The amount of low-information voters who uncritically just accepted he is a great businessman is truly depressing.
They’ve grown up with The Apprentice and Trump himself repeating how great a businessman he is so it will take a lot to deprogram that.
Living through it day to day, I assume most people are just confused and unbalanced, but looking back at this historically, it’s going to be so goddamn obvious.
Trump is systematically destroying ties with all of US’s allies going back 70-80 years. There is no justification, not even “fentanyl” and “immigration” apply to most of the allies we’re picking fights with. The only country safe from criticism is Russia.
To me there is no doubt what’s happening, but it’s incredibly discouraging that there doesn’t seem to be a thing we can effectively do about it. American voters were offered a cyanide pill, told it was candy by a known conman and liar, and ate it despite us all shouting, “It’s cyanide, don’t be an idiot!”
Has he tried suing people who aren’t buying Teslas?
It remains to be seen if their kissing the ring was strategic or just tactical (apart from Musk, who is committed), but what they’ve bought wasn’t a good economy. They bought into the transition from democracy and capitalism to authoritarian oligarchy.
Dollars don’t describe the value of Russia-level corruption, which is where the country is now pointed. And the longer-term gains from captured institutions would far outpace a hundred billion dollars or two, if they succeed.
Narcissists literally can’t comprehend their own hypocrisy, because they are the special exception to every rule.
Remember that one time when the US got in the way of peace when Britain invaded? Why were we so stubborn again? It’s a mystery, but hopefully Ukraine doesn’t repeat our mistakes.
Yes, but on the other hand, I’m pretty sure those complaining about Genocide Joe knew that and preferred this result.
It’s a tough question but I don’t think it’s hypocritical.
A good government serves two roles: (a) to protect the rights of its citizens, and (b) to enact policy that is representative of its citizens (as shown by popular vote and opinion, usually). But no policy should be allowed to supersede a real right, no matter how popular.
So if a candidate is going to subjugate rights as a matter of policy, that government is right to bar them, even if that is undemocratic. Minds can differ on what rights have primacy, and how nuanced those rights are, but I think it’s coherent.
Yes, but it turns out those smaller cakes need smaller eggs.
Trump translation reminder: he refers to himself when he refers to the US.
When he says “we are doing well,” it’s even less ambiguous. He’s saying he personally is doing well. Meaning he is either profiting in terms of personal influence, compliments from Putin, feeling powerful, etc. That’s all that means.
Unfortunately, the two party system right now can probably only collapse into a one party system.
Zelensky was going to sign something, until baby Vance decided to throw a tantrum, and Trump couldn’t resist joining in. I don’t think it was going to be for Trump’s $500 billion amount, but that photo op was supposed to precede a signing.
In any case, odds are that Trump never intended the demand to be met.
“I’m finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine. And they don’t have the cards,” Trump said. “In terms of getting a final settlement, it may be easier dealing with Russia.”
It’s infuriating how stupid he is. Just “my feelings tell me to do X” nonstop, every day, like cultured cells responding to a stimulus shock.
Following the meeting, Trump announced on Truth Social that future DOGE cuts would use a “scalpel” rather than a "hatchet.
Well, Trump probably figured out the more effective lie in using this language. That’s what people want to hear. I’m sure nothing will change.
“It’s really hurtful for the president to insinuate that you don’t exist or that your job consisted of sitting at home doing nothing and cashing the paycheck,” he says. “I’d like to see him sifting through spiny naiad in 120-degree weather looking for parasitic snails. He’s the one that goes golfing on the government dime. I don’t even know how to golf.”
Although I don’t think much will get through to MAGA people, the hypocrisy is what gives me the most hope. Trump’s mind is so unlike his voters’ that he doesn’t deserve to represent them.
Like, I wake up earlier than my wife. She has back problems, but I like to keep the kitchen nice for her and not remind her of it. So every day I unload the entire dishwasher, carefully putting away every plate, knife, glass without making noise. I don’t mean it as a virtue-signal, we all probably do little things like this. I just mean, can you even imagine Trump doing something like that? Imagine him caring about someone other than him that much? Imagine having to live so intentionally and carefully for any reason at all?
That should get through to them, right?
To save everyone time, here’s a draft set of productivity bullets for “turtle tester”:
It’s important Elon Musk knows these things.
And of course the “hide extensions” option is by default.
Windows: “I helped!”
Narcissists can’t accept anything they don’t create as legitimate. When you factor in dementia, that’s a very dissatisfied narcissist. When you make him leader of the free world, that’s a very unhappy world.