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Author Topic:   The Second Trump Presidency
K.Rose
Member
Posts: 234
From: Michigan
Joined: 02-02-2024
Member Rating: 3.9


Message 271 of 437 (921412)
01-12-2025 6:53 AM
Reply to: Message 266 by Percy
01-11-2025 8:07 AM


Re: Trump Lies Again
Percy writes in Message 266:
Trump is actually referring to the U.S. trade deficit with Canada, which isn't $250 billion...
We'll find out more about where Trump gets his numbers soon enough, noting that he is not calling it a deficit but a subsidy. He also refences the military protection we afford Canada.
He was clear that he wants these tariffs to compel Canada to take care of its borders. Trudeau has been as remiss with his borders as Harris-Biden have been with our own.
What is concerning is that Canada has no one to speak for them, no one to speak with Trump. They are leaderless and drifting and it appears they (and we) are going to learn a lesson the hard way.
Canada's leaderlessness brings to mind our own recent circumstances. Trump, in the vacuum of US leadership, has been recognized as the de facto US leader since the election. The charade that Biden was running the country was abandoned after the June-2024 Debate, and, thanks to the WSJ expose, we now know that the Biden Admistration and Democrat political leaders have known since at least the 2020 election that Biden was unfit/unable to serve as the president.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 266 by Percy, posted 01-11-2025 8:07 AM Percy has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 275 by Percy, posted 01-12-2025 11:48 AM K.Rose has replied
 Message 277 by DrJones*, posted 01-12-2025 2:38 PM K.Rose has replied
 Message 293 by Taq, posted 01-13-2025 12:10 PM K.Rose has not replied

  
K.Rose
Member
Posts: 234
From: Michigan
Joined: 02-02-2024
Member Rating: 3.9


Message 272 of 437 (921413)
01-12-2025 7:08 AM
Reply to: Message 267 by Percy
01-11-2025 8:26 AM


Re: Giving Trump Air
Message 267
Yes, this one did come out of left field, delivered in full Trump style.
Trump knows how to ignite discussion; that's what we have here. I don't know what claim or legal options we maintain with Greenland, or why Trump floated this balloon, but we'll find out soon enough. Fortunately, this Administration promises unprecedented, almost incessant transparency.
Greenland is directly between the US and what was once commonly called Eurasia; Russia is provoked, hostile, increasingly desperate; China is ascendant and determined. Trump addresses big issues and it will be interesting to see what's really here.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 267 by Percy, posted 01-11-2025 8:26 AM Percy has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 274 by PaulK, posted 01-12-2025 10:37 AM K.Rose has replied
 Message 276 by Percy, posted 01-12-2025 11:57 AM K.Rose has replied
 Message 407 by Taq, posted 01-28-2025 6:44 PM K.Rose has not replied

  
Percy
Member
Posts: 23144
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 5.8


Message 273 of 437 (921422)
01-12-2025 10:22 AM
Reply to: Message 270 by dwise1
01-11-2025 3:32 PM


Re: How Hitler Trashed the German Constitution in Less Than Two Months
Is this it: Rise of the Nazis | Politics | Season 1 | Episode 1 | PBS ? I'm getting a "We’re sorry, but this video is not available" message.
--Percy

This message is a reply to:
 Message 270 by dwise1, posted 01-11-2025 3:32 PM dwise1 has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 278 by dwise1, posted 01-12-2025 6:57 PM Percy has seen this message but not replied

  
PaulK
Member
Posts: 18047
Joined: 01-10-2003
Member Rating: 5.0


Message 274 of 437 (921423)
01-12-2025 10:37 AM
Reply to: Message 272 by K.Rose
01-12-2025 7:08 AM


Re: Giving Trump Air
quote:
Greenland is directly between the US and what was once commonly called Eurasia; Russia is provoked, hostile, increasingly desperate; China is ascendant and determined.
If Russia and China are so threatening then starting a war with Europe is unimaginably stupid. Yet Trump has indicated that he might just do that.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 272 by K.Rose, posted 01-12-2025 7:08 AM K.Rose has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 283 by K.Rose, posted 01-12-2025 8:31 PM PaulK has replied

  
Percy
Member
Posts: 23144
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 5.8


(1)
Message 275 of 437 (921424)
01-12-2025 11:48 AM
Reply to: Message 271 by K.Rose
01-12-2025 6:53 AM


Re: Trump Lies Again
K.Rose writes in Message 271:
Percy writes in Message 266:
Trump is actually referring to the U.S. trade deficit with Canada, which isn't $250 billion...
We'll find out more about where Trump gets his numbers soon enough, noting that he is not calling it a deficit but a subsidy. He also references the military protection we afford Canada.
If you look it up you will find that the U.S. provides no subsidies or foreign aid to Canada.
About the military, I can find nowhere where Trump mentioned the military while making his false subsidy argument. Perhaps you can find it?
But aside from that, it has long been a criticism of Canada from across the U.S. political spectrum that Canada takes advantage of the U.S. military umbrella. To that end Canada has committed to increasing its military spending as a proportion of GDP each year for the next ten years.
More importantly, Canada is our biggest trading partner by far, our common border is the longest undefended border in the world, and it is a key supplier of energy to the U.S. Any significant across the board tariffs would be extremely costly to both American and Canadian citizens and businesses as prices for both would rise and many goods and services would not be initially available internally.
Canada is an ally, a partner, a friend. Trump should not be attacking, panicking and alienating Canada.
He was clear that he wants these tariffs to compel Canada to take care of its borders. Trudeau has been as remiss with his borders as Harris-Biden have been with our own.
Any evidence about the borders? These are points that Republicans keep repeating, but do the statistics support these claims?
What is concerning is that Canada has no one to speak for them, no one to speak with Trump. They are leaderless and drifting and it appears they (and we) are going to learn a lesson the hard way.
Justin Trudeau resigned as leader of the Liberal Party. He did not resign as prime minister. He will remain as Canada's prime minister until the Liberal Party selects a new leader, which will likely take several months, at which point that person would become prime minister of Canada. Honestly, this stuff is readily available on the Internet. How could you screw it up so badly?
Canada's leaderlessness brings to mind our own recent circumstances.
You continue your gross error.
Trump, in the vacuum of US leadership, has been recognized as the de facto US leader since the election.
Recognized as the de facto U.S. leader by whom? I know some on the right are saying this, but this is just political nonsense. Trump has no actual presidential power at this time, though he has been able to exercise the power of the bully pulpit due to the fact that the world knows he will be president in a little over a week.
The charade that Biden was running the country was abandoned after the June-2024 Debate, and, thanks to the WSJ expose, we now know that the Biden Administration and Democrat political leaders have known since at least the 2020 election that Biden was unfit/unable to serve as the president.
I can't read the WSJ article. The ability of anyone to carry out their responsibilities in their 80's is always a legitimate concern, and that includes Biden. The world faces the aging problem in all facets all the time. When do we take grandpa's driver's license away, etc.
That said, calling Biden unfit/unable to serve as president seems unsupported by the evidence. When I see any recent Biden clip he seems diminished in appearance and energy, he speaks less clearly, but what he says seems fine. If you think the country has suffered due to a lack of presidential leadership over whatever time period you're talking about you'll have to describe it and present evidence. Domestically the economy seems to be doing fine and inflation is down. Unfortunately the impact of climate change is rolling on inexorably, and internationally there are too many hotspots, but it would be a huge stretch to blame any of that on Biden.
But do recall that I am not a Biden supporter. I've criticized Biden plenty, just read The Biden Presidency thread. But I will defend anyone against false accusations, as you witnessed recently when I challenged dronestar's recent claim that Trump had been found guilty of rape in the E. Jean Carroll case.
--Percy

This message is a reply to:
 Message 271 by K.Rose, posted 01-12-2025 6:53 AM K.Rose has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 279 by K.Rose, posted 01-12-2025 7:53 PM Percy has replied

  
Percy
Member
Posts: 23144
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 5.8


(1)
Message 276 of 437 (921426)
01-12-2025 11:57 AM
Reply to: Message 272 by K.Rose
01-12-2025 7:08 AM


Re: Giving Trump Air
K.Rose writes in Message 272:
Trump knows how to ignite discussion; that's what we have here. I don't know what claim or legal options we maintain with Greenland, or why Trump floated this balloon, but we'll find out soon enough. Fortunately, this Administration promises unprecedented, almost incessant transparency.
​...
Trump addresses big issues and it will be interesting to see what's really here.
Yes, we know, in Trump you trust.
I don't know why you think Trump is going to be open and honest about his administration. His "think it/say it" style might make you think that, but he knows what not to talk about. He never mentioned the Zelenskyy or Raffensperger phone calls, nor the Stormy Daniels tryst, nor the manipulation of his property valuations, nor the classified documents, nor the attempts to impanel false elector slates. He's very aware of what not to talk about.
Unfortunately for Trump, things that actually happen leave evidence behind, which is why he keeps finding himself in the courtroom.
--Percy

This message is a reply to:
 Message 272 by K.Rose, posted 01-12-2025 7:08 AM K.Rose has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 280 by K.Rose, posted 01-12-2025 8:05 PM Percy has replied

  
DrJones*
Member
Posts: 2362
From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Joined: 08-19-2004
Member Rating: 6.7


(1)
Message 277 of 437 (921446)
01-12-2025 2:38 PM
Reply to: Message 271 by K.Rose
01-12-2025 6:53 AM


Re: Trump Lies Again
What is concerning is that Canada has no one to speak for them, no one to speak with Trump.
Fuck you MAGAts are stupid, we have a prime minister.

It's not enough to bash in heads, you've got to bash in minds
soon I discovered that this rock thing was true
Jerry Lee Lewis was the devil
Jesus was an architect previous to his career as a prophet
All of a sudden i found myself in love with the world
And so there was only one thing I could do
Was ding a ding dang my dang along ling long - Jesus Built my Hotrod Ministry
Live every week like it's Shark Week! - Tracey Jordan
Just a monkey in a long line of kings. - Matthew Good
If "elitist" just means "not the dumbest motherfucker in the room", I'll be an elitist! - Get Your War On
*not an actual doctor

This message is a reply to:
 Message 271 by K.Rose, posted 01-12-2025 6:53 AM K.Rose has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 281 by K.Rose, posted 01-12-2025 8:13 PM DrJones* has replied

  
dwise1
Member
Posts: 6186
Joined: 05-02-2006
Member Rating: 5.5


Message 278 of 437 (921460)
01-12-2025 6:57 PM
Reply to: Message 273 by Percy
01-12-2025 10:22 AM


Re: How Hitler Trashed the German Constitution in Less Than Two Months
That very much sounds right.
Wikipedia lists it as four BBC series (what we in the USA call "seasons"), three episodes each for a total of 12 hours: Rise of the Nazis.:
  • Series 1: Origins (2019)
    1. "Politics"
      The path to Hitler becoming Chancellor of Germany in January 1933.
    2. "The First Six Months in Power"
      How the Nazis removed the political opposition and other democratic institutions during their early months in government.
    3. "Night of the Long Knives"
      How Hitler tightened his grip on power in 1934, and the lead-up to the Night of the Long Knives.
  • Series 2: Dictators at War (2021)
    1. "Barbarossa"
      The events that led to Hitler ordering the launch of the German invasion of the Soviet Union.
    2. "Stalingrad"
      After the Nazis lost in Moscow, both dictators took charge of their armies. Discusses the Battle of Stalingrad.
    3. "The Home Front"
      A fresh perspective on how Hitler seized and kept power, and the missed chances to stop him.
  • Series 3: The Downfall (2022)
    1. "Who Will Betray Him?"
      By early 1945, Germany is surrounded by the Western Allies and Russian forces. Despite imminent defeat, and many peace overtures made from the German side to the Allies, Hitler refuses to surrender unconditionally. Meanwhile, senior figures in Hitler's inner circle plan for the future after the war ends.
    2. "Hitler's Birthday"
      By April 1945, Russian forces have completely encircled Berlin — Hitler issues an order to fight to the death. The majority of Hitler's inner circle grow increasingly disillusioned with the Führer's refusal to surrender.
    3. "Into the Abyss"
      With the Nazi regime disintegrating all around him, Hitler finally realises the war is lost and commits suicide. In Hitler's last testament, Karl Dönitz is named Reichskanzler (Chancellor), much to the chagrin of Himmler and Göring. The Allies round up Nazis and prosecute them at the Nuremberg trials.
  • Series 4: The Manhunt (2023)
    1. "Most Wanted"
      Dealing with the aftermath of the German surrender — bringing Nazi crimes to justice at the Nuremberg trials and tracking down the high-ranking Nazis still at large.
    2. "The Ratline"
      In the face of an escalating Cold War, attention is turned to combating communism and many Nazis return to normal lives or flee overseas.
    3. "The Reckoning"
      A new generation is unable to tolerate the integration of former Nazis into normal life — the hunt for Nazi criminals continues into the 1960s and 70s.
Through that Wikipedia article:
Wikipedia:
Response
A review of the first series in The Times described the first series as a lesson in 'how easily — and petrifyingly quickly — a democratic country can move to a totalitarian dictatorship.' A TV Insider review of the American release on PBS a little over a year later described the series as "riveting" and "as gripping as any fictional thriller." A more critical review by James Delingpole in the conservative publication The Spectator suggested that the first series made inappropriate comparisons to political developments at around the time of its production, such as Brexit and the presidency of Donald Trump, concluding that "it's time the BBC gave up trying to pretend it's a voice of impartial authority".

... I'm getting a "We’re sorry, but this video is not available" message.
If you have PBS Passport on your streaming device, you may find it there. Otherwise, my Roku search feature found it on BBC Select and on PBS (both subscription channels) and for rent on Prime Video and Fandango at Home.
In a live reenactment section that I saw, a government attorney investigated the death of a political prisoner at the first generation of the concentration camps where he noticed many irregularities (eg, SS troops instead of prison guards, how the camp was being run). The "official" report was that the prisoner had been shot while trying to escape, but examination of the body indicated that his fatal head wound had been delivered at very close range, indicating an execution. He submitted his report and tried to move it up the chain, but his efforts were blocked, his report disappeared, and (as I seem to recall) he ended up being arrested himself.
Apparently something for us to look forward to over the next four years (at a minimum).

This message is a reply to:
 Message 273 by Percy, posted 01-12-2025 10:22 AM Percy has seen this message but not replied

  
K.Rose
Member
Posts: 234
From: Michigan
Joined: 02-02-2024
Member Rating: 3.9


Message 279 of 437 (921461)
01-12-2025 7:53 PM
Reply to: Message 275 by Percy
01-12-2025 11:48 AM


Re: Trump Lies Again
Percy writes in Message 275:
Justin Trudeau resigned as leader of the Liberal Party. He did not resign as prime minister.....How could you screw it up so badly?
Quite simply, the idea that Trudeau is PM is fascinatingly parallel to the idea that Biden-Harris are Pres-VP in that, functionally and de facto, they are not. They are exceedingly unpopular and the people have no confidence in them. They are, unfortunately, irrelevant, leaving their countries effectively leaderless.
I haven't heard Trudeau make the arguments you make below. If Trump is so off-the-mark it seems someone in Canada would call him out. I've heard Trudeau appealing to Americans regarding the impact of tariffs, but nothing that directly contradicts Trump.
I have heard the Canada opposition leader make defiant noises. I have heard the Ontario Premier speak in much tougher defiant language, but ultimately he speaks of a stronger US-Can alliance.
This will all be a very public debate very soon, but the question is: Why doesn't Canada just commit to cleaning up the border like Trump has demanded from the get-go?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 275 by Percy, posted 01-12-2025 11:48 AM Percy has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 284 by nwr, posted 01-12-2025 9:27 PM K.Rose has not replied
 Message 287 by DrJones*, posted 01-12-2025 11:02 PM K.Rose has not replied
 Message 290 by Percy, posted 01-13-2025 6:00 AM K.Rose has not replied

  
K.Rose
Member
Posts: 234
From: Michigan
Joined: 02-02-2024
Member Rating: 3.9


Message 280 of 437 (921462)
01-12-2025 8:05 PM
Reply to: Message 276 by Percy
01-12-2025 11:57 AM


Re: Giving Trump Air
Percy writes in Message 276:
Yes, we know, in Trump you trust....I don't know why you think Trump is going to be open and honest about his administration......He's very aware of what not to talk about.
This is a very strange kerfuffle that he's started, but he usually has a point in these instances and he usually comes out on top.
I have no idea how this debate will go, but I'm very much looking forward to it. I'm particulary interested in what Europeans outside of Denmark and the people who actually live in Greenland have to say. Also interested, in an ominous way, about what China and Russia have to say.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 276 by Percy, posted 01-12-2025 11:57 AM Percy has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 291 by Percy, posted 01-13-2025 6:12 AM K.Rose has replied

  
K.Rose
Member
Posts: 234
From: Michigan
Joined: 02-02-2024
Member Rating: 3.9


Message 281 of 437 (921463)
01-12-2025 8:13 PM
Reply to: Message 277 by DrJones*
01-12-2025 2:38 PM


Re: Trump Lies Again
DrJones* writes in Message 277:
F*** you MAGAts are stupid, we have a prime minister.
Hello DrJones,
I usually decline to respond to outwardly hostile, obscene entries, but you do bring up a good point.
In a brief informal chat Trump exposed Trudeau for what he is, and now he is out of the picture and it's all Trump.
The Canadian Prime Minister should be going toe-to-toe with Trump, just like Harris-Biden should still be acting like the US leaders.
It's a shame what has become of our Western leaders.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 277 by DrJones*, posted 01-12-2025 2:38 PM DrJones* has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 286 by DrJones*, posted 01-12-2025 11:00 PM K.Rose has not replied

  
K.Rose
Member
Posts: 234
From: Michigan
Joined: 02-02-2024
Member Rating: 3.9


Message 282 of 437 (921464)
01-12-2025 8:29 PM
Reply to: Message 268 by Percy
01-11-2025 9:54 AM


Re: How Hitler Trashed the German Constitution in Less Than Two Months
Percy writes in Message 268:
Hitler never made any secret of his intentions.....For Trump to follow Hitler's roadmap
I assume we're talking about Trump becoming the next Hitler. Maybe the Atlantic missed the memo, but all the Hitler-Stalin-Mussolini-fascist stuff was abandoned after the election, it didn't work.
In any case the Atlantic need not fret. The Weimar Republic was a homogeneous society being economically crushed by its victorious adversaries, existentially desperate. The US is the most non-homogeneous and diverse society in the history of the world. We may be fed-up, but we're not to the point where we'll accept just any response.
Americans may be distracted, somewhat inattentive, but not stupid. A Htler-like thing would never fly.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 268 by Percy, posted 01-11-2025 9:54 AM Percy has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 288 by PaulK, posted 01-13-2025 2:09 AM K.Rose has not replied
 Message 292 by Percy, posted 01-13-2025 6:46 AM K.Rose has replied

  
K.Rose
Member
Posts: 234
From: Michigan
Joined: 02-02-2024
Member Rating: 3.9


Message 283 of 437 (921465)
01-12-2025 8:31 PM
Reply to: Message 274 by PaulK
01-12-2025 10:37 AM


Re: Giving Trump Air
Message 274
Yes, it would be. We'll see what ol' Trump has up his sleeve.
[ K.Rose: You recently had a series of messages with empty quotes that duplicated the information in the upper right of all reply messages. Now you've repeated a message link that also duplicates the information in the upper right, but you still quote nothing. Please message me if you'd like help using the dBCodes. ]

This message is a reply to:
 Message 274 by PaulK, posted 01-12-2025 10:37 AM PaulK has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 289 by PaulK, posted 01-13-2025 2:18 AM K.Rose has not replied

  
nwr
Member
Posts: 6489
From: Geneva, Illinois
Joined: 08-08-2005


Message 284 of 437 (921466)
01-12-2025 9:27 PM
Reply to: Message 279 by K.Rose
01-12-2025 7:53 PM


Re: Trump Lies Again
K.Rose writes in Message 279:
Quite simply, the idea that Trudeau is PM is fascinatingly parallel to the idea that Biden-Harris are Pres-VP in that, functionally and de facto, they are not. They are exceedingly unpopular and the people have no confidence in them.
This is nonsense. Harris got 48.4% of the vote. That is not "exceedingly unpopular".

Fundamentalism - the anti-American, anti-Christian branch of American Christianity

This message is a reply to:
 Message 279 by K.Rose, posted 01-12-2025 7:53 PM K.Rose has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 285 by kjsimons, posted 01-12-2025 10:32 PM nwr has seen this message but not replied

  
kjsimons
Member
Posts: 835
From: Orlando,FL
Joined: 06-17-2003
Member Rating: 6.7


(1)
Message 285 of 437 (921467)
01-12-2025 10:32 PM
Reply to: Message 284 by nwr
01-12-2025 9:27 PM


Re: Trump Lies Again
Not to mention that Trump got less than 50% of the vote. No mandate there!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 284 by nwr, posted 01-12-2025 9:27 PM nwr has seen this message but not replied

  
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