Marcos looks forward to working closely with POTUS

Trump is who we want. If you aren't American, you have no reason to comment about the leader of my country unless you wish to disrespect your Americsn allies or neutral friends. - @danfinn

Do you defend freedom of speech?

If so, you may disagree with comments, but not disagree with the freedom to express them.

One of the main issues that concern expats is Trump disrespecting 'Americsn' (sic) allies and neutral friends. 

"Philippines, US agree to explore first Marcos-Trump meet"

By Cristina Chi  Philstar.com January 24, 2025

https://qa.philstar.com/headlines/2025/01/24/2416587/philippines-us-agree-explore-first-marcos-trump-meet

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States are working to arrange the first meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and newly-elected US President Donald Trump, as both nations seek to strengthen economic ties and secure vital supply chains in the region.

Discussions of the first meeting between the two leaders emerged during talks between Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and newly minted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on 23rd January

"Secretaries Manalo and Rubio agreed to explore a first meeting between Presidents Marcos and Trump in the near future," according to the statement today by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

During the two officials' phone call, both sides also highlighted the increasing importance of maintaining trilateral cooperation with Japan in reinforcing regional security and building resilient supply networks.

"Both Secretaries reaffirmed the importance of continuing to strengthen economic engagements and achieving economic resilience," the DFA said.

"They likewise noted the role of the trilateral cooperation with Japan in reinforcing regional security and in efforts to build stable supply chains in vital sectors and increase private investments," it added.

Beyond traditional security discussions, the two top diplomats explored ways to enhance US support for Philippine military modernization while addressing ongoing concerns in the South China Sea.

An earlier readout by the US State Department said Rubio affirmed the US' "ironclad commitments" to the Philippines through its mutual defense treaty.

Rubio and Manalo also discussed China's behavior "dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea," according to the US State Department.

No date has been set for the Marcos and Trump meet but it would mark their first face-to-face dialogue since Trump's return to the White House this month.

--

Well I certainly didn't call Trump Hitler. I made a comparison of Germany in the 1930's *under* Hitler's Nazi party, when their politicians abdicated, Germany moved to one-party rule, shut down media, engaged paramilitaries to do their dirty work and endorsed violence for political purposes.

It was a response to a comment that "it couldn't happen in the US". It certainly could and to some extent has already started. Pardoning violent criminals who beat and killed police protecting our capital on the day of election certification is condoning violence for political purposes, whether you like the comparison or not.

Pardoning violent criminals who beat and killed police protecting our capital on the day of election certification is condoning violence for political purposes, whether you like the comparison or not. - @pnwcyclist

The above is a lie if you want it to be in order to push an extremist political position.

Sick and tired of the liberals on this site making comparisons of Trump to Hitler! It really makes you all look really foolish and desperate. Also criticizing his cabinet picks prior to them commencing their jobs? Really what a bunch of sore losers and whiners!

** Double post **

Sick and tired of the liberals on this site making comparisons of Trump to Hitler! - @Morgacj200424

I agree. Hitler served in his country's military with distinction, but Trump was a coward with a rubbish excuse to run away from a fight. Sorry, hobble away.

Also, Hitler wasn't obese, and had a stupid mustache. He's nothing like Trump.

bigpearl said . . . .What planet are you on Bob? Open your eyes and simply see how a dictator starts out.

******************************

In 2026 the United States will celebrate the Declaration of Independence 250th year.

The right for Americans to bear arms has been effect since 1791, a large influence of our country being free of dictators.

pnwcyclist said . . . . Pardoning violent criminals who beat and killed police protecting our capital on the day of election certification is condoning violence for political purposes, whether you like the comparison or not.

*****************************

Sorry, no police were killed on Jan 6, 2021 protecting the capitol. Four officers went on to commit suicide. The only killing was air force veteran Ashley Babbitt by the capital police.

*****************************
Sorry, no police were killed on Jan 6, 2021 protecting the capitol. Four officers went on to commit suicide. The only killing was air force veteran Ashley Babbitt by the capital police. - @Enzyte Bob

         The Confederate soldiers who took up arms in a rebellion against the lawful government of the USA were pardoned, so there is a historical context to it all.

  The Confederate soldiers who took up arms in a rebellion against the lawful government of the USA were pardoned, so there is a historical context to it all.
- @mugtech

It's nice you admit they were conducting an insurrection

Sorry, no police were killed on Jan 6, 2021 protecting the capitol. Four officers went on to commit suicide. The only killing was air force veteran Ashley Babbitt by the capital police. - @Enzyte Bob

Quite so. At least one was removed from society You mentioned she was an air force veteran, but forgot to note she was trying to destroy your democracy when she was put down.

Sorry, no police were killed on Jan 6, 2021 protecting the capitol. Four officers went on to commit suicide. The only killing was air force veteran Ashley Babbitt by the capital police. - @Enzyte Bob

*******************************

Fred replied . . . .

Quite so. At least one was removed from society You mentioned she was an air force veteran, but forgot to note she was trying to destroy your democracy when she was put down.

**********************************

Trying to destroy democracy?   Fred how would you know what that unarmed woman was trying to do?

At least one was removed from society, your quote. . .  One what?

Put Down? Your quote.

Fred, She was murdered, was that officers intention to save democracy?

Trying to destroy democracy? Fred how would you know what that unarmed woman was trying to do?At least one was removed from society, your quote. . . One what?Put Down? Your quote.Fred, She was murdered, was that officers intention to save democracy? - @Enzyte Bob

In the video, the very foolish woman who was trying to stop the legitimate president being confirmed as such, was smashing her was Into a room as part of a violent mob. That's when the defending police put her down.

One what? A traitor to her country.

However, the fate of a dead traitor isn't the question, it's Trump releasing the rest.

That behaviour shows he's very dangerous at home, which further suggests he is very likely very unhelpful to US expats around the world as his unusual style upsets more and more countries.

https://www.ft.com/content/ace02a6f-330 … b6646b60f6

To be honest, if I was a US citizen abroad, at least in some countries, I'd be watching local attitudes to Trump and my countrymen very carefully. I see bad times ahead that might, if Trump's follows through on his rants, see US expats being forced to leave their adopted countries.

Let's let it go guys, the whole world saw what happened Jan 6th and a very sad day for many. One can only hope and pray there is no repeat. This is an expat site and political and religious ideologies should be for other forums that will rub your back and agree with you and make you feel good.

From memory the OP simply posted Marcos and a meeting with Trump, as said, move on.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve.   

Let's let it go guys, the whole world saw what happened Jan 6th and a very sad day for many. One can only hope and pray there is no repeat. This is an expat site and political and religious ideologies should be for other forums that will rub your back and agree with you and make you feel good.
From memory the OP simply posted Marcos and a meeting with Trump, as said, move on.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve. - @bigpearl

Party politics are bad news, especially when they come with insults.

The issues expats might face because of politicians' actions are, in my humble opinion, legitimate subjects.

The actions of traitors is nothing to do with much outside the US, but the threats against nations and refusal to rule out violence are.

If they are followed through, or perceived to be likely,  the politician in question might well become a problem to US expats and those thought to be so.

In this specific case, large troop numbers from a country outside the region increases the likelihood of conflict. More so as the country in question has a fair chance of becoming politically unstable.

There is no question of democracy against dictatorship, more who the leader is, and what they might do.

Fred said . . . . In the video, the very foolish woman who was trying to stop the legitimate president being confirmed as such, was smashing her was Into a room as part of a violent mob. That's when the defending police put her down.

*************************************

You don't know her intent was to stop Biden's confirmation.

What right did that policeman have to use deadly force, he was the  judge, jury and executioner.

Was he fearful of his life and used deadly force?

You don't know her intent was to stop Biden's confirmation.
What right did that policeman have to use deadly force, he was the judge, jury and executioner.

Was he fearful of his life and used deadly force? - @Enzyte Bob

Sorry, as far as I'm concerned, this thread only has legitimacy if it's about possible issues for expats.

I don't want to go down a rabbit hole of stupidity that legitimises a very silly argument.

Please use a political forum for that sort of stuff.

@Fred

Please use a political forum for that sort of stuff.

Fred plays the admin card saying to stay away from politics in a thread, in a forum, whose "stuff" concerns "Marcos looks forward to working closely with POTUS", i.e. issues regarding the political leader of the Philippines and the political leader of the USA. Good one Fred.

@Fred
Please use a political forum for that sort of stuff.
Fred plays the admin card saying to stay away from politics in a thread, in a forum, whose "stuff" concerns "Marcos looks forward to working closely with POTUS", i.e. issues regarding the political leader of the Philippines and the political leader of the USA. Good one Fred. - @danfinn

You have to quote the whole post, not a sentence out of context.

That's less than intelligent behaviour, presumably aimed at fools.

Fred said . . . . In the video, the very foolish woman who was trying to stop the legitimate president being confirmed as such, was smashing her was Into a room as part of a violent mob. That's when the defending police put her down.*************************************You don't know her intent was to stop Biden's confirmation.What right did that policeman have to use deadly force, he was the judge, jury and executioner.Was he fearful of his life and used deadly force? - @Enzyte Bob

The left really assigns a low value to human life. They could really care less that a capitol cop could commit cold blooded murder against an unarmed woman. Yes, "smashing into a room" but in a public place, posing no threat at all to police armed with deadly firearms.

Hopefully Trump's people are working on a criminal murder case against that cop who killed military veteran Ashly Babbit. That cop will live in infamy forever as the big overweight cop, armed with a deadly weapon, who killed a woman of small stature who posed no threat to anybody.

Fred and his lefties have absolutely no comprehension as to why normal people consider that cop to be a coward nor why they should be ashamed of their own cowardice in approving the murder. Fred will tell he is not a lefty but he is. He is an anti-American globalist whose community is as far left as you can get.

In fact, cowardice is a virtue to lefties as long as it advances their agenda to crush liberty and free speech everywhere and to replace it with a dystopian, globalist society where we can all "own nothing and be happy" as per their WEF narrative.

The left really assigns a low value to human life. - @danfinn

I am unable to comment on left wing thinking as I'm quite a bit right of center, more so when it comes to low life scumbag such as drug dealers and sex pests.

I'm very much for the death penalty for them.

Perhaps you might like to direct your query to a left winger.

. Fred will tell he is not a lefty but he is. He is an anti-American globalist whose community is as far left as you can get - @danfinn

Globalism is a matter of Capitalism, and expansion of it.

I'm very firmly capitalist.

I'm not anti-American, but I am very much against invading countries that have no hope of properly defending themselves, and have no ability to attack the invading country.

@Fred

... aimed at fools.

Bingo

@Fred   Please read all of your previous posts. You definitely are not a centrist and lean hard left on just about every political / social/ economic issue

If the Trump and the Supreme court have their way, by the end of Trump's 2nd term the constitution will have been changed to allow a third and maybe even a fourth term. - @FindlayMacD

Statements like this show an astounding amount of ignorance in how US governance works.  It is probably best if you sit this one out.

@Fred Please read all of your previous posts. You definitely are not a centrist and lean hard left on just about every political / social/ economic issue

- @Morgacj200424

Only because you want to read them that way.

I'm very pro-capitalist China, but anti-American attempts to stifle top quality capitalism.

The very idea of tariffs shows the offending country is pretty crap at capitalism. If they were good, their home industry would smash the competition using quality and price. Attempts to stop better products reaching your customers wouldn't be required; you could simply laugh at how pathetic the competition is.

You know, just like China's supposed Communists laugh at crap, third rate, American capitalism.

Statements like this show an astounding amount of ignorance in how US governance works. It is probably best if you sit this one out. - @kjwilde

Works today, but tomorrow is another day.

Fred said . . . . I'm very pro-capitalist China, but anti-American attempts to stifle top quality capitalism.
The very idea of tariffs shows the offending country is pretty crap at capitalism. If they were good, their home industry would smash the competition using quality and price. Attempts to stop better products reaching your customers wouldn't be required; you could simply laugh at how pathetic the competition is.
You know, just like China's supposed Communists laugh at crap, third rate, American capitalism.

********************************

China puts tariffs on these American products:

*Agricultural

*Pork

*Beef

*Automobiles

*Airplanes

*Airplane parts

*Chemicals

*Machinery

*Consumer goods

*Food

*Beverages

*Snacks

*Cosmetics

*Personal care produts

*Sports equipment

Your whole post goes up in smoke

@Fred Please read all of your previous posts. You definitely are not a centrist and lean hard left on just about every political / social/ economic issue  - @Morgacj200424Only because you want to read them that way.I'm very pro-capitalist China, but anti-American attempts to stifle top quality capitalism.The very idea of tariffs shows the offending country is pretty crap at capitalism. If they were good, their home industry would smash the competition using quality and price. Attempts to stop better products reaching your customers wouldn't be required; you could simply laugh at how pathetic the competition is.You know, just like China's supposed Communists laugh at crap, third rate, American capitalism. - @Fred

Fred is a globalist and, yes, globalism as envisioned by the World Economic Forum in Davos can be considered a corrupted type of capitalism. It is elite in nature and exists primarily for the benefit of elites while presenting itself as beneficial to the Middle classes. It is not. Blackrock CEO has implemented what WEF calls "stakeholder capitalism" which is basically an "equity" project (ESG social credit score  and DEI policies) amongst the middle class. We all know shareholder capitalism which is to financially benefit shareholders as much as possible. Stakeholders do not own sticks, they are society who must all benefit with the same outcome rather than benefit based on merit and risk. Equity capitalism, where the goal is "we own nothing and we are happy", all being the same, where corps like Blackrock own your homes and you are happy, living comfortable lives. getting enough of what you need to survive in your living space which is similar to everybody else. That is globalist capitalism, actually socislism or even communism, which seeks to control the middle class with green new deals (energy consumption) and possibly a future pandemic(Klaus Schwab wrote a book the Great Reset hoping Covid would fill that role but the omicron mutation weakened covid into a bad case of the flu so that ended his dream of global control).

Never let a globalist like Fred say they support capitalism as you know it, they support "stakeholder" WEF Klaus Schwab capitalism which is really a strict firm if socialism applied to the middle classes.

China puts tariffs on these American products:

*Agricultural
*Pork
*Beef
*Automobiles
*Airplanes
*Airplane parts
*Chemicals
*Machinery
*Consumer goods
*Food
*Beverages
*Snacks
*Cosmetics
*Personal care produts
*Sports equipment

Your whole post goes up in smoke - @Enzyte Bob

Not if these were in retaliation for Trump tariffs- oh, they were.

In other words, the Chinese used them to show America they had no power. Now consider that Spain is a far bigger pork supplier to China so the Chinese simply didn't bother with US pork as they had plenty of options.

However, Trump's tariffs hurt US industries as nobody can beat Chinese made electronics in price against quality.

@kjwilde

Where  is this even coming from? I haven’t heard Trump or SCOTUS advocating for additional terms to be added to the presidency! Makes absolutely no sense. Do you know how old Trump is?

. Do you know how old Trump is? - @Morgacj200424

        Was born on Flag Day in 1946, as proclaimed by Woodrow Wilson.  Congress made it official  in 1949.  Is currently 78, would be 82 in the presidential election of 2028  Would take an amendment to the constitution ratified by 38 states and 2/3 of each house of congress.  Not very likely.

@kjwilde
Where is this even coming from? I haven’t heard Trump or SCOTUS advocating for additional terms to be added to the presidency! Makes absolutely no sense. Do you know how old Trump is? - @Morgacj200424

Andy Ogles, the target of an FBI raid investigating fraudulent campaign financial reports that he filed, is trying to change the constitution.

As has been said, the chances are extremely slim, but that isn't likely to be the reason he filed it.

I suspect he's hoping Trump will order the FBI to stop the fraud case if he says the right things in public.

After all, Trump is a convict of multiple counts of fraud, so I suppose Ogles is hoping the defrauder in chief will do him a favour.

Moving on, Trumps has rather a long record of lies, so I believe we will see him claim there is massive support and use that to push the idea.

Trump is who we want. If you aren't American, you have no reason to comment about the leader of my country unless you wish to disrespect your Americsn allies or neutral friends.  - @danfinn
Do you defend freedom of speech?
If so, you may disagree with comments, but not disagree with the freedom to express them.
One of the main issues that concern expats is Trump disrespecting 'Americsn' (sic) allies and neutral friends. - @Fred

I might mention that US Constitutional protections for freedom of speech applies to Government institutions only and as far as I know, this forum is not connected to the US Government.

I say this because here you display a common misconception of American freedoms. Also, I duly note and thank you for taking the bandwidth to correct my minor typo.

In any case, my purpose in stating that you have no reason to comment on the USA leader is that you clearly comment to insult people in the USA who may support their leadership. Insults should be avoided, Mr. Fred the admin. My concern is not that your comments are negative; the problem is that they typically are based on false premises and generally lack intelligence.

I might mention that US Constitutional protections for freedom of speech applies to Government institutions only and as far as I know, this forum is not connected to the US Government.
I say this because here you display a common misconception of American freedoms. Also, I duly note and thank you for taking the bandwidth to correct my minor typo.

In any case, my purpose in stating that you have no reason to comment on the USA leader is that you clearly comment to insult people in the USA who may support their leadership. Insults should be avoided, Mr. Fred the admin. My concern is not that your comments are negative; the problem is that they typically are based on false premises and generally lack intelligence.
- @danfinn

            The US Supreme Court ruled a few years ago that freedom of speech does not include the right to yell "Fire!!!" In a crowded theatre.  As Abbie Hoffman reminded us a few years later it does include the right to yell "Theatre!!" at a crowded fire.

In any case, my purpose in stating that you have no reason to comment on the USA leader is that you clearly comment to insult people in the USA who may support their leadership
- @danfinn

How unfair.

I insult Trump the dangerous idiot because he's a dangerous idiot.

His supporters tend to be very vocal, as well as blind to reality, so I may point out how idiotic they are being.

As for comments on Trump, I believe he's a danger to expats all over the world, so I'll comment regardless of your Stalinist style attempts to muzzle me.

His first week in office brought threats to take over three friendly countries with a refusal to rule out invasions - he's clearly a blithering idiot.

       Fred is just a four letter word.

   Fred is just a four letter word. - @mugtech

and it starts with an F

Fred is just a four letter word. - @mugtech
and it starts with an F
- @Fred

And it ends with a d