Donald tweets about canceling AirForce 1?
Re: Donald tweets about canceling AirForce 1?
I saw something on Twitter about this, and when you look at the facts, it's scary that he's tweeting such vague half-truths, and people want him to be their next president...
Re: Donald tweets about canceling AirForce 1?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Smudger
I saw something on Twitter about this, and when you look at the facts, it's scary that he's tweeting such vague half-truths, and people want him to be their next president...
But hasn't that been how at least 50% of his campaign was run. People don't like hearing the truth and its quite scary how quickly people will buy into anything they like the sound of. What most worries me is what will happen when he can't implement 90% of what he's promised - the big issue being globalisation - you can't put the cat back in the bag. Its the same in the UK though...
Re: Donald tweets about canceling AirForce 1?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cheesemp
you can't put the cat back in the bag. Its the same in the UK though...
You can, but you'll annoy the cat and the bag will get scratched up pretty badly, and us in the process.
Re: Donald tweets about canceling AirForce 1?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cheesemp
the big issue being globalisation - you can't put the cat back in the bag. Its the same in the UK though...
We could become entirely self sufficient, but it would mean limiting ourselves to Amish levels of technology and reducing our population by at least 75%... though I doubt even the most rabid of nationalists would vote for that ;)
About the only meaningful factor within control is the rate of change and even that is becoming increasingly difficult in a world where we have the "world wide web of lies".
Re: Donald tweets about canceling AirForce 1?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Zak33
hopefully his own plane is armed to the teeth with all the latest defence kit so he doesn't get knocked out of the sky......
I can't imagine many of the USA's enemies seeing a strategic advantage in removing him from the equation...
Re: Donald tweets about canceling AirForce 1?
Well, his twitter feed is probably a gift for traders. Wait for Boeing to drop 2$ due to peculiar nervous traders, buy, then sell three or four hours later when it inevitably rebounds. I bet his kids & Icahn etc are doing this.
Re: Donald tweets about canceling AirForce 1?
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Originally Posted by
Lanky123
I can't imagine many of the USA's enemies seeing a strategic advantage in removing him from the equation...
Arguably the most divisive "notionally anti political establishment" president elect in history. Taken out in a "terror attack" under weird circumstances that could point to an inside job if evidence is skewed enough by conspiracy theorists. Sounds like an ideal way to drive home the wedge that Trump stuck into America.
Then again I've probably read too much Tom Clancy et. al.
Re: Donald tweets about canceling AirForce 1?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lanky123
I can't imagine many of the USA's enemies seeing a strategic advantage in removing him from the equation...
It certainly wouldn't be high on the agenda - most are probably waiting to see if he'll do himself in. At best it'll be in the "Nice to Have" column.
Re: Donald tweets about canceling AirForce 1?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Smudger
I saw something on Twitter about this, and when you look at the facts, it's scary that he's tweeting such vague half-truths, and people want him to be their next president...
Well, this particular tweet isn't that much of a stretch of the truth, though some of historical assertions and comparisons with his own plane are flat-out wrong. But this time, his "$4 billion" isn't that far off, and may eventually turn out to be true.
But, whether accurate or not, there is an argument to be had about whether such a willy-waving pair of jets are necessary at all, and if they are, whether they're value for money for US taxpayers.
After all, all they really amount is an attempt, which nay or may not work, to protect ONE person, and a PR projection of US status. It'd be FAR cheaper to simply have several people, all of whom are capable of taking over in the event of a President's death if his plane crashes or is shot down.
So really, they have a choice between several billion dollars on fancy toys for Da Prez, or hire a decent understudy. We can't really be suggesting that they couldn't replace The Donald with someone at least as 'capable' if need be, surely?
It's also worth remembering what this Tweet is really all about. Boeing's CEO stuck his nose into politics, presuming to advise Trump on his trade policy direction, in a way easily interpretable as a criticism. This is an utterly predictable response ftom Trump, from whose entire history suggests a degree of egomania that sees dissent or criticism as an attack, to be met by an immediate counter-attack.
Anyone watch any of the debates? Trump clearly doesn't know when to just keep his trap shut, but reacts like a petulant 5 year old., This may be his single biggest weakness, because all oponents have to do is keep poking his ego, and watch him boil over.
But the lesson for Boeing's CEO is simple - keep your nose out of the realm of unsolicited, public political advice or expect a backlash.
Re: Donald tweets about canceling AirForce 1?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Saracen
... We can't really be suggesting that they couldn't replace The Donald with someone at least as 'capable' if need be, surely? ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Saracen
... Trump clearly doesn't know when to just keep his trap shut, but reacts like a petulant 5 year old. ...
I think you've answered your own question there.... ;)
Re: Donald tweets about canceling AirForce 1?
I'm actually more concerned that he was tweeting about a Saturday Night Live sketch that took him off; he comes across as a man-child.
Re: Donald tweets about canceling AirForce 1?
And now he's tweeted about a union rep who questioned his 'great achievement' in saving jobs, and the rep is now getting death threats. Man-child doesn't even get close.
Re: Donald tweets about canceling AirForce 1?
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Originally Posted by
scaryjim
I think you've answered your own question there.... ;)
The question was kinda rhetorical.
Select alternatives by ...
/select entire US-born population
/select age > 5
/select no disqualifying criteria, like felony convictions
/exclude The Donald
/select ANYBODY from remainder
Re: Donald tweets about canceling AirForce 1?
Actually Air Force One is not being cancelled - its the callsign for any aircraft the US president is in.
The pair of VC25 aircraft being used are based on ancient 747-200s which are probably over 30 years old.
The aircraft being constructed are actually a mobile command post for the whole US government in case of an attack - nobody is debating that defence contractors will try and get as much money as possible(as they are a business after all),and there are 4 related E4B aircraft which cost even more and tend to fly in unison with the VC25:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_E-4#Recent_history
These are 40+ years old and also need replacing.
Edit!!
From what I gathered even the E4B was being considered for retirement,so it is quite possible the new VC25 replacements might actually take over some of the functionality of the E4B too. So if that is the case,it might explain some of the costs too.
Re: Donald tweets about canceling AirForce 1?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
CAT-THE-FIFTH
Actually Air Force One is not being cancelled - its the callsign for any aircraft the US president is in.
The pair of VC25 aircraft being used are based on ancient 747-200s which are probably over 30 years old.
.....
These are 40+ years old and also need replacing.
Edit!!
From what I gathered even the E4B was being considered for retirement,so it is quite possible the new VC25 replacements might actually take over some of the functionality of the E4B too. So if that is the case,it might explain some of the costs too.
The two current planes entered service in the early 1990s, so currently about 25 years old. However, the current order isn't expected to enter service 'til 2024 so they will be 30+ by then.
The callsign thing isn't quite right, though.
Air Force One is the callsign for any AIR FORCE plane (note, aeroPLANE, not airCRAFT) the president is on. The hint is in the callsign.
The choppers you often see lsnding on the White House lawn (there's a fleet of them .... choppers, I mean, not lawns) are designated Marine One when the president is on-board, because they're operated and flown by the US Marine Corps.
There is also Executive One, which is the callsign used when the pres is on a civilian airliner. The only current or recent reference I can find to that is a United Airlines plane.