View Full Version : and just like that
tomder55
Nov 9, 2024, 01:52 PM
already mentioned Trump hires 1st female Chief of Staff . He also had talks with Mayor Adams who will now end controversial debit card gimmee to illegals. Houthis suddenly end their pirate raids .
Stock market soared this week Bitcoin hit all time high
That caravan of illegals that was steadily making it's way to the US border is dispersing.
Migrant Caravan: Travelers Turn Back as Trump Win Ends 'Dream of Getting Out' - Newsweek (https://www.newsweek.com/migrant-caravans-turn-back-after-trump-election-win-1982274)
Qatar evicts Hamas
Qatar to expel Hamas leaders as hopes of ceasefire fade (https://www.thetimes.com/world/israel-hamas-war/article/qatar-hamas-leaders-leave-country-z25z83w89)
Hamas wants to end war
Hamas Calls for End to War After Trump Election Win - Newsweek (https://www.newsweek.com/hamas-calls-immediate-end-war-after-trump-election-win-1981571)
Taliban wants new chapter
Afghanistan Taliban Govt Hopes For 'New Chapter' With Trump Election Win | Barron's (https://www.barrons.com/news/afghan-taliban-hopes-for-new-chapter-with-trump-election-win-489c80f6)
more to come
tomder55
Nov 9, 2024, 05:16 PM
China wants "peaceful coexistence"
Russia is "ready" to speak with the US
EU wants to buy US gas, not Russian gas
Ukraine leaders in talks with Trump. Elon Musk joined in
China handles US ties based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, win-win cooperation, FM says as Trump declares victory - Global Times (https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202411/1322542.shtml)
Russia tells US: we need to talk, but Ukraine must be on agenda | Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-tells-us-we-need-talk-ukraine-must-be-agenda-2024-06-21/)
European Commission President Says EU Wants to Buy US Gas Instead of Russian - News18 (https://www.news18.com/business/european-commission-president-says-eu-wants-to-buy-us-gas-instead-of-russian-9114780.html)
Elon Musk joined Trump-Zelensky call amid concerns for future of Ukraine war | CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/08/europe/ukraine-trump-elon-musk-zelensky-intl-latam/index.html)
And that is less than a week
tomder55
Nov 11, 2024, 07:31 AM
I will continue to add Trump appointments here
Yesterday NY Rep ;Chair, House Republican Conference, Elise Stefanik was named UN ambassador nominee
. She replaced Lz Cheney for the Chair position and came to prominence in her tough questioning of University Presidents over antisemitism on campus.
But she has opposed Trump in her time in the House including his environmental policies . She opposed the US leaving the Paris accords . She has voted about 23% times against his agenda bur was rock solid in her support of him during all the impeachments and Kangaroo courts .
Trump named former acting Ice Director Tom Homan as "border czar ". Homan will enforce Trump's border policies ,don't doubt it.
Former ICE director shouts at lawmaker: You work for me! - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28CWbymxBeA)
He started his career in 1984 as a Border Patrol agent, before climbing the ranks in ICE. During the emperor's reign Homan led the Enforcement and Removal Operations division, responsible for deportations.
jlisenbe
Nov 11, 2024, 07:45 AM
Yeah, but has he appointed any trangenders, or any drag queens? Come on now!!
It can be hoped that common sense is making a return to Washington.
tomder55
Nov 11, 2024, 09:08 AM
What people conveniently overlook is that Trump appointed the first openly gay ambassador in US history. Richard Grenell was appointed Ambassador to Germany in 2017 While in Berlin he hosted disussions on decriminalizing homosexuality .
As President Trump stated during his General Assembly address in September:
As we defend American values, we affirm the right of all people to live in dignity. For this reason, my administration is working with other nations to stop criminalizing of homosexuality, and we stand in solidarity with LGBTQ people who live in countries that punish, jail, or execute individuals based upon sexual orientation.
Media Note: Decriminalizing Sexual Orientation - United States Mission to the United Nations (https://usun.usmission.gov/media-note-decriminalizing-sexual-orientation/?_ga=2.238752064.1771608821.1582209494-419053907.1582209494)
tomder55
Nov 12, 2024, 03:19 AM
Marco Rubio is being tapped to become Sec State
Former Green Beret ,Florida Rep Mike Waltz ,who is a China hardliner ,is going to be National Security Advisor.
NY Rep Lee Zeldin Director EPA
tomder55
Nov 12, 2024, 04:03 AM
Trump vetoed consideration of Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo on the advice of his inner circle led by Don Jr. The reasons are simple. Trump holds a grudge against Nikki for her primary challenge. She later publicly came on board ;but with less than an enthusiastic endorsement . The bigger reasons are that both are interventionists in foreign policy The Trump team also doesn't want competition with JD Vance in 2028 from inside the administration.
jlisenbe
Nov 12, 2024, 01:48 PM
The big problem with Rubio, Waltz, and Zeldin will be the possibility, slim though it would be, that seats could be lost in the Congress/Senate.
tomder55
Nov 12, 2024, 05:04 PM
Rubio would be replaced by a DeSantis appointment.
Zeldin of NY 1st district would be replaced with a special election. The 1st district is Suffolk County on Long Island .... solid Trump territory .I lived there in my childhood .It is conservative .
Waltz is from Florida 6th which is reliably red .
But yeah if the House is 1 or 2 seats close then the temporary vacancies could be an issue
tomder55
Nov 13, 2024, 01:19 AM
Stefanik is the bigger loss for the House Dems . She is rock solid. But she also is in a pretty safe red district as long as Repubs don't select a moron to run for the seat
tomder55
Nov 13, 2024, 03:37 AM
Musk and Ramaswamy will head the imaginary Department of Government Efficiency(DOGE) . This is really just an advisory group and not a executive branch "department" . I don't know how they will get paid or funded unless their efforts will be voluntary. They will sharpen their #2 Ticonderoga pencils and make recommendations for budget cutting.
Their report will go public and then we will see if Congress has the testicular fortitude to act on it.
Trump calls the new Dept the "Manhattan Project " of our time.
Trump names Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to ‘Manhattan Project’ for government cuts | The Independent (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-elon-musk-manhattan-project-pick-b2646062.html)
tomder55
Nov 13, 2024, 03:43 AM
Pete Hegseth is nominated as Sec Defense. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan .His highest rank was Major in the Army National Guard . He earned 2 Bronze Medals . He has degrees from Princeton and Harvard .
Since then he has been a Veteran's advocate and a political commentator.
I join Dems in their concerns about his qualifications . But I believe that the military leadership and agenda needs a shake up ;and that is probably what Trump has in mind.
tomder55
Nov 13, 2024, 04:01 AM
John Ratcliffe is nominated for CIA chief. He was Director of National Security May 2020 -January 2021 at the end of Trump's 1st term. Before that he was a US Attorney and Congressional Rep from Texas.
Mike Huckabee is tapped for Ambassador to Israel . Good choice . if he does something useful like that he won't have time to pitch infomercial products .
tomder55
Nov 13, 2024, 03:27 PM
Tulsi Gabbard Director of National Intelligence
Matt Gaetz AG ??????
Both I question if they are the best for the job. Love Gabbard but this may be over reach
Gaetz is a moron.
The only positive I see is that if he is in the administration then he won't be a disruptor in the House. His is in a safe red district BUT I now agree that Trump is tapping too heavily on Reps and in the short term this could cost the Repubs votes.
My theory is that some of these picks are made to fail so a more suitable pick will have an easier time with confirmation.
tomder55
Nov 13, 2024, 03:41 PM
btw . the idea that they want to make a number of the appointments through recess appointments is nonsense. They will have no legitimacy if they don't go through the appointment process which includes Senate approval.
I also think it is satisfying that Gabbard went from being on DHS watch lists to an Intel nominee.
tomder55
Nov 13, 2024, 05:12 PM
John Thune was named Senate Majority Leader . He is a Yertle the Turtle Mitch McConnell clone.
I have not made as much of an issue of Yertle as I should . He is the Repub version of Quid pro Joe as his crime family has amassed a fortune selling out to China. His wife was Trump's Transportation Sec Elain Chao .Her father's shipping company 'Foremosty Group ' is tied at the hip with the CCP. Yertle has received $millions in contributions from his wife's family.
Thune won with a secret ballot . Trump did not weigh in ;but his loyalists wanted Sen Rick Scott of Florida to be the new Senate leader
tomder55
Nov 14, 2024, 05:00 AM
Make no mistake about it. Thune is a deep state clone of Yertle and Paul Ryan . He will throw a monkey wrench into the Trump agenda while smiling and claiming he supports him. You want to know why Trump could not complete the border wall ? It was Repubs like Yertle Ryan and Thune who collaborated with the Dems to put up road blocks.
The GOP Conclave Is Over. A New Mitch McConnell Has Been Chosen. (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/the-gop-conclave-is-over-a-new-mitch-mcconnell-has-been-chosen/ar-AA1u40Ec)
It is clear from Trump's appointments that he not only wants to drain the swamp . He wants to blow it up.
Take Gabbard as an example . She was a victim of political persecution. Now she will oversee the agency that was persecuting her.
Pete Hegseth fought the endless wars where rules of engagement prevented success; and then became an advocate of the vets who left their body parts behind ,and were left behind when the deep state got tired of fighting in one theater after another . Now he can do his work inside the DOD .
The War on Warriors – HarperCollins (https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-war-on-warriors-pete-hegseth?variant=41763497803810&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top)
tomder55
Nov 14, 2024, 06:20 AM
Stephen Miller deputy Chief of Staff
Bill McGinley WH Council
Both don't need Senate confirmation
South Dakota Guv Kristi Noem will be DHS Director . The border will be handled by Homan and Steve Miller. She will mostly handle other responsibilities of the agency like FEMA and Secret Service ;both desperately in need of new management.
tomder55
Nov 14, 2024, 06:44 AM
I really can't find many that think Gaetz is a good pick for DOJ. His experience practicing law was a whole 2 years before he entered the political ring. He was the subject of an FBI investigation .But he was not charged so there may be nothing there.
The House was about to report on alleged ethics violations involving drugs and and sexual misconduct . He abruptly resigned from the House after Trump announced his selection. I am sure that what the House found will be brought up in the confirmation hearing. He may have to plead the 5th for some of his responses. I can't imagine he has the support needed to get confirmed. If confirmed I expect that not only will Trump be safe from any legal issues ;but also I expect he may lead the retribution charge . Lawfare has to end . Gaetz is not the guy to accomplish that goal.
tomder55
Nov 14, 2024, 07:03 AM
Ok there is one thing. He may be leaving Congress with a grudge and that may be a good thing. He recently crossed the aisle and teamed up with All Out Crazy to try to end the Congressional abuse of stock purchases with insider knowledge of bills that affect those companies (see the Pelosi crime family) .
Bipartisan group, including Gaetz and Ocasio-Cortez, unveil bill to ban lawmakers from owning stocks - CBS News (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/matt-gaetz-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-congress-stock-ban-bill/)
We all could benefit from cleaning up Congress's act.
jlisenbe
Nov 14, 2024, 07:48 AM
I think Gaetz is a poor choice, and not so much because I think he will do a lousy job, but more because he doesn't have the needed background.
It is being said that Trump is wanting to put "yes men/women" into leadership roles. I hope that is not the case, but sure looks like it here.
tomder55
Nov 14, 2024, 01:13 PM
Meet the new Director of National Security
Tulsi Gabbard your next Director of National Intelligence - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sJENbJ0OTw)
tomder55
Nov 14, 2024, 02:29 PM
RFK Jr HHS Sec
tomder55
Nov 15, 2024, 03:49 AM
RFK JR is the 2nd appointment I object to .
I knew that Trump made some kind of deal with him to get him on board. Kennedy met with Kam the Sham too and I'm sure he negotiated for the best deal he could get. I suspected Trump would have him lead a taskforce related to the covid cover up and the vaccine ,and maybe with overall nutritional health of the nation . I never imagined that Trump would consider handing the reigns of one of the largest department in the bureaucracy to a libtard (consider HHS overseas Medicare /Medicaid among other agencies ).
Consider some of the positions he has taken .
1 ) He favors single payer heath care .
That alone should disqualify him .
2) He is a skeptic about vaccines . That is fine . But he goes to extremes . He denies the efficacy of the polio vaccine. He has suggested that the polio vaccine has killed more people than it saved. That is absolute nonsense.
Before the vaccine was introduced in 1955 by Jonas Salk ,American parents lived with the fear that their children would get the highly infectious disease. It is a nasty disease that attacks the nervous system leading to spinal and respiratory paralysis often leading to death. Survival leads to deformities and other lifetime debilities. It was by far the most feared disease of the early 20th century . Worldwide it killed or paralyzed over a half million a year. There was no known cure.
People lined up for their turn to get the vax. Within 2 years annual cases dropped from 58,000 to 5,600 . By 1961 there were 161 cases .Salk could've become wealthy by patenting his vaccine. But he refused to do so .When asked why he replied 'could you patent the sun?' Other vaccines including Albert Sabin's oral vaccine were later introduced . By 1979 the disease was eradicated in the US except when it came in from other nations.
Kennedy has said that no vaccine is safe and has made the claim that the polio vaccine causes cancer. That is dangerous misinformation . Vaccination mandates have eradicated or drastically reduced small pox ,polo , meningitis ,measles ,mumps and ,rubella.
Yes a case can be made against mandates of some vaccines ;and that vaccines like covid do not get sufficient clinical study before being approved . But his overall opposition to vaccine mandates should disqualify him for HHS.
3) Up until his campaign told him to tone it down ;he campaigned for abortion until birth.
RFK Jr. says women can have abortions up till birth, surprising his VP (https://nypost.com/2024/05/09/us-news/rfk-jr-says-women-can-have-abortions-up-till-birth-surprising-his-vp-i-dont-know-where-that-came-from/)
A few days later he backtracked and said that abortions should be approved until fetal viability .
i think his first comment was his true position. That should be an instant disqualifier .
He has a role to play . It should not be at the head of any Federal Department.
RFK JR is the 2nd appointment I object to .
I knew that Trump made some kind of deal with him to get him on board. Kennedy met with Kam the Sham too and I'm sure he negotiated for the best deal he could get. I suspected Trump would have him lead a taskforce related to the covid cover up and the vaccine ,and maybe with overall nutritional health of the nation . I never imagined that Trump would consider handing the reigns of one of the largest department in the bureaucracy to a libtard (consider HHS overseas Medicare /Medicaid among other agencies ).
Consider some of the positions he has taken .
1 ) He favors single payer heath care .
That alone should disqualify him .
2) He is a skeptic about vaccines . That is fine . But he goes to extremes . He denies the efficacy of the polio vaccine. He has suggested that the polio vaccine has killed more people than it saved. That is absolute nonsense.
Before the vaccine was introduced in 1955 by Jonas Salk ,American parents lived with the fear that their children would get the highly infectious disease. It is a nasty disease that attacks the nervous system leading to spinal and respiratory paralysis often leading to death. Survival lead to deformities and other lifetime debilities. It was by far the most feared disease of the early 20th century . Worldwide it killed or paralyzed over a half million a year. There was no known cure.
People lined up for their turn to get the vax. Within 2 years annual cases dropped from 58,000 to 5,600 . By 1961 there were 161 cases .Salk could've become wealthy by patenting his vaccine. But he refused to do so .When asked why he replied 'could you patent the sun?' Other vaccines including Albert Sabin's oral vaccine were later introduced . By 1979 the disease was eradicated in the US except when it came in from other nations.
Kennedy has said that no vaccine is safe and has made the claim that the polio vaccine causes cancer. That is dangerous misinformation . Vaccination mandates have eradicated or drastically reduced small pox ,polo , meningitis ,measles ,mumps and ,rubella.
Yes a case can be made against mandates of some vaccines ;and that vaccines like covid do not get sufficient clinical study before being approved . But his overall opposition to vaccine mandates should disqualify him for HHS.
3) Up until his campaign told him to tone it down ;he campaigned for abortion until birth.
RFK Jr. says women can have abortions up till birth, surprising his VP (https://nypost.com/2024/05/09/us-news/rfk-jr-says-women-can-have-abortions-up-till-birth-surprising-his-vp-i-dont-know-where-that-came-from/)
A few days later he backtracked and said that abortions should be approved until fetal viability .
i think his first comment was his true position. That should be an instant disqualifier .
He has a role to play . It should not be at the head of any Federal Department.
tomder55
Nov 15, 2024, 05:37 AM
However Trump is making a solid choice for Sec Interior in North Dakota Guv Doug Burgum .
I speculated that Trump could pick him as a VP choice He was one of Trump's most active surrogates after the primaries.
Not so bold prediction on Trump VP pick (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/current-events/not-so-bold-prediction-trump-vp-pick-851984.html)
During the primaries(where he hobbled around on crutches while trying to get a word in) he touted the benefits of US vast abundance of both fossil fuels as well as developing renewables........ an all hands on deck approach.
As Guv he took a business and data driven approach to governing . He promoted energy;income tax reduction ;higher education ; reforms to agriculture and animal farming laws.and addiction recovery (his wife has been very pubic about her recovery) . He dosn't go into social issues unless he has to . He promoted more state cooperation with tribal nations.
Before politics he was a successful entrepreneur ; the CEO of 'Great Plains Software' that was later sold to Microsoft. He stayed on at Microsoft as a VP.
As head of Interior he will oversee the work of 70,000 people (way too many) and manage 640 million acres of land and the resources it contains (way too much land owned by the Federal Government ) .
jlisenbe
Nov 15, 2024, 06:00 AM
Your "way too much" comments are spot on. 640 million acres is equivalent to almost four states the size of Texas.
tomder55
Nov 15, 2024, 02:37 PM
last week the markets were orgasmic over Trump's victory . This week after he made some very questionable appointments the market has retreated .
tomder55
Nov 16, 2024, 03:05 AM
Megyn Kelly explains why Trump selected Gaetz . I get it .
"Who Can Blame Him?": Megyn Kelly Gets Real About Why Trump Wants Matt Gaetz at the DOJ Now (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbF-ZXbJ5Jo)
Still his lack of experience alone is a disqualifier . Add the fact that there may be something to the investigations of him that need to be resolved . I'm sure there are others with more experience ,that have also been burned by the DOJ ,who would be more than willing to take on reforming the agency.
Why does Speaker Johnson want to bury the House ethics probe ? It would've been made public if Gaetz had remained a Rep. It is pertinent in the 'advise and consent' role of the Senate. It should be released.
US House Speaker Johnson wants Gaetz ethics report kept secret | Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-speaker-johnson-wants-gaetz-ethics-report-kept-secret-2024-11-15/)
Who knows ? It may remove any doubts . Is there merit to the accusations or is it a political "wrap up smear" ?
User Clip: Pelosi explains “The Wrap-Up Smear” | C-SPAN.org (https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4785397/user-clip-pelosi-explains-the-wrap-smear)
tomder55
Nov 17, 2024, 04:54 AM
Gabbard smeared
Florida Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz is playing the Russia;Russia;Russia card.
On MSNBC she smeared Tulsi Gabbard claiming her to be a Russia asset.
"She is considered to be essentially by most assessments, a Russian asset and would be the most dangerous,"
"Is that what you consider her?"
"Yes. There's no question. I consider her someone who is likely a Russian asset who would be as the DNI, responsible for managing our entire intelligence community, hold all of our most significant intelligence information and secrets, and essentially would be a direct line to our enemies,"
Debbie Wasserman Schultz slammed for claiming Tulsi Gabbard is a ‘Russian asset’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-ScslwKb5s)
Here's the back story.
Back in 2016 when Schultz was DNC chair ; Gabbard resigned as Vice Chair of DNC protesting that Schultz was rigging it so that Evita could win ;as Glenn Greenwald explains on X
Glenn Greenwald on X: "Tulsi Gabbard resigned as DNC Vice Chair in 2016 because Debbie Wasserman Schultz was rigging the election to ensure Hillary won -- as Liz Warren, Donna Brazile and WL all showed. Imagine fighting for your country and then having pro-war cretins like this impugn your loyalties:" / X (https://x.com/ggreenwald/status/1857473148586738084)
This happened at the same time as Evita was concocting the fake Russiagate conspiracy that still plagues Trump.
Gabbard is a Lt Colonel in the Army reserve who served in Iraq. Schultz is a career politician warmonger who never served .
jlisenbe
Nov 17, 2024, 05:34 AM
Tighten up your seatbelt because this is going to continue for the next couple of months. With the active cooperation of the MSM, the dems will lie continually, and then will add to it by accusing the repubs of lying.
tomder55
Nov 17, 2024, 06:50 AM
Pete Hegseth is now the 2nd Trump nominee accused of rape. He says the sex happened 7 years ago ;it was consensual ;and the woman was the aggressor. The police did not press charges. At the time he was a TV celebrity so he claims he paid her some money to go away.
He was publicly drunk and the women went up to a hotel room with him. Police have video evidence of that. Then she claims 'blackout'. She then says she went to the ER where they found semen in her. She filed a police report 4 days later after presumably her husband confronted her about a bruise on her thigh. Hegseth was concerned about possible black mail so he gave them money.
Sex scandals are the fall back tool of the swamp. They are hard to disprove ...he said /she said .They are salacious headline grabbers ;and as we all know ....we are always to 'believe the woman' .
The story went away only to be revived when it is conveniently reemerged to damage him during confirmation hearings.
Now if only he had left her dead in a car in the bottom of a canal ;or bit her lip during an assault.
tomder55
Nov 18, 2024, 04:54 AM
I wonder who is doing vetting for Trump . True or false this should not have come as a surprise.
tomder55
Jan 18, 2025, 04:40 AM
I may have misjudged John Thune. He is already paying dividends . Under his leadership the Senate voted 61-35 (60 votes required ) to sen d the Laken Riley Act to the Senate for a vote on passage. It already passed the House of Reps. Presumably the Senate will make some amendments to the law so it would still need a final House passage before sending it to Trump to sign,
tomder55
Jan 27, 2025, 05:50 AM
Taliban wants new chapter
Afghanistan Taliban Govt Hopes For 'New Chapter' With Trump Election Win | Barron's (https://www.barrons.com/news/afghan-taliban-hopes-for-new-chapter-with-trump-election-win-489c80f6)
Not off to a good start if they don't want to end up like Qasem Soleimani ....... an explosive spray of pink mist left to greet their virgins .
It was revealed that the Taliban has been holding American hostages even after Clueless Joe made a deal to release American hostages held there .
Specifically George Glezman and Mahmood Habibi who weres seized by the Taliban in 2022 along with some 30 others after we offed Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri. The rest were released but these 2 are still held .
Sec State Marco Rubio threatened dire consequences if they were not released.
Note that the compliant press says that Rubio is escalating tensions .
Marco Rubio escalates tensions with big threat against Taliban (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/marco-rubio-escalates-tensions-with-big-threat-against-taliban/ar-AA1xTHq1?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=ddefd7424bae4f6e9dee70c85f271954&ei=69#comments)