US Politics Thread 2021-24

[Buddahaid]

Originally Posted by em2nought

I've "liked" that image before. Funny how this image didn't bother them at all.



It will be a financial bloodbath if Biden's latest efforts to kill diesel semi-trucks gets traction. Might be time to learn how to do everything for yourself.

Funny how she isn’t running for president.

[Jimbuna]

Trump says Mexican president 'lacks respect' for Biden after demanding $20 billion a year in aid for Latin American and Caribbean in exchange to help halt illegal migrants surge

Donald Trump has claimed the President of Mexico lacks respect for President Biden after asking for $20 billion simply to talk, as part of a series of outlandish requests that critics have termed 'diplomatic blackmail'.

Speaking on Fox News on Sunday night, Trump intimated that Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's plan to ask for money simply to speak with Biden is a sign of Biden's weakness.
'He said he wants $10 billion essentially just to talk, $10 billion to talk. That wouldn't happen with me, with the wall,' Trump bragged.

Earlier this year Obrador suggested that the Mexican government would work to support the U.S. efforts to curb the surge of illegal migrants, but only if certain outlandish conditions were met.

Obrador wants the United States to reciprocate by sending $20 billion annually in taxpayer cash in the form of aid to Latin America and the Caribbean to address so-called 'root causes' of migration.

'We're not going to shut down our border until you change your policy on Cuba and change your policy on Venezuela,' journalist Brian Kilmeade reminded viewers of what Obrador had suggested before asking Trump: 'Is it OK for the Mexican president to dictate American policy?'

'It's very simple: lack of respect for the president. They would never say that to me. They would never say before we even talk. They want $10 billion a year, Mexico just asked for $10 billion a year. They would never ask it. I wouldn't give them 10 cents,' Trump continued.

Aside from the $20 billion in aid, Obrador wants to see Biden lifting sanctions on communist Cuba and Venezuelas socialist government and the granting, amnesty and providing of legal status to 'millions of law-abiding Mexicans living in the US.'

Obrador, realizing he has leverage over Biden with immigration a chief concern in this year's U.S. election, has suggested that the 'flow of migrants will continue' unless the U.S. meets his demands.

Obrador has explained such ideas as him 'speaking frankly' because 'we have to say things as they are — and I always say what I feel.'

House Speaker Mike Johnson recently said that the U.S. could even force Mexico to comply with American immigration policy, but the comments only served to irk Obrador further.

'We are not a colony. We are not a protectorate of any foreign country,' Obrador responded while appearing on CBS. 'And we have a very good relationship with the government of the United States — but not one of subordination.'

Mexico's has gone some way to crack down on immigration in recent months - at the urging of the Biden administration, and has hit Venezuelans especially hard.

The development highlights how much the U.S. depends on Mexico to control migration, which has reached unprecedented levels and is a top issue for voters as Biden seeks reelection in November.

Arrests of migrants for illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border have dropped so far this year after a record high in December.

The biggest decline was among Venezuelans, whose arrests plummeted to 3,184 in February and 4,422 in January from 49,717 in December.

While two months do not make a trend and illegal crossings remain high by historical standards, Mexico's strategy to keep migrants closer to its southern border with Guatemala than the U.S. is at least temporary relief for the Biden administration.

Large numbers of Venezuelans began reaching the U.S. in 2021, first by flying to Mexico and then on foot and by bus after Mexico imposed visa restrictions.

Last September, Venezuelans briefly replaced Mexicans as the largest nationality crossing the border.

Mexico's efforts have included forcing migrants from trains, flying and busing them to the southern part of the country, and flying some home to Venezuela.

More than 500,000 migrants have used the CBP One app to enter the U.S. at land crossings with Mexico since its introduction in January 2023.

They can stay in the U.S. for two years under a presidential authority called parole ,which entitles them to work.

The U.S. admits 1,450 people a day through CBP One with appointments that are granted two weeks out.

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has touted his own efforts to explain the recent reduction in illegal crossings in his state, where at least 95 percent of Border Patrol arrests of Venezuelans occur.

Those have included installing razor wire, putting a floating barrier in the Rio Grande and making plans to build a new base for members of the National Guard.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has mostly credited Mexico for the drop in border arrests.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...7a8251cb&ei=65

[Skybird]

On a sidenote:


https://mises.org/power-market/wisco...old-and-silver


Now any guarantees are needed that the central government cannot again just prohibit precious metals being privately owned.

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Now any guarantees are needed that the central government cannot again just prohibit precious metals being privately owned.

Which is why I've gone pre 1933.

[Jimbuna]

Three reasons Joe Biden is improving in the polls – and one why his numbers are still low

Story by Eric Garcia

Since the final quarter of 2023, President Joe Biden has seen brutal poll after brutal poll showing his numbers tanking. The reasons for his decline have been manifold: people continue to worry about his age; young Democratic voters are dissatisfied about his support for Israel; people still blame him for high inflation.

But Biden’s polling numbers seem to be improving to some degree. A CNBC All-America Economic Survey showed Biden about even with Donald Trump. A Quinnipiac University poll released last week also showed the race virtually unchanged from February but still too close to call. My colleague Andrew Feinberg reported last week that the president has cut into Trump’s lead in multiple swing states.
Trump still has numerous advantages, given that his supporters seem more enthusiastic. At the same time, Biden has started to gain some structural advantages. Here are three reasons why Biden is improving – and one reason why he still trails Trump.

As I wrote last month, Biden really could not ask for a better economy going into re-election. Last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that unemployment stayed below 4 per cent. While that slightly ticked up, the amount of people in the labour market – which is to say people who either have a job or who are looking for one – stayed the same.

In the same way, inflation has been perhaps Biden’s most persistent enemy. But now, hourly earnings continue to grow and they now seem to be outpacing inflation. That means that people are finally starting to feel the cooling of inflation that began around 2022 because they have more money in their pockets.

And people seem to be rewarding that performance. The CNBC survey showed Biden’s approval on the economy jumped six points from December, and the number of people who said the economy is doing fair or poor dropped from 80 per cent to 75 per cent. At the same time, the survey showed a plurality of voters believed they were better off financially during Trump’s presidency, and Republicans are leaning into that narrative, paraphrasing Ronald Reagan’s famous “Are you better off today than you were four years.”

Friday will prove to be a crucial day for the Biden team as the BLS will drop the jobs numbers for March.

Democratic voters have accepted the reality of Trump vs Biden

Multiplesurveys have shown that Americans do not want a Trump-Biden rematch. Last month, a Monmouth University poll from February showed that nearly half of the electorate believed Biden would be replaced. A New York Times/Siena College poll from the beginning of last month showed that only 23 per cent of Democratic primary voters were enthusiastic about the prospect of renominating Biden, but twice that number of Republican primary voters said they were enthusiastic about nominating Trump.

But now, voters are waking up to the fact that – regardless of whether they want it – they will have to make a decision on whether to vote for Trump or Biden. This may be why the CNBC survey showed that Biden’s approval improved among some core demographics, specifically with Democrats, independents and people with college degrees. The change might symbolise the reasons why voters gave a specific response: in the past, the polling was a way for Democratic-leaning voters to register their dissatisfaction with Biden when the general election was nominally still undecided. Now, voters likely see the vote as a binary choice.

That being said, Biden will still need more enthusaism from his voters if he is to have any chance in November.

Biden is campaigning more

For much of the last year, Biden did not focus on campaigning, but rather handling multiple crises domestically such as negotiating the debt limit to foreign policy challenges like the war between Israel and Hamas. But Biden has begun a barnstorming campaign regimen. Starting with his fiery State of the Union address just days after Super Tuesday, Biden has made his case to voters directly either through television ads or in swing states like Georgia, Arizona and Nevada.

Biden has also raised money at an astonishing clip, allowing him to directly push back and keep money coming for television advertisements.

But for all the improvements, there is still one big blaring red light that might be difficult for him to surmount.

His approval ratings are still low

For all the positive news, Biden still faces a difficult reality: his approval rating is still dismally low. In fact, the Quinnipiac poll showed that Biden’s approval rating dropped three points. A FiveThirtyEight average shows Biden’s numbers are not at their nadir of July of 2022 but still low.

If the election is a referendum on Biden’s performance, as re-election typically is, Trump could likely have an advantage. But if Biden makes the election more about whom they prefer and a referendum on Trump’s erratic and extreme rhetoric and defending abortion rights, he might be able to pull off enough votes for a victory.
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/new...te=1&p=2907796

[Jimbuna]

Former Trump officials are among the most vocal opponents of returning him to the White House

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper has called him a “threat to democracy.” Former national security adviser John Bolton has declared him “unfit to be president.” And former Vice President Mike Pence has declined to endorse him, citing “profound differences.”

As Donald Trump seeks the presidency for a third time, he is being vigorously opposed by a vocal contingent of former officials who are stridently warning against his return to power and offering dire predictions for the country and the rule of law if his campaign succeeds.

It’s a striking chorus of detractors, one without precedent in the modern era, coming from those who witnessed first-hand his conduct in office and the turmoil that followed.

Sarah Matthews, a former Trump aide who testified before the House Jan. 6 committee and is among those warning about the threat he poses, said it’s “mind-boggling” how many members of his senior staff have denounced him.

“These are folks who saw him up close and personal and saw his leadership style,” Matthews said.

“The American people should listen to what these folks are saying because it should be alarming that the people that Trump hired to work for him a first term are saying that he’s unfit to serve for a second term.”

Yet the critics remain a distinct minority. Republican lawmakers and officials across the party have endorsed Trump’s bid — some begrudgingly, others with fervor and enthusiasm. Many aides and Cabinet officials who served under Trump are onboard for another term, something Trump's campaign is quick to highlight.

“The majority of the people who served in President Trump’s cabinet and in his administration, like the majority of Americans, have overwhelmingly endorsed his candidacy to beat Crooked Joe Biden and take back the White House,” said Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung.

Still, the Biden campaign has trumpeted the criticism of former Trump officials in statements and social media posts, hoping to convince at least some Republican voters — including those who backed other candidates during the GOP primary — that they cannot support his candidacy.

“Those who worked with Donald Trump at the most senior levels of his administration believe he is too dangerous, too selfish and too extreme to ever lead our country again — we agree,” said Biden campaign spokesman Ammar Moussa.

In many ways, the schism among former Trump officials is an extension of his time in the White House. Friction was constant as Trump’s demands ran into resistance from some officials and aides who refused requests that they found misguided, unrealistic and, at times, flatly illegal. Firings were frequent. Many quit.

Staff upheaval was particularly intense in the chaotic weeks after the 2020 election as Trump worked to overturn his election loss to Biden. Trump summoned supporters to Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, as his falsehoods about a stolen election became the rallying cry for supporters who violently breached the U.S. Capitol. Many people serving in the administration quit in protest, including Matthews.

Trump’s attempt to remain in office included a bitter pressure campaign against Pence, who as vice president was tasked with presiding over the count of the Electoral College ballots on Jan. 6. Trump was adamant that Pence should prevent Biden from becoming president, something he had no power to do. Pence had to flee the Senate chamber on Jan. 6 as rioters stormed the building to chants of “Hang Mike Pence!”

Pence recently said he “cannot in good conscience” endorse Trump because of Jan. 6 and other issues, despite being proud of what they achieved together.

And Pence is not alone.

Esper, who was fired by Trump days after the 2020 election, clashed with the then-president over several issues, including Trump’s push to deploy military troops to respond to civil unrest after the killing of George Floyd by police in 2020.

In a recent interview with HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher,” Esper repeated a warning that Trump is “a threat to democracy” and added, “I think there’s a lot to be concerned about.”

“There’s no way I’ll vote for Trump, but every day that Trump does something crazy, the door to voting for Biden opens a little bit more, and that’s where I’m at,” Esper said.

Among Trump's most vocal critics are former aides who worked closely with him in the White House, particularly a trio who gained prominence testifying about the Jan. 6 attack and Trump’s push to overturn the election.

The group includes Matthews, former Trump White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin and Cassidy Hutchinson, a former top aide to Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows. They have given a series of interviews in recent months opposing their former boss.

"Fundamentally, a second Trump term could mean the end of American democracy as we know it, and I don’t say that lightly,” Griffin told ABC in December.

John Kelly, Trump’s former chief of staff, had his own long falling-out with Trump. Kelly, in a lengthy October statement to CNN, described Trump as “a person who admires autocrats and murderous dictators” and “has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution, and the rule of law.”

Olivia Troye, a former Pence adviser who left the White House in 2020, and former press secretary Stephanie Grisham, who resigned Jan. 6, are both outspoken critics who said they didn’t vote for Trump in 2020.

Even Bill Barr, Trump’s former attorney general who has not ruled out voting for him again, has referred to Trump as “a consummate narcissist” who “constantly engages in reckless conduct that puts his political followers at risk and the conservative and Republican agenda at risk.”

Still, the ranks of former Trump officials opposing his bid are greatly outnumbered by those who are supportive.

Linda McMahon, who headed the Small Business Administration under Trump, is co-chairing a major fundraiser for the former president on Saturday in Florida, along with former Trump Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

McMahon is also chair of the board of The America First Policy Institute, which is packed with supportive former Trump officials and has been described as an “administration in waiting” for a second Trump term.

The institute is headed by Brooke Rollins, Trump’s former domestic policy chief, and counts Pence’s national security adviser and retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg among its chairs, along with former Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Trump’s U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer, and former National Economic Council director Larry Kudlow.

Former acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker has campaigned for Trump, as has former Housing Secretary Ben Carson, who called him “a friend of America.”

Trump’s also got the backing of former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell, former Interior Secretary and Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke, and Russell Vought, who ran Trump’s Office of Management and Budget.

Vought said in a post on X that Trump is “the only person I trust to take a wrecking ball to the Deep State.”

Trump supporters are also quick to dismiss critics in the party.

Carmen McVane, who attended Trump's rally Tuesday in Green Bay, Wisconsin, said those who speak negatively against Trump or refuse to endorse are RINOs, or Republicans In Name Only, and will only help Biden and Democrats.

“There’s a lot of RINOs who don’t do what they’re supposed to do,” McVane said. “It’s time for everyone to back who we have and go full force ahead.”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/polit...1cede413&ei=38

[Jimbuna]

First the pendulum swings one way and then the othrt.

No doubt there'll be many more in the coming weeks and months.

Biden Inches Ahead of Trump in Latest Polls, But Swing States Tell a Different Story


In a political landscape that's as dynamic as it is divisive, the latest polls have thrown a curveball into the 2024 presidential race, placing President Joe Biden slightly ahead of his likely rival, Donald Trump.

This development marks a significant shift in the narrative, suggesting an intensifying battle as both candidates gear up for what could be a historic rematch.

Biden's Surprising Lead in National Polls
The race for the White House is tightening, with recent surveys hinting at a shift in voter sentiment.

A series of polls, including those from Morning Consult and Marquette University Law School, now position Biden ahead of Trump in the national popular vote.

This marks a notable turnaround, especially considering Biden's trailing position in previous polls.

For instance, a Morning Consult poll of over 6,000 registered voters showed Biden with a 44% lead over Trump's 42%. Similarly, a Marquette University Law School poll of 674 likely voters gave Biden a 52% to 48% edge over Trump.

These numbers, complemented by a razor-thin lead in a Race to the WH aggregation, indicate a growing momentum for Biden, something his campaign hadn't seen since last November.

However, the optimism gleaned from national polls is dampened by the forecasts in key battleground states.

Despite Biden's improved standings, Trump appears to have the upper hand in crucial swing states like Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

This discrepancy underscores the pivotal role these states will play in determining the next occupant of the Oval Office.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...90cc561e&ei=59

[em2nought]

It does my heart good to know that some criminals jailed in NY will be given the opportunity to view the eclipse after a successful lawsuit. We are truly an enlightened nation.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime...ns/ar-BB1kZB9g

[Jeff-Groves]

Make them watch it without the protective glasses.

[Buddahaid]

Originally Posted by Jeff-Groves

Make them watch it without the protective glasses.

Maybe they'll be converts.
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-41003929

[Rockstar]

CNN reports that the U.S. forces in the Middle East have been put on high alert, to prepare for potential Iranian attacks in retaliation for the Israeli airstrike in Damascus


“The Middle East Region Is Quieter Today Than It Has Been in Two Decades”.- Jake Sullivan a.k.a. the village idiot

[Buddahaid]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

CNN reports that the U.S. forces in the Middle East have been put on high alert, to prepare for potential Iranian attacks in retaliation for the Israeli airstrike in Damascus


“The Middle East Region Is Quieter Today Than It Has Been in Two Decades”.- Jake Sullivan a.k.a. the village idiot

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

Iran should send BIG thank you gifts to Obama & Biden. Of course, they've probably already taken their cut.

[Buddahaid]

Cool, bring it on.

Please explain how it works and back it up with evidence.

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

Cool, bring it on.

Please explain how it works and back it up with evidence.

I prefer to operate like the mainstream media, and just put out anything I want. I can always put a little blurb on a later post offering a correction. They don't even do that though. Maybe you can talk Neal into hiring some facebook fact checkers.