I sure have no assurance of how this will eventually play out. Maybe Trump will end being the savior he seems to really believe he is. But I do feel like I am watching a master class example of how a strongman authoritarian exploits crisis, confusion, and opportunity to convince sufficient numbers of the populace and other elected officials to willingly go along!
As a political columnist in the Trump era, I can't tell you how many times I've published a piece only to have Trump do something a couple hours later that adds more credibility to my argument.
I had a great professor in college who was from South America. He stated that it was extremely important for the President of the United States to act like a father figure, lead with integrity, exhibit patience but firmness. Even with a guy like Zelinski. I still think Putin has something.
Whatshisname - filling your column quoting your followers is pretty weak.
The Ukrainian leader was briefed BEFORE the White House session by no less than 12 Senators to prep him for the meeting with President Trump & VP Vance. So the left version of an ambush meeting is WRONG. There was no ambush of the Ukrainian leader, he knew what to expect going in. The Ukrainian leader is a cocaine spun up punk dressed like a new age Castro. He was coddled by Lyin' Biden and his minions to think his approach was beyond reproach. Now Trump paused military aid to Ukraine. That will teach him to pop off at the White House. Unfortunately the Ukrainian leader's approach will lead to more unnecessary deaths of his Ukrainian public until he wakes up and smells the coffee and makes a deal. BR
PS - this was more progress than Lyin' Biden & his minions ever attempted. Keep running out your tired version of Trump and see how many more readers you lose. You'll have to write your own column.
Agreeing and grasping recklessly at just any deal, especially when it favors the enemy, and even the US, needs to be carefully thought out AND discussed with the European countries, or it will never hold up. Putin will march in again, and same scenario plays out. Putin never stated he'd agree, he wants it all, the Kremlin did state that. But the minerals deal is a start. No one else has any plans, none.
Whathisname - we finally have a President that doesn't need help exiting a stage correctly and doesn't need the Obama leftover minions to do all the presidential work. PRESIDENT TRUMP can speak almost daily directly to the media AND the media can't take it. Media-types like you already have your opinions of President Trump pre-formed before any action is taken. You just mold your Xerox'd responses to the current activity. I suggest you go back to doing whatever you were doing before being a podcast BERNARD-repeater and stop polluting Bernard's podcast . BR
>>True Reagan Republicans now are MAGA Trump supporters.
Now that's funny. Reagan called a far more powerful Russia "the evil empire," and worked with our allies to apply serious pressure that ended the Cold War.
Trump is throwing our allies under the bus, and giving up the store for Putin... all because he really digs the dude.
>>You sound like a moderate Democrat.
No, I sound like a pre-Trump conservative who didn't surrender his principles and standards for a cult of personality that couldn't care less about conservatism.
>>Don’t you wanna make America great again?
Lol. America's always been great. What's not great are unfit American leaders who care far more about themselves than the country.
“ America was always great!” Look at what’s being discovered by all the Waste by the previous administrations. We were approaching bankruptcy. Our allies were treating us unfairly by tariffs, etc..
>>Look at what’s being discovered by all the Waste by the previous administrations.
(Including both Trump administrations). Yes, there's always waste in government. Always, at every level of government. Are you suggesting our country, therefore, has never been great?
>>We were approaching bankruptcy.
Were??? We still are! We haven't even slowed down! DOGE's declared "savings," even if all of it were real (it's not), and all of it went through (it won't), would be the equivalent of trimming a hair off an elephant's back.
>>Our allies were treating us unfairly by tariffs, etc..
Utter nonsense. But if you live here in the U.S., you can now, thanks to Lord Trump's economically illiteracy, look forward to your 401(k) cratering, soaring prices, and jobs going away.
Being that I've happily acknowledged things I believe were done right by both the first and second Trump administrations, I'm not sure what this has to do with me.
What I do, Conrad, is maintain a consistent set of principles, and criticize bad ideas, bad policies, and bad conduct. I don't pick a party or politician to indiscriminately wave wave pom poms for, nor do I defer to feelings over facts when determining if something is a success or failure.
Again, the commentators on this site aren't here to confirm your biases, or carry your team's water. We're here to share our fact-based, honest opinions.
John, no comments on Trump poking Zelenskyy several times in the arm? He hit him in the arm multiple times, I was gobsmacked, that, to me, was the ultimate insult. I would had poked him right back, but of course I'm a female. That was provocation.
An elderly man who gobbles down soda and hamburgers, tweets excessively at 2-3am, never gets much sleep (obviously), slumps at his desk and speaks very monotone cannot last health wise for very long. It's starting to be noticeable. I do pray he's successful, but I'm very leary -- I live here.
Yes, John I see that too. Folks being 'gaslighted' into disdain and even hatred towards Ukraine now, in a similar way Germany was in the 30's-40's towards various peoples. Strong hard-core rhetoric, feed the followers the 'drug' of choice-hence the addiction. No rules apply here. The US attitude towards Nationalism is out of hand, it's Trump's rationalism of anything he does; non-critical thinkers justify even the worst of this. My fears are Pres. TRump will NOT know when to stop, not will he desire to do so. Power begets power, and so on.
I sure have no assurance of how this will eventually play out. Maybe Trump will end being the savior he seems to really believe he is. But I do feel like I am watching a master class example of how a strongman authoritarian exploits crisis, confusion, and opportunity to convince sufficient numbers of the populace and other elected officials to willingly go along!
That is the downside to Trump's personality, unfortunately, it may wind up NOT being an asset in the long run. We only have history to refer back to.
And, no doubt as planned for the follow up act, the Orange Turd just "paused" all aid to Ukraine.
As a political columnist in the Trump era, I can't tell you how many times I've published a piece only to have Trump do something a couple hours later that adds more credibility to my argument.
Since it seems to be all about a deal for Trump, maybe Ukraine should see if NATO nations or others are willing to match or beat Trumps offer?
It needs some game show flavour though Scott, in order to be successful.
Can you say -LET"S MAKE A DEAL!! Come on Down!!
"upbeat music plays"
Trump will 'choke and squeeze' an agreement out of Zelenskyy, hell or high water, at any cost. ANY cost. Hmmm........
I had a great professor in college who was from South America. He stated that it was extremely important for the President of the United States to act like a father figure, lead with integrity, exhibit patience but firmness. Even with a guy like Zelinski. I still think Putin has something.
Whatshisname - filling your column quoting your followers is pretty weak.
The Ukrainian leader was briefed BEFORE the White House session by no less than 12 Senators to prep him for the meeting with President Trump & VP Vance. So the left version of an ambush meeting is WRONG. There was no ambush of the Ukrainian leader, he knew what to expect going in. The Ukrainian leader is a cocaine spun up punk dressed like a new age Castro. He was coddled by Lyin' Biden and his minions to think his approach was beyond reproach. Now Trump paused military aid to Ukraine. That will teach him to pop off at the White House. Unfortunately the Ukrainian leader's approach will lead to more unnecessary deaths of his Ukrainian public until he wakes up and smells the coffee and makes a deal. BR
PS - this was more progress than Lyin' Biden & his minions ever attempted. Keep running out your tired version of Trump and see how many more readers you lose. You'll have to write your own column.
Dear "Bob's" programmer:
1. Get that token substitution code figured out.
2. I'm more than happy to quote the insight of our subscribers. You sound jealous.
3. What's wrong with meeting with U.S. senators? And how's it relevant to Trump & Vance's jackassery?
4. Cry more, lib.
5. Only a bot would describe sycophantic capitulation to Vladmir Putin as "progress."
6. Cry more, lib.
I see the "Let the insults begin" patch is back in this latest release....
I think you'll find John does write his own column and you are responding to it.
So bravo to you Bob, release version 2.0.2025.3.4
Agreeing and grasping recklessly at just any deal, especially when it favors the enemy, and even the US, needs to be carefully thought out AND discussed with the European countries, or it will never hold up. Putin will march in again, and same scenario plays out. Putin never stated he'd agree, he wants it all, the Kremlin did state that. But the minerals deal is a start. No one else has any plans, none.
Whathisname - we finally have a President that doesn't need help exiting a stage correctly and doesn't need the Obama leftover minions to do all the presidential work. PRESIDENT TRUMP can speak almost daily directly to the media AND the media can't take it. Media-types like you already have your opinions of President Trump pre-formed before any action is taken. You just mold your Xerox'd responses to the current activity. I suggest you go back to doing whatever you were doing before being a podcast BERNARD-repeater and stop polluting Bernard's podcast . BR
"we finally have a President that doesn't need help exiting a stage correctly"
*ba-dum-tshh*
John, you sound like a Democrat. Why don’t you admit it?
Actually, Conrad, I sound like a Reagan Republican. Trump sounds like a Code Pink leftist. Why don't you admit it?
True Reagan Republicans now are MAGA Trump supporters. You sound like a moderate Democrat. Don’t you wanna make America great again?
>>True Reagan Republicans now are MAGA Trump supporters.
Now that's funny. Reagan called a far more powerful Russia "the evil empire," and worked with our allies to apply serious pressure that ended the Cold War.
Trump is throwing our allies under the bus, and giving up the store for Putin... all because he really digs the dude.
>>You sound like a moderate Democrat.
No, I sound like a pre-Trump conservative who didn't surrender his principles and standards for a cult of personality that couldn't care less about conservatism.
>>Don’t you wanna make America great again?
Lol. America's always been great. What's not great are unfit American leaders who care far more about themselves than the country.
“ America was always great!” Look at what’s being discovered by all the Waste by the previous administrations. We were approaching bankruptcy. Our allies were treating us unfairly by tariffs, etc..
>>Look at what’s being discovered by all the Waste by the previous administrations.
(Including both Trump administrations). Yes, there's always waste in government. Always, at every level of government. Are you suggesting our country, therefore, has never been great?
>>We were approaching bankruptcy.
Were??? We still are! We haven't even slowed down! DOGE's declared "savings," even if all of it were real (it's not), and all of it went through (it won't), would be the equivalent of trimming a hair off an elephant's back.
>>Our allies were treating us unfairly by tariffs, etc..
Utter nonsense. But if you live here in the U.S., you can now, thanks to Lord Trump's economically illiteracy, look forward to your 401(k) cratering, soaring prices, and jobs going away.
So... much... greatness.
A lot of the Democrats are showing hate for this president. Why are you showing hate for this president?
A lot of blind loyalists confuse valid criticism for hatred. Why do you think valid criticism is hatred?
Hatred is shown as continuous objection towards the Trump administration. Never acknowledging any credits that may exist in his administration.
Being that I've happily acknowledged things I believe were done right by both the first and second Trump administrations, I'm not sure what this has to do with me.
What I do, Conrad, is maintain a consistent set of principles, and criticize bad ideas, bad policies, and bad conduct. I don't pick a party or politician to indiscriminately wave wave pom poms for, nor do I defer to feelings over facts when determining if something is a success or failure.
Again, the commentators on this site aren't here to confirm your biases, or carry your team's water. We're here to share our fact-based, honest opinions.
What would Putin do if Trump poked him in the arm in a televised high stakes meeting?
John, no comments on Trump poking Zelenskyy several times in the arm? He hit him in the arm multiple times, I was gobsmacked, that, to me, was the ultimate insult. I would had poked him right back, but of course I'm a female. That was provocation.
An elderly man who gobbles down soda and hamburgers, tweets excessively at 2-3am, never gets much sleep (obviously), slumps at his desk and speaks very monotone cannot last health wise for very long. It's starting to be noticeable. I do pray he's successful, but I'm very leary -- I live here.
Yes, John I see that too. Folks being 'gaslighted' into disdain and even hatred towards Ukraine now, in a similar way Germany was in the 30's-40's towards various peoples. Strong hard-core rhetoric, feed the followers the 'drug' of choice-hence the addiction. No rules apply here. The US attitude towards Nationalism is out of hand, it's Trump's rationalism of anything he does; non-critical thinkers justify even the worst of this. My fears are Pres. TRump will NOT know when to stop, not will he desire to do so. Power begets power, and so on.