Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[hack]

His shit about PAH's emails and Russia is more of the same for me. It's exactly the candidate who has been for the past year. If you don't like it, vote against him -- as I did in March and will do so in November. But save the TREASON!!!!! nonsense and outrage -- as if you're shocked that Trump said something like that.

It is not "more of the same" for the professionals who work in that field. Foreign affairs is very much about rigid symbolisms, norms and codes for behavior, which makes more sense when you note that foreign affairs baiscally means bringing scores of wildly different people to the same table and the only things they have in common are big egos a command of a military. There are people who have thought about this much more and on a much deeper level than you and I, and their thoughts are accessible. You can have an opinion, or you can have a considered opinion.

[Hannibal]

Trump isn't that fluid. No more so than any other candidate. His frustration with some aspects of our foreign policies and trade policies predate Bush I. His ideology looks confusing because most people are viewing it through the traditional class warfare Left/Right prism. If you look at it more from a Nationalist/Globalist perspective, it makes a lot more sense. His foreign policy message is consistent -- doing what he thinks is best for America, negotiating aggressively, and walking away from deals that he thinks are bad for the country. That means no more stupid altruisim. No more being the world's policeman for free. That also means allowing the other side to negotiate too. That means that he doesn't rule anything out up front. Does Russia want recognition of their occupation of the Crimea? If so, let them try to negotiate for it.

"What's good for America"? There's tons and tons of room to debate there. But you've got to ask the question first. We are currently ranked #4 in the world in per capital military spending, despite existing on a continent with no hostile threats. This has gotten us nothing worldwide but hate and resentment. In the meantime, or domestic spending is spiraling out of control and the country faces trillions of dollars not just in current debt but in massive unfunded liablities. This path isn't sustainable.

Hillary has almost no interaction with the public that isn't scripted nowadays. She doesn't hold press conferences. She doesn't do town halls with hostile plants, something that Trump has done on multiple occasions. She is never asked hypotheticals from hostile reporters about the consequences of her ideas. It's really easy to look good when you only engage with people who are on your side.

[hack]

The problem is how well-considered that ideology is. Things cast as ``stupid altruism'' are, in truth, very good for the American economy. You could look at Obama's Power Africa program as an example. It looks like a $7bn commitment to build electricity infrastructure in Africa, and therefore a $7bn outflow at the cost of domestic spending. Something like that may be billed as foreign aid, and that helps raise the country's standing abroad and its influence when, for example, building a coalition of the willing. But it's not an outflow or a donation with no tangible benefits to the U.S. It is a way to create opportunity to expand markets for US firms, by channeling existing government spending toward private-sector power developers by providing finance and investment tools for their own investment plans in African power. It's a new approach and it might not work, but it's responsive to old problems, a positive for the economy, it's not ``picking winners", and it is the very definition of getting out of the way and letting the private sector lead. Stuff like that gets lost in the noise and leads to a very inaccurate, cartoonish view of things.


She is never asked hypotheticals from hostile reporters about the consequences of her ideas. Hillary is certainly ideas-free, and that's a valid criticism, but come on already.

[froot loops]

Dude, I've been pretty clear about who I'm voting for and what I think of Trump. I wouldn't lift sanctions, as I said, even if they do little. As for Putin-Obama as a "leader" -- eh, that's an interesting question. That question is pretty tricky -- I mean, whenever you're comparing leaders of countries so profoundly different, it's a tough question. Obama and every US leader is constrained by blessed western idelogy and Putin, heh, is not. I'm not sure which leader has advanced his country's respective standing more (or, caused it to regress less). Can't really answer it because I honestly haven't thought about it at all.

But in any event, I'm voting for PAH. That doesn't mean I need to join in the righteous self-indignation over everything Trump and the Rs do. I've been flummoxed by Trump's comments for months wishing the Rs would have nominated someone I can vote for and someone who can win November. His shit about PAH's emails and Russia is more of the same for me. It's exactly the candidate who has been for the past year. If you don't like it, vote against him -- as I did in March and will do so in November. But save the TREASON!!!!! nonsense and outrage -- as if you're shocked that Trump said something like that.

Like I said, Treason is a bit much, you won't hear me saying that about that throwaway comment. But it surely is something I don't think a major party nominee should be saying.

I think it's less sanctimony than being scared that this guy may win. If he wins we are hoping that he doesn't have the support of a GOP in full control over all three branches or he doesn't really mean what he says.

[Ghengis Jon]

[drok]

"doing what he thinks is best for America, negotiating aggressively, and walking away from deals that he thinks are bad for the country"

What exactly has he shown in either his business career or his candidacy that would suggest he has the slightest capability to do this? He seriously is the Kim Kardashian of business - he has no talent or actual success but rather is famous for being famous.

[AlabamAlum]

I have to have one of these.

[*JD*]

This might be a douchier post than your original.

How to Apologize Without Apologizing 101

[iam416]

Like I said, Treason is a bit much, you won't hear me saying that about that throwaway comment. But it surely is something I don't think a major party nominee should be saying.

That's my opinion as well, though it's not a considered opinion.

I think it's less sanctimony than being scared that this guy may win. If he wins we are hoping that he doesn't have the support of a GOP in full control over all three branches or he doesn't really mean what he says.

I really don't see a path to victory for him. But, then again, I never thought he'd get the nomination, and here we are. I give him a puncher's chance -- which I realize may be enough to scare you and others -- but that's about it.

[Hannibal]

I really don't see a path to victory for him.

Path to victory = holding onto all of Mitt's states plus Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It's doable.

[iam416]

Well, right. I find that path considerably more unlikely than you do. I mean he's losing PA by 4, Ohio by 1 and barely ahead in Ohio (all RCP average) with his post-convention "bump." I think the odds of him grabbing all 3 states are remarkably slim.

But, there's still a lot of campaign left. The debates will be fun!

[Ghengis Jon]

I expect more painful than fun. I think the real question is whether the Hiltron 4000 will stick to policy points and intentions or get sucked in and stoop to The Orange Raccoon's level. This is an opportunity to demonstrate Presidential level maturity - who, if either, will take it?

[hack]

Here's the thing: Qdoba is better than Chipotle.

You put me in the mood, and I am now just back from Chipotle. I got the extra chips so I could deep dive on the sauce issue. I think I still prefer Cholula but they really are quite similar. Both give that tangy heat. Cholula isn't as hot. Tabasco has that pungency I don't like, and a bit of a wildness to it. Cholula lacks the pungency and is a bit more smooth in taste, and has a bit of extra texture. For the better, I think. You can always heat up Cholula with a dash of something else, which is what I normally do. But respect due to Tabasco. I moved it up the rankings.

[froot loops]

I don't find Chipotle or Qdoba all that appetizing. Too many calories, too salty. I used to love Baja Fresh but that chain is no longer in Michigan. I used to go there just for the hot sauce. Del Taco is OK but the food is a little heavy.

Taco Bell is the champ.

I wouldn't buy Tabasco but most restaurants have that and Franks. I use it on my omelette and it does the trick. Valentino's extra hot sauce in the liter bottle is where it's at.

[AlabamAlum]

If you get a strong pungency with Tabasco, ease off the amount. Likewise, the texture -or lack thereof- isn't really an issue unless you put a whole bunch on your food.