The Apprentice Season 2 - The Second Presidency of Donald Trump

[pr0ner]

A little good news, relatively speaking:

Thune is at least a relatively sane choice to be Majority Leader, and he's already implied that the filibuster isn't going anywhere.

[stimpy]

A little good news, relatively speaking:

Thune is at least a relatively sane choice to be Majority Leader, and he's already implied that the filibuster isn't going anywhere.

And if there's one thing we all know, it's that politicians ALWAYS keep their word.........

[Max Peck]

It's perhaps a little too on the nose to explicitly say they're collaborating with Trump, but I'm sure they know what they're doing and everything will work out just fine for them.

https://x.com/yasmineelsabawi/status/18 ... 9955435654

The Arab-Americans who backed Trump in Dearborn, Michigan, sent him this letter today (but addressed to the White House…) urging him to fulfill his promises to the community and work on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.

[Holman]

Thune is at least a relatively sane choice to be Majority Leader, and he's already implied that the filibuster isn't going anywhere.

The GOP doesn't need to eliminate the filibuster because it only constrains Democrats.

Dems try to make things happen through Congressional action. The filibuster prevents that.

A GOP congress basically does nothing but appoint judges and set budgets. The judges are the ones who change things, and the budget kills programs.

You'll notice that the filibuster has already been eliminated through special exceptions for judicial appointments and budgetary votes. Republicans loudly consider it sacrosanct for everything else, laughing all the way.

[waitingtoconnect]

Matt Gaetz as AG? Hahahahaaaaa

[Smoove_B]

A GOP congress basically does nothing but appoint judges and set budgets. The judges are the ones who change things, and the budget kills programs.

They're going to need to do it in order to pass a national ban on abortion and interstate reciprocal conceal and carry.

Normally I'd say you've got it - they exist to do nothing and block progress. But they're in control now and I'm confident they'll make sure the filibuster isn't an issue.

[Zarathud]

Apparently Trump plans to SPEND at least $4 trillion in his next budget. At least, according to several GOP connected tax legislation writers.

Kamala proposed to spend a similar amount, just not on tax cuts for Trump’s friends.

Clowns are getting out of the clown car to take up positions of authority. Insane.

[Grifman]

[El Guapo]

Why should Congress get a say on how money is spent?

[waitingtoconnect]

I never thought leopards would eat MY face says people who voted for the leopard eating faces party.

https://www.politicalflare.com/2024/11/ ... laying-us/

https://newrepublic.com/post/188412/tru ... epublicans

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-wall-street-worry/

https://www.newsweek.com/veterans-healt ... cy-1985641

“Historians have a word for Germans who joined the Nazi party, not because they hated Jews, but out of a hope for restored patriotism, or a sense of economic anxiety, or a hope to preserve their religious values, or dislike of their opponents, or raw political opportunism, or convenience, or ignorance, or greed.

That word is “Nazi.” Nobody cares about their motives anymore.

They joined what they joined. They lent their support and their moral approval. And, in so doing, they bound themselves to everything that came after. Who cares any more what particular knot they used in the binding?”

― A.R. Moxon

[Smoove_B]

First up - Chinese nationals:

Asian American organizations say they are scrambling, but not completely surprised, over President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promise of mass deportations.

Undocumented immigrants from China who are deemed to be of military age will be among the first groups targeted for deportation by the incoming Trump administration, sources close to the campaign previously told NBC News, citing the potential risk to national security.

While many community organizations have been making plans for months in anticipation of Trump’s immigration promises, the potential to be targeted has left many groups prepping immigration materials across Asian languages and coordinating with other community nonprofits to help serve the potential spike in families impacted by deportations.

[Max Peck]

Oops, who could've seen it coming?

Muslims who voted for Trump upset by his pro-Israel cabinet picks

U.S. Muslim leaders who supported Republican Donald Trump to protest against the Biden administration's support for Israel's war on Gaza and attacks on Lebanon have been deeply disappointed by his Cabinet picks, they tell Reuters.

"Trump won because of us and we're not happy with his Secretary of State pick and others," said Rabiul Chowdhury, a Philadelphia investor who chaired the Abandon Harris campaign in Pennsylvania and co-founded Muslims for Trump. Muslim support for Trump helped him win Michigan and may have factored into other swing state wins, strategists believe.

Trump picked Republican senator Marco Rubio, a staunch supporter of Israel for Secretary of State. Rubio said earlier this year he would not call for a ceasefire in Gaza, and that he believed Israel should destroy "every element" of Hamas. "These people are vicious animals," he added.

Trump also nominated Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and staunch pro-Israel conservative who backs Israeli occupation of the West Bank and has called a two state solution in Palestine "unworkable", as the next ambassador to Israel.

He has picked Republican Representative Elise Stefanik, who called the UN a "cesspool of antisemitism" for its condemnation of deaths in Gaza, to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Rexhinaldo Nazarko, executive director of the American Muslim Engagement and Empowerment Network (AMEEN), said Muslim voters had hoped Trump would choose Cabinet officials who work toward peace, and there was no sign of that.

"We are very disappointed," he said. "It seems like this administration has been packed entirely with neoconservatives and extremely pro-Israel, pro-war people, which is a failure on the on the side of President Trump, to the pro-peace and anti-war movement."

Nazarko said the community would continue pressing to make its voices heard after rallying votes to help Trump win. "At least we're on the map."

On the map, on the radar, in the crosshairs... At least one of those, anyway.

[Blackhawk]

[Smoove_B]

Rexhinaldo Nazarko, executive director of the American Muslim Engagement and Empowerment Network (AMEEN), said Muslim voters had hoped Trump would choose Cabinet officials who work toward peace, and there was no sign of that.

And what on earth gave them the impression that was going to happen, I wonder?

[gbasden]

I'm sure all the rugged individualists won't howl a bit when many/most of the societal safeguards they take for granted simply disappear, right? But hey, I guess the people in Bumblefuck, Arkansas can sleep better knowing that at least their taxes won't be helping any of those damn libruls in other states while their infrastructure and support structures crumble around them.

Let's be real - the money flows from blue states to red, not the other way around.

[Grifman]

Rexhinaldo Nazarko, executive director of the American Muslim Engagement and Empowerment Network (AMEEN), said Muslim voters had hoped Trump would choose Cabinet officials who work toward peace, and there was no sign of that.

And what on earth gave them the impression that was going to happen, I wonder?

I’d have to say, among Trump voters, these would have to be the stupidest. From his first term they knew how pro-Israel Trump was. As I read somewhere the other day, people can never imagine it getting worse, until it does.

[LordMortis]

I'm sure all the rugged individualists won't howl a bit when many/most of the societal safeguards they take for granted simply disappear, right? But hey, I guess the people in Bumblefuck, Arkansas can sleep better knowing that at least their taxes won't be helping any of those damn libruls in other states while their infrastructure and support structures crumble around them.

Let's be real - the money flows from blue states to red, not the other way around.

"it is known"
... Or it was known until this last election. The amount of blue states are growing thin. The deep red states are still the biggliest federal money vacuums.

Rexhinaldo Nazarko, executive director of the American Muslim Engagement and Empowerment Network (AMEEN), said Muslim voters had hoped Trump would choose Cabinet officials who work toward peace, and there was no sign of that.

And what on earth gave them the impression that was going to happen, I wonder?

I’d have to say, among Trump voters, these would have to be the stupidest. From his first term they knew how pro-Israel Trump was. As I read somewhere the other day, people can never imagine it getting worse, until it does.

I was stumped when it started to become clear. I still am. And then as the stupidity continues to broaden and then exasperation turns to deflated defeat and that's when the anxiety of the last I don't know how many months set in.

[Smoove_B]

I was stumped when it started to become clear. I still am. And then as the stupidity continues to broaden and then exasperation turns to deflated defeat and that's when the anxiety of the last I don't know how many months set in.

There was a WaPo article (I think) that was covering spending by the GOP - I think it partially about money being funneled by Elon through PACs - and apparently Michigan Muslims were flooded with ads about Doug Emhoff being Jewish and how Harris would be a pro-Israel President. But then in PA, they targeted the Jewish population to say she was targeting arms and aid currently going to Israel and would be stopping it when elected President.

There were other examples of ads that were highly-highly targeted and it wouldn't surprise me to learn that is what made the difference.

[Alefroth]

I'm sure all the rugged individualists won't howl a bit when many/most of the societal safeguards they take for granted simply disappear, right? But hey, I guess the people in Bumblefuck, Arkansas can sleep better knowing that at least their taxes won't be helping any of those damn libruls in other states while their infrastructure and support structures crumble around them.

Let's be real - the money flows from blue states to red, not the other way around.

If only there was a way to impede the flow.

[Rumpy]

Hell, I heard of a story from Iowa (sorry Iowa!) that there was a lot of Googling to find out how votes could be changed after voting for Trump and realizing the mistake they made....

[Max Peck]

That doesn't sound like a real thing that would really happen.

[Blackhawk]

While I can't hope to have the entire population suffer to teach them a lesson, I'm all in favor of the most bitter buyer's remorse in human history.

[Rumpy]

That doesn't sound like a real thing that would really happen.

But that's just it. Nothing really feels real at this point. Nothing feels normal because it isn't and I think we're all still trying to adapt, both figuratively and mentally.

Part of me wonders if things have to get worse before they get better.

[Alefroth]

Hell, I heard of a story from Iowa (sorry Iowa!) that there was a lot of Googling to find out how votes could be changed after voting for Trump and realizing the mistake they made....

Just ask Dominion.

[Rumpy]

Hell, I heard of a story from Iowa (sorry Iowa!) that there was a lot of Googling to find out how votes could be changed after voting for Trump and realizing the mistake they made....

Just ask Dominion.

Trying to think what that is... is that a polling system?

[Alefroth]

Voting machines.

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/18/11703391 ... ng-systems

[Rumpy]

Oh, I was close enough. I'd heard the name before, and I believe they use similar systems in Canada, but I couldn't quite place the name. We've had our own controversies with them from what I remember.

[Holman]

I'm less worried about Dominion than Dominionism.

[Max Peck]

I'm not sure that I'd use the word controversy.

In Canada, Dominion's systems are deployed nationwide. Currently, Dominion provides optical scan paper ballot tabulation systems for provincial elections, including Ontario and New Brunswick. Dominion also provides ballot tabulation and voting systems for Canada's major party leadership elections, including those of the Liberal Party of Canada, the Conservative Party of Canada, and the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.

Ontario was the first Canadian province to use Dominion's tabulator machines in select municipalities in the 2006 municipal elections. New Brunswick used Dominion's 763 tabulator machines in the 2014 provincial elections. There were some problems with the reporting of tabulator counts after the election, and at 10:45 p.m. Elections New Brunswick officially suspended the results reporting count with 17 ridings still undeclared. The Progressive Conservatives and the People's Alliance of New Brunswick called for a hand count of all ballots. Recounts were held in 7 of 49 ridings and the results were upheld with variations of 1–3 votes per candidate per riding. This delay in results reporting was caused by an off-the-shelf software application unrelated to Dominion.

In June 2018, Elections Ontario used Dominion's tabulator machines for the provincial election and deployed them at 50 percent of polling stations.

Dominion's architecture was also widely used in the 2018 Ontario municipal elections on October 22, 2018, particularly for online voting. However, 51 of the province's municipalities had their elections impacted when the company's colocation centre provider imposed an unauthorized bandwidth cap due to the massive increase in voting traffic in the early evening, thus making it impossible for many voters to cast their vote at peak voting time. The affected municipalities extended voting times to compensate for the glitch; most prominently, the city of Greater Sudbury, the largest city impacted by the cap, extended voting for a full 24 hours and announced no election results until the evening of October 23.

[Rumpy]

Yeah, that references the glitch I remember. And I live in the community that was most impacted. I remember at the time it was being called a controversy and the local government was going to look into the company and take them to task. I don't think that system was used locally since due to the problems. I know I remember feeling frustrated and wondered how the company couldn't have foreseen the traffic. It's voting day and you're providing voting system infrastructure; logic would be that you're expecting lots of traffic on that day and to ask for an increase on the cap ahead of time.

[Grifman]

Trump reaffirms use of military in deportation roundup:

https://www.axios.com/2024/11/18/trump- ... -emergency

This also means the Haitians in Springfield are doomed. Hope their employers can fund the workers to replace them.

[raydude]

Trump reaffirms use of military in deportation roundup:

https://www.axios.com/2024/11/18/trump- ... -emergency

This also means the Haitians in Springfield are doomed. Hope their employers can fund the workers to replace them.

I don't think the Haitian workforce will be easily replaced. Which means the economy that sprang up around the presence of a hard-working and earning population will tank, and the jobs that were created to support that economy (more teachers, more restaurants to feed the workers, better and more housing) will die off, and the town will rapidly become a ghost town. But hey, Trump and JD are going to do exactly what they said they would do.

[Blackhawk]

But the puppies will be safe!

[Max Peck]

But the puppies will be safe!

You'd think so, but only until you remember that Noem is on tap to run Homeland Security.

[raydude]

But the puppies will be safe!

You'd think so, but only until you remember that Noem is on tap to run Homeland Security.

It would be just our luck that a broad and general outrage would only happen if Noem decides to terminate dogs left behind by legal/illegal families.

[waitingtoconnect]

Apparently according to fox right now, America is captivated with trumps cabinet picks…

[Smoove_B]

How could they not be? They're all people the average American is familiar with. I saw Dr. Oz on Oprah - he clearly knows what he's doing with Medicare! And that handsome fella on Fox and Friends weekend? I trust him! These aren't no-name bureaucrats with a lifetime of government service. These are people I see all the time on the TV!

I had been joking early on Hulk Hogan would be nominated and now I really think it's happening.

[Kraken]

He was hired to burn it all down, and he's installing people who can't help but do that.

[Punisher]

Apparently according to fox right now, America is captivated with trumps cabinet picks…

I mean, we're all hostages at this point..

[Blackhawk]

The last few posts caused me to actually look up 'captivated.' It seems I've been using a slightly off meaning for half a century. I always took it to means 'enthralled' or 'fascinated.' I never caught that it carried an implication of a positive reaction.

I would guess that most people have dozens, if not hundreds of words that they learned growing up whose meanings are just a hair off of the true meaning. And 99% of the time, you'd never notice in normal usage, unless there's a very specific context that makes you question yourself.

Interesting.