What has Trump done now?

[rgmwa]

4 hours ago, pmccarthy said:

Trump will achieve a lot of things that need to be done and would not have been done otherwise. He might break a few things along the way.

More likely Trump will break a lot of things that don't need to be broken and would not have been done otherwise. He might steal a few things for himself along the way.

[ClintonB]

I have a relative that is in the USA as a citizen now, works a good job in the corporate world, when he moved from Seattle to Texas he became a full Trump supporter. I think a lot was to do with he would be run out of town if he didn’t follow the other sheep.

[pmccarthy]

We will never know what he might have achieved in his first term if he hadn’t been constantly attacked by Pelosi and co. He never really had a chance that time. I wouldn't have voted for him, but now they have him and I wish him well.

[rgmwa]

I wish him well too for the sake of the US population and the rest of the world, but I'll be surprised if this experiment ends well for anyone, including Trump.

Edited November 27 by rgmwa

[willedoo]

In his first term Trump's nasty personality and abrasive ways were a big factor in the opposition to him. In other words, if he was a really nice bloke, he wouldn't have had anywhere near as hard a time based on his policies alone. The problem is things like Jerry mentioned, getting the Europeans off their bludging backsides to pay their fare share of GDP on defence instead of hanging off the American shirt tails, I doubt would have happened if he asked nicely. The US had been trying that approach for a long time and were constantly being taken for fools. Trump's threats and aggressive style worked in that instance.

 

I think the Europeans will be keen to see what he's like this time round. They'll be wondering whether it will be good, bad, or somewhere in between. One of Trump's problems is that a lot of people hate him that much that they want him to fail. That's how polarising he is.

[nomadpete]

3 hours ago, rgmwa said:

More likely Trump .......... might steal a few things for himself along the way.

Make a note to remind the FBI to check DJT's bathroom in 4 years time.

[rgmwa]

And his bank accounts, his office desk drawers, his waste paper basket, his Mar a Lago store rooms and his back pocket.

[willedoo]

Here's an idea that could settle or create a few arguments. Come 20th. January, what say we start a Trump ledger thread to note over the next four years of his presidency the good achievements against the bad. And then count them up in 2028. By bad I don't mean if he's p*ssed someone off or said something stupid (otherwise the site could run out of bandwidth and there's other threads for that anyway) but just policy introduced, law changes, presidential decrees and vetos etc..  In 2028 he'll either be in the black or in the red.

[nomadpete]

Thanks, Will.

 

Thats rational, sensible and fair.

 

You are setting a new standard for social media!

[old man emu]

Trump is not alone in staring at economic troubles. Putin is having trouble with the value of the ruble. 

 

 

[red750]

[Jerry_Atrick]

Well you could argue his bellicose ways are already having a positive impact for Americans. Of course it isn't anything concrete yet but Europe is looking to take the view if you can't beat em, join em

Buy American to avoid Trump trade war, says Christine Lagarde - https://on.ft.com/4fKSvb3 via @FT

 

Lagarde asks how does it make America great again if world GDP falls. Who in the US cares.. as long as US GDP increases

[willedoo]

Interesting comments from Lagarde; it sounds like she's got a sensible attitude to the situation and is looking for ways to make the best of it. This bit was noteworthy: [For Europe, the incoming Trump administration’s stance on trade and transatlantic co-operation were an “accelerator of a reset that we need”, Lagarde said.].

[red750]

Trump Taps Financier and Art Collector With No Military Experience to Run the Navy

 

President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he will nominate an art collecting Republican megadonor who works in finance and has no military experience to run the Navy.

 

“It is my great honor to announce John Phelan as our next United States Secretary of the Navy!” Trump said, in a statement. “John will be a tremendous force for our Naval Servicemembers, and a steadfast leader in advancing my America First vision.”

 

Phelan heads Palm Beach-based private investment firm Rugger Management and formerly managed the investments of billionaire Michal Dell.

 

His sole qualification for the Navy job seems to be that he helped the Trump campaign raise a lot of money.

 

One fundraiser he hosted for Trump at his $38 million Aspen, Colorado, home this summer cost $25,000 to $500,000 per couple.

 

“Phelan has not served in the Navy. [Or] any other branch of military service,” tweeted Army veteran Paul Rieckhoff, the founder of the nonprofit Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America group. “But he is a big Trump donor. The least qualified and most overtly political cabinet in American history continues to expand.”

 

“His Record of Success speaks for itself - A true Champion of American Enterprise and Ingenuity!” added Trump. “John’s intelligence and leadership are unmatched.”

 

Politico reported that Trump picked him following interviews at Mar-a-Lago on Monday. Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA), a retired naval aviator who deployed in Iraq, and Rep. Ronny Jackson, a retired Navy captain who was Trump’s chief medical adviser in his first administration, were also rumored to be in the running.

 

Phelan and his wife Amy, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, were named among the world’s top 200 art collectors by ArtNews earlier this year.

 

Their collection was described by a Christie’s auction house curator as “a celebration of the sexual side of life with a sense of humor” in 2008.

 

Among their Picassos, Dubuffets and Chagalls are many works of blonde women who look like Amy, including some that are of her, W Magazine reported.

 

From 2006 to 2019, they hosted an annual wine tasting event WineCrush, as part of the Aspen Art Museum’s summer ArtCrush gala—admission to the museum has been free since 2009, according to its website, thanks to the Phelans' patronage.

 

Among those drawn to the event over the years was wine-lover and Keeping Up with the Kardashians matriarch Kris Jenner and her partner, Corey Gamble.

 

Another one of Trump’s leading picks to lead the military, Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth, has faced blowback after allegations he sexually assaulted a woman at a hotel in 2017 emerged. Hegseth denies the claims and says the encounter was consensual.

 

Meanwhile, longtime Trump advisor Boris Epshteyn is under internal investigation for allegedly offering pay-to-play cash access to the President-elect, including seeking cash payments from would-be cabinet nominees. He denies the allegations.

 

There is no indication Phelan interacted with Epshteyn.

 

“No one can promise any endorsement or nomination except me,” Trump told Just The News earlier this week. “I make these decisions on my own, period.”

[red750]

Trump Finally Signs Transition Docs But Shuns Major Details

 

President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team officially signed the necessary docs on Tuesday to commence the transfer of power with the Biden administration after more than a month, according to Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles.

 

However, the team is still refusing to sign at least two major agreements that will allow for the smooth transition of sensitive and classified information.

 

The New York Times reported that the transition team has rejected signing an agreement that would allow the FBI to conduct security clearances for transition members.

 

Additionally, the team has refused to sign an agreement to obtain secure office space, email accounts, and other security cleared assets from the General Services Administration. According to a statement from Wiles, the rejections were done in the name of government efficiency.

 

Wiles said Trump did not want his transition team to sign the agreement with the General Services Administration because he wants the team to “operate as a self-sufficient organization.”

 

She added, “This organizational autonomy means a streamlined process that guarantees the Trump Administration is ready on Day 1.”

 

Wiles also claimed that FBI security checks and clearances for transition team members won’t be necessary because they already have existing security and information systems, “which means we will not require additional government and bureaucratic oversight,” she said. Yet none of this rebuke of protocol should be surprising to anyone following the rumblings of Trumpland.

 

The Project 2025 agenda called the FBI a “bloated, arrogant, increasingly lawless organization,” and there are rumors that Trump could shake up the organization by firing its current director and installing a MAGA loyalist, reported CNN.

 

Then there is the Department of Government Efficiency, peddled into fruition by Trump’s right-hand billionaire Elon Musk, whose purpose so far seems to be solely regulated to talking about government inefficiencies.

 

Trump was supposed to have signed the memorandum of understanding, with the GSA agreement for funding of secure office space and technology, by Oct. 1, a month before the election, reported NPR. The details of the transition are outlined in the Presidential Transition Act.

 

Wiles claimed that not signing the GSA agreement will save taxpayer money, and the team has pledged not to accept donations from foreign nations. However, the team’s shunning of protocol could complicate operations in other areas.

 

And yet without the proper documents signed, NYT reported that the Biden administration could be forced to provide security briefings only in person, in secure reading rooms, or submit documents to certify that nongovernment technology meets certain standards.

[Marty_d]

Whenever I see "Epshteyn" I think they're trying to say Jeffrey Epstein, but are too pissed.

[facthunter]

It EFF"something" anyhow. . .  No one wants to admit they went there to "Sample the Merchandise."  Nev

[old man emu]

Trump's Tariff Troubles

 

 

[Jerry_Atrick]

Trump said he'd be a dictator for a day.. he is living up to that promise

 

Edited December 1 by Jerry_Atrick

[old man emu]

One would think that the President could be replaced if overcome by mental or physical causes. 

 

Section 4 of the 25th Amendment says that

Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

 

If Trump instigates his plans for tariffs and deportations, which would lead to the downfall of the US economy, one might see a repetition of the Ides of March, if Vance could be separated from Trump's coat-tails.

[facthunter]

HE said HE was going to do that and was Elected despite that\. He will claim a Mandate with some justification.. THINK BEFORE you vote or regret it later. react IF you feel badly enough about it. The trouble is LAWS don't apply to Donald. He's above all that. Nev

[rgmwa]

42 minutes ago, old man emu said:

One would think that the President could be replaced if overcome by mental or physical causes. 

 

Section 4 of the 25th Amendment says that

Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

 

If Trump instigates his plans for tariffs and deportations, which would lead to the downfall of the US economy, one might see a repetition of the Ides of March, if Vance could be separated from Trump's coat-tails.

Even if Trump and Vance were both deemed mentally incompetent, the House Speaker, Mike Johnson would be next in line. Hardly an improvement. The best option would be a big defeat for the Republicans at the mid-term elections if Trump and his cronies make a complete mess of things in the meantime.

 

[old man emu]

Even if the Dems took over the Senate and House mid-term, Trump will still have access to a wad of pro-forma Presidential Order forms.

 

Here's some comments on where Trump's physical and mental health might be in a few years' time.

 

 

[nomadpete]

I'd love to see the tantrum if his own party tossed him out!

 

I hadn't thought about that option.

[facthunter]

HOW can they? That option expired long ago. Trump NEVER thanked the GOP in his post Election speech. They will now reap what they sowed and deserve no less.  Gutless wonders.   Now the FUN starts. Nev