Donald Trump the Megathread part II - mod warnings in OP, Updated 06/06/25

Peregrinus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361286#Comment_123361286

Beating him at his own game entails accepting that that is the game. Using Trump-like tactics to defeat Trump himself validates Trump-like tactics - the lies, the fraud, the corruption, the illegality, the cruelty, the subversion of democracy. If these are the tactics that you adopt, you can't claim to be opposing those tactics.

Trump has to be defeated by the assertion of the rule of law, by the defence and vindication of the constitution. If he's defeated by other means, Trumpism wins.

dogbert27

Notice how nobody is talking about Signal gate anymore?

Trump's America is so fxxked up that a real national security issue is soon forgotten about in a matter of days with nobody being made accountable and we just carry on to the next sxxt show from the Administration.

Nobody is talking about Trumps failure to stop the war in Ukraine? When Trump couldn't blackmail Zelensky to take half a country's rare earth elements he abandoned Ukraine.

Now China have suspended their exports of rare earth elements to America it looks like Trump may have had an actual plan in what he was demanding and reduce dependency on China.

As always though, it's his failure to understand in politics he can't describe himself and America as winners and his allies as losers and think that this works in the geo-political sphere.

It works in American politics but not with the rest of the world.

BP_RS3813

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361287#Comment_123361287

Doing those things to protect democracy is different to doing them to destroy it. You can oppose tactics but need them to get the to the end result if required.

He is playing a game where by using his tactics, he has much more moves available then his opponents. Its the equivalent of not allowing yourself to use a certain piece on the chessboard…of course you will lose if they have a rook and you don't.

dogbert27

Reading back the last few pages a see a lot of positive comments regarding Sanders and AOC.

They both have good messages but unfortunately Sanders has been at this so long he can be seen as the old man shouting at clouds.

I listened to AOC yesterday for about 10 minutes and I had to turn it off. Her voice was hurting my ears and as much as she was saying the right things eventually I didn't want to hear it. Kamala Harris had the same issue.

These two are currently being championed to fill the void in the Democratic leadership but they just won't get the numbers to back them.

I like Pete Buttigieg but again while he delivers a good message he comes across as too mild mannered.

I don't see anybody yet in the Democratic party that has the charisma to lead an opposition and the MAGA republicans.

BP_RS3813

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361292#Comment_123361292

Thats one thing Trump has going for him, confidence and charisma. His ability to go on stage in front of millions and talk absolute crap whether it be nonsense, lies or whatever. It really is unmatched and dangerous.

Shows all you need is a few desperate enough people who aren't too bright and as long as you can speak well then you can have a cult of personality.

Mattyonthepatty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361081#Comment_123361081

The American electorate voted Donald Trump as their President not once but twice, even winning the popular vote this time around. He made gains in huge chunks of traditional blue areas.

America wants Donald Trump it's just as simple as that.

everlast75

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123360862#Comment_123360862

I would argue he is a better candidate for father of the year than a 34 time convicted felon, who cheated on all of his wives, paid a porn star hush money to cover up having sex while his 3rd wife was at home with his newborn baby and who was found liable for sexual assault in a civil court, so people in glass houses.....

dogbert27

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361298#Comment_123361298

I think it's more that America didn't want Kamala Harris so he won by default.

The democrats should have accepted long before that Joe Biden was not fit for a second term and had a younger more relatable candidate ready to run.

It came across that Harris was thrown in a the deep end and she really wasn't prepared for running.

20silkcut

Yes ultimately it is a flaw in humanity itself that it can be hacked by a charismatic persona and it has happened many times in history. No matter how many times the stupidity of it is highlighted and pointed out and the disastrous consequences laid bare in the pages of history for all to see, unremarkable and untalented people of average intelligence can rise to the very top of society by bluster and charisma. Ultimately I blame the media and its insatiable need for intrigue and drama. They need the likes of Trump. American politics especially is like a sort of extension of the celebrity and sporting culture focusing on personalities and intrigue. Trump absolutely thrives in that environment. Ratings and attention are his thing. He has been front page of world wide news since January. Where there have been one or two dips for a few days he storms back into the headlines with some new outrageous shite. If he goes quiet for a week you can expect something big. Many world leaders and people around the globe have and will start copping on and disengage from him and the US and wait him out. But of course he can and will do some real damage. And the monster craves that constant attention. It really is a low low point in American history re-electing him.

everlast75

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361303#Comment_123361303

This may have legs as a theory, but who exactly is that better candidate?

Mattyonthepatty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361303#Comment_123361303

In recent times all the talk has been of the GOP being a party of outdated ideologies and being out of touch with the American electorate.

It was in turn the Democrats who had lost their messaging and direction.

I see Bernie sanders and AOC are doing some rallies as of late but their messaging seems to be the same as the Democrats messaging of the last 8 years of "Anti Trump". Change the record DNC for crying out loud, he can't even run again in 2028.

The DNC will have to come up with a brand new play book over next 18 months.

machiavellianme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361291#Comment_123361291

Unless they have 2 Queens!

The trouble with Trump is that he thinks that the King is the most powerful piece and spends all his time going back and forth to the same few squares, letting other pieces get obliterated and ruining the game for everyone else.

halkar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123360742#Comment_123360742

That shows how inexperienced politician he is. Number one rule of politicians is you don't do what you say in election campaigns. 😁

eightieschewbaccy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361313#Comment_123361313

One of the assessments is that the Democrats needs a more radical candidate that the public can buy into. AOC might very well be that and I wouldn't say she is remotely the same as previous ones.

Also I don't think it should be ignored that Trump is behaving like a tyrant, you and others might like that he's deporting innocent people to El Salvador but it's horrifying. On top of that, plenty of the very people that elected him are very pissed off with his tariffs policies and the impact it's having on their 401ks... His fan base are having buyers remorse so now it's a matter of if the party reacts and starts pulling back on him. Either way, the country is irreparably damaged.

Mattyonthepatty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361326#Comment_123361326

Could you please quote where I said I'm happy he is deporting anyone?

Mattyonthepatty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361325#Comment_123361325

Haha good post 😁

Poor Donald staying too true to his campaign promises, what an amateur.

Igotadose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361334#Comment_123361334

It was one of the qualities you liked - keeping his campaign promises. Deportations were #1 or #2 besides lowering grocery prices (a promise yet to be met).

Do you dislike what he's doing wrt immigrants, keeping emotion out of it?

Mattyonthepatty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361341#Comment_123361341

I have never said I liked or disliked anything, again if you could quote me on that please?

riddles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361325#Comment_123361325

Not a compliment to him but he isn’t normal which we all know. He’s not a career politician or bound by any political party constraints and definitely not trying to create a path for any succession model unless one of the family. For now it’s full narcissist / sociopath mode for him

Detritus70

I want to throw up every time some (redacted) says "oh but Trump is so charismatic and anyway Kamala has an annoying voice".

No! Eff off!

Trump threw a big rock into the pond that is American society. And he stirred up enough sediment to literally muddy the waters. He appeals to the absolute dregs, the people who form the third world segment of the US. But being without good prospects in life isn't enough to be swayed by Trump. His main appeal is with morons, general crackpots, racists, fascists, people with an axe to grind against society and a general hatred of any form of government, incels, 4chan losers, conspiracy loons and the most pitiful and subhuman of them all, white supremacists. And of course billionaires who are the main benefactors of the chaos he generates.

He has given the craven Lumpenproletariat centre stage. He didn't win because of decent people being swayed by his arguments, he won because he appealed to subhuman scum by validating their hatred and stupidity.

Anyone who thinks Trump is in any way charismatic, instead of a whiny man baby with a voice that makes you want to rearrange his teeth with a baseball bat, is part of his target audience.

Mattyonthepatty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361378#Comment_123361378

So you're calling the 77.3 Million people who voted for Donald Trump in November Subhuman scum?

Totally rational.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361347#Comment_123361347

So why don't you? Why the charade?

Typically when posters engage in these weak attempts to somehow defend Trump or attack his opponents, with zero actual evidence, it betrays a sneaking regard for Trump and or his some of his policies. Multiple posters have called you out on your original claim, listing in detail how many campaign promises he is miles away from eg stock market, prices, ending wars … you have no real response and just engage in these cryptic semantics or plain ignore it and go off on a tangent.

eightieschewbaccy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361391#Comment_123361391

If you see no issue with deporting without any form of due process and sending to a pretty terrible prison then you absolutely are scum. If you view that as keeping promises then that's backing a tyrant.

Also you appear to be pursuing the charade of being on the fence.

dogbert27

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361378#Comment_123361378

Trump's charisma doesn't appeal to you as you have different values but he does have charisma that appeals to with morons, general crackpots, racists, fascists, people with an axe to grind against society and a general hatred of any form of government, incels, 4chan losers, conspiracy loons and the most pitiful and subhuman of them all, white supremacists that you mention.

Trump is a charismatic sociopath who doesn't care about others feelings or emotions and that's the appeal and admiration he receives from the above group.

People who support him tune in to hear what he says and people who don't support him tune in to hear what he says. Both for different reasons but he attracts both to his message.

I find the people who validate him to ensure their own self interests more disgusting. People like Karoline Leavitt, MGT, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, etc.

Kamala and AOC do have annoying voices! I'm sorry but you can be saying the greatest speech in history but you can have everyone tune out if you're not good at delivering it.

The Democrats need another orator like Kennedy, Clinton and Obama.

dogbert27

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361312#Comment_123361312

That's the issue that was there and is still there for the Democrats. There is a leadership void that connects with all Democrats.

I've said it in previous posts that the Democrats are too divided in who they represent and have split messages.

For example, AOC is popular with younger voters but I reckon anyone over 30 years old doesn't find her relatable. What is her message to the 35 year old white couple who are doing 9 to 5, paying a mortgage, 1 or 2 kids under 5, struggling with day to day finances.

Mattyonthepatty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361430#Comment_123361430

"" People who support him tune in to hear what he says and people who don't support him tune in to hear what he says. Both for different reasons but he attracts both to his message.""

In a nutshell, he has completely mastered the art of using media to his advantage, wether it be traditional media, social media or podcasts, his podcast run before the election was a touch of genius.

Peregrinus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361447#Comment_123361447

He has clearly mastered the art of using the media to his advantage at least to this exent; he won the election.

But, of course, you could say the same about every other candidate who won election.

I don't think this necessarily indicates "complete mastery". Trump has used the media very effectively to establish a very strong brand. When the brand is positive that works very well for you, but when if and when it becomes negative that works very badly.

It's already the case that people who don't like Trump really, really don't like him. That's at least partly the result of the way Trump projects himself in the media — the cruelty, the disdain, the sneering, the viciousness; the smugness; the blatant corruption. A lot of people are turned off by this. And if people who were prepared to overlook these qualities in Trump in the hope that Trump's policies would improve their lives find that, in fact, his policies don't improve their lives, then they may no longer be prepared to overlook them.

Up above you take issue with Detritus for describing Trump voters as "subhuman scum". You ask whether all 77.3 million Trump voters are subhuman scum. Well, if they all voted for him because they actually like cruelty, disdain, viciousness, sneering, corruption, etc, you gotta say that, yes, they are pretty scummy people. If, on the other hand, you think there's a cohort of Trump voters who supported him despite these characteristics, but for other reasons, then I think the corollary is that his use of media may not turn out to be that smart. Because he has indelibly associated himself with cruelty, disdain, etc, he may have set himself up for a dramatic reversal of popularity if people's other reasons for supporting him — the hope of cheaper eggs; the desire for prosperity; whatever — start to evaporate.

He already has the lowest approval rating that any President has ever had at this point in their term of office (including himself, last time around). The chickens may be coming home to roost.

fergiesfolly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361503#Comment_123361503

Chlorinated chicken at that.

poop emoji

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123361583#Comment_123361583

Chickens that don’t seem to be able to lay eggs and lower egg prices that are their new Trump record levels

Patrick2010

Vance threatening UK with no trade deal because of the lack of free speech in Britain, this coming from an administration that threatens colleges with removal of funding if they allow student protest on campus.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/trump-jd-vance-trade-deal-free-speech-b2733806.html?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-gb

But allies of Mr Vance say he is “obsessed by the fall of Western civilisation” – including his view that free speech is being eroded in Britain – and that he will demand the Labour government rolls back laws against hateful comments, including abuse targeting LGBT+ groups or other minorities, as a condition of any deal.

The Independent was told: “The vice-president expressing optimism [on a trade deal] is a way of putting further pressure on the UK over free speech. If a deal does not go through, it makes Labour look bad.”