You might think this Australia thing is funny, it's not. They literally hate us and say we are on

[NotThisTime]

our own, we did this to ourselves. I had a chat with one of my friends in the middle of the night.... My daughter goes to University in Australia, we have no idea when the Aussies will kick her out at this point. This is not just a one day media story.

[nycbos]

1. I don't think angering one of our longest standing allies is funny.

[mindem]

2. There is no "we" involved with this,

there are drumph and his minions. The idiot in chief seems to think the whole world is going to bow down before him. Before it's all said and done we will be hated by the entire planet.

[A HERETIC I AM]

8. Most of the world seems to be able to separate a people from its government

The Australian people may be shaking their heads as to why this country elected such a moron, but to suggest they or anyone else will hate all Americans because of Herr Dipshit is a bit of a stretch, I think.

[NotThisTime]

11. I'm telling you what someone very in tune with what's going on says is the general consensus

When we were there in June and July this was a non stop question by Australian's who couldn't understand why people don't vote and why the hell this man was to be the Republican Nominee.

[A HERETIC I AM]

14. Were you able to explain it to them?

Aussies don't understand why we don't vote because so many of them do. It's against the law to NOT vote in Australia, though the infraction is like a parking ticket, basically

[tazkcmo]

35. The reason for not voting

It's not the voter suppression being used by the GOPee. It's not Russian influence. It's pure laziness, apathy, a dislike for "politics" and willful ignorance (Voting doesn't matter). I'm not sure the reasons for our voter turn out rates would improve their perceptions of We The People.

I'm not posting any links to voter turn out as it's general knowledge (at least here on DU) that it's abysmal.

[A HERETIC I AM]

38. I agree completely.

I realize that ~ 50% of eligible voters don't exercise that right.

We get the government we deserve in this country, plain and simple.

[DK504]

40. The GOTV campaign was non-existent this year.

We have to have a full time DNC immediately and start pushing back. NOW.

[bettyellen]

46. Not true, at all campaign stops they had big drives to register but it always could be more

[bigbrother05]

55. Clearly registration and actually showing up to vote are 2 different things

[calimary]

56. Two VERY different things.

Why do you think the CONS target programs like "Souls to the Polls" and other activities that actually Get. People. BODILY. Out. To Vote.?

[bettyellen]

61. It seems it want the amount of votes but their locale that mattered....

[tazkcmo]

60. Biggest Impact

I believe the biggest impact we can make to increase voter turn out is a civics course taught in every grade. Be it a 10 minute discussion on current events once a week or an hour long, daily, in depth study of our government everyday. This will build a lifelong foundation for citizen responsibility in our populace. I acknowledge the many other things that can be done to achieve increased voter turn out like voting holidays, mail in ballots and "motor voter" registration but I believe civics courses an all levels of of public education is the cornerstone on which the rest should be built upon.

[crazycatlady]

81. How about mock elections?

When I was a senior in HS, the Board of Elections visited our government class. They brought a voting machine with them, set it up and we had a mock election (nothing serious, it was a battle of cartoon characters) and showed us how it worked.

They also registered anyone who was turning 18 by graduation.

In schools, they can start with elections on fluff stuff like school t-shirt design, and later move onto student government for those old enough to understand it (3rd grade was the first year we had student council). ALso mock presidential elections in presidential years.

[tazkcmo]

82. Anything.

What ever reinforces citizen responsibility.

[Eyeball_Kid]

44. Trumpy's ascension shows the effects of negative synergism.

This is a case of the whole being greater than the sum of it's parts. Trumpy's disastrous ascension has pulled Nazis, white supremacists, propaganda masters, and war mongers into the pinnacle of power. Their destructive behaviors together are far more damaging than any behavior that they, as individuals, could ever muster. James Kunstler would appropriately call it a "clusterfuck."

[NotThisTime]

54. Yes,my friends general impression is that this was not a one cycle problem but years of compassion

being lost for those who are "other", and our bullishness in treating other countries poorly when we expect respect. Australian's know how many wars they have fought in for us and because of us and know we have now gone and allowed this... it was a tough conversation, but true on many fronts.... We are not a ship unto ourselves, we need to react responsibly and know that the world is nothing to fear, that refugee's are not to be feared, that yes, there are evil people out there, but that doesn't mean you can go around treating people like this.... It's really a very obvious problem.

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

50. Not a heretic, just ill informed and/or in denial re: just how NOT NORMAL this all is - of course

people all over the world can and do conflate people with their govt - esp one that was SUPPOSEDLY democratically elected.

I travelled in Europe in late 70s/early 80s and I was still frequently having to answer for Vietnam - usually when I explained I was on the side against it, it was ok... but not always. Im old enough to remember in the 50s Germans and Japanese were still reviled... and this was in a state with a large German population (WI).

And last but not least - what the heck is this anti Muslim thing about except far too many people (and not only in the US) willing to conflate an entire religion with the acts of a few.

[Mr. Ected]

51. No, the American people CANNOT be separated from Trump

Sure, WE can be separated, but this is exactly the behavior endorsed by millions upon millions of Americans. The ones who watch way too much propaganda and think we need to walk loudly and carry a big stink.

[MineralMan]

18. Of course there is. We elected the moron, collectively.

We didn't get out the vote well enough to prevent that from happening. So, yes, "we" are involved.

[ananda]

79. Yes, Trump wants to act and rule by unilateral fiat and bullying.

Perhaps the people, in huge crowds of endless protest,
will change that.

[winetourdriver01]

3. You are correct

This is not just a one day story, Twitler is sabotaging the long term security interests of the country. The question is, why?

[CousinIT]

6. Why? Simple. SHitler and his Nazi sidekick Bannon want WAR - with anyone. Everyone.

Why?

Because that would give them a carte blanche to institute ANY LAW they want in the US. Shut down the internet for 'security' reasons. Women can no longer go to work for 'security' reasons - because you know world wide boogeymen might attack them. We can't change Presidents now (no election) because we're in a world war? Changing leaders NOW would be terrible. We can't do that!

THEY. WANT. WAR. At any cost. For any reason. Norm Chomsky said Trump is a danger to the survival of humanity. He IS. Because he and his VILE friends want ALL the money and ALL the power and ALL the World's resources (natural and monetary) to do with as they damn well please. THEN - IF anyone survives THAT, they'll rebuild the US in the form of THEIR NEW ORDER -- which will be NOTHING like the one we and our parents and grandparents knew.

That's why.

[NotThisTime]

12. This is exactly right.

[starshine00]

20. this is absolutely Putin's belief system and the belief system of islamofascism too

it is no wonder they all trying to knock the knees out of every democracy they can.

[RKP5637]

27. Exactly what is going on. I hope many Americans are finally being shaken from their naivety about

what is going on. So many just don't get it. Trump and his cohorts live in a different world, total chaos and war would be great for their plans and IMO Trump's utterances are not by chance.

[nolabels]

34. And anyone smart enough to be able rub two nickels together knows this.

The frantic grasping to seize a foothold goes on as long as people react in predictable or foreseeable ways.

Noam Chomsky is good at telling people what things look like but his track record on predictions isn't so stellar.

[Eyeball_Kid]

45. Flynn, Bannon, Trump: The Three Stooges in charge of the Death Spiral.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

52. Putin wants USA destabilized & out of the way. Bannon wants US government pulled down from within.nt

[csziggy]

10. Bannon wants it - and Bannon is Trump's brain

Steve Bannon, Trump's Top Guy, Told Me He Was 'A Leninist' Who Wants To ‘Destroy the State’
The Breitbart executive director turned GOP leader boasted at a party about his goal of destroying the conservative establishment.

Ronald Radosh
08.22.16 1:00 AM ET

Then we had a long talk about his approach to politics. He never called himself a “populist” or an “American nationalist,” as so many think of him today. “I’m a Leninist,” Bannon proudly proclaimed.

Shocked, I asked him what he meant.

“Lenin,” he answered, “wanted to destroy the state, and that’s my goal too. I want to bring everything crashing down, and destroy all of today’s establishment.” Bannon was employing Lenin’s strategy for Tea Party populist goals. He included in that group the Republican and Democratic Parties, as well as the traditional conservative press.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/22/steve-bannon-trump-s-top-guy-told-me-he-was-a-leninist.html

[starshine00]

19. I personally believe now that everything he is doing is being done on advice from Putin's people

like the 'fake news' meme that he floats every day, it was during the months in the lead up to the election that we saw social media bombarded with fake news...I thought it was just idiot kids but now I think it is straight from Russia. He is trying to break the public confidence in the media to report so we will not know what to believe, so we will disengage and keep our heads down and not care. There was the DDoS attack on twitter and other sites before the election that came from Russia, the hacking from Russia, etc etc etc. I am beginning to believe that Putin follows the medieval system of belief that kings are instilled by God, rule with help from the church etc...just like in islamic theocracy they believe that democracy is an affront to their god and that populaces need to be forcefully controlled and forced to convert to either islam or christianity, depending on their particular system, or die. And certain populations, like homosexuals need to be eliminated completely. It is like patriarchy's last stand on earth right now, apparently, and if they have to take the whole earth down with them that is fine, it just fulfills their book.

[coco22]

24. And Youtube.

[still_one]

4. no one on this board thinks it is funny

[Alice11111]

92. Agree. Just another scarry thing. I wonder if DT and Putin

made a pact that they would rule the whole world. Start a war and be allies. Of course, Putin would oust him as soon as he was not useful. Bannon obviously wants a war. Maybe that statement goes against logic and is un-American. I agree, but nonetheless, he wants it. People commit mass murders and then kill themselves all of the time. Maybe he wants to be remembered. Maybe he BELIEVES the end justifies the means. I don't know yet, but anyone can see that he wants a nuclear war. Remember when DT said he loved war. How fast we have gotten ourselves into this. ...all those people who voted for him and said he would not really do....
I do fear that by the time the process works through getting rid of DT, it may be too late. Most of America gets the "news" from Foxaganda or worse, so they don't really know what is going on that the main news reports, and certainly very few keep up like the people on this thread.

[BSdetect]

5. They will never kick her out.

That is not ever going to happen.

twitler is an obvious lunatic if you live outside the US bubble of BS

[NotThisTime]

13. I pray you are right.... My Aussie friends are all on edge, I'm on edge, we are all worried.

[Demsrule86]

67. We are all lumped together...what the president does reflects on us...

Just as all Germans were responsible for Hitler...he was elected. He has already caused the death of 13 women and children and one navy seal that we know about.

[Alice11111]

93. Even Pence, who doesn't believe in evolution, seems sane

in comparison. He is paranoid and crazy. We are not dealing w a rational person. We can't count on the doctrine of MAD to work anymore. Bannon wants a war, and DT is bing propped up like a mannequin and managed, except when he gets out and does his impulsive things.

[liberalmuse]

7. I'm not laughing.

Trump is a global embarrassment and so are we. Who we choose to represent us sends a clear message of who we are. It's too bad the minority, the worst of us "elected" this stain.

[NotThisTime]

15. I tried to explain this, but it didn't make much in roads... my friends know me, they don't

understand our electoral college or how this has happened.... They just know he represents us. I told them hate did this, not the majority of Americans.

[Eyeball_Kid]

48. The phony GOP leadership is hedging their bets:

Can they get all of the policy they want enacted BEFORE Trumpy blows up the World, or will the HAVE to abandon their plans for complete corporate control and intervene?

Tough decision. McConnell and Ryan are walking the wire. They're pretending that their victory is oh-so sweet, but they haven't anticipated that all that sweetness has destroyed their pancreas and our livable body politic.

There frankly isn't enough time left to debate. Trumpy's train is off the rails and headed for a cliff. The GOP hasn't figured it out yet that their own physical survival is at stake. In a sense, they're just as psychotic as Trumpy.

[Progressive dog]

9. It isn't at all funny

A psychopath is not supposed to become our President.

[raccoon]

16. I don't think it's funny. It's yet another example of the abominable behavior we

have learned to expect from him.

[Quixote1818]

17. I have friends in Australia. Most just hate Trump and feel bad for us. nt

[bdamomma]

21. okay I am going to ask?

what is going to take this horrible person out of office.

I hate to say this but I am scared.

[GliderGuider]

22. We all know what it would take.

But we won't say the words on an open Internet board.

[bdamomma]

29. got it

I understand fully.

[dawg]

23. Of course this will have repercussions.

He's already pissed off China, Mexico, Germany, Australia & Iran.

Thoughtful leaders do not bluster. But they remember a slight, and they patiently wait for the most opportune time to return the favor.

[pangaia]

26. Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Finland,

The Netherlands, Norway,, should I go on?

[CanonRay]

25. So they want to stir up the pot with China,

and don't think we'd need Australia in a conflict with China? Look at a map, dumbasses.

[meow2u3]

36. China can build a military 4 times our size if need be

They have 4x our population and a centuries-old tradition of martial arts, plus they're not democratic. The only trouble for China is that their nukes are capable of hitting the wrong states.

[NotThisTime]

37. We have some large military bases in Australia.... it's not lost on the people there.

[Johnny2X2X]

28. Ban on US citizens

We are fairly close to some countries beginning to ban US citizens from visiting or living there.

I could see Mexico detaining all US diplomats, and taking them to a bridge over the Rio Grande and say get walking, you are bringing nothing with you home.

[Pachamama]

33. No Ban - Just a vetting process for Trump Terrorists

[Initech]

30. The time to invoke the 25th amendment is now.

We can't allow this fucking imbecile to jeopardize every diplomatic relation we have. He's steering us off the cliff faster than we thought.

[Alice11111]

78. Not going to happen until the Repubs get tax cuts and pack the Fed courts.

Then, if he is a threat to them, they will cut him loose. We need to be focusing on 2018 and obstruct and delay until then. We all want him out anyway, any how.

[Initech]

83. If we make it to 2018. In the last 24 hours the FAIC threatened Iran and Mexico.

And jeopardized our relationship with Australia where we have military bases and diplomatic outposts. He's going to make it so travelling abroad is an impossibility, and is going to make life difficult for Americans who are abroad. Someone is going to declare war on us and lots of innocent people are going to die because of this lunatic. We must stop him before that happens.

[heaven05]

31. president bannon and his boy-potus puppet

want us to be hated and feared....they won't care about losing any one of this countries traditional allies....they really believe our nuclear-military power will allow us to go it alone.

[Blue_Tires]

32. Who the hell thinks the Turnbull fiasco was "funny"??

I mean, aside from Moscow and Beijing?

[Pachamama]

39. Only Moscow thinks this was funny...China is thinking very hard about President Bannon's South China

...Sea Islands comments and the "Notice" to Iran and the US Troops into Mexico comments and is definitely not laughing or think this is funny...

[Blue_Tires]

68. That, and China does benefit greatly from weaker U.S. - Aus. relations...

[mrmpa]

41. My niece is currently living in Perth..........

she's there with her fiance. He's a British citizen, he's playing soccer and running soccer camps for kids. His brother, mother and step-father, all originally from Liverpool are also there.

Back in October, my niece & fiancee came to the States for a month long visit. They landed in Boston and he was sent back because the last time he was here he overstayed his Visa by 3 days. The overstay was because of the availability of flights back to Australia. He stayed with my brother during that overstay.

During the time they were sending him back, he was not allowed to talk to my niece, an attorney or the British consulate which has a presence in Boston. So if this is how he was treated, I can only imagine what people from Sudan, etc. are treated.

I am afraid the Aussies might just say to Americans in Australia, "get thee back on the next plane."

[BainsBane]

42. This is precisely why Trump is so dangerous

He operates entirely from ego and will destroy alliances in the process.

[world wide wally]

43. Tell her to wear a pussy hat all the time. At least they will know she doesn't support Trump

[TygrBright]

47. I think better of the Aussies than that.

I know several, and they are people of intelligence and compassion and, yeah, okay, they have a kinda strange sense of humor, but they're not vindictive.

hopefully,
Bright

[Hamlette]

49. Turnbull is unfortunately beholden to Austrailian Trump lovers.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/bombshell-lands-in-the-antipodes

"3. Turnbull holds a very weak grip on power because:

* his Government won the last election by a tiny margin and can lose power if a few MPs decide to become independents; and
* he can be replaced as leader by his party at any time . . .

4.Because of the above, Turnbull is captive to the Australian hard right, many of whom are Trump admirers, climate change deniers etc. These people have been reaching out to the Trump people since the election. Turnbull would love to ignore these idiots but he can’t because the minute he does, he gets rolled.

5. In Australia, refugee policy (in reality, politics) is a big deal. The issue has been politicised in the last few election cycles so that a great many Australians support “offshore processing”, a policy that is basically designed to be so cruel that refugees stop trying."

[Chakaconcarne]

53. Get your world traveling in now before we everyone cuts off our Visas...

At least we'll be welcome in Russia..

[cab67]

57. The Australian PM has a web site to send comments.

I sent one expressing my outrage and embarrassment at Lord Dampnut's behavior toward him. It's not funny, and I hope the Australian people know that a growing majority of Americans want the Orange One gone.

(Lord Dampnut is an anagram for Donald Trump. So is Don Turdpalm. Or so I've been told.)

[triron]

62. is it open to comments from anyone or just Australians?

[leftofcool]

77. Open to anyone.; I sent an apology note to him.

[Javaman]

58. I honestly can't find any reason why any of this would be perceived as "funny"?

this is a colossal fuck up on the part of the orange menace and his room full of control freaks.

[Marthe48]

59. We are the ONLY superpower

We got to be the most powerful nation on the planet without causing a world war. The greatness of America lies in the fact that our leaders worked with other leaders and made a system that for the most part, keeps most people safe. Is it perfect? No. Just look at the refugees, look at the poverty, look at the imbalance of wealth. But our country has a system of allies, of financial agreements, trade agreements and social agreements. trump, and his cadre of losers, need to show that they have bigger peckers, so they will destroy the framework that made America great and replace it with their shoddy, incompetent and destructive vision. They are building a house of cards on sand. They are trash, trashing America.

[Enoki33]

63. A friend in Australia confirms the hatred is for real. They are

an extremely proud (with good reason) and fiercely independent people who will not soon forget Trump's insult. They are influential in the region. They are also amazed at the stupidity of the people here who ultimately are responsible. It is not good! This is the same friend who once told me we have auctions, not elections in this country and that we would one day pay the price. While Trump may not be that product, the success of his con was and is based on collective stupidity, racism and sexism.

[NotThisTime]

71. Thank you for affirming what my friends are saying sadly.As for my daughter,everyone on campus hates

trump no matter their country of origin... nobody has to ask anyone what they think of him thank god... It's just a matter of them pushing out the Uni students. There are grumblings of pushing out the U.S. Navy at the moment....

[northoftheborder]

64. If I travel outside the US I think I will wear...

my Dem. pin and/or Hillary button. I have even considered wearing them in my state (red).

[raccoon]

65. OP, you never did say, WHO is it that you think finds this funny? nt

[NotThisTime]

74. I saw some posts early on that didn't sit well, really making fun of trump, but this is deeper than

that... I think everyone now as we sit here realizes the damage, whereas last night at 10pm while I was in a panic contacting all my friends, the attitude here was more cavalier. Having spent so much time over there I knew what the response over there would be...

[TrekLuver]

66. So they hate every American because of this asshole?

[NotThisTime]

72. They hold us ALL accountable for it whether that is the case or not. Just like they held us

accountable for Bush. During those years I just told people I was Canadian since my accent can be confused, and often is.

[TrekLuver]

73. Well that's pretty ridiculous since they KNOW he lost the popular vote.

[steve2470]

69. Come on, maybe some Aussies hate us, but I'm sure the vast majority realize over 50% of....

we Americans who bothered to vote did not want him. Your daughter has nothing to worry about.

eta: No one on this board finds Trump funny in the least at any time.

[mattclearing]

70. You're misinformed.

I'm in Australia and no one is worked up. They are horrified of Trump, same as any rational people, and don't hold Americans responsible for him.

[Skittles]

75. who thinks it is funny?

[MFM008]

76. so the mango maggot

has got us going to war with our Allies.
terrific.

[Jamaal510]

80. Another way

he's "shaking things up". Thanks, Trump.

[canetoad]

84. Australia calling.

No USA, we do NOT hate you. I don't hate you, my friends don't, my town doesn't. I'm calling bullshit to the OPs statement and say it's an uninformed broad brush comment.

Hang in there my friends, you'll find a way through this mess.

[babylonsister]

86. I was looking for you and hoped

you'd pipe up. Thanks for the vote of confidence, mate!

[canetoad]

88. Hey Sistah!

Strange times eh? We have a heap of US military bases including Pine Gap which has jokingly been called the Aussie Area 51. We are also partners in geologic monitoring, weather watching - heaps of other stuff. What gives this fucking orange buffoon the right to throw away a century of friendship and co-operation?

Hope all is well with you and you're not too stressed. Hang in there kiddo!

[babylonsister]

90. Yes,

stress is the word of the day for us political junkies. Every day he offends someone; that is not how we like to be portrayed. #notmyprez

I'm hopefully going to Palm Beach tomorrow with a few thousand of my best friends to give him a piece of my mind, and will continue to search for venues where I can let him know just how loathed he is.

[Blue_true]

85. It's not funny to insult a loyal friend.

If anyone is laughing, it is at Trump and his complete idiocy. I was taught by an Australian teacher years ago, they seem to let stupid shit slide off their shoulders. I think they will write us off only if we reelect that asshole.

[TrekLuver]

87. I wrote a little note to the Prime Minister & the Australian news station saying so sorry

for the shitshow and sorry you have to deal with Donald Trump. Please remember that our alliance is bigger than Donald Trump and will be there long after he is gone.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

89. The last two PMs of Oz were from the Liberal Party, which is not what we'd call liberal.

The party's ideology has been referred to as conservative,[4] liberal-conservative,[5] and conservative-liberal.[6] The Liberal Party tends to promote economic liberalism and social conservatism.[7] Two past leaders of the party, Sir Robert Menzies and John Howard, are Australia's two longest-serving Prime Ministers. The Liberal Party has spent more time in government than any other federal Australian political party.

Also, Australian far-right leader: 'we are in danger of being swamped by Muslims'

Anti-immigration politician Pauline Hanson Wednesday warned Australia was in danger of being swamped by Muslims and told those unwilling to give the nation their undivided loyalty to "go back where you came from".

Twenty years after saying Australia was at risk of being overrun by Asians, Mrs Hanson used her first speech to parliament since being re-elected in July to declare: "I'm back".

And, Far-right-wing parties after your vote on election day

I doubt any of them could be so all around awful as Trump, but it's not as though Australia can claim to entirely reject their own RW candidates.

[avebury]

91. Trump is too stupid to realize that, if wants to start any type of

military action against China, He will need Australia. I doubt Putin would help the US. He would sit back and watch China and the US beat each other to a bloody pulp while Russia remains in tact.