Spekulatius Posted April 21 Posted April 21 On 4/19/2026 at 10:21 AM, Hektor said: Behind Trump’s Public Bravado on the War, He Grapples With His Own Fears The president’s impulsive style has never before been tested during a sustained military conflict; ruminating on Jimmy Carter https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-public-bravado-private-fear-59814dca Yes, this article is really good and gives and insight know Trump operates.
Parsad Posted April 21 Posted April 21 Hey US Citizens, Long time, no happiness! Hope you are doing well refunding all of the tariffs. What is happening with the $2,000 check many of you were supposed to get from Trump? Is it still happening? Is the party still on? Hope things are good...and you're doing ok in the Middle East! Let me know...Canada! PS...Mexico, Greenland, UK and France are wondering how everything is going too...they said come see them in Ibiza...I will be there too! Cheers!
John Hjorth Posted April 21 Posted April 21 HaHa! - I see today CNN mentioning Trump saying he'll remember those companies, who don't seek a fariff refund, all while he him self scraping in to him self and his family like there is no tororrow! If that is not saying 'I'm open for offers of bribes', then what is? 'Scores to settle', 'snitch' and 'traitor' - all gang slang, terminology, POTUS terminology!
cwericb Posted April 21 Posted April 21 9 minutes ago, Parsad said: Hey US Citizens, Long time, no happiness! Hope you are doing well refunding all of the tariffs. What is happening with the $2,000 check many of you were supposed to get from Trump? Is it still happening? Is the party still on? Hope things are good...and you're doing ok in the Middle East! Let me know...Canada! PS...Mexico, Greenland, UK and France are wondering how everything is going too...they said come see them in Ibiza...I will be there too! Cheers! Interesting headline from CNN today: A deal to end the Iran war seemed close. Then Trump started posting on social media. https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/20/politics/social-media-posts-trump-iran-deal
cubsfan Posted April 21 Posted April 21 (edited) Not to worry Canadians -- China Carney to the rescue! https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c4g43y5g93yo Edited April 21 by cubsfan
cwericb Posted April 21 Posted April 21 3 minutes ago, cubsfan said: Not to worry Canadians -- China Carney to the rescue! https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/20/mark-carney-canada-us-economy-trade Not sure of what your point is, but it would seem that it is Donald Trump that is doing Canada favours with his private war. "The conflict in Iran is driving up global commodity prices—including oil, fertilizer, and aluminum—due to supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, boosting Canadian export revenues for these goods. Energy and fertilizer prices are surging due to shortages, while shipping disruptions have elevated costs, making Canadian natural resources more expensive on the global market." And Cubs, guess who depends on Canada for these products? Hint: it ain't China. Let us know when you figure this out.
cubsfan Posted April 21 Posted April 21 29 minutes ago, cwericb said: Not sure of what your point is, but it would seem that it is Donald Trump that is doing Canada favours with his private war. "The conflict in Iran is driving up global commodity prices—including oil, fertilizer, and aluminum—due to supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, boosting Canadian export revenues for these goods. Energy and fertilizer prices are surging due to shortages, while shipping disruptions have elevated costs, making Canadian natural resources more expensive on the global market." And Cubs, guess who depends on Canada for these products? Hint: it ain't China. Let us know when you figure this out. Always looking out for you Canadians - I know you worry about us in the USA - much appreciated, but we are in very good hands. You are as well with Comrade Carney.
Viking Posted April 21 Posted April 21 I have been trying to come up with a mental model to help me understand Trump and US policy today. I think I just found it - the Abbott and Costello skit: Who's on first? This is what Trump sounds like on most issues - the war in Iran just being the latest example. Now imagine trying to take sides: Which of the two people in the skit "is right?" Of course that is a ludicrous question. But it does help me understand some of the people who post in this section (who do their best to try explain the logic in what Trump/US is doing).
cwericb Posted April 21 Posted April 21 7 minutes ago, Viking said: I have been trying to come up with a mental model to help me understand Trump and US policy today. I think I just found it - the Abbott and Costello skit: Who's on first? This is what Trump sounds like on most issues - the war in Iran just being the latest example. Now imagine trying to take sides: Which of the two people in the skit "is right?" Of course that is a ludicrous question. BS is doingut it does help me understand some of the people who post in this section (who do their best to try explain the logic in what Trump/U). "Now imagine trying to take sides: Which of the two people in the skit "is right?" Of course that is a ludicrous question. BS is doingut it does help me understand some of the people who post in this section (who do their best to try explain the logic in what Trump/US is doing))." <<<<<< Oxymoron?
Viking Posted April 21 Posted April 21 (edited) 10 minutes ago, cwericb said: "Now imagine trying to take sides: Which of the two people in the skit "is right?" Of course that is a ludicrous question. BS is doingut it does help me understand some of the people who post in this section (who do their best to try explain the logic in what Trump/US is doing))." <<<<<< Oxymoron? Perhaps a better way to explain the skit: this is Trump and Iran in negotiations today. Some of us see how ludicrous the situation is. Others try to explain how rational ("right") one of the participants is (depending on which team they are on). The longer the skit goes on the more they are convinced they are right (and the more vociferous they become in trying to explain why they are "right")... Sometimes the real world is better than fiction. Edited April 21 by Viking
cubsfan Posted April 21 Posted April 21 24 minutes ago, Viking said: I have been trying to come up with a mental model to help me understand Trump and US policy today. I think I just found it - the Abbott and Costello skit: Who's on first? This is what Trump sounds like on most issues - the war in Iran just being the latest example. Now imagine trying to take sides: Which of the two people in the skit "is right?" Of course that is a ludicrous question. But it does help me understand some of the people who post in this section (who do their best to try explain the logic in what Trump/US is doing). You'll never get Trump - he's way too far ahead of you on just about everything, certainly Iran and your claims of Iran winning. You play checkers, he plays chess.
NotSoWise Posted April 21 Posted April 21 Chinese ship did not go through the blockade - POTUS has balls. The blockade seems to work now. The blockade that is working, puts a lot of pressure on Iran. Time to eat my shoes...
Lazarus Posted April 21 Posted April 21 4 hours ago, cubsfan said: Not to worry Canadians -- China Carney to the rescue! https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c4g43y5g93yo All the 'elbows up' boomers in Canada voted for Carney because they felt he would be the best candidate to get a favourable deal with Trump. Instead, we have no deal with Trump but are gunning instead for more trade with China. And now Carney is prepping his followers for the realization that he won't solve our trade issues with the USA.
Viking Posted April 21 Posted April 21 6 minutes ago, cubsfan said: You'll never get Trump - he's way too far ahead of you on just about everything, certainly Iran and your claims of Iran winning. You play checkers, he plays chess. @cubsfan, I am not a Trump hater (as a change agent). But he is so binary: great good or great bad. My assessment is over time, the bad is smothering the good. Of course, I am coming at it from the perspective of a Canadian - that matters. At the end of the day I am trying to understand what is going on so I can navigate me and my family through it as best as possible. This board has helped me a great deal. So thank you to those who post.
frommi Posted April 21 Posted April 21 20 minutes ago, cubsfan said: You'll never get Trump - he's way too far ahead of you on just about everything, certainly Iran and your claims of Iran winning. You play checkers, he plays chess. This is about war, nobody is winning here. Trump has started it btw and until now nothing good has come out of it. We can talk again if the US is finally putting boots on the ground and do whats good for the people in Iran. But i doubt that was ever on his mind.
Viking Posted April 21 Posted April 21 3 minutes ago, Lazarus said: All the 'elbows up' boomers in Canada voted for Carney because they felt he would be the best candidate to get a favourable deal with Trump. Instead, we have no deal with Trump but are gunning instead for more trade with China. And now Carney is prepping his followers for the realization that he won't solve our trade issues with the USA. @Lazarus, you are assuming Trump wants to do a deal with Canada. Why do you think that? My view is Trump has no interest in doing a deal with Canada. (Why would he?) I am not sure why everyone is so infatuated with Carney and China. And ignoring that he has done the same sort of thing with the EU, the middle east, India etc. Canada exports commodities. Carney is simply saying Canada is willing to do business with the world. This is a massive change from Trudeau - who lectured the US/China/India/Saudi Arabia etc on how they should run their countries. Canada's economy is sick. Carney understands that basic fact. He is pivoting the country and its basic economic/trade relationship with the rest of the world. Its basic framework is 'rational pragmatism'. Music to my ears.
cubsfan Posted April 21 Posted April 21 7 minutes ago, frommi said: This is about war, nobody is winning here. Trump has started it btw and until now nothing good has come out of it. We can talk again if the US is finally putting boots on the ground and do whats good for the people in Iran. But i doubt that was ever on his mind. Sure - nobody is winning.... Iran has gotten smoked and can't do a damn thing... but nobody is winning. Right..
Lazarus Posted April 21 Posted April 21 5 minutes ago, Viking said: @Lazarus, you are assuming Trump wants to do a deal with Canada. Why do you think that? My view is Trump has no interest in doing a deal with Canada. (Why would he?) USA companies have repeatedly pressured the administration to deal with Canada. It makes economic sense for both countries, and we have a long history of free trade going back to the autopact in the 1960s. It's popular rhetoric in Canada to bash the Americans now, but it's dumb. The vast majority of our trade goes to the US and it is a fluke of geography and history that we happen to be right next door to the current world superpower. Not securing open access to the US market is a massive failure and no amount of trade deals with China, Peru or Sri Lanka is going to change that.
Maverick47 Posted April 21 Posted April 21 7 minutes ago, Viking said: I am not a Trump hater (as a change agent). But he is so binary: great good or great bad. My assessment is over time, the bad is smothering the good. Of course, I am coming at it from the perspective of a Canadian - that matters. At the end of the day I am trying to understand what is going on so I can navigate me and my family through it as best as possible. This board has helped me a great deal. So thank you to those who post. Thanks for posting the skit…it really is a good analogy to what is happening these days! I do look back with nostalgia on the first term before the more negative impacts of age, rage, vengeance and lack of qualified advisors that we’ve been living through in the second term. The change in corporate income tax to a 21% rate was a benefit in the first term. The only bright spot I can see in the second term is that he no longer listens to political advisors who can help curb his worst instincts or act as a filter, so his approval rating has dropped to only about a third of all US voters…pretty much his political base less those within his own base that he is ticking off with negative economic impacts, attacks on their intelligence, faith, etc. Repairing relationships with our good neighbors to the north and the good neighbors in Europe will be the major task of whatever future political regime gets installed, whether the party affiliation is Republican or Democratic.
frommi Posted April 21 Posted April 21 (edited) 9 minutes ago, cubsfan said: Sure - nobody is winning.... Iran has gotten smoked and can't do a damn thing... but nobody is winning. Right.. How many americans have lost their lives or got injured? Still winning? What will the economy look like when oil goes to 150$ and stays there? What about food prices that increase because of fertilizer prices going up because of the war? What about all the other consequences? Still winning? *EDIT* I only see losers in this, outside the insiders in the white house that do their trades and profit immensly. Edited April 21 by frommi
cubsfan Posted April 21 Posted April 21 21 minutes ago, Viking said: @cubsfan, I am not a Trump hater (as a change agent). But he is so binary: great good or great bad. My assessment is over time, the bad is smothering the good. Of course, I am coming at it from the perspective of a Canadian - that matters. At the end of the day I am trying to understand what is going on so I can navigate me and my family through it as best as possible. This board has helped me a great deal. So thank you to those who post. It's not that tough to understand - don't make it so difficult. Iran is completely broken. Trump has his boot on their neck. Iran has a chance to exit gracefully - but the regime is in charge and has a death wish. Therefore the regime will take the whole country down with it. You've seen this movie before with the Japanese & Germans during the war - all is lost - but the leaders continue to kid themselves. No great mental model is needed when it's plain as day right in front of your face.
Lazarus Posted April 21 Posted April 21 The weakness Cubs, is that neither Trump nor Bibi seem to want to put boots on the ground. And Iranian resolve is stronger - they are fighting for their homeland. They are willing and able to put up with economic strangulation far more than the American public is willing to even suffer high gas prices. There's no comparison. Unless the USA actually invades and forces a regime change, they will walk away with the Iranian regime being stronger than before the war.
cubsfan Posted April 21 Posted April 21 2 minutes ago, frommi said: How many americans have lost their lives or got injured? Still winning? What will the economy look like when oil goes to 150$ and stays there? What about food prices that increase because of fertilizer prices going up because of the war? What about all the other consequences? Still winning? You're joking right?? The greatest military victory possible with 13 deaths (tragic, absolutely). And the world without a nuclear Iran... an Iran with their military absolutely destroyed...an embarrassed Iran that screams "Death to everyone", crushed with all their terrorist leaders dead....an Iran military that EVERYONE and their brother were terrified of, that turns out to be total paper tiger. And you're worried about $4 gas? That's a real joke.
cubsfan Posted April 21 Posted April 21 2 minutes ago, Lazarus said: The weakness Cubs, is that neither Trump nor Bibi seem to want to put boots on the ground. And Iranian resolve is stronger - they are fighting for their homeland. They are willing and able to put up with economic strangulation far more than the American public is willing to even suffer high gas prices. There's no comparison. Unless the USA actually invades and forces a regime change, they will walk away with the Iranian regime being stronger than before the war. You don't know that - you are speculating. This war has been 7 weeks. Iran is cooked, and if the naval blockade is kept up another month or so - watch for the collapse. IF the US/Israel decide to speed up the process, they can watch these talks fail, ceasefire is over, and the real brutal destruction starts. There is NO WAY this regime is stronger than before. You have 50 years of military investment in rubble now. Look at GAZA. Look at Iraq. You will see the same with Iran IF Trump decides to go that route. Even at this point - the destruction is in the hundreds of billions. How will you rebuild if you are being economically strangled? YOU CAN'T. You have a choke point, Kharg Island, whose fate is totally in the hands of Donald Trump. Iran could not be in a worse position. Where is China, where is Russia, where are the Iranian allies? Iran is done - it's just a matter of how much longer and how fast.
cwericb Posted April 21 Posted April 21 6 minutes ago, cubsfan said: It's not that tough to understand - don't make it so difficult. Iran is completely broken. Trump has his boot on their neck. Iran has a chance to exit gracefully - but the regime is in charge and has a death wish. Therefore the regime will take the whole country down with it. You've seen this movie before with the Japanese & Germans during the war - all is lost - but the leaders continue to kid themselves. No great mental model is needed when it's plain as day right in front of your face. Well if Iran is "completely broken", why is the US still stuck there? Why is all that enriched uranium still in Iran under Iranian control? Your "completely broken" sounds like "Iran's nuclear has been obliterated". Just more BS.
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