Trump needs to win now.

[Mac1958]

If anyone disagrees with this, please jump in.

I've spent a lot of time viewing commentary from around the world on what is happening to America, and about what happened between Trump, Vance and Zelensky at the White House. I guess I'll say this: The "good news" is that they appear to be getting it now. They appear to understand that Trump does not want ties, he wants transactional relationships.

By "transactional relationship", I mean like walking into a 7-11. You don't know the cashier, they don't know you. You grab a candy bar because you want it. The cashier wants a dollar. You give the cashier the dollar, and you walk out. You may see or interact with the cashier in the future, or you may not. When you walk out the door, that relationship is over until further notice.

Not only does it appear that the world is now understanding this, but it also appears that the world is prepared to embrace it with America. No relationship building, no sharing of what we have or know or can find out. They appear to be ready to set us apart from them, with all future dealings to be on a transactional basis only. I think there will be a time of mourning, but Europe and rest of the world knows they can't wait to act now. They have to detach.

Trump has pushed America out of the airplane. None of us know the actual quality of our parachute. This has to work, for our sake, and for the sake of our kids. We've passed the Rubicon now. It's America Alone.

I look forward to any thoughtful, original, intelligent thoughts.

Vladimir Putin's Kremlin celebrates as Donald Trump ends Ukraine talks

The much-anticipated meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky ended in a shouting match.

www.express.co.uk

 

[fncceo]

Trump has pushed America out of the airplane.

No, he's put Americans back into the pilot seat.

Alliances lead to quagmires. Everlasting entanglements that eventually are in no one's best interests (looking at you, NATO).

Transactional relationships give both sides an incentive to work together as long as they mutually benefit. There is no point in a relationship that isn't mutually beneficial.

 

[The Duke]

I can't quite understand what's coming out of Mac1958's TDS-fogged brain.
So Trump has pushed all Americans out of a plane? What kind of plane, Mac?
Were there parachutes? Why? What?

 

[Mac1958]

No, he's put Americans back into the pilot seat.

Obviously you don't understand the metaphor: The airplane is the planet. Trump has made it abundantly clear that he is interested in transactional relationships only. He will pick and choose who and when and why and how, with every major international decision, with no ties going forward.

I think we all know that. And it's clear that his supporters like it.

Never mind.

 

[justoffal]

No, he's put Americans back into the pilot seat.

Alliances lead to quagmires. Everlasting entanglements that eventually are in no one's best interests (looking at you, NATO).

Transactional relationships give both sides an incentive to work together as long as they mutually benefit. There is no point in a relationship that isn't mutually beneficial.

Alliances is the wrong word.... Parasitism is the correct word. Zelensky is looking for a tit not a relationship. In the past it was available through a rental program that kicked some money back to the owner of the tit.... By draining the taxpayers.
That is no longer available and obviously the perverse little bisexual comedian is pissed about it.

 

[The Duke]

Obviously you don't understand the metaphor: The airplane is the planet. Trump has made it abundantly clear that he is interested in transactional relationships only. He will pick and choose who and when and why and how, with every major international decision, with no ties going forward.

I think we all know that. And it's clear that his supporters like it.

Never mind.

What good is a relationship that's one-sided, Mac?

 

[Mac1958]

I know the arguments for what is happening. That is not the point of this thread.

It would be nice to get some original thinking about how this works going forward.

The standard attacks and platitudes won't add to the conversation. As usual.

 

[justoffal]

What good is a relationship that's one-sided, Mac?

You're talking to a group of dinosaurs who are stuck in the Machismo obsolescence of century old global politics that no longer apply to the current global dynamic. The misconception of America the savior and America the policeman went out the window with the past 50 years of corruption, political interference and financial chicanery masquerading as international politics.

The misrepresentation of China and Russia as the bad guys still appeals to the 3-year-old mentality of the GI Joe generation who are still sitting on the throw rug playing with army men. Simplest way to Marshall the cooperation of the impressionable is to give them an enemy to hate.

 

[The Duke]

I know the arguments for what is happening. That is not the point of this thread.

It would be nice to get some original thinking about how this works going forward.

The standard attacks and platitudes won't add to the conversation. As usual.

Europe steps up or Zelensky gets crushed or he takes a peace deal and maybe Russia gets the hell out of Ukraine.
They're half Russian anyway, though.
It's not like they don't both speak the same language and start swilling vodka every day at noon.

 

[Mac1958]

I'll try again.

What do the next 20, 50 years look like, now that the world can no longer trust America to be anything but transactional?

 

[The Duke]

I'll try again.

What do the next 20, 50 years look like, now that the world can no longer trust America to be anything but transactional?

Da Fuq we look like, Nostradumbasses?
Not like a dumbass like you, Chicken Littling about things they are speculating about in their minds.
It's just a matter of time until Mac's funding gets cut.

 

[Mac1958]

I can see I've made this too difficult.

I'll remain confident we'll get some intelligent, original thinking here.

 

[Vastator]

If anyone disagrees with this, please jump in.

I've spent a lot of time viewing commentary from around the world on what is happening to America, and about what happened between Trump, Vance and Zelensky at the White House. I guess I'll say this: The "good news" is that they appear to be getting it now. They appear to understand that Trump does not want ties, he wants transactional relationships.

By "transactional relationship", I mean like walking into a 7-11. You don't know the cashier, they don't know you. You grab a candy bar because you want it. The cashier wants a dollar. You give the cashier the dollar, and you walk out. You may see or interact with the cashier in the future, or you may not. When you walk out the door, that relationship is over until further notice.

Not only does it appear that the world is now understanding this, but it also appears that the world is prepared to embrace it with America. No relationship building, no sharing of what we have or know or can find out. They appear to be ready to set us apart from them, with all future dealings to be on a transactional basis only. I think there will be a time of mourning, but Europe and rest of the world knows they can't wait to act now. They have to detach.

Trump has pushed America out of the airplane. None of us know the actual quality of our parachute. This has to work, for our sake, and for the sake of our kids. We've passed the Rubicon now. It's America Alone.

I look forward to any thoughtful, original, intelligent thoughts.

Vladimir Putin's Kremlin celebrates as Donald Trump ends Ukraine talks

The much-anticipated meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky ended in a shouting match.

www.express.co.uk

Our founders warned of foreign entanglement. Trump's just bringing us back in line with the founders vision. And it's for the best.

 

[The Duke]

I can see I've made this too difficult.

I'll remain confident we'll get some intelligent, original thinking here.

Bih, you haven't had an original thought in a decade!
It's been party line and TDS with you every day for TEN FUCKING YEARS YOU TDS RETARD!!
You are broken. Rational thought is not your wheelhouse anymore.
/end rant

 

[gipper]

If anyone disagrees with this, please jump in.

I've spent a lot of time viewing commentary from around the world on what is happening to America, and about what happened between Trump, Vance and Zelensky at the White House. I guess I'll say this: The "good news" is that they appear to be getting it now. They appear to understand that Trump does not want ties, he wants transactional relationships.

By "transactional relationship", I mean like walking into a 7-11. You don't know the cashier, they don't know you. You grab a candy bar because you want it. The cashier wants a dollar. You give the cashier the dollar, and you walk out. You may see or interact with the cashier in the future, or you may not. When you walk out the door, that relationship is over until further notice.

Not only does it appear that the world is now understanding this, but it also appears that the world is prepared to embrace it with America. No relationship building, no sharing of what we have or know or can find out. They appear to be ready to set us apart from them, with all future dealings to be on a transactional basis only. I think there will be a time of mourning, but Europe and rest of the world knows they can't wait to act now. They have to detach.

Trump has pushed America out of the airplane. None of us know the actual quality of our parachute. This has to work, for our sake, and for the sake of our kids. We've passed the Rubicon now. It's America Alone.

I look forward to any thoughtful, original, intelligent thoughts.

Vladimir Putin's Kremlin celebrates as Donald Trump ends Ukraine talks

The much-anticipated meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky ended in a shouting match.

www.express.co.uk

What did the Founders say about entangling alliances you seem so keen on?

 

[Mac1958]

What did the Founders say about entangling alliances you seem so keen on?

Again: I know the arguments. I'm looking forward.

Never mind.

 

[JohnDB]

The US has NOT had a symbiotic relationship with Ukraine. There WAS a symbiotic relationship with Russia until this Ukraine mess came about.

Ukraine is a place where people launder money....not much else.

The US is not the world's police force....not for the EU or Taiwan or Africa or the Middle East. Not even for Sputh Americans.

I get that what Russia did and is currently doing was wrong.
But that doesn't mean that the US should do anything about it. Especially when it comes to the lives of our citizens fighting in a war not of our own.

 

[gipper]

Again: I know the arguments. I'm looking forward.

Never mind.

No you’re not. You think Trump’s approach is dumb. You prefer the status quo of entangling alliances, which hasn’t worked out so well.

I’m no Trump supporter, but I’m not blinded by hate as you are.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

If anyone disagrees with this, please jump in.

I've spent a lot of time viewing commentary from around the world on what is happening to America, and about what happened between Trump, Vance and Zelensky at the White House. I guess I'll say this: The "good news" is that they appear to be getting it now. They appear to understand that Trump does not want ties, he wants transactional relationships.

By "transactional relationship", I mean like walking into a 7-11. You don't know the cashier, they don't know you. You grab a candy bar because you want it. The cashier wants a dollar. You give the cashier the dollar, and you walk out. You may see or interact with the cashier in the future, or you may not. When you walk out the door, that relationship is over until further notice.

Not only does it appear that the world is now understanding this, but it also appears that the world is prepared to embrace it with America. No relationship building, no sharing of what we have or know or can find out. They appear to be ready to set us apart from them, with all future dealings to be on a transactional basis only. I think there will be a time of mourning, but Europe and rest of the world knows they can't wait to act now. They have to detach.

Trump has pushed America out of the airplane. None of us know the actual quality of our parachute. This has to work, for our sake, and for the sake of our kids. We've passed the Rubicon now. It's America Alone.

I look forward to any thoughtful, original, intelligent thoughts.

Vladimir Putin's Kremlin celebrates as Donald Trump ends Ukraine talks

The much-anticipated meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky ended in a shouting match.

www.express.co.uk

Ukraine: the Ultimate Transactional War

 

[Mac1958]

From the OP:

"This has to work, for our sake, and for the sake of our kids."

I am capitulating. It's over. The die is cast. Barring something major happening, there is no turning back now. We're at Square One in an all-new new global game. I assume we all know that.

I really thought I had made this simple enough in the OP. Damn. I keep over-estimating.