Etiquette



DP Etiquette

First rule: Don't be a jackass.

Other rules: Do not attack or insult people you disagree with. Engage with facts, logic and beliefs. Out of respect for others, please provide some sources for the facts and truths you rely on if you are asked for that. If emotion is getting out of hand, get it back in hand. To limit dehumanizing people, don't call people or whole groups of people disrespectful names, e.g., stupid, dumb or liar. Insulting people is counterproductive to rational discussion. Insult makes people angry and defensive. All points of view are welcome, right, center, left and elsewhere. Just disagree, but don't be belligerent or reject inconvenient facts, truths or defensible reasoning.

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Getting it done, the Trump edition

 Feast your eyes:

Colombia caves on deportations after Trump's threats

Colombia's leftist president, Gustavo Petro, had earlier said he would only take back citizens "with dignity," such as on civilian planes, and had turned back two US military aircraft with repatriated Colombians.

Trump, less than a week back in office, responded furiously and threatened sanctions of 25 percent that would quickly scale up to 50 percent against Latin America's fourth-largest economy.

Petro initially sought to hit back and impose his own tariffs on US products, but by the end of the volatile Sunday, he had backed down.

https://www.trtworld.com/latin-america/colombia-caves-on-deportations-after-trumps-threats-18258273

Trump and Trudeau make a deal: Canada-U.S. trade war delayed by ‘at least 30 days’

According to the prime minister, in addition to implementing the $1.3 billion border plan – which includes deploying additional personnel, drones, surveillance equipment and helicopters – Canada is making new commitments.

Trudeau said 10,000 frontline personnel “are and will be working on protecting the border,” Canada will be listing cartels as terrorists, and the federal government will appoint a “fentanyl czar.”

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/all-hands-on-deck-trudeau-talks-to-trump-as-canadian-politicos-make-final-us-push-ahead-of-tuesday-tariffs/

Trump agrees to pause tariffs on Canada and Mexico after they pledge to boost border enforcement.

Mexico bows to Trump, scrambles to meet his demands

“Mexico will immediately reinforce the northern border with 10,000 members of the National Guard to prevent drug trafficking from Mexico to the United States, particularly fentanyl,” Sheinbaum said in a translated statement on X, formerly Twitter.

“The United States is committed to working to prevent the trafficking of high-powered weapons to Mexico,” Sheinbaum added. “Our teams will begin working today on two fronts: security and trade. They are pausing tariffs for one month from now.”

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2025/02/mexico-bows-to-trump-scrambles-to-meet-his-demands/

Rubio demands Panama 'reduce China influence' over canal

While not addressing the ultimatum over the canal, Mr Mulino said in a news conference on Sunday that his government would not renew an agreement with China on its "Belt and Road" investment initiative signed by a former president in 2017.

Mr Rubio called the development "a great step forward" in a post on X on Monday morning as he was preparing to leave Panama.

"[A]nother example of [President Trump's] leadership to protect our national security and deliver prosperity for the American people," said Mr Rubio.

Mulino also told reporters he did not see a serious threat of US military force to seize the canal, saying he had proposed technical-level talks with the US to address Mr Trump's concerns about Chinese influence.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c39149p920no

Six Americans freed in Venezuela after Trump envoy meets with Maduro

Six Americans who had been detained in Venezuela are heading home to the US, President Donald Trump announced Friday, after his envoy met with the country’s President Nicolás Maduro.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/01/americas/americans-freed-in-venezuela-intl-hnk/index.html

Trump tells Putin to end 'ridiculous war' in Ukraine or face new sanctions

Donald Trump has warned he will impose high tariffs and further sanctions on Russia if Vladimir Putin fails to end the war in Ukraine.

Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, he said that by pushing to settle the war he was doing Russia and its president a "very big favour".

Trump had previously said he would negotiate a settlement to Russia's full-scale invasion launched in February 2022, in a single day.

Responding to the threat of harsher sanctions, the Kremlin said it remains "ready for an equal dialogue, a mutually respectful dialogue".

"Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. If we don't make a 'deal', and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries."

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjw4q7v7ez1o

Trump to speak with China's Xi after hiking tariffs, White House says

China, which has long called tariffs counterproductive, offered relatively muted criticism of the tariffs and signaled an openness to talks.

The country's government appeared poised to seek a deal with Trump that could delay or stop tariffs, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The U.S. dollar hit a record high against the Chinese yuan traded offshore and was hovering near those levels on Monday.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/trump-warns-tariffs-china-may-increase-2025-02-03/

With Trump getting it done and kicking butt, is it any wonder..............

Trump favorable / unfavorable ratings

Trump has a 50.4% favorability rating based on 629 polls.

Feb 3, 2025    Favorable    50.4%

                        Unfavorable     47.3%

https://elections2024.thehill.com/national/trump-favorability-rating/

MAGA!