If you actually look at the hard numbers, Trump's "strong economy" narrative collapses immediately.

Real GDP growth in 2025 came in at just 2.2%, down from 2.8% the year before. That's not strength, that's a clear loss of momentum.

And the trend line is worse than the headline:
- Growth fell off a cliff from 4.4% in Q3 to ~1.4% in Q4, with revisions as low as 0.7%
- Federal government spending contracted sharply, dragging growth down directly
- Exports and investment weakened under tariff pressure

That last point matters more than his supporters want to admit.

We were explicitly told the tariffs were about boosting US exports and rebalancing trade. That was the sales pitch. That was the justification for lighting up a trade war in the first place.

Instead, exports have weakened, investment has stalled, and global demand for US goods has taken a hit. The exact opposite outcome.

This wasn't unpredictable. Economists, trade experts, even basic economic theory were all pointing to the same conclusion, you don't win a trade war by making your own goods more expensive and inviting retaliation against your exporters.

And yet here we are.

Trump hasn't just failed to meet his own stated goal, he's actively made it worse. US exporters are now dealing with retaliatory tariffs, disrupted supply chains, and declining competitiveness, all self-inflicted directly by Trump.

This is exactly what you'd expect when you gut public spending and pick a trade war with half the planet.

Even the OECD has been explicit, Trump's tariffs are a primary driver of slowing US and global growth, cutting forecasts and suppressing investment and consumption.

And now, just as the economy is already slowing, he's about to make it worse again.

We've got massive tariff escalation looming, with extreme tariffs on China (pushing well beyond 100%) hanging over the global economy, unless he backs down again at the last second. Economists have been warning consistently that further escalation will cut growth, raise prices, and increase recession risk.

At the same time, his foreign policy has detonated the other half of the economy:
- Oil prices have already surged ~50% toward $95–$100+ a barrel due to the Iran conflict
- The disruption through the Strait of Hormuz was explicitly warned about beforehand
- Economists are now saying this alone could shave 0.25–0.5% off GDP while driving inflation higher

So let's be very clear about the timeline his supporters keep trying to blur:

All of the weak GDP data we're seeing happened before the oil shock and war impacts have even flowed through the system.

Meaning:

The slowdown is already baked in from:
- cuts to government services and spending
- reduced aid and public investment
- a self-inflicted tariff/trade war

And now we layer on:
- an energy shock
- supply chain disruption
- rising inflation
- further tariff escalation

That's not a recovery setup. That's how you engineer a downturn.

At this point, calling it anything else is just denial.

This is shaping up to be a textbook, self-inflicted recession driven by policy choices, not external shocks.

Call it what it is:

The Trump Recession.

sadroo do you ever have lucid moments?.

SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 1:16pm:

If you actually look at the hard numbers, Trump's "strong economy" narrative collapses immediately. Real GDP growth in 2025 came in at just 2.2%, down from 2.8% the year before. That's not strength, that's a clear loss of momentum. And the trend line is worse than the headline: - Growth fell off a cliff from 4.4% in Q3 to ~1.4% in Q4, with revisions as low as 0.7% - Federal government spending contracted sharply, dragging growth down directly - Exports and investment weakened under tariff pressure That last point matters more than his supporters want to admit. We were explicitly told the tariffs were about boosting US exports and rebalancing trade. That was the sales pitch. That was the justification for lighting up a trade war in the first place. Instead, exports have weakened, investment has stalled, and global demand for US goods has taken a hit. The exact opposite outcome. This wasn't unpredictable. Economists, trade experts, even basic economic theory were all pointing to the same conclusion, you don't win a trade war by making your own goods more expensive and inviting retaliation against your exporters. And yet here we are. Trump hasn't just failed to meet his own stated goal, he's actively made it worse. US exporters are now dealing with retaliatory tariffs, disrupted supply chains, and declining competitiveness, all self-inflicted directly by Trump. This is exactly what you'd expect when you gut public spending and pick a trade war with half the planet. Even the OECD has been explicit, Trump's tariffs are a primary driver of slowing US and global growth, cutting forecasts and suppressing investment and consumption. And now, just as the economy is already slowing, he's about to make it worse again. We've got massive tariff escalation looming, with extreme tariffs on China (pushing well beyond 100%) hanging over the global economy, unless he backs down again at the last second. Economists have been warning consistently that further escalation will cut growth, raise prices, and increase recession risk. At the same time, his foreign policy has detonated the other half of the economy: - Oil prices have already surged ~50% toward $95–$100+ a barrel due to the Iran conflict - The disruption through the Strait of Hormuz was explicitly warned about beforehand - Economists are now saying this alone could shave 0.25–0.5% off GDP while driving inflation higher So let's be very clear about the timeline his supporters keep trying to blur: All of the weak GDP data we're seeing happened before the oil shock and war impacts have even flowed through the system. Meaning: The slowdown is already baked in from: - cuts to government services and spending - reduced aid and public investment - a self-inflicted tariff/trade war And now we layer on: - an energy shock - supply chain disruption - rising inflation - further tariff escalation That's not a recovery setup. That's how you engineer a downturn. At this point, calling it anything else is just denial. This is shaping up to be a textbook, self-inflicted recession driven by policy choices, not external shocks. Call it what it is: The Trump Recession.

Yep.

No denying any of that.

And I maintain that he's done it all on purpose.

A childish, spiteful act of sabotage.

His doctors have given him a bad prognosis and now he wants to destroy America, and hopefully the rest of the world, before he dies.

"If I can't have it, nobody can"

Did your parents work for the Slovenian Soviet Secret Police?
You bullshyte propaganda comments are retro.

Leroy wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 1:28pm:

sadroo do you ever have lucid moments?.

He nibbles the mushrooms in the bush with his mob

Not a single person so far has been able to refute any of the facts in my post.

Just personal attacks.

Says it all.

SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 3:11pm:

Not a single person so far has been able to refute any of the facts in my post. Just personal attacks. Says it all.

Oh, you mean like personal attacks on Trump since 2016 because he's a Ranga male, his sex life, his fashion, etc because you couldn't get anything on him Politically unless it was fabricated lies and false propaganda by mainstream Media.

Great Britain & Australia will soon jilt gay Starmer & Anus, to realign with Trump.
That's progress in the Right direction.

Jasin wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 3:21pm:

SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 3:11pm: Not a single person so far has been able to refute any of the facts in my post. Just personal attacks. Says it all. Oh, you mean like personal attacks on Trump since 2016 because he's a Ranga male, his sex life, his fashion, etc because you couldn't get anything on him Politically unless it was fabricated lies and false propaganda by mainstream Media. Great Britain & Australia will soon jilt gay Starmer & Anus, to realign with Trump. That's progress in the Right direction.

So now you're trying to gaslight criticism of Trump's actions, things he actually did, as personal attacks?

You couldn't make your flag any whiter if you bleached it for a year...

The proof is in everything since 2016.
The Biden term was a full scale personal attack on Trump, rather than running the country effectively. The Democratic Left even put illegal migrations of plebs and criminals before that of American people. Talk about a very un American govt. The fact is that since 2016 you Lefties have made it personal against Trump, because you haven't the grace to accept that he  is politically orthodox and better. That's the flaw in your Lefty Politics, it's all about sex and race.

Well let me tell you. Where there's a little Ranga, there is also a tall blondie and he's really going to put an end to your Media infused fake politics of spaghetti Westernism which has provided the world with Communism, Dictators and Terrorism.

You are the bad guys. Too bad, so sad. Suck it up daffodil  ;D

Jasin wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 3:21pm:

SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 3:11pm: Not a single person so far has been able to refute any of the facts in my post. Just personal attacks. Says it all. Oh, you mean like personal attacks on Trump since 2016 because he's a Ranga male, his sex life, his fashion, etc because you couldn't get anything on him Politically unless it was fabricated lies and false propaganda by mainstream Media. Great Britain & Australia will soon jilt gay Starmer & Anus, to realign with Trump. That's progress in the Right direction.

If you werent such a dumb trump supporter I would suggest you read this,but I know you wont,you just want to bury your head in the sand like every other trump following moron.

Donald Trump’s 50 Years of Criminal Behavior and Criminal Hypocrisy.https://washingtonmonthly.com/

Jasin wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 3:35pm:

The proof is in everything since 2016. The Biden term was a full scale personal attack on Trump, rather than running the country effectively. The Democratic Left even put illegal migrations of plebs and criminals before that of American people. Talk about a very un American govt. The fact is that since 2016 you Lefties have made it personal against Trump, because you haven't the grace to accept that he  is politically orthodox and better. That's the flaw in your Lefty Politics, it's all about sex and race. Well let me tell you. Where there's a little Ranga, there is also a tall blondie and he's really going to put an end to your Media infused fake politics of spaghetti Westernism which has provided the world with Communism, Dictators and Terrorism. You are the bad guys. Too bad, so sad. Suck it up daffodil  ;D

Then show me one example of something I've criticised Trump for that isn't rooted in his actions.

If your claim has any weight, if this has been "prevalent" since 2016, there should be no shortage of examples.

Right now, though, we're looking at a President who lied to the people: claiming he would be the President of peace, increase wages, lower fuel and grocery prices, run the most open and transparent government ever, end government fruad, corruption and abuse, grow the economy, release the Epstein files, lower unemployment, and be the most pro‑Constitution President ever.

All of it, every single promise, false.  A lie. 

Lies you gobbled up like a good like sheep.

And the left warned you. We saw what he did with guardrails in his first term. We told you exactly what he'd do if you voted for him again. And guess what? He DID IT.

And your response? Ignore all of it and attack the left.

You know it's true. You have to, because it's all you've got left. That burning feeling inside? You think you can quiet it by lashing out at those pointing out your stupidity.

But you're only feeding it.

Gee.  ::)
Every politician in the world is said to be criminal throughout history.
Like rich people are sexually criminal and poor people are financially criminal, etc.
Obama : criminally funding Terrorism with BILLIONS 💸💵
Clinton: Sexually criminal.
Hillary: Wikileaks proving her a criminal.
Australian people: Convicts - but still fighting against Japs & Nazis.

If Trump is a Criminal too. At least he is proven his redemption on behalf of American people first and not illegal border jumping plebs and drug cartels, etc.
Of helping Islam put an end to its Terrorist within.
Of putting the American economy first and not letting Europe and Asia and other nations siphon trillions 💸💵 through your treacherous Lefty Democrats and even older Republican terms which played to the Media narrative.

Good on Trump. He kicked the hornets nest ;)

Jasin wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 1:58pm:

Did your parents work for the Slovenian Soviet Secret Police? You bullshyte propaganda comments are retro.

So, you're saying he didn't do it all on purpose?

You believe it's a result of his ignorance and incompetence?

Jasin wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 3:53pm:

Gee.  ::) Every politician in the world is said to be criminal throughout history. Like rich people are sexually criminal and poor people are financially criminal, etc. Obama : criminally funding Terrorism with BILLIONS 💸💵 Clinton: Sexually criminal. Hillary: Wikileaks proving her a criminal. Australian people: Convicts - but still fighting against Japs & Nazis. If Trump is a Criminal too. At least he is proven his redemption on behalf of American people first and not illegal border jumping plebs and drug cartels, etc. Of helping Islam put an end to its Terrorist within. Of putting the American economy first and not letting Europe and Asia and other nations siphon trillions 💸💵 through your treacherous Lefty Democrats and even older Republican terms which played to the Media narrative. Good on Trump. He kicked the hornets nest ;)

Trump is an adjudicated rapist and a convicted felon with 34 convictions.

Obama and the Clintons have no criminal convictions at all.

Jasin wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 3:53pm:

Gee.  ::) Every politician in the world is said to be criminal throughout history. Like rich people are sexually criminal and poor people are financially criminal, etc. Obama : criminally funding Terrorism with BILLIONS 💸💵 Clinton: Sexually criminal. Hillary: Wikileaks proving her a criminal. Australian people: Convicts - but still fighting against Japs & Nazis. If Trump is a Criminal too. At least he is proven his redemption on behalf of American people first and not illegal border jumping plebs and drug cartels, etc. Of helping Islam put an end to its Terrorist within. Of putting the American economy first and not letting Europe and Asia and other nations siphon trillions 💸💵 through your treacherous Lefty Democrats and even older Republican terms which played to the Media narrative. Good on Trump. He kicked the hornets nest ;)

Where has he actually done any of that?

He goes on about "known Iranian terror cells in the US", so why hasn't ICE gone after them? They've had a year+...

Why are they raiding law‑abiding families instead?

"Helping Islam?" How exactly? By bombing innocent civilians and destabilising entire regions?

"Putting the American economy first?" Where?

And to bring this back on topic, this very thread is proof he's stuffed the US economy. The impact of the war with Iran isn't even showing up in these numbers yet. What you're seeing now is the result of tariffs, reckless spending and spending cuts, tax cuts for the rich, and higher effective taxes on the middle and lower classes, and that's before you factor in the blowback from foreign policy chaos.

That's exactly what he's done. How is pointing it out a personal attack?

The problem isn't me, it's that you've fused this MAGA cult into your own personality. Any accurate criticism of Trump hits you personally.

That's what's burning inside you: the realisation you were conned, lied to, and warned, and you were too stupid to listen, because the cult became a core part of your identity.

You're an absolute idiot, and your chickens are coming home to roost.

We told you, dumbass.

Ice are doing their job.
Getting rid of illegals. Just because they are law abiding, doesn't mean they are legal. Like the case of a New Zealander who served 6 years in the American military, etc, etc. He did not process his citizenship after his visa expired.

Being a lowlife and using emotional blackmail, doesn't cut it.
Illegal is illegal. Fact!

You can see the market zig-zagging as we speak. The bull market is starting to round off, a protracted curve, heading down.

A number of stocks have dropped, just like that. Mining stocks that have been booming over the past year are starting to tank as diesel supplies dry up.

The Gulf has just turned the pumps off. The tourists are getting out. The Middle East isn't a viable airline route anymore.

Meanwhile, Vlad is raking in the petrodollars. The big fella's just removed his oil sanctions. Russia's back fueling China and India again - at record prices.

Turns out the only ones who benefited from DL's invasion were Vlad and the Chows.

Chi-na - number one. America number ten!

Cunning, no?

Jasin wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 4:16pm:

Ice are doing their job. Getting rid of illegals. Just because they are law abiding, doesn't mean they are legal. Like the case of a New Zealander who served 6 years in the American military, etc, etc. He did not process his citizenship after his visa expired. Being a lowlife and using emotional blackmail, doesn't cut it. Illegal is illegal. Fact!

So why's your DL just fired Krist Noem and pulled ICE out?

You won't hear a peep out of ICE for the next ten months, I guarantee it.

You.

Jasin wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 4:16pm:

Ice are doing their job. Getting rid of illegals. Just because they are law abiding, doesn't mean they are legal. Like the case of a New Zealander who served 6 years in the American military, etc, etc. He did not process his citizenship after his visa expired. Being a lowlife and using emotional blackmail, doesn't cut it. Illegal is illegal. Fact!

So you support them leaving the Iranian terror cells Trump was talking about, in favour of law-abiding, and tax-paying, undocumented immigrants?

So you, and Trump, since they operate under his direction, are now pro terrorism?

SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 4:35pm:

Jasin wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 4:16pm: Ice are doing their job. Getting rid of illegals. Just because they are law abiding, doesn't mean they are legal. Like the case of a New Zealander who served 6 years in the American military, etc, etc. He did not process his citizenship after his visa expired. Being a lowlife and using emotional blackmail, doesn't cut it. Illegal is illegal. Fact! So you support them leaving the Iranian terror cells Trump was talking about, in favour of law-abiding, and tax-paying, undocumented immigrants? So you, and Trump, since they operate under his direction, are now pro terrorism?

How do you know that Trump has others (CIA, FBI, etc) focused on TERORIST CELLS, leaving ICE to deal with its regular offenders?
You should know Trump always works on his enemies over-confidence and make them slip up.
Are you butt hurt that he doesn't reveal to your silly stupid mainstream Media everything he had in plan and working, so you can televise it with your own out of context manipulations and edits, beyond just revealing it to the enemy straight up for starters?

You're a moron.  ::)

Jasin wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 4:53pm:

... Trump always works on his enemies over-confidence and make them slip up. ...

Example?

greggerypeccary wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 5:00pm:

Jasin wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 4:53pm: ... Trump always works on his enemies over-confidence and make them slip up. ... Example?

Gee. Where do I start?  ;D

Well, let's start at the start.  ;)

Boy did all you Lefties laugh and laugh with an over-confidence and arrogance when Trump first ran for President.
...then he won.  He played you for fools  ;D

😆🤣😂

Go watch your Oscars Lefty losers.
The world doesn't want your fake 'ACT' of politics. ;D

Jasin wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 5:05pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 5:00pm: Jasin wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 4:53pm: ... Trump always works on his enemies over-confidence and make them slip up. ... Example? Gee. Where do I start?

Just start by giving one example.

greggerypeccary wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 5:12pm:

Jasin wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 5:05pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 5:00pm: Jasin wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 4:53pm: ... Trump always works on his enemies over-confidence and make them slip up. ... Example? Gee. Where do I start?  Just start by giving one example.

Just did. Not my fault you're a daffodil who can't accept it.
Sucks being you, eh? ;D

Jasin wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 4:53pm:

SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 4:35pm: Jasin wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 4:16pm: Ice are doing their job. Getting rid of illegals. Just because they are law abiding, doesn't mean they are legal. Like the case of a New Zealander who served 6 years in the American military, etc, etc. He did not process his citizenship after his visa expired. Being a lowlife and using emotional blackmail, doesn't cut it. Illegal is illegal. Fact! So you support them leaving the Iranian terror cells Trump was talking about, in favour of law-abiding, and tax-paying, undocumented immigrants? So you, and Trump, since they operate under his direction, are now pro terrorism? How do you know that Trump has others (CIA, FBI, etc) focused on TERORIST CELLS, leaving ICE to deal with its regular offenders?

Trump said these people entered illegally under Joe Biden. Trump also said ICE was going after the "worst of the worst".

If "illegal entry" is the defining standard, then by his own logic these individuals should be at the very top of the list. Not fruit pickers, not labourers, not families trying to get by, but alleged foreign-linked operatives from a hostile state.

Yet somehow the supposed existential threat gets surveillance, while low-level undocumented workers get raids, detention, and deportation.

That's not "worst of the worst", that's selective enforcement dressed up as strength.


Quote:

When asked by a Fox News reporter whether he had been briefed on how many Iranian sleeper cells might be inside the United States, Trump said authorities were monitoring them. “I have been, and a lot of people came in through Biden with his stupid open border, but we know where most of them are. We’ve got our eye on all of them, I think,” Trump said.

So they "know where most of them are", but they're not being rounded up?

Right.


Quote:

You should know Trump always works on his enemies over-confidence and make them slip up. Are you butt hurt that he doesn't reveal to your silly stupid mainstream Media everything he had in plan and working, so you can televise it with your own out of context manipulations and edits, beyond just revealing it to the enemy straight up for starters? You're a moron. ::)

Ah yes, the ever-convenient "5D chess" defence, where every contradiction is actually genius, and every inconsistency is secretly part of the plan.

Funny how that logic only ever runs one way.

You want undocumented workers deported on sight because they "broke the law", but alleged sleeper cells get a strategic pass because... I don't know, they never existed and it was just another Trump lie?

So the harmless get punished, and the dangerous get patience.

That's not strategy, it's cognitive dissonance.

If these people really are what he claims, they'd be the definition of "worst of the worst". The fact they're apparently still there, being politely observed, tells you everything you need to know about how serious, or how real, that claim actually is.

And you call me a moron..?

Jasin wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 5:05pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 5:00pm: Jasin wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 4:53pm: ... Trump always works on his enemies over-confidence and make them slip up. ... Example? Gee. Where do I start?

Start with this one, dear.

So why's your DL just fired Krist Noem and pulled ICE out?

You haven't said.

Jasin wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 5:16pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 5:12pm: Jasin wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 5:05pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 5:00pm: Jasin wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 4:53pm: ... Trump always works on his enemies over-confidence and make them slip up. ... Example? Gee. Where do I start?  Just start by giving one example. Just did. Not my fault you're a daffodil who can't accept it. Sucks being you, eh? ;D

You cited American citizens who didn't vote for him. 

They are not his enemies, they are the people he took an oath to protect via his oath to protect the Constitution, which guarantees rights and protections to all people under US jurisdiction, not just MAGA.

If you think those who didn't vote for him are his enemies, you're a very broken person.

All this bluster from you, Jason, to avoid the obvious, that Donald Trump managed to rattle the US economy before the Iran situation even escalated.

Now layer on the consequences.

As tariffs on Chinese goods begin to bite, you've got energy markets being destabilised off the back of strikes and counter-strikes involving Iran and Israel. Refineries hit, oil fields hit, supply disrupted, and suddenly the global economy is staring down constrained fuel flows at the exact moment costs are already rising.

And what happens next? Other countries start hedging. They cut side deals, they look for alternative settlement mechanisms, and they begin chipping away at the dominance of the US dollar as the global reserve. That's not some abstract future risk, it's the predictable outcome when stability in the Strait of Hormuz gets turned into a bargaining chip.

So we're left with a perfect storm: trade friction, energy shocks, and strategic self-sabotage, all with Trump's signature on them.

And we're meant to believe this is deliberate? That the pain is the point? That economic contraction, supply disruption, and long-term damage to production capacity across the region is all just part of some grand design?

Or is this just the inevitable consequences of how incompitent Trump and his hand picked loyalists are?

These aren't short-term setbacks. Damage to oil infrastructure isn't fixed overnight, it's measured in years. You're talking 5 to 10 years to fully recover output in some cases, and that's assuming no further escalation.

That's assuming Trump surrenders right now, today.

All of this circles back to one decision, the tearing up of the nuclear agreement negotiated under Barack Obama. An agreement that, whatever its imperfections, was constraining Iran's nuclear pathway and keeping a lid on exactly this kind of escalation.

So here we are.

Economic strain at home, instability abroad and of course in the US, and Iran closer to the very capability that deal was designed to prevent.

Is this the "5D chess" we keep hearing about?

Because from the outside, it looks less like a strategy and more like setting fire to the board and insisting the smoke is part of the plan.

At best, we're hoping to get back to a point we would have been if Trump did nothing and just claimed credit for Obama's deal.  Instead, we get the Trump Steaks version of Middle East diplomacy.

And you're still cheering him on like a blithering idiot.

SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 20^th, 2026 at 10:46am:

All this bluster from you, Jason, to avoid the obvious, that Donald Trump managed to rattle the US economy before the Iran situation even escalated. Now layer on the consequences. As tariffs on Chinese goods begin to bite, you've got energy markets being destabilised off the back of strikes and counter-strikes involving Iran and Israel. Refineries hit, oil fields hit, supply disrupted, and suddenly the global economy is staring down constrained fuel flows at the exact moment costs are already rising. And what happens next? Other countries start hedging. They cut side deals, they look for alternative settlement mechanisms, and they begin chipping away at the dominance of the US dollar as the global reserve. That's not some abstract future risk, it's the predictable outcome when stability in the Strait of Hormuz gets turned into a bargaining chip. So we're left with a perfect storm: trade friction, energy shocks, and strategic self-sabotage, all with Trump's signature on them. And we're meant to believe this is deliberate? That the pain is the point? That economic contraction, supply disruption, and long-term damage to production capacity across the region is all just part of some grand design? Or is this just the inevitable consequences of how incompitent Trump and his hand picked loyalists are? These aren't short-term setbacks. Damage to oil infrastructure isn't fixed overnight, it's measured in years. You're talking 5 to 10 years to fully recover output in some cases, and that's assuming no further escalation. That's assuming Trump surrenders right now, today. All of this circles back to one decision, the tearing up of the nuclear agreement negotiated under Barack Obama. An agreement that, whatever its imperfections, was constraining Iran's nuclear pathway and keeping a lid on exactly this kind of escalation. So here we are. Economic strain at home, instability abroad and of course in the US, and Iran closer to the very capability that deal was designed to prevent. Is this the "5D chess" we keep hearing about? Because from the outside, it looks less like a strategy and more like setting fire to the board and insisting the smoke is part of the plan. At best, we're hoping to get back to a point we would have been if Trump did nothing and just claimed credit for Obama's deal.  Instead, we get the Trump Steaks version of Middle East diplomacy. And you're still cheering him on like a blithering idiot.

It was either this or O'Bama 4.0

Frank wrote on Mar 20^th, 2026 at 11:17am:

SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 20th, 2026 at 10:46am: All this bluster from you, Jason, to avoid the obvious, that Donald Trump managed to rattle the US economy before the Iran situation even escalated. Now layer on the consequences. As tariffs on Chinese goods begin to bite, you've got energy markets being destabilised off the back of strikes and counter-strikes involving Iran and Israel. Refineries hit, oil fields hit, supply disrupted, and suddenly the global economy is staring down constrained fuel flows at the exact moment costs are already rising. And what happens next? Other countries start hedging. They cut side deals, they look for alternative settlement mechanisms, and they begin chipping away at the dominance of the US dollar as the global reserve. That's not some abstract future risk, it's the predictable outcome when stability in the Strait of Hormuz gets turned into a bargaining chip. So we're left with a perfect storm: trade friction, energy shocks, and strategic self-sabotage, all with Trump's signature on them. And we're meant to believe this is deliberate? That the pain is the point? That economic contraction, supply disruption, and long-term damage to production capacity across the region is all just part of some grand design? Or is this just the inevitable consequences of how incompitent Trump and his hand picked loyalists are? These aren't short-term setbacks. Damage to oil infrastructure isn't fixed overnight, it's measured in years. You're talking 5 to 10 years to fully recover output in some cases, and that's assuming no further escalation. That's assuming Trump surrenders right now, today. All of this circles back to one decision, the tearing up of the nuclear agreement negotiated under Barack Obama. An agreement that, whatever its imperfections, was constraining Iran's nuclear pathway and keeping a lid on exactly this kind of escalation. So here we are. Economic strain at home, instability abroad and of course in the US, and Iran closer to the very capability that deal was designed to prevent. Is this the "5D chess" we keep hearing about? Because from the outside, it looks less like a strategy and more like setting fire to the board and insisting the smoke is part of the plan. At best, we're hoping to get back to a point we would have been if Trump did nothing and just claimed credit for Obama's deal.  Instead, we get the Trump Steaks version of Middle East diplomacy. And you're still cheering him on like a blithering idiot. It was either this or O'Bama 4.0

Global ruin with millions of people losing everything, or a competent US government that isn't MAGA?

SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 20^th, 2026 at 11:25am:

Frank wrote on Mar 20th, 2026 at 11:17am: SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 20th, 2026 at 10:46am: All this bluster from you, Jason, to avoid the obvious, that Donald Trump managed to rattle the US economy before the Iran situation even escalated. Now layer on the consequences. As tariffs on Chinese goods begin to bite, you've got energy markets being destabilised off the back of strikes and counter-strikes involving Iran and Israel. Refineries hit, oil fields hit, supply disrupted, and suddenly the global economy is staring down constrained fuel flows at the exact moment costs are already rising. And what happens next? Other countries start hedging. They cut side deals, they look for alternative settlement mechanisms, and they begin chipping away at the dominance of the US dollar as the global reserve. That's not some abstract future risk, it's the predictable outcome when stability in the Strait of Hormuz gets turned into a bargaining chip. So we're left with a perfect storm: trade friction, energy shocks, and strategic self-sabotage, all with Trump's signature on them. And we're meant to believe this is deliberate? That the pain is the point? That economic contraction, supply disruption, and long-term damage to production capacity across the region is all just part of some grand design? Or is this just the inevitable consequences of how incompitent Trump and his hand picked loyalists are? These aren't short-term setbacks. Damage to oil infrastructure isn't fixed overnight, it's measured in years. You're talking 5 to 10 years to fully recover output in some cases, and that's assuming no further escalation. That's assuming Trump surrenders right now, today. All of this circles back to one decision, the tearing up of the nuclear agreement negotiated under Barack Obama. An agreement that, whatever its imperfections, was constraining Iran's nuclear pathway and keeping a lid on exactly this kind of escalation. So here we are. Economic strain at home, instability abroad and of course in the US, and Iran closer to the very capability that deal was designed to prevent. Is this the "5D chess" we keep hearing about? Because from the outside, it looks less like a strategy and more like setting fire to the board and insisting the smoke is part of the plan. At best, we're hoping to get back to a point we would have been if Trump did nothing and just claimed credit for Obama's deal.  Instead, we get the Trump Steaks version of Middle East diplomacy. And you're still cheering him on like a blithering idiot. It was either this or O'Bama 4.0 Global ruin with millions of people losing everything, or a competent US government that isn't MAGA?

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms"

You dwell in a Manichaean world.

greggerypeccary wrote on Mar 19^th, 2026 at 5:12pm:

Jasin wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 5:05pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 5:00pm: Jasin wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 4:53pm: ... Trump always works on his enemies over-confidence and make them slip up. ... Example? Gee. Where do I start?  Just start by giving one example.

Rather optimistic request ?

Dnarever wrote on Mar 20^th, 2026 at 12:17pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 5:12pm: Jasin wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 5:05pm: greggerypeccary wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 5:00pm: Jasin wrote on Mar 19th, 2026 at 4:53pm: ... Trump always works on his enemies over-confidence and make them slip up. ... Example? Gee. Where do I start?  Just start by giving one example. Rather optimistic request ?

Come and get me, I'm right here coward.

Maduro did sound confident.

Frank wrote on Mar 20^th, 2026 at 11:37am:

SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 20th, 2026 at 11:25am: Frank wrote on Mar 20th, 2026 at 11:17am: SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 20th, 2026 at 10:46am: All this bluster from you, Jason, to avoid the obvious, that Donald Trump managed to rattle the US economy before the Iran situation even escalated. Now layer on the consequences. As tariffs on Chinese goods begin to bite, you've got energy markets being destabilised off the back of strikes and counter-strikes involving Iran and Israel. Refineries hit, oil fields hit, supply disrupted, and suddenly the global economy is staring down constrained fuel flows at the exact moment costs are already rising. And what happens next? Other countries start hedging. They cut side deals, they look for alternative settlement mechanisms, and they begin chipping away at the dominance of the US dollar as the global reserve. That's not some abstract future risk, it's the predictable outcome when stability in the Strait of Hormuz gets turned into a bargaining chip. So we're left with a perfect storm: trade friction, energy shocks, and strategic self-sabotage, all with Trump's signature on them. And we're meant to believe this is deliberate? That the pain is the point? That economic contraction, supply disruption, and long-term damage to production capacity across the region is all just part of some grand design? Or is this just the inevitable consequences of how incompitent Trump and his hand picked loyalists are? These aren't short-term setbacks. Damage to oil infrastructure isn't fixed overnight, it's measured in years. You're talking 5 to 10 years to fully recover output in some cases, and that's assuming no further escalation. That's assuming Trump surrenders right now, today. All of this circles back to one decision, the tearing up of the nuclear agreement negotiated under Barack Obama. An agreement that, whatever its imperfections, was constraining Iran's nuclear pathway and keeping a lid on exactly this kind of escalation. So here we are. Economic strain at home, instability abroad and of course in the US, and Iran closer to the very capability that deal was designed to prevent. Is this the "5D chess" we keep hearing about? Because from the outside, it looks less like a strategy and more like setting fire to the board and insisting the smoke is part of the plan. At best, we're hoping to get back to a point we would have been if Trump did nothing and just claimed credit for Obama's deal.  Instead, we get the Trump Steaks version of Middle East diplomacy. And you're still cheering him on like a blithering idiot. It was either this or O'Bama 4.0 Global ruin with millions of people losing everything, or a competent US government that isn't MAGA? "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" You dwell in a Manichaean world.

He's got you there, Sad. As a devout Lutheran, the old boy struggles against the authorities, the powers and spiritual forces of evil. He's never cared much for the economy. His DL is waging a spiritual battle against the leftards and tinted races.

Then we've got JaSin, setting his sights on redemption for the American people and not illegal border jumping plebs and drug cartels - apart from those his DL's pardoned and released, of course.

And last but not least, we have our equine friend, who is waging his war against the capitalists over at America Inc. Aquascoot's an austerity man. His aim is to smash the economy and cause a great depression. Famine, plagues, drought, pestilence. Bring it on, he says. And loving it.

There's a few stragglers. Lee's no Trump man, but he'll go with the flow. Gordon's a little bit naughty - I can't read his posts because I don't have Tic Toc. Bobby's a bot - he has no opinions whatsoever. And Leroy just wants to turn the page.

They've all taken a huge hit at the pumps, their mortgage rates and super funds, but that's okay.

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the despicables and desplorables, the powers of this tinted world and the spiritual forces of evil, no?

Frank wrote on Mar 20^th, 2026 at 11:37am:

SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 20th, 2026 at 11:25am: Frank wrote on Mar 20th, 2026 at 11:17am: SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 20th, 2026 at 10:46am: All this bluster from you, Jason, to avoid the obvious, that Donald Trump managed to rattle the US economy before the Iran situation even escalated. Now layer on the consequences. As tariffs on Chinese goods begin to bite, you've got energy markets being destabilised off the back of strikes and counter-strikes involving Iran and Israel. Refineries hit, oil fields hit, supply disrupted, and suddenly the global economy is staring down constrained fuel flows at the exact moment costs are already rising. And what happens next? Other countries start hedging. They cut side deals, they look for alternative settlement mechanisms, and they begin chipping away at the dominance of the US dollar as the global reserve. That's not some abstract future risk, it's the predictable outcome when stability in the Strait of Hormuz gets turned into a bargaining chip. So we're left with a perfect storm: trade friction, energy shocks, and strategic self-sabotage, all with Trump's signature on them. And we're meant to believe this is deliberate? That the pain is the point? That economic contraction, supply disruption, and long-term damage to production capacity across the region is all just part of some grand design? Or is this just the inevitable consequences of how incompitent Trump and his hand picked loyalists are? These aren't short-term setbacks. Damage to oil infrastructure isn't fixed overnight, it's measured in years. You're talking 5 to 10 years to fully recover output in some cases, and that's assuming no further escalation. That's assuming Trump surrenders right now, today. All of this circles back to one decision, the tearing up of the nuclear agreement negotiated under Barack Obama. An agreement that, whatever its imperfections, was constraining Iran's nuclear pathway and keeping a lid on exactly this kind of escalation. So here we are. Economic strain at home, instability abroad and of course in the US, and Iran closer to the very capability that deal was designed to prevent. Is this the "5D chess" we keep hearing about? Because from the outside, it looks less like a strategy and more like setting fire to the board and insisting the smoke is part of the plan. At best, we're hoping to get back to a point we would have been if Trump did nothing and just claimed credit for Obama's deal.  Instead, we get the Trump Steaks version of Middle East diplomacy. And you're still cheering him on like a blithering idiot. It was either this or O'Bama 4.0 Global ruin with millions of people losing everything, or a competent US government that isn't MAGA? "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" You dwell in a Manichaean world.

You live in a delusional fairy tale if you still think Trump is the victim here. He isn't some misunderstood hero, he's the incompetent architect of the looming US recession, the global fuel crisis, and the chain reaction that's about to turn food insecurity into a worldwide issue. His coming bodycount will make his COVID disaster look like a rounding error, and make no mistake, this is on him.

And you, yes you, helped make it happen with your blind, drooling loyalty to him. You cheered him on while he burned every system he touched, and now you get to watch the chaos he created rip the world apart. You're not just wrong, you're culpable, you're pathetic, and those like you will never get a free pass for it.

SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 20^th, 2026 at 1:09pm:

Frank wrote on Mar 20th, 2026 at 11:37am: SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 20th, 2026 at 11:25am: Frank wrote on Mar 20th, 2026 at 11:17am: SadKangaroo wrote on Mar 20th, 2026 at 10:46am: All this bluster from you, Jason, to avoid the obvious, that Donald Trump managed to rattle the US economy before the Iran situation even escalated. Now layer on the consequences. As tariffs on Chinese goods begin to bite, you've got energy markets being destabilised off the back of strikes and counter-strikes involving Iran and Israel. Refineries hit, oil fields hit, supply disrupted, and suddenly the global economy is staring down constrained fuel flows at the exact moment costs are already rising. And what happens next? Other countries start hedging. They cut side deals, they look for alternative settlement mechanisms, and they begin chipping away at the dominance of the US dollar as the global reserve. That's not some abstract future risk, it's the predictable outcome when stability in the Strait of Hormuz gets turned into a bargaining chip. So we're left with a perfect storm: trade friction, energy shocks, and strategic self-sabotage, all with Trump's signature on them. And we're meant to believe this is deliberate? That the pain is the point? That economic contraction, supply disruption, and long-term damage to production capacity across the region is all just part of some grand design? Or is this just the inevitable consequences of how incompitent Trump and his hand picked loyalists are? These aren't short-term setbacks. Damage to oil infrastructure isn't fixed overnight, it's measured in years. You're talking 5 to 10 years to fully recover output in some cases, and that's assuming no further escalation. That's assuming Trump surrenders right now, today. All of this circles back to one decision, the tearing up of the nuclear agreement negotiated under Barack Obama. An agreement that, whatever its imperfections, was constraining Iran's nuclear pathway and keeping a lid on exactly this kind of escalation. So here we are. Economic strain at home, instability abroad and of course in the US, and Iran closer to the very capability that deal was designed to prevent. Is this the "5D chess" we keep hearing about? Because from the outside, it looks less like a strategy and more like setting fire to the board and insisting the smoke is part of the plan. At best, we're hoping to get back to a point we would have been if Trump did nothing and just claimed credit for Obama's deal.  Instead, we get the Trump Steaks version of Middle East diplomacy. And you're still cheering him on like a blithering idiot. It was either this or O'Bama 4.0 Global ruin with millions of people losing everything, or a competent US government that isn't MAGA? "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" You dwell in a Manichaean world. You live in a delusional fairy tale if you still think Trump is the victim here. He isn't some misunderstood hero, he's the incompetent architect of the looming US recession, the global fuel crisis, and the chain reaction that's about to turn food insecurity into a worldwide issue. His coming bodycount will make his COVID disaster look like a rounding error, and make no mistake, this is on him. And you, yes you, helped make it happen with your blind, drooling loyalty to him. You cheered him on while he burned every system he touched, and now you get to watch the chaos he created rip the world apart. You're not just wrong, you're culpable, you're pathetic, and those like you will never get a free pass for it.

I'm sure Frank didn't mean anything by it, Sad. He was just having a laugh.