Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Rozz]

There was a moderator warning a few pages back, so it will be repeated. Keep all posts related to Trump.
Do not derail the thread with theories that have nothing to do with him.
Do not reply to others derailing the thread to continue their tangent.

You can create other threads for separate political topics. Do not spam this megathread with off topic comments.

[cubby]

You already know how this is going to end "its ok for me but not for thee" type of attacks here in a few years although Republicans already set precedent with this.

This is what happens when you allow the courts to be political because what is going to be the justification when Democrats pull this trick? If you rule against it but allowed Republicans in the past (ie now with is allocation of funding) then all you do it further ramp up the Democrat base when here in 5-10 years the Republican party is dead Demographically...

Trump and his supporters can't seem to see three feet in front of their faces. All this dictatorial behavior is going to backfire when the Dems can finally start to right the ship. Trump is not only destroying this country, he's eviscerating the GOP and any future governing ground they hope to stand on.

[Edge-]

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/...-karem-1479990

And the White House will have to give Brian Karem back his press pass after revoking it. Why? Because they fucking suck at their jobs and the document they claimed clearly established behavioral guidelines at events was...wait for it...unclear. Oh, and Karem was the only member of the press targeted for his behavior despite multiple conservative media personalities engaging in similar behavior without the White House saying a thing.

I wonder what the Trump administrations ration of win/loss is in the courts now. It's gotta be down to the low single digits.

[Fugus]

There was a moderator warning a few pages back, so it will be repeated. Keep all posts related to Trump.
Do not derail the thread with theories that have nothing to do with him.
Do not reply to others derailing the thread to continue their tangent.

You can create other threads for separate political topics. Do not spam this megathread with off topic comments.

-snip-
If someone is derailing a thread or behaving in a manner that is inappropriate, you should report them. All users are held to the guidelines, whether they initiate or escalate a situation. If you want the level of derailment to decrease, I would suggest everyone to refrain from assisting the instigator.

[Felya]

So is this how Democrats can cut military spending to boost social programs? We can just take from planned projects for the Pentagon with money already earmarked for it and move it to completely unrelated projects?

Because that sounds pretty awesome, to me. Authoritatively awesome.

American’s healthcare is not a national emergency... a wall Trump wants apparently is.

[Fugus]

-snip-
If someone is derailing a thread or behaving in a manner that is inappropriate, you should report them. All users are held to the guidelines, whether they initiate or escalate a situation. If you want the level of derailment to decrease, I would suggest everyone to refrain from assisting the instigator.

-snip-
Users are not given a pass for misbehavior and I apologize if that appears to be the case. Reports are read and the warning/infraction system is set to allow users a chance to improve and reflect on their behavior. We take action where it is necessary, but understand that context is an important factor when we do so. If you have legitimate concerns you would like to continue, I would recommend you make a post here. I don't want to be too intrusive within this thread, since this type of discussion is already misplaced.

[cubby]

Trump's illegal and unnecessary border wall is getting stolen funds from other approved military construction projects. Takeaways:

175 miles for $3.6 billion - I'll believe that when it never comes to fruition.
Construction begins in 135 days - which is the start of the new year.
127 other projects canceled or put on hold. Guess they weren't that important.

Hopefully there will be some court filings we can pursue to delay construction until after the 2020 election.

[Edge-]

American’s healthcare is not a national emergency... a wall Trump wants apparently is.

Says who? If a Democrat is president, you bet your ass it can be! And they can even decide to rope national security concerns into it, claiming that the US is strategically vulnerable with a sick, obese population that can't be made combat-ready in case of a draft.

If Republicans are going to ratfuck everything, turnabout is fair play. Except Democrats can actually tackle issues that matter.

[mvaliz]

Says who? If a Democrat is president, you bet your ass it can be! And they can even decide to rope national security concerns into it, claiming that the US is strategically vulnerable with a sick, obese population that can't be made combat-ready in case of a draft.

If Republicans are going to ratfuck everything, turnabout is fair play. Except Democrats can actually tackle issues that matter.

Oooh, I LIKE that angle! I'm going to use that in future to argue against Skroe when he insist nothing should be taken from the US Military Budgets to pay for things like "Staying alive" and such...

[Breccia]

175 miles for $3.6 billion

Agreed, no chance.

Also, how does Mexico feel about an official military installation chain built along its border? That doesn't sound like something you do with an ally.

EDIT: There are multiple lawsuits to block the declaration of National Security Lol. It's quite possible we could end up with multiple military base skeletons on the border, construction halted partway through because Trump knows the law like he knows a successful business.

[Captain N]

Agreed, no chance.

Also, how does Mexico feel about an official military installation chain built along its border? That doesn't sound like something you do with an ally.

Oh the US has been fucking its allies since Trump became President. What's pissing off one more nation? Especially one that we're told is full of rapists and murderers.

[Felya]

Says who? If a Democrat is president, you bet your ass it can be! And they can even decide to rope national security concerns into it, claiming that the US is strategically vulnerable with a sick, obese population that can't be made combat-ready in case of a draft.

If Republicans are going to ratfuck everything, turnabout is fair play. Except Democrats can actually tackle issues that matter.

That’s the patriot act for you... Look around... how many are talking about how this ability of a president needs to be reigned in, versus those salivating at the opportunity of someone they like doing the same? Eye for an eye is not a solution...

[Thekri]

-snip-
See comment here.

[Thekri]

I’m not sure that eye for an eye is the correct analogy here. Unless you mean replacing a damaged eye with a new one. Doing good for the citizens isn’t the same as using the law to do as much harm as you can.

But it is better to fix the system then continue the cycle with a more positive bent to it. Executive power is growing at an alarming rate because of Congress increasingly being unwilling to take definitive action, preferring partisan gridlock and posturing. This a very dangerous precedent, with our primary legislative body being relegated to complaining on the sidelines.

Yes, a more moral president would of course be an improvement over an immoral one. But a functioning Republic should still be the goal.

[Breccia]

Trump is not just redirecting funds authorized by Congress from the military to the Wall.

He's also freezing aid to Ukraine authorized by Congress.

A bipartisan group of senators wrote to the Trump administration asking that it release $250 million in authorized military security assistance for Ukraine.

Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) wrote a letter Tuesday to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney after Politico reported that the administration was delaying the aid.

They wrote that the funds have helped Ukraine develop its own military capabilities and maintain its sovereignty as it faces Russian attacks.

"In fact, Ukraine continues to fight daily on its eastern border against Russia-backed separatists in the provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk, and over 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have lost their lives in this war," they wrote. "U.S.-funded security assistance has already helped turn the tide in this conflict, and it is necessary to ensure the protection of the sovereign territory of this young country, going forward."

"This funding is crucial to the long term stability of Ukraine and has the continued backing and approval of the U.S. Congress which appropriated these funds. We strongly urge you to direct the Department of Defense to obligate these funds immediately," the senators added.

A Defense Department spokesperson told The Hill that the U.S. was working with Ukraine's government and the Multinational Joint Commission to evaluate the specific needs of Ukraine's armed forces.

Just a reminder, Trump said Russia wasn't in Ukraine, stumbled, then said Putin wouldn't have gone into Ukraine if he'd been in charge. In one week, I've linked stories about Trump not only trying to get Putin back into G7 -- despite being kicked out because of Ukraine -- but also, witholding aid to Ukraine to resist Putin.

Maybe Trump isn't working for Putin, but he's at the minimum filling out a job application.

[Felya]

I’m not sure that eye for an eye is the correct analogy here. Unless you mean replacing a damaged eye with a new one. Doing good for the citizens isn’t the same as using the law to do as much harm as you can.

Yes, but the next guy will just do the same thing and undo all the good. If Trump couldn’t get away with all the shit he is doing, due to congress gridlock. It makes mid terms and local election more important. It’s why the procedural filibuster needs to go. Republicans should be forced to stand there and explain why healthcare is evil. The public then has both the context for their vote leading to grid lock, as well as gaining the impetus by the inevitable demand by the president to vote in local elections to break their gridlock.

Edit: This might be a mater of omission, but it’s why I am no fan of Bernie. During the debates he clearly stated he would use executive orders and emergency declaration to push forward “fixing” what Trump has done. You are going to be repainting the same turd every 4 to 8 years.

[Shalcker]

Trump is not just redirecting funds authorized by Congress from the military to the Wall.

He's also freezing aid to Ukraine authorized by Congress.

Just a reminder, Trump said Russia wasn't in Ukraine, stumbled, then said Putin wouldn't have gone into Ukraine if he'd been in charge. In one week, I've linked stories about Trump not only trying to get Putin back into G7 -- despite being kicked out because of Ukraine -- but also, witholding aid to Ukraine to resist Putin.

Maybe Trump isn't working for Putin, but he's at the minimum filling out a job application.

Those funds and security assurances "turning the tide"? Complete bullshit by your senators.

[rda]

So Trump's "inexpensive" golfing habit has cost the US...about $340M dollars in the past 3 years.

What you say is false.

The $340 million you mention is not the figure for the past 3 years. This is an extrapolation of the $105 million figure spent to date to the end of Trump's current term plus his next term starting 2020 under the assumption that he is going to win it.

More, the $105 million figure is also an estimate, made by Huffington Post.

It is unclear how the figures compare to other presidents. There are token comparisons with Obama but they are all partial - eg, one of the pieces in the tree of links talks about how Obama didn't like golf and so he spent just 30 million on that, but there's no figure of what Obama trips cost in total.

It is pretty amazing that even when there is a grain of a potential rational argument, the media manages to wrap it into multiple layers of contorted BS. It is also amazing how this then gets misreported in the thread and even the already daring figure from the media gets multiplied more than 3x due to careless reading.

[Pendulous]

More, the $105 million figure is also an estimate, made by Huffington Post.

"From a combination of an analysis from the HuffPost, the GAO or General Accounting Office, Politico and the Washington Post using costs from both Obama and Trump golf trips"

[beanman12345]

The point is Dump is a massive hypocrite about his golfing.