Trump Inauguration Thread

Trump ties to Russia:

its all “intelligence” reports and unconfirmed “sources” but no tangible evidence of his connection.

Evidence: a Pic of his DHS at an event with Putin, but no explanation of why or where

Anyone who doesn’t see this as the political attack that it is …they’re either stupid or left wing hopefuls. Perhaps a bit of both.

First of all, there are Hitler comparisons that are ludicrous (omg he’s the new Hitler) and there are those that are applicable (his rise to power, for example).

In 1932 a German conservative politician named Kurt von Schleicher believed the country was under threat from an imminent communist/socialist takeover (not national-socialist but Karl Marx workers-of-the-world-unite socialist) since over 40% of the electorate voted for them. He believed that Weimar Germany was suffering a “cultural assault on conservative and Christian values” that manifested itself through the “blatant actions of the decadent and liberal culture and newspapers” of the late 1920ies in Germany.

Believing that the only way to thwart them was to form a broad political front to oppose the left, he reached out to Hitler and his national socialists, believing that the Nazi party, who was dropping in popularity would draw votes from the extreme left and help the conservatives stay in power.

He disliked their demagoguery and populism, but hey, everything is better that the left, right?

Here things get a little bit murky - through backroom deals and some arm twisting , simple political inertia, conservative party discipline and even an inheritance tax break for the former chancellor’s son, a new German government was formed. The Nazis only held three out of eleven cabinet posts and after some tense negotiations the conservatives meekly acquiesced to Hitler’s appointment as the chancellor, a largely ceremonial role previously occupied by a senile WW1 general Paul von Hindenburg. Von Schleicher believed he had the situation under control.

Although everybody disliked Hitler personally and his inflammatory rhetoric, it was believed that this short-lived government will help conservatives ward of the challenge from the left and that the nazis will collapse in a few months due to factional infighting and lack of a coherent political plan.

The amazing part came next - in the next few months, through a frenzy of legislative and political action, Hitler literally dismantled the entire country - German Weimar Republic and created the German Reich. New laws (including racial ones), new flag(!), new name… all in a matter of weeks. Hitler simply steamrolled through everyone, including the all-powerful Army.

It’s a point of intense interest to historians how someone could have literally dismantled the entire country while the majority of the people (less than a third voted for the nazis in the last two elections) and the entire political class stood by and watched, blindsided by the sheer bravado of Hitler and his close confidants.

So yes, Hitler’s rise to power is a salutary lesson that cannot be overstated, especially in democracies in the Western hemisphere.

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HA HA HA

http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/34353702/mexico-stunned-by-trump-tweet-on-canceling-trip

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Many feel that with the tweeting back and forth between both country’s presidents and the ultimate cancellation of this meeting that we have alienated the Mexican Government. I feel like that is a bit alarmist, myself. Am very curious as to people’s opinions about whether or not it has shut down effective and positive communication between the two governments, or if it has simply shown that Trump will play “hardball” (I understand he did not cancel) at the highest levels?

Easy does it man. If mexico just up and decides to close the border to commerce- We would be digging tunnels in the other direction in order to get the most basic shit.

Sometimes diplomacy is a matter of saying good doggy while picking up a brick. Trump isn’t saying good doggy and we aren’t holding any bricks.
(I can’t attribute that quote at this point, but I sure can hack it up)

There’s a huge trade deficit for America between the two countries and Mexicos third largest source of income is money sent by Mexicans in America back to Mexico,

If Mexico doesn’t play ball the artificial propping up of their economy by America will come to a screeching halt .

Trump’s about to start a trade war. Gee, no one saw that coming. Prices skyrocketing is gonna be sweet, though.

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I know dude. I live literally next door to the workers quarters for the farm that my back yard runs into. But mexican legally working in the US will continue to work and send money via any number of methods.

Did you see how fucked up shit got when (maersk? hanjin?) shipping went belly up last year and couldn’t enter the ports in the US to offload goods? I’m not saying that Mexico is holding all of the cards, but the ones that they are holding are solid. If played hard, (harder than our cushy asses have any tolerance for anyways) we could be screwed hard and long.

the Mexican government will choose a trade war with a country where they send 80% of their exports? They are an export oriented economy.

If you think Mexico is a shit hole now just wait until they attempt a “trade war”

Trump is a smart guy he didn’t make build a wall and get a Mexico to pay for it his campaign chant for no reason, easy as hell to deliver

I guess we’ll see.

Oh, so sorry to put you in a tizzy, but I had a board meeting and a client to attend to. You do amuse me though. Let me know when you come across actual evidence. I suspect you can’t tell the difference between evidence and speculation. What you posted is proof of that.

According to your first article (and other reports I’ve read), the investigation started last spring . . . And? Did you get the part about obvious errors and that the report had not been corroberated? “Steele’s information has been treated as unverified intelligence by the working group because most of it came from Kremlin leaks and virtually all of it is extremely difficult to corroborate, the people familiar with the investigation said.”

I’ll give you the FISA warrant.

Then there’s the lack of evidence that Cohen was in Prague at the time claimed.

And then there’s the BBC. Oh wow! Trump was in Moscow in 2013 for the Miss Universe pageant?! He must be a Rusky.

Then the BBC details: “A former CIA officer told me he had spoken by phone to a serving FSB officer who talked about the tapes. He concluded: “It’s hokey as hell.” Mr Trump and his supporters are right to point out that these are unsubstantiated allegations.”

I’ll wait. I suppose I’ll wait for someone who can read as well.

In the meantime, I suppose I’ll go read “Blacklisted by History” and “remember” how good of guy Joseph McCarthy actually was. Or not.

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Just like there’s no evidence of the Russian conspiracy, huh? :wink:

You must love Hegel.

Interestingly, the Guardian ran with a fake 1984 quote in yet another effort to gig at Trump.

I guess they would rather climb a tree and lie than stand and tell the truth.

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They think that they’re still playing with the previous President.

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Maybe…maybe not.

None that a sane, non-left wing rational thinking adult human being would accept.

HEY…THERE’S A PHOTO OF THEM IN THE SAME ROOM!!

COMMIE!!!

Hey…I actually admire the left for at least trying to take him down. But it won’t work.

There’s certainly risk in this game. It’s a damned shame he needs to play it though, and we have only gotten here through decades of putting our heads in the sand regarding the reality of trade deficits. Our consumers win with these deals, but our workers have been hurt, and no one has been paying attention or listening to them, other than to pay lip service.

I think many of us (yes, I’m included) were true believers (on an ideological level) in free trade in the 90s, and anyone who argued against the deals was labeled protectionist (Trump included). There’s a lot to be gained with freeish trade, but the details matter, and I think we were so eager to complete deals that our leaders put us at a disadvantage. What we are watching is someone with a reputation as a hard negotiator posture. We’ve gotten very accustomed to our adversaries posturing, but seem shocked when our own leaders do it. I say give it time and let’s see what he can do. We haven’t exactly been helping the working or middles classes the last couple of decades. I’m open to the new approach. He does scare me at times, but there are a variety of areas that desperately need change.

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