How Far Can Trump Go, and who Will Be There to Stop Him?

Monday, November 11, 2024

Republicans, who have far-reaching plans, will likely run the White House and both chambers of Congress. The question is how drastically they can restructure the state apparatus -- and what checks and balances remain.

Posted by LampLighter at 09:33 AM | 23 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

Alternate links: Google News | Twitter

Comments

Admin's note: Participants in this discussion must follow the site's moderation policy. Profanity will be filtered. Abusive conduct is not allowed.

More from the article...

... "This will forever be remembered as the day the American people regained control of their country," President-elect Donald Trump said in his victory speech on Wednesday, promising to "turn it around."

The United States swung significantly to the right on Election Day. Republicans aligned with Trump's Make America Great Again movement now have a majority in the Senate and will also likely retain control of the House of Representatives once all the votes have been counted.

Trump's MAGA movement has "regained control of their country," having already hinted during the campaign at big plans for how Republicans intend to use this power.

The big difference from Trump's 2016 election victory is that this time he is much better prepared, said Stormy-Annika Mildner, director of the Aspen Institute Germany, an independent think tank.

"Trump has learned that it can be problematic if there are non-loyalists on his team," Mildner told DW, adding that he is expected to deal only with genuine supporters. "And through the extensive replacement of people in ministries and downstream authorities, there will no longer be an important factor that existed from 2016 to 2020: the many people who prevented worse things from happening at one point or another." ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-11-11 12:24 AM | Reply

@#1 ... The big difference from Trump's 2016 election victory is that this time he is much better prepared, ...

Yup.

He is much better prepared to surround himself with those people who only agree with him.

Back in 2016, he seemed to want to surround himself with Generals.

But those Generals seemed to have had issues with Pres-elect Trump back then.

Now he seems to castigate those Generals?

So, what is the job requirement we are talking about?

Adulation or capability?

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-11-11 12:35 AM | Reply

@#2 ... But those Generals seemed to have had issues with Pres-elect Trump back then. ...

Yeah. For starters...

Their oath o the Constitution, and not a Hitler Oath to the ruler.

Hitler Oath
en.wikipedia.org

... The Hitler Oath (German: Fhrereid or Fhrer Oath)"also referred in English as the Soldier's Oath[1]"refers to the oaths of allegiance sworn by officers and soldiers of the Wehrmacht and civil servants of Nazi Germany between the years 1934 and 1945.

The oath pledged personal loyalty to Adolf Hitler rather than loyalty to the constitution of the country.

Historians view the personal oath of the Third Reich as an important psychological element to obey orders for committing war crimes, atrocities, and genocide.[2] During the Nuremberg trials, many German officers unsuccessfully attempted to use the oath as a defence against charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.[3] ,,,

#3 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-11-11 12:38 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

-- and what checks and balances remain.

None.

#4 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-11-11 12:47 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

I get why people are hopefully searching for something that will save the country from Trump and the cadre of garbage he'll place in government around him.

But I think you're wasting your time when you should be preparing for the worst.

First, economic calamity and collapse.

Then civil strife as desperation slowly sets in and crime becomes rampant and the authorities/police/government become criminal organizations themselves.

And finally increasingly authoritarian measures claimed to be necessary to reign in the chaos that was seeded intentionally.

Wash, rinse and repeat and within two years you won't even recognize the country you've lived in your entire life.

#5 | Posted by jpw at 2024-11-11 10:29 AM | Reply

If I die defending our democracy, it was worth it.

#6 | Posted by shoeless at 2024-11-11 11:33 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

" 5 | POSTED BY JPW AT 2024-11-11 10:29 AM | REPLY | FLAG:"

If those things don't happen to I'll you be man enough to admit you were wrong?

#7 | Posted by BellRinger at 2024-11-11 11:43 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

#7
What the absolute eff???

Bellringer wondering if someone proven wrong will have the class to admit it?!?

Now I've seen everything.

#8 | Posted by Danforth at 2024-11-11 11:54 AM | Reply | Funny: 3 | Newsworthy 2

Despite expectations of radical change, the new administration will likely be similar to previous ones, particularly in foreign policy, due to the entrenched bureaucracy and the limited power of elected officials to effect substantial change. Americans don't fully appreciate the structural limitations of the presidency and therefore have unrealistic expectations of Trump's ability to bring about significant change.

Trump and Vance are not strong enough to replace Washington or even control it. They can do what any Republican administration does: bring in a different faction of staffers. This will change a few things that the government does in some ways. It will not involve any serious changes to the way government works or we live our lives.

Their lack of strength is not their fault. As democratic leaders, they have only the strength that the voters give them. The voters are not ready to trust them with full power over the government, which is the only way they could get anything done. They are not strong enough because we did not give them enough strength.

Worse, by refusing to see the difference between the dramatic narrative and the sordid reality, by investing emotional energy in the drama without any equivalent energy in wanting to make it real, or any anger that it is not real ... you give your leaders no choice.

They would love to lead us for real. First, we would have to follow them for real and we're not ready to do that. So ...

#9 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2024-11-11 11:59 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

We used to have a Supreme Court but Republicans t institution and turned it into a rubber stamp for their party to gain more power and thereby defeat the Founding Fathers' intentions for our government. Of course there was no way for them to anticipate a propaganda news network brainwashing 24/7/ millions of people. As long as we have 24/7/365 propaganda news channels we will only really have quasi-democracy. And as long as we have the corrupt Supreme Court we now have there will be no checks and balances which is exactly ripe for dictatorship.

#10 | Posted by danni at 2024-11-11 12:05 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

"Americans don't fully appreciate the structural limitations of the presidency and therefore have unrealistic expectations of Trump's ability to bring about significant change."

I think we have a lot of people who believe both houses of congress and the SCOTUS will simply get out of Trump's way and let him be a complete dictator.

#11 | Posted by eberly at 2024-11-11 12:07 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

I've said it before I'll say it again, Americans will be shocked at the radical changes which will be implemented quickly. Many Americans will not recognize our government a year from now.

It is already starting, ex. ------- appointing the most radical person to oversee deportation.

3 of the 5 potential nominees for AG have publicly said the Comstock Act should be enforced.

As for the institutions? They will be gutted in short order-that alone will throw the economy into disarray. throw on some tariffs and BOOM.

So, yeah, ---- off magat scum, you are going to regret your choice, right soon. But rest assured you will have a LONG time to marinate in your pain.

#12 | Posted by truthhurts at 2024-11-11 12:22 PM | Reply

Ffs what do you think the immunity decision was other than the courts getting out of his way?!!

They literally said don't bother us with any ---- he pulls.

Ffs people are stupid

#13 | Posted by truthhurts at 2024-11-11 12:32 PM | Reply

Nothing can stop him. He is Viktor Orban now. We had better get used to it.

#14 | Posted by e1g1 at 2024-11-11 01:36 PM | Reply

I think we have a lot of people who believe both houses of congress and the SCOTUS will simply get out of Trump's way and let him be a complete dictator.

#11 | Posted by eberly

More or less this.

Unfortunately, many will do worse than simply get out of his way, they'll actively assist or partake in the destruction of our processes and checks/balances.

Structural limitations mean nothing if the people needed to support and uphold them are derelict in their duties.

#15 | Posted by jpw at 2024-11-11 01:44 PM | Reply

If those things don't happen to I'll you be man enough to admit you were wrong?

#7 | Posted by BellRinger

When they do will you be man enough to admit you were a gullible moron who voted for Trump?

#16 | Posted by jpw at 2024-11-11 01:50 PM | Reply

" When they do will you be man enough to admit you were a gullible moron who voted for Trump?

#16 | POSTED BY JPW AT 2024-11-11 01:50 PM | FLAG: "

I'm a humble person. If I'm wrong about something I will admit it. I am not going to make predictions about a Trump 2nd term because I don't have a gut feel as to what to expect. I haven't seen anything to expect anything remotely close to the left wing doomsday predictions I've seen ... but anything is possible, I suppose.

#17 | Posted by BellRinger at 2024-11-11 01:55 PM | Reply

I'm a humble person. If I'm wrong about something I will admit it.

#17 | Posted by BellRinger a

LOL

sure jan

#18 | Posted by truthhurts at 2024-11-11 02:04 PM | Reply

I'm a humble person. If I'm wrong about something I will admit it.

#17 | Posted by BellRinger

You've never admitted to being wrong once in your entire life no matter how many fact checks you get.

You change the subject, ignore it, or run away.

It's the Jeff Method (Patent Pending).

#19 | Posted by Sycophant at 2024-11-12 02:14 PM | Reply