Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Breccia]

I'd say we are not only going to see regular 1k+ deaths a day again, but 2k deaths as well.

I really hope you're wrong. But if, just to use something simple to get started, deaths today are proportional to cases seven days ago, we'd need to see 80k new cases a day...but we've passed 50/55k and I don't have any reason to say we're going to slow yet.

Even if deaths dropped at the fantastic rate of 5% per day, over the next two months, we'd be down to, ha ha, 47 deaths. The total over those two months would be over 19,000 more dead Americans. That's the rosiest estimate I can make at this point.

[Polyxo]

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1280...801577986?s=19

She is definitely a Trumpkin.

She's like a blonde, spaghettified Marge Schott.

[Zaydin]

I really hope you're wrong. But if, just to use something simple to get started, deaths today are proportional to cases seven days ago, we'd need to see 80k new cases a day...but we've passed 50/55k and I don't have any reason to say we're going to slow yet.

Even if deaths dropped at the fantastic rate of 5% per day, over the next two months, we'd be down to, ha ha, 47 deaths. The total over those two months would be over 19,000 more dead Americans. That's the rosiest estimate I can make at this point.

This feels more relevant than ever.

[Benggaul]

This feels more relevant than ever.

Once again, life imitates art.

So, just got back from an appointment with my surgeon and I'm apparently going to be stuck at home hobbling around on crutches for another 8 weeks as opposed to the 3 I was expecting. Nothing is wrong with my healing progress--I was just told the wrong number of weeks by a trainee.

So can someone please, please conjure up some good news out of this SHITSHOW today? I still don't have access to the Shadowlands alpha so I'm going to need something else to occupy my mind for a while.

[SirBeef]

Once again, life imitates art.

So, just got back from an appointment with my surgeon and I'm apparently going to be stuck at home hobbling around on crutches for another 8 weeks as opposed to the 3 I was expecting. Nothing is wrong with my healing progress--I was just told the wrong number of weeks by a trainee.

So can someone please, please conjure up some good news out of this SHITSHOW today? I still don't have access to the Shadowlands alpha so I'm going to need something else to occupy my mind for a while.

Well we know Trump is really a moron. Piece of shit couldn't even take his own SAT.

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She's like a blonde, spaghettified Marge Schott.

At least Marge had a personality. Loeffler is your typical stepford wife bland boring modern GOP female.

[Benggaul]

So apparently Chief Justice Roberts took a spill a few weeks back which required an overnight stay at a hospital and we're JUST now hearing about this. Christ we do NOT need Trump to have ANOTHER SCOTUS pick.

[Adam Jensen]

So apparently Chief Justice Roberts took a spill a few weeks back which required an overnight stay at a hospital and we're JUST now hearing about this. Christ we do NOT need Trump to have ANOTHER SCOTUS pick.

Which is why I've already decided I'm voting for Biden.

Because most likely at minimum Ruth Bader-Ginsberg will retire/die in the next four years.

[Breccia]

U.S. reports a record 60,000 new coronavirus cases in one day

The United States reported 60,000 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, the most ever reported in the country in a single day, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University. That brings the total number of cases reported in the U.S. to nearly 3 million, including more than 131,000 people who have died due to the virus.

56 Florida hospitals report ICUs at capacity as virus surges up from 43 yesterday. Florida also reported its highest-ever percent of positive tests, ending the "more testing means more cases" debate forever, motherfuckers.

President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization will damage global efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic as well other deadly diseases such as polio, tuberculosis and HIV, public health experts say.

Fauci directly refutes Trump on the US's death rate

Dr. Anthony Fauci warned Tuesday that Americans shouldn't take comfort in the dropping death rate among coronavirus patients in the US even as President Donald Trump touts the trend as evidence of a successful response to the virus.

"It's a false narrative to take comfort in a lower rate of death," Fauci said during a live stream press conference with Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama, a Democrat.

"There's so many other things that are very dangerous and bad about this virus, don't get yourself into false complacency."

Fauci assessed that given the power of the anti-vaccine movement, "we have a lot of work to do" to educate people on the truth about vaccines.

"It's not going to be easy," he warned. "Anyone (who) thinks it will be easy is not facing reality. It's going to be very difficult."

Fauci added that the government has a vaccine education program to counteract anti-vaccine messages.

"We have a program right now that's going to be extensive in reaching out to the community," he noted. "They may not like a government person in a suit like me telling them, even though I will tell them. They really need to see people that they can relate to in the community -- sports figures, community heroes, people that they look up to."

But there's no indication that such a program is in place.

28% of Americans are buying less specifically because of Trump's tariffs, the largest tax increase in American history. That's up from 19% last year.

An increasing number of GOP lawmakers won't attend the GOP convention.

A UN inspector has concluded that Trump never provided proof that an attack against the US was imminent, therefore, the killing of Soleimani was not justified.

The attack, she wrote, violated Article 2(4) of the U.N.’s charter, which bans “the threat or use of force and calls on all Members to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of other States."

Also, the inspector found that Trump's claim of self-defense to kill a member state official in their own country was unPresidented.

Harvard and MIT are leading the charge against Trump attempting to throw foreign students out of the US.

Trump starts losing Arizona, driven by loss of faith in his ability to handle the coronavirus.

Trump 'going with his gut' in fanning racism, frustrating some White House aides

The Trump allies are telling him that he has a better argument to make and to focus on his accomplishments in office and offer sharp criticism of his opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, said two officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to frankly discuss private conversations.

But Trump — four months away from facing voters in his re-election bid and trailing Biden in the polls — is “going with his gut” and “relying on instinct,” the two officials said. Instead of touting wins, Trump has opted to zero in on the national debate about race and side with supporters who view themselves as victims unfairly cast as racists in the renewed national discussion about discrimination targeting minorities.

Trump has heard from some political allies encouraging him to embrace a divisive tone likely to further inflame civic unrest seen across the country over the past month and deliver political wins by rallying his supporters.

A second White House official said Trump is making a mistake by stoking racial divisions and continuing to revive the kind of grievances he also aired in 2016, when he stoked racial animosity targeting immigrants. This official says the president’s attack lines no longer have the same resonance as they did four years ago.

After a rough June, some aides had hoped Trump would politically reset in July.

“Post-Fourth of July needs to be a pivot. We have a short period where we have to stay on message,” one of the White House officials said. “Can we stay away from the third rail of politics, including race and divisive issues?”

---

So to sum up, the COVID-19 outbreak is still going at full strength, Trump's actions on it and other issues are counterproductive, and his response is to focus on being a racist douchebag instead of finding real solutions.

[Toppy]

U.S. reports a record 60,000 new coronavirus cases in one day



56 Florida hospitals report ICUs at capacity as virus surges up from 43 yesterday. Florida also reported its highest-ever percent of positive tests, ending the "more testing means more cases" debate forever, motherfuckers.

President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization will damage global efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic as well other deadly diseases such as polio, tuberculosis and HIV, public health experts say.

Fauci directly refutes Trump on the US's death rate



28% of Americans are buying less specifically because of Trump's tariffs, the largest tax increase in American history. That's up from 19% last year.

An increasing number of GOP lawmakers won't attend the GOP convention.

A UN inspector has concluded that Trump never provided proof that an attack against the US was imminent, therefore, the killing of Soleimani was not justified.

Also, the inspector found that Trump's claim of self-defense to kill a member state official in their own country was unPresidented.

Harvard and MIT are leading the charge against Trump attempting to throw foreign students out of the US.

Trump starts losing Arizona, driven by loss of faith in his ability to handle the coronavirus.

Trump 'going with his gut' in fanning racism, frustrating some White House aides

---

So to sum up, the COVID-19 outbreak is still going at full strength, Trump's actions on it and other issues are counterproductive, and his response is to focus on being a racist douchebag instead of finding real solutions.

Yeah we got'em, for like the thousandth time. Weee. Its real this time just like last time

[Drutt]

So apparently Chief Justice Roberts took a spill a few weeks back which required an overnight stay at a hospital and we're JUST now hearing about this. Christ we do NOT need Trump to have ANOTHER SCOTUS pick.

Don't worry! We have an impending election in November, and as we all know, the GOP and especially Mitch McConnell don't believe it's reasonable to nominate a Supreme Court Justice in the months leading up to an election. It's important to let the people decide!

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Just read that Mary Trump has a doctorate in clinical psychology. That lends her labeling him as a narcissist and saying things like "This is far beyond garden-variety narcissism. Donald is not simply weak, his ego is a fragile thing that must be bolstered every moment because he knows deep down that he is nothing of what he claims to be" quite a bit more weight than the words would otherwise carry. She not only knows him personally, being related to him, she also has a high degree of expertise in the field.

[PhaelixWW]

CNN Exclusive: Vindman to retire from military. His lawyer blames White House 'campaign of bullying, intimidation and retaliation'

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a key witness in President Donald Trump's impeachment inquiry, is retiring from the US Army after more than 21 years of military service because he determined that his future in the armed forces "will forever be limited" due to political retaliation by the President and his allies, his lawyer told CNN Wednesday.

Vindman has endured a "campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation" spearheaded by the President following his testimony in the impeachment inquiry last year, according to his attorney, Amb. David Pressman.

News of Vindman's retirement marks the culmination of a months-long saga dating back to his public testimony in November.

Trump fired Vindman as the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council in February and also ousted his twin brother who also played a key role in impeachment proceedings while serving at the White House as an NSC lawyer.

In recent weeks, the controversy has centered around allegations that the White House was attempting to block Vindman's upcoming military promotion to the rank of colonel.

"The President of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President. Between honoring his oath or protecting his career. Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers," Pressman said in a statement to CNN.

"These are choices that no one in the United States should confront, especially one who has dedicated his life to serving it," he added, noting that Vindman "did what the law compelled him to do; and for that he was bullied by the President and his proxies."

Top Pentagon leaders, including Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, have insisted that Vindman is not being targeted for political reasons, but a source familiar with his decision said military officials have communicated to Vindman that the White House has sought to become involved in the promotion process.

In response, Vindman was told that that there have been discussions within the Department of Defense about sending his name forward on a "list of one" or holding his name back until after the election to avoid impacting the promotions of other service members, the source said.
It is "absurd and frightening" for the White House to be involved in promotions at this level, the source added.

Ultimately, Vindman decided to retire from the military rather than attending the National War College, which was his next planned assignment, after speaking with senior Army officials who made clear that there were forces working against his advancement within the military.

Specifically, Vindman was told by senior Army officials that he would no longer be deployable in his area of expertise, which includes Ukraine, the source familiar with the situation told CNN.

He was also told by senior officers he would need a "rehabilitative assignment" even if he had opted to attend the National War College, an option he had been considering before Wednesday's announcement, the source added.

In one case, a senior officer quipped about sending him to "man a radar station in Alaska," the source said.

The White House and Pentagon did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment.



Vindman delivered explosive testimony during public impeachment hearings that Trump's push for Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden was "inappropriate" and that he knew "without hesitation" that he had to report it.

Vindman said that he reported his concerns out of a "sense of duty," and he defended his fellow witnesses from what he described as "reprehensible" attacks.

Testifying in his Army uniform as an active-duty soldier, Vindman invoked his father's decision to leave the Soviet Union and come to the US, noting that the testimony he was giving would likely get him killed in Russia. "Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth," Vindman said in a now well-known line.

But Vindman remained a focal point of Trump's ire as impeachment proceedings moved to the Senate, facing a wave of unfounded attacks from the President and his allies during the trial portion.

During oral arguments in the Senate trial in late January, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican, attacked Vindman in multiple tweets over several hours, going so far as to question the Purple Heart recipient's patriotism.

She also repeated the unfounded claim that Vindman had leaked knowledge of Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the whistleblower whose complaint initially prompted the investigation into the President's conduct in Ukraine.

After he was fired from the NSC in February, an Army spokesperson told CNN that Vindman had been reassigned to the Department of the Army.
The President later defended Vindman's firing from the National Security Council. Trump complained about news coverage of the firing in a tweet, saying reporting was done "as though I should think only how wonderful he was. Actually, I don't know him, never spoke to him, or met him (I don't believe!)."



Top military leaders, including Esper, have insisted that Vindman would be protected from retaliation of any kind after he transitioned back to the Pentagon, but some Democratic lawmakers have made it clear they believe that he is still being targeted by the White House.

Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois announced last week that she is blocking Senate confirmation of 1,123 senior US Armed Forces promotions until she receives assurances that Vindman's promotion wouldn't be blocked.

The initial list of promotions Duckworth is holding up does not include Vindman's name, as he is included in a later batch.

Duckworth's power play, which her office described as "unprecedented in modern history," takes advantage of unanimous consent procedures in the Senate that are used to efficiently conduct Senate business. Typically, a large batch of non-controversial military promotions, like the ones Duckworth is holding up, would be passed all at once with just a few words exchanged on the floor between Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and whoever is the presiding officer.

But instead of granting consent to pass the promotions, Duckworth objected, meaning McConnell would have to go through the time-consuming process of filing motions to overcome what amounts to her filibuster.

In an interview with CNN last week, Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton said he believed Vindman, who worked under him at the NSC, deserved to be promoted based on what he observed during his time in the administration.

"Based on not just his service, but his twin brother's service at the NSC, both of whom were pushed out of their assignments early, I think they certainly deserve promotion based on what I saw," Bolton said to CNN's Jake Tapper while promoting his new book "In the Room Where it Happened."

"They shouldn't be discriminated against. I hope there's nobody in the White House who's holding this up or putting bureaucratic obstacles in the way," he added. "I think this is something, this kind of corruption of this promotion process, unfortunately, typical of a number of things that have happened in the administration, I think it's a bad signal to all of our military."

[cubby]

CNN Exclusive: Vindman to retire from military. His lawyer blames White House 'campaign of bullying, intimidation and retaliation'

Just one more life to add to the list of people Trump has ruined.

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So apparently Chief Justice Roberts took a spill a few weeks back which required an overnight stay at a hospital and we're JUST now hearing about this. Christ we do NOT need Trump to have ANOTHER SCOTUS pick.

There was a short article about a week ago (I'll see if I can find it) about how Thomas and Alito might consider retiring later this year, so they can be replaced with conservative judges.

[Edge-]

CNN Exclusive: Vindman to retire from military. His lawyer blames White House 'campaign of bullying, intimidation and retaliation'

So...I guess whistleblower protections don't matter anymore or something?

Man, what has happened to Vindman is so beyond fucked. I'm sure Susan Collins is very uncomfortable with this. So uncomfortable she might say she's uncomfortable.

[Drutt]

There was a short article about a week ago (I'll see if I can find it) about how Thomas and Alito might consider retiring later this year, so they can be replaced with conservative judges.

If they dare to pull something that hypocritical after McConnell's nonsense stonewalling of Garland, the first thing the next Democratic president needs to do is expand the court to undo such nonsense.

[Thekri]

There was a short article about a week ago (I'll see if I can find it) about how Thomas and Alito might consider retiring later this year, so they can be replaced with conservative judges.

If they were going to do that, I would have expected them to announce it in January or February. At this point it gets increasingly hard to replace them on time.

[cubby]

If they dare to pull something that hypocritical after McConnell's nonsense stonewalling of Garland, the first thing the next Democratic president needs to do is expand the court to undo such nonsense.

I agree. Unfortunately, McConnell is already on record saying he would fill a last-minute SCOTUS seat rather than wait for the Nov election.

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If they were going to do that, I would have expected them to announce it in January or February. At this point it gets increasingly hard to replace them on time.

I mean, McConnell could do it pretty quickly. One month at most imo. He doesn't care about rules or law or tradition, so speeding up the SCOTUS nomination process would be small potatoes.

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So...I guess whistleblower protections don't matter anymore or something?

Man, what has happened to Vindman is so beyond fucked. I'm sure Susan Collins is very uncomfortable with this. So uncomfortable she might say she's uncomfortable.

I'm a little surprised he's retiring right now, rather than holding out for the election. His 21 years in won't get him a full pension, and while I'm sure he could get hooked up somewhere in the private sector, that full pension is solid gold, but IIRC takes 25 or 30 years to achieve.

But yeah, more rules of law going out the door.

[Thekri]

I mean, McConnell could do it pretty quickly. One month at most imo. He doesn't care about rules or law or tradition, so speeding up the SCOTUS nomination process would be small potatoes.

He could, that sounds like political suicide that doesn't give them a packed court. It would hyper-motivate the Democratic base, while not really giving the conservative base anything they don't already have. A chance to replace Ginsberg or Breyer would be worth it, Alito or Thomas would not.

[draynay]

If they dare to pull something that hypocritical after McConnell's nonsense stonewalling of Garland

There's no "dare" about it, its a matter of course for them as long as their voters never hold them accountable. The hypocrisy is not some guarded secret.

[Thekri]

I'm a little surprised he's retiring right now, rather than holding out for the election. His 21 years in won't get him a full pension, and while I'm sure he could get hooked up somewhere in the private sector, that full pension is solid gold, but IIRC takes 25 or 30 years to achieve.

But yeah, more rules of law going out the door.

21-22 Years is normal for LTCs that do not make COL. It is considered a successful, but average career. You cannot just coast another 9 years to max your pension if you don't make the board, and 50% of a LTCs pay is not bad at all, especially considering you are only 45 or so.

However, this isn't the career Vindeman should have had. He was a slam dunk to put on Eagles after his first promotion board look, he was Infantry (Helps enormously for higher ranks, the infantry club is strong), in a HIGHLY selective position, rubbing elbows with the top levels of government, and he had excellent ratings at all levels, from powerful raters. Chances of him making COL was basically 100% before he testified.

What is outlined here is horrifying, and why Trump cannot be allowed to stay in office. The military has successfully resisted his attempts to weaponize it against domestic enemies, but if he is able to control the promotion system for senior officers, that won't last long. This isn't just about Vindeman, that report said the White House was trying to gain influence in ALL senior officer promotions, they were trying to separate Vindeman out so it didn't effect everyone else. This is about as clear an existential threat to democracy as exists. Obviously I am sorry Vindeman got screwed, but the bigger picture here is the really awful part. Trump has already undermined military justice, by supporting War Criminals, undermining the promotion system as well could be the end of a neutral military, and shortly after, the end of the Republic.

[Themius]

Pence just said Florida is flattening and Arizona...