Trump accepts 400 million dollar bribe.

[Landon Caeli]

Fate is nononsense.

You may be wiser than me, Hans. You're older than me, perhaps one day I'll know.

 

[stevil]

Yet here we are, only a scuffed ear and a few charges later, and he's still your president.

and 34 felony convictions later, with many charges dropped, and a sentence for the felony convictions of no penalty because he is the mighty president and laws no longer apply to Him.

 

[The IbanezerScrooge]

Yeah, but those are just words... It never stopped him!

Right, just like murder being against the law doesn't stop murderers.

 

[Landon Caeli]

Right, just like murder being against the law doesn't stop murderers.

He's unstoppable.

...*Hundreds* of failed attempts. By the mightiest forces in the world... Even bullets... All failed.

 

[The IbanezerScrooge]

He's unstoppable.

...*Hundreds* of failed attempts.

And those who support and defend him are incorrigible.

 

[Landon Caeli]

And those who support and defend him are incorrigible.

Indeed. And much of what he's done is irreversible.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Even bullets... All failed.

A good thing that the shooter was a untrained 20 something nobody with possibly one of the worst quality AR-15s made, a DPMS and plinker ammunition.

Looking at the FBI photos of the assailants rifle, it looks like the counter sniper blew part of the buttock through the neutralized target.

 

[Bradskii]

Political hypocrisy is just one aspect.

No, it's not connected with this at all. This is nothing less than a gift to one person - the president. And while most people would be a little nauseous at the thought of a 'flying palace', it's just the thing to get Trump all excited like a kid at Christmas. And as that link you gave says:

'While tracing the exact programs, initiatives, and departments these governments are funding is nearly impossible...'

Maybe the countries that donate (and it doesn't say if the grants are government grants) want to look good. Maybe their funding research. The conclusion that it's there to foment anti Israeli sentiment is risible. One of the largest donors is Germany for heaven's sake. I really don't think that Israel needs any help whatsoever to prompt anti Israeli comments.

Like I said, if you want to discuss foreign grants to US universities then go start a thread. I'm not interested in responding to any further comments.

 

[Bradskii]

It will belong to the US government... Trump only wants to use it until the new Air Force One is built, which Boeing is taking an extremely long time to furnish.

So it's taking a long time to refurbish an existing 747 to ensure it's up to specification to act as a mobile command centre, but the president can just hop into a plane supplied by a foreign country...

 

[Bradskii]

Indeed. And much of what he's done is irreversible.

I can't take you seriously if you make comments like that. Almost all he has done has been via Executive Orders. Which can be undone by the next president simply issuing an Executive order to counteract the first. It's government by fiat.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

Yeah, but those are just words... It never stopped him!

Just remember, what he does now, the Democrats get to do when they're back in power.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Just remember, what he does now, the Democrats get to do when they're back in power.

Heck no, that would be illegal.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Nonsense. Foreign influence on our foreign policy branch of govt is a whole other level altogether compared to influence on other institutions like universities or media, etc. I dont like the latter either. But the former warrants more than your usual attack "the conversation" instead of the issue routine.

I think our conclusions differ....

I think peddling influence to push academic perspectives on the students attending prominent research institutions (the future movers and shakers) that are working for the government has the potential to do more damage and engage in more manipulation (collectively) than a much smaller gift to just one guy.

And I think the Qataris believe that as well.

As the saying goes, money talks, bovine excrement walks...

If the Qataris are spending 10 times more on one avenue than that the other, then clearly see one as being more "fruitful"


If I was an influence peddler, and I gave 400 bucks to Steve, but I gave 4,000 bucks to Mike...clearly people would come to the conclusion that I though I had a lot more to gain from influencing Mike.

 

[Tinker Grey]

I can't take you seriously if you make comments like that. Almost all he has done has been via Executive Orders. Which can be undone by the next president simply issuing an Executive order to counteract the first. It's government by fiat.

I think we need an amendment that prohibits a president from backing out of a deal without a majority of congress approving it. (I'd be happy with a simple majority).

This willy-nilly changing of our gov'ts position is seriously damaging. (We need an amendment since Foreign policy is the purview of the executive. Thus, we need to modify the constitution.)

 

[Bradskii]

I think we need an amendment that prohibits a president from backing out of a deal without a majority of congress approving it. (I'd be happy with a simple majority).

The problem is, they're not laws. As far as I know, there's nothing in them to compel anyone to act as he decrees. For example, his last one on pharmaceuticals was 'an order' to ask companies to voluntarily drop prices.

As per wiki: 'executive orders have significant influence over the internal affairs of government, deciding how and to what degree legislation will be enforced'.

So there already needs to be legislation in place which an executive order interprets in a particular way. As far as I know there is none as far as price controls for meds go. Trump is threatening the companies with legal constraints, but he can't do that. That's down to congress. Which is why Sanders is going to propose a bill to Congress: Senator Bernie Sanders (@sanders.senate.gov)

'If Trump is serious about making real change rather than just issuing a press release, he will support legislation I will introduce to ensure we pay no more for prescription drugs than people in other major countries. If we come together, we can get it passed in a few weeks.'

Trump will have to back it if he's serious. We'll soon find out.

 

[Desk trauma]

Just remember, what he does now, the Democrats get to do when they're back in power.

They’re not conducting themselves as if that’s a possibility.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

We don't know what he will be doing for them yet. In his last term he tried to give them nuclear bomb technology.

It is like blank check quid pro quo.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

I think our conclusions differ....

I think peddling influence to push academic perspectives on the students attending prominent research institutions (the future movers and shakers) that are working for the government has the potential to do more damage and engage in more manipulation (collectively) than a much smaller gift to just one guy.

And I think the Qataris believe that as well.

As the saying goes, money talks, bovine excrement walks...

If the Qataris are spending 10 times more on one avenue than that the other, then clearly see one as being more "fruitful"


If I was an influence peddler, and I gave 400 bucks to Steve, but I gave 4,000 bucks to Mike...clearly people would come to the conclusion that I though I had a lot more to gain from influencing Mike.

I feel like you can almost see that it's an attempt to influence the presidency, and that would be a bad thing, but refuse to acknowledge it because it would be a black mark against Trump.

And to continue your analogy, it's not $4,00 to Mike versus $400 to Steve. It's $4,000 spread over dozens of Mikes, versus $400 to a single person who is in power right now.

 

[Pommer]

People feigning outrage of about the gift, when in fact, what they're actually upset about is the recipient[…]

Just because it’s plausible, doesn't make it true.
I’m pretty sure I’d have words to say if Bernie Sanders was offered free airfare.
This is a tad bigger and probably unconstitutional, to boot.

 

[Pommer]

It will belong to the US government... Trump only wants to use it until the new Air Force One is built, which Boeing is taking an extremely long time to furnish.

Oh, it’s “okay” for a foreign government to “help fund” the USA by donating an Air Force One worthy aircraft?

With all of the fittings they’ll have to install, it’ll be a few years until it’s ready, so Trump’s going to see very little benefit from it, unless he just takes it, (when he leaves office), like he allegedly did with certian “documents”, circa 2021.

This could be a “good thing” if it spurs Mexico to pony-up for The Wall!