45th President of the United States, Donald Trump. (Vol 6)

[Byker28i]

trumps been threatening the intelligence agencies since his inauguration, but this is the first time he's taken a major step forward, no doubt embolded by the lack of action by the dems and his overwhelming support from the GOP, propped up by McConnel etc.

Just after his election, Larry Johnson claimed on Russia Today that GCHQ intercepted communications within Trump Tower during the 2016 U.S. presidential election and that trump forced GCHQ Director Robert Hannigan resignation three days after Trump’s inauguration. This was picked up by Andrew Napolitano, Fox news and another person Trump frequently spoke to.

This is where trumps belief that Obama had wiretapped him comes from. Spicer, with Trump’s blessing, ran heavily with this, as did trump and others in the team. Since then trumps been trying his best to undermine the intelligence agencies, insisting they were all against him. It's entirely in his makeup that he strikes out against those people, he does it frequently, always has.

The trouble with Johnson, is that he makes stuff up, such as a hoax in 2008 in which he claimed Michelle Obama had been caught on tape using the racist term “whitey", or that it wasn’t the Russians who had hacked the Democratic National Committee but the CIA. Another claim repeated by trump.

As they don't agree with trumps views, every piece of evidence is met with claims of fake news from trump. We also know trump likes to boast, revealing sensitive information to the russians in the White House, holding sensitive meetings and phone calls in front of Mar-a-Lago members etc

We know from many memoirs from the intelligence officers that trump doesn't want intelligence briefings, insisting “you know, I’m, like, a smart person”, so knowing the security risk he is, they've been omitting as much sensitive data as possible.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/intelligen...

Lets not forget his strop last December when trump accused the British of plotting to assassinate him, after Assange and InfoWars seemed to suggest the Brits had recommended that the president be “taken out.” This had russian fingers over it also.
The full context made it clear the suggestion had been to remove Trump from the distribution list for reports on Putin. By the end of the day, he had fired the directors of the CIA and NSA and ordered all U.S. agencies to suspend sharing intelligence with the British. He even temporarily added Britain to the list of countries whose citizens could not enter the United States.

This extended from the Steele Dossier, which he claims was used by the Brits and GCHQ to start the investigations against him, even thought the investigations started 6 months before.

As it is now Five-Eyes is already damaged by trump as agencies have stopped sharing some info with the US at a time when Russia and others are seeking to make further inroads. Putin can't believe how well this has turned out...

[Byker28i]

trump said yesterday
Barr is “a great gentleman and a highly respected man, so everything that they need is declassified and they’ll able to see how the hoax or witch hunt started and why it started,” Trump told reporters before leaving for a trip to Japan. “It was an attempted coup, an attempted takedown of the president of the United States.”

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/24/trump-ju...

He truely believes this, using it to justify his actions without any thought. It's all about him and his 'revenge'

[Byker28i]

The government has formally moved tonight to take possession of Paul Manafort's Trump Tower apartment.

[glazbagun]

Gandahar said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-4840492...

They talk about politicians trying to make long lasting friends.

Trump seems to be trying to make long lasting enemies.

This is the same country who has a young "non" leader that as has poorly done in Yemen, poorly done with Qatar and who tried to force the US shale producers to collapse, but then failed.

Oh, and the small matter of murdering people in an embassy.

Yet Trump still backs him, whilst alienating his own politicians because he has not fully understood how things work over there. He sees Israel as the cowboys and Iran as the red Indians.....

To be fair to Trump, every US admin ever has had a hard-on for Saudi oil and influence since, what, 1973? And whoever replaces Trump will too. See the "should we do business with them" thread. Short of Corbyn, I can't imagine the UK doing any differently either.

[Escapegoat]

Byker28i said:

Bump stocks ban, is the only good thing he's done, which we discussed at length

That's not true. You have a selective memory.

[IanH755]

_dobbo_ said:

IanH755 said:

So when someone who is pro-Trump (or even fairly neutral-Trump) posts on here, they don't get "discussion" they just get insults inferring that they are racists etc.

Ah the old "racist" chestnut again. I'm sure it will only be the work of a moment to find a example of this if it's so prevalent?

Not a problem, barely an inconvenience - this was in reply to my post on the previous page -

minimoog said:

I suspect the Venn diagram of Trump and Yaxley-Lennon supporters is a perfect circle.

[minimoog]

IanH755 said:

_dobbo_ said:

IanH755 said:

So when someone who is pro-Trump (or even fairly neutral-Trump) posts on here, they don't get "discussion" they just get insults inferring that they are racists etc.

Ah the old "racist" chestnut again. I'm sure it will only be the work of a moment to find a example of this if it's so prevalent?

Not a problem, barely an inconvenience - this was in reply to my post on the previous page -

minimoog said:

I suspect the Venn diagram of Trump and Yaxley-Lennon supporters is a perfect circle.

So you don't like SYL. Well done you!

What do you like about Trump?

Edit: actually don't bother. I've just been reading a few of your other posts around here and very quickly established you're exactly the type of person whose miserable opinions I couldn't give less of a fk about.

Edited by minimoog on Saturday 25th May 13:12

[IanH755]

minimoog said:

IanH755 said:

_dobbo_ said:

IanH755 said:

So when someone who is pro-Trump (or even fairly neutral-Trump) posts on here, they don't get "discussion" they just get insults inferring that they are racists etc.

Ah the old "racist" chestnut again. I'm sure it will only be the work of a moment to find a example of this if it's so prevalent?

Not a problem, barely an inconvenience - this was in reply to my post on the previous page -

minimoog said:

I suspect the Venn diagram of Trump and Yaxley-Lennon supporters is a perfect circle.

So you don't like SYL. Well done you!

What do you like about Trump?

Edit: actually don't bother. I've just been reading a few of your other posts around here and very quickly established you're exactly the type of person whose miserable opinions I couldn't give less of a fk about.

IanH755 said:

So when someone who is pro-Trump (or even fairly neutral-Trump) posts on here, they don't get "discussion" they just get insults inferring that they are racists etc, so those neutral/pro-Trump people leave and the echo chamber of anti-Trump "hate" grows stronger meaning there is little to no rational adult discussion left in this thread

Thank you for proving my point about the lack of adult debate so well with your rational, well thought out opinion.

However as I like to at least try to act like an adult, I'll answer your question re: Trump - There are a few things I like, a few things I don't and the majority of things I'm neutral about regarding Trump.

You specifically asked what I like, well making people feel OK to have a sense of pride in the US which he's brought back to the under-appreciated "working class" underbelly of America. I also like that he's done much better on the economy than was predicted which, combined with lowering of some taxes, is leaving lower wage folks with more money in their pocket, and finally that he wants to protect the US economically rather than just militarily, which hasn't been done recently.

Now much list of things I don't like would be longer but you only asked my opinion on what I see as his positives.

[Countdown]

IanH755 said:

You specifically asked what I like, well making people feel OK to have a sense of pride in the US which he's brought back to the under-appreciated "working class" underbelly of America.

In your opinion, what has he actually done that should make the "under-appreciated working class" have more pride in the US? Apologies for thinking this is just balderdash but only a complete simpleton would need somebody chanting "MAGA!! MAGA!!" to suddenly have "pride" in one's country. Pride could be a result of somebody displaying courage, leadership, morals, and principles, something Commander Bone Spurs has failed to do at every single point in his life. he's insulted the US military, he's publicly humiliated the Intelligence agencies, he's sucked up to the US's greatest rival, his actions have increased risk both in the Middle East and in North Korea, he's been called a moron by most of his senior staff, he's bribed women he slept with so that they keep quiet...I could go on. The man is an embarrassment in so many different ways. There are leaders of tinpot 3rd world countries who keep the heads of their rivals in the refrigerator who deserve more respect than he does.

IanH755 said:

I also like that he's done much better on the economy than was predicted which, combined with lowering of some taxes, is leaving lower wage folks with more money in their pocket,

And as a result he's massively increased US debt, which will have a significant impact on future generations. In a way it's similar to how he runs his businesses - borrow billions, take what he can get, and then walk away when the whole charade collapses. To be clear, Trump has not implemented one single economic policy for the benefit of the US, the tax cuts have benefitted only the top 1% and while he keeps doing that they'll move heaven and earth to keep him in power

IanH755 said:

and finally that he wants to protect the US economically rather than just militarily, which hasn't been done recently.

I don't adisagree with the intention, however the way he's gone about it reminds me of a spoilt 5 year old having a tantrum Rather than pick and choose his fights he's caused huge amounts of disruption without achieving much. NAFTA being a prime example.

[minimoog]

Ok I'll play.

IanH755 said:

You specifically asked what I like, well making people feel OK to have a sense of pride in the US which he's brought back to the under-appreciated "working class" underbelly of America.

Funny, I've never noticed Americans of that demographic being lacking in national pride. Obviously I wasn't paying attention. What do you think has made them less proud to be American in recent years?

What exactly is Trump offering that his supporters suddenly have reason to be proud about?

IanH755 said:

I also like that he's done much better on the economy than was predicted which

Well he hasn't undone the 7 years of sustained growth and lowering unemployment he inherited, that's true. Which again has been discussed and acknowledged many times here including by your so-called blind hystericals.

IanH755 said:

Combined with lowering of some taxes, is leaving lower wage folks with more money in their pocket,

I guess they can put it towards the healthcare costs they'll be incurring when he removes their coverage.

IanH755 said:

and finally that he wants to protect the US economically rather than just militarily, which hasn't been done recently.

Leaving aside his obvious intent to start a diversionary war with Iran that is. But yes he does appear to want economic protections. He just doesn't seem to have a clue as to how to do it, or indeed any clue whatsoever as to how tariffs work and who pays the costs incurred. That might impress you, me not so much.

ETA: BTW I'd suggest his willingness to grovel at Putin's knee and attack his own laws, Constitution, intelligence services, judiciary, co-equal branches of govt, etc etc is the very antithesis of protecting the US.

Edited by minimoog on Saturday 25th May 18:40

[Byker28i]

Escapegoat said:

Byker28i said:

Bump stocks ban, is the only good thing he's done, which we discussed at length

That's not true. You have a selective memory.

Sorry? Explain why? Not mentioned or not discussed

Discussed in Feb 2018
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I bought it up again in April
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Byker28i]

IanH, thanks for continuing to contribute. After your previous post I where you mentioned trump was good for jobs I made two further posts showing where he hadn't been, any comments on this?

Byker28i said:

Trump's aluminum tariffs have driven up the cost of cans and in turn have cost the beer industry nearly 40,000 jobs since 2016

A report by two trade groups showed U.S. beer-industry jobs dropped 40,000 since 2016 as metal tariffs boosted aluminum-can costs, leading to a drop in investment. The biennial study by the Beer Institute and National Beer Wholesalers Association said direct, indirect and induced jobs fell to 2.19 million in 2018 from 2.23 million in 2016.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-23...

Now trump is killing off a Forest Service program that trains disadvantaged young people for wildland fire fighting and other jobs in rural communities, laying off 1,100 employees, the largest number of federal job cuts in a decade.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-admi...

You see for all those tax cuts for the rich (not the poor), something else has to be cut to try to balance the budget, even then the deficit is wildly increasing.

[Byker28i]

Another letter to trump after his "I don't do coverups" comments asking about unreported migrant deaths

[Byker28i]

Sng of coverups, Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan became the first Republican to break ranks with his party and acknowledge that Donald Trump has indeed committed an impeachable offense.

His twitter makes interesting reading: https://twitter.com/justinamash/status/11316057847...

Mueller’s report describes a consistent effort by the president to use his office to obstruct or otherwise corruptly impede the Russian election interference investigation because it put his interests at risk.

[Escapegoat]

Byker28i said:

Escapegoat said:

Byker28i said:

Bump stocks ban, is the only good thing he's done, which we discussed at length

That's not true. You have a selective memory.

Sorry? Explain why? Not mentioned or not discussed

I'm saying that other positive actions by Trump have been discussed here.

I think you are generally too busy posting to read the thread!

[captain_cynic]

IanH755 said:

Thank you for proving my point about the lack of adult debate so well with your rational, well thought out opinion.

The only one here not acting like an adult is you.

First you ignore people asking for a logical argument about Trump, then you try to frame the argument as an attack aginst you, when no one took the bait you tried to play the "B-B-B-but you called me a racialst" victim card which eliminated any doubt that you're little but a troll.

BTW, the assumption that Trump supporters are racist isn't a bad one as you don't actually have to go far to find examples of it. But no-one called you racist, we just called you a troll which you have done a very good job of proving correct.

You haven't actually presented an opinion supported by reasonable conjecture, let alone fact. All you've done is attack others who have presented opinions backed up by fact and then ignored their reasonable replies. So if we're calling you names, its because you deserve them and you did start it.

[Byker28i]

Escapegoat said:

I'm saying that other positive actions by Trump have been discussed here.

I think you are generally too busy posting to read the thread!

OK, in my view it's bump stocks, what else has he done and lets not mention tax cuts because we know those haven't benefited many.

Looking at his campaign promises
Said he wouldn't cut cut Medicare or Medicaid, but he's trying very hard to cut it significantly

"I would build a great wall, and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me, and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great great wall on our southern border and I’ll have Mexico pay for that wall." Well we all know how thats gone, even after declaring a national emergency then losing interest.

“One of my first acts as president will be to establish a commission on radical Islam which will include reformist voices in the Muslim community who will hopefully work with us." - No comission yet

Invest $550 billion in infrastructure and create an infrastructure fund. We've had several infrastructure weeks that have gone nowhere. Places like Flint still have dirty water. The scale of the US infrastructure requirements is staggering
https://www.businessinsider.com/asce-gives-us-infr...

Repeal and replace Obamacare, well we've seen efforts to repeal but nothing to replace

During the campaig he said there were 11.3million illegals which would have to go. He's allowed ICE to be more agressive, Last figuresx in 2018 had deportations at 256,000, a slight rise on the year before, though not as high as the 2012 peak of 410,000 under the Obama administration. He has cancelled Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) programme, which allows some 700,000 people to remain in the US, children were brought in and who have spent the majority of their life here.

and of course, locking up Hilary Clinton


What he has done, plulled out the Paris Climate deal,pulled out of trade deals and imposed tarrifs, nominated favourable judges, flip flopped on bringing troops home from the middle east, now sending more there again.

What have I missed?

[Byker28i]

Quality from trump again. He's in Japan, where Korean missiles have been fired towards, but feels he has to insult Biden instead?

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump

North Korea fired off some small weapons, which disturbed some of my people, and others, but not me. I have confidence that Chairman Kim will keep his promise to me, & also smiled when he called Swampman Joe Biden a low IQ individual, & worse. Perhaps that’s sending me a signal?

6:32 PM - 25 May 2019

[captain_cynic]

Byker28i said:

What have I missed?

Unilaterally pulling out of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Wasn't good for the US, but it's been brilliant for the other Pacific nations involved in that particular pact.

The TPP was largely a means to foist a whole bunch of US laws onto Pacific nations including Australia, Japan and New Zealand being disguised as a trade treaty. When Trump pulled out of it, it became just another hum-drum trade treaty between Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Canada and the pacific nations.

And we doubt Trump's foreign relations credentials... He did a huge service for the sovereignty of over a dozen nations in one fell swoop.

[Byker28i]

I think on a quiet news day as trump plays golf in Japan and we are discussing accomplishments, then we should also link to the list the White House have put up of trumps accomplishments

https://www.whitehouse.gov/trump-administration-ac...