# The argument that Trump will do whatever he wants and no one can stop him is really fucking boring **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [December 12, 2024, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527 "2024-12-12T02:36:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/341 "2025-02-05T15:47:22Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > At what point can we declare the OP to be painfully wrong? When the injuctions that Federal judges have been issuing get overturned by SCOTUS. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/342 "2025-02-05T15:57:48Z")
Pinning your argument on the actions of the Supreme Court? That is so _cute._ ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/343 "2025-02-05T16:13:01Z")
And if the SCotUS rules in Trumps favor that means that claims that _Trump has absolute power and can do whatever he wants_ are wrong because, clearly, the SCotUS has ruled that Trump has that power, whatever it is, and can do what he wants. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/344 "2025-02-05T16:14:47Z")
Just remember, folks: No panicking until absolutely _everything_ turns to shit. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/345 "2025-02-05T16:33:55Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Pinning your argument on the actions of the Supreme Court? > That is so _cute._ What’s your point? Federal judges are stopping Trump from doing what he wants _now_. The question is what side SCOTUS will take. It has nothing to do with me or my hopes. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/346 "2025-02-05T19:08:54Z")
So far it’s clear that the best way to stop Trump is to be a smarter world leader. Threatened with tariffs? Just promise to do what you were already doing, and get him to concede to something else, e.g., stemming the flow of firearms into Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/347 "2025-02-06T05:41:18Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > The question is what side SCOTUS will take. It has nothing to do with me or my hopes. But that involves some speculation, and consideration, and might god forbid result in a discussion. We can’t have that. We must all sit firmly with our heads between our knees waiting for the end. > [@steronz](#): > > At what point can we declare the OP to be painfully wrong? When there is uniform agreement that the P&E forum should be replaced by a bot that just repeats the phrase “Trump is unstoppable.” ---
**Author:** ![Mnemnosyne](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mnemnosyne/32/3347_2.png) [@Mnemnosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mnemnosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/348 "2025-02-06T08:13:17Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > What’s your point? Federal judges are stopping Trump from doing what he wants _now_. The question is what side SCOTUS will take. It has nothing to do with me or my hopes. Federal judges are **telling** Trump to stop now. We’ll see whether that results in any actual stopping. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/349 "2025-02-06T09:09:47Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Just remember, folks: No panicking until absolutely _everything_ turns to shit. Then do whatever that means for you. Crawl under your bed, curl up in the fetal position, cry your little heart out. If that’s all you’ve got, we get it, you’ve surrendered, feel free to shut the fuck up. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/350 "2025-02-06T09:15:47Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > What’s your point? Federal judges are stopping Trump from doing what he wants _now_. The question is what side SCOTUS will take. It has nothing to do with me or my hopes. > [@Mnemnosyne](#): > > Federal judges are **telling** Trump to stop now. We’ll see whether that results in any actual stopping. So much stopping… > **[DOJ Says Trump Administration Doesn’t Have to Follow Court Order Halting...](https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/doj-says-trump-administration-doesnt-have-to-follow-court-order-halting-funding-freeze/)** > > Read more here. Expect to see more of that. > [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Then do whatever that means for you. Crawl under your bed, curl up in the fetal position, cry your little heart out. If that’s all you’ve got, we get it, you’ve surrendered, feel free to shut the fuck up. Well, what’s important is that you feel smug and superior while continuing to downplay how bad things are and occasionally moving the goalposts. If that’s all you’ve got, we get it, you don’t care, feel free to shut the fuck up. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/351 "2025-02-06T10:06:43Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Well, what’s important is that you feel smug and superior while continuing to downplay how bad things are and occasionally moving the goalposts. If that’s all you’ve got, we get it, you don’t care, feel free to shut the fuck up. The people who care are the ones who are talking through what options and strategies are available and/or likely to succeed. You want to know what not caring looks like? Wallowing in your own panic and despair, which serves nobody at all. Things are bad! Nobody is downplaying that. If everybody surrenders in advance, then _they will get even worse_ than they otherwise would. And going around bewailing the idea that “nobody can stop him” absolutely is a surrender in advance that helps the fascist. So process your trauma, lick your wounds, whatever. People do need to do that, because this is going to hurt and none of it is going to be easy. I’m not sure exactly what _can be_ done at this point, but pre-emptively declaring _nothing_ can be done is to passively bend over and take it. Do that if you want, it’s not me. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/352 "2025-02-06T12:55:58Z")
350 posts in and still this straw man. No, acknowledging that the GOP, SCOTUS etc are going to do effectively nothing to rein in Trump (apart from when a policy would put their own asses directly at risk) is not the same thing as saying let’s roll over and do nothing. Indeed, let’s just put it this way: **who** has said “let’s do nothing”? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/353 "2025-02-06T13:10:29Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > 350 posts in and still this straw man. Yeah. I wrote a lengthy post early on responding to and dismantling the whole concept, and yet it continues being repeated, continues being propped up, as if it represents anything more than, yes, a ridiculous straw man. I wrote this— > [@Cervaise](#): > > He’s going to come on like a furious hurricane of hatred and vengeance, and it will be exhausting, and if we let up, he _will_ win. But we cannot be blind to the truth that in the struggle to oppose him, even if, eventually, we do prevail, there will— _will_— be casualties. —back in December, before Trump had even taken office. I predicted and fully expected exactly what he’s doing now, and even so, the breadth and pace of his efforts are astonishing. Just as I said, there is resistance; there are efforts to block him. There is not general helpless surrender. Only the realistic acknowledgement that the assault on democracy is staggeringly broad, and the potential varied outcomes of all these multifarious threats remain very much in doubt. But still. “Throwing up our hands.” “Nothing to be done.” Horseshit. Absolute horseshit. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/354 "2025-02-06T14:03:58Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Indeed, let’s just put it this way: **who** has said “let’s do nothing”? Indeed, who has stated the _other_ strawmen here, that the courts are going to save us, or everything’s going to be fine, or whatever? There is _no_ shortage of strawmen on both sides of this argument. But if the position is that Trump is going to do what he wants and nothing can stop him, then what does that leave? You tell me. Most of what I see in this thread is people scoffing at the idea that anything can be done, which seems to imply nothing can be done, which seems to imply leaving it in fate’s hands. I’m glad to hear about anything that’s not just a restatement that nothing can be done, all institutionals have failed, or an eye-roll for simply asking people to complete the rest of the thought. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/355 "2025-02-06T14:08:21Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Indeed, who has stated the _other_ strawmen here, that the courts are going to save us, I did as courts are issuing injunctions. The question is will they hold up. If the Dems control the house after the 2026 elections, one question is will they impeach him for the third time … not that they will have 67 votes in the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/356 "2025-02-06T14:09:04Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Indeed, who has stated the _other_ strawmen here, that the courts are going to save us, or everything’s going to be fine, or whatever? There is _no_ shortage of strawmen on both sides of this argument. Many points in this thread, most notably the OP. Oh it was supposed to be a rhetorical question. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/357 "2025-02-06T14:09:36Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I did as courts are issuing injunctions. The question is will they hold up. > If the Dems control the house after the 2026 elections, one question is will they impeach him for the third time … not that they will have 67 votes in the Senate. I don’t see that you’re offering this as a strawman though. Obviously this isn’t a complete solution but it’s also unreasonable to dismiss it out of hand. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/358 "2025-02-06T14:12:27Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Many points in this thread, most notably the OP. > Oh it was supposed to be a rhetorical question. I see a lot of bad-faith mischaracterizations that people are saying this, but nobody actually saying that. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/359 "2025-02-06T14:13:51Z")
So it’s _not_ a straw man? There go those goalposts again. > [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > I see a lot of bad-faith mischaracterizations that people are saying this, but nobody actually saying that. You mean apart from the person who just told you they said that? But you’re right - I’m seeing a lot of bad-faith mischaracterizations too. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527/360 "2025-02-06T14:15:15Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > So it’s _not_ a straw man? > > There go those goalposts again. It’s pretty clear that your enjoyment of throwing around the terms “strawman” and “moving the goalposts” is a lot stronger than your grasp of those concepts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-argument-that-trump-will-do-whatever-he-wants-and-no-one-can-stop-him-is-really-fucking-boring/1011527.md?page=19)