All purpose news and politics thread part VII: News & Politics Total Landscaping

[aja_christopher]

Exactly. Why are any women voting for a complete misogynist, a serial cheat. He has no respect for his wives, he has a massive judgement against him for rape. He took full credit for ending Roe and says the states should decide. Which means he owns the archaic bans and bounties these states have put on women. Against IVF, what they plan to do with birth control. And possibly the federal implications if GOP get control again to get around blue states who are trying to protect women.

Dems should definitely still be reaching out in a real and tangible way for miniorities because of that steadfast support. But, at the end of the day if Trump wins it wont be Black people's fault.

Trump has already lost to Biden once and his presidency was met with widespread resistance and protest the first time around until he was eventually ejected from office.

Since then Democrats have consistently over performed in elections and the issue of abortion will only make it even more difficult for Republicans to chart a pathway to the White House.

There is absolutely no reason to assume that Americans won't be able to deal with Trump a second time around -- whether he wins the presidency or otherwise.

[Zelena]

There is absolutely no reason to assume that Americans won't be able to deal with Trump a second time around -- whether he wins the presidency or otherwise.

There’s not only the Americans to consider but also the rest of the world…

[aja_christopher]

How America tried and failed to stay White

One of the few cases that the hypocritical Thomas won't touch.

There’s not only the Americans to consider but also the rest of the world…

If the rest of the world can keep him out of the White House then they are more than welcome to do so.

[Zelena]

If the rest of the world can keep him out of the White House then they are more than welcome to do so.

I meant a president Trump has consequences on the rest of the world… It’s not that this latter can do anything about it… Sadly.

[aja_christopher]

I meant a president Trump has consequences on the rest of the world… It’s not that this latter can do anything about it… Sadly.

That's understood given his incompetence in dealing with issues such as foriegn trade alliances, Mideast policy, and Covid as well as his support of dictators such as Putin.



There is still the Russian option assuming he is given real prison time -- certainly he'd feel right at home in such an authoritarian state.

[aja_christopher]

More on the global context of Trump and authoritarians worldwide in general.

[Robotman]

Trump has already lost to Biden once and his presidency was met with widespread resistance and protest the first time around until he was eventually ejected from office.

Since then Democrats have consistently over performed in elections and the issue of abortion will only make it even more difficult for Republicans to chart a pathway to the White House.

There is absolutely no reason to assume that Americans won't be able to deal with Trump a second time around -- whether he wins the presidency or otherwise.

I understand not wanting to be a defeatist but the consequences of his first term will have devastating consequences for generations. The end of Roe, the huge list of right wing judges confirmed, rolling back environmental protections, emboldening authoritarian dictators like Putin and giving them free rein, sabotaging the USPS and restricting POC voting rights, etc.

If he’s allowed a second term it will be far worse because they have more of a cohesive plan. Project 2025?

Saying “we’ll get through it like we always do” just doesn’t apply here. Once Trump is back in office he’s not leaving. Who’s going to stop him? The members of Congress who are literally dressing like him and marching outside of the courthouse where he’s being tried for soliciting hush money to a porn star? The bought and paid for Supreme Court (which he will no doubt be able to nominate additional corrupt right wing lunatics)?

[CaptainEurope]

The Netherlands will form the most right-wing government in the EU, after Geert Wilders forfeits his claim to the PM post and the center right party VVD agrees to work with the fascists.

The deal brings together outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte's centre-right VVD, the new NSC party and farmers' protest party BBB in a coalition with a strong majority of 88 seats in the 150-seat Lower House.
Louise van Schaik, head of EU & global affairs at the Clingendael think tank in The Hague, cautioned that even as the parties agreed to share power, the issue of prime minister could still be problematic.
If formed, the coalition could be "inherently unstable" due to inexperienced ministers, or lack of poltical connections within the new parties.
Trouble could also arise if cracks emerged between Wilders and decision makers in a new cabinet, with Wilders using social media to express his opposition to policy decisions he doesn't like. "It could be a very unstable construction," she added.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe...se-2024-05-15/

[WestPhillyPunisher]

That's understood given his incompetence in dealing with issues such as foriegn trade alliances, Mideast policy, and Covid as well as his support of dictators such as Putin.



There is still the Russian option assuming he is given real prison time -- certainly he'd feel right at home in such an authoritarian state.

You mean flee the country to avoid prison? I doubt that would happen, for one, I suspect the Secret Service would stop him from leaving, two, who's to say Putin would let him in once his usefulness is over?

[The Cool Thatguy]

You mean flee the country to avoid prison? I doubt that would happen, for one, I suspect the Secret Service would stop him from leaving, two, who's to say Putin would let him in once his usefulness is over?

What, you think Putin wouldn't love having a US president as a trophy?

[CaptainEurope]

How things have been going for the far-right AfD party in Germany:

Higher Administrative Court (OVG) has on Monday rejected a complaint by the party against its classification by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) as a suspected right-wing extremist case.

and

On Tuesday, a court ruled against Thuringian AfD leader Björn Höcke for allegedly using a slogan from the paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party, the Storm Troopers (Sturmabteilung). The graduate historian and former history teacher denies knowing the origin of the banned slogan "Alles für Deutschland" (Everything for Germany).

Höcke was fined €13,000 ($14,060) which is to go to a grassroots anti-extremism program. Once the appeals have run their course, he will officially have a criminal record.

https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-far-r...ure/a-69078624

And today, parliamentary immunity was lifted for Petr Bystron, who is not just an MP but also their #2 on the candidate list for the upcoming EU elections. He's under investigation for taking bribes after audio recordings became public of him counting bills and complaining that his Russian contact paid him in large 200 € bills, which gas stations would not take.
The number one on that candidate list, Maximilian Krah, had his offices searched because one of his staffers is suspected of being a Chinese spy.

They are using the Trumpian playbook, of course, and calling all of these events "witch hunts."

[Mister Mets]

How America tried and failed to stay White

As an aside, they would distinguish between Saxon and Celt, to exclude the Irish from the definition.

https://www.nytimes.com/1854/06/08/a...l-doheney.html

[WestPhillyPunisher]

What, you think Putin wouldn't love having a US president as a trophy?

I think Putin is only interested in USEFUL idiots, not just plain idiots.

[aja_christopher]

I understand not wanting to be a defeatist but the consequences of his first term will have devastating consequences for generations.

Defeatist is continually worrying about polls when Trump is on trial and Republicans are consistently losing as consequences for their actions.

It makes more sense to look at the facts objectively and deal with problems as they come than to constantly worry about something that may or may not happen.

It might help to remember that you are preaching to the choir given previous warnings regarding Trump's first campaign due to his direct appeal to racist sentiment.

Many people thought Trump was just a joke at the time but they aren't laughing now.

This level of concern should have been there the moment he started attacking black and brown people for political gain -- not after he realigned the courts and rescinded abortion rights.

To be clear it works both ways -- if the Democratic leader were currently on trial and Democrats were losing elections and in disarray then exactly the same logic would apply.

That isn't to say people shouldn't remain vigilant as the posts regarding Republican attacks on "minority" voting rights should make evident -- polls mean little if the actual voters are disenfranchised from the system.

I think Putin is only interested in USEFUL idiots, not just plain idiots.

The classified documents are more useful to Putin than Trump -- as well as the Republican white nationalists that do his bidding.

No doubt he took great joy in watching Trump's supporters storm the White House and expose just how easy it is to incite American white supremacists towards treason.

It's the entire Republican party that Putin wants to control -- Trump is just easier than most for him to manipulate.

[aja_christopher]