Sandra Gregory

@JohnSimpsonNews I do miss the America we loved to hate.

The worldwide reputation of the US has been badly damaged. But the success of Artemis II reminds us there’s another America, clever, bold, open to the world, which we love and admire.

@JohnSimpsonNews @keanerthanever1 OMG John. And I see it continues. Stay strong. Stay you. And I hope you stay well.

‘Don’t worry you old cunt you haven’t got long left’, @keanerthanever1 tweets to me. He calls someone else ‘you scrounging obese low iq mess’ and a third person ‘another lying spineless cunt’. Elon Musk’s X doesn’t seem to mind…

@jimnardulli Fat and carbs are also crucial in our diets, but you know what happens when someone eats too much of those. Too much of a good thing is rarely good.

"The notion that CO2 is pollution is absolutely preposterous... The idea that it is going to destroy the planet or change the temperature of the Earth is totally ludicrous." "But from a totalitarian perspective, if you can convince people that CO2 is pollution, there's no human activity that doesn't result in CO2 emissions, including living, including dying, turning on a light switch." "Every single aspect of your life, then, if we submit to the idea that CO2 is pollution, then comes under the regulatory control of the people who claim to be saving us from pollution."

@jimnardulli @McCurdy1987 I have. And I hope you will, at least, attempt to address some of the queries I have raised.

@sandra01422 @McCurdy1987 Will you please text me your email?

I'm finding myself commenting less on politics on this platform lately, mostly because my audience is hockey twitter and it's not worth the headaches. I can't in good conscience leave this one alone though. When Zelenskyy famously said "I don't need a ride, I need ammunition" three years ago, it was one of the defining moments during my lifetime of someone rising to the moment and being a hero rather than a coward, something Trump and Vance know VERY little about. The utter disrespect shown to Zelenskyy today in the Oval Office should be a massive wakeup call to all of the allied nations, particularly Canada. To our collective government parties: Get your shit together, and get our house in order. I don't give a crap about partisanship, these issues are much larger than us and we must be prepared to meet the moment if and when it arrives. Left vs. Right doesn't matter anymore. Less vanity projects, more defense, financial stability, and infrastructure. I will vote accordingly. I understand if you chose to unfollow or whatever because of this, I respect your decision. but I frankly don't care. Most of my content will continue to be hockey related, but I'll be damned if my Grandfather fought the Nazi's just for the follow up generations to sit by and do nothing as extremism rises again. Oh, and FWIW, the US probably just set back nuclear non-proliferation about 80 years today.

@jimnardulli @McCurdy1987 So you, as a descendent of Catholic immigrants, are supporting the deportation of Catholic immigrants because too many of them came, too quickly? How would you feel if your son (or daughter) had been sent to an El Salvadorian prison? If you can answer that question, I'll buy ?

100 years ago was the height of the roaring 20’s. In 4 short years the crash of Wall Street would spark the Great Depression. But still immigrants came. Italy was a place of misery and privation. The people that came, including my Grandparents, wanted desperately to become American. They worked hard to assimilate. The USA still today welcomes immigrants from everywhere as long as they come lawfully and go through the process. Fun fact: in all the years from 1896 to 1954 12 million people passed through Ellis Island. The Biden administration allowed 12 million illegal immigrants to enter and disappear in just one year. That is an insurrection.

@jimnardulli @McCurdy1987 Believe me when I say I am trying to understand. I don't do X anymore (I use Bluesky) and only come on here to speak to you. And I do so in the hope that you might help me understand all that is going on. Can you please try a little harder, because I am finding it all very hard.

Please understand: for decades USA made products have been assessed tariffs two to five times higher than tariffs the USA imposes on imports. That makes it very difficult for us to compete. It causes a trade imbalance. Further. We have been stupid enough to allow our economy to be financialized whilst moving manufacturing to other countries. We must bring manufacturing back to the USA. For security reasons AND because those careers are what build a strong middle class. Trump had multiple goals: arrive at equal tariffs or preferably no tariffs, and massively reduce our dependence on imports for necessities. No nation would negotiate seriously over tariffs - for decades - until we put in high tariffs. Now they are all stumbling over one another to negotiate fair tariffs.

@jimnardulli @McCurdy1987 It was the US administration, along with Thatcher, who promoted the system of International Specialisation. International trade is what they wanted and that it what we got. Containerisation helped enable the process, but it was politically driven.

@jimnardulli @McCurdy1987 My last query: The current POTUS has several convictions. Why does that not concern you?

@sandra01422 @McCurdy1987 I have read your comments and understand them. I don’t subscribe to your opinions but do understand.

@jimnardulli @McCurdy1987 And finally I would like to ask you about trump's suggestion that it was Ukraine that started the war with russia. Can you explain that to me? Because to me it sounds a bit like 'he raped your children because you allowed them to play in the garden'.

@sandra01422 @McCurdy1987 Really interested with what parts of my post you disagree? Wish we were not so distant, we could drink about it. lol

@jimnardulli @McCurdy1987 No disrespect to you, but the sane world is done with the US of A. We are hurt, disappointed and in a slight state of shock, but we know that the 'special relationship' has come to an end and we need to move on from hamburgers and fries. Adios amigos.

First, great to hear from you. As to things “going right” - whatever one’s opinion of our President might be, it is clear that his first principle is: end war wherever it exists. He abhors senseless deaths. He is the first POTUS in a very long time that understands how to draw a line around Russia / Putin that will be respected. And from there, time is on our side. I have dear friends in Hungary and I can tell you that this war has them concerned. Ukraine is not the rose garden of democracy that many gullible people think it is. Martial law, no habeas corpus, cancelled elections, a divided populace… Trump’s plan is to create a US/Ukraine series of commercial partnerships the presence of which would deter Putin or his successor. Then, use our existing leverage to drive a wedge between Russia and China. Above all, peace must be restored and China must be constrained. China’s weak economy makes this possible.

@jimnardulli @McCurdy1987 Can you explain why the US of A does not say anything negative regarding the russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians? TBH, I'd be happy for the US to FO. Why does your administration keep pocking its nose into our affairs and continues to act like the global police?

@jimnardulli @McCurdy1987 If tariffs were such a good idea, why the sudden U turn?

Yes. The aim is no more wars financed by the USA and either no tariffs or low, reciprocal tariffs. Fiscal health through sensible spending, a smaller government that is less intrusive on everyday life, and economic growth that will help lift millions out of poverty and food insecurity.

@jimnardulli @McCurdy1987 This turned out to be untrue. Even trump says that at least one of the deportees sent to El Salvador was innocent.

@sandra01422 @McCurdy1987 Every one of them had existing deportation orders in the system. From before Trump was in office.

@jimnardulli @McCurdy1987 But in general, apart from the possibility of drinking, I don't think I have agreed with anything you have said over the past years.

@jimnardulli @McCurdy1987 My point, on this point, was not so much about the comings and goings and state of Europe post WW1. It was more about the criminal activity within the Italian American communities. If members of the Mob had been deported there might not be many Italian Americans these days.

@jimnardulli @McCurdy1987 Imagine the same policy had been implemented 100 years ago? You would likely have been born in Italy. But here we are 100 years on and the old Italian Mafia have become part of the US political system and you and yours are doing well. Life's bizarre.

The weirdness of the signal mishap will be sorted. We are deporting those illegally here who are criminals. I would venture that all deportations are “forced”. If I overstayed my tourist visa in Mexico, supported myself while there via criminal activity, what do you suppose would happen to me? The USA is broke. We are living on credit. If we are to fulfill our role in the world we must reverse this misfortune. The government employs millions who then sign contracts with consultants to actually do things because the employees either can’t or cannot be bothered. The correction is going to be painful. But the alternative is far worse. And not just for the USA but for all nations. And there’s a reason nearly every great enterprise started in the last 50 years is American.

@jimnardulli @McCurdy1987 There doesn't seem to be supporting evidence for your comment.

@jimnardulli Is the renaming of our, in my opinion, ridiculous, mid winter festival really one of the reasons you voted for, and support, the man who has picked a such a huge fight with all the American allies? I know you said you are 'done with Europe', but ... out of characters...

Now hear this:

@jimnardulli @McCurdy1987 Are you absolutely sure we are on track for a better future?

I must disagree with your analysis. It is a hard fact that Russia is a nuclear power. It is further a hard fact that Ukraine is not a nuclear power, does not have the capability to defeat Russia without the backing of the US. Our negotiation leverage with Putin is the hard fact that he knows that the US can strangle him financially and beat him militarily. Trump knows this is our leverage and he knows Putin will do as told. We can make it so that putin’s only trading partner is China. And we can make even that less than easy. This is the stratagem that kept Putin in check before. Now, let’s say you are right. What does “victory” for Ukraine look like? A Russia soundly defeated militarily? With few options left other than nukes? Is that a better outcome? Or do you propose WW 3?