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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

JulianLapostat Since: Feb, 2014
#161526: Dec 11th 2016 at 1:02:09 PM

It's certainly true that Trump becoming President has definitely discredited the democratic process. Of course it's not fair since Trump won by EC and not the Pop. Vote but that itself shatters the illusion of America as being the bastion of Democracy, it is in fact behind in several respects to systems in Europe and other parts of the world, which uses the popular vote. And the idea that Hillary can win the vote by more than 2.5 million votes and come in second place is more or less a Shocking Defeat Legacy for America's institutions. It has FAILED to represent its people.

America never succeeded (or rather never attempted to succeed) in spreading democracy directly but it did inspire people by example, with its freedom of speech and expression, its diversity and Melting Pot, and of course Obama becoming President was emblematic of the meritocratic ideal, the visible symbol that a man regardless of the colour of his skin, can rise to the highest office entirely by merit and hard work.

That American Romance is gone. Now America resembles so many other nations...oligarchies like Russia, right-wing ethno-nationalism like India's current government, plutocracies in other places. As Trevor Noah said, it Trump is like an African dictator, Idi-Amin Dada, Gaddafi, Mugabe. So, China and Russia's illiberal regimes will feel safer because reformers there no longer can look at America as a model. America is unexceptional.

Geostomp In the name of the POWER, I will punish you! from Arkansas, USA Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: What is this thing you call love?
In the name of the POWER, I will punish you!
#161527: Dec 11th 2016 at 1:04:12 PM

[up][up] I imagine that Putin would hold off on that for a while since he's able to get allies so high up in the cabinet through the jackass that just got elected. The opportunity of him managing to win the Cold War decades after it supposedly ended so easily has to have Putin drooling.

edited 11th Dec '16 1:05:25 PM by Geostomp

"When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all" Futurama, Godfellas
Shippudentimes Since: Dec, 2012
#161528: Dec 11th 2016 at 1:07:19 PM

Ignore this post.

edited 11th Dec '16 1:07:42 PM by Shippudentimes

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#161529: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:17:00 PM

The thing with trying to nuke Iran is that Iran might nuke back, you can't launch a nuclear strike quietly and without prep work, so the Iranians might well restart their nuclear program if it looks like Trump is going to invade, if he then decides to opt for a nuke the Iranians might fire off whatever they've got in retaliation.

Now such missiles might not be able to reach the US, but US allies in the region wouldn't be so lucky.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#161530: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:26:44 PM

Going back to the last page: I love/hate that Trump just assumes that he'll be getting two terms. Because of course he does.

JulianLapostat Since: Feb, 2014
#161531: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:28:09 PM

The man is just insufferable. Like when he got Time's Person of the Year, he whined about how it used to be "man of the year" and criticized time for Political Correctness...

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#161532: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:28:24 PM

Looking at how stacked the deck was even in this election, he probably has good reason to assume that.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#161533: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:32:12 PM

The only remotely comforting part of that statement is that it implies Trump is planning on stepping down after 8 years.

The only question is whether the Republican that succeeds him will be equally bad or worse.

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#161534: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:33:21 PM

I'm not even thinking about "which Republican will succeed him" so much as I am "who will be Putin's next puppet."

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#161535: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:36:04 PM

I get annoyed with how some Trumpets brag about how Barack Obama's brother is a Trump supporter. It doesn't mean anything. Obama's brother isn't even an American. If he was, maybe it would mean something. But he isn't, so it doesn't.

Do not obey in advance.
IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#161536: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:37:52 PM

Speaking about the Time's person of the year cover, this is a nice article on it.

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#161537: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:38:28 PM

[up][up] Besides, I'm pretty sure he's only supporting Trump to spite his brother. I have the impression there's some bad blood there.

edited 11th Dec '16 2:38:37 PM by RBluefish

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#161538: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:41:52 PM

[up]Interesting.

He's probably jealous of Barack's fame and saw latching onto Trump as a way to get some quick and easy fame.

Do not obey in advance.
ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#161539: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:44:03 PM

Barack's brother is a politician in his home country, and was apparently expecting his brother being US president to shower him with power. Instead, Barack appears to have not used his position to do a single thing to help him, in accordance with the expected personal/professional detachment of a US president.

edited 11th Dec '16 2:47:20 PM by ViperMagnum357

BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#161540: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:47:00 PM

Damn. O_o

I actually didn't know that his brother was a politician himself.

But they don't even know each other, right?

It kind of makes me sad in a way.

edited 11th Dec '16 2:47:51 PM by BearyScary

Do not obey in advance.
StarOutlaw Since: Nov, 2010
#161541: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:47:17 PM

[up][up]Yeah, it's almost like the office of the President of the United States is meant to have integrity and standards.

edited 11th Dec '16 2:47:30 PM by StarOutlaw

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#161542: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:47:51 PM

Basically, Obama displayed some actual integrity, and his brother apparently didn't like that and decided to join with the orange monster.

Holy crap, the Big Good's brother got resentful of his honor and purity and defected to join the Big Bad. Now the bad guys have won and are in the process of dismantling everything good in the kingdom, while the Bigger Bad steeples his hands and laughs at the conflict. We are officially living in a crappy fantasy story.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#161543: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:48:44 PM

[up][up]IKR? [lol]

Wouldn't doing favors for your relatives be a form of nepotism?

edited 11th Dec '16 2:49:21 PM by BearyScary

Do not obey in advance.
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#161544: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:51:38 PM

More like some political thriller written by someone who had a really big Cold War fetish.

The only thing is Russia isn't "communist' anymore.

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#161545: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:53:48 PM

[up]Not at this moment anyway.tongue

edited 11th Dec '16 2:54:02 PM by kkhohoho

RBluefish Since: Nov, 2013
#161546: Dec 11th 2016 at 2:56:08 PM

Trump is reportedly consulting people on the legality of giving his kids roles in his administration. Totally not a thing tin-pot dictators do.

"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#161547: Dec 11th 2016 at 3:01:59 PM

Considering the alternative is Trump deciding for himself what course of action to take based on which adviser (or which Russian autocrat) he spoke to last, it's probably better if they are involved in the administration. Kushner and Ivanka are some of the only people who can get him to actually change his mind, and if he wants to start a war over a snide tweet, that's the difference between life and death for the human species.

edited 11th Dec '16 3:06:40 PM by CaptainCapsase

RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#161548: Dec 11th 2016 at 3:05:31 PM

The same kids who run his blind trust, I'm sure?

Jesus. The man isn't even in office yet and he's already flagrantly ignoring rules. This really is how it ends, isn't it?

It's been fun.
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#161549: Dec 11th 2016 at 3:07:40 PM

Humorously some of his supporters are butthurt about Ivanka in particular, something about her being a Democrat or whatever.

edited 11th Dec '16 3:08:02 PM by Draghinazzo

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#161550: Dec 11th 2016 at 3:08:43 PM

[up][up] And I think it's very likely they'll be allowed to get away with that, because Ivanka and Kushner are probably the only people in the world who would be able to talk Trump out of doing something absolutely insane if it came down to that.

A Trump administration with Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner included moves us towards the Cyberpunk genre becoming Truth in Television. Without them it moves us towards Doctor Strangelove becoming Truth in Television.

edited 11th Dec '16 3:10:55 PM by CaptainCapsase


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