Capitol Hill Blue Forums Political Issues Politics In General Trump 2.0

Welp, Trump was sworn in as the 47th POTUS. This time, Trump comes with the dubious honor of being America’s first convicted felon AND adjudicated sexual assaulter POTUS.

In a flurry of Executive Orders signed among them, 50 Intelligence Officers lost their security clearances because the signed a Memorandum stating the “Hunter Biden laptop” was Russian propaganda. Trump also released 1500 J6 rioters out of jail or prison.

These EOs show who Donald Trump is: an incredibly insane sociopath. A vindictive old man with small d-energy, with the emotional maturity of a middle school kid.

We are so screwed as a country.

I totally agree, Trump is a very vindictive man with revenge in his heart and will use the power of government to extract that revenge. I’ve said many times Trump has the mentality of a spoiled 4-year-old brat with his name calling and throwing of temper tantrums along with his 3rd grade schoolyard bullying tactics.

Yes, Trump pardoned the 1-6 participants, renamed the Gulf of Mexico and that mountain in Alaska. Has done pretty much so far what he campaigned on. But what he has done so far isn’t what got him elected or why approximately half of those who voted for him wanted him to do. Sure, half were MAGA, avid Trumpers, approximately around a quarter of the electorate. The other half were people voting for Trump because they thought he would do better job with the economy, inflation, rising prices, especially illegal immigration etc. than what the Biden administration had done. They voted for Trump hoping their own lives would be better, their personal situation would change, their standard of living improve. An example of this, among those voters who said they were better off 4 years ago than today, Trump won those voters 76-23 over Harris. 58% of all Americans said the economy was poor, not good, Trump won these voters 78-20 over Harris. 73% of all Americans were dissatisfied or angry with the way things were going in this country Trump won them 62-35. None of these voters gave the vindictiveness of Trump a thought. These non-MAGA, non-Trumpers, half of those who voted for Trump thought Biden and his administration failed in their job of handling or addressing inflation, rising prices, the economy as a whole, illegal immigration etc. They didn’t vote for Trump, their vote was against Biden, his replacement, Harris, against the democratic party, those in charge. Looking over the exit polling this is easily discernable.

https://www.cnn.com/election/2024/exit-polls/national-results/general/president/0

The bottom line, if Trump improves the economy, gets rid of inflation, stops rising prices, secures the border, their standard of living improves, these people, the non-MAGA won’t care what Trump does in other areas such as pardons, renaming, taking revenge on political opponents, or anything else. It seems our democracy has evolved into what have you done for me lately.

However, if he doesn't, I don't expect a massive abandonment of him as he will lie about it being the Left's fault - the same propaganda strategy he used to get elected.

We have spread some blame on the Democrats for not running an effective campaign or platform, but how do you compete with a master of lies and a gullible electorate? Looks like Dems are not as good at lying as Reeps are.

Hmm, if he doesn’t cure those main problems, he’ll lose support among the non-MAGA and drop back down to the level of support Trump had during his first term. Lies or not, a lot of those folks will be looking at their wallet. No matter how many lies, they all become irrelevant to a thinning wallet. If Trump doesn’t solve the inflation, rising prices, border problem, the democrats will have a banner year come 2026. The democrats gained 38 house seats in the 2018 election; they could very well repeat that performance if Trump doesn’t take care of those issues that he was elected to take care of.

The democrats failed to see or understand how dissatisfied most folks were with the Biden administration. Harris, the democrats thought they would win the election because she wasn’t Trump. They didn’t consider that most Americans looked on the Biden administration as either governing very poorly or as a failure to cure the problems the masses thought most important to them. Yet, by running Trump, the republicans gave the democrats, Harris a very good chance of winning whereas some other republican probably would have won in a landslide. Most Americans still dislike Trump, only this time around they disliked the job performance of Biden and company more than they disliked Trump. Look for Trump to lose a lot of support from those who voted against Biden and the democrats, but not for Trump. Who opposed Harris and the democrats last year didn’t matter much to them. When a sitting president’s overall job approval is at 40%, his disapproval at 57%, when Biden and company’s handling of most issues are disapproved at somewhere between 55-65% of all Americans, it’s a wonder, simply amazing Harris came as close as she did. The democrats ended up gaining 2 house seats while the GOP gained but 4 senate seats. As sitting presidents, Carter and Biden had roughly the same approval/disapproval among all Americans. But in 1980, Reagan won by 10 points, not 1.5. The republicans gained 35 house seats, not losing 2 and gained 12 senate seats, not 4.

Trump will lose support; he’ll lose the support of a large portion of the non-MAGA voters who voted for him. You can write this down in stone. Just like in 2018, republicans were defending Trump and what they did over those first two years of Trump when the GOP lost 35 house seats. In 2026 the republicans will once again be defending Trump and what they had done over the next two years. Wait, watch and see.

I heard that there was a vast number of voters who just didn't vote. Thought that was pretty interesting. He has lost the police support. Virtually all religion that are not white christian are hammering him. Taking away the jobs of the infirm is not helping him. The list just keeps on going down. I also suspect that there are more than just 3 senators that don't support him. If he keeps it up it gonna get VERY interesting. They are currently getting ready to pass a law restricting female rights which is also not going to help. He has now turned on the Canadian and Mexico 25% tariffs which means everything from those places go up by 25%. I suspect that he also has a lot more as well!

Yep - INTERESTING TIMES!

I’m not certain I didn’t cover this on another subject. You’re correct about those not voting this time. 2020 63% voter turnout, 159 million. 2024 59% voter turnout using VAP, 156 million. 3 million less folks voted in 2024 than 2020 although those eligible to vote rose by 7 million. Along with less voters turnout out, in 2020 37% of those who voted were democrats, 35% republicans. In 2024 31% were democrats, republicans maintain their 35% of those who actually voted.

https://www.cnn.com/election/2020/exit-polls/president/national-results

https://www.cnn.com/election/2024/exit-polls/national-results/general/president/0

Why the 6-point drop in democratic voter turnout is something I’ve been researching, but I can’t find any definitive cause. As for the religious, Trump won the protestant vote 63-36 over Harris, Trump also won the Catholic vote 59-39, lost the Jewish vote to Harris 78-22 and lost the no religion folks to Harris 71-27.

There were several role reversals, for the first time since 1984 Trump became the first republican to win the working class, blue collar workers 51-47 over Harris while Harris won the college grads 56-42. College grads had gone republican from 1972 through 2008 when Obama won them. Romney took them back in 2012, Clinton won them in 2016, Biden in 2020 and Harris in 2024. Blue collar workers used to be a democratic party staple while college grads were steadily republican in the past. Trump came within 5 points of winning union households. Other groups, Trump won 46% of the Hispanic vote, the most ever by a republican. He won 13% of the black vote, the most for a republican since Gerald Ford won 15% back in 1976. Trump won first time voters 55-44 over Harris, the first time a republican had done that since 1988. There’s more on role reversals or long-time groups of voters who had a habit in the past of voting republican and or democrat, switched this year to voting for the opposite party they had in the past.

It is confusing. As far as I can tell the Republics did their work and the Democrats didn't. I know - 'maybe' but that, I think is is what happened. The Dems just didn't do a great job and win. I think that happened because they had a plan that didn't seem to have a lot to say about the other side. I tend to believe that the Democrats are a kindly group that toot their own horns but, pretty much, ignore the other side. Hopefully, this time around, the Dems can wake up, smell the roses (and other, not particularly desirable stenches). Mr Trump has done his best to do this and it would be nice if the Dems point some of that out to the voting public. Lord knows the Right is doing enough to, pretty much, disgust most humans.

Some might be the current system of sale based on 'gifts' from a variate of sources. Another is the on-going lies. (the Dems could put up a half hour should on tv simply noting the day's lies, including existing facts).

Just a thought. Right now, as far as I can see, the Dems seem to be not real interested.

I totally agree. It has been pretty obvious that Trump's main strategy has always been to blame the Democrats in particular and liberals in general for everything bad while taking credit for anything good that happens anywhere in the world.

Someone on Substack had the idea of Democrats daily identifying everything and anything that goes wrong anywhere in the world and demand to know why Trump let it happen and when he is going to fix it. Every. Single. Day. Non-stop. Never let any of the problems fade from the news, keep hammering at it. For example: "Mr. President, when will you fix your mess? You promised to end the Ukraine war on day one. It is now day X and the war rages on! The price of eggs is $9. $9!!!! You need to fix this mess you've gotten us into now! The fires are still burning in LA. When will you put them out? Why haven't the burned down neighborhoods been rebuilt? When will you do something to fix this disaster you are presiding over?"

It doesn't matter if none of the things are his fault. That sort of thing has never stopped him nor Republicans in general from using this tactic. And the great part about it is, it works on the American public.

Years and years of hard-fought advances to make America better for EVERYONE are being erased in one stroke of the pen: Trump signed an EO repealing President Lyndon Johnson’s 1965 executive order banning racial discrimination in hiring for the federal government.

Another EO Trump signed this week proclaims that our sex identity begins at “fertilization” when, in fact, sexual development doesn’t begin to start until at least the sixth week after fertilization. While the EO is a direct attack on transgender individuals and setting them up for rank persecution – the intent of the EO – this EO also a way of laying the groundwork for fetal personhood, a doctrine that will ultimately lead to a total ban on abortion and several methods of birth control.

Benjamin Franklin, ever the optimist even at the age of 81, gave what was for him a remarkably restrained assessment in his final speech before the Constitutional Convention: “…when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views.” He thought it impossible to expect a “perfect production” from such a gathering, but he believed that the Constitution they had just drafted, “with all its faults,” was better than any alternative that was likely to emerge.

Upon exiting the Constitutional Convention Benjamin Franklin was approached by a group of citizens asking what sort of government the delegates had created. His answer was: “A republic, if you can keep it.”

Who knew our Republic’s hard fought advances could all be destroyed in one week.

I place blame for Kamala Harris not defending the Palestinians against their massacre by the Israeli government. Yes, October 6th was horrible, but the extent of the risraeli government's retribution is un-called for. Harris could had distanced herself from the Biden Administration in this regard. But, perhaps at the end of the day, she agreed with Biden on this.

Harris lost a lot of votes by this decision from both Palestinian and non-Palestinian voters. We KNOW voters stayed home because of this issue.

Otherwise, Harris ran a great campaign.

Remember - Harris was a VICE president. VICE presidents do not have a life of their own, nor, I suspect, a thought of their own. They are there for one purpose - back the president and stand in if necessary. That being the case, and being aware that she is a vice president she could not do that as it would be going off away from her president. The while Kamala Harris thing has given me some humor. Vice presidents actually do very little and ITS ALWAYS at the behest of the president.

All that being said I fear that Biden should never have stuck with Netanyahoo. That man is a monster and a charged criminal by his own government. Apparently the only reason he is not in prison is because he continues to hold his position. Biden dragged her right down that path. There were thoughts expressed (few and far between). Anyway, I think you are probably right. That deal is a serious mess and we were right in middle of it.

VP Harris was running for POTUS. She had better have her own ideas.

VP once a sitting president finished his time in office don’t have a winning record when running to replace a president of his own party. A 20% winning record
1960 Nixon lost to JFK
1968 Humphrey lost to Nixon
1988 G.H.W Bush beat Dukakis*
2000 Gore lost to G.W. Bush
2024 Harris lost to Trump

Probably because Americans want a change. In fact, only one candidate, G.H.W. Bush from the party of the sitting president won the election to replace that sitting president of their own party. The list not counting presidents who lost reelection, just their replacements.

1952 Truman’s replacement Stevenson lost to Eisenhower
1960 Eisenhower’s replacement Nixon lost to JFK
1968 LBJ’s replacement Humphrey lost to Nixon
1988 Reagan’s replacement G.H.W. Bush beat Dukakis*
2000 Bill Clinton’s replacement Gore lost G.W. Bush
2008 G.W. Bush’s replacement McCain lost Obama
2016 Obama’s replacement Hillary Clinton lost to Trump
2024 Biden’s replacement Harris lost to Trump

Replacement winning percentage 12.5%. If it weren’t for G.H.W. Bush winning in 1988, both VP’s and a sitting president’s replacement would be a O’fer. It also seems that a high or a low favorable or a high or low job performance has nothing to do with either the VP winning or a sitting presidents replacement winning. Eisenhower, Bill Clinton, Obama were all very popular presidents, yet their replacement lost. Truman, LBJ, G.W. Bush, Biden were all unpopular presidents which their replacement lost.

This is what happens when you stay home and not vote: Trump propses 'clean out' of Gaza citizens

Yep, you are probably right but that is, as far as I can tell, the way it was and will probably be that way if another vice tries to run. Comes under the heading of sh?? happens..........

Rick, I’ve been trying to figure out why so many previous democratic voters decided to stay home and not vote last year. Numbers to ponder, party affiliation from 2000-2020 the democrats averaged 4-point advantage over the republicans 33-29% with the rest classified as independents. Among those who actually voted the democrats averaged 37% of the electorate who went to the polls, the republicans 33% from 2000-2020. Independents are notorious for not voting as they don’t have the same stake in the elections as the two major parties do. The two major parties own the candidates, they chose the candidates, independents own nothing and choose no one.

Then 2024 happened. Party affiliation was even at 28% for each major party. The first time the democrats didn’t have a distinct advantage in party affiliation since FDR first came on the scene or should I say, Herbert Hoover. For the first time more republicans went to the polls and voted last year than democrats since Hoover. 35% of those who voted were republicans, 31% democrats, the rest independent which Harris won 51-48. But that was a far cry from the numbers Biden rang up in 2020 winning independents 54-41 over Trump with 5% voting third party.

Trump won because previous democratic voters stayed home, the drop percentage wise among those who actually voted dropped from 37% democrats in 2020 down to 31% in 2024. Some 8 million previous democratic voters didn’t vote. The republican percentages remained the same at 35% of those who voted in both 2020 and 2024. Throw in the fact Trump won first times voters last year, that explains Biden defeating Trump by 7 million votes in 2020 to Harris losing by 2 million.

I know what happened, that is in the numbers. I don’t know why approximately 8 million previous democratic voters would decide to stay home last year. I have theories, but no hard numbers or facts to back up those theories. I’m continuing to work on those. But some interesting tidbits.

Voter enthusiasm among democrats to get out and vote for Harris was much lower than the enthusiasm republicans had to go to the polls and vote for Trump. Party affiliation or the base of both major parties were even in 2024. That a first since Gallup and Pew Research began keeping track of party affiliation back in 1948. The democrats always have had the party affiliation advantage, some years as much as 20-point advantage over the republicans. But that was back in the big tent era of the democratic party when both major parties had their conservative and liberal wings. There’s plenty of other indications why previous democratic voters stayed home, but I’ll leave it as is for now.

I did.

There are no enforcement mechanisms. Each branch of government can ignore the dictums of the others. Until Trump there has been a tacit but implicit acknowledgement to respect the other branches of government and their singular purviews. The executive branch understood only the legislative branch made law or appropriated monies, and the legislative branch understood the executive branch executed the laws they made. Under Trump this is no longer the case. Before I could type this comment, Trump has already declared a national emergency on the border, which in effect expanded executive authority and subsumed some legislative prerogatives. As he learns of his immense power within his presidential duties, he will no doubt continue to expand his executive authority and the auxiliary legislative powers imbued by and with the imprimatur of the SC.

What is important about this is the fact the SC has no judicial mechanism to enforce any ruling or opinion they may publish. If Trump doesn't like their opinion, he can ignore it. Judicial harsh language will become just wasted printed type. If Congress says Trump can't make law, he will declare another and in this case unspecified national emergency which would encompass increased legislative duties. What can Congress do? Write a law which can and would be ignored by Trump.

What all of this means is Trump has become in effect a king. I warned of this possibility long ago and now it appears to be a reality.

My wife thinks that everybody who voted for Trump will vote the other way in two years. I am not convinced that is going to happen. My own thought is that those who voted for Trump in the first place are not the brightest minds in the nation and I doubt that anybody knows what they are going to do. Now add in that the Democrats are going to have to do something. So far, I fear, that has been an ongoing disaster. I thought I would add this and see who agrees with what in this instance. I also wonder if it will make any difference, one way or the other.

Just a thought............

If I dig out my old crystal ball, 2026 should be a banner year for the democrats with a big depends in front of that banner year. MAGA makes up approximately 25% of the electorate, they’re not going to change their votes. You do have another quarter of the electorate who voted for Trump who aren’t MAGA Trumpers. The read I’m getting is Trump is governing only for the MAGA portion of the country. If he continues doing that, look for the democrats to regain the house in 2026 by a large margin. Trump is getting high marks on his job approval so far, but that is because he’s tackling the illegal immigration problem which was the second most important issue in last years election. Trump has issued a couple of EO’s on the illegal immigration problem, but he didn’t really need to do that, all he needed to do was enforce the laws already on the books.

Inflation was the top issue, rising prices. No EO is going to solve this issue. I don’t think there’s much the government can do about inflation other than let it run its course. Inflation is currently at 2.9% and falling. Trump took office at the right time. Give it another 6 months or so, inflation should tame itself. If Biden had six more months to go on his presidency, he would have gotten the credit.

But Trump is a vindictive man with revenge in his heart. Even if Trump is successful on illegal immigration and rising prices, him taking his revenge out on his political opponents will doom the GOP. Most Americans don’t like radical change, they don’t like being taken out of their comfort zone which is what Trump is doing so far.

Correct

Again correct

Yes in a way Pres Biden did not do. He is advertising how many people he is deporting .... Pres Biden did not do that in spite of the fact he also deported people. The only EO which made a real difference is, he stopped legal immigration, and that is something Pres Biden did not do.

Yep ... and it doesn't matter if the rate of inflation slows down to acceptable levels. The effect of prices increases from inflation are and will continue to be felt, until the market adjusts to increased supplies and outstripping demands. There remains the question of how will producers feel the effect? If increased production means lower wholesale prices, don't expect the producers to continue losing money to appease Trump. I don't know where inflation is heading but I don't expect it to be lower than FED expectations and certainly not lower than voter expectations.

Not sure that has any meaning for the average voter. They're not affected and otherwise it is an abstraction dealt with by those who think of the political and philosophical ramifications.


They have begun the deconstruction of the administrative state and apparently weaponization of government has become de facto reality. At this moment I do not believe Democracy will survive.

Exactly rporter. A lot of the non-MAGA, non-Trumpers voted for him simply because they felt they were better off 4 years ago than today. Which is not surprising since this group of voters always go to the challenger. While republicans and democrats vote the letter behind the name regardless of who the candidates are, those non-affiliated tend to vote their personal situation. Better off today, they’ll vote for the incumbents or party in power, worst off than 4 years ago, they’ll vote for the challenger or party out of power. Not much thought is given to anything else if any. 22% of those who voted based their vote on being worst off today than they were 4 years ago, Trump won those voters 76-23 over Harris.

What so many people don’t realize, to many Americans presidential elections are strictly a referendum on the sitting president. If they feel their personal situation is better off, they’ll vote for the sitting president or his party, if worse off, for the challenger or the party out of power.

I agree, but I am still have a slight hope it will survive enough to be repaired and that we do not fall into a full dictatorship.

Trump is doing a really incredible making sure he is in the news working the Democrats over. The Democrats, of course, being well mannered, and taking it on the chin with kindness and love. So, again, the Democrats are making damned sure they do not anger or say anything that might upset Mr. Trump. They are, in other words, doing everything they can to make sure the Republicans are happy and, apparently never lie nor make bad decisions.

It is REALLY time for the Dems to get off their dead butts and do something. One would think, for instance, that when Trump blamed the latest plane disaster on the Democrats might have, at the very least, fought back but, I guess, they are smarter than I (or just do not want to even try).

I also apologize. I suspect many agree, its been noted all over, over and over, and they just chug down the block as if nothing is happening. Mr Trump continues to work, very hard, to get EVERYBODY upset and is doing a great job. I guess the Democrats may have decided that he is doing such a great job that they will just keep their mouths shut and watch the firework. The Dems know, for instance, that their party is responsible for making Trump the president because something like 30% of them were too busy to even vote! We hear how the Democrats are going to destroy themselves. I always find that one strange. 30% of the Dems can't even vote! ALL the Republicans VOTED! These days, whenever I talk to a Democrat that tells me the he/she never voted I always say "Thank you!" They always ask "Why?" I always reply; "For making Trump president". Their response is normal. They stare a little bit and then get the hell out of my way. I used to think they might care. I am no longer even sure about that one.

I fear for us all and hope...............

I’ve heard and read about several reasons why democrats didn’t turnout last year. The problem is they’re some pundit’s opinion. You can’t poll those who didn’t vote.
1 Harris wasn’t liked much by democrats which was pointed out that in the 2020 nomination races, she was the first one to withdraw before the first primary was even held. Harris had less than one percent support. Then during her time as Biden’s VP, Democrats were giving her only an 80% favorability rating, 84% job approval, 10 points below what other VP’s had received from members of their own party. After her loss to Trump, her favorable rating dropped to 73% among Democrats.

2 No primary. The democratic base didn’t have a choice or say who would be their nominee after Biden withdrew. Several pundits theorized that Harris wouldn’t have been the democratic nominee if primaries were held. She was chosen by the democratic party leadership, not the base.

3 Harris’s failure to come up with new ideas. She even stated she’d do nothing different that what Biden was doing. This is in my opinion true and a huge problem when VP’s run to replace a sitting president of their own party. Especially an unpopular president which most Americans deemed his policies and handling of the issues wasn’t working. VP’s who lost, Nixon, 1960, Humphrey 1968, Gore 2000, Harris 2024. You could include Ford 1976, Nixon’s VP, but was president in 1976. This was Ford’s first election as he had been appointed and confirmed as president by the congress. Mondale, Carter’s VP, lost to Reagan in 1984. G.H.W. Bush. 1988 was the only VP since 1960 to win the election to replace a president of his party.

4 my own opinion, Harris campaign was based solely on the fact she wasn’t Trump. The ineptness of her campaign mirrored that of Hillary Clinton 2016 and G.H.W. Bush’s 1992 campaigns. She didn’t give the voter a reason to vote for her, just against Trump. You had 15% of democrats disapproving of the job Biden had done, a much higher percentage than normal for a sitting president of their own party. Throw in the fact Harris was viewed by 17% unfavorably by her own party members, you have a situation where many dissatisfied democrats decided to stay home and not vote instead of voting for Trump. They still disliked Trump and didn’t want him, but were dissatisfied with both Harris and Biden’s performance. Just a theory.

As for Trump, a plurality of Americans approves of the job he has done for his first 9 days in office.

https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/approval/donald-trump/approval-rating

As for what the democrats can do, the republicans control the presidency, the house and the senate. There’s not much realistically they can do. Letting Trump be Trump may be the best approach. His job approval is basically an even split. This is supposedly during the honeymoon period. It’s bound to get worse. The democrats don’t have the bully pulpit or means to be heard by the masses as a whole who are now not interested much in politics if at all. As time goes by, these people will make up their own minds without any input from the democrats. Trump will return to his very low job approval as he had during his first term. Give it time.

Running a Vice President, to be President is just a bad idea. I think you have already given thoughts on history of that one - just not a good idea. I kinda liked Harris as she was kinda selling a nice story but most growed up are not real interesting in nice stories.

I also keep wondering why in the world somebody would even vote for Trump. This has been worked over pretty good but, still, just makes no sense to me.

When you think about it all one thing becomes pretty clear. The Democratic party just seems to not be very interesting and that got proven in the last election. I have no idea what they are going to do but I do know they should do something (I have, no idea, what it might be but they should, while they are trying to figure it out, fight back (at the very least).

Should also mention that Trump is scaring the hell out of me. When he is through with Canada, for instance, there are whole parts of the united states which will no longer have any electricity and water (amongst other things). Then there is the oil import thing as well which, evidently, will make the price of gas REAL expensive. His attack on Mexico will also raise prices on lots of stuff. I think his plan is to get more money coming in so he can do clever things and kinda screw them who are not rich.

Anyway............

VP’s are handicapped. If a VP running for the presidency in this case Harris to replace a sitting president of their own party, the VP can’t come out say what he or she would do differently or change. That would appear being very disloyal to the president you just served as VP under. Just stating that the election of the VP would be another 4 years of the previous president only worked with G.H.W. Bush in 1988. Reagan was very popular with a high overall job approval. Personalities also have a lot to do with the defeat of the VP. Nixon was kind of dour, serious. JFK filled with life. Humphrey was about the same as Nixon. 1968 had two dour candidates only LBJ in 1968 was very unpopular with a low overall job approval. Gore was a statue, no charisma although Bill Clinton was popular and charismatic. G.W. Bush gave the people that down-home boy much like Carter in 1976. Not that G.W. Bush had that much of charisma, but G.W. wasn’t a statue.

Come to think of it, most two term presidents had charisma. Certainly Obama, Bill Clinton and Reagan had it up the ying yang. All three were great orators and communicator. All three won their elections fairly easily.

Trump seeking a third term, here’s an article from Politico that covers that.

How Trump Could Snatch a Third Term — Despite the 22nd Amendment

Four ways Trump could stay in power beyond 2028.

https://www.politico.com/news/magaz...rid=0000014e-f113-dd93-ad7f-f91785eb0001

This has been driving me nuts! I do not see the good that people saw in most of his promises. Some I can see it, like the border, although the border has been a problem forever and dems and repubs alike, have failed to fix it. But almost every time Trump opens his mouth, I shake my head because I don't understand how anyone could have voted for him - but that's just me!

Oh boy. I haven't read this yet and am still deciding if I want to. I'm already have a feeling of doom and gloom, and this might throw me over the edge!

UPDATE: Okay, I've read it. And now that my blood pressure has dropped back down to almost normal, I can comment.

I think would be the easiest path for him to take:

I am surprised the article didn't mention it, but I thought about him using Martial Law to remain president. He could easily start some global incident that he could use as an excuse to put us into a state of Martial Law. And, as ruthless as he is, I could see it happening!

Being a career military man, I’m not sure martial law would work at keeping Trump in power. The military takes an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, not the president as Hitler had his military do. The sad part is I’m not sure. I’ve been retired for over 12 years now and I know the military of my era wouldn’t go along with martial law to keep Trump or any president in power beyond the two terms as stated in the Constitution. But the military has changed a lot since I retired.

Thank you for your service, and I hope you are right.

I find this to be very concerning.

[video:youtube][/video]

My sense is fully one half of the military are in the bag for Trump ... the others believe in and would follow the Constitution. Should Trump give illegal orders, I believe his half would comply and the others would stand down.

Sad to think Americans would so easily give up Democracy for a con man.

My message to Sen. Fetterman (my senator). I could only enter 1200 characters in one message so I had to try to summarize what I think about each subject. It too 3 messages just to add the below content.

If they they conduct themselves as constitutional traitors they open themselves up to some pretty severe consequences in the aftermath which I guarantee you will NOT be in their favor.
Think about it....if they engage in hostilities against American citizens, do you think that they will be eligible for any kind of healthcare, any kind of benefits, any kind of pension, any kind of status that is universally defined as "honorable"?

It's highly unlikely that the vast majority of the ones who violate the Constitution will be looked upon kindly by history and it is doubtful any of them will escape punishment for their mass actions.

The only environment under which any kind of honorable status for traitorous soldiers becomes a reality is if the entire United States literally turns into North Korea, and I guarantee you DPRK soldiers are lucky if they even get adequate FOOD after a lifetime of service. We saw what happened to the North Korean conscripts sent to Ukraine to fight alongside the Russians.
Does anyone think they came home to ticker tape parades and adequate veterans benefits?

And now, take into consideration that out of 420 million guns in private hands, at least two hundred fifty million belong to people who value The Constitution and the Rule of Law. Those aren't odds any soldier wants to confront.

It didn't work out very well for South Korea.

Voted for cheaper eggs and got four hundred dollar insulin and empty EBT cards instead.
Yeah I think those approval poll numbers are a bit delayed.

I don't think you git it. We live in Trump's world where everything you thought you knew about our Democracy has been thrown out. Everything Trump does is a presidential order and therefore Constitutional according to the SC. And should anyone actually be charged .... well they were acting under the orders of Trump and would receive a pardon. So why would any of these folks care about your threats?


They don't care about history or their legacy. They have power and they will use it. ahhhh .... pardon. solved.


Didn't you see what Trump did for insurrectionists? We do not live in the world you think we do. This is Trump's world. It is an authoritarian regime purging the last visages of anyone in government who would have the temerity to following the rule of law and not Trump. In Trump world insurrectionists i.e. traitors for Trump, are considered heroes, receiving accolades from Trump himself. Better open your eyes to the reality Democracy is dead in America.



You have grossly overestimated the number of people who actually believe in the rule of law or would have the fortitude to do anything about their loss. You must have been absent the day they put out the memo .... Democracy is Dead!!!!! Very few people give a flying frak about the Constitution as can be seen from the results from the last, and maybe the actual last, election.

The world is no longer what you once believed it to be.

Yes, polls are delayed. It usually takes 3 days to take the poll, then another day to compile the results and release the poll. A plurality of Americans still approve of the job Trump has done for his first two weeks in office.

https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/approval/donald-trump/approval-rating

But I have this feeling, call it a gut feeling that not many Americans are paying attention to what Trump is or has done over his first two weeks in office. To get their attention this far from an election, whatever is being done has to affect them personally. Only 10-15% of all Americans are political junkies who pay attention to politics all year long. The rest are nothing more than casual observer paying little to no attention to the daily grind.

Have we considered the possibility of Trump putting Musk in charge of the nuclear codes, it would make so much sense inside Trump's demented skull that it may be less possibility and more probability.

That way, if he starts WWIII, Trump can blame it on Elon, although there will be no one left except them to tell!

Trump pardoned the founder of Silk Road, which ran via crypto.
Silk Road was a way to funnel money for "illegal goals" which were wide ranging, "not just drugs"
Stay with me.

The Musk/crypto kids have partially broken into the Treasury database, will allow Musk a pretty quick way to literally drain the Treasury into a crypto account.
He will then try to "ransom"/essentially force Americans into a crypto based currency.
With near zero current regulation or an equivalent "FDIC" protecting you.
Did I mention they are "after" the FDIC as well?

---This is why I advise everyone to PULL AS MUCH CASH as they can out of ALL their bank accounts NOW.
Do it before it is too late.

Trump just keeps on going. He is also on the TV EVERY day and night. He gets all the attention. There is also a bunch of places which are spending a lot of time kinda attacking Trump but, as far as I can see, not really - just enough to let people know almost what is going on. One thing that I keep on hearing, every day, several times a day is a simple question - What in the hell happened to the Democrats (and are there any). I, personally, don't really know if they are doing anything or not because I am not sure that, if they were, that the medium would publish any of it. So, I guess, are the Democrats actually silent or are they being shut out by a medium devoted to Trump (their creation) and whatever he does.

I have been told, by wife and friends, that the Democrats have a new guy in charge and he is going to fix everything. That was a week or so ago. Still really not much. I am not even sure just what they can or will do! I do know that when I hear that the Republicans are going to mess with Social Security I kind start to worry a bit. Actually its all we have that we can do - worry...... I am, for one, getting kinda sick of that one too. I do remember that Biden, in theory, left the democratic party with a pile of money.

One, I guess, can only wonder?

It's worse than you think.

Why worry about SS or Medicare if Democracy is dead. Trump and his complicit Republicans will do anything they want and guess what .... the Democrats can not stop it from happening .... Republican controlled Congress will not stop it from happening .... the federal courts will not stop it from happening .... and finally the SC has already thrown in with Trump .... he is gold. O you think because a few courts have temporarily stopped Trump from doing crazy stuff, you're safe? I think Bannon already knows and soon the other right-wing gangsters will figure it out .... the courts have no enforcement mechanism. Trump can do anything he wants ...

So back to your original concern .... Trump is a de facto king.

I simply have hope. Its probably all there is but, perhaps, well, maybe. I am, in other words well aware of your stance. But, as in all, time will tell. So far its just a mess but, eventually, things should clear and then we will know for sure. I have no idea what happens then.

I hope......... its not over quite yet?

Your hope would be better directed to your favorite film protagonist foiling the villain.

Here in the reality of a de facto dictatorship, I see an article laying out Musk's next move in rebuttal to the court staying his intervention into the Treasury Dept .... yep as I already predicted defy the court and continue doing what he is doing. So who would stop him? You think harsh language from the court would make an impact? Congress? LOL .... they are complicit. Who's left?

This is not the same universe as the one in which you woke this morning.

In an addendum .... Rep Jim Jordan just proclaimed the Pres can ignore the courts and do whatever he wants.

Now if anyone needs a class in understanding what a dictatorship is .... well .....

o now even worse .... VP Vance says Trump should ignore the courts ... and ... Justice Roberts is more than aware .... THERE IS NO ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM ... Justice Roberts is begging Trump to comply with the courts .... anyone think begging works with Trump???

There does seem to be one thing that Trump hates - its when a LOT of folks start yelling at him - A LOT OF FOLKS! The problem is that is simply not happening. The Democrats, for instance, seem to be quiet big time - My own wonder about that one is whether the media is even letting them have at it. No way to tell.

Anyway, seems we are simply screwed (sigh)

Let me edit that for you .... he hates it when MAGA yells at him .... he doesn't care what anyone else says .... after all they are evil corrupt radical left wing extremist communists etc etc. For the most part MAGA does not care what he does because Trump is savior of America ... sent by God ... etc etc.

Trump is probably the most idiosyncratic dumb person ever seen. Here is a guy who has some media savvy. He right out of the box proclaimed he could shoot someone on 5th Ave and never lose a supporter and yet at the same time he didn't want MAGA to know about Stormy Daniels ... he doesn't want MAGA to know the truth about stolen top secret files ... he doesn't want MAGA to know about his conspiracy to overthrow the government .... he doesn't want etc etc. So if he says he wouldn't lose a supporter - and he is absolutely correct - then why not tell them the truth?

O look ... another example presaging the future ... Trump admin ignoring funding restraining order.

and so it has begun

Every day it's something with the orange idiot and his not-elected sidekick Elmo.

In thinking about Trump and fighting back, my personal opinion is to do deal with Trump EXACTLY how he deals with others: Sue Trump for anything and everything and to tie everything up in court, just as he does. #WinningStrategy

It’s completely laughable that JD Vance and Elmo are questioning the judiciary’s authority to serve as a check on Trump’s executive power.

As anyone who has had ever had an introductory civics class knows, if a president disagrees with a court order, the remedy is to appeal. There’s a reason Trump and fiends don’t like that option: they know their actions are illegal and many will be rejected even by Trump’s own SCOTUS justices.

As stated above: Deal with Trump EXACTLY how he deals with others – sue Trump for anything and everything and tie every Trump Admin decision up in court, just as he does.
(Take a play out of THAT narcissist’s own play book – narcissists hate being treated how they treat others.)

Agreed.

Why do you think the orange idiot went to the Super Bowl game? So everyone can see him.

...and then left early when Philly was ahead. The orange creep knows that Philly is going to decline his invitation, again, to go to the WH and eat Big Macs with him.

Last fall 2024, I married a Brazilian national in Rio de Janeiro, on 26 OCT 2024. At the time, I said: No way is Trump going to win. Welp here we are. Just know that Americans are not the only ones feeling Trump's retribution - the whole (decent) world hates the guy. Now Trump wants to tariff metals coming into the U.S. This would include Brazil's iron ore - the 3rd largest exporter of iron to the U.S. (Media only reports Canada and Mexico and number five Germany).

Trump's sidekick, Elmo, is lusting after Brazil's lithium deposits.

I am back in Rio currently (Rio de Janeiro is pronunced He-yo day Zu-nayo. My name is pronounced Hick in Portuguese) currently working on the spousal immigration stuff and also working on getting a visitor visa while we wait for spousal immigration to be approved. Wish me luck.

Anyway, the reason I wrote the above post is to share that a famous Brazilian psychic predicts that Trump will suffer a fatal heart attack on LIVE TV and the medical personnel that travel with him will not be able to resuscitate him. (Please God, let this be true.)

Trump dying on live TV, so we all can see and witness, would be better than someone popping him JKF-style, in my opinion.

Only the good die, evil lives forever.
But, if your psychic proves correct, the upside is, JD Vance does not have one scintilla of Trump's draw, and he will choke so hard that the two parties will be climbing all over themselves and each other to get rid of him in newly minted spine demonstrations of record bipartisanship.

I agree. JD Vance is too much of a novice to do much damage. Trump has thought about the damage he’d do four for years. Peter Theil and Elmo would be in a death match over who would control Vance.

This is interesting. “Schumer warns of ‘Trump shutdown,’ lays out 4-pronged plan for Democrats”

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5136221-schumer-trump-shutdown/

The question is if this happens, who will the people blame for the shutdown? Historically, it’s been congress who gets the blame. Usually the party out of power, but not always. There’s quite a lot of people out there not paying any attention to what Trump is doing. If whatever Trump is doing doesn’t affect them personally, they don’t care. A shutdown may or may not get their attention.

Oh boy. Then who's third in line after Trump and Vance? Isn't it speaker Johnson? Oh boy. He could be worse than Trump!

The people will absolutely blame the Dems if there is a shutdown. No doubt in my mind. I don't think any propaganda from the Trump administration is needed!

He has begun the process by making all manner of nonsensical arguments to support Trump's nonsense and by alluding to defiance of courts which derail Trump's "illegal" EO's. Now all he has to do is begin a campaign of using the same racist tropes Trump uses.

Gov DaSantis is an example of someone who has somewhat successfully weaponized government in support of MAGA ideology and despite his lack of charisma, I believe had he simply used the same tropes Trump uses, he would have been in a much better political position ... perhaps even winning presidential candidacy.

The driving animus of MAGA is bigotry .... he who knows, understands , and uses the language thereof will be successful.

If the shutdown occurs, there will be a ton of media attention given it. One party or the other will be blamed. Doom and gloom will prevail. Whichever party is blamed, there will be a lot of talk about that blamed party never recovering. Regardless, keep in mind most Americans have very short memories. In previous shutdowns, around two weeks to a month, it was like the shut down never occurred. Folks have moved on to other things, issues, events, happenings. Within a month the shutdown will be ancient history to most, forgotten.

It will be worth the try if it brings some attention to Trump and his doings from those who aren’t paying any attention now. But then again, those not paying attention now will be among the first to forget.

At this point, the next election is two-years out and voters have VERY short memories. Dems need to muck up Trump's plans as much as possible.

R-voters already hate Dems anyway. I say go for it.

It's not the R-voters that I'm thinking about, it the I's! The I's are the only chance for Dems to take back our constitution in 2026.

You guys are so optimistic .... or delusional (still hanging on to the notion we still live in a non-Trump universe)

why would you think or believe there will another free and fair election? These gangster have a death grip on power ... what makes you think or believe they would willingly give it up? They are already calling on Trump to defy the courts ... so why would they want to have a open election?

Independents have been all over the place, they swing wildly between parties. Harris did win the independent vote last year 49-46 over Trump. That wasn’t enough to over come the huge drop in democratic voters that didn’t show up at the polls. That 3-point margin was far below Biden’s winning of the independent in 2020 by a 54-41 margin or by 13 points. Democratic voters in 2020 made up 37% of those who voted vs. only 31% in 2024. In 2016 independents went for Trump 46-42 over Clinton with 6% voting third party against both major party candidates. This recent history or the independent vote.

2000 independents voted for G.W. Bush 47-46 over Gore; independents voted for Republican congressional candidates 49-47 over Democratic congressional candidates.

2002 independents voted for Republican congressional candidates 51-45 over Democratic congressional candidates.

2004 independents voted for Kerry by a 49-48 margin over G.W. Bush. Independents voted for Republican congressional candidates by a 50-46 margin over Democratic congressional candidates.

2006 independents voted Democratic by a margin of 57-39 over Republicans with 4% voting third party.

2008 independents voted for Obama by a 52-44 margin over McCain. Independents voted 52-45 for Democratic congressional candidates.

2010 independents voted 56-37 Republican over Democrat with 7% voting third party.

2012 independents voted for Romney by a 51-48 margin. Independents voted 50-49 for Republican congressional candidates.

2014 independents voted 54-42 for Republican congressional candidates.

2016 Independents voted for Trump 46-42 with 12% voting third party. In congressional election independents voted Republican 51-47.

2018 Independents voted for the Democratic congressional candidates by a 54-44 margin with 4% voting third party.

2020 Independents voted for Biden 54-41 with 5% voting third party. In Congressional elections independents voted Democratic 49-48.

2022 Independents voted for Democratic congressional candidates by a 49-47 margin.

2024 independents voted for Harris 49-46 with 5% voting third party. Independents voted democratic in the congressional elections 49-48.

Notice how wildly independents can swing. Presidential, going for Obama by 8 points to going for Romney by 3, then Trump by 4, to Biden by 13 and finally to Harris by 3. Midterms experience much wider swings. The big swings from an 18-point democratic advantage in 2006 to a 19-point republican advantage in 2010. A 12-point GOP advantage in 2014 to a 10-point democratic edge in 2018 shrinking to a 2-point democratic edge in 2022.

Independents can be summed up using generalities, if things are going good, they’ll vote for the incumbent or party in power. If they deem things are going bad, they’ll vote for the challenger or the party out of power.

I am not convinced that the Democrats could actually even win a current election. Today, for the first time in weeks, I actually saw a Democratic congressman actually on TV! Perhaps that might signal that they are actually going to come out of hiding. That being said its going to take them a long, long time to get moving again. Whilst that is happening Trump and friends will continue to shut it all down. By that time they will have also installed a pile of Magas in places of remaining power. So far its the judges trying to hold it together and one wonders how well that is going to be over time. We can snort and yell but we need a fighting Democratic party and, as far as I can tell, that hasn't happened yet.

I wish us all good luck.............

Pretty soon you will not be allowed to see ANY Democrats on TV.
Think about who owns and controls MSM television news in this country and has for decades.
It's NOT "the liberals".

Ahhh yes, the particular Dems who (A) remained lofty in their principles or (B) were pouty because Biden wasn't perfect and neither was Harris, or finally (C) the Dems in Name Only who really wanted to keep on "teaching America a lesson" and the (D) lazy and complacent who didn't think it would matter.

I don’t know why democratic voters didn’t show up last year. Theories abound, but there no exit polling on those who didn’t vote as to the reasons why. But here’s something to ponder, Democratic senate candidates won in Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and Arizona while Trump was winning each of those states. Which means there were a lot of split ticket voters, voting for Trump, then voting for the democratic senate candidate.
Trump won Michigan by 80,000 votes, Dem Slotkin won by 19,000
Trump won Wisconsin by 30,000votes, Dem Baldwin won by 30,000
Trump won Nevada by 46,000 votes, Dem Rosen won by 25,000
Trump won Arizona by 188,000 votes, Dem Gallego won by 81,000

That’s one heck of a lot of ticket splitters. Those voting for Trump, then voting democratic for the senate. Even if Harris had won all 4 of those states, Trump would have won in the electoral college 270-268. We’ll never know why those democratic voters from 2020 decided to stay home in 2024, but chance are most of those ticket splitters in the above 4 states were independents.

Arizona, Trump won independents 53-44 over Harris, Gallego won independents 48-47 over Lake
Michigan, Trump won independents 50-46 over Harris, Slotkin won independents 51-44 over Rogers
Nevada, independents split 48-48 between Trump and Harris, Rosen won independents 48-42 over Brown
Wisconsin, Harris edged Trump among independents 49-48, Baldwin won independents 50-47 over Hovde

Republican in all 4 states won the turnout battle the same as they did nationwide.

Many Palestinian voters and Gen Z'ers are were upset about the Gaza situation fit this category.

Rick, I went back and looked at Michigan since they have the largest Arab-American population at 208,000. That counts both adults and children which would make up the voting age population of Arab-Americans at around 100-150,000 taking a SWAG. That roughly 100-150,000 out of 5.6 million votes cast in Michigan. The breakdown via race didn’t include Arab-Americans, just white, black, Hispanic, Asian and other. Other which would include Arab-Americans made up 3% of the Michigan vote which went to Trump 59-37. Gen Z, 18-29 year olds, made up 12% of those who voted, they also went to Trump 50-47.

Michigan views of the presidential candidates, 48% of Michigan voters viewed Trump favorably, 50% unfavorably. Harris was viewed 45% favorably, 52% unfavorably by Michigan voters. In Michigan, the Israel/Palestine or Gaza showed up as 27% support for Israel, 29% support for Gaza which is a bit different from the national support of 35% support for Israel/30% for Gaza. In both cases you have a lot of not sure, no opinion or both or equally.. But it’s not surprising that democrats support Gaza, republicans Israel, independents slightly support Israel more than Gazan’s by 5 points. Trump also won first time voters 50-44 over Harris in Michigan.

This is only Michigan, but Michigan is the state with the highest Arab-American population.

https://www.cnn.com/election/2024/exit-polls/michigan/general/president/0

Out of the 15 top issues in last year’s election, the Israel/Palestine or Gaza or Hama War didn’t register which means less than 1% of the population listed it as an important issue in deciding who to vote for. The top 4, Inflation/rising prices 24%, Immigration 13%, Jobs and the Economy 11%, Abortion 9%. Why inflation and rising prices along with the economy and jobs aren't lumped together is beyond me. Inflation falls under the general heading of the economy, at least that’s how I view it which would mean the economy in general, including inflation topped the list at 35%.

I am concerned with the lack of concern shown by a super, super-majority of Americans. This majority is convinced that nothing has materially changed that they need to concern themselves about. Or they are aware of the change and support it 100%.

They seem to fail to see that we are entering an epoch that has never been seen before in this country.

The closest analog is the Post-Reconstruction South when a single party in many states (and not just in the South) wielded unfettered political and economic control through disenfranchisement, control of the media, terror, murder, and economic punishment. But even then, it was not the entire country and people "could" attempt to better their condition by fleeing to a different state - though even this was difficult if local and/or state authorities decided that they didn't want to lose one's labor.

Today, we have a president with totally compliant majorities in both houses, a complicit Supreme Court super-majority, and a national media that is rapidly falling in line. No one in the Republican Party will go against him. Lower court orders are ignored or circumvented. The vaunted constitutional constraints are only constraints if someone is willing to be constrained or other power centers are willing to use their power.

One-man control of the federal government's purse gives that person almost unlimited power. The power to mete out trillions of dollars in federal money to those who toe the line (industry, universities, charities, states, local governments, individuals) and refusing it to those who do not should not be underestimated. People and institutions will naturally pre-comply with the regime. This is already happening today and will be the default within a few weeks.

This regime has come a long way toward purging the federal bureaucracy of non-MAGA decision makers and experts, removing another roadblock to their agenda. Once Patel is in place at the FBI, the purging of the upper echelons of the military is next.

There is effectively zero pushback to this agenda. Mere handfuls of people show up to protest these actions. The president has the highest approval ratings he's ever had. They will only go up. It is not rocket science to construct a push poll.

This leads to elections. What makes people believe that the regime will allow free elections? Using intimidation to cut off the opposition's access to funding is already occurring. He has said (and Bondi has confirmed) that he will sic the Justice Department and IRS on his political enemies. Believe him. Once he's labeled and indicted some high-profile Democrats as treasonous, it is a very short step to outlaw the Democratic Party as an anti-American party in the same way the Communist Party was outlawed. Sure, elections will be held, and some meaningless seats may go to an opposition candidate. But the actual outcome will never be in doubt; and, just like in all well-run autocracies, opposition will quickly disappear into the woodwork.

Call me Chicken Little, but similar things have happened before. All good things come to an end.

That is one thing that keeps me up. So far the TV continues working over Trump but that can stop and then I am not sure what happens. But, what is happening seems to be getting folks to waken a bit. How about firing all the nuclear weapon folks and, after they did it, folks got upset and, now, they are trying to find them and re-hire them. All in all a complete mess of wonder. They just keep on, and on. The next voting will be, I think, interesting. One thing Trump really pays attention to is his support. I suspect its descending day by day. If that happens then if you think this is confusion just wait.

A possibly interesting thing about this one. Seems that those that fired the people in charge of our nuclear weapons were then told to get them back on the job. The interesting part of this one is that, apparently, when they fire somebody they destroy any and all paperwork. This meant, in this case, that they had no idea how to contact those fired to get back on the job.

Kinda inspiring.............. You just gotta appreciate it all..................

My fond hope is that our democracy can last for two years and the dems wake up enough to take over both houses so they can do something about the supreme court, etc.

You're not chicken little. I have feared this for the last 2 years. I have tried reasoning with the MAGA supporters, but there are no words that will work. It is a cult! Plain and simple.

Unfortunately, the experiment will soon be ending in failure! Our democracy is a failure. I doubt that anything can stop it now! Project 2025 had it all planned out. That is how it is happening so quickly. I had hoped for much more push back from those that matter - like the house of representatives, but the GOP is 100% MAGA compliant. I doubt that the one remaining branch can halt/fix anything without the help of congress.

I know and understand why folks voted for Trump last year. History leaves no doubt. What I don’t understand is the total lack of attention by the public as a whole to what Trump is doing and has done since he began his second term. It’s like most Americans don’t care. Which in a way shouldn’t surprise? Americans tend to give any new president a honeymoon period where the new president can do almost anything he wants with no repercussions. It’s only after 3-4 months in office do the people begin to hold the new president accountable for his actions or deeds. Knowing this, I still find it very hard to fathom that most Americans have given Trump a free pass so far. A month into his second term, Trump has a plurality of Americans approving of the job he has done. This I never expected.

https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/approval/donald-trump/approval-rating

I shouldn’t be surprised as Trump has defied conventional wisdom when it comes to politics. I’m at a total loss.

I have to wonder how much the dumbing down of our society has to do with it. I know my local schools do not teach civics and haven't for years.

I have been posting on Facebook with some civic information thinking maybe many people think the President does have power over all. I've been posting topics like "Some signs that you might be in a cult", "What are the Top 10 Elements of the Authoritarian Playbook", "6 RULES for Survival under an Authoritarian Regime", "What is a constitutional crisis" just to name a few.

I don't have a ton of friends, about 150 +/-. Only one or two of these postings brought one or two likes. Some have brought many arguments from my MAGA friends. I have gotten zero comments supporting my posts and all comments were supporting the MAGA agenda.

Maybe people don't want to get involved in the MAGA bashing that occurs any time someone speaks against their beliefs! I doubt that anything that Trump has done is being felt by my friends yet. I hope once they start to feel what is happening they will have a reaction, but hope it isn't too late by then. But, maybe the pain won't bring them to reacting anyways. Who knows.