Donald Trump the Megathread part II - mod warnings in OP, Updated 18/03/25

Yes while Harris might (or would) have won the popular vote, would she have won the Electoral College? Harder to prove. And the "moral victory" of a popular vote win alas counts for nothing at present.

Trump's comments re: Gaza is literal disaster capitalism, which has been a tenet of the right wing for more than 20 years now. The same types of comments were spouted by GOP goons after hurricane Katrina levelled much of New Orleans in 2005. Plenty of greedy mitts rubbing and mouths salivating at the thought of using a devastated land for their own gain.

Nobody owns any thread, but you've been asked some direct, honest, questions which you've gone out of your way to avoid giving a clear answer to.

Don't act all surprised when that gets interpreted as soft support for what Trump is doing and saying.

Europe would do well to stay out of this adventure. I don't expect it will come to pass. More likely a distraction from what his billionaire buddies are up to at home.

Simply saying it's "unworkable" doesn't illustrate whether you are in opposition to Trump and his machinations or whether you agree with them in part or in whole.

This is why people on here are, at best, dubious about the honesty of your position.

Quite simply I don’t care what “people think” - I’ve had the same bullying behaviour in the election thread and I didn’t bow down to that either. I’ve stated that the 2 state solution is the only game in town - If people don’t understand that statement and its implications then it’s on them not me.

I said this on boards and X a few months ago, when I seen the relentless destruction of Gaza, including hospitals and public buildings. I thought they are getting ready to clear out the Gaza Strip once and for all.

I wasn’t so sure Israel allowed October 7 to happen but it starting to look like part of a grand plan.

What next for the West Bank I wonder?

Egypt and every other middle eastern country has come out against it.

So that leaves the question of what happens if the Israelis/US attempt to force millions of Palestinians across the border into Egypt.

Will the middle eastern countries fight? Or will they simply pivot away from the US, impost sanctions (especially OPEC), and switch to a Sino/Russian sphere of influence?

BRICS will be licking their lips

The current state of play in the US and in particular the near immediate widespread outbreak of leopards eating faces post Trump's inaugaration is, from a comparative political systems viewpoint, absolutely fascinating IMO.
Trump's disavowal of Project2025 during the campaign, and his immediate implementation of their policies being a prime example.

In parliamentary democracy it would, without an overwhelming parliamentary majority lead to a vote of no confidence and likely collapse of government.
Even in a Presidential system such as France, it would lead to impassé and one would hope constructive political compromise.
Yet in the US?
The lies are shrugged off and executive orders abound.

One could argue that this is what representative democracy is.
You elect a Representative and they serve as they see fit, they vote their conscience rather than their constituency's and they voted for this man, this party to represent them.
He is at best a known liar, at worst, far, far worse.
And democracy has placed him in power…

Yet the close election, the faith some misplace in a charlatan's campaign promises all conspired to place him in power.

Is that power, its set 4 years a true reflection of democratic process and principles?
In a representative democracy, is a set period of power without any recourse to either congress or the whims of the public being able to force an early election.
A true reflection of a democratic mandate?

Whilst some aspects of local & state government allow for actions such as recall, the rigidity of federal politics and electoral process is IMHO a serious impedement to the exercise of representative and responsive democracy on a national level in the US.
The usual defence of mid-terms, 2yr House of Representative election cycle and the offset nature of Senate races doesn't really address the issues that the US is currently facing IMHO.

An interesting addendum to the fixed nature of US federal election cycles and the current state of play there?
Is, if/when the EU becomes more federal?
What can be done to ensure that the EU parliament doesnt fall into a similar trap?