Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Gorsameth]

Part of me still wonders that, if Trump loses this election, will he suddenly appear in Russia and outside of the reach of the US Justice system. Putin may not have any more use for him at that point but rewarding people who helped him and protecting him would incentivize more in the future.

His pride might not allow him to admit he lost or anything or he did damage publicly, but there he could tell himself he screwed over his marks and got away with it while also releasing videos for his base here to help stir stuff up afterward as a middle finger to those who "Weren't Loyal Enough" to him.

We pray his security detail isn't all loyalists and stops him?

[Kaleredar]

Ya I fully believe he’s gonna flee the USA if he loses the election to avoid paying the various charges against him, not only that but he probably try to campaign in the 2028 elections while hiding in Russia. Assuming Putin doesn’t kill him off, he’s kinda aggravating to everyone around him.

Ehhh I'm not so sure. There were rumbles of that in 2020 if he lost and nothing really came of it. His lawsuits and list of allegations have grown since then, but I'm not entirely certain Trump wouldn't be able to drag that out until, frankly, he dies. Our justice system clearly isn't set up to deal with the sheer level of bad faith stalling that Trump can pull.

[Fugus]

The partisan GOP hacks on the supreme court did that knowing that a democratic president would actually be responsible and would be unlikely to abuse such powers. They might as well have called it the "Trump presidential powers proviso."

They might know Harris won’t do it, but there is no guarantee someone else couldn’t get in there and use it until it’s addressed.

I could definitely foresee someone trying to con their way into power regardless of which side he joins or how he has to portray himself to get there given the level of power they just opened up for that office.

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We pray his security detail isn't all loyalists and stops him?

Wouldn’t put it past him to dismissing his security detail for a bit and meeting Russian officials for the end. Or just leaving to one of his overseas resorts and leaving from there.

[Benggaul]

I'm reallllly not convinced Trump will try to flee the country if he loses next week. For one, he's too narcissistic to believe he's at fault or that he'll face any consequences and for another our system has proven him right pretty much every time. He has enough money--or can grift all he needs--to ensure all charges against him are tied up in court/appeals until his heart gives out while living in luxury--or until his kids/wife wrest his fortune away from him.

[Kaleredar]

They might know Harris won’t do it, but there is no guarantee someone else couldn’t get in there and use it until it’s addressed.

I could definitely foresee someone trying to con their way into power regardless of which side he joins or how he has to portray himself to get there given the level of power they just opened up for that office.

I mean that's basically just what Trump was. The partisan GOP justices just want their GOP nominee of choice to rubber stamp their own political agenda, and are basically saying "hey anything you did wrong that they might try and get you on because it was technically illegal, well... don't worry about that." Democrats, frankly, don't have those skeletons in their closets and their administrations are nowhere near fraught with as much controversy as republican ones are.

And frankly, if someone mega-wealthy and nefarious is looking for power... they already have it by merit of being mega-wealthy. You don't have to go anywhere or do anything if you're just some rich bitch billionaire. Nothing is expected of you. Trump was unable to handle even the most basic rigors of office, and for all of his self-enrichment and cult-like following I'm not particularly convinced he's appreciably monetarily better off than when he started this whole fiasco (not for like trying mind you,) and if he is it's because he was a hack businessman living off his name before that.

[Valdhammer]

I'm reallllly not convinced Trump will try to flee the country if he loses next week. For one, he's too narcissistic to believe he's at fault or that he'll face any consequences and for another our system has proven him right pretty much every time. He has enough money--or can grift all he needs--to ensure all charges against him are tied up in court/appeals until his heart gives out while living in luxury--or until his kids/wife wrest his fortune away from him.

He won’t flee, and if I am correctly estimating the intellect of the average American, he won’t lose either.

The rally last night was unhinged and terrifying. I expected a vociferous rebuke from all corners. And what did we get? Headlines like “Comedian tells crass joke at Trump rally”. They’re desperate for him to win.

[Fugus]

I guess, I just can imagine someone trying to come up in the party for personal gain and largely been doing things legal because it’s safe or just haven’t been caught yet seeing the option to become a king put on the table thanks to this.

Some of them I don’t doubt only do things the legal way because it’s the safest way for them.

[Benggaul]

The rally last night was unhinged and terrifying. I expected a vociferous rebuke from all corners. And what did we get? Headlines like “Comedian tells crass joke at Trump rally”. They’re desperate for him to win.

The media in general has not had their finger on the pulse of the average American in quite some time, dude. They're all-in on keeping up the appearance that the race is as close as possible (regardless of whether or not it actually is) because drama sells. So they've been treating Donnie and the Deplorables with kid gloves so they can still sell to them instead of turning them off completely with, you know, accurate reporting. I wouldn't treat their headlines as any sort of predictor or indication. You should also bear in mind who owns a fair bit of the media--even "left wing" media.

[Blur4stuff]

The absolute worse thing that can happen is for Trump to get some kind of limited house arrest. He can live in comfort, play golf, and continue fleecing his followers for donations. Unfortunately, this is going to be another of many, many cases in human history of a terrible person living a long life without ever really suffering any consequences.

Best case scenario is that his kids end up paying for everything. And everyone else involved, obviously.

[Flarelaine]

And frankly, if someone mega-wealthy and nefarious is looking for power... they already have it by merit of being mega-wealthy.

That Lex Luthor line comes to mind about losing power by becoming president.

[DarkTZeratul]

And frankly, if someone mega-wealthy and nefarious is looking for power... they already have it by merit of being mega-wealthy. You don't have to go anywhere or do anything if you're just some rich bitch billionaire. Nothing is expected of you. Trump was unable to handle even the most basic rigors of office, and for all of his self-enrichment and cult-like following I'm not particularly convinced he's appreciably monetarily better off than when he started this whole fiasco (not for like trying mind you,) and if he is it's because he was a hack businessman living off his name before that.

It's very telling that of all the mega-wealthy individuals in our country's history, very few have ever run for president, or any other office for that matter. Jay Gould, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett... None of them went any deeper into politics than lobbying or advising, and I think there's a good reason for that that is understood by most people at that level of wealth.

[Poopymonster]

It's very telling that of all the mega-wealthy individuals in our country's history, very few have ever run for president, or any other office for that matter. Jay Gould, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett... None of them went any deeper into politics than lobbying or advising, and I think there's a good reason for that that is understood by most people at that level of wealth.

Real Wealthy People know better than to put themselves under that level of scrutiny.
If only out of self preservation.

[Jessicka]

It's very telling that of all the mega-wealthy individuals in our country's history, very few have ever run for president, or any other office for that matter. Jay Gould, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett... None of them went any deeper into politics than lobbying or advising, and I think there's a good reason for that that is understood by most people at that level of wealth.

Why run when you can just buy the necessary influence without having to deal with the risk or nonsense you don’t care about?

Trump is a pathological narcissist, that’s why he wants to be President. For the sake of being President.

[Kaleredar]

Why run when you can just buy the necessary influence without having to deal with the risk or nonsense you don’t care about?

Trump is a pathological narcissist, that’s why he wants to be President. For the sake of being President.

To be fair, there’s also quite a bit of self-preservation he’s running on, too. Gotta get back that get out of jail free card, after all.

Here’s to hoping we can deny him of both things.

[Poopymonster]

To be fair, there’s also quite a bit of self-preservation he’s running on, too. Gotta get back that get out of jail free card, after all.

Here’s to hoping we can deny him of both things.

If he'd never pulled this shit, it wouldn't be an issue. He'd still be a failing businesscitrus. But he wouldn't have the scrutiny, he would not have all of his shit strewn across the lawn for everyone to see, like if Jesus had a wife and came home on the Monday after the first "Good Friday".

[Kaleredar]

If he'd never pulled this shit, it wouldn't be an issue. He'd still be a failing businesscitrus. But he wouldn't have the scrutiny, he would not have all of his shit strewn across the lawn for everyone to see, like if Jesus had a wife and came home on the Monday after the first "Good Friday".

I mean the running theory is that trump didn’t even want to be president in 2016; that he was doing it basically for publicity and that he basically expected to lose.

Unfortunately enough idiots in enough states believed his con man grift. Hopefully this time around, like in 2020, the non-crazies win out.

[Jessicka]

To be fair, there’s also quite a bit of self-preservation he’s running on, too. Gotta get back that get out of jail free card, after all.

Here’s to hoping we can deny him of both things.

That wasn’t even the case first time around, his problems he wants to mop up now are broadly ones he created for himself while in office.

Imagine fucking up a job that badly that you want it back to unfuck the mess you made for yourself while you were doing it.

[Breccia]

Everyone's favorite crack addict Mike Lindell sues his lenders.

"For what?"

I'm shocked to admit this, but...he has a point.

According to Lindell's team, MyPillow urgently needed $600,000 as the company's financial options had dwindled under the strain of litigation costs, a diminished credit line and retail boycotts. In this context, Lindell's legal team argues, the merchant cash advance (MCA) companies exploited the situation by imposing strict terms, including access to employee records and restrictions on pursuing other financing sources.

Details in the complaint show that the financing agreement required daily payments of $16,800, amounting to $840,000 in total. This pushed the effective interest rate to 368 percent—or 441 percent with additional fees—well above the legal limit set in New York.

Lindell contends he was drawn into the deal by a "bait and switch." His attorney claims that Lifetime offered an additional real estate loan for two Minnesota properties as an incentive for Lindell to accept the cash advance. However, after MyPillow received the $600,000 advance, "Lifetime refused to honor its commitment to make the real estate loan," leaving the company entangled in what Lindell's team describes as an "exploitative" financing arrangement.

Seeking to nullify the financing agreement, Lindell's legal team has invoked the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), arguing that the deal reflects a "pattern of racketeering activity" and should be voided. They are also pursuing compensatory damages to recoup losses and cover legal fees, challenging what they call "grossly inflated rates by hook or by crook."

I've mentioned this once or twice before, NYState has substantial anti-loansharking laws.

Well, lesson re-learned: even a broken clock is right twice per day.

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We know why the Trump supporters are out in force, desperately flapping their flippers.

Their chosen leader is insane.

During an Atlanta, Georgia, rally on Monday evening, Trump once again trashed the electric vehicles with a story about their alleged risks – this time, placing the Georgia lawmaker behind the wheel.

“You’re not recognizable if something goes wrong. And Marjorie Taylor Greene with that beautiful blonde hair driving down the highway in a hydrogen car…,” he said of the Republican firebrand.

“And the problem with a hydrogen car, if something goes wrong, it’s like the atom bomb went off; you’re not recognizable.”

He continued: “They say, ‘We think we have it under control.’ That’s not good enough. They’ll say, ‘We thought it was Marjorie Taylor Greene riding down the turnpike. She’s no longer recognizable. We found some of her.’”

“I won’t say…,” Trump sniggered as he cut off his tale. “We love her. Stand up Marjorie, stand up.”

Greene, a staunch Trump supporter who has faced backlash for pushing climate-related conspiracy theories, was quick to address the former president’s remarks after the rally.

“I agree, Mr. president!,” the MAGA loyalist wrote on X. “Electric cars and the Green New Scam shouldn’t be forced on the American people.”

Let the record show, Greene was desperately trying to get Trump back on a moderately coherent topic. Not, you know, an electric car nuking her.

Trump had also pushed his anti-hydrogen-powered vehicle agenda when speaking in Michigan on Saturday.

“You’re going to build electric cars and you’re going to build all kinds of cars except hydrogen. There will be no hydrogen,” he said.

“They tend to blow up. And once they blow up, you are not recognizable anymore.”

Electric cars to not "tend to blow up". There are a few scattered reports, some of which are fake. That's it. You're literally more likely to be hit by lightning than die in an exploding EV.

That's above and beyond all the issue with Trump creeping out over MTG's hair. Which, incidentally, Trump supporters will conveniently forget to mention that.

Trump continues to invent problems to solve, because he has no real ideas and no real solutions. He is a liar, a fraud, and an adulterer. Amongst many other things.

[ringpriest]

I guess, I just can imagine someone trying to come up in the party for personal gain and largely been doing things legal because it’s safe or just haven’t been caught yet seeing the option to become a king put on the table thanks to this.

Some of them I don’t doubt only do things the legal way because it’s the safest way for them.

That's basically what JFK Jr. tried - but to their credit, both the Democratic Party establishment and Democratic voters saw right through him and told him to take a hike. That it only took him six months to hitch himself to Trump tells you all you need to know about him.

[Paranoid Android]

Trump: "No president has done more for Puerto Rico than I have."

Vid in link.

I swear, this is the most frustrating and vile of his lies and it drives my crazy.

In the vid he acts as tho nobody wanted to help Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria. When in fact, Trump delayed $20 billion and of course the famous tossing paper towels. I swear this piece of garbage and he can just openly lie on this.