Politics

[cwpayton]

There is zero chance that insurance and pharmaceutical lobbyists will allow Trump to lower drug prices. But it’s good politics.

He will have another Foil to campaign against

Ah, do you want to make a friendly wager on that statement , or are we even allowed to do that on this forum.

 

[BlueFlyer]

Guess your not that interested in how the China US tariff changes are perceived outside the US but I will share it anyway.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-13/trump-china-tariffs-capitulation-markets-respond/105285374

 

[cwpayton]

They are both 5’7” tall and probably weigh a buck sixty. Put them in a ring with no rules and see who wins. My money is on Z, although P was KGB. Z is younger and probably more angry.

I truly wish wars were settled this way, would save alot of inoccents.

 

[cwpayton]

Guess your not that interested in how the China US tariff changes are perceived outside the US but I will share it anyway.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-13/trump-china-tariffs-capitulation-markets-respond/105285374

a b c news .. just like Atlantic. not a trusted source of news.

 

[fourfive8]

Guess your not that interested in how the China US tariff changes are perceived outside the US but I will share it anyway.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-13/trump-china-tariffs-capitulation-markets-respond/105285374

Demonstrates an example of how the propaganda spread by Main Stream Media (MSM) brainwashes the world just as it does half the US population. NPR, PBS, CNN, ABC, CBS, BBC, NBC, MSNBC, etc.

 

[Pasme]

An interesting take.

China Called Trump’s Bluff — The Atlantic

There is a lesson here for anyone Trump threatens.

apple.news

Honestly i don't think they were faze, they knew Trump wanted a deal possibly more than they do.

 

[BlueFlyer]

a b c news .. just like Atlantic. not a trusted source of news.

Just to set you straight.
This is not from American Broadcasting Company USA - This article was from the Australia Broadcasting Corporation which is funded by the Australian Government and is some what independent.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Listening to the leftist bought and paid for media hand ringing about Trump bringing in 50 S. African refugees.

One of them even cited a NGO that said we are full. there is no more housing for refugees.
Just another example of they break it and then complain that it’s broken. Biden brought in 197,000 refugees and not a peep from the Democrats media drones.

Also, the media apparently found their curiosity again, and are asking questions about propriety in accepting a jet offered by Qatar.

Apparently, taking millions personally is OK for the Democrats but the taxpayers getting a break and the government receiving a half billion plane is not OK.

And as far as Qatar being our enemy. deep down, even our allies are not what they seem. If it even happens, this jet will go to the defense department.

Bad actors don’t need to gift the U.S. a Trojan horse. They have spies and operators deep within every major impactful US company, including the defense contractors and that’s why we have intelligence agents embedded in those same U.S. companies .

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

@Altitude sickness just because they have traditional spies doesn’t mean they’d turn the down the chance to plant listening devices.

Remember that thing?

I doubt by having trumps plane wired you could gain much useful blackmail material at this point he’s already shrugged off a porn starlet scandal so his Teflon is well intact. You could however potentially over hear any number of sensitive discussions about policy, trade , military manoeuvres ect.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Tubbys, The techniques used today compared to what we have in our mind. would be like referencing a rotary phone compared to the latest iPhone.

If anyone is curious why our intelligence agencies tend to be leaning more and more left.
The same circles and factories that produce the legacy media type also produce the type of people in the upper echelon of the intelligence agencies. The two might as well be mentioned as the same entity. they’ve had a symbiotic relationship for decades.

https://www.cato.org/commentary/how-national-security-state-manipulates-news-media

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Tubbys, The techniques used today compared to what we have in our mind. would be like referencing a rotary phone compared to the latest iPhone.

If anyone is curious why our intelligence agencies tend to be leaning more and more left.
The same circles and factories that produce the legacy media type also produce the type of people in the upper echelon of the intelligence agencies. The two might as well be mentioned as the same entity. they’ve had a symbiotic relationship for decades.

https://www.cato.org/commentary/how-national-security-state-manipulates-news-media

You could be right I really don’t know , I’ve got an iPhone I don’t really know how to use. All I’m saying is the classics are classics for a reason and if I was at all involved in that deal that airplane would go to a secure location an be completely disassembled and inspected. I’m willing to go out on a limb and say there is likely some sort of faraday cage style structure already built in America somewhere that would work for that purpose.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Although there are always real threats to the U.S. president, a certain Persian group would love to X Trump and hopefully they are not successful in the next 3 yrs.

The reality is the day-to-day spying threat on Trump is more likely from within the Palace walls. The same people he’s trusting to guard against that.

 

[Red Leg]

Guess your not that interested in how the China US tariff changes are perceived outside the US but I will share it anyway.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-13/trump-china-tariffs-capitulation-markets-respond/105285374

What seems to be accurate about the report is that the exorbitant tariffs on China were about to cause broad damage to US businesses - particularly smaller enterprises absolutely dependent on a Chinese supply chain and create a huge Covid-like store shelf calamity for the VOTING public. As in any cost scenario, that inconvenience would be most felt by working class Americans. Many of you seem to feel like you have far more expertise on the Chinese economy than me, but this feels more like some sort of self-inflicted mutual economic and political suicide pact to achieve the status quo and talks. I wonder if a nice invitation on Whitehouse letterhead might have been any less effective.

Second, I think anyone can now see that the revenue generating aspect of the tariff plan was never real. I am not sure whether Trump thought it was, but if he did, that is really worrisome. I think I would have been more comfortable having been lied to about it. My sense is that the only person with a real grip on what is actually happening is Scott Bessent. I pray Trump doesn't get frustrated with what are likely uncomfortable periodic chats with him.

Finally, it seems ever more apparent that there is zero intent to cut spending and draw down the national debt. The effect on debt of the Big Beautiful Bill seems to pretty much mirror Biden's two major bills in that respect. Even the folks over at CFP, RedState, and Breitbart seem to be getting concerned. Moreover, support for the agenda is getting wobbly on the Hill.

This was published in the Wall Street Journal today. Ron Johnson is not exactly a leftist democrat.

https://archive.is/sKPCo

What I believe would benefit people like me is some sense of coherence emerging with all the late night blather from the president. I do not understand his intent, I do not understand his strategy, and certainly do not have blind faith in him.

 

[Altitude sickness]

“My sense is that the only person with a real grip on what is actually happening is Scott Bessent.”

We are lucky to have Bessent at the helm. Hopefully Trump is smart enough to let Bessent to the heavy lifting and stay out of his way. We know Scott is content to let Trump take the credit. And that’s all he’s interested in. So it may work out between them.

The Big Beautiful Bill is in jeopardy because they now want to raise taxes on the top 1-2%

 

[Tanks]

I

What I believe would benefit people like me is some sense of coherence emerging with all the late night blather from the president. I do not understand his intent, I do not understand his strategy, and certainly do not have blind faith in him.

Exactly, businesses need to be able to make plans projecting several months, years down the line. With Trump one can’t even project forward weeks as what is reality today changes tomorrow.

People are already panic buying as well.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

If we lose Bessent it’s going to be bad….

 

[Brent in Az]

Someone who's too radical and disruptive even for the Democrat party?

 

[mdwest]

Tubbys, The techniques used today compared to what we have in our mind. would be like referencing a rotary phone compared to the latest iPhone.

That is in and of itself the potential problem though...

what can be fit inside something the size of a pin head these days can do more than what used to have to be contained inside a shoe box..

and now you have something the size of a wide body jumbo jet to hide it in..

we're no longer talking about something the size of a thumb getting hidden in a 3' round wooden carving..

that's not to say the USSS and DOD don't scan/scrub every inch of AF1 routinely for technical and physical surveillance items and activities..

but.. while the personnel assigned to AF1 (and VMX1) security are indeed exceptionally skilled and talented.. we are still talking about the DEI impregnated agencies and organizations that gave us:

* an assassination attempt within 150 meters by an absolute amateur with a semi auto rifle

* a boarder of AF1 that didn't have credentials or authorization, that actually took off with the aircraft (2003 - South Africa)

* State dinner crashers in 2009

* Parties with hookers in Colombia in 2012

* The Fat Leonard scandal

and a whole lot more (that's just what I can come up with off the top of my head in a few minutes)..

Qatar doesn't have the quality or capability within its intelligence agencies to pull much off.. but it certainly has enough connectivity to other countries that do have the quality and capability to pull something significant off... and our counter measures capabilities have been diminished quite a bit over the last few years with the Biden Administration prioritizing both hiring and promotions based on skin color, sex, religious beliefs, gender, etc..etc.. over performance and merit..

Im not saying we shouldn't take the plane... that gesture isn't because Qatar just wants to give away $400M.. they want something in return.. its a business deal.. not unlike any other deal that goes on between governments...

Im just saying we better completely disassemble that giant bitch and go over it with a fine toothed comb then reassemble it before using it in the capacity of AF1.. and then repeat the process before we turn it back over to the Qataris...

 

[Altitude sickness]

Mdwest, I’m guessing they would never actually turn it into AF1

But as you know. Once Trump sees the disruption it’s causing. He’s going to keep trolling the media.

 

[mdwest]

Someone who's too radical and disruptive even for the Democrat party?

View attachment 684669

I dont think its a matter of too radical and disruptive.. I think its a matter of lack of experience, clear immaturity, and lack of respect..

Hes really no more radical than Wasserman-Schultz was.. but he lacks the political chops, networks, and skills to navigate politics at that level..

I celebrated when the DNC selected him as Vice Chair, knowing nothing good would come from him being in that position for them..

The move they are trying to make would also remove Kenyatta from the other Vice Chair position..

I sincerely hope the DNC fails in their attempt to remove them.. if they do it is almost certain they will backfill the seats with a couple of people not quite as far left leaning, and that the current conflict between Hogg and the DNC Chair would completely evaporate, which would push the DNC toward a more unified stance..

I think the best thing for conservatives in this country is for the DNC to keep going down its current path and keep Hogg and Kenyatta in the Vice Chair positions..