Facts do matter, AND

I tend to focus too much on how facts don’t change minds. But, do you remember when you first became aware of the Catholic sex abuse problem? It was probably after the guy in this story talked about it. Narrative is powerful and effects us all.

If a recently reinaugurated President Trump did call Putin and declare “enough is enough”, I could imagine Putin sounding placating but by the end of the call having Trump declare he was open to the idea of reducing sanctions, especially the ones that hurt the American economy, and returning to Russia its seized funds, especially if it was the European Union that had to eat the cost of that.

If the USA stopped being hostile to Russia, then Europe would have to read the room and either follow Trump’s lead or suffer the consequences.

With the Russian Federation occupying an important chunk of formerly Ukrainian territory, its economy supercharged by a reduction of sanctions and returned capital, and with Ukraine’s military and economy no longer substantially bankrolled by Uncle Sam and Germany, the situation of Ukraine vis-a-vis the Russian Federation should reach a rational stabilization. If Russia somehow either ended up with Odessa or had it cut off, than the hearts and minds within Kiev would have to adapt to the Russian Federation having it by the balls.

In my mind the question is whether or not the Russian Federation will have more or less occupied the territory it would need to have to feel secure by the time Trump started to sound insistent when on the phone. Trump knows about negotiating, and should know that appearing to have a win in negotiating with Russia would be a lot easier if he waited to “talk turkey” until the Russian Federation clearly had the upper hand.

Imo, Putin would be much more amenable to ceasing seizing Ukrainian territory once the Russiah Federation felt that, in conjunction with the right settlement, it had enough of a buffer zone that it couldn’t be easily threatened by a later resurgence of Ukrainian or Western belligerence.

Trump’s dealings with China could go smoother once Russia had returned to a non-war like state, and was once again more about peaceful trade than it was about military alliances.

And in exchange for “letting China be China”, I think Trump could find them willing to sign deals that would assist in keeping the American economy humming. Trump is all about making profit, and I think as long as other nations see themselves as being included in that, mutually beneficial arrangements with them can be much more easily arranged.

The MIC loses relevance when negotiations aren’t based on American intimidation, and so they prefer a President like Biden or Harris over a President like Trump. Trump can be a warmonger, and he is an Imperialist, but he’s basically a negotiator. Other politicians use negotiations as a fallback or an adjunct to getting what they want by way of military dominance.

If Trump can negotiate peaceful settlements and trade deals, it would be a big blow to the influence of the MIC, and they rather he doesn’t get the chance to try.

He can’t. He is a convicted criminal, by a jury of his peers in a court of law.
And he is a terrible business man (6 financial bankruptcies, who cannot even get a loan without proof of assets).
He has been shown extreme leniency by public law enforcement due to his prior status as president, in spite of the overwhelming evidence of wrongdoing that is sufficient to disqualify him from running let alone granting him any kind of governance.

Frank’s mind is the only place any of this is happening.

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That dotard isn’t going to do any of that. Lausten is right that it is only in your mind that any of that will happen if that orange menace, with 34 counts of felony, gets back into office.

Trump can be reelected.

He comes back with an idea : Vengeance against the people who have betrayed him and have stolen his election, against Washington bureaucrats, against the democrats, and so.

The choice of Vance shows that he will forsake any balance.

Imagine in 4 years, a congress presided by Vance ?

image

write4u do I scream now or later?

Now is better.

In fact if Trump is elected, Vance will preside the senate in January …

I was just referring to the next presidential election, Vance being in charge of the proclamation of the results, in a situation similar as 2021.

Harris wants republicans in her cabinet!!!

Of course, that’s how it is supposed to be in a well-functioning democracy.
Democrat Presidents have often had Republicans in their Cabinet.
Why do you believe that is controversial?

The Repugs who are supporting Kamala know the orange menace is a felon who will destroy the U.S. and democracy. No one, except white rich men will have freedom.

Thats a ticket to losing the elections. You dont mix with people that hate you.

Apparently they don’t hate Kamala, but they don’t like the orange menace.

They vote 96 % with trump. Compromise is what turns off the left

This is how bad divisiveness has become. Some people believe that all Republicans hate all Democrats. Those extremists are a minority, but they are dominating the airwaves.

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And there it is! Republicans hate Democrats.
Clearly, you do not understand the concept of democracy.

The elected president, republican or Democrat represents all the people of the Nation regardless of any political association.