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Donald Trump and the aftermath of his presidency

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me123

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:lol: I needed that after all of today's awful news, many thanks!

That could actually be what he thought he was doing. Listening to his press conference this morning, he sounded (as usual) like it was the first time he was reading what was in front of him. Compare and contrast to him at his rallies, where he seems to know exactly what he's saying. (Not that it ever makes any more sense, mind).
 
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Groningen

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With the nuclear option (changing a 2/3 majority to just 50 votes needed) they made Neil Gorsuch judge at the Surpreme Court.
 
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me123

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Disturbing. Or, to coin a phrase from the Drumpf lexicon - SAD! The whole point of the nomination process is that it shouldn't be open to manipulation like this (although quite how you can just change the rules is beyond me). The aim is surely for the justices to acquire cross-party support, preventing more extreme candidates (of both persuasions) from gaining foothold.

I think (and hope) that this is the real threat from his presidency - the Supreme Court appointments are of course for life, so he's from there from age 49 to death potentially. It's fair to say that the man's views aren't exactly progressive (although since he's filled Scalia's seat, it doesn't actually change very much). However, look at the rest of the court. They aren't exactly spring chickens.
 
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miami

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If the Democrats don't win at least one of the two houses in 2018 then all is lost.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (liberal) is in her 80s, Anthony Kennedy (moderate) is 80, Stephen Breyer is nearly 80 (liberal).

Currently it's 4-4 split, with Kennedy in the middle

It's entirely possible that there'll be 7-2 conservative split by 2020.
 
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me123

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To be fair, though, Ruth Bader Ginsburg is awesome. She may be in her eighties, and yes she does look elderly. But she still does exercise classes apparently, she has done well in spite of quite a few health scares, and she is a proper bad-ass. I think she'll probably live on well past 2020.
 
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G

Groningen

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What do we care. it is only the American people that will suffer. Providing support for the rich incomes; getting richer and richer.
 
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me123

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Groningen said:
What do we care. it is only the American people that will suffer. Providing support for the rich incomes; getting richer and richer.
Click to expand...

It's OK for you, over here we seem to be intent on become the 51st state! :(
 
Cowley

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I'm not one for getting too involved with politics on here (although I often read the threads).
But I am interested to hear any views regarding Trump potentially tackling Kim Jong-Un. Especially in light of American warships being sent to the area and Trump ordering the recent attack on the Syrian airbase.
It's said that possibly in the next couple of years North Korea will have developed the ability to hit America with long range missiles. This must be playing on Trumps mind somewhat.
How do others see this playing out?
 
najaB

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Cowley said:
It's said that possibly in the next couple of years North Korea will have developed the ability to hit America with long range missiles. This must be playing on Trumps mind somewhat.
How do others see this playing out?
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In the next couple of years North Korea will have a handful (less than 20) missile+warhead combos that could theoretically reach the US Pacific West Coast. There is no immediate (or proximate) existential threat to the US mainland.

Trump has time to deal with Kim Jong-Un, the question is does he have the patience?
 
Xenophon PCDGS

Xenophon PCDGS

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najaB said:
In the next couple of years North Korea will have a handful (less than 20) missile+warhead combos that could theoretically reach the US Pacific West Coast. There is no immediate (or proximate) existential threat to the US mainland.

Trump has time to deal with Kim Jong-Un, the question is does he have the patience?
Click to expand...

What would be the case should any USA-bound ballistic nuclear missile fired from North Korea towards the United States of America be intercepted by a missile from the American defensive shield system, with regards to any nuclear fission materials atmospheric contamination that could be then released. What prevailing wind patterns are there in the north Pacific and what are the countries liable to be affected?
 
najaB

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Paul Sidorczuk said:
What would be the case should any USA-bound ballistic nuclear missile fired from North Korea towards the United States of America be intercepted by a missile from the American defensive shield system, with regards to any nuclear fission materials atmospheric contamination that could be then released. What prevailing wind patterns are there in the north Pacific and what are the countries liable to be affected?
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U235 is really not that dangerous, Pu239 is only slightly more so. There would be near-zero effect on any populated areas even if the warhead was intercepted in the terminal phase (just before impact).
 
Cowley

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najaB said:
In the next couple of years North Korea will have a handful (less than 20) missile+warhead combos that could theoretically reach the US Pacific West Coast. There is no immediate (or proximate) existential threat to the US mainland.

Trump has time to deal with Kim Jong-Un, the question is does he have the patience?
Click to expand...

Interesting. So perhaps even if North Korea were able to send a missile towards America it would probably be shot down way before it actually caused a problem.
I wonder how Trump will deal with this. As you say, has he got the patience?
 
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jon0844

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For a short time, he seemed popular with people on all sides saying what he did was necessary.

It doesn't seem like he has a plan beyond that knee-jerk reaction, which to my mind makes him a very dangerous person because he doesn't think things through.

Will he have an issue firing a missile or two to 'scare' North Korea? Will he do something to make a situation worse?
 
fowler9

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Paul Sidorczuk said:
What would be the case should any USA-bound ballistic nuclear missile fired from North Korea towards the United States of America be intercepted by a missile from the American defensive shield system, with regards to any nuclear fission materials atmospheric contamination that could be then released. What prevailing wind patterns are there in the north Pacific and what are the countries liable to be affected?
Click to expand...

As I understand it knocking out a missile with a nuclear warhead would not cause a nuclear explosion but would cause some localised contamination far less than Chernobyl of Fukushima. The warhead is designed to reach critical mass when triggered in a certain way which is why it causes such destruction for something that is relatively small.
 
fowler9

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Cowley said:
Interesting. So perhaps even if North Korea were able to send a missile towards America it would probably be shot down way before it actually caused a problem.
I wonder how Trump will deal with this. As you say, has he got the patience?
Click to expand...

Trump is a bit of a loose cannon with a very difficult problem to deal with. The chances of North Korea having an ICBM that could deliver a payload anywhere in the near future are minimal but I would rather someone else other than that hot head was dealing with it.
 
Cowley

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It's all a bit tense really. We thought his dad Kim Jong-Il was a maniac but now he just looks like he was the starter course...
 
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Groningen

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If Sean Spicer said that Adolf Hitler did not use chemical weapons on the battlegrounds, than he was right. But there is that "small thing" about concentration camps. Yesterday and today following United; today Sean Spicer. Which American idiot will it be tomorrow (and later)? Love to see Stephen Colbert and other mornings show tomorrow!
 
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fowler9 said:
Trump is a bit of a loose cannon with a very difficult problem to deal with. The chances of North Korea having an ICBM that could deliver a payload anywhere in the near future are minimal but I would rather someone else other than that hot head was dealing with it.
Click to expand...

I wonder if Trump is planning to intercept a North Korean test missile, to make a point. It is one thing if North Korea kicks off, but if they go up against the US Armed Forces then they will be little more than cannon fodder. Even if North Korea tries to do anything targeted at the US, it will end unilaterally badly. While the US forces in the area lack in number, they make up in skills and resources. Unfortunately, it's not as simple as US vs NK...

The complicating factor is that South Korea is "in the way" and are still technically at war with North Korea; just to make things worse, Seoul is particularly exposed. Unfortunately, Kim Jong-Un could decide to take it out on SK rather than go for a direct attack.
 
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Groningen

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Donald Trump called Erdogan to congratulate him with the victory on the referendum of 2 days ago. Apperently Putin has yet to call him.
 
fowler9

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Jonny said:
I wonder if Trump is planning to intercept a North Korean test missile, to make a point. It is one thing if North Korea kicks off, but if they go up against the US Armed Forces then they will be little more than cannon fodder. Even if North Korea tries to do anything targeted at the US, it will end unilaterally badly. While the US forces in the area lack in number, they make up in skills and resources. Unfortunately, it's not as simple as US vs NK...

The complicating factor is that South Korea is "in the way" and are still technically at war with North Korea; just to make things worse, Seoul is particularly exposed. Unfortunately, Kim Jong-Un could decide to take it out on SK rather than go for a direct attack.
Click to expand...

Or Japan or several other places. Good point.
 
najaB

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Have a read of this and tell me we're not all going to die...

Transcript of AP interview with Trump
A transcript of an Oval Office interview Friday with President Donald Trump by AP White House Correspondent Julie Pace. Where the audio recording of the interview is unclear, ellipses or a notation that the recording was unintelligible are used.
Click to expand...
(The whole thing is too long to post).

Edited to add: For anyone who reads the article, you're not having TIAs or momentary blackouts - it really does make that little sense in parts.
 
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sk688

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So , this just happened . FBI Director James Comey , the man who Hillary Clinton thought cost her the election , has been fired by Trump , while under investigation ,after giving inaccurate information about Clinton's emails to Congress last week ( or is there an ulterior motive from Trump ? )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39866170
US President Donald Trump has dismissed FBI director James Comey, White House says.
"Today, President Donald J Trump informed FBI Director James Comey that he has been terminated and removed from office," said a White House statement.

The surprise move comes after it emerged Mr Comey gave inaccurate information about Hillary Clinton's emails to Congress last week.

Mrs Clinton has blamed Mr Comey for her election defeat to Donald Trump
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Director Comey was fired on the recommendation of AG Jeff Sessions

So what do you think ? Was it deserved , for his dubious conduct leading up to the 2016 election and last week , or is Trump trying to deflect attention away from the fact that he is under investigation ?
 
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