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Trump's Second Term

Trump 2.0 cannot be stopped - Republicans are too invested and scared, and Trump will keep the Super Rich sweet. He is perfectly willing to use any violence to crush peaceful protests and strikes.

The best thing to do is to make these fascists work for every gain, never acquiesce in advance and document everything they do.
Then, if an overwhelming majority of pissed off voters get rid of the regime, prosecute everyone who supported them with extreme prejudice and take all their assets - it's the only way they might learn for a while.
 
carlosy said:
Just out of curiosity, wouldn't it be totally in favor for the Dems if Canada joined the US, in terms of voting on election?
And would Canada join as one single big state or would it join with its multiple states?
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Trump implied a single (51st) state. Canada is slightly more populous than California so would be the biggest state bu still have only two senators. Quebec (population 9 million putting it as 12 or 13th most populous state, and dropping rest of Canada to 3rd between Texas and Florida) would probably insist on being a separate state with preservation of language rights, or go for independence.
 
carlosy said:
Just out of curiosity, wouldn't it be totally in favor for the Dems if Canada joined the US, in terms of voting on election?
And would Canada join as one single big state or would it join with its multiple states?
Click to expand...
On the other hand if things get more extreme in the US will we see the US West coast seeking to join Canada? Washington, Oregon and California might feel more comfortable in the Canadian federation, unless Mexico wants California back? This would then give Mexico and Canada a land border. The UK has the right to Greenland, and could then do a deal to incorporate it in His Majesty's Canadian territories just as happened to Newfoundland in 1949. Hawaii already has the British flag in its state flag, so would feel at home with BC.
 
Planigale said:
I think this is true. Most countries come to a deal after often years of negotiation to achieve something that is mutually acceptable. Most deals have agreements as to their modification and resolving disputes. The first Trump presidency, Trump withdrew from deals, refused to participate in previously agreed dispute resolution mechanisms, threatened to sanction persons involved in dispute resolution etc. But the Trump presidency was then seen as a one off. But he is back, and the assumption is that if 'Bully Diplomacy' is seen as successful by the US it will continue. Biden didn't reverse all of Trump's policies, even those he may have thought wrong (e.g. on Cuba). Bully diplomacy is likely to be successful for the US, bullies do get what they want. In future other countries will be reluctant to make deals with the US other than transient ones, as US policy will be seen as arbitrary and changeable, and entirely one sided. The country that will gain most is
China, countries will rather deal with a country that is seen as stable and consistent and follows international law. Even Russia will be seen as more consistent in its support for allies.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't count on China following international law on a consistent way, especially when they can (continue to) excuse their breaches behind USA's bad behaviour …
 
China is in the process of taking over the Liberal worldorder, which is set up to disproportionately give power to the richest and strongest economies - the US and Europe assumed it would always be them. On top of that China is spinning a web of international relationships that will provide the necessary local and Intergovernmental support for their actions, unlike the US or Russia.
China has no reason not to follow international law, because it favors them.
The US has already broken international law whenever it suits it, more often than China, so that's a race that's already lost.
 
Here's my current +/- file for the second Trump administration, in a spoiler since it's so large. Future posts on this will be a simple summary of the day's events and the overall score, which currently stands at -46.

I would like to include all executive orders in this list, but he's already issued 45 of them and I don't have the time to analyze and score them all. Are others in this thread willing to help?

The Second Presidency of Donald Trump: Actions Pro and Con

"Donald Trump got convicted of felonies, but it's the American people who will serve a four year sentence."

Scale:
-2 = Strong "Con:" (should happen rarely, primarily for illegal actions or actions strongly condemned internationally)
-1 = Con: something that could objectively harm people, or a comment that is objectively incorrect, stupid, racist, or demeaning
0 = Neutral: A normal action a president could take (will likely not see much use because presidents do stuff like this every day, such as attending ceremonies)
1 = Pro: something generally perceived as useful and can help people
2 = Strong "Pro:" Something praised by most US politicians, policy makers, and people outside the USA

Current Score: -46

1 February 2024
-1: New York Times, NPR, NBC, and Politico removed from Pentagon in favour of OANN, New York Post, Breitbart [8]
0: Press Secretary says "Jesus didn't have electricity either and he did just fine." (0: unsubstantiated rumour) [9]

31 January 2025
-2: Trump announces blanket 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, 10% from China (-2 due to scope of condemnation)
-1: Trump declares he wants most US government personnel to be working in the private sector instead [6]
-1: Administration fires 30 federal prosecutors that worked on the January 6 investigation
-1: Pentagon revokes the security detail and security clearance for retired general Mark Milley, who had criticised Trump
-1: Musk people running US government's human resources agency lock career civil servants out of computer systems
-1: Trump posts photo of Ottoquechee River in Vermont, claiming it would have prevented Los Angeles fires [7]

30 January 2025
-1: In the wake of a jet/helicopter crash that killed 67, Trump blames DEI in the FAA
-1: Trump pledges to deport non-citizen college students who took part in pro-Palestinian protests [1A be damned]

29 January 2025
+1: EO: "Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday"
+1: Trump rescinds funding freeze memo issued the day before
0: EO: "Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism" (Too early to tell)
-1: Elon Musk lies about astronauts stranded on the International Space Station. [5]

28 January 2025
-1: EO: "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation" (-1 for inflammatory language)
-1: Trump lies about the US military restoring water to Southern California [4]
-1: White House ties egg prices to Biden's "mass killing of 100 million chickens" — but doesn't mention bird flu
-1: Trump orders temporary funding freeze so organizations can be reviewed for compliance with EOs

25 January 2025
-1: Trump reiterates his claim that Greenland should be part of the United States [3]

24 January 2025
0: Trump calls for international companies to move production to the US or face tariffs
0: Trump administration memo requires only the US flag can be being flown at embassies and consulates
0: EO to re-establish the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (routine)
-1: Trump suggests Canada become US 51st state to avoid tariffs
-1: Trump misrepresents US/Canada trade deficit as $200-250 billion; it's $40.6 billion, and a lot of that is oil
-1: Trump demands NATO allies spend 5% of GDP on defence (most countries can't afford it; US is 3.2%)
-1: Trump: "We want to see OPEC cut the price of oil … automatically stop the tragedy that's taking place in Ukraine."
-1: Trump: "We're looking at the whole concept of FEMA ... I'd like to see the states take care of disasters."
-1: Trump: "If [Canada as 51st state] happened ... they [Canadians] would have much better health coverage." [1]
-1: Trump falsely claims California governor Newsom refused to provide water from up north to fight fires in Los Angeles.
-1: "I'm signing an executive order to open up the pumps and valves ... unlimited water coming up from the Pacific Northwest" [2]
-1: EO to revoke Biden EOs expanding women's rights to reproductive care
-1: Trump terminated Dr. Anthony Facui's security detail

23 January 2025
-1: Trump imposes a communications blackout across all federal health agencies, including the CDC, FDA, HHS, and NIH
-1: Trump says Ukraine should have surrendered to Russia and blames Zelenskyy for the war
+1: EO for the declassification of files related to the JFK, RFK, and MLK assassinations
0: EO to "develop AI systems that are free from ideological bias or engineered social agendas."
-1: On interest rates and why the Fed should listen to him: "I think I know interest rates much better than they do."
-1: Trump says the US doesn't need Canadian energy or cars (maybe not in the long term ...)
-1: Trump blasts the European regulators for "targeting" Apple, Google, and Meta
-1: Trump Administration axes newly created school safety board

22 January 2025
-1: In conversation with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Trump demanded Greenland be given to the US
-1: Trump orders all US government DEI personnel and hires to be placed on paid leave
-1: Trump pardons Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht

20 Jamuary 2025 (First day in office):
+1: EO to declare "Ansar Allah" a terrorist organization
0: EO creating the Department of Government Efficiency (impact currently unknown)
-1: Many Executive Orders (EOs) of 20 Jan are prefaced with text the condemns the Biden administration
-1: Rescinds 67 of Biden's 160 executive orders
-1: Rescinded EO to lower drug prices for people using Medicare and Medicade
-1: Trump pardons 1,500 people who served time in prison for January 6 (2021) attack on the Capitol
-1: EO to roll back protections for non-heterosexual people
-1: EO to roll back DEI (Diversity, Equitable, and Inclusion) hires in US government
-1: EO declaring the US government recognizes only male and female, and sex cannot be changed
-1: EO to pull the US out of the Paris Accord
-1: EO to pull the US out of the World Health Organization
-1: EO to rename the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America (IMHO, stupid)
-1: EO to restore the death penalty as "essential tool for deterring and punishing criminals"
-1: Trump appoints RFK Jr (conspiracy theorist and anti-vaxxer) to head the Department of Health and Human Services
-1: Elon Musk performs Nazi salute at the inauguration
-2: EO to lessen 14th amendment citizenship rights (several court challenges launched)

Footnotes

1. "I would love to see Canada be the 51st state. The Canadian citizens, if that happened, would get a very big tax cut – a tremendous tax cut – because they are very highly taxed. You wouldn't have to worry about the military. [That's actually true.] You wouldn't have to worry about many of the things. [Like what?] They'd have much better health coverage. [WTF?] I think the people of Canada would like it. [No. Just no.]"

2. "I'm signing an executive order to open up the pumps and valves in the north. We want to get that water pouring down here as quickly as possible ... you're talking about unlimited water coming up from the Pacific Northwest, even coming from parts of Canada." The truth: NO WATER flows from the PNW or Canada to California.

3. "I think we're going to have it... I think the people want to be with us... I don't really know what claim Denmark has to it, but it would be a very unfriendly act if they didn't allow that [a US purchase] to happen because it's for the protection of the free world.... I think Greenland we'll get because it has to do with freedom of the world... It has nothing to do with the United States other than that we're the one that can provide the freedom. They can't."

4. "The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. The days of putting a Fake Environmental argument, over the PEOPLE, are OVER. Enjoy the water, California!!!" The truth: The pumps had been offline for three days for maintenance, and had just been turned on again. Also, NO WATER flows from the PNW basins to California.

5. Musk: "The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long." The truth: The plan all along was to bring them home in the spring!

6. REPORTER: With your efforts to reduce the federal workforce, are there any concerns about protecting the public? TRUMP: "Everybody is replaceable. We want them to go to into the private sector. It's our dream to have everybody almost working in the private sector."

7. Trump: "Photo of beautiful water flow that I just opened in California. Today, 1.6 billion gallons and, in 3 days, it will be 5.2 billion gallons. Everybody should be happy about this long fought Victory! I only wish they listened to me six years ago – There would have been no fire!" pic.twitter.com/Oaz92ZeiTh

8. Musk: "Secretary Pete Hegseth has EVICTED the New York Times, NPR, NBC, and Politico from their Pentagon offices to make room for One America News Network, the New York Post, Breitbart News Network, and HuffPost." (OANN, NY Post and Beritbard are low quality news outlets.)

9. When asked about the tariff war between Canada and the United States after the Prime Minister of Canada has said he would consider cutting off electricity to America if Donald Trump continues to impose tariffs, Karoline Leaveitt, the White House press secretary replied, "They want you to panic, but President Trump wants you to remember Jesus didn't have electricity either and he did just fine." (This appears to be an unsubstantiated rumour spread on X.)
 
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Planigale said:
On the other hand if things get more extreme in the US will we see the US West coast seeking to join Canada? Washington, Oregon and California might feel more comfortable in the Canadian federation, unless Mexico wants California back? This would then give Mexico and Canada a land border.
The UK has the right to Greenland, and could then do a deal to incorporate it in His Majesty's Canadian territories just as happened to Newfoundland in 1949. Hawaii already has the British flag in its state flag, so would feel at home with BC.
Click to expand...
No it does not.
 
Blue Mountain said:
Here's my current +/- file for the second Trump administration, in a spoiler since it's so large. Future posts on this will be a simple summary of the day's events and the overall score, which currently stands at -46.

I would like to include all executive orders in this list, but he's already issued 45 of them and I don't have the time to analyze and score them all. Are others in this thread willing to help?
Click to expand...

I'm a bit lazy to go through all the EO's, too. With that said, I don't think I saw anything about USAID included, as one of the many horrible things that are getting left behind in the flood of other horrible things to report upon.

As a recent development there - USAID website goes offline in Trump administration’s 2-week-old freeze on foreign aid worldwide

There's a lot that can be said about how USAID has been an excellent tool to aid diplomacy efforts and increase the US' soft power, to keep the US safe by reducing negative emotions towards the US, to reduce the causes of terrorism and chaos worldwide, and so on.

That rather makes it all the more worthy of concern when, for example...

Trump Admin Forces Out USAID Official Who Refused to Comply With 'Illegal' Purge
A career official at the U.S. Agency for International Development said he was placed on leave after refusing an order to "violate the due process of our employees."

How much of that involves this claim by Stephan Miller is uncertain, incidentally -

"Well I'll give you an example," Miller retorted. "We looked at USAID as an example. Ninety-eight percent of the workforce donated to either Kamala Harris or another left-wing candidate."
Click to expand...

That's an exceedingly implausible claim, from the start, really, though it is possible. Trump and the forces that he stands for are pretty much actively hostile to what USAID works to do, after all, including things like actually reducing terrorism, and USAID employees realizing en masse that both they and what they value are in the crosshairs if the vile criminal won isn't a stretch at all.
 
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Elon on why DOGE are being so effective and winning against the Swamp.

Elon Musk
@elonmusk

DOGE is working 120 hour a week. Our bureaucratic opponents optimistically work 40 hours a week. That is why they are losing so fast.
Click to expand...
 
I suppose the amazing thing is, DOGE still has no authority to do what they do. Sure, trump signed an EO, but DOGE is currently operating area that requires an act of congress to permit.
 
If DOGE employees are Monday to Friday employees, 120 hours per week is 24 hours per day. If they are a seven day working week, that's just over 17 hours per day. And Muskrat has already said they will be paid paltry wages. If that's not slave labour by definition, I don't know what is.

Alternatively, he's a lying turd.

Guess which one I think it is! ;)
 
So about all those people who were apparently still thinking Trump really couldn't do that much damage... Lest we forget this still Month 1 of the Trump Presidency, so basically still four more years to go, barring an act of god, and I doubt Vance would be any sort of improvement.
 
Someone actually said in the pub "Canada needs the USA more than the USA needs them"

That was the same thing he said about Brexit and the UK.
 
Norman Alexander said:
If DOGE employees are Monday to Friday employees, 120 hours per week is 24 hours per day. If they are a seven day working week, that's just over 17 hours per day. And Muskrat has already said they will be paid paltry wages. If that's not slave labour by definition, I don't know what is.

Alternatively, he's a lying turd.

Guess which one I think it is! ;)
Click to expand...
False dilemma.
 
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