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The same Trump that negotiated the USMCA as a replacement to NAFTA in his first term, only to return and start harassing Mexico and Canada (!) over made-up grie

The same Trump that negotiated the USMCA as a replacement to NAFTA in his first term, only to return and start harassing Mexico and Canada (!) over made-up grievances? Same guy that flip-flops on national policy depending on the weather - that Trump? We'll see about that.

alephnerd 2y ago
Difference is neither the Trudeau nor AMLO admin made alliances with Stephen Miller adjacent acolytes, nor cultivated relations with the American (and other Anglo speaking) Right, and overindexed on diplomatic protocol with an administration that subscribes to a personalist protocol. Even when Trump was not president, countries like India, Israel, KSA, Japan, etc tried keeping informal relations with that sphere, which made negotiating much easier from the start.
- churchill 2y ago
  You're trying to find a pattern where none exists: so, if Canada did not intentionally cultivate Trump admin. insiders, does that excuse Trump being monstrous to them? Hell, Denmark loans out Greenland as an unofficial American protectorate and the US retaliates by seeking to just steal their territory, despite their almost insane pro-American bias. To the extent of sending the VP there to challenge Denmark's hold on its sovereign territory? Again - that's the guy you're reasoning with? That's before you factor in the American Right's virulent hatred for Indians, who they see as parasitic, simply for coming to work in the US on H1Bs. I hope it works out perfectly for all parties involved.
  - alephnerd 2y ago
    > if Canada did not intentionally cultivate Trump admin. insiders, does that excuse Trump being monstrous to them Absolutely not. The Trump admin is treating some of our closest allies horribly. That said, there was no reason not to prepare and cultivate relations in case a second Trump admin was formed. > American Right's virulent hatred for Indians, who they see as parasitic, simply for coming to work in the US on H1Bs Visas don't matter for the Indian right either (the National Conservative movement). It sucks horribly for the Indian diaspora, but they can't vote in Indian elections so they don't matter to Indian policymakers. To understand how Trump or Orban or Modi administrations work and think, we need to deep dive into their own ideology (and lack of ideology). Understanding the Stephen Millers, George Birnbaums, and Amit Shahs is critical to understanding the administrations they manage.
- timmytokyo 2y ago
  I love that: "personalist protocol". What an anodyne way to describe a kakistocracy.

alephnerd 2y ago

Difference is neither the Trudeau nor AMLO admin made alliances with Stephen Miller adjacent acolytes, nor cultivated relations with the American (and other Anglo speaking) Right, and overindexed on diplomatic protocol with an administration that subscribes to a personalist protocol. Even when Trump was not president, countries like India, Israel, KSA, Japan, etc tried keeping informal relations with that sphere, which made negotiating much easier from the start.

churchill 2y ago
You're trying to find a pattern where none exists: so, if Canada did not intentionally cultivate Trump admin. insiders, does that excuse Trump being monstrous to them? Hell, Denmark loans out Greenland as an unofficial American protectorate and the US retaliates by seeking to just steal their territory, despite their almost insane pro-American bias. To the extent of sending the VP there to challenge Denmark's hold on its sovereign territory? Again - that's the guy you're reasoning with? That's before you factor in the American Right's virulent hatred for Indians, who they see as parasitic, simply for coming to work in the US on H1Bs. I hope it works out perfectly for all parties involved.
- alephnerd 2y ago
  > if Canada did not intentionally cultivate Trump admin. insiders, does that excuse Trump being monstrous to them Absolutely not. The Trump admin is treating some of our closest allies horribly. That said, there was no reason not to prepare and cultivate relations in case a second Trump admin was formed. > American Right's virulent hatred for Indians, who they see as parasitic, simply for coming to work in the US on H1Bs Visas don't matter for the Indian right either (the National Conservative movement). It sucks horribly for the Indian diaspora, but they can't vote in Indian elections so they don't matter to Indian policymakers. To understand how Trump or Orban or Modi administrations work and think, we need to deep dive into their own ideology (and lack of ideology). Understanding the Stephen Millers, George Birnbaums, and Amit Shahs is critical to understanding the administrations they manage.
timmytokyo 2y ago
I love that: "personalist protocol". What an anodyne way to describe a kakistocracy.