U.S. Politics 2018

[Loachman]

All those presidents had military service.  Not a big deal and maybe not even relevant.

It's going to become more rare and less relevant as time goes by, with fewer Americans seeing any military service.

Trump asked for one after seeing one in France.  Like a kid who goes to a birthday party and tells his parents he wants his to be like it too.

Do we have a transcript of the request or order? A copy of a written request or order signed by him? Any indication that it was for the alleged purpose of ego-stroking? He has a better appreciation for the US Armed Forces than his immediate predecessor, or Hillary Clinton (assigned the callsign "Broomstick 1" by Marine One crews) did. What's to say that he does not want this for appropriate reasons, other than the assumptions of a highly prejudiced press and segment of the US population?

The scramble is to find a time that is appropriate as opposed to just appease his need for something he doesn’t have yet but wants.

There does not seem to be much of a scramble. Two occasions appear to have been put forth, and one selected.

There are eight months to go, yet, and many things could change.

It's all about stroking his ego

Based upon anything other than conjecture, because he "cannot do anything right"? I may have missed something. If so, please enlighten me.

He originally wanted it on July 4th, which pissed a lot of military members off.

And that suggestion appears to have been shelved. Is there something wrong with listening to feedback and adapting?

Trump has shown on his countless attacks on John McCain that he no respect for veterans at all.

There are many who disagree with John McCain, who has not exactly shown much sign of support for his President.

Veteran status does not equate to sainthood, either. There are several veterans with whom I disagree. We are not a monolithic bloc.

And having problems with one person who happens to be a veteran does not equate to lack of respect for all veterans.

There is footage of him patting his Marine guards on the back as he passes them, stopping for quick chats, and even walking over to pick up the cap, blown off by the rotorwash of Marine One, of one Marine guard and returning it to him.

 

[FJAG]

Do you think building a wall is a bad idea?

Considering that more Mexicans are heading south voluntarily instead of north then isn't a wall counterproductive?

Seriously though it's really a question of national resources and priorities isn't it? I doubt if a wall will ever stop or even slow the problems that exist (or are perceived to exist) at that border regardless of the billions and billions that will be spent on it.

The drug flow will always be there one way or another. When that much money is involved than the issue of how to get them into the country is just a question of logistics that will be solved by the traffickers.

The immigration issue is a sham. It's not illegal immigrants from Mexico that are harming the jobs of native American workers (I haven't heard that their is a great clamour for Americans to work in California's vegetable fields or at  7-Elevens) The issue is that most industries have changed to being more automated and efficient or are simply different than what they were fifty years ago and their simply aren't many good middle income industrial jobs as there used to be.

I wonder why for an administration that considers itself worker friendly it takes swipes at successful businesses. Consider for a moment that Amazon is driving job growth and is planning on adding 100,000 jobs in 18 months https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/amazon-sees-rapid-job-growth-plans-100k-new-u-s-jobs yet the President is spinning ridiculous charges against the company because he hates Bezos and wants to undermine his business. In his own words "Sad".

:cheers:

 

[mariomike]

It's going to become more rare and less relevant as time goes by, with fewer Americans seeing any military service.

True.

The last American men to be drafted were born in 1952. President Obama was born in 1961.

President Trump was born in 1946, but received five draft deferments.

So, in the next presidential election, any candidates who would have been eligible for the draft will be at least 68 years old.

yet the President is spinning ridiculous charges against the company because he hates Bezos and wants to undermine his business. In his own words "Sad".

:cheers:

Mr. Bezos also happens to own the Washington Post.

QUOTE

April 5, 2018 

The Washington Post stories that preceded Trump’s tweets about Amazon
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/politics/trump-tweets-amazon-washington-post/?utm_term=.a1003dff4542

END QUOTE

 

[Jarnhamar]

I'm surprised to hear more Mexicans are  crossing the border heading south than they are north.  Maybe he wants to build the wall to keep them in to work those jobs

 

[FJAG]

I'm surprised to hear more Mexicans are  crossing the border heading south than they are north.  Maybe he wants to build the wall to keep them in to work those jobs

From 2009 to 2014, 1 million Mexicans and their families (including U.S.-born children) left the U.S. for Mexico, according to data from the 2014 Mexican National Survey of Demographic Dynamics (ENADID). U.S. census data for the same period show an estimated 870,000 Mexican nationals left Mexico to come to the U.S., a smaller number than the flow of families from the U.S. to Mexico.

http://www.pewhispanic.org/2015/11/19/more-mexicans-leaving-than-coming-to-the-u-s/#tweets

Even Fox cited that study back in 2015

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/11/20/more-mexicans-leaving-us-than-entering-study-says.html

:cheers:

 

[Jarnhamar]

But that's still another 800'000+ illegal immigrants entering the country.

Like the guy who was deported 6 times (?) that killed the young girl out west.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna823351

I suppose Trump could install one way doors in the wall.

 

[McG]

Do we have a transcript of the request or order? A copy of a written request or order signed by him? Any indication that it was for the alleged purpose of ego-stroking?

There are public comments from him which describe his motivation:
http://time.com/4947169/donald-trump-wants-parade-military-strength-bastille-day/

 

[Bird_Gunner45]

But that's still another 800'000+ illegal immigrants entering the country.

Like the guy who was deported 6 times (?) that killed the young girl out west.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna823351

I suppose Trump could install one way doors in the wall.

Unfortunately it appears that Trump's border wall dream has failed leading to his movement of National Guard troops to the border.... by signing the omnibus spending bill instead of vetoing the spending bill after Chief of Staff John Kelly told him he could not travel to Mar-a-Lago for the weekend if he followed through on the threat, forcing a government shutdown. In this, he's even managed to lose the backing of Ann Coulter who called him a "shallow, lazy ignoramus". When you're Donny Tiny-hands and lose Ann Coulter things aren't going your way.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-national-guard-troops-border-wall-last-chance-mexico-1.4605579

https://www.nationalreview.com/news/ann-coulter-attacks-trump-lazy-ignoramus-omnibus/

 

[Jarnhamar]

It's a people-wall.

 

[Bird_Gunner45]

It's a people-wall.

That's his "big, beautiful" wall? He either lied about wanting to make a wall or failed to come through on his wall due to his laziness. Admit that much at least.

 

[tomahawk6]

Congress has to first fund the wall which to date they havent.The numbers of National Guard is 2000 to 4000 troops.The Border Patrol is at present under staffed by the tune of of about 2000 agents.

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/government-accountability-office-jobs-border-patrol-staffing/2017/11/08/id/825012/

 

[Jarnhamar]

That's his "big, beautiful" wall? He either lied about wanting to make a wall or failed to come through on his wall due to his laziness. Admit that much at least.

Or he wants to avoid a Canadian Forces style procuement project and make sure he does it right the first time.

Im going to guess walling off 3100 kilometers is a big project.

 

[Bird_Gunner45]

Congress has to first fund the wall which to date they havent.The numbers of National Guard is 2000 to 4000 troops.The Border Patrol is at present under staffed by the tune of of about 2000 agents.

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/government-accountability-office-jobs-border-patrol-staffing/2017/11/08/id/825012/

This is true. The Republican congress and senate woudn't fund the wall, but he effectively gave up on it when he signed the omnibus bill. Considering Trump's budget this year adds $984 billion to the US debt and up to $7 trillion over the next 10 years (I guess deficit spending isn't a bad thing unless it's done by a democrat) the border wall failure is even more terrible.

 

[Bird_Gunner45]

Or he wants to avoid a Canadian Forces style procuement project and make sure he does it right the first time.

Im going to guess walling off 3100 kilometers is a big project.

Maybe. The only person who disagree's is Trump:

"I will build a great wall -- and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me --and I'll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words."

"In America, we will build a great wall along the southern border. And Mexico will pay for the wall. One hundred percent. They don't know it yet, but they're going to pay for it. And they're great people and great leaders but they're going to pay for the wall. On day one, we will begin working on intangible, physical, tall, power, beautiful southern border wall"

"We`re going to build a wall, folks. We`re going to build a wall. That wall will go up so fast, your head will spin."

 

[Fishbone Jones]

I don't recall him putting a finish date on it, perhaps someone can refresh my memory. He's got two, maybe six years left. Lots of time to get things started. I'll wait till he's out of office to judge his promises and whether he kept them.

 

[Journeyman]

I'll wait till he's out of office to judge his promises and whether he kept them.

I'm trying to picture that statement posted in the Canadian politics thread, with the Trudeau / "LIEberals" 'discussions.'

Nope, just can't see it.  op:

 

[beirnini]

Or if similar deference and reticence were to be deployed in the Mueller investigation threads.

Nope. Same thing.

 

[Pencil Tech]

Congress has to first fund the wall which to date they havent.The numbers of National Guard is 2000 to 4000 troops.The Border Patrol is at present under staffed by the tune of of about 2000 agents.

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/government-accountability-office-jobs-border-patrol-staffing/2017/11/08/id/825012/

But Mexico was supposed to pay for that wall. That was the election promise, not I'll make the taxpayers pay for 3100 km long wall. Jesus.

 

[Altair]

China said it would counter U.S. protectionism “to the end, and at any cost,” as a war of words over President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on Chinese imports escalated.

The statement from Beijing came after Trump ordered his administration to consider tariffs on an additional US$100 billion in Chinese goods on Thursday, sending U.S. stock futures tumbling. The U.S. president cited “China’s unfair retaliation” in response to his list of proposed tariffs earlier this week covering US$50 billion in Chinese products.

“The Chinese side will follow suit to the end and at any cost, and will firmly attack, using new comprehensive countermeasures, to firmly defend the interest of the nation and its people,” the Commerce Ministry said in a statement on its website on Friday. The ministry said it would hold a press briefing at 8:00 p.m. in Beijing Friday.

http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/trump-urges-100-billion-in-new-china-tariffs

This from Mr trade wars are easy.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Anyone who thought that the global trade could continue the way it has been going, had their head in the sand, China has blocked pretty much everyone from access to their markets, while demanding full access for themselves. Trade for them has always been another form of warfare, now they are upset that someone does the same to them. China can ill afford to lose access to the US market, a downturn in the Chinese economy has political ramifications for the party.