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Alright, let's see. Legolas Send a noteboard - 21/09/2017 08:46:43 PM

First and I think foremost, Iran. Trump somehow manages to create a situation where he talks about Iran, Rouhani replies, and most of the world including America's western allies is left figuring that Iran is basically the adult in the room and has the right of it. Of course, America is better than Trump, whereas the real powers in Iran are rather worse than Rouhani, so that exchange doesn't mean those allies would side with Iran over the US or anything... but still. That's not a situation he should be in. Additionally, the absurd and blatant hypocrisy of blaming only Iran for crimes which Saudi Arabia and other American allies are equally or more guilty of, rather undermines the high ground he takes in various other parts of the speech.

Then, Venezuela. Now it's pretty obvious to anyone with a brain that Venezuela is an atrocious mess and Maduro is a disaster, so no issues here with harsh words against them - but given that Trump somehow managed to threaten military action a while back, making the rest of the world recoil in horror and giving Maduro one hell of a propaganda present, phrases like 'we are prepared to take further action' become a little scary. And as for 'The problem in Venezuela is not that socialism has been poorly implemented, but that socialism has been faithfully implemented' - no. Just no. Leave the right-wing talk radio shtick at home when you're speeching at the UN.

And then let's not forget the 'Major portions of the world are in conflict and some, in fact, are going to hell' line. Come again?



I will say, having read through the whole transcript now, that there's also more good stuff in there than I was expecting - the good stuff doesn't get as much press attention, I suppose. But that's the way it works - that's why you want leaders who carefully craft their speeches in a way that will draw press attention to the parts that they most want to publicize, and will make them and their countries look good. Trump certainly wasn't short on lavish and (in most foreigners' eyes) exaggerated praise for himself and the US - but blowing your own horn too blatantly isn't usually the best way to make yourself or your country look good.

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I don't care if Trump deputizes the Klan or outlaws Spanish; Rocket Man is worth it. - 21/09/2017 01:00:46 AM 1381 Views
Rocket Man was hilarious. - 21/09/2017 02:57:15 AM 707 Views
I'm actually coming to respect him a little more... - 21/09/2017 04:51:06 PM 755 Views
Cordelia was one of the few Sunnydale High students I liked or for whom I had any respect - 21/09/2017 05:17:56 PM 787 Views
Cordelia was a great character.... - 21/09/2017 07:11:18 PM 681 Views
He's brilliant in strategy - 21/09/2017 08:34:51 PM 785 Views
It is fun to watch - 21/09/2017 08:52:25 PM 758 Views
Are you sure that's strategy? - 24/09/2017 08:39:19 AM 687 Views
Pretty sure - 24/09/2017 11:07:00 PM 704 Views
that is funny - 21/09/2017 07:03:17 PM 785 Views
You said something similar a while back. And really, I just don't get it. - 21/09/2017 07:52:31 PM 867 Views
Oh, and just to add... - 21/09/2017 07:55:35 PM 750 Views
such as? - 21/09/2017 08:16:48 PM 771 Views
Alright, let's see. - 21/09/2017 08:46:43 PM 776 Views
And yet....and yet....and yet.... - 21/09/2017 09:13:30 PM 739 Views
Now I'm curious. - 21/09/2017 09:40:32 PM 628 Views
Sure, I'll bite... - 21/09/2017 10:07:00 PM 685 Views
He's right on socialism - 25/09/2017 12:42:26 AM 688 Views
Sure, by the original meaning of the word. - 25/09/2017 05:22:50 PM 700 Views
People misuse words all the time (cf. ironic). That's their problem. - 25/09/2017 07:25:55 PM 697 Views
I'm making the argument... - 26/09/2017 07:12:56 PM 789 Views
Socialists are taking it back - 26/09/2017 08:03:39 PM 716 Views
...democratic... fascism? *NM* - 26/09/2017 08:22:36 PM 373 Views
Sure - 26/09/2017 08:32:17 PM 686 Views
It's an interesting idea. - 27/09/2017 02:19:19 AM 751 Views
Sounds like Singapore to me. *NM* - 27/09/2017 02:33:06 AM 357 Views
See, I wouldn't call Singapore democratic. - 27/09/2017 05:03:14 AM 631 Views
Did you see their hilarious presidential 'election' recently? *NM* - 27/09/2017 07:55:15 AM 402 Views
*shrug* - 27/09/2017 01:05:47 PM 653 Views
I think that's a weakness of your spectrum argument, though. - 27/09/2017 11:06:16 PM 587 Views
the non military is the further stretch - 27/09/2017 02:16:03 PM 681 Views
lol - 27/09/2017 02:37:00 PM 669 Views
Hmm. - 27/09/2017 06:52:46 PM 686 Views
Almost missed this reply, hiding down here. - 27/09/2017 09:40:41 PM 669 Views
Uh. You say no, but what follows makes it sound like yes? - 27/09/2017 11:42:11 PM 770 Views
You're again making an idiotic argument - 27/09/2017 07:25:36 PM 707 Views
Which you then did your best to prove? Thank you for that, by the way. - 27/09/2017 09:13:28 PM 751 Views
No, socialist is socialist. What is so hard about that? - 28/09/2017 05:05:27 AM 665 Views
It was a brilliant speech all around, and you don't understand Trump based on those comments. - 21/09/2017 08:32:29 PM 701 Views
He's doing jack shit. He tells people everything they want to hear, then blames Congress... - 21/09/2017 08:57:36 PM 745 Views
That's absolutely not what he's doing - 22/09/2017 09:54:34 PM 686 Views
If you say so. - 25/09/2017 05:31:00 PM 728 Views
I can see where you're coming from... - 21/09/2017 08:50:03 PM 732 Views
Oh, that people voted for him over Clinton, I can understand well enough. - 21/09/2017 09:02:50 PM 623 Views
Of course I'm going to defend him.. - 21/09/2017 09:19:32 PM 672 Views
PC is about much more than not saying things to offend people - 22/09/2017 01:26:16 PM 731 Views
It is? Like what? - 25/09/2017 06:37:01 PM 660 Views
By the by - 25/09/2017 07:23:39 PM 659 Views
That's a good point. - 26/09/2017 06:44:13 PM 627 Views
I get it.... - 26/09/2017 09:00:35 PM 608 Views
Re: It is? Like what? - 25/09/2017 08:09:53 PM 760 Views
Re: It is? Like what? - 26/09/2017 02:08:17 PM 723 Views
Trump lost credibility to me on the 'anti-PC' / 'pro free speech' issue - 26/09/2017 07:54:06 PM 631 Views
Let's hold the phone here for a moment.... - 26/09/2017 09:07:07 PM 636 Views
Too late to hold the phone! The horses are out of the barn. - 26/09/2017 09:20:06 PM 651 Views
Yeah. And not just Trump. - 26/09/2017 11:59:05 PM 629 Views
Re: Yeah. And not just Trump. - 27/09/2017 02:27:40 AM 643 Views
keep it in one thread n00b - 27/09/2017 02:52:55 AM 706 Views
Don't confuse PC with social norms - 27/09/2017 02:21:49 PM 592 Views
So... - 27/09/2017 02:39:01 PM 648 Views
and it has been very affective - 28/09/2017 12:55:06 PM 672 Views
He was in town today, stumping for Luther Strange - 23/09/2017 03:58:49 AM 717 Views
You're an Alabamian, huh? Me too! - 26/09/2017 06:05:24 PM 598 Views
I'm a Kansan, I live in 'Bama - 26/09/2017 06:19:13 PM 632 Views

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