The Former Trump Presidency Thread

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Mon Oct 02, 2017 8:38 am

Zarathud wrote:This is not winning.

Trump is so tone deaf on leadership that he is a menace. He is a sad commentary on the state of America.

Maybe in a few years we will have an honest conversation about how broken our national culture is. Something good should come out of this idiot's run.

Freyland · Post by **Freyland** » Mon Oct 02, 2017 9:38 am

Defiant wrote:Trump dedicates golf trophy to hurricane victims

"On behalf of all of the people of Texas, and all of the people -- if you look today and see what is happening, how horrible it is but we have it under really great control -- Puerto Rico and the people of Florida who have really suffered over this last short period of time with the hurricanes, I want to just remember them," the president said.

"And we're going to dedicate this trophy to all of those people that went through so much that we love -- a part of our great state, really part of our great nation," he continued.

You guys are not giving the President credit where its due. He is contributing more significantly to the recovery efforts with this dedication then any previous action up to this point. He will now airlift the trophy to Puerto Rico where some lucky family can use it to collect rainwater for drinking.

Brings a tear to my eye, really.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Mon Oct 02, 2017 10:51 pm

This sounds about right...

A Presidential Speech Steeped in Hypocrisy

Pre-presidential Trump was a man of many faults and vices, but one endearing quality: He was no hypocrite. He exaggerated his wealth, his success, his physical fitness, but he never pretended to religion or morality.

Trump’s speech to the nation after the Las Vegas atrocity, however, was steeped in hypocrisy. He is the least outwardly religious president of modern times, the president least steeped in scripture. For him to offer the consolations of God and faith after mass bloodletting is to invite derision. “It is love that defines us,” said President Trump, and if we weren’t heartbroken, we would laugh.

Those who praised the speech, as CNN’s John King did, are reacting on reflex. This is the kind of thing we are used to hearing from Republican politicians; Trump is a Republican politician; therefore this is what he should say.

But whereas Vice President Pence could have pronounced those words with sincerity, or a convincing simulacrum thereof, Donald Trump looked shifty, nervous, and false. Speeches are watched as well as heard, and the viewer saw a president who wished he were somewhere else because he had been compelled to pretend something so radically false to his own nature.

For once, Trump read the speech exactly as written. Perhaps his aides talked him into it. Because Trump is not a good reader, he read the speech wrong. And because it sounded wrong, he looked bad.

Nevertheless, Trump had to say something. He is the president. At times of national mourning, it falls to him to speak on the nation’s behalf. What could he possibly have said instead?

He cannot offer action. Even if he ever were convinced that something had to be done about America’s unique gun violence, his party would not tolerate it, and he could not deliver. Anyway, the first shock of the atrocity is not the right time for policy.

What he can do is acknowledge his own nature and character, and speak as himself, in his own tones and accents, and without the religion in which he gives no evidence of believing and in which he is so poorly at home. “This is a terrible day. We are all saddened and outraged. We’ll learn more. If any criminals are still at large, we’ll hunt them down.” It’s better to say a few things that sound real than a great many that sound false.

So advice to Team Trump: You can’t make him better, and you can’t make him different. Let him be the man he is, just tidied up a little. Cut the God talk. It’s insulting to those who believe, and no comfort to those who grieve. Cut the appeal to national unity; it rings false from a president who just two days ago was accusing homeless hurricane victims of looking for a handout. Trump voters—there are still many of those—liked it that with him, what you saw was what you got. Be real. Be true. Even Donald Trump must have something authentically human within him. Unearth that, and let it speak. He will never be a compassionate man, but even he cannot be so thoroughly empty and remote as he seemed today.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 11:34 am

The Military Was Ready in Texas and Florida. What Went Wrong in Puerto Rico?

Nearly two weeks after Hurricane Maria’s landfall, the Trump administration’s military aid to Puerto Rico may not be too late if it can save lives and ease the suffering of millions. But it is undisputedly arriving in amounts too little and too slowly, in sharp contrast to recent responses around the world and, most recently, elsewhere in the United States during this hurricane season.

Over the past few years, the military has conducted textbook operations in Pakistan, Japan, Thailand and Haiti—pumping in massive amounts of aid after devastating earthquakes and hurricanes in those countries, no matter how rough or isolated the conditions. Just weeks ago, the military response to Hurricane Harvey in Texas was rapid and powerful. In preparation for Hurricane Irma, the Trump administration again ordered up an extensive military relief operation.

But when Hurricane Maria struck at full strength several days later—precisely as advertised, and similar in scale to Harvey—the U.S. military simply called off the huge resources it had mustered for Hurricane Irma. An inadequately small military contingent was left on its own for nearly two weeks to help with the damage. If there was a plan for disaster relief it was not publicly apparent. And on-scene commander—crucial in crises this large—was not appointed until nearly 10 days after landfall.

No less an authority than the three-star general who reversed the disastrous initial federal response to Hurricane Katrina back in 2005, retired Army Lt. Gen. Russell Honoré, said as much. “We’re replaying a scene from Katrina,” he said on National Public Radio about Maria on Thursday. “We started moving about four days too late.” That seems overly generous.

As in all things in the military there is a manual for responding to humanitarian disasters. The most recent version is JP 3-29, geared primarily for foreign operations, but generally applicable. This 203-page volume from the Joint Staff at the Pentagon spells out—in excruciating detail—what to and what not to do in these circumstances.

It's this kind of detail that created successes under brutal circumstances from Pakistan to Japan to Thailand—and Haiti in 2010, when the USS Carl Vinson arrived just three days after an earthquake and the Air Force airlifted 15,000 Americans within days.

In the case of Maria, at first blush, three things appear to have not been done. The first is adequately preposition forces and assets. The second is the timely appointment of an on-scene commander; the U.S. Northern Command did not appoint combat veteran Brig. Gen. Richard Kim until 10 days after landfall. The third is a detailed plan. Planning is paramount, according to the manual. And if there was one, it certainly was not publicly announced as were military relief efforts for Irma and Harvey—even though Maria’s strength and trajectory were known a full four days before landfall.

The Trump administration has sought, desperately, to shift the blame and claim that this was somehow a surprise—even though a direct hit was forecast days beforehand. Later, Lt. Jeffrey Buchanan, the three-star land forces commander at Northern Command, even claimed that the hurricane’s effect was not foreseeable. Again, suspiciously defensive. If the military didn’t think Maria was serious, then why did it evacuate its own aircraft on the island to Guantanamo Bay?

For the military, Maria may be a singular stain upon a noble and sterling record built not on taking—but saving—lives. The Trump administration is due a serious reckoning. That’s because for millions of fellow Americans in the Caribbean this is serious, if not deadly, business.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 12:03 pm

massive amounts of aid

Where do I apply for one amount of aid?

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 12:26 pm

Trump is in Puerto Rico demanding praise for federal assistance and making it all about him.

He's also apparently pushing a totally debunked right-wing narrative that truckers in PR have been on strike during the disaster, saying "Their drivers have to start driving trucks."

Disgusting.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 2:53 pm

Was this before or after he contrasted Maria's death toll with "a real catastrophe like Katrina".

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 2:56 pm

Skinypupy wrote:Was this before or after he contrasted Maria's death toll with "a real catastrophe like Katrina".

Or the dent Puerto Rico is making on the Federal budget. The nerve of those people.

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 3:31 pm

Trump also said Puerto Rico was screwing up his budget and then later talking about the hundreds of millions in the budget to be spent on planes for the Air Force.

TRUMP: And the runways are pretty open?

UNIDENTIFIED: Yes, sir. We have four major runways that are operational and about 700-plus strategic stories on the island of Puerto Rico to provide the license to them.

TRUMP: Amazing job. So amazing, we are ordering hundreds of millions of dollars of new airplanes for the Air Force. Especially the F-35. You like the F-35?

UNIDENTIFIED: Game-changing [inaudible]. Awesome airplane.

TRUMP: I said how does it do in fights, how do they do in fights with the F-35? They said we do really well, you can’t see it. You literally can’t see it. So it’s hard to fight a plane you can’t see.

UNIDENTIFIED: Yes, sir.

I think tone-def is too generous a term for Trump.

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 3:31 pm

Isgrimnur wrote:
massive amounts of aid
Where do I apply for one amount of aid?

Here's yours.

Octavious · Post by **Octavious** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 3:50 pm

Ralph-Wiggum wrote:Trump also said Puerto Rico was screwing up his budget and then later talking about the hundreds of millions in the budget to be spent on planes for the Air Force.

TRUMP: And the runways are pretty open?

UNIDENTIFIED: Yes, sir. We have four major runways that are operational and about 700-plus strategic stories on the island of Puerto Rico to provide the license to them.

TRUMP: Amazing job. So amazing, we are ordering hundreds of millions of dollars of new airplanes for the Air Force. Especially the F-35. You like the F-35?

UNIDENTIFIED: Game-changing [inaudible]. Awesome airplane.

TRUMP: I said how does it do in fights, how do they do in fights with the F-35? They said we do really well, you can’t see it. You literally can’t see it. So it’s hard to fight a plane you can’t see.

UNIDENTIFIED: Yes, sir.
I think tone-def is too generous a term for Trump.

His IQ can't possibly be over 110. He's a complete and total idiot. Apparently we have developed invisible planes! Wonder Woman is going to be pissed!

Chaz · Post by **Chaz** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 3:52 pm

Trump helps with the relief efforts:

https://twitter.com/ElNuevoDia/status/9 ... 9326974977

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 4:03 pm

I wouldn't be surprised if he started firing MAGA shirts out of a T-Shirt cannon into the crowd.

Carpet_pissr · Post by **Carpet_pissr** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 4:49 pm

Brian wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if he started firing MAGA shirts out of a T-Shirt cannon into the crowd.

...from a high story hotel room window.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 9:03 pm

He told Puerto Ricans that the recovery has been incredible and that they didn't need flashlights anymore.

(Fewer than 6% of residents have had power restored.)

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 9:11 pm

I knew his handling of any type of national emergency was going to be horrific, and even after dedicating the golf trophy to the Puerto Rico and then tossing relief packages like concert merch to the crowd I thought it couldn't get any worse.

And it always does. That's the theme of this administration.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 9:30 pm

Smoove_B wrote:I knew his handling of any type of national emergency was going to be horrific, and even after dedicating the golf trophy to the Puerto Rico and then tossing relief packages like concert merch to the crowd I thought it couldn't get any worse.

And it always does. That's the theme of this administration.

But just think. Every time it gets worse, all that other worst stuff he has done is no longer the worst.

[Needlepoint wall hanging]

God Bless Trump.

Yesterday was better than today
and tomorrow will always be the worst of all!

[/neeedlepoint wall hanging]

RunningMn9 · Post by **RunningMn9** » Tue Oct 03, 2017 9:51 pm

Every day is worse than the day before. So every day that you see us, it’s the worst day of our lives...

Moliere · Post by **Moliere** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 11:27 am

'I doubt you're a real billionaire': Richard Branson publishes scathing letter from Donald Trump

Richard Branson has revealed details of his long-running feud with Donald Trump, publishing a scathing letter he received from the then New York property mogul in 2004.

Mr Trump wrote to the Virgin brand founder after he launched a short-lived programme, The Rebel Billionaire: Branson’s Quest for the Best, with a similar format to The Apprentice.

Excerpts from the letter are reproduced in Mr Branson’s new book, Finding My Virginity.

“At least your dismal ratings can now allow you to concentrate on your airline which, I am sure, needs every ounce of your energy,” Mr Trump wrote.

“It is obviously a terrible business and I can’t imagine, with fuel prices etc, that you can be doing any better in it than anyone else.

“Like television, you should try to get out the airline business too, as soon as possible! Actually, I wonder out loud how you can be anywhere close to a billionaire and be in that business. Perhaps the title of your show, The Rebel Billionaire, is misleading?

“In any event, do not use me to promote your rapidly sinking show – you are a big boy, try doing it yourself!”

It seems foolish of Trump to take on another billionaire who obviously has the resources and visibility to fight back.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 11:57 am

I have to admit something: I'm getting a little bit of Trump bashing fatigue. When CNN and other news outlets criticize him for just average, every day dumb, I feel it trivializes those moments when he's dangerously dumb...which, let's face it, is quite often. It minimizes the danger by giving his supporters reasons to believe the media is being petty.

Trump does enough dumb stuff on a dangerous level that they shouldn't be crowing about tossing paper towels at hurricane victims, his (trophy) wife wearing pumps to a tragedy, or the every day occurrence of the man's well established tone deaf responses to...well...everything. *

* I reserve the right to do all of those things as I'm not a journalist.

Octavious · Post by **Octavious** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 12:12 pm

Off to Vegas today. Maybe he can toss bandages into the crowd.

This run was been wayyyyy worse than I even ever imagined. Not only is he making a fool of himself and the country he's also making me really hate a large segment of our population. (Anyone that supports this bullshit.)

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 12:22 pm

It makes the "Us vs. Them" divide so much easier to distinguish. I now know with certainty that there are a lot of people around me I wouldn't trust with anything I care about.

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 12:31 pm

It has made me more religious. Every day I keep praying for the actual hand of God to come and choke the life out of him. It can not be anything less than that or else his cult will blame the liberals. Actually, now that I think on it I had better update my prayer to be the actual Right hand of God.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 12:35 pm

Pat Robertson is claiming that recent tragedies are all the fault of the disrespect being shown Trump by many in our country. If we're preying for God to rid us of useless assholes, I would like to put his name in the hat.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 1:14 pm

hepcat wrote:Pat Robertson is claiming that recent tragedies are all the fault of the disrespect being shown Trump by many in our country. If we're preying for God to rid us of useless assholes, I would like to put his name in the hat.

The only way that parasite can possibly still be alive is if he sold his soul to the devil.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 1:53 pm

hepcat wrote:Pat Robertson is claiming that recent tragedies are all the fault of the disrespect being shown Trump by many in our country. If we're preying for God to rid us of useless assholes...

If you're preying for God, wouldn't you have to do it yourself?

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 1:56 pm

hepcat wrote:I have to admit something: I'm getting a little bit of Trump bashing fatigue. When CNN and other news outlets criticize him for just average, every day dumb, I feel it trivializes those moments when he's dangerously dumb...which, let's face it, is quite often. It minimizes the danger by giving his supporters reasons to believe the media is being petty.

Well, at least you're in good company:

Tillerson stunned a handful of senior administration officials when he called the president a “moron” after a tense two-hour long meeting in a secure room at the Pentagon called "The Tank," according to three officials who were present or briefed on the incident. The July 20 meeting came a day after a meeting in the White House Situation Room on Afghanistan policy where Trump rattled his national security advisers by suggesting he might fire the top U.S. commander of the war and comparing the decision-making process on troop levels to the renovation of a high-end New York restaurant, according to participants in the meeting.

(edit) Dagnabit, scooped in another thread.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 2:09 pm

Jaymann wrote:
hepcat wrote:Pat Robertson is claiming that recent tragedies are all the fault of the disrespect being shown Trump by many in our country. If we're preying for God to rid us of useless assholes...
If you're preying for God, wouldn't you have to do it yourself?

I smell another season of Dexter coming.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 2:12 pm

Freudian typo.

tgb · Post by **tgb** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 2:28 pm

My sister in law posted this on Facebook today and it made me very sad. The "Steve" she mentions is my brother.

I'm so proud of my husband Steve. After a lot of thought on his part, last night he called our provider, Direct TV, and cancelled his NFL package. When asked why he was cancelling he told them because of the disrespect the players are showing to our Country and our Flag. It came as no surprise to the employee at Direct TV, as lots of subscribers are doing the same and Direct TV is refunding anyone who cancels.
It probably sounds silly to say I'm proud of him for this, but he is one of the biggest Football enthusiasts ever. Not anymore....

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 2:29 pm

He's still doing well in Peurto Rico -

Moliere · Post by **Moliere** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 2:36 pm

There's always a Trump tweet from the past for everything that happens today.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 2:39 pm

tgb wrote:My sister in law posted this on Facebook today and it made me very sad. The "Steve" she mentions is my brother.

I'm so proud of my husband Steve. After a lot of thought on his part, last night he called our provider, Direct TV, and cancelled his NFL package. When asked why he was cancelling he told them because of the disrespect the players are showing to our Country and our Flag. It came as no surprise to the employee at Direct TV, as lots of subscribers are doing the same and Direct TV is refunding anyone who cancels.
It probably sounds silly to say I'm proud of him for this, but he is one of the biggest Football enthusiasts ever. Not anymore....

It would be very amusing if the football fan base suddenly became super progressive because of this.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 2:40 pm

hepcat wrote:Pat Robertson is claiming that recent tragedies are all the fault of the disrespect being shown Trump by many in our country.

Pat Robertson makes me want Hell to be real.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 2:46 pm

Holman wrote:
hepcat wrote:Pat Robertson is claiming that recent tragedies are all the fault of the disrespect being shown Trump by many in our country.
Pat Robertson makes me want Hell to be real.

You know, I bet he wouldn't even burn if tossed into a large bonfire. Anyone care to test this theory?

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 2:51 pm

El Guapo wrote:
tgb wrote:My sister in law posted this on Facebook today and it made me very sad. The "Steve" she mentions is my brother.

I'm so proud of my husband Steve. After a lot of thought on his part, last night he called our provider, Direct TV, and cancelled his NFL package. When asked why he was cancelling he told them because of the disrespect the players are showing to our Country and our Flag. It came as no surprise to the employee at Direct TV, as lots of subscribers are doing the same and Direct TV is refunding anyone who cancels.
It probably sounds silly to say I'm proud of him for this, but he is one of the biggest Football enthusiasts ever. Not anymore....
It would be very amusing if the football fan base suddenly became super progressive because of this.

I'm sure they will, both of them.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Wed Oct 04, 2017 3:44 pm

Rip wrote:
El Guapo wrote:
tgb wrote:My sister in law posted this on Facebook today and it made me very sad. The "Steve" she mentions is my brother.

I'm so proud of my husband Steve. After a lot of thought on his part, last night he called our provider, Direct TV, and cancelled his NFL package. When asked why he was cancelling he told them because of the disrespect the players are showing to our Country and our Flag. It came as no surprise to the employee at Direct TV, as lots of subscribers are doing the same and Direct TV is refunding anyone who cancels.
It probably sounds silly to say I'm proud of him for this, but he is one of the biggest Football enthusiasts ever. Not anymore....
It would be very amusing if the football fan base suddenly became super progressive because of this.
I'm sure they will, both of them.

You've already memory-holed this?

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Thu Oct 05, 2017 1:52 pm

https://www.scribd.com/document/3607112 ... er-10-4-17

A copy of Joel Clemente's resignation letter. Ouch.

You have disrespected the career staff of the Department by questioning their loyalty and you have played fast and loose with government regulations to score points with your political base at the expense of American health and safety.

Sound like any Oligarch we know? Can one man brought to power by mob rule truly destroy the great experiment?

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Thu Oct 05, 2017 3:03 pm

LordMortis wrote:https://www.scribd.com/document/3607112 ... er-10-4-17

A copy of Joel Clemente's resignation letter. Ouch.

You have disrespected the career staff of the Department by questioning their loyalty and you have played fast and loose with government regulations to score points with your political base at the expense of American health and safety.
Sound like any Oligarch we know? Can one man brought to power by mob rule truly destroy the great experiment?

I do lots of work with DOI, and it's been disheartening to watch what Zinke is doing with the SES’ers (senior executives) there. He’s taking these rock star leaders who are getting amazing results, are loved and respected by their employees, and who are a huge asset to their bureau (i.e. regional directors, state directors, etc.) and shoving them out into trivial non-leadership roles or positions leading small unimportant teams, simply to muzzle their influence. Then he’s either promoting ‘yes-men’/complete incompetents into those vacant positions, or simply leaving them unfilled.

One of the bureaus is operating with a rotating group of senior leaders doing "acting" assignments. They move to one leadership position for a few weeks, then everyone plays musical chairs to the next spot. There’s no one in place to make any sort of decision, create a strategy, or, frankly, lead. The general consensus in the Department is that they're essentially forcing dysfunction and chaos in order to justify farming everything out to private industry.

What Clement is exposing is just the tip of the iceberg…it’s an absolute shitshow right now. I’m pretty disappointed, as I originally thought Zinke would be one of the (relatively) sane Cabinet appointments.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Thu Oct 05, 2017 3:28 pm

The Gremlins have graduated from tractors and movie theaters to politics and governing.