Just this morning, the President's Trade Rep testified about the "1 trillion dollar deficit President Biden left us with," meaning the cumulative global US trade deficit. But that doesn't mean we owe anybody that money! We got all kinds of stuff in return for it! To use another popular gif:
I mean... they're trying to make trade balanced (to borrow the metaphor) to essentially make the grocery store refuse to take your money until they can come to your house and buy things from your garden shed!
WTF
I used to wonder how in the Middle Ages people forgot things we consider kinda basic (like plumbing and fairly simple money/banking instead of barter) and deny science concepts the Ancient civiliazations understood. Well, here we are again.
It was fine to poke fun at the things that were not going well. However, it's a matter of taking responsibility that the media as a whole, including NPR, took too many potshots and aided the narrative that the whole administration was a failure adrift.
I agree that the media has to bear the blame, but for watering down what Trump was saying. While Biden finished with a strong economy, he failed on some important issues. Also the Harris campaign was the weakest in recent history - and I believe she would have been a better president than Biden.
Downline GOP is seeing everything getting torched. In this crisis their Patrons are going directly to Mar a Lago for remediation, why spend a million a Senator when $10M all at once will do? The Leopards are eating their faces just like they said they would.
No. He still prefaces everything he says with “I support President Trump” before he goes into detail about how Trump has done something stupid. Still gotta pucker up to that orange ass
Yeah, but we need all the help we can get. Either Roosevelt or Churchill said of Stalin when someone criticized him: "He may be a son of a bitch, but he's our son of a bitch."
We *need* to defeat maga. If someone who has always been on the wrong side scores a point for the right side, it’s still to our benefit.
Sometimes we act as if we have to give them something, or somehow support them in the future or forget their past, if we simply acknowledge when they are correct.
But sadly, he is making better points on this issue than any "conservative" member of Congress. Now if only we could de-cultify some of the GOP members and allow congress to take back the power they have ceded to the Cheddar king.
Kentucky is fucked because Canada isn't buying any bouborn from them. He has to say something since him and Mitch will totally lose the next election because of this.
The country with thousands of billionaires. Is getting ripped off. Yeah, that's not correct.
These billionaires buy outside of the US. They sellthat cheap product for steep profits in thr US. It's how they get rich. No one is ripping them off.
Of all the things that have happened in the last three months, it took tariffs to bring him to his senses? Is this going to be the only thing that draws his concerns, or is this the start of an awakening?
Great that someone finally said this publicly. Idk why it takes a week of everyone online saying the obvious before any public figure finally does it, but at least it's finally happening.
Well, we know coal miners are fucking garbage now, they said they wanted Trump as president OK look at the stock market Trump is poison in these coal miners have no shame
Fucking Trump is so out of touch he doesn’t talk about the storms. He doesn’t talk about the red states to get ripped up by all of those tornadoes he says nothing about nothing it’s all about him. He’s an old fucking man at the end of his life he’s miserable no coal miners are sucking his ass.
I almost fall over every time he speaks about tariffs! It’s just about the ONLY issue where we agree! And the grocery store deficit is a great example.
Here's a simple one: one apple is pretty damn cheap. One Microsoft suite is not cheap. One trades a bunch of apples for the other. Microsoft suite doesn't exist physically, it's a service you install. So do we have a trade imbalance? No, Microsoft is fucking expensive. More expensive than my apples.
Essence: number of goods traded doesn't matter. It's the cost of those goods and the US was in a much better position in that regard. Until the trumpacolypse of Wall Street.
Notice when host said “how did the Republicans get here?” Rand quickly retorted “how did we all get here?” wanting to take focus off GOP who played a big part by not impeaching the cretin when they had the chance.
So DJT is stating that other countries want to be partners with our economy so bad that they will bend the knee. Yet, he continues to talk about how shit our economy is.. what a disaster he inherited. There are 2 things I don't like about DJT... his face.
I agree with him, but this all could have been avoided had he and only a few other Rethuglikkkans voted to impeach the Trumping bugger after the insurrection he instigated on 1/6/2021!
You know whats really bizarre? These concepts are in basic economy text books.
The orange scumbag weirdo is doing exactly the opposite.
There is trouble ahead,my friends! Big trouble!
He has to save his job somehow and make it seem like he gives a shit about his constituents, even though he doesn't really.
We need to continue to hold them accountable for this mess because, as usual, the GOP gets in power only to royally screw things up that even their corporate masters are mad
It makes sense though.
Canada was the largest purchaser of Kentucky alchol- Gone.
Without research grants for health, cancer, etc- bye bye Markey Center.
Tobacco farms were eliminated long ago but instead of being a for-runner of cannabis they paved over the farms
What does Kentucky have left? Horses. And who is going to travel to America now?
The populace sure can't keep Kentucky going. Especially as storm after storm hits and destroys land, property, lives and untold death.
This is why Mitch and Paul have spoken up. It finally impacted them.
The reason why Rand Paul is crying so loud about this is he represents Kentucky, which is the seat of the bourbon industry. The bourbon industry is getting absolutely destroyed by these tariffs. If that wasn’t in his backyard he wouldn’t give a shit just like the rest of the Republicans don’t.
Can't believe, in 2025, I'm with Paul. Buying goods with currency is still trade. Our resource is an abundance of desired capital. We trade that for widgets from places that make widgets that we use to generate more capital.
fuk you paul (little p for little man) - you can't have it both ways. KY distillers twistin your punk-arss-bitch tail? @ruralfreedomnet.bsky.social @indivisible.org @ezralevin.bsky.social @sanders.senate.gov @booker.senate.gov
God damnit. First trump had to go and make me find some respect for Liz Cheney...and now I no longer hate Paul enough to want to hear his neighbors have lost their tempers and stabbed him again.
Rand Paul has always been like a very broken clock - truthful/ correct only twice per cycle. It's a mystery how such a moronic/vitriolic/deluded fool like Paul- who spews bogus Putin/Trump/MAGA disinformation like hate-mongering of honorable Dr. Fauci- can still be honest/truthful every few years.
The thing about Rand Paul is he does seem to have a political view that while I don't agree with it, at least he is some what consistent. Most political animals seem just in it for themselves.
For anyone not understanding: Rand Paul is like a shark who only cares about relevance. He can smell a potential layup, from miles away, to be back in the political game
The fact that someone with zero political game sense sees this as a winning issue is really funny.
Rand Paul doing his darndest to teach a new generation of upping voters that libertarians are the dumbest people in a room so long as somebody else is in the room
Trump is destroying the economy and destroying people's retirement accounts. He gets on social media and talks about deliberately sinking the stock market. Tells countries to make deals when he violated his own trade deal with Mexico and Canada!
The Republicans are voicing reproach over the tariffs because they don't want us still talking about signal gate. Trump will remove the tariffs as soon as he feels signal gate has gone away.
I have seen this posted at least a hundred times since January (thankfully with alt text many of the times so that all people can access it); maybe it’s just that I’m accessing the right media (here on Bluesky). I did recently get my FB back and boy would this never be on my feed there 😂
I have never agreed w Rand Paul or his father on nearly anything but for once he has realized Trump has done the worse thing for the United States. It’s like shooting yourself in the foot then blaming someone else
Trying to get a feel from everyone. How would yall feel about a ‘Twitter Spaces’ type discussion using telegram to discuss current events, like to OP’s
I’ve set one up, but looking for feedback before sending Voice Group Chat links.
Since the bourbon industry in Kentucky is getting absolutely obliterated by these tariffs. I’m sure more than one of his fat cat Kentucky donors has been screaming at him to “Fucking do something!” Too late. Shoulda maybe done something February 13, 2021.
US infrastructure is a mess compared to Europe and needs drastic investment. Why can't the richest country on earth invest its way to competitiveness and prosperity instead of screwing over everyone else including its own consumers & international customers? Tariffs are a symbol of national failure
Just waiting for some far left cultist to start ranting about how much of a cunt he is and that we should all just hurl abuse at him, instead of working with him and assisting him to block MAGA legislation until the mid terms.
Hey MAGA Rand, how much Kentucky bourbon have you sold to Canada this week? President Musk and his hand maiden is the problem but your to stupid to know it!
Imagine working at FedEx, UPS, or USPS and seeing box after box arrive at your facility labeled Made in China 365 days a year. Here’s to Trumps 104% tariffs! For he’s a jolly good fellow, for he’s a jolly good fellow, for he’s a jolly good fe-e-llow…Which nobody can deny! Hip, hip — hurray!
Go back to 2014 when Jill Stein, Gen Flynn, and Sen. Ron Johnson went to meet w Putin on the 4th of July.
Or, just ask former Speaker Paul Ryan. FFS people, list to the reality. He is a Russian Asset. @cnbc.com
When will Americans figure out that Trump’s whole life has revolved around him being a “winner” which means everyone else is a “loser”. He doesn’t understand what common ground is which is why he’s destroyed every free trade agreement.
Randy has a good point to warn US about Don’s tariffs from a historical perspective, but he gets no respect from me cuz he’s a BIG enabler of the current misadministration, & he bears his share of the blame for our current political dilemma.
No, when they tariff us much more than we tariff them, then we are losing. We need to use our leverage to make other countries engage in commerce with us FAIRLY and equitably. Match the tariffs until they agree to stay equal or go to zero together with us. Democrats don't understand this.
Nah I just see you for the fake asshole you are. Justifying this madness that will hurt us and our children for generations to come. Miss me with your fake arguments.
F'ing hell... Rand Paul and McConnell are becoming the voice of reason in the GOP, which just shows how far into Fascicm the rest of the party had ventured.
Rand Paul has always been like a very broken clock - truthful/ correct only twice per cycle. It's a mystery how such a moronic/vitriolic/deluded fool like Paul- who spews bogus Putin/Trump/MAGA disinformation like hate-mongering of honorable Dr. Fauci- can still be honest/truthful every few years.
And can we please talk about removing services from the trade deficit calculation. It is ridiculous. So Trump wants to move from exporting services around the world to an economy based on serfs screwing tiny screws into iPhones for less than subsistence wages?
When it's Great Depression Redux and we're idle with no jobs, no money & no prospects, I want to invite everyone on this thread who made me laugh today to my salon to discuss events of the day while we dine on mock apple pie made with crackers and sip bathtub gin.
Comments
WTF
A FOUR IS BIGGER THAN A THREE, SAGAL.
Democrats blame everyone else for their failures.
Sometimes we act as if we have to give them something, or somehow support them in the future or forget their past, if we simply acknowledge when they are correct.
Which is at least something you can work with in the face of the absolute stupidity going on.
Strange times, strange bedfellows. I can go back to hating Rand Paul when this shit is over. 1/2
2. They think we aren’t very bright, or
3. Both of the above, or
4. That’s it. Those are all the choices.
These billionaires buy outside of the US. They sellthat cheap product for steep profits in thr US. It's how they get rich. No one is ripping them off.
You voted and supported this fucker, now own it
This is truly a sign of the end times.
They supported Trump every step of the way!
Regrets happen when the leopard eats your face.
The orange scumbag weirdo is doing exactly the opposite.
There is trouble ahead,my friends! Big trouble!
Hell has frozen
We need to continue to hold them accountable for this mess because, as usual, the GOP gets in power only to royally screw things up that even their corporate masters are mad
Canada was the largest purchaser of Kentucky alchol- Gone.
Without research grants for health, cancer, etc- bye bye Markey Center.
Tobacco farms were eliminated long ago but instead of being a for-runner of cannabis they paved over the farms
The populace sure can't keep Kentucky going. Especially as storm after storm hits and destroys land, property, lives and untold death.
This is why Mitch and Paul have spoken up. It finally impacted them.
For anything…
EVER.
It just shows how radically fucked up everything is.
Trump's birthday parade.
Lots and lots of his trusted soldiers in Washington.
Declaring martial law.
But you guys keep talking, 14th June is a long time away.
Only this time the other side is properly tooled up and what’s more has an enormous standing army and state of the art nukes.
The fact that someone with zero political game sense sees this as a winning issue is really funny.
I’ve set one up, but looking for feedback before sending Voice Group Chat links.
also F Rand Paul
https://bsky.app/profile/y-exclamationpoint.bsky.social/post/3lmcvyi7czs24
Rand Paul makes sense
I describe it as trying to comprehend things on the level at which all ordinary people live.
We all have trade deficits with all the entities from which we buy goods and services.
Or, just ask former Speaker Paul Ryan. FFS people, list to the reality. He is a Russian Asset. @cnbc.com
Don’s 1/6/21 putsch was okay with him.
Fuck off, Randy!
https://x.com
Allowing International trade economies to thrive.