The Trump presidency

[frogwoman]

Is there a better source than the independent? It's literally 'alternative facts' / clickbait for liberals

 

[CrabbedOne]

A bit of background on the US far right. Excellent documentary on how the Feds ended up in a standoff with what was probably a family living on a hill top and in the End Times with some disastrous neo-Nazi connections.

I do end up feeling somewhat sympathetic. It's a tragic spiral that left a lot involved with regrets. After all if the Feds shoot your fourteen year old son dead in a firefight and your wife sniped dead and left lying on the floor for a week all because you sawed a couple of inches of a some shotgun barrels to make a buck a lot of folk would be up on their hind legs.

Of course if they'd been of a Muslim apocalyptic persuasion these days it's really unlikely such tolerance would have been displayed.

 

[bluescreen]

Trump hasn't tweeted for a whole day. Is it a record? What can this possibly mean?

(That post was tongue in cheek obviously.) Trump has clearly had a lot to think about in the past 24 hours because after his unusually long twitter silence he's just come up with this nonsense.

 

[Supine]

(That post was tongue in cheek obviously.) Trump has clearly had a lot to think about in the past 24 hours because after his unusually long twitter silence he's just come up with this nonsense. View attachment 100803

And my response

 

[bluescreen]

Note that he changes "what happened last night in Sweden" to "what's happening in Sweden". Wriggle, wriggle.

 

[CRI]

A bit of background on the US far right. Excellent documentary on how the Feds ended up in a standoff with what was probably a family living on a hill top and in the End Times with some disastrous neo-Nazi connections.

I do end up feeling somewhat sympathetic. It's a tragic spiral that left a lot involved with regrets. After all if the Feds shoot your fourteen year old son dead in a firefight and your wife sniped dead and left lying on the floor for a week all because you sawed a couple of inches of a some shotgun barrels to make a buck a lot of folk would be up on their hind legs.

Of course if they'd been of a Muslim apocalyptic persuasion these days it's really unlikely such tolerance would have been displayed.

The US far right / white supremacy goes much further back than the Ruby Ridge incident and fundamentalist christian doomsday cult type groups have been ten a penny. This was sort of another comma in a very long sentence that started with genocide of indigenous people by the first European settlers through scores of different expressions right up to the present day base of Trump's support. Compared to the legacy of extreme, violent law enforcement response to people of colour engaging in civil disobedience (or sometimes, just breathing,) white folks whine like Hell about the rare occasions where white supremacists and militia folk felt the long arm of the law - the Waco siege being another. More recently, there was the Bundy Ranch standoff and the kid glove treatment of the militia / sovereign citizen peeps who occupied the wildlife reserve about a year ago.

I don't think I can bear to watch the video, particularly if it's slanted to make viewers feel sorry for the Weavers. Deffo have more sympathy for, say, the Black men, women and children killed by the police while going about their business, or doing things that wouldn't raise an eyebrow if they were white.

 

[ferrelhadley]

 

[CRI]

There was a reported gang rape on facebook live last week in Sweden, which has been very shoddily reported by the mainstream media probably for PC reasons but CNN are reporting that Trump may have been referring to a documentary aired on TV, which claimed there was a rape problem and no go areas.

On the other end of the spectrum there is this:

The European country offering returning Isis fighters free housing and benefits

It is true that returning veterans from official armed forces in most european countries get fuck all. Are there not homeless veterans? Well, in Sweden there might be homeless veterans but reurning ISIS fighters won't be feeling the cold.

If anything there are some pretty fucked up ideas in Sweden about the real nature of ISIS.

Why didn't you use the actual headline from the article you linked above? It gives rather a different impression of the programme than your version. This is the actual headline:

Swedish city to offer returning Isis fighters housing and benefits in reintegration programme
Local authority says jihadis will be treated similarly to criminals and neo-Nazis

These aren't special perks given only to returning ISIS fighters for shits and giggles. The Swedish criminal justice system takes a different approach to that in the US and UK, where there's a strong focus on rehabilitation and reintegration, not just punishment.

I think you'll find homeless veterens in Sweden get damned sight better treatment than their counterparts in the UK or the US as well. Providing support to ex-service personnel and ex-prisoners doesn't have to be an either/or proposition. It's quite a popular argument posed by far right / white supremacist groups though.

 

[CRI]

Watching CNN half an hour ago, there was an interview with McCain. the interviewer was going on about Trump setting things in motion to become a dictator and doing "something" to curb the freedom of the press and erode democracy. After five minutes the only evidence of this seemed to be something trump had said on twitter. So, I went and had a look for myself and there was nothing.

It looks like CNN peddle fake news in the hope of getting Trump to tweet about fake news and so this boring farse goes on and on.

Or am I missing something?

Yes, I'd say you are - like links to most of the content and claims you are making, for starters. Which CNN broadcast? Which gang rape? Which anything you've claimed?

 

[coley]

Only because no one was paying proper attention before now.

North and South Carolina are the breeding grounds for some of the most dangerous US terrorists.

Forget Syria. The Most Dangerous Migrants Are From North Carolina.

Fair enough, but try denying gun owning rights to 'True Americans'
I very much doubt the NRA, and most republicans, would oppose gun restrictions on Muslims, or TBH any other 'non white' minorities.

 

[nastybobby]

I'm really pissed off that Paul Nuttall was only slightly injured in last night's attack in Sweden.

 

[coley]

No, I meant that it's so unlikely to be genuine that even the absurd carries more water than the possibility of it being genuine.

The more absurd the greater the chance Trumps base will believe it, Jeez, some of what they are prepared to believe and accept is beyond belief.
TBH, as every day goes by I can't help wondering if some form of secession or even civil war could be in the offing, the stance by The Buffoon and his supporters has gone way beyond ordinary partisan politics.
Aye I know it sounds alarmist, but the Buffoon has trashed the established 'traditions and conventions' of US politics in four short weeks!
Anybody see any sane alternatives on the horizon?

 

[coley]

The American right has constantly used Sweden as an example of the horrors of SOCIALISM that must be avoided. Now it's used as an example of the horrors of letting in refugees.

What is it with some Americans, this absolute hatred of anything that sniffs of socialism?

 

[coley]

Watching CNN half an hour ago, there was an interview with McCain. the interviewer was going on about Trump setting things in motion to become a dictator and doing "something" to curb the freedom of the press and erode democracy. After five minutes the only evidence of this seemed to be something trump had said on twitter. So, I went and had a look for myself and there was nothing.

It looks like CNN peddle fake news in the hope of getting Trump to tweet about fake news and so this boring farse goes on and on.

Or am I missing something?

A brain? Just wondering.

 

[CRI]

The more absurd the greater the chance Trumps base will believe it, Jeez, some of what they are prepared to believe and accept is beyond belief.
TBH, as every day goes by I can't help wondering if some form of secession or even civil war could be in the offing, the stance by The Buffoon and his supporters has gone way beyond ordinary partisan politics.
Aye I know it sounds alarmist, but the Buffoon has trashed the established 'traditions and conventions' of US politics in four short weeks!
Anybody see any sane alternatives on the horizon?

I sometimes think the best we can hope for is that Trump will get really ill - maybe have a stroke, bad enough to be out of action for a while but not die, yet. That would cause some confusion in his "team" related to the good old 25th amendment - the succession. All the jerks in his administration may then start vying for power, arguing amongst themselves, undermining each other, etc. Then by some miracle, the few GOP legislators with something of a conscience will join the Democrats and start investigative hearings, impeachments and criminal proceedings. Americans will wake up, realise what a close call it was, and start being sensible. That's not a realistic hope though, more a probably impossible wish.

My fear is that there will be some major incident that will give Trump and his team "justification" for implementing martial law and the US will continue to hurl towards being the Republic of Gilead. Or, Trump will get his lifelong wish and launch a nuke somewhere.

 

[coley]

View attachment 100805

And my response

Not being of the twitter fraternity, how does the Buffoon handle the obviously millions of replies to his stupidity?

 

[CRI]

Perhaps this was the event in Sweden Trump was talking about. Perhaps not.

Three neo-Nazi suspected of bomb attack against refugee centres in Sweden
Secret service believes the attack was linked to two other attempted bombings in the city of Gothenburg.

 

[CRI]

Not being of the twitter fraternity, how does the Buffoon handle the obviously millions of replies to his stupidity?

I'm not that up on Twitter, but I think he only follows about 40 people - mostly family, members of his cabinet, media outlets that he likes, and Piers Morgan. He probably only sees a fraction of the Tweets responding to his. I'm guessing Bannon keeps a better eye, sometimes flags ones for Trump to answer, and replies to some (his are the ones that aren't Android and include fairly correct grammar and spelling.)

 

[SheilaNaGig]

Fair enough, but try denying gun owning rights to 'True Americans'
I very much doubt the NRA, and most republicans, would oppose gun restrictions on Muslims, or TBH any other 'non white' minorities.

Oh without a doubt. I've had this very discussion with my cousins. But they don't seem to grasp the absurdity of their position.

My stepbrother went out to buy himself an automatic rifle the day they were banned. Because (he said) it was important that he exercise his rights. He also tells me that anyone with the *potential* to be his enemy should be barred, banned, restricted, watched, curtailed. If they have no "lethal intentions", then they won't mind those restrictions. Black people and muslims have Bad Intentions, white folks are just trying to protect and defend. When I point out that this is racist, the discussion just shuts down. They simply can't talk about their own racism.

It's intensely aggravating and frustrating.

I was over there in September last year. I watched the first presidential debate in South Carolina (I went over to my democrat niece and her family to watch it) and the next day I went and sat on the porch with my aunt and cousins and their family. By the end of the afternoon I knew Trump would win. I came back to the UK making that prediction.

Nothing has changed since September except that they now feel vindicated and heard. They won't be swayed from their convictions.

 

[coley]

I sometimes think the best we can hope for is that Trump will get really ill - maybe have a stroke, bad enough to be out of action for a while but not die, yet. That would cause some confusion in his "team" related to the good old 25th amendment - the succession. All the jerks in his administration may then start vying for power, arguing amongst themselves, undermining each other, etc. Then by some miracle, the few GOP legislators with something of a conscience will join the Democrats and start investigative hearings, impeachments and criminal proceedings. Americans will wake up, realise what a close call it was, and start being sensible. That's not a realistic hope though, more a probably impossible wish.

My fear is that there will be some major incident that will give Trump and his team "justification" for implementing martial law and the US will continue to hurl towards being the Republic of Gilead. Or, Trump will get his lifelong wish and launch a nuke somewhere.

What " the few GOP legislators with something of a conscience" the worlds media has been trying to identify this mythical creature for months, without success!

 

[SpookyFrank]

I'm really pissed off that Paul Nuttall was only slightly injured in last night's attack in Sweden.

Yeah turns out most of the blood on his clothes was not his, but that of the terrorist he killed with his bare hands.

 

[coley]

I sometimes think the best we can hope for is that Trump will get really ill - maybe have a stroke, bad enough to be out of action for a while but not die, yet. That would cause some confusion in his "team" related to the good old 25th amendment - the succession. All the jerks in his administration may then start vying for power, arguing amongst themselves, undermining each other, etc. Then by some miracle, the few GOP legislators with something of a conscience will join the Democrats and start investigative hearings, impeachments and criminal proceedings. Americans will wake up, realise what a close call it was, and start being sensible. That's not a realistic hope though, more a probably impossible wish.

My fear is that there will be some major incident that will give Trump and his team "justification" for implementing martial law and the US will continue to hurl towards being the Republic of Gilead. Or, Trump will get his lifelong wish and launch a nuke somewhere.

"the Republic of Gilead" is looking more and more plausible by the day, with the added entertainment of the Buffoon adding nuclear brinkmanship to the equation.
Those on here who can't remember the CMC? It's very possible your lack of Shyte boiling terror will be shortly rectified
Mebbes the CrabbedOne will be along shortly to put us all at ease and reassure us theirs nowt to worry about

 

[CRI]

What is it with some Americans, this absolute hatred of anything that sniffs of socialism?

It's complicated. Even my dad, a lifelong union man (USW then APWU) and politically well to the left of most people in the community, was reluctant to describe himself as a socialist even if most of his views were. Said he favoured "social programmes," but it's like the word gets stuck in the throat or something. Soviet Union was the enemy for a looooooong time, so that's part of it. Also the American dream stuff is predicated on the idea of being able to achieve anything if you work hard enough.

 

[CRI]

Oh without a doubt. I've had this very discussion with my cousins. But they don't seem to grasp the absurdity of their position.

My stepbrother went out to buy himself an automatic rifle the day they were banned. Because (he said) it was important that he exercise his rights. He also tells me that anyone with the *potential* to be his enemy should be barred, banned, restricted, watched, curtailed. If they have no "lethal intentions", then they won't mind those restrictions. Black people and muslims have Bad Intentions, white folks are just trying to protect and defend. When I point out that this is racist, the discussion just shuts down. They simply can't talk about their own racism.

It's intensely aggravating and frustrating.

I was over there in September last year. I watched the first presidential debate in South Carolina (I went over to my democrat niece and her family to watch it) and the next day I went and sat on the porch with my aunt and cousins and their family. By the end of the afternoon I knew Trump would win. I came back to the UK making that prediction.

Nothing has changed since September except that they now feel vindicated and heard. They won't be swayed from their convictions.

Christ. I count myself lucky that none of my immediate relatives are gun enthusists and find Trump and his administration abhorrent and frankly terrifying. They're unfortunately surrounded by neighbours with views closer to your stepbrother's. The white supremacist sense of entitlement isn't a new thing, but the feeling validated and I fear, being more likely to act on it is new. Well, or more a throwback to the early 60's. I was a year old the last time someone was lynched in the county I come from - probably for not observing the "sundown rules." Plenty are thinking of then when they hear the "Making America Great Again" slogan.

 

[coley]

Apart from the allegations of 'blackmail' the assumption that Vlad has the goods on (him of the small,hands) the Buffoons admiration of Putin could rest quiet easily on how Vlad has emasculated the Russian press,and in doing so, has eliminated any serious political opposition.
A format, the tangerine twat is vociferously adopting.

 

[CRI]

He doesn't like the results coming from independent polls, so sets up his own survey. But when even then he's not getting the responses he wants, he tries to gee up more favourable ones from his own supporters. Bless.

 

[catinthehat]

Don't Dismiss Trump's Attacks on the Media as Mere Stupidity
Worth a read.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Mr. Selin completed a study recently focusing on negative news reports about Sweden’s acceptance of refugees. It found numerous exaggerations and distortions, including false reports that Shariah law was predominant in parts of the country and that some immigrant-heavy neighborhoods were considered “no-go zones” by the police.

Breitbart News, the right-wing website once led by Stephen K. Bannon, now Mr. Trump’s senior strategist, has published numerous stories alleging that migrants have been responsible for a surge in crime and for a wave of sexual assaults. Swedish officials have said that their statistics do not justify such sweeping assertions, and that the country has a high number of sexual assault reports relative to other European countries because more victims come forward, not because there is more violence.

Mr. Selin said the news reports “were highly exaggerated and not based in facts,” adding, “Some of the stories were very popular to spread in social media by people who have the same kind of agenda — that countries should not receive so many refugees.”

As for the cover-up alleged by Mr. Horowitz, Mr. Selin said: “That kind of claim has been in the political debate for 15 years now. But nobody has been able to prove there is a cover-up. On the contrary, the fact is that crime rates are going down.”

He added: “Swedish authorities have nothing to gain from hiding the truth. We are quite keen to ensure that the debate and the story about our country is fact-based and nuanced. We are more than happy to talk about the challenges our country faces as well as the things that are going well.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/19/...eden-trumps-remark-baffles-a-nation.html?_r=0

 

[J Ed]

So that Milo is a nonce then

 

[DotCommunist]

So that Milo is a nonce then

well how suprising. The end point of right libertarianism