Donald Trump Presidency discussion thread III

Mumha · 30-03-2018 12:16pm

Professor Moriarty wrote: »

Shulkin is adamant that the real reason he was fired is because he strongly opposed the privatisation of VA Healthcare. And there is a lot of independent evidence that he was a strong opponent of privatisation within the cabinet since his appointment. In his own words: "I am convinced that privatization is a political issue aimed at rewarding select people and companies with profits, even if it undermines care for veterans.”

Trump says he fired Shulkin "To give veterans more choice". Expect privatisation to happen very soon now.

It could well be, but doing what he did on that trip to Europe was appalling. If you are genuinely committed to to reform, getting caught swilling with the pigs is probably not the a good sign. That said, himself and Price can feel hard done by, while Zinke, Pruitt and Carson are still there, after what they've been up to.

Mumha · 30-03-2018 12:23pm

Professor Moriarty wrote: »

Shulkin is adamant that the real reason he was fired is because he strongly opposed the privatisation of VA Healthcare. And there is a lot of independent evidence that he was a strong opponent of privatisation within the cabinet since his appointment. In his own words: "I am convinced that privatization is a political issue aimed at rewarding select people and companies with profits, even if it undermines care for veterans.”

Trump says he fired Shulkin "To give veterans more choice". Expect privatisation to happen very soon now.

Shulkin is just coming up on Morning Joe if you're interested.

everlast75 · 30-03-2018 12:57pm

Mumha wrote: »

It could well be, but doing what he did on that trip to Europe was appalling. If you are genuinely committed to to reform, getting caught swilling with the pigs is probably not the a good sign. That said, himself and Price can feel hard done by, while Zinke, Pruitt and Carson are still there, after what they've been up to.

He says the entire trip was pre approved by the ethics committee and that wives are frequently brought on these trips where invited (she's a doc too) and the issue was only raised 6 months afterwards and he immediately cut a cheque..

Mumha · 30-03-2018 1:41pm

everlast75 wrote: »

He says the entire trip was pre approved by the ethics committee and that wives are frequently brought on these trips where invited (she's a doc too) and the issue was only raised 6 months afterwards and he immediately cut a cheque..

I find Vox to be pretty fair in their reporting and their explanation shows there's a bit more to it.

The inspector general’s findings, released Wednesday, revealed that Shulkin’s trip to London and Copenhagen in July — which included Shulkin’s wife, three VA staffers, and six members of the secretary’s security detail — involved “personal time for sightseeing and other unofficial activities” such as a visit to Westminster Abbey and not one, but two river cruises on the Thames and the Nyhavn Canal in Copenhagen.

Shulkin justified the travel as in support of the VA’s mission. But the report documented only three and a half days of meetings and other official events during a nine-day trip that cost at least $122,334. According to the report, Shulkin’s chief of staff Vivieca Wright Simpson doctored an email to create the justification for the VA to subsidize travel for Shulkin’s wife, Merle Bari, whose flight cost $4,300. (Simpson resigned Friday in the wake of the scandal.)

The findings raise serious ethics questions about Shulkin, who until now was one of the least controversial members of Trump’s cabinet. Shulkin served in the Obama administration as a Veterans Affairs undersecretary and was confirmed unanimously to serve as VA secretary in February 2017. After initially responding to the report as containing “the thread of bias,” Shulkin indicated that he would follow the inspector general’s recommendations, which included reimbursing the VA for his wife’s airfare and paying for the Wimbledon tickets.

It was far from the worst, compared to some others of the Trump Administration, but it was a needless own goal.

https://www.vox.com/2018/2/14/17013046/david-shulkin-veteran-affairs-euro-trip-scandal-travel-trump

everlast75 · 30-03-2018 1:46pm

^^^ Interesting ^^^

But if expenses scandals are enough for DJT (!) to have a problem, why does Carson or Mnuchin still have their job?

Professor Moriarty · 30-03-2018 1:54pm

everlast75 wrote: »

^^^ Interesting ^^^

But if expenses scandals are enough for DJT (!) to have a problem, why does Carson or Mnuchin still have their job?

Indeed. It's a mystery. Why would The Donald, a man of admirable character, surround himself with such lowlifes? One only has to look at his tax returns to know that he is above reproach himself.

Mumha · 30-03-2018 3:21pm

everlast75 wrote: »

^^^ Interesting ^^^

But if expenses scandals are enough for DJT (!) to have a problem, why does Carson or Mnuchin still have their job?

Completely agree, they should have been out on their ear. There have been rumours that Carson will get the chop pretty soon though. Remember Mnuchin had a suicide pact with McMaster and Tillerson, but as we see, he's having problems finding his pin !

Leroy42 · 30-03-2018 4:20pm

OT, but seems a good place to ask. Is the VA department budget (which I think is around $180bn) separate from the military budget (the $761bn) mentioned in the spending bill speeches last week?

aloyisious · 31-03-2018 4:07pm

This report, from YESTERDAY, concern's the alleged hacking by a Russian of several US technology firms. This link is one of several in the print and online media covering the matter. http://thefoolishblog.com/russian-accused-of-hacking-u-s-technology-firms-is-extradited/

Jeff Sessions is quoted “This is deeply troubling behavior once again emanating from Russia,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement. “We will not tolerate criminal cyberattacks and will make it a priority to investigate and prosecute these crimes, regardless of the country where they originate.”

From reading the report, it seem's two Russians have been extradited from Spain this year on charges related to hacking, with another currently being held in Greece pending requests from both the US and Russia. Russia tried to have the man extradited from the Czech Republic to the US sent to them instead in connection with online fraud.

I saw the initial report in the NYT but hit the paywall looking for it's full published report.........

aloyisious · 31-03-2018 4:23pm

Leroy42 wrote: »

OT, but seems a good place to ask. Is the VA department budget (which I think is around $180bn) separate from the military budget (the $761bn) mentioned in the spending bill speeches last week?

This, from the 2012 US federal budget, seem's to indicate they are funded separately yearly.

Total outlays by agency[edit]..........

The Department of Defense budget is divided into two parts: the base budget, and Overseas Contingency Operations which includes the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan.

Department of Defense, including Overseas Contingency Operations
Discretionary requested - $701.6 billion
Discretionary enacted - $683.0 billion
Mandatory requested -$5.8 billion
Mandatory enacted - $5.3 billion

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Department of Veterans Affairs
Discretionary requested - $58.8 billion
Discretionary enacted - $58.8 billion
Mandatroy requested - $65.6 billion
Mnadatory enacted - $70.4 billion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_United_States_federal_budget. Para 8 in it refer's -it's in a financial ledger-book page columns style.

Beechwoodspark · 31-03-2018 4:29pm

everlast75 wrote: »

People shouldn't care about his appointment.

By the time the proper objections are gathered, he will have probably either resign or have been fired. I'm not being flippant btw ..there are far more important things he is doing to get worked up about

Very true. I suspect trump appointed the doc to try and add a bit of pizzazz to his Cabinet. It won’t matter a whole lot when the proverbial hits the fan, which it will.

Does anyone have recommendations for good podcasts on this circus? My go to is the slate one,” trumpcast” at the moment

aloyisious · 31-03-2018 4:43pm

everlast75 wrote: »

^^^ Interesting ^^^

But if expenses scandals are enough for DJT (!) to have a problem, why does Carson or Mnuchin still have their job?

Dare one suggest the taking on as a member of his staff the FoxNews financial pundit might be a prelude to the departure of SM, now that budgetary matters have been resolved temporarily? It'd merely be the shifting-over of an Admin staffer from one position to another and therefor [in certain quarters] not such a big deal, just a part of the daily newsfeed from the White House now.

Manic Moran · 31-03-2018 5:01pm

Oh, as a minor aside, the US came out last week with a bilateral trade deal with Korea which by most accounts actually does seem to be an improvement for the US. However, analysts are noting that just because the administration managed it in Korea, which really does need to keep the US on its side right now, there is no guarantee that such re-negotiations will be successful with other countries. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/27/us/politics/trump-south-korea-trade-deal.html

aloyisious · 31-03-2018 5:24pm

Manic Moran wrote: »

Oh, as a minor aside, the US came out last week with a bilateral trade deal with Korea which by most accounts actually does seem to be an improvement for the US. However, analysts are noting that just because the administration managed it in Korea, which really does need to keep the US on its side right now, there is no guarantee that such re-negotiations will be successful with other countries. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/27/us/politics/trump-south-korea-trade-deal.html

Any feedback from US industry sources on dealings with the northern land border trade partner, Canada, given Don's deficit statements?

derb12 · 31-03-2018 6:04pm

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Does anyone have recommendations for good podcasts on this circus? My go to is the slate one,” trumpcast” at the moment

I like
- pod save America
- Stay tuned with preet
- Can he do that
- Embedded
- the daily 202 big idea
- the daily nyt
- trump inc wnyc
- the 45th
Also David Axelrod's podcast but don't subscribe as he is too prolific.
On one of Alec baldwins podcasts he did a great interview with Michael Wolff so I keep an eye on his output too.

listermint · 31-03-2018 10:21pm

Manic Moran wrote: »

Oh, as a minor aside, the US came out last week with a bilateral trade deal with Korea which by most accounts actually does seem to be an improvement for the US. However, analysts are noting that just because the administration managed it in Korea, which really does need to keep the US on its side right now, there is no guarantee that such re-negotiations will be successful with other countries. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/27/us/politics/trump-south-korea-trade-deal.html

I'm struggling to see what trade deals with Asian countries could really see the us exporting more than they import .

It's surely going to be extremely rare if not impossible

Mumha · 31-03-2018 11:46pm

derb12 wrote: »

I like
- pod save America
- Stay tuned with preet
- Can he do that
- Embedded
- the daily 202 big idea
- the daily nyt
- trump inc wnyc
- the 45th
Also David Axelrod's podcast but don't subscribe as he is too prolific.
On one of Alec baldwins podcasts he did a great interview with Michael Wolff so I keep an eye on his output too.

All of that, and on tunein.com you'll get
Rachel Maddow
Randi Rhodes
The Ezra Klein Show
FiveThirtyEight Politics
NPR Politics Podcast

Rachel Maddow and Stay tuned with Preet are by far my favourite podcasts followed by Pod save America and Trumpcast.

Mumha · 31-03-2018 11:54pm

Here's a very interesting one, that might have a long tail. If Nikulin flips, it puts one more brick in the collusion wall.

The Czech Republic's long-sought decision to surrender custody to the FBI of an alleged Russian hacker signals a potential break in the investigation of Kremlin meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections.

The Justice Department announced Friday afternoon Yevgeniy Nikulin's sudden appearance in a San Francisco federal courtroom after an 18-month legal tug-of-war with the Russian government, which made a competing claim to extradite Nikulin.

Nikulin, 30, was arrested in a Prague restaurant on Oct. 5, 2016, and three days later, then-President Barack Obama made his first accusation of Russian meddling in the U.S. election. On Oct. 20, Nikulin was indicted on federal charges of hacking the private user databases of three U.S. internet giants — LinkedIn, Dropbox and Formspring — and mail accounts tied to Google. The indictment alleges Nikulin used several aliases, including Chinabig01 and itBlackHat.

Nikulin's extradition is expected to lead to intense pressure from U.S. prosecutors for him to agree to a plea deal so that investigators can learn what he knows about the Kremlin's cyberoperations. Still to be learned is whether Nikulin has information that could assist special counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry into whether Donald Trump's presidential campaign colluded in Russia's cyberattacks during the election.

Nikulin's extradition happened days after a visit to Prague by House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who called for his extradition during his stay. Ryan and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis discussed the case during a meeting Tuesday. Ryan tweeted out thanks late Friday for the action.

snip

One of Nikulin's alleged targets was Formspring, a social media site that drew national attention because it was used by disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., who employed the now-infamous alias Carlos Danger on that network. Weiner, then the husband of Hillary Clinton's top aide Huma Abedin, has admitted to having sexually explicit online chats on Formspring with a young woman. The revelation became an ongoing embarrassment for the Clinton campaign.

The big questions on the minds of prosecutors, intelligence officials and cybersecurity experts are just what Nikulin knows and who he might have worked with. The indictment mentions a co-conspirator but no one else has yet been named or charged.

Another looming question is whether Nikulin worked with the Internet Research Agency, a St. Petersburg-based troll farm tied to Russian intelligence. In February, Mueller brought an indictment accusing 13 Russians, including several intelligence officials, and three companies of roles in sowing chaos and aiding Trump in 2016 election. These Russians sought to spread distrust among voters and in the election results, and they were bankrolled, according to the Mueller indictment, by a businessman friend of Russian leader Vladimir Putin named Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin.

more at

https://www.rawstory.com/2018/03/alleged-russian-hacker-extradited-will-help-mueller-probe/

2 Scoops · 01-04-2018 7:30am

Gotta post this for it's comedic value!

everlast75 · 01-04-2018 9:20am

Sean Hannity met Trump for Golf yesterday.

Expect him to be announced via Twitter as secretary of staff soon*

*sadly I'm not fully joking

Itssoeasy · 01-04-2018 4:05pm

I see trump is ranting again on twitter about DACA and NAFTA.

Leroy42 · 01-04-2018 4:21pm

For the greatest deal maker the world has ever known, he really seems to do a lot of pleading for people to help him out.

Captain Obvious · 01-04-2018 9:36pm

Itssoeasy wrote: »

I see trump is ranting again on twitter about DACA and NAFTA.

And revealing he has zero understanding of either. He said there were migrant caravans coming to take advantage of DACA. But he has to deflect from the two big revelations to come out today. His connection to the Sinclair media group and the deal made between them and Ajit Pai is pretty bad but it's also been revealed that the 60 diplomats being expelled are allowed be replaced by Russia.

circadian · 01-04-2018 10:46pm

Itssoeasy wrote: »

I see trump is ranting again on twitter about DACA and NAFTA.

It's bizzare reading his tweets and it's all caps for something.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/980443810529533952

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/980421275326865409

Mumha · 02-04-2018 2:33pm

circadian wrote: »

It's bizzare reading his tweets and it's all caps for something.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/980443810529533952

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/980421275326865409

And of course he just repeated it from Fox & Friends, within minutes of them saying it.

This is what set him off.... :rolleyes:

https://twitter.com/foxandfriends/status/980430831578738689

Mumha · 02-04-2018 2:39pm

Very clever, apt too !

https://twitter.com/TeaPainUSA/status/980477637918326784

jobbridge4life · 02-04-2018 2:42pm

everlast75 wrote: »

Sean Hannity met Trump for Golf yesterday.

Expect him to be announced via Twitter as secretary of staff soon*

*sadly I'm not fully joking

Do Hannity and other Fox heavy hitters even need a position in the White House? They seem to have more than enough access and influence at present, without subjecting themselves to the intensified scrutiny that would attend to a position in government.