Politics

[lwaters]

Maybe France and Britain should deploy nukes to Canada

 

[Russ16]

You are presuming that I care to be involved, financially or militarily, on the world stage. I don’t.

No I’m presuming that you don’t want our economy to fall into stagnation. You’re on this forum so I assume you like to hunt in other countries and that those hunts cost money. Total isolationism would result in many countries being difficult to visit as an American. It would also mean the end of the dollar as the world currency and the price of foreign hunts increasing dramatically for Americans. Slow down in earning power for Americans as well.


I’m hunting in Romania in November. I’m glad they are welcoming to Americans and that a favorable exchange rate makes that hunt affordable. That becomes way less probable if we completely withdraw from the international stage.

 

[Doubleplay]

I wish it were as simple as Hegseth taking inexplicable action, but following the hearing, I concluded he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. That was confirmed during a series of missteps on his European tour. He is simply taking direction - one assumes from Trump, but who knows. This would be the same Donald trump who promised to revitalize the American military. And if anyone believes that cutting the services by 40% over 5 years will make them leaner and more lethal, they are delusional.

I was against Hegseth and said it here and took fire for it.
He's just a puppet repeating what he's told by Trump and totally incapable of leading defence department.
I don't think he will last there.

 

[Tanks]

I hope when all the fat is boiled off the good employees will be rehired maybe with back pay,I can
hope.

I doubt it. By the time the administration has a clue about "good employees" they'd be employed. I have feelers out to a couple of guys that were recommended to me at JPL. They get laid off; they are hired the next day.

 

[Russ16]

I was against Hegseth and said it here and took fire for it.
He's just a puppet repeating what he's told by Trump and totally incapable of leading defence department.
I don't think he will last there.

I’m afraid he’ll last too long.

 

[Tanks]

...

As for what happens in the rest of the world I don’t care. I’m tired of financing the world party. Y’all can deal with Putin or whoever. We need the world a lot less than you need us and it’s long past time we were treated as such.

...

We need the World. Both for brain power and raw materials and manufactured goods. Not to mention that they are also customers. Anyone thinking the way you do is naive and clueless. Not everyone passes their days reading the Kaczynski manifesto while living in the middle of nowhere.

 

[cmk]

So you are saying it’s OK for other countries to have a tariff on US made goods but not OK for the US to put a tariff on other countries’ goods…………..gotcha.

Huh? That is not what I said. And you know it. Trump decided to announce upcoming stiff tariffs without "provocation" as far as I can tell. Other countries responded to that, as could be expected. The point is tariff agreements between countries is probably something that should be discussed in a more grown-up manner. This "my way... or else" is just unnecessarily clumsy and heavy-handed. Creates uncertainty and bad will.

As for what happens in the rest of the world I don’t care. I’m tired of financing the world party. Y’all can deal with Putin or whoever. We need the world a lot less than you need us and it’s long past time we were treated as such.

I’m an isolationist as far as world politics is concerned. I don’t care what happens in other countries as it’s an internal matter for those countries. Let Ukraine deal with what happens in Ukraine be it Russian invasion or whatever.

I'm sad to hear that. I hope that people in your vicinity stay healthy and don't get into any accidents.

I'm sure that there are other subjects more related to hunting or firearms, where we can have fruitful and interesting discussions. But here we fail to find common ground.

 

[Neophyte]

We need the World. Both for brain power and raw materials and manufactured goods. Not to mention that they are also customers. Anyone thinking the way you do is naive and clueless. Not everyone passes their days reading the Kaczynski manifesto while living in the middle of nowhere.

It’s thinking like yours that has got us in the mess we’re in.
So who’s the naive and clueless one?

 

[wesheltonj]

Trump also said he was for reciprocity in tariffs. Folks have been pushing for that at least since Nineteen Seventy Nine. I am not worried about what Trump says if you can really get everyone to free and fair trade.

 

[cmk]

I think the US tried the isolation policy after World War 1. It didn't work out so well

And for a more current check-up on the merits of isolationism - just take a look at North Korea, that beacon of success and prosperity.

 

[flatwater bill]

My family members in The Donbas have been attacked by Ukraine......ya, Ukraine since 2011 and much more violently since 2014. They have lost their radio and tv stations, their newspapers, their religion, their politicians, their language, and some, their lives. They had to ask Russia to save them. But the media continues BS phrases like "Unprovoked", "Premeditated" and "Full Scale".....all of which are lies. Each time I read one of you, regurgitating what MNM has been telling you, over and over, I wonder: Do you always refuse to see both sides? In life, or just in politics? Ukraine aggression fueled by USAID money started this war. They said they would. The CIA wanted it that way. NATO desperately needed it. The "Wise and experienced politicians and military leaders" that are oft cited here, are the idiots that got us into this mess. I'm happy with a change. Don't see any Russian bases in Mexico. Are there North Korean base in Canada? Think it through. Who is the aggressor world wide? Time to stop it. Be satisfied with the paradises we have made in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, etc ad nauseum .... ................FWB

 

[Tanks]

It’s thinking like yours that has got us in the mess we’re in.
So who’s the naive and clueless one?

Here I am sitting at my home office and looking around at the items I have and taking inventory.

• Computer, all components built overseas.
• 2 monitors, built overseas.
• Speakers and speaker stands, some components from overseas.
• iPhone built overseas.
• Misc. networking equipment and cables from overseas
• USB camera built overseas.
• Shredder built overseas
• Printer, built overseas
• Microphone built overseas
• Laptops built overseas
• UPS built overseas
• Cable modem/router built overseas
• Leica cameras and lens, built overseas
• Apple watch built overseas
• Breitling watch built overseas
• 2 urns containing ashes of my beloved pets, built overseas
• Glass top large desk built overseas
• Crate containing my ECS puppy built overseas.
• SOG knives, built overseas

As opposed to items made in the USA.

• Captains of Crunch grip strengtheners - USA
• Herman Miller Embody II chair - USA
• STI DVC Carry 9mm - USA
• Leatherman - USA
• Handgun portable safe - USA (electronics probably overseas)

As you can see most day-to-day items in my life and majority of the people in the USA are sourced from overseas. We have a global economy.

Remember during Covid, we couldn't even build cars due to chip shortage from overseas.

Now, you can say we don't need that stuff. Sure, if one wishes to go back to the level of 1950s in technology. Heck, there is not even a TV manufacturer in the USA anymore. Zenith was the last one.

 

[Lone Star Bluegrass]

Senator Mitch McConnell is not seeking reelection in 2026.

Mitch McConnell not running for eighth Senate term in 2026

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the longest-serving leader in the upper chamber’s history, will not seek re-election in 2026, the Associated Press reported Thursday. McConnell, 83, will have se…

nypost.com

 

[BJH65]

Here I am sitting at my home office and looking around at the items I have and taking inventory.

• Computer, all components built overseas.
• 2 monitors, built overseas.
• Speakers and speaker stands, some components from overseas.
• iPhone built overseas.
• Misc. networking equipment and cables from overseas
• USB camera built overseas.
• Shredder built overseas
• Printer, built overseas
• Microphone built overseas
• Laptops built overseas
• UPS built overseas
• Cable modem/router built overseas
• Leica cameras and lens, built overseas
• Apple watch built overseas
• Breitling watch built overseas
• 2 urns containing ashes of my beloved pets, built overseas
• Glass top large desk built overseas
• Crate containing my ECS puppy built overseas.
• SOG knives, built overseas

As opposed to items made in the USA.

• Captains of Crunch grip strengtheners - USA
• Herman Miller Embody II chair - USA
• STI DVC Carry 9mm - USA
• Leatherman - USA
• Handgun portable safe - USA (electronics probably overseas)

As you can see most day-to-day items in my life and majority of the people in the USA are sourced from overseas. We have a global economy.

Remember during Covid, we couldn't even build cars due to chip shortage from overseas.

Now, you can say we don't need that stuff. Sure, if one wishes to go back to the level of 1950s in technology. Heck, there is not even a TV manufacturer in the USA anymore. Zenith was the last one.

I too look around our home, and except for some furniture, much of what I see is produced overseas.

Do you think there may be a return to more U.S. domestic manufacturing on some of the items you mentioned as advances in technology like AI and robotics reduce or eliminate the need for cheap labor? It would be nice to not have to rely on our adversaries for critical materials and goods.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

It’s thinking like yours that has got us in the mess we’re in.
So who’s the naive and clueless one?

@Tanks, if you don't mind, I'll field that: you Mr. Neophyte.

 

[Hunt anything]

Another executive order eliminating the federal leadership program.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Theodore Roosevelt: “In foreign affairs we must make up our minds that, whether we wish it or not, we are a great people and must play a great part in the world. It is not open to us to choose whether we will play that great part or not. We have to play it. All we can decide is whether we shall play it well or ill.”

Someone needs to share that Trump.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

And for a more current check-up on the merits of isolationism - just take a look at North Korea, that beacon of success and prosperity.

Well played sir.

 

[Neophyte]

I too look around our home, and except for some furniture, much of what I see is produced overseas.

Do you think there may be a return to more U.S. domestic manufacturing on some of the items you mentioned as advances in technology like AI and robotics reduce or eliminate the need for cheap labor? It would be nice to not have to rely on our adversaries for critical materials and goods.

There is no reason why we can’t return to manufacturing products here.

 

[CJW]

Three murdered members of the Bibas family returned to Israel today after a disgusting spectacle put on by the people of Gaza. They were the focus of one of the most disturbing videos from Oct. 7.