Largest trade imbalance in nine years, biggest stock market drop in a decade, government set to borrow nearly $1 trillion… Is this the “tidal wave” of good economic news Trump was talking about?

As I took last night off, there’s a lot that we could talk about today. We could talk about he fact that our president, standing before a terrifyingly representative sample of what’s left of his base announced that those who refuse to applaud him are “un-American” and likely “treasonous”. Or we could talk about the fact that news is just now breaking that our wannabe dictator-in-chief, perhaps inspired by Putin, is apparently planning a large-scale military parade through the streets of Washington, DC. Or maybe we could discuss how the President’s Chief of Staff, John Kelly, suggested today that many DACA-eligible immigrants may not have registered for the program because they were, “too lazy to get off their asses.” Or, I guess, we could talk about the economy, and the fact that the Dow Jones dropped more than 1,0000 points yesterday.

So far this week, we’ve seen three things happen. First, as I just mentioned, we saw the Dow have its biggest one-day drop in over a decade. Second, we got word that our trade deficit has hit $566 billion, which is the highest it’s been in nine years. And, third, it was reported that our federal government would be borrowing nearly $1 trillion this year, which is an 84% increase over last year.

And all of this was, as you might have seen, unfolding yesterday, just as Donald Trump was on the stage in Ohio, taking credit for the economy. As the Dow plummeted, Donald Trump was explaining to his white, male followers in Ohio how the Republican tax cuts had “set off a tidal wave of good news that continues to grow every single day.” And, with that, Fox News cut away from the speech to talk about how Trump’s tidal wave of good news was coming to an abrupt end.

While I haven’t seen Trump blame Obama yet for these recent developments, I imagine it’s just a matter of time before he proposes that all of this is some kind of “deep state” plot. Sean Hannity, on his radio program today, found a way to blame former president Barack Obama for the Dow’s fall, and I imagine that others in the Fox News universe will begin to follow suit. Someone, after all, has to take the fall, and it’s sure as hell not going to be Trump.

For those of you who might wonder how real, legitimate presidential administrations deal with the economy, here’s a well-timed reminder from former White House Press Secretary Jay Carney: “Good time to recall that in the previous administration, we NEVER boasted about the stock market — even though the Dow more than doubled on Obama’s watch — because we knew two things: 1) the stock market is not the economy; and 2) if you claim the rise, you own the fall.

I know I’ve said it here before, but, really, if True had wanted to, he could have avoided much of this. He could have focused on middle class tax cuts that wouldn’t have added $1.5 trillion to the federal deficit. Instead, though, he let Paul Ryan take the reigns. Not wanting to invest the time and energy it takes to craft and sell a real, comprehensive economic policy that makes good final sense, he sat back while Ryan gave his donors everything they wanted, happy to just take credit when the bill passed. [Ryan’s financial backers, by the way, were thrilled. The day after the bill was signed into law, the Koch brothers, in fact, sent Ryan $500,000.] And, now that the damage has been done, not only are Ryan and the Republicans in Congress going to lie about what’s happening, but, even worse, they’re going to use it as an excuse to go after Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and every federal program that doesn’t serve the super wealthy. But that was the plan all along.

Remember how we were assured that the Republican tax plan, despite what the economists were telling us, wouldn’t raise the deficit? Remember how, according to Forbes, “Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (had) repeatedly promised that the cuts would pay for themselves, meaning they would create so much economic growth over the next decade that despite the steep cuts being proposed, the US government would actually collect MORE revenue than it would have in the absence of such cuts”? Well, that’s not happening. The deficit is already going up, and we’re borrowing more. But, that’s not all. Behind the scenes, Paul Ryan is readying the GOP to push through welfare reform, drastically cutting programs that American families depend on like Medicare and Medicaid, using the rising deficit, which he just created, as justification. In other words, it’s playing out exactly like many of us thought that it would.

The Republicans, as their political party is dying, are going for broke. They know they’ll be swept from power in 2018, and they don’t care. They’re just looking to do as much damage as they can on the way out, while the nation is distracted by the cruel, racist, fast food-fueled, porn star-fucking antics of Donald “Cadet Bone Spurs” Trump. Paul Ryan knows he’s not coming back. He’s already said that he won’t be running for reelection. But it doesn’t matter. He’s being well paid by his donors to roll back the New Deal while looting the federal coffers on their behalf. And, all the while, he’s lying to our faces about how it’s for our own good, like he did a few days ago in this tweet, which he promptly deleted once the mockery began.

The folks at CBS News, by the way, found the secretary noted in Paul Ryan’s tweet. And, guess what? She wasn’t exactly thrilled about how the extra $1.50 a week in her paycheck stacked up compared to the billions of dollars being handed over by Ryan and his fellow Republicans to America’s super rich.

Here’s the thing that I don’t get. I can understand that the rich want more, but it doesn’t make sense to me that they’d allow their greed to destroy the very system that allowed them to build their empires. I mean, at some point, you would assume the Koch brothers would realize that, for the markets to work, you need stability, and for factories to run, you need educated employees, and for supply chains to function, you need public roads, and for products to sell, you need middle class consumers with jobs that pay a living wage. It just seems like this would be common sense. But I guess it’s not. And, now, they’re all going to pay an incredible price, as the whole damn thing begins to implode.

One would hope, between now and election day, the Democrats come together around a comprehensive economic package that shores up social programs, repeals tax breaks for the super rich, and puts more than an extra $1.50 a week into the paychecks of working Americans. We have an opportunity to do something good here. We need to take it.

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217 Comments

  1. EOS
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 6:01 am | Permalink

    Here’s an idea. Why don’t JH, IL and HW continue posting on the 5 things link and allow this post to include rational discussion? I hate to see Mark’s efforts wasted each day.

  2. Jcp2
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 6:40 am | Permalink

    I think that is happening on Mark’s FB feed. The comment section here is like a forgotten side yard hidden behind a tool shed.

  3. Jean Henry
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 7:57 am | Permalink

    Hmmm… My last few comments on the 5 things post contained much of the same information contained in this post. One bit he didn’t mention: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article198549039.html

    EOS, your death panels are finally becoming a reality.

    Trump is turning the swamp into a mire. It’s going to take a long time to extricate ourselves from this mess.

    As for my participation in the comment section, as long as HW shows up spouting Trumpian misinformation, I will counter, given time. Totalitarian creep, and the misinformation that it relies on, must be resisted.

  4. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 8:02 am | Permalink

    I want to rename the Dow Jones to “Dow Joans.”

    It has a more feminine feel to it.

  5. Jean Henry
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 8:06 am | Permalink

    Are you implying the Dow Jones is reactive and emotional, IL?
    If so, I see no need to feminize the name.

  6. Jean Henry
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 8:10 am | Permalink

    JCP2– i’m under no delusion that the comments section here has influence beyond a tiny demographic within a small geographic area. Mark’s posts, on the other hand, are widely spread on social media by friends of mine nation wide. They are an educational aggregate of emerging news, information and analysis. The comments section is our little corner of the school yard, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

  7. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 8:20 am | Permalink

    I think the comments section here is like any other. In general, people don’t read them,or rather, only the truly bent do, or rather, they have no influence on reasonable human beings.

    “Don’t look at the comments section” is sound advice for any political blog or news source.

  8. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 8:22 am | Permalink

    “Are you implying the Dow Jones is reactive and emotional, IL?”

    No, I was going for “morning television talk program.”

  9. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 8:23 am | Permalink

    “As for my participation in the comment section, as long as HW shows up spouting Trumpian misinformation”

    As long as people who blindly fetishize power show up, I will be here to ridicule them with all abandon.

  10. Max
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 8:48 am | Permalink

    I’m pretty sure that the Trump tweet about ‘the Dow Joans’ is a fake tweet. And Trump was inspired by a military parade he witnessed in France.

  11. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 8:54 am | Permalink

    It does appear to be fake.

  12. Bike666
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 8:54 am | Permalink

    The “If the Dow Joans ever falls” tweet is fake.

  13. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 8:57 am | Permalink

    I enjoy satire, but I abhor satire being peddled as reality.

  14. Anonymous
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 9:14 am | Permalink

    Secretly, part of me is happy that Trump’s base will soon start to experience what it is that they voted for, when money is taken from welfare programs to pay for tanks to roll through DC.

  15. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 9:21 am | Permalink

    I am unclear as to why we need to spend money on a military parade.

    If Obama had scheduled one, right wing media would have exploded.

  16. Max
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 9:24 am | Permalink

    I read a comment on twitter that they just recently fixed the roads that were messed up by tank treads from the last military parade after the first Gulf War in 1991.

  17. site admin
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 9:29 am | Permalink

    The fake tweet has been removed. I take full responsibility, as I run our research department. Mark, as usual, is without fault.

  18. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 9:38 am | Permalink

    “I read a comment on twitter that they just recently fixed the roads that were messed up by tank treads from the last military parade after the first Gulf War in 1991.”

    No doubt, TrumpCo will not appropriate the funds to pay for damages this time, either.

  19. Jcp2
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 9:43 am | Permalink

    My next car should be a truck, then, given the prospect of roads and highways achieving developing nations quality levels.

  20. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 9:51 am | Permalink

    If we are to follow the path of developing nations, we will be having China come and build news roads for us. No doubt, Trump would be as flattered to have China provide roads and sports stadiums as any other African despot would.

  21. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 9:55 am | Permalink

    “EOS
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 6:01 am | Permalink
    Here’s an idea. Why don’t JH, IL and HW continue posting on the 5 things link and allow this post to include rational discussion? I hate to see Mark’s efforts wasted each day.”

    How are my comments not rational? I post straight and on topic until someone tries to derail. Just because I roasted two attack-derps it doesn’t take away from the information I post.

  22. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 9:59 am | Permalink

    “What’s left of his base.”

    That’s funny. His base seems to be broadening.

    http://time.com/5132016/donald-trump-approval-rating-rasmussen/

    “Rasmussen Reports’ daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday listed Trump’s approval rating at 49% among likely U.S. voters, the highest approval rating Trump has earned since March 7, 2017. Another 49% of respondents disapprove of Trump’s performance, according to Rasmussen.”

  23. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:00 am | Permalink

    “How are my comments not rational? ”

    lol

  24. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:04 am | Permalink

    Iron Derp:

    “derp”

    I researched the etymology of the word ‘derp’. It is a corruption of ‘dupe’ with a modulation of the ‘u’ to ‘er’ due to the influence of the idea of the ‘jerk’. Derp: a jerky dupe

  25. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:05 am | Permalink

    The Mr. Warlord is a giant among people, always staying current on fashionable linguistic trends.

  26. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:08 am | Permalink

    The Mr. Derpus is a derp among people, always misunderderping all information whenever possible just for the derpiness of it.

  27. Sad
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:09 am | Permalink

    HW it’s actually from My Little Pony. Please , Please keep your facts straight and accurate to keep up you 100% factual rating.

    http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Derpy

  28. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:12 am | Permalink

    The Mr. Warlord, in addition to needing to revisit “Schoolhouse Rock” should also consider revisiting the seminal animated series, “My Little Pony.”

  29. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:13 am | Permalink

    “HW it’s actually from My Little Pony. Please , Please keep your facts straight and accurate to keep up you 100% factual rating.”

    Eeeexcellent! You have done well. You may have a chance to escape the Doom of the Derps yet.

    “Derpy, also known as Muffins and Ditzy Doo, is a female Pegasus pony who was given the name Derpy Hooves by the show’s internet following due to her cross-eyed “derpy” expression in the first episode.”

  30. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:15 am | Permalink

    “Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:12 am | Permalink
    The Mr. Warlord, in addition to needing to revisit “Schoolhouse Rock” should also consider revisiting the seminal animated series, “My Little Pony.”

    Okay, Derp-Muffin. I’ll try it.

  31. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:19 am | Permalink

    Point two: Obviously it’s not because they failed to stand for the President. That is to be expected. It’s because they are guilty of crimes against the US government and by extension the people. “We caught ’em,” he said.

  32. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:21 am | Permalink

    Point three: Oh no! A military parade! That’s…TERRIBLE!!! Think of the children…

  33. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:25 am | Permalink

    Point four: even with the DOW plummeting to the biggest loss ever in one day it still was how much higher than ever before Trump? Biggest growth ever absorbs biggest loss no problem.

  34. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:32 am | Permalink

    Point five: The trade deficit was most likely on a track to keep widening long before DJT took office. You don’t expect his trade policies to begin to reverse that in the coming years? You have to HOPE it doesn’t reverse, which is weird.

    Point six: we have to pay the highest amount of interest on the debt ever this year: presumably more than the $458 billion from fiscal year 2016. That’s about half the deficit. Trump is responsible for this disaster how?

  35. Sad
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:33 am | Permalink

    Another take on Derp

    https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=DeRp

  36. Citywatch
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:37 am | Permalink

    Lest we forget: Paul Ryan is a follower of the philosophy of Ayn Rand as expressed in the novel “Atlas Shrugged” as well as in her other writings. Are you surprised then he acts as he does? Don’t let the fact that he looks like Eddie Munster fool you.

  37. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:39 am | Permalink

    GOLD STAR WINNER!!!

    Sad kicking some major ass hahaha!!!

    TOP DEFINITION
    DeRp
    The contemporary DNC and GOP parties are one party. the DeRps.

    Ignore what they say, watch what they do!

    Your common DeRp wants government spending and lots of it. DeRps don’t care if they have to borrow it’s only important that all of their choice interest groups (hobbies) are fed at the end of the day. The only difference between the DNC and the GOP is what the spending goes toward. They’re consumers just like generation x women and no one takes their men seriously. The generation x women wear the pants in the DeRp house and they represent the marginal power of the DeRp vote.

    If you’re into programmed reality TV shows, the DeRps offer a lot of sibling rivalry intrigue for your interactive enjoyment.
    Of, consisting of, or supported by members of two parties, especially two major political parties: a DeRp resolution.

    Bipartisan is a code-word for “the kids are playing nice together.”
    #derps#bipolar#bipartisan#democrat#republican#dnc#gop
    by nwzPaper January 26, 2013

  38. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:41 am | Permalink

    Not having any money in stocks, bonds or real estate and not working in those sectors the markets have no personal impact on my life.

    This is true of many Americans, particularly the poor and working classes.

    How does a minimum wage worker benefit from a stock market rally? A person on SSI? The homeless?

    They do not. In fact, given that stock market rallies shift even more capital to the richest of the rich (because stock holders are paid before workers), and that capital is taxed at a lower rate than income (in the end) and that the richest of the rich are able to buffer themselves against a collapse through the power of a government that is friendly only to wealthy donors, I don’t see a stock market rally as a sign of success.

    A true sign of success would be increased labor and wage protections, increased investment in and access to education and skills development, increased access to capital for small business and business incubation, and increased access to health care, either through price controls or insurance schemes, that is, things this administration has no interest in.

  39. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:43 am | Permalink

    Lots of people have 401k’s. What makes you think this is about you personally?

  40. Citywatch
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:49 am | Permalink

    One more thing. I really value the ideas and perspective Mark Maynard brings to us on his blog and elsewhere. There used to be thoughtful and civil discussion following his posts and many different voices expressed their viewpoints. As I read these comments I am disheartened by the amount of comment-hogging, lack of respect and general snarkiness of the commentary. This has been increasing over the last several months it seems and I personally find it sad and distressing that a few people are taking up all the air in the room.

  41. Jean Henry
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:50 am | Permalink

    Missed the whole Dow Joans tweet kerfuffle. Apologies for misinterpretation.

    Re the military parade “What about the children?” Indeed. The Trump administration and GOP congress have amply demonstrated they care little about the 21% of US children living in poverty in the US. No doubt that number will rise as Trump spends millions on a military parade touting his greatness against all evidence.

    “The cost of a military parade on its own remains an open question. The US government would likely spend millions of dollars to transport combat vehicles and equipment to Washington for such an event. The Post notes that it is not yet clear how the government would pay for it.” http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-military-parade-2018-2

  42. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:52 am | Permalink

    It’s awful. I shoot straight and two people in particular don’t like it so they say horrible things. Look it up if you haven’t seen it, citywatch. It’s really bad and far, far more destructive than a little humorous roasting.

  43. Jean Henry
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:54 am | Permalink

    “A true sign of success would be increased labor and wage protections, increased investment in and access to education and skills development, increased access to capital for small business and business incubation, and increased access to health care, either through price controls or insurance schemes, that is, things this administration has no interest in.”

    Yes. I would add that improving access to affordable capital to Black and Brown Americans MUST be a priority.

  44. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:54 am | Permalink

    “The Trump administration and GOP congress have amply demonstrated they care little about the 21% of US children living in poverty in the US. ”

    Trump’s supporters either still adhere to the “trickle down” fantasy, or continue to blame their problems on black people or immigrants.

    Or are simply 1% ers who are happy to have a friend in the White House.

    But it should be obvious to anyone with half a clue that the Trump administration cares nothing at all for the welfare of poor people or kids.

  45. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:54 am | Permalink

    Oh, yeah Trump cares so little. That’s why he agreed to fund CHIP for six years when the Derpocrats were having a tantrum and holding their breath till they actually turned blue.

  46. Jean Henry
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:57 am | Permalink

    Citywatch– Do you really find my comments here useless? If IL and I were not to respond to HW, would you take him on. Or would we just allow him a hostile takeover of Trumpian rhetoric. I have a lot on my plate right now. I’d be happy to cede responding to HW’s rants to someone else. Who would like to pick up the baton. Or should we all agree to ignore him completely. If so, I’m on board, but the silence must be absolute.

  47. Jean Henry
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:59 am | Permalink

    CHIP– you mean the health care plan HRC shepherded into place. A continuance of that 30 year old plan was truly magnanimous.

  48. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 11:05 am | Permalink

    Jean, I am not hostile at all. I even began with a kid gloves policy for months of never responding to the many personal attacks I received. I reserve the right of self defense against the awful things you have said. You have been nothing but vicious to me personally the entire time I have been here. You should simply respond to my posts with facts and reasoning and leave the destructive smear tactics behind.

  49. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 11:07 am | Permalink

    “CHIP– you mean the health care plan HRC shepherded into place. A continuance of that 30 year old plan was truly magnanimous.”

    Well, that’s good. She did do something useful after all. Democrat shutdown would have cut it off for those poor kids all because they hate DJT.

  50. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 11:11 am | Permalink

    “Jean, I am not hostile at all.”

    Except when he is calling women “dumb bitches.”

  51. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 11:17 am | Permalink

    Yeah, cuz I do that all the time. Jeezus, look at the things Hean Jenry has said about me. You too. I don’t see how you think you have a leg to stand on.

  52. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 11:26 am | Permalink

    Regarding Illary claiming responsibility for CHIP I see the Washington Post has a dim view of it.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/06/20/clintons-claim-of-working-with-democrats-and-republicans-to-create-a-child-health-program/?utm_term=.84f63291f527

    Now don’t come back with an insulting post. That’s how this nonsense ends and we start to get somewhere.

  53. Lynne
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 11:34 am | Permalink

    Jean, honestly, I think if we could all adopt a policy of ignoring HW, it would be better for all even if it means he will keep posting his nonsense here unchallenged. This space seems the sort where almost no one is likely to be persuaded by his bullshit even if a counter point is not offered.

  54. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 11:35 am | Permalink

    “That’s how this nonsense ends and we start to get somewhere.”

    lol

  55. Sad
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 11:40 am | Permalink

    I’ll take over responding to HW.

    The rest of you deserve a break (today)!

  56. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 11:42 am | Permalink

    “Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 11:35 am | Permalink

    lol”

    That’s what people are asking you to stop. What does that add to the discussion? Nothing. It’s pure mockery.

  57. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 11:45 am | Permalink

    “It’s pure mockery.”

    It appears the Mr. Warlord’s intellectual capabilities are as grand as he claims.

  58. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 11:49 am | Permalink

    “This space seems the sort where almost no one is likely to be persuaded by his bullshit even if a counter point is not offered.”

    You are going to have to face that I tell the truth when even CNN can’t deny it anymore. I am only the messenger. Don’t be mad. You see it. There is incredible momentum picking up every day right now going exactly in the direction I said ever since this dossier came out. It’s creeping into your subconscious. You worry about it a little more all the time now. It’s starting to erupt into your waking awareness! Hahaha! Really, truly I love everyone and want all of us to be well and I think we are going to be.

  59. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 11:50 am | Permalink

    “It appears the Mr. Warlord’s intellectual capabilities are as grand as he claims.”

    You can’t sterp can you, derp?

  60. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 12:01 pm | Permalink

    Oh shiiit!!!

    Donald J. Trump‏Verified account
    @realDonaldTrump
    Follow Follow @realDonaldTrump
    More
    NEW FBI TEXTS ARE BOMBSHELLS!
    8:10 AM – 7 Feb 2018

  61. Iron lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 12:05 pm | Permalink

    Lol

  62. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 12:09 pm | Permalink

    You probably never laugh. I do a lot these days.

  63. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 12:19 pm | Permalink

    Lisa Page: “The POTUS [Obama] wants to know everything we are doing.”

  64. Kim
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 12:46 pm | Permalink

    Trump’s bombshell — surprise, surprise — turned out to be nothing.

    https://twitter.com/JuddLegum/status/961279407737405441

  65. Lynne
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 12:54 pm | Permalink

    I think they should do the parade. And involve Trump as much as possible with the planning. It might keep him distracted and less likely to do more harmful things. The man is so much like a toddler!

  66. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 1:16 pm | Permalink

    What were they doing Obama wanted to know about?

  67. wobblie
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 1:26 pm | Permalink

    So who is putting odds on Trump torpedoing the latest bi-partisan spending deal McConnell just announced?

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-07/senate-leader-announces-two-year-spending-plan-to-avoid-shutdown

  68. Jean Henry
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 1:43 pm | Permalink

    I don’t think Trump is interested enough in governance to torpedo it Wobblie. If he actually cared about the nitty gritty of governance, we’d be in worse shape.

    HW spins his own narrative. He was nice in the beginning like Trump is ‘nice’ in a relentlessly condescending manner. And when challenged, he went ballistic and took it personally– like Trump. I rarely take any of this personally. I only feel slightly guilty about taking aim at such an easy target. If he did not support the man in power and mimic him so theoughly in rhetoric and disposition, I would likely hav eignored him. But people like HW are dangerous. This isn;t about discourse. It’s about understanding the thinking of the crazy people who form Trump’s most loyal base. HW is transparently ridiculous, and I have no problem saying so and repeatedly id’ing the patterns in the circular logic he employs to continue justifying the obviously inaccurate.. Arguing his points is unnecessary. For the most part, they speak for themselves. That he believes he has wide-spread support here is amusing. Testament to the scope of his delusion.

  69. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 1:52 pm | Permalink

    Jean Henry calls the nastiest kind of smears “challenges”. Strange.

  70. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 1:58 pm | Permalink

    Don’t see how I am ridiculous or any of that shit. How is it going the way I said a looong time ago if that is the case? Notice what a nasty attack you made (again) and my inoffensive reply. That’s how it is more often than not.

  71. Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 2:31 pm | Permalink

    “Don’t see how I am ridiculous or any of that shit.”

    lol

  72. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 3:02 pm | Permalink

    Iron Lung
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 2:31 pm | Permalink

    “Derp”

  73. maryd
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 3:33 pm | Permalink

    hw is confused. thinks this blogs is his own.

  74. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 3:39 pm | Permalink

    Maryd is confused. She thinks Hyborian Warlord posting on the blog means he thinks this blog is his own.

  75. Jean Henry
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 5:19 pm | Permalink

    You’re a charmer, HW.

    https://twitter.com/votevets/status/961034722775203840/photo/1

  76. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 5:32 pm | Permalink

    Funny to say Trump uses and abuses the military after a lifetime of Bush/Clinton “shenanigans” to put it in the nicest way. I’ll take parades over what they did every day.

  77. stupid hick
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:05 pm | Permalink

    “How are my comments not rational? ”

    I think it’s important you keep trying to understand why, because I’m sure it’s obvious to everyone around you. What I’m about to say should not be taken as a general endorsement of Jean Henry, but in your specific case I think you should listen to her, and instead of automatically fixating on why she must be wrong, think instead about how she might be right. Take Jean’s criticism as a gift and find something in it that might make you a better man. She persists trying to help you tell the difference between reality and nonsense. More so than others here who have given up, and more so than others who I’m confident know better, but because they share some of your political views, silently overlook the nonsense instead of try to help you be rational. But Jean’s not giving up on you, she stays engaged. Think about it that way, and you may discover she’s actually your best friend on this blog.

  78. Jean Henry
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:50 pm | Permalink

    HW– I actually went back to look at when you started commenting on this blog. It seems things really went South when you returned in October ’17.

    Here is my comment that first triggered you and then your response and mine:

    jean henry
    Posted January 12, 2017 at 1:47 pm | Permalink
    Clinton has expressed desire for peace too. Hyborian you keep saying nothing relevant. No one cares why you voted for Truno over Hillary. Why would we care now? He’s patently obviously not a president who will likely lead us to peace and neither was Clinton. Having no basic diplomatic skills and a hair trigger temper and compulsion to retaliate is kind of a deficit in the peace making department. No one believe anything Trump says, not even hiscsupporters. His words are meaningless. Look at his actions. He’s our president in 8 days, so let’s hold him accountable. Just as I would have Hillary had she won and as I have Obama. Please stop trying to defend him and do your job as an American and vet him.

    “Jean, that’s exactly what I mean about slinging mud or flinging shit or whatever you want to call it. “No one cares what you think…blah blah blah.” Have fun with that. I’m out of this little corner of the web.”

    “Hyborian– do you understand why I would say no one cares why you voted now? Not as personal attack but because the election is over. You don’t need to campaign for Trump any more. That was the point of my post. You need to take things less personally.”

    I stand by every word.

    Soon after you came back you started hurling insults. I don’t know who started it, but, given the kinds of positions you were spouting, especially after C-ville, I’m ok if it was me.

    PS for anyone who cares to sleuth out HW’s identity, here’s a clue:
    Hyborian Warlord
    Posted December 19, 2016 at 5:34 pm | Permalink
    Posts seem to be still awaiting moderation in a kafka-esque twilight. Not a Russian propagandist I promise. Native Ypsilantian here who probably lovingly ran sound for you and your friends long ago (can’t remember exactly because of doing it for so many local bands.)”

    And this bit cracked me up: “Don’t know Jean but Peetie is a sweetie and I don’t think he would try to cut me down personally”

    Trip down memory lane while watching a bad movie.

    Maybe Hw feels personally betrayed and that’s why he is here being a dick daily.

  79. Jean Henry
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 11:01 pm | Permalink

    Here is my comment, quoted by HW himself, that truly sent him off the rails.

    [Hyborian Warlord
    Posted October 14, 2017 at 8:28 am | Permalink
    Jean Henry: “HW– Who said it’s sexist not to vote for HRC? Acknowledging sexism in the campaign is not the same as saying all people who didn’t vote for her are sexist. I have made clear here that I think sexism and racism heavily influence voters. I have also made clear that I don;t think all Trump voters are sexist or racist.I don;t see those statements as contradictory.”

    Me: “You did:”

    Jean Henry “But right now, I don’t think they politically deserve to be catered to. And I know them well enough to know most of them will never ever ever vote for HRC anyway. Just like Bernie or Busters– It’s asking to much of them to admit their criticism is largely based on misinformation, lies and sexism.”

    “They will still hate her, like they hated Obama, because they are bigots. Because sexism is a factor. And denying it is like a full time job for parts of our majority culture.”

    You dumb bitch!]

  80. Sad
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 5:23 am | Permalink

    I would just like to thank everyone who participates here.

    Not a day goes by that I don’t ponder something new, get upset or let out a little giggle. It’s a nice little diversions from -and insight into- the real world. And the amount of work that some of you seem to put in here truly puts MM to shame.

    I look forward to seeing how things play out.

    Sometimes it even makes me a little less….sad.

    So keep up the good work. And Thanks!

  81. Maria E. Huffman
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 6:26 am | Permalink

    I did not realize that you re-edit your posts after you posted them, Mark Maynard!

  82. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 7:17 am | Permalink

    “stupid hick
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 10:05 pm | Permalink
    “How are my comments not rational? ”
    I think it’s important you keep trying to understand why, because I’m sure it’s obvious to everyone around you. What I’m about to say should not be taken as a general endorsement of Jean Henry, but in your specific case I think you should listen to her, and instead of automatically fixating on why she must be wrong, think instead about how she might be right. Take Jean’s criticism as a gift and find something in it that might make you a better man. She persists trying to help you tell the difference between reality and nonsense. More so than others here who have given up, and more so than others who I’m confident know better, but because they share some of your political views, silently overlook the nonsense instead of try to help you be rational. But Jean’s not giving up on you, she stays engaged. Think about it that way, and you may discover she’s actually your best friend on this blog.”

    I don’t think you understo0d what I said. I know you THINK what I say is irrational. Exactly HOW is it irrational? Use reason to argue against my point. Just flatly stating it means nothing.

  83. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 7:26 am | Permalink

    Jean Henry, why would you say “who said it was sexist not to vote for Hillary” when you had JUST said something to that effect. If that is not dumb then wtf is it? If you don’t like the term bitch maybe you shouldn’t call people “dicks”.

  84. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 7:29 am | Permalink

    You don’t understand what I said about Charlottesville. If you had you wouldn’t have smeared me as a racist. That’s where my biggest frustration is with you. You say the most horrible things over and over. To act like I am some kind of jerk for responding in kind to your constant attacks is awful.

  85. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 7:41 am | Permalink

    HW– Re CHIP and Hillary’s role. the article that you posted in rebuttal backs up my statement that she ‘shepherded the legislation into being.’ Only Hatch questioned that degree of involvement on her part. And his statements seem politicized. If exaggerating in a campaign ad (the source of the pinocchios) concerns you so much, how could you support someone who lies and exaggerates compulsively?

    “Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 7, 2018 at 1:16 pm | Permalink
    What were they doing Obama wanted to know about?”
    –Obama was meeting with Putin in 2 days. This is when he took Putin aside and called him personally to task re election interference.(https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/06/23/even-democrats-wanted-obama-to-speak-out-much-sooner-about-russia/?utm_term=.9d14f11e5c99 ) What he was asking for was clearly the intel about Russian interference into the elections. Hillary’s emails only relate in that they were leaked by Russia. All of this information is widely available in rebuttals to the viral story. Do you not read rebuttals to the stories you repeat?

    your point 2 (the treasonous accusation by Trump): The Sarah Huckabee Sanders said he was making a joke. What you see as ‘obvious’ is not to anyone else. Trump specifically said not clapping was treasonous. you infer an entirely different meaning to suit your narrative.

    Re Trump rising in the polls: Mark referred to his ‘dwindling base.’ His base supports Trump no matter what, like you, They are not the people who choose to change their minds and support him when they get a few bucks in their paycheck or hear a speech listing his ‘accomplishments.’. As soon as they encounter difficulty economically, they will turn on him. Not the base. Most presidents see a spike in approval ratings after a State of the Union.

    Everything you argue is such patent bullshit, it seems silly to rebut, but I will try to stick to the facts from now on as you requested.

  86. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:03 am | Permalink

    Re: the trade deficit (your point 5): I agree that Trump is not responsible for the deficit. BUT he claims great successes in revitalizing US manufacturing and trade. This has not been shown to be the case. He has lied on many occasions about this and cherry picked results. Please don’t reply by doing the same. We will see in time if his policies help improve US trade. There is a lot at work in the Trade imbalance, but over time Trump will have an impact. It’s simply to early to state what that will be. Any attempt to do so is speculation not facts. And I hear you are all about facts.

    Re the DOW, if the trade deficit is not Trumps responsibility, why is the DOW growth as you are always touting. The recent drop (which is international) demonstrates a lack in confidence in the markets overall. You are always claiming the rise in the market is due to Trump, but offer zero analysis of the drop.

    Which takes us to the deficit. Your point here is sound. The deficit spedning this year and the increased US debt cost (due to rising interest rates to normal aka not suppressed/non-recession levels) are not Trump’s responsibility. But he and his GOP congress will be increasing that debt by at least 1 trillion next year with current budget and he still has some major proposed projects (the wall etc)unfunded. The Economist points to current US fiscal policy as leading to market volatility. Volatility is of bigger concern than the drop. Wall Street makes money off of volatility, the larger economy and the rest of us lose.

    “This tension is an inevitable part of the return of monetary policy to more normal conditions. What is not inevitable is the scale of America’s impending fiscal bet. Economists reckon that Mr Trump’s tax reform, which lowers bills for firms and wealthy Americans—and to a lesser extent for ordinary workers—will jolt consumption and investment to boost growth by around 0.3% this year. And Congress is about to boost government spending, if a budget deal announced this week holds up. Democrats are to get more funds for child care and other goodies; hawks in both parties have won more money for the defence budget. Mr Trump, meanwhile, still wants his border wall and an infrastructure plan. The mood of fiscal insouciance in Washington, DC, is troubling. Add the extra spending to rising pension and health-care costs, and America is set to run deficits above 5% of GDP for the foreseeable future. Excluding the deep recessions of the early 1980s and 2008, the United States is being more profligate than at any time since 1945.

    A cocktail of expensive stockmarkets, a maturing business cycle and fiscal largesse would test the mettle of the most experienced policymakers. Instead, American fiscal policy is being run by people who have bought into the mantra that deficits don’t matter. And the central bank has a brand new boss, Jerome Powell, who, unlike his recent predecessors, has no formal expertise in monetary policy.”

    https://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21736513-fiscal-policy-adding-demand-even-economy-running-hot-americas-extraordinary

  87. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:13 am | Permalink

    Not standing for things like the lowest black unemployment ever doesn’t look so great. It’s saying they don’t appreciate it that that something good for the American people is happening during the DJT presidency. That’s the overt point. There is another level to it like a lot of things DJT says.

  88. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:25 am | Permalink

    Please also note at the end of the Economist analysis : “To be clear, this newspaper would not advise a fiscal stimulus of the scale that America is undertaking. It is poorly designed and recklessly large. It will add to financial-market volatility. But now that this experiment is under way, it is even more important that the Fed does not lose its head.”

    The tax plan was foolish and is going to be a disaster long term. But it’s really up to the fed under Powell to mitigate that disaster and keep inflation at bay. I’m ok with Powell as choice to lead the Fed, but I’m surprised you are. He is a non-economist, but he’s not going to deregulate the Fed. The swamp is filling up. He’s a finance/Carlisle group guy– not exactly going to drain the swamp. Given the role Carlisle played (and the profit taking they did) in the gulf wars, I’m surprised you have offered no criticism. I’m not sure how Trump chose Powell. He seems counter to Trump’s vision. Someone from wall street got in Trump’s ear maybe. This is one situation in which that may have been a good thing.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/29/business/federal-reserve-chairman-trump.html

  89. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:30 am | Permalink

    “Not standing for things like the lowest black unemployment ever doesn’t look so great. It’s saying they don’t appreciate it that that something good for the American people is happening during the DJT presidency. That’s the overt point. There is another level to it like a lot of things DJT says.”

    You have pivoted from your original point. This kind of squirminess is why I don’t bother arguing you. “Doesn’t look so great is not the same as ‘treasonous.’ As for reading into Trump’s larger meaning– you do that a lot. Please stick to the facts and evidence. Or at least analysis backed by more than your own wishful thinking.

    Beyond all that, do you remember how the GOP treated Obama? Spare me your criticism of the Dems not supporting Trump. They have cooperated with him more than the GOP congress ever did with Obama.

    I have to leave for today, but I’ll pick up later tonight.

  90. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:34 am | Permalink

    I’d say being in a position to have to pay half a trillion in interest (not because of rising interest rates but simply because of borrowing huge sums each year) is fiscally irresponsible to the point of criminality. How could we have allowed a corrupt government to fleece we the people like that all these years? It’s insanity. When you get a mortgage the percent of interest paid goes down each year. US interest paid is going up by billions. It’s up to half the deficit now. If it keeps going up it will be more than the deficit and then what? Is it not a collision course with bankruptcy?

  91. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:38 am | Permalink

    “You have pivoted from your original point. This kind of squirminess is why I don’t bother arguing you. “Doesn’t look so great is not the same as ‘treasonous.’ As for reading into Trump’s larger meaning– you do that a lot. Please stick to the facts and evidence. Or at least analysis backed by more than your own wishful thinking.”

    Don’t see how it is a pivot. Going against the American people because they hate DJT could be said rhetorically to be “treasonous”.

  92. Iron Lung
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:38 am | Permalink

    “Not standing for things like the lowest black unemployment ever doesn’t look so great.”

    Only a complete idiot would claim that Donald Trump has anything to do with the more than 8 year trend in declining black (and overall) employment.

    I am sure that Donald Trump isn’t going to be happy to take the blame when unemployment ticks back up.

  93. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:39 am | Permalink

    HW “You don’t understand what I said about Charlottesville. If you had you wouldn’t have smeared me as a racist.”
    You don’t understand my points about sexism and bigotry or you wouldn’t have called me a dumb bitch.

    “That’s where my biggest frustration is with you. You say the most horrible things over and over. To act like I am some kind of jerk for responding in kind to your constant attacks is awful.”
    I’m proud to make you uncomfortable about your political and cultural positions. You accusations of sexism and bitchery don;t bother me one bit. They are not awful; they are telling. I laughed when you called me a bitch.

    PS I don’t know for fact if you are a racist; I think you excuse racists and racism, but I’m sure you are a bigot and sexist, because you have demonstrated that here when challenged.

    “If you don’t like the term bitch maybe you shouldn’t call people “dicks”.”– That’s just funny.

  94. Iron Lung
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:40 am | Permalink

    ” Going against the American people because they hate DJT could be said rhetorically to be “treasonous”.”

    “Hating” Trump is not treasonous. It’s democracy.

  95. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:43 am | Permalink

    Standing up to a tyrant is our patriotic duty. (See every American founding document)
    It’s only treason if you are an autocrat.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/02/06/treason-dissing-president-trump-its-not-heres-what-is/?utm_term=.2b4305878b2b

  96. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:45 am | Permalink

    HW– I’m sorry that you and Donald Trump don’t get the respect in this space that you feel you both deserve. But, really, what did you expect?

  97. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:45 am | Permalink

    Iron Derp
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:38 am | Permalink

    “Only a complete idiot would claim that Donald Trump has anything to do with the more than 8 year trend in declining black (and overall) employment.
    I am sure that Donald Trump isn’t going to be happy to take the blame when unemployment ticks back up.”

    Only a complete idiot would fail to notice jobs are coming back like they never did during Obama’s run. He came in at an all time low after the housing bubble so if it didn’t go up at all we would be about finished by now. Apple announced 350 billion in US investment and 20,000 jobs. You are going to give credit to Obama for Trump’s growth beating the snot out of Obama’s. Very wise there.

  98. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:47 am | Permalink

    “Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:45 am | Permalink
    HW– I’m sorry that you and Donald Trump don’t get the respect in this space that you feel you both deserve. But, really, what did you expect?”

    I don’t expect anything from anyone but if you relentlessly attacks someone with awful smears like you do how do you expect them not to defend their self?

  99. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:49 am | Permalink

    *attack

  100. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:50 am | Permalink

    HW– You clearly need to brush up on how debt service works. The rate of interest on your mortgage (if not fixed) and the US debt will change over time. The interest amount you pay on your mortgage will go down, assuming you don’t borrow more. But the US keeps borrowing more. Even so, US debt payments are not structured like a mortgage. Your point is patently ridiculous and uninformed and inaccurate on all levels..

  101. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:50 am | Permalink

    “Iron Lung
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:40 am | Permalink
    ” Going against the American people because they hate DJT could be said rhetorically to be “treasonous”.”
    “Hating” Trump is not treasonous. It’s democracy.”

    There you go intentionally misinterpreting what I said- again. Going against the American people at all is rhetorically treasonous.

  102. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:51 am | Permalink

    I don’t care whether or not you ‘defend yourself.’ Keep going. Everything you say just digs a deeper hole for you. We provoke you because it reveals your true nature.

  103. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:54 am | Permalink

    “Over the September to December timeframe, there were 163,000 additional jobs per month and for the year 171,000 jobs were added monthly. This compares to President Obama’s last six years where the job market averaged at least 174,000 per month and hit 250,000 in 2014.”

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckjones/2018/01/06/president-trumps-first-year-of-job-growth-was-below-president-obamas-last-six-years/#52e1240525ab

  104. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:55 am | Permalink

    “Only a complete idiot would fail to notice jobs are coming back like they never did during Obama’s run.” lie, false! Please stick to facts.

  105. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:55 am | Permalink

    “But the US keeps borrowing more. ”

    That’s the point. How is it ridiculous to see that paying half a trillion in interest alone is unsustainable. Can you get a mortgage if you can’t make the payments on your current one? Obviously not so how is it that the government can just keep borrowing and borrowing until the inevitable default? It’s insanity.

  106. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:56 am | Permalink

    HW is not very well educated about economics or even current economic trends. He simply repeats the falsehoods he hears from his chosen news sources.

  107. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:57 am | Permalink

    “How is it ridiculous to see that paying half a trillion in interest alone is unsustainable. Can you get a mortgage if you can’t make the payments on your current one? Obviously not so how is it that the government can just keep borrowing and borrowing until the inevitable default? It’s insanity.”
    — I take this to mean that you don;t in fact support the Trump tax cuts and spending objectives.

  108. Jcp2
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:59 am | Permalink

    I believe that Mr. Warlord believes he is not racist or sexist because he treats all other races and sexes equally.

  109. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:00 am | Permalink

    A tutorial: http://www.businessinsider.com/government-spending-and-taxes-2012-12

  110. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:01 am | Permalink

    “I believe that Mr. Warlord believes he is not racist or sexist because he treats all other races and sexes equally.” Key word: other

  111. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:02 am | Permalink

    Ok. later for reals now. That was fun.

  112. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:06 am | Permalink

    “— I take this to mean that you don;t in fact support the Trump tax cuts and spending objectives.”

    I don’t support borrowing our own money at interest when Congress has the constitutional authority to print money. I don’t support corrupt entities stealing our money. ” 2.3 Trillion missing” straight from Rumsfelds’ mouth. Excuse me for giving a crap but I would like to know exactly what is going on.

  113. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:12 am | Permalink

    I don’t discriminate at all based on race or sex or anything. That’s a major smear that keeps coming up here. It’s ironic since there are supposed anti-racists and anti-sexists and anti-classists and all kinds of ists on here who do in fact discriminate. Iron Lung’s comments on “Whiteys” for example.

  114. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:14 am | Permalink

    “Jean Henry is not very well educated about economics or even current economic trends. She simply repeats the falsehoods he hears from his chosen news sources.”

    Fixed

  115. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:26 am | Permalink

    *she hears from her chosen news sources

    I get my information from everywhere by the way. That’s another little recurring snipe that misses every time. Most of the ones I use here are mainstream. That is a fact.

  116. Iron Lung
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:26 am | Permalink

    “The Mr. Warlord is not at all educated about economics or even current economic trends. He simply repeats crap from fellow cheerleaders of the Great Leader.”

  117. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:28 am | Permalink

    you are showing your desperation HW. Please stick to the facts.

    http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-default-print-money-2016-5

  118. Iron Lung
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:29 am | Permalink

    “Iron Lung’s comments on “Whiteys” for example.”

    I stand by my comments on “whiteys.” I use it as a pejorative for those who oppress minority groups by suggesting that somehow “white rights” are compromised by guaranteeing equal right to minorities.

  119. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:30 am | Permalink

    tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EobPnLZiOo8

  120. Iron Lung
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:35 am | Permalink

    The Mr. Warlord might look and see how his political and economic ideas are in line with those of Robert Mugabe and note what happened to Zimbabwe.

  121. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:40 am | Permalink

    IL: see tutorial above. Trump and Mugabe are two peas in a pod.
    The post war Hungary bit I did not know before.

  122. Iron Lung
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:41 am | Permalink

    A good chunk of the national debt is held by American citizens.

    I suppose the Mr. Warlord believes it is ok to screw those people.

  123. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:42 am | Permalink

    “Iron Lung
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:29 am | Permalink
    “Iron Lung’s comments on “Whiteys” for example.”
    I stand by my comments on “whiteys.” I use it as a pejorative for those who oppress minority groups by suggesting that somehow “white rights” are compromised by guaranteeing equal right to minorities.”

    Who does that though? I can’t think of anyone I know who is like that at all. You are smearing white people based on a tiny minority of racists. It’s dumb. Definitely it’s really dumb to characterize Ann Arbor itself as being full of “Whiteys” using your definition. I’m sure there are some but there are racists of all colors. No reason to denigrate gene pools because of it. That would be…racist.

  124. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:43 am | Permalink

    Re Trump : Mugabe– this was prescient.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FPrJxTvgdQ

  125. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:48 am | Permalink

    “Iron Lung
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:35 am | Permalink
    The Mr. Warlord might look and see how his political and economic ideas are in line with those of Robert Mugabe and note what happened to Zimbabwe.”

    You should just make your point with reason instead of these unsubstantiated smears. Mugabe finally had to step down in the Trump era.

  126. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:52 am | Permalink

    HW: Once again you divert from the point. Mugabe printed money. Once again, please watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EobPnLZiOo8

    PS Mugabe being removed had ZERO to do with Trump. Mugabe is a lot like Trump. See other link.

  127. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:53 am | Permalink

    “Iron Lung
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:41 am | Permalink
    A good chunk of the national debt is held by American citizens.
    I suppose the Mr. Warlord believes it is ok to screw those people.”

    That makes no sense. I say we have to change the system somehow or we are going to default. Then what? Bankruptcy, dissolving of the US government and America sold piece by piece to the highest bidder. Nice plan there.

  128. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:54 am | Permalink

    HW: you are the one clearly not exhibiting reason and not following the line of discourse. You are on the ropes. Try harder.

  129. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:55 am | Permalink

    We are not going to default on the US debt so long as we don’t print money to pay for it, HW.

  130. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:55 am | Permalink

    “HW: Once again you divert from the point. Mugabe printed money. Once again, please watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EobPnLZiOo8
    PS Mugabe being removed had ZERO to do with Trump. Mugabe is a lot like Trump. See other link.”

    You divert every chance you get. Mugabe printed money so printing our own money would make him like us? That’s your argument?!

  131. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:56 am | Permalink

    “Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:55 am | Permalink
    We are not going to default on the US debt so long as we don’t print money to pay for it, HW.”

    Why is everything you say in the form of an opinion? Don’t waste everyone’s time. Just put up your best evidence.

  132. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:57 am | Permalink

    HW’s paranoia seeded by misinformation, to which he is subject due to a lack of the most fundamental knowledge, has never been more clear.

    Just sticking to the facts.

  133. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:57 am | Permalink

    I put up links as evidence. Clearly you did not watch or read them.

  134. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:57 am | Permalink

    Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:54 am | Permalink
    “I am the one clearly not exhibiting reason and not following the line of discourse. I am on the ropes. I’ll try harder.”

    There

  135. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:58 am | Permalink

    Please tell me where is your evidence that printing money will solve the national debt?

  136. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:59 am | Permalink

    Ok so I’ll post them again. Please HW respond to these with counter evidence: http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-default-print-money-2016-5

  137. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:59 am | Permalink

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EobPnLZiOo8

  138. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 9:59 am | Permalink

    “I put up links as evidence. Clearly you did not watch or read them.”

    You should make your point in your own words (not state an opinion about me or some shit) an support it with links. A lot of times your links are evidence against what you say. I showed you were wrong with your own links many times.

  139. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:01 am | Permalink

    HW: I suggest you re-read this last hour or so of commentary. Really read it and open the links, and then tell me how you can still believe you are the logical one following a line of reasoning and providing evidence.

  140. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:02 am | Permalink

    HW does not know he’s been ko’d and keeps swinging in his dreams from the mat.

  141. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:04 am | Permalink

    Printing money to cover debt creates massive inflation which tanks the economy. There is historic precedent for this. Now go to links.

  142. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:05 am | Permalink

    Yeah, right. All you do is attack me personally. I answer your rebuttals and you can’t answer that so you smear. There is no way around it.

  143. XYZ
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:05 am | Permalink

    Orwell: “A military parade is a ritual dance… the goose-step, for instance, is one of the most horrible sights in the world. It is simply an affirmation of naked power; contained in it, quite consciously and intentionally, is the vision of a boot crashing down on a face.”

  144. Jcp2
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:05 am | Permalink

    Mr. Warlord sees no cognitive dissonance with his views as he has mastered doublethink.

  145. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:07 am | Permalink

    I should amend: Printing money to cover debt creates massive inflation which tanks the economy, which leads to more money being printed until the money is rendered worthless.

    Only people who do not properly value the role and impact of governance and economic oversight on their own lives and well being could seriously propose such a thing: Trump and HW.

  146. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:09 am | Permalink

    You have no idea what I am talking about. The Federal Reserve is not necessary at all to print money. In fact it is unconstitional. Congress is the only entity authorized by the Constitution to print. We are going to borrow our own money at interest? Rill smart thinkin’ there.

  147. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:11 am | Permalink

    “Jcp2
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:05 am | Permalink

    ‘Mr. Jay See Pee Too sees no cognitive dissonance with his views as he has mastered doublethink.”

  148. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:12 am | Permalink

    HW– you have only counter attacked here today. You made false statements. That was demonstrated. You made assertions and they were refuted with evidence. You had no real counter punch, so you went to the dodge and weave and the pivot and what seems to be willful misinterpretation (you did not land that punch!) and then, on the ropes, you started the ad hominem attacks. They did not land. Anyone can see that. Now, laid flat on the mat, you continue to sputter and hurl invective. But we can all see you are done and muttering. Please exit the ring and don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out of the arena.

  149. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:13 am | Permalink

    “We are going to borrow our own money at interest? Rill smart thinkin’ there.” — you are an idiot. Quit the weed and take a basic economics course.

  150. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:14 am | Permalink

    Trump is about to slap these banksters around. Give them a haircut and a shave. Regain control of our own economy. That is intelligent. Going the way we have been can only result in failure.

  151. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:15 am | Permalink

    “Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:13 am | Permalink

    — I am an idiot. I need to quit the derp and face reality.

  152. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:16 am | Permalink

    “HW– you have only counter attacked here today. You made false statements. That was demonstrated. You made assertions and they were refuted with evidence. You had no real counter punch, so you went to the dodge and weave and the pivot and what seems to be willful misinterpretation (you did not land that punch!) and then, on the ropes, you started the ad hominem attacks. They did not land. Anyone can see that. Now, laid flat on the mat, you continue to sputter and hurl invective. But we can all see you are done and muttering. Please exit the ring and don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out of the arena.”

    So what are you speaking of specifically? What false statements exactly?

  153. Jcp2
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:17 am | Permalink

    Mr. Warlord has mastered the elementary playground “I am rubber, you are glue” debate tactic. In middle adulthood. He wins. So much winning. Such a winner. My congratulations. I will remove myself from the premises, toot sweet.

  154. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:17 am | Permalink

    Anyone can make vague claims like you are here. That means nothing.

  155. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:19 am | Permalink

    “Jcp2
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:17 am | Permalink
    Mr. Warlord has mastered the elementary playground “I am rubber, you are glue” debate tactic. In middle adulthood. He wins. So much winning. Such a winner. My congratulations. I will remove myself from the premises, toot sweet.”

    It’s to show you how empty what you say is. None of that matters in a debate. Do you think you stand up in a debate and just yell “they are full of shit!” and that will do anything?

  156. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:21 am | Permalink

    If I quote what you say and it sounds infantile then what should that tell you?

  157. Sad
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:35 am | Permalink

    HW you should have brought up quantitative easing. You’re really off your game today.

    Maybe take the weekend off and come back on Monday and make a fresh start of it.

  158. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:41 am | Permalink

    That’s just a symptom of the Federal Reserve disease. Let’s give control of our economy to the banks! Very intelligent.

  159. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:45 am | Permalink

    better than politicians…

  160. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 10:51 am | Permalink

    Not better than non-corrupt politicians.

  161. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 11:03 am | Permalink

    “non-corrupt politicians” — ha!
    Plus it’s a fucking democracy. Not a monarchy. You would need most of them to not be corrupt, and likely to use the treasury to manipulate the economy to their political ends. That will never happen. An independent treasury is essential.

    Your faith in Trump is absurd.

  162. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 11:06 am | Permalink

    You refuse to accept alll the corruption being exposed right now. It’s growing every day. If you believe non-corrupt politicians are non-existent then why do you support any of them?

    Your faith in the system is absurd.

  163. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 11:23 am | Permalink

    Noice. I hear he has documents including audio and video.

    http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/372861-uranium-one-informant-makes-clinton-allegations-in-testimony

    “An FBI informant connected to the Uranium One controversy told three congressional committees in a written statement that Moscow routed millions of dollars to America with the expectation it would be used to benefit Bill Clinton’s charitable efforts while Secretary of State Hillary Clinton quarterbacked a “reset” in U.S.-Russian relations.

    The informant, Douglas Campbell, said in the statement obtained by The Hill that he was told by Russian nuclear executives that Moscow had hired the American lobbying firm APCO Worldwide specifically because it was in position to influence the Obama administration, and more specifically Hillary Clinton.

    Democrats have cast doubt on Campbell’s credibility, setting the stage for a battle with Republicans over his testimony.’

  164. Sad
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 11:24 am | Permalink

    Says the person who just said the banks should run the economy. The same banks that all had to be bailed out by the Federal Reserve less then a decade ago?

    Take a break man. Protect your rep. Pretty soon you’re going to end up with a little pony name. I’ll go find one for you…..

  165. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 11:30 am | Permalink

    Sad
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 11:24 am | Permalink
    “Says the person who just said the banks should run the economy. The same banks that all had to be bailed out by the Federal Reserve less then a decade ago?
    Take a break man. Protect your rep. Pretty soon you’re going to end up with a little pony name. I’ll go find one for you…..”

    Mmm, you don’t get what I am saying at all. That was sarcasm. It should be clear I am against the Federal Reserve. Maybe you didn’t know the Fed is controlled by private interests (banks)?

  166. Sad
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 11:37 am | Permalink

    Scootaloo- this little pony was known , among other things, for skills in arguing?

    http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Scootaloo

  167. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 11:40 am | Permalink

    Hey, derptardation is a drug…and you could get hooked on it.

  168. Jcp2
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 11:51 am | Permalink

    So much winning!

    https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/03/trump-china/550886/

  169. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 11:57 am | Permalink

    “So much winning!”

    The first step is admitting you have a problem. It’s good to expose the bad deals of the past. Trump sure looked like he raised the status of the USA at Davos. “Rockstar reception”. Let’s see how we do now that Trump’s policies are coming into effect.

  170. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 12:00 pm | Permalink

    Economic growth is up, unemployment is down. Companies are investing in the USA again. $350 billion from Apple just announced with 20,000 presumably good jobs. I think we are going to be more than okay.

  171. wobblie
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 12:01 pm | Permalink

    Just read this, thought others might be interested.

    http://washingtonpress.com/2018/02/07/prominent-veterans-leader-just-went-viral-brutal-response-trumps-military-parade-plans/

  172. wobblie
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 12:04 pm | Permalink

    Then of course there is Rand Paul’s take on the parade, which I also like

    http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/372912-rand-paul-bring-us-troops-home-from-afghanistan-then-throw-a-parade

  173. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 12:09 pm | Permalink

    How many veterans will feel a sense of pride though? Many times more I’m sure. He forgot France by the way. What does this guy have to say about US military policy for the last several decades? If parades are his biggest objection I’d say something is wrong with his priorities.

  174. maryd
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 12:09 pm | Permalink

    Remember when Mark made one person posts really small? I am ready for that again…

  175. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 12:10 pm | Permalink

    HW– If the banks were in control of the Fed then why would interests rates have been held at extraordinarily low rates for a decade? The finance industry didn’t like Yellen and they don’t like Powell much either. Bailing out the banks, which I did not support btw, was what they did to ease us out of the recession. Because they did not use it to pay off debt, we did not experience inflation. The reserve just made more capital available in reserve for lending at an artificially low rate, which allows it to be paid back. The same action not in recession would have led to inflation as too much money would be borrowed and thrown into the economy too fast. Printing money to pay off the nation’s debt is not QE. Printing money is throwing gasoline on the economy’s slow burn out of recession. And it wouldn’t do shit for your personal debt but increase it massively along with your expenses.

    https://www.thenation.com/article/how-trump-stiffed-the-bankers-with-his-federal-reserve-appointment/

  176. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 12:13 pm | Permalink

    More tutorial: Why QE is not printing money.
    https://www.cnbc.com/id/100760150

  177. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 12:14 pm | Permalink

    Pretty sure Trump wants to bring troops home from Afghanistan. Unfortunately it’s dangerous either way. Bush and Obama’s legacy is a horrible mess. It’s a good idea though by RP.

  178. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 12:16 pm | Permalink

    PS when the article states that Trumo stiffed the banks, it’s not because he’s doing anything you support, but allowing things to proceed just as they had under Yellen without having to give her another term. She is hated because she is a woman in power who doesn’t give the finance industry and trickle down economics junkies what they want. Powell will continue to raise interest rates slightly back up to normal levels as the economy recovers, which it has been doing slowly for the last 9 years. No thanks to Trump.

    There is no such thing as a healthy and speedy recovery from recession. Trump’s and your shouts of super-charging the economy are reckless. And stupid.

  179. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 12:19 pm | Permalink

    “Pretty sure Trump wants to bring troops home from Afghanistan. ”
    Nope. Wrong again. Do you ever actually look up anything you assert?
    http://thehill.com/policy/defense/366832-trump-shifts-gears-on-afghanistan

  180. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 12:26 pm | Permalink

    “If the banks were in control of the Fed”

    You don’t think Fed shareholders represent banks? They are just regular joes?

  181. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 12:28 pm | Permalink

    “Nope. Wrong again. Do you ever actually look up anything you assert?”

    How is it wrong? He already said he wants to but first we have to clean up the Bush/Obama mess. It makes sense to stabilize it if we are leaving.

  182. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 12:39 pm | Permalink

    Wonder why Bush/Obama never thought of it.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrtPPiOqGAs

  183. Jcp2
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 1:44 pm | Permalink

    Only winners allowed!

    https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/porter/552806/?google_editors_picks=true

  184. Jcp2
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 1:44 pm | Permalink

    Only winners allowed!

    https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/porter/552806/?google_editors_picks=true

  185. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 2:01 pm | Permalink

    Lots of Democrat scandals and coverups if you want to compare. If DJT abused Ivanna that is terrible. Just by what is in the public about the Clinton’s makes that look like nothing though.

  186. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 2:01 pm | Permalink

    *Ivana

  187. Frosted Flakes
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 2:23 pm | Permalink

    The practice of providing links as evidence or as a way to “educate” an opponent is often an abused method and sometimes a dishonest attempt to give the appearance one has the upper hand in a debate. I have noticed on mm.com, quite often people offer a link and it actually does not support the “linkers” argument or it fails to address the issue—a sign the linked does not even see the issue…Something to try to stay aware of when reading the back and forth, imo.

    I wonder if you guys can try to figure out somethings you actually agree on….It is unlikely you guys really disagree on every single thing in the world ….Yet these constant and endless arguments….

  188. Frosted Flakes
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 2:24 pm | Permalink

    Not “linked” rather “linker”

  189. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 2:38 pm | Permalink

    FF– “I have noticed on mm.com, quite often people offer a link and it actually does not support the “linkers” argument or it fails to address the issue—a sign the linked does not even see the issue”
    please show where I have done this.

    HW wants evidence. Discounts my evidence as inaccurate so I try to back my points up with links, and then am told the links are not relevant.

    My links are relevant. Show me otherwise.

  190. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 2:40 pm | Permalink

    Sometimes the links are broader but affirm a part of my statement. Maybe you just need to read more closely if you intend to question their validity, FF

  191. Frosted Flakes
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 2:41 pm | Permalink

    I was talking about a general opinion I hold.

    I am not engaged in this argument and am not planning on reading the links provided within this argument because of time constraints.

  192. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 2:54 pm | Permalink

    “I have noticed on mm.com, quite often people offer a link and it actually does not support the “linkers” argument or it fails to address the issue—a sign the linked does not even see the issue…”

    Dinnnnng! It’s today’s Gold Star Winner!

  193. Jcp2
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 2:59 pm | Permalink

    I’ll summarize the article. Mr. Kelly appears to have known about the alleged wife beating habits of staff secretary Mr. Porter for quite some time now, and considers Mr. Porter as “a man of true integrity and honor”.

  194. Iron Lung
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 3:04 pm | Permalink

    “Discounts my evidence as inaccurate so I try to back my points up with links, and then am told the links are not relevant.”

    I once told the Mr. Warlord that Barack Obama was issued the 16th highest number of executive orders of any President, and the Mr. Warlord came back with some drivel about how a bill written and approved by Congress somehow made up for the difference between the most (FDR 3,522) and the number that Obama signed (276).

    So don’t expect the Mr. Warlord to subscribe to any reality except that which he creates subjectively.

    (Note that Donald Trump has signed 59 since he’s been in office, which is higher than Obama’s yearly average (34.5).)

  195. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 3:15 pm | Permalink

    I stood corrected on that mistake, Iron Dung. As usual you ignored the information I added that Obama disguised a huge number of EO’s as ‘Memoranda’. Not to mention the SCALE of some of Obama’s EO’s like DACA. So pedantic.

  196. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 3:19 pm | Permalink

    So petty. How many times can one poster harp on a single mistake?

  197. Lynne
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 3:58 pm | Permalink

    Re: “Economic growth is up, unemployment is down. Companies are investing in the USA again. $350 billion from Apple just announced with 20,000 presumably good jobs. I think we are going to be more than okay.”

    Thanks Obama!

  198. Anonymous
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 4:12 pm | Permalink

    Associated Press: BREAKING: Dow Jones industrials plunge 1,000 points, bringing the index down 10 percent from the record it reached two weeks ago.

  199. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 6:33 pm | Permalink

    Hey FF– How’s about you don’t offer critique of links if you arent willing to read them.
    As far as HW is concerned, you just stuck another feather in his cap.

    Your supposed interest in civil and informed discourse appears to reflect a fear of confrontation more than an interest in learning. One could also assume you are uninterested in rocking the boat, aka are pro status quo.That’s all well and good, but needs to be stated.

    Or else maybe keep your thoughts to yourself if you dont have time to read. You totally upended our discussion there, offering HW the sense he had plausible deniability which, if you read the links, you will find he does not.

    So much for productive discourse.

  200. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 6:43 pm | Permalink

    HW gets up on a moralistic high horse about highly questionable rumors of pedophilia by Bill Clinton, but thinks nothing of the 16 women including a 14 year old who accused Trump, defends Roy Moore and defends everyone else in the white house against being complicit or guilty, including Rob Porter who had two wives tell the FBI he was a violent abuser armed with past police reports.

    HW thinks he cares about everyone, but clearly it’s white conservative male abusers who mostly inspire his adulation.

    It’s going to be a long fall of that high horse. I still worry about your partner.

  201. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 6:44 pm | Permalink

    Anon– When the dow falls it’s the central banks fault. When it rises it’s due to Trump. HW’s fortress of circular logic is impenetrable.

  202. Jcp2
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 6:47 pm | Permalink

    Only the best people are chosen.

    https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/08/politics/raj-shah-press-briefing/index.html

    I’ll summarize. Wife beating is okay if it happened a long time ago. He said, she said is equivalent, even though what she said was corroborated by witnesses and documented by the FBI. The pictures of the black eye are just pictures. Hope Hicks has Stockholm syndrome.

  203. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 6:58 pm | Permalink

    “You don’t think Fed shareholders represent banks? They are just regular joes?” We all know the big banks (and other institutional investors) are shareholders in the reserve banks. They elect the board of governors, just as we elect our representative. They do not however run the show and they don’t elect the chairman of the reserve of they likely would have gone in another direction.

    I know we all love to reign down fear and suspicion on the federal reserve, but the reality is, aside from Greenspan, they’ve done a pretty amazing job. And even Greenspan had his moments. The system is fucked by greed within finance and the influence of the finance sector over politics, but it’s not a conspiracy. That’s just how unhindered self-interest works. You’ve demonstrated plenty of self-interest in your analysis here. What would you do with power?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjrUOlK2714

  204. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 7:51 pm | Permalink

    “highly questionable rumors of pedophilia by Bill Clinton”

    All I said is he went to Little St. James Island every chance he got. I posted FAA flight logs in jpg. form that Fox reported on. To call that questionable is a joke, let alone to claim it has been debunked with an article that doesn’t do that at all.

    You never researched the Katy Johnson saga or you would know that is highly questionable if anything is.

    I never defended Roy Moore. I said if he was doing anything with underage girls he should get out. That’s what Trump said too. Women have been offered large payments to make statements and to see the mother and daughter Allred and Bloom always seeming to be involved doesn’t help the impression that games are being played.

  205. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:00 pm | Permalink

    “defends everyone else in the white house against being complicit or guilty, including Rob Porter who had two wives tell the FBI he was a violent abuser armed with past police reports.”

    That is just crazy. I haven’t said one thing about Rob Porter. You have a mental health issue. I don’t know what it is but there is no way around it. You lie about me every day. Really bad.

  206. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:00 pm | Permalink

    HW– Do you see any sort of double standard at work in your analysis? We know what you think about Clinton. How do you feel about Porter?

  207. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:01 pm | Permalink

    HW– You sound so much like Trump! That must make you proud.

  208. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:13 pm | Permalink

    Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:01 pm

    “I sound so much like a CIA brainwashed clone. That makes me proud”

  209. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:18 pm | Permalink

    “Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:00 pm | Permalink
    HW– Do you see any sort of double standard at work in your analysis? We know what you think about Clinton. How do you feel about Porter?”

    No, I don’t and I studied it hard before the election. Why are you asking me about Rob Porter? You accuse me of “sounding like an abuser” and things like that constantly. How do you live with yourself doing things like that every day? What haven’t you accused me of or made insinuations about? Something is wrong and I’m not trying to put you down. That’s the truth.

  210. Frosted Flakes
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:20 pm | Permalink

    JH,

    I will offer a general observation whenever I feel like it. No apologies.

    The rest of your post is not ringing true at all. But I don’t care to argue against your assertions at the moment. Talk to you later.

  211. Jean Henry
    Posted February 8, 2018 at 8:57 pm | Permalink

    HW– I have explained at great length many times why I feel ok engaging in uncivil discourse with you. You are a special exception.

  212. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 9, 2018 at 12:35 am | Permalink

    What you are trying to do is a perfect microcosmic fractal expression of what the Clinton cronies are trying on Donald Trump. It’s what all psychopaths do – attack and blame someone else when it is the psychopath who is guilty. I was close to being bumped off by one once so I know what I am talking about. You are a sexist, racist, classist pig who is trying to pin what you are on someone else. Too bad for you you have to lie to try to make it stick.

  213. Jean Henry
    Posted February 9, 2018 at 5:14 am | Permalink

    Back to the old “I know you are but what am I” defense, HW?

    “I’m rubber, you are glue. Whatever you say, bounces off me and sticks on you.”

    This is all getting very dull and repetitive, don’t you think?

    We simply disagree strongly politically. I abhor your politics. I abhor the way you talk to others. Your grandiosity is apparent both when trying to be nice and when on attack. I don’t believe that opinion makes me a psychopath, but apparently you see a lot of things others are blind to.
    You see this as a sign of your own superiority. Others might come to a different conclusion.

    That, no doubt, makes you extremely unsettled and angry.

  214. Jean Henry
    Posted February 9, 2018 at 5:21 am | Permalink

    FF– maybe hold off on the general observations about mm until they are relevant to the discussion at hand, not just when you maybe need an excuse for not engaging in the conversation occurring. What you did was make a comment that appeared to be in the context of the ongoing discussion. Now you are saying it was not. You fueled HW’s fire while trying to mollify the tone of discourse. Whoops.

  215. Jean Henry
    Posted February 9, 2018 at 5:24 am | Permalink

    “You accuse me of “sounding like an abuser” and things like that constantly.

    How do you live with yourself doing things like that every day?”

    QED

  216. Frosted Flakes
    Posted February 9, 2018 at 5:34 am | Permalink

    Get the conversation back on whatever track you want it to be on. Have fun.

  217. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 9, 2018 at 7:57 am | Permalink

    “Back to the old “I know you are but what am I” defense, HW?
    “I’m rubber, you are glue. Whatever you say, bounces off me and sticks on you.”
    This is all getting very dull and repetitive, don’t you think?
    We simply disagree strongly politically. I abhor your politics. I abhor the way you talk to others. Your grandiosity is apparent both when trying to be nice and when on attack. I don’t believe that opinion makes me a psychopath, but apparently you see a lot of things others are blind to.
    You see this as a sign of your own superiority. Others might come to a different conclusion.
    That, no doubt, makes you extremely unsettled and angry.”

    But you are the one who attacks me. You lie about me every day. You don’t like someone having information outside of your personal belief system because it threatens your ego-limited view of reality. That’s what is happening. I am loving seeing evidence of what I have said coming to light.

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