cwericb

"Negotiation"? Trump couldn't negotiate a crap. "The Art of the Deal" What a joke! I have done a few 'deals' and numerous negotiations. Canada is the US's biggest customer. Trump's first move was to insult Canada and his second was to then threaten Canada. A ten year old knows that is not the way you make deals. And WHY would anyone want to sign a deal with a guy who rips up his own signed deals on a whim? How's this great 'dealer' doing with the Russia-Ukraine war that he bragged that he would settle within 24 hours -over and over again? How are the Buffoon's 'negotiations' with Canada going? "Doesn't need Canada he says?" OOPS! He didn't do his homework, did he? Didn't know that Canada supplies US refineries with oil - not readily available elsewhere - AND at a DISCOUNTED price. Didn't realize that millions in the US depend on Canadian electricity to keep the lights on. Didn't know how important Canadian supplied gas is to the US. Didn't know that Canada controls vast amounts of water the US desperately needs. Didn't know about critical minerals provided to the US. Didn't know Canada's softwood lumber mills are vital to the US housing industry. This is a small fraction of the list, but figure it out for yourself, Trump didn't. And, oh by the way, is he even aware of "the Alaska problem"? "Trucking plays a vital role in Alaska. It puts essentials like groceries, clothing, gear, and other supplies in the hands of Alaska's residents. It also transports the inventory, supplies, materials, and equipment that keep Alaska's businesses moving forward and power the state's economy." So Alaska's population is supplied primarily by truck from the lower 48 right? Now we know Trump's geographical knowledge is limited, but all those trucks go through Canadian highways and what goes by air is through Canadian air space, and by boat through Canadian waters. The US has slapped docking fees of $1.5 mil on Chinese ships? Just wait until you see the Canadian tolls on US trucks heading to Alaska. Now Canada has never done something like that, but keep on with all that tariff talk and we will see...

Thanks all for your input. As you know Canadians don't get to vote for our Prime Minister. So one of the guys in my riding is a bit of a dick so that tends to simplify things somewhat and my vote will likely remain blue.

Okay, this is coming from one who has never voted Liberal* in his life: (*Note capital "L") But is still undecided at this point. Carney vs Poilevere Carney: Former head of Bank of Canada (Guided Canada through GFC with barely a scratch), Former head of Bank of England (Guided Britain through Brexit), Former Chairman at Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) a nice little Canadian company. Poilievre: Career politician.

Seems to be a lot of love between Canada and Mexico these days as the US isolates itself from the rest of the world.

Yup.

FYI....... "In March 2025, nearly 900,000 fewer Canadians traveled to the United States compared to the same month the previous year. This significant decline is attributed to escalating political tensions, including U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and controversial remarks about Canada, which have led to a widespread boycott of U.S. travel among Canadians. Consequently, U.S. tourism-dependent regions are facing substantial economic losses, with estimates suggesting a $2.1 billion shortfall in spending and the potential loss of 14,000 jobs. "

Essentially this board is/was originally Canadian and a good percentage of members are Canadian. After all, it started about Fairfax a Canadian company. Do you really expect Canadians to be happy with a President/Country who constantly insults and threatens our country? Who voices lies about us with every mention of our country? Who referred to our previous Prime Minister as Governor and Canada as the 51st state? Who ho has stated that the policy of the United States is the intention of taking over Canada? One wonders how citizens of the US would like it if China started talking that way about the United States? One doubts the American citizens would be warm and fuzzy referring to the leader of China.

Did you ever consider that if one is far right then pretty well everything looks left? Also what is left/right in the US does not necessarily seem quite the same in Canada. Everything is relative. JMHO

Just wondering what shares in Fairfax (FFH.TO) would look like on that chart?

Doesn't care, all tastes good and just keeps sluggin' it down! Whatever you say Mr Trump! Seriously Cubs there must be things Trump is doing that you disagree with, could you list some? Or is everything he's doing just fine with you?

Unfortunately it usually seems to be the ones on the Right that are so aggressive and are the first to jump on other posters with unnecessary personal attacks. It seems they are just following the example their leader has set. If you don't have substance to back up your points, flail around, shoot the messenger and try and shift the focus.

Long ago Hans Christian Andersen wrote a story in 1837 that contain many parallels to the present situation in the USA today. Hopefully there is an innocent child in the country that will speak up. Most here are probably familiar with the story behind the expression..."The Emperor Has No Clothes". But for those who are not... "The Emperor's New Clothes" Credit to "Bookey" The story takes place in a fictional kingdom ruled by an arrogant and vain emperor. The emperor is overly concerned with his appearance and spends most of his time and resources on his luxurious robes and garments. He is easily fooled by flattery and seeks constant validation from his advisors and subjects. [Does this remind us of anyone?] Word of the emperor's obsession with clothes reaches the ears of two cunning weavers who see an opportunity to exploit his vanity. They claim to be master weavers who possess a special fabric that is so exquisite and unique that it is invisible to anyone who is unfit for their position or "hopelessly stupid." They assure the emperor that only the wise and worthy can see the fabric, appealing to his ego and desire to be seen as intelligent and superior. The emperor, eager to acquire this extraordinary fabric, hires the weavers and provides them with all the materials and resources they need. As the weavers pretend to work diligently, the emperor's ministers, advisors, and even the emperor himself fail to see any progress on the fabric. However, driven by their fear of being labeled "unfit for their positions," they all pretend to see the fabric to avoid being perceived as foolish. The emperor, eager to acquire this extraordinary fabric, hires the weavers and provides them with all the materials and resources they need. As the weavers pretend to work diligently, the emperor's ministers, advisors, and even the emperor himself fail to see any progress on the fabric. However, driven by their fear of being labeled "unfit for their positions," they all pretend to see the fabric to avoid being perceived as foolish. The townspeople, who have also been swept up in the deception, enthusiastically cheer for the emperor's new clothes, despite seeing nothing at all. It is only when an innocent child speaks the truth, exclaiming that the emperor is naked, that everyone begins to realize the extent of their collective delusion. Slowly, the truth spreads throughout the city, and the emperor's foolishness becomes apparent to all. The Emperor's New Clothes is a timeless tale that explores themes of vanity, hypocrisy, and the power of truth. It serves as a cautionary reminder of the dangers of deceit and the importance of staying true to oneself, no matter how appealing falsehoods may be. The story's enduring appeal lies in its ability to entertain, amuse, and impart valuable lessons that remain relevant today. 5 Key Lessons From The Emperor's New Clothes 1. The power of collective delusion: The main lesson of "The Emperor's New Clothes" is that people are often swayed by social pressure and are afraid to speak their truth, even when the truth is obvious. In the story, everyone pretends to see the emperor's new clothes because they fear being perceived as stupid or unfit for their position. This highlights how fear of judgment and desire for social acceptance can cloud people's judgment and lead to collective delusion. 2. The danger of vanity and self-importance: The Emperor in the story is portrayed as vain and arrogant, which ultimately leads him to become the victim of a conniving tailor. The tale warns against excessive pride and self-importance and shows that such qualities can blind individuals to reality and make them vulnerable to manipulation. 3. The importance of critical thinking: The story emphasizes the significance of critical thinking and questioning authority. In the narrative, it is only a young child who speaks the truth, unaffected by societal expectations and outside pressures. This teaches readers the importance of thinking independently and objectively, rather than blindly following the crowd. 4. The value of honesty and transparency: "The Emperor's New Clothes" underscores the importance of honesty and transparency in leadership. The emperor's dishonesty about the non-existent clothes he believed he was wearing demonstrates the harmful consequences of leaders who lack honesty and transparency, as it can lead to the creation of false narratives and the erosion of trust. 5. The liberation of embracing authenticity: One of the key takeaways from the book is that embracing one's true self and speaking the truth can be empowering and liberating. The young child who points out that the emperor is naked demonstrates the courage to be authentic and the freedom that comes from not conforming to societal expectations. This encourages readers to value authenticity and to be brave enough to speak their truth, even if it goes against popular opinion.

Easy for you to say, but you are not speaking from the receiving end.

And to think otherwise is rather arrogant.

Exactly! And people have looong memories when their country is disrespected and insulted. Calling China a bunch of peasants, Canada the 51st state, the EU a bunch of freeloaders, etc. It is very convenient to try duck responsibility for a country's leadership's decisions. One only has to look at what Japan and Germany suffered during WWII due to their country's leadership. Like it or not, a country is responsible for its leadership's decisions and to believe otherwise would be very naive.

Of course! And that is the reason we expect Trump to show them.

And you think a bunch of self serving Billionaires in Washington give a crap about the middle class other than how they can extract more money from them?? Thats pretty naive.

Yup, remember that well. That behaviour really defines who this guy is. His supporters must be proud of that moment. It is kind of like when the was tbragging that the F-35 was invisible. "You could be standing right beside it and you couldn't see it." The guy really is an idiot.

No. What is happening with the stock market is not the problem. What is happening with the stock market is a symptom of Mr. Trumps bumbling through international affairs where he has managed to piss off and insult pretty well every other country in the world, specifically all or most of US allies and now the chickens are coming home to roost.

WOW! Anyone who truly believes that.... A bunch of shifty billionaires, Led by a lunatic who has gone bankrupt half a dozen times, Who has a reputation of stiffing people with whom he has done business And whose wealth comes from inheriting nearly a billion dollars of NYC property 30-40 years ago That this person is actually going to look after the middle class, Then that would seem to define the term "Delusional".

"Now we all understand how he bankrupted a casino."

Could someone explain how this is going to work? From Fox News: "If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault — which it might not be — but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia," Now the US doesn't buy oil from Russia. So, could someone explain how this would work, or is Trump that out of touch?

Good advice. Problem is, there are a lot of people who either believe everything they read or what is just as bad, those who will not believe anything they read.

I read/watch, CNN, Fox, BBC, Aljazeera, and several other sources. I know where their prejudices lie and balance things out and somewhere in there lies some semblance of truth. "He should have handled it the same way he would've if it happened a year or two ago. We know from his character that he wouldn't have gone about it the same way. Asking for consistency isn't too tall an ask." So, in effect, you think he should have participated in covering this up? Come on, what was he expected to do with this extraordinary lapse of security. Don't you think voters and the countries mentioned had a right to know about this? If you think he wouldn't have released this if the previous government was in power, well you don't really know that do you that is just a supposition isn't it.

Really. Really! Oh Please! Is this coming from the same Cubs that bitched and bitched about Clinton and her emails? Don't believe she ever released war plans before a pending attack. Don't think she she dissed European allies to a reporter. Come on now. "Both of those losers own the Afghanistan disaster killing 13 Americans and stranding hundreds." This, though, I have to agree with. However, don't forget that it was Trump that set the deadline for pulling out of the country. But leaving all that equipment behind just boggles the mind. Set a new high for incompetence - and embarrassment to the country.