Originally Posted by Trollheart

Sounds like she's being provocative. And Biden was against it? Has he no power over his ****ing people at all? Can you imagine that happening under Der Trump? Think they'd be able to get away with that? Oh man! I just complimented Mister Orange! GAAAAHHHH!!

Originally Posted by jwb

didn't he literally have a beer with that cop that harassed that black professor who he thought was trying to break into his own home?

CV, you know what you need to do bud

Originally Posted by J.R.R. Tolkien

There is only one bright spot and that is the growing habit of disgruntled men of dynamiting factories and power-stations; I hope that, encouraged now as ‘patriotism’, may remain a habit! But it won’t do any good, if it is not universal.

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Obama wouldn't have a beer with anyone not famous.

Originally Posted by SGR

Just a guess, but Biden called on Congress to pass the CHIPS Act (which he's expected to sign next week) in his State of the Union address. He wants to subsidize domestic chip manufacturing. Taiwan currently provides the vast majority of US microchips. Pelosi's trip could be a way to reassure Taiwan that we're not planning on abandoning them in business relations or arms sales, and by Pelosi not backing down after vague Chinese threats, it also bolsters trust in other alliances of the US with foreign countries that involve arms deals and business relations that may be under threat by other large powers. As it stands, to my knowledge, the US is under no obligation to defend Taiwan in the case of a Chinese military takeover, but it's not off the table. It would have to be approved by Congress though.

In short, my understanding of the motives for her trip, geopolitical advantages.

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Nah, Obama came to Ireland and had beer in a pub with a bunch of Micks that weren't in the least famous.

Originally Posted by J.R.R. Tolkien

There is only one bright spot and that is the growing habit of disgruntled men of dynamiting factories and power-stations; I hope that, encouraged now as ‘patriotism’, may remain a habit! But it won’t do any good, if it is not universal.

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I just never understand America. No member of the govt here or in the UK or I imagine in Europe could go do something that is against the wishes, orders or without the sanction of the top guy and not get into trouble, yet Pelosi can go against her boss and do what she likes, even if it rattles the sabre? Or is Biden allowing her to do it as a sort of plausible senility, sorry deniability?

Originally Posted by Pet_Sounds

But looking for quality interaction on MB is like trying to stay hydrated by drinking salt water.

Originally Posted by The Batlord

With a camera in tow?

Originally Posted by rubber soul

First of all, Biden isn't Pelosi's boss. If Biden was the boss, we'd get a lot more stuff accomplished wouldn't have we. And, really, if Trump actually was the boss, the US might even be here, pathetic as we are at the moment.

Anyway, we have a system where the branches are separated, thus, the Congress, even if it is dominated by the same party, isn't beholden to the President's whims. Maybe it's different with a Parliamentary Government which is by design a one party rule, but here, the Speaker or Senate Leader or even some obscure congressman can do anything he/she wants politically and the President can't do much about it except complain a bit.

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Well, duh.

This is really interesting. So the Pres has not really any power over Congress? You're a weird, weird country, you know that? Here, the Taoiseach (PM) is lord and master of the party and anyone who steps out of line is in big trouble. I'm pretty sure that's how it is in the UK too, and most if not all of Western Europe.