..and in other news
- Thread starter ILisBest
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A rare drop in from me here because I need to comment on something.
1. I am not a fan of tariffs generally. That said, no one is losing sleep over tariffs on Chinese goods, as the Chinese haven't generally been an honest broker in trade competition and are a geopolitical adversary (I think that's the right word, they aren't a current enemy but are far from a friend).
2. The Mexico/Canada tariffs are economically harmful to everyone involved IMHO. However, if Trump never intended for them to take meaningful effect, the "negotiation" with Mexico looks brilliant (yes, similar results could have been achieved without the bellicosity but Trump is simply unable to go that direction). And here's why - Trump knows that his border policy can largely be achieved via actions involving just the USA; Mexico is helpful here, but it's the actions we take that are decisive.
However, the push against the trafficking of fentanyl has a huge political payoff. Few people know that currently (a) the US/Mexico have already achieved major gains in disrupting the flow of fentanyl and (b) drug OD deaths have been dropping like a rock since the second half of 2023. Improving the success of (a) paired with (b) - which is somewhat related to (a) but involves many other factors - is going to be something that Trump can point to as a major success of his Admin (crime is another because it's going down but that's going to be a tougher sell generally because the data is already out there of solid decreases in 2023 and major decreases in 2024, with limited 2025 data also off to a promising start). Now Trump can claim that "he alone" pushed Mexico to dedicate 10K troops to stem the flow of fentanyl.
A lot of Trump's backers have pointed to the drug OD issues as a big point in favor of a "declining America." I personally think that argument is terrible - the OD deaths are mostly a result of more lethal mix of illicit substances that started coming into favor over the last generation. But it was still a trend that needed to be broken. Trump is taking it head on, and the deck is massively stacked in his favor on achieving stellar results that he can brag about.
From a political standpoint, this is pretty smart of someone in the White House. Trump is taking a live issue and likely improving the result that was almost certainly preordained to go his way even if he sat around doing nothing.
I will refrain from further comment on Canada. Its domestic politics are in flux, and the coming Conservative government is going to reach a deal with Trump as soon as it takes office. Will be interesting what Trudeau and his Liberal Party does in the interim.
1. I am not a fan of tariffs generally. That said, no one is losing sleep over tariffs on Chinese goods, as the Chinese haven't generally been an honest broker in trade competition and are a geopolitical adversary (I think that's the right word, they aren't a current enemy but are far from a friend).
2. The Mexico/Canada tariffs are economically harmful to everyone involved IMHO. However, if Trump never intended for them to take meaningful effect, the "negotiation" with Mexico looks brilliant (yes, similar results could have been achieved without the bellicosity but Trump is simply unable to go that direction). And here's why - Trump knows that his border policy can largely be achieved via actions involving just the USA; Mexico is helpful here, but it's the actions we take that are decisive.
However, the push against the trafficking of fentanyl has a huge political payoff. Few people know that currently (a) the US/Mexico have already achieved major gains in disrupting the flow of fentanyl and (b) drug OD deaths have been dropping like a rock since the second half of 2023. Improving the success of (a) paired with (b) - which is somewhat related to (a) but involves many other factors - is going to be something that Trump can point to as a major success of his Admin (crime is another because it's going down but that's going to be a tougher sell generally because the data is already out there of solid decreases in 2023 and major decreases in 2024, with limited 2025 data also off to a promising start). Now Trump can claim that "he alone" pushed Mexico to dedicate 10K troops to stem the flow of fentanyl.
A lot of Trump's backers have pointed to the drug OD issues as a big point in favor of a "declining America." I personally think that argument is terrible - the OD deaths are mostly a result of more lethal mix of illicit substances that started coming into favor over the last generation. But it was still a trend that needed to be broken. Trump is taking it head on, and the deck is massively stacked in his favor on achieving stellar results that he can brag about.
From a political standpoint, this is pretty smart of someone in the White House. Trump is taking a live issue and likely improving the result that was almost certainly preordained to go his way even if he sat around doing nothing.
I will refrain from further comment on Canada. Its domestic politics are in flux, and the coming Conservative government is going to reach a deal with Trump as soon as it takes office. Will be interesting what Trudeau and his Liberal Party does in the interim.
Btw, anyone arguing that fentanyl from Canada is a big deal is getting "owned" by the issue of the day. Fentanyl is trafficked in Canada, of course, but mainly for Canadians lol. Drug addiction isn't exclusive to the US.
"Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents intercepted about 19 kilograms of fentanyl at the northern border, compared with almost 9,600 kilograms at the border with Mexico, where cartels mass-produce the drug."
"Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents intercepted about 19 kilograms of fentanyl at the northern border, compared with almost 9,600 kilograms at the border with Mexico, where cartels mass-produce the drug."
That's enough to kill a lotta people, but your point is a good one. I thought hitting Canada as hard as Mexico insofar as border issues being the rationale was a bit over the top. I'm waiting to see what the other shoe turns out to be once they finally reach a point of agreement, which tbh I expect to happen rather quickly. I have some friends in Canada and people there are beside themselves as if this is the end of all that is good in the world (the 51st state trolling probably exacerbates that). Hopefully this episode won't galvanize renewed far left support and convince Trudeau not to step down in March. (Maybe it's too late for that, I don't follow Canadian politics).
But it looks like Chucky S will be happy. He'll not have to pay and extra 25% for his Corona and guacamole for the Super Bowl. I wonder if he makes guac as authentically as he grills?
Jeff has admitted he is a left winger. Rill and the Train still claim to be conservative, lol
What this ranting Federal employee must not undestand is their boss is the President. If he or she is claiming they will be replaced by loyalists, they better first know they are expected to be loyalists themselves.
Canada must have an election by the second half of October regardless of what Trudeau does. He's stepping aside mostly because his party doesn't want him running as the potential leader in that election.
The 51st state stuff is really dumb, it's the kind of coursening of the discourse that MAGA has unnecessarily brought to the table for reasons that seem unclear.
If you consider being MAGA as "conservative," then I am obviously not conservative.
If you consider being a Reaganite as "conservative," then I am quite clearly conservative no matter how much it pains you.
You can like both men ... but there are huge gaps between them on issues like the free market, immigration, America's role in the world, and the expected behavior of American leadership, among other matters. I side with Reagan on every dispute.
Mexico has advanced 10,000 troops to the Southern border ! The Mexican govt doesn't manufacture or smuggle fentanyl.
Canada can staff their border as well.
I don't know about MAGA as a whole, but I'm pretty sure Trump trolls to get people talking about things. I thought 51st state troll had something to do with Canada's allowing their military capability to atrophy in recent years--they can essentially rely on the fact that the US will intervene against any threat to them. I got the notion of the state of things related to the Canadian military listening to one former and two current Canadian military personnel discuss issues in their service at length in a podcast, and lack of readiness compared to recent standards for them was only one of several issues. Beyond that I'm speculating. I don't know what their status is relative to their NATO commitment either. The point of the troll being, if we have to defend you, then you should come under our flag. Not saying I agree at all with that take, nor the manner it's been delivered, but that's more/less what I think is going on--a kick in the pants to get them to do their share of securing North America. Obviously, Canada becoming part of the US would upset the political balance in a way that would be massively detrimental to the (R)s and the nation as a whole, so to me it's obviously not an actual objective of the administration.
A very petty and shortsighted move. Why spend $100M in the first place? Answer: because the benefit outweighs the cost. Greater connectivity results in increased efficiency and productivity. And since there is no real alternative, the end users will most likely remain disconnected or be forced to use a lesser system with reduced bandwidth.
I don’t play poker, but if I were good I would want to play with the Canadian leaders
It is simple - I very much like both Trump and Reagan. By far the 2 best presidents since Nixon as evidenced by their ability to piss off the left.
As they did during the Biden Administration (happy with the results?) and I think they sent 15,000 before that during Trump I. The troops won't top anything from coming in.
Absolutely. If the President or the superiors are doing something well outside of the law, that’s what whistleblowing is for (not this made up stuff on a perfectly fine Ukraine call). What this X poster/reddit desires is to violate the Constitution.
Approximately 10 + years ago Mary Anne and I were driving in about the middle of Adirondack Park, we came upon a road block of the one lane each way roadway.
The roadblock had NYSP, Border Control Officers and County Sheriff. Note we were approx 150 miles from the Canada/US border, the St Lawrence River.
We had no ID or DL's on us ! But luckily I knew the brother of the County Sheriff !
A friend of mine who is a multi millionaire, once told me that he makes more money leaving some ability of the buyer to make money as well !
Greed is actually bad !
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