Donald Trump and the aftermath of his presidency

[Esker-pades]

Do you (or anyone, really) think less people would have voted for Trump if he'd said you'll have to pay ridiculous amount of money as a US taxpayer (and although there a lot of them, the wall is costing billions already)?

I honestly don't know. At an educated guess, probably not. Certainly nothing substantial. The wall is far more about symbolism than practicality or taxpayer value for money. The average Trump voter would probably be very happy to see funds diverted from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to building this wall.

Every time he does something mind-bogglingly thick, or nuts, or breaks yet another promise, he doesn't loose his core base. And, I don't think there is anything he can do to loose that core. Simply, they follow him around in the same way a football supporter follows their team. "Trump is carrying out his promises despite possibly breaking numerous laws" rather than "Trump is breaking numerous laws, let's jump ship", in the same way that if Generic Football Team X beat Generic Football Team Y even though X broke the legs of numerous football players and 10 of 11 players were given red cards, the supporters of X would be ecstatic.

 

[Groningen]

Lets have some courtcases and the lawyers be the real winners.

 

[overthewater]

YET it's still surprising to people to this day WHY Trump won. It's the same reason why Trump will win in 2020, because the people who failed to understand the basic reasons. It's why the Democrats may never get back in. Why is it so hard? Trump went to the hard pressed areas and told the people what they wanted to hear, Clinton didn't and also failed to engage with these voters. Same reason with Brexit, It so easy once it clicks.

 

[bramling]

YET it's still surprising to people to this day WHY Trump won. It's the same reason why Trump will win in 2020, because the people who failed to understand the basic reasons. It's why the Democrats may never get back in. Why is it so hard? Trump went to the hard pressed areas and told the people what they wanted to hear, Clinton didn't and also failed to engage with these voters. Same reason with Brexit, It so easy once it clicks.

The unknown would presumably be how these voters consider Trump to have served them once in power. I don’t know enough about American politics to know the answer to that question!

 

[najaB]

It's the same reason why Trump will win in 2020, because the people who failed to understand the basic reasons. It's why the Democrats may never get back in. Why is it so hard? Trump went to the hard pressed areas and told the people what they wanted to hear, Clinton didn't and also failed to engage with these voters.

You can fool people once and get away with it. The hard-core Trumpists will vote for him largely because they don't want to admit to themselves that they were wrong, but the even larger number of "Let's give someone different a chance." won't. The mid-term elections were a clear indication that the national sentiment has turned away from the GOP generally and Trump specifically - just look at the fact that Beto O'Rourke had more people turn up for a Democratic rally than a GOP presidential rally, in Texas!

 

[overthewater]

You can fool people once and get away with it. The hard-core Trumpists will vote for him largely because they don't want to admit to themselves that they were wrong, but the even larger number of "Let's give someone different a chance." won't. The mid-term elections were a clear indication that the national sentiment has turned away from the GOP generally and Trump specifically - just look at the fact that Beto O'Rourke had more people turn up for a Democratic rally than a GOP presidential rally, in Texas!

Thats not true, places where trump went to support people the vote held up, and won. Ted Cruz is different kettle of fish, which no one really likes...

Yes Turnout was higher for a midterm than for the past 50 years, If you look at the overall votes in Texas.. 2016: 8,969,226 2018: 8,371,655 Again you not dealing with the issues just complaining about Trump, that is NO way to win an election.

Many trump voters don't like Dem or Rep, so why would there vote for them in the midterms?

How about we get back to the issues and problem instead of the same old crap that been going around since 2016.. That is the only way ...

Just off the back

 

[Groningen]

The USA pulls out of Syria, leaving the Kurds alone and the 800 IS fighters is now our problem. As if we were OK that those people went to the promised land.

 

[Basher]

Remember Donald was elected by the people . He doing what he said he would do, good on him. Unlike a lot of politicians who say one thing and when elected, and then don't do it.

 

[Esker-pades]

Remember Donald was elected by the people . He doing what he said he would do, good on him. Unlike a lot of politicians who say one thing and when elected, and then don't do it.

Incorrect. Donald Trump was elected by the Electoral College.

 

[nlogax]

Remember Donald was elected by the people . He doing what he said he would do, good on him. Unlike a lot of politicians who say one thing and when elected, and then don't do it.

We can go back on forth on whether we agree or not with what he’s doing, that’s a matter of opinion based upon our personal politics.

The problem as I see it is the way he’s going about things. Any president who displays a level of ignorance, arrogance and stupidity as to mis-use executive emergency powers for something which is demonstrably false and plainly -not- an emergency is asking for a ton of oversight and legal review to kick in. Checks and balances apply just as much to 45 as they did for 1 thru 44.

 

[najaB]

He doing what he said he would do, good on him.

He measurably and demonstrably is not. Drain the swamp? He has more millionaires and Wall Street types in his cabinet than any previous president. Infrastructure plan? Hasn't been seen. Wall paid for by Mexico? Paid for by stealing from the DoD budget. Promoting American greatness? That must be why he's ceded Asia to the Chinese and the eastern boundary of Europe to the Russians as well as threatened to blow up NATO.

Remember when he said he would be too busy working on great deals to ever get out and play golf?

 

[A Challenge]

Remember Donald was elected by the people . He doing what he said he would do, good on him. Unlike a lot of politicians who say one thing and when elected, and then don't do it.

He said a Mexican-financed wall - why does he need US billions?

 

[overthewater]

Infrastructure plan: can only be done by Congress since its a budget bill, both parties waste SO much money on corporate welfare its a disgrace. Both parties say there want to repair but just don't,but there plenty of money for everything else.

US need to put up the cost with mexico paying for it in the long run with Transfer tax on people sending money back home or traffirs on good's coming into the us. Drain the swamp is more to do with the politicians

 

[najaB]

Infrastructure plan: can only be done by Congress since its a budget bill

Two years of unified control of government, no plan even proposed.

US need to put up the cost with mexico paying for it in the long run with Transfer tax on people sending money back home or traffirs on good's coming into the us.

Sorry, wrong on two counts. Firstly because he is on record as saying on several occasions that Mexico was supposed make a one-off payment of between $5-10 billion to pay for the wall.

Secondly, because even if such a tax were legal (hint: it isn't) that would be Mexicans and American taxpayers paying for the wall since exactly zero pesos would be leaving the Mexican government's coffers.

Drain the swamp is more to do with the politicians

When you have a cabinet with more Goldman Sachs alumns than any previous one, when you appoint former lobbyists to head the agencies they lobbied for, when you personally enrich yourself at government expense (e.g. on one trip to Trump's Bedminster golf course the Secret Service spent more than $46,000 for hotel rooms for agents, $13,600 to rent golf carts, and $7,100 for luxury portable bathrooms) - then you can't really say you're leading the swap draining by example

 

[Groningen]

Turkey loves the withdral of USa forces in Syria. As Iran and Russia. And indeed; Mexico will not pay the wall after all.

 

[dgl]

There was a joke made on the HIGNFY twitter account that the Government announces £80 million sea wall to protect Dawlish from waves, and insists that the ocean will pay for it, quite an accurate portrayal of Trump's wall, although I think the ocean will be easier to get money out of.

 

[najaB]

The mess that is the US Department of State continues - the nominee for UN Ambassador has withdrawn herself from consideration.

Trump's UN ambassador pick, Heather Nauert, withdraws from consideration

The state department said on Saturday Donald Trump’s nominee for US ambassador to the United Nations, Heather Nauert, has withdrawn.

The department released a statement saying Nauert had withdrawn and another nominee would be announced “soon”.

Nauert said she was grateful to Trump and the secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, for “the trust they have placed in me for considering me for the position of US ambassador”.

 

[Groningen]

If you promise something does not mean that you are (always) right.

 

[najaB]

US need to put up the cost with mexico paying for it in the long run with Transfer tax on people sending money back home or traffirs on good's coming into the us.

I wanted to return to this argument because it's worth examining in more detail.

Let's assume that Walmart sells a Mexican-made TV for $120. Further, let's assume that the TV is sold by the manufacturer for $100, it costs $10 to ship it and Walmart makes $10 profit on the TV. Finally, let's assume that the US imposes a 10% tariff on TVs from Mexico. Now, consider the possible results.

1. The Mexican government, in order to sustain TV sales to the USA, underwrites the $10 rise in the cost of each TV. Net result, TV still costs $120, Mexico is paying for the wall.
2. The Mexican government, in order to sustain TV manufacturing, underwrites the additional costs involved in selling TVs to other countries. Net result, Walmart has to get TVs from another source, Mexico isn't paying for the wall.
3. The Mexican government doesn't do anything, the TV manufacturer eats the additional $10 cost. Net result, TV still costs $120, manufacturer makes 10% less profit, American consumers are paying for the wall.
4. The TV manufacturer passes the cost on to Walmart and Walmart eats the cost. Net result, TV still costs $120, Walmart makes no profit, US loses out on corporate tax. Walmart is paying for the wall? US government is paying for the wall? Consumers? It sure isn't Mexico!
5. Walmart passes the cost increase onto the customer. Net result, TV now costs $130. American consumers are paying for the wall.
6. Walmart decides to stop selling the TV. Net result, Mexico isn't paying for the wall (see scenario #2).

Which of those six scenarios do you think is most likely? (Hint, it's not #1)

 

[dgl]

Well #5, it's already started with products manufactured in China, whilst everyone else got a discount when the MI manufacturer Music Tribe reduced it's prices in America they rose. Maybe if that fact was actively pushed by the retailers as to why products now cost what they do (given the fact most electronic gizmos are of Chinese manufacture, something that is expensive and in high demand) consumers might start to backlash over the import duty.

 

[overthewater]

Many US companies are moving away from China already. While other companies have decided to not move or move back from Mexico. People in the US are turning away from companies that move production away.

 

[Groningen]

In the end people of the USA pay more for their goods. There is no need for USA manufactures to keep prices low as they are protected by the tariffs of Donald Trump. The taxbreaks are only for the rich.

 

[dgl]

That's the reason, like with farming in the EU, the only real option is government subsidy, it's not really fair to pass on the effects of trade wars on the consumer, even if it does bring some manufacturing back I wonder where most (in electronic devices that is) of the parts come from? It'll end up being the case that all the PCB's, components Etc. will be made in china and the product just assembled in the USA, that does not create a huge amount if jobs and companies will probably find ways around it. Esp. if people don't particularly like paying the higher prices, and as such quality slides as a result.
USA manufacturing can't compete with china, even on quality now (assuming the QC is in place), so if these tariffs stay in place then I can only see one thing happening and that is quality will have to slide to get prices down to pre tariff levels and that's not good for anyone.

 

[Darandio]

The Mueller report has concluded that there was no evidence of collusion or obstruction, but that Trump was not exonerated. Both Trump and the Press Secretary have tweeted to say that he is completely exonerated.

 

[yorkie]

The Mueller report has concluded that there was no evidence of collusion or obstruction, but that Trump was not exonerated. Both Trump and the Press Secretary have tweeted to say that he is completely exonerated.

This is only a minor untruth by Trump standards

 

[najaB]

The Mueller report has concluded that there was no evidence of collusion or obstruction, but that Trump was not exonerated.

I thought that Mueller declined to make a determination on the obstruction side of things.

 

[Darandio]

I thought that Mueller declined to make a determination on the obstruction side of things.

Correct, my mistake. Trump made that one up as well.

 

[Jonny]

Either way, it's effectively over. All the prosecutions are for secondary matters arising, not foreign collusion per se.

 

[Mag_seven]

"Complete Exoneration" he was shouting as he boarded Air Force One this evening. I think we will make our own minds up on that one Donald.

 

[Cowley]

Slightly struggling to keep my breakfast down as the red carpet is rolled out to welcome Trump this morning.
Should be an ‘interesting’ week...