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Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 6:28 pm
by Alvin Flummux
Federal Election Commission was disbanded last week, because it requires appointments to function, and nobody had even been nominated. Without the FEC, the election is extremely vulnerable and results cannot be enforced.
https://www.npr.org/2019/08/30/75552308 ... ce-on-hold
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 9:36 pm
by Peter Crisp
The US system of government where even minor roles are appointed and can thus be held up for zero reason by a tosspot like Trump is really, really gooseberry fool.
I don't think we let MP's appoint civil servants here and I've never heard of positions going unfilled just because someone's being a knob.
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 1:45 am
by Monkey Man
twitter.com/wxdam/status/1169309514669199361
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 1:58 am
by Peter Crisp
It's pretty amazing to see Trump so brazenly breaking the law while knowing Republicans will never allow there to be any consequence.
I wonder where the bar is and what Trump will have to do before Republicans decide enough is enough and stop supporting him. Maybe if the recession does hit that will prompt some sanity to break out but I'm not sure even that will be enough.
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 6:22 am
by Saint of Killers
On Wednesday night, apparently stung by the criticism, Trump tweeted another hurricane map. This one showed numerous, multicoloured lines projecting the path of Dorian. Some of the lines reach into Alabama. The map has a “South Florida Water Management District” logo in the bottom corner.
The president wrote: “This was the originally projected path of the Hurricane in its early stages. As you can see, almost all models predicted it to go through Florida also hitting Georgia and Alabama. I accept the Fake News apologies!”
But the map is dated 28 August at 08.06 EDT. Trump sent his tweet about Alabama on 1 September, by which time forecasts made clear it was not in danger.
The map also clearly carries the disclaimer: “NHC advisories and county emergency statements supersede this product. This graphic should complement, not replace, NHC discussions.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/ ... harpie-map
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 4:46 pm
by Moggy
twitter.com/michaelharriot/status/1170202643672776704
A great thread there all about some little islands taking on the US, piracy, slave uprisings and a sensible court.
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 5:09 pm
by KK
Trump has taken a big gooseberry fool on John Bolton. And by gooseberry fool I mean fired.
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 5:27 pm
by Cheeky Devlin
Wasn't he a massive arsehole anyway?
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 5:28 pm
by Tafdolphin
Cheeky Devlin wrote:Wasn't he a massive arsehole anyway?
He was a war hungry neo-con, and possibly the most dangerous person in Trump's cabinet.
So...yes.
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 5:32 pm
by Corazon de Leon
Yeah this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Bolton is insane.
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 5:45 pm
by KK
Depends on who the most insane one in the room was.
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 5:55 pm
by Alvin Flummux
Corazon de Leon wrote:Yeah this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Bolton is insane.
The thing is, Trump has been replacing institutionalists throughout the government with lackeys and loyalists, as Acting heads of department, with zero congressional oversight as a result. Bolton may have been an insane warhawk, but he may still have been thwarting Trump's wilder whims. It seems likely that Bolton will seem mild compared to the lunatic loyalist Trump will replace him with.
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 5:57 pm
by Moggy
Alvin Flummux wrote:Corazon de Leon wrote:Yeah this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Bolton is insane.
The thing is, Trump has been replacing institutionalists throughout the government with lackeys and loyalists, as Acting heads of department, with zero congressional oversight as a result. Bolton may have been an insane warhawk, but he may still have been thwarting Trump's wilder whims. It seems likely that Bolton will seem mild compared to the lunatic loyalist Trump will replace him with.
Sounds like a job for Don Jr.
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 6:37 pm
by Alvin Flummux
Moggy wrote:Alvin Flummux wrote:Corazon de Leon wrote:Yeah this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Bolton is insane.
The thing is, Trump has been replacing institutionalists throughout the government with lackeys and loyalists, as Acting heads of department, with zero congressional oversight as a result. Bolton may have been an insane warhawk, but he may still have been thwarting Trump's wilder whims. It seems likely that Bolton will seem mild compared to the lunatic loyalist Trump will replace him with.
Sounds like a job for Don Jr.
I reckon it will probably go to another donor with rabid views.
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 6:43 pm
by Rex Kramer
You'd think that with the rate he fires people then he'd be starting to run out of lackeys soon.
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 6:58 pm
by Monkey Man
twitter.com/AmbJohnBolton/status/1171455806069305346
twitter.com/peterbakernyt/status/1171461326385737731
twitter.com/costareports/status/1171459982102917126
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 7:18 pm
by Meep
The world just became a bit safer.
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 7:28 pm
by Alvin Flummux
Meep wrote:The world just became a bit safer.
Without knowing whom his replacement will be, that's a bold statement to make.
Maybe it'll be Erik Prince.
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 9:56 pm
by Meep
Maybe, but one of Trump's redeeming qualities is that he's very lazy. Military he is a dove, not because he abhors violence but because he does not want to get bogged down in anything that involves too much actual work (also the reason why his tenure as president has actually been far less destructive than I first imagined it would). He'll talk tough but I doubt he could be bothered actually having a war and dealing with all the flak that involves.
A genuine bloodthirsty psychopath like Bolton will just get frustrated if its all dirty talk and no action, which is probably why he parted ways.
Re: US Politics 2
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 10:02 pm
by Alvin Flummux
War is also the best way for presidents to ensure reelection, and with Trump "joking" about three terms (and an extra two years tackled onto term #2), despite his aversion to work, I expect him to go all out on attacking Iran before too long.
You're right on the money about Bolton, but I think Bolton wanted to raze North Korea more than anything, and Trump's romantic entanglements with its Dear Leader has shut down that chance.