Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Orbitus]

People who donated $20 million to We Build The Wall GoFundMe are slowly starting to ask if it's a hoax.

Just a reminder: we talked about how the Flordia Man founder had a laundry list of problems back in December, including being kicked off social media for using bots (lol). Since then, the GoFundMe has had four months of zero updates. The idea, basically, was to buy a clear path of public land so the Wall could go through without challenges. There are even some new, but unverified, reports that he's just keeping the money and spending it on himself.

When even a member of the rabid fanbase starts asking if he's been swindled, you know there's a problem.

Aren't they used to this? They donate to the likes of Diamond and Silk, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones. All of them are frauds, why wouldn't they expect to be swindled by a guy that couldn't do the impossible. Considering he couldn't force people to sell their land to him like the government can, and even then the government is going to spend the next 20 years trying to get that land from the people along the border. Just like they have been with the 2009 fencing act that they are still litigating.

[Breccia]

Aren't they used to this?

Leaving aside the obvious "learning disabled" angle, they're used to giving money for nonphysical rewards, like Alex Jones still having a show instead of just blathering insanely to the nearest billboard with a black guy on it. The Wall was supposed to be literally and figuratively concrete. It was something they wanted to visit and touch. One dude gave $50,000 for some reason...or at least, the GoFundMe is claiming that.

But let's be honest, swindling people who voted for Trump is like mugging the guy on the way to the police to report a burglary. Being used to it doesn't make it better, plus this time they also got beaten. Which is why they're complaining.

[Zan15]

First of all, that's illegal. Not saying you're wrong, of course, but if they get caught they go to Martha Stewart Federal Penetentiary.



.

She was never convicted on any wrongdoing regarding insider trading, just obstruction of justice and lying to police

how ironic huh?

Being charged with obstruction of justice and yet not being guilty of any other crime.....

[Paranoid Android]

Aren't they used to this? They donate to the likes of Diamond and Silk, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones. All of them are frauds, why wouldn't they expect to be swindled by a guy that couldn't do the impossible. Considering he couldn't force people to sell their land to him like the government can, and even then the government is going to spend the next 20 years trying to get that land from the people along the border. Just like they have been with the 2009 fencing act that they are still litigating.

Hate and Fear are the best and biggest what drives these people. I think most of people you mentioned know it's easy money instilling fear and hate on these people. If you look at the rise of any radical movement it's done by hate and fear.

I love the article and I hope that guy spent every penny of the $20 million. I believe we had a thread about this topic and I would love to go find some supporting this and chuckle. I wish i knew some people irl so I could chuckle.

[beanman12345]

Looks like Trumps attempt to stonewall and massively slow down his fights against congress, ain't gonna work as well as he hopes. Even with last and really poor attempted efforts, probably because he knows he's gonna lose... again.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...-idUSKCN1SJ25M

For Context, the Judge wants to fast track this trial, a congressional subpoena of Trumps financial records of 8 years of trumps personal and business finances. So both sides will present all arguments, all evidence, and the judge will decide the case, all by the end of the day tomorrow.

[Zaydin]

Looks like Trumps attempt to stonewall and massively slow down his fights against congress, ain't gonna work as well as he hopes. Even with last and really poor attempted efforts, probably because he knows he's gonna lose... again.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...-idUSKCN1SJ25M

For Context, the Judge wants to fast track this trial, a congressional subpoena of Trumps financial records of 8 years of trumps personal and business finances. So both sides will present all arguments, all evidence, and the judge will decide the case, all by the end of the day tomorrow.

And Trump/his lawyers are apparently whining that:

“Congress was on a quest turn up something that Democrats can use as a political tool against the president now and in the 2020 election.”

which is, ironically enough, what cost Kevin McCarthy the Speakership when he accidentally told the truth that the GOPs constant investigations while they held the House was about finding dirt on Hillary.

[Breccia]

“Congress was on a quest turn up something that Democrats can use as a political tool against the president now and in the 2020 election.”

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to launch an investigation against Biden, another against Comey, and one against Kerry."

[Zaydin]

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to launch an investigation against Biden, another against Comey, and one against Kerry."

I think it's safe to say that any honest person can tell that Trump has zero self-awareness.

[Breccia]

At Bolton's request, the Secretary of Defense --

"He doesn't exist."

The acting Secretary of Defense drafted a plan to send 120,000 American troops to Iran.

Looks like Trump needs that miracle.

[Santti]

At Bolton's request, the Secretary of Defense --

"He doesn't exist."

The acting Secretary of Defense drafted a plan to send 120,000 American troops to Iran.

Looks like Trump needs that miracle.

So, add some war then to give that boost to approval ratings?

Well, at least it's not that certain warhawk who's in charge, right?

[rda]

By the way, something I long wanted to say regarding tariffs and Trump tweeting like they are being paid by the Chinese and everyone going "woah, he does not even know what tariffs are, so stupid":

Trump might be dumb and all, but it looks like he at least had some consultations first, and while his tweets were perhaps painting too rosy a picture, things are a little more complex than "everything is paid for by the US", he had a point.

Some time ago Trump tweeted a more specific thing than just "we are taking all that money from the Chinese, things are so great" - he tweeted that according to some research, 21% out of 25% of tariffs are (going to be) paid by the Chinese and just 4% by the US. Now, there are a couple of caveats to this. First, these are figures from what was happening before, it's not like there is a deal that the Chinese lower their prices by that much trying not to lose sales (which is where the 21% would come from). More, there is further research for 2018 specifically that says that the split is different this time, in the specific case of Trump's tariffs so far everything gets passed to the importer in the US (who then passes all or most to the consumer). However, this further research says that this complete transfer is pretty uncharacterestic, absolutely worth investigating further, and quite likely temporary. In short, there are probably non-economic factors in play.

So, you know. Next time you see Trump tweeting something you think is nonsense, don't go all out immediately. The man is not tweeting coherently, absolutely. But if you just brush off everything he says that you don't understand as nonsense, you are losing info.

[Orbitus]

By the way, something I long wanted to say regarding tariffs and Trump tweeting like they are being paid by the Chinese and everyone going "woah, he does not even know what tariffs are, so stupid":

Trump might be dumb and all, but it looks like he at least had some consultations first, and while his tweets were perhaps painting too rosy a picture, things are a little more complex than "everything is paid for by the US", he had a point.

Some time ago Trump tweeted a more specific thing than just "we are taking all that money from the Chinese, things are so great" - he tweeted that according to some research, 21% out of 25% of tariffs are (going to be) paid by the Chinese and just 4% by the US. Now, there are a couple of caveats to this. First, these are figures from what was happening before, it's not like there is a deal that the Chinese lower their prices by that much trying not to lose sales (which is where the 21% would come from). More, there is further research for 2018 specifically that says that the split is different this time, in the specific case of Trump's tariffs so far everything gets passed to the importer in the US (who then passes all or most to the consumer). However, this further research says that this complete transfer is pretty uncharacterestic, absolutely worth investigating further, and quite likely temporary. In short, there are probably non-economic factors in play.

So, you know. Next time you see Trump tweeting something you think is nonsense, don't go all out immediately. The man is not tweeting coherently, absolutely. But if you just brush off everything he says that you don't understand as nonsense, you are losing info.

Guarantee 21% of the 25% isn't being paid by the Chinese, guaranteed that number is being paid by the American consumers. Tariffs don't work, they always get paid by the country that installed them.

[rda]

Guarantee 21% of the 25% isn't being paid by the Chinese, guaranteed that number is being paid by the American consumers. Tariffs don't work, they always get paid by the country that installed them.

It seems you didn't read what I posted.

[Flarelaine]

At Bolton's request, the Secretary of Defense --

"He doesn't exist."

I've been mulling this for some time... One of the cornerstones of checks and balances is Senate approval for cabinet positions. Trump brazenly ignores it and everyone accepts orders from these acting lackeys. So I have to ask someone better versed in US systems... what the actual fuck?

[Zaydin]

I've been mulling this for some time... One of the cornerstones of checks and balances is Senate approval for cabinet positions. Trump brazenly ignores it and everyone accepts orders from these acting lackeys. So I have to ask someone better versed in US systems... what the actual fuck?

Trump is using 'acting' department heads to shove his immoral and abhorrent policies down Americas throat to avoid anything approaching any sort of Congressional oversight.

It's what the anti-American right taught him he could do after spending two years protecting him from any sort of oversight due to craven self-interest.

[Flarelaine]

Trump is using 'acting' department heads to shove his immoral and abhorrent policies down Americas throat to avoid anything approaching any sort of Congressional oversight.

Yeah, I get what he's doing and why. I'm more stunned at everyone going along with it.

[Kiri]

It seems you didn't read what I posted.

What you posted is talk of research utilizing pre-trade war market reactions to tariffs. And yes, it is often true that companies lower prices to absorb tariffs at least partially, meaning that not all is passed on to the consumers. But that tends to be the case for small corrections more than massive ones. In those cases, a company might be better off finding other buyers or to cut production. It's usually done for goods for which you cannot easily find alternate buyers, to be honest. Could well be the case for some of the goods affected by the tariffs, but I highly doubt it is all of them.

Then again, you (and Trump) only say that there is some research. No link to that research, to let people see the methodology and data used to come to that result. There is research that stipulates coffee curing cancer, too. Doesn't mean it's good research. If you actually want people to take that point seriously, you'll have to present that research and explain why it is convincing, not just say it exists. And no, the onus is not on those rebuking the president's comment because your point is the one going against open market economy 101, not theirs. If you challenge basic notions, you have to substantiate that challenge with research.

[rda]

^^ Basic notions and market economy 101 are exactly that the transfer of tariffs to the end customer is not complete, that there is going to be a split. I don't have a link to research behind Trump's 21/4 split, don't know what the period is, etc, but I read the research for 2018 which checks what's up with (the beginning of the) Trump's trade war specifically -- if you want, I can dig up the link to that -- and it expresses that view as well, that a complete transfer is uncharacteristic. As I said, we seem to have it because of non-economic factors.

For the record, I do not support Trump's trade war, it is bad.

[rda]

Yeah, go ahead and find your research.

If you are genuinely interested, I suggest you change your tone and ask nicely.

[Belize]

At Bolton's request, the Secretary of Defense --

"He doesn't exist."

The acting Secretary of Defense drafted a plan to send 120,000 American troops to Iran.

Looks like Trump needs that miracle.

Why though. What is he hoping to accomplish?