President Donald J. Trump

[SredniVashtar]

Don't think I have not been concerned about Trump abusing executive power.  I have and I worried about it prior to the election.  His predecessor set a terrible precedent and Trump has straddled the line.  I'll be the first to criticize if I find him in clear violation.  I voted for him because of his promise regarding the Supreme Court.  He did what I wanted so I've got to give him credit for that.  I want him off Twitter and he should stop with these stupid pep rallies.  Yeah, you won the election but it is not about you, Donald.  It is about the country.

I'm sure you remember Robert Redford in The Candidate: 'what do we do now?'. That's Trump, he'll wing it because he believes there is no such thing as bad publicity and needs to create chaos to feel important. Whether a SC seat is a fair exchange for what he brings with it is debatable.

[Jackstar]

fired the man investigating him

I'm going to explain to you how figureheads work, with a thin strip of plywood.

[GravitySucks]

Emoluments Clause

“No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”

Article I, Section 9, Clause 8


I don't see anything in there prohibiting George Washington from selling tobacco to foreigners.

We should be encouraging non-lifetime political hacks to run for office, not making it as difficult as possible for them to do so, and relentlessly attacking them when they do.  Although I get why lifetime political hacks would want to do that.

Under their definition, any foreign national that bought a copy of Obama's book once he took office would have created a violation since he received royalties.

[K_Dubb]

I don't understand how Trump is an antidote to that, or even a sticking plaster. He is executive power on steroids. If he could find a way to cancel elections, he would.

Now that is a little unhinged.  His defense of the travel ban, really his first test of executive authority, has been entirely conventional, even boring.  I remember serious people speculating he'd defy the judge.

[SredniVashtar]

The U.S. President is an actual figurehead, like your Queen was, before she was possessed by lizards from another dimension.

He has no actual power. He is a puppet. These actions, both real and potential, that you rail against, have nothing to do with the man, Donald J. Trump.


Irrelevant. The dude is locked in--he couldn't cancel a drink order.

You'll be a puppet too if you keep on talking about the Queen (god bless her and all who sail in her) like that. It will be a full-blown hand-up-arse situation, and I won't even bother cutting my nails.

[SredniVashtar]

Now that is a little unhinged.  His defense of the travel ban, really his first test of executive authority, has been entirely conventional, even boring.  I remember serious people speculating he'd defy the judge.

Give him time, and a terrorist attack. He's only just got his feet under the table.

[PB the Deplorable]

I'm sure you remember Robert Redford in The Candidate: 'what do we do now?'. That's Trump, he'll wing it because he believes there is no such thing as bad publicity and needs to create chaos to feel important. Whether a SC seat is a fair exchange for what he brings with it is debatable.

Well, his election prevented Hilary's.  We are out of the TPP.  We are out of the Paris Agreement.  We are getting ready to re-set ties to Cuba to a more appropriate level.  We've joined the Arabs in lining up against Iran (and their nuclear program, instead of further green-lighting it).  Deportations are up and illegal immigration is down.  Companies have more confidence in the business environment.  We may end up with something better than a deteriorating ObamaCare.  We may end up with tax reform that encourages economic activity.  There may be deep cuts or even eliminations of some of the useless programs and agencies.  There are going to be more federal court appointments than just one seat on the Supreme Court.

We're pressuring China on trade.  We're pressuring the EU on trade.  We're pressuring the NATO countries to live up to their funding commitments.  He's doing what he can to keep unvetted Moslems out of our country, and hopefully the message is going out to all of them they and their ideology are unwelcome here. 

You get the idea. 

[Yorkshire pud]

Don't think I have not been concerned about Trump abusing executive power.  I have and I worried about it prior to the election.  His predecessor set a terrible precedent and Trump has straddled the line.  I'll be the first to criticize if I find him in clear violation.  I voted for him because of his promise regarding the Supreme Court.  He did what I wanted so I've got to give him credit for that.  I want him off Twitter and he should stop with these stupid pep rallies.  Yeah, you won the election but it is not about you, Donald.  It is about the country.

What?!!! For fucks sake don't tell him that. Get with the programme.
Donald Trump just held the weirdest Cabinet meeting ever

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/12/politics/donald-trump-cabinet-meeting/index.html

[SredniVashtar]

Well, his election prevented Hilary's.  We are out of the TPP.  We are out of the Paris Agreement.  We are getting ready to re-set ties to Cuba to a more appropriate level.  We've joined the Arabs in lining up against Iran (and their nuclear program, instead of further green-lighting it).  Deportations are up and illegal immigration is down.  Companies have more confidence in the business environment.  We may end up with something better than a deteriorating ObamaCare.  We may end up with tax reform that encourages economic activity.  There may be deep cuts or even eliminations of some of the useless programs and agencies.  There are going to be more federal court appointments than just one seat on the Supreme Court.

We're pressuring China on trade.  We're pressuring the EU on trade.  We're pressuring the NATO countries to live up to their funding commitments.  He's doing what he can to keep unvetted Moslems out of our country, and hopefully the message is going out to all of them they and their ideology are unwelcome here. 

You get the idea.

If you weren't such a surly bastard you'd be almost cute. Yes, his election stopped Hillary, you got me there. Most of that stuff is speculative. We'll see the wisdom of anti-immigration policies in a few decades. The people you don't like are the only ones having kids in any numbers, and if you kick them out that will be bad news for an ageing population. Paris? Knock yourself out. It's an odd sort of conservative that has no concern to conserve things but no doubt you know best. You give me business confidence with lower taxes and I give you Brownback's little Laffer Curve experiment in Kansas. Let's see how it all goes first.

[21st Century Man]

I'm sure you remember Robert Redford in The Candidate: 'what do we do now?'. That's Trump, he'll wing it because he believes there is no such thing as bad publicity and needs to create chaos to feel important. Whether a SC seat is a fair exchange for what he brings with it is debatable.

I'm ashamed to say that I didn't see that one.  Hell, I haven't even watched Advise and Consent though I want to.  Political films have not necessarily been my favorite genre.  I love movies about political figures (Lincoln, John Adams) and that sort of thing but not so much the mechanics of politics and political races.  I have been binging on House of Cards though.

My favorite films of that genre are Mr. Smith.. and All the King's Men (1949).  Of course, Dr. Strangelove and Failsafe too though I don't view them as necessarily political.

[PB the Deplorable]

If you weren't such a surly bastard you'd be almost cute. Yes, his election stopped Hillary, you got me there. Most of that stuff is speculative. We'll see the wisdom of anti-immigration policies in a few decades. The people you don't like are the only ones having kids in any numbers, and if you kick them out that will be bad news for an ageing population. Paris? Knock yourself out. It's an odd sort of conservative that has no concern to conserve things but no doubt you know best. You give me business confidence with lower taxes and I give you Brownback's little Laffer Curve experiment in Kansas. Let's see how it all goes first.

Yes, I don't believe we should be importing Muslims.  Their ideology is not compatible with Western democracy.  Obviously there are many views within Islam, and people from, say, Indonesia and Morocco are a better fit than, say, immigrants from Yemen.  I think most of the Iranians who come here are great, for some reason their crazies stay home.

As far as Latin Americans, most are productive, and very welcome here.  Like my next door neighbors.  What we want is control of our border.  No gang members, no cartel members, no random criminals, and no unskilled uneducated people who will end up on our handout programs.  I also believe we should keep the number of immigrants from any one culture low enough that they assimilate, and not set up little subcultures.  I think that is divisive and unhealthy - at best.  I think we should have a guest worker program, rather than force people to cross illegally to do seasonal farm work, etc.

I wouldn't live where I live - the San Francisco Bay Area - if I didn't like foreigners and support immigration.

[PB the Deplorable]

... Paris? Knock yourself out. It's an odd sort of conservative that has no concern to conserve things but no doubt you know best...

I believe in protecting the environment, just not in all the other crap the Left wants to do in its name.  The Left doesn't give a hoot about conservation or the environment, but they are happy to claim to, and use it to further their goal of a one-world Left-wing Fascist government, run by them.

Tell me, which Left-wing countries had or have concern for the environment?  China?  The old USSR?  Cuba?  I'm not seeing the connection between conservation and the Left.  I am seeing a connection between protection of the environment and western democracy - which they hate.

[CindyB22]

Well, his election prevented Hilary's.  We are out of the TPP.  We are out of the Paris Agreement.  We are getting ready to re-set ties to Cuba to a more appropriate level.  We've joined the Arabs in lining up against Iran (and their nuclear program, instead of further green-lighting it).  Deportations are up and illegal immigration is down.  Companies have more confidence in the business environment.  We may end up with something better than a deteriorating ObamaCare.  We may end up with tax reform that encourages economic activity.  There may be deep cuts or even eliminations of some of the useless programs and agencies.  There are going to be more federal court appointments than just one seat on the Supreme Court.

We're pressuring China on trade.  We're pressuring the EU on trade.  We're pressuring the NATO countries to live up to their funding commitments.  He's doing what he can to keep unvetted Moslems out of our country, and hopefully the message is going out to all of them they and their ideology are unwelcome here. 

You get the idea.

Agree

[SredniVashtar]

I'm ashamed to say that I didn't see that one.  Hell, I haven't even watched Advise and Consent though I want to.  Political films have not necessarily been my favorite genre.  I love movies about political figures (Lincoln, John Adams) and that sort of thing but not so much the mechanics of politics and political races.  I have been binging on House of Cards though.

My favorite films of that genre are Mr. Smith.. and All the King's Men (1949).  Of course, Dr. Strangelove and Failsafe too though I don't view them as necessarily political.

I don't recall it being all that great, so I wouldn't make a point of seeing it. The best political film for me would be All the President's Men. Actually, the best thing to watch about the day-to-day compromises of politics (although it won't be for everyone) is the BBC series Yes Minister.

[K_Dubb]

Give him time, and a terrorist attack. He's only just got his feet under the table.

Haha I am not surprised that, from where you sit, the whole of the right wing foreshortens into a jackbooted mass.  Roderick Spode is your bugbear, not ours.

Though he does wear shorts...

[PB the Deplorable]

... Most of that stuff is speculative...

And we would have no shot at any of it with a Democrat in office.

[Yorkshire pud]

I believe in protecting the environment, just not in all the other crap the Left wants to do in its name.  The Left doesn't give a hoot about conservation or the environment, but they are happy to claim to, and use it to further their goal of a one-world Left-wing Fascist government, run by them.

Tell me, which Left-wing countries had or have concern for the environment?  China?  The old USSR?  Cuba?  I'm not seeing the connection between conservation and the Left.  I am seeing a connection between protection of the environment and western democracy - which they hate.

I know its escaped your notice, but the 'left' helped build western democracies. You think every soldier, pilot, sailor and the millions who worked to supply same were all Tories and Republicans? Trade unions drove safer working practices, which increased productivity, reduced down time, provided training and cultivated apprenticeships.

[21st Century Man]

I don't recall it being all that great, so I wouldn't make a point of seeing it. The best political film for me would be All the President's Men. Actually, the best thing to watch about the day-to-day compromises of politics (although it won't be for everyone) is the BBC series Yes Minister.

Yeah, that's a good one.  I actually think very highly of Bob Woodward.  I'll throw out a couple of oldies that I recommend.  The Preston Sturges comedy, The Great McGinty, and Gabriel Over The White House with Walter Huston. The latter is about a political hack who becomes President during the height of the Depression and undergoes a metamorphosis into an incorruptible statesman after a near-fatal accident.

It has been a while since I watched question time but I get a kick out of it when I see it.  Nobody pulls any punches over there. lol

[SredniVashtar]

Haha I am not surprised that, from where you sit, the whole of the right wing foreshortens into a jackbooted mass.  Roderick Spode is your bugbear, not ours.

Though he does wear shorts...

I suspect, like Spode, you secretly design ladies undergarments.

[albrecht]

Yeah, that's a good one.  I actually think very highly of Bob Woodward.  I'll throw out a couple of oldies that I recommend.  The Preston Sturges comedy, The Great McGinty, and Gabriel Over The White House with Walter Huston. The latter is about a political hack who becomes President during the height of the Depression and undergoes a metamorphosis into an incorruptible statesman after a near-fatal accident.

It has been a while since I watched question time but I get a kick out of it when I see it.  Nobody pulls any punches over there. lol

"All the King's Men" (1949) should be mentioned. I personally think "Yes, Minister" is the best example of bureaucratic government and career bureaucrats who really run things; could even be considered the so-called "deep state." And it is just hilarious and still very relevant today (episode "Big Brother" immediately comes to mind.)

[21st Century Man]

"All the King's Men" (1949) should be mentioned. I personally think "Yes, Minister" is the best example of bureaucratic government and career bureaucrats who really run things; could even be considered the so-called "deep state." And it is just hilarious and still very relevant today (episode "Big Brother" immediately comes to mind.)

LOL.  That is one film that I did mention.  Glad we agree! 

My favorite films of that genre are Mr. Smith.. and All the King's Men (1949).  Of course, Dr. Strangelove and Failsafe too though I don't view them as necessarily political.

[K_Dubb]

I suspect, like Spode, you secretly design ladies undergarments.

Would you like a catalog?

[21st Century Man]

I suspect, like Spode, you secretly design ladies undergarments.

There are more miserable ways to make a living.

[SredniVashtar]

I believe in protecting the environment, just not in all the other crap the Left wants to do in its name.  The Left doesn't give a hoot about conservation or the environment, but they are happy to claim to, and use it to further their goal of a one-world Left-wing Fascist government, run by them.

Tell me, which Left-wing countries had or have concern for the environment?  China?  The old USSR?  Cuba?  I'm not seeing the connection between conservation and the Left.  I am seeing a connection between protection of the environment and western democracy - which they hate.

Those countries were industrialising. I can't think of a country that wasn't polluting like mad, regardless of your politics, at that stage of development. I don't see much coming from the private sector to help the environment. They will take their profits and carry on regardless. And they won't be able to organise themselves or provide enough investment to make clean energy a reality. I can't see a free market alternative, maybe you can

[SredniVashtar]

Would you like a catalog?

I daresay yours has never been opened.

[weedeater]

There are more miserable ways to make a living.

An opportunity not to be missed.  Enjoy, the fun starts at 27 sec.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waFjn7dckQI

[The King of Kings]

https://twitter.com/thisweekabc/status/874299783946551296

Lol "fragrantly"

"Whelp, the Russian thing didn't work out, what else can we do?"

Desperate shit bag Democrats.

Notice the complete lack of concern from these same dishonest democrats when Hillary Clinton was getting 10's of millions of dollars from Middle Eastern governments through her "Clinton Foundation".

[albrecht]

Haha I am not surprised that, from where you sit, the whole of the right wing foreshortens into a jackbooted mass.  Roderick Spode is your bugbear, not ours.

Though he does wear shorts...

No orb here but still a 'laying on of hands.'

[K_Dubb]

No orb here but still a 'laying on of hands.'

Hahaha I didn't even think of that!  Somebody tell Hoagie.

[The King of Kings]

When you begin law school, one of the first books you buy is a Black's law dictionary. Like many things, the dictionary has an online version. Emolument is clearly defined as the profit arrived from office or employment, or which is annexed to the possession of office as salary.

Paying to stay at a hotel is not an emolument.

They are just trying to fling shit at a wall and hope something sticks, and if nothing sticks they can say "hey, where there is smoke there is fire".

Sure, if you are the one purposely saying there is fire without proof that surrounds your political opponent.

What we are witnessing is a complete lack of rational thought among these unhinged anti-trumpers.  They are not out for truth.  They do not operate from a place of reality.  It is just constant campaign of dishonesty in order to create a narrative of ambiguous wrong doing on the part of President Donald Trump.  People are slowing waking up to this fact.

#woke