@snarlcakes Biden created the conditions. Trump ran on fixing it. He hasn’t. His words.
I'll make your argument for you so it's actually correct and we don't go back and forth forever. They have reversed Biden's conditions. You're just arguing it wasn't fast enough or to the degree you hoped/wanted, which is fair. And this is why the Iran War is going to f#ck them in a couple weeks. It wiped most wage gains this year at time when people were still struggling from getting f#cked during Biden's term. And people are over wars. #leaderslead
@el-zee compared to when Biden was in office Americans are doing better. That's the data. If people are dumb and want to vote in the people who made them poorer, so be it. You can't fix stupid. And by the way medical insurance is unaffordable because of Obamacare and government regs. Last I checked only Trump was for cutting it.
Maybe, but that fact doesn't buy a house or fill up a car. They had an opportunity to really turn things around but chose tariffs and war instead. Plus they've been unsympathetic assholes about it. Bad policy and bad PR.
@big-ryan no spartan nailed you. You’re a child. If Biden was in office this would have been strategic. When you bleat incessantly like you do in one direction you’re of no value. You’re just bowlhickory. What spartan said you should take to heart. Learn from his words. Grow up
When was the last time a US president hobbled the military communications and defense capabilities of a partner country that is fighting for its life?
Not a US President, but a US Congress denied further financial and military support for S Vietnam in 1975. This brought on panic within the S Vietnamese military, which spiraled downward quickly. Prior to that, the S Vietnamese military acquitted itself well after US troops stopped direct military involvement.
I believe it was Hackworth's book that spoke about the end. The South had been taught to fight American style, a lot of lead in the air at once. The problem was that they didn't have the logistical expertise we had. They fell with billions of dollars of equipment and ammo never touched. When they retreated, they threw down their heavy American equipment to retreat faster. When their forward depots were captured, they started having real shortages. But the problem began before that when they couldn't get resupplied fast enough.
I'm not sure some of that doesn't explain Afghanistan. It is almost like we need to produce weapons and have a fighting style for allies that are simpler, lighter, cheaper, etc. Not everyone fights like we do, or can support our style of depending on the weight of lead and air power.
@arthur-dent cool survey, but I take them with a grain of salt. I'm extremely happy with Trump's immigration policies.
@el-zee compared to when Biden was in office Americans are doing better. That's the data. If people are dumb and want to vote in the people who made them poorer, so be it. You can't fix stupid. And by the way medical insurance is unaffordable because of Obamacare and government regs. Last I checked only Trump was for cutting it.
Maybe, but that fact doesn't buy a house or fill up a car. They had an opportunity to really turn things around but chose tariffs and war instead. Plus they've been unsympathetic assholes about it. Bad policy and bad PR.
I disagree on how quickly these things can be turnaround. The Covid policies were really bad and it was always going to take 5-10 years to dig ourselves out of it, assuming good policies. It's one reason why governments printing endless money is so bad. And they haven't been any more of an asshole than Democrats.
I do agree the Iran war was a really bad policy choice for the economy (currently) and will cost them seats in Congress.
You won’t find many Democrats signing up to make those statements
Spartan, you need to get away from the screen and get out more with actual people. We dems don't worship our politicians like many of the PDF party's cult does and generally consider them feeble and feckless. There's also many of us that call Obama a war criminal... The only reason we don't hate the democratic party is because we despise the PDF party far more. You guys elected a demented Epstein friend, rapist, grifter, con man... and you have the nerve to point fingers.
Own up to your own stupidity before pointing at ours.
In closing,
Depends on your definitions of lots of terms you've used. I think all three cited examples meet your definition to varying degrees. Sorry it's not all black and white.Gemini's response:@big-ryan no spartan nailed you. You’re a child. If Biden was in office this would have been strategic. When you bleat incessantly like you do in one direction you’re of no value. You’re just bowlhickory. What spartan said you should take to heart. Learn from his words. Grow up
When was the last time a US president hobbled the military communications and defense capabilities of a partner country that is fighting for its life?
There is no single historical or contemporary consensus matching this specific description, as actions by US presidents regarding foreign military aid and communications are interpreted in vastly different ways depending on political, strategic, and historical perspectives.Depending on the context and viewpoint, discussions around US presidents restricting, delaying, or altering the defense or communications capabilities of a partner nation in conflict often point to a few key historical and modern examples:Key Historical & Contemporary Contexts
- The War in Ukraine (Biden Administration): Critics of the administration's policy have argued that restrictions placed on Ukraine's use of US-provided long-range weapons (such as ATACMS) to strike targets deep inside Russian territory effectively limited Ukraine's defense capabilities while it was fighting for its survival. Conversely, the administration and its supporters defended these limits as a necessary strategic measure to prevent a direct escalation and potential nuclear conflict between the United States/NATO and Russia. Additionally, separate debates have occurred regarding private satellite networks (like Starlink) being restricted in certain combat zones, though these were decisions by private entities rather than direct presidential directives.
- The First Impeachment of Donald Trump (2019): This instance involved the withholding of $391 million in congressionally mandated military aid to Ukraine, which was at the time engaged in a low-intensity conflict with Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region. Critics argued that delaying this aid, which included defensive weaponry and communications equipment, undermined a partner nation's national security for domestic political leverage. President Trump and his defenders maintained that the hold was a legitimate measure to assess corruption in Ukraine and to pressure European allies into contributing more financial support.
- The 1973 Yom Kippur War (Nixon Administration): During the initial days of the war, when Israel was facing coordinated surprise attacks from Egypt and Syria and experiencing heavy equipment losses, there was a multi-day delay in the American re-supply effort. Critics and some historians attributed the delay to a deliberate attempt by the Nixon administration, particularly Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, to manage the geopolitical outcome or avoid provoking Arab oil-producing nations. However, other historical records suggest the delay was primarily caused by logistical challenges, disagreements over using civilian versus military airlifts, and a desire to exhaust diplomatic ceasefire options before launching what ultimately became Operation Nickel Grass—a massive airlift that successfully replenished Israel's military capabilities.
"No single consensus..." "Critics argue..." "Defenders maintain..." Typical Gemini response.
I say the implementation of the Starshield slowdown was consistent with an order (that was by or went through Trump) designed to, suddenly and without warning, hamper Ukraine's military/weapons communications and ability to defend itself. What do YOU say, Brad? When was the last time a US president hobbled the military communications and defense capabilities of a partner country that is fighting for its life?
I'd say Biden's restrictions meet your definition of "hampering Ukraine's military/weapons" communications and ability to defend itself, and so would allowing Starlink to not operate in certain combat zones. I admit I don't know much about the Starlink stuff.
how exactly has Trump been terrible this term?
Other items not noted above:
1) In times when most people believe that their cost of living has not improved, Trump has been spending entirely too much time on vanity projects (Updating his Qatar jet, East Wing Ballroom, Botched Reflecting Pool Surfacing, Trump Arch, Kennedy Center changes, Potomac golf course, renaming of Department of Defense, etc.). Things that nobody asked for / needed but literally are costing us billions of dollars. It's tone deaf at best.
2) Deficit spending. Trump is on par to add 2 trillion dollars to the deficit this year. Yes, every president does this, but Trump promised cuts with DOGE and killing green energy projects, yet here we are with yet another record year for deficit spending.
3) "The Buck Stops Here" is still a valid statement. Failures by staff / cabinet members ultimately come back to Trump because he is the one in charge. Kristi Noem, Pam Bondi, Tulsi Gabbard, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Karoline Leavitt, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Marty Makary. All of these people have been fired or resigned and most in a way that didn't leave a positive impression on the administration. Heck, even throw Marjorie Taylor Greene in there. Add in Hegseth's Signal leak and the bombing of ship survivors, and there's been alot of bad PR that ultimately all goes back to Trump because he is the one that hired them.
4) You are not going to find many people at all who would make the claim that the whole Epstein thing went well.
5) Trump's war on any press that shows him in a negative light is pretty well documented at this point. Barring the press from the White House. Hegseth's attempt to get DOD press personnel to sign the equivalent of a loyalty pledge, etc.
6) Trump's pardons have been fairly questionable this term.
7) He's fallen asleep during meetings. Not just once or twice. Frequently. Not a great look for the most powerful man in the world.
how exactly has Trump been terrible this term?
Other items not noted above:
1) In times when most people believe that their cost of living has not improved, Trump has been spending entirely too much time on vanity projects (Updating his Qatar jet, East Wing Ballroom, Botched Reflecting Pool Surfacing, Trump Arch, Kennedy Center changes, Potomac golf course, renaming of Department of Defense, etc.). Things that nobody asked for / needed but literally are costing us billions of dollars. It's tone deaf at best.
2) Deficit spending. Trump is on par to add 2 trillion dollars to the deficit this year. Yes, every president does this, but Trump promised cuts with DOGE and killing green energy projects, yet here we are with yet another record year for deficit spending.
3) "The Buck Stops Here" is still a valid statement. Failures by staff / cabinet members ultimately come back to Trump because he is the one in charge. Kristi Noem, Pam Bondi, Tulsi Gabbard, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Karoline Leavitt, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Marty Makary. All of these people have been fired or resigned and most in a way that didn't leave a positive impression on the administration. Heck, even throw Marjorie Taylor Greene in there. Add in Hegseth's Signal leak and the bombing of ship survivors, and there's been alot of bad PR that ultimately all goes back to Trump because he is the one that hired them.
4) You are not going to find many people at all who would make the claim that the whole Epstein thing went well.
5) Trump's war on any press that shows him in a negative light is pretty well documented at this point. Barring the press from the White House. Hegseth's attempt to get DOD press personnel to sign the equivalent of a loyalty pledge, etc.
6) Trump's pardons have been fairly questionable this term.
7) He's fallen asleep during meetings. Not just once or twice. Frequently. Not a great look for the most powerful man in the world.
Over to COH for the defense.
@squeakyclean I don't care about any of those complaints besides deficit spending. The problem is it's mostly driven by entitlements and neither party will touch them. So, Trump sucks (technically Congress) like everyone other President.
They did start the Trump accounts, which hopefully one day they can parlay into privatizing SS and phasing it out slowly. I won't hold my breath, but I can dream.
@squeakyclean I don't care about any of those complaints besides deficit spending. The problem is it's mostly driven by entitlements and neither party will touch them. So, Trump sucks (technically Congress) like everyone other President.
They did start the Trump accounts, which hopefully one day they can parlay into privatizing SS and phasing it out slowly. I won't hold my breath, but I can dream.
I would think that you care about item 1 because that is also a part of deficit spending. Regardless, everybody has their different priorities. You may not care about those items, but others do. I want a functioning government that isn't causing an embarrassing gaffe every other week. We're supposed to be the greatest country on this planet but our reputation on the world stage takes a hit with every new stupid thing that happens.
You won’t find many Democrats signing up to make those statements
Spartan, you need to get away from the screen and get out more with actual people. We dems don't worship our politicians like many of the PDF party's cult does and generally consider them feeble and feckless. There's also many of us that call Obama a war criminal... The only reason we don't hate the democratic party is because we despise the PDF party far more. You guys elected a demented Epstein friend, rapist, grifter, con man... and you have the nerve to point fingers.
Own up to your own stupidity before pointing at ours.
In closing,
It’s 1-1. Highlife is on the opposite side of you. Everyone knows Trump is a grifter and a conman. The SGP needs to take care of their own. They have the mouthpieces in the media to set the narrative…but they are either chickenshit or true believers.
@spartans9312 you’re talking to a “guy” who thinks woke was made up. There’s no poster on this board farther removed from reality than TMP. One dumb dude
the only smart thing he’s ever done is post emojis. Anything more reveals how clueless he is
I’’m talking about taxpayer dollars flowing to this outfit that was supplying weapons that Assad used on civilians. It continued to flow even after it was public knowledge this was occurring. Did Congress push back on this happening? Did the Pentagon continue to contract with them? Did they look for alternatives? Mi-17 helicopters…used for what?
Did assad turn around and give money to Iran to purchase weapons to target US assets?
In the last week, we shut off Starlink to Ukraine, stopped giving them early warning of strikes, and now fund the Russian (and Iranian) military. Look at the whole picture.
Oh…I’m looking at the whole picture. Others are blinded by Trump. Some think Europe quit buying Russian diesel…wrong. And on and on. Trump has screwed the pooch in Iran because he’s soft and wants people to like him. Also…he’s been terrible this term. I can admit that. Obama was terrible his second term. Biden was terrible. You won’t find many Democrats signing up to make those statements
Once again, Russia has been supplying arms to Syria for decades, including during Trump's first administration. This is hardly big news, but it certainly wasn't secret and was well known by those interested in knowing this.
Second, you're making the wrong comparison. Cutting off support for Afghanistan's MI-17 helicopters would be the equivalent of cutting off support for Ukraine's American-made weapons systems, which we've done on several occasions. Most recently the President stopping delivery of Patriot missiles. In many cases NATO allies have tried to address these shortfalls by supplying Ukraine out of their own stocks. Unfortunately, we're also slow rolling resupplying our NATO (treaty Allies) with those materials. This is all part of Trump's apparent decision to put pressure on our partner nation and Democratic Ukraine rather than the aggressor, adversary and dictatorship Russia to get Ukraine to capitulate in Russia's favor. And yes, this is terrible.
The above is the comparison to make - it's about us supporting a partner nation (Afghanistan at the time, and Ukraine now) in their national defense and security. The comparison isn't Syrian civilians being killed by the Syrian government using Russia weapons supplied to them for decades to Ukrainian civilians being killed by Russians using their own weapons, though that would be a more reasonable comparison to make, but you didn't make that comparison.
I’m correct. Our tax dollars were flowing to Russian arms dealer that was supplying weapons to Assad to kill civilians. We continued to send them tax dollars even after knowing this was occurring.