Why do Irish people take such an interest in US politics?

Day Lewin

" Why do Irish people take such an interest in US politics? "

'Cos if the USA sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold.
Remember Frannie May and Freddie Mac and the sub-prime mortgages?
When those banks collapsed, a massive global slump followed.
(Need I mention NAAMA?)

'Cos they waste so much resources and produce so much pollution that we all have to watch our planet shrivelling and the oceans rising. And whoever is in power over there can influence that.

'Cos if that finger presses that nuclear button, we are all toast.
Although I seem to remember sometime in the 1960's, one American general tried to reassure the American populace about nuclear war by telling them, that in the event of a full hostile nuclear engagement with the Soviets, he believed that the collateral damage could be limited to twenty million fatalities, in Europe.

And I don't think their position has changed: if anything, they are more stubborn, partisan, entrenched now than they were then.

So yeah, shake in your shoes and watch the fight. Our future will be affected too.

greenfield21

Unlikely but biden could be worse of for us economically. At least we knew trumps policy's failed regarding reshoring jobs and it was sort of to an extent business as usual with a strong US economy. Interesting if someone like Warren is in the admin and what they policies are.

Wanderer78

greenfield21 wrote: »

Unlikely but biden could be worse of for us economically. At least we knew trumps policy's failed regarding reshoring jobs and it was sort to an extent business as usual with a strong US economy. Interesting if someone like Warren is in the admin and what they policies are.

ah shur we all know, trump is full of sh1t, those jobs were never gonna head back to the states, id say biden will introduce an element of stability, probably be better for ourselves in the long run

fly_agaric

greenfield21 wrote: »

Unlikely but biden could be worse of for us economically. At least we knew trumps policy's failed regarding reshoring jobs and it was sort to an extent business as usual with a strong US economy. Interesting if someone like Warren is in the admin and what they policies are.

Trump supports Brexit 100 %, and has a major soft spot for Boris afair ("they call him Britain Trump"). That probably "trumps" all other economic considerations but you are right IMO that Biden could be harder on the US multinationals that we whore ourselves out to about their tax avoidance generally and the way their social media platforms and use of customer data are corrupting democracy.

rob316

You get as much debate out of the anti-trump brigade as you would a wall too.
Any sort of positivity towards him or republicans and your just called a misogynist and racist. It's sad really.

If you honestly have an interest in international politics, know what your talking about and importantly the effects of the american presidency on Ireland, I'm all ears. Sadly though, 99.9% of Irish people I've spoken to know nothing and are more interested in been social justice warriors. Some even think Biden is a left wing socialist :pac:

Wanderer78

rob316 wrote: »

You get as much debate out of the anti-trump brigade as you would a wall too.
Any sort of positivity towards him or republicans and your just called a misogynist and racist. It's sad really.

If you honestly have an interest in international politics, know what your talking about and importantly the effects of the american presidency on Ireland, I'm all ears. Sadly though, 99.9% of Irish people I've spoken to know nothing and are more interested in been social justice warriors. Some even think Biden is a left wing socialist :pac:

heard hes a satanist as well!

DeanAustin

rob316 wrote: »

You get as much debate out of the anti-trump brigade as you would a wall too.
Any sort of positivity towards him or republicans and your just called a misogynist and racist. It's sad really.

If you honestly have an interest in international politics, know what your talking about and importantly the effects of the american presidency on Ireland, I'm all ears. Sadly though, 99.9% of Irish people I've spoken to know nothing and are more interested in been social justice warriors. Some even think Biden is a left wing socialist :pac:

I abhor Trump. I think he's been an abysmal President. Completely unfit for office. However, I do think you are right. Anything he says or does is ridiculed because "Trump is an idiot and Americans are idiots" is an easy argument to pitch in this country. However, if people can't understand why he has 60m-70m of Americans voting for him, we're doomed to have more Donald Trumps in the future.

And not everything he's done has been bad. The stock market has surged under his watch and the tax cut he promised and delivered within 12 months of taking office has undoubtedly helped that. The economy kept growing on his watch until corona. He met with Kim Jong-un and that helped settle North Korea down whereas they'd been a constant threat over the previous 10-15 years. He's made immigration tougher. You can say that's a bad thing but that's what he promised and he's gone some way to achieving it. He's done some good things.

He also does speak his mind and people like that. How often do you hear "I wish so and so was leader because he'd stick it to the unions". You also hear it in a sporting context "If I was managing that team, I'd rip them a new one". You can't manage and you can't govern like that. But the approach appeals to "Joe Everyman".

I also find it funny how many people accuse Trump of being a sexist, misogynist pig (which he probably is) but are ignorant of Bill Clinton's crimes against women.

Mules

I wouldn't usually pay much attention to American politics but Trump is great entertainment. If he does lose, politics will get boring again.

greenfield21

Wanderer78 wrote: »

ah shur we all know, trump is full of sh1t, those jobs were never gonna head back to the states, id say biden will introduce an element of stability, probably be better for ourselves in the long run

Not sure what normality is though and as so many are too keen to tell us on here the US trade deficit has surged under trump. If anything by trump focusing all his anger on China with regards to agriculture and manufacturing he forgot about all the other sectors. I think even most of his base realised going after China was an impossible task. If you were a democrat now and needed some low hanging fruit to make the numbers look good I know where id look as the other poster suggested. This is an easy win but unlikely as I doubt they will upset their biggest donors. Who knows I doubt we will talk about the economy with a biden president.

rob316

DeanAustin wrote: »

I abhor Trump. I think he's been an abysmal President. Completely unfit for office. However, I do think you are right. Anything he says or does is ridiculed because "Trump is an idiot and Americans are idiots" is an easy argument to pitch in this country. However, if people can't understand why he has 60m-70m of Americans voting for him, we're doomed to have more Donald Trumps in the future.

And not everything he's done has been bad. The stock market has surged under his watch and the tax cut he promised and delivered within 12 months of taking office has undoubtedly helped that. The economy kept growing on his watch until corona. He met with Kim Jong-un and that helped settle North Korea down whereas they'd been a constant threat over the previous 10-15 years. He's made immigration tougher. You can say that's a bad thing but that's what he promised and he's gone some way to achieving it. He's done some good things.

He also does speak his mind and people like that. How often do you hear "I wish so and so was leader because he'd stick it to the unions". You also hear it in a sporting context "If I was managing that team, I'd rip them a new one". You can't manage and you can't govern like that. But the approach appeals to "Joe Everyman".

I also find it funny how many people accuse Trump of being a sexist, misogynist pig (which he probably is) but are ignorant of Bill Clinton's crimes against women.

He's a clown and its been as entertaining as I thought it would be, a short tempered reality TV star as president.

The people who I think are more stupid are the SJW who think Biden solves the problems, that country has been tearing itself apart forever, Trump just sped it up and made it more transparent. Trump isn't going to lose out by much, as you said 70m still think he's better than the Dems and Biden.

"How could you vote for him America?" screams the Irish, ignoring he's the republican candidate. It's that black and white in America.

Girl on twitter yesterday says George Floyd would be rolling in his grave that people are still voting for Trump. Two ****ing ignorant to realize police racial brutality has went on through every president, remember Rodney King?

I'll be honest I'd vote for him, because voting for Biden because he isn't Trump isn't a compelling enough reason to. I've voted SF as the protest vote to FF/FG and to be honest its pointless and devalues my vote.

rob316

Mules wrote: »

I wouldn't usually pay much attention to American politics but Trump is great entertainment. If he does lose, politics will get boring again.

I keep saying what is everyone going to moan about now? Positively obsessed with every tweet he makes, I've seen DT tweets but I have never actively searched for his page or follow him on it.

I have zero respect for you if your out protesting about Trump but have little interest in what's going on at home because its not "cool" or trendy for instagram.

The_Brood

Lack of pride, self-respect, and respect for our own history. Lack of respect for the flag. Lack of respect for the sacrifices countless made for independence. Tied to the hip with America as if begging to be the 51st state. Lack of patriotism.

Wanderer78

The_Brood wrote: »

Lack of pride, self-respect, and respect for our own history. Lack of respect for the flag. Lack of respect for the sacrifices countless made for independence. Tied to the hip with America as if begging to be the 51st state. Lack of patriotism.

...and we could have improved our standard of living by maintaining our previous protectionist measures?

rob316

I can never remember American been less of a war monger too than under Trump. Obama was butting serious heads with Putin and Kim Jong before Trump came in and things looked very tense.

DeanAustin

rob316 wrote: »

I can never remember American been less of a war monger too than under Trump. Obama was butting serious heads with Putin and Kim Jong before Trump came in and things looked very tense.

That's actually another fair point. I think a lot would have been afraid that he'd go to war at the drop of a hat. Thankfully that hasn't happened. Why he hasn't butted heads with Putin probably raises a lot of other questions though

Tony EH

rob316 wrote: »

I can never remember American been less of a war monger too than under Trump. Obama was butting serious heads with Putin and Kim Jong before Trump came in and things looked very tense.

There's one thing I will say for the Trump administration, is that compared to the war mongering pigs that were the Republican Party coupled with the Neo-Cons, they're angels.

Trump is a complete narcissistic, man child, of epic proportions and the current Republican Party are reprehensible, but they're nothing when stacked up against George W. Bush and his handlers during the early 2000's. That crowd were truly dangerous to the entire world. We're still living with the fallout from their oil war in Iraq.

Wanderer78

Tony EH wrote: »

There's one thing I will say for the Trump administration, is that compared to the war mongering pigs that were the Republican Party coupled with the Neo-Cons, they're angels.

Trump is a complete narcissistic, man child, of epic proportions and the current Republican Party are reprehensible, but they're nothing when stacked up against George W. Bush and his handlers during the early 2000's. That crowd were truly dangerous to the entire world. We're still living with the fallout from their oil war in Iraq.

trump admin has just created new dangers and elevated previous existing ones

Tony EH

Wanderer78 wrote: »

trump admin has just created new dangers and elevated previous existing ones

Perhaps. But comparatively speaking, his actual impact has been rather mild. Sure, he's been an embarrassment to America and Americans and has stoked up a lot of crap, purely for his own self aggrandisement. But when you look at what Bush and his lot did and the state they left everything in when they left office (illegal war in Iraq, ISIS blowback, and the economy in tatters), Trump and his lot come off as tame.

Wanderer78

Tony EH wrote: »

Perhaps. But comparatively speaking, his actual impact has been rather mild. Sure, he's been an embarrassment to America and Americans and has stoked up a lot of crap, purely for his own self aggrandisement. But when you look at what Bush and his lot did and the state they left everything in when they left office (illegal war in Iraq, ISIS blowback, and the world economy in tatters), Trump and his lot come off as tame.

very difficult to compare admins, all radially different in approaches, but all with radically dangerous outcomes, america is currently in tatters, which could have long term negative effects globally, this admin has just added to this long term disaster

Bricriu

Simple really - because we are Americans ourselves:

Listen to 'Irish' young people speak; listen to their vocabulary;
Look at their individualistic values;
Look at their favourite TV programmes;
Look at their cultural reference-points.

What a profoundly sick, violent, individualistic society the US is to be a role-model for anyone.

NIMAN

Tony EH wrote: »

Perhaps. But comparatively speaking, his actual impact has been rather mild. Sure, he's been an embarrassment to America and Americans and has stoked up a lot of crap, purely for his own self aggrandisement. But when you look at what Bush and his lot did and the state they left everything in when they left office (illegal war in Iraq, ISIS blowback, and the economy in tatters), Trump and his lot come off as tame.

Don't forget to mention Obama's war/invasion/military record of his time, he always seems to get a by-ball for fear of ruining his image.

Tony EH

Wanderer78 wrote: »

very difficult to compare admins, all radially different in approaches, but all with radically dangerous outcomes, america is currently in tatters, which could have long term negative effects globally, this admin has just added to this long term disaster

The tatters this time isn't fully due to Trump's admin. Let's be fair. Sure, they could have/should have done MUCH better tackling the likes of Covid and to say that he couldn't have given less of a fuck about Americans dying from it would be stating the obvious. But the actual circumstances they found themselves wasn't entirely of their own making. Nobody asked for Covid to arrive to their shores.

The worst thing Trump is leaving America with is the division in the country. But, again to be fair, that was always there bubbling under the surface. The place has always been a joke for that type of thing.

The tatters Bush and Co. left things in was far worse in terms of global impact (which we still feel) and that was directly due to their policies from beginning to end.

Tony EH

NIMAN wrote: »

Don't forget to mention Obama's war/invasion/military record of his time, he always seems to get a by-ball for fear of ruining his image.

I don't leave any US president free of charge for their war mongering. Every president follows the American agenda in the likes of the Middle East, no matter who they are or which party the front. America has designs on that region going back to the 60's and every president has followed it.

As long as that region is in turmoil, it gives them a reason to be there and they want to be there.

Wanderer78

Tony EH wrote: »

The tatters this time isn't fully due to Trump's admin. Let's be fair. Sure, they could have/should have done MUCH better tackling the likes of Covid and to say that he couldn't have given less of a fuck about Americans dying from it would be stating the obvious. But the actual circumstances they found themselves wasn't entirely of their own making. Nobody asked for Covid to arrive to their shores.

The worst thing Trump is leaving America with is the division in the country. But, again to be fair, that was always there bubbling under the surface. The place has always been a joke for that type of thing.

The tatters Bush and Co. left things in was far worse in terms of global impact (which we still feel) and that was directly due to their policies from beginning to end.

each admin inherits past admins bullsh1t, same all over the world, including here, yes past admins have done horrendous things, globally, but this admin has done astonishing damage, both within america and globally, im sure things wont change all that much with the incoming admin

NIMAN

Wanderer78 wrote: »

each admin inherits past admins bullsh1t, same all over the world, including here, yes past admins have done horrendous things, globally, but this admin has done astonishing damage, both within america and globally, im sure things wont change all that much with the incoming admin

Feel sorry for Biden, he is inheriting a country with major issues, just look at the hate now between the 2 groups of voters.

Add to this all the racial issues, the ongoing Covis crisis etc, and he really is doomed to failure.

When he goes to the polls again in 4yrs he is bound to have not fixed much, if anything at all. And the voters might have expected him to.

Wanderer78

NIMAN wrote: »

Feel sorry for Biden, he is inheriting a country with major issues, just look at the hate now between the 2 groups of voters.

Add to this all the racial issues, the ongoing Covis crisis etc, and he really is doomed to failure.

When he goes to the polls again in 4yrs he is bound to have not fixed much, if anything at all. And the voters might have expected him to.

24 has the potential to be lethal, particularly if the dems dont pull something together

Tony EH

Wanderer78 wrote: »

each admin inherits past admins bullsh1t, same all over the world, including here, yes past admins have done horrendous things, globally, but this admin has done astonishing damage, both within america and globally, im sure things wont change all that much with the incoming admin

Well, as I've here and elsewhere, the only thing guaranteed to change will be the rhetoric coming out of the White House. It won't the the ridiculous nonsense that President Twitter has filled the internet with on a daily basis.

But anyone thinking that America under Biden will suddenly transform into a spectacular beacon has another thing coming.

Trump, however, will end up going down as an embarrassing footnote in history. An example of how not to do things and why obvious snake oil salesmen shouldn't be listened to.

Dr. Bre

Kanye west is going for president so that will be fun

Lollipop95

It’s one of the most powerful countries in the world and one of the biggest. This is probably the most consequential election we will see in our lifetime. Trump has threatened more than once to take the American companies out of here. It also seems a Biden win would benefit Ireland

rob316

Tony EH wrote: »

Well, as I've here and elsewhere, the only thing guaranteed to change will be the rhetoric coming out of the White House. It won't the the ridiculous nonsense that President Twitter has filled the internet with on a daily basis.

But anyone thinking that America under Biden will suddenly transform into a spectacular beacon has another thing coming.

Trump, however, will end up going down as an embarrassing footnote in history. An example of how not to do things and why obvious snake oil salesmen shouldn't be listened to.

He'll probably be one of the most memorable presidents let's be honest.