American Politics from 2019 on

[L'Emmerdeur]

JD Vance says that it's 'unfortunate' that American leaders consider Putin/Russia the bad guy when it comes to Russia's war on Ukraine. As somebody quoted in the article mentions--not in these words--this is the vile shit that could very well become president in short order if Trump gets back into office.

'"Perfect Russian Asset: JD Vance Pummeled for Promoting "Putin’s Propaganda"

During a town hall Thursday, Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance suggested that Russia is not the “bad guy” in its illegal war of choice against the sovereign nation of Ukraine, leading critics including national security experts to accuse him of promoting Vladimir Putin’s talking points.

...

“And I think unfortunately, you’ve got a lot of American leaders who like to beat their chest and say, ‘Well, this is the good guy and that’s the bad guy.’ Look, yes, Russia should not have invaded Ukraine, but we are where we are, and what’s in the best interest of America, and what I believe is in the best interest of Ukraine and Russia is for the killing to stop.”

[JimC]

An interesting article about Trump and his appeal:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-26/ ... /104512040

His role in the January 6 insurrection has not been disqualifying. His autocratic tendencies — General Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has called him "fascist to the core" and "the most dangerous person in the country" — are not disqualifying. His bizarre behaviour — such as dancing for 39 minutes at a recent town hall event in Pennsylvania, or rhapsodising about the dimensions of the golf great Arnold Palmer's genitalia — is not disqualifying.

Trump is seen as a saviour, not a sinner

Once again, we are reminded of that Trumpian truism uttered in 2016 on the eve of that year's Iowa caucus: "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters."

Since then, he has stood in the middle of Washington DC and implored his supporters to march on the US Capitol to block the certification of an election he clearly lost, without relinquishing his status as party lodestar and figurehead. Purged of strident internal critics — such as the former congresswoman Liz Cheney, who is campaigning for Kamala Harris — the Republican party has become even more of a personal movement.

[pErvinalia]

It's a cult.

[Brian Peacock]

It's a suicide cult, and they want to take everybody else with them.

[Tero]

Elsewhere:

Most recent Gallup has Americans split Democrat/Republican/Independent as 30%/30%/40% approximately. But when asked which way they lean it is 49% Republican and 42% Democratic. I don’t get how the Republican Party has picked up half of the independents but the Democrats picked up only half of the Republican numbers.

Two answer:

Apparently, a lot of people like that option, or at least like the fact that espousing it “owns the libs”. It’s basically a virtual diesel truck “rolling coal” sentiment against any suggestion that the United States ought to tone it down a bit and stop being such a raging hemorrhoid about starting a pair of losing wars and maybe think about being even slightly less egregious in is energy consumption.

There is a shocking amount of “grievance politics” behind the MAGA movement, and the parallels to late Weimar-era Germany are stunning and disturbing to even a casual student of history.

Independents are generally likelier to lean (R) because the Republican brand has become highly toxic. Therefore an independent is likelier to be a closeted Republican who doesn’t want to embrace Trump publicly than a liberal.

There is no reason for a Democrat to be shy or ashamed of the (D) label, but there is much reason in the Trump era - or even before - for a Republican to not want to be called a Republican.

[Brian Peacock]

Seems like everyone's message is "If you don't vote for the Borgia the Medici will win."

[Tero]

It was predicted that men would vote for Trump. Like by 10%. Most recent data seems to indicate Trum lead there not happening.

[JimC]

Tero, if Trump loses, do you think there is a serious risk of violence from his supporters, who would no doubt proclaim the election to be stolen, again?

[L'Emmerdeur]

The repulsive convicted felon candidate appears to have dropped a hint of an arrangement or understanding with Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House, regarding a re-run of the plan for 2020. If Republicans in swing states who're in positions overseeing elections can cause enough chaos to screw up the Electoral College vote then it will go to the House of Representatives where Republicans can give the win to Trump despite him being soundly beaten in the popular vote and Electoral College.

'"What’s He Confessing to?": Trump’s Mike Johnson "Secret" Draws Electoral College Concerns

Referencing Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Trump said: “I think with our little secret we are gonna do really well with the House, our little secret is having a big impact, he and I have a secret, we will tell you what it is when the race is over.”

Suggesting the comment was “potentially…sinister,” Politico Playbook reported it “could be a reference to the House settling a contested election.”

Historian Heather Cox Richardson in her popular Substack newsletter wrote: “It seems possible—probable, even—that Trump was alluding to putting in play the plan his people tried in 2020. That plan was to create enough chaos over the certification of electoral votes in the states to throw the election into the House of Representatives. There, each state delegation gets a single vote, so if the Republicans have control of more states than the Democrats, Trump could pull out a victory even if he had dramatically lost the popular vote.”

“Since he has made virtually no effort to win votes in 2024,” she added, “this seems his likely plan.”

Given that Johnson was heavily involved the effort to keep Trump in power despite losing the election in 2020, it's not a stretch of the imagination to surmise that he's already assured Trump that he's ready to try again.

[Tero]

Secret haha.

[pErvinalia]

Stop the steal steals the election.

[Brian Peacock]

Early ballots burned in suspected attacks in Washington and Oregon

Hundreds of ballots damaged in fires that police believe are linked and vehicle involved has reportedly been identified

[pErvinalia]

Electoral fraud. Must have been a Democrat.

[Tero]

Kamala to speak to bigger Ellipse crowd than Trump. Trump will be close to a heart attack.

[Tero]

Who knew? Well..Trump knew.