[Discussion] Hope to Remember The Trump Administration Thread as being 'transparent and honest'

Let's follow and discuss what our newest presidential administration gets up to, the good, the bad, the lawsuits, and the many many indictments.

Shanahan out of the running for Sec. Def. Why? Those pesky domestic violence allegations.

(Yes. I have read the document and am aware of the controversy regarding the specific situation.)

Why would you want an offensive coach as the Secretary of Defense?

iaintgotnopants wrote:

Why would you want an offensive coach as the Secretary of Defense?

The best defense is a good offense?

obirano wrote:
iaintgotnopants wrote:

Why would you want an offensive coach as the Secretary of Defense?

The best defense is a good offense?

..and I have no doubt that the brain trust currently residing in the executive branch will change the name back to its original one.

BlackSheep wrote:
obirano wrote:
iaintgotnopants wrote:

Why would you want an offensive coach as the Secretary of Defense?

The best defense is a good offense?

..and I have no doubt that the brain trust currently residing in the executive branch will change the name back to its original one.

it would be more accurate.

BlackSheep wrote:
obirano wrote:
iaintgotnopants wrote:

Why would you want an offensive coach as the Secretary of Defense?

The best defense is a good offense?

..and I have no doubt that the brain trust currently residing in the executive branch will change the name back to its original one.

i figure they'll go directly to Department (Ministry) of Peace, but be completely unaware of the irony

Axios: Exclusive: Leaked Trump vetting docs

IMAGE(https://images.axios.com/kgKlWESCchqBabjYzHfEPZsVCAM=/0x0:1920x1080/1366x768/2019/06/23/1561297162067.jpg)

Nearly 100 internal Trump transition vetting documents leaked to "Axios on HBO" identify a host of "red flags" about officials who went on to get some of the most powerful jobs in the U.S. government.

Why it matters: The massive trove, and the story behind it, sheds light on the slap-dash way President Trump filled his cabinet and administration, and foreshadowed future scandals that beset his government.

Some highlights:

Scott Pruitt, who ultimately lost his job as EPA Administrator because of serial ethical abuses and clubbiness with lobbyists, had a section in his vetting form titled "allegations of coziness with big energy companies."

Tom Price, who ultimately resigned as Health and Human Services Secretary after Trump lost confidence in him in part for stories about his use of chartered flights, had sections in his dossier flagging "criticisms of management ability" and "Dysfunction And Division Has Haunted Price's Leadership Of The House Budget Committee."

Mick Mulvaney, who became Trump's Budget Director and is now his acting chief of staff, has a striking assortment of "red flags," including his assessment that Trump "is not a very good person."
The Trump transition team was so worried about Rudy Giuliani, in line for Secretary of State, that they created a separate 25-page document titled "Rudy Giuliani Business Ties Research Dossier" with copious accounting of his "foreign entanglements."

One red flag for Gen. David Petraeus, who was under consideration for Secretary of State and National Security Adviser: "Petraeus Is Opposed to Torture."

Jayhawker wrote:

One red flag for Gen. David Petraeus, who was under consideration for Secretary of State and National Security Adviser: "Petraeus Is Opposed to Torture."

I guess that's why he didn't get the job?

Just read it. There's too much graft in this story, it really needs appreciated on its own.

oilypenguin wrote:

Just read it. There's too much graft in this story, it really needs appreciated on its own.

Ah the "good scientists on both sides" lady.

Stele wrote:
oilypenguin wrote:

Just read it. There's too much graft in this story, it really needs appreciated on its own.

Ah the "good scientists on both sides" lady.

Pence pulled that bullsh*t this weekend too.

Lest there's anyone out there who still wants to give Melania the benefit of doubt, this is what she decided to tweet after the country got a tiny hint of how poorly we're treating the immigrant children her husband is locking up. It's the digital version of her "I really don't care do u?" jacket.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/rBJI6oL.png)

OG_slinger wrote:

Lest there's anyone out there who still wants to give Melania the benefit of doubt, this is what she decided to tweet after the country got a tiny hint of how poorly we're treating the immigrant children her husband is locking up. It's the digital version of her "I really don't care do u?" jacket.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/rBJI6oL.png)

There's a part of me that is just impressed by her trolling abilities.

Got to make things worse before we can make them better.

Oh boy....

(CNN)Melania Trump's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham will get a major new role as both White House press secretary and communications director, the first lady tweeted Tuesday.
"I am pleased to announce @StephGrisham45 will be the next @PressSec & Comms Director! She has been with us since 2015 - @POTUS & I can think of no better person to serve the Administration & our country. Excited to have Stephanie working for both sides of the @WhiteHouse. #BeBest" Melania Trump tweeted.
However, Trump has tweaked the job duties before handing the reins to Grisham, whose purview will include a larger scope of responsibility than that of her predecessor Sarah Sanders, and one as yet unprecedented in this administration. Trump has appointed Grisham both White House director of communications as well as press secretary, a senior White House official tells CNN. Grisham will be assuming the roles formerly held by Bill Shine, who departed as White House communications director in March, and Sanders, who has said her last day will be this Friday.

Bet they're having trouble finding two different people to fill those roles. Plus, they've basically abandoned the role of the press secretary anyway.

I thought the CNN headline was particularly bad

"Trump taps new White House press secretary"

Normally I think if I said "Farley taps someone" we would make a rather crude assumption.

"trump "taps" existing communications person for new job" would be less open to rude interpretation.

farley3k wrote:

I thought the CNN headline was particularly bad

"Trump taps new White House press secretary"

Normally I think if I said "Farley taps someone" we would make a rather crude assumption.

"trump "taps" existing communications person for new job" would be less open to rude interpretation.

Maybe she's not his type?

I wonder if there is a reason he is selecting women for this role.

JC wrote:

I wonder if there is a reason he is selecting women for this role.

Kind of like how it's a total coincidence that Kavanaugh has an all female clerk pool who fit 'a particular look'

I kind of think it is more about not feeling threatened than any sexual ideas. Having smart capable men around would make trump feel less powerful. With smart capable women he can still feel powerful because his the one with the penis.

Can we unpack this "she's not my type" "rebuttal" for a hot second?

I know none of this is new, it's not even the first time it's been his defense, I just really want to do this exercise now for some reason.

First there's the surface level: She's not my type as a response to a rape accusation is... well, to be expected of trump. The corollary of this is, of course, had she been his type, he'd have raped her.

Next: His defense is actually about him (naturally). Had she been his type, he would have raped her. Ergo, no women he deems his type is safe and whether or not he engages in sexual activity is completely up to him.

Next: The level of narcissism here is just... staggering.

They would have lost their jobs, and probably have to go into hiding but it would have been wonderful if one of the reporter had done a follow up question of "so your saying if she was your type you would rape her?"

Sigh....

It doesn't matter. Trump gaslights. Our outrage is the f*cking point.

Saw this response from a deplorable in another forum:

Well he is doing his best to screw the Dems......maybe lib women....

Nice going Mr. President......

We are not a fascist state, but if you can't see the trend, you might be the next one buying in.

Take Iran. What is all the talk about? Iran, right?

Now he says he may obliterate Iran. He's taunting Iran and ISIS, baiting them into hitting the US with a terrorist attacks. That same douche bag celebrating Trump screwing libs, also hates Muslims. He will support rounding up Muslims and placing them in the same camps as the refugees.

Trump, if anything, is a f*cking copycat. He wants his internment moment. He will stoke islamophobia and get a reaction he wants from the someone in the middle east. We saw how easily Americans turned after 9/11. We thought Bush was bad. What do you think Trump will do?

That is what is happening. You know Stephen Miller is licking his lips.

The press needs to start using the word "fascism." This is fascism in action.

The media is controlled by corporations. And corporations love fascism.

Oh look, another new "acting" position...

BLOOMBERG

The Trump administration official in charge of diplomatic protocol plans to resign and isn’t going to Japan for this week’s Group of 20 meetings, where he would have played a sensitive behind-the-scenes role, according to people familiar with the matter.

Sean Lawler, a State Department official whose title is chief of protocol, is departing amid a possible inspector general’s probe into accusations of intimidating staff and carrying a whip in the office, according to one of the people.

Trump has little fondness for Lawler, and repeatedly asked why he still worked at the White House, according to the people.

CNN

(CNN)President Donald Trump's protocol chief, Sean Lawler, has been suspended indefinitely just ahead of the G-20 meeting in Japan pending the outcome of a State Department investigation into his conduct, according to multiple State Department officials with direct knowledge of the matter.
Two State officials told CNN that Lawler was called into the office of the deputy secretary on Monday afternoon and told he needed to leave due to the status of the investigation.
They were also told in this meeting that their new acting chief of protocol is Mary-Kate Fisher, and her acting deputy is Cathy Fenton, who served as social secretary in the George W. Bush White House and also handled social affairs‎ for Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush. State Department sources said both are highly respected.
oilypenguin wrote:

This is fine.

It didn't seem any more or less crazy than normal.

Not a surprise

(CNN)The House Oversight Committee voted on Wednesday to subpoena testimony from White House counselor Kellyanne Conway after a federal agency recommended that she should be fired for repeatedly violating a law that limits the political activities of federal employees.
The vote -- 25 to 16, with Democrats and Rep. Justin Amash, Republican of Michigan, voting in favor -- could set up another challenge in court between Congress and the Trump administration, which has consistently stymied Democrats' oversight efforts since they took control of the House earlier this year.

USWNT's Ali Krieger says Donald Trump is angered by women he 'cannot control or grope'
*Got to say her comment does kind of nail it. Rosie O'Donnell leaps to mind as another example.

In regards to the “President’s” tweet today, I know women who you cannot control or grope anger you, but I stand by @mPinoe & will sit this one out as well. I don’t support this administration nor their fight against LGBTQ+ citizens, immigrants & our most vulnerable.