President Donald J. Trump

[albrecht]

I can't see anyone not in DC, coming out against the lobbyist restrictions.

I could see a lot of large companies and interests being (banks, Big Ag, Big Pharma, Energy, Defense, etc) against it. Without lobbyists they might need that bill or regulation that makes them so much money.

[Yorkshire pud]

President-elect Donald Trump says US will quit Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal on his first day in office
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38059623

Maybe there wasn't room on his autocue to mention the deportation of two million illegal immigrant criminals in his first hour.. yeah, that'll be it. 

[GravitySucks]

I could see a lot of large companies and interests being (banks, Big Ag, Big Pharma, Energy, Defense, etc) against it. Without lobbyists they might need that bill or regulation that makes them so much money.

Doesn't say that can't have lobbyists. It is just if you take an appoibtment you can't serve as a lobbyist for 5 years.

This can only apply to people Trump is selecting so it won't have an impact for awhile. Obama's useful idiots should be fair picking.

I don't see Congress enacting a law that would affect people currently holding office, unless they sign something to continue on in Trump's administration.

[GravitySucks]

Maybe there wasn't room on his autocue to mention the deportation of two million illegal immigrant criminals in his first hour.. yeah, that'll be it.

Gonna line them up Juan by Juan. It is going to be juge.

[Yorkshire pud]

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/800850810490023937

Every time I see Trump giving one of these official talks, I can't help but laugh. The son of a bitch is actually doing it. 

No, he's saying he's doing it. The way he's said a lot of things that got his ralllies clapping like sea lions waiting for a fish. Wait until the real world dawns on him and he hits a snag! Oh boy, the toys will really come flying out of his cot. 

[Dr. MD MD]

Maybe there wasn't room on his autocue to mention the deportation of two million illegal immigrant criminals in his first hour.. yeah, that'll be it.

pud, I just don't know if you'll make it till then, let alone 4 years of Trump greatness. 

Looking forward to rubbing your face in all of it though. 

[Yorkshire pud]

I could see a lot of large companies and interests being (banks, Big Ag, Big Pharma, Energy, Defense, etc) against it. Without lobbyists they might need that bill or regulation that makes them so much money.

The lobbyists Trump has working for him are exempt? If they go into his admin, and then leave, will they be unemployable as lobbyists?

[albrecht]

Doesn't say that can't have lobbyists. It is just if you take an appointment you can't serve as a lobbyist for 5 years.

This can only apply to people Trump is selecting so it won't have an impact for awhile. Obama's useful idiots should be fair picking.

I don't see Congress enacting a law that would affect people currently holding office, unless they sign something to continue on in Trump's administration.

Ah. I see. I think he needs to shame Congress into voting into some type of similar thing. No way is lobbying per se going to be banned but maybe we can at least stop the revolving door between lobby/lawfirms or corporate positions and regulatory agencies, political staff, and politicians. Just a few year ban so that there is some political turn-over before they become lobbyists.

[Yorkshire pud]

pud, I just don't know if you'll make it till then, let alone 4 years of Trump greatness. 

Looking forward to rubbing your face in all of it though. 

I can wait for his first hour in office, as he promised. He did promise remember. And as for rubbing me in it; you'll be the one feeling the hurt, not me. He's your narcissist, not mine.

[albrecht]

The lobbyists Trump has working for him are exempt? If they go into his admin, and then leave, will they be unemployable as lobbyists?

We have laws and there are ways around them also*. This policy could only apply to lobby the Executive Branches and agencies (the only stuff that Trump will have power over) and there are ways even around this (if you don't spend enough time to legally have to register as a lobbyist etc.) They would still be able to find jobs lobbying Congress, at the State level, etc.

*https://www.thenation.com/article/shadow-lobbying-complex/

[GravitySucks]

Ah. I see. I think he needs to shame Congress into voting into some type of similar thing. No way is lobbying per se going to be banned but maybe we can at least stop the revolving door between lobby/lawfirms or corporate positions and regulatory agencies, political staff, and politicians. Just a few year ban so that there is some political turn-over before they become lobbyists.

He needs to keep the pressure on to get an amendment for term limits for Congress.

[PB the Deplorable]

I give him between six months and a year. His own supporters will see him for what he is, and turn on him. That will really ruin his day, because he won't be able to cope with it; blame the voters, and make it far worse.

So far, they seem pretty happy with his cabinet choices.  Some of the other things like ditching the media and going out to dinner, telling the cast of Hamilton what assholes they are, and him today sticking it up the ass of Big Media to their faces - his supporters seem quite pleased indeed. 

I wouldn't write him off just yet.

[norland2424]

lol the tools on cnn are demanding that Trump denounce the " alt right" . even tho he already has.

[GravitySucks]

So far, they seem pretty happy with his cabinet choices.  Some of the other things like ditching the media and going out to dinner, telling the cast of Hamilton what assholes they are, and him today sticking it up the ass of Big Media to their faces - his supporters seem quite pleased indeed. 

I wouldn't write him off just yet.

So far he has pissed me off twice.
1. Eats his steak well done.
2. Eats his pizza crust first.

I am beginning to question his judgement.

[PB the Deplorable]

Will Senator Sessions get to vote to confirm himself?

Not sure why he wouldn't.  Can you imagine a Democrat recusing themselves on anything, unless their vote was clearly not going to matter?

[Yorkshire pud]

So far he has pissed me off twice.
1. Eats his steak well done.
2. Eats his pizza crust first.

I am beginning to question his judgement.

He talks to himself, he has a good brain. Oh, and he's seen it on the internet.

[GravitySucks]

Not sure why he wouldn't.  Can you imagine a Democrat recusing themselves on anything, unless their vote was clearly not going to matter?

That was Obama's strategy. Never vote for or against anything unless the Dems absolutely needed his vote. He didn't want to have to run on his record.

Rubio tried the same strategy.

[norland2424]

So far he has pissed me off twice.
1. Eats his steak well done.
2. Eats his pizza crust first.

I am beginning to question his judgement.

[mikuthing01]

meh, i eat my pizza with chopsticks to each their own

[PB the Deplorable]

The Chairman if the board sets the tone in an off the record meeting with the press.

Video later?

http://nypost.com/2016/11/21/donald-trumps-media-summit-was-a-f-ing-firing-squad/

They went in thinking the meeting was going to be about access.  Fuck those people.  It's long past time someone called them out to their faces on their dishonesty and destructiveness.

I hope he didn't offer them a thing, other than an uncomfortable chair and some luke-warm water in a paper cup.

[PB the Deplorable]

You can deduct gambling losses up to the amount you won. But you need receipts.

I think receipts are only necessary if you're audited..

[GravitySucks]

I think receipts are only necessary if you're audited..

True.

[PB the Deplorable]

... lobbyists...

I don't see Congress enacting a law that would affect people currently holding office, unless they sign something to continue on in Trump's administration.

Well hell, he'll just have to issue an Executive Order.  Plenty of precedent for that now.

[PB the Deplorable]

Ah. I see. I think he needs to shame Congress into voting into some type of similar thing. No way is lobbying per se going to be banned but maybe we can at least stop the revolving door between lobby/lawfirms or corporate positions and regulatory agencies, political staff, and politicians. Just a few year ban so that there is some political turn-over before they become lobbyists.

'Lobbying' itself is neither good nor bad.

The Congress and Administration officials are great at getting themselves elected or appointed and keeping their positions, but that's generally the extent of their knowledge and abilities.

Lobbyists can be useful in presenting information on specific issues, and what the effects will be on their industries.  What's not acceptable is the revolving door - jobs for government officials in those same industries after their public 'service' is over, the corruption - pay for play, quid pro quo between votes and campaign contributions, lavish gifts and 'entertainment', etc.

[albrecht]

'Lobbying' itself is neither good nor bad.

The Congress and Administration officials are great at getting themselves elected or appointed and keeping their positions, but that's generally the extent of their knowledge and abilities.

Lobbyists can be useful in presenting information on specific issues, and what the effects will be on their industries.  What's not acceptable is the revolving door - jobs for government officials in those same industries after their public 'service' is over, the corruption - pay for play, quid pro quo between votes and campaign contributions, lavish gifts and 'entertainment', etc.

That was my point, lobby itself it not bad. It is the "revolving door" and "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" and "play to play" type of thing that somehow needs to be curbed.

[Taaroa]

Proof that Donald is trafficking the kids

If that pic means Trump is trafficking kids, what does this video mean for Gorbachev?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgm14D1jHUw

[PB the Deplorable]

The story seems to be that the kid should finish school, but Meliana must speak so slowly to be understood.  I have no idea of how often she speaks English at home, but if she spoke in her normal pace and voice, I doubt if I could understand her.  I suspect that the extra time is for her to practice English.  I feel sorry for her.  She didn't ask for this.  I doubt that the Donald talked this over with her and asked her opinion before jumping into the race.

The story is she encouraged him to run during Obama's Baltimore riots.  Seeing that she said he ought to run, that the country was ready for him now.

She's going to be a much better First Lady than that thing we have now - the one starving our school children and forcing them to eat cardboard flavored crap that would never ever be served at the privileged rich kids schools her own kids attend.  I doubt very much Melania will be taking on controversial policy roles the country is against. 

[PB the Deplorable]

That was my point, lobby itself it not bad. It is the "revolving door" and "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" and "play to play" type of thing that somehow needs to be curbed.

The general assumption that government is usually good and business is usually bad is astounding.  It's generally the opposite.

[starrmtn001]

A Message from President Elect Donald J Trump 11/21/2016.

https://youtu.be/TgkNSEZxyCA

[albrecht]

The general assumption that government is usually good and business is usually bad is astounding.  It's generally the opposite.

Public schools and especially colleges (in certain majors) push this line of thought. Some weird idea that businesses want to kill their customers, don't employ people, and don't pay taxes (well, in some cases of the large, high-tech firm that support Democrats and leftist causes this is the case but only due to the morass that is the US tax-code and the high corporate tax rate in the US.)