The Former Trump Presidency Thread

[Max Peck]

The newest member of the White House press office: Ms Sunshine.

Former Disney Channel actress Caroline Sunshine is to join US President Donald Trump's press office.

The 22-year-old starred in Shake It Up, a series about teen dancers, in 2010-13. She also appeared in several films.

Ms Sunshine will join the White House as a press assistant. She previously completed an internship there, spokeswoman Lindsay Walters told CNN.

I'm sure she has a bright future as a Trump spokesperson.

[El Guapo]

What a funny coincidence that the best candidate happened to be a young, attractive woman.

[malchior]

What a funny coincidence that the best candidate happened to be a young, attractive woman.

Aryan-ishness probably didn't hurt either.

[hitbyambulance]

1. That is EXACTLY what his base eats up. It's like fuel for the Trumpster fire. If I were to try to argue with a Trump supporter, and used "but his actions are unprecedented!" Their reaction would likely be "No shit! That's one of the main reasons I voted for him!"

Not attaching you, Malchior, sorry, that word just sets me off for some reason.
I love you, man.

may i propose the compromise term 'unpresidented' for this purpose...

[El Guapo]

A judge in Maryland refused to dismiss one of the emoluments clause lawsuits against Trump. I have never been this excited for a legal discovery process to start.

[Holman]

A judge in Maryland refused to dismiss one of the emoluments clause lawsuits against Trump. I have never been this excited for a legal discovery process to start.

What does it mean? Will it be strictly limited to (e.g.) Trump hotel payments since 2016, or does it blow the lid off much more than that?

[GreenGoo]

A judge in Maryland refused to dismiss one of the emoluments clause lawsuits against Trump. I have never been this excited for a legal discovery process to start.

And the entire organization is part of the lawsuit, in multiple countries. The kids' personal finances could in theory be part of the discovery, if they have taken wealth out of the org (I think).

Fingers crossed.



I really, really hope if nothing else, it is immensely embarrassing for him.

[El Guapo]

A judge in Maryland refused to dismiss one of the emoluments clause lawsuits against Trump. I have never been this excited for a legal discovery process to start.

What does it mean? Will it be strictly limited to (e.g.) Trump hotel payments since 2016, or does it blow the lid off much more than that?

I'm getting a little ahead of myself. First, Trump / the Trump Organization is definitely going to appeal. Standing is a tricky question, so it wouldn't be shocking if this got reversed on appeal. I have no idea whether the Supreme Court would be interested in touching this, if it comes to that. And note that there are several emoluments clause lawsuits from different groups with different standing claims - another one was dismissed on standing in Manhattan a month or so ago. AND there are other possible grounds for dismissal that the Trump Organization will presumably put forward - for example, it could be that plaintiffs have standing but that the courts ultimately find that emoluments clause issues are non-justiable political questions - e.g., that if a President violates the emoluments clause, it's up to Congress (and/or elections) to provide the remedy.

With all that said, one of the core promising things of the emoluments clause lawsuits is that the discovery (which is always pretty broad as a general matter)( would seem to appropriately include all types of payments flowing in to the Trump Organization, its affiliates, and Trump himself. It would seem to also appropriately include communications between the Trump Organization and foreign governments. Since it sounds like the standing claims of Maryland and D.C. (the plaintiffs in this particular suit) are grounded in revenue lost from foreign government officials not staying at hotels and convention centers that Maryland and D.C. own or operate or get money from, it seems like there might be a reasonable argument here to limit discovery to revenue flowing in connection with hotel stays, as opposed to all revenue flowing into the Trump Organization. As for the timeline, it seems like it would be impossible to have an emoluments clause lawsuit until January 2017 (*maybe* November 2016 at the earliest), though maybe there's an argument that revenue and other materials from 2016 and 2015 and the like are relevant because they establish baselines (e.g., foreign government officials spent $X in 2016 and $2X in 2017).

Truly an exciting time for emoluments clause and legal discovery fans.

[Holman]

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/sta ... 5272065024

I have stated my concerns with Amazon long before the Election. Unlike others, they pay little or no taxes to state & local governments, use our Postal System as their Delivery Boy (causing tremendous loss to the U.S.), and are putting many thousands of retailers out of business!

Obviously this is because Trump hates the Washington Post, owned by Bezos.

But I'm trying to figure out the "Delivery Boy" part. Is it possible that he thinks Amazon Prime's free shipping means that Amazon doesn't pay the USPS to mail things...?

[Carpet_pissr]

Let him keep talking about Amazon and things he obviously knows nothing about beyond what he hears on Fox and Trump Friends. I REALLY want the share price to get to $1300 so I can buy more.

[Skinypupy]

But I'm trying to figure out the "Delivery Boy" part. Is it possible that he thinks Amazon Prime's free shipping means that Amazon doesn't pay the USPS to mail things...?

Would that be terribly surprising?

I do find it amusing that when HE pays little to no taxes, that means he's a "smart businessman". But when Amazon does it, that makes them bad/evil/the debbil. Such a stable genius.

[El Guapo]

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/sta ... 5272065024

I have stated my concerns with Amazon long before the Election. Unlike others, they pay little or no taxes to state & local governments, use our Postal System as their Delivery Boy (causing tremendous loss to the U.S.), and are putting many thousands of retailers out of business!

Obviously this is because Trump hates the Washington Post, owned by Bezos.

But I'm trying to figure out the "Delivery Boy" part. Is it possible that he thinks Amazon Prime's free shipping means that Amazon doesn't pay the USPS to mail things...?

Something like that, yes.

•“The whole post office thing, that's very much a perception he has,” another source said. “It's been explained to him in multiple meetings that his perception is inaccurate and that the post office actually makes a ton of money from Amazon."

[stessier]

Does he know that the Post Office receives no tax dollars?

[El Guapo]

Does he know that the Post Office receives no tax dollars?

I mean, the answer to any "does he know" question is almost necessarily no.

[Chaz]

[Smoove_B]

Given what he thinks about "Space Force" it wouldn't surprise me if he thinks the Postmaster General also has a standing army.

[Isgrimnur]

I've seen a lot of separated Space Shuttle door gunners online that may need jobs.

[malchior]

Does he know that the Post Office receives no tax dollars?

In fact, it almost can be considered to receive negative tax dollars due to the absurd rules that Congress saddles the Postal Service with. The Amazon/Postal Service partnership has been pretty much win/win. At the extreme you could argue that some customers are subsidizing deliveries to other customers. Welcome to trade offs.

[Defiant]

I have stated my concerns with Amazon long before the Election. Unlike others, they pay little or no taxes to state & local government

... just like Trump.

[Smoove_B]

As is tradition (it's a Friday), President Trump is spending his 104th day in office playing golf (He's in Florida at Mar-a-Lago). For those keeping track, he's been in office for 488 days. So ~21% of his time as the leader of our country has been spent golfing. Amazing.

[Chaz]

As is tradition (it's a Friday), President Trump is spending his 104th day in office playing golf (He's in Florida at Mar-a-Lago). For those keeping track, he's been in office for 488 days. So ~21% of his time as the leader of our country has been spent golfing. Amazing.

Still not as bad as Obama, amirite? That guy spent way more time golfing!

[Smoove_B]

I feel like we're at the point where even if you completely ignore anything he's done politically while in office, if you are a Trump supporter that thinks spending ~21% of your time golfing is terrific, then you're an idiot.

I am hoping some day there's a true accounting of how his time was spent, because it feels like maybe he's working 20-25 hours a week in his official capacity. The rest of the time is spent Tweeting, golfing and watching Fox news.

[malchior]

We're in the information age - hours in the office don't matter anymore - it is about working smart and all the results! #MAGA #WINNING

[El Guapo]

I feel like we're at the point where ... if you are a Trump supporter ... then you're an idiot.

Mortoned.

[Chaz]

We're in the information age - hours in the office don't matter anymore - it is about working smart and all the results! #MAGA #WINNING

I'm sure he'll just say that all his hours watching Fox News count as working time, since they're his main advisors and briefers.

[$iljanus]

As is tradition (it's a Friday), President Trump is spending his 104th day in office playing golf (He's in Florida at Mar-a-Lago). For those keeping track, he's been in office for 488 days. So ~21% of his time as the leader of our country has been spent golfing. Amazing.

Well Congress is on spring break too and just because he's not in the White House doesn't mean he's not holding meetings and governing the country. Oh and he's also not a black Kenyan like that other fellow so there's that going for him.

[Carpet_pissr]

As is tradition (it's a Friday), President Trump is spending his 104th day in office playing golf (He's in Florida at Mar-a-Lago). For those keeping track, he's been in office for 488 days. So ~21% of his time as the leader of our country has been spent golfing. Amazing.

Still not as bad as Obama, amirite? That guy spent way more time golfing!

That's just silly. Everyone knows Kenyans don't golf.

Also, let's not complain about his time on the course, PLEASE. More time on the course means less time tweeting and doing a shit job as President. Stay out there, Mangerine! Hell, I think he should take a golf sabbatical and just play golf for a couple of months.

[Isgrimnur]

As is tradition (it's a Friday), President Trump is spending his 104th day in office playing golf (He's in Florida at Mar-a-Lago). For those keeping track, he's been in office for 488 days. So ~21% of his time as the leader of our country has been spent golfing. Amazing.

Still not as bad as Obama, amirite? That guy spent way more time golfing!

That's just silly. Everyone knows Kenyans don't golf.

Also, let's not complain about his time on the course, PLEASE. More time on the course means less time tweeting and doing a shit job as President. Stay out there, Mangerine! Hell, I think he should take a golf sabbatical and just play golf for a couple of months.

Which leaves who back at the resort running things unchecked?

[$iljanus]

As is tradition (it's a Friday), President Trump is spending his 104th day in office playing golf (He's in Florida at Mar-a-Lago). For those keeping track, he's been in office for 488 days. So ~21% of his time as the leader of our country has been spent golfing. Amazing.

Still not as bad as Obama, amirite? That guy spent way more time golfing!

That's just silly. Everyone knows Kenyans don't golf.

Also, let's not complain about his time on the course, PLEASE. More time on the course means less time tweeting and doing a shit job as President. Stay out there, Mangerine! Hell, I think he should take a golf sabbatical and just play golf for a couple of months.

Which leaves who back at the resort running things unchecked?

[Skinypupy]

As is tradition (it's a Friday), President Trump is spending his 104th day in office playing golf (He's in Florida at Mar-a-Lago). For those keeping track, he's been in office for 488 days. So ~21% of his time as the leader of our country has been spent golfing. Amazing.

You’re forgetting to account for the fact that Trump is the best. Businessman. Ever.

While Obama’s golf trips were just him being lazy and ignoring his presidential duties, Trump is getting deals done while on the course. He’s just that good.

(Sadly, I’ve actually heard this argument from most of my conservative friends)

[Carpet_pissr]

As is tradition (it's a Friday), President Trump is spending his 104th day in office playing golf (He's in Florida at Mar-a-Lago). For those keeping track, he's been in office for 488 days. So ~21% of his time as the leader of our country has been spent golfing. Amazing.

Still not as bad as Obama, amirite? That guy spent way more time golfing!

That's just silly. Everyone knows Kenyans don't golf.

Also, let's not complain about his time on the course, PLEASE. More time on the course means less time tweeting and doing a shit job as President. Stay out there, Mangerine! Hell, I think he should take a golf sabbatical and just play golf for a couple of months.

Which leaves who back at the resort running things unchecked?

#Chimps>Trump

[Freyland]

As is tradition (it's a Friday), President Trump is spending his 104th day in office playing golf (He's in Florida at Mar-a-Lago). For those keeping track, he's been in office for 488 days. So ~21% of his time as the leader of our country has been spent golfing. Amazing.

You’re forgetting to account for the fact that Trump is the best. Businessman. Ever.

While Obama’s golf trips were just him being lazy and ignoring his presidential duties, Trump is getting deals done while on the course. He’s just that good.

(Sadly, I’ve actually heard this argument from most of my conservative friends)

"Tell you what, Vladimir.... I'll Mulligan this hole and you can have Alaska. Sound good?"

[Default]

Does he know that the Post Office receives no tax dollars?

In fact, it almost can be considered to receive negative tax dollars due to the absurd rules that Congress saddles the Postal Service with. The Amazon/Postal Service partnership has been pretty much win/win. At the extreme you could argue that some customers are subsidizing deliveries to other customers. Welcome to trade offs.

I'm working on my second month of 6x12+hour days since I came back from the hip replacement. Days where I move less than 150 packages besides my regular workload are rare. Downside is total physical exhaustion, which prevents me from wasting said overtime on hookers 'n' blow.

[Kraken]

My mail carrier goes out of his way to make sure I'm satisfied with his service. Of all the houses he visits every day, very few actually generate money for USPS, but I still routinely spend $10-30 per day on postage to ship 1-3 packages a day, and I pay normal commercial rates, not the Amazon bulk rates. Plus, he gets a $20 xmas bonus every year for saving me about 300 trips to the post office.

Trump is going full unhinged tonight with his attacks on Bezos, saying the WaPo should register as a lobbyist (on top of his lies about the USPS). Welcome to the new normal. It's just another distraction until the next thing comes along.

[msteelers]

Add DACA to the list of things that Trump doesn't understand.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/sta ... 5548491777
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/sta ... 8606602241

Mexico is doing very little, if not NOTHING, at stopping people from flowing into Mexico through their Southern Border, and then into the U.S. They laugh at our dumb immigration laws. They must stop the big drug and people flows, or I will stop their cash cow, NAFTA. NEED WALL! These big flows of people are all trying to take advantage of DACA. They want in on the act!

[Skinypupy]

That’s completely nonsensical, but he used four of the key words on the “Rube Rage” bingo card (Mexico, Wall, DACA, and NAFTA), so I’m sure they’re all frothing at the mouth again.

[Captain Caveman]

Trying to take advantage of DACA? First, the law states you would’ve had to have arrived before 2007, and second, he already rescinded DACA. Also, I’m pretty sure there hasn’t been a recent increase in immigration across the border.

It’s really disconcerting how his arguments don’t even try to adhere to reality. Either he doesn’t know even the most easily knowable basics or he’s deliberately lying. I know, I know, this isn’t anything new for him, but it’s kind of crazy that it’s just accepted now that the president is a lying blowhard and it doesn’t make much of a ripple.

[Chaz]

He saw a segment on Fox about it, so he went off.

Obviously Fox is directly lobbying the President, maybe they should register.

[$iljanus]

NAFTA. NEED WALL!

He is such a fucking toddler. OK Donald, but let's have nap time first.

[Smoove_B]

This is his Easter Sunday message on social media? Bloviating on NAFTA, the Mexicans and DACA? Who on earth still defends and supports this clown?