dogyks

Crypto simply uses a different magic wand than fiat currency. Actually, while fiat currency has zero inherent net worth, Bitcoin has negative inherent net worth. I had the unfortunate experience of studying math for many years, which has denied me the joy of gambling. I've never bought a lottery ticket, since the odds of winning are about the same either way.

We have a winner!

It should, however, balance the budget. Printing currency to account for overspending has been done repeatedly, and the only difference in outcome is when and how bad.

Again, calling him a Russian asset gives him too much credit. "Unwitting tool of Moscow" at best.

As I have long said, you give him credit for being able to lie. To someone who considers "truth" to be an abstraction at best, the difference between true and false is meaningless. In Russian Prada means 'truth' and Izvestia means 'news,' hence the witticism that "in Pravda there is no Izvestia and in Izvestia there is no Pravda." Thus it is ironic that Trump's platform is "Truth Social" (it's been done).

I think I had you killfiled on DZ, but you haven't shown the level of abuse I seem to recall. We'll see. My point is that, while Trump himself is loathsome, what his people are doing is an improvement over anything Harris or Biden had to offer. His treatment of Zelinskyy was despicable. Having spent time in the Soviet Union I can assure you that I do not support Russia - particularly as run by a Komitat alumnus. Trump can fuck up a wet dream, and I fully expect him to do so (being a dickhead about Ukraine has him off to a good start) but the playbook he's following for the first 100 days is, by and large, remarkable. The "Gulf of America" bit is retarded, and I think abortion should be free, legal and immediately available in the first trimester.

You appear to think a significant number of my immediate family and friends aren't and weren't civil servants. I didn't know it was that obvious.

Careful with the projection. I approve of treating government with the same fiscal responsibility as necessary for a successful business (yeah, I know the dumb sonofabitch has a tendency to bankruptcy). I approve of ripping any woke policies out by the roots. Funding DEI is not an option. I approve of picking an official language. My forebears would have done better with French or German, but we picked up some English along the way. I approve of having a military focused on its primary mission, with no consideration of other agenda. I approve of limiting who can immigrate, and have no problem with flouting the rules being an unacceptable option. Many who got to Ellis Island were sent back, and I've lived many places where being there without authorization was a Really Bad Idea. I approve of Right Back Atcha trade legislation, where our tariffs duplicate those of our trading partners. "Gender Affirming Care" for children is child abuse and should be charged as a felony. If you want surgery to confirm your identity as a penguin once you reach majority - and you pay for it - knock yourself out. Any group should be careful when asking for "Special Treatment," given how that worked out previously. Harris would have done nothing I consider useful, so Trump was operationally preferable. He is, unfortunately, entirely revolting, and by no means "my guy."

There's a lot being done by this administration that is necessary if we are not to crash and burn, and a lot of damage is being undone. Having said that, it is unfortunate that Trump is a truly repellent piece of shit There may be method to the madness regarding the treatment of Ukraine and Zelinskyy - getting European neighbors to replace US aid seems to be working - but the approach taken to do so is completely nauseating. Placing blame on Ukraine for Russia's aggression has all the charm of blaming a victim of gang rape for being too attractive. Insisting that Ukraine is resisting "peace" is like saying said rape victim should have "compromised;" since the offer was made to only include full-patch club members and no prospects or hangers on she was just playing hard to get. It may be by the "Art of the Deal" playbook, but it's disgusting nonetheless.

Sarah Paine's assessment of Ukraine is well considered. Putin's goal is the maintenance of power, period. Going into Ukraine, he had no Plan B. Throwing Sun Tzu into the mix, at least the illusion of an out is critical and having nukes involved makes it even moreso. Thus, if Captain Chaos can roil the waters such that Putin appears to have a 'win,' a Kewpie doll to account for all that has been squandered, that might be the least awful outcome for the time being.

As long as he pays for the minerals with F-16s, Javelin missles, 155mm ammo and whatnot it's all good.

I think they're both dreadful people, but Clinton is more charming. Trump, however, is neither an Attorney nor a Democrat.

I have a $3 bill around somewhere with Bill Clinton on it. I suspect it's a novelty item.

Terminal velocity should be the same then.

The distinction between vaccines and mRNA treatment is vast, though I'm sure this is lost on RFK Jr.

In discussing Huey P. Long the claim was made that corrupt and competent was preferable to honest and incompetent. Having said that, describing Trump as competent is a stretch.

The man was overheard to say, as he fell past the 32nd floor, "so far, so good..."

The "Continental" was the fiat currency issued to cover expenditures related to the war of Independence and establishing the new nation. This currency collapsed, and the expression "worthless as a Continental" became common. A study of the"Federal Reserve" (which is neither Federal nor a reserve) might bring your sanguine stance into question.

A bad driver may be slightly better than one who freezes up with a deer-in-the-headlights expression when racing toward a cliff. Trump will keep the body shop in business at best, Harris is in the "what cliff?" category. We're fucked either way, but we may have a chance with the sorry sonofabitch that got elected.

Less worst.

This supports my contention that calling him a 'liar' is meaningless, given that 'truth' is to him simply an abstraction.

In 'Band of Brothers' Captain Sobel was depicted as an officious prick of the first order. The capriciousness of his command was entirely unforgivable and the Paratroopers he trained quite rightly hated his guts. In retrospect it was noted that the survival rate of his command was unusually high, perhaps due to his cruelty when preparing them for the unforgiving nature of combat. Having said that, the survivors still loathed him. I was braced for Trump coming in and blundering about as he did last time. Instead, he sought to rip government funded DEI out by the roots and addressed government bloat with a chainsaw instead of pruning shears. Having consulted at numerous companies with seriously defective cultures, those that took a kinder, gentler approach are gone with the wind. Those that performed emergency surgery had a painful recovery period, but thrived thereafter. The key to a successful presidency starts with the first 100 days, and Trump is off to an impressive start. I have full confidence that he can still fuck things up beyond recognition (Ukraine started it? Jesus...), but so far the approach is about as effective as could be hoped. Milton Friedman was serious when he listed government agencies that should be summarily abolished, and it looks like some of them are slated to go in the dustbin of history. Having more than passing familiarity with USAID, I'm impressed that they started there.

That's rather a given.

Whoosh... I am, of course, familiar with Phineas T's comment.

Fatuous as usual. All cost functions aren't interchangeable. You pick your battles.