The Trump Presidency 14

[Norman Alexander]

They'll make this change to their state constitution by fiat...or...?

What change? The state senate is a job. They need to turn up for work or have a really good excuse. They failed to turn up for work and have no excuse. That is a resignation from their position in the state senate. Easy. Replace them as per the standing rules for any resignation.

 

[Norman Alexander]

There are surely rules against changing or what one needs to change the quorum rules.

I was wondering what they can do without a quorum. If they could take a whole bunch of actions the GOP legislators would need to return to stop them, that could work.

I know they can't do legislative business, but how about something else like vandalism of GOP offices? Not destructive so much as something to get really bad publicity even after the legislators return?

There will be standing rules about senators who do not turn up to work. Did they die? Get kidnapped? Move interstate? Go mad? Resign...?

This is clearly a case of senators failing to go to work. That is a resignation. It doesn't need a quorum for this. A quorum is only required to vote on legislation. This is an issue of house operation. The senate leader should be enforcing the rules of the house.

 

[Delphic Oracle]

There will be standing rules about senators who do not turn up to work. Did they die? Get kidnapped? Move interstate? Go mad? Resign...?



This is clearly a case of senators failing to go to work. That is a resignation. It doesn't need a quorum for this. A quorum is only required to vote on legislation. This is an issue of house operation. The senate leader should be enforcing the rules of the house.

Does the Senate leader have that authority?

Not asking if you think they should, but if they statutorily do.

 

[Garrison]

Bashing Trump is a favorite sport. And Nixon thought he was getting kicked around! People are even getting on Trump over the suit he wore at the UK official state dinner with the Queen. That it looked "two sizes too small." That he "bought it off the rack and then was too cheap to have it properly tailored." My favorite: "None of his family or staff would tell him he looked ridiculous because they all secretly despise him."

He did look clownish, I have to admit.


.

Well turnabout is fair play, remember FOX news going nuts over Obama wearing a tan suit?

 

[thaiboxerken]

Well turnabout is fair play, remember FOX news going nuts over Obama wearing a tan suit?

And putting Dijon mustard on his burger too. Ahh.. when the media had to fabricate scandals about the president, those were the good ol' days.

 

[Garrison]

I'm sure the "I Don't Support Trump But Maybe We Should Respect His Supporters" bunch of strategic apologists will be along to explain to us how this is different from many of us here writing off the deplorables as a lost cause.

He's saying that he's going to not work to fulfill the needs/wishes of the swing voter but stick with his tried and true.

(Where's Emily's Cat when you need her?)

Well yeah obviously the Dems not reaching out to people who believed Trump when he promised to turn back the clock 50 years for the economy and civil rights is a huge mistake. Trump crossing his fingers that all those farmers in his base won't have realized how badly he screwed them over is smart politics...

 

[Garrison]

And putting Dijon mustard on his burger too. Ahh.. when the media had to fabricate scandals about the president, those were the good ol' days.

Yeah if all anyone had on Trump was ill fitting formal wear and covering his steaks in ketchup it would be a better world...

 

[Juniversal]

Ok I completely disagree with this. Problem is this is exactly the approach that Democrats have taken for decades now and the only thing it's netted us is neutered, center-right, war mongering corporatist shills that serve the same corporate interest that Republicans do. Just to a slightly lesser degree.

Those Centrist Democrats gave us Roosevelt, LBJ (******* personally but gave us the Civil Rights Act of 1964), both Clintons (I think both were/could have been excellent presidents) and Obama.

I'm referring to modern day politics. LBJ was way more of a crusader than any recent Democratic President. And the notion that Hilary would've made a great President is laughable. She is the epitome of an empty suit that floats to wherever the political wind blows. Also i'm lukewarm on Bill and Obama for various reasons.

This style of moderation is exactly why we lost the public option in the ACA, why mainstream Democrats supported civil unions before they "evolved" into fully supporting gay marriage and why the best candidates the Democratic establishment could whip up is shill supreme Hilary Clinton and Joe Biden. And we all know as centrist as he was, Obama's attempts to reach across the aisle just resulted in him spinning his wheels. Moderation doesn't work in our current political environment.

So what do you suggest? NOT trying to work across the aisle? How's that working for ya so far?
People evolve, they don't spring up fully formed in their opinions at 18 years old. Yes, we started with civil unions because of the Dems when the GOP fully opposed even that. And what do we have now? Fully legal and equal same sex marriage. That is evolution.

The Republicans absolutely refused to work with the Dems in their 2007-2015 centrist state. The point is they won't work with Dem's no matter the orientation. I suggest the Dem's actually taking a stand on an issue and not immediately backing down at the first sign of opposition.

And in regards to the civil unions vs. gay marriage issue you're making my point for me. The centrist are required to strategically "evolve" and initially neuter their stance on an issue for politics sake. This gives way to much sway and control to the right. I'm not a fan of civil rights being placed on the back burner because of "moderation".

The gravitational pull from the Republicans far-right conservatism is so strong that our moderates/centrist are center right. I'm all for the Democrats ACTUALLY moving to the left and becoming LESS compromising and spineless. Assuming some degree of progressive beliefs and policies will become mainstream the Republican party would be pulled closer to the center. This would in time help moderate the Republican party.

I disagree. I consider myself left of center. I do agree that the Dems need to be less spineless but I do not equate being spineless exclusively with the center/center-right. I think the GOP conservatives are spineless because their noses are so far up Trump's ass that they need a flashlight to see anything. Looking at Trump rallies, I see mostly white seniors. I think the Republican Party will moderate as the older generation dies off and a more tolerant generation takes over.

Ok you're conflating the terms now. The Democratic party's willingness to endlessly bend over and eviscerate/abandon policies the moment the GOP begins screeching isn't the same as saying individual Republican politicians are spineless because they don't oppose Trump. Not particularly unusual for establishment politicians to tow the party line.

Also the pertinent factor in them being spineless isn't being oriented center/center right. It's being centrist (where a centrist could be center left in a communist country for example). Being a centrist in this country get's you spineless kowtowing that the Democrats are notorious for because you have to accommodate the Republicans extremist views while the reverse isn't true for the Republicans.

 

[Andy_Ross]

trump Tweets

I want to give the Democrats every last chance to quickly negotiate simple changes to Asylum and Loopholes. This will fix the Southern Border, together with the help that Mexico is now giving us. Probably won’t happen, but worth a try. Two weeks and big Deportation begins!

 

[Andy_Ross]

Trump Tweets

When our Country had no debt and built everything from Highways to the Military with CASH, we had a big system of Tariffs. Now we allow other countries to steal our wealth, treasure, and jobs - But no more! The USA is doing great, with unlimited upside into the future!

 

[Andy_Ross]

trump tweeted

Wonderful Church service at Camp David. Thank you!

 

[Andy_Ross]

duplicate post

 

[ChrisBFRPKY]

Nope. In order for your assessment to be "spot on", you'd have to believe that the general was not being kept advised of changing conditions including the increased projected death toll without him specifically asking for an update. You are bending over backwards trying to explain away an obvious lie by Trump.

snipped

Ridiculous. I've already covered the subject of "up to the minute" intelligence. Perhaps you missed it.

Perhaps you're a bit upset that with Trump's recent actions more Democrats are bending over forwards.

Chris B.

 

[Ladewig]

Ridiculous. I've already covered the subject of "up to the minute" intelligence. Perhaps you missed it.

Perhaps you're a bit upset that with Trump's recent actions more Democrats are bending over forwards.

Chris B.

Two problems: First, the 3 installations that were targeted are 24 hour facilities (if you need a citation it will take me some time because I heard it on a TV broadcast). Second, President Trump’s story is not that the staff walked in with updated casualty estimates. His story is that he said wait a minute, tell me how many people are going to die. His story is that he is the competent empathetic person whose quick thinking who saved lives.

ETA
but even if we exclude this incident, we can provide 3 or 4 dozen other incidents where POTUS simplkly makes **** up to make himself look better. Will you concede the point that the guy is a self-centered a-hole who will tell whatever story he thinks will make himself look better?

 

[Ladewig]

Ridiculous. I've already covered the subject of "up to the minute" intelligence. Perhaps you missed it.

Perhaps you're a bit upset that with Trump's recent actions more Democrats are bending over forwards.

Chris B.

Also, even FoxNews host says the story is hinky.
Are you going to adopt the position that FoxNews is being unfairly critical of President Trump?

ETA
edited to correct my god dammed ******* useless iPad screen errors.

 

[Belz...]

And the notion that Hilary would've made a great President is laughable. She is the epitome of an empty suit that floats to wherever the political wind blows.

Assuming that's true, how are those two things mutually exclusive?

 

[Lurch]

If anyone needs evidence that the Republican political mindset has gone batcrap crazy, just look to the shenanigans going on in Oregon's State House. Merely to avoid having to vote on a bill, they go walkabout and into hiding, with one of their number threatening to kill law enforcement while doing their job to make him do his job.

The bloody definition of anti democracy.

Rig the game and cheat to get in power. When in the minority, stamp their feet and refuse to work.

Seriously, the Republican Party needs a time out. Until the current generation of poor little downtrodden whitey victims, with their irrational fears of change, die out and a new breed of *thinking* conservatives can responsibly step in.

 

[alfaniner]

trump Tweets

I want to give the Democrats every last chance to quickly negotiate simple changes to Asylum and Loopholes. This will fix the Southern Border, together with the help that Mexico is now giving us. Probably won’t happen, but worth a try. Two weeks and big Deportation begins!

"Asylum" and "Loopholes"?

What are those... two new video games? I hope they make them for the PS4!

 

[Aridas]

In the Time magazine interview, President Trump predicts that a progressive will win the Democratic nomination.

Am I missing something? I thought all the candidates are self-described progressives.

Mmm. I don't think that Hickenlooper counts?

In random good news, for once...

New York finally banned gay and trans 'panic defenses' in murder.

In... bad news, an update on the Oregon situation.

Militia threat shuts down Saturday Oregon Senate session amid walkout
A group of local Republicans were set to protest inside the Capitol on Saturday, and anti-government groups threatened to join, prompting the statehouse shutdown.

In more "as expected of the GOP" news, the protest comprised of a couple dozen people... and the Oregon GOP looks like it's lying about a bunch of things and celebrating its lack of civility. The tweet uses a picture of a peaceful logger's protest and states -

Heavily armed militia lays siege to Oregon's Capitol as Senate Democrats cower in fear. #orpol #orleg #capkillsjobs #hb2020 #Oregon11 #orcot

The GOP, encouraging and endorsing political violence, yet again.

 

[Craig4]

Ridiculous. I've already covered the subject of "up to the minute" intelligence. Perhaps you missed it.

Perhaps you're a bit upset that with Trump's recent actions more Democrats are bending over forwards.

Chris B.

According the Adam Smith, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee who was present at the Whitehouse. The stupid bitch knew the likely casualties when his advisors presented the options.

As a Democrat and untainted by the presumption of dishonesty associated with Trump and his backers, this seems rather credible.