The Trump presidency

Yes, I'd heard the lesser of two evils argument as well, jal. Hillary Clinton was despised by huge swathes of the population. That needs to be understood too.

petra,

jalima and CS Lewis, quite.

He frightens me, he makes me shudder but I try to understand why so many people voted for him.

I heard someone say that they thought he was the lesser of two evils (not on here, not someone in the UK).

Thanks bags for the link to that excellent, well-written and thoughtful article.

I agree that it's high time people made a serious attempt to understand why so many people voted for Trump, and why he still remains popular despite all the hoo-ha about thousands now regretting their vote.

That is the nub of it though - until politicians, the media etc start trying to look at things through the eyes of someone else who may not have had their advantages in life, they will always remain out of touch with millions of their fellow citizens and will never understand why people think and vote a certain way.

My own eyes are not enough for me, I will see through the eyes of others
C S Lewis

In the same paper was an excellent, well written and thoughtful article by Nick Cohen about Trump.

I am particularly interested in watching Steve Bannon and his brietbart web site.

"Trump has brought Steve Bannon, a true postmodern fascist, to the centre of power. Bannon exemplifies the Nazi jurist Carl Schmitt's sinister ideal of a political leader who unites his supporters by creating enemies for them to hate. Bannon and the alt right have made Islam - and all Muslims - their enemy of choice. They unite their supporters on racial lines against blacks, Jews and Latinos too.

As a former journalist on his Breitbart site explained , Bannon believes "in a nutshell that western culture is inseparable from European ethnicity"

This is real threat.

thatbags How very strange. A journalist understanding why Trump won writing in the gaudian. If I hadn't seen it myself I wouldn't have believed you

So good on the Guardian for publishing it.

There is no need, ww, the other point of view about Trump, with much of which I don't disagree, is rammed down our throats all day long from most news sources. The important thing about this article is that it shows an understanding of why the totally unexpected happened, why America has done such a terrifying thing and why Trump is still popular with millions of people. I think it's important to understand that. You don't have to be a Trump supporter to see the importance of causes and to sit up and take notice.

I was quite surprised when two workers at a day centre where I volunteer once a week said that they actually agree with the things Trump has done since his inauguration. They "get it" too in a way that most of the news media apparently doesn't.

bags did you read the other articles about Trump?

Why Trump won. In the Guardian.

Yes, you read that right, in the Guardian.

twitter.com/Trump_Regrets

I love this. Real people having regrets. Tweeters getting their own back on Trump.

I suppose that would create quite a few new jobs, though...

They are going to have to build a lot more jails to cope with the influx of lawbreakers, aren't they?

That is very chilling,*dj*. But unfortunately the US has never been quite as white as it likes to paint itself. Also, mass protest has been one of the ruling elite's greatest fears since history began...

Not so pleased to read about this, in 'the greatest democracy in the world'.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-states-laws-right-protest-free-speech-donald-trump-iowa-minnesota-north-dakota-black-lives-matter-a7562841.html

Pleased to hear just now that Trump's appeal to restore his immigration ban has been denied. Wonder what his response will be to that from Mar el Lago where he is weekending.

Fearful of his aim to fully control the Supreme Court by his appointee now and later appointees expected.

Astounding, dj(overturning of transparency law). Oil companies now have no brakes.

This and the repeal of the J ohnson Amendment (tax-free status churches cannot financially support political parties directly)and the Dodd-Frank Law ( regulates banking to prevent wild speculation, enacted post-crisis, 2010), amongst other executive orders still to come, give the USA a huge no holds barred scenario reminiscent of the Wild West.

The Trump tweet re "so-called judge" who revoked immigration order reveals(again) what he thinks of any control of his actions or contradictions to his will.

This thread now merges into the other one on DT's mental condition. Is The Trump Presidency is now a Psychotic State personified?

What next?

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/04/two-thirds-of-britons-believe-trump-is-threat-to-international-stability

Will the other third be convinced by next weekend?

www.globalwitness.org/en/press-releases/us-congress-votes-corruption-overturning-historic-transparency-law-gift-big-oil/

I suppose this is what they mean by checks and balances. Presumably the judges guard the constitution in America, just as they do in this country.

This will be interesting Trumpkin & Co v The US Judiciary

I See the so - called president is a tad cross over the overturning of the ban.

jalima

Yes, he did apparently.
Too late then!

Perhaps she is just keeping her head down (I would!)

oh dear, that was not meant to be a pun but I'll leave it anyway.
More whataboutery!