Trump

[legomaster00156]

I'm still gobsmacked at the 'I, in my great and unmatched wisdom' tweet. I can't quite get over it.

I'm trying to reassure myself that he was maybe trying to be a bit facetious - you know, indulging in a bit of exaggerrated grandiosity; a bit of humorous self-parody - and that it just came out wrong. But maybe I just don't want to believe that's how he honestly thinks of himself.

No. He genuinely has that much of an inflated self-image.

[Sara Nilsson]

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1181232249821388801?s=20

Donnie calling his wisdom 'great and unmatched' aside, does he really think that he's destroyed and obliterated the Turkish economy before?

And how will he do that? Run for their presidency?

[TheGlyphstone]

Tariffs.

[Sara Nilsson]

Tariffs.

[TheGlyphstone]

I'm not sure who is supposed to be who there. The joke is that he thinks tariffs are effective tools of diplomacy.

[Lilias]

A break from killing our own brain cells with this dumpster fire: Excellent write-up by Rebecca Solnit.

https://lithub.com/rebecca-solnit-the-loneliness-of-donald-trump/

Make sure to read the essay on Hannah Arendt she links to; it's truly extraordinary.

https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/arendt-matters-revisiting-origins-totalitarianism/

[gaggedLouise]

And how will he do that? Run for their presidency?

:)

Also, the funny thing is how ever since Trump entered the White House, almost three years ago, he's spent a huge amount of time and effort in "2020 campaign mode" to make it look like he was still an outsider candidate and not responsible for how he handled the office of being the president, how he was ruling the country (sort of). Yet, as 2020 approaches, he's secured a formal promise from he RNC that there would be no Reps primaries and no other candidates to contest his nomination next year. Looking scared of competition, anyone? :)

[gaggedLouise]

Swedish news bureau TT (the local equivalent of AP, and with a similar wide network of contacts across the world) are citing an unnamed spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Office, who is basically saying "thanks but no thanks" to Trump's call for China to investigate Joe Biden and look for unspecified corruption on him. It's not something they have any intention of doing. Big surprise (for the Donald, at least)!  :P

https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2019-10-08/kina-trotsar-trumps-onskan-om-utredning (in Swedish)

Also, this article explaining some of the background of why they are unwilling to do it - and how the Chinese are taking Trump less and less seriously:

https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/07/donald-trumps-credibility-with-china-plummets-joe-biden/

[gaggedLouise]

Swedish news bureau TT (the local equivalent of AP, and with a similar wide network of contacts across the world) are citing an unnamed spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Office, who is basically saying "thanks but no thanks" to Trump's call for China to investigate Joe Biden and look for unspecified corruption on him. It's not something they have any intention of doing. Big surprise (for the Donald, at least)!  :P

https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2019-10-08/kina-trotsar-trumps-onskan-om-utredning (in Swedish)

Also, this article explaining some of the background of why they are unwilling to do it - and how the Chinese are taking Trump less and less seriously:

https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/07/donald-trumps-credibility-with-china-plummets-joe-biden/

I googled around a bit for other sources on this, but nothing so far. The Swedish article itself just came up half an hour ago, could be from some Chinese paper or press briefing.

[Sara Nilsson]

I googled around a bit for other sources on this, but nothing so far. The Swedish article itself just came up half an hour ago, could be from some Chinese paper or press briefing.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/china-trump-foreign-minister-biden-investigation-impeachment_n_5d97c485e4b0fc935eda17b1

This one? Your link to sydsvenskan is behind a paywall so I cant compare.

[gaggedLouise]

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/china-trump-foreign-minister-biden-investigation-impeachment_n_5d97c485e4b0fc935eda17b1

This one? Your link to sydsvenskan is behind a paywall so I cant compare.

'

Very nice find, though I think the source of TT/Sydsvenskan is more recent. HuffPost is quoting the foreign minister speaking on Friday, while TT is citing an unnamed "Chinese foreign office spokesperson" and it looks like it's a later statement. But well, both the boss and a spokesperson have now said clearly that China are not going to meddle by launching any Biden inquiry. Trump must be very pleased... :D

Funny thing is, the Sydsvenskan article isn't behind a paywall seen from here (I have a subscription but I'm not logged in atm on this pc). But I'll take your word for it that it's payblocked from the US.

[Azuresun]

Also, this article explaining some of the background of why they are unwilling to do it - and how the Chinese are taking Trump less and less seriously:

https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/07/donald-trumps-credibility-with-china-plummets-joe-biden/

I have this image in my mind of the next president's first act on the international stage being to say "So....shall we just pretend that didn't happen?". And everyone nods in relief.

[Orval Wintermute]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-49981806

Trump saying he won't let anyone appear before the impeachment inquiry has surely got to be regarded as obstruction.

[gaggedLouise]

I have this image in my mind of the next president's first act on the international stage being to say "So....shall we just pretend that didn't happen?". And everyone nods in relief.

Mmm. I would love if that were possible (I mean, if it were going to wash just fine with both the US and the rest of the world) but I suspect not. Half viable, at most. Even if Trump could be said to be a political criminal and a sabotage artist, he's spawned so many imitators and changed so many people's perception of politics that the influence of the guy can't be undone. We'll have to live with his shadows and his fallout, even if he would ultimately go to jail.

[Oniya]

The Target Center in Minneapolis earned Trump's ire for daring to ask for up-front payment for security coverage. 

Now, there's word that the Oath Keepers are going to escort Trump supporters to and from the rally.

I seem to recall a certain concert at the Altamont.

[Lilias]

I have this image in my mind of the next president's first act on the international stage being to say "So....shall we just pretend that didn't happen?". And everyone nods in relief.

Hopefully not. Too many people need to be held accountable for their support, not allowed to pretend nothing happened.

[Ket]

The Target Center in Minneapolis earned Trump's ire for daring to ask for up-front payment for security coverage. 

As they should. He has a history of not paying for police presence at his rallies, including over $35k to the city I live in, which is desperately needed.

[Iniquitous]

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/465098-trump-defends-syria-move-the-kurds-didnt-help-us-in-normandy

So, in Dump's eyes, it is okay to abandon the Kurds to slaughter because they didnt help us in Normandy.

Wha?!

Oh, and he wants Turkey to go about their ethnic cleansing in a humane way.

https://www.rawstory.com/2019/10/trump-wants-ethnic-cleansing-in-syria-to-happen-in-a-humane-way-but-cant-define-what-that-means/?fbclid=IwAR22xHFxYoG4g6amzwS7tEJlBZWLYtz8KrLwgGMvW0HsV7tQwUk1Ka2MLPE#.XZ5Mq8aly7A.facebook

Can we just force him out now?

[Sara Nilsson]

I am literally sick to my stomach right now. Even my husband who voted for the fucker thinks it is time to kick him out, and that is quite telling.

[TheGlyphstone]

Absolutely disgusting. And the vast majority of his cult won't care because it's only brown people dying.

[Markus]

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/465098-trump-defends-syria-move-the-kurds-didnt-help-us-in-normandy

So, in Dump's eyes, it is okay to abandon the Kurds to slaughter because they didnt help us in Normandy.

Wha?!

Oh, and he wants Turkey to go about their ethnic cleansing in a humane way.

https://www.rawstory.com/2019/10/trump-wants-ethnic-cleansing-in-syria-to-happen-in-a-humane-way-but-cant-define-what-that-means/?fbclid=IwAR22xHFxYoG4g6amzwS7tEJlBZWLYtz8KrLwgGMvW0HsV7tQwUk1Ka2MLPE#.XZ5Mq8aly7A.facebook

Can we just force him out now?

To be fair, I don't think this would be the first time a US government would throw its lot in with a faction, only to abandon it later. But yes turning your back on the people who held the line against ISIS is just... meh.

[gaggedLouise]

I am literally sick to my stomach right now. Even my husband who voted for the fucker thinks it is time to kick him out, and that is quite telling.

Agree, this is a disastrous and sick move.

Oh and...did Brazil "help the US in WW2"? Or the Netherlands? Or Czechoslovakia? Or Israel? Denmark? Sweden? Korea?

None of those in a military sense. Every single government of a NATO country or US ally will have picked up on Trump's hokey excuses.

The Soviet Union undeniably did help the US, and the allies, in WW2 though. Moscow helped them big time, even.

[HairyHeretic]

With the Republicans in control of the senate though, it doesn't matter what trump does or how much he is guilty off. They'll simply acquit him because he's theirs, or they're scared his fans will vote them out if they go against him.

[gaggedLouise]

With the Republicans in control of the senate though, it doesn't matter what trump does or how much he is guilty off. They'll simply acquit him because he's theirs, or they're scared his fans will vote them out if they go against him.

It's probably true that the odds on getting him sentenced and convicted via the senate are very steep, but his blatant disregard for the issues that are being raised is just coming more into view as the inquiry gets going. People who used to´support him without any questions are finally becoming less willing to stick to him at all costs. I think the impeachment process itself, with hearings and all the obstruction and stuff from Trump, and the Ukraine story, has a fair chance of turning even more people against him and corroding some of his support, even deep into his voter base.

[Tolvo]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/two-foreign-born-men-who-helped-giuliani-on-ukraine-arrested-on-campaign-finance-charges-11570714188

So two people have been arrested that donated to Trump's campaign, charges are relating to breaking laws relating to campaign finances. It is mentioned they were born in formerly soviet territory(Which just means essentially near Russia. I hate when people try to use that red scare shit. Especially given Russia of today is not even remotely communist and is very capitalist).