Off Topic Politics Thread

My wife did overrule me in calling our first born Mumm-Ra The Everliving. Sad times. I was also not allowed Luke to prevent me from constantly telling him that I am his father.

 

I am really tired of straw man arguments. The right seem incapable of genuinely responding to what is said. The “you support Zelensky, you want WW3” argument is the most childish thing I ever heard - and it is everywhere.

 

Debateable!

 

Still can't believe I got away with calling my son Matthew tbh (this was 34 years ago).

 

The TBH bit is very unusual!

 

Perfect but flawed?

 

But such isn’t life
If I’m in a pub talking I only talk to people who discuss, no monologue nonsense and ignore responses

 

People don’t normally say the stuff he says in the pub. You tend to get punched.

 

How about this as a summation of a position in supporting Zelenskyy -

 

If Starmer can keep this look of "Leader of Europe" going he is gonna see a big big bounce!

Germany can't step up because of both their history and their weak hold on things in their politics. Macron is a lame duck in France. Starmer is on to a winner here!

 

I totally agree with him. The key is that we go into this giving Ukraine a position of strength. The US have been actively undermining that and repeating Russian talking points.

 

But the notion of 'America first is not the way you deal with democracy as it simply alienates everyone else and makes other 'less reasonable countries believe this behaviour to be a acceptable.

I am not sure that Trump’s Republicans are Nazi's but I do feel they are going to follow policies which will alienate the 'free West.

I can understand why Musk is being drafted in to streamline the state and pursue efficiencies. This mirrors some of George Osborne's austerity and is also like Thatcher in steroids . However , this will result in future problems with welfare and administration and seems ridiculous now that these kinds of policies are discredited in Western Europe.

I do think that there are graver policies enacted by Trump beyond the re -set of foreign policy with issues such as health, equality and environmental issues where Trump is rowing back against a global consensus. I also think that there will be a concerted press against the Democrats within the next six months. We can expect to see charges brought against the likes of Joe Biden and Hilary Clinton .

There are also concerns that there are serious attempts to allow Trump to serve a third term. I am convinced that Trump is wanting to recalibrate America beyond the immediate future and change the dynamics of global politics and will want to ensure that he remains in power long enough so there is no way back. I do not see a Trump presidency has having short term consequences but a far longer reach that will reshape the 21st century in a really bad way. He will wreck the environment, diminish democracy in the US , embolden commercial enterprises to manipulate global policies against the interest of peoples and ensure that the rest of the world is hostile towards America. He will be a disaster.

 

Thanks for that
LOL

 

Just proves that Trump was fully aware of what was going to happen if he wound Zelensky up.

 

The people accusing Zelensky of being a poor diplomat while accepting Trump putting him on display, mocking his war clothing, allowing right wing thugs to question him, allowing a Russian journalist into the room, allowing Vance to shout at him, accepting Vance using video clips as his entire understanding of the war, Rubio to sit like a grumpy statue, Trump himself to shout at and over Zelensky and tell him he has lost and then literally kicking the Ukrainians out of the White House…

Those people are failed human beings.

 

Suspect the pictures of Zelenskyy with the king are going wind Trump up. Today seems to have been a much better day though, and Zelenskyy saying they’re still ready to sign the minerals deal is a positive.

 

Not if he keeps talking about sending the military into Ukraine. Does he think Russia will worry about that without the USA? He may think his image will benefit from big talk but there won't be much support from other Europeans or people at home.


'Europe must do the heavy lifting' but US support needed, Starmer says published at 17:27
17:27
Starmer says those willing will intensify planning now, with real urgency, before reaffirming the UK's commitment to backing this with "boots on the ground, and planes in the air".

"Europe must do the heavy lifting," he says.

But the agreement needs US backing, he continues, "let me clear, we agree with Trump on the urgent need for a durable peace. Now we need to deliver together".

 

If the **** really hits the fan though, I shall look forward to Starmer presenting a plan to share in America's oil and gas reserves, as payment for us supporting America with our weapons and forces during it's Middle Eastern forays into Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

I think it's sensible that we provide part of a European led peacekeeping force, in combination with the US workers on the ground. There'll be a guarantee of protection in that instance from the US. No way Trump doesn't offer that if there's American citizens working there.