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Discussion > President Trump

NASA refocussed from climate to space per action of Congress. Nature is nemesis, occasionally Congress is.

One less Lukas electric part. Maybe I should lay off of L. I'm not personally familiar. Roger, the genius who knows where electrons go in automobiles, is nearby.
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Feb 20, 2017 at 4:42 AM | Unregistered Commenterkim

Canada?

You the mean the Canada that was still called the Dominion of Canada after WWII and only became a constitutional country before it? Where young men at the beginning of 20th century would have talked about being British and the motherland? Where the country was run as a mini-Britain? Where habeas corpus was the bed rock of the legal system? Where they had the natural resources and the southern market (US) and the flowering industrial revolution to drive it?

That Canada?

And you mean the Russia that lived in serfdom? That never had an industrial revolution (Lenin adapted Marx to fit in with this)? That has never had democracy? That was ravaged by major wars? They never had the international markets for its goods? That had an elite that regarded themselves as being on another planet re privilege and entitlement, that even had its own grammar for speaking the language?

That Russia?

You are right, they have lost every amount of democracy they ever had. God knows where they ever thought strong leadership was something they needed.

Feb 20, 2017 at 6:15 AM | Unregistered CommenterMedia Hoar

So what exactly happened yesterday in Sweden? Or last week, or last month? I checked with Aftonbladet, nothing. But I and doubtless hundreds of millions saw him on television utter the words -" you look at what's happening last night in Sweden. Sweden, who would believe this? Sweden. They took in large numbers. They're having problems like they never thought possible".
You or I might become confused by what we saw on Fox News and use it in conversation with little impact, but POTUS doing it!!! I am repeatedly amazed by how much bad behaviour and lies some people here will excuse Trump. How long before Trump broadcasts downright lies about the UK and they get excused here. I watched SS-GB last night and thought much.

Feb 20, 2017 at 7:11 AM | Unregistered CommenterSupertroll

No MH. I was writing about the Canada of today (or rather of the 1970s_1980s when I lived there). Interesting that even when trying to agree with you, you respond so aggressively with your disagreements. You see absolutely no parallels between the Canada and Russia - between the geography of the countries, their reliance on raw materials, and their settlement histories (go west young man, go east young man)? I was only making conversation. I am fully aware of the differences. It was those differences (especially the historical ones) I believe explain why democracy is strong in Canada but is failing in Russia.
Shan't bother you again. I do enjoy and learn much from your posts.

Feb 20, 2017 at 7:33 AM | Unregistered CommenterSupertroll

Take back the night.
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Feb 20, 2017 at 7:35 AM | Unregistered Commenterkim

Supertroll and others. The Swedish comments by Trump are a wonderful example of confirmation bias by both Trump supporters and Trump haters. Supertroll has quoted his words correctly, and his loose language was unhelpful to his cause, but what he said was "what's happening" [i.e. ongoing], not "what happened" [i.e. a single incident]. You see no single incident, so you assume he's talking rubbish and insulting people for the sake of it. If you were less hostile to the man you might give him more benefit of the doubt. Others who are more pro-Trump, do give him (perhaps more than) the benefit of the doubt.

The BBC demonstrates its bias with this headline (at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39023978): "Trump tries to explain remark about Sweden amid confusion". If it was not anti-Trump, its headline might have been "Trump explains remark about Sweden amid confusion" Much of the article is spent attacking Trump before, right at the bottom, it says this:

"Refugee haven
Sweden, with a population of about 9.5m, has taken in nearly 200,000 refugees and migrants in recent years - more per capita than any other European country.
It saw a sharp increase in asylum seekers in 2015, with more than 160,000 people arriving. With the influx, tensions also rose with some isolated attacks on immigrants, as well as pro- and anti-migrant demonstrations.
The killing of a 22-year-old woman in January 2016 by an asylum seeker based at the centre where she worked put further pressure on the government to reassess its approach to refugees.
There was a drop in numbers last year after the country introduced new border checks incurring longer processing times, as well as financial incentives for migrants who voluntarily returned to their country of origin.
No terrorist attacks have been recorded in Sweden since the country's open-door policy on migration began in 2013.
However, Sweden is believed to have the highest number of Islamic State fighters per capita in Europe. About 140 of the 300 who went to Syria and Iraq have since returned, leaving the authorities to grapple with how best to reintegrate them into society."

There's then a link to another BBC story, "How Sweden became an exporter of jihad." Referring to Gothernburg is says this:

"It's one of Sweden's most diverse cities. A third of the population are from immigrant backgrounds, many of them Muslim, and in the north-eastern suburb of Angered, the proportion rises to more than 70%.
Sweden's massive housing shortage and long waits for rent controlled apartments in the centre of town mean that many new arrivals end up here, and stay here. This includes some of the 160,000 people who sought asylum in Sweden last year.
Angered has become a tough area to police.
Parts of it are classified as "vulnerable", which in Swedish police terminology indicates a breakdown of law and order, among other things, and the emergence of a parallel society.
I am told that religious enforcers attempt to control the community to ensure Sharia law is adhered to. They allegedly harass and intimidate people - mainly women - for the way they dress and for attending parties where there is music and dancing, which they consider haram.
Meanwhile, two-thirds of children have dropped out of school by the time they are 15, and unemployment is 11% - high by Swedish standards. It's these vulnerable young people that the extremists target."

So, allowing for the fact that Trump is brash, often uses vulgar language, is politically incorrect, and doesn't choose his words with sufficient care, he is actually making a good and important point. But you wouldn't think it to look at the MSM response every time he opens his mouth or tweets something. The MSM have decided he is the devil incarnate (as, it appears have you, Supertroll) and nothing positive may be allowed about him.

Use personal filters, not innate bias. I don't like the man, I don't like his style, and much that he says and does concerns me. But he does make some important points, and 100% vilification of everything he says and does is, in my opinion, unhelpful, contemptuous towards those who elected him, and not terribly democratic.

Feb 20, 2017 at 8:31 AM | Unregistered CommenterMark Hodgson

Re Sweden:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07zhm5w

Is the programme that the BBC originally aired and has now pulled, I wonder why?

Luckily there is a Youtube copy at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia74gDtUmHo

At 20:00 minutes in, the Gothenburg Chief of police, Klas Friberg, admits that a 'parallel society' has developed and he is aware of 'radicals policing areas'.

In this time of Trumpism and 'fake news' why has the BBC decided to pull this program from iplayer?

And yes, Swedens larger cities are experiencing grave problems.

Just because the Guardian/BBC do not cover it, does not mean it is not happening.

Personally, when I have the time I watch BBC news, Sky news, Euro news, and France 24. For amusement I watch CNN but it is an extreme outlier when compared to the others.

Each of the channels listed all have there own distinct flavour/bias.

I noticed BBC news went off piste during coverage of the anti hunting march to London.
Flipping between Sky and BBC, it was like two different stories: BBC had a calm orderly procession live, SKy and police baton charging 'old ladies' with blood every where - live.

I could not believe it, especially as they watch each others output so not to miss and developing story.

MSN Huh!

Feb 20, 2017 at 9:09 AM | Unregistered CommenterSteve Richards

Mark. Sorry but I cannot disagree more. POTUS has responsibilities and he is not exercising them. He made a mistake, a mistake in front of hundreds of millions. He offered an explanation (the Fox News report) but AFAIK no retraction and certainly no public apology to Sweden. This error of judgement will probably have few repercussions, but the next one, or the next...?

Feb 20, 2017 at 9:13 AM | Unregistered CommenterSupertroll

A normal Saturday in Malmö

A Swedish lefty politician is demanding bans on the sale of bullet proof vests....

There are no problems in the progressive socialist utopia of Sweden, nothing to see here move along.

Supertroll living up to his moniker.

Feb 20, 2017 at 9:17 AM | Registered Commentertomo

tomo. "Thugs" are blamed, not immigrants. Scratching the barrel bottom in Malmo tomo?

Feb 20, 2017 at 9:42 AM | Unregistered CommenterSupertroll

And playing the "troll card" so very very early! I must be getting through, somehow.

Feb 20, 2017 at 9:47 AM | Unregistered CommenterSupertroll

Yeah, you're getting through as deliberately dense and provocatively mischievous or flat out stupid - the effect is the same.

Seems your float your boat.

Feb 20, 2017 at 10:20 AM | Registered Commentertomo

Heehee, 'thugs' he says. Yes, they were. Oops, I mean 'are'. It's going on until people stop it.
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Feb 20, 2017 at 12:57 PM | Unregistered Commenterkim

tomo. Why do you try to confuse matters? The discussion was upon Trump's misspeaking or creation of false news, not Sweden itself. Oh I know why.
I do hope Trump doesn't invade Sweden mistaking it for Sehwan in Parkistan.

Excuse me but your nastiness is showing.

Feb 20, 2017 at 1:18 PM | Unregistered CommenterSupertroll

More heh. He's already invaded Miami. Read the article.
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Feb 20, 2017 at 1:28 PM | Unregistered Commenterkim

The fake news is that Sweden hasn't made a hash of their immigration policy. Some Swedes no longer believe that fake news.
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Feb 20, 2017 at 1:30 PM | Unregistered Commenterkim

Nastiness ?

Sometimes nitpicking +insinuation +willful misinterpretation will trigger it - but then you know that eh?

Again - more evidence that the above are what float your boat.

You are a tease aren't you?

Feb 20, 2017 at 1:43 PM | Registered Commentertomo

Trump is getting rid of Fake Climate Science, which according to the experts at SKeptical Science is 97% of it.

It will be interesting to monitor FOX, CNN, BBC, The Guardian etc, to see how they report the real news of the demise of fakery. Some of them will remain in complete Denial about their own complicity in faking news and faking science, whilst accusing others of hypocrisy

Feb 20, 2017 at 1:44 PM | Unregistered Commentergolf charlie

OK, I finally looked at the quote and the misunderstanding is syntactical. Change 'you look at what's happening last night in Sweden' to 'you look last night at what's happening in Sweden' and you may get a clue. Those who like him understand that, those who don't can't.

John Hindraker at Powerline says it better than do I: 'As often happens, Trump has made a valid point, that is of great concern to voters. His opponents, meanwhile, refuse to acknowledge his point, and instead pretend to misunderstand him. Then they chuckle to each other over how clever they are. Pathetic.'
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Feb 20, 2017 at 2:16 PM | Unregistered Commenterkim

Do you see why 'look last night'(at the Fox expose) is not a lie, Alan? Perhaps it's sloppy, I'll not dispute that.

It's a win-win if the Swedes use the opportunity for some self-reflection. What's the chance of that with the fake newsers bellowing after a smoked herring?
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Feb 20, 2017 at 2:28 PM | Unregistered Commenterkim

My guess is that he'd seen the Fox report, or at least heard of it, and it shocked him. His audience in Florida had perhaps seen the show, and they were shocked. There was no misunderstanding in Melbourne.

And you're going to call that lying? That, there, is shocking.
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Feb 20, 2017 at 2:34 PM | Unregistered Commenterkim

kim. And you then explain his later tweet admitting that what he was really referring to came from watching a programme on Fox News, how?
I am astonished, but not amazed, by the convolutions people (including now you) go to not to accept the blindingly obvious if it doesn't fit their world view. Opponents are trolls, to be treated as Untermenschen and subject to any insult, whereas those they support are without blemish, Übermenschen.

Feb 20, 2017 at 2:44 PM | Unregistered CommenterSupertroll

Ah, now we're ready to critique the Fox News report. Was it false?
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Feb 20, 2017 at 3:11 PM | Unregistered Commenterkim

Michael Hart I do hope you are not trying to convince me that Trump was not deliberately insulting and mocking a disabled reporter, because I watched and listened to recordings of this with my own eyes and ears, several times. The possibility that he may have used the same gestures in other circumstances (your proof of this?) is immaterial. On the occasion which was widely commented upon he behaved like an objectionable bully, period.

Feb 19, 2017 at 10:38 PM | Unregistered CommenterSupertroll

Supertroll, I do hope you are not trying to be a complete super-arsehole. Because you really do come across as a complete super-prick sometimes. There are alternative views, interpretations, and facts that may not have been observed, which I tried to explain in a polite fashion. If you cannot be bothered to search for things on the internet that might contradict your view of the world, after I have made a genuine attempt to help you do so, then I am not further minded to do it for you. I have tried to be helpful and not rude. You give me contempt in return. Fuck off, stain brain.

Feb 20, 2017 at 4:13 PM | Unregistered Commentermichael hart