Want to understand what Trump is doing?

Chocolatelovinggran

I have visited South Africa recently and agree with your summary, Claremont.
I do not feel that, should it happen, an influx of white South Africans a.k.a. "The Opressed ", will be an asset to the USA.
And, as I posted before, I thought that Mr Trump was opposed to unfettered immigration?

The South Africa business can only come from Musk because of his background?
But I do feel the need to share that my ex BiL is a white South African in Cape Town, and works in a multi racial finance start up firm for small businesses, it definitely not "all whites are...."

Just come up on CNN - it recognises how difficult it is to form strategy against Trump, but what I alluded to above, the debates around Trump getting his budget passed, they have real leverage.

"But they do have one looming piece of leverage: the March 14 deadline to avert a government shutdown.

House and Senate Democrats at the highest levels are now engaged in a fierce debate about what exactly to demand in their first big negotiation with Trump and how forcefully to push, according to conversations with more than two dozen members and senior aides.

Trump and GOP leaders will need Democratic support in the Senate, where 60 votes would be required to advance the bill

In the House, they have to contend with a contingent of conservatives unlikely to vote for any spending bill. While rank-and-file Democrats are eager to play hardball with Trump, other senior Democrats are uncertain how firm of a line to draw, fearing they may be forced to capitulate in a funding feud and ultimately appear even weaker.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and his Senate counterpart, Chuck Schumer, have been in talks about how best to use the funding deadline to counter Trump.

More on
edition.cnn.com/2025/02/09/politics/democrats-spending-trump/index.html

I have visited South Africa recently and agree with your summary, Claremont.
I do not feel that, should it happen, an influx of white South Africans a.k.a. "The Opressed ", will be an asset to the USA.
And, as I posted before, I thought that Mr Trump was opposed to unfettered immigration?

The transpeople in women’s sports ban is excellent news.

MayBee70

imaround. I was speaking with someone in America last night who said Biden is very much loved by a lot of Americans and, even after the car crash debate, would have won the election if he'd stood. I'd love to know your opinion of this.

He’d have lost big time, DT must have been seething when Biden was eventually wrestled away from standing.

Ok Galaxy. Glad we cleared that up.

Indeed - how can you form policies in a few weeks for something as unprecedented as whats happening atm? and you are almost certainly right, its deliberate to obfuscate half of what they are saying to confuse.

It's also not unusual for a defeated party with no clear leader to have to take time to re group. Conservatives here still struggling.

I dont need you to tell me what I should or shouldnt feel uncomfortable about, you are a random on the internet, probably not the place I seek moral guidance from. I am not complaining about you talking about Trump, crack on, but if there are claims of eradicating trans people or women not being able to vote (I think that was a previous concern) then some people are going to respond with wariness.

Honestly, I would have voted for Biden or Harris because I was knowledgeable enough to see what Trumpnhad planned.

I think the dems feelings about Biden are fairly standard. Some love him, some hate him.

I blame him for not stepping down sooner to allow for a primary. It was time for him to go. I blame Pelosi for throwing him under the bus. The dems have made a series of mistakes in handling the rise of Trump and they hold a responsibility for the mess we are in.

I know you didn't ask this but, I don't think the Democrat party has what it takes right now to counter Trump because they continue to play by the rules while he is running around lawless.

The Dems I have had interactions with are starting to mobilize and talks of primary challenges are strong.

Unfortunately, there is a new crisis to face several times a day (by design), so it is hard right now. Dems are starting to organize better, but they have a long way to go.

Claremont

Babs03

When reading about Trump taking the side of a white minority in South Africa I felt that we have truly entered a Grave New World, where before too long the KKK will be catergorised as an oppressed minority group.
Hey you saw it here first.

Musk's parents were supporters of White Supremacy Apartheid in South Africa- you know, a disgusting system that went on well into the 90s- so VERY recently. They moved out of SA, like so many of them - when Apartheid came to an end- and Mandela was liberated and the ANC came to power- for their supremacists views and politics, out of disgust they would have to live side by side with other ethnic groups, and because they feared for the massive economic advantage.

The KKK is the perfect match for them, and Trump!

correction 'they feared for the massive loss of economic advantage'

addition, and loss of so many other advantages, in education, jobs, property, etc, etc.

We have been to South Africa twice for extended trips since Apartheid fell. In many ways, little has changed, blacks are still poor, unemployed, living in the ghettos they were sent to when their homes were bulldozed and they were excluded. And many of the whites are still vile in their behaviour, the way they talk and behave with black people, dismissive, rude, out and out racism. And one day, it will explode- as it always does when some people are treated so badly and they don't feel they have any power to influence things. Most employed blck people in South Africa are from Zimbabway and Namibia- not locals.

imaround. I was speaking with someone in America last night who said Biden is very much loved by a lot of Americans and, even after the car crash debate, would have won the election if he'd stood. I'd love to know your opinion of this.

I really have no idea what you are going on about any more Galaxy.

I have been giving examples of what is actually happening to women, children and minorities in the US. If those examples make you feel uncomfortable, you should look into that. If it doesn't make you feel uncomfortable, you should look into to that.

I am confused as to why you would come on a thread about what Trump is doing and then seem upset because we discuss what Trump is doing.

nanna8

I agree, it was anything rather than the weak Democrats. Trump is quite unpleasant in many ways but he does do what he says he will ,with bells on.

Trump “does what he says he will” by issuing his (mad) executive orders, they get blocked by those with more sense, so then he can claim to have done what he said he would, and it would have been wonderful, magical, but idiots thwarted him. Not much of what he says he’d do is getting very far, is it?

I am not sure how I feel about Musk to be honest, the criticisms that were levelled him at previously (as a social media owner rather than his current position) were the same criticisms that could be levelled at the previous owner of Twitter, and nobody seemed to care about what he was up to.
The far right etc have been so over used that no one hears those words anymore, that is the problem.
I also think the terms left and right are becoming increasingly irrelevant, I am not sure they accurately describe the political landscape anymore. I dont recognise the left and its values anymore, and my values havent changed a great deal.

I spent a year working in SA in 2000 and met. through my work, some really racist whites.. Truly entitled and unpleasant.. if Trump is serious about offering them citizenship in the States is he really looking to change society to the detriment of people of colour?..
I wonder how he will treat the many black people who voted for him.. and how he reconciles his thought processes with his positive references to Martin Luther King.. Nothing seems to make sense to me..

Galaxy

No, I was responding to iamround, I do like to keep people guessing.
If the response is always Hitler, far right, and overblown claims
it just isnt going to work.
It isnt just me fortunately Maizie, apparently even the Democrats are having discussions about the issues they focussed on.

If the response is always Hitler, far right, and overblown claims
it just isnt going to work.

But, if you see similarities - like the demonising of a group of people who are going to be rounded up and - if Trump's plan comes to fruition to turn the naval base at Guantanamo into a detention centre - flown out there, why is it not appropriate to mention them?

It's not the same, but there are similarities - not least the effect on the collective mind when you diminish the humanity of a group of people, when you other them.

And, if Trump is further right than the average right-wing - then why should it not be said?

Democracy is a fragile concept - but it has its checks and balances in place. When you see someone attempting to overturn these (I understood Musk's role was 'advisory' but he appears to have been given extra powers by Trump) - why is it overblown to point it out? An unelected billionaire appears to be running the state - without formal checks... shouldn't this worry people? And, if you think not - why not?

Babs03

When reading about Trump taking the side of a white minority in South Africa I felt that we have truly entered a Grave New World, where before too long the KKK will be catergorised as an oppressed minority group.
Hey you saw it here first.

Musk's parents were supporters of White Supremacy Apartheid in South Africa- you know, a disgusting system that went on well into the 90s- so VERY recently. They moved out of SA, like so many of them - when Apartheid came to an end- and Mandela was liberated and the ANC came to power- for their supremacists views and politics, out of disgust they would have to live side by side with other ethnic groups, and because they feared for the massive economic advantage.

The KKK is the perfect match for them, and Trump!

No you dont need to check with me, but people who dont live in America are entitled to express a view as well, otherwise you would be the only person on the thread. You hold a particular perspective on the situation that doesnt mean it is the only perspective. On the subject of which I a most familiar ( the womens rights/gender issue) yes that did feel overblown, and very similar to the dramatic statements feminists in this country have been faced with for years.

Apparently I am overblowing claims of what is happening Mazie.

I will say that the constitutional rights my child has lost in the last 2 week doesn't FEEL overblown. 🙄 I guess I should have checked with Galaxy first to see if I am overthinking things before talking about what I am living through currently.

It isnt just me fortunately Maizie, apparently even the Democrats are having discussions about the issues they focussed on.

What, exactly, 'isn't just you'? You're not the only one with the secret knowledge?

correction - felt that we 'had' entered a Grave New World

When reading about Trump taking the side of a white minority in South Africa I felt that we have truly entered a Grave New World, where before too long the KKK will be catergorised as an oppressed minority group.
Hey you saw it here first.

No, I was responding to iamround, I do like to keep people guessing.
If the response is always Hitler, far right, and overblown claims
it just isnt going to work.
It isnt just me fortunately Maizie, apparently even the Democrats are having discussions about the issues they focussed on.

Ah I see. Thanks Maizie.

imaround

Galaxy

Oh my God. If this is representative of Democrats thinking you will lose every election from here to eternity.

It's funny you think I am a Democrat because I am anti Trump.

I 'think' that Galaxy was responding to Dicken's post. She rarely quotes or names the person she replies too, so it's a bit of a guessing game.

But her comment 'could' equally' apply to all of us because only she knows the secret of voter motivation.