The Trump Presidency 2.0

[ThunderHorse]

Easy- Russia did and I’ve never even intimated anything else, you’re just obviously super emotional and grasping for straws. My ideological consistency here you may disagree with but in no way have I ever been anything close to your allegation.

-2 points, you’re at -3. At -5 you get a desagulation.

I 100% stand by the maidan revolution post, and how you can classify a verified fact as a Russian talking point to weild is just a bad faith ad-hom, which I won’t do in return.

You’ve created a false binary where everything you don’t agree with- not fact patterns- on the issue makes it ‘pro Russian’. And don’t use dead kids and raped women an appeal to emotion, it’s a disgusting way to make a point. -4.

I will await the court case or admission by the US Government that the Maidan was orchestrated by the US, and even if it was, then now you're retreating?

Ukraine when Yanukovych was elected was on its way into the EU, he being a Russian puppet stopped their westernization and then used the police to beat the shit out of his people. I get that Europeans tend to actually riot and force their elected representatives to do their job a lot more than we do except if you're a Democrat (BLM Riots).

But there's plenty of writing and documentaries on how that happened, @Polar Bear even suggested one: Winter on Fire.

My positions are consistent I want what is in the best Grand Strategic interests of the US. In some cases that involves bleeding our enemies. In some cases that involves us not getting in the way of people killing our enemies. I also know that we can't export our kind of Freedom anywhere unless we're willing to occupy a country and remove the social structure that existed for a minimum of 50 years.

Our President all of a sudden sucking off Putin's [eggplant] ain't it hoss. And that's what's happening. If we want the war to end there are many many other ways.

 

[Box]

BAHAHA typing it out made me laugh. How can you not love this timeline?!

...and I'm here for it

 

[Marauder06]

-2 points, you’re at -3. At -5 you get a desagulation.

what's up with people on this site making me look up words? ;)

 

[ThunderHorse]

I finally watched the entire press conference. It started with a very different tone. It's interesting and weird how quickly it turned.
As the post below indicates, this really occured once JD Vance stepped into it.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1895590525454983416

So now that I'm done with this whole thing and the odd parroting of Russian talking points and people saying they aren't Russian talking points but not able to admit that Russia is the problem and not Ukrainians fighting a war of survival (Putin says Ukraine is not a country). We get back to this interesting piece of theatre where previously Zelensky thanked us at least 33 times. But we're all focused on the 5 minutes after JD Vance acts like a complete shitbird always getting in trouble Army SPEC-4 instead of the Marine Corporal that he is. Or is it that JD wanted to press some of Trump's buttons idk. Anyways, JD is a lot smarter than this and he should go haze himself for a week.

 

[Salt USMC]

When you consider that Pam Bondi could have just texted Kash and not formalized a letter for the world to see, it's not a leap to posit that she wanted to let the world know this fact. One step further you get to the pretty logical narrative- that SDNY and New York generally have gone rogue, to the extent they'll try and prosecute a President and defy the constitution because of their ideological capture and institutional rot in those offices.

IO campaigns require maximum eyes for effect. A "leaked" letter alleging sedition in the largest news story in recent memory fits that narrative. Now, the American people know- something is rotten in Denmark, except it's not Denmark, it's the New York FBI.

The day before the release, AG Bondi was on Glenn Beck’s show claiming that the American public would be “sickened” by what was in the files. They make this big show of handing out these files, which were just part 1 of many(!) to esteemed journalists like LibsofTiktok.

Then all of a sudden she’s claiming that the don’t have everything and an FBI field office is withholding docs?

If her IO plan was to make the AG’s office look incompetent, then job well done.

 

[amlove21]

The day before the release, AG Bondi was on Glenn Beck’s show claiming that the American public would be “sickened” by what was in the files. They make this big show of handing out these files, which were just part 1 of many(!) to esteemed journalists like LibsofTiktok.

Then all of a sudden she’s claiming that the don’t have everything and an FBI field office is withholding docs?

If her IO plan was to make the AG’s office look incompetent, then job well done.

So what’s the position here?

 

[amlove21]

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[compforce]

I thought this was a really good analysis. I can't attribute it, I don't who the author was. Everything fits contextually



----------------
Many of you probably watched what took place between Donald Trump and Zelenskyy tonight. Whether you're a Democrat or a Republican, you might be thinking to yourself, Oh my God, Donald Trump just screwed up.
However, as a lifelong practitioner of martial arts, strategy, and philosophy, let me explain the difference between what you believe you witnessed and what actually happened.

Donald Trump has been under constant political persecution since the beginning of his first term. Over time, he has learned to be patient and calculated.

Tonight, Zelenskyy was invited to the Oval Office. However, both Trump and JD Vance knew exactly what Zelenskyy was going to do—he would use this opportunity, in front of the American people, to make a power play. Both Trump and Vance anticipated this.
When Zelenskyy began appealing to the emotions of the American people, JD Vance stepped in, accusing him of disrespecting Donald Trump. This was brilliant strategy. It’s important to understand that Zelenskyy is trying to gain access to NATO.
Trump knew this but could not allow it to happen. If Ukraine joins NATO, the U.S. would be bound by NATO’s collective defense agreement—an attack on one is an attack on all.

Now consider the larger implications: Ukraine and Russia despise each other. If Ukraine were to become a NATO member, any future skirmish between them would obligate the U.S. to enter into direct conflict with Russia. This would mean World War III. And if that happened, China would have to choose a side—they would almost certainly align with Russia.

So what you witnessed tonight was a setup. Trump and JD Vance knew that the only way to achieve peace was to strategically align, at least on the surface, with Russia. Why? Because Russia would never sign a peace treaty if Ukraine were admitted into NATO.
This is why Trump dismantled Zelenskyy’s argument. And when Zelenskyy, seeing his play failing, tried to backtrack and offer a treaty, Trump refused.

Zelenskyy’s real intent was clear—he would not agree to peace unless security guarantees were in place. But what was he actually saying? That NATO must accept Ukraine. However, Russia would never agree to peace, knowing that NATO, their historical adversary, would surround them.
Zelenskyy, Putin, and Trump all knew this. Zelenskyy, thinking he had Democrats' support, believed he could make this bold move on live television. But Trump and Vance saw right through it and outmaneuvered him.

They knew that, in the short term, Democrats and the media would try to use this moment against them. But they also knew they had two years before midterms to prove their strategy was the right one. So they held their ground—brilliantly so.
Now, Zelenskyy will have no choice but to back down and accept Trump's terms. But here’s the genius part—Trump is actually protecting Ukraine without dragging the U.S. into war.

By negotiating a mineral deal, Trump ensures that Americans will be involved in Ukraine’s mining industry. This prevents Russia from launching an invasion, because attacking Ukraine would mean endangering American lives—something that would force the U.S. to respond.
Trump played both sides like a master chess player. In the end, Zelenskyy will have no choice but to concede, because without U.S. support, Ukraine cannot win a prolonged war against Russia. And once U.S. companies have mining operations in Ukraine, Putin will be unable to attack without triggering massive international consequences.

 

[BlackSmokeRisinG]

The Ukrainians have done an excellent job at fighting off Ivan. Most everything besides the small drones came from us, I dont even think the NATO countries added that many heavy weapons. Russia still has tens of millions of men, plus NORKs, plus whoever else, to send to their deaths. Ukraine does not. Europe isn't going to put troops on the ground, if they were, it would have happened without our help..

Russia is the mentally ill guy let out of jail in NYC to commit 30 more robberies and assaults. They aren't running out of anything it appears.

Are the EU nations going to commit to the rebuilding of the U.S. after we get struck by Russian hypersonic nukes? That is, if things get that out of hand.

If that's their plan, they should let us know.

 

[RackMaster]

Here's some good analysis of the whole meeting and not the clips the media is pushing.

With context and time stamps.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Forgot the youtube video.

Here's his opinion.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[amlove21]

I thought this was a really good analysis. I can't attribute it, I don't who the author was. Everything fits contextually



----------------
Many of you probably watched what took place between Donald Trump and Zelenskyy tonight. Whether you're a Democrat or a Republican, you might be thinking to yourself, Oh my God, Donald Trump just screwed up.
However, as a lifelong practitioner of martial arts, strategy, and philosophy, let me explain the difference between what you believe you witnessed and what actually happened.

Donald Trump has been under constant political persecution since the beginning of his first term. Over time, he has learned to be patient and calculated.

Tonight, Zelenskyy was invited to the Oval Office. However, both Trump and JD Vance knew exactly what Zelenskyy was going to do—he would use this opportunity, in front of the American people, to make a power play. Both Trump and Vance anticipated this.
When Zelenskyy began appealing to the emotions of the American people, JD Vance stepped in, accusing him of disrespecting Donald Trump. This was brilliant strategy. It’s important to understand that Zelenskyy is trying to gain access to NATO.
Trump knew this but could not allow it to happen. If Ukraine joins NATO, the U.S. would be bound by NATO’s collective defense agreement—an attack on one is an attack on all.

Now consider the larger implications: Ukraine and Russia despise each other. If Ukraine were to become a NATO member, any future skirmish between them would obligate the U.S. to enter into direct conflict with Russia. This would mean World War III. And if that happened, China would have to choose a side—they would almost certainly align with Russia.

So what you witnessed tonight was a setup. Trump and JD Vance knew that the only way to achieve peace was to strategically align, at least on the surface, with Russia. Why? Because Russia would never sign a peace treaty if Ukraine were admitted into NATO.
This is why Trump dismantled Zelenskyy’s argument. And when Zelenskyy, seeing his play failing, tried to backtrack and offer a treaty, Trump refused.

Zelenskyy’s real intent was clear—he would not agree to peace unless security guarantees were in place. But what was he actually saying? That NATO must accept Ukraine. However, Russia would never agree to peace, knowing that NATO, their historical adversary, would surround them.
Zelenskyy, Putin, and Trump all knew this. Zelenskyy, thinking he had Democrats' support, believed he could make this bold move on live television. But Trump and Vance saw right through it and outmaneuvered him.

They knew that, in the short term, Democrats and the media would try to use this moment against them. But they also knew they had two years before midterms to prove their strategy was the right one. So they held their ground—brilliantly so.
Now, Zelenskyy will have no choice but to back down and accept Trump's terms. But here’s the genius part—Trump is actually protecting Ukraine without dragging the U.S. into war.

By negotiating a mineral deal, Trump ensures that Americans will be involved in Ukraine’s mining industry. This prevents Russia from launching an invasion, because attacking Ukraine would mean endangering American lives—something that would force the U.S. to respond.
Trump played both sides like a master chess player. In the end, Zelenskyy will have no choice but to concede, because without U.S. support, Ukraine cannot win a prolonged war against Russia. And once U.S. companies have mining operations in Ukraine, Putin will be unable to attack without triggering massive international consequences.

Great post.

I’ll boil my feelings down after reading it- the White House is my (read, all of our) house. It’s the people’s house.

Zelensky came to my house and disrespected our house, our leaders, and what that house means. Friend, foe, ally, adversary- I will *always side with America before another nation*.

The apoplectic defense of Zelensky and the nerve to wrap up the folks cheering for America’s defense (all the diplomatic nuance aside and the larger US/Ukraine/Russia) as somehow pro-Russian is super weird, but it’s the easiest way to say a thing without actually having to defend it.

No foreign flags in Congress. No foreign nations’ wars funded by America with some suicidal empathy sort of justification how it ‘protects our interests’. When you sit down with America, button up your shirt and bring a healthy dose of respect and watch your tone, because we are the gorilla in the room in every meaningful regard.

I’m confused how that’s not the position of Americans, but that’s a me problem.

 

[Topkick]

When you sit down with America, button up your shirt and bring a healthy dose of respect and watch your tone, because we are the gorilla in the room in every meaningful regard.

Couldn't agree more. Zelensky has been lifted to celebrity status and was constantly fawned over by the media and the last administration. I think @DA SWO said it, the Z- man forgot who he was dealing with. He needed to be knocked back down a few notches to realize he's dealing with Murica now.

 

[amlove21]

As for the Epstein shit show (72 hours has passed)-

It’s a miss. The influencers idea was stupid. Bad optics. That’s a whole different topic.

As concisely as possible-

1. Bondi wants to release Epstein files. SDNY has jurisdiction and owns the documents. She reviews. Comes out and says, “we are releasing them, they’re sickening.” She doesn’t posses the files, SDNY does. No one can say what she saw wasn’t sickening unless you can read minds or unless you’re saying you know what’s contained (you don’t).
2. Set release date. Bondi orders release. SDNY says ‘TIGHT here you go’.
3. Bondi flips shit, knowing they big timed her, tells them to release the rest, they don’t. Bondi is in a corner because she outran her skis. Released what she has calls it Phase 1.
4. America loses their collective minds. Bondi goes public with the letter. Calls Kash to get FBINY/SDNY in line, and puts the defiance in the coliseum for all to see as opposed to holding release and working back side.
5. We are here.

It doesn’t take Qanon to just look at what we have and go “You know, the guys she’s accusing of being corrupt and defying her have a ridiculously long history of corruption and defying the federal government. Bondi isn’t stupid or a liar (past examples abound of her intelligence and not lying to the public), so it’s at least reasonable to think that she got played. Lesson learned for her.

Her Sophie’s Choice was delay release (then she’s a liar) or take a big bite out of her shit sandwich and press. She chose the latter.

It was never going to be enough, no matter what, and that’s with the false premise of believing all government agencies and influential people (like the ones on the list) were in lock step. To some degree I think there is agreement that’s a false premise. I feel more strongly than that.

Guess we will see what happens next.

 

[amlove21]

Couldn't agree more. Zelensky has been lifted to celebrity status and was constantly fawned over by the media and the last administration. I think @DA SWO said it, the Z- man forgot who he was dealing with. He needed to be knocked back down a few notches to realize he's dealing with Murica now.

The HILARIOUS hypothetical we can explore- replace Zelensky with Putin. The whole thing, redone, with Vlad.

The *very same people crying now would still be calling Trump the same things for continuing the war in Ukraine and costing lives and the poor women and children and the whole deal*.

“WE HAD PEACE AND JD YELLED AND TRUMP LOST HIS COOL WITH PUTIN NOW RUSSIA IS GONNA KILL MORE OF OUR GREATEST ALLY UKRAINE.”

The silliest of geese.

 

[RackMaster]

This is pretty huge and goes against everything Queen Elizabeth did to keep politics out of her role. I knew King Charles was going to be a fuck up, he is a horrible human being. But this takes it pretty far.

Zelenskyy embraced by British PM, set to meet with King Charles | Globalnews.ca

 

[Marauder06]

I received notice that my shop will have to do the "5 Things" email after all. Whatever, it's a copy/paste of the weekly sync we all do with each other in the shop. It's going to be like a 10-second thing. Still waiting on an email to reply to.

The interesting thing to me is that the request is coming right as a bunch of really big projects (and things that sound really big) came to fruition. If I had to do this, this was a good week to start. Unfortunately, if this is something I'm going to have to sustain, the subsequent lists are going to be... not so sexy. ;)

 

[ThunderHorse]

I thought this was a really good analysis. I can't attribute it, I don't who the author was. Everything fits contextually



----------------
snip

That would be a solid post if you trust any of these dudes, but I've spent the better part 3 years being constantly lied to by my boss whose Indian, it took me the last 18 months to really see who he was. Well...he just convinced the new COO I wasn't the person for the job, get through the interview process for his job and get told I impressed them yada yada.

They hire a GM from a sub org, but apparently after that decision was they didn't do any background on this guy. Guy was fired from his last job and then given a lifeline and now those people who gave him that lifeline feel betrayed. The hire would make sense if you were trying to politically align with where this guy was originally...but then you find out that the new COO is just love bombed and blind to the fact that this dude is a shipwreck.

Putin has Vance and Trump lovebombed and blind, and the competent dude whose been grinding and showing up is being told to get effed.

Wildly analogous to my current employment situation.

 

[Jaknight]

I thought this was a really good analysis. I can't attribute it, I don't who the author was. Everything fits contextually



----------------
Many of you probably watched what took place between Donald Trump and Zelenskyy tonight. Whether you're a Democrat or a Republican, you might be thinking to yourself, Oh my God, Donald Trump just screwed up.
However, as a lifelong practitioner of martial arts, strategy, and philosophy, let me explain the difference between what you believe you witnessed and what actually happened.

Donald Trump has been under constant political persecution since the beginning of his first term. Over time, he has learned to be patient and calculated.

Tonight, Zelenskyy was invited to the Oval Office. However, both Trump and JD Vance knew exactly what Zelenskyy was going to do—he would use this opportunity, in front of the American people, to make a power play. Both Trump and Vance anticipated this.
When Zelenskyy began appealing to the emotions of the American people, JD Vance stepped in, accusing him of disrespecting Donald Trump. This was brilliant strategy. It’s important to understand that Zelenskyy is trying to gain access to NATO.
Trump knew this but could not allow it to happen. If Ukraine joins NATO, the U.S. would be bound by NATO’s collective defense agreement—an attack on one is an attack on all.

Now consider the larger implications: Ukraine and Russia despise each other. If Ukraine were to become a NATO member, any future skirmish between them would obligate the U.S. to enter into direct conflict with Russia. This would mean World War III. And if that happened, China would have to choose a side—they would almost certainly align with Russia.

So what you witnessed tonight was a setup. Trump and JD Vance knew that the only way to achieve peace was to strategically align, at least on the surface, with Russia. Why? Because Russia would never sign a peace treaty if Ukraine were admitted into NATO.
This is why Trump dismantled Zelenskyy’s argument. And when Zelenskyy, seeing his play failing, tried to backtrack and offer a treaty, Trump refused.

Zelenskyy’s real intent was clear—he would not agree to peace unless security guarantees were in place. But what was he actually saying? That NATO must accept Ukraine. However, Russia would never agree to peace, knowing that NATO, their historical adversary, would surround them.
Zelenskyy, Putin, and Trump all knew this. Zelenskyy, thinking he had Democrats' support, believed he could make this bold move on live television. But Trump and Vance saw right through it and outmaneuvered him.

They knew that, in the short term, Democrats and the media would try to use this moment against them. But they also knew they had two years before midterms to prove their strategy was the right one. So they held their ground—brilliantly so.
Now, Zelenskyy will have no choice but to back down and accept Trump's terms. But here’s the genius part—Trump is actually protecting Ukraine without dragging the U.S. into war.

By negotiating a mineral deal, Trump ensures that Americans will be involved in Ukraine’s mining industry. This prevents Russia from launching an invasion, because attacking Ukraine would mean endangering American lives—something that would force the U.S. to respond.
Trump played both sides like a master chess player. In the end, Zelenskyy will have no choice but to concede, because without U.S. support, Ukraine cannot win a prolonged war against Russia. And once U.S. companies have mining operations in Ukraine, Putin will be unable to attack without triggering massive international consequences.

That may very well have been the plan, but maybe Trump and JD already knew Zelensky wouldn’t sign the deal as it was. They could have decided to put on this show to make it even easier to say, “Oh, look, see? He doesn’t want peace. Forget him—let’s make a deal with Russia alone.”

And I’m failing to see how minerals are going to save Ukraine when Trump or whoever can simply say, “Oh, Zelensky is antagonizing the Russians—he’s to blame. I worked out a deal, and now Russia won’t attack our mines.” Or they could just say the minerals aren’t worth the cost of American soldiers. That security guarantee is about as valuable as Ray Kroc’s handshake with the McDonald brothers in The Founder.

 

[Marauder06]

I'm not too upset about the way Zelenskyy was dressed. He most likely wanted to convey that his country is at war, and he is a wartime president. I get it.

I also remember that we have a senator who shows up to do the peoples' business in basketball shorts and a hoodie. Of course he's not there asking us for billions of (more) dollars, but it's still a thing.

...but coming to the US and calling the VP a bitch (if that's what happened, I don't speak Ukrainian) and getting into a big blowout with the leader of the only country that really matters to the future survival of your regime, your country, and possibly you personally? Yeah, that's bold.

 

[Marauder06]

That may very well have been the plan, but maybe Trump and JD already knew Zelensky wouldn’t sign the deal as it was. They could have decided to put on this show to make it even easier to say, “Oh, look, see? He doesn’t want peace. Forget him—let’s make a deal with Russia alone.”

And I’m failing to see how minerals are going to save Ukraine when Trump or whoever can simply say, “Oh, Zelensky is antagonizing the Russians—he’s to blame. I worked out a deal, and now Russia won’t attack our mines.” Or they could just say the minerals aren’t worth the cost of American soldiers. That security guarantee is about as valuable as Ray Kroc’s handshake with the McDonald brothers in The Founder.

This last part is one of the reasons that I hold fast to my assertion that Realism is the one true IR religion.

In an anarchic, zero-sum, and self-help world, hard power is all that matters. You can make all of the agreements you want--people seem to forget that Ukraine got "security guarantees" when they gave Russia back the USSR's nukes--but at the end of the day, they're worth less than the paper they're written on.

The only security guarantee that's going to matter is joining NATO, which the person with the biggest say in NATO, Pres Trump, has already said is a non-starter.

Interested to see where this goes.