Politics

[Lone Star Bluegrass]

][emoji6][emoji6]" data-quote="Red Leg" data-source="post: 0" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">

Tomorrow is the start of the latest Munich Conference on Ukraine where Trump and Hegseth will have already employed the unique negotiating tactic of giving up major concessions. I hope it isn't, but I suspect this photograph is all too apropos for the event and its future historical context.

I’m genuinely curious about how you see a path to victory in this war for Ukraine.

 

[1dirthawker]

There was a video of someone in the EPA who described "Throwing gold bricks off the deck of the Titanic." They were trying to get rid of the money before Jan. 20th. Said much of it went to non governmental entities where they believed it would be harder to claw back. Maddening!

that video was ironically made by james o keefe, an undercover reporter that gets videos of government workers that then say the quiet part out loud. usually on a date with an undercover reporter. but your are correct that it is maddening that even when video is brought forward, nothing happens to the bad guy that just outed themselves. maybe with this new DOJ?

 

[jpr9954]

Random thought, and I’m not saying I disagree with it, but can you think of another instance where a country has insisted that a neighboring country mass their military along their border?

I may have misunderstood this based on an earlier answer but I’d say Germany going through the Ardennes of Belgium to get to France in both 1914 and 1940 qualifies.

 

[Red Leg]

@Red Leg sorry to hear that "that Trump fella" cost you a small fortune. How'd that happen? Retired military pay didn't get affected did it? ..............FWB

I own quite a few defense stocks, among others. That is a personal issue - they go up and down. Trump's comments on cutting defense expenditures in half did that, but it is not the reason for my concern. Instead, I am deeply worried that the man who promised to reinvigorate national defense naively foresees a meeting of the minds with an ambitious Xi and Putin that will result in peace in our time. Where would we have we heard those words before?

And yes, as @roverandbrew notes, concurrent disability and retirement pay are rumored to be under consideration to be cut. That would be devastating for many veteran families and a rather dramatic repudiation of their support for Trump.

 

[roverandbrew]

I own quite a few defense stocks, among others. That is a personal issue - they go up and down. Trump's comments on cutting defense expenditures in half did that, but it is not the reason for my concern. Instead, I am deeply worried that the man who promised to reinvigorate national defense naively foresees a meeting of the minds with an ambitious Xi and Putin that will result in peace in our time. Where would we have we heard those words before?

And yes, as @roverandbrew notes, concurrent disability and retirement pay are rumored to be under consideration to be cut. That would be devastating for many veteran families and a rather dramatic repudiation of their support for Trump.

The VA this morning spoke of internal discussion on "means" testing for continued VA disability payments. If you make over a certain amount you would lose your disability.

 

[Red Leg]

The VA this morning spoke of internal discussion on "means" testing for continued VA disability payments. If you make over a certain amount you would lose your disability.

Great. If the a veteran was successful, then he was never disabled. One would assume Social Security would have similar means testing.

 

[BJH65]

Its is on the table. Cutting concurrent VA disability and Retirement pay.

That’s a shame. I have a fully developed VA disability claim that’s been pending for awhile. Guess it’s bad timing. Hopefully they can look at streamlining and improving services as opposed to reducing or taking away benefits.

 

[BSO Dave]

Your response reminds me of the old adage, ‘when all you have is a hammer, every problem is a nail’. Canada has been a strong ally since well before the US became a superpower. Insulting Trudeau is one thing, going out of your way to insult an entire nation is another. It is unnecessary and unhelpful.

The funny and sad part about this assertion above is that the U.S.A. has always had the "hammer" at its disposal among an arsenal of softer, more nuanced, diplomatic solutions... It's just that until Trump, there has been no RINO, and certainly no democrat, who had the balls to use it or even threaten it...! Trump threatens the hammer far more that he uses it, and the effectiveness speaks for itself...

Oh, and you don’t need a poll, talk to a few Canadians, you’ll get the idea. Better yet, lace up and jump on the ice with them.

And BTW, I have talked with more than a few Canadians about their thoughts on Trump... My part of South Florida gets flooded with Canadian snowbirds this time of year... I golf with a few, and fish (and drink) with many more... They are not insulted in the least... ALL of them get Trump and despise Trudeau... Not sure which Canadians you personally know who are so sensitive? I would think especially not the hockey players? I guess that proves that Canadians are not politically monolithic...

Canada will be fine, and will remain our ally... They just may have to pay more to do so... Relax and have a Molson...

 

[BSO Dave]

In regard to the art of trolling and king of power moves, this is a real photo taken from a meeting this morning in the Oval Office...

That is a framed picture of Trump's mugshot hanging in the background... If that's not the ultimate gangster move, I don't know what is... LOL...!

 

[Wheels]

Vance's speech at Munich today was good. In many ways it was also a roast.

 

[Lone Star Bluegrass]

Vance's speech at Munich today was good. In many ways it was also a roast.

The German Defense Minister’s rebuttal was quite bizarre. In effect he says “just because we don’t allow freedom of speech doesn’t mean we’re any less free.”

 

[Tundra Tiger]

In regard to the art of trolling and king of power moves, this is a real photo taken from a meeting this morning in the Oval Office...

That is a framed picture of Trump's mugshot hanging in the background... If that's not the ultimate gangster move, I don't know what is... LOL...!

View attachment 665378

Gangster?

You say gangster, I say narcissistic... tomAto, tomAHto...

 

[BSO Dave]

Gangster?

You say gangster, I say narcissistic... tomAto, tomAHto...

A freakin' mugshot is narcissistic?? Really?

TDS much?

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Vance's speech at Munich today was good. In many ways it was also a roast.

Didn't Trump want the 2020 election results cancelled???? To me, it sounds like Vance was lecturing Europeans.

 

[Wheels]

Didn't Trump want the 2020 election results cancelled???? To me, it sounds like Vance was lecturing Europeans.

I have a feeling there will be a fine tooth comb going through the 2020 election results in the next couple of years. It will be interesting to see the results.

But yes. Vance was definitely lecturing the EU. Especially the unelected bureaucracy that is running Europe and the national leaders that allow it.

 

[roverandbrew]

The German Defense Minister’s rebuttal was quite bizarre. In effect he says “just because we don’t allow freedom of speech doesn’t mean we’re any less free.”

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/12/nx-s1-5294697/trump-kennedy-center-chairman

How Trump is reshaping the Kennedy Center, moving away from "woke culture"

President Trump is changing the composition of the Kennedy Center's board — and wants to change the types of performances the center shows.

www.cbsnews.com

Interesting we are having a sitting president decide what the arts are and what should be viewed. Not sure what qualifies Trump to "shape" the arts. Is he himself a DEI hire?

 

[flatwater bill]

@Red Leg I'm hoping that cutting the fraud out of programs will prevent needing to take money from those that deserve and have earned it. We will see...........FWB

 

[Red Leg]

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/12/nx-s1-5294697/trump-kennedy-center-chairman

How Trump is reshaping the Kennedy Center, moving away from "woke culture"

President Trump is changing the composition of the Kennedy Center's board — and wants to change the types of performances the center shows.

www.cbsnews.com

Interesting we are having a sitting president decide what the arts are and what should be viewed. Not sure what qualifies Trump to "shape" the arts. Is he himself a DEI hire?

Hey, The Apprentice was successful. Why not bring reality TV like performances to the Center for the Performing Arts.

 

[Red Leg]

@Red Leg I'm hoping that cutting the fraud out of programs will prevent needing to take money from those that deserve and have earned it. We will see...........FWB

Defense investments and Veterans are always first in the guillotine line. It is something of a national tradition.

The 'Bonus Army' Storm Into Washington

In 1932 World War I veterans seeking a bonus promised by Congress were attacked and driven out of Washington, D.C., by troops of the U.S. Army under the command of Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower and George Patton.

www.historynet.com

 

[Brent in Az]

Once DOGE completes it's mission, I could definitely see Musk and his team looking into the 2020 election data..
At least the data that didn't mysteriously disappear.