This is what dictators do…

[firegiver]

I can almost hear the maga brain power hitting it's governor and whining that the reality isn't true.
Everyone agrees fraud and waste should be eliminated from the government, y'all just are allowing a fraudster to tell you he's doing that. Without proof. So he can centralize power and rule without checks.

Are you all denying he's doing that? Because the evidence is he is. Are you ok with him doing that? Then you are not a conservative, you are a populist dictator fascist.

 

[Dadar]

Trump will inevitably go too far with all this. It's just who he is. IMO, he's doing that now with his bluster about Ukraine.

That being said, a lot of what's being done is good. Lowering waste is good. All the boondoggles for various interest groups being taken away is good. I can't imagine any reasonable person not being in favor of those things. Government being smaller is good. I suspect there will be many who would disagree with me on that.

We need to look at our military spending. What we get for the massive amount of money we spend isn't what it should be. There's a lot of people getting rich off the massive waste of taxpayer dollars in our government. Government is a necessary evil and it should be as limited as we can possibly make it. Again, I am sure a lot of people would disagree with my view on that as well.

How can anyone believe Trump is anything other than a narcissistic grifter? We all Iive in our own heads.

 

[Willence]

How can anyone believe Trump is anything other than a narcissistic grifter? We all Iive in our own heads.

Narcissistic for sure. Not sure about the other part.

 

[dpic73]

 

[Willence]

Talk about a false reality...

 

[dpic73]

Talk about a false reality...

LMAO, talk about having your head in the sand. Ask Europeans how they feel right now after being told to be nicer to neo-Nazis and being told that America can't guarantee their security any longer. Oh and lest we forget, blaming Ukraine for Russia's invasion.

I can't wait for your convoluted reasoning.

 

[Willence]

LMAO, talk about having your head in the sand. Ask Europeans how they feel right now after being told to be nicer to neo-Nazis and being told that America can't guarantee their security any longer. Oh and lest we forget, blaming Ukraine for Russia's invasion.

I can't wait for your convoluted reasoning.

I don't agree with what Trump has said about this situation lately. I do agree that Ukraine is horribly corrupt, but they were attacked and we have supported their defense. From there, I disagree with most of what's been done.

As for Europe, I couldn't care less how they feel. The crap that's going on to attack free speech and the freedom of people to stand up for their culture and their country is awful. And the way the media tries to distort that is by calling it Nazi. The Nazi card is so massively overplayed and it's falsely used by the left all over the place. It literally has lost all credibility. Europe has $17T+ in economic might compared to about $2.5T for Russia. If they were invested in Ukraine's defense the way they should be, they could more than support Ukraine here. It's not our job to fund this conflict, but I do think we should take a leading role in ending it. That means negotiating with Putin. We'll see how all this ends up and then we can see what we think of the solution. No matter what, Ukraine is not getting back most of the territory Russia has taken. That was obvious from the beginning and an offramp should have been provided in the first weeks of the war. All we've done is facilitate a whole lot of death and destruction in a warped attempt to weaken Russia. Them being weaker is good but the cost of lives is abhorrent.

 

[dpic73]

I don't agree with what Trump has said about this situation lately. I do agree that Ukraine is horribly corrupt, but they were attacked and we have supported their defense. From there, I disagree with most of what's been done.

As for Europe, I couldn't care less how they feel. The crap that's going on to attack free speech and the freedom of people to stand up for their culture and their country is awful. And the way the media tries to distort that is by calling it Nazi. The Nazi card is so massively overplayed and it's falsely used by the left all over the place. It literally has lost all credibility. Europe has $17T+ in economic might compared to about $2.5T for Russia. If they were invested in Ukraine's defense the way they should be, they could more than support Ukraine here. It's not our job to fund this conflict, but I do think we should take a leading role in ending it. That means negotiating with Putin. We'll see how all this ends up and then we can see what we think of the solution. No matter what, Ukraine is not getting back most of the territory Russia has taken. That was obvious from the beginning and an offramp should have been provided in the first weeks of the war. All we've done is facilitate a whole lot of death and destruction in a warped attempt to weaken Russia. Them being weaker is good but the cost of lives is abhorrent.

The hubris of a conservative American telling Europeans that they're over-playing the Nazi card, even though it's active in their own backyards. Who TH are you to tell them how they should manage the spread of propaganda?

You're getting way too far in the weeds on the Ukraine war details when the point is the president of our own country is openly hostile to Europe while coddling Putin/Russia - it's as if he's giving them an open invitation to do "whatever the hell they want" to our democratic friends!

Or have you forgotten that's what they are because they're more liberal than you?

The Economist cover accurately portrays their fears.

 

[firegiver]

Member how trump elected scotus says the president can't break the law? I member. So when he breaks the law now? Oh he wants to screw your mom and design execution chambers for illegals... who's going to stop this man? He's above the law. Great work maga.
What's the next psycho going to do with all these eroded checks and balances

 

[Dadar]

This sounds like N Korea, not our country

Republican proposes making Trump’s birthday a public holiday

Claudia Tenney’s bill combining Flag Day with Trump’s birthday could face steep odds of success in Congress

www.theguardian.com

 

[DrTigerGoob]

This sounds like N Korea, not our country

Republican proposes making Trump’s birthday a public holiday

Claudia Tenney’s bill combining Flag Day with Trump’s birthday could face steep odds of success in Congress

www.theguardian.com

That is correct.

 

[Dadar]

That is correct.

Trump is compromised by Russia

 

[UrHuckleberry]

Member how trump elected scotus says the president can't break the law? I member. So when he breaks the law now? Oh he wants to screw your mom and design execution chambers for illegals... who's going to stop this man? He's above the law. Great work maga.
What's the next psycho going to do with all these eroded checks and balances

Executive branch?

 

[TigerGrowls]

Had a feeling you wouldn’t be able to provide any specific examples.

I'm not wasting my time to recount stuff that is already referenced on this board multiple times.

 

[Willence]

The hubris of a conservative American telling Europeans that they're over-playing the Nazi card, even though it's active in their own backyards. Who TH are you to tell them how they should manage the spread of propaganda?

You're getting way too far in the weeds on the Ukraine war details when the point is the president of our own country is openly hostile to Europe while coddling Putin/Russia - it's as if he's giving them an open invitation to do "whatever the hell they want" to our democratic friends!

Or have you forgotten that's what they are because they're more liberal than you?

The Economist cover accurately portrays their fears.

It's not hubris. It's just reality. If I stand up for freedom, I can have an opinion about the actions they are taking to squelch free expression. As someone said the other day, they are literally following 1984 like it's a handbook for a successful society. It's depressing to watch because my family came from Europe.

I have not viewed the Europeans as true friends for a long time. I view them as people who use the United States for protection and have little other regard for us.

You seem to be part of that chorus of folks who think we shouldn't engage with Putin. For this war to end, that's going to have to occur. I've never been in favor of supporting Ukraine in this fight because I didn't want to see massive loss of life. Since the beginning, it has been my view that we needed to provide an off-ramp so that this conflict could de-escalate before a country is destroyed and we end up with the same settlement we could have reached a week into the conflict only a million or so lives later.

History tells us all we need to know about Russia. Putin is very much a historic Russian. We have to treat him as such and deal with him accordingly. I view that as what is going on now. I know you're desperate to keep alive the Russian pawn theme so you're going to view it differently. It's amazing how hard people try to keep that going even though nothing could be further from the truth. Time will reveal who's right. A quick look at the map and history reveals just how wrong the left has been on nearly every foreign policy issue in the last God knows how long. It's hard to be wrong that often but they manage it.

 

[TigerGrowls]

 

[dpic73]

It's not hubris. It's just reality. If I stand up for freedom, I can have an opinion about the actions they are taking to squelch free expression. As someone said the other day, they are literally following 1984 like it's a handbook for a successful society. It's depressing to watch because my family came from Europe.

I have not viewed the Europeans as true friends for a long time. I view them as people who use the United States for protection and have little other regard for us.

You seem to be part of that chorus of folks who think we shouldn't engage with Putin. For this war to end, that's going to have to occur. I've never been in favor of supporting Ukraine in this fight because I didn't want to see massive loss of life. Since the beginning, it has been my view that we needed to provide an off-ramp so that this conflict could de-escalate before a country is destroyed and we end up with the same settlement we could have reached a week into the conflict only a million or so lives later.

History tells us all we need to know about Russia. Putin is very much a historic Russian. We have to treat him as such and deal with him accordingly. I view that as what is going on now. I know you're desperate to keep alive the Russian pawn theme so you're going to view it differently. It's amazing how hard people try to keep that going even though nothing could be further from the truth. Time will reveal who's right. A quick look at the map and history reveals just how wrong the left has been on nearly every foreign policy issue in the last God knows how long. It's hard to be wrong that often but they manage it.

No words man. Not only have they fought beside us and spilled blood in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria but they also host 28 American main operating bases across their continent and share intelligence from their strong and capable intelligence networks - or did.

They're also fellow democracies, support individual liberties and abide by the rule of law. If you don't see them as our friends then we don't have any. If you don't see Russia as the enemy and condemn them more than our allies, then your priorities are suspect and you've ceded the moral high ground.

We've now distanced ourselves from the rest of the democratic world in order to coddle the world's worst despot and that's shameful. We can no longer be trusted as we're now seen as the world's biggest pariah nation and all because we have our own home-grown dictator who prioritizes obedience to him alone over democracy.

We are a laughing stock.

 

[Willence]

If you don't see Russia as the enemy and condemn them more than our allies, then your priorities are suspect and you've ceded the moral high ground.

I absolutely see them as an adversary. I never said otherwise. That's your concoction. Remember, it was your side that decided the Cold war was over and that the 1980s wanted their foreign policy back when it was stated that Russia is a major geopolitical foe. I guess when honesty and accountability don't matter, you can just switch whichever way you want depending on how the wind is blowing that day.

Russia is never going to be an ally. We never should have tried to make them one. Their history tells you all that you need to know about them.

I also never said the sacrifices of the European nations were not worthy of our respect. You take a statement and then extrapolate out to ridiculous extremes. Europe uses us. They have for decades and will continue to do so as long as we allow it. All that being said, I would never take Russia's side over Europe and neither will this president

Russia is out of the box 100% because of idiot democratic policies and European policies. That's the beginning and end of the discussion. No conservative ever advocated for all the energy deals that Russia had with Europe and all the financial empowerment through trade they have achieved with the idiotic European leadership and absolutely intellectually empty American administrations like Biden and Obama.

This is just another example of FAFO.

 

[DrTigerGoob]

View embedded media

If someone has broken the law or is suspected of breaking the law, then by all means…investigate.

Don’t just do investigations though because you have a vendetta.

I know…many of you will say Democrats had a vendetta against Trump. It’s not a vendetta if you break the law. There was enough evidence to convict Trump of the classified documents and J6. But all of that will be suppressed by DOJ because he won.

That is just how it is and those of us that want a President that will do the right thing…have to live with what we have.

 

[dpic73]

I absolutely see them as an adversary. I never said otherwise. That's your concoction. Remember, it was your side that decided the Cold war was over and that the 1980s wanted their foreign policy back when it was stated that Russia is a major geopolitical foe. I guess when honesty and accountability don't matter, you can just switch whichever way you want depending on how the wind is blowing that day.

Russia is never going to be an ally. We never should have tried to make them one. Their history tells you all that you need to know about them.

I also never said the sacrifices of the European nations were not worthy of our respect. You take a statement and then extrapolate out to ridiculous extremes. Europe uses us. They have for decades and will continue to do so as long as we allow it. All that being said, I would never take Russia's side over Europe and neither will this president

Russia is out of the box 100% because of idiot democratic policies in European policies. That's the beginning and end of the discussion. No conservative ever advocated for all the energy deals that Russia has in Europe and all the empowerment of their trade that they have achieved with the idiotic European leadership and absolutely intellectually empty American administrations like Biden and Obama.

I don't know any other way to interpret this. If they aren't our friends, who is?

I have not viewed the Europeans as true friends for a long time.

Just because Europe doesn't love Donald Trump (why would they?) doesn't mean they don't love and respect America - or did. I've seen it first-hand the many times I've visited as I was treated extremely well and probably experienced greater hospitality there than I've ever experienced here. The majority are kind, decent, law abiding citizens, which makes for the safest continent on earth. You may consider us to be freer than them but you won't fear walking the streets at night, that I can assure you.

They just want peace and Russia and Nazism threatens to disrupt that peace, so of course they're rightfully concerned now that we're belittling them while appeasing the greatest threat to their sovereignty. We should be ashamed of ourselves - I know I am.

 

[Willence]

I don't know any other way to interpret this. If they aren't our friends, who is?

Just because Europe doesn't love Donald Trump (why would they?) doesn't mean they don't love and respect America - or did. I've seen it first-hand the many times I've visited as I was treated extremely well and probably experienced greater hospitality there than I've ever experienced here. The majority are kind, decent, law abiding citizens, which makes for the safest continent on earth. You may consider us to be freer than them but you won't fear walking the streets at night, that I can assure you.

They just want peace and Russia and Nazism threatens to disrupt that peace, so of course they're rightfully concerned now that we're belittling them while appeasing the greatest threat to their sovereignty. We should be ashamed of ourselves - I know I am.

I am not some Trump supporter. I am a conservative. I've told you that so many times. Don't want me in with the sycophantic love of Donald Trump. I am not part of that group. You can dislike me in my views but please don't want me in where I don't fit.

I have felt as I do about Europe for a long time. As an over decades. The problem with Europeans is their quest for peace always ends in war. That's just how it goes. They have never understood the concept that you preserve peace through vigilance and overwhelming strength. That's the only thing the Russians respond to and Russia has always been the number one problem for European nations when it's not Germany. You're obsession with Nazism is ridiculous. I know it fits a narrative but you need to let that go because it's not the problem you make it out to be.

 

[firegiver]

I am not some Trump supporter. I am a conservative. I've told you that so many times. Don't want me in with the sycophantic love of Donald Trump. I am not part of that group. You can dislike me in my views but please don't want me in where I don't fit.

I have felt as I do about Europe for a long time. As an over decades. The problem with Europeans is their quest for peace always ends in war. That's just how it goes. They have never understood the concept that you preserve peace through vigilance and overwhelming strength. That's the only thing the Russians respond to and Russia has always been the number one problem for European nations when it's not Germany. You're obsession with Nazism is ridiculous. I know it fits a narrative but you need to let that go because it's not the problem you make it out to be.

Imagine needing to diminish Nazism to support your narrative.
Fascism whether it's nazism, or just good old white nationalism, is a big ole problem. They are spending our tax dollars on, checks notes, anti Christian bias https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-she...onald-j-trump-eradicates-anti-christian-bias/
This is what fascism smells like. In what way is this needed? Who demanded this? What atrocities have there been to require this? There have been none, this is a clear message to "others". It's an intimidation method.

 

[Willence]

Imagine needing to diminish Nazism to support your narrative.
Fascism whether it's nazism, or just good old white nationalism, is a big ole problem. They are spending our tax dollars on, checks notes, anti Christian bias https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-she...onald-j-trump-eradicates-anti-christian-bias/
This is what fascism smells like. In what way is this needed? Who demanded this? What atrocities have there been to require this? There have been none, this is a clear message to "others". It's an intimidation method.

It's amazing how you can come to that conclusion. Were those things present they would be a massive issue. But they're not. At least not to the degree you want them to be. I also seriously doubt anyone today knows what fascism smells like considering we throw the term around like it's candy. You can keep on saying what you're going to say because I know you will. Fortunately you are free to do that. Note the word free.

I would never diminish concerns about Nazism or communism in the way that people in the left have. The Soviet Union was every bit as evil as Nazi Germany. We partnered with them in world war II to defeat the Nazis without fully understanding the gravity of the choice we made. As a result of that we left generations of people under the control of this communist Soviet block. The ignorance about history is stunning when you read what people think these days.

 

[PontificatingUnifex]

Surely you understand some of these judicial rulings are not constitutional? Also I'm hoping that you understand a lot of these rulings are partisan and in appeal will be overturned? That being said please explain exactly what you're so upset about right now. I would like to know what you see going on that is of such great concern for you?

There’s a method for dealing with “bad rulings” and it’s not ignoring the ruling.

 

[fatpiggy]

It's amazing how you can come to that conclusion. Were those things present they would be a massive issue. But they're not. At least not to the degree you want them to be. I also seriously doubt anyone today knows what fascism smells like considering we throw the term around like it's candy. You can keep on saying what you're going to say because I know you will. Fortunately you are free to do that. Note the word free.

I would never diminish concerns about Nazism or communism in the way that people in the left have. The Soviet Union was every bit as evil as Nazi Germany. We partnered with them in world war II to defeat the Nazis without fully understanding the gravity of the choice we made. As a result of that we left generations of people under the control of this communist Soviet block. The ignorance about history is stunning when you read what people think these days.

are you suggesting we shouldn’t have teamed with Russia to defeat the Nazis?

 

[firegiver]

are you suggesting we shouldn’t have teamed with Russia to defeat the Nazis?

Seriously, this guy is getting himself twisted into knots

 

[TequilasForLoss]

Sorry. Not relevant to this discussion.

The fact that Trump and his ilk are actively pushing TRUE censorship (and not the social-consequences actions that the racist incorrectly labels as censorship) is sadly relevant.

 

[DrTigerGoob]

Hey everyone…

I think we have gotten a little off track with the original topic of Trump = Dictator.

Just wanted to see if we could get back to that. If not, I understand.

 

[PontificatingUnifex]

Hey everyone…

I think we have gotten a little off track with the original topic of Trump = Dictator.

Just wanted to see if we could get back to that. If not, I understand.

The problem that is enabling his assault on the constitution is congress’s abdication of its oversight authority based on their fear of his maga mob. If he keeps pushing and chipping away they may course correct. Things are definitely going to get worse before then. Installing loyalists at all the key military positions and getting Patel confirmed could be interpreted as preparing for that next stage of truly going after citizens and completing our shift to an Axis power.

 

[dpic73]

I am not some Trump supporter. I am a conservative. I've told you that so many times. Don't want me in with the sycophantic love of Donald Trump. I am not part of that group. You can dislike me in my views but please don't want me in where I don't fit.

I have felt as I do about Europe for a long time. As an over decades. The problem with Europeans is their quest for peace always ends in war. That's just how it goes. They have never understood the concept that you preserve peace through vigilance and overwhelming strength. That's the only thing the Russians respond to and Russia has always been the number one problem for European nations when it's not Germany. You're obsession with Nazism is ridiculous. I know it fits a narrative but you need to let that go because it's not the problem you make it out to be.

They have never understood the concept that you preserve peace through vigilance

Vigilance is exactly what Germany is doing by keeping the AfD from undermining the German establishment by building what they call a political "firewall" around the far-right.

You're obsession with Nazism is ridiculous. I know it fits a narrative but you need to let that go because it's not the problem you make it out to be.

Again, who are you to tell the Germans, of all people, that Nazism isn't a big deal? Do you even hear what you're saying?

The leader of the AfD's paternal grandfather was an SS officer and "served as a military judge in German-occupied Poland, an appointment granted by order of Adolf Hitler himself. The job required him to send enemies of the Nazi regime to concentration camps, where millions of people—most of them Jews, but also communists and other political prisoners—were murdered during the Holocaust."

One AfD official has suggested the Nazi SS were “not all criminals.” Another has called the Holocaust a mere speck of “bird sh-t” on the glorious sweep of German history.

And now. as unfathomable as it is, leaders in our own country are now belittling Germany because they are understandably trying to prevent that ideology from re-surfacing. This is not them being "ridiculous".

What the hell are we doing? And why are we sucking up to their arch-enemy? Reminder that Putin is using Iranian weapons and North Korean soldiers to rebuild the Russian empire - taking arms from the same regimes that fund Hamas. And that's who Trump is siding with?

You can mock me and downplay the far-right all you want, but you can't tell me that as things look right now, we aren't heading towards the Putinization of our own country.

He's already calling himself a king and we know he means it.

Far-Right AfD Rises in Germany, Boosted by Trump Backing

A pivotal endorsement from Elon Musk came in the form of a tweet: “Only the AfD can save Germany.”

time.com

 

[dpic73]

The problem that is enabling his assault on the constitution is congress’s abdication of its oversight authority based on their fear of his maga mob. If he keeps pushing and chipping away they may course correct. Things are definitely going to get worse before then. Installing loyalists at all the key military positions and getting Patel confirmed could be interpreted as preparing for that next stage of truly going after citizens and completing our shift to an Axis power.

 

[Willence]

are you suggesting we shouldn’t have teamed with Russia to defeat the Nazis?

I didn't say that. But consider that England got into the war to protect Poland. At the end of the war Poland was in the hands of the Soviet Union and not free. That's how diplomacy and politics can cause things to slide to a point of absurdity. We completely ignored the barbarity of the Soviet Union to defeat the Nazis. The Nazis went after the Soviets on their own. It's not like we convince the Soviets to join in. We just helped the enemy of our enemy. In the end though, the situation that was left was not good for anyone and it took decades to be resolved. And the process a lot of lives were lost because of a barbaric regime that killed millions of people.

 

[TigerGrowls]

Go get em...

 

[dpic73]

Go get em...

View embedded media

Is this your contribution to prove that Trump is attempting to be a dictator with no guardrails?

 

[TigerGrowls]

Is this your contribution to prove that Trump is attempting to be a dictator with no guardrails?

The commie left Fv3kd around and now they are going to find out.

 

[dpic73]

The commie left Fv3kd around and now they are going to find out.

If you approve of the Putinization of America, don't you ever wave a flag and call yourself a patriot.

 

[TigerGrowls]

If you approve of the Putinization of America, don't you ever wave a flag and call yourself a patriot.

Everything done will be lawful.