Prelude to the Apocalypse

[Mischief Maker]

Trump is a businessman, I think he will be far more pragmatic than people give him credit.

Trump is a shitty businessman who inherited enough money from daddy to absorb failures that would flatten a businessman of normal means.

It became clear to me that [The Trump Administration] view jobs as lollipops, things you give out to good boys and girls, instead of the sense that actually what you’re trying to do is recruit the best possible talent to fill the most important, demanding, lowest-paying executive jobs in the world.

Buckle up!

[BulletMagnet]

Economy though, will most likely collapse because the federal reserve intends to raise rates just as he takes power, which will tank everything.

Funny, because if they follow through on this they're caving in to the demands of - surprise! - conservatives, who have been screaming at Obama about this for years, despite little to no evidence that the economy (well, aside from the important parts, i.e. their donors) has recovered to the point that it would help, or at the very least not hurt. On that note...

-Economy (coin toss, actually)

The rich will get a huge tax cut, businesses will see regulations repealed, everyone else will see services and protections rolled back, the promised ensuing wave of investment and hiring will once again fail to materialize, the (suddenly no longer scary, for some strange reason) debt will explode, and the only "solution" offered to this state of affairs is even more tax and spending cuts. It happens every single time the cons take over, and there's no way in hell it isn't happening again now. And speaking of that...

It became clear to me that [conservatives] view jobs as lollipops, things you give out to good boys and girls, instead of the sense that actually what you’re trying to do is recruit the best possible talent to fill the most important, demanding, lowest-paying executive jobs in the world.

Fixed; hey, Government Doesn't Work anyhow, why even bother pretending (and heck, make a few bucks via blatant conflicts of interests while we're at it)? Way to buck the establishment trend, guys!

[BryanM]

He's going to come under incredible pressure and I fear in this case his pragmatism will lead him to make strategic blunders that could take him from being a potentially historical statesman to just another bad nightmare for the world (and America).

I find it pretty funny that some of us are seriously talking about Donald Trump making any executive decisions.

I'd be blown away if he does more than delegate the entire job to others (people almost all of whom are ghouls or vampires) while holding rallies across the country.

But I was actually counter-pointing republicans having majority and doing fuck all for the last few years. My guess is loads more will get through. They can block the fillibuster now, no?

The democrats can use the passive filibuster to block anything the republicans try to do. Unless the republicans in the senate decide to get rid of the rule. So who knows, really.

Gotta privatize that Medicare, don't you know. Not enough monopoly power in this country, needs moar monopoly.

[Ikaruga11]

Trump is a shitty businessman

And yet he's a multi-billionaire.

[supergrafx77]

Trump is a businessman, I think he will be far more pragmatic than people give him credit.

Trump is a shitty businessman who inherited enough money from daddy to absorb failures that would flatten a businessman of normal means.

Mischief: Fact is, whether you like the guy or hate him, dude has Legendary/Godly troll status-even Obama has made this concession how such legendary trollness, can be perhaps amazing for the WH.
Obama admits after their 1.5 hr talk, 'believes Trump is far more a pragmatic than simply an ideologist in his nature.' Trump obviously got "skills."

Calling him a "shitty businessman," is totally w/out merit and as insulting as the latest Hamilton's coordinated staff effort of publicly shaming Pence.
That being said, Trump maybe is indeed a tried and true SOB, a douche, .....blah, blah, blah....
But after multiple multiple bankruptcies, that many would have been done for, Trump has always 'risen from the ashes (even if in your mind, it is w/ due respect, on others/victims' backs).'

And I must say, that although it was a stupid/or not, reality show: The Apprentice, never once, did I, nor probably you for that matter, could say Trump made bad decisions regarding business/firing decisions on the show.

It's amazing that through all Trump's godly trolling through the election, he won.
What's also amazing, that folks don't seem to be talking much about what really matters: that he seems to have united most, if not everyone, in the GOP that was against him and HATED HIM.
Romney is even on board and may get a position. If this isn't getting business done, I don't know what is.
Neolib Dems couldn't even relate/unite w/ real progressives/green party, etc...
This guy is really good at uniting. 'The Art of the Deal.'

Guy might end up being a real fuck, etc..., but we owe it to give him a chance now.
I'm just glad the corrupt neoliberals/DNC + Crooked Hillary got the wake-up call that they asked for and rigged for.
"I love Bernie, but this "lesser evil" shit is not his (Bernie's) forte. Trump, not Hillary, was clearly the lesser evil."
#MAGA

[Burningvigor]

Still amazed that some people would rather have Hillary over Trump. The thought of that is almost scary. Even in these forums where I used to think some of you guys were intelligent, now I realize a lot of you are just drones for your party.

[BulletMagnet]

But after multiple multiple bankruptcies, that many would have been done for, Trump has always 'risen from the ashes (even if in your mind, it is w/ due respect, on others/victims' backs).'

There's no "in your mind" about it - he's pretty much always left someone else holding the bag, that's an established fact.

It's amazing that through all Trump's godly trolling through the election, he won.

As many Trump fans themselves have said, he won because of his trolling, not in spite of it; that's what his base wanted to hear, in all but total lieu of the actual workable policy proposals anyone else would be expected to offer, so he gave it to them, and they never asked for anything beyond that.

What's also amazing, that folks don't seem to be talking much about what really matters: that he seems to have united most, if not everyone, in the GOP that was against him and HATED HIM.

Is anyone honestly the least bit surprised by this? The Republican party leadership would suck the devil's dick (or David Duke's, as it happens) as long as they get their upper-end tax cuts, and all indications so far is that Trump's not going the least bit rogue from party orthodoxy on this front. Not that he ever so much as suggested he would from the very start, mind you; that one's been there in black and white for ages, despite how vague he was (and still is) on so many other matters.

And yet he's a multi-billionaire.

'Til he releases his tax returns all we have is his word on that front.

[BryanM]

I am deeply concerned that the people who run our country are the kind of people who like Hamilton.

They need to go away. All of them.

And I merely lol at the idea Trump would bring back the tariffs. He would deserve a 30 page spread in the history books on how he really was the god emperor if he even tried to do it. Hillary already earned a 12 page chapter on how to run a political campaign incorrectly.

They don't really give you what you need in them public schools. Just like those bastards never told me there was an air jump glitch. Damn it all - mushrooms kill people.

[austere]

Funny, because if they follow through on this they're caving in to the demands of - surprise! - conservatives

I do agree, the shoe is very much on the other foot this time. A little less hypocrisy on the part of Republicans would have gone a long way to prevent this scenario. The bailouts of 2008-2009 which created today's mess had bipartisan support and execution.

Still amazed that some people would rather have Hillary over Trump. The thought of that is almost scary.

I'll be honest, I was surprised to see anyone support her on here especially after what she did to Bernie. I guess some people don't appreciate what the TPP would have meant or maybe they just don't care.

Maybe this played a part in it:

[BryanM]

I'll be honest, I was surprised to see anyone support her on here especially after what she did to Bernie. I guess some people don't appreciate what the TPP would have meant or maybe they just don't care.

They just remember W and didn't want another go of that.

The personnel being selected does correlate to this being some more W. Never a great sign when you've got guys saying we should execute Snowden running things. Or guys who thirst for that war with Iran. I don't even consider the TPP dead yet.

It was a hard call as to which was a greater evil. Hence how close everything was.

Just imagine where we'd be right now had Clinton not run. Anyone angry at Trump and not absolutely pissed at her is a very broken person.

[Opus131]

I am deeply concerned that the people who run our country are the kind of people who like Hamilton.

I'm disappointed Pence even went to see this trash. He needs to zap a few more gays until he gets back on track.

[Mischief Maker]

And I must say, that although it was a stupid/or not, reality show: The Apprentice, never once, did I, nor probably you for that matter, could say Trump made bad decisions regarding business/firing decisions on the show.

This reminds me of the time Bradley Cooper was spotted at the Democratic convention and Trump supporters like you started flipping out. "Whuuut? He's not Chris Kyle in real life?!!"

[Ed Oscuro]

Trump is a shitty businessman

And yet he's a multi-billionaire.

You don't know that.

We do know that he deducted other peoples' losses so he wouldn't have to pay taxes for 18 years, which has since been outlawed (and never was meant to be allowed), meaning that he can be an even shittier businessman and still tread water because hey, no taxes.

Trump University. In my book running confidence tricks is not the mark of a good businessman. Whatever happened to the moralizing Republicans, anyway?

[Mischief Maker]

Trump is a shitty businessman

And yet he's a multi-billionaire.

You don't know that.

We do know that he deducted other peoples' losses so he wouldn't have to pay taxes for 18 years, which has since been outlawed (and never was meant to be allowed), meaning that he can be an even shittier businessman and still tread water because hey, no taxes.

Gonna have to correct you there. Fred Trump's old accountant Jack Mitnick did those taxes.

[Ed Oscuro]

I think that's an addition. Trump profited from an almost unprecedented personal tax amnesty. Yes, I know he didn't cook it up himself. Other people have noticed that the supposed business expert Trump isn't familiar with tax and business terminology despite being a supposed master.

[BulletMagnet]

Oh God, not her. ANYBODY but her.

And that fucking article doesn't even mention that she only got the "results" she did because she fucking cheated! (And that she's married to this douchebag!)

Way to drain that fucking swamp!

[BryanM]

Oh God, not her. ANYBODY but her.

Don't jinx yourself.

There's always more and it's always worse.

[Domino]

Oh God, not her. ANYBODY but her.

And that fucking article doesn't even mention that she only got the "results" she did because she fucking cheated! (And that she's married to this douchebag!)

Way to drain that fucking swamp!

DC then to CA? Aren't they both Democrats?

[Durandal]

I think that's an addition. Trump profited from an almost unprecedented personal tax amnesty. Yes, I know he didn't cook it up himself. Other people have noticed that the supposed business expert Trump isn't familiar with tax and business terminology despite being a supposed master.

Seems like he's more of a master of hiring the right people.

[Mischief Maker]

I think that's an addition. Trump profited from an almost unprecedented personal tax amnesty. Yes, I know he didn't cook it up himself. Other people have noticed that the supposed business expert Trump isn't familiar with tax and business terminology despite being a supposed master.

Seems like he's more of a master of hiring the right people.

Like Sarah Palin!

Maybe he's more a master of not firing the people his daddy already hired.

[austere]

Perhaps the media is hyperventilating about his picks/transition process because he's not using a list handed to him by Goldman Sachs and Citibank...

His latest potential pick for SoD (General James Mattis) restored my confidence in Trump to a dgree. The good general is a level headed strategist, knows how to keep his eye on the ball (i.e international islamic terrorism). Michael Flynn and James Mattis is going to be a dream team.

[BulletMagnet]

Aren't they both Democrats?

It'd figure that the few Dems Trump would associate with are the ones who are up there with Bill Gates et al in their tireless drive to privatize the educational system and take away the handful of perks the "lazy and overpaid" teachers still have...though it's even more pathetic that conservatives still accuse Rhee of being a "Socialist". If she still is a registered Democrat, it's a crying shame that the party hasn't kicked her sorry ass out, as she's deserving of nothing less than pariah status; all those cries of "lock her up" directed at Hillary would have been much more apt here. Leave it to Trump to dig her up and force all of us to deal with her shit on an even larger scale!

The good general is a level headed strategist, knows how to keep his eye on the ball (i.e international islamic terrorism).

I recall that Bush's team tended to "keep their eye on the ball" in the same way, though in retrospect it looks positively myopic, to put it kindly.

[Durandal]

[Strider77]

I'm disappointed Pence even went to see this trash. He needs to zap a few more gays until he gets back on track.

Why are you so odd?

[quash]

I recall that Bush's team tended to "keep their eye on the ball" in the same way, though in retrospect it looks positively myopic, to put it kindly.

You voted for someone who literally wanted a no-fly zone over Syria.

[ED-057]

all those cries of "lock her up" directed at Hillary would have been much more apt here.

Rhee is a snake oil salesman pushing some ideological BS. That's basically the same thing that Clinton is (or should I say "was")

Although Clinton is also an accomplished war profiteer who supported multiple military interventions and was seen gloating on TV about the destruction of Libya.

We already know that, in the minds of Democrats, mass murder is a much lesser offense than, for instance, groping or uttering politically incorrect statements. But what exactly has Rhee done that would make her worse than Clinton, according to a dem?

[BryanM]

I have an excellent quote in my Hillary Is Bad.txt file that encapsulates perfectly what splendid fuckery is our politics let me go fish it out..

Can you imagine living in a world where Hillary successfully campaigning for military intervention that turned Libya into a lawless hellhole is just a shrug, and actually you probably want to go to war with Iran or some shit, but four, fucking four, Americans dying at the site of a probable CIA weapons smuggling op is somehow an unconscionable crime on the part of the Secretary of State for some reason?

In other news, that India and Pakistan - am I right?

Eh I'm sure that'll be fine.

[quash]

Ah yes, but what nobody wants to talk about is why those people were in Benghazi in the first place.

Any takers?

[BulletMagnet]

But what exactly has Rhee done that would make her worse than Clinton, according to a dem?

First off, to get the technicalities out of the way, I'm not a registered Democrat. Second, methinks the terms "war profiteer" and "mass murderer" belong in the same class of hyperbole as the "literally Hitler" stuff thrown at Trump; frankly, most of the accusations to that end that I've seen boil down to "corporations that had donated to the Clinton Foundation did things that she didn't explicitly stop, if she even could". If you want to criticize her for being too cozy with corporate America, get in line, but if you want to go the "cold, calculating, no regard for human life" route, remember that the only reason Trump ever had an opinion on Iraq at all is because of a bond deal he wanted to go through (and while we're in the vicinity, the whole "you're apparently more concerned with PC culture than anything else" garbage is no more helpful, or true, than "you apparently have no problem with the KKK" ).

Third, there's the matter of whether either one can be held legally liable for what happened under their watch; even if you ignore the highly publicized over-and-done(-and-done-and-done) matters that the right still by and large refuses to let go of (Whitewater, Vince Foster, Benghazi, Emailgate), a lot of the "bad optics" and other "controversial" matters "connected to" Clinton in some way simply don't cut close enough for a prosecutor (including Comey, who has literally been after her since Whitewater) to bring charges; in Rhee's case (especially hilarious since she used the same "I don't recall" excuse in response to the memo that Clinton was set on fire for) the "extraordinary results" she built her entire career on (and still touts to this day) were the direct result of outright cheating under her watch. I don't know what provision might have prevented anyone from going after her over the years (feel free to link me if you find something, I'd love to find out), but whatever it is must be even more arcane than what "protects" Clinton from prosecution.

In any event, at the end of the day I see the fact that Trump is even considering someone like Rhee for such an influential position as evidence of two things: 1) Like Bush's appointment of John Bolton as U.N. representative, a direct and hostile slap in the face to anyone who takes this area of society seriously, and 2) As clear a refutation as I've seen of the idea that Trump's transition team is interested in anything else but the same privatizing "profiteering" as almost every other Republican administration going back a century or more.

You voted for someone who literally wanted a no-fly zone over Syria.

You could at least pretend to stay on topic. By the by, according even to one of "your" news sources, Russia's already beaten us to it.

[quash]

Good. They're there legally and have every reason to do so, especially when you consider the distinct possibility of joint strikes before Trump's inauguration.

And how is it not on topic? You're accusing Trump of being a neocon puppet when the other option was the most blatant example of one possibly ever.