Maybe We Like a Dictator

[MontyPython]

I was talking about the people voting in your poll, but WOW on the rest.

As far as knowing when Trump is trolling…. I lean towards when he is answering a direct question.

Reporter: "Mr. Trump, do you intend to bomb Iran again if your administration determines they're still pursuing nuclear weapons?"

Trump: [trolls reporter]

Seriously?

Being President requires the gravity and demeanor that Trump never has had nor ever will. He's a power-hungry, self-absorbed grifter who desperately wants to be a dictator like Kim Jong Il.

# # #

Donald Trump has made several notable compliments about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, particularly during his first term as U.S. President and in subsequent public statements. Below is a compilation of key compliments, based on available information:

1. **"Very Honorable" and "Very Open"**: In April 2018, Trump described Kim as "very open" and "very honorable" during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, marking a shift from earlier criticisms where he called Kim "little rocket man" and a "maniac." He emphasized Kim’s openness in negotiations regarding denuclearization.[](https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/24/trump-praise-kim-jong-un-547610)

2. **"Talented" and Patriotic**: Following the 2018 Singapore summit, Trump called Kim "talented" and said he "loves his country," highlighting Kim’s ability to maintain control over North Korea. Trump noted, “Anybody who takes over a situation like he did at 26 years of age and is able to run it, and run it tough — I don’t say ‘he was nice’ or I don’t say anything about it.”[](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/12/trump-heaps-praise-on-kim-jong-un-during-nuclear-weapons-summit.html)

3. **"Great Leader" with Economic Vision**: At the 2019 Hanoi summit, Trump referred to Kim as a "great leader" and praised his potential to lead North Korea to a “tremendous future” economically if he agreed to disarm. Trump emphasized North Korea’s "unbelievable, unlimited" economic potential under Kim’s leadership.[](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/27/donald-trump-hails-great-leader-kim-jong-un-at-hanoi-summit)

4. **"Beautiful Letters" and "We Fell in Love"**: Trump frequently referenced "beautiful letters" from Kim, describing their relationship as one where they "fell in love." At a September 2018 rally in West Virginia, he said, “He wrote me beautiful letters, and they’re great letters. We fell in love.” This sentiment was reiterated multiple times, with Trump portraying their correspondence as a sign of a strong personal rapport.[](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/we-fell-in-love-trump-and-kim-shower-praise-stroke-egos-on-path-to-nuclear-negotiations/2019/02/24/46875188-3777-11e9-854a-7a14d7fec96a_story.html)[](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/09/30/trump-north-koreas-kim-love-beautiful-letters/1478834002/)[](https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-north-korea-kim-jong-un-love-1145179)

5. **Economic Potential and Strategic Location**: Trump often highlighted Kim’s vision for North Korea’s economic growth, stating in May 2019, “Kim Jong Un is looking to create a nation that has great strength economically,” and noting North Korea’s “tremendous economic potential” due to its geographic location between South Korea, Russia, and China. He suggested Kim could make North Korea a resort destination, commenting on its “great beaches” and potential for condos.[](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/we-fell-in-love-trump-and-kim-shower-praise-stroke-egos-on-path-to-nuclear-negotiations/2019/02/24/46875188-3777-11e9-854a-7a14d7fec96a_story.html)[](https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/02/politics/donald-trump-dictators-kim-jong-un-vladimir-putin/index.html)

6. **Strong Leadership**: In 2016, during a campaign rally in Iowa, Trump expressed admiration for Kim’s ability to consolidate power, saying, “You gotta give him credit. How many young guys — he was like 26 or 25 when his father died — take over these tough generals, and all of a sudden ... he’s the boss. It’s incredible.”[](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-north-korean-leader-kim-jong-gotta-give/story?id=36198345)

7. **Personal Rapport and Respect**: Trump frequently emphasized their personal connection, stating in April 2019, “Kim Jong Un has been, really, somebody that I’ve gotten to know very well and respect.” He also claimed in 2025, during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, that he knew Kim “better than anybody, almost, other than his sister,” referring to Kim Yo-jong.[](https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/02/politics/donald-trump-dictators-kim-jong-un-vladimir-putin/index.html)[](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/25/trump-north-korea-kim-jong-un-lee-jae-myung)

8. **"Very Positive" and "Beautiful" Correspondence**: In August 2019, Trump described a three-page letter from Kim as “very positive” and “really beautiful,” delivered amid stalled nuclear talks. He highlighted Kim’s “unwavering faith” in him and expressed optimism about future meetings.[](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-praises-beautiful-letter-kim-jong-amid-frozen/story?id=64881156)[](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-southkorea-trump-idUSKCN1LM1IZ/)

9. **Congratulations on WHO Appointment**: In 2023, Trump congratulated Kim on Truth Social for North Korea’s appointment to the World Health Organization’s executive board, writing, “Congratulations to Kim Jung [sic] Un!” This drew criticism from Republican rivals.[](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/gop-candidates-criticize-trump-praising-kim-jong-un-rcna87642)[](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/05/trump-kim-jong-un-praise-republican-presidential-candidates)

These compliments reflect Trump’s diplomatic strategy of building a personal relationship with Kim to advance nuclear negotiations, often focusing on Kim’s leadership, economic vision, and their mutual rapport. Critics, including North Korean defector Grace Jo, have argued that such praise overlooks Kim’s human rights abuses and authoritarian rule.[](https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3036825/kim-jong-un-doesnt-deserve-donald-trumps-compliments-north-korean)

The information is drawn from various reports and public statements, primarily from 2016 to 2025, as documented in news sources.

 

[MontyPython]

"He's just trolling" is the MAGA knee jerk response to his actions or statements that are so far removed from his supporters' so called 'conservative' beliefs that the only way to maintain the cognitive dissonance required to support him in that moment, is to pretend that he's not serious.

Bingo.

Unfortunately, it would appear that Trump supporters also lack basic common sense.

For instance, let's say they get their wet dreams: Trump becomes our ruler for life, elections are eliminated, Trump rules and beliefs are instilled as our own punishable by death.

Then what?

Who becomes our new Dictator when Trump dies, MAGA?

You may love Trump and want him forever, but when he passes, your right to subsequently select a new leader is gone. Forever.

Want a different guy? Start a coup.

Then again, you *wanted* a Banana Republic.

 

[FLVOL_79]

That's ridiculous. While the pressuring of Joe Biden to drop out of the race was unseemly, it was not illegal. Ultimately, Biden did decline the Democratic Party nomination for President, which allowed his delegates to cast votes for Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention. No laws were broken. No Federal Election Commission laws were violated. It was not Unconstitutional. Biden said at the time that he was declining the Democratic Party nomination for President of his own free will, and whether that was true or not, it was enough.

Donald Trump's fake elector scheme on the other hand, involved acts of forgery, which is illegal.

Whatever you gotta tell yourself to think that what they didn't wasn't insane. Biden didn't make the choice. It was made for him and it was made for you (and other democrats).

 

[BowlBrother85]

Whatever you gotta tell yourself to think that what they didn't wasn't insane. Biden didn't make the choice. It was made for him and it was made for you (and other democrats).

Joe Biden was pressured to drop out of the race, but the fact that Biden said that he was declining to accept the Democratic Party nomination of his own free will, and said that he was endorsing Kamala Harris for President was all the legal and political cover that was needed for the Democratic National Committee to persuade Biden's delegates to cast their votes for Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention.

You don't have to like it, but it was within the rules of the DNC and the Federal Election Commission, and it was Constitutional .... and let's face reality here. In the aftermath of how Donald Trump handled losing the 2020 Presidential Election, Republicans have no high ground from which to preach, when it comes to having respect for the democratic system of elections in the United States. Prior to the certification of the electoral college vote on January 6, 2021, Donald Trump was publicly pressuring his Vice President to refuse to count electoral college votes from hand-picked states they had lost. That marked a very clear conflict of interest. A person might even refer to Trump's fake elector scheme as being "insane."

Republicans who defended how Donald Trump handled losing the 2020 Presidential General Election, can not be taken seriously when they complain about Democrats pressuring Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 Presidential Election Campaign.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Reporter: "Mr. Trump, do you intend to bomb Iran again if your administration determines they're still pursuing nuclear weapons?"

Trump: [trolls reporter]

Seriously?

Being President requires the gravity and demeanor that Trump never has had nor ever will. He's a power-hungry, self-absorbed grifter who desperately wants to be a dictator like Kim Jong Il.

# # #

Donald Trump has made several notable compliments about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, particularly during his first term as U.S. President and in subsequent public statements. Below is a compilation of key compliments, based on available information:

1. **"Very Honorable" and "Very Open"**: In April 2018, Trump described Kim as "very open" and "very honorable" during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, marking a shift from earlier criticisms where he called Kim "little rocket man" and a "maniac." He emphasized Kim’s openness in negotiations regarding denuclearization.[](https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/24/trump-praise-kim-jong-un-547610)

2. **"Talented" and Patriotic**: Following the 2018 Singapore summit, Trump called Kim "talented" and said he "loves his country," highlighting Kim’s ability to maintain control over North Korea. Trump noted, “Anybody who takes over a situation like he did at 26 years of age and is able to run it, and run it tough — I don’t say ‘he was nice’ or I don’t say anything about it.”[](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/12/trump-heaps-praise-on-kim-jong-un-during-nuclear-weapons-summit.html)

3. **"Great Leader" with Economic Vision**: At the 2019 Hanoi summit, Trump referred to Kim as a "great leader" and praised his potential to lead North Korea to a “tremendous future” economically if he agreed to disarm. Trump emphasized North Korea’s "unbelievable, unlimited" economic potential under Kim’s leadership.[](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/27/donald-trump-hails-great-leader-kim-jong-un-at-hanoi-summit)

4. **"Beautiful Letters" and "We Fell in Love"**: Trump frequently referenced "beautiful letters" from Kim, describing their relationship as one where they "fell in love." At a September 2018 rally in West Virginia, he said, “He wrote me beautiful letters, and they’re great letters. We fell in love.” This sentiment was reiterated multiple times, with Trump portraying their correspondence as a sign of a strong personal rapport.[](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/we-fell-in-love-trump-and-kim-shower-praise-stroke-egos-on-path-to-nuclear-negotiations/2019/02/24/46875188-3777-11e9-854a-7a14d7fec96a_story.html)[](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/09/30/trump-north-koreas-kim-love-beautiful-letters/1478834002/)[](https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-north-korea-kim-jong-un-love-1145179)

5. **Economic Potential and Strategic Location**: Trump often highlighted Kim’s vision for North Korea’s economic growth, stating in May 2019, “Kim Jong Un is looking to create a nation that has great strength economically,” and noting North Korea’s “tremendous economic potential” due to its geographic location between South Korea, Russia, and China. He suggested Kim could make North Korea a resort destination, commenting on its “great beaches” and potential for condos.[](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/we-fell-in-love-trump-and-kim-shower-praise-stroke-egos-on-path-to-nuclear-negotiations/2019/02/24/46875188-3777-11e9-854a-7a14d7fec96a_story.html)[](https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/02/politics/donald-trump-dictators-kim-jong-un-vladimir-putin/index.html)

6. **Strong Leadership**: In 2016, during a campaign rally in Iowa, Trump expressed admiration for Kim’s ability to consolidate power, saying, “You gotta give him credit. How many young guys — he was like 26 or 25 when his father died — take over these tough generals, and all of a sudden ... he’s the boss. It’s incredible.”[](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-north-korean-leader-kim-jong-gotta-give/story?id=36198345)

7. **Personal Rapport and Respect**: Trump frequently emphasized their personal connection, stating in April 2019, “Kim Jong Un has been, really, somebody that I’ve gotten to know very well and respect.” He also claimed in 2025, during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, that he knew Kim “better than anybody, almost, other than his sister,” referring to Kim Yo-jong.[](https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/02/politics/donald-trump-dictators-kim-jong-un-vladimir-putin/index.html)[](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/25/trump-north-korea-kim-jong-un-lee-jae-myung)

8. **"Very Positive" and "Beautiful" Correspondence**: In August 2019, Trump described a three-page letter from Kim as “very positive” and “really beautiful,” delivered amid stalled nuclear talks. He highlighted Kim’s “unwavering faith” in him and expressed optimism about future meetings.[](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-praises-beautiful-letter-kim-jong-amid-frozen/story?id=64881156)[](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-southkorea-trump-idUSKCN1LM1IZ/)

9. **Congratulations on WHO Appointment**: In 2023, Trump congratulated Kim on Truth Social for North Korea’s appointment to the World Health Organization’s executive board, writing, “Congratulations to Kim Jung [sic] Un!” This drew criticism from Republican rivals.[](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/gop-candidates-criticize-trump-praising-kim-jong-un-rcna87642)[](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/05/trump-kim-jong-un-praise-republican-presidential-candidates)

These compliments reflect Trump’s diplomatic strategy of building a personal relationship with Kim to advance nuclear negotiations, often focusing on Kim’s leadership, economic vision, and their mutual rapport. Critics, including North Korean defector Grace Jo, have argued that such praise overlooks Kim’s human rights abuses and authoritarian rule.[](https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3036825/kim-jong-un-doesnt-deserve-donald-trumps-compliments-north-korean)

The information is drawn from various reports and public statements, primarily from 2016 to 2025, as documented in news sources.

Its almost as though Trump has been trained to illicit a favorable response from a narcissistic sociopath. Imagine he would compliment Kim Jong Un in public.

…tsk, tsk.

 

[FLVOL_79]

Joe Biden was pressured to drop out of the race, but the fact that Biden said that he was declining to accept the Democratic Party nomination of his own free will, and said that he was endorsing Kamala Harris for President was all the legal and political cover that was needed for the Democratic National Committee to persuade Biden's delegates to cast their votes for Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention.

You don't have to like it, but it was within the rules of the DNC and the Federal Election Commission, and it was Constitutional .... and let's face reality here. In the aftermath of how Donald Trump handled losing the 2020 Presidential Election, Republicans have no high ground from which to preach, when it comes to having respect for the democratic system of elections in the United States. Prior to the certification of the electoral college vote on January 6, 2021, Donald Trump was publicly pressuring his Vice President to refuse to count electoral college votes from hand-picked states they had lost. That marked a very clear conflict of interest. A person might even refer to Trump's fake elector scheme as being "insane."

Republicans who defended how Donald Trump handled losing the 2020 Presidential General Election, can not be taken seriously when they complain about Democrats pressuring Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 Presidential Election Campaign.

"free will". Come on dude. Thats like saying Daniel Pearl condemned American policy of his own free will before having his head sawn off.

 

[BowlBrother85]

"free will". Come on dude. Thats like saying Daniel Pearl condemned American policy of his own free will before having his head sawn off.

Yes, he was pressured.

However, he said all the right things necessary for the DNC to have legal and political cover with instructing Biden's delegates to vote for Harris at the convention. If Biden says it was his decision to decline the Democratic Party nomination, how do you go about disputing that?

It was messy, but that is modern American politics for you .... and ultimately, just like with Trump's 2020 hissy fit, the outcome of the general election was left unchanged from what it would have been without the drama.

Biden won in 2020.
Trump won in 2024.

 

[MontyPython]

Its almost as though Trump has been trained to illicit a favorable response from a narcissistic sociopath. Imagine he would compliment Kim Jong Un in public.

…tsk, tsk.

Heh. Which one is the narcissistic psychopath?

 

[jvol1]

Without the south the North had nothing to trade.

The worry was that alone the colonies could be manipulated and turned against each other by the powers in europe. They wanted present a united front to prevent being picked off and conquered one by one.

 

[McDad]

Is there room to step away from 'Trump bad' and 'the unconstitutionality' of deploying the NG domestically to discuss affect?

Is there data which shows criminal activity or homicides in DC pre/post NG presence? Or, even compared to same time last year(s)?

 

[lawgator1]

Is there room to step away from 'Trump bad' and 'the unconstitutionality' of deploying the NG domestically to discuss affect?

Is there data which shows criminal activity or homicides in DC pre/post NG presence? Or, even compared to same time last year(s)?

There is but Trumpsters claim the numbers are fudged.

 

[McDad]

There is but Trumpsters claim the numbers are fudged.

can you link or give me some direction on what to google?

 

[hndog609]

There is but Trumpsters claim the numbers are fudged.

And they may well have been, there's certainly no lack of incentive on the part of city officials. Or they may not have been. There is a 100% chance at least some will question how far crime "actually" dropped with the NG present. We are a couple decades into plummeting distrust of "official reports" and it picked up bigly with the whole "You aren't seeing what you are actually seeing in real time." bit regarding Binden's cognitive impairment. People are just starting to believe what they want to believe because they are convinced the "other side" is perfectly willing to lie.

They're right...both sides.

 

[lawgator1]

And they may well have been, there's certainly no lack of incentive on the part of city officials. Or they may not have been. There is a 100% chance at least some will question how far crime "actually" dropped with the NG present. We are a couple decades into plummeting distrust of "official reports" and it picked up bigly with the whole "You aren't seeing what you are actually seeing in real time." bit regarding Binden's cognitive impairment. People are just starting to believe what they want to believe because they are convinced the "other side" is perfectly willing to lie.

They're right...both sides.

The only entity that I am aware of that has claimed that is the police union, coming on the heels of criticism from the police chief of the union. So, grain of salt and all that.

 

[McDad]

This what I found via AI:
I worded my question this way: The National Guard was recently deployed to Washington DC. Has violent crime data improved since the deployment?

In response to a rise in violent crime, the National Guard was deployed to Washington, D.C., beginning on August 11, 2025. According to a recent analysis by CBS News of data from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), violent crime has seen a significant decline since the deployment.

### Key Crime Data Findings

* **Overall Violent Crime:** A CBS News analysis of crime data from August 7 through August 25, 2025, showed a 49% decrease in combined violent crime compared to the same period in 2024.
* **Homicides:** The number of homicides dropped from seven in the same period of 2024 to three in 2025. There was an 11-day stretch without a homicide after the deployment began, although similar streaks have occurred in the past.
* **Robbery:** Robberies also saw a sharp decline, from 112 incidents to 42 during the analyzed period.

AI also shared the disagreement about the data which seems to originate from DC Mayoral office.

 

[MontyPython]

This what I found via AI:
I worded my question this way: The National Guard was recently deployed to Washington DC. Has violent crime data improved since the deployment?

In response to a rise in violent crime, the National Guard was deployed to Washington, D.C., beginning on August 11, 2025. According to a recent analysis by CBS News of data from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), violent crime has seen a significant decline since the deployment.

### Key Crime Data Findings

* **Overall Violent Crime:** A CBS News analysis of crime data from August 7 through August 25, 2025, showed a 49% decrease in combined violent crime compared to the same period in 2024.
* **Homicides:** The number of homicides dropped from seven in the same period of 2024 to three in 2025. There was an 11-day stretch without a homicide after the deployment began, although similar streaks have occurred in the past.
* **Robbery:** Robberies also saw a sharp decline, from 112 incidents to 42 during the analyzed period.

AI also shared the disagreement about the data which seems to originate from DC Mayoral office.

So increased law enforcement reduces violent crime frequency. Paint me shocked.

Moving forward, can't the solution here be that DC increases its own law enforcement (presumably through new hires) to reduce violent crime? Or is the NG somehow "special" and only federally-controlled troops can reduce crime in major Democratic cities?

 

[McDad]

So increased law enforcement reduces violent crime frequency. Paint me shocked.

Moving forward, can't the solution here be that DC increases its own law enforcement (presumably through new hires) to reduce violent crime? Or is the NG somehow "special" and only federally-controlled troops can reduce crime in major Democratic cities?

The NG isn't provided any law enforcement, though. Even people opposed the their deployment cannot find any resource claiming they are "policing" DC.

The solution can be more LEOs. The more pertinent question is why aren't there more?

Eta....I had another thought. If the presence of more 'authority figures' (for lack of a better phrase) is a common sense approach to decreased violent crime, so much so that you offered a sarcastic "color me shocked", then why on earth would the city leadership of DC deny its citizens increased safety with such a simple and easily understood solution? It's a callous way to go about things.

 

[Orangeburst]

The NG isn't provided any law enforcement, though. Even people opposed the their deployment cannot find any resource claiming they are "policing" DC.

The solution can be more LEOs. The more pertinent question is why aren't there more?

Eta....I had another thought. If the presence of more 'authority figures' (for lack of a better phrase) is a common sense approach to decreased violent crime, so much so that you offered a sarcastic "color me shocked", then why on earth would the city leadership of DC deny its citizens increased safety with such a simple and easily understood solution? It's a callous way to go about things.

they literally have a party platform that calls for defunding police and spent last decade demonizing them. DC is smallest it has been in 50 years and down 800 officers..NYC is on track for smallest in 50 years..less officers and claimed reduced crime rates propaganda.
Certainly having more presence will help the police focus on higher crime areas.

 

[McDad]

they literally have a party platform that calls for defunding police and spent last decade demonizing them. DC is smallest it has been in 50 years and down 800 officers..NYC is on track for smallest in 50 years..less officers and claimed reduced crime rates propaganda.
Certainly having more presence will help the police focus on higher crime areas.

View attachment 768271

Perhaps Monty should be shocked, genuinely.

 

[Orangeburst]

Perhaps Monty should be shocked, genuinely.

I dont know how any officer could deal with the general public these days..Wonder where Whats his name has been in here..retired sub guy.

 

[McDad]

I dont know how any officer could deal with the general public these days..Wonder where Whats his name has been in here..retired sub guy.

Grey Wolfe?

 

[Orangeburst]

Grey Wolfe?

his profile musta been nuked

 

[McDad]

his profile musta been nuked

Gone fission???

 

[marcusluvsvols]

Grey Wolfe?

He was a really good guy. Hope he is doing well. Last I heard he was doing some part time work with the Sherriffs Dept. He may have gotten a management job with ICE or DOJ etc under Trump. He had 30+ years experience as an LEO...

 

[85SugarVol]

So increased law enforcement reduces violent crime frequency. Paint me shocked.

Moving forward, can't the solution here be that DC increases its own law enforcement (presumably through new hires) to reduce violent crime? Or is the NG somehow "special" and only federally-controlled troops can reduce crime in major Democratic cities?

I don’t support the blanket deployment of NG on American streets.

But to the bolded - Yea, that would kinda be the point of the exercise, no?

Would cities that willingly put cops on the streets, and arrested and prosecuted law breakers, see a decrease in crime rate?