# 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:** 81
**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:** [January 30, 2026, 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/1011527/1602 "2026-01-30T19:08:47Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The latter. When Trump fails it is because people get wind of what he is trying to do and put a lot of effort into stopping him, and not because they sit on their hands and say “Well, that can’t happen so there is nothing to worry about. Why should I get upset about it?”. To encourage the latter and not the former is utterly irresponsible. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2026, 10:35pm 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/1011527/1603 "2026-01-30T22:35:27Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > My fear is Trump doesn’t have to do a good at usurping elections because a significant number of people want a strongman in office. This. Trump hasn’t gotten as far as he has or done as much damage as he has because he’s clever or skilled or determined; he’s gotten so far due to nearly everyone in his way just stepping aside or falling down in supplication before him. It’s no wonder he’s a narcissist when he’s been treated like a god his whole life. ---
**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:** [January 31, 2026, 4:12pm 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/1011527/1604 "2026-01-31T16:12:23Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > When Trump fails it is because people get wind of what he is trying to do and put a lot of effort into stopping him, and not because they sit on their hands and say “Well, that can’t happen so there is nothing to worry about. Why should I get upset about it?”. To encourage the latter and not the former is utterly irresponsible. This, basically. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 12:39pm 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/1011527/1605 "2026-02-03T12:39:38Z")
Trump,wants to nationalize elections. Waiting for the brain trust to tell me this is no cause for concern. Gift link to NYTimes article: [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/us/politics/trump-nationalize-elections.html?unlocked\_article\_code=1.JVA.iKW-.WGDIucflfQ9c&smid=url-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/us/politics/trump-nationalize-elections.html?unlocked_article_code=1.JVA.iKW-.WGDIucflfQ9c&smid=url-share) ---
**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 3, 2026, 1:38pm 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/1011527/1606 "2026-02-03T13:38:38Z")
Well, that can’t happen so there is nothing to worry about. Why should I get upset about it? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2026, 1:45pm 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/1011527/1607 "2026-02-03T13:45:40Z")
I know, right? This guy tried to kill me, but his first shot missed, ipso facto: nothing to worry about. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2026, 12:14am 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/1011527/1608 "2026-02-09T00:14:26Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Trump,wants to nationalize elections. Waiting for the brain trust to tell me this is no cause for concern. _ **“The law will constrain him! Elections are 100% under the control of the states so he can do nothing! The Supreme Court would slap him down! The Constitution will stop him!”** _ I suspect we can all write the ‘no cause for concern’ post in our sleep by this point. There is a lot of resistance to Donald making himself the guy who oversees every aspect of elections (which indeed have historically been largely, though not fully, under the purview of the states). Of course this ignores the likelihood that Donald will use his thousands of lawless thugs to enforce his wishes. He may even resort to a Big Event that will justify the use of force. But none of that can interfere with the eternal sunshine of our resident spotless minds. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2026, 12:21am 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/1011527/1609 "2026-02-09T00:21:57Z")
It’s the same cast of idiots who have been wrong about everything for more than a decade. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2026, 1:09am 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/1011527/1610 "2026-02-09T01:09:42Z")
Which is probably, at least in part, why they aggressively ignore history and seem – by implication – to entreat us to do the same. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2026, 4:14am 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/1011527/1611 "2026-02-09T04:14:12Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’ve not seen any evidence that he and his cronies have gotten any better at this than they were six years ago… I don’t think you are asking the right question. I don’t think he’s any “better” but he (or his team) have learned from past mistakes and are closer to their goals, and have been more effective in achieving their goals, than last time. Unlike 6 years ago he has removed from office anyone who has any qualities other than blind loyalty to him and lack of concerns about the rule of law. There are no Pences any more. There are only Noems. He is bolder, and boldness is not competence but it can achieve results (in a crash or crash through manner). He’s working on building a loyalist military force (ICE). He’s taken effective steps to block and cower the fifth estate. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2026, 9:14am 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/1011527/1612 "2026-02-09T09:14:11Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > He is bolder, and boldness is not competence but it can achieve results (in a crash or crash through manner). Yes. I think Trump last time greatly overestimated the Democrats and expected they’d fight back, so he was more careful. But this time he’s figured out that most of them would _literally_ rather die than stand up to him so he’s just been crashing through anything in his way without care while the Democrats wring their hands and watch. That’s not a matter of him being “better”; his success in life has never been about skill. It’s about how nearly everyone in his path has flung themselves down in submission to him his entire life. He’s never really _needed_ skill, or even effort; just pick something he wants to do and watch as everyone rushes to enable him regardless of the cost to themselves. Trump is entirely an artifact of privilege. That’s the biggest error of the OP. It’s not that no one _can_ stop him. It’s that no one with the ability will even _try._ ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2026, 12:18pm 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/1011527/1613 "2026-02-09T12:18:56Z")
When it comes to elections, at least, the perils (while real) are not _that_ drastic. I posted this in another thread: This whole conversation is very germane to this thread: [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/opinion/trump-nationalize-elections.html?unlocked\_article\_code=1.KVA.76ke.WYuwUiddRe1j&smid=url-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/opinion/trump-nationalize-elections.html?unlocked_article_code=1.KVA.76ke.WYuwUiddRe1j&smid=url-share) (Gift link is to _New York Times_ 31-minute conversation video, and transcript: “ **The Real Threat Isn’t Trump. It’s the MAGA Apparatus.** The round table convenes to debate whether we need to worry about the midterms being free and fair.”) Among other matters, they discuss how US elections are run at the local (precinct) level, so it’s impossible to “rig” them directly…_but_ MAGA has spent several years inserting folks into positions like poll-watchers, county election officials, etc., so it will be easier for them to delegitimize the results (both before and after Election Day), which could have real consequences – amplified by the knowledge that the Jan 6 insurrectionists were pardoned. Jamelle Bouie, in particular, is cautiously optimistic on this score, noting how Trump’s actionable “successes” have tended to be when legal and institutional structures aren’t in place to stop him, e.g. ICE thuggery via one agency where the president really does have power. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 6:20pm 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/1011527/1614 "2026-05-20T18:20:13Z")
Trump now has a $1.8B slush-fund (I think some of my money might be mingled in those billions) and him and his family have immunity from ongoing inquires into their taxes. I’m really getting tired of the argument that he can do whatever he wants and no one can stop him! Just you wait to see that money be ruled illegal and stopped, and the investigations re-opened! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 6:30pm 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/1011527/1615 "2026-05-20T18:30:46Z")
Two cops are sueing Trump about that. He’s gonna give some of it to the inserectionists. He’ll keep most for himself of course. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 6:35pm 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/1011527/1616 "2026-05-20T18:35:14Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > He’s gonna give some of it to the inserectionists. He _claims_ he is. But with zero oversight or outside knowledge on how the money is put to use, I don’t believe anyone gets any money that isn’t named Trump. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 6:37pm 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/1011527/1617 "2026-05-20T18:37:47Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I don’t believe anyone gets any money that isn’t named Trump. That might just be how he doles out the money - in the form of his $TRUMP shitcoin. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 6:42pm 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/1011527/1618 "2026-05-20T18:42:05Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > He _claims_ he is. But with zero oversight or outside knowledge on how the money is put to use, I don’t believe anyone gets any money that isn’t named Trump. Probably right. Especially since his taxes can’t be looked into. I wonder just how binding that is? Oh Trump, an extra billion or three still won’t get you into high class circles. Now instead of being laughed at, you are absolutely despised. ---
**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:** [May 20, 2026, 6:47pm 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/1011527/1619 "2026-05-20T18:47:44Z")
Apropos of this discussion … two definitions: 1. **Impunity** : exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action 2. **Embolden** : to instill someone with courage, confidence, or resolution. Hm. Yeah. What could _possibly_ go wrong? ---
**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:** [May 20, 2026, 7:42pm 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/1011527/1620 "2026-05-20T19:42:55Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > > [@enipla](#): > > > > He’s gonna give some of it to the inserectionists. > > He _claims_ he is. But with zero oversight or outside knowledge on how the money is put to use, I don’t believe anyone gets any money that isn’t named Trump. Oh, I think he WILL give some to the Jan 6 insurrectionists—the most violent ones. The ones we have photos and video of that proves they beat on police. These rewards for cop-beating will be _widely_ publicized. It’s crucial to Donald that the House and Senate stay Republican. Crucial enough that he’s willing to spread some cash around to get the message very clear: _commit violence in my name–stop people from voting, particularly in Democratic areas–and_ **you will not only be pardoned, I will make you RICH.** Get enough people talking about this, and Democratic participation—in what’s only a mid-term election, after all—can be reduced to a tiny fraction of Republican participation. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 7:54pm 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/1011527/1621 "2026-05-20T19:54:33Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > It’s crucial to Donald that the House and Senate stay Republican. Crucial enough that he’s willing to spread some cash around to get the message very clear: _commit violence in my name–stop people from voting, particularly in Democratic areas–and_ **you will not only be pardoned, I will make you RICH.** You make a very good point. [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=80) [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=82)