Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Mayhem]

It's not just the EPA, Trump's DOJ is trying to suspend constitutional rights, they are also going after abortion clinics and LGBTQ rights not to mention immigrants. This administration is not interested in the fighting the virus they are too busy trying to create their authoritarian hellscape.

This is my surprised face.

[TigTone]

Well the EPA has standing orders to destroy itself, and it saw a perfect opportunity. We are going to have to rebuild that entire agency from scratch when this is over.

I find that it is beyond stupid for important agency’s like epa, department of education and so on to be so easily changed or made utterly useless ever 4 years.

Whose genius idea was it to make these agency so damn fragile.

[Belize]

I find that it is beyond stupid for important agency’s like epa, department of education and so on to be so easily changed or made utterly useless ever 4 years.

Whose genius idea was it to make these agency so damn fragile.

A surprising amount of the U.S. gov works on the assumption that those in charge aren't malevolent cunts and actually have the best interest of the country in mind.

[Draco-Onis]

I find that it is beyond stupid for important agency’s like epa, department of education and so on to be so easily changed or made utterly useless ever 4 years.

Whose genius idea was it to make these agency so damn fragile.

The thinking was no one is dumb enough to do this Trump heard that and said CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

[Thekri]

I find that it is beyond stupid for important agency’s like epa, department of education and so on to be so easily changed or made utterly useless ever 4 years.

Whose genius idea was it to make these agency so damn fragile.

Well to be fair, it is pretty hard to prevent an organization from being destroyed if the person running that organization wants it destroyed. Some agencies have proved remarkably robust. Like the Justice Department, which has been under constant attack since Trump took office, and is being run in the most vicious and partisan fashion possible. But about 1/3rd of it seems to still be fighting hard to do the right thing. They can't hold out forever though, we desperately need to stop the damage this election, because we won't have much left after another 4.

[Belize]

You do actually know that most people in the world are not Americans and don't support the neo-liberal consensus on this forum? Or are you people actually so insular that you don't get that. This forum is like how al-jazeera's comment section looks to Americans.

That looks a lot like you're avoiding the question.

I can't imagine why you wouldn't want us to see who you are No no. It must be a liberal conspiracy against you.

[Xarkan]

That looks a lot like you're avoiding the question.

I can't imagine why you wouldn't want us to see who you are No no. It must be a liberal conspiracy against you.

Wait...

You are not part of the neoliberal conspiracy?

[PhaelixWW]

Well the EPA has standing orders to destroy itself, and it saw a perfect opportunity. We are going to have to rebuild that entire agency from scratch when this is over.

So... like almost every government agency, right?

[TigTone]

That kind of proves the point. You think I'm a Republican. It doesn't occur to you that someone might despise both of your main parties and their supporters. You must have very little curiousity about the world.

Where do you stand? Layout your idea of a proper government.

[Thekri]

So... like almost every government agency, right?

Pretty much. Off the top of my head I can't think of any that are in good shape right now. We are going to need a really strong cabinet to rebuild the executive branch. Also a perfect time to neuter the executive branch forever, and move some of these agencies to direct congressional oversight.

[Belize]

You think I'm a Republican.

Quote me where I said that. You're the one that's been raging against neo-liberal forums. I'm just playing your game

But you're starting to play your hand.

[Molis]

Look, I am all for shitting on Trump. But it is more then a bit unfair to claim that "Trump" tripled that. A global pandemic tripled that. If Trump was doing what he should have done, the number would probably be higher, because more of the country would be shut down then it currently is.

The reason that blaming Trump for this is dangerous is because it encourages him to do exactly the wrong thing. If we blast him for the economic damage, he will attempt to fix it by rapidly reopening the economy, which he absolutely should not do. Now I get that he always claims everything good, so it is tempting to blame him for everything bad, but it really isn't true in this case, and drives him to do something extremely dangerous in a reaction to it.

Also, it feeds the narrative of "Democrats are just out to get Trump for everything", which encourages people to ignore the very legitimately terrible things he really does.

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
·
Nov 8, 2013
Leadership: Whatever happens, you're responsible. If it doesn't happen, you're responsible.

[Zan15]

Oh look isn't it wonderful that fox, nypost, et all right wing media does not report on the "wasteful" things in the senate bill the way they did the house's version

what a shock

Kentucky payout-bribe to get it passed:

Special deal: Tucked in the final bill is language ensuring that the FDA reviews newer and more novel ingredients for over-the-counter sunscreen products in a timely fashion.
How they got it: The shout-out for sunscreen is part of a long-awaited effort to reform the over-the-counter drug industry, added to the rescue bill amid backing from that industry and various health groups. Besides expanding FDA oversight of over-the-counter products, the provision would streamline the process to change safety labels. Legislation has passed the House and Senate in various forms over the past two years. Last year the Senate easily passed a bill in a 91-2 vote.

…... adding that the bill will benefit Kentucky workers that manufacture “innovative sunscreen ingredients at facilities” in the state.


More Farm socialist payments for votes:

Special deal: The stimulus provides $9.5 billion in emergency aid for the agriculture industry and replenishes $14 billion in spending authority to the Agriculture Department’s Commodity Credit Corp., a Depression-era financial institution set up to stabilize the farm economy — the same USDA agency sending trade bailout payments to farmers. Producers ranging from dairy farmers and cattle ranchers to fresh fruit and vegetable growers are eligible.

[Edge-]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...on-ventilators

Trump is literally just shouting at the clouds.

Demanding GM open up a plan in Ohio to make ventilators...that GM doesn't own anymore, and can't open.

They could be making them now though. They're just waiting for the Trump administration to get their act together and start placing orders.

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/...on-81222725698

Meanwhile, every state is fighting for supplies because there is a total absence of leadership at the federal level to coordinate the national effort.

This is literally what the US government is supposed to be doing - using their massive resources to coordinate nationally between their agencies, state agencies (who work with locals), and private industry. States can't do it alone.

Donald Trump and his team, who the Republicans have praised and protected since the start and continue to, are a national security risk and are going to be directly responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans by the end of this.

[Cleansing Totem]

So, in an entirely predictable exchange with Sean Hannity (Why is he talking to him right now?), Trump had some choice things to say about governors in hard hit states. Coincidentally, all the democratic governors.

The comment on Cuomo has already been covered here

So yeah. That is pretty interesting. Great Leadership there.

On Washington State

Just... wow.

On Michigan

Not only is he attacking a state governor in the middle of crisis, instead of building confidence, he said the quiet part out loud here. "Michigan is a very important state". It is about his reelection, it is always about him.

This is Trump's path to reelection. He knows it, and has no moral qualms about pursuing this path. He can't do a competent job, he simply doesn't have the capacity. He can't contain this disaster, and he isn't trying. What he can do is whip up his base into believing it is all the Democrats fault. He can continue to refuse to take responsibility and just pass the blame to his political enemies. It is grotesque, immoral, and completely disregards human life, but I see no reasons why it won't work. It has always worked before. This is how he keeps his base loyal as they literally die from his actions. Dividing the nation further and attacking Democrats is his only strategy, and he is going to double down on this over the next few months. If he gets his way, we will have violence to deal with on top of the pandemic.

Whenever you think Trump has hit rock bottom, he always finds a way to go deeper. I fully expect as the virus takes more lives, he will say some of most disgusting things you have ever heard. It would not shock me if someone like AOC or Warren has an attempt made on their life because he is going to do nothing but blame democrats for this. And you mix decades of fox news misinformation with trump whipping his base into a frenzy and people thinking that people dying is some grand plan by the democrats. Basically as the virus gets worse, so will his disgusting rhetoric.

- - - Updated - - -

AOC out there doing her best "Look at me I'm still important don't forget me" act on the House floor.

https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1243549110180941824


I'd post this in the "Democrat Sh*tshow thread", but we don't have that, so it's going here.

So start your own thread? Also what did she say that was incorrect?

[Edge-]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...ion-its-worse/

Republicans seem to be doing their damndest to kill off their voters. Alabama won't order "shelter in place".

Why?

“Y’all, we are not Louisiana, we are not New York State, we are not California,” she said on Thursday. “Right now is not the time to order people to shelter in place.”

Per-capita, the outbreak is worse in Alabama than it is in California and trending more along the lines of the NY outbreak.

I don't want Americans to die, but if Republicans want to kill their voting base then there's nothing I can do about that. I guess we have to break a few eggs to save our 401K's. Sorry Gam Gam and Gramps, you may have fought abroad in more than one war for this nation but you'll need to risk your life in your golden years for your kids and grandkids.

It's simply how things are. This isn't a death panel. This isn't socialism even. This is red-blooded capitalism, baby.

[Fahrenheit]

I would almost bet my left nut Trump is holding back from going all in to help NY, NJ, CT, CA, and WA out of vindictiveness, each one bluer than the next. I'll bet my right nut that as soon as FL, OH, PA, WI, MI needs some serious help the Trump administration flies in at breakneck speed to help, with all the requested help, and than some.

Almost...

[Edge-]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...f-bid-k8a4wv8n

Whether they're exploiting this crisis or not, Purell is trying to get tariff relief for some ingredients they need from China to make their hand sanitizer.

Thus far they have not received a waiver, even temporarily, to drop the 25% tariff on the material from China.

Just a reminder: The coronavirus may be getting into full swing, but we are still in a trade war with China.

[Paranoid Android]

"[Trump is] so attentive to the scientific literature & the details & the data. I think his ability to analyze & integrate data that comes out of his long history in business has really been a real benefit” -- this is shocking, hackish stuff from Dr. Birx.

Wonder why Dr. Fauci is out and Dr. Birx is in? She is part of the cult now. Our Glorious Leader is so intelligent, constantly reading scientific literature it is beyond comprehension.

[Spectral]

I find that it is beyond stupid for important agency’s like epa, department of education and so on to be so easily changed or made utterly useless ever 4 years.

Whose genius idea was it to make these agency so damn fragile.

In short, it was Congress's idea. The way the majority of these federal alphabet agencies gain their authority is via very broad statutes that Congress passes saying, "go do this big thing with this amount of money, hire experts and use your discretion". This is mostly a pretty reasonable approach - if you want an agency to do some many-faceted task like "make the environment better", you can't really pin down every last piece of that as non-experts voting on something, so you instead set a funding level and a core mission, then set people loose with the authority to go do things. If agencies are doing things Congress really doesn't want them to do, the generally appropriate approach is updating legislation to clarify what the goal of the agency is; if the agency blatantly contradicts that legislation, it has to go to courts.

The agencies aren't intended to be fragile, they're intended to be flexible.