What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[Eddie Teach]

Better hope he's been hanging out at the mall.

[Admiral Yi]

Bannon resigned from Breitbart.

[Eddie Teach]

I'm sure Raz will miss him.

[jimmy olsen]

Arpaio announced he is running for Flake's senate seat. I know Arizonans that you are mostly a lost people but do the right thing.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/09/us/joe-arpaio-senate-arizona.html

"Being a U.S. senator is a little different than being the sheriff, because you can do a lot of things in the U.S. Senate, and I have many plans, believe me," Mr. Arpaio told The Washington Examiner in announcing his bid. "I have a lot to offer. I'm a big supporter of President Trump."

He lost an election in Maricopa County (more than 60% of the population of Arizona) in a favorable 2016 election, seems unlikely he could win in 2018. Also, he's 86.

Also, someone on the inside of the Trump campaign  confirmed the Steele dossiere. 

[jimmy olsen]

Breaking news, and for once, it's good.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-ruling/u-s-judge-blocks-trump-move-to-end-daca-program-for-immigrants-idUSKBN1EZ0AR

U.S. judge blocks Trump move to end DACA program for immigrants

(Reuters) - A U.S. judge blocked President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday from ending a program that shielded from deportation children brought to the United States illegally by their parents.

Trump decided in September to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled in San Francisco on Tuesday the program must remain in place while litigation over Trump's decision unfolds.

[Zoupa]

Which is hopefully something doesn't happen as that likely leads to a situation where militarily powerful nations in the world start carving it up. Decentralized Europe doesn't stand a hope.

Yeah, while there were issues with the Pax Americana based on the post-WWII consensus and a commitment to Western democratic ideals as defined and promoted by the US, all told I was pretty comfortable with it.

The US led the free world based on compelling ideals, mutual benefit, and their position of strength.

If you lived in Central America, South America, Africa, or Asia, you might have a very different opinion of the merits of the Pax Americana and American "commitment" to Western Democratic ideals. 

Indeed. What a nightmare American peace has been for those areas of the world mentioned. If only they had been able to enjoy the peace, prosperity, and justice that was denied them by American interference.

Never change, Berky.

USA! USA! USA!

[Valmy]

Never change, Berky.

USA! USA! USA!

It is not about the USA though. It is about the western post-war system that we helped set up with the assistance of our allies. The one that Trump and his followers think screws up somehow and they are trying to dismantle.

[garbon]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/09/the-other-fire-and-fury-decade-old-book-becomes-unexpected-bestseller

The other Fire and Fury: decade-old book becomes unexpected bestseller

When it was released 10 years ago, Randall Hansen's book performed as expected, racking up strong sales that gradually tapered off. But this week the Canadian professor's 2008 book unexpectedly leapt back on to bestseller lists.

The reason lies in the book's name – Fire and Fury: The Allied Bombing of Germany, 1942-1945 – just a subtitle away from the Michael Wolff's explosive exposé of the Trump White House.

"I haven't seen this level of interest since the book first came out," said Hansen, a political science professor at the University of Toronto.

He was in Washington on Friday when Wolff's book was released and had joked with his colleagues about the book he had written long ago with the same title.

After dinner on Friday Hansen logged into Amazon and found that his book – which explores civilian perspectives on the Allied bombing of Germany during the second world war – had edged back on to three of the site's bestseller categories. "It amused me and part of me thought, can people really be that dumb to be confusing these books?"

In a few cases, it appeared that this was exactly what had happened. "I had a couple of bitter comments," said Hansen. "There was one tweet, he came forward and said, 'I bought this book by accident and there's no way I'm reading it,' in kind of this accusatory tone. I thought well, 'it's not quite my fault, mate.'"

Others had stumbled upon Hansen's work during their search for Wolff's book, and had bought the critically acclaimed book out of interest.

Hansen said he wouldn't know how many copies of his book had sold in recent days until his royalty statements came in next month. But he was delighted that his book was now part of the wider conversation about Trump and his administration.

While Wolff used fire and fury to reference Trump's threat of war against North Korea, Hansen's book delves into what fire and fury looks like in practice, exploring the horrific consequences war holds for civilians.

"And we're talking about that at a moment when we have this warmongering, unstable, deranged demagogue in the White House," he said. "So that coincidence actually makes me happier than the sales."

[Razgovory]

Never change, Berky.

USA! USA! USA!

It is not about the USA though. It is about the western post-war system that we helped set up with the assistance of our allies. The one that Trump and his followers think screws up somehow and they are trying to dismantle.

My impression was that US-Latin American relations have improved tremendously since 1991 and that Latin American standards of Living have increased dramatically since the 1940's.

[derspiess]

No, Raz.  It's been pure hell for them, and solely due to the evil Yanquis keeping them down.  I mean, look at Venezuela.

[Berkut]

No, Raz.  It's been pure hell for them, and solely due to the evil Yanquis keeping them down.  I mean, look at Venezuela.

Indeed. Just look at Central and South American history.

It was an unbroken string of awesome, benevolent, and prosperous rulers, governments, and societies from antiquity right up until the US fucked it all up.

[katmai]

[grumbler]

How fitting that the Trump thread has become the Strawman Thread.    Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

[Valmy]

My impression was that US-Latin American relations have improved tremendously since 1991 and that Latin American standards of Living have increased dramatically since the 1940's.

That would be right. Especially with regards to Mexico. At least until very recently.

[Berkut]

Latin American standards of living have increase greatly since the 1940s. However, the overall standard of living in Latin America at the turn of the 20th century was roughly comparable to that in southern Europe, IIRC.

It has not kept pace with the increases in life expectancy, literacy, etc., etc. seen in southern European nations since then, and there is considerable debate as to why.