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Topic: Everything Trump… (Read 126496 times)

Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #425
What the breakdown of the rule of law has meant for my country? Of course, I know. That's why I'm glad and anxious to see it restored! You (I suspect) think the rule of law is the same as the rule of bureaucrats — I've seen the latter become antithetical to the former...
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"Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility." - James Thurber
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts!" - Richard Feynman
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Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #426
Fantastic, @OakdaleFTL. Can you name any elements of rule of law that Trump has already restored or is about to? Let's start listing his this term's successes. I'm specifically interested in the constitutional status of DOGE. What impressions did you get from Musk's confirmation hearings? How is he doing as the head of DOGE? By your assessment, how much fraud has DOGE uncovered thus far and how big are the savings?

As for me, of course I do not expect a serial lawbreaker, a consistent business fraudster since 1980s (that I know of, some say it has been going on since the 70s), an election denier (a sure sign of a fundamental anti-democrat and anti-institutionalist), a twice-impeached insurrectionist and so on and so forth, to understand any law, to respect any law, much less to restore the rule of law, definitely not in cahoots with robber barons bigger than himself who walk all over him. In my assessment they are already finalising their coup at this point. No law applies, no government contracts mean anything, and the constitution has been cancelled.

Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #427
What makes you think Musk's position needed Congressional approval? Oh, that's right: You've not read nor understood Article II, and have no idea of what a unitary executive is or why it might have seemed both necessary and useful to the Framers of the U.S. Constitution.

As for me, of course I do not expect a serial lawbreaker, a consistent business fraudster since 1980s (that I know of, some say it has been going on since the 70s), an election denier (a sure sign of a fundamental anti-democrat and anti-institutionalist), a twice-impeached insurrectionist and so on and so forth, to understand any law, to respect any law, much less to restore the rule of law, definitely not in cahoots with robber barons bigger than himself who walk all over him. In my assessment they are already finalising their coup at this point. No law applies, no government contracts mean anything, and the constitution has been cancelled.
[ ersi's well-known opinion of Trump — his constant "argument"! :) ]
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"Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility." - James Thurber
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts!" - Richard Feynman
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Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #428
unitary executive
I know very well what this is: It's a Q/MAGA delusion, not something in the constitution of USA. It is the theory that the framers of the constitution, while trying to draft it so as to avoid a kingly/royal figure heading the executive branch, envisioned a papal/divine/godly figure running all the branches! In other words, it is a cultish hogwash brainwash and it is lovely of you to openly admit to it, so it can be dealt with accordingly.

Article II section 2 of the constitution: "[The president of USA] shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States..."

So the officers of the United States are to go through Senate hearings. A bunch of Trump-nominated heads of departments and agencies went through this as provided by the constitution. Musk has been appointed by Trump *above* all the others, with the power to *invade the premises of every agency and department* and *fire the underlings of everybody else* yet he did not go through the hearings. You do not see the conflict, the breach of constitution? Of course you don't! You believe in papal absolute monarchy, not in a republic, the constitution, or law and order.

So, no successes from Trump in this term, just chaos and destruction? Case closed.

Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #429
Musk has been appointed by Trump *above* all the others, with the power to *invade the premises of every agency and department* and *fire the underlings of everybody else* yet he did not go through the hearings.
Musk is not an officer of the United States, and has no independent power. Musk is an advisor to the President, who may listen to his advice and act as he sees fit.The power to act is that of the President. The power to decide what advice is sound, likewise.
I like how you phrased this: "Musk has been appointed by Trump *above* all the others". It is yet another example of malicious ignorance. Is the forensic auditor hired by a bank "above all others? Or is he an expert hired by the executive to perform a technical function: providing necessary information to that executive?
(I know you're torn here: Your banking experience leads you to agree with me. But your minor functionary experience leads you to think the bureaucracy is supreme, and should brook no management or accountability!)


You do not see the conflict,
No, ersi, you refuse to see the unaccountability being reigned in by a President you hate! You're welcome to your hate; but it makes many of your posts nothing but blather.
[continuation:] the breach of constitution?
What breach?
Your reading of the Constitution is deficient (most likely, because of your early education).
(Feel free to insert your usual screed in reply. ;yawn: :)
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"Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility." - James Thurber
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts!" - Richard Feynman
 (iBook G4 - Panther | Mac mini i5 - El Capitan)

Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #430
Musk is not an officer of the United States, and has no independent power. Musk is an advisor to the President, who may listen to his advice and act as he sees fit.The power to act is that of the President.
Worthless private opinion. Elon physically invades and blocks the premises of others, he fires the employees of others, as he declared (and Trump acceded) on the first cabinet meeting. No advisor does this. No advisor can legally do this. Elon does this, so he is not an advisor. He is a co-emperor.

The important thing is to look at actions, not just words, but here are some wordings that correlate with Musk's actions. On Trump's first day in office, DOGE was established under section 551 of title 5 of the United States Code, and then a month later (re-)defined under section 3502 of title 44. Whichever way you prefer DOGE to be defined, be it one of these laws or both of them, it is in the executive branch, not outside of it, and Musk is heading it as declared by Trump (not wise of you to contradict your Führer, doofus) and as indicated by Musk's presence and self-reporting of his doings on the first cabinet meeting.

Therefore, "an advisor" with "no independent power" is a fairy tale. You are always wrong about everything, be it a little or a big thing. At one point it would make sense for you to ask yourself: Why does ersi know everything decisively and conclusively better about my country from half a globe away? But of course you are firmly established in nonsense, so you never will. Malicious ignorance is all yours.

Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #431
I like how you phrased this: "Musk has been appointed by Trump *above* all the others". It is yet another example of malicious ignorance. Is the forensic auditor hired by a bank "above all others?
Let this stand here as a lucid proof of your malicious ignorance and also of the fact that you do not know the meaning of any of the words you are saying.

You do not know what an auditor is, forensic or otherwise. And you do not believe your own eyes.

Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #432
Worthless private opinion. Elon physically invades and blocks the premises of others, he fires the employees of others, as he declared (and Trump acceded) on the first cabinet meeting. No advisor does this. No advisor can legally do this. Elon does this, so he is not an advisor. He is a co-emperor.
So, you've backed away from from your assertion that Trump is a dictator; now he's an emperor!
But only a co-emperor...
As you fail to understand the powers of the President, you fail to understand the role of an advisory group. (I'd say "legal or otherwise" but the distinction is beyond you; you only -like our Democrats- recognize the "powers that be" — strike that: It's now the "powers that were! :)

BTW: I have (now ancient :) ) credentials as an accountant, and once upon a time recognized a flaw in a serious commercial software for accountancy that -I presume- was promptly corrected? If people like you were involved, it likely remains!
(Don't rock the boat! I can't swim... I can hear you pleading! :) )


Therefore, "an advisor" with "no independent power" is a fairy tale.
An auditor has no power to fire or prosecute or dismantle — only to report. The executive does. But I understand your dilemma: Trump is the bad guy! Musk is the bad guy! They both are bad guys! Trump is the President... Musk is an advisor...
Your brain must hurt! :)
you do not believe your own eyes.
Well, I believe you've posted what appears under your moniker, and (a dubious assumption, I'll admit...) that you mean most of what you type... But that's the internet for you! :)
You may just be a troll or a Russian bot.
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"Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility." - James Thurber
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts!" - Richard Feynman
 (iBook G4 - Panther | Mac mini i5 - El Capitan)

Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #433
An auditor has no power to fire or prosecute or dismantle — only to report. The executive does.
Correct! (Genuinely!) And now compare this (which is how things should legally be) with what Musk actually does.[1] And what he does is permitted (and not restrained in any way) on Trump's part, which makes Musk more than an advisor. Well, Bolsheviks had armed "advisors" with the licence to execute on the spot, so I guess this is fine by you.

But it was already clear: You do not believe your own eyes. You do not compare the law with behaviour and actions. You only repeat the brainwash propaganda.
And what Musk does is fire, prosecute and dismantle. He said so on that cabinet meeting in Trump's presence. Everybody with eyes to see had already noticed it long before he said it.

Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #434
You only repeat the brainwash propaganda.
Huh! That's why I listen to you: To hear the "brainwashed propaganda" or the Europeans' and the pseudo-Europeans's tale on things :) But I wait to see what happens...
I'm seldom surprised. (I'll bet you often are.)

If I understand it correctly, you are mad at Musk and his team for "outing" egregious expenditures of American taxpayers' funds...
You're a typical bureaucrat: "Hey, it's in the budget! If we haven't spent it by the end of the fiscal year, we'd better get on it! Else we get "appropriated" less next go round!"
Musk doesn't think that way (that I can tell); neither does his boss, Trump. Isn't that what really galls you? :) You don't seem to realize what actually doing a job is: Keeping a paycheck coming is what you cherish.

Likewise, Trump doesn't care whether Zelensky or Putin are "happy" with a brokered peace — only that there is peace.

You obviously don't care if there is peace, other than itt not be to Trump's benefit...
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"Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility." - James Thurber
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts!" - Richard Feynman
 (iBook G4 - Panther | Mac mini i5 - El Capitan)

Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #435
If I understand it correctly, you are mad at Musk and his team for "outing" egregious expenditures of American taxpayers' funds...
Now that you have proclaimed yourself an accountant, show it! Let's see what you think Musk has found :)

Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #436
You could start with USAID... But you won't. (You could consider Milton Friedman's explanation of the four categories of spending... But, again, you won't.[1]
BTW: I said I have credentials — not that I work or have worked as an accountant. Reading comprehension is not your strong suit! (Or are you like Zelenski, too proud to admit that his grasp of common English-language idioms require translation to his native tongue?)
It's amazing how many people in or adjacent to banking don't understand basic facts of economics! :)
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"Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility." - James Thurber
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts!" - Richard Feynman
 (iBook G4 - Panther | Mac mini i5 - El Capitan)

Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #437
You could start with USAID... But you won't.
The deal is that you show what Musk found. But I got it: You have nothing. Zero "successes" for Trump in this term. The same count as last term. But no worries: The count of fails more than compensates for it :)

It's amazing how many people in or adjacent to banking don't understand basic facts of economics! :)
Actually it is amazing how macroeconomists liberally dream up easily debunkable theories that, perhaps most to the point, go against the basics of accounting (not to mention law and humanity). And I'm also amazed every time I see an accountant who thinks that economists are somehow better and more knowledgeable than accountants. Luckily this does not happen often, but you are a good exception: I'd expected that it should be this way exactly with you!

BTW: I said I have credentials...
Nah, you hardly had any to begin with and by now you irreversibly lost it.

Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #438
The deal is that you show what Musk found.
I make no deals with a double-dealer like you, ersi! (Yeah, I'm like Zelensky, in that way! :) But we're not at war with each other — and your only super-power is to be annoying, when I pay you any attention at all. :) )
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"Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility." - James Thurber
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts!" - Richard Feynman
 (iBook G4 - Panther | Mac mini i5 - El Capitan)


Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #440
The Roller Coaster goes up and comes down...
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"Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility." - James Thurber
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts!" - Richard Feynman
 (iBook G4 - Panther | Mac mini i5 - El Capitan)

Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #441
Here's waste Trump cited.
Just listen to some of the appalling waste we have already identified: $22 billion from HHS to provide free housing and cars for illegal aliens, $45 million for diversity, equity and inclusion scholarships in Burma, $40 million to improve the social and economic inclusion of sedentary migrants. Nobody knows what that is. $8 million to promote LGBTQ+ in the African nation of Lesotho, which nobody has ever heard of, $60 million for indigenous peoples and Afro-Colombian empowerment in Central America. $60 million. $8 million for making mice transgender.

This is real. $32 million for a left-wing propaganda operation in Moldova. $10 million for male circumcision in Mozambique. $20 million for the Arab “Sesame Street” in the Middle East, it’s a program, $20 million for program. $1.9 billion to recently created decarbonization of homes committee — headed up and we know she’s involved just at the last moment, the money was passed over by a woman named Stacey Abrams. Have you ever heard of her? A $3.5 million consulting contract for lavish fish monitoring. $1.5 million for voter confidence in Liberia, $14 million for social cohesion in Mali, $59 million for illegal alien hotel rooms in New York City, real estate developers done very well. $250,000 to increase vegan local climate action innovation in Zambia, $42 million for social and behavior change in Uganda, $14 million for improving public procurement in Serbia, $47 million for improving learning outcomes in Asia. Asia is doing very well with learning. You know what we’re doing? Should use it ourselves. A $101 million for DEI contracts at the Department of Education.
Here's fraud Trump cited.
We found hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud... The Government Accountability Office, federal government office, has estimated annual fraud of over $500 billion in our nation, and we are working very hard to stop it.

Believe it or not, government databases list 4.7 million Social Security members from people aged 100 to 109 years old. It lists 3.6 million people from ages 110 to 119. I don’t know any of them. I know some people that are rather elderly, but not quite that elderly. 3.47 million people from ages 120 to 129, 3.9 million people from ages 130 to 139, 3.5 million people from ages 140 to 149, and money is being paid to many of them, and we’re searching right now. In fact, Pam, good luck, good luck. You’re going to find it. But a lot of money is paid out to people, because it just keeps getting paid and paid, and nobody does, and it really hurts Social Security and hurts our country, 1.3 million people from ages 150 to 159 and over 130,000 people, according to the Social Security databases, are age over 160 years old. We have a healthier country than I thought, Bobby.

Including, to finish, 1,039 people between the ages of 220 and 229, one person between the age of 240 and 249 and one person is listed at 360 years of age — more than 100 years, more than 100 years older than our country. But we’re going to find out where that money is going, and it’s not going to be pretty, by slashing all of the fraud, waste and theft.
Pick out your examples that you think are real and show the evidence.

Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #442
Pick out your examples that you think are real and show the evidence.
My favorites were USAID's expenditures promoting atheism in Indonesia and Sesame Street in Iraq! (Trump didn't highlight them in his speech...) As always, you want an opportunity for a "gotcha" moment; nothing else matters to you — as far as I can tell.

You and Representative Al Green of Texas are on the same page: Impeach Trump on day-one!

Have you favorite reactions to Democrat reactions to the speech? Did you listen/watch it yourself?
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"Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility." - James Thurber
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts!" - Richard Feynman
 (iBook G4 - Panther | Mac mini i5 - El Capitan)

 

Re: Everything Trump…

Reply #443
After Meeting With Laura Loomer, Trump Fires National Security Council Officials
President Trump fired at least three senior National Security Council officials after an extraordinary meeting in the Oval Office with the far-right activist Laura Loomer, who laid out a list of people she believed were disloyal to the president, according to a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the matter. [...] Ms. Loomer brought along a sheaf of papers as purported evidence to buttress her attacks on the N.S.C. staff members.
Oh, so that's how it works with Trump: Have some papers with you and that's evidence. Somebody sane should have tried it when there was a chance.