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

[Spandauer]

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

Having said that - don't call us stupid

https://nypost.com/2024/11/11/us-news/costco-forced-to-recall-80000-pounds-of-butter-for-the-dumbest-possible-reason/

Particularly as a fair number of voters voted blue down the ticket - Senate, House and State legislature (abortion, immigration, education etc) but went for Trump as president. So might not end up all rosy in Melania's Rose Garden*

Another quirk/feature of the US system the rest of the world (and the US itself) needs to bear in mind.

There are a couple if expat US UKians who have posted marvelling at the general election ballot only having 3 or four names on with no other distractions.

Referring to my previous post, you have to wonder if it's not a bit overwhelming for some.

Anyone else feel this could be a poem or song ?

I wonder what this means? A recount in closely contested States?

We're terrified for and old friend who lives in Michigan with her girlfriend. Friends have been telling her to move back here with her girlfriend.

@SerendipityJane
The Costco butter story is a belter

@GettingStuffed
Why are they so scared ?
What do they think will happen ?

regarding a recount, seeing as T was bleating in about ‘the other side’ cheating it’s highly probable that his side were… a lot.

Elon Musk appointed to lead a so-called "department of government efficiency" initiative.

This is not a department but some kind of commission or consultancy intended to operate with [within?] White House/Office of Management & Budget for 18 months until July 2026

Musk will be a public voice seeking to delegitimise government spending using his X social media platform: a kind of taxpayers alliance on steroids

Whether/how this leads to decisions to eliminate departments, areas of spending or significant cuts in the budget tbc

https://bsky.app/profile/sundersays.bsky.social/post/3lasvyezats2s

@DuncinToffee you are missing the point! The acronym is "Doge" which is like, totally hilarious and based and shows how much of a bro he is. That's the main thing, not what swinging cuts are made or who benefits.

Only an 18 month appointment! Perhaps they've taken heed of Mooch and Katty's prediction over the longevity of their bromance!

He is sharing the role with Vivek Ramaswamy, is that a threesome bromance?

I'm still not ready to read most Trump news in depth but looking at a few of his proposed appointees to his administration and cabinet is depressing to say the least: Kennedy, Kristi Noem, Pete Hesgeth, Tom Homan, Musk, Ramaswamy, Stefanik and Mike Huckabee ambassador to Israel, to name but a few. Loyalty to the president is practically the only consideration for Trump and his team. And if they happen to hold a few extreme or crackpot views all the better.

I was thinking about Trump's last term and how it was reported that records were not properly kept and/or destroyed. Phone calls weren't transcribed for eg and Trump used to tear up papers and notes he'd made. There is no way way that any of these people are going to leave anything that could incriminate them in any way. Nothing will be preserved or filed for future reference. Presidential papers will be pure fiction.

Yes I think Mooch gave it 6 months before it implodes. That’s 16 Scaramucci’s by my count!

I agree. I have been keeping a safe distance for my own sanity, but have seen some of the appointments and they are truly awful.

Yes, let's bear in mind that Trump used to have meetings with Putin and conversations with other leaders and not document it which is against the law or whatever.

In totally unrelated news, I checked a certain balance for the first time in ages and was gobsmacked to see it's now c £2,500 - not bad considering I only spent £20 in 2011 as part of a strategy analysis for IT. And I've spent around £200 over they years too. You can see why that guy wants to excavate that tip in Wales for his lost hard drive !

Cheers Donnie !

Returning to the unhidden world, one thing that will certainly act as a brake on the whole Trump train will be the fact that it's a coachload of like-minded grifters. Which means there will be an almost infinite number of ways you can carve up the various vested interests involved. And I am certain that not all of them will be willing to go broke for the Mango Mussolini.

If we reflect on the 2020-2014 years for our own nascent Fascist wannabees, they were hardly effective.

I can see the next year or so devolving into a series of bewildering bunfights, with team Trump having to declare various factions of Team Trump as "Democrat sympathisers".

Not being alive for the glory days of McCarthy, I wonder if it will create a similar vibe. "Are you now, or have you ever been seen wearing a Biden Badge ?"

Alliteration. Beats sarcasm every time 😀

Interesting analysis of people’s experience of inflation here www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/13/grocery-prices-donald-trump-climate-crisis-olive-oil-butter-extreme-weather-cost-of-living

Today the Senate vote (secretly) for the new senate leader to replace 'Moscow Mitch' McConnell. Trump wants Rick Scott - will be an interesting first test of loyalty to the Orange 💩.

Ah, MAGA wants Scott, apparently Trump hasn't publicly sided with any of the 3 senators up for the position - he can't know who to 'punish' as it's a secret ballot) All 3 (Scott, Thune and Cornyn) have said they will work to achieve Trump's agenda.

(Interesting that my autocorrect replaces Cornyn with Corbin - yep! It's all Jezza's fault 😂)

Exclusive extracts from... The Secret Diary of Elon Musk, Aged 13 3/4

https://bsky.app/profile/mrhenrymorris.bsky.social/post/3latbxyfc722l

I know the Guardian has its issues (and can be said to have its own bubble/biases). But the deadpan reporting in this article is really good! "The Guardian acquiesced, and used the opportunity to go to the bathroom" ‘Go to hell’: Project 2025 chief kicks Guardian reporter out of book event | US politics | The Guardian

I need someone to write the whole book.

Better still, get AI to do it. I am sure his Muskness would approve.

For some reason I remember that Hitler used to like giving the same instructions to different underlings which was a very effective way to ensure they fought amongst themselves protecting himself.

The pair discussed Roberts’s book, in which he describes how “many of America’s institutions […] need to be burned”. Included among those to be incinerated, Roberts writes, are the FBI and the New York Times, along with “every Ivy League college”, “80% of ‘Catholic’ higher education”, and the Boy Scouts of America.

What have the Boy Scouts done to be included?