Showing posts with label political influence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label political influence. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

America's Slide Into MaGA/Oligarchy: Bully Trump's Tariff Wars & His Growing Billionaire Influence

Let's be clear. Donald Trump, albeit now CFPOTUS47 (America's 1st convicted felon POTUS), is a punk and a bully: A "punk" and a "bully" are often considered similar because they both represent aggressive, disruptive behavior, but a key difference is that a "punk" is typically seen as someone who picks on weaker individuals while trying to appear tough, while a "bully" can target anyone, regardless of perceived strength, often using power dynamics to intimidate and control others; essentially, a punk might be considered a smaller-scale bully, focusing on more localized acts of harassment. 

What proof is there that there is now more embarrassment and humiliation of Convicted Felon CFPOTUS47 Donald Trump being president than there are positive feelings by his MaGA supporters?

"The Logic of Destruction - And how to resist it" (audio) - Timothy Snyder

Institutions Under Assault Will Not Deliver for Americans
Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum

Proud flag of those against their own best interests & others

By the way...I spent time years ago blogging about how the (seemingly earned) humiliation and punishment of Germany after WWI helped fuel WWII—and how we should avoid repeating that ...mistake.We now have Palestinians who have faced decades of displacement and oppression and...here we are.

America does not elect actual and convicted criminals as POTUS. Except now, we actually do as autocracy, Oligarchy, and  Kakistocracy are all what? BETTER than Democracy? That my friends, is the mindset of the mentally, socially, emotionally ILL. Follow and elected a malignant narcissist, a mentally and emotionally unbalanced individual like Donald Trump, and you get what you asked for. Damage. Harmed citizens. Death. 

I'd said in 2016 that if Trump were elected, you'd better HOPE we don't have a national disaster under him...and then we had two.

After the criminal POTUS45 administration, which I'd labeled America's first "Little Bitch POTUS admin", I'd said Trump was responsible for the death of at least 100,000 citizens due to his handling of COVID-19. Trump's own, Secretary of Homeland Security Gen. John Kelly, has said Trump was responsible for 200,000 citizens deaths due to mishandling of COVID-19. 

(Timothy Snyder on electing Convicted Felon Donald Trump & on the "Strongman Fantasy": Quite a few [ignorant/foolish] Americans like the idea of strongman rule. And now we have a president... who vows to persecute the enemy within, and who has [nominated] a cabinet that seems designed to overturn a republic. What’s wrong with that, ask many? Why not a dictator who will get things done?)


And what about Elon Musk's Guru who said in 2014 that America needs to..."get over and get used to having a dictator"? Elon who is invasive into our government now, who was NOT elected to do most of what he's doing in his ridiculous DOGE Trump department? As Trump tries to dismantle the FBI and other departments.

There isn’t a single definitive "proof" of this claim, but several indicators suggest that Trump's potential presidency (CFPOTUS 47) could bring more embarrassment and humiliation than positive feelings, even among some conservatives. 

Here’s how one might assess it:

1. Election Performance & Popularity Metrics

  • 2020 Loss: Trump lost the popular vote in both 2016 and 2020. If there were overwhelming positive support, he wouldn’t have lost in a record turnout election.
  • 2024 Polling Struggles: While Trump leads in some swing state polls, he remains deeply unpopular nationwide. His net approval rating has consistently been negative since he left office.
  • Biden vs. Trump Favorability: Despite Biden’s weaknesses, national polls still show Trump is more disliked than liked by the general electorate.

2. Criminal Charges & Scandals

  • Trump is the first former U.S. president to be criminally indicted 91 times across four separate cases. No modern world leader has ever faced such legal trouble while running for office.
  • Court cases in New York, Georgia, Florida, and D.C. have led to humiliating revelations about his finances, hush money payments, election interference, and mishandling of classified documents.
  • Even Fox News and right-wing media have expressed concerns that these scandals make him unelectable.

3. GOP & Conservative Figures Distancing Themselves

  • Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and Mike Pence—all former allies—have openly criticized Trump’s leadership, electability, and moral fitness for office.
  • The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 is preparing for a Trump-like presidency, but they don’t necessarily trust Trump himself. They want a more disciplined version of his policies.
  • Republican donors like the Koch network have tried to back alternative candidates, indicating hesitation about his return.

4. Public & Media Mockery

  • Saturday Night Live, late-night shows, and comedians consistently use Trump as a source of ridicule. His bizarre rants about whales, sharks, Hannibal Lecter, and batteries have fueled viral memes.
  • The phrase “Trump's Cognitive Decline” has been trending more frequently, even among conservatives, due to his increasing verbal mistakes and confusion in speeches.
  • His own MAGA supporters sometimes laugh at him. Example: At a rally, he confused Obama and Biden multiple times, causing chuckles even from the crowd.

5. MAGA Base Shrinking & Growing Fatigue

  • Trump rallies are not as packed as they used to be—a sign of dwindling enthusiasm.
  • "Trump Fatigue" is a real thing, even among some MAGA supporters who feel exhausted by the never-ending drama and legal issues.
  • Polling among independent voters shows a clear rejection of Trump, which is crucial for winning in 2024.

Conclusion

While hardcore MAGA supporters still adore Trump, the broader public—including independents and even some conservatives—views his return as chaotic, embarrassing, and legally fraught. The GOP itself is torn, with many preferring Trump’s policies but not his scandals. The weight of indictments, gaffes, and political baggage suggests that a second Trump term would bring more national and international humiliation than genuine triumph.

What about polls, concerns over Trump attacking Canada and Mexico, and others with threats of tariff wars?

Recent developments indicate significant concern over President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on Canada and Mexico, with public opinion reflecting apprehension about potential economic repercussions.

Public Opinion on Tariffs

A recent poll indicates that 51% of respondents oppose President Trump's tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. This opposition underscores widespread unease about the potential economic impact of such trade policies.

Economic Concerns

The tariffs have sparked panic and anger in Canada and Mexico, with economists predicting disruptions in supply chains, inflation, and job losses in all three countries. There is a potential for Canada and Mexico to enter recessions due to these measures.

Market Reactions

Global stock markets have reacted negatively to the tariffs, with significant declines observed in the US, Europe, and Asia. Major indices such as Germany's DAX, France's CAC, and the UK's FTSE 100 experienced drops of over 1%. In the US, the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures indicated declines between 1% and 2%.

These developments highlight the contentious nature of the tariffs and the concerns they raise among the public and economic experts.


It sounds more like Trump is acting the bully to other countries, getting responses from Canada and Mexico for 1,000s of troops to the borders, and threatening Canada he wants them as our 51st state when we clearly have protectorates who are decades in line for statehood first. 

Trump ridiculous imperial expansionism is also denigrating America's reputation worldwide. It's bad enough simply having him as our chief representative around the world has humiliated US.

In an effort to address issues such as illegal immigration and drug trafficking, President Trump announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico. In response, both countries have agreed to deploy 10,000 troops each to their respective U.S. borders to enhance security measures.

Annexation Remarks and Canadian Response

Further escalating tensions, President Trump suggested that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States. This proposal was met with strong opposition from Canadian officials and citizens. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau labeled the suggestion as a distraction from the tariff dispute, emphasizing Canada's sovereignty and rejecting the notion of annexation.

Public Sentiment in Canada

The combination of tariff threats and annexation remarks has led to a surge of anti-American sentiment in Canada. Many Canadians are boycotting American products, canceling trips to the U.S., and promoting local goods as acts of patriotism. Social media campaigns advocating for the boycott of U.S. products have gained momentum, reflecting the public's discontent with the current U.S. administration's policies.

Conclusion

CFPOTUS 47 Trump's recent actions and statements have strained relationships with Canada and Mexico, leading to significant diplomatic challenges and public backlash. The situation underscores the importance of careful diplomatic engagement with neighboring countries.

Trump is a bully, that's not up for dispute. 

Then there is his oligarch issue, one that AOC has said we are fully in the midst of, not the beginning of.

Her observation aligns with concerns expressed by various political figures and analysts regarding the concentration of wealth and power in the United States. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) has been vocal about the nation's shift towards oligarchy. In a recent statement, she emphasized that the U.S. is not merely approaching oligarchy but is already experiencing it, highlighting the significant influence of billionaires on politics and policy.

This perspective is supported by studies indicating that economic elites and organized business interests have substantial impacts on U.S. government policy, often outweighing the preferences of average citizens. A notable 2014 study by political scientists Martin Gilens and Benjamin Page found that the U.S. political system favors the interests of the wealthy and powerful, leading to policy outcomes that do not necessarily reflect the desires of the broader population.

Former President Jimmy Carter also described the United States as an "oligarchy with unlimited political bribery," pointing to the pervasive influence of money in politics.

These assessments suggest that the U.S. has moved beyond the initial stages of oligarchy, with wealth and power increasingly concentrated among a small segment of the population, thereby diminishing the influence of the average citizen in political processes.

For a more in-depth perspective, this discussion may (or may not) be informative:

Let's not forget this, how CFPOTUS47 is dismantling our DOJ because they tried and mostly failed to hold him accountable for his Jan. 6 insurrection and so much more...

Recent actions by President Donald Trump have raised significant concerns about attempts to undermine the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The administration has initiated the dismissal of prosecutors involved in the January 6 investigations and is moving toward ousting FBI agents associated with these cases.

Our crippled Department of Justice (DOJ) has terminated several senior FBI officials and demanded a list of personnel involved in the January 6 Capitol attack investigation, indicating potential further dismissals. Experts describe these actions as unprecedented, noting that mass firings for participation in an investigation are unheard of. Such measures could compromise the FBI's effectiveness in critical areas like counterterrorism and threaten the agency's independence.

In response, the FBI Agents Association, representing over 14,000 current and former agents, has appealed to Congress to protect employees facing punishment or termination due to their involvement in the January 6 investigations. The association's letter to lawmakers expressed concerns that these actions might jeopardize agents' careers and disrupt essential Bureau operations.

Critics argue that these moves undermine the rule of law and resemble tactics seen in authoritarian regimes, where governmental agencies are purged of individuals deemed disloyal. This situation has sparked a broader debate about the future of democratic norms and the independence of federal institutions in the United States.

For a more in-depth analysis, you might find this discussion informative:


Best of luck to us all...


Compiled with aid of ChatGPT