Trump Presidency Round 2

[RDU Irish]

Ol Mitch was the only Repub to vote against her.

Senate votes to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as top U.S. intelligence official

Gabbard overcame initial skepticism from some Republican senators about her nomination, underscoring Trump's grip on the party.

www.nbcnews.com

As if he has any idea how he voted. Send all the geriatrics out to pasture already.

 

[drayer54]

As if he has any idea how he voted. Send all the geriatrics out to pasture already.

He will prob die in office. Replacing him will be a fight between the KY Legislature and the D-Gov. The legislature removed the gov from the process, but the D-Gov will prob try to appoint someone anyway. Would be a court battle for sure.

 

[IrishLax]

 

[IrishLax]

Do you think all Brown people are the same?

I 100% actually thought that Kash Patel was the net neutrality guy.

 

[Irish#1]

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-presidency-tulsi-gabbard-confirmation-02-12-25#cm72fv7cn00003b6nzoyf317b

 

[NDShark]

Interesting podcast today from The Daily re: "constitutional crisis"

The legal expert buckets Trump's recent 'activity' into three categories...paraphrasing: (1) likely legal and under his purview -- things like executive branch layoffs, (2) likely illegal -- things like not adhering to Congressionally approved budgets (e.g., gutting USAID), and (3) simply unconstitutional -- like his executive order revoking birthright citizenship.

The analysis was that SCOTUS may choose to ignore / favorably rule against things in category #2 where it's possible their ruling simply isn't followed in order to preserve their standing and instead focus on bucket #3. Interesting perspective though it's unsettling.

 

[NDVirginia19]

From my understanding of the USAID appropriation, the majority of it is discretionary for the Executive Branch to award to specific programs. In that case, it is completely within bucket #1 of the executive's authority to not allocate that money.

Even if that money was explicitly appropriated by Congress for USAID to make a transgender comic book in Peru, it is not illegal for the executive agencies to under execute the budget, and in the year of execution, they can go to Congress (either for notification or permission depending on the specific appropriation execution scheme Congress has with that agency).

For example, if the DOD is developing a new sniper rifle and they have budgeted $100M in Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation money for it, and they realize that they are able to gain efficiency and only spend $80M of that money appropriated, they are able to notify congress on the movement of that money into another program if they desire. Congress generally uses the actual obligated money data to "mark" a program, or remove money in the next year's budget, as an example. My experience with PPBE is entirely in the DOD though so I'm not really sure what exact scheme Congress has for the State Department, but I would wager it's pretty similar.



On buckets 1 and 2 I think it is a complete judicial overreach for the injunctions that federal courts have been placing on the executive branch that is an affront to separation of powers and SCOTUS needs to rule on it swiftly. The liberal judges are being incredibly short sighted and going to ultimately result in an opinion leading to a very strong unitary executive.

Bucket 3 is completely fine for an injunction IMO. I am of the Originalist Public Meaning opinion that the 14th amendment was never meant to provide citizenship to non-permanent residents of the country, which inexplicably includes illegal immigrants. However the textualist argument certainly would be in favor of birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants. Would be a monumental case.

 

[GATTACA!]

And he was the smart candidate!

 

[Irish#1]

He's talking about a new plane design. He didn't say tractors use magnets and lift up into the air. lol

 

[Blazers46]

And he was the smart candidate!

I’m glad you focus on the important stuff like magnets. Fuck sake, your posts have become very trollish… who fucking cares about what he thinks or knows about magnets.

 

[Irish#1]

Interesting podcast today from The Daily re: "constitutional crisis"

The legal expert buckets Trump's recent 'activity' into three categories...paraphrasing: (1) likely legal and under his purview -- things like executive branch layoffs, (2) likely illegal -- things like not adhering to Congressionally approved budgets (e.g., gutting USAID), and (3) simply unconstitutional -- like his executive order revoking birthright citizenship.

The analysis was that SCOTUS may choose to ignore / favorably rule against things in category #2 where it's possible their ruling simply isn't followed in order to preserve their standing and instead focus on bucket #3. Interesting perspective though it's unsettling.

From my understanding of the USAID appropriation, the majority of it is discretionary for the Executive Branch to award to specific programs. In that case, it is completely within bucket #1 of the executive's authority to not allocate that money.

Even if that money was explicitly appropriated by Congress for USAID to make a transgender comic book in Peru, it is not illegal for the executive agencies to under execute the budget, and in the year of execution, they can go to Congress (either for notification or permission depending on the specific appropriation execution scheme Congress has with that agency).

For example, if the DOD is developing a new sniper rifle and they have budgeted $100M in Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation money for it, and they realize that they are able to gain efficiency and only spend $80M of that money appropriated, they are able to notify congress on the movement of that money into another program if they desire. Congress generally uses the actual obligated money data to "mark" a program, or remove money in the next year's budget, as an example. My experience with PPBE is entirely in the DOD though so I'm not really sure what exact scheme Congress has for the State Department, but I would wager it's pretty similar.



On buckets 1 and 2 I think it is a complete judicial overreach for the injunctions that federal courts have been placing on the executive branch that is an affront to separation of powers and SCOTUS needs to rule on it swiftly. The liberal judges are being incredibly short sighted and going to ultimately result in an opinion leading to a very strong unitary executive.

Bucket 3 is completely fine for an injunction IMO. I am of the Originalist Public Meaning opinion that the 14th amendment was never meant to provide citizenship to non-permanent residents of the country, which inexplicably includes illegal immigrants. However the textualist argument certainly would be in favor of birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants. Would be a monumental case.

The judge that put the restraining order on Trumps plan to offer packages for employees to resign has removed his restraining order. Companies offer packages to employees all the time in order to reduce their labor force. Seems the judge overstepped his reach.

Judge rules Trump's sweeping plan to persuade federal workers to resign can move forward

U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. dissolved his restraining order blocking the "deferred resignations" program after finding the plaintiffs lacked legal standing.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[GATTACA!]

I’m glad you focus on the important stuff like magnets. Fuck sake, your posts have become very trollish… who fucking cares about what he thinks or knows about magnets.

Imagine if Kamala or Joe gave that word salad answer.

He’s not just talking about magnets he’s talking about the future launchers for our aircraft carriers.

 

[NDVirginia19]

Imagine if Kamala or Joe gave that word salad answer.

He’s not just talking about magnets he’s talking about the future launchers for our aircraft carriers.

More specifically talking about the elevators rather than the EMALs system (only saw the clip out of context, not sure the specifics), but I think that was a pretty wasteful design that was unneeded for the efficiency of the Ford class

 

[tussin]

Interesting podcast today from The Daily re: "constitutional crisis"

The legal expert buckets Trump's recent 'activity' into three categories...paraphrasing: (1) likely legal and under his purview -- things like executive branch layoffs, (2) likely illegal -- things like not adhering to Congressionally approved budgets (e.g., gutting USAID), and (3) simply unconstitutional -- like his executive order revoking birthright citizenship.

The analysis was that SCOTUS may choose to ignore / favorably rule against things in category #2 where it's possible their ruling simply isn't followed in order to preserve their standing and instead focus on bucket #3. Interesting perspective though it's unsettling.

Unsettling? Gut it all.

 

[NDShark]

From my understanding of the USAID appropriation, the majority of it is discretionary for the Executive Branch to award to specific programs. In that case, it is completely within bucket #1 of the executive's authority to not allocate that money.

Even if that money was explicitly appropriated by Congress for USAID to make a transgender comic book in Peru, it is not illegal for the executive agencies to under execute the budget, and in the year of execution, they can go to Congress (either for notification or permission depending on the specific appropriation execution scheme Congress has with that agency).

For example, if the DOD is developing a new sniper rifle and they have budgeted $100M in Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation money for it, and they realize that they are able to gain efficiency and only spend $80M of that money appropriated, they are able to notify congress on the movement of that money into another program if they desire. Congress generally uses the actual obligated money data to "mark" a program, or remove money in the next year's budget, as an example. My experience with PPBE is entirely in the DOD though so I'm not really sure what exact scheme Congress has for the State Department, but I would wager it's pretty similar.



On buckets 1 and 2 I think it is a complete judicial overreach for the injunctions that federal courts have been placing on the executive branch that is an affront to separation of powers and SCOTUS needs to rule on it swiftly. The liberal judges are being incredibly short sighted and going to ultimately result in an opinion leading to a very strong unitary executive.

Bucket 3 is completely fine for an injunction IMO. I am of the Originalist Public Meaning opinion that the 14th amendment was never meant to provide citizenship to non-permanent residents of the country, which inexplicably includes illegal immigrants. However the textualist argument certainly would be in favor of birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants. Would be a monumental case.

FEMA, Department of Education, CFPB...surely these aren't all under the control of the Executive Branch?

 

[NDShark]

Unsettling? Gut it all.

What makes you say that? Do you feel the Dept. of Education and FEMA serve no purpose? Surely there are better ways to approach improving the efficiency of those organizations than mass-firing and cutting funding.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you or I want. It's a matter of adhering to the law and the Constitution.

 

[tussin]

What makes you say that? Do you feel the Dept. of Education and FEMA serve no purpose? Surely there are better ways to approach improving the efficiency of those organizations than mass-firing and cutting funding.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you or I want. It's a matter of adhering to the law and the Constitution.

Candidly, yes. At least no effective purpose.

• DoE: IMO, detrimental to education in the United States - with few benefits to high school students and absolutely catastrophic impact to the cost of higher education.
• FEMA: Principally, why should this exist? Why should tax payers in Pennsylvania be subsidizing relief to floods in NC or wildfires in CA? These are rich states with large budgets; CA is one of the richest economies in the world.

I'm extreme on this. If it were up to me, almost all executive agencies would be disbanded and the federal spending would essentially consist of only defense and scaled back Medicare/Medicaid.

 

[Sea Turtle]

One executive order that Trump has made that I don't like is the elimination of paper straws.

Plastic straws are bad for sea turtles and other animals.

 

[calvegas04]

One executive order that Trump has made that I don't like is the elimination of paper straws.

Plastic straws are bad for sea turtles and other animals.

You should be deported, paper straws are for liberals

 

[Irish#1]

 

[NDVirginia19]

The entire movement to push for paper straws was based on the research of a literal nine year old's science fair project lmao

 

[calvegas04]

Spray tan businesses in DC must be booming

 

[Bluto]

So, Trump pardons that shit bag Blagojevich and follows up with this. Pathetic.

Trump DOJ's order to drop Eric Adams case sparks mass resignations — Reuters

Six senior Justice Department officials, including Manhattan's top federal prosecutor, resigned on Thursday rather than comply with an [USN:L1N3P203F TEXT:"order to dismiss"] corruption charges against New York City's mayor, according to internal Justice Department letters seen by Reuters and...

apple.news

 

[Bluto]

Candidly, yes. At least no effective purpose.

• DoE: IMO, detrimental to education in the United States - with few benefits to high school students and absolutely catastrophic impact to the cost of higher education.
• FEMA: Principally, why should this exist? Why should tax payers in Pennsylvania be subsidizing relief to floods in NC or wildfires in CA? These are rich states with large budgets; CA is one of the richest economies in the world.

I'm extreme on this. If it were up to me, almost all executive agencies would be disbanded and the federal spending would essentially consist of only defense and scaled back Medicare/Medicaid.

I would recommend going back and reviewing what industry and corporations did to the environment prior to the formation of the EPA and other environmental regulatory reforms.

Also, there was this thing called the dust bowl that was largely caused by unregulated/shitty farming methods. The SCS, now the NRCS was instrumental in helping farmers and other private landowners stabilize the situation and to develop better soil conservation practices so as to avoid a similar disaster in the future.

 

[Bluto]

I’m glad you focus on the important stuff like magnets. Fuck sake, your posts have become very trollish… who fucking cares about what he thinks or knows about magnets.

It’s the fact that is what he chooses to focus on and steers the discussion in that direction which is disturbing, kind of like when he went off the rails and declared he was gonna build a resort in Gaza or whatever.

 

[TorontoGold]

So, Trump pardons that shit bag Blagojevich and follows up with this. Pathetic.

Trump DOJ's order to drop Eric Adams case sparks mass resignations — Reuters

Six senior Justice Department officials, including Manhattan's top federal prosecutor, resigned on Thursday rather than comply with an [USN:L1N3P203F TEXT:"order to dismiss"] corruption charges against New York City's mayor, according to internal Justice Department letters seen by Reuters and...

apple.news

The Bob Menendez coalition, will be interesting to see if Trump can expand the tent to include his old friend Ghislaine.

 

[Irish#1]

Spray tan businesses in DC must be booming

Just supporting the local small business owner. lol

 

[Irish#1]

So, Trump pardons that shit bag Blagojevich and follows up with this. Pathetic.

Trump DOJ's order to drop Eric Adams case sparks mass resignations — Reuters

Six senior Justice Department officials, including Manhattan's top federal prosecutor, resigned on Thursday rather than comply with an [USN:L1N3P203F TEXT:"order to dismiss"] corruption charges against New York City's mayor, according to internal Justice Department letters seen by Reuters and...

apple.news

I forget. Did you post your outrage when Biden was on his pardon spree?

Interesting that he's a Dem and Trump wants them to drop the charges (although Trump denies it). Regardless, his case should go through the trial process. There's a lot of questionable acts on his part.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/13/top-federal-prosecutor-quits-after-doj-moves-to-toss-nyc-mayor-adams-case.html

 

[drayer54]

It’s the fact that is what he chooses to focus on and steers the discussion in that direction which is disturbing, kind of like when he went off the rails and declared he was gonna build a resort in Gaza or whatever.

He isn't building a resort in Gaza. He's threatening to put US presence there if the Arabs continue to ignore the problem.

 

[drayer54]

I forget. Did you post your outrage when Biden was on his pardon spree?

Interesting that he's a Dem and Trump wants them to drop the charges (although Trump denies it). Regardless, his case should go through the trial process. There's a lot of questionable acts on his part.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/13/top-federal-prosecutor-quits-after-doj-moves-to-toss-nyc-mayor-adams-case.html

Some saw the Adams case as retaliation by the weaponized Biden regime to Adams for speaking out against Biden's immigration disaster. Not sure if they had gold bars here. They could have. I haven't reviewed the case files, but there was some skepticism here given the zero credibility of the Biden DOJ.