Facts certainly don't care about feelings, that's an old right wing meme.....but what life has taught me is what turned out to be more important was that 'feelings don't care about facts'.

What's you are saying is sensible of course. In a political environment that was sensible no one would be where we are in the US.

We could write a book on the differences between the US and Europe but there is no doubt that really unhealthy levels of polarisation were encouraged by parties.....I remember the tea party's loathing of Obama (who I didn't like) which went to really over the top levels. I remember Bush Jnr being called a Nazi...which is funny as the Democrats now embrace him as a never Trumper.

All of this was aided by social media's propensity to divide (it's a lot easier to demonise and misunderstand in text rather than face to face) and that's played it's part...along with the left's use of identity politics (inspired by increasing demographic change) there has been a significant widening of the gap between the parties....of course antifa/blm/proud boys are all symptoms of of this gap and while they might have all started off differently they are now associated as the 'rough hands' for their parties.

All that was unthinkable when I was growing up.

The days of reaching across the bench and making deals of mutual interest went out of the window and even if some of the politicians tried it now they will be castigated by their base as traitors.

What i think about it all really depends upon which hat I'm wearing.....if the US doesn't split up (which is probable at some point due to the 1st and especially 2nd amendments) I see America's long term future as a majority hispanic and socialist nation....a corporate and social model similar to China....who will be a significant influence.

But to the here and now....Will Trump look to make that break and go for it?....that's wearing another hat. I definitely think he's considered it....why else change those generals.

When I think about what's best for him right now and ignore any moral concerns I wouldn't go for the coop. He could slip away, claim to have been cheated (there is a point there about covid and mail in ballots) and be could be a major figure (on the declining right) until he kicks the bucket. He has powerful lawyers and I really don't think it's in Democratic interests to pursue him or indeed let their friends do it.

A coop is an all or nothing strategy which is unlikely to succeed long term....he'd be seen as illegitimate and countries would break off relations....at least for a couple of years....that's a powerful disincentive even for elite republicans. They would have to believe he'd succeed and I don't think most of them want a Franco figure and a major risk of jail....I think the base are strong for Trump but the republican elites are far weaker and he'd need them both to pull it off.

Then again, if he thinks he's going to jail....

It's hard to be certain with Trump....because he loves the importance...and if you wanted..to go down in history you'd go for it. On the other hand I just don't think he has that Castro/Hitler 'all or nothing' aspect to him.

A quirky thought I know, but those two had made far less enemies on their own sides.

If he tried it he'd paint it as 'saving America from socialism' and justify it on the mail in ballots and so on.

I wonder if you can get odds at the bookies.

It would be a major event in all our lives....spicier than a spice burger with extra lashings of spice.

70/30 against.

Edited by Stirlingsays (17 Dec 2020 3.36am)

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Oh and on the subject of mar-a-largo...

According to The Washington Post, some of Trump’s Palm Beach neighbors have written a formal letter, delivered to both town officials and the Secret Service on Tuesday, stating in no uncertain terms that the president had better find housing elsewhere. Noting an agreement Trump signed in 1993, the letter reminds all those copied that he lost the legal right to live at the club full-time and that in order to “avoid an embarrassing situation” wherein the soon-to-be-former president moves in and then is forced to leave, the town should notify Trump ASAP that he cannot live there.

The current residency controversy tracks back to a deal Trump cut in 1993 when his finances were foundering, and the cost of maintaining Mar-a-Lago was soaring into the multimillions each year. Under the agreement, club members are banned from spending more than 21 days a year in the club’s guest suites and cannot stay there for any longer than seven consecutive days. Before the arrangement was sealed, an attorney for Trump assured the town council in a public meeting that he would not live at Mar-a-Lago.
At the time, the town’s leaders were wary of Trump because he had sued them after they blocked his attempt to subdivide the historic Mar-a-Lago property into multiple housing lots. Placing the limitations on lengths of stays assured that Trump’s property would remain a private club, as he had promised, rather than a residential hotel.

Should be fun.

Two really good posts

Although the fact that we’re even discussing the potential for a coup as being remotely acceptable, or indeed justified is bonkers

There was nothing remotely socialist about Blair. His economic program was basically Thatcher, with less checks and balances.
His foreign policy was war and his socialist credentials were spend, spend, spend. At least the local libraries were open.