45th President of the United States, Donald Trump. (Vol 5)
Discussion
Tallow said:
Max_Torque said:
They are simply people who will believe anything that they feel makes things better for themselves, at no heed to what it means for anyone else. They interviewed some Trump supporters on BBC News who when asked "but don't you care that the president has broken the law?" replied "thousands of people break the law all the time" as if that were a valid defence.
However, i bet if they were the victim of a crime, they would want the full force of the law brought against that person, and any defence of "sure, yeah, i mugged that old lady for her handbag, but hey, thousands of people get mugged all the time so it's ok" would then not really wash would it.........
There's definitely a lot of that going on. I think a lot of people are probably viewing the capaign finance violations as being a minor infraction, despite it being a felony, and probably having a critical effect on a very close election.However, i bet if they were the victim of a crime, they would want the full force of the law brought against that person, and any defence of "sure, yeah, i mugged that old lady for her handbag, but hey, thousands of people get mugged all the time so it's ok" would then not really wash would it.........
The DNC have reported another hacking attempt to the FBI
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/22/politics/democr...
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/22/politics/democr...
paulguitar said:
Jockman said:
IIRC his 87% support from Republican voters remains fairly constant.
Yes, I think you are right there. It’s a truly appalling thing, it simply reinforces my suspicion that most Republicans must be completely nuts. Scary stuff, really.PomBstard said:
paulguitar said:
Jockman said:
IIRC his 87% support from Republican voters remains fairly constant.
Yes, I think you are right there. It’s a truly appalling thing, it simply reinforces my suspicion that most Republicans must be completely nuts. Scary stuff, really.I agree with what’s being said there completely, the whole idea of ‘two teams’ on every issue is ridiculous. The polar situation in the USA is hopeless, really.
Having said that, I find it hard to take anyone supporting trump at this point at all seriously. If the republican party is to have any credibility in the future, they have to eject the orange pillock, and quickly.
kurt535 said:
paulguitar said:
Having said that, I find it hard to take anyone supporting trump at this point at all seriously.
That'll be nearly half of america then? trump has done an amazing job of normalising being a liar.alfabadass said:
Looks like beginning of the end for Trump.
Russia won't be happy.
Brexit next.
why wouldn't they be? If it's the end for Trump it would just show that democracy in western countries doesn't work which is what their government would like Russians to think, even if american people choose the "wrong" president he wouldn't be able to do his job so elections are just a sham.Russia won't be happy.
Brexit next.
Ditto for Brexit if it gets reversed.
AreOut said:
why wouldn't they be? If it's the end for Trump it would just show that democracy in western countries doesn't work which is what their government would like Russians to think, even if american people choose the "wrong" president he wouldn't be able to do his job so elections are just a sham.
Ditto for Brexit if it gets reversed.
I’m not sure that’s it, I think they just want to weaken their enemies with political instability.Ditto for Brexit if it gets reversed.
The accusation is that they meddled with our referendum.
I wouldn't hold your breath. alfabadass said:
Looks like beginning of the end for Trump.
Russia won't be happy.
Brexit next.
does it really?Russia won't be happy.
Brexit next.
Despite all the s
t, he is still doing just the same. His behavior is normal now, he is getting his own way more and more. As time goes by more things that were started years before are coming to fruition. He gets to claim those as his own.The reality is that he is not doing as badly as was expected (mostly because he never quite got the hang of how everything works!), America is doing okay and the populace is "seeing" some major wins. Whomever is at the helm takes the credit, and Trump is rather good at taking credit.
Meanwhile the democrats have still not learned from any of this, and look to be inviting Trump for a second terms with no competition at all. His approval rating may be crap, but it's a one horse race so who cares.
Looks like I chose an interesting 10 days to go on holiday*, catching up on this thread reminds me of Terry Pratchett's trousers of time, we appear to have gone down the wrong leg. In the world of foreign policy and economics things are also getting interesting.
I've talked previously about the importance of the SWIFT interbank exchange system and said that it is not a card the Europeans would not play soon, because to do so would decouple the euro from the dollar, turning the euro from a currency that easily coexists with the dollar to the euro being a peer competitor that vies against the dollar for a slice of that sweet reserve currency pie. Need to get my timing belt checked but otherwise got it correct: http://uk.businessinsider.com/germany-wants-europe...
If we've already got to the stage of calling for an end to SWIFT then things are moving faster than I thought. For countries other than the US it is no longer about riding out a period of instability so much as a competition to see who can carve out the most for themselves from the influence America is leaving behind as it retreats up its own Murdoch inspired hole.
What Heiko Maas did this week was to pull the trigger on a situation that has been brewing since before Trump, the world moving from a unipolar to a multipolar system of global trade, and turn it in to a race for 2020. If the new ruleset for global trade can be written and locked in place before America potentially regains its balance with a more competent president then it's game set and match, a new global order, hopefully without a shot being fired.
Two things to look out for now as a next step. 1) Announcements about new 'governing bodies', 'institutions for regulating trade' or other multinational bodies that act to undermine Bretton Woods (IMF, WTO and World Bank). 2) An increase in currency swaps, such as this one between Japan and China. Currency swaps are what countries do to spread risk and help each other out in uncertain times, the financial equivalent of everyone holding hands so that you're all still standing when the shock hits. The Japan / China swap isn't anything to worry about as that's more a good faith gesture and par for the course but if at any point you see news of, for eg, a large Euro/Yen/Yuan swap to which the Dollar is not invited then hold on to your hats.
*Holiday involved a cottage in the highlands with no phone, internet or mobile signal but plenty of good roads, good food and good company. Bliss.
I've talked previously about the importance of the SWIFT interbank exchange system and said that it is not a card the Europeans would not play soon, because to do so would decouple the euro from the dollar, turning the euro from a currency that easily coexists with the dollar to the euro being a peer competitor that vies against the dollar for a slice of that sweet reserve currency pie. Need to get my timing belt checked but otherwise got it correct: http://uk.businessinsider.com/germany-wants-europe...
If we've already got to the stage of calling for an end to SWIFT then things are moving faster than I thought. For countries other than the US it is no longer about riding out a period of instability so much as a competition to see who can carve out the most for themselves from the influence America is leaving behind as it retreats up its own Murdoch inspired hole.
What Heiko Maas did this week was to pull the trigger on a situation that has been brewing since before Trump, the world moving from a unipolar to a multipolar system of global trade, and turn it in to a race for 2020. If the new ruleset for global trade can be written and locked in place before America potentially regains its balance with a more competent president then it's game set and match, a new global order, hopefully without a shot being fired.
Two things to look out for now as a next step. 1) Announcements about new 'governing bodies', 'institutions for regulating trade' or other multinational bodies that act to undermine Bretton Woods (IMF, WTO and World Bank). 2) An increase in currency swaps, such as this one between Japan and China. Currency swaps are what countries do to spread risk and help each other out in uncertain times, the financial equivalent of everyone holding hands so that you're all still standing when the shock hits. The Japan / China swap isn't anything to worry about as that's more a good faith gesture and par for the course but if at any point you see news of, for eg, a large Euro/Yen/Yuan swap to which the Dollar is not invited then hold on to your hats.
*Holiday involved a cottage in the highlands with no phone, internet or mobile signal but plenty of good roads, good food and good company. Bliss.
Edited by Tartan Pixie on Thursday 23 August 01:28
Asia Times opinion piece, gives a nice overview of the results so far from Trump's trade war strategy: http://www.atimes.com/article/europe-japan-china-a...
Trump tweeted:
I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family. “Justice” took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to “break” - make up stories in order to get a “deal.” Such respect for a brave man
Manafort was convicted of tax fraud for tax years 2010 through 2014 (filing in 2011 through 2015) and bank fraud in 2015 and 2016. I'm no math whiz but pretty sure that isn't close to 12 years. He was also committing crimes whilst trumps campaign manager. This trial proved at the point he took the job with trump for no money he was at financial rock bottom, so we've yet to hear no doubt how he monetised that position with the Russians etc.
Let's also remember that it was Manafort who recommended Pence as VP.
Edit: oh and was trying to get a position in the administration for the banker who authorised him huge loans in Nov 2016.
As previously posted, he has said to friends that Manafort is the person who can really hurt him on his Russian collusion, which is why Fox have said in the interview he gave them he is thinking of pardoning Manafort.
https://mobile.twitter.com/passantino/status/10324...
I don't think he will, but he's saying what he can to stop Manafort doing a Cohen.
Manafort starts a new trial next month, with a less sympathetic judge, on many more charges
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna902966
Of course, Manafort has another issue for flipping, which might explain why he was so keen to fight it. Rather than the thought he was expecting a trump pardon, it might be to do with his extensive Russian/Ukrainian contacts and back channels. Many people connected to the Russians have died.
I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family. “Justice” took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to “break” - make up stories in order to get a “deal.” Such respect for a brave man
Manafort was convicted of tax fraud for tax years 2010 through 2014 (filing in 2011 through 2015) and bank fraud in 2015 and 2016. I'm no math whiz but pretty sure that isn't close to 12 years. He was also committing crimes whilst trumps campaign manager. This trial proved at the point he took the job with trump for no money he was at financial rock bottom, so we've yet to hear no doubt how he monetised that position with the Russians etc.
Let's also remember that it was Manafort who recommended Pence as VP.
Edit: oh and was trying to get a position in the administration for the banker who authorised him huge loans in Nov 2016.
As previously posted, he has said to friends that Manafort is the person who can really hurt him on his Russian collusion, which is why Fox have said in the interview he gave them he is thinking of pardoning Manafort.
https://mobile.twitter.com/passantino/status/10324...
I don't think he will, but he's saying what he can to stop Manafort doing a Cohen.
Manafort starts a new trial next month, with a less sympathetic judge, on many more charges
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna902966
Of course, Manafort has another issue for flipping, which might explain why he was so keen to fight it. Rather than the thought he was expecting a trump pardon, it might be to do with his extensive Russian/Ukrainian contacts and back channels. Many people connected to the Russians have died.
Edited by Byker28i on Thursday 23 August 06:33
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