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Trump's Tariffs

K
I'm just going to say a couple of things.

First, why would any rational nation even negotiate trade policy with the United States?

In his first term Trump threatened Canada and Mexico with tariffs. They negotiated, made concessions, and Trump boasted of his "perfect" new NAFTA. Trump now breaks that deal he made. What is the sense of Mexico and Canada negotiating with him again? He'll just break any new deal on whim. Trump has made the United States an unreliable and dishonest trading partner.

There is no value in negotiating with a nation such as our own. We can't be trusted to keep any agreement we make.

Second Trump has imposed these tariffs with no objectives or conditions for removal. He did not contact either the leader of Mexico or Canada to tell them what they could do to avoid tariffs. He still has not. Which gets us to this next level batshit insanity from Trump.

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Trump is now linking the tariffs to Canada completely surrendering its sovereignty. In a Truth Social post Trump claimed Canada is not a viable nation without massive American subsidies (I have no idea what he is talking about) and concluded that:
"Therefore, Canada should become our Cherished 51st State. Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada — AND NO TARIFFS!"
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Put simply, Trump is claiming that tariffs are the cost for Canada being a nation free and independent of the United States. It's economic warfare, a sort of invasion by tariff. In so doing Trump has made it much harder for Canada to not fight back. Canada is no longer fighting for its economy. It is fighting for its very existence as a free nation and people. How do Americans benefit from forcing Canadians to do this?

This imperialism by tariff is a threat to every free nation in the world. If Canada caves, Denmark and Greenland will be next.

Trump thinks national identity is negotiable. Can you imagine if another nation pulled this garbage on us? How Americans would feel?

MAGAs did your really vote for this garbage?
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Tik Tok Ban

K
Today Supreme Court, in a per curiam decision, unanimously upheld the constitutionality of a law saying that if Tik Tok does not divest itself from Chinese ownership that it is banned. The issue will land squarely on Trump's lap who campaigned on saving Tik Tok. However, this was not an executive action, it was a law passed by Congress with strong bipartisan support.

As for the decision I am surprised only by its per curiam nature (though my perception is there have been an increasing number of those recently). The Supreme Court is historically loathe to intervene when national security concerns are raised. Some time ago they were willing to allow the racist imprisonment in concentration camps of tens of thousands of innocent American citizens, without any due process, or even charge, because a president claimed it was necessary for national security.

To be sure, the national security concerns are more legitimate this time around. Though I am uncertain how valid the concern is when applied to simply private citizens posting everything from stupid cat videos to recipes. It is certainly a concern for government and critical industry users. Critical to the court's decision was the finding that the law was "content neutral" in that it did not discriminate for or against any particular perspective.
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Open Racism In DOGE

K
Some quotes to share:
  • “Just for the record I was racist before racist was cool.”
  • I just want a eugenic immigration policy, is that too much to ask.
  • “I would not mind at all if Gaza and Israel were both wiped off the face of the Earth.”
  • “Normalize Indian hate.”
  • “You could not pay me to marry outside of my ethnicity.”
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If you are wondering from what neo-Nazi hate group those quotes come from the answer would be Elon Musk’s DOGE. They are the social media postings of a man named Marko Elez, who until this morning, was on Musk’s DOGE team rifling through Department of Treasury records, to include possibly your very own tax returns. Elez was one of two DOGE Teamers given access to all records at the Treasury Department.

Mr. Elez (for now) was removed from the team, however if Musk get his way, that may only be temporary. As appalling as these statements are, Elon Musk conducted a poll on Xitter as to whether Elez should be reinstated for mere “inappropriate statements via a now deleted pseudonym?” The poll concluded with nearly 80% of those following Musk supporting reinstatement. For those wondering whether Musk was entitled to any benefit of the doubt, maybe this helps put that Nazi salute in context.

Vice President Vance has weighed in declaring in an X-posting:

“I obviously disagree with some of Elez’s posts, but I don’t think stupid social media activity should ruin a kid’s life. We shouldn’t reward journalists who try to destroy people. Ever. So I say bring him back.”
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Vance, who has an Indian wife, couldn’t even find it within himself to condemn Elez’s anti-Indian hate, as it fell in the category of a mere disagreement. Vance supports someone he regards as a “kid” having this kind of power? In Vance’s world, what got Elez in trouble was not Elez saying these things, it was Wall Street Journal reporters accurately reporting that Elez said these things. The Bible says “the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32). Obviously, not a value shared by JD Vance.

But there you have it. It is the official position of the Musk/Trump Administration that someone who openly brags about their racism should be in positions of trust in our government. This is the kind of person Musk/Trump/Vance want replacing current government employees.

Three days ago I called the office of our Representative, Daniel Webster, regarding this issue. Last night Representative Webster emailed me back assuring there were no worries because those working in DOGE at the Treasury Department were vetted. I called back today to make clear that assurance was demonstrably false.

A final note. This is personal. My daughter is married to an Indian/American who I regard as a wonderful son-in-law. It occurs to me that this openly racist Indian hater would have had access to their financial and tax records. Like I said, personal.

Update: Trump endorses returning the racist to his position.
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Further Update: Musk directly states on X that the openly racist employee will be brought back.
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Ag Break Into the Top 10 in AP's Basketball Poll

tsip despiser
I guess Buzz can coach...

RankTeamTrendThis WeekPoints
1
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Tennessee(14-0)Southeastern
-
vs. Arkansas W 76-52
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1484 (45)
2
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Auburn(13-1)Southeastern
-
vs. Missouri W 84-68
1453 (15)
3
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Iowa State(12-1)Big 12
-
vs. Baylor W 74-55
1369 (0)
4
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Duke(12-2)Atlantic Coast
-
@ SMU W 89-62
Game Recap
1309 (0)
5
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Alabama(12-2)Southeastern
-
vs. Oklahoma W 107-79
1260 (0)
6
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Kentucky(12-2)Southeastern
4
vs. Florida W 106-100
Game Recap
1154 (0)
7
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Marquette(13-2)Big East
1
vs. Creighton W 79-71
Game Recap
1134 (0)
8
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Florida(13-1)Southeastern
-2
@ Kentucky L 100-106
Game Recap
1045 (0)
9
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UConn(12-3)Big East
2
vs. Providence W 87-84
Game Recap
964 (0)
10
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Texas A&M(12-2)Southeastern
3
vs. Texas W 80-60
Game Recap
924 (0)
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