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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 638 Views
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Cordelia was a great character.... - 21/09/2017 07:11:18 PM 610 Views
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It is fun to watch - 21/09/2017 08:52:25 PM 690 Views
Are you sure that's strategy? - 24/09/2017 08:39:19 AM 619 Views
Pretty sure - 24/09/2017 11:07:00 PM 637 Views
that is funny - 21/09/2017 07:03:17 PM 717 Views
You said something similar a while back. And really, I just don't get it. - 21/09/2017 07:52:31 PM 797 Views
Oh, and just to add... - 21/09/2017 07:55:35 PM 655 Views
such as? - 21/09/2017 08:16:48 PM 701 Views
Alright, let's see. - 21/09/2017 08:46:43 PM 710 Views
And yet....and yet....and yet.... - 21/09/2017 09:13:30 PM 667 Views
Now I'm curious. - 21/09/2017 09:40:32 PM 571 Views
Sure, I'll bite... - 21/09/2017 10:07:00 PM 617 Views
He's right on socialism - 25/09/2017 12:42:26 AM 626 Views
Sure, by the original meaning of the word. - 25/09/2017 05:22:50 PM 635 Views
People misuse words all the time (cf. ironic). That's their problem. - 25/09/2017 07:25:55 PM 637 Views
I'm making the argument... - 26/09/2017 07:12:56 PM 720 Views
Socialists are taking it back - 26/09/2017 08:03:39 PM 652 Views
...democratic... fascism? *NM* - 26/09/2017 08:22:36 PM 340 Views
Sure - 26/09/2017 08:32:17 PM 624 Views
It's an interesting idea. - 27/09/2017 02:19:19 AM 686 Views
Sounds like Singapore to me. *NM* - 27/09/2017 02:33:06 AM 320 Views
See, I wouldn't call Singapore democratic. - 27/09/2017 05:03:14 AM 561 Views
Did you see their hilarious presidential 'election' recently? *NM* - 27/09/2017 07:55:15 AM 371 Views
*shrug* - 27/09/2017 01:05:47 PM 585 Views
I think that's a weakness of your spectrum argument, though. - 27/09/2017 11:06:16 PM 522 Views
the non military is the further stretch - 27/09/2017 02:16:03 PM 613 Views
lol - 27/09/2017 02:37:00 PM 597 Views
Hmm. - 27/09/2017 06:52:46 PM 618 Views
Almost missed this reply, hiding down here. - 27/09/2017 09:40:41 PM 604 Views
Uh. You say no, but what follows makes it sound like yes? - 27/09/2017 11:42:11 PM 698 Views
You're again making an idiotic argument - 27/09/2017 07:25:36 PM 640 Views
Which you then did your best to prove? Thank you for that, by the way. - 27/09/2017 09:13:28 PM 675 Views
No, socialist is socialist. What is so hard about that? - 28/09/2017 05:05:27 AM 598 Views
I don't get it. I mean I get it but I don't get it. - 26/09/2017 08:34:25 PM 614 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 632 Views
He's doing jack shit. He tells people everything they want to hear, then blames Congress... - 21/09/2017 08:57:36 PM 677 Views
That's absolutely not what he's doing - 22/09/2017 09:54:34 PM 612 Views
If you say so. - 25/09/2017 05:31:00 PM 662 Views
I can see where you're coming from... - 21/09/2017 08:50:03 PM 668 Views
Oh, that people voted for him over Clinton, I can understand well enough. - 21/09/2017 09:02:50 PM 556 Views
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PC is about much more than not saying things to offend people - 22/09/2017 01:26:16 PM 661 Views
It is? Like what? - 25/09/2017 06:37:01 PM 597 Views
By the by - 25/09/2017 07:23:39 PM 587 Views
That's a good point. - 26/09/2017 06:44:13 PM 565 Views
I get it.... - 26/09/2017 09:00:35 PM 548 Views
Re: It is? Like what? - 25/09/2017 08:09:53 PM 671 Views
Re: It is? Like what? - 26/09/2017 02:08:17 PM 658 Views
Trump lost credibility to me on the 'anti-PC' / 'pro free speech' issue - 26/09/2017 07:54:06 PM 558 Views
Let's hold the phone here for a moment.... - 26/09/2017 09:07:07 PM 564 Views
Too late to hold the phone! The horses are out of the barn. - 26/09/2017 09:20:06 PM 581 Views
Yeah. And not just Trump. - 26/09/2017 11:59:05 PM 568 Views
Re: Yeah. And not just Trump. - 27/09/2017 02:27:40 AM 573 Views
keep it in one thread n00b - 27/09/2017 02:52:55 AM 629 Views
Don't confuse PC with social norms - 27/09/2017 02:21:49 PM 528 Views
So... - 27/09/2017 02:39:01 PM 584 Views
and it has been very affective - 28/09/2017 12:55:06 PM 601 Views
He was in town today, stumping for Luther Strange - 23/09/2017 03:58:49 AM 640 Views
You're an Alabamian, huh? Me too! - 26/09/2017 06:05:24 PM 527 Views
I'm a Kansan, I live in 'Bama - 26/09/2017 06:19:13 PM 566 Views

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