2024 OT Election Day Thread: Donald Trump elected POTUS, GOP wins Senate and House of Representatives

All right, I'm gonna jump in on the dog pile. It's February, and ICE is running out of money and space in their detention centers. Asking Congress for $175 Billion f*cking yesterday. For context, the Department of Education gets about $80 billion a year, and USAID was around $40 billion, so DOGE "efficiency" measures are likely to be a "break even" effort in the end.

https://www.axios.com/2025/02/13/trump-immigration-deportation-obstacles?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

@MirkoS77: Musk didn't invent Tesla, he wasn't even a co founder, he was an investor who basically stole the company ftom its founders. And now the company has turned to shit, he bought Twitter which again has turned to shit.

He takes over these companies and guts them, Twitter went from 7.5k staff to 1.5k after Musk was forced into buying it and now uses twitter as his propaganda machine. Tesla is doing the worse it's ever done and laid off 6k at the last round of lay offs.

As for Space X again makes very little profit, and on some cases losses.

The guy is a fraudster like Trump it's why they get along so well. You can think he's a visionary and great business man all you want but the facts don't support that.

The funniest part of his roll in the government to help the government from wasting it's money is that the man tasked with this job get $8 million a day ftom the government in contracts, maybe he should start there lol.

@MirkoS77: He didn't create Tesla. He bought it. Space X was on the brink of failure until the US taxpayers through NASA gifted him money.

@MirkoS77: In contrast with the other posters, I agree with you. I think Musk is a visionary.

I don't buy into his carefully constructed image as a modern-day Da Vinci, the second coming of Tesla, the greatest scientist of our age, and all that. The more I hear from him, the more I think that's all just empty hype.

But you don't get to be the world's richest man without drive and vision. Plenty of people squander the advantage they get from their parents. He didn't. I don't think he got there ethically, and I don't buy that his many character flaws are endearing, and I don't think he understands consumers in the same way that a Steve Jobs-type did...but he didn't get there solely on luck and handouts.

@last_lap: Too true. Musk takes more welfare from the US government than all the people that actually need it combined.

He also bought Twitter using Tesla as collateral, another huge issue we should have with our economic system.

The simple truth is this: if Musk wasn't born to a father that owned an emerald mine, we would have never heard about him.

And another, more optimistic truth: if we each had 10% the opportunity that Musk has had, we'd be on Mars by now, would have cured cancer, solved world hunger, and more.

You think the right is going to have a "has anyone you've done made your life better?" moment?

I hope so, I really do. Come back to us, fellow Americans.

Damn, someone should have warned them about the logistics and economics!

😋

The hypocrisy.

During the Obama Admin, there was criticism about how Bob Woodward (yeah, one half of the Watergate journos) was treated and the press stands by him.

But the Associated Press is banned from Trump pressers because they refuse to kowtow to the "Gulf of America" BS and they are silent. Sigh... they'd happily sell out Woodstein just because Trump doesn't like them.

The Associated Press is no longer permitted to be apart of press conferences? Does this mean their journalists had their white house credentials revoked?

Any other way of putting that I don't know about?

I don't know ... you posted the info with no link or anything ... lol Is this a LJS scenario where you're reading stuff from social media?

This is a political party which has allowed a disproven 2 data point graph on a napkin to govern their entire economic policy. The idea that they know anything about economics and logistics at all is a complete and utter joke.

He has done something exceptional. He's bought up a propaganda channel and displayed to the whole world, by force, exactly how easy insider trading, market manipulation, foreign election rigging and complete government takeover is. He's demonstrated how wealth breeds wealth, highlighted how flawed the system is top-to-bottom and how powerless the electorate is to do anything about it. There's no going back to the way things were done in the past, and for that it's hard not to be grateful. After all, who's going to fix what we're pretending isn't broken?

What he hasn't yet done is to provide any solutions. Maybe that's someone else's role.

I don't think anyone's saying he's talentless, just that maybe it's worth questioning what being a successful business leader really means.

I recall MirkoS77 being disgusted at Trump's cheapening political discourse and undermining America's institutions. Here, IMO, there's a strong parallel with what Musk has been up to.

CBS confirmed it.

It's easier for everyone when you link your news blurps, especially if it's an angry fist at clouds moment. But Oh, the press pool. So limited from the oval office and air force one... A la the press entourage? That's not revoking any press credentials or barring them from press conferences. lol isn't it a rotation anyways to be part of the press pool?

Living rent free.....🤣

This is true, if someone references something that sounds silly with no backing/reference... I'm assuming it's similar to your antics. lol Granted, he quickly linked his source thankfully. There was no dancing. :)

I always tell my sources. Magas like yourself just don't want to believe the reality. How about those cop beaters being pardoned? Must make you proud .

@Stevo_the_gamer: Imagine sweeping this hard for Donnie while banning your fellow Trumpette SargentD. That’s sending some mixed signals there, Stevie. 🤭

Wait what? He got banned?

Sounds like a conspiracy, actually.

Oh LJS, do you want me to link the times you didn't? ... I'm more than happy too if you desire, of course, the down side of spending the few minutes doing it means you'll inevitably move the goal posts or ignore it entirely. lol Which to your credit, is definitely a great form of head-into-sand-hands-over-ears mantra.

Rent free.....

Is that a yes, or a no... ? Or does that qualify as the ignoring or moving goal posts... hmm ...

Still waiting on your answer about the pardons for the cop beaters, child predators, women beaters, etc Steve. Did you dose off? While I have you here, do you agree with this.....https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/13/elon-musk-doge-confidential-data-access-conflicts/78394553007/#

Or this? https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elon-musk-doge-posts-classified-data_n_67ae646de4b0513a8d767112

Man I love Avery Brooks, the man is absolutely batshit off his tits, but on screen he's brilliant.

Huh? Is that a yes still... or a no? So bizarre.

When did you ask me about pardons? Feel free to link your post here please. I'm sure you'll provide that to the class since you "I always tell my sources." lol

I already told other users in this forum that I do not agree with *any* commutations or pardons of anyone. I find them to be a gross miscarriage of justice. Is that your attempt to move goal posts? lol oof, come on now.

Again, like I asked you, do you want me to link you some posts or are you still under the impression that you link everything? lmao

Typical Steve. Pretends he doesn't see something. You quoted the damn post where I asked you.

So you won't link the post. Man, that was quick... lol

Oh, this post. I thought it was something previously related to an earlier discussion... not to your moving goal posts to my question to you. That's incredibly silly LJS.

@LJS9502_basic: Yeah, Stevie yeeted him for admitting that he was ban evading on an alt, despite the fact that he was one of the biggest Trumpers on the site. Stevie’s gonna get a message from El Presidente Muskrat to reinstate SargentD any day now or risk being cast out of the MAGA movement. 🤭

No idea who this Canadian guy is, but I like him.

https://x.com/junonewscom/status/1890490564589584836

Yeah these are dark times for Europe. It's true that we have been over-reliant on American protection. But that is because we blew up our continent twice in 40 years. So it made sense to break the European military culture.

But now we do need to build up our militaries again. That is not a good thing, but a necessary one. Once we have built up, all American troops need to leave the European continent.

We also have to take control of the digital realm. China has its own versions of Google, FB etc. We in Europe have to go that route as well. With US no longer being an ally, but at best a partner, we should not allow them the kind of access they have to our citizens data. Trump has shown us the way to do this. We need to tariff the big tech companies to hell, in order to create the possibility for European competitors to emerge.

This is especially important with the rise of AI. We can not allow an "America First"- movement to have full control of the European labour market. We would be slaves to them.

While Europe has become overreliant on US protection, the 5% military spending doctorine is ridicilous. Only 6 countries have a military spending of 5% or greater. The 2% spending is good enough, which many european countries fail to hold up to, is a reasonable enough goal. Russia has a high military spending, but it is also has a low GDP per capita.

@MirkoS77: While Musk is not an innovator. But he certainly did have vision and drive.

Even if that vision is merely bringing up hype to century old ideas that never really panned out.

@Sushiglutton: Personally I think the UK should make a military pack with Ukriane. The UK simple do not have a large armed force.

Ukraine (after this war) will technically be one of the most powerful armies in the world. It uses older men, but it has equipment and will be adopting the SK model of training for everything, they will become extremely militarized and have been trained by the UK.

They view the UK are arguably it's greatest ally. Not America, even though it donated it, most of Europe at this point do not view America as an ally (for the time being).

It would make sense to me to have a union, merging them into unified army with modern training imo.

We have to remember these are some of the most brilliant negotioators in human history... Maybe by saying 5 % they are hoping to drag us to 3 %...

I have no idea what the correct number is. But Europe should secure its own borders without US help. That will not be cheap. But otherwise we will have the situation of US negotiating our future without us, which I think is embarrasing and unacceptable...

You guys need to come back into Europe :)!

I'm sure UK has been a very good ally to Ukraine. And it's interesting that they have adopted UK training regimes. But simple geography means any UK help needs to go through Europe anyway. UK and Euorope can do this together. For example the nordic baltic group with Poland: Nordic-Baltic Summit and new partnership with Poland - Government.se, and of course Germany is a key country.

2% is fine. The country posing a threat to us is not a wealthy one. And a 2% spending is more than enough to deal with Russia.

China's goto strategy for foreign policy involves soft power, as opposed to hard power, military spending is useless there.

Hopefully THIS will give everyone a good chuckle 🤭

Love the confidence in being able to determine that number! Sweden is going for 2,6 % by 2028 and that is counting on some US support. You can not just look at what is required to match Russia yearly now. First we have to catch up. So maybe we need to spend more in the beginning and then we can start to go down to 2 % 🤷‍♂️. Like I said I don't know about the number. The important thing to me is the goal (capability to defend ourselves).

Best case scenario is of course if Russia reforms. There is nothing positive about having to spend a ton of resources on the military.

Straight up facts.

https://x.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1890721273631670680

Yes, I am confident.

And most of Russia's weaponry is old as dirt. Their tactics are horribly out of date too. Their population is declining fast, especially among those in military age.

Not to mention massive levels of corruption.

That said, many EU countries are spending well below 2% which is a problem.

Edit: As for sweden, the 2.6% they are going for is fine. I am not going to complain about that. Russia is belligerent and has repeatedly disrespected Sweden's borders. And there is no guarantee Trump WONT arm Russia. France however? There is no reason for them to suddenly need to spend 3%, they already have one of the most powerful militaries in the world at 2.1%.

It's not an interpretation without merit, and I'm sure Putin is very happy for the compliment, which will play great back home.

But beside the question of NATO membership, which should absolutely be a priority here... The big problem with recent western media coverage of Russia's Ukraine invasion is that it's focused, politically, solely on Zelenskyy. That's a lot of pressure for one man. It's led to a situation where opponents have been able to reduce public sentiment over the war to impressions about him as a person. You know - Zelenskyy Vs. Putin, Zelenskyy Vs. Trump, etc., while the brutal reality of Russia's power play, total disrespect for national borders and mass slaughter of a neighbour has fallen, to an extent, by the wayside.

Of course, as elected president, it's only natural and fitting he should be front and centre in representing Ukraine, but optically, you've got to wonder if there might not be an advantage to emphasising the way in which Ukraine's government differs from certain autocratic authoritarian regimes, by widening the media coverage to incorporate other cabinet members into the picture too.

I don't know, maybe that's misguided - it's just a thought - but I'd also be interested to hear your take.

@Stevo_the_gamer: Still didn't answer the questions. What's the matter Steve? Has the internet been serious business for you? Not a slow news day?

Plenty of Ukrainian staff, soldiers and such on social media. Esp at the start of the war.

Unfortunately people become desensitized and uninterested over time.

Zelenskyy a former comedian, is very good at communication and dealing with audiences. It's also important to remember that Putin was to dismantle and fragment the government to replace it with a puppet one, which is also now what Trump wants, presumably so he can exploit it, thus one of the reasons he hates Zelenskyy. He now acts as an anchor for the country, to rando outsider he is Ukriane, for good or ill

Putins demands will be a new government, explicity with the intent to set up Ukraine to fall, which he already attempted not just in Ukraine but in other countries.

I would also argue he has done this with America itself, influencing people on mass with social media, alt media with a completely dunce level, Russian complaint government that is anti-Nato. America is now borderline hostile to all allies and no longer viewed as an ally, or at least reliable.

All round depressing. Dismal.

I think I see what you're hinting at... Best not to give publicity to any other cabinet members because they could be Russian plants. Is that it? Maybe you've got a point. Hadn't really thought about that angle TBH.

Which questions... the goal posts move rather frequently, especially if said questions are deflections from what was asked of you.

For example, I asked you three separate times if you wanted an example of you failing to properly source a post. lol It's a simple yes or no, and I'm more than happy to facilitate a recent glaring example (ahem: cancellation of ethnic holidays/Tuskegee Airmen/Christmas bonus story all come to mind).

Again, the issue was immediately addressed by Nintendoboy, since it appears he misunderstood the nuance of the AP story (that's common when folks be rolling with headlines or social media content).

My bro, that's not at all what I was saying.

I was simply saying people don't care anymore, the attacks are still happening, people on the streets capturing it, soldiers, politicians beyond Zelenskyy condemning Russia, meeting up with other countries leaders etc.. people just don't care. Interest wanders.

It's been years. The public in most countries are largely oblivious to the effect of the war. Unfortunate fact.

Zelenskyy was the main face the arise out of the conflict. He didn't leave the capitol, had a ground level style presentation, dressed complete opposite to how political leaders typically dressed. Went to the frontlines etc...

It's the thing embedded in the general publics mind, his presence is arguably vital for keeping interest in Ukriane.

Unfortunately this is also something MAGA and the right has exploited and contorted.

When these people think of Ukriane, it's not empathy, or compassion or condemnation, it's rats who have stolen US money. Zelenskyy becomes the sole target, he is Ukriane, the reason, the enemy, the thing that must be crushed.

Not Putin, again, to reemphasize, Trump has never said a bad word about Putin. Most MAGAS haven't.

It could be argued they view the EU with more hostility currently than Russia. This is where we are at now.

@Stevo_the_gamer: Still avoiding the questions.

See above...

Indeed, you are. lol

America needs a strong Europe that shares our western values in order for us to succeed on the global stage to provide a better future for our children and our children's children.

Problem is, I asked you the question first and I'm not interested in your attempts to change the topic. Obviously, you have a problem with the answer. Que sera sera.

Well, the topic began with poking fun at the Lacks Justifiable Sources (LJS)-method (trademark pending, lol) of not providing links when content is likely regurgitated from social media.