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Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#265651: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:05:57 PM

> He... he can't actually do that... can he?

Not if congress has anything to say about it!

Granting himself emergency powers is something dictators do during a power grab,thankfully the country is in no position where that action is possible

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#265652: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:06:44 PM

This is crossing a line, right? This is absolutely crossing a line. This is a straight-up dictator move right here. Not like the smaller dictator inclinations and implications he was previously doing, this is a big move right here. This is Trump seriously considering crossing the line from "shitty democratically elected official" to "dictator".

Edited by PushoverMediaCritic on Jan 4th 2019 at 1:07:10 PM

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#265654: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:08:45 PM

Its on the line but he can't cross the line without being tackled by the congressmen on the either side of him

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#265655: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:10:09 PM

I don't even think McConnel would allow Trump to take Emergency powers just to build his wall. I think even he'd know that any President, especially Trump, doing that would allow the next line of Presidents, Democrat and Republican, to slowly become Dictators until one takes all power. Which is why I'm 100% certain he, along with other Republicans, are doing their best to try to dissuade him from even trying.

It's kind of scary how Trump is essentially trying to take the USA down the route of Rome (except unlike Julius Caesar, Trump hasn't done anything to make the masses love him, just his ~35% base).

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#265656: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:14:16 PM

[up][up][up] From what has come out recently about the Pentagon's grotesque manipulation of budgets and financials to goose its funding, I wouldn't be at all surprised if there are hundreds of billions of dollars in various slush funds that could get used for "military construction".

Frankly, it'd be a more honest use of the money, and that's saying something.

Edited by Fighteer on Jan 4th 2019 at 3:15:00 PM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
MrHellboy The Shadow from A world of my own Since: Dec, 2017 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
The Shadow
#265657: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:22:36 PM

I'll say this: if this lasts till February, when money for food stamps runs out and no one is getting their tax refunds, people will take to the streets.

I think he'll cave, or else the Republicans will realize they're fighting a losing game and override his veto. Some already have: Cory Gardner and Susan Collins (although she doesn't count for much). I think they want to get reelected

The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.
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
#265658: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:26:04 PM

[up][up] Sure but do you think the pentagon are gonna be in on it? That accounting magic works both ways, if they don’t want the wall (and I’m pretty sure they don’t) I’m sure they can reduce the military construction budget to $0 within a couple of days.

Edited by Silasw on Jan 4th 2019 at 8:26:35 PM

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#265659: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:39:29 PM

Incidentally, a more narrow trans ban just got upheld by an appeals court, as the distinction is that those who are diagnosed with gender dysphoria can't join the military, but those that aren't can - thus, it doesn't infringe on the rights of all transgender applicants.

Naturally, it's getting appealed.

[down]

Yeah, pretty much.

The new plan, for example, “appears to permit some transgender individuals to serve in the military consistent with established military mental health, physical health, and sex-based standards,” the court said.

The American Psychiatric Association defines gender dysphoria as a “clinically significant distress” due to a conflict between a person’s gender identity and their sex assigned at birth. Not all transgender people suffer from gender dysphoria, according to the association, which opposes a military ban.

The gender dysphoria restriction replaced an outright ban on transgender service members that Trump announced in July 2017 on Twitter.

Trump’s move reversed Democratic former President Barack Obama’s policy of allowing transgender troops to serve openly and receive medical care to transition genders.

I can see the logic at play by the court there as, legally speaking, it's no different than disqualifying someone for military service over a diagnosed mental illness.

Edited by ironballs16 on Jan 4th 2019 at 3:47:01 PM

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#265660: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:43:14 PM

On the grounds that gender dysphoria is a mental illness that disqualifies one from military service or something? I think the DSM should be consulted here.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#265661: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:46:10 PM

Gender dysphoria is part of the DSM-5 although it's also one of the more contentious ones.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#265662: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:56:23 PM

And with the National Emergency bullshit, if he pulled that, I really hope that the Democrats would move to impeach for that level of overreach. It'd be a hard as hell one to fight against for the GOP, too.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#265663: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:57:18 PM

Damn, Trump trying to gut the military and get his wall by decree. Hopefully that backfires.

In good (probably) news, Mueller's grand jury has been granted a 6 month extension.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/04/politics/mueller-grand-jury/index.html

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#265664: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:57:39 PM

Pelosi said she has no intention of pursuing impeachment as its a waste of their time and resources.

She is, however, going to continue support Mueller's work.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#265665: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:58:08 PM

I'd actually argue the Congress GOP would not be happy either if he did that. Because if he got away with that, they must be smart enough to realize he'll try that again and thus chip away at their own power.

Trump getting a taste for flaunting congress and essentially ruling by decree with a National Emergency Handwave? Must be one of the few things that would even make the Turtle recoil.

Edited by 3of4 on Jan 4th 2019 at 9:59:35 PM

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kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#265666: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:58:37 PM

For the record, the transgender ban still can't be enacted due to several court orders for it already in place. So thank God for that.

TheAirman Brightness from The vicinity of an area adjacent to a location Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Historians will say we were good friends.
Brightness
#265667: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:59:43 PM

Don’t know if this was mentioned here, but a few Kansas state legislators switched from Republican to Democrat last month

PSN ID: FateSeraph | Switch friendcode: SW-0145-8835-0610 Congratulations! She/They
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#265668: Jan 4th 2019 at 12:59:43 PM

So, what does she intend to do? There are more legal possibilities, outside of impeachment.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#265669: Jan 4th 2019 at 1:01:28 PM

She didn't rule out indictment.

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#265670: Jan 4th 2019 at 1:02:55 PM

You know, the authority that Trump has to repurpose funds isn't limitless. For one thing the unobligated funds dedicated to military construction need to exist.

Pelosi had a bill going to protect Mueller I think, she didn't chose to add such a provision to one of the appropriation bills unless I missed something. She isn't going to let impeachment proceedings start unless there is some indication that the sycophants in the Senate aren't.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)
#265671: Jan 4th 2019 at 1:03:01 PM

Grand jury in Russia investigation extended for six months

Stemming from this tweet by a CNN reporter.

The federal grand jury impaneled by special counsel Robert Mueller has been extended for another six months.

The grand jury was convened last year in Washington on an 18-month term, which was set to expire in the coming days. But the chief judge of the DC district court extended the grand jury’s mandate for another six months, according to CNN.

Remember, it’s the grand jury that has considerable power to subpoena witnesses and documents.

What this means: Much to Team Trump’s chagrin, the Mueller investigation isn’t going anywhere.

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.
Shaoken (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Dating Catwoman
#265672: Jan 4th 2019 at 1:08:05 PM

And she made these comments before Trump threatened to keep the shutdown going and try to use executive and emergency powers to force through the wall.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#265673: Jan 4th 2019 at 1:10:19 PM

Yeah, Trump was ranting about how he'd let the shutdown go on for years if he had to.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
TheAirman Brightness from The vicinity of an area adjacent to a location Since: Feb, 2011 Relationship Status: Historians will say we were good friends.
Brightness
#265674: Jan 4th 2019 at 1:14:51 PM

Pelosi sent her invitation to Trump to deliver the State of the Union Address

January 3, 2018

The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

The Constitution established the legislative, executive and judicial branches as co-equal branches of government, to be a check and balance on each other. The Constitution also calls for the President to “from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union.”

In the spirit of our Constitution, I invite you to deliver your State of the Union address before a Joint Session of Congress on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 in the House Chamber.

I look forward to welcoming you to the Congress.

Sincerely,

NANCY PELOSI Speaker of the House

PSN ID: FateSeraph | Switch friendcode: SW-0145-8835-0610 Congratulations! She/They
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#265675: Jan 4th 2019 at 1:32:21 PM

[up] Speaking of the Idiot Orange:

How do you impeach a president who has won perhaps the greatest election of all time, done nothing wrong (no Collusion with Russia, it was the Dems that Colluded), had the most successful first two years of any president, and is the most popular Republican in party history 93%?


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