I have a contrarian view

[Pototan]

As most here at DU decry the obvious biased, flawed and dangerous picks by Trump to key positions in his cabinet, I have a different take. I'm hoping these unqualified people are confirmed. I'm afraid that America needs to learn the hard way.

I firmly believe that there may be consequential outbreaks of preventable diseases as a result of vaccine skepticism. I believe that there will be inhumane roundups of undocumented and legal immigrants in this country, including citizens. Detention centers that look like 1930's and 40's Europe will be seen by the public.

Pulling the plug on cable, TV, radio and newspapers and the jailing of journalists will confirm Trump's disdain for the Constitution. Foreign countries refusing to share intelligence with America. The devastation and genocide (real this time) in Gaza and elsewhere in the Middle East The surrender in Ukraine and the weakening of NATO will move our allies away from us.

Tariffs bringing on trade wars and run-away inflation, resulting in a recession and inflation. The draconian reduction in government employees will result in a huge increase in unemployment and public services.

I think America will not be able to learn through nuance. I think we have to learn the hard way. The very hard way.

These will be the results of Trump's policies and personnel choices.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

1. We

We have enough hardships already. I don't want to wish any more on any of us.

[Just_Vote_Dem]

2. I used to listen to a liberal radio talk show host in Massachusetts

His name was Henry Carreiro, and he used to say every 4 to 8 years a new generation has to be schooled about what the Republicans are, as the American people have very short memories.

[Blue_Tires]

3. Donnie's cultists won't care

they live in their own version of reality along with Dear Leader... He tells them what to think, and Faux News puts the messaging on 24/7 repeat until it's baked in as the "new" reality

[Pototan]

7. The cultists are about one third of US voters

I come to that figure because Trump's lowest approval and favorable ratings were about 36%. That's his cult.

The other 15% are casual participants in the system, IMHO. Those are the voters and public that will be aghast at the results of a Trump administration gone wild. Trump and his team actually are aware of this.

That's why they say they have a two-year window. The mid-terms will be devastating for them. And the worse the Trump administration performs, the bigger the Blue Wave will be.

[Blue_Tires]

9. The blue wave was SUPPOSED to be this year, so pardon my lack of faith...

[Trenzalore]

15. I don't know why people.thought that

We were just coming out of a period of moderate inflation which to the common folk felt like high inflation since we haven't experienced inflation since the 80s/90s. The immigration policies were unpopular and the media spent the past 2 years painting the President as a nursing home patient.

The senate was a given loss given the map.

This wasn't a red wave either. It was close with the advantage being republicans.

[Blue_Tires]

23. Silly me, I just thought Dems would show up in record numbers to defeat the Nazi dictator wannabe

and his apartheid errand boy...

But I admit I grossly underestimated how much the media wanted the clown and his lawless circus back in town, and I grossly underestimated how many voters seriously believed the worst-qualified white man is an infinitely better option than the best qualified woman, white or black...

I won't ever make that mistake again.

[kelly1mm]

28. So are you in the 'don't nominate a woman for President basically forever' camp? nt

[Blue_Tires]

32. I'm sure as hell in the 'Don't nominate a woman for President in 2028' -camp...

The backlash from all those aggrieved white incel bros out there with their so fragile masculinity is just too great...

And the more I think about it, the more I'm in favor of running a Hollywood A-list celebrity in 2028... In 2016 and 2024, I've learned once and for all that voters don't give a rat's ass about any political issues as long as they're entertained... Yes, our nation is really that shallow now -- So if it's a pure popularity contest based on so-called "vibes" (whatever the fuck "vibes" are) then we should just run a celebrity. We've got hundreds to choose from.

[kelly1mm]

33. I am thinking we will not consider a woman candidate till 2036 at the earliest. We also MUST stop

the bleeding of non-white voters, especially males. If Hispanics turn into a solid Republican voting block I don't think there is a viable path to national political prominence.

[WhiteTara]

14. this might be a delicious twist of fate.

James Murdoch now has control of Fox and he supported Kamala.

[anciano]

4. "Those who won't listen must feel" Jamaican proverb

[Pototan]

19. Thank you for getting my point (NT)

[brush]

5. All that will happen even if his most unqualified picks get rejected.

Last edited Wed Dec 11, 2024, 11:24 PM - Edit history (2)

His cabal will pick some other maga who isn't a pedophie like Gaitz, a drunken rapist like Hedseth, a Russian, Assad asset like Gabbard or pure asskisser and resume enhancer like Patel.

The next round of maga loyalists will be seemingly much more presentable but will have just as ready-to-pucker lips as the first round discards.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

6. I think you're right

[Meowmee]

8. Hard no to that for me

I and my family do not need to suffer any more than we already have and neither does anyone who didn't vote for this. These people can crash the economy and trash the what is left of the country which would be disastrous not just for those who voted for them. There could be another pandemic/ new infectious disease or outbreak of old ones due to non vaccination(there already have been some in our area) and millions more could die.

[Pototan]

10. Either Trump is a disaster or he isn't

If he isn't the disaster, we all predicted, our credibility is in the shitter.

Either we believe what we say or just spoke rhetoric for its effect. I really believe what I say.

[Meowmee]

11. Not true...

He has already been a disaster and we have been tortured by him and the media etc. for 9 years or so now of this non stop lunacy. He murdered millions with malfeasance with covid. He incited an insurrection and has imo destroyed democracy here as it was for good... and so much more, I can' t list it all here. I can't help anyone who can't see that.

Either you were not harmed by him personally, and or you are in a very good place where you don't think you will need to worry, or this is not a genuine statement of thought.

[Pototan]

17. I guess his previous disasters weren't enough for America

His first term was tempered by the likes of Miley and the like.

there are no more guardrails. This will be much, much worse.

[Meowmee]

21. For a little over half whatever the count ended up as being recorded after voter suppression etc.

You should think of those who will be and who already have been harmed. A downfall in this country will also affect the entire world imo.

Yes agree it will be much worse this time imo.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

13. I want to word this correctly

You're a good contributor. But you don't live in the USA any longer. Your suffering would be indirect. Our suffering would be direct. I know you may have family in the states and if so, why wish torment on them? I just don't understand this line of thinking. Is it to own the Repubs or an "I told you so" thing?

[kelly1mm]

29. If we believe what we say here on DU there will be no more elections. Ever. NT

[Sympthsical]

12. It's not contrarian. It's just a tantrum.

"I didn't get my way, so I hope as many innocents suffer as possible! To teach everyone a lesson!"

What on earth? People need to get it together already. It's been a month. The weird heavy-breathing vengeance for those who wronged me stuff should've been purged by now.

Fortunately, our Democratic politicians are better than this. A true "Dear Jesus, save me from your followers" moment here.

[Pototan]

18. I don't know about "innocents"

when I see the support Trump received from African American men (the most support for a Republican Presidential candidate since 1960). A majority of Latino men. Substantial labor union support (especially white trade unionists). A majority of white women. Harris finishing third among Muslim and Arab voters.

Christ, who are the innocents? I don't care about saying "I told you so". I just want people to recognize the consequences of their actions.

Some people have to learn the hard way. The real hard way.

[Sympthsical]

20. And there it is

Those lurking, telling sentiments.

Somewhat off-topic. I feel like I recall you saying you live out of country.

[Pototan]

24. A long-planned retirement

with my Filipina wife. We decided to move here 15 years ago once we retired (which was 3 years ago). Our decision was made well before Trump. In fact, it was during Obama's 2nd term. I have worked for 50 years in Democratic politics in Massachusetts and other New England states. I did my part. I'll admit that I'm no more than an observer now, casting an overseas ballot and donating a few hundred dollars. I worked as a Union Rep. and part of my duties was political. at the state, local and sometimes federal level.

I will admit that being away from the Trump cult is a positive, residual effect of my retirement, but that was not part of the plan. You make it sound like I have no skin in the game now that I live in the Philippines. I have a union pension, which originates in America. My Social Security is nearly half of my retirement income, and my annuity is tied to the US stock market. I pay US taxes every year, so I'm far from unaffected.

If I lived full-time in the United States, I would be at little risk. As a 72-year-old white, law-abiding heterosexual male, I have little fear from the police, even during a traffic stop. My wife is an American citizen. I have no children. So, whether I was here or there, my personal risk is limited.

The point I'm making is that the people really at risk were part of groups that gave far too many votes to Trump. Trump wants full immunity for local police. How any black man could vote for a guy who espouses that is beyond me. 25% of women who believe in reproductive freedom voted for Trump. Are you kidding me? Trump has Stephen Miller wanting a Muslim Ban, and that demo votes for Stein? Trump wants to detain and deport undocumented citizens, mostly Latino and other minorities, and they give him 45% of their votes. Trump did exceedingly well with union workers and he and Elon want to fire strikers and believe in right to wok laws.

My suggestion here is if these groups don't feel at risk from Trump and his cronies, what's it gonna take? My guess is they have to learn the hard way

[Pototan]

25. Also, when I described "innocents"

I was talking about the large part of the Demographic groups who supported Trump, not each individual who didn't.

[Volaris]

38. Its not a tantrum, and its not vengeance.

They voted to stick their finger in the socket. Why is it our parties job now (and always) to go back to DC and work to turn the voltage down? On what rational basis should this be done? And with what political power (that those same voters just took from us, btw) should we be expected to turn that voltage down?

It's not vengeance, it's just how Leopards be. And it's not our fault they voted to take the leashes away from us.

[Trenzalore]

16. I mean isn't that the entire Jill Stein argument

Let them win so they make it so bad there is a revolution?

[Pototan]

22. It's the exact opposite

I did all I could to make him lose in all 3 elections, 2016, 2020 and donations in 2024 (before I retired overseas). I never wanted Trump to win, so that certainly is an insult. What I'm saying in my OP is that actions have consequences and the people who made up the difference in this election will be among the groups that suffer the most. And what I'm saying is that that may be necessary to wake people up.

[J_William_Ryan]

26. "I'm afraid that America needs to learn the hard way."

Unfortunately, America is incapable of learning, or indeed unwilling.

America should have learned in 2017/2021 – it didn’t.

[Blues Heron]

27. Easy to say from 8000 miles away- the rest of us who actually live here have to live with the consequences

[Pototan]

39. Please read my reply #24

Thanks

[JHB]

30. I think it's mostly because we're not Maoist super-lefties who want everything to be as awful as it can be...

...so that the response will (in their imagination) be coming to Marxist Paradise (and not just scapegoating super lefties and mass-murdering them all).

But I hear you: now that the dies have been cast and it's going for what they voted for, I hope they finally are able to taste all the shit that they swallowed, even as they jeered at us while we warned them "that's not chocolate". And then they demanded seconds and leered at us as they ate it.

[Deuxcents]

31. I believe the op is seeing what is going on from a distance..some of us may be too close to the trees to see the forest

[no_hypocrisy]

34. I have a contrarian viewpoint to your contrarian viewpoint.

When my siblings and I were adolescents, our father theoretically wanted to punish me exclusively. But he didn't.

In practice, Dad would punish ALL of us because of me.

And my siblings resented it.

BUT they didn't turn their ire on Dad. They came after me. Because I made Dad angry and vindictive, they had to suffer. If I could only stop arguing with Dad, stop resisting his narcissistic bulldozing as a means of parenting, they wouldn't be punished.

And that's what I figure will happen with the foreseeable inflation from the tariffs, the resistance against Trump & Co., etc. MAGA won't be mad at him. They'll be mad at us for fighting him. We made him mad. Because Trump will redirect their resentment and frustration away from him.

I've seen this movie before.

[Pototan]

35. I disagree

If Trump fails, the 35% of cultists will stick with him. The 15% of shallow followers will drop him like a hot potato.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

40. Agreed

[Volaris]

36. I'm in your camp; loose the Leopards.

[Autumn]

37. It's petty but I'm looking forward to "well you got what you wanted."

Personal choices.

[ThePartyThatListens]

41. I tend to agree OP

Your view is not so contrarian

[IzzaNuDay]

42. I totally agree with you! Pain is a consequence and educational!

Folks learn through pain.

Apparently the COVID situation in 2020 (where millions were sick or died) and January 6 insurrection was not painful enough to prevent this orange clown back into the WH. I mean, the shit he did before he was elected in 2016 should have been a disqualifier.

And I would not encourage the rest of the planet to aid the US in case of a natural catastrophe. Let the US pull itself up by its bootstraps.

[Pototan]

43. Thank you