No Kings.....

DarthMaeglin

Lerxst1992 said:

DarthMaeglin said:

I’m staying with my extra-right-wing aunt and uncle for a week and it was amusing watching the acknowledgment dawn on their faces yesterday when they were mocking the protests and I pointed out well over 1% of the nation’s population turned out.

Cmon, you know full well the majority of protestors were on their way to brunch.

its a true sign of a country in stressful crises when they have issues attending Sunday brunch. This is the type of meal that only occurs in countries with deep financial crisis, and to give that up is a sign these people are truly troubled.

1% of the nation’s population turning out for the protests, regardless of their individual reasons, is a number that, to me, needs to be acknowledged and (ideally) gets the two sides talking (wishful thinking these days, I know).

In many ways I liken this movement to Canada’s dreaded trucker convoy from a couple years ago. Both represent grass roots movements that represented a significant part of the population. Sadly both movements were roundly dismissed and denigrated by the sitting government.

mickeyrat

Lerxst1992 said:

DarthMaeglin said:

I’m staying with my extra-right-wing aunt and uncle for a week and it was amusing watching the acknowledgment dawn on their faces yesterday when they were mocking the protests and I pointed out well over 1% of the nation’s population turned out.

Cmon, you know full well the majority of protestors were on their way to brunch.

its a true sign of a country in stressful crises when they have issues attending Sunday brunch. This is the type of meal that only occurs in countries with deep financial crisis, and to give that up is a sign these people are truly troubled.

Trump

Why do I stand against Donald Trump? Why did I participate in No Kings Day? It is not because I am a Democrat, I’m not a Democrat. I am an independent who joined the Republican Party in 1969 and left the Republican Party in 2016 after a period of disillusionment. For me Trump’s nomination was simply the last straw.

I was a critic of Trump, the businessman, well before he ever became a candidate for President. Both before and after Trump entered politics, his business practices, and public conduct were already widely scrutinized and documented. Conservatives who back him are dishonest in making him an exception to the very activities they quickly would criticize other businessmen. 

Trump has been criticized for years for his business ethics and financial swindles, and his unpaid debts. He mismanaged several businesses leading to bankruptcy of his hotels and casinos between 1991 and 2009. He declared bankruptcy six times. Sure, declaring bankruptcy is legal, but six bankruptcies shows a pattern of risky over-leveraging that left numerous creditors and small contractors unpaid. Casinos do not go bankrupt except when clearly mismanaged.

Financial news sources reported the documented facts concerning dozens of contractors, architects, and workers who publicly complained that Trump refused to pay them in full for services rendered. These claims were verified by multiple court records, lawsuits, and investigations by journalists from USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and many others.

We who paid attention knew about the Trump University scandal. Trump University which ran from 2005 until 2010 was sued for fraud by former students and by the state of New York for deceptive practices. Trump ultimately settled for $25 million in 2016 without admitting wrongdoing, just days after first being elected president.

Then there is the Trump Foundation. That foundation was shut down in 2018 after a New York attorney general investigation found that Trump used charitable funds for personal and political purposes, including buying portraits of himself to hang inside his properties and paying legal settlements unaffiliated with the foundation. As a result, a court ordered Trump to pay $2 million in damages for misusing the charity.

I must mention more of his questionable financials. The New York Times investigations in 2018 and 2020 revealed Trump paid little or no federal income tax for many years, including just $750 in 2016 and 2017 due to aggressive write-offs and questionable deductions. Being President at the time, the IRS declined to do an audit.

Documents through the courts showed repeated patterns of inflating property values for loans while simultaneously deflating them for tax purposes. That behavior later became central to the civil fraud case decided in court against the Trump Organization in 2023. Trump supporters want to dismiss this as a politically motivated attack while ignoring the clear evidence of fraudulent practice.

It was clearly known to those who paid attention that U.S. banks stopped lending to Trump following his 1990s bankruptcies. Trump then became heavily reliant on foreign and opaque financing sources, including Deutsche Bank, which was later fined for money-laundering compliance failures. I might add this raises concerns about his foreign influence and vulnerability.

There is no way to properly criticize Trump without mentioning his sexual misconduct. This is an undeniable facet of his character. More than 20 women have publicly accused Trump of sexual harassment or assault dating back to the 1980s. And can we forget the infamous Access Hollywood tape that caught him bragging about grabbing women without consent (“when you’re a star, they let you do it”). There is a good reason why we also want to see the Epstein files.

In 2023, a federal jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation against writer E. Jean Carroll, awarding her millions in damages. Trump immediately repeated his slander which resulted in another award for even more damages. Damages he has yet to pay, only some of which is still held in escrow as he appeals while still denying his liability. But we heard him slander her openly.

In 1973, the U.S. Department of Justice sued the Trump Organization for racial discrimination in housing, alleging the organization refused to rent to Black tenants. The case was settled without admission of guilt but required Trump to change practices and submit to oversight.

In 1989, Trump took out full-page newspaper ads calling for the death penalty for the Central Park Five (five Black and Latino teenagers later exonerated by DNA evidence). But even after they were cleared, Trump refused to apologize insisting they must have been guilty. This brings up serious concerns of racism.

Workers at numerous Trump’s properties included undocumented immigrants. And during the construction of Trump Tower, undocumented immigrants were reportedly underpaid and exploited. The 1983 “Polish Brigade” case found Trump had used undocumented labor and later settled the lawsuit quietly in the 1990s.

Trump has a lifelong pattern of revenge, vanity, and deceit as described by close associates in various biographies and depositions. His ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, once fiercely loyal, testified that Trump was habitually dishonest and driven by self-interest above all. Trump’s obsession with fame and loyalty often led him to demean employees, mock the vulnerable, and retaliate against critics.

Across decades, Trump’s consistent behavioral pattern emerges:
1. Self-enrichment at others’ expense
2. Chronic dishonesty and manipulation
3. Disregard for rules, ethics, or accountability
4. Exploitation of power and publicity for personal gain

These aren’t minor character flaws. They are traits that shaped his business empire and later translated directly into his transactional governing style. The above criticisms are of his character and not related to his Presidential policies or decisions. 

How Trump loyalists can deny his egregious flaws or dismiss these criticisms as politically motivated nonsense betrays their lack of integrity or their inexcusable ignorance of well documented facts.

Nonetheless as a politician, he is vindictive, destructive, and hostile …

Trump, the politician, repeatedly cast doubt on the legitimacy of elections. It is his knee jerk reaction without evidence when things do not go his way. This includes of course  the 2020 election, despite a complete lack of evidence for widespread fraud (confirmed by Trump’s own Department of Justice and over 60 court cases). The denial among Trump supporters of the clear difference between what lawyers like Giuliani and Powell said in public appearances and what they said in court is undeniable. Trump supporters are either inexcusably ignorant of this or simply do not care about being truthful and honest.

How his supporters wink at the January 6th Capitol attack is also inexplicable. His supporters point the finger at others but do not answer for Trump’s actual behavior during that event. His efforts to pressure officials to “find votes” and his role in inciting and delaying a required response to the violent assault on the Capitol have been widely condemned as an attack on the peaceful transfer of power. And many Trump supporters imagine they can gaslight us into thinking it was little more than a capitol tour!

Trump complains about being the victim of DOJ attacks as if there was a lack of probable cause or evidence to justify their investigations. We saw the photos of the boxes of files. We heard Trump claim they belonged to him. We saw the elongated process of the government seeking to get those files returned, and the eventual raid on Mar-a-Lago. But then once back in power, Trump openly uses the DOJ, pressuring it to investigate and indict his political opponents. How can Trump supporters dismiss the hypocrisy?

His violation of the Emoluments Clause gets buried underneath the myriad of news stories criticizing Trump. There are so many stories it is difficult to keep up with the actual,outcome of any of them. Trump refused to fully divest from his businesses, or allowing them to be in a truly blind trust. We witnessed foreign and domestic groups spend money at his hotels and properties while he was president many of them admitting they hoped to gain favor. How Trump supporters can dismiss even the appearance of violation is simply unforgivable. 

Trump appointed his daughter, Ivanka, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to senior advisory roles despite their lack of any prior government experience. This is clearly nepotism in a manner unacceptable for the office of POTUS.

Trump while President organized many government events and travel directed toward Trump properties. This effectively funneled public money into his private businesses. This is as clear an example of violating the emoluments clause as we can get. Compare this to the request made to Jimmy Carter to disinvest in his peanut business while President due to mere potential for abuse, even though it was not even a likely occurrence.

Trump also cozied up to various authoritarian leaders. He expressed great admiration for leaders like Putin, Kim Jong-un, and Erdoğa while also alienating traditional democratic allies in NATO and the EU.  He withheld military aid to Ukraine in 2019. Some commentators suggested this was revenge for failing to successfully pressure Ukraine into investigating Joe Biden. 

Trump is not alone in immigration enforcement policies that are inhumane. I have no complaints about arresting and deporting those who overstay Visas or who sneak into the United States. But Trump’s “Zero tolerance” immigration policy has led to thousands of children being separated from their parents, with many still not reunited. That other Presidents are also guilty of such unacceptable practices is no excuse. 

The President has complete authority to grant pardons. However, Trump’s characterization of immigrants as if he is going after hoards of rapists and violent criminals while also pardoning convicted January 6 participants brings into genuine question his concerns about violence. 

Trump constantly blurts out racially charged language. He calls Black Lives Matter protesters “thugs,” and praising “very fine people on both sides” after the Charlottesville rally. Trump ignore the thugs who support him and uses the rare incidents of BLM violence as an opportunity to condemn them all as a way to fully dismiss their legitimate concerns. 

The we have his anti-science anti-environmental decisions. He withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, he has rolled back many environmental protections, because American Corporations making money is more important than environmental sustainable business practices. Trump has weakened over 100 environmental regulations, including clean air, clean water, and endangered species protections. He had repeatedly dismissed scientific consensus, not just on climate but across multiple policy areas. 

His administration saw a record turnover in key positions, undermining stability and policy continuity. Journalism certainly has its problems, and it is properly criticized. But Trump labels the media “the enemy of the people.” This is not just eroding trust in independent journalism, but he does it only when responding to how they negatively cover him. It is as if he is the only victim of media bias. 

Trump is the only President to refuse to release tax returns, he has the record for spreading demonstrable disinformation, he is unique in his attacks on judges and public servants who ruled against him.

This post is long enough, but I can still go on and on. I have not mention DOGE or tariffs.  So let me be clear. I have lost respect for those who claim we protest this dangerous man just for the heck of it, or that we are sore losers, or as if we do not have legitimate concerns. This has become at this point absurdly inexcusable. Trump belongs in court being prosecuted. He ought to be impeached. Republicans, have yet to recognize that Trump is not just destroying our country, he may have done deep damage to the Republican. Party. 

This post is my explanation as to why I as a former lifelong Republican participated in the No Kings protests. (Written by Robert Webster Greaves)

Lerxst1992

DarthMaeglin said:

Lerxst1992 said:

DarthMaeglin said:

I’m staying with my extra-right-wing aunt and uncle for a week and it was amusing watching the acknowledgment dawn on their faces yesterday when they were mocking the protests and I pointed out well over 1% of the nation’s population turned out.

Cmon, you know full well the majority of protestors were on their way to brunch.

its a true sign of a country in stressful crises when they have issues attending Sunday brunch. This is the type of meal that only occurs in countries with deep financial crisis, and to give that up is a sign these people are truly troubled.

1% of the nation’s population turning out for the protests, regardless of their individual reasons, is a number that, to me, needs to be acknowledged and (ideally) gets the two sides talking (wishful thinking these days, I know).

In many ways I liken this movement to Canada’s dreaded trucker convoy from a couple years ago. Both represent grass roots movements that represented a significant part of the population. Sadly both movements were roundly dismissed and denigrated by the sitting government.

They had larger protests in 2017, and that led nowhere. They never lead to a real movement. Dems are splintered with their Misguided messaging and policy. And poor organization.

These protests made it super convenient with so many locations, but…
until Dems solve these problems, which amounts simply to what they are as a political party, stunts like these are nice, may even lead to a squeaker win in the House next year, but systematic problems with the left need to be solved before they are competitive in the senate and electoral college. There’s no other way available to have any impact on the Court.

we see it on a forum like this with the endless jokes and hate against potus. That’s all great, but it never leads anywhere. Ten years in, perhaps its time we learn this lesson.

DarthMaeglin

Lerxst1992 said:

DarthMaeglin said:

Lerxst1992 said:

DarthMaeglin said:

I’m staying with my extra-right-wing aunt and uncle for a week and it was amusing watching the acknowledgment dawn on their faces yesterday when they were mocking the protests and I pointed out well over 1% of the nation’s population turned out.

Cmon, you know full well the majority of protestors were on their way to brunch.

its a true sign of a country in stressful crises when they have issues attending Sunday brunch. This is the type of meal that only occurs in countries with deep financial crisis, and to give that up is a sign these people are truly troubled.

1% of the nation’s population turning out for the protests, regardless of their individual reasons, is a number that, to me, needs to be acknowledged and (ideally) gets the two sides talking (wishful thinking these days, I know).

In many ways I liken this movement to Canada’s dreaded trucker convoy from a couple years ago. Both represent grass roots movements that represented a significant part of the population. Sadly both movements were roundly dismissed and denigrated by the sitting government.

They had larger protests in 2017, and that led nowhere. They never lead to a real movement. Dems are splintered with their Misguided messaging and policy. And poor organization.

These protests made it super convenient with so many locations, but…
until Dems solve these problems, which amounts simply to what they are as a political party, stunts like these are nice, may even lead to a squeaker win in the House next year, but systematic problems with the left need to be solved before they are competitive in the senate and electoral college. There’s no other way available to have any impact on the Court.

we see it on a forum like this with the endless jokes and hate against potus. That’s all great, but it never leads anywhere. Ten years in, perhaps its time we learn this lesson.

I agree, a more focused movement would be helpful, and I can’t really speak to the Democrats internal issues, but regardless I think having over 1% of the nation’s population showing up for any cause is impressive.

Lerxst1992

DarthMaeglin said:

Lerxst1992 said:

DarthMaeglin said:

Lerxst1992 said:

DarthMaeglin said:

I’m staying with my extra-right-wing aunt and uncle for a week and it was amusing watching the acknowledgment dawn on their faces yesterday when they were mocking the protests and I pointed out well over 1% of the nation’s population turned out.

Cmon, you know full well the majority of protestors were on their way to brunch.

its a true sign of a country in stressful crises when they have issues attending Sunday brunch. This is the type of meal that only occurs in countries with deep financial crisis, and to give that up is a sign these people are truly troubled.

1% of the nation’s population turning out for the protests, regardless of their individual reasons, is a number that, to me, needs to be acknowledged and (ideally) gets the two sides talking (wishful thinking these days, I know).

In many ways I liken this movement to Canada’s dreaded trucker convoy from a couple years ago. Both represent grass roots movements that represented a significant part of the population. Sadly both movements were roundly dismissed and denigrated by the sitting government.

They had larger protests in 2017, and that led nowhere. They never lead to a real movement. Dems are splintered with their Misguided messaging and policy. And poor organization.

These protests made it super convenient with so many locations, but…
until Dems solve these problems, which amounts simply to what they are as a political party, stunts like these are nice, may even lead to a squeaker win in the House next year, but systematic problems with the left need to be solved before they are competitive in the senate and electoral college. There’s no other way available to have any impact on the Court.

we see it on a forum like this with the endless jokes and hate against potus. That’s all great, but it never leads anywhere. Ten years in, perhaps its time we learn this lesson.

I agree, a more focused movement would be helpful, and I can’t really speak to the Democrats internal issues, but regardless I think having over 1% of the nation’s population showing up for any cause is impressive.

IMO a lot of deception by having so many locations. Watching various news reports, many locations didn’t even look that crowded and not nearly as full as 1992 pink pop. 

NYC 2017 rally was 4x larger. I agree it’s better than nothing, but don’t think it means anything beyond next years midterms. If Dems can’t win that, it’s time to disband the party.

we’ll have to respectfully disagree 

DE4173

Lerxst1992 said:

DarthMaeglin said:

I’m staying with my extra-right-wing aunt and uncle for a week and it was amusing watching the acknowledgment dawn on their faces yesterday when they were mocking the protests and I pointed out well over 1% of the nation’s population turned out.

Cmon, you know full well the majority of protestors were on their way to brunch.

its a true sign of a country in stressful crises when they have issues attending Sunday brunch. This is the type of meal that only occurs in countries with deep financial crisis, and to give that up is a sign these people are truly troubled.

Jacques: "Meet me for brunch."

Marge: "What's brunch?"

Jacques: "You'd love it. It's not quite breakfast, it's not quite lunch, but it comes with a slice of cantaloupe at the end. You don't get completely what you would at breakfast, but you get a good meal."

OnWis97

Lerxst1992 said:

DarthMaeglin said:

Lerxst1992 said:

DarthMaeglin said:

Lerxst1992 said:

DarthMaeglin said:

I’m staying with my extra-right-wing aunt and uncle for a week and it was amusing watching the acknowledgment dawn on their faces yesterday when they were mocking the protests and I pointed out well over 1% of the nation’s population turned out.

Cmon, you know full well the majority of protestors were on their way to brunch.

its a true sign of a country in stressful crises when they have issues attending Sunday brunch. This is the type of meal that only occurs in countries with deep financial crisis, and to give that up is a sign these people are truly troubled.

1% of the nation’s population turning out for the protests, regardless of their individual reasons, is a number that, to me, needs to be acknowledged and (ideally) gets the two sides talking (wishful thinking these days, I know).

In many ways I liken this movement to Canada’s dreaded trucker convoy from a couple years ago. Both represent grass roots movements that represented a significant part of the population. Sadly both movements were roundly dismissed and denigrated by the sitting government.

They had larger protests in 2017, and that led nowhere. They never lead to a real movement. Dems are splintered with their Misguided messaging and policy. And poor organization.

These protests made it super convenient with so many locations, but…
until Dems solve these problems, which amounts simply to what they are as a political party, stunts like these are nice, may even lead to a squeaker win in the House next year, but systematic problems with the left need to be solved before they are competitive in the senate and electoral college. There’s no other way available to have any impact on the Court.

we see it on a forum like this with the endless jokes and hate against potus. That’s all great, but it never leads anywhere. Ten years in, perhaps its time we learn this lesson.

I agree, a more focused movement would be helpful, and I can’t really speak to the Democrats internal issues, but regardless I think having over 1% of the nation’s population showing up for any cause is impressive.

IMO a lot of deception by having so many locations. Watching various news reports, many locations didn’t even look that crowded and not nearly as full as 1992 pink pop. 

NYC 2017 rally was 4x larger. I agree it’s better than nothing, but don’t think it means anything beyond next years midterms. If Dems can’t win that, it’s time to disband the party.

we’ll have to respectfully disagree 

True. You'll never get 1% of the population to come to one location.

tbergs

OnWis97 said:

Lerxst1992 said:

DarthMaeglin said:

Lerxst1992 said:

DarthMaeglin said:

Lerxst1992 said:

DarthMaeglin said:

I’m staying with my extra-right-wing aunt and uncle for a week and it was amusing watching the acknowledgment dawn on their faces yesterday when they were mocking the protests and I pointed out well over 1% of the nation’s population turned out.

Cmon, you know full well the majority of protestors were on their way to brunch.

its a true sign of a country in stressful crises when they have issues attending Sunday brunch. This is the type of meal that only occurs in countries with deep financial crisis, and to give that up is a sign these people are truly troubled.

1% of the nation’s population turning out for the protests, regardless of their individual reasons, is a number that, to me, needs to be acknowledged and (ideally) gets the two sides talking (wishful thinking these days, I know).

In many ways I liken this movement to Canada’s dreaded trucker convoy from a couple years ago. Both represent grass roots movements that represented a significant part of the population. Sadly both movements were roundly dismissed and denigrated by the sitting government.

They had larger protests in 2017, and that led nowhere. They never lead to a real movement. Dems are splintered with their Misguided messaging and policy. And poor organization.

These protests made it super convenient with so many locations, but…
until Dems solve these problems, which amounts simply to what they are as a political party, stunts like these are nice, may even lead to a squeaker win in the House next year, but systematic problems with the left need to be solved before they are competitive in the senate and electoral college. There’s no other way available to have any impact on the Court.

we see it on a forum like this with the endless jokes and hate against potus. That’s all great, but it never leads anywhere. Ten years in, perhaps its time we learn this lesson.

I agree, a more focused movement would be helpful, and I can’t really speak to the Democrats internal issues, but regardless I think having over 1% of the nation’s population showing up for any cause is impressive.

IMO a lot of deception by having so many locations. Watching various news reports, many locations didn’t even look that crowded and not nearly as full as 1992 pink pop. 

NYC 2017 rally was 4x larger. I agree it’s better than nothing, but don’t think it means anything beyond next years midterms. If Dems can’t win that, it’s time to disband the party.

we’ll have to respectfully disagree 

True. You'll never get 1% of the population to come to one location.

Maybe if Taylor Swift was there. But you can for sure expect to see the top 1% gathering at the new ballroom once it's complete. 
🤑

brianlux

DE4173 said:

brianlux said:

DE4173 said:

It's like when people complain about other people  attending concerts for the sole purpose of posting on social media to say "I was there!"

That's what "No Kings" seems like. 

That's not how it was in my neck of the woods, and I live in a strongly red county.  The people who showed up did so with a purpose.  

That is so good to hear!

Yeah!  The night before, I had unsettling dreams about bad things happening at the protest.  But the day of, it was just great!  There were a few middle fingers from passers-by and one guy bellowing some unintelligible rant, but otherwise, a great turnout of people with a clear message, and no conflicts.

gimmesometruth27

any head of state with immunity is basically a fucking king.

gimmesometruth27

gimmesometruth27 said:

any head of state with immunity is basically a fucking king.

the good news is, next time the dems have the presidency we can put up some real monuments and  put in a rose garden again. and replace biden's autopen with a painting of him and put up a painting of trump's neck vagina instead of his presidential portrait in the hall of presidents.

DE4173

gimmesometruth27 said:

any head of state with immunity is basically a fucking king.

This guy gets it

https://x.com/LangmanVince/status/1980588496437015011?t=riwpVWuBdSRqJAQPBvj9_Q&s=19

gimmesometruth27

DE4173 said:

gimmesometruth27 said:

any head of state with immunity is basically a fucking king.

This guy gets it

https://x.com/LangmanVince/status/1980588496437015011?t=riwpVWuBdSRqJAQPBvj9_Q&s=19

apologies but i do not click x links. out of spite for elon.