Trump Presidency Round 2

Old Man Mike · Saturday at 4:37 PM

Gray zone: it is a very strong Tradition for all established press to have equal access. "Right" in a legalese sense? No. "Right" in a sense that it is a Signature of our Democracy? Yes.

Very strange takes on some things here. Almost like High School debating truth-bending with no interest in any subtle thought nor context. Completely abhorrent to anything in my reading about discussion in an ideal democracy, in the hopes of learning anything and improving the status quo. The United States is generally a well-designed governance with necessary flexibilities. That latter is because any rational students of history and humanity admit that the United States is not perfect. To survive and evolve, everyday folks need to actually know what's going on. Press access is a big part of that. Every true democracy knows that -- awkward as it sometimes is.

ulukinatme · Saturday at 5:33 PM

NDWarrior said:
🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

You guys will never learn, you're simply toeing the company line and you don't even know it... Death by a thousands cuts.

Sure, Jan, and we were told that Trump would be dropping nukes prior to his last term too. I give very little fucks about Trump at this point, but it's still entertaining watch people get their panties in a bunch.

NDWarrior · Saturday at 5:51 PM

ulukinatme said:
Sure, Jan, and we were told that Trump would be dropping nukes prior to his last term too. I give very little fucks about Trump at this point, but it's still entertaining watch people get their panties in a bunch.

You don't care about Trump, but you took immediate offense when he and his admin are called out for being Authoritarian.

Make that make sense for us...

Old Man Mike · Saturday at 6:02 PM

For me, the concept of being "entertained" by subjects of this colossal significance and danger stuns me.

I wonder if some people, even very intelligent people, are (frighteningly) losing emotional distinction between the real world and some TV and Media existences they have immersed themselves in. NONE of this should be viewed as "entertainment." ....... Damm.

ulukinatme · Saturday at 6:42 PM

NDWarrior said:
You don't care about Trump, but you took immediate offense when he and his admin are called out for being Authoritarian.

Make that make sense for us...

I just like poking delusion from time to time and seeing how far it'll go.

ulukinatme · Saturday at 6:45 PM

Old Man Mike said:
For me, the concept of being "entertained" by subjects of this colossal significance and danger stuns me.

I wonder if some people, even very intelligent people, are (frighteningly) losing emotional distinction between the real world and some TV and Media existences they have immersed themselves in. NONE of this should be viewed as "entertainment." ....... Damm.

To an extent, yes. People are entirely wrapped up in a world where suits hundreds of miles away in Washington presumably affect their everyday lives. The reality is these people live for propaganda and hang on the 24/7 news cycle and it's exaggerations which are only there to get eyes/clicks. People really need to touch grass more often, because no matter who is in office it's never as bad as the opposition's media paints them to be. The entertaining part is watching people lose their minds over it.

Old Man Mike · Saturday at 6:59 PM

I could go with the paragraph until the last sentence. One wonders what is the appropriate psychological analysis for someone (anyone at all) who enjoys other people's pain. I still can't get on board with that.

ulukinatme · Sunday at 2:52 AM

Old Man Mike said:
I could go with the paragraph until the last sentence. One wonders what is the appropriate psychological analysis for someone (anyone at all) who enjoys other people's pain. I still can't get on board with that.

That's the thing, the pain is in their heads. It's not real, it's faux outrage and exaggeration. Most headlines are trumped up, pun intended, because they have to be to keep people engaged daily. Like I said, a suit in Washington hundreds of miles away rarely affects someone's day to day life in any kind of meaningful way. We all get wrapped up in the game and the dopamine hits from time to time, some more than others, but sometimes people need to step back and see how silly it all is.

GATTACA! · Sunday at 3:09 PM

calvegas04 · Sunday at 6:35 PM

Why?

Old Man Mike · Sunday at 6:42 PM

Deep, substantial, profound players in the current national and military crises.

TorontoGold · Sunday at 7:15 PM

I remember when this forum shit it’s pants when Twitter banned Trump.

I’m sure the very honest brokers of freedom of speech will take issue here.

ulukinatme · Sunday at 11:24 PM

TorontoGold said:
I remember when this forum shit it’s pants when Twitter banned Trump.

I’m sure the very honest brokers of freedom of speech will take issue here.

CNN is free to spout this brand of "news," they just don't have the privilege of doing it from inside the White House.

And it's only Nazi if Trump does it.

drayer54 · Sunday at 11:40 PM

TorontoGold said:
I remember when this forum shit it’s pants when Twitter banned Trump.

I’m sure the very honest brokers of freedom of speech will take issue here.

How is big tech suppressing conservatives and banning Trump the same as tabloid news commentary not being in the White House?

He isn’t taking them off air. They didn’t lose their platform. They lost access to the person they routinely lie about. Not saying I agree with it, but it’s not the same.

GATTACA! · Monday at 12:26 AM

Absolutely hilarious coming from the party of Fox News who had to testify in court that they are an entertainment network not a news network as they were getting their balls sued off for knowingly lying.

You guys are shameless.

NDWarrior · Monday at 12:58 AM

Who cares about the difference, it's all wrong, and more importantly, banning and filtering WH reporting coverage is wrong.

It's a first amendment right and is likely to be challenged by the Courts, whenever it reaches the Supreme Court, but who know how they'll rule these days.

Again the difference means shit, but continuing to filter and ban will eventually lead to having just news orgs that 100% support Trump and, at that point, it's nothing more than the WH Public Relations Dept.

GowerND11 · Monday at 8:46 AM

drayer54 said:
How is big tech suppressing conservatives and banning Trump the same as tabloid news commentary not being in the White House?

He isn’t taking them off air. They didn’t lose their platform. They lost access to the person they routinely lie about. Not saying I agree with it, but it’s not the same.

You are so far down the rabbit hole of conservative bull. It's hopeless...

Edit to add: most of what you guys post and/or is shared by conservative media isn't even real conservatism either. It's his view of populism and nativism integrated with fear mongering and massive government overreach and spending.

Bishop2b5 · Monday at 12:04 PM

GowerND11 said:
You are so far down the rabbit hole of conservative bull. It's hopeless...

Edit to add: most of what you guys post and/or is shared by conservative media isn't even real conservatism either. It's his view of populism and nativism integrated with fear mongering and massive government overreach and spending.

You guys believe socialism (which impoverishes everyone) works and that capitalism (which has raised more people out of poverty than any other system) is evil, that men can get pregnant, and that women have penises. We can't take anything you say seriously. If you're criticizing us, we're right and you're nuts. That's how we see you. Deal with it.

GATTACA! · Monday at 12:09 PM

GowerND11 · Monday at 12:36 PM

Bishop2b5 said:
You guys believe socialism (which impoverishes everyone) works and that capitalism (which has raised more people out of poverty than any other system) is evil, that men can get pregnant, and that women have penises. We can't take anything you say seriously. If you're criticizing us, we're right and you're nuts. That's how we see you. Deal with it.

Bish.... you can never seem to remember I don't believe in that. It's ok though. I forgive you

But tell me, should we abolish Social Security? Medicare? Unemployment? Schools? Roads? Police? Fire Departments? Disability? Farm Subsidies?

Now, you aren't dumb, so you will say something like they need reform, blah blah blah. They are abused, blah blah blah. But do you want them completely abolished? I bet deep down, you say no. Therefore, you like social programs. You dirty, dirty socialist.

TorontoGold · Monday at 1:10 PM

ulukinatme said:
CNN is free to spout this brand of "news," they just don't have the privilege of doing it from inside the White House.

And it's only Nazi if Trump does it.

Ok, so because Obama tried to do this it’s ok that Trump is actually doing it? Is that your position?

Why is there a higher standard for a private company, Twitter, than the White House?

drayer54 said:
How is big tech suppressing conservatives and banning Trump the same as tabloid news commentary not being in the White House?

He isn’t taking them off air. They didn’t lose their platform. They lost access to the person they routinely lie about. Not saying I agree with it, but it’s not the same.

Did Trump lose his platform after being banned?

RDU Irish · Monday at 1:20 PM

GowerND11 said:
Bish.... you can never seem to remember I don't believe in that. It's ok though. I forgive you

But tell me, should we abolish Social Security? Medicare? Unemployment? Schools? Roads? Police? Fire Departments? Disability? Farm Subsidies?

Now, you aren't dumb, so you will say something like they need reform, blah blah blah. They are abused, blah blah blah. But do you want them completely abolished? I bet deep down, you say no. Therefore, you like social programs. You dirty, dirty socialist.

Massive cuts to all the above on a FEDERAL level? Yes please. Police, education and fire departments - 100% local, 0% federal IMO.

Medicare and Social Security/disability are 200% incompatible with open borders, birthright citizenship and importation of low trust cultures. Hospice, medical transport and daycare scams have recently been highlighted but you want to pooh pooh need for "reform"?

I take ONE part back. Roads/infrastructure deserves much more than the $50B federal spending in our $7 TRILLION annual budget. Infrastructure to facilitate commerce, freedom of movement, industrial growth... some of the best things Feds can do is on the infrastructure front and they allocate less than 1% of total spending on it. Instead we get toll roads, gas taxes, airport fees, TSA charges, utility taxes.... I mean feds collect $30B in gasoline tax and $11B in diesel taxes - why is this essential infrastructure required to fund itself with incredibly regressive taxes but farm subsidies and foreign aid are sacrosanct?

RDU Irish · Monday at 1:23 PM

All you commies demanding export bans aren't suggesting cutting the 18 cent federal gas tax or 24 cent federal diesel tax. RINOs whine about exports but not the tax.

GowerND11 · Monday at 1:37 PM

RDU Irish said:
Massive cuts to all the above on a FEDERAL level? Yes please. Police, education and fire departments - 100% local, 0% federal IMO.

Medicare and Social Security/disability are 200% incompatible with open borders, birthright citizenship and importation of low trust cultures. Hospice, medical transport and daycare scams have recently been highlighted but you want to pooh pooh need for "reform"?

I take ONE part back. Roads/infrastructure deserves much more than the $50B federal spending in our $7 TRILLION annual budget. Infrastructure to facilitate commerce, freedom of movement, industrial growth... some of the best things Feds can do is on the infrastructure front and they allocate less than 1% of total spending on it. Instead we get toll roads, gas taxes, airport fees, TSA charges, utility taxes.... I mean feds collect $30B in gasoline tax and $11B in diesel taxes - why is this essential infrastructure required to fund itself with incredibly regressive taxes but farm subsidies and foreign aid are sacrosanct?

You actually espouse Libertarian economic policies and are consistent with that. I always respect where you stand with them.

Reforms should happen, though of course the idea by Trump's Republicans in office is to straight up cut them.

I understand the thought of keeping some things local, I do. But let's be real, unless we are all seeing MASSIVE federal income tax cuts, it just isn't possible, and I think you can see that.

I completely agree with you on the roads and infrastructure.

RDU Irish · Monday at 2:02 PM

GowerND11 said:
You actually espouse Libertarian economic policies and are consistent with that. I always respect where you stand with them.

Reforms should happen, though of course the idea by Trump's Republicans in office is to straight up cut them.

I understand the thought of keeping some things local, I do. But let's be real, unless we are all seeing MASSIVE federal income tax cuts, it just isn't possible, and I think you can see that.

I completely agree with you on the roads and infrastructure.

The problem is spending, not taxes. NEITHER side will do any thing to cut spending. Income taxes are covering MAYBE 1/3rd of the total annual spend of $7T. $2.5T of income taxes is enough to juuuusssst cover 5% interest on a $50T debt - that is where we are quickly headed and it ain't pretty. If your $1T military budget isn't on the table then you aren't serious about the problem. If making 50 year olds wait three more years to collect SS isn't on the table then you aren't serious. If massive overhaul of FBI/CIA/TSA/ATF isn't on the table..... If energy and mining dominance is not pursued out of economic and national security necessity..... NOPE we have to have free shit and carbon neutral something or other.

Nobody wants to talk about the massive inflationary effects of SS/Medicare running in the red for the first time in their history - inflationary on the things old people NEED like housing, food and health care. Gee - what have we experienced again? Nations with a sovereign currency do not go bankrupt, they inflate debt away. Blame Trump, blame Biden, blame whoever - both sides get credit for spending like no tomorrow every chance they get without putting prior admin projects in check.

Recent Federal Tax Receipts

- FY 2026 (YTD through August): $4.85 trillion
- FY 2025: $5.24 trillion
- FY 2024: $4.92 trillion
- FY 2023: $4.44 trillion
- FY 2022: $4.90 trillion
- FY 2021: $4.05 trillion [1, 2, 3]

Composition of Federal Receipts

- Individual Income Taxes: ~54% of total revenue [1]
- Social Insurance/Payroll Taxes: ~34% of total revenue [1]
- Corporate Income Taxes: ~10% of total revenue [1]
- Other (Excise, Estate, Customs): ~2% to 4% of total

RDU Irish · Monday at 2:08 PM

GowerND11 said:
You actually espouse Libertarian economic policies and are consistent with that. I always respect where you stand with them.

Reforms should happen, though of course the idea by Trump's Republicans in office is to straight up cut them.

I understand the thought of keeping some things local, I do. But let's be real, unless we are all seeing MASSIVE federal income tax cuts, it just isn't possible, and I think you can see that.

I completely agree with you on the roads and infrastructure.

NOBODY SERIOUSLY BELIEVES THIS. What have they cut? Not even the Dept of Ed that Linda McMahon was explicitly put there to come off the top rope and send it to the dust bin. Not even USAID that was exposed for massive grift. Not even the FBI that was weaponized against him - no they got a new building and a 10% budget bump for 2027.

Besides - that is the job of CONGRESS which is why we all hate them so much for failing to reel in out of control spending.

GowerND11 · Monday at 2:08 PM

RDU Irish said:
The problem is spending, not taxes. NEITHER side will do any thing to cut spending. Income taxes are covering MAYBE 1/3rd of the total annual spend of $7T. $2.5T of income taxes is enough to juuuusssst cover 5% interest on a $50T debt - that is where we are quickly headed and it ain't pretty. If your $1T military budget isn't on the table then you aren't serious about the problem. If making 50 year olds wait three more years to collect SS isn't on the table then you aren't serious. If massive overhaul of FBI/CIA/TSA/ATF isn't on the table..... If energy and mining dominance is not pursued out of economic and national security necessity..... NOPE we have to have free shit and carbon neutral something or other.

Nobody wants to talk about the massive inflationary effects of SS/Medicare running in the red for the first time in their history - inflationary on the things old people NEED like housing, food and health care. Gee - what have we experienced again? Nations with a sovereign currency do not go bankrupt, they inflate debt away. Blame Trump, blame Biden, blame whoever - both sides get credit for spending like no tomorrow every chance they get without putting prior admin projects in check.

Recent Federal Tax Receipts

FY 2026 (YTD through August): $4.85 trillion

FY 2025: $5.24 trillion

FY 2024: $4.92 trillion

FY 2023: $4.44 trillion

FY 2022: $4.90 trillion

FY 2021: $4.05 trillion [1, 2, 3]

Composition of Federal Receipts

Individual Income Taxes: ~54% of total revenue [1]

Social Insurance/Payroll Taxes: ~34% of total revenue [1]

Corporate Income Taxes: ~10% of total revenue [1]

Other (Excise, Estate, Customs): ~2% to 4% of total

Where are the schools and local governments going to get the money if we take everything back to local?

I understand we have a spending problem. But we cannot just say, take it back and not have shocked pikachu faces when municipalities, states, and school districts need to significantly raise taxes to afford to "take it back."

GowerND11 · Monday at 2:09 PM

RDU Irish said:
NOBODY SERIOUSLY BELIEVES THIS. What have they cut? Not even the Dept of Ed that Linda McMahon was explicitly put there to come off the top rope and send it to the dust bin. Not even USAID that was exposed for massive grift. Not even the FBI that was weaponized against him - no they got a new building and a 10% budget bump for 2027.

Besides - that is the job of CONGRESS which is why we all hate them so much for failing to reel in out of control spending.

Understatement of the century.

Congress is supposed to be the most powerful branch, but they cede power left and right because they don't have any backbones.

RDU Irish · Monday at 2:31 PM

GowerND11 said:
Understatement of the century.

Congress is supposed to be the most powerful branch, but they cede power left and right because they don't have any backbones.

In their defense there aren't very many capable people in the entire crowd. Elect lawyers and this is what you get.

RDU Irish · Monday at 2:43 PM

GowerND11 said:
Where are the schools and local governments going to get the money if we take everything back to local?

I understand we have a spending problem. But we cannot just say, take it back and not have shocked pikachu faces when municipalities, states, and school districts need to significantly raise taxes to afford to "take it back."

This may shock you but I pay a lot of state and local taxes. Buying tickets to the UNC game had a 7% tax on resale tickets (one third of which goes to the county). $480 of annual registration fee on my truck was $100 to the state, $250 county and $130 city. 4% income tax, about 1% of real estate value annually - state and local taxes collectively aren't far behind my total federal tax bill and have exponentially more positive impact on my daily life than anything DC does or doesn't do.

That 18 cent federal gas tax --- the state is taking 41 cents - two thirds of state of North Carolina gas taxes are state - not fed.
Comparing 2026 Gas Taxes by State

Chuck Grassley should petition the state of Iowa for gas price relief on his way to telling Trump to GTFO the ME.

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