Donald Trump the Megathread part II - Mod Warning updated in OP 12/2/26

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The design of the US system means that a combo of Executive orders and plain old ignoring dissent in Congress are a means of effectively bypassing any real opposition unless/until a court order or injunction is issued and we all see how much attention Trump and Co pay to those.

There is so much wrong with the US federal government system, that is just accepted for tradition.
The election and inauguration delay, originally to allow time for the harvest in the districts & states before all heading to D.C.
No longer a need for it, a 2 month delay is ridiculous.
The lame duck period that can impact a "normal" presidency when the Executive actually cares about bi-partisanship.

No government is perfect and all Executives must have a degree of leeway to react to immediate issues.
That said, in normal countries, the Executive must at some point face parliament or Congress and gain support.
The lack of oversight in US, from even simple things such as "Leader's questions" or needing to have their PM command a majority of support or face a "no confidence" motion is staggering.
As is the lack of political accountability for cabinet members.
Directly appointed and untouchable unless fired by POTUS or impeached by Congress.

It is an eminently corruptible system that basically transposed monarchy and direct appointment as the executive, with a modicum of democracy added via the Congress.
Congress is designed to be Co-equal but as both Trump terms have shown.
That "equality" is entirely predicated on its being treated as such by the Executive.
Yet, it is all too easily bypassed by an Executive that wishes to act imperiously.

None of the Italian baseball team were born in Italy, it's effectively an Italian-American team made up of Americans of Italian heritage.

Only 3 of their team were born outside of the USA, 1 in Canada, and 2 in……Venezuela, playing against Venezuela in that semifinal.

Final is now USA v Venezuela 🔥

the trouble for Trump is will Iran put the US behind them? He might want out but will Iran?

After America abstaining only last week from calling Russias invasion of Ukraine illegal he has some neck now coming crying looking for help from Europe.

Well, as I've said numerous times, lying has become so endemic on the right they don't even know that they're doing it. They lie like they breathe about everything because their bogus positions inevitably lead them into lies.

McGregor, attacking auld lads in his bar. Tough man and convicted sex offender.

The playbook is to remove as many dissenting voices as quickly as possible, get leverage on those you can't and repeat continuously...

The leverage on those within the fold is its profitable as long as you stay within the fold......the other leverage the longer this goes on is if you do anything to bring about its end you curtail your ability to make hay while the sun shines and/or if you lose power the consequences will be more than a loss of earnings when the shoe is on the other foot

So the more dictatorial the show becomes the greater the jeopardy for those on the inside in not supporting the status quo ....+there is no credible alternative until the "king" is being dragged out on to the street by the masses....

Perhaps though because Trump is such an epic gigantic moron (not even a cunning useful fool) there will be a swing before the whole thing goes down the toilet....

It was instructive to watch Vance being distinctly uncomfortable (body language wise) during last night's clown show.....I think he may be realising just what level of shitshow he has to try and disassociate himself from now and how **** tends to stick to you when you wade around in it.....its either all.in for him or be an embarassing footnote if America does decide to swing back towards some level of sanity

Martin is a slippery enough little prick to navigate Trump's bullshit. He'll be grand.

Anyone from Cork would be able to talk rings around him anyway.