O/T:- Trump Presidency 2.0 [hic sunt dracones]

[Mapperleypie]

Not sure though. Gallup is certainly no friend of Trump, but they report that 'Trump's approval rating has ticked up in his second term', with the latest poll released today.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5217754-trump-approval-rating-gallup-poll/

The main demographic that is hard anti-Trump (within the US) are the university post-graduate females. They have the most to lose (apart from Transgender and illegal immigrants) with Trump's drive to reform the government departments. They make up the greatest percentage of employees within the higher echelons of government managers.

It's also a common factor in new governments that take over from previous failing administrations that they have a 'new government bounce', as soon as they are elected and there is a new feeling of hope. Then when reality kicks in how bad the country has been run prior, some, who expect it to be fixed straight away, start to waiver.

The UK with Starmer and closer to my home, New Zealand with Luxon, have suffered a similar decline in polling. They can't fix years of decline over night, but Trump has definitely acted faster than many other leaders.

You are massively oversimplifying your look at the US. It's a real mixed-bag. I travel to California a fair bit and it's not just the 'university post-graduate females' that dislike him - he is despised by all demographics.

Many Americans know Trump and his cronies are risking all the power (both hard and soft) the US have built up over many years around the world by playing this strong-man nonsense. The US rely on global trade in a massive way and he is missing the point and it will be extremely costly to everyone.

[Mapperleypie]

Not sure though. Gallup is certainly no friend of Trump, but they report that 'Trump's approval rating has ticked up in his second term', with the latest poll released today.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5217754-trump-approval-rating-gallup-poll/

These figures are awful given how many people actually voted for him a few moths ago.

9% of Republicans think he's not doing a good job

[SwalePie]

....

The only way the US becomes a manufacturing superpower again is by a massive devaluation of the dollar which would be hugely painful to nearly all Americans - the tariffs alone are never going to achieve the stated aim - it's performative bollox.

^ This!

[andy6025]

It is not so obvious when the Palestinians have a government whose stated aim is the elimination of Israel. It seems that some in Gaza are coming to that realisation.

Israel is an illegitimate state, given to settlers, not by the indigenous people living there, but by foreign powers abroad. Israel, as an ethno-racist apartheid state dominated by one ethnicity, ought not to exist as such. If some of the Jewish people there are either unable or unwilling to live there in equality with the Palestinians, whose land they occupy, and who ought to have the same rights, including the right to return (which most Jews returning there were never from there to being with), then I by all means welcome them to come live here in Canada. I await them all with open arms.

[andy6025]

Firstly, Donetsk and Luhansk are part of Ukraine already. Ukraine didn't invade them. This part isn't complicated, not sure why you're confused.

They declared independence in 2014. The Ukrainian government attempted to end their succession from Ukraine by force, ie., by invading them.

“the UN charter. . . does not grant, and has never granted me the right to declare my backyard an independent republic.

You can certainly try if you like. I will not stop you. I doubt anyone else will either. In fact, I doubt many will even hear your declaration except for the half dozen people that read this Fred. But, by all means go for it if it is important to you.

Nor does it grant me the right to say "hell, im feeling a bit Kiwi today, I might ask the Kiwi's to send their army to occupy my backyard and help me maintain my independence from these annoying aussies".

I really have no objection to you doing that, even if you are serious. I suspect you might have to wait on hold for a long time or even go through a loop of pressing various numbers at the option menus. If you manage to get anyone on the line, let us know how it goes. I did not even know the kiwis had an army, but sure, have at it.

I wish you all the best of luck in your movement. Godspeed, old friend!

[andy6025]

Long Live Jampie-land!

[Jampie]

Thanks Andy, I knew I could count on your support. Unfortunately, as was the point of my post, the UN charter doesn't share your generosity.

And I picked the NZ army because they could actually fit in my backyard. Would be quite the BBQ.

[Elite_Pie]

The UK with Starmer and closer to my home, New Zealand with Luxon, have suffered a similar decline in polling. They can't fix years of decline over night, but Trump has definitely acted faster than many other leaders.

But have Trump's actions started to fix years of decline, or will they lead to more years of decline?

[andy6025]

Thanks Andy, I knew I could count on your support. Unfortunately, as was the point of my post, the UN charter doesn't share your generosity.

And I picked the NZ army because they could actually fit in my backyard. Would be quite the BBQ.

Can you point out where the UN charter forbids your self determination?

More interestingly, do you think of Jampieland as a Fatherland or motherland?

[Jampie]

Can you point out where the UN charter forbids your self determination?

More interestingly, do you think of Jampieland as a Fatherland or motherland?

Nobody says it forbids self determination. C'mon, you are not that dense. You're trolling now. Self determination does not mean you can create a breakaway state. It means self determination - a right to democratic representation.

Edit: and jampieland would be a pieland. Wars of aggression would be absolutely forbidden, so no need for idiotic nationalist rhetoric.

[Old_pie]

Israel is an illegitimate state, given to settlers, not by the indigenous people living there, but by foreign powers abroad.

I'm sure you are well versed on all the illegitimate states that exist in the world. Why not pick on them too?

In fact I suspect that the number of states occupied and run by indigenous people could be written on the back of a postage stamp

[Old_pie]

But have Trump's actions started to fix years of decline, or will they lead to more years of decline?

It seems that the Beatles invasion of the USA would not happen now, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...ained-deported

I have heard of one person who was offered a number of gigs in the US following a successful SxSW festival and has since been advised by his agent, along with others, not to travel there again under the current climate.

[SwalePie]

So much darkly worrying stuff happening over there. This, for example...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdjy1jmvvwzo

[andy6025]

I'm sure you are well versed on all the illegitimate states that exist in the world. Why not pick on them too?

In fact I suspect that the number of states occupied and run by indigenous people could be written on the back of a postage stamp

I do pick on other such injustices, including but not limited to, such injustices here in Canada.

The reason it was talked about here is because I was replying to Jampies comments on the Signal leak scandal.

[andy6025]

Nobody says it forbids self determination. C'mon, you are not that dense. You're trolling now. Self determination does not mean you can create a breakaway state. It means self determination - a right to democratic representation.

That?s exactly what it means; that a people with similar political ambitions can create their own independent government or state.

You think that states can only become independent if the state from which they are seeking independence agrees?