The Trump presidency

[butchersapron]

Bring back the detroit snipers.

 

[Casually Red]

You are quoting Moon of Alabama? Seriously? Jesus Christ on a fucking bike.

I know this is from the Mirror, but it does unpick the line being pushed by fundamentalist Christian Trump acolytes and Breitbart loving Bannon fans that, "Oh Trump is just doing what Obama was already doing but the liberal media won't tell you that. . . " bullshit.

No, Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter didn't do the same thing as Donald Trump's Muslim ban
Supporters of the President's unprecedented Muslim ban are screaming hypocrisy. But there are some important differences with what previous Presidents have done

Why are you characterising anyone who sees the hypocrisy as a right wing fundie ? That's bollocks too .
Trump hasn't instituted a Muslim ban, the vast majority of Muslims in the world aren't affected . Christian Arabs from those states are also banned . It doesn't specify religion. That's ...one reason..why that article is utter bollocks.
Christian Arabs will be given preferential treatment as refugees in future but ATM they're in the same boat as everyone else. Christian Arabs just happen to be under a specifically heightened level of threat . Just like the yazidis.. And are much less likely to be affiliated to AQ . No mention of that either.
Obama concentrated his extreme vetting on certain regions of Iraq..favouring kurds...that's ethnic and religious profiling and well the author knows it. it's a bollocks article.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

Yeah - i think its only a matter of time before there's a violent clampdown on the protests - partly out of political calculation (bannon's angle) but also because they will be pissing trump off and he will want to lash out.
I also think that Trump/bannon will be itching to declare a state of emergency at the earliest opportunity - so provoking more shit helps this end. Trumps supporters being encouraged to take to the streets could play a significant part in this. Very worrying how easy it is to transform a liberal democracy with constitutional rights, independent judicary etc into a full blown, oppressive autocracy.
cant believe we are discussing this stuff as a real possibility. But then you read Bannon's shit and realise an out and out fascist is Trump's right hand man/organ grinder.

I think there will be a clampdown too. The other factor to consider is protest fatigue. I attended three protests last week alone. No one with a job can keep up the pace for four years (and possibly eight), without paying a huge cost in time, money, and stress. At some point you're going to see protester burnout set in.

 

[camouflage]

How do you know what would have happened and how people would have reacted? Pure speculation on your part.

Previous administrations will have looked at different responses to growing fears of terror attacks that isn't a surprise at all. How many years has the US been bombing the Middle East now?

The fact that AgentOrange has built on previous drafts (that were never used) of a potential ban/control on visa/entry and has blanket banned/implemented it for no apparent reason other than to flex his fucking muscles is what you should be focusing on.

People are outraged for good reason. It's not actually hypocrisy just because you want to use a hypothetical, imagine scenario to posit it is.

Based on what's happening in Yemen, on what happened to Libya, on the Wests role in what's going on in Syria (how it started, how it continued) and Obamas role in the US's new scramble for Africa and all that AFRICOM stuff basically about turning the continent into a rag between China and the 'indispensable nation', we've already seen the double standard in action. It's not about whether Trump is judged unfairly. For me I've already seen how the Kill-list Teusday was given a pass. There's been good reason for people to be outraged. If anything it's a good thing the POTUS (I like that word, reminds me of Potentate) is no longer a smooth and charismatic charmer, finally the POTUS is being viewed with the suspicion, distrust and criticism POTUSi should always be viewed with.

 

[CRI]

So how long until there are deaths on the streets as a result of management of dissent ?

At this rate, I'd say maybe a week.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

The POTUS has an itchy trigger finger, methinks.

You know something is wrong when John McCain and Lindsey Graham are the voice of reason.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

ACLU says it raised $10 million since Saturday

It's up to $24 million. It'll be more by nightfall.

 

[CRI]

I think there will be a clampdown too. The other factor to consider is protest fatigue. I attended three protests last week alone. No one with a job can keep up the pace for four years (and possibly eight), without paying a huge cost in time, money, and stress. At some point you're going to see protester burnout set in.

I think the administration is counting on this happening, as well as the people in the "heartland" already condemning the protesters as traitors. Give them more people to hate = strengthen their backing for the president.

 

[pennimania]

And Orkney *waves* both Stromness and Kirkwall 6.30pm this evening.

And Dundee!

 

[billy_bob]

Similarly I can't believe I'm writing this, and it's of a classic conspiracy theory false flag trope, but it's certainly in the administration's interests right now to have an emergency to use. A foreign origin terrorist attack would be very useful as an 'I told you so' buttress.

I'm very much not saying someone is going to explicitly organise or even permit such a thing, but that it would be useful to recognise in advance that if anything does happen, then not only will it be ripe for exploitation, but it'll be far, far harder to counter that exploitation after the fact.

On the other hand, if no such thing happens, it will be given as evidence that the ban has proved effective. Win-win.

Terrorists could certainly save themselves a lot of time, effort and expense right now and sit back, letting the West carry on doing a sterling job of destabilising itself.

 

[teqniq]

On the other hand, if no such thing happens, it will be given as evidence that the ban has proved effective. Win-win.

Terrorists could certainly save themselves a lot of time, effort and expense right now and sit back, letting the West carry on doing a sterling job of destabilising itself.

This is doing the rounds again:

FBI Uncovers Al-Qaeda Plot To Just Sit Back And Enjoy Collapse Of United States

 

[CRI]

You know something is wrong when John McCain and Lindsey Graham are the voice of reason.

Trump has form for criticising others for what he does/plans to do himself. He's the king of projection. In this case, it's terrifying.

 

[CrabbedOne]

In Commentary A Disastrous Day for Trump

...
Late Saturday night, a federal judge put a stay on the portion of the order subjecting U.S. visa holders to deportation. It was the first legal defeat for the Trump administration, and it was entirely avoidable. The president’s broad discretion over the implementation of immigration law was established in the Obama administration, and most of the order imposing a moratorium on the intake of asylum seekers remains in place. The administration’s humiliation in the courts was entirely the fault of the inexperienced ideologues with the president’s confidence. On Sunday, the White House quietly retreated, abandoning the provision of Trump’s order affecting green card holders.

Those who believe in the necessity of this executive action and the value of restrictions on both legal and illegal immigration should be livid with this president. A reckless administration carelessly mishandled their policy preferences. In response to the draconian and needlessly injurious execution of this policy, spontaneous mass protests overtook America’s transportation hubs and galvanized Donald Trump’s opposition. The scope of the political damage done both to their cause and its champion in the White House is unclear, but damage has been done. Americans do not stomach this kind of gross ineptitude in boilerplate politicians, much less in a president elected to be the antidote to the lazy inertia of Washington D.C. This was an unmitigated political disaster for Donald Trump and the administration he leads. It was only day eight.

If you wanted a test case for the idea that all would be well if only Randian businessmen ran DC here it is.

A lot in these things are not about policy content. It's about messaging and details of implementation. Team Trump is just really, really inept. What on earth did people expect when you put a glorified real estate agent assisted by far right propagandists in charge of the greatest nation on earth. It's looks like his presidency is going to be mostly about a furious rear guard battle to protect the Trump brand and his self image.


It's taken just eight days for POTUS Trump to reach majority unpopularity. Repeat the mantra: Failing Donald Trump.

 

[CrabbedOne]

On ABC Gates: 'Big Mistake' to Push Key Intelligence, Military Leaders Out of Security Council Principals Committee

...
“My biggest concern is there are actually, under the law, two statutory advisers to the National Security Council, and that's the director of [national] intelligence, or the DNI, and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff," Gates told ABC News’ Martha Raddatz on “This Week.” "They both bring a perspective and judgment and experience … that every president -- whether they like it or not -- finds useful.”

According to Saturday’s memo outlining the changes, both leaders will now only attend NSC Principals Committee meetings "where issues pertaining to their responsibilities and expertise are to be discussed."

“Pushing them out of the National Security Council [Principals] meetings except when their specific issues are at stake is a big mistake,” said Gates, who served as Defense Secretary for both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
...

Most people just picked on Bannon being added to the Sec Council. Gates dismisses that. He's right another fat, yappy, civilian matters little. Edging out technocrats on the other hand is a worrying sign. This looks like an insular "sofa government" in formation that doesn't want to hear unpleasant truths from any source.

 

[CrabbedOne]

It's not wise to treat an old Marine like Mattis as an ornamental lap dog. Here he bites back for the first time publicly. I do wonder how long he'll last.

 

[belboid]

The "biscuit" passed from Obama to Trump on inauguration day. The "football" is held by the Secret Service guy who goes with the President at all times.

In the past, the president remains the president until the moment the next one is sworn in. Trump started issuing proclamations the minute the vote result was called. That's never, ever happened before.

Except for Franklin D Roosevelt, who issued the first of his 3,522 EO's immediately.

There may have been others too.

 

[CrabbedOne]

Yes, just a hasty first measure.

 

[gosub]

It's not wise to treat an old Marine like Mattis as an ornamental lap dog. Here he bites back for the first time publicly. I do wonder how long he'll last.

So its thats Defence, lined up with Justice and State vs Homeland

 

[teqniq]

Yes, just a hasty first measure.

I think the content of Bette Midler's tweet is important here, and how right she is.

 

[Pickman's model]

Yes, just a hasty first mistake.

ftfy

 

[treelover]

Lots more now



They're going to need it...

maybe it could also use some of that money to challenge America's Gulags, the Prison Industrial System.

 

[CrabbedOne]

Repeat the mantra: Failing Donald Trump helps American enemies.

 

[killer b]

Yes, just a hasty first measure.

absolutely - the question 'where's Saudi Arabia on the list?' is a tacit acceptance of the list - just demanding it should be bigger.

 

[CrabbedOne]

ftfy

Full retard to follow.

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

maybe it could also use some of that money to challenge America's Gulags, the Prison Industrial System.

DELIVERED! DOJ dropped private prisons. DHS should do the same.

Update (9/28/16): We joined partners outside the Department of Homeland Security headquarters to demand DHS cut its private prison contracts.

It was a massive effort. We handed over 250,000 signatures with Color of Change, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Mijente and the #Not1More Campaign, CREDO, Presente, Daily Kos, and America’s Voice, and a letter from Detention Watch Network co-signed by over 350 organizations.

Former detainees stood outside DHS headquarters telling their stories of abuse and mistreatment in private detention centers. Organizers handed the petition signatures directly to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson on the sidewalk.

With tears in her eyes, mother Cindy Barrientos told Secretary Johnson about her son who has been detained for over a year.

In incredible and momentous news, the Department of Justice ordered the Bureau of Prisons to begin phasing out the use of private prisons. Private prisons are inhumane profit machines where the bottom line is often more important than people’s lives. Our justice system must be rid of them – and this is an amazing first step!

With momentum on our side from this victory, let’s turn to the next challenge: the Department of Homeland Security’s even more lucrative system of for-profit immigration detention centers.

DHS is the private prison industry’s single biggest client. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) oversees dozens of immigration detention facilities operated by the same companies that will soon lose their Bureau of Prisons contracts.

The Justice Department made it clear that there is nothing fair or just about private prisons. A standard has been set – and DHS must adhere to it. We will no longer tolerate our tax dollars propping up the abusive and inhumane private prison industry.

We need to strike while the iron is hot. Take action to end the abuses of private prisons – tell DHS to phase them out NOW.

 

[teqniq]

absolutely - the question 'where's Saudi Arabia on the list?' is a tacit acceptance of the list - just demanding it should be bigger.

I didn't take it as tacit acceptance, more like an observation of double standards, which is pretty much always the case with SA.

 

[CRI]

Except for Franklin D Roosevelt, who issued the first of his 3,522 EO's immediately.

There may have been others too.

Congratulations, you've found a table on Wikipedia.

I wasn't talking about the number of Executive Orders issued. I was talking about the fact that Trump started making public announcements about specific policies and actions as soon as the election result was called - for example telling all the Ambassadors and heads of the Nuclear programme that they must clear their desks by noon on swearing in day.

At least in my life time, I've never known of a PEOTUS to publicly undermind the POTUS, even if they are chomping at the bit to get in and start changes. Peaceful transition of power has always been seen as essential for stability and as a hallmark of democracy. Trump and his team acted like they were taking over from 9th November.

 

[Wilf]

View attachment 99679

when you see a list of speakers like that the prospect of turning up to this demo seems less enticing.

At least it's a sign that Galloway's star is on the wane.

 

[CRI]

Yes, just a hasty first measure.

Probably so. Saw a tweet from a lawyer trying to work on behalf of a US born US citizen of Jordanian heritage who's been questioned about his religious and political affiliations, had social media and emails searched and was deported.

Speaking honestly Urbanites, I wouldn't go anywhere near North America for the forseeable future. Shit's going down. Don't get caught in it.

 

[Raheem]

I didn't take it as tacit acceptance, more like an observation of double standards, which is pretty much always the case with SA.

Think it's not just about double standards, but about the manifest pointlessness of the whole exercise from a counter-terrorism perspective. Which is something you might note either because you would support a travel ban that had an actual point to it, or because the fact that what is being done is being done purely to serve the President's narcissism and loony credentials makes it all the more worrying. I don't know which camp Bette Midler would be in.