Blah blah blah 2

[Got Stripers]

Feel safer now with a news host working for a convicted felon game show host firing top military leaders at the Pentagon? Unless your an idiot you have realized climate change is real, yet Trump is stopping scientist from working on it. Wonder how RFK, our vaccine conspiracy general will handle the outbreaks getting going?

[Rmarsh]

The bitching whining and crying....is in perpetual motion now. I predict that this will be the longest running thread in SB history. All I need to do now is nudge the less mentally stable SHS people...like once a week.
....you know the ones that cant help themselves....and are typing away feverishly.... helpless in your strategy of resistance and denial. This president is going to wear you down like a pair of my workboots.....takes about a year.

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by Rmarsh

The bitching whining and crying....is in perpetual motion now. I predict that this will be the longest running thread in SB history. All I need to do now is nudge the less mentally stable SHS people...like once a week.
....you know the ones that cant help themselves....and are typing away feverishly.... helpless in your strategy of resistance and denial. This president is going to wear you down like a pair of my workboots.....takes about a year.

We’re impressed so far


Donald Trump's rapid-fire policy moves - and I'll note that the word "policy" is applied charitably in this case - are the economic equivalent of liberally tossing around lighter fluid and playing with a packet of matches.
His unnecessary, belligerent, and pointlessly aggressive tariffs, and his spending cuts (in the name of tax breaks for America's wealthy) have given his second term the fiscal aerodynamics of a lead balloon.
There's a difference between uncertainty and volatility, but Trump has lumbered into power with both at his heels, and America's economy is already feeling the one-two-punch.
The market reaction has been far from partisan. The S%P 500 is down 1.71%, the Nasdaq 2.20%. And the price of eggs, a marker that became the campaign-defining meme of Trump's financial promises, has soared; as of February 21, 2025, the national average wholesale price for a dozen Grade A eggs reached $8.07, the highest on record.
Trump's model of Governance through Executive Order has been defined by a tsunami of changes, from the petulant to the ideological. His tariffs - a blunt instrument favored by the economically illiterate - have targeted cars, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals. Even Jim Farley, the Trump-supporting CEO of Ford, predicted the administration's approach would lead to "a lot of costs, a lot of chaos."
Meanwhile, Trump's co-president, Elon "Ketamine" Musk, has been let loose at the conjured-from-thin-air Department of Government Efficiency, where his cuts, irresponsible and incompetent at best, wilfully destructive at worse, have kicked off the wholesale collapse of employment across government departments and related industries; a ruin that will inevitably show up in stalled employment numbers.
The supply-chain ripple effect of Musk and Trump's effective shuttering of USAID is preemptively hitting agriculture and manufacturing. And markets are pricing in a gloomy assessment of policy disruption.
PMI has dropped to a 17-month low. Manufacturing is "front-running" tariffs as the reality of Trump's scorched earth economics sets in. The services area, both public and private, is already contracting. As it turns out, the "Trump Business Honeymoon" couldn't make it 30 days into his ignominious, post-conviction Presidency.
Consumer sentiment has followed Industry, falling to a 15-month low, with inflation expectations at their highest since 1995. And as Walmart has warned, the feedback loop between sentiment and spending couldn't be clearer. Americans are feeling the pinch, and their wallets are snapping shut.
None of this should be surprising to anyone with a functioning brain cell - so it's entirely understandable that it's left MAGA voters and Trump supporters gasping. Shooting from the hip is a poor approach to policy, and when uncertainty becomes an official strategy, the markets will fluctuate between erratic attempts at adaptation and paralysis. As euphoric as America's Oligarchs might have been about unchecked capitalism, the wholesale of regulation, and a Government that would either look the other way or lend a helping hand to their banditry, the fact is that markets thrive on stability. You cannot build on an unsteady foundation; right now, America's economic foundation is being undermined.
Disruption can be a positive force. But over the last decade, it has become a hand-wave that forgives and excuses irresponsible governance, poor decision-making, and financial incompetence. The reason you can't run the government like a startup is simple: 90% or more of startups fail. That's a risk threshold that should be unacceptable to anyone serious about the responsibility of America's stewardship.
Productive disruption in the context of an economy or a nation is possible. But there is no evidence of anything productive in Donald Trump's current approach to economics. Just more deliberate and collateral damage, more flagrant disregard for common sense, and more policies designed to shake things up while shaking the monetary baby to death.
The numbers surrounding Biden's soft landing, the numbers inherited by Trump and his gangsters, showed a nation bouncing back.
But Trump's performance in the first month of his second term is a strong signal that the soft landing is over, and America's fiscal outlook is grim to say the least.
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[Pete F.]

He’s cutting the debt

KRISTI NOEM SAYS $200 MILLION DHS AD CAMPAIGN THANKING TRUMP WAS HIS IDEA
Trump’s Homeland Security Secretary said he instructed her to make ads that “thank me for closing the border”

Because he’s not a dictator
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[wdmso]

Just in

KYIV — The Trump administration has asked Ukraine to withdraw an annual resolution condemning Russia’s war, and wants to replace it with a toned-down U.S. statement that was perceived as being close to pro-Russian in Kyiv, according to an official and three European diplomats familiar with the plan,

Trump will do anything for his own Image

[spence]

Originally Posted by wdmso

Just in

KYIV — The Trump administration has asked Ukraine to withdraw an annual resolution condemning Russia’s war, and wants to replace it with a toned-down U.S. statement that was perceived as being close to pro-Russian in Kyiv, according to an official and three European diplomats familiar with the plan,

Trump will do anything for his own Image

If I had to wager, Trump is trying to cut a deal with Putin to hand over Ukraine if we get some minerals out of it. Russia will just install another corrupt president like Ukraine ousted before Zelinsky was democratically elected.

[wdmso]

Dodge claims it’s saved 55 billion dollars


Senate approves $350 billion plan for Trump border and defense spending



Trump and Musk supporters are dumber than a box of hair

[wdmso]

Originally Posted by spence

If I had to wager, Trump is trying to cut a deal with Putin to hand over Ukraine if we get some minerals out of it. Russia will just install another corrupt president like Ukraine ousted before Zelinsky was democratically elected.

Absolutely Trump‘s just looking for something to make himself look good his base doesn’t care about the details, clearly neither do the Republicans

[Nebe]

Id go 1 step further and say the minerals are lithium. Who in trumps inner circle needs lots of lithium?
Cant wait for the new release of the Tesla Mein Kamphermobile
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[spence]

Originally Posted by Nebe

Id go 1 step further and say the minerals are lithium. Who in trumps inner circle needs lots of lithium?
Cant wait for the new release of the Tesla Mein Kamphermobile
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Good catch, I just read an article on that.

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by spence

Good catch, I just read an article on that.

I rest my case.

https://kyivindependent.com/us-threa...-tell-reuters/
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[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by Nebe

Id go 1 step further and say the minerals are lithium. Who in trumps inner circle needs lots of lithium?
Cant wait for the new release of the Tesla Mein Kamphermobile
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That’s the new model SS
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[Pete F.]

The University of Pittsburgh pauses its Ph.D. admissions process amid research funding uncertainty.

But fear not, FFOTUS has a plan.

He says that RFK Jr and Dr Oz are working together to solve autism.
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[Pete F.]

Owning a Swastitruck doesn't sound like a very good plan for a long life, considering they’re more dangerous than the Pinto.
And just like Musk they’re coming unglued.
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[Got Stripers]

Quid pro quo with Ukraine at the request of Trump, I’m having a DejaVu moment, seems familiar.

[Pete F.]

Well this is strange. That Kash Patel is the first Trumpy person to stand up to Musk in public is interesting Kremlinologically speaking.
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[Got Stripers]

So the tcja extension will give the middle a 1.3 tax break, but the top 1% get 3.2, so a $70,000 break vs $1000, sounds fair right. Ah but remember how well that trickle down economics has worked haha. Projections of our national debt continue to go up NOT down under this new administration and the outlook for the economy isn’t great. Wondering when the stark reality of what is happening wakes up the maga brainwashed, if that is even possible.

[Pete F.]

Something is shifting. They are still breaking things and stealing things. And they will keep trying to break and to steal. But the propaganda magic around the oligarchical coup is fading.
Nervous Musk, Trump, Vance have all been outclassed in public arguments these last few days. Government failure, stock market crash, and dictatorial alliances are not popular. People are starting to realize that there is no truth here beyond the desire for personal wealth and power.
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[Pete F.]

A few facts about Ukraine

Zelensky does not imminently risk losing all of Ukraine.
• Most Ukrainian cities have not been destroyed.
• Ukrainian law prohibits holding elections in wartime (unlike the US
Constitution, which requires it).
• Ukraine has not suffered millions of losses.
• Europe provides about as much direct aid to Ukraine as the United States.
• European loans to Ukraine are backed by income from frozen Russian assets, not Ukraine.
• Ukraine did not misuse or lose half of the aid the United States has provided.
• Ukraine repeatedly invited Putin to negotiate in early 2022.
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[spence]

Originally Posted by Pete F.

A few facts about Ukraine

Zelensky does not imminently risk losing all of Ukraine.
• Most Ukrainian cities have not been destroyed.
• Ukrainian law prohibits holding elections in wartime (unlike the US
Constitution, which requires it).
• Ukraine has not suffered millions of losses.
• Europe provides about as much direct aid to Ukraine as the United States.
• European loans to Ukraine are backed by income from frozen Russian assets, not Ukraine.
• Ukraine did not misuse or lose half of the aid the United States has provided.
• Ukraine repeatedly invited Putin to negotiate in early 2022.
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Salon is a more progressive site but this piece really speaks volumes.

But here’s the thing: The chaos Trump is unleashing won’t do America a damn bit of good. What’s the point of winning if it means losing the people who once admired you, who chose to stand with you around the world? Alienating voluntary friends, burning bridges that took decades to build — how does that make America great?

If you think those lost friends can be easily replaced with new ones, forget it. They can’t.

Trump’s new friends are not America’s friends. They may be his friends, at least for the moment: political opportunists, power-hungry strongmen and regimes that don’t care about the ideals America once stood for. They don’t admire its history, its culture, its principles. They barely know anything about it.

They’re celebrating one thing: the fact that the America that once stood in their way is crumbling. They don’t respect a strong America. They relish the idea of a weak America, , an America too distracted, too divided, too consumed by its own chaos to stop them. And don’t fool yourself into thinking they’re satisfied with just a piece of the pie.

They want the whole damn bakery.

https://www.salon.com/2025/02/23/ukr...ends--like-me/

[Pete F.]

There’s a discussion going on about what’s called The Mar a Lago Accords.
It’s a complicated convoluted set of financial assumptions, changes and things that are claimed to be in his power and would of course make America great again.
https://www.macrovoices.com/guest-co...-bianco-4/file

This assumes that the USA which generates about 26% of the world’s GDP can bully the rest of the G7 into submission on this and that the rest of the world will fall in line.
Unfortunately for Trump and us BRIC+ and the rest of the G7(excluding USA) control more than twice as much of the world’s GDP as the USA.
We’ve alienated much of the world both through past behavior and current.
Much of our current strength is derived from having the strongest military in the world and the dominant currency.
A multilateral agreement among most nations could quickly put the United States in a very weak position.
If Xi Jinping convinced Putin to withdraw from Ukraine and they negotiated a multilateral trade and military agreement with BRICS and what remains of the G7 excluding the USA there’s great advantages for the rest of the world and little Trump could do.
Threaten them with war and/or regime change after he’s decimated the USA military and CIA?
Impose tariffs and decimate what’s left of USA trade?
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[wdmso]

Trump announces conservative podcaster Dan Bongino as FBI deputy director

U.S. sides with Russia against Ukraine war resolution
Washington breaks with Europe, refusing to condemn Moscow on third anniversary of invasion

Dan Bongino, right-wing firebrand tapped to be FBI deputy director?

wow and we are in 2 months into this madness

[Pete F.]

Bongino is what you’d have if steroids and a shaved boner took human form.

New FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino: “The only thing that matters is power. Power. That is all that matters. A system of checks and balances? Haha! That’s a good one.”
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[spence]

Originally Posted by Pete F.

Bongino is what you’d have if steroids and a shaved boner took human form.

New FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino: “The only thing that matters is power. Power. That is all that matters. A system of checks and balances? Haha! That’s a good one.”
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It’s nearly as much of a sick joke pick as Gaetz was for AG if anyone can even remember him.

Even worse it sounds like FBI Director Patel (another sick joke) told the FBI they would make a traditional pick for Deputy from rank and file agents. Forget about the FBI investigating white collar crime or national security, we now have a secret police.

We might just see another cherished institution go right down the drain.

[Pete F.]

So, here’s what happened in Federal Court today when the judge asked the government a trick question

JUDGE COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY: Is there an administrator of DOGE at the present time?

GOVERNMENT COUNSEL: I don’t know the answer to that.
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[Pete F.]

REPORTER: Can you explain the rationale in having the US vote against the UN resolution that Ukraine proposed?

TRUMP: It's sort of self-evident I think

When he's right, he's right. Donald Trump is pro-Russia.
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[spence]

Originally Posted by Pete F.

REPORTER: Can you explain the rationale in having the US vote against the UN resolution that Ukraine proposed?

TRUMP: It's sort of self-evident I think

When he's right, he's right. Donald Trump is pro-Russia.
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Seriously, Trump is now negotiating on Putin’s behalf. The United States, last bulwark of communism is siding with Russia, North Korea and Belarus.

Sounds like the EU is contemplating making their own deal for Ukrainian minerals and giving nearly 300B in frozen Russian assets to those fighting and dying for democracy. I’m not holding my breath.

Seeing Macron embarrass Trump in the Oval Office yesterday was priceless though, Marsh, are we winning yet?

[Pete F.]

What real men say

"I do not want my picture in your offices.
The President is not
an idol, an icon or a portrait.
Hang your kids' photos instead, and look at them each time you are making a decision."
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
2019 inaugural speech
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[Pete F.]

Reporter: Who is the administrator of DOGE?

White House secretary: “I’m not going to reveal the name of that person from this podium…”
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[wdmso]

Originally Posted by Pete F.

Reporter: Who is the administrator of DOGE?

White House secretary: “I’m not going to reveal the name of that person from this podium…”
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thats Code for I don't Know.

saw once fairly normal republican turned MAGA lunatic.Steve Scalise

held a press conference claiming because Democrats won't save republicans from themselves and vote to support the current Bill.

they are against America. and their cult are the only ones falling for it ... what Happened to Mandate