The Frankish Reich

What on earth would make people think that Canada wants any part of the mess that is NYS?

For example, Bondi. Let's say DOJ really does try to prosecute Jack Smith for something or other. It is really, really difficult to prevail on some kind of selective prosecution/prosecutor should have recused type of claim. But pledging to prosecute Trump's political enemies before being selected opens the door to that.

A quick scorecard: Solid picks/no complaints: State: Rubio. Normal mainstream pick/failed Presidential candidate. Experience on the appropriate Senate committee. Speaks Spanish is a plus. Treasury: Bessent. Normal mainstream pick/uber-wealthy investment banker. George Soros guy, has made a lot of money on seeing things coming. Interior: Burgum. Same as Rubio. Always goes to a western state pol. Nothing to see here. HUD: Turner. This seems to be the Trump "put a Black guy in there" department. Unlike Dr. Ben, has shown interest in the field, working on opportunity zones, etc. And yes he is the only Black nominee. Surgeon General: Fox TV doc. a largely symbolic office that is all about public communication. So here a TV personality works. Chief of Staff: Wiles. Could've been a Matt Gaetz type. Pat Summerall's daughter, which is probably preferable to John Madden's daughter. Elections have consequences, I'll take my medicine like a good boy: VA: Collins. Who? That's the point. Apparently worked on the Trump Georgia election challenges, but I'll forgive him for that indiscretion. Labor: Chavez de Remer. A typical Democratic nominee. Checks two boxes (Dem + Hispanic). Trump's attempt to curry favor with unions. OK, fine. Energy: Chris Wright. Oilman. A little concerned about lack of experience with other major Energy things (nuclear), but again ... elections. Economic advisor: Hackett. Nice guy. Even though economists struggle to hit .500 with their up/down, bull/bear projections, an abysmal track record ... EPA: Zeldin. Did I really think an environmentalist would get this job? I could have stomached RFK Jr. here, but not there. OMB: Vought. Back again. Trump is responsible for lying about Project 2025, not Vought. It's what people should've realized they were voting for. UN Ambassador: Stefanik. Pulling a Nikki. Watch out JD for 2028, But she is smart and apparently a hard worker who has now gone full suck-up mode. Really bad picks: Ag: Brooke Rollins. Not the place for a pure political consultant. Farmers should feel insulted by this dump job. DOT: Sean Duffy. A dumber Buttigieg. No business running a major Department. DHS: Noem. Interior was right for her. DHS is too much for her. Someone other than a pure sycophant needed for this job. Another "watch your back, JD" Trade: Some guy named Jamieson Greer. Seems a little too Trump tariff-happy. At least he's not Peter Navarro. CIA: Ratcliffe. Whatever. He was gonna resurface somewhere. This is some kind of a sick joke, right? RUFKM?? Justice: Bondi, Gaetz the Lesser. She is nominally qualified, but getting this job after committing to prosecute her predecessors at DOJ is a disqualifier. Period. DOD: Hegseth. A huge Department that requires personnel management policy guidance experience, of which he has neither, even if he is just a horndog and not a rapist. Commerce: Lutnick. The consolation prize. Way, way too conflicted, particularly with his Tether crypto cheerleading now. No reason to have this guy in government. You gotta ask "what's in it for him?" Fought tooth and nail to get Treasury, so he really, really wants in. Education: Linda McMahon. Enabler of sexual abuse (you did have to blow Vince if you wanted to be a WWE girl), steroid abuse, you name it. No apparent qualifications for this job, just like she had none for SBA. Campaign contributor dump job. Wasn't the Ambassador to Bahamas available? Medicare/Medicaid: Dr. Oz. Why? I mean, why would he want this? A drudgery for even the wonkiest, and that sure ain't him. HHS: the ultimate choice. RFK Jr. Drug abuser (but he says doing heroin did make him a better student). Addict. Phone sex participant DURING HIS CAMPAIGN. Nanny harasser. Dead bear cub depositor. Spreader of conspiratorial mis (dis?)information. Utterly unqualified for the job other than the negative qualification of being an anti-vaxxer. Buffoon who makes Biden's voice sound powerful.

Which one was in Biden's cabinet? Must've missed that.

Exactly. The price of oil on the world market is right at a tipping point now; if it goes much lower, U.S. shale oil fields will start to go dormant again. Reminder: there is an international market in petroleum. Now let me pose a question: if you wanted to juice U.S. production, wouldn't you slap a new/larger tariff on OPEC oil? Now let me pose another question: would Trump's friends the Saudis appreciate that? UPDATE: Trump team says no exemption for oil from the 25% Mexico/Canada tariff. So let's make Saudi oil cheaper than oil from our own regional allies. Again, say what you want about leverage vs. Mexico. Why punish Canada?

Kevin Hassett back as head of Trump's National Economic Council. I like him. A rare happy economist with a constant smile. But has any economist been so consistently, amazingly wrong? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Hassett

Interesting take from someone named (((Levi)))

Ahh, yes, the Age of Mercantilism. Now we know what Golden Age Trump is trying to restore.

Hey, you're welcome to stick around. But I think you know better ...

Sorry, I couldn't follow. I'm gonna do some heroin and get back to you later.

Oh, I think billionaire and tasteful home decorator Scott Bessent and Davos habitue Howard Lutkin (not to mention the spawn of Trump himself) are quite comfortable hobnobbing with the rest of the Davos crowd.

I do appreciate commenters who have actual expertise in a certain field and are willing to share it here. OK, so not to pat myself on the back, I do have a pretty good handle on the immigration/drug smuggling angle. Illegal immigration between Canada and the US is a real thing. But it goes both ways. Quick examples: https://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/statistics/Pages/Irregular-border-crosser-statistics.aspx (that one is USA to Canada) https://www.npr.org/2024/09/10/nx-s1-5091259/indian-migrants-immigration-canada-northern-border-illegal-us-customs-and-border-protection (that one is Canada to the USA) Now the point is this: Canada is not even remotely akin to Mexico when it comes to facilitating illegal immigration to the United States. We already have an agreement with Canada that illegal immigrants (non-visa holding) who try to enter the USA at a Port of Entry (think: Rainbow/Peace Bridge) will be returned to Canada to make an asylum claim. And vice-versa. We can certainly negotiate something similar with Canada for illegal immigrants trying to enter illegally between official ports of entry - that is, your classic "illegal immigrants." The 25% tariff on Canada simply isn't justifiable on these grounds, even if it is justifiable with respect to Mexico. (Or, for other reasons, China.) And, of course, it damages trade overall with Canada and specifically will have a disproportionate negative impact on the Buffalo economy. So why? A beef with Canada because Trump dislikes Trudeau, who is younger, better looking, with better hair, and the worst sin of all, taller?

Only the best.

I've been looking for some facts that would justify lumping Canada in with Mexico and China. So far, nothing. Trump fans, can you justify this?

I was going to make a joke about the late Buddy Nix, only to find out that he's still alive ...

It's all a game of matchups. Our speed oriented defense can get bulldozed by a power running team. Same with the Chargers.

17 lb turkey. Butterball, not the cheapo store brand. 99 cents per pound. cheapo Thanksgiving! Why you buying the overpriced mediocre woke butter? Only two choices: the high butterfat primo euro stuff, or the cheapo store brand. Learn to shop.

Trump 2020: I negotiated the USMCA, the best trade agreement ever! So, so much better than the NAFTA it replaced. Trump 2024: what idiot is responsible for this USMCA deal that gave away the store? I am imposing big TARIFFS on MEXICO and for some unknown reason on CANADA too! https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/11/25/trump-tariffs-china-mexico-canada-percent/ Still the world's leading moron. The fact that he won the popular vote by a smidgen tells us a lot about the American electorate.

Sure looks like the kind of outsider who will have the common man first and foremost in his mind as he takes on the Global Economic Order. https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2017/06/09/ex-soros-exec-trump-donor-scott-bessent-pays-19m-for-720-park-co-op/

I did see Rand Paul on one of the Sunday morning shows. He is firmly against using the military to aid in immigration enforcement.

You fell for the ultimate con man's latest con. Joke's on you, sucker. Good thing that Project 2025 had absolutely nothing to do with Trump's plans. https://www.newsweek.com/russ-vought-trump-cabinet-project-2025-1990588 Reminder: Low information voters went overwhelmingly for Trump.

Is there anyone on the Trump side who is at least a little bit concerned about a National Emergency declaration and the use of the military to enforce civil immigration law? Posse Comitatus Act ....

I'm fine with the Treasury appointee. It will make markets happy, and happy markets are typically good. My only point here is that anyone who voted from Trump as a way to bust up that happy international world economic order (which I happen to like) was made a fool of.

I agree. If that's all that's out there, his personal behavior should not be a disqualifier. But that doesn't change the fact that he's remarkably poorly qualified to serve as the head of the largest government Department.

EDIT: I realize I can't keep my Fox commenter-nominees straight. Which one pined for the days of George Wallace while receiving an Ivy education?