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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)
#160776: Dec 6th 2016 at 4:52:11 PM

Trump threatens to cancel Government Contract with Boeing due to "outrageous" price tag. All I can say is, this looks terrible to me.

There was speculation during the campaign period that if Trump became president, he might insist on using his own plane instead of the designated Air Force One planes, given his habit of insisting on using his own plane even when it's not practical or feasible to do so.

Given the way he's been behaving over the idea of living in the White House, he may well cause problems about the planes he use.

Plus, he probably sees an opportunity (in his own mind, at least) to scrap the current Air Force One system and replace it with his own planes so that he can make money out of future presidents 'hiring' a Trump branded plane.

Remember, it came out during the campaign period that campaign funding was being diverted to pay the cost of Trump using his own plane to travel around the country, and because secret service had to go with him, the flights were being funded by the taxpayer instead of coming out of his own pocket.

He's probably looking for a way to get this to continue, not only during his presidency but during the future presidencies of others once his time is done. After all, look at what he's trying to do by making people stay at Trump hotels and hiring business rooms at Trump hotels.

He's basically trying to turn the presidency (and future presidencies) into a Trump brand he can profit off long past his time in office.

That's my guess, anyway.

If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
JulianLapostat Since: Feb, 2014
#160777: Dec 6th 2016 at 4:54:24 PM

I honestly don't get how backing away from locking Hillary for being innocent is a dealbreaker? She was never actually charged, just repeatedly investigated, publicly and belligerently.

But then they voted for an actual tax cheat and embezzler, so maybe they have a different attitude to law.

[up]

What if...Trump shifts the capital to New York City and makes Trump Tower the new seat of government,

I mean Trump Tower is already a "room where it happens" as witness Shinzo Abe (a corrupt politician himself) paying court with the King and Princess in attendance. And of course all these political appointees coming there like it's Government Apprentice.

edited 6th Dec '16 4:57:03 PM by JulianLapostat

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#160778: Dec 6th 2016 at 4:56:16 PM

Air Force One is expensive because it's got all kinds of advanced security features designed to protect the President should, say, someone decide to fire a surface-to-air missile at him. If Trump's ancient plane that he bought at a fire sale decides to drop an engine... well, the Darwin Awards apply to Presidents too.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#160779: Dec 6th 2016 at 4:58:18 PM

Mexican Governor is calling for a Boycott on Texas Border Stores due to Carrier 'Deal'. A lot of Border Businesses may go under due to this.

The Trade Wars are starting...

edited 6th Dec '16 4:59:05 PM by DingoWalley1

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#160780: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:00:38 PM

Why doesn't the POTUS travel in a modified stealth fighter?

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#160781: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:03:20 PM

[up] Are you kidding? Those things are insanely dangerous. They're also short-ranged, and would need way more stops to refuel. Plus, he can't exactly take the press corps with him, and the President is required by law to have the nuclear football accessible 24/7.

It would be rather amusing to see a portly 70-year old man trying to squeeze himself into the RIO seat on a fighter jet, though.

edited 6th Dec '16 5:05:16 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)
#160782: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:04:47 PM

[up][up][up][up] But it's a shiny Rolls Royce engine, which makes it the best engine, and the best plane in all the world!

If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
JulianLapostat Since: Feb, 2014
#160783: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:04:59 PM

Yes travel in a modified stealth fighting plane that can potentially be seen as an enemy aircraft when spotted after failing to show up on radar...and risk immediate countermeasures and reprisals.

The whole point of traveling like that is to give an impression of proper diplomacy and mutual respect. The POTUS trusts your air-flight tower, your airports, your hotel, your staff and so on. He trusts you to keep him safe. Violate that trust, you invite war.

If you know in advance the POTUS is coming, which plane he is, and when he shows up, that kind of information will make things easier and so on.

Wryte Since: Jul, 2010
#160784: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:06:31 PM

Plus, AF 1 is basically a flying Oval Office. The President is meant to keep working even when he's in the air. Riding shotgun in a stealth jet wouldn't exactly be conducive to that.

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#160785: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:09:00 PM

If it were any other president I'd be legitimately concerned about the possibility of Trump dying because of this bullshit. Trump Tower and his personal plane are not as easy to defend as Air Force One and the White House.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#160786: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:09:15 PM

Basically, AF1 is overbuilt to hell and back, and needs to be. If there's one place you don't want to skip on federal spending, it's the President's flying office.

edited 6th Dec '16 5:13:20 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#160787: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:12:01 PM

Trump might be angling to get public money used to upgrade his plane to Air Force one quality. His plane is in a bad state after all, so why not give it a free upgrade while he's President?

edited 6th Dec '16 5:12:23 PM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#160788: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:13:38 PM

Besides, stealth planes aren't exactly that stealthy anymore. The Russians have been able to see them on radar for years.

Oh really when?
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#160789: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:15:08 PM

Do note that the new planes won't be flying until at least 2022 (any AF 1 has to be made to high standards, and then fitted with loads of electronics, internal amenities and god knows what kinds of extra features that will never be declassified), and delay could push it past 2024. In other words, why would Trump give a damn about his successor, if he can look good at his/her expense and the expense of a vital American company and its workers?

[up]Well, B2 aside. And the idea of Trump's fat ass fitting into one of those is pretty funny.

edited 6th Dec '16 5:15:35 PM by Rationalinsanity

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
JulianLapostat Since: Feb, 2014
#160790: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:15:26 PM

POTUS also has Foreign Policy as the field of area with the widest executive power. And especially in the late 20-21st Century, most of their job does involve travelling by plane across the world to new countries and forging trade deals. Air Force One is one of those things that had to be invented.

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#160791: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:18:16 PM

Honestly, what gives me (some) hope that Trump is himself not going to commit any monstrous acts is that his primary motivation is, more than anything else, making money. Hell, it might as well be his theme song.

edited 6th Dec '16 5:19:15 PM by kkhohoho

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#160792: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:19:06 PM

I just thought it would be fun if the most powerful man in the world traveled with Tony Stark-ish flair.

Then he'd land from his plane in a HALO jump. Because America.

To be perfectly clear, in my head, I'm envisioning someone like 2008!Obama doing this. Not Trump.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
JulianLapostat Since: Feb, 2014
#160793: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:24:07 PM

You can harm a lot of people by making money by stealing from the government.

Trump's administration is staffed by people with a de-institutional ideology.

Wryte Since: Jul, 2010
#160794: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:41:49 PM

I just thought it would be fun if the most powerful man in the world traveled with Tony Stark-ish flair.

Did you already forget about Dubya's Mission Accomplished?

TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#160795: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:46:16 PM

Air Force One is probably the most advanced aircraft on Earth, Bar none.

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the tech under the hood is ten years ahead of Boeing's latest commercial aircraft

New Survey coming this weekend!
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#160796: Dec 6th 2016 at 5:58:27 PM

To the surprise of no one except Trump supporters, the Carrier deal is getting worse all the time.

edited 6th Dec '16 6:00:38 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#160798: Dec 6th 2016 at 6:12:27 PM

As the days go by, I'm feeling even better about my vote for HRC. And I already felt pretty good about it when I voted early.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Geostomp In the name of the POWER, I will punish you! from Arkansas, USA Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: What is this thing you call love?
In the name of the POWER, I will punish you!
#160799: Dec 6th 2016 at 6:15:01 PM

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-12-06/japan-s-softbank-to-invest-50-billion-in-the-u-s-trump-says

So here's the latest "deal" Trump is bragging about. Since it offers shiny jobs, I doubt that the news and certainly not the Trumpistas, will bother to question this poorly disguised bribe.

[up] Same, but it won't matter. Trump has proven very good at making dumb people believe whatever he says, so this idiocy will get tons of support and any possible downsides will be ignored until it all comes crashing down. Meanwhile, the cadre of supervillains that will run the show will work hard to utterly ruin us while getting more money and no comeuppance.

edited 6th Dec '16 6:17:04 PM by Geostomp

"When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all" Futurama, Godfellas
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#160800: Dec 6th 2016 at 6:25:33 PM

[up] I love how the deal doesn't describe what sort of jobs are actually coming to the U.S. as a result of this deal or what part of the country is going to get them.

IMHO, more jobs in exchange for deregulation tends to favor the corporations a lot more than it does workers and consumers.

The actual number of jobs is probably going to end up being a lot lower than 50,000. I also doubt said jobs are going to be good ones with good salaries.

As for that one comment in that article about how this deal totally isn't about facilitating a future merger that would create a monopoly...

Anyone here wanna take a stab at combining the names of Sprint and T-mobile? I'm going with Sprint-mobile.

edited 6th Dec '16 6:27:03 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised

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