Elon Musk...human? - Political

[dealraker]

My further view is that you can't get to where these guys want to go without some "dealings" with the Treasury bond, US debt.  I'm not sure what's gunna happen but I'd be willing to bet 10% of my net worth that some shenanigans will be happening with the long bond during this administration.  Restructuring?  Trade for something else?  Something is gunna happen and I'd be willing to bet it is already being heavily discussed.   And some of the happenings of today?  I think they are "positioning" for this to happen.

Edited 11 hours ago by dealraker

[rogermunibond]

Mar a Lago accord @dealraker

[Buckeye]

2 hours ago, cubsfan said:

 

If I had to boil it down to one thing - this is it.

 

Leave me alone, let me be free, STFU, stop lecturing me constantly, stay away from my children

Damn, it’s rough out there for the straight white male! Stay safe everyone! It’s like Bo Burnham says…We used to have all the money and land, and we still do, but it’s not as fun now.”

Edited 10 hours ago by Buckeye

[Parsad]

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/musk-boosts-claim-hitler-wasn-224050228.html

 

I think when was using the word "retard", he was referring to himself!  Cheers!

[dealraker]

1 hour ago, rogermunibond said:

Mar a Lago accord @dealraker

Yes

[Ulti]

In addition, and to me more concerning than the monetary aspect… is the destruction of relationships with our allies… disruption of intelligence cooperation to monitor our adversaries 

and what’s happening here .. domestically..all in the name of DOGE….

column by David Ignatius

 

 

What happens when so much national security expertise is tossed aside?

Trump’s focus on “weaponization” at the Justice Department and FBI risks ignoring foreign threats.

David IgnatiusUpdated 

March 14, 2025 at 1:57 p.m. EDTtoday at 1:57 p.m. EDT

A potentially dangerous feature of President Donald Trump’s drive to revamp the federal government is that it has stripped away many of the FBI and Justice Department officials with the most experience in protecting the nation against foreign terrorist and intelligence threats.

Many experts have been warning for more than a year that the dangers from abroad are increasing. Yet the new administration has been focused on removing those who supposedly “weaponized” Justice and the FBI against Trump in the past, rather than mobilizing to deal with future perils. Trump is expected to deliver a major speech later Friday at the Justice Department explaining his big changes there.

“By kneecapping that entire level of management and expertise, I have real, profound worry that [it] is going to translate into public safety and national security impacts,” warned Lisa Monaco, who served as deputy attorney general in the Biden administration and was a senior FBI official under President George W. Bush. Monaco spoke at a March 5 symposium organized by New York University’s law school.

The foreign threats include cyberattacks, terrorist plots and spy operations. Then-FBI director Christopher A. Wray said nearly a year ago, “I’m hard-pressed to come up with a time when I’ve seen so many different threats, all elevated, all at the same time.” Those threats remain in a world in turmoil.

Follow Trump’s first 100 Days

Kash Patel, the new FBI director, said during his confirmation hearings that “the top areas, when it comes to national security … have remained unchanged, and the threat dynamic has increased. It’s thwarting terrorist activities and terrorist attacks here and overseas against our citizens and our allies.” He specifically mentioned dangers related to China and Iran.

Patel also said during his hearings that “all FBI employees will be protected against political retribution.” Nonetheless, purges at Justice and the FBI have pushed out many prominent officials dealing with foreign threats. It’s a long list, but bear with me, because it shows how much national security experience the nation has lost.

At the Justice Department, most top leaders of the national security division have departed — through resignation, reassignment or dismissal. Devin DeBacker, the acting head of the division, was removed in February. George Toscas, a veteran counterintelligence official who was DeBacker’s deputy, was also moved, along with other top division officials Eun Young Choi, Brad Wiegmann, Melissa MacTough and Scott Damelin. A century of experience prosecuting terrorism and espionage cases is going unused.

The wipeout at the FBI has been even greater. Mark R. Warner (D-Virginia), vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, disclosed the firings in early February. They included Robert Wells, assistant director for counterintelligence; Michael Nordwall, assistant director for cyber investigations; Ryan Young, assistant director in charge of the intelligence branch; and Jacqueline Maguire, assistant director for science and technology.

The housecleaning has continued since that initial round. The directors of the New York, Washington, Miami and Las Vegas field offices have been dismissed. Though most of these firings weren’t explained publicly, press reports said many of these officials had been involved in FBI investigations of Trump.

James Dennehy, head of the New York office who has focused on counterintelligence for more than two decades, spoke for many colleagues when he said in an email, quoted by the New York Times, that he would hold tight to the FBI’s principles: “We will not bend. We will not falter. We will not sacrifice what is right for anyone or anything.”

What happens with the loss of so many experienced people? Obviously, it’s harder to coordinate the basic work of overseeing complex national security cases. A Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant can stretch to 100 pages or more. Mistakes get made, as an egregious example from the FBI investigation of Trump adviser Carter Page during the 2016 campaign showed. Without enough experienced people, the risk of such errors will grow.

To monitor terrorism, top FBI officials met with their Justice Department colleagues each morning during the Biden administration for a “threat assessment.” That allowed them to coordinate operations to disrupt any plots disclosed by intelligence. When I asked an FBI spokesman if these daily top-level reviews were continuing, he referred me to Patel’s statement during his hearings about continuity. He did not address a question about when national security positions will be filled.

A hidden danger is that FBI agents will steer clear of issues that could be career-killers. Investigations of Russian espionage, public corruption, classified documents and other hot-button topics could offend current or future FBI leaders, so ambitious agents may avoid them. Inevitably, that will lead to a loss of morale and aggressiveness. The FBI’s counterintelligence staff was already struggling to field enough agents to perform surveillance and investigations, several FBI experts told me.

Political backlash will affect agents assigned to investigate the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol. FBI officials, after initially resisting, provided their names to the bureau’s new leadership. FBI experts expect the agents on that list to be examined by the Office of Professional Responsibility. Even if they’re cleared of wrongdoing, their careers could be on hold for months or years.

The personnel shortage in national security investigations will probably worsen after Patel’s order to send 1,500 headquarters staff and agents to field offices around the country. Those transfers will include hundreds of field agents who had been helping with counterintelligence on a temporary basis. They’re known as HSIs, short for the FBI’s Headquarters Staffing Initiative. That will probably leave intelligence and terrorism cases with fewer staff.

Meanwhile, the need for aggressive counterintelligence operations will only grow, as Trump resets relations with Russia. Regaining contact with Russia might be politically sensible, but it probably will bring dozens more Russians to their embassy in Washington and other facilities in the United States — creating a surveillance headache. In recent years, the FBI has been able to vet Russia’s list of applicants for diplomatic visas to weed out spies. It isn’t clear whether the agency’s capacity to do such vetting in the future will be less effective.

Here’s the odd thing about the “America First” agenda. It targets drugs, migrants, criminal gangs. But so far, it doesn’t seem focused on traditional threats such as terrorism or spying. Protecting the nation from dangers posed by foreign adversaries should be at the top of any administration’s to-do list. If Trump gets this one wrong, history won’t be forgiving.

 

[Ulti]

4 hours ago, cubsfan said:

Leave me alone, let me be free, STFU, stop lecturing me constantly, stay away from my children

And again all this comes at a price… and by that I mean a sacrifice that all members of society can and should do in order for you to be free… …. All this destruction of relationships between allies… And destruction of domestic relationships .. hopefully your family and mine are not called upon to make that sacrifice in the future … so you can be free and tell me to STFU haha

[cubsfan]

32 minutes ago, Ulti said:

In addition, and to me more concerning than the monetary aspect… is the destruction of relationships with our allies… disruption of intelligence cooperation to monitor our adversaries 

and what’s happening here .. domestically..all in the name of DOGE….

column by David Ignatius

 

 

What happens when so much national security expertise is tossed aside?

Trump’s focus on “weaponization” at the Justice Department and FBI risks ignoring foreign threats.

David IgnatiusUpdated 

March 14, 2025 at 1:57 p.m. EDTtoday at 1:57 p.m. EDT

A potentially dangerous feature of President Donald Trump’s drive to revamp the federal government is that it has stripped away many of the FBI and Justice Department officials with the most experience in protecting the nation against foreign terrorist and intelligence threats.

Many experts have been warning for more than a year that the dangers from abroad are increasing. Yet the new administration has been focused on removing those who supposedly “weaponized” Justice and the FBI against Trump in the past, rather than mobilizing to deal with future perils. Trump is expected to deliver a major speech later Friday at the Justice Department explaining his big changes there.

“By kneecapping that entire level of management and expertise, I have real, profound worry that [it] is going to translate into public safety and national security impacts,” warned Lisa Monaco, who served as deputy attorney general in the Biden administration and was a senior FBI official under President George W. Bush. Monaco spoke at a March 5 symposium organized by New York University’s law school.

The foreign threats include cyberattacks, terrorist plots and spy operations. Then-FBI director Christopher A. Wray said nearly a year ago, “I’m hard-pressed to come up with a time when I’ve seen so many different threats, all elevated, all at the same time.” Those threats remain in a world in turmoil.

Follow Trump’s first 100 Days

Kash Patel, the new FBI director, said during his confirmation hearings that “the top areas, when it comes to national security … have remained unchanged, and the threat dynamic has increased. It’s thwarting terrorist activities and terrorist attacks here and overseas against our citizens and our allies.” He specifically mentioned dangers related to China and Iran.

Patel also said during his hearings that “all FBI employees will be protected against political retribution.” Nonetheless, purges at Justice and the FBI have pushed out many prominent officials dealing with foreign threats. It’s a long list, but bear with me, because it shows how much national security experience the nation has lost.

At the Justice Department, most top leaders of the national security division have departed — through resignation, reassignment or dismissal. Devin DeBacker, the acting head of the division, was removed in February. George Toscas, a veteran counterintelligence official who was DeBacker’s deputy, was also moved, along with other top division officials Eun Young Choi, Brad Wiegmann, Melissa MacTough and Scott Damelin. A century of experience prosecuting terrorism and espionage cases is going unused.

The wipeout at the FBI has been even greater. Mark R. Warner (D-Virginia), vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, disclosed the firings in early February. They included Robert Wells, assistant director for counterintelligence; Michael Nordwall, assistant director for cyber investigations; Ryan Young, assistant director in charge of the intelligence branch; and Jacqueline Maguire, assistant director for science and technology.

The housecleaning has continued since that initial round. The directors of the New York, Washington, Miami and Las Vegas field offices have been dismissed. Though most of these firings weren’t explained publicly, press reports said many of these officials had been involved in FBI investigations of Trump.

James Dennehy, head of the New York office who has focused on counterintelligence for more than two decades, spoke for many colleagues when he said in an email, quoted by the New York Times, that he would hold tight to the FBI’s principles: “We will not bend. We will not falter. We will not sacrifice what is right for anyone or anything.”

What happens with the loss of so many experienced people? Obviously, it’s harder to coordinate the basic work of overseeing complex national security cases. A Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant can stretch to 100 pages or more. Mistakes get made, as an egregious example from the FBI investigation of Trump adviser Carter Page during the 2016 campaign showed. Without enough experienced people, the risk of such errors will grow.

To monitor terrorism, top FBI officials met with their Justice Department colleagues each morning during the Biden administration for a “threat assessment.” That allowed them to coordinate operations to disrupt any plots disclosed by intelligence. When I asked an FBI spokesman if these daily top-level reviews were continuing, he referred me to Patel’s statement during his hearings about continuity. He did not address a question about when national security positions will be filled.

A hidden danger is that FBI agents will steer clear of issues that could be career-killers. Investigations of Russian espionage, public corruption, classified documents and other hot-button topics could offend current or future FBI leaders, so ambitious agents may avoid them. Inevitably, that will lead to a loss of morale and aggressiveness. The FBI’s counterintelligence staff was already struggling to field enough agents to perform surveillance and investigations, several FBI experts told me.

Political backlash will affect agents assigned to investigate the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol. FBI officials, after initially resisting, provided their names to the bureau’s new leadership. FBI experts expect the agents on that list to be examined by the Office of Professional Responsibility. Even if they’re cleared of wrongdoing, their careers could be on hold for months or years.

The personnel shortage in national security investigations will probably worsen after Patel’s order to send 1,500 headquarters staff and agents to field offices around the country. Those transfers will include hundreds of field agents who had been helping with counterintelligence on a temporary basis. They’re known as HSIs, short for the FBI’s Headquarters Staffing Initiative. That will probably leave intelligence and terrorism cases with fewer staff.

Meanwhile, the need for aggressive counterintelligence operations will only grow, as Trump resets relations with Russia. Regaining contact with Russia might be politically sensible, but it probably will bring dozens more Russians to their embassy in Washington and other facilities in the United States — creating a surveillance headache. In recent years, the FBI has been able to vet Russia’s list of applicants for diplomatic visas to weed out spies. It isn’t clear whether the agency’s capacity to do such vetting in the future will be less effective.

Here’s the odd thing about the “America First” agenda. It targets drugs, migrants, criminal gangs. But so far, it doesn’t seem focused on traditional threats such as terrorism or spying. Protecting the nation from dangers posed by foreign adversaries should be at the top of any administration’s to-do list. If Trump gets this one wrong, history won’t be forgiving.

 

 

Pretty good article, trying to save the totally corrupt institutions of the FBI, CIA and DOJ.

 

It won't work. The citizens saw how these institutions destroyed any trust we had for them when they unleashed their awesome resources and power on the opposition party for years.

All the well coordinated efforts to jail the leading presidential candidate for 300+ years, while trying to bankrupt him, and then hopefully, let him get shot.

 

We know how evil these institutions are. They went after everyone and anyone associated with Trump. They destroyed the lives of ordinary citizens strictly for political purposes.

 

Their reputations are permanently damaged.

[Ulti]

13 minutes ago, cubsfan said:

 

Pretty good article, trying to save the totally corrupt institutions of the FBI, CIA and DOJ.

 

It won't work. The citizens saw how these institutions destroyed any trust we had for them when they unleashed their awesome resources and power on the opposition party for years.

All the well coordinated efforts to jail the leading presidential candidate for 300+ years, while trying to bankrupt him, and then hopefully, let him get shot.

 

We know how evil these institutions are. They went after everyone and anyone associated with Trump. They destroyed the lives of ordinary citizens strictly for political purposes.

 

Their reputations are permanently damaged.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/01/20/trumps-promises-radically-change-military.html

 

 https://www.cia.gov/resources/csi/static/Use-Abuse-Intelligence.pdf

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/ex-fbi-informant-who-fabricated-bribery-story-about-biden-and-his-son-hunter-gets-6-years-in-prison/ar-BB1r7ELX
 

Unlike you , I am not willing to condemn 

whole departments… And certainly not without transparency…. And I certainly don’t want to this while sacrificing intel on foreign adversaries 

[John Hjorth]

4 hours ago, rogermunibond said:

Mar a Lago accord @dealraker

 

2 hours ago, dealraker said:

Yes

 

From Apollo Academy : What is the Mar A Lago Accord?

 

Link

 

Edited 6 hours ago by John Hjorth

[SharperDingaan]

NATO gives the world security; ... not just the US ... all by itself. 

US markets are nice; ... but China is near just as big ... the US ain't the only gal at the dance.   

 

Lower USD; why not just make our own currencies cheaper? and keep the benefit ourselves.

Manufacturing; there ain't the job quantities you think, robots do the work. Productivity is a bitch.

US debt is still junk, no matter how much you shine the turd. Keep your fiat and give me your gold &/or BTC instead!

 

Tariffs only work if the other guy doesn't retaliate, and tariff free trade is the most efficient trade there is for everyone (win-win). If you really want a new Bretton Woods ... put your fiat on a stable coin BTC-Standard      

 

SD

Edited 6 hours ago by SharperDingaan

[cubsfan]

1 hour ago, Ulti said:

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/01/20/trumps-promises-radically-change-military.html

 

 https://www.cia.gov/resources/csi/static/Use-Abuse-Intelligence.pdf

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/ex-fbi-informant-who-fabricated-bribery-story-about-biden-and-his-son-hunter-gets-6-years-in-prison/ar-BB1r7ELX
 

Unlike you , I am not willing to condemn 

whole departments… And certainly not without transparency…. And I certainly don’t want to this while sacrificing intel on foreign adversaries 

 

Nice work. Bury us in bullshit.

[Ulti]

2 minutes ago, cubsfan said:

 

Nice work. Bury us in bullshit.

Nope, just trying to point out with different sources that things are more complex than blanket statements…such as the one below 

 

2 hours ago, cubsfan said:

shot.

 

We know how evil these institutions are.

These institutions are not evil….that doesn’t mean that politicization can’t happen at the appointment as well as the rank and file level…and that happens with all administrations… That’s why I believe that the checks and balances our founding fathers designed are so important… I also believe that different  viewpoints can be expressed with rational thought and expression rather than accusations of bullshit…

[John Hjorth]

6 minutes ago, Ulti said:

… I also believe that different viewpoints can be expressed with rational thought and expression rather than accusations of bullshit…

 

Mike [ @cubsfan ],

 

@Ulti is here not the only one, who thinks you need to pay more attention to your modus operandi of discussion. If you're already carried away while posting, you've lost it in advance.

[Spekulatius]

Anyone is willing  to bet if the federal deficit this year will be larger or smaller than last year? I think it will be larger.

[Parsad]

Hi Denmark, can you send us some eggs...be a good neighbor!  Oh, you mean the stuff about Greenland...uhh, we were just joking.  No eggs...fuck you, we're taking Greenland!

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/14/trump-egg-prices-denmark-greenland

 

Biden is to blame for egg prices.  Biden is to blame for the stock market.  Biden is to blame for the Ukraine/Russia war.  Biden is to blame for Israel/Gaza.  Biden is to blame for the horrible Canada/US/Mexico free trade agreement.  Biden is to blame for increased unemployment.  Biden's even responsible for the hate on against Whitehouse Rainman's Teslas!  

 

You guys put a lunatic in charge of your country...not once, but twice!  Congratulations!  Cheers!

[cubsfan]

1 hour ago, Ulti said:

Nope, just trying to point out with different sources that things are more complex than blanket statements…such as the one below 

 

These institutions are not evil….that doesn’t mean that politicization can’t happen at the appointment as well as the rank and file level…and that happens with all administrations… That’s why I believe that the checks and balances our founding fathers designed are so important… I also believe that different  viewpoints can be expressed with rational thought and expression rather than accusations of bullshit…

 

Most of us will never forget how they lock up grandmothers for months for illegal acts like walking in the Capitol and taking pictures. Meanwhile, rioters who burn down America's cities in the name of George Floyd get a free pass.

 

These institutions are rotten to the core. Not to worry, they are getting gutted and fixed now.

 

The right leadership means all the difference.

Edited 3 hours ago by cubsfan

[John Hjorth]

3 minutes ago, Parsad said:

Hi Denmark, can you send us some eggs...be a good neighbor!  Oh, you mean the stuff about Greenland...uhh, we were just joking.  No eggs...fuck you, we're taking Greenland!

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/14/trump-egg-prices-denmark-greenland

 

Biden is to blame for egg prices.  Biden is to blame for the stock market.  Biden is to blame for the Ukraine/Russia war.  Biden is to blame for Israel/Gaza.  Biden is to blame for the horrible Canada/US/Mexico free trade agreement.  Biden is to blame for increased unemployment.  Biden's even responsible for the hate on against Whitehouse Rainman's Teslas!  

 

You guys put a lunatic in charge of your country...not once, but twice!  Congratulations!  Cheers!

 

Sanjeev [ @Parsad ],

 

You certainly above sensed the overall Danish national and local picture, sentiment here, correctly.

 

Bird flu sucks, and is such a downer for everyone hit!

 

So, naturally, Denmark will send eggs to USA, to raise new American chickens. - Just wait and see. [Right now I'm in intense thoughts and doubts  if this involves Danish chickens getting hit hard by language barriers in the US [<- j/k]].

[Gregmal]

8 hours ago, dealraker said:

POTUS has kept a fan base and media following since his early 20's but outside of that several times he's lured substantial numbers of credible people into his very popular project of the current time.  These endeavors have all ended almost precisely the same, POTUS has chosen something well beyond his skill level and he promptly realizes it ain't gunna work.  It is at this point where POTUS truly displays his immense talent to escape soundly with both his money and his reputation as a "deal maker" - while others involved spend years scavenging what they can from the ruins.   

 

However, given this time he has zero invested and no fears of losing anything financially (which is 99% of his interest at all times) and the fact that he can probably still stay empowered with an approval rating of 30%... I think we have some very exciting stuff coming at us.  

 

Overall today we have something that I think will prove to be the theme for this era.  We have Saylor, POTUS, Musk, and many others...all drama queens and kings dancing their dramatic multi directional (non profit) themes and schemes of every type of fear possible - that you must "invest" and "believe" with them not to face ruin or get left behind with astronomical $ rewards.  This sales game is incredibly successful - but the issue is that there is no income/revenue in any of it at all, no benefit to anyone anywhere - except the sponsors own bank/business account and power over you.

 

All of it is polar opposite of Warren Buffett who has said, "Wealth building is your direct link or ownership of stock in a productive profitable business, all else between you and that entity is an unnecessary cost."  We are spending all our time these day discounting and hating one another while 'buying' worthless shit whether it be lunatic fear based ideas or fake investments.  It is a goofball era full of oddballs who love conflict and disruption - as long as they benefit financially themselves.   

Charlie I love you man, and your wisdom has greatly influenced my investing life. I’m not at all saying anything in anyway but the most sincere terms possible, but I hope you are well and enjoying life.
 

From afar, IE the contextless confines of a message community, you seem quite distressed and upset since the election. When shit gets tough for me, as it does in life from time to time, I internally do take solace in the “life is great if you can stand it” saying of yours. 
 

This shit is a roller coaster, we have no friends in the big white palace. I voted for Trump in 2016 and was swiftly penalized via the SALT taxes not long after, being in NJ. Biden, the supposed savior, did nothing to fix that, just autopenned his four years and I did OK as I tend to do. 
 

Anyway, just hoping you’re well and not getting too wrapped up in the bullshit. 

[JRM]

49 minutes ago, Parsad said:

Hi Denmark, can you send us some eggs...be a good neighbor!  Oh, you mean the stuff about Greenland...uhh, we were just joking.  No eggs...fuck you, we're taking Greenland!

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/14/trump-egg-prices-denmark-greenland

 

Biden is to blame for egg prices.  Biden is to blame for the stock market.  Biden is to blame for the Ukraine/Russia war.  Biden is to blame for Israel/Gaza.  Biden is to blame for the horrible Canada/US/Mexico free trade agreement.  Biden is to blame for increased unemployment.  Biden's even responsible for the hate on against Whitehouse Rainman's Teslas!  

 

You guys put a lunatic in charge of your country...not once, but twice!  Congratulations!  Cheers!

no politics, please.