Trump is going to plunge us into recession...on purpose

^ He should do it with your money not mine

A successful businessperson is not afraid to take two steps back in order to eventually move 3-4 steps forward. This inane idea of immediate gratification that people have is killing this once fine land. My life stays the same because I never over-spend in the good times, just to make sure I don't have to cut back during the bad ones. Toi be fair i am only skiing 3 days this weekend and strip clubbing twice.

^ that is the most moronic statement you’ve ever made and you’ve made some doozies!
My life stays the same, but that turd should be playing with his own money, I didn’t sign up for this and neither did any others.

25, it had to happen at some point. The path that we've been on is both unnatural and unsustainable. Half of the country has been benefiting at the expense of the other half. Inflation continues to pound those least able to keep up with it. Houses have gotten out of reach for the middle class. Credit card and car loan interest has been exorbitant. A full reset is the only way to fix all of this stuff.

Like I said, let them play with their own money, I’ve worked hard all my life, my daddy didn’t leave me a few hundred million dollars, and at my age after working over fifty years and playing by the rules, I’m not going anywhere, if you want to let this draft dodger and his cocksucker getting billions from government contracts to live it up on your dime I don’t give a fuck, but I’m sure not going to make it easy for him to use my savings.

It's ironic when he tried so hard to goose the stock market in his first term.

Offshoring was fine when "the end of history" (LOL) was a thing and all nations were going to become liberal democracies living together in harmony, and we were content to let other countries despoil their own environments to mine the shit we need for daily life. Now we realize we've let an increasingly hostile China grab us by the balls (or the pussy) and if they stopped manufacturing our pharmaceuticals, car parts, and other shit, we're in trouble.

I think these trade wars are becoming a matter of ego, like Canada wanting to stand up to their big brother, but we need security more than prosperity, and we can only have that if we can make what we need here or in friendly places.

@OP
I really dont accept your premise, this isn’t really some sort of master plan by the brilliant Donald J. Trump, it’s more likely that he’s just fucking shit up just because he doesn’t know what the fuck he’s doing. The chaos has always been there with anything he’s ever been involved with and this is just more of the same. Unfortunately he’s gotten rid of all the adults and now he can burn shit down cause it’s fun for him, remember he’s never had to struggle for anything in his life, his daddy bought him out of the draft, paid off his schools when he got in trouble and even bailed him out when he bankrupted a casino. Anyone that thinks this man is some sort of a genius is delusional.

25, the guy could save dying children and you'd still hate him. I suspect that you were personally impacted at some point in one of his shady business dealings. But for everyone else watching, it's clear that there's a plan unfolding. Whether it's brilliant or an utter failure remains to be seen, but all of these things are obviously coordinated and connected. Maybe someone else drew up the blueprint and he's just following it, Idk, but he'll get the credit or the blame, as applicable.

You're assuming that Trump is playing chess while others are playing checkers, when actually he couldn't play to a tie at tic tac toe. I love how everyone suddenly thinks they have a PhD in economics.

I would love to know what Claudia Sheinbaum said to Trump in their private meeting, though. He seems to have completely laid off of Mexico.

Canada backing down on the electricity surcharge.
Yeah, Trump comes off as a bully, but we hold a much stronger hand than our neighbors.

www.wsj.com

25 better Trump than Cumela, at least. You probably think Cumelas husband is perfect and infallible like you claimed the IDF is. I would also say you overlooked your racism for Cumela and still voted for her, solely because of her dirty husband’s heritage.

25, they shouldnt have to use their personal money, and anyone who has millions sitting in a savings account means they dont really need it, so the government should be able to access it and use it. Anything in the bank over 500k, should be takeable by the government.
Also Trump isnt what youre claiming, he turned millions into billions, which is far beyond what you were able to do with your money, so in that sense he is a genius especially compared to an average millionaire in net worth only like you

@PT
Our country needs strong alliances with like minded countries, our strong hand won’t be strong enough to push our agenda, in order for our country to succeed we need alliances that are successful, eventually every bully gets their comeuppance.

@Loper, actually I think he's playing poker. Now who drew up his strategy? Beats the fuck out of me. But whoever concocted it, there's clearly a coordinated plan in the works.

^Trump playing poker with his tells, really LOL
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

"It's audaciously bold and could only be done by someone unconcerned by running for re-election and with the sheer willpower to make others bend to his will." A lame duck, or crazy as a fox?

I believe he wants the best for this country. He is aware that the GOP follows him for his success, and not out of any shared vision. The only shared mission is the defeat of the odious leftists in the democrat party. He hopes that he can unbind our economy from China and other damaging and malignant trade imbalances prior to the completion of his term. He understands that long term prosperity may begin with immediate pain and recession, but he has the determination to see it through as he did his three presidential campaigns. I hope he succeeds. Just look at Canada and this Doug Ford loon. What further proof do you need that allies are of convenience only and energy security is national security?

"I suspect that you were personally impacted at some point in one of his shady business dealings. "

There is no doubt that if 25 ever had to go up against Trump on anything in his Florida developments, 25 got his ass handed to him and he knew it. That is not a question any of us needed answered.

@25 - The problem with this president is that he's too eager to swing America's dick, but the last president (and his old boss) were unwilling to assert America's interests. Truth is, these tariffs have been asymmetrical for a while. They shouldn't be exclusive, but I'll take hated but feared over loved and unwilling to assert ourselves.

I agree with @gamma and @dugan that it's worth short term pain to decouple our supply chains from China. I wish he were more judicious with DOGE, taking some time to understand where to cut rather than cut first, ask questions later. Not everything is a slam dunk like cutting DEI administrators. Not everything has to happen at once.

Not that I think it WOULD happen, but it COULD:

We discuss this in terms of Trump not running for a third term and therefore having no risk of losing a fourth election. The first 150 years or so, there was no constitutional opposition to presidents holding three or more terms. This amendment was ratified after FDR won four terms (I don't know why - his economic policy sucked and he should have let Patton invade the USSR).

Theoretically, after some massive success or even greater national revolt against the leftists and democrats, another amendment could be passed to repeal the 22nd amendment and allow Trump a third term. I don't know why he would want one, he is already passed what I would consider a reasonable retirement age.

^youre talking about the process and intricacies for a third term but a huge portion of trump voters would simply be okay with him being a monarch and remaining in power even without any repealing of amendments

Something has to change. We can’t keep spending like this. People are crying about it, because they ofcourse are on the take.

Regardless that it's his 2nd and final term, he needs to be concerned that who follows him will keep the US on a common sense economic and social path, and not return to the insanity we lived through with Biden and Obama. Need more than a couple years of prosperity to keep the pendulum swinging in the right direction. Squash all the government waste and tranny bullshit for good, or at least for a long time.

It's a good thing that Trump is horrible for the economy? Got it. Things will get better at some point. It will be when Trump is the fuck out of office. Until then we will see multiple failures and our economy continuing to go downward.

Wait, you think the last 15 days have been part of a "master plan?" Ok, if you think so.

Same thing, but for different reasons, happened during Reagan’s first term. There, too, they knew we were likely heading to a recession. But that needed to happen to correct Carter’s incompetence.

Russian stocks are booming last week or so, is that part of Trump’s plan?

It's all part of a 4D chess master plan 25, just be patient.

Trumps problem is he does not consider what will go wrong with his plan, he always thinks he will win. That is why he has had so many business failures. He is a con man, not a smart person. This tariff thing is an absolute disaster.

I hope the comments above about a plan are correct but I’m not so sure that’s the case, or if it has a chance of succeeding.

One thing I think most can agree on, that Trump is an egomaniac and he wants to be remembered for centuries after his term ends. Takes back the Panama Canal, turn Greenland into part of America, renames the Gulf of Mexico, turn Gaza into a resort and golf course, make all countries bow to America, RESETS AND FIXES THE ECONOMY, trim the fat on the government. He has a Congress, a senate and a Supreme Court that supposed to back him, let’s see what his crew can get done. In the meantime it’s interesting to watch Elon, and I’m saying that because I am not a government employee.

I found part of the plan
www.youtube.com

To quote Agent K: "Humans, for the most part, don't have a clue. They don't want one or need one, either. They're happy. They think they have a good bead on things."

They have become use to "free" everything, and expect it. They have no clue what a $36T debt is and annual $2T deficit spending is as long as they have Netflix, "Zombie Apocalypse" movies, "Real Housewives of ...", "The Bachelor", "Spring Break." They have no clue the level of fraud and waste county, state and federal gov't wastes. $200B a year for the DOEucation, we spend more per student and we are at the bottom of the list. There is a reason Yugos went way.

The Global Leftist Movement, aka Marxism, has been morphed many times over the past 105 years, re: Frankfurt School, the goal remains the same. The Democrat Party supports this. The UN, IMF, World Bank, Europe, Canada and other countries pick our pockets to support their Socialism.

Gotta ask: why is the MSM is dying; why are Rogan and All In are rising; why the late night network "comedians" have lower ratings and getting butt whooped by Gutfeld!; Harris spent $1.1B had MSM backing with Clinton and Obama and yet cratered; why is Musk willing to lose $100B?

The Market is freaking out as the big ones are Globalists and have spent too much in opportunity costs to change. $2T in new plants and factories have been committed since 20-Jan-2025, this didn't happen with 4 years of Brandon.

The current course was destined for bankruptcy along with all the "free" stuff. Navigating America away from morphing into Amerika will take some time and pain like a heroin addict getting clean.

I can't wait to see DJT's 2026 Budget he'll present to Congress. The Dems will need to be near bathrooms with fresh underwear.

@mogul1985

Ronald Reagan knew how to deal militarily with the Soviets and the rest of our adversaries Donald Trump absolutely does not and is failing at every level, reversing the famous quote from The Godfather ‘it’s not business, it’s personal’

^Except for the left and our foreign enemies and adversaries, I see absolutely zero proof of any failures on his part. I see successes.

Breaking News:

1. Doug Ford backed down on his threats to tax energy exports to the US as Trump offered to raise tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. Now, Ford will meet with US Commerce Secretary to discuss a more amenable plan to balance trade
2. Egg prices are down as much as $2/dozen since Trump took office
3. NYT reporters embedded within Mexican cartels are reporting that those cartels are lamenting the success of Trump's secure border and browbeating of Mexican authorities to stop the trafficking of Fentanyl. They have stopped manufacturing fentanyl since they cannot get it to US markets, and have been selling their land, cars, and more to make up for the lost revenue (I guess the vig for the heads of the cartel?)

You naysayers look awfully silly.

@25: Your pontificating about what Trump does or doesn't know, buttressed by never-ending character attacks, is starting to look a bit silly and personal. But what is clear is that SOMEONE has a plan. Whether Trump is merely playing his part or if he's one of the architects who knows? But it's way too early days to opine on whether it is successful or not.

But something had to be done to break the economy out of its unsustainable trajectory and reset it. A recession was inevitable. Whether a planned one is better than letting the economy experience death by a thousand cuts only time will tell.

^ Your personal attacks on me because you don’t like my opinion is looking pretty silly and petty, your naievette is just stunning., I haven’t made any untoward character attacks, he is a draft dodger and a liar, if it were not true you’d have a rebuttal, but it isn’t so instead you (collective) offer as hominem attacks to deflect attention from the truth and moral failing of this amoral idiot that you have elected.

25, calling you silly for the never-ending drivel that you post isn't an "attack." If I had wanted to attack you, I would have called you a repetitive jackass. 😉

Yes, the guy has a history of showing poor character. We all know this. It's hardly breaking news. I could add some thing to your laundry list based upon my own observations of him back in the day.

But if you're going to criticize his policies, you need to do more than that. Having an actual point beyond "Orange Man Bad" would be a nice start.

This tariff or no tariff is putting a lot of uncertainty in the market. Not great if you're not a hedge fund.

But, I wouldn't be surprised the effects on the tariff on Canada is small like it was with China 2017. We're by fa their biggest market. I'm not a big fan of using tariffs, but it's true we are tariffed the most. Also, hard to argue with the new domestic investment. We should all be free trade, but non-capitalistic and highly socialist welfare countries wouldn't survive.

@RD
Repetitive Jackass LOL
You do have a funny way of writing and you sure can turn a phrase, I find myself laughing very often when you post stuff even if I don’t agree, but orange man bad is not what I’ve been posting, you know very well he doesn’t have a plan, scattershot attacks with no follow up, swerving from one side to the other doesn’t constitute a plan, this administration should be labeled as the attention deficit disorder presidency, there needs to be some kind of follow through but this guy is running our government like a pinball game where he bounces from one thing to another with no regard for what was started a few minutes ago.
That my friend is not a plan.

Is this Doug Ford guy related to the crackhead former mayor of Toronto?

^^Tell me you know nothing about leadership or governance without saying as much

@misterorange
That was his brother, Rob. Apparently, they are dirtbag family of political hacks with government malfeasance as their unifying vision.

Doug Ford is doing a good job of helping communicate Canada's message in a strong yet civil and reasonable tone. Unlike the buffoon Trump on the US side, who continues to be an embarrassment on the national and international stage.

I suspect the plan with those electricity tariffs was to show how far they are willing to go, but anticipated the response from Trump and now they both pulled back those threats and will go into trade talks. Canada announced 21B in new tariffs today, so they seem to be keeping their word of 1:1 reciprocal tariffs.

For reference, 99% of goods traded between the two countries have been tariff-free. As the Wall Street Journal said, this is the dumbest trade war in history.

@twentyfive: I don't recall Russian aggression during Trump 45, nor did Nord Stream go online.

I do recall Russia snagged Crimea under Obama. Obama set "redlines" if crossed, nothing happened

Biden’s predicted Russia wold invade Ukraine said a response could be muted for a “minor” incursion. So, Russian massed 100K troops and attacked unprovoked.

And Biden's best was "Don't."

As the saying goes, if Trump swam out and rescued a drowning victim, the Left would say, "See, he couldn't walk on water."

^ Trump is a weakling and capitulator when it comes to Russia. Biden is the one who demonstrated real strength.

And the minor excursion talking point has been proven false many times. Once again - the US quickly followed up on that statement with the following:

"If any Russian military forces move across the Ukrainian border, that's a renewed invasion, and it will be met with a swift, severe, and united response from the United States and our allies."

@RD
Got to ask, are you serious ? If you are, wow, just wow !

^ 25, I've posted a lot of comments in this thread, so you'll have to be more specific.

This whole premise destroy the village to save the village, is just totally nuts, I can't believe that anyone sane would believe any of this.

Biden demonstrated real strength agains Russia as he sat by and watched Russia seize Crimea, do nothing when Trump was in office and then seize 20% of Ukraine and waste untold of our dollars fighting Europe's war? How fucking retarded. Statements mean alot to useless imptent cucks (progressives) but not to real Americans. Words make losers smile and winners ignore them, especialloy when they come from a senile dolt.

^ are you seriously calling me senile, LOL look in the mirror old fool.

wld4testes, you are such a brainless, soulless shill. It is what I already told you. Canada needs us more than we need them. We know this. They know that we know. They tried to make believe that we don't know and export tariff the electricity. Trump's offer of colossal 50% made them shit their pants and admit that they know that we know. Everybody knows. Somebody (probably everyone) in Canada told Doug to shove his pride and back down before he killed their economy.

Win to Trump (and the US). #MAGA

25 trump never claimed to be in the military so theres no moral issue with the draft dodging as you put it. Additionally its silly to criticize his poor character and womanizing when you and everyone else on a strip club forum is basically doing the same thing. Trump basically just did it better and probably didnt have to pay for each encounter since he had his fame and celebrity status.

As others mentioned he destroyed your business, pimp slapped you in the courts, and you cant do anything about it, not even call him an anti semite or nazi because his own family members are Jewish.

^ wow posting on TUSCL, so simple even a caveman can post.

@ski: I don't think that 25 is senile. He's just a bit of a drama queen, lol. A recession and a temporary pullback in the stock market is hardly "destroying the village" lol.

There is a longer-term economic trajectory to think about. The longer we wait to pull out of this mess we are currently stuck in, the worse things will be for half the country, the worse things will get for everyone else when the bubbles burst and the worse the federal budget will get via blowout spending and budget deficits rolling over at high interest rates.

^ I didn’t make this post Rick, seems to me the drama queen is the person who posted this little screed.

^ Ok Mr. Melodrama. 😉

• destroy the village to save the village, is just totally nuts
• Donald Trump absolutely does not and is failing at every level,
• ^Trump playing poker with his tells, really LOL
  😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
• Unfortunately he’s gotten rid of all the adults and now he can burn shit down cause it’s fun for him
• if you want to let this draft dodger and his cocksucker getting billions from government contracts to live it up on your dime I don’t give a fuck

How about this for drama
Your over the top statements on this post

:25, the guy could save dying children and you'd still hate him. I suspect that you were personally impacted at some point in one of his shady business dealings
:@Loper, actually I think he's playing poker. Now who drew up his strategy? Beats the fuck out of me. But whoever concocted it, there's clearly a coordinated plan in the works.
:But if you're going to criticize his policies, you need to do more than that. Having an actual point beyond "Orange Man Bad" would be a nice start.
:what is clear is that SOMEONE has a plan. Whether Trump is merely playing his part or if he's one of the architects who knows?

Yet I’m the drama queen lol that’s hilarious

It's dramatic to say that it would be nice if you had an actual policy point? Or that there seems to be a coordinated plan in the works? You have an interesting definition of "drama" 25. 😉

Well you’re the one that directs personal attacks at me I haven’t bothered to respond in kind just rebutting your name calling but “que sera sera “
You have a good day I’m heading over to Cheetah Pompano in a little while promise I won’t think about Donald Trump for the rest of the day.

facepalm

Okay, for today's edition of "correcting the demented old man". "Que sera, sera" is inappropriate in the context used, and barely applicable in the literal translation.

From Wikipedia:
Title translation
If the original title is in Spanish, the most suitable translations that use the light tone of the song's lyrics are:

"What must happen, will happen"
"What must be, will be" (quote from Aeschylus).
It is the expression: "Come what may". This expression means that the decision is made, the action is launched, no matter what happens next. This expression comes from the proverb "do what you must, come what may" itself from the Latin formula "alea jacta est" which means "the die is cast"

25 i just wanted to point out its homophobic and misogynistic to use cocksucker as an insult. Theres nothing wrong with sucking cock whether a man, woman, trans, etc does it

One of the best political commentators out there is John Bolton, who was Trump's national security advisor from 2018 to 2019. This guy is sharp, and always seems to hit the nail on the head.

Bolton doesn't think much of Trump's mental capability.

Bolton: Trump’s ‘mind is full of mush’
thehill.com

A bit harsh perhaps. But between mush and genius, I'm going with mush. Back to rickd's premise, I do think there is some plan involved but no way was it developed by Trump. It was developed and presented to Trump by others. We know that's how Trump often works anyways. Likely right wing ideologues, such as people connected to Project 2025.

The problem with ideologues is they are often myopic, and fail to see the bigger picture and account for all the interconnections and potential reactions. I think that is what we are starting to see play out. As rickd said, it could be fascinating to watch. It could also be horrific to watch. So far it's the latter.

^ John Bolton sharp? Lol this is the same guy that wanted us to invade Iran. He makes Dick Cheney look like a conscientious objector. The Trump Derangement Syndrome is strong, loving on a commentator just because he criticizes Trump.

Trump is far from an ideologue. Fucking A he abandoned the pro life position and by pro life friends regard him as a traitor. Trump wants to win, to get the better of people. Insofar as him winning is America winning, he'll take it.

Shit I'd love to see Trump hotels and golf courses in Gaza. Anything is better than the terrorist ridden shithole it's been for decades now.

Read more carefully, I didn't say Trump is an ideologue.

Trump is a narcissist, influenced by ideologues.

^ Yeah because he's prioritized banning abortion. There isn't a bad adjective you won't use describing Trump, even when they contradict.

TDS is the equivalent of a frontal lobotomy.

Im curious @rickdugan and others how much of project 2025 do you think will be accomplished within Trumps term? Project 2025 wants to abolish several different federal agencies, do you think that will actually happen this year? I think they even want to abolish the federal reserve…? Not sure how easy that would be to accomplish

TDS is when liberals start praising John Bolton and Liz Cheney. Strange bedfellow, indeed!

Trump scored another HUGE win yesterday, as Schumer and his senate dems collapsed under the weight of their own incompetence yesterday:
www.foxnews.com

@rickdugan what do you think of matt gaetz in general? Also, what do you think of him being trumps AG, and what do you think of Gaetz in the past, implying israel killed jeffery epstein??