Want to talk about the 2024 election? Possible candidates? Platforms? Predictions? Showing 1,251-1,300 of 1,997

[Kiri]

Papaphilly wrote: "This is an unintended consequence. No matter who wins this election, one half of the country is going to lose their minds. It will not be until 2028 that we get new leadership."

I don't think it's half (my opinion) but there is definately a vocal faction that will not be happy. Then again they aren't happy no matter what.

Papaphilly wrote: (in response to Kiri's why Biden) "For me it goes back to his stances on bussing and school integration. Just not a fan of his policy at the time. The final kicker was his treatment of Justice Thomas during the hearings of 1990. He handled it badly and was less than dignified with a truly eminent jurist. One does not have to like Thomas's rulings or thinking, but he is a dignified man and brilliant. What Biden did was treat him disrespectfully for no other reason than he was the wrong black man nominated. I was appalled at the time and absolutely dumbfounded the Senate would do so and call him a liar. I consider him a truly bad President and history will not be good to his time served."

Thank you. I will be the first to admit I haven't followed Biden's career very closely. That said I don't think he has done badly as president (despite what media sources are painting) and shows some promise. He has definately done more for the general populace than Trump and his ilk ever did, or will do - no matter what they spout or what their media spin says - I've seen this film before (with different casts) and it never ends well.

Returning to Biden's past - I will look into the bussing/integration. I do think he has grown in his stances, and while not releasing him from any mistakes, I seem to recall him making a statement saying he had been wrong about that at the time and some other things. The ability to admit wrong, and try to make amends is a good quality in any public official - provided they follow through.

I won't argue that Thomas is brilliant, however I recall those hearings (well the summaries as I was working long days and only caught summaries on the evening news), but not Biden's behavior. I had deep reservations about his being seated back then - which had much to do with his professional conduct, and still think I was correct, specially as his activities have been coming to light over the past decade or so. I do question the ethical stance of several of the justices these days (ok have for years) - but that is a different topic than this thread.

Lastly I don't think history will see Biden badly in the long run. I've met with several friends who are from overseas in the past year and the general view is positive, if reserved.

we can agree to disagree, differing opinions are what makes a lively discussion. =)

[Kiri]

Nik wrote: "That’s kinda unfortunate as we have a foreigner and a mythological being here rooting for Rep"

We do? Who is the mythological being?

[Kiri]

J. wrote: "I know. I know. But that's why the Dems are so big on mail in voting. So them's the breaks."

I wouldn't say that. states/counties make those choices (vote by mail). Not the parties. Vote by mail doesn't preclude voting in person, it does make it easier for people to vote in an more informed fashion.

Democrats encourage all legal voters to vote. It's better for the country/state/etc if that happens. Not voting allows speical interests to take hold and wreak havoc.

[Kiri]

Ian wrote: "I am not so sure Trump will appeal ...

He will. It is his modus operandi. He has a record of litigation and etc going back to the 60's/70's. also if he doesn't - to him it is admitting that he's guilty. Something he will not do. He can't admit fault, responsibility, or etc.. The E. Jean Carroll case is just one example of this.

Frankly I think he should have to face serious consequences for once in his life, not that I think it will teach him anything, but it would mean that he doesn't always get away with things. But I don't hold out much hope.. he's wealthy and white, and he's gotten so much leeway already during the trial, I doubt the system will do more than fine him and it's already been proven that that means nothing to him.

He's lucky I'm not the judge in this case.

[Nik]

Beau - the Englishman and the (un)Holly spirit - the most fervent Trump’s supporter but alas voteless 😎

[Kiri]

What do all of you think about Trump's demanding large bribes / donations from the various sectors (big oil / etc) in return for deep consessions after being re-elected ?

eta:
In one recent meeting staged by his super PAC, Trump asked oil industry executives to raise $1 billion for his campaign and said raising such a sum would be a “deal” given how much money they would save if he were reelected as president.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...
===============
Trump suggests to oil donors he will fast-track their merger deals
The ex-president's pledge to the fossil fuel industry is the latest to emerge from a closed-door fundraising meeting.
2024/05/31
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation...
========
Trump's new ‘deal’ could save Big Oil $110 billion in taxes
By Oliver Milman & Dharna Noor | News, US News | May 27th 2024
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024...

===========
Donald Trump Is Promising His Ultra-Wealthy Donors Handouts and Favors – As Long As They Bring Their Checkbooks
May 28, 2024
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...

Washington Post: “Trump makes sweeping promises to donors on audacious fundraising tour”

“When Donald Trump met some of the country’s top donors at a luxurious New York hotel earlier this month, he told the group that a businessman had recently offered $1 million to his presidential effort and wanted to have lunch.

“‘I’m not having lunch,’ Trump said he responded, according to donors who attended. ‘You’ve got to make it $25 million.’

“Another businessman, he said, had traditionally given $2 million to $3 million to Republicans. Instead, he said he told the donor that he wanted a $25 million or $50 million contribution or he would not be ‘very happy.’

“As he closed his pitch at the Pierre Hotel, Trump explained to the group why it was in their interest to cut large checks. If he was not put back in office, taxes would go up for them under President Biden, who vows to let Trump-era tax cuts on the wealthy and corporations expire at the end of 2025."
------
Committee on Oversight and Accountability
Press Release
Ranking Member Raskin Probes Donald Trump’s Offer to Change U.S. Energy Policy in Exchange for $1 Billion in Campaign Cash from Big Oil
https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/...

to provide a few links..

[J.]

Kiri wrote: "What do all of you think about Trump's demanding large bribes / donations from the various sectors (big oil / etc) in return for deep consessions [sic] after being re-elected ?

Pots and kettles...
https://youtu.be/urTk6O4c0mU?si=arTwg...

[J.]

Nik wrote: "Beau - the Englishman and the (un)Holly spirit - the most fervent Trump’s supporter but alas voteless 😎"

To be fair, this is the election in Beau's homeland.
https://youtu.be/_KyUxAOKD-I?si=yDfMB...

[Ian]

Kiri wrote: "What do all of you think about Trump's demanding large bribes / donations from the various sectors (big oil / etc) in return for deep consessions after being re-elected ?"

In this country he would immediately be prosecuted and barred from standing. Obviously i cannot say whether he would be found guilty, but given the premises of the question, jail time would be highly likely.

Assuming the premises are correct, my opinion is that outcome would be appropriate.

[Kiri]

Ian wrote: "Kiri wrote: "What do all of you think about Trump's demanding large bribes / donations from the various sectors (big oil / etc) in return for deep consessions after being re-elected ?"

In this cou..."

I would agree with you. However we seem to have a large proportion of bad actors at work here. Something that needs immediate attention.

[Ian]

Kiri wrote: "Ian wrote: "I am not so sure Trump will appeal ...

He will. It is his modus operandi. He has a record of litigation and etc going back to the 60's/70's. also if he doesn't - to him it is admitting..."

Kiri, in my defence i did admit I was wrong the next day :-)

The reason I thought he would not appeal, and I think he should not, is that appeal and his ranting about the judge, which in my opinion will increase the severity of the sentence, will detract from his campaign.

[Kiri]

Ian wrote: "Kiri wrote: "Ian wrote: "I am not so sure Trump will appeal ...

He will. It is his modus operandi. He has a record of litigation and etc going back to the 60's/70's. also if he doesn't - to him it..."

Sorry Ian, there are so many posts to catch up on I missed that one. =)

I agree with you, if he had an ounce of sense, he wouldn't appeal. But he will not listen to counsel, he obviously demanded several things from this last groupd during the trial that made it impossible for them to even manage an even plausible defense (from what the public heard was offered).

I'm sure you've heard the likely path he's aiming for so I won't repeat it here. With luck someone will stop him cold before we have that issue to hand.

[J.]

A felony conviction is not as simple as just paying a big fine and/or serving time.
https://www.encyclopedia.com/articles...

[[deleted user]]

Kiri's series of posts have added some balance to the thread, making it even more interesting, but saying that the Biden regime has 'shown some promise' gave me a genuine lol moment. Promise of what? Crushing your freedoms, strangling your economy in debt, undermining your national security with the border issue, or starting a nuclear war?

That said, Trump is looking a lot less handsome to me now than he was a day or two ago. Earlier today, RFK Jr and others alerted the world to remarks Trump made at a NY fundraiser about his willingness to bomb Moscow and Beijing. Can US group members shed any light on this?

Ian, you and I share similar opinions on many important global issues, but I have noticed your hostility to Trump. Have you somehow seen through him? Is he trying to pull the wool over peace loving people's (like you, I and Viktor Orban) eyes?

Graeme, do you have any feelings on this? Please tell me he's not Haley with an expanding waistline and orange sun tan!

Nik, I'm certainly not unholy. I've always regarded myself as a Christian, although admittedly have felt drawn towards Mecca in recent years.

[J.]

Beau wrote: "That said, Trump is looking a lot less handsome to me now than he was a day or two ago. Earlier today, RFK Jr and others alerted the world to remarks Trump made at a NY fundraiser about his willingness to bomb Moscow and Beijing. Can US group members shed any light on this?"

Apparently the Ukrainian press reported this based on reporting from the Washington Post.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-sugg...

I haven't found WaPo's original article. But in this case I'm willing to grant them the benefit of the doubt. And considering how often Putin and friends threaten to nuke us all over every little thing, I have no problem with somebody telling him just how easily his a** can be vaporized in a blinding white flash.

I know that many of you want us all to just get along. Unfortunately, Uncle Joe's total brain fart on the nature of deterrence has left us with this situation for the foreseeable future.

[Graeme]

Sorry, Beau. Too snowed under with work to post a decent comment.

[Ian]

Beau, my distrust of Trump is partly based on a recent interview with Time magazine, which reinforced my feeling that he is impulsive, narcissistic, and likely to go anywhere. He claimed anyone who worked for him had to agree the 2020 election was rigged and a fraud. He had plenty of opportunity to present cases to the court, and there were appeals, but none provided evidence. For me, he sees the world as he wants to see it.

Some of his decisions are good ones, and I think that overall his first term was reasonably good, but this obsession that he could not lose in 2020 is, in my opinion twisting his view of the world. I suspect he may well win, but that does not fill me with joy. I also think Biden has not been as bad as some here make out, but not as good as he might be. My main fear with Biden is he will not last another four years in office. I am not convinced that Harris is right for the job.

My additional main fear is that neither candidate seems to be prepared to do much about the deficit. Τhe US can certainly manage the current deficit, but it is growing exponentially and that must eventually lead to trouble.

[Ian]

Kiri wrote: "Ian wrote: "Kiri wrote: "Ian wrote: "I am not so sure Trump will appeal ...

He will. It is his modus operandi. He has a record of litigation and etc going back to the 60's/70's. also if he doesn't..."

Kiri, no need to apologise. I agree with most of what you have written on this, and missing a post is very understandable.

[Graeme]

My first prediction post verdict has already come true.

https://thepostmillennial.com/breakin...

[Graeme]

Now for the polls.

I predict Trump will rise in the polls by a 'staggering,' amount.

This will cause the Judge to double down and put Trump in jail which will only add fuel to Trump's fire.

The democrats are completely misreading what they are doing. Totally counterproductive. The party of farce.

[J.]

Graeme,

They aren't misreading. They hold those who disagree with them in contempt.
https://youtu.be/eHfbuwBifbU?si=i3ljW...
https://youtu.be/OZHp4JLWjNw?si=YIdAn...

The Dems believe that they are on the right side of history. Therefore all of us who disagree with their agenda are on the wrong side of history, deplorable, evil. If they're on the side of the angels and we're with the denizens of Pandemonium, then they are justified, even righteous, in ALL of their actions.

[Graeme]

What I meant was misreading the situation/outcomes.

Trump thrives on negative publicity. This lawfare is putting Trump on course for a landslide victory.

[Graeme]

Unless this next presidency is a poisoned chalice and Trump is the patsy/fall guy.

[Graeme]

Sports star endorsment, cheering crowds....

What have the democrats done?

REF: https://x.com/LeadingReport/status/17...

[Graeme]

I'm honestly starting to question that the Democrats actually want to beat Trump this year.

The lawfare has been run by openly dodgy people. The results have been and are clearly driving Trump into the White House.

Biden is a walking zombie and an electoral liability. Harris is unelectable. Why would any party go to a major election with a Biden/Harris ticket?

I've been thinking it was just incompetence, but it is so jarringly bad that I can't believe that people in positions of authority/power could be that stupid.

Which leads me to a darker corner that ...

Bad things are in store for the US in 2025, and the plan is for everything to burn to hell while Trump is in the White House, so that it can all be blamed on him and the republicans.

Post collapse, post Trump -> total tyranny.

I hope I'm wrong.

[[deleted user]]

Graeme, I think you might be onto something.

I've had this feeling about UK politics too. Honestly, I can't ever remember a government so hell bent on losing an election as our own Conservative Party. The party that has always prided itself on competence has become an absolute laughing stock. What's more, well over 100 MPs (and counting) are standing down, so not even bothering to contest their seats.

Intriguingly, our PM has openly said that the next 5 years will see more change than the last 30.

Umm, Agenda 30? AI? Nuclear war? I'm sure whatever it is, we've got a right barrel of laughs to look forward to 😑

[Nik]

J. wrote: "...Apparently the Ukrainian press reported this based on reporting from the Washington Post.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-sugg...

I haven't found WaPo's original article. But in this case I'm willing to grant them the benefit of the doubt...."

I've seen those reports too in different media. Maybe that's the source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...
If I remember correctly the sequence of events: after CIA learnt of putler's plan to invade Ukraine, Biden sent Bobby Burns a few months before the invasion to moscow. putler didn't even condescend to meet him, but spoke to him on the phone from sochi. They discussed not crossing "red lines" to avoid direct confrontation. putler clearly took it as a "green light", like he did when Obama told him NATO won't intervene before he invaded Crimea.
If instead Burns told him - "listen if you start a war in Europe, you have to deal with us too, make no mistake about it" it might've prevented the invasion. Saying is not doing. That's strategic ambiguity, which La Big Mac attempts to restore.
Not that putler should be an example of anything, but he bluffs all the time and some members here jump :)

[[deleted user]]

La Big Mac - the feminine version of Le Big Mac. Otherwise known as Micron.

[Nik]

Feminine La Big Mac is somehow more masculine than this clown riding tiger or bear or whatever: https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-ch...

[[deleted user]]

Ha ha, Musk challenged Putin to a fight! Surely that would break box office records! Hope Eddie Hearn is a group member. Perhaps he can arrange it?

[Nik]

With Tyson vs Paul delayed, this can definitely fill the vacuum

[Ian]

If Graeme and Beau are correct about leaders knowing something bad is coming and nobody who knows wants to be in government, my guess is it will be an economic melt-down, and due to excessive debt they can't spend their way out of it. They can try inflating their way out of it, but any government that does that deliberately will be in the electoral wilderness for a very long time. On the other hand, with their debts they are constrained.

The question then is, if this is correct, how does the average citizen who is not deeply in debt protect themselves?

[J.]

Somewhere, the Hildebeast is throwing a fit.

Mexico elects Claudia Sheinbaum as its first female president
https://apnews.com/article/mexico-ele...

[Graeme]

J. wrote: "Somewhere, the Hildebeast is throwing a fit.

Mexico elects Claudia Sheinbaum as its first female president
https://apnews.com/article/mexico-ele......"

She'll be spitting blood... probably heard the news after her latest meal...

[J.]

Yeah, Podesta is soiling himself with fear over the possibility of her thinking, "Vince Foster".

[Graeme]

Snort! Chuckle!

[J.J.]

J. wrote: "Beau wrote: "That said, Trump is looking a lot less handsome to me now than he was a day or two ago. Earlier today, RFK Jr and others alerted the world to remarks Trump made at a NY fundraiser abou..."

And don't forget Trump said similar things about North Korea. Instead of creating WW3, it solicited a desire to sit down and talk from Kim. These leaders understand and respond to strength, and Trump understands that and uses it to ironically diffuse the situations. Meanwhile, in Israel plans another offensive in Gaza, and all Biden does is say "don't." Even our allies don't listen and respect him, so how do you expect him to get Putin to back down in Ukraine?

[J.J.]

Nik wrote: "Feminine La Big Mac is somehow more masculine than this clown riding tiger or bear or whatever: https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-ch..."

This is funny. Whatever happened to his fight with Zuckerberg? :D

[J.J.]

Bob Menendez just gave Republicans a chance to pick up his senate seat in New Jersey by filing to run as an independent. He likely still has his supporters, and that could split Democratic voters enough to hand that election to the Republicans.

https://apnews.com/article/menendez-n...

[Ian]

J.J. wrote: "J. wrote: "Beau wrote: "That said, Trump is looking a lot less handsome to me now than he was a day or two ago. Earlier today, RFK Jr and others alerted the world to remarks Trump made at a NY fund..."

Notwithstanding that, sure Trump talked to Kim, and then Kim went home and continued doing what Kim had intended to do. He did stop nuclear testing, but his engineers almost certainly had the information they needed by then.

It remains to be seen whether Biden will persuade Israel to back off. Biden has a problem when the government there is threatened to be dissolved if the likes of Smotrich don't get their way. What could Biden do? Apart from being noisier?

[[deleted user]]

Ian, my guess is economic meltdown too. The response to the so-called financial crash of 2008 only papered over the cracks. In fact, the fundamentals are worse now than they were then.

This explains Western governments' increasingly erratic behaviour, from covid to climate and on to Ukraine. It explains their increasingly authoritarian stance too, as they aim to reset the economic model and 'build back better'.

Not a lot we can do, other than hold physical assets and not take on debt. That said, things could still get v uncomfortable if and when we experience large scale disruption to our power supplies, as we move away from cheap oil and gas, supplied by now hostile states, and into the green utopia.

[Ian]

There is no green utopia coming soon, Beau. In my view the only real way to avoid burning lots of fossil fuels is serious implementation of nuclear power, preferably with molten salt reactors that burn up the worst of the waste products. However, these remove the possibility of making bombs.

[J.]

And the other side reared its doddering head...

Joe Biden's Gaffe-Filled Interview Raises Eyebrows
https://www.newsweek.com/joe-bidens-g...

[[deleted user]]

There is no way this guy lasts another full term. Anyone who thinks so needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Period.

(Group members, do you like my American lingo above? I'm going to fit right in with Papaphilly and my other new friends in the Big Apple 😎)

The Deep State has a 2-pronged attack to instal a new puppet...

1. As I've long maintained, prevent Trump from running, dessert Biden and crown Haley as POTUS.

2. Even more sinister. Rig the election so Biden wins, allow him to retire to Florida within a year, then make the VP (probably Newsom) POTUS.

Imagine that, J. Newsom, your Commander in Chief, with that multicoloured diversity flag replacing the Stars and Stripes on all government buildings and anything to do with the military 😏

[[deleted user]]

Desert not dessert. Much as I dislike the Deep State, I'm not going to accuse them of cannibalism.

[J.]

They probably can't get away with replacing a black woman with a white man on the Dem ticket.

In theory, they could get Biden to bow out and release his delegates. That way they could tell Kamala that they want her as their candidate, but she has to win the delegates in the convention. Then the delegates could go with someone else, probably the living hair gel creature from the People's Republic of California.

The last time the Dems went through anything like that was the 1968 convention in Chicago.
https://youtu.be/vtj7zfMaP0o?si=tHXKY...
Or, as Hunter S. Thompson remembered it.
https://www.theparisreview.org/letter...

Honestly, I see no evidence from Uncle Joe of bowing out of the race.

[Scout]

When the NY case reaches the SC, I hope they'll see through the BS.

[Scout]

Graeme, you said that Bad things are in store for the US in 2025, and the plan is for everything to burn to hell while Trump is in the White House, so that it can all be blamed on him and the republicans.

Post collapse, post Trump -> total tyranny.

What exactly are you saying?

[Scout]

Beau, you said, "Not a lot we can do, other than hold physical assets and not take on debt." What do you mean by physical assets?

[[deleted user]]

If you have the means to buy a house and/ or pay off your mortgage do it. Then sell shares, bitcoin and any other paper or web-based assets, buy gold and silver, and bury it in your back garden.

Note to fact checkers: I am not a financial advisor, I'm just telling Scout what I believe to be the best course of action if we are indeed heading for financial armageddon.