Want to understand what Trump is doing? Part 2

PM Carney stood up to the US in no uncertain terms yesterday. Quite pleased with him for it.

MercuryQueen

PM Carney stood up to the US in no uncertain terms yesterday. Quite pleased with him for it.

Yes, well done that man. I would think he has done his re-election chances no harm there.

ronib

The Vatican is the smallest country in the world and has not one Muslim living in it. Leading by example springs to mind?

Could someone explain to me what this has to do with "Want to understand what Trump is doing?". I'm completely lost as to how it fits with the OP.

PoliticsNerd

ronib

The Vatican is the smallest country in the world and has not one Muslim living in it. Leading by example springs to mind?

Could someone explain to me what this has to do with "Want to understand what Trump is doing?". I'm completely lost as to how it fits with the OP.

The Pope condemned US mass deportations.

People listen to the Pope, what he says matters to many.

The Pope has been vocal in the past about Ukraine and GAZA. I don't feel at all like he needed to bring these topics up while condemning Trump. Because he has in the past. No need for me to assume his stance has changed.

I still don't understand how not allowing Muslims in Vatican City is leading by example? From my visit there 5 years ago, I vaguely remember that most residents were Priests and Nuns, so I wouldnt expect a Muslim to live there. Not because they aren't allowed, but because they are not a Priest or Nun.

While I was there, I saw people of all religions and backgrounds, including Muslim tourists. Everyone was respectful of each other and the place itself. All were welcome as guests and visitors.

Jesus would have welcomed everyone.

The X stuff buying and selling is beyond me except to realise that Musk owning the main chat and information platforms whilst being head of Doge and having such close ties with Trump is intolerable in a true democracy.

Cossy

ronib

The Vatican is the smallest country in the world and has not one Muslim living in it. Leading by example springs to mind?

I do get your point but given their population is less than 1,000 and it’s where the head of the Catholic Church lives, it’s hardly a surprise.

It’s clear though people of all faiths are welcome to visit.

The Vatican City houses the clergy, religious members and employees of the Roman Catholic church and their children. All members of the Roman Catholic faith.
Why you might expect followers of Islam to be living there is puzzling.

I saw someone say that Musk just moved X from his checking to his savings.

With Tedla stock dropping like it is, and protests increasing around the world, Musk's creditors will getting nervous since all his loans are backed by Tesla stock. He could be protecting it from creditors.

It is interesting to note that he purchased it for $33 billion, which is a loss. I am no tax attorney, so I don't understand all of it, but businesses can write off loss at the IRS. Not sure how it works at this level ($billions) but his businesses don't pay taxes anyhow.

PoliticsNerd

I'm going to repeat something I recently posted on another News and Politics thread. "... when discussions go from addressing core issues to casting blame and finding scapegoats little is actually achieved."

I've a feeling it may become my mantra

You’ll never stop posters posting irrelevancies or non sequiturs (or just strange statements) or other posters following them up. No-one controls threads. Attempts to do so can be resented.

It’s deeply ironic that Musk originally tried to withdraw from buying twitter. IIRC it took a court case to force him to honour the original deal.
One cannot help thinking that the US might be in a better place now if he hadn’t bought it.

100% true Mazie, IMO. It is nothing more than a right wing propaganda site now.

Though, this didn't start with Musk and X, he did help accelerate it.

Imaround a couple of samples from a Brit family that have done "home made" often political songs since Covid commenting on US stuff - not their best efforts but worth a play. If you like them explore further.. (fans have watched them grow up since their first efforts)

Marsh family I put up tariffs
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DyNjjSxO8s

Don't abandon them
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvT3aQjLxdE

I saw one of their videos earlier! Brilliant.

Wyllow3

The X stuff buying and selling is beyond me except to realise that Musk owning the main chat and information platforms whilst being head of Doge and having such close ties with Trump is intolerable in a true democracy.

There is a movement in the states that believes that the best style of government is to have a strong leader who personally controls everything by direct decision-making. Musk has connections with that movement. He and others were influential in backing Vance (who is also of that opinion) into the vice-presidency.

Curtis Yarvin is a proponent of "monarchy" or rather, a CEO like a business. Interiew with him - www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDTtxMItva0

The problem with having business billionaires heavily into government is that a business has a product of some sort, which they make at a cost, doing a lot of testing and evaluating and changing their processes to get the best product on the market, which they sell to customers at a profit which makes them richer.

However the main product of a government is its people . Others do the development, the manufacturing, and the marketing on the actual goods and services they are selling, while Government should be setting the scene to keep the human beings created and raised in their country widely educated, healthy in mind and body, defended from criminality at home and invasion from abroad, and supported when they are unable for whatever reason to support themselves. The legislation, administration and judicial branches

Approaching national politics purely as a business is not viable, any more than treating national finances as identical with family budgeting, because a national government is neither a family nor a business. Those who have made personal fortunes in the billions by making big decisions and defeating others in their field do not automatically have the mindset to see where spending money in areas which don't show a profit is NOT waste - because the aim is not a financial one, it is social.

Norah

PoliticsNerd

ronib

The Vatican is the smallest country in the world and has not one Muslim living in it. Leading by example springs to mind?

Could someone explain to me what this has to do with "Want to understand what Trump is doing?". I'm completely lost as to how it fits with the OP.

The Pope condemned US mass deportations.

People listen to the Pope, what he says matters to many.

Thank you Norah. Exactly what I needed

I have been thinking about this too and wondered if Jesus would have been refused asylum under the current rules….. On a more serious note, isn’t it time for the Catholic Church to pitch in with the asylum problem? Then it would be living the Gospel?

He absolutely would have ronib, in my opinion.

There is nothing Christian about MAGA.

Especially as Jesus was Palestinian.

Exactly Wyllow. Trump would have Jesus kidnapped off the streets, put in chains, then a prison in El Salvador.



On a lighter note, if you want a laugh, check out the SNL cold open from last night.

They hit Hegseth, Rubio, Vance and Gaetz all in the same skit.

Vance's Greenland stunt has really put a target on his back.

Here's the skit, imaround

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLtI9mvgSro

Musk paid for votes again today. In Wisconsin. I have no idea why the Appeals court decided not to block it.

apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-musk-million-dollar-giveaway-cdea66e0dcbaa53dd183e1d10bee2b35

I read that a USA company is asking Trump to ignore them breaking international law in order that they can mine the Pacific seabed.

Nothing is sacred.

I read an interesting article yesterday about the economic impact of Canadian snowbirds deciding to stay at home. Apparently they bought 13% of homes in the USA sunshine states last year, and are now trying to offload them quickly.

Casdon

I read an interesting article yesterday about the economic impact of Canadian snowbirds deciding to stay at home. Apparently they bought 13% of homes in the USA sunshine states last year, and are now trying to offload them quickly.

Yes, Florida has always been a popular destination for Canadians buying second homes.
Members of our family had one, I would think they sold it some time ago after they became too old to travel such a distance. 🤞