95 Comments
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Paul Murray's avatar

Mr. Bonner loves using The Big Man as a smoke screen. The real culprit is Congress. Our Congress has been a worthless legislative body most of my life. It is the unimaginative, risk-averse, pandering Congress that has created, perpetuated, and authorized all the spending, programs, and obscene growth of government. Obstructionist, vision-less Congress has thwarted any real progress in reining in government, protected the status quo, and has stood by impotently while marxists perverted the country. There will be no fix to this. It will have to collapse and do so utterly. There is no change, whether institutional or personal, unless outside forces compel said change. Government exists for itself. I'm surprised we are discussing and debating individual, stand-alone policies, as if they now matter, when the whole system is FUBAR. Best always. PM

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Angry Icebergs's avatar

...maybe it's time for folks to understand, not everyone should vote... perhaps best only for those with skin in the game (tax payers).

The whacko's in Congress didn't put themselves there... low information voters did.

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John P Gallien's avatar

True, but the Democrats need low information voters to win, and, of course, voters that they give free stuff to. Hence, why they are allowing so many illegal immigrants to cross the southern border and then give free housing, food, healthcare to at the expense of existing citizens. If these immigrants were perceived to be voters for free market policies and essentially voters for the GOP, the Democrats would have clamped down on the border a long time ago. The Democrats need dependents, not people with self-confidence and self-esteem.

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Clem Devine's avatar

Yes, it is a pity that politics is not mandatory at school. Most people have no idea, just vote for those with the best ad campaign and these days, they can promise anything haha.

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Craig Whitfield's avatar

Most Statists don't understand that their beloved FDR's New Deal emasculated Congress. This has been a slow moving train wreck, but its easy to spot the three biggest perpetrators: Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I've attached a link to article earlier this year from Paul Craig Roberts detailing what Trump is up against and how Congress was emasculated:

https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2025/02/09/a-fight-to-the-death-is-underway/

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Invector's avatar

Yes, congress is worthless, Paul, but I think you give too much of a pass to the POTUS. While I always expect the worse from a (D)POTUS, I've often held out hope for a (R)POTUS, and of course, I'm usually disappointed.

Here's the thing---Trump could end all the congressional spending bull💩simply by announcing that he will not sign any spending bill that requires borrowing even one cent to pay for it. Veto ANYTHING that increases the debt and tell them all to go to hell.

If we had a president like that, something might change. But we never have and I'm guessing we never will, so eventual collapse it will be.

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Dave J's avatar

Then the useless Congressional Jackasses on both sides of the aisle would band together and over-ride his veto.

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Invector's avatar

Easier said than done, Dave. Since George Washington, I believe only about 4% of presidential vetoes have been successfully overridden.

But as bad as the Dems hate Trump, I can see them voting against a spending bill, and then turning right around and voting to override his veto just to stick it to him.

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Dave J's avatar

So true. In some ways I admire the Democrats. They stick together like glue and you know exactly where they will land on every issue (the wrong side). The Republicans are a breed that makes herding cats look easy.

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StarboardEdge's avatar

True dat to both comments.

Ain't Checks and Balances grand?

/s

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Fartin' Martin's avatar

They would all vote for the CR bull shift like they have now for how many years?

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Dave J's avatar

Yep, they are all world class can kickers, right up until they run out of road.

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Worm Farmer extraordinaire's avatar

Mr. Invector. Much agreed.

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Agent22Smith's avatar

The ongoing debacle of the deficit is a both/and. It's both the failure of the Executive Branch and the failure of Congress to be fiscally responsible over decades. Clinton's was the last Administration to make an effort to bring things under control. Bill's poking at the "Big Man" has as much to do with his empty posturing as it does with policy, (e.g., ending the Ukraine conflict in 24 hrs, pretending that massive tax breaks won't impact the deficit). Milei gets an A for effort by doing what he said he'd do.

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Paul Murray's avatar

I don't understand the Argentine system. Does the legislature simply rubber stamp everything Milei does/proposes? If so, with cooperation like that, President Trump could get things straightened out in short order. There's no mystery to this. SCOTUS says President Trump can not unilaterally cut government; Congress has to authorize it. Circle-jerking is no way to save a country. Best always. PM

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Agent22Smith's avatar

Good question, Paul! Based on cursory research, Argentina has the same governance structure as the U.S. It would be great if Bill can shed more light on whether the election that brought Milei to power also swept in like-minded members of their Congress, or if there is more executive power/latitude than here.

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Diogo's avatar

It has not. I'm a Brazilian, living in the US and very interested on what's going on in Argentina as the closest neighbor to my home country.

Argentine Congress is not formed of liberty-minded people as Milei's LLA has won only a few seats. He has some coalition with another center-right party that gives him a bit more leeway than he'd have with only his party but not a super-majority. as I understand Sunday's election was for mayor's and local legislatures and national midterms are coming later this year and if they win it, they can turn those changes into laws making it harder to change than the current scenario.

A difference between Argentina and the US is that the president seems to have some more power in there even if the US president is not weak on power. Milei's team have also passed what they call "Ley de Bases" that gave him a lot more power to do stuff via EO. I would say that in the US something similar would be the "Financial National Emergency" EO's that are being used for tariffs and a lot more so there are similarities on how things are being run.

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StarboardEdge's avatar

Thanks for the straight skinny, Diogo. Any comment on the effect of banning/impeaching the moronic and/or corrupt "judges" that Milei seemed to had gotten removed right at the start? Seems like (at least from our current example) that had quite an impact on allowing M. to do what he has done, to the extent he has...

PS - Have you ever been a professional surfer?

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Diogo's avatar

Haven’t heard anything else about it.

And also have never been a professional surfer hahaha

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John P Gallien's avatar

Surely, you kid. Bonner shed more light?

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Diogo's avatar

In the US Republicans have majorities in both the House and the Senate what would make me think they could make some bigger changes on the current scenario before midterms than what Milei could do. At least in terms of stamping these changes into law. I believe the "Ley de Bases" expires in December removing those powers from Milei's to do things via EO's.

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John P Gallien's avatar

The Republican majority is very thin, and they don't walk in lockstep like their fascist Democrat brethren.

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StarboardEdge's avatar

Or their Ultimate Leader....

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StarboardEdge's avatar

Well, “massive” tax breaks resulted in increased production and consumption the first time around. The deficit, as always is an issue of spend, spend, spend - Which Trump excels at, unfortunately. I guess in a backhanded way you could attribute the increase in debt to the tax cuts, but as I recall, after they were instituted tax revenue went up, so…..

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Agent22Smith's avatar

It's another both/and, SE. Insufficent revenue and excess spending.

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Dave J's avatar

Not insufficient revenue, tax breaks have increased revenue every time going all the way to Coolidge. It's a numeric fact that is kryptonite to Marxist/Leftist/Democrats.

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Agent22Smith's avatar

Good point. I was thinking more in terms of the need for positive cash flow to begin paying down the deficit. Fat chance of that happening.

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StarboardEdge's avatar

Yup...

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RANDALL R NORTON's avatar

I'm good with your commentary until "It will have to collapse and do so utterly". The current year transition remained a carryover from prior Pres/Party. I'm willing to wait it out for another six months to see further down the road. The debt increases MUST STOP. We don't want anymore funny money that's worth less & less & less in terms of hard assets -vs- paper money. Can it be turned around? I still believe - for another six months. RRN

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Paul Murray's avatar

They can string the arrangement along for as long as politically beneficial to do so, but at some point, the Emperor's wardrobe malfunction takes on a life of its own, or something like that. Besides, as presently constituted, the country is simply ungovernable. That's proven everyday. Best always. PM

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StarboardEdge's avatar

Should be obvious to anybody paying attention that Elon finally was willing to acknowledge the futility of Congress the Problem actually following through with any cuts, even in instances of blatant theft - so he basically fled the burning building. And, despite what Bill lied to us about yesterday, he was only allowed to work as a special employee of the federal government for 130 days. Yet Bill wants us all to believe that his departure of course has something to do with Trump.

What a rube…

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Dorothy's avatar

SE: You might be somewhat correct, but I read recently that Elon will still be involved from time to time with the project, when appropriate, but not for now since, as you stated, his 130 days are up. I read nothing that Bill thought Trump had other thoughts.

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Dave J's avatar

"How much has federal spending been cut since the Great Disruptor took office? Not a single penny." -- Bill today, stuck in the same groove of the 33 rpm as every day

Sigh, no disrespect to Milei, but I read every post on here today and nobody is pointing out what the rogue District Judges have done to Trump's very earnest effort to slash "government departments and employees" AND their beneficiaries (as Bill put it). Bill is like a plate umpire that stares at the bars of his mask, he only sees one thing on every pitch.

If Trump was given the latitude to run the Executive Branch as he sees fit, the spending would be significantly reduced. Not acknowledging that is disingenuous at best, or worse, pure Marxist/Leftist/Democrat propaganda. Come on Bill, say it ain't so.

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Tom DeArmond's avatar

Please note this is a government, not a business.

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Dave J's avatar

Where is it written that government doesn't have to be as inexpensive and efficient as possible?

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StarboardEdge's avatar

More evidence of a separation at birth. Uncanny I'm tellin' ya....

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Dave J's avatar

I was raised as an only child, but I always had this strange suspicion.

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Sluggo's avatar

Bingo. The blame for our fiscal disaster belongs squarely on the Congressional UniParty.

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Mackinac's avatar

Can't disagree with this one Bill.

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Jonathan CV's avatar

I have withdrawn from reading or making comments for the forseeable future.

It almost seems that the effete rich are paying subscriptions of a number of our most frequent commenters.

God bless us, every one.

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Allan R Camrud's avatar

Sometimes you just don't know when to quite, let's see where we are 6 months from now. Why don't you shake it up a little and write about the Democrats and those complicit in the destruction of our country. Reflect on our oh so trustworthy friends across the aisle and give us all a break maybe cheer us up:)

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StarboardEdge's avatar

I guess it’s near nine months since Bill even bothered to mention the dimocrats, whether it is their Authoritarian plans for our future or their destructive actions of the past.

Kind of convenient…..

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John P Gallien's avatar

Because he hates Trump and has an advanced case of TDS. He needs to keep the narrative on Trump and hence ignore the commie Democrats.

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Mackinac's avatar

Right now it appears confidence in the dollar might just be the most important overall factor. I've written to my 3 reps. to balance the budget to retain confidence and demonstrate to the world that we intend to pay our debts in full. Lead the world to conservative fiscal and inflationary policy. I doubt it will have any effect.

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EJ's avatar

I disagree, Bill. Your priorities are wrong. Removing illegal immigrants from our country is more important than reducing Federal expenditures. Our priority should be, first, make our country safer and more secure by enforcing our laws to remove illegal aliens/immigrants and, second, we can then address the deficit/debt problem. First things first.

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StarboardEdge's avatar

Multitasking could and should be our friend. It actually has been over the last five months, but you’ll never read about any of that here….

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Petra Kehr's avatar

Strange to me first place to compare a country like Argentina who´s at best a marginal player on the world stage with the US who are intertwined with the entire world......Ok minus North Korea, Timbuktu and East Palau...

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Paul Murray's avatar

Correct. Not a valid comparison. Not apples-to-apples but apples-to-oranges. The biggest difference is Milei evidently has a compliant legislature. I don't know, and, at this point, I don't care. Best always. PM

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Cartero Atómico's avatar

Are any of the Trump supporters secretly harboring the suspicion that they have been duped? Here are some examples - conservatives usually oppose government interference in their lives but the Big, Beautiful Bill includes a provision for the use of eminent domain for the installation of carbon capture pipelines on private property and the override of state authority in regulating AI. I hope you all believe that Carbon Capture is a scam but Donnie is in on it.

Plus, Larry Fink said it doesn't matter who wins the election and there was Larry accompanying Donnie on his visit to Mideast dictators. Larry would have been accompanying Harris - BlackRock gets a cut of all the deals.

Plus, Trump's boy at Stargate tells us the new AI project will eventually control all our medical records and provide us not with our own personal Jesus, but better than that, our own personal mRNA vaccines. No worries that the Warped Speed experimental mRNA vaccines were neither safe nor effective.

Perhaps Trump is to the right what Obama was to the left - a candidate created to herd his supporters to their slaughter.

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Angry Icebergs's avatar

...apparently your epiphany is somewhat late... most folks know Trump is not a Saint, neither honest nor genuinely altruistic... Trump however is a much better choice than the offered alternative...

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Cartero Atómico's avatar

It's not an epiphany. I lived in Philly in the 80s and 90s when Donnie bankrupted his casinos even though there was no competition on the East Coast. I've always thought he was, justas Marco Rubio said, a con artist. But you don't believe there is any possibility that he's just front man for the coming technocracy. No problem with his buddy Larry Ellison wanting control of our medical records? No problem with eminent domain for the Carbon Capture Scam. Did you notice that there is no longer opposition from the right of more government interference in our lives because Donnie knows what's best for them. Just like the left laid down for Obama's bailout of the Banksters. Trump's a perfect front man for AI control of our lives.

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Bill's avatar

Real IDis nothing more than forced compliance with the upcoming facial recognition regime.. as in China.

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Petra Kehr's avatar

I'm pretty sure it's the hell's gate to much more.

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StarboardEdge's avatar

More than we have bothered to imagine so far...

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Petra Kehr's avatar

For sure a mixed bag. You could add Real ID which is about the biggest Red Flag as it's on the Agenda more or less ww.

And as much I endorsed RFK there are strange developments in his area as well. A former CIA asset as head of CDC shrines a super bright light on the Military/ Security side of " Health Care"

The new dutch health Secretary just revealed that she is utterly shocked she's supposed to report to the dutch military top of the range....

The CC- Scam as you call it might have I repeat might have a real world background in so far that there are plenty of underground facilities, quietly built in the passed decades that would require such Carbon for growing food e.g..

Check out Catherine Austin f

Fitts if you like. She currently circles with that Idea. If you like of course.

Cheers Artero

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StarboardEdge's avatar

Could be Cartero, but for me personally that’s not leading to feelings of being duped. I’ve supported Trump in the past and support him now with eyes wide open, he has good points and bad points like anybody else…

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Angry Icebergs's avatar

I am not a Trump fan, nor am I conspiracist believer if it involves more than two people (and one needs to be dead). But when the train starts to leave the station, that's when all the bums rush aboard... so as Trump's train leaves the station, it creates opportunities for unscrupulous acts... your concerns are well founded...

However with Trump there are also opportunities for greatness... I think America dodged a bullet by electing Trump... Harris would be undoubtedly worse.

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Sluggo's avatar

Trump’s never been a conservative. He is what he is: a salesman. But he’s better than any of the current crop of anti-Founding, blame-America-first, DIE-racist/sexist, depraved, perverted, Marxist Democrats. A FAR cry better.

If only we had true Constitutional conservatives in the majority. If only.

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Angry Icebergs's avatar

Melei's efforts will take time for fruition, but Trump's efforts are already burnt toast?...

Tariff revenue's, reshore investments (increased tax revenue) and dollar devaluation will enable some degree of debt reduction...

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walter pera's avatar

Reshoreing won't happen. It would mean the top bass can't make millions of dollars!

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Angry Icebergs's avatar

...according to the Trump Administration, there are already $8 trillion committed to U.S. shores...

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walter pera's avatar

And the Ukraine war has been over since day 1.

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Angry Icebergs's avatar

...well, actually it was, it's just that no one told Zelenskyy...

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Don Hrehirchek's avatar

LOL. Good one!

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StarboardEdge's avatar

And TraitorJoe approved every auto pen signature for the last four years.

This game is fun, your turn….

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Angry Icebergs's avatar

I reckon the auto-crayon didn't fool anyone...

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Bill's avatar

They're selling the auto pen who's buying a signature on Amazon.You can write your own pardon... Completely.

Indistinguishable from the real fake ones.

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Bill's avatar

Tard

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StarboardEdge's avatar

“and nothing to prevent the obvious and inevitable consequences — inflation, chaos and crisis.”

Um, not really seeing that yet, but surely it’s in our future. Surely. There’s no stopping it. It’s inevitable. It’s all Trump‘s fault, and there’s no way any other outcome has even the slightest chance of coming to pass.

So anyway, if it’s all gonna crash and burn regardless, I’ll take the minuscule tax cuts and go about my merry way. At least then I will have a lesser responsibility of having financed the great explosion, or implosion, or sinkhole, or trip off the cliff, or drowning death, or whatever it is today at BPR. …

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John P Gallien's avatar

Bonners last full sentence says it all:

“We’ll worry about deporting the rapists, murderers….really bad people, who’ve been eating our pets…later.”

Really? Do we have to ignore one to concentrate on the other, or can we do both? Another half-truth/false alternative from Bonner.

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Bill's avatar

Stop calling me Shirley.

And who is Anyway? The airplane is going to fall off the cliff its going to crash. Somebody needs to blow up the Automatic Pilot.

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Abe Porter's avatar

Bill

There may be some truth to what you are saying but remember the U.S. is much bigger than Argentina and we have a worthless legislative branch. Most of the roadblocks are created by Democrats, the tax and spend party

If the world currency was changed to something else I.e. a group of currencies maybe America would stop printing and be more into not spend more than earned

People have been given many freebies for so many years many are in financial slavery

Trump may increase the deficit for now but I’m hopeful it will eventually lead to balanced budget

I do hate that you rarely say anything about the progressive democrats that have continued on the road to America’s decline. Time will tell. AP

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StarboardEdge's avatar

Say what you want - the BS Tank on President Trump is nonexistent. If you are a liar and a corrupt thief/murderer, don't count on reporters and cameras being able to cover for you when you sit across from the Big Man. We have NEVER had a President with the stones to consistently do GREAT THINGS like this - libtardes trying to tear him down for this are only showing their stupidity and TDS. The SA "president" couldn't even look at the screen. Homie thought he was gonna roll-up and meet with people as stupid, feeble and evil as he and his "party" are - Wrong-O.

In Realville, this is what we call 4-minutes of "Cold Busted":

https://rumble.com/v6tomid-trump-plays-video-of-africans-calling-for-genocide-after-south-african-pres.html

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Clem Devine's avatar

Would have liked to hear the reply from the South Africans. Absolutely terrible what is happening there and has been for years. These people should have full access to immigration.

I have followed a lot of the news there and also read the books written by Peter Rimmer.

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John P Gallien's avatar

We must give the BNB (Bad News Bonner) Network a pat on the back for quoting such highly respected economic analysis powerhouses like CBS news. If CBS says it, it must be true! But he doesn't stop there, scanning the news media for everything negative about Trump's policies. There's plenty of positives out there, but nary a word from Bill. Whether Trump is successful and/or doing the right thing in every instance can be debated. But Bonner is not interested in such a dialogue, vilifying Trump at every turn.

To make matters worse, he gives us a very questionable quote from Martin Luther King Jr.:

‘We are not makers of history. We are made by history.’

Questionable because MLK Jr. made history, not the other way around, whatever you may think of the man. There are so many examples where individuals made and/or profoundly influenced history, that this quote has no validity. Well, sure, the passive, the lethargic, the lazy, etc., are made by history. The doers and thinkers make history. So, the question is why did Bonner choose this quote? He must agree with it, yet it is so obviously false. But, of course, Bonner is a champion of the "obviously false" or at minimum, "half-truths" where only part of the story is presented - the part that reinforces his TDS. What we should expect from Bonner is level headed analysis. Won't happen whenever Trump is mentioned.

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Richard Boaman's avatar

Sloppy globalization policies over several decades have turned the U.S. industrial powerhouse into a nation with a $1T annual trade deficit. This is not ok. If this was a $1T surplus we’d have a balanced budget (almost). Trump has openly garnered $10T in new investments in barely 4 months. I’m not in love with this one big bill but it fills many of his campaign promises. Once that’s done (?) there are numerous efforts going on now to make things better. As i said before, let’s give it some time. Biden’s presidency nearly destroyed the country. Surely we can have some patience while somebody at least tries to make things better.

Have a nice day

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Angry Icebergs's avatar

Debt is the amount of money owed to someone else.

A deficit refers to spending more money than is received over some time.

Debt is not necessarily an indicator of a weak economy.

Although U.S. debt is the largest in the world in absolute terms, the country falls in the middle of the pack when considering debt relative to GDP.

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Bill's avatar

Absolutely. Not as a crutch, Like the real estate value only that offends is unbelievable. Oer the land of the free... Federal land has million miles of lake front. That is not available for private development. Many small and beautiful lakes in in the Midwest lake front property is going 5 to 19 thousand dollars a foot. Don't need to sell it all. Keep it pristine; greater value. Hundred year leases would work well.

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StarboardEdge's avatar

BRAVO! More Common Sense from the alternate Bill...

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Robert Taylor's avatar

Bill, I think the only thing that would have satisfied you would be to have Biden and the Dems remain in control and accelerate the decline.

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Paul Murray's avatar

If you think failure is our only salvation, then that is not a bad plan. Best always. PM

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Bill's avatar

Correct. It is certainly the easiest path. Also , it is the chosen path that has us where we are today.

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Michael Lada's avatar

Given the current events can you imagine the hot mess that could have evolved.

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Steve L's avatar

🥱

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StarboardEdge's avatar

Is that emoji Astonishment or Boredom?

Nevermind - either is applicable to the usual BPR daily offering...

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Steve L's avatar

Definitely boredom brother! Just fyi, l bought NVTS last month and had a nice hit today 🤑 maybe do some research and jump in 😊

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Clem Devine's avatar

Nice +80% Steve!

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Steve L's avatar

Very nice + 400+%🤑

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Steve L's avatar

And forget about Bitcoin 😊 but keep on listening to BPR and stay comfortably numb 😵

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