Sound The TRUMPets! A Thread for Presidential Pondering 2016-2020(?)

[BasilValentine]

Like spending $650 billion a year on NATO for starters. Then pull out of Korea and the Middle East.  But now that Trump criticized NATO, the knee-jerk left is now all die-hard neocon cold warriors

You might want to check your figures and subtract a few zeros there.

[eljr]

Like spending $650 billion a year on NATO for starters. Then pull out of Korea and the Middle East.  But now that Trump criticized NATO, the knee-jerk left is now all die-hard neocon cold warriors

Do you know why we spend that money and why we have that money to spend?

Myopic Trumpets are a sorry lot, not understanding the macro then manipulated by lies and fallacies.

There is not one penny we spend overseas that is not spent on our own best interests.
Foreign aid? International kick backs not some benevolent gift from a rich uncle. 

There seems to be a mindless belief, always has been, that the USA is this big generous philanthropist. We have never been any such thing.

[71 dB]

You might want to check your figures and subtract a few zeros there.

As far as I Googled, 650 billion is correct.

[eljr]

Drain the swamp?

More like introducing new invasive species.

[bwv 1080]

Do you know why we spend that money and why we have that money to spend?

Myopic Trumpets are a sorry lot, not understanding the macro then manipulated by lies and fallacies.

There is not one penny we spend overseas that is not spent on our own best interests.

So there is not a higher and better use for the $650b we spend on NATO?  None of that is pork for the MI complex?  I suppose the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have been worth every penny of the $2.4 trillion spent there as well?

[BasilValentine]

As far as I Googled, 650 billion is correct.

So there is not a higher and better use for the $650b we spend on NATO?  None of that is pork for the MI complex?  I suppose the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have been worth every penny of the $2.4 trillion spent there as well?

The figure you are quoting is 100 times the actual expenditure. Subtract three zeroes. In fact, that figure is, if memory serves, more than the entire defense budget for the year.

And no, while I'm here, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were an enormous waste of life and treasure which completely destabilized the region.

[bwv 1080]

Ok 650 is total US defense not the NATO budget

[BasilValentine]

Ok 650 is total US defense not the NATO budget

Yes, and the US contribution to the NATO budget is less than 1% of the total defense budget. Trump's complaints about NATO are a reflection of his core values. The only political leaders he praises are mass murdering dictators. He can't earn the wealth and respect he delusionally thinks he deserves anywhere the rule of law prevails, so he attacks the rest of the the US's long-standing allies and trading partners out of petty personal spite and against our national interest. Infantile narcissistic sociopath.

[milk]

If this thread died I wouldn't miss it. And anyway, there is not much talking to each other here --- more like talking past each other, a series of paralel monologues. I have yet to see someone who changed his opinion on Trump (either pro or con) as a result of participating in this thread. Plus, real-life problems require real-life solutions; hurling reciprocal accusations at each other on an internet forum reminds me of a childish quarrel in the kindergarten yard: You are stupid, Johnny! No, you are stupid, Tommy! You! No, you! --- a.s.o, a.s.o., a.s.o. 

it can be like that. Sometimes it's a little better, sometimes not. I haven't changed my mind about Tump but I am open to any argument about policy and I am often not convinced by arguments from left or right. Even immigration leaves me feeling like I just don't know what the right way is. It's not a wall. But it's not what we have either. Anyway...I'm much more open to people who can acknowledge Tump's idiocy and nastiness and poison even if they voted for him for some reason. I have a strong skepticism of conspiracy theories as well, especially if they're tinged with racism and antisemitism.

[Karl Henning]

Yes, and the US contribution to the NATO budget is less than 1% of the total defense budget. Trump's complaints about NATO are a reflection of his core values.

Since facts do not serve El Tupé's purposes, he's all about deception, misinformation, and distraction.

[eljr]

So there is not a higher and better use for the $650b we spend on NATO?  None of that is pork for the MI complex?  I suppose the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have been worth every penny of the $2.4 trillion spent there as well?

I see you are trying to define my position through rhetorical questioning. Sorry, I am not so shallow so as to be manipulated by your attempted polar trick. (actually, it's a  logical fallacy)

If you care to discuss the areas of possible waste where we can save money I'll gladly do so. But it's has nothing to do with the importance of maintaining a strong NATO alliance.

[eljr]

Since facts do not serve El Tupé's purposes, he's all about deception, misinformation, and distraction.

Question

Do you think Putin has dirt on Trump and that is why all his actions are in keeping with Russia's goals?

[71 dB]

The figure you are quoting is 100 times the actual expenditure. Subtract three zeroes. In fact, that figure is, if memory serves, more than the entire defense budget for the year.

Billion here is a thousand million => $650 billion is $650.000.000.000 = 3.6 % of the GDP of USA (~$19 trillion) 

Historically (before 1974) in British English billion was million million (1.000.000.000.000)

[Karl Henning]

Question

Do you think Putin has dirt on Trump and that is why all his actions are in keeping with Russia's goals?

Don't know if it's necessary. All El Tupé's financial liability, is callable by Moscow.

[eljr]

Don't know if it's necessary. All El Tupé's financial liability, is callable by Moscow.

I don't much buy it either simply because he has also empowered China and North Korea. It's hard to find a rational reason as to why he has made these 3 traditional enemies the big winners of his still young presidency. At his own countries expense no less.

Something is very wrong and I have yet to hear a good explanation as to why.

[SimonNZ]

Interesting enough to warrant insulting those Americans who disagree with you? Judging by the tone of your posts, your very life, nay, Finland's very existence is threatened by Trump's being POTUS for a limited time.

He's a tantrum-throwing baby with a massive nuclear arsenal.

[SimonNZ]

On a lighter note:

Generate your own Trump nickname

Slow Moving Simon

[Karl Henning]

I don't much buy it either simply because he has also empowered China and North Korea. It's hard to find a rational reason as to why he has made these 3 traditional enemies the big winners of his still young presidency.

There is no rational reason. He isn't qualified for the work, and uninterested in learning.

[eljr]

There is no rational reason. He isn't qualified for the work, and uninterested in learning.

Like with Sarah, the radical right has no tolerance for substance you say?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMhQBlAsLmI

Yes, it does seem as such.

[SimonNZ]

Heh. I just saw the MAGAs referred to as "Y'all Queda" and "Yokel Haram".