Trump 2.0

[Dona Ferentes]

Yep Omnibus bills are not unknown. And one can add all sorts of things to a bill to get them through.

In this case the extra "things" are poison pills that if passed into law will have quite devastating effects. The two that spring to mind are

1) Crippling Courts from taking action on enforcing Contempt of Court orders. Essentially that mean Court decisions can be safely ignored with no impact on Administration officials or the government. There goes the last bulwark of the Rule of law.

2) Stopping all State from having any influence on AI development fro 10 years. WOW ! That is a HUGE call and not one that should have been sneaked into this Bill.

I'm not a US citizen

 

[basilio]

And this is where the US is now.

The Coward Goes to War Against America​

Trump wants Americans to turn violent. We will be steadfast.​

Robert Reich Jun 10

Friends,
The man who launched an attempted coup on the United States in 2020 and instigated an insurrection at the Capitol that resulted in five deaths now claims that people in Los Angeles are launching an insurrection. They’re not.

Yesterday, the Pentagon activated 700 Marines out of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California, to join the 4,000 federalized National Guard’s military occupation of parts of Los Angeles.

Trump doesn’t give a damn whether the troops are necessary. Nor does he care how many people are injured or even killed in his raid on Los Angeles. The show of military force is the point. It gives him the appearance of power.

Like any bully, Trump is fundamentally a coward. Humiliated by China, Harvard, the Supreme Court, Elon Musk, and the federal courts, Trump has launched a war inside America on vulnerable people inside America, in a place — California — most of whose inhabitants loathe him.

All of this was manufactured by Trump. It was and is his creation. The frightful specter of federally controlled troops in American streets has historically signaled a social crisis — forcing integration in Arkansas, protecting civil rights marchers in Alabama. But Trump is sending the military to Los Angeles at a time when state and local officials say there is no need.

Let’s be clear: Trump and his lackeys want blood in the streets. They have been planning for it. “Looking really bad in L.A.,” Trump wrote on Truth Social shortly after midnight Sunday night. “BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!”

The bully-in-chief has appointed a bunch of tin-pot bullies to every position of lethal force in the federal government — and is now activating them.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristy Noam is a Trump stooge seemingly without understanding of the U.S. Constitution. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appears willing to go along with whatever Trump wants. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller is a maniacal xenophobe. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is a brain-dead Trump sycophant. Border czar Tom Homan is a toady who has not ruled out arresting California’s leaders if they obstruct federal law enforcement.
***
The central struggle of civilization has always been to stop brutality. Unless we prevent the stronger from attacking or exploiting the weaker, none of us is safe.

A civil society is the opposite of what Trump seeks. A civil society doesn’t allow the strong to brutalize the weak. It moves as far as possible away from brutality.

Every time the stronger brutalize the weaker — whether it’s Trump and his flunkies bullying immigrants and the state of California, white supremacists bullying Black and Latino people, giant corporations bullying customers with high prices, the wealthy bullying the public to get giant tax cuts, Elon Musk bullying poor people by cutting programs they depend on, police bullying poor Black people, powerful men bullying women through sexual harassment, politicians building their power by bullying racial or ethnic minorities, Netanyahu wiping out Palestinians in Gaza, Putin trying to take over Ukraine — it’s fundamentally the same playbook: Stoke fear. Exploit desperation. Suspend the rule of law. Fan brutality.

Unless the bullies are stopped, an entire society — even the world — can descend into chaos.

Our duty is to stop brutality. Our responsibility is to hold the powerful accountable. Our challenge is to stand up to abuses of power. Our moral obligation is to protect the vulnerable.

This week and through Saturday, protest but please do it peacefully. Do not be provoked into violence. Take videos of any brutality Trump’s agents are wreaking, to show the rest of America and the world. Be smart. Be careful.

 

[basilio]

I'm not a US citizen

We are all world citizens. Pretending that what Donald Trump does in the US is "their"problem won't change the impact of an authoritarian, incompetent and fiscally stupid US President on Australia and the rest of the world.

Refusing to acknowledge how dangerous Trumps actions are is a signal to those who would full bloodedly support such politicians and practices in Australia.

 

[IFocus]

So Trump who started an Insurrection previously is now threatening to bring in the Insurrection Act......

The Cult keeps cheering.

 

[JohnDe]

We are all world citizens. Pretending that what Donald Trump does in the US is "their"problem won't change the impact of an authoritarian, incompetent and fiscally stupid US President on Australia and the rest of the world.

Refusing to acknowledge how dangerous Trumps actions are is a signal to those who would full bloodedly support such politicians and practices in Australia.

Why don’t you make similar posts for countries with dictatorships that have world wide ramifications? China, North Korea, Russia, Iran?

 

[basilio]

Why don’t you make similar posts for countries with dictatorships that have world wide ramifications? China, North Korea, Russia, Iran?

1) The USA traditionally has been the leader of democratic systems of government. In that context their leadership provided a counterpoint to the dictator ships you are referencing. It was a balance of power/influence. The behaviour of Donald Trump in overthrowing democratic norms effectively supports current dictatorships and encourages wannabe followers ie, Hungary, Italy, Poland, The Netherlands. It threatens a major change in world political systems. I would argue for the much worse

2) The USA is the most powerful and economically influential country in the world. In that context the decisions to upend world trade agreements on whim and with no rational reason is causing unprecedented economic concern. The impact on debt markets, bond markets and economic activity is continuing. In most observers eyes it is not a good prognosis

3) Traditionally the US has played a critical world role in soft power diplomacy via international aid, world health issues through its research and participation WHO and scientific forums and the progress of science through its high quality universities. The current administration has drastically hollowed out these institutions and the consequences will be grave across these areas

In a substantial sense the effects of the dictatorships already in place has already been factored into expectations. These are generally inside their borders (Russia being the biggest exception) and have only a modest impact on the others areas I highlighted.

So yes I think what Trump is doing in the US is seriously dangerous to everyone obviously including Australia in ways that just aren't applicable to other dictatorships.

 

[JohnDe]

1) The USA traditionally has been the leader of democratic systems of government. In that context their leadership provided a counterpoint to the dictator ships you are referencing. It was a balance of power/influence. The behaviour of Donald Trump in overthrowing democratic norms effectively supports current dictatorships and encourages wannabe followers ie, Hungary, Italy, Poland, The Netherlands. It threatens a major change in world political systems. I would argue for the much worse

Yes, traditionally. However, that no longer applies with the formation of the European union, and the growth of China, and the pact between China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.

2) The USA is the most powerful and economically influential country in the world. In that context the decisions to upend world trade agreements on whim and with no rational reason is causing unprecedented economic concern. The impact on debt markets, bond markets and economic activity is continuing. In most observers eyes it is not a good prognosis

This is not unprecedent in world affairs, remember that our lives are a blink in time, read up on world history. And there are laws and courts in the USA, and world courts, that are very much more qualified than us keyboard warriors.

3) Traditionally the US has played a critical world role in soft power diplomacy via international aid, world health issues through its research and participation WHO and scientific forums and the progress of science through its high quality universities. The current administration has drastically hollowed out these institutions and the consequences will be grave across these areas

Again, there are laws and courts to guard against unlawful changes. The issues we are seeing are not just related to the USA. China has been pushing the boundaries for decades and became extremely aggressive with the South China Sea, Taiwan, and so on. Russia is attacking a neutral country and threatening nuclear war, North Korea are threatening nuclear war, Iran are threatening USA and its allies; why do you say nothing about this?

In a substantial sense the effects of the dictatorships already in place has already been factored into expectations. These are generally inside their borders (Russia being the biggest exception) and have only a modest impact on the others areas I highlighted.

So yes I think what Trump is doing in the US is seriously dangerous to everyone obviously including Australia in ways that just aren't applicable to other dictatorships.

Not true. Time to read more history books. In the early 1930's Germany turned from a failed state to a war monger, invading its neighbours and causing WWII. The USA will never cause a world war because of their laws and the checks and balances it has in their system. The only countries that can cause a world war is Russia, China, North Korea, Iran.

For a reason I do not know, comrades from the extreme left will look for any excuse to attack a USA conservative government but always stay silent on the extremes of China Russia, North Korea and Iran.

 

[basilio]

And there are laws and courts in the USA, and world courts, that are very much more qualified than us keyboard warriors.

" Again, there are laws and courts to guard against unlawful changes."

"The USA will never cause a world war because of their laws and the checks and balances it has in their system"

Really John ? The most critical point of the Trump administration has been the determination to do whatever its wants regardless of "Laws" "Courts "Checks and balances" .

Unilateral illegal Trade decisions. Tick
Arbitrary arrest and deportation of people without process and in many cases totally against the stated reasons Tick
Arbitrary dismantling of whole departments with no process or rationale . Stuff the Courts. Tick

There would be zero outrage at the Trump administration if in fact it followed laws and courts .

The whole point of Donald Trump is that he is Beyond the Law. His word is the Final Word.

 

[JohnDe]

" Again, there are laws and courts to guard against unlawful changes."

"The USA will never cause a world war because of their laws and the checks and balances it has in their system"

Really John ? The most critical point of the Trump administration has been the determination to do whatever its wants regardless of "Laws" "Courts "Checks and balances" .

Yes, really.

The USA government has as much chance of being run by a dictatorship as Australia, Canada, England has.

Unilateral illegal Trade decisions. Tick
Arbitrary arrest and deportation of people without process and in many cases totally against the stated reasons Tick
Arbitrary dismantling of whole departments with no process or rationale . Stuff the Courts. Tick

There would be zero outrage at the Trump administration if in fact it followed laws and courts .

The whole point of Donald Trump is that he is Beyond the Law. His word is the Final Word.

You have jumped the gun. There has been no determination on the legalities, yet.

Where was your comment on the "illegal" trade sanctions on Australian goods by China during the Covid era? Where was your comments on the debates of where Covid originated from? Why do you feel the need to attack a democratic country over a country with an aggressive dictatorship?

China, Russia, North Korea and Iran could easily become the equivalent of 1930's Germany and cause a war, yet you say nothing. The USA have checks and balances in their system, they have a legal process which they are now using, this is what differentiates democratic countries like ours from others with dictators or religious laws.

And I do not understand why comrades from the extreme left will look for any excuse to attack a USA conservative government but always stay silent on the extremes of China Russia, North Korea and Iran.

The United States' trade policies have been subject to legal challenges and criticisms, with some nations accusing the U.S. of acting illegally through the imposition of tariffs and other trade barriers. The legality of certain trade actions, like tariffs on Canadian automobiles, has been contested and challenged at the World Trade Organization (WTO). While the U.S. has been accused of violating international trade principles, the legality of specific actions is often debated and subject to legal processes, such as the WTO dispute resolution mechanism.

Here's a more detailed look:

1. Accusations of Illegality:

• Some countries have publicly condemned the U.S. for imposing illegal tariffs and undermining fair trade practices.
  
  
• These accusations often center on tariffs that are seen as disproportionate or discriminatory, potentially violating agreements within the WTO.
  
  
• The U.S. has also been accused of engaging in "unfair trade practices" against other countries, including intellectual property theft and currency manipulation, leading to trade conflicts.

2. U.S. Justifications and Counterarguments:

• The U.S. often defends its trade actions by claiming they are necessary to protect national interests, address unfair trade practices, or ensure fair competition.
  
  
• Arguments for the legality of U.S. actions often point to provisions within international trade agreements or domestic laws that allow for certain trade restrictions under specific circumstances.
  
  
• The U.S. may argue that its trade policies are designed to foster economic growth and protect its own industries.

3. Legal Challenges and Disputes:

• Countries affected by U.S. trade actions often file complaints with the WTO, arguing that the U.S. has violated its obligations under international trade agreements.
  
  
• The WTO then investigates these complaints and can issue rulings, which may require the U.S. to modify its trade policies.
  
  
• In some cases, countries may impose retaliatory tariffs or other sanctions in response to U.S. trade actions, further escalating trade conflicts.

4. Examples of Trade Disputes:

• The ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China, involving tariffs on various goods, has been a major point of contention.
  
  
• The U.S. has also faced legal challenges regarding its tariffs on Canadian automobiles and automobile parts.

In conclusion, while the U.S. has been accused of acting illegally in some of its trade policies, the legality of specific actions is often disputed and subject to ongoing legal processes. International trade disputes are common and often involve complex legal arguments and interpretations of international agreements.

 

[IFocus]

Why don’t you make similar posts for countries with dictatorships that have world wide ramifications? China, North Korea, Russia, Iran?

Note.... our language, culture, laws etc are often inherited directly from the US.

Tony Abbotts "No to everything politics" was taken from US Republican politics for example thankfully Jacinda Prices / Duttons MAGA dog whistle was rejected comprehensively as it should have been but there are many who praise the concept (Gina).

What happens in the US often ends up here, unfortunately.

Pretty much nothing comes from the countries you mention (China, North Korea, Russia, Iran).

The current political behavior of the Trump administration is not some thing I have ever seen and I have been following US politics for more than 50 years.

The US political system is inherently corrupt usually subtle or hidden in the back ground. Trump has broken that history on a scale never seen before along with language attacking fellow Americans used by most previous fascist / dictator leaders.

God help us if it comes here.


Meanwhile the Cult not only cheers on but makes the usual excuses.

 

[JohnDe]

Note.... our language, culture, laws etc are often inherited directly from the US.

Tony Abbotts "No to everything politics" was taken from US Republican politics for example thankfully Jacinda Prices / Duttons MAGA dog whistle was rejected comprehensively as it should have been but there are many who praise the concept (Gina).

What happens in the US often ends up here, unfortunately.

Pretty much nothing comes from the countries you mention (China, North Korea, Russia, Iran).

The current political behavior of the Trump administration is not some thing I have ever seen and I have been following US politics for more than 50 years.

The US political system is inherently corrupt usually subtle or hidden in the back ground. Trump has broken that history on a scale never seen before along with language attacking fellow Americans used by most previous fascist / dictator leaders.

God help us if it comes here.


Meanwhile the Cult not only cheers on but makes the usual excuses.

I also enjoyed the X Files, but never got to the last few seasons because the paranoia conspiracy theories became boringly obvious.

 

[finicky]

Trump is fundamentally a coward.

What a farce. I hope you never get any real political power in your life @basilio. Although there are plenty like you governing and administering us, so I don't s'pose it matters, you're no worse, you're the norm, lol.

 

[basilio]

Millions of people protested across the US under the banner of No Kings.

This is a broad based protest with Democrats, Independents and many traditional Conservative Republicans joining together to make it clear that they would not accept the abuse of Office that Trump has imposed on the country.

Robert Reich pulled together the sentiments of the millions of people who understand what the US Constitution means and why it is essential to defend it.

We the People

Friends,

Yesterday’s demonstrations across the nation in favor of democracy and against Trump’s dictatorship revealed the power of the people.

The energy, exuberance, and solidarity of those demonstrations stood in sharp contrast to Trump’s noxious display of tanks and military equipment on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. While Trump continues to politicize the military, hundreds of thousands of us are saying no to his usurpation of power that belongs to the people.

We will not be intimidated by the violence he has stirred up — not by the shootings of state legislators and their spouses in Minnesota, nor by the death threats against federal judges, nor by the thuggish removal of a United States senator from a Trump official’s news conference, nor by the arrest of a judge who didn’t cooperate with ICE, nor by the abductions of people from our streets and places of work.

We will be steadfast and strong, as we were in yesterday’s protests.

Trump’s parade was almost rained out. His regime is itself a dark storm cloud over America.

The moral squalor of Trump has brought us back to basics: Why we have a Constitution. The meaning of the rule of law. The importance of checks and balances and separation of powers. The centrality of our judiciary. The significance of due process and habeas corpus. The connection between near-record inequalities of income and wealth, and the record levels of money corrupting our politics.

Perhaps most fundamentally of all, the malignant narcissism of Trump has helped us understand the opposite — the true meaning of patriotism and the common good.

Patriotism based on the common good does not pander to divisiveness. It does not vilify diversity, equity, and inclusion. True patriots don’t fuel racist or religious or ethnic divisions. They aren’t homophobic or transphobic or sexist.

True patriots confirm the good that we have in common. They seek to strengthen and celebrate the “We” in “We the people.”

Trump is the opposite of a patriot. He is a traitor and a coward. His lust for power and wealth at the expense of the common good makes this one of the most shameful chapters of our history.

Yesterday we reasserted “We.” We did it largely peacefully. We gained strength from our solidarity. We celebrated of our numbers and our power.

We will be steadfast. We will not cower to a dictator.

We will win.

 

[JohnDe]

Millions of people protested across the US under the banner of No Kings.

This is a broad based protest with Democrats, Independents and many traditional Conservative Republicans joining together to make it clear that they would not accept the abuse of Office that Trump has imposed on the country.

Robert Reich pulled together the sentiments of the millions of people who understand what the US Constitution means and why it is essential to defend it.

We the People

Friends,

Yesterday’s demonstrations across the nation in favor of democracy and against Trump’s dictatorship revealed the power of the people.

The energy, exuberance, and solidarity of those demonstrations stood in sharp contrast to Trump’s noxious display of tanks and military equipment on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. While Trump continues to politicize the military, hundreds of thousands of us are saying no to his usurpation of power that belongs to the people.

We will not be intimidated by the violence he has stirred up — not by the shootings of state legislators and their spouses in Minnesota, nor by the death threats against federal judges, nor by the thuggish removal of a United States senator from a Trump official’s news conference, nor by the arrest of a judge who didn’t cooperate with ICE, nor by the abductions of people from our streets and places of work.

We will be steadfast and strong, as we were in yesterday’s protests.

Trump’s parade was almost rained out. His regime is itself a dark storm cloud over America.

The moral squalor of Trump has brought us back to basics: Why we have a Constitution. The meaning of the rule of law. The importance of checks and balances and separation of powers. The centrality of our judiciary. The significance of due process and habeas corpus. The connection between near-record inequalities of income and wealth, and the record levels of money corrupting our politics.

Perhaps most fundamentally of all, the malignant narcissism of Trump has helped us understand the opposite — the true meaning of patriotism and the common good.

Patriotism based on the common good does not pander to divisiveness. It does not vilify diversity, equity, and inclusion. True patriots don’t fuel racist or religious or ethnic divisions. They aren’t homophobic or transphobic or sexist.

True patriots confirm the good that we have in common. They seek to strengthen and celebrate the “We” in “We the people.”

Trump is the opposite of a patriot. He is a traitor and a coward. His lust for power and wealth at the expense of the common good makes this one of the most shameful chapters of our history.

Yesterday we reasserted “We.” We did it largely peacefully. We gained strength from our solidarity. We celebrated of our numbers and our power.

We will be steadfast. We will not cower to a dictator.

We will win.

Millions?

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of U.S. cities and towns in coordinated "No Kings" events, billed as a "national day of peaceful protest," in the largest outpouring of opposition to Trump's policies since he returned to power in January.​

​

The mostly calm marches, organized under the theme that no individual is above the law, coincided with the day President Donald Trump hosted a military parade on the st​

'No Kings' Recap: SUV drives into crowd; Rallies largely peaceful, thousands gather

Tens of thousands of Americans joined "No Kings" protests across the United States against the Trump administration.

www.usatoday.com

 

[moXJO]

What a farce. I hope you never get any real political power in your life @basilio. Although there are plenty like you governing and administering us, so I don't s'pose it matters, you're no worse, you're the norm, lol.

The fact that people like Bas are the reason Trump won escapes them.
Trump was a direct result of the idiocy coming out from the left over the course of a decade.

What do they do?
Double down like idiots.

 

[IFocus]

The fact that people like Bas are the reason Trump won escapes them.
Trump was a direct result of the idiocy coming out from the left over the course of a decade.

What do they do?
Double down like idiots.

Trump won because he is the US heart and soul laid bare... nothing to do with Bas.

The day people like Bas stay silent is the day the gas chambers make a come back.

Mean while the Cult keeps cheering.

 

[StockyGuy]

Let's let the esteemed Secretary of Defense have a quick word in response to Mr Basilio's hysterics - maybe Pete did not specifically mention illegals here but I think I'll take his position on the matter as read:

​

 

[moXJO]

Trump won because he is the US heart and soul laid bare... nothing to do with Bas.

The day people like Bas stay silent is the day the gas chambers make a come back.

Mean while the Cult keeps cheering.

Lol
What a crock. You and I actually had a discussion about this very topic and I predicted the right would rise and no one would like the outcome. That was at least over a decade ago now

Its the left devolving into utter retards and staying silent that led us here. Woke idiocy exited pretty fast once people realised the young generation of men are basically fascists because of it.
Unfortunately I don't see it slowing down.

Bas is the exact type that would put people in gas chambers. Don't give me that rubbish.

 

[moXJO]

As for Trump i don't bother following it. Im hoping Australia starts moving away from the US more and more.

 

[JohnDe]

I remember when Ronald Reagan was President of the USA, there was constant noise from left leaning media, musicians, comedians, etc telling us WWIII was coming because of his policies.

We never saw that war, but we did see the Berlin Wall come down and the USSR fall.