The Trump Presidency 2.0

[Fidatelo]

I don't know much about Greenland or Panama so I won't comment on those. But the comments about Canada are very disturbing to me. They are not jokes, and his comments are designed to lay the groundwork for a take over via one means or another. Not immediately, but long term (10+ years out).



The near term goal is to punish us economically via tariffs or other means while also normalizing the concept of Canada as a part of America in peoples minds. As the impacts on our economy start to make things worse in Canada more and more people will hear those comments and think "why not? Would it be so bad?". There is already an overly large (imo) contingent of MAGA folks up here that are of that mind already. Seeing our economy crumble while our 'cousins' a few miles across the boarder are comparatively successful will steadily add more voices. Who cares about abortion rights and free health care if you can't get a job or buy food?



As for why would democrats support it? Because there is no way we will ever be added as a true State with the same rights as the existing ones. Whether we eventually bend to the emperor willingly, or are beaten into submission militarily, the outcome will certainly be us joining as a second class group of people, with either no voting rights or extremely neutered ones (like comically low electoral votes). That's of course if voting is even a thing down there by the time this happens.



And the goal of course is just to secure our natural resources; mostly water. I won't be surprised if Trump starts blaming Canada this week for 'hoarding water' while California burns. But regardless of specific talking points, the ultimate goal is to secure our water and other natural resources. The Canadian people are just an inconvenience to be overcome.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

What is the fascination with Greenland anyway besides someone explaining who Polk was to Trump?

Originally Posted by kingfc22

It's a land full of a GREEN!

I'd put halfway decent odds that he doesn't know Greenland is actually mostly covered in ice.

I think you're overcomplicating this. The answer is probably more simple: it's big

[JPhillips]

Revolting how MAGA is going fully into blaming the fires on Dems.

[RainMaker]

Who would be to blame for the response to a fire in a Democrat run city in a Democrat run state under a Democrat President?

[PilotMan]

Is the response to blame? Like they were all toked out of their minds watching it? Like....... dude...... fire. Let's blaze another... dude.

[larrymcg421]

And we've reached childish "dropping the ic" nonsense.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Greenland wants to be independent from Denmark and is working towards that goal. There is some sort of understanding that Greenland is allowed to work towards independence, timeline is not well defined

April 6 is the date

Donald Trump Jr. arrives in Greenland with a message from his dad: 'We’re going to treat you well' | AP News

Independence has become a key issue ahead of an election for the Greenlandic parliament. A date hasn’t been set, but it must take place no later than April 6.

Freedom for the Greenlanders! Freeedom!

https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2...IUw/giphy.webp

[RainMaker]

I wonder if the climate data they're getting is so bad that that's the reason for the odd fixation on Greenland (and Canada to an extent).

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

I think you're overcomplicating this. The answer is probably more simple: it's big

If he pulls it off (and it's a big if), my guess is legacy and then, natural resources and location

[dubb93]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Is the response to blame? Like they were all toked out of their minds watching it? Like....... dude...... fire. Let's blaze another... dude.

It’s not hard, brah. Obviously the celebs that are linked to Diddy set these fires to burn their houses down to get rid of all the evidence. That’s what the brain trust on social media is telling me anyway.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Who would be to blame for the response to a fire in a Democrat run city in a Democrat run state under a Democrat President?

IDK, maybe start with the 100 MPH winds?

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Lathum

IDK, maybe start with the 100 MPH winds?

Mother Nature was a DEI hire.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Who would be to blame for the response to a fire in a Democrat run city in a Democrat run state under a Democrat President?

Duh. Trump.

Cause everything is Trump's fault in TDS-Land

[JPhillips]

The Laken Riley Act is going to pass. It's such a sloppily written bill that's going to cause all kinds of problems. States are given the right to sue the federal government for "damages" over $100 that come from not enforcing immigration law.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Lathum

IDK, maybe start with the 100 MPH winds?

Could have sworn a bunch of scientists have been telling people in power this is going to happen for a whole now. Probably not the time to cut the fire department budget but maybe there is just nothing that can be done to fight a fire.

[kingfc22]

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/09/elon...dget-cuts.html

Just keep back tracking over time until the cuts actually reach $0.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/09/elon...dget-cuts.html

Just keep back tracking over time until the cuts actually reach $0.

Then shift to the only way to balance the budget is to give his companies more in corporate welfare.

[Edward64]

I've read about the $2T but it was never clear to me if the DOGE twins were saying annually or over a 5-10 year time period. If they actually said annually, appreciate a link.

The other possible "out" is some assumption about revenue growth.

Still rooting for them to somehow balance the budget (2024 was $1.8T deficit) or even come close. But yeah, doesn't look that likely or at least, immediately.

[JPhillips]

They've already laid out the plan. They'll increase the debt limit by 1.5 trillion. Then they'll promise cuts equally 2.5 trillion over the next decade. They'll then cut taxes by way more than 2.5 trillion while also increasing spending on immigration.

I expect the deficit for FY2026 will be greater than FY 2025, but they'll message that 2.5 trillion is greater than 1.5 trillion so they kept their promises.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Could have sworn a bunch of scientists have been telling people in power this is going to happen for a whole now. Probably not the time to cut the fire department budget but maybe there is just nothing that can be done to fight a fire.

You could have 10X the budget and you are stopping a fire in 100mph winds.

[JPhillips]

The fire department budget went up by 50 mil. The cut to the fire department line isn't accurate.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

They've already laid out the plan. They'll increase the debt limit by 1.5 trillion. Then they'll promise cuts equally 2.5 trillion over the next decade. They'll then cut taxes by way more than 2.5 trillion while also increasing spending on immigration.

I expect the deficit for FY2026 will be greater than FY 2025, but they'll message that 2.5 trillion is greater than 1.5 trillion so they kept their promises.

Yeah, I think they'll also pretend tariffs will make up the massive deficit caused by the tax cuts.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

The fire department budget went up by 50 mil. The cut to the fire department line isn't accurate.

Where are you seeing this? The budget's are online.

https://cao.lacity.gov/budget/summar...y_FINALrev.pdf

https://cao.lacity.gov/budget/summar...0-%20FINAL.pdf

[kingfc22]

It's just noise from a certain group of politicians trying to make this political and into some sort of ridiculous narrative.

How is $18m going to stop 100 mph winds and/or make fighting fires in 100 mph winds more effective?

[RainMaker]

Why not cut more from their budget if there is nothing they can do?

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Why not cut more from their budget if there is nothing they can do?

You are right. That 2% of the budget would have made all the difference.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Where are you seeing this? The budget's are online.

https://cao.lacity.gov/budget/summar...y_FINALrev.pdf

https://cao.lacity.gov/budget/summar...0-%20FINAL.pdf

From Politico:

That assertion is wrong. The city was in the process of negotiating a new contract with the fire department at the time the budget was being crafted, so additional funding for the department was set aside in a separate fund until that deal was finalized in November. In fact, the city’s fire budget increased more than $50 million year-over-year compared to the last budget cycle, according to Blumenfield’s office, although overall concerns about the department’s staffing level have persisted for a number of years.

[GrantDawg]

There you go again, using actual facts in a political fight. Come on! Facts don't matter. We have to blame Democrats so that people can be distracted from the real issue of climate change. Won't somebody think of the SUV's!

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[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

There you go again, using actual facts in a political fight. Come on! Facts don't matter. We have to blame Democrats so that people can be distracted from the real issue of climate change. Won't somebody think of the SUV's!

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That seems like an unfair comment, consdering this was rebutting a post that had evidence with links to a .gov site.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

From Politico:

Maybe this relatively unknown reporter is right and every news outlet that covers local politics, the current fire chief, the mayor's office, and the city's own final budget posted on the city's own website is wrong. I don't know, but I'd think if I was Mayor, I'd have maybe fired off a tweet or something on the plane ride back from Ghana saying that.

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

You are right. That 2% of the budget would have made all the difference.

I'm sure the extra money and resources would help. Like I said, scientists have been warning about this exact scenario and the fire chief spoke up a month ago about it too. Seems like the budget should be much much higher than even the 2%. With the climate changing, you need to keep up.

[PilotMan]

Do you honestly think that the effort to control the fire is limited by the firefighter budget for the city? Like, they're just holding out on planes and helicopters to fight it because there's (supposedly) not enough in the budget?

[GrantDawg]

The Federal government is footing the bill for the whole effort. Biden just confirmed that. This is all just "blame Democrats" nonsense, so people ignore the real issues.

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[dubb93]

That 2% won’t even come into play for a fire in January. I know it sounds nice but ultimately they are fully funded right now. Perhaps in November they will have to cut back on OT or whatever but right now that 2% isn’t being felt. They probably just aren’t planning to replace some people that are due to retire this year. That’s how it worked at the departments I worked at when I was a first responder.

[JPhillips]

How long until Rain is complaining about DEI hires?

[PilotMan]

Well, I for one, don't want my tax dollars going to support people who don't have good enough sense to live where fire won't burn their house down! That sounds like Socialism. Nobody's house ever burns down from wildfires in KENTUCKY!



/s

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

How long until Rain is complaining about DEI hires?

Yeah, if you don't want to see a city razed to the ground by a wildfire, you must be a racist conservative. Can't possibly want your country to invest in preventing this stuff.

I think because you don't actually stand or care about anything besides your team winning, you can't comprehend that people have empathy for others.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Do you honestly think that the effort to control the fire is limited by the firefighter budget for the city? Like, they're just holding out on planes and helicopters to fight it because there's (supposedly) not enough in the budget?

I think the resources you allocate to fighting fires plays a pretty big role in your ability to fight them. Federal programs are not currently setup to fight wildfires year round as choppers, tankers, and most firefighters are off contract this time of year. This is something that scientists and others have brought up over the years as climate change intensifies things.

As for locally, I think having more firefighters ready and trained can't hurt. Same for equipment like choppers and pilots. And having the infrastructure in place so that they can get water to the areas needed. If you're following things online, you can see they're doing some pretty heroic shit out there to save lives and homes.

I know you have to view this through some partisan lens but arguing that there is literally nothing the most powerful country in the world can do to limit this destruction is a wild take.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Yeah, if you don't want to see a city razed to the ground by a wildfire, you must be a racist conservative. Can't possibly want your country to invest in preventing this stuff.

I think because you don't actually stand or care about anything besides your team winning, you can't comprehend that people have empathy for others.

Talk about needing new material...

[RainMaker]

You see a fire destroying the lives of people and your first thought is "how do we make sure this doesn't make the Democrats look bad?".

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

You see a fire destroying the lives of people and your first thought is "how do we make sure this doesn't make the Democrats look bad?".

You see fires and think "how can I blame the Democrats?"

[dubb93]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

You see a fire destroying the lives of people and your first thought is "how do we make sure this doesn't make the Democrats look bad?".

Yes. That is what every here is thinking. How many more people can we burn and how much more destruction can we cause to make Democrats look good. You need therapy. Seriously.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

You see fires and think "how can I blame the Democrats?"

JPhillips first comment about the fires is complaining that right-wingers are blaming his party. Not sadness for people losing their lives and homes. Not anger that this could be preventable. Just concerns people are saying mean things about his team.

I simply asked who are people supposed to blame and have anger toward. I know who's fault everything will be next week. But if your impulse after seeing that fucking hell unleashed on people in California is I need to defend Karen Bass and Joe Biden, I don't know what to tell you.

[GrantDawg]

I didn't feel the need to attack anybody, and it is idiotic to be attacking the people there helping, just as much as it was during the hurricane response in North Carolina. But you are accusing us of jumping to the defending Democrats, but it was you who just admitted you felt the need to defend the right wingers.

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[JPhillips]

Keep fucking that chicken, dude. It's got to be tough being the one honest man in America.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I didn't feel the need to attack anybody, and it is idiotic to be attacking the people there helping, just as much as it was during the hurricane response in North Carolina. But you are accusing us of jumping to the defending Democrats, but it was you who just admitted you felt the need to defend the right wingers.

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Being angry at the decisions of people in charge does not mean you are siding with the opposition. Right-wingers are playing the same partisan game many of you are. Neither cares about what is happening and would be saying the opposite if the other party was in power.

It should make you angry what is happening in California to people. It shouldn't be contingent on whether the politician with power to fix it has a D or R next to their name.

[GrantDawg]

I HAVE to be angry? Why? Is any of these people God? Did they create hurricane force winds and super dry conditions? That is what caused this. It was not a fire department budget. Your misplaced anger and hard on to slam Democrats instead of actually caring about the people is weird.

Edit: What I am angry at is people like you that make everything a political football instead of showing actual compassion.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by dubb93

Yes. That is what every here is thinking. How many more people can we burn and how much more destruction can we cause to make Democrats look good. You need therapy. Seriously.

Didn't say anyone wanted that. I said you didn't care. The travesty isn't people dying and losing their homes, it was besmirching the honor of Joe Biden and Karen Bass. The real victims in this.

[larrymcg421]

It's almost like people have many thoughts about things and posting a response to political statements in a political thread doesn't at all mean that was their very first thought about the issue.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I HAVE to be angry? Why? Is any of these people God? Did they create hurricane force winds and super dry conditions? That is what caused this. It was not a fire department budget. Your misplaced anger and hard on to slam Democrats instead of actually caring about the people is weird.

Edit: What I am angry at is people like you that make everything a political football instead of showing actual compassion.

Liberal equivalent of "thoughts and prayers". Absolutely nothing we can do. God just wanted it. No use fighting climate change, investing in infrastructure, or being prepared for this like people have been saying for years. Well until Trump is in power and we can care about that stuff again.

[JPhillips]

Biden and the Dems passed the largest infrastructure and climate packages ever. Some people are doing more than bitching about things on the internet.