US franchises at risk ?

[cwericb]

15 minutes ago, cubsfan said:

You guys just kill me. You can't make up your minds.

 

First Trump is an isolationist, then Trump is an expansionist.

 

Then he's withdrawing military support, now he's using military force.

 

What a fricking joke.

 

Europe has all the cards to do what they like with Ukraine - but refuse to, because you want a continuation of war.  Trump comes in to try and negotiate peace - and all of a sudden he's blackmailing Ukraine??  

 

You can't make this shit up.

 

Obviously you want a continuation of war in Ukraine - so buckle up with Zelensky and go conquer Russia. 

 

There is no reason for Europe or Ukraine to put up with "blackmail" by the USA.

 

 

 

Aren't you the one who has gotten this wrong Cubs. It is in fact, Mr.Trump that can't make up his own mind as weather he is an expansionist or isolationist. He is the guy who said the US needs to get out of other country's business. Meanwhile he is messing around with the Ukraine, Greenland, Panama, Canada and even GAZA, no less.

 

[cubsfan]

I share some of your concerns.  The $37T deficit will weigh on this country for quite some time.

Hence, the urgency to do something about it.  Cutting government spending will impact the economy and perhaps, the US stock market - so yeah, stay out.

 

We are in for a painful period here, but certainly very happy we are not digging the hole deeper.

 

There is a price to be paid for mass deportations - I doubt it helps the housing market or the rental market in the short/intermediate term.  But young families (citizens) have been getting killed by rents and housing prices. 

 

I will be very interested to see how the bond market treats us over the next year or so.

 

Buckle up.

[Ulti]

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/canadas-fentanyl-crisis-corruption-w-guest-sam-cooper/id1591470469?i=1000689972242
 

I would be interested to here from my Canadian brethren how accurate this story is… starts in the second half of the interview 

[cubsfan]

2 minutes ago, cwericb said:

 

Aren't you the one who has gotten this wrong Cubs. It is in fact, Mr.Trump that can't make up his own mind as weather he is an expansionist or isolationist. He is the guy who said the US needs to get out of other country's business. Meanwhile he is messing around with the Ukraine, Greenland, Panama, Canada and even GAZA, no less.

 

 

You're very confused @cwericb 

 

Trump is a nationalist (America First - remember?). 

 

He's elected to fix what others were not willing to fix. (Republicans & Democrats alike)

 

Get out of foreign wars. Secure the country and the borders. 

 

Get Americans back to work.

 

Attack the horrible deficit.

 

Pretty darn simple.

[kab60]

42 minutes ago, cubsfan said:

You guys just kill me. You can't make up your minds.

 

First Trump is an isolationist, then Trump is an expansionist.

 

Then he's withdrawing military support, now he's using military force.

 

What a fricking joke.

 

Europe has all the cards to do what they like with Ukraine - but refuse to, because you want a continuation of war.  Trump comes in to try and negotiate peace - and all of a sudden he's blackmailing Ukraine??  

 

You can't make this shit up.

 

Obviously you want a continuation of war in Ukraine - so buckle up with Zelensky and go conquer Russia. 

 

There is no reason for Europe or Ukraine to put up with "blackmail" by the USA.

 

 

That's a bunch of strawmen.

 

I addressed all your points. You didn't address any part of what I wrote but went out on a tangent. If that's the level, it's pointless. I'm done.

[cwericb]

5 minutes ago, cubsfan said:

 

You're very confused @cwericb 

 

Trump is a nationalist (America First - remember?).

 

Oh Really? 

Well why the hell is he messing around with the Ukraine?  

Going to take over Gaza to build RESORTS? 

Buying Greenland? 

Annexing Canada as the 51st state?

Insulting every single ally? 

If this is how you make America First if it is it is a very sad commentary on the country? 

 

Honest to God you would defend this guy if he was Jeffrey Dahmer. You really need to step back and look at all this from outside the box for a while because the Trump Cult has sucked you in. Anyway I'm done here for now and gonna disappear before Sanjeev gives us all a 30 day holiday 

[cubsfan]

5 minutes ago, kab60 said:

That's a bunch of strawmen.

 

I addressed all your points. You didn't address any part of what I wrote but went out on a tangent. If that's the level, it's pointless. I'm done.

 

You just hear what you want to hear. You want to believe he is blackmailing Ukraine and threatening military force against his close allies.

 

So believe it already.

[DooDiligence]

[73 Reds]

3 minutes ago, cubsfan said:

 

You just hear what you want to hear. You want to believe he is blackmailing Ukraine and threatening military force against his close allies.

 

So believe it already.

Yeah, people who are predisposed to dislike or not trust Trump hear things differently than those who support him, or at least understand why he got elected.  Anyone looking for pure diplomacy to accomplish anything in this World should probably resign themselves to very low expectations.  The very notion that "America First" could win the day reflects a World that became accustomed to and dependent on far too many US concessions at the expense of its own populace, all while the World became an increasingly more dangerous and non-appreciative place.  If we can't take care of our own citizens here in this country, how can we help anyone else?  Though I often cringe at some of the words that come out of Trump's mouth, his overall message and priorities are the same as most other Americans - even those who didn't vote for him.  Who doesn't want safety, prosperity, equal opportunity, ending of wars and a better country for their children and grandchildren?  

[Ulti]

7 minutes ago, 73 Reds said:

Who doesn't want safety, prosperity, equal opportunity, ending of wars and a better country for their children and grandchildren?  

I think the question to this one ‘73 is at what price? 

[Gregmal]

Just now, Ulti said:

I think the question to this one ‘73 is at what price? 

Those things are worth a pretty high price. 

[73 Reds]

Just now, Ulti said:

I think the question to this one ‘73 is at what price? 

Sure, but that's really not an answerable question because everything we do or don't do has a price.  Those who voted for change recognized that status quo was not acceptable.  

[cubsfan]

12 minutes ago, 73 Reds said:

Yeah, people who are predisposed to dislike or not trust Trump hear things differently than those who support him, or at least understand why he got elected.  Anyone looking for pure diplomacy to accomplish anything in this World should probably resign themselves to very low expectations.  The very notion that "America First" could win the day reflects a World that became accustomed to and dependent on far too many US concessions at the expense of its own populace, all while the World became an increasingly more dangerous and non-appreciative place.  If we can't take care of our own citizens here in this country, how can we help anyone else?  Though I often cringe at some of the words that come out of Trump's mouth, his overall message and priorities are the same as most other Americans - even those who didn't vote for him.  Who doesn't want safety, prosperity, equal opportunity, ending of wars and a better country for their children and grandchildren?  

 

+1 - I wish I was as eloquent as you. But you cut right to the chase.

 

We will take care of our country FIRST, and you can take care of your own FIRST.

 

You would do the same for your own family.

[Ulti]

Yes they are …. And I think how the greatest generation ( which included family members) payed a very high price the right way…. I’m not so sure  

about this current administration  our political parties and our court system… jury is still out

[73 Reds]

5 minutes ago, Ulti said:

Yes they are …. And I think how the greatest generation ( which included family members) payed a very high price the right way…. I’m not so sure  

about this current administration  our political parties and our court system… jury is still out

Many from the Greatest Generation paid the ultimate price with their lives.  The hope is we learn something from prior generations and don't repeat the same mistakes.  Strength and deterrence would seem to be a worthy objective.

[Ulti]

I’ve always, rightly or wrongly, been an admirer of teddy Roosevelt’s big stick policy ………….

Big stick ideology, big stick diplomacy, big stick philosophy, or big stick policy was a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The terms are derived from an aphorism which Roosevelt often said: "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far".[1] The American press during his time, as well as many modern historians today, used the term "big stick" to describe the foreign policy positions during his administration. Roosevelt described his style of foreign policy as "the exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis".[2] As practiced by Roosevelt, big stick diplomacy had five components. First, it was essential to possess serious military capability that would force the adversary to pay close attention. At the time that meant a world-class navy; Roosevelt never had a large army at his disposal until the 1900s. The other qualities were to act justly toward other nations, never to bluff, to strike only when prepared to strike hard, and to be willing to allow the adversary to save face in defeat.[3]

 

And being a bit of a history buff( currently reading SPQR by Mary Beard and Genghis Khan by Jack Weatherford)

I think the jury is still out on President Trumps approach …. While I don’t see the Caligula similarities as been mentioned by some, I don’t see the Teddy similarities either… I also am an admirer of morals and scruples…. Something that is sorely lacking thruout all branches of the federal government and has been for many years…( just my opinion)

 

[Viking]

42 minutes ago, 73 Reds said:

Yeah, people who are predisposed to dislike or not trust Trump hear things differently than those who support him, or at least understand why he got elected.  Anyone looking for pure diplomacy to accomplish anything in this World should probably resign themselves to very low expectations.  The very notion that "America First" could win the day reflects a World that became accustomed to and dependent on far too many US concessions at the expense of its own populace, all while the World became an increasingly more dangerous and non-appreciative place.  If we can't take care of our own citizens here in this country, how can we help anyone else?  Though I often cringe at some of the words that come out of Trump's mouth, his overall message and priorities are the same as most other Americans - even those who didn't vote for him.  Who doesn't want safety, prosperity, equal opportunity, ending of wars and a better country for their children and grandchildren?  

 

@73 Reds , I appreciated reading your post... as a Canadian, it is helping me understand the American perspective. I view what Trump is doing as kind of like a big science experiment - with the ultimate outcome unknowable. 

 

I try to be as rational/logical as I can when looking at businesses/the economy/politics. The problem I have today when I look at much of what Trump is doing is I can't actually make any sense of it - in a logical/rational way. It looks to me like the US has devolved into 'the law of the jungle' method when it comes to so many important issues. Might is right. Nothing else matters. With that mind set, smaller countries like Canada are bugs to be crushed. It is all surreal - but I do understand it. Now American's on the board might think I am exaggerating / overreacting. We will see how things play out over the next 4 years. My brain (logic/rational) can't actually process what Trump is doing... so my emotions take over, which is never a good thing. So my approach is to just turn it off. 

 

It's like a bunch of kids in a playground. And the big kid is thumping the weakest kid. The other kids are watching mesmerized. Some kids are cheering on the big kid. Others kids are watching and their stomach is turning over. Like I said, what is going on today just seems so surreal (to me).

Edited Tuesday at 10:35 PM by Viking

[73 Reds]

7 minutes ago, Ulti said:

I’ve always, rightly or wrongly, been an admirer of teddy Roosevelt’s big stick policy ………….

Big stick ideology, big stick diplomacy, big stick philosophy, or big stick policy was a political approach used by the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. The terms are derived from an aphorism which Roosevelt often said: "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far".[1] The American press during his time, as well as many modern historians today, used the term "big stick" to describe the foreign policy positions during his administration. Roosevelt described his style of foreign policy as "the exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis".[2] As practiced by Roosevelt, big stick diplomacy had five components. First, it was essential to possess serious military capability that would force the adversary to pay close attention. At the time that meant a world-class navy; Roosevelt never had a large army at his disposal until the 1900s. The other qualities were to act justly toward other nations, never to bluff, to strike only when prepared to strike hard, and to be willing to allow the adversary to save face in defeat.[3]

 

And being a bit of a history buff( currently reading SPQR by Mary Beard and Genghis Khan by Jack Weatherford)

I think the jury is still out on President Trumps approach …. While I don’t see the Caligula similarities as been mentioned by some, I don’t see the Teddy similarities either… I also am an admirer of morals and scruples…. Something that is sorely lacking thruout all branches of the federal government and has been for many years…( just my opinion)

 

Many are attempting to judge Trump's second term after only 1 month in office.  Personally,  I don't understand why other than to further an agenda.  I can't argue with you about many who occupy the legislative branch (i.e., Congress) and some of the Judiciary who have become far too activist.  On a local level, most Judges are competent and impartial; we only hear and read about those who make news which are the exceptions, not the norm.   

[cubsfan]

@Viking  The only thing you might be missing - the American people have voted for change they felt is long overdue - for a government that has failed them. Trump is that change agent - and he is doing everything they voted for.  Much of the noise down here is that citizens almost can't believe the speed with which he is delivering on his promises.

 

I would only wish the same for Canadians - that you actually get what you vote for...

[Ulti]

6 minutes ago, Viking said:

rushed. It is all surreal - but I do understand it. Now American's on the board might think I am exaggerating / overreacting.

 I don’t…. It is so unfortunate that both countries have had politicians, Trudeau, Biden and Trump…each  hiding under theirwokeness and morally bankrupt in their own way…. To paraphrase an old song… where have all the centrists gone.. long time past seen haha

[Ulti]

4 minutes ago, 73 Reds said:

On a local level, most Judges are competent and impartia

Agree … maybe easier to out eyeballs on them as well as they are more imbedded with their community 

[John Hjorth]

20 minutes ago, 73 Reds said:

Yeah,

 

People who are predisposed to dislike or not trust Trump hear things differently than those who support him, or at least understand why he got elected.  Anyone looking for pure diplomacy to accomplish anything in this World should probably resign themselves to very low expectations. 

 

The very notion that "America First" could win the day reflects a World that became accustomed to and dependent on far too many US concessions at the expense of its own populace, all while the World became an increasingly more dangerous and non-appreciative place.  If we can't take care of our own citizens here in this country, how can we help anyone else? 

 

Though I often cringe at some of the words that come out of Trump's mouth, his overall message and priorities are the same as most other Americans - even those who didn't vote for him. 

 

Who doesn't want safety, prosperity, equal opportunity, ending of wars and a better country for their children and grandchildren?  

 

 

Absolutely awesome post here by you, @73 Reds 

 

A lot of the fuzz related to what's going on in USA and relelated to a broad currently is related to political non-acceptable, bad form communication, that is considered appalling, confrontative and trust destructive, and a simply, just, no-go.

 

Crucial decisions about the design of the world order of the future [of all, mind you!] isen't really contained in the job description  for the POTUS, anywhere.

 

Bad form exists, and when it - 'by accident' - now and then, surfaces, it becomes very real. The professional life of the current POTUS would become so much easier, if he gave a just  a thought of consideration - perhaps even two! - to this side of politics, to get along, and to get things done.

[73 Reds]

12 minutes ago, Viking said:

 

@73 Reds , I appreciated reading your post... as a Canadian, it is helping me understand the American perspective. I view what Trump is doing as kind of like a big science experiment - with the ultimate outcome unknowable. 

 

I try to be as rational/logical as I can when looking at businesses/the economy/politics. The problem I have today when I look at much of what Trump is doing is I can't actually make any sense of it - in a logical/rational way. It looks to me like the US has devolved into 'the law of the jungle' method when it comes to so many important issues. Might is right. Nothing else matters. With that mind set, smaller countries like Canada are bugs to be crushed. It is all surreal - but I do understand it. Now American's on the board might think I am exaggerating / overreacting. We will see how things play out over the next 4 years. My brain (logic/rational) can't actually process what Trump is doing... so my emotions take over, which is never a good thing. So my approach is to just turn it off. 

 

It's like a bunch of kids in a playground. And the big kid is thumping the weakest kid. The other kids are watching mesmerized. Some kids are cheering on the big kid. Others kids are watching and their stomach is turning over. Like I said, what is going on today just seems so surreal (to me).

I completely understand why Canadians feel that way.  You guys are far too nice to begin with .  Seriously though, Trump is like a political version of Robin Williams (the comedian).  He says anything that comes to mind and tends to repeat stuff over and over when it gets initial traction.  I believe he is trying to change the mindset of average Americans when it comes to the US and this country's trajectory for continued success.  In case you're wondering, I don't believe for a millisecond that Trump has any real aspirations of annexing Canada though a country as sparsely populated as Greenland could be a different story if an overwhelming majority of its people were to want to become a US territory. 

[Ulti]

Early election coverage described Trump’s victory as a landslide. But whether you go by the Electoral College vote or the popular vote, it was anything but. The 312 Electoral College votes that Trump won are just six more than Joe Biden won in 2020, twenty less than Barack Obama won in 2012, and fifty-three less than Obama won in 2008. Trump’s Electoral College performance pales in comparison to Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s landslide victory in 1936 (523 electoral votes), Lyndon Johnson’s in 1964 (486), Richard Nixon’s in 1972 (520), or Ronald Reagan’s in 1984 (525). In terms of the popular vote, more people voted for someone not named Trump for president than voted for Trump in 2024, and his margin of victory over Harris was 1.5 percentage points. That is the fifth smallest margin of victory in the thirty-two presidential races held since 1900.

 

https://www.cfr.org/article/2024-election-numbers

Again don’t think this election was a mandate and it. Would be interesting if the vote was held today with what’s going on how it would go

[73 Reds]

1 minute ago, Ulti said:

Early election coverage described Trump’s victory as a landslide. But whether you go by the Electoral College vote or the popular vote, it was anything but. The 312 Electoral College votes that Trump won are just six more than Joe Biden won in 2020, twenty less than Barack Obama won in 2012, and fifty-three less than Obama won in 2008. Trump’s Electoral College performance pales in comparison to Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s landslide victory in 1936 (523 electoral votes), Lyndon Johnson’s in 1964 (486), Richard Nixon’s in 1972 (520), or Ronald Reagan’s in 1984 (525). In terms of the popular vote, more people voted for someone not named Trump for president than voted for Trump in 2024, and his margin of victory over Harris was 1.5 percentage points. That is the fifth smallest margin of victory in the thirty-two presidential races held since 1900.

 

https://www.cfr.org/article/2024-election-numbers

Again don’t think this election was a mandate and it. Would be interesting if the vote was held today with what’s going on how it would go

That's all true but I heard that 85% of all US counties voted for Trump.  That was very surprising and tells a different tale.  He also won all the swing states, which for many elections have been the only States that matter.