txags92 said:
LMCane said:
MemphisAg1 said:
Sometimes his ideas fall flat or get passed off as loony, but more often than not he gets traction simply by daring to state them. So many politicians are incredibly timid and measured. Trump is unconstrained and speaks his mind without apology. I've seen this movie before, and I'm going to enjoy the second edition much more than the first. He's been proven right on so many issues that were initially regarded as laughable by the "mainstream," only to see time prove him right.
also by putting it out there it will force the Panamanians to give us a better deal
just like with the Canadians and Mexicans
Exactly. It goes back to the Art of the Deal. You throw out some crazy possible worst case ("You have a really nice country here...it'd be a shame if we had to turn it into the 51st state") to let them ponder how bad things could get (if Trump really is as crazy as their fever dreams make them think he is). Then you come back with an offer that gives you what you really want and has enough in there for them to make them willing to work with you to iron out the final agreement. He does it with threats of tariffs to get better trade deals, he used it to get Europe to start spending more on defense by talking about pulling out of NATO, etc. etc. If anybody isn't aware of that being part of his MO, they haven't been paying attention.
So much this. It's amusing at this point to watch liberals get emotionally charged with something he throws out there without even a hint of understanding that this is how he does things. We've spent the past month hearing how tariffs will lead to inflation without even a suggestion that he's negotiating and we're a long way from actually seeing any tariffs. Now I'm guessing we'll be treated to wild speculation that he wants to invade Panama and take back the canal by force, all from unnamed sources of course and without even a a little acknowledgment that he's the most peace oriented president we've had this century.
A fearful society is a compliant society. That's why Democrats and criminals prefer their victims to be unarmed. Gun Control is not about guns, it's about control.