General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI saw messages from Republicans and even some Democrats: Give him a chance. Well, we did.
Trump had the biggest chance he could possibly want.
A president's inaugural address is his (or her) golden opportunity to show vision, intellect, insight, and a notion that he (or she) understands the gravitas and the scope of the position about to be assumed.
The position of President requires--or SHOULD require--ALL of the following skills: soldier, social worker, diplomat, leader, listener, mediator, economist, trade rep, orator and teacher. And that is only a partial list.
Instead, Trump chose to demonstrate to the whole world (and yes, they were watching) that he is none of the above.
Every president gets this chance. I can't think of one that blew it this badly.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)He could have taken this opportunity to be magnanimous and instead he chose to be divisive and cruel. The man is a first-class asshole.
herding cats
(19,567 posts)I read international news daily, I know what they're saying, and I can't disagree.
I started following Trump's twitter account after the election, and I was dumbfounded by what he was saying. I thought maybe he'd raise the bar a bit off Twitter, but he kept it just as low.
Initially, I was speechless, but I've since found my voice again. This man is beyond just unqualified and illegitimate, he's mentally ill and a terrifying threat on out democracy.
Granted, I'm not as old and seasoned as some, but I can say I've never witnessed anything like this, ever, in my lifetime.
SunSeeker
(51,678 posts)From his outrageous cabinet picks, to his incessant tweeting, lying and bragging, he has been insufferable.
AgadorSparticus
(7,963 posts)I mean, really!! First day out and he lies!! And then Spicer lies about...reality. And we are supposed to give them a chance?!?!?! WTF?!?!!
People will DIE because of these assholes when they rip their health insurance away. And they want to overturn Roe v. Wade? They want to dismantle everything that is near and dear to me. So not just no, but HELL NO.
DFW
(54,436 posts)He is not about to change his demeanor at this point.
AgadorSparticus
(7,963 posts)DFW
(54,436 posts)"Hey, Donald? I have copies of your tax returns. If anything happens to me, they go public. Interested in having me over to lunch in the White House?"
AgadorSparticus
(7,963 posts)He sure did an about face with the CIA. He was practically fawning on them. That was pretty fast, too. I am sure he got wind of something. I am waiting to see what happens next.
And you never know. Maybe some deep pockets here are wooing him away from Putin.
canetoad
(17,181 posts)Is the refusal to acknowledge and utilise the sum of knowledge and experience that has gone before him.
No matter that for seventy years the US has made it possible for a man such as him to garner great wealth, he believes that he can step in, with a few pen strokes, nullify and reverse decades, even centuries of education, experience and know-how.
Such a person should not be given a chance to practice his theories on millions of citizens.
DFW
(54,436 posts)I don't see where he has any theories. He comes across to me more like a carnival barker who will say anything to hawk his snake oil. As long as he gets cheered by enough idiots that he can convince himself that he is celebrated, I think he'll let (or even order) others to make up his theories for him. He'll pick one or two, then say, "Make it so," and think he has what it takes to be a leader.
canetoad
(17,181 posts)At all. What dumfounds me is a system that allowed a buffoon like this to assume the highest power in the land, the world.
Where are the checks and balances?
DFW
(54,436 posts)After G.W. Bush, why were there no safeguards put into place to insure this would never happen again?
The Republicans had only garbage to offer, so we KNEW they'd try this again, and so they did.
MFM008
(19,818 posts)hes a horrid creature.
IMPEACH.
akbacchus_BC
(5,704 posts)President Obama! Karma is a bitch. Just goes to show how the republicans are one sided. Block a democratically elected president and now they want a buffoon to be given a chance. No, he does not deserve a chance, not after all the shit he campaigned on. The yellow haired idiot does not deserve any chance and that is my personal opinion.
DFW
(54,436 posts)The Republicans should have known in 2009 that they were writing the instruction manual for the Democrats the next time there was a Republican in the White House.
akbacchus_BC
(5,704 posts)the greatest on earth. But am sick to my soul that this asshole got elected. I believed the polls and was convinced that Mrs. Clinton would be the next President. November 8 night, my heart sunk and look at what we ended up with.
The marches across the world is a testimony that trump was not legally elected and I agree with Senator Lewis. Let's hope these marches around the world will motivate young people to run for office. For the next four years, we will be living in turbulent times especially if the right wing influences elections in some of the most important countries in Europe.
DFW
(54,436 posts)The right-wing movements there mostly sprung up as a reaction to a stiffly inflexible left that buried itself in the sand and made their countries inflexible bureaucracies that ignore and abuse the citizens. I'm not just theorizing. I live there (Germany) and speak nine European languages. Much of the European left forgot why it was there in the first place and stupidly drove many of the voters into the arms of a right wing that was almost surprised at its good fortune. Even then, the right in countries like Spain, Britain, Holland, France and Germany would never dream of dismantling most of the social protections their citizens now enjoy, including welfare and health care. Indeed, that is why they are all facing overwhelming numbers of immigrants from as near as EU members Romania and Bulgaria as well as places like West Africa, North Africa, South Asia and, of course, the Middle East and the former Soviet "Republics" of Central Asia.
And that's Congressman (or Representative) Lewis. John Lewis is a member of the House, not the Senate.
akbacchus_BC
(5,704 posts)right about Europe. I am sorry for making the wrong distinction about the office that John Lewis holds, I know he is a democrat, a civil rights stalwart and I had no intention of undermining him. As a Canadian, I am trying to keep up and just want to let you and other DUers know that I side with you.
DFW
(54,436 posts)I seriously doubt that I am in the slightest bit influential on DU. I just comment where I think I have something worthwhile to contribute, and half the time there is no shortage of people ready and willing to stipulate to the contrary.
I have an old friend in Canada (Montréal), but haven't seen him in a few years. He was THE finest foreign service officer of ANY country (sadly, including mine) that I have ever known. After serving as your ambassador to the USA under Bill Clinton, he served as your ambassador to France, where we used to get together, since I'm there 3 times a month for work. He retired when his uncle retired as PM, but I wish we could have kidnapped him and made him work for us. I can't believe he'll be 75 this year!
ffr
(22,671 posts)Barring that, he's illegitimate to the position. He should step down. That is his only honorable move.
Otherwise, we're going to ride him like Seattle Slew. Four years of berating and belittling his deficiencies, until he either takes the hint or gets impeached. This isn't going to end nicely.
This is how democracy works.
akbacchus_BC
(5,704 posts)water boy to scold the press that his inauguration had more attendees than every other. This boy child got elected by default and I fervently believe the election was rigged and there was outside interference from Comey and Russia.
Look at the tape with Guliani, fucker said there will be a big breaking news in a few days time. And here comes Comey.
I just want to cry again like I did on November 8, actually am crying. Those crowds around the world make me proud, but that will not stop trump from bringing the US to its knees.
DFW
(54,436 posts)The chief justice of the Supreme Court just swore in a guy who is an egomaniac and narcissist. That is the LAST type who would ever concede that he is not rightfully the president. The only "Honor" he's aware of played the female lead in "Goldfinger."
The only way a president gets impeached is if a majority of the House Judiciary committee, currently controlled by Republicans, recommends it and a majority of the full House, also currently controlled by Republicans, confirms it. Even then, when the Articles are delivered to the Senate, where a trial is held, a two thirds majority of the Senate, also controlled by Republicans, must vote to convict and remove from office. Only two Presidents have ever been impeached and none have been removed from office. Only if and when a huge bloc of Republican financing money decides they prefer a President Pence would this ever stand a ghost of a chance. Since Pence seems to think he is the reincarnation of The Grand Inquisitor, removing Trump, especially too soon, could end up being a Pyrrhic victory.
LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,591 posts)From the article:
The constitution has an escape hatcha way to remove a president that doesnt involve any violence or Second Amendment people. Using Section IV of the 25th Amendment, Congress could remove a potential President Trump. Heres how it works.
What is the 25th Amendment anyway?
In 1967, lawmakers in Washington, still reeling from the JFK assassination four years earlier, became fixated on the rules of succession and what to do if a president died or was unable to fulfill his or her duties as president. The Constitution had some procedures in place already, but they werent totally clear and didnt prepare for a full range of possible scenarios. So Congress ratified the 25th Amendment to make sure the rules were clear no matter what happened.
Ok, so what is Section IV?
Congress wasnt just content to prepare for what happened if the president or vice president died. They also wanted to be sure they had a plan in the event the president became cognitively unfit for office and was unable or unwilling to step down of their own volition. Section IV lays out the rules for how Congress or the presidents own cabinet could remove the president and install the vice president as acting leader of the free world.
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briv1016
(1,570 posts)Talk about telegraphing your punches.
akbacchus_BC
(5,704 posts)What a Liar. Not even Nixon could beat this asshole as a liar!
DFW
(54,436 posts)Buddha2B
(116 posts)He's pretty much considered a tawdry joke here. But we do have our own Deplorables that salivate over replicating his 'success'.
No one is inspired by him except for the sexist, racist degenerates that every nation has.
world wide wally
(21,754 posts)DFW
(54,436 posts)In case it's a golf game or at a bar, I don't care.
In case you meant a duel, I'd prefer it be his opponent.
world wide wally
(21,754 posts)DFW
(54,436 posts)Republicans never shoot if they fear their opponent might shoot back. It's why Reagan invaded Grenada instead of Iran.
pansypoo53219
(20,993 posts)get the red out
(13,468 posts)We see where he is going by his cabinet picks, the whol "chance" statement is uneducated at best. Should we wait until fascism really takes hold?