thx fur aproving mi avtr

Paul Ryan gets punked. ****ing classic.

https://scontent.fsan1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...94&oe=59807DD1

It's probably helped along by the fact that I agree with Chula's position in this thread ( that Trump and his admin are a disaster for the American people), but I've never had a real problem with Chula's discussion style, here or elsewhere.

It's a pity that this thread gets so heated sometimes that it degenerates into personal insults and name-calling, but that's something that several posters are guilty of, no?

On flexibility; yes, if you want to cultivate an intelligent attitude to the world, it's fundamental. It's the scientific method; make a hypothesis, observe the facts, check that your hypothesis is still good. Sometimes the incoming facts will confirm your original hypothesis, in which case you don't change your ideas. At a glance, that may make you look inflexible, but that's not necessarily true.

For me, in the specific case of Trump, the facts just keep building up to confirm my initial hypothesis, that Trump is a self*-interested lying hate-monger, doing hard-to-calculate damage to the environment and the majority of Americans.(* I'd like to stretch the word "self" to include his businesses, his family and his fellow-millionaires.)

Fresh in, is this furthur, confirmatory verdict on Trump from Europe and France:-

For far rightists, the curse of Trump's example (Opinion) - CNN.com

Brexit happened before Trump got into office so I wouldn't give him credit for the populist movement gaining ground. Anti Muslim and refugee sentiments are the main culprits along with any terrorist attacks that have happened.

Who's been talking about "giving Trump credit for the populist movement gaining ground" ?

The point that me and the article are making is the precise reverse; that in the eyes of the world, Trump is discrediting populist movements.

Remember "The Arab Spring" ? It started in Tunisia and as other Arab nations looked on, the people thought they'd like some of the same freedom of expression, too. It was like a domino effect across about five countries, ending up tragically when it hit the brick wall of Assad's brutal regime.

It's too early to do more than just speculate, but with Trump it appears to be the opposite; the world watches what he's doing to America and thinks, "We don't want that happening here!" The evidence is that in 3 post-Trump European elections, populist parties all significantly lost ground.

Lisna in a Trump thread is easily the best thing this forum has ever seen.

^ I don't know about elsewhere, but in Britain the Labour Party is in disarray. Too much infighting and no leader with sufficient influence to pull them back together, plus these days the Labour Party is only notionally the party of the workers. :(

^ LOL ! Thanks Kii, but I have know idea why you should imagine that!

Your ability to form complete sentences and explain your thoughts. Just a guess.

^ Well, that's kind, DWV, but we all do about the same in our different styles. Plus we have the Grammar Police to keep us in line, don't we?