Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[Jeff Buchanan]

Just wait, Liney ........if you're listening to the naysayers, gas prices are going to go through the roof. Most rational analysts and posters here have mentioned that there are too many variable affecting the price of gas at the pump, from extractions, to how will company's involved in supplying refined petroleum products react to the tariffs (switch to other suppliers beside Mexico or Canada, eat the cost of tariffs), to refining, to supplying large distribution centers in the US, to bringing the refined product to gas stations from there, to predict major price increases of gas.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Those howling Marxists at the Farm Bureau are unhappy, unpatriotically expressing dismay over the new tariffs. Expect many of those billions raised through the Trump Taxes to go right out the door to bail these people out.

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American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall today expressed alarm about potential harm to farmers resulting from the order signed by President Trump imposing stiff tariffs on the United States’ top three agricultural markets by value. An economic emergency was declared to put duties of 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada, with limited exceptions, as well as 10% on all imports from China. Canada and Mexico both announced they would impose retaliatory measures.

“Farm Bureau members support the goals of security and ensuring fair trade with our North American neighbors and China, but, unfortunately, we know from experience that farmers and rural communities will bear the brunt of retaliation. Harmful effects of retaliation to farmers ripple through the rest of the rural economy.

“In addition, over 80% of the United States’ supply of a key fertilizer ingredient — potash — comes from Canada. Tariffs that increase fertilizer prices threaten to deliver another blow to the finances of farm families already grappling with inflation and high supply costs.

“Farm and ranch families answer the call to feed America’s families and the world, and these tariffs and the promised retaliation will put further stress on their livelihoods. More than 20% of U.S. farm income comes from exports, which are dominated by these three markets. Just last year the U.S. exported over $30 billion in agricultural products to Mexico, $29 billion to Canada and $26 billion to China – our top three markets and nearly half of all exports by value combined.

“The uncertainty hits just as operating loans are being secured and spring planting approaches, leaving farmers in a tough spot. We look forward to working with President Trump to position our farmers for success while also ensuring American strength and leadership on the international stage.”

AFBF: New Tariffs Will Impact America’s Farmers | News Release | American Farm Bureau Federation

[Mike]

New info this morning about the DC plane crash indicates that the control tower data showed that the helo WAS at 200 feet which is about 150 feet off from its actual elevation. They don't have the black box from the Blackhawk yet but I wonder if the onboard controls were wacky also. It still just seems like a terrible area to be conducting those exercises in the first place.

[Dr. Strangelove]

New info this morning about the DC plane crash indicates that the control tower data showed that the helo WAS at 200 feet which is about 150 feet off from its actual elevation. They don't have the black box from the Blackhawk yet but I wonder if the onboard controls were wacky also. It still just seems like a terrible area to be conducting those exercises in the first place.

So it's possible this will turn out to be some sort of mechanical/computer problem?

[Dr. Strangelove]

Thomas Sowell and Milton Friedman: communist stooges

[Mike]

So it's possible this will turn out to be some sort of mechanical/computer problem?

Possibly. It just seemed like an important new piece of information. It would serve to exonerate (or at least greatly diminish) the role of the air traffic controller if the info he was getting indicated the helicopter was flying within parameters. No idea what was going on in the Blackhawk, though. Seems odd that their altimeter would be that off.

[Dr. Strangelove]

President of Mexico says she had a "good conversation" with Trump and he agreed to postpone the tariffs for another month, which is why there's been a market rebound in the past hour (still in the red).

[iam416]

I haven't a clue what the numbers actually are, but I'd guess the US is a net importer w/ Mexico and and a net exporter w/ Canada (maybe--definitely if excluding oil). What I don't know is what portion of exports for each country is accounted for by the US. Just trying to figure out leverage. I am, in no way, trying to figure out the rational path forward because I don't think there's an actual off-ramp except for whatever is in DJT's mind. But, leverage you an assess (see, e.g., Colombia).

[THE_WIZARD_]

So far here in Shiawassee County the gas prices have continued to drop ever since inauguration day. Today my favorite gas station has the lowest prices it's had in over a year.

Biden's policies finally worked. Now Hitler is about to fuck it up.

[Mike]

Both he and Sheinbaum said that the 10,000 Mexican National Guard troops that she is sending to the border with the U.S. will have the mission of halting drug trafficking from Mexico, particularly that of the deadly opioid fentanyl.

Trump also wrote that the Mexican troops will aim to stop the flow “of migrants into our Country.”

So it really was just step 1 on the clown scale?

[lineygoblue]

Hey Mike:

Are you familiar with our Michigan Attorney General's lawsuit against Enbridge over Line 5?

Trump is said to support the building of the new tunnel, and continued flow of Canadian crude thru the Straits.

Tipsy Nessel has been fighting it at the direction of Gretch.

Well, I wonder if this little project will become a bargaining chip in the "tariff war" with Canada?

[Dr. Strangelove]

This part has been mostly theater. Mexico promised Biden 10,000 troops back in 2021 too. Now we wait and see what performative gesture he'll require of Canada so that he can declare total victory.

Biden strikes international deal in bid to stop migrants reaching US border | US immigration | The Guardian

The President's authority to employ tariffs hails from an actual emergency being present. Putting them off for another month somewhat undermines the credibility of the current "crisis".

[lineygoblue]

A few well-placed SEAL teams along the Mexican border could take care of the immigrant problem and the cartels in about a week.

[Dr. Strangelove]

This guy was fired by the first Trump administration after it was revealed he had attended a white nationalist conference.

He’s back now, as an Undersecretary in the State Dept.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Beattie has defended Communist China in recent years, defending their record with the Uighers (saying rural whites in the US have it worse than them) and calling for the USA to abandon Taiwan

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“Taiwan will inevitably belong to China, it’s only a matter of time. It’s not worth expending any capital to prevent,” wrote Beattie last May. “A visionary statesman will recognize this and make a deal- in exchange for acknowledgment of this basic reality, get some serious concessions on Africa and Antartica [sic].”

Trump State Department's Darren Beattie Shilled for China