Recent posts

#51

Off the Record / Re: Trump's Venezuela Vendetta

Last post by Jacob - December 17, 2025, 03:52:55 PM

You don't need any media ramp up if there's no real pushback from civilians against anything you do.

... or if you don't care about international reactions and coalitions. Which, it seems clear, Trump does not.

Re: civilian pushback, opposition to war is one of the more common things for civilian opposition to coalesce around.

That said, it seems clear that the Trump coalition is pretty confident that they can manage civilian opposition with a combination of social media narratives, social controls, and jackbooted thugs in government employ.

#52

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Jacob - December 17, 2025, 03:47:34 PM

I think there are broadly three groups of people who travel to the US right now:

• People who have some sort of commitment that makes them go - family, business, real estate
• People who support Trump on some level, and therefore don't think the bullshit is targeted at people like them.
• People who haven't been paying attention at all.

#53

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Grey Fox - December 17, 2025, 03:43:44 PM

Why would you travel to the US?

On that point is interesting seeing all those Ads trying to get Canadians to travel to the USA again that are from States that do not address in anyway the difficulties crossing the borders can unleash on you and your family.

#54

Off the Record / Re: Trump's Venezuela Vendetta

Last post by Zoupa - December 17, 2025, 03:34:53 PM

A former US ambassador has put forth the idea trump is planning to attack Venezuela to line up with the epstein files being released..... Which does make sense

If and when Trump actually countenances the use of the American forces to enact regime change it will be the crossing of a significant line. Typically it requires a certain level of moral clarity and taking of responsibility that is anathema to Trump's core being.

How well will his equivocating, wink-wink nudge-nudge blame games and bluster play out when people start dying in numbers as a direct result of his decisions?

Traditionally Americans exhibit a significant level of rallying around the flag when they engage in a new military conflict. How much will that play out here?

I expect the success of the endeavour will also have an impact. If it's an unmitigated disaster for Americans, that will play out differently than if it's a surgical display of pure American dominance (though social media will play a role here, no doubt).

It certainly will be interesting to see what happens in a scenario where Trump overcomes his aversion to deploying the US military, if it becomes habitual (whether he's actually making a decision himself, or whether it's a pro-war clique inside his administration who pushed it through).

Also, I feel like for a traditional American regime change intervention, we should be seeing a massive media ramp up explaining why the Venezuelan regime is evil and how it would be morally wrong to not overthrow them right now. I've basically seen none of that - either they're not doing it, or they're doing it but I'm so far outside the target group that I'm not even seeing it second hand.

You don't need any media ramp up if there's no real pushback from civilians against anything you do.

#55

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Valmy - December 17, 2025, 03:12:13 PM

Why would you travel to the US?

Maybe they have a masochistic or humiliation fetish?

#56

Off the Record / Re: Trump's Venezuela Vendetta

Last post by Valmy - December 17, 2025, 03:08:50 PM

He also has the adoration of 50% of the voting public and the acquiescence if not right out support of another large chunk. The American public is not free of blame. And for however much longer they're a democracy* the population also bares the moral burden of what's happening.

*only kind of joking.

Public opinion surveys suggest that this is a wild exaggeration.

Agre about the moral burden, though. Having second thoughts does not excuse making the irredeemable mistake of voting for him in the first place.

Public polls said he was going to lose... twice. They've lost some credibility

Public polls had him ahead this last time. Don't make shit up.

#57

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Jacob - December 17, 2025, 02:58:55 PM

I don't have a lot of insight into the Canadian conservative heartlands, so I wonder to what degree they think Poilievre is doing a good job. He's certainly not making much of an impression as the leader of the opposition from what I can see.

#58

Off the Record / Re: Trump's Venezuela Vendetta

Last post by Jacob - December 17, 2025, 02:47:56 PM

A former US ambassador has put forth the idea trump is planning to attack Venezuela to line up with the epstein files being released..... Which does make sense

If and when Trump actually countenances the use of the American forces to enact regime change it will be the crossing of a significant line. Typically it requires a certain level of moral clarity and taking of responsibility that is anathema to Trump's core being.

How well will his equivocating, wink-wink nudge-nudge blame games and bluster play out when people start dying in numbers as a direct result of his decisions?

Traditionally Americans exhibit a significant level of rallying around the flag when they engage in a new military conflict. How much will that play out here?

I expect the success of the endeavour will also have an impact. If it's an unmitigated disaster for Americans, that will play out differently than if it's a surgical display of pure American dominance (though social media will play a role here, no doubt).

It certainly will be interesting to see what happens in a scenario where Trump overcomes his aversion to deploying the US military, if it becomes habitual (whether he's actually making a decision himself, or whether it's a pro-war clique inside his administration who pushed it through).

Also, I feel like for a traditional American regime change intervention, we should be seeing a massive media ramp up explaining why the Venezuelan regime is evil and how it would be morally wrong to not overthrow them right now. I've basically seen none of that - either they're not doing it, or they're doing it but I'm so far outside the target group that I'm not even seeing it second hand.

#59

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by HisMajestyBOB - December 17, 2025, 01:47:32 PM

Why would you travel to the US?

Where else can you get deep-fried Twinkies?

#60

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by crazy canuck - December 17, 2025, 01:42:38 PM

Why would you travel to the US?

Some people have family members who live there