Trump now orders an ally who they are permitted to enter their country. Netanyahu obeys.

Netty owes him one, the dufus helped get him re elected, if he can stay out of jail, and if his enemies let him form a government. What a cluster. If there is a dirty deed to be done the dufus will do it.

sorry to be dense on this one but bone-spur? Supporting Israel is not a negative. Israel has a right to exist and they should work it out with the Palestinians. What you have there at the moment is apartheid and it is difficult to see how it can be otherwise until militancy no longer exists

Bone-spur refers to Trump paying off a doctor to swear Trump had bone spurs and therefore could not serve in the military which at the time was heavily engaged in Vietnam. Trump's cowardice was especially flagrant in light of the heroism of McCain who did serve his country valiantly.

It's true Israel should be supported, but not in the way Trump tweeted this morning. He told Israel that two Congresswomen should not be allowed into Israel because they "hated Israel and hated Jews". These Congresswomen have criticized Israel but to Trump any criticism of him or his friend Netanyahu is forbidden. Trump has consistently shown himself to be totally unaware of the freedom to criticize. Netanyahu immediately kowtowed to Trump and proclaimed Israel would be closed to the Congresswomen. This may backfire badly on the Prime Minister.

Israel has a right to defend itself but why would they want peace with the Palestinians when they can keep them penned up and keep expanding their own boundaries one settlement at a time. I mean that would piss me off if my neighbor kept moving the fence between us or worse I keep having to walk around his wall to where I was going. Can't we be good allies and not put up with this bull crap they've been pulling for decades?

I think it's disgraceful the dufus would make Nutty ban our congress people after they had said they could come, and then lie his butt off about it. Has any repub stood up to call out this outrage? Why is this deviant allowed to get away with this stuff by his own party? I never liked Nutty, anyway. He and the dufus are weak bullies, who know nothing about democracy or the freedom to dissent.

Hope he gets booted out, to jail with the dufus. They deserve each other.

Bone-spur refers to Trump paying off a doctor to swear Trump had bone spurs and therefore could not serve in the military which at the time was heavily engaged in Vietnam. Trump's cowardice was especially flagrant in light of the heroism of McCain who did serve his country valiantly.

It's true Israel should be supported, but not in the way Trump tweeted this morning. He told Israel that two Congresswomen should not be allowed into Israel because they "hated Israel and hated Jews". These Congresswomen have criticized Israel but to Trump any criticism of him or his friend Netanyahu is forbidden. Trump has consistently shown himself to be totally unaware of the freedom to criticize. Netanyahu immediately kowtowed to Trump and proclaimed Israel would be closed to the Congresswomen. This may backfire badly on the Prime Minister.

I have no issue with a country denying entry to people who are hostile to it and it is a matter of sovereignty. Trump should have arranged for his thoughts to be presented in a less public way so as not to give ammunition to the anti Israel lobby.

You can say what you like within your own borders but elsewhere the rules are different and I'm sure Israel doesn't need more rabble rousers

It is the pleasure of the rich to arrange for their sons not to serve, if slavery still existed Trump could have sent his slave, but I wonder how his bone spurs are today, a painful foot no doubt which may account for the loud screams

it is short sighted by both of them . Although the 2 Reps are clearly anti-Isreal ,promoting the BDS nonsense ;and
Rep. Tlaib’s promotion of a one state solution is ridiculous . Not allowing US Reps to visit the one real democracy in the region is a mistake Even AIPAC disagrees with the decision.

I have no issue with a country denying entry to people who are hostile to it and it is a matter of sovereignty. Trump should have arranged for his thoughts to be presented in a less public way so as not to give ammunition to the anti Israel lobby.

You can say what you like within your own borders but elsewhere the rules are different and I'm sure Israel doesn't need more rabble rousers

In yet another impeachable abuse of power, the President of the United States publicly colluded with a foreign power to obstruct elected representatives of the United States from performing their constitutional duties.

That foreign power receives billions for its defense voted by the Congress of those elected representatives.

In yet another impeachable abuse of power, the President of the United States publicly colluded with a foreign power to obstruct elected representatives of the United States from performing their constitutional duties.

That foreign power receives billions for its defense voted by the Congress of those elected representatives.

I don't think I've heard it put so clearly and succinctly. Yet another example of the dufus ability to cause international chaos. That's the kind of stupid that can be dangerous, but typical DUFUS!

In yet another impeachable abuse of power, the President of the United States publicly colluded with a foreign power to obstruct elected representatives of the United States from performing their constitutional duties.

That foreign power receives billions for its defense voted by the Congress of those elected representatives.

It is not their constitutional duty to go to another nation and rabble rouse. Americans have an overfull impression of their own importance and A representative has no official capacity to interfere in the affairs of another nation no matter what the foreign aid budget might be

It is exactly their constitutional duty to see what we are spending our taxpayer dollars on. Rabble rousing and interfering in the affairs of others is the dufus and his Buddy Nutty's spin. Even our repubs and Jewish groups are blasting the dufus on this one. You defend the stupidity of those two racists rats?

I don't think I've heard it put so clearly and succinctly. Yet another example of the dufus ability to cause international chaos. That's the kind of stupid that can be dangerous, but typical DUFUS!


Thank you for the compliment but it isn't mine. I had trouble c/p the quote and I forgot to attribute it to its rightful author.

The author is Seth Abramson, a lawyer who has examined the whole Trump era as deeply as anybody and who has written two excellent books on the subject. I don't think I'm allowed to reveal his books here (rules of AMHD?) but a google search of the name should lead anyone interested to the material.

sorry Clete gotta agree with Tal and Athos on this one . It is part of their oversight responsiblilities even if they are insincere. It is also stupid politically . These Reps are part of the radical left quartet call the "squad " .Anything that gives them more press and elevates their importance is a negative .

Jonathan Tobin explains the issue well .

https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/...n-hurts-israel (https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/08/rashida-tlaib-ilhan-omar-denied-entry-israel-why-decision-hurts-israel)

sorry Clete gotta agree with Tal and Athos on this one . It is part of their oversight responsiblilities even if they are insincere. It is also stupid politically . These Reps are part of the radical left quartet call the "squad " .Anything that gives them more press and elevates their importance is a negative .

It's not like the dufus is innocent in all this since he has actively cast them in that light for his own political purpose of providing his base with more fear fueled red meat. A typical dufus ploy to distract us and elevate himself by demeaning others. Just like he paints the dems as socialists/communists and open border lovers, while he loots the treasury and crashes his all so important great economy, that he brands as his own after Obama gave it to him.

Take away the deficit financed tax cuts and he hasn't done a darn thing, but blow smoke up repub butt. They love it! What a drama queen though over a women visiting her family she hasn't seen in a decade.

Jonathan Tobin explains the issue well .


https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/...n-hurts-israel (https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/08/rashida-tlaib-ilhan-omar-denied-entry-israel-why-decision-hurts-israel)

A bit of to right leaning view from my perspective, but it's clear some of us dems just aint buying the dufus, and especially Nutty's spin, and haven't for a long time. I guess conservatives will stick together no matter the culture or country, but what's wrong with the real truth of the matter instead of lock step narrative of Israeli political agenda?

Tlaib isn't the only Palestinian who has been separated for years from their family. OCCUPATIONAL hazards on both sides and sure fits APARTIED to me despite the denials.

Tlaib it turns out is a phony .She said she wanted to visit her dying grandmother . So Israel said she could visit for that purpose . She
had filed a humanitarian appeal to Israel, promising not to promote boycott activities and abide by restrictions while visiting her family in the West Bank.She said it could be her last chance to visit .

But when Israel granted her permission today . She quickly backed down. Clearly her hatred for Israel is greater than her love for family . But in truth it is that her supporters put pressure on her to turn down the visit .

Tlaib it turns out is a phony .She said she wanted to visit her dying grandmother . So Israel said she could visit for that purpose . She
had filed a humanitarian appeal to Israel, promising not to promote boycott activities and abide by restrictions while visiting her family in the West Bank.She said it could be her last chance to visit .

But when Israel granted her permission today . She quickly backed down. Clearly her hatred for Israel is greater than her love for family . But in truth it is that her supporters put pressure on her to turn down the visit .


Tlaib later announced on Friday morning that going to the West Bank under Israel's non-boycotting conditions would stand against her beliefs.

"I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in – fighting against racism, oppression & injustice," she said on Twitter. (https://twitter.com/RashidaTlaib/status/1162346455593619457)

Plus, she probably doesn't want to be assassinated.

I don't care much for the constant partisan bickering that has become the norm in US politics, and I definitely don't care for US interference in foreign affairs. Israel has nuclear weapons and one of the best armies our tax dollars can buy, so it is high time we cut them loose. I also think we should cut ALL foreign aid and concentrate on fixing the problems in our own country.

because American isolationism has worked so well in the past .

because American isolationism has worked so well in the past .

Yes in fact it worked well for you over a fifty year period with only a brief interlude for WWI. The US grew rich while the rest of the world went to hell in a hand cart

That's a huge exaggeration Clete as the whole world has prospered as we have since the last world war, and mainly because we have not been isolated, just the opposite, we buy sell and trade with almost everyone, until this dufus came along and decided we don't need the rest of the world. Truth is economies are complexly inter connected.

I don't believe we should be isolated, I just don't think US taxpayers should bank roll other economies. US debt is $22.5 trillion dollars, which comes to $182,901 per taxpayer. Don't forget that foreign aid is our money being given away without our consent.

https://www.usdebtclock.org/

You elect people to work in your behalf, so that is your consent.

Name one elected representative that actually calls and asks your opinion before deciding how to spend your money.

Name one elected representative that actually calls and asks your opinion before deciding how to spend your money.
American voters elect people they trust to do the right thing, to spend money in the right way.

American voters elect people they trust to do the right thing, to spend money in the right way.


How is that working out for you? 22 trillion reasons why it isn't

How is that working out for you? 22 trillion reasons why it isn't
Actually, not badly. I know my state senators and representatives, and am not afraid to contact them, if necessary.

well of course, they are there to listen to you

really ? Illinois is a basket case just like here in NY .Foreign aid is not one of the subjects that most Reps discuss except with hot button issues like Israel .The American people generally don't understand the value of foreign aid . I'll say it bluntly ,it has nothing to do with altruism and everything to do with promoting our national and economic interests .

The biggest misconception is that we spend a disproportionate amt on foreign aid .. In fact ,less than one percent of the budget goes to foreign aid . So it's impact on the debt is a rounding error.

As someone who is a capitalist ,I think foreign aid is critical . 95 % of the consumers of the world live outside the US . THE POOREST 2/3 of them have over $5 trillion in purchasing power .And the economic power of most of these nations will grow ;at a much faster rate than ours . Our export industries have tripled in the last 40 years or more . Foreign aid has been the seeds we planted that are becoming fruitful. 11 of out top 15 trading partners started out as recipients of our aid.
Since 1990, the number of people living in extreme poverty–meaning below $1.25 a day–has fallen by half. They are the new consumers wanting goods and services their nations can't provide to them .

If we don't do it then China will.
China spent $354.3 billion from 2000 to 2014 (close to the $394.6 billion spent by the U.S. over that same time frame.) In fact, China now outspends the U.S. on an annual basis. This is critical to their
"One Belt, One Road" project;reinventing the silk road . We are in competition for these markets and are in fact falling behind ;and with that comes a decrease of influence in these nations .

You do know Tom that the belt and road initiative relies heavily on rail. I don't know how that works as much of it is Russian which I expect represents a bottleneck as much as it might be an advantage, however Russia and China have built closer ties while you have alienated both, so I wonder, whose international strategy works better, confrontation or trade

Russia invaded Georgia ,Ukraine . China has agreesively expanded ;and treats much of the population they control as bad as Nazi Germany(Uighers ,people of Tibet ,just about any Chinese that aren't native Han , organ harvesting of prisoners ) . Yes they need to be confronted by nations capable of doing so I have no idea what difference rail makes to this discussion. Yes tyrannies tend to flock together .So it is no surprise that Putin and Xi have created closer ties much like Hitler and Stalin did when it served their purpose .

And our dufus supports them both, and wants Xi to come to America with his dollars and build stuff, but first he has to buy stuff. Like Vlad did. Big Biz wants that to because Chinese labor is as cheap as it gets, with no rules, unions, or regulations. You could clear up something here Tom. Is the dufus accurate when he says he is bailing out the farmers with the money we get from tariffs on China?

If not, where does the money come from?

. Where are these big Russian investments ? You must mean like Evita selling 20% of America's uranium to Russi. Trump has a funny way of cozying up to Putin Xi and with other tyrants . His tool of choice appears to be sanctions against these countries ;or in the case of China ,tariffs.
His Treasury Department, which oversees economic sanctions, has targeted thousands of entities with asset freezes and business bans. The State Department is imposing its own penalties: travel bans on foreign government officials and others for human rights abuses and corruption .Recently Trump slapped more sanctions on Russia for the attempted murder of
Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.


One quote you won't here from his is
"
After my election I have more flexibility,” Like the emperor was caught on open mike saying to Medvedev .


I do not defend tariffs with friendly trading partners . But China is not a friendly trading partner . I'll let Trump worry about unintended consequences of his trade wars .If it were me ,I'd be looking for other markets for our farmers to sell their produce ;and if I was a farmer I would've transitioned away from China years ago.

That looks great on paper, but you didn't answer my question;


You could clear up something here Tom. Is the dufus accurate when he says he is bailing out the farmers with the money we get from tariffs on China?

If not, where does the money come from?

I added to may answer above

I added to may answer above


Sorry, Tom, but you didn't answer.

yes I did


I do not defend tariffs with friendly trading partners . But China is not a friendly trading partner . I'll let Trump worry about unintended consequences of his trade wars .If it were me ,I'd be looking for other markets for our farmers to sell their produce ;and if I was a farmer I would've transitioned away from China years ago.

yes I did
well Tom that may not be entirely practical since the US has many competitors and markets being what they are you sell to someone who wants your product, which is what your farmers were doing, selling to China. The unintended consequence of Trump thinking he could impose tariffs without retribution was to deprive your farmers of their market

I only asked if the dufus was accurate, or was he lying as usual. Unintended consequences? I doubt that very seriously as any capitalists knows tariffs are the same as taxes, paid by the receiver of goods, and passed to consumers. So if China is not paying the tariffs that means we are with higher prices. China is a sovereign nation with rules and interests so either we stop doing business if their terms are so onerous, or play by their rules. I agree that after decades of trying to import our stuff, and exploiting the cheap labor, our capitalist have screwed up with chasing cheap for high profits.

China wants it's cut and will get it hook or crook, just like our own greedy capitalists. Now if they wanted leverage over China, they simply cut a deal with the people China wants to deal with clear rules of the road in a LARGE trade deal like TPP.

China wants it's cut and will get it hook or crook, China has been getting it by crook for way too long. I have no issues with ending trade with them altogether and let's see who's economy collapsed and whose comes out on top. Trump is dancing around the issue because he is concerned about his constituency . That is not my primary concern.

Trump is dancing around the issue


Is that what they're calling it now?

Most people say it's because Trump is a blithering idiot. By the way, how's that $4,000 Trump guaranteed all the middle class from his tax cut? Wha'd you spend it on?

Poor Bone-Spur - he said the tax cut cost him 3-5 billion dollars. This isn't from way back when - he repeated it two days ago.

Idiocy at its most blithering!

, China has been getting it by crook for way too long. I have no issues with ending trade with them altogether and let's see who's economy collapsed and whose comes out on top. Trump is dancing around the issue because he is concerned about his constituency . That is not my primary concern. [/LEFT]

Hey Mr. Unabashed Capitalist, any sustained contraction of the global economy while the US and China escalate this trade war is going to hurt us too. If you think you can destroy China then I might have to put you in the loony category.

Hey Mr. Unabashed Capitalist, any sustained contraction of the global economy while the US and China escalate this trade war is going to hurt us too. If you think you can destroy China then I might have to put you in the loony category.


You know I don't think he knows China saw you coming, this is what their belt and road is about, moving into other markets

Destroy the competition and corner the market has long been the business plan for American business, and if they can get tax cuts, tax breaks and write offs to go with subsidies more the better. Behind the scenes though China is tough and fully capable to meet the hook and crook with their own hook and crook. When the two giants butt heads the world is caught in the middle.

You know I don't think he knows China saw you coming, this is what their belt and road is about, moving into other markets
let them .the new markets will learn soon how the Chinese cheat and steal .

Tal and Athos ;
Trump thinks a strong dollar is a weakness ;and that Feds should not only cut rates ;but also do Keynesian quantitative easing like they did after the financial crisis of 2008 . What he wants is the dollar at world market levels ;a very Democratic wish . I wonder how his Director of the National Economic Council Larry Kudlow sees this ? Kudlowwas a strong supporter of 'King Dollar' .
If our economy is as strong as he says it is (and I agree it is )then why do we need Keynesian pump priming ?


Trump subscribes to Modern Monetary Theory(MMT) …..something he and AOC share . MMT is a Goldilocks theory ;not too hot ,not too cold with the Fed playing referee .They advocate government stimulus during periods of economic weakness, and fiscal restraint during periods of strong growth. This is achieved with both Fed intervention , tax policy and deficit spending . And Trump is becoming the King of Debt and no proponent of King Dollar .The dollar around 2 % yield does look strong compared to Euro nation rates . For Trump to call for US rates to mirror world rates is frankly alarming .

That's all that alarms you about the dufus administration policy? No wonder you don't want to reveal WHO actually subsidizes farm bailouts. How soon before they need the next round of bailouts? Quantitative easing during a "strong economy"? Wonder where Kudlow got his degrees or does he just play an economist on TV?

This is what the bubblehead has been babbling about for years past.

https://thinkprogress.org/larry-kudlow-bad-economic-predictions-f02ebf47c918/

Notice a pattern here? YUP! he is always wrong!

No wonder you don't want to reveal WHO actually subsidizes farm bailouts. we do .That is why I don't care for bail outs or subsidies . I have been consistent on that policy for as long as you and I have exchanged ideas here .

I expect Kudlow is strongly advising against this course of action. But Trump does what he likes .

True that! That's an advantage China and dictators enjoy, skimming the money the government supplies, and we are not to shabby either. If it weren't for the fallout of affecting so many millions very adversely I could agree. Vlad and Xi don't care if there people eat mud but Americans are locked and loaded and itching for a fight.

We can't have that either and Big Money knows it.