Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[DarkTZeratul]

In an effort to put to bed any possibility that he might be something other than a petulant child, it turns out Donald Trump is fighting Biden's infrastructure deal behind the scenes because he's mad there wasn't one when he was president:
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/0...l-trump-501287

Trump’s opposition, aides insist, is based on the merits. At a time of fear around inflation, he opposes additional spending and believes the framework of the potential compromise is far too tilted towards environmentally-conscious projects and not hard infrastructure. But much of what has driven Trump’s approach to legislation in the past has been self-interest and personal grievance. And in discussing current infrastructure talks, Trump aides concede that they remain upset that a big bill wasn’t passed while he was in the Oval.

“They had four years to do an infrastructure deal with someone who knows infrastructure and actually builds buildings,” one Trump aide said. “I’m just speaking for myself, he hasn’t said, ‘Oh they should have done it with me,’ but if they actually wanted infrastructure they would have done it when President Trump was in there.”

Fortunately, for whatever influence he has on the party, this seems to be one instance in which the Republicans are happy to ignore him.

Though he has increasingly sought to undermine negotiations, Trump’s efforts to derail any infrastructure package have, so far, mostly been met with a shrug on Capitol Hill.

“I’ve read the statements,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). “But it’s a little short on specificity.”

“I don’t think there’s a lot there,” a senior GOP aide said of Trump’s attempts at undermining the deal. “It’s not reverberating here. I don’t think Rob Portman sees this and goes, ‘Oh no, I have to give up.’”

[Fugus]

Once again, it's time to play Guess the Speaker!



You don't need that many hints to guess a fence-sitter in this thread and guess that it's Mitch McConnell.

It's truly sad and stupid that they got this far and politicized something as basic as a vaccine as a way to attack and divide their voters from reality further. Now, they don't even care about their supporters themselves beyond the fact that if enough of them die, they won't be able to hold power even with all the cheating they have done, and they never did.

I really hope my family and friends end up alright, but as a whole, at this point, I largely just say, let Darwin sort this out. They have access to facts and reality and choose to ignore them. Let the virus rage on them while they roll the dice. Then hopefully the survivors can get a clue and if not, there will be less of them to bring down this nation and our gene pool.

Edit: Hate to sound so cold-hearted, but at this point, it sounds like the most rational argument to make.

[cubby]

Awesome

Trump has several avenues to the oathbound stand. There's this, the NY AG's assault on his illegal business, and the Jan 6th committee at least. Time to put a trail of overcooked hamburgers with ketchup on one of them, and a sign at the end saying "FREE WHORES".

We can only hope. But counting on the GQP's stupidity seems like a good bet.

- - - Updated - - -

Like this:
Rep. Jim Jordan - whom Republicans nominated to investigate the Capitol riot - now says he spoke to Trump on the day but won’t say what they talked about.

What's that? Gym Jordan won't testify as to what was said? Well, who else did he say was in that conversation? We should get that other guy in here, under oath, and see what he has to say.

[beanman12345]

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/27/polit...lts/index.html

And another Trump backed candidate loses.

[Breccia]

I don't understand how Jim Jordan can just refuse to tell what was said during a phone call with the man who allegedly started the biggest attack on our capital in over a century.

Considering he wanted to actually sit on this committee, I don't think he should be allowed to refuse. I think they need to subpoena him, and watch him take the 5th on stage.

Not saying they will, only that they should.

[solinari6]

I don't understand how Jim Jordan can just refuse to tell what was said during a phone call with the man who allegedly started the biggest attack on our capital in over a century. Our system is an absolute joke.

Well he hasn't actually done that under oath yet. The question is if there is any privilege to that conversation... if it is determined there is not, then they can hold him in contempt if he won't say. Whether they will or not, is a pretty big unknown. The committee chair seems like he means business, but we'll see!

*oh yeah, he could plead the fifth. That'd be a good look on him! lol

[Breccia]

The question is if there is any privilege to that conversation

As we've seen recently, Biden's DoJ seems to make that decision. And privilege does not cover political rallies, so if Jordan or Trump claims there was privilege, there's a problem.

[solinari6]

As we've seen recently, Biden's DoJ seems to make that decision. And privilege does not cover political rallies, so if Jordan or Trump claims there was privilege, there's a problem.

I think they will try the "it's a private conversation between the president and his advisors, and that's normally privileged" defense. I don't think it will fly though. But it will drag things out.

[Gorsameth]

I don't understand how Jim Jordan can just refuse to tell what was said during a phone call with the man who allegedly started the biggest attack on our capital in over a century. Our system is an absolute joke.

Just to make this clear. Jim Jordan said he talked to Trump but won't say more in a Fox interview.

This did not happen before the jan 6th investigation committee and they will likely call upon him to testify.

[Edge-]

Just to make this clear. Jim Jordan said he talked to Trump but won't say more in a Fox interview.

This did not happen before the jan 6th investigation committee and they will likely call upon him to testify.

Part of me wonders if it's just some low-effort bait and he's hoping he'll get subpoena'd for the call record where no call exists, allowing him to claim that Democrats are unfairly targeting him etc. etc.

[cubby]

I don't understand how Jim Jordan can just refuse to tell what was said during a phone call with the man who allegedly started the biggest attack on our capital in over a century. Our system is an absolute joke.

Congressional Representatives hold a lot of immunity while in office. In the past, that privilege has been typically handled with grace and honor. In the past 20 years the [now] GQP has obliterated that honor, leaving us with people like Gym and Marg and Gaetz and jesus I could just keep going with the lists.

To your specific statement, in my opinion he won't be able to just get away with this proclamation. If he and Trump spoke on Jan 6 about the Insurrection, people will try to get more out of him, either by request or subpoena.

[Ursus]

What's that? Gym Jordan won't testify as to what was said? Well, who else did he say was in that conversation? We should get that other guy in here, under oath, and see what he has to say.

It's weird, usually the problem with Gym Jordan is getting him to shut his god damn mouth rather than getting him to open it.

[Gorsameth]

Part of me wonders if it's just some low-effort bait and he's hoping he'll get subpoena'd for the call record where no call exists, allowing him to claim that Democrats are unfairly targeting him etc. etc.

or it is actually completely innocent and they walked about the weather.

But yeah he has to know that saying something like this is going to get the committee to target him so its possible he uses it as a trap.
Then again some Trump cultists really are just that stupid.

I give it a 50/50.

[cubby]

Part of me wonders if it's just some low-effort bait and he's hoping he'll get subpoena'd for the call record where no call exists, allowing him to claim that Democrats are unfairly targeting him etc. etc.

It definitely could be an attention grab. If so, it's stupid (not that he does anything intelligently) because it unnecessarily exposes their Dear Leader to subpoena.

- - - Updated - - -

It's weird, usually the problem with Gym Jordan is getting him to shut his god damn mouth rather than getting him to open it.

Right?

The GQP typically spews their lying bullshit with impunity, however, when it comes to something that is being actively investigated by Congress as at least an Armed Insurrection and at worst an Organized Terrorist Coup Attempt, their shit is about to get reaped.

[Bodakane]

At this point, honestly, I'd rather just get a booster and let the Repubs get infected and die off to decrease their numbers, so sanity can return.

This is easily one of the stupidest unforced errors in world history.

We have to look inward as a country, ALL OF US, and really start to question what about our country-wide core beliefs and foundations, have allowed us rear so many stupid and awful people, then fix it.

[Edge-]

It definitely could be an attention grab. If so, it's stupid (not that he does anything intelligently) because it unnecessarily exposes their Dear Leader to subpoena.

If he's baiting, it exposes nobody because the subpoena will be issued and he'll be able to respond, "The call I mentioned doesn't actually exist and you fell for my carefully laid trap to PROVE that this is all a partisan war on Republicans!"

There's no real downside to this for him. It's red meat for the Republican base that doesn't care about reality. "Oh, he lied about the call? That doesn't matter, what matters is that THE DEMOCRATS BELIEVED HIM AND TRIED TO SILENCE HIM AND LOCK HIM UP!"

[cubby]

If he's baiting, it exposes nobody because the subpoena will be issued and he'll be able to respond, "The call I mentioned doesn't actually exist and you fell for my carefully laid trap to PROVE that this is all a partisan war on Republicans!"

There's no real downside to this for him. It's red meat for the Republican base that doesn't care about reality. "Oh, he lied about the call? That doesn't matter, what matters is that THE DEMOCRATS BELIEVED HIM AND TRIED TO SILENCE HIM AND LOCK HIM UP!"

I disagree.

The GQP will believe anything that Gym tells them, so the upside doesn't exist because they can just make whatever upside they want. So if it's not this, it will be something else, and something else after that, and then something else after that. A base that willfully elects someone like Gym Jordon doesn't need any reality to continue frothing at the mouth.

Conversely, if he is subpoenaed, and then tells everyone under oath that he lied, well, then he's a liar. However, if he tells the Committee that he did speak with Trump, but refuses to answer any substantive questions, it opens the door for getting Trump under oath. The upside is all for the Democrats here.

- - - Updated - - -

At this point, honestly, I'd rather just get a booster and let the Repubs get infected and die off to decrease their numbers, so sanity can return.

This is easily one of the stupidest unforced errors in world history.

We have to look inward as a country, ALL OF US, and really start to question what about our country-wide core beliefs and foundations, have allowed us rear so many stupid and awful people, then fix it.

The problem is non-Republicans will die because of their stupidity. I have two children under the age of 12, and their vaccinations CAN'T happen until at least late this year. So all those fuckwads who don't vaccinate are endangering my children (on a personal level) and the health of this country (on a national level).

I would rather just se la vie it and let the GQP die off, but it's not just them who are affected.

[Benggaul]

Tuesday's report:

61,581 new cases; about 14k more than last Tuesday and doesn't include Florida (no numbers available).

Top 5:

Fuck Florida.
California: 8,546 new cases; 24 deaths
Texas: 7,961 new cases; 38 deaths
Louisiana: 6,818 new cases; 20 deaths
Georgia: 3,610 new cases; 16 deaths

Yeah, this isn't going away anytime soon and it's definitely a "pandemic of the unvaccinated" as it's been dubbed by experts. For most of the states on the list that makes sense, and California definitely belongs up there when you consider the sheer amount of GOP stupidity in that state. You don't need to look any further than "Basilico's Pasta e Vino" and their policy of "proof of being unvaccinated required" for service at their restaurant. Whatever the fuck that means. Fortunately for California the Dems still far outnumber the QAnon conspiracy-theory bullshit loving members of the GOP. The numbers there are almost purely driven by those fucknuts these days. Elsewhere the picture is about the same. Areas with lower vaccination rates are skyrocketing in terms of new cases and/or risk and it's not showing any signs of slowing.

339 deaths is about 50 fewer than last Tuesday and brings the total to 627,351. Once again this does not include Florida's numbers--looks like whatever magic worldometers was using to get daily reports from there has fizzled for the time being and we'll have to wait until Friday for Florida's weekly report--but they're undoubtedly still at the top of both charts given the way they were going at the end of last week. Texas and California round out the top 3 with 38 and 24.

Related news:

Louisiana sees highest spike in single-day Covid hospitalizations since start of pandemic--4th lowest vaccination rate in the country.

“To see this current rise in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations is becoming increasingly scary,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a statement.

According to him, roughly 90 percent of those hospitalized are unvaccinated. In a series of tweets Tuesday, Edwards urged residents to get the shots.

"As I said recently, this surge is on us, & that means it is up to each of us to do our part to bring it to an end. It’s within our power," he posted. "Getting vaccinated is the best way to stay safe & healthy during this pandemic."

Edwards said he would be recommending that everyone, including people who are vaccinated, wear masks while indoors when social distancing is not possible.

"For anyone asking the question when will this end, the answer is simple: when we decide to do what it takes to end it. The most impactful tools to make that happen are free & widely available- the three safe & effective vaccines," he wrote on Twitter. "I am pleading with everyone who is not vaccinated & is of age to make the decision today to get vaccinated."

Still nothing from DeathSantis about masks or other precautionary measures. Fuck Florida.

CDC wants vaccinated Americans to wear masks indoors in Covid hot spots--Nice to see them FINALLY catch up to what I and many others here said months ago. I said back when they stated vaccinated people can go mask-less that that's a bad idea and boy do I hate when I'm right.

Iowa governor suggests immigrants partially to blame for rising COVID-19 cases--Horse. Shit. Anything to avoid blaming Trump and the GOP for downplaying the whole thing for a year. Assholes.

Stay safe, folks.

[Ursus]

Iowa governor suggests immigrants partially to blame for rising COVID-19 cases--Horse. Shit. Anything to avoid blaming Trump and the GOP for downplaying the whole thing for a year. Assholes.

And yet another Simpsons episode has come true:

[Edge-]

Iowa governor suggests immigrants partially to blame for rising COVID-19 cases--Horse. Shit. Anything to avoid blaming Trump and the GOP for downplaying the whole thing for a year. Assholes.

That's the new GOP/Fox News line overall. Even fucking Hiraldo on Fox ain't buyin it, but Greg Gutfeld is sure selling it hard.