# 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:** 36
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 5:33pm 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/1011527/701 "2025-04-15T17:33:57Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > It might be a stretch to equate “homegrown” with citizens. Not for one instant do I believe that is what Trump meant. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I’ll say it here first. Trump’s defense will include that as the person in charge of foreign relations, he is empowered to set tariff because of (pick one of the following) trade wars or national emergency re: invasion Well.. I mean, that is, in fact, already a matter of record. Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Canada and Mexico were based on the claim that it was a national security emergency. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 6:05pm 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/1011527/702 "2025-04-15T18:05:01Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > We’re not quite at a crisis point yet. The “crisis “point” is not a _point_. It’s a probability range, and we’re definitely within it. > [@Smapti](#): > > The admin is engaged in what anyone who’s spent any amount of time playing D&D would call rules-lawyering - they’re poking at finer details of terms like “facilitate the release of” to see what they can get away with without technically violating the Supreme Court’s ruling. But for the first time, the admin is actually engaging in “rules-_creating_.” On the fly, no less. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Yep. As I posted in another thread, Trump is committing _at least_ 16 of the 27 grievances in the Declaration of Independence. A whole nine more to go before **Smapti** will approve of panic mode. Calm down. > [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > He’s got **free reign** to trash the Constitution for at least two years and maybe a lot longer. “Free _rein_,” goddamn it! ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 8:20pm 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/1011527/703 "2025-04-15T20:20:20Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > I think we’re basically on the same side here, but you seem to think acknowledging just how bad Trump 2.0 is - and it’s greatly exceeded even the worst predictions…….is surrender, that it’s something that’s going to paralyze us all instead of spurring us to action. Has it “greatly exceeded the worst predictions”? Because the predictions I recall seeing on this board were that being LGBT would be criminalized nationwide, that within a month of his taking office this board would be shut down and it would be illegal to criticize Trump, that Democrats would be getting rounded up en masse, and that nuclear war would have broken out. Pretending that Trump is unstoppable is preemptive surrender, because he can and has been stopped multiple times already. You’re telling yourself there’s nothing you can do about it, so why bother trying? > [@RitterSport](#): > > He’s doing whatever he wants and no one is stopping him. So has Hillary been locked up yet? > [@RickJay](#): > > Had anyone suggested last November that what was happening now was happening, you’d have said THEN “that would be the crisis point but it won’t happen.” What’s happening right now is roughly in line with what I was expecting, as opposed to those who were predicting martial law and civilians being gunned down in the streets en masse. > [@RickJay](#): > > And in three months we’ll be way, way past this. Will you accept what’s happening then? Where do you think the USA will be in July… less of a functioning republic, or more? If Trump is even still president three months from now I’ll be greatly surprised. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 8:35pm 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/1011527/704 "2025-04-15T20:35:22Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > If Trump is even still president three months from now I’ll be greatly surprised. I’ve marked July 15, 2025 on my calendar. Personally, I will be equally surprised if he is NOT president on that date. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 8:43pm 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/1011527/705 "2025-04-15T20:43:48Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > So has Hillary been locked up yet? Man, that is so 2016. The fact that he’s not doing everything he’s ever mentioned is irrelevant to whether he’s doing whatever he wants. I don’t know why kind of logic error that is, but it’s certainly a logic error. And, sure, you can nutpick on this board just like you can nutpick on the internet. Again, just because he hasn’t done everything everyone has worried about has no relevance to whether he’s doing whatever he wants without checks from congress or the judiciary. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 8:49pm 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/1011527/706 "2025-04-15T20:49:36Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > The fact that he’s not doing everything he’s ever mentioned is irrelevant to whether he’s doing whatever he wants. It certainly is when people take every bit of insane blather that comes out of him as a definitive statement of intention and proof that it’s going to happen no matter what anyone does about it. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 8:51pm 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/1011527/707 "2025-04-15T20:51:22Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > The fact that he’s not doing everything he’s ever mentioned is irrelevant to whether he’s doing whatever he wants. I don’t know why kind of logic error that is, but it’s certainly a logic error. It’s also a lovely Christmas gift to Steve Fucking Bannon – originator of “flood the zone with shit” and it’s all about “muzzle velocity.” If I _say_ a thousand crazy things, the least among them won’t even notice the 250 crazy things I actually _do_. It’s exactly what Bannon promised: even the media won’t be able to keep up or maintain focus. I knew it could work in theory, but I wasn’t expecting it to work on ‘one of ours.’ ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 8:54pm 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/1011527/708 "2025-04-15T20:54:42Z")
It’s a different conversation. “He’s saying this crazy thing! I hope that doesn’t happen!” vs. “He’s doing this crazy/illegal/unconstitutional thing and no one is stopping him.” This thread was started, before he was president and people were worried this would happen. Now he’s the president, and it’s happening – he’s doing crazy/illegal/unconstitutional things and no one is stopping him. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 8:56pm 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/1011527/709 "2025-04-15T20:56:36Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Now he’s the president, and it’s happening – he’s doing crazy/illegal/unconstitutional things and no one is stopping him. Except that people are stopping him. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 9:02pm 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/1011527/710 "2025-04-15T21:02:22Z")
It’s an “interesting” style of argument. Pick some greatly exaggerated examples that haven’t come to pass, and say it’s not so bad. Like a frog in a pot of water on the stove. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 9:04pm 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/1011527/711 "2025-04-15T21:04:03Z")
[I love the 'Net. Saves me from typing this one out] He thinks he’s smarter being a big shot lawyer from New York and has a better education than an sheriff from West Virginia. The sheriff asks for license and registration. The lawyer asks, “What for?” The sheriff responds, “You didn’t come to a complete stop at the stop sign.” The lawyer says, “I slowed down and no one was coming.” “You still didn’t come to a complete stop. License and registration please,” says the sheriff impatiently. The lawyer says, “If you can show me the legal difference between slow down and stop, I’ll give you my license and registration and you can give me the ticket. If not, you let me go and don’t give me the ticket.” The sheriff says, “That sounds fair, please exit your vehicle.” The lawyer steps out and the sheriff takes out his nightstick and starts beating the lawyer with it. The sheriff says, “Do you want me to stop or just slow down?” [We want him stopped. You want us to do cartwheels each time he’s even briefly slowed down. Nah.] ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 9:05pm 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/1011527/712 "2025-04-15T21:05:54Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Except that people are stopping him. That’s right, except that the fact that all the deportees have been returned to the US, and that Garcia is back home safe and sound, and all the border detainees have been released and compensate, hasn’t been announced yet. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 9:11pm 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/1011527/713 "2025-04-15T21:11:49Z")
And cutting departments and spending that congress authorized, and slapping tariffs everywhere without any sort of emergency. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 9:13pm 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/1011527/714 "2025-04-15T21:13:25Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > We want him stopped. You want us to do cartwheels each time he’s even briefly slowed down. > [@velomont](#): > > That’s right, except that the fact that all the deportees have been returned to the US, and that Garcia is back home safe and sound, and all the border detainees have been released and compensate, hasn’t been announced yet. Ah, yes. Anything other than complete and total victory is identical to defeat, therefore let us wallow in despair and be terrified of our unstoppable orange overlord. I’m reminded of Patton’s words on D-Day; “We didn’t immediately force Hitler to surrender, so I guess we lose.” You realize he wants you afraid of him and you’re playing right into his hands by giving him what he wants, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 9:16pm 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/1011527/715 "2025-04-15T21:16:48Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You realize he wants you afraid of him and you’re playing right into his hands by giving him what he wants, don’t you? No. I realize that you _suck_ as a mind reader. No matter how many people tell you, and how many times. ETA: you have both an estimable intellect and a _horrible_ blind spot on this issue. The former is doing the latter absolutely no favors. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 9:18pm 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/1011527/716 "2025-04-15T21:18:47Z")
Well, if you don’t realize you’re being played, then I can’t help you. Enjoy living on your knees. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 9:19pm 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/1011527/717 "2025-04-15T21:19:18Z")
Thank you for proving my point. QED ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 9:40pm 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/1011527/718 "2025-04-15T21:40:34Z")
Meanwhile, Trump just got stopped again. > **[Trump's order blocked that punished law firm that helped Dominion sue Fox News](https://www.rawstory.com/trump-law-firms-2671775402/)** > > A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked several portions of President Donald Trump's executive order punishing Susman Godfrey, the law firm that represented the elections equipment company Dominion Voting Systems in their defamation lawsuit... However, the judge didn’t retroactively cancel every single thing he’s ever done, order him put in the stockades and pelted with tomatoes, and declare the Republican party illegal, so we should treat this as a complete and utter defeat. Woe unto us, who are powerless to stand in the way of the God Emperor, whose every word is law and whom even the winds and seas obey! ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 9:46pm 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/1011527/719 "2025-04-15T21:46:16Z")
Another spike strip laid down in the path of the runaway stolen vehicle that IS Donald Trump: > [@How has the disgraced, CONVICTED FELON, former but once again President Trump pissed you off today? (Part 2)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-the-disgraced-convicted-felon-former-but-once-again-president-trump-pissed-you-off-today-part-2/1013964/566): > > A [Judge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loren_AliKhan) is not at all happy with the administration’s attempt to exact retribution on the law firm that represented Dominion Voting Systems in its suit against Fox News: I think it’s fair to say that she didn’t constrain herself all too overly much in her assessment. The Administration attorney argues that the Court threatens to infringe upon the Executive’s free speech rights, a position that isn’t even a bit dissimilar from how bigots generally wail that their rights to discriminate are at… I’m glad when any bullet misses. I’ll be even more thrilled when the fusillade ends. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 10:13pm 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/1011527/720 "2025-04-15T22:13:31Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > you have both an estimable intellect and a _horrible_ blind spot on this issue. The former is doing the latter absolutely no favors. Yes. And he’s servicing his blind spot with unhealthy doses of Assaults on Strawmen. As witness continued clinging to the ‘_noticing_ Trump’s predations = passivity/despair/terror’ lie. No, noticing what Trump is getting away with is a healthy prerequisite for taking whatever actions are legally available to us (communicating our views to politicians; protesting peacefully; advocating our position; and so on). > [@Smapti](#): > > we should treat this as a complete and utter defeat. Woe unto us, who are powerless Keep on socking away at that strawman! But before resuming, take a break for a second and expand on this: what’s your reasoning here? > [@Smapti](#): > > If Trump is even still president three months from now I’ll be greatly surprised. (Genuinely curious.) [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=35) [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=37)