So you got your wall then?...and did Mexico pay for it?

@273kelvin

Biden has currently given twice the amount of money that the wall would have cost to Ukrainian.

I’d have rather had the wall, $1.60 gas, and a booming economy personally. But that’s just me and I don’t earn welfare or other government subsidies.

@CourtJester You don't get subsidies because you're not rich enough to buy a senator. The only things that pass are those that will benefit the corporate donors. You did not get the wall for the same reasons. Even though I disagreed with the idea (and what was built was pretty ineffectual), it did have a mandate, as did the green new deal and build back better but they got squashed too.
Don't you think it might be about time the American people stopped all the silly factionalism between Reps and Dems and focused on all the corporate millions pumped into your elections? Whilst that still exists, you will never get what you want. Maybe you might wonder why the US really needs to have the 2 largest airforces in the world. Are Mexico and Canada such a threat?

Ps. Quoting the gas price from the middle of a pandemic is a bit lame.

@273kelvin we got a big chunk of the wall; Biden stopped it.

PS. We’re no longer in a pandemic and gas is still at record highs.

@CourtJester You got a bit of wall which Trump had to syphon off funding from the defence budget for. Congress didn't want it coz there was no money in it for the donors.
Yeah, petrol (gas) is at record prices all over the world. The price at my pump is £1,88 per ltr which works out at $8.00 per US gallon (maybe more as the £ has risen since we got rid of OUR lying scumbag).
So tell me who should I blame, Boris or Biden?
Economics 101 the law of supply and demand. When things are in high demand or harder to get, the price goes up. When things are easier to get or demand is low the price falls. During the pandemic, people stayed at home so low demand = low price. Now people can go out and there are sanctions against one of the largest oil and gas-producing countries so prices rise. Do I really have to explain capitalism to an American FFS?

@273kelvin

Well; who put the restrictions on the production?

Within a few weeks of being in office, Biden signed more executive orders than any president in history over turning as much as he could of what Trump put in place. Some of those included oil production.
We had $1.60 gas before Biden came along.

@CourtJester Name one restriction on production. By that I mean post a link to an actual restriction, not some GOP propaganda.
Biden halted new licences for future drilling on federal land. The key word there is "future". The oil industry already had thousands of unused licences and even then he reversed his decision.

Can you please explain the GOP's policy on reducing America's CO2 emissions? Because all I can see is "La la la, I'm not listening, fake news, it's not real" Meanwhile the US is suffering drought, forest fires and extreme weather on an unprecedented scale. Which (surprise, surprise) is exactly in line with the climate model all those pesky scientists predicted.

@CourtJester Of course Biden reversed so many of Trump's orders. The Trump administration was the most corrupt since Harding. Okay, your whole system is corrupt but Trump took the piss. How anybody can still support that bunch of traitorous cowards is beyond belief. They spout "blue lives matter" and then deny extra funding or recognition to the same capital police officers that stood at the gates and saved THEIR lives.
Why does half of America only have 364 days in a year? Because Jan 6th never happened.

@273kelvin
What did trump do that was so corrupt???

@CourtJester Okay I would like to tell you but you would have to pay to be part of the conversation. If I were the POTUS, would that be corrupt?

Weeks after President Trump swore he’d have no involvement with his businesses as president, he decided to pay one a visit, travelling to Mar-a-Lago for the first weekend in February 2017. The ambassadors of Switzerland, Hungary, Afghanistan, Italy, Denmark, Peru, Colombia, and Sweden had the same idea that weekend.
That first visit was a harbinger of what would become near-constant practice over the next four years, where foreign officials, special interest groups, and others would gain access to the president and his administration through payments to businesses he still profited from in the office.
After campaigning on the promise that he wouldn’t have time to leave the White House or play golf, President Trump visited his properties 547 times while in office, paying 145 visits to Mar-a-Lago, 328 visits to his golf courses, and 33 visits to the Trump hotel in Washington. He often brought other senior government officials along, sending a message to his administration and those who would like to curry favour with it that his properties are open to their business.
I could go on and I know it looks like small beer but when you add up all the foreign dignitaries, special interest groups and govt officials that HAD to stay at of his hotels, that's a lot of beans.
So what did they get...
National Confectioners Association
In 2017, just months after the National Confectioners Association held an event at Doral, the FDA Commissioner proposed delaying a rule that would require stricter labelling standards for candy makers.
Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute
Researchers at CREW discovered that the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute paid over $700,000 for an event at Trump’s Doral resort according to the group’s tax return. This coincided with an increase in lobbying spending on the White House. Shortly after the event Trump announced support for an Obama-era environmental regulation that the group had lobbied in support of.
Community Financial Services Association of America
The Community Financial Services Association of America, which represents payday lenders across the country, held their annual convention at Trump National Doral in 2018 and 2019. One month prior to their 2019 event, the Trump Administration proposed rescinding an Obama-era regulation that they had been fighting for years to stop. The rule was officially revoked the following year.

Then there were the political groups
Political committees also spent huge amounts of money on candidates, elected officials, and donors seeking to get into the good graces of Trump and his allies. The president’s own political operation, consisting of his campaign, a joint fundraising committee with the RNC, and the super PAC America First Action, together spent more than $7 million and held 32 events at Trump properties. All told it added up to more than $11 million.
And that was just in the US.
Eight foreign governments including Turkey and Kuwait have held events at Trump properties. The Kuwaiti Embassy and Romanian Consulate both held events that had previously been hosted at other locations before Trump’s presidency, and Kuwait continued to hold their National Day celebration at the hotel for three years in a row.
During his time in office, President Trump mentioned or referred to Trump Organization businesses 378 times. These promotions not only drew the public’s attention to them but also let special interests and foreign governments know how near and dear Trump’s businesses—and their customers—are to the president.
So much for his hotels, how about trademarks.
Trump swore he would not make foreign deals as president. But that didn’t stop his brand from acquiring foreign trademarks over the last few years, setting the stage for foreign deals once he leaves office. In the course of his presidency, one of Trump’s companies has received almost 70 trademarks from 11 foreign governments including China, Argentina, and the European Union. Granting foreign trademarks to Trump is a tool that foreign governments may use to curry favour with the Trump administration.

Okay let us look at how he "drained the swamp" and "only the best people"
Trump had given top administration jobs to people — including Scott Pruitt, Ryan Zinke, Tom Price, Diane Auer Jones, Mike Pompeo, and many others — who have engineered the administration’s wholesale steering of policy and regulations to help big bad-behaving corporations, from polluting, climate change-denying oil companies to predatory for-profit colleges. These individuals, before or after working for Trump, often took big paying jobs in those same industries, and some, while in government, have grabbed a wide range of personal perqs to enrich themselves and advance their political interests.
Big donors to Trump’s campaigns had repeatedly sought and received government jobs and government favours from Trump and his underlings. Trump has mingled with some of Washington’s worst corporate lobbyist swamp creatures, like Bush crony C. Boyden Gray, who have bankrolled Trump's efforts. Under Trump, the government and the policies that affect our daily lives were for sale to the highest bidder.
Meanwhile, six former Trump campaign and White House aides — Paul Manafort, Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, and others — have been criminally convicted by federal prosecutors on charges arising out of the Russia investigation, ranging from lobbying abuses to obstruction of justice; a seventh, Steve Bannon, was recently charged in a scheme to defraud Trump supporters; and another Trump crony and Republican National Committee official pled guilty this month on foreign influence-peddling charges.

Then...
He’s corrupted the tax system and fudged his own taxes. Trump steered most of his tax cut to the wealthiest people and corporations and then bragged to rich friends at his country club, “You all just got a lot richer.” Meanwhile, he has concealed his own tax returns, which, when leaked, revealed that he paid almost no taxes, claiming huge losses to the IRS, while at the same time, getting new loans, telling banks that he was making big money.
He has sought to undermine the integrity of our elections, with the aim of improving his chances to win.

Trump also has sought foreign regime interference in US elections, even withholding congressionally-mandated military aid to Ukraine to pressure that country’s president to announce a phoney investigation of Joe Biden — an abuse that got Trump impeached by the House of Representatives and led a majority of Senators to declare him culpable. He has pressed his intelligence agencies to downplay evidence that Russia is interfering to help him in 2020, as it did in 2016.

He and his administration have endlessly violated the Hatch Act by using government officials and resources to advance his re-election.

He has pushed to undermine the integrity of the 2020 U.S. Census to increase Republican electoral power.

Also: In 2018, a federal court in New York accepted a guilty plea from Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen based on evidence that he acted on orders from Trump to pay hush money to a porn star, and conceal the payment in violation of federal election laws.

Also...
He’s engaged in repeated obstruction of justice and of Congress in Russia, Ukraine, and other matters. He pressured FBI Director James Comey to drop an investigation of former national security advisor Michael Flynn, who had lied to the FBI and fired Comey after the investigation went forward anyway. He told White House counsel Don McGahn to fire Russia prosecutor Robert Mueller. He fired whistleblowers who have testified to Congress and dismissed five inspectors general who was looking into administration misconduct.

While obstructing and corrupting justice, Trump has taken the parallel step of corrupting and undermining the truth, telling lie after lie on matters big (election fraud) and small (whether he knew he used a Sharpie to alter a hurricane map) and despicably branding the news media “the enemy of the people.”

Then last but no way least...
HE TRAITOROUSLY TRIED TO OVERTURN THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT AND INSTITUTE A COUP.

Sorry, it was a big read for a Republican but It is a LONG list. and you did ask. Kinda makes having a BJ in the WH no biggie?

@273kelvin

He didn’t pay to play golf or stay at his own properties. I’d say saved the US taxpayers a lot of money.
Much better than Hunter literally getting millions from Ukrainian, Russia, and China with the evidence on the laptop he was too high to remember to pick up from the computer repair shop.
You’re gripping at straws cupcake.

@CourtJester Okay you probably look at me as some kind of lefty socialist and you may be right. But it is not just the left who are saying that Trump is unfit for office. Here is a piece from the right-wing Washington Examiner (not the Post) that explains how bad it would be for the Republican party and the country to have him back in office.
[washingtonexaminer.com]

@CourtJester No he didn't pay but YOU had to pay for all of his security and staff and their staff and their security @ $440+ per person per night. Nice little earner if you can get it. Then you have all the aforementioned lobbyists.
I knew you would bring up Hunter. So have you looked into the HALF A BILLION DOLLARS Jarad got from the Saudis after his father-in-law looked the other way when they tortured and murdered a US-protected journalist?... Yeah I think not
Btw may I remind you that Hunter was NOT and NEVER HAS BEEN in office. So it matters not if he sold his ass in Gorky Park or sold anything else for however much. Unlike Jarad who WAS in office. Also, a few million here and there is chump-change compared to HALF A BILLION

@273kelvin

The laptop clearly shows that Biden got a portion of what Hunter was paid. Some damn big donations to the Bo Biden foundation as well. Who do you think is on the payroll for the Bo Biden foundation.

Dude’s been in office for his whole adult life and owns three multi million dollar mansions.

Com’on man…..

@CourtJester Here is you, answering questions...

Q, What did you think of the FBI stating there was Russian interference in the 2016 election?
A, Hunter Biden's laptop.
Q, How about the Muller investigation and all the Trump staff convicted?
A, Hunter Biden's laptop.
Q, What about the quid-pro-quo phone call to the Ukrainian threatening to withhold aid. You know, the one that got Trump impeached the 1st time?
A, Hunter Biden's laptop.
Q, if Bidon is responsible for high gas prices in the US? How come my petrol in the UK is so expensive?
A, Hunter Bidens laptop
Q, What IS the GOP policy on climate change?
A, Hunter Bidens laptop
Q, What was Trumps' great healthcare policy that was always only 2-weeks away But was a huge book of blank pages?
A, Hunter Bidens laptop
Steve Bannon and the "Build the wall" scam?
Hunter Biden's laptop.
Gen Flynn taking the 5th?
Hunter Biden's laptop.
Jan 6th?
Hunter Bidens laptop
Attempted coup?
Hunter Biden's laptop.
All the Republicans calling out Trump as a crook?
Hunter Biden's laptop.
And a traitor
Hunter Bidens laptop

Don't go on Jeopardy

@CourtJester I ain't saying that Biden&co isn't corrupt. Your whole f@cking system is corrupt. What I am saying is that Trump was hugely and blatantly corrupt. Often to the detriment of the US

@CourtJester Okay whatever you say about Biden and corruption, I will acquiesce and say "okay". but that is whataboutism. The thing about whataboutism is that implicitly implies that it is okay to rob, steal or do anything you want if the opposite side does the same/similar or worse. Like it was okay for the US to invade Iraq and steal their oil, and kill hundreds of thousands coz the British empire did...or vice versa. Okay, more extreme Hitler vs Stalin

@273kelvin

[newsmax.com]

That’s just a whataboutism I assume.

@CourtJester Well it's Newsmax so a large pinch of salt is required but even so if you want to go CONSTANTLY down the whataboutism road. How does that crime stack up against Jarad's 2 billion dollars for his father-in-law looking the other way regarding torture and murder? Bearing in mind, this is from the same country that produced Bin Laden.
[rollingstone.com]

Ps, The link also debunks your Newsmax story but then again I would not trust Newsmax the get the date correct. (Newsmax only recognises 364 days in a year coz Jan 6th didn't happen)

@273kelvin com’on man…. Rolling Stone hasn’t published anything truthful since 1952.

@CourtJester Okay, you want corroboration from other sources?
[vanityfair.com]

[bloomberg.com]

[nytimes.com]

[cnbc.com]

[thebulwark.com]

[reuters.com]

Meanwhile, Newsmax called Jan 6th "A day of outrage" but before that, it was Antifa in MAGA hats, then FBI plants.
All because Italian satellites hacked Dominion voting machines, oh no it was Australian no sorry it was China. Oops no Venezuela. There is a part of me that is impressed by how you can keep up with the current bs. It must be like waiting for the rapture.

Ps. Just like Newsmax you are not to be taken seriously. Rolling Stone did not come into existence till 1967

@273kelvin
I have no clue when rolling stone started, but they’ve always been BS

@CourtJester Ha Ha ha do actually read what you write man?

@273kelvin
It was a solid guess.I did pay $4.55 for gas today though.

@CourtJester I'll swap you, mine is £1.88 per ltr = $8.00 US gallon

His executive order was just platitudes with no teeth. Pretty much all we've gotten from Dem presidents back to Clinton. I'm saying he should be going to war over this and mobilizing the troops, a largely symbolic but toothless Executive Order not only isn't helping, reactions like yours show me it is indeed making things worse.

@Druvius war, yeah, that'll help Everybody, just ask the Ukrainians.....

@AnneWimsey I meant the term figuratively, as HE SHOULD TAKE DECISIVE ACTION WITH EVERY RESOURCE AT HIS DISPOSAL. Instead we get a toothless Executive Order that basically can be summed us as "I really feel bad about this and offer thoughts and prayers." Ain't gonna happen though, he promised to not be a decisive leader, and he's fulfilling his promise.

@Druvius Do not talk figuratively and do not yell.

Identify the actions you want him to take and the resources you think are at his disposal.

@yvilletom Allow abortion clinics to open on federal land. Threaten to increase the size of the supreme court. End the filibuster and pass a bill that makes the right to an abortion a federal statute.
But shoot, he won't do any of these things, even to guarantee voting rights. You have to give the GOP one thing. If they wanted these things? They would fight dirty to get them.

We need action, not toothless platitudes. Hundreds of billions to fund an insane proxy war, but half of Americans are stripped of their Civil Rights ... and we get a toothless executive order ... and only then because he was pressured into doing something.

@Druvius He responded within weeks by doing what is legally possible for him to do. If he does something even considered illegal it will go to Courts and be rejected so....nothing. You must think tearing down an ally instead of the SCOTUS Six, and Con Party who won't vote to codify Roe, or ERA, into law, to be a good strategy for getting more. I think it's like blaming the bottle for being empty.

@rainmanjr He's not an ally of anyone but the Pentagon and the arms industry.

@Druvius Union folks don't think of him that way. I see nothing to conclude he isn't an honest Dem working to improve this nation. I was in KS when he, as a candidate, made a detour to meet the striking UAW workers. I was close by so went and watched him work. I saw a man who cared about them.

@rainmanjr A shame he seems unable to translate that caring into meaningful action.

@Druvius [marketrealist.com]

Oh, I'm not in the slightest surprised, Biden is about as loyal a party apparatchik as there is. Still, when his houses catches fire, one could at least hope he'd come out of his fog. Nope.

You get neoliberal economics, identity politics, and Repub lite, along with lots of excuses and platitudes.