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Trump / Musk (other than DOGE)
- Thread starter nycfan
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- Politics
ZenMode
Inconceivable Member
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- 3,613
Small clips, taken out of or missing context, is dishonest and misleading. Often it's intentional on the part of the editor.
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"...Several sources also raised significant concerns that Curran lacks the managerial experience to run an agency as large and complex as the Secret Service. On Trump’s detail, Curran has only supervised about 85 people and has never managed the kind of budget or operations of the Secret Service.
Further, multiple sources point out that Curran has never held a position at the agency’s headquarters and is not a member of the Senior Executive Service, which comprises the highest ranks in the service.
Curran will replace acting director Ron Rowe, who had lobbied for the job after Kim Cheatle resigned after the first assassination attempt on Trump’s life at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania ..."
Callatoroy
Iconic Member
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- 1,803
Here is a summary of this board (mostly speaking in generalities):
- Moderating is pretty damn fair which is a huge change from IC. You can give back the same level of vitriol you receive without being banned for being a pub.
- Most here say they want differing views but in reality they don't. They want affirmation of the way they think
- It is difficult to actually have meaningful political discussions because there is a wolfpack mentality and not many get info outside liberal circles. I think the
same applies to many on the right about their sources of info.
- Discussion usually gets derailed by personal attacks, attacks of media sources, and hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is huge here but in fairness would likely be on a
conservative board as well. But facts are only facts if coming from a liberal media source in their eyes.
- There are some who discuss in good faith, some who are true snowflakes, and some who are just assholes for sport. Again, probably the same as on any
board. The snowflakes and assholes will always default to insults stemming from your source of information and they talk in generalities.
- There are some very intelligent people here and I have had my opinions changed by a few.
- Read most threads and many posts are just different ways of each other making the same types of comments trashing trump and pubs. TDS DOMINATES
this board to the point it makes them unable to have meaningful discussion.
- There are very few conservative posters on this board. I don't get it. Why would a conservative want to visit a conservative board if they want to debate
politics. There needs to be more conservative posters on this board who are sincere in discussing politics. Certainly don't need more assholes.
- Messages
- 21,059
Interior secretary nominee won't give definitive answer when pressed on conditions for disaster aid
"...Interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum would not give a definitive answer during his confirmation hearing when pressed by a Democratic senator over whether he believes federal disaster aid should come with or without conditions, with Burgum saying instead that “each situation would vary.”
Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California brought up the devastating wildfires in his home state and noted that in 2024, Burgum, who was governor of North Dakota at the time, requested “a major disaster declaration to assist in recovery from historic wildfires” in the state. “President Biden as I understand it approved it quickly and without conditions. Is that correct?” Padilla asked. Burgum responded, “yes.”
“So do you believe federal disaster aid should come with or without conditions?” Padilla asked.
“Well, I think each situation would vary,” Burgum said, extending his sympathy over the loss and devastation in California.
Burgum went on to say, “Urban wildfire is something that we as a country, we need to think, and I say each situation is different because what you talked about in North Dakota was largely rural, largely grasslands, very different.”
The line of questioning comes as House Speaker Mike Johnson has said that he personally believes conditions should be placed on California wildfire aid, telling CNN’s Manu Raju that “it appears to us that state and local leaders were derelict in their duties in many respects.” ..."
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Bessent says he has previously been denied public service posts due to his sexual orientation
"... Scott Bessent, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for treasury secretary, defended his lack of past public service on Thursday by pointing to the denial of previous attempts due to his sexual orientation.
“Sitting here today is especially meaningful for me because this is my third try at public service,” he told the Senate Finance Committee as part of his confirmation hearing for the top treasury job. “In 1979 when I was 17 years old, I wanted to fight for my country. My father had just experienced extreme financial difficulties. I wanted to attend the US Naval Academy.”
...“So sitting here today is my third attempt at public service, and I sit here knowing that President Trump chose me because he believes I’m the best candidate, not because of my sexual preference, not because treasury secretaries with green eyes do better,” Bessent said. “And I think it is a tribute to President Trump that he looks at people as people.” ..."
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- 21,059
Cont'd
"...In an exchange with Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Oregon on President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed trade policies, Scott Bessent, Trump’s pick to helm the Treasury Department, pointed to the glut of cheap Chinese good flooding the world as an argument for hefty tariffs.
... “Clearly, what has happened is trade has not been fair and that has fallen on the American worker, and we cannot allow that,” Bessent told the Senate Finance Committee as part of his confirmation hearing for the top Treasury post.
“China is the most unbalanced economy in the history of the world. They are in a severe recession-slash-depression. ... They are attempting to export their way out of that,” he added. Bessent said, “We cannot allow a player like this flood our markets.”
For context: China’s economy has indeed slowed in recent years as consumers cut their spending and prices fell, key markers of a recession. But its economy has not technically contracted just yet. The Chinese economy expanded at an annual rate of 4.6% in the third quarter, according to the country’s statistics agency. ... Still, some economists have cast doubt on the accuracy of China’s official economic figures, largely due to local officials falsifying data, which the government has taken steps to address. Former Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke has also pointed to the lack of transparency of China’s statistics agency."
"...In an exchange with Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Oregon on President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed trade policies, Scott Bessent, Trump’s pick to helm the Treasury Department, pointed to the glut of cheap Chinese good flooding the world as an argument for hefty tariffs.
... “Clearly, what has happened is trade has not been fair and that has fallen on the American worker, and we cannot allow that,” Bessent told the Senate Finance Committee as part of his confirmation hearing for the top Treasury post.
“China is the most unbalanced economy in the history of the world. They are in a severe recession-slash-depression. ... They are attempting to export their way out of that,” he added. Bessent said, “We cannot allow a player like this flood our markets.”
For context: China’s economy has indeed slowed in recent years as consumers cut their spending and prices fell, key markers of a recession. But its economy has not technically contracted just yet. The Chinese economy expanded at an annual rate of 4.6% in the third quarter, according to the country’s statistics agency. ... Still, some economists have cast doubt on the accuracy of China’s official economic figures, largely due to local officials falsifying data, which the government has taken steps to address. Former Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke has also pointed to the lack of transparency of China’s statistics agency."
dukeman92
Iconic Member
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- 1,336
This one, obviously:
Note that Kash made himself a Wizard in this fantasy.
But it's not a cult.
Wow. It's like you didn't read a word of my post. Said nothing about 'safe spaces' just judicious interaction when you know who the crowd is. You know, common civility. Nothing has me triggered. I gaze in wonder at what primal instinct made you come where you know your opinions would likely be viewed dimly, offer them stridently, and then get defensive when the exact thing you knew would happen.....happens.
What drove you to this site to post what you have, knowing who would be here and how they would inevitably react to you? Are you seeking to educate the community? Correct a perceived abrasion of honor that MAGA has suffered? Bored out of your skull? What exactly? I'm honestly curious.
lawtig02
Inconceivable Member
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- 3,494
1. I think it's great Trump nominated Bessent notwithstanding his orientation. I wish all of MAGA were so open-minded.
2. Bessent is right about China. He's also 100% wrong about the ability of tariffs to remedy what's wrong with China.
HesNotHere97
Active Member
- Messages
- 42
I've been posting on UNC sites since 1998.
Nothing drove me to this site other than always have followed, posted and been a contributor to UNC boards.
Opinions vary and I see you are not looking for any that do not align with yours.
Good job.
rodoheel
Iconic Member
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- 1,839
Still waiting for one Republican to actually acknowledge that you can't (1) use protectionist tariffs to force cheap foreign goods out of the market in favor of more expensive domestic goods, and (2) lower consumer prices at the same time.
Callatoroy
Iconic Member
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- 1,803
1. Should trump use tariffs at all with respect to china?
2. I know your opinion of Hegseth, Gabbard, and Patel. what about Bondi, Rubio?
3. Did Hegseth's hearing surprise you in any way?
lawtig02
Inconceivable Member
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- 3,494
1. Sure, but in moderation, and only for very specific products. This article is a pretty good summary of my views on the issue -- https://www.piie.com/blogs/realtime-economics/2024/can-tariffs-be-good-thing
2. I said this on another thread but I'm fine with Rubio and Bondi. I know people who are close with Rubio. I question his backbone, but he's a very smart guy who wants to do the right thing, and he's qualified for the position. Bondi is also qualified. I am highly skeptical that Trump does not, in fact, have an enemies list, but she deserves the job. Hegseth is a joke. Gabbard is a Russian asset. Patel is a neo-Nazi. None of those are remotely exaggerated.
3. Yes. I was stunned at how unprepared Hegseth was on the facts relevant to the job. I honestly have no idea what, if anything, he did to prepare for that hearing.
Callatoroy
Iconic Member
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I will read the article. I have my own reservations about Hegseth but likely not the same as you.
rodoheel
Iconic Member
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"I question his backbone" is an awfully big caveat on Rubio though. That's my big concern as well. I think it's important for SOS in particular that he have both a conscience and spine, both of which he has repeatedly demonstrated he lacks.
With that being said, he's more qualified for the job than pretty much anyone else Trump might pick. And Trump isn't going to pick anyone who will challenge Trump on anything, so it's not really possible to get someone with a backbone right now. There's a good chance Rubio is better than whoever Trump will replace him with when he gets annoyed with Rubio and fires him a year from now.
Bondi is, at least, qualified by experience to do the job to which she's being appointed. She's a MAGA loyalist scumbag who pushed "election fraud" BS and will do little if anything to rein in Trump's worst impulses. but again, there's no world in which anyone Trump picks for DOJ won't check those boxes.
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What these confirmation hearings are demonstrating is that:
1. The overwhelming majority of Trump's selections - Burgum, Bessent, Zeldon, Rubio, Ratcliffe, Duffy, Bondi, etc. - are unquestionably competent selections that could have been made by any Republican President elect. Yet, many can't help but view them through the lens of Orangemanbad.
2. The only "outside-the-box" picks are Hegseth, RFKJr, Gabbard and Patel.
1. The overwhelming majority of Trump's selections - Burgum, Bessent, Zeldon, Rubio, Ratcliffe, Duffy, Bondi, etc. - are unquestionably competent selections that could have been made by any Republican President elect. Yet, many can't help but view them through the lens of Orangemanbad.
2. The only "outside-the-box" picks are Hegseth, RFKJr, Gabbard and Patel.
superrific
Legend of ZZL
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- 8,225
1. I have heard zero liberals complain about Burgum, Bessent, Rubio or Bondi, except for policy disagreements.
2. Oh, so he's only nominated bozos to arguably the three most important cabinet positions? Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play? I guess technically that's only two of the most important cabinet positions, and then two cabinet positions that can be greatly abused, and the people nominated are almost certain to abuse them -- but hey, it's only the defense department, FBI, national intelligence agency, and the administrator of Medicare and Medicaid. No biggie.
heelwithnoname
Active Member
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- 28
More likely, the utter ridiculousness of picks like Hegseth etc make the others "seem" normal by comparison. And the public and likely congresspeople are already suffering from buffoon fatigue.