Bartelby
Bionic Poster
The real obstacle is Trump. He wants war in Ukraine just like Biden. He just wants Europe to pay the bills and even fight. A ceasefire is not peace. It makes an expansion of the war inevitable.
Your favorite city along the Gulf of Mexico?
- Thread starter onehandbh
- Start date
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
Can you explain then the hanging of the portrait of President Polk, as reported in the WSJ, by a person you claim has no knowledge of American history?
Better_Call_Raul
Hall of Fame
The war has been raging for three years. Thousands being killed on both sides each day.
A Trump ceasefire deal is on the table. A ceasefire of any kind is always welcome. Only a warmonger would claim otherwise.
Trump loves peace and he has a keen sixth sense for when deals are close at hand. With the Zelly hurdle cleared he now smells a peace deal with Putin.
www.breitbart.com
A Trump ceasefire deal is on the table. A ceasefire of any kind is always welcome. Only a warmonger would claim otherwise.
Trump loves peace and he has a keen sixth sense for when deals are close at hand. With the Zelly hurdle cleared he now smells a peace deal with Putin.
Trump: Putin's Statement About Potential Ceasefire 'Very Promising'
President Donald Trump said Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin's openness to a potential ceasefire is "very promising."
www.breitbart.com
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Bartelby
Bionic Poster
Trump is a warmonger who wants to "Europeanize" the Ukraine War rather than end it.
What we need are peace negotiations leading to a permanent cessation of the conflict.
What we need are peace negotiations leading to a permanent cessation of the conflict.
The war has been raging for three years. Thousands being killed on both sides each day.
A Trump ceasefire deal is on the table. A ceasefire of any kind is always welcome. Only a warmonger would claim otherwise.
Trump loves peace and he has a keen sixth sense for when deals are close at hand. With the Zelly hurdle cleared he now smells a peace deal with Putin.
Trump: Putin's Statement About Potential Ceasefire 'Very Promising'
President Donald Trump said Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin's openness to a potential ceasefire is "very promising."
Better_Call_Raul
Hall of Fame
If you had studied history my dear warmonger you would understand that negotiations almost always start with a temporary ceasefire.
From World War I's Christmas Truce to modern conflicts like those in Sudan and Ukraine, temporary ceasefires have consistently played a critical role in initiating peace negotiations.
They serve as practical tools to de-escalate violence, build trust, and lay the groundwork for more permanent resolutions.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
It's actually the other way around. Peace negotiations begin while the war is still raging. As they advance, there may be a ceasefire.
If someone proposes a ceasefire before and without peace negotiations, it's a sure sign that they are acting in bad faith.
If someone proposes a ceasefire before and without peace negotiations, it's a sure sign that they are acting in bad faith.
If you had studied history my dear warmonger you would understand that negotiations almost always start with a temporary ceasefire.
From World War I's Christmas Truce to modern conflicts like those in Sudan and Ukraine, temporary ceasefires have consistently played a critical role in initiating peace negotiations.
They serve as practical tools to de-escalate violence, build trust, and lay the groundwork for more permanent resolutions.
Better_Call_Raul
Hall of Fame
The U.K. and other nations are contributing more aid per capita than America.
And you presumably agree that the EU are never going to put their boots on the ground.
So you will need to clarify exactly what "Europeanize" this war means.
Zelly has failed to secure victory after three years of generous American support of $150 billion. Now Trump wants peace. People fail to understand that Trump has no dog in this fight.
Also note that if America steps back on military aid, the war is over as Ukraine can not go it alone with just the EU.
Airspun
Hall of Fame
Trump does not want peace. He wants money, he wants to own the libs, he wants revenge. He is Putin's puppet and is a cancer on the world.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
The ceasefire was and is designed to create the space for European boots on the ground in the form of peacekeepers initially and then combatants.
Trump has fully restored Ukrainian military aid, if indeed he ever fully curtailed it, so it is now what it always was: "America's war of choice".
Trump has fully restored Ukrainian military aid, if indeed he ever fully curtailed it, so it is now what it always was: "America's war of choice".
Better_Call_Raul
Hall of Fame
The problem is that your favourite Vlad has said that he is not open to having European peacekeepers in Ukraine under any circumstances.
But our Trump the deal-maker will lean in and make Putin an offer he can't refuse. Putin will blink!
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
But the strategy was to call a ceasefire and then push the European peacekeepers in because of some invented Russian infraction. Trump has no cards.
Better_Call_Raul
Hall of Fame
Keep the faith. The Don will make an offer that your favourite Vlad cannot refuse.
Trump says Putin agreed to European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine: ‘He has no problem with it’
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office while hosting French President Emmanuel Macron that Putin ‘will accept that. I’ve asked him that question.’
nypost.com
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
Trumpelstiltskin was lying, as usual.
Keep the faith. The Don will make an offer that your favourite Vlad cannot refuse.
Trump says Putin agreed to European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine: ‘He has no problem with it’
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office while hosting French President Emmanuel Macron that Putin ‘will accept that. I’ve asked him that question.’
Better_Call_Raul
Hall of Fame
Kindly note that our favourite Bart says that both Biden and Trump have the exact same objective: A Russian defeat. So it is high time the dunderheads on the left put aside the riduculous "Trump is a Putin puppet" narrative.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
People on the left have never subscribed to that narrative. The oligarchy consists of conservatives and liberals. It's the liberal wing that runs this narrative.
TTMR
Hall of Fame
Russia will never be defeated. The only question is how much (if any) Ukraine remains. Putin/Russia is strong, and Prez respects that.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
The south and east of Ukraine is populated by ethnic Russians, so Russia is not interested in Ukraine east of the Dnieper River provided it is not hostile.
tennishabit
Legend
from some big eu bros' stands, try another yr to see if ussr style collapse happens again...........even if not defeated just hope at least weakened bit more. for us found cost too much n take 3 yrs for fueling the infighting btwn the slavo cousins n brothers but rus still not collapsing, bad luck n need to cut the loss n run
............
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
Biden started the war and Trump is happy for it to continue as long as the Europeans pay for it. His boasts about stopping it quickly proved facile.
from some big eu bros' stands, try another yr to see if ussr style collapse happens again...........even if not defeated just hope at least weakened bit more. for us found cost too much n take 3 yrs for fueling the infighting btwn the slavo cousins n brothers but rus still not collapsing, bad luck n need to cut the loss n run
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
A little over a week ago, Mogul was talking about increasing military spending to 5% of GDP. He’s now talking about reducing our 3.4% of GDP? Is he suggesting this decrease but still asking our allies to increase to 5%??? Does he really expect this to happen?
Not sure that we will see a significant or meaningful cut in our military budget unless he can get Both Russia and China to agree reduce their military spending. As much he says he wants to reduce government spending, it seems highly unlikely that he would allow the US to reduce its military advantage compared to Russia, China & our other “enemies”.
But he is so unpredictable and changes what he says so often, it’s difficult to say what he’ll do or say next on this.
He & his hatchet man, Musk, have already made serious cuts to education, environmental agencies (EPA, NOAA, nat’l forest management), environmental laws, and other federal agencies. Will he dare to also weaken our military advantage?
At this point he does have some wiggle room wrt military spending. As it is now, the combined military expenditure of China + Russia is still less than half of the money that the US spend on the military. But I don’t see him significantly reducing our military spending unless China & Russia also reduces spending— as he has already indicated.
Both Musk & Mogul have suggested that the US divorces itself from the UN and NATO. If we sever these bonds from Canada & our Euro allies, then we will not be able to count on their military support in the future. Especially, if we carry on an aggressive tariff was Europe and our North American allies. That being the case, meaningful cuts to our military spending seem highly unlikely.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
China and Russia do get more bang for their buck, if you pardon the pun, even spending less than half of the US.
Happi
Hall of Fame
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
To tax Mexicans, you should give them residency rights or citizenship first. I’m not sure if you want that, as you are sending them back home -even those born in US soil.
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
So why new policy is opposite to that? I thought he was in charge. Trump doesn’t obey him anymore, after the millions he invested?
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
Do we have the results of this poll for Greenlanders?
And for Mexicans?
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
I believe that they will avoid disasters because of the change of name recently enacted.
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
Trump has always been envious of Putin. He will start taking Quebec this summer, when there’s no freezing cold.
Better_Call_Raul
Hall of Fame
Let's be perfectly clear. America has very generously supported Ukraine as it is a fellow democracy that was invaded by an authoritarian regime.
But after three years Ukraine has not achieved victory and America must now reevaluate.
America has no compelling interest in this conflict as evidenced by the fact that not a single American soldier has been ordered to go fight and die there.
Of course America would have preferred a Ukraine victory in this proxy war but America can live peacefully with Putin controlling some or all of Ukraine.
That is the cold reality. Not every free democracy can be saved from being overrun by an authoritarian regime.
All these whiny malcontents just need to deal with that reality instead of agitating for World War III.
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Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
The zero knowledge on history is one of the reasons why he was elected president — though that likely reflects more on the American people’s knowledge of history.
The exception must be Raúl; he’s the most knowledgeable person I know across any field, with an extensive archive of documentation on just about everything, which he selflessly shares with us here every day.
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
It seems that the Canadian share of Milennials is negligible.
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Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
That guy may be a troll, but thankfully we have Raúl — the real deal — among us, who’s willing and able and he means it, and he’s here to get things done.
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Better_Call_Raul
Hall of Fame
The majority of Trump voters would welcome Canada as the 51st state.
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
Please send a couple more polls, so we can consider this matter settled.
Better_Call_Raul
Hall of Fame
Elon is staunchly opposed to tariffs. But the President ultimately makes policy. Elon is a trusted advisor who gives his input.
The Trump tent is indeed a very big one. He surrounds himself with people who hold opposing views. Not just sycophants.
That is the true mark of a great leader.
onehandbh
G.O.A.T.
Can you also include stats comparing the US's private (+medicare/medicaid) healthcare system to Canada's?Trudeau has failed the new generation as a whopping 43% of Canadian Millennials are already open to joining America according to a January Ipsos poll.
And this is even before Trump has offered any details on the sweet deal.
Our Canadian friends face ridiculously long health-care wait times. American patients are not typically sleeping in hospital hallways.
All this for a country with a small population of just 35 million. The Canadian health-care system is a failure.
This is what happens when bureaucratic inefficient government monopolizes health care. And 10 years of the Trudeau regime.
According to the Fraser Institute, the median wait time for specialist care in Canada is 30 weeks, which is significantly higher than the international average of 11 weeks.
Additionally, the wait time for non-emergency surgery can be up to a year or more.
A damning investigation by CBC News recently revealed that “hallway medicine” is now the norm in Ontario. Almost 50 per cent of hospitals in the province regularly operate beyond capacity, with patients accommodated in unconventional spaces including corridors, meeting rooms and even a kitchenette.
While this report shines much-needed light on the shambolic state of Ontario’s health-care system, and surely resonates with Canadians across the country, it’s unfortunately unsurprising. Here are three reasons why.
1) Lack of resources. Canada simply has fewer hospital beds than almost every other universal health-care system in the world. According to age-adjusted data from the OECD, we only have 2.0 acute-care beds per thousand people, ranking 26th out of 27 countries with universal health care. By contrast, Germany has almost three times as many (5.5 per thousand) while Switzerland, France and the Netherlands all have approximately 3 or more acute care beds per thousand. To compound the issue, Canada also generally has fewer physicians and diagnostic imaging scanners (MRI scanners, for example) per capita than these other countries.
Not surprisingly, all these countries also report much shorter wait times, both in the emergency room and for scheduled consultations. For example, 29 per cent of Canadians reported waiting four hours or more for treatment in the emergency room compared to only 4 per cent in the Netherlands. And 18 per cent of Canadians reported waiting four months or more for elective surgery compared to zero per cent in Germany.
2) No pressure-valve. Unlike Canada, most other countries embrace the private sector as a partner (like in Switzerland) or an alternative (like in Germany). Canada, meanwhile, continues to insist on a government monopoly for the funding and administration of care. The result? A restricted supply of resources, limited by the government’s ability (or willingness) to pay for health care via taxation.
According to the hallowed Canada Health Act, private facilities—which could offer treatment to those who can afford it while simultaneously alleviating pressure on the public system—can’t be used as an alternative to the public system. In fact, Canada is one of the only universal health-care systems in the world that effectively prevents patients from using their own money to receive treatment, locking them into a public system where they compete for space with each other.
3) No copays. Canada remains among a minority of universal health-care systems that don’t require patients to share the cost of treatment. Such “first-dollar” coverage produces excess demand for services by inviting individuals who may not require urgent care or who could be treated in alternative settings. For example, data from the Commonwealth Fund show that Canadians use the emergency department far more frequently (41 per cent in the two years prior to 2016) than people in 10 other countries surveyed. Many of these ER visits may be unnecessary and are certainly expensive. An earlier report by the Canadian Institute of Health Information estimated that 1.4 million visits (many for minor medical complaints such as sore throats, earaches and skin conditions) to Canadian emergency departments were potentially avoidable in 2013-2014.
Some organizations such as Choosing Wisely, which found about one in four Canadians received referrals for tests and treatments they felt were unnecessary, emphasize greater awareness, which is also a good goal. But copayments help provide direct financial incentives for patients to make more appropriate choices. To be clear, such payments are never designed to financially burden patients or prevent access to care based on income. They are usually a small fraction of the cost of care, and countries such as Switzerland and the Netherlands routinely employ annual caps and exempt vulnerable populations from copays. These payments disincentivize unnecessary demand for care and direct scarce medical resources to those who need them most.
Of course, other factors contribute to the current state of Ontario health care (and the state of health care in provinces across Canada). For example, the lack of a meaningful long-term care strategy—patients simply waiting to move elsewhere in the system occupy an estimated 4,500 hospital beds in Ontario every day.
The blame falls squarely on defenders of the status-quo who are unwilling to acknowledge the stark reality around them. Canada’s particular—and peculiar—approach to universal health care isn’t working. If we’re truly interested in helping patients and health-care providers, we must abandon our stubborn attachment to the status quo and learn from those who do better.
While our hard-working medical staff should be commended for their dedication and ingenuity, they shouldn’t be forced to deliver health care under such circumstances. And clearly, patients shouldn’t have to endure the status quo.
Curious to see how they match up.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
Musk is, however, not opposing Trump's views. He needs to get off his Ketamine high.
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
Thank you for enlightening us; I would never have discovered that on my own.
Alcawrath
Professional
Hahahahahaha. We've never had a president actually engage in political purity purging like we're seeing right now. Surrounds himself with dissenters? Are you for real?
TTMR
Hall of Fame
Not lebensraum -- spielraum. Elbow room for Amcans.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
Source? This appears to be from 2024. Since late Jan 2025 (onward), the numbers would undoubtedly be much different. Even Canadian millennial numbers from early Jan 2025 have likely declined significantlyThe majority of Trump voters would welcome Canada as the 51st state.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
Patently untrue. Quite the opposite. Elon appears to be the only Trump advisor who holds opposing views.
Mogul notoriously surrounds himself with unqualified, controversial ppl who share his own warped views — just as he did in his 1st term. Don’t know any other POTUS who has fired more ppl with any divergent views than Mogul did in his first term — easily record numbers. Sycophants are exactly what the “Don” has ordered.
Reagan and subsequent GOP and Democrat presidents were much better at surrounding themselves with intelligent advisors, often with divergent views, than Mogul has.
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SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
Likely true.
This might largely be the reason that Mogul won’t significantly reduce military spending unless China & Russia do so.
I suppose it’s possible to make the US military somewhat more efficient. But that has not appeared to be the MO for Musk & Mogul. They seem to drastically cut programs w/o regard to performance. They are losing a considerable amount of expertise in various fields with their chainsaw & dynamite approach to cost-cutting. They don’t seem to know how to use a “scalpel” or precision laser approach to making smarter cuts
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
The stock market darlings these days are not tech firms but defence ones. Defence procurement will be a bigger success in bringing industry home than tariffs.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
If you leave defence to well regulated militia you can solve all America's debt problems.
RSJfan
Hall of Fame
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
Is it still safe to fly in the US? Anyone reading this free to meet up for a hit in Minnesota next week? (I figure this threat gets more traffic than the tennis travel forum)
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
No need any fed authority but keep on sending the funds, OK?
WildVolley
Legend
I'm afraid this might be true. The Ukrainian peace proposal incredibly includes the right of Ukraine to join NATO, which is partially what kicked off the war in the first place. There's no chance that Russia will agree to it, which makes it seem that the peace negotiations are for show and to provide a pretext for Trump to provide more arms to Ukraine.
It is in Ukraine's interest to get a cease fire now that they have forces in the Kursk region cut off by Russian troops.
