Trumps Presidency 2025

[Motown Bombers]

9 minutes ago, mtutiger said:

Slotkin is getting heat from the left for the speech, but I also think it's a question of speaking to a broader electorate. I think she did well here

The left has never liked her and continually lied about her stances. It's how you know she's doing a good job. 

[chasfh]

41 minutes ago, mtutiger said:

Christ, 5-4 ain't good enough

I do like that Trump is experiencing buyer's remorse with ACB.

[oblong]

I wonder if there's anything to draw from cases where the 4 women rule together?  Granted we don't think that with men but when one of the 4 has her politics....  

 

[gehringer_2]

so much winning:

Exerpts from the yahoo finance report this AM:

On Wednesday, fresh data from ADP showed the private sector added 75,000 jobs in February, far fewer than economists' estimates of 140,000 — and significantly lower than the 186,000 jobs added in January. January's number of job additions was revised up from a prior reading of 183,000. February's data marked the largest month-over-month decline in private payroll additions in since March 2023.

......

A string of weaker-than-expected data has economists' projections for first quarter economic growth sliding.

On Monday, two separate releases showed activity in the manufacturing sector slowed in February while construction spending fell more than anticipated in January. The Atlanta Fed's GDPNow tool, which uses already released data to forecast the quarterly pace of economic growth, now projects GDP fell by 2.8% in the first three months of the year, down from Friday's projection of a 1.5% decline.

.....

ISM's manufacturing index fell to a reading of 50.3 in February from 50.9 in January. Meanwhile, the prices paid index surged to a reading of 62.4, up from 54.9 the month prior, marking its highest level since July 2022. The rise reflects increasing costs to companies.

.....

Monday's data was just one of the many prints that have come in weaker than expected to start 2025. In January, consumer spending fell for the first time in nearly two years, and separate data showed retail sales saw the largest monthly decline in a year. Meanwhile, housing activity has remained in the doldrums. Citi's economic surprise index, which measures how data comes in relative to expectations, shows growth data has been missing the Street's mark for most of the past month.

Subsequently, many economists have been slashing their GDP outlook for the quarter as the data has come in.

"The January figures of private construction have lowered our estimate of Q1 GDP to 0.6% annualized, down from 1% at the end of last week and well below the 2.5% penciled into the February baseline forecast," Oxford Economics lead US economist Bernard Yaros wrote in a note on Monday.

Meanwhile, JPMorgan recently reduced its projection for first quarter GDP to 1.5% from a previous estimate of 2.25%. Goldman Sachs' latest projection is 1.6% GDP, down from an initial projection of 2.6% in late January.

 

[gehringer_2]

17 minutes ago, oblong said:

I wonder if there's anything to draw from cases where the 4 women rule together?  Granted we don't think that with men but when one of the 4 has her politics....  

 

I think there is absolutely going to be a dynamic pulling Barrett toward the unity of the other women, especially in the face of Thomas and Alito being such weirdos. Who knows how much effect it will have, but there is going to be some kind of pull there.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

59 minutes ago, Hongbit said:

What bothered them?

I don't know what specifically bothered people last night, but I know her past affiliation's with the CIA and Bush Administration have always been a criticism of the left in Michigan. I've gotten involved with Michigan Democratic Party internal politics and other progressive organizations and those have been common criticisms I've heard from the left. More recently, people were mad that she was later to the game on supporting the end of the filibuster (she eventually came around) and supported banning the pride flag on military bases when her own mother was a lesbian.

I'm fine with Slotkin compared to the alternative which is a Republican. But I reject the idea that you have to moderate yourself to win. I look at other midwest states like Wisconsin with Tammy Baldwin and until recently Ohio with Sherrod Brown. I'd love for Slotkin to have a voting record and policy positions in-line with Senators like those two. If a lesbian progressive, who was a co-sponsor of Medicare For All, can win in a purple state like Wisconsin, I don't think it would hurt Slotkin to take a few more progressive, left-leaning positions.

Edited to add this, her line about how she was thankful that Reagan was in the White House during the Cold War and not Trump is one critique I've seen this morning. It shouldn't have been said. Everyone who is being intellectually honest knows Reagan should have been impeached and removed from office for Iran-Contra. As well, the damage Reagan did to working Americans and unions in this country is still being felt to this day. We shouldn't be holding up a crook like Reagan and it added nothing of substance to her speech by praising him.

Edited Wednesday at 03:37 PM by Mr.TaterSalad

[mtutiger]

1 hour ago, mtutiger said:

Does Lutnick realize how much leverage Canada has right now to just keep all of the retaliatory tariffs on even if we pull back on specific items?

Nope

[Motown Bombers]

15 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I don't know what specifically bothered people last night, but I know her past affiliation's with the CIA and Bush Administration have always been a criticism of the left in Michigan. I've gotten involved with Michigan Democratic Party internal politics and other progressive organizations and those have been common criticisms I've heard from the left. More recently, people were mad that she was later to the game on supporting the end of the filibuster (she eventually came around) and supported banning the pride flag on military bases when her own mother was a lesbian.

I'm fine with Slotkin compared to the alternative which is a Republican. But I reject the idea that you have to moderate yourself to win. I look at other midwest states like Wisconsin with Tammy Baldwin and until recently Ohio with Sherrod Brown. I'd love for Slotkin to have a voting record and policy positions in-line with Senators like those two. If a lesbian progressive, who was a co-sponsor of Medicare For All, can win in a purple state like Wisconsin, I don't think it would hurt Slotkin to take a few more progressive, left-leaning positions.

Edited to add this, her line about how she was thankful that Reagan was in the White House during the Cold War and not Trump is one critique I've seen this morning. It shouldn't have been said. Everyone who is being intellectually honest knows Reagan should have been impeached and removed from office for Iran-Contra. As well, the damage Reagan did to working Americans and unions in this country is still being felt to this day. We shouldn't be holding up a crook like Reagan and it added nothing of substance to her speech by praising him.

Biden went left, progressives **** on him, said he was doing a genocide, and forced him out. **** progressives. 

[oblong]

21 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

I don't know what specifically bothered people last night, but I know her past affiliation's with the CIA and Bush Administration have always been a criticism of the left in Michigan. I've gotten involved with Michigan Democratic Party internal politics and other progressive organizations and those have been common criticisms I've heard from the left. More recently, people were mad that she was later to the game on supporting the end of the filibuster (she eventually came around) and supported banning the pride flag on military bases when her own mother was a lesbian.

I'm fine with Slotkin compared to the alternative which is a Republican. But I reject the idea that you have to moderate yourself to win. I look at other midwest states like Wisconsin with Tammy Baldwin and until recently Ohio with Sherrod Brown. I'd love for Slotkin to have a voting record and policy positions in-line with Senators like those two. If a lesbian progressive, who was a co-sponsor of Medicare For All, can win in a purple state like Wisconsin, I don't think it would hurt Slotkin to take a few more progressive, left-leaning positions.

Edited to add this, her line about how she was thankful that Reagan was in the White House during the Cold War and not Trump is one critique I've seen this morning. It shouldn't have been said. Everyone who is being intellectually honest knows Reagan should have been impeached and removed from office for Iran-Contra. As well, the damage Reagan did to working Americans and unions in this country is still being felt to this day. We shouldn't be holding up a crook like Reagan and it added nothing of substance to her speech by praising him.

I'm sorry but the left needs to realize that they won't find a perfect candidate for them that will also win elections.  Stop litigating 40 year old battles.  Her point on Reagan was to highlight the changes within the GOP today.

[ben9753]

1 hour ago, Hongbit said:

What bothered them?

(((Elissa Slotkin)))

[Tigerbomb13]

9 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

Biden went left, progressives **** on him, said he was doing a genocide, and forced him out. **** progressives. 

Progressive here 🙋‍♂️. Thanks for the kind words. I don’t align with everything Slotkin believes, but I also would vote for her over and over again. I also miss Manchin, as much as he sucks because the alternative is much suckier. 

[Motown Bombers]

2 minutes ago, oblong said:

I'm sorry but the left needs to realize that they won't find a perfect candidate for them that will also win elections.  Stop litigating 40 year old battles.  Her point on Reagan was to highlight the changes within the GOP today.

I'm tired of these purity tests. Biden kept moving to the left and it was never good enough. They wanted to pull out of Afghanistan, he did that. They wanted to cap insulin, he did that. They wanted Medicare to negotiate drug prices, he did that. They wanted him to cancel student debt (which was unpopular), he did that. They wanted investment in climate change, he did that. They wanted to grow unions, he did that. All of this with the slimmest of majorities and a party who didn't think he was legitimately elected. It was never good enough and they rat****ed him at every turn. We will not see a president to the left of Biden in a long time. No president is going to listen to the left because they completely abandoned the one president who tried to please them. They are worse than MAGA. 

[Tigerbomb13]

2 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

I'm tired of these purity tests. Biden kept moving to the left and it was never good enough. They wanted to pull out of Afghanistan, he did that. They wanted to cap insulin, he did that. They wanted Medicare to negotiate drug prices, he did that. They wanted him to cancel student debt (which was unpopular), he did that. They wanted investment in climate change, he did that. They wanted to grow unions, he did that. All of this with the slimmest of majorities and a party who didn't think he was legitimately elected. It was never good enough and they rat****ed him at every turn. We will not see a president to the left of Biden in a long time. No president is going to listen to the left because they completely abandoned the one president who tried to please them. They are worse than MAGA. 

No they aren’t. That’s a pretty broad brush. 

[Motown Bombers]

Just now, Tigerbomb13 said:

No they aren’t. That’s a pretty broad brush. 

They literally ran an abandoned Biden campaign. They voted for Jill Stein. Look at all the people associated with Bernie Sanders. Tulsi, Nina Turner, Brihana Joy Grey, David Sirota and the list goes on. 

[Tigerbomb13]

Just now, Motown Bombers said:

They literally ran an abandoned Biden campaign. They voted for Jill Stein. Look at all the people associated with Bernie Sanders. Tulsi, Nina Turner, Brihana Joy Grey, David Sirota and the list goes on. 

I know and associate myself with a lot of progressive people, and we all voted for Harris without blinking about it. This is false. Some did, but most did not vote for Stein. 

[Motown Bombers]

5 minutes ago, Tigerbomb13 said:

I know and associate myself with a lot of progressive people, and we all voted for Harris without blinking about it. This is false. Some did, but most did not vote for Stein. 

Then you're a Democrat. Jill Stein got over 44,000 votes in Michigan, a lot from Dearborn where Bernie Sanders endorsed leftist Rashida Tlaib led an uncommitted campaign against Biden. Where the leftist mayor tweeted nonstop about Gaza and suddenly hasn't tweeted in a month. The left wing of the party constantly criticized Biden no matter how much he gave them. They even voted against his infrastructure bill because it wasn't perfect. Republicans never do that. It's why they win. 

[Motown Bombers]

Rat****ers. Biden worked to get a ceasefire and they kept moving the goalposts.

[Tigerbomb13]

7 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

Then you're a Democrat. Jill Stein got over 44,000 votes in Michigan, a lot from Dearborn where Bernie Sanders endorsed leftist Rashida Tlaib led an uncommitted campaign against Biden. Where the leftist mayor tweeted nonstop about Gaza and suddenly hasn't tweeted in a month. The left wing of the party constantly criticized Biden no matter how much he gave them. They even voted against his infrastructure bill because it wasn't perfect. Republicans never do that. It's why they win. 

Yes and that was very dumb. Point is, that there’s a lot of progressives that do fall in line. They just don’t make noise about it. 

[Motown Bombers]

5 minutes ago, Tigerbomb13 said:

Yes and that was very dumb. Point is, that there’s a lot of progressives that do fall in line. They just don’t make noise about it. 

Most of them just don't vote because Democrats are the same as Republicans. 

They can also do the revolution Susan Sarandon promised 8 years ago. 

Edited Wednesday at 04:37 PM by Motown Bombers

[Tigerbomb13]

Just now, Motown Bombers said:

Most of them just don't vote because Democrats and Republicans. 

This is false. I don’t know a single person that sat out this election. Every progressive I know voted for Harris and Slotkin. You are talking about the most fringe of people. 

[Motown Bombers]

1 minute ago, Tigerbomb13 said:

This is false. I don’t know a single person that sat out this election. Every progressive I know voted for Harris and Slotkin. You are talking about the most fringe of people. 

Harris got 6 million fewer votes than Biden. Harris did worse with younger people and the demographic that tends to be progressive. 

[Hongbit]

1 hour ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

 

Edited to add this, her line about how she was thankful that Reagan was in the White House during the Cold War and not Trump is one critique I've seen this morning. It shouldn't have been said. Everyone who is being intellectually honest knows Reagan should have been impeached and removed from office for Iran-Contra. As well, the damage Reagan did to working Americans and unions in this country is still being felt to this day. We shouldn't be holding up a crook like Reagan and it added nothing of substance to her speech by praising him.

I thought that was one of the best parts of the speech.   She was speaking directly to Republicans with that line.  Reagan is still beloved by many in the party.  It’s very important to remind GOP members how far away from their core principles that Trump and his congressional bootlickers have strayed.  Russia is a perfect example of a nearly 180 degree flip from tradition.

 

[oblong]

and frankly Iran Contra, like most scandals 30-40 years ago, are such small potatoes compared to what we face today. 

 

[Tigerbomb13]

9 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

Harris got 6 million fewer votes than Biden. Harris did worse with younger people and the demographic that tends to be progressive. 

Gen Z swung a lot towards Trump this election, especially with men. That’s a pretty big problem going forward. 

[Dan Gilmore]

I find it incongruous that Bombers rants about Democratic purity tests, then rants about progressives (actually calling out a small fraction of same)  not being worthy of respect or inclusion. Every segment of the political arena has some fringe actors that like to act out. The vast majority of progressives I know are not in that small fringe. They are practical and pragmatic, knowing that change can be incremental and aligning with the nuts is bad for everyone. Progressives are not the problem. It is pretty clear who is, why waste time on slamming “the left”.