What does the future hold for Donald Trump? - threadbans in OP

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20silkcut

Im sure the strategic benefit of NATO to the US outweighs any financial burden. Like What difference does it make to the US if Italy only spends 1% of gdp on its defence. That is not a cost to the US. The Italians allow the US navy access to its naval waters that is far more beneficial to the US. I’d say American military leaders are holding their heads in their hands after trumps comments.

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Rawr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121765564#Comment_121765564

Kind of makes it hard for them when fundraising that traditionally goes into a campaign war-chest, is instead being funneled to the legal fund of the party leader while he fights scores of court battles.

You'd wonder how this might impact campaign adverts? I expect for older voters TV Adverts are still relevant, and without enough cash to buy the ad space they'll likely need, the GOP might have a harder time getting their message out.

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bucketybuck

I see the democrats have taken another seat in the house, successfully flipping George Santos seat from red to blue.

All these polls telling us that Trump is in the lead, poll after poll predicting a GOP win, yet every single time there is an actual election the republicans get hammered.

I know I'd far rather win elections than win polls, but thats just me. Anybody thinking polls are meaningful in 2024 is badly out of touch.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121765806#Comment_121765806

It's absolutely going to hurt them down ballot as Trump will demand and consume the vast majority of funding and donations across the board. The majority of which won't be spent on actual campaigning and securing votes.

They are not going to have the money that the Dems look like they'll have to fight for swing seats for House/Senate.

everlast75

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121765947#Comment_121765947

maybe Trump is a democrat appointed Manchurian candidate lol

pixelburp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121765943#Comment_121765943

Context:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/14/tom-suozzi-wins-new-york-election-george-santos

So the GOP majority is now merely 6 votes - I wonder how many could be conceivably turned with the Border and / or Ukraine bills.

SilentBee

I have an uneasy feeling he is going to win.

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briany

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121765205#Comment_121765205

Yep. People say that MAGA is only 30 percent of the Republican base or whatever - some minority figure - but wielding that minority has proved remarkably effective in purging the Republican party of Trump's critics or just people who get in his way.

Who is there left in the party who has not been ousted, is retired or is about to retire who's still speaking out against Trump? It's got to be a critically-endangered species at this stage.

robinph

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121766074#Comment_121766074

People really should stop using the word "pay" in relation to NATO.

Nobody has to pay anything to anyone. It is just to do with what a country "spends", but even that doesn't have to be spent with any third party. Just add numbers to the "defence" column in their annual budget.

The increase in spending could be on upping the pension they pay veterans, planting a new flower bed in front of the commanders mansion, or buying a new coat and bag of posh dog food for the regiment dog. Absolutely nothing about "paying" anyone else for anything is required.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121765037#Comment_121765037

I don't think it is a difficult argument to make that crossing the line into outright encouraging Russia to attack members who do not meet the spending commitment is not a position anyone should support. It is just encouraging instability which is to no one's benefit. As is usual with him though, he is incapable of any nuance or reasonable thought.

It is also debatable how much the concept of Trump "enforcing" consequences has to do with the recent increases in spending and how much is just practical response to Russian aggression.

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scottser

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121766058#Comment_121766058

Nah, he won't win. But he'll say he did and try another coup knowing full well he won't be prosecuted for it. He needs a proper belt on the snout like you'd give any dog that won't stop barking.

pixelburp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121766058#Comment_121766058

The stats beneath the headlines of the Primaries, alongside voting intentions of Haley's supporters, indicate Trump will get the (MAGA) base but really struggle to win the independent vote, or those centrist and leftward. There's no suggestion he's winning hearts and minds. The economy's doing well, the GOP are openly contradicting their own policy in blocking that bipartisan border deal, and Trump's rhetoric has only got more lunatic and dictatorial.

Biden's age is about the only thing Trump can attack on but it's noteworthy that he hasn't - because Trump will be as old as Biden was when the latter was inaugurated. Trump has been circling the drain himself and while the choice between two geriatrics isn't ideal, only one actually has the intent to run the country properly - and it ain't the guy talking like a mobster about NATO, or threatening "revenge" as a second term theme.

The thing to worry about is what happens after Trump loses 'cos we saw what happened in 2020 - and there's no indication trump will take it any better. Indeed based on his rhetoric it's entirely likely it could be even worse. Especially given the guy has so many legal cases stacked against him. While god knows what'll happen with the MAGA movement.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121765943#Comment_121765943

The only poll that matters is in 264 days time.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121766469#Comment_121766469

For a guy who lives on cheeseburgers it's kind of a surprise he has lasted this long. Now I love a good cheese burger, but I only treat myself to about one a week. About once a month I treat myself to a bacon and egg McMuffin. If most people lived on them for their diet, I doubt they would see 60 never mind nearly 80. Surely his regular tantrums can't be good for an aging heart.

I watch the CNN headlines every morning before work and every day, I am half expecting the headline to be "Trump in hospital". or "Former President Donald j Trump has passed away".

Wishful thinking maybe?

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121766370#Comment_121766370

As dumb as he is, he most likely realises Poland is next on Putins list. If that happens, NATO is compelled to mobilise, and Trump doesn't want to go to war with his Pal. His life would be easier if the USA is nolonger in NATO.

Flaneur OBrien

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121766637#Comment_121766637

I thought Finland was in danger, hence joining NATO

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LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121766652#Comment_121766652

They are, as they border Russia.

The president of Belarus is a friend of Putin, so Belarus will be a staging area. If Ukraine falls, Russia can attack Poland from the south while tanks roll in from Belarus from the north.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121766690#Comment_121766690

Given the history with Crimea and the Donbass I can see them trying to "connect Kaliningrad back to the Motherland" via the sulwaki gap.

RavenBea17b

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121759941#Comment_121759941

The 2% thing gets quoted by him, but there are other measurements too. Equipment, soldiers, intelligence, bases, movements to from individual locations and countries. Goodness knows how many movements Shannon sees annually, intelligence sharing. He neglects to say that Poland alone spends more than the US - has done for a while. One country like US, yet their amount the US spends on its military - percentage of GDP when compared to other single countries is different too.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121767692#Comment_121767692

The key point is that Trump plays this like "the US is covering you and you aren't paying your way" when that's simply not true.

If every single NATO country was at the 2% level in the morning the US aren't going to reduce their defence budget by that dollar amount or anything.

Whilst the NATO countries should meet their spending commitments , even if they did it would not have any impact on how much the US spend or how they spend it.

It also wouldn't impact what/where/how they deploy their resources either.

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121765347#Comment_121765347

On the King thing, totally accurate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud3btbISggA

Whether through stupidity, ignorance, or willing alliance with face eating leopards, the base wants a King, they want a Mussolini. They literally see democracy as an obsolete system.

everlast75

https://twitter.com/MonmouthPoll/status/1757797491829821651?s=20

Jfc 😳