US

[Corona Man]

Since Joe took over after Don was dumped last night time, did we do anything to safeguard ourselves against Don?
Or did our lot in Canberra think he'd never get back in?
Could they have done anything?

They sent in KRudd......

[RB]

Trump is who the majority of Americans who voted in the last Presidential election wanted in power.

*Plurality, not majority.

Due to the farce that is first-past-the-post voting, we'll never know whether a majority of voters preferred him.

But point taken.

[Jimmy_041]

I read something interesting on Linkedin earlier in the week
It was a Kings Counsel writing about the Zelenskyy White House visit
He watched the abridged version and thought the same as everyone else

However, he then watched the entire event and said Zelenskyy walked in, with his chest puffed out, with the total mission to embarrass the White House into supporting him by using the media that were there. When Trump started backing off, Zelenskyy swore under his breath at him which was caught by the camera and microphones. JD Vance realised what he was doing and thats when the fireworks started as Vance tore strips off him.

I am trying to find the post as it was quite an amazing read

PS: Dont shoot the messenger - I am just writing what someone else said

[dedja]

Trump is who the majority of Americans who voted in the last Presidential election wanted in power.

*Plurality, not majority.

Due to the farce that is first-past-the-post voting, we'll never know whether a majority of voters preferred him.

But point taken.

I was very clear in my statement … the majority of Americans who voted … didn’t state the majority of Americans.

He did also win the popular vote.

I’m not accounting for the vagaries of the way the states allocate electoral college votes.

[RB]

The biggest fear i have / see with Trumps presidency is the extortion for security. Thats not my understanding of how allies/friends work.

That is one of my biggest worries.

Even worse, he appears to be trying to extort personal advantage and loyalty, rather than something theoretically in the interests of the USA as a whole.

[RB]

Trump is who the majority of Americans who voted in the last Presidential election wanted in power.

*Plurality, not majority.

Due to the farce that is first-past-the-post voting, we'll never know whether a majority of voters preferred him.

But point taken.

I was very clear in my statement … the majority of Americans who voted … didn’t state the majority of Americans.

He did also win the popular vote.

So was I - a majority of Americans who voted did not support Trump - he received 49.8% of the PV. Which is a plurality, not a majority.

[dedja]

Trump is who the majority of Americans who voted in the last Presidential election wanted in power.

*Plurality, not majority.

Due to the farce that is first-past-the-post voting, we'll never know whether a majority of voters preferred him.

But point taken.

I was very clear in my statement … the majority of Americans who voted … didn’t state the majority of Americans.

He did also win the popular vote.

So was I - a majority of Americans who voted did not support Trump - he received 49.8% of the PV. Which is a plurality, not a majority.

You must be fun at parties …

Trump outvoted his opponents, and won the majority of the electoral college votes.

[RB]

I certainly never miss an opportunity to shit-can FTPT voting systems.

I think though, that the majority/plurality distinction is relevant to any mandate Trump may claim. If over 50% of voters chose somebody else, I would suggest the mandate is relatively thin. Of course, even the most emphatic electoral endorsement would not, in my opinion, be a mandate for blatant illegality or enacting policies catered to the Kremlin.

[dedja]

I certainly never miss an opportunity to shit-can FTPT voting systems.

I think though, that the majority/plurality distinction is relevant to any mandate Trump may claim. If over 50% of voters chose somebody else, I would suggest the mandate is relatively thin. Of course, even the most emphatic electoral endorsement would not, in my opinion, be a mandate for blatant illegality or enacting policies catered to the Kremlin.

It’s the system they use. I have more issues with the electoral college and the winner takes all in nearly every state, and even then there’s the possibility that an electoral college vote can be flipped at a whim of the delegate who represents that vote, which has happened many times in the past. So theoretically, a presidential candidate could win the majority of votes, and overwhelmingly the electoral college, only for some of those delegates to flip and give the Presidency to another candidate, all perfectly legal (* yes, some state have now legislated against this, but nevertheless, it’s still possible).

You could use that same argument here and say that an election winner in a state, territory or federal election did not obtain the majority of votes.

Regardless of any Geoffrey Robertson hypothesis, it’s all academic as Trump was duly elected President so can act how he sees fit.

[Jimmy_041]

The next US election will be simple. If the red blooded population are feeling better off over the next 4 years, cost of living is down, employment rate is low etc etc then Republicans win regardless of the spin or who will lead them. If it goes the other way and the US economy is destroyed, and cost of living skyrockets with the tariffs and employment rate does not improve or gets worse, the same people who voted Trump in will turn on him just as quick.

He cannot be re-elected after this term

22nd amendment

He can’t be re-elected, but, far from me to play the conspiracy theorist, it is possible for another Republican to be elected President with him as VP, then resign straight away to give him the reigns again. Likely? Hardly, but the ‘loophole’ is there.

Putin has used similar means to stay in power when Russia initially had limited Presidential terms.

Worse still is Biden has opened the door for Trump to pardon himself and all of his family & friends.
Yes he could have anyway but Biden doing it first means Trump now doesn't give a toss

[Jimmy_041]

Since Joe took over after Don was dumped last night time, did we do anything to safeguard ourselves against Don?
Or did our lot in Canberra think he'd never get back in?
Could they have done anything?

They sent in KRudd......

[dedja]

The next US election will be simple. If the red blooded population are feeling better off over the next 4 years, cost of living is down, employment rate is low etc etc then Republicans win regardless of the spin or who will lead them. If it goes the other way and the US economy is destroyed, and cost of living skyrockets with the tariffs and employment rate does not improve or gets worse, the same people who voted Trump in will turn on him just as quick.

He cannot be re-elected after this term

22nd amendment

He can’t be re-elected, but, far from me to play the conspiracy theorist, it is possible for another Republican to be elected President with him as VP, then resign straight away to give him the reigns again. Likely? Hardly, but the ‘loophole’ is there.

Putin has used similar means to stay in power when Russia initially had limited Presidential terms.

Worse still is Biden has opened the door for Trump to pardon himself and all of his family & friends.
Yes he could have anyway but Biden doing it first means Trump now doesn't give a toss

Agree, it was pretty dumb after clearly stating he wouldn’t do it.

There are so many faarked up things about the US Constitution … giving a President pardon powers is up there with one of the stupidest.

Dunno, I’m just an idiot, but have yet to hear a good reason why this power exists.

[Jimmy_041]

Worse still is Biden has opened the door for Trump to pardon himself and all of his family & friends.
Yes he could have anyway but Biden doing it first means Trump now doesn't give a toss

Agree, it was pretty dumb after clearly stating he wouldn’t do it.

There are so many faarked up things about the US Constitution … giving a President pardon powers is up there with one of the stupidest.

Dunno, I’m just an idiot, but have yet to hear a good reason why this power exists.

Well, at least Hunter Biden and Fauci admitted their guilt

[RB]

I agree that as an absolute minimum, the pardon power should only be exercised after a person has been tried and sentenced, and, crucially, admitted guilt (i.e. whether at trial or after having served at least some of their sentence). How can a person be 'pardoned' unless they've acknowledged that they have done the wrong thing?

Ideally though, there would be no such power for the executive government, in my view.

Biden's decision to pardon family members - pre-emptively in some cases - was terrible. However, I think Trump attempting to pardon himself would be another step altogether, and I would hope that the courts would ignore it.

[dedja]

Trump going so well, even Bolt is having a go at him …

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opini ... f71c4c3c88

Andrew Bolt: Volodymyr Zelensky doesn’t deserve Trump’s lies | Herald Sun

I’m getting blitzed by jeering Australians for calling out Trump’s lies and bullying of Ukraine.

For saying, no, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is not a “dictator”. No, he did not “start” the war with Russia.

No, he shouldn’t be abused by Trump as a warmonger for “the hate he’s got” for Russian president Vladimir Putin, given Putin invaded his country, tortured and slaughtered civilians, destroyed cities and abducted 19,000 children.

It’s also disgusting for Trump cronies to snigger when Trump booted him from the White House last Friday for arguing back when baited by Vice President JD Vance.

I get it: Trump is right to want a peace deal. Some of his bluster is just a negotiating tactic. And, yes, Zelensky should have shut up and taken it, since only America can stop Russia from taking the rest of his country. But now there’s more jeering of Zelensky after Trump cut off Ukraine’s military aid, forcing Zelensky to crawl and issue “regret” for the way Friday’s meeting went, and repeat he’ll sign the deal Trump wants in exchange for America’s support, giving America access to Ukrainian rare earths.

Great, said Trump.

Yet those who perversely love seeing tough guy Trump smack around the desperate leader of a democracy in peril should realise Zelensky’s warning – that angered Trump on Friday – may prove tragically true.

Trump says Ukraine handing the US rights to its rare earths is all the security guarantee Ukraine needs against a renewed Russian invasion. The American investments and workers which will supposedly flood into Ukraine mean Russia won’t dare provoke the US.

But how much American investment will there really be when these minerals are mostly in contested territory right next to the Russian border?

What’s more, we know this is no real guarantee for Ukraine, because Trump made the same deal over Afghanistan’s rare earths eight years ago with Afghanistan’s president. But when the Taliban attacked, America fled.

So Zelensky is right: this is no real guarantee. And given the hatred from Trump, Vance and Trump’s megaphone Elon Musk, does anyone really think Trump or a future president would sacrifice a single American soldier to protect Ukraine? Or … us? So, yes, Trump is doing great things for America, especially in restoring freedoms and fighting the woke. And for Ukraine, Trump is still its only real hope.

But however unwelcome, the truth must be said – that hope is built on sand.

[dedja]

US steel and aluminum tariffs of 25% have kicked in affecting approximately 27% of Australia’s total exports (steel and aluminium).

We should tell Trump that we don't export any aluminum into the US, only aluminium which is completely different.

Also, nice to see the Orange Criminal help out a destitute mate by spruiking Tesla cars at the White House.

Griftus Incredibulus.

[wenchbarwer]

US steel and aluminum tariffs of 25% have kicked in affecting approximately 27% of Australia’s total exports (steel and aluminium).

We should tell Trump that we don't export any aluminum into the US, only aluminium which is completely different.

Also, nice to see the Orange Criminal help out a destitute mate by spruiking Tesla cars at the White House.

Griftus Incredibulus.

Herr Musk needs all the help he can get these days, Tesla stock plummeting like a strafed Messerschmitt

[whufc]

The Trump Tesla stuff the other day was some of the weirdest footage i've seen.

Isn't Elon being paid millions a day as the head of an efficiency department yet that is how he is spending his time. You couldn't make the stuff up.

Just like the actual footage of Trump bragging about the stock market in term 1 yet now the stock market means nothing.

[Booney]

Trump is so full of shit.

He's spent years bagging EV's and his redneck hillbilly cousin loving supporters romp around in their V12 penis extensions guzzling gas loved it.

Now he's buying a Tesla even though he hasn't driven for years just to keep Elon's chin up against his nuts gagging to stay his friend.

It's hilarious watching what was America fall apart. Serve themselves right.

[dedja]

Not that funny, they’re going to destroy the global economy, an addition to havoc to world stability and peace.