The grown-ups have left the building - Trump thread #136

[Spandauer]

As we descend into 4 years of madness...

(thanks @Jaichangecentfoisdenom and* *@AcrossthePond55 for the suggestions)

Previous thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5200273-hands-across-the-water-trump-thread-135

Greenland first

“For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”

Then Canada and Mexico

And only then the Panama Canal

Quite a 'to do list'

Trump has beef with Panama that's why he's going after them. Scores to be settled. He's made his list and he's checking it twice.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-43297902.amp

www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-panama-canal-threats-hotel-taxes-court-filing-2005079

Canada wants to be the 51st state, Greenland 'vital' to national security, now Panama because 'transport fees'.I swear to God, he just wants to invade somebody so he can show Putie what a 'big man' he is.

Although I'm sure his billionaire pals who ship their goods via Panama would love to see the US regain control so Scrotus can give them 'free shipping'.

A friend's son is likely to be relocated to the US for work next spring with his young family.

I have suggested they take a LONG HARD LOOK at the medical cover and deductibles in the employment agreement
because each state will be running in a different direction on medical bills

Or Mumpsk?
Give it a slight Russian flavour.

@Mrsbloggz

If we're doing it, let's do it right.... Mumpski.

Mumpski have gone very quiet about Gaetz

Without peeking, what do folk know about the 25th amendment section IV ?

Working purely off my knowledge gained via The West Wing, is that the one where the VP can trigger the Cabinet to vote to get rid of POTUS?

Oooh, I Googled and I was sort of right! Hurrah for the teachings of Aaron Sorkin 😂

I was only wondering this evening, how long will it take Vance to stab the Donald in the back?
We’re back in the middle of a particularly convoluted history play, reminiscent of the later Roman Empire.

Is Vance playing the (very) long game? We forget that just a few years ago he was a Never-Trump-er and was being lauded as the progressive face of the Republican Party. He’s obviously a smart guy, so is it a case of the prospect of power has corrupted him or that he’s merely using Trump as a means to an end?

From what I know of him (which might not be enough), Vance is pro-Vance. An opportunist who blows in the wind.

I think he might also have a fawning, people-pleasing streak.

So I would say that, if called upon by his country to serve after others have wielded the political dagger, he would delightedly take on the mantle.

I doubt he would do the political stabbing himself unless he was confident he had a huge army of support behind him and overwhelming odds in his favour.

I think the people-pleasing chameleon streak will make him as vulnerable to Putin as Trump and Musk are, just in a slightly different way.

It's an entirely plausible future that not long after the 20th January, when Trump goes full Trump (who else feels "you ain't seen nothing yet" ?) that the VP suddenly turns around and says "You know something ? I think this guy is unable* to discharge his duties, he's clearly making some irrational decisions. Should we remove him ?". And a chorus of relieved GOP grandees suddenly say "yes, actually you have a point".

With his rhetoric and extreme decisions, Trump may very well have greased the path to his own demise.

The whole scenario seems a little bit French-Revolutionary to me.

If the above were to happen, then the key question is who would defend Donald ? Especially as an ex-president (again) he will be liable for all those criminal cases he thought he'd dodge.

If that is indeed what Vance has in mind, then fuck it - the US will have someone who actually has some smarts .... things may not be so bad. It would also be a poke in the eye for Putin.

Netflix know how to find me to turn this into a Tinker Tailor des nos jours. 😀

*No definition of "unable" was given ...

I’d watch that @SerendipityJane! This is the thing, Vance is obviously a very smart guy and is playing a good game right now - lying low, not taking too much focus away from SCROTUS. Lessons that Elon could do well to heed! I’m not sure how many “President Musk” headlines Trump can take before his head explodes!

What we may be seeing is the playing out of "Give 'em enough rope" for Trump.

In any other, time a president-elect threatening to invade 3 countries would have been in a straitjacket before you could blink.

As I said, with his own rhetoric about about how old guys shouldn't be in charge, Trump really has left himself vulnerable to a move to remove him on grounds of incapacity. And let him fight that one out in the Supreme Court if he likes.

I think Trump thinks he is Caesar. Which is actually quite a good thing if you know what happened to Caesar - and why.

Make a change from people thinking they are Napoleon I guess.

If the next 4 years are likely to be Trump - the sequel: "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" as @SerendipityJane posits, then I think I'd say "bring on the Vance scenario"! At least then I could enjoy the 🍊💩's dethroning...
...and I think an executive producer role for you Serendipity on the tv series.😎

Of course the use of the 25th could be a secret weapon in the Vance playbook that he uses to bend Trump to his will.

I'd like to think that having gone to the expense and trouble (because dealing with Trump is trouble) Putin could be blindsided by the upstart VP neutralising all his hard work.

Time will tell.

We live in interesting times.

@SerendipityJane

And you know what they say about 'living in interesting times'. Sigh.

The Vance/25th Amendment scenario never occurred to me. But I'm not sure that a President Vance wouldn't be as bad or even worse, especially for women and POC. If you look back into his 'pre-Trump' days, he's come out with some scary shit all on his own. Now, he's tried to backtrack on things, but I tend to go with 'when someone tells you who they are, believe them the first time'.

I guess Scrotus is the 'known', Vance is the 'unknown' in the 'devil you know, devil you don't' scenario.

Thing is, if scrotus/potus is really dire, then what will the mid terms bring ? A backlash against the GOP (who seem to be doing their best to pretend that Trump is nothing to do with them) could see a Dem majority in the House and Senate, clipping a GOP potus.

Vance has never denied Project 2025

Trump and his boss Leon are maniacs
but J D is a real risk to the rights of women, the disabled, the elderly and quiet minorities

Vance has never denied Project 2025

And if he had ?

We're all hoping for a 2026 Blue Wave, aren't we? That might at least put the brakes on some of the insanity midway through his term if he can't get legislation through Congress.

We gained 2 seats in the House (220 GOP/215 Dem) so there is a narrower majority than before (222-213). That may help put the kibosh on some of the more outlandish shit that Scrotus and his minions will try to push through, IF we can get the GOP members who 'defied Scrotus' on the CR to 'cross the aisle' in regards to future legislation. Only time will tell if those Reps will stick to their principles or will fold.

We lost 4 seats in the Senate, but the margin is still narrow enough to have a bit of hope (GOP 53/Dem 47), just 6 votes difference. My personal jury is still pretty much 'out' on the probabilities on that one.

The 2024 Congressional elections certainly weren't the 'mandate' they're trying to portray it as.