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The Presidency of Donald J. Trump: No smocking guns. The Presidency of Donald J. Trump: No smocking guns.

04-09-2017 , 07:54 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperUberBob
It's not even new in the course of history. Roman military commanders would wage war exclusively for the triumph they would get after coming back. Nobody minced words with war. It was let's kill people, take their **** and celebrate back home.

Anyway, I find the adoration of soldiers in America expressed to be extremely shallow and insincere in most circumstances. If we really cared about soldiers, then why is the VA so underfunded? Why do I see homeless people holding out their VA card while asking for money? If we really cared, wouldn't somebody give that guy an apple?

Politicians run on a platform that includes expanding the VA's budget and supporting the troops with overwhelming support from both sides but never follow through once they are elected. Few can blame them for doing this without being a hypocrite because they are the manifestation of our actual behavior towards veterans: empty lip service followed by complete inaction.

Despite the fact that most people at their core don't really care about the military, it is still taboo to criticize the armed forces. It's a social front put up to maintain appearances. The first person to drop the charade gets cast aside for not conforming to this ridiculous social norm.

Even these comments would be construed as criticizing the military when I'm not. If you aren't showing unwavering support for any action soldiers take on behalf of the US government, then you aren't American. It's complete and utter bull**** but nobody has the confidence to stand up and say it.

Great post. 100% agree but could never articulate it as well as you did
04-09-2017 , 09:14 AM
My biggest problem with Trump's continued military actions is he is an absolute knee-jerk reactionary. That is a horrible trait for a president in charge of such things. Even if one views actions as necessary or support them, it's impossible to support how the president got himself there.
04-09-2017 , 09:15 AM
Anyone else watching MTP? Lindsey Graham is out of his ****ing mind.
04-09-2017 , 09:24 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by cuserounder
At the risk of responding to someone who is trolling, there are some major differences, among them:

1. Obama was looking to get Congressional approval, Trump did not.

2. I trust Obama not to stumble into a quagmire in the Middle East; I feel the opposite way about Trump.

3. I have faith in Obama's ability to understand the complexity and nuances of the conflict in Syria, but not Trump.

As for the Russia stuff, I don't think we should draw any conclusions just yet. This thing could very easily lead to all of the sanctions on Russia being lifted, which would not support your narrative.
That this Syria stuff erases the realities of real influence and collusion between Russia and the Trump Campaign and Administration is the worst take. You would have to not understand anything about the Russian accusations nor anything about Syria to reach such a conclusion.
04-09-2017 , 09:28 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Onlydo2days
I just saw the "only time will tell on trade" tweet in reference to the Jinping meeting.

Basically means he didn't get ****.

I actually thought they were gonna do some BS "Chinese company X will invest Y $ in (insert rust belt state)" but guess not. That surprised me they didn't even do that for PR purposes.
But I thought trump was the best negotiator and he promised to create one sided trade deals to only the benefit of the us by telling the rest of the world to eff off. I'm shocked this has not worked. What trade deals has trump even started to lay out with anyone with any hint of success so far?

This was a huge part of his campaign and post election rhetoric.
04-09-2017 , 09:43 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bundy5
Huh - but you lefties supported Obama in his military strikes against Syria but here, where there is a clear reason for another strike (being the chemical attack that occurred on the Syrian people that either the the Syrian government was behind or supported), you don't support it??

Once more with Russia apparently having military equipment at the air base in Syria and the US still giving it the go ahead, I thought you blokes would be happy that this shows that the Trump administration and the Putin reign aren't all that close after all...
Not shocking that a trump supporter has a simplistic view of a complex issue.

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04-09-2017 , 10:51 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by markksman
But I thought trump was the best negotiator and he promised to create one sided trade deals to only the benefit of the us by telling the rest of the world to eff off. I'm shocked this has not worked. What trade deals has trump even started to lay out with anyone with any hint of success so far?

This was a huge part of his campaign and post election rhetoric.
I asked Awval (sp) if it would be bad if Trump didn't do much on trade since he is from the Midwest, but he didn't see the post and I haven't talked with him since.

I think Awval is more objective than the avg Trump supporter as well, and probably now knows he is going to do nothing.
04-09-2017 , 11:30 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by eyebooger
Anyone else watching MTP? Lindsey Graham is out of his ****ing mind.
Dude the dog caught the car but it's not a normal car it looks more like this.

04-09-2017 , 11:37 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Our House
I just hope that FPS 45 didn't get too much of a taste of power and positive press on Thursday. The prospects of that + a madman calling the shots = frightening.

Well so far he's getting praised out the ass for it so my guess is more military action coming, even if it's just the $60 million equivalent of Fourth of July fireworks. The fact the I live in a country where people are fine spending that money on weapons of war but not actual humanitarian aid makes me sick.
04-09-2017 , 11:49 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ye90
2nd and 3rd reason are not valid because that's just your opinion.
That's arguable. By the time Obama sought approval for strikes in Syria, he had five years on the job and thus had a track record of how he handled foreign matters. Also, there are still articles to this day that explain how he would never take military action without knowing the post-strike plan, and how we get out. I believe he talked about not getting involved in the Middle East without an exit plan during his campaign. So it's my opinion, sure, but it's based on plenty of facts.

Quote:
Originally Posted by markksman
That this Syria stuff erases the realities of real influence and collusion between Russia and the Trump Campaign and Administration is the worst take. You would have to not understand anything about the Russian accusations nor anything about Syria to reach such a conclusion.
Exactly. Now I'm not saying it proves a conspiracy, but if you were Putin and Trump, and you both wanted the US sanctions on Russia lifted, what would be the easiest way to do it? Create a conflict, negotiate a peace deal of some kind out of it, and lift the sanctions in the process. At this point, that's one of a few possibilities.
04-09-2017 , 12:02 PM
Quote:
Graham: Assad telling Trump 'f--- you' by still using bombed Syrian base
That's the headline of a Politico article. I wonder if Graham is trying his own 3d chess to get Trump to wage more war.
04-09-2017 , 12:05 PM
Oh good, another ouster at the white house. KT McMaster is gone.
04-09-2017 , 12:07 PM
Who said the left supported Obama's AUMF?
04-09-2017 , 12:07 PM
Getting rid of all of Flynn's people
04-09-2017 , 12:12 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrWookie
Oh good, another ouster at the white house. KT McMaster is gone.
You mean KT McFarland, right? Not HR McMaster?

Seeing as McMaster is somewhat sane and she was tight with Flynn, if I remember correctly, this is pretty good news.
04-09-2017 , 12:17 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by cuserounder
You mean KT McFarland, right? Not HR McMaster?

Seeing as McMaster is somewhat sane and she was tight with Flynn, if I remember correctly, this is pretty good news.
Err, right. Lol me.
04-09-2017 , 12:17 PM
KT McFarland said a few years ago Putin deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for what he's doing in Syria

don't let the door hit you on your way out
04-09-2017 , 12:26 PM
I guess it's even more irony that Obama was the "isolationist" President the alt right thought Trump was going to be. It's kind of obvious Obama was tapping down on even the Democrats' desire to foreign entanglements
04-09-2017 , 12:40 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by cuserounder
You mean KT McFarland, right? Not HR McMaster?

Seeing as McMaster is somewhat sane and she was tight with Flynn, if I remember correctly, this is pretty good news.
Agreed. Speaking strictly from a personnel standpoint, I have been impressed with what McMaster has been able to accomplish in the WH since becoming NSA.
04-09-2017 , 12:42 PM
The orange buffoon administration will crush all records for turnover. Don't get too attached to anyone he's not related to.
04-09-2017 , 02:15 PM
At this point if you support trump you are simply too stupid to live. Period. No discussion required.
04-09-2017 , 02:20 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ye90
2nd and 3rd reason are not valid because that's just your opinion.
lol
04-09-2017 , 02:26 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by th14
KT McFarland said a few years ago Putin deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for what he's doing in Syria

don't let the door hit you on your way out
Quote:
Originally Posted by microbet
The orange buffoon administration will crush all records for turnover. Don't get too attached to anyone he's not related to.
I think Bannon is gone soon too and a few other people. My conspiritard guess is that there are some real Russia connections to some of these guys and Kushner is telling Trump he needs to get rid of them and bomb Syria to make it look like he is not personally involved.

No matter the reason, this much is clear: Trump made terrible decisions in hiring people to help run the country. That should be the talking point that Dems flog. It is 100% obviously true.
04-09-2017 , 02:36 PM
Nah, I'd divide his supporters into 3 categories: the ignorant, the *******s and the self-serving.

The ignorant are all those white people (many but not all are blue collar working types) and many old people who have been passed by in the modern economy and society and love the idea of a strongman who will "make america great again." They find him comforting and familiar. They're not racist, but they do support the system of white privilege which they do not perceive as racist, but again as comforting and familiar. After all, they've lived their whole life with white privilege. When someone tries to take it away then that's wrong, according to them.

Then there are the ******* alt-right people and white supremecists who champion Trump who is sympathetic to their views. David Duke, Milo Yannapolis, the alt-right movement.

Finally are the self-serving Republican politicians, business leaders and others who know he is crazy, unfit to serve but they can use him to make money (coal executives, rich people who want tax cuts, etc.), pass legislation (Paul Ryan) or do other things that would further their causes.

None are dumb and are all attempting to further their perceived interests via Trump.
04-09-2017 , 03:16 PM
McMaster must have provided a detailed take it or leave set of conditions for taking the job. Remember he was the second replacement choice after the guy who I can't remember wanted to pick his own staff was denied.

      
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