimate target and victim…

I think I’m better off tuning out and keeping good relationships within family, friends, people in what some refer to as “sphere of influence”

one utterance out these guys mouths can trigger much angst and expending of energy. Such a waste in some regards. Esp when Trump is lying / joking / diverting.

what happens when parents don’t use the word “no” enough :)

[Ozyhibby]

Between the muppetry of Trump winding up reasonable minded folks to keep everyone second guessing (just watch what he does not what he says), Elon and Zuckerberg running about unchecked where truth is the ultimate target and victim…

I think I’m better off tuning out and keeping good relationships within family, friends, people in what some refer to as “sphere of influence”

one utterance out these guys mouths can trigger much angst and expending of energy. Such a waste in some regards. Esp when Trump is lying / joking / diverting.

what happens when parents don’t use the word “no” enough :)

Good attitude. [emoji106]


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[Keith_M]

... The poles are very unlikely to want to share a border (Königsberg excepted) with a victorious russia...


ftfy

[Ozyhibby]

ftfy

[emoji106]


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[Hibrandenburg]

ftfy

Mmmmh, Königsberger Klopse.

[Keith_M]

Mmmmh, Königsberger Klopse.


Now I'm hungry

:greengrin

[cabbageandribs1875]

He did well to hide the real crazy during the election campaign.


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i follow this dude on Bluesky, followed him on twitter as well but he doesn't get the abuse most anti-trumpers get on that site

Today in Politics, Bulletin 43. 1/8/25 - by Ron Filipkowski (https://www.meidasplus.com/p/today-in-politics-bulletin-43-1825?r=9qw74&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true)

… Merrick Garland announced that he will release Jack Smith’s complete report on the J6 case but will not release the report to the public on the classified documents case since there are still pending charges against Trump’s co-defendants. This appears to be how Garland has decided to deal with Judge Aileen Cannon’s illegal attempt to block all reports from being made public.
… So, Garland will release the report dealing with the most important work Jack Smith did with the greatest amount of evidence and testimony that has never been seen before by the public - the J6 case - and ignore Cannon’s order on that since she clearly has no jurisdiction over it and just continues to go rogue

… Politico’s Alex Isenstadt has a book coming out called, ‘Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power’. He conducted over 300 interviews for the book and acquired internal memos and recordings from the Trump campaign. He reveals that Trump got the questions in advance from Fox before his big Town Hall with Bret Baier, which is something Trump always accuses Democrats of, going all the way back to his debates with Hillary Clinton.

so Trump got the questions in advance, much like Boris Johnson did from Kuenssberg for his approval.

[lapsedhibee]

so Trump got the questions in advance, much like Boris Johnson did from Kuenssberg for his approval.

Wouldn't be surprised if Johnson gave Kuenssberg the questions.

[cabbageandribs1875]

the incoming FLOTUS doesn't look comfortable being there, she's probably not comfortable being in old Donny's company either but i'm sure the $40m Bezos is giving her will make up for it

Mike Pence's wife obviously hasn't forgotten her husbands ex-boss wanted her hubby strung up

Melania - Search / X (https://x.com/search?q=Melania&src=trend_click&vertical=trends)

[cabbageandribs1875]

Wouldn't be surprised if Johnson gave Kuenssberg the questions.

and asked her to plug his book, the one that has low sales and greatly reduced in price

[DaveF]

As expected, Trump given a free pass at the sentencing for his conviction on 34 counts.

[Bristolhibby]

As expected, Trump given a free pass at the sentencing for his conviction on 34 counts.

Ridiculous.

J

[Ozyhibby]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250112/afdfd57cc1a6689c38ed88097ad140ea.png

Very good from Channel 4.


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[cabbageandribs1875]

Trump giving the firefighters his brand of encouragement, but at least he's thinking about those poor magnificent houses

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GhGiztzbAAA0LcB?format=jpg&name=medium

[Bostonhibby]

Trump giving the firefighters his brand of encouragement, but at least he's thinking about those poor magnificent houses

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GhGiztzbAAA0LcB?format=jpg&name=mediumMaybe the big orange guy would have put them all out with bleach?

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[Bristolhibby]

Maybe the big orange guy would have put them all out with bleach?

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Doubt it will be his hot air and empty promises.

J

[Keith_M]

if they'd just listened to the wise words from Trump in 2018 then they probably wouldn't have any wildfires in California.


'"You look at other countries where they do it differently, and it's a whole different story," he said.

"I was with the president of Finland, and he said: 'We have a much different [sic]..., we're a forest nation.' And they spent a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things, and they don't have any problem," he added.'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46256296


And if you're looking for proof...

https://x.com/pyryluminen/status/1064159712919334917?mx=2
https://x.com/aspfors/status/1064104115528192000

[grunt]

This is not an original thought, but does anyone think it strange that Trump never complains about the attempt on his life? He moans and whines about every other alleged slight, but never says a word about his assassination attempt?

[MKHIBEE]

This is not an original thought, but does anyone think it strange that Trump never complains about the attempt on his life? He moans and whines about every other alleged slight, but never says a word about his assassination attempt?
He forgot it happened? I’m younger than him but I forget a helluva lot

[grunt]

He forgot it happened? I’m younger than him but I forget a helluva lot
Maybe that's it. He must have a lot on his mind. Easy thing to forget.

[s.a.m]

This is not an original thought, but does anyone think it strange that Trump never complains about the attempt on his life? He moans and whines about every other alleged slight, but never says a word about his assassination attempt?

Yeah. I'm inclined to think he was actually shot at - 5 times draft-dodger isn't going to be letting a trained assassin, let alone an inexperienced 20 year old shoot at his head for the optics - but I agree that it's weird he isn't going on about bullet and gun specifics and how brave the doctors said he was and how they'd never ever seen anyone survive a shot like that etc....
He's a self-obsessed, perpetual-victim whiner, and his reaction is out of character. If there had been anything other than superficial damage, from a bullet or flying debris, I'm pretty sure we'd have seen doctor and police reports by now.

[cabbageandribs1875]

i'm starting to think he's actually funny, he likes telling jokes anyway

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GhRJFPeXUAArbrn?format=jpg&name=large

[s.a.m]

i'm starting to think he's actually funny, he likes telling jokes anyway

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GhRJFPeXUAArbrn?format=jpg&name=large

Well, that's a cracker right enough

[lapsedhibee]

i'm starting to think he's actually funny, he likes telling jokes anyway

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GhRJFPeXUAArbrn?format=jpg&name=large

Is he mainly just trolling Musk, who's supposed to be cutting down on government departments? :dunno:

[cabbageandribs1875]

Is he mainly just trolling Musk, who's supposed to be cutting down on government departments? :dunno:

i see the 'First Buddy' has been given cushy office space in the Eisenhower executive office building across the road from the Oval office

[Paulie Walnuts]

I see he’s taking credit for the ceasefire in Palestine.. absolutely shameless stuff.

[lapsedhibee]

i see the 'First Buddy' has been given cushy office space in the Eisenhower executive office building across the road from the Oval office

Is that close enough for them to throw food at each other when it becomes appropriate? :dunno:

[J-C]

i'm starting to think he's actually funny, he likes telling jokes anyway

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GhRJFPeXUAArbrn?format=jpg&name=large

Watch most countries sticking 2 fingers up and doing deals elsewhere, eejit.

[Bostonhibby]

Watch most countries sticking 2 fingers up and doing deals elsewhere, eejit.China might like the orange guys well thought out international trade strategy [emoji849] could be heading for an anyone but America because it's too expensive / unwieldy to do business with them.

Maybe he will be okay doing business with his old North Korean and Russian pals, and Netanyahuh if he survives.

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[Jim44]

i'm starting to think he's actually funny, he likes telling jokes anyway

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GhRJFPeXUAArbrn?format=jpg&name=large

I know he is mentally challenged but how can he say that on Monday blah blah blah, the External Revenue Service will be set up. Does he mean the daft idea of this service will be born. If he is serious, would this not take months to debate and be passed or rejected by the various sections of government? Does he seriously think he has unilateral rights to do what the f*** he wants.

[CropleyWasGod]

I know he is mentally challenged but how can he say that on Monday blah blah blah, the External Revenue Service will be set up. Does he mean the daft idea of this service will be born. If he is serious, would this not take months to debate and be passed or rejected by the various sections of government? Does he seriously think he has unilateral rights to do what the f*** he wants.

The US already has a service that collects tariffs from foreign states and companies.

It's called The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP). https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/determining-duty-rates

It's not a new thing.

[Jim44]

The US already has a service that collects tariffs from foreign states and companies.

It's called The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP). https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/determining-duty-rates

It's not a new thing.

Well you would think he should be aware of this. What’s he on about?

[CropleyWasGod]

Well you would think he should be aware of this. What’s he on about?

IMO, just reminding the whole world that he thinks there should be more tariffs, and that he's on it, that he knows what to do, and he will do it.

It's likely that the majority of US citizens don't know how tariffs are collected (much the same in any country, I would have thought), so this is good PR.

A paint job on the sign above the door of the CBP is all it will take.

[s.a.m]

Watch most countries sticking 2 fingers up and doing deals elsewhere, eejit.

That already happened the last time. China was the American primary export market for their soy bean harvest. China slapped equivalent, retaliatory tariffs on US soy beans, and their importers immediately switched to other markets, particularly Brazil. They also changed their livestock feed to be less dependant on soy. As a result, US soy farmers were left with harvests they couldn't sell.

The US government compensated select industries that would have been otherwise ruined by Trump's trade wars. I read recently that the soy bean farmers (predominantly Republican) actually were over- compensated , so that they made more money from being ruined than they did from their annual crop.

[Ozyhibby]

That already happened the last time. China was the American primary export market for their soy bean harvest. China slapped equivalent, retaliatory tariffs on US soy beans, and their importers immediately switched to other markets, particularly Brazil. They also changed their livestock feed to be less dependant on soy. As a result, US soy farmers were left with harvests they couldn't sell.

The US government compensated select industries that would have been otherwise ruined by Trump's trade wars. I read recently that the soy bean farmers (predominantly Republican) actually were over- compensated , so that they made more money from being ruined than they did from their annual crop.

I can see Tesla getting hit hard in any retaliations. I wouldn’t be holding Tesla stock now just in case.


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[lapsedhibee]

I can see Tesla getting hit hard in any retaliations. I wouldn’t be holding Tesla stock now just in case.


Au contraire. If the established precedent is for USGov to overcompensate losers, then Tesla will do very well. Buy!

[Ozyhibby]

Au contraire. If the established precedent is for USGov to overcompensate losers, then Tesla will do very well. Buy!

Might not be as easy to get helping Elon through Congress as helping farmers.


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[lapsedhibee]

Might not be as easy to get helping Elon through Congress as helping farmers.


Will be interesting to see whether the Republicans support Trump come what may, or act as a brake. Not too optimistic myself.

[grunt]

Will be interesting to see whether the Republicans support Trump come what may, or act as a brake. Not too optimistic myself.
Over the last two days they've been lining up to support his picks for Defense and AG, so I wouldn't hold my breath. Hegseth looks like an ignorant oaf and Bondi is pretty and blonde but both of them are renowned for their slavish loyalty to Trump.

[s.a.m]

Will be interesting to see whether the Republicans support Trump come what may, or act as a brake. Not too optimistic myself.

Me neither. They haven't shown much backbone so far. And last time, there were still normals in key leadership positions in the military, intelligence and civil service; this time, it's loyalists and nutjobs and extremists.

[Ozyhibby]

Will be interesting to see whether the Republicans support Trump come what may, or act as a brake. Not too optimistic myself.

They have a majority of one in the Congress but there are a couple of republicans who are absolute debt fundamentalists and won’t vote for any spending that increases debt.


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[s.a.m]

They have a majority of one in the Congress but there are a couple of republicans who are absolute debt fundamentalists and won’t vote for any spending that increases debt.


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This is true, and hopefully it will slow down Trump's worst impulses. He's said that he's got a big list of Executive Orders to implement on day one which may get him over that obstacle, though, unless they're subsequently found to be unconstitutional / illegal. Keeping my fingers crossed, but not overly hopeful.

[Ozyhibby]

This is true, and hopefully it will slow down Trump's worst impulses. He's said that he's got a big list of Executive Orders to implement on day one which may get him over that obstacle, though, unless they're subsequently found to be unconstitutional / illegal. Keeping my fingers crossed, but not overly hopeful.

He can do a lot of executive orders but if they require funding then he has to get that from Congress.


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[Off the bar]

The other big issue for Trump is that he’s only got one term. Once the conversation turns to who will replace him (and it will fairly quickly) that will start to hamstring him.
I also think he’ll fall out with Musk sooner rather than later and the divorce there will be messier than any similar parting Trump has dealt with before.