Trump Neurosis Thread

[UltraBudgie]

54° 40' or Fight! All the way across! Let's finish the job Polk started!

https://www.ushistory.org/us/29b.asp

Let's open strong, and propose that they can maybe keep the French bits.

Really I think most of this stuff happens because much of America is batshit crazy, and "steel" is a homophone of "steal". Stop the steel!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUZGGFOV6FM

[putnam6]

So leveraging the threat of tariffs until they give in on a political issue in line with his administration's vision?

That's his MO. To leverage our influence and money like he's Hannibal Lector demanding quid pro quo. And everything is like some Faustian Deal, where they must yield their soul in the form of submission to his terms. At least at first. Like, "Give me dirt on Hunter Biden's business dealings or I wont give you aid!" Or in this case, "Help us secure the border for our "epidemic" immigration problem or we'll push you towards a recession going after major exports."

It's like that Big Lebowski quote posted and Jeff Bridges line that follows Walter. "You're not wrong, you're just an asshole." He gets his objectives accomplished. He'll probably get something out of Canada to call it off. He's just such a tycoon prick about it. He's Carnagie with his Iron fist punching a Moose for seemingly no reason.

And the immigration problem is not even as bad as it was under George W Bush.

Maybe the rest of the world doesn't buy our need for help with these problems either? Maybe they don't watch FoxNews and read Breitbart, or get their news from TikTok instigators, and have less reference to the sensationalized urgency in which Trump needs their obedience on this.

That's what's mean to me. Using trade relations as a tactic to leverage other countries to adopt our political agenda. Or else.

It makes me feel ashamed a bully is leading the country. And the face of it to the world right now.

"Peaceful" negotiation under penalty of economic pain. That's the idea behind SANCTIONS. In my mind he's using the same psychological approach for submission we use on Iran with Canada. Hurt them financially to get our way and their obedience on something. Call it tariffs as an opening salvo to his border seecurity goals if you want, it's like sanctioning Canada to care about our "immigration crisis" if that's indeed his ultimate goal..

Are you suggesting no other President hasn't used "the stick" with our allies in negotiations?

"Hannibal Lector" really we don't have to embellish or exaggerate I understand your starting point is OMB. My starting point is mostly all politicians are manipulative assholes and the those in general public interested in politics decide who their favorite asshole is. It's a business where the nice and naive get plowed under (Jimmy Carter). At the end of the day Id rather have an asshole President who is right than a pleasant none asshole President who is wrong. Something had to be done and quickly

I have to ask how did you feel about the "Nobody f---- with a Biden" it's the same thing just applied differently. 

Canada is about the fentanyl 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/fentany...-1.7275200

 Criminal networks are shifting from fentanyl imports to Canadian-made product.Border seizures are down, the street price is down — and Canadian-made fentanyl has gone global

 
Organized crime groups have shifted their efforts away from importing the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl and are now producing it primarily on Canadian soil.
A briefing note prepared for the deputy minister of Health Canada — obtained by CBC News through an access to information request — lays out the changes law enforcement agencies have observed in the illegal market for the drug.
"Superlab interdictions across B.C., Ontario and Alberta suggest that domestic supply is more than sufficient to supply the domestic market," the note says.

The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that roughly 44,600 Canadians died of toxic drug overdoses between 2016 and 2023. Four out of every five of the 8,000 overdose deaths Canada recorded in 2023 involved fentanyl.

 https://www.factcheck.org/2025/01/illegal-immigration-and-fentanyl-at-the-u-s-northern-and-southwest-borders/

While 43 pounds doesn't sound like alot it's enough for about 10 million doses, and that was what just received at border crossings not the ports of entry
 

Meanwhile, there were 43 pounds seized from people crossing the northern border in FY 2024 — and most of it was captured by Border Patrol, not at legal ports. That was up from just 2 pounds confiscated in FY 2023 and 14 pounds seized in FY 2022.

Major props on the 'Lewbowski" quote the Dude was right about a lot of things. Except I enjoy the "Eagles". FWIW I'll be right with you when Trump really f---s up but I just don't think he has 

yet...

[putnam6]

I applaud your recognition that America, Canada, and (more or less) every other nation, seems to run on a paradigm...
in which this is exactly how you "negotiate"...
stake your peg in the ground and point...
the other party stakes their own where they want it...
work on it until you meet at the same spot.

Characterizing such compromise as "taking" or "giving" is only a matter of conceptual privilege/perspective.

The opportunity to rebalance the scales to equilibrium for any party is not one to be "put aside for political expedience" (as it has been.)
I would suggest to the principle agents:
"Negotiate... you can do it... at least try it...!
Devalue "marketing over substance."
Spend no more time on opportunistic political bashing, and actually SOLVE the problem we're pointing at. 

As for the socio-political... stop pretending that "appearances" drive reality... that's mostly political media baggage.

Just sit down and WORK... is that so much to ask?"

Well, we're still talking to one another...
so once both sides are one with the "show" they can get on to engendering constructive outcomes. 
That's literally what we pay them for... much of the drama is just an addition of their own.

Be careful Maxmars we are "Boomers" what in the world do we know? 

I do think some of this is a learned behavior Im skeptical and disassociate myself because of my life experiences.

and yeah much of it is theater and the prevalence of social media has made it worse both sides works thier base into such a lather, then they find ways to enrich themselves. Both sides do this it's just Democrats have this fear-mongering aspect that resonates with more people while the right's fear-mongering seems to only motivate the evangelicals.

You don't have to like your President

[putnam6]

54° 40' or Fight! All the way across! Let's finish the job Polk started!

https://www.ushistory.org/us/29b.asp

Let's open strong, and propose that they can maybe keep the French bits.

Really I think most of this stuff happens because much of America is batshit crazy, and "steel" is a homophone of "steal". Stop the steel!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUZGGFOV6FM

I had to balance the Joan Baez and let's not pretend most of the world isn't crazy, some won't be happy until I leave my post-stamp yard and humble abode in Georgia and return to my ancestral lands in Scotland and become a mud farmer

Thanks for the US History link Ill read this site quite a bit though I'd bet the Indigenous of North America have a different version

And why do the French get to keep Quebec?

[UltraBudgie]

Hey! I said maybe. I was thinking of the cheese. Plus, they're just so darn fun to have around. Perhaps we could reclaim the mudpits of Louisiana and deport the Creole? Keep the gumbo though. Drain the swamp indeed! I can think of no more fitting place for the Trump Presidential Library than in the bog-flats of the former bayou, surrounded by forlorn and displaced gators. Maybe he could put his golf course there, too -- get it the hell out of Scotland.

Hmm, strange mood -- I think I'm joking, but I'm not going to get neurotic about it.


Edit: Yeah, and I like Joan's version of that song better than Bob's. Such a pretty voice, her. Just a song and a guitar. Amazing what she could do. You almost can't detect the bitter cynicism of the lyrics. Not many can do that with a Dylan cover.

[putnam6]

Hey! I said maybe. I was thinking of the cheese. Plus, they're just so darn fun to have around. Perhaps we could reclaim the mudpits of Louisiana and deport the Creole? Keep the gumbo though. Drain the swamp indeed! I can think of no more fitting place for the Trump Presidential Library than in the bog-flats of the former bayou, surrounded by forlorn and displaced gators. Maybe he could put his golf course there, too -- get it the hell out of Scotland.

Hmm, strange mood -- I think I'm joking, but I'm not going to get neurotic about it.


Edit: Yeah, and I like Joan's version of that song better than Bob's. Such a pretty voice, her. Just a song and a guitar. Amazing what she could do. You almost can't detect the bitter cynicism of the lyrics. Not many can do that with a Dylan cover.

Joan was a little before my time and I appreciate Dylan but prefer the CCR,Jimi or the Stones when it comes to 60s protest rock. Of course, it's difficult to tag Trump with the warmonger label and talk about role reversal though from the '60s through the 2000s the right, the conservatives were the neverending war party, and now the left conveniently left that out. Now we have to kill those damn Russians and spend 100 billion dollars plus, and ultimately negoi9ate a peace that could have happened 3 years ago. But hey atleast the smart weapons are keeping the collateral casualties down compared to other 21st-century wars 

now here is a superb protest song from an extremely underrated 70s band that still applies today

https://youtu.be/SftgE1vfwbk?si=kpol3GTKjgi9M_DF

[Anna]

I find it really amazing that American people are so emotionally invested in politics. So eager to talk about it regularly, so supportive of their political idols. It's fascinating to me because here in Poland, apart from the very few fanatics locked up in their intellectual ghettos, most people are just "meh."

We have also two parties that count most, liberals and conservatives, but they are so similar in their stupidity that the end result is the same no matter who you vote for. If I wanted to get neurotic about one idiot, I would have to be neurotic about all other remaining idiots because they are no different. I would end up permanently triggered.

I was thinking about giving up voting altogether but during the communist times people were imprisoned and tortured for fighting for democracy so that today we could vote for our favorite idiots. I don't want to disrespect our national heroes but, for goodness' sake, it's a tough choice because everyone is trying so hard to outdo the rivals in being stupid. It's a real primus inter pares game.

Now in May we will be electing a president and both of the major candidates resemble each other not only in behavior but also in appearance. It's like a two faced alien idiot. Maybe, I'll toss a coin or something.

[putnam6]

I find it really amazing that American people are so emotionally invested in politics. So eager to talk about it regularly, so supportive of their political idols. It's fascinating to me because here in Poland, apart from the very few fanatics locked up in their intellectual ghettos, most people are just "meh."

We have also two parties that count most, liberals and conservatives, but they are so similar in their stupidity that the end result is the same no matter who you vote for. If I wanted to get neurotic about one idiot, I would have to be neurotic about all other remaining idiots because they are no different. I would end up permanently triggered.

I was thinking about giving up voting altogether but during the communist times people were imprisoned and tortured for fighting for democracy so that today we could vote for our favorite idiots. I don't want to disrespect our national heroes but, for goodness' sake, it's a tough choice because everyone is trying so hard to outdo the rivals in being stupid. It's a real primus inter pares game.

Now in May we will be electing a president and both of the major candidates resemble each other not only in behavior but also in appearance. It's like a two faced alien idiot. Maybe, I'll toss a coin or something.

Glad you are here Anna always good to have a broader perspective, it's all about an individual's life experiences, I mostly discuss politics here because I rarely discuss them in my real life. America was already a bit punch drunk from Reagan's decline Iran Contra GHB Read My Lips and we just learning about slick Willy while Poland was in the middle of its righteous infatuation with the visionary Lech Walesa. Different arcs but it is telling that Poland learned comparatively quickly thatå 2 or multiparty politics just changes who is deciding to spend your taxes and what they will spend it. 

For my part, Ive had good economic times and lousy economic times with both parties, taxes, and health insurance hit us a bit harder with Obama we were doing better with Trump COVID hit like most small businesses the shutdown decimated us, we almost didn't come back, even now we occupy 1/5th the space and are just now getting where we aren't living from week to week. Our customer base is one 1/4th of the previous levels. Last time I checked we had lost over 600 clients, they are out of business a healthy portion were clients we worked with for over 20 years some even longer. More than a handful we considered good friends and to hear thier stories. FWIW we lost a dozen more just from Hurricane Helene.

Let's put it this way my business is sensitive enough when Biden proclaimed "It will be a dark winter" I had coworkers, clients, and competitors all say that was the worst thing he could say for our niche business and it was. 

Lastly, I like to think I have 7-10 good working years and I'll be fine but what if that isn't enough?

Life experiences are why I lean toward Trump and I know millions of people were hit harder than we were. I kind of just say a little prayer almost every day and be thankful for where we are at.

What do I know but Ive become a  fan of Ron Paul over the years, and it might just be the right time to give some of his ideas a try

[sahgwa]

I find it really amazing that American people are so emotionally invested in politics. So eager to talk about it regularly, so supportive of their political idols. It's fascinating to me because here in Poland, apart from the very few fanatics locked up in their intellectual ghettos, most people are just "meh."

We have also two parties that count most, liberals and conservatives, but they are so similar in their stupidity that the end result is the same no matter who you vote for. If I wanted to get neurotic about one idiot, I would have to be neurotic about all other remaining idiots because they are no different. I would end up permanently triggered.

I was thinking about giving up voting altogether but during the communist times people were imprisoned and tortured for fighting for democracy so that today we could vote for our favorite idiots. I don't want to disrespect our national heroes but, for goodness' sake, it's a tough choice because everyone is trying so hard to outdo the rivals in being stupid. It's a real primus inter pares game.

Now in May we will be electing a president and both of the major candidates resemble each other not only in behavior but also in appearance. It's like a two faced alien idiot. Maybe, I'll toss a coin or something.

I think the American obsession with politics is sad.  I have to utilise my mental and spiritual efforts to not get angry about the people around me who are obsessing about it , luckily it's mostly all online and I don't see that unless my wife shows me what my family are ranting about. Generally it is distasteful to me as it is a waste of energy, and anyone who steps back for five seconds and is honest with themselves will know that politicians don't care two bits about the common man.  
I visited Poland, to Bydgoszcz and Warsaw and it was a very lovely and clean place. I enjoyed the culture and the conservatism .  In the Army I had a good Polish friend, who was getting naturalised citizenship through service. 
I agree that the illusion of two parties is just that.  I wish more people in countries around the world would realise that it's all a distraction from what really matters, which is your soul and your self-governance and psyche. 
But instead they are arguing over who is the lesser evil, and whatever talking points the media tell them to shout about.

[IdeomotorPrisoner]

Really the trigger is seaching the word "news" for me. I find that leads me to the stories where I get most emotionally attached.

Let's do today's

Gabbard confirmed

I have nothing on that one. A good appointment among a sea of terrible and terrifying ones. Hope she doesn't sell out her moderacy completely. Because that tends to happen surrounding Trump. One day they're calling him a fascist, next day they're his VP candidate.

I find it really amazing that American people are so emotionally invested in politics. So eager to talk about it regularly, so supportive of their political idols.

It's ingrained culturally from our founding. What we learned in government class. Being emotionally attached to politics is written into our essence kinda. From declaration of independence, through civil war, suffrage, desegregation, and on to all new frontiers of equality, or fighting for an ideal of something to hash out politically. So it can change society. Something akin to a social memory or inherited tendency.

While it's essentially a giant carrot to keep us running on a treadmill of social cohesion and usefulness to the people that use our sentiment for their power, I don't care. There's a certain more passive version I like best.

As far as I am concerned the greatest part of being American (or just living in a constitutional democracy) is the freedom to get neurotic and emotionally attached over politics and society's direction..And I get it, it's all a grand abstraction of assumed importance, but I like the lie better. I like feeling like my emotional investment to the country and society matters or that my voice and choice of politician matter. "Meh" is too much Gen X apathy for me.

I am technically a millennial. I want to text on my phone how we are gonna change the world and then just complain about crap that really isn't that bad.