The Apprentice Season 2 - The Second Presidency of Donald Trump

[Unagi]

I'll take a deep breath. But the title of this thread is, IMO, a pinch too unserious.

And, I apologize if I am a little on edge. I'm in the middle of a storm.

edit: Weeee- fun, top of the page.

[wonderpug]

A periodic sprinkle of unserious is the only way some of us are going to mentally survive the next 4 years.

[Max Peck]

My father only ever gave me two pieces of useful advice as I headed out the door and into real life:

1) If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.

2) Don't lose your sense of humor.

Sometimes adding a layer of unserious to the very serious is how someone can stay sane in an insane world. Besides, the title mocks Trump, and where's the harm in that (until the Thought Police come for us, anyway).

[Unagi]

Yes, I'm all in for gallows humor. Truly. This is just, maybe... too sophomoric?, to look at for the next four years.

[Unagi]

I'm being a dick - and I have, indeed lost my sense of humor today.


My best friend started texting me last night that he is planning to file for divorce. He just learned that his wife voted for Trump, and they have 5 daughters... He cannot look at her.
My oldest kid (trans) has lost it - is clearly terrified, and I mean -terrified- for their future.


Sorry - Grif. Sorry, everyone. Fuck this world though.

edit: The next 4 years will not simply be a bad season of a TV show.

[Zarathud]

Tell your kids you are there for them and their friends, no matter what. Trans people have always been around, and will continue despite politics.

[Unagi]

Tell your kids you are there for them and their friends, no matter what. Trans people have always been around, and will continue despite politics.

Yeah, I've told them 'as much'. It helps a little, but honestly - the political rhetoric around this topic is so toxic and hate-filled - its hard to honestly know what is or isn't in store for their future here in America. This election told us all one thing for sure: "Trans Hate really SELLS!" - and that is hard to ignore.

[Blackhawk]

My trans kid (who voted Harris!) was non-verbal for two days. It's hard enough being trans in rural Indiana (and is why the closet door is nailed shut, despite her desire to turn it into a coffee table.)

But these threads right now are not needed for solutions. Solutions are impossible before we see how Trump really acts. Right now these threads serve a different purpose - they're allowing friends to vent to friends. They're letting us work through our worst-case fears. We are all (whether we'll say it or not) feeling betrayed, afraid, powerless, and hopeless. We need to get pissed off and yell. We need to rant incoherently. We need inappropriate humor.

But most of all we need each other's support and patience. All of our situations are different, all of our fears are different. Many are unfounded, but again - we're not to the point of reasonable solutions yet.

Please try to remember, over the next few months, but especially over the next couple of weeks, that we're all people. Respond the way you would if a family member or real-life friend came to you upset and started freaking out about something terrible that had happened in their life.

I hope that you'd listen and offer understanding - not criticize them for not being reasonable or not seeing things your way.

[Unagi]

But these threads right now are not needed for solutions. Solutions are impossible before we see how Trump really acts. Right now these threads serve a different purpose - they're allowing friends to vent to friends. They're letting us work through our worst-case fears. We are all (whether we'll say it or not) feeling betrayed, afraid, powerless, and hopeless. We need to get pissed off and yell. We need to rant incoherently. We need inappropriate humor.

Wise words.

I hope Grif will understand my reaction, and I know I can get over my initial read of it all - as you say; venting here.

[Grifman]

But these threads right now are not needed for solutions. Solutions are impossible before we see how Trump really acts. Right now these threads serve a different purpose - they're allowing friends to vent to friends. They're letting us work through our worst-case fears. We are all (whether we'll say it or not) feeling betrayed, afraid, powerless, and hopeless. We need to get pissed off and yell. We need to rant incoherently. We need inappropriate humor.

Wise words.

I hope Grif will understand my reaction, and I know I can get over my initial read of it all - as you say; venting here.

No problem, no harm done. Just trying to come up with a witty title, for better or worse. Believe me, I despise Trump as much as anyone here, and was depressed for a couple of days that I will have to hear him and his supporters stupidities for the next four years, not to mention all those who will suffer from them.

The first run was enough for me. I can’t live another 4 years dealing daily with stupidity after stupidity, and outrage after outrage. I just can’t take that emotionally. I did what I could, I voted, not much more I can do now. I’m already cutting back my consumption of news so I won’t be faced with it on a daily basis. I am sorry for those whose lives will be impacted and can’t ignore Trump’s impact on their lives.

Unfortunately America is going to have to learn - hopefully - a very hard lesson here. If we don’t, we’re sunk, if not already.

[YellowKing]

Yeah I hope people realize I'm posting from my personal experience. And as such, my outlook is going to be based on personal experience. Yes, I realize that personal experience is more privileged than a lot of people, so my level of optimism might not be the same as yours. I know Unagi often rolls his eyes or makes some comment about my optimism. But it's the only perspective I have, and in the end we're all doing our best to cope with this new reality. In short, we're all on the same side, but we're all going to have different ways of dealing with it.

I'm not going to turn into a bitter, pessimistic person because someone feels my optimism is misplaced. That's just not who I am.

[LawBeefaroni]

Just for some perspective, here's
where we where about this time in 2016.

Spoiler:

FIRST, propose a Constitutional Amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress;

I'm of two minds on term limits. I think in the end I fall on the side of against, only because I think that it's self-defeating to force a member out that is good at what they do, just because reasons. And maybe that's naive (believing that anyone in Congress can be good at what they do). I think I agree with Sen. McConnell, we already have term limits, we call them elections. If you want to fix those, instead propose an Amendment to outlaw gerrymandering shenanigans designed to protect incumbents.

SECOND, a hiring freeze on all federal employees to reduce federal workforce through attrition (exempting military, public safety, and public health);

If I'm not mistaken, most of Obama's Administration had that freeze in place, and it was only lifted recently (at least at the DoD). I'm already in (indirectly), so ha-ha!

THIRD, a requirement that for every new federal regulation, two existing regulations must be eliminated.

Why? I mean, I have no particular aversion to getting rid of bad regulations. But getting rid of existing regulations, just because? That's dumb.

FOURTH, a 5 year-ban on White House and Congressional officials becoming lobbyists after they leave government service;
FIFTH, a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government;
SIXTH, a complete ban on foreign lobbyists raising money for American elections.

I have no objections at this time.

FIRST, I will announce my intention to renegotiate NAFTA or withdraw from the deal under Article 2205
SECOND, I will announce our withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
THIRD, I will direct my Secretary of the Treasury to label China a currency manipulator

What could go wrong? Incidentally, those are the actions that will likely trigger the market correction that will begin to evaporate my 401(k).

FOURTH, I will direct the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to identify all foreign trading abuses that unfairly impact American workers and direct them to use every tool under American and international law to end those abuses immediately

Too ambiguous to comment on.

FIFTH, I will lift the restrictions on the production of $50 trillion dollars' worth of job-producing American energy reserves, including shale, oil, natural gas and clean coal.

Need more details. Like are we just going to tap all the reserves at once and go out in fossil fuel burning orgy? I feel like this was thrown in to convince people that there's going to be $50T worth of new jobs on Day One(tm). We obviously know that this is probably just marketing talk for "Frack Baby, Frack!" right?

SIXTH, lift the Obama-Clinton roadblocks and allow vital energy infrastructure projects, like the Keystone Pipeline, to move forward

Surprisingly, I have no opinion on the Keystone Pipeline. And I would need to see a list of other "vital" energy infrastructure projects. Like, is fixing our shitty electrical grid on that agenda?

SEVENTH, cancel billions in payments to U.N. climate change programs and use the money to fix America's water and environmental infrastructure

Christ on a cracker. Although I am open to the possibility that the UN isn't a particular efficient vehicle and that a significant portion of those payments are falling off the cart before it rumbles to its final destination.

FIRST, cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama

Ambiguous. I mean, currently they are all constitutional, no?

SECOND, begin the process of selecting a replacement for Justice Scalia from one of the 20 judges on my list, who will uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States

Fuck you and your party.

THIRD, cancel all federal funding to Sanctuary Cities

So that I understand this correctly - the idea is that a city is identified as a Sanctuary City (who gets to decide? Christie? ), and as long as they have that designation, *all* federal funding is cut off to that city?

FOURTH, begin removing the more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants from the country and cancel visas to foreign countries that won't take them back

This is non-specific. He references "2 million criminal illegal immigrants". Are these illegal immigrants that have committed crimes? Or are we just tagging all illegal immigrants with the label of "criminal" because being here illegally is a crime? He is careful to not really commit to anything other than to "begin" to do that. Probably a wise way to couch this one.

FIFTH, suspend immigration from terror-prone regions where vetting cannot safely occur. All vetting of people coming into our country will be considered extreme vetting.

At this point, isn't that "Earth"? What in the name of holy fuck is "extreme vetting"? Are there rubber gloves involved?

Middle Class Tax Relief And Simplification Act.

Holy Underpants. The answer to a crippling debt problem (assuming you perceive our current debt problem as crippling, which I don't) is to slash your revenue? What could go wrong? Companies can bring their money home and only pay 10%?!? They're paying 0% now. Why on earth would they do that? What does he define as a middle class family? Why do I get the sneaking suspicion that it will be national numbers, and so my living in the NY-NJ-CT triangle will double fist me in the pooper?

End The Offshoring Act.

Tariffs always work, right? There are never consequences to those.

American Energy & Infrastructure Act.

I need more than a sentence, and I apologize in advance, but I don't believe you when you say that spending $1T is revenue neutral. Otherwise I have no problem with infrastructure development.

School Choice And Education Opportunity Act.

Oy.

Repeal and Replace Obamacare Act.

Oy^2. Forcing people to self-insure with a risk pool of one through Health Savings Accounts is no way to address this nightmare.

Affordable Childcare and Eldercare Act.

Opinionless.

End Illegal Immigration Act

That is legitimately delusional. How exactly is the USA going to pass a law with "the understanding" that Mexico is going to fully pay for it. That's never happening.

Restoring Community Safety Act

Color me skeptical.

Restoring National Security Act.

Color me skeptical. I mean, clearing ending sequestration helps me personally, but someone has to pay for all of this shit. And you are slashing revenue. Our hope is that companies are going to magically start paying 10% tax on money they don't have to?

Clean up Corruption in Washington Act.

No details. This sounds like marketing horseshit.

That's legitimately as charitable as I can possibly be with this nonsense.

I guess we could always keep count of "is it better or worse this time around".

[Blackhawk]

The first run was enough for me. I can’t live another 4 years dealing daily with stupidity after stupidity, and outrage after outrage. I just can’t take that emotionally. I did what I could, I voted, not much more I can do now. I’m already cutting back my consumption of news so I won’t be faced with it on a daily basis.

The first Trump Presidency made me angry and bitter, to the point that I was unpleasant to be around. My stress level was constantly high, and I was in a perpetual state of jaw clenching and glaring. I was unpleasant to be around, snappy and irritable.

The people around me deserve better. People can criticize me for saying that I want to step back rather than rushing to the front lines, but the impact on me and my family was noticeable and negative. It took me a long time - a long time after Trump was out - to come back from that. I don't know that I could survive more of it at that level (literally), and I don't want to do that to the people around me (and here!) again.

[Zarathud]

Agree. Being pissed off is understandable. Getting support is productive.

The question is how to function. The MAGAs want you to be afraid and scared. They want to see your tears and fears. Fuck them. They may claim (and have) power. But I won’t give them more. Resistance and spite will lead to better outcomes.

Context is the only way to counter social media hysteria. We’re stepping back from the “always getting better and more progressive” curve of history. That’s sad and depressing.

But we’re not back to barbarism yet. Even in Indiana. The civil right movement faced cops, dogs and assassins but still prevailed. And MAGA does try to bring that back, apparently you CAN storm the Capital and get away with it if people vote your side in afterwards.

My new hope is FAFO — Fuck Around, Find Out. MAGA is going to do terrible things, and we need to make it through and be ready to turn that suffering into a permanent change for the better. Because I truly believe enough people are in thrall to Trump’s image and misinformation to not actually understand MAGA despite voting for it. And I believe Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue that it was also a bad day for the people who voted for Trump, they just don’t know it yet.

I keep hearing excuses for people not voting for Kamala. And lots of businesses freaking out about the tariffs on their operations. That’s the 20 million who didn’t show up or voted Trump because they don’t know how to look up the campaign’s policy websites.

[Unagi]

I'm not going to turn into a bitter, pessimistic person because someone feels my optimism is misplaced. That's just not who I am.

Everyone needs to find their own path to bitter pessimism - and I am totally okay with that.

I do love you - please know that. All of my eye-rolls come with love.

[Blackhawk]

I'm too stubborn (and too curious) to keep my head in the sand for long. I'm sure that once I have cleared my head I'll be ready to leap back into the fray.

My new hope is FAFO — Fuck Around, Find Out. MAGA is going to do terrible things, and we need to make it through and be ready to turn that suffering into a permanent change for the better. Because I truly believe enough people are in thrall to Trump’s image and misinformation to not actually understand MAGA despite voting for it. And I believe Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue that it was also a bad day for the people who voted for Trump, they just don’t know it yet.

That's part of why I keep pushing for civility rather than pettiness. I'm not pushing for forgiveness, or to not put blame where it's due. I'm talking about a strategic choice. The less time we spend reinforcing the 'us vs them' mentality, the less time we spend giving them ammunition, the more likely it becomes for people to be willing to cross back over the line. And we have to have that if we want to get out of this. The Trump voters will have their awakening - unless we spoil it by keeping the focus on the slap-fight with us.

No, it doesn't feel as good as striking back on social media (or even in real life), but it's necessary if we want this to be temporary.

[Zarathud]

Happy warrior, Blackhawk.

Fight back by living your life and interacting with people. The more people put faces they know to broad statements, the less they can say “Well, I don’t know any of those people so it doesn’t affect me.”

[WYBaugh]

I'm in Florida. I'm surrounded by MAGA idiots on all sides. I'm being extremely petty.

[RunningMn9]

Just for some perspective, here's
where we where about this time in 2016.

I don't have the energy or the temperament to give Trump The Treatment(tm) a second time. Too full of rage at the stupidity of the electorate.

[YellowKing]

Everyone needs to find their own path to bitter pessimism

I actually was a bitter pessimist growing up. Probably into my early 20s. The reason (I didn't find out until much later in life) was my mom. I love my mom to death, but she is an absolute Debbie Downer. If you told her you won the lottery, she'd immediately point out how much in taxes you'll have to pay and probably imply your life is now in danger. I'll never forget how when we built our new house, her first comment was that because it was near a pond we'd probably have snake infestations.

Growing up I didn't realize how much her attitude impacted me. To me it was just "normal" to always look at the worst in everything. Looking back, I realize that probably cost me a lot of friends in school, which led to loneliness, which led to more bitterness, a vicious circle.

It took getting out on my own and meeting my wife (an absolute saint) to realize all this, and make a concerted effort not to be that person anymore. It doesn't mean I'm always a ray of sunshine. Far from it. I'm a middle-aged dad, so being occasionally grouchy is one of the job requirements. That said, I watched my mom destroy three marriages with her negativity, so I really fight every day not to be that person.

And thanks for the love Unagi.

[Smoove_B]

For historical purposes:

Trump's 93 Campaign Promises

BUDGET & TAXES:

Spoiler:

1. No taxes on tips.

2. Interest on car loans will be tax deductible.

3. No taxes on Social Security payments.

4. No taxes on any overtime income.

5. Across the board income tax cut for every taxpayer.

6. Make previous Trump tax cuts permanent.

7. Cut the corporate tax rate.

8. No cuts in benefits or changes in Social Security retirement age.

9. The federal budget will be cut by 33%.

10. Tax credits for home caregivers who are family members.

11. Repeal the Impound Control Act of 1974, which will prohibits a president from withholding funding approved by Congress in their budget that he disagrees with.

12. Interest rates on credit cards will be capped at 10%.

IMMIGRATION:

Spoiler:

13. All migrants, including those with pending asylum claims, will be taken into custody and deported immediately by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

14. Birthright citizenship will be ended by executive order. All persons who were born in the US to migrant parents will have their citizenship revoked and will be deported immediately.

15. Border will be closed with no migrants entering the US by moving thousands of US troops from overseas to be stationed on the southern border.

16. Border wall across southern US and Mexico will be completed.

17. All releases into the US of asylum seekers will be ended and Remain in Mexico policy reinstated.

18. Increase criminal penalties for illegal entry.

19. Reinstitute travel ban.

GENERAL DOMESTIC POLICY:

Spoiler:

20. Construct 10 new 'Freedom Cities' in the US which will be completely free from all government regulations of any kind.

21. No EV mandates or subsidies.

22. Create a Central Bank Digital Currency.

23. Homelessness will be criminalized and all homeless in the US will be arrested and given the choice of incarceration or admission into a new federal tent city for treatment.

24. Federal tent cities for arrested homeless - "Homeless Rehabilitation Centers' - will be fully staffed with doctors, psychiatrists and social workers.

25. Send astronauts to the moon.

26. Send astronauts to Mars.

27. Open federal lands to new home construction.

28. Seize control of the District of Columbia and have all city agencies run and controlled by the federal government.

29. Build new national monuments.

30. Create a federal task force to combat anti-Christian bias.

31. Provide housing for all 33,000 homeless veterans.

32. IVF will be fully covered with no out-of-pocket costs to parents.

33. Create job training and skills programs for all recovering drug addicts.

34. Provide federal funding for faith-based drug treatment centers.

35. Expand the Family & Medical Leave Act to require all employers to give time off for drug rehabilitation programs.

36. Create a White House Task Force called 'Salute 250,' which will organize one year of festivities across the US from Memorial Day 2025 to July 4, 2026.

37. Create the 'Great American State Fair' which will be held in Iowa each year with exhibits from all 50 states. (Promised right before the Iowa Caucus).

38. Create 'The Patriot Games' which will be an annual national competition for high school athletes in every sport similar to the Olympics.

39. Everyone over 18 shall be given the option to opt out of all content moderation on social media platforms.

40. Content moderation on social media platforms must not use AI.

41. Former employees of FBI, CIA, NSA, DNI, DHS and DOD shall not be permitted to take any job with a social media company for 7 years after leaving government service.

42. Have the US opt out of the Paris Climate Accords.

43. Repeal Biden's Administrations motor vehicle emissions standards.

44. The US government and agencies will only recognize people for the gender on their original birth certificate for all purposes.

45. All healthcare providers who perform gender reassignment surgeries are people under 18 will be permanently terminated from Medicare and Medicaid.

EDUCATION:

Spoiler:

46. Abolish the Department of Education.

47. Parents of all public schools can vote to remove a principal at any time.

48. School principals will be elected by parents each year.

49. Seize endowments of universities who either have DEI programs, consider race in admissions or hiring, or teach CRT. Endowments will be seized by levying a fine in lawsuits brought by DOJ that is equal to the amount in the endowment

50. A portion of money seized from university endowments will be used to compensate people who have been discriminated against in admissions and hiring due to DEI or preferences. (Intended for White people and Asians)

51. Deport foreign students who are pro-Hamas or make anti-American statements on campus.

52. End tenure for teachers and professors.

53. Increase merit pay for teachers.

54. Universal, national school choice for all school systems in the country.

55. Bible study will be instituted in public schools.

56. School prayer will be instituted in public schools.

57. All student who assaults a teacher or another student will be permanently expelled from that school.

58. All schools receive additional funding to "harden" them against school shooters and invaders.

59. College tuition at all colleges and universities will be reduced.

60. Create 'The American Academy' which will be a University run by the federal government. Tuition will be free. It will be paid for by money seized from other Universities' endowments. Full curriculum will be online available to all Americans for free. Students will receive a fully credentialed bachelor's degree.

61. $10,000 per child tax credit for home schooling.

62. All high school and college accreditors shall be fired immediately with accreditation services replaced by a group appointed by the president.

63. Revoke federal funding for all non-profits and academic programs dedicated to combatting disinformation and misinformation online.

64. Teacher certification will be changed and governed by a new federal agency that will only grant certifications to teachers who "embrace patriotic values."

FOREIGN POLICY & NATIONAL DEFENSE:

Spoiler:

65. Require the EU to reimburse the US for all aid provided to Ukraine from the time of Russia's invasion to present.

66. End Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office.

67. End the conflict between Israel and Gaza within 24 hours.

68. End violence inside Lebanon.

69. Create an Iron Dome Missile Defense Shield that will protect the entire US.

70. Increase defense spending to highest levels in history.

71. China will prevent the export of all fentanyl precursors.

TRADE:

Spoiler:

72. Across the board 10% tariff on all foreign imports.

73. Tariffs of 20-60% imposed on all goods imported from China.

74. Revoke China's Most Favored Nation Status for trade.

75. Stop importation of all EVs from China.

76. All companies with plants in China or importing parts manufactured in China will be banned from conducting any business with the US government. (Proposed when Musk was supporting Desantis).

77. Tariff placed on all imports of Ibuprofen, Hydrocortisone, Acetaminophen, and Penicillin until 100% of each drug sold in the US is manufactured in the US.

78. The Trump Reciprocal Trade Act will impose tariffs on all imports equal to tariffs imposed by a foreign country on US products.

79. Chinese companies will be forced to sell all US holdings in energy, tech, telecommunications, farmland, natural resources, and medical supplies.

80. Return all auto manufacturing jobs from US auto companies with plants in Mexico to the US by imposting huge tariffs on Mexico.

ENERGY POLICY:

Spoiler:

81. Authorize new drilling for oil to increase production above current levels.

82. Lift ban on exports of natural gas to other countries.

83. Electricity and home energy bills will be reduced by 50%.

84. New nuclear power plants will be authorized and constructed.

85. Over 200 new power plants using coal and other fossil fuels will be constructed.

86. All electric grids will be modernized.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE:

Spoiler:

87. Pardon defendants convicted and arrested for crimes related to J6 and stolen classified documents.

88. Have the US Navy implement a naval blockade to prevent all fentanyl precursors from entering the US by sea.

89. Federal immunity for state and local police officers to prohibit civil rights and excessive force lawsuits being brought against them.

90. Death penalty for human trafficking offenses.

91. People convicted of selling drugs will receive the death penalty.

92. Pardon convicted drug trafficker Ross Ulbricht (promise to Libertarian Party).

93. DOJ will investigate and prosecute local District Attorneys believed to have persecuted because of their religious believes, such as anti-abortion activists outside clinics.

[stimpy]

For hysterical purposes:

Trump's 93 Campaign Promises

BUDGET & TAXES:

Spoiler:

1. No taxes on tips.

2. Interest on car loans will be tax deductible.

3. No taxes on Social Security payments.

4. No taxes on any overtime income.

5. Across the board income tax cut for every taxpayer.

6. Make previous Trump tax cuts permanent.

7. Cut the corporate tax rate.

8. No cuts in benefits or changes in Social Security retirement age.

9. The federal budget will be cut by 33%.

10. Tax credits for home caregivers who are family members.

FTFY

11. Repeal the Impound Control Act of 1974, which will prohibits a president from withholding funding approved by Congress in their budget that he disagrees with.

12. Interest rates on credit cards will be capped at 10%.

IMMIGRATION:

Spoiler:

13. All migrants, including those with pending asylum claims, will be taken into custody and deported immediately by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

14. Birthright citizenship will be ended by executive order. All persons who were born in the US to migrant parents will have their citizenship revoked and will be deported immediately.

15. Border will be closed with no migrants entering the US by moving thousands of US troops from overseas to be stationed on the southern border.

16. Border wall across southern US and Mexico will be completed.

17. All releases into the US of asylum seekers will be ended and Remain in Mexico policy reinstated.

18. Increase criminal penalties for illegal entry.

19. Reinstitute travel ban.

GENERAL DOMESTIC POLICY:

Spoiler:

20. Construct 10 new 'Freedom Cities' in the US which will be completely free from all government regulations of any kind.

21. No EV mandates or subsidies.

22. Create a Central Bank Digital Currency.

23. Homelessness will be criminalized and all homeless in the US will be arrested and given the choice of incarceration or admission into a new federal tent city for treatment.

24. Federal tent cities for arrested homeless - "Homeless Rehabilitation Centers' - will be fully staffed with doctors, psychiatrists and social workers.

25. Send astronauts to the moon.

26. Send astronauts to Mars.

27. Open federal lands to new home construction.

28. Seize control of the District of Columbia and have all city agencies run and controlled by the federal government.

29. Build new national monuments.

30. Create a federal task force to combat anti-Christian bias.

31. Provide housing for all 33,000 homeless veterans.

32. IVF will be fully covered with no out-of-pocket costs to parents.

33. Create job training and skills programs for all recovering drug addicts.

34. Provide federal funding for faith-based drug treatment centers.

35. Expand the Family & Medical Leave Act to require all employers to give time off for drug rehabilitation programs.

36. Create a White House Task Force called 'Salute 250,' which will organize one year of festivities across the US from Memorial Day 2025 to July 4, 2026.

37. Create the 'Great American State Fair' which will be held in Iowa each year with exhibits from all 50 states. (Promised right before the Iowa Caucus).

38. Create 'The Patriot Games' which will be an annual national competition for high school athletes in every sport similar to the Olympics.

39. Everyone over 18 shall be given the option to opt out of all content moderation on social media platforms.

40. Content moderation on social media platforms must not use AI.

41. Former employees of FBI, CIA, NSA, DNI, DHS and DOD shall not be permitted to take any job with a social media company for 7 years after leaving government service.

42. Have the US opt out of the Paris Climate Accords.

43. Repeal Biden's Administrations motor vehicle emissions standards.

44. The US government and agencies will only recognize people for the gender on their original birth certificate for all purposes.

45. All healthcare providers who perform gender reassignment surgeries are people under 18 will be permanently terminated from Medicare and Medicaid.

EDUCATION:

Spoiler:

46. Abolish the Department of Education.

47. Parents of all public schools can vote to remove a principal at any time.

48. School principals will be elected by parents each year.

49. Seize endowments of universities who either have DEI programs, consider race in admissions or hiring, or teach CRT. Endowments will be seized by levying a fine in lawsuits brought by DOJ that is equal to the amount in the endowment

50. A portion of money seized from university endowments will be used to compensate people who have been discriminated against in admissions and hiring due to DEI or preferences. (Intended for White people and Asians)

51. Deport foreign students who are pro-Hamas or make anti-American statements on campus.

52. End tenure for teachers and professors.

53. Increase merit pay for teachers.

54. Universal, national school choice for all school systems in the country.

55. Bible study will be instituted in public schools.

56. School prayer will be instituted in public schools.

57. All student who assaults a teacher or another student will be permanently expelled from that school.

58. All schools receive additional funding to "harden" them against school shooters and invaders.

59. College tuition at all colleges and universities will be reduced.

60. Create 'The American Academy' which will be a University run by the federal government. Tuition will be free. It will be paid for by money seized from other Universities' endowments. Full curriculum will be online available to all Americans for free. Students will receive a fully credentialed bachelor's degree.

61. $10,000 per child tax credit for home schooling.

62. All high school and college accreditors shall be fired immediately with accreditation services replaced by a group appointed by the president.

63. Revoke federal funding for all non-profits and academic programs dedicated to combatting disinformation and misinformation online.

64. Teacher certification will be changed and governed by a new federal agency that will only grant certifications to teachers who "embrace patriotic values."

FOREIGN POLICY & NATIONAL DEFENSE:

Spoiler:

65. Require the EU to reimburse the US for all aid provided to Ukraine from the time of Russia's invasion to present.

66. End Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office.

67. End the conflict between Israel and Gaza within 24 hours.

68. End violence inside Lebanon.

69. Create an Iron Dome Missile Defense Shield that will protect the entire US.

70. Increase defense spending to highest levels in history.

71. China will prevent the export of all fentanyl precursors.

TRADE:

Spoiler:

72. Across the board 10% tariff on all foreign imports.

73. Tariffs of 20-60% imposed on all goods imported from China.

74. Revoke China's Most Favored Nation Status for trade.

75. Stop importation of all EVs from China.

76. All companies with plants in China or importing parts manufactured in China will be banned from conducting any business with the US government. (Proposed when Musk was supporting Desantis).

77. Tariff placed on all imports of Ibuprofen, Hydrocortisone, Acetaminophen, and Penicillin until 100% of each drug sold in the US is manufactured in the US.

78. The Trump Reciprocal Trade Act will impose tariffs on all imports equal to tariffs imposed by a foreign country on US products.

79. Chinese companies will be forced to sell all US holdings in energy, tech, telecommunications, farmland, natural resources, and medical supplies.

80. Return all auto manufacturing jobs from US auto companies with plants in Mexico to the US by imposting huge tariffs on Mexico.

ENERGY POLICY:

Spoiler:

81. Authorize new drilling for oil to increase production above current levels.

82. Lift ban on exports of natural gas to other countries.

83. Electricity and home energy bills will be reduced by 50%.

84. New nuclear power plants will be authorized and constructed.

85. Over 200 new power plants using coal and other fossil fuels will be constructed.

86. All electric grids will be modernized.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE:

Spoiler:

87. Pardon defendants convicted and arrested for crimes related to J6 and stolen classified documents.

88. Have the US Navy implement a naval blockade to prevent all fentanyl precursors from entering the US by sea.

89. Federal immunity for state and local police officers to prohibit civil rights and excessive force lawsuits being brought against them.

90. Death penalty for human trafficking offenses.

91. People convicted of selling drugs will receive the death penalty.

92. Pardon convicted drug trafficker Ross Ulbricht (promise to Libertarian Party).

93. DOJ will investigate and prosecute local District Attorneys believed to have persecuted because of their religious believes, such as anti-abortion activists outside clinics.

FTFY

[LawBeefaroni]

I haven't done the math but just estimating looking at a chart, TSLA has gained around $300,000,000,000 in market cap since Wednesday. In perspective, Harris' blockbuster campaign raised $1,000,000,000, or 0.3% of that, over 90 days.

The funding the tech/crypto bros put into winning this election, and the returns they're already getting, are impossible to overcome.

We'll see our first trillionaires as a result of this.

[Smoove_B]

For hysterical purposes:

This is a list of the things he literally promised during his campaign. I guess we'll see what happens.

[Skinypupy]

I had forgotten how absurd and/or horrific so many of those are.

Thanks for the reminder.

[Blackhawk]

Everyone needs to find their own path to bitter pessimism

I actually was a bitter pessimist growing up. Probably into my early 20s. The reason (I didn't find out until much later in life) was my mom.

It was my job. I was in a career where my entire job, as well as my safety, as well as the safety of the people who worked with (and later, for) me to figure out what could go wrong and account for it before it happened. If I walked down a hallway at 3:00 AM, bored out of my mind, I'd do thought exercises - if [bad thing] happens now, what's my response? If it's likely that it'll happen at some point, how do I tweak my process/gear to be ready to respond?

That thought process served me really well during those years, but wasn't so helpful at home. After I left that line of work, it took a long, long time for that to stop being my default thought process. It's still there, but I've demoted it from lifestyle to tool - it's why I'm good at planning and problem solving on the fly (I'm always thinking of what could go wrong, so I'm less likely to be surprised and more likely to have an alternative.) I just made myself stop expecting and preparing for the worst possibilities - I simply acknowledge them, address them if helpful, and move on.

[Skinypupy]

For hysterical purposes:

This is a list of the things he literally promised during his campaign. I guess we'll see what happens.

“We love Trump because he tells it like it is and says what he means!”

Immediately followed by

“That’s not actually what he meant. Can’t you libs take a joke!”

Every time, like freaking clockwork.

[geezer]

Dafuq?

91. People convicted of selling drugs will receive the death penalty.

92. Pardon convicted drug trafficker Ross Ulbricht (promise to Libertarian Party).

[Blackhawk]

For phantasmagorical purposes:

[Lunacy]

It's amazing how many loyalty tests are in that list.

91. People convicted of selling drugs will receive the death penalty.

92. Pardon convicted drug trafficker Ross Ulbricht (promise to Libertarian Party).

In that order.

[Blackhawk]

Bam?

Damn.

Bam-a-lam.

[Skinypupy]

Dafuq?

91. People convicted of selling drugs will receive the death penalty.

92. Pardon convicted drug trafficker Ross Ulbricht (promise to Libertarian Party).

Well, of course not him.

He’s one of the “good ones” and Trump is only talking about the bad ones, obviously.

[stimpy]

For hysterical purposes:

This is a list of the things he literally promised during his campaign. I guess we'll see what happens.

A person running for office making promises that are either outrageous or they have no intention of keeping???
Shocking, I tells ya.....shocking!!!

Would you like me to find articles about all of the promises previous folks running for President made that never came to pass?
Please say no, cause aint no body got that kinda time.....

I didnt vote for Trump this time, nor last.
But the amount of time you guys give him to occupy your brains and try to figure out how and when the world is going to end again is just unfathomable to me.
You know whats gonna happen?
Whatever happens.
Know what you can do to change it now?
Nothing.
That time has passed. Just like it passed the last time he won. And just like it passed when Biden won. And just like it will pass in 4 years.

The Repubs have now thrown Trump at the Dems 3 times in the last 12 years. He has won twice.
Probably time for the Dems to change whatever strategy they think is going to work moving forward, because it clearly is and does not.
I cant imagine how it feels to despise someone so much, yet get completely pwned by him.

[Blackhawk]

You know whats gonna happen?
Whatever happens.
Know what you can do to change it now?
Nothing.

Change it? No. But for those who end up affected, preparing is meaningful.

As to the time that we're spending on it, I'd refer you to my previous post.

[stimpy]

You know whats gonna happen?
Whatever happens.
Know what you can do to change it now?
Nothing.

Change it? No. But for those who end up affected, preparing is meaningful.

As to the time that we're spending on it, I'd refer you to my previous post.

I get that, and believe me, I feel for those that have to deal with choices any politician makes that affects them negatively.
But Trump is not the first, nor will he be the last, to potentially set forth policies that will hurt people, including those that depend on our government to help hold them up.
I am not going to go down the "are you better off now than you were before" rabbit hole, because inevitably someone somewhere is going to be negatively affected by some of the choices the government makes "on their behalf".

I guess this is my way of saying, hang in there.
It may feel like it sucks now to not know what the future holds, but honestly, do we ever?

I was once chastised on this very board for stating that I was concerned about my loved ones and how the choices the government makes affects them. I was called selfish and heartless. We all want to change the world, and hopefully do what we can to try to, but in the end all you really have is friends and family.
Maybe now some of those that ridiculed me in the past can kinda understand where I was coming from.
Your post certainly seems like you may.

[Holman]

As for the thread title, I think Trump himself will give us an appropriate name for it once he's back in power. It can change then.

[Unagi]

You know whats gonna happen?
Whatever happens.
Know what you can do to change it now?
Nothing.

Defeatist's mantra

[Punisher]

Just for some perspective, here's
where we where about this time in 2016.

Spoiler:

FIRST, propose a Constitutional Amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress;

I'm of two minds on term limits. I think in the end I fall on the side of against, only because I think that it's self-defeating to force a member out that is good at what they do, just because reasons. And maybe that's naive (believing that anyone in Congress can be good at what they do). I think I agree with Sen. McConnell, we already have term limits, we call them elections. If you want to fix those, instead propose an Amendment to outlaw gerrymandering shenanigans designed to protect incumbents.

SECOND, a hiring freeze on all federal employees to reduce federal workforce through attrition (exempting military, public safety, and public health);

If I'm not mistaken, most of Obama's Administration had that freeze in place, and it was only lifted recently (at least at the DoD). I'm already in (indirectly), so ha-ha!

THIRD, a requirement that for every new federal regulation, two existing regulations must be eliminated.

Why? I mean, I have no particular aversion to getting rid of bad regulations. But getting rid of existing regulations, just because? That's dumb.

FOURTH, a 5 year-ban on White House and Congressional officials becoming lobbyists after they leave government service;
FIFTH, a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government;
SIXTH, a complete ban on foreign lobbyists raising money for American elections.

I have no objections at this time.

FIRST, I will announce my intention to renegotiate NAFTA or withdraw from the deal under Article 2205
SECOND, I will announce our withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
THIRD, I will direct my Secretary of the Treasury to label China a currency manipulator

What could go wrong? Incidentally, those are the actions that will likely trigger the market correction that will begin to evaporate my 401(k).

FOURTH, I will direct the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to identify all foreign trading abuses that unfairly impact American workers and direct them to use every tool under American and international law to end those abuses immediately

Too ambiguous to comment on.

FIFTH, I will lift the restrictions on the production of $50 trillion dollars' worth of job-producing American energy reserves, including shale, oil, natural gas and clean coal.

Need more details. Like are we just going to tap all the reserves at once and go out in fossil fuel burning orgy? I feel like this was thrown in to convince people that there's going to be $50T worth of new jobs on Day One(tm). We obviously know that this is probably just marketing talk for "Frack Baby, Frack!" right?

SIXTH, lift the Obama-Clinton roadblocks and allow vital energy infrastructure projects, like the Keystone Pipeline, to move forward

Surprisingly, I have no opinion on the Keystone Pipeline. And I would need to see a list of other "vital" energy infrastructure projects. Like, is fixing our shitty electrical grid on that agenda?

SEVENTH, cancel billions in payments to U.N. climate change programs and use the money to fix America's water and environmental infrastructure

Christ on a cracker. Although I am open to the possibility that the UN isn't a particular efficient vehicle and that a significant portion of those payments are falling off the cart before it rumbles to its final destination.

FIRST, cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama

Ambiguous. I mean, currently they are all constitutional, no?

SECOND, begin the process of selecting a replacement for Justice Scalia from one of the 20 judges on my list, who will uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States

Fuck you and your party.

THIRD, cancel all federal funding to Sanctuary Cities

So that I understand this correctly - the idea is that a city is identified as a Sanctuary City (who gets to decide? Christie? ), and as long as they have that designation, *all* federal funding is cut off to that city?

FOURTH, begin removing the more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants from the country and cancel visas to foreign countries that won't take them back

This is non-specific. He references "2 million criminal illegal immigrants". Are these illegal immigrants that have committed crimes? Or are we just tagging all illegal immigrants with the label of "criminal" because being here illegally is a crime? He is careful to not really commit to anything other than to "begin" to do that. Probably a wise way to couch this one.

FIFTH, suspend immigration from terror-prone regions where vetting cannot safely occur. All vetting of people coming into our country will be considered extreme vetting.

At this point, isn't that "Earth"? What in the name of holy fuck is "extreme vetting"? Are there rubber gloves involved?

Middle Class Tax Relief And Simplification Act.

Holy Underpants. The answer to a crippling debt problem (assuming you perceive our current debt problem as crippling, which I don't) is to slash your revenue? What could go wrong? Companies can bring their money home and only pay 10%?!? They're paying 0% now. Why on earth would they do that? What does he define as a middle class family? Why do I get the sneaking suspicion that it will be national numbers, and so my living in the NY-NJ-CT triangle will double fist me in the pooper?

End The Offshoring Act.

Tariffs always work, right? There are never consequences to those.

American Energy & Infrastructure Act.

I need more than a sentence, and I apologize in advance, but I don't believe you when you say that spending $1T is revenue neutral. Otherwise I have no problem with infrastructure development.

School Choice And Education Opportunity Act.

Oy.

Repeal and Replace Obamacare Act.

Oy^2. Forcing people to self-insure with a risk pool of one through Health Savings Accounts is no way to address this nightmare.

Affordable Childcare and Eldercare Act.

Opinionless.

End Illegal Immigration Act

That is legitimately delusional. How exactly is the USA going to pass a law with "the understanding" that Mexico is going to fully pay for it. That's never happening.

Restoring Community Safety Act

Color me skeptical.

Restoring National Security Act.

Color me skeptical. I mean, clearing ending sequestration helps me personally, but someone has to pay for all of this shit. And you are slashing revenue. Our hope is that companies are going to magically start paying 10% tax on money they don't have to?

Clean up Corruption in Washington Act.

No details. This sounds like marketing horseshit.

That's legitimately as charitable as I can possibly be with this nonsense.

I guess we could always keep count of "is it better or worse this time around".

Did any of that actually happen?

[WYBaugh]

You know whats gonna happen?
Whatever happens.
Know what you can do to change it now?
Nothing.

Change it? No. But for those who end up affected, preparing is meaningful.

As to the time that we're spending on it, I'd refer you to my previous post.

I get that, and believe me, I feel for those that have to deal with choices any politician makes that affects them negatively.
But Trump is not the first, nor will he be the last, to potentially set forth policies that will hurt people, including those that depend on our government to help hold them up.
I am not going to go down the "are you better off now than you were before" rabbit hole, because inevitably someone somewhere is going to be negatively affected by some of the choices the government makes "on their behalf".

I guess this is my way of saying, hang in there.
It may feel like it sucks now to not know what the future holds, but honestly, do we ever?

I was once chastised on this very board for stating that I was concerned about my loved ones and how the choices the government makes affects them. I was called selfish and heartless. We all want to change the world, and hopefully do what we can to try to, but in the end all you really have is friends and family.
Maybe now some of those that ridiculed me in the past can kinda understand where I was coming from.
Your post certainly seems like you may.

Thank you for your post stimpy.

[Skinypupy]

Anyone else find it very weird that the most narcissistic human on the planet who literally couldn't shut up about *anything* for the past 8 years has gone almost completely silent since winning the election to become the most powerful man in the world? That just seems really, really strange to me.

Not trying to plant any conspiracy theory seeds here, I just think it's odd. And, frankly, it makes me a little nervous.

[Skinypupy]

Just for some perspective, here's
where we where about this time in 2016.

Spoiler:

FIRST, propose a Constitutional Amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress;

I'm of two minds on term limits. I think in the end I fall on the side of against, only because I think that it's self-defeating to force a member out that is good at what they do, just because reasons. And maybe that's naive (believing that anyone in Congress can be good at what they do). I think I agree with Sen. McConnell, we already have term limits, we call them elections. If you want to fix those, instead propose an Amendment to outlaw gerrymandering shenanigans designed to protect incumbents.

SECOND, a hiring freeze on all federal employees to reduce federal workforce through attrition (exempting military, public safety, and public health);

If I'm not mistaken, most of Obama's Administration had that freeze in place, and it was only lifted recently (at least at the DoD). I'm already in (indirectly), so ha-ha!

THIRD, a requirement that for every new federal regulation, two existing regulations must be eliminated.

Why? I mean, I have no particular aversion to getting rid of bad regulations. But getting rid of existing regulations, just because? That's dumb.

FOURTH, a 5 year-ban on White House and Congressional officials becoming lobbyists after they leave government service;
FIFTH, a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government;
SIXTH, a complete ban on foreign lobbyists raising money for American elections.

I have no objections at this time.

FIRST, I will announce my intention to renegotiate NAFTA or withdraw from the deal under Article 2205
SECOND, I will announce our withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
THIRD, I will direct my Secretary of the Treasury to label China a currency manipulator

What could go wrong? Incidentally, those are the actions that will likely trigger the market correction that will begin to evaporate my 401(k).

FOURTH, I will direct the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to identify all foreign trading abuses that unfairly impact American workers and direct them to use every tool under American and international law to end those abuses immediately

Too ambiguous to comment on.

FIFTH, I will lift the restrictions on the production of $50 trillion dollars' worth of job-producing American energy reserves, including shale, oil, natural gas and clean coal.

Need more details. Like are we just going to tap all the reserves at once and go out in fossil fuel burning orgy? I feel like this was thrown in to convince people that there's going to be $50T worth of new jobs on Day One(tm). We obviously know that this is probably just marketing talk for "Frack Baby, Frack!" right?

SIXTH, lift the Obama-Clinton roadblocks and allow vital energy infrastructure projects, like the Keystone Pipeline, to move forward

Surprisingly, I have no opinion on the Keystone Pipeline. And I would need to see a list of other "vital" energy infrastructure projects. Like, is fixing our shitty electrical grid on that agenda?

SEVENTH, cancel billions in payments to U.N. climate change programs and use the money to fix America's water and environmental infrastructure

Christ on a cracker. Although I am open to the possibility that the UN isn't a particular efficient vehicle and that a significant portion of those payments are falling off the cart before it rumbles to its final destination.

FIRST, cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama

Ambiguous. I mean, currently they are all constitutional, no?

SECOND, begin the process of selecting a replacement for Justice Scalia from one of the 20 judges on my list, who will uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States

Fuck you and your party.

THIRD, cancel all federal funding to Sanctuary Cities

So that I understand this correctly - the idea is that a city is identified as a Sanctuary City (who gets to decide? Christie? ), and as long as they have that designation, *all* federal funding is cut off to that city?

FOURTH, begin removing the more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants from the country and cancel visas to foreign countries that won't take them back

This is non-specific. He references "2 million criminal illegal immigrants". Are these illegal immigrants that have committed crimes? Or are we just tagging all illegal immigrants with the label of "criminal" because being here illegally is a crime? He is careful to not really commit to anything other than to "begin" to do that. Probably a wise way to couch this one.

FIFTH, suspend immigration from terror-prone regions where vetting cannot safely occur. All vetting of people coming into our country will be considered extreme vetting.

At this point, isn't that "Earth"? What in the name of holy fuck is "extreme vetting"? Are there rubber gloves involved?

Middle Class Tax Relief And Simplification Act.

Holy Underpants. The answer to a crippling debt problem (assuming you perceive our current debt problem as crippling, which I don't) is to slash your revenue? What could go wrong? Companies can bring their money home and only pay 10%?!? They're paying 0% now. Why on earth would they do that? What does he define as a middle class family? Why do I get the sneaking suspicion that it will be national numbers, and so my living in the NY-NJ-CT triangle will double fist me in the pooper?

End The Offshoring Act.

Tariffs always work, right? There are never consequences to those.

American Energy & Infrastructure Act.

I need more than a sentence, and I apologize in advance, but I don't believe you when you say that spending $1T is revenue neutral. Otherwise I have no problem with infrastructure development.

School Choice And Education Opportunity Act.

Oy.

Repeal and Replace Obamacare Act.

Oy^2. Forcing people to self-insure with a risk pool of one through Health Savings Accounts is no way to address this nightmare.

Affordable Childcare and Eldercare Act.

Opinionless.

End Illegal Immigration Act

That is legitimately delusional. How exactly is the USA going to pass a law with "the understanding" that Mexico is going to fully pay for it. That's never happening.

Restoring Community Safety Act

Color me skeptical.

Restoring National Security Act.

Color me skeptical. I mean, clearing ending sequestration helps me personally, but someone has to pay for all of this shit. And you are slashing revenue. Our hope is that companies are going to magically start paying 10% tax on money they don't have to?

Clean up Corruption in Washington Act.

No details. This sounds like marketing horseshit.

That's legitimately as charitable as I can possibly be with this nonsense.

I guess we could always keep count of "is it better or worse this time around".

Did any of that actually happen?

Not all of it, but it's worth noting that guardrails that existed back then to prevent many (most?) of them from happening have since been removed entirely.