Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Fugus]

It is quite amazing to see Trump torpedo his presidency so quickly and so on purpose. The man is truly a complete idiot, and a prime example of the privilege that comes with being white, male, and wealthy. The only downside is JD Vance would become president, and that makes me vomit in my mouth.

While it is embarrassing for the nation, it won't be torpedoing his presidency until the Supreme Court strikes them down en mass and the GOP actually start standing against him. Until then, this is just a shit show where he still has a chance to get it through or just try and ignore many of the rulings with the logic "You made your ruling, now try and enforce it".

Once the Supreme Court strikes his major stuff down instead of rubber stamping them or the Republican's start standing up to him, then his presidency is getting torched, but making the nation look bad doesn't matter to the shameless so long as they get what they want in the end.

[gondrin]

While it is embarrassing for the nation, it won't be torpedoing his presidency until the Supreme Court strikes them down en mass and the GOP actually start standing against him. Until then, this is just a shit show where he still has a chance to get it through or just try and ignore many of the rulings with the logic "You made your ruling, now try and enforce it".

Once the Supreme Court strikes his major stuff down instead of rubber stamping them or the Republican's start standing up to him, then his presidency is getting torched, but making the nation look bad doesn't matter to the shameless so long as they get what they want in the end.

Yep. This is why I have encouraged and personally have contacted my elected officials demanding answers and actions taken. Don't just call up the democrats or the people you support as right now, they are the minority and doing so literally will do nothing as they are doing all that they can. Go after those that are Republican Congresspeople. Force them to listen to you and demand action. If they feel their job is threatened, outside of a few very specific people, the most will absolutely do something about it.

It has been one week so far and the pressure needs to keep going. Because complacency in this instance means that we don't deserve a republic/democracy or whatever.

[Xyonai]

I wonder how many GOP Reps are just telling their staffers to simply stop picking up calls and/or not to take notes at this point.

[gondrin]

So, Trump tried firing the Head of the Federal Election Board. She flat told him no. The big irony is, she was only to serve a single term of 6 years. Her term started in 2002. Since nobody nominated another person and it is required for there to be 3 democrats and 3 republicans minimum, she was able to stay at her post the whole time as the law requires.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...591829c7&ei=16

[Edge-]

So, Trump tried firing the Head of the Federal Election Board. She flat told him no. The big irony is, she was only to serve a single term of 6 years. Her term started in 2002. Since nobody nominated another person and it is required for there to be 3 democrats and 3 republicans minimum, she was able to stay at her post the whole time as the law requires.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...591829c7&ei=16

it really highlights

a. their ignorance of the law

b. their callous disregard of the law

what a great group of people to be in the oval office

[gondrin]

If this is true, this is where if anyone in Congress doesn't stop this, they should be held for treason. Literal treason.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-ene...003504528.html

I don't really care if it is just email and basic stuff. The fact that ANYONE that isn't authorized and vetted by the DOE is allowed into any system is a serious offense. Because even if someone has basic access, if they have the ability to connect to the network with any external hardware, they can access far more.

[Fugus]

Also keep in mind that the DoE are the ones who manage our nuclear arsenal, not the DoD. Last thing you want is an outsider have control over them without oversight or worse allow a foreign actor to hack into them through a back door they install to mess with them.

[gondrin]

So, Trump decided to appoint Paula White to be his head of his newly created Faith Office. I mean, this is right on point. Nothing says grift than the someone preaching the Prosperity Gospel. Goes perfectly along with Trump and the grift that is MAGA.

https://forward.com/fast-forward/694...r-paula-white/

[Wyrt]

So, Trump decided to appoint Paula White to be his head of his newly created Faith Office. I mean, this is right on point. Nothing says grift than the someone preaching the Prosperity Gospel. Goes perfectly along with Trump and the grift that is MAGA.

https://forward.com/fast-forward/694...r-paula-white/

I'm glad we have some christian representation in government finally. Definitely wasn't enough with just every president and Supreme Court justice ever and the vast majority of congress.

MAGAs want to whine about snowflakes, well, the biggest snowflakes on the planet are right there.

[Rasulis]

Trump economics still ruining breakfeast for hard working americans. USDA says prices will likely go up another 20%!



This still a valid talking point? Yes, thank you.

It will get worse. My friend owns a large farming operation in Salinas. Many of her workers are aging out. Median age is well over 60. Many of her workers are over 70. There is no replacement. Mechanization and automation helped. Although, having the right automated tools for every single crop grown at her farm is hard to do.

Farmers in the Midwest grow/rotate at best 2 -4 different kind in crops. In Salinas, dozens. Not to mention because of its location, Salinas has two different growing seasons - cool and hot season crops.

[s_bushido]

I'm glad we have some christian representation in government finally. Definitely wasn't enough with just every president and Supreme Court justice ever and the vast majority of congress.

MAGAs want to whine about snowflakes, well, the biggest snowflakes on the planet are right there.

There's absolutely no shot Trump himself isn't obviously an atheist. But he panders to the religious like all the rest, so it makes little difference.

[Kaleredar]

There's absolutely no shot Trump himself isn't obviously an atheist. But he panders to the religious like all the rest, so it makes little difference.

With Trump blasting Fortunate Son, Rockin' in the Free World, and so forth with absolutely zero understanding of the meaning of the songs in question I'm frankly quite surprised he hasn't busted out this one yet:

[alach]

Guys, I hate to be a negative nancy, but... is America going to survive this?
Sure, alot of people are unhappy with what he is doing, and the courts are trying to stop what they can.
But we have 3 years 11 months 13 days and 10 hours left of this and he has barely started to put his guys in place. There will be no one to call and alert illegal activity to in another month at this rate.
And what he doing to the reputation on the global stage, something that took 70 years to grow.
I will try and stay optimistic, but he seems to be purging the government and installing his crazy people much faster in than I expected.

And then you have musk. Oh boy. If you are an American heres some info for you to use while you still can;

[Xyonai]

Shit will be bad, but I think stuff behind the scenes will stall or hit snags with rebellious federal employees mostly. I'm still not sure the DNC has woken up enough from its fugue state to organize a resistance, their leaders seem content with the 'Surly his -next- fuckup will turn people on him!' strategy that only worked last time because of an unprecedented pandemic.

But it all really comes down to momentum: Can Trump's team carry this blitz for long enough to get shit done, and can his opposition keep the energy going to actually mount an effective challenge to his power.

[gondrin]

So, in an interesting note, Mark Cuban is actively asking questions. Literally asking Elon Musk why is he hiding what the hell DOGE is doing instead of being transparent about it? Asking actual legitimate questions.

Now, the reason why I bring this up is because Mark Cuban, unlike me, actually has a position of power and authority in the political world. He can get things moving whereas I cannot without the help of others.

https://x.com/mcuban/status/1887627260800196762

[Edge-]

https://x.com/mcuban/status/1887627260800196762

The comments are so fucking braindead, man. Holy shit what a dead fucking platform.

[gondrin]

Guys, I hate to be a negative nancy, but... is America going to survive this?
Sure, alot of people are unhappy with what he is doing, and the courts are trying to stop what they can.
But we have 3 years 11 months 13 days and 10 hours left of this and he has barely started to put his guys in place. There will be no one to call and alert illegal activity to in another month at this rate.
And what he doing to the reputation on the global stage, something that took 70 years to grow.
I will try and stay optimistic, but he seems to be purging the government and installing his crazy people much faster in than I expected.

And then you have musk. Oh boy. If you are an American heres some info for you to use while you still can;

Best thing I can tell you is just keep up the pressure. Keep making phone calls. It takes no more than a few minutes each day to contact your elected officials. Be respectful when calling as yelling will just get you hung up on. If there is a town hall and you can make it, go to it. It is far harder to ignore when they are face to face with you than over the phone or email. Once again, don't yell and be respectful. Demand answers. That is what we can do.

Anyone on the inside, it all depends on how much legality they want to jeopardize. If they don't mind going to jail, start barring the doors with chains. Start locking out systems from any intrusions, both hardware and software. Disable any open ports. Install hardcoded passwords that cannot be bypassed if it is possible. Things like that.
If not, be as inefficient or outright negligent as possible. Give wrong or dishonest information. Play dumb. Be as maliciously compliant as possible while being as ineffective and outright inefficient as possible.

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The comments are so fucking braindead, man. Holy shit what a dead fucking platform.

Oh, most of those are bots. Literal bots. I rarely use the platform. Every so often I get something that takes me to it and I am required to go to it.

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So, you know that resignation offer that Musk offered? I won't say it is Trump because it wasn't.

Anyway, well, it seems to be very conditional. Work for the TSA? Nope, you are not allowed. Even though they want to close you down. What about the CIA, NSA or other security agencies? Once again, nope.

You know, Musk may have proven himself to be somehow worse than Trump. At least Trump is a bumbling idiot. Musk is just proving himself to be disastrously incompetent.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/othe...ae4b9f48&ei=35

[No Kings Voter]

It will get worse. My friend owns a large farming operation in Salinas. Many of her workers are aging out. Median age is well over 60. Many of her workers are over 70. There is no replacement. Mechanization and automation helped. Although, having the right automated tools for every single crop grown at her farm is hard to do.

Farmers in the Midwest grow/rotate at best 2 -4 different kind in crops. In Salinas, dozens. Not to mention because of its location, Salinas has two different growing seasons - cool and hot season crops.

70 year-olds? You and your "friend" are creepy as fuck. For fucks sake report them for elder abuse, dont use it for fodder on your lifestyle blog.

[Flarelaine]

70 year-olds? You and your "friend" are creepy as fuck. For fucks sake report them for elder abuse, dont use it for fodder on your lifestyle blog.

Is it truly an employer's fault that a capitalist country ensures no peaceful retirement for the elderly?

[gondrin]

So, tell me, if Elon Musk and DOGE are working for free, from what I've been told, how is it costing the taxpayer $7 million in the first week that goes to them? Shouldn't that number be, well, $0?

https://rollcall.com/2025/02/04/whit...doge-expenses/

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So, in a big brain move by Trump, he is going to basically suspending the $5 billion that was to go to help build a national EV charging infrastructure. I mean, whatever make it harder to own electric vehicles since he hates them.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...fae609d1&ei=27