Political Posts

[james22]

7 minutes ago, Xerxes said:

Arabian Gulf vs Persian Gulf …. lol

 

Stupidity never ends.

 

Are Arabs as stupid?

[Xerxes]

39 minutes ago, james22 said:

 

Are Arabs as stupid?

 

They are not. Far from it. That said, I don’t believe in Iran, they call Sea of Oman or the Arabian Sea, as Iranian or Persian Sea. Because of historical reasons. 
 

As far as the Gulf is concerned, the naming contention though is between Persian and Arab. But is and always been known as Persian Gulf. 
 

But regardless it doesn’t concern Americans. (<= and I don’t mean you, so please don’t think I am being rude, I mean US Gov) 

 

Feel free to call it what you like 

 

 

[Parsad]

2 hours ago, Red Lion said:

Wouldn’t make that much difference with the deficit, but it would fully pay to extend tax cuts right? 

 

You just need to slow the debt down and allow GDP to catch up.  Canada balanced their budget in the late 80's, and just by doing that and minimal payments down on the debt, debt to GDP dropped dramatically over a decade. 

 

So even $400-$500B in tariffs annually going towards the debt and a balanced budget would improve the United States fortunes in the years to come as GDP grows.  Cheers!

[Mephistopheles]

Why are we making a big deal of Trump accepting a foreign bribe! Democrats do it too and nobody cares. What about Bob Menendez??? Oh wait…

[DooDiligence]

5 minutes ago, Mephistopheles said:

Why are we making a big deal of Trump accepting a foreign bribe! Democrats do it too and nobody cares. What about Bob Menendez??? Oh wait…

 

If they work fast Orange Julius and Bobby boy could be cellies starting in June.

[james22]

56 minutes ago, Xerxes said:

As far as the Gulf is concerned, the naming contention though is between Persian and Arab. But is and always been known as Persian Gulf. 
 

But regardless it doesn’t concern Americans. (<= and I don’t mean you, so please don’t think I am being rude, I mean US Gov) 

 

Lived in Saudi and the region for 20 years. Never heard it referred to as anything but the Arabian Gulf.

 

The US is only respecting that.

 

But I appreciate why an Xerxes would prefer the historical name.

[DooDiligence]

Anyone remember the Arabian Gulf war?

[james22]

Anyone remember the Left's insistence on renaming everything?

 

Tearing down statues?

[changegonnacome]

2 hours ago, Parsad said:

You just need to slow the debt down and allow GDP to catch up.

 

Yep in theory - with nominal GDP growth at 4% (2% real growth & 2% inflation)....if one could get the annual deficit down to 3% of GDP....you'd be looking at a 1% reduction in the debt to GDP ratios per year.

 

Anything I'm seeing coming out of DC right now including what came out today from the House......essentially preserves the deficit at crazy Biden era 6% plus per annum for what might be the whole of Trump's term.....very likely that Trump will come into office with a debt to GDP ratio of 123% and leave office with a debt to gdp ratio of 130%.......and this assumes no recessions which typically blow the annual deficit out by 300bps for a couple of years.

 

This is not what getting your fiscal house in order looks like.

 

The tax reform proposed, most egregiously the no tax on social security IMO now looks like a cert and continues the frankly disgusting practise of the boomer generation voting themselves money at the expense of their kids and grandkids...precisely what Stan Druckenmiller was talking about a decade ago....the boomer's parents saved for a rainy day, didn't overspend their income AND fought for the freedom of their kids on the beaches of Normandy, North Africa and the Pacific......the boomers today are fighting chlamydia on the beaches of Florida while they vote theirs kids futures away.

 

 

[cubsfan]

3 hours ago, james22 said:

Anyone remember the Left's insistence on renaming everything?

 

Tearing down statues?

 

Haha - so true!

[Blake Hampton]

1 hour ago, changegonnacome said:

The tax reform proposed, most egregiously the no tax on social security IMO now looks like a cert and continues the frankly disgusting practise of the boomer generation voting themselves money at the expense of their kids and grandkids...precisely what Stan Druckenmiller was talking about a decade ago....the boomer's parents saved for a rainy day, didn't overspend their income AND fought for the freedom of their kids on the beaches of Normandy, North Africa and the Pacific......the boomers today are fighting chlamydia on the beaches of Florida while they vote theirs kids futures away.

 

+1

[Blake Hampton]

If inflation gets to a point where I think it could, I imagine a lot of these "kids" might just revolt.

[Blake Hampton]

Hyperinflation is one of the factors that fueled the rise of the Nazi Party.

[Spekulatius]

Even de mini is (which is a legit concern and real loophole) exemption is back in exchange for China not cancelling.  Boeing orders. Looks like total capitulation. Then bond yields are moving up again too, probably due to large expected deficit. So much winning…

I think Trump fell into a trap rating the tariffs so much that no adjustment was possible. If he had raised by 10% and threatened another 10% by year end the economy would have time to adjust and it would have been fine. Instead he played a lousy poker game and didn’t feel like he has the cards when the other party raised the stakes too.

 

Will be interesting if the EU does use a similar tactic, but they would need to be willing to take some pain as well, which isn’t a given.

 

https://www.investors.com/news/technology/amazon-stock-meta-stock-de-minimis-trump-temu/

[WayWardCloud]

2 hours ago, changegonnacome said:

 

the boomer's parents saved for a rainy day, didn't overspend their income AND fought for the freedom of their kids on the beaches of Normandy, North Africa and the Pacific......the boomers today are fighting chlamydia on the beaches of Florida while they vote theirs kids futures away.

 

 

Thank you for this! My feelings exactly and I wish I had half of your comedic writing talent.

[changegonnacome]

1 hour ago, Spekulatius said:

Looks like total capitulation.

 

Capitulation was written in stone the day he announced insane tariff level on the US's largest source of imports...I said it back then and have made alot of money on the simple idea that I'm sure the Chinese saw too.....what cant continue wont.....starting out with unsustainable tariff rates with nowhere to go except down simply doesn't extract the most concessions from a counterparty.....Trump blinked twice.....first on the global pause and now on the China pause.....his bluff had no credibility because he set the rates so high it telegraphed the bluff.

 

It’s not a fair contest.........China's best and brightest....up against Captain Chaos, Peter Navarro & Ron Vara.....god bless Scott Bessent....he's main function it seems and by all accounts is doing a good job on......is to create the correct word salad required to make Donald feel like the US beat a deal outta China....we all know Donald isn't pouring over the various documents being produced on the relative change in the terms of trade as a result of XYZ modifications. He gets the cliff notes and PR speaking points from Scott.....then does what he's done his whole life......put a PR spin on it and sell the shit out of it till he's blue in the face and his supporters are so tired hearing it from him that they internalize it and just accept it must be true.

 

Edited May 14, 2025 by changegonnacome

[changegonnacome]

1 hour ago, Spekulatius said:

I think Trump fell into a trap rating the tariffs so much that no adjustment was possible. If he had raised by 10% and threatened another 10% by year end the economy would have time to adjust and it would have been fine. Instead he played a lousy poker game and didn’t feel like he has the cards when the other party raised the stakes too.

 

For sure - you start with your list of asks....get the easy concessions boxed off.....then escalate strategically and surgically to extract greater and greater wins...you boil the frog slowly.....Trump showed up with a bazooka and but the Chinese could see his hands we're shaking....we all remember him/Ron Vara nervously calling out to China to give them a call via cable news. Embarrassing episode for the country....but a profitable one for those that spotted the bluff.

[Parsad]

4 hours ago, cubsfan said:

 

Haha - so true!

 

Isn't the right doing exactly the same thing, but including firing masses of real people as well?  Cheers!

[Red Lion]

8 hours ago, changegonnacome said:

.the boomers today are fighting chlamydia on the beaches of Florida while they vote theirs kids futures away.

 

But at least we can buy the JOE stock. 

[Paarslaars]

Only because one boomer keeps pushing it down. 

[Xerxes]

Just like we give criticism to Trump like there is no tomorrow, we must give the American strongman, praise when it is due. 
 

I thought removing sanctions from Syria was a great move. Fresh start for the new Syria. Now it is up to Damascus to prove itself. 
 

A strong Syria means one that is not susceptible to malign Russian, Iranian and Israeli influence, and their expansionist agenda.  
 

 

 

[Hektor]

11 minutes ago, Xerxes said:

I thought removing sanctions from Syria was a great move. Fresh start for the new Syria. Now it is up to Damascus to prove itself. 
 

A strong Syria means one that is not susceptible to malign Russian, Iranian and Israeli influence, and their expansionist agenda.  

+1

 

You left out the elephant (errr...the dragon) in the room....China

[Xerxes]

Paris Air Show is in a few weeks,

 

Looks like Trump visit to the Middle East, is taking the attention from would be jet orders just in a few weeks, pulling them forward. 

[LC]

 

 

Makes it easier to get the Fentanyl in I guess.

[nsx5200]

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-05-13/were-17-members-of-el-chapo-guzmans-family-escorted-into-usa-from-mexico

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sinaloa-cartel-leader-family-enters-us-deal-trump-administration-mexico/

"He [Guzmán López, one of the family member] plans to change his not guilty plea to guilty, according to court papers, but the terms of his potential plea deal remain publicly unknown."

 

Didn't do too deep of a dive, but it seems like these are just deals to turn them into witnesses.  A bit of sensational and mis-leading tweet, IMHO.