US Politics Thread

[Federberg]

The good news is that Musk has left DC to tend to his day job.

In other good news, after cancelling the Women's Health Initiative project, HHS has walked that one back, too. It's an important study. Just another in blunders that the Trump appointees have had to reverse. May I suggest thinking things out before you slash them, next time?

I agree with you, but I also understand the sneaky clever rationale with a slash and burn tactic. Quite likely a lot of the cut programmes get reinstated but at least before doing so, the question will be asked... is this really necessary? What are the consequences of not having it? Sadly bureaucracies all of the world are loathe to cut unnecessary programmes so this is often the only way to rid government of redundancies. Please note I'm not really supporting it (the risk of destroying something vital is too dangerous), but there is more sense to it than most would think...

 

[Moxie]

I agree with you, but I also understand the sneaky clever rationale with a slash and burn tactic. Quite likely a lot of the cut programmes get reinstated but at least before doing so, the question will be asked... is this really necessary? What are the consequences of not having it? Sadly bureaucracies all of the world are loathe to cut unnecessary programmes so this is often the only way to rid government of redundancies. Please note I'm not really supporting it (the risk of destroying something vital is too dangerous), but there is more sense to it than most would think...

While I see what you're going for, IMO you are giving them too much credit for thinking like that. It sounds like a massively inefficient way of going about achieving that end, and so is proving to be. They said their goal was to slash massively and quickly, and you have to believe them in that. Also, this is not asking bureaucracies to cut programs. DOGE is tasked with it. Had they done what they were asked with more consideration, they would surely have made fewer mistakes, and maybe garnered some approval for actual Efficiency. One of the main problems with their method is that it's not all retrievable. My fear, and that of many Americans, is that a lot of it won't be. I believe you don't support it, and are rather looking for a silver lining. I'm just not seeing it.

There is nothing that would have prevented them from taking, say, a year to review and revise these various programs and departments. But they would have to have had some understanding of what they actually do, and some belief in it, which they (neither Trump nor Musk) do. It's merely "Federal government BAD! Off with its head!

 

[Federberg]

While I see what you're going for, IMO you are giving them too much credit for thinking like that. It sounds like a massively inefficient way of going about achieving that end, and so is proving to be. They said their goal was to slash massively and quickly, and you have to believe them in that. Also, this is not asking bureaucracies to cut programs. DOGE is tasked with it. Had they done what they were asked with more consideration, they would surely have made fewer mistakes, and maybe garnered some approval for actual Efficiency. One of the main problems with their method is that it's not all retrievable. My fear, and that of many Americans, is that a lot of it won't be. I believe you don't support it, and are rather looking for a silver lining. I'm just not seeing it.

There is nothing that would have prevented them from taking, say, a year to review and revise these various programs and departments. But they would have to have had some understanding of what they actually do, and some belief in it, which they (neither Trump nor Musk) do. It's merely "Federal government BAD! Off with its head!

There's more than one constituency involved in this. There's the anarchic element in MAGA and there's the tech-bro, radical Republican/libertarian component. I heard debates rationalising slashing government bureaucracy well over a year ago. Once again I'll repeat I'm not supporting this, I'm merely communicating to you the logic of the tech-bro/libertarian side. Their ambition seems to be the reduction of the size of government, they seem to recognise that some valuable eggs might be broken but they see growth of the State as the greatest evil. Ergo if they break a few eggs, what does it matter if they still end up making an omelette. I wouldn't even call it a silver lining, but I'll admit I wholeheartedly agree that SOMETHING needs to be done. My biggest gripe is that the same people who are trying to slash government are sucking at it's teats. These people do NOT need handouts. I would respect them greatly if they accepted the noble sacrifice FIRST. For example Tesla makes billions from green credits. Let them forgo that and I'll have a great deal more belief in Musk's noble intentions to create a more efficient government

 

[Moxie]

There's more than one constituency involved in this. There's the anarchic element in MAGA and there's the tech-bro, radical Republican/libertarian component. I heard debates rationalising slashing government bureaucracy well over a year ago. Once again I'll repeat I'm not supporting this, I'm merely communicating to you the logic of the tech-bro/libertarian side. Their ambition seems to be the reduction of the size of government, they seem to recognise that some valuable eggs might be broken but they see growth of the State as the greatest evil. Ergo if they break a few eggs, what does it matter if they still end up making an omelette. I wouldn't even call it a silver lining, but I'll admit I wholeheartedly agree that SOMETHING needs to be done. My biggest gripe is that the same people who are trying to slash government are sucking at it's teats. These people do NOT need handouts. I would respect them greatly if they accepted the noble sacrifice FIRST. For example Tesla makes billions from green credits. Let them forgo that and I'll have a great deal more belief in Musk's noble intentions to create a more efficient government

I understand what's POV inclines them, but I still think that the method is too slapdash to make a proper omelette out of it. Too many good eggs going on the floor and splattered all over the walls. If you wreck things by taking the best out of them, you make them less efficient, not more. They could have and should have done it with more care and precision. But when you put people in charge of remaking something they don't believe in, in the first place, you're unlikely to get a good result. They've already had to do a lot of damage control, and there is a lot that can't be undone, or will take years.

 

[Federberg]

how on Earth did the White House medics not catch this prostate cancer. This is unbelievable! Terrible news. It just makes his decision to be a candidate even more insane

 

[Fiero425]

I'm so glad I skip the news these days! It's getting to be as pathetic as the people watching! We are now obsessing over Biden who's no longer president over a felon who is in office turning the country upside down! I guess it's easier to talk about that over criminality going on in the present! This country doesn't deserve to survive! Our democracy is being "plowed under" and no one seems to care that the economy's on the verge of collapsing! All I can do is SMH! We deserve our plight! Thank goodness I'm an old man and don't have to GAF anymore!

 

[Moxie]

how on Earth did the White House medics not catch this prostate cancer. This is unbelievable! Terrible news. It just makes his decision to be a candidate even more insane

It's not a standard prostate cancer, it's a very lethal one. Some cancers are so aggressive, they are only ever qualified as "stage 4." I'm inclined to believe them it's a new diagnosis. Biden isn't the President anymore, and, while I wish him well, his cancer is not a national concern. I'm much more concerned about what Jake Tapper has to say in his book about just how much they covered up his loss of cognition in the last year or so of his presidency, and how they were willing to just prop him up and run him again.

 

[Moxie]

Kristi Noem, US Secretary of Homeland Security, the agency in charge of immigration, border security, amongst other things, doesn't understand what habeas corpus means, even after the Trump administration threatens to suspend it. She admits to being no constitutional scholar, but she might have looked it up, since it concerns her job. This is basic high school social studies, too, I might add. Instead, she just goes for the Trump definition, which is the opposite of the intention.

You can just watch the first couple of minutes to get the idea:

 

[Federberg]

It's not a standard prostate cancer, it's a very lethal one. Some cancers are so aggressive, they are only ever qualified as "stage 4." I'm inclined to believe them it's a new diagnosis. Biden isn't the President anymore, and, while I wish him well, his cancer is not a national concern. I'm much more concerned about what Jake Tapper has to say in his book about just how much they covered up his loss of cognition in the last year or so of his presidency, and how they were willing to just prop him up and run him again.

oh wow! I didn't know that. So many sad things have happened to that family. Not quite Kennedy-level, but still...

And I completely agree regarding the Tapper book. He and his ilk are complicit. It's a horrific scandal

 

[Federberg]

 

[Moxie]

Jesus, who IS this guy, and why should I listen to him? I honestly tried, but I can't take much more of his droning on in his PA accent. At his house. Where is he going with this? Please tell us what is the point of this video? A face palm isn't quite enough.

 

[Fiero425]

Jesus, who IS this guy, and why should I listen to him? I honestly tried, but I can't take much more of his droning on in his PA accent. At his house. Where is he going with this? Please tell us what is the point of this video? A face palm isn't quite enough.

Can't be Tapper, so must be referring to Steve Schmidt! He's a reformed Republican; well still "on the Right," but busted away from the "dark side" when Trump took power! He's been at war w/ the Republican hierachy for years now w/ other Republicans who are trying to save their party! I think they're called the Lincoln Project & they run commercials, videos, & campaigns against the Maga Trump movement, pointing out every flaw, criminal act, & underhanded supporter of Trump! It appears even though trying TBH, the rest of the country have turned off! They patently just don't GAF; I know I don't! Trump will be embolden to hold onto power past 2028! He barely got called out for his coup attempt last time, Jan. 6th 2021! He's immune to real punishment or he'd have paid a high cost already for being associated w/ that perv, Jeffrey Epstein!

 

[Federberg]

No one is surprised

 

[Moxie]

No one is surprised

I don't think this was Nate Silver. I also don't think it's true, or particularly germaine to anything. The only thing I find is an NIH study, which doesn't concur with this. But I sure find this meme around in conservative social media. Seems like you got suckered.

 

[Federberg]

I don't think this was Nate Silver. I also don't think it's true, or particularly germaine to anything. The only thing I find is an NIH study, which doesn't concur with this. But I sure find this meme around in conservative social media. Seems like you got suckered.

lol! Maybe it's a meme, maybe not. Has the ring of truth to it All those folks pre-disposed to believe they're oppressed, this would be right on the money

 

[Moxie]

lol! Maybe it's a meme, maybe not. Has the ring of truth to it All those folks pre-disposed to believe they're oppressed, this would be right on the money

That's how you interpret that? Odd. And you don't even care if it's true or not. You just like it because it confirms something you like to believe? Apparently, you're exactly who the meme was created for. But you are being part of the problem, because it's untrue.

In any case, I don't see why this would be in anyway interesting, in terms of American politics.

 

[Federberg]

oh for goodness sakes. Get over yourself Part of the reason I posted it in the first place was because I knew it would irritate you. And quite frankly it really wouldn't surprise me if it was true. Do I care if it's not? Nah... not really. It kind of tells the story of what most rational centrists think about the left these days, and that in itself is amusing to me

 

[Moxie]

oh for goodness sakes. Get over yourself Part of the reason I posted it in the first place was because I knew it would irritate you. And quite frankly it really wouldn't surprise me if it was true. Do I care if it's not? Nah... not really. It kind of tells the story of what most rational centrists think about the left these days, and that in itself is amusing to me

It only irritates me that you post meaningless things and untruths without checking them out. It's not even that hard. I wished you'd get over that bad habit.

 

[Federberg]

good questions...

 

[Moxie]

Rather more importantly, the head of FEMA doesn't seem to be aware that there is a hurricane season, which began 4 days ago, and lasts until the end of November. Spokesperson for the WH is playing it off as a joke. But that's the same excuse they use for every gaffe Trump makes, and every member of his cabinet makes. And none of these "jokes" are even vaguely funny. Someone tell these people they're bureaucrats, not stand-up comedians, and they're responsible for people's lives.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fema-staff-confused-after-head-said-he-was-unaware-us-hurricane-season-sources-2025-06-02/