I'm Starting To Like The Whackjob

[katzgar]

Just like sucking in all the lies of the previous 44 presidents?

Pffffft

 

[RetiredUSN]

Pffffft

Show me one that didn't lie, and prove it.

 

[<alt>doxygen]

The US does not save money by other countries spending their 3% of GDP on their military as agreed. Our military spending is about power projection and that does not change when others spend on theirs. I agree other countries should honor their NATO agreement, but this "saving money" narrative is false.

It's also about lobbyists and pork.

I lived in the Beltway area for many years, and the number of people the military industrial complex employs directly or indirectly is staggering.

 

[ecofarm]

It's also about lobbyists and pork.

I lived in the Beltway area for many years, and the number of people the military industrial complex employs directly or indirectly is staggering.

Yet, other countries spending 3% has no bearing whatsoever on US spending. The "saving money" narrative arrives on the scene based on 2 falsehoods:

1. A belief that money is paid into a pool fund.
2. A lack of understanding regarding power projection as the driving factor in US spending. Others spending has no bearing on US power projection.

It's not like any country has committed all of its military assets to a multilateral military action and their limiting factor was their military spending. The limiting factor in multilateral assistance was choice in every case. Other countries' spending in no way affects US military spending.

 

[Geoist]

Unless he's proposing spending for "AMERICA FIRST", huh?

If he was proposing spending for "'MURIKA FIRST" then he would not need to increase the defense budget.

I agree that America's Military Industrial Complex is an insulting conglomerate of waste, fraud and abuse, but I also applaud the nutcase in the WH for negotiating down the cost for what he's intending to spend on. That's more than can be said for his predecessors.

If he successfully does that then I will applaud him on it. So far he has made only promises and taken credit for negotiations he had no part in.
Did Trump Really Negotiate a $600 Million Cut to F-35 Costs?
President Trump's vow to negotiate and reduce the price of prescription drugs was short-lived | Charlotte Observer

 

[Deuce]

Hang on a second.

Are right-wingers under the impression that NATO allies increasing military spending actually means the United States will decrease military spending? Is that what you guys think will happen?

 

[ataraxia]

RE: US presidents:

Show me one that didn't lie, and prove it.

Actually, I am not sure I would want a president that could never lie. That would just be dangerous. Imagine if he was perfectly honest all the time with all foreign leaders on everything. Crazy! The country wouldn't last for a second.

But there is lying, and then there is just STUPID lying. No other president has lied on the same league as the current one

Yes, all presidents lie ? but no one matches Donald Trump - LA Times

 

[CriticalThought]

Germany does not pay/invest the 3% of their GDP that they have agreed to as a NATO member.

I'll wait for you to identify my "PARTY" that I'm alleged to have a partisan loyalty to. I hate all political parties. They're the scum of the earth. They're all corrupt special interest.

It is 2% of GDP that nations pledged to pay, of which only 5 nations meet. Even though Germany isn't paying enough to hit that bar it is still paying in total more than most other nations.

 

[poweRob]

The real and only deplorables, were Obama and Hillary supporters. The laughing stock of this century.

"Slightly Liberal"

:lol:

 

[Trippy Trekker]

May not be his first thought, but he does consider it a lot more than any Democrat does. Ever hear the term "tax and spend liberals"?



C'mon, really? People had their minds made up last summer, wouldn't give Trump a chance, don't now. Nothing new here, same old Lefty Hate! :2sick1:



Thanks for reminding me, I don't normally send any money to political parties, but I'm sending some to Our President, for his outstanding ability to piss off Lefties.!



They are arrogant freeloaders.

All grins! You come in very sock-like instead of noob-like, disingenuous in your declared leaning. You do not appear to care much about credibility. Enjoy your time here! Even some of the trolls and dullards have a long DP history.

 

[alicesees]

All grins! You come in very sock-like instead of noob-like, disingenuous in your declared leaning. You do not appear to care much about credibility. Enjoy your time here! Even some of the trolls and dullards have a long DP history.

Ya know mr. TT, some people know the difference from right and wrong. Disingenuous how, by pointing out the wrong? Just because I'm a noob, doesn't mean I don't have opinions on certain things. Slightly liberal is what it means, but only in some very defined areas.
The treatment given Trump by both the Left and the Right, is unwarranted and wrong. Did I mention highly disrespectful, hateful and unhinged?
We have RINOs like the bought and paid for John McCain on the Right and the very liberal US media, on the Left. Where would you have me be, kissing Hillary's ass?

 

[alicesees]

btw, points for Chelsea Clinton today for denouncing Kathy Griffin.

 

[Trippy Trekker]

You've just described the entire left wing agenda. Candidate Trump became President Trump, upsetting the entire agenda. Now it's oust Trump by any means possible.

You appear extremely paranoid. You might think with the GOP dominating the political landscape at the local, state and federal level, the GOP would have more confidence and competence.

Our American culture allows for opposition and dissonance. The Constitution addresses ousting a President. In my lifetime, JFK's term ended due to assassination... and Nixon chose to resign. I have not heard the faintest whisper of any assassination attempts on Trump. I have heard reported rumors Trump has become increasingly more paranoid, less trustworthy of others and isolated. This could lead to health problems. Like so many interested people, I await the results of the many current investigations involving current and past Trump associates.

 

[Trippy Trekker]

Ya know mr. TT, some people know the difference from right and wrong. Disingenuous how, by pointing out the wrong? Just because I'm a noob, doesn't mean I don't have opinions on certain things. Slightly liberal is what it means, but only in some very defined areas.
The treatment given Trump by both the Left and the Right, is unwarranted and wrong. Did I mention highly disrespectful, hateful and unhinged?
We have RINOs like the bought and paid for John McCain on the Right and the very liberal US media, on the Left. Where would you have me be, kissing Hillary's ass?

Carry on as you please. Even some of the DP morons deem themselves bright. I quickly noted your sense of self-righteousness, disingenuous nature and obvious experience with posting on a debate forum site. I did not grimace. I grinned! Peace to you and yours!

 

[alicesees]

Carry on as you please. Even some of the DP morons deem themselves bright. I quickly noted your sense of self-righteousness, disingenuous nature and obvious experience with posting on a debate forum site. I did not grimace. I grinned! Peace to you and yours!

Spare me your sanctimonious crap.

 

[Trippy Trekker]

Spare me your sanctimonious crap.

Quote Originally Posted by alicesees View Post
Ya know mr. TT, some people know the difference from right and wrong. Disingenuous how, by pointing out the wrong? Just because I'm a noob, doesn't mean I don't have opinions on certain things. Slightly liberal is what it means, but only in some very defined areas.

You chose to call the kettle black -

Please review a definition of sanctimonious -

sanc·ti·mo·ni·ous
ˌsaNG(k)təˈmōnēəs/Submit
adjectivederogatory
making a show of being morally superior to other people.
"what happened to all the sanctimonious talk about putting his family first?"
synonyms: self-righteous, holier-than-thou, pious, pietistic, churchy, moralizing, preachy, smug, superior, priggish, hypocritical, insincere; informalgoody-goody
"no one wants to hear your sanctimonious hot air"

 

[alicesees]

It is 2% of GDP that nations pledged to pay, of which only 5 nations meet. Even though Germany isn't paying enough to hit that bar it is still paying in total more than most other nations.
View attachment 67218252

So, as always, the USA is protecting everyone else. Without NATO, Europe would be a satellite nation of Russia. They should be paying a lot more. I've said this for many years and it has nothing to do with agreeing with Trump.
Using a University as an example, the U is funding most of their operation with little funding from anyone else. Wonder how long that would fly in academia?

"Slightly Liberal"

:lol:

Correct. I can handle the truth, why can't you?

 

[sear]

"The real and only deplorables, were Obama and Hillary supporters. The laughing stock of this century." a #71

Surely they're out there. Hillary did after all win the vote.
But candidly, I'd be hard-pressed to name one.
So this unknown, virtually nameless plurality is "The laughing stock of this century"?

It seems at best like an exaggeration. I suspect there will be voters in 2098 whose parents have not yet been born, that won't know who Hillary was, let alone laugh.

"The US does not save money by other countries spending their 3% of GDP on their military as agreed. Our military spending is about power projection and that does not change when others spend on theirs. I agree other countries should honor their NATO agreement, but this "saving money" narrative is false." ef #75

"Are right-wingers under the impression that NATO allies increasing military spending actually means the United States will decrease military spending? Is that what you guys think will happen?" D #81

These assertions are based on what is. But what is, is that some NATO member nations are not meeting their military spending guidelines they agreed to.
OTO the United States has long exceeded that NATO military spending guideline.
Does the U.S. have more nuclear aircraft carriers, and more nuclear icbm launching submarines than all the other 27 NATO member nations combined?

The U.S. military carries NATO's water in part because no other nation or group of nations can.

If other nations at least had the capability, then it would be reduced to an "After you Alphonse" formality.
But at this point, the U.S. military does it, or it doesn't get done.

"Yet, other countries spending 3% has no bearing whatsoever on US spending. The "saving money" narrative arrives on the scene based on 2 falsehoods:

1. A belief that money is paid into a pool fund." ef #79

a) It is indeed false.

b) It's a falsehood no less a personage than the president of the United States himself has promulgated.

c) It may be counter-intuitive, but President Trump's "America First" foreign policy may already be weakening hard-won U.S. global and NATO leadership.

Germany's Angela Merkel has already announced publicly that Western Europe will have to begin to stand on its own.

She has reasonable justification; as Donald Trump has declared NATO obsolete, and otherwise expressed dissatisfaction with other NATO members, etc.

But I'd be less than candid if I didn't express my growing concern about re-unified Germany's growing power and influence, not only within the E.U., but now perhaps in NATO as well.

"... today there are over 320,000 [U.S.] Army troops alone, deployed in 120 countries overseas. That's more than 60% of the entire [U.S.] Army." NBC-TV Nightly News March 9, '04

The United States of America is the solar system's vigilante.

I would hope there's a wiser way to draw in more involvement from our NATO partners, allowing commensurate step-back from our blood-donor countrymen.
If you think I'm making it up, go visit a VA hospital.

 

[joG]

I think it's great that the nutjob pissed off the arrogant, socialist European freeloaders. Let them fend for themselves for a change. America bailed their asses out of war twice and rebuilt the whole damned continent only to be stiffed for NATO dues.

I certainly hope that this chicken doesn't come home to roost.

 

[ataraxia]

Quote Originally Posted by TheHammer View Post

I think it's great that the nutjob pissed off the arrogant, socialist European freeloaders. Let them fend for themselves for a change. America bailed their asses out of war twice and rebuilt the whole damned continent only to be stiffed for NATO dues.

I certainly hope that this chicken doesn't come home to roost.

Yes. Trump has not had to deal with a real international crisis yet. What if he needs to go into Afghanistan again? N. Korea? Syria? By burning these bridges with our traditionally closest allies in Europe, he's going to be on his own.

 

[joG]

Yes. Trump has not had to deal with a real international crisis yet. What if he needs to go into Afghanistan again? N. Korea? Syria? By burning these bridges with our traditionally closest allies in Europe, he's going to be on his own.

That mihht turn out interesting in a bigly way.

 

[vash1012]

Like most of Trump's agenda, it doesn't make any damn sense. He wants NATO to stop mooching off the size of our giant military so we can save money, but then he proposes a 10% increase to the size of the world's largest military.

 

[TheHammer]

Progressivism is the support for or advocacy of social reform.

AKA, socialism. AKA, “Social Engineering.” AKA, total disregard for individualism/individual liberty.

As a philosophy, it is based on the Idea of Progress,

Progress toward a socialist Utopia conducted by a massive all powerful central government as influenced by the United Nations and European style political correctness, socialism and international collectivism in total disregard for individual freedom national sovereignty and the United States Constitution.

which asserts that advancements in science,

The promotion of junk science to destroy capitalism and attempt to scare hell out of the ignorant masses then promise to protect them from the Climate Change boogie man.

technology,

Technology is inevitable and always best promoted by and delivered by a free capitalist market based in supply and demand. Progressivism is eventual bankruptcy and a deterrent to technology.

economic development, and social organization are vital to the improvement of the human condition.

AKA, economic development and socialist organization as conducted by BIG socialist government ignorant of individualism and individual freedom and the United States Constitution.

In light of your previous description, I don't expect you to agree with the above definition. You display obvious bias. I enjoy your sense of humor!

You’re finally correct, I don’t agree with your uninformed definition. You’ll find out just humorous progressivism is if it’s goals are ever totally achieved.

Progressivism is simply another word for socialism.

 

[ataraxia]

AKA, socialism. AKA, “Social Engineering.” AKA, total disregard for individualism/individual liberty.

If your neighborhood condo association decides to put up a playground in the neighborhood using the association dues, that's socialism. Would you have a neighborhood never be able to do anything because it's socialism and total disregard for individualism/individual liberty?

The promotion of junk science to destroy capitalism and attempt to scare hell out of the ignorant masses then promise to protect them from the Climate Change boogie man.

So now every single scientific organization, association, and academy in the country, not to mention on the entire planet, is "ignorant masses"?

Technology is inevitable and always best promoted by and delivered by a free capitalist market based in supply and demand. Progressivism is eventual bankruptcy and a deterrent to technology.

The drugs coming in from Mexico these days are designer drugs and very high tech. Why don't we just open them up to the free capitalist market based on supply and demand? They are certainly in high demand in Trump country. So we have the supply, and we have the demand. So what's holding things up, and why do you want to build a socialist wall that you are going to force US have to pay for to keep it out?

Progressivism is simply another word for socialism.

And that's bad because... why? Socialist countries are the happiest, most stable, and most prosperous nations in the world today.
Why Scandinavian countries are the happiest in the world - The Economic Times

Oh, and their economy? Here's how it's doing compared to the rest of the world:

 

[Trippy Trekker]

AKA, socialism. AKA, “Social Engineering.” AKA, total disregard for individualism/individual liberty.




Progress toward a socialist Utopia conducted by a massive all powerful central government as influenced by the United Nations and European style political correctness, socialism and international collectivism in total disregard for individual freedom national sovereignty and the United States Constitution.





The promotion of junk science to destroy capitalism and attempt to scare hell out of the ignorant masses then promise to protect them from the Climate Change boogie man.




Technology is inevitable and always best promoted by and delivered by a free capitalist market based in supply and demand. Progressivism is eventual bankruptcy and a deterrent to technology.



AKA, economic development and socialist organization as conducted by BIG socialist government ignorant of individualism and individual freedom and the United States Constitution.



You’re finally correct, I don’t agree with your uninformed definition. You’ll find out just humorous progressivism is if it’s goals are ever totally achieved.

Progressivism is simply another word for socialism.

Surely you have drank too much of that special kool-aid. While you tuned in and related to Archie Bunker, I admired William O. Douglas, the longest serving Justice in our history. Douglas championed Rugged Individualism. So did adventure writer Jack London, a card-carrying Socialist most of his life. Teddy Roosevelt did quite a bit to preserve our forests for the benefit of the masses.
I can't help with your distorted views, your inability to recognize you live in a highly socialized and regulated society, or your penchant for misinterpreting the meaning of Progressivism or Socialism. You appear to enjoy your Filter Bubble. To each their own. Peace to you and yours!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_O._Douglas