Politics

[cwpayton]

deleted .

 

[cwpayton]

deleted .

nice that they hold the republicans to a higher standard than dems , the lawyers , and the big tv preachers, but on these kind of things it can get real ugly real fast, deleted.

 

[Altitude sickness]

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session

The issue is the senate votes to go into recess. And the house can play games to force them to stay in session. The President can not force them into recess. There are republicans and Democrats publicly stating they will not allow a recess long enough to appoint cabinet member. So the Trump team is now bargaining and using political capital. (Giving things away) to get these people through. I hope it’s worth the disruption and they clean house as promised.





“The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Senate has to recess or adjourn for 10 days before a president can make unilateral appointments. That’s resulted in a practice where the Senate — even during weeks-long breaks from Washington — still holds pro-forma sessions where one senator opens and closes the chamber, but no legislative business is conducted.”

The House also holds some power over recess appointments by refusing to allow the Senate to adjourn.

 

[Tanks]

I am curious about one thing, other than voting with Democrats to oust McCarthy what legislative accomplishments can be attributed to Gaetz? Can his fans here explain that?

I know he voted against legislation along with House Chaos Caucus, but he will actually have to do something if nominated.

 

[Altitude sickness]

The charges against Gaetz are already being leaked. Apparently he had sex with a 17-year-old and drug charges.

How can he prosecute anyone for those charges in the future?

 

[fourfive8]

Rather than reach - I would use the word responsibility. We are a world power based upon a worldwide economic foundation that can’t be wished away by a nostalgia for isolationism that didn’t work in 1917 or 1941 any more than it will work now.

Change the label therefore change the outcome- really? Tens of thousands of pages of the same advice from the same people having great outcomes… Vietnam 10 years, Afghanistan 20 years, Iraq 20 years. “Reach” “Responsibility” Well, using a different word sure changed history didn’t it! What a load of crap!

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

I’m not on Twitter but apparently Don Jr. was posting about the military industrial complex and WWIII in relation to allowing Ukraine to use long range missiles. I think it’s clear (primarily due to VP, cabinet picks and nominees) at this point that he and others like him have too much influence on DT. His campaign being so “online” was a good indicator as well

 

[Red Leg]

I’m not on Twitter but apparently Don Jr. was posting about the military industrial complex and WWIII in relation to allowing Ukraine to use long range missiles. I think it’s clear (primarily due to VP, cabinet picks and nominees) at this point that he and others like him have too much influence on DT. His campaign being so “online” was a good indicator as well

I am not sure what you are saying. Do you believe Trump is essentially no longer running the show? There is an opinion out there that Trump's mental acuity is indeed failing - perhaps even rapidly. I have no idea, though he seems more on the ball than Biden did at the start of his term. Peter Zeihan has finally posted a video analyzing the election and his very wrong prediction. The last quarter of it is devoted to this belief about Trump's alleged failing mental capacity. The Gaetz pick does make one wonder.

With respect to the decision to allow Ukraine to target positions within Russia with US munitions, Don Jr. did make an immediate and critical statement about the Biden decision with respect to US long range weapons and World War III. The only other comments were from republicans well outside the Trump's immediate orbit like MTG. Those, however were immediately followed by a statement to the press by Steven Cheung. ""As President Trump has said on the campaign trail, he is the only person who can bring both sides together in order to negotiate peace, and work towards ending the war and stopping the killing," This was hardly a denunciation of the decision or supportive of his son's initial position.

I still have to believe it was discussed with him, even mutual agreement reached, at the meeting with Biden.

This is the Zeihan video on the election and his expectation of a likely pending constitutional crisis due to Trump's alledged failing mental capacity.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

I am not sure what you are saying. Do you believe Trump is essentially no longer running the show? There is an opinion out there that Trump's mental acuity is indeed failing - perhaps even rapidly. I have no idea, though he seems more on the ball than Biden did at the start of his term. Peter Zeihan has finally posted a video analyzing the election and his very wrong prediction. The last quarter of it is devoted to this belief about Trump's alleged failing mental capacity. The Gaetz pick does make one wonder.

With respect to the decision to allow Ukraine to target positions within Russia with US munitions, Don Jr. did make an immediate and critical statement about the Biden decision with respect to US long range weapons and World War III. The only other comments were from republicans well outside the Trump's immediate orbit like MTG. Those, however were immediately followed by a statement to the press by Steven Cheung. ""As President Trump has said on the campaign trail, he is the only person who can bring both sides together in order to negotiate peace, and work towards ending the war and stopping the killing," This was hardly a denunciation of the decision or supportive of his son's initial position.

I still have to believe it was discussed with him, even mutual agreement reached, at the meeting with Biden.

This is the Zeihan video on the election and the likely pending constitutional crisis due to Trump's failing mental capacity.

All I’m saying is I think DT has been listening to inexperienced people a little too much [like his son(s)]. I hope other advisors win out on key issues.

 

[Red Leg]

All I’m saying is I think DT has been listening to inexperienced people a little too much [like his son(s)]. I hope other advisors win out on key issues.

I absolutely agree. It is why I am extremely concerned that he did not avail himself of more experienced people like Pompeo or Haley in his cabinet. History is replete with disastrous examples of leaders who surrounded themselves with sycophants and and yesmen. The most valuable advisors to any leader are those willing to say "yes, but....."

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

I absolutely agree. It is why I am extremely concerned that he did not avail himself of more experienced people like Pompeo or Haley in his cabinet. History is replete with disastrous examples of leaders who surrounded themselves with sycophants and and yesmen. The most valuable advisors to any leader are those willing to say "yes, but....."

Completely agree. Haley is solid and I was really hoping Pompeo would be picked

 

[Red Leg]

Change the label therefore change the outcome- really? Tens of thousands of pages of the same advice from the same people having great outcomes… Vietnam 10 years, Afghanistan 20 years, Iraq 20 years. “Reach” “Responsibility” Well, using a different word sure changed history didn’t it! What a load of crap!

I am not trying to defend how we responded to the requirements of empire, but nothing in those failures lessens the responsibility. Seriously, explain to us how we are not a world power and how our economic foundation is not dependent upon free access to international trade. Explain to us how we would economically return to some agrarian utopia independent of a worldwide and very vulnerable economic system. Even the founders recognized the need to defend free access to those markets. The Monroe Doctrine, the Barbary Wars, and the War of 1812 were the earliest examples of that responsibility. We are far far more dependent today.

The modern world separated following WWII into a bipolar ideological contest in which both sides had victories and defeats. The collapse of the Soviet Union was a clear victory in that struggle. But nothing is final. Today, something of a tri-polar world is emerging led by the United States, China, and a BRIC conglomerate led by Russia. It is the ultimate in naivety to believe the US can simply walk away, hide our heads, and tell the world we are uninterested.

 

[LivingTheDream]

I really like Zeihan, and listen to him regularly. I think his analysis of events and data is really insightful.

However, I also know that some of the people he had quoted in the past especially when it comes to positions coming out of DC, have had their own basis to them and were meeting/influenced by people who were not "neutral" when it came to talking points. I often wondered if he knew about the basis and it aligned to his own world view or if he didn't know and actually assumed they were neutral and just a data point in his view.

The fact he didn't see this election possibly playing out this way, makes me think he takes information as face value.

 

[HookMeUpII]

I absolutely agree. It is why I am extremely concerned that he did not avail himself of more experienced people like Pompeo or Haley in his cabinet. History is replete with disastrous examples of leaders who surrounded themselves with sycophants and and yesmen. The most valuable advisors to any leader are those willing to say "yes, but....."

All I can say is I'm sure glad we have Trump coming into office in January.

The alternative is terrifying, especially this morning.

 

[mdwest]

The charges against Gaetz are already being leaked. Apparently he had sex with a 17-year-old and drug charges.

How can he prosecute anyone for those charges in the future?

Being charged with a crime and being found guilty of a crime are 2 different things...

Thomas and Kavanaugh were both accused of things they didnt do.. trumped up charges for the intent of not allowing them to be confirmed to USSC...

Im not saying Gaetz didnt do anything wrong.. he certainly comes across as a scum bag (most politicians do to me)...

But.. IF there is any actual hard evidence that he committed those crimes, I feel pretty certain he would have been charged in a court of law and would be facing prison time..

I'd guess we're looking at circumstantial evidence and/or testimony coming from unreliable witnesses... so unreliable that no court would be willing to hear a case against him...

Never doubt the idiocrasy that is the US senate or US House of Representatives they are all too happy listen to cases that dont pass even the basic sniff test in the absolute most liberal or conservative courts in the country... they LOVE kabuki theater on Capitol Hill..

 

[HookMeUpII]

Being charged with a crime and being found guilty of a crime are 2 different things...

Thomas and Kavanaugh were both accused of things they didnt do.. trumped up charges for the intent of not allowing them to be confirmed to USSC...

Im not saying Gaetz didnt do anything wrong.. he certainly comes across as a scum bag (most politicians do to me)...

But.. IF there is any actual hard evidence that he committed those crimes, I feel pretty certain he would have been charged in a court of law and would be facing prison time..

I'd guess we're looking at circumstantial evidence and/or testimony coming from unreliable witnesses... so unreliable that no court would be willing to hear a case against him...

Never doubt the idiocrasy that is the US senate or US House of Representatives they are all too happy to cases that dont pass even the basic sniff test in the absolute most liberal or conservative courts in the country... they LOVE kabuki theater on Capitol Hill..

You're not wrong. As much as I don't like the guy, Biden's DOJ declined to prosecute him. He's probably one of the top 5 they would have liked to, alongside Trump. If that DOJ didn't greenlight him, well, maybe there really wasn't much there?

Does he have questionable moral character? I think based on what we are hearing, yes. Where do we go with that? Who knows...

EDIT: They greenlighted Adams, but not Gaetz, lets think about that one.

 

[mdwest]

completely concur..

the Biden DOJ would have loved to take down as many prominent MAGA types as possible.. that would have further defamed Trump and further alienated him and his loyalists from the typical centrist voter..

I think if that jackass of an AG currently serving thought he even had a 10% chance of a conviction, he would have swung for the fences on Gaetz..


All of that said.. the opposite may well be true as well... Gaetz may have been seen as a useful idiot by the Biden Administration.. he kept the R party in turmoil for the better part of the last 4 years and was constantly in the MSM headlines for things most people (D and R) opposed... its all too possible they knew they had him dead to rights, but chose not to prosecute him.. because they wanted him to keep on doing what he was doing in congress.. (just another version of lawfare... prosecute those that are a detriment to your political cause.. and dont prosecute those who benefit your cause)..

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Interesting video on how USAF F-15s helped to defend Israel back in April.

 

[barryk]

Something for both sides of the aisle to think about....

View attachment 648156

every person in this pic is a former Democrat..

the leadership of the R party at the federal level in execution is significantly made up of "converts" that, assuming they hold the same values long standing R's do.. says something pretty dramatic about where the "center" currently is vs where it once was.. as well as where the "right" is vs where it once was..

another key thing to pay attention to is.. since 2020 (just 4 years).. there have been 8 R's across state legislatures that have switched parties and become D's... and there have been 24 D's in the various state legislatures that have switched parties and become R's... (a 3:1 ratio)... that is not insignificant..

5 D's at the state legislature level have also become Independents.. and 2 others have left the D party to join "3rd party" groups..

vs.. 13 R's leaving the R party to become Independents.. and 2 leaving to join "3rd party" groups..

thats a whole lot of flip flopping... most of which takes the politician back to where they believe the "center" should be... or takes them to a place where they dont have to worry about the fringe of their party sitting over their heads like the Sword of Damocles..

I like the educational value of this forum.....had to look up "Sword of Damocles"...a sword held by the pommel by a horse tail hair above the King's throne....signifying the imminent danger one of power must live with. (For those of you that didn't know that either!)