Donald I, emperor of the world.

[Pblakeney]

I guess it makes a change from gold bling, and is pretty sure to show his concern over rising grocery costs for the average American.

View attachment 11812

On closer inspection they actually look to be moulded plastic.
On brand if so.

 

[Xipe Totec]

I guess it makes a change from gold bling, and is pretty sure to show his concern over rising grocery costs for the average American.

View attachment 11812

If that's him holding them, I guess the pic's showing actual size.

 

[Pinno718]

I guess it makes a change from gold bling, and is pretty sure to show his concern over rising grocery costs for the average American.

View attachment 11812

What does he want; a Greco-Roman amphitheatre with fighting gladiators?

 

[The Crofted Crest]

A nude statue of himself set on the plinth of the Statue of Liberty?

 

[First Aspect]

The photos look like he's been browsing some DIY brochure while he was sitting on his gold shitter.

I'm not sure he's quite understood that there's a reason armrests are padded. But then, 'understanding', well, anything, is a challenge for him.

He was browsing the bathroom section.

 

[briantrumpet]

He was browsing the bathroom section.

I assume checking for materials that are resistant to ketchup.

 

[Pinno718]

A nude statue of himself set on the plinth of the Statue of Liberty?

Pick one:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor_Has_No_Balls

 

[briantrumpet]

Pick one:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor_Has_No_Balls

Or maybe the one of him and Epstein?

 

[briantrumpet]

If the gift link still works, this is a decent read - a persuasive and possibly optimistic piece, calling Trump's approach 'patrimonialism' rather than 'authoritarianism' (though I think the rest of his administration is well down that road, using Trump as the cover).

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/a...opy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

To say, then, that Trump lacks the temperament or attention span to be a dictator offers little comfort. He is patrimonialism’s perfect organism. He recognizes no distinction between what is public and private, legal and illegal, formal and informal, national and personal. “He can’t tell the difference between his own personal interest and the national interest, if he even understands what the national interest is,” John Bolton, who served as national security adviser in Trump’s first term, told The Bulwark. As one prominent Republican politician recently told me, understanding Trump is simple: “If you’re his friend, he’s your friend. If you’re not his friend, he’s not your friend.” This official chose to be Trump’s friend. Otherwise, he said, his job would be nearly impossible for the next four years.

Patrimonialism explains what might otherwise be puzzling. Every policy the president cares about is his personal property. Trump dropped the federal prosecution of New York City Mayor Eric Adams because a pliant big-city mayor is a useful thing to have. He broke with 50 years of practice by treating the Justice Department as “his personal law firm.” He treats the enforcement of duly enacted statutes as optional—and, what’s more, claims the authority to indemnify lawbreakers. He halted proceedings against January 6 thugs and rioters because they are on his side. His agencies screen hires for loyalty to him rather than to the Constitution.

[...]

Today, Gingrich’s campaign offers the Democrats a playbook. If they want to undermine Trump’s support, this model suggests that they should pursue a relentless, strategic, and thematic campaign branding Trump as America’s most corrupt president. Almost every development could provide fodder for such attacks, which would connect corruption not with generalities like the rule of law but with kitchen-table issues. Higher prices? Crony capitalism! Cuts to popular programs? Payoffs for Trump’s fat-cat clients! Tax cuts? A greedy raid on Social Security!

The best objection to this approach (perhaps the only objection, at this point) is that the corruption charge won’t stick against Trump. After all, the public has been hearing about his corruption for years and has priced it in or just doesn’t care. Besides, the public believes that all politicians are corrupt anyway.

But driving a strategic, coordinated message against Trump’s corruption is exactly what the opposition has not done. Instead, it has reacted to whatever is in the day’s news. By responding to daily fire drills and running in circles, it has failed to drive any message at all.

Also, it is not quite true that the public already knows Trump is corrupt and doesn’t care. Rather, because he seems so unfiltered, he benefits from a perception that he is authentic in a way that other politicians are not, and because he infuriates elites, he enjoys a reputation for being on the side of the common person. Breaking those perceptions can determine whether his approval rating is above 50 percent or below 40 percent, and politically speaking, that is all the difference in the world.

Do the Democrats need a positive message of their own? Sure, they should do that work. But right now, when they are out of power and Trump is the capo di tutti capi, the history of patrimonial rule suggests that their most effective approach will be hammering home the message that he is corrupt. One thing is certain: He will give them plenty to work with.

 

[CXRAndy]

View: https://x.com/i/status/2005065729352335713

 

[TailWindHome]

It's funny to to be so in the weeds of Minnesotan state politics and tell others they've a derangement.

 

[icowden]

Donald was lonely at Christmas. Over 100 posts on Truth Social from him on Christmas day.

In other news, artists are cancelling their performances at the Donald Trump Kennedy Center as they have contracts to perform at the Kennedy Center which no longer exists.

 

[Pinno718]

If the gift link still works, this is a decent read - a persuasive and possibly optimistic piece, calling Trump's approach 'patrimonialism' rather than 'authoritarianism' (though I think the rest of his administration is well down that road, using Trump as the cover).

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/a...opy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

It's an okay piece. It's not nearly hard hitting enough.

 

[briantrumpet]

It's an okay piece. It's not nearly hard hitting enough.

Agreed, but I think it partly explains how the real authoritarians have been able to manipulate him so easily (especially given his extreme malignant narcissism).

 

[Rusty Nails]

Agreed, but I think it partly explains how the real authoritarians have been able to manipulate him so easily (especially given his extreme malignant narcissism).

This is it...I am certain that Trump doesn't come up with half the crap ideas he pushes...he is being used.