BS: Let's talk about the US election

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Helen
Date: 20 Dec 24 - 12:23 PM

I read this ABC (Oz) article yesterday and I don't fully understand how the US political system works so I was a bit confused, but my previous comment about a glimmer of hope was definitely sparked:

US Congress rejects Trump-backed spending plan leaving government on brink of shutdown

"In short:

"A day before a potential government shutdown, the US Congress resoundingly rejected president-elect Donald Trump's new plan to fund operations and suspend the debt ceiling.

"Democrats blasted the bill and 38 Republicans voted against it too, with one representative saying he was 'sickened' by the package.
What's next?

"Speaker of the House Mike Johnson advised the US to 'stay tuned' and said 'we will come up with another solution'."

I get really confused about the option to shut down the government, which includes not paying Federal government employees for a month. Why? What's the point or benefit of even considering doing that?

I also watched the short video on Bill D's link, with the heading "'Government is for grown-ups and Republicans are children': Musk, Trump spark chaos on spending bill". The commentary on that was good, in my opinion.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Dec 24 - 01:10 PM

MSNBC is my go to source for careful analysis of current events. I watch it live on TV, and then do to its website for reminders. Lawrence O'Donnell worked as a Senate staffer years ago and in my opinion does the best clarification of the issues. He often has Andrew Weissman and Neil Katyal on to really dig deep on constitutional issues.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Donuel
Date: 21 Dec 24 - 07:54 AM

Robert Riech says the 2 trillion dollar spending cuts will come from Social Security, Medicare, removing regulations of safety and health, removing anti-trust measures, lower taxes on billionaires, and labor laws for unions all to serve the interest of billionaires and free up money to be divided by the wealthy.

Musk will shield Trump from the blowback regarding the cuts in these third-rail issues that began with FDR. Time will tell if Musk makes much headway beyond tax cuts for billionaires. Defense spending is probably excluded from the 2025 DOGE plans.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 21 Dec 24 - 02:27 PM

I wish you Yanks would speak English. WTF are ‘third rail issues’? We don’t all speak in your secret code.

---

The "third rail" is the electrified one in the subway that will kill you if you step on or touch it. It is to the far side of the track from the platform, and is in view in any subway station you're in, but if anyone gets down on the tracks, it must be avoided at all costs. ---mudelf

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Dec 24 - 03:45 PM

The third rail of a nation's politics is a metaphor for any issue so controversial that it is "charged" and "untouchable" to the extent that any politician or public official who dares to broach the subject will invariably suffer politically. from wiki

Backwoodsman, i have no idea if this is what donuel means

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 21 Dec 24 - 06:20 PM

From what I understand (which isn't much) resistance to the Trump juggernaut will be pretty much impossible, futile even.

I'm uncomfortable with the labelling of Trump voters as stupid.

Can that many people be stupid?

Someone said to me, who had never voted tory in their life when Thatcher kept getting elected.
Maybe its the government we need at this point. I didn't see it at the time. Not sure I do now, but the future seems quite imponderable.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Dec 24 - 03:47 AM

Never underestimate the power or stupidity of the mob, Al. Especially when the media are winding them up.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Dec 24 - 04:19 AM

I would prefer to wait and see what his policies are, to do otherwise is making a prejudgement

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: gillymor
Date: 22 Dec 24 - 06:31 AM

I've already seen his shit show once, that's more than enough for me.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 22 Dec 24 - 10:05 AM

”Never underestimate the power or stupidity of the mob, Al. Especially when the media are winding them up.”

Right on the button Dave, the UK’s own act of wilful self-harm - Brexit - being the prime example.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Dec 24 - 11:49 AM

Blame it on an inability to understand the economy and how policy influences it. Trump inherited the economy from Obama that had done a lot of work to rescue people after Bush's 2008 crunch. Trump gave away all of the benefit to rich folks with the tax breaks, the new tax forms took away the ability of regular people to itemize things like mortgage payments and removed the incentive to make charitable donations. He left a mess that Biden cleaned up but everything still costs more now and those who look fondly at the Obama economy believed Trump telling them he'd bring down the price of groceries. He won't, and they're about to find that out the hard way.

Trump can't keep his mouth shut and keep his hands off of the Biden administration so we're watching all of his tampering. It is encouraging that the House and Senate Republicans finally decided to ignore Trump's demand about the debt ceiling (he wanted the damage done to the Biden administration now, not to his own). The things taken out of the first bill that Musk squashed and Trump jumped in to agree were mostly added back with a subsequent bill later in the day (mostly to do with cancer research for children.) Raising the debt ceiling would have let he get away with a lot of fiscal nonsense (more tax cuts for the folks who are even richer now than they were four years ago).

We are expecting that behind the scenes some kind of preemptive private pardons are being offered and witnessed, only to be revealed if the Trump folks go after managers and witnesses in the January 6 or in the two impeachment hearings. All it takes is a hint of that happening and the upcoming toxic Justice Department will back off.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Dec 24 - 07:06 PM

just heard trump talking(?) about the Panama Canal - he's gunna take it back cos those Panamanians charge too much to use it.

Big Kid has spoken.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Dec 24 - 09:39 PM

I've read a couple of Dr. Daniel Amen's books on brain health. He's a psychiatrist who also does diagnostic brain scans. He offers lots of tips for dealing with various brain conditions and types. And one of the things he points out is that goofy thoughts pop into our heads all of the time, but we learn to ignore them. "You don't need to believe every stupid thing your brain tells you," he says. But Trump lets it all flow out of his mouth. The man has no filter.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Dec 24 - 11:32 PM

It seems Trump has gone off on a riff about taking back the Panama Canal. It seems he has some history there (from 2019):

Trump Companies Accused of Tax Evasion in Panama
In the latest chapter in ongoing litigation, the private equity fund that bought what used to be called the Trump Ocean Club claims the Trump entities pocketed money that should have gone to the Panamanian government.

Jimmy Carter settled a lot of that years ago, as I recall. Trump can't do anything now but blow hot air.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Dec 24 - 04:38 AM

The Panama canal was officially handed over to Panama 25 years ago this new year's eve. I never knew that! Maybe Trump is involved in the palindromic "A man, a plan, a canal, Panama"!

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Dec 24 - 07:18 AM

'Twas the night before Christmas and all ‘cross the state

The temperature had fallen to a muggy 78.

***

And at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, well after dusk

Not a creature was stirring, not even a Musk.

***

All a-snug in their rooms, for a long nightly snooze

Unless Pete Hegseth came knocking with booze.

\

***

The entire Trump clan, the whole ganze mishpocha
Were more than content, even the Carlson named Tucker.

***

RFK Junior, dreamed of tasting a panda

Or looking for varmints to eat on the veranda.

***

Tulsi Gabbard was assumed to be deep in her slumber.

But was whispering in her room to a Moscow phone number.

***

In the next room, Guilfoyle was making plans for Greece

While Don Jr. was dreaming of his imminent release.

***

So much contentment from all those on the make

Except for old Donald, who was restlessly awake.


It bugged to him sit there alone and not sleepy

He needed a crowd to praise him quite deeply.


Or to sell Bibles, cologne, and some golden shoes

This solitude was giving him the YMCA blues.

***

Where’s Vivek to be a rapt audience for his “weave”?

And why won’t Fox News return calls on Christmas Eve?

***

And what about Melania? More morose than vibrant,

And harder to track than a border-crossing migrant.

***

Trump was so bored, he nearly searched under beds

For those top-secret docs well hid from the feds.

***

Then he heard a sound so strange and unique

That he went to the window to have himself a peek.

***

The moon in the sky gave a luster like snow

To the lawn in the back the foreign-born mow.

***

When what to his wondering eyes should appear,

It was a sleigh with eight reindeer and a driver alone.

For a moment he thought, “It’s a New Jersey drone!”

***

But it was Santa, Trump saw, and, oh, what a sight,

As the sleigh clipped the flagpole, nearly invisible at night.

***

More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came.

And he whistled, and shouted and called them by name.

***

“Now Dasher, now Prancer, now Comet and Vixen.

Here lives the guy who's far worse than Nixon.”

***

The sleigh landed swiftly, on the roof with a skid.

And Trump gave a warning, yes, that’s what he did.

***

“Santa, that bag of yours is bursting with foreign-made stuff.


It’s time you were tariffed, America has had enough.”

***

“You take us for fools, as if we don’t care.

It’s time you North Polers paid your fair share.”

***

“You’re globalist scum, not an America-first chooser.

Now, get off my roof, you #NeverTrump loser.”

***

Santa gave a laugh while ignoring Trump’s screed,

“I got you this book, something you should read.”

***

“Don’t worry. It’s short, and has lots of pictures.

It’s all about tariffs and foreign trade strictures.”

***

“Instead of carrying on like an uniformed jerk

You might as well learn how tariffs really work.”

***

“And once you learn tariffs, I’ve got another for good measure:

A lesson book about NATO, an alliance you should treasure.”

***

“I know it all,” Trump said. “Just ask my staff.

I aced a cognitive test, picked out the giraffe.”

***

“And now I’m the king, the most loved in the nation.

Especially once I get rolling on mass deportation.”

***

Santa interrupted, “I have no time for boot-licking.

I’ve got work to do and the clock is a-ticking.”

***

Trump was offended by Santa’s verbal epistle

And he warned the old elf to expect a Trump missile.

***.

“You’re a woke socialist, Santa. And one day you’ll learn.

Bad things will happen to you my next term.”

***

I’m emptying the prisons of my violent Jan 6 crew

And they’ll trash your workshop like a Capitol coup."

***

"And then I’ll call my FBI minion, the patriot Patel.

Who will specialize in making your life a living hell."

***

"Then, I’ll sue you and drain you of all your life savings

While I Stephanopoulos you with a barrage of court ravings."

***

Santa sighed, “Oh, well,” he said. “I’ve fulfilled my role.

If I thought you wouldn’t like it, I’d a-given you coal.”

***

Claus perched on his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

***

But he sure did exclaim as he rode out of sight.

“Thank God for term limits, and to all a good night.”

Frank Cerabino is a news columnist with The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network-Florida.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: A poetic Christmas ode to Trump, tariffs and Santa | Opinion

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: gillymor
Date: 23 Dec 24 - 09:05 AM

That was both hysterically funny and terrifying. Thanks for sharing it, Don.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Neil D
Date: 24 Dec 24 - 07:45 PM

"There are bad omens here for 2025 and the ability of Republicans to govern," the editors declared, "The immediate result has been a fiasco by any measure. Mr. Musk, and then Mr. Trump, delivered a social-media barrage against Mr. Johnson’s continuing resolution to fund the government through March 14."

Would you have guessed that this editorial is from conservative bastion, The Wall Street Journal. Even the WSJ thinks Republicans are not capable of running this country.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Donuel
Date: 28 Dec 24 - 11:02 AM

The new Trump cast of characters in government bureaucracy were found by straining the swamp for the varmints and critters that live in the richest muck.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: robomatic
Date: 28 Dec 24 - 04:21 PM

Two items:

The Democrats are now perceived as facing a new political order: Much lower grip on Hispanics than they ever had before; much lower grip on working classes; a defunct progressive movement; and aging senior leaders.

Much that is going on for public comment amidst cross complaints and squabbles on the TRMP side is, whether meant to be or simply turns out to be, diversive. TRMP is in the catbird seat and makes his decisions without much observable comment while the media spout about nonconsequential items such as the Gaetz report and whether Tulsi Gabbard is a security risk.

Meanwhile Security Risk Number A-1 is headed for the big hamburger heaven at the White House.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Dec 24 - 04:47 PM

Trump has had his attorneys request the Supreme Court not take up a case as scheduled in a couple of weeks, he wants to take a shot at it once he's in office (the TikTok case that has been going for a while and in fact was started in his administration). Meanwhile, the House is about to bash the current speaker and if they can't choose one then the house can't certify the election. That would be a tragedy [not].

In 2023 Congress authorised the sale of surplus stuff not used in the Trump border wall, but now the Texas AG (the corrupt Ken Paxton who was himself impeached a while back but survived it) is trying to stop that stuff from being removed. I guess he sees a wall in the future. Damn.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Helen
Date: 28 Dec 24 - 04:50 PM

The cracks in Trump's team are appearing so soon? What a surprise! Not!


Elon Musk vows H-1B visa 'war' in sign of tension between Trump supporters

"In short: Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has vowed to go to 'war' to defend the H-1B visa program for foreign tech workers in the US.

"Trump hardliners have increasingly pushed for the H-1B visa program to be scrapped amid a heated debate over immigration and the place of skilled immigrants.

"Trump, who moved to limit the visas' use during his first presidency, later told The New York Post he was in favour of the program."

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 29 Dec 24 - 04:36 PM

A piece by Andrew Coyne, the The Globe and Mail, 6th November 2024…

”Nothing mattered, in the end. Not the probable dementia, the unfathomable ignorance, the emotional incontinence; not, certainly, the shambling, hate-filled campaign, or the ludicrously unworkable anti-policies.

The candidate out on bail in four jurisdictions, the convicted fraud artist, the adjudicated rapist and serial sexual predator, the habitual bankrupt, the stooge of Vladimir Putin, the man who tried to overturn the last election and all of his creepy retinue of crooks, ideologues and lunatics: Americans took a long look at all this and said, yes please.

There is no sense in understating the depth of the disaster. This is a crisis like no other in our lifetimes. The government of the United States has been delivered into the hands of a gangster, whose sole purpose in running, besides staying out of jail, is to seek revenge on his enemies. The damage Donald Trump and his nihilist cronies can do – to America, but also to its democratic allies, and to the peace and security of the world – is incalculable. We are living in the time of Nero.

The first six months will be a time of maximum peril. NATO must from this moment be considered effectively obsolete, without the American security guarantee that has always been its bedrock. We may see new incursions by Russia into Europe – the poor Ukrainians are probably done for, but now it is the Baltics and the Poles who must worry – before the Europeans have time to organize an alternative. China may also accelerate its Taiwanese ambitions.

At home, Mr. Trump will be moving swiftly to consolidate his power. Some of this will be institutional – the replacement of tens of thousands of career civil servants with Trumpian loyalists. But some of it will be … atmospheric.

At some point someone – a company whose chief executive has displeased him, a media critic who has gotten under his skin – will find themselves the subject of unwanted attention from the Trump administration. It might not be so crude as a police arrest. It might just be a little regulatory matter, a tax audit, something like that. They will seek the protection of the courts, and find it is not there.

The judges are also Trump loyalists, perhaps, or too scared to confront him. Or they might issue a ruling, and find it has no effect – that the administration has called the basic bluff of liberal democracy: the idea that, in the crunch, people in power agree to be bound by the law, and by its instruments the courts, the same as everyone else. Then everyone will take their cue. Executives will line up to court him. Media organizations, the large ones anyway, will find reasons to be cheerful.

Of course, in reality things will start to fall apart fairly quickly. The huge across-the-board tariffs he imposes will tank the world economy. The massive deficits, fuelled by his ill-judged tax policies – he won’t replace the income tax, as he promised, but will fill it with holes – and monetized, at his direction, by the Federal Reserve, will ignite a new round of inflation.

Most of all, the insane project of deporting 12 million undocumented immigrants – finding them, rounding them up and detaining them in hundreds of internment camps around the country, probably for years, before doing so – will consume his administration. But by then it will be too late.

We should not count upon the majority of Americans coming to their senses in any event. They were not able to see Mr. Trump for what he was before: why should that change? Would they not, rather, be further coarsened by the experience of seeing their neighbours dragged off by the police, or the military, further steeled to the necessity of doing “tough things” to “restore order?”

Some won’t, of course. But they will find in time that the democratic levers they might once have pulled to demand change are no longer attached to anything. There are still elections, but the rules have been altered: there are certain obstacles, certain disadvantages if you are not with the party of power. It will seem easier at first to try to change things from within. Then it will be easier not to change things.

All of this will wash over Canada in various ways – some predictable, like the flood of refugees seeking escape from the camps; some less so, like the coarsening of our own politics, the debasement of morals and norms by politicians who have discovered there is no political price to be paid for it. And who will have the backing of their patron in Washington.

All my life I have been an admirer of the United States and its people. But I am frightened of it now, and I am even more frightened of them.”

…and they said, “It could never happen here”.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Donuel
Date: 29 Dec 24 - 05:31 PM

The sharpest, most injurious policies of 2025 will take about two years to inflict great harm. Simple resistance through delay and planned incompetence will slow the carnage greatly.
Miller and Homan will hurt immigrant families and agriculture harvests fairly soon.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Donuel
Date: 05 Jan 25 - 07:48 AM

The neediest most desperate people who need the most help...
are always the billionaires.
The deficit reflects how we have made their lives nearly tax free. Its time to renew the billionaire tax breaks and help for the neediest wealthy.

Remember Citizens United? It paved the way for Elon Musk to rule without elected government power based solely on the decision that money is free speech and corporations are immortal people with rights. Hell, he doesn't even need to write legislation.

Elon knows you are owned even if you don't.
It is best to proceed as if you still have full Constitutional guarantees amid authoritarianism.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Donuel
Date: 05 Jan 25 - 08:46 AM

That reminds me that Kurt Vonnegut wrote that the last comment made by the human species was a comment made by a scientist to his assistant,
"Wow, now let's try it the other way around..."

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Jan 25 - 11:01 AM

Whataboutism into the history of the last century is a bridge too far. Leave Hiroshima, etc., for another thread (don't go start it now). This is about the 2024 US election.

Citizens United was one of the most dreadful decisions the Supreme Court ever made. If Harris had won along with the House and Senate, a law reversing that would have been high on the agenda.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Jan 25 - 01:44 PM

A wonderful line: "I'll believe corporations are people when Texas executes one."

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 05 Jan 25 - 02:11 PM

Not content with becoming the POTUS-by-Proxy, Musk has now begun trying to interfere in the government of the UK too…

Musk on the Reform U.K. Party leadership

Musk on the Reform U.K. Party leadership

Musk on grooming gangs and UK PM.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 05 Jan 25 - 02:12 PM

Musk on Tommy Robinson

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 06 Jan 25 - 08:30 AM

President-Elect-by-Proxy Elon Musk is now turning his baleful gaze on Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, claiming they should be in prison.

He also stated that America should ‘liberate the UK from its tyrannical government’. Apparently, in a poll, 71% of those who responded agreed.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/elon-musk-america-liberate-britain-attack-starmer/

What a bell-end. A very dangerous bell-end.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: gillymor
Date: 06 Jan 25 - 09:26 AM

I've a feeling Musk will have a very short shelf life. I'm not sure Trump wants another attention junkie competing for his spotlight.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 06 Jan 25 - 10:50 AM

I hope you’re right, Gilly, but I’m not so sure. I believe he’s bought Trump, and he won’t be easy for Trump to abandon - he is, after all, the world’s richest man, and Trump needs money.

Either way, his attempts to interfere in the politics of a country of which he has no citizenship are wholly reprehensible. And his description of the cave-diver who rescued the fourteen schoolboys from the flooded cave system as ‘That pædo guy’ puts him lower than a worm’s belly AFAIC.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: keberoxu
Date: 07 Jan 25 - 07:26 PM

Today Kamala Harris as Vice-President
had the duty of confirming her own defeat as presidential candidate
at the Capitol.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Jan 25 - 11:28 AM

This is about the election, let's not drift into the esoteric. A few posts were removed.

The Trump crime thread and the Trump election are drawing closer by the day, though Trump is trying to erase the criminal convictions before the inauguration. Though Judge Cannon finished with the case she was working on she had no hesitation to rule on one she wasn't overseeing, to prevent Smith's report from being conveyed to the Justice Department. She is overreaching and the 11th Circuit has twice reversed and scolded her on other Trump decisions. Her main role as far as the Trump defense is concerned is to slow everything, and she's three for three. Now Trump is trotting out his bought-and-paid-for Supremes to see if they'll jump the gun and squash the Friday hearing.

Friday may be interesting.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Donuel
Date: 08 Jan 25 - 05:55 PM

I believe Stilly may not know the semantics of the esoteric and how one thing relates to another as a result of an election. More likely she does not like what I have to say. Elucidation would be appreciated.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Donuel
Date: 08 Jan 25 - 06:09 PM

When arbitrary rules like no new Trump threads leads to an inability to discuss ramifications beyond a limited focus, things become absurd.
I have tried to obey moderator orders like 'post to MOAB only' and ' never post to joke thread' but it makes little sense to me.
Removing important facts about Musk is a help to whom?

---

There was a lot more in those few posts than just Musk as the puppet master with bucks. ---mudelf

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 10 Jan 25 - 12:25 PM

So, the millionaires/billionaires are starting to get in line in the Trumpocracy of New Gilead - following the example of Musk and X/Twitter, Zuckerberg abandons all decency and sets the wolves loose on FarceBook. Ostensibly in the name of protecting ‘Free Speech’ but, to anyone with half a brain, it’s obviously so as not to come under the baleful gaze of The Orange One and his accomplices.

Oh Amerika, what have you done?

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: gillymor
Date: 10 Jan 25 - 03:22 PM

I'm an "Amerikan" and I didn't vote for Trump, I supported Biden and then Harris as best I could, so how about putting down your broad brush, BW. Many of us are really hurting right now.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Helen
Date: 10 Jan 25 - 03:34 PM

And I hate to break it to you, gillymor, but it will get worse before it hopefully gets better. (That was said with sympathy & empathy, BTW, and not with glee. We're going to get stung over here, too, but maybe not *quite* as badly as you guys. Brace yourselves, it's going to be a rough ride. :-) )

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jan 25 - 04:32 PM

He's trying to get back the old post office in Washington, D.C. that was a Trump hotel during his last term. It makes it easier for foreign leaders and businesspeople bearing gift$ to reach him. The Trump company sold the lease in 2022, so are talking to whoever holds it now. The Government Services Administration (GSA) folks technichly manage surplus government property, so there may be a backdoor he'll use if going through the current lease-holder doesn't work.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 10 Jan 25 - 06:18 PM

”how about putting down your broad brush, BW. Many of us are really hurting right now.”

I said ‘Oh Amerika’ - i.e. the nation - not ‘Oh Amerikans’ Gilly. I’m fully aware that not all Americans voted for Trump, but it is an undeniable fact that, as a nation, you elected him. So how about you cool off and get your head around the fact that my comment was made in sympathy/empathy for you as a nation, not as a criticism of any individual Americans?

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Jan 25 - 05:04 AM

trying to confiscate Greenland when it is governed by Denmark is ridiculous

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 11 Jan 25 - 06:36 AM

It’s all BS - his way of distracting the MAGA bumpkins from his real plan, which is to rob the middle classes and hugely enrich himself and his gang. Nothing more, nothing less.

Subject: RE: BS: Let's talk about the US election
From: Donuel
Date: 11 Jan 25 - 08:51 AM

When something is unusual or understood by only a small number of people it is called esoteric. That is the very reason why I democratize information that the majority of people ought to know.

It is not a coincidence that Musk controls a crypto currency called Dogecoin. Its trademark is a husky dog. Musk Dodge coin

The 'Department of Government Efficiency' does not exist but is supposedly what Musk is in charge of to cut 2 trillion dollars of middle-class programs. The fate of most crypto currency in my opinion is to permanently remove billions of dollars from small investors.

There is a psychological marketing connection between Doge and Doge-coin imho.