Is this just real life? Is this just fantasy? ScaraMooch, keep your hands away from me. Trump continued

[orlantina]

Because the last thread filled up REALLY quickly.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2986638-Seans-gone-Its-sad-Great-guy-Going-to-miss-him-Trump-continued?

Thanks for that, NorthWest. Some interesting reads in the sidebar on the right, also.

Ah sorry. That's seemingly the bottom bar now.

Presser just started

Trump joking about police violence.

Because POTUS should always joke about police violence

Nice evasive manoeuvre there re police brutality, Sarah!

And meta-evasion on whether she'll ask POTUS about an apology ...

Translation of current exchange:

"No, of course Kelly doesn't get to stop staffers from speaking directly with Trump without going through him - unless Trump doesn't want to see them, in which case protocol will be followed to the letter"

Slippery customer Sarah. She's better than Spicey at avoiding commiting herself to anything I think.

It was a bit of an irritable session

She has 'not answering' down pat. She thinks.

I lurk on these threads and post v occaisonally but just want to thank you all for the magnificent job (sorry, started to sound about like SCROTUS there for a second)

BUT - in amongst all of this chaos, some of which is hilarious and a lot of which is only hilarious until you start to wonder if it's going to make the orange idiot decide to nuke someone just to claw back some credibility... all the brilliant material for the late-night hosts... all the gorgeous glow of watching a manifestly unsuitable candidate for the job of President do a manifestly appalling job...

... what are the Dems actually going to DO?

I love the fact that the man is such a fucking embarrasment (to a majority; who the brainwashed loons are still supporting him, though, I have no clue) and I love that his personality disorders and laziness and nastiness are shining through. Not to mention his illegal activities which, I hope, will sink him eventually.

BUT. Please, please can anyone reassure me that the Dems aren't just standing on the sidelines loving this, and that they're actually working on finding a credible candidate for 2020? I get that all of this is a huge sideshow and it's hard not to be distracted by the sheer tidal waves of shit coming out of the White House on so many different fronts.

But are the Dems actually going to be able to make a credible opposition, even to this crisis-ridden lot? Please please please say it's so?

I believe so - although a war would be a .......complicating factor.

WestleyAndButtockUp, I've been following it on Twitter but have not found any further sources except those relying on him (and have therefore also not posted here or elsewhere).

You can check out Claude Taylor (@TrueFactsStated) on Twitter.

Please note, however, that the source might be somewhat unreliable. Check out this piece, for instance: www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/07/liberal-fever-swamps/530736/

They also seem to think that Louise Mensch is a leftie, mind. That's arguably the more damning condemnation of the state of US politics.

what are the Dems actually going to DO

I think the answer has to come from the GOP. He is their President - and part of their party. How much of their reputation is being damaged by Trump?

I don't know as much about US politics as I perhaps ought to. If Trump is the sitting Republican POTUS, is he automatically put forwards for a second term or can another challenger be put forwards? I tend to assume that the change happens after power transfers to the other party & then they change leader, but I'm curious to know if Trump can be unseated by another Republican in 2020.

badbadhusky, anyone generally eligible can challenge the incumbent in a primary. Parties may at times restrict candidates (the extremely large candidate pool in the R primaries of 2016 is arguably the reason why we ended up with Trump). But, yes, it's possible for another Republican to run against him for the nomination.

IIRC someone or other has actually said they would. Will try and find.

In the meantime: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_challenge

Oh, yeah, and: it's John Kasich who's rumoured to be contemplating a challenge. Not found quite yet, but I've remembered.

Here you go with one recent piece, Bossy.

Kasich preparing a challenge?

Thanks, cozie!

I hope he does! Either way, I'd rather have a democrat. They tend to do better for the US economy and make us in the rest of the world less afraid that they might be about to accidentally off us.

Also, as a just-barely-Millenial I've yet to see a GOP-president who's not criminally stupid (though W is looking a lot better in comparison nowadays than he did at the time).

Meant to add: as far as Republicans go, though, the US could do a lot worse than Kasich. Judging by his record and his performance in the primaries (e.g. debates) he's neither insane nor unintelligent. Setting the bar low, I know but: see above.

NK is a scary prospect. But look on the bright side. They are talking down Venezuela now. Trump can shore up his ratings there, the groundwork is being done.
Dirty and nasty but not nuclear.

I don't see it, Kasich that is, I'm afraid, Bossy. It would splinter the party and the base - and the way things are going, who would be prepared to support him rather than 45 or - at a pinch - Pence.

It is, isn't it, 7Days?

Someone is keeping their options open, cozie
Thankfully?

Cozie, I don't see it happening either. But a girl can hope, right?

Really not sure if I'd prefer Pence to Trump. On the upside: He's not as obviously insane. But his stance on social issues is scary as fuck, and he's obviously either brainless or personally corrupt enough to have been involved in the Trump drama. And then there's the fact that I'm rather afraid that, whoever comes after Trump, will have a very extended honeymoon period indeed. Sort of like when Obama got a Nobel prize for, well, not being Bush II, basically. I'm definitely expecting that to happen. Hence: not Pence! (

Personally, I don't think there are any 'good' options when it comes to NK.