When you are a bleeping first-order narcissist, you act like Trump does. You claim to know everything.
Today, we note that Trump Threatens Merkel With Pipeline Sanctions, U.S. Troop Cut.
“We’re protecting Germany from Russia, and Russia is getting billions and billions of dollars in money from Germany” for its gas, Trump told reporters at the White House during a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda.
In the latest sign of Trump’s frustration over German defense spending, the president said he’s discussed sending as many as 2,000 more U.S. troops to Poland — and might take them from Germany since he believes Berlin isn’t spending enough on defense as a partner in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. There are more than 30,000 U.S. troops in Germany.
Bring the Troops Home
I am quite OK with removing troops from Germany. That is our business, and the troops should not be there in the first place, especially at US taxpayer expense.
But whereas US troops are US business, who Germany deals with and why is Germany’s business. There is no legitimate US concern.
Best in the World At Everything!
Please consider Everything Trump Says He Knows “More About Than Anybody”
- Campaign finance: “I think nobody knows more about campaign finance than I do, because I’m the biggest contributor.” (1999.)
- TV ratings: “I know more about people who get ratings than anyone.” (October 2012.)
- ISIS: “I know more about ISIS than the generals do.” (November 2015.)
- Social media: “I understand social media. I understand the power of Twitter. I understand the power of Facebook maybe better than almost anybody, based on my results, right?” (November 2015.)
- **Courts: “**I know more about courts than any human being on Earth.” (November 2015.)
- Lawsuits: “[W]ho knows more about lawsuits than I do? I’m the king.” (January 2016.)
- Politicians: “I understand politicians better than anybody.”
- The visa system: “[N]obody knows the system better than me. I know the H1B. I know the H2B. … Nobody else on this dais knows how to change it like I do, believe me.” (March 2016.)
- Trade: “Nobody knows more about trade than me.” (March 2016.)
- The U.S. government system: “[N]obody knows the system better than I do.” (April 2016.)
- Renewable energy: “I know more about renewables than any human being on Earth.” (April 2016.)
- Taxes: “I think nobody knows more about taxes than I do, maybe in the history of the world.” (May 2016.)
- Debt: “I’m the king of debt. I’m great with debt. Nobody knows debt better than me.” (June 2016.)
- Money: “I understand money better than anybody.” (June 2016.)
- Infrastructure: “[L]ook, as a builder, nobody in the history of this country has ever known so much about infrastructure as Donald Trump.” (July 2016.)
- Sen. Cory Booker: “I know more about Cory than he knows about himself.” (July 2016.)
- Borders:Trump said in 2016 that Sheriff Joe Arpaio said he was endorsing him for president because “you know more about this stuff than anybody.”
- Democrats: “I think I know more about the other side than almost anybody.” (November 2016.)
- Construction: “[N]obody knows more about construction than I do.” (May 2018.)
- The economy: “I think I know about it better than [the Federal Reserve].” (October 2018.)
- Technology: “Technology — nobody knows more about technology than me.” (December 2018.)
- Drones: “I know more about drones than anybody. I know about every form of safety that you can have.” (January 2019.)
- Drone technology: “Having a drone fly overhead — and I think nobody knows much more about technology, this type of technology certainly, than I do.” (January 2019.)
Thanks to Axios for that amazing list.
I will grant Trump one thing: He is the biggest, baddest, most powerful, self-promotional narcissist in history.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
From Brussels is correct : “What a fckn banana rant ! Russia has always been a very reliable energy provider, NEVER has Russia interfered with outrageous Nato expansion, ….”
“Laundry list of Obama Administration lies”
Snowdog that is absurd
You compare lies from one person to lies of an administration
You came up with one lie from Obama – But yes it was a whopper
BTW the discussion is not really about lies but about bragging about being the best
High time somebody starts to document all this knowledge by this Renaissance man before such priceless hoards of knowledge and understanding are lost forever. Particularly his knowledge about technology would be worth trillions to many corporations.
“since he believes Berlin isn’t spending enough on defense as a partner in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.”
Is not is not Trump belief. Germany agreed by NATO treaty to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense. Germany spends about 1.2%. Again – Mish gets upsets when Trump actual forces consequences on other countries who don’t live up to their treaty obligations (just like Mexico in stopping illegals).
“But whereas US troops are US business, who Germany deals with and why is Germany’s business”
Here is the full Q and A transcript instead of just a little snippet that can be taken completely out of context. Seems very logical. Germany doesn’t spend what they agreed to, by treaty, on defense (to defend against Russia), expects America to make up the difference but yet gives billion to Russia in energy spending. And if there ever is a NATO disagreement with Russia, Germany will essentially be a hostage to all that Russian energy.
Again – very logical. But Mish lets TDS get in the way.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: And I’m the one that brought up the pipeline problem where you have Russia giving a tremendous percentage of energy. You know this gas is going into Germany. I say, “How can you do that?” So, we’re protecting Germany from Russia. And Russia is getting billions and billions of dollars of money from Germany. I’m the one that brought up the problem.
With that being said, I hope they get along. That Germany is paying 1 percent; they should be paying 2 percent. They should really be paying more than that. But we’ll see how that works out.
I do think this: And I would say, hopefully, nothing will happen. Nothing negative. Hopefully, we’re going to have a great relationship with Russia, great relationship with China and with Germany, and everybody else. But I do think that Germany is putting themselves at a tremendous disadvantage when 50, 60, or 70 percent of their energy is being supplied by Russia. I don’t know how you can do it.
Germany has the power to block it. You know how they block it? By not buying it. I mean, Germany made a decision to buy a tremendous percentage of their energy from Russia. Germany — whether they should be doing that or not, they’re the ones that have the power to block it.
They shouldn’t buy it. Or, if they want to, they can. But that’s really a decision of Germany. I’m not saying that I would be in favor. I think the German people aren’t very happy about it. Because it really makes Germany a hostage of Russia if things ever happened that were bad. Hopefully that will never be — happen.
What a fckn banana rant ! Russia has always been a very reliable energy provider, NEVER has Russia interfered with outrageous Nato expansion, Ukraine was merely the drop that filled the bucket ! Germany nor any other country shouldn t ‘block’ anything, it is in Russia s interest to sell energy to europe, they need the money, we need cheap energy, a win win situation. America fcked up the Middle East with millions of refugees coming our way, Germany alone has already spent 25 billion euro, receiving, acommodating and integrating millions of refugees ! Thank you America ! We ve had enough of you, your arms, your criminal policy, your too expensive liquid gas, your menacing treacherous mentality and your fckn policeman of the world mentality !!
So much Trump envy – so many people bash him but couldn’t accomplish what he has.
it takes a smug, shameless liar to accomplish what he did ….well, more or less like all politicians actually …
Mish – I’m glad your finally seeing the light. As a trump voter I had hoped he would change after election but he has actually gotten worse. Higher deficits and more spending is what we’ve gotten along with constant renegotiation of everything with no progress on anything. The dynamic is going to get worse when the economy actually goes to 0% growth.
couldn’t agree more Grumblenose….I actually stopped reading Mish since this went away from real financial discourse to Trump politics….shame on you Mish…
And yet you take the time to post. Delete your account if you are serious.
Thought you did not have a dog in this fight? Not so casual…
Why are you still reading this ?
USArmy relocates from Germany to Ukraine and Poland.
Deutsche Bank pays fines equivalent to capital for financing NordStream.
USA lays 25% tariff on EU automobiles and machinery.
USA tariffs EU 25% for undervalued Euro.
USA/Britain free trade pact embargoes French Agriculture from Britain.
Portuguese prohibited from fishing British waters.
ECB loses Federal Reserve access and Euro convertibility.
Italy pays Euro debt to Germany at 90% discount and floats a solid Lira.
Global Cooling freezes ever Diesel vehicle in Europe.
Every African immigrant pumps out twelve indigent welfare children because they never had it so good.
When I first went on temporary duty to Germany in the ’80s and even when I returned in the early ’90s on business (Frankfurt was still crawling with tens of thousands of US troops), the locals would often tell me to speak English because they wanted the practise. By the late ’90s, clearly feeling their oats, they would say, “You speak German … so speak German!” I agree with you that it is time for the occupation force to move on.
Hillary did herself in
Moreover, Trump was still destined to lose were it not for the last minute miracle from Comey
Finally, giving credit for one or two things does not support the absurd claims on everything
I always predicted trump would win from the start. Hilary is the only candidate Trump could have beat in 2016 general. The two biggest things trump had in his favor were weak real employment and Hillary.
For the record I voted for trump in a state he lost by double digits. I’ve lived around the country and could saw trump as president from a full year before the general election. But now it will end badly for Trump. He was just as flawed a candidate as any career politician but with more downside risk as some had always said. The jig is up.
I actually think the collapse on video put him over the line. The event made her look very feeble.
It didnt help her that’s for sure. If Hillary had the ability to connect to voters she would have beat a clown. She couldn’t and thus the clown won because he acted and looked funnier and connected with enough voters.
Trump is now officially a traitor as he said he would let foreign governments intervene in elections. What does this mean ? It means he works for Putin. When he says he will protect Germany against Russia it means Putin wants Germany to play right into Trump (Putin) hands. As time goes by more people will soon see the truth in plain sight. I’ve always said the reason Trump keeps appointing interim appointees to his own cabinet is that it prevents them from removing him from office via the 25th amendment.
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Still stand by my prediction of resignation or impeachment from office before November 2020. The truth hasnt come out yet but it will. The CIA will soon testify in front of Congress what they knew and it will further embarrass the Trump and Barr and make them look like traitors. Steve Bannon walked away because even he saw the difference between patriotism and traitorous actions.
Paranoia is a serious condition, innit ? Trump is a annoying, full fledged narcissist, but that s no motive for impeachment whatsoever ! This Russia nonsense has been going on for 3 years , time to let go now, pathetic bunch of sore losers democrats!
TDS
Lol. I have no dog in this fight. But when the truth does come out it will be damning.
Not possible. I voted for the guy. I’m your worst nightmare. Trump without independents will lose. It doesnt mean I will vote Democrat.
Politicians: “I understand politicians better than anybody.”
Hmmmm…he never ran for elected office yet destroyed the 16 other Repub candidates to win the nomination. Then he blew away Hillary to become President. It ain’t bragging if you back it up with deeds.
He lost the popular vote. Not really under the category of blowing away.
“He lost the popular vote. Not really under the category of blowing away.”
Yes, perhaps … if you count the three to four million dubious ballots cast in that election.
Popular vote means nothing when it comes to determining a winner…just another statistic for losers…
We arent talking about winning or losing. And there weren’t 3M fake ballots. You watch too much faux news.
There are far more than 3 million illegals voting.
You can believe it. It doesnt make it true. As long as your believing things I have a bridge to sell you for a dollar.
By the way it’s funny when people such as yourself try so hard to believe. Do you still believe in Santa claus and the tooth fairy too?
By the way what happen to my link about the 88 trump run for president ? The guy is a wanna be politician who won because the other candidate was awful.
Trump doin a great job with China,crush the commie slave state,everything else,soaring deficits,dept,massive gov’t,pretending,massive lol propaganda and endless economic bs numbers…….it’s like Barry never left!
Trump does realistically know a lot about tv ratings, effectively using social 1media, the democrats, and construction
JCBl – It is nearly a requirement for a global leader to be a narcissist.
That said, Trump takes the cake. I would be pleased to report a similar list of all the things Obama is best at.
You would be pleased to report it but you cant. Obama was handed and bag of dirt and did the best he could. Besides isnt the Fed more powerful than the president? They could have raised rates if they really thought it was a good idea sometime between 2014 and 2016.
I think you meant to say “Obama did the worst he could.” Presiding over the weakest recovery in what, 70 years, when he should have amongst the strongest was a direct result of his austerity polices and protecting Wall Street criminals and showering them our tax dollars while trowing the people who voted form and the working class under the bus. In fact, Obama disastrous performance is why we have Trump today…Trump is Obama’s legacy, and it’s why he led his party to more electoral losses than any President in all U.S. history. Obama was good at some things, like killing innocent people. He assassinated American children, bombed more nations than Hitler, abolished Habius Corpus, and turned GWB’s 3 wars to 7. I think a good critical think lesson for our public schools might to ask students in the classroom: “Who killed more people: Adolf Hitler or Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and George Bush?”
The reason Trump is President, is because Democrats think Obama and Hillary did a good job.
Think about that.
Obama was the banker’s man. How do you think he came out of nowhere?
How soon we forget. Obama was a world class narcissist who often said he know more on a given topic than his most senior advisors. Trump is not so different, he’s just much less artful in delivering his hubris driven comments.
I don’t think Trump actually reads a book. Someone should ask him if he’s read anything recently other than the art of the deal or the ticker on fox news. I voted for the guy but I always knew he was full of hubris. The jig is up. Independent voters have moved on to 2020.