U.S. Politics megathread (merged)

[Jambo-Jimbo]

1 hour ago, bobsharp said:

So the President of the United States freely, and it seems with some pride admits that he deliberately lied to the Prime Minister of Canada. Discussions were being had regarding trade between the two countrys. Trump made the statement that Canada was treating the United States very badly  and had a big advantage in the Trade deficiit. He was told that was not true but stuck to his story. The fact is Canada has the deficit, except in the areas of steel and lumber where they have the edge.

 

Trump last night in a talk to supporters admitted he had lied about the facts, stating he had no idea what the situation was, he notoriously does not read briefing books and is limited in preparation practises for public speaking, just an excellent way to prepare for talks with North Koreas, am I the only one who suspects Kim will accuse him of lying at some stage, and state you admit you do it. 

 

 

More likely Kim will run rings around Trump and show him up for the ignorant Ill-educated buffoon he is.

 

[Jambo 4 Ever]

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/2018/02/21/florida-house-approves-bill-to-post-in-god-we-trust-in-all-public-schools/

[Watt-Zeefuik]

McMaster out apparently.

 

Bolton up for consideration. If you value peace at all, cross your fingers and hope it's not him. He was one of the biggest warmongers in GWB's admin.

[Jambo-Jimbo]

54 minutes ago, Ugly American said:

McMaster out apparently.

 

Bolton up for consideration. If you value peace at all, cross your fingers and hope it's not him. He was one of the biggest warmongers in GWB's admin.

 

Funny you mention Bolton.

 

I seen an interview with him on Sky News in the UK yesterday, he was being interviewed about the US response to the nerve agent attack, anyway at the end of the interview he was asked if he was to be the new National Security Advisor, his reply was 'No Comment' then added to the interviewer 'And you know what that means' with a sly grin on his face.

 

[Watt-Zeefuik]

26 minutes ago, Jambo-Jimbo said:

 

Funny you mention Bolton.

 

I seen an interview with him on Sky News in the UK yesterday, he was being interviewed about the US response to the nerve agent attack, anyway at the end of the interview he was asked if he was to be the new National Security Advisor, his reply was 'No Comment' then added to the interviewer 'And you know what that means' with a sly grin on his face.

 

 

I am really worried that with all the chaos, the Stormy Daniels thing, the fall in the stock market, and everything else that's making Trump feel weak, that he thinks he needs a good war to make him look tough.

 

And if he's looking for a war and some kind of national security justification for waging it, Bolton is exactly the man to find one for him.

[Bindy Badgy]

Another dignified tweet from The

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43439066

[Justin Z]

Ex-four star general with a significantly more dignified tweet . . .

 

 

[Sharpie]

Where is it all going to end, the United States of America is being led by an egotistical, liar, draft doging adulterer, and most frightening of all warmonger.

 

When in a leadership role one has to do things that are less than pleasant one of these is terminating an employee.  The hard part is looking said employee in the eye and telling them that there employment is terminated, this is generally by most managers carried out in as dignified and respectful manner as possible. Trump had McRae fired at 10'00pm Friday night, a man with over 21 years service, and in a senior role, who would qualify on retirement with a pension on Sunday. He has fired numerous persons since taking office and has not looked one in the eye. As well as his other non attributes he is a coward,

 

 I will be criticised for using that terrible word,  unfortunately I can use no other description for a man who challenges nuclear armed countries to fight, when he himself other than authorising the use of young American lives to die for their Country will be afforded the safest of places during hostilities not withstanding the fact that when he had the opportuniy to do so he got medical dispensations for bone spurs.

 

He lies to the Canadian Prime Minister, he lies that he did not have an affair with a porn star, in fact he has lied so often that the population now almost accept it and say oh its only Trump, thats how he is. I have so often adjudged him as stupid, but he is acually quite shrewd,  to avoid confrontation on one front he deflects by creating another front, some have described it as a web of deceipt, the danger is one false move and you get caught in your own web, or worse possibly in the one being spun by his friend Putin.

 

When making an expressionn of disgust on the election thread one time, a fellow JKBer as ked why the f... do you care Bob you don't even live in the Country, so true at the time, but now he has definitely put the world at risk, and shockingly there is no ,end of this nonsense in sight.

 

 

 

[Jambo-Jimbo]

2 hours ago, Justin Z said:

Ex-four star general with a significantly more dignified tweet . . .

 

 

 

Refusing to protect vital US interests from ACTIVE Russian attacks.

 

Now there is a story for the MSM to get their teeth into.

[Watt-Zeefuik]

Whatever it is all this is headed towards, it seems to be accelerating.

 

I wish I were more optimistic about how this ends.

[Cade]

On the Stormy Daniels affair case:

""Her suit asks the court to decide whether a contract requiring her silence is valid. The contract is anonymized, meaning that both parties in the contract are referred to by pseudonyms (Stormy is PP and Trump is allegedly DD).
 This leaves Trump with two options:
 Deny that he is DD. This means that Stormy is fully within her rights to release all of the photos and text messages that Trump denied the existence of. These were apparently damning enough to merit $130,000 in hush money.
 Assert that he is DD and is entitled to all the protections in the contract. While this might prevent her from releasing the material, it will essentially confirm (a) that he and/or Michael Cohen committed campaign finance violations and (b) that they set up LLCs to conceal crimes.

Another point is that adultery is a crime in NY state. If Trump owns the contract, then the contract is potentially voidable, because you can't contract to cover up a crime. It's gorgeous.
 If that makes whatever prenup trump and Meliana void, what's the odds she divorces him in the next couple of months?
 Let's take it another step: If she still gets half of everything anyway (or some portion, at least) because he voided the ‘contract’, we’ll also end up with some kind of public reckoning of his finances.""
 

[Maple Leaf]

4 minutes ago, Cade said:

On the Stormy Daniels affair case:

""Her suit asks the court to decide whether a contract requiring her silence is valid. The contract is anonymized, meaning that both parties in the contract are referred to by pseudonyms (Stormy is PP and Trump is allegedly DD).
 This leaves Trump with two options:
 Deny that he is DD. This means that Stormy is fully within her rights to release all of the photos and text messages that Trump denied the existence of. These were apparently damning enough to merit $130,000 in hush money.
 Assert that he is DD and is entitled to all the protections in the contract. While this might prevent her from releasing the material, it will essentially confirm (a) that he and/or Michael Cohen committed campaign finance violations and (b) that they set up LLCs to conceal crimes.

Another point is that adultery is a crime in NY state. If Trump owns the contract, then the contract is potentially voidable, because you can't contract to cover up a crime. It's gorgeous.
 If that makes whatever prenup trump and Meliana void, what's the odds she divorces him in the next couple of months?
 Let's take it another step: If she still gets half of everything anyway (or some portion, at least) because he voided the ‘contract’, we’ll also end up with some kind of public reckoning of his finances.""
 

 

Yet another sordid episode in the life of a very sordid conman.  

 

But Trump is the new Teflon man; nothing seems to stick to him, so I won't be surprised if he wriggles his way out of this too.  After all, he survived the "I just grab them by the pussy" affair, so he will likely survive the Stormy Daniels affair too. 

[Sharpie]

Trump yesterday admitted he is the DD if I remember David Dennison, in the  agreement, it is also reported that everyone he hires or appoints at the White House has to sign a non disclosure agreement, apparently it was the same when he was in business. He is also causing great chagrin in that he is contemplating against all advice firing Mueller, some suggest he has reached a point of being so angry, that he will put the rope around his own neck by a stupid action. Despite all this his core group still feel he is right for the job and doing a good job.

[Maple Leaf]

1 hour ago, bobsharp said:

Trump yesterday admitted he is the DD if I remember David Dennison, in the  agreement, it is also reported that everyone he hires or appoints at the White House has to sign a non disclosure agreement, apparently it was the same when he was in business. He is also causing great chagrin in that he is contemplating against all advice firing Mueller, some suggest he has reached a point of being so angry, that he will put the rope around his own neck by a stupid action. Despite all this his core group still feel he is right for the job and doing a good job.

Non Disclosure Agreements or Confidentiality Agreements were common when I was in  business, so that doesn't surprise me.  In fact, I would have been surprised if they had NOT been there.

 

The potential firing of Mueller is an interesting one.  Everyone says that such an action would cause a "constitutional crisis", whatever that means.  All I know is that Trump dodges every bullet that is fired his way, so I doubt that the prospect of a constitutional crisis will deter him in the slightest.

[Sharpie]

1 hour ago, Maple Leaf said:

Non Disclosure Agreements or Confidentiality Agreements were common when I was in  business, so that doesn't surprise me.  In fact, I would have been surprised if they had NOT been there.

 

The potential firing of Mueller is an interesting one.  Everyone says that such an action would cause a "constitutional crisis", whatever that means.  All I know is that Trump dodges every bullet that is fired his way, so I doubt that the prospect of a constitutional crisis will deter him in the slightest.

 

I guess I had something similar in my record but never knew it as such,Official Secrets Act for sure, I mentioned it because last night one of the commentators reported that it was the first time a President had required this.

[scott herbertson]

NDAs are pretty common, especially when you feel the em0oyee may have some bad (and true) things to say about you or your business.

 

personally I feel they should be capable of being overridden eg you should be able to disclose criminal activity with the caveat you would need evidence to back that up. Also evidenced cases of bullying or discrimination should not be subject to NDAs. 

 

Youd have to have some protection for the employer to prevent false and malicious revenge actions - eg right to countersue is evidence is not sufficient.

[Jambo-Jimbo]

6 hours ago, Cade said:

On the Stormy Daniels affair case:

""Her suit asks the court to decide whether a contract requiring her silence is valid. The contract is anonymized, meaning that both parties in the contract are referred to by pseudonyms (Stormy is PP and Trump is allegedly DD).
 This leaves Trump with two options:
 Deny that he is DD. This means that Stormy is fully within her rights to release all of the photos and text messages that Trump denied the existence of. These were apparently damning enough to merit $130,000 in hush money.
 Assert that he is DD and is entitled to all the protections in the contract. While this might prevent her from releasing the material, it will essentially confirm (a) that he and/or Michael Cohen committed campaign finance violations and (b) that they set up LLCs to conceal crimes.

Another point is that adultery is a crime in NY state. If Trump owns the contract, then the contract is potentially voidable, because you can't contract to cover up a crime. It's gorgeous.
 If that makes whatever prenup trump and Meliana void, what's the odds she divorces him in the next couple of months?
 Let's take it another step: If she still gets half of everything anyway (or some portion, at least) because he voided the ‘contract’, we’ll also end up with some kind of public reckoning of his finances.""
 

 

Seems Stormy Daniels took a lie detector test in 2011 concerning this matter, and she had a 99% probability that she was telling the truth.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/lie-detector-test-shows-stormy-daniels-truthful-about-trump-affair-n858281

 

From a couple of weeks ago, and is linked in the above article.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-tries-silence-stormy-daniels-n854646

[Sharpie]

Trump and Joe Biden having a Twitter battle, Joe Biden saying at a meeting that when he was at High School if Trump had shown the disrespect for women he now does he would have taken him, round the back of the gym and whipped him.  Trum,p responds that Biden would in a fight with him go down knocked cold.  Can you imagine this is two men who could possibly be competing for the Presidency in 2018.

[redjambo]

1 hour ago, bobsharp said:

Trump and Joe Biden having a Twitter battle, Joe Biden saying at a meeting that when he was at High School if Trump had shown the disrespect for women he now does he would have taken him, round the back of the gym and whipped him.  Trum,p responds that Biden would in a fight with him go down knocked cold.  Can you imagine this is two men who could possibly be competing for the Presidency in 2018.

 

Have you ever watched the film Idiocracy?

 

We're so heading in that direction...

[Maple Leaf]

3 hours ago, bobsharp said:

Trump and Joe Biden having a Twitter battle, Joe Biden saying at a meeting that when he was at High School if Trump had shown the disrespect for women he now does he would have taken him, round the back of the gym and whipped him.  Trum,p responds that Biden would in a fight with him go down knocked cold.  Can you imagine this is two men who could possibly be competing for the Presidency in 2018.

 

That public display is beyond embarrassing.  Two old men acting like daft teenagers.

[peter_hmfc]

Not long before DonDons asking around for a scrap round the back of the Wheatfield.

[Maple Leaf]

Trump has just announced trade tariffs against China, and China is threatening to retaliate.

 

The stock markets have gone into a tailspin at the prospect of a trade war.  

 

Trump's attempt to address the large trade deficit with China are laudable, but stock markets don't like uncertainty, so things could get messy.

[milky_26]

4 hours ago, bobsharp said:

Trump and Joe Biden having a Twitter battle, Joe Biden saying at a meeting that when he was at High School if Trump had shown the disrespect for women he now does he would have taken him, round the back of the gym and whipped him.  Trum,p responds that Biden would in a fight with him go down knocked cold.  Can you imagine this is two men who could possibly be competing for the Presidency in 2018.

they could settle it the same way as these two senators

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43498707

[Sharpie]

So another Secretary has resigned McMaster, who it has been speculated for a long time is going, to be replaced by John Bolton a reputed hardliner, who shares lots   of beliefs with Trump.  I did hear on one report that he, Bolton, is  wanting to end the Iran deal, and is going to take on Russia about election interference, how that will go down with Trump who up to now has not wanted to upset Russia in any manner. They are really strange times to live in, so many things that could escalate to war or serious threat of such, and the Commander in Chief who is questionable mentally, is surrounding himself with persons who it seems do or will agree with him, all while a bevy of porn stars hookers and playmates are talking about their affairs, with Trump, and he is going to sue them, and they are going to sue him, and still people say they will vote for him because he is doing such a good job, and the Bible Belters  say he is not all bad and their god is very forgiving.I have a problem seeing how a soldier, not a general just a get in the front line and fight my battles can do so for a man who draft dodged when it was his turn and has the temerity to call a real hero a coward.

[Watt-Zeefuik]

32 minutes ago, bobsharp said:

So another Secretary has resigned McMaster, who it has been speculated for a long time is going, to be replaced by John Bolton a reputed hardliner, who shares lots   of beliefs with Trump.  I did hear on one report that he, Bolton, is  wanting to end the Iran deal, and is going to take on Russia about election interference, how that will go down with Trump who up to now has not wanted to upset Russia in any manner. They are really strange times to live in, so many things that could escalate to war or serious threat of such, and the Commander in Chief who is questionable mentally, is surrounding himself with persons who it seems do or will agree with him, all while a bevy of porn stars hookers and playmates are talking about their affairs, with Trump, and he is going to sue them, and they are going to sue him, and still people say they will vote for him because he is doing such a good job, and the Bible Belters  say he is not all bad and their god is very forgiving.I have a problem seeing how a soldier, not a general just a get in the front line and fight my battles can do so for a man who draft dodged when it was his turn and has the temerity to call a real hero a coward.

 

Bolton will be looking for a war to fight. He always is.

 

The Sanders-Lee resolution might have slowed that down but McConnell managed to kill it.

[JamboX2]

36 minutes ago, Ugly American said:

 

Bolton will be looking for a war to fight. He always is.

 

The Sanders-Lee resolution might have slowed that down but McConnell managed to kill it.

 

So hot headed even Chenney and Rumsfield were wary of his advice.

 

Hates the UN and it's Charter.

 

Hates the Iran deal and frankly Iran - in Fire and Fury it quotes friends of Bolton who say his thinking is there is no greater evil than Ayatollah.

 

Thinks NATO is a hindrance if it doesn't fall in behind the States.

 

Thoroughly lovely chap though. Makes his own jam.

[Watt-Zeefuik]

56 minutes ago, JamboX2 said:

 

So hot headed even Chenney and Rumsfield were wary of his advice.

 

Hates the UN and it's Charter.

 

Hates the Iran deal and frankly Iran - in Fire and Fury it quotes friends of Bolton who say his thinking is there is no greater evil than Ayatollah.

 

Thinks NATO is a hindrance if it doesn't fall in behind the States.

 

Thoroughly lovely chap though. Makes his own jam.

Yep. I'm thoroughly depressed about this whole thing.

 

 

[SpruceBringsteen]

The brain donor cultists that voted for him did so on a "no more wars" platform.

 

Well golly gee gosh if that mindset won't change overnight Billy Bob. Cretins.

[Watt-Zeefuik]

After a 14 months of this insanity I should really be used to it, but every time I think that something more ridiculous happens.

 

The government is at risk of shutting down. After a bitter and protracted fight in Congress, we finally have a spending bill which will carry us the rest of the fiscal year, which is only through September.

 

Trump is threatening to veto it because it does address the DACA problem.

 

If this doesn't seem ridiculous to you, remember that DACA is only a problem BECAUSE HE PERSONALLY CANCELLED THE DACA PROGRAM.

[Maple Leaf]

John Bolton has been brought in as Trump's new national Security Adviser.  That should worry anyone who thinks that war is a bad thing.

 

With Bolton's hawkish attitude added to Trump's unpredictability, a war with Iran or North Korea is now a greater possibility.  

[Watt-Zeefuik]

Okay we now know why Trump sent his budget veto tweet.

 

Probably because he was watching the dingbats on Fox and Friends at the time.

 

God help us all.

 

 

 

[Sharpie]

The general consensus on MSM seems to be that Trump is abandoning any middle of the road policy and policy makers, the appointment of Bolton a key example.  Here is a man that is willing to if he feels it is needed enter wars with Iran, Iraq,N.Korea, what surprises me is how easy it is for people , on the media, and anywhere else to discuss quietly and calmly the possibility of war.  On another thread a participant opined quite rightly that the spectacle of men charging at each other into heavy fire was archaic.  Is it a feeling that for example with N.Korea any war would quite possibly become nuclear, and as such more acceptable because less archaic. The fact that one rocket with a nuclear payload can go into early space travel to an area and release a missile totally undetected that could kill millions.  One of the main perpetrators of this war if it happened would be President Donald Trump, who other than whilst in a military school never wore a uniform, I don't know Boltons background but I do know his predecessor was a three star general, who wore a Silver Star medal for bravery in combat, and he when in the position was not an advocate of using war as a threat.  So here we have a draft dodger, who is a serious advocate of aggression, who on declaration of war will run to his pre prepared shelter, and hide again from the action.  What is it they say the more we ignore the mistakes of history the more we repeat them.

Edited March 23, 2018 by bobsharp

[John Findlay]

I am going to make a bold statement. As long as Donald Trump is the president of the USA, the USA will not declare war on another nation.

[Maple Leaf]

21 minutes ago, John Findlay said:

I am going to make a bold statement. As long as Donald Trump is the president of the USA, the USA will not declare war on another nation.

 

Interesting thought, John.  But I have to point out that there's a difference between "declaring" war and "waging" war.  Trump might well not declare war, but will he wage it?

 

For example, I think the last time the Americans declared war was against Japan in 1941.  Since then they have fought wars in Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Kuwait, Iraq,and Afghanistan.  It's obvious that he can attack Iran or North Korea without any declaration of war.

[redjambo]

57 minutes ago, Maple Leaf said:

 

Interesting thought, John.  But I have to point out that there's a difference between "declaring" war and "waging" war.  Trump might well not declare war, but will he wage it?

 

For example, I think the last time the Americans declared war was against Japan in 1941.  Since then they have fought wars in Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Kuwait, Iraq,and Afghanistan.  It's obvious that he can attack Iran or North Korea without any declaration of war.

 

Spot on. I was going to post this too. An "intervention" doesn't need a declaration.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_the_United_States

 

 

[redjambo]

Compare the link in my previous post against official US declarations of war (which only Congress is authorised to make):

 

https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/h_multi_sections_and_teasers/WarDeclarationsbyCongress.htm

[Maple Leaf]

I'm looking forward to the CNN interview this evening with Stormy Daniels.  She and her lawyer have made it clear that they're not about to be intimidated by Trump's threats and bluster.  It should make for interesting viewing.  

 

What will it take for all these "family values" hypocrites in the Republican party to say, enough is enough?  Trump is facing multiple charges of sexual assault, multiple accusations of extra-marital affairs, and is twice divorced.  VP Mike Spence, whose attitudes about marriage and fidelity are so severe than he makes the Puritans look like sexual deviants, stands by his man in every picture you see of them together.  What a hypocrite.  

[shaun.lawson]

10 minutes ago, Maple Leaf said:

What will it take for all these "family values" hypocrites in the Republican party to say, enough is enough?  

 

Nothing. Because politics in 2018 aren't about principle or policy. Instead, they're about winning - my side, right or wrong - and especially "triggering" the losers.

 

No regard for the impact on millions and millions. No pause for reflection about the lives being destroyed, or even the economic madness of Trump or of Brexit. None of that. Blah blah STFU Hillary blah blah look at those triggered Remoaners blah blah stop talking the country down blah blah Make America Great Again Donny blah blah Soros is pulling the strings blah blah. 

 

Facts don't matter. Even feelings scarcely matter. The only thing that matters is power, at whatever cost. 

[shaun.lawson]

 

[scott herbertson]

24 minutes ago, shaun.lawson said:

 

Hey Shaun,

 

Since when were you back?

 

[shaun.lawson]

36 minutes ago, scott herbertson said:

Hey Shaun,

 

Since when were you back?

 

 

Since a couple of hours ago. 

[peter_hmfc]

36 minutes ago, shaun.lawson said:

 

Since a couple of hours ago. 

 

[Jambo-Jimbo]

1 hour ago, shaun.lawson said:

 

 

Absolutely spot on, the hypocrisy of Fox news is outstanding there, especially that sorry excuse for a human being Hannity.

[jake]

I'm confused by the posters views on here.

 

One minute trump soft on Russia.

Next a warmonger.

 

Hates the UN 

Hates certain parts of middle East.

 

Are we just all ignoring recent history cause it disnae suit our dogma.

 

Is this a student forum for free school dinners.

[Watt-Zeefuik]

58 minutes ago, jake said:

I'm confused by the posters views on here.

 

One minute trump soft on Russia.

Next a warmonger.

 

Hates the UN 

Hates certain parts of middle East.

 

Are we just all ignoring recent history cause it disnae suit our dogma.

 

Is this a student forum for free school dinners.

 

You do realize that the Obama policy on Russia was diplomatic and economic isolation and did not involve, you know, war?

 

That the reportedly the thing that put Putin over the edge and made them go after US elections was economic sanctions in response to the poisoning assassination of a dissident? 

 

So yes, Trump has been soft on Russia in that he's refused, largely to implement sanctions that he was required by Congress to implement, and also that he could start a war in Iran (a war John Bolton, his new national security chief, has long publicly advocated for).

[shaun.lawson]

Full Stormy Daniels transcript here:

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stormy-daniels-describes-her-alleged-affair-with-donald-trump-60-minutes-interview/

[jake]

So the biggest manoevre of western troops in eastern Europe was a lie.

 

And your counter argument is reportedly ?

By whom.

 

Conspiracy tin foil hat stuff.

[Watt-Zeefuik]

2 minutes ago, jake said:

So the biggest manoevre of western troops in eastern Europe was a lie.

 

And your counter argument is reportedly ?

By whom.

 

Conspiracy tin foil hat stuff.

 

What the hell are you talking about?

[jake]

5 minutes ago, Ugly American said:

 

What the hell are you talking about?

The movement of ground forces in Europe towards Russia in Obama's reign.

Who reprtedly assumed the thing that put Putin over the edge.

 

?

[Ulysses]

22 minutes ago, Ugly American said:

 

What the hell are you talking about?

 

He's hammered, and anyway he's off topic.