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the u.s. stands alone

dherd

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Feb 23, 2007
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HAMBURG, Germany — For years the United States was the dominant force and set the agenda at the annual gathering of the leaders of the world’s largest economies.

But on Friday, when President Trump met with other leaders at the Group..... faced with the prospect of the group’s issuing a statement on Saturday that lays bare how the United States stands alone.

Mr. Trump has alienated allies and made the United States seem like its own private island.

European officials here reacted astringently, threatening to retaliate. “We are prepared to take up arms if need be.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/07/world/europe/trump-g-20-trade-climate.html?ref=todayspaper
 
It's an accurate and important article.

Not only are his policies alienating us from our allies, but his relationships with world leaders is magnifying the problem. Hell, his own advisers can't even agree on what he is trying to do.
 
Interesting. I was watching a BBC news cast last night and they stated that Trump was in high demand at this meeting by these leaders. "One of the most sought out leaders."

Their report was literally the opposite of this NYT story. Not really surprised.
 
Interesting. I was watching a BBC news cast last night and they stated that Trump was in high demand at this meeting by these leaders. "One of the most sought out leaders."

Their report was literally the opposite of this NYT story. Not really surprised.

As the leader of one of the top two economic powers in the world and the top military power in the world, of course he will be "sought out." That doesn't mean his policies, words, and actions aren't alienating the U.S. from our allies.
 
As the leader of one of the top two economic powers in the world and the top military power in the world, of course he will be "sought out." That doesn't mean his policies, words, and actions aren't alienating the U.S. from our allies.

This is like being the rich guy in your group of "friends" and them alienating you because you've told them you're not going to buy everyones dinner and drinks every time you go out.

Fvck them. American taxpayers are grateful for Trump.
 
We sent a community organizer for 8 years.

I'm not understating his daughter's resume in any way. Her biggest accomplishment is being a shoe designer. On the other hand, you are greatly diminishing Obama's resume. He was far more than a "community organizer" before becoming president.

Really, none of you seem to have a problem with sending a shoe designer to represent the U.S. with those world leaders?
 
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It's a big waste of time. Even sending a shoe designer is a ripoff. Send an illegal or a refugee over there without a return ticket.

They redesigned the damn cans of Big K. Gonna take some getting used to, but I'll manage.
 
I'm not understating his daughter's resume in any way. Her biggest accomplishment is being a shoe designer. On the other hand, you are greatly diminishing Obama's resume. He was far more than a "community organizer" before becoming president.

Really, none of you seem to have a problem with sending a shoe designer to represent the U.S. with those world leaders?

Obama did nothing more than get elected to public office before becoming president. Nothing.

The Chicago political machine bussed thousands of gimmedats to the polls to vote for him in his bid for Congress, and then the Senate. And then the media adopted him as their affirmative action candidate and the rest is history.
 
I'm not understating his daughter's resume in any way. Her biggest accomplishment is being a shoe designer. On the other hand, you are greatly diminishing Obama's resume. He was far more than a "community organizer" before becoming president.

Really, none of you seem to have a problem with sending a shoe designer to represent the U.S. with those world leaders?
She wasn't sent to represent the us. Trump stepped out to meet with another leader, like others had done and someone sat in for them.
And that's extremely sexist of you to think that she's incapable and explaining a talk to trump. Hell shes probably the only one that can dumb it down enough for him
 
Fvck them. American taxpayers are grateful for Trump.

SOMEONE HAS BEEN WATCHING THE FOX PROPAGANDA CHANNEL
AGAIN.

Nearly three-in-five Americans disapprove of the job Donald Trump is doing as president, according to new survey data.

Fifty-seven percent of Americans in aReuters/Ipsos pollpublished Wednesday said they disapprove of the president's job performance, while only 38 percent said they approve.

AGallup pollreleased Tuesday reported similar findings: 57 percent of Americans gave Mr. Trump the thumbs-down, while 37 percent gave him the thumbs-up.

The poll President Donald Trump has publicly touted isn't bringing him much good news lately. Thelatest survey releasedby Rasmussen Reports Thursday found Trump's approval rating his nearing his all-time low.

Just 44 percent of respondents approved of Trump's job performance in the survey, while 56 percent disapproved. That's just one percentage point better than the president's lowest approval ever in the Rasmussen Reports tracking poll: He hit 43 percent approval on multiple occassions.
 
Obama did nothing more than get elected to public office before becoming president. Nothing.

Besides graduating from one Ivy, then going to another for his J.D; besides being named editor of the Harvard Law Review; besides being named president (first black president) of the same publication; besides being a summer associate for two years; besides getting a publishing deal and a book contract/advance shortly after graduating; besides teaching for 14 years at a top law school; besides being an attorney at a firm for 13 years . . . yeah, he did nothing before getting elected to public office.

But I bet he did learn how to . . .



. . . spell "bused" properly.
 
She wasn't sent to represent the us. Trump stepped out to meet with another leader, like others had done and someone sat in for them.

And that's extremely sexist of you to think that she's incapable and explaining a talk to trump. Hell shes probably the only one that can dumb it down enough for him

Yes, other world leaders would put qualified seat-fillers in. Just because cheeto isn't qualified for his position doesn't mean he should continue allowing unqualified people in certain positions.

Having tits has nothing to do with the situation. Why would you think my comment was in any way because of her sex? Seems like you are quick to be concerned about a person's gender in certain roles.

That's stupid considering I was a Hillary supporter.
 
And then the media adopted him as their affirmative action candidate and the rest is history.

Yep, already ranked as the 12th best president in U S history, only 3 notches below the lord reagan, 8 spots above H.W, and 21 ahead of the other bush. Bet that leaves a mark. After cheetos leaves office, all the presidents will move up at least one position.
 
Let's understand why the other world leaders are so up in arms about Trump's "isolationist, protectionist" trade views.


The U.S. Derives 12.6% of our GDP through exports. That's a good chunk, but for Germany that number is 46.8%. Nearly a full half of their economy is built on exports. For France the number is 30%. Canada and Mexico are 31% and 35%. China is 22%. The world average is 29.5%. If you back the U.S. out of the world average it jumps to over 33%.

Then you look at imports. The U.S. imports as much in goods as the whole European Union combined and it's about a 800 billion more than we export. The EU, led by Germany, has a 500 billion trade surplus. In simple math, if things stay the same, in the next ten years we will send about $5,000,000,000,000 to the EU to support their economies in excess of what they send to the U.S. to support our economy.

There are very few things that they make in the EU that we can't make for ourselves. If all world trade ended tomorrow Germany, France, Great Britian, Canada, Mexico and a bunch of other countries would collapse within months. The U.S. would not. They can talk tough on trade all they want, but it's hollow when you understand that their economies are significantly based on us buying their stuff, but our economy is not significantly based on them buying our stuff, and Germany is one of the most vulnerable.
 
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Our sons and daughters have fought in two world wars on the Eurpean Continent. They have fought in UN actions around the world. They have died in Korea and Vietnam because of helping other nations.

We pay the largest bill for NATO(see above).

So, you know what? They are going to have to get over it.
 
Rock dog you just blew the libiots minds. They won't have response since the liberal media hadn't covered that angle. They can't comment outside the left narrative.

Rox you know you are winning when spell check enters the debate
 
What percentage of our imports are products made by U S owned companies in other countries?
 
Besides graduating from one Ivy, then going to another for his J.D; besides being named editor of the Harvard Law Review; besides being named president (first black president) of the same publication; besides being a summer associate for two years; besides getting a publishing deal and a book contract/advance shortly after graduating; besides teaching for 14 years at a top law school; besides being an attorney at a firm for 13 years . . . yeah, he did nothing before getting elected to public office.

.

At least Hillary's political connection earned her a law firm partnership in Arkansas.

You would think that a brilliant Ivy League law graduate and professor would have shot straight to the top of a law firm in a short time. 13 years and not made partner??? At first glance, that's embarrassing. Then again, it's probably because he really only "practiced" law for about 4 years. '91-'95 according to factcheck.org.

Was Obama accomplished before president? Basically academics and winning state elections. As a "lawyer"? Nope. Not really.

Hell, even a successful community organizer would most likely have a few events he could point to as, "leading" on his way up the organizing ranks. Nothing.

No one really knew who this guy was even when he arrived in Washington as a Senator.

Joe Biden said it best when Obama starting running for Prez, "...finally a black man that can articulate...."

What is Obama's greatest accomplishment?? Blowing up the Dem party over the last 8 years. It's in bigger shambles now than most will ever admit. Occasionally you'll read some honest liberal writers pointing this out.
 
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What percentage of our imports are products made by U S owned companies in other countries?


Do you realize that you are only strengthening my point? If we start raising tariffs on imported goods those companies are heavily incentivized to move that production, and those jobs, back to the U.S. So our imports drop, our unemployment drops, and the country they are currently in sees a drop in exports and a drop in employment. It's a win-win for us and a lose-lose for them. That's why it's a hollow threat on their part.

I was watching a YouTube video titled "what Germans miss about America". The premise was basically exchange students who had lived over here a year and then went back. One of the things they mentioned is how cheap clothing is over here. The quote was something like - I never shop at Hollister in Germany because it's way too expensive so I bought a suitcase full of their clothing while I was in the U.S. So why is Hollister clothing so much more expensive in Germany? Because the tariffs are so high. This is what Trump is pushing. He doesn't want to raise tariffs on foreign goods, he just wants them to cut theirs so American products are competing on equal footing. Those countries have had what they call protectionism in place as a normal course of business forever.
 
Rock dog you just blew the libiots minds.

Serious question: when did you and other conservatives really decide to dump the free trade ideology? It's a big of change for the modern Republican as if they suddenly wanted to open abortion clinics at every gas station. It was usually "the libiots" that talked protectionism (acting on it, that's a different story.) Pat Buchannan was about the only one ever warning about trade policy.

I fully support free trade among relative equals with zero barriers. But that is not what we have.
 
Serious question: when did you and other conservatives really decide to dump the free trade ideology? It's a big of change for the modern Republican as if they suddenly wanted to open abortion clinics at every gas station. It was usually "the libiots" that talked protectionism (acting on it, that's a different story.) Pat Buchannan was about the only one ever warning about trade policy.

I fully support free trade among relative equals with zero barriers. But that is not what we have.

Read Rock's post above yours. This isn't about free trade, this is about American manufacturers being able to compete on a level playing field with international competitors. Trump is talking about protectionism, but it's more of a threat than anything. He's no protectionist. He's threatening to impose tariffs on imported goods knowing that European and Asian leaders will be pissing themselves, as the US is the largest buyer of their exported goods.
 
He's threatening to impose tariffs on imported goods knowing that European and Asian leaders will be pissing themselves, as the US is the largest buyer of their exported goods.

Percentage of exported goods the U S imports from:

Germany 10%
France 8%
UK 13%
 
Percentage of cabinets exported overseas from Wayne County, zero. Percentage of cabinets sold in Wayne County less than 1%.
 
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Or you could say that the U.S. Is the second largest importer of German goods. We import over 120 billion a year of their stuff while they import only 66 billion of our stuff. We have a 55 billion trade deficit with Germany. We are France's third largest customer. We are the UK's largest customer.

If you knew anything about business, you would know that losing your biggest, second biggest, or third biggest customer can be quite disruptive to your p&l statement.
 
Was Obama accomplished before president? Basically academics and winning state elections. As a "lawyer"? Nope. Not really.

This is my nomination for dumbest post of the month. It may be up there for dumbest post of the year. @murox and @19MU88 liked the post, so they are also affiliates of this sheer stupidity.

You claim that other than academics and "winning state elections," Obama wasn't accomplished before becoming president. Before president, while in his early 40s, Obama owned a $1.6 million property. Now, I know you are personally worth billions as a result of meeting with top experts daily on every industry known to man, but owning a $1.6 million property is pretty fvcking accomplished at any age, let alone in your early 40s. But why stop there?

The year he bought the property, Obama's tax return showed an income of $1.6 million. So, if he made that much and bought a house for that much, he was far from house-poor. The following year, the household income was about $1 million (about $325,000 from his wife and about $150,000 as a senator, so he was still pulling in an extra $500,000+ on his own even without his Senate pay). In 2007, two years before taking office, their tax return was $4.2 million. He made millions more the following year . . . again, before becoming president. Most of all of this income was due to his book deal. In the four years before becoming president, Obama (and his wife, who had a much smaller income than he did) earned about $8 million. What a loser.

So, since you excluded his academics and becoming a senator, what did he accomplish? Lets pretend your son/daughter accomplished this by the time they were in their mid 40s (again, excluding his academics and senator status):

Grew up in Kenya (cheeto told me so) but was able to own a $1.6 million property while spending 13 years as a professor/senior lecturer at one of the top law schools in the country. Was an associate attorney at a Chicago firm who then was promoted to of counsel. Now, today, associate attorneys in major city firms start off making about $170,000 (with usual raises each year and a hell of a bonus at the end of each year). Being of counsel is a promotion which means they would be making well into the 200s, minimum. Your son/daughter wasn't practicing at a big firm, but it is safe to say he/she was making a pretty solid income as both an associate and of counsel.

Oh, yeah. Your son/daughter also received a book deal which resulted in earning multi-millions of dollars in just a few years during his/her mid 40s, exclusive of academics and winning state elections.

We both know you would be ecstatic over the accomplishments and success of your son/daughter in that case . . . and that is without mentioning his academic and political success.

Shockingly, that wasn't the dumbest comment in your post:


What is Obama's greatest accomplishment??

You can pick any one of these. Each of them is far more accomplished than anything anyone on this board has accomplished in a similar comparison:

- Ivy undergrad degree
- J.D. from another Ivy
- editor of the Harvard Review; first black to do so
- book deal with an advance (which usually doesn't happen unless there is strong promise)
- associate attorney at a major city firm and promoted to of counsel
- 13 years as a professor/senior lecturer at one of the top law schools in the country
- owns a $1.6 million property in his early 40s
- makes many millions of dollars from book sales before and during his time as senator
- elected as a U.S. Senator
- elected as the most powerful person in the world
- ranked as one of the top 15 presidents ever by most major polls

As you can see, this Kenyan boy grew up to be pretty unaccomplished in life.
 
What exactly do you think justifies him being ranked in the top 15 presidents (even though it is stupid to rank anyone so close to the end of their term)?
 
This is my nomination for dumbest post of the month. It may be up there for dumbest post of the year. @murox and @19MU88 liked the post, so they are also affiliates of this sheer stupidity.

You claim that other than academics and "winning state elections," Obama wasn't accomplished before becoming president. Before president, while in his early 40s, Obama owned a $1.6 million property. Now, I know you are personally worth billions as a result of meeting with top experts daily on every industry known to man, but owning a $1.6 million property is pretty fvcking accomplished at any age, let alone in your early 40s. But why stop there?

The year he bought the property, Obama's tax return showed an income of $1.6 million. So, if he made that much and bought a house for that much, he was far from house-poor. The following year, the household income was about $1 million (about $325,000 from his wife and about $150,000 as a senator, so he was still pulling in an extra $500,000+ on his own even without his Senate pay). In 2007, two years before taking office, their tax return was $4.2 million. He made millions more the following year . . . again, before becoming president. Most of all of this income was due to his book deal. In the four years before becoming president, Obama (and his wife, who had a much smaller income than he did) earned about $8 million. What a loser.

So, since you excluded his academics and becoming a senator, what did he accomplish? Lets pretend your son/daughter accomplished this by the time they were in their mid 40s (again, excluding his academics and senator status):

Grew up in Kenya (cheeto told me so) but was able to own a $1.6 million property while spending 13 years as a professor/senior lecturer at one of the top law schools in the country. Was an associate attorney at a Chicago firm who then was promoted to of counsel. Now, today, associate attorneys in major city firms start off making about $170,000 (with usual raises each year and a hell of a bonus at the end of each year). Being of counsel is a promotion which means they would be making well into the 200s, minimum. Your son/daughter wasn't practicing at a big firm, but it is safe to say he/she was making a pretty solid income as both an associate and of counsel.

Oh, yeah. Your son/daughter also received a book deal which resulted in earning multi-millions of dollars in just a few years during his/her mid 40s, exclusive of academics and winning state elections.

We both know you would be ecstatic over the accomplishments and success of your son/daughter in that case . . . and that is without mentioning his academic and political success.

Shockingly, that wasn't the dumbest comment in your post:




You can pick any one of these. Each of them is far more accomplished than anything anyone on this board has accomplished in a similar comparison:

- Ivy undergrad degree
- J.D. from another Ivy
- editor of the Harvard Review; first black to do so
- book deal with an advance (which usually doesn't happen unless there is strong promise)
- associate attorney at a major city firm and promoted to of counsel
- 13 years as a professor/senior lecturer at one of the top law schools in the country
- owns a $1.6 million property in his early 40s
- makes many millions of dollars from book sales before and during his time as senator
- elected as a U.S. Senator
- elected as the most powerful person in the world
- ranked as one of the top 15 presidents ever by most major polls

As you can see, this Kenyan boy grew up to be pretty unaccomplished in life.


Stupid would be suggesting I was claiming he was house poor and "unaccomplished in life". Never did. Never called him a loser either. In fact, I acknowledged his elections as a level of accomplishment. You are trying too hard Mr. Comprehension.

Hilarious, you make it sound like Obumma grew up with no financial advantages. He definitely wasn't destitute. Anyone being flown around the world to live with parents isn't poverty stricken. He had numerous advantages over most starting out. His father clearly had $$ with connections and you said it yourself before in the past........"his mom was a VP of a bank". In the liberal world that makes you rich, and discounts much of what one can claim as being "successful".

Based on normal liberal criteria, having this kind of advantage suggests he had an unfair start. He should have been expected to accomplish many of these things by his parents. I fully expect my kids to do even better than I have. That's what good parents do. I will be extremely proud when they do. Ecstatic about their financial success you keep pointing to as a measurement of their overall success? Ehhhh. If that's your choice of words...sure. I generally don't get that emotional about things I have worked and prepared (them) for. Especially when it deals with $$ or material items.

An articulate black man "writes" a book about himself as an Illinois political (unknown) figure at that time to kick off a larger political career and gets paid for it. Again I'll ask using liberal logic....why is that so exceptional? His educational success (which I acknowledged) should have guaranteed this opportunity. Maybe writing a book is exceptional to you because you spend all your time passively collecting off artists who actually do the real work and admit to not doing much on a daily basis.

13 years as a "high paid associate lawyer" and he can afford to buy a single 1.6m property.........what took him so long? If only he could have attained "partner", maybe he could have moved in to his single property earlier.
 
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Just wait until the Europeans needs us and we will see who is isolated.
 
Stupid would be suggesting I was claiming he was house poor and "unaccomplished in life". Never did. Never called him a loser either. In fact, I acknowledged his elections as a level of accomplishment. You are trying too hard Mr. Comprehension.

Wrong, liar. You claimed that his only accomplishments before president were basically in academics and winning state elections. Yet, he made millions with his book deal, was promoted from an associate to of counsel (you do realize that you don't go to of counsel, partner, etc. unless you bill a certain number of hours, bring in enough revenue/clients, etc., right?), and had been a professor for 13 years at a top law school.

Based on any reasonable view, those things are pretty fvcking successful . . . and that is after you excluded two major accomplishments from being a part of it.

So, tell me again how you can infer that other than academics and state elections, he really hadn't accomplished anything even though he was making multi-millions in a book deal and hundreds of thousands per year as an attorney and professor.

Again, by any reasonable standards, those are some pretty impressive accomplishments.


Hilarious, you make it sound like Obumma grew up with no financial advantages. He definitely wasn't destitute. Anyone being flown around the world to live with parents isn't poverty stricken. He had numerous advantages over most starting out. His father clearly had $$ with connections and you said it yourself before in the past........"his mom was a VP of a bank". In the liberal world that makes you rich, and discounts much of what one can claim as being "successful".

It was sarcasm based on your choice for president having fabricated that Obama was born in sub-Saharan Africa.


An articulate black man "writes" a book about himself as an Illinois political (unknown) figure at that time to kick off a larger political career and gets paid for it. Again I'll ask using liberal logic....why is that so exceptional?

What is so exceptional about making multi-millions on a book deal? Christ, how about looking at all of the presidents in modern history and comparing their success before becoming state-level politicians:

Georgie Dubya' Bush: founded an oil exploration company that folded. He then became a "partner" of the Texas Rangers in which he invested 1/178th (that's .0056%) of the necessary funds to buy the team. Of course, he was also the son of a president, so he should have had far, far greater advantages, privileges, connections, and expectations than a son of a VP of a bank.

Clinton: he claims to have the lowest net worth of any president before taking office.

George Herbert Bush: he used his father's business connections to get started in oil. Like Obama, he made multi-millions before taking office, but it wasn't substantially more than Obama had made in his book deals and being an attorney/professor.

Jimmy Carter? Gerald Ford?

You have already excluded two great accomplishments from being discussed for Obama (his academic pursuits and winning state elections). Yet, now you're downplaying his multi-millions in book earnings and ignoring that he was an accomplished enough attorney to be promoted from associate after just a few years and become a professor for many years at a top law school.

For the tenth time, by any reasonable view, making millions from a book deal, being an attorney who was promoted from associate after a few years, and being a professor for 13 years at a leading law school is pretty fvcking accomplished.


13 years as a "high paid associate lawyer" and he can afford to buy a single 1.6m property.........what took him so long? If only he could have attained "partner", maybe he could have moved in to his single property earlier.

It wasn't 13 years as a lawyer. Further, it wasn't 13 years as an "associate lawyer." It was 11 years total as an attorney, only a few of which were as an associate. It was 13 years as a professor at a top law school. Remember, reading comprehension.

In the '90s, associates weren't starting out at $170,000. Salaries have drastically increased over the last 25 years.

There are so many reasons why your post is one of the dumbest of the year so far. Now, you're trying to rip on a guy who bought a $1.6 million house in his early 40s because it took too long for him to do it according to your standards.


Maybe writing a book is exceptional to you because you spend all your time passively collecting off artists who actually do the real work and admit to not doing much on a daily basis.

Writing a book isn't exceptional to me. Making millions off of writing a book is exceptional to me. Producing a record isn't exceptional to me. Making millions off of producing a record is exceptional to me.

Suddenly, you are attempting to now be this bleeding heart who doesn't think career success is measured by dollars. Hence, one of the reasons you were called a "liar" in this thread.

Face it, your attempt was awful, blew up in your face, and no reasonable view would claim that Obama wasn't accomplished before becoming president.
 
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