The Trump Presidency, Season 2

[Beebo Brink]

Why does the Maga elite love conspicuous cosmetic surgery? | Arwa Mahdawi | The Guardian

Mar-a-Lago face is suddenly everywhere – and there is a version for both men and women.

 

[Cindy Claveau]

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Alert the media: The White House is lying about Trump's health

Their explanations are absurd and it's time to start asking questions.

www.publicnotice.co

 

[Essence Lumin]

 

[Ellie]

Next up: Shenanigans making the plot of The Throwback by Tom Sharpe appear far more plausible.

 

[Essence Lumin]

There is quite a bit of speculation that trump is dead. As of now it is wild speculation. If no one has heard from him in another week it's probably true.

 

[Free]

The internet is speculating. Seems like something good will come of that.

Where is Donald Trump? Wild rumors swirl around president heading into weekend

Here's what to know about the social media speculation heading into Labor Day Weekend.

www.pennlive.com

 

[Innula Zenovka]

If he is dead, what changes? By the inevitable process of law, he will be succeeded by JD Vance. Since Vance is a protégé and creature of Peter Thiel, he'll presumably enjoy the support of the techbro oligarchs, and be guided by their agenda, so I doubt he'll be much of an improvement.

Meanwhile, there will presumably be a fight over who is the true heir to the MAGA movement, but I don't see it as providing any sort of opportunity for never-Trump Republicans to regain control of what was once their party.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

If he is dead, what changes? By the inevitable process of law, he will be succeeded by JD Vance. Since Vance is a protégé and creature of Peter Thiel, he'll presumably enjoy the support of the techbro oligarchs, and be guided by their agenda, so I doubt he'll be much of an improvement.

Meanwhile, there will presumably be a fight over who is the true heir to the MAGA movement, but I don't see it as providing any sort of opportunity for never-Trump Republicans to regain control of what was once their party.

Trump was never the kind of leader to set up an heir so I think there is a real possibility the MAGA movement fractures if he dies. I think this would be very good.. but I agree it doesn't guarantee the GOP goes back to being even remotely sane.

 

[Noodles]

I have doubts. I have already heard rublings that MAGA is "Bigger than Trump" when the whole Epstine thing started going around.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

I have doubts. I have already heard rublings that MAGA is "Bigger than Trump" when the whole Epstine thing started going around.

In a way they are bigger than Trump in that a lot of their insane ramblings and bigotry isn't dependent on Trump. But I still have a hard time picturing them actually rallying so blindly behind someone else.... It won't be J.D. Vance. It won't be DeSantis. I don't know who it could be, but a lot of their cult is very dependent on who they think Trump is.

 

[detrius]

As an incorrigible Euro-leftist, I assure all of Emperor Rotclaw's MAGA followers that JD Vance DID NOT KILL Donald Trump!

 

[Free]

The couch did it?

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Trump was never the kind of leader to set up an heir so I think there is a real possibility the MAGA movement fractures if he dies. I think this would be very good.. but I agree it doesn't guarantee the GOP goes back to being even remotely sane.

The real significance of the MAGA movement, as I understand it, is that Trump can deploy it in safe (often gerrymandered) districts in primary elections against Republicans who step out of line, with varying degrees of success.

If and when it fragments, though, while they won't be so readily guided by an individual leader, won't the MAGA supporters in particular districts still tend to support the candidate who impresses them as the most extreme? That is, the Republicans in Congress will continue to be dominated by barmy fascists for the foreseeable future, whatever happens.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

The real significance of the MAGA movement, as I understand it, is that Trump can deploy it in safe (often gerrymandered) districts in primary elections against Republicans who step out of line, with varying degrees of success.

If and when it fragments, though, while they won't be so readily guided by an individual leader, won't the MAGA supporters in particular districts still tend to support the candidate who impresses them as the most extreme? That is, the Republicans in Congress will continue to be dominated by barmy fascists for the foreseeable future, whatever happens.

To a large extent, yes. But I'm cautiously optimistic they will have a lot of trouble getting as much legislation passed if they aren't united behind one leader. The loonies are likely to try to one up each other and refuse to vote for compromise legislation because it's not extreme enough, etc.

 

[Beebo Brink]

The real significance of the MAGA movement, as I understand it, is that Trump can deploy it in safe (often gerrymandered) districts in primary elections against Republicans who step out of line, with varying degrees of success.

That is true, but it's not the whole picture. Trump held sway over many Republicans because he could create a very real threat to their personal lives, even their physical safety. If he turned his ire on someone, MAGA responded and harassed not just politicians but their family. There was no advantage to crossing him.

No one else in the Republican party has that kind of personal charisma (I don't see it, but it's obviously there to many people) to sway the MAGA to madness. Remove Trump and his threats and Republicans may start responding to the threat of their general angry constituents instead.

If JD Vance steps into the presidency, will he continue to rule with the same autocratic cruelty? It wouldn't surprise me if he tries to do that, but I'm doubtful he can get away with it. He reeks of elite snobbery and disdain for his roots, the very opposite of Trump's faux man-of-the-people vulgarity.

My hope is that the different power factions under the Trump umbrella just fracture into in-fighting, and at the very least simply stop wreaking deliberate damage to the country.

 

[Cindy Claveau]

If he is dead, what changes? By the inevitable process of law, he will be succeeded by JD Vance. Since Vance is a protégé and creature of Peter Thiel, he'll presumably enjoy the support of the techbro oligarchs, and be guided by their agenda, so I doubt he'll be much of an improvement.

Meanwhile, there will presumably be a fight over who is the true heir to the MAGA movement, but I don't see it as providing any sort of opportunity for never-Trump Republicans to regain control of what was once their party.

All true. Which emphasizes the point that, to rid ourselves of Trump we must rid ourselves of Trumpism. Greed, callous disregard for others and blatant racism have no place in our democracy. Or they didn't used to.

 

[CronoCloud Creeggan]

The couch did it?

 

[Noodles]

Unfortunatrly, a grainy blurry bug foot photo of someone wearing a Trump shirt while golfing was shared by some news places.

 

[Caete]

The couch did it?

coughHitleryClintoncough