American Politics

[Spidy]

So, the Proud Boys now judge Donald Trump "a total failure" and "extraordinarily weak. " The members of the far-right group understood at last that when the former president denounced them for doing what he incited them to do, they looked ridiculous.

How to save face? They couldn't concede that posting pictures of themselves engaged in a murderous assault on the USA Capitol was supremely stupid. No, it was that Trump was too cowardly to join them. But thinking that he would was also supremely stupid.

After winding the mob up with insane ranting about a "stolen election," Trump urged it to March to the Capitol to stop the counting of votes. "You'll never take back our country with weakness," he said. "And I'll be there with you. "

Of course, he wasn't there with them. It was some strange Neverland these Lost Boys came from. How else explain their expecting Trump to expose himself to the swarm, much less risk injury in a violent encounter?

While the boys were vandalizing, looting and threatening to hang elected officials, according to The Washington Post, Trump serenely watched the rampage on White House TVs. At a certain point, though, it dawned on the president that the unfolding horror was not in his interests. He conferred with advisers and lawyers to ensure he wouldn't take the rap for it. Thus, at 2:38 pm Eastern time, after a Capitol Police officer had already been killed, he tweeted, "Stay peaceful!" he then issued a video in which he told the herd to go home.

A day later, he condemned the blockheads for their "heinous attack" and said he was "outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem. " And to think that some of the Proud Boys actually expected a presidential pardon for their crimes.

The main objective here is not to point out the treachery of Trump. It's not even to question the right wing's willingness to believe that Trump hadn't lost. With all those conspiracy theories infesting their media and weeks of getting pounded by a charismatic speaker's liesone could envision their swallowing the nonsense that dark forces had denied victory to he whom they called "Emperor Trump."

The Proud Boys' grasp on reality was never all it could be, but still. The group had it together enough to closely follow Trump's 86 unsuccessful legal challenges to the election results. It should have been easier to note Trump's long history of covering his rear end and employing an army of lawyers to countersue those he had betrayed. But somehow, the Lost Boys thought they'd be an exception.

And so, they portrayed the double-cross as an unexpected abuse of what they imagined as their honor. They hit backor so they thought. "The Proud Boys Now Mock Trump" is how a New York Times headline characterized their criticism.

With all due respect to the headline writer, the people being mocked are the right-wing rioters facing criminal charges after being turned in by their children, ex-wives and (former) employers. Trump is back at Mar-a-Lago, smelling the sweet chlorine from his swimming pool and playing golf.

The insurrectionists now have their own lawyers. Despite the "heinous" nature of their acts, some of the legal advisers have taken the tack of portraying their clients as naive nitwits.

The lawyer representing the "QAnon Shaman" says the would-be actor regrets what he did but was duped by Trump. And he refers to his client in clownish termsas "the guy with the horns and the fur, the meditation and organic food. "

The Proud Boys are now saying in online posts that the group should drop politics and abandon both parties. They may be on to something, finally.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...on/ar-BB1d6FIs

Inevitable ending when dealing with a narcissist, such like "Agent Orange".

[EihTooms]

Please list one failed policy by Trump. I haven't heard one yet. And don't make one up from a CNN show.

You mean like his trade war that drove the USA Trade Deficit to record highs, breaking the previous record under G.W.Bush?

Or his $2.5+ Trillion 2017 economic "stimulus" legislation that never produced a single year of 3% GDP growth, much less the "4, 5, maybe 6%" he predicted in order to sell it to us while producing far fewer jobs in his first 3 years in office with it than in the previous three years under Obama without it?

Or maybe his historic economic policy decision in 2018 to drastically cut the budget for the CDC and stop "wasting" so much money on the pandemic prevention and response systems put in place specifically to monitor and confine epidemic virus outbreaks within their region of origin so as not to wreak economic and health havoc around the world? Oh and to offset a few measily million dollars from the Trillion$ he added to the deficit on the previously mentioned economic "stimulus" legislation?

Or how about his non existent "terrific" healthcare policy that replaced the never repealed Obamacare?

Or maybe his highly effective "Drain the Swamp" policy?

Of course, there is always that "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" policy thingy.

To name a few. But then, he only had 4 years to produce failed policies.

[ScatManDoo]

Please list one failed policy by Trump. I haven't heard one yet. And don't make one up from a CNN show.

Initial COVID testing and the emergency reserve of medical supplies.

Trump kept whining (in 2020) about Obama leaving the cupboards bare (more than 3 fucking years after Obama refused to mount an insurrection).

At the time, real news correspondents mocked Trumps assertion that Obama left him with a shortage of tests despite the coronavirus not even existing when Barack Obama was President.

[Beijing4987]

Relax Trolls. The foam spewing from your mouth will short circuit your chinese made computer. The King has not fallen. Since USA is no longer a corporation, he'll take over in March with Q as Veep, according to plan. Anybody heard of the US diplomat George Kennan, the author of the "Long Telegram" -laying out the basis for decades of US policy towards the Soviet Union? He published his work under a pseudonym "X" Another retired diplomat with vast experience has posted a similar message, focusing on the need to blunt the effect of Xi Jin Ping as an authoritarian cult figure and persuade China to return to the pre 2013 path of status quo. China has learned a lesson (what went wrong) from the fall of the Soviet Union. Keenan's idea of "containment" worked against the Soviet Union because Kennan had identified the strategic flaws in their system. Trump was correct to sound the alarm on China, however his efforts at implementation were chaotic and contradictory. At root, the issue is that "strategic competition"is a declaration of doctrinal attitude, not a comprehensive strategy that has been put into practice. The uncomfortable truth is that China has long had an integrated internal strategy for handling the United States, and so far it's strategy has largely worked. A strategy that focuses more narrowly on Xi, rather than the CCP as a whole presents a more achievable objective. So, unless anyone here does not have the expertise of a George Keenan, please pipe down. Of course, I'm not either, I'm just copying an article I think defines the problem and a viable solution.

[GDreams]

Obviously you don't live in USA or you only watch CNN.

USA has been collecting 10% -25% duty on $500 Billion annually China goods coming into USA with the Trump tarriffs which gave USA over $50 Billion which Trump used to create USA jobs and fund farmers and ranchers who were hurt with China retalliation. Consumers were not affected as China devaluyed their currency by 10% . More new manufacturing jobs came back to USA under Trump but not as many as were lost by the Obama fiasco. Tell me how this hurt the USA. YOU CAN"T BECAUSE IT DIDN"T.

Trump stopped the caravans and Biden during campaining promised open borders for future illegal votes. Now Biden has to try to fix something he caused. REAL SMART!

You are right. The illegals are here. Some working hard taking jobs from USA citizens, some on our welfare system, some in gangs trafficking and selling drugs. What about all the immigrants that came legally and are paying taxes. Are they the stupid ones?? Should they be penalized for coming legally?.

No I don't. I visited the US and 35 other countries including China. It is obvious that China is on a path to surpass the US. Trump could not dent that because he was too busy burning allies that would help.

As for your manufacturing growth it was pretty close to zero for the US in 2019 prior to Covid. https://tradingeconomics.com/united-...ng-production..

So the tariffs went to buy farm votes, that really helped average Joe!

Stole technology? Trade with China helped Europe gain many useful technologies, The US aerospace benefitted from German scientists, Japan and Korean manufacturing provided much of the new technology for manufacturing.

England is now coal free in power generation. In 10 years it will be gas free as well. Solar and wind are cheaper. The gains are being made subsidy free. Texas has the highest portion of wind power in the US, are actively shutting down coal plants and expanding solar with the cheapest rates.

How is it that all these great insights you have are demonstrably incorrect.

[Mursenary]

Obviously you are looking at a different China that I know. The China I know is the one that stole American and European technology and copied it. Everything from appliances, clothes textiles, steel making. They copy and make a lower quality product with cheap and child labor. The keep their people in a communist setting. You are saying that China competes fairly? That other countries admire this?

Well, I'm guessing that income from stolen intellectual property is not and has not been their major source of income since the 70's. China isn't exactly known to export high-end, innovative technological goods. Exploiting western demands for outsourcing cheap manufacturing labor seems to be a big profit getter. Financial services by government-owned financial institutions might have been significant. Extending loans and financing other third world nations seems quite lucrative for them. Natural resource export seems to also be rather profitable for a one-regime government. Chinese banks and petroleum companies are some of the richest companies in the world. You don't have to like your rivals, but devaluing their strengths seems like a strategic miscalculation.

[Mursenary]

The Keystone pipeline means cheaper energy and safer transportation of oil. This only affects the poorer people who have trouble paying their bills. That oil now is coming by train and truck. Much costlier for Americans.

The implementation of green jobs will never materialize. Most of the solar panels are made in China. Oil is not going away. Solar and wind may someday get to 30% of our energy but will be too expensive for the majority of our citizens. Oil will just increase in price in USA. Are you really stupid enough to believe wind and solar can handle even 50% of our energy. Now wind and solar is about 5% of total energy..

I didn't realize that oil transport was such a safety concern. Or that we were so dependent on refining oil from Canada.

Green jobs eh? Would be a shame if a company known to be an industry disruptor with a tweet friendly, maverick CEO develops more innovative and disruptive ways to harvest and store energy to cars, homes, rockets to Mars.

[Canada]

Mostly agree with this, regarding China and Russia anyway. And also regarding that most Europeans not grasping the root of American power and thus our attitude. I don't even think many liberal Americans grasp it, at least they don't seem to want to come to terms with what made America become a powerhouse. But some of those roots of power are now pretty inconsequential. Geographic isolation, free of nearby foes, shouldn't be anywhere near as beneficial with the current state of warfare. Even if we were plopped in between Russia and China, I'm not sure that geography and locale would be the most important factor in strategic planning. The economic globalization trend of acquiring natural resources and the push towards renewable energy may also also make that less of a factor. Who knows what the financial-currency picture will look like. Will the dollar remain the reserve currency? Will fiat currency at all? Blockchain-Crypto? Too many wildcards to rest on our past laurels.

The assessment of the Russia threat seems pretty fair with the exception of taking much stock in their role in the World Wars. Not sure this is the same Russia and I think their actions were probably out of self interest. But anyway, rarely do you see people articulating the Russian threat this way or citing their positive characteristics. Kudos.

I think regarding China, it should be hammered home that China is a rival rather than an enemy. The Chinese are practical and I'm sure they understand that war, whether military or economic, does not benefit them. As such, does anyone think that they would push their relationship with the west toward more conflict? Terms like threat and enemy seem to be weapons of cultural engineering to get the masses riled up..

Obviously you are looking at a different China that I know. The China I know is the one that stole American and European technology and copied it. Everything from appliances, clothes textiles, steel making. They copy and make a lower quality product with cheap and child labor. The keep their people in a communist setting. You are saying that China competes fairly? That other countries admire this?

[Canada]

Do you think this?

Because.

Every failed policy that trumpship would admit, were claimed to be Obama's fault!

Please list one failed policy by Trump. I haven't heard one yet. And don't make one up from a CNN show.

[Canada]

Many countries like China because they provide real economic aid and infrastructure development. These days the US aid is pretty much military equipment to suppress restless populations. Those that are afraid of China are afraid because they can do little to influence Chinas economic power. Trump standing up to China was as effective as someone shouting at a brick wall. The ineffective tariff war was never going to succeed and cost the US more than it gained. It certainly did nothing to bring back manufacturing.

Are you not an immigrant to the US? I thing deporting you would a good first step. Biden is working to fix the root causes to prevent these caravans.

The illegals are there. Better to assess them and give a process to stay. Obama had no problem deporting bad actor illegals, I don't see Biden being different.

The only delay to people getting further stimulus cheques is the Republican members of the Senate who would rather cut off their dicks than give people in need money. The only people allowed to receive money from the Government are the super wealthy.

Obviously you don't live in USA or you only watch CNN.

USA has been collecting 10% -25% duty on $500 Billion annually China goods coming into USA with the Trump tarriffs which gave USA over $50 Billion which Trump used to create USA jobs and fund farmers and ranchers who were hurt with China retaliation. Consumers were not affected as China devaluyed their currency by 10% . More new manufacturing jobs came back to USA under Trump but not as many as were lost by the Obama fiasco. Tell me how this hurt the USA. You can't because it didn't.

Trump stopped the caravans and Biden during campaigning promised open borders for future illegal votes. Now Biden has to try to fix something he caused. Real smart!

You are right. The illegals are here. Some working hard taking jobs from usa citizens, some on our welfare system, some in gangs trafficking and selling drugs. What about all the immigrants that came legally and are paying taxes. Are they the stupid ones?? Should they be penalized for coming legally?

The only delay in the stimulus checks is Nancy pelosi and chuck Schumer. Republics and trump have approved numerous stimulus for all usa citizens and businesses. The reason this stimulus isn't getting opassed is because democrats have tied bull shit stuff to it. Covid stimulus shouldn't be fore illegals, for allowing more immigration for bailing out the democratic cities with all their failed policies. It should be for the citizens and businesss's that were hurt by covid. Not democratic wish lists.

The keystone pipeline means cheaper energy and safer transportation of oil. This only affects the poorer people who have trouble paying their bills. That oil now is coming by train and truck. Much costlier for Americans.

The implementation of green jobs will never materialize. Most of the solar panels are made in china. Oil is not going away. Solar and wind may someday get to 30% of our energy but will be too expensive for the majority of our citizens. Oil will just increase in price in USA. Are you really stupid enough to believe wind and solar can handle even 50% of our energy. Now wind and solar is about 5% of total energy. Do you realize how much your electric bill has gone up in the last 10 years just to get to 5% solar and wind. Well expect another 100% to 200% over the next 10 years.

Elections can't be stolen. I believe this election was as fair as all the other communist / socialistic countries like China, North Korea, Russia, Venezuela.

[ShooBree]

Some people clearly have never experienced Chinese in action, turning a place to sh*t wherever they turn up (see: Sihanoukville). The one thing that their one-Party government has got right: social credit score. Anything that keeps the worst, the crudest, rudest and foulest of these Chinese from ever setting foot outside their Peoples' Republic cannot be a bad thing.

A friend of mine who used to travel extensively all over SEA told me that the Russians and Indians are a blessing compared to the Chinese.

[ShooBree]

Want to try again?

Maybe next time in English, S, Swede?

Your language problems makes you very hard to understand. Are you trying to communicate about your favorite anime character (s)?

You must be the village idiot.

It seems to me that you're the one having "language problems". Maybe you can ask your mother to read the post for you.

[Golfinho]

Cultured and non-corrupt. Say what? They may have millennia of "culture" but their culture is certainly not something most nations or people aspire to. As for non-corrupt. What have you been smoking and where can I get some? I agree with much of your assessment, but not in these cases.

Some people clearly have never experienced Chinese in action, turning a place to sh*t wherever they turn up (see: Sihanoukville). The one thing that their one-Party government has got right: social credit score. Anything that keeps the worst, the crudest, rudest and foulest of these Chinese from ever setting foot outside their Peoples' Republic cannot be a bad thing.

[Travv]

Washington DC—Trump has been reinstated as president so Democrats in Congress can be sure the impeachment trial will be constitutional.

Trump will resume serving as president effective immediately so that Democrats can vote on the article of impeachment filed against him.

"We must make Trump president again so we can constitutionally impeach him again," said Chuck Schumer. "It's the only way to be sure. Normally, we don't care about the Constitution, of course, but when you're talking about impeaching Trump, we have to make sure we get it just right. ".

Democrats everywhere approved of the move, saying they have had nothing to live for since Trump left office last week.

"I had all these protest signs and nothing to protest," said Portland-area BLM activist Jacob Brier excitedly as he got on his gas mask. "We tried firebombing the local DNC headquarters, but it just wasn't the same. Sure, we could protest Biden starting a new war in Syria, but it's more fun to protest war under a Republican president, even though Trump didn't start any. Feels more righteous-why. "

Semisatire Babylon Bee.

[GDreams]

Evey country is tired of China. Trump was the only leader with enough balls to stand up to China. Sleepy Joe owes China. His first executive order was to get back in the Paris Accord. Killing USA jobs and strengthening China industry as they don't have to follow same regulations until after 2030. He will reverse all Trump policies on fair trade and drop all tariffs. Sleepy Joe is just a puppet for Rice, Sanders and all the socialists.

Look at his first week.

Reverse Trump immigration policies. Now we have caravans starting from Central America because Biden promised open borders to them.

Stopped deportation so now people sneaking across the border (both criminal and possibly Covid carriers) can be released into the USA.

Many countries like China because they provide real economic aid and infrastructure development. These days the US aid is pretty much military equipment to suppress restless populations. Those that are afraid of China are afraid because they can do little to influence Chinas economic power. Trump standing up to China was as effective as someone shouting at a brick wall. The ineffective tariff war was never going to succeed and cost the US more than it gained. It certainly did nothing to bring back manufacturing.

Are you not an immigrant to the US? I thing deporting you would a good first step. Biden is working to fix the root causes to prevent these caravans.

The illegals are there. Better to assess them and give a process to stay. Obama had no problem deporting bad actor illegals, I don't see Biden being different.

The only delay to people getting further stimulus cheques is the Republican members of the Senate who would rather cut off their dicks than give people in need money. The only people allowed to receive money from the Government are the super wealthy.

The Keystone pipeline was always doomed to be a failure. Stupid to have started it. The jobs are nothing to the economy a couple of thousand. The oil industry is a dying industry just like coal. The implementation of electric vehicles en mass will provide many more jobls in the roll out of renewable power and distribution networks.

Well you must be a socialist because you have been soaking up all the Trump lies and believed it! Still think the election was stolen?