Trump's Second Term

[Norman Alexander]

I don't understand why reporters respond to that question at all. They're entitled to be there and ask questions, or they wouldn't have been allowed in. Just say "a legitimate news agency" if you must say anything, and repeat the question until he answers it.

It's just a brutish rhetorical ruse by Trump to not answer tricky questions. Where "tricky" includes anything he hasn't been told about or remembers in the last 5 minutes.

My point was that the free press can turn this into an opportunity to turn Trump's tables on this. Make this trick be directly, deeply and publicly injurious to his precious personal ratings.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Every reporter so attacked should say they are from Fox, Newsmaxx, Breitbart, whatever Trump thinks is on his side.

 

[Helen]

Close to REM? I suppose anything with Trump in it is an 'Imitation of Life'. I see Stephen Miller isn't there, so maybe 'The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight'. I wonder how many people say that Trump as Christ has lead to them 'Losing My Religion'? Are there any lose bits from the demolition of the East Wing that could fall on him for an 'Orange Crush'? Honestly, he looks like he can barely 'Stand'.


Should I stop now?

Imho, you missed the one that really sums it all up; "Everybody hurts".

 

[TragicMonkey]

Every reporter so attacked should say they are from Fox, Newsmaxx, Breitbart, whatever Trump thinks is on his side.

"Who am I with? I'm with your fat momma, now answer the question so I can back to her place and satisfy her bestial lust again."

I may not be cut out to be a reporter.

 

[Pixel42]

Don't bet on that.

My weekly email from the Guardian says:

Tomorrow is the White House correspondents’ dinner, where in 2011 Trump was infamously mocked by Barack Obama and Seth Meyers – an event some say was the moment that convinced him he had to run for president. The “nerd prom”, once a staple in the calendars of presidents and Washington power brokers, has been shunned by Trump throughout his time in office. But this year the anti-free press president will be the guest of honour in a room full of news executives and journalists; a bizarre and troubling dynamic explored in this column by Margaret Sullivan.

While we will send our reporters to cover Trump’s appearance, the Guardian has chosen to send advocates for the freedom of the press to take the place of senior staff.

 

[jimbob]

I believe Trump suffers from discalculia. He can understand a number bigger than another, but that is the extent. His niece hinted at a learning disability.

Tero Gervais (@tero55gervais) on Threads

I believe Trump suffers from discalculia. He can understand a number bigger than another, but that is the extent. His niece hinted at a learning disability.

www.threads.com

That might be. The lack of wisdom would be to have that issue and making decisions that involve numbers without taking the advice of someone both numerate and trustworthy.

I did know someone who told me that he really struggled with numbers. He worked in advertising, pretty successfully and was a massive political nerd. Also a big fan of the Tory party. He supported Brexit, which I think might have been related to his self admitted lack of numeracy

 

[jimbob]

I wonder if her boss is the child's father....

Unlikely, now.

 

[jimbob]

You all voted Margaret Thatcher in thrice.

She harmed the country, but it was from a position of her thinking it was the best for the country as opposed to just the best for her. She also did some good things, including the initial impetus to start phasing out CFCs due to the damage to the Ozone layer

 

[Planigale]

You all voted Margaret Thatcher in thrice.

Yes, a woman with a degree and PhD in STEM from one of the top universities in the world. Who also qualified as a lawyer. Who was not from a wealthy family. Even today those achievements would be unusual in a senior politician, let alone last century. The first major politician to raise the issues of anthropogenic global warming.

Very different from Trump.

There are obviously some people who were strongly opposed to her policies, but that is what politics is about.

 

[Andy_Ross]

When Donald insults a reporter instead of answering a question, the next reporter called should ask exactly the same question.

 

[Vixen]

Yes, a woman with a degree and PhD in STEM from one of the top universities in the world. Who also qualified as a lawyer. Who was not from a wealthy family. Even today those achievements would be unusual in a senior politician, let alone last century. The first major politician to raise the issues of anthropogenic global warming.

Very different from Trump.

There are obviously some people who were strongly opposed to her policies, but that is what politics is about.

Thatcher never got a PhD, although she was a research student for a while.

Whilst it's useful to do something like PPE at somewhere like Oxford, you don't really need qualifications to be a successful politician. It's remarkable how many were ex-grammar school (like Thatcher and Wilson) and came from ordinary backgrounds.

 

[Vixen]

I believe Trump suffers from discalculia. He can understand a number bigger than another, but that is the extent. His niece hinted at a learning disability.

Tero Gervais (@tero55gervais) on Threads

I believe Trump suffers from discalculia. He can understand a number bigger than another, but that is the extent. His niece hinted at a learning disability.

www.threads.com

Not necessarily dyscalculia. You'd be surprised how many people have no idea how to calculate percentages.

ETA Although it's astonishing in Trump, given he graduated in Economics where you need to be able to calculate interest and inflation. And compound them. Not to mention Future Values... But then again, Trump's issued an injunction against Wharton/Penn from releasing his transcript and accreditations. 364th out of 366 students, is the rumour.

 

[Jack by the hedge]

When Donald insults a reporter instead of answering a question, the next reporter called should ask exactly the same question.

Rather wish one would ask him "Who the hell are YOU working for?"

 

[Vixen]

You all voted Margaret Thatcher in thrice.

Touché!

 

[Jack by the hedge]

Of course the contrast with Thatcher is she was looking unlikely to be re-elected until along came a war she didn't start, but she still won it in 74 days.

 

[Vixen]

Of course the contrast with Thatcher is she was looking unlikely to be re-elected until along came a war she didn't start, but she still won it in 74 days.

My thought exactly!

 

[Nessie]

Once again, thank you for painting the entire country with the same brush. It's not "the USA" that's doing this, it's Trump and his minions. Only 28.8% of us approve of Trump overall, while 64% disapprove of him according to RealClearPolitics (which averages several leading polls). Disapproval of the Iran War: 55.2%, Approval 40.5%

A country's people have to take responsibility for who gets elected. First time, shame on Trump, second time, shame on you.

 

[Mojo]

Of course the contrast with Thatcher is she was looking unlikely to be re-elected until along came a war she didn't start,

...by withdrawing the Endurance and sinking the General Belgrano?

 

[Reformed Offlian]

...by withdrawing the Endurance and sinking the General Belgrano?

That isn't when the war started.

 

[Segnosaur]

Once again, thank you for painting the entire country with the same brush. It's not "the USA" that's doing this, it's Trump and his minions. Only 28.8% of us approve of Trump overall, while 64% disapprove of him...

First of all, disapproval NOW is irrelevant. He got 49.8% in the last election, higher than his current approval rating. Someone having regrets because they made a bad choice doesn't negate that they made a bad choice in the first place. WE (meaning many of the posters on this board) had access to the same information in previous elections that other people did, and still recognized that Trump would be a disaster.

Secondly, even a voter didn't particularly want Trump to be president, how many people simply DID NOT VOTE? Or spoiled their ballot? Or voted 3rd party? Granted, they didn't actually support Trump in the previous election, but they looked at the 2 candidates, one of whom was a convicted felon who said he would "make America a dictatorship on day 1", and the other was a politician with no criminal convictions, who happened to be female, and said "I can't decide who to vote for"? If a person cannot make up your mind between fascism and democracy, they deserve part of the blame.

Now granted, not every American is to blame. Harris did get ~75 million votes in the 2024 election, so their are absolved. But there were ~245 million eligible voters. That means that 170 million Americans did not think Trump was bad enough to actually vote against. (They supported Trump, did not vote, spoiled ballot, etc.). Less than 1/3rd of Americans actually opposed Trump in a way that it mattered. If 2/3rds of the population are OK with fascism, you have a problem.