• Shawn
    12.6k
    I think Trump will get reelected here in the Great States. My mother's friend stopped by yesterday, and the question was proposed by me to ask what she thinks about Trump. She is from Iran, and I suspected that she might be concerned with his derogatory comments about the middle-east and "sh*thole" countries comment. Yet, she seemed happy with his performance. She commented that he might bring about real change to Iran's current ayatollah leadership.

    I felt somewhat shocked that she said such a thing; but, thinking more about it, it seems to make sense. Trump has brought North Korea to the tables, quelled their anger towards the US; so, why not reason the same in regards to Iran? I mean, Iran should be easier to deal with than North Korea.

    I'm somewhat concerned about his possible or rather likely cozy relations with the Russians; but, I can't imagine him handling our nuclear codes to Putin. It is regrettable that he has some affiliation with the Russians; but, what detrimental thing would that result in for the US? Not even the most hardline Trump supporter from within the White House would allow Trump to do anything detrimental to the US' interests, after all it's all about America for Trump supporters.

    On, the whole of it, if you take away the possible Russian allegations about Trump, and bat a blind eye towards his lack of character along with the constant lying (although, lying doesn't bother me that much anymore as it's a given for any politician), then disliking Trump becomes all the less of an issue. That's not to say I like him. I just don't dislike him as much as I used to.
  • Shawn
    12.6k
    On the other hand, apart from my lack or lesser disliking of Trump, I haven't seen the necessary steps being taken by the Democratic party to ensure that he doesn't get reelected. I mean to say, that there is no appeal to ideals or a more social democrat, which have consistently shown a greater amount of engagement and stimulus provided to voters. So, if the Democratic nominee loses the reelection, I won't be surprised.

    Furthermore, even if the Dems win the House, and less likely the Senate, then Trump will find a way to spin whatever lack of progress on any passing of laws on the Democrats, in my opinion.


    Thoughts?
  • Marcus de Brun
    440
    I attempted to post an alternative view of the Trump phenomena some time ago and it was censored. Fortunately this OP is from 'Teachers Pet' and is less likely to be quashed. But we shall see :smile:

    It is very unlikely that Trump will be reelected, as his presidency has highlighted to the majority of sensible Americans (they are in the majority) the sinister evils that can arise when one becomes complacent about ones democracy.

    Personally I think that American Democracy is one of the most beautiful political systems on the earth, like communism it was designed by intellectuals and philosophers, however it is applied to a mass of people who are incapable of living up to and enjoying its great ideals, and it has lost or jetisoned the essential guidance that was afforded by Thoreau (and Emerson to a lesser extent) She has been left to flounder and her God has been confined to a belief and a trust in the Almighty Dollar.

    Like Communism the ideal is beautiful but in practice, in its application to the herd, it represents an epic failure. However, it (democracy) is distinct from Communism in that it contains a greater potential for evolution and adaptation to approaching external realities, and a greater potential to transform resource into power. Therefore in essence, the 'beauty' of the Trump Phenomenon, lies only in a potential and essential evolution for Democracy itself.

    There is an interesting scene in Game of Thrones where Queen Sersie is compelled by the ruling religious elite to undergo a walk of shame, naked through the streets of her capital city where her subjects can pelt her with consumptive spits and muck.

    That is what Trump is for American Democracy... the veritable walk of shame for Democracy. Never in the history of the US has the presidency and Democracy been so degraded as it is at present. Europe and the Scandinavians in particular, presently lead the way in respect of evolved democracy.

    However much is accomplished by America in this low state. 'She stoops to conquer'. When the Presidency is so demeaned and degraded, a dialogue of equality is possible with other political reprobates like Kim and Putin, these angry wolves will only listen to another wolf. With the exception of Syria and Palestine Trump's presidency has ushered in an era of great potential instability, but it is also one of relatively great international peace. The world does not fear America, but presently is laughing at her. The absence of fear and fear-respect for US power, has effectively deflated the notion that America should be taken seriously, internationally she is respected on an entirely different level one that is not without benefit for all humanity.

    M
  • Wayfarer
    20.7k
    I hope that Trump is not re-elected In fact I’d like to see him impeached for degrading the office of the Presidency and ultimately jailed for corruption. Here’s hoping.

    I don’t think Trump can be given any credit for the relationship thaw with North Korea. For some reason, Kim Jong Un changed his attitude - perhaps he realised there was no future in being a rogue dictator shunned by everyone in the world, and instead wants to show up at international forums and be photographed on the red carpet alongside other celebrity politicians. He wants to be a player, not Dr No. That’s what I reckon drove it.
  • BC
    13.2k
    Trump has brought North Korea to the tablesPosty McPostface

    I think NK's Maximum Leader Kim Jong-un brought Trump to the tables, as @wayfarer suggested. Kim, and his predecessors have practiced a weird hot/cold foreign policy towards the US for a long time. Trump needs and likes red carpet flashes in the pan too.

    I just don't dislike him as much as I used to.Posty McPostface

    When did you stop beating your mother as much as you used to? Do you like him more, or are you just getting used to him?

    Trump's re-election is severe nausea inducing for me. I'd much prefer to have a Democratic Socialist in the White House, but that's not very likely.

    True enough: Trump is a liar, but probably not more than many another politician. He is exceptionally déclassé, outré, and révoltant. He is something of a trou de merde [shit hole] himself, but I didn't object to his shit hole comment.

    Trump is not worse than many of his Republican colleagues and Democratic opponents. He maintains fewer pretenses than most leaders, and a good share of the national leadership in Washington are liars, thieves, knaves, and scoundrels.

    You have to take the management of the nation's affairs as a long term whole, and over the last 50 years the several congresses and presidents have managed to degrade life for the majority of the people. The decades-long stagnation of wages, unfavorable (for the working class--which is most of the people) trade policies, financial skullduggery, shredding of social service infrastructure, the malignant redistribution of wealth, and so forth are not accidental.
  • BC
    13.2k
    I attempted to post an alternative view of the Trump phenomena some time ago and it was censored. Fortunately this OP is from 'Teachers Pet' and is less likely to be quashed. But we shall see :smile:Marcus de Brun

    Sometimes the moderators fingers get twitchy when they get near the "delete" switch. A number of interesting discussions have been aborted.
  • BC
    13.2k
    it has lost or jetisoned the essential guidance that was afforded by Thoreau (and EmersonMarcus de Brun

    Were Thoreau and Emerson ever that influential? I like them both, but... An Essay on Civil Disobedience was never a best seller, and the people who were the most uncivilly disobedient--the Confederates--were scum, filth and dirt to a substantial degree.

    There were a whole batch of New Englanders -- the transcendentalists, abolitionists, various religious (Shakers for instance, even Mormons, I suppose), mellowed Puritans, etc. who were something of a city on the hill.
  • ArguingWAristotleTiff
    5k
    Yes. Trump will be re-elected.
  • Baden
    15.6k
    Sometimes the moderators fingers get twitchy when they get near the "delete" switch. A number of interesting discussions have been aborted.Bitter Crank

    Here's how it works:

    Chances of OP deletion or closure = OP dodginess factor x Moderator caffeine intake

    Three cups already today, so expect the unexpected.
  • S
    11.7k
    I'm going to go with, "No", given that he is more unpopular than each of the last twelve presidents, stemming all the way back to 1945. And, as a writer for The Guardian put it recently, particularly in response to the reaction of many women to the Kavanaugh controversy, Republicans have galvanized a backlash that will have profound electoral consequences.
  • Marchesk
    4.6k
    And, as a writer for The Guardian put it recently, particularly in response to the reaction of many women to the Kavanaugh controversy, Republicans have galvanized a backlash that will have profound electoral consequences.S

    That depends on whether the backlash is amongst swing voters or people who would have otherwise stayed home. It doesn't help if it's just those of us who voted against Trump.

    Also, two years is a long time to remain the same outrage in today's world, although Trump is admittedly good at keeping the flame burning. More likely the backlash would occur at midterms in the House and Senate.

    The Democrats need to nominate someone who motivates people like Obama or Bernie to want to care about voting. Too many people saw Hillary as more of the same. The Republican candidates ran into the same problem against Trump. They were either seen as insiders, or lacked the personality to carry a movement.

    Also, It's hard to put much stock in what people predict about future elections, given how almost nobody thought Trump could win. It was such a shocker.
  • Michael
    14.1k
    Chances of OP deletion or closure = OP dodginess factor x Moderator caffeine intake

    Three cups already today, so expect the unexpected.
    Baden

    I'd say it's OP dodginess factor / Moderator caffeine intake. Less coffee = more cranky = less patience.
  • Ötzi
    17
    Yes. Trump will be re-elected.ArguingWAristotleTiff

    +1

    Even if I'm not a fan. Money rules democracy. Like electric current, it seeks the way of least resistance, which is Trump.
  • LD Saunders
    312
    It's impossible to state one way or another, at this time, what the realistic probability is of Trump being reelected is. We know for a fact that he is one of the most disliked politicians, who ever held the office of president. After all, he actually lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton who is hated among Americans. He is presently losing every demographic, except is still popular with white men over 45. So, we can rule out Trump being anything like a sure bet.

    The thing is though it largely depends on who ends up running against him. If the Democrats foolishly nominate Hillary Clinton again, which is conceivable, then I think the odds on Trump winning go up. However, if the Dems find a new face and someone who shares the values most Americans do, then I would give Trump slight odds of winning.

    Elections are about competing choices and we don't know who the alternative candidate is at this juncture.
  • Relativist
    2.1k

    I don't know if he'll be reelected, but if he's not reelected, it will be because of his crazy behaviour. Look how poorly he's doing in the polls despite the economy doing well - it's because of this behaviour. Such behaviour matters to some people; it remains to be seen how big a factor this will be. I anticipate Democrats will run against Trump's behaviour.

    The economy could be a 2-edged sword: higher GDP growth doesn't result in every individual making more money. People who feel left behind could easily react.
  • LD Saunders
    312
    The economy was doing well before Trump became president, and it was anticipated by the vast majority of economists to do well after he was elected. Trump's policies have virtually nothing to do with the present state of the US economy, except for some rising prices and problems for companies as a result of the trade-wars he started. His fiscal polices don't come into effect until next month, in October. At that time, most economists are predicting a slow-down due to Trump's deficit-spending, and the need for the FED to establish counter-monetary policy to control inflation. Such policies by the FED during a time when the stock market is in a bubble, could cause an implosion.

    The people who claim -- Trump is president and the economy I doing well, so Trump must be given credit, are simply engaged in a post hoc fallacy. They never come forward with any causal basis for their claims, most likely because there isn't one to point to.
  • VagabondSpectre
    1.9k
    If Hillary runs again in 2020, Trump will probably get re-elected....

    If Hillary had not run in 2016, I'm pretty sure that Trump would not have won. (I've read in several places that Hillary and her campaign actively wanted Trump to get the republican nomination because she felt he was the only one she could beat). In truth, it was the other way around; Hillary was was the piece of shit that forced people to spoil their ballots with Trump.

    I really don't like Hillary "it's my turn" Clinton. It's like she feels entitled to the presidency and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it.
  • Relativist
    2.1k
    Presidents rarely have any real impact on the economy, but that's beside the point if people (irrationally) attribute the state of the economy to the president.

    That said, I think the enormous corporate tax cuts indeed is contributing to GDP growth a bit. The problem is that the deficits are out of control - and this will have a longer term negative effect that some future president will be inappropriately blamed for.
  • Jake
    1.4k
    On the other hand, apart from my lack or lesser disliking of Trump, I haven't seen the necessary steps being taken by the Democratic party to ensure that he doesn't get reelected. I mean to say, that there is no appeal to ideals or a more social democrat, which have consistently shown a greater amount of engagement and stimulus provided to voters. So, if the Democratic nominee loses the reelection, I won't be surprised.Posty McPostface

    I cast my vote for this. Trump won't win, but the Democrats can be genius at defeating themselves. The next election is only 2 years away, and actually begins in only a little more than a month, and we've yet to see any interesting candidates on the Democrat side, or any compelling coherent message.

    I'll be voting Dem even if they nominate my neighbor's dog, but I do have real concerns that the Dems just aren't up to it.
  • Maw
    2.7k
    At a high level, Trump's approval rating has been constantly low, despite a (again, high level) growing economy and unemployment rate. Trump also lost the popular vote to a much despised candidate.

    Trump will not be reelected.
  • Maw
    2.7k
    And if Trump does get reelected, the result would be even more devastating than his first election (assuming the Dems don't take Congress)
  • S
    11.7k
    Needs a poll. Make it happen. There's a good chap. :up:
  • 0 thru 9
    1.5k
    If the Democrats nominate HRC again, they deserve to lose again. I doubt Bernie will even try next time.

    One wonders if Mr. Prez will even make it to the next election. Even if he’s not removed, his health seems questionable. Judging from appearances, he seems like the most physically unfit POTUS since maybe Reagan toward the end of his second term, imho. Gobble those grease burgers, baby! :sweat:
  • Maw
    2.7k
    lol HRC isn't going to run again
  • Baden
    15.6k

    My sister is moving to the US, so I hope for her sake, no, but anything is possible in the land of opportunismity.
  • Maw
    2.7k
    Hey Baden is your sister single between the ages of 23-28 and moving to NYC?
  • Baden
    15.6k


    She's in her thirties, married and moving to LA. :lol: She's an actress and has done some modelling too, so eat your heart out. :broken:
  • Maw
    2.7k
    Ha you admit your sister is hot, great self-own
  • Baden
    15.6k
    She's also a member here actually, although she hasn't posted in ages...
  • VagabondSpectre
    1.9k
    Ha you admit your sister is hot, great self-ownMaw

    I mean, it's not really a self-own. There are some fairly universal beauty standards kicking around the human genome...

    Would it be better for @Baden if she was ugly?

    :chin:

    At least he can claim he has sexy genes!
  • VagabondSpectre
    1.9k
    Trump on the other hand....

    Trump has all but openly stated that he very much wants to have sexual relations with his daughter, Ivanka...

    Now THAT'S a self own!
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