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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Alycus Since: Apr, 2018
#245001: Jun 10th 2018 at 7:44:19 AM

This sort of snooty European anti-Americanism only makes sense if you pretend the sheer number of Democrats, Democratic voters, protesters, activists and even just left-leaning regular people of all kinds in the US do not exist. People, who, as you know, are also usually demonized by Republicans as "un-American". I certainly do not have any patience for those who deny or downplay their existence or influence because it's too difficult for them to let go of their beloved Eagleland Type 2 stereotypes.

RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#245002: Jun 10th 2018 at 7:45:52 AM

I think it's more of a general disappointment that Humans Are Morons. Every country has their share of idiots who bring the common folk, the righteous folk down. In a more sane reality, Trump's approval rating wouldn't be in the double-digits (or exist at all, depending on when one's sane reality branches off the one we have).

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.
DrDougsh Since: Jan, 2001
#245003: Jun 10th 2018 at 8:00:54 AM

There are plenty of upstanding Russian and Chinese people, too. Doesn't mean I have to be fond of their governmental structure, or endorse forming close partnerships or long-term commitments to them. The USA is going to be run by Republicans every four to eight years barring the very unlikely event of sweeping electoral reforms taking place. As long as that's true, I cannot see the United States as a desirable partner, nor can I see the country's long-term economic, cultural and military influence as a good thing.

NoName999 Since: May, 2011
#245004: Jun 10th 2018 at 8:17:34 AM

More Trump supporters being screwed over by tariffs.

Wisconsin

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania again (I'm sensing a pattern lol)

Arkansas

Florida

Tennessee

Nebraska

And of course none of them blame the President. So I shall continue not giving my fucks to these... Lemmings.

Can Trump supporters be officially be labeled a cult now? lol

edited 10th Jun '18 8:19:06 AM by NoName999

PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#245005: Jun 10th 2018 at 8:20:31 AM

I'm starting to have serious doubts that Trump's tariff will come back to bite Republicans electorally.

i'm tired, my friend
BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#245006: Jun 10th 2018 at 8:30:47 AM

Infrastructure being terrible is only a minority issue if it was made terrible to screw the minorities, which admittedly isn't unheard of, and it can still be rectified by proper investment into schools and hospitals.
A recent-ish video from Extra Credits talked about deliberately harmful design, bringing up a case in Seattle where the city paid to install bike racks solely to displace the homeless.
Can't just hand the states a big pile of money marked "spend on infrastructure in areas meeting conditions X, Y and/or Z"? If the State republicans waste it on busywork then you can contrast their terrible performance with the more likely Democratic success stories, especially if you have a Democratic federal government.
No. Republican states will refuse to spend it, the way many did when it came to expanding Medicare, or straight up waste it or use it for infrastructure in wealthy areas.
I am genuinely confused about what it is about Trump that makes him so teflon to his base.
He's the White Supremacist Messiah, which is what (at least) half his base has been looking for since 1865.
statements like this bother me, as I hear "White men can't be allies - and even if they can be, they shouldn't lead." I realize that's not the intent of such statements, but plenty of other white guys don't, and will take umbrage at it.
Sanders, unlike a lot of white men, has the attitude of "Now that I'm here, everything will be fixed!" Not unlike some Trump supporters think of him, TBH, but Sanders isn't an outright criminal, just arrogant and tone-deaf.
Well, Trump just blew up the G7-communique and personally insulted the canadian leader while doing so:
In a move that shocked absolutely no one. Remember, he views everything in life as either ripping someone else off, or getting ripped off.
What does that say about his upcoming capacity to negotiate with an enemy?
He's going to open with a tweet about the upcoming military movement and given them the perfect opportunity to launch a pre-emptive strike and fuck us up.
There are plenty of upstanding Russian and Chinese people, too. Doesn't mean I have to be fond of their governmental structure, or endorse forming close partnerships or long-term commitments to them.
Yes ... but typically, we don't see posts by tropers blaming the entire population for the actions of those leaders.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
ViperMagnum357 Since: Mar, 2012
#245007: Jun 10th 2018 at 8:32:56 AM

@No Name 999: What is that quote from Futurama?

Oh, I would dearly love to believe that were true. So I will!

These people are logic immune, and the only thing they care about is how they feel about something, personally.

edited 10th Jun '18 8:40:06 AM by ViperMagnum357

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#245008: Jun 10th 2018 at 8:34:57 AM

[up][up]

He's going to open with a tweet about the upcoming military movement and given them the perfect opportunity to launch a pre-emptive strike and fuck us up.

Dude, the man sidelined Bolton of all people just to make Kim happy. Besides, if there was any sort of upcoming military movement, he'd probably already be crowing about it.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#245009: Jun 10th 2018 at 8:47:10 AM

Trump is a traitor to his nation and a buffoon and a monster.

And people don't care.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#245010: Jun 10th 2018 at 9:11:18 AM

[up]His approval rating suggests otherwise.

If you want your statement to be factual you should say that Republicans don't care, because they're the only one's keeping his approval rating floating.

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#245011: Jun 10th 2018 at 9:29:54 AM

[up] Republicans either don't care that he's nuts, like that he's nuts, or live in the Fox News reality where everything he does makes perfect sense.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#245012: Jun 10th 2018 at 9:35:42 AM

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the North Korea talk winds up going great. Kim Jong-un isn't like Angela Merkel, Justin Trudeau, Theresa May, Emmanuel Macron, etc. He's a brutal dictator who governs his country with an iron fist. Trump loves those kinds of people. Kim's exactly what he fantasizes about turning the U.S. Presidency into.

Trump's made clear on multiple occasions that he'd very much like to just walk away from the Alliances we have and try to squeeze in with China, Russia, and their ilk instead. As a world leader, the shittier you are, the more Trump likes you and wants to be your bestie.

Consequentially, I doubt he's going to have much trouble negotiating with Kim, since he's kinda already on Kim's side to begin with. Hell, he might come home with some exciting new policy ideas. Remember when he spent a weekend in China and was like, "Guys, they have a military parade. That's so cool. I want a military parade!"

edited 10th Jun '18 9:36:55 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#245013: Jun 10th 2018 at 9:40:59 AM

[up] You forget that Trump is a textbook narcissist. There's only one way this meeting can go down.

I'm just going to lay this down so no one is surprised by the outcome of the negotiations with North Korea.

There is no one easier to manipulate than a narcissist.

Trump is a simpleton sitting down for chess.

Kim Jong Un is employing a simple, predictable outcome with simple, predictable results.

Step 1 - Show the stick. Rattle the saber. Raise the world's anxieties.

Step 2 - Lurch abruptly to the other pole. Show the carrot. Offer to relieve all of that anxiety.

Step 3 - Feed Trump's ego. Get him to lean in... and then let him do what he is utterly compelled to do as a severe narcissist: Rush in to take premature credit and declare premature victory

Steps 1 and 2 are complete. Step 3 is well underway.

Trump is incapable of keeping himself from getting out far over his skis when there is personal glory to claim.

Trump is an infant being led across the floor to the candy bowl....and just as Trump gets a mouthful of chocolate for all the world to see, then comes Step 4:

A reversal by North Korea and a refusal to completely denuclearize.

Trump left up on a pedestal of his own making facing the potential for humiliation. Faced with the potential for a truly global self-own, Trump will do what Kim Jong Un had been angling for from the very beginning.

He will hastily agree to a deal that is more symbolic than meaningful solely to save face.

Kim Jong Un will get reduced sanctions ,economic support and a higher place on the world stage.

The United States and South Korea will get the sensation of reduced risk with little practical reduction in North Korea's ability to do harm.

The United States is being run by a man incapable of governing according to the bottomless needs of his own frail, broken ego.

Kim Jong Un knows that.

The outcome here is entirely predictable - and now we get to watch it play out as if it is somehow a mystery.

The U.S. is being led by a simpleton incapable of rational thought; unable to think even one move ahead; and entirely enslaved by his narcissism.

You watch, by tomorrow, Trump will be talking about his candidacy for a Nobel Prize... all while Kim Jong Un smiles and laughs. <end>

edited 10th Jun '18 9:42:19 AM by megaeliz

Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#245014: Jun 10th 2018 at 9:48:09 AM

Trump's problem isn't that he doesn't get along with other people. The problem is that he does get along with all the wrong people. He'll give our longtime allies the finger while breaking bread with the enemy.

So, I'm not worried about him going to war with North Korea, I'm far more worried about him appeasing North Korea.

edited 10th Jun '18 9:48:50 AM by Protagonist506

Leviticus 19:34
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#245015: Jun 10th 2018 at 9:54:06 AM

So I think that Peter Navarro just ignited more anti-American sentiment in Canada in one interview than Dubya ever did.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/10/politics/peter-navarro-justin-trudeau/index.html

Seriously, the Trump admin accusing others of bad faith negotiating?[lol]

Republican, go home.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#245016: Jun 10th 2018 at 10:08:54 AM

You forget that Trump is a textbook narcissist. There's only one way this meeting can go down.

I do nothing of the sort. Kim getting everything he wants by manipulating Trump into thinking he got anything at all is exactly how this meeting would go well. It'd be a terrible end to the conflict for world politics, but a positive one for both Kim and for Trump, who comes home and gets to declare victory and maybe win a f*cking Nobel Prize for giving away global security and legitimizing Kim's regime.

It is entirely possible for both Kim and Trump to get what they want out of this, because what they want is severely at odds with what the rest of the world wants. Kim wants tangible gains while the only thing Trump wants is to say that he did what Obama couldn't and ended the conflict. He doesn't actually care how he achieves that, so long as he doesn't feel disrespected in the process.

Trump would sell the entire world away if it would get him a pat on the back from one of his favorite dictators. He spent his whole life motivated not by the desire to actually succeed, but by wanting to hang out with the big boy billionaires and have them acknowledge him as one of them. Now that ambition's shifted to the big boy dictators, but the drive remains the same.

So if you're holding out for something like, "Trump demands right to publicly spank Kim; talks fall apart," I wouldn't hold your breath. Kim is Trump's kind of people.

edited 10th Jun '18 10:11:11 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#245017: Jun 10th 2018 at 10:10:45 AM

[up]I think you're severely underestimating how incompetent and belligerent Trump is, he likes authoritarian rulers for as long as they're doing exactly what he wants. The second Kim tries to suggest something that is not complete capitulation to the US and Trump there's going to be a clash.

Does it mean that what you're describing is impossible? Of course not, but all the same I really don't think you should have that kind of certainty when Trump is involved.

A normal selfish person would behave exactly as you're describing but Trump is not a normal selfish person.

edited 10th Jun '18 10:11:20 AM by Fourthspartan56

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#245018: Jun 10th 2018 at 10:12:34 AM

Putin has never done exactly what Trump wants and Trump kneels down to kiss his ass at every possible opportunity.

Also, what "certainty"? I called this a possible outcome.

edited 10th Jun '18 10:14:19 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#245019: Jun 10th 2018 at 10:15:04 AM

Putin almost certainly has leverage on Trump, Kim does not. Look at his flip flopping on Xi/China.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#245020: Jun 10th 2018 at 10:19:14 AM

You mean like how he wants to hit China with a trade war to look good in front of his people but is also helping Chinese companies evade the trade war?

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
DrDougsh Since: Jan, 2001
#245021: Jun 10th 2018 at 10:19:52 AM

Trump won't have to do a ton to declare the summit with Kim a success. A photo-op with him and Kim shaking hands and smiling will be enough. As for practical gains in terms of denuclearisation, I don't expect much concrete gains. The most that might happen is a formal end being declared to the Korean War, which is really just formalizing the status quo that's been in effect for about seventy years.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#245022: Jun 10th 2018 at 10:21:40 AM

[up] Exactly. It would be painfully easy for Trump to walk away from this looking like a hero in front of his base for "finally ending the Korean War" and seeing his poll percentage rise.

The backlash over even suggesting such a thing is exactly what I'm talking about when I complain about the left's blind optimism. We keep having this conversation:

  • People: This is totally going to blow up in Trump's face and it'll be great. Can't wait to see how hard this hits him. Do you think this will be the scandal that finally sinks him once and for all?
  • Me: Guys, don't get too fixated on the idea that this is going to end badly for Trump. Here's a possible way he might actually come away from this with a win.
  • Someone: HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST WITH 100% CERTAINTY THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY TRUMP CAN LOSE THIS?!?! I DEMAND EVIDENCE THAT TRUMP'S VICTORY HERE IS 100% ASSURED!!! FUTURE HEADLINES OR STFU!!!

When the very suggestion that Trump might not be impeached tomorrow is met with hostility and overreaction, there is a very serious blind optimism problem going on. If you won't even condone the possibility of failure, you will never succeed in anything.

EDIT: ...did...did I same-time copy post glitch myself? The f*ck?

edited 10th Jun '18 10:23:06 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#245023: Jun 10th 2018 at 10:21:40 AM

[up] Exactly. It would be painfully easy for Trump to walk away from this looking like a hero in front of his base for "finally ending the Korean War" and seeing his poll percentage rise.

The backlash over even suggesting such a thing is exactly what I'm talking about when I complain about the left's blind optimism. We keep having this conversation:

  • People: This is totally going to blow up in Trump's face and it'll be great. Can't wait to see how hard this hits him. Do you think this will be the scandal that finally sinks him once and for all?
  • Me: Guys, don't get too fixated on the idea that this is going to end badly for Trump. Here's a possible way he might actually come away from this with a win.
  • Someone: HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST WITH 100% CERTAINTY THAT THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY TRUMP CAN LOSE THIS?!?! I DEMAND EVIDENCE THAT TRUMP'S VICTORY HERE IS 100% ASSURED!!! FUTURE HEADLINES OR STFU!!!

When the very suggestion that Trump might not be impeached tomorrow is met with hostility and overreaction, there is a very serious blind optimism problem going on. If you won't even condone the possibility of failure, you will never succeed in anything.

EDIT: ...did...did I same-time copy post glitch myself? The f*ck?

edited 10th Jun '18 10:23:06 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#245024: Jun 10th 2018 at 10:22:57 AM

[up][up][up][up]Bingo, just flattering him and being a dictator isn't enough, unless you have dirt on him Trump demands submission.

He's flipping out on Canada, the EU and Mexico not agreeing to be tributaries, despite all those governments giving more far more patience and good faith talking than he should have expected. He can't be bargained with, someone has to lose bigly.

Kim is probably hoping he can manipulate Trump into getting a favorable peace deal, but he's playing a dangerous game.

edited 10th Jun '18 10:24:09 AM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#245025: Jun 10th 2018 at 10:30:25 AM

Trump demands submission from other democratic world leaders. Again: I wouldn't expect his relationship with Angela Merkel or Justin Trudeau to be indicative of his relationship with Kim. Putin and Xi Jinping are the better examples there. And, like, I don't think the trade war is as much in your favor as you think it is.

  • Trump to the EU: F*ck you, trade wars for everyone. It's on, bitches!
  • Trump to Mexico and Canada: So, let's talk about how we can change NAFTA to be more in my favor. No? Fine. TRADE WARS FOR YOU TOO!!!
  • Trump to China: Okay, we have to do a trade war here too, but we can work with you. Let's talk about ZTE. I can get you some special exemptions and shit so it doesn't hurt you too bad. We still friends?

edited 10th Jun '18 10:30:45 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.

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