Chit-Chat: The Feels

[Affogato]

43 minutes ago, lookeyloo said:

Question - is tRump being given filtered information?  Does he know the chaos/carnage he is causing?  If he is all about ratings, then why does he think this is good?  Another thought - he will eventually retract everything in hopes it gets better fast and then he can consider himself a hero?  What?  I just don't get it.

Well yes, he always gets filtered information. Politicians doo because they are surrounded by people who want their good and are invested in their success.
 

Also he doesn’t actually seek out information. He doesn’t read.  he has been saying it will get bad, so it is happening. He doesn’t care about anyone else. 

[Dimity]

In the sexual predator thread an article was linked about Russel Brand being charged with rape in the UK.  In an unsurprising twist turns out he is a big fan of Donald Trump.   It will be interesting to see if the US complies with its responsibility and extradites Brand.  Why would I doubt it will happen?

Edited Friday at 02:44 PM by Dimity

[Cementhead]

Quote

Question - is tRump being given filtered information?  Does he know the chaos/carnage he is causing?  If he is all about ratings, then why does he think this is good?  Another thought - he will eventually retract everything in hopes it gets better fast and then he can consider himself a hero?  What?  I just don't get it.

Well, this is what he was doing last night.  Hanging out on a golf course that he owns making money off of a Saudi- owned LIV Golf Tournament.

Trump says things are 'going very well' after worst stock market drop in years over tariffs.

“The markets are going to boom, the stock is going to boom, the country is going to boom,” he said when asked about the market as he left the White House to fly to one of his Florida golf clubs.

 

[laurakaye]

1 hour ago, lookeyloo said:

Question - is tRump being given filtered information?  Does he know the chaos/carnage he is causing?  If he is all about ratings, then why does he think this is good?  Another thought - he will eventually retract everything in hopes it gets better fast and then he can consider himself a hero?  What?  I just don't get it.

This is good thought, and I was just thinking something kind of opposite - does he actually understand the chaos he's causing and just keeps one-upping himself, throwing another plot-twist at us to see if his sycophants will continue to bend the knee and say, "Yes, Sir!  Great idea, Sir!  Keep 'em coming!"  Like, is even HE surprised at what he's been able to get away with so he keep playing and this is all just something fun to occupy him in between rounds of golf?  

I feel like the people of the US are tiny mice, and he is a giant orange cat who bats us around with his slimy paw when he's bored, then he takes a nap, wakes up with another hairball, and coughs it up in the form of some new insane concept of a plan.  It's all too much to be real and yet, here we are.

Edited Friday at 02:51 PM by laurakaye

[Cementhead]

6 minutes ago, Dimity said:

In the sexual predator thread an article was linked about Russel Brand being charged with rape in the UK.  In an unsurprising twist turns out he is a big fan of Donald Trump.   It will be interesting to see if the US complies with its responsibility and extradites Brand.  Why would I doubt it will happen?

Word on the street is that Brand quickly became a Trump loving Christian once he caught wind that the proverbial shit was going to hit the fan for him.  Ducking for cover with that crowd because ... reasons. 

[Harvey]

Quote

According to Google Search Data, people in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, India, Australia, and New Zealand are searching for "Boycott USA."
People are searching for specific queries such as "us products to boycott," "list of American products to boycott," "American brands to boycott," and "how to boycott American products."
---Another person posted on X: "I will NEVER visit the USA again. Wherever possible, I'm boycotting American goods and companies."
A recent report from the research firm Tourism Economics said that travel to the U.S. is projected to decline by 5.5 percent in 2025.

https://www.newsweek.com/trump-tariff-social-media-boycott-usa-goods-2054948

Buy stuff NOW because the USD is about to lose a lot of value FAST

Edited Friday at 03:00 PM by Harvey

[Ohiopirate02]

26 minutes ago, Affogato said:

Well yes, he always gets filtered information. Politicians doo because they are surrounded by people who want their good and are invested in their success.
 

Also he doesn’t actually seek out information. He doesn’t read.  he has been saying it will get bad, so it is happening. He doesn’t care about anyone else. 

I've heard rumors that he cannot read. I don't totally buy that. I think he can read at a lower than average grade level somewhere between 3rd-5th grade, and he desperately needs glasses. To me that explains the black Sharpies. I would love to see his view when he's looking at the teleprompter.

[Kemper]

Thanks to those who commented on "Cats on a Couch".... mainly because now I know all the lyrics. I love it when the song is playing in the background and the video shows cats (real ones) posing and flexing (thanks to their owners) while images of couches float up and around. I have "reels" on my Facebook page - that is where I first saw it. Just a bit of it - but I was hooked. I try to watch it when the news all around me gives me a case of the sads. 

[Affogato]

42 minutes ago, Cementhead said:

Well, this is what he was doing last night.  Hanging out on a golf course that he owns making money off of a Saudi- owned LIV Golf Tournament.

Trump says things are 'going very well' after worst stock market drop in years over tariffs.

“The markets are going to boom, the stock is going to boom, the country is going to boom,” he said when asked about the market as he left the White House to fly to one of his Florida golf clubs.

 

Country go BOOM!

23 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I've heard rumors that he cannot read. I don't totally buy that. I think he can read at a lower than average grade level somewhere between 3rd-5th grade, and he desperately needs glasses. To me that explains the black Sharpies. I would love to see his view when he's looking at the teleprompter.

Yes I think he reads. He spends all night on social media. I meant he chooses not to read a great deal of information. 

[laurakaye]

19 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I've heard rumors that he cannot read. I don't totally buy that. I think he can read at a lower than average grade level somewhere between 3rd-5th grade, and he desperately needs glasses. To me that explains the black Sharpies. I would love to see his view when he's looking at the teleprompter.

I guess that would explain why he mumbles one or two semi-coherant sentences and then goes off on a free-style word salad mumblefest every time he gets in front of cameras.

[bluegirl147]

3 minutes ago, Ohiopirate02 said:

I think he can read at a lower than average grade level somewhere between 3rd-5th grade,

 Well he never emotionally matured out of childhood so that makes sense.  Could you imagine going to some of the best schools and not be able to read beyond children's books? I also believe his reading comprehension is shit.

51 minutes ago, Dimity said:

In the sexual predator thread an article was linked about Russel Brand being charged with rape in the UK.  In an unsurprising twist turns out he is a big fan of Donald Trump.   It will be interesting to see if the US complies with its responsibility and extradites Brand.  Why would I doubt it will happen?

 

44 minutes ago, Cementhead said:

Word on the street is that Brand quickly became a Trump loving Christian once he caught wind that the proverbial shit was going to hit the fan for him.  Ducking for cover with that crowd because ... reasons. 

Me and a friend were talking about Russell Brand yesterday. We were talking about Katy Perry and this

https://www.jezebel.com/with-upcoming-space-mission-katy-perry-says-she-wants-to-put-the-ass-in-astronaut

And I said I was never really a Katy Perry fan and don't forget she used to be married to Russell Brand.

1 minute ago, laurakaye said:

I guess that would explain why he mumbles one or two semi-coherant sentences and then goes off on a free-style word salad mumblefest every time he gets in front of cameras.

Weaving. He called it weaving. I think he even used hand gestures to explain weaving in case people didn't know what it was. Till the day I die I will never understand how this stupid stupid man became president. Twice. And let's be clear he is stupid. He doesn't just do stupid things. He truly is a moron. He looked into the sun during a solar eclipse after being warned not to. I bet he touched hot stove burners when he was a kid.

[PRgal]

3 minutes ago, bluegirl147 said:

 Well he never emotionally matured out of childhood so that makes sense.  Could you imagine going to some of the best schools and not be able to read beyond children's books? I also believe his reading comprehension is shit.

 

 

I think between possible undiagnosed neurodivergent conditions and the lack of love from parents growing up caused him to be the way he is.  You can't turn back time to make things "better."  All that rage goes back decades.  It boiled up and it's finally letting lose.  Therapy would have done him some good.  

[chitowngirl]

From The Bulwark-The American Age is Over 

[LexieLily]

[bluegirl147]

10 minutes ago, chitowngirl said:

From The Bulwark-The American Age is Over 

This line from the article is so true.

Europeans are moving ahead with their own security plans because they realize, as a French minister put it, “We cannot leave the security of Europe in the hands of voters in Wisconsin every four years.”

Nothing against people in Wisconsin but the Electoral College definitely contributed to our fall.  In the last 25 years only two Republicans won the popular vote. That is not a democracy. Add to that gerrymandering and voter suppression our elections haven't been fair in decades. 

[supposebly]

16 minutes ago, chitowngirl said:

From The Bulwark-The American Age is Over 

I don't think I've ever seen a more succinct summary of the reasons why Trump was elected president. From the article:

Quote

 

they wanted what he promised;

they didn’t believe what he promised; or

they didn’t understand what he promised.

 

I would add: they didn't care enough.

[peacheslatour]

13 minutes ago, supposebly said:

I don't think I've ever seen a more succinct summary of the reasons why Trump was elected president. From the article:

I would add: they didn't care enough.

But they owned the libs! Owned them!

[Absolom]

And as a result now they've "Owned" themselves.  I hope they're happy.  🙄

They'll be feeding the leopards for quite some time to come.

[bluegirl147]

3 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

But they owned the libs! Owned them!

A lot of them will go to their grave believing that. For every Trump supporter who finally sees the light there are five that never will.  I think MAGA dies out once Trump dies but they will just find another con artist to tell them lies they are desperate to believe.

[Affogato]

58 minutes ago, PRgal said:

I think between possible undiagnosed neurodivergent conditions and the lack of love from parents growing up caused him to be the way he is.  You can't turn back time to make things "better."  All that rage goes back decades.  It boiled up and it's finally letting lose.  Therapy would have done him some good.  

Therapy only works if you admit there is a problem and ask for help. Narcissists by definition don’t seek therapy very often, excrpt naybe to establish a dialogue of them being the victim. Most if the books I’ve read say that for whatever reasons the personality is established under three years old. He may be an angry dyslexic, but he probably wasn’t receptive to talk therapy. 

[fastiller]

2 hours ago, Dimity said:

In the sexual predator thread an article was linked about Russel Brand being charged with rape in the UK.  In an unsurprising twist turns out he is a big fan of Donald Trump.   It will be interesting to see if the US complies with its responsibility and extradites Brand.  Why would I doubt it will happen?

There's a sexual predator thread?

[PRgal]

5 minutes ago, Affogato said:

Therapy only works if you admit there is a problem and ask for help. Narcissists by definition don’t seek therapy very often, excrpt naybe to establish a dialogue of them being the victim. Most if the books I’ve read say that for whatever reasons the personality is established under three years old. He may be an angry dyslexic, but he probably wasn’t receptive to talk therapy. 

Males are less likely to seek therapy than women according to a mental health professional I spoke with.

[peacheslatour]

 

7 minutes ago, Affogato said:

Therapy only works if you admit there is a problem and ask for help. Narcissists by definition don’t seek therapy very often, excrpt naybe to establish a dialogue of them being the victim. Most if the books I’ve read say that for whatever reasons the personality is established under three years old. He may be an angry dyslexic, but he probably wasn’t receptive to talk therapy. 

Trump on how he has always been a genius-

"When I look at myself in the first grade and I look at myself now, I’m basically the same. The temperament is not that different."

[bluegirl147]

6 minutes ago, Affogato said:

He may be an angry dyslexic,

I would buy him being dyslexic.  And since it wasn't diagnosed back then coupled with his intense belief that he is perfect he would never admit he had it.  

4 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

 

Trump on how he has always been a genius-

"When I look at myself in the first grade and I look at myself now, I’m basically the same. The temperament is not that different."

He thinks that is a good thing.

[Cementhead]

9 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Trump on how he has always been a genius-

"When I look at myself in the first grade and I look at myself now, I’m basically the same. The temperament is not that different."

Well, he was able to spot the the giraffe AND the lion in that cognitive test Dr. Ronny gave him so yeah, that tracks. 

[Affogato]

14 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

 

Trump on how he has always been a genius-

"When I look at myself in the first grade and I look at myself now, I’m basically the same. The temperament is not that different."

Yup malignant narcissist. 

[ebk57]

30 minutes ago, fastiller said:

There's a sexual predator thread?

Just about celebrities, not politicians.  But still... 

[PRgal]

1 minute ago, Dimity said:

In another "as long as I live" moment - I will never understand how anyone in the military can support Donald Trump.

A veteran (not sure if she's still active...I found her post on my feed this morning) wrote an entire post about this on her Substack.

[Dimity]

5 minutes ago, PRgal said:

A veteran (not sure if she's still active...I found her post on my feed this morning) wrote an entire post about this on her Substack.

Thank you for sharing that.

From her post:

Quote

On Thursday, when the bodies of the soldiers were being transported to the airport in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, thousands of people there lined the streets to pay their respects.

Among them was Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who, apparently, has more respect for our troops than our own commander-in-chief.

 

[chitowngirl]

2 hours ago, fastiller said:

There's a sexual predator thread?

Here’s the direct link

[Lantern7]

Scumbag. Senile scumbag. Super senile scumbag.

It's like his source of life is the hatred everyone has towards him. He might outlive all of us AND the cockroaches.

[ECM1231]

2 hours ago, PRgal said:

A veteran (not sure if she's still active...I found her post on my feed this morning) wrote an entire post about this on her Substack.

Her sobering account made me cry. Thank you for posting this, @PRgal.

Shame, shame, shame on President Trump for not attending this and paying respect to our fallen soldiers. A golf tournament at his own club? Paid millions by the Saudis? Meanwhile, most of America is losing its shirt, its jobs. 

[Affogato]

27 minutes ago, ECM1231 said:

Her sobering account made me cry. Thank you for posting this, @PRgal.

Shame, shame, shame on President Trump for not attending this and paying respect to our fallen soldiers. A golf tournament at his own club? Paid millions by the Saudis? Meanwhile, most of America is losing its shirt, its jobs. 

To skip it because he is getting paid? 

[Kemper]

I wish there had been a way for Clinton, Obama, Biden and Bush to have attended the transfer. 

Also...what caused the deaths of these soldiers?   I have not seen much, of any, coverage on this tragedy.

Edited Friday at 08:48 PM by Kemper

[Harvey]

Did you guys see the HISTORICAL drop on the stock market? The USD is about to lose a lot of it's value while prices go up because of the tariffs.

Quote

 

The S&P 500 lost 6% after China matched President Donald Trump’s big raise in tariffs announced earlier this week. The move increased the stakes in a trade war that could end with a recession that hurts everyone. Not even a better-than-expected report on the U.S. job market, which is usually the economic highlight of each month, was enough to stop the slide.

The drop closed the worst week for the S&P 500 since March 2020, when the pandemic crashed the economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 2,231 points, or 5.5% Friday, and the Nasdaq composite tumbled 5.8% to pull more than 20% below its record set in December.

https://apnews.com/article/market-rates-trump-tariffs-d86db525c370e9da834e6dfb76e23b86?taid=67f03c513e9bc50001a7e530&utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&utm_medium=AP&utm_source=Twitter

 

 

[isalicat]

21 hours ago, Dimity said:

Please tell me the attached is untrue.  I am very much afraid it is not an exaggeration though.  But would be reassured to learn someone has decided to make a bad situation sound 10 times worse than it is.

Beyond this one guy's post, I would want a real proven source for this assertion - otherwise I think it is really heinous to spread this kind of "information" on line.

[Dimity]

4 minutes ago, Harvey said:

Did you guys see the HISTORICAL drop on the stock market? The USD is about to lose a lot of it's value while prices go up because of the tariffs.

But her laugh...

[peacheslatour]

19 minutes ago, Dimity said:

But her laugh...

I've been reading that this is because Powell refused to lower interest rates. "Do my bidding or I will destroy the world." Just another tantrum from the toddler in chief.

[ProudMary]

I wanted to post about this yesterday, but life got in the way.

With the vacuum that DJT has created in international relations, you just knew thst one of the major powers was going to step up to fill it.

China had already been working in Africa on providing roads. Now they've stepped into the shoes of the decimated USAID. The Musk chainsawed layoffs happened so quickly thst the US didn't even get to properly close offices. China quite literally walked into USAID offices in many African nations, changed the signs to China Aid, marked stockpiled provisions with the China Aid label and followed the US playbook. Decades of good will,  established through providing ground level assistance, gone in a flash. There's no coming back from this. 

The right wing always complains about ANY foreign aid given to developing nations, but if you look at any federal budgets over the years, regardless of party in power, the amount is usually miniscule. It's always been a bargain in terms of return on the investment. I'm so sad about this on a human level and concerned about the shift in international power on the political chess board. 

And then there's Myanmar, where China has also taken the reins.

Via the Anna Bower account on BlueSky, see the screenshot below. This is the actual link.

https://bsky.app/profile/annabower.bsky.social/post/3llwqmiyjfk2m

 

And as for desperately needed aid after the earthquake in Myanmar, it's China who's shown up.

Add this to the aggressive maneuvers China is making against Taiwan right now and it seems evident that China has decided that it's time for them to be at the forefront. It's the smart move with an incompetent US regime in place. 

With US absent, China steps in for earthquake-hit Myanmar

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/with-us-absent-china-steps-earthquake-hit-myanmar-2025-04-02/

America's chief geopolitical rival has so far pledged to deliver 100 million yuan ($13.76 million) worth of supplies. The first batch of aid, including tents, blankets and first aid kits, arrived in Yangon on Monday, Beijing has said.

China's foreign ministry said it acted immediately after Myanmar sent a request for help to the international community, and that it "plays an important role" in the relief effort.

China has sent more than 30 rescue teams with over 600 personnel, and the Chinese Red Cross has provided 1.5 million yuan ($205,563.93) in cash help, the ministry told Reuters.

"China will continue to stand firmly with the people of Myanmar, overcome difficulties and help them overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes as soon as possible," it said, adding that it will participate in disaster loss assessment and post-disaster reconstruction.

The United States, which was until recently the world's top humanitarian donor, has offered a relatively modest $2 million. Washington also said it would send a three-member assessment team, though their arrival has been delayed by problems obtaining visas from the military regime.

In past years, when tsunamis, earthquakes and other disasters struck around the world, the U.S. regularly and rapidly deployed skilled rescue workers to save lives.

[Anela]

Trump has been ordered to bring that man back from the prison in El Salvador, in the next three days. 

[DanaMB]

4 hours ago, Dimity said:

In another "as long as I live" moment - I will never understand how anyone in the military can support Donald Trump.

 

If this had been Biden we'd be hearing about it nonstop for weeks.  

I truly hate this timeline we're in.

[ProudMary]

If you or those you care about are planning to attend any of the nationwide 50501/Hands Off 2025 protests tomorrow, please take a moment to read this piece regarding phone security.

How to secure your phone before attending a protest. Protect your digital security.

https://www.theverge.com/21276979/phone-protest-demonstration-activism-digital-how-to-security-privacy

[lookeyloo]

31 minutes ago, ProudMary said:

If you or those you care about are planning to attend any of the nationwide 50501/Hands Off 2025 protests tomorrow, please take a moment to read this piece regarding phone security.

How to secure your phone before attending a protest. Protect your digital security.

https://www.theverge.com/21276979/phone-protest-demonstration-activism-digital-how-to-security-privacy

thanks, we are going to one.  Will follow this advice.

[Annber03]

2 hours ago, ECM1231 said:

Her sobering account made me cry. Thank you for posting this, @PRgal.

Shame, shame, shame on President Trump for not attending this and paying respect to our fallen soldiers. A golf tournament at his own club? Paid millions by the Saudis? Meanwhile, most of America is losing its shirt, its jobs. 

No, you don't understand, we just need to quit wallowing in misery all the time, remember? 

[Affogato]

1 hour ago, ProudMary said:

I wanted to post about this yesterday, but life got in the way.

With the vacuum that DJT has created in international relations, you just knew thst one of the major powers was going to step up to fill it.

China had already been working in Africa on providing roads. Now they've stepped into the shoes of the decimated USAID. The Musk chainsawed layoffs happened so quickly thst the US didn't even get to properly close offices. China quite literally walked into USAID offices in many African nations, changed the signs to China Aid, marked stockpiled provisions with the China Aid label and followed the US playbook. Decades of good will,  established through providing ground level assistance, gone in a flash. There's no coming back from this. 

The right wing always complains about ANY foreign aid given to developing nations, but if you look at any federal budgets over the years, regardless of party in power, the amount is usually miniscule. It's always been a bargain in terms of return on the investment. I'm so sad about this on a human level and concerned about the shift in international power on the political chess board. 

And then there's Myanmar, where China has also taken the reins.

Via the Anna Bower account on BlueSky, see the screenshot below. This is the actual link.

https://bsky.app/profile/annabower.bsky.social/post/3llwqmiyjfk2m

 

And as for desperately needed aid after the earthquake in Myanmar, it's China who's shown up.

Add this to the aggressive maneuvers China is making against Taiwan right now and it seems evident that China has decided that it's time for them to be at the forefront. It's the smart move with an incompetent US regime in place. 

With US absent, China steps in for earthquake-hit Myanmar

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/with-us-absent-china-steps-earthquake-hit-myanmar-2025-04-02/

 

 

Everyone knew this would happen. Make America Insignificant. 

[Absolom]

When you put a cry baby toddler in charge and add an egocentric loon as his sidekick, this is the kind of mind boggling nonsense you get.  Who couldn't see this from outer space before it happened?  

It's worse than I expected in some ways and not quite as bad in a couple others, but I knew Trump should not be responsible for more than a TV show from the first time I saw him live.

Edited Friday at 11:16 PM by Absolom

[Anela]

They are confirming that they haven’t brought that man back from El Salvador, because they don’t want to.  They’re ignoring a judge’s orders again.  
 

Edited Friday at 11:38 PM by Anela

[Makai]

2 hours ago, isalicat said:

Beyond this one guy's post, I would want a real proven source for this assertion - otherwise I think it is really heinous to spread this kind of "information" on line.

‘Inhumane conditions’ and death at Miami’s Krome migrant detention center

Miami's ICE facility under spotlight for overcrowding, poor conditions claims

Immigrant women describe 'hell on earth' in ICE detention

‘They are being treated like dogs': Families concerned over living conditions at Krome Detention Center

Immigration attorneys detail 'inhumane' conditions at ICE's Krome Detention Center

Viral video raises concerns over conditions at Krome Detention Center in Miami-Dade

Miami's ICE Detention Center Holding Twice Its Capacity Amid Crackdown, Detainees Subjected to Inhumane Conditions: Report

[Dimity]

19 minutes ago, Anela said:

They are confirming that they haven’t brought that man back from El Salvador, because they don’t want to.  They’re ignoring a judge’s orders again.  
 

Not unexpected but they aren't even pretending to care.  This is beyond disgusting at this point.  That "we suggest" my god the sarcastic don't give a damn, totally lacking in professionalism attitude.  And  yet all the little Trumpers out there will applaud this.

[tearknee]

I am thinking of America as it was, as it should be and as it can be again. I would prefer not to think of it as it is. I am also thinking of the many millions of Americans who refuse to accept the rule of such people, and who are in it for the long haul to make America in every sense great again.  

Spoiler

 

Edited Yest. at 12:00 AM by tearknee