Donald Trump Presidency discussion thread III

Mr.Micro

Water John wrote: »

DT must be wishing he had the power of Putin or Duerte. They wouldn't dare make fun of him, like that.

I will wager he is working on it.

Professor Moriarty

He's calling the Dept. of Justice and the FBI "an embarrassment to our country" in his latest tweet. Go Donald! MAGA.

eire4

Water John wrote: »

DT must be wishing he had the power of Putin or Duerte. They wouldn't dare make fun of him, like that.

The scary thing is that comment is not in any way tongue in cheek. He clearly admires nasty dictators and authoritarianism and would clearly like the US to become more and more of that type of repressive country. He is a nasty dangerous demagogue who has spent a large amount of time attempting to undermine a free press and free speach in general. He regularly attacks the judiciary when they don't do what he wants as examples.

Leroy42

Russia have come out today to say that Trump invited Putin to the WH during the phone call a few weeks back to congratulate him on his election victory.

You may recall there was quite a backlash against Trump at the time since he completely failed to bring up anything to do with the recent poisoning in the UK, the election meddling in the US.

So, far from calling out Putin on these things, he offers on invite for tea and cookies at the WH!

Do Americans understand just how weak a leader they currently have? They seem to be of the view that the US is too big to fail, and that having the right people in the right positions isn't important.

Yet, you can bet many of them are out shouting abuse at the local sports manager for not being good enough!

Mumha

Mr.Micro wrote: »

I will wager he is working on it.

I hope you got excellent odds because things have moved a step closer.

There's a crowd called Sinclair Broadcasting who are right wing nutjobs, and after their recent acquisition of local US tv stations, beam into 75% of American homes, thanks to a Trump appointee Chairman of the FCC, Ajit Pai, giving it the go ahead. Well there's uproar in the US after all of the local tv anchors were instructed to read the same statement.

Sinclair tells stations to air media-bashing promos - and the criticism goes viral
By Brian Stelter April 1, 2018: 6:37 PM ET
Sinclair Broadcast Group's corporate mandates are exacerbating tensions between the company's local stations and its management.

---

Journalists in local markets are chafing at the company's requirements, including a new promotional campaign that echoes President Donald Trump's anti-media rhetoric.

The promos, first reported by CNNMoney last month, went viral over the weekend after Deadspin edited dozens of them together to show how anchors across the country were told to read the same script.


"It sickens me the way this company is encroaching upon trusted news brands in rural markets," an investigative reporter at Sinclair told CNNMoney on condition of anonymity.

The company's conservative-leaning politics have come down to Sinclair's stations through "must runs" — stories local producers are told to air during their newscasts. The "Terrorism Alert Desk" is a recurring segment. Pro-Trump commentaries by former Trump campaign adviser Boris Epshteyn are another "must-run" feature.

http://money.cnn.com/2018/04/01/media/sinclair-anchor-promos/index.html

Have a look at this mashup of all their anchors saying the same statement

https://twitter.com/Deadspin/status/980175772206993409

Almost a year ago, John Oliver warned what might happen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvtNyOzGogc

Captain Obvious

Mumha wrote: »

I hope you got excellent odds because things have moved a step closer.

There's a crowd called Sinclair Broadcasting who are right wing nutjobs, and after their recent acquisition of local US tv stations, beam into 75% of American homes, thanks to a Trump appointee Chairman of the FCC, Ajit Pai, giving it the go ahead. Well there's uproar in the US after all of the local tv anchors were instructed to read the same statement.



Have a look at this mashup of all their anchors saying the same statement

https://twitter.com/Deadspin/status/980175772206993409

Almost a year ago, John Oliver warned what might happen.

Unfortunately the uproar is only coming from one side. A user on reddit gave a good breakdown of the situation.

The reason is simple; Sinclair media has a deal with Trump & Co, arranged through Kushner and Pai, to push pro Trump, pro GOP propaganda.

• 11/16 Ajit Pai, Trump's pick to head the FCC, visits Sinclair station broadcasters, and executives, where he arranges a deal on a merger. http://variety.com/2017/politics/politics/fcc-sinclair-broadcast-group-merger-tribune-1202563578/
• 12/12/16 Kushner sets up a deal with Sinclair; they'll broadcast good things for Trump, for consideration of other matters later. First step in setting up state sanctioned media. https://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/trump-campaign-sinclair-broadcasting-jared-kushner-232764
• 1/5/17 Sinclair attacks Washington Post; calling them fake news. The first of Trumps propaganda pieces through them. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sinclair-responds-to-multiple-organizations-misleading-and-irresponsible-news-coverage-300389377.html
• 2/12/17 Trump bypasses established practices, conducts interview with only Sinclair media present. https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/curtis-houck/2017/02/13/trump-skips-establishment-networks-newspapers-trudeau-press
• 4/30/17 FCC plans to remove laws preventing companies from owning too many tv stations. A move backed by Sinclair. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/03/30/report-fcc-revise-broadcast-ownership-rule/99816092/
• 5/12/17 Sinclair orders their station managers to start tilting stories more towards the GOP line. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/12/business/media/sinclair-broadcast-komo-conservative-media.html
• 7/10/17 Sinclair begins pushing more Pro Trump propaganda. http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/07/sinclair-orders-stations-to-air-more-pro-trump-commentary.html
• 8/6/17 Trump urges FCC to allow Sinclair Media (a right wing media company) to expand beyond their current market, allowing them to broadcast to 70% of the country.
• 10/11/17 Sinclair begins attacking politifact, accusing them of spreading fake news. http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2017/oct/11/sinclair-targeting-politifact-you-need-know-facts/
• 10/24/17 In a move that benefits Sinclair Media, the FCC rolls back rules requiring broadcast companies to have a studio in the area they're broadcasting in. http://www.tvtechnology.com/news/0002/fcc-eliminates-main-studio-rule/282128
• November 9, 2017: Aji Pai wants to end regulations keeping tv stations from purchasing local newspapers. A move backed by Sinclair. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/09/opinion/ajit-pai-media-ownership.html
• 11/16/17 42 year old rules regarding media mergers are finally removed. This is a win for Sinclair, allowing them to monopolize news sources in small towns. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/11/16/the-fcc-just-repealed-decades-old-rules-blocking-broadcast-media-mergers/
• 2/26/18 FCC Comissioner: Policy custom built for Sinclair media. https://www.thedailybeast.com/fcc-commissioner-our-policy-is-custom-built-for-right-wing-sinclair-broadcasting

Mumha

Scott Pruitt, Trump's Head of the EPA may be next out the door.

https://abcn.ws/2pVCQ1E

'I don’t know how you survive this one': Chris Christie on Pruitt’s condo deal

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt likely faces trouble over reports of his living in a condo co-owned by the wife of a top lobbyist for energy firms, said Chris Christie, an ABC News contributor and former governor of New Jersey.

“I don’t know how you survive this one, and if he has to go, it’s because he never should have been there in the first place,” Christie told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos on "This Week” Sunday.

Christie, who initially headed President Donald Trump's transition team until he was replaced in that lead role, was critical of how the transition played out.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/dont-survive-chris-christie-pruitts-condo-deal/story?id=54159739

Mumha

Captain Obvious wrote: »

Unfortunately the uproar is only coming from one side. A user on reddit gave of the situation.

This one is only starting.

Christy42

Mumha wrote: »

I hope you got excellent odds because things have moved a step closer.

There's a crowd called Sinclair Broadcasting who are right wing nutjobs, and after their recent acquisition of local US tv stations, beam into 75% of American homes, thanks to a Trump appointee Chairman of the FCC, Ajit Pai, giving it the go ahead. Well there's uproar in the US after all of the local tv anchors were instructed to read the same statement.



Have a look at this mashup of all their anchors saying the same statement

https://twitter.com/Deadspin/status/980175772206993409

Almost a year ago, John Oliver warned what might happen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvtNyOzGogc

Fair play for John Oliver calling it out. I had missed that one.

That collection is terrifying when put together like that.

listermint

Christy42 wrote: »

Fair play for John Oliver calling it out. I had missed that one.

That collection is terrifying when put together like that.

The irony of what they are saying is quite hilarious though.

Mumha

This is a nice, easy to understand list of all the connections from Trump to Cambridge Analytica

Mumha

vetinari

The tariffs could end up hurting a lot of his core supporters in rural areas. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out in the election.

Leroy42

vetinari wrote: »

The tariffs could end up hurting a lot of his core supporters in rural areas. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out in the election.

The recent tax cuts will see the wealthiest gain massive tax breaks whilst those at the fringes, his base apparently, will receive miniscule amounts in comparison.

And thats fine as long as the money is there to pay for it but Trump has bet the house on this and the tax payers will end up footing the bill if it goes wrong.

If the base can't see that for the blatant 3 card trick that it is then I doubt they are going to be able to work out that tariffs are to blame for the reduction in trade. It will be painted as a rebalancing of trade and that some people may lose their jobs but its a price worth paying to MAGA.

everlast75

Leroy42 wrote: »

The recent tax cuts will see the wealthiest gain massive tax breaks whilst those at the fringes, his base apparently, will receive miniscule amounts in comparison.

And thats fine as long as the money is there to pay for it but Trump has bet the house on this and the tax payers will end up footing the bill if it goes wrong.

If the base can't see that for the blatant 3 card trick that it is then I doubt they are going to be able to work out that tariffs are to blame for the reduction in trade. It will be painted as a rebalancing of trade and that some people may lose their jobs but its a price worth paying to MAGA.

Plus the sad fact is, democracy is bought in the U.S. He who spends the most tends to get the most votes. It's been shown how easily the public can be manipulated through the media and with Trump's well honed machines working away, I fear the "blue wave" may just be a trickle

Mr.Micro

Mumha wrote: »

I hope you got excellent odds because things have moved a step closer.

There's a crowd called Sinclair Broadcasting who are right wing nutjobs, and after their recent acquisition of local US tv stations, beam into 75% of American homes, thanks to a Trump appointee Chairman of the FCC, Ajit Pai, giving it the go ahead. Well there's uproar in the US after all of the local tv anchors were instructed to read the same statement.



Have a look at this mashup of all their anchors saying the same statement

https://twitter.com/Deadspin/status/980175772206993409

Almost a year ago, John Oliver warned what might happen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvtNyOzGogc

It is very scary. People see Trump, hear Trump and think how can such a fool utter such terrible things, and think it's one individual. In reality its others who pursue their agendas in this climate of fear, hate, intolerance, corruption etc. Democracy is being eroded. Trump is not far from Putin IMO.

listermint

Mr.Micro wrote: »

It is very scary. People see Trump, hear Trump and think how can such a fool utter such terrible things, and think it's one individual. In reality its others who pursue their agendas in this climate of fear, hate, intolerance, corruption etc. Democracy is being eroded. Trump is not far from Putin IMO.

To what end though?

It seems precisely that there are some small wealthy hands that want to control the narrative in total. They are using their influence to deride any traditional media. But whats the end game here. After trump choose the next president again. That is where it seems to be going.

President by private hands.

Water John

Remember Ted Cruz, was their go to guy. They see Donald Trump as a substitute.
Analyse what Cruz stands for.

For Forks Sake

4 tweets in the last hour, each one full of nonsense and name calling. Pathetic.


https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/981126375716409344

listermint

For Forks Sake wrote: »

4 tweets in the last hour, each one full of nonsense and name calling. Pathetic.


https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/981126375716409344

Cheating at what.


Cant believe there are people that fall for this moronic drivel. Its so transparent its unbelievable.

wes

listermint wrote: »

Cheating at what.


Cant believe there are people that fall for this moronic drivel. Its so transparent its unbelievable.

White Identity politics is a powerful drug. That what Trump ultimately is, people who complain about identity politics, embracing it for themselves, in the most ugly way possible. That was Bannons plan, which worked rather well. This also led to an overt increase in white supremacy, which at this point is indistinguishable from white identity politics.

Mumha

Mr.Micro wrote: »

It is very scary. People see Trump, hear Trump and think how can such a fool utter such terrible things, and think it's one individual. In reality its others who pursue their agendas in this climate of fear, hate, intolerance, corruption etc. Democracy is being eroded. Trump is not far from Putin IMO.

The big problem is that America is hugely polarised, and especially on the right, where people largely watch RW tv. I don't see an easy solution to that, apart from a massive GOTV campaign by Democrats and Independents, but at the same time Republicans have been engaged a massive voter suppression. The mid terms in November is a real Battle of Midway type of election. The Democrats have been consistently 10+ points ahead for the last 6-9 months, and their supporters are energised for the first time in a decade/

Mumha

listermint wrote: »

To what end though?

It seems precisely that there are some small wealthy hands that want to control the narrative in total. They are using their influence to deride any traditional media. But whats the end game here. After trump choose the next president again. That is where it seems to be going.

President by private hands.

Money.

The Kochs etc want more billions. Putin wants the sanctions overturned so he and his oligarchs can sell their oil and gas, and spend it in all the nice places in the west.

Mumha

Water John wrote: »

Remember Ted Cruz, was their go to guy. They see Donald Trump as a substitute.
Analyse what Cruz stands for.

There is definitely a story that will come out about the Mercers, Cruz, Conway and Bannon's connection, and I suspect Mueller knows all about it already. What seems obvious is that they never expected to be caught/investigated, because they were horrendously sloppy in hiding what they were doing.

Mumha

Dutch lawyer Alexander Van der Zwaan has just arrived at federal court in Washington DC. He is being sentenced for lying to the FBI about his contacts with Trump campaign official Rick Gates... he could get anything up to 6 months, but may escape jail.

circadian

Mumha wrote: »

Dutch lawyer Alexander Van der Zwaan has just arrived at federal court in Washington DC. He is being sentenced for lying to the FBI about his contacts with Trump campaign official Rick Gates... he could get anything up to 6 months, but may escape jail.

Trump has been on fire on twitter over the last few days, I suspect this has something to do with it.

everlast75

He got 30 days and 20k fine

Mumha

everlast75 wrote: »

He got 30 days and 20k fine

They're saying he wouldn't have got a sentence at all were it not for the fact that he knowingly lied to them, after they had already caught him out. Sets down a marker "pour encourager les autres".

Leroy42

everlast75 wrote: »

He got 30 days and 20k fine

Is that all?

the risk/reward is certainly worth it

Quin_Dub

everlast75 wrote: »

He got 30 days and 20k fine

Leroy42 wrote: »

Is that all?

the risk/reward is certainly worth it

Does the conviction mean he can no longer work practice law?

Assume a conviction for lying to the FBI etc. would exclude him in future..