4 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

You can see that there is a 1:1 correlation

I disagree with this. You see a correlation. That does not mean it wll happen. People on the other side of the political spectrum see it much differently.

Also trump cannot simply declare martial law.

18 hours ago, Leopold Bloom said:

Well, whatever you can say about Trump, at least we know he is alive and capable of speaking without having a teleprompter every time he meets the press.

Unlike the walking corpse who occasionally occupied the Oval Office during the last four years.

Does no one think that Biden's mental condition was a scandal that was hidden by the corrupt aides around him? And the millions of "pardons" on his last day in office? You were happy with "democracy" as practised by that regime???

For the record, Biden issued 80 pardons, not 'millions'. Trump issued 144 during his first term, in comparison. In the first year of his second term,Trump has pardoned more people than Biden did in his 4 years, including nearly 1,600 violent rioters of January 6th.

7 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

on

When you look at the general steps taken towards dictatorship and then compare them to Trump, there are many similarities.

I asked AI what the steps were to achieve dictatorship historically in countries, I specifically made no reference to Trump or the US so as not to bias any answer...

General Steps Toward Dictatorship

Political scientists often outline a pattern of how elected leaders can erode democracy and move toward authoritarian rule. Common steps include:

1. Undermining Institutions

   • Weakening checks and balances (courts, legislature, independent agencies).

   • Attacking the credibility of watchdogs, media, and civil society.

2. Concentrating Power

   • Expanding executive authority beyond constitutional limits.

   • Using emergency powers or decrees to bypass normal processes.

3. Controlling Information

   • Discrediting independent media, spreading disinformation, and promoting loyal outlets.

   • Restricting dissenting voices.

4. Politicizing Security Forces

   • Using police, military, or intelligence agencies to intimidate opponents.

   • Rewarding loyalty over professionalism.

5. Suppressing Opposition

   • Harassing political rivals, limiting protests, and manipulating elections.

   • Criminalizing dissent or labeling opponents as enemies of the state.

6. Cultivating Personality Rule

   • Promoting a leader as the sole voice of the nation.

   • Undermining pluralism and portraying critics as traitors.

I then asked it to compare that to Trump's presidency...

🇺🇸 Comparisons to Trump

Scholars and watchdog groups have debated whether Trump’s actions fit into this authoritarian playbook. Key points often raised:

• Undermining Institutions: Trump repeatedly attacked the judiciary, the FBI, and the Department of Justice when rulings or investigations went against him.

• Concentrating Power: He claimed broad executive authority, often resisting oversight from Congress.

• Controlling Information: He labeled mainstream media “fake news” and “enemy of the people,” while promoting loyal outlets.

• Politicizing Security Forces: Critics argue he pressured law enforcement and the military to align with his political goals (e.g., Lafayette Square protest response in 2020).

• Suppressing Opposition: He encouraged investigations into political rivals and cast doubt on the legitimacy of elections.

• Personality Rule: His political movement is heavily centered on his personal brand, with loyalty to him often outweighing party norms.

You can see that there is a 1:1 correlation.

I believe Trump's aim to to achieve dictatorship and president for life. The obstacles in his way are the courts, congress, state governments, media, civil society and the one thing that would destroy his hopes entirely, free & fair midterms.

We have seen him go after state governments in blue states, civil society with ICE, remaining are courts, congress and the midterms.

What Trump will do is he will attack all 3. Some kind of martial law, suspending all 3 or an impelling event eg some major disaster, possibly a false flag operation. Putin did it with the bombing of an apartment building.

I've gone on record since April of last year saying this is coming, I was laughed at by my American friends. They are not laughing now.

There are specific events, inflexion points, that once they happen, it's a game changer and there is no way back. The odds of this happening in a short period are negligible, but the odds of it happening in a long-time approach certainty. If Trump achieves his aims, there will no longer be any free or fair elections. The longer he remains in power, the more certain I am he will achieve this.

Five years of Trump, and still no examples of Trump defying Congress or the Court. Just more idiotic chin-music from the left.

The only crisis happening around here is that the liberal left are having a Donald J Trump meltdown crisis.

3 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Bet?

I already have 2 going. First that there will be no midterms under Trump and secondly that he wil not be in power 1/1/27

4 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Five years of Trump, and still no examples of Trump defying Congress or the Court. Just more idiotic chin-music from the left.

You are being ridiculous now.

Examples of Trump Defying Congress

• Refusal to Comply with Subpoenas (2019–2020)

  • During the impeachment inquiry, Trump directed officials not to testify before Congress and withheld documents.

  • This blanket refusal to cooperate was unprecedented compared to prior presidents.

• Blocking Oversight of Executive Agencies

  • Trump instructed former aides (e.g., Don McGahn) not to comply with congressional subpoenas.

  • He claimed “absolute immunity” for senior advisers, a position rejected by courts.

• Stonewalling Investigations

  • Multiple House committees reported that Trump’s administration ignored requests for information on security clearances, financial records, and foreign policy decisions.

📌 Examples of Trump Defying the Courts

• Travel Ban (2017)

  • After federal courts initially blocked his travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries, Trump publicly attacked judges and vowed to continue enforcement until the Supreme Court eventually upheld a revised version.

• Defiance of Court Orders (2025)

  • Recent reporting highlights Trump’s refusal to comply with certain judicial orders, raising the possibility of contempt of court proceedings. Legal experts warn this represents a “dangerous moment for democracy.”

1 minute ago, newnative said:

For the record, Biden issued 80 pardons, not 'millions'. Trump issued 144 during his first term, in comparison. In the first year of his second term,Trump has pardoned more people than Biden did in his 4 years, including nearly 1,600 violent rioters of January 6th.

What record is that?

Biden, or at least the Biden auto-pen issued 4,244 pardons or clemencies in four years compared to Trump's 1,700 in five years, which included about 1,500 for J6.

12 minutes ago, blaze master said:

I disagree with this. You see a correlation. That does not mean it wll happen. People on the other side of the political spectrum see it much differently.

Also trump cannot simply declare martial law.

It wasn't me that saw the correlation, it was AI (I do see it too).

I agree he cannot "simply" declare martial law.

It will not be "simply" it will be "phenomenal", and I have no doubt you will also support it.

War, limited nuclear explosion, massive disaster, massive riots.

Would you support it?

14 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Just more idiotic chin-music from the left.

You do know I'm not from our former colonies and I'm actually right leaning?

2 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

You are being ridiculous now.

Examples of Trump Defying Congress

• Refusal to Comply with Subpoenas (2019–2020)

  • During the impeachment inquiry, Trump directed officials not to testify before Congress and withheld documents.

  • This blanket refusal to cooperate was unprecedented compared to prior presidents.

• Blocking Oversight of Executive Agencies

  • Trump instructed former aides (e.g., Don McGahn) not to comply with congressional subpoenas.

  • He claimed “absolute immunity” for senior advisers, a position rejected by courts.

• Stonewalling Investigations

  • Multiple House committees reported that Trump’s administration ignored requests for information on security clearances, financial records, and foreign policy decisions.

📌 Examples of Trump Defying the Courts

• Travel Ban (2017)

  • After federal courts initially blocked his travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries, Trump publicly attacked judges and vowed to continue enforcement until the Supreme Court eventually upheld a revised version.

• Defiance of Court Orders (2025)

  • Recent reporting highlights Trump’s refusal to comply with certain judicial orders, raising the possibility of contempt of court proceedings. Legal experts warn this represents a “dangerous moment for democracy.”

You are being more ridiculous.

Apparently, you do not understand what it means in the US to defy Congress of the Court.

Complaining about the outcome of legislation and or court cases, is not defiance, nor is verbally attacking the people involves. To defy Congress or the Court, you have to go against what Congress and or the Court orders.

Just now, JBChiangRai said:

You do know I'm not from our former colonies and I'm actually right leaning?

I could give a sh*t less where you are from or what your political leanings are. You seem to do nothing but cut-and-paste anyway.

Formulate an argument and bring it.

3 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

You are being more ridiculous.

Apparently, you do not understand what it means in the US to defy Congress of the Court.

Complaining about the outcome of legislation and or court cases, is not defiance, nor is verbally attacking the people involves. To defy Congress or the Court, you have to go against what Congress and or the Court orders.

Tell it to AI, you're spewing nonsense.

Just now, JBChiangRai said:

Tell it to AI, you're spewing nonsense.

Such a well thought out response, typical.

5 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

Tell it to AI, you're spewing nonsense.

2 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Such a well thought out response, typical.

Let's get specific.

You said "Five years of Trump, and still no examples of Trump defying Congress or the Court."

I asked AI if there were any examples of "Trump defying congress or court"

And AI gave a long list of both.

When it's demonstrated your posts are lies, you deflect.

You were wrong, you were proven to be wrong and yet you still take an indefensible position, why is that?

Are you struggling to see truth? or do you believe your intelligence and knowledge is superior to AI?

22 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

What record is that?

Biden, or at least the Biden auto-pen issued 4,244 pardons or clemencies in four years compared to Trump's 1,700 in five years, which included about 1,500 for J6.

Autopen eh?

Let's overturn all actions where the document was typed and not handwritten.

40 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

What record is that?

Biden, or at least the Biden auto-pen issued 4,244 pardons or clemencies in four years compared to Trump's 1,700 in five years, which included about 1,500 for J6.

So 21 January 2025 is already 5 years ago in your MAGA infused brain?

https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2025/12/03/trump-pardons/

A basic primer on Don's expert use of Marxist doctrine.

The most reactionary and far-right sectors of the capitalist class have teamed up to back a wannabe dictator who’s managed to assemble a mass movement of contradictory forces behind him — outright racists and misogynists along with millions of disaffected and confused members of the working class. It’s the classic formula for fascism.

But beyond the race hatred, the anti-immigrant hostility, the misogyny, and the homophobic/transphobic attacks, what else motivates significant blocs of voters to go over to the fascist side?

Georgi Dimitrov, one of the famed anti-fascist leaders of the 1930s, provided the beginnings of an answer:

“What is the source of the influence of fascism over the masses? Fascism is able to attract the masses because it demagogically appeals to their most urgent needs and demands. Fascism not only inflames prejudices that are deeply ingrained in the masses, but also plays upon the better sentiments of the masses, on their sense of justice and sometimes even on their revolutionary traditions. Fascism aims at the most unbridled exploitation of the masses but it approaches them with the most artful anti-capitalist demagogy, taking advantage of the deep hatred of the working people against the plundering bourgeoisie, the banks, the trusts, and financial magnates.”

Add to that the deep resentment that Trump supporters had toward law enforcement and the justice system, for going after their felonious master with such unbridled passion.

Nearly every 250 years an empire passes Into near obscurity. It truly feels like that is the moment for the US right now, it's been on the decline for at least three decades and nearly every policy that Trump enacts exacerbates the decline, and precipitates it quite dramatically.

Not only is he completely avoiding the level of transparency that he promised, but he's going in the opposite direction. It's becoming increasingly more of a Fascist type regime, with heavy dictatorial tendencies, the censoring of media and the oppression of higher education are just a couple of examples.

Anyone who's familiar with history knows that those are precursors to a very oppressive strongman type republic.

10 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

So 21 January 2025 is already 5 years ago in your MAGA infused brain?

https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2025/12/03/trump-pardons/

Too funny.

List of people pardoned or granted clemency by the president of the United States - Wikipedia

On 1/22/2026 at 8:11 AM, ASEAN NOW News said:

American democracy is on the verge of crisis, experts warn, as Donald Trump's second term hits its one-year mark. This dramatic shift has left historians and political scholars reeling with concern about whether the US can still claim its status as the world's oldest democracy.

The US is not a "Democracy," it's a Republic.

3 hours ago, connda said:

The US is not a "Democracy," it's a Republic.

It is both !! America is a democratic republic.

Throughout history america has functioned as both. Put another way, we have utilized characteristics of both. The people decide, but they do so through elected representatives working in pre-established, rule-bound and intentionally balky institutions such as Congress and the courts.

The government seated in Washington, D.C., represents a democratic republic, which governs a federated union of states, each of which in turn has its own democratic-republican government for its jurisdiction.

The relationship between the democratic and republican elements of this equation has been a dynamic and essential part of americain history.

The world's oldest democracy ? I don't think so.

8 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

What record is that?

Biden, or at least the Biden auto-pen issued 4,244 pardons or clemencies in four years compared to Trump's 1,700 in five years, which included about 1,500 for J6.

Yes, not the 'millions of pardons' the poster claimed.

34 minutes ago, newnative said:

Yes, not the 'millions of pardons' the poster claimed.

Or the 80 you claimed.

Biden pardoned or granted clemencies 4,244 times, more than 50 times your false claim.

In four years, Biden pardoned or granted clemencies 2 1/2 times what Trump did in five years,