Trump's Second Term

[Andy_Ross]

ETA where were the escorting frigates to allow a vessel to get so close to a major capital / flag vessel; if the merchant vessel had been a Q ship the US would have been down a carrier by now.

What should they have done? got an escort to sink it?

 

[Ziggurat]

Do you think the US will allow us to send our fighter jets to Ukraine?

Yes.

 

[dudalb]

And Trump pushes Canada as the 51st state again.............
What does he hope to gain from this? If it some kind of negotatring rrieck, it is backfiring.
And it is just a nutty idea.
WHat he had done is make the Canadians, who usually sort of consider openly Patriotic displays to be sort of bad form (to use a British expression) into a bunch of Maple Leaf FLag waving patriots overnight.' FLag sales are booming in Canada.
And Saturday is Canada's Natoinal FLag day. Going to be quite the display, I think.
And Canadians are remembering exactly who they are guarding against in their national anthem.
Besides, if Canada were to become a state it would be solid blue and probably ensure a Democratic advantage in elections. Makes no sense.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Yes.

I wish I were a bit more optimistic about that.

 

[Ziggurat]

You're expecting Europe to be able to provide the current level of support which mean replacing the military aid and equipment the US does. What makes you think they are even capable of that?

Again, if they can't, why not? If they don't have the production capacity for Ukraine to fight Russia, then they don't have the production capacity to defend themselves against Russia. And that's a big ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊ problem that they need to solve.

 

[Ziggurat]

I wish I were a bit more optimistic about that.

I'm quite confident about that, for multiple reasons. One, it's already happened, so it's not an escalation for it to keep happening. Two, the US doesn't have to pay for it. And three, we might even make money off it as countries which donate US planes to Ukraine may buy planes from the US to replace the ones in Ukraine.

The idea that Trump is in Putin's pocket has always been nonsense. His hesitancy to support the war isn't due to any actual sympathy to Putin, but simply a desire to not spend American resources on that war. I don't think I've ever heard him discouraging other countries from supporting Ukraine. In fact, he seems to be trying to push Europe to do exactly that.

 

[TomB]

Biological differences are one thing. That's a justification, though. I'd think that the Victorian Era's legacy and how women were pretty much excluded and discouraged from sports (and exertion in general) for a very long time has much more to do with why they're separated, though, in reality.

Yes, there are multiple reasons for the separation between men's sport and women's sport, which have evolved over time. The social reason you cite is obsolete and should be discarded. And even if you don't discard it, there's no reason it should take precedence over the biological reasons.

 

[dudalb]

Again, if they can't, why not? If they don't have the production capacity for Ukraine to fight Russia, then they don't have the production capacity to defend themselves against Russia. And that's a big ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊ problem that they need to solve.

And you are saying the US should not be concerned about what happens in Europe?
Guy, you philosophy was tried once. It was called "Isolationism". And it did not work.
Problem with America First it is really means America Alone.
I agree that NATO members in Europe need to spend more on defense...they have been sort of dodging that necessity for along time depending on the United States...but I suggest threats and bullying are no the way to do it.
And Putin hates the United States. He considers it his NUmber One Enemy. Never forget that.

 

[Jack by the hedge]

The US naval vessel attacked a Panamanian vessel, I think this is just the opening salvo, Trump probably instructed the USN to impede Panamanian commercial activity 'by any means necessary' and the captain of the Truman did it old style by ramming.

They sailed to the wrong canal. DEI navigator?

 

[Stacyhs]

Stacyhs said:
You're expecting Europe to be able to provide the current level of support which mean replacing the military aid and equipment the US does. What makes you think they are even capable of that?

Again, if they can't, why not? If they don't have the production capacity for Ukraine to fight Russia

Jesus H. Christ. You are assuming that small countries in Europe even have the same production capability as the US. Maybe you need to review geography and the economies of European countries vs the US.

, then they don't have the production capacity to defend themselves against Russia. And that's a big ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊ problem that they need to solve.

That's why they belong to NATO!

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

I'm quite confident about that, for multiple reasons. One, it's already happened, so it's not an escalation for it to keep happening. Two, the US doesn't have to pay for it. And three, we might even make money off it as countries which donate US planes to Ukraine may buy planes from the US to replace the ones in Ukraine.

The idea that Trump is in Putin's pocket has always been nonsense. His hesitancy to support the war isn't due to any actual sympathy to Putin, but simply a desire to not spend American resources on that war. I don't think I've ever heard him discouraging other countries from supporting Ukraine. In fact, he seems to be trying to push Europe to do exactly that.

I'm more worried he will do out of spite if for example he starts a trade war with the EU. Say what you will but he has a vindictive personality.

 

[Ziggurat]

Well no, it is hard to say. You are twisting reality to make it sound like a simple yes or no response. You have to define the sort of aid, what it is composed of, how it is delivered, how quickly it is delivered.

I just did. The current level and kind of support, continued into the future. That's your starting point.

Aid can consist of weaponry, equipment, training, logistical support as well as financial support. It's not as simple as saying "well Europe has money too" You think we can just immediately abandon all assistance to Ukraine and have the void instantaneously filled by other countries. You're not a military strategist, you're just making up a scenario.

Who said anything about immediate cessation? We aren't doing that. The switch doesn't need to be instantaneous. So why can't we transition to Europe taking over?

 

[TomB]

And Trump pushes Canada as the 51st state again.............
What does he hope to gain from this? If it some kind of negotatring rrieck, it is backfiring.
And it is just a nutty idea.
WHat he had done is make the Canadians, who usually sort of consider openly Patriotic displays to be sort of bad form (to use a British expression) into a bunch of Maple Leaf FLag waving patriots overnight.' FLag sales are booming in Canada.
And Saturday is Canada's Natoinal FLag day. Going to be quite the display, I think.
And Canadians are remembering exactly who they are guarding against in their national anthem.
Besides, if Canada were to become a state it would be solid blue and probably ensure a Democratic advantage in elections. Makes no sense.

What I don't get is the desire to make people become U.S. citizens who don't want to be U.S. citizens. Why would you want that?

 

[Norman Alexander]

And Trump pushes Canada as the 51st state again.............
What does he hope to gain from this? If it some kind of negotatring rrieck, it is backfiring.
And it is just a nutty idea.
WHat he had done is make the Canadians, who usually sort of consider openly Patriotic displays to be sort of bad form (to use a British expression) into a bunch of Maple Leaf FLag waving patriots overnight.' FLag sales are booming in Canada.
And Saturday is Canada's Natoinal FLag day. Going to be quite the display, I think.
And Canadians are remembering exactly who they are guarding against in their national anthem.
Besides, if Canada were to become a state it would be solid blue and probably ensure a Democratic advantage in elections. Makes no sense.

Exactly why Trump wants it.

 

[Ziggurat]

Jesus H. Christ. You are assuming that small countries in Europe even have the same production capability as the US. Maybe you need to review geography and the economies of European countries vs the US.

You don't need to be a giant country to produce 155mm shells.

That's why they belong to NATO!

So they could mooch off the US. Thank you for acknowledging that.

What should be the case is that Europe is capable of defending itself without the US, but that with the US the overmatch is such that no enemy would even consider it.

 

[stanfr]

I'm quite confident about that, for multiple reasons. One, it's already happened, so it's not an escalation for it to keep happening. Two, the US doesn't have to pay for it. And three, we might even make money off it as countries which donate US planes to Ukraine may buy planes from the US to replace the ones in Ukraine.

The idea that Trump is in Putin's pocket has always been nonsense.
His hesitancy to support the war isn't due to any actual sympathy to Putin, but simply a desire to not spend American resources on that war. I don't think I've ever heard him discouraging other countries from supporting Ukraine. In fact, he seems to be trying to push Europe to do exactly that.

I would agree with you to an extent. Trump has no real idealogical principles, his entire political philosophy is based on satisfying his narcissistic pathology. He admires Putin but does not want to help him, because he sees himself as more powerful (and certainly more adored) than Putin. His isolationism is purely driven by what he calculates as gaining him the most undivided support from his cult of admirers. Because they want US money spent at home and not abroad, he goes along with their wish. Just as he personally is likely all in favor of widespread abortion access, but has to appease the right wing by allowing them to ban abortion. He doesn't care one way or the other so long as it doesn't lessen the perceived size of his audience in his disturbed mind.

 

[arthwollipot]

Is it your contention that Europe isn't able to sufficiently support Ukraine on their own?

I have it on good authority that nobody can guarantee their own security without help from the World's Hero, America.

You mean American pastries and American fries?

American fries are Turkish.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

You don't need to be a giant country to produce 155mm shells.

So they could mooch off the US. Thank you for acknowledging that.

What should be the case is that Europe is capable of defending itself without the US, but that with the US the overmatch is such that no enemy would even consider it.

It was never in the US' interest to have a super powerful independent Europe. It has been very lucrative for your country both in terms trade deals, arms sales and soft power to be the big guy.

 

[Ziggurat]

It was never in the US' interest to have a super powerful independent Europe. It has been very lucrative for your country both in terms trade deals, arms sales and soft power to be the big guy.

It's not so lucrative anymore. Europe needs to start pulling its own weight.

 

[Mojo]

Trump if he is a fool...

If?