rgmwa

Pyrrhus was more successful because at least he had a victory. So far Trump has only achieved a Pyrrhic defeat.

I don't think that ultra wealthy people think about how to spend it like we might. For them it's about having it, and for many it's just a by-product of their wheeling and dealing which is what they are really interested in. I recall one of Jerry's posts where he was talking about what motivates them to make money and why whatever they have is never enough, and what sets them apart from the rest of us.

The house across the road from me in the Perth Hills is just a 2x1 on half an acre. We were good friends with the owners for many years. His wife died some years ago at a relatively young age, so he eventually sold up and moved about 5 years ago. He wanted $280k but it was sold within a week for $340k. The people who bought sold it 18 months ago to a young couple for $720. We built our place in 1992. The block cost $39k and the house $130k. For the first 15 years it was worth about $180k as property prices in this area were stagnant. It's now worth about a million according to a real estate agent I spoke to recently. That was his estimate without even looking at it. He said he sold a house in this area 18 months ago for $1.2m and would list it now for $1.5m. Prices around here have gone through the roof. Rents have seen similar price increases. Paying $600-$700 per week is common now. I really don't know how young people can afford to live or buy anywhere decent these days.

Good summary of Trump and Hegseth's achievements to date.

I agree with Nev. It's not ideal and there is a potential risk but if they are Australian citizens and legally entitled to live here, then the Government has a responsibility towards getting them out of the refugee camps and facilitating their return. The rest is a rehabilitation and risk management exercise.

Recent reports based on what people close to him have allegedly said have suggested that in his second term, Trump has begun to view himself less as a peer to past U.S. presidents like Lincoln or Washington, and more as a "world-historical" figure on par with figures like Alexander the Great or Napoleon.

Here's how his new arch will look, if it ever gets built.

No surprise if it turns out that the security offer was shot by security, nor that the attacker never got anywhere near the ballroom.

Trump thought it was great but Vance didn’t by all accounts because he was smart enough to understand what Charles was really saying.

Put your orders in now.

Yes, her various businesses keep a lot of people employed, makes her rich and helps the country's exports, so everyone's happy. Her wealth also buys her a lot of political influence and whether or not that's a good thing depends on whether you agree with her political views. She's too much like Trump in my opinion.

It’s reported that he had a pump action shotgun, a handgun and three knives. The ballroom is on the second level basement. He only got onto the first basement level before being stopped by security, so he was never going to get very far with the weapons he had. The real security issue is that he got as far as he did. Also, that the first, second, fourth and fifth people directly in line to replace the president were in the same room.

No. Just incompetent, vindictive and ignorant.

No, I'm not. I have no respect for Trump and I think he's a disaster for the US and the world, but I don't wish him dead.

Hate is a very strong word that I think would apply to very few. I've never met anyone who said they hate or despise Australia. Have you? Those that genuinely do would very likely feel the same about their home country, or any other country for that matter. They are also free to leave if they want to. Even lots of immigrants from the UK couldn't decide whether they liked Australia or not and kept coming and going for years.

No, I'm pretty balanced. My feast and famine sides cancel each other out.

GON, I'm using both sides my brain to follow your arguments and logic, but not having a lot of luck so far.

Have a look at the `Let's talk about Artificial Intelligence' thread on here. There's been a fair bit of discussion about it, and it's in the news a lot too. I don't think anybody knows where AI is heading but there seems to be plenty of scope for both good and bad outcomes.

I think what Rnx is saying is that we're all doomed.

Who's the `we' in this, and where do you get the idea that people with left wing views `hate' Australia? That's the kind of stuff that Trump and his cohort say to whip up anger among their supporters. I don't believe that anyone on this forum hates Australia, no matter what their views are.

My dad served in the Dutch army as an anti-tank gunner before Germany invaded Holland. He and his crew actually derailed one of the returning German troop trains on its way back to the border after delivering troops to the Rotterdam area on the morning of the invasion. They were also involved in a number of rearguard actions before Holland capitulated. In his later years he decided that despite not being a naturalised Australian he should be entitled to walk in the Anzac parade and take part in the Dawn Service as an allied soldier even though he wasn't an Anzac, so he did. One year he was very proud to be able to march with his grand daughter who was in uniform. She is currently a captain in the Navy. At his funeral in 2016 some local RSL volunteers played the Last Post in accordance with his wishes. Many years ago I went with him on a trip back to Holland, my first time going overseas. We were in a museum in Eindhoven one day and there was a photo among the exhibits of a wrecked locomotive and carriages lying on their sides. He pointed to it and said; "I did that".

Well, in that case I'm not in the tribe then either, although I know about Gelignite Jack, Jack Sue (his old dive shop is not far from me), and CKS. Does that make me more eligible?

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What Trump meant by respect was not admiration, but more like the `respect' a Mafia mob boss wants.

Half the rowers are pulling on imaginary oars in the wrong direction. Does that mean the country is going nowhere?