Trump Presidency

[matthewfarmery]

And so, another step to becoming a full dictatorship

Trump Signals He Might Ignore the Courts

Jonathan Chait: “The United States is sleepwalking into a constitutional crisis. Not only has the Trump administration seized for itself extraconstitutional powers, but yesterday, it raised the specter that, should the courts apply the text of the Constitution and negate its plans, it will simply ignore them…”

“Donald Trump is unilaterally declaring the right to ignore spending levels set by Congress, and to eliminate agencies that Congress voted to create. What makes this demand so astonishing is that Trump could persuade Congress, which he commands in personality-cult style, to follow his demands. Republicans presently control both houses of Congress, and any agency that Congress established, it can also cut or eliminate.”

“Yet Trump refuses to even try to pass his plan democratically. And as courts have stepped in to halt his efforts to ignore the law, he is now threatening to ignore them too.”

If the courts get pushed aside, then it means anyone can break the rules, and the rule of law is obsolete. While the courts do seem to be pushing back against Trump, it was only a matter of time before Trump says he will start to ignore the courts and do the hell he likes.

America is now at a constitutional crisis. Unless Trump is removed from power, things could very well get worse. I don't see a peaceful solution to this. the senate clearly seem to be bending over backwards for Trump, same with congress. Trump's actions will only get more extreme by the day.

[Observe]

Musk is messing with things that he should not be messing with.

I don't get it. So, efforts to improve government efficiency and cut out waste and fraud is a bad thing? Seems to me, the country owes Musk a huge dept of gratitude for his efforts. I see a lot of people demonstrating and protesting loudly against Musk, but these same people seem fine with the waste and fraud that is being uncovered. Very strange.

[clakclak]

Musk is messing with things that he should not be messing with.

I don't get it. So, efforts to improve government efficiency and cut out waste and fraud is a bad thing? Seems to me, the country owes Musk a huge dept of gratitude for his efforts. I see a lot of people demonstrating and protesting loudly against Musk, but these same people seem fine with the waste and fraud that is being uncovered. Very strange.

Ah yes, I am sure that is Musk’s plan. That is why he put his close associate, let me check my notes here, ‘Big Balls’, a 19 year old with known connections to criminal hacker groups, in charge of the process. ‘Big Balls’ is now handling highly sensitive government data and apparently bragged about holding the key to shutting down certain US government systems.

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/edward-cori ... orks-doge/

[Observe]

Musk is messing with things that he should not be messing with.

I don't get it. So, efforts to improve government efficiency and cut out waste and fraud is a bad thing? Seems to me, the country owes Musk a huge dept of gratitude for his efforts. I see a lot of people demonstrating and protesting loudly against Musk, but these same people seem fine with the waste and fraud that is being uncovered. Very strange.

Ah yes, I am sure that is Musk’s plan. That is why he put his close associate, let me check my notes here, ‘Big Balls’, a 19 year old with known connections to criminal hacker groups, in charge of the process. ‘Big Balls’ is now handling highly sensitive government data and apparently bragged about holding the key to shutting down certain US government systems.

My post was about the need for doing a rigorous government audit, wondering why some people are so opposed to this, and why blame Musk for problems with government spending. I am not sure how that lead to 'Big Balls'. I do agree with you though, based on what I've read, that 'Big Balls' should probably step aside in light of his dubious personal moral fiber, or lack thereof.

[clakclak]

I don't get it. So, efforts to improve government efficiency and cut out waste and fraud is a bad thing? Seems to me, the country owes Musk a huge dept of gratitude for his efforts. I see a lot of people demonstrating and protesting loudly against Musk, but these same people seem fine with the waste and fraud that is being uncovered. Very strange.

Ah yes, I am sure that is Musk’s plan. That is why he put his close associate, let me check my notes here, ‘Big Balls’, a 19 year old with known connections to criminal hacker groups, in charge of the process. ‘Big Balls’ is now handling highly sensitive government data and apparently bragged about holding the key to shutting down certain US government systems.

My post was about the need for doing a rigorous government audit, wondering why some people are so opposed to this, and why blame Musk for problems with government spending. I am not sure how that lead to 'Big Balls'. I do agree with you though, based on what I've read, that 'Big Balls' should probably step aside in light of his dubious personal moral fiber, or lack thereof.

What I am saying is that Musk is not doing what he is supposed to do and instead is sabotaging the government for future personal gain.

[Observe]

What I am saying is that Musk is not doing what he is supposed to do and instead is sabotaging the government for future personal gain.

Where is the evidence for that? How is Musk sabotaging the government for future personal gain? If he is successful at reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, it will benefit everyone. Basically, he is doing an audit of federal agencies and providing recommendations to Trump, who then decides what to do about it. There are a lot of Americans of all political stripes, who feel it's high time that the government is held accountable for the money it gets.

[clakclak]

What I am saying is that Musk is not doing what he is supposed to do and instead is sabotaging the government for future personal gain.

Where is the evidence for that? How is Musk sabotaging the government for future personal gain? If he is successful at reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, it will benefit everyone. Basically, he is doing an audit of federal agencies and providing recommendations to Trump, who then decides what to do about it. There are a lot of Americans of all political stripes, who feel it's high time that the government is held accountable for the money it gets.

I assume you already understand why a private business mogul would stand to gain a lot by access over classified information from the treasury department.

It grants you access to a lot of data on the flow of money which is insanely valuable for insider trading and stock market manipulation. At the same time the Trump administration along with Musk is busy stripping agencies that would normally persecute financial misconduct.

Imagine you are playing poker but while everyone else has to play by the rules, Musk now knows the cards of half the players at the table, thus drastically increasing his chance of winning. Also, he shot the dealer and is about to strangle the security guard.

[Observe]

Follow-up: The 19-year-old acolyte of Elon Musk known online as “Big Balls” has taken on a new role as a senior adviser in the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Technology. It appears that he is here to stay for the duration.

[jlehtone]

Follow-up: The 19-year-old acolyte of Elon Musk known online as “Big Balls” has taken on a new role as a senior adviser in the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Technology. It appears that he is here to stay for the duration.

Is that a good or a bad thing?

Are there criteria and procedures for hiring civil servants in US administration? Can anyone become a senior adviser, or does that position require skills and qualities?

[matthewfarmery]

So it seems that DODGE did have full access to the fed payment system, despite claims from the Trump administration, that DODGE had only read only access.

Musk Ally Had Power to Alter Payments System

“Treasury Department officials said Tuesday that the agency last week ‘mistakenly’ and ‘briefly’ gave a member of Elon Musk’s team the power to alter a sensitive federal payments database, prompting an internal forensic investigation that remains ongoing,” Politico reports.

“The disclosure, made in a series of court filings, undercuts the Trump administration’s repeated public claims that the DOGE team’s access to the federal payments system was limited to a ‘read-only’ basis.”

This is worrying, but then again Trump is said to give Musk even greater powers. So expect even more damage and chaos.

[Observe]

Good news. Tulsi Gabbard confirmed as Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Robert Kennedy Jr. confirmation expected tomorrow (Thursday) to head Health and Human Services (HSS).

Interesting that both of these individuals were previously Democrats. Same with Trump and Musk. This illustrates how liberal nut-jobs have hijacked the Democrat party and expelled some of their best. It has been a sad thing to watch.

[Chips]

Oh, that *is* good news... one second.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/worl ... 92244.html

Gabbard, then a US congresswoman on a visit to the Syria-Turkey border as part of her duties for the foreign affairs committee, had a question for them.

“How do you know it was Bashar al-Assad or Russia that bombed you, and not Isis?’” she asked, according to Mouaz Moustafa, a Syrian activist who was translating her conversation with the girls.

It was a revealing insight into Gabbard’s conspiratorial views of the conflict, and it shocked Moustafa to silence. He knew, as even the young children did, that Isis did not have jets to launch airstrikes. It was such an absurd question that he chose not to translate it because he didn’t want to upset the girls, the eldest of whom was 12.

“From that point on, I’m sorry to say I was inaccurate in my translations of anything she said,” Moustafa told The Independent. “It was more like: How do I get these girls away from this devil?”

Even before Gabbard left the Democratic Party, ingratiated herself with Donald Trump and secured his nomination to become director of National Intelligence, she was known as a prolific peddler of Russian propaganda.

In almost every foreign conflict in which Russia had a hand, Gabbard backed Moscow and railed against the US. Her past promotion of Kremlin propaganda has provoked significant opposition on both sides of the aisle to her nomination.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c14l6jpykmjo

The lady who literally contradicted the US intelligence agencies over who is responsible for atrocities in Syria... displaying an IQ that is bested by a glass of tepid tap water... is now heading those very same intelligence agencies.

Absolutely, undoubtedly, the very *best* the US has for the role. Bar none.
The US, once again, leading the world in excellence

Laughing stock of a nation. Except no-one dares laugh to their face. Because they're also a bully

[chew-ie]

So far the first real good news start in 4 years ^^

[Observe]

Absolutely, undoubtedly, the very *best* the US has for the role. Bar none. The US, once again, leading the world in excellence

Look on the bright side. She was a Democrat. Even ran for President as one. Are you saying that Trump couldn't have done worse?

[Chips]

Absolutely, undoubtedly, the very *best* the US has for the role. Bar none. The US, once again, leading the world in excellence

Look on the bright side. She was a Democrat. Even ran for President as one. Are you saying that Trump couldn't have done worse?

Are you really asking if "second worst" is acceptable for a position as there's at least *one* person worse? Seriously?

Well, okay. Explains why Trump is so favourable as President.

My main surprise is around the "Good news". What's the good news? That there's been an appointment, or the person who was appointed. If so, why is it "good" based on the characteristics, experience, and knowledge of the person in question? Genuinely interested...

I mean, it *is* news. But it's the "good" part that interests me

[Observe]

I mean, it *is* news. But it's the "good" part that interests me

Well, let's see. Tulsi was a Congress woman, she has a solid military and intelligence background, foreign policy experience and is known as a nonpartisan and independent thinker. She has always been an advocate for civil liberties. Doesn't seem so bad to me.

Granted, I didn't vote for her when she was running for President. I voted for Biden in that election, which turned out to be a big mistake, which I regret.

[fiksal]

Interesting that both of these individuals were previously Democrats. Same with Trump and Musk.

They maybe called themselves Democrats but they are no liberals or left. Never were

Maybe they are Democrats in pre civil war sense, the Confederacy party. Yep, then it checks out.

Tar and feather

[Chips]

Well, let's see. Tulsi was a Congress woman, she has a solid military and intelligence background, foreign policy experience and is known as a nonpartisan and independent thinker. She has always been an advocate for civil liberties. Doesn't seem so bad to me.

Granted, I didn't vote for her when she was running for President. I voted for Biden in that election, which turned out to be a big mistake, which I regret.

The reason for the question is simple. Often it appears people defer to other's judgement as "good", especially when originating from something they view favourably/agreeably, and on the flip side, especially in the face of opposition from those who they disagree with.

We all tend to do it to varying degrees on various subjects -- a sort of confirmation bias i guess.

So when I read the "good", i'm like an immediate sceptic going "okay, why?"

Realistically, her role is a political one - and as I'm not American, I have zero interest in her per se. Just find it tragic that US (to me) crazy choices can impact the world so much... and given her statements in the past, it just seemed an odd one. Who'd be better? No idea. After all, it's a political appointment

[Observe]

More (good) news. Robert Kennedy Jr. confirmed as secretary of Health and Human Services!

[linolafett]

I wont consider that good news. It pains me to see, that someone is in charge of public health, who is lacking a basic understanding how our immune system works