What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[Syt]

The US always claimed a moral leadership, to care about more than its immediate self interest. Regardless of whether it always lived up to that ideal, the withdrawal of the Trump administration from that position will weaken any effort to put pressure on countries abusing human rights, freedom of press etc.

[viper37]

lolz suck it, world.  Fucking with our brown people isn't enough, we get to fuck with yours too.   

I wonder who or what will replace American leadership and influence around the world?

Russia and China seem the most likely candidate.  Europe is too busy with Russian interference to manage an effective leadership role.

[Syt]

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/03/13/presidential-executive-order-comprehensive-plan-reorganizing-executive

Presidential Executive Order on a Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the Executive Branch

EXECUTIVE ORDER

- - - - - - -

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR REORGANIZING THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1.  Purpose.  This order is intended to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of the executive branch by directing the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (Director) to propose a plan to reorganize governmental functions and eliminate unnecessary agencies (as defined in section 551(1) of title 5, United States Code), components of agencies, and agency programs.

Sec. 2.  Proposed Plan to Improve the Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Accountability of Federal Agencies, Including, as Appropriate, to Eliminate or Reorganize Unnecessary or Redundant Federal Agencies.  (a)  Within 180 days of the date of this order, the head of each agency shall submit to the Director a proposed plan to reorganize the agency, if appropriate, in order to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of that agency.

(b)  The Director shall publish a notice in the Federal Register inviting the public to suggest improvements in the organization and functioning of the executive branch and shall consider the suggestions when formulating the proposed plan described in subsection (c) of this section.

(c)  Within 180 days after the closing date for the submission of suggestions pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the Director shall submit to the President a proposed plan to reorganize the executive branch in order to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of agencies.  The proposed plan shall include, as appropriate, recommendations to eliminate unnecessary agencies, components of agencies, and agency programs, and to merge functions.  The proposed plan shall include recommendations for any legislation or administrative measures necessary to achieve the proposed reorganization.

(d)  In developing the proposed plan described in subsection (c) of this section, the Director shall consider, in addition to any other relevant factors:

(i)    whether some or all of the functions of an agency, a component, or a program are appropriate for the Federal Government or would be better left to State or local governments or to the private sector through free enterprise;

(ii)   whether some or all of the functions of an agency, a component, or a program are redundant, including with those of another agency, component, or program;

(iii)  whether certain administrative capabilities necessary for operating an agency, a component, or a program are redundant with those of another agency, component, or program;

(iv)   whether the costs of continuing to operate an agency, a component, or a program are justified by the public benefits it provides; and

(v)    the costs of shutting down or merging agencies, components, or programs, including the costs of addressing the equities of affected agency staff.

(e) In developing the proposed plan described in subsection (c) of this section, the Director shall consult with the head of each agency and, consistent with applicable law, with persons or entities outside the Federal Government with relevant expertise in organizational structure and management. 

Sec. 3.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,
    March 13, 2017.

[celedhring]

So, Trump's plan seems to be to liquidate the federal government except for Defence and border protection, so the states that voted for him can turn into hellholes while blue states remain civilized.

And guess where most of the high-earners that will see their taxes cut live, too...

[Zanza]

lolz suck it, world.  Fucking with our brown people isn't enough, we get to fuck with yours too.   

I wonder who or what will replace American leadership and influence around the world?

Russia and China seem the most likely candidate.  Europe is too busy with Russian interference to manage an effective leadership role.

Russia is a paper tiger. Their "influence" only comes from their opposition to the West, but they have very few other common interests with say Turkey, Iran or whoever else, so their soft power is very limited. They have some soft power from their fake news hacking machine though although that's more of an offensive weapon against the West than anything that could really increase their sphere of influence. Their hard power barely exists. Their economy is tiny compared to the USA, China or the EU and the continued depressed oil price means they'll have a hard time to get major growth going. Thirty years ago, we had to fear that Russian tanks could reach the Rhine, these days they can pick some areas from Georgia and a province or two from Ukraine.

[viper37]

They can't compete with the US, but the US is withdrawing.  China is already taking the lead in Asia now.  Russia is in Syria and now Libya.

The sanctions against Russia will be gone by this time next year.

[CountDeMoney]

It's called "mobilization", Frunk.  Welcome back to the 19th century.

[Eddie Teach]

Stepping back from the echo chamber, I just checked Trump's approval numbers, and he is still maintaining a very strong base of support.  In fact, when he is just quiet just a little bit, his approval bounces back towards 50%.  It reminds me of his continual polling recoveries during the 2016 election.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/201617/gallup-daily-trump-job-approval.aspx

Are we reading the same table?  I see that his approval is between 40 and 45%.  His disapproval rating is about 50%. 

The guy is Satan, and he still maintaining up to 45% approval with only 50% disapproval.  That does not amaze you?

Nah, Satan is much more competent.

[DGuller]

Thirty years ago, we had to fear that Russian tanks could reach the Rhine, these days they can pick some areas from Georgia and a province or two from Ukraine.

Ukraine not weak!

[CountDeMoney]

Presidential Executive Order on a Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the Executive Branch

I am glad that many of my favorite Political Science professors are dead, so they don't have to see this Presidency actually happening; on the other hand, I can only imagine what a pain in the ass it will be to explain to kids what NASA was, using nothing more than campfire shadows and cave paintings.

[CountDeMoney]

Why couldn't Steve Bond Villain be into something really useful, like the deconstruction of the alliterative state?  Stupid literary devices.

[Grey Fox]

I find it scary that we are withdrawing from our commitments around the world while increasing spending on our military.  What, exactly, is this enlarged military going to do if it isn't involved in NATO, or defending any of our other former allies?  Trump parades?  Protecting us against "domestic terrorism"?

Expanding the Empire. Iraq, 51st state.

[Eddie Teach]

Presidential Executive Order on a Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the Executive Branch

I am glad that many of my favorite Political Science professors are dead, so they don't have to see this Presidency actually happening; on the other hand, I can only imagine what a pain in the ass it will be to explain to kids what NASA was, using nothing more than campfire shadows and cave paintings.

It's ok, bored tech billionaires will take us to Mars.

[jimmy olsen]

Stop getting my hopes up. Nothing good is going to happen! 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/03/14/republicans-are-threatening-to-expose-trump-as-the-emperor-with-no-clothes? utm_term=.0859b71ea7bc

Republicans are threatening to expose Trump as the emperor with no clothes

By Aaron Blake
March 14 at 2:37 PM

It's almost as though Republicans are tired of having President Trump's evidence-free allegations laid at their feet. Almost.

Late Monday, a spokesman for House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) threatened to subpoena the Trump administration to produce evidence of Trump's claim that President Barack Obama wiretapped Trump Tower during the campaign. The White House has declined to produce this evidence publicly, offering various excuses, including the Constitution's separation of powers and — most recently on Monday — arguing that Trump wasn't speaking literally when he made the claim.

The Justice Department missed Nunes's deadline to provide evidence Monday, which drew Nunes's subpoena threat.

"If the committee does not receive a response, the committee will ask for this information during the March 20 hearing and may resort to a compulsory process if our questions continue to go unanswered," Nunes spokesman Jack Langer said.

Then, on Tuesday, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) made his own threat. Last week, Graham — who is clearly skeptical of the wiretapping claim and chairs a subcommittee looking into it — asked the Justice Department and the FBI to provide copies of any warrants or court orders related to the alleged wiretapping. Having not received anything, Graham said Tuesday that he would announce his next steps Wednesday and may push for a special committee.

"They're about to screw up big time if they keep running to the intel committee and not answer that letter," Graham said, according to CBS's Alan He. He added: "If they don't honor this request and give us an answer, then I would say that we need a joint select committee because regular order is not working."

It's clear as day what's going on here.

The White House's reactions to Trump's evidence-free claims — be it this one or the one about millions of illegal votes in 2016 — is to call for investigations. That has the triple benefit of putting the onus on someone else to look into it, to buy some time and hope people forget that the president is making such wild allegations, and, in this case, to give themselves an excuse to clam up. The White House initially said it wouldn't comment on Trump's wiretapping claim while it was being investigated and then it said it couldn't provide evidence because of separation of powers — another claim that strained credulity.


But that also puts Republicans such as Nunes and Graham in the position of having to account for these claims — and calling on Trump and his team to put up or shut up. By pushing the administration to produce evidence — or else — they are effectively putting the ball back in the executive branch's court. The subtext: You can't just make these claims and then ask us to deal with the fallout.

Nunes in particular has faced some very tough questions from reporters, and he must feel as though he's being hung out to dry. Graham's angle is slightly different, in that he clearly doesn't think Trump's claim is accurate and wants to prove it. "If there is no warrant, then we'll have solved this problem: There was no wiretapping," he said this week.

Whether this will actually give Trump any pause in the future when making such allegations is an open question. But these members want to make sure he and the people around him at least think twice before saddling them and their GOP colleagues with another evidence-free Trump claim.

[Ed Anger]

Thirty years ago, we had to fear that Russian tanks could reach the Rhine, these days they can pick some areas from Georgia and a province or two from Ukraine.

Ukraine not weak!

IT STRONG, LIKE TURNIP.