Anthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™

#Trump #Kamala #USA #USPol #UK #Brexit #Labour #Starmer #UKPol #Putin #Ukraine

๐Ÿšจ*Shots Fired by Macron!*๐Ÿšจ

Following the stunning, but unwanted Trump victory, President Macron outlines his future vision for the #EU & #Europe

He acknowledges that Europe can no longer rely on America for its military security & economic stability, & that the EU needs to stand on its own 2 feet & see #America & #China as rivals

North Koreans are fighting #Europeans in Europe, for a Trump backed #Russian dictator

Nov 9, 2024 at 7:54amWeb
Show threadEricNov 9, 2024

@AnthonyFStevens

70,355,827 American voters don't trust Trump to protect the interests of the US, or our traditional allies. European leaders and voters would be wise to follow Macron's lead.

Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@EricMartin

Something doesn't quite add up. #Trump was supremely confident of victory throughout & even told his supporters he had enough votes.

As the smoke clears, it now seems 25m less people voted than in 2020, in apparently the biggest #USElection yet! I'm no conspiracy theorist, & the #Democrats don't want to appear to be sore lovers, but finally questions are being asked

However, as things stand, America has revealed to the world what they truly are, as Trump isn't an unknown quantity

Show threadEricNov 9, 2024

@AnthonyFStevens

There are many reasons not to trust the motives of the ultra wealthy. The fact that Elon Musk became so heavily involved has not escaped notice.
I understand that the rest of the world is, and should be leery of America.

Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@EricMartin

Agreed 100%! Even more terrifying is its reported that Space Karen sat in on the phone call between #Zelenskyy & #Trump after he announced himself the winner.

#Musk is now presenting himself as a real life Bond villain & it beggars belief this is being allowed to happen. Trump owes #Elon & he's sat right beside the Orange #Jesus ready to cash in his loyalty points.

If this doesn't scare the bejesus out of people, then nothing will! ๐Ÿ˜ณ

Show threadEricNov 9, 2024

@AnthonyFStevens

The total number of voters for president in 2020 according to the Federal Elections commission was 158,429, 631.I'm not sure when the commission will release results for 2024, and I don't know what the most reliable source of information for this is at the moment. I'm seeing about 14m less voters right now as being reported by media. I doubt if all provisional ballots have been counted yet. But i agree as the numbers now stand, there is reason for suspicion.

Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@EricMartin

As figures stand now, #Trump got 3m less than in 2020, & #Kamala received 15m less than #Biden.

When you add in the 25m who registered to vote, & Kamala slashing Trump's poll lead to neck & neck, the size of Trump's victory is beginning to arouse suspicions.

As I said, I'm not a conspiracy theorist, & the #Democrats are pained not to come across as sore lovers, but many are coming to the conclusion that something doesn't quite add up, & I cautiously agree.

Show threadJeff C. ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ฑNov 9, 2024

@AnthonyFStevens @EricMartin Some context about that.

In short: Not all the votes have been counted yet (esp. here in California, where Harris is disproportionately represented), but that wonโ€™t change the election outcome.

https://www.vox.com/politics/383944/conspiracy-theories-trump-win

Conspiracy theories are spreading about Trumpโ€™s win. Theyโ€™re false.

The misinformation thatโ€™s proliferating rests on faulty assumptions.

Vox
Show threadJeff C. ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ฑNov 9, 2024

@AnthonyFStevens @EricMartin I plead with Europeans to not try to second-guess this.

Trump won and is exactly what he looks like. You would do well to become self-sufficient and capable of your own defense, because our country cannot be relied upon for the foreseeable future.

I wish it werenโ€™t so.

Show threadEricNov 9, 2024

@jeff
@AnthonyFStevens

Last two sentences of my reply:
" I doubt if all provisional ballots have been counted yet. But i agree as the numbers now stand, there is reason for suspicion."

Again: "As numbers now stand..."

If I didn't have a healthy suspicion of billionaires and their motives, as well as their vast ability to corrupt, I'd feel as though my head were planted firmly in the sand.

Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@jeff @EricMartin

Thanks for the link. Yes, I accept the result of the election, it's just I may have misunderstood the missing votes element.

In several podcasts I've watched, they claim the actual voter turnout was down by 25m, not that 25m votes remained to be counted. I think this is where the confusion has set in.

Show thread่Žน่ŽนNov 9, 2024

@AnthonyFStevens

I believe it is an opportunity for Europe (and China). Hopefully they take it.

Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@serialdeviant

Luckily for #Europe, Sir Keir #Starmer's #Labour won the election. If it went the #Tories way, they'd have sided with #Trump, so by default with #putin

These are dangerous times, & the sleeping giant of Europe needs to wake up & assert itself. We can no longer rely on #America & the threat to our security & safety in there on our border in #Ukraine.

Show thread่Žน่ŽนNov 9, 2024

@AnthonyFStevens

Agreed.

We need to keep advocating with Labour for additional policies (as things stabilise) to resist the continuing march of neoliberalism.

Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@serialdeviant

Labour already have a full in-tray & it looks as if it's gonna get a whole lot fuller with Trump's victory.

The only sensible option left available to the #UK is closer alignment with #Europe. #America is taking its own path, which suits #Putin just fine.

Mad Vlad couldn't have planned this any better. The only hiccup he's had so far was Trump losing in 2020, but now he's right back on track!

Show thread่Žน่ŽนNov 9, 2024

@AnthonyFStevens

Yes! The UK and EU have an opportunity here.

Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@serialdeviant

All #Labour need to do is separate #Brexit from #Immigration, which is easier said than done after Nazi Nige Fรผhrage's attempts, & the #Tories lurch to the right.

I think freedom of movement will be less on an issue, seeing as Brexit saw 1.8m white #Europeans leave the #UK, only to be replaced by 2m Black & brown people. I doubt this is what the #FarRight Brexit voting gammons signed up for... ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿพโ€โ™‚๏ธ

Show threadNo Gods , no Masters! RESISTNov 9, 2024
@AnthonyFStevens
More backbone than the entire Democratic party...
Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@palin

Agreed 100%!

Show threadSchmakerNov 9, 2024

@AnthonyFStevens Macron often says things I want to hear.

Somehow though I don't remember actually doing these...

Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@schmaker

That's the issue with the #EU, it has 27 member states who all have to agree, & this includes the pro-Putin Viktor Orban of Hungary.

European politics is complex, but I sense European leaders' patience with Orban is wearing very thin.

Show threadVeza85UENov 9, 2024
@AnthonyFStevens *27 ๐Ÿ˜‰
@schmaker Well, given that he's the only one with the military means, I suppose there IS a way he could do some of those things by staging an EUCO coup and taking over during the next summit (with Poland swooping in from the East, we could call it the Barot-Sikorski Pact). But yes, in the meantime, there are 26 other vetoes in the EUCO.
(The bloated vatnik is already a political corpse, the focus on him is misplaced and feeds his ego, imo, he's not that big of a deal.)
Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@Veza85UE @schmaker

I think the #EU has had too light a touch with Orban, & he needs to be neutered. He's already thrown several spanners in the EU works in his support of #Putin, so I think #Europe needs to give him a shock & awe reality check sooner rather than later.

Show threadSchmakerNov 9, 2024

@AnthonyFStevens Well, it does not seems to me. Instead of isolating him they bribed him for ages. I don't like that.

Back to Macron - I think he could have done much more on national level or at least rhetorically push the other states to actually do something. But that never happened.

Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@schmaker

As I said previously, #Macron is merely one voice out of many competing interests in the #EU. The situation #Europe now faces will test the #European experiment like never before. It's at times like these that real leaders emerge & take centre stage.

They say necessity is the mother of invention. I believe the threat to Europe's security & economic stability will force the EU into action like never before. IF it doesn't, even the staunchest pro-EU advocate will question its purpose.

Show threadVeza85UENov 9, 2024

@schmaker @AnthonyFStevens Like what? What rhetoric pushes frugals to suddenly want to spend money or these 13 countries from suddenly seeing the light of much needed EU reform or Germany to stop being Germany? Do yo have an example of some concrete statement *anyone* could have made to get them to reverse course?

I have ranted at lenght about failure to uphold rule of law and the bribery approach to the kelpto, but, the bribery didn't happen in a void.

Show threadSchmakerNov 9, 2024

@AnthonyFStevens @Veza85UE Well, it wont work "suddenly", but definitely works.

Remember which country in 2022 was about to send only helmets? It took some pressure, but yes - other countries helped Germany to stop Scholzing for a while ;)

If you expect some Polish guy to say some political "abrakadabra" and then suddenly everyone will help, then yes - you're right, that definitely can't work

Show threadVeza85UENov 9, 2024
@schmaker @AnthonyFStevens So "that never happened" actually happened. ๐Ÿ˜‰ I watch a lot of EUCO content, trust me, it happened a lot, publicly, since 2017, imagine in private... and btw, when he said he doesn't agree with their approach to keep telling Putin what we WON'T do to help Ukraine, everyone except 1 Baltic country lined up behind Germany to throw mud at him and dismiss any notion of sending troops to man Ukraine's Western border or trainers there. That was last year.
Show threadVeza85UENov 9, 2024

@schmaker @AnthonyFStevens France held the Presidency of The Other Council (the legislative one) when the 2022 invasion started and so they gathered everyone in Versailles and basically told them the same thing as the other day. They said no, not yet, oh no, can't have debt, debt is bad, tralalala unity to the lowest common denominator.

The message "behind the scenes" was: it will take time, Germany's not ready.

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/de/press/press-releases/2022/03/11/the-versailles-declaration-10-11032022/

Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@schmaker @Veza85UE

I get your point, but people's perspectives change rapidly when it's their lives under threat.

I'm pretty sure if the #US withdrew from #NATO & the #Russians began ammassing troops around the Belarus/Poland border, this would concentrate the minds of many.

#Putin needs a symbolic win. Keeping the territory he's gained with a guarantee #Ukraine won't join the #EU or #NATO is what he desperately wants to sell as victory to his people.

It seems #Trump will hand this to him

Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@Veza85UE @schmaker

The #EU isn't perfect, but let's NOT throw the baby out with the bath water. There are competing views in the institution, with every country advocating for what it sees best for itself.

In terms of how situations change minds, I draw your attention to Sweden & Finland joining NATO. Why now after all these years? Their situations changed with #Russia's invasion of #Ukraine, hence so did their security priorities.

Like I said, necessity is the mother of all invention.

Show threadVeza85UENov 9, 2024
@AnthonyFStevens @schmaker Sweden and Finland are 2 of the 3 countries that signed that No to EU reform pact after Feb 2022. They're also part of the crew calling themselves "frugal" (Sweden more than Finland officially), their Social Democrats in government at the time pushed for budget cuts to the EU in the middle of the pandemic because that's what they "sell" at home: no money for the lazy Southerners. Next round of budget negotiations start in 2025. They're governed by the right now.
Show threadVeza85UENov 9, 2024
@AnthonyFStevens @schmaker So now it's FAFO time and they'll have to do at least some of the things they've been refusing to do in the past and they WILL eventually have to do what they did during the pandemic, except they'll make it slower and less efficient than it could be. It's not out of doomerim, in fact I mock anglos & anglo media for covering the EU through the doomer lens all the time. But I am a realist and I'd also like us to not lose track of who fucked up, for future reference.
Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@Veza85UE @schmaker

The political landscape is rapidly changing in #Europe. The pandemic, the rise of the #FarRight & the war in #Ukraine have brought to the fore many hoped/wish they'd never see in their lifetimes, yet here we are.

I think the tipping point will be the #American withdrawal from #NATO & #Trump giving #Putin what he wants. Which leaders will sit safe in the belief that a Ukraine style situation couldn't happen to them next?

Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@Veza85UE @schmaker

And what followed in February 2022?

Show threadVeza85UENov 9, 2024
@AnthonyFStevens @schmaker Nothing. Some of them have already repeatedly said No to all proposals to adequately finance the EU and the increased investments needed not just to arm ourselves and Ukraine but also to help reconstruction and integration (our budgets are looong-term, next one is 2028-2034).
So now they have until the EU budget negotiations starting next summer to backtrack and accept some (most) of the proposals in the Draghi Report (basically French ideas they've rejected so far).
Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@Veza85UE @schmaker

#Russia's invasion of #Ukraine isn't exactly nothing. They didn't know then what they know now, & if #NATO falls apart, who or what defends #Europe from further #Putin aggression?

Mad Vlad has already proved his word can't be trusted. He spent 6 months assuring the world Russia wouldnโ€™t invade #Ukraine, yet here we are... ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿพโ€โ™‚๏ธ

Show threadVeza85UENov 9, 2024
@AnthonyFStevens @schmaker I highlighted the date of their response in that screenshot for a reason, it was *May* 2022. Versailles summit was in March, also after February, the German and Finnish governments saying noooooo we're not doing another common debt plan was in September 2024, etc. I've also said I think they'll do at least some of the reforms from the Draghi plan, just slowly, incompletely and after much trying to block and slow everything down.
Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@Veza85UE @schmaker

I get that, but I honestly believe if the #US withdraws from #NATO, that massively changes matters, as the whole of #Europe's security will be threatened by an emboldened #Russia

A week is a long time in politics, never mind a year or two. There'll be internal political battles too, as the #FarRight support #Putin who's actively supporting & funding them.

The #FarRight want an end to #NATO & for #Putin to prevail & get what he wants. This is gonna get very messy!

Show threadAhmedNov 9, 2024
@AnthonyFStevens, I agree, but how can you work on the European defense system without NATO which is being guided by the USA?
Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@ahmedbar

This is what #Macron is warning about, & what has been discussed at a theoretical level in the #EU for decades.

The likes of Nazi Nige Fรผhrage fought tooth & nail to kill the idea of a #European army, as he claimed this would be a step toward a federal Europe.

Without the #US in NATO, is there a point in its existence? Wouldn't a European army outside the sphere of #American influence make more sense to Europe?

These are difficult discussions which need to be urgently had.

Show threadNiko TrimmelNov 9, 2024
@AnthonyFStevens @ahmedbar that is what EU politicians were talking about in 2016. The sentiment clearly has shifted because they know the EU has member states who dont want an "EU army". Therefore the logical thing is to have a EU-led NATO closely cooperating with the EU.
Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 9, 2024

@nitrml @ahmedbar

As long as it amounts to the same thing, I suspect it'll be an acceptable workaround.

Show threadonecaliberalNov 9, 2024
@AnthonyFStevens He is 1000% correct.
Show threadEdelruth, PBS Passport HolderNov 10, 2024

@AnthonyFStevens

That's going to be America, Russia, North Korea and China.

Show threadWilloughby12Nov 10, 2024
@AnthonyFStevens
Canโ€™t say I blame him.
Show threadWilloughby12Nov 10, 2024
@AnthonyFStevens
Trump will make the United States of America โ€˜disappear geopoliticallyโ€™. We are no longer a global power. We are Putinโ€™s puppets. This is the Republican Party and they are proud to destroy us.
Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 10, 2024

@willoughby_12

The #FarRight Heritage Foundation, Opus Dei & others have got the unfettered power they've craved since 1975. They see #Trump as a messiah. The imperfect messenger sent by the perfect God.

Because he was the vehicle used to deliver their dystopic vision of #America's future, they're quite happy to hold their noses at the stench of corruption, rape, fraud & insurrection that follows Trump, & in return Trump will evade justice & make billions grifting in the process.

Show threadTed JohnsonNov 10, 2024

@AnthonyFStevens YES! Damn straight!

Wait. I'm an American...

Non, je ne regrette rien!

Show threadDrew McCormackNov 11, 2024
@AnthonyFStevens @axel Correct. Time to grow up.
Show threadUnprecedented 2023Nov 17, 2024
@AnthonyFStevens ๐Ÿคฌ๐Ÿคฌ
Show threadUnprecedented 2023Nov 17, 2024
@AnthonyFStevens Trump is an isolationist!! No more allies. Authoritarians unite.
Show threadAnthony Stevens ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ฒ ๐Ÿ’™Nov 17, 2024

@Mallulady

#Trump has brainwashed #America into normalising his behaviour, rhetoric & seeing his extremist #MAGA doctrine as the way forward

The #US knows who Trump is & what he stands for, so it's concerning that they returned him to office, in the full knowledge that he's an unhinged, narcissistic sociopath

They say a country gets the government it deserves & America opted for Trump 2.0. Some deep soul searching is required amongst the pro-democracy community. America is now a dictatorship