Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Fahrenheit]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ce/1203665001/

So I guess Trump spells at about a 7th grade level. What an achomlishment.

Maybe if that 7th grader that was kicked in the head by a mule?

[Paranoid Android]

Trump again bashed former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as “dumb as a rock," charging that he was “totally ill prepared and ill equipped” to become America’s top diplomat https://t.co/xv9Np9REF0

https://twitter.com/politico/status/...086760449?s=19

Well people we have come full circle in this thread. Started when Trump called Tillerson dumb and now he repeats himself.

[Breccia]

Started when Trump called Tillerson dumb and now he repeats himself.

Tillerson, Sessions, Kelly, Cohn, Cohen...I thought Trump said he hired the best people. Not even he is defending half the people he fired.

[Belize]

https://twitter.com/politico/status/...086760449?s=19

Well people we have come full circle in this thread. Started when Trump called Tillerson dumb and now he repeats himself.

It's like poetry, it rhymes.

[Breccia]

McConnell chastises the Democrats over failure to pass a disaster relief bill.

The Senate will not adjourn this week until we have voted on legislation to deliver long-overdue relief funding for communities that have been hit hard by natural disasters

"What's the holdup? Is it Puerto Rico again?"

Oddly enough, doesn't seem to be. It appears to be the $4.5 billion that the WH asked for.

"Oh, the White House asked for extra relief effort? That's Trump keeping his pr...wait, that was too easy."

Yep. The $4.5 billion that Trump asked for is for the emergency on the southern border to all three Mexican countries.

"So...is it too much to hope he's sending humanitarian aid down there?"

Actually, no, most of it is. $3.3 billion or so. It's the rest that's likely the sticking point.

"...it's concentration camps, isn't it?"

It is, in fact, $1.1 billion for building new concentration camps.

Democrats have agreed to include humanitarian aid as part of an agreement on the disaster package, but a previous offer didn't include the administration's request for more money for ICE detention beds, considered a non-starter for most of the caucus.

Democrats made another offer to Republicans late Wednesday night as staff-level talks continue to try to find a way of breaking the stalemate. But Republicans have also warned that attempts by Democrats to use the bill to pass new immigration-related restrictions would be counterproductive to getting a deal.

Bolded for hypocrisy, considering the holdup seems to be 100% immigration related, namely, concentration camps.

[quote]"I think they're trying to get the language in a place where both sides can be satisfied," Thune said. "But you know the prescriptive language that the Democrats in the House are trying to add to this, I think they're trying to work through how to … massage the language in a way that both sides can walk away and feel like they got what they wanted."

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) argued on Thursday that if negotiators can't reach a deal within a matter of hours, they should drop the border-related language from the bill and only pass a "clean" disaster aid bill.

"If we can't come to an agreement this morning on other extraneous issues that the House is discussing, we should set those issues to the side," Schumer said. "We should pass the disaster agreement as is."

Bolded for emphasis. I was going to say "bolded for anti-hyporicsy" but to be honest I don't know if Schumer was trying to add language or not. But he is getting out in front of this one, and he'll be able to say "hey farmers, we tried" and give an exaggerated comic shrug.

Immigration's emergence as a sticking point comes after lawmakers managed to work out several other issues. They say they've reached a deal on aid to Puerto Rico, despite Trump's previous criticism of the island territory, and Republicans have jettisoned harbor maintenance funding and a short-term extension of the Violence Against Women Act.

So, yeah, part of the $91 billion that Trump said he was giving to Puerto Rico might actually start to work its way there.

[Rasulis]

https://twitter.com/politico/status/...086760449?s=19

Well people we have come full circle in this thread. Started when Trump called Tillerson dumb and now he repeats himself.

You think Tillerson regrets leaving the chairman and chief executive officer position at Exxon for this bullcrap?

[Breccia]

It's like poetry, it rhymes.

The only thing poetic here is that I was vomiting in stanzas. I don't even know what that means.

- - - Updated - - -

You think Tillerson regrets leaving the chairman and chief executive officer position at Exxon for this bullcrap?

Uh...



If anything, I think Exxon is the one with regrets.

[Rasulis]

The only thing poetic here is that I was vomiting in stanzas. I don't even know what that means.

- - - Updated - - -



Uh...



If anything, I think Exxon is the one with regrets.

Well, when the products that you are selling keep going down in price ……...

[Edge-]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...=.b594772cf914

Welp, sounds like the gridlock with the disaster funding bill is resolved?

But how on earth did they do that?!

By functionally ignoring the White House and giving them precisely $0 of their requested $4.5B for the border wall. The White House has apparently signaled that they agree with the deal despite not getting what they wanted.

The greatest of dealmakers, amiright?

[Rasulis]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...=.b594772cf914

Welp, sounds like the gridlock with the disaster funding bill is resolved?

But how on earth did they do that?!

By functionally ignoring the White House and giving them precisely $0 of their requested $4.5B for the border wall. The White House has apparently signaled that they agree with the deal despite not getting what they wanted.

The greatest of dealmakers, amiright?

Yes. I agree with you that Nancy Pelosi is the greatest dealmaker of the century.

[Breccia]

WH announces plans to give $16 billion to farmers hurt by the retaliation tariffs applied by China.

This would bring the total amount pledged to $28 billion, or 2.45 Trump Shutdowns, or $140 per taxpayer. Roughly. And, yes, this is American taxpayer money. China is not paying these.

"Okay, but at least those farmers can get some relief. It's a little late in the planting season, but if they delayed due to funds they can still -- "

The first payout is scheduled for July.

"...July?"

August at the latest. The second in late fall, and the third in 2020.

"Why the delay?"

We hope to have a trade agreement before the second and third payments are made... that will depend on whether there is still damage to our producers

-- the USDA

"But, I mean, don't major farm decisions have to be made by now? It's nearly June. Harvest times are finite."

Yes.

"Wait, couldn't they just sit at home, not plant anything, claim their farming business was damaged and demand a check?"

You mean, will Republicans give out welfare? Heh. No, you have to end up sitting on a crop that doesn't sell.

"So...people are going to plant a bunch of soybeans, tank the market even further, claim damage by China and then demand a check?"

Pretty much, yes.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, told reporters Wednesday that the White House should have been more cautious about the timing of the announcement because farmers are still planting.

“[W]e want farmers to make decisions on how many acres of corn and soybeans to plant based on the market and not something the government’s doing,” he said.

“The timing couldn’t have been worse,” said Jonathan Coppess, an agricultural policy professor at the University of Illinois, and a former head of the USDA Farm Service Agency during the Obama administration.

Rainfall in the Midwest has delayed planting, so many farmers can still switch up their crops. Even the prospect of another round of trade assistance could encourage them to plant more soybeans, Coppess said.

"There is certainly enough experience at USDA to know that announcing payments during planting might well cause more problems," Coppess said.

"Well, I guess if you add the $16 billion to the $12 billion already paid -- "

$8.52 billion.

"You said $12 billion earlier."

I said $12 billion pledged earlier. About two-thirds has gone out. And a fair chunk has been going to larger farm corporations.

"...where does this money even come from?"

The aid programs in both years primarily involve sending direct payments to farmers and ranchers using funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation, a Depression-era financial institution under the USDA that has broad authority to stabilize the farm economy.

But it is unclear whether the CCC has enough borrowing authority to fund another tariff-relief program. It is only allowed to borrow $30 billion per fiscal year from the U.S. Treasury to fund its work, and last year’s bailout used a big chunk of that. The CCC also is used to fund traditional farm subsidies authorized every five years by Congress.

"Okay, but at least Congress can't block that."

Actually, Congress voted to expand that. But it's temporary.

"Well if Trump is giving anywhere between $0 and $28 billion to farmers, what's his plan for US auto makers?"

None. There is currently no relief plan for any industry other than farmers.

- - - Updated - - -

By functionally ignoring the White House and giving them precisely $0 of their requested $4.5B for the border wall.

Funny story: the $4.5B wasn't even going to the Wall anyhow.

It should be noted that Puerto Rico gets about $1 billion of the $19 billion. This still leaves them far short of what they need, and far short of the $91 billion Trump said he gave them.

- - - Updated - - -

Well, when the products that you are selling keep going down in price ……...

Shell, Chevron and BP have gained more than Exxon has lost since Jan 20 2017. Alimentation Couche Tard owns Circle K and they went up, but it's a mixed bag there. Sunoco's got problems, losing roughly as much as Exxon did. It's not just the product.

I suspect that the difference could easily involve their plans. If, say, Exxon wanted to build a bunch of new offshore refineries due to new offshore drilling regulations being axed, then they didn't get axed and also steel jumped in price, then they get to eat shale and like it.

[Xeones]

Oh this is great... #TrumpTantrum and #TrumpMustResign are trending in the US

So generally I see things like this and check twitter just to find it's not trending any longer. Trumpmustresign is still trending lol.

[kaelleria]

So this is a thing -

https://www.urbandictionary.com/defi...ructure%20week

Definition need not be updated.

Infrastructure week

A repeatedly failed attempt to stay on-task endlessly derailed by high-profile distractions caused by one's own ineptitude. Named after the Trump administration's attempts to focus on policy continuously being overshadowed by a new scandal.

[Elegiac]

So this is a thing -

https://www.urbandictionary.com/defi...ructure%20week

Definition need not be updated.

Hah, bless.

[Ripster42]

Bank Executive Indicted for Allegedly Giving Loans to Paul Manafort in Exchange for Soliciting Trump Job

Nothing to see here folks. Manafort’s crimes had nothing to do with the White House. /s

"An SDNY spokesman originally said it would be inaccurate to describe the case as one of the 14 criminal referrals Mueller made to the Justice Department, but later clarified that he could not confirm whether that was the case."

This wasn't even one of the 14 referrals mueller made.

[Moonstream]

Trump calls Pelosi "crazy" as White House staff assures press he was "very calm" and "definitely not angry" in meeting

President Trump called Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "crazy" and said she "lost it."

Trump addressed the dust-up between him and Pelosi directly, dismissing the “nasty-type statement” Pelosi made afterward.

As he did on Twitter this morning, Trump disputed the characterization of himself at the infrastructure meeting as angry. He said he intentionally maintained his cool “because I know that they will always say that even if it didn’t happen.”

“You all saw me minutes later, I was at a news conference, I was extremely calm,” Trump said.

After again taking a swipe at Pelosi – “She’s lost it,” he said – Trump quizzed his aides on precisely how calm he behaved in the infrastructure meeting yesterday.

“Kellyanne, what was my temperament yesterday?” he asked counselor Kellyanne Conway, who he said was present at the meeting.

Trump soon turned to Mercedes Schlapp.

“What was my attitude when I walked in?” he asked Schlapp

The senior communications director said Trump was “very direct.”

The President repeated this with economic adviser Larry Kudlow, asking his opinion of the President’s demeanor.

Trump said Pelosi was “crazy” and waving her arms like an animated 2020 Democratic hopeful, Beto O’Rourke.

“She reminded me of Beto,” Trump said of Pelosi.

Trump then turned to press secretary Sarah Sanders to solicit yet another opinion of his temperament.

“What was my tone yesterday at the meeting?” he asked.

Sanders told the President he was “definitely not angry or ranting.”

[cubby]

Trump calls Pelosi "crazy" as White House staff assures press he was "very calm" and "definitely not angry" in meeting

It's almost like you can tell exactly what happened by the opposite of whatever Trump/Sanders claim.

[Edge-]

https://thehill.com/homenews/adminis...ent-theyve-had

“It’s a very big thing going on with the emperor," Trump said. "It’s something that hasn’t happened in over 200 years. I am the guest, meaning the United States is the guest, but Prime Minister Abe said to me very specifically, 'You are the guest of honor. There’s only one guest of honor. You are the guest of honor.'"

"With all the countries of the world I am the guest of honor at the biggest event that they’ve had in over 200 years," Trump said. "So it’s a great thing. And we get along very well with Japan. I get along very well with the prime minister so we’re going to be spending two days over there."

Imagine being this gullible and easily manipulated. I feel like I should do some digging to see if I can find the public email accounts of folks around Trump. I'm sure if I send them enough Nigerian Prince spam that Trump will eventually see one of them and I can get him to send me enough money to retire early.

[Zaydin]

So apparently now the Trump Legal Defense Foundation, formerly known as the Department of Justice, is now arguing that Congress lacks the standing/authority to sue the President at all.

Where are the 'constitutional conservatives' who are horrified about this blatant assault on the Constitution? They honestly seem to think that God Emperor Trump is above the law or any sort of oversight.

[Felya]

Imagine being this gullible and easily manipulated. I feel like I should do some digging to see if I can find the public email accounts of folks around Trump. I'm sure if I send them enough Nigerian Prince spam that Trump will eventually see one of them and I can get him to send me enough money to retire early.

I think it’s more of not realizing that he is president of the US and is not being guest of honor as an individual.