Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Breccia]

So I am really unclear who this is actually supposed to benefit.

It's a bribe to the manufacturing industry that he let down for three years and change. Donald "goddam steam" Trump thinks the auto industry will do well as long as they stay in the 20th century. Normally I would say it also helps the oil industry, but the recent tanking of oil prices means this won't work very well.

[Thekri]

Of course volkswagen can meet them. They just cheat the emissions tests!

I mean... touche.

[some guy]

Infrastructure week take 37. I think, I can't keep up anymore.

[Rasulis]

So taking advantage of the distraction, the Trump administration has made the move they have been threatening for 3 years now.

They just gutted the Obama Era vehicle emission standards.

So that is fun. It isn't like clean air is something that benefits everyone. It is also worth noting that Ford, Honda, BMW and Volkswagen have all loudly lobbied against gutting these regulations, because they say the regulations are totally achievable, and they don't want to have to compete with people making dirtier cars then theirs.

So I am really unclear who this is actually supposed to benefit. This seems like one of those things they did just because it is evil, and doing evil things makes them giggle.

It will be sued. Since all the courts are closed, it won't go anywhere for awhile. If he does not get elected, the next admin will throw it in the trash.

The same with the Fed attempt to revoke CA ability to set emission standards. It is stuck in limbo.

[Edge-]

Oh, he just wants to tack that $2T onto one of the stimulus bills.

Haven't Republicans been complaining about that kind of behavior? Why does this need to be tacked onto a bill like this? Why hasn't Trump figured out "Infrastructure Week" over the past 3+ years?

[Orange Joe]

So, $2 trillion more now for infrastructure. Not criticizing it, it's just that we sure are spending. I know fiscal conservatism died a cartoon death years ago, but these kinds of spending numbers make me grimace.

I kinda figured you didn't have the balls/integrity to answer.

[Rasulis]

So, $2 trillion more now for infrastructure. Not criticizing it, it's just that we sure are spending. I know fiscal conservatism died a cartoon death years ago, but these kinds of spending numbers make me grimace.

Not complaining about more public work funding since our companies only do public work constructions. However, public work construction sector is not suffering right now. No public work construction projects are getting cancelled. No one in public work construction is getting laid off.

[Breccia]

So, $2 trillion more now for infrastructure.

Oh, surely you're talking about Pelosi's bill that has been moving forward, part of Phase Four? Or did you mean 140 characters of "infrastructure please"?

Maybe this article will help.

As Washington considers other steps for responding to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic damage, President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi both have suggested a “Phase 4” package could include spending on infrastructure.

Trump on Tuesday called for $2 trillion in spending on infrastructure, saying in a tweet that it was time to “be VERY BIG & BOLD” while interest rates are low.

The president’s statements on Twitter come after Pelosi on Monday said a “Phase 4” coronavirus stimulus package ought to include a bipartisan deal on infrastructure spending. In his tweets on Tuesday, Trump used the term “Phase 4” and said Pelosi “wasn’t bad” in a TV appearance on Tuesday.

The California Democrat on Monday also said she would like to see the next bill feature “more direct payments” to Americans, more money for state and local governments, increased protections for workers, more assistance for hospitals and nursing homes and “more opportunity for family and medical leave.”

“The president said during the campaign — and since — infrastructure was a priority for him. So that’s why we believe that in terms of recovery, that’s probably the most bipartisan path that we can take,” Pelosi said on Monday in a conference call with reporters.

Trump’s tweets may allay concerns that he isn’t interested in a bipartisan deal on infrastructure. Analysts at Beacon Policy Advisors warned on Monday that while infrastructure is “naturally a policy area of interest” for Trump, there were “no clear infrastructure proponents as of now” who have his ear on this topic.

Infrastructure has been a long-discussed topic since Trump promised it. The thing is, making a specific plan and working with Republicans is one thing. Tweeting is another. Trump has nothing but ALL CAPS and broken promises. You may not be criticizing it, but I am: Trump has nothing. That's why he's surrendering and following Pelosi's lead. The good news? If Pelosi comes up with a plan, it's far less likely to be interrupted by Nazis.

[Lenonis]

Not criticizing it

Of course not. Criticizing Trump would go against what you believe in. Can't even muster it up for something you clearly disagree with.

[Thekri]

It will be sued. Since all the courts are closed, it won't go anywhere for awhile. If he does not get elected, the next admin will throw it in the trash.

The same with the Fed attempt to revoke CA ability to set emission standards. It is stuck in limbo.

That is actually one of the most self defeating aspects of it. The vehicle designs for 2023 and 2024 are in the design stages right now, and this does absolutely nothing to those plans. If any automaker is actually designing vehicles for the US market that meet these Trump standards, they are complete idiots, because if he loses the court case, or if Biden wins, these standards are going to get tossed out and they will have to redesign the engines.

It doesn't help Automakers because it isn't consistent. Anyone that is working 3-4 years out on high capital projects values consistency far more then any little benefit something like this could conceivably provide. I am sure some automakers would be happy if they actually believed this was permanent, but nobody sane thinks it is. This is just another case of the Trump administration being in denial about which century it exists in, and trying to turn back the clock and go against the path of history.

[Breccia]

Infrastructure week take 37. I think, I can't keep up anymore.

The last time was five. Trust me, I was coming up with nicknames for each attempt.

But this isn't "Infrastructure Week". That was the name of Trump's attempts. This is Pelosi. You're comparing Marvel and DC.

[Flarelaine]

So taking advantage of the distraction, the Trump administration has made the move they have been threatening for 3 years now.

They just gutted the Obama Era vehicle emission standards.

So that is fun. It isn't like clean air is something that benefits everyone. It is also worth noting that Ford, Honda, BMW and Volkswagen have all loudly lobbied against gutting these regulations, because they say the regulations are totally achievable, and they don't want to have to compete with people making dirtier cars then theirs.

So I am really unclear who this is actually supposed to benefit. This seems like one of those things they did just because it is evil, and doing evil things makes them giggle.

If clean air was not a worthy cause in itself, recent Italian studies have found the spread of coronavirus in Italy nicely correlates with air pollution patterns.

[Thekri]

If clean air was not a worthy cause in itself, recent Italian studies have found the spread of coronavirus in Italy nicely correlates with air pollution patterns.

On the other hand, correlation is not causation. I am willing to bet that population density maps nicely along the same pattern as both of them.

[Edge-]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52108162

According to the Trump administration: Gun stores are "essential" businesses and should remain open.

I'm sure we're gonna beat the coronavirus by...shooting it, yes.

[Thekri]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52108162

According to the Trump administration: Gun stores are "essential" businesses and should remain open.

I'm sure we're gonna beat the coronavirus by...shooting it, yes.

I can kind of get gun stores. A little bit. Not really, but kind of if I squint.

What I really don't get is declaring gun manufacturers essential. I mean even if people have the right to go buy guns, do we really have to be making more new guns right now? I like guns, but putting a pause in production of those isn't really a big deal, it isn't like guns go bad every six months.

[Clone]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52108162

According to the Trump administration: Gun stores are "essential" businesses and should remain open.

I'm sure we're gonna beat the coronavirus by...shooting it, yes.

It’s essential for all the responsible good guys with guns to stock up on weapons to rob the people that stocked up on food and toilet paper. I shit you not man this is a point of pride for the 2A crowd as they laugh at the dumb libuhral millennials for buying toilet paper.

[Edge-]

Already been addressed, but the Trump administration confirms that they are unable to walk and chew gum at the same time.

Apparently McConnell thinks that it prevented the whole government from doing anything but impeachment. The Senate may have been stuck doing that, but the executive branch wasn't.

[Flarelaine]

On the other hand, correlation is not causation. I am willing to bet that population density maps nicely along the same pattern as both of them.

Which is why I only mentioned correlation.

It makes sense, though - more particulate matter floating about gives the virus something to hang on to and stay in the air so someone walking there can catch it with their face.

[Santti]

So taking advantage of the distraction, the Trump administration has made the move they have been threatening for 3 years now.

They just gutted the Obama Era vehicle emission standards.

So that is fun. It isn't like clean air is something that benefits everyone. It is also worth noting that Ford, Honda, BMW and Volkswagen have all loudly lobbied against gutting these regulations, because they say the regulations are totally achievable, and they don't want to have to compete with people making dirtier cars then theirs.

So I am really unclear who this is actually supposed to benefit. This seems like one of those things they did just because it is evil, and doing evil things makes them giggle.

I have a feeling you mentioned the reasoning. Because Obama. And that is it.

Trump is weirdly obsessed with his predecessor.

[Edge-]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opini...es/2937302001/

Republican Senator Ron Johnson is calling for the country to be re-opened for the sake of the economy in a USA Today op-ed.

Let's look at a few bits -

Each year, approximately 48,000 Americans commit suicide and an estimated 67,000 die of a drug overdose. That level of individual despair has occurred in a strong economy with near-record low levels of unemployment in virtually every demographic.

Yeah Ron, and that's a national shame. Maybe Congress should like...do something about that rather than say, "Yeah, this is fine and a fine point of comparison."

In addition to the current human toll, future generations will be required to pick up that tab.

Dealing with the human toll of climate change that future generations will be required to pick up that tab on? Nah, that's inconvenient and we won't have to deal with it because we're old and will be dead.
Dealing with the human toll of this temporary inconvenience so that figure generations will be required to pick up the tab? YES, THIS TEMPORARY INCONVENIENCE IS THE WORST.

Every premature death is a tragedy, but death is an unavoidable part of life.

In case there were any questions about this mans capability for empathy. He's incapable, apparently.

The 2017-18 flu season was exceptionally bad, with 61,000 deaths attributed to it. Can you imagine the panic if those mortality statistics were attributed to a new virus and reported nonstop?

I'll take, "Bad comparisons that aren't remotely accurate for "Go fuck yourself", Alex."

Nonetheless, much of our economy must stay open to provide life’s basic necessities. Rather than announcing general shutdowns and drawing up lists of “essential” business that can remain open, let’s draw up lists of “nonessential” businesses that pose a risk for coronavirus spread.

"Saying that you can only stand on the white squares on a chessboard doesn't work! However saying you CAN'T stand on black squares will work!"

With every passing day I wonder if killing human empathy is a feature of being a Republican official. Because it's sure seeming more and more like it.