The Second Term of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States of America

Rigby5 said:
"But NATO expansion is evil." R5 #4,160
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- piffle -
NATO is as evil as democracy. For the purpose of the former is to preserve the latter.

e·vil (ēvəl)
adj. e·vil·er, e·vil·est
1. Morally bad or wrong; wicked: an evil tyrant.
2. Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful: the evil effects of a poor diet.
3. Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous: evil omens.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

It would be a titanic blunder to conflate the West's military capabilities with its socio-political self-definition.
During the Cold War some humans attempted to breach "the" Wall. Over 100 died trying.
Reportedly that was NOT Westerners trying to escape the corrosive adversities of peace, prosperity, and human rights in the West,
instead seeking the protective preservation of Soviet totalitarianism.
- nope -
It was reportedly victims of the Soviet attempting to escape to the West.

NATO is substantially defensive, not merely suspenders and a belt, in case the Martians attack.
Russia is a ruthless, unethical global malefactor, and China's 100 year plan a prospect it would be unwise to ignore.

We can lie about NATO all day long.
The fact is, most if not all NATO member nations understand their own economic pie chart.
Their GDP = 100%
Spending 5% GDP on their military leaves 95% for everything else.
Certainly they'd like the luxury of instead spending that 5% on domestic infrastructure, highway improvements, bridge construction, etc. BUT !

There's no more extravagant waste than a 2nd rate military. U.S. Gen. Horner

When Russia and similar scale threats are gone, NATO will fizzle.
 
sear said:
- piffle -
NATO is as evil as democracy. For the purpose of the former is to preserve the latter.

e·vil (ēvəl)
adj. e·vil·er, e·vil·est
1. Morally bad or wrong; wicked: an evil tyrant.
2. Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful: the evil effects of a poor diet.
3. Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous: evil omens.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

It would be a titanic blunder to conflate the West's military capabilities with its socio-political self-definition.
During the Cold War some humans attempted to breach "the" Wall. Over 100 died trying.
Reportedly that was NOT Westerners trying to escape the corrosive adversities of peace, prosperity, and human rights in the West,
instead seeking the protective preservation of Soviet totalitarianism.
- nope -
It was reportedly victims of the Soviet attempting to escape to the West.

NATO is substantially defensive, not merely suspenders and a belt, in case the Martians attack.
Russia is a ruthless, unethical global malefactor, and China's 100 year plan a prospect it would be unwise to ignore.

We can lie about NATO all day long.
The fact is, most if not all NATO member nations understand their own economic pie chart.
Their GDP = 100%
Spending 5% GDP on their military leaves 95% for everything else.
Certainly they'd like the luxury of instead spending that 5% on domestic infrastructure, highway improvements, bridge construction, etc. BUT !

There's no more extravagant waste than a 2nd rate military. U.S. Gen. Horner

When Russia and similar scale threats are gone, NATO will fizzle.
Click to expand...

I don't think NATO has ever actually been defensive.

The main reason people crossed the wall in Berlin was that they got free education under socialism, but then after graduating, were being tempted by private salaries 10 times higher.
I don't think Russia has ever attacked anyone but Finland, and NATO countries attack hundreds of countries.
Like what we did to Libya and Qaddafi.
The US military spending is over 50% of our discretionary budget.
We have the biggest navy in the world, and you don't need a navy at all for defense.
 
Rigby5 said:
"I don't think NATO has ever actually been defensive." R5 #4,162
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It is now.
In the mid-1970's I served w/ NATO forces in West Germany.
We war-gamed, completed field exercises that were not about marching to Moscow, but instead defending against an armored cav. invasion through the Fulda gap into Western Europe.

As already mentioned Sweden & Finland, NATO's most recent joiners, became NATO members not merely after Russia invaded Ukraine, but because Russia demonstrated its expansionist ambitions by invading Ukraine.
You may disagree. Fine.
'Splain it to the Swedes & Fins.

Rigby5 said:
"The main reason people crossed the wall in Berlin was that they got free education under socialism, but then after graduating, were being tempted by private salaries 10 times higher." R5 #4,162
Click to expand...
That's the prosperity argument.
And it not only applies to Cold War Soviet Union.
It's still going on with North Koreans risking life & limb to get to South Korea.

On August 15, 2017 PBSNH reported "There are more than 30,000 North Korean defectors living in South Korea."

Rigby5 said:
"I don't think Russia has ever attacked anyone but Finland, and NATO countries attack hundreds of countries.
Like what we did to Libya and Qaddafi." R5 #4,162
Click to expand...
My hastily drawn conclusion, you are right. The U.S. should have kept our B-1's at Diego Garcia. BUT !
Was that bombing of Libya / Quadaffi "NATO"? Or Reagan ?

Rigby5 said:
"We have the biggest navy in the world, and you don't need a navy at all for defense." R5 #4,162
Click to expand...
We can't be certain, but the U.S. nuclear triad may be keeping us alive.
And while there are multiple scenarios of enemy first-strike neutralization of our land-based missile and bomber forces,
our Trident submarines are substantially less vulnerable.

The U.S. has 18 Ohio-class submarines, of which 14 are Trident II ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), each capable of carrying 24 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), although to comply with the START II treaty, 4 of the missile launch tubes have been disabled.

Submarines in the United States Navy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Rigby5 said:
" you don't need a navy at all for defense." R5 #4,162
Click to expand...
The Pentagon has concluded otherwise. It's imprudent for amateurs to second-guess these world-class professionals.
 
sear said:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/ #4,164
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This morning's check of whitehouse.gov did not provide the following disclosure, found separately.

Nidal Malik Hasan, who killed 13 in Fort Hood shooting, will not be executed on livestream, Trump says​

The former Army major would become the first service member to be executed by firing squad since World War II.​

Tom Parfitt Updated Thu, October 15, 2026 at 9:38 AM GMT-5 https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/artic...cuted-on-livestream-trump-says-143047512.html



As a reminder, War Department Secretary Hegseth announced the firing squad execution of Hasan would be livestreamed.
President Trump now says no.
 

Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt opens up about Trump, motherhood​

The former White House press secretary praised Trump as 'kind and uplifting' during a candid Instagram Q&A​

By Michael Sinkewicz Fox News Published October 15, 2026 3:09am EDT
Former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt
"People don’t see this side of him because the media doesn’t show it but he has been nothing but kind and uplifting to me, even since departing," she continued. "He’s also hilarious. Love him!"
www.foxnews.com

Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt opens up about Trump, motherhood

Karoline Leavitt called President Trump "the best boss" and revealed details about her grueling work weeks before leaving the White House press role to spend more time with her children.
www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com

TDS ?
 

Katie Zacharia did not pass the bar exam, senior administration official says​

The White House press secretary could technically be considered a “lawyer,” an administration official argued. But that has been disputed by legal experts.
www.nbcnews.com

Katie Zacharia did not pass the bar exam, senior administration official says

A Trump administration official argued that the White House press secretary could technically be considered a “lawyer.” Legal experts have disputed that argument.
www.nbcnews.com www.nbcnews.com



No worries Katie. Trump's older sons have passed enough bar exams, perhaps they have a few to spare.
 
sear said:
It is now.
In the mid-1970's I served w/ NATO forces in West Germany.
We war-gamed, completed field exercises that were not about marching to Moscow, but instead defending against an armored cav. invasion through the Fulda gap into Western Europe.

As already mentioned Sweden & Finland, NATO's most recent joiners, became NATO members not merely after Russia invaded Ukraine, but because Russia demonstrated its expansionist ambitions by invading Ukraine.
You may disagree. Fine.
'Splain it to the Swedes & Fins.


...
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What I understand is that we are bribing the Swedes and Finns with military hardware, that produces more US munitions profits.
The Military Industrial Complex Eisenhower warned us againt.
 
sear said:
...


That's the prosperity argument.
And it not only applies to Cold War Soviet Union.
It's still going on with North Koreans risking life & limb to get to South Korea.

On August 15, 2017 PBSNH reported "There are more than 30,000 North Korean defectors living in South Korea."

...
Click to expand...

I think I am a decent landlord and do not overcharge, but I have literally forced tenants to buy me millions worth of properties over my life.
There should be a more fair system.
But the fact the potential for wealth is corrupting, does not prove places these defectors are coming from are bad.
 
sear said:
...


My hastily drawn conclusion, you are right. The U.S. should have kept our B-1's at Diego Garcia. BUT !
Was that bombing of Libya / Quadaffi "NATO"? Or Reagan ?

...
Click to expand...

I seem to remember Reagan doing something in the Gulf of Sidra, but I think it was under Obama/Hillary that NATO bombed Qaddafi's troops, resulting in his death?
But again NATO is suspect, since Italy and France wanted to invest in resorts in Libya.
 
sear said:
...


We can't be certain, but the U.S. nuclear triad may be keeping us alive.
And while there are multiple scenarios of enemy first-strike neutralization of our land-based missile and bomber forces,
our Trident submarines are substantially less vulnerable.

The U.S. has 18 Ohio-class submarines, of which 14 are Trident II ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), each capable of carrying 24 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), although to comply with the START II treaty, 4 of the missile launch tubes have been disabled.

Submarines in the United States Navy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org


The Pentagon has concluded otherwise. It's imprudent for amateurs to second-guess these world-class professionals.
Click to expand...

The Pentagon is suspect, due to the Industrial Military Complex profiteering.
It is also a hypocritical contradiction for the US to claim a need for a nuclear deterrent, when it is the US that commits all the hostile acts of war world wide.

Except for Finland, the places the US claims of Russian aggression, like Afghanistan and the Ukraine, are really examples of US aggression in my opinion.
Just like we did in China, Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Nicaragua, Chile, Honduras, Haiti, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Syria, etc.
 
sear said:
"The" white house, aka the People's house, has an Internet site featuring U.S. federal executive branch issues, https://www.whitehouse.gov/

View attachment 6845
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But we all know that actually over 50% of the discretionary budget is actually "defense", especially when you include VA, GIBill, etc.
The reality is that by eliminating profit skimming, socialism would reduce everything in the US by half.
Such as health care.
Which is proven by all the other countries in the world having socialized medicine that costs less than half what we pay.
 
Rigby5 said:
"What I understand is that we are bribing the Swedes and Finns with military hardware," R5 #4,168
Click to expand...
Your description doesn't match what I've read of it, though surely I may simply have missed that detail.
If you can provide a link, please do.


White House press secretary Katie Zacharia fired after five days on the job​

Trump advised Katie Zacharia to reconsider her press secretary role due to media backlash over her credentials.
Published On 16 Oct 202616 Oct 2026
www.aljazeera.com

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia fired after five days on the job

Trump advised Katie Zacharia to reconsider her press secretary role due to media backlash over her credentials.
www.aljazeera.com www.aljazeera.com

oh !
 
There’s a total of fifty states where your child goes off to school and there’s a small but definitely non-zero chance that they come back in a box.

1792234949987.png
 

Donald Trump Is Posting More Than Ever, but Truth Social Users Are Vanishing​

Disheeta Maheshwari / Fri, October 16, 2026 at 5:05 AM GMT-5

Donald Trump's Truth Social traffic drops 38% from peak​

Donald Trump's Truth Social recorded around 260,000 daily users last month, marking a significant decline from the 420,000 recorded in June 2025, as reported by The Daily Beast. The difference amounts to a 38 percent decrease, indicating that the platform is attracting fewer daily users than it did at its peak.

The president has previously increased his posting frequency considerably. He published 861 posts in May, an average of 27 per day, exceeding his previous monthly record of 782 posts and reposts in January. His daily average in April was 18 posts. These figures shows his continued posting activity, while Similarweb's traffic data shows that the platform's daily audience remains low. https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/donald-trump-posting-more-ever-100551932.html
 
sear said:
Your description doesn't match what I've read of it, though surely I may simply have missed that detail.
If you can provide a link, please do.


White House press secretary Katie Zacharia fired after five days on the job​

Trump advised Katie Zacharia to reconsider her press secretary role due to media backlash over her credentials.
Published On 16 Oct 202616 Oct 2026
www.aljazeera.com

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia fired after five days on the job

Trump advised Katie Zacharia to reconsider her press secretary role due to media backlash over her credentials.
www.aljazeera.com www.aljazeera.com

oh !
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{...
Sweden and Finland have independently chosen to fund U.S.-supplied weapons through NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative.

How the PURL Initiative Works​

The Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) is a NATO‑coordinated program launched in 2025 that allows allied and partner nations to finance the procurement of high‑priority U.S. defence equipment for Ukraine .
Under this system:

  • The U.S. provides the military materiel (e.g., air defence systems, interceptors, ammunition) from its stockpiles.
  • Allies and partners fund the purchase through their own budgets, often via NATO’s procurement channels.
  • The aim is to deliver urgent equipment quickly, bypassing slower traditional procurement processes.

Sweden’s and Finland’s Contributions​

  • Sweden has made multiple contributions to PURL, including USD 275 million in August 2025 and SEK 600 million (≈USD 60 million) in November 2025, alongside Denmark and Norway, to finance a USD 500 million package.
  • Finland joined the PURL in late 2025, committing to fund U.S. weapons for Ukraine alongside other Nordic and Baltic states.
  • Both countries have stated their support is based on strategic and security considerations, not on any quid‑pro‑quo arrangement with the U.S.

U.S. Role​

The U.S. has not offered military equipment “in exchange for” Swedish or Finnish support.
Instead:

  • The U.S. has made U.S. defence materiel available under PURL for Ukraine’s urgent needs.
  • Sweden, Finland, and others have voluntarily chosen to fund these packages, often in coordination with NATO and other allies .
  • The U.S. has also considered other options, such as supplying Tomahawk missiles, but these decisions are separate from Nordic funding commitments.
In short: The U.S. has provided military equipment through NATO’s PURL framework, and Sweden and Finland have independently decided to contribute financially to that framework. There is no credible evidence of a deal in which the U.S. offered equipment to secure their support
...}

The US is offering Sweden and Finland huge price breaks on weapons for the Ukraine, so all they have to do in order to profit, is keep some of it.
 
Rigby5 said:
"The US is offering Sweden and Finland huge price breaks on weapons for the Ukraine, so all they have to do in order to profit, is keep some of it." R5 #4,179
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The U.S. has earned a reputation as being a prolific arms dealer.
Is the "profit" you disclose in #4,179 all that unusual?

Some have suggested the U.S. War in Vietnam was perpetuated so Howard Hughes could sell more of his helicopters to the Pentagon.

iirc this argument goes all the way back to the U.S. Revolution, and no doubt, beyond that.

note: the VP Cheney / Halliburton connection?
"There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt that he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us." V.P. Cheney"8/26/02" C-SPAN2
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Aren't you concerned that these Iraqi WMD were never found?
 
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