Potential 2012 Presidential candidate (see below) and one time potential Reform Party candidate, Donald Trump, was recently on Morning Joe. (This seems to be from late November, but I was only recently alerted to it.) He touches on many issues including trials for terrorists, China, North Korea, our defense of South Korea, and the Korea – US Free Trade Agreement. He seems to be trying to carve out a niche for himself on the issue of trade, and his overall theme seems to be American power and prestige around the world.
“Have you seen what’s happened recently with the trade pact with South Korea?” said Trump. “They ask us to sign something that only a moron would sign.”
Trump went on to say, “I think that fair trade is a much better word than ‘free trade.’ I listen to these people saying, ‘Oh, that’s going to hurt free trade.’ What’s ‘free trade’ when a country has imbalances of hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars…?”
HT: Peter Gemma
#1 Dennis // Jan 14, 2011:
“REFORM PARTY” not “REFORMED PARTY”
#2 one who knows:
“DEFORM PARTY” or “DEFORMED PARTY”
or in the land of Cody Quirk, ‘a Maroon’ ?????
“Dump”?
Donald Trump is correct. We don’t have a “fair trade” agreement with any nation. Only a Moron would agree to and/or sign the new trade deal with South Korea. Of course China, believes our government is stupid. What government in its right-mind would allow China, to dump 60 Billion Dollars worth of junk on our markets every month?
In mine: it doesn’t.
How does a “trade deficit” hurt America’s economy, in your view?
An America Lost in Squanderville
The United States’ trade gap is the proverbial “leak-in the-dike” with its de-simulative effect on our recovery. In November 2003, Warren Buffett in his Fortune, Squanderville versus Thriftville article recommended that America adopt a balanced trade model. The fact that advice advocating balance and sustainability, from a sage the caliber of Warren Buffett, could be virtually ignored for over seven years is unfathomable. Media coverage that China has kept it currency undervalued is a gross understatement, it has actually been keeping the U.S. dollar over-valued; which adversely affects all our trade with all our trading partners, not just trade with China. Until action is taken on Buffett’s or a similar balanced trade model, by the powers that be, America will continue to squander time, treasure and talent in pursuit of an illusionary recovery.
@17 Please explain. How are tariffs free trade, and why would free trade require – or allow – tariffs?
(or did you mean that it would only be free trade if tariffs are completely removed on both sides?)
If the Korean government imposes tariffs but the US government does not, which country’s consumers and workers (not just auto workers) are more hurt by that?
@15-16 coming right up
Slainte!
A free trade agreement that allowed Korean cars to enter America and American cars to enter Korea on the same tariff basis would actually have the possibility of involving free trade.
Otherwise, not so much.
Screwed that one up. Yup he did! Fill me up there Patrick! 😉
re #10 no paulie it is a plot to convert these pious young and old males to Islam. These fine men of a Western faith, who attend services when the idea crosses their minds, usually once a year when their wives or girl friends insist, will now be bowing three times daily towards Mecca, or maybe towards the local bar.
@13 Amen!
Yes, Trump v. McMillan is looking better and better. Two colorful, likable buffoons spouting nonsense should make excellent theater.
Give me more inexpensive, high-quality Hyundais and LG appliances.
Trump clearly sees popular resistance to what amounts to an extension of NAFTA to Korea. These so-called “Free Trade” agreements have been job-killers. Trump might just have an issue that will resonate with voters.
@4
Ah I see. I can see the slogans now. Donald “for rail” Trump for President!
@9 Is it disrespectful to drink green beer in quantities that make a person prostrate, sometimes in the direction of Mecca, and march in the streets in a way that resembles nothing so much as the Islamist Hajj, so close to ground zero?
You guys need to be very careful. Green is the color of the Islamic world.
And I understand that there is already trouble with using the color next St. Patrick’s Day in New York City. They may have to go to mauve as a replacement.
@6 Nothing. @4 is hilarious satire, although something of an “in joke.”
@6
LOL
Thank you.
@4
Wtf is wrong with you?
Re. Reform Party, you’re right. My bad. Fixed.
Donald Trump will join the Green Party and announce his candidacy for President, with Red Phillips as his running mate. Donald Trump had a secret meeting with Petra Kelley in 1986, and they plotted together for the worldwide takeover of the Green Party conservative movement; they knew the world wouldn’t be ready for Green Party greatness until 2011, but now the Green Party will take over numerous countries in the next two years, starting with Tunisia and Germany, then the US, then Australia, then Ireland, then within 10 years, every country. The Green Party conservative movement welcomes all.
The post itself uses the term “Reformed Party” but I think “Reform Party” is what was intended.
“REFORM PARTY” not “REFORMED PARTY”
In the post below, Donald Trump says he is thinking about running for President “for the first time in my life.” This strikes me as shading the truth at best. I guess it depends on how you define “seriously,” but he was considered for the Reform Party nomination in 2000. What really got me to thinking about this though, is that I was recently reminded that Trump released a book in 2000 entitled The America We Deserve that reads and feels very much like a campaign book.
http://www.amazon.com/America-Deserve-Donald-Trump-Shiflett/dp/1580631312/ref=sr_1_17?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295058045&sr=1-17