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

Trump has way more personality than Biden, but let's not forget that the pro-Biden vote was really more anti-Trump, and that means that America looked at Trump's ample personality in 2020 and decided that it was something they could do without being at the head of things.

And the thing of it is that Trump doesn't really appear to have changed in his outlook much. We hear from him less, which is great, but any time we do, it's pretty much the same old thing. If anything, he's gone darker and more bitter.

Although approval rates of Biden have dropped, imagine if Trump does run again. We know what kind of chaos and division he would actively foment as president, and we even have veiled threats by the likes of Bannon about 'doing it right' the second time, which sounds quite ominous.

The tick-tock nature of American politics could have serious implications for the country, the way things are shaping up. It used to be a stable system because each side represented roughly one half of America and, most importantly, they each abided by the same set of norms. There was a kind of balance, there. Democratic president, Republican Senate. Republican president, Democratic house. It was bland and predictable, but it basically worked.

What appears to be happening, now, is that the Republican side is getting more desperate. I think the root of this is that the party's voting base has been the worst hit by austerity post-2008, and this has left them prone to the extreme rhetoric and disinformation proliferating online, and there are real echoes of history in that. And the more extreme they get, the more they push the rest of America away, and the less potential benefit they gain from participating in politics as normal and enfranchisement for all.

Therefore, they will use their control in state legislatures, where they have it, to make it harder to vote for the kind of people they don't want voting, and try to get a majority of representatives back in power at the top levels of U.S. politics. All that's left, then, is to get a Republican president back in office and 'get it right' that time, as Bannon has essentially said.

" think the root of this is that the party's voting base has been the worst hit by austerity post-2008"

Yes, but their policies and approach to politics in general is outdated and they are the least favourite party. Therefore, they must cajole or cheat to stay in power.

That's because more people will put money down and tie it up for a few years on trump then they will on the others, it's a potential loss leader without much risk for the bookmaker. Until Biden is confirmed to run (I've no doubt he will) then his odds will be diluted whereas there's not much other names on the GOP side that would attract early bets (DeSantis maybe?).

drunkmonkey. He/she disappeared shortly afterward, or at least that particular username.

Watching some of '4 Hours at the Capitol' about Jan 6th, there. A stark reminder of the ferocity shown on the day, especially the protestors forcing their way in. That crush at the door looked pretty harrowing.

I was working from home last year and had CSPAN channel on a separate screen and watched it live, starting from his speech. It was pretty incredible and then watching Twitter at the same time and the tweets from elected officials and how they felt about what was going on.

Felt right then like watching a piece of history unfold.

And those claiming the rioters weren't violent, but instead most of them were like this lil' ol' meemaw.

How could the riot have been violent, if it was done by sweet ol' ladies like her?

Except she wasn't even at the Capitol. That pic was apparently taken at a local protest in Kansas.

Well Ron DeSantis is a possible contender for 2024.

That's if he makes it to 2024 of course. He disappeared for a few weeks but in a public appearance yesterday seems very short of breath and having difficulty speaking with voice trembling the more he speaks. Quite possibly has/had Covid.

This is very very good

Dispels any 'just tourist' defense

Bloody hell that's a tough watch.