2017 Trump Presidency Thread

[cduggles]

Inside Trump’s snap decision to ban transgender troops

A congressional fight over sex reassignment surgery threatened funding for his border wall.

House Republicans were planning to pass a spending bill stacked with [Trump's] campaign promises, including money to build his border wall with Mexico.

But an internal House Republican fight over transgender troops was threatening to blow up the bill. And House GOP insiders feared they might not have the votes to pass the legislation because defense hawks wanted a ban on Pentagon-funded sex reassignment operations — something GOP leaders wouldn’t give them.

That’s why House lawmakers took the matter to the Trump administration. And when Defense Secretary James Mattis refused to immediately upend the policy, they went straight to the White House. Trump — never one for political correctness — was all too happy to oblige.

“[P]lease be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” Trump tweeted Wednesday morning. “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.”

The president’s directive, of course, took the House issue a step beyond paying for gender reassignment surgery and other medical treatment. House Republicans were never debating expelling all transgender troops from the military.

“This is like someone told the White House to light a candle on the table and the WH set the whole table on fire,” a senior House Republican aide said in an email. The source said that although GOP leaders asked the White House for help on the taxpayer matter specifically, they weren’t expecting — and got no heads up on — Trump’s far-reaching directive.

Trump "Fixes" Problem

 

[Scrofula]

Senior House Republican aide hadn't noticed the continent-spanning dumpster fire yet?

I think the bulk of the shrink community accept it as a genuine medical issue, not the drag-queen or Door Alley street party that the right secretly pulls to. Which means it stands no chance even if we finally got a functioning DOJ.

 

[cduggles]

I'm thinking they didn't anticipate the reaction from Republicans and everyone else.
Enjoy the consensus for a bit. It has to filter through the alt-right media before we see the usual folks with their non-arguments.

 

[FLA]

How can the president not support the countries own troops!? It beats me.



Sorry to jump in like that and go off topic here for a moment, does Testosterone help you because you need to take it (your levels are down) or because you feel better? There are so many side effects. I couldn't do it on a long term because of all the risks, like increasing cholesterol, your chances to develop cancer, so despite of feeling better (physically speaking) it also gave me a heart rapid beating, swelling, not to mention possible prostate problems reason for which I had to go through all the exams so that it was safe enough to use it temporarily.

I would rather live a shorter life being able to still at least have the possibility to have sex than a longer drawn out one where someone eventually has to wipe my ass for me. If the time comes when that looks like that's about to happen, I have a .380 Sig at the ready to relieve anybody from having to be burdened with that pathetic situation. You'll see, these things start to go thru your mind as your expiration date comes closer.

 

[LiquidMethod]

you continue to apologise for him.

imagine you had a friend who's constantly telling you how fucked the environment is and that fossil fuels are terrible. he bikes everywhere and he's always on at you because you drive a toyota with a gas engine.

he gets a new job with a pay rise and show up at your house a couple of days later in an escalade with a 6.2L V8 that gets 14 miles to the gallon.

would you wait to see what he does next or just assume that all the stuff he told you about saving the planet was bullshit based on his initial response to his new job and pay rise?

because, in my opinion, he's not giving it a shot. he fell at the very first hurdle.

alasdair

I understand your analogy but do not see the relevance. Can you be very specific when using this to criticize Trump's actions and policies? Or do you prefer the vagueness? Easier to demonize someone that way?
I do not need to apologize for Trump because I agree with what he is doing (overall).
I'm not a blind supporter and there are things that he has done that I do not agree with.
But these hyperbolic shrieks of "he's mentally incompetent!" "he's reckless and and endangering society!" "he's really stupid!" etc etc from his detractors are getting really tiresome.

Here's a litmus test: can you name 3 positive things that Trump has done since his inauguration?

 

[Scrofula]

Oh come on, that's our line for his supporters.

The pH of your support for Trump is currently orange. Can you name three positive things that Trump has done since his inauguration? Shit, we cut you slack and ask for only one.

ETA: he's incompetent, he's reckless and he's endangering society. He's not too bright, I'll say that. Sorry that makes you tired.

 

[cduggles]

1. Completely contradicted members of his own Cabinet to the extent that they will no longer act as his surrogates.
2. Turned on Jeff Sessions because he's so freaked out about the DOJ Russia investigation. Republican Senators, southern politicians, and DOJ are united in supporting Sessions against Trump's cheap attacks and threats. His backstabbing might even alienate core supporters of his election as Sessions was completely loyal to Trump after becoming the first Senator to support him.
3. Commissioned a study by Park Services to ensure that his inauguration crowd size photos were accurate. Your taxpayer dollars at work.
4. Finally attaching himself to the anchor that is Republican healthcare reform because the Republicans want their tax cut and Trump can't be off golfing while it's getting shot down. If it passes, he's screwed. If it doesn't, he's screwed.
5. That unhinged New York Times interview was good too. He literally dumped on everyone from Sessions on down to "intimidate" them to fire Mueller. Backfire!!
6. Tweeting a policy announcement kicking all transgender individuals out of the military without informing the Department of Defense or the Pentagon or the Senate Armed Forces Committee. Enjoy watching the policies trickle out like syrup for that phaseout.

That's six!!

 

[alasdairm]

I understand your analogy but do not see the relevance.

i think you're being obtuse. he said he'd 'drain the swamp' and he did the opposite.

But these hyperbolic shrieks of "he's mentally incompetent!" "he's reckless and and endangering society!" "he's really stupid!" etc etc from his detractors are getting really tiresome.

i don't believe i have said any of those things.

Here's a litmus test: can you name 3 positive things that Trump has done since his inauguration?

sure. he has:

• helped donations to planned parenthood skyrocket
• helped people to think about healthcare as a right, not a privilege of the well off
• helped saturday night live have one of its best ever seasons

ok, i'm being flip

he has:

• issued a ban on officials becoming lobbyists after leaving the govt.
• helped secure the release of aya hijazi
• he appointed mattis secretary of defense

'positive' is subjective.

seriously, it took me a while to come up with this list. just 3 things. the list of 'negative' things he has done runs into the hundreds of items

alasdair

 

[Scrofula]

But yes ..apologies...I dont really wanna go there either. Just more toilets available please.

Even dudes need the occasional extra toilet.

That becomes On Topic real fast when it does.

ok, i'm being flip

Really? Not flippant?

ANyway, do negatives count? It could just be Mattis (and how did they manage to sneak him in) but you have to admit, Trump has NOT started any wars yet.

 

[Somerandomdude]

Lol at people trashing Giuliani here. The guy turned New York from a borderline war zone into a relatively safe city.

I laugh at all the bitching about "over policing" ,what exactly does that consist of? The police arresting people who commit crimes? Like they are supposed to? Lol

 

[spacejunk]

Have you spent much time in new york city?
You seem to find it easy to dismiss a series of historical/social/economic issues into an oversimplified statement in support of a man who is widely (and rightly imo) loathed by many. Especially from the other side of the world.
I know that when i was in nyc in the 90s, i spoke to lots of locals who hated rudy guiliani with a passion.
But what would they know, eh?

 

[Somerandomdude]

Have you spent much time in new york city?
You seem to find it easy to dismiss a series of historical/social/economic issues into an oversimplified statement in support of a man who is widely (and rightly imo) loathed by many. Especially from the other side of the world.
I know that when i was in nyc in the 90s, i spoke to lots of locals who hated rudy guiliani with a passion.
But what would they know, eh?

Been there twice. With family tho so I didn't get as much of a real feel of the city as I would have liked outside of the touristy stuff.

You can't argue with the fact that he turned New York into a safe city. You literally used to not be able to walk around there after dark.

Why did they hate him? Were they people who habitually used drugs (people committing criminal offences?)

 

[spacejunk]

What is wrong with people that use drugs?
Most bluelighters use drugs.

I don't buy into any argument that "criminalises" substance use. The war on drugs has been a massive failure. People will always seek to alter their consciousness through chemical means.

Violent crime rates in the US have been dropping for decades.
Guiliani likes to take credit for "cleaning up" parts of the city - but he was also a massive contributor to the prison industrial complex - you know, the system that means the USA has more prisoners than any country in the history of mankind.

Gentrification projects are great - if you are in the minority that has the financial and social capital to not be displaced or disadvantaged by them; a very small minroty of people.

 

[Somerandomdude]

What is wrong with people that use drugs?
Most bluelighters use drugs.

I don't buy into any argument that "criminalises" substance use. The war on drugs has been a massive failure. People will always seek to alter their consciousness through chemical means.

Violent crime rates in the US have been dropping for decades.
Guiliani likes to take credit for "cleaning up" parts of the city - but he was also a massive contributor to the prison industrial complex - you know, the system that means the USA has more prisoners than any country in the history of mankind.

Gentrification projects are great - if you are in the minority that has the financial and social capital to not be displaced or disadvantaged by them; a very zsmall minroty of people.

My point was that Giuliani cleaned up NY. It still stands. Crime rates were not dropping when Giuliani came to power. That's absurd. The crack epidemic was in full swing and new York had over 2,000 homicides in 1991.

I'm in favour of drug legalisation too. But there is plenty wrong with some people who use drugs. They lie, cheat and steal to feed their habits and most of them are worthless pieces of shit who put their habit before anything else. Not to mention how unproductive they are. But some of these problems would be ameliorated to a degree by legalisation so that's why I support it.

 

[spacejunk]

Crack got old.
People saw it was tearing communities apart, and by the mid 1990s, it was less of a problem.
I din't credit Guiliani for that.

But perhaps some americans have a better perspective?


As for drug users being "worthless pieces of shit" - that's your prejudice, not mine.
Some of the best people i know take illegal drugs.

The above post says an awful lot more about you than it does "drug users".

 

[Somerandomdude]

Crack got old.
People saw it was tearing communities apart, and by the mid 1990s, it was less of a problem.
I din't credit Guiliani for that.

But perhaps some americans have a better perspective?


As for drug users being "worthless pieces of shit" - that's your prejudice, not mine.
Some of the best people i know take illegal drugs.

The above post says an awful lot more about you than it does "drug users".

They aren't worthless because of the bare fact they take drugs, but because of the shit they do as a result of their usage. Stop misrepresenting what I've said.

I've used more than my fair share of drugs (not lately). And yes I've known plenty of good ppl who use drugs like weed, MDMA, etc

But hard drug use inevitably involves an erosion of one's true personality and the emergence of a "Gollum" esque creature who does anything necessary to get on. I've seen it too many times and we should not gloss over that reality.

 

[LiquidMethod]

i think you're being obtuse. he said he'd 'drain the swamp' and he did the opposite.

Again I ask, who would you have preferred that he had placed into those positions?
Would you not agree that we should judge his appointees on their subsequent actions some time after they've worked under the new President?
Also, to give you some idea of just how difficult it is to change things.

i don't believe i have said any of those things.

You're thinking them, though.

'positive' is subjective.

This is true. Look how a visit to speak to a rally of Boy Scouts was twisted by some MSM to appear as if he was leading a new movement of Hitler Youth.

Trump also:
Repealed the TPP
Renegotiated NAFTA
Donated his salary
Passed Kate's Law
Cracking down on sanctuary cities
Ordered the hiring of 10K ICE officers (5K on the border)
Illegal border crossings are way down
Human trafficking and pedophile arrests are WAY UP and continuing to rise (reason enough to support him)
Hosted a Women's Empowerment Panel (launched the United States-Canada Council for Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs)
Repealing Obamacare - whether one benefits from the ACA or not, they have to admit the previous administration was dishonest with its original promises and many people simply cannot afford their forced insurance.
Returned a bust of Winston Churchill to the Oval Office
Created the Office of American Innovation
Since Jan the economy added 863,000 jobs including 821,000 in the private sector.
Just announced Foxconn was bringing thousands of jobs to Wisconsin
Exited the Paris Accord (which many global warming alarmists admit was a very bad deal for the US)
Signed an EO making it easier for businesses to start and expand apprenticeship programs.
Signed 14 Congressional Review Act resolutions into law, ending burdensome Obama-era rules and regulations, more than all other Presidents combined.
Signed an Executive Order mandating that for every one new regulation, two old regulations must be eliminated.
Signed the Veterans Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act (he is doing a lot to finally help Veterans)

Also I mentioned only a page or two ago that Trump halted the CIA funding of terrorists in Syria. I'm going to assume you just forgot about that one (or possibly even refused to acknowledge it due to confirmation bias) or do you support the funding of mercenary head-choppers? I guess if one supports the Democratic party then they do, actually.

Meanwhile a new bill is expected to pass Congress on tuesday. Basically this piece of nonsense is supposed to hinder Trump on changing or stopping any sanctions against Russia (and I think Iran and NK as well) on his own accord. In a way this is a positive as it reduces executive power but is being enacted now for the wrong reasons. These sanctions are antagonizing our adversaries and simultaneously hurting our allies. Trump should veto this bill but we all know the diarrheic media-storm that will follow if he tries that one.

you have to admit, Trump has NOT started any wars yet.

This is actually the most important point by far. The war machine was ramping up for some more democracy-spreading (to Iran & Russia this time) and Trump's administration has significantly slowed these efforts. It will not be easy to actually exist as an anti-war President but considering the amount of death and destruction that W. Bush & Obama have unleashed upon the world since 9/11 shouldn't we maybe be celebrating an administration that promotes improving relations with the second-largest nuclear superpower? It's amazing and (kind of clever) how the deep state has weaponized this progressive stance into an insidious conspiracy theory used to question Trump's loyalties and ultimately unseat him. It is treason though. Honestly, I question your intelligence if you are buying all of this. Just take an honest, objective look at the evidence of collusion and criminal misconduct committed by his establishment opponents and you'll understand the insane, hypocritical and most importantly baseless nature of most of these accusations.

 

[cj]

What is wrong with people that use drugs?
Most bluelighters use drugs.

I don't buy into any argument that "criminalises" substance use. The war on drugs has been a massive failure. People will always seek to alter their consciousness through chemical means.

Violent crime rates in the US have been dropping for decades.
Guiliani likes to take credit for "cleaning up" parts of the city - but he was also a massive contributor to the prison industrial complex - you know, the system that means the USA has more prisoners than any country in the history of mankind.

Gentrification projects are great - if you are in the minority that has the financial and social capital to not be displaced or disadvantaged by them; a very small minroty of people.

Not to mention the estimated 60000 homeless people in New York city. Gentrification is a double edge sword

 

[spacejunk]

^ indeed.
"Gentrification" is often a violent process in itself.
Racially disproportionate police brutality (lethal force) is just a part of it.
Such masses of homeless people in the wealthiest country in human history just seems insane to me.

 

[FLA]

Even dudes need the occasional extra toilet.

That becomes On Topic real fast when it does.


Really? Not flippant?

ANyway, do negatives count? It could just be Mattis (and how did they manage to sneak him in) but you have to admit, Trump has NOT started any wars yet.

"Yet" is the operative word here. He will play that card at the opportune time. Then any critics will be viewed as traitors. Wrapping yourself in the flag is such a old worn out thing to do. But North Korea does worry me. I have heard even a limited nuclear exchange will have disastrous effects on the environment. I would never disrespect our troops but sometimes get the unsettling feeling they're putting their lives on the line for the corporate interests that own the political process.