Trump the perfect president.

[xelasnave]

But he is given he is representative of so many.
OK you can argue that he did not really have the popular vote if you are a communist...
But I see a little irony given that so many Americans seem to be ...well I hope you see where I am going.
Here we have a self made man offering hope that anyone can become president...so whats not to like.
So let the thread proceed as we list his good points.
Alex:D

[raymo]

:screwy::screwy::screwy::screwy:
raymo

[graham.hobart]

Self made is a bit of a stretch, didn't he get start up funding from good old Dad?:shrug:

[deanm]

Alex - I'll start your list of 'good points':
1.
2.
3.
4.
Dean

[alan meehan]

Sorry Alex it does not worry me weather we as Australians like him or not its just more journalistic news as for myself I believe he is a crazy leader leading our future generations into more armed conflict along with our crazy leaders of this country

[xelasnave]

Many get a little help from their folks.
Alex

[xelasnave]

Satire.

Alex

[xelasnave]

Dean if I did not know better I could think you dont have a good word for the man.
Alex

[xelasnave]

What evidence do you offer.
The man is clearly a pacifist.

Alex

[LewisM]

We talking Trump AGAIN?

I say let the Yanks destroy themselves - might stop them destroying the world at least for a day, or a week, or a month...

[bigjoe]

Anyone notice this on the end of Alex's first comments..........:D

[xelasnave]

I provide opportunity to vent and all you offer is a little fizz...come on Lewis lay the boot in.
Alex

[Octane]

Small loan of a million dollars.

H

[xelasnave]

I think because I have a beard folk think I an serious.

So for the record...oh there's a butterfly I have to go.
Alex

[xelasnave]

I suspect it would have been more.
If nothing else even if he did not get a cent the value of contacts would be more than any of us could grab.
Alex

[bigjoe]

Love your Humour/Satire Alex....sometimes it can go over peoples heads though!

bigjoe.

[xelasnave]

My point is...
Think of how many voted him in and believe him.
Think how many hold crazy values and horrible outlooks.
I think we focus on him as the problem yet he is just a small part of it...look at the rallies and the supporters...that is the worry.
Alex

[xelasnave]

And I aim so low.
Alex

[Octane]

The people who believe in chemtrails and flat earth, etc., they love Drumpf.

It says a lot.

H

[LewisM]

Dinna go o'er me noggin, just bored shirtless about Frump. It's all the media talks about.

[bigjoe]

A trifle bored myself, on all things Frump and his young paid for mail order bride...I suppose if he accidently pushes the wrong button... I'll be less bored.:)

BTW : Wonder how MAD MIKE THE FLAT EARTHER is faring after all the sabotage agin him... Frump supporter all the way...much more interesting headlines in my view.
https://youtu.be/w0U7CWcVpcM.

bigjoe

[xelasnave]

I dont watch the news so happily I do see anything about Trump.
The motivation for this thread came from rubbing shoulders with some strange folk from US.
I had no idea Trump was in the news these days...lucky me.

But Big Joe dont say anything about Mrs Trump as I think she is nice...she looks so much like my fitst wife so maybe thats it...unlike many I csn still have fond memories of an earlier partner.

Alex

[Shano592]

I'm tempted to troll the prez, but I think Twitter may step in the way.

Trump's twitter handle is @realdonaldtrump, so I was going to see if @unrealdonaldtrump was available, and start parodying his bigger howlers.

It is true though, if Mrs Clinton were the boss, we certainly wouldn't be having this much fun...


EDIT: Melania Trump is probably the only one of the bunch without her head in the clouds.

The rest are either mad, or both! (Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9YcWLqjb9k for the source).

[bigjoe]

Well she certainly is attractive Alex..no question...Hows that:)

bigjoe.

[skysurfer]

"This country" you mean USA or Australia ? In the latter case, Australia is not interested in a nuclear conflict with North Korea as NK is not a stronger threat to Oz than to other countries outside USA.

[LewisM]

Never fear, our American grovelling Prime Minister would find a way to involve Australians.

We didn't need to be in Afghanistan (nor did the God-Damns), but we are...

[el_draco]

Wish my folks had handed me $10 million start-up fund. But then I doubt I would have made much of it. You have to be an evil narcissistic son of a ***** who screws anyone to make that much money and you would have to not worry to much about little inconvenient things like facts, conscience, ethics and morality. :mad2:

Come to think of it, I'd rather be broke any day! :rolleyes:

[Wavytone]

With as much personality as a toothpaste ad.

[xelasnave]

If I had ten mill I would be happy with bank interest...
Alex

[Paul Haese]

There goes the reel.....

First up less than 60% of the population actually voted in the election. So no real legitimate election result in my opinion. Of that amount only 42% voted for Trump, that says a lot of how apathetic Americans are about their politicians.

The electoral college voting system is really a personality competition in each state, each state has a certain amount of college votes. That is based on population per state. The person with the most amount of college votes wins. It's a complete and utter crock of an election system. The smaller middle states have a lot of college votes and therefore a lot of power in the game.

The system should have the popular vote wins full stop, it should be the total pool of voters. Having a system where the person with the popular vote loses is not representative at all.

BTW he is not a self made man. He is a crook, has been bankrupt more than not. Has ripped off workers, and everyone has suffered at his hands and only made money from real estate. That is not even a real way of making money, it is not a legitimate business operation. All his legitimate businesses have failed. He tells more lies that not and ironically is the master of fake news himself. He talks utter ****e all the time. He is a national disgrace and should not be seen as great at all. Obama was a statesman and tried to improve the system. So far Trumps changes have been about disruption and will be seen in the years to come as a devastation. He is a troll and should be kept under a bridge only.

[skysurfer]

Read this:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/05/trumps-rhetoric-threatens-peace-making-in-korean-peninsula

He is just spoiling the peace efforts of S Korea to defuse tensions.

[AndyG]

I have a co-worker in my team who aspires to becoming an honorary American. He sports an Yank accent, and cites American examples to all debates and discussions. All this, despite growing up in Condon (Townsville's version of Redfern, Anala, <insert Melbourne equivalent here>).

Upon the US election beginning he has the voting graphs on the screen, and follows every commentary, as if knowing will make any difference. He declares with certainty that Trump cannot... no, MUST not win!

Trump pulls ahead by 3pm our time... The longer the red bar got, the tighter his foetal posture clenched in his chair. His voice quivers, as he travels through the 5 stages of grief (https://grief.com/the-five-stages-of-grief/). By home time, he wonders if he even has a home to even go to. He calls his wife on the phone, (always on loudspeaker), as they contemplate how they will navigate this dark new world...

I felt for my Co-worker. I needed to act. That night, I made him a cake to console him the following day...

[beren]

To see Trump as US president and a good man like Ron Paul not get through is
so frustrating....:shrug:

[xelasnave]

My concern do the Democrates have anyone to knock him off next time.
Are there any hopefuls?
Alex

[bigjoe]

Well said Paul....he used to stand over poor people to collect the rent due to his father, when he started out....his dad would have been proud.

bigjoe.

[alan meehan]

SkYSURFER I Have lived from the back end of ww2 through VIETNAM and to say we aussies are not interested in being involved is nonsense its history we have been their done that and as lewis says are still in places were we should not be now our gov wants to make Australia into a big arms dealer iam not a pacifist I just think these leaders weather America or here should do more towards the peace of the world instead of waving big sticks around and saying mines bigger than yours so to speak is this were we want to place our grandchildren in the future its crazy

[ZeroID]

I have a good word for him, a few in fact.
They are not printable here though ... :rolleyes:

[Shano592]

Why the popular vote is redundant in the US...

This guy is great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd5rul6EdF0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90RajY2nrgk

[OICURMT]

1) Correct in that most American's don't care about politics. Apathy is the rule, not the exception.
2) Electrol college system was setup to protect the rural areas from not being heard, so they get a disproportional amount of power
3) Popular vote only would mean that the big cities would run the USA, which would cause a civil war (I'm not kidding... think 2nd amendment). <LATE EDIT> The problem is that big cities are overwhelmingly liberal, not consevative. Most conservatives have guns, ergo, .... </LATE EDIT>

Presidential elections generally have both the college and majority votes aligned. It's rare to have it the way it is (It's happened four times).



Correct, but he expanded the Trump empire, so you have to give him that.




Gerrymandering is being challenged. Republican's lost the fight today in Penn, requiring a new lines be drawn. US Supreme court denied the stay, as the GOP wanted the lines to remain for the mid-term election. Looks like the Dems have a serious chance of taking the house.

http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/372352-supreme-court-denies-stay-in-pa-gerrymandering-case-reports


As for Adam Conover (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Conover), my son introduced me to his videos about 2 years ago and I have been addicted ever since.

OIC!
<Std Disclaimer> I've said it many times, I don't mind Trump, I just wish he would shutup and govern.

[Shano592]

Same here. He is very funny, and well researched. His "Adam Ruins Everything" show is excellent.

[xelasnave]

I wonder how they would go with compulsory voting...I expect such would be opposed as it interferes with their rights somehow.
Alex

[OICURMT]

To be clear, it does.

[xelasnave]

Interesting.

So making voting compulsory would be rejected no doubt.

Is there any case for the proposition that it is one of the duties of being a citizen that you must vote?

Alex

[julianh72]

John Oliver (host of "Last Week Tonight") often has some good words for Donald Trump; e.g.:

"Donald Trump is America’s back mole: it may have seemed harmless a year ago, but now that it’s gotten frighteningly bigger, it is no longer wise to ignore it"

[Tropo-Bob]

Trump has often said that he has not been given his fair due for what he has done for share prices ...

:whistle:

[Shano592]

And after Friday's performance, I'm sure he will be vewy vewy qwiet about it...

[el_draco]

I believe the original premise behind democracy is that everyone had a say. Alas, it also assumed everyone would make an intelligent, informed decision.

Hmmm, Do ya think there may be an explanation here for why democracy is failing so dismally... :question:

[Shano592]

Let's also be reasonable here.

The reason that the Americans vote on a Tuesday was so that (back in the day) farmers and their kin-folk could ride the ol' ox wagon into town to vote. Some folks had to leave home a day prior, so Monday wasn't practical. And Sunday is the Lord's.

Slow forward to this day, they refuse to see the impracticality of this system in the modern world. To change it is to kill a tradition, even if it is a stupid one.

[xelasnave]

Are our stocks effected?
Any good buys from panic?
Alex

[xelasnave]

I think democracy is a ancient Greek idea but it gave the vote only to certain people the idea of everyone having the vote and democracy may need thinking thru.
Heck if it was up to me only ten percent would get the vote and to vote they have to win a cage fight and graduated with honors and look like me.
Hopefully somehow which ever number get to vote sensible selection are made.
Or throw it wide open and everyone gets to vote sbove six years old..who knows how things could inprove..even politicians if they can read itrespective of age let them into parliment...
Would anything change.
Alex

[AstralTraveller]

I hear you brother. I wouldn't be rich for quids. ;)

[Neutronstar]

Think what you like about Trump but I shudder to think if the alternate candidate had gotten in. We were so lucky he did.

[AndyG]

Whilst the general experience would change, it's arguable the result would be similar.

[Deeno]

Another disgrace full thread:(

The depths that Iceinspace has been allowed to sink to...

[sharpiel]

The world's a stage and politicians are the actors. Above them all the Smoking Man writes their lines...

[luka]

Here we go, Trump now takes credit for the stock market plunge as well:
Donald Trump blames stock market plunge on 'so much good news' (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-08/donald-trump-breaks-silence-on-stock-market-decline/9407218)

:screwy::screwy::screwy:

[OICURMT]

In a twisted way, Trump is correct.


Employment numbers are good
Since unemployment is low, this puts pressure on competitive wages, driving wages up
This implies that the economy is heating up, resulting in inflation.
Inflation implies federal reserve intervention via an increase in interest rates
This implies that weighted cost of capital for companies increases
Investors see this as a cost and therefore can affect profits
Results are that Equity markets slack off

All of the above were simply due to the perception on how the tax breaks would work. Sounds weird, but the argument has merit (probably the only argument that Trump has with merit).


If you add into the equation that stocks have been very hot lately, a correction was due.

[AndrewJ]

Dunno about over there, but over here, a lot of the correction has uncorrected itself.
ie the whole pack of cards is based on who can out scaremonger each other ( and make a profit both ways ), not the reality of underlying fundamentals.

Andrew

[OICURMT]

Yes and no... I believe that a lot of the ups and down is programmed trading in action, scaring everyone.

[william123]

Trump is a lying, immoral, dishonest (and probably criminal) moron. Anyone with half a brain can see that. The only reason he is president is because 46% of the American people are complete and utter morons themselves who get all of their information from Fox News. And I say that as an American who has observed his fellow citizens for more than 50 years.

The USA is the laughingstock of the world. We don't do anything right. We have the most expensive education and health care in the world, our government runs a permanent (and huge) budget deficit (i.e., we refuse to tax ourselves to pay for what we buy), the cost of living is outrageous and getting worse, our population is exploding unchecked, and our style of capitalism works only for the rich. Oh, and our federal government barely functions, lurching from crisis to crisis, while all of our serious problems rarely get addressed and never get solved.

And just wait until Trump nukes North Korea.

[Tropo-Bob]

Don't hold bacK! Tell us how U really feel. :D

[deanm]

I admire William's words.
Dean

[LewisM]

At least you can thank God/Russians/voters/corruption that Hitlery did NOT win - that would be certain doom for the USA, and I suspect, a MAJOR detrimental impact on the rest of the world. Clinton is a dangerous, megalomaniac psychopath compared to Trump, who is simply a cashed-up moron. Look at the legacy Barry left the USA...going to hell in a handbasket.

Trump nuking North Korea would be NOTHING compared to Clinton starting a war with Russia (which she was, and still is, hell bent on).

The world is tired of America's imperialism, geo-political brute force and "aid". America has been diddling in foreign elections (including Russia) and openly causing civil unrest throughout the world unchecked for FAR too long (Arab Spring amongst others) - and yet bellows blue murder when another nation is SUSPECTED of influencing the US democratic process (and yet NBC's expose is going right against what they had hoped - including other news networks, with plenty of dung on Dummycrats faces now like Schiff and others. It's going to stick to Obozo and Hitlery - mark my words).

And ISIS does not fall far from the red, white and blue applecart either.

[FlashDrive]

I'm staying out of this .....:P

[LewisM]

Poultry effort Col

[AndyG]

I'd argue that all this is amongst the key selection criteria on a politician's job application. Notice how anybody lacking in the above never seems to get far?



At the expense of fanning the flames, I can't help but agree with this. She (Hillary) makes my "Spider Sense" tingle like few things else.

At the end of the day, I'm proudly Australian, and consider the limits of sensible involvement in this tirade of what should be irrelevant. One point stands out for me however...

No matter who's side you're on, the fact that it boiled down to those two, speaks enough for the problem (the "system") at hand.

[LewisM]

Exactly. And not too different to the current state of affairs here in Aus.

[DJT]

Hmm..I had the pleasure of being shoulder charged on Pitt street recently by lord Malcolm and his mates, the big Dutch bloke, you know the one, and some other off-siders and I have to say that they had a look on the their faces that said they are pretty relaxed about where they are at. You know the look.

No big black hummers, no people talking up their sleeves, no police cordons, etc. Count yerselves lucky that the guys who are trying to run the country act like you or me..no dramas, and if they stuff it up, you can always count on th media to change the government which am pretty certain doesn’t happen in the US ;)

Trump on the other hand?...

[AstralTraveller]

Thanks for taking the time to comment; you are obviously not highly talkative. It's reassuring to know that not all Americans have fallen in behind Trump. In fact I take great comfort from all the anti-Trump protests I see. However I can not agree that he is a moron - lying, immoral, dishonest and criminal I have no problem with but no one gets to that sort of position, especially while going against the political status quo, by being a moron. As Alex has said, while everyone is watching his antics he is quietly getting on with his agenda. I notice that his administration is functional enough to get tax cuts for the rich through parliament.

We see the same mistake here too. Every time some polly does something against the best interests of the great majority people reckon he (it's normally a 'he') is an idiot/moron/fool/out-of-touch. Isn't it possible that their agenda is against the best interests of the great majority and they are efficiently following their agenda? That makes more sense to me.

Regarding the budget deficit, how does the size of the deficit compare to the military budget? The money for all that hardware and all those people in uniform has to come from somewhere.

I think the chance of Trump nuking Nth Korea is about as likely as him building a wall. It's all good theatre that keeps the chattering classes occupied.

[OICURMT]

This single, simple, statement is the most truth you will ever get out of any political thread on this or any other site...

[Tropo-Bob]

Yeah, re 2 presidential choices is what we would call a two horse race. The system in the US was a vast improvement on having a monarch, but was still influenced by the times, where countries, even empires were ruled by just the leader. My understanding was that President George Washington was offered more power for his role, but declined it. He understood the dangers in that offer.

Many people say, don't fix it unless its broken. IMHO, the system that has served the US well for over 2 centuries is now under strain, and may soon be broken. I suggest that the UK/Australian type of parliaments where the leader is elected by their party is a better way to go. However, it would be great if the US changed and again showed the way by improving (hopefully vastly, as ours is far from perfect) on the Uk/Aust parliamentary systems.

My biggest fear is that the US, under strain is looking for a strong leader. History repeats; Democratic Senates in both Greece and Rome collapsed. Both nation states had one gloriously strong leader shortly afterwards, Alexander the Great & Julius Caesar and then in was downhill from there.

[N1]

Congrats to Alex for starting yet another traffic-generating thread monster during a lean time of year (astronomy wise) :P

[xelasnave]

Thanks I have another in mind which is guaranteed to take our minds off the clouds.
Alex

[AndyG]

Look forward to it :) You guys wouldn't be too upset if I casually mention that I haven't seen a single cloud in Townsville since the eclipse? Jupiter looked gorgeous 5am this morning near zenith :lol:



2nd'd. Bring 'em on!



I guess the notion of "too much power" was a fresh experience for them at that time. Wise choice really. As for the next downfall, sounds like a hell of a ride. I have no argument against the possibility of that. How's our home arsenals stocked?



You're right. I must retract that inclusion echoed earlier. Personally, everyone makes mistakes in speech, but the forces guiding him (both within and externally to him) are on point - to whatever agenda/desired result. It's mentioned in psychology circles that being a successful liar requires greater intelligence than acting openly/honestly. Whether keeping track of the BS is maintained by him, or his team is largely irrelevant to the end result.

I still stand by the point that being a successful politician requires low (no?) moral fibre. This is something that I think Trump takes more credit than is warranted - he's in no (zero) way unique here.

[AstralTraveller]

Your OK. Townsville is a safe distance away.

[FlashDrive]

Hmmm .... but closer to Rocket Man :D

[xelasnave]

I wonder..is he really stupid and obnoxious or are these qualities he uses to get publicity.
Look at how he did not have to pay much for publicity during the campainge ... I recall a movie scene where this politician spat on the table during a meeting and then zaid to the other guy, the hero of the movie, " what I did was a dispicable and terrible act but I gaurantee you will never forget this meeting".
Personally I think so much is an act he stirs the pot and then I guess behind the closed doors gets what he wants...for the American people of course.

But who will beat him..will he be the first president to be in for twenty years...the first emperor maybe.
And if there was only some way to change the US such that they did not war on everything...or so it seems.
He may be no gem but I am inclinded to think he may be representative of an elitist group who think it is their God given right to own everything and moralise to anyone who may want a world with more equality and less violence.
None of it worries me.
I do think the choice between Clinton and Trump was like picking which axe the excecutioner should see you off with.

We will build a wall.
is no worse than.
There will be no gst or there will be no carbon tax or no child in poverty etc etc.
I dont like politicians...look at the current mess..
We now know why they get in early and leave late...
I turned down a political life so happy about that and so happy I am not smart enough to lie.
Alex

[AndyG]

Kek, I feel the love and am expecting an anthrax envelope in the mail. At least 4 people know my postal address here :p



Fair call. If he ever gets the inclination...
Airstrip rated for C-5A takeoff/landing - check
Fighter servicing facilities - check
Amongst largest Army bases in Aus - check
Large Port - Check
Within Hwasong 14/15 range - Check

Ok, we're getting wacked. Laters :p

[LewisM]

I dunno, judging by how many QLD rego cars there are here in Canberra / around Duntroon, Townsville may be a red herring :)