jas007

I don't know the particulars, but surely these people have 1st amendment rights. Have they incited any violence? Anything that would cross the line into terrorism or criminal activity? I'm old enough to remember the Weather Underground, the SDS, and the "Chicago 8" trials stemming from the 1968 Democratic National Convention and the "Days of Rage." I think everybody in the world saw the cops Mayor Daley sent into the street to crack heads. The Democrats weren't going to put up with any of it. The leaders of the group eventually went on trial and were convicted, but all the convictions were eventually overturned by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. During trial, one of the issues was free speech. In any event, those people went from speaking and rallies to eventually declaring "war" on the US in 1970 and later engaging in bombings and the like. In any event, there's probably a lesson there for everyone. Speak all you want, but somewhere there's a line and you're going to end up in trouble. As for the "obscure statute" you reference above? If that's the Alien Exclusion Act or whatever it's called, I guess we all get to find out what the Supreme Court thinks sometime soon.

I think if you go back and read some of my posts, you'll see that I'm not a "hardcore MAGA member." If thinking Harris would have been a disaster as President makes me hardcore MAGA, then that's silly. Call me a realist who makes some effort to think for myself and question authority. I may not get everything right all the time, but at least I try. I'm smart enough to know propaganda when I see it, and I'm smart enough to know crazy when I see it. And I absolutely believe in free speech.

I'm sure I can't be the only veteran here (Vietnam era)) who thinks the current crop of leftists are nuts. Not that I'm a MAGA, necessarily, but I do think Trump was the only real choice in the last election. Harris would have been a disaster.

I'm not so sure Trump cares much about "billionaire buddies." That's too much of a simple explanation. One thing that Trump can't control and that will eventually put a floor under the markets is the Fed Put. Once the bond market gets into big trouble, the Fed will rush in to "buy it all," and it's that and the resultant money printing that will operate in the usual fashion. More money flowing into the system. More inflation in just about everything. And that will work until it doesn't. And before it doesn't, both Trump and Xi will come to their senses and make a deal. Neither side can afford a total shutdown of trade.

Just a quick story for those regurgitating mainstream propaganda instead of making sensible conclusions from reality: https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trade-taxes-trump-china-bessent-treasury-66668fa26957ece530a250fa8ea19faa And before long, we'll all see another news story about how Trump and Xi are in negotiations. Neither side can afford this nonsense, and so it won't go one too much longer.

And this morning the Baht is weakening again, slightly. Never forget, whatever Trump's policy on the dollar and however weak it gets, what's to say that the Thai baht won't perform even worse? Not every currency moves in the same direction vs the dollar, and for various reasons might weaken along with the dollar.

I don't recall having a "motto." As for Biden? Not much need to waste any energy worrying about that nonsense. Biden didn't seem to be in charge of anything, though. Biden, Trump. Whoever is running the country is running the country and there's not much you can do about it. During an election cycle, that's a different matter. For example, why not voice an opinion about Harris or whoever? That's when it might matter.

She does seem rather gullible age times. I guess she took to heart some of the theories about Pope Francis, the Jesuits, and the Vatican, that the Devil himself had somehow gained a foothold, became the Pope, and was trying to destroy humanity. It gets weirder than that, but I'll stop there.

The restaurant is not actually on the beach. It's on Soi Saranchol. And the sidewalk is still all there. I guess you can't really tell that from the picture.

Criticize all you want. That's fine. Just don't think that criticism addresses the real issue. All you're doing is fantasizing about what could be or what should be. But the reality is that it is Trump and Xi who will settle this matter. Not you. Not me. Even if I agree with all your criticisms, how would that help? How does that change the fact situation?

You said "don't try to pin any of it" on Xi. Look above if you need to refresh your memory. You said I was engaging in "bothsidesism." If you want to call it that, fine. China does not come to the table with clean hands, regardless of Xi's pronouncements. Whether or not Xi has consistently stated that the tariffs are a bad idea, Trump's position has been taken in response to China's actions over the years. So it's reciprocal. It always has been, it always will be.

How does it work to America's advantage? Well, Trump so happens to be the sitting President. He's the one that's supposed to handle foreign policy, right? Or would you like to see him fail? Do you want America to fail? Like it or not, Trump is currently the president, and that's the reality. Usually, I try to confine myself to thinking about reality. I suppose I could make up a fantasy. We could all go to live in Never-Never Land and live happily ever after. If we're going to fantasize instead of dealing with reality, we might as well do it right.

So China is a perfect country and never cheats on anything? They never manipulate their currency, they never steal intellectual property, they've never reneged on a treaty or other international agreement? China is as much to blame as anyone.

That may be true for some, but I've run across a few that were only 21 and were fluent. You could close your eye and listen to them talk and you'd swear you were listening to a a college girl from a Big 10 university in the midwest.

It's probably the best insurance anyone here has available to them at any price. I've got the same coverage. Blue Cross/Blue Shield standard benefit plan. Code 104. Anyway, the insurance pretty much covers you anywhere in the world, and inpatient treatment is covered at 100% at preferred provider hospitals, with NO LIMIT. And there are no age restrictions. I could be 100 years old and still have the same coverage. And if you find yourself in an area with no preferred providers, you're still covered, but you may have to file a claim and wait for reimbursement. Even that can sometimes be fixed. I don't have a family, so my plan doesn't cost much. $424 a month this year? Something like that. I never see the money because they take it from my monthly pension along with taxes before I even see it. I also kept Medicare Part B, so I guess I pay that every month as well. Again, I never see the money so I never much think about it.

If I ever moved into the "real Thailand" parts of the country, I'm sure I would eventually pick it up. But I've never done that. No matter where I've stayed, it's always in the middle of a tourist area. And all the Thai people I usually come into contact with seem to know at least some English. Hotel desk clerks, condo receptionists, the people working the condo juristic office, Bolt drivers, the people in the convene stores and grocery stores, and so on. A little English works for me, as I'm probably not going to engage in any deep conversation with any of them anyway. So I never tried to learn much Thai. What was really surprising to me is how well some of the bar girls know English. No official English classes, but they do well. Sure, I know some Thai words, but if I start to talk Thai, then they might think I can actually converse in Thai, even though I can't. Maybe someday I'll try some Thai lessons.

Sooner or later, both Xi and Trump are going to come to the conclusion that the tariff nonsense is not good and has to stop. Will they admit that publicly? Probably not, but you can be sure a pathway to a deal will be found. My guess: Trump is all bravado at times, but no one really knows what he's thinking. That's a good thing and works to his advantage. But. he needs for this to end. As for Xi? He probably needs to make a deal even more than Trump does, and a way will be found for that to happen. My guess: China will agree to a set of terms that seems to satisfy Trump. After that, they'll go back to China and continue business as usual, as they always do. They have a recent history of doing just that, right? They'll agree to anything, and then return more or less to business as usual. Bottom line: a way will be found to end the standoff, as a cessation of trade between the US and China is in no one's interest.

Agreed. Maybe he's been so informed and has moved on at this point.

I don't pay Bloomberg a cent and I can look it up, click on that link, and read it just fine. And if you don't want to try that, here's the headline: China Warns Nations Not to Cut US Trade Deals at Its Expense Or, try this: https://www.reuters.com/world/china-opposes-any-deals-between-us-other-nations-its-expense-2025-04-21/

What do you call this, if not a threat to the Western nations? https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-21/china-warns-countries-not-to-cut-deals-with-us-at-its-expense?sref=eo0IIyEe&embedded-checkout=true

The fact is, they're talking to the Trump administration and they want to make a deal. Whether they actually sign one doesn't seem all that important. The intent is there. As for China's threats to the West? Sure, they can threaten all they want, but that's all they are. Threats. They can't possibly believe that they'll be taken seriously. Like I say, the threats are an act of desperation and suggest that China is at the end of its rope if idle threats is all they can come up with.

Yes another act of desperation by the Chinese. Do they seriously think they can threaten the entire Western World? Western leaders are already in talks with the Trump administration. They want to make a deal, and they'll get a deal. And slowly, China will be forced to negotiate. That's coming sooner than many people seem to think

You're right. It's called Sky Beach, I think. Anyway, it's near Wongamat Beach.

That's hardly the point, though. The discussion is about Signal and his use of it.

Supposedly, both Signal chats occurred around the same time. So, maybe he has now moved on to more secure forms of communication?