Cont: The Trump Presidency: Part 23

[SezMe]

This can't be Trump. He would have written "Thank you for the TREMENDOUS reviews and GREAT comments the like of which no one has ever seen before on my interview with LOSER Chris Wallace who will never be the journalist his father was. We may have set a record for doing such a FANTASTIC interview in the HOTTEST 100 degrees in history! The FAKE MEDIA wouldn't report on that!"

Who knew we had a White House staff writer here on little old ISF?

 

[SezMe]

While I agree that Trump will cause major problems, I think his support will wan after he loses the election and the GOP Big Guys (read: Mega donors) will see little upside and large downside to fight the inevitable. As I've stated before, the period between Nov. 4 and January 20 is my greatest concern.

Here's my scenario: Trump is convinced to leave (but will never admit it). But there's no way he's going to be gracious by being present on Inauguration day. That's just going to happen with Trump.

Thus, some time in late December/early January he quits and leaves - in his own mind - a winner. He'll claim, "The election was rigged and he's not going to be a part of it any more." Pence becomes the president for about a month and has to participate in the inauguration ceremonies. It's a dog's breakfast for everyone concerned.

 

[Ladewig]

So. What would have happened if he had failed the cognitive abilities test?

I don’t mean how does A25 work, I mean how does one convince Trump that he is mentally impaired to the point that it will affect his performance?

I guess the follow up question is how do you convince Pence that Trump’s impairment is a clear and present danger?


______________
If to try to institutionalize the king, you ..yadda yadda.

 

[Mojo]

More like:

TRUMP: Who should we ask for an opinion on this?
BARR: How about Yoo?
TRUMP: Me?
BARR: No, Yoo.
TRUMP: Me?
BARR: No, Yoo.
COSTELLO: Third Base!

TRUMP: I was talking to some top lawyers and they said, “sir, we are amazed at how much you know about law, if ever we needed to know something about law the person we’d ask would be you!”

 

[Stacyhs]

Originally Posted by Dr.Sid View Post
Well he's already suffering the defeat, through polls. He knows very well they are not fake. And they will get worse and worse. Under 30% it will be really hard for him to suffer it any longer.

I think he's delusional enough to believe that they are fake.

No, he knows they're not fake. That's why he's tweeting so much that they're fake. He's afraid.

 

[Stacyhs]

Originally Posted by Stacyhs View Post
If his hardcore base hasn't turned on him by now, they never will. His approval rating won't go below 35% no matter what he does.

What about when GOP drops him ?

The GOP won't drop him unless he loses the election. Even then, some are so invested in him that they'll echo his 'rigged election' nonsense but they're such cowards I doubt they'd support any effort to stay in office.

 

[Stacyhs]

While I agree that Trump will cause major problems, I think his support will wan after he loses the election and the GOP Big Guys (read: Mega donors) will see little upside and large downside to fight the inevitable. As I've stated before, the period between Nov. 4 and January 20 is my greatest concern.

Here's my scenario: Trump is convinced to leave (but will never admit it). But there's no way he's going to be gracious by being present on Inauguration day. That's just going to happen with Trump.

Thus, some time in late December/early January he quits and leaves - in his own mind - a winner. He'll claim, "The election was rigged and he's not going to be a part of it any more." Pence becomes the president for about a month and has to participate in the inauguration ceremonies. It's a dog's breakfast for everyone concerned.

I can totally see Trump not attending Biden's inauguration. Imagine him having to sit next to Obama!

 

[The Don]

The GOP won't drop him unless he loses the election. Even then, some are so invested in him that they'll echo his 'rigged election' nonsense but they're such cowards I doubt they'd support any effort to stay in office.

IMO it depends on what's at stake. For example, if a number of Republican senators were defeated, especially if the margins were comparatively small, then I can see them claiming wide-scale voter fraud and contesting the results through the courts. In this case, if President Trump were defeated, it would be further "evidence" of that self same voter fraud and hence they would fight to have that result overturned.

This could become the standard practice for any GOP incumbent beaten by his/her Democratic Party opponent - claim voter fraud, challenge the result through the courts and/or state legislature, end up with the case in SCOTUS and if RBG is replaced by a Conservative (which she will unless the Democrats have a majority in the Senate) then the election result may be overturned.

 

[Stacyhs]

IMO it depends on what's at stake. For example, if a number of Republican senators were defeated, especially if the margins were comparatively small, then I can see them claiming wide-scale voter fraud and contesting the results through the courts. In this case, if President Trump were defeated, it would be further "evidence" of that self same voter fraud and hence they would fight to have that result overturned.

This could become the standard practice for any GOP incumbent beaten by his/her Democratic Party opponent - claim voter fraud, challenge the result through the courts and/or state legislature, end up with the case in SCOTUS and if RBG is replaced by a Conservative (which she will unless the Democrats have a majority in the Senate) then the election result may be overturned.

I don't think that's likely but then again, I didn't think Trump would ever be elected in the first place. I actually thought people weren't that stupid and could see him for the narcissistic, disgusting, lying clown he is. I was wrong.

 

[The Don]

Trump, referring to Ghislaine Maxwell, the women who enabled Jeffrey Epstein and is perhaps the most notorious sex trafficker in the US: "I wish her well."

Law and order!

Cognitive dissonance is strong on the right wing.

Wishing the alleged procurer for a child sex trafficker well is perfectly alright for the "moral majority" but wearing a tan suit, ordering a burger with spicy mustard (Dijon was a second choice IIRC) or standing under an umbrella held by a Marine is an affront to the American people.

 

[The Don]

So. What would have happened if he had failed the cognitive abilities test?

I don’t mean how does A25 work, I mean how does one convince Trump that he is mentally impaired to the point that it will affect his performance?

You cannot. President Trump is convinced of his own perfection and if my experience of my own father's mental decline is typical, the person suffering the decline isn't well placed to judge their own capabilities.

I guess the follow up question is how do you convince Pence that Trump’s impairment is a clear and present danger?

I'm not sure that he'd want to do anything at this stage. Donald Trump is the GOP candidate so if Pence took over at this stage, would he even be able to be added to the ballot ?

Much better to invoke the 25th (if necessary) at the start of a second Trump term.

 

[Aridas]

Gods, that's dangerous rhetoric.

On par with "Enemy of the People?"

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

No, he is not effective. He appeals to a certain group, but he is definitely an underachiever. Even his lies are ridiculous. Sure, there is that group who will support him no matter what, but that is not enough.

Hans

It depends what you mean by "effective". If we're talking in terms of "stacking the courts with Republicans", then he's been quite extraordinarily effective. If we're talking in terms of "turning the US into a banana republic", then he's also been very effective.

 

[The Don]

It depends what you mean by "effective". If we're talking in terms of "stacking the courts with Republicans", then he's been quite extraordinarily effective. If we're talking in terms of "turning the US into a banana republic", then he's also been very effective.

He's also been very effective at removing people's healthcare, taking away the already meagre employment protections for US workers and gutting environmental protections.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Trump Retweeted

Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022)
@TeamTrump
President @realDonaldTrump on the U.S. preforming 50 million tests: "We have conducted nearly three times as many tests as all of the other countries in the western hemisphere combined"

President @realDonaldTrump: My Administration has ZERO outstanding requests for equipment from the states

Fatalities have fallen nationwide, and we are surging supplies, personnel, and therapeutics where they are needed.

"As one family, we mourn every precious life that's been lost. I pledge in their honor that we will develop a vaccine, and we will defeat the virus."

President @realDonaldTrump: "We're asking everybody that when you are not able to socially distance, wear a mask."

 

[Andy_Ross]

Just read some comments about trump on Twitter. His base -- at least some of it -- seem like they are starting to turn on trumpy. Wonder if you can guess, who do you think is THE most nefarious deep agent of the Deep State?

Yep, that's right.

Some example tweets

Laurie
@10254Kerr
Replying to @WhiteHouse @POTUS and @realDonaldTrump
I'm very upset about this. You flipped on us. I just donated to you. Will anyone ever be honest with us about this scamdemic????

Lion's Biggest Fan
@loudproudTexan
Replying to @WhiteHouse and @realDonaldTrump
@POTUS I have the RIGHT TO RISK. As Americans, it's our body or choice to take the risk of getting COVID-19 if we want to.
The government is not to limit WHO I AM or WHERE I GO. They're to ensure my safety. I DIDN'T CALL YOU.

Lorie #ImpeachCommieTommieWolf
@LorenaBax8989
Replying to @WhiteHouse and @realDonaldTrump
Not happy about this AT ALL.
I have not worn a mask and never will. And I'm sick of the mandates. I was.joping you'd tell off these governors for infringing on our rights.

Mike Lisanke
@lisanke
Replying to @WhiteHouse and @realDonaldTrump
Mr @POTUS @realDonaldTrump, many of US are NOT going to get use to the Masks (we know they don't do anything). And, we aren't preparing to accept Yours and @BillGates Warp Speed Vaccine. Just saying! when did you become their Dim?

 

[Horatius]

You cannot. President Trump is convinced of his own perfection and if my experience of my own father's mental decline is typical, the person suffering the decline isn't well placed to judge their own capabilities.

We've already seen what he will do if he fails such a test. He's convinced himself that the test is actually "very hard" and that very few people could pass it. And that's his reaction to a test that he apparently passed, even if we don't really know by how much. When he starts getting failing grades, he'll double down on how NO ONE could pass such a hard test. And of course, no amount of evidence of other people passing the test quite easily will ever convince him otherwise.

When actual mental decline runs smack into his natural tendency to believe whatever stupid ******** he wants to believe, it's going to be the perfect storm of delusion.

 

[dmaker]

It depends what you mean by "effective". If we're talking in terms of "stacking the courts with Republicans", then he's been quite extraordinarily effective. If we're talking in terms of "turning the US into a banana republic", then he's also been very effective.

I've never quite understood how filling judicial slots is somehow an achievement for any President. It seems pretty easy to me. If you are a conservative President, you nominate conservative judges. If you are a liberal President, you nominate liberal judges.

Not sure how simply making the logical choice in that situation for anyone is praise worthy.

 

[Armitage72]

Trump Retweeted

Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022)
@TeamTrump
President @realDonaldTrump on the U.S. preforming 50 million tests: "We have conducted nearly three times as many tests as all of the other countries in the western hemisphere combined"

President @realDonaldTrump: My Administration has ZERO outstanding requests for equipment from the states

Fatalities have fallen nationwide, and we are surging supplies, personnel, and therapeutics where they are needed.

"As one family, we mourn every precious life that's been lost. I pledge in their honor that we will develop a vaccine, and we will defeat the virus."

President @realDonaldTrump: "We're asking everybody that when you are not able to socially distance, wear a mask."

I'm surprised that this hasn't been used yet.

 

[Meadmaker]

Some example tweets

Laurie
@10254Kerr
Replying to @WhiteHouse @POTUS and @realDonaldTrump
I'm very upset about this. You flipped on us. I just donated to you. Will anyone ever be honest with us about this scamdemic????

Lion's Biggest Fan
@loudproudTexan
Replying to @WhiteHouse and @realDonaldTrump
@POTUS I have the RIGHT TO RISK. As Americans, it's our body or choice to take the risk of getting COVID-19 if we want to.
The government is not to limit WHO I AM or WHERE I GO. They're to ensure my safety. I DIDN'T CALL YOU.

Lorie #ImpeachCommieTommieWolf
@LorenaBax8989
Replying to @WhiteHouse and @realDonaldTrump
Not happy about this AT ALL.
I have not worn a mask and never will. And I'm sick of the mandates. I was.joping you'd tell off these governors for infringing on our rights.

Mike Lisanke
@lisanke
Replying to @WhiteHouse and @realDonaldTrump
Mr @POTUS @realDonaldTrump, many of US are NOT going to get use to the Masks (we know they don't do anything). And, we aren't preparing to accept Yours and @BillGates Warp Speed Vaccine. Just saying! when did you become their Dim?

Gladdens my heart.

Although I would prefer that they just started wearing masks.

It illustrates a problem that Trump has had for a while. His position has always been closer to the denialist position, but when it comes down to it, he has been pretty wishy-washy on it. He demands, rhetorically, that we open up schools and workplaces, but when it comes to actual policy, he hasn't done it.

When the surge in cases occurred in the states that opened up, that really hit him hard. His hard core, religious level, deniers still want him to keep the obviously failed line on masks, but everyone else is starting to see the wisdom. No matter what he did, he was in a bad place, politically.

Not that I have any sympathy for him. He is reaping what he sowed. His position was wrong, and it just isn't sustainable in the face of stories about deaths and hospitalizations. Now his hard core followers are mad at him for giving in to reality, and his not quite as hard core followers have been shaken by the reality that he (and they) have been wrong all along.