Let The S*** Show Begin

[4XPIPS]

Between Trump's cabinet appointments, his buy Greenland proposal, annex Canada, re-take the Panama Canal, re-name the Gulf of Mexico, and his geographical wizardry of putting Paris in Germany, telling the PM of India that at least he doesn't have to worry about China being on their border, and that Colorado shares a border with Mexico, something is seriously wrong with that man's mind.

The sad truth is that Trump is genuinely convinced he is smart, that he would pass a lie detectors test with flying colors because he is that convinced he is right. I know a lot of his rhetoric won't ever happen, just like he said back in 2016 he would build the wall, and it never happened. He said he would abolish Obamacare, well he was too lazy to come up with a plan and just modified it.
He also said he would deport all illegals, and that never happened. So again all this is just bluster to me, but it carries violent rhetoric. I work for a company that is based in Denmark, and we have got company emails that show they are seriously concerned as to what Trump is trying to push. It's easy for someone to say, meh "he is all talk" but it's the outside world that reacts to this garbage and it causes turmoil.

[River Dog]

Between Trump's cabinet appointments, his buy Greenland proposal, annex Canada, re-take the Panama Canal, re-name the Gulf of Mexico, and his geographical wizardry of putting Paris in Germany, telling the PM of India that at least he doesn't have to worry about China being on their border, and that Colorado shares a border with Mexico, something is seriously wrong with that man's mind.

The sad truth is that Trump is genuinely convinced he is smart, that he would pass a lie detectors test with flying colors because he is that convinced he is right. I know a lot of his rhetoric won't ever happen, just like he said back in 2016 he would build the wall, and it never happened. He said he would abolish Obamacare, well he was too lazy to come up with a plan and just modified it.
He also said he would deport all illegals, and that never happened. So again all this is just bluster to me, but it carries violent rhetoric. I work for a company that is based in Denmark, and we have got company emails that show they are seriously concerned as to what Trump is trying to push. It's easy for someone to say, meh "he is all talk" but it's the outside world that reacts to this garbage and it causes turmoil.

Agreed. Trump is a textbook example of a narcissist. I'm convinced that the reason why he came up with this stolen election fantasy was because his ego wouldn't allow him to believe that he could be defeated. He actually believes that California voted for him.

The deportation of illegals is another fantasy of his. First off, he doubled even the most liberal of estimates of how many are in the country, claiming that there were 20 million, and secondly, even if he utilized the armed forces, we do not have the capability of rounding up, detaining, and transporting that many people. And the dirty little secret is that illegal border crossings are way down, to the lowest level since the pandemic. And of those who are already here illegally, the vast majority simply have overstayed their visa, meaning that they came here legally and have been vetted. It's a phony crisis.

And I partially agree about his trash talk affecting international relations, especially this talk of massive tariffs, which would be hugely damaging to our own US economy. But there are times when it can be beneficial as it places doubt in some of our adversaries' minds, particularly China, North Korea, and Iran, thinking that a crazy man has his finger on the button. I can remember when Ronald Reagan talked about his SDI, a.k.a. Star Wars defense system that the experts said was a pipe dream. But the Soviets believed it.

[c_hawkbob]

Darkest day in my memory. On Martin Luthor King Jr Day we've got a South African born shadow president throwing up a Nazi salute to a cheering crowd of neo fascist pretend patriots.

I'm not defending Musk or Trump as I like neither, but to be fair, I have to point out that the ADL defended Musk in saying that he did not intend his gesture to be interpreted as a Nazi salute:

The Anti Defamation League (ADL), an organisation founded to combat anti-Semitism which has criticised Musk in the past, defended his actions this time around.

“It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute,” the organization said in a statement posted on X.

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/po ... ing-viral/

Some people you just can't give the benefit of the doubt: https://www.yahoo.com/news/adl-changes- ... 22726.html

[River Dog]

“It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute,” the organization said in a statement posted on X.

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/po ... ing-viral/

Some people you just can't give the benefit of the doubt:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/adl-changes- ... 22726.html

Well, it still doesn't mean that he intended the gesture as a Nazi salute, rather it appears to me that he was trying to make fun of the press for their reaction to it. But I'll join you and the ADL in condemning him for his tasteless jokes about it. Musk is almost as big of an A-hole as Trump is. Almost, but not quite.

[Spohawk5092]

Oh what a show! By the minute, by the hour!!! LOL.

[c_hawkbob]

Oh what a show! By the minute, by the hour!!! LOL.

No kidding! Just a constant barrage of world class dumbassery!

[Aseahawkfan]

Are you ready for the Gaza Riviera? That is the first time I have heard that particular solution to that particular problem. Let's just say I'm doubting it's going to happen.

[River Dog]

Just think. We have 4 years of this s*** show to endure.

I was never so put off by anyone as I was with Trump during his presser immediately following the plane crash that killed 60 some people. What I thought about first was the contrast between Trump's comments about that accident vs. Ronald Reagan's speech following the Challenger accident. Even liberal Democrats will have to admit that the nationally televised speech Reagan gave on the eve of the accident was Reagan at his finest, exactly what the families of those lost and the nation as a whole needed at that moment. What did Trump do? Try to lay blame on others and score some political points by using more completely baseless, absurd arguments, and to do so less than 24 hours after the tragedy. What an A-hole.

But besides this and the absurd crapola like re-naming the Gulf of Mexico, there's going to be tangible consequences for putting that POS back in office for another 4 years. Guess who's going to pay for his trade war against China, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and anyone else who he thinks he can intimidate?

[Spohawk5092]

Are you ready for the Gaza Riviera? That is the first time I have heard that particular solution to that particular problem. Let's just say I'm doubting it's going to happen.

He wants to put up a fleet of Trump Towers, lol. Seriously, its a distraction to take the focus off all the other s*** the idiot is doing.

[Aseahawkfan]

Just think. We have 4 years of this s*** show to endure.

I was never so put off by anyone as I was with Trump during his presser immediately following the plane crash that killed 60 some people. What I thought about first was the contrast between Trump's comments about that accident vs. Ronald Reagan's speech following the Challenger accident. Even liberal Democrats will have to admit that the nationally televised speech Reagan gave on the eve of the accident was Reagan at his finest, exactly what the families of those lost and the nation as a whole needed at that moment. What did Trump do? Try to lay blame on others and score some political points by using more completely baseless, absurd arguments, and to do so less than 24 hours after the tragedy. What an A-hole.

But besides this and the absurd crapola like re-naming the Gulf of Mexico, there's going to be tangible consequences for putting that POS back in office for another 4 years. Guess who's going to pay for his trade war against China, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and anyone else who he thinks he can intimidate?

So far he backed off the tariffs. We'll see how long that lasts.

Very few presidents can hold a candle to Reagan. He was probably our last great president who brought down The Berlin Wall and the dismantling of the Soviet Union. Ever since Reagan and Bush Sr. left office, the world has looked across the sea and seen us as weak with Putin expanding to reclaim Soviet/Russian Empire territory, usually with Democrats in office, and the world viewing us as a pathetically unable to carry out international policy.

These two parties have lost their way and the leadership they produce has not been great for decades now. Each iteration with both parties seems to get weaker and stranger even if they don't talk as crass as Trump.

I imagine the "consequences" as you put it are a matter of perspective. All the markets care about is boosted profits. If he gets a favorable deal done with the tariffs, then American business will be pleased. If not, then they won't.

As far as the working class Americans? Who in these two parties gives but lip service to the working class? They haven't caught a break with either party in office for a few decades or more.

Rich kept getting richer under Democrats same as Republicans. Working class kept being the working class with home prices rising and inflation out of control because of the bad economic policies of both parties. What do they do about? Spend their time calling each other stupid while they get fleeced by these two political parties.

[River Dog]

Just think. We have 4 years of this s*** show to endure.

I was never so put off by anyone as I was with Trump during his presser immediately following the plane crash that killed 60 some people. What I thought about first was the contrast between Trump's comments about that accident vs. Ronald Reagan's speech following the Challenger accident. Even liberal Democrats will have to admit that the nationally televised speech Reagan gave on the eve of the accident was Reagan at his finest, exactly what the families of those lost and the nation as a whole needed at that moment. What did Trump do? Try to lay blame on others and score some political points by using more completely baseless, absurd arguments, and to do so less than 24 hours after the tragedy. What an A-hole.

But besides this and the absurd crapola like re-naming the Gulf of Mexico, there's going to be tangible consequences for putting that POS back in office for another 4 years. Guess who's going to pay for his trade war against China, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and anyone else who he thinks he can intimidate?

So far he backed off the tariffs. We'll see how long that lasts.

Very few presidents can hold a candle to Reagan. He was probably our last great president who brought down The Berlin Wall and the dismantling of the Soviet Union. Ever since Reagan and Bush Sr. left office, the world has looked across the sea and seen us as weak with Putin expanding to reclaim Soviet/Russian Empire territory, usually with Democrats in office, and the world viewing us as a pathetically unable to carry out international policy.

These two parties have lost their way and the leadership they produce has not been great for decades now. Each iteration with both parties seems to get weaker and stranger even if they don't talk as crass as Trump.

I imagine the "consequences" as you put it are a matter of perspective. All the markets care about is boosted profits. If he gets a favorable deal done with the tariffs, then American business will be pleased. If not, then they won't.

As far as the working class Americans? Who in these two parties gives but lip service to the working class? They haven't caught a break with either party in office for a few decades or more.

Rich kept getting richer under Democrats same as Republicans. Working class kept being the working class with home prices rising and inflation out of control because of the bad economic policies of both parties. What do they do about? Spend their time calling each other stupid while they get fleeced by these two political parties.

He backed off the tariff threats to Canada and Mexico, but he's gone ahead with the ones against China. They went into effect yesterday.

Obviously, Reagan was one of a kind, at least when it came to delivering a speech. Everyone agrees with that. I was using Reagan as a contrast, and it's the very first thing that popped into my mind when Trump started throwing out all sorts of crap as to the cause of the accident was how eloquent, decent, and caring Reagan was on the evening of the Challenger accident. Trump reminds me of a professional wrestler.

It's obvious that Democrats don't give two hoots about the working class, which is why they lost the last election and how we got stuck with this POS Trump as our POTUS. They got their priorities wrong. They've elevated the environment above all else, including the working class. They don't give a rip about the poor slob that can't afford $50,000 for a new EV and has to pay inflated prices for gas, or us out here in E. Washington who don't have access to mass transit.

This proposal Trump came up with, the US taking over the Gaza Strip, is just one more example of how Trump is living in a fantasy world. The reason why the Arab world hates us is due to crap like this, simply taking over and relocating them against their will. He hates Muslims almost as much as he hates Hispanics.

[Aseahawkfan]

He backed off the tariff threats to Canada and Mexico, but he's gone ahead with the ones against China. They went into effect yesterday.

Obviously, Reagan was one of a kind, at least when it came to delivering a speech. Everyone agrees with that. I was using Reagan as a contrast, and it's the very first thing that popped into my mind when Trump started throwing out all sorts of crap as to the cause of the accident was how eloquent, decent, and caring Reagan was on the evening of the Challenger accident. Trump reminds me of a professional wrestler.

It's obvious that Democrats don't give two hoots about the working class, which is why they lost the last election and how we got stuck with this POS Trump as our POTUS. They got their priorities wrong. They've elevated the environment above all else, including the working class. They don't give a rip about the poor slob that can't afford $50,000 for a new EV and has to pay inflated prices for gas, or us out here in E. Washington who don't have access to mass transit.

This proposal Trump came up with, the US taking over the Gaza Strip, is just one more example of how Trump is living in a fantasy world. The reason why the Arab world hates us is due to crap like this, simply taking over and relocating them against their will. He hates Muslims almost as much as he hates Hispanics.

He hates only poor Hispanics and poor Muslims. Go look at who buys his expensive Trump Tower condos and such or stays at those hotels. Trump has plenty of Muslim/Arab "friends" who invest in what he does. This is all for show. He's talking to wealthy Arabs, Jews, and others to try to get this deal done. I doubt it gets done, but who knows once he talks to Saudi Arabia. They'll use this as leverage to get more from us if Trump comes even close to making it happen, which I doubt.

You still don't get this guy and what's he doing. Dude is a moral chameleon and a salesman. If he were in front of you, you'd be getting the sales pitch. If he knew what you liked and didn't like, he would shape the discussion according to what he knew would get what he wants from you.

Trump is for Trump and his interests. "Hate" is nothing more than a sales pitch to a particular group of his MAGA followers. Trump doesn't know how to do much other than sales and property development. That's why to him buying a big piece of land and developing it is something he knows how to do and would leave a legacy for his presidency. So he's looking to do that. He's not a tech guy or a numbers guy. He's a salesman, TV personality, and real estate developer. So that's how he operates.

In his second term, he wants some big move to really cement his legacy.

China tariffs need to happen. They are leveraging state-backed companies against American companies to pursue economic dominance. Those don't bother me much at all as China has been positioning to undermine free markets for years and the hope they would change from Communist hasn't happened. That's why Biden kept the pressure on China. Even the Dem political strategists know China is a problem they aren't sure how to solve.

But the Canada and Mexico tariffs are tariffs no one wanted. I love my cheap avocados, tomatoes, and jalapenos.

And Elon running about seemingly alone as I don't see Vivek anywhere doing the DOGE thing is something I would love to see done as the government needs a haircut, but not sure how legal it is. Having someone hold government employees accountable for expenses and being required to run more efficiently is something a long time coming. But I know that group of entrenched government workers is going to push back hard using union money and power as the Federal Workers Union is one of the most powerful in America. They won't get pushed out easily.

What a weird movie this is going to make someday. Hollywood won't be able to pass up a movie about this presidency. It's too damn crazy to pass up.

You gonna give Trump some credit if this ceasefire in Israel with Gaza holds? He got that done pretty quick if it sticks.

[Aseahawkfan]

In the Trump movie, a "Three years later..." line comes across the screen...Location, "Palestine, Greenland"

Trump has bought a portion of Greenland and moved two million Palestinians to a newly built town and housing development in Greenland renamed to Palestine.

We see all the Palestinians dressed in warm clothing living a new life in Greenland.

[River Dog]

He hates only poor Hispanics and poor Muslims. Go look at who buys his expensive Trump Tower condos and such or stays at those hotels. Trump has plenty of Muslim/Arab "friends" who invest in what he does. This is all for show. He's talking to wealthy Arabs, Jews, and others to try to get this deal done.

Good point.

You still don't get this guy and what's he doing. Dude is a moral chameleon and a salesman. If he were in front of you, you'd be getting the sales pitch. If he knew what you liked and didn't like, he would shape the discussion according to what he knew would get what he wants from you.

Trump is for Trump and his interests. "Hate" is nothing more than a sales pitch to a particular group of his MAGA followers. Trump doesn't know how to do much other than sales and property development. That's why to him buying a big piece of land and developing it is something he knows how to do and would leave a legacy for his presidency. So he's looking to do that. He's not a tech guy or a numbers guy. He's a salesman, TV personality, and real estate developer. So that's how he operates.

In his second term, he wants some big move to really cement his legacy.

You can spin him all you want. In my book, he's an A-hole. Period. There's not many people in this world that I truly hate. To me, hate means that you wish a person were dead. Donald Trump comes very, very close to that measure in my book.

China tariffs need to happen. They are leveraging state-backed companies against American companies to pursue economic dominance. Those don't bother me much at all as China has been positioning to undermine free markets for years and the hope they would change from Communist hasn't happened. That's why Biden kept the pressure on China. Even the Dem political strategists know China is a problem they aren't sure how to solve.

Most of what China sells us is stuff that would cost us a fortune to manufacture ourselves. If they can make a lawn chair, pay to have it shipped across the Pacific, and still sell it far cheaper than we can here, then go for it. We don't need cheap minimum wage jobs. Targeted tariffs, I don't mind. But this is a blanket tariff, and you and me are going to be the ones that pay for it. Walmart is who pays the tariff when the goods show up at the port, and guess what they're going to do? They aren't eating that tariff; they'll pass it on to us.

But the Canada and Mexico tariffs are tariffs no one wanted. I love my cheap avocados, tomatoes, and jalapenos.

And cheap gas. Canada supplies us with 98% of our natural gas imports, 61% of our crude oil imports, and 28% of our uranium purchases. If he ever slaps tariffs on them, both nations will suffer. And we get a ton of vegetables from Mexico. If you think food prices are high now, just wait until Trump slaps tariffs on Mexico. That's going to hit the lower- and middle-class Americans the hardest.

And Elon running about seemingly alone as I don't see Vivek anywhere doing the DOGE thing is something I would love to see done as the government needs a haircut, but not sure how legal it is. Having someone hold government employees accountable for expenses and being required to run more efficiently is something a long time coming. But I know that group of entrenched government workers is going to push back hard using union money and power as the Federal Workers Union is one of the most powerful in America. They won't get pushed out easily.

What a weird movie this is going to make someday. Hollywood won't be able to pass up a movie about this presidency. It's too damn crazy to pass up.

You gonna give Trump some credit if this ceasefire in Israel with Gaza holds? He got that done pretty quick if it sticks.

Vivek is gone, out of the picture. He's going to run for the governorship of Ohio, hopefully unsuccessfully. Good riddance.

I can't see very many Arabs holding to a cease fire because they saw Trump buddying up to Netanyahu.

[Aseahawkfan]

Most of what China sells us is stuff that would cost us a fortune to manufacture ourselves. If they can make a lawn chair, pay to have it shipped across the Pacific, and still sell it far cheaper than we can here, then go for it. We don't need cheap minimum wage jobs. Targeted tariffs, I don't mind. But this is a blanket tariff, and you and me are going to be the ones that pay for it. Walmart is who pays the tariff when the goods show up at the port, and guess what they're going to do? They aren't eating that tariff; they'll pass it on to us.

I thought you were paying more attention? How does China accomplish this cheaper cost while having an economy closing the gap with our own? They control and supplement labor. This creates an unfair environment for competition in the free market artificially lowering costs of production against American companies empowering China which is acting as global competitor to American business.

You really aren't paying attention to China. They are producing EVs at a lower cost to American EVs and not blocking them would utterly destroy the American EV and car industry. There is a cell phone competitor called Huawei that can produce a phone as good or better than Apple or Samsung that would destroy American business on cost. They are already below cost on consumer electronics.

I thought you remembered how we found the president couldn't order the production of increased masks from 3M because production facilities for the mask was in China and thus we had no capacity for mask production during a national emergency like a pandemic. We also found out our antibiotic production was in a similar place when we needed those drugs produced in America.

China is not engaging in free market economics and is engaged in asymmetric economic warfare by manipulating their currency and their labor force in a manner to maintain themselves as lower cost producer. America did not sign up for that long-term.

The idea behind China was much like with Japan. To help build up China to become a new market for our goods that would eventually become expensive enough that American manufacturing would be used to produce goods to send to them. But China isn't playing fair due to their Communist controlled government.

So no, they are not just producing lawn chairs and goods that we want cheap. China has stolen a massive amount of American tech and has moved into industries America doesn't want to lose as well as become a global competitor to America and Japan for vehicles and other major electronics seeking to undermine our major industries through labor manipulation. That's why even the Democrats are on board with doing something about China. It is a very real problem and China needs to be dealt with before they get any stronger.

One of the big concerns about Taiwan is they house a company known as Taiwan Semiconductor, the biggest chip foundry in the world. This company manufactures chips for NVDIA, Broadcom, and just about everyone. If China takes Taiwan, they gain control of world chip manufacturing. That is a serious, serious problem.

The day of just your cups and lawn chairs being "Made in China" are over. China has made serious movies into major American industries to the point both parties have seen they have created a monster that did not move in a direction they wanted like Japan did back in the 70s and 80s. Now they have to figure out how to counter China going forward with their labor and currency manipulation and closed markets that don't allow American ownership while Chinese investors want to be able to buy assets in America.

The China issue is not fake news at all. It's very real. A very difficult and dangerous economic problem going forward.

[Aseahawkfan]

And cheap gas. Canada supplies us with 98% of our natural gas imports, 61% of our crude oil imports, and 28% of our uranium purchases. If he ever slaps tariffs on them, both nations will suffer. And we get a ton of vegetables from Mexico. If you think food prices are high now, just wait until Trump slaps tariffs on Mexico. That's going to hit the lower- and middle-class Americans the hardest.

Not sure what you're paying for gas where you live, the Democrats in Washington State don't believe in cheap gas so that doesn't matter to us. I'm paying 3.99 a gallon for unleaded at Arco, the cheap gas station.

I found my parents in Texas and Arizona are paying under 3 bucks a gallon. So it's great Canada is sending us cheap gas and someone is benefitting, but it isn't me in Washington State with the Dems trying to raise the gas tax so high to boost their revenues.

I can't see very many Arabs holding to a cease fire because they saw Trump buddying up to Netanyahu.

This is not how the Arab states or men like Putin think. That area respect only strength. I'd bet you money that the ceasefire occurred because they know Trump will not care if the Israelis wipe out the Palestinians and Hamas and will send them plenty of weapons to do so. Same as Putin waits until the Democrats are in office because they won't do much and once things get tough, they'll back down like they've done for years.

These moves are calculated to occur when they know American regimes will not act against them as aggressively. A lot of American's don't want to accept this, but Bush Jr. acting decisively after 9/11 sent a clear message that Republicans are willing to act decisively and viciously when the terrorists get off their leash. While these groups know when Democrats are in office, you can attack American embassies and kill American soldiers, take Crimea, and do all types of violence to American interests and Democrats will do almost nothing in retaliation that they fear.

It's not some coincidence or accident these things occur during Democratic regimes. It's planning. If an American politician or political party shows they won't act decisively, then the opposition views that as weakness and acts up.

Americans for some reason think that other nations don't watch what we do including which political party is more dangerous to their aims, but they do. They know the Democrats are soft and will not act as decisively as a Republican leader.

[River Dog]

Not sure what you're paying for gas where you live, the Democrats in Washington State don't believe in cheap gas so that doesn't matter to us. I'm paying 3.99 a gallon for unleaded at Arco, the cheap gas station.

I found my parents in Texas and Arizona are paying under 3 bucks a gallon. So it's great Canada is sending us cheap gas and someone is benefitting, but it isn't me in Washington State with the Dems trying to raise the gas tax so high to boost their revenues.

At Costco, the cheapest gas around, it's $3.39/gallon. It's always a lot cheaper over here than it is in Seattle, I guess because of other taxes like business, real estate, etc. When I'm driving to the west side, I'll always top off my tank a few miles east of Cle Elum before I head across the mountains.

California is generally worse for gas prices than we are, due to the same blue state mentality that we have here. And it's more than just gas that the Dems have been a direct cause of a severe price increase. As if eggs aren't expensive enough, our Dems won't allow any eggs that aren't raised cage free to be sold. There's a lot of people around here talking about breaking away and joining Idaho, and if it wasn't for the state the Republican party is in, I'd be all for it.

A Republican hasn't won a statewide election in WA since 1988, and we haven't elected a R Governor since 1980. The Dems don't have to worry about being responsive to the public in general let alone us out in the sticks in E. Washington because voters in this state elect them automatically. All they have to do is won their primary and they're in.

[Aseahawkfan]

At Costco, the cheapest gas around, it's $3.39/gallon. It's always a lot cheaper over here than it is in Seattle, I guess because of other taxes like business, real estate, etc. When I'm driving to the west side, I'll always top off my tank a few miles east of Cle Elum before I head across the mountains.

California is generally worse for gas prices than we are, due to the same blue state mentality that we have here. And it's more than just gas that the Dems have been a direct cause of a severe price increase. As if eggs aren't expensive enough, our Dems won't allow any eggs that aren't raised cage free to be sold. There's a lot of people around here talking about breaking away and joining Idaho, and if it wasn't for the state the Republican party is in, I'd be all for it.

A Republican hasn't won a statewide election in WA since 1988, and we haven't elected a R Governor since 1980. The Dems don't have to worry about being responsive to the public in general let alone us out in the sticks in E. Washington because voters in this state elect them automatically. All they have to do is won their primary and they're in.

Both political parties are a mess right now. If you're not onboard with them in states where they dominate, then you're SOL.

I'm not onboard with either party. Democrats for the many bad policies and social stances I see them take in Washington State and nationally. I can't stomach this Republican Party anti-immigrant rubbish that seems to have become too commonplace, even while the leadership is marrying....immigrants or are immigrants. Trump married to an immigrant. McConnell married to an American woman of Chinese descendant his own party sees as an immigrant. Vance married to an woman born to Indian Immigrants. My Trump voting friends all married to...immigrants. Elon Musk is an immigrant.

One of the things I can't stand in politics is cognitive dissonance and hypocrisy, especially when it is so blatant and obvious that you have be a literal idiot to buy into it.

Each political party has both of them in spades.

The most obvious Republican one is their stance on immigration. I understand we need to control our borders, but we don't need inflammatory, hateful rhetoric towards immigrants to do it. We have a Statue of Liberty that invites immigrants to this nation. The entire country was founded by immigrants. Our Constitution is written with the underlying belief that the rights within it are for all human beings, not just American citizens, according to the natural law that underpins the inherent rights in the Constitution. Our food is as varied as it is because so many immigrants brought all their food to America like pizza and Chinese food and even something as simple as bread or pasta or tacos. The rhetoric is stupid.

The most obvious Democratic one is their stance on transgender females. I understand we don't want to discriminate and be cruel to a person that wants to interact with the world as a female in terms of pronouns and day to day. But this is a mostly cosmetic procedure and doesn't make a transgender female suddenly a woman in all ways and they should not be competing in female sports which have taken a long time to reach parity in viewership in a few areas like tennis and gymnastics and is working on improving viewership for the WNBA and women's soccer league. Pushing transgender females into these sports is going to make them more confusing and unwatchable for males, while at the same time clearly showing that being transgender does not change your biological sex to the point where you gain or lose advantages. If wanting to be male made you male, then transitioned females would be in the NBA or NFL. And right now we're not seeing transgender males threatening male sports at all which is what you can see is evidence that a very strong gender advantage is afforded to males that can't be overcome with a mostly cosmetic procedure. It's really insane we have a political party that thinks it's ok to ruin women's sports by pushing transgender females into them and wants to force us to see them in the same way we see women.

But that's where we are right now. America's two major political parties governing in the dumbest fashion I've seen in my lifetime.

[Aseahawkfan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFTqQ4boR-s

More information to understand that China is making serious inroads into technological manufacturing looking to erode U.S. technology dominance globally.

They are an economic monster supported by a Communist government looking to take market share in every area of current technological advancement producing far more STEM graduates than America. I'd bet money if we did a demographic analysis of the STEM graduates from America, a large percentage, possibly most, would be from Asia or India or be Jewish.

Trump wanting a trade war and being concerned with China is a sound political position. It's a bad idea to attempt to downplay the China threat to America's global dominance because you hate the man taking the stand.

For too long American politicians have been asleep at the wheel, while the Chinese have been busting ass to take a more dominant, involved role in world economics. Their Belt and Road initiative fueled by their push into more technologically advanced production is creating markets for Chinese goods produced at far cheaper cost due to their cheap labor that are every bit as technologically advanced as American goods.

While young Americans have falling math and science scores and are spending more time trying to be Youtube stars than scientists, engineers, or programmers.

China is a real threat, far more dangerous than Russia long-term.

[Stream Hawk]

Well, now THAT was embarrassing. I think we all know what I’m referring.

[c_hawkbob]

Never been so embarrassed for my country.

[Aseahawkfan]

Yeah. I have not seen that before. Man doesn't know how to be president of a nation that acts as a stabilizing force in the world. Trump doesn't like Zelensky and it's obvious he is making this personal and manipulating the situation to humiliate him. Just as he wrote in his book that he always remembers any vendettas and pays the person back. Now he's making Zelensky grovel for help while he holds the carrot up.

How bad do the Democrats have to look to voters to lose to this guy? I don't know. But they better reassess their issues if they want to win back the White House.

One of the big reasons I dislike Trump is he's more a Democrat on most social issues including war. Biden's half-measures in Ukraine were never going to work. Now we got the Republican Clinton in office looking to cut defense spending and pushing the peace anti-war angle with a Democrat as his intelligence head and a bunch of isolationist, anti-interventionist Libertarians.

We really need a Reagan or Bush Sr. Republican in office, but we get this trash.

A big reason Trump won is he out-Democrated the Democrats on quite a few issues. The Democrats didn't even know how to deal with his anti-war stance with Republicans usually being billed as warmongers. Right now we need a warmonger to back Putin off and we can't find one in either party.

I think both Russia and China will view this weak America who only does sanctions, won't commit to winning a war, and is no longer interested in exerting their military might to keep the peace as a green light to start being more aggressive.

I guess we'll see in time if the Democrats anti-war stance since Vietnam and now the Republicans joining them will be what leads to America's fall in the world. I guess we'll see if Europe can militarize again to defend themselves against renewed aggression from Russia. If Russia wants Ukraine back, whose to say they won't want Poland or East Germany back.

Now Republicans are pushing to destroy the United Nations as well. A large percentage of Americans seem to want nothing more to do with America's management of the world including the military and monetary investment.

[Spohawk5092]

For the first time in my 68 years of being, I am ashamed and embarrased to say I am an American. God save the USA.

[River Dog]

For the first time in my 68 years of being, I am ashamed and embarrased to say I am an American. God save the USA.

I'm not quite that embarrassed and I'm not ashamed of my nationality, but now that I've been in Australia for a few days, anytime the subject of politics comes up I am quick to point out that I have not and will not ever vote for Donald Trump and he does not represent who I am. People over here still respect and admire us Americans.

Did you get a load of Trump accusing Ukraine of starting the war with Russia? The man is an idiot. I can understand and somewhat agree with the proposition of not wanting to finance Europe's wars. Even George Washington advocated against it. But making up bold faced lies then expecting someone like Zelensky to believe them is truly remarkable.

It's going to be a long 4 years.

[4XPIPS]

For the first time in my 68 years of being, I am ashamed and embarrased to say I am an American. God save the USA.

Unless you voted for Trump, maybe, but don't be ashamed as most foreigners don't view all American's this way. As I live in New Zealand, most of the Kiwis find it quite appalling the crap and ideas that come out of his mouth. Actually feel real bad for most Americans who have to endure this nonsense. I told them that Trump wants to be a King, a mob boss, he envies Putin in every way and it clearly shows through his actions. His actions are the same day in and day out, lashes out at anyone who opposes his ideas or threats, and blames all failures on the prior administration, can't remember what he said 3 days ago let alone 3 mins ago, can't read because he is illiterate. However, the American people voted for this clown house, and they are getting exactly that. I take joy when American farmers are admit they voted for Trump, but are watching their business crumble apart as all these new policies and exec orders are destroying their livelihood. I respect those who have admitted they voted for Trump, and now realize they made a major mistake, but all Trump voters are to blame as they voted in President Elon.

[Aseahawkfan]

I'm not quite that embarrassed and I'm not ashamed of my nationality, but now that I've been in Australia for a few days, anytime the subject of politics comes up I am quick to point out that I have not and will not ever vote for Donald Trump and he does not represent who I am. People over here still respect and admire us Americans.

Did you get a load of Trump accusing Ukraine of starting the war with Russia? The man is an idiot. I can understand and somewhat agree with the proposition of not wanting to finance Europe's wars. Even George Washington advocated against it. But making up bold faced lies then expecting someone like Zelensky to believe them is truly remarkable.

It's going to be a long 4 years.

Going back to George Washington is ridiculous given how the historical evidence clearly shows that trying to stay out of Europe and the World's Wars always brings them back to our doorstep. Isolationism hasn't ever worked except for a small nation like Switzerland. We are not a small nation. For whatever reason, America was chosen to keep the balance of power between dictator nations like Russia and China and the free world. If we give that position up, there is little reason to believe China and Russia as well as smaller dictatorial, aggressive nations won't act up until guess what....another World War that could have been prevented had we dealt with Russia while we were strong.

Where have I seen that before? Oh gee, Post-World War 2 when America decided to let Stalin build up power and create the Cold War. I guess we want to keep repeating the same mistakes and hoping for a different outcome because I don't know...we're insane and most Americans don't know their history very well including Trump.

[Aseahawkfan]

Unless you voted for Trump, maybe, but don't be ashamed as most foreigners don't view all American's this way. As I live in New Zealand, most of the Kiwis find it quite appalling the crap and ideas that come out of his mouth. Actually feel real bad for most Americans who have to endure this nonsense. I told them that Trump wants to be a King, a mob boss, he envies Putin in every way and it clearly shows through his actions. His actions are the same day in and day out, lashes out at anyone who opposes his ideas or threats, and blames all failures on the prior administration, can't remember what he said 3 days ago let alone 3 mins ago, can't read because he is illiterate. However, the American people voted for this clown house, and they are getting exactly that. I take joy when American farmers are admit they voted for Trump, but are watching their business crumble apart as all these new policies and exec orders are destroying their livelihood. I respect those who have admitted they voted for Trump, and now realize they made a major mistake, but all Trump voters are to blame as they voted in President Elon.

The American people voted for this guy because the Democratic Party has decided to look more insane than Trump. I don't even know how you do it, but somehow they did it. The really sad part is the majority of Democrats seem disinterested in looking at the issues their party pushes and pushing back on the ones that shouldn't be pushed.

The Union Democrats are mostly gone, replaced by leftist academics and special interests with far too loud a voice in the Democratic Party.

And who the hell wanted a trade war with Canada? No one. Mexico I can sort of see to pressure them to do their job on the border and with the drug cartels, but Canada? Stupid. We all want even more expensive gas and boy, those Canadians are a real danger to us with their 70 cent Canadian dollars and I don't know...tasty maple syrup.

How did we get this stupid.

[River Dog]

I'm not quite that embarrassed and I'm not ashamed of my nationality, but now that I've been in Australia for a few days, anytime the subject of politics comes up I am quick to point out that I have not and will not ever vote for Donald Trump and he does not represent who I am. People over here still respect and admire us Americans.

Did you get a load of Trump accusing Ukraine of starting the war with Russia? The man is an idiot. I can understand and somewhat agree with the proposition of not wanting to finance Europe's wars. Even George Washington advocated against it. But making up bold faced lies then expecting someone like Zelensky to believe them is truly remarkable.

It's going to be a long 4 years.

Going back to George Washington is ridiculous given how the historical evidence clearly shows that trying to stay out of Europe and the World's Wars always brings them back to our doorstep. Isolationism hasn't ever worked except for a small nation like Switzerland. We are not a small nation. For whatever reason, America was chosen to keep the balance of power between dictator nations like Russia and China and the free world. If we give that position up, there is little reason to believe China and Russia as well as smaller dictatorial, aggressive nations won't act up until guess what....another World War that could have been prevented had we dealt with Russia while we were strong.

Where have I seen that before? Oh gee, Post-World War 2 when America decided to let Stalin build up power and create the Cold War. I guess we want to keep repeating the same mistakes and hoping for a different outcome because I don't know...we're insane and most Americans don't know their history very well including Trump.

I am not advocating that we pull our support for Ukraine. Personally, I think that we should be treating them as if they were a NATO member, and so long as the other European members are doing what they can to help defend Ukraine, we should, too.

All I am saying is that it's a very rational, defensible position that has been advocated by a lot of very intelligent, reasonable people. If Trump would have said something like "we're not the world's policeman" or something like that, although I might disagree with him, I could at least handle it. What I can't handle is this highly irrational, completely false premise that Trump is using, accusing Ukraine of starting the war, calling Zelenskyy a dictator (pot calling kettle black IMO), and so on.

[River Dog]

The American people voted for this guy because the Democratic Party has decided to look more insane than Trump. I don't even know how you do it, but somehow they did it. The really sad part is the majority of Democrats seem disinterested in looking at the issues their party pushes and pushing back on the ones that shouldn't be pushed.

The Union Democrats are mostly gone, replaced by leftist academics and special interests with far too loud a voice in the Democratic Party.

And who the hell wanted a trade war with Canada? No one. Mexico I can sort of see to pressure them to do their job on the border and with the drug cartels, but Canada? Stupid. We all want even more expensive gas and boy, those Canadians are a real danger to us with their 70 cent Canadian dollars and I don't know...tasty maple syrup.

How did we get this stupid.

I agree completely. The blue-collar Democrats are gone. The Dems are completely insensitive to the needs of the working class. They care more about subjects like the environment, animal rights, abortion, and political correctness than they do the livelihood of working stiffs.

I only have to look as far as this state's Democratic party to understand why people nationwide have voted for Trump. Their latest stunt is a bill introduced to replace our state flag, a green field that has an image of George Washington at its center, with something that will "bring people across the state together.” In other words, it's the cancel culture striking again. And why stop with the flag? If they are so embarrassed to be equated with George Washington that they want to take his image off the flag, why not change the name of the state? That's the type of crap they want to spend taxpayer money on. I see no difference between Democrats wanting to take George Washington off our flag and Trump's efforts to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico. It's the cancel culture.

The Democrats have not given the American voters a viable alternative to Trump.

[Aseahawkfan]

I am not advocating that we pull our support for Ukraine. Personally, I think that we should be treating them as if they were a NATO member, and so long as the other European members are doing what they can to help defend Ukraine, we should, too.

All I am saying is that it's a very rational, defensible position that has been advocated by a lot of very intelligent, reasonable people. If Trump would have said something like "we're not the world's policeman" or something like that, although I might disagree with him, I could at least handle it. What I can't handle is this highly irrational, completely false premise that Trump is using, accusing Ukraine of starting the war, calling Zelenskyy a dictator (pot calling kettle black IMO), and so on.

Yeah. Then listening to Trump's sycophants defend the position was pathetic. No elections? How do you have an election while you're being attacked by a nation twice your population or more with more money and resources looking to take all your land.

And if Europe re-arms and gets some of their war mentality back, that may be good for the world. No way America can beat both Russia and China combined along with the smaller aggressor nations. Europe must prepare for a renewed aggressive Russia. Maybe this time Germany can fight with Europe.

[Aseahawkfan]

I agree completely. The blue-collar Democrats are gone. The Dems are completely insensitive to the needs of the working class. They care more about subjects like the environment, animal rights, abortion, and political correctness than they do the livelihood of working stiffs.

I only have to look as far as this state's Democratic party to understand why people nationwide have voted for Trump. Their latest stunt is a bill introduced to replace our state flag, a green field that has an image of George Washington at its center, with something that will "bring people across the state together.” In other words, it's the cancel culture striking again. And why stop with the flag? If they are so embarrassed to be equated with George Washington that they want to take his image off the flag, why not change the name of the state? That's the type of crap they want to spend taxpayer money on. I see no difference between Democrats wanting to take George Washington off our flag and Trump's efforts to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico. It's the cancel culture.

The Democrats have not given the American voters a viable alternative to Trump.

Did you look at the states with the highest cost of living? Hawaii, California, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, and New York.

You see that list? Every one of them run by Democrats.

Yet Democratic supporters can never seem to explain when they're railing at Republicans for supporting the wealthy why every state Democrats run has some of the worst wealth disparities in America. Democrats claim to be the "smart" party, yet none of them seem to realize how bad their economic policies are and how much the Democrats' economic policies are leading to a rich and poor America where you're either making enough money to be part of the millionaires and upper middle class or you're living off handouts.

What do you do when the "smart" party is as brainwashed as the Trumplicans to believe the Democrats are making their lives better when the economic reality of their policies is creating huge wealth gaps and unaffordable housing and living costs?

Democrats, the Party of the working man. Yet Democratic States, highest cost of living and some of the biggest wealth disparities. That is not lining up with the messaging, yet Democratic voters aren't admitting it any more than Trump voters are admitting his horsecrap.

it's bad right now. And sad.

I hope you're having fun in Australia. I never buy into the whole "we hate Americans" thing. Most people are trying to survivve in their countries and live the best life they can. They know the majority of regular Americans are doing the same. As long as you are somewhat respectful, most people in other nations will treat you well and vice versa when people from other nations come here. We're all human first and all this political horsecrap is down the priority list.

[River Dog]

Did you look at the states with the highest cost of living? Hawaii, California, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, and New York.

You see that list? Every one of them run by Democrats.

Yet Democratic supporters can never seem to explain when they're railing at Republicans for supporting the wealthy why every state Democrats run has some of the worst wealth disparities in America. Democrats claim to be the "smart" party, yet none of them seem to realize how bad their economic policies are and how much the Democrats' economic policies are leading to a rich and poor America where you're either making enough money to be part of the millionaires and upper middle class or you're living off handouts.

What do you do when the "smart" party is as brainwashed as the Trumplicans to believe the Democrats are making their lives better when the economic reality of their policies is creating huge wealth gaps and unaffordable housing and living costs?

Democrats, the Party of the working man. Yet Democratic States, highest cost of living and some of the biggest wealth disparities. That is not lining up with the messaging, yet Democratic voters aren't admitting it any more than Trump voters are admitting his horsecrap.

it's bad right now. And sad.

I hope you're having fun in Australia. I never buy into the whole "we hate Americans" thing. Most people are trying to survivve in their countries and live the best life they can. They know the majority of regular Americans are doing the same. As long as you are somewhat respectful, most people in other nations will treat you well and vice versa when people from other nations come here. We're all human first and all this political horsecrap is down the priority list.

There's some rationale besides liberal politics that can explain some of our increased cost of living. Our geography makes it more expensive to deliver goods and services to this corner of the country. For example, unlike other regions, we're served by just one major oil pipeline. But it doesn't go near far enough to justify the disparity. Clearly, our Democratic leadership has been by far the biggest reason for our high cost of living in this state, especially in this neck of the woods where we are forced to depend on personal transportation to get around.

For example, last year I had a 95% increase in my property tax, and we haven't so much as replaced a window on the house in 10 years. Other people in my neighborhood have had similar property tax increases. Add to the high property taxes their policies of not allowing landlords to evict tenants for failing to pay their rent, the restrictions and regulations they've added to new construction, it's no wonder that there's no affordable housing. And they have the gall to wonder why WA has so many more homeless than other states.

The state has acquired billions of tax revenue via this carbon tax they implemented a few years ago and have not accounted for what they're doing with it as it does not go through any kind of budgeting process. I used to be an automatic vote for things like schools and community projects, but no longer. I'm voting against every proposition that comes across my ballot.

I am, indeed, having a blast in Australia. We're about halfway through the tour, having been to Melbourne, Ayers Rock, currently in Sydney, and with Port Douglas and the Great Barrier reef yet to come.

[Aseahawkfan]

There's some rationale besides liberal politics that can explain some of our increased cost of living. Our geography makes it more expensive to deliver goods and services to this corner of the country. For example, unlike other regions, we're served by just one major oil pipeline. But it doesn't go near far enough to justify the disparity. Clearly, our Democratic leadership has been by far the biggest reason for our high cost of living in this state, especially in this neck of the woods where we are forced to depend on personal transportation to get around.

For example, last year I had a 95% increase in my property tax, and we haven't so much as replaced a window on the house in 10 years. Other people in my neighborhood have had similar property tax increases. Add to the high property taxes their policies of not allowing landlords to evict tenants for failing to pay their rent, the restrictions and regulations they've added to new construction, it's no wonder that there's no affordable housing. And they have the gall to wonder why WA has so many more homeless than other states.

The state has acquired billions of tax revenue via this carbon tax they implemented a few years ago and have not accounted for what they're doing with it as it does not go through any kind of budgeting process. I used to be an automatic vote for things like schools and community projects, but no longer. I'm voting against every proposition that comes across my ballot.

I am, indeed, having a blast in Australia. We're about halfway through the tour, having been to Melbourne, Ayers Rock, currently in Sydney, and with Port Douglas and the Great Barrier reef yet to come.

I'm assuming you mean Eastern Washington because Seattle and Western Washington as a whole don't have that excuse. Ports here deliver tons of goods and we're close to the Canadian border delivery of oil and gas. We have a load of lumber here and housing prices should not be this high.

The cost of living is high because of the big tech companies in Washington State that drive up the cost of living creating the haves and have nots. But the Democrats incentivize Big Tech with tax breaks to keep them here as they know they'll move if they tax them too much, so the working man they care about pays the majority of the bills.

Our insane gas tax is what makes transportation expensive. The Dems keep wanting more taxes claiming they don't have enough, yet the taxes levied on the working man that drive up the cost of living provide them immense tax revenues. Then they propagandize their followers the rich people passing on the tax costs is just them being greedy rather than business plans by the book since a business owner is not running a charity.

Then couple that with a high minimum wage that drives up all labor costs when Democratic economists know that an increase in minimum wage will do as it has done and drive up the cost of living without improving the standard of living.

Yet Democrats will scream until their blue in the face, "It's the Republicans. If we just tax the rich, it will all be fixed." Never is fixed, never has been fixed. There is even a video with Elizabeth Warren talking about how she didn't see how much the dual income family would drive up the cost of living, showing she has almost no understanding of economics when to any sensible economist it would be obvious. If both the man and woman in an economic family unit double their income, it's going to drive money into the economy massively inflating the economy, especially housing.

I don't think either party wants Americans taking too many economic classes and understanding how this works. They might vote smarter if they did to the chagrin of the special interests of both parties.

I was wondering what you thought of DOGE. You've been a big advocate of spending cuts and it was going to take something extreme to make it happen. DOGE seems to be going to town on government cuts. You think they'll end up with a more efficient, cost effective government that is more inline with the budget or just screw everything up?

[River Dog]

I'm assuming you mean Eastern Washington because Seattle and Western Washington as a whole don't have that excuse. Ports here deliver tons of goods and we're close to the Canadian border delivery of oil and gas. We have a load of lumber here and housing prices should not be this high.

No, I'm talking about the entire state. We are further away from the major oil refineries than any other state in the lower 48, meaning that gas has to be either pumped through a series of pipelines or trucked 1k miles or more.

You're right, we do have a couple of ports, but it pales in comparison to the rest of the country. The Port of Seattle ranks 30 in size, Tacoma 31st, Portland 33rd:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_p ... ted_States

20 or so years ago when my company was contemplating building a processing plant in Taber, Alberta, one of the advantages Taber had was that they were closer to 9 out of the 10 largest US markets, the only one that we were closer to was the west coast of the US.

The cost of living is high because of the big tech companies in Washington State that drive up the cost of living creating the haves and have nots. But the Democrats incentivize Big Tech with tax breaks to keep them here as they know they'll move if they tax them too much, so the working man they care about pays the majority of the bills.

Our insane gas tax is what makes transportation expensive. The Dems keep wanting more taxes claiming they don't have enough, yet the taxes levied on the working man that drive up the cost of living provide them immense tax revenues. Then they propagandize their followers the rich people passing on the tax costs is just them being greedy rather than business plans by the book since a business owner is not running a charity.

Then couple that with a high minimum wage that drives up all labor costs when Democratic economists know that an increase in minimum wage will do as it has done and drive up the cost of living without improving the standard of living.

Yet Democrats will scream until their blue in the face, "It's the Republicans. If we just tax the rich, it will all be fixed." Never is fixed, never has been fixed. There is even a video with Elizabeth Warren talking about how she didn't see how much the dual income family would drive up the cost of living, showing she has almost no understanding of economics when to any sensible economist it would be obvious. If both the man and woman in an economic family unit double their income, it's going to drive money into the economy massively inflating the economy, especially housing.

I don't think either party wants Americans taking too many economic classes and understanding how this works. They might vote smarter if they did to the chagrin of the special interests of both parties.

I was wondering what you thought of DOGE. You've been a big advocate of spending cuts and it was going to take something extreme to make it happen. DOGE seems to be going to town on government cuts. You think they'll end up with a more efficient, cost effective government that is more inline with the budget or just screw everything up?

That's a topic deserving of its own thread, but I'll make a couple of general comments. I am not against the concept of DOGE, but I don't like the way they're going about it. Some of the stuff Musk did was absolutely absurd, like making tens of thousands of employees document what they did the previous week. They're operating using a meat cleaver rather than a surgeon's scalpel.

[Aseahawkfan]

No, I'm talking about the entire state. We are further away from the major oil refineries than any other state in the lower 48, meaning that gas has to be either pumped through a series of pipelines or trucked 1k miles or more.

You're right, we do have a couple of ports, but it pales in comparison to the rest of the country. The Port of Seattle ranks 30 in size, Tacoma 31st, Portland 33rd:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_p ... ted_States

20 or so years ago when my company was contemplating building a processing plant in Taber, Alberta, one of the advantages Taber had was that they were closer to 9 out of the 10 largest US markets, the only one that we were closer to was the west coast of the US.

30th is not exactly a small port in the United States, especially given our population size. We're close to Canada which makes shipping by truck easier.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_refining_in_Washington

Plenty of refining capacity in Washington State.

Gas prices are unnecessarily high due to the gas tax, highest in the country.

[4XPIPS]

With the recent news of leaking classified military actions to a news journalist isn't a pure demonstration of how this administration handles important details, is an absolute justification that this administration is going to do more harm to America.

I can't imagine when they write the history books 80 years from now, and talk about this period of time. What a joke.

[Aseahawkfan]

With the recent news of leaking classified military actions to a news journalist isn't a pure demonstration of how this administration handles important details, is an absolute justification that this administration is going to do more harm to America.

I can't imagine when they write the history books 80 years from now, and talk about this period of time. What a joke.

I would put this pretty low on the list.

Trade war with Canada, stupid.

Trade war with European allies, stupid.

Even tariffing Mexico for agriculture that their climate is much better suited for is stupid.

Continuing to talk about acquiring Greenland when the Greenland people have clearly stated they don't want to become part of the United States, ridiculous.

I wish only this administration was doing us harm, but the American people have been running this nation poorly for decades now and this is the culmination of a badly run nation that no longer has good governing sense.

Multiple administrations have let Russia rebuild its military power and push this war in Ukraine doing nothing but slapping band-aid sanctions on Russia while it pushes to take more land and oppress more people. Now we have an administration running the Libertarian playbook that will further weaken America on an international scale.

Even if Trump gets a ceasefire, Putin will just wait for another Dem to take office and take more of Ukraine. No one respects America much any longer, neither political party knows how to be a world super power. Dems definitely do not know how to handle foreign policy and Trumplicans are not good at handling foreign policy either.

[River Dog]

With the recent news of leaking classified military actions to a news journalist isn't a pure demonstration of how this administration handles important details, is an absolute justification that this administration is going to do more harm to America.

I can't imagine when they write the history books 80 years from now, and talk about this period of time. What a joke.

I would put this pretty low on the list.

Trade war with Canada, stupid.

Trade war with European allies, stupid.

Even tariffing Mexico for agriculture that their climate is much better suited for is stupid.

Continuing to talk about acquiring Greenland when the Greenland people have clearly stated they don't want to become part of the United States, ridiculous.

I wish only this administration was doing us harm, but the American people have been running this nation poorly for decades now and this is the culmination of a badly run nation that no longer has good governing sense.

Multiple administrations have let Russia rebuild its military power and push this war in Ukraine doing nothing but slapping band-aid sanctions on Russia while it pushes to take more land and oppress more people. Now we have an administration running the Libertarian playbook that will further weaken America on an international scale.

Even if Trump gets a ceasefire, Putin will just wait for another Dem to take office and take more of Ukraine. No one respects America much any longer, neither political party knows how to be a world super power. Dems definitely do not know how to handle foreign policy and Trumplicans are not good at handling foreign policy either.

I'm with ASF on this one. This was a rookie mistake, made by people inexperienced in their positions. Fortunately, there were very few if any real consequences. It's more of a political hot potato due to all the uproar Republicans made over Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server, going so far as to advocate jail time for the misdeed. It's a PR nightmare, not one of the major problems I have with this Administration.

I'm much more concerned about the potential damage Trump might inflict on our economy if he follows through with these senseless tariffs. So what if China can produce a folding lawn chair, ship it across the Pacific, and sell it cheaper than we can? We don't have a jobs problem in this country that needs protection from international competition. Besides, a healthy trade relationship makes a shooting war less likely.

[c_hawkbob]

It wasn't just a rookie mistake, it was a total incompetence mistake. It's what happens when you appoint the least qualified possible candidate to every important position thinking you're the only one that needs to be in control of anything. This was totally predictable and is going to be the norm, not just an occasional event. OJT is not appropriate for these types of positions.

[River Dog]

It wasn't just a rookie mistake, it was a total incompetence mistake. It's what happens when you appoint the least qualified possible candidate to every important position thinking you're the only one that needs to be in control of anything. This was totally predictable and is going to be the norm, not just an occasional event. OJT is not appropriate for these types of positions.

I completely agree, and I wouldn't be surprised to see more mistakes made by this Administration due to Trump's singular requirement to serve, and that is a complete fealty to him. Nothing else matters. I just hope that those mistakes are as inconsequential as this one was.

My point is that I'm a lot more concerned about other parts of his Administration, such as his appointment of RFK Jr. to HHS. That one has real consequences, as his stances alone are causing parents not to get their kids vaccinated against disease.

And to add a little personal note, I've recently embarked on a doctor prescribed weight loss drug, Zepbound, and have lost 10 pounds in two weeks with no side effects. RFK Jr. has come out against it, makes these completely unproven and absurd claims that it leads to suicide. Those are the types of things that worry me the most about this Administration.