Are you SCARED of Trump?

[WarGamer]

I'm not.

He was defeated in 2020 because the vast majority of Americans saw with their own eyes that he lied, he engaged in all sorts of criminal/unethical behavior and his gross incompetency cost the United States a lot of money, human capital and international prestige.

Lately I see a lot of talk about "Lets make it so Trump can't run" and "14th Amendment can make a run impossible" and "how do we stop him" and "can't run from a prison cell..."

Stop being AFRAID of Trump.

For one thing, it sends the WRONG message to the public... so desperate to avoid him that they'll do ANYTHING to keep him off the ballot!

Bad optics.



I welcome Trump at the top of the ballot in 2024.

It pretty much guarantees a big DEM victory. I'm MUCH more concerned with a Trumpish GOP'er who is a better liar and has a triple digit IQ like DeSantis, Noem, Hawley or Cruz.

Trump is a joke... don't be afraid of him.

[RKP5637]

1. FUCK TRUMP!!! Damn GOP is full of cowards and those interested only in kissing his ass to appease

his base, looking for votes/cash for themselves.

[Walleye]

2. I'm not afraid he will win I'm afraid he will lose again and stir up even more shit.

[scarytomcat]

26. If he runs he will lose again

he is losing support not gaining ...Trump/Putin 2024

[Walleye]

28. The GOP would be insane to nominate a guy who lost already. But of course they are insane

[dwayneb]

54. They figure they will "win" either way

They are not stupid, they surely understand that on his best day Trump was a marginal candidate who barely won the EC in 2016 and actually lost the EC (but not by much) in 2020. After January 6th, they surely lost some % of the Trump base when they can't afford to lose a single vote.

This is why after the election of 2022 when the House and maybe the Senate go under Republican control that they will really begin in earnest to set the stage for a legislative coup in 2024.

That way, when Trump loses in reality, they can simply claim "election fraud". This simple minded strategy is how democracies have been brought down all over the world. Destroy faith in the election system, then install a despot/dictator/autocrat under the pretense that the election results are fraudulent. Then of course he has to protect us from the "anti American radicals" that will take to the streets in protest. We've seen this movie before.

[Walleye]

56. I guess this is why they haven't made any effort to get any new voters on board in the GOP

[scarytomcat]

60. in fact they are letting them die

[Walleye]

61. That is weird. Talk about a lack of respect for the voters. Fuck it die then

[Grasswire2]

3. I was married to a pathological narcissist for 23 years.

Of course I am scared of Trump. And have been triggered too often by his red-faced rage. I know what comes after the snarl and the screaming.

[doc03]

4. If the Republican accomplish what they want our votes

won't matter.

[Solomon]

41. Didn't we hear this same shit from Susan Sarandon? No thanks. Been there done that.

Fuck him. If it was up to me he would have been deported. (after a jury trial of course)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. That's a pretty bold statement to make, my dear WarGamer.

I'm not afraid of him either.

I AM afraid that his followers may commit horrific damage to our republic when he loses.

Their numbers are growing, I think. And they're armed. Some are former military. These folks know about command and control.

I do think that the US military would beat these insurrectionists, but the price would be high in terms of destruction of property and in terms of loss of life.

That situation is what I fear most.

[WarGamer]

6. I agree CP... but

I think another Trump loss would deflate the far right and push the moderate GOP back in charge.

It would be a crushing defeat for them and I'm not sure they'd recover.

[Boomerproud]

7. Exactly.

Too many people aren't paying attention.

[MadameButterfly]

38. The situation I fear most

is Trump gets re-elected and replaces the generals with people who will do his bidding.

As it is, the military is heavily Republicans and Republicans believe in the Big Lie. So I wouldn't count too much on them. Right now we have a few highly educated generals between us and the miilitary going rogue.

[smirkymonkey]

57. +1000

Exactly, Peggy.

It's not so much him I am afraid of. It's the influence he has over his lunatic base of supporters who would literally kill for him. It's his Cult of Personality.

They are great enough in number to do some serious damage to this country, and many of them are members of the military and LE. He is their highest power. Not God, not Jesus, not the Constitution, not the rule of law. Only him. And they will commit atrocities in his name if he wants them to.

[ForgedCrank]

8. "Are you SCARED of Trump?"

No, but boy am I sick and tired of hearing his name.

[Mr.Bill]

9. I worry that if he is on the ballot

there will be shooting happening at polling places. If I was the governor, I would post National Guard at those locations.

[walkingman]

10. No one is scared of Trump except those that think they have to kiss his ring.

[spanone]

11. No one's scared of the coward, but I'm concerned about all the laws degrading our democracy

That's what I fear.

All the damage that has already been done.

[WarGamer]

16. True, but that's a different topic.

[Irish_Dem]

12. We should all fear an insane, delusional, power hungry dictator.

Who is aided and abetted by the GOP and millions of Americans.
Funded by Russia and wealthy oligarchs.

[Hoyt]

13. Doubt trump will enter primaries. But you are right about other white wingers.

We’ll have to beat them at polls.

[WarGamer]

14. I go back and forth re: Trump running

Right now I don't think he will.

He'll milk it to the end teasing a run but he'll take a pass and just spend all his time and attention on his Social Media site.

He'll endorse whoever kisses his ring with the most "vigor"...

[Hoyt]

18. He'll definitely be involved as you say. But bet most GOPers hope he sits out.

[MadameButterfly]

37. It depends on whether he is still vulnerable to prosecution

If he is, then he'll run because he won't be indicted as president and he can pardon anyone who can incriminate him. This has never been about him wanting to do the job of being president. It's about paying off his debts and keeping himself out of prison. Then there's his out of control ego which will keep him from making a choice even in his own interest. We keep thinking logically and expect that to predict what he'll do.
Also, by 2024 his already under investigation social media site will likely be history.

[bluestarone]

47. I feel in in this for as much money as he can get!

Right up until the end! Then drop out, take his money, and start some NEW adventure. (depending on his new website BULLSHIT does)

[Captain Zero]

27. If he runs in Indiana, I'll vote GOP in the primary

Just to vote against him. I'm hoping somebody like current Indiana governor, Eric Holcomb, runs against him as a favorite son. If he runs in primaries it would be great if a favorite son GOP in every state ran against him pointing out all his flaws.

[Mad_Machine76]

15. I'm not scared of Trump per se

I'm just scared of what might happen if he manages to get elected again and that enough Americans might be willing to put him back in office again- or that Republicans will beg, steal, or borrow just enough to ensure that he ekes out another EC win. There are some signs that some in the GOP are getting tired of Trump and want him to go away, just not sure that there are enough of them to prevent him from being renominated in 2024. I'm just hoping that there is, if nothing else, so much damning information about Trump, particularly in regards to 1/6, that nobody but a handful of Republicans want him to run again. Of course, if he doesn't run, there are more "polished" Trump-aligned Republican authoritarians like Ron DeSantis waiting in the wings to run, however, hopefully, things are good enough in 2024 that Biden is practically a lock for re-election.

[WarGamer]

17. well said, thanks!

But the only way to send Trump into permanent political retirement is with another big L

Come up with some gimmick to keep him off the ballot and we'll hear for another 30 years how "The Dems were so scared of Trump... etc blah blah..."

[Mad_Machine76]

23. Yeah

I don't know if there are any realistic options for keeping him off the ballot. Hopefully, people care about keeping him off of the ballot for lots of other legitimate reasons

[MadameButterfly]

35. Why would things be good in 2024

if Republicans win back the house and block anything Biden tries to do and generally make it their cause to wreak havoc to make him look bad?

[Mad_Machine76]

39. Obama won re-election in 2012 despite Republican obstructionism and anarchy.

[MadameButterfly]

64. Unfortunately

Biden is no Obama, and there are new laws now designed to ignore the real vote

[Mad_Machine76]

65. Than I guess nothing we do really matters then?

[MadameButterfly]

36. Why would things be good in 2024

if Republicans win back the house and block anything Biden tries to do and generally make it their cause to wreak havoc to make him look bad?

[MadameButterfly]

40. GOP Congressman and party leaders have never liked Trump

but they lost their chance when they caved in to him at the start of his presidency. They keep waiting for him to weaken or go away, but it keeps getting worse. The ones who have stood up to him are gone, and his followers are getting elected. Now, even if Trump were to go away, the authoritarian laws have been written, the unthinkable has been thought.

So, yes, I'm scared. Of Trump and everything he has wrought, whether he runs or not. If we aren't all scared, we have our heads in the sand.

[DFW]

19. I am not scared of Trump.

I am only scared of people who take Trump seriously. I am unnerved that such people even exist, and can vote.

[Midnight Writer]

34. Exactly. I am afraid of Trump voters.

[Crunchy Frog]

20. Yes, I am. nt

[Martin Eden]

22. I doubt TFG knows of my existence or where I live

And I can probably kick his fat ass if it came down to fisticuffs, so there is no question of being SCARED of him.

On the other hand I am extremely concerned for the survival of our democracy given the number of voters (many armed & violent) who embrace him and everything he stands for, and the power of red state governments to suppress the vote and change results.

[woodsprite]

24. Not him, but all the assholes propping him up and hiding behind him. nt

[samnsara]

25. im not scared of that blubbery bit of ocean phlegm..

..its the crazies that worship a blubbery bit of ocean phlegm that somewhat scares me..well, concerns me.

[bluecollar2]

29. Cruz and DeSantis have triple digit I.Q.s?

As a resident of both Texas for 30 years and Florida for the last three years I'd beg to differ...

[electric_blue68]

30. I was scared of him when he was pResident ...

I'd be scared if he ran again.

I'm scared of his followers, racist militias, and other violent RW groups.
Scared of those Repuglicans who'd refuse to send the correct electors if their State votes Blue.

[bluecollar2]

31. Cruz and DeSantis have triple digit I.Q.s?

As a resident of both Texas for 30 years and Florida for the last three years I'd beg to differ...

[WarGamer]

32. 100 is average...

Cruz went to Princeton and Harvard... I think it'd be hard to graduate those schools with a sub 100 IQ.

DeSantis graduated magna cum laude from Yale... also doubtful that he's sub 100 in IQ


Now Trump... I'd bet money he's sub 100.

[Paladin]

33. You're exhibiting precisely why trump rose to power.

Underestimating trump---from the 2016 election, to the January 6 coup attempt, to this very day---is why he still has power.

"Trump is a joke...don't be afraid of him." Congratulations, you've just revealed the for-real motto of the Democratic Party. We underestimated trump every time there was a chance, we didn't bother with any effective counterpunches against him, and now our democracy teeters on the brink of ruin---the fascists aren't even hiding their identities or intentions. So glad you feel that happy times are here again.

[Doodley]

46. Well said. I will remember your name Paladin as a voice who spoke the truth.

[dwayneb]

55. Dead on my friend

NEVER underestimate your enemy or the power of populist propaganda. While the Democrats took their eyes off the prize and pretended it was business as usual, the fascists continued to spread their tentacles into the fabric of our democracy. And to make matters worse about half of Americans are too busy with their noses in their electronic toys to even go out and vote, their single most sacred duty as a citizen.

[sarisataka]

42. I remember when Trump won the nomination

And our celebration- there was no way we could given his incompetence, history of shady dealings and that he was cle6 a pathological liar.

He was a joke and Hillary was going to win in one of the greatest landslides ever.

[Vinca]

43. I'm afraid of what Trump has inspired and continues to inspire. If states are able to install Trump

cultists in positions that are related to the election process, it won't matter whether we're "scared" of Trump or not . . . we'll be stuck with him.

[GoCubsGo]

44. Nope.

I'm afraid that there's as smarter, more competent version of him waiting in the wings somewhere. Trump is not going to be on the ballot in 2024. He's already losing supporters, and I'll be surprised if he if he's even alive then, or physically capable of running, if he still is alive. Just watch any of his interviews, which are always heavily-edited. He is frequently incoherent, and he look and sounds like shit. All the shit about Biden having dementia is massive projection to distract from the fact that it's Trump who has been showing obvious symptoms. Just watch any of his "action replays in mactified fortion."

Also, if Trump runs, he has to put all of his PAC money into his campaign, and not into his pockets. No way in hell is he going to give up that cash cow.

[Doodley]

45. FFS. We should be scared. He almost became dictator of America. Next time he might succeed.

[dwayneb]

51. Respect your enemy but don't fear him

Absolutely Trump could be installed as a despot, but quivering in our foxholes isn't going to accomplish a damned thing. Americans are made of sterner stuff than that. If and when this man or his successor usurps the will of the people by legislative coup or other means there will be hell to pay. Do these fools really think that we will go under the boot without a fight to the death?

[Doodley]

63. Civil war then? That's nothing to fear?

[dwayneb]

48. Understand your enemy's strengths and weaknesses

You are right no one should be afraid of Trump. While Trump may have been the right populist at the right time to motivate the ready made base that had been cooked up from the Limbaugh dittoheads and the Fox News whackjobs and the Qanoners, he is not a shrewd right-wing strategist.

We should not fear him but we should understand well that Trump is our enemy. And like in any war, never underestimate your enemy and never discount his capabilities. Trump's capability is to manipulate his cult to do his bidding, in that respect he is one of the most powerful propagandists in American history, next to the vile and pernicious Rush Limbaugh.

Like you say it's the next wave of neo-fascists that will follow in Trumps footsteps that we should be more worried about. Someone who will quietly take apart our system of justice from the inside and undermine our rule of law - and smile as he does it. At least Trump is very predictable. We know exactly how he will behave and what he will do in almost any situation.

[malaise]

49. Great post

Ridicule the fool

[albacore]

50. I'm scared of trump.

He leads a zombie army of cult followers.
They may not win a civil war, but they will fuck the country up badly....whether he wins or loses. Or even runs.

[tenderfoot]

52. I'll never forgive the universe for allowing him to ascend to where he did.

I'll never forgive the media for giving him undeserved attention, turning him into a celebrity and treating him like he was some financial wizard when he NEVER was.

I'll never forgive the people that support him and continue to do so.

Fuck all of you!

[Mr. Ected]

53. Everyone wants to say that the Republicans in Congress are afraid of Trump

And they probably are afraid of him, and even more likely, he & Putin have enough kompromat on significant players in the GOP that the party itself fears to offer any counterpoint to Trump.

But I also think that the GOP is inherently evil and Congress has accepted this situation and intends to exploit it. Using Trump as the focal point of Trumpism allows the vile members of Congress to work in the shadows laying down the groundwork for the usurpation of democracy, hiding in plain sight.

[Javaman]

59. Not in the least. I grew up in NYC

Anyone that had half a brain knew back then that he and his asshole father were slumlords trying to look rich. They were crooks then, he’s a fucking grifting crook now. You confront this piece off shit in person he crumbles.

If only the Dems in Congress knew this.

He’s a fucking coward and has always been. If only Hillary had told him to step the fuck back during the debates he would have run off with his tail between his legs.

He’s absolutely terrified of powerful women.

[Ellipsis]

62. ...about as much as a venereal disease. n/t

[myohmy2]

66. not personally...

...but for our country, yes...

...over the last five years he has shown that he knows few bounds, seldom plays by any rules, is willing to do whatever it takes to get his way, has the support of millions and the financial resources to make bad things happen...

...he's been continuously underestimated and to not treat him as the massage threat and danger he is to our country is to ignore reality...

...we do so at our own peril...