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The grown-ups have left the building - Trump thread #136

1000 replies

Spandauer · 09/11/2024 18:56

As we descend into 4 years of madness...

(thanks @Jaichangecentfoisdenom and* *@AcrossthePond55 for the suggestions)

Previous thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5200273-hands-across-the-water-trump-thread-135

The grown-ups have left the building - Trump thread #136
OP posts:
Thread gallery
116
BustingBaoBun · 12/12/2024 14:30

I watched an interesting interview with George Conway about his resignation. He is very disappointed Wray has done this... I must try and find it....

DuncinToffee · 12/12/2024 14:36

Yes, I think you are right. He was going to be fired anyway because he upset Trump with the FBI investigation intoTrump's handling of classified documents

DuncinToffee · 12/12/2024 14:53

BustingBaoBun · 12/12/2024 14:30

I watched an interesting interview with George Conway about his resignation. He is very disappointed Wray has done this... I must try and find it....

Aaron Rupar thinks similar

https://www.publicnotice.co/p/chris-wray-resignation-obeying-in-advance

Chris Wray folds like cheap suit. Don’t be Chris Wray.

The FBI director obeys in advance.

https://www.publicnotice.co/p/chris-wray-resignation-obeying-in-advance

SerendipityJane · 12/12/2024 15:19

Meanwhile Canada talking about cutting off energy exports to the US (amongst other things that would really hurt)

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/11/ontario-premier-threatens-cut-off-energy-supply-us-00193895

AcrossthePond55 · 12/12/2024 16:37

Well, here's the thing. If Wray holds 'career status' and is fired he would lose any federal pension he may be entitled to. If he resigns, he keeps it. I know he's had 8 years as Director and that he's held federal jobs before so I'd bet he has enough cumulative years to qualify. It may not be much, but having a federal pension also entitles you to keep your health insurance with a much lower premium rate than if you had to 'go private'.

Trump fired Andrew McCabe HOURS before his retirement with the specific intent that he'd lose his pension & benefits. He won his lawsuit restoring his retirement rights but it took THREE YEARS to settle it and get reinstated. Wray doesn't want to go through that same shit. I don't blame him.

www.npr.org/2021/10/14/1039690679/andrew-mccabe-lawsuit-trump-fbi

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 12/12/2024 17:41

I've just seen this in the NYT: www.nytimes.com/2024/12/12/us/politics/trump-pardons-deportations-time-magazine-interview.html
To think we have 4 more years of this abject stupidity to live through. It's madness. The red states are in self-destruct mode and destroying their children and grand-children's futures. It's horrific. Hopefully the blue states will be able to deal with much of the nonsense - or will they?

SerendipityJane · 12/12/2024 17:46

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 12/12/2024 17:41

I've just seen this in the NYT: www.nytimes.com/2024/12/12/us/politics/trump-pardons-deportations-time-magazine-interview.html
To think we have 4 more years of this abject stupidity to live through. It's madness. The red states are in self-destruct mode and destroying their children and grand-children's futures. It's horrific. Hopefully the blue states will be able to deal with much of the nonsense - or will they?

The problem will be if the Blue states do start to outperform Red, you'll get a migration of poorer people from the Red to the blue.

My experience of America and Americans is they are far less attached to being somewhere than people in the UK. Although that may just be the people I associate with. I still remember a 56 year old lady lived all her life in Houma who had never been to New Orleans.

Wallaw · 12/12/2024 17:55

AcrossthePond55 · 12/12/2024 16:37

Well, here's the thing. If Wray holds 'career status' and is fired he would lose any federal pension he may be entitled to. If he resigns, he keeps it. I know he's had 8 years as Director and that he's held federal jobs before so I'd bet he has enough cumulative years to qualify. It may not be much, but having a federal pension also entitles you to keep your health insurance with a much lower premium rate than if you had to 'go private'.

Trump fired Andrew McCabe HOURS before his retirement with the specific intent that he'd lose his pension & benefits. He won his lawsuit restoring his retirement rights but it took THREE YEARS to settle it and get reinstated. Wray doesn't want to go through that same shit. I don't blame him.

www.npr.org/2021/10/14/1039690679/andrew-mccabe-lawsuit-trump-fbi

Wray doesn't need his federal pension. There are dozens of law firms where he could stroll in as a partner. He used to be at King & Spalding where iirc the equity partners average around $4.5m a year and I have no doubt he could go somewhere better, at a higher level, at this point

Adding - McCabe was a bit different as I believe he was a career federal employee, so his pension was a much bigger deal. I think he's teaching at a law school now.

SerendipityJane · 12/12/2024 17:58

Wallaw · 12/12/2024 17:55

Wray doesn't need his federal pension. There are dozens of law firms where he could stroll in as a partner. He used to be at King & Spalding where iirc the equity partners average around $4.5m a year and I have no doubt he could go somewhere better, at a higher level, at this point

Adding - McCabe was a bit different as I believe he was a career federal employee, so his pension was a much bigger deal. I think he's teaching at a law school now.

Edited

The singular thing binding together all the scumbags in Trumps orbit is that they can never have enough money. If I had to devise a virus to wipe them out, I would probably use that as the marker.

Wallaw · 12/12/2024 18:03

SerendipityJane · 12/12/2024 17:58

The singular thing binding together all the scumbags in Trumps orbit is that they can never have enough money. If I had to devise a virus to wipe them out, I would probably use that as the marker.

I really can't figure Wray out. I guess he's been an ok director. He didn't exactly cover himself in glory with the Kavanaugh investigation, but I guess you can argue he carried out the investigation he was charged with.

No doubt he'll earn a very nice living post-FBI, but he'd be in the same position were he to hang on and make Dumpster fire him. I don't think he's a grifting money grabber, but I can't see any honour or reason in what he's doing.

Spandauer · 12/12/2024 22:36

President-elect Donald Trump is breaking with precedent in inviting a foreign head of state to his inauguration.
https://www.npr.org/2024/12/12/nx-s1-5226985/trump-china-xi-inauguration

Probably wants a few more trademarks to share with the fam.

Trump invites China's Xi to next month's inauguration

President-elect Donald Trump is breaking with precedent in inviting a foreign head of state to his inauguration.

https://www.npr.org/2024/12/12/nx-s1-5226985/trump-china-xi-inauguration

OP posts:
SerendipityJane · 13/12/2024 11:53

Spandauer · 12/12/2024 22:36

President-elect Donald Trump is breaking with precedent in inviting a foreign head of state to his inauguration.
https://www.npr.org/2024/12/12/nx-s1-5226985/trump-china-xi-inauguration

Probably wants a few more trademarks to share with the fam.

So he already knows Xi will attend.

DuncinToffee · 13/12/2024 12:14

Are these people for real!

Aaron Siri,

The lawyer helping Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pick federal health officials for the incoming Trump administration has petitioned the government to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine, which for decades has protected millions of people from a virus that can cause paralysis or death.

https://bsky.app/profile/nytimes.com/post/3ld6nyss3vk2q

AcrossthePond55 · 13/12/2024 15:49

You know with Scrotus inviting Xi, a 'foreign head of state', it sounds to me as if he's looking at his inauguration (which is usually very US-centric) as more of a coronation in which foreign monarchs/heads of state are routinely included.

I'm trying to think of other heads of state who might actually show up. Scrotus' besties Putin and Kim wouldn't set foot on US soil, nor would Erdogan whom Scrotus so greatly admires. Maybe he can get Assad to come. No no, he probably considers Assad a 'loser' since he was deposed so he doesn't 'rate' an invite.

On other matters, the suit to revoke the polio vaccine is just the opening salvo. I worry for those who don't have lifetime immunity to all the diseases we vax for. For some of those diseases, those who had vaccines don't often have lifetime immunity and if they start 'withdrawing' vaccines it will be a disaster as they won't be able to get boosters. Especially at risk are women who had the rubella vax and who are planning on becoming pregnant. My cousin had to get a booster back in the early 90s because her childhood immunity through vaccine had 'worn off'. TBH I'd urge anyone (male or female) in the US who didn't actually have the diseases we vax for to check with their doctor, get titre tests if needed and get those vaxxes ASAP.

DH and I had all the 'usual' childhood diseases because our childhoods were 'pre-vaccine' for most of them so we have lifelong immunity. We had the polio 'sugar cube' as well as the smallpox vax (yes, we're that old) which also confer lifetime immunity so we're good there. We're both up to date on Tetanus, covid, and flu. But we are planning to get whatever vaccines we need before 21 Jan. Hope for the best, get jabs for the worst.

BustingBaoBun · 13/12/2024 16:03

Didn't Erdogan visit Trump back in the day when he was POTUS? I seem to remember this army of running security men alongside his car. Trumpy would love that. It would make him feel very masculine

SerendipityJane · 13/12/2024 16:10

AcrossthePond55 · 13/12/2024 15:49

You know with Scrotus inviting Xi, a 'foreign head of state', it sounds to me as if he's looking at his inauguration (which is usually very US-centric) as more of a coronation in which foreign monarchs/heads of state are routinely included.

I'm trying to think of other heads of state who might actually show up. Scrotus' besties Putin and Kim wouldn't set foot on US soil, nor would Erdogan whom Scrotus so greatly admires. Maybe he can get Assad to come. No no, he probably considers Assad a 'loser' since he was deposed so he doesn't 'rate' an invite.

On other matters, the suit to revoke the polio vaccine is just the opening salvo. I worry for those who don't have lifetime immunity to all the diseases we vax for. For some of those diseases, those who had vaccines don't often have lifetime immunity and if they start 'withdrawing' vaccines it will be a disaster as they won't be able to get boosters. Especially at risk are women who had the rubella vax and who are planning on becoming pregnant. My cousin had to get a booster back in the early 90s because her childhood immunity through vaccine had 'worn off'. TBH I'd urge anyone (male or female) in the US who didn't actually have the diseases we vax for to check with their doctor, get titre tests if needed and get those vaxxes ASAP.

DH and I had all the 'usual' childhood diseases because our childhoods were 'pre-vaccine' for most of them so we have lifelong immunity. We had the polio 'sugar cube' as well as the smallpox vax (yes, we're that old) which also confer lifetime immunity so we're good there. We're both up to date on Tetanus, covid, and flu. But we are planning to get whatever vaccines we need before 21 Jan. Hope for the best, get jabs for the worst.

The TL;DR is to make Americans much less welcome around the world.

Talkinpeace · 13/12/2024 16:22

Amusing fact re jabs - Smallpox was eradicated in the UK several years before the US
so I was vaccinated at birth (and still have the scar on my arm)
but none of my same age UK born friends do.

As for stopping polio vaccinations - that is downright criminal if it happens

BestIsWest · 13/12/2024 17:07

DH had the smallpox vaccination (he is 67) and I didn’t (61) - I think it routinely stopped for infants in 1962 in the UK.

pointythings · 13/12/2024 17:08

I was born in 1968 and had the smallpox vax (on the foot, not the arm) but my DSis who is 3 years younger didn't.

The US has gone fully nuts. I'm so glad DS isn't moving there now.

Spandauer · 13/12/2024 17:11

I remember my elder brother was in a primary school class (1950s UK) that had 2 children who had contracted polio as babies - both had growth problems and one had a withered leg but didn't wear callipers - as far as I remember.

It seems vaccines have been too successful and the anti-vaxxers have no idea what these diseases can do to their children. 😔

MAGAs will get what they wanted - no furriners entering the US because it will be on the no travel list for the rest of the world!

OP posts:
CaveMum · 13/12/2024 17:12

TRIP US stating that Thune is playing chess with the confirmation hearings - he (Thune) reckons they can stop 4 of Trump’s nominees - Gaetz (already shot down), Hegseth, Gabbard and Patel - but he’s conscious of not leaving any individual senators open to repercussions. Sounds like they’re talking about trading votes so that they can take them down without the same people being implicated in all refusals.

SerendipityJane · 13/12/2024 17:13

Talkinpeace · 13/12/2024 16:22

Amusing fact re jabs - Smallpox was eradicated in the UK several years before the US
so I was vaccinated at birth (and still have the scar on my arm)
but none of my same age UK born friends do.

As for stopping polio vaccinations - that is downright criminal if it happens

Oh, it's going to happen. There is far more money to be made from peddling drugs to treat diseases than there every will be from preventing them.

SerendipityJane · 13/12/2024 17:14

I remember my elder brother was in a primary school class (1950s UK) that had 2 children who had contracted polio as babies - both had growth problems and one had a withered leg but didn't wear callipers - as far as I remember.

Ian Drury was a polio victim.

CaveMum · 13/12/2024 17:18

My science teacher at secondary school had polio as a child - he permanently wore a leg brace. This was in the mid-90s and from memory he must have been at least mid-40s, so born 1950 or earlier. We also had an art teacher who was a thalidomide child, an amazing artist despite his disability.

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