The Apprentice Season 2 - The Second Presidency of Donald Trump

[El Guapo]

So, does anyone else think the Republicans are just going to be rulers of a ruined 2-bit banana republic? I don't see inflation going down anytime soon, we're going to get sicker and poorer, unemployment will go up, and with a ballooning deficit caused by tax cuts for the rich, sooner or later the country will be as broke as Trump's casinos. Oh, and if you decide to cut immigration, birth rates will decline rapidly - fueld in part by poor children's health, no vaccinations, and a general malaise by a poorer populace. I mean, the poorest redneck towns are just limping along until they eventually die off due to everyone drinking or drugging themselves to death.

I get that they're winning, but I don't see it being a sustainable win worthy of envy by all the other dictators. At most it will be a race with Russia to see who can get the lower GDP.

Yes that is what I expect.

[Smoove_B]

If helps if you think of America as a sinking ship right now. It's not about ruling or controlling anything anymore. Instead it's about looting the coffers and doing everything you can to get to a financial lifeboat in the hopes you'll be able to remain on top of the pile of whatever is coming next.

They don't need to do anything - in some ways they're better doing nothing - right now. As long as the courts are unable to enforce their own rulings and/or Trump is able to functionally ignore them with impunity, nothing else matters anymore.

I don't know enough about history to comment on what happened to the various groups during the collapse of an empire, but my gut is telling me the wealthy and political class largely survived, I guess with the exception of a true revolution - which isn't going to happen here in America, certainly not while March Madness is right around the corner.

[RunningMn9]

but my gut is telling me the wealthy and political class largely survived, I guess with the exception of a true revolution

Historically speaking, in true collapses like you are talking about, the poor always eat the rich.

[LordMortis]

but my gut is telling me the wealthy and political class largely survived, I guess with the exception of a true revolution

Historically speaking, in true collapses like you are talking about, the poor always eat the rich.

Has travel been so easy, historically? I only see the rich, as citizens of the world, getting out of dodge. I mean if it were reasonable for me to bail at this very moment and I knew where to go, I'd be gone. This feeling is a first for me and quite frankly is less than a month old.

[LawBeefaroni]

but my gut is telling me the wealthy and political class largely survived, I guess with the exception of a true revolution

Historically speaking, in true collapses like you are talking about, the poor always eat the rich.

Has travel been so easy, historically? I only see the rich, as citizens of the world, getting out of dodge. I mean if it were reasonable for me to bail at this very moment and I knew where to go, I'd be gone. This feeling is a first for me and quite frankly is less than a month old.

Yeah, mostly because past collapses also collapsed wealth of the wealthiest.

Now, with 5 passports, properties in Dubai, Europe, probably Indonesia or somewhere in SE Asia, offshored assets...your average billionaire could survive a collapse just fine. It would take total global collapse to even begin to threaten their ability to live on as they are accustomed.

[LawBeefaroni]

Probably also an appropriate place to note that Trump Jr's VC fund that just backed the "Steroid Olympics" is called 1789 Capital. Why would they call it that? Is it because NYC was named the US capitol in 1789? Does they not know that 1789 is most famous for the removal of aristocratic heads? Or is it an in-joke and they're quite aware?

Spoiler:

1789 Capital will invest in Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Growth or what we have defined as "EIG" to take advantage of an era-defining investment opportunity by providing venture and growth capital to companies building the next era of American prosperity with a focus on the following four areas: (i) the Replication/Parallel Economy; (ii) Deglobalization, (iii) Anti-ESG (i.e. sectors that have been negatively impacted by such principles) and (iv) Cutting edge technologies that disrupt industries weighed down by excessive bureaucracy.

Sounds like a sure place to lose money.

[Holman]

Probably also an appropriate place to note that Trump Jr's VC fund that just backed the "Steroid Olympics" is called 1789 Capital. Why would they call it that? Is it because NYC was named the US capitol in 1789? Does they not know that 1789 is most famous for the removal of aristocratic heads? Or is it an in-joke and they're quite aware?

Well, as much as we celebrate 1776, the actual birthdate of the USA is 1789, when the US Constitution came into effect.

They're probably thinking that.

[Blackhawk]

I mean, the poorest redneck towns are just limping along until they eventually die off due to everyone drinking or drugging themselves to death.

The poorest redneck towns aren't drinking and drugging themselves to death. Some are aging themselves out of existence as older generations die off and younger generations leave. Most are simply stagnant, as the older generations are replaced by younger generations who can't afford to leave because the education systems are so broken that they end up without much of an education, and getting out requires resources that they can't get working pitiful hours with no benefits at minimum wage.

[Blackhawk]

If helps if you think of America as a sinking ship right now. It's not about ruling or controlling anything anymore. Instead it's about looting the coffers and doing everything you can to get to a financial lifeboat in the hopes you'll be able to remain on top of the pile of whatever is coming next.

Come join us in steerage. We may go under first, but we've got fiddles!

[Skinypupy]

Jesus Christ.

[$iljanus]

Jesus Christ.

If he was more astute he could have said "Values need to be defended by strength" but he's a simplistic Fox News drone. And yeah we get it, you represent America and I guess you need a folded American flag handkerchief in your breast pocket to remind people or yourself of that. What a clown. Past Secretaries of Defense didn't need gaudy accessories to let people in the room know they represented the most powerful nation on the planet.

[Skinypupy]

Reading multiple stories this morning about how they're taking the meat cleaver to anyone who is a "probationary" employee in the government (i.e. under 1 year) who didn't take their "Nigerian Prince Scam" buyout offer. Such as firing 3,400 Forest Service employees or purging OPM staff

It occurred to me is that the people they're firing are likely to be younger or early-career employees. These are the ones that would be taking over when the inevitable wave of boomer retirees happens. Instead, they're just shoving everyone out the door with no succession plan whatsoever.

Which is actually a rather brilliant move when your stated goal is to cripple agencies as much as possible and ensure that they fail completely at providing the services they're there to provide.

[RunningMn9]

It occurred to me is that the people they're firing are likely to be younger or early-career employees. These are the ones that would be taking over when the inevitable wave of boomer retirees happens. Instead, they're just shoving everyone out the door with no succession plan whatsoever.

That is mostly correct. And they are (by a wide margin) much, MUCH more affordable employees. But they lack civil service protections so are easy targets. The consequences for this will be a problem that the next Administrations face.

[LawBeefaroni]

The consequences for this will be a problem that the next Administrations face.

That's an optimistic take.

[IceBear]

Wow, Vance is scolding Europe for not letting people who want to be Nazis or burn the Koran do what they want. Not only do they want to revert the US to the past, but the whole world too?

[geezer]

Saturday Night Massacre going on all weekend, and continuing today over at SDNY. Great to see some spines.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/14/politics ... index.html

[RunningMn9]

The consequences for this will be a problem that the next Administrations face.

That's an optimistic take.

** or whatever comes next after the grim reaper claims this one.

[Kurth]

Saturday Night Massacre going on all weekend, and continuing today over at SDNY. Great to see some spines.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/14/politics ... index.html

This is what we need more of. Much more.

[Holman]

Saturday Night Massacre going on all weekend, and continuing today over at SDNY. Great to see some spines.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/14/politics ... index.html

This is what we need more of. Much more.

Someone needs to lead the way and become a focus for the popular dismay and anger at what's happening.

If some Federal officials can do that, maybe our elected representatives will wake up and follow.

[Smoove_B]

Nothing but respect for each and every one of them. I hope their efforts aren't wasted and that the politicians (as noted) step up and start pushing back.

[Blackhawk]

As do I. The issue is likely settled, however.

Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove told the department's career public integrity prosecutors in a meeting on Friday that they had an hour to decide among themselves who would file the motion, the sources said.

The volunteer was Ed Sullivan, a veteran career prosecutor, who agreed to alleviate pressure on his colleagues in the department's public integrity section, two sources said.

"This is not a capitulation-this is a coercion," one of the people briefed on the meeting later told Reuters. "That person, in my mind, is a hero."

Sullivan's decision came after the attorneys in the meeting contemplated resigning en masse, rather than filing the motion to dismiss, another source briefed on the matter told Reuters. There are approximately 30 attorneys in the Public Integrity Section.

I respect those who resigned, but I also will not blame those who choose to stay and fight. Having the entire department resign wouldn't change the outcome, and might be an opening for Trump to exert even more control.

[Enough]

President Trump declares that the US will no longer provide military protection unless Canada becomes the “51st state”

[Holman]

President Trump declares that the US will no longer provide military protection unless Canada becomes the “51st state”

Source?

[Smoove_B]

Source?

From last weekend:

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday as he traveled to the Super Bowl game in New Orleans, Trump continued to threaten a country that has long been one of the U.S.’ closest allies. He claimed that Canada is “not viable as a country” without U.S. trade, and warned that the founding NATO member can no longer depend on the U.S. for military protection.

“You know, they don’t pay very much for military. And the reason they don’t pay much is they assume that we’re going to protect them,” he said. “That’s not an assumption they can make because—why are we protecting another country?”

[Enough]

President Trump declares that the US will no longer provide military protection unless Canada becomes the “51st state”

Source?

My bad, I thought I pasted:

[IceBear]

Trust me, we are well aware of what he said yesterday. He doesn't even do $200 billion in subsidies to blue states. I keep wondering why he says he doesn't need anything from us and yet he wants Canada so bad. I never felt such an existential threat to my existence before 2025. What the hell is happening?!?!?!

[Max Peck]

To be fair, the only country we need protection from at the moment is the USA, so it isn't really shocking that the USA isn't going to protect us from the USA. I guess maybe Russia could make a play for the Arctic, but that might not go as well for them as their 3-day war in Ukraine has gone so far. Anyone else either lacks easy access and/or transoceanic force projection capability.

[IceBear]

He also called our Prime Minister Governor again...in the Oval office. Fucker.

Maybe when Trudeau is gone in a couple of weeks it'll help

[Blackhawk]

[Rumpy]

It's nothing new though. He's been saying these things since before the Election. He's got a limited amount of catchphrases in his arsenal.

To be fair, the only country we need protection from at the moment is the USA, so it isn't really shocking that the USA isn't going to protect us from the USA.

I've noticed that as well. It's kind of weak posturing to assume we'd want to be protected by the Country that's been hounding us.

[Kraken]

To be fair, the only country we need protection from at the moment is the USA, so it isn't really shocking that the USA isn't going to protect us from the USA. I guess maybe Russia could make a play for the Arctic, but that might not go as well for them as their 3-day war in Ukraine has gone so far. Anyone else either lacks easy access and/or transoceanic force projection capability.

I worry that nobody's going to protect the USA from the USA.

[Holman]

I worry that nobody's going to protect the USA from the USA.

It'll be USA vs USA soon enough.

[Blackhawk]

You mean the SA?

[Kraken]

I worry that nobody's going to protect the USA from the USA.

It'll be USA vs USA soon enough.

I daresay half of Americans are already running scared, or at least looking over our collective shoulder. We're living under an openly hostile government.

[Isgrimnur]

You mean the SA?

Excuse me while I review my wardrobe for the presence of brown shirts.

[WYBaugh]

The judge who said that President Donald Trump's administration had ignored his court order to restart the flow of federal funds, has had articles of impeachment drafted against him.

U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. told the White House that it must abide by the preliminary injunction to halt its funding freeze.

Representative Andrew Clyne, a Republican, has announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he is drafting articles of impeachment, accusing the judge of being a "partisan activist."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... r-AA1yZfWt

[Smoove_B]

The clincher from that article:

If [Judge] McConnell is successfully impeached and then convicted by the Senate, it will set a precedent that blocking the president's actions in court is akin to treason.

The same Senate that just approved Gabbard, Vought and RFK Jr.? Oh, no worries then.

[IceBear]

Yup. Your judicial branch will bend the knee or be swept aside. This is the end of western democracy. Vance's speech to Europe just reinforces that the rest of the world follow their example or bear the brunt of their wrath. It's a sad way for the peace we've known to end.

[Blackhawk]

This is one of the 'tests' we have been expecting.

[LordMortis]

I've seen a lot memes about the Gulf of Mexico. Today this surfaced as my favorite so far. I'm still waiting for someone to write America of Mexico with a Sharpie.



At least some things in this environment still make me smile.