Post New

In case this was not reported on your approved news sources, thought you would want to know...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/abc-n...

ABC News to Apologize and Pay $15M to Settle Defamation Suit Brought By President-Elect Donald Trump


ABC News will pay $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by President-elect Donald Trump and will release a statement of regret over the comments from Good Morning America and This Week anchor George Stephanopoulos that sparked the suit.

That is according to a copy of the settlement, which was filed Saturday, and signed by Trump and the anchor, as well as ABC News and stations chief Debra OConnell.

Per the settlement, ABC News and Stephanopoulos will pay $15 million to "a Presidential foundation and museum to be established by or for plaintiff, as presidents of the United States of America have established in the past. The payment must be made within 10 days, and placed in escrow until such a foundation or museum has been established. ABC and Stephanopoulos will also pay $1 million in fees for Trump's attorneys.

,,, more at link

The best part is that they’ll be funding a big chunk of Trump’s Presidential library, and knowing him they’ll have a Fake News Section with a sign that says “Generously underwritten by ABC”

Jake Tapper is next :)

Also at this link Stephanopoulos is said to had made up the rape claim.

I wonder how much more money could be awarded to Trump from left wing Board members from this site and others who constantly spewed their rape lies over and over again if President Elect Trump decided to go after them too. There are ways to find out who are the actual persons are behind their user names.
I’m sure though Trump is satisfied with the outcome, will pocket another win and go on his merry way.

SNIP
“The lawsuit was first filed after Stephanopoulos claimed as a matter of fact that Trump had “raped” E. Jean Carroll. The comment came during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace.

Of course, the issue was that Trump has never been charged or convicted of rape criminally nor has he been found liable for rape in any civil suit. Stephanopoulos made it up in an attempt to bait Mace, and it ended up being the basis of the now-settled civil suit against he and ABC News.”

https://redstate.com/bonchie/2024/12/14/new-abc-ne...

Trump was not found civilly liable for rape. It was merely sexual abuse.

—Peter

PS: Trump is still upside down on the issue. He currently still has outstanding judgements owed to E Jean Carroll in excess of $80 million. And the ABC settlement is going to an escrow account for a future Trump Presidential Library. Not to Trump.

I guess Trump will be walking into a payday loan place tomorrow, huh.

In July 2023, Judge Kaplan said that the jury had found that Trump had raped Carroll according to the common definition of the word which did not require the alleged penile penetration.[d][e] In August 2023, Kaplan dismissed a countersuit and wrote that Carroll's accusation of "rape" is "substantially true".[12]

It was merely sexual abuse.

I am disappointed in you for that sentiment. I won't be reading your thoughts again.

I am disappointed in you for that sentiment.

It was definitely intended to be read with a major helping of sarcasm. I apologize for not making that clear.

—Peter

I am disappointed in you for that sentiment.

It was definitely intended to be read with a major helping of sarcasm. I apologize for not making that clear.

—Peter

Sarcasm isn't always obvious in written messages. When in doubt I append: /s

In August 2023, Kaplan dismissed a countersuit and wrote that Carroll's accusation of "rape" is "substantially true".[12]

I suspect the settlement by ABC was a business decision based on the hazards of litigation.

While Carroll can get away with calling the incident “rape” even though it didn’t meet the unique legal definition used in New York, Stephanolopous might be held to a higher standard as a professional journalist.

And even if they successfully defended their position in court, you can be sure Trump would appeal, driving up the legal fees potentially well in excess of the settlement amount.

Of course, none of this changes the basic facts of the Carroll case - that Trump has been judged to have sexually assaulted Carroll in a way that most people, and most states, would call rape.

—Peter

Trump was not found civilly liable for rape. It was merely sexual abuse.


Stephanopolous got a bum wrap. He echoed the judges statement that Trump's sexual abuse of E Jean Carrol was tantamount to rape.

And...it's not a conviction or a loss by jury trial; it's just a settlement to get rid of an unfair attack on the media. Nobody has ever seen scvuh unfair attacks on the media.

In Trump world, a trial end without a conviction is a victory. ABC WON!

Sarcasm isn't always obvious in written messages. When in doubt I append: /s

how about ;-0 or ;-)

In Trump world, a trial end without a conviction is a victory. ABC WON!
***

Don't worry. ABC's victory constitutes giving Trump $15 million.

But you will get your chance to win again too. Imagine all the rip offs and lootings that he - and his family - will perpetrate on you. Heck just the jacked up inflated MaroLago bills for anything from ham and eggs for the Secret Service to club memberships for foreign government officials and corporate executives and lobbyists! LOLOLOLOL some of that you as a supposed taxpayer will pay for, AND some of that will be money diverted from dumbass things like education or climate change work. Imagine Trump. Don Jr, Eric Trump, Ivanka padding the next 2 generations on your dime. (I named them because for you Liberals, it's always personal :)


And this time he isn't worried for re-election, he and his family might know the system just a smidge better, and - well - PARDONS!

You're get your chance to win, I promise.

Stephanopolous got a bum wrap. He echoed the judges statement that Trump's sexual abuse of E Jean Carrol was tantamount to rape.

Does anyone recall Stephanopolous saying how disappointed and to put it mildly, horrified his best friend Bill Clinton performed acts of sodomy in the Oval Office?

No? Neither do I.

business decision based on the hazards of litigation.

And those hazards can be quite sobering, especially with Trump around.

So it's greenmail.

Does anyone recall Stephanopolous saying how disappointed and to put it mildly, horrified his best friend Bill Clinton performed acts of sodomy in the Oval Office?

Here are the 2 key differences you need to know, LM.

1. People who voted for Clinton (twice!) did not know about his affair with Monica Lewinsky. He was elected President in 1992 and 1996 whereas the Lewinsky story came out in 1998. So we can't say how immoral Cinton voters were. Whereas MAGA voters knew that Trump bragged about sexual assault ("grab 'em by the p..") and knew that he was an adjudicated rapist, and they still voted for him anyway. Many of us who voted against Trump have concluded that MAGA voters have no morals. You all knowingly voted for an adjudicated rapist and a convicted felon.

2. The sex between Clinton and Lewinsky was consensual. Whereas Trump essentially raped Carroll against her consent.

It's not about policy or party. I've voted both Republican and Democrat in my life, and my success in life was never due to whoever was President. I worry about the kinds of values that people now have. Will laws about white collar crimes like the ones Trump committed eventually go away? Will young men in high school and college go around telling women "your body, my choice"?

mechinc: "Does anyone recall Stephanopolous saying how disappointed and to put it mildly, horrified his best friend Bill Clinton performed acts of sodomy in the Oval Office?"

YES. It's important to note that G.S. wasn't privy to the Clinton Lewinsky affair while he was in Clinton's employ.... and that his book in '99 harmed his relations with the Clintons.

An Amazon review comment on G.S's book written in 1999:

"....Stephanopoulos resigned at the end of the first term and recently condemned the Lewinsky affair as Clintons abandonment of presidential policies and more than a few trusted advisors in order to save himself.

chatgpt captures the essence of the reviews on amazon.

chatgpt: "..... in his memoir All Too Human: A Political Education (1999), Stephanopoulos does reflect on his thoughts during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. He expressed disappointment with Clinton's actions, particularly because it contradicted the values that Clinton had often espoused, and Stephanopoulos himself was personally uncomfortable with the affair.

Stephanopoulos also acknowledged how the scandal affected his view of Clinton and the political environment. However, he did not outright "condemn" the affair, and throughout the 1998–1999 period when the scandal broke, he largely remained loyal to Clinton, as did many in Clinton's inner circle.

Later, in interviews and discussions, Stephanopoulos has continued to express that while he was troubled by the affair, he also believed it was a private matter that did not necessarily justify impeachment. His perspective on the matter has evolved, especially as he has commented on it from his position as a political commentator."

So we can't say how immoral Cinton voters were. Whereas MAGA voters knew that Trump bragged about sexual assault

And yet to this day Bill Clinton is adored by the left and the dems, knowing not only of his Lewinsky scandal but all the other sordid rapes, molestations and infidelity, while Trump is scorned for lesser deeds.

Why is that?

2. The sex between Clinton and Lewinsky was consensual. Whereas Trump essentially raped Carroll against her consent.

So does it then make it okay their sordid acts being performed on taxpayers dime in the Oval Office and at one time it is reported Clinton was on the phone with another politician discussing the fate of our men and women in uniform?

Why is that?

The left and dems forgive Bill Clinton for his past sexual misconduct but Trump voters are not allowed to forgive Trump.

Why is that?

“Of course, the issue was that Trump has never been charged or convicted of rape criminally nor has he been found liable for rape in any civil suit”

But Bill Clinton has.
Why is the predator Bill Clinton still welcomed in the Democratic Party?

Juanita Broaddrick, rape victim
Leslie Millwee sexual assault victim
Paula Jones, sexual harassment
The list goes on.

Why is that?

Clinton owned up, paid up, attempted to atone for his actions. He apologized to his family and the world.

"I know that my public comments and my silence about this matter gave a false impression. I misled people, including even my wife," Clinton said, his voice breaking slightly. "I deeply regret that."

"Indeed I did have a relationship with Ms. Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong. It constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal failure on my part for which I am solely and completely responsible," he said.

Explaining his misleading public positions, the president said they were motivated by a desire to protect his family and "myself from the embarrassment of my own conduct."

"Now, this matter is between me, the two people I love most -- my wife and our daughter -- and our God. I must put it right, and I am prepared to do whatever it takes to do so. Nothing is more important to me personally"

Trump, on the hand, takes no responsibility. He continues to lie and defame his accusers.

Why is that?

Trump, on the hand, takes no responsibility. He continues to lie and defame his accusers.

Why is that?

SNIP
“Despite Sanders’ comment on “Meet the Press,” though, Trump did issue a rare apology for his comments on the tape. Trump’s campaign initially released a public response from Trump which stated, “This was locker room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago. Bill Clinton has said far worse to me on the golf course — not even close. I apologize if anyone was offended.”

The following day, Trump issued a longer video response in which he said, “I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize.”

Trump, Oct. 8, 2016: I’ve never said I’m a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone that I’m not. I’ve said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more than a decade-old video are one of them. Anyone who knows me, know these words don’t reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize. … I’ve said some foolish things, but there is a big difference between the words and actions of other people. Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims. We will discuss this more in the coming days. See you at the debate on Sunday.”

The issue was raised at the second presidential debate two days later. And Trump again described his words as “locker room talk” but he again said the words, “I apologize.””

https://www.factcheck.org/2017/12/trumps-rare-apol...

Bill Clinton groveled and apologized when his back was up against a wall for his sexual misconducts. Clinton’s apology was all okay with the left and the dems but,
when Trump apologized for his misdeed he is called a liar and unapologetic by the left and dems.

Why is that?

when Trump apologized for his misdeed he is called a liar and unapologetic by the left and dems.

Why is that?

Narcissistic psychopaths do not have remorse, but they can mimic it.

Narcissistic psychopaths do not have remorse, but they can mimic it..

Yep, Bill Clinton sure fooled the left when he lied, ‘I did not have sex with that woman’
The dem women swooned and gushed all over Hillary’s boy Bill. The Clinton psychopaths believed Clinton.

The Clinton psychopaths believed Clinton.

Explain this one. Are you saying that anyone who believed Clinton is a psychopath?

Trump apologized for describing sexual assault; not for the sexual assault. Further, Trump's apology was for not being careful when he was being recorded using crude language.

Trump's "apology" is tantamount to saying:
"I WAS LYING TO BILLY BUSH BECAUSE I AM A LIAR- IT WAS LIES; JUST LOCKER ROOM TALK. I'M SORRY YOU HEARD IT."

He didn't apologize for serially cheating on all his wives, for raping minors, for sexually assaulting women, for denigrating women based on their race, ethnicity, appearance.

Why is that?
Let's review:

Donald J. Trump: You know and ...

Unknown: She used to be great. She’s still very beautiful.

Trump: I moved on her, actually. You know, she was down on Palm Beach. I moved on her, and I failed. I’ll admit it.

Unknown: Whoa.

Trump: I did try and fuck her. She was married.

Unknown: That’s huge news.

Trump: No, no, Nancy. No, this was [unintelligible] — and I moved on her very heavily. In fact, I took her out furniture shopping.

She wanted to get some furniture. I said, “I’ll show you where they have some nice furniture.” I took her out furniture —
I moved on her like a bitch. But I couldn’t get there. And she was married. Then all of a sudden I see her, she’s now got the big phony tits and everything. She’s totally changed her look.

Billy Bush: Sheesh, your girl’s hot as shit. In the purple.

Trump: Whoa! Whoa!

Bush: Yes! The Donald has scored. Whoa, my man!

[Crosstalk]

Trump: Look at you, you are a pussy.

[Crosstalk]

Trump: All right, you and I will walk out.

[Silence]

Trump: Maybe it’s a different one.

Bush: It better not be the publicist. No, it’s, it’s her, it’s —

Trump: Yeah, that’s her. With the gold. I better use some Tic Tacs just in case I start kissing her. You know, I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.

Bush: Whatever you want.

Trump: Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.

Bush: Uh, yeah, those legs, all I can see is the legs.

Trump: Oh, it looks good.

Bush: Come on shorty.

Trump: Ooh, nice legs, huh?

Bush: Oof, get out of the way, honey. Oh, that’s good legs. Go ahead.

Trump: It’s always good if you don’t fall out of the bus. Like Ford, Gerald Ford, remember?

Bush: Down below, pull the handle.

Trump: Hello, how are you? Hi!

Arianne Zucker: Hi, Mr. Trump. How are you? Pleasure to meet you.

Trump: Nice seeing you. Terrific, terrific. You know Billy Bush?

Bush: Hello, nice to see you. How you doing, Arianne?

Zucker: Doing very well, thank you. Are you ready to be a soap star?

Trump: We’re ready, let’s go. Make me a soap star.

Bush: How about a little hug for the Donald? He just got off the bus.

Zucker: Would you like a little hug, darling?

Trump: O.K., absolutely. Melania said this was O.K.

Trump was that insecure amoral creep when his parents sent him to reform school, and he's worse now.

Why is that?

Explain this one. Are you saying that anyone who believed Clinton is a psychopath?

Those who turn(ed) a deft ear to Bill Clinton’s years of sexual escapades and actually believe(d) Clinton’s political motivated apology to save his sorry a$$ certainly has some kind of a problem facing the truth.
Call it whatever you want.

Why is that?

Why is that you don’t have a link to your locker room guy talk?

Narcissistic psychopaths do not have remorse, but they can mimic it.

But never very convincingly.

When Trump puts on that big fake grin that he uses on rare occasions, it is so patently fake as to be cringey. But then most things about Trump are cringey.

Donald J. Trump: You know and ...

Unknown: She used to be great. She’s still very beautiful.

etc, etc.

I'm still dumbfounded that so many of my fellow citizens can support this creepy POS. Can look to him as a role model for their children? Wow. It is sickening.

In an earlier age some girl's brother, father or husband would have cleaned his clock...at the least. And he would have been shunned by society. Not now.

Yesterday in the grocery store there was a guy with a Trump shirt that said in big letters: Fuck Your Feelings. Classy. Amazing how one scoundrel has degraded a large part of our citizenry.

But then most things about Trump are cringey.

Woe is you ges,😩
Trump is your President Elect. ❤️

Why is that you don’t have a link to your locker room guy talk?

Why is you unable to google?

US election: Full transcript of Donald Trump's obscene videotape.

US presidential candidate Donald Trump has been forced to apologise after a video emerged in which he made obscene comments about women.

In the footage, revealed by the Washington Post, external, Mr Trump is heard bragging to TV host Billy Bush about trying to have sex with a married woman.


https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-37595321

And make no mistake about it... he only apologized for saying what he said.He didn't apologize to the women he directed his comments aty. His personal conduct is a testament to the fact that that is exactly who he is; a serial cheat and per the judges statement, a rapist.

I'm still dumbfounded that so many of my fellow citizens can support this creepy POS. Can look to him as a role model for their children? Wow. It is sickening. - ges

------------------

You continue to sidestep the issue that Trumps policies are preferred, not his lifestyle as a role model for your children.

Can you imagine a child answering, who do you want to be like when you grow up? The beaming parents smile their approval as the child answers, "Jimmy Carter". .

It is also a mistake that using any presidents suitability as a moral role model for your child as a proxy for their policy effectiveness is about as naive as using a presidents baby sitting skills to inform that decision.

And make no mistake about it... he only apologized for saying what he said.He didn't apologize to the women he directed his comments aty. His personal conduct is a testament to the fact that that is exactly who he is; a serial cheat and per the judges statement, a rapist.

And make no mistake about it....the same can be applied to Bill Clinton and his sordid behavior, right down to his disgusting cigar bit.

Bill Clinton will be known to future generations as the PornPresident.

"And yet to this day Bill Clinton is adored by the left and the dems"<?I> - LM

Stop making up stuff. It makes you look even dumber than you are.

Not a single person here would ever vote for Bill Clinton for office knowing what he did.

You knowingly voted for a person who bragged about sexually assaulting women and had an overwhelmingly amount of evidence that he sexually assaulted women. As well as cheating on all of his wives and paying to have sex with a porn star. All of this is well known and pretty irrefutable and still you voted for him.

You have shown us who you are as a person. It isn't very pretty.

Stop making up stuff. It makes you look even dumber than you

Go crawl back in your hole Umm. You’re as dumb as Biden. TMF kicked you to the curb and you could no longer post there and the dems did the same to Biden. lol.😆

Why is that you don’t have a link to your locker room guy talk?

WHAT? You never heard this? I find that very hard to believe.

Though Trump is the consummate liar, in the end he had to admit this was all real. Didn't seem to matter to the MAGA crowd or the phony Christians.

Didn't seem to matter to the MAGA crowd or the phony Christians.

Careful ges, else God will punish you.
God doesn’t like it when Heathens talk bad of Christians. 😇

If there was a God he'd know that what heathens are saying about christian hypocrites is true.

PS: Your book says the lord loathes a liar, in which case you and the mango messiah are both in deep shit.

You continue to sidestep the issue that Trumps policies are preferred, not his lifestyle as a role model for your children.

It was eggs.

Clinton’s political motivated apology

You know, I’ve probably forgotten something. Remind me again where I can find Trump’s politically motivated, sorry excuse of an apology to Jean Carroll for raping — oops, I mean sexually assaulting — her?

Or to the Miss USA contestants for ogling them in their dressing room?

Or to Ivanna for having an affair behind her back?

Or to Marla for having an affair behind her back?

Or to Melania for having an affair behind her back?

I’m sure they must be out there somewhere.

—Peter

You know, I’ve probably forgotten something

Yes, You forgot to list Bill Clinton’s transgressions of the women he raped and assaulted,
not to mention Bill Clinton shaming American to the rest of the World soiling and dirtying
the ‘People’s House’.

You continue to sidestep the issue that Trumps policies are preferred

His policies? LMAO.

His ONLY policy is "what will benefit me and my greedy narcissism?"

Or to the Miss USA contestants for ogling them in their dressing room?

Worse, it was the Miss TEEN USA contest.

Four women who competed in the 1997 Miss Teen USA beauty pageant said Donald Trump walked into the dressing room while contestants — some as young as 15 — were changing.

"I remember putting on my dress really quick because I was like, ‘Oh my god, there’s a man in here,’ " said Mariah Billado, the former Miss Vermont Teen USA.

Trump, she recalled, said something like, "Don’t worry, ladies, I’ve seen it all before."

Three other women, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of getting engulfed in a media firestorm, also remembered Trump entering the dressing room while girls were changing. Two of them said the girls rushed to cover their bodies, with one calling it "shocking" and "creepy."


and speaking of Epstein, Trummp said.

“He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.

Creepy, abuser of women and girls.

Try as they might, the righties on this board can't really find an equivalence with Clinton. Not even close.

Try as they might, the righties on this board can't really find an equivalence with Clinton. Not even close. - es

----------------

Don't really care. Other issues are much more impactful on the well being of our society... We had Carter, probably the purest president ever, and likewise his incontestable morality didn't lead to a superior outcome for our country.

Amazing how one scoundrel has degraded a large part of our citizenry.

The degradation was always there. Trump just gave it permission to unabashedly flaunt itself.

The degradation was always there. Trump just gave it permission to unabashedly flaunt itself.
***

And you helped cause the degradation.

As I've always said -Trump is the symptom, not the cause.

Luckily you people have zero interest in improving the culture and you have tons of interest in more balkanization.

The Trump years - are the good 'ol days.

You People just dont know it yet.

*giggle*

We had Carter, probably the purest president ever, and likewise his incontestable morality didn't lead to a superior outcome for our country.
But it doesn't follow that the lowest or no morals will lead to a superior outcome. So while T won due to eggs and some to the border, get ready for the chaos ride. When it's over we'll see how well he fared on this "superior outcome", but how much it cost us will take a while to show itself.

You continue to sidestep the issue that Trumps policies are preferred, not his lifestyle as a role model for your children.

Yes his "policies"...MAGAs top issue of the 2016 election was email server management. After November, it didn't matter.

MAGAs top issue of the 2024 election was candidate age and mental fitness. After July, it didn't matter. Then the top issue was grocery prices. It stopped mattering already...

Trump says, on lowering the price of groceries: "It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up. You know, it’s very hard."

Facepalm...

Trump says, on lowering the price of groceries: "It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up. You know, it’s very hard."

Wait a minute...wasn't that one of the many things he was going to fix on DAY ONE?

Trump says, on lowering the price of groceries: "It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up. You know, it’s very hard."

Wait a minute...wasn't that one of the many things he was going to fix on DAY ONE?

I think Democrats are going to be disappointed if they think voters are going to be disappointed with Trump on inflation if prices don't fall.

Voters punished the Democrats (like incumbents all over the globe) because inflation happened. Biden screwed up, goes the thinking. Something bad happened on his watch, so he gets the blame for the bad thing. And by extension, the Democrats. He screwed up. Prices got too high, too fast.

That doesn't mean that Trump is going to get a lot of heat if he doesn't undo the increase in prices that happened during Biden's time. As long as inflation stays modest going forward, he'll be fine on that issue.

Lurker M

You do know the difference between fellatio and sodomy don't you. Your life could not have been that sheltered.

I think Democrats are going to be disappointed if they think voters are going to be disappointed with Trump on inflation if prices don't fall.


MAGA hold Trump to a very different standard.

I believe this 8 year old article explains it.
https://www.cjr.org/q_and_a/new_yorker_cartoonist_...
Plenty of Trump-focused political cartoons have circulated the web and social networks since Election Day. But one has drawn particular viral attention: It depicts a wolf in a suit on a campaign billboard with the words, “I am going to eat you,” while onlooking sheep grazing in a field respond, “He tells it like it is.”

Paul Noth, the New Yorker cartoonist who drew it, sold it to the magazine back in January and figured it would never appear. The magazine did run it, in August, but the sketch didn’t go viral until after Trump’s win.

How many Syrian torturers has Tulsi Gabbard freed?

"That doesn't mean that Trump is going to get a lot of heat if he doesn't undo the increase in prices that happened during Biden's time"

No doubt you're right about this.
Teflon Don.

Is there anything, in your opinion, that Trump can do that will cause him to lose supporters ?

They won't hold him accountable for not lowering prices, even though he vociferously
stated that he would lower prices during his campaign. Trump actually invented the
word "groceries", so I'd think it would be a high priority for him to get the price of
eggs and bacon down. I know I watched and listened to him say it over and over again.

He has no Health Care plan ( i know, I know, he's got concepts ), even though he has stated
for going on 9 years that he'd get rid of Obamacare and replace it with a terrific new plan,
which would be lower cost and better benefits.

I could go on, but what for ? Trump won't be held accountable for anything. Covid pandemic
proved that.
I'll give him credit for 1 thing, he sure can spread a pile of manure out there.

Biden screwed up, goes the thinking.

'So goes the thinking?'

Or.. the lies perpetuated by the RNC/GOP/Qanon gulled the trees into voting for the ax.

The big lie: "Trump can fix it."

I agree; it worked.

The lies were more appealing than the harsh truth.

Billionaires and religionists have won the day.

Is there anything, in your opinion, that Trump can do that will cause him to lose supporters ?

To lose some supporters? Of course. Three possible things, in fact.

The most obvious one being, to quote MacMillan, "Events, my dear boy, events." There will almost certainly be major events that happen during the next Trump administration - and if he handles them poorly, it will cause him to lose supporters. We don't know what they will be, yet - few in December 2020 would have foreseen that Biden's big loss of support would come from the withdrawal from Afghanistan going pear-shaped - but there will be major events. If Trump screws one up, he'd lose some supporters.

The other big one will be the inevitable failure to deliver on everything. Even with a trifecta, a lot of the Trump agenda just won't happen. Every administration is a litany of things that the Administration wanted that never came to pass. For Biden, for example, you've got: voting rights reform, DREAMER normalization, the PRO Act, student loan forgiveness, support for the "care economy," criminal justice reform, and most of the Green New Deal. Those unmet goals always cause disappointment, and the triage between the goals of different factions also causes friction in support.

Finally, some of what he does could cause him to lose support if they have negative unexpected (to his supporters) consequences. The visuals of separated families at the border cost him politically in the first Administration; an overly indiscriminate deportation program could do the same. If his second trade war with China ends up worse than the first and puts the economy in recession, that would also be bad.

But failure to lower prices? I think that misunderstands why voters were mad at Biden. They thought he did a bad job because really bad inflation (outstripping incomes and wages) happened on his watch - the fact that inflation rates went down at the end of his administration didn't assuage voter anger that it happened in the first place. Even if you fix the problem, you still get blamed for the problem happening in the first place.

'So goes the thinking?'

Or.. the lies perpetuated by the RNC/GOP/Qanon gulled the trees into voting for the ax.

It happened everywhere. All around the world. In virtually every democratic country, voters vented anger at whatever party was incumbent during the post-Covid inflationary period.

This wasn't an artefact of the US media environment, or anything specific to our politics. Voters around the world were dissatisfied with the economic conditions after Covid, and took it out on whoever was in charge at the time.

I'll give him credit for 1 thing, he sure can spread a pile of manure out there.

And for once, his stock exaggeration fits quite well: "Like no one has ever seen before!"

Is there anything, in your opinion, that Trump can do that will cause him to lose supporters ?

Sure. A general recession. A crash of crypto. A downhill ski slope of a stock market. Pocketbook issues are probably the largest.

A complete capitulation in Ukraine will make a minor dent. The loss of Taiwan would be bigger, but that would likely precipitate the recession mentioned above, because of the shortage of chips and the inability to sell stuff.

Other than that, no, not really. His supporters are linked to his butt with industrial grade epoxy, and won’t be dissuaded by anything but a hammer blow to their wallet.

So goes the thinking?'

Or.. the lies perpetuated by the RNC/GOP/Qanon gulled the trees into voting for the ax.

It happened everywhere. All around the world.

Oh, I'm not singling out the US in my comment. There's no shortage of discontentment around the world.

But not all nations got snookered by home grown assholes like the Orange Messiah.

Bolsonaro got the boot for example. Glimmer of hope there.

Japan expressed discontent with the snuggling of the Unification Church and government.

Lotsa Europe is finally objecting to the northward impact of overpopulation and lack of opportunity to the south and east, as are the North American nations.

Lotsa people. But, hey... education and technology will make it allll better.

Right?

I will never accept a lecture on morals or ethics or decency delivered by a right-winger, because clearly they have no footing to tell me anything about it

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