Dear John,
(SIDENOTE: This got way too long. If you dont care to read it, I understand)

MY POSITION ON YOUR POSTS...
I have TDSF. Trump derangement Syndrome FATIGUE.
The TDS afflicted have a psychological addiction to hating Donald Trump. They want to debate every aspect of everything that he does as well as every aspect of his being.

I watched the Mueller investigation come to nothing but allegations.
I watched the farsical “Duty to Warn” collect signatures from academic mental health professionals. Then I watched as Biden's demetia was covered up, until they sent him out in front of the world to destroy himself publicly. In the present, Trump holds casually conducted meetings with Zelensky, Bukele etc in front of the world. His cogency is visble to anyone who cares to watch.
I watched Trump taken off the ballot in CO by their supreme court in an absurd decision ignoring due process.
I watched a YALE LAW PROFESSOR submit an amicus brief in support of that absurd decision.
I watched it end in a 9-0 SCOTUS reversal.
I watched an army of govt operatives crash MaraLago to retrieve classified dox while a pres/ex vp was feeding them to a biographer with no consequence.
I’ve watched the state of NY prosecute him for loan fraud on loans that were re-paid, and now one of the prosecutors is being looked at hard for mortgage fraud.
I could go on.

I truly believe that you and Rob have a psychological obsession with hating Trump. (TDS)
Every day you and Rob want to debate some movements in the stock market or some OPINION expressed by someone that validates your hatred for Trump. To me, those endeavors have become rabbit holes to avoid.

Rob even carries it further. He strikes me as Barney Fife, two weeks after his Ritalin script ran out. Steve holds his fire for selected moments.

For me, it has become akin to sitting besides someone with a chronic gambling addiction at a baseball game. And they are pressing me to bet on what the next pitch will be, where the next out will occur, what batter will strike out next?

My response to them is “I don’t know. I just want to watch the game evolve. I will worry about strike-outs in the 8th & 9th inning, if the game is close.”

But their inner disturbance keeps them coming.

I have no doubt that you feel your opinions are validated by your “correct” view of the “long game.”
I think that's unlikely. You and I have no way to know how this tariff stuff will turn out. You have a desired outcome and your narrative will point to it.

The other point that chronic Trump haters miss is that he was re-elected. The events taking place are all about Trump, not you and me. Well, more about me…as I am an American voter.

I desire for Trump to be successful in balancing the trade deficits and getting, at least part of the world, pulled out of the US Treasury. I don't know how it will come out. I don’t know what is true and what is not. I dont know what is being said versus what is being done. I dont know how issues that have not even risen yet will ultimately resolve.

IN CLOSING...
I know that the following things have you in a full-on stew.
You have hated Trump for a decade and he is still there.
He belittled your country as the 51st state.
He belittled Trudeau by calling him governor of the 51 state.
Your beloved liberal Trudeau was sent packing.

I know that has likely fired up your psychological obsession to hate Trump and to generate an insatiable list of his wrong-doings…
Please understand that I don’t share that obsession.

I have opinions on trade but realize how little actual information that is truly available to me.
Therefore if I go running out into the fog with my opinions, they probably wont bear out.

Marty

https://soundcloud.com/sunset-poet-of-texas