Trump Dump: Internal Policy (Thread I)

[aerius]

I looked at videos of trump in the 80s and then now, there's a marked difference, he sounded pretty eloquent in commenting on the election of Bush Sr. and now he sounds like he needs a diaper.

Trump understands his audience, he's just talking down to the level of the people. Yes, his audience is that fucking dumb.

[Simon_Jester]

The supermajority of Americans, even the supermajority of Trump voters, can navigate from one end of a coherent sentence to the other.

If Trump is talking down to them, it's by talking at a level even stupider than their natural intelligence, possibly to encourage them to follow him down to that level and switch off their natural safeguards against being flim-flammed...

I think his brains are actually softening up, and/or were always softened up in senses that he was able to cover for as a private businessman who could hire assistants to read long documents for him.

[Plus, the "he's just talking down to their level" argument strikes me as a subset of the "Trump is secretly playing five-dimensional hyperchess and none of us are smart enough to fully comprehend his genius" arguments, which have a very poor track record...]

[EnterpriseSovereign]

The US government is now closed for business until further notice.
Astonishing, really. The world’s greatest power - I guess we can still call it that by virtue of its economic and military muscle - has ground to a halt.
The shutdown, triggered at midnight, is the consequence of a political knife-fight over the budget. Democrats and Republicans can’t agree on what spending measures should be in the budget, and whether an immigration deal should be in the package, so they failed to pass one at all.
The result is the first government shutdown in four years. Many government employees won’t be paid; most federal programmes will grind to a halt, benefits for veterans won’t be processed, national parks will be closed, and many other agencies will be paralysed.
With exquisite irony, the political chaos is unfolding on the first anniversary of Donald Trump’s inauguration. The man who sold himself to the American people as the greatest deal maker in history is now overseeing paralysis. So much for The Art of the Deal.
The optics are terrible. Republicans are blaming Democrats, with the White House spokeswoman calling them "obstructionist losers".

Oh, the irony!

Wasn't sure if this is worthy of its own thread or not.

[FaxModem1]

CNN is noting national protests. Meanwhile, Trump throws a party.

The Washington Post

Trump plans gala at Mar-a-Lago tonight, again renting a ballroom from himself

President Trump is scheduled to attend Saturday’s fundraiser at his Palm Beach club. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
By David A. Fahrenthold
January 20 at 9:22 AM
PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Trump’s posh Mar-a-Lago Club is set to host a high-priced gala on Saturday night intended to celebrate Trump’s first year in office and raise money for his reelection campaign and the Republican National Committee.

Tickets start at $100,000 per couple, Bloomberg News reported.

The guest of honor, however, may not be there. With the government shut down and Congress in negotiations, Trump postponed his scheduled departure from Washington on Friday afternoon. But he will still make money.

By holding the event at his own club, Trump will be able to collect tens of thousands of dollars in fees for food, ballroom rental and other costs. In effect, he will have transformed his supporters’ political donations into revenue for his business.

Again.

2:57
Mar-a-Lago isn't just Trump's vacation spot; it's his second White House


0:00

Mar-a-Lago isn't just Trump's vacation spot; it's his second White House (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

Since Trump began running for president in summer 2015, he has repeatedly used his hotels and golf courses as venues for his campaign events — and paid himself for the privilege.

During the 2016 election cycle, Trump’s campaign spent at least $791,000 to hold events at 12 Trump-branded venues: three hotels, seven golf courses, a condo building and Mar-a-Lago, federal campaign filings show. That was on top of millions more that Trump’s campaign paid his businesses for other expenses such as hotel stays, meals and rent for office space at Trump Tower.

After Inauguration Day, it continued.

Trump got an unusually early start on fundraising events for his 2020 reelection campaign, holding a $35,000-per-plate fundraiser in June. The venue for that event: Trump International Hotel in Washington. The Republican National Committee footed the bill, paying about $167,000 to Trump’s business.

[These are the GOP officials who have spent the most at Trump properties]

Federal election laws bar candidates from the “personal use” of campaign donations — a ban meant to stop candidates from buying things unrelated to their runs for office. If a purchase is a result of campaign activity, the government allows it.

How do those rules apply to an official, like Trump, who’s renting lavish ballrooms from himself, at a for-profit club that is also his home and “Winter White House”?

“The prevailing view among election lawyers is that the law isn’t violated so long as the campaign committee pays fair market value for the goods and services received from Mar-a-Lago,” said Paul S. Ryan, a campaign finance expert at the government watchdog group Common Cause.

It remains unclear how much Mar-a-Lago will receive from the Republican National Committee for Saturday night’s event. A GOP spokeswoman declined to provide any details of the event. A Trump campaign spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In the past, when large charities have held galas at Mar-a-Lago, they have typically paid between $100,000 and $275,000 for catering and ballroom rentals, according to annual reports those charities filed with the IRS.

For Trump’s club, this GOP event fills in a Saturday-night slot in what historically is its busy season.

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On Saturday, in fact, one of Trump’s traditional charity clients will be holding its relocated gala elsewhere while GOP donors gather at Mar-a-Lago: The Susan G. Komen breast cancer organization, which held events at Mar-a-Lago for seven straight years, will hold one this year on a cruise liner at the Port of Palm Beach.

The club had some cancellations after Trump said there were “very fine people” at a protest in Charlottesville that included violent white supremacists. Out of at least 25 fundraiser events that had been booked for this winter season, at least 19 were canceled or relocated away from Mar-a-Lago.

To fill its schedule, Mar-a-Lago this year has turned to political groups aligned with Trump himself. It has hosted Republican attorneys general, conservative activists and, on Thursday, a group of Trump superfans called the “Trumpettes USA.”

[EnterpriseSovereign]

Some of his hardcore supporters are claiming he's "given up his billionaire's lifestyle" to lead the country, forgetting that Trump has spent a quarter of his presidency playing golf.

[FaxModem1]

Some of his hardcore supporters are claiming he's "given up his billionaire's lifestyle" to lead the country, forgetting that Trump has spent a quarter of his presidency playing golf.

I haven't really done the math. Has he really spent three months of the past year golfing?

[The Romulan Republic]

The supermajority of Americans, even the supermajority of Trump voters, can navigate from one end of a coherent sentence to the other.

If Trump is talking down to them, it's by talking at a level even stupider than their natural intelligence, possibly to encourage them to follow him down to that level and switch off their natural safeguards against being flim-flammed...

I think his brains are actually softening up, and/or were always softened up in senses that he was able to cover for as a private businessman who could hire assistants to read long documents for him.

[Plus, the "he's just talking down to their level" argument strikes me as a subset of the "Trump is secretly playing five-dimensional hyperchess and none of us are smart enough to fully comprehend his genius" arguments, which have a very poor track record...]

I will maintain that, while ignorant about a great many things and probably psychologically unstable, Trump does have one true skill: as a con man.

[The Romulan Republic]

The US government is now closed for business until further notice.
Astonishing, really. The world’s greatest power - I guess we can still call it that by virtue of its economic and military muscle - has ground to a halt.
The shutdown, triggered at midnight, is the consequence of a political knife-fight over the budget. Democrats and Republicans can’t agree on what spending measures should be in the budget, and whether an immigration deal should be in the package, so they failed to pass one at all.
The result is the first government shutdown in four years. Many government employees won’t be paid; most federal programmes will grind to a halt, benefits for veterans won’t be processed, national parks will be closed, and many other agencies will be paralysed.
With exquisite irony, the political chaos is unfolding on the first anniversary of Donald Trump’s inauguration. The man who sold himself to the American people as the greatest deal maker in history is now overseeing paralysis. So much for The Art of the Deal.
The optics are terrible. Republicans are blaming Democrats, with the White House spokeswoman calling them "obstructionist losers".

Oh, the irony!

Wasn't sure if this is worthy of its own thread or not.

I can't think of a better way to mark the end of Trump's first year. It sucks for the people who will be harmed by a shutdown, but fuck it, the Democrats tried to deal, probably offered to compromise much more than they should. Trump wasn't satisfied. The price for keeping the government open would have amounted to getting down and prostrating ourselves before fascism and racism and Trump's ego, and that's too high a price.

I'd rather have no government at all, than one helmed by him. I'm content to keep it shut until he and the Quisling Congress resign, or are voted out.

[EnterpriseSovereign]

Some of his hardcore supporters are claiming he's "given up his billionaire's lifestyle" to lead the country, forgetting that Trump has spent a quarter of his presidency playing golf.

I haven't really done the math. Has he really spent three months of the past year golfing?

The sources thrown up by Googling are in agreement: Link.
And of course this: Link.

[The Romulan Republic]

So apparently the shutdown includes no pay for the armed forces.

I wonder how long this would have to persist before a coup or large-scale mutiny became a real possibility?

[FaxModem1]

So apparently the shutdown includes no pay for the armed forces.

I wonder how long this would have to persist before a coup or large-scale mutiny became a real possibility?

Keep in mind that military payday is supposed to be February 1st. That's almost two weeks from now. Most government shutdowns don't last that long.If this one lasts two weeks, there would be military furlough and the money would come. If the money doesn't come by their next payday, February 15th. the shutdown would have to be going on for about a month. That's when there would probably be an agreement to fund the military to ensure that a lot of enlisted don't have funding problems.

If Congress doesn't do that, then we have problems, as rent for a lot of people becomes due. But coup or mutiny? I rather doubt it. More a case of abandoning their posts or a mad scramble for payday loans.

[The Romulan Republic]

Yeah, I figured it would take weeks or months of no pay before those things would become a real concern. Just wondering morbidly how long it would take.

[Simon_Jester]

Some of his hardcore supporters are claiming he's "given up his billionaire's lifestyle" to lead the country, forgetting that Trump has spent a quarter of his presidency playing golf.

Besides, it's not like the White House is a poor and modest cottage. It does have a large staff that works 24/7 including at least enough servants to fetch the president a pretzel or whatever.

[Ralin]

If Congress doesn't do that, then we have problems, as rent for a lot of people becomes due. But coup or mutiny? I rather doubt it. More a case of abandoning their posts or a mad scramble for payday loans.

Don't know the numbers, but don't a fair number of people in the military live on base? If the paychecks stop coming for a month or longer they're going to be pissed, but having access to in-house room and board seems like it would mitigate that. Especially for the ones who are deployed somewhere.

[FaxModem1]

If Congress doesn't do that, then we have problems, as rent for a lot of people becomes due. But coup or mutiny? I rather doubt it. More a case of abandoning their posts or a mad scramble for payday loans.

Don't know the numbers, but don't a fair number of people in the military live on base? If the paychecks stop coming for a month or longer they're going to be pissed, but having access to in-house room and board seems like it would mitigate that. Especially for the ones who are deployed somewhere.

A lot do, a lot don't, and receive COLA(Cost of Living Allowance) for off-base fees, for groceries, utilities, and rent, etc. Space on base can be limited, and a lot of service members live off base due to there not being enough room. A lot of service members are usually encouraged, if not ordered, to move off base to make room for new service members.

Married members especially, as dorms and barracks are not meant to hold families, and there aren't enough on-base houses.

Also depending on the type of job, chow/mess hall access may require payment, as it's not covered in that individual's pay since they already receive COLA.

Money stops flowing for month, and they run into problems.

The bigger question is if civilian contractors are covered, such as those who stock the commissary, or the chow hall, or the other dozen things in day to day base living.

[FaxModem1]

DOD Live

Continuing Family Support in the Event of a Government Shutdown
Posted on January 19, 2018 by Katie Lange
177 32.4K
By Military Community and Family Policy

Our service members, their families and survivors have responded amazingly to all that’s been asked of them, especially since the start of combat operations more than 15 years ago. They have and deserve our respect and support for continuing to serve honorably despite the many challenges associated with the unique aspects of military life.

Unfortunately, another one of those challenges that all of us will have to contend with is a possible government shutdown.

A government shutdown affects quality of life, family support and child and youth programs that service members and families value and deserve. The purpose of this blog post is to provide guidance as to what to expect regarding the operating status of these programs in the event the government is shut down:

Military OneSource: The Military OneSource website and call center will remain fully operational. Military OneSource is a defense-wide program that promotes the quality of life of service members and their families by delivering information, referrals, confidential counseling and other services in-person, online and by telephone. The service is available worldwide 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no cost to the user and regardless of the service member’s activation status. Visit their website or call 800-342-9647.
Child Development Centers: Contact your local CDC/installation for details/guidance.
Department of Defense Education Activity: DODEA schools and district offices worldwide will remain open. Headquarters and regional offices will be affected by any shutdown.
The Military and Family Life Counseling program: This will continue uninterrupted. The MFLCs will perform routine functions. If an MFLC is unable to access the installation during a shutdown, they will work offsite until they are able to access the installation.
Military Exchanges will be open world-wide.
Overseas commissaries will remain open, including two stores in Guam and one in Puerto Rico. Commissaries in five remote stateside locations will also remain open: MCMWTC Bridgeport and Fort Irwin in California; CGS Kodiak and Fort Greely in Alaska; and Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah. In the event of a government shutdown, the remainder of stateside commissaries will follow an orderly shutdown after Jan. 19 to reduce the amount of perishables on-hand and properly safeguard equipment and facilities. For more details, go to the Defense Commissary Agency website, or its Facebook and Twitter.
Family Support Centers: Staffing will be determined by installation commanders.
Family Advocacy Program: Each service will determine staffing at each installation.
MWR – Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs/nonappropriated fund activities/other operations necessary to support those activities not affected by a shutdown will continue. Examples of these excepted activities are operation of dining facilities, physical training and child care activities required to support readiness.
My Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA): Financial assistance requests will continue to be approved. In addition, Spouse Education and Career Opportunities career coaches will continue to be available to provide comprehensive education and career counseling services. Please call the SECO Career Center at 800-342-9647 or visit the SECO website and continue to monitor the MyCAA portal for any updates.
It’s important to keep in mind that operating hours and statuses may vary at the local installation level. You can get addresses and phone numbers for installation and state resources available to active duty, National Guard and reserve service and family members at the Military Installations website.

We recognize the incredible commitment and contributions of our military families. In the event of a government shutdown, here at Military Community and Family Policy, we will work with the Military Services to keep as many doors open as possible, operating within the fiscal guidance passed down from the highest levels of DoD leadership, so families may continue to be empowered and thrive amidst these most recent challenges.

[Highlord Laan]

Der Trumpenfurer wants the GOP to go nuclear on the fillibuster

Text in spoiler to keep things tidy.
Spoiler

Washington (CNN)The White House on Sunday called for Senate Republicans to change the chamber's rules to resolve the funding impasse as the government shutdown continued into its second day.

President Donald Trump tweeted his call for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to invoke the so-called nuclear option and thereby remove leverage for Senate Democrats.
"Great to see how hard Republicans are fighting for our Military and Safety at the Border. The Dems just want illegal immigrants to pour into our nation unchecked. If stalemate continues, Republicans should go to 51% (Nuclear Option) and vote on real, long term budget, no C.R.'s!" Trump tweeted.

White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said on CNN's "State of the Union" that eliminating the filibuster would be one avenue they back to ending the shutdown.

"There's a bunch of different ways to fix this," Mulvaney said. "We just want it to get fixed."

Senate rules impose a threshold of 60 votes to break a filibuster, and Senate Republicans currently hold a slim majority of 51 votes, meaning even if they can unite their members, they need nine more votes to end debate. The White House is calling for the Senate to change its rules and move the threshold to a simple majority of 51 votes.

Eliminating the 60-vote threshold to break a legislative filibuster would remove significant powers for the minority party in the Senate, and party leaders have been reluctant to do so in the past because of the consequences it would pose when their party returns to the minority.
Mulvaney offered that another way to end the shutdown, from their point of view, would be for enough Democrats to cross the aisle and give the GOP the votes it needs to restore funding.

"Get some of those Democrats who say back home they want to work in a bipartisan fashion, they want to work with Republicans, but don't," Mulvaney said.

He noted that the White House has been "critical" of the 60-vote threshold to overcome filibusters since Trump took office.
As routine use of the filibuster has increased over the years, debate has grown about its elimination. Last April, McConnell took the latest step to change the rule, triggering the nuclear option to break a filibuster on the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.
Trump has called repeatedly for McConnell to move the Senate to simple-majority rule, and despite some backing from the House Republicans, the rules have remained. McConnell said in April that the "core of the Senate is the legislative filibuster" and that he was opposed to going "nuclear."

Do it. Fucking do it you pieces of shit. I double dog-dare you motherfuckers to pull that trigger. Go for it, you worthless, mouth-breathing shitbags. It'll make your screams and tears when it's our turn all the sweeter as we crush you.

[Patroklos]

Navy Federal and USAA offer interest free loans up to a service member's last direct deposit amount. This isn't our first rodeo.

[Lost Soal]

Harping on the military angle is bullshit caused by the Republican party. Democrats asked for unanimous consent to pay military personnel and death benefits as was done previously, to which McConnell replied "I object". It was on camera, they can't hide it.

[Highlord Laan]

Harping on the military angle is bullshit caused by the Republican party. Democrats asked for unanimous consent to pay military personnel and death benefits as was done previously, to which McConnell replied "I object". It was on camera, they can't hide it.

You just need Captain Oxycotin, Faux News, and the others that make up the voice of the republican Ein Volk to actually mention it. Good luck with that.

[The Romulan Republic]

So, shutdown over for now, I gather.

Can anyone clarify what, if anything, Schumer actually got out of it beyond another vague promise from McConnel to deal with DACA, that he will almost certainly go back on?

Something tells me that the Republicans are planning to just run out the clock until DACA expires. Namely, the experience of the last ten years.

[Civil War Man]

Can anyone clarify what, if anything, Schumer actually got out of it beyond another vague promise from McConnel to deal with DACA, that he will almost certainly go back on?

That is pretty much the entirety of it. Assuming the House passes this, it keeps the government open for another 2 weeks, funds CHIP for 6 years, with McConnell pinky-swearing that he will allow Congress to vote on (ie vote against) a clean DACA bill at the end of the CR. The same type of pinky-swearing he gave Collins, before immediately reneging on it once he had her vote.

Schumer basically folded like a cheap tent.

[The Romulan Republic]

Well, CHIP is something, I guess. But I'm going to call Chuck Schumer's office and tell him that if McConnel renegs on his word, I support shutting it all down again. If that's the only way the assholes will learn, so be it.

Bernie Sanders posted this on Facebook today, noting his opposition to the continuing motion:

The reason I voted against today's continuing resolution is simple: tens of millions of lives are at stake. We must act NOW, not kick the can down the road.

We're talking about the fate of 800,000 Dreamers who have lived here almost all of their lives, but could soon be faced with deportation if we don't act now. We're talking about 27 million Americans who will find it harder and harder to get their health care through community health centers because that program has not yet been reauthorized. We 're talking about many thousands of people with disabilities who will die because they couldn't get their claims processed in a timely manner by an underfunded and understaffed Social Security Administration, and veterans who will not get the care they need at the VA because that agency now has 30,000 vacancies. We're talking about the need to provide adequate disaster relief for the people of Texas, Florida, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico - an island where hundreds of thousands are still without electricity.

Enough is enough. We cannot continue to run a $4 trillion government on a month to month basis. We need an annual budget. The Republican Party controls the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate and the White House. They are the governing party. They have got to govern, not ignore the major crises facing this country.

[bilateralrope]

The democrats got one of the things they wanted and they can use the filibuster to get DACA next month. DACA isn't off the table, just delayed. So it looks like a small win to me.

[LaCroix]

Indeed. I don't see how anybody can see this as a fold...