The Former Trump Presidency Thread

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 10:03 pm

Zarathud wrote:Global warming could affect his golf courses and hotels. You can't get sandbags in gold.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 10:24 pm

Jerry Falwell Jr. - Creationist might be nominee for Sec. of Education.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 10:33 pm

President-elect Donald J. Trump tempered on Tuesday some of his most extreme campaign promises, dropping his vow to jail Hillary Clinton, expressing doubt about the value of torturing terrorism suspects and pledging to have an open mind about climate change.

But in a wide-ranging hourlong interview with reporters and editors at The New York Times — which was scheduled, canceled and then reinstated after a dispute over the ground rules — Mr. Trump was unapologetic about flouting some of the traditional ethical and political conventions that have long shaped the American presidency.

He said he had no legal obligation to establish boundaries between his business empire and his White House, conceding that the Trump brand “is certainly a hotter brand than it was before.” Still, he said he would try to figure out a way to insulate himself from his businesses, which would be run by his children

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link

tgb · Post by **tgb** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 2:15 am

Earlier this evening I bet my boss $100 that Trump won't make it a year without impeachment hearings at least starting.

Should I collect now?

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 7:31 am

tgb wrote:Earlier this evening I bet my boss $100 that Trump won't make it a year without impeachment hearings at least starting.

Should I collect now?

Only the House can bring impeachment proceedings.

Trump could trade the whole CIA to Putin in a real-estate deal, and Jason Chaffetz would file a diplomatic request to ask if the files mention Whitewater.

tgb · Post by **tgb** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 7:35 am

Holman wrote:
tgb wrote:Earlier this evening I bet my boss $100 that Trump won't make it a year without impeachment hearings at least starting.

Should I collect now?
Only the House can bring impeachment proceedings.

Trump could trade the whole CIA to Putin in a real-estate deal, and Jason Chaffetz would file a diplomatic request to ask if the files mention Whitewater.

I suspect the conventional R's in the House would be just as happy, if not happier, to see Pence in the Oval Office.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 9:57 am

Gov. Nikki Haley Accepts Trump Offer to Be Ambassador to United Nations: Source

Well, she doesn't have any foreign policy experience which would normally be a requirement for the position, but that's a rather minor complaint in this transition.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 9:58 am

Defiant wrote:Gov. Nikki Haley Accepts Trump Offer to Be Ambassador to United Nations: Source

Well, she doesn't have the foreign policy experience the position calls for, but that's a rather minor complaint in this transition.

You don't need a ton of foreign policy experience to just repeatedly flip off the UN.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 10:02 am

I don't think anyone voted for his competence (or getting anyone competent to sign on). All outsiders baby! That is how you govern a first world nation!

Chaz · Post by **Chaz** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 10:10 am

Huffington Post is saying that Ben Carson was offered the HUD Secretary position. If true, I'm excited to find out what valuable insight he can bring to the role. We may be at the dawn of a new wave of pyramid-shaped granaries in urban centers to increase access to food!

Fitzy · Post by **Fitzy** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 10:12 am

Defiant wrote:Gov. Nikki Haley Accepts Trump Offer to Be Ambassador to United Nations: Source

Well, she doesn't have any foreign policy experience which would normally be a requirement for the position, but that's a rather minor complaint in this transition.

This surprises me, why would she give up a governorship for UN ambassador? Other than the crazy guy with the mustache, does anyone remember a single UN ambassador? Maybe it's just a better way out than hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 10:15 am

Fitzy wrote:
Defiant wrote:Gov. Nikki Haley Accepts Trump Offer to Be Ambassador to United Nations: Source

Well, she doesn't have any foreign policy experience which would normally be a requirement for the position, but that's a rather minor complaint in this transition.
This surprises me, why would she give up a governorship for UN ambassador? Other than the crazy guy with the mustache, does anyone remember a single UN ambassador? Maybe it's just a better way out than hiking the Appalachian Trail.

I thought Trump was planning to largely ignore the UN anyway? To me it seems he's granting her the equivalent of Emperor of Elba...a nominally respectful position that gets her out of sight and out of mind.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 10:16 am

Fitzy wrote: Other than the crazy guy with the mustache, does anyone remember a single UN ambassador?

That one that became President?
Also, the one during the Cuban Missile Crisis (that had run for President, but lost)

But other than that, not really.

Edit: I decided to go look at the list, and there are actually a number of other notable names on the list: Henry Cabot Lodge Jr, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Madeline Albright, Bill Richardson.

Fitzy · Post by **Fitzy** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 10:21 am

Defiant wrote:
Fitzy wrote: Other than the crazy guy with the mustache, does anyone remember a single UN ambassador?
That one that became President?
Also, the one during the Cuban Missile Crisis (that had run for President, but lost)

But other than that, not really.

I learned something. Thanks.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 10:38 am

What a funny coincidence.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 11:35 am

tgb wrote:Earlier this evening I bet my boss $100 that Trump won't make it a year without impeachment hearings at least starting.

Should I collect now?

Pay the man.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 11:40 am

tgb wrote:
Holman wrote:
tgb wrote:Earlier this evening I bet my boss $100 that Trump won't make it a year without impeachment hearings at least starting.

Should I collect now?
Only the House can bring impeachment proceedings.

Trump could trade the whole CIA to Putin in a real-estate deal, and Jason Chaffetz would file a diplomatic request to ask if the files mention Whitewater.
I suspect the conventional R's in the House would be just as happy, if not happier, to see Pence in the Oval Office.

For starters, impeachment does not remove the sitting president, so Pence won't necessarily gain from the exercise. Second, I doubt that R's will be tired of being dragged down the shithole after just a year of Drumpf. Give it 2 years and a the prospect of a flipping both houses of congress, then maybe. I'd rather think it's something the D's might pursue when congress does flip in 2 years.

msteelers · Post by **msteelers** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 11:45 am

I'd be willing to drop money down on a bet that Trump doesn't make it through his first term, either via impeachment or resignation. But I would need there to be some odds involved. I don't think I would be willing to make a straight bet.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 11:54 am

msteelers wrote:I'd be willing to drop money down on a bet that Trump doesn't make it through his first term, either via impeachment or resignation. But I would need there to be some odds involved. I don't think I would be willing to make a straight bet.

Fortunately, there are odds.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 12:02 pm

Jeff V wrote:
tgb wrote:
Holman wrote:
tgb wrote:Earlier this evening I bet my boss $100 that Trump won't make it a year without impeachment hearings at least starting.

Should I collect now?
Only the House can bring impeachment proceedings.

Trump could trade the whole CIA to Putin in a real-estate deal, and Jason Chaffetz would file a diplomatic request to ask if the files mention Whitewater.
I suspect the conventional R's in the House would be just as happy, if not happier, to see Pence in the Oval Office.
For starters, impeachment does not remove the sitting president, so Pence won't necessarily gain from the exercise. Second, I doubt that R's will be tired of being dragged down the shithole after just a year of Drumpf. Give it 2 years and a the prospect of a flipping both houses of congress, then maybe. I'd rather think it's something the D's might pursue when congress does flip in 2 years.

Congress is not going to flip in two years. The post-2010 gerrymandering puts the House almost out of reach by the democrats, and almost all of the competitive races in the senate in 2018 have a democratic incumbent (since the democrats won all the races in the 2006 democratic wave, then held onto most of them in 2012 because the Republicans screwed up the key races).

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 12:05 pm

msteelers wrote:I'd be willing to drop money down on a bet that Trump doesn't make it through his first term, either via impeachment or resignation. But I would need there to be some odds involved. I don't think I would be willing to make a straight bet.

I repeat, impeachment does not remove a president.

Trump's ego will never let him resign. Ever. Once the angry white dudes turn on him though (and they will once they discover the rich getting richer and once again, the trickle down myth does nothing for them); he might become a recluse. Especially since by then he will have dismantled any semblance of gun control.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 12:09 pm

Jeff V wrote: Once the angry white dudes turn on him though (and they will once they discover the rich getting richer and once again, the trickle down myth does nothing for them); he might become a recluse. Especially since by then he will have dismantled any semblance of gun control.

Do you see the contradiction there? If he goes +guns he will have the angry white dudes forever. They will be to busy trying to figure out how to have sex with an AR-15 to bother hating on Trump.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 12:14 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote:
Jeff V wrote: Once the angry white dudes turn on him though (and they will once they discover the rich getting richer and once again, the trickle down myth does nothing for them); he might become a recluse. Especially since by then he will have dismantled any semblance of gun control.
Do you see the contradiction there? If he goes +guns he will have the angry white dudes forever. They will be to busy trying to figure out how to have sex with an AR-15 to bother hating on Trump.

An AR-15 is one of the most moddable guns out there. As far as sex goes, I'd recommend using a Fleshlight Stock accessory, which additionally pads the shoulder when not in alternate use.

tgb · Post by **tgb** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 12:29 pm

I realize impeachment doesn't automagically remove PGOTUS. I was just refuting the implication that the House would never impeach out of party loyalty.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 12:36 pm

Paingod wrote:
LawBeefaroni wrote:
Jeff V wrote: Once the angry white dudes turn on him though (and they will once they discover the rich getting richer and once again, the trickle down myth does nothing for them); he might become a recluse. Especially since by then he will have dismantled any semblance of gun control.
Do you see the contradiction there? If he goes +guns he will have the angry white dudes forever. They will be to busy trying to figure out how to have sex with an AR-15 to bother hating on Trump.
An AR-15 is one of the most moddable guns out there. As far as sex goes, I'd recommend using a Fleshlight Stock accessory, which additionally pads the shoulder when not in alternate use.

If you're not mounting Magpul lower receiver, you're doing it wrong.℠

Fitzy · Post by **Fitzy** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 12:55 pm

Paingod wrote: An AR-15 is one of the most moddable guns out there. As far as sex goes, I'd recommend using a Fleshlight Stock accessory, which additionally pads the shoulder when not in alternate use.

Your link doesn't work.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 1:14 pm

Seems legit.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 1:23 pm

Zaxxon wrote:
Seems legit.

Well, that's nice. And it's only the beginning.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 1:28 pm

Shades of the supreme girl, Harriet Miers.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 1:32 pm

Former Staffer in Bush Administration Telling Conservatives Not to Join Trump’s Cabinet

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 1:41 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote:
Zaxxon wrote:
Seems legit.
Well, that's nice. And it's only the beginning.

I love that the mayor gets in how classless they were as well as trashing her qualifications. Excellent take down. You have to wonder if local or even national journalists are digging into this one since it smells dirty.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 1:58 pm

If they do enough crazy, underhanded shit as fast as possible, there's no way to track it all in a meaningful way. Everyone has just enough time to point a finger and yell "HEY!" before another bomb is dropped and they're whirling around to point at the next thing.

malchior wrote:I love that the mayor gets in how classless they were as well as trashing her qualifications.

You mean how she has no qualifications? Someone appointed as a judge who's never actually practiced law? The mayor finding out about the appointment through social media?

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 2:03 pm

Donald Trump wrote:The president can’t have a conflict of interest.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 2:07 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote:
Donald Trump wrote:The president can’t have a conflict of interest.

Thank you, Richard Nixon.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 2:17 pm

Defiant wrote:
LawBeefaroni wrote:
Donald Trump wrote:The president can’t have a conflict of interest.
Thank you, Richard Nixon.

Funnily enough, thank you Nelson Rockefeller.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 2:30 pm

Hey, remember how both Trump and the President of Argentina denied there was any talk about Trump's construction project there being held up for years? Amazingly three days after they spoke, the project is now moving forward. Total coincidence, I'm sure.

Under normal circumstances, the State department would be in charge of arranging contact between the president-elect and foreign leaders, rather than having the president-elect’s family speak to senior foreign officials. But Trump’s team has so far eschewed using the government’s services for this, and a State department spokeswoman refused to comment on the phone call, referring us to Trump’s transition team. Trump representatives have not responded to emailed requests for comment. We will update with their comments if they do.

Edit: Fret forgive me

Chaz · Post by **Chaz** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 2:44 pm

Remember when the Trump and GOP campaigns were up in arms about foreign dignitaries getting a meeting with Clinton after making a donation to the Clinton Foundation, and that was terrible because this was Clinton somehow using her position to enrich herself in a sideways fashion? Turns out it's way easier to do that if you're President, because then you can just cut out the middleman!

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 2:51 pm

Smoove_B wrote:Hey, remember how both Trump and the President of Argentina denied there talking about Trump's construction project there being held up for years? Amazingly three days after they spoke, the project is now moving forward. Total coincidence, I'm sure.

Under normal circumstances, the State department would be in charge of arranging contact between the president-elect and foreign leaders, rather than having the president-elect’s family speak to senior foreign officials. But Trump’s team has so far eschewed using the government’s services for this, and a State department spokeswoman refused to comment on the phone call, referring us to Trump’s transition team. Trump representatives have not responded to emailed requests for comment. We will update with their comments if they do.

The thing is that all this stuff doesn't require direct communications. Like, it is also very credible that Trump didn't ask on the call, but that the President of Argentina was like "shit, I need to make sure that I have a good relationship with Trump - better get that hotel approved."

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 2:53 pm

It's funny. This one guy I know who is a Trump supporter (well, was) stuck with Trump though it all. He downplayed the racism. He laughed at the Nazi salute footage. He blew off accusations of impropriety WRT golf courses and hotels and other projects. But he jumped right off the bandwagon when it was confirmed that the wife and kid wouldn't be living in the White House. He said it was a betrayal and an insult.

That or he was just looking for an excuse to get off the ship ahead of the rats.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Wed Nov 23, 2016 2:54 pm

El Guapo wrote:The thing is that all this stuff doesn't require direct communications. Like, it is also very credible that Trump didn't ask on the call, but that the President of Argentina was like "shit, I need to make sure that I have a good relationship with Trump - better get that hotel approved."

Exactly! Even if nothing was actually said, it still looks bad. It's the same with foreign dignitaries staying at Trump's hotel in Washington D.C. because they don't want to offend the President. Even if he never actually said to them, "Hey, I can give you a really good rate on a room - really good - amazing" it still looks sketchy as hell.