Don't put the phone down on this thread. Treat it with respect. It's the official Trump thread 8

[amispartacus]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2843068-The-official-Trump-thread-Its-true-It-is-No-its-not-The-President-said-it-is

Just to remind you that Trump put the phone down on had a heated conversation with the Australian PM

Has put Iran on notice

Threatened UC Berkeley with withdrawal of funds if they 'promote violence'

Said something about troops and Mexico

Sean Spicer currently lying talking to the press corps

Not sure of how true this is, but most of what I've read about Isis is that they don't really want to "win" a war in the conventional sense. You know those religious cults that pop up every now and again predicting the end of world and quoting from Nostradamus/Revelations? My understanding is that Daesh are bit like that, except they have far more followers, money, weapons and most worryingly of all, enemies with atomic weapons.
They believe that they are part of an apocolyptic prophecy and that the coming of the day of judgement is near. The prophecies involved are nuts - much like the book of revelations is in the bible, and there's some crossover between the two. Lots of stuff about trumpets in both, and the second coming of Jesus is in there too.

I don't know how many fighters genuinely believe this wholeheartedly, and how many are in it for the "glory", power, and the excuse to kill and rape though.

"One difference between ISIL and other Islamist and jihadist movements, including al-Qaeda, is the group's emphasis on eschatology and apocalypticism—that is, a belief in a final Day of Judgment by God, and specifically, a belief that the arrival of one known as Imam Mahdi is near. ISIL believes that it will defeat the army of "Rome" at the town of Dabiq, in fulfilment of prophecy.[2] Following its interpretation of the Hadith of the Twelve Successors, ISIL also believes that after al-Baghdadi there will be only four more legitimate caliphs.[2]"
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideology_of_the_Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_eschatology

Ahhhhhhhhh

Rich PunchFace ‏*@EyesOnTheRight* 11h11 hours ago
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There was no #BowlingGreenMassacre by Islamists. There was, however, a #GreensboroMassacre by the Ku Klux Klan.

(1979, btw)

^ Sorry, I know that stuff is a bit off topic (and fucking terrifying) but does go some way to explain why Daesh were wetting themselves in excitement at Trump's election.

Frederick Douglass; "The Bowling Green Massacre" now available on Amazon 😀

I'm going to the march tomorrow and am very happy to hear suggestions for signs as I'm all out of inspiration. I keep coming back to "Just fuck off Trump" but would prefer to be a bit more eloquent!

It is kind of ironic that ISIS and Trump/Bannon essentially want the same thing!

Total War ( hmmm I can think of someone else who wanted that...)

Just read this

The White Nationalist that shot up the Mosque in Quebec City has killed more than all Refugees from all ban countries combined. #ToughFacts

I agree there's a strong theme of "punishment and destruction is the purpose" from what I've seen about Daesh.

There's also a theme of state-building: taking territory, enforcing laws over subject people, and their propaganda for consumption by would-be jihadis from the UK includes promises to create a lovely, lovely Sharia utopia for the all the virtuous people to thrive in - right down to a health service based on the NHS model.

I don't think it's off-topic on this thread. The question of who benefits from Trump Bannon's actions is really important, and to understand that we have to understand the other players' aims.

Daesh/ISIS thrive on discontent with the US et al, the more Trump marginalises muslims and acts aggressively, the more ISIS will thrive. It's not rocket science (except for Trump and his acolytes or puppet masters).

Just fuck off Trump

Maybe "Piss off Trump"? More relevant to this case.

Do we know what does Bannon believes exactly?

End of the world and rapture? And he'll just have to accept the onerous burden of maximising his worldly riches and power until the wonderful moment comes?

Christian fundamentalists do seem awful fond of accumulating worldly goods, for people whose main aim is emulate Christ who preached poverty, and to die in order to be in heaven.

Pain

Have you seen the responses on Trump's Twitter, loads of good ideas on their for banners..

twitter.com/realDonaldTrump

I will also be going to the march!

pausing that is the sort of self sacrificing guy Bannon is. He is prepared to take one for the team so that we don't have to suffer the terrible burden of being rich, or in fact having anything at all. We should thank him really.

I do find the parallels quite interesting - I mean the Middle Eastern formula is to have religious dictators, billionaires and the military running the country to keep everyone in line and to sack anyone who does not comply - wow, I think we've just summed up the Trump administration...

Dh has made dd a placard in homage to the Mister Gum books. It says simply 'You're a bad man Mister Trump!'. Now whenever he is mentioned on the radio she shouts it out. She is only 5, bless her

Interesting piece today seeking a name. It includes:

....While the name Tea Party made people want to join, I think the name Resistance will prove off-putting to all but already highly politicized people. Trump is not popular. There are millions of people out there who are not highly politicized in their lives but are recruitable to this movement. Speak to them.

Do I have great ideas? No, I admit I don’t. But a name has to be optimistic, welcoming, strong, and in an ideal world it may resonate with something in American history. The Real Majority. The Patriotic Majority. The 2.8 Million. Patrick Henry clubs. Tom Paine clubs. Common Sense clubs. Gettysburg clubs—that’d depress membership in the South, but that will be low anyway. Happy Days societies, to echo FDR’s famous campaign slogan. We Shall Overcome leagues.

I don’t know. But not The Resistance. When it comes to American democratic norms, it’s Trump who’s the resistor. That has to be the point of this movement, and it has to be the message of its name as well....

I put this forward for thought on this thread.

Washington Post ‏*@washingtonpost* 7m7 minutes ago
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South Dakota Republicans just got rid of the state’s first independent ethics commission
www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/24/south-dakota-republicans-are-about-to-get-rid-of-the-states-first-independent-ethics-commission/?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.853c327b0205

Huffington Post ‏*@HuffingtonPost* 3m3 minutes ago
More
Denis Leary hilariously owns up to Kellyanne Conway resemblance huff.to/2kZqxQW

The Independent ‏*@Independent* 6s6 seconds ago
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For the first time in decades, the White House is not open for tours ind.pn/2kxkKl1

m.youtube.com/watch?v=ryppmnDbqJY&itct=CAgQpDAYCSITCIv6sbSo9NECFQnAFgod0YUFajIHcmVsYXRlZEijgoqqsr7i9a0B

Denmark Second?

I think that's an interesting post cozie. Names are important and the right name can make a huge difference. However, it is also the case that once a name is embedded in the public consciousness it is hard, if not impossible to change it and undo that. I know people who still call snickers marathon bars! I think they may be a bit late on this one. The idea of resistance as a tag or name for this stuff has already become too embedded to easily change.

Also it must be remembered that this was not a movement that was organised and planned by a small group with a marketing committee like the tea party. This was a coming together of people and groups from different places and even countries. You can't just pick a name and expect them all to agree and start using it.

I think the name Resistance is quite appropriate and easily recognisable in US folklore with the good guys.
But it will only work in a context of Trump being seen to be against the Constitution and Democracy. And being seen as failing to deliver on draining the swamp, affordable health care and peace.
There will always be those for whom he's a hero, but hopefully they will diminish soon.

The Lituanians are right, they did have the best wall!

cozie That is interesting - I understand the point about the name not appealing to hard-line Trump supporters. I think for the swing voters though - perhaps people who voted for Trump just because they were bored, or they wanted to disrupt things - well he is no longer fighting against the establishment, he IS the establishment, and all the channels he used to elevate himself like social media and mass rallies are now being used by 'the people' against him. It would be ironic if all the channels that elevated him were also his downfall. In this way I think 'the Resistance' is quite fitting, in fact I bet he wish he had thought of it!