Political Posts

[Parsad]

6 hours 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?)

 

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.

 

+1!  Nailed it on the head!  Cheers!

[Parsad]

6 hours ago, Lazarus said:

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.

 

The U.S. only wants open access for their market...not free trade across the board.  It's why every time Canadian lumber, steel, etc are available, the U.S. starts to subsidize their producers and defy any free trade agreement.  They blame others and say they are dumping!  

 

And a deal will get done with the U.S.  It may not happen with this administration, but it will get done with the next.  Until then, a little hardball from both sides is good to motivate them all to get a deal done.  But giving in and playing the patsy...I don't want to see Canada do that...sorry!  Cheers!

[Parsad]

6 hours ago, cwericb said:

 

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.

 

Actually, it should be over.  It isn't because Trump keeps TACOing!  

 

I know he doesn't want to, and the general population would vote against him, but he really needs to go in hard and end this. 

 

The mess has been made already.  The only way to fix it is more hardball!  You have to force the Iranians into negotiations or surrender.  And he's put himself in limbo now...which isn't the best place to be!  Cheers!

[Spekulatius]

11 hours ago, John Hjorth said:

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!

Thats going to be a lot of companies to remember. i think its easier to remember the few that won’t ask for a refund.

[Parsad]

5 hours ago, cubsfan said:

 

Why in the world would the USA be in a hurry to put boots on the ground?  You think Trump is stupid?  You think he wants to incur a bunch of dead Americans from roadside bombs and mines when he can just continue obliterating the infrastructure assets?  When he can just cut off the regime from oil exports and bleed them dry?

 

Trump is not as stupid as you think.

 

 

 

Surprisingly, he's actually even dumber than I thought!  I was shocked.  I said "No way, he could be dumber than I thought!"  But he is...he's very dumb.  

 

But he does know what works for him:

• lie through your teeth
• fake it till you make it
• use other people's money and resources
• pay as little tax as possible...hell, pay as little as possible for anything
• gold is your friend
• insult - insult - praise - insult
• fire anyone if they make a mistake and don't take any blame
• if something is not working in your favor, it's a conspiracy
• everything bad is fake news
• distract, distract, distract
• pretend you are the best at everything

 

Cheers!

[Spekulatius]

6 hours ago, Gregmal said:

Well I do think one thing has become quite clear in terms of a glaring weakness of the USA. That yea indeed, some of these other countries, especially ones controlled by hardline regimes, are far tougher than us when it comes to the short term repercussions of a war. That is 100% correct. The Iranian leadership will hide in bunkers as their citizens starve and see all their belongings blown up. Meanwhile, the US? You have democrats rooting against the country, and regular citizens whining about $4 gas and the fact that a 10% stock market pullback makes them feel threatened lmfao. Total bunch of pussies.

In a democracy a leader, is expected to explain what you needs to be done and why  and should also be expect to be accountable for what you he doing. If sacrifices need to be made, this need to be explained beforehand and also why they are necessary.

Trump has done none of this, . The Iran war was just sort of started on a whim, presumably because he expected it to be over very quickly without much ado. No when this war turned into a slugfest with the street of Hormuz closes (also not anticipated it seems) he is lashing out against allies, NATO ( which is a defense alliance and has a process to obtain support), which of course os Bs since none of the, was consulted or asked for support beforehand.

 

Turns out Trump thinks like an autocrat and can do as he wants and of course when things go his way he lashes out ans sees blame elsewhere.

 

I expect more firing in the US military and probably Hegseth too if things go downhill from here because you know the buck stops at the top, except it’s never Trumps fault.

[Parsad]

I sure hope this is fake news!

 

Trump stopped from 'accessing nuclear codes' in furious row

 

Cheers!

[cubsfan]

1 hour ago, cwericb said:

 

You are not paying attention Cubs.

 

1) No rush here! Up thread I specifically pointed out how the war and closure of the Strait benefits Canada, Oil price rise, fertilizer price rise, aluminium price rise, etc and all of those products the US imports form Canada.  So, on an economic basis, let it continue - and it will because Trump has lost control of where this is going and he is at a loss as to how stop it - other then turn tail and run falsely proclaiming that he won the war.

 

2) You say "Meanwhile, there is PLENTY of oil for sale in the Gulf of America!"  Oh, really?

"Roughly 416,000–450,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Canadian crude now reach the Gulf Coast, with that region increasingly relying on Western Canadian Select (WCS)"

 

Y'all should check your facts Cubs before posting.  I simply post the facts.

 

Hey - I hope Canada makes a ton of money on oil sales, just like the USA.

 

No reason to get a bunch of Americans killed when you can wait for the Iranians to go broke from a blockade. Iran is screwed. Americans untouched.

 

Just another genius move by Trump. 

 

He's never in a hurry to make a bad deal.

 

Must have learned from Obama on that JCPOA deal.

[cubsfan]

24 minutes ago, Spekulatius said:

In a democracy a leader, is expected to explain what you needs to be done and why  and should also be expect to be accountable for what you he doing. If sacrifices need to be made, this need to be explained beforehand and also why they are necessary.

Trump has done none of this, . The Iran war was just sort of started on a whim, presumably because he expected it to be over very quickly without much ado. No when this war turned into a slugfest with the street of Hormuz closes (also not anticipated it seems) he is lashing out against allies, NATO ( which is a defense alliance and has a process to obtain support), which of course os Bs since none of the, was consulted or asked for support beforehand.

 

Turns out Trump thinks like an autocrat and can do as he wants and of course when things go his way he lashes out ans sees blame elsewhere.

 

I expect more firing in the US military and probably Hegseth too if things go downhill from here because you know the buck stops at the top, except it’s never Trumps fault.

 

Such bullshit. Trump decides foreign policy for the US, no one else, per the US Constitution.

 

Sorry you don't like it.

[Spekulatius]

13 hours ago, cwericb said:

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?

It sort of has happened via  tax return. Trump has lowered taxes in 2025, so if you are in the well to do demographics (not even rich) you probably save $2K in taxes, if not more and will get a fatter tax return.

[Gregmal]

1 hour ago, Spekulatius said:

a democracy a leader, is expected to explain what you needs to be done and why  and should also be expect to be accountable for what you he doing. If sacrifices need to be made, this need to be explained beforehand and also why they are necessary.

Yea….thats not how you win a war….

 

But hey, maybe we should see how they’re doing it in Iran, since there’s so much winning going on there! 

[Parsad]

2 hours ago, Spekulatius said:

It sort of has happened via  tax return. Trump has lowered taxes in 2025, so if you are in the well to do demographics (not even rich) you probably save $2K in taxes, if not more and will get a fatter tax return.

 

Hmmm...not the same as the $2,000 check he was talking about.  That check was on top of any tax cuts.  

 

Frankly, it's good for taxpayers either way...just saying that politicians always make tons of promises that don't come to fruition, and Trump has made plenty of those.

 

Cheers!

[Spekulatius]

8 hours ago, Gregmal said:

Yea….thats not how you win a war….

 

But hey, maybe we should see how they’re doing it in Iran, since there’s so much winning going on there! 

This is an exactly how you win a war. Look at what Churchill and Roosevelt did when they entered the war. They explained the situation without sugarcoating it and told the people what was expected of them and why. Compare this to Putin who did none of this and where it got him so far.

 

This is by the way the reason why the Russian regime is so brittle (imo) and Iran quite resilient, despite being hopeless overpowered militarily. Iran actually has an ideology that I think still has quite a bit of backing by the population (more than many westerner think) even though are many are against the regime and more against how they run the country. Vietnam by the way was a very similar situation. Thats why ground troops are a big no no and when we do get US ground troops (beyond perhaps a Marine operation on an island like Kharg) you know we are in a for a long slog.

 

Trump did none of this because I think he either doesn’t believe in this principle and think he can act like an autocrat (until the next election) or more likely because he thought it would be over in less 4-6 weeks like he initially stated. The problem with this is that the enemy has say in the outcome too.

Edited April 22 by Spekulatius

[John Hjorth]

9 hours ago, cubsfan said:

Such bullshit. Trump decides foreign policy for the US, no one else, per the US Constitution.

 

Sorry you don't like it.

 

Mike [ @cubsfan ],

 

Please don't get me wrong here, but is this really correct? - Just asking! -I have a hard time believing it, totally ignorant about the US Constitution as I am.

[Gregmal]

35 minutes ago, Spekulatius said:

This is an exactly how you win a war. Look at what Churchill and Roosevelt did when they entered the war. They explained the situation without sugarcoating it and told the people what was expected of them and why. Compare this to Putin who did none of this and where it got him so far.

 

This is by the way the reason why the Russian regime is so brittle (imo) and Iran quite resilient, despite being hopeless overpowered militarily. Iran actually has an ideology that I think still has quite a bit of backing by the population (more than many westerner think) even though are many are against the regime and more against how they run the country. Vietnam by the way was a very similar situation. Thats why ground troops are a big no no and when we do get US ground troops (beyond perhaps a Marine operation on an island like Kharg) you know we are in a for a long slog.

 

Trump did none of this because I think he either doesn’t believe in this principle and think he can act like an autocrat (until the next election) or more likely because he thought it would be over in less 4-6 weeks like he initially stated. The problem with this is that the enemy has say in the outcome too.

The Iranian regime doesnt care at all about their population, theyre ideology driven hardliners, which is why they continue to have no interest in negotiation and why when they thought they were gonna get nuked told their women and children to form human chains around power plants lol. This sort of thing seems pretty clear, yet we continue to scratch our heads when people whom happen to be rooting for Iran here make claims like "theyre winning just by surviving" or "obviously they're winning because they refuse to negotiate"....total naivety or more likely brain rot. 

 

Indeed it seems Trump thought the attack would accomplish certain objectives and there would be minimal lives lost, and minimal time spent on the issue. As it stands right now, they're teetering on the edge of that and if much more time is spent it will be to the party's detriment. This is also not really a "war" as much as it is a case of a bigger more financial and military ready country beating up on a smaller one, because it can, and because it feels it has good reason. Comparing it to Ukraine, Afghanistan, Vietnam is pretty preposterous. 

Edited April 22 by Gregmal

[John Hjorth]

22 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

... Comparing it to Ukraine, Afghanistan, Vietnam is pretty preposterous. 

 

Greg [ @Gregmal ],

 

If you assess the situation within the mental framework described and provided above by @Spekulatius about an hour ago, I personally think the similarities are pretty striking, thought provoking.

[73 Reds]

1 minute ago, John Hjorth said:

 

Greg [ @Gregmal ],

 

If you assess the situation within the mental framework described and provided above by @Spekulatius about an hour ago, I personally think the similarities are pretty striking, thought provoking.

John, choking and starving a rogue regime seems like a pretty good strategy to me.  No lives lost on our side and the other side eventually dies.  This conflict has nothing to do with WWII or Viet Nam.  We didn't start this "war", they did, many decades ago.  We didn't provoke them; they provoked us.  Their ideology has no place in a civilized World.  The vast majority of Iranians support us yet remain fearful.  Most Middle East countries support us.  Greg is entirely correct, anyone who looks at this conflict as yet another excuse to pile on Trump and has no solution of their own is suffering from brain rot.

[SharperDingaan]

Trump is a stressed out old man, rapidly running out of options, and losing it. He can't get out of the Iran war, the walls are closing in (mid-terms loss, 'mental fitness' challenges, etc.), the biggest energy shock in history is now upon us, and the Kennedy moment is now a lot closer. There ain't no bankruptcy legislation to hide under.

 

The expectation is that either Iran caves, or the war ends via a negotiated 'solution' that all can live with; it could also end via the state removal of Trump (more likely) or Netanyahu. 

 

SD

[Hektor]

1 hour ago, Spekulatius said:

Iran actually has an ideology that I think still has quite a bit of backing by the population (more than many westerner think) even though are many are against the regime and more against how they run the country.

It will be interesting when international media (or even Al Jazeera) is able to report from Iran. Or, when Iran removes their internet blockade. Meanwhile, an interesting article from Bloomberg:

 

Satellite Data Reveal Scope and Scale of US-Israeli Strikes on Iran

After more than five weeks of fighting, the 14 days of fragile ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran have given residents of Tehran the chance to take stock of the damage. The city of 9 million people is scarred by debris, rubble and bombed-out high-rises.

 

Iranian curbs on photography and internet access as well as US restrictions on high resolution satellite imagery have hampered visual damage assessment. But a study by Conflict Ecology researchers at Oregon State University, which draws on radar imagery, estimates conservatively that at least 7,645 buildings were damaged or destroyed across the country

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-iran-tehran-strike-damage-satellite-images/

[cubsfan]

1 hour ago, John Hjorth said:

 

Mike [ @cubsfan ],

 

Please don't get me wrong here, but is this really correct? - Just asking! -I have a hard time believing it, totally ignorant about the US Constitution as I am.

 

Yes, it's true. POTUS decides US foreign policy with some limits of funding by congress. POTUS has the power to act unilaterally and quickly in matters of foreign policy.  This makes him very powerful. 

 

Article 2 of the US constitution empowers POTUS on foreign affairs.

[Gregmal]

1 hour ago, 73 Reds said:

Greg is entirely correct, anyone who looks at this conflict as yet another excuse to pile on Trump and has no solution of their own is suffering from brain rot.

I mean stuff like this is why in some instances it makes sense to consider the enemies within. Like I’m 100% against wars, but able to see why “Iran” is problematic from a US and definitely an Israeli perspective. In no circumstance would it cross my mind to root against the US in the endeavor, or try to constantly contort events into these purported “victories” against us. You saw a Dem senator the other day cheering on Irans tankers. You’ve seen many awfully gleeful about rockets getting thru or planes getting struck down. It’s one thing if you are Iranian and have sympathy for your country; again, I get where someone like that is coming from. But we re talking about North Americans whom root against us just cuz “Trump makes them feel things”…

 

One of the better examples, let’s take the tax situation. Most can agree governments shouldn’t be entitled to our earnings and reducing taxes is a good thing! But wait, Trump does it, and then these bozos wanna start talking about “the deficit” and “national debt”…which might be reasonable, BUT then you ask “and you thought Kamala was the solution to those things?” And they then immediately pivot to “that’s not why I voted for her”….which reveals that the “gripe” is total bullshit and largely something they even admit they don’t care about, but nevertheless, will just foam at the mouth and make shit up, to root against our POTUS. 

Edited April 22 by Gregmal

[dwy000]

26 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

I mean stuff like this is why in some instances it makes sense to consider the enemies within. Like I’m 100% against wars, but able to see why “Iran” is problematic from a US and definitely an Israeli perspective. In no circumstance would it cross my mind to root against the US in the endeavor, or try to constantly contort events into these purported “victories” against us. You saw a Dem senator the other day cheering on Irans tankers. You’ve seen many awfully gleeful about rockets getting thru or planes getting struck down. It’s one thing if you are Iranian and have sympathy for your country; again, I get where someone like that is coming from. But we re talking about North Americans whom root against us just cuz “Trump makes them feel things”…

 

One of the better examples, let’s take the tax situation. Most can agree governments shouldn’t be entitled to our earnings and reducing taxes is a good thing! But wait, Trump does it, and then these bozos wanna start talking about “the deficit” and “national debt”…which might be reasonable, BUT then you ask “and you thought Kamala was the solution to those things?” And they then immediately pivot to “that’s not why I voted for her”….which reveals that the “gripe” is total bullshit and largely something they even admit they don’t care about, but nevertheless, will just foam at the mouth and make shit up, to root against our POTUS. 

Massive generalization (as usual).  Nobody thought Kamala was the solution to wars and taxes (has a Democrat ever run on fiscal responsibility?).  The problem is that Trumps entire campaign was built on the exact opposite of what he's doing (no wars, fiscal responsibility, lower prices, release epstein files).  And while most of the country is pissed off about it - and showing it at the voting booth - you guys keep lapping it up and 

complaining about Kamala.  Thats a cult. 

[Gregmal]

2 minutes ago, dwy000 said:

The problem is that Trumps entire campaign was built on the exact opposite of what he's doing

A you didn’t vote for him. So WTF are you even talking about? Who cares what you think about what he ran on? We re to believe all this bitching and moaning from your kind is on behalf of the people that did vote for him?(and I’ll again reiterate I did not vote for any candidate last election, so spare me from the list of “people whom voted for Trumps campaign” that you’re on this deranged mission for!)

 

Lmfao! Not to mention, that many of the people whom did vote for Trump, are telling you they’re OK with what he is delivering, but fear not, your dog with rabies, deranged mental complex leads you to just ignoring them, referring back to thinking everything is a cult, and then telling them you know what’s best for them and they dont(another classic trait of the deranged liberal) and then revving back up again with the bitching and moaning on behalf of…..

 

Good grief this is deep for you huh?
 

 

[dwy000]

3 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

A you didn’t vote for him. So WTF are you even talking about? Who cares what you think about what he ran on? We re to believe all this bitching and moaning from your kind is on behalf of the people that did vote for him?(and I’ll again reiterate I did not vote for any candidate last election, so spare me from the list of “people whom voted for Trumps campaign” that you’re on this deranged mission for!)

 

Lmfao! Not to mention, that many of the people whom did vote for Trump, are telling you they’re OK with what he is delivering, but fear not, your dog with rabies, deranged mental complex leads you to just ignoring them, referring back to thinking everything is a cult, and then telling them you know what’s best for them and they dont(another classic trait of the deranged liberal) and then revving back up again with the bitching and moaning on behalf of…..

 

Good grief this is deep for you huh?
 

 

What a joke.  Im complaining about Trump because he is a horrible human being and an incompetent President who is doing long term damage to the country.  I get to complain because this is America and I voted.  You apparently didn't even vote and complain about everything.  

 

The fact that many people who did vote for Trump support what he is doing is exactly why I say they are in a cult!!! Because he is doing the opposite of what he promised when they voted for him -and yet they switch their beliefs to support Trump instead of supporting their own beliefs. 

 

Get as upset as you want about the bitching and moaning because as we head towards midterms it's only going to increase nationwide. 

[73 Reds]

9 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

A you didn’t vote for him. So WTF are you even talking about? Who cares what you think about what he ran on? We re to believe all this bitching and moaning from your kind is on behalf of the people that did vote for him?(and I’ll again reiterate I did not vote for any candidate last election, so spare me from the list of “people whom voted for Trumps campaign” that you’re on this deranged mission for!)

 

Lmfao! Not to mention, that many of the people whom did vote for Trump, are telling you they’re OK with what he is delivering, but fear not, your dog with rabies, deranged mental complex leads you to just ignoring them, referring back to thinking everything is a cult, and then telling them you know what’s best for them and they dont(another classic trait of the deranged liberal) and then revving back up again with the bitching and moaning on behalf of…..

 

Good grief this is deep for you huh?
 

 

LOL, why even bother?  While I respect everyone's right not to vote, for me it is important to vote in elections in which there is a clear-cut policy favorite.  People who stereotype or generically classify certain voters in any way are intellectually lazy and not worth the time or effort.  Same goes for those who do the same for Trump.