Hey KB. Been too long. I hope you and yours are well. First and foremost, I appreciate the tone of the reply, it's what I was hoping for.

you've created a lengthy document to discuss the accountability of the least accountable people in politics.

My intention was to give my opinion on the topics that have been brought up in the first two weeks. My hope was that it would get a discussion going wherein my opinions, some are pretty nascent, could be challenged, increasing my perspective. I'm earnest in this regard.

as ephemeral as a cloud on the horizon

Well said. Don't disagree with regard to many, but not all, of these topics.

I also agree that statements like, "I hear from some in the know..." can be interpreted as,

deprecating the positions of policy experts to a man-on-the-street interview

but this has become par for the course when it comes to actual journalism. Am I held to a higher standard than nearly all of mainstream media? Perhaps I should be. You'll be hard pressed to find any article on CNN/MSN/NPR that doesn't say something akin to, "people close to the administration say," or, "an expert with knowledge of the situation says..."

The issue starts and ends with international sovereignty, which is a fancy way of saying "if you pick on every little country that doesn't do what you want you will quickly find yourself picking on every little country."

Couldn't agree more. That was my clumsy point. We gave it to Panama. A sovereign nation. Case closed. I was adding that the administration is overemphasizing the threat from China in this regard.

Did Carter fuck up

was meant to show that it is immaterial. What is done is done. As said, I think this is an L for Trump. Not a fan.

Trump managed to freak out every fund manager and retail investor by YOLOing into round numbers, only to walk everything back within six hours

He tanked markets and then stacked. It's unreal. My point was that I never thought the 25% Tariffs were ever going to be realized. And while I hate that my portfolio tanked 20% (It's already clawing back) and while both Canada and Mexico had analogous deals in place already with the US, we now have their feet firmly to a fire. I do believe that we will see a more secure border and less fentanyl in the US as a result. If so, I can applaud this. Yet to be seen.

They're doing what they can get away with, that benefits them personally, with no greater vision beyond that.

I don't think so. I don't think anyone is that black and white. Do I think Trump is an opportunist? I mean... Trump Coin? Trump's gonna Trump. He likes to sell. But do I also think he wants to forward American interests for the sake of Americans? I do. Do I think he's playing 3D chess while we are all playing checkers? No. No, I don't.

He's a very skilled salesman but I am not convinced that he is a very skilled tactician. My hope is that those around him, with their own convictions, can help win the day.

Again, I want to say that I appreciate the tone of your reply and hope others that might join this thread (and any others on Hubski) will follow suit. I've not been spending much time here these past couple of years because the tone wasn't what it once was. I know others feel likewise. Not aiming that at you, but just saying. It's nice to be here. I miss Hubski. I think Hubski is a great place for times like these.

Onward!