The realities of the Trump administration

[Sandy Shanks]

CNN reports, "Despite their public rhetoric backing President Donald Trump's fight against the election results, top Republicans recognize there is little chance the outcome can be changed -- and hope that the court fights will be resolved quickly.

"Several senior Republicans told CNN Monday evening that Trump is within his rights to make his case court. But senators all were either doubtful about Trump's chances of overturning tens of thousands of votes in several key states -- or wouldn't say if they agreed with the President that there was mass voting fraud."

"He's got every right to go through the process," Senate Republicans keep saying.

Of course, that pathetic statement totally misses the point. It's like saying the President has every right to fire his chief of staff for being brainless.

Advisors close to Trump say his legal challenges will be exhausted by the end of next week. Whether or not that stops Trump from making a fool of himself is in serious question. He probably has another agenda.

Trump's refusal to allow the transition period to begin is creating a national security risk.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

We should all remember that Vladimir Putin wanted Trump to be our President, and he helped Trump a great deal in 2016. In terms of dividing America, Trump is doing more than any Russian agent from the FSB (Russian intelligence). Putin is enormously pleased with Trump's performance, not the least of which were Trump's efforts to isolate America and cut us off from our traditional Western allies.

Advisors close to Trump say his legal challenges will be exhausted by the end of next week. Whether or not that stops Trump from making a fool of himself is in serious question. He probably has another agenda.

Trump's refusal to allow the transition period to begin is creating a national security risk.

ABC News reports, "The refusal of a little-known government agency to acknowledge Joe Biden's election victory is stalling the president-elect's ability to prepare for taking office, and opening what experts called "dangerous gaps" in the nation's security heading into the transfer of power.

"It is deeply in our national interest to reduce the disruptions in a transition and try to make this go smoothly," said Lee Hamilton, a former congressman from Indiana who has studied the issue. "The transition is a period of potential danger and increased risk to the country … and our adversaries know that."

As does Trump.

ABC continued, "On Monday, the Office of Director of National Intelligence said it "would not have contact" with Biden's transition team or grant the president-elect briefings until the GSA officially declares him the winner.

"In election cycles past, the GSA ascertainment is one of many perfunctory steps to ensure the continuity of government from one administration to the next. This year, however, the GSA has withheld this key declaration pending official vote certifications or a concession from President Donald Trump."

"But its hesitance to do so now threatens the safety of Americans."

Trump is doing Putin proud.

Meanwhile, Trump's followers have nothing to say.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

We should all remember that Vladimir Putin wanted Trump to be our President, and he helped Trump a great deal in 2016. In terms of dividing America, Trump is doing more than any Russian agent from the FSB (Russian intelligence). Putin is enormously pleased with Trump's performance, not the least of which were Trump's efforts to isolate America and cut us off from our traditional Western allies.

Andrew Higgins writes, "MOSCOW — When the strongman ruler of Belarus declared an implausible landslide victory in an election in August, and had himself sworn in for a sixth term as president, the United States and other Western nations denounced what they said was brazen defiance of the voters’ will.

"President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko’s victory, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last month, was “fraud.” Mr. Pompeo added: “We’ve opposed the fact that he’s now inaugurated himself. We know what the people of Belarus want. They want something different.”

"Just a month on, Mr. Pompeo’s boss, President Trump, is now borrowing from Mr. Lukashenko’s playbook, joining a club of truculent leaders who, regardless of what voters decide, declare themselves the winners of elections.

"That club counts as its members far more dictators, tyrants and potentates than leaders of what used to be known as the “free world” — countries that, led by Washington, have for decades lectured others on the need to hold elections and respect the result."

Food for thought. Can anyone tell me the difference between what Lukashenko did and what Trump is doing?

 

[Sandy Shanks]

The ABC News headline reads:
Biden projects image of governing while Trump stays out of sight

While the pandemic rages and is killing over a thousand Americans a day, Trump has lost interest in the pandemic and governing.

Trump and his advisers are spending all their energy desperately trying to save a job -- the Presidency -- that he appears to have no intention of doing in any meaningful sense.

CNN reports, "Trump had predicted in almost every campaign rally that the media would stop talking about the coronavirus pandemic the day after the election. But as it turns out, no one is ignoring the worsening tragedy more than the President himself.

"Instead of taking charge as the country plunges deeper into the worst domestic crisis since World War II, Trump has disappeared inside the White House, saying nothing on camera since he baselessly claimed a week ago that the election was being stolen from him by President-elect Joe Biden.

"He's spending time with advisers, not strategizing on how to tame the out-of-control health emergency but seeking a path to win an election already declared lost. He's also found time to purge the top leadership of the Pentagon, and with few appointments on his public schedule appears to spend his days watching news coverage and tweeting misinformation about voter fraud."

Meanwhile, total silence from Trump's supporters.

 

[JimBowie1958]

Is this man for real? Good Lord, he is our President, and he is completely clueless as to what is happening.

Dont you have a ballot counterfeiting quota to go work on?

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Some media sources are saying that Trump has a strong following, and that Republican lawmakers are concerned about Trump and wish to avoid angering him. After all, they point out, Trump received over72 million votes.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

For months Trump's supporters have ignored him. This thread and many others show that Trump's fans are totally silent. They do not defend him, and they choose not to discuss what Trump says and does.

Threads started by Trump's supporters prove my point!

They prefer talking about Biden, Harris, Democrats in general, progressives specifically, and the misguided notion of a fraudulent election.

So, if that is true, how is it Trump got over 72 million votes?

Simple, Republicans and some others voted for conservative principles.

Republicans and some others voted against the Democrats and progressives.

Evangelicals somehow settled on a cruel, narcissistic, sexual predator as their savior and voted for him, most likely because they wanted conservative judges to protect zygotes.

Only anarchists, Russian sympathizers, and the intelligence challenged voted for Trump, the man, and they are far from a majority in this country.

Once Trump loses his power as President, the GOP will be extremely happy to be rid of the idiot.

In the meantime, Trump is firing senior members of his government while refusing to govern. His sole concern these days is to discredit the American election system via Twitter.

I rest my case. How could intelligent American conservatives support this fool?

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Instead of taking charge as the country plunges deeper into the worst domestic crisis since World War II, Trump has disappeared inside the White House, saying nothing on camera since he baselessly claimed a week ago that the election was being stolen from him by President-elect Joe Biden.

Once Trump loses his power as President, the GOP will be extremely happy to be rid of the idiot.

On Tuesday, the U.S. set a record for the number of new case of Covid in one day, over 143,000. Yesterday, the record was broken with over 144,000 cases while 1,480 Americans died. Today, the record was broken again, nearly 150,500 cases and counting while 1,117 Americans have died so far.

Our President is busy discrediting the American election system via Twitter. Many of his messages are being flagged as misrepresenting reality. Trump has lost interest in governing, and he refuses to address the American people due to overwhelming fear of savvy reporters.

Basically, what it comes down to is, we are facing a humanitarian crisis, and we have no President.

Some in the GOP think Trump will run again for President in 2024???

 

[Sandy Shanks]

The Times reports, "By Thursday, several top Republicans in the upper chamber — including Senators John Thune of South Dakota, the majority whip; Charles E. Grassley of Iowa and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina — said the Trump administration should reverse its refusal to grant Mr. Biden access to the daily intelligence briefings.

"The shift began on Wednesday, when Senator James Lankford, Republican of Oklahoma, told a radio station in Tulsa that he would intervene as soon as Friday if Trump administration appointees did not began sharing intelligence information with Mr. Biden.

"Mr. Grassley, the longest serving Republican in the Senate, told reporters on Thursday that he thought Mr. Biden should be in the loop. “I would think — especially on classified briefings — the answer is yes,” he said.

“Yes, I think so,” Mr. Graham, a close Trump ally, also said about Mr. Biden receiving the briefings.

"Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, who has already congratulated Mr. Biden on his victory, was more emphatic. “President-elect Biden should be receiving intelligence briefings right now,” said Ms. Collins, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “It’s probably the most important part of the transition.'"

The others will come around. It's just a matter of time. Most will by the end of next week. Republican Senators have to go through the motions of supporting an obnoxious and foolish Republican President.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

By Thursday, several top Republicans in the upper chamber — including Senators John Thune of South Dakota, the majority whip; Charles E. Grassley of Iowa and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina — said the Trump administration should reverse its refusal to grant Mr. Biden access to the daily intelligence briefings.

Trump knows he has lost, but, Trump being Trump, he has to make a complete jerk of himself. As evidenced by this thread, his supporters have abandoned him as Biden's electoral lead increases.

CNN reports, "For just the second time in more than seven decades, a Democrat will carry Arizona in a presidential election, a monumental shift for a state that was once a Republican stronghold.

"CNN projected on Thursday that President-elect Joe Biden will carry Arizona, defeating President Donald Trump and providing Democrats in Arizona and the universe of allied grassroots organizations in the state with a crowning achievement a decade in the making.

"Biden's win in the state that propelled Republican leaders like Barry Goldwater and John McCain to national prominence could foretell problems for the party going forward. Three key shifts in the state helped Democrats this year: a growing Latino population that leans Democratic, a surge in voters moving to Arizona from more liberal states like California and Illinois, and the way suburban voters have starkly broken with a Republican Party led by someone like Trump."

Meanwhile, Trump has lost all interest in governing, and he certainly does not want to face the White House press corps.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

There is a growing expectation that the jerk will never concede that he lost re-election, even after votes are certified in battleground states over the coming weeks, according to multiple people familiar with the President’s thinking.

“Do not expect him to concede,” one top aide said. More likely, the aide said, “he’ll say something like, ‘We can’t trust the results, but I’m not contesting them.’”

That is typical Trump. Throughout his entire Presidency he has used confusing pronouns -- afraid to say what he really means -- and wanting it both ways.

He questions the results, but will not contest them. Classic Trump. That is the position of an idiot.

Little wonder as to why his supporters can't defend what Trump says.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

"I will not go, this administration will not be going to a lockdown, hopefully, the ah, whatever happens in the future, who knows which administration it will be, I guess time will tell, but ahh I can tell you this administration will not go to a lockdown, there won’t be a necessity," Trump said today before quickly exiting the Rose Garden, fearful reporters will ask him questions.

What in the world is he talking about? Who is suggesting that his administration should lock down the economy? Answer, nobody.

Who is talking about locking down the economy?

I know the answer to that one? Trump. Over and over again Trump has told us Biden will lock the country down. Biden has said the very opposite. The President-elect prefers a targeted approach to Covid, not a shotgun approach.

Trump made himself look stupid again. No wonder he wanted to evade the reporters.

Trump has lost the popular vote in both elections, nearly three million to Clinton, over five million to Biden.

Trump refuses to acknowledge realty. "Hopefully, the ah, whatever happens in the future, who knows which administration it will be, I guess time will tell."

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Trump just can't help himself. It's in his DNA to be a complete jerk at all times, even when what he says makes absolutely no sense, as is his latest threat to the people of New York, the state, I mean.

The Daily News reports, "Trump threatened Friday to deprive New Yorkers of COVID-19 vaccinations until Gov. Cuomo drops his demand for an independent efficacy review — but the outgoing commander-in-chief failed to mention he likely won’t be in charge when it’s time to distribute the cure."

“So the governor, Gov. Cuomo, will have to let us know when he is ready for it. Otherwise, we can’t be delivering it to a state that won’t be giving it to its people immediately.”

Which, of course, is ludicrous.

"Public health experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, say that, in the absolute best-case scenario, Pfizer’s vaccine candidate could get final approval from the Food and Drug Administration by the end of this year, paving the way for doses to be shipped out to states in late January."

Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Jan. 20.

Cuomo said today that state approval of a vaccine is simultaneous with FDA approval, and that seven other states are doing the very same thing to convince their people of its effectiveness.

So, Trump just made a fool of himself again. Americans are happy to get rid of this S.O.B.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Trump is a very sick man, which explains why his supporters ignore him.

This is a statement from our President.

"He won because the Election was Rigged. NO VOTE WATCHERS OR OBSERVERS allowed, vote tabulated by a Radical Left privately owned company, Dominion, with a bad reputation & bum equipment that couldn’t even qualify for Texas (which I won by a lot!), the Fake & Silent Media, & more!"

Less than two hours later Trump reversed himself, insisting that “I concede NOTHING! We have a long way to go.”

The sick man virtually stands alone in this assessment, and he is unable to substantiate what he says because there is no substantiation. He keeps saying the same thing over and over again without offering proof for what he is saying. That is a sign of a serious mental disorder.

Moreover, what little he does say concerning fraud is rebuffed by his own administration. Also, there is a growing number of top Republicans who are taking issue with Trump's insane posture. They urged Trump on Sunday to allow for an orderly Presidential transition.

Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results

On the other hand, as Trump is tearing our country apart, it could easily be argued that Trump is doing Putin's bidding. The Russian dictator wanted Trump to be our President for a reason.

This source aided in this report: Presidential Transition Live Updates: As More Republicans Break With Trump, He Refuses to Budge

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Trump is a very sick man, which explains why his supporters ignore him.

"He won because the Election was Rigged. NO VOTE WATCHERS OR OBSERVERS allowed, vote tabulated by a Radical Left privately owned company, Dominion, with a bad reputation & bum equipment that couldn’t even qualify for Texas (which I won by a lot!), the Fake & Silent Media, & more!"

Over 184,000 new cases of Covid on Friday. Over a thousand Americans are dying each day, and the pandemic is destined to get far worse before it gets better.

And Americans no longer have a President!

Biden is trying to pick up the slack as Trump continues his efforts to weaken the incoming President.

The acting President cannot wait.

CNN reports, "Incoming White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain said today on NBC that the Biden - Harris team's top scientific advisors will meet with Pfizer and other drug companies in the upcoming week to discuss a Covid-19 vaccine.

“We're going to have a meeting between our top scientific advisers and the officials of these drug companies, not just Pfizer, but there are other promising vaccines as well. We're going to start those consultations this week,” he said.

Klain cited that the challenge of the vaccine will be the logistics of its administration, saying, “Vaccines don’t save lives, vaccinations save lives. It’s a giant logistical project.”

"It's a giant logistical project" and Trump is doing everything he can to sabotage the effort to save American lives. He will not allow Biden's task force to coordinate with the federal government regarding vaccine distribution and others matters related to the deadly virus.

How did Trump ever get 72 million people to vote for him? Who are these people? We don't know. They don't say anything beyond MAGA while waving flags. They also cheer mightily as Trump attempts destroy American elections.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Over 184,000 new cases of Covid on Friday. Over a thousand Americans are dying each day, and the pandemic is destined to get far worse before it gets better.

And Americans no longer have a President!

Over a million new cases of Covid were added to the U.S. total in a week!

Trump went golfing.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

As Trump continues with his phantom conspiracies concerning the American elections, his NSA has split from him, albeit gingerly.

Will Trump fire him, too?

Politico reports, "The White House’s national security adviser, Robert O’Brien, on Monday promised president-elect Joe Biden an orderly transfer of power, a departure from other Trump administration officials who have shunned any perception that President Donald Trump lost the election."

“If the Biden-Harris ticket is determined to be the winner — and obviously things look that way now — we’ll have a very professional transition from the National Security Council,” O’Brien said in a virtual interview at the Global Security Forum. “There’s no question about it.”

Politico continued, "O’Brien said he trusts Biden to stock his team with qualified foreign policy hands, including those who have served in previous presidential administrations, and to ensure a continuity of leadership for the United States."

“The great thing in the United States of America [is] we've passed the baton and had peaceful successful transitions, even in the most contentious periods,” he said.

More and more Trump is alone with his fantasies.

As usual, his supporters will remain silent. After all, what can they say? Trump has lost it.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

While Putin observes the American retreat in the Middle east and is pleased with Trump's efforts to weaken the incoming President, Trump's withdrawal became official today according to numerous sources and the American Military News.

"Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller officially announced the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Iraq by mid-January. Approximately half of U.S. troops will be pulled from Afghanistan, dropping to 2,500, while about 500 troops will be pulled from Iraq, also dropping to 2,500. Approximately 4,500 troops are currently in Afghanistan, while some 3,000 are in Iraq."

The incoming President takes office on Jan. 20. So, Trump will not have to face the consequences of his action. Putin is appreciative of the fact that Trump is clearly weakening the soon-to-be President Biden.

The idea that Trump wants to weaken the U.S. as a whole is borne out by the fact that he wanted to start a war with Iran while seeking a withdrawal in Afghanistan and Iraq. Clearly, Trump simply wants stir up trouble. It's his way.

The Independent reports, " Donald Trump reportedly asked his White House advisers last week for “options” to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities. The outgoing president made the request in the Oval Office last Thursday but was talked out of it by senior administration officials.

The reclusive "Trump was reportedly told by vice president Mike Pence, secretary of state Mike Pompeo and others that such action could lead to a wider escalation of conflict in the final weeks of his presidency."

The Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell seconds the notion of rejecting major shifts in foreign policy by the recently fired Trump.

The very conservative Washington Examiner reports, "Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he opposes President Trump’s apparent plan to begin a total draw-down of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and compared it to "the humiliating American departure of Saigon in 1975.”

"He said during a floor speech Monday a rapid troop withdrawal “would hurt our allies and delight the people who wish us harm,” including Russia (meaning Putin) and Iran."

It should come as no surprise to anyone that, so far, our President, his acting secretary of defense, and his national security advisor are refusing to speak to the American people about these developments.

After Trump's NSA, Robert O'Brien, announced to reporters the wisdom of Trump's decisions and then walked away, a reporter was heard yelling out after him, "How can you and the defense secretary not take questions on a troop withdrawal?

 

[Sandy Shanks]

More on Trump's scorched earth policy.

CNN reports, "President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired the Department of Homeland Security official who had rejected Trump's claims of widespread voter fraud.

"Trump announced on Twitter he was firing Chris Krebs, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and directly tied it to Krebs' statement that said there "is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised."

"The recent statement by Chris Krebs on the security of the 2020 Election was highly inaccurate, in that there were massive improprieties and fraud," Trump said in a tweet before repeating multiple baseless conspriacy theories about the election. "Therefore, effective immediately, Chris Krebs has been terminated as Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency."

And, of course, Trump is unable to explain how Krebs' statement was "highly inaccurate, in that there were massive improprieties and fraud," as he continues his purge of the federal government.

How did this guy get over 73 million votes? We will never know. His followers don't talk about Trump.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

More on Trump's scorched earth policy.
CNN reports, "President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired the Department of Homeland Security official who had rejected Trump's claims of widespread voter fraud.

We should all remember that Vladimir Putin wanted Trump to be our President, and he helped Trump a great deal in 2016. In terms of dividing America, Trump is doing more than any Russian agent from the FSB (Russian intelligence). Putin is enormously pleased with Trump's performance, not the least of which were Trump's efforts to isolate America and cut us off from our traditional Western allies.

Chris Cillizza writes, "The end of Donald Trump's time in the White House was always going to be ugly. Just how ugly is now coming into clearer focus.

"The removal of Chris Krebs, the director of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, on Tuesday night is the newest abomination of how a government and a president should work. While it's impossible to say it's the worst or most damaging thing Trump has done while in office -- they all run together after a while -- what can be said is that what the President did on Tuesday night runs directly counter to the healthy functioning of a democracy.

"Why? Because Krebs was fired for telling the truth.

"In a statement he signed and touted on Twitter, Krebs, as well as a number of public and private election officials, said this: "The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history. Right now, across the country, election officials are reviewing and double checking the entire election process prior to finalizing the result. ... There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised."

"Which is a statement of fact. There simply have not been any proven instances of foreign interference in the 2020 election or malicious malfunctioning of voting machines in the country. None."

Meanwhile, Trump's followers have nothing to say. They are totally incapable of explaining why they support this man.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Donald J. Trump

@realDonaldTrump
In Detroit, there are FAR MORE VOTES THAN PEOPLE. Nothing can be done to cure that giant scam. I win Michigan!
This claim about election fraud is disputed
7:41 AM · Nov 18, 2020

The Republican Party has lost its way. We are being told that 70% of Republicans think that the election was fraudulent. In other words, 70% of Republicans believe what Trump says in tweets like this one.

Not one of them can provide any proof of fraud. They just believe it because Trump says it. Push comes to shove, Trump doesn't believe it, but Trump speaks only to his base. He gives them what they want to hear, and he is not the least bit concerned about the truth. That's been true for four years.

With a base that more closely resembles a cult, the GOP is in serious trouble. Their hero was defeated by six million votes. Trump also lost the popular vote in 2016.

To put it differently, Trump is a loser, and that is a fact. A fact his cult will also not believe. They believe in fantasy.

Oh, yes, back to Trump's tweet which Twitter classified as fraudulent.

NBC reports, "Trump's claim about Detroit is demonstrably false. There are 670,000 people living in Detroit, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's most recent estimate, and the city says that 250,138 ballots were cast there.

"Both his tweets about Detroit and Michigan have been flagged by Twitter as misleading."

Guess what? Some Trump fan will say NBC is lying. It's "fake news."

There is no helping these people. That's why the GOP is lost.