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Dripping Faucets and Seizing Greenland: Trump Is Back and Chaos Ensues
The New York Times ^ | Jan. 7, 2025 Updated 10:22 p.m. ET | David E. Sanger

Posted on 01/08/2025 7:45:39 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

There was talk of the rising number of beached whales in Massachusetts, the victim, the president-elect said, of those windmills that have been erected off the coast. They “are driving the whales crazy, obviously.”

There was a vow to rename the Gulf of Mexico, by presidential decree, to the “Gulf of America.” And then there was Donald J. Trump’s refusal to rule out using military force to seize the 51-mile Panama Canal on national security grounds, along with the 836,000 square miles of Greenland, the world’s largest island.

Mr. Trump’s family and supporters like to say “We are so back!” and they are, without doubt. Yet as the man who will be president again spun out threats and angry denouncements of the Biden administration and personal grievances for more than an hour on Tuesday in the living room of his Mar-a-Lago club, something else was back: the chaotic stream-of-consciousness presidency.

Mr. Trump has returned to our daily national cognizance, even though one could argue he never really left. Tuesday’s news conference was a reminder of what that was like, and what the next four years may have in store.

He waxed on about a favorite complaint during his first term: Shower heads and sink faucets that don’t deliver water, a symbol of a regulatory state gone mad. “It goes drip, drip, drip,” he said. “People just take longer showers, or run their dishwasher again,” and “they end up using more water.”

Then he moved on to the prospect of a military clash with Denmark. After refusing to rule out the prospect of coercing a NATO ally with the use of force if it remained reluctant to turn over property the president-elect coveted, Mr. Trump suggested that Denmark had a dubious claim on Greenland anyway.
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(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Humor
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To: Jamestown1630
At least there is 'consciousness'.

Great line. I'm stealing it.

21 posted on 01/08/2025 8:22:56 AM PST by M. Thatcher
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To: Angelino97
I wanted a president that would focus on domestic problems

Guaranteeing and securing U.S. shipping lanes for the free flow of oil, LNG, security measures, and all other goods addresses countless domestic problems.

22 posted on 01/08/2025 8:29:39 AM PST by M. Thatcher
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To: Dahoser

I totally acknowledge your points about Trump 1.0 not meaning it’ll be the same as Trump 2.0.

People learn. Someone said Trump the CRE guy dealt with sharks, but President Trump was dealing with demons. It’s a different skill set.

And to be fair, Diamond Dave has some vocal chops. He wasn’t Roger Daltrey or Jon Anderson, but he could belt out a tune. Similarly, Trump gave us three decent SCOTUS picks and a jammin’ economy.

But I still maintain that America doesn’t want a policy wonk, or even a master administrator. DeSantis got wasted in the primaries but, frankly, he’s a killer governor. We want a Frontman, more than anything.

And we got the best Frontman ever. I just hope his Human Resources skills are better.


23 posted on 01/08/2025 8:32:42 AM PST by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s² )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Greenland has 57,000 residents. They have had home rule since 1979. Trump is a master of the art of the deal. He could offer a very sweet deal, financial and otherwise, to the 57,000 residents of Greenland in return for their voting to become a US territory or state.


24 posted on 01/08/2025 8:32:44 AM PST by Savage Beast (There's a Light over the Whole World. I just want everybody to be happy, healthy and well. --DJT)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

In case some people haven’t noticed, none of the discredited media hosts are attacking Trump’s cabinet appointments anymore, are they?


25 posted on 01/08/2025 8:33:15 AM PST by norwaypinesavage (Freud: projection is a defense mechanism of those struggling with inferiority complexes)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
They all laughed when Trump announced he wanted
Greenland for a US state!
They all laughed, but Greenland thought the plan was great!
26 posted on 01/08/2025 8:42:11 AM PST by Savage Beast (There's a Light over the Whole World. I just want everybody to be happy, healthy and well. --DJT)
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To: DoodleBob

We’re singing from the same hymnal.


27 posted on 01/08/2025 9:14:19 AM PST by Dahoser (Liz Cheney needs to work on her soccer skills so she fits in when she transfers to Guantanamo High.)
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To: DoodleBob

I’m not a Van Halen fan and don’t really know the band or their music but I like your analogy.

For many years I’ve said that the main job of President is as America’s cheerleader. I think I like Frontman better but it takes longer to explain


28 posted on 01/08/2025 9:27:00 AM PST by cyclotic (Don’t be part of the problem. Be the entire problem)
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To: cyclotic

If you give me a band you like, I’ll give you a tailored analogy.

It’s a very flexible framework.

:)


29 posted on 01/08/2025 9:41:47 AM PST by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s² )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Wow didn’t know Trump was already in office!


30 posted on 01/08/2025 9:42:36 AM PST by Harpotoo (Being a socialist is a lot easier than having to WORK like the rest of US:-))
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To: Harpotoo

“Chaos” = “Gutting the Bureaucracy”


31 posted on 01/08/2025 9:44:36 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (The worst thing about censorship is █████ ██ ████ ████ ████ █ ███████ ████. FJB.)
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To: DoodleBob

Chicago: Peter Cetera replaced by Jason Scheff, then by someone else.

Terry Kath replaced by some blond haired guy, then by Bill Chaplin then someone else.

The entire band replaced by Leonid and Friends


32 posted on 01/08/2025 10:02:01 AM PST by cyclotic (Don’t be part of the problem. Be the entire problem)
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To: cyclotic

Ah, perfect.

There is a basic reality in terms of the Presidential candidacy, and the Executive himself.

Over the years, The Presidency went from a job where the nation wanted a guy who had ideas and leadership qualities, to sort of like deciding if we want MTV or radio driving the music of our generation. (Yes, I know MTV isn’t really about videos anymore…work with me.)

Consider Chicago. The killer tunes encapsulated on Chicago IX: Chicago’s Greatest Hits are legendary. It’s one of the greatest “hits” albums ever.

But then MTV came along. And Chicago the band leveraged that medium so much that the album Chicago 17, which had a feel that was MUCH different from the Terry Kath wra, sold millions and made the band millions.

Trump is MTV.

In 2024, America wasn’t voting for competency, or Colour My World. We wanted our MTV, and Hard Habit to Break.

In this contest, the nation and populism and normal people wanted video to kill the radio star. Video and Trump won.

Your mileage may vary.


33 posted on 01/08/2025 10:15:38 AM PST by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s² )
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To: DoodleBob

Nice.

I had Chicago IX when I was a kid. It’s always been one of my favorite albums and they have always been a favorite band.

Like most, I far prefer the earlier era and not the David Foster Presents Chicago stuff.


34 posted on 01/08/2025 10:37:19 AM PST by cyclotic (Don’t be part of the problem. Be the entire problem)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

FUNYT


35 posted on 01/08/2025 12:12:50 PM PST by oil_dude
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To: cyclotic

Me too.

But in terms of album sales…

https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Chicago&ti=&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section

CHICAGO IX - CHICAGO’S GREATEST HITS sold a respectable 5MM. A lot of older albums also did well.

But Chicago 17 sold 6MM (their best selling album) and their GREATEST HITS 1982-1989 album sold 5MM.

Again, the tastes and needs of their fans changed. They exploited these changes and profited handsomely.

Trump did the same. I doubt if Reagan could get elected vs Trump nowadays, but then Trump would have gotten trashed by Reagan in 1984.

And it is what it is.


36 posted on 01/08/2025 12:14:13 PM PST by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s² )
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To: DoodleBob

Can’t disagree with that. Foster and Cetera made them all pretty rich.


37 posted on 01/08/2025 12:59:26 PM PST by cyclotic (Don’t be part of the problem. Be the entire problem)
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