Political Posts

[Spekulatius]

Michael Clark is always worth watching:

He think that a confrontation between western Europe and Russia is very likely  in the next 5 years and the Western Europeans to decide to where to dig in - now or later.

 

Other interesting comments about Trump as well.

[LC]

More like if the girl you're dating suddenly develops a drug addiction, begins sleeping with her dealer, steals your stuff to buy more drugs, etc. etc....so you cut off contact and start dating a normal human being.

[SharperDingaan]

16 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

Yea they’re definitely going a little mental. Classic little brother syndrome. 

 

Nah ... you're just a little stunned from a passing elbow to the side of the head! 

 

We're your biggest client; if you want to keep the business, you've got to respect your client. It ain't the old way of doing business anymore .... and we ain't having to restructure our debt.

 

SD

[SharperDingaan]

1 hour ago, John Hjorth said:

 

SD [ @SharperDingaan ],

 

It reads ... South-American.

 

More like the Greek debt during their crises, on which we did very well. With luck, ..... maybe Orange Boy buys us a nice place on a Greek Island this time!

 

SD

 

[Red Lion]

51 minutes ago, SharperDingaan said:

 

Nah ... you're just a little stunned from a passing elbow to the side of the head! 

 

We're your biggest client; if you want to keep the business, you've got to respect your client. It ain't the old way of doing business anymore .... and we ain't having to restructure our debt.

 

SD

 

I'm very opposed to the whole trade war with Canada in particular, so please don't take this the wrong way.

 

 But I think you're significantly overplaying the role here. Biggest client? Hell no. Biggest purchaser of goods, sure. The USA is an exporter of services and that's not only where we generate huge numbers but massive profit margins. I think the biggest client metaphor totally misses the point on the USA's actual economic model since it misses the lion's share of the margin. 

 

I'm doubtful that Canada is going to be able to buy high end tech services from Europe. 

 

I'm sure our farmer's feel the elbow to the face, but let's face it, they don't really impact the economy in a huge way. 

Edited March 17, 2025 by Red Lion

[gary17]

22 minutes ago, Red Lion said:

 

I'm very opposed to the whole trade war with Canada in particular, so please don't take this the wrong way.

 

 But I think you're significantly overplaying the role here. Biggest client? Hell no. Biggest purchaser of goods, sure. The USA is an exporter of services and that's not only where we generate huge numbers but massive profit margins. I think the biggest client metaphor totally misses the point on the USA's actual economic model since it misses the lion's share of the margin. 

 

I'm doubtful that Canada is going to be able to buy high end tech services from Europe. 

 

I'm sure our farmer's feel the elbow to the face, but let's face it, they don't really impact the economy in a huge way. 

 

that’s interesting perspective 

believe these massive service exports are from states that do no traditionally support Trump agenda .

[Xerxes]

Article 5 would be tested vis a vis the Baltic states, in a not too distant future. 
 

That said Poland and the rest are probably safe. Poland is too strong for the bear. 
 

It is interesting: I recently learned that U.S. never recognized the annexation of the Baltic states by the Soviet Union some 50-60 years ago. I didn’t know that. 

[Red Lion]

6 minutes ago, gary17 said:

 

that’s interesting perspective 

believe these massive service exports are from states that do no traditionally support Trump agenda .

 

Correct. I mean what states do traditionally support the Trump agenda? Tariff war GOP is a new development in my lifetime, in fact the closest I've ever heard was from pro Union Clinton era democrats, and it wasn't that close.  

 

Although most of these big tech companies have been pushing hard towards Florida/Texas/Tennessee/Nevada etc. so I don't really know how the tech bro political groupthink runs. 

[Gregmal]

Eh it seems like that new hockey tournament they just had. 4 Nations Faceoff. US and Canada met and the US took game 1. They met again in the finals and Canada won in overtime. It was a big deal in the moment and Trudeau even used it as a platform to mouth off. But in reality it’s like ok hockeys like #4 or 5 in the US in terms of popularity, whereas in Canada it’s everything. So clearly was a much bigger deal to one side than the other. But the feuding fun nonetheless.

[Spekulatius]

The Russian strategy is likely to cause diversion /subversion in Europe and then test a weak spot, which will likely be a smaller country like Baltics Moldova or if divided enough even Hungary or Romania.

I personally think that European troops need to get involved in Ukraine itself. Bettet to make a stand early than late. Putin can keep his North Korean.

 

As Michael Clark stated, when has appeasing to a voracious dictator ever worked in the last 3000 years? Short of the problem going away by Putin dying (natural or otherwise ) and a more moderate leader emerging (not a sure thing), I don’t think it will work in this case either.

 

I think this is starting to sink in with  Europeans or at least some people I know who live in Germany but others are oblivious. 

[Xerxes]

2 hours ago, John Hjorth said:

Mark Carney visiting France today. That's absolute unheard of, Canadas newly elected premier minister not visiting USA as the first thing.

Trump visited Saudi Arabia as his first foreign travel back in the golden age of Trump 45’. In short there is no rules to this thing. .., and what came out of that weird meeting was the isolation and banishment of Qatar …. All to be reversed few years later 

Carney has a full plate. Paris and London are places to be. 
 

[Xerxes]

——-general comment ———

 

We are NOT at with war with US. But certainly the situation sucks, … got to take the hit and move on. Maybe they are not worth it. Or maybe they are. Who the hell knows … 

 

That said we will certainly miss them bitching and complaining about everything like a slightly older uncle. 
 

Funny thing about this uncle: they complain about defense and how they’re protected by oceans, and they have nothing to do with situation in Ukraine. They forget that WE are as well. Lol. In fact we have three oceans. 
 

And their so called % defense budget covers the whole globe, but count it as NATO contribution. Maybe kiss Israel butt a bit less. That saves you some real dollars. 
 

And the only time (in my memory) that Canada asks for help in international realm from the U.S., was about the two Canadians in China and the current situation in India. Both times we got the middle finger from this ally. 
 

Can someone remind me when was the last time (or if ever) that U.S. lift a finger for Canada in international affairs 

 

 

 

Edited March 18, 2025 by Xerxes

[cubsfan]

The whole Canada/USA situation is getting pretty hilarious.

 

Canada runs a beautiful $60B trade surplus with the US, but can't pony up for a measly 2% NATO share, the worst in NATO.

 

And the reason: Trump is a monster!

[Xerxes]

17 minutes ago, cubsfan said:

The whole Canada/USA situation is getting pretty hilarious.

 

Canada runs a beautiful $60B trade surplus with the US, but can't pony up for a measly 2% NATO share, the worst in NATO.

 

And the reason: Trump is a monster!

I am pretty sure I didn’t name Trump in my post. 
 

And in any case, I have no problems stating when he is doing the right thing … just as well I don’t have a problem criticizing him.
 

And I am fairly certain almost all Americans don’t dislike Canada nor they even voted for what we see now between Canada-U.S.

 

I also can appreciate all the support you give Trump, I understand why. This being a public forum. 
 

But it is also ok to criticize him. (aside saying he is not moving fast enough) I mean how can anyone be 100% right on anything. 

[cubsfan]

It's absolutely ok to criticize him.  My post is just a summary of today's sillier post on this thread.

 

No one will ever say a peep about Canada snubbing their NATO commitments, when they can deflect  their failings onto the Orange Man.

 

It's a wonderful shell game - hey, look over here!

 

[Ulti]

10 minutes ago, cubsfan said:

It's absolutely ok to criticize him.  My post is just a summary of today's sillier post on this thread.

 

No one will ever say a peep about Canada snubbing their NATO commitments, when they can deflect  their failings onto the Orange Man.

 

It's a wonderful shell game - hey, look over here!

 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-imposes-tariffs-on-imports-from-canada-mexico-and-china/

 

I’m a little confused ; I thought that the tariffs were done because of illegal immigration’ and fentanyl.

[John Hjorth]

11 minutes ago, Ulti said:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-imposes-tariffs-on-imports-from-canada-mexico-and-china/

 

I’m a little confused ; I thought that the tariffs were done because of illegal immigration’ and fentanyl.

 

 

@Ulti,

 

Please don't let your memory fool you. Themes may vary over time, some times, the time span over which they vary are short. Nineteen-Eighty-Four.

Edited March 18, 2025 by John Hjorth

[cubsfan]

13 minutes ago, Ulti said:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-imposes-tariffs-on-imports-from-canada-mexico-and-china/

 

I’m a little confused ; I thought that the tariffs were done because of illegal immigration’ and fentanyl.

 

You play the shell game very well - look over here!

[RichardGibbons]

7 hours ago, cubsfan said:

Been a tough month for you guys. I have much sympathy for you!

 

Cubs, this is one that we really deserve sympathy for.  I remember a couple months ago, you incorrectly wanted to give Trump credit for Trudeau's resignation, but now there is a big change in Canadian politics for which I think Trump deserves the credit. 

 

For over a year, the Conservative party was on track to win possibly the biggest majority in history, and the Liberal party had a chance of not even being a top-3 party. In the last couple of months, that's reversed, and it now looks like the Liberals are about to win an election in the next few months.  It's the fastest shift in Canadian polls that I've ever seen.

 

So, think this is the one Canadians really deserve you sympathy for, and Trump deserves credit for.

 

[Spekulatius]

The problem is the Tariffs are coming anyways because Trump believes in them.  They have nothing to do with NATO, fentanyl or what not.

 

Look at the trade balance another way -  Canada supplies valuable goods, materials and energy to the US for little green pieces of paper that the US prints in abandon. The US should be grateful.

I think at this point, the MAGA economics just need to play out. Either the tariffs work or they do not the way MAGA thinks they do. It will be an interesting economic experiment but maybe losing less is winning?  

Edited March 18, 2025 by Spekulatius

[SharperDingaan]

Canada is the largest trade partner that the USA has, by dollar value.

 

Trump likes to call everyone else names, everyone else can call him names too. When he can't be civil flapping his gums, turnaround is fair play. 

 

Cut off the electricity, and we'll find out if he glows in the dark!

 

SD

 

[whiskybravo]

2 hours ago, RichardGibbons said:

 

Cubs, this is one that we really deserve sympathy for.  I remember a couple months ago, you incorrectly wanted to give Trump credit for Trudeau's resignation, but now there is a big change in Canadian politics for which I think Trump deserves the credit. 

 

For over a year, the Conservative party was on track to win possibly the biggest majority in history, and the Liberal party had a chance of not even being a top-3 party. In the last couple of months, that's reversed, and it now looks like the Liberals are about to win an election in the next few months.  It's the fastest shift in Canadian polls that I've ever seen.

 

So, think this is the one Canadians really deserve you sympathy for, and Trump deserves credit for.

 

Yes, the Canadians are in danger of an own goal in the next election.

[Pauly]

44 minutes ago, whiskybravo said:

Yes, the Canadians are in danger of an own goal in the next election.

 

When the car ahead of you flips off the road into a ditch, you'll probably think twice about following in his path.

[John Hjorth]

1 hour ago, SharperDingaan said:

Cut off the electricity, and we'll find out if he glows in the dark!

 

Now that is damn serious, but also funny! 

[Red Lion]

1 hour ago, SharperDingaan said:

Canada is the largest trade partner that the USA has, by dollar value.

 

Trump likes to call everyone else names, everyone else can call him names too. When he can't be civil flapping his gums, turnaround is fair play. 

 

Cut off the electricity, and we'll find out if he glows in the dark!

 

SD

 

Cutting the electricity would be a great way to get more interstate pipelines approved in the USA. Or more lpg facilities. The USA is easily energy independent but has a lack of infrastructure in places that have relied on Canadian imports. 
 

I don’t know who else Canada is going to sell to, but it seems like data centers north of the border could certainly be a good use for cheap energy. We only need so much hydroponic cannabis as a society.