And yet it was worked for him time and time again.

I don’t like it because we’re needlessly hurting relations, but to say it’s a bad strategy is silly.

We must have a completely different definition of 'it worked'. The only thing that worked here is that he managed to get Epstein off the front pages, but that will only work for so long. Oh, then there is Cuba of course.

Why do you still believe there's any crime at all that could somehow turn around the people who support Trump?

Do you really think, after over a decade of buying into a cult, they will suddenly give up after seeing slightly better proof of things that are already widely known?

It's delusion to think this has to do with Epstein. Israel committed to this war Oct 7th, and the Trump admin jumped in for worse reasons: They thought they were special and could win. They thought they would be seen as strong.

Why do Trump friends own so much news and media if Trump believes he has to make up a war to distract from Epstein?

No amount of preachers raping kids has stopped fundamentalists christians from supporting their institutions that enable such activity. They are some of the same people who support Trump. They don't care if he personally raped a kid. "The ends justify the means". 2A folks support him even though he has directly said he wants to take guns from people without due process and even though he said Pretti should not have brought a gun to a protest, something that Kyle Rittenhouse supporters probably should have a problem with.

They don't care. The ends justify the means. They've never cared about the actual person involved. Everything they say in defense of him is post-hoc rationalization and entirely a front. They do not care.

> Why do you still believe there's any crime at all that could somehow turn around the people who support Trump?

Did I say that? Or did your reply get attached to the wrong comment? Either way, no I don't believe that at all.

Fools hacker news every day. And it worked on the Iranians.

If the madman act had worked there would've been some significant changes before the bombings last year. Or, ok, maybe you gotta show them you're serious. But the madman act would at least then prevent needing to attack for weeks this year. Oh, nevermind. But... third time's the charm, right! He's definitely gonna get what he wants this time?

The people running the country, killing protestors, etc, aren't trying to "win" in the same way Trump is. It's easier to avoid regime change than it is to cause it from air strikes.

Did it? I’m pretty sure a cease fire is something they appreciate, and they haven’t given up anything for it yet.