Politics Thread

[boozehound]

Um, Trump was pretty darn tough on China policy wise. He used trade and sanctions and not the military.

Right. Specifically China. Less so North Korea for example. My guess is that it had very little to do with his outrage at their treatment of the Uighurs, and a lot more to do with economic rivalry, intellectual property, etc. It's one of his policy stances that I most supported, although I felt it would have been more effective if he had brought along a coalition of allies instead of going it alone.

[GoMuskies]

What else was Trump supposed to do to NK short of attacking them?

[boozehound]

Not praising them?

If we are going to critique Biden's choice of words regarding China's treatment of Uighurs, then Trump's intermittent (but repeated) flattery as well as his boasting about how good of a relationship he had with Kim Jong Un would seem to be in a similar vein.

I don't really give a shit about either one, TBH. I'd like to see Biden keep the pressure on China, but mostly for economic reasons. To that end I'm more interested to see how his foreign policy unfolds than anything else.

[Smails]

but to be honest it's not on the list of things that I'm particularly worried about right now. I'm more focused on Domestic policy at the moment, as I think we have major issues on the home front to address.

That almost sounds like an 'America First' policy...lol #closettrumper

*sarcasm font*

[boozehound]

That almost sounds like an 'America First' policy...lol #closettrumper

*sarcasm font*

I mostly do support an America First policy, within reason. I don't think we should go out of our way to be dicks about it, though. That's what I found frustrating about many of Trump's policies that I otherwise (somewhat) agreed with. There is a performative dickishness about it that I thought was unnecessary and ultimately hurt our cause.

Having said that, I think that there is a benefit to not systematically alienating our allies for no real reason or to no end. I also do think there is some amount of benefit to global leadership. It's not an either/or, and when we reduce our investment and involvement in unnecessary foreign affairs we should try to do so in a way that retains the respect of our allies in the developed world.

For example: Should we send (reasonable) aid to war torn hell holes? Yes. Should we intervene to try to stop them from being war torn hell holes? No, because it pretty much never works.

[xuphan]

That almost sounds like an 'America First' policy...lol #closettrumper

*sarcasm font*

Did Trump ever release his tax records like he said he would? Would love to see what they look like.

[Smails]

Did Trump ever release his tax records like he said he would? Would love to see what they look like.

Don't know..don't care

[GoMuskies]

Did Trump ever release his tax records like he said he would? Would love to see what they look like.

I believe he has been given no choice but to release them to the US attorney in NY.

[boozehound]

Don't know..don't care

I'm honestly curious as to why some people don't care. Is it just the 'my side vs your side' stuff, or do you really think that we just should do away with Presidential candidates releasing their tax returns? What is the harm in them doing it / what is the benefit to the Country in them not doing it?

Personally I would like to see deep financial disclosures (including tax returns) for every Presidential candidate so that we can get an idea as to who they owe money to, who the receive money from, etc. as those things could give an outside party leverage over that individual. It seems like a relatively basic thing to want to know about the person you elect to lead your Country.

[Strange Brew]

I'm honestly curious as to why some people don't care. Is it just the 'my side vs your side' stuff, or do you really think that we just should do away with Presidential candidates releasing their tax returns? What is the harm in them doing it / what is the benefit to the Country in them not doing it?

Personally I would like to see deep financial disclosures (including tax returns) for every Presidential candidate so that we can get an idea as to who they owe money to, who the receive money from, etc. as those things could give an outside party leverage over that individual. It seems like a relatively basic thing to want to know about the person you elect to lead your Country.

There’s no requirement so why are we belaboring it. I wouldn’t release mine. There’s no point.