Indecision 2016

[Uniform Two Six]

hes a PRO not an amatur like Obama

Explain please.

[Uniform Two Six]

And today:

Repealed Obama executive order forbidding dumping of mining waste into surface water sources.

Repealed Obama executive order requiring extended background checks for the mentally ill to purchase firearms.

Throws out detailed Obama plan to assault Daesh stronghold of Raqqa because it "was too risk-adverse" and that it "lacked provisions to cooperate with Russia". Also complained that Obama administration plan glaringly lacked a "Plan B" -- apparently ignorant that the version detailed to them WAS the Plan B.

Threatens dire consequences for Iranian missile test -- then slaps mild unilateral economic sanctions on despite effectively zero Iranian-American trade to sanction.

In defending refugee ban, Trump spokesperson Kellyanne Conway, speaking to NBC News notes that the Obama Administration did fundamentally the same thing in response to "the Bowling Green Massacre" which was perpetrated by two Iraqi immigrants. She also noted that this would probably come as a surprise to many viewers since the incident was not covered by the press. Her assertion that the national media did not cover the event would prove correct -- as it did not happen and appears to be entirely fabricated.

Vows to repeal 1954 Johnson Amendment which bars tax-exempt 501(c)(3) institutions like churches from political fundraising and endorsements. Roughly 80% of Americans oppose the move.

Vows to "review" 2008 Dodd-Frank Act and repeal Fiduciary Rule and Volker Rule outlawing banks from making speculative investments.

Norwegian Prime Minister detained at Dulles International Airport under Trump travel ban due to Iraq travel annotated in passport.

[Volkodlak]

hes a PRO not an amatur like Obama

Explain please.

1.)Unlike Obama he actualy see a threat in muslim immigrants who are leches or terorists.
2.)Unlike Obama he is unpredictable and quite strong minded as nobody can boss him around.
3.)Unlike Obama he is capable of doing things without just using words.
3.)Unlike Obama he looks to make America first world second

[Uniform Two Six]

1.)Unlike Obama he actualy see a threat in muslim immigrants who are leches or terorists.

Also unlike Obama, he seems to think that Daesh (with no navy, no air force, and not much of an army) is an existential threat to the United States other than the obnoxious annoyance than it really is.

2.)Unlike Obama he is unpredictable and quite strong minded as nobody can boss him around.

Which leads him to miss (or in Trump's case, more likely not even seek) diplomatic solutions to problems, alienate allies and exacerbate rifts with rivals. It's also exactly the personality trait that led to the group-think phenomenon that resulted in the Iraq-war in 2003 (remember how Saddam Hussein was mere months away from obtaining a nuke?).

3.)Unlike Obama he is capable of doing things without just using words.

Yeah, because Obama's administration killed off Osama Bin Laden using their exceptional talent with oration and the written word. Also the Pakistanis' outrage at Obama using several times the number of drone strikes inside their country than Bush did, is merely their liberal media bias.

3.)Unlike Obama he looks to make America first world second

And if Trump undermines NATO, who do you think is at greater risk? Slovenia or the United States?

Our new president is an absurd idiot.

[Volkodlak]

meybe but still he needs more time he might be best us president.


Offtopic: We are talking politics on werewolf forum while talks about werewolfs are completly dead

[Uniform Two Six]

Well, you appear to be a far more optimistic soul than I. I watched all of the presidential debates, and the guy is genuinely, astonishingly ignorant. More to the point, I read an article written by the guy who wrote Art of the Deal (which incidentally, was emphatically not written by Donald Trump -- he hired this other guy to write it for him). His insights into the inner workings of the Trump organization 30 years ago makes everything in the last two weeks make much more sense. There is no secret strategy or anything. The guy is just a soliphistic megalomaniac.

As for werewolf stuff, aside from the Underworld movie, there's not much werewolf stuff happening right now.

[Volkodlak]

perhaps im more optimistic, but in other hand Trump is not my president.

Eh i know not a lot new stuff about werewolfs so im kinda keeping my mind busy in topic your ideal werewolf

[Meeper]

The guy is just a soliphistic megalomaniac.

Hmm. *looks up Solipsism*: "The philosophical idea that only one's own mind is sure to exist." Hmm...

Repealed Obama executive order requiring extended background checks for the mentally ill to purchase firearms.

Well, I've heard it said that all knowledge is knowledge of the self. *Mumbles something about math, and doing*.

Offtopic: We are talking politics on werewolf forum while talks about werewolfs are completly dead

Hmm...*Does some math of his own...* I wonder, what if he's a werewolf? (Yes, I went there. )

Joking aside, I've nothing actually credible to contribute to this, so I'll be over here minding my own.

The Meeper.

[Uniform Two Six]

Hmm. *looks up Solipsism*: "The philosophical idea that only one's own mind is sure to exist." Hmm...

That's the technical definition. In common usage (which I somehow managed to type with a straight face), it means roughly an inability (not merely to comprehend views contrary to one's own) -- but an inability to even comprehend that such exists. Or in other words, to view the mere existence of a contrarian viewpoint as a manifestation of insanity by anyone who holds the view.

Hmm...*Does some math of his own...* I wonder, what if he's a werewolf? (Yes, I went there. )

Joking aside, I've nothing actually credible to contribute to this, so I'll be over here minding my own.

Not at all. The assertion that President Trump is a werewolf can be categorized as an "Alternate Fact" and thus by the transitive property of alternate facts, werewolves are real (it's now a fact) and The Werewolf Zombie Apocalypse is now underway. How did zombies get into the equation, you ask? That you would even ask the question betrays your liberal media bias.

Hey, this is fun!

[Meeper]

Yeah that's the implication I thought, I just did a little homework is all (I'm familiar with the idea, because I've found not only others but also myself guilty of the affliction now and then, but I didn't know the word/term or its origins).

As for the werewolf thing, I was just having a little fun with Volkodlak.

The joke aside, I'm not up to speed on all of the arguments. Sure I can pick out things like gun control, and the question of "Guns in the hands of mentally unstable people!" (Obama) versus "Why should mentally ill people be denied the right to defend themselves?!" (Trump), I have no resolution at the bottom of it. If I did have the answer, I usually lack the energy and oratory skill to push past the wall of differing opinions, even if I did, I always have a nagging doubt that I've missed something, and become "soliphistic" or some other form of ignorant. It's all rather exhausting and why I don't do politics. It's why I didn't say anything about my seeing Trump getting in, even though I sensed the writing on the wall, that everyone and their dog didn't want to believe possible (their collective soliphism, or group think, or whatever the right term is), yet it happened anyway. It's like a friend and his wife divorcing, I asked him if he'd have appreciated it if I'd said anything at the time I was seeing them slowly falling apart (while they were busy pretending to be happy together), naturally, he wouldn't have liked it one bit, and I'd be the jerk, so with a lack of an answer I left it alone. I seem to have a knack for knowing when something isn't right with the world (precious little else unfortunately), even that's random.

</ramble>

Ok, I'll post this anyway since I took the time to write it, sorry for the off topic, and the ramble. I just don't get to vent very often, heh.

The Meeper.

[Uniform Two Six]

...and become "soliphistic" or some other form of ignorant...

...their collective soliphism, or group think, or whatever the right term is...

I'm going to get endless sh** about this ("soliphism") from now on, aren't I?

Recently, I'm doing evals and my section head -- exasperated -- says something to the effect of: "Can you actually use, like, real words for a change?"

[Meeper]

...and become "soliphistic" or some other form of ignorant...

...their collective soliphism, or group think, or whatever the right term is...

I'm going to get endless sh** about this ("soliphism") from now on, aren't I?

Recently, I'm doing evals and my section head -- exasperated -- says something to the effect of: "Can you actually use, like, real words for a change?"

Well now you see this is the secret to my success, I'm not highly educated. . If it makes you feel better, I've recently started to get comfortable with the word "Bigot" . Though personally I still prefer the word that rhymes with "Banker".

Actually I enjoy being exposed to new stuff like this, keep it up.

[Volkodlak]

Putin ready too meet Trump in Slovenia

link: https://www.rt.com/news/376975-putin-me ... -slovenia/

[Uniform Two Six]

Putin ready too meet Trump in Slovenia

I rather doubt that Trump will have a summit in Slovenia. Most of his political base probably can't find it on a map. Moscow or Washington has more impact to the redneck crowd that voted him into office. Moreover, Ivanka is from there, so there's the additional issue that pundits would use the occasion to bring up the immigration angle (which is probably wearing thin at the White House right about now).

And on that note... From my Trump Log for this week:

Yemen raid in which a Navy CPO was killed and several others wounded was (reportedly) decided on by Trump Administration without input either from intelligence or defense leadership.

After Kellyanne Conway's "misstatement" on the "Bowling Green Massacre", Trump claims without any evidence that media outlets were purposefully covering up terrorist attacks.

Trump Administration declines to apply for emergency Supreme Court hearing regarding travel ban executive order, implying that Administration officials suspect order may be unlawful.

Administration spokesperson Kellyanne Conway openly endorses commercial products (for Trump daughter Melania Trump's line of goods) in live television interview while in official capacity, flagrantly violating federal regulations. White House refuses to substantially sanction her. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer declares that she has "been counselled" and "that's the end of it".

After Yemen raid was criticized by Senator John McCain, Trump mocks him openly and questions his expertise -- apparently ignoring that McCain is both a naval officer and naval aviator.

[Uniform Two Six]

Well, it's getting a little slower this week (thankfully), but that might just be the calm before the storm.

Last week:

National Security Advisor Michael Flynn is forced to resign over controversy alleging improper contact with Russian officials and allegedly in violation of the Logan Act. White House announces his replacement, retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward. Vice Admiral Harward instead refuses the offer citing the chaotic conditions within the administration as well as interference in the make-up of the National Security Council (allegedly having made the demand to have Stephen Bannon removed from the council as a prerequisite). Lt. General David Petraeus is next tapped for the position but likewise turns it down. Former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley is tapped for the position and again, also turns it down. Lt. General H.R. McMaster finally accepts the position.

At a rally in Florida, President Trump references an apparent terrorist incident having taken place the previous night in Sweden. This news apparently came as a shock to most Swedes (including the prime minister) who cabled Washington to inquire what he was referring to. Media investigation shows that the most prominent events on the night in question were a high-speed police pursuit of an intoxicated driver in Stockholm -- and a report of a moose attempting to engage in sexual congress with a statue of another moose.

EDIT:
Week's not over yet...

Trump nominee for Navy Secretary, Philip Bilden withdraws his name from consideration (by his own admission that federal ethics rules were "too onerous").

[Uniform Two Six]

And this week:

Trump acknowledges difficulties involved with healthcare reform by saying "Nobody knew that Healthcare could be so complicated".

In address to joint session of congress, Trump claims:
$6 trillion spent on Iraq and Afghanistan. Actual figure is $1.7T.
Illegal immigration has cost American economy billions of dollars a year. Most estimates are a net gain for the economy.
94 million Americans out of work. Actual figure is no more than 5.5M.
Claimed he would support clean air and clean water. Only hours earlier, he signed an executive order rolling back the Clean Water Rule, and (according to unconfirmed reports) was preparing to reduce EPA workforce by 20%.
Implied that healthcare premiums increased by 116% under Obamacare. Actual number was 25% -- and that was averaged only over the 38 states that actually participated in the federal Healthcare.gov program, and also fails to account for low income families who received federal financial assistance.
Claimed that crime rate was at an all time high. Violent crime is in fact at less than half the rate in 1980.

Claimed that Obama administration ordered his campaign headquarters wiretapped. Offered no proof of claim. FBI denied engaging in any such activity.

House Republicans release Obamacare replacement bill. Bill offers significant roll-backs in healthcare subsidies, particularly to poor. House Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) actually sells lack of subsidies as a merit, insisting that they will encourage poor Americans to engage in more responsible financial planning -- or "...so rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and want to go spend hundreds of dollars on that, maybe they should invest in their own health care."

Trump begins distancing himself from American Health Care Act as it becomes apparent that for procedural reasons, most provisions he promised cannot be enacted without exposure to Senate filibuster.

Los Angeles Times reports that bungled immigration policy has caused multiple innocent tourists and other legitimate visitors to United States to be detained. Fears of arrest keeping growing number of tourists from visiting U.S.. Firm, Tourism Economics, projects that "Trump-induced losses" will top 6.3 million lost visits, totaling more than $10,800,000,000. in financial losses for tourism industry nationwide affecting roughly 90,000 American tourism industry jobs.

[Terastas]

Putin ready too meet Trump in Slovenia

I rather doubt that Trump will have a summit in Slovenia. Most of his political base probably can't find it on a map.

That, and I'm fairly certain there are no Trump-brand hotels or golf courses in Slovenia. You know, the properties he was supposed to have completely divested himself of before assuming office.

For me, the big scandal is not this psychotic squealing manchild's outright disdain for the rule of law; it's how many people, both in the government, and in the country as a whole, are allowing it.

[Uniform Two Six]

That, and I'm fairly certain there are no Trump-brand hotels or golf courses in Slovenia. You know, the properties he was supposed to have completely divested himself of before assuming office.

Oh, you mean like how he was also supposed to reveal his tax returns?

The guy lies reflexively -- even pathologically. Why anyone actually believes anything he says is the thing that really throws me. There's literally nothing about his behavior in the last few months that isn't entirely in keeping with his modus operandi of the last 30 years.

Oh, and... Don't tell anybody, but the healthcare-thing isn't going to be fabulous... and Mexico isn't going to pay for the other thing.

For me, the big scandal is not this psychotic squealing manchild's outright disdain for the rule of law; it's how many people, both in the government, and in the country as a whole, are allowing it.

Well, the problem there is that once you're President, it's actually a little difficult to nail you for stuff (one of the reasons that one needs to be real careful about who one elects to that office). The unfortunate (or perhaps fortunate) reality is that he hasn't actually done anything that is seriously and demonstrably illegal (as in: "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" territory) yet. And hopefully that will not change -- because with Trump the sky is the limit with regard to how far off-reservation he can go -- and also because Pence is probably worse.

[Uniform Two Six]

This week:

Congressional Budget Office estimates of American Health Care Act predict 24,000,000 Americans will lose coverage if passed. Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) disputes CBO numbers -- and then paradoxically claims drop in coverage rates are a sign of success as "...if we end an Obamacare mandate that says you must buy this government one-size-fits-all plan, guess what? People aren’t going to buy that."

Representative Steve King (R-IA) praised right-wing Dutch politician Geert Wilders with overt racist statement "Wilders understands that culture and demographics are our destiny. We can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies..."

American Health Care Act goes down in defeat. Just prior, at Trump's urging, Stephen Bannon addressed the Freedom Caucus and stated bluntly "Guys, look. This is not a discussion. This is not a debate. You have no choice but to vote for this bill," To which one member replied "You know, the last time someone ordered me to do something, I was 18 years old. And it was my daddy. And I didn't listen to him, either."

[Terastas]

The unfortunate (or perhaps fortunate) reality is that he hasn't actually done anything that is seriously and demonstrably illegal (as in: "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" territory) yet. And hopefully that will not change -- because with Trump the sky is the limit with regard to how far off-reservation he can go -- and also because Pence is probably worse.

Actually, he has. He has repeatedly appointed, or attempted to appoint, his own family members to positions of government, even after it was pointed out to him that this was explicitly illegal. He has also spent his entire presidency in overt violation of the emoluments clause, and committed multiple acts of perjury (which you might recall was what Bill Clinton was impeached for in the 90s), openly solicited espionage from a foreign entity, and demanded the immediate termination of a federal prosecutor whose office was handling multiple cases related to him and to his administration.

He could have been impeached on Day #1. But he hasn't because he has the magic R.

[Uniform Two Six]

Actually, he has. He has repeatedly appointed, or attempted to appoint, his own family members to positions of government, even after it was pointed out to him that this was explicitly illegal.

Yeah, but is there a criminal penalty associated with that? Remember that something can be (in a legal sense) illegal, but not criminal. As an example, if a police officer questions you without stating your "Miranda" rights, and proceeds in questioning you even after you have requested for the questioning to stop and be provided with a lawyer... That's illegal -- but there is no criminal consequence for the officer (this basic issue is why the Exclusionary Rule was introduced by the Supreme Court).

He has also spent his entire presidency in overt violation of the emoluments clause...

That's legally mushy. When the legal contract was initiated, there was no conflict. If there is any violation, it's with the Trump Organization, not the President. Also, I suspect that this is another case in which there may be illegality without criminality.

...and committed multiple acts of perjury (which you might recall was what Bill Clinton was impeached for in the 90s)...

When (aside from taking the Oath of Office in January) has he ever been under oath?

...openly solicited espionage from a foreign entity...

Which is arguable, since it could be interpreted as rhetorical.

...and demanded the immediate termination of a federal prosecutor whose office was handling multiple cases related to him and to his administration.

None of which (to my knowledge) were criminal in nature -- and thus there was no obstruction of justice.

He could have been impeached on Day #1. But he hasn't because he has the magic R.

I disagree. The Dems are sharpening their knives and as each day passes, more Republicans are beginning to loath and despise the man. I'm NOT saying that some shady sh** ISN'T going down -- only that none of it is overtly criminal yet (although with the Flynn thing, that may be changing). My take: Have no fear... it seems like only a matter of time before these idiots (Trump and the losers that he surrounds himself with) finally dance across the line and he gets dragged out of the White House by the Feds.

[Uniform Two Six]

What the hell?! How on earth did the Republicans lose a senate race in friggin' Alabama?!

That's just absurd.

[Volkodlak]

eh i stoped caring about this stuff expecialy becouse US elections are weird for me i like Slovenian elections president is chosen by popularity with ordinary people, but our president is more of a public picture but ministers decide on big stuff in peace time.

I still do not know how could such hated person Win US elections and why is Trump hated?

[Meeper]

why is Trump hated?

I've heard the word "toxic" bandied around a lot.

The Meeper.

[Uniform Two Six]

...why is Trump hated?

The fact that he fired the FBI director (in what is a pretty clear case of obstruction of justice) and belittled it and a whole bunch of agents has sort of poisoned the well with both the FBI at large and much of the Justice Department -- (Appointing Senator Jeff Sessions as the Attorney General didn't help).

He belittled Senator John McCain's military background, claimed that the generals at the Pentagon "didn't know anything", argued that his attendance of a boarding school gave him military experience greater than most of the officer corps (despite multiple deferments to keep from getting drafted during Vietnam) basically soured Defense Department on him.

His refusal to appoint people to most of the positions at State Department, his appointment of Rex Tillerson to Secretary of State, repeated and almost constant belittlement of State Department and its entire function, and his destruction of TPP has State sharpening their knives for him.

FCC hates him for the net neutrality issue.

EPA hates him for puling out of Paris Accord.

NASA and NOAA hate him for cutting all of their research funding.

Health and Human Services hate him for appointing Ben Carson.

Department of Education hates him for appointing Betsy Devos.

And in addition to belittling many of them and outright threatening most of them at one point or another, the Republicans generally hate him because he just lost them a Senate seat in friggin' Alabama of all places.

EDIT:
Oh and Russia.

ANOTHER EDIT:
And belittlement of the intelligence community (both NSA and CIA), coupled with his outright refusal to even read the Presidential Daily Brief have the spooks completely disgusted.