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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Stop Trump 13th July

135 replies

user1492877024 · 28/04/2018 19:12

Apologies if this has already been raised, I did do a quick search but couldn't find anything. Anyway, AIBU to ask if any of you will be attending this protest?

OP posts:
SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 29/04/2018 20:47

The people who hate him make it very clear they also hate the poor uneducated people he persuaded to vote for him

This is absolutely not the case in my experience and is in fact often the contrary.

But don't tell us about it as if you deserve a medal for being The Only One to Stand Up for All Things Bad

This is a thread asking if people are protesting. Confused. Of course people will pipe up and say that they're going.

it's about not wanting to be told by hypocritical people who know FA about something

Who are these people? How do you know what everyone's story is? How much they know?

No one - not one person here as far as I can see - is telling you to do anything. The OP asked a question. People are answering it. That's all.

biscuitraider · 29/04/2018 20:51

I can't stand the man, but i also can't stand Sadiq Khan, so if it pisses him off i'll be pleased.

obachan · 29/04/2018 21:03

Nobody is telling anyone to protest. The OP asked if anyone was attending the protest. People replied.

Whatabout India, China, Turkey and 'a thousand other causes' - well, yes: they're still there. Thanks for pointing that out. If you'd like to do something about them, other than bringing them up to dissuade people from protesting other causes, then I'm sure you'd win support.

Protesting Trump isn't a protest against America. In fact, if anything, it's a gesture of support. I don't know where Nikes, McDonalds and Netflix come into this, because America isn't actually a corrupt dictatorship which we're all morally obliged to starve of profit. Not yet, anyway - that's kind of the point.

Everyone who wants to make this into a liberal-lefties-who'll-hate-any-right-wing-American dispute is missing the hugely significant fact that many, many conservative US voters and politicans are disgusted and concerned with Trump's behaviour.

Yes - he's helped (well: he was there) when tax reforms were pushed through, and has again... been there, at least, during initial attempts to scale back Obamacare. And yes, he's disapproving enough of abortion, widespread access to sexual health resources, contraception etc to please some of the religious right. I understand these are line-in-the-sand issues for many Republicans, and that using Trump to get these things through is regarded as a necessary, if regrettable, evil.

But, for many right-wingers (not including the alt-right), he's an absolute, out-of-control disgrace who's been a worse president than anyone ever imagined. Just because you're a Republican doesn't mean you support:

  • attempts to undermine the judiciary
  • general lack of respect for checks and balances in US government; repeatedly attempting to push through new legislation that is found to be unconstitutional
  • ill-informed, spontaneous policy announcements
  • incredibly poor grasp of complex political issues, and disinclination to learn more
  • a proven history of disgusting attitudes to women
  • multiple allegations of sexual harassment
  • openly supporting an alleged child-molestor for re-election (Roy Moore)
  • a chaotic administration with multiple unfilled roles and constant turnover
  • shameless placement of family members and friends in positions far, far beyond their competency (or level of security clearance)
  • refusal to engage in the serious issue, highlighted by national security agencies, of Russian interference in the election
  • possible collusion with the Russians, or at least obstruction of justice
  • multiple hints that presidential associates found guilty of the former will be pardoned
  • extremely weak response to right-wing terror threats, including actual Nazi marches in American towns
  • countless racist comments
  • using the presidential platform to pursue stupid personal vendettas
  • mocking the disabled
  • being disrespectful to gold star families
  • directing revenue and attention to his personal business interests
  • running for a presidency he wasn't qualified for and probably didn't want, mostly for profit and attention

And that's just what I can think of: the problem with Trump is that there are SO MANY awful things he's said and done that, after a while, they sort of merge together. But - please. These aren't partisan issues. It's an insult to millions of decent Republicans (and here, Conservatives) to act like the people protesting Trump are left-wingers with an anti-American axe to grind. This isn't a normal presidency, it's not okay, and the more people who say that, the better.

lljkk · 29/04/2018 21:09

There's a long list of prominent Republicans who have become Trump opponents. I half wonder if we'll get another political party emerging out of this current crisis.

PaintedHorizons · 29/04/2018 21:17

Its the bandwagonning, hypocrisy and making sure everyone knows how "right" people I have a problem with - not who protests in which way about what.

As I said - I am not specifically talking about anyone on here as I have no idea of your circumstances. And I am not saying I support Trump or am unaware of what he is doing.

Anyway - I posted before dinner so was probably Hungry and Irritable and got a bit on my high horse. Grin

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 29/04/2018 21:23

I posted before dinner so was probably Hungry and Irritable and got a bit on my high horse

We've all been there! Grin

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 29/04/2018 21:23

Great post again obachan

LadyWithLapdog · 29/04/2018 22:54

Excellent, Obachan.

tenredthings · 30/04/2018 04:18

I would imagine it will be a flying visit on his way to play golf in Scotland. He'll be snuck in and out the back door. I still choose to protest and show my disapproval though.

gussyfinknottle · 30/04/2018 07:09

I think the best thing to do is line up and silently turn your back on him.

annandale · 30/04/2018 07:14

No. Nothing going to make Americans feel like they want to keep him more than posturing over here

gussyfinknottle · 30/04/2018 07:21

Don't give Trump supporters another reason to back him. They refer to "Antifa" over there which is basically anyone who fights back with violence and/or disruption. Any protest they don't like is basically an "antifa" exercise that can be dismissed as minority of people trouble making. A dignified ignoring will have more impact.

LadyWithLapdog · 30/04/2018 11:44

Don't turn up so right wing Americans don't call us names, that'll work.

obachan · 30/04/2018 12:03

I think we're really overestimating how much the average Trump-voter cares about our behaviour or opinions.

UK protests will be seen as a gesture of support by the millions of Americans who oppose Trump, and will be utterly ignored by his core base. Not deliberately ignored to spite us, either; it just won't register. And I'm not trying to make this into an 'ignorant right-wingers don't know there's a world outside America' jibe. Just that the USA is a huge place and plenty of people don't notice protests in LA or New York, let alone London.

I also think references to Antifa are beside the point. In the UK, we have a pretty decent history of peaceful protest (most recently the Women's March, the Science March, anti-Brexit/pro-EU etc), where people spend a lot more time creating placards than mixing Molotov cocktails. Both police and demonstrators seem to co-operate very well. I was on the Women's and Science March and it really reaffirms your faith in humanity to see thousands of people on the streets together, managing to express their dissatisfactions and concerns without acting like violent gobshites, and the police never getting heavy-handed. That's not something that's possible in every other country, and I'm grateful we have the opportunity.

lljkk · 30/04/2018 14:54

It's impossible not to over-estimate how much the Trump voter cares; if they didn't care about him endorsing Roy Moore, lying constantly, speaking inanely, constantly undermining colleagues and his lawyers,, installing his family in positions of power, keeping corrupt egotists in power (Carson, Pruitt...), overhauling the tax code to massively benefit his own family, cheating chronically on his wives, & not being transparent about his financial affairs, why would the Base care what foreigners think?

I'd like to provide what support I can to Trump's American opponents, though. This we can do.

WhalesOfYore · 30/04/2018 15:07

His base may not care, but if he personally comes away with the impression that dealing with Britain is a hostile experience, then there are a thousand ways, large and small, that an American president could act to our disadvantage. But who cares about that when there's a day's virtue-signalling to plan?

LadyWithLapdog · 30/04/2018 15:22

Oh dear, an obnoxious little man on a personal vendetta because people don't love him. So much for free f**ing trade, it's just about nepotism and personal likes and dislikes. Brexit negotiations will be a doddle, no?

lljkk · 30/04/2018 15:35

tbh, I don't think Trump administration has hugely longer to run, plus if Trump wanted to punish anyone it would be California & NY - I can't see them suffering half as much as DJT would like. Many limits to his powers there are.

DJT will be nice to UK if he thinks it benefits his base in USA. That & personal wealth/fame/adulation are only criteria MAGA cares about.

WomaninGreen · 30/04/2018 15:38

"But where were all the protesters when all the other world leader scumbags came to visit? "

well in many cases, they were out there, certainly in my age group

among other friends they weren't in London or they weren't of an age that it would be okay to go out and protest!

I am not protesting. I am very anti Trump but increasingly I think he does genuinely reflect the majority in spite of losing the popular vote. There seems to be no appetite for changing the electoral college system in spite of inflicting this on the majority of voters. So I can only conclude they aren't concerned enough by it to warrant change.

I've no problem with protesting against Trump and totally understand why people want to do it, it's just I won't be joining.

WomaninGreen · 30/04/2018 15:39

Also the Trump threads on here - I feel like they have spent the last 18 months saying "oh look, this has happened, he's nearly gone" - I think he will win the next election too. I'm sad about it but I can't fight what the American people want.

lljkk · 30/04/2018 15:43

Much is happening to try to change electoral college system. Current federal executive likely to oppose this, but may not be able to.

CT is 11th state to join a compact on this.

Related proposed changes in CO.

Kursk · 30/04/2018 15:52

The majority of Americans won’t care about any protests, in fact I doubt it will even be s newsworthy item.

To be fair to Trump he is making progress and getting results. It’s just the Lefties who don’t like him.

Kursk · 30/04/2018 15:54

WomaninGreen

I was not able to vote in the last election, I will be voting next time....I expect he will win the next election too.

WomaninGreen · 30/04/2018 15:57

lljkk

that's good to know. will pass it on to US friends who told me there was no appetite for it!

lljkk · 30/04/2018 16:04

James Comey, John Kasich, Sen. McCain, Jeff Flake, Nicolle Wallace, the entire Bush clan, Joe Walsh -- these prominent critics of Trump are VERY far from lefties.