Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[Dr. Strangelove]

If the North Korea deal falls apart and Maduro stays in power and the economy starts to falter, we all know who to blame: Richard Burr, for continuing these baseless, shameless investigations!!

Doesn't he realize he's harming the President's ability to get things done?

[Dr. Strangelove]

I was wondering what Trump was talking about earlier today when he told the GOP to scrap a bill that would've allowed the Wampanoag Indian tribe sovereignty over a planned casino site near he Rhode Island border.

I have no idea as to the merits of this idea. What seems pretty clear is that the bill was beaten by swamp creatures.

The owners of two Rhode Island casinos were worried that competition would hurt their business. So they hired good ol' Matt Schlapp to lobby against it. Matt's been a swamp creature for decades. His wife, also a swamp creature, works in the White House. It seems like Matt hasn't really been arguing his case on the merits at all, he's just said that Elizabeth Warren is a Trump-hater and shouldn't be allowed a 'political win' like Massachusetts getting a new casino.

Fast forward to today and Trump says the bill would've been 'very unfair' and the GOP should unanimously reject because Warren is for it. Bill was pulled.

Schlapp's Rhode Island clients very, very pleased. Worth every cent.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-tweet-derails-house-bill-opposed-by-lobbyist-with-close-white-house-ties/2019/05/08/019117d0-71b5-11e9-9f06-5fc2ee80027a_story.html?utm_term=.e192692ea0d4

[Dr. Strangelove]

Trump Jr.'s "friends and associates" are fuming to Breitbart that if Mitch McConnell won't immediately remove Richard Burr as Chairman of the Intel Committee, they will primary Mitch in 2020. Threaten to primary ANY Republican who doesn't attack this move by Barr.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/05/08/donald-trump-jr-rebuffs-senate-gop-subpoena-for-more-russia-hoax-testimony/

[Dr. Strangelove]

Interesting article that says Trump has gotten increasingly frustrated with Bolton and believed he was misled into thinking it would be quick & easy to push Maduro out. Has been calling Maduro a 'tough cookie' in meetings.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-frustrated-trump-questions-his-administrations-venezuela-strategy/2019/05/08/ad51561a-71a7-11e9-9f06-5fc2ee80027a_story.html?utm_term=.ccf07fdd141c

[Kapture1]

If the North Korea deal falls apart and Maduro stays in power and the economy starts to falter, we all know who to blame: Richard Burr, for continuing these baseless, shameless investigations!!

Doesn't he realize he's harming the President's ability to get things done?

I have never seen someone so eager for a president to fail before. Which of course would mean a recession or depression and people would lose their jobs and suffer, but anything to regain power

[Dr. Strangelove]

I have never seen someone so eager for a president to fail before. Which of course would mean a recession or depression and people would lose their jobs and suffer, but anything to regain power

[Kapture1]

alleged, and they would do an ethics investigation once elected and get to the bottom of any and all allegations. it is what should happen when someone has been in public life for 40 years and someone chooses to wait until days before an election.


you are desperate for an economic crash. you would wish suffering on millions of people.

[Dr. Strangelove]

[Kapture1]

you are hoping for an economic failure to hurt his chances. Not just that you are criticizing him, you want millions of people to lose their jobs and ability to provide for their families.

there seems to be a difference there.

[Jeff Buchanan]

you are hoping for an economic failure to hurt his chances. Not just that you are criticizing him, you want millions of people to lose their jobs and ability to provide for their families.

there seems to be a difference there.

That's sillly. DSL doesn't want that but he uses the current circumstance (NK, China, Iran) to discredit Trump. As he has mentioned, Trump's behaviors can be blamed for the apparent stagnation of the policy initiatives involving these three countries but they also can be seen as means to extract concessions from them favoring US interests.

I'm willing to let the tough guy approach play out with NK and Iran. The Trump administration's approach to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula marks a major FP departure for the US in this region but it is, in fact, probably a side show. IMO, the Iran gamut is no side-show. It has tremendous implications for US interests in the ME. So to do trade negotiations with China.

On Iran .... I made a post a week or so ago about the deployment of US 5th Fleet operational assets to the Gulf. I made the point that Iran was probably saber rattling because they were pissed off about what was likely Trump's green lighting Netanyahu to go after Hamas in the West Bank. Upon further review, I think it's more subtle than that but nonetheless no less ominous. Pompeo's visit to Iraq? It was to discuss the co-positioning of US combat units with Shia militia units loyal to the current PM, Mahdi and President Salih. The problem is that these Shia militia are generally armed and trained by Iran and the militia units are littered with Iranian Republican Guard advisers. These groups can be seen as proxy military forces used to serve Iran's political interest in Iraq - that is the expulsion of US forces there (about 5000 troops and advisers). Apparently there were indications that these Shia militias were preparing for operational missions against US units. That US and Shia Militia units are actually co-positioned, right next to each other in most cases, chatter that some kind of engagement may be forth coming brought the US 5th Fleet into the Gulf. This and the continued economic pressure led by the US with generally support from the Europeans is making life tough for the Mullahs. I like it.

On China trade ...... this is an immensely complicated situation. It is hard to get to the bottom of what is going on and what sorts of issues between the 2 sides are in play. I think, generally, the news coverage of this is wildly inaccurate. Sure, on one level, issues appear to be well defined - technology transfer, better open markets in China for US companies, stop fucking with the yuan to the benefit of China and the detriment of the rest of the world and so forth. But, there seems to be a lot more involved and I'm not a trade economics expert. An article in Bloomberg this week described China's need for dollars to keep its costly international undertakings going (financed/paid for in USD) and that this may be the primary motivation bringing the Chinese to the bargaining table hat in had - well sort of. A trade war with it's tit-for-tat aspects, curtails the flow of US dollars into Chinese banks - not a good thing so, Trump may actually have the upper hand here if you believe in this theory and some don't.

Anyway, I've got a personal interest in these trade talks going well. When you're retired, like I am, and your retirement portfolio value can change to the downside by a lot of money in a 20% drop in prices for stocks you hold, it's a concern. So, I'm a bit over-focused perhaps on the China thing. But, still, it is a big deal with a lot at stake besides the value of retirement portfolios. I don't think any sane person, and DSL is that, wants folks to suffer economically.

[Kapture1]

That's sillly. DSL doesn't want that but he uses the current circumstance (NK, China, Iran) to discredit Trump. As he has mentioned, Trump's behaviors can be blamed for the apparent stagnation of the policy initiatives involving these three countries but they also can be seen as means to extract concessions from them favoring US interests.

I'm willing to let the tough guy approach play out with NK and Iran. The Trump administration's approach to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula marks a major FP departure for the US in this region but it is, in fact, probably a side show. IMO, the Iran gamut is no side-show. It has tremendous implications for US interests in the ME. So to do trade negotiations with China.

On Iran .... I made a post a week or so ago about the deployment of US 5th Fleet operational assets to the Gulf. I made the point that Iran was probably saber rattling because they were pissed off about what was likely Trump's green lighting Netanyahu to go after Hamas in the West Bank. Upon further review, I think it's more subtle than that but nonetheless no less ominous. Pompeo's visit to Iraq? It was to discuss the co-positioning of US combat units with Shia militia units loyal to the current PM, Mahdi and President Salih. The problem is that these Shia militia are generally armed and trained by Iran and the militia units are littered with Iranian Republican Guard advisers. These groups can be seen as proxy military forces used to serve Iran's political interest in Iraq - that is the expulsion of US forces there (about 5000 troops and advisers). Apparently there were indications that these Shia militias were preparing for operational missions against US units. That US and Shia Militia units are actually co-positioned, right next to each other in most cases, chatter that some kind of engagement may be forth coming brought the US 5th Fleet into the Gulf. This and the continued economic pressure led by the US with generally support from the Europeans is making life tough for the Mullahs. I like it.

On China trade ...... this is an immensely complicated situation. It is hard to get to the bottom of what is going on and what sorts of issues between the 2 sides are in play. I think, generally, the news coverage of this is wildly inaccurate. Sure, on one level, issues appear to be well defined - technology transfer, better open markets in China for US companies, stop fucking with the yuan to the benefit of China and the detriment of the rest of the world and so forth. But, there seems to be a lot more involved and I'm not a trade economics expert. An article in Bloomberg this week described China's need for dollars to keep its costly international undertakings going (financed/paid for in USD) and that this may be the primary motivation bringing the Chinese to the bargaining table hat in had - well sort of. A trade war with it's tit-for-tat aspects, curtails the flow of US dollars into Chinese banks - not a good thing so, Trump may actually have the upper hand here if you believe in this theory and some don't.

Anyway, I've got a personal interest in these trade talks going well. When you're retired, like I am, and your retirement portfolio value can change to the downside by a lot of money in a 20% drop in prices for stocks you hold, it's a concern. So, I'm a bit over-focused perhaps on the China thing. But, still, it is a big deal with a lot at stake besides the value of retirement portfolios. I don't think any sane person, and DSL is that, wants folks to suffer economically.

you are correct. I shouldn't have phrased it as he wants millions to suffer.

I should have stuck with the fact that he is hoping for an economic depression to stick it to Trump. That would cause the suffering of millions, which DSL doesn't want, he only wants to stick it to Trump. presumably when millions suffer, he can feel fine with it by being able to blame Trump for what he hoped would happen.

[Kapture1]

a price slightly higher

so you are saying they are not high enough?

[iam416]

PDJT's RCP approval is as high as it's been since February of 2017. The economic news is unabashedly outstanding. The latest poll in Arizona has him beating every big name D except Biden. The Ds better keep their eye on the fucking ball or they're going to implausibly find a way to snatch defeat from sure victory -- AGAIN.

Of course, any time PDJT gets near or above 45 he always has some sort of politically catastrophic action in reserve to get back down to the low 40s. A never-ending reserve.

[Kapture1]

Gallup has him higher than they had 0bama at the same point in presidency.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Jesus H. DSL...do you have a fucking job?