kallend 2,114 #1 February 10, 2017 From Marketwatch: Not even three weeks into his presidency, here’s some of what Trump has been able to get away with: 1. Trump uses his presidential platform to attack Nordstrom JWN, +2.29% for ceasing to carry his daughter Ivanka's clothing line, even though the company had already said it had cut the line for commercial reasons. My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person -- always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017 2. Trump uses the White House press spokesman, a government official, to double down on his comments and also attack Nordstrom. 3. First Lady Melania Trump admits in a court filing that she had intended to use her position over the next four years to garner "multimillion-dollar business relationships." She then denies what her lawyers said in a court filing, but nonetheless continues with a $150 million "damages" claim based on the value of those profits. 4. The Department of Defense announces it is going to rent space in Trump Tower on the public dime. 5. Donald Trump refuses to divest of his businesses and instead merely puts them in the hands of two independent individuals — his sons Donald Jr. and Eric. When the federal government's ethics watchdog called that move "meaningless," House Republicans responded... by attacking the watchdog. 6. Trump announces that his Florida club Mar-A-Lago will be the "Winter White House" and then doubles the admission fees to $200,000. 7. Trump lets his daughter Ivanka sit in on his official meeting with the prime minister of Japan — while she is negotiating to license her clothing line to a Japanese company that is majority-owned by the government of Japan. 8. Ivanka Trump wears an "Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry" bracelet when she appears on “60 Minutes” with her father, and then immediately uses the publicity to sell copies for $10,000 apiece. 9. Days after he is elected president, Trump holds a photo-op at Trump Tower with his Indian business partners, helping market their new luxury development near Mumbai. 10. President-elect Trump speaks by telephone with Argentine President Mauricio Macri, and three days later a Trump development project in Argentina, which had long been stalled, is underway again. 11. When Eric Trump travels abroad for a high-profile marketing trip on behalf of the Trump organization, the $100,000 security bill is footed entirely by the U.S. taxpayer. Such so-called kleptocracy is nothing new in U.S. politics. President Lyndon Johnson and his wife Lady Bird Johnson profited handsomely from her ownership of a Texas radio station. Ronald Reagan collected a big paycheck from the Japanese after eight years of appeasing their country's economic predations. Bill and Hillary Clinton raked in millions of dollars in speaking fees after leaving the White House. All of this can be criticized, with more and less force. But that doesn’t make it right. It is surely relevant that many Americans voted for Trump because both he and politically conservative media told them Hillary Clinton was a "crook," while Trump would "clean up Washington" and "drain the swamp." So I’m asking now: When does Trump’s profiteering become too much? Or have we come to a point where anything goes?... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theplummeter 15 #2 February 10, 2017 Few Americans take the time to really think about or care about what goes on post election, or hold candidates responsible for the promises they make. The few that do seem to be focused primarily on attempting to hurt or discredit their opposition rather than maintaining any kind of genuine standard. We have allowed ourselves to become divided and obsessing about our side winning. When is enough enough? For half of America that time has passed. For the other half he hasn't gone far enough. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tkhayes 348 #3 February 10, 2017 http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/oversight-panel-probe-trump-conflicts-interest-article-1.2966751 And the guy in charge of investigating it says it is legal. Of course there are still ethical concerns (and arguably legal too) I am not holding my breath for anything more than the Trump empire quadrupling in size each year. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil1111 1,149 #4 February 10, 2017 Your pain is duly noted three weeks in. In todays news cycle the trump brand takes another hit: http://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/bipartisan-letter-rebukes-kellyanne-conway-for-explicit-endorsement-of-ivanka-trump-products/ Michael Flynn Caught Lying http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/michael-flynn-russia-sanctions_us_589d6c69e4b0ab2d2b13e518 and the republican base finally gets through to the senate: ""The Russia Sanctions Review Act of 2017," http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-congress-idUSKBN15N2BX IMO six months more. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,114 #5 February 10, 2017 The congressional GOP is currently benefiting from the Faustian bargain it made with Trump. Like all Faustian bargains, this will, sooner or later, come back to bite.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 868 #6 February 10, 2017 In a normal administration, Flynn would have been fired for lying. Must be alternative facts again so no biggie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,590 #7 February 10, 2017 Looks like the "Trump effect" no longer means the stock will go down. "There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gowlerk 2,259 #8 February 10, 2017 ryoder Looks like the "Trump effect" no longer means the stock will go down. It's now a badge of honour. And companies will start provoking him hoping he will lash out with a tweet. A little like the caché of finding your name on Nixon's enemy list.Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil1111 1,149 #9 February 10, 2017 kallend The congressional GOP is currently benefiting from the Faustian bargain it made with Trump. Like all Faustian bargains, this will, sooner or later, come back to bite. What is seldom discussed by the media is all the Republicans that didn't vote for trump because of his views. Add them to the mid-west voting equation and there would have been a republican pop vote win. Then there is the Christian right. There was a Montana church minister on some program a week ago. He was discussing how Muslims want to institute Shara law in the US. Then they want to take advantage(rape) of US women!!!! That red blooded US men need to protect women from Muslims. Thats like saying the Christian right wants to reintroduce the inquisition. Then go to the Mosques to ravage female followers of Islam. Is it possible for the holy water in some US churches to have been contaminated by brain-logic eating microbes? Do they honestly believe that the Imams in western Mosques want Shara law? That that's what they teach there? That US followers of Allah would tolerate that? Yikes! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,085 #10 February 10, 2017 >Do they honestly believe that the Imams in western Mosques want Shara law? Yes, they honestly do believe that. Heck, some people here believe that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #11 February 10, 2017 Phil1111Thats like saying the Christian right wants to reintroduce the inquisition. only during campaign season, or on internet debates BillvonYes, they honestly do believe that. Heck, some people here believe that. as well as the small sliver on the left that believe similar kinds of extreme caricatures about 'christians' (point is, it's stupid when any team results to tactics like that - but apparently it works. One can only hope that the hysterical elements of a two party system will vote to cancel each other out) ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jclalor 12 #12 February 11, 2017 And are his gigs in Florida going to be a weekly thing? It's gotta be pricey firing up the 47 every 4 or 5 days. Imagine if O flew back to Chicago ever weekend? Although it was nice listening to Limbaugh this morning, he sounded very much in distress. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 868 #13 February 11, 2017 While spending millions daily on Trump Tower NYC. He'll make millions! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 868 #14 February 11, 2017 Flynn has now deleted BOTH of his Twitter accounts. Apparently he grew tired of the 'traitor' and 'treason' comments. Why hasn't he been fired yet? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 868 #15 February 11, 2017 How in the hell did the GRU and FSB turn an American General??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rifleman 70 #16 February 11, 2017 Just a little light relief that someone on FB sent me: http://www.thepoke.co.uk/2017/02/08/donald-trump-mr-men-cartoon-just-superb/Atheism is a Non-Prophet Organisation Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil1111 1,149 #17 February 11, 2017 May 2016 http://moderndiplomacy.eu/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1456:the-mass-dumbing-down-of-america-donald-trump-as-the-canary-in-the-cave-of-ignorance&Itemid=642 July 2014 https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201407/anti-intellectualism-and-the-dumbing-down-america Oct 2016 http://www.salon.com/2016/10/09/stupid-and-contagious-what-if-donald-trump-is-not-dumbing-down-and-actually-is-this-dumb/ Jan. 2017 https://phys.org/news/2017-01-trump-info-shutdowns-science-agencies.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewGuy2005 53 #18 February 12, 2017 billvon>Do they honestly believe that the Imams in western Mosques want Shara law? Yes, they honestly do believe that. Heck, some people here believe that. There are many that believe that Sharia is already in effect in Dearborn, Michigan, despite evidence to the contrary. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
