UHND.com - Notre Dame Football, Basketball, & Recruiting

That is why the TACO thing is funny to anyone who knows how a negotiation is properly done. Changing positions in a negotiation (e.g., regarding acceptable amount of contribution to settle the matter) is how negotiations typically proceed. The goal is not stated out loud, because then the other side just jumps to that as the starting point of compromise, not the end point of compromise. You want to sell a car for $30k, you offer it for $32k; you want to buy a car for $30k, you offer $28k to buy it. Then you negotiate. Changing your position is not surrendering; it is how negotiations work. If you start with $30k offer to buy (your end goal), you will either have to walk out without a car, or pay $31k. That is what would be worthy of ridicule, not negotiating up from $28k to $30k...and yet that is, analogously, what the Left ridicules, on this issue, tariffs, etc.

For Trump, the goal was a strong NATO. The initial position was "if you don't hump your own shit, we won't hump it for you." A very aggressive position, to be sure, but encouragement over the last few decades for them to live up to their commitments hadn't worked. NATO responded to this position, and is now starting to hump their own shit. Success. You can pretend that Trump wanted to withdraw or undermine NATO, as you stated previously, and as you reiterate today...although, how you can believe that and still give Trump credit is plainly silly. But, that is obviously not true to everyone paying attention who is not a pure partisan blinded to the reality of how these things are done.