# 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:** 5
**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:** [December 17, 2024, 7:25am 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/1011527/81 "2024-12-17T07:25:24Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > Probably best for him to stand next to a soldier and, in his role as commander in chief, order the _soldier_ to shoot someone on Fifth Avenue. “Sir, I’m going to need that order in writing from my sergeant.” ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 8:53am 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/1011527/82 "2024-12-17T08:53:14Z")
[_Star Trek_ did it better.](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0708412/) (IMDB) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2024, 12:24pm 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/1011527/83 "2024-12-17T12:24:16Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …Sarah Kendzior once described the first Trump administration as a “transnational crime syndicate masquerading as a government.” > > So I think its most useful to look at the next Trump administration through that lens. Imagine Don Corleone got elected president. I mean, that’s pretty much a description of Trump’s idol, Putin; and we know what _he_ can get away with. Just about anything. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2024, 7:21pm 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/1011527/84 "2024-12-18T19:21:01Z")
I’m sure this won’t have any impact on Judges, going forward. > **[Judge is dinged for misconduct after criticizing Samuel Alito](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/12/18/2292469/-Judge-is-dinged-for-misconduct-after-criticizing-Samuel-Alito)** > > A U.S. federal judge was found culpable of misconduct for questioning the ethics of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. A complaint was filed against U.S. District Judge Michael Ponsor after he ... ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2024, 4:21pm 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/1011527/85 "2024-12-20T16:21:53Z")
IMO, anyone who thinks that the chance of America sliding into full-blown fascism is either very large or too small to be worth worrying about is foolish. I have little doubt that Trump will _try_ to go further than he did in his first term to destroy democracy, and I have less than total faith that the institutions that didn’t stop him the first time will do so the second time. I think the most likely endpoint is that he orders the military to occupy American cities and kill his political opponents, and then either they do it, or they don’t, or they split down the middle and we have a civil war. I honestly have no clue which outcome is most likely. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2024, 4:28pm 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/1011527/86 "2024-12-20T16:28:10Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > \*The last president I can think of who had this level of support in the other branches of government and among the population was FDR, which I think happened as a reaction to the cack-handed Republican handing of the previous decade, including the start of the Great Depression. We are still living with the results of that administration today. That’s a bizarre thing to say. In his best election (1936), FDR won 61% of the vote and 523 electoral votes, and the Democrats won 3/4 majorities in both houses of Congress. Trump is unique in the degree of his absolute control over his own party, but MOST Presidents have enjoyed significantly higher levels of public and Congressional support. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2024, 5:15pm 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/1011527/87 "2024-12-20T17:15:21Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > IMO, anyone who thinks that the chance of America sliding into full-blown fascism is either very large or too small to be worth worrying about is foolish. > [@Thing.Fish](#): > > I think the most likely endpoint is that he orders the military to occupy American cities and kill his political opponents These don’t seem like a coherent set of opinions. ETA: I think I get what you’re saying now; that Trump will attempt to institute full-on fascism but it won’t be successful. I got confused because, to most people, the attempt by the president to do this is already a fascist government, whether it’s ultimately put down or not. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2024, 5:42pm 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/1011527/88 "2024-12-20T17:42:17Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > ETA: I think I get what you’re saying now; that Trump will attempt to institute full-on fascism but it won’t be successful. To be exact, I’m saying he will _probably_ attempt to institute full-on fascism, and that it _probably_ won’t be successful. To a vague approximation, I’d guess the chance of an attempt is 90%, and the chance of complete success is about 30% (though the chance of serious and lasting damage being done is significantly higher). So, not _probable_, but certainly a significant enough possibility to lose sleep over. ---
**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:** [December 20, 2024, 6:12pm 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/1011527/89 "2024-12-20T18:12:36Z")
_Never_ mistake “Will not be successful” with “Will not be entirely successful”. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2024, 7:31pm 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/1011527/90 "2024-12-20T19:31:43Z")
Everyone here and everyone I know has tried to fix something, only to make it worse. Trump has always been a toddler. But now he’s an armed toddler that knows how to shoot. ---
**Author:** ![DaveUnknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@DaveUnknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveUnknown)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2024, 10:51pm 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/1011527/91 "2024-12-21T22:51:25Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > But now he’s an armed toddler that knows how to shoot. He has no aim, or has aim at everything. I don’t think he’ll call on the Supremes to do what he wants because there is a slight chance they will reject it. We’ll see… ---
**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:** [December 21, 2024, 10:54pm 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/1011527/92 "2024-12-21T22:54:50Z")
The court that granted him presidential immunity, which no president has needed and there was no need to even take the case…might be the people to stop him. Yep, it’s good to have a sense of humor in these dark times. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 4:40am 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/1011527/93 "2024-12-22T04:40:15Z")
New rule: you can’t rule by fiat if you can’t fit in a Fiat. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2024, 5:08am 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/1011527/94 "2024-12-22T05:08:15Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > The court that granted him presidential immunity, EXACTLY what immunity did he get? Can he go out and shoot someone in the face and the courts have to say, “He’s the President. He’s allowed to do that.”? ---
**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:** [December 22, 2024, 5:13am 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/1011527/95 "2024-12-22T05:13:16Z")
They don’t _have_ to say it. But they also don’t have to say differently. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2024, 5:15am 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/1011527/96 "2024-12-22T05:15:04Z")
So you can’t answer what SCOTUS said about any limitations on his immunity? Or point out in their decision where they say there is no limitation? ---
**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:** [December 22, 2024, 5:21am 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/1011527/97 "2024-12-22T05:21:33Z")
I also can’t say who will win the Kentucky Derby next year or what the price of saffron will be in Pakistan. Those are also things that didn’t come up in the post I made. If there is a stated limit by the Supreme Court as to what Trump can and cannot get away with, I would surely love to hear it though, as facts would be very welcome. ---
**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:** [December 22, 2024, 5:24am 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/1011527/98 "2024-12-22T05:24:49Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I would surely love to hear it though, as facts would be very welcome. Here you go. All of the answers you seek are [here](https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-939_e2pg.pdf). ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 10:23am 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/1011527/99 "2024-12-22T10:23:56Z")
> [@DaveUnknown](#): > > I don’t think he’ll call on the Supremes to do what he wants because there is a slight chance they will reject it. > We’ll see… Call on the Supremes? You better think… (Think, Think…) ---
**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:** [December 22, 2024, 12:48pm 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/1011527/100 "2024-12-22T12:48:15Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > EXACTLY what immunity did he get? Can he go out and shoot someone in the face and the courts have to say, “He’s the President. He’s allowed to do that.”? Let’s just go through the facts. The (conservative majority of the) SC has spent the last 4 years doing everything Trump wanted; blocking and slow-walking anything which would have seen Trump face justice, and fast-tracking anything which helped Trump. They didn’t need to get involved at all; the SC don’t take many cases and it would have totally reasonable for them not to put their thumb on the scale. On the immunity thing specifically, once again, no president previously has needed such a carve out, and I remember most legal experts going in, even conservative ones, thought it was a non-starter. But they not only pushed it through but mentioned it in other cases as something which HAD to happen. Also, hypotheticals about murder were mentioned in the hearing, and so the SC could have explicitly constrained the immunity to not include that. They didn’t. They left it completely unbounded. And all this happened while Trump was not even in power. So yes, I consider it hopelessly wishful to suggest that the SC might suddenly now do the right thing when there’s actual peril attached to standing up to Trump, and it’s the precise opposite of what they’ve done for the last few years. Oh, and as we’ve seen, at least 2 judges are corrupt as holy hell. Personally, I’m going to hope for a more likely event, like Stephen Miller giving a tearful speech on the need for compassion and empathy. [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=4) [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=6)