Chindie Posted February 3, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted February 3, 2017 20 minutes ago, villaglint said: @Chindie Not being confrontational but did you read the article Authority posted which was a Bannon transcript? Difficult to see how the views he gives there square with financial deregulation. Obviously this is just one day of the Trump campaign and who knows where we'll be next week let alone in four years No I didn't but I'll take your word for it. I think Bannon is clever enough (and pragmatic enough) to know it'll be helpful to make some allies and friends by doing something against his philosophy now. There's certainly an argument to say he already is with some of the colleagues he's working with and policies he has no choice but to back. So I could certainly see him agree to an idea from other advisors of binning regulation that he disagrees with to buy credit for things down the road. Or perhaps it is Donald's idea. I doubt he'll be completely unaware of the Dodds-Frank bee in the Republican bonnet, and it's an easy way to get easy points on the board from people who don't necessarily like him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villakram Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Some further analysis of the immigration EO. Nice to see more considered views emerging rather than the mindless media driven hype that surrounded this issue thus far. "Nothing Trump has done regarding immigration will make America safer. But like much of the security theater normalized post-9/11, safety is not the point. Keeping fear alive and maintaining the politically-driven myth that government is on the job protecting the Homeland is what matters. Trump knows this, as did Obama and Bush." http://www.reuters.com/article/us-visa-ban-commentary-idUSKBN15G4T0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowychap Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 1 hour ago, villakram said: Some further analysis of the immigration EO. There is little or no 'further analysis' there. It's just repeating things that other people have said - indeed I'd say that the piece has a failing in common with lots of commentary by comparing the change in the visa waiver programme (i.e. delays or possibly not getting visas) to the suspension of entry for the nationals from those countries (which has meant the revoking of 60,000 visas according to the State Department - down from the 100k reported earlier). He's effectively doing what the Trump administration want: normalizing their policy by saying it has evolved from the Obama policy and claiming it's hardly any different really. Governments are and have been using fear to drive policy? Well, hold the front page for that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post snowychap Posted February 4, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted February 4, 2017 On 03/02/2017 at 07:51, jon_c said: I think we should all stop arguing and take a moment to remember the victims of The Bowling Green Massacre. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post NurembergVillan Posted February 4, 2017 Moderator Popular Post Share Posted February 4, 2017 If Saddam Hussein's chief propagandist was "Comical Ali", does that make Kellyanne Conway "Bowling Ali"? 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 (edited) So he's sacked one DA and calling out other "so called" judges who are legal experts who disagree with him. Yeah. That's not mental, dictatorial or seeking to get round all the apparent checks and balances supposedly in place, nosirree... perfectly normal. Everything is just fine. Time for some more meds. Everything is fine... nothig to see here. RIP USA Edited February 4, 2017 by Rodders 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyblade Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Rodders said: So he's sacked one DA and calling out other "so called" judges who are legal experts who disagree with him. Yeah. That's not mental, dictatorial or seeking to get round all the apparent checks and balances supposedly in place, nosirree... perfectly normal. Everything is just fine. Time for some more meds. Everything is fine... nothig to see here. RIP USA The worst part of it all is that he has a rabid base who will shout you down if you try to express concern over this batshit state of affairs even though they know it's not normal. They're gonna let him get away with it, but we know that if it were Obama they'd be singing a completely different tune. Edited February 4, 2017 by Keyblade 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VILLAMARV Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Gotta love a good purge of the judiciary. Never ends badly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chindie Posted February 4, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted February 4, 2017 It's worth noting that Sally Yates, the Attorney General he sacked, was sacked not only for disagreeing with him, but for doing her job. There's also been some mutterings about his call to Putin not being recorded. Apparently calls between the White House and other heads of state are generally recorded (though it appears that isn't a requirement). It seems odd that the Putin call was one that they chose not to record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davkaus Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 (edited) No puppet. No puppet. You're the puppet. Edited February 4, 2017 by Davkaus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 1 hour ago, Keyblade said: The worst part of it all is that he has a rabid base who will shout you down if you try to express concern over this batshit state of affairs even though they know it's not normal. They're gonna let him get away with it, but we know that if it were Obama they'd be singing a completely different tune. there's a phenomenal degree of hypocrisy amongst the followers who have developed complete cult like rabid sensibilities towards him. He is the Divine Answer in their eyes, and no amount of lying and staggering corruption and dodgy behaviour that puts all previous politicians to shame ( the people they opposed ) will convince them otherwise. It's **** disturbing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted February 4, 2017 Moderator Share Posted February 4, 2017 And away from the shouting at stuff, he removes regulation from the US banking industry and signs off new deals with the US arms industry. He's an oddball, he's essentially a free market, globalist, neoliberal, but with the firm idea that the global market should have a slave-master relationship with the US - so like a traditional corporatist, but worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 22 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said: And away from the shouting at stuff, he removes regulation from the US banking industry and signs off new deals with the US arms industry. He's an oddball, he's essentially a free market, globalist, neoliberal, but with the firm idea that the global market should have a slave-master relationship with the US - so like a traditional corporatist, but worse. He really isn't. Incredibly dangerous but no, I wouldn't say he's those things at all. His protectionism especially is going to really harm the American economy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 3 minutes ago, Mantis said: He really isn't. Incredibly dangerous but no, I wouldn't say he's those things at all. His protectionism especially is going to really harm the American economy. rolling back loads of regulations to make his business mates and interests earn more money isn't either of those things? He is dangerous and chaotic, and self interest, he'll advocate some form of PR friendly protectionism on something symbolic which the acolytes will lap up whilst still facilitating interests that serve him, and his circle. He's not a traditional neolib by any means, but a lot of the neolibs will be bloody loving his deregulation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted February 4, 2017 Moderator Share Posted February 4, 2017 2 minutes ago, Mantis said: He really isn't. Incredibly dangerous but no, I wouldn't say he's those things at all. His protectionism especially is going to really harm the American economy. But he's a strange sort of protectionist - he's not a developmentalist or a socialist - he's taking the nightmare of unregulated markets, which already make victims of all sorts of nations and he's loading it up in favour of those based in American - it's a sort of corporate facism, selling out government in favour of a corporate structure that no longer wants to share power with the rest of the world and has no intention of sharing it with democracy at home - his role is to shake belief in politics as a means of change, hand over what's left of US power to it's banks and large corporations and protect them from any sort of threat from the rest of the world. You're right, he's not any of those things - he's much, much worse. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 1 minute ago, Rodders said: rolling back loads of regulations to make his business mates and interests earn more money isn't either of those things? He is dangerous and chaotic, and self interest, he'll advocate some form of PR friendly protectionism on something symbolic which the acolytes will lap up whilst still facilitating interests that serve him, and his circle. He's not a traditional neolib by any means, but a lot of the neolibs will be bloody loving his deregulation The free market is more than just about rolling back regulations. Aside from nationalist and authoritarian, I think it's actually quite hard to put Trump into neat little political boxes. Just now, OutByEaster? said: But he's a strange sort of protectionist - he's not a developmentalist or a socialist - he's taking the nightmare of unregulated markets, which already make victims of all sorts of nations and he's loading it up in favour of those based in American - it's a sort of corporate facism, selling out government in favour of a corporate structure that no longer wants to share power with the rest of the world and has no intention of sharing it with democracy at home - his role is to shake belief in politics as a means of change, hand over what's left of US power to it's banks and large corporations and protect them from any sort of threat from the rest of the world. You're right, he's not any of those things - he's much, much worse. Yes, it's definitely more corporatism than typical free markets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted February 4, 2017 Moderator Share Posted February 4, 2017 Just now, Mantis said: Aside from nationalist and authoritarian, I think it's actually quite hard to put Trump into neat little political boxes. Indeed, the world has changed quite quickly in terms of how it's run - democracy has become almost an aside, banks that are separate from states, coupled with the IMF and the WTO's pressures mean that increasingly we can vote for whoever we like as long as they don't attempt to interfere with the economy - and the economy is increasingly the only real matter of importance in societies that are completely structured for its benefit. In that context being left or right or neowhatever seems unimportant. I do believe that a big part of the Trump phenomenon is about how he's being used to reduce the faith the US people have in democracy - the Koch brothers and their 'small government' crusade are winning out. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VILLAMARV Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 If voting changed anything it would be illegal. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maqroll Posted February 4, 2017 Author Share Posted February 4, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, Rodders said: It's **** disturbing. Yes it is. I think the majority of Trump voters are perfectly comfortable with a dictatorial strongman who flaunts the constitution, insults our allies, and acts like an ignorant buffoon. They are too stupid to understand the threat he poses. Edited February 4, 2017 by maqroll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Saw this in the bookshop today called "it can't happen here" written in 1936 ... look familiar ? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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