Donald Trump the Megathread part II - mod warnings in OP, Updated 18/03/25

Maher wants the DNC to go for a trump type character but with DNC policies as that's what he believes would be successful at election time, he's been egging this on for a few years and has Kamala's failure as evidence of this, hence the day to day "normalising" of trump behind the scenes.

But, as you said, David just absolutely skewers him on it.

(Maher has been losing the run of himself the last few years, vaccinations during the pandemic as case in point).

If he is not invited he will find some pressing emergency (like the stock market tanking for example, or a crucial tariff that needs to be sorted) preventing him from going.

The US stock market is falling again. Whatever 'blip' was hailed previously as a great job by Trump is a distant memory.

Trumps ace was supposed to be his business acumen but the markets clearly rate him as being completely clueless and a danger to wealth.

Crickets of course from Trump supporters who now deem the stock market and interest rates as unimportant

I read there's chaos at the IRS. It's most qualified expert staff are leaving .Next year it's expected the tax collected will be 500 billion less than in 2024. They simply won't have enough expert staff to check that billionaires are paying all the taxs they should pay Rich people can use complex tax schemes to reduce thier tax bill Sacking it's staff makes no sense they bring in much more than they cost of their wages America is deep in debt heading for recession Consumer confidence is falling. The dollar is falling In a few months people will notice the cost of food and clothes is rising. Trump is reducing funds to medical centers who provide contraception and vaccines to the public

Since theres no proper logical pro vaccine policy on vaccines measles is spreading to states outside Texas

There's likely to be a backlash as the cost of consumer goods rise. . Republicans intend to cut

medicaid which is relied on by old retired people and people with disabilities and working people who need help to pay for medication

Loss,s in 401k funds mean Americans will have to put off retirement for years

Agreed. Seeing a fair bit of interest in Mark Kelly, who has lots of military bona fides (despite stupid Vance's statements), an Astronaut, a wife who survived a brutal shooting and is a strong gun control advocate from Arizona. My only knock against his chances is that he bald and doesn't look that great on the television imo. Of course, a toupee glued down and a liberal dusting of Dorito's dust might work /s.

I can see Kelly/Booker slug it out in the primaries in 2028, if there's any more elections at that point.

Announcements cost nothing

Really they (Democrats) need to have a strong voice NOW. They need to have one person now leading the charge for the mid-terms. Not this person and that person and the other person. Have them TOO but there needs to be a main voice saying "It's The Economy, Stupid". Needs to have one main person calling out every rant and rave and lie. Need someone to say in a few months: "OK middle America, look at what has happened to your 401K. Have you looked at the state of our parks lately? They are falling apart and are dirty. Can you even get in to a National Park? Half can't even open. Have you tried contacting your local government? They are gone"

They need someone now. They need to be young (Well, 50's) and photogenic. Articulate but not shrill. Obama got some flack for being articulate but a bit aloof. TBH, I think they need that again. Sure, it might come across as smug but they can't race to the bottom like the GQP has. My God, how can you compare the GQP people most often on TV these days with the GOP people most often on TV 20 years ago (Well, apart from Bush). You may or may not have liked their opinions then but at least they could speak. Could articulate a point. Even if you didn't agree with it.

The GQP is a clown car. They are high-pitched, shrill, inarticulate. It's been years since they engaged in actual debate. They lash out when cornered. They are just Team America puppets. Complete with OTT voices and mannerisms and flailing histrionics. The Democratic party does not need someone to debase themselves to trump like the GQP has done. It needs someone who can be calm and authoritative. Who can glance over as the MGTs and trumps and all of them and let them flail and foam. Then, calmy, but with a smile, say "Are you done? OK. See, this is how it REALLY is…"

But they need them now!

The party does need a charismatic outsider, but they're doggedly resistant to the idea.

The way it works in either party is that outsiders only get a shot if they come and take it. Waiting for 'their turn' essentially ensures a place that may not be at the back of the queue, but far enough from the front of it to keep them from any real kind of power.

If they have their way, they'll run Pete Buttigieg who I have nothing against, but he's a clear nice-guy stability candidate and would represent, at best, four years of relative normality before swinging right back to the next MAGA iteration.

And this is all assuming that the USA even has meaningful elections in 2028, or even 2026.

Lockheed Martin are reporting results today. It'll be interesting to see if they make any mention of Europe's 180 turn towards domestic production. Similarly Tesla announce quarterly results after market close - can't see them being too rosy.

Is Musk involved in the White House reality TV circus or Doge anymore or has he been elbowed out? I haven't been paying much attention.

“And this is all assuming that the USA even has meaningful elections in 2028, or even 2026.”

Indeed - that’s the big prize MAGA have their eyes on-they’re already in planning mode for this

What is GQP supposed to denominate?