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Cont: The Trump Presidency VIII

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ponderingturtle said:
Trump has a long history of loving asbestos. You can now get Trump branded Asbestos from Russia.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/07/11/approved-by-donald-trump-asbestos-sold-by-russian-company-is-branded-with-the-presidents-face/?utm_term=.7d2b1514c371

"The company Uralasbest posted photos of the pallets adorned with a seal with Trump’s face in the center on its Facebook page in June.

“Approved by Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States,” the seal read, according to a translation supplied by the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit focused on human health and the environment that flagged the posting."

Only the best russian cancers for american workers.
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I'm hard pressed to think of a more blatant violation of the emoluments clause.
 
dudalb said:
The most digusting thing is that I think a great many GOP congressmen despise Trump behind closed doors and are under no illusion about his character, but still support him and do his bidding to keep their freaking seats.
A very strong argument for Term Limits. A congressional seat was never intended to be a long term career choice.
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I strongly disagree. For one example, I see no benefits to the imposition of term limits here in California. And it's a myth that it prevents career politicians. They run for the House, then the Senate, then Insurance Commissioner, then back to hometown Mayor. Lather, rinse, repeat.

But that's not the worst part; what's worse is term limits gives lobbyists more power. Here's how my state Rep (now state Senator) put it about her three term limit (paraphrased):
  • First term: learning the people and political ropes in the capitol city. That means, unfortunately, relying in part on lobbyists for information on issues.
  • Second term: trying to legislate and fighting against those same lobbyists.
  • Third term: looking for a job while the lobbyists stall your agenda and pour money into your opponents' campaign.

What HAS made a huge difference is taking redistricting out of the hands of the legislators and using a (supposedly non-partisan) Redistricting Commission. Everywhere you want better politics, this is one of the first realistic steps. Of course, lessening the influence of money is even better but I think unrealistic in the short term.
 
dudalb said:
Actually elective office followed by prison seems to be normal in Illinois Politics......

A few years ago, you had 2 ex Governors of Illinois in prison at the same time, One was a Republican, the other was a Democrat.That's Illinois politics n a nutshell.
Land of Lincoln. Yeah, right.
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Pensylvania had two former speakers of their state house as cellmates.

http://www.politicspa.com/bill-deweese-and-john-perzel-cellmates/36309/

"It’s actually happening. According to Capitolwire, former state House Speakers John Perzel and Bill DeWeese – each convicted of corruption – are cellmates in a Camp Hill state prison.

Being non-violent offenders, the pool of possible roommates is more limited. DeWeese had a choice between Perzel, his legislative rival, and Mike Manzo, his former Chief of Staff who testified against him."
 
SezMe said:
I'm hard pressed to think of a more blatant violation of the emoluments clause.
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Well in this specific case I am not sure Trump is personally getting a fee for the use of his face. So it might not quite count. JR selling access in India would be more blatant.
 
SezMe said:
See, that's not true in way too many cases. See my previous post.
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The thing is that term limits only strengthen the power of Lobbyists regardless of if the individuals seek other political jobs or to become lobbyists themselves.
 
Captain_Swoop said:
Trump Tweets

"RED WAVE!"
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TheSupermeerkat said:
It’s more like a trickle if one goes by the percentages.
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It's what they note as "Republican Hold". They held onto a seat, but by the skin of their teeth. In all the elections since Trump's win, the GOP has only had holds but has lost one Senate Seat and one House Seat. GOP net gains = 0. (Well, unless you're counting embezzling, money-laundering, influence peddling, emoluments, etc.... I reckon they're doing real swell, financially.)
 
SezMe said:
I strongly disagree. For one example, I see no benefits to the imposition of term limits here in California. And it's a myth that it prevents career politicians. They run for the House, then the Senate, then Insurance Commissioner, then back to hometown Mayor. Lather, rinse, repeat.

But that's not the worst part; what's worse is term limits gives lobbyists more power. Here's how my state Rep (now state Senator) put it about her three term limit (paraphrased):
  • First term: learning the people and political ropes in the capitol city. That means, unfortunately, relying in part on lobbyists for information on issues.
  • Second term: trying to legislate and fighting against those same lobbyists.
  • Third term: looking for a job while the lobbyists stall your agenda and pour money into your opponents' campaign.

What HAS made a huge difference is taking redistricting out of the hands of the legislators and using a (supposedly non-partisan) Redistricting Commission. Everywhere you want better politics, this is one of the first realistic steps. Of course, lessening the influence of money is even better but I think unrealistic in the short term.
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Great point. People bring up phantoms like the Deep State, then call for term limits leaving the career civil service and the lobbyists as the defacto continuity of power.
 
SezMe said:
I strongly disagree. For one example, I see no benefits to the imposition of term limits here in California. And it's a myth that it prevents career politicians. They run for the House, then the Senate, then Insurance Commissioner, then back to hometown Mayor. Lather, rinse, repeat.

But that's not the worst part; what's worse is term limits gives lobbyists more power. Here's how my state Rep (now state Senator) put it about her three term limit (paraphrased):
  • First term: learning the people and political ropes in the capitol city. That means, unfortunately, relying in part on lobbyists for information on issues.
  • Second term: trying to legislate and fighting against those same lobbyists.
  • Third term: looking for a job while the lobbyists stall your agenda and pour money into your opponents' campaign.

What HAS made a huge difference is taking redistricting out of the hands of the legislators and using a (supposedly non-partisan) Redistricting Commission. Everywhere you want better politics, this is one of the first realistic steps. Of course, lessening the influence of money is even better but I think unrealistic in the short term.
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I’d like to buy one of those. How much does a Redistricting Commission want if I want to buy it (cash only!) to control it?
 
LSSBB said:
Great point. People bring up phantoms like the Deep State, then call for term limits leaving the career civil service and the lobbyists as the defacto continuity of power.
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Not just lobbyists, but the various Chambers of Commerce and corporate CEOs, presidents and VPs, etc. None of them are term limited, and they have enormous, unparalleled institutional knowledge in addition to the power that comes from wealth.
 
Rep. Nunes wants to impeach Rosenstein, says Republicans' job is to protect Trump.“
If Sessions won’t unrecuse and Mueller won’t clear the president, we’re the only ones, which is really the danger,” Nunes said at an event for Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, referring to Jeff Sessions, the attorney general, and Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel.
....
“I mean, we have to keep all these seats,” Nunes added. “We have to keep the majority. If we do not keep the majority, all of this goes away.”
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...mp-were-the-only-ones/?utm_term=.d788d1b8e05a
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow...ote-then-rosenstein-impeachment-1295170115625
 
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