TRUMP IS A See you next Tuesday

[hibbybilly]

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At least we wont lose the Scottish Cup tae him in May.

 

[jetsam1]

Really, he is now openly threatening anyone who is against him, personally, taking Greenland with further tariffs. This is now getting to a dangerous point. I am not convinced that the US military will think about their orders, just follow because somehow everyone seems either terrified of him or caught up in some weird cult we normally associate with Stalin or a host of dictators over the years and not a President of the USA.

He is really determined to get into a shooting match with Europe. What for? How bad must the Epstein files actually be? Because there has to be a rationale behind all of this surely? The person in charge of the biggest military in the world and all those nuclear missiles can't simply be an ignorant, senile multiple criminal only driven by personal greed and whatever was whispered into his ear within the last 5 minutes? Surrounded by sychophants and backed by a deeply concerning mix of tech bros and evangelical christians of the most mental kind.

Well, humanity has had sort of an ok run. Barely made it past the 200,000 year mark.

I do hope none of the above actually happens and some sanity prevails. But the world seems to be trapped in some kind of doom spiral where it is going to be more and more difficult to level off at any point unless someone actually stands up to the bully. But as we all know the bullies generally win.

The USA could cover Greenland in military bases completely legally and Denmark would go "yeah, ok". It is like Stephen Miller is absolutely desperate for an ICE agent to be killed to allow him to fully enact his fantasies. ICE already looks more like a militia than anything else.

There was nothing "special" or "different" about the population of Germany through the 1930s and what happened should make people just be careful as history tells us that it is not that hard to get ordinary people to behave with extraordinary cruelty and commit anything for authority.

 

[emerald green]

Trump's given rationale is that Denmark cannot defend Greenland, which is becoming increasingly strategic important, from the Russians or Chinese. By extension nor can Europe defend Denmark and Greenland from them or from him.

Now he has other motives as well, no doubt, but his given rationale is in itself true.

If Europe was militarily capable, this argument would be sunk. While, as you imply, he would have military superiority anyway, he would also be looking at a Ukraine style quagmire to take Greenland from Europe.

I think engaging in such a war with Europe simply to pockle resources - ie without the defence rationale - would be too hard a sell even for him.

At the end of the day, who knows, but at minimum Europe's neglect of its responsibilities has given him a pretext.

His rationale is not true. Let me ken when China and russia have been hanging about Greenland.....

 

[Bossie]

It's quite sad that the MAGAs of a European background are now supportive of economic warfare with their relatives in the old countries.

 

[egb_hibs]

His rationale is not true. Let me ken when China and russia have been hanging about Greenland.....

Exaggerated as ever, but both the Danish Foreign Minister in Archie's article, and their Arctic commander here, recognise its a coming issue

Denmark's Arctic commander says focus is on Russia, not U.S., amid security concerns

Denmark's Joint Arctic Command in Greenland is focused on countering potential Russian activity, not defending against U.S. military threats, its head Major General Soren Andersen said on Friday, amid renewed attention on the Arctic region.

www.reuters.com

 

[1 Mcnamara]

Separated out from all the verbiage, can anyone answer this question:

Why would America care about Europe as it now is, more than any other distant and random corner of the globe?

It’s always been the case the Europe ( and to a greater extent UK) has been Americas bitch. But now he is treating us like a bitch.
Oh, we all know the big bully nation could survive for a long time without any friends. But do the American people really want to be disliked by the rest of the world. I know Trump dosent give 2, but a lot of Americans have a connection with Europe. If he carries on like his, and carries out his threats, they could be ( and should be) black balled from sporting events. Americans could be unwelcome in many places.
I believe Trump has moved a lot of aircraft to the UK to attack Iran, so maybe he does need us a little more than he should.
They certainly must have put a lot of pressure on Blair to persuade us to send our children to kill and be killed on their behalf. They certainly didn’t appear to want to do it on their own.
Personally, I do not think he is very intelligent in the slightest. A self obsessed maniac who dosent care or realise the amount of damage he could cause.
He never comes over as “ normal,” or honest or sincere or particularly clued up about what he’s banging on about.
Somebody at some point has to stand up to him, being his scaredy cat friend dosent seem to count for much anyway.

 

[egb_hibs]

It's quite sad that the MAGAs of a European background are now supportive of economic warfare with their relatives in the old countries.

Those links have been substantially eroded and the yanks are pretty clear thats among their concerns. Their 'relatives' will be a minority here in a few decades and similar elsewhere. Cultural ties even more weakened.

 

[Findlayhibby]

It's a coming issue? Are they trying to see who comes first?

 

[Bossie]

Those links have been substantially eroded and the yanks are pretty clear thats among their concerns. Their 'relatives' will be a minority here in a few decades and similar elsewhere. Cultural ties even more weakened.

This is to do with the here and now, and I'm not sure how your future muslim republic fits.

 

[egb_hibs]

It’s always been the case the Europe ( and to a greater extent UK) has been Americas bitch. But now he is treating us like a bitch.
Oh, we all know the big bully nation could survive for a long time without any friends. But do the American people really want to be disliked by the rest of the world. I know Trump dosent give 2, but a lot of Americans have a connection with Europe. If he carries on like his, and carries out his threats, they could be ( and should be) black balled from sporting events. Americans could be unwelcome in many places.
I believe Trump has moved a lot of aircraft to the UK to attack Iran, so maybe he does need us a little more than he should.
They certainly must have put a lot of pressure on Blair to persuade us to send our children to kill and be killed on their behalf. They certainly didn’t appear to want to do it on their own.
Personally, I do not think he is very intelligent in the slightest. A self obsessed maniac who dosent care or realise the amount of damage he could cause.
He never comes over as “ normal,” or honest or sincere or particularly clued up about what he’s banging on about.
Somebody at some point has to stand up to him, being his scaredy cat friend dosent seem to count for much anyway.

The 'they' that engaged in the Iraq war are a very different animal to the America First policies of Trump's administration (though that label is now being taken by his opposition on the right).

The connection is dissolving as european countries replace their populations and culture warring has cut away at bonds within and between America and European nations. I think they do want to save Europe but are also pretty clear that if we don't turn it around we may even become a threat, given by internal conflict and with who knows what agendas and positions prevailing. They exaggerate the timelines on all this as they exaggerate everything. But in this case perhaps not by that much.

Furthermore they see our leadership class as wedded to the global capitalism that has stripped America of its power and pumped it's middle and working classes, and who are intent on suppressing their own.

In short, the ties that bind have been loosening got some time. As noted above Obama announced a pivot away from Europe 15 years ago. We are not for listening to yanks of any political stripe.

I think our special place in America's loyalties is reducing at a clip tbh

 

[egb_hibs]

This is to do with the here and now, and I'm not sure how your future muslim republic fits.

Geopolitical strategy has a longer time horizon than the next 24h. We are on track for ethnic britons to be a minority in 30 or 40 years, and similar elsewhere. Given it takes time for new adults to be created the die will be cast pretty soon. That will bring, at minimum, great instability. Of course it will be in their plans, and Russia's and China's - both of the latter are well into multidecade plans of their own.

Again, why should we continue to occupy a special place in America's heart? We free-ride on them and our shared bonds are disappearing. Why would they view us any differently than anywhere else if this continues? And the present lot see everybody else as waaay secondary and to US interests.

 

[baggageandfibs]

Geopolitical strategy has a longer time horizon than the next 24h. We are on track for ethnic britons to be a minority in 30 or 40 years, and similar elsewhere. Given it takes time for new adults to be created the die will be cast pretty soon. That will bring, at minimum, great instability. Of course it will be in their plans, and Russia's and China's - both of the latter are well into multidecade plans of their own.

Again, why should we continue to occupy a special place in America's heart? We free-ride on them and our shared bonds are disappearing. Why would they view us any differently than anywhere else if this continues? And the present lot see everybody else as waaay secondary and to US interests.

Is the "free-riding" claim not a bit overstated? What did the US get from investing billions of dollars in military infrastructure in Europe and the Middle East? Only the ability to protect and project their hegemonic superpower across strategically sensitive regions whilst controlling natural resources and establishing stable markets for US companies and goods.

 

[bigmanandy]

Dictator Trump can f off

 

[egb_hibs]

Is the "free-riding" claim not a bit overstated? What did the US get from investing billions of dollars in military infrastructure in Europe and the Middle East? Only the ability to protect and project their hegemonic superpower across strategically sensitive regions whilst controlling natural resources and establishing stable markets for US companies and goods.

That's an impressive way of restating that they forked out a bundle to defend Europe, while we didn't hold our end up. They have been complaining this since the 1960s.

The middle East as well, like you say, but it's pretty important until the oil dries up, and again to protect Europe.

America has always been in a position to pull up the drawbridge but common values, history and commitment to democracy kept it riding to the rescue of Europe in the face of considerable internal opposition. That then extended to a broader commitment to supporting democracies in a global contest between democracy and communism.

These conditions are all gone now, as is America 's wealth and manufacturing capability. So too appetite for bailing out the rest of an ungrateful world. Times change and policy follows.

The West has in any case a long history of abandoning its allies if things get too difficult or costly. It seems the US is now doing that to us.

In any case we can go on all night on why America are doing this and how it isn't fair. But they are doing it and the real question for Europe is what we do in response.

This Greenland thing is outrageous and mind bending. Tbh I thought it wouldn't go beyond trying to bully Denmark into selling it, but I'm no longer sure of that.

 

[baggageandfibs]

That's an impressive way of restating that they forked out a bundle to defend Europe, while we didn't hold our end up. They have been complaining this since the 1960s.

The middle East as well, like you say, but it's pretty important until the oil dries up, and again to protect Europe.

America has always been in a position to pull up the drawbridge but common values, history and commitment to democracy kept it riding to the rescue of Europe in the face of considerable internal opposition. That then extended to a broader commitment to supporting democracies in a global contest between democracy and communism.

These conditions are all gone now, as is America 's wealth and manufacturing capability. So too appetite for bailing out the rest of an ungrateful world. Times change and policy follows.

The West has in any case a long history of abandoning its allies if things get too difficult or costly. It seems the US is now doing that to us.

In any case we can go on all night on why America are doing this and how it isn't fair. But they are doing it and the real question for Europe is what we do in response.

This Greenland thing is outrageous and mind bending. Tbh I thought it wouldn't go beyond trying to bully Denmark into selling it, but I'm no longer sure of that.

I agree, just pointing out that they got plenty in return for their "investment".

Anyway, looks like the EU are pulling out of the tariff deal they agreed with the US. Be surprised if the markets don't tank on Monday but they have been more resilient to date than I expected. Sure the UK deal will be in the toilet as well.

The rhetoric is so wild that it's hard to see if this is part of a strategy but some suggestions that these actions are a precursor to cancelling the mid-terms as the US will be "at war" which gives them cover. Wouldn't rule anything out. Trump is merely the front-man for this white nationalist project.

 

[egb_hibs]

I agree, just pointing out that they got plenty in return for their "investment".

Nowhere near what we did though.

Anyway, looks like the EU are pulling out of the tariff deal they agreed with the US. Be surprised if the markets don't tank on Monday but they have been more resilient to date than I expected. Sure the UK deal will be in the toilet as well.

The rhetoric is so wild that it's hard to see if this is part of a strategy but some suggestions that these actions are a precursor to cancelling the mid-terms as the US will be "at war" which gives them cover. Wouldn't rule anything out. Trump is merely the front-man for this white nationalist project.

The white nationalists are increasingly the opposition on the right to Trump who they aren't very fond of at all, and Vance who they hate - check Ryan's changing lines for a flavour.

The rhetoric is indeed pretty wild but I don't think it's hard to see as part of a strategy. I mean they are telling the world they want control of the americas and this is part of that, as is the pressure on canada, as are the actions on enemy allied countries in South America.

And they are pretty clear they see their enemies as China and Iran, with Russia in an ambiguous position - they hoped to win it over to their camp, but if it goes to China then it is an enemy too.

So it's wild, it's unpredictable, and it's consequences are chaotic, but its all pretty straightforwardly rooted in the positions they have set out.

 

[1 Mcnamara]

The 'they' that engaged in the Iraq war are a very different animal to the America First policies of Trump's administration (though that label is now being taken by his opposition on the right).

The connection is dissolving as european countries replace their populations and culture warring has cut away at bonds within and between America and European nations. I think they do want to save Europe but are also pretty clear that if we don't turn it around we may even become a threat, given by internal conflict and with who knows what agendas and positions prevailing. They exaggerate the timelines on all this as they exaggerate everything. But in this case perhaps not by that much.

Furthermore they see our leadership class as wedded to the global capitalism that has stripped America of its power and pumped it's middle and working classes, and who are intent on suppressing their own.

In short, the ties that bind have been loosening got some time. As noted above Obama announced a pivot away from Europe 15 years ago. We are not for listening to yanks of any political stripe.

I think our special place in America's loyalties is reducing at a clip tbh

Fair do’s
But they have a cheek to question our leadership class or substance. And you may well be aware ( maybe not) that I don’t consider our leadership with very high regard. Though apart from Boris, they attempt to act with some tact, dignity and statesmanship which doesn’t have the rest of the world laughing and shiting themselves at the same time.
The world probably has needed America to police it for the last 50 years to a certain extent, but now they have a madman in charge it’s changing quickly.
As mighty as USA are, they would struggle to fight on multiple fronts, their track record fighting alone is sketchy I would imagine.
If China, Russia, India and S America decide they want to pull resources to shut the twat up, USA would be up against it. And probably come to Europe looking for handers .
Just my simplistic way of looking at it.

 

[baggageandfibs]

Nowhere near what we did though.

The white nationalists are increasingly the opposition on the right to Trump who they aren't very fond of at all, and Vance who they hate - check Ryan's changing lines for a flavour.

The rhetoric is indeed pretty wild but I don't think it's hard to see as part of a strategy. I mean they are telling the world they want control of the americas and this is part of that, as is the pressure on canada, as are the actions on enemy allied countries in South America.

And they are pretty clear they see their enemies as China and Iran, with Russia in an ambiguous position - they hoped to win it over to their camp, but if it goes to China then it is an enemy too.

So it's wild, it's unpredictable, and it's consequences are chaotic, but its all pretty straightforwardly rooted in the positions they have set out.

Miller, Noem, Bannon are white nationalists. Trump is a useful idiot vehicle for them and the Heritage Foundation. The fact that there are even more extreme white nationalist actual nazis being critical just underlines how dire the situation has become.

 

[egb_hibs]

Fair do’s
But they have a cheek to question our leadership class or substance. And you may well be aware ( maybe not) that I don’t consider our leadership with very high regard. Though apart from Boris, they attempt to act with some tact, dignity and statesmanship which doesn’t have the rest of the world laughing and shiting themselves at the same time.
The world probably has needed America to police it for the last 50 years to a certain extent, but now they have a madman in charge it’s changing quickly.
As mighty as USA are, they would struggle to fight on multiple fronts, their track record fighting alone is sketchy I would imagine.
If China, Russia, India and S America decide they want to pull resources to shut the twat up, USA would be up against it. And probably come to Europe looking for handers .
Just my simplistic way of looking at it.

Not sure what handers we can provide, other than runways nearer their targets?

They are absolutely right to question our leadership. While China, India, swathes of Asia, South and North America are on the up or at least holding their own (until demographic collapse twats the Asians), Europe is in decline. Still there's always Africa to make us look good!

 

[egb_hibs]

Miller, Noem, Bannon are white nationalists. Trump is a useful idiot vehicle for them and the Heritage Foundation. The fact that there are even more extreme white nationalist actual nazis being critical just underlines how dire the situation has become.

Having read and listened to a lot of Bannon over the years he's not a white nationalist - indeed he called them clowns - though he may be a form of fascist. Don't know much about the other two though Miller certainly seems like a grade A bam.

But the real white nationalists, who view Trump as a zionist puppet and Vance as a race traitor, don't want this adventurism as well as generally hating him. So much so they are given to throwing their weight behind the Democrats - Richard Spencer with Biden for example, now Fuentes with Gavin Newsom (though how much that is a another troll, who knows).

 

[baggageandfibs]

Having read and listened to a lot of Bannon over the years he's not a white nationalist - indeed he called them clowns - though he may be a form of fascist. Don't know much about the other two though Miller certainly seems like a grade A bam.

But the real white nationalists, who view Trump as a zionist puppet and Vance as a race traitor, don't want this adventurism as well as generally hating him. So much so they are given to throwing their weight behind the Democrats - Richard Spencer with Biden for example, now Fuentes with Gavin Newsom (though how much that is a another troll, who knows).

Re Bannon, he's widely cited as a white nationalist, but I haven't read any of his material so I'll defer on that one. Fuentes supports Newsom apparently because he has a strong chin, I kid you not.

 

[1 Mcnamara]

Not sure what handers we can provide, other than runways nearer their targets?

They are absolutely right to question our leadership. While China, India, swathes of Asia, South and North America are on the up or at least holding their own (until demographic collapse twats the Asians), Europe is in decline. Still there's always Africa to make us look good!

Handers is handers, and usually vital.
But I think we could offer them more that.
They lack discipline, leadership and they would love us to supply bullet catchers

But I hope and imagine tangoman is on limited time and some sort of sense will prevail .
The intelligent yanks don't want ostracized from the world I would imagine.
My take is that whatever he is doing is not for the good of USA, it's all about him, and he has everyone terrified to question him. In and out his camp.
He is a ginger Hitler and I say that with real concern.
I appreciate that it's high level shit, but the basics of how you deal with the school bully isn't that far off the mark I reckon.

 

[egb_hibs]

Re Bannon, he's widely cited as a white nationalist, but I haven't read any of his material so I'll defer on that one. Fuentes supports Newsom apparently because he has a strong chin, I kid you not.

Yup. Again it may be a troll in whole or in part, but it's not just about his chin, it's because it's part of a physique that makes him an aryan Chad, along side the wee pudgy race mixer Vance.

Bannon is a fascinating and disturbing character. I think he is a kind of fascist in the Italian sense, integrating commerce to serve the state etc. But he's also not really - see the article below

It also wouldn't surprise me if he believes America needs to maintain its population balance. But that's not white nationalism. He isnt a race hater from anything I have seen.

A good book length treatment on him and others - and which informs my view on his fascist tendencies - is this, which I recommend:

War for Eternity: The Return of Traditionalism and the Rise of the Populist Right: Amazon.co.uk: Teitelbaum, Benjamin R.: 9780241431078: Books

Buy War for Eternity: The Return of Traditionalism and the Rise of the Populist Right by Teitelbaum, Benjamin R. (ISBN: 9780241431078) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

amzn.eu

This is a really interesting starter though. Note the take on Putin

This Is How Steve Bannon Sees The Entire World

The soon-to-be White House chief strategist laid out a global vision in a rare 2014 talk where he said racism in the far right gets “washed out” and called Vladimir Putin a kleptocrat. BuzzFeed News publishes the complete transcript for the first time.

www.buzzfeednews.com

 

[egb_hibs]

Handers is handers, and usually vital.
But I think we could offer them more that.
They lack discipline, leadership and they would love us to supply bullet catchers

But I hope and imagine tangoman is on limited time and some sort of sense will prevail .
The intelligent yanks don't want ostracized from the world I would imagine.
My take is that whatever he is doing is not for the good of USA, it's all about him, and he has everyone terrified to question him. In and out his camp.
He is a ginger Hitler and I say that with real concern.
I appreciate that it's high level shit, but the basics of how you deal with the school bully isn't that far off the mark I reckon.

There are no teachers policing the playground so the only way to deal with the bully is to fight him. Unfortunately we are the weediest kid in the school.

And that's my point: we should hit the weights and get down the boxing club.

I very much doubt America will give up anything Trump gains for them. Other presidents might not do the dirty work in pockling it to begin with but that's not the same thing at all.

 

[Bossie]

How on earth does that nation make decisions? The parliamentary process looks dead and it is now very much a rogue state on the world stage.

 

[egb_hibs]

How on earth does that nation make decisions? The parliamentary process looks dead and it is now very much a rogue state on the world stage.

I'm no expert on the US system and its workings but by all accounts Trump has turned up the knobs to 11 on the drift to centralising power with executive rather than Congress. As the West spins into crisis this has been happening elsewhere for a long time, albeit with considerably less dramatic effect. Blair here, for example, who took powers out of the chamber and into his 'sofa government' on one hand and by divesting power to progressive institutions on the other.

The western crisis didn't begin with Trump but he is certainly upping the ante. It would not now surprise me at all if he delays the mid terms. Here in the UK we are busy doing the same with inconvenient local government elections. Labour and the tories have their excuse and Trump will have his. And both will be bullshit.

Democracy is on the ropes everywhere

 

[emerald green]

Hes not doing anything to greenland.

 

[baggageandfibs]

Britain eventually rejoining the EU must be on the cards after all this.

 

[HaarlemShuffler]

Britain eventually rejoining the EU must be on the cards after all this.

That'll be a laugh

 

[EH17 Jimmy]

That'll be a laugh

Yep. When folk like myself find out their votes count for nothing.

 

[Archie]

Yep. When folk like myself find out their votes count for nothing.

It did and we're out.

 

[EH17 Jimmy]

It did and we're out.

And we will eventually be back in again and the merry to round will start again.

Anyway as I've stated before I will vote for independent candidates in elections from now on.

Radge against the machine type thingy.

 

[baggageandfibs]

And we will eventually be back in again and the merry to round will start again.

Anyway as I've stated before I will vote for independent candidates in elections from now on.

Radge against the machine type thingy.

I think if UK does go back in that’ll be it, full Euro army participation, Euro, no going back as it’s a bit of a different global landscape now.

 

[EH17 Jimmy]

I think if UK does go back in that’ll be it, full Euro army participation, Euro, no going back as it’s a bit of a different global landscape now.

It is. But then cheap labour will flood the jobs market again and wages will go down.

I've stated many times that I don't blame anyone travelling and looking for work. It won't bother me now as I'm retired.

But it will affect our youngsters.

 

[egb_hibs]

I think if UK does go back in that’ll be it, full Euro army participation, Euro, no going back as it’s a bit of a different global landscape now.

We would be in big trouble in the euro. We would have gone bust in 2010 if we were.

 

[baggageandfibs]

We would be in big trouble in the euro. We would have gone bust in 2010 if we were.

I suspect it will be a bit of a rock and a hard place scenario. If the geopolitical dynamics continue on their current trend the UK will likely be very exposed trying adapt to the capricious whims of an unpredictable USA whilst trading with its biggest and closest market in the EU. Maybe we will be the 51st state after all

 

[egb_hibs]

It is. But then cheap labour will flood the jobs market again and wages will go down.

I've stated many times that I don't blame anyone travelling and looking for work. It won't bother me now as I'm retired.

But it will affect our youngsters.

It probably wouldn't be the same as last time. Poles are on course to be better off than us in a few years so less reason to come now.

It could in fact set up a future of opportunity : british junior doctors could go an work in coffee shops in Gdansk, beggars could go go Bucharest etc

 

[egb_hibs]

I suspect it will be a bit of a rock and a hard place scenario. If the geopolitical dynamics continue on their current trend the UK will likely be very exposed trying adapt to the capricious whims of an unpredictable USA whilst trading with its biggest and closest market in the EU. Maybe we will be the 51st state after all

In today's world I genuinely don't think you could rule the latter out!

Its fun and games alright and cuts in both directions. The US is an unpredictable crap shoot like you say, but the EU is a hot mess in its own way and if we gained in some ways we would lose in other's. We would for example rule ourselves out of a serious place in technology, but then our education system tries to do that anyway.

Then again none of it really matters unless Europe changes dramatically anyway, really dramatically.

I voted Remain based on peace between European nations rather than economics, and despite it being in the balance as to whether the EU was becoming a bigger threat to peace than means of achieving it. I remain unpersuaded the economics position is much different either way.

 

[joethehibby]

Thought he was going to intervene if they started killing protestors . He (trump) is all hot air, commonly known as a bLawbag

 

[Hattie]

Always at the scam
His whole presidency is about his ego and making himself money.
How many times has he been bankrupt?
Then you read about his last failure “Trump university”

It seems he actually thinks the FIFA award was really a peace prize and not an arse licking charade.

Trump's outrageous new Board of Peace plan is all about self-enrichment — The i Paper

The US President will chair the board, which now looks like a global rival to the UN

apple.news