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

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#179676: Mar 26th 2017 at 10:46:27 AM

[up][up] Just Europe? Try everyone on the planet.

edited 26th Mar '17 10:46:54 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
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
#179677: Mar 26th 2017 at 11:02:41 AM

Thing is you can't build a stable relationship on the ground of hoping that the other party doesn't go nuts every four years.

Why should Europe trust the US after this? We will spend all our time waiting for the next Trump to come along and burn everything down, it's not worth the effort unless the conditions that bought about Trump can be shown to be gone.

On a level I suspect it will come down to the existence of the Republican Party, how can Europe expect the US to be a long term stable partner in global cooperation as long as the Republican Party exists in its current form?

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#179678: Mar 26th 2017 at 11:05:03 AM

Silas has go it.

Trump has completely destroyed all American soft power overnight and I really don't know if we can ever get it back.

Oh really when?
unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#179679: Mar 26th 2017 at 11:10:43 AM

I think it could but not the way we imagine, I mean Bush destroy any idea th US wasnt a imperalist power and get away with it, Trump pretty much show you the country os not above populism or childish tantrum because in some way they still want to be the imperalist power who tell the world how to behive.

so the US can have their soft power back? maybe but it will take time and be a really tough battle to come.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#179680: Mar 26th 2017 at 11:16:33 AM

The thing with Bush is that he still respected alliances, NATO, and our place and arrangements in the world.

Trump is out to burn every bridge we've ever built.

Oh really when?
Boston Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
#179681: Mar 26th 2017 at 11:18:12 AM

You rebuild soft power by rebuilding it. It takes energy and effort, just like any relationship. The fruit baskets someone mentioned (maybe in jest) are a good first step. Treaties and trade agreements are generally how nations formalize such relationships.

On the flip side, no one's ever going to want to put their name to an agreement that they can't back out of under any future circumstances, so it's hard to craft something that one President could agree to binding every future President to honor.

JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#179682: Mar 26th 2017 at 11:20:47 AM

America has a huge military, a huge populace, and is still wealthy (even if it's mostly concentrated in the hands of spoiled brats). Other nations are still going to have to deal with us in some fashion, and while the age of Pax Americana has been clubbed to death by the Trump Regime, someone like Obama or Clinton could probably repair our reputation. The problem, of course, is that too many Americans would rather sabotage our fucking country than compromise.

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
#179683: Mar 26th 2017 at 11:25:46 AM

Obama or Clinton couldn't fix your reputation though, because the rest of the world is going to wonder who comes after them and if said person will be another Trump.

Your soft power can't be fixed in a single presidency now, it will take multiple stable and reliable presidents from both parties for the rest of the world to trust that the US isn't going to randomly set itself on fire again.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
HextarVigar That guy from The Big House Since: Feb, 2015
That guy
#179684: Mar 26th 2017 at 11:30:47 AM

Got a perfect term for anything Trump comes up with:

"Stupid President Tricks"

Spread the word.

Your momma's so dumb she thinks oral sex means talking dirty.
fredhot16 Don't want to leave but cannot pretend from Baton Rogue, Louisiana. Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: Too sexy for my shirt
Don't want to leave but cannot pretend
#179685: Mar 26th 2017 at 11:30:51 AM

Sssssssooooo...Drumpf's goin' on to tax refrom.

Think he'll fare better there?

Trans rights are human rights. TV Tropes is not a place for bigotry, cruelty, or dickishness, no matter who or their position.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#179686: Mar 26th 2017 at 11:32:33 AM

[up] It'd be kind of hard to turn Republicans off of tax cuts...but if anyone could fail that hard, it'd be Trump.

Disgusted, but not surprised
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#179687: Mar 26th 2017 at 11:36:00 AM

Lol, Trump has until, what, the 15th? To implement Tax Reform.

That shit should've started on day fucking one, but being the lazy bastard that he is, he spent all his political capital on Travel Bans, A failed Healthcare bill, among numerous other things.

New Survey coming this weekend!
unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#179688: Mar 26th 2017 at 11:37:27 AM

Garcon: sure but Bush showing seed the idea of NATO being more the US+european minions than actual alliance which eventually Trump follow lead with this "bill".

the problem with Trump is not just that he burn briged but he seen convinced with the idea that US should be the imperalist power who does what he wants, is really worry that a part of the public wants that back again.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#179689: Mar 26th 2017 at 11:45:03 AM

Personally I think we need to help right leaning, socially liberal moderates retake the Republican Party. The republican party has become dominated by anti-intellectualism, social conservatism, and bigotry, forcing moderate republicans into a corner. I know a lot of people that usually voted republican, that voted democrat for the first time, because they felt the party had strayed so far from what they believed in.

edited 26th Mar '17 11:46:20 AM by megaeliz

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#179690: Mar 26th 2017 at 11:46:14 AM

[up][up] Reminds me of how some of the UK's people feel. Though it's even worse in their case since the UK used to be a literal empire. Longing for perceived glories of days past probably played a big role in the Brexit vote.

[up] Hell, I used to consider myself a Republican and was all set to vote Republican once I became old enough to legally vote. But by the time I turned 18, the GOP crazy train was picking up steam, and I had no interest of getting on board.

That said, it's not the Democratic Party's place to salvage the GOP. They have their own issues to handle. If socially liberal "moderate" Republicans want to save their party, they need to find a way to out-vote the rest.

edited 26th Mar '17 11:56:55 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#179691: Mar 26th 2017 at 11:47:34 AM

Tax season 2017 is already set in its form and was well before inauguration day. Any changes in the law enacted would have to take effect between now and December 31 to affect tax season 2018 (excluding businesses who have more control over when their fiscal year starts and ends.)

edited 26th Mar '17 11:48:33 AM by Elle

unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#179692: Mar 26th 2017 at 11:55:49 AM

[up][up]Kinda, in the case of US I kind of get it, Obama years while good it was feel with a sense of incertinty about stuff with Libia, ISIS, the culture wars about white people vs black and LGBT stuff, is not surprising that Trump is pretty much the anti obama: a bold and loud guy who was elected by saying pretty words over and over.

In short, the public pretty much said "but trump said im pretty, of course he love me!" ughhhhh this really look like a badly 90 movie plot.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#179693: Mar 26th 2017 at 12:26:44 PM

I have to say - while I completely get everything that Silas is saying about not being able to trust the US because who knows when we could elect another Trump, it's not as though Europe has been hitting strikes in the liberal democracy field lately either. It may not be easy to trust another liberal/Democratic US President (discussions of the Overton window aside for right now) after Trump, but unless the world takes chances to work together in good faith when those opportunities arise, things can only decline.

It's been fun.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#179694: Mar 26th 2017 at 12:50:14 PM

https://www.rawstory.com/2017/03/you-think-im-bad-for-america-sean-hannity-pouts-after-ted-koppel-schools-him-on-the-importance-of-facts/

Basically:
Sean Hannity: You’re cynical, you think we’re bad for America? You think I’m bad for America
Ted Koppel: Yeah.
Hannity: That’s sad.
Koppel: Because you’re very good at what you do, and you have attracted people who are determined that ideology is more important than facts.

edited 26th Mar '17 12:51:27 PM by sgamer82

BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#179695: Mar 26th 2017 at 1:12:53 PM

Koppel makes good points.

Could the Fairness Doctrine be reinstated?

edited 26th Mar '17 1:41:15 PM by BearyScary

Do not obey in advance.
Eschaton Since: Jul, 2010
#179696: Mar 26th 2017 at 1:54:24 PM

[up][up]That ties into what David Frum wrote regarding Republican failure, ideology and the media. It's an interesting read on the health care bill from a much more moderate, though still conservative, perspective, referencing what he wrote 7 years ago after the ACA passed that turned out to be pretty accurate:

No illusions please: This bill will not be repealed. Even if Republicans scored a 1994 style landslide in November, how many votes could we muster to re-open the “doughnut hole” and charge seniors more for prescription drugs? How many votes to re-allow insurers to rescind policies when they discover a pre-existing condition? How many votes to banish 25 year olds from their parents’ insurance coverage? And even if the votes were there – would President Obama sign such a repeal?

We followed the most radical voices in the party and the movement, and they led us to abject and irreversible defeat.

There were leaders who knew better, who would have liked to deal. But they were trapped. Conservative talkers on Fox and talk radio had whipped the Republican voting base into such a frenzy that deal-making was rendered impossible. How do you negotiate with somebody who wants to murder your grandmother? Or—more exactly—with somebody whom your voters have been persuaded to believe wants to murder their grandmother?

I’ve been on a soapbox for months now about the harm that our overheated talk is doing to us. Yes it mobilizes supporters—but by mobilizing them with hysterical accusations and pseudo-information, overheated talk has made it impossible for representatives to represent and elected leaders to lead. The real leaders are on TV and radio, and they have very different imperatives from people in government. Talk radio thrives on confrontation and recrimination. When Rush Limbaugh said that he wanted President Obama to fail, he was intelligently explaining his own interests. What he omitted to say—but what is equally true—is that he also wants Republicans to fail. If Republicans succeed—if they govern successfully in office and negotiate attractive compromises out of office—Rush’s listeners get less angry. And if they are less angry, they listen to the radio less, and hear fewer ads for Sleepnumber beds.

So today’s defeat for free-market economics and Republican values is a huge win for the conservative entertainment industry. Their listeners and viewers will now be even more enraged, even more frustrated, even more disappointed in everybody except the responsibility-free talkers on television and radio. For them, it’s mission accomplished. For the cause they purport to represent, it’s Waterloo all right: ours.

edited 26th Mar '17 1:54:42 PM by Eschaton

Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#179698: Mar 26th 2017 at 2:24:42 PM

Well, he's an awful person. There's not much else to say.

Oh, except that there are several genetic abnormalities which mean that the fetus can survive in the womb, but will die within hours (if you're really lucky) or minutes after the birth. Because putting a woman or a family through horrible prolonged grief is worth it because "rape exists in the Bible, so that means it's okay, and it could be part of God's plan in the long term anyway."

The following statement is entirely facetious and really extreme, and it exists solely to highlight how awful that justification is. I do not seriously think anyone should do this.

So you'd be okay if I let you stay at my house and then hammer a tent peg through your head while you sleep? It's in the Bible, how dare you tell me I can't do that! How do you know there isn't a greater purpose in me murdering you gruesomely?

And incest? There's a very, very good reason we don't allow incest.

edited 26th Mar '17 2:26:38 PM by Zendervai

Lightysnake Since: May, 2010
#179699: Mar 26th 2017 at 2:37:55 PM

Okay, something about the Biden thing genuinely bothered me...and honestly, Mad Skillz, I think you were being a mite selective with how you were picking out info.

Nobody muscled or convinced Biden to just sit out

“At the end of the day, I just couldn’t do it,” former Vice President Joe Biden said about running a campaign to be president. “So I don’t regret not running. Do I regret not being president? Yes.”

In Colgate University’s Sanford Field House, University President Brian W. Casey opened the Kerschner Family Global Leaders series lecture question-and-answer panel with Biden by asking if Biden regrets not running to be president

“On a college campus I will never, never do anything other than answer the question completely unvarnished and straightforward,” Biden said. “The answer is that I had planned on running for president. And although it would have been a very difficult primary, I think I could have won.”

Biden said he had a lot of data collected and was fairly confident that as a Democratic party’s nominee, he could have won.

Emotions grew as Biden detailed his son Beau Biden’s battle with brain cancer and Beau’s wishes that his illness remain secret. Beau, among other people close to Joe Biden, wanted the former vice president to try to become the next commander in chief.

“I didn’t run because no man or woman should announce they’re running for president of the United States unless they can look the public in the eye and promise you they can give you 100 percent,” Biden said.

Maybe it's me, but I think the explanation Biden had of "my son died" is a much better one for why he didn't run. Do I think he would have beaten Clinton in the primary had he run? I don’t see it. The path to beating Clinton was from the left, like Sanders, but with more longstanding connections to crucial party constituencies. Biden is a dead ringer for Clinton ideologically, and if anything he’s closer to financial industry.

math792d Since: Jun, 2011 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#179700: Mar 26th 2017 at 3:18:38 PM

and honestly, Mad Skillz, I think you were being a mite selective with how you were picking out info.

What a completely unprecedented situation.

Interesting in the context of SCROTUS and his ilk, why incompetent men so often rise to positions of power and the cultural conflation between the things that are seen as desirable in a leader and the stuff that makes them bad at their job.

Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders?

There are three popular explanations for the clear under-representation of women in management, namely: (1) they are not capable; (2) they are not interested; (3) they are both interested and capable but unable to break the glass-ceiling: an invisible career barrier, based on prejudiced stereotypes, that prevents women from accessing the ranks of power. Conservatives and chauvinists tend to endorse the first; liberals and feminists prefer the third; and those somewhere in the middle are usually drawn to the second. But what if they all missed the big picture?

In my view, the main reason for the uneven management sex ratio is our inability to discern between confidence and competence. That is, because we (people in general) commonly misinterpret displays of confidence as a sign of competence, we are fooled into believing that men are better leaders than women. In other words, when it comes to leadership, the only advantage that men have over women (e.g., from Argentina to Norway and the USA to Japan) is the fact that manifestations of hubris — often masked as charisma or charm — are commonly mistaken for leadership potential, and that these occur much more frequently in men than in women.

This is consistent with the finding that leaderless groups have a natural tendency to elect self-centered, overconfident and narcissistic individuals as leaders, and that these personality characteristics are not equally common in men and women. In line, Freud argued that the psychological process of leadership occurs because a group of people — the followers — have replaced their own narcissistic tendencies with those of the leader, such that their love for the leader is a disguised form of self-love, or a substitute for their inability to love themselves. “Another person’s narcissism”, he said, “has a great attraction for those who have renounced part of their own… as if we envied them for maintaining a blissful state of mind.”

The truth of the matter is that pretty much anywhere in the world men tend to think that they that are much smarter than women. Yet arrogance and overconfidence are inversely related to leadership talent — the ability to build and maintain high-performing teams, and to inspire followers to set aside their selfish agendas in order to work for the common interest of the group. Indeed, whether in sports, politics or business, the best leaders are usually humble — and whether through nature or nurture, humility is a much more common feature in women than men. For example, women outperform men on emotional intelligence, which is a strong driver of modest behaviors. Furthermore, a quantitative review of gender differences in personality involving more than 23,000 participants in 26 cultures indicated that women are more sensitive, considerate, and humble than men, which is arguably one of the least counter-intuitive findings in the social sciences. An even clearer picture emerges when one examines the dark side of personality: for instance, our normative data, which includes thousands of managers from across all industry sectors and 40 countries, shows that men are consistently more arrogant, manipulative and risk-prone than women.

edited 26th Mar '17 3:20:10 PM by math792d

Still not embarrassing enough to stan billionaires or tech companies.

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