U.S. Presidential debate

Wyllow3

I think Trump has many of the characteristics of a cult leader. He has a great need for adulation, to be seen as a saviour, often tied to some evangelical christian groups. Dangerous when teamed with threats of violence (as in cries of "victory or death! by Steve Bannon and his MAGA army.

Not all people who will vote for him are cult followers of course, but there is a dangerous core.

Yes, I believe there are those who are aware of his failings, but will vote for him because they like his policies - and because they dislike the Democrats. Republicans who will choose him because he's the Republican choice for POTUS.

Trump is becoming irrational now resorting to personal insults, Vance is no better “childless cat woman” is such a ridiculous description. How on earth is the allegation about Haitians eating cats and dogs relevant to the US election. Harris was never overly popular as VP but compared to Trump, is much more credible. Having had the endorsement of Biden and Obama she should win

Trump has always been irrational!!!

David49

Trump is becoming irrational now resorting to personal insults, Vance is no better “childless cat woman” is such a ridiculous description. How on earth is the allegation about Haitians eating cats and dogs relevant to the US election. Harris was never overly popular as VP but compared to Trump, is much more credible. Having had the endorsement of Biden and Obama she should win

Money can buy you a good education but it can't make a pig's ear into a silk purse.

He behaves like a lout in an expensive suit. And his slurs against his opponents, anyone he doesn't like, and immigrants, are like those juvenile taunts of an untutored teenager with a limited vocabulary.

And he may yet become one of the most powerful men in the world.

Remember the dangerous things he said around Coronavirus?

Coronavirus: Outcry after Trump suggests injecting disinfectant as treatment
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52407177

The medical advisors had to scuttle around him to prevent people following hs advice.

he really, really thought he knew better.

HousePlantQueen

Dickens

MaizieD

even so Harris is gaining support and should win comfortably

I sincerely hope you're right about this, David. UK commentators are being very cagey about predicting a Harris win.

Boris Johnson, writing for the Daily Mail back in January, is fully behind Trump.

Apparently, his return to the White House could be just what the world needs.

It appears that those who oppose Trump are part of the "global wokerati". Whatever that is.

Both Johnson and Trump have their supporters here in the UK. Which I find unsettling.

Johnson is no longer of any consequence, politically, and is noticeable in his absence on any political discussions on TV or radio. It looks to me as if the current Tory administration, such as it is, are ignoring him rather like the daft, embarrassing relative who makes a fool of himself at events.

I agree that UK based supporters of Trump are unsettling, and worrying, they do not even have the excuse of choosing to ignore his repulsive behaviour now, and in the past, because they will benefit financially (like my USA based cousin).

I find it deeply troubling that Johnson should support Trump. Johnson's one undeniably decent and brave act as PM was to be wholeheartedly in support of Ukraine from day 1 of the Russian invasion, while EU countries were still humming and hawing (except for Poland of course) and the Biden administration was offering Zelenskyy a plane out of Kyiv (remember his remark - I need tanks, not a ride!)
Trump is totally on the other side of this - and both he and very noticeably Vance have completely swallowed the Putin koolaid. Vance's proposals for a "solution" to the conflict are outrageous and would give Putin lots of encouragement to press ahead with his imperial ambitions.
Among Harris's best lines in the debate was: "If you'd been president, Putin would be in Kyiv now".
So why is Johnson backing Trump? Oh, they are both narcissists...of course.

Trump's knowledge of geography is somewhat wobbly!

One of the latest was a statement that Hungary (who he admires greatly and can name the leader) borders Russia and the Ukraine.

It may seem trivial but he clearly intends to try and force a "solution' if he gets into power.

Foreign policy will be at the mercy of his uneducated whims.

I think that its likely that a lot of US citizens are not particularly knowledgeable either in this huge and fairly isolationist country and won't vote on the basis of foreign policy.

Wyllow3

Trump's knowledge of geography is somewhat wobbly!

One of the latest was a statement that Hungary (who he admires greatly and can name the leader) borders Russia and the Ukraine.

It may seem trivial but he clearly intends to try and force a "solution' if he gets into power.

Foreign policy will be at the mercy of his uneducated whims.

I think that its likely that a lot of US citizens are not particularly knowledgeable either in this huge and fairly isolationist country and won't vote on the basis of foreign policy.

He and his followers do appear Isolationist.

Well done Trump citing Viktor Orban and liking dictators.

Wyllow3

Trump's knowledge of geography is somewhat wobbly!

One of the latest was a statement that Hungary (who he admires greatly and can name the leader) borders Russia and the Ukraine.

It may seem trivial but he clearly intends to try and force a "solution' if he gets into power.

Foreign policy will be at the mercy of his uneducated whims.

I think that its likely that a lot of US citizens are not particularly knowledgeable either in this huge and fairly isolationist country and won't vote on the basis of foreign policy.

Trump believes that none of the current wars or conflicts would've happened if he'd been in power instead of Biden.

He claims he knows Zelensky and Putin very well. Putin (according to a radio interview in 2022), he knows very, very well. He also insists that both men respect him.

... Zelensky might - but the respect Putin has for Trump is probably more the kind of 'respect' that exists when one tyrant can be useful to the other.

I think Trump suffers from folie de grandeur.

Yes Dickens, he does, through and through, and also quite a lot of paranoia, as in truly believing if you are against him you must be on a witch hunt against the Chosen One, a Saviour.

"Many Trump supporters believe God has chosen him to rule"
www.economist.com/christmas-specials/2023/12/20/many-trump-supporters-believe-god-has-chosen-him-to-rule

Wyllow3

Yes Dickens, he does, through and through, and also quite a lot of paranoia, as in truly believing if you are against him you must be on a witch hunt against the Chosen One, a Saviour.

"Many Trump supporters believe God has chosen him to rule"
www.economist.com/christmas-specials/2023/12/20/many-trump-supporters-believe-god-has-chosen-him-to-rule

I saw a photo' of a typical American house - neat lawn, suburban - with a black painted board and "God chose Trump" in white lettering etched on to it, on the front garden.

Of course, these things can be photoshopped, and then there's AI generated photo's... but, it's believable.

... and danged scary!

I think its probably genuine!

I’d think it was genuine,too. Especially in the Bible Belt where many of his supporters are. I kind of get why, having formerly been a member of an American style Baptist church. It’s not so much the man, more his stance on things like abortion and saying he is ‘saved’.

Funny one- PMSL!