I said it a long time ago . Just watch when the heat is on they will start a war. SOP .

So the Iraqi Parliament has voted to expel US troops after the execution of the Iranian General without notifying them. Not saying the man wasn't a bad guy but it sure seems ill conceived without any thought given to the consequences of the action.

The Trump administration claimed the general was plotting aggression against the U.S. but like most of their claims offer no concrete proof. Sounds like another fabricated excuse to go to war to me.

I also do believe this was a desperate act by Trump, done to divert attention from the impeachment and rally the country around his administration as we do love our wars.

Well done Mr President! Another one of your empty campaign promises to get out of the Middle East and bring our boys home.

It looks more and more like this is exactly what Trump was trying to do...I saw this morning that 3500 82nd Airborne troops were headed to Kuwait as of this morning.

Not that we ever completely left Kuwait after Gulf War I, but this is without a doubt a substantial build-up that I suspect is really more about protecting nearby Saudi Arabia than Kuwait itself.

Nice job Caligula....Your impulsiveness is now beyond stupid tweets and insults and is going to cause more American and Middle eastern deaths than you ever considered between tees times at Mara Lago.

I suppose such actions were inevitable given little Donnie's cabinet and advisers now consists of nothing but yes men and women looking out for mostly their own self-interests.

Yeah but unemployment is 3.9% and they "Like the way he talks"

they "Like the way he talks"

And that mouth shore purdy too!

Yeah but unemployment is 3.9% and they "Like the way he talks"

😛 😛

Yeah but unemployment is 3.9%

BIG PUSSY cited that stat in a post in another thread.

Yeah but unemployment is 3.9%

BIG PUSSY cited that stat in a post in another thread.

Yes I know....LOL... 😛 😉

Why would Trump want to steer attention away from impeachment when he thinks impeachment helps him?

I'm glad Soleimsnia is dead but I am afraid what comes of it.

I supppse one could say, killing him and having Iraq expell US troops from Iraq is one way to get out of the Middle East.

Why would Trump want to steer attention away from impeachment when he thinks impeachment helps him?

I'm glad Soleimsnia is dead but I am afraid what comes of it.

I supppse one could say, killing him and having Iraq expell US troops from Iraq is one way to get out of the Middle East.

Trump's seat of the pants actions in the Middle East in the last year have lead to increasingly more instability in that region. How can anyone defend the totality of his actions?

That's the thing about Trump fans, they can't seem to consider the totality of anything he does....It's all about the 30 second sound bite. Much like using the unemployment rate to claim the economy is the best in history when anyone with any knowledge of economics knows it's far more complicated than that.

Keep the message simple so as to make the con that much more effective. When asked for details on any topic, duck and dodge and shift the discussion to something else. If that fails, blame Hilary or Obama or call it "fake news."

I see that most of the members of the Club have checked in ....

That's the thing about Trump fans, they can't seem to consider the totality of anything he does....It's all about the 30 second sound bite. Keep the message simple so as to make the con that much more effective. When asked for details on any topic, duck and dodge and shift the discussion to something else.

To be fair, I don't think it's limited to Trump fans although his base started w/reality TV watchers who loved his one liner - "You're Fired." Who knew he'd use it so often in office? We've become a country of sound bites. Go to any business conference & there's sure to be a session on "Perfect Your Elevator Pitch," 280 Character Sales," "30-Second Brand Building," and "A Review of Networking Apps." The last one amazes me - you don't even have to meet people to network; your app meets their app like Tinder for business. Like it or not, keeping the message simple w/no details (or direction to a website that no one is actually going to follow) is how ideas are sold.

The burden falls on journalists & academicians to investigate & us to actually read the reporting beyond the sound bites. No one should think the aftermath of Suleimani's assassination is over. In less than 10 days, we've learned a 2nd US assassination failed (Quds financier Abdul Shalai) in Yemen, the US has offered a $15mm reward for Shalai's whereabouts, Iran launched missile attacks on 2 bases where US forces are housed in retaliation, Iran shot down the Ukrainian 737, and PUTIN will be meeting w/Merkel today about the dumpster fire in the Middle East. Yes, those 2 are exactly who I'd pick to peacefully sort things out.

And why doesn't ANYONE counter the 3.9% unemployment figure w/the wage stagnation figure????? or any of the other stats that create that low unemployment #?

I see that most of the members of the Club have checked in ....

Damn, what a cool, rugged lone wolf. We are truly in awe. The courage to be such BIIIG "individual".
You are a king among men.

[Edited on 1/11/2020 by lukester420]

I see that most of the members of the Club have checked in ....

Damn, what a cool, rugged lone wolf. We are truly in awe. The courage to be such BIIIG "individual".
You are a king among men.

Not at all, just see things differently.

He’s not a lone wolf - more folks than you might think feel statistical data like that isn’t fake news & should have a place in the conversation

Thankfully some media outlets try to keep it all in balance
The op ed page in this mornings paper has very interesting reading
As the headline says, “This isn’t 2003, and Trump isn’t Bush”

Brief quote, our recent actions in Iran “reflected the most basic imperative of a nation protecting its own: Don’t harm Americans”

Elsewhere, primary season begins a month from today in NH - also, pitchers & catchers report

He’s not a lone wolf - more folks than you might think feel statistical data like that isn’t fake news & should have a place in the conversation

Thankfully some media outlets try to keep it all in balance
The op ed page in this mornings paper has very interesting reading
As the headline says, “This isn’t 2003, and Trump isn’t Bush”

Brief quote, our recent actions in Iran “reflected the most basic imperative of a nation protecting its own: Don’t harm Americans”

Elsewhere, primary season begins a month from today in NH - also, pitchers & catchers report

I know. He's more of a sheep than most here. Just trying to give him that ego boost that is desperately needed.

[Edited on 1/11/2020 by lukester420]

That's the thing about Trump fans, they can't seem to consider the totality of anything he does....It's all about the 30 second sound bite. Keep the message simple so as to make the con that much more effective. When asked for details on any topic, duck and dodge and shift the discussion to something else.

To be fair, I don't think it's limited to Trump fans although his base started w/reality TV watchers who loved his one liner - "You're Fired." Who knew he'd use it so often in office? We've become a country of sound bites. Go to any business conference & there's sure to be a session on "Perfect Your Elevator Pitch," 280 Character Sales," "30-Second Brand Building," and "A Review of Networking Apps." The last one amazes me - you don't even have to meet people to network; your app meets their app like Tinder for business. Like it or not, keeping the message simple w/no details (or direction to a website that no one is actually going to follow) is how ideas are sold.

The burden falls on journalists & academicians to investigate & us to actually read the reporting beyond the sound bites. No one should think the aftermath of Suleimani's assassination is over. In less than 10 days, we've learned a 2nd US assassination failed (Quds financier Abdul Shalai) in Yemen, the US has offered a $15mm reward for Shalai's whereabouts, Iran launched missile attacks on 2 bases where US forces are housed in retaliation, Iran shot down the Ukrainian 737, and PUTIN will be meeting w/Merkel today about the dumpster fire in the Middle East. Yes, those 2 are exactly who I'd pick to peacefully sort things out.

And why doesn't ANYONE counter the 3.9% unemployment figure w/the wage stagnation figure????? or any of the other stats that create that low unemployment #?

I'm by no means suggesting this is anything new. We've been a sound bite nation on many topics for many years now. However, the Trump crowd seems particularly prone to the sounds bites given that Trump has done very little of anything to push forward improving their lot in life and only gives it lip service.

Other than a very small temporary tax cut and a few more immigrants jailed and few more miles of wall built I really fail to see anything for the middle class of significance that he's accomplished that wasn't already occurring under the Obama administration.

However, the Trump crowd seems particularly prone to the sounds bites given that Trump has done very little of anything to push forward improving their lot in life and only gives it lip service.

Other than a very small temporary tax cut and a few more immigrants jailed and few more miles of wall built I really fail to see anything for the middle class of significance that he's accomplished that wasn't already occurring under the Obama administration.

You're right that Trump definitely gives his disciples sound bites to chant, but that's who he is - a carnival barker.

What he's accomplished is the ONE thing that his followers wanted - 2 conservative SCOTUS justices in 1 term. Those single issue voters are assuaged now. They don't care if their lot in life is improved as long as they believe they've won on the abortion issue. They've just been trained to chant "3.9%" instead of "Kavanaugh."

. . .what a cool, rugged lone wolf.

Classic case of Charltonosis

However, the Trump crowd seems particularly prone to the sounds bites given that Trump has done very little of anything to push forward improving their lot in life and only gives it lip service.

Other than a very small temporary tax cut and a few more immigrants jailed and few more miles of wall built I really fail to see anything for the middle class of significance that he's accomplished that wasn't already occurring under the Obama administration.

You're right that Trump definitely gives his disciples sound bites to chant, but that's who he is - a carnival barker.

What he's accomplished is the ONE thing that his followers wanted - 2 conservative SCOTUS justices in 1 term. Those single issue voters are assuaged now. They don't care if their lot in life is improved as long as they believe they've won on the abortion issue. They've just been trained to chant "3.9%" instead of "Kavanaugh."

I disagree slightly...The two conservative SCOTUS appointments certainly thrilled the religious right followers among his tribe, but those independents and former Obama supporters who voted for Trumm and who cared mostly about what some call kitchen table issues like health care, affordable education, and living wages have gained nothing under Trump....These supporters in 2016 must now have some buyers remorse.

[Edited on 1/11/2020 by Chain]

 

However, the Trump crowd seems particularly prone to the sounds bites given that Trump has done very little of anything to push forward improving their lot in life and only gives it lip service.

Other than a very small temporary tax cut and a few more immigrants jailed and few more miles of wall built I really fail to see anything for the middle class of significance that he's accomplished that wasn't already occurring under the Obama administration.

You're right that Trump definitely gives his disciples sound bites to chant, but that's who he is - a carnival barker.

What he's accomplished is the ONE thing that his followers wanted - 2 conservative SCOTUS justices in 1 term. Those single issue voters are assuaged now. They don't care if their lot in life is improved as long as they believe they've won on the abortion issue. They've just been trained to chant "3.9%" instead of "Kavanaugh."

I disagree slightly...The two conservative SCOTUS appointments certainly thrilled the religious right followers among his tribe, but those independents and former Obama supporters who voted for Trumm and who cared mostly about what some call kitchen table issues like health care, affordable education, and living wages have gained nothing under Trump....These supporters in 2016 must now have some buyers remorse.

[Edited on 1/11/2020 by Chain]

Health care was a high priority issue in the 2018 midterms. How did the midterms go? What positives has Trump done to run on for health care accomplishments. I guess those in his base who struggle for health care have cheered his attempts at chipping away at Obamacare with no replacement and no solutions although he said he'd offer better care at lower prices. That's as laughable as another of his promises - "Who is going to pay for the wall"...the American taxpayers.

 

However, the Trump crowd seems particularly prone to the sounds bites given that Trump has done very little of anything to push forward improving their lot in life and only gives it lip service.

Other than a very small temporary tax cut and a few more immigrants jailed and few more miles of wall built I really fail to see anything for the middle class of significance that he's accomplished that wasn't already occurring under the Obama administration.

You're right that Trump definitely gives his disciples sound bites to chant, but that's who he is - a carnival barker.

What he's accomplished is the ONE thing that his followers wanted - 2 conservative SCOTUS justices in 1 term. Those single issue voters are assuaged now. They don't care if their lot in life is improved as long as they believe they've won on the abortion issue. They've just been trained to chant "3.9%" instead of "Kavanaugh."

I disagree slightly...The two conservative SCOTUS appointments certainly thrilled the religious right followers among his tribe, but those independents and former Obama supporters who voted for Trumm and who cared mostly about what some call kitchen table issues like health care, affordable education, and living wages have gained nothing under Trump....These supporters in 2016 must now have some buyers remorse.

[Edited on 1/11/2020 by Chain]

Health care was a high priority issue in the 2018 midterms. How did the midterms go? What positives has Trump done to run on for health care accomplishments. I guess those in his base who struggle for health care have cheered his attempts at chipping away at Obamacare with no replacement and no solutions although he said he'd offer better care at lower prices. That's as laughable as another of his promises - "Who is going to pay for the wall"...the American taxpayers.

Indeed....Whoever the Dems. nominate, they MUST, absolutely MUST, scream about Trump's attack on health care at the top of their lungs and at every opportunity. This is no doubt Trump's Achilles heel...The Republican party in general too!

The more I listen to the various Democratic health plans, the more I'm encouraged that things truly can improve on this issue if a Dem is elected and they win the Senate....Obviously a tall order, but this is the issue that could make it happen.

Lastly, I'm beginning to think it's time we lower Medicare eligibility to say 50 maybe 55 and keep in place and improve the Affordable Care Act for everyone else...A compromise within the Democratic platform of sorts...A hybrid of the two dominate plans being bantered about generally speaking...It's a compromise for the electorate, too..

 

Health care was a high priority issue in the 2018 midterms. How did the midterms go? What positives has Trump done to run on for health care accomplishments. I guess those in his base who struggle for health care have cheered his attempts at chipping away at Obamacare with no replacement and no solutions although he said he'd offer better care at lower prices. That's as laughable as another of his promises - "Who is going to pay for the wall"...the American taxpayers.

Health care is a priority in every presidential election, but regarding the proposed wall, if it ever officially came to a vote on Capitol Hill, hopefully it would be voted down, or at least tabled - we’ve committed $738 billion to Space Force, making the wall too costly of a project - should be deprioritized at this time

plus it’s just plain a bad idea, we have guards stationed at entry points - people wanting to enter illegally know they could get busted - who wants another Berlin Wall situation, it’d just get torn down again someday - what was it President Reagan said back in the day - “Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall”

Watched the Jack Nicholson movie The Border recently - much of it still seems pertinent today

The raging fires are cooling in Australia, let’s hope the raging Middle East dumpster fire & all the problems over there are too

[Edited on 1/12/2020 by Stephen]

Health care is a priority in every presidential election

Nope, Health Care is a "Priority" in the debates and that is where it stops.

Health care is a priority in every presidential election

Nope, Health Care is a "Priority" in the debates and that is where it stops.

For Republican administrations yes.....Unless you consider that they basically attack Medicare and Medicaid the minute they occupy the White House and/or take over leadership positions in Congress. They sure as hell haven't offered any true reform and improvement to our healthcare system only slash and burn.

Whereas whether right or wrong the past two Democratic administrations attempted actual meaningful reform. Clinton with his failed attempt and Obama with the ACA legislation.

Briefly changing the subject, but, along w/The Border, has anyone ever seen the film Advise & Consent - it too is pertinent to this day & rings similar to the impeachment proceedings - very powerful film, been too long since seeing it

But yes, health care is like the gun control debate - never ending - yep all the candidates claim to have the answer, & all the administrations, Repub or Dem, have claimed credit over the years for the right way to do it

Hoping tension simmers down in the Middle East

Briefly changing the subject, but, along w/The Border, has anyone ever seen the film Advise & Consent - it too is pertinent to this day & rings similar to the impeachment proceedings - very powerful film, been too long since seeing it

But yes, health care is like the gun control debate - never ending - yep all the candidates claim to have the answer, & all the administrations, Repub or Dem, have claimed credit over the years for the right way to do it

Hoping tension simmers down in the Middle East

Yes on Advise and Consent. Excellent movie and yes still rings true to this day. Think I originally saw it in American politcal behavior class in high school and I had it on vhs so watched it after that.

Interesting twist with Iran admitting, apologizing, and offering reparation for the airliner downing SNAFU. Took the whole world by surprise - what, huh, honesty, responsibility, humility? WTF???

Interesting twist with Iran admitting, apologizing, and offering reparation for the airliner downing SNAFU. Took the whole world by surprise - what, huh, honesty, responsibility, humility? WTF???

Iran GOOD....USA bad