Orange Duce

[foreverlax]

https://www.npr.org/2019/09/05/75780388 ... to-ireland

Trump profited from Pence trip to Doonbeg.

I’ve often wondered what Pence did. Now I know why he was Manafort’s pick. Talent recognizes talent. According to data collected by CREW, Pence has made over 20 visits to Trump properties since January 2017. So has Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has made 16 visits. Systemic grifters in our highest offices. Barr won’t stop the flow of American tax dollars into Trump’s pocket. He’s good for 30 k of his own dough. Mitch? Please, b....

Can't wait to hear how he isn't a poster child for exactly why the enulments clause was put in place.

The Emoluments Clause pertains to foreign corrupting influences, so we'd need to look at most of this domestic enrichment as grossly unethical practices, perhaps criminal under other statutes (or not), but not falling under the Emoluments Clause per se.

The foreign spending at Trump properties is another matter...

But if your point is that the Founders were worried about a President taking bribes, or other corrupt acts, yes, they were!

FYI -

Clause 7: Salary
"Domestic Emoluments Clause" redirects here. For other uses, see Emoluments Clause.
The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

The president's salary, currently $400,000 a year,[11] must remain constant throughout the president's term. The president may not receive other compensation from either the federal or any state government.

Air Force says it sent crews to Trump’s Scottish resort up to 40 times
The tally represents the preliminary results of an Air Force review launched after POLITICO reported that an Air National Guard crew had stayed at Turnberry.

The Air Force has said the refueling stops at Prestwick — and all related overnight stays — are well within Pentagon guidelines.

But the Air Force did concede that the appearance of staying at the president’s posh property might create a negative perception, and it has launched an internal review that will assess the “guidance associated with the use of civil airports and lodging selection for aircrew at en route locations,” according to a memo issued Monday.

The roughly 40 stays at Turnberry are likely to raise eyebrows among congressional Democrats, who have said the practice raises conflict-of-interest concerns and might violate the Constitution's domestic emoluments clause, which prohibits the president from receiving money from the federal government other than his salary.

[a fan]

I'm simply floored that this is even a debate on the Forum.

Trump has done a number on millions of Americans. He's taken an average, everyday American, and not just knocked off a few dozen IQ points....he's managed to convince them that their values are fungible.

So making the government bigger than ever----after whining about that for 8 straight years-----is totally fine with these people.

Deficit exploding----after whining about that for straight years-----is totally fine with these people.

Evangelicals love the least Christian man I can think of..... I can't name too many public figures that haven't killed someone that are lest Christ like than Trump.

They love Trump, but hated Carter...easily the most Christian POTUS we've had in modern times. Up is down. Down is up.

I'll never understand it.

[Brooklyn]

Only the "best" - huh!

[a fan]

I'm simply floored that this is even a debate on the Forum.

Trump has done a number on millions of Americans. He's taken an average, everyday American, and not just knocked off a few dozen IQ points....he's managed to convince them that their values are fungible.

So making the government bigger than ever----after whining about that for 8 straight years-----is totally fine with these people.

Deficit exploding----after whining about that for straight years-----is totally fine with these people.

Evangelicals love the least Christian man I can think of..... I can't name too many public figures that haven't killed someone that are less Christ like than Trump.

They love Trump, but hated Carter...easily the most Christian POTUS we've had in modern times. Up is down. Down is up.

I'll never understand it.

[ggait]

Two words: negative partisanship. And the key word is "negative."

Americans today vote primarily out of hate, not love. The reason why Rs overlook Trump's copious faults (Mattis nailed it -- limited cognitive ability and dubious moral character) is that he isn't that lying evil beeyotch Hillary.

If you view the world that way, then you truly don't care if Trump shoots someone on 5th Avenue or does something else egregious. You don't necessarily like Trump, but you vote for him because Hillary is the devil incarnate.

If you believe this view (see Abramowitz, Webster, Bitecofer), things are looking grim for Trump in 2020. Negative partisanship treats incumbents more harshly than the out-party. And Trump (as we all know) is the GOAT when it comes to being unlike-able. Since there's more Dems than Rs, there's going to be more Trump haters than Biden haters. Assuming the Dems are motivated to turn out (which appears to be the case).

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story ... ing-215534

[lagerhead]

ggait - agreed there are more d's than r's, but it is going to depend on which states they turn out in. If the d's dont vote in flyover country trump will win the electoral college again. It's not the number of d voters but where they vote.

[MDlaxfan76]

https://www.npr.org/2019/09/05/75780388 ... to-ireland

Trump profited from Pence trip to Doonbeg.

I’ve often wondered what Pence did. Now I know why he was Manafort’s pick. Talent recognizes talent. According to data collected by CREW, Pence has made over 20 visits to Trump properties since January 2017. So has Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has made 16 visits. Systemic grifters in our highest offices. Barr won’t stop the flow of American tax dollars into Trump’s pocket. He’s good for 30 k of his own dough. Mitch? Please, b....

Can't wait to hear how he isn't a poster child for exactly why the enulments clause was put in place.

The Emoluments Clause pertains to foreign corrupting influences, so we'd need to look at most of this domestic enrichment as grossly unethical practices, perhaps criminal under other statutes (or not), but not falling under the Emoluments Clause per se.

The foreign spending at Trump properties is another matter...

But if your point is that the Founders were worried about a President taking bribes, or other corrupt acts, yes, they were!

FYI -

Clause 7: Salary
"Domestic Emoluments Clause" redirects here. For other uses, see Emoluments Clause.
The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

The president's salary, currently $400,000 a year,[11] must remain constant throughout the president's term. The president may not receive other compensation from either the federal or any state government.

Air Force says it sent crews to Trump’s Scottish resort up to 40 times
The tally represents the preliminary results of an Air Force review launched after POLITICO reported that an Air National Guard crew had stayed at Turnberry.

The Air Force has said the refueling stops at Prestwick — and all related overnight stays — are well within Pentagon guidelines.

But the Air Force did concede that the appearance of staying at the president’s posh property might create a negative perception, and it has launched an internal review that will assess the “guidance associated with the use of civil airports and lodging selection for aircrew at en route locations,” according to a memo issued Monday.

The roughly 40 stays at Turnberry are likely to raise eyebrows among congressional Democrats, who have said the practice raises conflict-of-interest concerns and might violate the Constitution's domestic emoluments clause, which prohibits the president from receiving money from the federal government other than his salary.

Thanks.
Glad we have some legal folks on here to keep us straight!

It would certainly be an interesting legal case.

But it's a no-brainer ethically.

[ggait]

ggait - agreed there are more d's than r's, but it is going to depend on which states they turn out in. If the d's dont vote in flyover country trump will win the electoral college again. It's not the number of d voters but where they vote.

Totally. The way it looks today, whoever wins WI in 2020 is the president.

WI 2016 was 47.9% R; 46.9% D; 3.6% Libertarian; 1.1% Green. WI 2018 was 45.6% R; 53.2% D; and 1.2% other. So is 2020 going to be more like 2016 (R +1) or 2018 (D +8)?

Current indicators say more like 2018. Polls have Trump losing to Biden by 9 points and also losing to Bernie and Lizzie. Trump's approve/disapprove in WI is 42/55. 13 points negative and 19 points down since 2016.

It certainly is early and I'd never put it past the Dems to screw it up. But Trump currently is looking pretty weak in WI.

[lagerhead]

Ggait thanks for the analysis. I don’t have a lot of faith in polls but will pay attention to the numbers, where they are derived and reported.

[old salt]

https://www.npr.org/2019/09/05/75780388 ... to-ireland

Trump profited from Pence trip to Doonbeg.

I’ve often wondered what Pence did. Now I know why he was Manafort’s pick. Talent recognizes talent. According to data collected by CREW, Pence has made over 20 visits to Trump properties since January 2017. So has Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has made 16 visits. Systemic grifters in our highest offices. Barr won’t stop the flow of American tax dollars into Trump’s pocket. He’s good for 30 k of his own dough. Mitch? Please, b....

Can't wait to hear how he isn't a poster child for exactly why the enulments clause was put in place.

The Emoluments Clause pertains to foreign corrupting influences, so we'd need to look at most of this domestic enrichment as grossly unethical practices, perhaps criminal under other statutes (or not), but not falling under the Emoluments Clause per se.

The foreign spending at Trump properties is another matter...

But if your point is that the Founders were worried about a President taking bribes, or other corrupt acts, yes, they were!

FYI -

Clause 7: Salary
"Domestic Emoluments Clause" redirects here. For other uses, see Emoluments Clause.
The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

The president's salary, currently $400,000 a year,[11] must remain constant throughout the president's term. The president may not receive other compensation from either the federal or any state government.

Air Force says it sent crews to Trump’s Scottish resort up to 40 times
The tally represents the preliminary results of an Air Force review launched after POLITICO reported that an Air National Guard crew had stayed at Turnberry.

The Air Force has said the refueling stops at Prestwick — and all related overnight stays — are well within Pentagon guidelines.

But the Air Force did concede that the appearance of staying at the president’s posh property might create a negative perception, and it has launched an internal review that will assess the “guidance associated with the use of civil airports and lodging selection for aircrew at en route locations,” according to a memo issued Monday.

The roughly 40 stays at Turnberry are likely to raise eyebrows among congressional Democrats, who have said the practice raises conflict-of-interest concerns and might violate the Constitution's domestic emoluments clause, which prohibits the president from receiving money from the federal government other than his salary.

Thanks.
Glad we have some legal folks on here to keep us straight!

It would certainly be an interesting legal case.

But it's a no-brainer ethically.

That's why they only let lawyers fly military aircraft in far fetched tv series.

[MDlaxfan76]

https://www.npr.org/2019/09/05/75780388 ... to-ireland

Trump profited from Pence trip to Doonbeg.

I’ve often wondered what Pence did. Now I know why he was Manafort’s pick. Talent recognizes talent. According to data collected by CREW, Pence has made over 20 visits to Trump properties since January 2017. So has Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has made 16 visits. Systemic grifters in our highest offices. Barr won’t stop the flow of American tax dollars into Trump’s pocket. He’s good for 30 k of his own dough. Mitch? Please, b....

Can't wait to hear how he isn't a poster child for exactly why the enulments clause was put in place.

The Emoluments Clause pertains to foreign corrupting influences, so we'd need to look at most of this domestic enrichment as grossly unethical practices, perhaps criminal under other statutes (or not), but not falling under the Emoluments Clause per se.

The foreign spending at Trump properties is another matter...

But if your point is that the Founders were worried about a President taking bribes, or other corrupt acts, yes, they were!

FYI -

Clause 7: Salary
"Domestic Emoluments Clause" redirects here. For other uses, see Emoluments Clause.
The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

The president's salary, currently $400,000 a year,[11] must remain constant throughout the president's term. The president may not receive other compensation from either the federal or any state government.

Air Force says it sent crews to Trump’s Scottish resort up to 40 times
The tally represents the preliminary results of an Air Force review launched after POLITICO reported that an Air National Guard crew had stayed at Turnberry.

The Air Force has said the refueling stops at Prestwick — and all related overnight stays — are well within Pentagon guidelines.

But the Air Force did concede that the appearance of staying at the president’s posh property might create a negative perception, and it has launched an internal review that will assess the “guidance associated with the use of civil airports and lodging selection for aircrew at en route locations,” according to a memo issued Monday.

The roughly 40 stays at Turnberry are likely to raise eyebrows among congressional Democrats, who have said the practice raises conflict-of-interest concerns and might violate the Constitution's domestic emoluments clause, which prohibits the president from receiving money from the federal government other than his salary.

Thanks.
Glad we have some legal folks on here to keep us straight!

It would certainly be an interesting legal case.

But it's a no-brainer ethically.

That's why they only let lawyers fly military aircraft in far fetched tv series.

and vice versa...

[Brooklyn]

Trump's new name for John Bolton is "Michael Bolton".

[youthathletics]

White House says bin Laden son killed in US operation

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says Hamza bin Laden, the son of the late al-Qaida leader who had become an increasingly prominent figure in the terrorist organization, has been killed in a U.S. counterterrorism operation in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.

A White House statement gives no further details, such as when Hamza bin Laden was killed or how the United States confirmed his death.

The statement says Hamza bin Laden’s death “not only deprives al-Qaida of important leadership skills and the symbolic connection to his father, but undermines important operational activities of the group.”...

[3rdPersonPlural]

One reason why Turnberry needs Pentagon intervention is that the Brits, who are the local patron base of the place, loathe Trump. One wonders why as Trump generally tweets nice things about the British Isles, but Nate White summarizes the British distaste for the man quite well in this article.

It is not a wonky policy piece here, but rather an excellent piece of writing that hits very close to the target.

https://takeadeeperbreathblog.wordpress ... om-a-brit/

Plus, we like a laugh. And while Trump may be laughable, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing – not once, ever.

I don’t say that rhetorically, I mean it quite literally: not once, not ever. And that fact is particularly disturbing to the British sensibility – for us, to lack humor is almost inhuman.

But with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is – his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, a casual act of cruelty.

Trump is a troll. And like all trolls, he is never funny and he never laughs; he only crows or jeers.

[seacoaster]

Krugman in the Times (sorry, couldn't find it on instagram):

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/12/opin ... ion=Footer

"Donald Trump marked the anniversary of 9/11 by repeating several lies about his own actions on that day. But that wasn’t his only concern. He also spent part of the day writing a series of tweets excoriating Federal Reserve officials as “Boneheads” and demanding that they immediately put into effect emergency measures to stimulate the economy — emergency measures that are normally only implemented in the face of a severe crisis.

Trump’s diatribe was revealing in two ways. First, it’s now clear that he’s in full-blown panic over the failure of his economic policies to deliver the promised results. Second, he’s clueless about why his policies aren’t working, or about anything else involving economic policy.

Before I get to the economics, let’s talk about one indicator of Trump’s cluelessness: his remarks about federal debt.

In addition to demanding that the Fed cut interest rates below zero, Trump declared that “we should then start to refinance our debt,” because “the USA should always be paying the lowest rate.” Observers were left scratching their heads, wondering what he was talking about.

Actually, however, it’s fairly obvious. Trump thinks that federal debt is like a business loan, which you can pay down early to take advantage of lower interest rates. He’s clearly unaware that federal debt actually consists of bonds, which can’t be prepaid (which is one reason interest rates on federal debt are always lower than, say, rates on home mortgages). That is, he imagines that the government’s finances can be managed as if the U.S. were a casino or a golf course, and it never occurred to him to ask anyone at Treasury whether that’s how it works.

But back to the economy. Why is Trump panicking?

After all, while the economy is slowing, we’re not in a recession, and it’s by no means clear that a recession is even on the horizon. There’s nothing in the data that would justify radical monetary stimulus — stimulus, by the way, that Republicans, including Trump, denounced during the Obama years, when the economy really needed it.

Furthermore, despite Trump’s claims that the Fed has somehow done something crazy, monetary policy has actually been looser than Trump’s own economic team expected when making their rosy forecasts.

....

Remember, Trump’s two signature economic policies were his 2017 tax cut and his rapidly escalating trade war with China. The first was supposed to lead to a decade or more of rapid economic growth, while the second was supposed to revive U.S. manufacturing.

In reality, however, the tax cut delivered at most a couple of quarters of higher growth. More specifically, huge tax breaks for corporations haven’t delivered the promised surge in wages and business investment; instead, corporations used the windfall to buy back stocks and pay higher dividends.

At the same time, the trade war has turned out to be a major drag on the economy — bigger than many people, myself included, expected. Until last fall the general expectation was that Trump would deal with China the way he dealt with Mexico: make a few mainly cosmetic changes to existing arrangements, claim victory, and move on. Once it became clear that he was really serious about confrontation, however, business confidence began falling, dragging investment down with it.

And voters have noticed: Trump’s approval rating on the economy, while still higher than his overall approval, has started to decline. Hence the panicky demands that the Fed pull out all the stops.

But while Trump realizes that he’s in trouble, there’s no indication that he understands why. He’s not the kind of person who ever admits, even to himself, that he made mistakes; his instinct is always to blame someone else while doubling down on his failed policies.

Even actions that look like a slight policy softening, like his announcement of a two-week delay in implementing some China tariffs, betray a deep incomprehension of the problem — which has as much to do with his capriciousness as with the tariffs per se. Policy zigzags, even if they involve delaying tariffs, just add to the will-he-or-won’t-he uncertainty that’s causing companies to put investment on hold.

So what happens next? Trump could reverse course, and do what most people expected a year ago, reaching a deal with China that more or less restores the status quo. But that would be a de facto admission of defeat — and at this point it’s not clear why the Chinese would trust him to honor any such deal past Election Day. The fact is that when it comes to economic policy, Trump has trapped himself in a bad place."

[foreverlax]

Another example of Trump's humor

“He happens to be Hispanic, but I never quite figured it out because he looks more like a WASP than I do,” Trump said of Cortes, who was in the audience.

At least he isn't too; tall/short, old/young, fat/thin....

[dislaxxic]

Actually, however, it’s fairly obvious. Trump thinks that federal debt is like a business loan, which you can pay down early to take advantage of lower interest rates. He’s clearly unaware that federal debt actually consists of bonds, which can’t be prepaid (which is one reason interest rates on federal debt are always lower than, say, rates on home mortgages). That is, he imagines that the government’s finances can be managed as if the U.S. were a casino or a golf course, and it never occurred to him to ask anyone at Treasury whether that’s how it works.

Great idea, putting a "businessman" in the Oval Office.

Except this clown is obviously nothing more than a grifter and a con man. He needs to be fired.

..

[Brooklyn]

Ahem ....

[seacoaster]

Trump, on how Cokie Roberts's death affected him:

"“I never met her,” Trump told reporters traveling with him on Air Force One. “She never treated me nicely. But I would like to wish her family well. She was a professional, and I respect professionals. I respect you guys a lot, you people a lot. She was a real professional. Never treated me well, but I certainly respect her as a professional.”

God, what a fuc&ing tool.

[seacoaster]

The standoff between Schiff/Congress and the acting DNI continues,

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions ... -new-turn/

And I am a little astonished by how little coverage this is getting among the talkers, in particular. Coupled with the astonishingly broad claims of Executive Privilege made by the White House Counsel and the Trump Administration, this amounts to effectively sealing off the Executive Branch from scrutiny by the Congress, all in direct contravention of the basic system of government and in some cases specific congressional mandates. Add to this the ability to declare faux emergencies and re-route properly authorized appropriations made by the Congress to other, discretionary purposes not authorized by the Congress, and what, seriously, do you have?

Do Republicans not understand that what goes around, comes around, what's sauce for the goose, etc.? The disabling of the rule of law, the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances is bad for all of us, but this gets quarantined away as "TDS"? What the f*ck is wrong with these people? Your silence is going to kill the goose. Or is instagram really just taking up most of your time?