Looks like America, like many countries before us, has to learn the hard way. What to expect from a Trump presidency, second term.

[Joe]

In a second Trump presidency, expect a scorched earth approach that could fundamentally reshape America and the world for the worse. "America First" will mean isolationism that abandons allies, fuels economic volatility, and drains American power abroad. Massive deportations won’t just disrupt millions of lives; they’ll dismantle industries, fracture communities, and create a humanitarian disaster that will tarnish the U.S. globally. Trump’s soft stance on Russia will only embolden Putin, with Trump likely abandoning Ukraine to destruction and threatening European security. A domino effect could follow -- China eyeing Taiwan, emboldened by America’s retreat, (and they are eying Okinawa islands, as well ) seizing control of the semiconductor industry and holding the U.S. at technological gunpoint.

Most nations have had to endure a demagogue to learn -- often through unbearable hardship -- the brutal consequences of unchecked power and the empty allure of populist rhetoric. Germany had Hitler, who promised national pride and left his country in ruins. Italy’s Mussolini sold visions of empire that led to disaster. Argentina saw Perón, who polarized the nation and left it grappling with his divisive legacy. Spain endured Franco’s authoritarian grip, Venezuela Chávez’s ruinous policies. And in Russia, under Stalin, democracy never stood a chance; his totalitarian control meant that the people had no opportunity to reject his tyranny at the ballot box.

Now, America too seems determined to learn the hard way about the dark force of demagoguery. Some might say, “But Trump’s first term didn’t bring the sky down.” What they overlook is that the first time, he was held in check by seasoned figures -- McMaster, Kelly, Milley, Bolton, Barr, et. al., -- the “adults in the room” who served as guardrails. This time, they’re gone. Trump will fill his ranks with sycophants, loyalists without the spine to question or halt his impulses. He’ll have nothing but yes-men willing to serve him without question and he will pepper his cabinet ranks with his oligarch buddies who will 'deconstruct the administrative state'. like termites enjoy a feast. The polluter corporations will love this, as they destroy our climate, our air, our rivers and lakes and precious soil. Expect rampant corruption and transactionalism. With his newfound belief in “absolute immunity,” he’ll feel emboldened to act without limits, trying things he never dared before. And with those private calls to Putin, he’ll have a seasoned mentor to guide him through “Dictator 101” lessons.

So yes, history repeats itself, and we seem condemned to follow it. Like Germany, Argentina, Spain, and so many others, America might face devastation and finally come to understand the full cost of demagoguery, what it's like to live under autocratic rule. I don't expect we'll become a full fledged dictatorship, but let's be clear, Trump will try and exploit any and every weakness that exists in our system that he can get away with, where the framers assumed the president would be a man who would act in good faith. Man, how wrong they were! And maybe, if we’re lucky, we’ll survive the wreckage, inoculated and wiser for it -- if we can find our way free from his grip in time. So, you think this OP is partisan tripe? Time will most certainly tell. Let's see where we stand in a few years, and watch Dems regain control of the house in the next midterms, as by then, America will see, up close and personal. what this MAGA movement is really about.

• "As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and a complete narcissistic moron." -- H.L. Mencken

No truer words could more perfectly describe the rise of Trump.

Now, repubs are going to gloat, and pontificate why Trump won. But, he pandered to the lowest instincts of Americans, he did what all demagogues do; blame our troubles on a group. Hitler did it with Jews, and Trump has done it with immigrants, totally ignoring the fact that the undocs commit far fewer crimes than American citizens, but facts don't matter to a demagogue, the only thing that matters is power, and the more, the merrier. Also, the second big tool he bludgeoned Biden/Harris with was inflation. But for the inflation, given that it's undecideds who decide close elections, Republicans did a good job of bamboozling the masses by blaming the inflation on Biden, never mind the fact that it was CARES act, $2 trillion fiat currency infusion (that was Trump) AND the ARP, another $2 Trillion by Biden, both were done because of the pandemic, and were necessary to prevent and economic collapse, this was the prime mover for the inflation, not to mention the inflation was world wide, and you can't blame Biden for a world wide inflation, but to tell the truth is not something Republicans can do. Also, I fault Biden and Harris for not making this point clear, and they sure as hell could have, and should have.

But for the inflation, I doubt Trump would have won the popular vote, most voted on economics more than any other factor. A lot more than any other factor. It totally obfuscated Biden's major legislative achievements, predominantly the infrastructure program, for the first time since Eisenhower we are rebuilding America, as there are some 60,000 infrastructure projects as we speak. Trump, in his four years as president, with both houses under his thumb, was unable to achieve it. Biden got it done bipartisan in his first 300 days. That totally dismantles the 'he's got dementia' argument. Yeah, you don't agree but I don't give a damn, really, i've heard it all and it's all partisan drivel. If anyone has it, it's Trump -- have you been paying attention to his speeches? He's losing it. I doubt he is going to last four years, to be honest.

Yeah, I know, some of you are going to give mindless snarky dumb AF one liners to this OP, and you will be ignored because, frankly, if you voted for Trump, you are not very wise. Note that intelligence and wisdom, if they exist in the same human being, it is a coincidence, If you don't believe me, let's see where we stand during the midterms.

Fuck off dipshit. No one is buying the gaslighting and propaganda. The show is over.

 

[Joe]

Everybody but the tRumplings.

Most of them can't read anyway.

Fuck off cretinous. No one is buying the gaslighting and propaganda. The show is over.

 

[Crepitus]

Fuck off cretinous. No one is buying the gaslighting and propaganda. The show is over.

Well somebody's triggered!

 

[Publius]

Fuck off dipshit. No one is buying the gaslighting and propaganda. The show is over.

I get it, your low self esteem has gotten the best of you. You'll recover in time, there is hope.

I'm betting the tariffs will be strategic, not blanket. Trump will use them as a tool to help the US economy and US workers. More manufacturing in the US will help the middle class as well.

We will see if the economists you cite are right or wrong soon enough, but they've been wrong many times before, so I would take what they have to say with a grain of salt.

Nice wishful thinking.

Instead of strategically targeting critical industries, sectors where U.S. interests needed protection, Trump threw blanket tariffs on anything coming from China, impacting everything from electronics to basic household items.

He didn’t just hit the unfair practices -- no, he went for everything. U.S. companies reliant on imported parts got slammed with higher costs, supply chains became snarled, and American consumers paid the price. And why? Because rather than a calculated trade strategy, what we got was a scattershot, slapdash assault on trade designed more to look tough than to be smart.

Yes, he said it was about “protecting America,” but the result was predictable chaos. Experts say a targeted approach would have minimized the collateral damage, safeguarding key industries while sparing American wallets and businesses. But here we are, left to foot the bill for tariffs that hit American pocketbooks harder than they hit their intended targets.

So let’s dispel any fantasy that Trump’s approach to tariffs -- or anything else for that matter -- is going to be different. He’s not a “learner” or a “strategist.” History is our witness. The tariffs that should have been laser-focused on China’s unfair practices were instead a knee-jerk reaction, an economic sledgehammer swung in all directions, leaving American consumers and businesses tangled in higher prices and disrupted supply chains. It wasn’t about calculated policy; it was a publicity stunt in policy’s clothing.

The idea that he’s suddenly going to refine his tactics this time around is wishful thinking at best. Especially now that he intends on bringing 'loyalists', which is a euphimism for sycophants -- 'yes men'. Why? Because Trump doesn’t adapt. He doesn’t reconsider. He doubles down on chaos. He isn’t coming back with a new approach or a reformed outlook; he’s coming back with the same reckless playbook, just as ready to put on the show while Americans pick up the tab. The voters just forgot who he was. Well, their memories will be refreshed very soon.

But, you just go ahead and keep with those rose tinted classes you're wearing.

 

[Joe]

I get it, your low self esteem has gotten the best of you. You'll recover in time, there is hope.

Fuck yourself parasite. Your sauce has been proven weak and now it's time for you to shut the fuck up. No one is interested in your gaslighting any more. Piss straight off.

 

[Daylight63]

Who the hell is going to read a book written by a crazed Trump hating leftist?

You would already know what to expect if you had ever read ANY history book. Ever. But you didn't. Now you are going to laugh and laugh at all the whiny Libruls telling you what history teaches over and over again.

Then one day you won't. I can't tell you exactly when but it will be obvious. You won't be laughing anymore. In fact you won't even confess to having ever supported Trump.

I know this with about as much surety as I know the sun will rise in the East tomorrow.

I know it because I've read history. And we are playing it out EXACTLY the same way as it was run about 90 years ago.

Laugh and enjoy your win! You got this. You'll learn soon enough.

I just wish we didn't have to hold your hand while you learned what we already know is coming.

 

[Daylight63]

I'm betting the tariffs will be strategic, not blanket.

So Trump lied about what he's going to do. That's a relief. Because across the board tariffs at the levels he PROMISED US would destroy the economy.

Trump will use them as a tool to help the US economy and US workers. More manufacturing in the US will help the middle class as well.

You do know that manufacturing jobs won't come back to the US in bulk for a while, right? You KNOW it takes time. We've already been seeing manufacturing jobs return to the US under Biden but it was clearly not enough for Trump voters.

The other thing that will happen when we bring our manufacturing jobs back home is everything will increase in price. It can't do otherwise. So if people think prices are too high now, they haven't seen what it can be.

Don't get me wrong: I'm 100% FOR bringing manufacturing back to the US. But I'll be able to afford it. Will you?

We will see if the economists you cite are right or wrong soon enough, but they've been wrong many times before, so I would take what they have to say with a grain of salt.

Trump's policies don't even pass the common sense test. At one point he floated the idea of replacing all income tax with tariffs. He didn't seem to understand that if his tariff scheme was CORRECT it would eliminate ALL REVENUE TO THE US GOVERNMENT. This is the kind of strategy that he used to destroy the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.

 

[Publius]

Fuck yourself parasite. Your sauce has been proven weak and now it's time for you to shut the fuck up. No one is interested in your gaslighting any more. Piss straight off.

You really ought to see someone about all that self hatred. You realize, of course, accusing someone of the very thing of which you are guilty is a type of gaslighting. Apparently you forgot that this is a public debate forum, and the whole point is discussion and debate. This is why your comment reeks of ignorance, which, of course, proves all the above points. No, my friend, I will not 'shut the fuck up', not now, not ever and there isn't a gawddamned thing you can do about it, so deal with it. I know that the world is full of ignorant people such as yourself, people whose self hatred manifests so easily to be triggered, so, seriously, like I suggested above, you need help.

 

[Publius]

You would already know what to expect if you had ever read ANY history book. Ever. But you didn't. Now you are going to laugh and laugh at all the whiny Libruls telling you what history teaches over and over again.

Then one day you won't. I can't tell you exactly when but it will be obvious. You won't be laughing anymore. In fact you won't even confess to having ever supported Trump.

I know this with about as much surety as I know the sun will rise in the East tomorrow.

I know it because I've read history. And we are playing it out EXACTLY the same way as it was run about 90 years ago.

Laugh and enjoy your win! You got this. You'll learn soon enough.

I just wish we didn't have to hold your hand while you learned what we already know is coming.

Which goes to my point in the OP, these right wingers will have to learn the hard way, the way other nations did, Italy, Germany, Argentina, etc.

 

[Joe]

You really ought to see someone about all that self hatred. You realize, of course, accusing someone of the very thing of which you are guilty is a type of gaslighting. Apparently you forgot that this is a public debate forum, and the whole point is discussion and debate. This is why your comment reeks of ignorance, which, of course, proves all the above points. No, my friend, I will not 'shut the fuck up', not now, not ever and there isn't a gawddamned thing you can do about it, so deal with it. I know that the world is full of ignorant people such as yourself, people whose self hatred manifests so easily to be triggered, so, seriously, like I suggested above, you need help.

I'm not your friend, now shut the fuck up your side show is over.

 

[Daylight63]

Fuck yourself parasite.

"parasite". Yes, good, good. Welcome to America now.

Your sauce has been proven weak and now it's time for you to shut the fuck up.

We libruls lost fair and square just like your side lost in 2020. Only difference is you guys didn't shut the fuck up then. But now that you guys are in control we will know our place soon enough.

 

[Patriot]

So Trump lied about what he's going to do. That's a relief. Because across the board tariffs at the levels he PROMISED US would destroy the economy.



You do know that manufacturing jobs won't come back to the US in bulk for a while, right? You KNOW it takes time. We've already been seeing manufacturing jobs return to the US under Biden but it was clearly not enough for Trump voters.

The other thing that will happen when we bring our manufacturing jobs back home is everything will increase in price. It can't do otherwise. So if people think prices are too high now, they haven't seen what it can be.

Don't get me wrong: I'm 100% FOR bringing manufacturing back to the US. But I'll be able to afford it. Will you?



Trump's policies don't even pass the common sense test. At one point he floated the idea of replacing all income tax with tariffs. He didn't seem to understand that if his tariff scheme was CORRECT it would eliminate ALL REVENUE TO THE US GOVERNMENT. This is the kind of strategy that he used to destroy the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.

No, Trump didn't lie about what he's going to do. He'll use tariffs as necessary to improve the US economy. He never committed to exactly how he'd use them. He just put out some ideas. And yes, it will take a while for manufacturing to come back to the US, but you have to start somewhere. Domestic manufacturing makes products less expensive to distribute, but the higher quality and better wages involved offset those savings to some degree. We'll see if prices go up on those products or not, but like you said, it takes time, and by that time inflation may be down further, which will also mitigate end prices for consumers. Yes, he floated ideas. Not the same as committing to them. He'll do what works, bottom line.

 

[Patriot]

I get it, your low self esteem has gotten the best of you. You'll recover in time, there is hope.


Nice wishful thinking.

Instead of strategically targeting critical industries, sectors where U.S. interests needed protection, Trump threw blanket tariffs on anything coming from China, impacting everything from electronics to basic household items.

He didn’t just hit the unfair practices -- no, he went for everything. U.S. companies reliant on imported parts got slammed with higher costs, supply chains became snarled, and American consumers paid the price. And why? Because rather than a calculated trade strategy, what we got was a scattershot, slapdash assault on trade designed more to look tough than to be smart.

Yes, he said it was about “protecting America,” but the result was predictable chaos. Experts say a targeted approach would have minimized the collateral damage, safeguarding key industries while sparing American wallets and businesses. But here we are, left to foot the bill for tariffs that hit American pocketbooks harder than they hit their intended targets.

So let’s dispel any fantasy that Trump’s approach to tariffs -- or anything else for that matter -- is going to be different. He’s not a “learner” or a “strategist.” History is our witness. The tariffs that should have been laser-focused on China’s unfair practices were instead a knee-jerk reaction, an economic sledgehammer swung in all directions, leaving American consumers and businesses tangled in higher prices and disrupted supply chains. It wasn’t about calculated policy; it was a publicity stunt in policy’s clothing.

The idea that he’s suddenly going to refine his tactics this time around is wishful thinking at best. Especially now that he intends on bringing 'loyalists', which is a euphimism for sycophants -- 'yes men'. Why? Because Trump doesn’t adapt. He doesn’t reconsider. He doubles down on chaos. He isn’t coming back with a new approach or a reformed outlook; he’s coming back with the same reckless playbook, just as ready to put on the show while Americans pick up the tab. The voters just forgot who he was. Well, their memories will be refreshed very soon.

But, you just go ahead and keep with those rose tinted classes you're wearing.

So you want to continue to be reliant on cheap, slave-labor/sweatshop products from Asia so the prices are lower? If not, what's your solution exactly, since you seem to think you know it all? What I know is that inflation was lower under Trump, and prices were lower on everything.

 

[Patriot]

Which goes to my point in the OP, these right wingers will have to learn the hard way, the way other nations did, Italy, Germany, Argentina, etc.

And you left wingers wish to learn the hard way, the way other nations did like the former Soviet Union, Cuba, Venezuela, etc.

 

[T. A. Gardner]

So you want to continue to be reliant on cheap, slave-labor/sweatshop products from Asia so the prices are lower? If not, what's your solution exactly, since you seem to think you know it all? What I know is that inflation was lower under Trump, and prices were lower on everything.

Well, up to the Civil War that's what Democrats relied on... Why should they change now?

 

[IBDaMann]

In a second Trump presidency, expect a scorched earth approach

Nope. I can't, for the life of me, see any reason to expect that. Of course, I have you, of all people, telling me to expect it, so given all of your credibility, let me think about it for a moment.

Done. Nope.

"America First" will mean isolationism

OK. I'm still waiting to read how I should fear and panic and flee to the hills.

that abandons allies, fuels economic volatility, and drains American power abroad.

How does peace fuel economic volatility? What America is abroad and being drained of power? Were you expecting to be taken seriously?

Massive deportations [of violent criminals] won’t just disrupt millions of lives;

FTFY ... they'll dismantle crime syndicates, fracture gangs, and greatly reduce violence and other criminal activity throughout the country.

that will tarnish the U.S. globally.

The US isn't global.

Trump’s soft stance on Russia will only embolden Putin,

Great. Our 1st Amendment grants Putin the same right as everyone else to be bold.

with Trump likely abandoning Ukraine to destruction and threatening European security.

Dollars-to-Donuts that you don't issue a sincere, genuine correction and admission that you were stupid-fuqk wrong when Trump ends that war and brings peace.

Let me rephrase, you are lying, you know you are lying, and you have no intention of ever being honest on this topic.

A domino effect could follow

Aaaahhh, we have reached the point in your raving where I should PANIC! When will we know we have reached the TIPPING POINT? If I look out my window, will I notice that global uncertainty is accelerating FASTER THAN PREVIOUSLY FEARED by scientists? Will I notice that global demagoguery is higher than it OTHERWISE SHOULD BE? Will Temper Level Rise (TLR) flood low education leftists causing them to overflow with Hitler/Mussolini references?

Germany had Hitler, who promised national pride and left his country in ruins. Italy’s Mussolini sold visions of empire that led to disaster.

Oh, I'm totally listening. You make a great point. Completely rational.

Argentina saw Perón, who polarized the nation and left it grappling with his divisive legacy. Spain endured Franco’s authoritarian grip, Venezuela Chávez’s ruinous policies. And in Russia, under Stalin, democracy never stood a chance; his totalitarian control meant that the people had no opportunity to reject his tyranny at the ballot box.

Every single reference above is of a radical leftist, i.e. the kind that imposes Kamala-style price controls and the kind that American voters utterly rejected in favor of Donald Trump.

“But Trump’s first term didn’t bring the sky down.”

Trump's first term saved the world from Hell R. E. Clinton and the dismal consequences that might have ended civilization as we know it. We would not have needed Hitler or Mussolini references because would would have been making "Hillary" references to greater effect.

Like Germany, Argentina, Spain, and so many others, America might face devastation and finally come to understand the full cost of demagoguery,

... which would require the emergence of an extreme leftist, e.g. Kamala. The demogoguery would, of course, be incidental.

what it's like to live under autocratic rule.

Fortunately, Kamala was REJECTED and so we won't really find out.

I don't expect we'll become a full fledged dictatorship,

... nor does anybody.

but let's be clear, Trump will try and exploit any and every weakness that exists in our system

Nope. Let's be clear, Trump will shore up any and every weakness that exists, and make America great again.

So, you think this OP is partisan tripe?

Yep. That much is obvious.

Time will most certainly tell.

Nope. You will never make an equivalent thread in which you apologize to Trump for baselessly running him through the muck based on your misunderstanding that Trump is somehow an extreme leftist. You haven't gotten anything right and you haven't indicated that you will ever be honest.

Let's see where we stand in a few years,

That was already going to happen, but clearly your expectation is that everyone will forget about this post of yours.

Now, repubs are going to gloat,

Nope, and you're a moron. Many republicans HATE Trump. You don't have the wherewithall to even know who the players are. McConnel just threatened Trump to "play ball" or he (McConnel) will convince the Senate to convict him during the next impeachment. One of Trump's jobs is to transform the Republican party, weed out the RINOs and other "establishment" Republicans, and return liberty and fiscal responsibility to priority in American legislation.

But, he pandered to the lowest instincts of Americans,

Kamala did all the pandering. If you don't believe me, start a thread on the topic.

Hitler did it with Jews, and Trump has done it with immigrants,

You make a brilliant point. Absolutely brilliant! If you don't mind me asking, are you an undereducated leftist?

Trump, in his four years as president, with both houses under his thumb,

He never had any sort of control over Congress. You are a moron, remember? Who do you think it was who initially blocked the funding for his wall? It was not Democrats! Who thwarted every single Trump "accomplishment" out of juvenile spite? It was not Democrats?

Trump was elected by MAGA people, which included many conservatives and liberals, many registered Republicans and registered Democrats. Trump was neither elected nor supported by "Republicans."

Biden got it done bipartisan in his first 300 days. [Biden took almost a year to get it done]

"Bipartisan" is the disigenuous leftist's word for "Democrats + token RINOs" ... but specifically not anyone MAGA who would represent the interests of We the People.

That totally dismantles the 'he's got dementia' argument.

I wouldn't go that far. He has dementia, after all.

frankly, if you voted for Trump, you are not very wise.

Whereas so very wise are those who voted against their own interests for the cackling Kamala tyranny of Marxist price controls and dissolution of our national borders.

 

[Taichiliberal]

So I take it you like your cheap China made crap from Walmart. Trump wants to encourage more domestic production, which will be higher quality. Tariffs will ensure that they don't get undersold by cheap, slave-labor products from Asia. Oh, I'm sorry, are you pro-slave labor? Pro-sweatshop?

During the 2016 election debates, Clinton noted that while your Cheeto Jeezus made a public stink about "Chy-nuh eating our lunch", he used imported Chinese steel in much of his real estate construction projects. Your Orange Oafish hero sneered in response, " So you should've passed a law that said I couldn't".

He also has a DOCUMENTED HISTORY of not paying contractors that worked on his buildings, then when they took him to court he used his inherited wealth to tie them up for years. Eventually, the wronged party settled for HALF of what they originally contracted for.

This is why I find folk like you a pathetic joke. The man has a history of treating people just like you like a doormat. But all he has to do is promise you that he won't let "those people" take your job or change "your culture", etc., etc., and you just bend over with a smile on your face asking saying, "yes sir, thank you sir, may I have another". Pitiful.

 

[Taichiliberal]

And you left wingers wish to learn the hard way, the way other nations did like the former Soviet Union, Cuba, Venezuela, etc.

Please spare us all this stupid mantra for the low intelligence Maga mook. 8 years of Obama didn't put you in the poor house, much less keep you off the internet, and whether you like it or not the Orange Oaf took credit for that economy until covid hit.
It's going to be REAL interesting in the next 4 years to see trolls like yourself twist like pretzels to justify and blame everyone and everything on the dismantling of democracy and the Constitution.

 

[T. A. Gardner]

During the 2016 election debates, Clinton noted that while your Cheeto Jeezus made a public stink about "Chy-nuh eating our lunch", he used imported Chinese steel in much of his real estate construction projects. Your Orange Oafish hero sneered in response, " So you should've passed a law that said I couldn't".

Clinton's hubby sold US ICBM technology to China for a campaign contribution. The Hildabeast was fired from her position as a junior attorney on the Watergate commission for wanting to use questionable and possibly illegal means to bring Nixon down.

He also has a DOCUMENTED HISTORY of not paying contractors that worked on his buildings, then when they took him to court he used his inherited wealth to tie them up for years. Eventually, the wronged party settled for HALF of what they originally contracted for.

Democrat politicians just have them tossed in prison instead on trumped (note the pun) up charges...

This is why I find folk like you a pathetic joke. The man has a history of treating people just like you like a doormat. But all he has to do is promise you that he won't let "those people" take your job or change "your culture", etc., etc., and you just bend over with a smile on your face asking saying, "yes sir, thank you sir, may I have another". Pitiful.

Your myopia hits you right between the eyes.

 

[Publius]

I'm not your friend, now shut the fuck up your side show is over.

you know, if you are triggered so easily, history reveals two, perhaps, three, potential reasons for your self loathing and lashing out.

1. You are gay and can't accept it.
2. You can't accept that you have a small penis
3. Or both.

Look, I know it's tough having a small penis and/or being gay in a hetero would, but the big thing to do is just accept who you are, own it.

You'll feel better, and then maybe, just maybe, some day you won't feel the need to be triggered so easily, act so juvenile.