MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Trump challenges Congress and nominates close friend of Putin, Rex Tillerson Secretary of State
Donald Trump officially announced his plan Tuesday to nominate ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as secretary of state, a pick that could pose complications in the confirmation process due to Tillerson's ties to Russia. Tillerson, 64, has no government or diplomatic experience but has done extensive work overseas on behalf of his petroleum company. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesSo just recapping for my personal stats. So far we have Trump's USA on record as:
Dec 14th, 2016 - 07:12 am - Link - Report abuse +1- Being the first president ever who will exercise office while having billions in active assets which could benefit from his new executive powers.
- Wants to confront China on everything from Taiwan to trade, to currency to South China sea, all at the same time!
- Wants to impose controls on individual citizens sending money overseas (sound familiar?)
- Is on record intimidating companies on forcing to keep jobs in USA and payrolls unchanged, no firing (sound familiar?)
- Is on record tearing up contracts without any compensation or prior warning, and is threatening some more (sound familiar?)
- Is nominating buddies and even family members to key positions (sound familiar)
- Openly wonders why he can't just use nukes whenever he please
- wants for the US to get out of all kinds of military theaters and to get Europe and Japan to pay up themselves, but nominates Cheney-minded people to the war ministry (make any sense?)
- Wants round up of millions of people including children
- objectifies women, slanders the handicapped
- Wants “ lists” of people working across branches of government (scary!)
- thinks the free press should be “straightened out” (wow)
Have I missed something thus far?
Well, it sure is looking like the next 4 years will be all swell up up in NorthAmoland!
Well yeah, you missed out the part where he encouraged the government of a hostile foreign nation to hack US government servers in order to swing the election in his favour, and is now appointing a guy who is famously close to Putin as Secretary of State.
Dec 14th, 2016 - 08:26 am - Link - Report abuse +1I'm sure there is a totally innocent explanation.
What's Tillerson going to do about the Spanish?
Dec 14th, 2016 - 10:14 am - Link - Report abuse +1Spanish Guardia Civil vessel Rio Cedena twice tried to disrupt the visit by ballistic missile sub USS Florida as it was approaching the British Overseas Territory on the southern tip of Spain.
According to the Sun, the incident has caused outrage among senior officials in Gibraltar with one 'top source' saying: 'This is not only a very dangerous game for the Spanish to play but it is unbecoming of a NATO ally to treat the US Navy with such contempt.'
(Daily Mail 6 May 2016)
Gibraltar is an important NATO base.
The Spanish claim that Gibraltar has no territorial waters. They obviously got that one wrong.
Gibraltar – Territorial Waters:-
https://www.academia.edu/30105020/Gibraltar_Territorial_Waters
@ TTT You have it about right. I can't argue and it is a shame so many people fell for his lies and supported him. You have to wonder at what point they realise what fools they are.
Dec 14th, 2016 - 12:25 pm - Link - Report abuse +1I think you forgot Trump's proposal for preventing the children of poor people in Massachusetts from being a burthen to their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the public, since in his own words, “A young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or a ragout.”
Dec 14th, 2016 - 03:55 pm - Link - Report abuse -1You must be confused Marti; Trump has never expressed any desire to *eat* his daughter.
Dec 14th, 2016 - 05:11 pm - Link - Report abuse -1While aviation officials are not certain exactly how far prices will go down, they believe that simply knowing how much baggage each passenger will check allows flight staff to separate out space in the holder for commercial cargo, thus bringing down the prices paid by passengers.
Dec 14th, 2016 - 09:07 pm - Link - Report abuse +1ML
Dec 15th, 2016 - 12:50 am - Link - Report abuse +1That must be Donald Swift you are quoting. :-)
“You have to wonder at what point they realise what fools they are.”
Dec 15th, 2016 - 03:30 am - Link - Report abuse +1The Americans who voted for Hillary Clinton were not “fools”?
They may be fools for other reasons, but not for choosing an ordinary establishment candidate over an unpredictable caudillo.
Dec 15th, 2016 - 08:37 am - Link - Report abuse +1Pls excuse the cock-up 4th post up...
Dec 15th, 2016 - 05:20 pm - Link - Report abuse +1@Fidelito CasTroll
Despite finding your recap of personal stats quite irrelevant, have following comments :
- Many countries exercise control over individuals (and all corporations) sending hard currency abroad…but I suppose you wouldn’t know too much about that, given that you’ve probably never worked or even seen a US$ 100 bill..
- In recent years, the so-called “free-press” (MSM), represented by mainly liberal, progressive journalists, has become highly biased and not all that reliable, so it’s probably time they were encouraged to follow some simple rules based on honesty and decency..
- the only thing that “sounds familiar” here is your repetitive BS.
- Although you didn’t mention it specifically, but am quite sure you thought about it - what do you think of Trump's choice for Secretary of State, Rex Stillerson ?
I believe he has profound knowledge of geopolitics, and the fact that he has a good relationship with Putin - which will probably ease up current tensions instead of worsening them - will be beneficial ….and more, not being a smarmy politician, does not make him any less qualified than his predecessor...
@JB
Dec 15th, 2016 - 08:40 pm - Link - Report abuse +1This article is a good summary of what some of us find worrying about Trump:
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2016-05-12/american-caudillo
You may not agree with that assessment, but at least you can understand what we are objecting to.
As for the free press being mainly liberal; this is nonsense. Some sites and papers are liberal, some are extremely conservative. Trump has made the former chairman of Breitbart news his chief strategist, and Breitbart is a notoriously conservative website. The idea that Trump will do anything positive for the press is imo laughable. Best case he does nothing, worst case he tries the sort of measures seen in Venezuela or Ecuador to control the press and suppress criticism.
And I don't see a good relationship with Putin as something positive. Russia has been imperialist historically and is now aggressively expanding it's power in Europe and the Middle East. Putin is an ex KGB authoritarian who has had his enemies assassinated in Britain and other countries, as well as at home in Russia. How can we have a 'good relationship' without giving him what he wants: more power and control over all neighbouring countries?
When it comes to interfering with the elections of other nations, no one can hold a candle to the efforts and often heavy-handed and clumsy attempts of the Americans. So it is with considerable appreciation that we are enjoying, in a Schadenfreude sort of way, the turnabout. Even though that turnabout is apparently nothing more than releasing the results of a bit of good old email hacking that 17-year-olds practice on a regular basis. Nobody is prodding anyone with poisoned canes or exploding cigars.
Dec 15th, 2016 - 09:11 pm - Link - Report abuse +1And how about the Argentine and Angolan attempts to sway voters in the US in favour of the Clinton? I think they need to spend a few millions investigating that.
@ML
Dec 16th, 2016 - 01:06 am - Link - Report abuse +1I take it you are using the royal we. It was wrong when America did it to other countries, and it's equally wrong when it's done to them. And worse, if the US economy goes tits up it will affect all of us, so I am not finding the situation very funny.
@DT
Dec 16th, 2016 - 07:37 pm - Link - Report abuse -1“...most compelling sign yet is the rise of Republican presidential contender Donald J. Trump, whose braggadocio, demagoguery, and disdain for the rule of law puts him squarely in the tradition of El Caudillo...”
You're right, the only thing I agree with, partially, is the “bragadoccio”...the man hasn't even been sworn in, and he is being accused of “disdain for the rule of law” and being a “caudillo” ? isn't that a bit extreme ? I think Encarnacion is biased and paranoid, but then again, it depends on what you want to believe. What the writer speculates about and objects to, is clear, but I don't share his opinion.
As far as I'm concerned, the MSM simply downplays what goes against their editor's (socialist) principles, yet they make mountains out of molehills when it's about their adversaries (conservatives)....so, I'll stick to my opinion. Trump's choice for chief strategist is his prerrogative, but I'm sure that the liberals will be able to concoct as many things as they want to criticize him....the opposite is also true. I read some lefty-press (to see what they're bs'ing about), but I take it with a pinch of salt, and I don't see where the idea came from that he will try to censure the press...makes no sense, but let the MSM keep on spouting whatever they want...it's up to the people to believe it or not.
You 'don't see a good relationship with Putin as something positive'...I disagree. Why does being on friendly terms with Putin have to be necessarily bad ?...why would Trump have to get on all fours for Russia, and 'give Putin what he wants' ? that Putin has exercised Russian imperialism in his own backyard, is undeniable...and what has the US done (on a lesser scale) in theirs ? how can a bad relationship be better than a good one ? during the election campaign, HRC accused Trump of wanting to start a war with Russia...now the liberals prefer that the leaders dislike each other...they can't have their cake and eat it.
@JB
Dec 16th, 2016 - 10:31 pm - Link - Report abuse +1I didn't think you'd agree, and I don't know yet if it's correct, but it describes well what I fear about Trump.
As for the idea that he will be bad for freedom of the press, he has threatened to change the libel laws to make it easier for people such as himself to sue journalists who criticise them. He also tells his supporters that the 'mainstream media' are colluding to lie to them, and need to be forced to follow some simple rules based on honesty and decency; what is considered honest and decent presumably to be determined by Trump.
You apparently share this view of the media, but I am still not sure what this 'mainstream media' actually is. Are the Telegraph and the Daily Mail in the UK mainstream media? What about the pro-Brexit Express? How about the Sun, which famously boasted in 1992 that it won the election for the Conservatives?
And I have another question. It seems to be common in Latin America not to care about a free press, so long as the views that are suppressed are the ones you disagree with. What do you think; does it matter if liberals and socialists are not allowed to publish their views? And how about the government in general. Would you rather have a dictator who suppresses dissent but runs the country the way you want, or a democratic government that is free but does some things you don't agree with?
As for Putin, I would prefer a good relationship with Russia, but a bad relationship is better than a good one when the price for a good relationship is too high. For example, Britain would surely have a much better relationship with Argentina if we simply gave them the Falklands, but most people do not think it is worth it.
Trump would not have do anything so obvious; what Putin mostly wants from him is that America does nothing, while Russia increases it's own power and influence, invades and destabilises neighbouring countries, and props up dictators. Personally, I think Russia is too powerful already.
@DT
Dec 17th, 2016 - 09:36 pm - Link - Report abuse +1Well, I can't argue with you about 'your' perception of Trump...
Hadn't heard of him trying to change the law to make it easier to sue journalists, but I reckon we'll have to wait and see what he does...quite frankly I think there are already enough laws to protect people from libel and slander...free-speech should not be about personal attacks on your political adversaries but about defending your views. As to his claims that the MSM is 'colluding to lie” to his supporters, I think it's perfectly possible....I've seen how the press can create factoids just to ruin someone's reputation....even proving the press wrong does not unring the bell.
Generally speaking, to me the MSM in the US has developed a left-wing bias (socialism, political correctness etc) and the best reps of it, IMO, are the NYT, Washington Post, and re TV, CNN...I'm not familiar with the British press.
Here in Brazil, remarkably enough, the press is quite free....obviously you get media which tout leftist editorials, as well as the opposite. During Lula's presidencies, more than once he tried to punish (even expel foreign) journalists for simply publishing the truth....when he liked what they said, he praised the press, when he didn't, he went crazy, threatening them...but the main thing is to get to the truth without having it tainted by extreme views. Obviously I prefer a democratic govt, in which free-speech prevails...no matter which way it goes (provided it's the truth)....those who abuse it, can be prosecuted by the offended party.
Regarding Trump and Putin, we'll have to wait and see I suppose, whether the idea that Trump will give Putin a free hand to do what he wants, becomes reality...a bad relationship could lead to far worse scenarios.
As to the Falklands, I think it's pretty clear that they never belonged to the Argies (only the Kelpers should have the right to decide their future), and I sincerely hope GB doesn't sell them down the river.
@JB
Dec 18th, 2016 - 07:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Yes, we will have to wait and see what he does, or tries to do. He talks big, and his actions so far eg with respect to China, are not reassuring, but he's not even president yet.
I don't know as much about the US media as the UK, where it is pretty well known which papers have a more right-wing slant and which lean to the left. But I imagine what you see is influenced by your own attitudes. Do you think Fox news and the WSJ are not part of the MSM? What about sites like Breitbart and Forbes?
I'm glad Brazil still has a free press, since it seems in countries like Ecuador and Venezuela that is no longer the case. I agree it is important to know the truth, which is why the rise of these fake news stories is so worrying. Most news outlets do give a slant to the stories, and I think to some extent this is unavoidable, and not a problem so long as a variety of opinions are represented, but having people believe things that are completely untrue is actually a threat to democracy. And I wasn't sure you really preferred having a democratic government, after what you said about the military dictatorship in Brazil.
I agree about the Falklands, but I only brought them up to show that having a better relationship is not always worth the cost. Of course it's true that a bad one between the US and Russia could lead to disaster, but there again I find Trump's tendency to speak and act 'off the cuff' to be rather worrying. I don't trust him to understand and consider all the ramifications before acting. But there's nothing we can do but hope everything goes okay.
DT and JB
Dec 18th, 2016 - 11:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0We all know where appeasement of a blistering Great Dictator got is last time.
@DT
Dec 19th, 2016 - 12:29 am - Link - Report abuse +1In terms of size, Fox News is big as any, but they are one of the comparatively few that seem to be a right-wing bastion to counter the left, where the majority of the MSM is situated. They usually report what the left-wing media tries to hide.... Don't follow Breitbart, and Forbes is a useful source for economics...
One of the problems today, is that there is a lot of deliberate disinformation flying around, making it harder to get to the real facts.
Slants in editorials are to be expected, and you can choose to agree or not, provided you know where they are coming from, however , omitting the truth, twisting it to suit your narrative, or simply telling outright lies, is becoming more and more common...
As to Trump, although he will be president, I don't believe (1) he is the nutcase they are trying to make him out to be, and (2) he will have a free-hand in decisions, as is thrown around by his political adversaries. Time will tell...
@JB
Dec 19th, 2016 - 11:36 pm - Link - Report abuse -1I have seen some Fox News, and it appeared *extremely* biased to me, much more so than the other networks in the USA. Breitbart is the website that Trump's new chief strategist was formerly head of, but I guess it's not considered mainstream; it's probably the sort of thing Chronic reads actually. What sort of things do you think the rest of the media try to hide?
Oh, and I don't think Trump is a nutcase. I think he'll make a very bad president, due to his temperament (he frequently seems to act without thinking, and although he likes to attack those weaker than himself, he's completely unable to take criticism), and lack of experience. Also I think his populist campaigning style is bad for America, and most of his policies likely to be disastrous in one way or another, supposing he actually carries them out. But I don't think he will have a free hand. The US president is not an elected dictator, and US institutions are a lot stronger than those in Latin America, so I think he will not be able to do a lot of the things he promised.
Maybe Trump, Tillerson and Putin want to get together to make hay [OIL?] while the sun shines - at least for four years?
Dec 20th, 2016 - 05:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@DT
Dec 20th, 2016 - 07:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Well, Fox is, as I said, conservative...no doubt much of its reporting will be disagreeable with liberals and/or progressives.
In my opinion, the liberal MSM (in the US) has the habit of saying only nice things about the democrats or reporting that which is favourable to their image, defends political correctness no matter how absurd or 'discriminatory' it may sound (funnily enough, contradicting their own speech that they are the tolerant ones, and the conservatives, intolerant), while they criticize anyone who does not agree with them....
Trump, at the moment, has no one to reign him in, but I'm confident that when he has to listen to his advisors, no matter how radical some people think they are, he'll calm down...got to remember that while campaigning, candidates have more freedom to say what they think, than when in power. Anyway, now that the electoral college has reconfirmed Trump as president-elect (performing better than HRC, despite Michael Moore's sleazy offer to pay the fines of those 'faithless' electors who might have decided to change their vote) , we'll just have to wait and see how he carries out his promises, meaning, those he can realistically deliver on...
http://en.mercopress.com/2016/12/14/trump-challenges-congress-and-nominates-close-friend-of-putin-rex-tillerson-secretary-of-state/comments#comment456907: Haven't heard about this. It has not been in the media in the US and, as far as I know, nobody in the US government knows about it. So, what will Tillerson do about it? Probably nothing. What should he do about it? Hand Gibraltar back to the Spanish and USN will be able to dock unhindered. Problem solved.
Dec 21st, 2016 - 02:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0@JB
Dec 21st, 2016 - 12:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Much of the opinions on Fox will no doubt be disagreeable. It would be nice if they could get the facts right though:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTfSbkIsiTc
I suspect your opinion of the 'MSM' is similarly affected. I have certainly seen them criticise the Democrats, but it's harder to judge if they are *more* critical of the Republicans. From my point of view certain Republicans deserve serious criticism for eg believing in Creationism, or supporting gay conversion therapy.
As for Trump, there has been little sign of him calming down yet. I have no idea which promises he will carry out, but most likely is that they will involve both cutting taxes and spending more, so we may expect the US national debt to go shooting up. It's a good way of making the economy boom, temporarily. The only thing I am sure about, is that Trump will leave office a good deal richer than he started.
@ Hepatia
I imagine you are right, that he will do nothing. But he can't hand Gibraltar back because it's not his. Perhaps he could hand Puerto Rico back to Spain instead, or give California back to Mexico.
@DT
Dec 21st, 2016 - 06:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The youtube video just proves that journalists are not always right.....or are you trying to convince me that left-wing or liberal journalists are not infallible ?
The notion that only liberal journalists are honest, is a load of tommy-rot ...both sides blow a lot of hot air, so it comes down to how gullible the reader /listener is. A well informed person will usually suspect when what is reported does not 'sound' right... No harm in them editorializing, but stick to the facts, and don't hide what they don't sympathize with…but there are a lot of idiots out there, swallowing all the lies, hook, line and sinker. I'm perfectly aware that there are nut cases on both sides of the aisle; for every Republican who supports crazy ideas, I'm sure we can find a democrat who does too.
Speculating on what Trump will do, or won't do, once in power, is at this moment, quite pointless. I'd rather wait to see what he does. If he goes off at a tangent, I too will criticize him...but condemning him now, is a bit premature.
Just one question : what the hell is Hippy carrying-on about ? Couldn't make head or tail of it...
@JB
Dec 21st, 2016 - 07:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Of course I don't think left wing journalists are infallible, but Fox News has a particularly bad reputation when it comes to accuracy. In particular, that they never make a mistake that goes against their party line.
As for there being nutcases on both sides, it's probably true in general, but in the US the Republicans have the nutty religious types, and the Dems don't seem to have any equivalent to that. I told you my view before; that in the US people are further to the right, so you'd expect to see nuttier people getting elected from that side. Whereas I would say in Latin America it is mostly the other way around, and you see actual (and very nutty) socialists like Chavez getting elected, which would never happen in the US.
And about Trump, I agree it is somewhat pointless speculating. For a normal candidate, we could assume they will at least try and do what they promised in their campaign, and judge them on that. But Trump made so many vague promises, and his supporters probably didn't take them literally, so who knows? I am still judging him for not making clear what he would do though. Mystery meat candidates should not be encouraged!
About Hepatia, I assume she was replying to Brit Bob's comment way up the thread, about Spanish vessels trying to disrupt the visit of a US sub to Gibraltar. Spain, of course, is more interested in playing host to Russian warships, despite being a member of Nato.
The interesting thing about this article is its subject matter. So, for instance, one of the candidates for cabinet is Jeff Sessions, a career racist. So is there there an article in Mercopenguin, a British government run propaganda vehicle and sometimes referred to as the Pravda of the South Atlantic, about Session's nomination ad Attorney General? There is not. And the reason is that the British governments could care less about racism.
Dec 23rd, 2016 - 03:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0So what do they care about? They care about their ability to continue sucking on the teat of the American tax payer. And Tillerson is likely to put a stop to this panhandling.
This article is very reveals the true concerns of the British governments.
@ Hepatia
Dec 23rd, 2016 - 11:05 am - Link - Report abuse 0Well in some sense that is true. Your new racist attorney general is a problem for Americans, but it's an internal matter, very unlikely to affect other countries. Whereas a pro-Russian Secretary of State certainly is of interest internationally, and not just to Britain.
Do you think Trump's isolationist tendencies could actually be good for South American countries, since they would have less interference from the US? It's hard to know how the US/Russia/China dynamic will play out at this stage though, and that probably makes a big difference.
@DT
Dec 23rd, 2016 - 10:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Ok, the crazy cults attract the disenchanted lower middle class, usually centre-right, but they are not out to change society.....the democrats on the other hand, don't know what the meaning of “live, and let live” means....they try to impose the will of minorities on the majority, which is, to say the least of it, absurd...if minorities need special attention regarding certain issues, it should not be at the expense of others....if any group has tried like hell to mold America into their ideal vision, it's the democrats...the public toilet issue and transgenders, political correctness demanding 'he' and 'she' be substituted for 'ze' .....and it goes on and on, trying to interfere in people's daily way of life. Allow people the freedom (within reasonable limits), to get on with their lives, do what they want...
The problem in Latin-America, stems from a different origin....when you are dealing with an essentially ignorant, poor population, they tend to grasp at anything which gives them hope...even though it's usually short-lived....and they don't learn their lesson...in a society where the majority think further than their noses, it's much harder for that to happen.
@JB
Dec 23rd, 2016 - 11:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Oh, those 'crazy cults' most certainly are out to change society. They want to ban the teaching of evolution in schools, as well as sex education, and bring back school prayers. They are anti-science in general, for example many of them refuse to vaccinate their children (although there are also plenty of anti-vaxxers on the left). Many of them want the US to become an officially Christian country, which would be a big change for America. They are also famous for their support of Israel, which strongly affects US foreign policy.
They want to ban gay sex and abortion, in fact quite a few would like to ban contraception too, and some are also opposed to divorce, as well as wanting to enforce traditional gender roles. Basically they want to force everyone to follow their idea of morality.
They certainly are not about to let people live and let live.
But I do agree the Democrats have been trying to mould America into their vision. I just think the Republicans, and anyone else with the power, has been doing the same thing. And compromise is not always possible; for example if one person wants to ban drugs and the other one thinks they should be legal, then it is impossible to give both what they want.
And what's this public toilet issue, and who on earth has been demanding that people use 'ze'? I'm sure that will never catch on!
As for Latin America, it's rather obvious why they support the sort of governments that promise to make life better for ordinary people, and claim to be on the side of the worker. This is what happens when the majority of people are poor, and have few opportunities. They have no sympathy with richer people, as they think they have no chance to ever become one.
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