Current Affairs 2024 POTUS race

[davek]

As regards Iran mate anyone with an understanding of the Iranian views on the Saudis.

They hate them nearly as much as they hate Israel.

It's in the nature of American politics to absorb constituencies through eventual recognition that if they dont then the other man party will prosper.

IMO one of the big lessons the Democrats will draw from this disaster is that they have to get off the teat of the Israeli lobby and apply an even handed approach to the Middle East. If they do that they secure the Arab-American constituency. It's a smaller constituency than the Jewish American one, but many American Jews are appalled at the events in Israel aren't aren't wedded to the Israeli state.

 

[Tommy Chong]

What bloody disguise, I've said for years I'm pro Putin, Jesus I had him as my profile pic about 8 years ago with a photoshopped blue turban on for those who remember

Pro Russian - err ofc I live here and my wife and kids are Russian.

FYI... Just to ruin everyone's Friday, this is what Trump thinks about when he plays with himself:

 

[bluestevon]

There is no smoke without fire and it is surely understood that some of the rhetoric is extremely dangerous, in this context. It has been proven very recently that what he says 'to apparently sound tough' has affects on the population. Springfield would not have had weeks of heavy disruption if there was no lie told to the nation.

We cannot just shrug our shoulders and say it is an old man shouting at clouds or the guy trying to sound tough down the pub saying he could easily beat Mike Tyson in a fight. His words could have devastating affects, the word here that is doing the heavy lifting is 'could'. Trump talks in facts, regardless of the fact checking. He doubled down on the lie about pets being eaten even when the person who started it said that she made it up. One word out of Trump saying it was false would have saved a lot of confusion and fear for a lot of people.

Ofc his rhetoric has serious potential consequences.

On Trump I feel half of what he says he actually believes - reckon he still thinks the pets thing was real btw.

But stuff like banning abortion - it's for optics - pretty sure in his past he's probably had first hand experience of paying for one and no chance he's ideologically opposed.
Tariffs on trade - zero chance this will ever happen - but to the people voting him it sounds tough like he will not get pushed around - economically it's a none starter and will never get past the let's look at the numbers phase.

Similarly stuff like ill end this war in a day with two phone calls - sounds good, never gonna happen.

Deport all illegals - again don't happen, he's likely got a long history of his project managers hiring illegal on construction projects or staffing his hotels/casinos etc.

Trump is a salesman, he identified the market and sells ideas or policies he'll never enact - he doesn't need to do it as he's just after the sale (being elected).

Can it have bad effects even though it is hot air - ofc it can, and that's the far bigger worry for me than the 'trumps a fascist' shouts, it's not trump but those who buy into the rhetoric and run with it that are the concern

 

[bluestevon]

It's in the nature of American politics to absorb constituencies through eventual recognition that if they dont then the other man party will prosper.

IMO one of the big lessons the Democrats will draw from this disaster is that they have to get off the teat of the Israeli lobby and apply an even handed approach to the Middle East. If they do that they secure the Arab-American constituency. It's a smaller constituency than the Jewish American one, but many American Jews are appalled at the events in Israel aren't aren't wedded to the Israeli state.

The major problem the US has is the influence of lobbyists - APAC being one of the most widespread and influential - needs a top to bottom reform

 

[bluestevon]

FYI... Just to ruin everyone's Friday, this is what Trump thinks about when he plays with himself:
View attachment 281023

Good God that's gonna be hard to unsee

 

[Yarrgh]

Thought her final line was amusing as hell though - we may be about to enter a period were locking up political opponents will be the way.

Given she's been one of the most vocal Democrats shouting that Trump - a political opponent - should b locked up

She's an absolute clown,

I have decided to see the funny side in all the current situations around the world. It appears that as long as you are on one side you are A-ok doing whatever it is you're doing, but if the other side does the same then they're Satan themselves. I am sure anyone who doesn't see the absurdity in it all is probably engaged in the behaviour itself.

Apart from the Premier League. They're just awful.

 

[bluestevon]

I have decided to see the funny side in all the current situations around the world. It appears that as long as you are on one side you are A-ok doing whatever it is you're doing, but if the other side does the same then they're Satan themselves. I am sure anyone who doesn't see the absurdity in it all is probably engaged in the behaviour itself.

Apart from the Premier League. They're just awful.

Yeah I'm a realist in terms of the way I think about Geopolitics myself, the Kennan way of breaking complex situations down to simple terms.

Actually know a guy over here who spent a year in the US as an academic and personally knew Kennan - supposedly as impressive a mind in person as it's reported.

 

[davek]

The major problem the US has is the influence of lobbyists - APAC being one of the most widespread and influential - needs a top to bottom reform

Yep.

As Bernie stated yesterday: the Democrats have a decision to make - stick with corporate America and listen to their well paid consultants or develop a grass roots movement to rival MAGA and take the fight to them offering economic justice to ordinary Americans and challenging the oligarchs that run the show.

 

[PSB1]

Maybe this has been mentioned before but it looks highly likely that Trump's win has been based on 10 million Democrat no - shows. His popular vote looks a bit less than in 2020 atm as well.

Suggests that Dem strategy has to be based on making mud stick up to the midterms while gradually developing policies which resonate with their missing millions in very good time for 2028.

 

[efcste97]

I do wonder if they will go after gay marriage

 

[LostLegend]

FYI... Just to ruin everyone's Friday, this is what Trump thinks about when he plays with himself:
View attachment 281023

 

[bluestevon]

One thing that seems to have to a great extent flown under is the actions or inactions of certain 'oligarchs' for want of a better word.

Musk openly campaigning for Trump, Zuckerberg deciding to completely sit this one out (backed Biden big time last go round), the owners of at least two of the major newspapers pulling their endorsements.

It's a marked contrast to 2020 when pretty much all the tech guys all the MSM besides Newscorp went against Trump and behind Biden.

Why the change this time around, I'm not buying they suddenly became MAGA supporters or they are all misogynists. So why the sudden pivot during this election?

 

[TheFinnFan]

No I mean within the Democratic party.

A lot could be written about. Screwing over Sanders didn't help. AOC/DSA and Sanders uncritically cheering on Harris/Biden didn't help. I think they both allowed themselves to be boxed in by Republicans as establishment party and sort of revelled in that.

Harris in a well watched interview saying she changes nothing, apart from adding more Republicans to cabinet is also a very poor choice.

The fiasco around sleepwalking into allowing Biden to run, at 82 until 3 months out was ludicrous.

I still don't think they, or parts of the left really know how to counter Trump effectively. But calling him anti-establishnent when people hate the establishment only harms them.

But look, as I said a few days ago to Zat, the Democrats are the party of capital. They have to be to stand in America. It's hard to see a world where they don't represent those interests.

There are some deeper problems for them.

Several excellent points mate.
Pelosi has to be one of the root causes and the fact Dems dont ring any bells for many average Americans like you hinted right there. Trump has many faults but when compared to Harris he's a real person. 99% of this forum doesnt get that and that same thing ultimately made the difference in the voting booth.

It's incredibly satisfying to see that Americans also reject "Hollywood elite" like Robert De Niro and others. Hollywoods importance as a endorcing force is done. Fantastic.

Greetings to all who agree, there's few I know.
(Those who dont agree, luv you too)

 

[Tommy Chong]

Well, you know when Trump wants something... He's usually firm on it!

And of course the jugs have to be firm!

 

[bluestevon]

Several excellent points mate.
Pelosi has to be one of the root causes and the fact Dems dont ring any bells for many average Americans like you hinted right there. Trump has many faults but when compared to Harris he's a real person. 99% of this forum doesnt get that and that same thing ultimately made the difference in the voting booth.

It's incredibly satisfying to see that Americans also reject hollywood idiots like Robert De Niro and other like him. Hollywoods importance as a endorcing force is done. Fantastic.

Greetings to all who agree, there's few I know.
(Those who dont agree, luv you too)

When you see Hollywood on mass backing something it's best to be very wary, by and large eithna few ex emotions they are absolute idiots and clueless about any real world issue

Denzel Washington a rare exception btw as he's actually intelligent.