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Alright, let's see. Legolas Send a noteboard - 21/09/2017 08:46:43 PM

First and I think foremost, Iran. Trump somehow manages to create a situation where he talks about Iran, Rouhani replies, and most of the world including America's western allies is left figuring that Iran is basically the adult in the room and has the right of it. Of course, America is better than Trump, whereas the real powers in Iran are rather worse than Rouhani, so that exchange doesn't mean those allies would side with Iran over the US or anything... but still. That's not a situation he should be in. Additionally, the absurd and blatant hypocrisy of blaming only Iran for crimes which Saudi Arabia and other American allies are equally or more guilty of, rather undermines the high ground he takes in various other parts of the speech.

Then, Venezuela. Now it's pretty obvious to anyone with a brain that Venezuela is an atrocious mess and Maduro is a disaster, so no issues here with harsh words against them - but given that Trump somehow managed to threaten military action a while back, making the rest of the world recoil in horror and giving Maduro one hell of a propaganda present, phrases like 'we are prepared to take further action' become a little scary. And as for 'The problem in Venezuela is not that socialism has been poorly implemented, but that socialism has been faithfully implemented' - no. Just no. Leave the right-wing talk radio shtick at home when you're speeching at the UN.

And then let's not forget the 'Major portions of the world are in conflict and some, in fact, are going to hell' line. Come again?



I will say, having read through the whole transcript now, that there's also more good stuff in there than I was expecting - the good stuff doesn't get as much press attention, I suppose. But that's the way it works - that's why you want leaders who carefully craft their speeches in a way that will draw press attention to the parts that they most want to publicize, and will make them and their countries look good. Trump certainly wasn't short on lavish and (in most foreigners' eyes) exaggerated praise for himself and the US - but blowing your own horn too blatantly isn't usually the best way to make yourself or your country look good.

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I don't care if Trump deputizes the Klan or outlaws Spanish; Rocket Man is worth it. - 21/09/2017 01:00:46 AM 1161 Views
Rocket Man was hilarious. - 21/09/2017 02:57:15 AM 506 Views
I'm actually coming to respect him a little more... - 21/09/2017 04:51:06 PM 554 Views
Cordelia was one of the few Sunnydale High students I liked or for whom I had any respect - 21/09/2017 05:17:56 PM 582 Views
Cordelia was a great character.... - 21/09/2017 07:11:18 PM 461 Views
He's brilliant in strategy - 21/09/2017 08:34:51 PM 576 Views
It is fun to watch - 21/09/2017 08:52:25 PM 545 Views
Are you sure that's strategy? - 24/09/2017 08:39:19 AM 472 Views
Pretty sure - 24/09/2017 11:07:00 PM 490 Views
that is funny - 21/09/2017 07:03:17 PM 563 Views
You said something similar a while back. And really, I just don't get it. - 21/09/2017 07:52:31 PM 621 Views
Oh, and just to add... - 21/09/2017 07:55:35 PM 523 Views
such as? - 21/09/2017 08:16:48 PM 594 Views
Alright, let's see. - 21/09/2017 08:46:43 PM 567 Views
And yet....and yet....and yet.... - 21/09/2017 09:13:30 PM 515 Views
Now I'm curious. - 21/09/2017 09:40:32 PM 439 Views
Sure, I'll bite... - 21/09/2017 10:07:00 PM 485 Views
He's right on socialism - 25/09/2017 12:42:26 AM 476 Views
Sure, by the original meaning of the word. - 25/09/2017 05:22:50 PM 487 Views
People misuse words all the time (cf. ironic). That's their problem. - 25/09/2017 07:25:55 PM 497 Views
I'm making the argument... - 26/09/2017 07:12:56 PM 570 Views
Socialists are taking it back - 26/09/2017 08:03:39 PM 510 Views
...democratic... fascism? *NM* - 26/09/2017 08:22:36 PM 276 Views
Sure - 26/09/2017 08:32:17 PM 491 Views
It's an interesting idea. - 27/09/2017 02:19:19 AM 483 Views
Sounds like Singapore to me. *NM* - 27/09/2017 02:33:06 AM 264 Views
See, I wouldn't call Singapore democratic. - 27/09/2017 05:03:14 AM 425 Views
Did you see their hilarious presidential 'election' recently? *NM* - 27/09/2017 07:55:15 AM 311 Views
*shrug* - 27/09/2017 01:05:47 PM 452 Views
I think that's a weakness of your spectrum argument, though. - 27/09/2017 11:06:16 PM 403 Views
the non military is the further stretch - 27/09/2017 02:16:03 PM 481 Views
lol - 27/09/2017 02:37:00 PM 470 Views
Hmm. - 27/09/2017 06:52:46 PM 488 Views
Almost missed this reply, hiding down here. - 27/09/2017 09:40:41 PM 434 Views
Uh. You say no, but what follows makes it sound like yes? - 27/09/2017 11:42:11 PM 528 Views
You're again making an idiotic argument - 27/09/2017 07:25:36 PM 491 Views
Which you then did your best to prove? Thank you for that, by the way. - 27/09/2017 09:13:28 PM 527 Views
No, socialist is socialist. What is so hard about that? - 28/09/2017 05:05:27 AM 452 Views
It was a brilliant speech all around, and you don't understand Trump based on those comments. - 21/09/2017 08:32:29 PM 500 Views
He's doing jack shit. He tells people everything they want to hear, then blames Congress... - 21/09/2017 08:57:36 PM 540 Views
That's absolutely not what he's doing - 22/09/2017 09:54:34 PM 487 Views
If you say so. - 25/09/2017 05:31:00 PM 527 Views
I can see where you're coming from... - 21/09/2017 08:50:03 PM 517 Views
Oh, that people voted for him over Clinton, I can understand well enough. - 21/09/2017 09:02:50 PM 434 Views
Of course I'm going to defend him.. - 21/09/2017 09:19:32 PM 461 Views
PC is about much more than not saying things to offend people - 22/09/2017 01:26:16 PM 519 Views
It is? Like what? - 25/09/2017 06:37:01 PM 465 Views
By the by - 25/09/2017 07:23:39 PM 442 Views
That's a good point. - 26/09/2017 06:44:13 PM 427 Views
I get it.... - 26/09/2017 09:00:35 PM 414 Views
Re: It is? Like what? - 25/09/2017 08:09:53 PM 521 Views
Re: It is? Like what? - 26/09/2017 02:08:17 PM 512 Views
Trump lost credibility to me on the 'anti-PC' / 'pro free speech' issue - 26/09/2017 07:54:06 PM 421 Views
Let's hold the phone here for a moment.... - 26/09/2017 09:07:07 PM 408 Views
Too late to hold the phone! The horses are out of the barn. - 26/09/2017 09:20:06 PM 442 Views
Yeah. And not just Trump. - 26/09/2017 11:59:05 PM 409 Views
Re: Yeah. And not just Trump. - 27/09/2017 02:27:40 AM 438 Views
keep it in one thread n00b - 27/09/2017 02:52:55 AM 479 Views
Don't confuse PC with social norms - 27/09/2017 02:21:49 PM 403 Views
So... - 27/09/2017 02:39:01 PM 451 Views
and it has been very affective - 28/09/2017 12:55:06 PM 461 Views
He was in town today, stumping for Luther Strange - 23/09/2017 03:58:49 AM 514 Views
You're an Alabamian, huh? Me too! - 26/09/2017 06:05:24 PM 401 Views
I'm a Kansan, I live in 'Bama - 26/09/2017 06:19:13 PM 432 Views

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