Steve Craven
@kekepana.bsky.social
Former trade negotiator, economist and U.S. diplomat in Europe and Asia. GATT and Tokyo Round. NSL4A. Currently paddling outrigger canoes in Hawai’i.
I am so looking forward to this. Keeping my thumbs tucked (that’s the German version for crossing my fingers).
November 6, 2025 at 7:41 PM
I am so looking forward to this. Keeping my thumbs tucked (that’s the German version for crossing my fingers).
Memo for the orange tyrant: It’s harder to win a trade war when you pick on suppliers who really aren’t that dependent on your market.
October 20, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Memo for the orange tyrant: It’s harder to win a trade war when you pick on suppliers who really aren’t that dependent on your market.
He has this thing about precious bodily fluids.
October 20, 2025 at 12:57 AM
He has this thing about precious bodily fluids.
Initial Trumpian tariffs threw the average U.S. tariff (30%) back to the early 1900s. All his TACOs have allowed us to claw back to Depression levels (19.2%). Such impressive progress.
October 19, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Initial Trumpian tariffs threw the average U.S. tariff (30%) back to the early 1900s. All his TACOs have allowed us to claw back to Depression levels (19.2%). Such impressive progress.
Have you no shame? Six years old.
October 14, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Have you no shame? Six years old.
The U.S. Mainland may celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day or Columbus Day, take your pick. Here in Hawaii, we call it Discoverers Day. We can celebrate the arrival of the ancient Polynesian voyagers a thousand years ago or the more recent exploits of Capt. James Cook. Or both. Columbus is irrelevant.
October 13, 2025 at 10:23 PM
The U.S. Mainland may celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day or Columbus Day, take your pick. Here in Hawaii, we call it Discoverers Day. We can celebrate the arrival of the ancient Polynesian voyagers a thousand years ago or the more recent exploits of Capt. James Cook. Or both. Columbus is irrelevant.
I remember seeing “Mister Roberts” at a drive-in.
September 29, 2025 at 2:38 AM
I remember seeing “Mister Roberts” at a drive-in.
My wife’s dad pulled bodies out of the surf on D-Day+1. My dad fought on Guadalcanal. My wife’s uncle fought on Tarawa. My uncle was a sailor on the Murmansk run. My stepdad spied on Chinese naval bases during the Korean War. I was a diplomat once under fire by the Red Army Faction. We are Antifa.
September 27, 2025 at 8:21 PM
My wife’s dad pulled bodies out of the surf on D-Day+1. My dad fought on Guadalcanal. My wife’s uncle fought on Tarawa. My uncle was a sailor on the Murmansk run. My stepdad spied on Chinese naval bases during the Korean War. I was a diplomat once under fire by the Red Army Faction. We are Antifa.
This is solid confinement.
August 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
This is solid confinement.
How many can he eat?
August 16, 2025 at 3:13 AM
How many can he eat?
I got a better deal in Alaska than Trump did.
August 16, 2025 at 1:19 AM
I got a better deal in Alaska than Trump did.
When and why did trade agreements stop mattering? Paul Krugman last week at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Agree 100%, but then I am an old GATT guy and trading round veteran. Paul mentions the guy at meetings decreeing that some proposal wasn’t GATT-able. That was sometimes me.
July 18, 2025 at 7:21 PM
When and why did trade agreements stop mattering? Paul Krugman last week at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Agree 100%, but then I am an old GATT guy and trading round veteran. Paul mentions the guy at meetings decreeing that some proposal wasn’t GATT-able. That was sometimes me.
Mob boss threats. They all but start with “Nice country you got. Too bad if something happens...” The response should be massive retaliation. Not just tariffs or anything he might expect. Embargo red state products. Begin selling Treasuries or slow walk intelligence. Be creative. He is your enemy.
July 7, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Mob boss threats. They all but start with “Nice country you got. Too bad if something happens...” The response should be massive retaliation. Not just tariffs or anything he might expect. Embargo red state products. Begin selling Treasuries or slow walk intelligence. Be creative. He is your enemy.
Another MAGA beginning to realize what their Tariff Man is doing to them.
June 29, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Another MAGA beginning to realize what their Tariff Man is doing to them.
I found one, Donald!
June 18, 2025 at 7:47 PM
I found one, Donald!
Americans are learning. Now for the politicians ...
April 2, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Americans are learning. Now for the politicians ...
And they want to destroy the Department of Education. How about making it more effective?
March 14, 2025 at 3:30 AM
And they want to destroy the Department of Education. How about making it more effective?
The Trusk regime is making things more expensive for Hawaii consumers. We have already suffered a century of high prices due to the Jones Act. This proposed new port tax will crush us on gasoline and jet fuel prices. >80% of Hawaii's oil arrives on foreign bottoms and our refinery costs will rocket.
February 25, 2025 at 6:43 PM
The Trusk regime is making things more expensive for Hawaii consumers. We have already suffered a century of high prices due to the Jones Act. This proposed new port tax will crush us on gasoline and jet fuel prices. >80% of Hawaii's oil arrives on foreign bottoms and our refinery costs will rocket.
DOGE staffers need to dress the part.
February 23, 2025 at 10:34 PM
DOGE staffers need to dress the part.
The orange Führer clearly doesn't understand the role of the CDU/CSU in German politics. But he has never let a lack of knowledge get in his way. He certainly wasn't praising them when Merkel schooled him.
February 23, 2025 at 8:33 PM
The orange Führer clearly doesn't understand the role of the CDU/CSU in German politics. But he has never let a lack of knowledge get in his way. He certainly wasn't praising them when Merkel schooled him.
I experienced the Schedule C problem, as Christopher Padilla describes, throughout my federal career. It was among the reasons I left Washington and went to field assignments, including the Foreign Service. The arrogance of many political appointees is colossal.
February 9, 2025 at 2:24 AM
I experienced the Schedule C problem, as Christopher Padilla describes, throughout my federal career. It was among the reasons I left Washington and went to field assignments, including the Foreign Service. The arrogance of many political appointees is colossal.
The Misery Index is kind of a gimmick, but has its uses. Look at the 70's and 80's and you might understand why I had trouble getting excited about the supposed inflation and unemployment during the past four years. The Biden/Harris economy is awfully good, folks. Vote accordingly.
November 4, 2024 at 8:36 PM
The Misery Index is kind of a gimmick, but has its uses. Look at the 70's and 80's and you might understand why I had trouble getting excited about the supposed inflation and unemployment during the past four years. The Biden/Harris economy is awfully good, folks. Vote accordingly.
He always wanted immigrants from places like Norway.
November 3, 2024 at 2:42 AM
He always wanted immigrants from places like Norway.