1971

I’m annoyed at this headline. It irks me that Trump’s flailings are being labeled as “U.S.” doings. The U.S. wasn’t planning shit till Trump’s ego got bruised. I’d be happier if we could just stop saying “the U.S.” is doing this or that for the next few years, when really it’ll be a series of knee-jerk Trump threats and reactions.

1972

If that happens, you can kiss Boeing’s $16b deal to sell airliners to Iran goodbye.

1973

[quote=“kerzain, post:1971, topic:126885, full:true”]
I’m annoyed at this headline. It irks me that Trump’s flailings are being labeled as “U.S.” doings. The U.S. wasn’t planning shit till Trump’s ego got bruised. I’d be happier if we could just stop saying “the U.S.” is doing this or that for the next few years, when really it’ll be a series of knee-jerk Trump threats and reactions.[/quote]

I guess you missed the part where the US voted this guy in as Commander in Chief! At least in regards to foreign policy his actions will be “The U.S.” in international papers. I can understand the frustration though.

1974

Hurr hurr hurr. Yea I missed that.

1975

A minority of us did, at least. . .

1976

With Trump all gung-ho on Nukes, at some point China might just do the math and figure out, you know what? Fuck it. Better them than us. Sure, we’re the assholes, but guess who’s left to write the history books?

1977

Yes I do. Fuck the NRA and fuck the Republicans who share their desire to keep this issue a political football.

I’m not saying I understand what NRA members are thinking about the NRA’s agenda vs their personal beliefs. I’m just saying that the majority of those members support common sense regulation. That’s what makes the whole thing so fucking frustrating.

Here’s the conclusion I’m starting to draw watching the rise of authoritarians close up – Don’t let them divide us. It’s how they retain their power. Don’t hate the divided. Save your hate for the dividers.

1978

Except for the fucking Nazis. Fucking hate those motherfuckers because they are fucking complicit.

1979

I read someplace the reversal isn’t as bad as people are saying it is.

Oh right, it was the ACLU that said it (or rather they said the ban was terrible)

[quote]We oppose this rule because it advances and reinforces the harmful stereotype that
people with mental disabilities, a vast and diverse group of citizens, are violent.
There is no data to support a connection between the need for a representative
payee to manage one’s Social Security disability benefits and a propensity toward
gun violence. The rule further demonstrates the damaging phenomenon of “spread,”
or the perception that a disabled individual with one area of impairment
automatically has additional, negative and unrelated attributes. Here, the rule
automatically conflates one disability-related characteristic, that is, difficulty
managing money, with the inability to safely possess a firearm.
[/quote]

1980

What if we considered it a public health issue? Then we could fund studies to get hard data on which to base policy! Oh yeah, that’s right. We can’t do that :(

1981

A perfect time to link to a must-use tool for the Trump age:

1982

Well that’s just awesome. We’re dead where I live.

I wonder if Trump is going to spark more survivalism and bunker-building? It’s ironic that a President like Obama seems to fuel the fantasies of survivalists. You really think Obama was going to start a big war?

1983

I just get sick of hearing how reasonable people supposedly are as they do unreasonable things. Sure, there are people out there making sure the 99% are too busy fighting each other to fight them, but the unreasonable are still unreasonable. The outrage of the complete lack of the NRA support and strong response to a black man was so weak and so tiny compared to their don’t take our assault rifles that it tells me no, most of the NRA can’t be reasonable because in what world is that a reasonable response?

People like Obama are unlikely to start a war, but there was always a chance we’d be pulled into one. Speaking of wars, how are we defining big now? The Iraq wars weren’t minor but were they “big”?

Also anyone NY should rest easy knowing that if you are taken out you’ll at least take Trump Tower with you.

1984

Hmn… waiting on more confirmation but, secret service agents fired at 1 in the morning?

https://twitter.com/RVAwonk/status/827422247841206273

1985

Mattis is in Japan and has just reiterated US support of Japan in the Senkaku Islands dispute. This isn’t abnormal in itself but China is going to be pissed and I can’t help but think that President Bannon is looking for any excuse to get into a shooting war with China. I wonder if Trump is planning on getting the US economy and employment back on track by shifting to a war economy. I’m sure the need for cannon fodder will reduce the unemployment to zero.

1986

If Trump is seriously looking to replace the Secret Service with his own private security force then I say let him. Thus far every single outsider the Trump Administration has brought in to do jobs normally handled by highly trained government people has made a complete mess of it, I can’t imagine it would be different for private security. No way his guys are nearly as well trained and organized as the Secret Service.

Hmmm…maybe this should be in the Optimism Thread?

1987

Except for when he charges the taxpayers a billion dollars a year for his private security.

1988

I wasn’t being serious. The idea I was driving at was that his security force would be inept, and thus shorten the length of his Presidency by around 3.5 years. Half a billion to be rid of Trump might not be a bad deal for America.

1989

What are Gaddafi’s bodyguards doing these days? Though I suppose they couldn’t get visas. Hoist by his own petard!

1990

I guess the SS would still be doing all the mobile stuff. Sniper nests, checking drains, closing roads and vetting everyone with miles, all the usual palaver.

Trump just wants SS out the White House so he can speak to his FSB handlers in peace and engage in illegal activities.