Trump's tariff wars...long post.

[Buddster]

Oh, now this will get interesting if trump accepts this

 

Putin offers to sell rare earth minerals to the US, including from Russian-occupied Ukraine

 

Including Aluminum which have just had more sanctions added. 

[tauzero]

6 minutes ago, Buddster said:

Oh, now this will get interesting if trump accepts this

 

Putin offers to sell rare earth minerals to the US, including from Russian-occupied Ukraine

 

Including Aluminum which have just had more sanctions added. 

 

Won't that be handling stolen goods and receiving stolen goods?

[Crusoe]

29 minutes ago, tauzero said:

 

Won't that be handling stolen goods and receiving stolen goods?

You think that would bother Don?

[tegs07]

36 minutes ago, tauzero said:

 

I'm not sure that there are. He considers his executive orders to be above the legislature and judiciary. This article sums it up very well.

 

I'm unsure what sanctions might be available to the Supreme Court if they rule against Trump on something and he ignores them - I've asked an American lawyer (and fellow bassist) about that. More news as it arrives.

I am not much of an expert on the US Constitution. I get the difference between power (even if largely symbolic) emanating from the Crown and the concept that the President is held in check by the Constitution and Supreme Court. What I don’t understand is what happens when there is a Constitutional crisis and the President overrides the Supreme court. Is this possible or can layers of red tape and legal obstacles simply force the power grab into paralysis?

[chris_b]

1 hour ago, tegs07 said:

Trump is a threat but there are checks and balances in plache to prevent him doing a full Louis 14th.

 

Trump and Musk are currently dismantling all the checks and balances. Many of Musk's actions in the last few weeks have been illegal, but Trump's threats to the Republican party is keeping them silent, which is shameful.

 

Trump said he is the law, therefore the law doesn’t apply to him. He's going full megalomaniac.

[Woodinblack]

54 minutes ago, tegs07 said:

 What I don’t understand is what happens when there is a Constitutional crisis and the President overrides the Supreme court.

 

No, the president doesn't override the supreme court. He does appoint judges to it (or suggest judges, they have to be approved), but he can't sack them (which must be an annoyance to him). But you know, hes friends with Putin and admires his style and has appointed trump friendly people to the head of the police and military so maybe balconies will get more dangerous in the states soon!

[Russ]

44 minutes ago, chris_b said:

 

Trump and Musk are currently dismantling all the checks and balances. Many of Musk's actions in the last few weeks have been illegal, but Trump's threats to the Republican party is keeping them silent, which is shameful.

 

Trump said he is the law, therefore the law doesn’t apply to him. He's going full megalomaniac.

Congress is supposed to be the arbiter of all laws, and the House has the power of the purse - all budgets are decided there. But yep, all Republican senators and representatives have the sword of Damocles over their head if they don't go along with Tr**p's wishes - Musk will finance a primary challenge against them, and they can't afford to outspend him. 

[martthebass]

20 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

 

No, the president doesn't override the supreme court. He does appoint judges to it (or suggest judges, they have to be approved), but he can't sack them (which must be an annoyance to him). But you know, hes friends with Putin and admires his style and has appointed trump friendly people to the head of the police and military so maybe balconies will get more dangerous in the states soon!

 

Just waiting for Trump to name his horse as new vice president.

[tauzero]

In all of this, there may be good news for Tbilisi - Putin may consider that having two Georgias in the United Soviet-American Republic is too complicated and just stick with the western one under Governor Trump.

[Count Bassy]

1 hour ago, chris_b said:

Trump said he is the law, therefore the law doesn’t apply to him. He's going full megalomaniac.

 

What do you mean "Going"?

[tauzero]

5 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

I'm not sure that there are. He considers his executive orders to be above the legislature and judiciary. This article sums it up very well.

 

I'm unsure what sanctions might be available to the Supreme Court if they rule against Trump on something and he ignores them - I've asked an American lawyer (and fellow bassist) about that. More news as it arrives.

 

He said:

 

As one A. Hitler once said "How many divisions has the Pope?" The Court CAN find the Administration to be in contempt and then can impose daily fines, or if the right sort of civil contempt, can jail the malefactor (whoever it might be) until they obey. How do they jail someone? Who's gonna clap the darbies on him? These are scary times.

[Russ]

17 minutes ago, tauzero said:

As one A. Hitler once said "How many divisions has the Pope?" The Court CAN find the Administration to be in contempt and then can impose daily fines, or if the right sort of civil contempt, can jail the malefactor (whoever it might be) until they obey. How do they jail someone? Who's gonna clap the darbies on him? These are scary times.

The only people who could do it are the military. That's probably why he's stacking the military leadership with loyalists right now. 

 

I would be entirely unsurprised if the secret service of another country decided to intervene. Something like the infamous 1981 Georgi Markov assassination with a "Bulgarian Umbrella".

[tauzero]

3 hours ago, Russ said:

The only people who could do it are the military. That's probably why he's stacking the military leadership with loyalists right now. 

 

I would be entirely unsurprised if the secret service of another country decided to intervene. Something like the infamous 1981 Georgi Markov assassination with a "Bulgarian Umbrella".

 

The best equipped in that respect are the Russians, and why should Putin get rid of the man who is completely under his control?

[Downunderwonder]

The news says Zelenski has won over a US proposal for what he needs for a deal to he done. If correct, that leaves Putin legless to prevail. I hope it does not mean Zelenski caved on his bottom line of free Ukraine, law abiding member of Nato.

 

Apparently the EU offered some decent terms for the mineral rights. Donald would have been left out of all the goodies except arms sales to Ukraine and EU. Counter offer fired off.

 

My guess is the news is really Donald offered what he thinks Zelenski should accept. No dice, and the European offer will sweeten some more.

 

Other Donald option aside from back and forth is a complete upheaval of the world order to join the US to the Russian side. Top many right thinking people for that.

 

I don't think "King Donald" has enough time to take over the Judiciary and fully subvert the Constitution before Ukraine has prevailed. Cross fingers. The Europeans need to get a wriggle on.

 

Don will of course claim all the credit for peace from knocking heads. Bonus points for reducing the US bill for Nato by 30%. Maybe only 15% if Don really wants a share of the minerals. Someone better not tell him the US is awash with them if they only dig them up.

 

Maybe he is shrewder than he looks for a broke lying cheat of a narcissistic would be medieval King.

[chris_b]

2 hours ago, Downunderwonder said:

The news says Zelenski has won over a US proposal for what he needs for a deal to he done. If correct, that leaves Putin legless to prevail.

 

 

I wonder how much of a cut Trump was demanding to "sweeten" the deal!

[Downunderwonder]

7 minutes ago, chris_b said:

 

I wonder how much of a cut Trump was demanding to "sweeten" the deal!

I thi k you meant to say ''how much of a cut was made  to Trump's cut to make the deal palatable" ? No doubt far too little.

 

If you ask me Ukraine could happily give away the whole cut of unexploited mineral wealth to become part of Nato and send the Russians running for the border.

 

Thankfully there are two bidders.

 

Europe needs to seal a deal before China weighs in. Not that they need 'rare' earth minerals but a breadbasket comes in handy when your own crops fail.

 

 

[prowla]

This one made me chuckle...

 

Apple AI tool transcribed the word 'racist' as 'Trump'.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ymvjjqzmeo

[Lozz196]

I`m no fan of the orange one, however if the below can be secured: 

 

Russia stop their war against Ukraine, with Putin walking away saying he did no negotiating with Zelensky/Ukraine

Ukraine no longer have Russia waging war against them, they concede land which had been taken some time ago, and provide minerals to the US

Trump states it couldn`t have happened without his intervention

 

Then take it. Better than more people dying and losing homes/businesses/loved ones. It`s not necessarily ideal but imo preferable to war.

 

[edstraker123]

I completely agree Lozz - the whole thing about the war ending seems to have been lost while people vilify Trump .

 

[Woodinblack]

I dont' think it would be lost. If there is an end to the war I think it will be a good thing (if it is a lasting peace that both sides can accept) and will be something positive.

Still don't like him though!

 

Maybe I would like him better if I had a holiday at trump gaza, if it looks like the promo video

https://news.sky.com/story/trump-shares-ai-video-of-gaza-vision-featuring-golden-statues-bearded-belly-dancers-and-netanyahu-on-a-sunbed-13317241

 

[edstraker123]

I don't know how anybody could like him ! But if his intervention ends the war and its better for the people that has to be a positive. I think Starmer et al would have just funded the stalemate for eternity while the deaths continued. I'm predicting Trump will get a Nobel peace prize, Zelensky will step down and never be heard of again.

[NancyJohnson]

41 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

I dont' think it would be lost. If there is an end to the war I think it will be a good thing (if it is a lasting peace that both sides can accept) and will be something positive.

Still don't like him though!

 

Maybe I would like him better if I had a holiday at trump gaza, if it looks like the promo video

https://news.sky.com/story/trump-shares-ai-video-of-gaza-vision-featuring-golden-statues-bearded-belly-dancers-and-netanyahu-on-a-sunbed-13317241

 

 

I just saw the video of Trump Gaza.  Jeepers.  

 

It's like you just couldn't believe this Presidency could get any more bizarre, considering it's come through an official channel and there's probably a million MAGA-types going, 'Oh, yeah!'

 

 

 

[tegs07]

1 hour ago, Lozz196 said:

I`m no fan of the orange one, however if the below can be secured: 

 

Russia stop their war against Ukraine, with Putin walking away saying he did no negotiating with Zelensky/Ukraine

Ukraine no longer have Russia waging war against them, they concede land which had been taken some time ago, and provide minerals to the US

Trump states it couldn`t have happened without his intervention

 

Then take it. Better than more people dying and losing homes/businesses/loved ones. It`s not necessarily ideal but imo preferable to war.

 

unless Russia just launches another invasion in a few years time. As it stands their economy is under severe pressure and conscription is very likely to occur within months due to heavy losses.

 

Without a backstop I would be very concerned that Russia will invade again as soon as the conditions were favourable.

[NancyJohnson]

Does anyone remember the scene from The Dead Zone, where on shaking hands with Presidential candidate Gregg Stillson (Martin Sheen), Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) has this future vision of Stillson - now as President - threatening to cut a General's hand off if he refuses to have it scanned to start the launch sequence for nukes?  I think the line of dialogue is something like, 'My destiny, gentleman.'

 

This is the kind of vision I have with Trump, pretty much every time I hear his name.  It's the quickest of flashes, but every time.  A trigger response.  Trump.  'My destiny.'  Trump.  'My destiny.'

 

He actually scares the shit out of me.  He's batshit crazy.

 

 

[TimR]

Zalenski wants UN Troops in as protection.

Putin won't allow that.

 

This has a way to run yet. The Mango Massiah is overstating his role yet again.