Tracking Donald Trump's Promises Kept and Promises Broken
Donald Trump, in order to get elected, promised a whole lot of things. This forum is to discuss whether he was able to our not. Here is a short list of Promises we can follow:
Here are his Day One Promises (that would be Jan 21, 2025, I believe):
Immigration and Border Security: Trump will start building his ineffective wall again. He will implement those stricter immigration policies that he VETOed a few months ago.
Justice Department and Law Enforcement: He will target those he considers hostile to his agenda and will install a sycophant as AG. He also plans to enact reforms to expand police rights, increasing protections for officers against legal action for when they break the law.
Education: Trump has proposed giving parents more control over local school leadership by allowing them to elect school principals and hold them accountable. He promised to get rid of the Dept of Education later on since he can't do that on Day One.
{b]Social Issues and LGBTQ+ Policies[/b]: Trump has pledged to get rid of additional personal freedoms by restricting gender-related medical procedures for minors and reinforce policies recognizing only two genders at a federal level. He also wants to ban trans women from competing in women’s sports and reinstate the ban on transgender people serving in the military. (Like his taking away a woman's right to chose has resulted in multiple deaths, so will this, mainly by suicide - supported by studies)
Economic and Trade: He has spoken about re-negotiating international trade deals that he claims disadvantage American industries, with the goal of reviving domestic manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign production (Note: he promised this last time and failed.)
End the Ukraine War - The only way he will accomplish this on day one is by delivering Ukraine to Putin.
Deportations - He promised to begin mass deportations on Day One.
Insurrectionists - He promised to pardon on Day One all the criminals who did his bidding at the Capitol.Another Day One promise Trump made was to become a Dictator. It seems he will keep that promise.
I hope everyone agrees that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a dictator in every sense of the word, including any negative connotations (he is a murderer, after all). He controls the Federation Council (Senate) and the Duma (House) and the Russian version of the Supreme Court. And, he is protected from any action he takes while in office. Chances are high that if any one person gets out of line, they will be poisoned or pushed out a 10-stroy window as has already happened many times before.
As the attached article indicates, Trump is 2/3rds of the way there. He effectively controls the Senate and the Supreme Court, and he is immune from accountability for virtually any action he takes as president. Total control that a dictator needs will come if the subservient Republicans keep the House.
No, I don't think Trump will start poisoning people, but I think he is capable of it.
Putin has put his henchmen* in charge of every bureaucratic post in the Russian government. Trump is in the process of doing the same thing.
Trump is quickly taking total control of every facet of government in the model of his mentor Vladimir Putin. Are only hope is if the Democrats can flip the House.
(Trump says (remember, 95% of things he said are lies) that he only meant the dictator comment to mean he will be a dictator only on day one. If he hasn't released the Senate Republicans to act on their own by day two, we will know he lied again.)
* Henchmen are people who are loyal ONLY to the person who gave them the job, e.g. Vance. An appointee is a person who loyalty is to the Constitution and the nation first and then the Party and finally the guy that appointed them.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/11/politics … index.htmlOne Day One promise that I am sure Trump will keep is breaking America's promise to the world by pulling America out of current Climate Agreement.
Under President Biden and his climate change policies, the world's rush to disaster actually slowed down a bit. https://www.wri.org/insights/biden-admi … n-progress
Trump has promised to undo all of that and speed up our drive along the road to catastrophe.
Just a reminder: 2024 is not over yet but the sum total of the 24 disasters that have befallen America is estimated to be $81B (there is a wild fire in California that probably hasn't been included yet)
According to NOAA
In 2023, there were 28 events costing over $1B each, for a total of $95 B and 492 people killed.
From 2021 - 2023, there were an average of 22 events per year costing an average of $147B each and causing and average of 563 deaths per year.
From 2019 - 2023, there were an average of 20 events per year costing an average of $123B each and causing and average of 399 deaths per year.
From 2010 - 2019, there were an average of 13 events per year costing an average of $99B each and causing and average of 523 deaths per year.
From 2000 - 2009, there were an average of 7 events per year costing an average of $62B each and causing and average of 310 deaths per year.
From 1990 - 1999, there were an average of 6 events per year costing an average of $33B each and causing and average of 308 deaths per year.
From 1980 - 1989, there were an average of 3 events per year costing an average of $22B each and causing and average of 299 deaths per year.
For the 43 years from 1980 - 2023, there were an average of 9 events per year costing an average of $65B each and causing and average of 390 deaths per year.
I hope nobody will argue that the climate crisis isn't real and getting worse as time goes on.
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/
It is THIS that Trump wants to make worse.
On the subject Promises made promises made---
Yes, Trump has stated multiple times that if re-elected, he plans to bring individuals into his administration who align with his policies and vision. He has expressed a desire for appointees who are loyal to his agenda and willing to implement his plans without resistance.
He speedily has appointed 100% who align with his vision. Up to Congress to get his crew confirmed.He promised to "settle" the Russian invasion of Ukraine BEFORE he takes office. So he is currently on the clock for that one.
Trump announced plans to launch a “large-scale” ad campaign on Wednesday with the goal of educating Americans on the effects of fentanyl.
Oh brother. And this is going to do what??
“I will be working on a large scale United States Advertising Campaign, explaining how bad Fentanyl is for people to use – Millions of lives being so needlessly destroyed. By the time the Campaign is over, everyone will know how really bad the horror of this Drug is,” trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Feels like a reboot of the just say no to drugs campaign of the '80s... That was useless.
Is this just a way for him to funnel money to his propaganda machines, fox? X?
I think most people know how bad fentanyl is and then we have addicted folks who want it more than their own lives. Wouldn't it be better to have programs that actually help people? Rather than advertisements? But we have maga, instead of addressing root causes, wants to run ads? Couldn't this money be used more effectively?
Lol most Americans are 3 connections away from an overdose death but sure thing , it's an "awareness" issue.
"You know, I’d like to end the drug epidemic, if that’s okay,” Trump said.
But let's revisit Trump's previous administration...
"In October 2017, President Trump declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency. Ever since, the Trump Administration applied an all-of-Government approach to the epidemic, taking an extraordinary range of actions that reflect the President’s commitment to stopping the crisis in its tracks."
He didn't do much when he had the chance previously.
But where are we today?
Street drug deaths in the U.S. are dropping at the fastest rate ever seen, according to a new report issued on Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Preliminary data shows roughly 97,000 fatal overdoses over a 12-month period. That's down roughly 14.5% from a year earlier. Public health officials say the drop translates into more than 16,000 lives saved and marks the lowest level of drug deaths in nearly four years.
Biden administration’s public health approach may finally be helping.
Just in time for trump to throw up some ads and take credit for the trend.
Much of Trump's actions are a "look here not there". While he is running just say no to fentanyl commercials, public health experts worry that the second trump administration will gut access to healthcare, including addiction treatment. Look for that.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 … nistrationMy view ---- I like seeing Trump at work before even being worn in. No hidden in a basement... But keeping us all informed via social media--- no more hidden Biden, never really knowing if he was in charge or just a puppet that was well hidden.
President Trump's plan for a large-scale advertising campaign to combat fentanyl abuse has significant potential, especially when we consider how different today’s communication landscape is compared to the 1980s. Back then, Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” relied on traditional media like TV, radio, and school programs to spread its message. While it had a cultural impact, it lacked the reach, interactivity, and targeting capabilities we have today with social media.
In today’s world, platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and X give us a direct line to millions of people, especially the younger demographic most vulnerable to drug experimentation. With smart strategies, this campaign could be far more impactful than anything attempted in the past. For example, social media allows for tailored content that resonates with different audiences. A TikTok campaign featuring influencers who share personal stories about losing friends to fentanyl could strike an emotional chord with teens and young adults in ways traditional ads never could. Meanwhile, Instagram reels or YouTube videos could feature testimonials from recovering addicts or grieving families, highlighting the devastating consequences of fentanyl.
Plus, social media enables viral sharing. If even a handful of these posts resonate, they could be shared millions of times, organically spreading the campaign's message far beyond the original audience. The interactive nature of social media also allows people to engage with the content, ask questions, and share their own stories, making it a two-way conversation instead of a one-sided lecture.
Another advantage is the ability to use data analytics. Unlike the 1980s, we can now measure what messages work best in real-time. If certain content is underperforming, it can be tweaked or replaced instantly to maximize engagement. This flexibility could ensure the campaign stays effective and relevant.
He can incorporate modern tools like geotargeting to focus the campaign on areas most affected by the fentanyl crisis. If a particular region is experiencing a surge in overdoses, the campaign could intensify its efforts there with localized ads and outreach.
It is clear Trump is progressive and will use tools such as social media to get the word out about how dangerous fentanyl is. I, for one, am so pleased to see him tackle this killing drug head-on, versus the last administration’s attitude to ignore it. In my view, Biden did not do anything to stop the flow of drugs but ultimately invited drugs in across a porous border. Biden was a drug addict’s and the cartels’ best friend, one could say.But you glossed over the part where Trump's first administration wasn't very successful with fentanyl, so this is his answer now? Advertising campaigns as if people don't know what fentanyl is? Everyone knows the dangers of fentanyl. The drug abusers don't care.
"Biden was a drug addict’s and the cartels’ best friend, one could say.
Then why...
"Street drug deaths in the U.S. are dropping at the fastest rate ever seen, according to a new report issued on Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The lowest level of drug deaths in nearly four years. ". The Biden administration's efforts on opioids has shown success. No advertising campaign needed.Jan 20th we start a brand new page... From that day on, I will be saying "Who is Biden?" You seem to worry too much, about what will happen--- I mean can you or I possibly know what will come in the future?
Here’s where we differ: you dwell on the past, while I focus on the future. Trump is also moving past previous struggles, looking ahead with new and innovative strategies. A prime example is his proposed social media campaign to combat fentanyl, a forward-thinking approach that shows his commitment to using modern tools for addressing serious issues. He’s clearly focused on creating effective solutions rather than being bogged down by past conflicts.
I am confident Trump will continue to work to decrease various drug-related problems. As Biden has on his time in office.
Actually, I see this from 2017...
"In declaring the opioid epidemic a public health emergency last week, President Trump promised that the federal government would start “a massive advertising campaign to get people, especially children, not to want to take drugs in the first place.” But past efforts to prevent substance abuse through advertising have often been ineffective or even harmful.*
So he said he was going to do advertising during his first administration, what happened? If he did it (does anybody remember it?) then it obviously didn't have much of an impact.
AND the article goes on to say...
A recent Cochrane review of rigorous studies collectively examining over 180,000 people reported that the average effect of mass media campaigns on drug use in randomized studies was essentially zero. Why is it so hard for media to change young people’s drug use?
By the time they reach adulthood, Americans are typically exposed to tens of thousands of advertisements promoting substance use, be it beer, cigarettes or more recently cannabis in some locations. Although opioids are not directly advertised to the public, seeking relief through pills certainly is (“Ask your doctor about …”).
I don't know, anybody else think advertisements don't look like a great investment?
I do think that it's great though that we can go back to trump's first administration to look at what he did or didn't do during that time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/upsh … risis.htmlMore “hell to pay” than Israel is already inflicting? Bibi doesn't give a sh*t about the hostages.
Interesting, I was told old man trump was anti-war and he doesn’t get involved in other peoples business... You know, America First... yada.. yada ...yada"America First" would, I believe, include Americans. A concept pretty foreign to many (and certainly Biden), but not to Trump.
So what's the "hell to pay"?
Sounds like a threat.I suspect it is. STRONGLY suspect it.
Do you seriously expect me to post details of a possible American invasion of a foreign country? Actually, I suppose you might...Do you seriously expect me to post details of a possible American invasion of a foreign country?
Lol, no. Why would I believe you have any such knowledge?
So let me get this straight, it's okay now with maga if trump gets us involved in Palestine? Bibi has not been interested in a ceasefire. It is glaringly obvious he does not care about the fate of any of the hostages. Without his cooperation, what does anyone really think Trump is going to do? Oh wait.. of course... TARIFFS
On October 7, 2023, during the Hamas attack on Israel, at least 30 American citizens were confirmed to have been killed, and at least 7 Americans are still being held by Hamas.
Unlike President Biden, who has faced criticism for his handling of the situation, former President Trump is firmly committed to securing the return of American citizens. Trump has made it clear that, under his leadership, our citizens would be brought home—or yes, there will be hell to pay. Under Biden's administration, two major conflicts have emerged, and the president's inability to negotiate peace or recover American hostages has been a significant failure. Given these challenges, your stance seems particularly misguided.
American's being held hostage is his business, he is not in any respect like Biden. Trump takes being president seriously---- the president has the constitutional responsibility to serve as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and by extension, to act in the interest of national security and the safety of American citizens.
It’s clear to me that Biden is far more focused on flooding our country with migrants than addressing the needs of Americans held by Hamas. It’s outrageous that, in the face of pressing issues like the safety of U.S. hostages, this administration continues to prioritize immigration over the welfare of Americans. It’s deeply troubling and frustrating to see this misplaced focus, especially when it’s clear that our own citizens are being neglected.
I have full confidence in Trump, and I believe that if the American hostages are still alive, he will bring them home. If not, you can bet he’ll make sure those responsible face the consequences—something that’s long overdue.
I also noticed today that Mexico's president has broken up two caravans headed toward the U.S. I knew it wouldn’t take long for her to cave. It’s incredibly reassuring to think about a man with true strength returning to the White House. From the moment the election is over until he’s sworn in, I’m certain he’ll be hard at work, ensuring that the issues facing America are addressed with the seriousness and resolve they deserve.The hostages may come home in caskets - that's a distinct possibility in any hostage rescue - but is that worse (for them, for the country or for those future hostages that have not been taken yet)? We should never, ever allow hostages to be taken without rescue just as quickly as we can.
You're absolutely right—when hostages are taken, a president must act swiftly, using strength and resolve. Drawing a red line and making it clear that there will be consequences for harming American citizens is vital. A strong leader must follow through with threats to ensure that the nation’s security and its people are protected. Unfortunately, President Biden’s response to the October 7 Hamas attack—where at least 30 Americans were killed and many others taken hostage—lacked the immediate and forceful action that the situation demanded. His failure to make firm statements or take aggressive action to retrieve American hostages left many questioning his leadership. When America’s citizens are in jeopardy, a president should act decisively, and Biden’s weak response has been a major failure.
Trump admitted in an interview with Time magazine that it will be difficult for him to reduce consumer prices, contrary to statements he made on the campaign trail this year.
“It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up,” Trump told Time in an hourlong interview for its “Person of the Year” feature. “You know, it’s very hard.”
OH HELL NO.
Nevertheless, Trump repeatedly told voters during the campaign that electing him president would cause prices to tumble.
“Prices will come down,” Trump said during a rally in August. “You just watch: They’ll come down, and they’ll come down fast, not only with insurance, with everything.”
“We will end inflation and make America affordable again, and we’re going to get the prices down, we have to get them down,” Trump said at a rally in September. “It’s too much. Groceries, cars, everything. We’re going to get the prices down.”
“We will cut your taxes and inflation, slash your prices, raise your wages and bring thousands of factories back to America,” Trump said at a Georgia rally in October, reciting a line he used in speeches at several other events.
In every survey leading up to the election, most voters said the economy and inflation were the most important issues...
Elections over, no more pandering to the poor? The middle class? Folks fooled yet again by a dimwitted con man.
Let me guess the maga following response... High prices are fine, great in fact! We enjoy doing our part in the trade war...Trump Promises to Lower Grocery Prices SOON. How is he going to do that? Price controls, lol?
Those Latinos and young Blacks who voted for Trump because they believed his lies about inflation and the economy are going to be in for a very rude awakening come Feb 1 (I'll give him a few days past his own deadline to be fair) when prices haven't changed.
When Trump's programs kick in and inflation takes hold once again after Biden beat it back down, they will rue the day they didn't vote for Harris.He is already backpedaling on that promise...
Trump says bringing down grocery prices is 'very hard'
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/pol … 942201007/
The headlines should read: TRUMP PROMISES A MAJOR RECESSION.
Trump has set expectations that he will reduce prices overall in the economy. He got his small margin victory mostly based on that promise. He has said things like:
“They’re going to be affording their groceries very soon,” he said Thursday before ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange,
“Prices will come down,” Trump said during a rally in August. “You just watch: They’ll come down, and they’ll come down fast, not only with insurance, with everything.”
“When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on day one,” Trump continued. “We will drill, baby, drill,” in August
However, economists suggest that reducing prices significantly would likely require structural economic changes, such as lowering demand or slowing inflation.
Well, at 2.7%, inflation is already below the historic average of around 3.5%. So, there is very little room for decrease. That leaves you with lowering demand.
How do you do that? The only reliable and time-tested method of bringing prices down across the board is by causing a major recession or depression.
Therefore, logic says that when Trump promises to lower prices he is promising to cause at least a major recession if not a depression.
What do you think is going to happen in two years when all those reluctant Trump voters who believed Trump find out he lied yet again?I'm predicting that maga followers go silent on Jan. 20 about grocery prices. It will no longer be an issue for them. But.... Not only will prices fail to fall, they will most likely rise due to his "beautiful" tariffs.
He also stated in an interview that he could no longer “guarantee” that costs from tariffs wouldn’t be passed onto consumers.
Funding the perks for billionaires off the backs of the middle class.Not sure how much he cares about disappointing his followers; he probably will fail to figure out a way to run for the third term.
Just so we are clear....
https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/18 … 5105659369Great montage of the Criminal and Sexual Predator Trump lying to his cult.
The criminal and sexual predator Trump is getting comfortable in is dictatorial role. Consider this statement -
Trump told Time magazine in an interview that was conducted in late November but published this week that more research will get underway and that he would consider getting rid of some vaccines for children, “if I think it’s dangerous, if I think they are not beneficial.” He doesn't seem to care what real scientists think.A CNN poll found that 93% of Republicans think that Trump, the criminal and sexual predator, will improve the economy. What are they going to say when the opposite happens? Will they believe Trump when he says "inflation is only temporary" or "the media caused the recession"
Trump has promised several things that cannot happen at the same time.
IF he implements his across-the-board tariffs on all imports, regardless of where they come from, THEN he will have caused massive inflation. That kind of inflation WILL drive down demand to the point that we enter a recessionary period. Economists say that scenario is virtually a forgone conclusion assuming Trump keeps his promises.
If Trump fails to keep his promises on tariffs, what are his supporters going to say?
IF he implements his promise to deport tens of millions of undocumented immigrants and their American citizen families, THEN he WILL cause a major recession, probably with an increase in inflation. The reason for the recession is a massive drop in demand for goods and services.
Economists think GDP will go negative by 4.2% to 6.8% annually leading to a major recession.
Economists think that around 4.5% of our workforce will be deported and will mainly impact industries like agriculture, hospitality, health care, and construction This will probably lead to even more inflation as wages are driven up as companies compete for workers.
These things are almost a forgone conclusion ASSUMING Trump keeps his deportation promises.
And what will all those nativists say if Trump fails to keep his deportation promises?Just like the asteroid Matilda in the movie Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (play the theme song for Jaws now) the approach of an equally devastating phenomenon, the Trump second presidency, is upon us
It is generating an ever increasing crescendo of predictions like this. (Note - the article, for some reason, starts out by pointing to Jaimie Dimon's failed prediction that the Trump-Biden pandemic stimuli would cause stagflation. This is a head-scratcher since the opposite happened - pandemic caused inflation and steady growth. It finally tip-toes into the meat of the issue that IF Trump implements his program as stated on the campaign trail, they will be crying long and hard in their beer wishing they had voted for Harris. Why? Because the mathematics of what Trump proposes dictates that inflation must grow, and probably grow big.
What has Trump promised to do?
1) Bring DOWN prices very fast (this can only be done through price controls or a major recession)
2) Trump intends to impose a 25% tariff on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada.
3) Trump intends on imposing a 60% tariff on all goods from China
4) Trump intends to impose a 10% tariff on top of that against China
5) Finally, Trump has promised to impose a 25% on ALL IMPORTS coming from everywhere else.
Let's take that last promise as an example. GDP is around $30 trillion now. It is estimated that 13.9% of GDP comes from Americans consuming imported goods. That means Americans spend about $4.2 trillion on goods whose prices will increase 25%.
That means that not too long after Trump imposes his 25%, Americans will be paying 25% more for the things they import - that works out to be $1.05 trillion over a year or roughly $8,000 per Household in inflation.
That assumes 100% of the cost is passed on to consumers. Let's say importers only pass on 50% of the costs and eat the rest. That means households will pay $4,000 more annually and importers will take a $550 billion hit to their bottom line.
OK, more math for you. Fifty-four percent of consumer spending is on domestic goods and services. For simplicity's sake, let's assume that the import tariffs don't raise the price of domestic goods make, in part, with imported goods. So, that translates into $16.2 trillion of consumption. Add to that the $4.2 trillion and you get $20.4 trillion.
Except that is not what it really is, is it. It will be $21.9 trillion. And THAT means Trump's tariffs could cause 5% or greater inflation. (if everything works perfectly - and I did my math right.)Here is another absolutely dumb idea from Trump 2.0 - ABOLISH THE FDIC!!! Why would anyone vote for such an idiot?
https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/18/business … index.htmlI do believe this was outlined in project 2025. The ultimate goal is to do away with regulation completely and let the banks govern themselves. What could go wrong?
I believe the proposal is to transfer the deposit insurance fund to the treasury... And make it funded by our taxes rather than banks.
Getting rid of all those pesky regulations on banks so they can take massive risks and when they fail the public will pay for it.
Privatize the profits, socialize the losses.
2008 will be mild in comparison... I'll see your recession and raise you a depression...Ohhh, I like that - Privatize the Profits, socialize the Loses.
You GOT TO LOVE IT!!!! Trump, the Criminal and Sexual Predator, is setting the stage to shut down the gov't for Christmas (just proves Trump is the Grinch along with everything else).
Speaker Johnson and Hakiem Jefferies worked out a continuing resolution to keep the government funded through March. Irresponsible Conservatives hated it and won't vote for it so the Democrats had to step in and save Johnson's ass - AGAIN. It was on track to pass by the Friday deadline.
This morning Musk X'd that any Republican who votes for the CR should be kicked out of office in two years. Hopefully, Trump knew he was going to say that or who is going to run the country is in serious doubt. Anyway, this evening Trump jumped on board and ordered Johnson to can the whole deal and pass something the Republicans like PLUS, get this, raise the debt ceiling so that the poor boy doesn't have to deal with it in March
Can you say gov't shutdown? It is not clear now how it can be avoided. If Johnson crosses Trump on this, he can kiss his Speakership goodbye.
Keep the CHAOS coming so that the plurality of Americans who put Trump in office will feel the pain of their decision.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/18/politics … index.htmlTrump, the criminal and sexual predator, is setting the stage to blame HIS gov't shutdown on President Biden.
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/ … 5vu08tm5y8Once again, Democrats had to come in and save America from the ravages of Trump, the criminal and sexual predator. Trump wanted a free pass on the debt ceiling during his term in office or else shut the gov't down and it took the Democrats and some Republicans who temporarily found some spine, to say NO.
Of course, those Republicans are now on Trump's enemies list to be primaried.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/20/politics … index.htmlHere is what was lost and, in most cases hurt Americans, when Trump, the criminal and sexual predator, tanked the bipartisan CR that was painstakingly put together by Biden, the Democrats, and reasonable Republicans and was replaced with what we have today.
Reforms for pharmacy benefit managers
The now-dead funding deal would have required PBMs to provide more information on the rebates they negotiate and retain, as well as what they pay for drugs and how much they compensate pharmacies. It would have removed the connection between the price of drugs and the compensation the PBMs receive in Medicare Part D drug plans and shifted the payment model to flat fees.
Plus, the agreement would have required the industry to pass along all rebates to the health plan sponsors, which include insurers and employers, in the commercial insurance market. It would also have effectively eliminated so-called “spread pricing,” in which the PBMs withhold part of the payment they receive for drugs from pharmacies, in Medicaid. - Bottom line: Trump is responsible for keeping your drug costs high!
Pay raises for lawmakers - OK, that is a good thing.
Restricting investments in China
"Democrats have slammed the removal of the measure, arguing that its absence would benefit Elon Musk, who helped derail the bipartisan package on Wednesday.
“Musk’s investments in China, and ties with its government, have only grown over the last few years – alongside his growing involvement in American politics,” Rep. Rosa DeLauro, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, wrote in a letter Friday to congressional leaders.
“It is no surprise, then, that ‘President’ Musk does not want to see a funding deal containing this provision be signed into law,” she wrote." - Bottom line: I always knew Trump wanted to help China compete with America
Criminalizing revenge porn - Getting rid of that probably will be counted as a DOGE success story.
Reimbursing food stamp theft - Bottom line: Why does the poor need protection from anything? Let the churches do it.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/18/politics … index.htmlOh this is the "pork" spoken of?
"Restricting investments in China". I think that is likely the sole reason for Musk's objection. Best 227 million he's ever spent?
Tongue-in-cheek: Donald Trump broke his promise to put a fellow sexual addict has head of the Department of Justice. The House ethics panel released its report on Matt Gaetz and it is a doozy.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/23/politics … index.htmlDonald Trump, the criminal and sexual abuser, is once again showing his Putin-side by ignoring other nations sovereignty. Before he has even become president he has now suggested absorbing Canada, taking over the Panama Canal, and he just resurfaced acquiring Greenland.
If it were anybody else, you might think it is one sick joke. But with Trump, as mentally unstable as he is, you never know.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/23/politics … index.html (subscriber) or
https://apnews.com/article/trump-greenl … 753293fc1fThis is getting very scary. We are on the edge of another pandemic just as Trump and his cohort of pandemic deniers are about to take office. I wonder how many people they will be responsible for killing this time around.
What is going on is a confluence of the seasonal flu, RSV, Covid, and the Bird Flu all happening at the same time. At the moment, there is only one known case of human bird flu that has mutated into a form that enhances the likelihood of human to human transmission. But that is the way Covid-19 started.
There is also the probability that if a person catches the regular flu AND the animal transmitted (think of your cat) bird flu, then genes could transfer from the regular, highly infectious H1N1 to the non-infectious (to humans) H5N1 and give it the ability to infect other humans.
Confounding all of this, and this is where I call balls and strikes regardless who is at fault as I always do, the Biden administration is dropping the ball badly in trying to contain and test for the bird flu. As badly as the Biden administration is doing, the Trump administration is poised to do even worse by simply denying there is a problem like Trump did in his first term.
So now, it is possible that Trump will deliver us a pandemic and probably he will deliver inflation and a recession. Happy New Year!It is amazing, isn't it, how gullible those who voted for Trump are. Take, for example, the well-worn lie that the federal workforce is somehow "bloated". That is rich, especially when one realizes it is the Republicans who were mostly responsible for "bloating" it, lol.
Trump, the criminal and sexual abuser, through his oligarchs has PROMISED to cut up to $2 trillion from the $6.8 trillion (29%); sat goodbye to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid as you currently know it. The two billionaires, one known for treating is employees like chattel, propose slashing the federal workforce - you know, those people responsible for ensuring Americans receive the domestic tranquility, justice, and the general Welfare promised to them in our Constitution.
Well, it turns out that:
* In 1952, at the height of the Korean war, the federal workforce was 2 million strong.
* From 1955 after the end of the Korean War, it was 1.9 million (not counting military). But by the beginning of the Vietnam War in 1965, it had "ballooned", as some here might say, to 1.9 million.
* From there until 1967, it did "skyrocket" another 200,000 people (10%) as the Vietnam War grew and the Great Society took hold. That would be on the Democrats
* From 1968 to 1990, largely under Republican administrations, the federal workforce, let's see, what is another hyperbolic term we often see from Trump supporters here, how about "surged" another 14% to 2.4 million (remember that number),
* Largely due to the end of the Cold War and the efforts of Clinton - Gore (Democrats), the federal workforce "plummeted" to 1.9 million (21%)
* Then, as a result of the recovery from the worst Republican recession since the Republican Depression, the federal workforce "soared" to 2.3 million by 2010.
* Then Democrat Obama brought it down to 2.2 million by the end of 2015.
* Then Republican Trump took over and quickly raised to back up to 2.3 million by 2020.
* Today, it stands at (remember this number?) 2.4 million!.
After years of scare tactics by Trump, Musk, and Republicans that the federal workforce is "out of control", we see the TRUTH is that:
1) from 1990 to 2024, the federal workforce has remained relatively constant
and
2) from 1952 to 2024 (72 years!), after an enormous increase in responsibility to provide defense and domestic services to the American public, the federal workforce has increased only 400,000 people.
So what are Trump and company talking about? I want some of what they are smoking so that I can live in a make-believe world.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/28/politics … index.htmlOH, and the same article shows the Musk and Vivek also living in Never-Never land with regards to cutting the budget $2 trillion.
Did you know that Social Security, Medicare, National Defense, and paying interest accounts for $4.1 of the $6.7 trillion budget?
Did you know that another $1.7 trillion is used to help the less fortunate (the favorite Republican target for some reason) with income and health assistance.
Talk about living Grinches.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/28/politics … index.htmlQuestions swirl on whether Trump will cut deals with Xi, Kim Jong Un or Putin that undermine interests of US allies
Trump's famous narcissism is pushing him to get into bed with the world's worst dictators. He failed once with Un and ended up looking stupid. Putin has been playing him for a fool. Why does he think doing the same thing over again will make him look any saner?
"President-elect Trump is expected to deploy his trademark mix of belligerent threats and friendly relations with some of the world’s dictators as he seeks to break up the deepening partnerships between U.S. adversaries China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. " If he really thinks he can accomplish that, he is really full of himself. Remember, the world tried to play nice with China by being "friendly" with them. Look how well that turned out.
"The president-elect is antagonistic toward European allies and NATO, chastising them as relying too much on the U.S. for military support, and brags about his personal rapport with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un. (In what world is that really true?)
“We’ll have a very good relationship, and there’s reasons for them to want to like us, there’s big reasons,” Trump said during a campaign appearance in Arizona in late October, referring to Putin, Xi and Kim — in the context of dismantling their alliance. "
Trump is setting us up again to lose the respect Biden gained after repairing relationships from Trump's, the criminal and sexual abuser, first administration.
https://thehill.com/policy/internationa … versaries/Trump PROMISED any one who would listen that he did not Sexually Abuse E. Gene Carroll.
Well, he broke that promise as a federal appeals court found that the evidence against him was VERY STRONG.
"A federal appeals court upheld the jury’s verdict finding Donald Trump sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll and denied his request for a new trial.
Trump challenged the $5 million civil verdict alleging the trial judge made numerous errors, including allowing testimony of two other women who claimed Trump sexually assaulted them.
The appeals court concluded the trial judge didn’t abuse his discretion in ruling on evidence. Even if he made any errors, they said, given the strength of Carroll’s case, they are not persuaded Trump’s rights were affected to warrant a new trial."
Trump loses again.
What is SO SAD about this is that almost half the voters said that THEY DON'T CARE if he abuses women or not. THEY DON'T CARE that Trump is a criminal. Apparently, that is now a qualifier to be President of the United States. Our morals certain have plummeted since 2015.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/30/politics … index.htmlHEY, Didn't Trump PROMISE to have the Ukraine war ended before he took office? Looks like he is going to FAIL.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/31/europe/p … index.htmlI am reading a book and ran across this paragraph. See if you can tell what is being referenced:
"You live in a little womb here, a tight little nest, girl with girl. Oh I know you have your silly boys on the edge, forgettable things. Good for one thing only and not even reliable at that. But I digress. I must say that you know little or nothing of the state of the nation today. You have no sense of the pitch of unrest to which things have mounted. Setting communities on edge, ethnic groups against one another, bankers against farmers, factories against shopkeepers."Trump team resurfaces plans to designate Mexican cartels as terror organizations
Please don't accuse me of not saying good things about Trump, the criminal and sexual offender, because here is an example of when I do. I am not sure that isn't a very good idea. In addition to America, the cartels certainly terrorize Mexico a lot
https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/08/politics … index.html
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