Analyzing the Transition of Power After The U.S. Election and Beyond Into Future Global Politics

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  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,459
    Some seem not so amused. .... ;)
    Christmas-Kittens-christmas-2736117-500-375.jpg

    Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays, everyone. Cheers! :)
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,694
    This is a Seaview Christmas for me! An early 60's atomic sub ready to defend the world from fascism... if only she were here now.
    hZFN53I.jpg
    :P
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,459
    I'd sign up for the crew, @chrisisall. :) That looks fantastic, by the way. Great job!
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,459
    Newt explains what Trump could do, if he wanted to.
    Loopholes for a president. An option.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,459
    We can imagine ...

    (one comment under this says: If he were a Bond villian everyone would be saying, "Way over the top".)
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,694
    This is Trump mentality all right...

  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,459
    Indeed, @chrisisall.


    And the Big Lies continue, like he's trying to hypnotize us into believing only what he says, ignore the man behind the curtain, facts are overrated, oh yes ...


    worth clicking into and looking thru this
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,694
    "President Swamp Thing" Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,459

    Trump's Budget Director -

    Says in part:
    President-elect Donald Trump recently picked Rep. Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina to head the White House's Office of Management and Budget. Like many of Trump’s other Cabinet nominees, Mulvaney seems to have a disturbingly low opinion of science.

    In a stunning September 9 Facebook post (that’s since been deleted but is still cached), Mulvaney asked, “... what might be the best question: do we really need government funded research at all.”
    ******
    As the person who retweeted this says: You are reading this via a series of technologies made possible by government-funded research. Oh, and you don't have small pox.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,694
    OMG. We are really in for a war on all that REALLY DID MAKE THIS COUNTRY GREAT.... 8-|
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,459
    Good. Although Trump will try to set up new monitoring, tracking, and deportation programs, no doubt about that.
    https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/12/obama-just-made-it-harder-for-trump-to-create-a-muslim-registry/511505/?utm_source=twb
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited December 2016 Posts: 12,459
    Bots. Sent to confuse, spread lies, stir up hatred, all that stuff.

    http://politicalbots.org/?p=829
    Says in part:
    The use of automated accounts was deliberate and strategic throughout the election, most clearly with pro-Trump campaigners and programmers who carefully adjusted the timing of content production during the debates, strategically colonized pro-Clinton hashtags, and then disabled automated activities after election day,” the researchers wrote.

    *****

    On Wednesday, the white nationalist website the Daily Stormer said it had created over 1,000 fake Twitter accounts that purported to be the personal accounts of black people, and urged its readers to do the same. It alluded to a future trolling campaign. “Twitter is about to learn what happens when you mess with Republicans,” wrote Andrew Anglin on the site.

    *****
    http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/18/technology/automated-pro-trump-bots-overwhelmed-pro-clinton-messages-researchers-say.html?smid=tw-share
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,694
    When you post articles like that with facts & stuff I'm forced to ask: Why do you hate my country so much? If you LIKED the U.S. you'd watch FOXnews like so many HERE do, and totally buy their shit!
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,459
    Changing the political system is an ongoing, worthwhile effort that every citizen should keep on keepin' on. Basically, that's my feeling on politics in a very broad sense.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited December 2016 Posts: 12,459
    Trump dealing with Republicans. I think he will go after them in a variety of ways.
    Including the worst you can think of. Such is his reputation.
    http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/donald-trump-congress-republicans-232800

    Breitbart seized on Flores' remarks a few days later, calling them proof that House Republicans planned to “isolate and block President Donald Trump’s populist campaign promises.” A conservative populist blogger for the site TruthFeed then warned Flores on Twitter to "get ready for a shit storm," and posted a headline that read: “BREAKING: Rep. Bill Flores Has CRAFTED a PLAN to BLOCK Trump’s Immigration Reform.”

    Sean Hannity jumped in, too, featuring the Breitbart post on his syndicated radio show. That only further riled the impromptu anti-Flores mob.

    "@RepBillFlores get in @realDonaldTrump way & we will burn your career down until you are reduced to selling life insurance,” tweeted one person. "@RepBillFlores you can go hang yourself!!" another wrote.

    It’s little wonder that Capitol Hill Republicans have papered over their not-insignificant policy differences with Trump, shying away from any statement about the president-elect that might possibly be construed as critical. They’re terrified of arousing the ire of their tempestuous new leader — or being labeled a turncoat by his army of followers.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited December 2016 Posts: 12,459
    And good news indeed: The Rockettes will NOT be forced, by their union, to participate in any inaugural events for Trump. Huge protest and outcry worked.
    (click on the article within in this to read the wording on the new result)

    At first it seemed, most did not want to have anything to do with the inauguration but feared they would lose their jobs (especially how their union first worded this to them.)

    So far, the Trump team is struggling bigly to get any A or B list celebrities to be part of this inauguration.

    I am glad that at least, the union changed its direction and that only Rockettes will truly want to go will be part of this.

    Merry Xmas, Rockettes!
  • Chachi is SO there.....
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,459
    Yes he will be at Trump's inauguration; and undoubtedly pedo Ted Nugent, too.
    I did say "A" or "B" list. ;)
  • M16_CartM16_Cart Craig fanboy?
    Posts: 538
    TripAces wrote: »
    The Repubs are trying to play this both ways, based on the responses I've read from Fox News and the Wall Street Journal.

    On one hand, they claim that Obama's position toward Russia was weak, leading to Russia gaining an upper hand on the U.S. However, the also seem to claim that the leak is no big deal and suggests that the Democrats are behind this and whining about the outcome again.

    You can't freak out about Putin when it comes to Obama and then shrug him off when it comes to hacking. Sorry. But Republicans pull this crap constantly.

    Both sides are playing it. It's odd to see Democrats hopping on board that Russo-phobia. I think both parties have very similar foreign policies but each choose to use different rhetoric.

    It's just a really weak defense to blame Russia. Or to suggest you're against countries influencing other countries elections when yourself do the same thing. Usually Obama is good at looking at things calmly and rationally, but this time he's trying to score political points.

  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited December 2016 Posts: 12,459
    Not a phobia when backed up with many sources, not only a few. It is, and should be, a genuine concern. Among plenty of other concerns. I am not focusing on the election results re Russia; I am focusing on what is happening now, while remembering what happened during the campaign. My concern is present and moving forward; regarding Trump's actions and attitudes (and for sure, appointees in his administration) re Russia.

    Whatever the U.S. has done in the past, and is doing, matters. But that also does not take away from Russia interfering and continuing to influence Trump. How Trump is treating Putin and Russia is of interest and I think genuinely worrying. And keeping in mind that Trump's current actions and words are in conflict with traditional GOP policies and members' views.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    The CIA has refused to share any information re the alleged meddling with anyone, including the Senate Homeland Security chairman and his people.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    edited December 2016 Posts: 17,694
    M16_Cart wrote: »
    Usually Obama is good at looking at things calmly and rationally, but this time he's trying to score political points.
    You don't even know what that phrase means, do you? It's just something you heard so many times that you actually think it means something. People are so funny.
    :))
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,459
    Back here for a bit - but, hey, it's Christmas now where I live! So, time for a break from politics. We all need a rest from it at times. Important to keep standing up, speaking up for what we believe in, and never give up. That's the only way to make change happen. We'll work together. But I'm taking a one day break from all the crap that is happening now in American politics. It will keep piling up and we'll deal with it later. For now, a holiday respite. ;)

    Merry Christmas!
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  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,459
    Medicare/Medicaid ~
    This article below is about the cuts the Republicans and Trump are going to try to make happen and push this through as quickly as possible, and for us not to lose focus on Medicaid.

    Well, this is personal to me. I'm going to need this in just a few years from now. And of course I'm concerned for everybody who needs this aid, not just me. They will paint the picture so carefully (politics, politicians, sure) , but cut/cut/cut and it is extremely worrying.

    In the article below, this bit stands out for me, too. It feels accurate to me in portraying the way Trump operates:
    " ...publicly fight a few select or symbolic populist battles in order to mask an overall economic and fiscal strategy that showers benefits on the most well-off at the expense of tens of millions of Americans."

    http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/25/opinion/the-quiet-war-on-medicaid.html?action=click&contentCollection=Music&module=Trending&version=Full&region=Marginalia&pgtype=article
    In part: (bolding/underlining is mine)

    If Donald J. Trump decides to gut the basic guarantee of Medicare and revamp its structure so that it hurts older and sicker people, Democrats must and will push back hard. But if Democrats focus too much of their attention on Medicare, they may inadvertently assist the quieter war on Medicaid — one that could deny health benefits to millions of children, seniors, working families and people with disabilities.

    Of the two battles, the Republican effort to dismantle Medicaid is more certain. Neither Mr. Trump nor Senate Republicans may have the stomach to fully own the political risks of Medicare privatization. But not only have Speaker Paul D. Ryan and Tom Price, Mr. Trump’s choice for secretary of health and human services, made proposals to deeply cut Medicaid through arbitrary block grants or “per capita caps,” during the campaign, Mr. Trump has also proposed block grants.

    If Mr. Trump chooses to oppose his party’s Medicare proposals while pushing unprecedented cuts to older people and working families in other vital safety-net programs, it would play into what seems to be an emerging strategy of his: to publicly fight a few select or symbolic populist battles in order to mask an overall economic and fiscal strategy that showers benefits on the most well-off at the expense of tens of millions of Americans.

    Without an intense focus by progressives on the widespread benefits of Medicaid and its efficiency, it will be too easy for Mr. Trump to market the false notion that Medicaid is a bloated, wasteful program and that such financing caps are means simply to give states more flexibility while “slowing growth.” Medicaid’s actual spending per beneficiary has, on average, grown about 3 percentage points less each year than it has for those with private health insurance, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities — a long-term trend that is projected to continue. The arbitrary spending caps proposed by Mr. Price and Mr. Ryan would cut Medicaid to the bone, leaving no alternative for states but to impose harsh cuts in benefits and coverage.

    Mr. Price’s own proposal, which he presented as the chairman of the House budget committee, would cut Medicaid by about $1 trillion over the next decade. This is on top of the reduction that would result from the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, which both Mr. Trump and Republican leaders have championed. Together, full repeal and block granting would cut Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program funding by about $2.1 trillion over the next 10 years — a 40 percent cut.

    Even without counting the repeal of the A.C.A. coverage expansion, the Price plan would cut remaining federal Medicaid spending by $169 billion — or one-third — by the 10th year of his proposal, with the reductions growing more severe thereafter. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation estimated that a similar Medicaid block grant proposed by Mr. Ryan in 2012 would lead to 14 million to 21 million Americans’ losing their Medicaid coverage by the 10th year, and that is on top of the 13 million who would lose Medicaid or children’s insurance program coverage under an A.C.A. repeal.

    The emerging Republican plan to “repeal, delay and replace” the A.C.A. seeks to further camouflage these harmful cuts. Current Republican plans to eliminate the marketplace subsidies and A.C.A. Medicaid expansion in 2019 would create a health care cliff where all of the Medicaid funds and subsidies for the A.C.A. expansion would simply disappear and 30 million people would lose their health care.

    In the face of such a manufactured crisis, the Trump administration could cynically claim to be increasing Medicaid funding by offering governors a small fraction of the existing A.C.A. expansion back as part of a block grant. No one should be deceived. Maintaining a small fraction of the current Medicaid expansion within a tightly constrained block grant is not an increase.

    Some might whisper that these cuts would be harder to beat back because their impact would fall on those with the least political power. Sweeping cuts to Medicaid would hurt tens of millions of low-income and middle-income families who had a family member with a disability or were in need of nursing home care. About 60 percent of the costs of traditional Medicaid come from providing nursing home care and other types of care for the elderly and those with disabilities.

    While Republicans resist characterizations of their block grant or cap proposals as tearing away health benefits from children, older people in nursing homes or middle-class families heroically coping with children with serious disabilities, the tyranny of the math does not allow for any other conclusion. If one tried to cut off all 30 million poor kids now enrolled in Medicaid, it would save 19 percent of the program’s spending. Among the Medicaid programs at greatest risk would be those optional state programs that seek to help middle-income families who become “medically needy” because of the costs of having a child with a serious disability like autism or Down syndrome.
    *******
    With many Republican governors and local hospitals also likely to be victimized by the proposals of Mr. Ryan and Mr. Price, this fight can be both morally right and politically powerful. Republicans hold only a slight majority in the Senate. It would take only three Republican senators thinking twice about the wisdom of block grants and per capita caps to put a halt to the coming war on Medicaid.

  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,333
    If that goes through people like me and my mom who rely on Medicaid will be screwed...
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