The Trump Presidency – 2016

[RainMaker]

The weird thing about the press conferences is how long they go. Don't these people have jobs to do? 3 hours in front of a camera plus the prep time and half your workday is shot.

[RainMaker]

edit: wrong thread

[tarcone]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

The weird thing about the press conferences is how long they go. Don't these people have jobs to do? 3 hours in front of a camera plus the prep time and half your workday is shot.

Its like carrying around a clipboard. You know it makes you look busy.

[Brian Swartz]

The breathless headlines announcing the record total with that explanation buried six paragraphs deep will be fun

[RainMaker]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...d=ap_jeffstein

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

edit: wrong thread

Whatever it was you wrote, it can't have been as much "wrong story at the wrong place at the wrong time" as what Trump did yesterday.

[Arles]

Trump is talking about cutting the funding to the WHO (basically using them as a scapegoat).

[SirFozzie]

Trump cannot fail, he can only be failed. (IE, it's never his fault)

[JPhillips]

lol

Trump said he'll authorize governors to pick when they reopen.

I hope he authorizes the sun to rise, too.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Arles

Trump is talking about cutting the funding to the WHO (basically using them as a scapegoat).

Again - he accuses everyone else of things he's done.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Arles

Trump is talking about cutting the funding to the WHO (basically using them as a scapegoat).

Is there any reason we should be funding WHO?

Look at their treatment of Taiwan. WHO is a Chinese mouthpiece nowadays.

[whomario]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Is there any reason we should be funding WHO?

Well, if that money was now instead spend on the CDC or on anything to do with healthcare/healthcase science, maybe not. But since that seems doubtful and it is more likely he'll buy a few shiny planes with it, the question should be a different one.

Meanwhile, making sure nobody forgets who to thank in their prayers for the awesome situation they find themselves in: https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...2b7_story.html

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by Arles

Trump is talking about cutting the funding to the WHO (basically using them as a scapegoat).

Coronavirus: US to halt funding to WHO, says Trump - BBC News

US President Donald Trump has said he is going to halt funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) because it has "failed in its basic duty" in its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
He accused the UN agency of mismanaging and covering up the spread of the virus after it emerged in China, and said it must be held accountable

I didn’t see the full press conference: I assume that he followed it up by requesting that all funds to the White House be cut for the same reasons?

[Brian Swartz]

No, he cut off China from travel before others were calling for it. Just ask him, he'll tell you. That's far more important than using the bully pulpit to encourage people to take the virus seriously instead of lying about it and calling it a hoax, having any vague semblance of a plan, preparing the country in terms of resources/hospital capacity, or ensuring we are ramping up quality testing as much as possible.

[Flasch186]

Vince McMahon knows. To have a great BabyFace you must have a great Heel.

[PilotMan]

I think he needs Vince to be the next WH Press Sec. I mean it would fit with literally everything this admin has done.

[JPhillips]

If you're getting a physical $1200 check from the government, it will be delayed by a few days as they change the printing process to include Trump's signature.

Seriously.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

No, he cut off China from travel before others were calling for it. Just ask him, he'll tell you. That's far more important than using the bully pulpit to encourage people to take the virus seriously instead of lying about it and calling it a hoax, having any vague semblance of a plan, preparing the country in terms of resources/hospital capacity, or ensuring we are ramping up quality testing as much as possible.

"Sir, here's a list of 25 things we need to be doing to save American lives over the next three months."

"Are any of them racist?"

"No, not really."

"What's the most racist thing on the list?"

"Uh, well, I guess you could call limiting travel from China kind of racist since it would disproportionately affect nonwhite people. I mean, that's not the purpose, but it does have a pretty racially discriminatory effect."

"OK. We'll do that. And then I'll do the opposite of the other 24 things on the list."

And the crazy thing is that that was the most productive White House meeting in three years.

[sterlingice]

That's what happens when you have a little neo-Nazi like Stephen Miller in the President's ear all the time.

SI

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

"Sir, here's a list of 25 things we need to be doing to save American lives over the next three months."

"Are any of them racist?"

"No, not really."

"What's the most racist thing on the list?"

"Uh, well, I guess you could call limiting travel from China kind of racist since it would disproportionately affect nonwhite people. I mean, that's not the purpose, but it does have a pretty racially discriminatory effect."

"OK. We'll do that. And then I'll do the opposite of the other 24 things on the list."

And the crazy thing is that that was the most productive White House meeting in three years.

And the funny thing this is likely closer to the truth than anything that comes out of Trumps mouth on any given day, ever.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

That's what happens when you have a little neo-Nazi like Stephen Miller in the President's ear all the time.

SI

Who still has the most punchable face in America by the way.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

Who still has the most punchable face in America by the way.

Are we sure that anyone has seen the thug who killed Mikey Tandino in “Beverly Hills Cop” in the same room as Stephen Miller? pic.twitter.com/SPdiHBgPPt

— Ben Lewis (@benelou) January 8, 2018

[albionmoonlight]

Joke I heard:

How can Steve Miller and Donald Trump look at each other every day and still believe in the genetic superiority of the white race?

[tyketime]

You just can't make this shit up... it truly writes itself:

Trump White House counselor Kellyanne Conway on Wednesday uncorked a scientifically illiterate rant about the coronavirus in which she blamed the World Health Organization for not having the situation better under control.

“This is COVID-19, not COVID-1, folks!” Conway said during an interview on “Fox & Friends.” “And so you would think the people in charge of the World Health Organization facts and figures should be on top of that right now.”

In reality, the “19” at the end of COVID-19 denotes it as a strain of the virus that was discovered in 2019, rather than marking it as the 19th overall strain of the virus.

[Brian Swartz]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

The breathless headlines announcing the record total with that explanation buried six paragraphs deep will be fun

I apologize for giving certain elements of the media too much credit.

US coronavirus: Highest number of deaths in a day recorded after several days of a downward trend

Doesn't mention the extra deaths added into at least New York's count yesterday anywhere, never mind burying it.

[AlexB]

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

I apologize for giving certain elements of the media too much credit.

US coronavirus: Highest number of deaths in a day recorded after several days of a downward trend

Doesn't mention the extra deaths added into at least New York's count yesterday anywhere, never mind burying it.

The NY additional deaths weren't part of that total. Not sure if or when they are listing it. Maybe they are backdating to the actual date of death? The high death total seems to be how we were normally tracking.

Worth pointing out that Tuesdays seem to be the worst day reporting wise because some of the weekend deaths lag in reporting.

[Brian Swartz]

That's true. I thought NY extras had been included, so I stand corrected.

[whomario]

Originally Posted by AlexB

Missing:

- That is the biggest Iceberg
- This Iceberg is going to go away on it's own.
- People will know about this in a 100 year, just the best anyone ever hit an Ice Berg

And stealing from John Oliver:

"I want to congratulate everyone. These lifeboats have become so popular ! A few weeks ago, noting. Now they are moving like hotcakes, it's really a tribute to a well-run ship !"

[Thomkal]

Ha Alex!

[JPhillips]

President total authority is threatening to adjourn congress.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

President total authority is threatening to adjourn congress.

What exactly does that mean?

[Brian Swartz]

Adjournment = preventing Congress from being in session/meeting for legislative business/whatever other phraseology you want to employ.

He's managed to find a new Constitutional axe to grind. He does have the authority to do it theoretically (Article II, Section 3). It's an interesting situation where everybody's wrong. It's not meant to be used so he can do recess appointments; it's for 'extraordinary occasions' and AFAIK has never been done. At the same time, Congress should vote up or down his appointees as well.

Yet another example in my mind of there being nobody large enough for this moment in history.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

What exactly does that mean?

Trump wants to make recess appointments: “I will use my constitutional authority to adjourn both houses of Congress” if they don’t adjourn themselves. #TrumpPressConf

— Andy Grewal (@AndyGrewal) April 15, 2020

Put the "Adjournment Clause" on the list of "things I would have died not knowing ever existed but for Trump."

[albionmoonlight]

dola: his tweets following up the one I linked to get into it a little more.

[JPhillips]

1st, Trump is a coward and it's always safe to assume anything is just bluster.

2nd, Trump's power, as we've seen, is whatever the GOP Senate and SCOTUS say it is.

But, assuming things work normally, the House and Senate have agreed on a date for adjournment, Jan. 3 2021. Recess isn't the same as adjournment, and SCOTUS told Obama, unanimously, that he couldn't play games and get around the Senate blocking recess appointments.

It's also really fucking rich to complain about appointments when your party runs the Senate.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

Adjournment = preventing Congress from being in session/meeting for legislative business/whatever other phraseology you want to employ.

He's managed to find a new Constitutional axe to grind. He does have the authority to do it theoretically (Article II, Section 3). It's an interesting situation where everybody's wrong. It's not meant to be used so he can do recess appointments; it's for 'extraordinary occasions' and AFAIK has never been done. At the same time, Congress should vote up or down his appointees as well.

Yet another example in my mind of there being nobody large enough for this moment in history.

This tantrum was over 1 particular person he nominated that both parties have express doubts about. Rather than nominate someone else Trump has held him limbo trying force a formal hearing and vote rather than act within our norms.

The fact is the vast majority of his openings are either because he hasn't nominated someone or because McConnell has put approving judges above all else for the past 3+ years.

[Brian Swartz]

I don't necessarily disagree with that, but it doesn't change the fact that Congress has a duty to advise and consent. Not to stall. Everyone deserves a hearing and vote if the President wants them to have one. I said the same thing under Obama, and Bush before him, and so on. The process isn't complicated. We've just made it so because we want to constantly play political football with appointments as a country.

[JPhillips]

The Dems can't stop any nominee. They are delaying as much as they can, but as Mitch has shown with judges, anybody the GOP wants to get through, gets through.

[Lathum]

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/u...imes&smtyp=cur


If Trump had a brain in his head he would make sure this happens, then claim credit for it happening. Would buy him a ton of goodwill. Of course he is stupid so he won't.

[cuervo72]

READ: Frank Luntz Responds to Republicans Believing Trump Has More Power over States than Governors: 'C'mon, Republicans. This Is Textbook Federalism.' - Second Nexus

hahaha he thinks they care

[JPhillips]

Wait , they only care about power?

Oh, well. MAGA.

[Edward64]

Likely originated naturally but a good tactic for Trump. Find a bogeyman to blame and China is the right target. If he can find some "evidence", there are plenty of US voters & countries that will fall behind someone leading the "blame game".

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/15/polit...lab/index.html

US intelligence and national security officials say the United States government is looking into the possibility that the novel coronavirus originated in a Chinese laboratory rather than a market, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter who caution it is premature to draw any conclusions.

The theory is one of multiple being pursued by investigators as they attempt to determine the origin of the coronavirus that has resulted in a pandemic and killed hundreds of thousands. The US does not believe the virus was associated with bioweapons research, and officials noted that the intelligence community is also exploring a range of other theories regarding the origination of the virus, as would typically be the case for high-profile incidents, according to an intelligence source.

The theory has been pushed by supporters of the President, including some congressional Republicans, who are eager to deflect criticisms of Trump's handling of the pandemic.

An intelligence official familiar with the government analysis said a theory US intelligence officials are investigating is that the virus originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, and was accidentally released to the public. Other sources told CNN that US intelligence hasn't been able to corroborate the theory but is trying to discern whether someone was infected in the lab through an accident or poor handling of materials and may have then infected others.

[Brian Swartz]

From what I've read, the science doesn't say that it's likely it occurred naturally; it says that it's pretty much a certainty. It might be a good tactic for Trump, but I can't think of much that would do more to ensure I vote D for the first time in my life instead of going third-party again.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

From what I've read, the science doesn't say that it's likely it occurred naturally; it says that it's pretty much a certainty.

Then the conspiracy will pivot towards China allowed it to spread beyond its borders with their X, Y, Z (in)actions. The blame game will help Trump politically and I don't see a lot of downside here for him (assuming he stays on message about this ... which I know is not a sure thing).

[whomario]

Lol thinking the US right now has that much more credibility than China among other countries so that they will 'fall in line' and adopt the stance they manufactured it because of some flimsy 'evidence' not based in science, that's cute

People and countries are/will be critical of Chinas handling of it, but not because the US says so.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by whomario

People and countries are/will be critical of Chinas handling of it, but not because the US says so.

Germany and rest of EU will be critical in words only, not deeds. It's in their best interests and/or nature not to be that confrontational.

Trump has shown a willingness to engage China in words and deeds. Maybe not most EU countries, but Trump has an opportunity to turn Asia, possibly Africa, unsure about South America against China if (and it's not a given) he is willing to lead the way.

I've stated before that blaming China for this mess will help him politically. There are many countries uneasy about China's influence. Trump has been given an opportunity to exploit these fears. Will he is a different question.

[QuikSand]

Give Tucker and company a couple days, they'll be right there with the "of course he can dissolve Congress, that's what a President has to do..." don't worry.

[miked]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Trump has shown a willingness to engage China in words and deeds. Maybe not most EU countries, but Trump has an opportunity to turn Asia, possibly Africa, unsure about South America against China if (and it's not a given) he is willing to lead the way.

Yes, he totally engages China and is so tough. How brave and forward thinking.

China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2020

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Germany and rest of EU will be critical in words only, not deeds. It's in their best interests and/or nature not to be that confrontational.

Trump has shown a willingness to engage China in words and deeds. Maybe not most EU countries, but Trump has an opportunity to turn Asia, possibly Africa, unsure about South America against China if (and it's not a given) he is willing to lead the way.

I've stated before that blaming China for this mess will help him politically. There are many countries uneasy about China's influence. Trump has been given an opportunity to exploit these fears. Will he is a different question.

Except Africa is already big into the US bringing the virus to China right now. China owns a /lot/ of Africa right now because of the belt and road initiative and they've been spreading that one around there for a few weeks now.

SI