Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Benggaul]

I laughed far, far too long at this:

https://twitter.com/DerekSheen/statu...970006016?s=20

I've noticed Trump's "lean" before--the way he tries to disguise his no doubt massive gut by leaning forward so that his shirt and jacket hang down instead of bouncing off his blubbery stomach--but nowhere near as pronounced as here. It almost makes me wonder what would happen if he were to try to walk down a flight of steps with all eyes on him. His vanity ain't doing his arches/back any favors.

[Edge-]

I laughed far, far too long at this:

https://twitter.com/DerekSheen/statu...970006016?s=20

I've noticed Trump's "lean" before--the way he tries to disguise his no doubt massive gut by leaning forward so that his shirt and jacket hang down instead of bouncing off his blubbery stomach--but nowhere near as pronounced as here. It almost makes me wonder what would happen if he were to try to walk down a flight of steps with all eyes on him. His vanity ain't doing his arches/back any favors.

Stop shaming him because he's part-centaur.

[D Luniz]

Could it be this whole time, he isn't jerking people when shaking their hand as a power move, but because the very act of extending his arm has destabilized him to the point he has to pull on them to not fall over?

[Benggaul]

Could it be this whole time, he isn't jerking people when shaking their hand as a power move, but because the very act of extending his arm has destabilized him to the point he has to pull on them to not fall over?

Pulling would actually destabilize him further. He should stick to pushing people away like always.

[Edge-]

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/22/mnuc...nd-google.html

“If people want to just arbitrarily put taxes on our digital companies, we will consider arbitrarily putting taxes on car companies,” said Mnuchin, as U.K. Finance Minister Sajid Javid sat next to him.

Mnuchin added that the U.S. would talk again with the U.K. over its plans, adding: “I’m sure the president and Boris (Johnson) will be speaking on it as well.”

And Mnuchin just gave up the game.

These tariffs aren't, and have never been, about "national security", which they'd need to be for Trump to enact them without Congressional approval.

Sadly, and infuriatingly, this won't fucking matter because nobody will hold this administration accountable for any of their wanton illegal behavior and flouting of the separation of powers.

[Templar 331]

I laughed far, far too long at this:

https://twitter.com/DerekSheen/statu...970006016?s=20

I've noticed Trump's "lean" before--the way he tries to disguise his no doubt massive gut by leaning forward so that his shirt and jacket hang down instead of bouncing off his blubbery stomach--but nowhere near as pronounced as here. It almost makes me wonder what would happen if he were to try to walk down a flight of steps with all eyes on him. His vanity ain't doing his arches/back any favors.

Didn't he come down an escalator for his presidential run announcement? This would explain why.

[Breccia]

Once again, it's time for Guess the Tweeter!

Democrats are going to destroy your Social Security. I have totally left it alone, as promised, and will save it!

"It's Trump, duh."

Yes.

As usual, what Trump said has no grounding in reality. ("Grounding" as in "anchors himself into the ground with his bone spurs so his massive gut doesn't force him to face-plant while leaning forwards")
1) Trump is the one who, recently, said in an interview he was looking at entitlements as an easy target for cuts.
2) You know what, just read #1 again. It deserves two spots on this list.
3) There have been zero bills proposed by Democrats to cause Medicare or SS cuts. There may have been by Republicans, but to be honest, I doubt it. It's suicide.
4) This bill proposed by Trump as listed on a dot-gov site, and therefore, no crying "Fake News" today:

At a time of massive wealth and income inequality, Trump’s budget pays for his huge tax break
to the top one percent by cutting $1.5 trillion from Medicaid, $845 billion from Medicare and
$25 billion from Social Security. Make no mistake about it: Trump’s budget is a massive transfer
of wealth from working class families to the wealthiest people and most profitable corporations
in America.

"Who wrote that?"

Doesn't matter. This article from CNBC, yes the same place Trump willfully went on camera and said he'd look at cutting Medicare, details how Trump's 2020 budget does, in fact, cut Medicare and Medicaid. Other sources point out there were cuts to SS as well, not as high, but still there.

Once again, Trump accuses others of what he himself is guilty of. But I tell you what, Trump supporters in the audience: I'll give you a nice comfy 48 hours to find any bill proposed by any Democrat since Jan 20, 2019, that specifically cuts Social Security. Like, anything at all.

See, I don't think you'll find one, but I'm willing to admit I'm wrong if you do. This is mostly for yourself. Some of you will actually go looking, proving that you do, in fact, have faith that Trump is somehow telling the truth. Others of you won't look at all..and that says far more about you than anything I could possibly post.

- - - Updated - - -

John Kapoor was just sentenced to 66 months in prison for his role, as founder of opioids dealer Insys Therapeutics, in furthering the US' opioid crisis.

Multiple lower-level Insys members have already gone to prison, but for less time, presumably because
1) they ratted out Kapoor, someone above them, while Kapoor had nobody higher up the ladder to rat on, and
2) the charges were fraud and bribery, and that's pretty much "follow the money" style crime.

Kapoor could have assets seized in the hundred million dollar range.

"Okay, what's this got to do with Trump?"

This was a federal case. And since the arrest was in 2017, it happened under Trump's tenure. He actually gets credit for this one. Granted, $100 million is pretty small potatoes in the grand opioid scheme of things, but you have to start somewhere.

The arrest, imprisonment, and upcoming stripping of that which they value most -- their money -- will hopefully send a clear message to the remaining cases, state or federal, that the US as a whole is done fucking around with opioid deaths. As I've said multiple times, of all the things Trump promised, this is one of the few I was hoping he'd actually do. In that respect, he gets what credit is due.

[Odinfrost]

And Mnuchin just gave up the game.

These tariffs aren't, and have never been, about "national security", which they'd need to be for Trump to enact them without Congressional approval.

Sadly, and infuriatingly, this won't fucking matter because nobody will hold this administration accountable for any of their wanton illegal behavior and flouting of the separation of powers.

That is because Republican politicians only think about staying in power, and since they have control of most branches of government, OF COURSE they aren't trying to hold other Republicans accountable. That would just weaken them, while also showing that they can't just do whatever the fuck they want anymore. This is inevitable conclusion of a two-party system. That those in control do whatever they like until the power goes to the other side and THEY start doing whatever the fuck they want. The only other end point is that those in power destroys the opposition so there will only be one party left.
The only way to stop this from happening is to divide the two parties into many and get rid of the "winner takes all" rule. But that will probably never happen in the US because "that is how it has always been done"

As I've said multiple times, of all the things Trump promised, this is one of the few I was hoping he'd actually do. In that respect, he gets what credit is due.

Aww, good for him. Now, inb4 Trump pardons the bastard for some insane reason like "But he brought millions into the economy and he said he was sorry." or some shit like that. (Please President Orange, make it so my previous statement will only be remembered as a bad joke of terrible taste)

[jonnysensible]

More and more evidence of the ongoing attacks from Russia vs the USA.

Remember it wasn't about getting Donald to win an election (even the Russians thought he would lose). It was an attack on the legitimacy of the state which is still on going.

The Russian state has a history of helping far right movements (just look at what its been up to across Europe.). Essentially the scheme is quite simple, identify fault lines in the society (corruption, racism, guns rights, abortion, accelerationism, climate breakdown, inequality, religion) and actively target individuals and organisations that will cause disruption and harm legitimacy.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...e_iOSApp_Other
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-51236915

This is what its all about. Why did they chose the nra? why did the use targeted memes on facebook? Its simple, you cant win a shooting match with the USA, find individuals, pour petrol on them and watch them burn down everything around them.

If I was a Russian spook id be actively infiltrating QANON and the militias, the patriot movement and fuck it why not the incels as well and seeing if I could make them walk into the local walmart with a AR15. America has privitised violence, why not use that to help degrade the states legitimacy.

This is really grim, Jade Parker has been warning about it for over a year now and the lack of action is pretty disappointing.

[Breccia]

More and more evidence of the ongoing attacks from Russia vs the USA.

I think the greatest irony (not a desirable result) would be Russia attacking the election again because Trump opened the door for them, the Elizabeth Warren/Mark Hamill ticket goes to the White House, and Trump complains and blames everyone else for attacks he had the Constitutional responsibility to stop but chose not to.

[Templar 331]

I think the greatest irony (not a desirable result) would be Russia attacking the election again because Trump opened the door for them, the Elizabeth Warren/Mark Hamill ticket goes to the White House, and Trump complains and blames everyone else for attacks he had the Constitutional responsibility to stop but chose not to.

Even better would be Trump complaining on camera "I asked Putin to attack her but he attacked me!!"

[Breccia]

Oh jeez! This idiot cannot grasp anything.

What He Meant Was:

During a press conference Friday, Department of Defense spokesperson Jonathan Rath Hoffman announced 34 U.S. troops were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries following Iran's attack on U.S. bases in Iraq on Jan. 7.

"Headaches" => "traumatic brain injuries". Also, 11 is now up to 34 apparently.

I'm starting to wonder if Trump confuses the two because it's not possible for him to have a traumatic brain injury.

[Beefhammer]

What He Meant Was:



"Headaches" => "traumatic brain injuries". Also, 11 is now up to 34 apparently.

I'm starting to wonder if Trump confuses the two because it's not possible for him to have a traumatic brain injury.

I hate doing this, but it could be possible it was 11 known and the other 23 were diagnosed after he knew about the 11.

[Breccia]

Not a peep about banning travel from China.

UPDATE: Second confirmed case.

"Two" is still not a lot, but, keep your eyes on this. Hopefully it dies out due to decades of preparation. If not, Trump will have a second scoop of crow to eat after promising it was under control. Hey, remember when Trump wanted to cut the CDC budget by 20%? That means he gets no credit when this virus' spread is stopped. You don't get to take credit for an agency who you intentionally tried to hinder, even if those attempts failed.

- - - Updated - - -

I hate doing this, but it could be possible it was 11 known and the other 23 were diagnosed after he knew about the 11.

Oh, that's fair. The "headaches" shot is also fair. Hey, did you see that 8 of the 34 had "headaches" so bad, they were returned to the US? In fact, the majority of those injured (at time of writing) have not returned to duty.

[Santti]

What He Meant Was:



"Headaches" => "traumatic brain injuries". Also, 11 is now up to 34 apparently.

I'm starting to wonder if Trump confuses the two because it's not possible for him to have a traumatic brain injury.

No US troops were hit -> some got headaches -> 11 got head injuries -> 34 got traumatic head injuries.

What's next, I wonder? Half of them died from the attack?

[Beefhammer]

UPDATE: Second confirmed case.

"Two" is still not a lot, but, keep your eyes on this. Hopefully it dies out due to decades of preparation. If not, Trump will have a second scoop of crow to eat after promising it was under control. Hey, remember when Trump wanted to cut the CDC budget by 20%? That means he gets no credit when this virus' spread is stopped. You don't get to take credit for an agency who you intentionally tried to hinder, even if those attempts failed.

- - - Updated - - -



Oh, that's fair. The "headaches" shot is also fair. Hey, did you see that 8 of the 34 had "headaches" so bad, they were returned to the US? In fact, the majority of those injured (at time of writing) have not returned to duty.

It surprises me that the few military families I know are still Trump supporters.

[Breccia]

What's next, I wonder? Half of them died from the attack?

I am sure @Skroe can elaborate that disguising US troop deaths is actually pretty difficult and rare. "Nobody died in the attack, also 17 soldiers died in a training exercise in an unrelated event" is a myth. So I find it unlikely that there's a sizable number of dead. But, since half are still not back on duty, I suppose it's possible some might die later from their injuries. Or (arguably worse) suffer permanent brain damage.

Oh, sorry, "headache".

EDIT: Oh, and I missed this:

8 had to get shipped to Walter Reed... So its a lot worse than initially thought.

So...yeah. Damn. That's a big headache, right there.

[eschatological]

Just so everyone knows: a concussion is considered a traumatic brain injury. It's not necessarily brain damage or anything like that.

[Captain N]

It surprises me that the few military families I know are still Trump supporters.

If they're like the military families I know it's because they still believe Deep State conspiracy theories or that Democrats are out to get their guns.

Anything brought up about the stupid things Trump has said about the military is met with the Well what he really meant was.... response.

[Howel]

Just so everyone knows: a concussion is considered a traumatic brain injury. It's not necessarily brain damage or anything like that.

I know it might be a bit schematic, and I am not arguing anything, but asking out of curiosity. Don't all concussions technically come with some level of brain damage?