Donald I, emperor of the world.

[Rusty Nails]

What's the fine detail of the Democrat position on Iran and Ukraine? On the economy and immigration? On AI

They are such a range of people across a hugely varied country that, at the moment, there is no fine detail. Democrats in Mississipi are not necessarily in line with those in California.

Other than the Presidential elections, elections are very local in voting preferences.

Their system is strange, but then so can ours seem to them.

 

[First Aspect]

In Korea* at some point, the president's own party voted to remove him, and it did do the party a lot of damage at the subsequent election. I struggle to see how keeping Trump on can help the Republicans though.

*The world is not full of example of democracies removing corrupt presidents.

He will stay on, but individual Republicans can distance themselves and claim they had reservations all along. I reckon Vance will be one of them, even though his association will probably mean he won't get the nomination.

The USAnians ALWAYS vote with their wallets, not their conscience. That's just happened. This election was about fuel prices and cost of living. Not siding woth Russia, fragrant corruption, being shot at by its own law enforcement or having no health care. This is why I absolutely wouldn't rule out another Republican nutter being elected on the basis of false promises in 2 years time.

 

[Psamathe]

Democrats warn Trump officials to keep records or risk criminal penalties after midterm victories​

A group of Democratic lawmakers are asking leaders in the Trump administration to preserve records in accordance with federal law or risk criminal penalties after voters across the country gave Democrats control of Congress.

In a letter sent out to department and agency heads Wednesday morning, Bobby Scott, the top Democrat on the House committee on education and workforce who is expected to become chair next year, noted the requirements to “collect, retain and preserve records that document the ‘transaction of public business’ or contain ‘informational value’ under the Federal Records Act of 1950”.

Going after Trũmp and Trũmptonites (in office) now would seem futile as Trümp will just pardon them even if only to frustrate the Democrats. Far better to wait until after Trümp has completed his term then start the actions as then it's too late for Trũmp to be pardoning people.

I have no idea if it's possible or what might happen if he tried but I doubt the President could issue a global pardon to everybody he appointed for any crime they may to committed. I'd have hoped that would be judged an abuse of power by the courts.

 

[First Aspect]

Going after Trũmp and Trũmptonites (in office) now would seem futile as Trümp will just pardon them even if only to frustrate the Democrats. Far better to wait until after Trümp has completed his term then start the actions as then it's too late for Trũmp to be pardoning people.

I have no idea if it's possible or what might happen if he tried but I doubt the President could issue a global pardon to everybody he appointed for any crime they may to committed. I'd have hoped that would be judged an abuse of power by the courts.

The idea of pardons for future crimes or crimes not yet specified that they can't confirm or deny having been committed has been floated already. I think it would find its way to the Supreme Court. They've been performing legal gymnastics to pander to Trump for a while now but it is less clear how that body will behave in future, when they are in the position of potentially empowering a democratic president. They could face a bit of a catch 22.

 

[First Aspect]

I reckon Vance will be one of them, even though his association will probably mean he won't get the nomination.

Well that didn't take long (from BBC News)

'The reason we lost is the war,' JD Vance says
published at 15:53
15:53
Breaking
US Vice-President JD Vance reacts to Republicans' midterm loss in a lengthy post on X, claiming the US war in Iran was the reason for his party's defeat.

"The reason we lost is the war," he says.

"Everyone knows why we lost," he goes on to say. "And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there."

 

[secretsqirrel]

Well that didn't take long (from BBC News)

'The reason we lost is the war,' JD Vance says
published at 15:53
15:53
Breaking
US Vice-President JD Vance reacts to Republicans' midterm loss in a lengthy post on X, claiming the US war in Iran was the reason for his party's defeat.

"The reason we lost is the war," he says.

"Everyone knows why we lost," he goes on to say. "And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there."

Vance making his moves. Not surprised.

Waiting now for Rubio to state support for Ukraine 🤞

And Hegseth to F off

 

[Pross]

They are such a range of people across a hugely varied country that, at the moment, there is no fine detail. Democrats in Mississipi are not necessarily in line with those in California.

Other than the Presidential elections, elections are very local in voting preferences.

Their system is strange, but then so can ours seem to them.

Makes it all the more strange that there are only the two political parties plus the odd independent. It doesn't seem much to cover such a broad demographic (plus only having two parties to choose from makes any kind of meaningful change very difficult).

 

[Rusty Nails]

Makes it all the more strange that there are only the two political parties plus the odd independent. It doesn't seem much to cover such a broad demographic (plus only having two parties to choose from makes any kind of meaningful change very difficult).

It's simpler for them to understand and doesn't complicate things by bringing nuance into politics.

 

[icowden]

Hilary Clinton arguably had a lot of baggage because of her husband. Kamala Harris was not seen as a very strong candidate.

Kamala also only had half the campaigning time as Biden insisted on running.

 

[Pblakeney]

Latest one I've seen doing the rounds on SM.

I mean, if you can't win an election after promising everyone in the country $5,000 if you emerge victorious, how f******g s**t must you be?

 

[First Aspect]

Vance making his moves. Not surprised.

Waiting now for Rubio to state support for Ukraine 🤞

And Hegseth to F off

If only. This might have a "the party is over" feeling to it, but there is still an awful lot he can do without backing from Congress. And since he doesn't need to be popular any more, this could be bad.

Remains to be seen whether he is an alien life form that feeds off the approval of others, and will now die. I suspect he just feeds off attention, in which case appalling the world will be fine.

 

[briantrumpet]

Stolen from Bluesky: "Lame duck à l'orange"

 

[briantrumpet]

Stolen from Bluesky: "Lame duck à l'orange"

Though someone else had suggested, given Trump's penchant for gold glitter, "Lamé duck".

 

[Pinno718]

Vance making his moves. Not surprised.

Waiting now for Rubio to state support for Ukraine 🤞

And Hegseth to F off

Mike Johnson quits.

 

[Wobblers]

I haven't seen a single discussion about winning Democrat policies, just that it was an anti-Trump vote. They need to take that on board rather than imagining this is a pro Democrat landslide, otherwise it will be 5 years of JD Vance next time.

The results show that Trump, and anything associated with Trump, are now thoroughly toxic. All the Democrats had to do, and all they did, was say "We're not Trump". Vance not merely is tainted by association with Trump, but also has the twin handicaps of being (a) useless and (b) a charisma vacuum. He's done: he doesn't inspire the same sort of (misplaced) loyalty Trump can. The MAGA vote's not going to coalesce around him: who else will?

And the rest of the Republicans, well they're just as tainted as Vance. Trump'll still be there during the next presidential campaign, casting a very long shadow over anything the Republicans do. So the Democrats only need to point and say "We're still not Trump". They don't need policies as much as to not be as toxic as Trump.