U.S Politics

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

 Het-field wrote:

 pre Madonna wrote:

Very much so, but if Trump is going to take the fascist fringe, it leaves the GOP back as the party of the ultra-conservatives and then it becomes about which way the Democrats go and liberals always go further right. That's why I think a split in one will lead to a split in the other.

My real hope is that my hunch that Trump is too lazy, is correct. Having a little fiefdom in the established GOP is one thing. Having to actually establish and lead a political movement, in a country dominated by the two party system, is another. And over a 4 year period, I don't think Trump has shown any of the intellect, or the resilience, to establish a new party, which will united fascists, militia men, QAnon supporters, and the rest of the "deplorables". The gradual de-platforming could also be exceptionally useful in depriving him of the airtime he needs, in order to be successful. Also, he will have very few friends in the GOP, who will bat for him now. There are little vestiges of Trump left. The "anti-squad" congresspeople like Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Greene will fill that space and serve as a reminder, but they are limited, and will not be taken seriously. I won't count my chickens but in an ideal world, this defeat essential ends Trump.

I think there is a chance that "boring politics" will be back on the table, if Trump is off it.

There is a Patriot Party Twitter account with around 100k followers, I am not sure of the connection to him, but it might be worth keeping an eye on.
There's  a chance he is lazy, and his Twitter ban and loss of Murdoch support will make it difficult for him, but he still has a huge support base and access to enough of their money to fund both a party and his own media. I don't think he will gain enough to win in 4 years time or be able to find a similar personality that can, but he can certainly make more waves, and money, in trying to stay relevant. 

At the same time, the cat is out of the bag regarding real social justice in the States and I am not sure that four years of bland neoliberalism and global grandstanding will change that. That's what lead to Trump in the first place, that disconnect between average Americans and the Democrats at the peak of de-industrialisation. Can Biden get that back in these four years with a slight majority in the senate, that could easily swing back next year, regardless of Trump? I think having a bland, 'safe pair of hands' liberal could well be a disaster or lead to another disaster. He was certainly the lesser of two evils, but he has a problematic history with race and criminal justice and, even with Harris, it may be difficult for him to win people who would have voted for him over, because in reality he was on the winning side of a referendum on Trump, rather than the winner of election. He needs to have a remarkable first six months to become more than that and, given the situation he has been left with, I don't think it is feasible. 

I do hope I am wrong, that he becomes a truly progressive president and paves the way for a truly left of centre government to follow and all the rest, but I can't see it.