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I don't get it. I mean I get it but I don't get it. AgentApple Send a noteboard - 26/09/2017 08:34:25 PM

There are two politicians who made the world a worse place.
Obama with his red line. Basically gave half of Ukraine to Russia and Syria and Lebanon to Iran. And Iraq and Yemen too I guess.

Merkel with her insane migrant policy.

But those same media outlets who harp on Rouhani being the adult gave them a pass for those huge blunders.


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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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Rocket Man was hilarious. - 21/09/2017 02:57:15 AM 464 Views
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Cordelia was a great character.... - 21/09/2017 07:11:18 PM 418 Views
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It is fun to watch - 21/09/2017 08:52:25 PM 493 Views
Are you sure that's strategy? - 24/09/2017 08:39:19 AM 427 Views
Pretty sure - 24/09/2017 11:07:00 PM 449 Views
that is funny - 21/09/2017 07:03:17 PM 518 Views
You said something similar a while back. And really, I just don't get it. - 21/09/2017 07:52:31 PM 578 Views
Oh, and just to add... - 21/09/2017 07:55:35 PM 480 Views
such as? - 21/09/2017 08:16:48 PM 550 Views
Alright, let's see. - 21/09/2017 08:46:43 PM 525 Views
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Now I'm curious. - 21/09/2017 09:40:32 PM 396 Views
Sure, I'll bite... - 21/09/2017 10:07:00 PM 440 Views
He's right on socialism - 25/09/2017 12:42:26 AM 433 Views
Sure, by the original meaning of the word. - 25/09/2017 05:22:50 PM 444 Views
People misuse words all the time (cf. ironic). That's their problem. - 25/09/2017 07:25:55 PM 455 Views
I'm making the argument... - 26/09/2017 07:12:56 PM 518 Views
Socialists are taking it back - 26/09/2017 08:03:39 PM 471 Views
...democratic... fascism? *NM* - 26/09/2017 08:22:36 PM 258 Views
Sure - 26/09/2017 08:32:17 PM 451 Views
It's an interesting idea. - 27/09/2017 02:19:19 AM 441 Views
Sounds like Singapore to me. *NM* - 27/09/2017 02:33:06 AM 244 Views
See, I wouldn't call Singapore democratic. - 27/09/2017 05:03:14 AM 380 Views
Did you see their hilarious presidential 'election' recently? *NM* - 27/09/2017 07:55:15 AM 292 Views
*shrug* - 27/09/2017 01:05:47 PM 412 Views
I think that's a weakness of your spectrum argument, though. - 27/09/2017 11:06:16 PM 365 Views
the non military is the further stretch - 27/09/2017 02:16:03 PM 444 Views
lol - 27/09/2017 02:37:00 PM 430 Views
Hmm. - 27/09/2017 06:52:46 PM 445 Views
Almost missed this reply, hiding down here. - 27/09/2017 09:40:41 PM 392 Views
Uh. You say no, but what follows makes it sound like yes? - 27/09/2017 11:42:11 PM 491 Views
You're again making an idiotic argument - 27/09/2017 07:25:36 PM 448 Views
Which you then did your best to prove? Thank you for that, by the way. - 27/09/2017 09:13:28 PM 484 Views
No, socialist is socialist. What is so hard about that? - 28/09/2017 05:05:27 AM 412 Views
I don't get it. I mean I get it but I don't get it. - 26/09/2017 08:34:25 PM 434 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 461 Views
He's doing jack shit. He tells people everything they want to hear, then blames Congress... - 21/09/2017 08:57:36 PM 493 Views
That's absolutely not what he's doing - 22/09/2017 09:54:34 PM 440 Views
If you say so. - 25/09/2017 05:31:00 PM 488 Views
I can see where you're coming from... - 21/09/2017 08:50:03 PM 478 Views
Oh, that people voted for him over Clinton, I can understand well enough. - 21/09/2017 09:02:50 PM 389 Views
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PC is about much more than not saying things to offend people - 22/09/2017 01:26:16 PM 477 Views
It is? Like what? - 25/09/2017 06:37:01 PM 421 Views
By the by - 25/09/2017 07:23:39 PM 400 Views
That's a good point. - 26/09/2017 06:44:13 PM 381 Views
I get it.... - 26/09/2017 09:00:35 PM 373 Views
Re: It is? Like what? - 25/09/2017 08:09:53 PM 473 Views
Re: It is? Like what? - 26/09/2017 02:08:17 PM 458 Views
Trump lost credibility to me on the 'anti-PC' / 'pro free speech' issue - 26/09/2017 07:54:06 PM 375 Views
Let's hold the phone here for a moment.... - 26/09/2017 09:07:07 PM 367 Views
Too late to hold the phone! The horses are out of the barn. - 26/09/2017 09:20:06 PM 399 Views
Yeah. And not just Trump. - 26/09/2017 11:59:05 PM 365 Views
Re: Yeah. And not just Trump. - 27/09/2017 02:27:40 AM 396 Views
keep it in one thread n00b - 27/09/2017 02:52:55 AM 432 Views
Don't confuse PC with social norms - 27/09/2017 02:21:49 PM 365 Views
So... - 27/09/2017 02:39:01 PM 413 Views
and it has been very affective - 28/09/2017 12:55:06 PM 421 Views
He was in town today, stumping for Luther Strange - 23/09/2017 03:58:49 AM 471 Views
You're an Alabamian, huh? Me too! - 26/09/2017 06:05:24 PM 363 Views
I'm a Kansan, I live in 'Bama - 26/09/2017 06:19:13 PM 387 Views

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