What does the future hold for Donald Trump? - threadbans in OP

No polls to post today?

I'd like to actually thank kermit for the last few posts. I don't agree with them but they are well articulated and give points for debate. Not simply some regurgitation of some old, debunked fox-lies or resorting to "owning the libs" with variations of "Let's go, Brandon".

Kermit will not agree with my opinions below but that's what a free and open debate should be.

Regarding this post, I agree in general that Trump was at least partially, a protest vote: Clinton was the wrong choice. A person not liked outside her own party (And also had problems within). Had she been voted in for two terms then US politics, supposedly the greatest in the world, would have had presidents from 3 families for 36 years: GHW Bush, B Clinton, B Clinton, G Bush, G Bush, B Obama, B Obama and potentially H Clinton, H Clinton. (And maybe feared M Obama M Obama after that).

So there was definitely an appetite to move away from the same old names.

That and apathy from democrat voters certainly would help explain Trump's win.

However you cannot deny that Trump and the GOP have divided the country greatly. You may blame groups like Black Lives Matter and elements of the organisation are concerning but you cannot deny they also came from a place of not being listened to.

So instead of engaging with, working with, hell, evening LISTENING to groups like these, the GOP invited a pair of people who waved guns at them to their AGM like conquering heroes.

Instead of denouncing White Supremacists who organised what was basically a KKK rally, which resulted in the death of a counter-protester, Trump (And therefor the GOP) said there were fine people on both sides. I'm sorry but I do NOT consider a White Supremacist to be a "Fine Person"

Instead of condemning hate groups such as the Proud Boys he (And therefor the GOP) tells them to stand back and stand by.

Instead of helping to identify rogue elements within their supporters the GOP disavow member of their own party and state that these people who stormed the Capitol Building were engaging in valid political discourse.

Instead of having their polsters and analysts and number crunchers and policy-makers investigate why they lost the 2016 election, they push a false narrative of a stolen election. A known lie that lead to death and further division. Even the general GOP party is FINALLY moving away from this false narrative.

You say that Trump voters simply wanted to be heard. Well they have been heard loud and clear now. They have been heard to be supportive of white nationalists. They have been heard to support voter suppression. They have been seen and heard to support and engage in voter intimidation. Driving around in pickup trucks with guns and flags. We have seen that elsewhere. They have been heard to be violent terrorists.

Note, I am NOT talking about GOP voters although, as I have said before, every day the GOP does not denounce Trumps statements, they condone them and embrace them as GOP policy). But the GOP seems to be selling its soul in pursuing the racist vote, in pursuing the homophobic vote, in pursuing the conspiracy theorists. In pursuing party-members who refuse to engage with, debate with and yes, maybe compromise with other people/parties. Even to their own detriment.

And if fox news is the largest news station in America how can they claim to not be heard? How can someone be the biggest kid on the block and not part of the "mainstream Media"?

So yes, I believe that Trump's vote was partially a protest vote but now everyone knows what he stands for and what the GOP is willing to embrace. Is this still the voice these people want the world to hear?

I would also agree that it's utterly pointless talking about polls regarding an election in 2+ years. A significant reason why Trump lost in 2020 was his shambolic response to Covid, which really only started in the US in early 2020.

When Trump faced a true challenge and his country needed real leadership, he downplayed the virus and delayed efficient action. And after that focused more on his own image and public standing rather than what was best for the country.

Just saw that the head of Trump's new "social media" nonsense is none other than Devin Nunes. His career is going from strength to strength anyway.

So if you are kermit, can you answer in kermit-mode to the two/three questions in my post?

The GOP should go after his ability to raise funds, which is Donald's main aim anyway, it will slowly castrate him, apply rules about raising funds for Elections, campaigns and his personal fav MAGA, at some stage he pulls out of 2024 and uses all funds raised to save Trump Inc., or head for exile in Dubai.

So those people that voted for Trump, that wanted a voice, but not actually any action? They just want to vent? What do they think is going to better by election a person with no ability to actually do anything, even if one was actually believe he cared.

I acknowledged that many here, including myself, understood the protest vote for Trump in 2016. But there was no protest vote for Trump in 2020. So what were those 74m actually voting for? To simply hear a man talk in their voice? So you accept that sorting out the mess from 2008 and beyond had nothing to do with it, then fully agreed with the division, the focusing on enemies, portraying sections of the public as non American etc.

They value that more that actual results that will help them in their lives?

On a slight tangent: What do trump supports think his legacy will be? What do they think people will say about him in 20 years time? What do they think his legacy will be and what do they think it SHOULD be (If different).

Genuine question.(Although so far no supporter has ever answered a question of mine so not holding my breath 😀)