A Political Thread pt. 2

[McTallshort]

US arms sales suffer setback after Ukraine weapons pause

Portugal and other European countries are beginning to question the U.S.' reliability as a defense ally despite its dominant role in global arms sales.

www.newsweek.com

A bit more expansion on a previous post.

Yeah Turkey are looking again at the Euro fighter after America excluded them from the F-35. Might be a blessing in disguise for Turkey

 

[General Melchett]

I was in the States for a month in the lead up to the election. I spent most of my time in Philly and Nashville. The locals I spoke with were all very nice and were happy to ask me about Scotland/the UK and our political leaders. I didn't detect that much ignorance tbh. I met a really cool guy in the gym who was a Republican voter but was disillusioned that his party (in his opinion) had been hijacked by MAGA.

My feeling was that the economy/cost of living was the no.1 reason why people were voting for Trump particularly in swing states like Pennsylvania. Next followed immigration and then other issues like abortion. Roe v Wade was discussed a lot more than Europe not paying it's security bills - this has only become more prominent lately due to Trump talking about it regularly. I didn't get the feeling it was a key voter concern leading up to the election. I'm sure there are polls with more accurate data but this was my experience talking to people.

Elections in the US feel very partisan - almost like a cup final between two rival teams (red v blue). You pick a side, cast your vote and then become deeply entrenched in your views in order to validate the decision you made to vote a particular way. Not many people are going to hold their hands up and say they got it wrong - especially this soon after the election. Trump's inauguration speech mainly consisted of attacks on Biden and his record. There was no unifying message and no attempt to reach out to voters who didn't vote for him. It's no wonder there was a sense of "We won and you lost haha - you suck". If the tone from the top doesn't include a message to unite and heal division then it really doesn't bode well for society in general IMO. Btw, not saying the British political system is perfect - far from it. Just sharing some observations while I was across the pond.

 

[AlRums]

Yeah Turkey are looking again at the Euro fighter after America excluded them from the F-35. Might be a blessing in disguise for Turkey

US reconsiders F-35 sales to Türkiye after seeing KAAN fly: National Defense Minister

'We insist on reclaiming our production share and maintain our request to acquire F-35s,' says Yasar Guler - Anadolu Ajansı

www.aa.com.tr

It seems Turkey may have a homegrown alternative.

 

[AlRums]

DAVID MARCUS: Independent media balances out the hate at WH briefings

Columnist David Marcus notes the atmosphere in the White House briefing room has completely changed, now that independent media has joined and the tenor is not dominated by hostility from the press.

www.foxnews.com

This is one of the most ridiculous opinion pieces I've ever read about white house media.

 

[AlRums]

AG Pam Bondi announces investigation into Tesla vandalism, threatens no-holds-barred criminal charges

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi tells alleged Tesla vandals they "better watch out, because we're coming after you," for organizing destructive protests against cars and dealerships.

www.foxbusiness.com

Mush now has his own private security company.

 

[McTallshort]

Trump tariffs: Elon Musk's Tesla raises concern over retaliation risk

The electric carmaker’s warning about tariffs comes despite its boss's key position in the Trump administration.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[ncurd]

Trump tariffs: Elon Musk's Tesla raises concern over retaliation risk

The electric carmaker’s warning about tariffs comes despite its boss's key position in the Trump administration.

www.bbc.co.uk

Well thats what happens when you try economic policy from the back of a fag packet.

 

[McTallshort]

Well thats what happens when you try economic policy from the back of a fag packet.

Written with a foundation pen

 

[AlRums]

Trump tariffs: Elon Musk's Tesla raises concern over retaliation risk

The electric carmaker’s warning about tariffs comes despite its boss's key position in the Trump administration.

www.bbc.co.uk

He was also whining about EU and UK tariffs on the cars he built and imported from China. So much for USA.

 

[AlRums]

Well thats what happens when you try economic policy from the back of a fag packet.

Or a weed baggie with a Sharpie.

 

[Saintjay]

He was also whining about EU and UK tariffs on the cars he built and imported from China. So much for USA.

The BBC did a good article where as per this saying it's expensive for Tesla to import the minerals, processing etc.

Musk had previously said it might be cheaper for Tesla and other to do the mining and processing themselves. When the cost of minerals is going to increase with EV production and green tech. China were roughly ten years in front of the US identifying where the tech was going and what resources were needed. Hence China has a big grip on the market.

A reason why the US now has a very sudden interest in rare minerals and interest in Canada, Ukraine and Greenland. Take it and the resources and the US can do it themselves. Foreign policy driven by Musk and money maybe.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I was in the States for a month in the lead up to the election. I spent most of my time in Philly and Nashville. The locals I spoke with were all very nice and were happy to ask me about Scotland/the UK and our political leaders. I didn't detect that much ignorance tbh. I met a really cool guy in the gym who was a Republican voter but was disillusioned that his party (in his opinion) had been hijacked by MAGA.

My feeling was that the economy/cost of living was the no.1 reason why people were voting for Trump particularly in swing states like Pennsylvania. Next followed immigration and then other issues like abortion. Roe v Wade was discussed a lot more than Europe not paying it's security bills - this has only become more prominent lately due to Trump talking about it regularly. I didn't get the feeling it was a key voter concern leading up to the election. I'm sure there are polls with more accurate data but this was my experience talking to people.

Elections in the US feel very partisan - almost like a cup final between two rival teams (red v blue). You pick a side, cast your vote and then become deeply entrenched in your views in order to validate the decision you made to vote a particular way. Not many people are going to hold their hands up and say they got it wrong - especially this soon after the election. Trump's inauguration speech mainly consisted of attacks on Biden and his record. There was no unifying message and no attempt to reach out to voters who didn't vote for him. It's no wonder there was a sense of "We won and you lost haha - you suck". If the tone from the top doesn't include a message to unite and heal division then it really doesn't bode well for society in general IMO. Btw, not saying the British political system is perfect - far from it. Just sharing some observations while I was across the pond.

I think the worst bit is there is having different political opinions and then there is being partisan to the extent to become a complete hypocrite and turn a blind eye to all the bad things your side does whilst going to the extent of even making up stuff about the other side.

This is the issue I've had with the far right more than anything recently. I'm not right wing, never have been but I've had discussions with right wingers in the past where they could hold their hands up when their side did something bad. Now though, you have people predominantly on the right committing crimes and outright trying to undermine the democratic system and they shrug their shoulders, because all is fair in the name of "owning the libz". The left don't have this same attitude. There is no desire to "trigger" the right or "own the cons", the intentional trolling is very much on one side and shows that causing anger is an aim unto itself.

The ex friend I broke off contact with wasn't just for being right wing, it's because his views shifted to saying Hitler wasn't such a bad guy and texting me at 5am when Trump won to try to rub it in my face and start an argument. That goes beyond simple political differences.

 

[Weldit]

Political alignment doesn't come into play for me with certain politicians etc. They're just awful, awful people and should never be allowed near any sort of power. We've seen a lot of reasons for this as of late.

 

[BrokenWing]

Largely speaking, anyone who wants that sort of power are the last people you'd want to have that sort of power.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Ukrainian troops' bombshell allegation about US intelligence

Lieutenant Colonel Vano Nadiradze cannot 'shake off the feeling' as Moscow appeared primed and captured key villages in the territory within hours of the decision.

www.dailymail.co.uk

To kinda prove my point. The DAILY MAIL, well known right wing rag. Top comment? "Leftist propaganda". That's how far the far right have swung.

 

[ncurd]

 

[AlRums]

Takeaways from Donald Trump's airing of grievances at the Justice Department

https://us.cnn.com/2025/03/14/politics/justice-department-trump-speech-takeaways/index.html

Strumpet's gone full on revenge nutter mode.

 

[ChicagoKid]

Really? Tulsi has really gone off the isolationist end on foreign policy and there is a a not insignificant bit of crossover between the anti establishment bit of Bernie and trump support

Went back through election night pre and post and this poster is the only one with a shred of understanding of the US and our current political climate.

The rest of the posts ranged from ignorant drivel to inflammatory shrieking. Outside of the most left leaning 20% of this country, this board's post history would receive puzzled glances and sympathetic pats on the shoulder from Americans.

And based on the private messages from fellow Americans on here, it seems like a small collection of posters dominates the conversation.

 

[General Melchett]

Went back through election night pre and post and this poster is the only one with a shred of understanding of the US and our current political climate.

The rest of the posts ranged from ignorant drivel to inflammatory shrieking. Outside of the most left leaning 20% of this country, this board's post history would receive puzzled glances and sympathetic pats on the shoulder from Americans.

And based on the private messages from fellow Americans on here, it seems like a small collection of posters dominates the conversation.

I can assure you that any anti Trump sentiment isn't restricted to this forum. While I appreciate many Americans' desire for change after Biden many of us woke Europeans generally don't care for political leaders who:

1. Commit sexual assault and brag about groping women.
2. Have been convicted of fraud.
3. Spread wild conspiracy theories and disinformation.
4. Don't respect neighboring countries' sovereignty whilst pursuing a far right expansionist policy.
5. Refuse to accept election results where they lost fair and square and that were ratified by courts.
6. Surround themselves with yes people, throw tantrums and generally behave like a manchild when they don't get what they want.
7. Incite an insurrection due to the above and insensitively refer to those convicted as 'hostages' in light of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas.
8. Become friends with a like minded expansionist tyrant who is a threat to long standing allies, murders political opponents and is responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of innocent people.
9. Hold grudges against people/countries who refuse to provide dirt on political opponents.
10. Is basically a showman who behaves with a complete lack of class and regularly disrespects former POTUS and other world leaders.

I'm sure I missed a few but for balance, I agree with him on his point about certain NATO countries not paying their share - he's absolutely right. I also agree with him when he says that job vacancies should be filled based on merit but that doesn't mean that more effort shouldn't be made to ensure better/more equal opportunities for those groups of people who currently suffer.

 

[Weldit]

You keep telling yourself that

I think that's got way more to do with schools getting a lot better at teaching kids how to pass exams . Not a terrible thing but also not a measure of general intelligence.

I agree with this. Though in the teachers defence, the exams are and always have been a terrible way to grade someone's ability. Have you see some of questions from past papers? It's like they're written by aliens trying to impersonate a human.