The Trump Presidency: Sweet/Sweat 16

[Horatius]

If you haven't seen this, please share and enjoy - even Russian TV is taking the piss out of Trump's love affair with Vlad:

https://thehill.com/policy/internat...uns-mashup-of-trump-singing-senorita-to-putin

"A Kremlin-backed TV station"

Anyone want to give odds on the chances that Putin not only knew about this in advance, he approved it?

To those still supporting Trump: This is what "Foreign leaders laughing at America" looks like. Putin is making it clear that Trump is his dog.

 

[ponderingturtle]

Only in as much as it affects his reelection.

And talk about ignorant, where does he think the magic money comes from when people are paid for the money they then lend out?

Russia of course.

 

[ponderingturtle]

"A Kremlin-backed TV station"

Anyone want to give odds on the chances that Putin not only knew about this in advance, he approved it?

If he didn't I predict a number of TV personalities and managers will be having unexplained poisonings.

 

[Horatius]

If he didn't I predict a number of TV personalities and managers will be having unexplained poisonings.

A fact, of which I'm sure they're all much more aware. Which is why I'd bet good money on Putin being so far in the loop he could use it as a hula-hoop.

 

[jimbob]

Party institutions, however, are pumping out a lot of hawkish commentary.
The U.S. is insisting on some tariffs remaining in order to "keep China committed to delivering any concessions made." This is an absolutely untenable position given the mood of the party, described as "a subversive historical error” in an article from People's Daily, a party publication. While Trump is talking about how good things are going, as long as that chip is still on the table, the next move is going to be more retaliatory tariffs on Dec. 15th.

ETA: Trump clearly has no understanding at all of how to do business in the east. You can't dance around proclaiming how you just screwed the other person over, they will feel they have to 'save face' and demonstrate their independence and strength.

The highlighted

And of course, China has put tariffs on goods that have easy alternative sources, and which are in Trump's heartland, whilst the US has put tariffs on goods that are far harder to get from elsewhere, at least at a similar price.

https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/652567-2019-07/

Chinese exports of tariff-hit goods to the US dropped 14% or $18 billion – representing 3% of China’s total annual shipments to the U.S.

American exports of tariff-hit goods to China dropped 38%, or $23 billion – representing 15% of America’s annual exports to China.

Chinese tariffs on US goods mainly hit agricultural and fisheries products and fossil fuels that could be easily purchased from other countries,

China’s exports to the U.S. are niche products that cannot easily be supplied by other countries at similar cost.

It's almost as though Trump is out of his depth.

 

[Stacyhs]

Trump Tweets

We are doing very well in our negotiations with China. While I am sure they would love to be dealing with a new administration so they could continue their practice of “ripoff USA”($600 B/year),16 months PLUS is a long time to be hemorrhaging jobs and companies on a long-shot....

....And then, think what happens to China when I win. Deal would get MUCH TOUGHER! In the meantime, China’s Supply Chain will crumble and businesses, jobs and money will be gone!

That line says it all: when I win. That is his mindset. It's all about him "winning". Egomaniac.

 

[ponderingturtle]

That line says it all: when I win. That is his mindset. It's all about him "winning". Egomaniac.

Yea that was always the point. It is all always about proving his greatness.

 

[Stacyhs]

Yea that was always the point. It is all always about proving his greatness.

He's like Charlie Sheen when he was having his break down. Except this is normal for Trump and Sheen got better.

 

[Horatius]

And of course, China has put tariffs on goods that have easy alternative sources, and which are in Trump's heartland, whilst the US has put tariffs on goods that are far harder to get from elsewhere, at least at a similar price.

And another factor in China's flavor: While looking for new markets and new suppliers, China is not in a trade war with anyone else, while Trump has been slapping tariffs on many other countries, limiting the US choices for finding non-tariff alternatives to China.

 

[Ladewig]

Yea that was always the point. It is all always about proving his greatness.

Apparent a win-win outcome is for losers.

 

[ponderingturtle]

Apparent a win-win outcome is for losers.

Exactly once you learn the art of the deal you know that business is always a zero sum game. You lose if you pay your contractors for example.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Trump Tweets

Based on the IG Report, the whole Witch Hunt against me and my administration was a giant and illegal SCAM. The House of Representatives should now get back to work on drug prices, healthcare, infrastructure and all else. The Mueller Report showed No Collusion, No Obstruction!

 

[Andy_Ross]

Trump Tweets

The incompetent Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was bothered that I played a very fast round of golf yesterday. Many Pols exercise for hours, or travel for weeks. Me, I run through one of my courses (very inexpensive). President Obama would fly to Hawaii. Kahn should focus on....

....”knife crime,” which is totally out of control in London. People are afraid to even walk the streets. He is a terrible mayor who should stay out of our business!

 

[dudalb]

Apparent a win-win outcome is for losers.

Exactly. A Win Win solution is simply foreign to Trump's mentality.

 

[rdaneel]

Exactly. A Win Win solution is simply foreign to Trump's mentality.

I sometimes think that Republicans in general would rather take a Lose/Lose than even conceive of the prospect of anyone else getting even the smallest of win.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

I can't find a decent answer as to how fast a "very fast round" actually is but I found this on HuffPo: Trump Defends His Golf Habit In Angry Tweets At London Mayor

Trump on Friday suggested he would spend all of the next day monitoring the storm at Camp David. Instead, he spent hours playing golf at his private club in Virginia. He returned to the golf course on Monday for another game.

IIRC Trump keeps the press away from his golfing so no one can publish pictures or know exactly how much time he's on the course.

Probably doesn't want any more fat-ass pics like the one in the link.

You'd think the press would be reporting on more criticism coming from the US. Why does the London Mayor seem like the main source of criticism?

 

[dudalb]

Actually, I think it's because he does not want people to see what a lousy golfer he is.
As someone who has been golfing for over 20 years,based on the footage we have of Trump golfing, Trump is a duffer if ever I saw one.

 

[a_unique_person]

I sometimes think that Republicans in general would rather take a Lose/Lose than even conceive of the prospect of anyone else getting even the smallest of win.

That is their strategy. Any win for the other side is a loss for their side. Therefore lose/lose is the preferred option.

 

[rdaneel]

That is their strategy. Any win for the other side is a loss for their side. Therefore lose/lose is the preferred option.

Yeah, In hindsight, I'm not even sure why I said I "sometimes" think that. It's like saying I sometimes think water is wet.

 

[Checkmite]

Hopefully at some point he'll start to realize he's doing more harm than good to the economy.

The realization isn't good enough, because Trump's response to definitive proof that he's wrong is to double-down on the false information in defiance of reality and dismiss the evidence as "fake news".

Case in point: On Sunday, Trump wrongly stated that Alabama was at risk of damage from Hurricane Dorian. After the National Weather Service made clear to the public that Alabama was nowhere near the projected path, Trump asserted that FEMA had told him otherwise and reiterated again that Alabama was in danger even after the NWS's correction.