Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[D Luniz]

So there was that recent shooting when a Saudi Air Force member shot and killed three Americans.

The DoJ has now officially ruled it an act of terror. Yes, a Saudi military member is ruled a terrorist. Just want that on the record.

I just wonder how the Q-Anon crowd are gonna square the circle of Trump's DOJ letting them go back to SA uncharged after finding child porn on their comps.

[Breccia]

I'm going to keep posting Trump signs trillion-dollar deficit stories as long as they remain true.

"Whoa, didn't you post this like dozens of times?"

Yes, and most of those were "up one trillion this fiscal year". All valid. This is for calendar year 2019. And, yes, that's also relevant.

The federal government budget deficit surpassed $1 trillion in 2019, marking the first time the country has crossed that threshold in a calendar year since 2012.

The budget deficit reached $1.02 trillion for the 12-month calendar year ending in December, according to data released by the Treasury Department on Monday

And the gap appears to be widening. For the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, which began on October 1, the deficit grew 12% over last year.

The deficit -- the gap between how much the government spends versus how much it takes in -- increased to $357 billion in the first three months of the fiscal year as military spending and health care costs continued to eclipse federal tax receipts. The shortfall stood at $319 billion for the same period in fiscal 2019.

Federal spending rose 7% to $1.16 trillion between October and December, while federal tax receipts increased 5% to $807 billion. That includes $21.1 billion collected from tariffs paid by importers.

The country's deficit has continued to balloon due in part to tax cuts and a two-year budget deal that has boosted federal spending under President Donald Trump. It's swelled to $984 billion at the end of the last fiscal year, up from $665 billion during his first year in office in 2017.

Bolded for emphasis. Bolded and orange for direct Trump contradictions of his stated policies and actions. One, that $21 billion over Q4 was, yes, taxes on Americans. That's $84 billion per year, or roughly $420 per year per taxpayer, the highest tax increase in American history. Two, Trump raised the deficit from $665 to $1,020 billion over two years, also known as 21% per year.

"Hold on, inflation matters. What about when compared to the GDP?"

That's a strange request, with what Trump's done for the GDP. But, well, bad news there too. Deficit as a percent of GDP is also at its highest since 2012.

And just to be clear:

We're not a rich country. We're a debtor nation...We've got to get rid of the $19 trillion in debt. I think I could do it fairly quickly...I would say over a period of eight years

-- Trump, August 2016

Our Ruling

Clinton said that, according to "independent experts," Trump's tax plan "would blow up the debt by over $5 trillion and would in some instances disadvantage middle-class families compared to the wealthy."

Batchelder’s past work for Senate Democrats and the Obama White House may lead some to question whether she is an "independent expert." But her estimate of the debt increase was mirrored by findings by the more conservative Tax Foundation and the deficit-hawk Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. And the Tax Foundation said Batchelder’s analysis of tax increases for some families seemed "reasonable."

We rate Clinton’s statement True.

-- September 27, 2016

The debt Jan 20, 2017, was $19,947,304,555,212.49 and is now $23,177,144,885,141.89 It's possible the research Clinton cites could end up being low.

We all saw this coming. You saw this coming. Trump does not pay anything he owes, why would the country under his leadership suddenly close the deficit, let alone the debt?

[Thekri]

So there was that recent shooting when a Saudi Air Force member shot and killed three Americans.

The DoJ has now officially ruled it an act of terror. Yes, a Saudi military member is ruled a terrorist. Just want that on the record.

I mean the US military has had several dozen terrorists in its ranks over the last few years, so not sure what that proves. Most recently this asshole.

[Breccia]

Breaking News: The Trump administration is expected to remove its designation of China as a currency manipulator 2 days before the U.S. and China sign an initial trade agreement

This is now official.

Trump said he would do it on Day One. He did it for about five months. Par for the course for America's Golfer in Chief.

[Beefhammer]

But that's just it, they do believe, even if they have quantifiable evidence to the contrary right in front of them.

Same way when I said to people that I know, before the election we just had, "they're blatantly lies and here is the evidence." I was met with "but we don't think we are being lied to." I just stopped bothering. People will believe even the most readily disproved nonsense, sadly.

Yup. Exactly why Trump said he would run as a Republican.

[Edge-]

This is now official.

Trump said he would do it on Day One. He did it for about five months. Par for the course for America's Golfer in Chief.

Which, in Trumpworld, I guess means August 2019.

[Paranoid Android]

The blessing of what's being called "the official Bible for the new U.S. Space Force" at the Washington National Cathedral on Sunday is being criticized as a violation of laws separating church and state.
https://t.co/0fhHt6V0EE

https://twitter.com/NPR/status/1216889692530061312?s=19

Uggh! Keep religion out of my government. Imagine if we had that other religious text as official for a military branch.

For all you secularists out there, this will only get worse.

[Edge-]

https://twitter.com/NPR/status/1216889692530061312?s=19

Uggh! Keep religion out of my government. Imagine if we had that other religious text as official for a military branch.

For all you secularists out there, this will only get worse.

Alright, so where's the official Torah? The official Quran? The official Vedas? Maybe the official Kojiki? How about the official Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti monster?

This nation isn't a theocracy.

[Orbitus]

https://twitter.com/NPR/status/1216889692530061312?s=19

Uggh! Keep religion out of my government. Imagine if we had that other religious text as official for a military branch.

For all you secularists out there, this will only get worse.

Yep, considering Barr has been pushing "Religious Freedom" stuff ahead in the DoJ, which means, he is pushing Christianity Freedom stuff ahead, and anything else for religions is getting ignored.

[DarkTZeratul]

Yup. Exactly why Trump said he would run as a Republican.

He actually didn't; that story was - and I hate to use the term, but it fits so well here - fake news.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/19...-people-quote/

[Wyrt]

https://twitter.com/NPR/status/1216889692530061312?s=19

Uggh! Keep religion out of my government. Imagine if we had that other religious text as official for a military branch.

For all you secularists out there, this will only get worse.

Good luck taking a stand on it without a large portion of the US being super outraged at being "persecuted."

[Blur4stuff]

These past few years are a great example of why even christians should support the separation of church and state. Some think of it as being Christians vs Everyone Else, but the real threat (for them) is a particular type of christian taking over and forcing their interpretation on everyone. And, of course, using their specific views to commit atrocities like caging children or bombing people.

Just picture Jesus doing any of the things Trump has done while "christians" cheer him on.

[Beefhammer]

He actually didn't; that story was - and I hate to use the term, but it fits so well here - fake news.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/19...-people-quote/

That's good to know, but that fake quote fits them so well though.

- - - Updated - - -

These past few years are a great example of why even christians should support the separation of church and state. Some think of it as being Christians vs Everyone Else, but the real threat (for them) is a particular type of christian taking over and forcing their interpretation on everyone. And, of course, using their specific views to commit atrocities like caging children or bombing people.

Just picture Jesus doing any of the things Trump has done while "christians" cheer him on.

The war on religion and the term freedom of religion is all about Christian's being able to be bigots, racists, sexists, violate laws, and persecute minority religions.

[Poopymonster]

These past few years are a great example of why even christians should support the separation of church and state. Some think of it as being Christians vs Everyone Else, but the real threat (for them) is a particular type of christian taking over and forcing their interpretation on everyone. And, of course, using their specific views to commit atrocities like caging children or bombing people.

Just picture Jesus doing any of the things Trump has done while "christians" cheer him on.

Well, to be fair, screaming at people and flipping tables in rage IS an the menu.

[Edge-]

Remember how Trump bragged about turning the US military into a mercenary service? About how Saudi Arabia was paying $1B to the US for us to send troops there? And all the questions about whose bank account they deposited the money into?

https://www.vox.com/2020/1/14/210654...-arabia-troops

Yeah...not quite.

Consistent with the president’s guidance to increase partner burden-sharing, the Department of Defense has engaged Saudi Arabia on contributing to US activities that support regional security and dissuade hostility and aggression. The Saudi government has agreed to contribute to the costs of these activities, and discussions are ongoing to formalize these contributions. Contributions of this nature do not lead to the deployment of additional US forces, and they do not drive DoD to take on new missions or responsibilities.

There are negotiations of cost sharing...but that's it. Nothing signed. No checks deposited.

Trump, again, brazenly lied and made shit up. This continues to be indefensible, but I guess since he nominated some judges that any Republican president would have nominated, this is all "fine".

[Rasulis]

Trump promised to designate China a currency manipulator - https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/05/busin...ump/index.html

He did! Back in August of 2019.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/13/us-w...nipulator.html

But I guess as part of the deal, despite them not changing their behavior, they're no longer a currency manipulator.

So what are we getting out of this, again?

California agriculture is expected to be the biggest beneficiary of the “Phase One” US/China trade deal.

In the last 5 years, California nuts export to China has grown from 370 million to 2.5 billion. China is #3 destination for California nut export and it is #2 US agriculture export to China after soybean. That’s despite the Chinese 60% tariff.

How? From the Almond Board.

To drive long-term growth in China, the Almond Board has been tapping into the country’s $22 billion skincare market, positioning almonds as a “beauty food.” Its newest campaign targets Chinese women from ages 20-45, particularly those who live in cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, said Connie Cheung, a consultant for the board. The ads encourage women to snack on almonds as part of their daily skincare routine.

“And being beautiful is very important to them,” Cheung said. “They believe healthy skin should come from the inside, not only topical. And she constantly searches for the next best thing, the natural thing to make them look beautiful. She has really high concerns about food safety and believes imported products are much better.”

A similar marketing approach is being used in South Korea and Japan, two countries whose women are very beauty-conscious and whose beauty trends influence not just China and other Asian countries but the rest of the world, said Laura Morin of the Sterling-Rice Group.

Like its “beauty food” campaign in China, the Almond Board is promoting the concept of almonds as a beauty snack in Korea and Japan by emphasizing the nut’s health and weight-management benefits, said Melissa Mautz, a marketing director for the board.

In India, which became the No. 1 export destination for California almonds in 2018-19, there has been a long tradition of mothers giving their children almonds as brain food to boost mental acuity, said Sudarshan Mazumdar, the board’s regional director in India. The nut has also been an important part of Indian culture and is often given as gifts during holidays. The board has been trying to reinforce these existing traditions while trying to increase almond consumption as a snack, he said.

In Europe, which traditionally has been an ingredients market for almonds and where veganism and plant-based foods have been a growing trend, the board has been promoting almonds as a nutritious, natural and sustainable snack that’s also good for the planet, said Kath Martino, the board’s marketing consultant in Europe. Specifically, the board is targeting its marketing programs in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy.

The only bad thing is that all you see while driving through Central Valley these days are almond farms. Almond is replacing table grapes and sweet grapes in Central Valley. Sun Maid which is the biggest employer in Central Valley complained about losing a lot of their sweet grapes co-op farmers to Almond.

[mvaliz]

Well, I just saw something frightening on the way home today that - in my view - is a portent of things to come.

I saw this sticker on the back of a truck:



Just doing an image search for "Trump Punisher" yielded a very VERY frightening array of these icons for sale in all forms. >_<

Feking hell... What the shit is wrong with people! >_<

[Belize]

Well, I just saw something frightening on the way home today that - in my view - is a portent of things to come.

I saw this sticker on the back of a truck:

-snip-

Just doing an image search for "Trump Punisher" yielded a very VERY frightening array of these icons for sale in all forms. >_<

Feking hell...

The most frightening thing here is that attempt to attach an image yo.

[mvaliz]

The most frightening thing here is that attempt to attach an image yo.

Was trying to fix it - obviously. :P

It's fixed now...

[cubby]

Well, I just saw something frightening on the way home today that - in my view - is a portent of things to come.

I saw this sticker on the back of a truck:



Just doing an image search for "Trump Punisher" yielded a very VERY frightening array of these icons for sale in all forms. >_<

Feking hell... What the shit is wrong with people! >_<

I'm not sure I'm following exactly what this would mean.