Donald Trump Presidency discussion Thread VIII (threadbanned users listed in OP)

extra gravy wrote: »

https://twitter.com/joncoopertweets/status/1338513515330613248?s=19

From the article:

"Warning labels and fact checks have not stopped President Trump from continuing to spread conspiracy theories and use violent rhetoric on Twitter, but after Inauguration Day, those kinds of tweets could land the outgoing president in hot water, and eventually cause him to be banned by the platform, a Twitter spokesperson told Forbes.

They also explain why he has been allowed to keep tweeting over the past four years:

“Trump is currently shielded by Twitter’s “World Leaders policy,” which means the social media company will in most cases choose to leave up a tweet that breaks its rules, a policy established on the principle that most people would like to see what their heads of state are saying.”

I wonder was this policy in place before Trump became president, or was it introduced to allow them to justify allowing him to keep spouting lies, disinformation and nonsense conspiracy theories?

It sounds like a rationalisation to me and I would not be surprised if the main reason they did not ban him is because of fear of reprisals if they did. And because they allowed him to keep going, he decided not to take action to shut them down, because this would have deprived him of his platform.

A particularly nasty form of symbiotic relationship. Once he no longer has the power to harm them, he will not receive any special treatment and it is impossible to believe that he will suddenly start behaving like an adult when his big toys have been taken away from him.

aloyisious wrote: »

Is Barr getting out ahead of whatever he suspects Trump & Co are going to do next in order to reduce the stain on his blotter, or did he and Trump take the easy way out by presenting his departure as a resignation in order to avoid the GOP et al erupting if he fired him?

The updating of Trump on the investigation would probably have been interesting to watch.

Barr was fired, he was gone the minute he announced that DOJ had found no evidence of voter fraud.

All this is is Barr holding out for a pardon.

This is a pattern that has been repeated many times by Trump.

Something happens that contradicts Trump. Press ask if Trump agrees with or if annoyed.
Trump says everything is fine.
Press ask if X will be fired.
Trump does that stupid look where he wants to say yes but knows he should say no but can't help himself and says "we'll see".
A few weeks later the person 'resigns'.
Trump announces on Twitter and says next person up is the greatest thing ever.

EltonJohn69 wrote: »

We will miss you William Barr xxx
Does this mean Trump is free to pardon everyone ??? Lock up the Bidens ???

He can pardon whoever he wants. Nothing has changed because of this.

The #IMPOTUS not free to lock up the Bidens, or you, or me. There needs to be an arrest, conviction, etc. It's not quite Hungary or Russia in the US just yet.

abff wrote: »

I dread to think what kind of damage he’s going to do over the next five weeks. He’s like a jealous husband who decides to kill his wife because, if he can’t have her, nobody can. I just hope that somebody can step in and stop him before he goes too far.

I fear unfortunately that the fact that Trump didn't manage to completely dismantle and destroy the system of government in the U.S. will be applauded as a testament to the amazingness of the founding fathers and the perfection of the system they created, and thus nothing needs to be fixed because US democracy is impervious to dictators.

The damage that has been done will be ignored as will the fact that a path has been paved for a considerably smarter and more devious individual to exploit it.

As con-jobs go, Trump is allegedly running his own electoral college vote in competition to the one run in line with the constitution, leaving one to wonder which one Mike Pence will choose to select the vote envelopes from in the senate next month [if Trump pushes the envelope - pun - out that far] when he's required to read the vote result into the record and finalize the show before the inauguration. I can't imagine him going along with Trump's con-job in front of the senate and the USSC, whatever about the U.S public. He has to know what would happen to his own chance of running for office in 2024 if he went along with Trump's plan to supplant Biden. The fake electoral college would be subversion of the constitution worthy of federal criminal charges after Trump was shown the exit door. I hope some reporter asks Pence what he think's of Trumps plan.

robinph wrote: »

Could that trigger something like they have in the UK HoC where bringing the house into disrepute, or picking up the ceremonial mace, could get you arrested by the sergeant at arms equivalent and locked in a Capitol Hill ceremonial prison? Doing something so idiotic in the chamber gaining an instant boot out the door.

It might account to a contempt of congress charge. More likely, in reality, that Pence will keep a respectable distance from any alternative electoral college if he hears it mentioned from his bosses mouth while playing along in encouraging tones to ensure he is one of the "good" guys either way.

Barr had a contempt of congress charge laid against him last year but it seems to have flowed off him like water off a ducks back.

Ghosts from the past with Christmas approaching: Milo Yiannopoulos, the former Breitbart editor and fan of Trump, went on the warpath on Parler, saying “I lost everything helping to put Trump in office. My life and career were completely destroyed. Was it worth it? No. I feel utterly betrayed. I will have vengeance.” and he's dedicating the rest of his life to burning down the republican party. He think's "Trump’s SCOTUS appointments were pointless. We defended a selfish clown for nothing".

aloyisious wrote: »

Ghosts from the past with Christmas approaching: Milo Yiannopoulos, the former Breitbart editor and fan of Trump, went on the warpath on Parler, saying “I lost everything helping to put Trump in office. My life and career were completely destroyed. Was it worth it? No. I feel utterly betrayed. I will have vengeance.” and he's dedicating the rest of his life to burning down the republican party. He think's "Trump’s SCOTUS appointments were pointless. We defended a selfish clown for nothing".

Everything Trump touches, dies. There'll be more of this.

Water John wrote: »

It will be difficult to hold the two wings of the GOP together. There is no national figure to do it.

Romney could. Maybe Nikki Haley. Or both.

robinph wrote: »

No doubt the fundraising they are doing is bringing in some money, but is it really enough to make it worth carrying on the charade. Couldn't he make more money from staying at MarALago for the next month and charging the secret service for following him around in golf carts, but with a lot less stress. The money he's scamming out of people has to dry up at some point with the lack of any winning he's managing to achieve with it.

He is probably trying to keep the grift going as it could lead on after Jan 20th, only so much he can scam from the US Gov running up bills in Florida. Can imagine there being some new "crucial piece of evidence" being found about 2 months before he has to pay back Deutsche Bank their $400m and needs funds to run a series of court cases (which will be laughably pointless and probably never even be heard in court). And the grift will continue, if he can get people to give him money for nowt he will run that tap till he drains the tank....and then blame Biden when people have no money left.

abff wrote: »

I not sure what, if anything, would need to happen for Trump to accept reality and abandon his tantrum. The extent to which he has acted out has once again exceeded all expectations.

Seriously....major head trauma! Only thing that could change his mind now. He is just too far-gone and wrapped in his childish delusion where he always wins and his losing is because Biden cheated.

The Nal wrote: »

Romney could. Maybe Nikki Haley. Or both.

Romney is despised by Trump and therefore MAGA-land.

Trump publicly humiliated with him by dangling a job in front of him that he had no intention of giving him. Romney stayed on-side long enough to get his blessing in his Utah Senate race but since then he's been speaking his mind more freely. Don't forget that he voted to impeach Trump. For the base that's heresy that he'll never be forgiven for.