.

Trump’s early initiatives in his second term as president of the United States bear the marks of populism, authoritarianism, illiberalism, and imperialism.

He issued an executive order allowing unbridled freedom of speech (including on social media) while dictating the terms of allowable expression and identities to national institutions, demanding political loyalty from civil servants, and threatening retaliation against dissent.

His administration has ordered federal employees and diplomats to cease communications on a range of issues, including “diversity, equity and inclusion,” “environmental justice” and “gender ideology.”

Trump himself continues to criticise the news media, calling journalists the “enemy of the people.” He is suing various media organizations—including the board of the Pulitzer Prizes, the Des Moines Register, and its parent company, Gannett—over journalism he claims was libellous or unfair.

The White House removed the independent inspectors general of nearly every Cabinet-level agency in an unprecedented purge to clear the way for Trump to install loyalists in the crucial role of identifying fraud, waste and abuse in the government. These dismissals violate federal law requiring Congress to receive 30 days’ notice of any intent to fire a Senate-confirmed inspector general.

Trump has been ruthlessly bullying his counterparts in Canada, Denmark (in respect of Greenland), Panama for imperialistic territorial expansion, and Columbia for it to accept to recuperate its illegal migrants from the US.

Populists (like Trump) claim that they, and they alone, represent people. They portray their political competitors as part of the immoral, corrupt elite, and when ruling, they refuse to recognise any opposition as legitimate.

The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change indicates :

« Over 50 per cent of populist leaders amend or rewrite their countries’ constitutions, and many of these changes extend term limits or weaken checks on executive power. The evidence also suggests that populists’ attacks on the rule of law open the way to greater corruption: 40 per cent of populist leaders are indicted on corruption charges.

Overall, 23 per cent of populists cause significant democratic backsliding. Populist governments are about four times more likely than non-populist ones to harm democratic institutions. »

.

Rubbish. As a majority of Americans would say to all Lefty hissy fits. They have the man they want, and it's a matter of stiff cheese for the limp-wristed and weak-minded,

One of the good moves by Trump:

President Trump has banned transgender (what a ridiculous word) types from military service because they are “mentally ill and unfit for duty”. There are 15,000 of them, requiring persistent drugs and hormones that have a “severely debilitating impact on their psychological wellness”.

The defence forces are a defence force, not a social experiment.

Dear Banjo,

Thank you for this discussion.

People who are opposed to Trump generally have particular
issues that they are concerned about or upset at him
because of the actions in those areas. Yet they get
accused of having "Trump Derangement Syndrome".
Being concerned about particular issues is not
derangement.

His supporters continue with accusations "You hate him".
When it's about his behaviour and not him.

The problem is - it will take decades to repair. The
damage will continue long after he's gone and some of it
will never be fixed.

Unfortunately Trump is a character and a symbol who is
viewed as being more than a mere mortal by his MAGA
cultists. And in that role Trump has permission for
revenge, craven power, and permission for him,
to engage in the worst human behaviour.

It appears that the man views American politics
as a TV program where he is the star,
casting agent, and producer.

Foxy,
You really don't appear to ever express a single ounce of common sense. The only man at the moment to effectively make a move to weed out the parasitic Woke & drain that swamp & you condemn him. For crying out loud, would you rather have the Woke continue ruin already terribly fragile societies ? To condemn Trump says more about your mentality than his competence ! Don't you ever get embarrassed for supporting the parasitic ?

I just can't help it. Don't ya just love the tRumpster's claims of "draining the swamp." I agree, yes, there is a swamp, but tRump fills it with his blind apologists which means it is an even more putrid swamp. (Or are these people there just for the immediate power? or the warm fuzzy feeling they get being near the epicenter of power?)

tRump as a human being has no redeeming qualities and deserves the same respect he dishes out to anyone he deems lesser than him (which judging by his actions and words to date, appears to be the rest of humanity.)

Indyvidual,

I would like to understand a lot more about what
is driving how you're feeling about me and learn what
values you have that you think I don't.

I'd like to know what's going on with you because
frankly - I'm not comfortable with your negativity.

This is not a productive way to discuss anything.
It does not encourage further conversation.

Dear Foxy
How I take my hat off to you. You always, with great patience and courtesy, try to examine both sides of a situation as you see it and arrive at a position. What a shame that others on these forums are so hostile and closed minded when you reach a different conclusion to them. Such people are obviously confronted when they encounter someone not part of their ‘tribe’ and resort to well-trodden, but ultimately inaccurate cliches.

Personally, I don’t have your tolerance (or manners) when confronted by people so fearful that they cling onto someone like the 47th president of the USA to save them. My fingers are trembling as I type this – Kudos to you

Dear Aries54,

Thank you for your kind words.

I try to actively share knowledge and dodge the spitballs.
But it does get a bit much at times. I'm uneasy about looking
at the worst bits of people so I try to understand why and
where they're coming from. But it's not always easy. I also
habe to watch my own biases as well.

Thanks again.

I would like to understand a lot more about what
is driving how you're feeling about me and learn what
values you have that you think I don't.
Foxy,
Easy, just read your posts !

.

Dear ttbn,

.

I understand where you are coming from. However, I cross-checked all the information before posting it.

But naturally, if you have any evidence to the contrary, ttbn, I would be very grateful if you would kindly share it with me.

To tell you the truth, I’m not so sure that Trump would deny much of it himself. He seems to think that everything he does is fully justified.

As I see it, the Americans knowingly elected a “bad guy”, a convicted criminal, to be their president – simply because they had the impression that he knew better than anyone else what was wrong and considered that he was the only one capable of fixing it.

Many of his fans I saw interviewed on television declared : “He’s just like us !”. Most appeared to be from the Midwest and it was obvious that none were billionaires like Trump, nor even millionaires.

As we have seen, Trump is already hard at work, and already reaping the benefits of the deal. According to Forbes, “Donald Trump has presided over the most lucrative post-presidency in American history, selling his supporters NFTs, coffee-table books and, most importantly, shares of a money-losing social-media venture. His net worth to date is US $5.5 billion.”

And that’s not all. The best (or should I say the worst) is yet to come. The ‘hired gun” has hit the jackpot, and he will probably not leave this time until he has broken the bank. It could even cost his American benefactors much of their individual rights.

They have handed him the keys to American democracy and he'll probably make good use of them.

.

"bear the marks of populism, authoritarianism, illiberalism, and imperialism."

Wow someone found a use for his thesaurus.

Populism? When we have one side describing t'other as deplorables, or clingers "to guns and religion", or asserting that EVERYONE who attended a Trump rally were Nazis, well I'd have thought anyone aspiring to free-thinking would see where the true populists are. OTOH, if you have someone who suggests that there are fine people on both sides or who goes into bat for Californians who voted against him, ....well no populism there.

Authoritarian? Oh he's doing things I don't agree with.

Illiberal? Yeah the other side are liberals and he should follow their policies. Struth.

Imperial? He has no imperial ambitions against Canada or Panama despite what the enemedia might tell you.

During the Trump first term, the civil service, which is supposed to be there to implement the president's policies and serves at the pleasure of the president, openly and proudly sought to undemocratically thwart his policies. And they succeeded to a degree.

This new Trump term is determined to not allow that undemocratic practice to replicate. We've already seen civil servants asserting that they have instituted measures to defeat or significantly delay MAGA policies. DEI was banned so they just renamed it. Generals who lied to Trump in the first term, are asserting they'll do it again. And the civil service is inundated with pro-Democrat operatives who spent years covering up for the corrupt Biden regime.

Any wonder therefore that Trump and MAGA are determined to remove these uncivil civil servants and replace them with people who will do what the electorate voted for.

Trump's landslide via a majority of voters shows how pathetic and pointless criticism of the man is. So, you don't like him. He doesn't give a stuff, nor do the majority of American voters who do like him. That's why he is now, once again, the President of the United States of America and leader of the Free World. Not some wan ker on OLO.

Bleatings from an anonymous, foreign bunch of wan kers are totally dumb-arsed and pathetic.

Someone calling herself Sophia Efthimiatu believes that there is comfort and freedom in having ‘nothing to say’. She describes silence as a “humbling awareness of self, acquired painfully for the most part.

“To have nothing to say is liberating. For one, you immediately notice that everyone around you has yet to reach that conclusion”.

We forget that we have the option to remain quiet, and succumb to “numbing feeds” populated mostly by ego and narcissism. We have lost the art of ‘recipience’. We don't just hear something and let it go.

People who have no part in American elections, but choose to insult American voters (as they insult Australian voters when things don't go their - the wan kers’ - way), should take notice and shut TFU.

So much for freedom of speech?

"Today, it was my great honor to sign an Executive Order banning the chemical castration and medical mutilation of innocent children in the United States of America. Our Nation will no longer fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support so-called “gender affirming care,” which has already ruined far too many precious lives. My Order directs Agencies to use every available means to cut off Federal financial participation in institutions which seek to provide these barbaric medical procedures, that should have never been allowed to take place!"

Apparently Trump has also instructed the DOJ to look into the possible prosecution of those who perpetrated these acts on the innocent kids.

So much for freedom of speech?
Foxy,
There's freedom of speech which cancels out indoctrination perpetuating Woke waffle !

Hi mhaze,
Some kids are actually born a little mixed up.
Whilst I don't wish to make things harder for them, I think all of it needs to be wound back because it all got a little crazy.
- No complaints here, by and large kids need to be protected from those promoting rainbow thinking.

So Americas not going to threaten and blackmail countries to be pro LGBT anymore, that's nice.

"Apparently Trump has also instructed the DOJ to look into the possible prosecution of those who perpetrated these acts on the innocent kids."
There's a lot of things going on with 'innocent kids' in America.
Child trafficking is out of hand.

Trumps going to have to get rid of Zelensky
The Russians won't even sit at the table with him.
And he really needs to get rid of that General Kellogg, he's clueless.
He's making similar mistakes to last time, surrounding himself with people that will lie to him and try to manipulate him into an outcome they want, not carry out his policies.

Senator Ralph Babet sees the coming election as an opportunity to “vote to ensure the jackboot of globalism remains firmly on our neck”, or a “vote for freedom and rebirth”.

He also queries why “too many” Australians believe that the Liberal Party is a serious alternative to the Labor Party when, “they are nothing of the sort”. He believes that there is “no serious difference” between the two major parties.

Babet reckons Australian politics is about as authentic as Pro-wrestling: a display to attract the masses. It's an illusion to make the average person think that he can change things by voting for the same sorts of people they always do - just swinging between slightly different parties.

The Senator of course is looking for support for himself and his minor party; but he is right in what he says about Liberal and Labor. Both are more frightened of the faceless bureaucrats than they are of voters. And just try getting past the goons in their offices with an enquiry they might not like.

Australians have one hell of a cheek criticising Donald Trump when our own circus is in such a parlous state because we don't have, can't have, a leader like him. In Australia pretence wins over substance.

Liberal, Labor, and the new communist Greens simply do not represent an electorate that has been ground down so much that they have lost interest in politics and vote only because they have to. What a mess we are in!

Google Maps is going to update its app to show the new locations names ordered by Trump. Mt Denali becomes Mt McKinley and the Gulf of Mexico becomes the Gulf of America. MAGA smiles.

So what mhaze, they're not globally recognised name changes.
And Google, well that's just America standing in support of America isn't it?

"Gulf of MAGAland anyone?"

There's no coming back from America (or is it AmeriKKKa?).
Not for the world. America has chosen a felon. A chaos
agent - someone likely to cause a geopolitical earthquake
unlike anything the world has seen since 1945. Look at his
cabinet of misfits - alleged sex traffickers, fabulously
disqualified kooks and genuine villains.

In electing Trump a man who campaigned on open fascism -
A man who will gift Russian president Putin a victory
in Ukraine which means Russian troops could be a threat
to other NATO countries. The world could be at war.

A plurality of American voters (not a majority) have
voted for cruelty, racism, bigotry, and stupidity with
their eyes wide open. And he's not going to resign.
Until the old man croaks free and fair elections are
a thing of the past.

And there's some here who want this for Australia.

Unbelievable!

.

Dear mhaze,

.

Of course, there are many populisms and populists around the world, cultural, socio-economic, political, etc. There are leftist and rightist populisms. We seem to be living in an age of populism.

As I indicated in my initial post on this thread, Trump’s recent decisions no doubt forbode the nature of the political agenda he has in mind for his second term as president of the United States :

Populism :

Populism is a political argument that pits ordinary people against a corrupt government elite, but the concentration of power in a charismatic leader, the sole representative of the people, can undermine the separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, indispensable for a durable democracy.

Authoritarianism :

Authoritarianism is a political system that has no mechanism for the transfer of executive power and limits civil liberties and political rights to its citizens. It is characterized by highly concentrated and centralized government power maintained by political repression and the exclusion of potential challengers.

Illiberalism :

Illiberalism includes tactics, and practices used by forces in power to roll back checks and balances. Illiberal leaders and political parties threaten democracy by targeting judicial oversight, pluralistic and fair political systems, independent media, and open civil society. Illiberal governments often intimidate regular citizens through digital surveillance tools. To avoid criticism, surveillance is usually done in the name of “national security measures”.

Imperialism :

Imperialism is the State policy, practice, or advocacy of extending power and dominion, especially by direct territorial acquisition or by gaining political and economic control of other areas. Imperialism involves the use of power, by military, economic or some subtler means.

If this is the route Trump intends to take, and any of it materialises, the backlash could be dramatic, to say the least !

.

(or is it AmeriKKKa?)
How much more hateful & inciteful can one become ? The majority of African Americans voted against a society with people like Foxy !
Thank God the tide for stupidity in Australia I now turning against it too !

Indyvidual,

You're not the dumbest person on earth, but you'd
sure better hope he doesn't die.

Indyvidual,

You ask how much more hateful and inciteful can one become?

It seems there's no end in sight to US president's actions.

What is hateful and has caused quite a stir is that the US
president signs an executive order to use Guantanamo Bay
into a migrant detention centre.

This has sparked an outcry. Why aren't you condenming that?

It's morally indefensible and raises significant civil
liberties and humanitarian concerns.

The Prime Minister of Belgium writer on X:

Hours after the Holocaust Memorial Day Trump opens a prison
for immigrants at Guantanamo".

Banjo,

I know what those things are. But just describing them and then insinuating that they apply to Trump isn't all that useful, valid or even rigorous.

For example, while you might be able to distort Trump's views to suit this or that assertion, why does it apply to him and not for example the Biden regime. Were they less authoritarian, less populist, less imperialistic (as per your definition) that Trump 2.0 or even Trump 1.0?

If you distort and apply these definitions to Trump but ignore the fact that, using those same criteria, they apply to almost every president since Teddy Roosevelt, then of what use is it?

Zero.

___________________________________________________________________

Does anyone else get the feeling that Foxy isn't entirely happy with the way democracy works.</sarc> Its fine when it elects people she supports but when it elects people she dislikes, then generalised tantrums are the go.

"president signs an executive order to use Guantanamo Bay into a migrant detention centre."

president signs an executive order to turn Guantanamo Bay into a illegal immigrants detention centre.

There you go....fixed it for you.

"It seems there's no end in sight to US president's actions."
Foxy gets something right. Trump promised massive change and in line with keeping his promises he's implementing those changes. (a politician keeping his promises...no wonder Foxy's confused).

MAGA is changing the US. Soon it will change the world. What a great time to be alive.

Hi Ho Hi Ho, off to Guantanamo they go. President Trump announced that these people are serious criminals who have committed crimes in the US. Venezuela's crime rate dropped by 77% when their scum moved illegally to the US. They will find it harder to move from Gitmo, where they will probably die. Yippee.

I think that most rational people would find that
when asked - "What motivates you?" Would find -
An answer of - " Malice" or "Money" or "Power" or all
three - inappropirate.

Not for Trump supporters. He is a character and a symbol
who's viewed as being more than a mere mortal by his
MAGA cultists.

It's all part and parcel of the MAGA movement's intense
fact aversion and widespread resistance to observing
the truth and reality.

America is in regression.

In his role Trump is given permission for revenge, craven
power, and permission for all of them to engage in the
worst human behaviour.

It must be great for his supporters to have a leader
who is a genius, and is never wrong and has amazing genes,
a reality TV star, and now an aspiring dictator who can
do what he wants - because only he can "Save America"
and the world. A type of God and Messiah?

Wow. Breathtaking!

What Trump says and what he does are two different things.

Will he really do what he says regarding Guantanamo Bay?

He says he will send migrants who are in the US illegally
to a new detention centre in Guantanamo Bay.

Trump said up tp 30,000 migrants would be sent to the
US facility in Cuba.

No timeline has been given for when the centre will open
or when migrants will start to be sent there.

"We're going to send them out to Guantanamo Bay" Trump
said but did not elaborate.

"No timeline has been given for when the centre will open
or when migrants will start to be sent there."

Well since it was previously used to house illegal immigrants, it shouldn't take too long to get it operational again. OTOH, since most of the illegals detained so far have been flown back to their home country and with countries all over falling into line following what happened to Columbia (even China abjectly said they'd take their people back), it might take a while to get to the 30,000 figure.

Of course, since it was previously used to house illegals by a Democrat (Bill Clinton), people like Foxy will try very hard to not know that.

"It's all part and parcel of the MAGA movement's intense
fact aversion and widespread resistance to observing
the truth and reality."

Coming from Foxy, that's hilarious. Earlier in this thread she told us to get "facts first" only to link to an article which was completely erroneous.

__________________________________________________________________

More good news....Trump's pick to head the US EPA. Lee Zeldin, has been approved, with three Democrats voting to support Trump. Maybe now this out-of-control agency can be made to serve the needs of the US rather than the fantasies of the UN.