Blackmail, Bluster and Batshit Bonkers - Trump Thread #153

[Spandauer]

Enough already.

Previous thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5472639-who-are-they-kidding-its-oil-oil-oil-baby-trump-thread-152

Yes this is going to get increasingly awkward for the Tommy/ Farage UK outriders for Trump (some of whom occasionally ask for the UK to be invaded by the US to End the Woke).

The one thing these guys are solid on is support for UK troops

They've never been solid on support for UK troops. They pay it lip service.

I've challenged engaged with some of these proud patriots on other forums, not one understands loyalty, service, decency. A number claim to be ex forces, but have never seen the oath, let alone taken it.

If Britain were invaded, these are the guys that would have bone spurs and feather their own nests on the black market.

Good.

Oh god the comments underneath. "Mr Trump would never say that, he was criticising NATO" etc etc.

It would be kinda good if say some ex Presidents could pipe up at this point and actually say something. Like "thank you allies". This is not getting much coverage in the US so far

CNN have belatedly covered the "kerfuffle" over allies being insulted. I'm going to quote professor Sarah C Paine again, who miraculously is still with the US Naval college on the real superpower of the US being it's system of alliances

This was put up 3 days ago and already has 1800 comments

It's impossible not to read the silence ot the American people as complicity.

And WTF is George ""W" Bush. The POTUS who called in NATO ?

Apparently she has retired as a professor. Which would explain why she's able to talk so freely

I wonder if he will offer some kind of apology. Thats definitely not his style but he must be under pressure to.

His kind of apology would never be anything more than "I'm sorry you feel that way."

He won't.

Some no-name disposable Repugnican (is there any other sort) will be wheeled out and in a symmetry to Farage that the universe will find pleasing offer some lukewarm, "Ah, shucks, it's just bantz" to be taken as "sources close to Trump".

And everyone on this thread will be perfectly aware of how much their views and thoughts and wishes count for.

Welcome to the Reform waiting room. Have a drink whilst we prepare your table.

I'm not defending the former POTUSES (POTII?), but 'tradition' holds that they don't speak out against the current office holder. This is supposedly to maintain 'political stability' or so as not to appear to be trying to usurp the current POTUS' authority. IMHO there comes a time when traditions no longer serve and this is one of those times. There are only 4 of them (Clinton, Bush, Obama, & Biden) and I have a feeling that we can count Bush and Biden 'out')

As far as Dubya, he made it clear when he left office that he was OUT of politics completely. And other than his (overheard) remark at Trump's 1st inaugural speech "That's some crazy shit right there" I don't think he's said anything. Frankly, I don't think he ever really wanted the job in the first place and was shocked when he found himself 'appointed' by the SCOTUS recount decision. I think Dubya thought it'd be an easy 4 years with governance being handled by Cheney and the GOP as the US economy was booming and we were basically 'at peace'. Then 9/11 happened and all Hell broke loose.

I think Biden is sick of politics too after the way he was slandered in 2024. And unfortunately that slandering has 'tarnished' him unfairly. Even his own party 'ran from him' after the disastrous debate. I'm not opining on his ability to continue to 'do the job', just that his 'cognition' was made out to be worse than it was, if it was 'bad' to begin with. I'm sure he doesn't want to open that PR can of worms again.

As far as Obama and Clinton, I don't know why they aren't speaking out more 'frankly'. Neither of them wants a future in elected office so have nothing to lose on that score. But both of them are doing a lot of 'good works' through their foundations so perhaps they're trying to keep out of the limelight to avoid those being drug through the mud.

All this is, of course, just my own musings.

As far as Dubya, he made it clear when he left office that he was OUT of politics completely.

He is an American.

As I said, there comes a time when silence is complicity.

I think Clinton has his own issues re the Epstein investigation anyway. I doubt he would want to put his very self interested head above the parapet for that
Me criticising Clinton is NOT an indication I dont think Trump is worse.

Nah. I reckon he will do his usual "well, that's what I was told". Or , " that's what they say".

Then his right wing press will churn out vets who will give interviews proclaiming that they told him all about it. Witnesses who will confirm his version

They done the same when he said of McCain,: " I like people who weren't captured". His press went into full on attack mode against McCain. That he squealed to his captors, that he was a traitor, his father paid for his release and so on.

Imagine the Democrats having some power

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/23/trump-democrats-warren-schumer-00742515

Yeah. When he started on about credit cards my instant thought was Elisabeth Warren. That's her baby.

Imagine the Democrats rallying behind a spokesperson who could Challenge Trumps lies day in day out.

The US never has a "Leader of the Opposition" but by golly it needs one.

Why do I feel that the Democrats will work with Trump ?

Not that it matters. Congress is the equivalent now of the appendix in a human. Capable of killing the whole body, but safely removed as not essential to life.

(See also: the "Constitution". Or, more properly "constitution" as that piece of shit doesn't deserve capital letters. It't not worth the paper it's tax dodging authors wrote it on.)

The whole US system was painfully built upon the shambles that was the Roman republic. It will serve as an abject lesson in what you get when you delegate nation building to the wealthy elite.

Really, the US civil war should have been a clue that it might - just might - not be ideal. However sometimes you need more than one experience to learn that it's the fire that burns your hand. not wood.

It's a tough one. Try to work with him and maybe deliver something to the electorate, or work against him and see the country burn.

If I was a dem state voter, I would say feck him. Block block block.

After all, It was really Mitch McConnel who facilitated all this, by denying Obama his SCOTUS pick, and helping Trump get elected first term. Because he wanted SCOTUS. He unleashed the beast. So why should dems work with them.

Trump's a busy man today as he seeks to control who Canada trades with.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/24/trump-canada-tariff-threat-venezuela-oil

It does remind me of this old clip though

As a non USAian, my opinion counts as much as it does in the UK (i.e. "opinion := fuckall ^ (1/2)"). But anyone now who enables Trump - either individually or as a party - is culpable. This man is dragging your country into a world it simply cannot exist in.

Even were Trump to be stabbed 23 times on the steps of the Capitol, the ensuing civil war will end the United States and usher in very different world order.

I'd love to be proved wrong. But past experience isn't really on my side.

I hope other countries have quietly supported Canada (I would) and Carney has the space, to tell Trump "I'll speak to you when I've spoken to Putin" and leave it at that.

(Then say the same thing to Putin and let their paranoia do the rest. Fans of the original Prisoner may remember .....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammer_into_Anvil

)

Some rather data heavy commentary. Interesting,