Countdown to Extinction: The 2016 Presidential Election

[Karl Henning]

The idea of respectful spying on residents and citizens at worship in this country is gibberish, of course — like much of what passes for policy proposals from the [El Tupé] campaign. Amid the incessant incoherence, it may be possible to discern a "pivot." Yet how could any voter believe that today's pivot won't be supplanted tomorrow by another?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mr-trumps-gibberish-on-muslims/2016/06/29/99c34798-3d7a-11e6-a66f-aa6c1883b6b1_story.html

[Todd]

I mean, like, everyone's spouse gets to have a personal discussion with the person in charge of a criminal investigation against them.  Hillary is a straight shooter, and all that.

[Karl Henning]

Lousy optics, and you have to be a Clinton not to understand that the optics are lousy, and you have to be a Clinton not to govern your behavior accordingly.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Truly the gift that goes on giving. From today's NY Times:

Donald J. Trump vowed on Tuesday that as president, he would put an end to policies that send American jobs overseas, threatening to impose tariffs on Chinese imports and promising to punish companies that relocate their manufacturing to countries with cheaper labor.

"It will be American hands that remake this country," said Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, standing before a hunk of aluminum at a recycling plant in western Pennsylvania.

But such declarations are at odds with Mr. Trump's long history as a businessman, in which he has been heavily — and proudly — reliant on foreign labor in the name of putting profits, rather than America, first. From cheap neckties to television sets, Mr. Trump has benefited from some of the trade practices he now scorns.

Besides construction, Mr. Trump is big in the clothing business. But most of his line of suits, ties and cuff links bear a "Made in China" label. Some also come from factories in Bangladesh, Mexico and Vietnam. He has blamed China's currency manipulation to argue that it is almost impossible to find garments that are made domestically these days, or that they are prohibitively expensive. Despite that claim, some companies such as Brooks Brothers continue to make clothes in the United States.

In 2013, Mr. Trump teamed with Dorya, a Turkish maker of luxury furniture, for his Trump Home brand. In a news release at the time, the Trump Organization promoted the craftsmanship of the pieces, which furnish some of Mr. Trump's hotels.

Mr. Trump also invested in a line of crystal bearing his name to go with his Trump Home line. The collection was produced in Slovenia, the home of his wife, Melania.

Mr. Trump has not held back when it comes to his concern that undocumented immigrants are taking jobs from American workers, but he has used them on occasion.

In 1980, a contractor hired by Mr. Trump to demolish the Bonwit Teller building in New York and make way for Trump Tower used undocumented Polish immigrants who reportedly worked round-the-clock and even slept at the site.

Last summer, The Washington Post found that Mr. Trump was using undocumented immigrants for the construction of his Trump International Hotel at the site of the Old Post Office Pavilion in Washington.

And The Times reported this year that Mr. Trump had employed hundreds of foreign guest workers from Romania and other countries at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Mr. Trump said that he found it difficult to find qualified local people to work there during the high season.

While Mr. Trump has for years railed against trade and currency policies that he says are unfair, he has not always been opposed to outsourcing.

Writing on the Trump University blog in 2005, Mr. Trump acknowledged that foreign labor was sometimes needed to keep American companies from going out of business.

"If a company's only means of survival is by farming jobs outside its walls, then sometimes it's a necessary step," Mr. Trump wrote. "The other option might be to close its doors for good."

Mr. Trump usually makes the case that foreign labor is necessary to keep production costs down, but in an interview with David Letterman in 2012 he also offered a humanitarian argument for outsourcing. Teased for selling dress shirts that were made in Bangladesh, Mr. Trump expressed pride that he was creating jobs around the world.

"That's good, we employ people in Bangladesh," Mr. Trump said. "They have to work, too."

[Karl Henning]

Truly the gift that goes on giving. From today's NY Times:

You cannot make this stuff up.

[Brian]

Yesterday at a rally he pointed at a plane flying overhead and said it could be a Mexican plane preparing to attack.

[Ken B]

Lousy optics, and you have to be a Clinton not to understand that the optics are lousy, and you have to be a Clinton not to govern your behavior accordingly.

It isn't just optics. It's corruption.

[North Star]

Yesterday at a rally he pointed at a plane flying overhead and said it could be a Mexican plane preparing to attack.

Reminds me of the American plans for war against Canada from early 20th century, where the threat of hydroplanes coming from the thousands of lakes in Canada to bomb America was taken most seriously.

[Karl Henning]

The fine people of Lake Oswego trembled in their mukluks, I can tell you.

[(poco) Sforzando]

The fine people of Lake Oswego trembled in their mukluks, I can tell you.

I certainly did in mine, and I don't even have a pair.

[Ken B]

Reminds me of the American plans for war against Canada from early 20th century, where the threat of hydroplanes coming from the thousands of lakes in Canada to bomb America was taken most seriously.

Hey, in 1812 we burned Washington, and captured Detroit. We're a nasty bunch when we get riled. Just look at our ongoing war with Denmark:



Not only did we win the war of 1812, we also won the peace, and the Americans had to take Detroit back.

[Madiel]

Just look at our ongoing war with Denmark:

Two of my favourite countries, unable to get along. It makes me sad.

[Ken B]

Two of my favourite countries, unable to get along. It makes me sad.

It's a terrible thing, but it's all THEIR fault. Look. They have form as the Brits say, a track record, a reputation. Their rapacity is legendary

It is always a temptation to an armed and agile nation
  To call upon a neighbour and to say: --
"We invaded you last night--we are quite prepared to fight,
  Unless you pay us cash to go away."

And that is called asking for Dane-geld,
  And the people who ask it explain
That you've only to pay 'em the Dane-geld
  And then  you'll get rid of the Dane!

It is always a temptation for a rich and lazy nation,
  To puff and look important and to say: --
"Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the time to meet you.
  We will therefore pay you cash to go away."

And that is called paying the Dane-geld;
  But we've  proved it again and  again,
That if once you have paid him the Dane-geld
  You never get rid of the Dane.

It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation,
  For fear they should succumb and go astray;
So when you are requested to pay up or be molested,
  You will find it better policy to say: --

"We never pay any-one Dane-geld,
  No matter how trifling the cost;
For the end of that game is oppression and shame,
  And the nation that pays it is lost!"

Plus look at the map!



That's nowhere NEAR Denmark. Talk about empire building!

UPDATE. It's Canada Day, and now I am provoked. I am going to go home, get some Havarti and masticate it into oblivion. Grrr.

[(poco) Sforzando]

That's nowhere NEAR Denmark. Talk about empire building!

But is IS near Greenland, and Greenland belongs to Denmark

Truly to speak, and with no addition,
We go to gain a little patch of ground
That hath in it no profit but the name.
To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it.
Nor will it yield to Norway or the Pole
A ranker rate, should it be sold in fee.
- Hamlet

However, on this question I abstain.

[Ken B]

But is IS near Greenland, and Greenland belongs to Denmark

That's how the ratchet works. Conquer an outpost and then use it to claim more and more. Not just those dastardly Dames. First you conquer St Pierre et Miquelon and then when the Canucks drop their guard you grab Newfoundland. Then who knows? First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin.

[Sergeant Rock]

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin.

Love the Cohen quote 

Sarge

[(poco) Sforzando]

That's how the ratchet works. Conquer an outpost and then use it to claim more and more. Not just those dastardly Dames. First you conquer St Pierre et Miquelon and then when the Canucks drop their guard you grab Newfoundland. Then who knows? First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin.

Would you settle for Detroit?

[Pat B]

It isn't just optics. It's corruption.

I believe the Republican term for stuff like this is "free speech."

[Ken B]

I believe the Republican term for stuff like this is "free speech."

Huh? https://reason.com/archives/2016/07/01/clinton-and-lynchcorruption-not-optics

[Pat B]

Huh?

http://www.wpr.org/walker-john-doe-restrictions-are-win-free-speech