Australia. Australia. For God's sake. AUSTRALIA.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

Do you know how much Americans love Australia?

And for good reason, because Australians are pretty easy to love. They've got that whole fun loving, adventurous outdoorsy thing going for them. Those cool sounding accents with the colorful expressions.

They gave us boomerangs. And kangaroos and koalas. And the Didgeridoo. And Outback Steakhouse. (Okay, actually that was Tampa who gave us Outback Steakhouse, but...close enough.)

Steve Irwin! They gave us the Croc Hunter, by crikey!

And in all seriousness, they've been a pretty cool ally to us over the years and they're a functioning well-run democracy with a vibrant economy.

So it stands as a testament to how truly awful a person Donald Trump is if he's the one person in America who somehow finds a way to pick a fight with Australia.

This is Theater of the Absurd levels. This is "joke predictions of the Trump presidency" come to real life.

It reminds me of the woefully underrated 1994 Michael Moore comedy "Canadian Bacon" where a US President threatens war with Canada just as a means to boost his approval ratings.

Who in the hell actually picks a fight with Australia?

[randome]

1. McCain had to call them to basically apologize for Trump.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/mccain-says-he-called-australian-ambassador-after-trump-reports

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said in a statement released Thursday that he called Australia's ambassador to express his "unwavering support" for the country's alliance with the United States, after a report came out Wednesday that President Donald Trump berated the Australian prime minister during a phone call the same day.

"Australia is one of America’s oldest friends and staunchest allies," the statement reads. "In that spirit, I called Australia’s Ambassador to the United States this morning to express my unwavering support for the U.S.-Australia alliance."

McCain wrote in the statement that the United States remains "committed to the safer, freer, and better world that Australia does far more than its fair share to protect and promote."

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Where do uncaptured mouse clicks go?[/center][/font][hr]

[PJMcK]

4. Senator McCain has a lot of nerve

Why did he feel it necessary to inject himself into this story? I don't remember him calling President Obama when Donald Trump questioned his citizenship.

John McCain should just shut up. He's a worthless waste of space and he embodies all of the problems we have in our government.

[randome]

7. Oh, he's hardly a stellar example of political ethics, no doubt about it.

Still, it's heartening to see how the GOP has to try and clean up Trump's messes. Could be the start of something already long overdue.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Where do uncaptured mouse clicks go?[/center][/font][hr]

[PJMcK]

2. Australia has its own problems

Racism and bigotry aren't limited to our shores, sadly. Australians have a problem with their own indigenous people:

https://independentaustralia.net/australia/australia-display/ignorance-bigotry-and-racism-in-australia,8068

Nonetheless, your point is expressed well. Donald Trump, the idiot, will pick a fight with anyone.

[malaise]

12. Yes indeed n/t

[yardwork]

3. Half the US population is so uninformed and misinformed, I'm sure they'll cheer.

We have a population of proud no-nothings.

[PJMcK]

5. Frightening, isn't it?

Far too many in our nation have become ignoramuses who are prime examples of the Dunning-Kruger Effect.

[yardwork]

8. Worse than I had realized.

And a significant number of progressives who ought to know better are acting like dumb fucks.

So we get this.

[leftynyc]

6. How much do you actually

know about Australia on the topic of refugees? From reading DU, it appears many are completely ignorant. Their line is much, much harder than even the degenerate in the oval office.

[yardwork]

9. That makes Trump's behavior even more dangerous, don't you think?

[leftynyc]

10. I think trump's behavior

is atrocious but that doesn't mitigate the reality that is Australia's policies on refugees. They wouldn't even let a pregnant woman who was suffering from preclampsia (sp?) to the mainland to get medical treatment. So before we start throwing a fucking party for them, perhaps we should know what we're dealing with.

[yardwork]

11. I think you're missing the point.

[leftynyc]

13. No - I think you may

be missing MY point. Which is just because the Australian PM talked tough to the degenerate and stood up for his country, that doesn't make him a good guy. He's just as bad on refugees, if not worse, than donnie is. While our instincts might be to back anyone donnie is against, we need to be VERY careful who we align ourselves with. It's like taking the side of Iran - I'll never take the side of the mullahs or any other fundamentalist regime EVER. Syria? There are no good guys - both sides suck and I wish they could both lose.

[NotThisTime]

14. It's complicated. First let me say the majority of Australian's do not believe in keeping the people

who came over in the last boats on the two islands. They just don't agree with it, and this may actually be the time Turnbull says screw trump we will re-settle them there in Australia (they've already gone through vetting). Turnbull has held a hard line in stopping the boats coming over, thus said none would be settled, that does not mean they do not take refugees. They do, and they take a lot of them. The Australian's are not against immigration, even their far right (or left as it is called over there). The fringe of course is, but accounts for very few people.

It is true the conditions for the people who came last on the boats is worse than deplorable and the Australian people have been pleading to bring them on shore, it may finally happen after this mess.... they'd be better off.

Spending months every year over there, I can surely attest that Australia is a very diverse nation and I've met some wonderful people from just about every country. Turnbull's election is next year and if he does nothing he will be out of a job, that I know for certain. His party is barely hanging on, I expect labor to win a majority of seats next go round.

[mnhtnbb]

15. It's not about backing the side of the Australian PM, but honoring Obama's agreement.

The agreement called for the same vetting process that is required for any other refugees wanting to come here,
but did say we would take up to a certain number--provided the individuals passed through the vetting process.

[yardwork]

16. Thank you. Sigh.

[mnhtnbb]

17. The thing that Trump doesn't get is that this is about people. Real, live people.

With lives. And families. And coming from horrible war-torn environments.

It's not about "deals". It's not about crapping all over Obama in order to show what a bigly and great
deal-maker Trump is. But, of course, Trump's a narcissist, so everything is always about him
according to him.

[Cha]

18. They gave me my Grandchildren! My son in law is from Melbourne.. Of course

I love Australia.. and even before I met James!

dumbshit picks a fight with Australia.