Politics

[Rocked and Loaded]

If I were a passenger on that SFO flight, I’d be cheering or helping the arrest. Hope the trial is swift, punishment severe. To hell with the second guessing of LE arrest techniques or timing.

I’m responsible for four “girls”- ages 4, 21, 29 and 46. Scattered from Kuwait to SE Asia to US. Here!s our 4 year old rugrat I just returned from visiting on her birthday,

View attachment 703072

I don’t disagree in principle but I doubt they told the passengers why they were arresting him.

The problem with doing it on a plane is that I think most folks minds are going to jump to thoughts terrorism.

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

 

[Wheels]

Wheels, with respect, this is entirely wrong (!). Apologies, but it's the lawyer in me.

The USMCA (or CUSMA as we call it in Canada - sort of like the Gulf of America) is clear that it's in force until 2036. Article 34.7 of the Agreement requires the three parties to hold what is referred to as a "joint review" of the Agreement on the sixth anniversary of its coming into force (which July 1, 2026).

Article 34.7(2) states: "On the sixth anniversary of the coming into force of this Agreement, the [parties] shall conduct a 'joint review' of the operations of this Agreement, review any recommendations for action submitted by a Party, and decide on any appropriate actions."

That's all that happens in 2026. If the Parties can't agree on recommendations, the Agreement just continues on its merry way for another ten years, unaltered.

There is a provision (Article 34.6) whereby one party can provide six months written notice to the other Parties that it wants to withdraw from the Agreement. In that case, the entire Agreement falls away with respect to that Party, but remains in force for the other Parties.

So it's basically an all or nothing for each Party if the others don't want to negotiate individual items. Given that the Agreement provides benefits to all Parties (or the US wouldn't have entered into it), there's risk to the US if Trump decides to terminate the entire agreement that the provisions and protections for the US which he fought for in his first term disappear, both with respect to Canada and Mexico. He may be up for that. Time will tell, but I suppose we will find out no later than February 1, 2026 (when he has to give notice if he wants the Agreement to terminate on July 1, 2026.

Hank

I agree with you completely regarding the leagalize of USMCA. What you have stated is my understanding as well. . My wording you quoted is definitely layman terminology.

When I said renegotiation to take place next summer I was dealing with the timeline of USMCA along with statements by people including Lutnick that USMCA is going to be replaced next summer with bilateral treaties or a flat tariff imposed by Trump. How that happens we will probably have to wait to find out but you explained the probable chain of events that would satisfy the attorneys.

 

[Aaron N]

Eric Trump said exactly that back in February…

He was very clear… those that come to the table first have the best shot at getting the best deals… if you’re last in line, you’ve likely lost all leverage and are going to find yourself in a bad bargaining position..

The EU took a huge beating with the deal that finally got brokered..

I can’t imagine things are going to be better for Canada…

The thought that expanding Canadas energy market to Europe got hosed pretty hard with the EU now committing to buying $750B in energy from the US…

I would guess other bargaining chips are going to get squashed as well while Carney, Ford, et al continue to screw around…

Per Canada’s own press… things aren’t looking good for Canada… and Trump really isn’t looking at Canada seriously to make a deal…i.e “we haven’t been focused on them”

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/us-canada-trade-deal-tariff-1.7593904

This is an honest question. How can the brain trust in Brussels mandate where private European companies purchase their oil and gas products from?

 

[mdwest]

This is an honest question. How can the brain trust in Brussels mandate where private European companies purchase their oil and gas products from?

My understanding is it’s a little different in every EU country…

For example in Germany, provincial and federal government buy energy as well as private companies..

EDF in France is the largest energy company in Europe. It is 100% nationalized and owned by the French government.

Each country also maintains a national strategic reserve of oil and gas… and the EU also maintains a strategic reserve..

Then you also have the regulatory environment in the individual countries and in the EU that incentivizes purchasing from some markets and penalizes purchases from others..

 

[spike.t]

Japan and US issue tsunami warnings after magnitude 8.8 quake

Evacuation orders have been issued in Japan and US after powerful earthquake struck Russia on Wednesday.

www.bbc.com

 

[spike.t]

Six months later, US soft power feels effects of USAID cuts | The Strategist https://share.google/npJFQq5gpJaI9nZ0Q

 

[spike.t]

Trump to scrap landmark finding that regulates carbon emissions

Experts warn the move will severely curb the federal government's ability to combat climate change.

www.bbc.com

 

[Wheels]

Trump to scrap landmark finding that regulates carbon emissions

Experts warn the move will severely curb the federal government's ability to combat climate change.

www.bbc.com

This will save American business and consumers hundreds of billions. Plus remove the need of half the employees at EPA.

This is the first real blow to administrative agencies. If Trump lives up to his word all agencies will start getting rid of entire sections of their rules. The SCOTUS decision last year on Loper Bright/Chevron Doctrine will allow the lawfare to be effectively neutered but it will take time.

 

[Wheels]

Six months later, US soft power feels effects of USAID cuts | The Strategist https://share.google/npJFQq5gpJaI9nZ0Q

Not sure if this has been revised or not but after the State Department took over USAID they estimated that 7% of the budget went to actual aid around the world. The rest of the 48B evidently was a slush fund to influence friend and foe both internal and external to America.

 

[deewayne2003]

Not sure if this has been revised or not but after the State Department took over USAID they estimated that 7% of the budget went to actual aid around the world. The rest of the 48B evidently was a slush fund to influence friend and foe both internal and external to America.

Just like the emergency food rations that are about to expire and be incinerated; people are crying about it being wasted.

Nobody mentioned that much of this food has a 20 year self life and why that food wasn’t distributed before it was set to expire, not to mention how much was spent on storing this food that was never utilized.

 

[Brent in Az]

300% increase in magnitude 6+ earthquakes, and large objects hurtling towards earth.

Let the Revelation commence........

 

[Brent in Az]

Patel found thousands of sensitive Trump–Russia probe docs inside 'burn bags' in secret room at FBI

EXCLUSIVE: FBI Director Kash Patel found a trove of sensitive documents related to the origins of the Trump–Russia probe buried in burn bags in a secret room inside the bureau, sources familiar told Fox News Digital.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Brent in Az]

Californian's can rejoice. Kamala has decided not to run for governor.

You dodged a bullet.

No doubt the ding- dong will be in the presidential race once again

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

Californian's can rejoice. Kamala has decided not to run for governor.

You dodged a bullet.

No doubt the ding- dong will be in the presidential race once again

That would seem to be the end of it then.

In politics you dig into a long term position or keep moving up. Governor would be a bit of a step down from prospective president but it would have kept the possibility of her running again alive.

I guess she’ll settle for a book tour and then paid speaking engagements with progressive schools annd organizations until she fades away. Then perhaps the occasional appearance as a political commentator.

I think that many on the left (when they’re self aware enough to be honest and don’t just yell “racism!”) hold her partially responsible for their defeat. She had her shot and they want her to move out of the way for whatever the new hotness is expected to be.

 

[Altitude sickness]

She laid down her cards before bluffing. Backwards poker.

And no one got out of the Governor race because she entered. Her entire strategy was to hope everyone would step aside and Crown her Governor.

 

[spike.t]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/30/us/ntsb-hearing-dc-crash

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Not sure if this has been revised or not but after the State Department took over USAID they estimated that 7% of the budget went to actual aid around the world. The rest of the 48B evidently was a slush fund to influence friend and foe both internal and external to America.

That would seem to be the end of it then.

In politics you dig into a long term position or keep moving up. Governor would be a bit of a step down from prospective president but it would have kept the possibility of her running again alive.

I guess she’ll settle for a book tour and then paid speaking engagements with progressive schools annd organizations until she fades away. Then perhaps the occasional appearance as a political commentator.

I think that many on the left (when they’re self aware enough to be honest and don’t just yell “racism!”) hold her partially responsible for their defeat. She had her shot and they want her to move out of the way for whatever the new hotness is expected to be.

I think you nailed it. Exactly what I was thinking. I can think of a long line of "also rans" that disappeared after such a stunning defeat, never to be heard from again.

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

I think you nailed it. Exactly what I was thinking. I can think of a long line of "also rans" that disappeared after such a stunning defeat, never to be heard from again.

Losing a presidential primary seems to be survivable on occasion (think Hillary or Biden) but losing the big run seems to be the kiss of death politically (Hillary again).

On the other hand, Trump seems to be the outlier for just about every political precedent.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Losing a presidential primary seems to be survivable on occasion (think Hillary or Biden) but losing the big run seems to be the kiss of death politically (Hillary again).

On the other hand, Trump seems to be the outlier for just about every political precedent.

True, but the thing about Trump in 2020 was that it was very close and a lot of people thought he had actually won it. Now throw in four years of the abysmal performance of the Biden/Harris administration and a really big loss in 2924. I just don't see her coming back at all.