Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Benggaul]

So, Mother Nature is screwing with the COVID-19 numbers as huge swathes of the US are closing testing sites in the face of the weather. Unless you live in Texas, where you're currently probably more likely to freeze to death due to lack of power in sub-zero temperatures before succumbing to the virus. I guess that's what happens when you isolate your power grid from the federal grid to avoid federal regulations and line the pockets of a few rich folks. Yay secessionism, eh? Fuck you, Cruz, Crenshaw et al.

That said, I'll just keep the reports for the next few days short and without comparisons to previous weeks since the numbers are no longer completely reliable:

63,398 new cases reported. 1,787 deaths reported, bringing the total to 499,991. This will undoubtedly scoot past the 500k mark once the last couple of states report. Both of these totals are way underreported so we can expect corrections once the nation is able to shovel itself out from under the winter weather. I still fully expect the deaths to be in the region of at least 2.5k for the normal peak days, for example. As per usual the corrections will most likely be back-dated on worldometers and show as huge spikes on JH when they eventually get reported.

Stay warm, folks.

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Meanwhile, as the TRUMP SHITSHOW continues...

Explainer: Trump's acts as president are 'fair game' for criminal charges

This is a pretty good explanation of several of the types of trouble Trump is likely to find himself in. I'm sure Turtle McGee is treating himself to an extra leaf of lettuce in pure glee.

Can Trump be prosecuted for acts he engaged in as president?

Yes. Now that Trump has left office, any misconduct he engaged in as president is “fair game” for criminal charges, said Brian Kalt, a constitutional law professor at Michigan State University.

Trump enjoyed more protection from prosecution while he was president because the U.S. Justice Department has concluded it would be unconstitutional to indict a sitting president. But there is no federal prohibition on charging a former president for acts committed while in office.

“The immunity argument is about the timing of the trial; it is generally accepted that ex-presidents can be prosecuted for crimes committed in office,” Kalt said.

Do Trump’s official acts enjoy special protection from prosecution?

No.

In some contexts, U.S. courts have drawn a distinction between a president’s “official acts” and actions unrelated to the job of president. For example, in a 1982 case the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that, in civil lawsuits, presidents are immune from liability arising from their official acts.

But if Trump violated criminal laws, the fact that he took those actions while president would not shield him from liability, said Randall Eliason, a law professor at George Washington University and a former federal prosecutor.

As a practical matter, prosecutors will be careful not to criminalize “policy disagreements or exercises of discretion,” he said.

Eliason said it would be appropriate for prosecutors to investigate Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 riot, as well as his attempts to undermine Democratic President Joe Biden’s election victory.

What criminal investigations does Trump face so far?

For more than two years, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance has been probing Trump’s real estate business for possible insurance and tax fraud. There is a separate civil investigation by New York state Attorney General Letitia James into whether the business falsely reported property values.

The Trump Organization has denied in court filings that the company falsified property values, and has rejected other allegations made by Vance and James, both Democrats.

Trump, a Republican, has said the probes are politically motivated.

Prosecutors in Georgia’s biggest county recently opened a criminal investigation into Trump’s attempts to influence the state’s 2020 election results, ordering government officials to preserve documents in the second known criminal probe of Trump.

The investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, a Democrat, is the most serious probe facing Trump in Georgia after he was recorded in a Jan. 2 phone call pressuring a top state official to overturn the state’s election results based on unfounded voter fraud claims.

In a statement, Jason Miller, a senior Trump adviser, accused Democrats of attempting “to score political points by continuing their witch hunt against President Trump.”

What about civil lawsuits?

Trump faces several civil lawsuits, including two defamation lawsuits filed by women who accused him of sexually assaulting them before he was elected president in 2016. Trump has denied the encounters.

These lawsuits proceeded during Trump’s presidency, but could unfold more quickly now that he is out office because he cannot use his status as president to postpone deadlines.

A Democratic congressman, in a lawsuit filed on Tuesday, accused Trump, his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and two right-wing groups of conspiring to incite last month’s deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol.

The congressman, U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson, said in the lawsuit that “Trump acted beyond the outer perimeter of his official duties and therefore is susceptible to suit in his personal capacity.”

[Omega10]

And luckily, working against McConnell is the fact that a lot of the stuff Biden is pushing for out the gate... Stimulus relief, COVID measures, vaccine distribution... is incredibly popular. McConnell can't offhandedly label it as being socialist nonsense and it'd be very difficult for him and the GOP to effectively start pearl-clutching about "the cost of things" when people are dying and/or can't pay their rent.

Fingers crossed on that. If it turns out that 10 republicans vote for pretty much ANY democratic proposal, then it may lead to McConnell negotiating with democrats in earnest with compromises being closer to 50-50 rather than McConnell deals being give us 95% of what we want, you get 5%, and we'll call it square.

I won't hold my breath. But President Biden has outperformed his expectations by a lot, and Trump really did incite a riot aimed at killing McConnell among others. Good things might still happen

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Edit: And oh yeah there is this.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...X6y?li=BBorjTa

Title: Trump Calls on G.O.P. to Replace McConnell

Excerpts:

Former President Donald J. Trump on Tuesday made a slashing and lengthy attack on Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican minority leader, calling him a “dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack” and arguing that the party would suffer losses in the future if he remained in charge.

TRUMP SAID SOMETHING TRUE!!!

He said IF McConnell remained in charge, the republican party would suffer losses in the future.

Since the republican party has a good chance of suffering big losses in the future no matter what happens, this statement is true. This could also be phrased as If McConnell is removed from power as Senate Minority Leader, the republican party would suffer losses in the future.

“The Republican Party can never again be respected or strong with political ‘leaders’ like Sen. Mitch McConnell at its helm,” Mr. Trump said. “McConnell’s dedication to business as usual, status quo policies, together with his lack of political insight, wisdom, skill, and personality, has rapidly driven him from majority leader to minority leader, and it will only get worse.”

Mr. Trump offered up some new taunts: “The Democrats and Chuck Schumer play McConnell like a fiddle — they’ve never had it so good — and they want to keep it that way!” he said. “We know our America First agenda is a winner, not McConnell’s Beltway First agenda or Biden’s America Last.”

There were more insults than this thrown out. It seems to me that democrats need to focus as much light on Trumps actual words moving forward. Especially on days when Biden is speaking.

[Breccia]

He said IF McConnell remained in charge, the republican party would suffer losses in the future

*ahem*

2018.

[Adam Jensen]

And the lines have been officially drawn. In no way shape or form do you want McConnell as a literal enemy. Trump is such a fucking idiot he doesn't even recognize that most/all of the few "victories" came from McConnell's machinations.

McConnell continues to seize the reigns of the GOP as more Republicans distance themselves from dipshit-dictator Trump.

On one hand, less power to Trump.

On the other hand . . . Mitch is actually a somewhat competent evil fuck so . . . . oof.

[Naiattavain]

i followed trump on twitter i got banned from twitter for no reason violated after trump got banned. all i did was read his tweets. does that make me an extremist no. this shit is Rediculas man.

[beanman12345]

i followed trump on twitter i got banned from twitter for no reason violated after trump got banned. all i did was read his tweets. does that make me an extremist no. this shit is Rediculas man.

was gonna ask if this is satire of people who get hit with a ban in wow for botting and come here saying they didn't do nothing, then I look at started threads and see this is a kokolums account.

[Verdugo]

was gonna ask if this is satire of people who get hit with a ban in wow for botting and come here saying they didn't do nothing, then I look at started threads and see this is a kokolums account.

How do you even get burner acc with over 1400 posts.

[postman1782]

i followed trump on twitter i got banned from twitter for no reason violated after trump got banned. all i did was read his tweets. does that make me an extremist no. this shit is Rediculas man.

I guarantee you didn't get banned from Twitter for just following Trump. Otherwise 80 million accounts would have been banned alongside you.

[Shadowferal]

Trump Plaza implosion in Atlantic City: Here’s how to watch live today

The former Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, shuttered in 2014 and vacant since then, is set to be demolished around 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17.

Unlike the implosion of the Sands casino in 2007 — which was held on a Friday night and featured a fireworks display and drew 100,000 onlookers — officials are hoping to limit crowd sizes and keep those who do come to watch socially distanced.

For those not making the trip to Atlantic City, the city will livestream the event on its website and Facebook page.

[Felya]

TRUMP SAID SOMETHING TRUE!!!

He said IF McConnell remained in charge, the republican party would suffer losses in the future.

I read that and thought the same thing... Trump is right... this love/hate relationship they have with Trump, will lead to ruin. They need to make a choice and McConnell only pushes back, after proving his obedience. Those mixed messages have potential to turn off everyone...

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i followed trump on twitter i got banned from twitter for no reason violated after trump got banned. all i did was read his tweets. does that make me an extremist no. this shit is Rediculas man.

That’s weird... I was relentlessly promoting Trump on Twitter and they gave me an approved check, without me asking. Who did you talk to at Twitter? My contact was Steve Rogers...

[Breccia]

The situation in Texas stopped being funny, but perhaps there will be consequences. Beto O'Rourke blamed Republican leaders in Texas for what he says was a failure to prepare for widespread power outages resulting from a massive winter storm that swept across the state this week.

"So much of this was avoidable," O'Rourke said during an appearance Tuesday on MSNBC. "Going back to the deregulation of our electric grid here in Texas, which has actually created an incentive to not weatherize or protect against these events."

The onetime congressman from El Paso said Republicans who run the state are too busy worrying about "stupid" cultural issues like the debate over the national anthem before NBA games or efforts to make Texas a "sanctuary state" for companies and people fleeing states with more liberal policies on issues like guns and immigration.

"The energy capital of North America cannot provide enough energy to warm and power people's homes," O'Rourke said. "We are nearing a failed state in Texas. And it has nothing to do with God or natural disasters. It has everything to do with those in positions of public trust who have failed us."

Several people

Last I heard, it was 21. That was yesterday, and I imagine a record-breaking cold combined with a blackout overnight made it worse.

have died and tens of thousands have been left in the dark and cold since Sunday evening after a winter storm moved through a large swath of the state earlier this week.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has mobilized the National Guard as some residents scramble to get the sick and elderly to warming centers amid record-setting cold temperatures in much of the state.

State officials have not offered a prediction as of Wednesday morning about when power might be restored to affected areas.

Several power companies in the state have warned that "additional outages" may still occur.

Actions demand consequences. For the record, I think Texas is less negligent with the storm than Trump was with COVID-19. It's not like Gov. Abbot met with Mother Nature and said "It's just one storm coming in from the north, we'll be fine".

[masterhorus8]

The sad part is when you have morons like Dan Crenshaw calling this a once in a century event when they had the same situation happen in 2011 on Groundhog Day.

That's a bit of irony right there.

[Breccia]

Looks like everything went according to plan. So satisfying seeing that dump disappear in a cloud of dust.

[Omega10]

The sad part is when you have morons like Dan Crenshaw calling this a once in a century event when they had the same situation happen in 2011 on Groundhog Day.

The good news is that there is more pushback against this kind of nonsense than ever before.

https://news.yahoo.com/chris-hayes-f...094301582.html

Title: Chris Hayes Slams Fox News’ Latest ‘Painful Culture War Idiocy’

Excerpts:

MSNBC’s Chris Hayes on Tuesday pulled apart the lie being pushed on Fox News and by some Republicans about renewable energy being somehow responsible for the catastrophic power outages sweeping across Texas during an extreme winter storm.

Chris Hayes flat out called it a lie. Thank Trump for teaching commentators and reporters for calling outright lies for what they are. He lied so often that people just got to the point that they had to call him out on his blatant lies. Now people also call out Fox News and other republicans for lying.

This was not the norm before.

The rest of the statement speaks for itself. He does not pull any punches.

“This is an awful situation, it’s driven by a complex confluence of factors from extreme weather in an era of climate change to an electric infrastructure that’s been woefully underdeveloped to the idiosyncrasies of Texas aggressively deregulated and independent energy market,” Hayes explained.

“But of course Fox News and other Republicans saw some kind of suffering, some kind of problem somewhere and immediately, without missing a beat, right away tried to turn it into a culture war ― in this case against those damn hippy liberals and their clean energy,” he added.

“It is just a lie that wind turbines, green energy, are the root causes of the problems in Texas right now,” Hayes said. “It is a lie like Donald Trump won the election, a lie like there was widespread voter fraud, a lie pumped into millions of people’s brains as they watch TV. And let’s be clear, this is probably as consequential a lie as any about the election because energy and how we produce it is the single biggest issue this country will face in the medium term.”

“Republicans and right-wing media, they want to take every policy issue and turn it into some painful culture war idiocy,” he added.

I know I bolded too much, but there is a lot of good stuff that was said here. It is relatively new for commentators to make the point that climate change IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST ISSUE THIS COUNTRY WILL FACE IN THE MEDIUM TERM.

Global Warming IS what is causing the ice storms in Texas. Air that used to stay up around the north pole is now energized enough to move south and hang around in Texas. -45 degrees is really warm for the north pole, but even after mixing in with much warmer air in Texas it's still really really cold for Texas and for where humans live.

Things are changing. Finally. And not quick enough, but I guess we'll just have to make do.

[cubby]

Meanwhile, as the TRUMP SHITSHOW continues...

Explainer: Trump's acts as president are 'fair game' for criminal charges

This is a pretty good explanation of several of the types of trouble Trump is likely to find himself in. I'm sure Turtle McGee is treating himself to an extra leaf of lettuce in pure glee.

Fan-fucking-tastic. I have to say I did not know this was possible - I thought his acts were protected by the office while he was Resident.

[Edge-]

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/17/u...gtype=Homepage

Last fall, the Pentagon’s most senior leaders agreed that two top generals should be promoted to elite, four-star commands.

For then-Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the tricky part was that both of the accomplished officers were women. In 2020 America under President Trump, the two Pentagon leaders feared that any candidates other than white men for jobs mostly held by white men might run into turmoil once their nominations got to the White House.

Mr. Esper and General Milley worried that if they even raised their names — Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost of the Air Force and Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson of the Army — the Trump White House would replace them with their own candidates before leaving office.

So the Pentagon officials agreed on an unusual strategy: They held back their recommendations until after the November elections, betting that if Joseph R. Biden Jr. won, he and his aides would be more supportive of the Pentagon picks than Mr. Trump, who had feuded with Mr. Esper and has a history of disparaging women. They stuck to the plan even after Mr. Trump fired Mr. Esper six days after the election.

Yet another in the long chapter of, "Trump is a fucking bigoted snowflake".

[Breccia]

I thought his acts were protected by the office while he was Resident.

His acts in his role are covered, I'm sure. His role as a degusting waste of a human being -- for example, all those lies he said in public to libel, slander, and defame companies -- is likely not protected. I'd love to see the wedge driven between them in court.

[Benggaul]

If anyone wants to know how the Texas Doomsday preppers are doing--you know, the ones who thought a Biden win would end civilization--here's an epic Twitter thread describing one of them. Anecdotal, sure, but still fucking hilarious.

https://twitter.com/torriangray/stat...521605122?s=20

[cubby]

His acts in his role are covered, I'm sure. His role as a degusting waste of a human being -- for example, all those lies he said in public to libel, slander, and defame companies -- is likely not protected. I'd love to see the wedge driven between them in court.

I'm looking forward to it as well. Looks like our prediction that Trump would be spending the last part of his life in court is starting to come true.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/17/u...gtype=Homepage

Last fall, the Pentagon’s most senior leaders agreed that two top generals should be promoted to elite, four-star commands.

For then-Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the tricky part was that both of the accomplished officers were women. In 2020 America under President Trump, the two Pentagon leaders feared that any candidates other than white men for jobs mostly held by white men might run into turmoil once their nominations got to the White House.

Mr. Esper and General Milley worried that if they even raised their names — Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost of the Air Force and Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson of the Army — the Trump White House would replace them with their own candidates before leaving office.

So the Pentagon officials agreed on an unusual strategy: They held back their recommendations until after the November elections, betting that if Joseph R. Biden Jr. won, he and his aides would be more supportive of the Pentagon picks than Mr. Trump, who had feuded with Mr. Esper and has a history of disparaging women. They stuck to the plan even after Mr. Trump fired Mr. Esper six days after the election.

Yet another in the long chapter of, "Trump is a fucking bigoted snowflake".

I hate that women are still getting the neaderthal treatment, but I'm delighted that people like the above are still trying to make the world a better place.

[Edge-]

If anyone wants to know how the Texas Doomsday preppers are doing--you know, the ones who thought a Biden win would end civilization--here's an epic Twitter thread describing one of them. Anecdotal, sure, but still fucking hilarious.

https://twitter.com/torriangray/stat...521605122?s=20

I find some of this hard to believe (they were relying on natural gas...as preppers?), but given the reaction to the lockdown that we saw from the prepper crowd who were FURIOUS they couldn't get a haircut and end the day with some $5 sliders and Bud Lite while hitting on the 22 year old waitress at Applebee's I wouldn't be surprised if this was more truth than fiction.

Other oddities...

Electric can opener? None of these fucks have a fuckin pocket knife? Like, my old-ass little Boy Scout knife I still carry around has one, and it's not even a bloody utility knife.
Gas-fired firepit? No like...normal fire pit?

Yeah, I'm laughing but I'm treating this more as a work of fiction.