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Its his normal pattern. Accuse his opponents of his own failings/flaws.
That & create non-problems that he solves...
Apparently, the EU is in Washington to negotiate a trade deal, Trump is saying that all sides should drop all tariifs barriers and subsidies.
Tariffs are good yesterday, but bad today.
Speaking of tariffs, I see there may be a 12bn dollar subsidy handed out to US farmers who are struggling for some reason...
Hopefully ninny will come along and condemn it as an act of socialism.
Tariffs are good yesterday, but bad today.
Nah it's simply he can only play a zero sum game, can't work out how to do proper deals with people or negotiate. The art of the deal is to try and bully everyone else. He currently thinks he is hurting the EU and China more than the US, so long as he thinks that he can justify it (until November)
Apparently, the EU is in Washington to negotiate a trade deal, Trump is saying that all sides should drop all tariifs barriers and subsidies.
Tariffs are good yesterday, but bad today.
That’s always been the end game. He wants a level playing field and has been upfront about it.
Obviously the eu doesn’t want free trade. It’s a protectionist block.
Obviously the eu doesn’t want free trade. It’s a protectionist block.

Free trade works when both sides are equal. The EU has standards if the US meets them then we can deal, of course the EU is protectionist, of it's citizens, of the rights of workers, of the health and well being and environmental standards. This is why it's a negotiation.
Unfortunately he has as you said been up front about what he wants, so when he can't deliver? What happens next?
What happens next?
Tariffs and Europe having to pay for it’s own defence I’d imagine. Or a deal somewhere in between.
So between EU, China and November elections who is going to blink first - $12bn to Farmers
Obviously the eu doesn’t want free trade. It’s a protectionist block.
Good.
Free trade is a concept that is dead in the water.
Free trade is a concept that is dead in the water.
Lots of dead Africans in the water without it.
So who blinked first? Whats the chance of the EU rolling over for Trump?
Interesting opinion piece describing Trumps trade war as economic suicide from Fox News of all places.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/07/24/trumps-trade-war-is-economic-suicide.html
Wow the boot went in there!!
Good.
Free trade is a concept that is dead in the water.
By that measure, you should be a brexiteer.
Isn't it a bit racist to do free trade only with white countries?
Protectionism is also why poor countries are often unable to compete with the west, who throw aid at the worlds poor to make themselves feel better yet deny them their ability to better their positions in life. Some people argue that free trade opens up poorer countries to what effectively amounts to colonialism - through rich western or Chinese companies purchasing land and buying out local companies. I don't think that "free trade" has to automatically mean that though, I personally think the term should be applied to a tariffless world where all countries could trade on a more equal footing and be rewarded on a meritocratic basis.
That’s always been the end game. He wants a level playing field and has been upfront about it.
There is already a level playing field, EU tariffs are almost identical to US tariffs.
He is just a bully, when he was a big property developer he could bully small contractors and local officials, but now he has to deal with world leaders under the glare of the media he is proving what a useless, talentless ****wit he really is.
His approval rating is 48%, the highest it's ever been so some people have changed their minds about him of late and decided he is doing a good job afterall. Nutters.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/
It is if you pick the only poll that is more right wing than Rasmusan 😉 They get a C+ for balance he is above his worst but only by 4%, he hasn't got above 50% so more than half the country don't approve.
He has a boost but not many have taken into account his recent performances.
He is playing to his crowds here but their pain is on it's way.
He's going to find out what "the economy,stupid"means,just in time for the next election.
Ah remember those meetings where the only action was set the date for the next meeting 🙂
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/25/us/politics/trump-europe-trade.html
but in another round of it's the economy he might be chasing Obama's deficit numbers 😉
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/25/business/trump-corporate-tax-cut-deficit.html
It's hard to do anything if you don't take anything
A great deal of Americans love Trump
he is acting like a warlord and they think the world will bow to their supremacy in every respect.
while Fox support him and he plays to the key targets (immigration, punishing China, showing military strength, supreme patriotism being white and rich enough to buy your way out of trouble)
Every time something goes wrong it can be blamed on the enemy (democrats, Mexico anyone who is not Trump)
Interesting twitter thread on the trade war https://twitter.com/Stonekettle/status/1022131837257363456
Seems like it makes logical conclusions to me.
Seems like it makes logical conclusions to me.
Really?
his key point is that the US doesn’t make anything anymore.
Here’s an article from before the election - and it’s only grown since then:
you got as far as the conclusion didn't you?
Conclusion
American manufacturing isn’t dead by any means. But the loss of good-paying manufacturing jobs has devastated the working class, and made reaching the American dream more difficult. Technological advancements and the rise of low-skilled manufacturing in China and other developing nations mean that fewer Americans work in factories, just as technological advancements 100 years ago meant that fewer Americans worked on farms.
Most Americans now work in service-producing industries, where inequalities in opportunities, skills and incomes are more apparent. Recreating an economy that provides equitable growth won’t be easy, especially if we pine for the good old days when a third of us worked at the factory.
Those days are gone for good, even if U.S. factories still churn out lots of items that are Made in the USA.
It doesn't make the stuff that counts, Trumps "illiterate trade policy" ("But even cars produced domestically will rise in price thanks to the president's economically illiterate trade interventions." Fox words) are hurting the actual manufacturing jobs in the US.... He is killing off the industries that are left making the money
He is fighting a trade war with no ammunition. The EU will offer him something, the price he has to pay will be high.
Still something to distract you from the tape of him and Cohen, which was just to distract you from the can't work out my words problems, which was just to distract you from....
As I write, I am watching Ken Burns documentary series on The Vietnam War. It is an incredibly thought provoking series, with scary ramifications that echo right through to today.
An interviewee describes the war driving a stake through the heart of America, from which it has never recovered. Watergate has just been mentioned which is apt given recent events.
I would urge anyone with an interest in recent American history and it's consequences to watch it. It probably needs a thread of its own, but this suits it quite well.
Anyone think Mueller's indictment of 12 Russian hackers the evening before Trump met Putin was politically motivated? Blummin coincidence if not!
Anyone think Mueller’s indictment of 12 Russian hackers the evening before Trump met Putin was politically motivated?
Trump was told 3 days before, it was probably very important that he knew that before he went, it would also be important that charges were filed before he spoke with Putin and let slip info crucial to that.
Clever chap, Jean-Claude Junker.
I imagine it went something like: "Listen everybody, Trump has stiffed himself with his farmers over the Chinese soybean ban. Looks like a bargaining leverage to me, what do you think, chaps? Quick meeting before the wind changes?" 😉
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/25/business/media/white-house-cnn-kaitlan-collins.html
Did Michael Cohen betray you, Mr. President?” Ms. Collins asked.
And then: “Mr. President, are you worried about what Michael Cohen is about to say to the prosecutors?
Mr. Trump did not reply.
Questions worthy of a ban?
Well we know the answer to Ms Collins question now.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-44976725
Ninconsequential asked if Trump had done anything good could you recognise it?
Well today N Korea returned American M.I.A. remains, so that should help families put their loved ones to rest, so good work Trump.
Agree pigface, I'm assuming that most died in POW camps ?
Must have been horrendous conditions having read a bit about how NK treats it's own citizens in prison camps, truly horrific stuff.
Yep that is a good outcome. Still not sure of the concessions offered to get there are useful in a long term view.
Oh dear..
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-us-trade-truce-falters-on-day-1-over-farming/
His two most senior trade officials, however, soon enough insisted that all agricultural products (not just soybeans) should be part of the agreement — an anathema for the European Union.
Brussels was quick to shoot down such suggestions. “Agriculture is not part of the scope of the talks,” an EU official told reporters on Thursday.
“It’s clear that the U.S. side would’ve liked [it] but it has not been agreed, and Mr. Ross (Commerce Secretary) can say what he wishes but it doesn’t correspond” to the deal agreed, the official added. “There is no ambiguity in this regard.”
Ouch!
meh those are details man this si not what Donald is about he is all about the big things like delivering a zero tariff trading structure with the EU (Which excludes agriculture automotive and anything else we don't agree on or accept US standards on)
Maybe it will encourage the US to invest in LNG shipping terminals to export some of the shale gas in 202?
Can’t see anything totally unbelievable in this mash story...
I cant post links from my phone, but according to the Independent at the trade talks with the EU, trade had to be explained to him with flash cards containing simple brightly coloured diagrams and short words.
I image during lunch he was given one of those kids menus with a dot to dot of a soya bean and a pack of crayons. He chose to eat nuggets and chips.
Worth a read, article about the US attitude to Germans living in America after the start of WW1, and how those attitudes are relevant to America today.
Not good enough for trumps america
https://www.stripes.com/news/us/immigrant-phd-candidate-rocked-by-sudden-us-army-discharge-1.536440
Wow bit like Starship Troopers, I never realised you could get in by joining the army.
Well it all kicks off tomorrow
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/us/politics/paul-manafort-trial.html
First go at one of the caught ones, not the collusion stuff yet but a nice warm up for Manafort to contemplate how long he wants to stay in prison for.

Giullinas interview on CNN is full of some golden nuggets
so kushner was at the russia meeting & now trump just didnt attend (but we assume knew about it & was there on speakerphone?) but its fine coz collusion is not a crime

Man he needs a shovel, 30 mins to be played back the next time he has to flip and spin....
Well at least the Donald brought a great deal, the best deal, to Korea, he is one hell of a deal maker, there is no doubting that
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45015343
Good old Rudy.....
I think that his real problem is his client keeps lying to him, he should probably tape him for his own safety.
No Collusion !!!
So. Much. Facepalm.
Collusion is not a crime, but that doesn’t matter because there was No Collusion (except by Crooked Hillary and the Democrats)!
That's easy for you to say!
Bit of a long read but some interesting background on the election disinformation campaign and the link back to an IT guy in the UK.
And a good listen where each of the regular contributors gets a view point to present from nothing happened through to full pee tape
Each argument had some merit, from. What is presented a bit of too dumb/arrogant to spot it and then caught in it does seem most plausible until more is released (or you hear Ruddy defending him)
So AIUI under the US system the Democrats don't have an single person as leader until 2020 when their next presidential candidate takes over?
Feels a bit weird to me, you'd think a leader would be pretty much essential.
@outofbreath - the US system is, deliberately, different to ours. The president isn't "leader" of his party in the way that Theresa May is leader of the Conservatives.
The closest would be the "Floor leaders" in Congress and the Senate.
Different system
https://www.democrats.org/about/our-leaders
Chuck Schumer leads them in the Senate
Nacy Pelosi Leads them in the house
They are the key voices in government for them at the moment but won't get much coverage in the UK media.
In the cycle of things, this November is the mid term elections, once that is done and dusted the process for getting a candidate for president will probably begin but they are being lead at this time by those 2 (simplistically)
Manafort potentially spilling the beans has Trump very worried
The minute the recording of his conversation about paying off his affair was leaked Trump started worrying what else was recorded
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1024646945640525826
Ironically given how he has pretended he has recorded so many conversations, I guess a few were laughing about that one for a while!

Cohens gotta have the dirt, but Manafort is the warning
he took a ton of cash from ukranians & is being labeled an enemy actor/agent/dupe for it
Property mogul trump will have definitely taken cash from some dodgy russian oligarchs at some point & as every oligarch knows that they have to report back to Putin or its polonium/novichok time thats going to compromise trump

Totally in control there, totally.... He could try one about setting up tubeless too
Why is he going to all these lengths in both defending and attacking collusion?
its not a crime, remember...
Liking the whataboutery there.
he's been reading ninfans book "The art of the Troll how to win on the internet"
I do like his driving of narrative the “discredited dossier” ,Not sure that’s quite true and er manafort sorta mentioned in it something unplausible of him taking money from some Ukrainians.
Is he getting worried or is it the usual gibberish?
Is he getting worried or is it the usual gibberish?
Well his former campaign chairman is facing the rest of his life in prison, Muller has a deal ready for him and a second crack with another set of charges coming up. I'd say he is worried as he knows what he knows. Muller won't be looking for new info just confirmation that Trump was involved or knew about something.
As unreliable as Cohen is there are tapes and he knows where the bodies are buried and again in a lot of trouble.
Id say worried and preparing to fight this in the networks and on the talk shows not the courts.
I love the way he is demanding that this investigation be stopped, like that will happen...
So if I get done for littering or some other offence, can I start a twitter campaign to get the charges dropped? Or does it only apply to election rigging?
"before it continues to stain our country any further".
Er... stain what (or who)?
I read an article yesterday that suggested a reason for all the noise he's making about the Mueller investigation just now. It is apparently unlikely that the Mueller investigation will indict the president, as Robert Mueller does not believe that's something that can be done. Instead some minions will be indicted (Manafort already being on trial) but otherwise eventually a report will come out that may list what bad stuff Trump's been up to.
At that point, no matter what Trump's done, it becomes a matter of politics as much as everything else. Trump and Giuliani will have been banging on for months about how the investigation is biased and how Trump's supposed crimes aren't actually crimes. If the Republican party reckon enough of their voters are on Trump's side on this then they'll not impeach him to avoid losing those votes.
Unfortunately while Trump's been playing this defensive game for several months, Mueller has had no real ability to reply, as he has to concentrate on performing his investigation and producing his report.
It was always a matter of politics. Mueller will report on what a bad boy Donald has been, and then it is up to Congress/Senate to get on with it or not, or the electorate to deliver their verdict - which is why most of Trump's efforts are to convince republican voters that it is a witch hunt/deep state plot etc.
Could still see some indictments for Don Jr and little Jared, though, at which point we can expect him to utterly lose his shit.
IMHO They will probably have issues as he’s a standing president but once he’s out of his presidency he’s fair game for money laundering if they can prove it.
If he starts dishing out pardons to friends and family it’s going to awfully start looking like the USA is a bit of a banana republic and his own(ish) party may have enough .
They’re are also certain things he can’t pardon so it’s a bit of a chess game and public opinion.
its the OJ Simpson type thang.
its the OJ Simpson type thang.
He'll be asked to try on a tiny pair of gloves? Hmmm - I can see why he might be worried.
IMHO They will probably have issues as he’s a standing president but once he’s out of his presidency he’s fair game for money laundering if they can prove it.
The issues will depend on what has been found really and who he takes down with him. The republicans will have the option to surgically remove him if they are too scared of what a full melt down will bring
This was quite an interesting read
We all know he's a bit 'alternative' with his facts but its fascinating to see the volumes when you take to the time to add up all the lies. And the strain it puts journalists under to try and sift through the volume of crap.
We all knew that as a political outsider Trump would be crap when he started as he would be learning on the job - I think even if you were sympathetic to him (as opposed to his cap-wearing, hoo-har shouting core) you'd imagine there'd be gaffs, and embarrassments and failures to follow particular protocols. But what he's actually getting better at is being bad.
The Al Capone reference is very telling. Capone - one of America's biggest gangsters was convicted of tax evasion and sent to Alcatraz after a very creative FBI investigation. The lesson is to go for the fine detail and convict on 'minor' charges. Trump sees this tactic in the current investigation and is clearly worried.
I see the D is in full ‘I know you are but what am I?’ mode now, claiming that in fact, Queen Lizzy kept him waiting (despite TV evidence to the contrary).
Situations like this are why we keep the nukes, right?
As an aside, chatting to my dad while he visited yesterday, I’d managed to tune out though all his gammonesque ‘project fear’ rant, but then came the ‘I know Trump is a horrible man, but at least he is getting things done’. My response was swift and robust...
Presumably, this is fake news..
North Korea continuing nuclear programme - UN report - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-45067681
No,no,evil Hilary told them to continue the nuclear programme.
All part of the deal. They can’t work on nuclear weapons, on days ending with an x.
On the other hand, they may not survive long enough to use them...
The rise of Fascism in the US was written about 70 years ago...
https://boingboing.net/2018/07/30/this-70-year-old-book-about-ra.html
I do wonder if anyone has actually asked any of these Trump supporters if any of their family fought in WW2, and whether they were fighting on the side of Hitler and the Nazis...
Holy crap Batman... has Cadet Bone Spur just admitted collusion with the Russians?
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1026084333315153924