The Trump Presidency – 2016

[RainMaker]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/204191/pu...publicans.aspx

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by panerd

We really doing this again?

2001-2008:
Team A: "George W Bush sure does go to his ranch a lot."
Team B: "9-11! OMG! He is the greatest ever!"

2008:2016:
Team B: "Obama sure spends a lot of time on vacation. Look at all the costs!"
Team A: "OMG! He is the greatest ever!"

2017:
Team A: "Another weekend spent golfing while on vacation."
Team B: "OMG!..."

I know it's different this time right?

I think it's brought up because he was one of the most vocal complainers of Obama playing golf and vacationing.

[mckerney]

Trump hiring freeze forces suspension of military child care programs

On January 23, Trump announced a hiring freeze for federal workers. While the freeze included exemptions for those “working in the military” and other national security positions, members of the Armed Forces are feeling the effects.

At least two Army bases are suspending childcare programs, citing staff shortages related to the hiring freeze.

In Fort Knox, Kentucky, garrison commander Col. Stephen Aiton sent a memo on February 17 immediately suspending new enrollment in the childcare program. He also announced that hourly and part-day services would be eliminated at the end of the month “until further notice.” Those part-day services includes preschool.

Aiton explained that “due to the federal hiring freeze” the facility was “prevented from bringing on new caregivers” to replace those that are leaving. The freeze is making it a challenge to provide “quality childcare,” Alton wrote.

[CrimsonFox]

Breibart.fired.Milo

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

Breibart.fired.Milo

Maher's interview this week on his show was fantastic. I had heard he got some heat for bringing him on the show, but I agree with Maher that just seeing Milo's mannerisms and how he spoke during the interview to Maher and to the crowd was very enlightening. I don't always agree with Maher, but I love that he brings all the extreme conservatives on his show and just lets them hang themselves in front of a national audience. The extreme liberals often do the same, with the only difference being that he talks them back from the edge every once in awhile.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

dola

One of my good friends is in the bottom left of this photo. He was invited to a small business meeting with other business owners to talk with VP Pence. Pretty exciting moment for him.

[kingfc22]

According to Spicer, States should decide policy on transgender issues, but the Federal government should decide policy on marijuana.

Got it.

[Drake]

Could someone spell out for me the argument in favor of the coal-ash-in-streams repeal? It reasons against seem self-evident, but other than "job creation", I'm not sure what people in my neck of the woods (Indiana) are seeing as such a positive here.

I understand that part of it is anti-regulatory sentiment...but I'm assuming there's a legitimate bone to pick somewhere between the coal industry and the extent of the regulations beyond just "Yay, we can dump coal ash in streams again!!"

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Drake

Could someone spell out for me the argument in favor of the coal-ash-in-streams repeal? It reasons against seem self-evident, but other than "job creation", I'm not sure what people in my neck of the woods (Indiana) are seeing as such a positive here.

I understand that part of it is anti-regulatory sentiment...but I'm assuming there's a legitimate bone to pick somewhere between the coal industry and the extent of the regulations beyond just "Yay, we can dump coal ash in streams again!!"

It's about jobs. West Virginia's economy is collapsing because the loss of coal jobs and the state has done little to help the heavy coal areas in southern WV move on with a viable economic alternative. This has led to huge spikes in drug use and drug related deaths in the area.

My family, which is heavy Democrat in most beliefs, was willing to vote for whoever promised to make coal viable again because of the impact its had on the area they live in.

They understand its bad for the environment, but in an area with little to no other options they're willing to allow another generation to have to figure out if it means immediate improvement.

[Edward64]

I'm all for tax reform and am looking forward to seeing the details.

Mnuchin says Trump tax overhaul could happen by August - LA Times

The Trump administration wants to overhaul the tax code by August, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday, laying out an aggressive timetable in his first significant public comments since taking office last week.

In a series of interviews, Mnuchin also said that the rally in the stock market rally since President Trump’s election was a vote of confidence in the new administration.

And he said he was seriously considering whether the Treasury Department should issue much longer-term securities — maturing in 50 or even 100 years — which could reduce government debt payments by locking in the current low interest rates.

But Mnuchin’s first goal is to push for a tax overhaul, which he said is key to boosting economic growth to 3% annually or higher, from the lackluster 2% level in recent years.

“Our economic agenda, the No. 1 issue is growth, and the first most important thing that will impact growth is a tax plan,” Mnuchin said in an interview with CNBC.

“So we are committed to pass tax reform,” he said. “We want to get this done by the August recess.”

The House and Senate are scheduled to begin their August recesses on July 29.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal published Thursday, Mnuchin admitted that passing complex tax legislation in less than six months was “an ambitious timeline” that the administration and Congress might not be able to meet.

[Drake]

Originally Posted by Atocep

It's about jobs. West Virginia's economy is collapsing because the loss of coal jobs and the state has done little to help the heavy coal areas in southern WV move on with a viable economic alternative. This has led to huge spikes in drug use and drug related deaths in the area.

My family, which is heavy Democrat in most beliefs, was willing to vote for whoever promised to make coal viable again because of the impact its had on the area they live in.

They understand its bad for the environment, but in an area with little to no other options they're willing to allow another generation to have to figure out if it means immediate improvement.

Okay. I can see this argument in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. I'm a bit confused by all of the Indiana support I'm seeing in my news feed. I mean, we have coal mines, but I don't consider it a major part of our economy...and I theoretically live in what would be the closest thing we've got to coal country.

The profile of the cheer squad tends to also be the pro-hunt and fish/outdoorsmen/second amendment guys...who generally aren't like environmental activists, but they're very solid proponents of responsible use and conservation.

So either they're completely blinded by partisan nose-thumbing (which is possible in some cases), but in general, it leads me to assume that there's something I'm missing. But I can't get anybody to say anything other than "more jobs"...despite the fact that none of them seem to be in line to get (or want) coal mining jobs.

I almost feel like people with reservations are afraid to talk this one out because they're afraid of being accused of being a snowflake (at least publicly...may be time for a beer-and-range-time get together to find out what they're really thinking).

[Drake]

Don't mistake me here: I'm not all go-environmental-superpowers on this issue. I spent $20k to replace my well last November. If some coal mining outfit poisons my groundwater because they're not being conscientious about the impacts, that's what I'm going to care about.

And I'm going to get compensated for that 20k or I'm going to take 20k worth of equity plus whatever it's going to cost me to haul water in from that point forward out of your operation in one fashion or another until our losses are even.

But that's me. I'm kind of an asshole that way. (In the same way that I supply half of my power through solar...not because of the environmental benefits, but because I've got an ROI of about 7 years, and after that it's pure savings.)

[Radii]

FBI refused White House request to knock down recent Trump-Russia stories


The White House's attempts to control and undermine the media remain a truly scary thing to me.

The direct communications between the White House and the FBI were unusual because of decade-old restrictions on such contacts. Such a request from the White House is a violation of procedures that limit communications with the FBI on pending investigations.

I have no idea how big a deal that is. /shurg

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Edward64

I'm all for tax reform and am looking forward to seeing the details.

Mnuchin says Trump tax overhaul could happen by August - LA Times

Rich people will pay less in taxes. Debt will grow higher. That's the plan. Trump outlined it in the campaign.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Atocep

It's about jobs. West Virginia's economy is collapsing because the loss of coal jobs and the state has done little to help the heavy coal areas in southern WV move on with a viable economic alternative. This has led to huge spikes in drug use and drug related deaths in the area.

My family, which is heavy Democrat in most beliefs, was willing to vote for whoever promised to make coal viable again because of the impact its had on the area they live in.

They understand its bad for the environment, but in an area with little to no other options they're willing to allow another generation to have to figure out if it means immediate improvement.

The sad thing is that the coal jobs are gone because coal is economically on par with natural gas, and if Trump reduces regulations on fracking, gas will likely be cheaper.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Rich people will pay less in taxes. Debt will grow higher. That's the plan. Trump outlined it in the campaign.

Rich people will pay more. Not sure about Debt if there is cost cutting and economic growth. I am interested in proposed plans for corporate, border taxes.

[NobodyHere]

What makes you think rich people will pay more?

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Rich people will pay more. Not sure about Debt if there is cost cutting and economic growth. I am interested in proposed plans for corporate, border taxes.

Under what plan will they pay more? His plan is right here. It's a cut of over 14% for the top income tax bracket.

The proposed plan for corporate taxes is to lower the rate to 15% and give businesses a 10% holiday to repatriate income.

And where are you cutting costs from? Especially when Trump has stated he wants to expand the military and institute a trillion dollar infrastructure plan (which isn't really an infrastructure plan but a corporate welfare plan).

[Drake]

Print more money?

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

What makes you think rich people will pay more?

Oh sorry, rich people will pay less.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

And where are you cutting costs from? Especially when Trump has stated he wants to expand the military and institute a trillion dollar infrastructure plan (which isn't really an infrastructure plan but a corporate welfare plan).

There's plenty of places of cut costs. It comes down to who gets the crappy end of it and/or how much pain affected people will have to bear.

[AENeuman]

I have no doubt trumps base approves of him so far. I wonder how effective he really needs to be. I'm sure his base loves the Obamacare repeal, building the wall, keeping radicals out, drilling for oil, saving babies despite (so far) the lack of legislation to make it real. But is that enough? I suspect most of his declarations do not have much impact on his base, so a toothless EO is nearly the same as law: most don't have private insurance, don't see many illegals or Muslims, and gas is cheap and babies are born. The poor rust belts folks are real, and need real change, but I'm sure there are fewer of them than well off trump voters. Besides, even if it doesn't get better, the media and courts have already been set up to be the reason.

I guess I'm just surprised how many times I've heard that an action by trump is overturning an Obama action i never knew about. trumps ability to control/create the narrivite is so powerful, I'm not sure effective it really needs to be.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Edward64

There's plenty of places of cut costs. It comes down to who gets the crappy end of it and/or how much pain affected people will have to bear.

Trump's tax plan alone was scored at about a trillion a year. There isn't enough to cut unless he plans on deep cuts to SS and/or Medicare, and he promised not to cut those.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Edward64

There's plenty of places of cut costs. It comes down to who gets the crappy end of it and/or how much pain affected people will have to bear.

Cut costs where? Most of our budget goes into Medicare, Social Security, Defense, and paying back debt. Trump has stated numerous times he will not cut Medicare or Social Security. He has also stated he wants to increase defense spending by a lot.

So again, where are the cuts coming from and how can they possibly make up for the increases in spending he wants to make in defense and infrastructure along with the decrease in tax revenue?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Maher's interview this week on his show was fantastic. I had heard he got some heat for bringing him on the show, but I agree with Maher that just seeing Milo's mannerisms and how he spoke during the interview to Maher and to the crowd was very enlightening. I don't always agree with Maher, but I love that he brings all the extreme conservatives on his show and just lets them hang themselves in front of a national audience. The extreme liberals often do the same, with the only difference being that he talks them back from the edge every once in awhile.

No.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Cut costs where? Most of our budget goes into Medicare, Social Security, Defense, and paying back debt. Trump has stated numerous times he will not cut Medicare or Social Security. He has also stated he wants to increase defense spending by a lot.

So again, where are the cuts coming from and how can they possibly make up for the increases in spending he wants to make in defense and infrastructure along with the decrease in tax revenue?

He has said many things that I felt were BS. However, he is in a different stage now. Let's give him a chance to do/propose what he says he will do and I don't think entitlements are off the table.

Bottom line - we should know by now to not believe what he says but lets see what he actually proposes to congress.

[digamma]

Originally Posted by Edward64

There's plenty of places of cut costs. It comes down to who gets the crappy end of it and/or how much pain affected people will have to bear.

But, just so we're beginning at the same starting point, this isn't what Trump has said. He's said that his tax plan will be revenue neutral. The proposed budget isn't based on cutting costs.

This gets you to the discussion of a few pages ago, that to lower taxes and be revenue neutral, growth has to take off. If you use the CBO's forecast numbers, the math doesn't work, so the White House will have be convincing that its own numbers are better and to be trusted.

Or they can win, you know, a party line vote.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Cut costs where? Most of our budget goes into Medicare, Social Security, Defense, and paying back debt. Trump has stated numerous times he will not cut Medicare or Social Security. He has also stated he wants to increase defense spending by a lot.

So again, where are the cuts coming from and how can they possibly make up for the increases in spending he wants to make in defense and infrastructure along with the decrease in tax revenue?

Straight cash economic growth, homie. It will be tremendous!

[Ben E Lou]

The President Of The United States is hate-tweeting the FBI this morning.

[Easy Mac]

He can't be dumb enough to not see the irony in his constant decrying of leaks, right?

[Kodos]

I think Hillary should hold a press conference to extol the leaks and ask Russia for more.

[JPhillips]

Trump at CPAC:

Now I've been watching and nobody says it but Obamacare doesn't work, folks.

Does he really believe he's the first person courageous enough to speak out against Obamacare?

[CrescentMoonie]

Harambe is more cognitively sound than Cheeto right now.

[Easy Mac]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Trump at CPAC:



Does he really believe he's the first person courageous enough to speak out against Obamacare?

If nobody has been saying that it doesn't work, doesn't that mean it does work, so that repealing it is idiotic?

[SteveM58]

Of the numerous things that Trump rails on about...his criticisms of the FBI and CIA are some of the least objectionable to me.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Does he really believe he's the first person courageous enough to speak out against Obamacare?

First one willing & able to do something about it would be the (seemingly) obvious qualifier here.

[Easy Mac]

except he can't do anything, its up to Congress.

[digamma]

After the Constitutional Convention he will be able to do anything the eff he wants. Keep up.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

except he can't do anything, its up to Congress.

Presidents influence Congress -- or legislative priorities if you prefer -- that's a rather long-standing accepted reality (or at least I thought it was).

Me? I'm just happy someone with a rather sizable pulpit is willing to speak against such an abominable & utterly indefensible piece of legislation. You're free to be unhappy about it if you so choose.

[kingfc22]

Next achievement unlocked on the Dictatorship Checklist: Ban the Media

Log In - New York Times

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Next achievement unlocked on the Dictatorship Checklist: Ban the Media

Log In - New York Times

Spicey needs his safe space.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Next achievement unlocked on the Dictatorship Checklist: Ban the Media

Log In - New York Times

Counting down for the inevitable posts about how this is exactly the same as what Obama did to Fox News and we're all hypocrites for not complaining about it then.

10
9
8
...

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Presidents influence Congress -- or legislative priorities if you prefer -- that's a rather long-standing accepted reality (or at least I thought it was).

Me? I'm just happy someone with a rather sizable pulpit is willing to speak against such an abominable & utterly indefensible piece of legislation. You're free to be unhappy about it if you so choose.

If you strike this down, single payer will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.

[Easy Mac]

So who else here has made some big money as a paid protester? So far I've made $11k in just over a month.

Just putting this here so that it hopefully ends up in search results for conspiracy searchers

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

Just putting this here so that it hopefully ends up in search results for conspiracy searchers

[SteveM58]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

So who else here has made some big money as a paid protester? So far I've made $11k in just over a month.

Just putting this here so that it hopefully ends up in search results for conspiracy searchers

Am paid protester

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

Just putting this here so that it hopefully ends up in search results for conspiracy searchers

Exactly what I'd expect from a paid protester.

[Kodos]

Easy money!

[Easy Mac]

It's actually hard. I've had to travel to 7 different states. It's actually cost me 13k just for travel and rooms. Good thing I don't have a full time job outside of this. And since it's slush money, no taxes, so I get to keep my Obamacare/phone/WIC/stamps/disabilty/unemployment/madeupstuff.

again, this is for Wayne LaPierre's eyes

[Easy Mac]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Exactly what I'd expect from a paid protester.

Or is that exactly what you'd expect from someone pretending to be a paid protester.