Trump The Uniter

[mark46]

Trump has finally become Trump The Uniter in the last couple of days.

For several years, Iran has had two strong factions within their government, with close elections. There were even two military presences, the guard and the regular military. The government even criticized the Guard in the last election. All that is gone now. Iran is now fully unified against the US and their leader, with lots of folks giving "I told you so speeches".

Europe has also had issues splitting the various factions within their ranks, and between them and Russia. All that is now gone. The Europeans are unified against Trump, and is drawing closer to Russia.

Of course, the Democratic Party has been a disaster with many factions and no short term future. Over the last nine months, Trump has unified the Democrats, who now vote together on almost every issue. Trump's decision with regard to subsidy payments continued to unify the Democrats, and split the Republicans. The Republicans are split on DACA, healthcare, the budget and on the debt ceiling. Schumer and Pelosi can deliver Democratic votes in the negotiations on these issues in November and December.

There is only one political group unified in support of Trump: white evangelicals, who continue to support everything Trump says or does with 80% or more approval ratings.
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As an aside, Trump's understanding of the Iran deal is especially impressive. As everyone is his administration has agreed, Iran is NOT in violation. Actually, the US is in violation by continuing to try to get European countries to put their sanctions back on Iran. Should Congress do what Trump wishes, the US would be in violation of the agreement, since sanctions against Iran were agreed to be lifted.

To be clear, the US has every right to sanction Iran for its terrorism and lots of other actions, just not anything having to do with nuclear weapons. The US already has lots of such sanctions. Recently, Congress has already increased those sanctions, with Iran having not yet reacted to them.

Trump has made it clear that he believe that he has the right to walk away without any violation of the treaty by Iran. As President, he does indeed have the power to violate treaties.

Let's give the example used yesterday. Let us say that Russia decided that it really didn't like US actions in Syria. So, then Putin decides that he will pull out of one of the nuclear arms agreements with the US, and start increasing their inventory and start testing. This is precisely what Trump is threatening. Iran has misbehaved in ways that have nothing to do with this agreement, so he wants to walk away.

And just as an aside, now the hardliners in Iran are talking about walking away. This might be the only effect of Trump's moronic (a leading Republican's characterization) behavior.

 

[mark kennedy]

Trump has finally become Trump The Uniter in the last couple of days.

For several years, Iran has had two strong factions within their government, with close elections. There were even two military presences, the guard and the regular military. The government even criticized the Guard in the last election. All that is gone now. Iran is now fully unified against the US and their leader, with lots of folks giving "I told you so speeches".

Europe has also had issues splitting the various factions within their ranks, and between them and Russia. All that is now gone. The Europeans are unified against Trump, and is drawing closer to Russia.

Of course, the Democratic Party has been a disaster with many factions and no short term future. Over the last nine months, Trump has unified the Democrats, who now vote together on almost every issue. Trump's decision with regard to subsidy payments continued to unify the Democrats, and split the Republicans. The Republicans are split on DACA, healthcare, the budget and on the debt ceiling. Schumer and Pelosi can deliver Democratic votes in the negotiations on these issues in November and December.

There is only one political group unified in support of Trump: white evangelicals, who continue to support everything Trump says or does with 80% or more approval ratings.
=======
As an aside, Trump's understanding of the Iran deal is especially impressive. As everyone is his administration has agreed, Iran is NOT in violation. Actually, the US is in violation by continuing to try to get European countries to put their sanctions back on Iran. Should Congress do what Trump wishes, the US would be in violation of the agreement, since sanctions against Iran were agreed to be lifted.

To be clear, the US has every right to sanction Iran for its terrorism and lots of other actions, just not anything having to do with nuclear weapons. The US already has lots of such sanctions. Recently, Congress has already increased those sanctions, with Iran having not yet reacted to them.

Trump has made it clear that he believe that he has the right to walk away without any violation of the treaty by Iran. As President, he does indeed have the power to violate treaties.

Let's give the example used yesterday. Let us say that Russia decided that it really didn't like US actions in Syria. So, then Putin decides that he will pull out of one of the nuclear arms agreements with the US, and start increasing their inventory and start testing. This is precisely what Trump is threatening. Iran has misbehaved in ways that have nothing to do with this agreement, so he wants to walk away.

And just as an aside, now the hardliners in Iran are talking about walking away. This might be the only effect of Trump's moronic (a leading Republican's characterization) behavior.

Trump tells NATO they have to pay more and they did, not so bad. He abandoned the Paris accords and that was a little disturbing but ok, it was his call. When it comes to the Iran deal he has no suitable replacement and the same could be said for NAFTA and a whole lot of other things. The less he actually gets done the better I like it. During the interim elections we will see things change, with a GOP controlled Congress that failed their base on Health Care, kicked the can down the road with the budget and...tax reform...well, that is going to be anticlimactic.

Oh and btw, no wall. That one just kills me.

 

[Halbhh]

I was surprised to learn there is a widespread belief in North Korea that they can win a nuclear war with the U.S. Yes, that's what you read. Even though it sounds crazy. And we can't know for sure the dictator himself hasn't been convinced by this propaganda. That does happen. Dictators, like Saddam or Kim, think that way, believing in some of their own propaganda.

From this in-country reporting
Opinion | Inside North Korea, and Feeling the Drums of War

The combative words from Trump about North Korea then don't create as much deterrence as we think.

Instead, they would more likely provoke (because of their belief). They may reason: better to suffer some but win....

Then Trump's words are more akin to smoking a cigarette next to a gas pump where some gas spilled on the ground, and the gas cap is open.

 

[mark46]

Oh and btw, no wall. That one just kills me.

The "wall" paid for by Mexico has always been an interesting idea.

Actually, alot has been done, continuing the improvements and projects from the Obama administration, and also down some maintenance and additions to existing fences and walls.

Trump will need to negotiate with democrats in the budget and debt cupeling debates. The dems will get something on healthcare and DACA, and Trump will get some wall funding. Perhaps Alexander and Murray will have a healthcare bill to debate before December; it's possible.

 

[JackRT]

Did anyone besides me notice the spelling error in the tread title? "Uniter" should read "Untier'. Must be dyslexia.

 

[mark kennedy]

The "wall" paid for by Mexico has always been an interesting idea.

Actually, lot has been done, continuing the improvements and projects from the Obama administration, and also down some maintenance and additions to existing fences and walls.

Trump will need to negotiate with democrats in the budget and debt cupeling debates. The dems will get something on healthcare and DACA, and Trump will get some wall funding. Perhaps Alexander and Murray will have a healthcare bill to debate before December; it's possible.

As of January the House will be in full campaign mode, the Senate has been pretty much ignoring them since Trump took office anyway. Like McCain said the Senate used to be the greatest deliberative body in the world, now they are just a bunch of McConnell partisan puppets. The Democrats have not broken ranks once, the only bipartisan legislation was with regards to the military and that's a sacred cow they dare not screw up. Anyway, they simply put off the budget until later and they are supposed to do tax reform, deregulation and health care then to. It sounds like wishful thinking but we'll see.

DACA is a slam dunk for the Democrats not that it was all that hard to do. They still haven't done much except Trump and his endless executive orders. This is turning out to be a memorable GOP comedy of errors, stay tuned.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Ah, a new angle of "Trump does nothing right" Bravo, very creative..

Never mind the 20 nations that have come together in sanctioning North Korea because of Trump.
Never Mind the NATO Nations coming together to pay their share at Trumps request
Never mind the Nations in the Middle East that have said they think Trump can help in the peace process

Never mind the DACA negotiations that both sides came together and are working on a plan together.


Please....... continue

 

[mark kennedy]

Ah, a new angle of "Trump does nothing right" Bravo, very creative..

He does some things right, he just doesn't get a lot done.

Never mind the 20 nations that have come together in sanctioning North Korea because of Trump.

Oh I thought that was because they had the capability of mounting a nuke on an ICBM and the international community had no choice.

Never Mind the NATO Nations coming together to pay their share at Trumps request

He extorted some money out of NATO while disparaging the actual benefit of the alliance in the first place. Ain't he great.

Never mind the Nations in the Middle East that have said they think Trump can help in the peace process

Oh they said they think he might be, start carving his face on Rushmore immediately. I did like how he suggested he was in favor of a one state solution, that must have rattled some cages.

Never mind the DACA negotiations that both sides came together and are working on a plan together.

Yea, it couldn't be because the dreamers have lived here all their lives and there is such a thing as a naturalized citizen.

Please....... continue

I couldn't stop if I wanted to.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Good replies - even when Trump does something right - it's just not enough.

 

[JackRT]

And while this going on Trump withdraws funding fro UNESCO.

 

[Always in His Presence]

And while this going on Trump withdraws funding fro UNESCO.

The United States will withdraw from UNESCO at the end of next year, the State Department said Thursday, to stop accumulating unpaid dues and make a stand on what it said is anti-Israel bias at the U.N.’s educational, science and cultural organization.

In notifying UNESCO of the decision Thursday morning, the State Department said it would like to remain involved as a nonmember observer state. That will allow the United States to engage in debates and activities, though it will lose its right to vote on issues.

The withdrawal follows long-standing issues the U.S. has had with UNESCO and does not necessarily foreshadow a further retrenchment of U.S. engagement with the United Nations, where the Trump administration has been pushing to bring about structural and financial reforms.

 

[LoAmmi]

Never mind the Nations in the Middle East that have said they think Trump can help in the peace process

Tell you what. If because of Trump, some kind of peace deal is reached between Israel and Palestine, I'll vote for him in 2020. (Now, we both know that ain't going to happen because the problem with Israel and Palestine isn't who's been President of the United States)

 

[JackRT]

The United States will withdraw from UNESCO at the end of next year, the State Department said Thursday, to stop accumulating unpaid dues and make a stand on what it said is anti-Israel bias at the U.N.’s educational, science and cultural organization.

In notifying UNESCO of the decision Thursday morning, the State Department said it would like to remain involved as a nonmember observer state. That will allow the United States to engage in debates and activities, though it will lose its right to vote on issues.

The withdrawal follows long-standing issues the U.S. has had with UNESCO and does not necessarily foreshadow a further retrenchment of U.S. engagement with the United Nations, where the Trump administration has been pushing to bring about structural and financial reforms.

In spite of being one of the founding nations the USA has had major issues with the UN over the last 70 years. It seems that the USA does not like being voted down and the usual (knee jerk) reaction has been to withdraw funding. Like it or not, the UN has done a huge amount to benefit mankind --- as often as not that has been in spite of the USA.

 

[Allandavid]

Did anyone besides me notice the spelling error in the tread title? "Uniter" should read "Untier'. Must be dyslexia.

Beat me to it Jack...

“I will untie anything that has Obama’s name attached to it...!”

 

[JackRT]

Beat me to it Jack...

“I will untie anything that has Obama’s name attached to it...!”

There will come a day when the American people will want to scrub the Trump name from their history.

 

[mark46]

There will come a day when the American people will want to scrub the Trump name from their history.

As some say with regard to confederate monuments, perhaps we need to be reminded (in that case a museum should be appropriate). In future, there should be a Trump museum in every city to remind just how bad a presidency can be.

 

[mark46]

ROFL

Trump want to back our of any payments to UNESCO and still get to admonish them regarding climate change and other Chinese conspiracies, andy any other nonsense that Trump will come up with.

The State Dept made this statement instead of the UN ambassador's office. Perhaps, she's considering a new job at State.

In notifying UNESCO of the decision Thursday morning, the State Department said it would like to remain involved as a nonmember observer state. That will allow the United States to engage in debates and activities, though it will lose its right to vote on issues.

 

[elliott95]

Trump has finally become Trump The Uniter in the last couple of days.

For several years, Iran has had two strong factions within their government, with close elections. There were even two military presences, the guard and the regular military. The government even criticized the Guard in the last election. All that is gone now. Iran is now fully unified against the US and their leader, with lots of folks giving "I told you so speeches".

.

Disunity in Iran has always been an illusion.
On any matters that they consider important, the Ayatollahs call the shots.
The last semblance of balancing power with power in Iran came with the Green Revolution and that ended up in failure for those he believed in democracy and civil society, and complete victory for the hardliners.
And to call what is in place a treaty is a misnomer.

 

[TLK Valentine]

Ah, a new angle of "Trump does nothing right" Bravo, very creative..

Never mind the 20 nations that have come together in sanctioning North Korea because of Trump.

Because they were on NK's side beforehand?

Never Mind the NATO Nations coming together to pay their share at Trumps request

Are they now?

Never mind the Nations in the Middle East that have said they think Trump can help in the peace process

So they said they think it... Donald must be pleased at the flattery.

Never mind the DACA negotiations that both sides came together and are working on a plan together.

You means DREAM negotiations -- DACA's got an extension. DOnald has no plan, so someone has to.

You see, that's Donald's style of "governing" -- destroy something then leave it to others to clean up.

Healthcare, climate accords, the Iran deal... all the child knows how to do is break stuff... best to keep him pacified.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Healthcare, climate accords, the Iran deal...

All things the President was voted into office to do. Now he is doing it and the opposition continues to whine, complain and name call while they stamp their feet.

It's why the Democratic Party has lost more than 1,000 seats during the Obama administration.