The Trump presidency

[CrabbedOne]

In The Moscow Times Russia Riled by Trump's 'Disturbing' Nuclear Weapons Comments

...
Trump’s specific critique of the New START treaty is that it is “one-sided.”

Ozerov was echoed by Federation Council member Konstantin Kosachev, head of the foreign affairs committee who said, “This is, perhaps, the most disturbing statement yet of Trump’s on the topic of relations with Russia.”

Kosachev urged for dialogue with the U.S. on the future of New START be launched as soon as possible.

Alexei Pushkov, a member of the defense committee, was more pointed in his critique. Pushkov suggested on Twitter that Obama and George Soros are busy leading a coup by the Democrats against Trump in Washington. "[Trump] should be thinking about that, and not New START."

A signature accomplishment of the Obama-era reset with Russia, the treaty stipulates that both Russian and U.S. nuclear arsenals are capped at 1,550 warheads deployed by Feb. 05, 2018.

It also limits launch vehicles and delivery systems to 700 deployed missiles and bombers and 800 deployed and non-deployed launchers.

The latest New START accounting was released by the State Department’s arms control bureau on Jan. 1. It showed Russia has 1796 warheads deployed, while the U.S. is already under the cap with 1367 warheads.

The U.S. leads, however, with 681 deployed missiles and bombers and 848 launchers. Russia is behind with 508 and 847, respectively.

Analysts say that the discrepancy in Russia’s warhead count has more to do with New START accounting than anything else.
...

My bold, it's great when the Russians start sounding like Glenn Beck in his Fox blackboard theories days.

 

[J Ed]

In The Moscow Times Russia Riled by Trump's 'Disturbing' Nuclear Weapons Comments
My bold, it's great when the Russians start sounding like Glenn Beck in his Fox blackboard theories days.

They are all Glenn Beck these days

Also Glenn Beck is woke now

 

[CRI]

or indeed if they last that long...

Well, then there's the spectre of the "line of succession" which is one great stream of piss poor, frankly dangerous stand ins, so . . .

You are deffo right about targeting those that didn't vote, or were prevented from voting.

 

[CrabbedOne]

Speaking of which in the Washington Examiner Fearing Trump supporters, Glenn Beck travels with bodyguards

Conservative radio host Glenn Beck is claiming he has begun traveling with two bodyguards following death threats from supporters of President Trump.

Beck was a frequent critic of Trump during the campaign and has continued to cast Trump as a threat to conservatism and even an oppositional force to Christians.

Beck endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz during the Republican primary.

"It is not fun," Beck said in an interview with the Atlantic magazine published Monday. "I don't cherish it, but I value the truth more than I'm afraid of retribution."
...

Not a future I would have predicted.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. - Galatians 6:7 KJV

 

[CrabbedOne]

In The Moscow Times Trump’s New National Security Adviser Is No Friend of Russia’s

...
Russian Reaction

McMaster’s appointment is a disappointment for Russia, which is already concerned that chaos in Washington is working against them. Moscow’s enthusiasm for Trump has been sharply reined in following Flynn’s ouster. Russian politicians lashed out at an alleged Obama-led anti-Russian shadow government preventing Trump from lifting sanctions and restoring ties.

But overall the reaction has been muted, following a general toning-down of Trump-related coverage in the Russian media over the past week. The same voices that decried the fall of Flynn have been silent on McMaster so far.

Russian reports on the appointment have been largely restrained. But there have been hints of discontent. Some Russian publications referred back a call from McMaster in 2015 for a “forward deterrent” against Russia in Ukraine. And a TASS profile concluded that Trump’s desire for a detent would soon clash with McMaster’s “rigid” views.

According to international affairs analyst Mikhail Troitskiy, “McMaster, unlike his predecessor, is an advocate of pushing back against Russian actions in Ukraine and in cyberspace.”

Beyond talk of containment, Russia’s silence is understandable. Outside the military, few in Moscow are too familiar with the new national security advisor. The Kremlin is likely to be concerned with his role in studying Russian tactics in Ukraine, says foreign affairs analyst Vladimir Frolov. “But, otherwise, he’s a blank slate for us when it comes to policy.”

At the same time, says Frolov, what Moscow does know about McMaster is that he is not the zealous proponent of total war against radical Islam that Flynn was. This limits room for a detente. Russia was hoping Trump and his advisors would see radical Islam as the ultimate threat, and trade Ukraine-related sanctions for Moscow’s assistance in the Middle East.

That, it seems, is not to be. McMaster’s appointment signals the Trump administration’s normalization on questions of national security policy. While McMaster is seen as a disruptive, sometimes controversial thinker, he is not a radical. He may bring an end to the dysfunction on the national security front in Washington.

Russia is not yet ready to give up hope on Trump. While public rhetoric has been toned down, the Kremlin is withholding judgement on Trump until Putin meets him in person.

“There will still be hope for a new ‘reset,” Troitskiy says.

Russians really rather disappointed that America may not be quite as distracted by terrorism with Flynn gone from the NSC. You'd really think he was their kinda guy or an useful idiot. Trumpski just doesn't love them enough. Sad!

 

[snadge]

Well, then there's the spectre of the "line of succession" which is one great stream of piss poor, frankly dangerous stand ins, so . . .

You are deffo right about targeting those that didn't vote, or were prevented from voting.

What do you mean by this (bolded)?

 

[coley]

or indeed if they last that long...

Good point, re-education camps, voter suppression, owts possible over there, he might even do a Durete on his opponents, already threatened It.
Sad, so sad

 

[CrabbedOne]

On Naked Capitalism TaxCast: Financial Transaction Taxes, Trump Hearts Kleptocrats

Gets to Trump five minutes in; Hmmm Swampy!

 

[CRI]

What do you mean by this (bolded)?

Voter suppression, both changes that made voting more difficult due to suspension of most of the Voting Rights Act 1965 and tactics by Trump supporters, like the campaign targeted at African Americans telling them they could vote by text (they couldn't) and openly armed Trump supporters "monitoring" polling stations.

There are more measures being rammed through to increase ID requirements, further reduce polling stations and opening hours, particularly in areas with high populations of people of colour. These need to be opposed at every turn. There will also need to be concerted efforts to get people to polls where the close by ones have been closed, help people with absentee voting if they may not be able to get there on the day, that sort of thing.

 

[Nylock]

Not really fair Trump and Carson stood out as incapable and undisciplined. Of the late field any of the governors were qualified. Rubio was going to bomb Iran but it's pretty likely Trump will as well. Cruz had some pretty crazy policies and antagonised the establishment but he did look able enough. Truth is they went for the worst of things: the entertaining one.

They were essentially offered 'more of the same (who continually fuck you over)'/'unhinged and incompetent'/'unhinged and competent'/'atlas shrugged'/'nutty christian fundies'...

Not exactly the 'field of dreams', is it...

 

[krtek a houby]

Support for the banned media comes from strange quarters

Fox News' Shepard Smith: 'CNN's Reporting Was Not Fake News'

 

[CrabbedOne]

And guns, never underestimate the NRA.

That's an issue Clinton really should have left alone. When a Rust Belt fellas feeling inadequate last thing you need to appear to be is a castrating witchy figure in a pant suit threatening to take away his shooter.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Trump did better with black and Hispanic voters than Romney, and just as well with Hispanic voters as McCain.

Donald Trump won the U.S. presidency with less support from black and Hispanic voters than any president in at least 40 years, a Reuters review of polling data shows, highlighting deep national divisions that have fueled incidents of racial and political confrontation.

Trump was elected with 8 percent of the black vote, 28 percent of the Hispanic vote and 27 percent of the Asian-American vote, according to the Reuters/Ipsos Election Day poll.

Among black voters, his showing was comparable to the 9 percent captured by George W. Bush in 2000 and Ronald Reagan in 1984. But Bush and Reagan both did far better with Hispanic voters, capturing 35 percent and 34 percent, respectively, according to exit polling data compiled by the non-partisan Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.

And Trump’s performance among Asian-Americans was the worst of any winning presidential candidate since tracking of that demographic began in 1992.

Trump won with lowest minority vote in decades, fueling divisions

 

[coley]

Trump won with lowest minority vote in decades, fueling divisions

But why would any Hispanic voter even consider voting for him given his rhetoric regarding Mexicans and Mexico?? Much less 28%??

 

[bimble]

But why would any Hispanic voter even consider voting for him given his rhetoric regarding Mexicans and Mexico?? Much less 28%??

Seriously? That's a bit like saying why did not all women vote for Clinton.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

His rhetoric probably explains why he did so much worse with Hispanic voters than earlier Republican presidents. Also, 'Hispanics' in the US are not a monolith. There are 'Hispanics' there whose families have lived in the US for generations. There are also wealthy Cubans, and many Hispanics with origins other than Mexico.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

There's also another way to look at the statistics:

Our LD Turnout Predict tool estimates that 13.1 million to 14.7 million Latinos cast ballots in the 2016 election. That’s a significant increase from the 11.2 million Latino votes cast in 2012.

In record numbers, Latinos voted overwhelmingly against Trump. We did the research.

According to Pew Research Center projections, a record 27.3 million Latinos are eligible to cast ballots, representing 12% of all eligible voters.

Key facts about the Latino vote in 2016

[It's worth noting that Washington Post polling puts the number of Hispanics who cast ballots, voting for Trump at 21%]

So: about one-half of eligible Hispanic voters, voted in the 2016 election. 28 [or 21] percent of those voters, voted for Trump. In other words, approximately 14% - or 10.5% - of eligible Hispanic voters, voted for Trump.

 

[coley]

Seriously? That's a bit like saying why did not all women vote for Clinton.

How so? he's a misogynistic sexist bastard but I imagine a lot of American women who have nothing to personally fear from him held their noses and voted for him because of his 'appeal' to their alt right views, Hispanics are largely onto a hiding for nothing from him.

 

[a_chap]

I lived to be old enough where this is a thing.



Why?

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

In Florida, Cubans were about twice as likely as non-Cuban Latinos to vote for Donald Trump. More than half (54%) supported the Republican president-elect, compared with about a quarter (26%) of non-Cuban Latinos, according to National Election Pool exit poll data. A significant share of Cubans in Florida voted for Hillary Clinton – 41% – but this was far below the 71% of non-Cuban Latinos who backed the Democratic nominee. At the same time, the level of support for Trump among Cubans was similar to that of non-Latinos in the state (51%).

Unlike other Latinos, about half of Cuban voters in Florida backed Trump

 

[coley]

Unlike other Latinos, about half of Cuban voters in Florida backed Trump

Aye, because he promises to recreate the hostility towards Cuba that Obama was trying to remove.

 

[Ranbay]

Muhammad Ali Jr. detained by immigration officials at Fla. airport

 

[Pickman's model]

Unlike other Latinos, about half of Cuban voters in Florida backed Trump

Hmm... Whyever could that be?

 

[CRI]

But why would any Hispanic voter even consider voting for him given his rhetoric regarding Mexicans and Mexico?? Much less 28%??

Cuban Americans have always given support to the Republican Party, mainly because of the party's stronger stance against the Castro Government, legislation like Helms-Burton and resettlement packages, and the express routes for residency and nationality for Cubans (but not Latina/Latino people from other countries), always strongly defended by the GOP. Most Cuban Americans were (or are children of) the better off white Cubans who skipped the country when Castro came to power, offshoring as much wealth as they could. Others arrived later by boat (remember the Elian Gonzalez case from the 90's?) and claimed asylum. Basically, Cuban American immigrants and residents have benefited from more "goodies" than immigrants from almost any other country, and Republicans have pushed for this because of their hatred of Communism and Castro and see this as a slap in the face for both.

 

[J Ed]

Trump won with lowest minority vote in decades, fueling divisions

You can only arrive at this conclusion by adding together Asian American, Hispanic and black votes. As the article itself says

Trump was elected with 8 percent of the black vote, 28 percent of the Hispanic vote and 27 percent of the Asian-American vote, according to the Reuters/Ipsos Election Day poll.

and

Among black voters, his showing was comparable to the 9 percent captured by George W. Bush in 2000 and Ronald Reagan in 1984

However it also says

But Bush and Reagan both did far better with Hispanic voters, capturing 35 percent and 34 percent, respectively, according to exit polling data compiled by the non-partisan Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.

...but it does not mention how well Romney and McCain did with Hispanic voters, probably because it doesn't fit the narrative of Trump doing exceptionally badly with both demographics even for a Republican when in fact the statistics place him well within what you might expect for your standard Republican candidate.

 

[CRI]

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Romney and McCain didn't win. The article is about how

Donald Trump won the U.S. presidency with less support from black and Hispanic voters than any president in at least 40 years,

Neither McCain nor Romney became President.

 

[coley]

U

Cuban Americans have always given support to the Republican Party, mainly because of the party's stronger stance against the Castro Government, legislation like Helms-Burton and resettlement packages, and the express routes for residency and nationality for Cubans (but not Latina/Latino people from other countries), always strongly defended by the GOP. Most Cuban Americans were (or are children of) the better off white Cubans who skipped the country when Castro came to power, offshoring as much wealth as they could. Others arrived later by boat (remember the Elian Gonzalez case from the 90's?) and claimed asylum. Basically, Cuban American immigrants and residents have benefited from more "goodies" than immigrants from almost any other country, and Republicans have pushed for this because of their hatred of Communism and Castro and see this as a slap in the face for both.

Aye, when I mentioned his attitude to Hispanics I was thinking of those who entered across the Mexican border.

 

[J Ed]

Romney and McCain didn't win. The article is about how



Neither McCain nor Romney became President.

Yes, from what I gather they may have been running for that position however.

 

[CRI]

This Trump voter is torn between support for the president and an Obamacare plan that saved her life

From what my sister says, there will be a lot of people in my old home town in exactly the same boat. They finally got insurance cover under the Affordable Care Act, but they liked what Trump was saying on the campaign trail. They gambled that he was telling the truth about all those things and fibbing about repealing "Obamacare" and put their cross by his name. They're hoping he'll come out with something better to replace it of course, but steps are already being taken to unravel the ACA with nothing to replace it. Whatever eventually comes will never be a patch on the ACA, which in itself was seriously watered down to get the GOP to let it through.

If these stupid Trump voters live another four years, they'll figure out a way to vote for the other candidate, or they'll have swallowed some bullshit about the Democrats being the ones who pulled the plug.