Random Thoughts Thread

[Drew Dowdell]

In this latest war with Canada (we'd been bros since like 1813), this American is taking the Canadian's side.  That's all I've got to say on it.

[oldshurst442]

https://www.thewrap.com/the-view-ana-navarro-begs-canada-to-become-51st-state/

 

The hosts of “The View” may think Donald Trump’s endeavor to make Canada the 51st state is an absurd one, but realizing how Canada’s politics actually lean, Ana Navarro is begging them to just “take one for the team.”

 

 

“It’s larger than the state of California. So if you imported 40 million Canadians, and made them the 51st state, it would be democratic rule for the next 20 years,” Farah Griffin added.

Looking at those numbers, Navarro put out her request to Canadians.

“Canada, take one for the team!” she begged. “Please, people, save us!”

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is why I refuse to be muzzled on topics of politics.  We want to run away from the political climate. We cant. 

Too many Americans view politics as a nuissance. At best.

At worst, its taboo.

Too many are uneducated. Too many make decisions that affect the whole damned country in a very negative way.

Take the article I just linked above. 

Is it a phoquing joke to you that we are talking about the phoquing sovereignty of another nation?

 It is NOT a phoquing joke. 

And when a political leader threatens another country the way Trump has in regards to Greenland and Denmark and Canada, It is is a LITERAL declaration of war!!!  It is a LITERAL act of war!!! 

It is NOT a joke.  And in fact, the way Trump has acted in the face of Canada (and Greenland), it desensitizes the American people and it facilitates any aggression towards Canada or Greenland.

And by too many Americans regarding politics as a nuissance or taboo, or basically garbage even in an automotive forum, it renders too many voting Americans stupid and uncapable of actually making the right and necessary decisions to protect themsleves from nefarious individuals. 

And THAT has made it a phoquing problem for ALL Canadians and Greenlanders...   Let alone for the rest of the good natured Americans who are stuck living this nightmare. 

 

“Canada, take one for the team!” she begged. “Please, people, save us!”

 

Save you own selves you lazy pieces of shyte!!!  Learn to be political. Stay educated, informed and fix your own phoquing problems...and stop making it a problem for us Canadians.  And Greenlanders.

 

You think this is a joke?

THIS is what Canadians think about the USA now. This was a speech yesterday BEFORE today's talks about it being a good call.  It was right after the Signal app message text war/fight information scandal (for phoques sake...become political and get this President out of office!!!), right after Trump's tariffs on Canadian built cars to draw attentiion to tariffs rather than yet another phoquing illegal scandal...

 

THIS is what Trump has has made out of Canada's relationship with the US.  THIS is how we Canadians are feeling.  

And THIS is why I REFUSE to be muzzled.  Maybe for you American phoques to wake the phoque up.  Too lazy to be political. To stupid to be political.  To mis and dis informed that Fox news, and all other media outlets are phoquing LYING to you.  Are making a mockery out of you and your democracy.  

Wake the phoque up and trust me, Ill help you wake the phoque up!!! 

Too phqouing bad if you have to read this in an automotive forum.  You have to read it somewhere.  Ill force feed it to you.

I did promise I wont be toxic.  But how the phoque do you think I feel as an Canadian when an American journalistic personality is MINIMIZING MY phoquing identity as a CANADIAN to help you phoquing fix your shytty phoquing laziness and stupidity!!!

Dont undermine MY sovereignty. 

 

WAKE THE PHOQUE UP AND FIGHT FOR YOUR OWN GOD DAMNED FREEDOMS BECAUSE YOUR OWN PHOQUING STUPIDITIES ARE THREATENING MY GOD DAMNED FREEDOMS!!! 

Edited Saturday at 04:03 AM by oldshurst442

[surreal1272]

15 hours ago, ccap41 said:

If you're referring to me. Just say so. 

Apparently victimhood cards are on sale again so I would not take such things very serious, given the source.

[Drew Dowdell]

But on the topic of politics. I have a tariff story I want to work on that is bound to get hyper political about how the tariffs are about to kill off one whole segment of cars.  Do we think we can handle it without getting nasty with each other?

[G. David Felt]

8 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

But on the topic of politics. I have a tariff story I want to work on that is bound to get hyper political about how the tariffs are about to kill off one whole segment of cars.  Do we think we can handle it without getting nasty with each other?

Yes, I do as I feel that this Tariff war is about to take 1/3rd of America and say, your cast into never owning an auto again. We have Idiot47 waging a cast war on who can and cannot buy an auto based on incompetence of business knowledge. He did FAIL 6 times in his goal to build a billion-dollar net worth on paper, but his knowledge and business is a house of cards.

While Driving is a privilege earned as is owning an auto, who decides who has that right?

Tariffs have their place when you truly have a segment that is being abused by a specific country or person, but in the approach being taken, this added taxation on society on all things is an incompetent way to approach life.

The Tariff war with our closest trading partners is going to hurt all more than help anything.

I do not blame Canada or Mexico for removing American products from their shelves. A few of the company products removed have been very supportive of Idiot47 and his lemming brigade and as such, the horse with blinders approach in DC is hurts more Americans, Canadians, and Mexicans than it does to help America. 

One can call DC Fascist, Socialist, Nazi, Communist, etc. end result is the leadership in DC is hurting what a free market and democracy is all about. This also is going to have major impact on other market segments as Autos tend to incorporate so many pieces from other segments.

The blow back is going to be huge to the North American buyers that this country is going to feel the pain for many years to come.

Is a 25% Tariff really worth is on autos produced outside the U.S. border when it comes to jobs, incomes, sales, etc.

The tariff war is going to hurt the Used Auto market as well as the limits on available auto options are going to push up prices on used as well.

[oldshurst442]

A Canadian tariff  story:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/its-just-surreal-winnipeg-man-brings-dream-car-home-after-tariff-border-battle/#:~:text=A Winnipeg man's tariff nightmare may have all been caused,“I feel just great.

 

It started out as a nightmare experience when the 77 year old man from Winnipeg tried to bring his recently bought 1968 dream car Charger from the US somewheres across the Canada/US border.  He paid $98 000 US for it. Only for the Canadian border guards to tell him that his car will cost him an additional $46 000 CDN because of these new tariffs that the US and Canada are flinging at each other.  (Lets NOT forget that it was Trump that  declared war on Canada first. Canada is just responding to protect themselves from Trump's declaration of economic warfare)  (I have to always repeat this as it seems US news outlets and media personalities like to down play it mis and dis informing Americans) (Many Americans ARE aware, but not enough of them in my honest opinion) 

Through a couple of days of looking at the laws and the tariffs of what those tariffs contain about what years of cars would it affect and when all those details would actually come into effect a  happy ending actually did take place.  He didnt have to pay the additional $46 000 CDN in tariffs.  Details as to why are explained in the article.

But it is a warning to ALL involved. Both Americans and Canadians alike.  

Like Drew has stated: Canadians and Americans have been brothers and sisters since the  1800s.    Earlier than that actually.  Press secretary Leavitt scolded France last week telling France that if it werent for the US during WW2, France would be talking German.  Her ignoring the fact (mis information) that the US was Johnny come lately and in actual fact, it was Canada and Australia that loosened the grip of Germany in the West. (just plain ol' American arrogance as that was always the popular narrative) the  D Day was a success LARGELY because of Canadian troops (but the truth is that).  But even BEFORE that.  The US BECAME a country BECAUSE of France...  And the French settlers in what would be Quebec, Vermont and upstate New York after 1776 and 1812...   (Just plain ol dis-information to keep Americans dumb. Americans do not realize that France bankrupted herself to stick it to England for America to become its own country away from England.  And many King loyalists fled the new American colonies to join NOT the French colonies in Lower Canada, but for the Brits in Upper Canada.  The French colonies fought alongside the Americans in 1776.... THAT is how close ties the US and Canada have.  But mis information at its best. And plain ole uneducated talk from Trumps administration! 

 

Edited Saturday at 04:00 PM by oldshurst442

[A Horse With No Name]

On 3/28/2025 at 5:33 PM, ccap41 said:

If you're referring to me. Just say so. 

I have zero, zero, zero issues with you. You are the hallmark of respect and civility here. Seriously. 

On 3/29/2025 at 11:49 AM, oldshurst442 said:

A Canadian tariff  story:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/its-just-surreal-winnipeg-man-brings-dream-car-home-after-tariff-border-battle/#:~:text=A Winnipeg man's tariff nightmare may have all been caused,“I feel just great.

 

It started out as a nightmare experience when the 77 year old man from Winnipeg tried to bring his recently bought 1968 dream car Charger from the US somewheres across the Canada/US border.  He paid $98 000 US for it. Only for the Canadian border guards to tell him that his car will cost him an additional $46 000 CDN because of these new tariffs that the US and Canada are flinging at each other.  (Lets NOT forget that it was Trump that  declared war on Canada first. Canada is just responding to protect themselves from Trump's declaration of economic warfare)  (I have to always repeat this as it seems US news outlets and media personalities like to down play it mis and dis informing Americans) (Many Americans ARE aware, but not enough of them in my honest opinion) 

Through a couple of days of looking at the laws and the tariffs of what those tariffs contain about what years of cars would it affect and when all those details would actually come into effect a  happy ending actually did take place.  He didnt have to pay the additional $46 000 CDN in tariffs.  Details as to why are explained in the article.

But it is a warning to ALL involved. Both Americans and Canadians alike.  

Like Drew has stated: Canadians and Americans have been brothers and sisters since the  1800s.    Earlier than that actually.  Press secretary Leavitt scolded France last week telling France that if it werent for the US during WW2, France would be talking German.  Her ignoring the fact (mis information) that the US was Johnny come lately and in actual fact, it was Canada and Australia that loosened the grip of Germany in the West. (just plain ol' American arrogance as that was always the popular narrative) the  D Day was a success LARGELY because of Canadian troops (but the truth is that).  But even BEFORE that.  The US BECAME a country BECAUSE of France...  And the French settlers in what would be Quebec, Vermont and upstate New York after 1776 and 1812...   (Just plain ol dis-information to keep Americans dumb. Americans do not realize that France bankrupted herself to stick it to England for America to become its own country away from England.  And many King loyalists fled the new American colonies to join NOT the French colonies in Lower Canada, but for the Brits in Upper Canada.  The French colonies fought alongside the Americans in 1776.... THAT is how close ties the US and Canada have.  But mis information at its best. And plain ole uneducated talk from Trumps administration! 

 

Demand for air traffic between Canada and the US is down 70 percent. Americans will FXXX around and find out. More than happy to let them. 

On 3/29/2025 at 11:31 AM, G. David Felt said:

Yes, I do as I feel that this Tariff war is about to take 1/3rd of America and say, your cast into never owning an auto again. We have Idiot47 waging a cast war on who can and cannot buy an auto based on incompetence of business knowledge. He did FAIL 6 times in his goal to build a billion-dollar net worth on paper, but his knowledge and business is a house of cards.

While Driving is a privilege earned as is owning an auto, who decides who has that right?

Tariffs have their place when you truly have a segment that is being abused by a specific country or person, but in the approach being taken, this added taxation on society on all things is an incompetent way to approach life.

The Tariff war with our closest trading partners is going to hurt all more than help anything.

I do not blame Canada or Mexico for removing American products from their shelves. A few of the company products removed have been very supportive of Idiot47 and his lemming brigade and as such, the horse with blinders approach in DC is hurts more Americans, Canadians, and Mexicans than it does to help America. 

One can call DC Fascist, Socialist, Nazi, Communist, etc. end result is the leadership in DC is hurting what a free market and democracy is all about. This also is going to have major impact on other market segments as Autos tend to incorporate so many pieces from other segments.

The blow back is going to be huge to the North American buyers that this country is going to feel the pain for many years to come.

Is a 25% Tariff really worth is on autos produced outside the U.S. border when it comes to jobs, incomes, sales, etc.

The tariff war is going to hurt the Used Auto market as well as the limits on available auto options are going to push up prices on used as well.

I am trying to avoid buying another car, but we will see. 

On 3/29/2025 at 11:13 AM, Drew Dowdell said:

But on the topic of politics. I have a tariff story I want to work on that is bound to get hyper political about how the tariffs are about to kill off one whole segment of cars.  Do we think we can handle it without getting nasty with each other?

Si, senior. Solo soy un immigrante en Mexico, no quiro discutir. 

[A Horse With No Name]

On 3/29/2025 at 9:30 AM, surreal1272 said:

Apparently victimhood cards are on sale again so I would not take such things very serious, given the source.

Good to see you here sir. 

[ccap41]

3 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

I have zero, zero, zero issues with you. You are the hallmark of respect and civility here. Seriously.

Thank you, much appreciated. 

Apparently, because I don't agree with somebody, I'm now a bully. I don't think he understands what the word "bully" means. If he does, he may not remember his own actions of "downvoting" others to get under their skin. …that sounds like the actions of a bully more so than disagreeing with an opinion...

[A Horse With No Name]

On 3/28/2025 at 11:59 PM, oldshurst442 said:

https://www.thewrap.com/the-view-ana-navarro-begs-canada-to-become-51st-state/

 

The hosts of “The View” may think Donald Trump’s endeavor to make Canada the 51st state is an absurd one, but realizing how Canada’s politics actually lean, Ana Navarro is begging them to just “take one for the team.”

 

 

“It’s larger than the state of California. So if you imported 40 million Canadians, and made them the 51st state, it would be democratic rule for the next 20 years,” Farah Griffin added.

Looking at those numbers, Navarro put out her request to Canadians.

“Canada, take one for the team!” she begged. “Please, people, save us!”

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is why I refuse to be muzzled on topics of politics.  We want to run away from the political climate. We cant. 

Too many Americans view politics as a nuissance. At best.

At worst, its taboo.

Too many are uneducated. Too many make decisions that affect the whole damned country in a very negative way.

Take the article I just linked above. 

Is it a phoquing joke to you that we are talking about the phoquing sovereignty of another nation?

 It is NOT a phoquing joke. 

And when a political leader threatens another country the way Trump has in regards to Greenland and Denmark and Canada, It is is a LITERAL declaration of war!!!  It is a LITERAL act of war!!! 

It is NOT a joke.  And in fact, the way Trump has acted in the face of Canada (and Greenland), it desensitizes the American people and it facilitates any aggression towards Canada or Greenland.

 

 

WAKE THE PHOQUE UP AND FIGHT FOR YOUR OWN GOD DAMNED FREEDOMS BECAUSE YOUR OWN PHOQUING STUPIDITIES ARE THREATENING MY GOD DAMNED FREEDOMS!!! 

I am wondering if Mexico is far enough from the US. Uruguay and Argentina might be a better bet. The cycle of stupidity runs really deep here. 

3 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

Thank you, much appreciated. 

Apparently, because I don't agree with somebody, I'm now a bully. I don't think he understands what the word "bully" means. If he does, he may not remember his own actions of "downvoting" others to get under their skin. …that sounds like the actions of a bully more so than disagreeing with an opinion...

If anything, I value your opinion because you dissent in an intelligent manor. 

Olds gets a little worked up, but here is the secret, he is actually not human, he's just a Jack Russel Terrier with a little maple leaf sweater at the keyboard. That explains some things. 

And lest this start a flame war, or warrant eleventy billion penalty points from Drew, this is sarcasm, sarcasm I say....

Olds is actually a Basset Hound, I don't want to mis-species him. 

Godspeed and back to our regularly scheduled insanity. 

Edited 10 hours ago by A Horse With No Name
spelling

[Drew Dowdell]

9 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Si, senior. Solo soy un immigrante en Mexico, no quiro discutir. 

Ich verstehe dich nicht.

[A Horse With No Name]

2 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Ich verstehe dich nicht.

I am only an immigrant living in Mexico, I don't want to argue...

1 minute ago, ccap41 said:

Well, when I was the one disagreeing with you, yes. 

 

I never told you to fck off or phoque off. Go back and find the comment. You sure did tell me to leave though. And you claim I bully you. Absolute nonsense. 

Throw him a dog biscuit and call it a day...

Positive content, loved Mexico, could see living there at some point. 

 

Here is a fantastic video ranking the countries in Africa, right now I want to travel while I "have legs" at some point I will be too old to travel. 

 

[A Horse With No Name]

On 3/28/2025 at 7:40 PM, Drew Dowdell said:

In this latest war with Canada (we'd been bros since like 1813), this American is taking the Canadian's side.  That's all I've got to say on it.

I was really hoping that Trump would close the border with Mexico and trap me down there. Going to Canada in June, maybe he can close the norther border and trap me UP there. A lot more lumber in Canada for my woodworking. Maybe instead of learning Spanish I will learn French and live in Quebec

[A Horse With No Name]

I always liked this era of Ford, it looks fantastic in Green. 

France is possibly on the itinerary for next year, tryin g to decide what all to see, 

 

 

Lastly, lets get back to rational discussion here...

 

[Drew Dowdell]

Knock it off those who know who they are.

[Robert Hall]

1 hour ago, A Horse With No Name said:

I always liked this era of Ford, it looks fantastic in Green. 

France is possibly on the itinerary for next year, tryin g to decide what all to see, 

 

 

Lastly, lets get back to rational discussion here...

 

I like the '67 Fords a lot..great looking cars from '65-68.  I also like the '69-72 quite a bit also.

My sister is taking a 7 day tour of Northern France in September, including Normandy, Brittany, Mont-St-Michel, and Cherbourg.    The week before that I'm taking a week off and going down to Myrtle Beach, Beaufort SC and Savannah GA....staggering our vacations so there is always someone home w/ the dogs... 

[A Horse With No Name]

47 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

I like the '67 Fords a lot..great looking cars from '65-68.  I also like the '69-72 quite a bit also.

My sister is taking a 7 day tour of Northern France in September, including Normandy, Brittany, Mont-St-Michel, and Cherbourg.    The week before that I'm taking a week off and going down to Myrtle Beach, Beaufort SC and Savannah GA....staggering our vacations so there is always someone home w/ the dogs... 

I want to hear all about both trips. 

[Robert Hall]

4 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

I want to hear all about both trips. 

Mine will be one of my Cadillac road trips w/ plenty of relaxing Carolina September beach time, like last year but going further south. 

My sister's will involve flying to NYC, then to Paris, a couple days in Paris, then a motor coach tour to Normandy, Brittany, etc.   Should be fun.   I need to get back across the pond myself in the next few years. 

[A Horse With No Name]

An effect of our lack of adulting in this country. 

Just now, Robert Hall said:

Mine will be one of my Cadillac road trips w/ plenty of relaxing Carolina September beach time, like last year but going further south. 

My sister's will involve flying to NYC, then to Paris, a couple days in Paris, then a motor coach tour to Normandy, Brittany, etc.   Should be fun.   I need to get back across the pond myself in the next few years. 

My Mexico trip was amazing. 

[surreal1272]

2 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Knock it off those who know who they are.

Fair enough but certain folks need to actually listen in regards to things like politics instead of doing whatever the hell they want and then later, claim that they are somehow a victim or that they were "bullied". There is a place for political talk and it is not on a car forum (unless it is directly related to the industry, of course).

[G. David Felt]

While one could say this is political in posting, I am focusing on the Tesla protest and what could be another ERON in the making.

Over 200 ‘Tesla Takedown’ protests take place throughout US on ‘Global Day of Action’ against Elon Musk’s role with DOGE | CNN Business

Protesters rally at Tesla showrooms in U.S., Europe to protest Elon Musk

All peaceful here in Washington State, but the Tesla stores all had 200 to 300 people at each one, major protest against the auto brand. 

Tesla stock and sales worldwide have fallen. Many are calling for his firing from Tesla to hire a CEO focused on the auto business. 

Then we have news of missing money from Tesla with nothing but excuses from Musk.

Tesla is somehow missing $1.4 billion

Musk calls SSA a Ponzi scheme and yet we now have this manipulation of stock after moving a billion dollars in GPU's to xAI which also does not seem to be accounted for at Tesla.

xAI Buys X in Blockbuster Deal. Elon Musk Found a Way to Win the Twitter Deal.

So, one has to question and wonder.

Is Tesla the next ENRON to explode and take everyone's money leaving Musk with his other companies paid for by looting Tesla, an EV auto company that is now behind other companies in the world. Chinese, Korean and German auto companies are making better EVs than Tesla. 

Will Tesla survive as an independent company till 2030?

Politics are a very emotional area, but a bigger thing to focus on here in the trade war for the U.S. and for the growth of EVs is how will Tesla survive or will it?

I honestly can see the Tesla Supercharger Station business surviving no problem as an Independant company.

[Robert Hall]

There was one at the Tesla lot a couple miles from my house yesterday... though it was over when I went by there on my way to buy dog food and supplies. 

[G. David Felt]

10 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

There was one at the Tesla lot a couple miles from my house yesterday... though it was over when I went by there on my way to buy dog food and supplies. 

Interesting is that 6 of my coworkers all traded in their Tesla's and bought new EVs over the weekend. 2 Hyundai, 3 Kia and 1 Lucid.

I wonder where these used Tesla's are going to go as people are not wanting to buy them even used.

[Robert Hall]

4 minutes ago, G. David Felt said:

 

I wonder where these used Tesla's are going to go as people are not wanting to buy them even used.

Hopefully to the crusher/shredder. 

[A Horse With No Name]

1 hour ago, G. David Felt said:

Interesting is that 6 of my coworkers all traded in their Tesla's and bought new EVs over the weekend. 2 Hyundai, 3 Kia and 1 Lucid.

I wonder where these used Tesla's are going to go as people are not wanting to buy them even used.

They are filling up car lots around here, used. 

1 hour ago, Robert Hall said:

Hopefully to the crusher/shredder. 

May I second this. 

I have seen this car in person, its amazing. Have been fascinated with it since I was a kid. 

[Drew Dowdell]

One of the best scenes in all of television. Everyone should watch it and remember the moral at the end. 

 

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, Drew Dowdell said:

One of the best scenes in all of television. Everyone should watch it and remember the moral at the end. 

 

Excellent!!!