2 hours ago, brabus said:

Do you just get a kick out of posting really stupid shit to ensure your credibility remains at rock bottom?

You guys realize that image was posted on Trump’s Truth Social, right?

@Sua Sponte No I did not, thanks for putting that out. I do not support that and think it’s a bad post. Invalid response to Negatory regarding this specific post (my bad).

1 hour ago, Sua Sponte said:

You guys realize that image was posted on Trump’s Truth Social, right?

Nope. That image is ridiculous. I really hope that's a parady of some sort. If not, his narcissism has hit a new high (or low...). There's has to be a backstory to that absurdity. That looks like a painting from a boomer grandmother about her kid.

Edited yesterday at 02:56 PM1 day by FourFans

32 minutes ago, FourFans said:

Nope. That image is ridiculous. I really hope that's a parady of some sort. If not, his narcissism has hit a new high (or low...). There's has to be a backstory to that absurdity. That looks like a painting from a boomer grandmother about her kid.

Apparently, it's AI. So not sure if that's better or worse than an actual human painting it.

4 hours ago, ClearedHot said:

Or, MAGA after a Trump Truth Social post. Just ask Mr Noem.

Edited yesterday at 04:56 PM1 day by disgruntledemployee

2 hours ago, FourFans said:

Nope. That image is ridiculous. I really hope that's a parady of some sort. If not, his narcissism has hit a new high (or low...). There's has to be a backstory to that absurdity. That looks like a painting from a boomer grandmother about her kid.

The backstory is probably something like, "The Pope doesn't like me, I don't know why, I'm a great guy. He's a loser, always blessing the wrong side. If I were Jesus, I'd have light coming out of my hands."

Aren't two threads entirely dedicated to people either bitching or cheering about Trump enough? Talking overall national security policy and such regarding Iran is one thing, but this thread has gone entirely off the rails.

1 hour ago, ClearedHot said:

🤦‍♂️

This isn't the full clip. ......it's missing the part immediately preceding this, where she says: "The question was, if Iran was to launch a nuclear attack on Israel, what would our response be?"

They clipped it so it just began with: "I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the President, we will attack Iran."

The full clip is posted below.

It's so wild to see how the people always lamenting "fAke NeWs," are actually the one's most easily duped by it.

This interview, for anyone interested in the actual context, was a follow-up to an answer she had given the previous day, where she described a nuclear exchange. A legit nuclear war in response to an unprovoked Iranian launch of nukes on Israel. ....Not the train wreck that's unfolding now - an offensive war started by the US and Israel just months after Don the Con said we had already "obliterated their nuclear program."

Edited 23 hours ago23 hr by SpeedOfHeat

22 hours ago, Pooter said:

You know the situation is getting incoherent when the thread goes suddenly quiet aside from grandpa chain email memes and babylon bee links

Everything’s going great guys 👌👌👌 trust the process

Yeah i’m shocked that another dumbass statement by POTUS hasn’t caused stable minded conservatives to come unglued on an Internet forum.

The actual haters don’t get it, even after we’ve told them a million times, he’s not out savior. And yes, even with his narcissistic self love and abundance of dumbassery at times, he’s still significantly better than kamala would have ever been.

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by bfargin

52 minutes ago, bfargin said:

And yes, even with his narcissistic self love and abundance of dumbassery at times, he’s still significantly better than kamala would have ever been.

This is your guys’ actual problem. It’s legitimate delusion. And you project it on others. You say they’re the delusional ones so you don’t have to embrace the reality you are supporting right now explicitly. But this quote right here describes your and many others “delusional syndrome.”

You have to understand we aren’t even that mad at the president. Politicians do politician things. But it is your choice to determine if you have any specific morality in how you interpret those actions. Im disappointed in people like you simplifying complex arguments and everything into us vs them. And the ends justify any means is the antithesis of Christianity.

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by Negat0ry

12 hours ago, brabus said:

Do you just get a kick out of posting really stupid shit to ensure your credibility remains at rock bottom?

Literal definition of irony.

9 minutes ago, Negat0ry said:

Literal definition of irony.

Not really, considering it’s an accurate description of your dialogue a majority of the time. I just possess a capability you don’t: I have no problem admitting when I’m wrong.

11 minutes ago, Negat0ry said:

Literal definition of irony.

53 minutes ago, Negat0ry said:

This is your guys’ actual problem. It’s legitimate delusion. And you project it on others. You say they’re the delusional ones so you don’t have to embrace the reality you are supporting right now explicitly. But this quote right here describes your and many others “delusional syndrome.”

You have to understand we aren’t even that mad at the president. Politicians do politician things. But it is your choice to determine if you have any specific morality in how you interpret those actions. Im disappointed in people like you simplifying complex arguments and everything into us vs them. And the ends justify any means is the antithesis of Christianity.

Ignore his rhetoric. No one here defended it, and we already know your position.

59 minutes ago, Negat0ry said:

so you don’t have to embrace the reality you are supporting right now explicitly

What policy actions has Trump taken that you believe we are selling our souls in supporting? I'm truly curious if this is just another "liberals think conservative positions are evil" or "his rhetoric is too extreme to consider anything else?"

You bend over backwards repeating the same thing and never addressing any of the actual counterpoints, so I'm trying to keep the question focused.

Sorry to interrupt the political sword fighting, if only we had a thread for that 🤔, but does anyone have a thought on how Iran will run this blockade?

I highly doubt China would put personnel on an Iranian oil tanker bound for China... However, if they told us they were doing so, what's the move?

I'm sure we could disable the ship, but then what? Are we going to storm the ship and take those chinamen prisoner?

Even if they don't put Chicoms on an oil tanker, what's the worst that can happen from an Iranian perspective? They run the blockade, we disable/commandeer said vessel, and then what, just sell the oil and pocket the cash? I'm not sure that's a great look for us.

Thoughts that don't revolve around a monkey shit fight over Trump would be surprising yet welcomed.

Edited 18 hours ago18 hr by Boomer6

On 4/12/2026 at 5:11 PM, Pooter said:

You know the situation is getting incoherent when the thread goes suddenly quiet aside from grandpa chain email memes and babylon bee links

Everything’s going great guys 👌👌👌 trust the process

To the extent things have gone quiet, it's largely due to you libs going on and on about personality issues. Yeah, we get it, he says stuff that's in poor taste. All of us wish, and have stated, our desire for a president with classier chops, but this is where we're at. You all pin that on us. I'm fine with it because I understand the choice that had to be made: elect a jerk, or elect complete ineptitude. The one part about Trump's manner I do appreciate: it drives you guys nuts. I will admit that's a bonus I'll miss when he's gone. The ranting and raving about it on this forum, however, is just tiresome when we should be exchanging ideas about strategic happenings instead.

On 4/10/2026 at 9:13 AM, Pooter said:

Maybe you should call the White House and tell them that.. they seem to not have gotten the memo.

If I recall correctly, 4 days ago (ancient history I know) Trump tweeted “open the fuckin straight you crazy bastards.”

A free and open SOH was also a stated goal of the war, and per Trump it is “key condition” of the temporary ceasefire.

This seems to contradict your assertion that we can just sit back and let Iran self-immolate by closing the straight as long as they want.. if it’s no skin off our back why is our president ranting about it?

Apparently they did get the memo. And I distinctly remember predicting, right here on this message board, barely three days ago, that there was a lot more at play to "opening" or "closing" the straight than met the eye - you responded with this mess. Now, here we are, and lo and behold, what's happened? We closed the straight. It's almost like I can see a larger play at work. You'd call it 4D chess. I just understand that we're the ones with all the strategic leverage. I promise you I can't predict the future, it was just the obvious play.

So yes, while Iran has played their very last card by closing the straight, we played a card I saw in the deck that trumps it: we closed it harder. Others here didn't really get it. They can close it, but we can up the ante and beat them at their own game. Or did you actually think we were just going to let them control that waterway on their own terms? Like seriously? Did you think Iranian and Chinese oil tankers would be doing business as usual all the while the lights went out on our allies and we flounder in the channel? Get real dude. We're a superpower. That's not chest-beating. It's looking objectively at who's who in this conflict. Of course we want it open. But it's going to be open on our terms, not theirs. So give it time.

I'll spell out the next part for you again: Iran depends on the straight for 90% of their exports, 85% of their government revenue, and additionally import HALF of the gasoline they use to generate power. They need it open far, far more than we do, as they hemorrhage $3 billion dollars a week and risk massive long-term (self inflicted) damage to their oil infrastructure. As I said before, we can play the waiting game while they waterboard themselves. That's the strategic leverage. Can you see it? Or are you queuing up yet another anti-Trump tirade?

This is effectively the sequel to my last post, with the added benefit of hindsight including events which I suggested would take place, actually having taken place. You didn't respond thoughtfully when it was prognostication. You didn't address how Iran is far more dependent on the straight that we are. Maybe now you will since it's actually happening?

43 minutes ago, Boomer6 said:

They run the blockade, we disable/commandeer said vessel, and then what, just sell the oil and pocket the cash? I'm not sure that's a great look for us.

Exactly this. Haven't we already done this with a few ships from the ghost fleet?

Seize any tanker and sell to Cuba (or other struggling Western hemisphere economies not currently US friendly) with conditions (disavow communism (e.g. Russia, China), free and open elections, US assistance in setting up new constitutional governance structure, etc …).

Admittedly a bit quixotic, but give cash proceeds from oil to third world countries in need (food, humanitarian aid, etc). Bangladesh is still almost as poor, desperate, and underdeveloped as it was in the late 1960s.

15 hours ago, Negat0ry said:

This is your guys’ actual problem. It’s legitimate delusion. And you project it on others. You say they’re the delusional ones so you don’t have to embrace the reality you are supporting right now explicitly. But this quote right here describes your and many others “delusional syndrome.”

You have to understand we aren’t even that mad at the president. Politicians do politician things. But it is your choice to determine if you have any specific morality in how you interpret those actions. Im disappointed in people like you simplifying complex arguments and everything into us vs them. And the ends justify any means is the antithesis of Christianity.

Again, where do you see anyone “supporting” any of the things you have previously highlighted (irrational plans, idiotic statements). I don’t support about 50% of the things he stands for (classic NY liberal with serious visions of grandeur - and no apparent real belief in anything except self) and about 75% of what he says (blasphemous at times, contradictory at times, repetitive usually, and narcissistic at times). That just shows you how evil and misguided the democratic platform is currently (in my opinion).

Not every self proclaimed Christian (and def not atheists) will agree with me on my take on Trump as the significantly less smelly of two turds, as evidenced by hundreds of discussions on various topics here in BOs.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by bfargin

Well, for all you anti-Trump types, if you didn't shove that complete idiot Kamala Harris up against him in 2024, we might be in a different boat!

Now, who exactly do you plan to run in 2028? Gavin Newsome? Pete Buttigieg? Harris again? Gretchen Whitmer? Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez?!? 🤣🤣🤣

Don't blame us, blame yourselves for not taking the opportunity to present a viable candidate instead of complete nutbags that make our nutbags look half-sane!

Chirp all you want about Trump, and he is a moron; but deep down you know damn well your side had nothing better!

14 hours ago, Boomer6 said:

Sorry to interrupt the political sword fighting, if only we had a thread for that 🤔, but does anyone have a thought on how Iran will run this blockade?

I highly doubt China would put personnel on an Iranian oil tanker bound for China... However, if they told us they were doing so, what's the move?

I'm sure we could disable the ship, but then what? Are we going to storm the ship and take those chinamen prisoner?

Even if they don't put Chicoms on an oil tanker, what's the worst that can happen from an Iranian perspective? They run the blockade, we disable/commandeer said vessel, and then what, just sell the oil and pocket the cash? I'm not sure that's a great look for us.

Thoughts that don't revolve around a monkey shit fight over Trump would be surprising yet welcomed.

Also, Dude, chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature. Asian-American, please. -

Looks like the first ship has already ignored the blockade. Asian-American type.

Chinese Seamen?

12 hours ago, ViperMan said:

To the extent things have gone quiet, it's largely due to you libs going on and on about personality issues. Yeah, we get it, he says stuff that's in poor taste. All of us wish, and have stated, our desire for a president with classier chops, but this is where we're at. You all pin that on us. I'm fine with it because I understand the choice that had to be made: elect a jerk, or elect complete ineptitude. The one part about Trump's manner I do appreciate: it drives you guys nuts. I will admit that's a bonus I'll miss when he's gone. The ranting and raving about it on this forum, however, is just tiresome when we should be exchanging ideas about strategic happenings instead.

Apparently they did get the memo. And I distinctly remember predicting, right here on this message board, barely three days ago, that there was a lot more at play to "opening" or "closing" the straight than met the eye - you responded with this mess. Now, here we are, and lo and behold, what's happened? We closed the straight. It's almost like I can see a larger play at work. You'd call it 4D chess. I just understand that we're the ones with all the strategic leverage. I promise you I can't predict the future, it was just the obvious play.

So yes, while Iran has played their very last card by closing the straight, we played a card I saw in the deck that trumps it: we closed it harder. Others here didn't really get it. They can close it, but we can up the ante and beat them at their own game. Or did you actually think we were just going to let them control that waterway on their own terms? Like seriously? Did you think Iranian and Chinese oil tankers would be doing business as usual all the while the lights went out on our allies and we flounder in the channel? Get real dude. We're a superpower. That's not chest-beating. It's looking objectively at who's who in this conflict. Of course we want it open. But it's going to be open on our terms, not theirs. So give it time.

I'll spell out the next part for you again: Iran depends on the straight for 90% of their exports, 85% of their government revenue, and additionally import HALF of the gasoline they use to generate power. They need it open far, far more than we do, as they hemorrhage $3 billion dollars a week and risk massive long-term (self inflicted) damage to their oil infrastructure. As I said before, we can play the waiting game while they waterboard themselves. That's the strategic leverage. Can you see it? Or are you queuing up yet another anti-Trump tirade?

This is effectively the sequel to my last post, with the added benefit of hindsight including events which I suggested would take place, actually having taken place. You didn't respond thoughtfully when it was prognostication. You didn't address how Iran is far more dependent on the straight that we are. Maybe now you will since it's actually happening?

Ok now let’s take your one inch deep analysis (close trade route -> gain leverage -> everything is awesome) and ask the obvious follow up questions:

We don’t use much oil from the straight.. cool. So it shouldn’t affect our prices much right? Wrong. We live with something called the global economy and when supply of a commodity drops, effects of that percolate through the whole system. American oil companies will sell to the highest bidder just like anyone else so higher international demand will cause domestic prices to spike. Sorry, we don’t get to go on military adventures around the world and then suddenly pretend our own economy is isolationist.

What happens when China is cut off from a huge portion of their oil imports? I guess in the world where we don’t consider follow on effects we’re just gonna ignore that. Are they just gonna sit back and take it? Are they going to put pressure on us to open the straight again? Are they going to raise their export prices to offset increased energy costs? Hmmm I wonder what country imports the most Chinese stuff…..

Or What happens when (god forbid) one of our ships, now dicking around much closer to Iran than they were before, gets hit? Or hits a mine? Iran still has a very real missile, mine, and drone threat and now we’re basically just doing the navy version of seizing Kharg island—parking a bunch of juicy targets right off their coast. Again, the escalation ladder is sitting right in front of us and you guys are completely blind to it.

What happens with the civilian population when the Iranian economy is fully destroyed by our blockade? I’m sure they’ll come running happily into the open arms of the country that’s doing it to them. It’s definitely not going to cause a rally around the flag effect much like trump’s tweet about killing their whole civilization. Any minute now the populace is going to rise up and turn the country into a flowering democracy…