From his threats to make Canada the 51st state, buy Greenland, reclaim the Panama Canal, and, almost implausibly, “take” the Gaza Strip, Trump isn’t hiding his imperial ambitions.
Everything said here is true. But, really, did we not expect the trajectory of insanity to be where it is today? He's a malignant narcissist. The only trajectory is increased depravation. He actually loves to be hated, enjoys it - the insult, the surprise, the stage, the bowing, the begging and then...the hero emerges via some idiotic farce of a victory. Repeat. And about prices, agencies, bridges, healthcare, storms, fires, floods - hah, he could give a shit. And when things go really wrong, he'll just say, "get me the helicopter, you know where". He does not care about anything so expect the floor to be continuously drilled deeper into hell. Finally, if you hear someone complaining about their country destroying vote.. ... tell them to give themselves a good kick in the arse (at least) and you don't want to fucking hear it. Citizens United has allowed the Mafia to take over, thanks to those true Patriots at SCOTUS. You see, now they don't have to worry about those pesky disclosures. How pathetic.
He can, and will, try. But it’s a failing proposition . It would take logistic and managerial expertise far, far , far from Trumps skill set.
It would take political capital that Trump may believe he has, but doesn’t. He continues to believe that an Electoral College victory is equal to a Popular Vote victory. It isn’t anywhere except in Congress.
Republicans have , for decades, rejected DC Statehood and Puerto Rico Statehood. Why? The Democratic math would swing against the GOP. If, by some crazy chance, Canada became a “State”, how would the new state vote? Not GOP. The imbalance would be overwhelming.
Trump will flame out over these endless efforts. And , as with all bullies, when he gets punched in the mouth he will run away and hide.
As I said on Ryan Jesperson's podcast, while Canada's patriotism is strong, we should not be so confident that we risk repeating David Cameron's mistake when he called a referendum on Brexit because he was sure that Britons would never vote to leave Europe. In a world where Facebook no longer does fact-checking, Elon Musk has just bought Twitter, and President Trump has an explicit strategy of using "economic force" and sowing divisions within Canada, you do not want to have a referendum on this subject in Canada.
Well, I am surprised! I hate to admit it, but I am surprised and dismayed. I sounds as if I may live my remains life in a greedy, suffocating, dying world dominated by a cult of madmen
I think you make an excellent point, they already benefit from all we Canadians have to offer at discounted rates but I would be surprised if annexation isn’t his end goal.
I've always disliked Harper, but his statement reflects the feelings of most Canadians. Trump is an embarrassment to his country, and we'll need the sane 50% of Americans to wake up smell the roses. Backstabbing allies has been the modus operandi of the USA for most of its history, so we shouldn't be surprised.
His tactics? He doesn’t stop to think! He is not going to have Canada, nor Gaza, nor his imbecile like way with any of his present uninformed political moves, I fear within six months our domestic and international existence will implode.
I think he'll settle for tariffs and punching down, at least until they've finished taking the administrative US state down to the studs. After which, I certainly reckon he'll try if his demo project is successful because that will mean there are no longer any checks and balances preventing him. That's the nightmare scenario, an American Putin complete with his own modern-day Rasputin at his side. That's what Trump wants, that's what he's always wanted. The unreality is how possible that outcome seems today.
Now I'll just say this, if all of this comes to pass, Canada joining the US could be the only way to actually *save* the US from its, at that point, its capture.
None of this matters very much when you look at the scale of what needs to be done in the next two decades to avert massive cascading collapses across the globe. Maybe it’s good if Canada gets theirs first.
None of leaders has shown the slightest interest in doing what needs to be done, and none will. The only thing that has united us as a people is a lunatic.
In this context, I am troubled by Harper’s words. Capitalism creates and thrives on crises. His Evangelism craves a disaster. It isn’t a warning but a prophecy.
Your scenario rings realistic given the current administration and what may follow it. MAGA strategy is to financially squeeze Canada for all they can get out of us, like the extortionist Trump essentially is. And he is convinced he can do anything he wants. There may be no need to officially offer statehood as this could become an unnecessary bureaucratic detail.
Nonetheless, vigilance will be necessary throughout the process. And Canada will definitely have to be united. Under what conditions will Albertans see that Naheed Nenshi is a better option to lead them? How much US/Russian propaganda will Albertans be able to withstand to change their minds?
As for Quebec, at what point will Quebecers notice that their culture will not be protected by the likes of Donald Trump?
As terrifying and fast as Trumps ambitions are, the scenario will take a bit of time to roll out and not without some pain and pushback at home. US refineries are built to process Canadian heavy crude in his own red states. Red state farmers with big contracts to supply food for AID programs now have no markets. They are not happy. The car making industry is not American, it is a complex Canadian, Mexican, and American delicate ecosystem. Ford’s CEO is already ringing alarm bells that tariffs will stall their fight against China in the EV market.
This will be Canada’s chance. We do have some leverage, Trump is discounting it. We are in a long, tricky game here but we do have smarts and options and a chance. Nonetheless, this game will not be played and survived without a lot of pain.
Under the disguise of rudeness and bravado, Trump es coward and weak. If he see strong oposition, he will retreat. ¿Conquer canada? If the Canadians close ranks and show themselves ready to resist, even fight, Trump will never attack. Annex Gaza? The Israelis want that territory for themselves. Trump, if he behaves himself, will have his share of the spoils right on the beach! But nothing more.
Everything said here is true. But, really, did we not expect the trajectory of insanity to be where it is today? He's a malignant narcissist. The only trajectory is increased depravation. He actually loves to be hated, enjoys it - the insult, the surprise, the stage, the bowing, the begging and then...the hero emerges via some idiotic farce of a victory. Repeat. And about prices, agencies, bridges, healthcare, storms, fires, floods - hah, he could give a shit. And when things go really wrong, he'll just say, "get me the helicopter, you know where". He does not care about anything so expect the floor to be continuously drilled deeper into hell. Finally, if you hear someone complaining about their country destroying vote.. ... tell them to give themselves a good kick in the arse (at least) and you don't want to fucking hear it. Citizens United has allowed the Mafia to take over, thanks to those true Patriots at SCOTUS. You see, now they don't have to worry about those pesky disclosures. How pathetic.
Well said
He wasn't elected to make things work. He was elected to blow things up. Nobody should be surprised by any of this.
He can, and will, try. But it’s a failing proposition . It would take logistic and managerial expertise far, far , far from Trumps skill set.
It would take political capital that Trump may believe he has, but doesn’t. He continues to believe that an Electoral College victory is equal to a Popular Vote victory. It isn’t anywhere except in Congress.
Republicans have , for decades, rejected DC Statehood and Puerto Rico Statehood. Why? The Democratic math would swing against the GOP. If, by some crazy chance, Canada became a “State”, how would the new state vote? Not GOP. The imbalance would be overwhelming.
Trump will flame out over these endless efforts. And , as with all bullies, when he gets punched in the mouth he will run away and hide.
Don't expect a vote.
As I said on Ryan Jesperson's podcast, while Canada's patriotism is strong, we should not be so confident that we risk repeating David Cameron's mistake when he called a referendum on Brexit because he was sure that Britons would never vote to leave Europe. In a world where Facebook no longer does fact-checking, Elon Musk has just bought Twitter, and President Trump has an explicit strategy of using "economic force" and sowing divisions within Canada, you do not want to have a referendum on this subject in Canada.
Referendum? That assumes a significant portion of the population would favour annexation. The last Referendum was on Free Trade.
How that work out!
Well, I am surprised! I hate to admit it, but I am surprised and dismayed. I sounds as if I may live my remains life in a greedy, suffocating, dying world dominated by a cult of madmen
I think you make an excellent point, they already benefit from all we Canadians have to offer at discounted rates but I would be surprised if annexation isn’t his end goal.
Easty...
I've always disliked Harper, but his statement reflects the feelings of most Canadians. Trump is an embarrassment to his country, and we'll need the sane 50% of Americans to wake up smell the roses. Backstabbing allies has been the modus operandi of the USA for most of its history, so we shouldn't be surprised.
His tactics? He doesn’t stop to think! He is not going to have Canada, nor Gaza, nor his imbecile like way with any of his present uninformed political moves, I fear within six months our domestic and international existence will implode.
I think he'll settle for tariffs and punching down, at least until they've finished taking the administrative US state down to the studs. After which, I certainly reckon he'll try if his demo project is successful because that will mean there are no longer any checks and balances preventing him. That's the nightmare scenario, an American Putin complete with his own modern-day Rasputin at his side. That's what Trump wants, that's what he's always wanted. The unreality is how possible that outcome seems today.
Now I'll just say this, if all of this comes to pass, Canada joining the US could be the only way to actually *save* the US from its, at that point, its capture.
None of this matters very much when you look at the scale of what needs to be done in the next two decades to avert massive cascading collapses across the globe. Maybe it’s good if Canada gets theirs first.
None of leaders has shown the slightest interest in doing what needs to be done, and none will. The only thing that has united us as a people is a lunatic.
Why wait, bring it on.
In this context, I am troubled by Harper’s words. Capitalism creates and thrives on crises. His Evangelism craves a disaster. It isn’t a warning but a prophecy.
Your scenario rings realistic given the current administration and what may follow it. MAGA strategy is to financially squeeze Canada for all they can get out of us, like the extortionist Trump essentially is. And he is convinced he can do anything he wants. There may be no need to officially offer statehood as this could become an unnecessary bureaucratic detail.
Nonetheless, vigilance will be necessary throughout the process. And Canada will definitely have to be united. Under what conditions will Albertans see that Naheed Nenshi is a better option to lead them? How much US/Russian propaganda will Albertans be able to withstand to change their minds?
As for Quebec, at what point will Quebecers notice that their culture will not be protected by the likes of Donald Trump?
As terrifying and fast as Trumps ambitions are, the scenario will take a bit of time to roll out and not without some pain and pushback at home. US refineries are built to process Canadian heavy crude in his own red states. Red state farmers with big contracts to supply food for AID programs now have no markets. They are not happy. The car making industry is not American, it is a complex Canadian, Mexican, and American delicate ecosystem. Ford’s CEO is already ringing alarm bells that tariffs will stall their fight against China in the EV market.
This will be Canada’s chance. We do have some leverage, Trump is discounting it. We are in a long, tricky game here but we do have smarts and options and a chance. Nonetheless, this game will not be played and survived without a lot of pain.
Drunk with POWER or…..aligned with Putins aspirations too, more likely. Trump is weak so his “ plans” are fed to him. There is a PLAN be sure ….
Maybe he doesn't want Canada to be a state. Maybe, just like Gaza, he wants to simply 'have' Canada, as a sort of personal colony.
Under the disguise of rudeness and bravado, Trump es coward and weak. If he see strong oposition, he will retreat. ¿Conquer canada? If the Canadians close ranks and show themselves ready to resist, even fight, Trump will never attack. Annex Gaza? The Israelis want that territory for themselves. Trump, if he behaves himself, will have his share of the spoils right on the beach! But nothing more.