Topic: Typhoid Trump: the not-smart, corrupt, coward, loser, thread

[Giono]

The career thing, I wasn't talking so much about the US. I mean it's a general trend, where Trump is one example. It's the same in many places. Look at Ukraine as the latest example. They voted for a comedian/actor. People with no experience win. But I'll leave it there. This is about Trump.

Bloomberg is perhaps a poor example, but I mean a candidate who is a businessman. That's where I see the big threat for Trump. I don't think someone like Biden or Sanders can beat Trump. Maybe if the economy collapses, but if it doesn't, they'll need someone else. They need someone who can claim Trump is part of the establishement.

People can spot Trump's limitations. I hope most can, but it doesn't help. Some vote Republican by tradition and they know he's gonna be their candidate next time as well. I believe most voters remain in their camp. So you have say something like 40% who have already decided to vote for respective party. Leaves 20% that can swing either way, but the 40% who are with the Republican candidate no matter what will vote Trump. That's the problem ever since he became their candidate. He's got those 40% in the bag. Whatever he does.

The Tea Party, at least their agenda of reducing the government and the debt, is likely to come back. I believe they'd damage Trump's chances if they began to talk about the same things they did when they started. They could swing those 20% away from Trump.
The Tea Party ideas were not just directed at Obama. He was in power, but it's basic capitalism. Those who believe in that would say that companies that fail should go down. Instead the government injected massive stimulus to save banks that should have gone bankrupt. That kind of protest is valid, especially in the US and even more so among conservatives.

Tea party, fiscal conservatism, free markets...have all declined under Trump. The tea party is suddenly silent. Why? Cause it was because Obama was black and Trump is white. They got outraged after 2008 economic collapse, but now when the economy is doing well they elect a guy who could care less about the debt and they still want to elect him again. Where are the protests now? Where is the outrage?

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/20/business/national-debt-trump.html

[Kekule]

https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1142157838153895941?s=21

Is that his jail term?

[KillieRed]

Greed is fear in expensive shoes. 

Very well put

Fear & Avarice are the bases of conservatism.

[Nobby Reserve]

In any case, those Tea Partiers tend to be wealthier anyway.  They just didn't want money going to the poor (or people of certain races).  They just wanted that money for themselves.  And when Trump, the GOP, and Fox News bragged about how the tax cuts were going to make them rich, they bought it and were satisfied.

---


Anything Tea Party-related was just fueled by wealthy backers to get followers to think that the government is not helping them but helping "others."  As long as they are told they will now get the money, they're happy.  Deficit be damned really.

This gets closer to the crux, IMO. But it wasn't about just tax cuts; although the deficit has increased, spending on public services (like welfare, education, arts, libraries, etc) has been cut. And, of course, they want less regulations (protections for workers, the environment, consumers), which Trump promised and is delivering. That hag up in Alaska and her backers wanted relaxation of environmental protections there to expand Big Oil, and they've been given that.

Like you say, a small cabal of wealthy people wanting to enrich themselves further, whilst fucking over the poor.

I can understand that. What I can't understand is so many not-rich people voting to make rich people richer and poor people poorer.

[Jiminy Cricket]

This gets closer to the crux, IMO. But it wasn't about just tax cuts; although the deficit has increased, spending on public services (like welfare, education, arts, libraries, etc) has been cut. And, of course, they want less regulations (protections for workers, the environment, consumers), which Trump promised and is delivering. That hag up in Alaska and her backers wanted relaxation of environmental protections there to expand Big Oil, and they've been given that.

Like you say, a small cabal of wealthy people wanting to enrich themselves further, whilst fucking over the poor.

I can understand that. What I can't understand is so many not-rich people voting to make rich people richer and poor people poorer.

Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.

John Steinbeck

[Giono]

And slavery and then Jim Crow and a stream of immigrants reinforced this mythology.

[Gnurglan]

Tea party, fiscal conservatism, free markets...have all declined under Trump. The tea party is suddenly silent. Why? Cause it was because Obama was black and Trump is white. They got outraged after 2008 economic collapse, but now when the economy is doing well they elect a guy who could care less about the debt and they still want to elect him again. Where are the protests now? Where is the outrage?

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/20/business/national-debt-trump.html

Good question. Where are the protests? I think the main reason they are silent is because Trump is a Republican and he's in charge. They most likely voted for him and got fooled by him. Which is why they should voice their opinion if they want to stay true to their cause.

We have a saying over here, ’those in debt are never free’. At some point people will want their money back and that’s when the problems begin. Before that moment debt is never a concern and then it's the number one problem.

[Gnurglan]

Trump is the establishment now, and it doesn't make much of a difference.  He has about a 90% approval rating among Republicans.  He may have run as an "outsider," but he's filling the courts with very conservative judges, and he and the GOP pushed through a tax cut.  That's more than enough to appease both the social and fiscal conservatives.  There were (and still are) Republicans who write Op-Eds that claim that Trump "hijacked" their party or that he's "not a true Republican," but in reality, it is those Op-Ed writers who are way, way out of touch with what the GOP has become.  Trump is merely a symptom, not a cause.  The roots for the acceptance of such a president had been planted for decades.

Painting him as part of the establishment makes basically no difference.  He represents his base well, and even his support among independents (albeit relatively weak since taking office) has been stable.  A businessman does nothing for the Democrats.  You're playing Trump at his own game.  Trump can claim 90% support among the base and enough independents to make the battleground states interesting.  What can a Howard Schultz or Michael Bloomberg claim?  These guys are as out of touch as any and would be seen as only running to protect top Democrat donors' interests (Biden is falling into this category too).  Businessmen like Schultz or Bloomberg have no appeal among the Democrats and would only get into a complete tit-for-tat with Trump about who appeals to the common man.  And based on Trump beating Hillary in the Rust Belt and Florida, I don't hold much hope that the Democrat billionaire is doing anything to win there.  The Democrats need someone who can appeal to voters in battleground states.  Sanders beat Clinton in Michigan for example in 2016.  He and Warren may both be better at appealing to the grassroots.  Democrat businessmen would fare worse.

If you still want the "paint Trump as outsider" angle, Biden, who's already been kissing up to Democrat donors, would easily be painted as the establishment by Trump.

Gallup poll on approval ratings:

https://news.gallup.com/poll/203198/presidential-approval-ratings-donald-trump.aspx

The Tea Party was only to counter Obama and the Democrats.  It was funded by the Koch brothers and other major conservative donors.  There hasn't been a peep from the Tea Party because they only truly cared about tax cuts (since it was funded by rich donors).  The entire plan from the donors was to force tax cuts (which they got), which then can be used to increase the deficit so that the GOP can then complain about the government being too big (perfect timing if Democrats take House, which already happened, and/or Presidency and Senate soon).  Then, they argue to cut entitlements or to privatize government services.  It gained a so-called "grassroots" following because of the influence of the GOP machine.  Once they moved on, the federal deficit just doesn't matter anymore.  You didn't see these so-called deficit hawks stand up to Trump on tax cuts.  In any case, those Tea Partiers tend to be wealthier anyway.  They just didn't want money going to the poor (or people of certain races).  They just wanted that money for themselves.  And when Trump, the GOP, and Fox News bragged about how the tax cuts were going to make them rich, they bought it and were satisfied.  Take a look at this article from 2010:

https://www.cnbc.com/id/36549470

While most of the respondents in the polls seem exactly like you described (want a smaller government, oppose federal spending, etc), they hold views that perfectly encapsulates why Trump did so well, why Trump controls the base, and why the base would not turn on him with a rebirth of the Tea Party.  Quotes and anecdotes organized by section.

1. Total confusion and selfishness: 

When talking about the Tea Party movement, the largest number of respondents said that the movement’s goal should be reducing the size of government, more than cutting the budget deficit or lowering taxes.

And nearly three-quarters of those who favor smaller government said they would prefer it even if it meant spending on domestic programs would be cut.

But in follow-up interviews, Tea Party supporters said they did not want to cut Medicare or Social Security — the biggest domestic programs, suggesting instead a focus on “waste.”

Some defended being on Social Security while fighting big government by saying that since they had paid into the system, they deserved the benefits.

Others could not explain the contradiction.

“That’s a conundrum, isn’t it?” asked Jodine White, 62, of Rocklin, Calif. “I don’t know what to say. Maybe I don’t want smaller government. I guess I want smaller government and my Social Security.” She added, “I didn’t look at it from the perspective of losing things I need. I think I’ve changed my mind.”

2. "MAGA": 

Dee Close, a 47-year-old homemaker in Memphis, said she was worried about a “drift” in the country. “Over the last three or four years, I’ve realized how immense that drift has been away from what made this country great,” Ms. Close said.

3. FACEPALM: 

“I just feel he’s getting away from what America is,” said Kathy Mayhugh, 67, a retired medical transcriber in Jacksonville. “He’s a socialist. And to tell you the truth, I think he’s a Muslim and trying to head us in that direction, I don’t care what he says. He’s been in office over a year and can’t find a church to go to. That doesn’t say much for him.”

4. More Selfishness and Casual Classism and Racism (from the article, not a quote): 

The overwhelming majority of supporters say Mr. Obama does not share the values most Americans live by and that he does not understand the problems of people like themselves. More than half say the policies of the administration favor the poor, and 25 percent think that the administration favors blacks over whites — compared with 11 percent of the general public.

Anything Tea Party-related was just fueled by wealthy backers to get followers to think that the government is not helping them but helping "others."  As long as they are told they will now get the money, they're happy.  Deficit be damned really.

It's no surprise that Tea Party members are wealthier. They have less need for government, so it's easier for them to talk about it. I understand the view that they thought Obama helped the poor instead of the middle class and the rich, but I completely disagree with it. The stimulus helped the financial sector the most. It has just made the rich a lot richer. It's quite ironic for them to complain about Obama.

The article also says the Tea Party thought Obama favored blacks over whites. Fair enough, I stand corrected on that one.

Then it also says this

”Asked what they are angry about, Tea Party supporters offered three main concerns: the recent health care overhaul, government spending and a feeling that their opinions are not represented in Washington.

“The only way they will stop the spending is to have a revolt on their hands,” Elwin Thrasher, a 66-year-old semiretired lawyer in Florida, said in an interview after the poll. “I’m sick and tired of them wasting money and doing what our founders never intended to be done with the federal government.”
https://www.cnbc.com/id/36549470

There it is. Not being represented. Someone talking about a ’revolt’. I don't think we have seen the end of that. When people begin to feel the effects of Trump's tariffs, that is when prices go up on the goods they want, they will speak up again. If they see a downturn in the economy, these voices will be a lot louder. That's when they will see he has not made America great. He has just made things worse for the people.

[WhereAngelsPlay]

[Rob Dylan]

Joe Scarborough offers to pay for soap and toothbrushes for migrant children since Mike Pence says the government can't afford it:

<a href="https://youtube.com/v/hWJ7UGHBXNo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://youtube.com/v/hWJ7UGHBXNo</a>

[WhereAngelsPlay]

“I’ll say it with great respect,” said Trump. “Number one, she’s not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?”

 

[Giono]

Good question. Where are the protests? I think the main reason they are silent is because Trump is a Republican and he's in charge. They most likely voted for him and got fooled by him. Which is why they should voice their opinion if they want to stay true to their cause.

We have a saying over here, ’those in debt are never free’. At some point people will want their money back and that’s when the problems begin. Before that moment debt is never a concern and then it's the number one problem.

Sorry, but government debt is not like household debt. Also government debt plays a role in the financial system, providing liquid and safe investments for banks so that they can in turn loan to businesses and individuals. It also provides long term safe investments for insurance companies' portfolios and pension funds. Government debt is so important that it is the benchmark that all other investments are measured against.

The thing with government spending is that they should borrow and spend when times are hard and private investment is stalled. And then curb spending when times are good...like now. Stimulating the economy with low taxes, deficit spending, low interest rates...when the economy is doing well...is contrary to economic wisdom and a time bomb. So where is the tea party? Nowhere, because Trump is racist too.

[Giono]

Compare Trump coverage for actual rape to Joe Biden's hands on shoulders thing...

[Trada]

Hassan Rouhani, the country’s president, said the new sanctions were “outrageous and idiotic”. Speaking in a live television address on Tuesday, he added: “You sanction the foreign minister simultaneously with a request for talks?” The White House was “afflicted by mental retardation”, he said.

We now live in a world where the president of Iran has call the President of the USA "mentally retarded"

I'm sure Trump will hit back with a "Your Mother" jibe.

[KillieRed]

Hassan Rouhani, the country’s president, said the new sanctions were “outrageous and idiotic”. Speaking in a live television address on Tuesday, he added: “You sanction the foreign minister simultaneously with a request for talks?” The White House was “afflicted by mental retardation”, he said.

We now live in a world where the president of Iran has call the President of the USA "mentally retarded"

I'm sure Trump will hit back with a "Your Mother" jibe.

That fella was a contemporary of mine at my college, where he studied law. I don`t recall seeing him in the union though.

[Conocinico]

If you take Trump, Obama, Bush Jr, Clinton and Bush Sr, how do they compare in wars and military engagements started in their first terms? I'm sure someone here will know but it's a sad indictment of our media that this info isn't readily available.

[Indomitable_Carp]

If you take Trump, Obama, Bush Jr, Clinton and Bush Sr, how do they compare in wars and military engagements started in their first terms? I'm sure someone here will know but it's a sad indictment of our media that this info isn't readily available.

Bush Sr. (1989 - 1992):

- 1989 invasion of Panama to remove Manuel Noriega from power (The CIA helped him into power in the first place in 1983)
- First Gulf War - US intervention in 1991
- Somali Civil War - US intervention in 1992
- Bosnia - UN peacekeeping force in 1992

Clinton (1992 - 1996):

- Stepped up US involvement in Somalia in 1993
- Intervention in Haiti in 1993
- Full scale intervention in Bosnia in 1995
- No-fly zone, various air strikes and cruise missiles in Iraq

Bush Jr. (2001 - 2005):

- Invasion of Afghanistan in 2001
- Invasion of Iraq in 2003
- 'War on Terror' and 'Axis of Evil'

Obama (2008 - 2012):

- Withdrawal of troops from Iraq ('end of combat mission' in 2010)
- Stepped up deployments in Afghanistan (surge in 2009-2010)
- Stepped up drone strikes (esp. Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia)
- Intervention in Libya in 2011

Trump (2017 - present):

- Decreased then increased troop numbers in Afghanistan
- Cruise missile strikes against Assad in 2017 and 2018
- Withdrawal of US forces from Syria following 'defeat' of ISIS in 2018, before changing mind in 2019
- Stepped up support for Saudi intervention in Yemen


I'm sure I've probably missed some. Obviously that doesn't say anything about the scale or reasons behind each of these actions. Nor were all of them necessarily 'started' by the US. Nor does it say anything of other peacemaking attempts (e.g. Clinton in Northern Ireland, Obama negotiating with Iran, Trump negotiating with North Korea etc) or else less peaceful actions (e.g. Trump withdrawing from Iran deal) short of military intervention.

[Gnurglan]

Sorry, but government debt is not like household debt. Also government debt plays a role in the financial system, providing liquid and safe investments for banks so that they can in turn loan to businesses and individuals. It also provides long term safe investments for insurance companies' portfolios and pension funds. Government debt is so important that it is the benchmark that all other investments are measured against.

The thing with government spending is that they should borrow and spend when times are hard and private investment is stalled. And then curb spending when times are good...like now. Stimulating the economy with low taxes, deficit spending, low interest rates...when the economy is doing well...is contrary to economic wisdom and a time bomb. So where is the tea party? Nowhere, because Trump is racist too.

Trump is just a liar and if his supporters or the Tea party or the media could spot it, he should be history. In particular if we get a financial downturn. Then it would matter that he has turned 180 degrees on his views.

It depends on who you ask what the role of the government should be in a crisis or downturn. Some say it was correct to use stimulus and save the banks in 2008-2009. Others think that was a terrible thing to do. Credit became cheap, which was what caused the housing crisis. So the household debt became a banking crisis, which triggered the government to act. It can be argued that all the stimulus did was create an even bigger bubble. If that's your point of view, then the government's involvement made things worse. If that view is correct, then we have a much bigger problem coming our way. All the stimulus made the financial sector richer, likely at the expense of the middle class and the poor. Trump said words to that effect as a candidate. As President he has turned 180 degrees.

That view would also make it quite ironic that people complained about what Obama did, voted for Trump and now see no problem when Trump calls for more of what Obama was accused of.

One of the problems with lower interest rates relates to pension funds. When it's decided that the interest should be low to stimulate, and Trump wants it even lower, pension funds gain nothing, or not enough, from owning investments based on interest rates. If they want return of investment, they need to turn to riskier stuff.

[Corkboy]

Trump is just a liar and if his supporters or the Tea party or the media could spot it, he should be history.

Nope. They don’t care.

[Lynndenberries]

Nope. They don’t care.

Basically. If the United States were to go into a financial downturn under Trump, he would just blame it on the Democrats and that would be that.

[Trada]

Does this mean for breaking international law the UN will form a coalition of the willing with Iran to attack the USA?........... I guess it doesn't work that way.


Ryan Goodman
‏Verified account @rgoodlaw
57m57 minutes ago

Iran's official letter to United Nations claims:

1. US drone went into "full stealth mode"
2. Iran sent "repeated radio warnings"
3. drone entered Iran airspace violating UN Charter art. 2(4)
4. Shot down drone in self-defense under UN Charter art. 51

[WhereAngelsPlay]

Does this mean for breaking international law the UN will form a coalition of the willing with Iran to attack the USA?........... I guess it doesn't work that way.


Ryan Goodman
‏Verified account @rgoodlaw
57m57 minutes ago

Iran's official letter to United Nations claims:

1. US drone went into "full stealth mode"
2. Iran sent "repeated radio warnings"
3. drone entered Iran airspace violating UN Charter art. 2(4)
4. Shot down drone in self-defense under UN Charter art. 51

Only problem with that is the RQ-4 Global Hawk doesn't have stealth capabilities.It's a shame that they didn't hack and land it like they did the Sentinel (stealth drone).

[Jiminy Cricket]

Only problem with that is the RQ-4 Global Hawk doesn't have stealth capabilities.It's a shame that they didn't hack and land it like they did the Sentinel (stealth drone).

I would think that 'full stealth mode' is a relative term, depending upon the equipment/aircraft under discussion. It would seem from the letter that the US turned off the drone's transponder - making the aircraft more stealthy. I am no defender of Iran, but if all this is true, it was a provocative act by the US in Iranian airspace. Not really a defendable action.

[WhereAngelsPlay]

I would think that 'full stealth mode' is a relative term, depending upon the equipment/aircraft under discussion. It would seem from the letter that the US turned off the drone's transponder - making the aircraft more stealthy. I am no defender of Iran, but if all this is true, it was a provocative act by the US in Iranian airspace. Not really a defendable action.

We will see but I have my suspicions that if the Yanks really did have "science evidence" (he has all the best words) then they would've released the flight details by now.

I wonder if Drumpf still believes the Iranians shot it down on the Monday.

[Ray K]

Asked if he has an exit strategy for Iran in case war does break out, Trump told reporters, "You're not going to need an exit strategy. I don't need exit strategies."

[WhereAngelsPlay]

He's Sundowning hard today.

The lunatic is on the grass
The lunatic is on the grass
Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs
Got to keep the loonies on the path

[Gnurglan]

Basically. If the United States were to go into a financial downturn under Trump, he would just blame it on the Democrats and that would be that.

Sure. He'd try that. But before he was elected, he said it was a bubble economy. As President, he has claimed it's a booming economy. Because of him. So he has claimed ownership. If something happens, he will do what he always does, which is to blame someone else and declare victory. But at some point all his lies will come back to haunt him. Now there is no reason, but if lives get worse for people, he will be questioned. The worse the situation, the more exposed he will be. It will be just like The Emperor's new clothes. Once the obvious is accepted, once everyone can and dare to see, opinion shifts and there is no turning back. That's what happens to narcissists.

[WhereAngelsPlay]

He has really devolved today.

‘Squish brained’: Trump brutally mocked for claiming Medal of Honor recipient killed insurgent ‘wearing a wardrobe’


In a bizarre moment of awarding the Medal of Honor to an Iraq War veteran, President Donald Trump pivoted from his remarks to say that the soldier was attacked by someone “wearing a wardrobe.” Typically when Trump fumbles his remarks, he restates them. In this case, he said the correct phrase and then changed it to something strange.

“Then a third assailant burst out of a wardrobe — wearing a wardrobe,” Trump said.

It’s unclear if the president understands that a wardrobe is also a piece of furniture in addition to a collection of clothing, either way he seemed confused, according to observers. Fake Congressman Jack Kimble said, however, that it made much more sense.

Many took to the internet to question the mental acuity of the president.

[Team Sleep]

N.J. mom beaten unconscious by school bully who threatened her son in hate crime, lawyer says

...

“This was a horrific and brutal attack,” Santiago told NJ Advance Media. “It takes a certain level of insanity to brutally attack a mother with a stroller and leave her for dead.”

The woman was hospitalized for two days after a 13-year-old student – one of three who had been taunting her son – “essentially jumped my client,” Santiago said.

She suffered a fractured eye socket, bruises and a bloodied eye that remained red for days.

The day before the attack, Ruiz’s son endured taunts in the cafeteria of Passaic Gifted and Talented Academy School No. 20, according to the attorney.

“They were chanting, ‘Mexicans should go back behind the wall,’” Santiago said. When the boy countered, “We all come from immigrants,” the bullies threatened violence, Santiago said.

https://www.nj.com/news/2019/06/nj-mom-beaten-unconscious-by-school-bully-who-threatened-her-son-in-hate-crime-lawyer-says.html

Very fine people, both sides, etc etc.

[Giono]

Mueller to testify in public July 17th.

[BarryCrocker]

Mueller to testify in public July 17th.

Watch the tidal wave of shit start flying from DJT twitter account slandering and discrediting him between now and then.

[ShakaHislop]

Stephanie Grisham: Melania Trump's top aide picked as press secretary

A top aide to Melania Trump will be the next White House press secretary and communications director, the first lady has announced on Twitter.

Stephanie Grisham, who serves as the first lady's deputy chief of staff and communications director, will fill the vacancy left by Sarah Sanders.

"I can think of no better person to serve the Administration & our country," Mrs Trump wrote on Twitter.

Mrs Sanders announced her resignation from the post earlier this month.

President Donald Trump said Ms Grisham was "fantastic" and had accepted the job on Tuesday morning.

"Stephanie has been with me from the beginning," he told reporters.

"A lot of people wanted the job, a lot of people wanted to do it. I've asked people, who do you like, and so many people said Stephanie. She's here, she knows everyone, she actually gets along with the media very well."

Calling her time at the White House "the honour of a lifetime", Mrs Sanders said she would be returning to Arkansas at the end of June to spend more time with her family.

Hours after the announcement, Mrs Sanders wrote on Twitter that her replacement would do "an incredible job".

"I'm so proud that another mom and a great friend will be taking over," she said.

Ms Grisham, considered a leading candidate for Mrs Sanders' replacement, has worked for the Trump family since 2015.

She will accompany US President Donald Trump in her new role on his trip to Japan and Korea this week, CNN reported.

Ms Grisham will serve both as press secretary and communications director, a post that has been empty since the departure of Bill Shine in March.

Ms Grisham began working for the Trump family in 2015 and is one of the last remaining aides from the presidential campaign who still serves in the White House.

She previously worked as a spokeswoman and a communications operative in Republican politics, including Mitt Romney's 2012 campaign for president.

Ms Grisham, who has long been involved in Arizona politics, was one of Mr Trump's first staffers in the state, organising his campaign work there in the early stages of the 2016 election.

Throughout her tenure in the administration, Ms Grisham has been fiercely loyal to the first lady and the Trump family. While working with Mrs Trump, Ms Grisham is said to have run a tight operation, allowing few leaks or missteps.

"She has developed a great amount of trust from both the president and the first lady, which is a pretty high commodity here," said Mrs Sanders to the Washington Post last year. "There aren't a lot of people who have a lot of regular interaction with both of them."

In June 2017, when Mr Trump tweeted that MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski was "bleeding badly from a facelift", Mrs Grisham rushed to defend his remarks.

"When her husband gets attacked, he will punch back 10 times harder," Ms Grisham said in a statement on behalf of Mrs Trump.

Last June when Mrs Trump was criticised for her choice of a jacket worn on a trip to a migrant child detention centre in Texas, Ms Grisham quickly lambasted US media for focusing on the first lady's fashion choice.

Today’s visit w the children in Texas impacted @flotus greatly. If media would spend their time & energy on her actions & efforts to help kids - rather than speculate & focus on her wardrobe - we could get so much accomplished on behalf of children. #SheCares #ItsJustAJacket

https://twitter.com/StephGrisham45/status/1009881721012150272

Ms Grisham has also reportedly taken bold steps to protect the first lady within the White House.

Last fall, reports circulated that deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel clashed with members of the first lady's staff as Mrs Trump prepared for her first solo trip abroad to Africa.

When Mr Trump's team failed to take action, Ms Grisham put out a statement dismissing Mrs Ricardel, without any warning to the administration, according to the Washington Post.

"It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honour of serving in this White House," the statement said.

Days later, Mrs Ricardel left her post and transitioned to a new role within the administration.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-48763328

[ShakaHislop]

Migrant children crisis: Democrats agree $4.5bn aid for migrants at border

Democrats in the US House of Representatives have approved $4.5bn (£3.5bn) in humanitarian aid for the southern border.

Several migrant deaths, coupled with reports of "severely neglected" children at a Texan border patrol station, have helped shape the debate.

But the bill faces a tough path through the Republican-controlled Senate.

It is considering a rival bill with fewer restrictions on how border agencies can spend the money.

The Democrats' version, in contrast, contains several strict rules setting out that the funds can be used for humanitarian aid only, and "not for immigration raids, not detention beds, not a border wall", a statement from House appropriations committee chair Nita Lowey said.

The bill was toughened up after some Democrats expressed concern over providing extra funds for agencies involved in the current situation, including those enforcing President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" policy which had last year led to migrant children being separated from their parents.

With the extra safeguards, it passed 230 to 195, roughly along party lines - with a few Democrats still refusing to back it.

The White House said President Trump would be advised to veto the House bill if it landed on his desk "in its current form".

The administration accused the Democrats of seeking to "take advantage of the current crisis".

Mr Trump's "zero tolerance" policy was announced in early 2018. By prosecuting adults who crossed the border illegally, it had the effect of separating children from their parents.

Despite a court order requiring families to be reunited and an end to separations last year, hundreds remained in government shelters, to which the public - including journalists and rights activists - had little access.

But lawyers were recently given access to one facility in Clint, Texas, by a judge. They reported appalling conditions inside, in which children under 10 were caring for infants, and massive overcrowding.

Children were "locked up in horrific cells where there's an open toilet in the middle of the room" where they ate and slept, one of the lawyers told the BBC.

Five questions about the border crisis

Where do these people come from?

Traditionally large numbers of Mexican economic migrants have declined, replaced in part by a surge in families with children from Central American countries - particularly Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.

Why are they fleeing?

Many of these families are fleeing extreme poverty or the risk of gang violence. The UN refugee agency calls the three countries "some of the most dangerous places on Earth" - but the US attorney general has decreed that gang violence does not usually qualify someone for asylum.

Why are there still separated children?

Although the separation of migrant families was officially halted in June 2018, the New York Times reported that 700 families had been separated in the year since via "loopholes" in the court order - when parents have a criminal conviction or a disease, or when it is an aunt, uncle, or sibling accompanying the child. Some parents may be children themselves.

How many people cross the border?

US Border Patrol says it has made 593,507 "southwest border apprehensions" since October 2018. Last month, 132,887 people were stopped - including 11,507 unaccompanied children and 84,542 travelling in families.

How many people have died?

Border Patrol recorded 283 deaths in the 2018 fiscal year. The United Nations Missing Migrants project reports that so far in 2019, 170 migrants have died or are missing on the US-Mexico border – including 13 children.

Separately, a legal argument from the government that access to soap and a toothbrush were not necessarily "required" has drawn much criticism.

The lawyer making those technical arguments later posted to Facebook privately distancing herself, NBC reports, saying she personally believed in "doing our very best" for children in care.

But the public outcry was re-ignited on Tuesday following a report that many of the children had been returned to the Clint facility just days after being transferred out amid the public outcry.

"This situation is child abuse," Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. "It is an atrocity that violates every value we have, not only as Americans, but as moral beings."

But her Republican counterpart in the House, Kevin McCarthy, responded that "after weeks of doing nothing, and denying that a crisis exists, they are offering legislation that is misguided, and is purely political".

Several bodies, including those of babies and children, were discovered on the border in recent days, as some migrants opted to try and cross into the US illegally, avoiding the formal immigration system.

A photograph of a father and his daughter lying face down in the water of the Rio Grande river has also shocked many. In the photograph, two-year-old Valeria has an arm wrapped around her father, Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez, as both lie dead close to shore.

Published by the Associated Press on Tuesday, it has drawn comparisons to the photo of young Syrian boy Alan Kurdi, who became a symbol of the human cost of the war in Syria.

Amid a major public outcry about the conditions facing migrant children, Customs and Border Protection acting commissioner John Sanders said he would be stepping down.

The acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Mark Morgan, is set to replace him.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-48768448

[ShakaHislop]

US Huawei supplier resumes some shipments

US chipmaker Micron has restarted some shipments to Huawei despite a ban on selling products to the Chinese firm.

The US banned companies from selling components and technology to Huawei and 68 affiliates on 15 May.

But boss Sanjay Mehrotra said Micron had found it could lawfully "resume shipping a subset of current products".

Intel and other market leaders have also reportedly restarted selling some products to the world's biggest telecoms equipment manufacturer.

Micron, Intel and other industry leaders had managed to partly circumvent the ban by avoiding labelling goods as American-made, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.

The sanctions apply to goods that contain 25% or more components or materials that come from the US.

But goods made outside the US by American companies may not be considered US-made, according to the New York Times.

Despite resuming shipments, however, Mr Mehrotra sounded a note of caution on a conference call with investors on Tuesday.

"There is considerable ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Huawei situation and we are unable to predict the volumes or time periods over which we will be able to ship products to Huawei," he said.

The Semiconductor Industry Association, which is backed by Intel and Micron, said some chips did not fall under the US government sales ban.

"As we have discussed with the US government, it is now clear some items may be supplied to Huawei consistent with the entity list and applicable regulations," the association said.

While the ban is expected to cost Huawei $30bn (£24bn) in revenue this year, the company is still able to sell phones with stockpiled components - which some analysts say can last for another year.

Huawei said it had shipped 100 million smartphones this year, as of 30 May.

Mr Mehrotra said Huawei was Micron's number one customer and the ban had cost the company as much as $200m in missed sales during the third quarter.

The US government move to block Huawei comes after years of claims its products represent a security threat to the US.

However, Huawei has repeatedly denied those claims, asserting it is independent of the Chinese government.

It has also said the US ban could harm more than 1,200 American companies.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-48771368

[Mumm-Ra]

Apparently Eric Trump was having dinner in Chicago last night and an employee of the restaurant grebbed in his face

[Giono]

Apparently Eric Trump was having dinner in Chicago last night and an employee of the restaurant grebbed in his face

I wonder what was in his food,.

[ShakaHislop]

Wayfair staff to walk out over sales to detention centres

US staff at furniture giant Wayfair are planning to walk out after the firm sold furnishings to border camps used to detain immigrants.

The protest is expected to involve hundreds of workers at the firm's Boston headquarters.

More than 500 staff signed a letter urging the firm to "cease all business with border camps".

The move comes as the Trump administration faces scrutiny over conditions at the camps.

Wayfair allegedly sold more than $200,000 (£157,690) in bedroom furniture to a detention centre for migrant children in Texas, according to employees.

"We believe that the current actions of the United States and their contractors at the Southern border do not represent an ethical business partnership Wayfair should choose to be part of," staff wrote in the letter, which was addressed to Wayfair's management.

"At Wayfair, we believe that 'everyone should live in a home that they love'. Let's stay true to that message by taking a stand against the reprehensible practice of separating families, which denies them any home at all."

Almost 20,000 people have followed a Twitter account, @wayfairwalkout, set up for the protest, and staff from other Wayfair sites across the country have posted in a Facebook event asking how they can support the protest.

Wayfair's management has responded to its employees, but it has not agreed to change its business practices.

The furniture giant's leadership team thanked employees for sharing their concerns, but it said that it was important to "respect diversity of thought" within the company and across its customer base.

Wayfair wrote in a letter to employees, circulated by staff on Twitter: "As a retailer, it is standard practice to fulfil orders for all customers and we believe it is our business to sell to any customer who is acting within the laws of the countries within which we operate.

"We believe all our stakeholders, employees, customers, investors and suppliers included, are best served by our commitment to fulfil all orders.

"This does not indicate support for the opinions or actions of the groups or individuals who purchase from us."

Wayfair's shares fell 5.3% on Tuesday and slipped further in pre-market trading on Wednesday.

The BBC has contacted Wayfair for comment, but has not had a response.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48772589

[Giono]

Megan Rapinoe of the US Woman's team: I ain't going to the f---ing white house.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLzR0XIpj7s&feature=share

[Lynndenberries]

Trump tweeting about Megan Rapinoe after her comments the other day.

Apparently not wanting to visit Trump and the White House for a photo op is now disrespectful to the country and flag 

[Chakan]

Trump tweeting about Megan Rapinoe after her comments the other day.

Apparently not wanting to visit Trump and the White House for a photo op is now disrespectful to the country and flag 

He's a dictator. Disrespecting him is tantamount to treason.