to think you should ignore people having a go at you if you are the President Elect of the USA

[amispartacus]

Rather than having a go at them on Twitter and describing them as second rate actresses.

Otherwise some people might just think you're a bit sensitive.

If that's how he's going to react when people call him out on things, he's going to have a very long 4 years in the White House

Roussette And I love the idea that Trump's staff could be taken to court for illegally videoing people.

Did anyone else get a sense that Trump routinely covertly films staying or meeting in his own hotels? It was a bit like those cheating husbands who think their wives are screwing around because they are projecting. He seemed to know an awful lot about how tiny microphones and cameras are these days.

In other words, CCTV on his golf course is probably the least of it.

people staying...

It's unsettling that he seems to be heading into this presidency so ANGRY, and combative. He should be happy that he's landed the job he wanted. He should be eager, and looking forward to getting stuck into the job.

Even before the Russian scandal, he was already in defensive mode due to the divestment (or failure to do so).

It all just seems so negative. Will there ever be a period of calm, or dare I say it, positivity in his presidency?

red I'm not sure Buzzfeed have done anything that he could actually sue them for. Though I guess he could try and bankrupt them through years of pointless court cases. They just published something that all the newspapers had. They put it up with lots of emphasis on the fact that it was unsubstantiated and very possibly untrue, but was known and discussed by the intelligence agencies and news organisations.

In other words, CCTV on his golf course is probably the least of it.

As someone on R4 News Quiz yesterday said - Trump (as a hotel owner and reality TV personage) sure knows a lot about hiding tiny cameras in hotel rooms.

UnGoogleable - He was angry and combative throughout his campaign. If he continues to be so, people can hardly complain. It's not like he won them over with a charm offensive & has flipped.

Well..... there are so many people out there, press included, who just don't think he's up to the job and given his personality, he is incapable of smiling benignly and acting in a presidential fashion - he has to punish those who don't agree who him, cast slurs on them, kick out because he's being criticised etc. He's like a big ugly baby.

He wants to divide and conquer the media and he's going into this Presidency just knowing questions about Russia aren't going away, nor are his conflict of interests re his business, he's got a helluva job replacing Obamacare, then there's the Wall. His popularity is historically lowest ever for any president, he must know that but rather than try and win through and take advice, it seems to be his way or no way and bearing in mind there is a complete lack of specifics for all his promises, he is really up against it and comes out fighting as he doesn't know any other way, being the narcissist he is.

The Affordable Care Act has not been repealed yet, and looks like some republicans are already getting cold feet about doing so. Strong campaign underway in US to preserve it, targeting 9 key states and 5 senators who've already broken away from GOP.

It seems that Trump doesn't want to repeal it without replacing it.
But asap.
Of course he won't tell them how, because he has no idea. It looks like it's "sort it out for me fellas".

I do hope some Republicans do see sense. I'm sure it's possible to find a better system but not within a few weeks.

I don't understand why he's so keen to repeal the Obamacare law, can anyone explain? Surely it's a good thing for everyone?

He is keen to repeal it because that was one of his big campaign promises. Because the whole idea of 'health insurance' for all is far to... you know, communist or something

Well, he'll be in charge this time next week. So things will be on his head. He will be the one who will have to take responsibility for his words and actions.

And he's keen to repeal it as one in the eye to Obama. Because American politics really is that petty and partisan. They have to try and block everything the opposition does. Just for sport.

But what will the advantage be if it's repealed? Who will benefit?

Based on my limited understanding of Obamacare, there have been increases in privately insured families and individuals' health policies, as the insurance companies have passed on some (all?) of the costs they've had to underwrite as part of the implementation of the affordable care act. It would be great if one of the US MNers could give us a really quick precis of the key issues on this.

Actually, the time series maps of the US showing the falling % of uninsured Americans since it was introduced in this article is sobering & shows how much people stand to lose: www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/10/31/upshot/up-uninsured-2016.html?_r=0

Obama care is extremely expensive apparently.

Yes, there is a perception by some lower earners that their contributions are too expensive.

I have working class relatives, not poor, but not well off either who genuinely would prefer to not have any kind of health care provision that they have to pay for regularly, hoping they will never fall more seriously ill and in the meantime just using what healthcare they need on a par as you go basis.

They truly find any system in which all contribute on a regular basis to fund healthcare for all 'socialist'.

We can work from the assumption that he has no principles, no political philosophy, no sense of public service. For him it's about the chase and the win.

It may well be that he WILL achieve the odd things that others wouldn't have been able to, with his bullying, scare tactics: of course these will be trumped as massive successes. There will be terrible consequences to most things he does - he has no foresight or compassion.

The way he said, 'when my staff travel, I remind them of the small cameras,' was so creepy. no, 'my staff behave well hopefully!' Just a...'my staff mustn't get found out.' Urghhhhh

I understand that one issue with Obamacare is that it's not compulsory, so many young healthy people opt out. Great for them (if nothing happens to them), but it means that only people who need it or can afford the higher coverage pay in. So, costs rise. If it was compulsory, then the costs would be spread out.

Under the AFA, you get fined (thru the tax system) if you don't have med. insurance. Even I resent that. Have not yet found a way to explain to IRS that I have the NHS.

Premiums have skyrocketed since AFA was introduced. Most people think it's AFA's fault for soaring expenses but some analysts say premiums are rocketing for unrelated reasons.

I remember as an ex-pat (or should that be migrant?) our private healthcare insurance in the US was stupidly expensive, and that was 15 years ago. I still get emails inviting me to train for a job coding patient healthcare costs for insurance companies

Does it pay well? I did clinical coding in a previous life. I don't think it pays that well in the UK.

Back on topic: I am watching the midnight news on BBC News24. It seems a veteran civil rights campaigner and peer of Martin Luther King called John Lewis (sp?) has spoken out against Trump & Trump has dissed him on Twitter in the middle of a US public holiday week which honours Martin Luther King! There's no hope for this idiot, is there?