Real World Event Discussions
This is Why Trump is a SCUMBAG!
POSTED BY: SHINYGOODGUY
UPDATED: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 22:00
VIEWED: 74665
PAGE 57 of 70
Friday, August 3, 2018 6:24 AM
Quote:Signym, while you are wrapped inside your abstractions about "robust solutions" to the "people's loss of agency", Trump's right hand man signed a contract for his personal "government-mandated wealth redistribution plan". And the topic is "Why Trump is a Scumbag". Or maybe it should be "Why Trump Hires Thieves/Liars/Crooks" :
Originally posted by SIGNYM:
Is "the fix" a government-mandated wealth redistribution plan, as SECOND seems to want? And, if we DO go the route of government-redistribution, might that not cause other problems down the road, such as a dependency on Big Government and people's loss of agency in their own lives? Maybe if we looked into the causes of the wealth gap, instead of simply patching the problem, we could develop a better more robust solution.
"The messy American environment, where most people don't agree, is perfect for people like me. I CAN DO AS I PLEASE." - SECOND
The Wall Street Journal reports that Franklin Haney, a big donor to the Trump campaign, offered Michael Cohen a $10 million contract if he could wangle a huge federal loan for a couple of nuclear power plants.
Under the contract, Mr. Haney agreed to pay Mr. Cohen a monthly retainer in addition to the $10 million success fee if he could help obtain the funding, including approval of the full amount of the project’s application under a U.S. Department of Energy loan program, the people familiar with the deal said….The Wall Street Journal couldn’t determine how much Mr. Haney may have paid Mr. Cohen, if anything, in monthly retainer fees.
….James Thurber, a professor of government at American University, said success fees are “outside the ethical norms” among Washington lobbyists and are frowned upon. Century-old court rulings deemed fees contingent on lobbyists obtaining public funds or killing legislation unenforceable and counter to public policy, saying they encouraged corruption, he said. Several lobbyists contacted by the Journal said $10 million was an unheard-of sum to pay a consultant for government-related work.
Wow. Success fees are “outside the ethical norms” for lobbyists? I didn’t know that anything short of engaging a hit man was outside of ethical norms for lobbyists.
More at www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2018/08/who-ratted-out-michael-cohen/
Special note for Signym -- examples of government redistribution of wealth:
“You will not be paid for your land,” Pres. Andrew Jackson to the Seminole Indians.
“You will not be paid for your slaves,” Gen. Grant to slave owners.**
“You will pay Social Security for your employees,” Pres. FDR to employers.
“You will pay Medicare for your employees,” Pres. LBJ to employers.
**As late as the Hampton Roads Conference in 1865, Lincoln met with Confederate leaders and proposed a "fair indemnity", possibly $500,000,000, in compensation for emancipated slaves. Compensating the slaves, instead of the slave-owners, was not on the agenda.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_and_slavery
The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/folder/1uwh75oa407q8/Firefly
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Friday, August 3, 2018 10:05 AM
Quote:
They were a civilization with a rich cultural heritage whose capital, Tenochtitlan, rivaled the greatest cities of Europe in size and grandeur.
I know I posted this before, but it bares repeating. One of the reasons for
my laughing fit.
Quote:
Yup. Everybody would still be living in caves and straw huts without us.
It was, my laughing fit, in response to this statement ("without us" I'm guessing refers to white folks). Perhaps my statement regarding "white men"
singing the blues triggered that response. It was not meant to be a racist
statement, but rather a commentary on the response by racists in this
country, or better stated, white racists in this country.
The white racists lamenting their lot in life and how they have been subjected to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. The grip on privilege slowly, methodically switching back to humans of color. This country was invaded by white europeans who systematically destroyed the natives, and anyone else who got in their way, robbed them of their culture,
heritage, diginity, their form of civilization. Let me copy and paste the above once again to be clear:
Quote:
They were a civilization with a rich cultural heritage...rivaled the greatest cities of Europe in size and grandeur.
"Grandiose civilization" does that sound like huts and caves to you? Yes, early man lived in caves, but they were "men" of color. The Vikings were barbarians who emerged from caves. The Moors once ruled a vast area of Africa and parts of Europe. The Moors were black peoples. Modern day alphabet and math originated in Egypt. The Pyramids, they were caves right?
They stand to this day. Built by slaves and engineered by people of color.
One final thought........
I want to leave this post on a positive note. Just to show that I hold no grudges or animosity. I give you the grass roots genius of:
Quote:
Pedro Albizu Campos was a Puerto Rican attorney and politician, and the leading figure in the Puerto Rican independence movement. Gifted in languages, he spoke six. He graduated from Harvard Law School with the highest grade point average in his law class, an achievement that earned him the right to give the valedictorian speech at his graduation ceremony. However, animus towards his mixed racial heritage would lead to his professors delaying two of his final exams in order to keep Albizu Campos
from being the first Puerto Rican law valedictorian.
At the outset of WWI, he volunteered and joined the US Army. He was honorably discharged in 1919 as a First Lieutenant. He received his law degree in 1922. He clerked for the Supreme Court of the United States and
held a diplomatic post in the State Department before returning to Puerto Rico. He accepted a professorship at the UPR (University of Puerto Rico).
Not bad for a poor barefoot boy that once lived in a hut.
SGG
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Friday, August 3, 2018 10:57 AM
Quote:Whatever happened to the ideal of equality?
The grip on privilege slowly, methodically switching back to humans of color.
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
"The messy American environment, where most people don't agree, is perfect for people like me. I CAN DO AS I PLEASE." - SECOND
America is an oligarchy http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.aspx?tid=57876
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Friday, August 3, 2018 11:01 AM
Quote:SGG seemed to want to discuss this ...
Signym, while you are wrapped inside your abstractions about "robust solutions" to the "people's loss of agency" ...
Quote:Well, this IS a discussion-board! It IS possible to discuss multiple topics at once, is it not? But I wouldn't have suggested continuing that particular discussion on this particular thread. Anyway, I'm still interested in discussing this topic. This constant bagging on Trump is tiresome ... for example, one positive thing I can say about Trump is that he hasn't started any new wars so far, and for a USA President that's pretty awesome, considering our history!
Trump's right hand man signed a contract for his personal "government-mandated wealth redistribution plan". And the topic is "Why Trump is a Scumbag".
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
"The messy American environment, where most people don't agree, is perfect for people like me. I CAN DO AS I PLEASE." - SECOND
America is an oligarchy http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.aspx?tid=57876
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Friday, August 3, 2018 12:23 PM
It appears to me that as Mueller and company get closer to interviewing him, along with indicting more people in the Russia probe, the more desperate he
becomes.
And notice his rallies are also becoming more frantic and chock full of lies.
What could possibly be going on in the news today that has him nervous.
Could it be the Manafort trial? Now he sends out his cabinet to assure the American people that there's nothing to see here and "we're" looking into
that 400-lb guy hacking away in his bedroom.
No collusion.
SGG
Quote:
Originally posted by second:
The President of the United States is saying more than seven things that aren't true a day. SEVEN.
And, what's more, his tendency toward untruth is actually picking up steam. As WaPo's Glenn Kessler, Salvador Rizzo and Meg Kelly note, Trump was averaging less than five false or misleading claims in his first 100 days. (Only five!) But, between June and July Trump is averaging -- averaging -- 16 falsehoods a day. (As a thought experiment, try to lie -- or misrepresent -- 16 times tomorrow. I bet you can't.)
It's not just the raw numbers either. Trump has ramped up his disdain and dismissiveness of all forms of communication that don't originate with him. "Just remember, what you are seeing and what you are reading is not what's happening," Trump said earlier this month. "Just stick with us, don't believe the crap you see from these people, the fake news." On Tuesday, at a campaign rally in Tampa, Florida, Trump said: "You know, polls are fake, just like everything else."
That message is getting through. According to a CBS News poll released earlier this week, 91% of strong Trump supporters say they trust the President to provide them accurate information while 63% say they trust their family and friends to do the same. Just 11% of them trust the mainstream media to provide accurate information.
More at www.cnn.com/2018/08/01/politics/donald-trump-mistruths-analysis/index.
html
The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/folder/1uwh75oa407q8/Firefly
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Friday, August 3, 2018 12:29 PM
Quote:
BTW .... those pictures were taken in 2014.
Really!? Then why didn't you attribute that in your original post?
HHS and Homeland security are running the show now, as they were back in 2014 when Obama was president.
SGG
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Friday, August 3, 2018 12:42 PM
Now that the power dynamic pendulum is swinging in the opposite direction, that point is moot. Hence the Trump desperation and greediness tour.
One thing that the new power mongers have to adapt to is the "American Dream" dynamic.
Shoe, meet other foot.
SGG
Quote:
Originally posted by SIGNYM:Quote:Whatever happened to the ideal of equality?
The grip on privilege slowly, methodically switching back to humans of color.
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
"The messy American environment, where most people don't agree, is perfect for people like me. I CAN DO AS I PLEASE." - SECOND
America is an oligarchy http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.aspx?tid=57876
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Friday, August 3, 2018 12:48 PM
Discuss away.........but this thread is called "Why Trump is a Scumbag" is it not? So, it stands to reason that Trump would be the main topic of - say
it with me - discussion.
SGG
Quote:
Originally posted by SIGNYM:Quote:SGG seemed to want to discuss this ...
Signym, while you are wrapped inside your abstractions about "robust solutions" to the "people's loss of agency" ...Quote:Well, this IS a discussion-board! It IS possible to discuss multiple topics at once, is it not? But I wouldn't have suggested continuing that particular discussion on this particular thread. Anyway, I'm still interested in discussing this topic. This constant bagging on Trump is tiresome ... for example, one positive thing I can say about Trump is that he hasn't started any new wars so far, and for a USA President that's pretty awesome, considering our history!
Trump's right hand man signed a contract for his personal "government-mandated wealth redistribution plan". And the topic is "Why Trump is a Scumbag".
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
"The messy American environment, where most people don't agree, is perfect for people like me. I CAN DO AS I PLEASE." - SECOND
America is an oligarchy http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.aspx?tid=57876
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Friday, August 3, 2018 12:53 PM
Yes, I know.
Quote:
Originally posted by SIGNYM:Quote:Sorry SHINY, your post got buried.
Seriously Siggy, what was the Big Question again? I looked back in the thread, but couldn't find the Question.Thanks. SGG
-----------
Pity would be no more,
If we did not MAKE men poor - William Blake
"The messy American environment, where most people don't agree, is perfect for people like me. I CAN DO AS I PLEASE." - SECOND
America is an oligarchy http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.aspx?tid=57876
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Friday, August 3, 2018 1:11 PM
Quote:
So, looked at this from a different perspective, perhaps the question can be re-framed as What is the proper role of government?
The role of government is to serve it's people.
Quote:
How I got to that question goes like this>>> Sometimes, the government winds up trying to solve a problem that it itself created.
You mean like that whole "Zero Tolerance" debacle.
Quote:
For example, the current wealth gap. That wealth gap has been getting steadily larger and larger no matter who is in office.
That is not so. The gap seems to widen more when Republicans are in charge.
Taxes, tariffs, the demolition of established law and institutions, etc.
You know this.
Quote:
I think these are both very large questions, and also very interesting ones that deserve a lot of thoughtful discussion. They are so multi-faceted, as each question has entire OTHER questions attached to them, it would be fascinating to go down some of these bunny-trails with other people.
I don't know what to say, except that this subset within the Community heading was built for just that...discussion. All within the parameters
set by the thread topic. Agreed. Let's discuss the role of government as
affected by the current administration. I think that would certainly be interesting.
SGG
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