America - The Official Thread

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Dennisch
It makes you wonder how he got so rich.
He had to be extremely lucky riding several bubbles, because I can't imagine he scores higher than 85-90 on an IQ test.
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A good starting kitty, self confidence and real estate is a surefire winning combination in the long run.
 
Joey D
And now Trump continues to move more and more towards communism:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trum...lities-threatens-cut-subsidies-191543953.html

Remember when the GOP used to be about small government and free markets? Pepperidge Farms remembers.
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I've never researched it but I've wondered whether that's actually been the case in practice. I know both parties lay claims to certain political, economic and social high grounds but has there ever been a time when Republicans actually shrunk the size of the Federal government in any significant way or had any significant effect in removing government from the lives of citizens?
 
Johnnypenso
I've never researched it but I've wondered whether that's actually been the case in practice. I know both parties lay claims to certain political, economic and social high grounds but has there ever been a time when Republicans actually shrunk the size of the Federal government in any significant way or had any significant effect in removing government from the lives of citizens?
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I'm not old enough to really know first hand, but I believe Reagan attempted to reduce the size of the government. In some areas he was successful, but I also believe he was met with strong opposition. It seems like in more recent times, Republicans have been more in favor of not expanding in the government instead of shrinking it - which I'm sort of OK with since it's better than growing the government.

For some reason, Trump thinks he's better than Reagan, which is pretty laughable. I have to imagine Reagan would not be a fan of the way Trump was attempting to control the economy and reducing the free market.

One thing I can't recall the GOP doing is butting the government out of the lives of citizens. It's a party that loves to tell citizens how they should be "moral" by mainly trying to instill "Christian" values into the law. Nevermind that if you read the Bible, Jesus is essentially a bleeding heart liberal who accepts everyone, even the scummiest of people referred to as tax collectors.

The GOP also seems to want to instill and force patriotism onto the citizens as well - which is really no better than what the Soviet Union did and China and N Korea attempt to do.

Really, I wish the GOP would go back to supporting small government, low taxes, and a free market. Since they don't really do that anymore (I'm still waiting for my damn tax break), it's why I vote Libertarian. The government does nothing right, limiting the damage they can cause seems like something to strive for.
 
Joey D
And now Trump continues to move more and more towards communism:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trum...lities-threatens-cut-subsidies-191543953.html

Remember when the GOP used to be about small government and free markets? Pepperidge Farms remembers.
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OK - I'll bite. The GOP has traditionally been against big government ... except when it is actually IN government. Then, like the Democrats, Republicans find it very hard to make overall cuts to government spending. But, in any case, I think the playing field has shifted notably under Trump: there's now a "populist", protectionist, militaristic, socially regressive viewpoint that takes part of the "Tea Party" agenda, but decidedly rejects the libertarian aspect. This is why I find it interesting to see how "soft libertarians", many of whom might have voted Republican in the past, will react to this altered political landscape.
 
As if things weren't bad enough after allegedly beating up his girlfriend, Michael Avenatti may be facing an ethics investigation for not only filing suit without Stormy Daniels' knowledge but without her consent as well.

New York University Law School Professor and legal ethics expert Stephen Gillers also weighed in on the matter.

“If he filed the case with her name when it was clear that she told him not to, then he could be sued for that,” Gillers told the Daily Beast. “He could be sued for malpractice. If true, she has a malpractice case against him. I emphasize if true. And if true, he would be subject to discipline but not as serious as disbarment.”

On top of allegedly filing suit against Daniels’ wishes, Avenatti also is alleged to have started a crowdfunding effort on Daniels’ behalf without ever telling her about it and has allegedly repeatedly refused to provide Daniels with information about prior funds purportedly raised and spent on her behalf.

“For months I’ve asked Michael Avenatti to give me accounting information about the fund my supporters so generously donated to for my safety and legal defense. He has repeatedly ignored those requests,” Daniels claimed in her statement to the Daily Beast. “Days ago I demanded again, repeatedly, that he tell me how the money was being spent and how much was left. Instead of answering me, without my permission or even my knowledge Michael launched another crowdfunding campaign to raise money on my behalf. I learned about it on Twitter.”
 
James Woolsey, former CIA director and neocon extraordinaire unveils a new report that may lead to preemptive attacks on our enemies, the enemies of democracy, the US and global order.

sobering report meant to educate the nation on a growing threat, a new military study warns that an electromagnetic pulse weapon attack such as those developed by North Korea, Russia, and Iran could essentially challenge the United States and displace millions.

“Based on the totality of available data,” said the report from the Air Force’s Air University and provided to Secrets, “an electromagnetic spectrum attack may be a threat to the United States, democracy, and the world order.”

The report, titled, “Electromagnetic Defense Task Force,” and the product of a mostly classified summit of officials from 40 agencies just outside of Washington earlier this year, is a forceful call for a new focus on preparing for either an enemy EMP attack or a natural hit such as a solar storm.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/...-could-wipe-out-america-democracy-world-order
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Incoming reports former President H.W. Bush has passed at 94. His late wife, Barbara, passed in April.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Former-President-George-HW-Bush-Dies-184974861.html
George Herbert Walker Bush, who as the 41st president guided the United States out of the Cold War and led an international coalition into the Gulf War, has died. He was 94.

In a statement from former President George W. Bush reads: "Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Doro, and I are saddened to announce that after 94 remarkable years, our dear Dad has died. George H. W. Bush was a man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for. The entire Bush family is deeply grateful for 41’s life and love, for the compassion of those who have cared and prayed for Dad, and for the condolences of our friends and fellow citizens."
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No where in that report dotini did it suggest to premptive strikes . What it does say is for the west to try and emp proof what should be protected.

For neo cons the report was very unhawkish .
 
Novalee
No where in that report dotini did it suggest to premptive strikes . What it does say is for the west to try and emp proof what should be protected.

For neo cons the report was very unhawkish .
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The author of the report, Woolsey, is a prominent neocon and signatory to PNAC. Preemptive attack on Russia has long been an item with the neocons. Even though I'm not a neocon, I'm concerned about an EMP attack, and preemptive retaliation might be justified.
 
Novalee
Yea i am aware who mr woolsey is but the report you linked did not say anything about pre emptive strikes on anyone .
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The extremely dire warnings about the threat of EMP attack by a clutch of known extremists with a record advocating preemptive strikes is all the link you need to associate the two ideas together. The report strongly implies or suggests preemptive strikes are in the thinking of the US Air Force and the neocons to anyone who is familiar with the US Air Force and the neocons. There is no possible short or near-term way to make EMP-proof our continental infrastructure for electric energy distribution. A massive nuclear preemptive attack against Russia, Iran and and/or North Korea can take place in mere minutes. We are not prepared to deal with an EMP attack aftermath. But we are very well prepared to strike first in order to eliminate this existential threat. Our government has never disavowed the right of the US to strike first. Striking first is very much in our planning, thinking and strategic doctrine at all times.
 
huskeR32
:odd:
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TexRex
You're right to do so; I was being facetious. Responding in kind isn't always appropriate, even in the correct order.

But with the conservative media's vociferous response to jabs at the current first family, one has to imagine their justification for their own remarks directed at the previous one--during the previous administration--is that it was "preemptive retaliation."
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;)

...

:P
 
Trump's good deed for December.
BUENOS AIRES — President Trump hailed George H.W. Bush on Saturday as a “truly wonderful man” and announced plans to attend his Washington funeral, setting aside years of animosity with the Bush political dynasty that he toppled in his takeover of the Republican Party.

News of Bush’s death reached Trump during his visit to the Group of 20 summit here, and the 45th president quickly amended his schedule, calling off a planned news conference out of respect for the 41st president and designating Wednesday as a national day of mourning.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...8604ed88993_story.html?utm_term=.4b657d137522
 
Guess Trump isn't the only politician the supports blatant Communism.

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/12/03/gm-ceo-mary-barra-plant-closings/

I really don't understand the line of thinking by some politicians (both dems and repubs). If GM kept all the plants running, while not selling enough product, it loses money. Then 2009 happens again where the taxpayers prop up a company with a massive bailout. Can't we just let companies attend to their business? If they sink, then they sink, but it really looks like GM is trying to no let that happen - unlike Ford.

This has me as annoyed with the US government as the tariffs do. It's like it's purposely trying to ruin the economy for some reason.
 
Joey D
Guess Trump isn't the only politician the supports blatant Communism.

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/12/03/gm-ceo-mary-barra-plant-closings/

I really don't understand the line of thinking by some politicians (both dems and repubs). If GM kept all the plants running, while not selling enough product, it loses money. Then 2009 happens again where the taxpayers prop up a company with a massive bailout. Can't we just let companies attend to their business? If they sink, then they sink, but it really looks like GM is trying to no let that happen - unlike Ford.

This has me as annoyed with the US government as the tariffs do. It's like it's purposely trying to ruin the economy for some reason.
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I don't care if politicians meet with GM so long as they don't start forking over money or tax credits to get them to stay. Calling for or holding Congressional hearings is a waste of taxpayer time and money as well.
 
huskeR32
It wasn't a bailout, it was a loan. It was paid back with interest, ahead of schedule. The taxpayers made a profit.
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According to this article from 2014, which quotes the Treasury Department, the taxpayers lost about $10.6 billion just with GM: https://money.cnn.com/2014/05/29/news/companies/gm-profit-bailout/index.html

Something more recent, suggests a loss of $11.4 billion with GM: https://www.autoblog.com/2018/11/28/trump-says-gm-should-repay-u-s-taxpayers-for-bailout/

So yes it was a "loan" but it's not like the taxpayers made out because of it.
 
The U.S. Department of the Treasury disagrees when looking at the entirety of the situation:

While the auto industry rescue resulted in a cost of $9.3 billion to the government, the cost of a disorderly liquidation to the families and businesses across the country that rely on the auto industry would have been far higher. The government’s actions not only saved GM and Chrysler but they saved many businesses up and down the supply chain. They even helped Ford, as its CEO has acknowledged.

Even if it were true that there was a net profit, it still doesn't make it good public policy to get involved with individual companies and their financial issues.

The Canadian Taxpayer Federation estimates we lost $3.7 Billion on auto bailouts not accounting for inflation and lost opportunities. Of course we could have more accurate figures if the Trudeau government didn't write of auto loans in secret.

Edit: Partially tree'd
 
Joey D
According to this article from 2014, which quotes the Treasury Department, the taxpayers lost about $10.6 billion just with GM: https://money.cnn.com/2014/05/29/news/companies/gm-profit-bailout/index.html

Something more recent, suggests a loss of $11.4 billion with GM: https://www.autoblog.com/2018/11/28/trump-says-gm-should-repay-u-s-taxpayers-for-bailout/

So yes it was a "loan" but it's not like the taxpayers made out because of it.
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Interesting, I didn't know about the stock part of the equation. Apologies.

I only knew about the loan portion which was repaid with interest, hence my assumption that the whole thing was a net profit.

--

Johnnypenso
Even if it were true that there was a net profit, it still doesn't make it good public policy to get involved with individual companies and their financial issues.
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I didn't say it was good or bad, just said I didn't think a loan that has been paid back in full constitutes a bailout.
 
huskeR32
Interesting, I didn't know about the stock part of the equation. Apologies.

I only knew about the loan portion which was repaid with interest, hence my assumption that the whole thing was a net profit.
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No worries, I don't think most people know about it. GM launched a PR campaign to change the narrative and Ford bragged about not taking a bailout (even though it did). Most of this came by the way of ads that were almost everywhere saying they repaid everything, which I guess they technically did. But at the end of the day, the government still lost money in the venture and it was still a hit to the economy.
 
Well, my wife just ran into Jeff Bezos today at a business luncheon:

My wife works for and IP/Patent company that funds start ups. Not supposed to say this, but she's had the privilege of meeting both Paul and Bill (two guys who started a small computer software company back in the late 70's with the initials MS). Well, she just sent me this:


Her: Guess who I ran into while exiting our lunch......your favorite person! HA! I'll explain the story later.

th


Me: Really? Wow, I heard he is really nice in person though. (back story: I like to rib Jeff a little bit because how he has helped changed the retail landscape, probably forever, for better or worse, that is what my wife was referring to).

Her: It's funny that you say that because that is what I experienced. I didn't recognize who he was until Jane and Jennifer told me that it was him. We were walking towards the entrance of the restaurant to leave and his body guard opens the door for him to walk in but I thought he was opening it for us. The body guard gave me a rude look and Jeff backs up to open the other door for us all to come out of. It was nice. He could have just walked in but he didn't.

Me: Sounds like a total gentlemen, that’s pretty cool.
 
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DDastardly00
Well, my wife just ran into Jeff Bezos today at a business luncheon:

My wife works for and IP/Patent company that funds start ups. Not supposed to say this, but she's had the privilege of meeting both Paul and Bill (two guys who started a small computer software company back in the late 70's with the initials MS). Well, she just sent me this:


Her: Guess who I ran into while exiting our lunch......your favorite person! HA! I'll explain the story later.

th


Me: Really? Wow, I heard he is really nice in person though. (back story: I like to rib Jeff a little bit because how he has helped changed the retail landscape, probably forever, for better or worse, that is what my wife was referring to).

Her: It's funny that you say that because that is what I experienced. I didn't recognize who he was until Jane and Jennifer told me that it was him. We were walking towards the entrance of the restaurant to leave and his body guard opens the door for him to walk in but I thought he was opening it for us. The body guard gave me a rude look and Jeff backs up to open the other door for us all to come out of. It was nice. He could have just walked in but he didn't.

Me: Sounds like a total gentlemen, that’s pretty cool.
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Thanks for the story. But Bezos is just a businessman. It almost sounded like the queen of England opened the door for her.
 

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