All purpose news and politics thread part v: The quickening

[KNIGHT OF THE LAKE]

Ultimate irony. The reason Washington wanted the President to have a salary and why he didn’t forego one was because he didn’t want wealth to be a prerequisite for Presidents. Trump is not wise enough for that thought process

[GindyPosts]

True, there isn't enough proof of that. But I can see him doing so, only in that taking the money obligates him to actually do the work of a President instead of just pretending to do it while making a profit from the office.

The presidency today only pays, what, $250K a year? Trump likely declined the payment not because of generosity but because the job didn't pay nearly enough.

[Tami]

The presidency today only pays, what, $250K a year? Trump likely declined the payment not because of generosity but because the job didn't pay nearly enough.

I was thinking that too, that he thought the money was an insult.

[Jack Dracula]

If I didn't know better, I'd be surprised Moscow Mitch is willing to go to bat for Trump like that. But, it falls nicely into my harebrained theory that if the GOP loses Trump, they lose his base which are more loyal to him than the party. And if Republicans lose the base, they lose the election, and, quite possibly, the Senate as well. Bottom line: Keeping Trump and his base fat, dumb and happy keeps the GOP in power so they can continue fucking over the country. Say what you will about McConnell, but the man damn sure isn't stupid. Traitorous? Yes. Stupid? Nope.

It think it may have more to do with Trumps willingness to nominate any Judge the Federalists recommend.
If the face of changing voter demographics over the next few decades, the only real option the GOP has for preserving power for their primarily white-christian-hetero-male leadership is to pack the courts with consevative judges.
Trump gets a free pass to **** on the constitution and Mitch gets his judges and whatever else his corporate buddies want.

[KOSLOX]

The presidency today only pays, what, $250K a year? Trump likely declined the payment not because of generosity but because the job didn't pay nearly enough.

He does take the payment though. He just reportedly offsets it by donating an equivalent amount back to agencies. And presumably writes that off as charitable donation.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

It think it may have more to do with Trumps willingness to nominate any Judge the Federalists recommend.
If the face of changing voter demographics over the next few decades, the only real option the GOP has for preserving power for their primarily white-christian-hetero-male leadership is to pack the courts with consevative judges.
Trump gets a free pass to **** on the constitution and Mitch gets his judges and whatever else his corporate buddies want.

Hell, couldn't Pence do the same thing Moscow Mitch wants, but without the daily insanity Trump brings to the table? Or is Turtle Boy worried that Red Grant might not be the rubber stamp that Dolt45 has been when it comes to judges?

[BeastieRunner]

The IG report and the Pentagon report on Trump's border wall both say it will make illegal crossings easier than they are currently.

Whoops.

[kidfresh512]

He does take the payment though. He just reportedly offsets it by donating an equivalent amount back to agencies. And presumably writes that off as charitable donation.

And meanwhile we pay him and his company on the side for all his golf trips at his own resorts and hotels. Secret service having to rent rooms and golf carts, food. Free publicity, and even dignitaries seeking to curry favor staying at his resorts.

Hes making way more than if he JUST took the salary.

[AnakinFlair]

Greta has our Twitter game beat. Everyone just go home now.

Proving once again that he has less emotional maturity than a- what, 16 year old?

[JCAll]

About 29% of the country might actually be that stupid. I mean, flat earthers made a comeback, and there are still working class Republicans who insist after 40 years that the wealth is gonna trickle down to them eventually.

I lot of the GOP's base isn't stupid, they're just true believers. They know the GOP is lying, but they also know that those are the lies they NEED to tell to get their agenda passed.
You can't just come out pitching taking away women/LGBT rights or cleansing ethnic minorities or that kind of thing, you have to ease the majority into that.

[worstblogever]

Proving once again that he has less emotional maturity than a- what, 16 year old?

A 16 year old with Asperger's, at that.

[Robotman]

Exit polls show Boris’ Conservative Party taking majority.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/12/w...mid=fb-nytimes

[Iron Maiden]

Theirs no alleged, he raped her. The only reason nothing happened was because he threw lawyers at it

Ivana made a sworn statement as part of the divorce proceedings but she rolled it back a bit, allegedly so that she would get ample financial support for her and the kids.... 14 million dollars worth. Harry Hurt wrote a Trump bio at that time called the Lost Tycoon was able to obtain the documents relating to the divorce but shortly afterward, the case was sealed. Unfortunately, he lost his copy over the years. But you can still find copies of the book out there that quotes from the deposition he had legally obtained.

Source:
New Yorker article: Documenting Trump's Abuse of Women

This is why I could never understand Trump's popularity I've been reading about this kind of behavior for years. He's a disgusting, dishonest and vile individual.

[Kusanagi]

Exit polls show Boris’ Conservative Party taking majority.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/12/w...mid=fb-nytimes

The major story is, of course, Bojo government and soon to follow Brexit.

I'm looking at projections of SNP picking up 20 seats. We could be looking at the death of the United Kingdom, or at least any that includes Scotland.

[JCAll]

The major story is, of course, Bojo government and soon to follow Brexit.

I'm looking at projections of SNP picking up 20 seats. We could be looking at the death of the United Kingdom, or at least any that includes Scotland.

And maybe Ireland as well. I never thought I'd see the United Kingdom fall...