Donald Trump, the road that might not lead to the White House!

[not-bono-ever]

From the Beeb

"They told him that Mr Trump had been filmed with a group of prostitutes in the presidential suite of Moscow's Ritz-Carlton hotel. I know this because the Washington political research company that commissioned his report showed it to me during the final week of the election campaign."

Did the reporter see this actual film or just the report ? the next sentence sorta belies the previous one

"The BBC decided not to use it then, for the very good reason that without seeing the tape - if it exists - we could not know if the claims were true. The detail of the allegations were certainly lurid. The entire series of reports has now been posted by BuzzFeed."

Trump 'compromising' claims: How and why did we get here? - BBC News

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

Interesting it was issued at all.

Probably just an automatic thing for ex-spooks in the news. They're only advisory anyway, and in the internet age largely pointless. All this one does is confirm that Steele actually is an ex-spook, so saves a bit of fact-checking.

 

[coley]

Well Dubya got much the same treatment over hanging chads and being in cahoots with Big Oil. The Clintons got pursued relentlessly by Newt over often overblown scandals and Hilary would be facing a relentless smear campaign if she'd won. Systematically delegitimising a new President is practically traditional American political hardball. Not being a really bad loser is a downright un-American activity. Trump's so American he even manages to be a sore winner.

"Americans love a winner. Americans will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise cowards. Americans play to win all of the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost nor will ever lose a war; for the very idea of losing is hateful to an American." - General George Smith Patton

Old

Well Dubya got much the same treatment over hanging chads and being in cahoots with Big Oil. The Clintons got pursued relentlessly by Newt over often overblown scandals and Hilary would be facing a relentless smear campaign if she'd won. Systematically delegitimising a new President is practically traditional American political hardball. Not being a really bad loser is a downright un-American activity. Trump's so American he even manages to be a sore winner.

"Americans love a winner. Americans will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise cowards. Americans play to win all of the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost nor will ever lose a war; for the very idea of losing is hateful to an American." - General George Smith Patton

Poor bugger must be revolving faster than a wind turbine, though their 'force of arms' was victorious in Grenada and Panama-

 

[Kaka Tim]

The next few months/years are going to be like watching a car crash in slow motion. Only at any point one of the pieces of falling wreckage might be arcing towards a big red button.

It is shaping up to be a political clusterfuck of epic proportions. Thing is Trump is a terrible politician - in terms of negotiating power rather than hitting populist buttons. Hes lazy, charmless, ignorant, self obsessed, vindictive, narcissistic, stupid, self indulgent, careless and capricious. Everything he has achieved has been through bullying and wealth. That is not going to work with the people within the political institutions or the vested interests around government - they will ruthlessly exploit his many weaknesses for their own ends and/or to oppose and undermine him.
He is already mortally compromised and its only going to get worse for him. An impeachment for a whole variety of different potential and probable scandals - from sexual assault to blatant corruption to using his office to pursue personal vendettas - looks like a highly likely outcome.

 

[not-bono-ever]

We are in an inverse Mao situation here - 70% wrong, 30% right

I want it to be real but given what i know about the US intellgence agencies and their tub thumping selling of the Eeerak WMD dossier to their Brit counterparts, I am rather wary of the US Intelligence agenciesactual intelligence

 

[coley]

Well judging by that presser if you voted for Trump hoping to be entertained you are not going to be disappointed by the next four years.

It's almost worth the chance of getting obliterated by incoming nukes when the big buffoon really messes up.

On balance, no, I like a good chuckle as do most but this bugger is way beyond chucklehood.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

It is shaping up to be a political clusterfuck of epic proportions. Thing is Trump is a terrible politician - in terms of negotiating power rather than hitting populist buttons. Hes lazy, charmless, ignorant, self obsessed, vindictive, narcissistic, stupid, self indulgent, careless and capricious. Everything he has achieved has been through bullying and wealth. That is not going to work with the people within the political institutions or the vested interests around government - they will ruthlessly exploit his many weaknesses for their own ends and/or to oppose and undermine him.
He is already mortally compromised and its only going to get worse for him. An impeachment for a whole variety of different potential and probable scandals - from sexual assault to blatant corruption to using his office to pursue personal vendettas - looks like a highly likely outcome.

I'm not so sure. He got elected President after being caught on tape admitting to sexually assaulting women. If that didn't sink him what the fuck will? He's made of fucking teflon.

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

He is already mortally compromised and its only going to get worse for him. An impeachment for a whole variety of different potential and probable scandals - from sexual assault to blatant corruption to using his office to pursue personal vendettas - looks like a highly likely outcome.

If he doesn't properly divest himself of his holdings - and he implied today that he doesn't intend to - then I suspect we'll be hearing quite a lot about Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution

 

[camouflage]

The next few months/years are going to be like watching a car crash in slow motion. Only at any point one of the pieces of falling wreckage might be arcing towards a big red button.

that's what it's been like since 2014 for me. Now Trump grabs the wheel- spin-out accelerates, breaks squeal, bears and angry mobs and trucks hauling goods from China flash by- no seatbelt!

 

[JimW]

We are in an inverse Mao situation here - 70% wrong, 30% right

I want it to be real but given what i know about the US intellgence agencies and their tub thumping selling of the Eeerak WMD dossier to their Brit counterparts, I am rather wary of the US Intelligence agenciesactual intelligence

There's nothing in the substance of the allegation about using prostitutes that strikes you as unlikely, and he might even have been dumb enough to be filmed doing it, but it's that being sufficient leverage for them to own him I find hard to believe. It would have been long after he'd been accused of various other far worse sexual assaults and what have you and getting away with that wouldn't predispose him to fold over this you'd think.

 

[coley]

To an extent... unless the US goes ahead and starts a war with RusChina of course, as a lot of em currently seem to be insisting on as the only thing decent people should want right now.

Won't be long before some sort of global autonomous governing AI will emerge from the Clouds and take over and we can all finally relax, doze as passengers in a self-driving planet if you will... way less effort, fully autonomous luxury communism run by a selfless competent nanny-state machine god.

Nice idea, as long as taxing the rich as much as possible,is part of its original programme

 

[camouflage]

Nice idea, as long as taxing the rich as much as possible,is part of its original programme

No need for taxes in a like-onomy.

 

[gosub]

Probably just an automatic thing for ex-spooks in the news. They're only advisory anyway, and in the internet age largely pointless. All this one does is confirm that Steele actually is an ex-spook, so saves a bit of fact-checking.

I've seen ex SIS staff hung out to dry to appease US administrations, who've been less culpable

 

[Raheem]

There's nothing in the substance of the allegation about using prostitutes that strikes you as unlikely, and he might even have been dumb enough to be filmed doing it, but it's that being sufficient leverage for them to own him I find hard to believe. It would have been long after he'd been accused of various other far worse sexual assaults and what have you and getting away with that wouldn't predispose him to fold over this you'd think.

That they might own him is something that might be implied, but it doesn't seem to be part of the substance of what's alleged.

That said, given the context that's developed, it's hard to see Trump surviving if we get to see grainy footage of his winkie in a Russian hotel suite.

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

I've seen ex SIS staff hung out to dry to appease US administrations, who've been less culpable

It's a dirty game, right enough

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

... especially if he's wearing nothing but a diaper.

 

[JimW]

...it's hard to see Trump surviving if we get to see grainy footage of his winkie in a Russian hotel suite.

No sure I'd survive seeing that either tbf

 

[Wilf]

This thread reminds me, I must get that docs appointment to sort me prostate out.

#unintendedconsequencesofwatersportsgate

 

[not-bono-ever]

it will not serve anyones benefit is such a video exists and is released *officially*

 

[Raheem]

No sure I'd survive seeing that either tbf

The way things are going, though, it might be the only way for any of us to survive.

 

[Raheem]

it will not serve anyones benefit is such a video exists and is released *officially*

That's not the point. *If* it exists, then it really is effective blackmail material.

 

[gosub]

it will not serve anyones benefit is such a video exists and is released *officially*

Bow shot.

 

[gosub]

That's not the point. *If* it exists, then it really is effective blackmail material.

Might be for you.

 

[Raheem]

Might be for you.

I'm definitely not in it.

Unless...

No, definitely not. I don't think I'd be his type anyway.

 

[gosub]

I'm definitely not in it.

Unless...

No, definitely not.

Phhht. Serious shit ain't leveraged via Buzzfeed.

 

[Old Spark]

Bow shot.

It is indeed and brilliantly timed and executed.

CIA says "we know all about you donald, behave yourself or else...." and now we all know as well.

 

[coley]

It is shaping up to be a political clusterfuck of epic proportions. Thing is Trump is a terrible politician - in terms of negotiating power rather than hitting populist buttons. Hes lazy, charmless, ignorant, self obsessed, vindictive, narcissistic, stupid, self indulgent, careless and capricious. Everything he has achieved has been through bullying and wealth. That is not going to work with the people within the political institutions or the vested interests around government - they will ruthlessly exploit his many weaknesses for their own ends and/or to oppose and undermine him.
He is already mortally compromised and its only going to get worse for him. An impeachment for a whole variety of different potential and probable scandals - from sexual assault to blatant corruption to using his office to pursue personal vendettas - looks like a highly likely outcome.

True, but those around him will make sure the piggy bank is empty before allowing his enemies to launch a successful move to have him sectioned, oops, sorry, impeached.

 

[little_legs]

 

[coley]

That they might own him is something that might be implied, but it doesn't seem to be part of the substance of what's alleged.

That said, given the context that's developed, it's hard to see Trump surviving if we get to see grainy footage of his winkie in a Russian hotel suite.

If some reports are to be believed, "grainy' won't cut it, would need to be HD with a Gerkin superimposed for reference purposes

 

[Raheem]

If some reports are to be believed, "grainy' won't cut it, would need to be HD with a Gerkin superimposed for reference purposes

Sorry. I meant to type: "footage of his grainy winkie".