2024 US Presidential Election

[Daniel Lion]

RIP Charlie Kirk

For my friends who know me here, I have always been polite and have never posted a meme or attacked a person's character.

Charlie was 31 and a father of two. I am nearly twice his age, and I am absolutely heartbroken over his assassination and murder, as well as the state of the USA. The left-wing media painted him as some crazed right-wing lunatic or "MAGA something." Having listened to him debate many times, I found him rational, civil, and eloquent. I considered him to be a good person, someone who valued family, hard work, and both personal and civic responsibility.

My friends across the political divide could learn something from the way he engaged in reasoned discourse. He avoided personal insults and deferred instead to logic, rational thought, and objective discussion. I considered him a man of quality and honorable character.

I have never suffered from Trump derangement syndrome. I have had friends on the left attack me when I thought his administration did something good, and friends on the right call me a communist. I am neither Democrat nor Republican, and never have been. I am Daniel. I still navigate the world with love as my guide, but I am not a fool or a coward. A person can be loving and still be a strong provider and role model for his children. I believe Charlie embodied these qualities.

I am deeply saddened by his loss and America's loss. He was a good man who tried to guide the nation's youth toward a shared vision of a better country, one that could rise above tribal political divisions.

RIP Charlie. My prayers are with your wife and children.

Daniel

 

[Luman]

trump supporters either have the same terrible personality traits he does, so they see no issues with him being who he is, or they are complacent, knowing his terrible personality traits and don't care enough to denounce him. I'm not sure which is worse.

Many, if not most, world leaders have "terrible personality traits". If they were easy-going and striving to be mellow, they would not get very far. Trump may be more intense at times because he is also a very experienced and successful businessman. I want somebody who has what it takes to run this country in ways that work. We do not need a Mr. Nice Guy as president now or in the immediate future.

 

[Jammer]

It doesn't matter, he was a human being too. This is coming from a European. No one needs to be killed because of their beliefs and words.

I agree. But how do you feel about the Republicans right off the bat laying his death at the feet of the Democrats?

 

[RunningMan]

There is no evidence that Trump has engaged in the behaviors that you accuse him of, so discussing it is pointless.

Trump has been doing an excellent job in his second term.

Trump is the worst ever, worse than I even had expected, as I mentioned months ago. It keeps getting worse.

Donald Trump sexual misconduct allegations - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Anomalous]

 

[Joeseph Stope]

My deepest sympathies go to the Kirk family, and I want to extend them to all of the United States. Am I a Biden supporter? I suppose I am, or perhaps I was, although I am not American. For me, America has always been that wonderful land of optimism and good humor, where people were open and trusting, yet also very much down to earth. Am I betraying my age?

I hope you all find your way back to what America used to be. Is social media the cause of these intense divisions? Well, perhaps, and here I am using it myself.

I find Trump exasperating at times, yet I am amazed at how he often seems to get certain things right, almost as if by accident. At the moment, I hear that visitors are being charged fees just to enter the United States, on top of the cost of flights, overnight stays, and all the tips. Yes, exasperating indeed, but if the country is so divided, perhaps some time apart is what people need.

To leave on an optimistic note, I will pose a question:
Which country do tinnitus sufferers look toward to find a way out of their eternal infernal?

It certainly is not Tierra del Fuego.

 

[Daniel Lion]

My deepest sympathies go to the Kirk family, and I want to extend them to all of the United States. Am I a Biden supporter? I suppose I am, or perhaps I was, although I am not American. For me, America has always been that wonderful land of optimism and good humor, where people were open and trusting, yet also very much down to earth. Am I betraying my age?

I hope you all find your way back to what America used to be. Is social media the cause of these intense divisions? Well, perhaps, and here I am using it myself.

I find Trump exasperating at times, yet I am amazed at how he often seems to get certain things right, almost as if by accident. At the moment, I hear that visitors are being charged fees just to enter the United States, on top of the cost of flights, overnight stays, and all the tips. Yes, exasperating indeed, but if the country is so divided, perhaps some time apart is what people need.

To leave on an optimistic note, I will pose a question:
Which country do tinnitus sufferers look toward to find a way out of their eternal infernal?

It certainly is not Tierra del Fuego.

I like your style, @Joeseph Stope.

In regard to your question, I would say the country I am living in now, Laos. It is quiet and peaceful.

Take care,
DL

Image-wise, it looks like Trump has dropped a clanger. He imposes his 50% tariff on India, allegedly because they are buying Russian oil and gas. China then steps in to take up the slack and supports India with a favorable trade deal. Who wins, who loses? I suppose the market will tell.

China's big 80th end-of-WW2 celebration makes the United States look rather small, especially with the huge military parade showcasing hypersonic rockets, electronic weapons, and underwater drones. If I have read it correctly, it looks like China has "trumped" Trump's tariffs with its ban on rare earth exports—pardon the pun. North Korea supplying manpower and artillery may also tip the balance in the Russo-Ukrainian war, as both sides grind each other down.

And then there is Taiwan. In terms of growing rice, they cannot be beaten, but the real importance lies in semiconductor manufacturing. They seem to hold the number one position in the world. How long can that last? It would be in their best interest to maintain it for as long as possible, especially for security and financial reasons.

Recently, the UK, France, and Germany have been trying to cobble together a response to help Ukraine, with some success. But with Trump playing nice with Vladimir Putin, how will things play out? It is conceivable that by the time a Trump-Vance presidency has run its course, the old Soviet Union could be back and China may have taken Taiwan. If that happens, who ends up with Taiwan's technological know-how?

For my part, I hope Ukraine prevails and Taiwan keeps its independence, but the outlook is not encouraging.

China's population: 1.4 billion
India's population: slightly larger
Russia's population: 140 million
North Korea's population: about 30 million, if I recall correctly

Even economically, this is formidable. It does not seem like a smart move to push India into the other camp.

I have found someone, you, with whom I could discuss geopolitics. I would love to respond to what you have written, but that will have to be another time, perhaps in another life. A fluid conversation over coffee would be ideal.

Farewell, my geopolitical friends. I am going back to greener pastures: offering support to tinnitus sufferers when needed, browsing the research thread with the mindset that there will most likely never be a cure, and of course the Chit Chat thread, where I can share greetings, updates, and laughs with community members.

Take care, everybody.
See you on another thread ️

 

[Joeseph Stope]

This Epstein 50th birthday binder might be new, but Trump's relationship with Epstein, and their creepy, lecherous behavior around teenage girls has been well known publicly since before he was first elected.

Every single person who ever voted for him to be president did so knowing that there is enough "circumstantial evidence" that he is a pedo child rapist that a reasonable manager wouldn't hire him to be a fry cook at McDonald's.

What kind of an idiot do you have to be to actually believe the corrupt White House at this point? Oh, I know, cult idiots like @Luman and @Eddie Montgomery to name a few. I don't see them standing up for the Pedo-in-Chief for quite a while. Probably too busy gargling Trump's balls to remove the DNA evidence.

I lived in the States around 1989, in Washington, D.C. One of the scariest events I remember was when the gay community held "AIDS Action Week" and spread out a quilt on the Mall behind the White House. It must have covered at least one square kilometer. Each quilt piece had embroidery, a photo, or a keepsake from a departed person.

I'm heterosexual, but at the time I told myself I wasn't going to go near anything—male, female, or otherwise. Yet after a few beers while out with my compatriots in a Washington bar, I found myself with my arm around a somewhat mature Washington lady. It was a shock to see what a few beers could do to my resolutions.

Still, I find it incredible that around that time there was so much reckless behavior happening in Florida and in show business. Humanity takes time to learn, I guess.

I also heard that AIDS might have been one of the reasons why some men were choosing underage women. Is that true? I haven't looked deeply into it, but was Epstein simply getting massages, hand jobs, or was it full intercourse with those girls?

Engaging in behavior like that in the middle of an epidemic with no cure—by a man who was an intelligent financier—seems almost beyond belief.

I like your style, @Joeseph Stope.

In regard to your question, I would say the country I am living in now, Laos. It is quiet and peaceful.

Take care,
DL

I have found someone, you, with whom I could discuss geopolitics. I would love to respond to what you have written, but that will have to be another time, perhaps in another life. A fluid conversation over coffee would be ideal.

Farewell, my geopolitical friends. I am going back to greener pastures: offering support to tinnitus sufferers when needed, browsing the research thread with the mindset that there will most likely never be a cure, and of course the Chit Chat thread, where I can share greetings, updates, and laughs with community members.

Take care, everybody.
See you on another thread ️

By the "Eternal Infernal" I was referring to tinnitus, not the political turmoil that's loose in the world.

 

[Jammer]

It's not surprising that immediately after Charlie Kirk's death, Trump, Republicans, influencers, news outlets, and social media all started calling for violence against the left, even though they didn't know who was responsible.

And, shock of all shocks, the killer turned out to be a Republican, an alt-right MAGA Groyper in a deep red state. Now all those right-wing figures who were calling for violence against Democrats have egg on their faces.

Everyone with common sense, including law enforcement, knew this was the most likely outcome. It's almost always this profile.

And Jesse Watters needs to be fired.

And Trump needs to release the Epstein files.

 

[Luman]

It's not surprising that immediately after Charlie Kirk's death, Trump, Republicans, influencers, news outlets, and social media all started calling for violence against the left, even though they didn't know who was responsible.

And, shock of all shocks, the killer turned out to be a Republican, an alt-right MAGA Groyper in a deep red state. Now all those right-wing figures who were calling for violence against Democrats have egg on their faces.

Everyone with common sense, including law enforcement, knew this was the most likely outcome. It's almost always this profile.

And Jesse Watters needs to be fired.

And Trump needs to release the Epstein files.

Have there been any riots, assaults, or killings in response to the murder of Charlie Kirk? I doubt it. If somebody of his stature on the Democratic left had been the victim, everybody knows there would have been violence against innocent people and against property as a result.

 

[Daniel Lion]

I lived in the States around 1989, in Washington, D.C. One of the scariest events I remember was when the gay community held "AIDS Action Week" and spread out a quilt on the Mall behind the White House. It must have covered at least one square kilometer. Each quilt piece had embroidery, a photo, or a keepsake from a departed person.

I'm heterosexual, but at the time I told myself I wasn't going to go near anything—male, female, or otherwise. Yet after a few beers while out with my compatriots in a Washington bar, I found myself with my arm around a somewhat mature Washington lady. It was a shock to see what a few beers could do to my resolutions.

Still, I find it incredible that around that time there was so much reckless behavior happening in Florida and in show business. Humanity takes time to learn, I guess.

I also heard that AIDS might have been one of the reasons why some men were choosing underage women. Is that true? I haven't looked deeply into it, but was Epstein simply getting massages, hand jobs, or was it full intercourse with those girls?

Engaging in behavior like that in the middle of an epidemic with no cure—by a man who was an intelligent financier—seems almost beyond belief.

By the "Eternal Infernal" I was referring to tinnitus, not the political turmoil that's loose in the world.

I was referring to tinnitus, my friend .

It is quiet and peaceful here, and these qualities are good for tinnitus.

Take care

 

[Jammer]

Have there been any riots, assaults, or killings in response to the murder of Charlie Kirk? I doubt it. If somebody of his stature on the Democratic left had been the victim, everybody knows there would have been violence against innocent people and against property as a result.

Give it time. Everyone knows that more violence is just around the corner. Trump has declared war on Democrats and on democracy itself. He thrives on stoking the flames of division.

 

[Jammer]

Looks like everyone can relax and enjoy the fruits of Trump's brilliance.

Trump has declared inflation "solved" as Americans are paying more for everyday goods, such as gas and groceries.

"I've already solved inflation," Trump told "Fox & Friends" on Friday morning. "Costs are down."

Inflation is now at its highest level since January, according to CNBC.

The president went on to boast, "I've solved just about every problem."

 

[Luman]

Give it time. Everyone knows that more violence is just around the corner. Trump has declared war on Democrats and on democracy itself. He thrives on stoking the flames of division.

Trump is cleaning up crime and violence in cities, and ICE is capturing and deporting many illegal immigrants who are violent criminals.

Wealthy liberals who pay substandard wages to illegals who work for them are not happy about the deportations. Working people who are tired of having their taxes used to pay for illegals are glad for the deportations.

If there is going to be more violence, it will likely be from the left.

 

[grate_biff]

If there is going to be more violence, it will likely be from the left.

It's likely to be from both sides. With more than one firearm owned by the average American, and with a leader not exactly known for calming tensions, it can get ugly.

I can only quote Marge Gundersen: "I just don't understand it!"

I don't understand what's great about it.

 

[RunningMan]

Looks like everyone can relax and enjoy the fruits of Trump's brilliance.

Trump has declared inflation "solved" as Americans are paying more for everyday goods, such as gas and groceries.

"I've already solved inflation," Trump told "Fox & Friends" on Friday morning. "Costs are down."

Inflation is now at its highest level since January, according to CNBC.

The president went on to boast, "I've solved just about every problem."

Yes, high inflation has gotten even higher under Trump. Prices are at record highs for most things. Tariffs (aka taxes on consumers) are causing more price pressures, and the Fed may feel pressured to lower interest rates due to the poor economy, which isn't good for inflation. Trump's policies are making things much worse. It's going to be even worse for people purchasing health care on the ACA marketplace if the enhanced subsidies expire under Trump, along with insurance companies increasing their premiums in the Trump economy.

 

[Fields]

Trump is cleaning up crime and violence in cities, and ICE is capturing and deporting many illegal immigrants who are violent criminals.

I'm sure the South Korean specialists who were helping set up the new Hyundai factory in Georgia were also very illegal and very violent.

 

[Luman]

I'm sure the South Korean specialists who were helping set up the new Hyundai factory in Georgia were also very illegal and very violent.

The United States has the overwhelming greatest number of illegal aliens. The Hyundai factory workers from South Korea were not here legally, so violent or not, they were breaking the law and subject to deportation.

According to one report covering January to May 2025, 12% of those deported had a violent or potentially violent crime on their record.

All countries deport illegals. The reason some people are critical of the United States for doing so is that they believe everything Trump does, without exception, is wrong.

 

[Jammer]

Trump said today, at his Bedminster hovel, that the smart people don't like him. I knew he'd be right about something one day. If you don't like Trump, you're definitely smarter than you think!

 

[Anomalous]

 

[Fields]

The United States has the overwhelming greatest number of illegal aliens. The Hyundai factory workers from South Korea were not here legally, so violent or not, they were breaking the law and subject to deportation.

According to various news agencies and leaked ICE reports, the South Korean workers were in possession of valid B1/B2 visas.

Hardly illegal.

Moreover, they were there to help set up a new plant, meant to create new local jobs. I suppose those local jobs will have to wait, as all but one of them have returned to South Korea.