The goddamn Trump Administration (Part 2)

He’s only instigated conflicts. He is insane though, so, you know, why bother listening?

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ISTM that what you’re saying fits very well with this Guardian essay that Mindy linked to yesterday, except that I think the writer implies that Trump knows what he’s doing (i.e., that he’s not doing it out of stupidity or delusion). Worth a read, if you haven’t read it, or was for me anyway.


Deals, whether in finance, real estate, or in any other part of the economy, are just one step in the process of reaching full-fledged, binding agreements subject to the force of law. They are a stage in the negotiation process that has no force until it is finalized as a contract. It is, at best, an agreement to agree, which can turn out to be premature, poorly conceived or unacceptable to one or other party. Put another way, it is an engagement, not a wedding. A deal allows a negotiator like Trump to claim victory and blame the other party or some other contextual variable if things do not work out.

In fact, in the hands of someone like Trump, deals are ways to evade, postpone or subvert the efficient work of markets. Trump does not like markets, precisely because they are impersonal and invisible. Their results – for corporations, entrepreneurs, investors and shareholders – are subject to clear measures of success and failure.

Because deals are personal, adversarial and incomplete, they are perfect grist for Trump’s relentless publicity machine, and allow him to polish his brand, massage his ego and signal his prowess to opponents – without the regulations and measurable consequences of regular market risks. The downside risk for an aborted or interrupted deal is negligible, and the upside is guaranteed by the legal power of fully completed contracts.

Trump has figured out to an exceptional degree that dealmaking does not need to be successful in order to massively increase his wealth. …

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You know, Kamala would have prevented 20 major wars.

Since we’re talking hypothetical wars, and all.

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I don’t know - the problem seems to be that ignoring him and hoping he goes away is too often exactly the main Democratic response…

Yeah, this is doubly true with the trade agreements. On the one hand, Trump’s understanding of the economics is entirely composed of delusional beliefs, and he’s making delusional demands in trade agreements. On the other hand, all he cares about is the headline of his supposed achievements. He doesn’t care what the actual outcome is of the agreement (he’s got nothing material on the line himself, what does he care that the US gains nothing, or is even hurt?), all that matters is that he’s given credit for an achievement, even if the achievement doesn’t exist in reality.

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I’m not a paying member so didn’t get to read it all :roll_eyes:

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https://archive.ph/xQhKv

This sounds incredibly stupid to me.

Giving up immunity for a capital offense under this SCOTUS in a country as close to fascist as naught - sounds like terrible legal advice.

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I agree with this response. Another case where Larry thinks catching Clownstick in a catch-22 will fix things.


Seth Finkelstein

There’s a problem here in that [Fuckface] could benefit enormously from using both of these lawsuits as a news platform. Accusing Obama of treason would let him constantly keep it in the news, by throwing all sorts of mud. But inversely, being sued for defamation would let him play to his base as being victimized by The Establishment. Certainly all his past legal woes - and there’s quite a list - don’t seem to have harmed him much with his supporters. If anything, they’ve arguably helped him sell himself as a martyr.

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Probably with deadlines…

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https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5423969-trump-memo-religious-expression/

Trump memo allows federal workers to persuade coworkers their religion is ‘correct’

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acknowledges that children in the Strip ‘look very hungry’

“Based on television”

Goddamn leader of the country with the most power to get direct intelligence anywhere in the world, and he goes with whatever’s on the boob tube.

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Accurately named, as it turns out.

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If he wants to catch 22 Trump - make him argue against presidential immunity.

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tophat-biggrin tophat-rofl tophat-biggrin tophat-rofl tophat-biggrin tophat-rofl tophat-biggrin tophat-rofl

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The memo also said one or more employees should be allowed to engage in individual or communal religious expressions and that employees can engage in conversations on religious topics “including attempting to persuade others of the correctness of their own religious views, provided that such efforts are not harassing in nature.”

How is proselytizing not harrassment?

“During a break, an employee may engage another in polite discussion of why his faith is correct and why the non-adherent should re-think his religious beliefs. However, if the nonadherent requests such attempts to stop, the employee should honor the request,” the memo added. “An employee may invite another to worship at her church despite being belonging to a different faith.”

Oh. Then it’s harrassment. Yeah, right. The word “…should honor…” is the loophole. :rage:

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The unwritten part is “as long as the persuading party is some form of Christian. And not THOSE type of Baptists. You know the ones!”

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