Thailand Lounge and Chat area

[EihTooms]

I will admit I was fooled into voting for Obama and that was a mistake back then. However, I'm very satisfied with the current President.

Interesting. On a related topic, is there a version of Patpong's BarBar Fetish Club in Jarkarta to keep you happy and satisfied at home, too?

[Smoothy]

"It is easier to fool somebody than to convince them they've been fooled."

I will admit I was fooled into voting for Obama and that was a mistake back then. However, I'm very satisfied with the current President.

[Smoothy]

the Central Park 5 deal.

I'm no expert on that topic, but I do have a lot of respect for Brandon Tatum's perspectives. This is his take on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7krMErdyxhk

[Nyezhov]

What is 60' long and has 12 teeth?

The front row at a Trump rally.

What's 20 feet long and has an IQ of 20?

The lineup of Democrat presidential candidates.

Ka-ching!

[EihTooms]

Not being presumptuous but perhaps something we can agree on ET.

Trump is not the least bit interested in the well being of Americans either financially or in their quality of life. What motivates him is for God only knows what reason to dismantle the legacy of Obama aka the Affordable health Care Act, the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran Deal.

...

You presume correctly, Franciscass. As Mark Twain said, "It is easier to fool somebody than to convince them they've been fooled." Consequently, there must be a lot of Trump supporters still convinced he has kept a single major campaign promise or has outperformed his predecessor on any major economic and/or national security metric, which he has not. Or maybe they still think the voice of a shameless con man sounds like a breath of fresh air compared with the way people sound when they know what they're talking about and are working hard to improve conditions and institutions rather than tearing them down. The latter is so boring compared with the former. To paraphrase another observation, bringing a horse into a hospital and leaving him there for 4 years would "shake things up", too. But not exactly in a good way.

GDP growth for 2018, which had been celebrated by Trump and his supporters as being the first of many 3%+ growth years, supposedly besting what Obama presided over, was just revised downward to 2.9%. Therefore, despite jacking up the deficit by an unnecessary $2 Trillion+ in order to BUY a better annual GDP growth rate than Obama presided over, Trump still failed to do so. Obama had an annual GDP growth rate of 2.9% during the three years prior to Trump taking over. I see no reason to expect this year, Trump's third year in office, to produce a 3% or greater GDP growth rate. I think we'll be lucky to see it top 2% for this year.

Private sector jobs creation in the first 2 1/2 years of the Trump administration has so far under-performed Obama's last 2 1/2 years by at least 500,000 private sector jobs.

The unemployment rate has not declined any faster nor the trajectory of that decline fallen any sharper under Trump than it did under Obama. And it is impossible for Trump to (truthfully) take legislative or policy credit for turning a skyrocketing unemployment rate into a deeply and consistently declining one because, unlike Obama, he did not take over during a period of skyrocketing unemployment.

Wages are ticking up under Trump (as they were beginning to under Obama) because Obama's economy took us from that skyrocketing unemployment rate he inherited into the level of "Full Employment" well before the 2016 election and because several of the most populace and largely Blue/Dem states have passed minimum wage laws raising it to or near $15 per hour, typically doubling it in a single year. It has nothing whatsoever to do with a Trump or GOP Congressional economic policy or legislation. In fact, they oppose those moves and delight in slamming them as "Socialism! while at the same time they work very hard to take credit for the outcome.

Trump loves to take credit for wages rising among "Blacks, Hispanics and women!" on his watch. But he will never mention the minimum wage jobs those state laws he and his party philosophically oppose have been giving relatively huge hourly wage raises to Blacks, Hispanics and women because those kind of jobs are disproportionately occupied by them. That is why their wages are going up. It certainly hasn't got a thing to do with giving large tax cuts to the top 1% Elite wealthiest and corporations in some never-seen-before Supply-Side/Trickle-Down miracle or because he eliminated regulations in some industries.

The average annual gains in the stock market under Trump have not surpassed Obama's average annual gains even if we factor in the massive losses in the market that were just cresting and cascading into a Niagara Falls plunge months before the 2008 election and continued in that same downward plunge for a couple of months after his inauguration.

Some of the Leading Economic Indicators are declining under Trump for the first time in several years. The Fed does not lower the Funds Rate because an economy is roaring into "the greatest in USA History." On the contrary, if there is indication of such an improvement in the economy on the horizon, they RAISE rates, which is what they did under Obama almost a year before the 2016 election and again under Obama a month before the January 2017 inauguration. When they lower rates, as they did just this week, it is because the economy is in decline or they see the risk of an economic slowdown or a decline ahead.

I can only assume Trump is too clueless about that most basic Fed Funds Rate principle to know his pleading for them to cut rates was nothing more than a tacit admission that his economy needed the help, that the "greatest economy in USA History" could not handle a measly 2.5% Fed Funds rate and they'd better lower it for him quick. Well, the other possibility is he knows better than anyone his base is too clueless to know anything about that.

[Franciscass]

The old saying "ignorance is bliss" certainly comes to mind when I read your post. You refer to them as bigots, then act as a bigot yourself.

Bigot - a person who is intolerant towards those holding different opinions.

Trump supporters are just normal Americans who hold a different opinion from yours. I've been to Trump rallies and although you are in line with the way the liberal media likes to portray things, you are way off. The Trump supporters I know personally are well educated and far from "bigots". They are educated business professionals who have successful careers and lives. And they are very accepting of all races and religions as long as those races and religions are accepting of them and respectful of the USA. However, they do have enough common sense to realize when political correctness and special interest groups had garnered an absurd level of attention. The country needed a change of direction and Trump provided that.

Even us Trump supporters realize that Trump says ridiculous things often, that he's bombastic and egotistical, that he has very little filter (political correctness) in his comments. However, he's a breath of fresh air in my mind. I much prefer him over the slick talking lawyer types we normally see in politics.

I get the argument that the so called political establishment are mostly self-serving elites, ruling classes who cater more to vested interests rather than the average citizen. I get it when somebody comes along who runs on a platform of "I'm not one of them I'm different" it's very appealing. It works for me. What I don't get is how this is then used to excuse the most outrageous behavior, the lying, the bullying the racism, the stoking of fear and divisiveness saying oh well its OK that's just Trump being Trump he's different.

As to his rallies I accept I haven't been to any of them but I imagine they are fun events with lots of camaraderie and enthusiasm but as I understand who goes to them I will quote the man himself. There are bigots, there are racists, and some I assume are good people including Smoothy.

[Smoothy]

Just look at his so called base. White under educated old male disgruntled bigots and that is being kind to them.

The old saying "ignorance is bliss" certainly comes to mind when I read your post. You refer to them as bigots, then act as a bigot yourself.

Bigot - a person who is intolerant towards those holding different opinions.

Trump supporters are just normal Americans who hold a different opinion from yours. I've been to Trump rallies and although you are in line with the way the liberal media likes to portray things, you are way off. The Trump supporters I know personally are well educated and far from "bigots". They are educated business professionals who have successful careers and lives. And they are very accepting of all races and religions as long as those races and religions are accepting of them and respectful of the USA. However, they do have enough common sense to realize when political correctness and special interest groups had garnered an absurd level of attention. The country needed a change of direction and Trump provided that.

Even us Trump supporters realize that Trump says ridiculous things often, that he's bombastic and egotistical, that he has very little filter (political correctness) in his comments. However, he's a breath of fresh air in my mind. I much prefer him over the slick talking lawyer types we normally see in politics.

Go to a Trump rally, I bet you find the people there to be good-hearted people, very civil (even if you are yelling negative comments and acting like a fool), and far more well educated than the media would have you believe.

If you do try to go to a Trump rally, get your tickets and get in line early because those rallies fill quickly and you might be left outside to watch on a huge movie theater size screen they put outside for those who couldn't get in to watch the rally inside.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNJxA9hCcgA

[PVMonger]

Myself and almost everyone I know will be voting Trump again next election. I don't know anyone who voted for Trump last election who doesn't think he is a good President. They will also happily vote for him again this next election. Of the relatively few people I know personally who do not support Trump, they didn't vote for him last election either. You can stick your head in the sand if you want, but he is going to win in 2020. Not only did I support him in 2016, I support him even more now. I think he's a huge upgrade over Obama. None of the Dem candidates are worth a damn.

I disagree with almost everything you just said in your post.

What is 60' long and has 12 teeth?

The front row at a Trump rally.

[Franciscass]

ICan't say I have noticed an improvement rather than a slowing down on the trajectory or most important economic metrics since Obama left office and Trump took over. If anything, those metrics have been been showing signs of slowing down lately. For the first time in almost a decade. Which is why the Fed just cut the Funds Rate yesterday. And to think Trump had to add $2 Trillion+ to the deficit just to buy that nothingness! Score another really bad deal for the worst negotiator ever to enter the White House.

Not being presumptuous but perhaps something we can agree on ET.

Trump is not the least bit interested in the well being of Americans either financially or in their quality of life. What motivates him is for God only knows what reason to dismantle the legacy of Obama aka the Affordable health Care Act, the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran Deal.

To indulge his narcissism his racism and his ego he appeals to the lowest instincts of human behavior. Just look at his so called base. White under educated old male disgruntled bigots and that is being kind to them.

Who would have thought America had so many. They are far from being a majority but enough with the vagaries of the Electoral College and the 60% only who vote in elections resulted in him becoming president.

He ballooned up the national debt by giving more to the already disproportionately rich. Wow, very clever idea Donald, why didn't anybody else figure that one out.

He picked fights with Canada and the EU friends of the US to show his manly chops when in reality he was too cowardly to fight for his country in Vietnam.

His falling in love with Kim Jong Un arguably the most psychopathic violent dictator on the planet while cozying up to Saudis after they butchered Khashoggi, his fondness for Putin and his pathological lying all show who he is.

I'm not an American but if I were I would be so embarrassed that these world despots all know how to play this guy like a puppet on a string. To get a photo op he gives up the prestige and influence that the US has enjoyed on the world stage since WW2.

Oh did I mention he still denies man made climate change that is already beginning to negatively impact millions of lives, that asset values improved more under Obama at the same time in their presidencies.

None of this means anything to his followers who think he loves them as patriots and fine people but who in reality looks down on them as losers as he shits in his gold plated bathroom while watching Fox News.

[Kerrstar]

A sure way for him to win is to legalize weed.

Pretty sure this is a state issue as some states have legalised it. A federal law wouldn't have much effect on the states unless the federal gov pursued them to make the change.

The biggest issue WRT legalising weed is the ban on banks dealing with the proceeds of drugs. That's the problem that medical cannabis companies are having, they can't use the banking system.

[EihTooms]

That is because you do not know me. I am of neither party and vote for the candidate that I think is best. I voted for him last time because he wasn't the usual candidate and I wanted an outsider to shake things up. And that is exactly what he has done not knowing jack shit about trade.

I would vote for him again if it was not his treatment of the Central Park 5 deal. I do notice more money in my paycheck. Although others complain that richer people are getting more rich and we are only getting temporary scraps. A sure way for him to win is to legalize weed.

But the Central Park 5 deal was years before the 2016 election. The extra cash in your paycheck was front loaded for you to notice it until soon after the 2020 election. Then it will be phased out while the corporate tax cuts will go on and on adding further trillions to the deficit.

Remember when Trump suddenly announced about 10 days before the 2018 midterm elections that he was going to pass a "10% Middle Class Tax Cut!" before that 2018 election even though Congress was already long gone to their home states and districts and passing anything, especially a mythical "10% Middle Class Tax Cut!" was impossible because, well, the midterm election was going to happen in about 10 days? Yeah, THAT is how little to zero notice most Americans took of their grand tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He had to lie, I mean promise them another one out of the blue in order to try to salvage the thumping his party took in that election. And we're talking about the first couple of years of the tax cuts, the only years you and everyone else who is not super wealthy was even likely to notice them.

[Smoothy]

A sure way for him to win is to legalize weed.

LOL. That issue isn't even top 1000 in my mind. But I do think legalizing weed is just common sense.

[EihTooms]

Very accurate post. I think you are spot on there. I am also enjoying the extra cash in my bank account due to the Trump tax cuts and Trump economy.

In sync with Trump's pleading for them to do so, the Fed just came to the rescue for his economy, cutting rates to help bolster a shaky outlook for economic growth for the first time since the 2008 Financial Crisis:

https://www.economist.com/finance-an...-over-a-decade

INTEREST RATES set by the Federal Reserve have been rising since 2015. The gradual approach, explained the Feds chairman, Jerome Powell, last September was intended to leave time to see how well the economy could absorb each hike. So far the economy has performed very well, and very much in keeping with our expectations, he said back then.

Now America is being treated to what some are calling Powells pirouette. On July 31st Mr Powell announced Americas first interest-rate cut in over a decade, of 0.25 percentage points. At the press conference after the announcement he blamed weak global growth, trade policy uncertainty and muted inflation. Were trying to sustain the expansion, he said.

I have been enjoying the extra cash in my real estate equity and my stock market gains for at least 4 years before Trump became president. I am pretty sure they both added more income to my household wealth than the middling tax cut I likely would have barely noticed. Especially if I'd needed to purchase an item targeted by his tariffs and paid the consumer tax on it.

Can't say I have noticed an improvement rather than a slowing down on the trajectory of the most important economic metrics since Obama left office and Trump took over. If anything, those metrics have been showing signs of slowing down lately. For the first time in almost a decade. Which is why the Fed just cut the Funds Rate yesterday. And to think Trump had to add $2 Trillion+ to the deficit just to buy that nothingness! Score another really bad deal for the worst negotiator ever to enter the White House.

[Penguin69]

Sometimes I wish certain deceased commentators were still around. Hitchens, Hicks, Zappa. They'd have a field day with Trump.

[Mr Enternational]

Myself and almost everyone I know will be voting Trump again next election. I don't know anyone who voted for Trump last election who doesn't think he is a good President.

That is because you do not know me. I am of neither party and vote for the candidate that I think is best. I voted for him last time because he wasn't the usual candidate and I wanted an outsider to shake things up. And that is exactly what he has done not knowing jack shit about trade.

I would vote for him again if it was not his treatment of the Central Park 5 deal. I do notice more money in my paycheck. Although others complain that richer people are getting more rich and we are only getting temporary scraps. A sure way for him to win is to legalize weed.