Trump 101: How not to President (TrumpThread #101)

[TheNorthWestPawsage]

Two images. Same day.
161 days to November 3rd.

Thanks to BruceAnd Nosh for thread title.

Previous thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3877401-Trump-100-Thread-and-Were-Way-Down-the-Rabbit-Hole?pg=1

[Lweji]

Breaking precedent, White House won’t release formal economic projections this summer that would forecast extent of downturn
The president’s aides will not publish updated economic forecasts, citing volatility in U.S. economy

"Budget experts said they were not aware of any previous White House opting against providing forecasts in this “mid-session review” document in any other year since at least the 1970s."

www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/28/white-house-coronavirus-economic-projections/

[AcrossthePond55]

Naturally they aren't giving forecasts. This way Scrotus will be able to lie freely without any type of contradiction from official sources.

But given this Administration, I don't know why they aren't just making up numbers showing they're 'rebuilding the greatest economy' or whatever bullshit slogan he's slinging around.

[Lweji]

I don't think they want people to see the current figures either.

[BruceAndNosh]

@AcrossthePond55 Can you explain Executive Orders to me please?
So can the President just say "This is a new Law cos I said so?"

[TheNorthWestPawsage]

The Psychopath in Chief
gen.medium.com/the-psychopath-in-chief-aa10ab2165d9

[AcrossthePond55]

Bruce I have to admit they confuse me too.

An Executive Order (EO) is a 'written instruction', it falls short of being an actual law. A president cannot make or change a law, that's up to Congress. And it cannot 'exceed the POTUS's authority'.

An EO cannot violate an existing law. For example, a POTUS couldn't write an EO to lower the voting age to 16. That would require the passing of a law as the voting age is stipulated in the Constitution. But EOs have been used to 'reinterpret' a law. So, Scrotus could issue an EO saying that Social Media (SM) shouldn't 'fact check' (based on 'his' interpretation of an existing law) but he couldn't say that SM absolutely can't post anything that disagrees with him in any way (violation of 1st Amendment).

EOs can be overturned by votes in Congress and can also be overturned by the Courts as a result of legal challenges. And if Scrotus tries to 'throttle' SM I expect there will be multiple legal challenges.

[AcrossthePond55]

Which has given me a pause.

Scrotus has very good reason to want to throttle SM in the run up to the election. Especially if he can spin things to throttle only those who disagree. He'd love nothing better than to tie SM platforms up in court for the next 6 months. Of course, chances are there would be injunctions to prevent an EO from actually taking effect.

[AcrossthePond55]

Speaking of SM and "how it should be used" (ironic quotes):

talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-tweets-video-saying-that-the-only-good-democrat-is-a-dead-democrat

[Anniegetyourgun]

Hey guys, sorry I suggested a new thread and then wandered off for two days (distracted by the Cummings business!) without noticing you encouraging me to start it. Good thing too, as it turns out, because the 101 connection makes a far more appropriate title.

I started to watch the Colbert clip posted by Cozie yesterday, but found it too depressing. It came from an era about 100 years ago when Trump was under extreme investigation from all sides and it appeared impossible that he would get away with most of them. As we know now, he got away with every single one (or at least every one that's come to a conclusion so far). He could even get away with stealing the election - an insurrection would be doomed to failure, given that the nasty side have the majority of the guns.

[lionheart]

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-national-park-service-alaska-bear-baiting-hunting-wolves-coyotes-caribou-a9537391.html

[B1rdbra1n]

The poor baby bears 😥
💗🐻 💗

[AcrossthePond55]

www.cnn.com/2020/05/28/politics/trump-twitter-social-media-executive-order/index.html

I still don't understand what the EO actually does. I get what it's about and what Scrotus wants to accomplish from a PR standpoint. But I don't know exactly what action the EO is specifically ordering.

Caveat: I guess I'll have to read the damn thing.

[AcrossthePond55]

www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-preventing-online-censorship/

OK, basically it seems to be ordering various agencies to 'narrow the scope' of what's considered 'in good faith' operation of SM platforms wrt 'free speech' and 'censorship'. And to start a passel of investigations based on the new, narrowed parameters. It's all going to end up in huge court battles.

It's also a thinly disguised rant/tantrum at the SM platforms who have dared to fact check him by calling them 'biased' and that it's 'censorship'.

Of course, Congress could override it by vote and I'm sure the House would, but that's not going to happen in McConnell-ville (ie the Senate).

In 6 months it'll all be moot anyway.

[lionheart]

Mendacious is a very good word.

www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-trumps-washington/the-most-mendacious-president-in-us-history

[TheNorthWestPawsage]

Stephen Miller whispering in Trump's ear? We're right back to Mayor Daley's "shoot to kill" order in 1968.

As @donwinslow rightly noted, "When the looting starts, the shooting starts" was a sentiment first uttered in 1967 by a notoriously racist Miami police chief. Tonight, @realdonaldtrump direct quoted him. Direct. Quoted.
twitter.com/jeffpearlman/status/1266247429038370816?s=21

[TheNorthWestPawsage]

Well... Twitter have taken a step in the right direction it seems. Deleting his account would be much better.

Just posted by @TwitterComms

1. We have placed a public interest notice on this Tweet from @realdonaldtrump.
   

1. This Tweet violates our policies regarding the glorification of violence based on the historical context of the last line, its connection to violence, and the risk it could inspire similar actions today.
   

1. We've taken action in the interest of preventing others from being inspired to commit violent acts, but have kept the Tweet on Twitter because it is important that the public still be able to see the Tweet given its relevance to ongoing matters of public importance.
   

1. As is standard with this notice, engagements with the Tweet will be limited. People will be able to Retweet with Comment, but will not be able to Like, Reply or Retweet it.
   

twitter.com/twittercomms/status/1266267446979129345?s=21

[ludothedog]

My goodness, Twitter have grown a back bone! Better late than never! Come on Twitter, you've started now, keep going with the fact checking and deletions!

[BruceAndNosh]

I only use Twitter once a year, normally to get Customer Services of any company to so something, so it's years since I ticked the T&C box, but I suspect ticking the T&C box gives Twitter the right to amend/ delete your tweets as they see fit. Doubt that Donny read it, no one does!
It they can't edit or delete the platform could be overrun with even more Porn and violence than creeps in at present

[BruceAndNosh]

I would love it if Twitter would suspend his account for a day maybe once a week

[Lweji]

I'm just leaving this here.

It's about the launch.

[B1rdbra1n]

I'm very interested to see how this pans out with Twitter👀

[Roussette]

He said yesterday he wouldn't care if he deleted his Twitter a/c.
What a big fat liar! He lives for Twitter. As do his advisers like Stephen Miller when they take over his phone.

This is going to be interesting. He's going head to head with Twitter

www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/may/29/twitter-hides-donald-trump-tweet-glorifying-violence

[B1rdbra1n]

Without Twitter he be like a fly after you pulled its wings off 😳

I thought this was a nice win for the Lincoln project:
'The Lincoln Project, whose express aim is to prevent the president’s re-election, has made a conventional TV ad buy for the McConnell spot, spending $250,000 to get it on the airwaves. However, the project’s approach to advertising has also been highly targeted.
Earlier this month, it paid a mere $5,000 to screen an anti-Trump ad titled “Mourning in America” during a Fox News show the president is known to watch devotedly. The result was a barrage of rageful tweets from the president, ensuring the ad received maximal attention and raising the group more than $1.4m.'
www.independent.co.uk/us-election-2020/trump-lincoln-project-mitch-mcconnell-kentucky-ad-a9537206.html?amp
Keep on poking that bear with the stick🤣

[B1rdbra1n]

We can surely assume that Jack Dorsey is well lawyered up and has good advisors?
Trump can't have good advisors because he cannot tolerate the presence of anyone more intelligent than he is, that means his advisors can only be worse than useless.
He's toast now isn't he?🍞

[Lweji]

Looking forward to TikToc (?) Trump.