Trump Thread

[Fragony]

If election weren't dodgy they wouldn't exist anymore

[Gilrandir]

To advice you. And they gave poor advice. Not congratulating Putin is simply not recognising his government, very bad advice, Trump did the right thing doing it

Then it is your fault. YOU chose and hired people to give you advice. If they ALL give the same advice and you don't follow it - well, either you chose the people that are bad advisors (your fault) or you refuse to follow good advice of the best minds you chose out of the 250 mln people (again your fault).

[Husar]

If election weren't dodgy they wouldn't exist anymore

That's like saying "I don't need the spikes, if I weren't at this mid-level of the slippery slope, I'd be a splash of goo at the bottom..." and then sliding further downwards...

It would have been better if noone had congratulated him. At the very least it would somewhat undermine his supporters thinking that he commands respect all over the world and is therefore a suitable strong leader.

[Gilrandir]

It would have been better if noone had congratulated him. At the very least it would somewhat undermine his supporters thinking that he commands respect all over the world and is therefore a suitable strong leader.

For his supporters fear that he instills is more important than respect. There is a Russian proverb: "They fear me which means they respect me".

[Husar]

For his supporters fear that he instills is more important than respect. There is a Russian proverb: "They fear me which means they respect me".

This is the old crazy idea. I respect my friends more than my enemies and even if not, someone I fear I want to get rid of, someone I respect as a friends or as a good example I want to support.
The fear-based approach is merely the last option for those who fail with the other approach....losers holding on to a straw with force...

[Seamus Fermanagh]

This is the old crazy idea. I respect my friends more than my enemies and even if not, someone I fear I want to get rid of, someone I respect as a friends or as a good example I want to support.
The fear-based approach is merely the last option for those who fail with the other approach....losers holding on to a straw with force...

Even Machiavelli acknowledged it was better for a leader to be loved than feared.

The most stable political systems are so because the people "buy in" to the system enough to put up with its foibles for the greater long term stability, freedom, and advantages it begets. As has been written by wittier folk than I, truly effective governments derive "their just power from the consent of the governed."

Neither fear, nor affection, is the strongest and longest lasting approach to garnering that consent.

Sic transit Trump.

[Fragony]

That's like saying "I don't need the spikes, if I weren't at this mid-level of the slippery slope, I'd be a splash of goo at the bottom..." and then sliding further downwards...

It would have been better if noone had congratulated him. At the very least it would somewhat undermine his supporters thinking that he commands respect all over the world and is therefore a suitable strong leader.

Your body has a skin but there is a whole lot more going on

[spmetla]

To advice you. And they gave poor advice. Not congratulating Putin is simply not recognizing his government, very bad advice, Trump did the right thing doing it

Not congratulating him is simply that. It doesn't mean we don't recognize his government. If Trump were a 'normal' politician and this were actually part of some scheme to try and change Russian behavior or get concessions from them I'd be all for a policy of 'detente'. Putin however is escalating his actions and those deserve to be condemned. Congratulating his election without bringing up any of the sticky issues like chemical weapons being used in the territory of our closest ally then it's a very suspicious incident.

I truly to wonder what Putin has on Trump. Did he kill a hooker when he was in Russia, do something pedophilic? Perhaps some gender blurring sex acts? Trumps complete and utter devotion to Putin is absolutely perplexing, merely being indebted to Russian financing can't have created such loyalty.
He's seems to have only signed on to the recent and limited sanctions because Congress voted in such a majority that they'd override his veto.

[edyzmedieval]

McMaster is out.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/22/u...mp-bolton.html

[Hooahguy]

$5 says we find ourselves in a war with North Korea or Iran by 2020. Bolton is as hawkish as hawkish gets.

[Montmorency]

McMaster is out.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/22/u...mp-bolton.html

What is that, Operation Hummingbird concluding?

Had to say it.

[Strike For The South]

John Bolton is going to a lot of people killed. I can feel my ulcer forming.

[Gilrandir]

I truly to wonder what Putin has on Trump. Did he kill a hooker when he was in Russia, do something pedophilic? Perhaps some gender blurring sex acts? Trumps complete and utter devotion to Putin is absolutely perplexing, merely being indebted to Russian financing can't have created such loyalty.

Feels a kindred spirit in him. Both are bent on corroding norms and crossing red lines - Trump within his country, Putin - both within and without.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/20/o...tion%2Fopinion

[Fragony]

Not congratulating him is simply that. It doesn't mean we don't recognize his government. If Trump were a 'normal' politician and this were actually part of some scheme to try and change Russian behavior or get concessions from them I'd be all for a policy of 'detente'. Putin however is escalating his actions and those deserve to be condemned. Congratulating his election without bringing up any of the sticky issues like chemical weapons being used in the territory of our closest ally then it's a very suspicious incident.

I truly to wonder what Putin has on Trump. Did he kill a hooker when he was in Russia, do something pedophilic? Perhaps some gender blurring sex acts? Trumps complete and utter devotion to Putin is absolutely perplexing, merely being indebted to Russian financing can't have created such loyalty.
He's seems to have only signed on to the recent and limited sanctions because Congress voted in such a majority that they'd override his veto.

All of that is possible of course, but it's also just common practise to congratulate. Not doing that is just much weirder. The msm is no friend of Trump, they would spin it out of control

[Sarmatian]

Even Machiavelli acknowledged it was better for a leader to be loved than feared.

Actually, it's the other way around. Better to be feared than loved, if you can't be both. Putin is pretty much both in Russia at this point.

[Fragony]

Actually, it's the other way around. Better to be feared than loved, if you can't be both. Putin is pretty much both in Russia at this point.

You are rrught, he went straight against the idea that a leader should be loved. It's more subtle than fear though. Machiavelli was an early political realist

[HopAlongBunny]

Trump has what he wants: a national security chief who doesn't bother with the details.
McMaster apparently bored Trump to death with all the little details that made bombing N.Korea and Iran bad ideas.
They may part company on Russia; Bolton is no fan of Putin; but Trump can stonewall on the Russia file 'til he gets his war.

[Gilrandir]

[Seamus Fermanagh]

He probably wants a "Gulf One" hundred hours romp. Cannot find out where to make that happen though.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Can't we convince Raul to invade a Caribbean island with a medical school with second tier US med students? THAT would be the ticket...

[Shaka_Khan]

They may part company on Russia; Bolton is no fan of Putin; but Trump can stonewall on the Russia file 'til he gets his war.

Maybe Trump will fire Bolton if Bolton pushes him too far.

[Fragony]

Trump has what he wants: a national security chief who doesn't bother with the details.
McMaster apparently bored Trump to death with all the little details that made bombing N.Korea and Iran bad ideas.
They may part company on Russia; Bolton is no fan of Putin; but Trump can stonewall on the Russia file 'til he gets his war.

You could have been at war with Iran right now, do you really want that

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Maybe Trump will fire Bolton if Bolton pushes him too far.

Absolutely. They are both on the same page about Iran, but differ on any number of things.

[Fragony]

Looks like the Palestinian government lost it's free money. I totally agree with it, go Trump

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Looks like the Palestinian government lost it's free money. I totally agree with it, go Trump

I hear you. However, chopping off the monies will weaken Fatah further and do only limited harm Hamas. No decision vis-à-vis the Middle East comes without nasty little strings attached.

[Fragony]

I hear you. However, chopping off the monies will weaken Fatah further and do only limited harm Hamas. No decision vis-à-vis the Middle East comes without nasty little strings attached.

The Palestinians will always be a part of something that's much bigger, it's the ultimate ideoligical proxy-zone. I do feel sorry for them everybody is using them

[HopAlongBunny]

I do feel sorry for them everybody is using them

That is the story of the Middle East

[a completely inoffensive name]

Rumors out there that Ryan might not run for re-election.

BIG, if true.

[Montmorency]

Rumors out there that Ryan might not run for re-election.

BIG, if true.

Paul Ryan? I've heard it since December.

https://www.politico.com/magazine/st...hington-216103

Despite several landmark legislative wins this year, and a better-than-expected relationship with President Donald Trump, Ryan has made it known to some of his closest confidants that this will be his final term as speaker. He consults a small crew of family, friends and staff for career advice, and is always cautious not to telegraph his political maneuvers. But the expectation of his impending departure has escaped the hushed confines of Ryan’s inner circle and permeated the upper-most echelons of the GOP. In recent interviews with three dozen people who know the speaker—fellow lawmakers, congressional and administration aides, conservative intellectuals and Republican lobbyists—not a single person believed Ryan will stay in Congress past 2018.

More recently, over closely held conversations with his kitchen cabinet, Ryan’s preference has become clear: He would like to serve through Election Day 2018 and retire ahead of the next Congress. This would give Ryan a final legislative year to chase his second white whale, entitlement reform, while using his unrivaled fundraising prowess to help protect the House majority—all with the benefit of averting an ugly internecine power struggle during election season. Ryan has never loved the job; he oozes aggravation when discussing intraparty debates over “micro-tactics," and friends say he feels like he’s running a daycare center. On a personal level, going home at the end of next year would allow Ryan, who turns 48 next month, to keep promises to family; his three children are in or entering their teenage years, and Ryan, whose father died at 55, wants desperately to live at home with them full time before they begin flying the nest. The best part of this scenario, people close to the speaker emphasize: He wouldn’t have to share the ballot with Trump again in 2020.

Most recent news is denying an impending resignation, which is a different matter.

[a completely inoffensive name]

Paul Ryan? I've heard it since December.

https://www.politico.com/magazine/st...hington-216103

huh, interesting. I guess we still have a while until June 1st when he is forced to play his hand.