White House poker. Biden trumps Trump. (Trump thread #115)

[TheNorthWestPawsage]

Here it is.
Thanks @BruceandNosh for the title.

And still we persist.

Previous thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4084369-Figures-Don-t-Lie-But-Liars-Do-Figure-Trump-thread-114?msgid=102240605#102240605

Trump's 'Festival of Grievances' in Georgia.

www.vox.com/2020/12/5/22156585/trump-valdosta-georgia-rally-loeffler-perdue-grievances?utm_campaign=vox&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

As expected he had a hard time talking about the run off election in January as he was too busy talking about himself.

'But the downside of Trump’s difficulty talking about anything other than himself or the alleged terribleness of other people became evident when Loeffler and Perdue took the stage to tepid applause. Their brief remarks were truncated by “fight for Trump!” chants that drowned them out.

he Georgia rally came hours after Trump reportedly phoned Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) and asked him to convene a special session of the legislature to overturn the election results. Kemp reportedly turned Trump down, and perhaps as a result, Trump attacked him a number of times throughout his speech, at one point telling his fans, “Your governor should be ashamed of himself.”

Then, toward the end of the rally, Trump outlined the desperate two-front battle he’s trying to fight to overturn the election, saying “hopefully our legislatures and the United States Supreme Court will step forward and save our country.”

Listening to BBC R4 this morning (sad ain't I?), I was heartened to hear the soon-to-be-ex President's claims of voter fraud referred to as "false" - yes, they actually used the word, not "controversial", not "disputed", but actually "false". If the BBC is off the fence you know it must be completely untenable.

I still worry somewhat that somebody is going to do something heinous at the last minute - some "bought" EC voters for example, or SCOTUS turning the way he hopes - but it's sounding more like static and less like meaningful noise by the day.

I've been listening to Sky News where they have interviewed a couple of his batshit supporters.
They insist Trump has won and Biden will not be POTUS, they are completely 100% convinced that Trump will be sworn in in Jan.
What, in the name of all that is holy, are they going to do when they watch Biden being sworn in on inauguration Day?

Let's hope they aren't planning any dramas.

@Roussette

or the madness of King George

The madness of King George at least had a medical reason causing it. Trump's madness will be as damaging as that of George ll

As I understood it, what Trump said last night included the giveaway "I won I won I won and here's what my administration would have done " -- which to me says he knows perfectly well that he is not about to have an administration, and the rest is just the ravings of a senile horror.

@Roussette

I've been listening to Sky News where they have interviewed a couple of his batshit supporters. They insist Trump has won and Biden will not be POTUS, they are completely 100% convinced that Trump will be sworn in in Jan. What, in the name of all that is holy, are they going to do when they watch Biden being sworn in on inauguration Day?

There's every possibility the hardcore haedbangers will simply refuse to accept Biden is president in some sort of "Freeman of the land" nonsense as they get locked up.

Speaking of which, I'm laying money that when Trump appears before a state court in one of the 67 cases NY has with his name on, he will insist that he's still president and that he court must recognise that and his "stolen" election.

Then he will insist his pardon is so bigly it covers state crimes.

It would be an interesting social experiment, as to how long he could survive incarceration.

Trump loved being elected as President in 2016. He really wanted to win in 2020 but I honestly think Trump hated BEING President. Far too much work involved but it was a means to an end - money.
Now he's worked out the perfect solution. Earn money contesting the election, save face by declaring I WON and spend 2021 playing golf.

That rally! It really was some kind of video confirmation of a snake biting it's tail. I suspect there were a lot of GOP conversations afterwards about steering Trump away from Georgia before he sinks the run-off elections.

@BruceAndNosh

Trump loved being elected as President in 2016. He really wanted to win in 2020 but I honestly think Trump hated BEING President. Far too much work involved but it was a means to an end - money. Now he's worked out the perfect solution. Earn money contesting the election, save face by declaring I WON and spend 2021 playing golf.

It's telling that Biden was able to sum up Boris so quickly and perfectly as a Trump clone. Speaks to a perception that good leaders need. It's also telling that he was allowed to express that thought in complete contrast to how Boris spunks his mouth off.

@BruceAndNosh

Trump loved being elected as President in 2016. He really wanted to win in 2020 but I honestly think Trump hated BEING President. Far too much work involved but it was a means to an end - money. Now he's worked out the perfect solution. Earn money contesting the election, save face by declaring I WON and spend 2021 playing golf.

I think you have completely nailed him here Bruce. Plus a large dose of insanity mind.

For now, I think the people around Trump still need him more than he needs them. That may or may not change. However one nice thing about right wing nutjobs, is they are incredibly impatient - as our own dear Boris shows. I really can't see there being a lot of happy campers with Trump 2024 being "a thing" decided before 2021.

What the GOP really need (same as the Tories) is a fall guy. Someone who will spend 2021-2023 not being Trump to soak up the bad vibes with Trump emerging in 2024 as the saviour candidate (cf. Joe Biden 2020. And I am assuming Trumps not in jail by some miracle).

The problem with that is this is a political party - and a right wing one at that. So who would trust the fall guy to do as they are told ? Exactly ! (I suspect this was where the great Tory plan of 2019 hit reality, and Boris was forced to jump into the fire).

But there is a small hint of sensation that the pendulum - if not swinging back - has reached a limit of travel for now. And if politics obeys physics, it will start slow .....

For some reason I cannot fathom it seems #MAGAIsCancelled is trending on Twitter ...

Did someone say #MAGAIsCancelled ?

He knows he has lost, this is all an ego boost, show and distraction of his mishandling of the Covid19 pandemic. Another 'super spreader' event.

Here's a thought. Trump runs for 2024, loses the Republican nomination and goes on to split the vote as an independent, letting Harris win.

That would be a very satisfying consequence of the current GOP cowardice.

My personal feeling is that he will be so embroiled in lawsuits in four years time that running for office will be a distraction. I am also wondering if his health will allow it - at 78 years old, running a gruelling presidential election campaign is a big ask.

@TheABC

Here's a thought. Trump runs for 2024, loses the Republican nomination and goes on to split the vote as an independent, letting Harris win.

That would be a very satisfying consequence of the current GOP cowardice.

My personal feeling is that he will be so embroiled in lawsuits in four years time that running for office will be a distraction. I am also wondering if his health will allow it - at 78 years old, running a gruelling presidential election campaign is a big ask.

Do not underestimate the ruthlessness of any party to try and avoid splits. Look how our own beloved Tory party expelled all the moderates the moment there was any danger of them becoming a faction.

Incidentally, DW (who comes from a dog family. Me much less so) commented when this flashed up on HIGNFY that it was sly thinking on the part of team Biden to fake the foot injury to get a story (and pictures) of his dog into the press ...

It's a great PR pic. And dare I say it will appeal to the sort of people who think there is such a thing as a "mans" dog ....

A few weeks before the election, Russell Howard showed a Democratic ad that he mocked for focusing solely on Trumps non-canine record compared to previous POTUSes. Maybe there was some genius in it, in hindsight ?

Sorry, tired and losing track here.

Did we do the story in mid-November about Phunware? I can only read a Daily Mail article based on a paywalled WaPo story ( Financially troubled startup powered Trump campaign, 17 Nov 2020).

So caveat lector, but according to the Wail version, the Official Trump 2020 app by Phunware actually tracked users' locations as well as plundering their contacts and recording IP addresses.

Phunware had contracts previously with Uber, which is infamous for the same (tracking where you go after you get out of the taxi), so it wouldn't be surprising – though of course that in itself doesn't mean the story's true.

Trump's 2020 election campaign was powered by cellphone app that tracked location of his 2.8million supporters and could access their contacts
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8960385/Trumps-2020-reelection-campaign-powered-cellphone-app-collected-data-2-8million-fans.html

A key tool in Donald Trump's re-election campaign was The Official Trump 2020 app that could track users' location and access contact lists
• The app pushed out headlines, fundraised, sold MAGA merchandise and synced with mass texting operations among its 2.8million users
• The app has a gamified loyalty system, where supporters could accumulate points to spend on prizes such as signed MAGA hats and photos with Trump
• The app was built by Austin-based software company Phunware Inc However, the company is in financial distress following a lawsuit from Uber
• In April, the company got a $2.9million loan under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act as it was building the Trump campaign app
• American Made Media Consultants, which is linked to Trump campaign, is Phunware’s biggest customer paying $2.4million over first nine months of 2020

A key tool in Donald Trump's re-election campaign was The Official Trump 2020 app that could track users' location and access contact lists

Well it clearly didn't work then. Neither did Farage doing the old Arslikhan dance either.

Sometimes you really can't polish a turd.

@DGRossetti

Incidentally, DW (who comes from a dog family. Me much less so) commented when this flashed up on HIGNFY that it was sly thinking on the part of team Biden to fake the foot injury to get a story (and pictures) of his dog into the press ...

It's a great PR pic. And dare I say it will appeal to the sort of people who think there is such a thing as a "mans" dog ....

A few weeks before the election, Russell Howard showed a Democratic ad that he mocked for focusing solely on Trumps non-canine record compared to previous POTUSes. Maybe there was some genius in it, in hindsight ?

Just gotta say, what a beautiful doggo.

And the gentleman with him is not bad lookin' either.

Seriously, it's just so nice to see a POTUS (elect) with just a, well, a pleasant countenance with a smile that reaches his eyes. Scrotus is either glowering, gurning, or grinning (at his own 'brilliance') but his eyes are dead.

www.theguardian.com/books/2020/dec/04/decline-and-fall-what-donald-trump-can-learn-from-the-roman-emperors

Some interesting reading for the historical parallelistas

Can I ask another question - I'm seeing a lot on SM of reminding people to register to vote in the run off; do you have to register for each election or is it as per UK once your are on the electoral register you only have to confirm it's still the case for that area/register if you move to a new consistency

@cricketballs3

Can I ask another question - I'm seeing a lot on SM of reminding people to register to vote in the run off; do you have to register for each election or is it as per UK once your are on the electoral register you only have to confirm it's still the case for that area/register if you move to a new consistency

It varies from state to state. In some states once you're registered, you're registered. Some states drop people from the rolls after they haven't voted in a certain number of major elections, but they usually try to contact them first. All states require you to update your address if you move out of state or your congressional district (constituency). But there are no states that require someone to re-register before every election. It's a good idea to check one's registration in advance of any election, though.

What they're trying to do is to get everyone in GA who is eligible to vote registered and then to get out and vote/vote absentee. This is such a critical runoff I'm sure that both sides are really pushing people to register and vote.

What they're trying to do is to get everyone in GA who is eligible to vote registered and then to get out and vote/vote absentee. This is such a critical runoff I'm sure that both sides are really pushing people to register and vote.

Which has a chequered history in some parts of the US.

I'm a Reginald D Hunter fan, and earlier this year followed his story of his 101 year old DF turning up to vote to discover he "wasn't on the system". It was sorted with no suggestion of anything sinister but ....

twitter.com/reginalddhunter/status/1271110660345286657

(Or course the UK managed to deny thousands of people a vote in 2018 after "losing" their paperwork. At which point you discover that your vote really is worthless).