Trump's America

[elengil]

Trump gets booed at UFC event. "This should be his crowd."

...should it be though? I know you're quoting the article, but should traditionally conservative be equated with Trump in the slightest anymore?

[Dave_LF]

I think it's the id-centrism of the environment that makes it an (expected) good fit for Trump rather than its traditional political leanings

[Frelga]

I have no idea what the actual demographics of the audience are, but the stereotype is heavily working class white male, which is supposed to be the most pro-Trump group.

[Sunsilver]

Second time in two weeks, which makes me wonder, has Trump made a habit of going to sporting events in the past?

Or is this something new he's doing, so he will get seen by the voters, and possibly drum up some votes, because he's 'one of the guys attending a game'?

A local member of parliament used to be a member of our church way back when. We only saw him in the pews at election time, and maybe Easter and Christmas...

So, yeah, wondering...

[RoseMorninStar]

I had read that there was booing & cheering. I don't know who 'won' the contest.

I have read that Trump likes the UFC and has attended before.

On thing we haven't mentioned in the 'is it right or no' to boo or chant, 'Lock him up' is the banners stating, 'Impeach Trump'. What are the thoughts on that? Appropriate? Disrespectful?

[Frelga]

Peaceful expressions of PG13 rated, not-lying free speech are always appropriate.

[RoseMorninStar]

Frelga, simple and well stated. I'll agree with that

[RoseMorninStar]

Not sure if this is the best place to put this:

[elengil]

Potentially dubious source (never heard of it??) but if accurate, it isn't the least bit surprising. Not the least.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/thanks-to ... stleblower

“They say Trump is making Russia great. That’s basically accurate,” pointed out Karen Shakhnazarov, CEO of Mosfilm Studio and a prominent fixture on Russian state television. “The chaos brought by Trump into the American system of government is weakening the United States. America is getting weaker and now Russia is taking its place in the Middle East. Suddenly, Russia is starting to seriously penetrate Africa... So when they say that Trump is weakening the United States—yes, he is. And that’s why we love him... The more problems they have, the better it is for us.”

[Voronwë the Faithful]

I saw that article too, and thought it was interesting. Not sure that the source is dubious. I'm curious though, since the article is primarily about the whistleblower and the revealing of his supposed name by Russian media, is there a reason that you think that it makes more sense to post it herr than in the impeachment thread where all of the other discussion about the whistleblower is?

[elengil]

I saw that article too, and thought it was interesting. Not sure that the source is dubious. I'm curious though, since the article is primarily about the whistleblower and the revealing of his supposed name by Russian media, is there a reason that you think that it makes more sense to post it herr than in the impeachment thread where all of the other discussion about the whistleblower is?

Because the part of the article that really stood out to me had nothing to do with the impeachment, but with the results of Trump as president, the way the world is changing as a result, the way Russia is growing in power because of it, it may have stuff 'about' the impeachment, but the broader thrust of the article is, IMO, so much broader than that one topic. It's to do with the entirety of Trump as president, not just about Trump as (potentially) no-longer president.

Trump as doing Putin's bidding, making Russia happy, not doing his job as US president.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Okay.

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[Dave_LF]

Trump says and does so many awful things every day that a lot of it just slips though the cracks, but this one is worth drawing attention to (however briefly):

[Frelga]

Posted on the anniversary of the Kristallnacht

[Dave_LF]

Total coincidence, I'm sure. Just like handing over Syria on Putin's birthday.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Posted on the anniversary of the Kristallnacht

I doubt Mr. Trump knows what Kristallnacht was let alone when it happened.

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[Frelga]

Are we really buying the "not competent enough to be culpable" excuse? Mr. Trump seems to be well versed in the contents of white supremacist websites.

[Dave_LF]

Yeah; if this were the only time he'd tweeted just-barely-covert support for Nazism, I'd agree. But as it is, the most charitable narrative I can come up with is that some other white supremacist he follows promoted the book on Kristallnacht, which brought it to Trump's attention and his retweet machine.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

I seriously doubt that Mr. Trump's tweet in support of a book that despite its unfortunate title doesn't have anything directly to do with national socialism (or white nationalism) was related to the anniversary of Kristallnacht. There is a plenty of conduct that he is culpable of without going out of the way to look for more.

[RoseMorninStar]

Posted on the anniversary of the Kristallnacht.

I doubt Mr. Trump knows what Kristallnacht was let alone when it happened.

Are we really buying the "not competent enough to be culpable" excuse? Mr. Trump seems to be well versed in the contents of white supremacist websites.

I think Trump is a dolt and an opportunist. I don't think he knows or cares about history unless it has to do with him personally or promotes him personally (or promotes Russia, as in his consideration of going to Russia for the May Day parade). Trump operates on hate and division, 'otherism', the creation of foes and of playing the victim. He will use whatever means at his disposal that will rile a crowd. Trump does not read and go looking for this stuff.. someone like Stephen Miller puts it in front of him and he uses it like a tool. That is not to say Trump disagrees with the ideology behind such garbage.. I just don't think he has the attention span or knowledge to intentionally go looking for it and put it up on a particular day. The likes of Putin, Bannon, Stephen Miller, Giuliani, Sean Hannity, etc.. play him like a fiddle (or puppet, if you prefer) but he is very much a WILLING participant, not a hapless stooge.

So, do I think he's 'not competent enough to be culpable' ? No, he's culpable alright, but from a different angle, so to speak. Do I think Trump is racist? Most certainly, but mostly if those in question are not wealthy. Does he care about what happens as a result of his actions? No, because the people it will affect are not wealthy. Unless something affects him personally, it doesn't matter. He's a rage-filled, vindictive, cruel, impulsive, visceral tyrant.