US Politics Hamsterwheel v2.0
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hampshire
Age: 71
Posts: 589
Speaking of how the current government shut down affects all walks of life, how about the devastating effect on the White House catering? It seems that while hosting a college football team, a lack of catering staff led to Trump having to order in 300 Big Macs, plus assorted pizzas, soft drinks etc. And Trump paid! (or so he says). Perhaps he could also pay for the families of government employees who have been affected by a need to find free food?
On a more serious not; I am wondering about how things work in the US government. From what I see in the press etc, Trump can't get the money for his beloved wall. He responds by refusing to sign off on a government spending bill, cutting off government spending. He recently was reported to be toying with the idea of declaring an emergency, which would allow him to divert other government funds toward the tab for his wall. Am I right so far? If I am understanding this correctly, this distills down to the President determining everything in terms of government funding, budgets etc. If Congress decides to spend x billion on different government and the President doesn't like it, it won't happen. On the other hand, the President can dip into and out of various existing budgets and divert funds to his pet cause. In other words, only the President can determine what funds go where. Isn't that somewhat akin to a dictatorship? The will of the elected government can be ignored but the whims of one person will apply? Why not go the whole hog and cut Congress out of the loop all together, leaving the President the sole arbiter of who gets what and when?
Note to WC (and others): I intend this as a genuine question from someone genuinely puzzled by the way you do politics over there; it is not intended as a dig at anyone.
On a more serious not; I am wondering about how things work in the US government. From what I see in the press etc, Trump can't get the money for his beloved wall. He responds by refusing to sign off on a government spending bill, cutting off government spending. He recently was reported to be toying with the idea of declaring an emergency, which would allow him to divert other government funds toward the tab for his wall. Am I right so far? If I am understanding this correctly, this distills down to the President determining everything in terms of government funding, budgets etc. If Congress decides to spend x billion on different government and the President doesn't like it, it won't happen. On the other hand, the President can dip into and out of various existing budgets and divert funds to his pet cause. In other words, only the President can determine what funds go where. Isn't that somewhat akin to a dictatorship? The will of the elected government can be ignored but the whims of one person will apply? Why not go the whole hog and cut Congress out of the loop all together, leaving the President the sole arbiter of who gets what and when?
Note to WC (and others): I intend this as a genuine question from someone genuinely puzzled by the way you do politics over there; it is not intended as a dig at anyone.
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Germany
Age: 71
Posts: 1,551
That is so, but only "up to a point." For instance, there's loose talk about diverting emergency funds meant for Puerto Rico to building the wall. This is something that Trump is entitled to try, but could he get away with that, making one real emergency (hurricane damage to PR) less urgent than an invented one (the need to control a flood of illegals, drugs, etc. across our southern border)?
I was privileged to experience the consequences of presidential power when Reagan sacked all those Patco controllers for striking illegally. He'd been warned that doing that was going to cause ATC chaos, but he did it anyway, and he got away with that by blaming the controllers for going out on strike.
I had been swanning around Florida and its environs for eleven months, just popping up here and there and air-filing IFR flight plans when and as necessary. It worked fine, letting me go pretty much wherever I wanted in my little bug-smashers. Then I went away for a while, off to hillbilly country until I got a job in Africa. Part of that meant going back to Miami, when I filled in for a week for a friend flying a Twin Bonanza, hauling checks. I got a real shock when I tried to air-file an IFR flight plan as usual. Nope, one flight-plan per hour, to be filed prior to departure; no air-filing allowed, due to lack of controllers.
It was freaking chaos, as warned of, but that cheerful buffoon in Washington was able to sell this mess he helped create by claiming that he was protecting our American Way of Life from illegal strikers. Later I met one of those unfortunate strikers, reduced to part-timing in the White Man's Grave after having been banned from getting his old job back. The problems from what the strikers did, and from how Reagan handled that, went on for years, but the politics of it worked out okay for Reagan.
I was privileged to experience the consequences of presidential power when Reagan sacked all those Patco controllers for striking illegally. He'd been warned that doing that was going to cause ATC chaos, but he did it anyway, and he got away with that by blaming the controllers for going out on strike.
I had been swanning around Florida and its environs for eleven months, just popping up here and there and air-filing IFR flight plans when and as necessary. It worked fine, letting me go pretty much wherever I wanted in my little bug-smashers. Then I went away for a while, off to hillbilly country until I got a job in Africa. Part of that meant going back to Miami, when I filled in for a week for a friend flying a Twin Bonanza, hauling checks. I got a real shock when I tried to air-file an IFR flight plan as usual. Nope, one flight-plan per hour, to be filed prior to departure; no air-filing allowed, due to lack of controllers.
It was freaking chaos, as warned of, but that cheerful buffoon in Washington was able to sell this mess he helped create by claiming that he was protecting our American Way of Life from illegal strikers. Later I met one of those unfortunate strikers, reduced to part-timing in the White Man's Grave after having been banned from getting his old job back. The problems from what the strikers did, and from how Reagan handled that, went on for years, but the politics of it worked out okay for Reagan.
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: apogee
Age: 64
Posts: 57
That is apparently how it works with a Trump, and spineless members of government.
Trump is working all the angles like a good mob boss for #mememe and # mywayorhighway.
Sometimes a benevolent dictatorship can work but that's not in the constitution and Trump's just not smart enough to make it work.
Trump is working all the angles like a good mob boss for #mememe and # mywayorhighway.
Sometimes a benevolent dictatorship can work but that's not in the constitution and Trump's just not smart enough to make it work.
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: apogee
Age: 64
Posts: 57
50,000 government workers ordered back to work.
Without pay.
trump is still saying even those off work really, really support his shutdown. Really.
Probably going to take some group like ATC to just stop, in order to force some adult behavior out of trump.
Right now it's very much - " government by "Ill hold my breath until I get what I want, so there".
Better hope something really nasty does not come along requiring adults to make sound decisions because there is a dearth of both and the US is close to,
if not already, among the laughing stocks of this world.
And that is dangerous.
Without pay.
trump is still saying even those off work really, really support his shutdown. Really.
Probably going to take some group like ATC to just stop, in order to force some adult behavior out of trump.
Right now it's very much - " government by "Ill hold my breath until I get what I want, so there".
Better hope something really nasty does not come along requiring adults to make sound decisions because there is a dearth of both and the US is close to,
if not already, among the laughing stocks of this world.
And that is dangerous.
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Farnham, Surrey
Posts: 1,111
If trump does use emergency funds for his wall I would expect someone will go to court to stop him. If all government spending is closed down the surely the Pres can't spend any money on lawyers and court costs to defend his plan...
PDR
PDR
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,733
Originally Posted by KelvinD
On a more serious not; I am wondering about how things work in the US government. From what I see in the press etc, Trump can't get the money for his beloved wall. He responds by refusing to sign off on a government spending bill, cutting off government spending. He recently was reported to be toying with the idea of declaring an emergency, which would allow him to divert other government funds toward the tab for his wall. Am I right so far? If I am understanding this correctly, this distills down to the President determining everything in terms of government funding, budgets etc. If Congress decides to spend x billion on different government and the President doesn't like it, it won't happen. On the other hand, the President can dip into and out of various existing budgets and divert funds to his pet cause. In other words, only the President can determine what funds go where. Isn't that somewhat akin to a dictatorship? The will of the elected government can be ignored but the whims of one person will apply? Why not go the whole hog and cut Congress out of the loop all together, leaving the President the sole arbiter of who gets what and when?
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Florida
Posts: 4,928
Originally Posted by MarkerInbound
You have the gist of it. The US House of Representatives is charged with initiating spending and tax legislation. They have to get the Senate to agree and there can be back and forth revisions between the House and Senate. When a final version passes both the House and Senate it goes to the President for his signature. What is worrisome even to some Republicans is if Trump set the precedent of using emergency powers for a budget event it could return to haunt them when a Democrat is in the office. And lead to the scenario you note above.
Makes interesting battle seeing as each house has different electors to appease
Meanwhile the country as a whole goes tits up and an emergency is declared where only Trump makes the decisions
We deserve it as we allowed our news to be spoon fed to us without thinking that the news was a money-making source
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Middle America
Age: 79
Posts: 1,131
Bad news for Trump's "I own it" Federal Government shutdown:
To the Men and Women of the United States Coast Guard,
Today you will not be receiving your regularly scheduled mid-month paycheck. To the best of my knowledge, this marks the first time in our Nation’s history that servicemembers in a U.S. Armed Force have not been paid during a lapse in government appropriations.
Your senior leadership, including Secretary Nielsen, remains fully engaged and we will maintain a steady flow of communications to keep you updated on developments.
I recognize the anxiety and uncertainty this situation places on you and your family, and we are working closely with service organizations on your behalf. To this end, I am encouraged to share that Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) has received a $15 million donation from USAA to support our people in need. In partnership with CGMA, the American Red Cross will assist in the distribution of these funds to our military and civilian workforce requiring assistance.
I am grateful for the outpouring of support across the country, particularly in local communities, for our men and women. It is a direct reflection of the American public’s sentiment towards their United States Coast Guard; they recognize the sacrifice that you and your family make in service to your country.
It is also not lost on me that our dedicated civilians are already adjusting to a missed paycheck—we are confronting this challenge together.
The strength of our Service has, and always will be, our people. You have proven time and again the ability to rise above adversity. Stay the course, stand the watch, and serve with pride. You are not, and will not, be forgotten.
Semper Paratus,
Admiral Karl L. Schultz Commandant
Today you will not be receiving your regularly scheduled mid-month paycheck. To the best of my knowledge, this marks the first time in our Nation’s history that servicemembers in a U.S. Armed Force have not been paid during a lapse in government appropriations.
Your senior leadership, including Secretary Nielsen, remains fully engaged and we will maintain a steady flow of communications to keep you updated on developments.
I recognize the anxiety and uncertainty this situation places on you and your family, and we are working closely with service organizations on your behalf. To this end, I am encouraged to share that Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) has received a $15 million donation from USAA to support our people in need. In partnership with CGMA, the American Red Cross will assist in the distribution of these funds to our military and civilian workforce requiring assistance.
I am grateful for the outpouring of support across the country, particularly in local communities, for our men and women. It is a direct reflection of the American public’s sentiment towards their United States Coast Guard; they recognize the sacrifice that you and your family make in service to your country.
It is also not lost on me that our dedicated civilians are already adjusting to a missed paycheck—we are confronting this challenge together.
The strength of our Service has, and always will be, our people. You have proven time and again the ability to rise above adversity. Stay the course, stand the watch, and serve with pride. You are not, and will not, be forgotten.
Semper Paratus,
Admiral Karl L. Schultz Commandant
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: apogee
Age: 64
Posts: 57
[QUOTE][We deserve it as we allowed our news to be spoon fed to us without thinking /QUOTE]
More a massive lack of critical thinking.
And you don't deserve it.
And it really is time to stand up.
To trump you don't even have names. He only knows a few quasi-elite-type names. You are numbers, not even individual numbers, just blocks of numbers..
More a massive lack of critical thinking.
And you don't deserve it.
And it really is time to stand up.
To trump you don't even have names. He only knows a few quasi-elite-type names. You are numbers, not even individual numbers, just blocks of numbers..
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Denver
Posts: 847
The Coast Guard getting Red Cross charity assistance? Vlad may die of laughter.
But for the conservatives, all worth it for the "judges....judges.....judges." Forgetting that judges are just human beings that, like the rest of us, put their robes on one arm at a time. They come and they go. They can be circumvented with careful law-writing (unless they go "activist" and start trying to re-write the laws themselves - a conservative no-no). A minor speed-bump in the progress of the nation into the 21st Century, compared to the coming will of the millennials.
But for the conservatives, all worth it for the "judges....judges.....judges." Forgetting that judges are just human beings that, like the rest of us, put their robes on one arm at a time. They come and they go. They can be circumvented with careful law-writing (unless they go "activist" and start trying to re-write the laws themselves - a conservative no-no). A minor speed-bump in the progress of the nation into the 21st Century, compared to the coming will of the millennials.
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: surfing, watching for sharks
Posts: 3,378
Originally Posted by pattern_is_full
The Coast Guard getting Red Cross charity assistance? Vlad may die of laughter.
.
.
Plastic PPRuNer
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Cape Town
Posts: 1,850
"Before taking the job as President Trump’s national security adviser, Bolton devoted a considerable portion of his time on the airways of Fox News and in the pages of the Wall Street Journal vocally advocating for regime change, guided perhaps by the stupendously naive belief that a Washington-imposed toppling of a government in Iran would be any more successful than it was in Baghdad, Tripoli, or Damascus." [Washington Examiner]
Or Vietnam, as a few of us will remember...
Mac :-(
Or Vietnam, as a few of us will remember...
Mac :-(
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Middle America
Age: 79
Posts: 1,131
WC,
Although I don't know the extent of "many times" your generosity is favorably noted. However there is a difference between "your barracks" being out of toilet paper, etc,, and the entire US Coast Guard being not paid. Maybe your former Marine Congressman could have helped to prevent this, but maybe not as he is having significant distracting personal monetary problems...
Vlad is laughing up his sleeve only recently, but not LOL with his directed misinformation provided to get Trump elected and his misinformation provided during the Brexit situation in Britain. Vlad doesn't want to blow his cover when he says he had nothing to do with either. The world political scene is different than Trump's NYC dealings with the Mafia on the inflated cost of delivered concrete for his buildings, a deal not mentioned in his infamous book, but Trump has yet to figure out Washington DC and international dealing are unique.
I recall many times during the Clinton administration taking money out of my own pocket when one of my NCOs came to me and said the barracks was out of cleaning supplies, toilet paper, etc. If Vlad is laughing, he’s been laughing for quite some number of years.
Vlad is laughing up his sleeve only recently, but not LOL with his directed misinformation provided to get Trump elected and his misinformation provided during the Brexit situation in Britain. Vlad doesn't want to blow his cover when he says he had nothing to do with either. The world political scene is different than Trump's NYC dealings with the Mafia on the inflated cost of delivered concrete for his buildings, a deal not mentioned in his infamous book, but Trump has yet to figure out Washington DC and international dealing are unique.
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Arlington, Tx. US
Posts: 510
Coverup
MANJIB!!!!!
After the bombing that slaughtered four brave American heroes VP Pence gave a victory over ISIS speech praising the Trump/Putin order to prematurely withdraw US troops from Syria. This blatant coverup needs an immediate two year non-stop investigation with endless public hearings to assign blame to Trump and his administration regardless of any facts.
Benga....... Whoops I meant MANJIB!!!!!
The Sultan
After the bombing that slaughtered four brave American heroes VP Pence gave a victory over ISIS speech praising the Trump/Putin order to prematurely withdraw US troops from Syria. This blatant coverup needs an immediate two year non-stop investigation with endless public hearings to assign blame to Trump and his administration regardless of any facts.
Benga....... Whoops I meant MANJIB!!!!!
The Sultan
Pelosi Just Hit Trump Where It Hurts
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: surfing, watching for sharks
Posts: 3,378
Originally Posted by Turbine D
WC,
Although I don't know the extent of "many times" your generosity is favorably noted. However there is a difference between "your barracks" being out of toilet paper, etc,, and the entire US Coast Guard being not paid. Maybe your former Marine Congressman could have helped to prevent this, but maybe not as he is having significant distracting personal monetary problems...
Vlad is laughing up his sleeve only recently, but not LOL with his directed misinformation provided to get Trump elected and his misinformation provided during the Brexit situation in Britain. Vlad doesn't want to blow his cover when he says he had nothing to do with either. The world political scene is different than Trump's NYC dealings with the Mafia on the inflated cost of delivered concrete for his buildings, a deal not mentioned in his infamous book, but Trump has yet to figure out Washington DC and international dealing are unique.
Although I don't know the extent of "many times" your generosity is favorably noted. However there is a difference between "your barracks" being out of toilet paper, etc,, and the entire US Coast Guard being not paid. Maybe your former Marine Congressman could have helped to prevent this, but maybe not as he is having significant distracting personal monetary problems...
Vlad is laughing up his sleeve only recently, but not LOL with his directed misinformation provided to get Trump elected and his misinformation provided during the Brexit situation in Britain. Vlad doesn't want to blow his cover when he says he had nothing to do with either. The world political scene is different than Trump's NYC dealings with the Mafia on the inflated cost of delivered concrete for his buildings, a deal not mentioned in his infamous book, but Trump has yet to figure out Washington DC and international dealing are unique.
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Florida
Posts: 4,928
Originally Posted by RatherBeFlying
She's yanked the rug out from under Trump's State of the Union address. Kicking him away from his spot on national TV is a cruel blow for Trump
it aint over until the fat guy sings
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Vendee
Posts: 137
America's Mayor with a mob pinkie ring and bad lower teeth
Saw a clip of Mr. Giuliani's appearance on CNN. I understand that one must adopt a certain sartorial standard when one is representing one of New York's "five plus one" crime families (in other words the Trump family), but what is with the pinkie ring? What is with the false upper teeth and rotten lower ones? The latter is a particularly noteworthy affectation...
Typical organized crime defence. There was no crime. Oh, wait. There was but the boss did not know about it. Giuliani is a sad shadow of a human. What a doddering old fool.
Typical organized crime defence. There was no crime. Oh, wait. There was but the boss did not know about it. Giuliani is a sad shadow of a human. What a doddering old fool.
