Trump is not a fascist

[Hound of Heaven]

Well, isn't this a hoot! Kishkumen is getting his butt kicked so hard on the board that he's now chatting about Trump's penis, my lips, and mushroom-shaped appendages! All while sharing snapshots of mushrooms to really drive his message home.

I can confidently say this is a groundbreaking moment for this discussion board! Who would have thought mushrooms and penis would ever share a sentence? Hats off to you, Kishkumen, you've truly raised the bar!

Well, that’s it for me on this thread! I just had to chime in for Kishkumen, I'm starting to get a little concerned about him! It'll be a real hoot to find out just how many stages there are to the wild ride of Trump derangement syndrome! Now that Kishkumen is gearing up to chat about penis and mushrooms, I can only imagine that in the next stage of TDS, he’ll be dropping links to porn sites featuring mushrooms in places they definitely don’t belong. Talk about a fungal adventure! I suppose we’re in for a suspenseful game of “let’s see what happens next!”

[canpakes]

Hey there, Markk! I'm not really looking to add much to this conversation since you've got it all wrapped up with your sensible way of tackling the nonsense the progressives are throwing at you.

So, I just had to hop on here and say, I kinda agree with you! Kishkumen has been pulling some interesting stunts lately, and his posts are definitely taking a turn from his usual antics. I'm beginning to suspect that Trump derangement syndrome has its own set of stages, kind of like bipolar disorder. It seems like Kishkumen is stuck in the hypoplasia phase of this syndrome because he's definitely not acting like his usual self! In the last few weeks, he's kicked off at least 10 threads, and only one managed to crawl past the first page. Maybe he's a bit miffed that his progressive pals aren't exactly flocking to the delightful nonsense he's dishing out on the board. Or maybe he's just a little miffed that whenever I drop a new thread, it instantly grabs the spotlight, leaving his not-so-stellar threads in the dust. Poor guy, can't catch a break!

Well, I guess this is my grand exit from this thread! Just wanted to say you're absolutely nailing it while demolishing those wild posts from the progressives like a pro. Keep up the good work! Writing a post to tackle the wild situations they describe is like trying to juggle flaming swords while riding a unicycle! Most of their words seem to ooze from a well of hatred and disdain for anyone who dares to think differently from their little cult's sales pitch.

Wishing you all the luck in the world, just remember to keep that chin up like you're trying to impress a giraffe!

That’s a lot of words to say nothing more than, ‘Kish is progressive and bad!’.

Can you ask your A.I. to tighten that up a bit?

[Bret Ripley]

Huh. I wondered what would happen if Pavlov's dog learned to ring its own bell.

[Kishkumen]

Well, that’s it for me on this thread!

Now, now, Hound. No need to take your licks so hard! I am sure there are a few bits of lolly left.

Sad little Hound! It'll be OK, punkin'.

I just had to chime in for Kishkumen, I'm starting to get a little concerned about him!

Yeah, strange how you can't let any of this go, even with your limp orange lolly to entertain you!

It'll be a real hoot to find out just how many stages there are to the wild ride of Trump derangement syndrome!

We can tell you exactly where TDS ends up. Exactly where you have landed. Just look in the nearest mirror.

Now that Kishkumen is gearing up to chat about penis and mushrooms, I can only imagine that in the next stage of TDS, he’ll be dropping links to porn sites featuring mushrooms in places they definitely don’t belong. Talk about a fungal adventure! I suppose we’re in for a suspenseful game of “let’s see what happens next!”

Are you feeling all warm and wet now, Hound? Ewwwww.

[Markk]

Massive blow to Trump as Japanese car giant [Subaru] moves manufacturing OUT of US in tariff twist

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/compani ... r-AA1DzZ4y

15 Iconic American Brands Saying Goodbye to the USA in 2025 (Craftsman Tools, Gibson Guitars, New Balance, KitchenAid, Crayola, Hershey's, Wilson Sporting Goods, Ray-Ban, Wrangler, Nike, American Girl Dolls, Converse, Levi Strauss, Harley-Davidson)

https://craftyourhappyplace.com/iconic- ... a-in-2025/

These Companies Have Pulled Out Products from the US Due to Trump's Tariffs

From airplanes to toys and even spirits, industries across the board are stepping back. Delta Air Lines and Frontier Group, two major players in US aviation, recently withdrew their 2025 financial forecasts.

https://www.ibtimes.com/these-companies ... fs-3770590

These companies invested in being American-made. Tariffs are hurting them, too

https://www.fastcompany.com/91327234/am ... by-tariffs

Automakers aren’t rushing to move production to US factories to avoid tariffs

But after seeing Canadian and Mexican tariffs announced and then put on hold a couple of times already this year, automakers aren’t really sure what’s next. And even if they believe the tariffs will be in place for as long as Trump is in office, they say there’s no way to quickly pivot to significantly limit the costs of the tariffs being passed onto car buyers.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/27/cars/us- ... s-intl-hnk

Want to Bring Factories Back? This Is What It Takes.

However, the process of onshoring production is far more complex and time-consuming than policymakers and the public may realize. Companies moving manufacturing to the U.S. will likely face a long and bumpy road—one that could involve supply chain disruptions and higher inflation.

https://www.barrons.com/articles/Trump- ... s-a36686cb

People Thought Ford Was Moving Four Factories Back To U.S.

Ford spokesperson Dan Barbossa told Snopes via email, adding that Ford hasn’t made any announcements regarding the automaker’s plans to shift production.

https://fordauthority.com/2025/04/peopl ... ck-to-u-s/

Manufacturing activity hits 5-month low as Trump tariffs leave businesses in 'state of near paralysis'

US manufacturing activity slid to a five-month low in April as President Trump's tariffs continued to create uncertainty for businesses.

The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing PMI fell to 48.7 in April, below the 49 seen the month prior. Readings below 50 indicate contraction in the sector.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/manufact ... 27991.html

Tariffs force U.S. bicycle company to halt imports from China

"We had already shifted some of our business, almost half our business, to several of the countries on that list," Kamler said. "And we're getting out of China and now we're still getting slammed. It's just completely unfair."

Arnold indicates that fully manufacturing and assembling their bikes in the U.S. is not financially tenable from a cost-perspective.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tariffs-u- ... rom-china/

'A matter of survival': Small Businesses Speak Out on Tariffs

“I will be in business 40 years next year. ... At the end of this year, my once successful family business is done. Without warning, we may have to close unless the tariffs are taken away. I do not have time to change suppliers or build a shoe factory.”
— Jeffrey Savoca, president, Up-Front Footwear, Mount Joy, Pennsylvania

https://www.uschamber.com/small-busines ... de-tariffs

I could keep this up all day, but you probably get the point. The more worrying thing, in my view, is the impact on small business. Most Americans are employed by small businesses, and many small businesses will shutter thanks to these tariffs. That will have a broad and devastating impact on the economy and real Americans that Apple's (and other giant corporations') expansion cannot hope to compensate for.

This is good Kish, it sure beats identity politics. I haven't read you links yet, or checked them out, but I do look forward to doing so.

There will be gives and takes here, and Trump said so and it is expected. What I want to see is a long term fix to the decline of manufacturing and the middleclass since free trade became the SOP. I hope we can agree with that.

Currently there are by some accounts up to 8 trillion dollars of promised investments to infrastructure coming here, or back here. So I think it is fair that we look at what we are loosing; it only makes sense.

So I am going to look at the first link and see what we, as a nation are loosing, and we can compare it to what we are gaining. We should also look at quality and the future long term of the investments.

I'll start with Craftsman, being a tool person, and collect vintage tools, I love vintage Craftsman tools, and own several vintage Craftsman wood working tools. Craftsman how ever is a brand and the tools, are outsourced and made by other companies. As an example their hand planes were made by Stanley, or Sargent, and were branded as Craftsmen.

Craftsman tools have been out sourcing to China, Taiwan, and Vietnam for years. Their Texas plant closed in 2023, and started outsourcing more to China, like sockets and pliers. Their power tools are almost all sourced overseas these days. And as a tool guy, their power tools are okay for the home owner, but commercially you rarely see them on a jobsite.

So my point is here they have been going south for sometime and can't compete with the Dewalt, Bosh, Milwaukee, Makita, or even Ryobi....for quality. As a tool guy they are inferior. And they are owed by Black and Decker these days, who ironically own Dewalt also. And they have been struggling for decades as Sears did. China took them down if anything.

I'll look at Gibson Guitars next, that sounds like a bummer if we loose them.

[Markk]

Kish,

I missed the first one, Subaru is going to stop shipping to Canada, from the US because of the 25% tariff Canada imposed on US "made" cars. That is a bummer. Subaru is not saying whether or not it will affect jobs in that it is increasing the production of the Forrester here, which sales well here, so we will have to see where this one goes.

And I suppose this may change once Canada and the US start negotiating.

On a positive note I heard today that Volkswagen is expanding here because of the tariffs. If true that is great. They are going to have a huge focus on electric, and, Audi and Porsche. I heard it on the radio so lets see if it is true.

[Kishkumen]

This is good Kish, it sure beats identity politics.

OK, not sure why you direct this at me, since I do not spend a lot of time discussing identity politics.

There will be gives and takes here, and Trump said so and it is expected. What I want to see is a long term fix to the decline of manufacturing and the middleclass since free trade became the SOP. I hope we can agree with that.

I am not a free trade purist. I believe trade decisions have to be made sensibly, rationally, to the benefit of all concerned, and with care. Now if Trump would just operate like that, and not treat any purchases of foreign goods like a financial disaster.

Currently there are by some accounts up to 8 trillion dollars of promised investments to infrastructure coming here, or back here. So I think it is fair that we look at what we are loosing; it only makes sense.

Let’s see whether the promises are kept. Lots of promises under Trump in the past that were good for PR in the moment but ultimately broken.

I'll start with Craftsman, being a tool person, and collect vintage tools, I love vintage Craftsman tools, and own several vintage Craftsman wood working tools. Craftsman how ever is a brand and the tools, are outsourced and made by other companies. As an example their hand planes were made by Stanley, or Sargent, and were branded as Craftsmen.

Craftsman tools have been out sourcing to China, Taiwan, and Vietnam for years. Their Texas plant closed in 2023, and started outsourcing more to China, like sockets and pliers. Their power tools are almost all sourced overseas these days. And as a tool guy, their power tools are okay for the home owner, but commercially you rarely see them on a jobsite.

So my point is here they have been going south for sometime and can't compete with the Dewalt, Bosh, Milwaukee, Makita, or even Ryobi....for quality. As a tool guy they are inferior. And they are owed by Black and Decker these days, who ironically own Dewalt also. And they have been struggling for decades as Sears did. China took them down if anything.

But surely the alleged deal making wizardry of Trump should be able to save these companies! Rather than see them leave the US, they should be able to make it in the US as a big success. Now you tell me that instead of saving business and keeping it here, Trump’s policies only work for the businesses that are already strong? Sounds more like a Darwinian experiment than a trade policy.

I'll look at Gibson Guitars next, that sounds like a bummer if we loose them.

I dunno. Maybe you’ll decide they don’t make the grade either.

[Markk]

Gibson Guitars....

Kish everything I have read on this is that in the Guitar community, this has been a rumor for years, and that there is no official statement from Gibson that this is true. You article in dated from Nov 26, 2024, before Trump even took office, so I am not sure without see their statement whether or not they are moving. They do make lesser brands, like Epiphone overseas, but not their good stuff.

Like I wrote if they do move, it would be a bummer, hopefully it is still just a rumor.

In fact, this Youtube video says your link here is just click bait?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnh9bRY ... rol%202024.

[Markk]

New balance....

All I can find on this is they moved one Maine plant to another city in Maine. And that they manufacture in the US, and are not moving, and that they also manufacture in the UK.

In fact, giving Biden Credit they opened another new plant in 2023 here.

I am glad they seem to be staying here, and I am glad they opened up a plant under Biden.

Speaking of the UK, Trump signed a huge trade deal with them yesterday....hopefully a good one. Are you okay with that?

[Kishkumen]

Gibson Guitars....

Kish everything I have read on this is that in the Guitar community, this has been a rumor for years, and that there is no official statement from Gibson that this is true. You article in dated from Nov 26, 2024, before Trump even took office, so I am not sure without see their statement whether or not they are moving. They do make lesser brands, like Epiphone overseas, but not their good stuff.

Like I wrote if they do move, it would be a bummer, hopefully it is still just a rumor.

In fact, this Youtube video says your link here is just click bait?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnh9bRY ... rol%202024.

Well, it would be nice to see Gibson stick around. Thanks for the video. It made some good points about the dubious reliability of that article. Ultimately, we will have to see what the actual impact of the tariff regime will be on each company. My biggest concern, as I say at the bottom, is for the thousands of small businesses that relied on Chinese parts and materials who will be run out of business by the giant tariff on China. Small businesses are important employers. When they go under many people lose their jobs.

Instead of handling the issue of tariffs sensibly, giving businesses time to shift to new sources, or time for other resources like domestic manufacturing to develop, the Trump tariffs were slammed on the economy precipitously, and the possible damage may be catastrophic. Empty ships with no products, empty shelves. May this be another Y2K phony panic, please.