The realities of the Trump administration

[Sandy Shanks]

Trump's followers on this forum are also silent. There is not one thread from them in support of what Trump is doing and saying. There is not one thread from them in support of what Republicans are doing.

Joe Lockhart opines, "As the last days of Donald Trump's administration wind down, most will remember four years of sound and fury. Explosive and vulgar tweets targeting anyone opposing the President.

"But it would be a mistake to remember Trump only for all the vitriol he spewed from the White House and on Twitter. Just as important were the long and never-explained silences and reluctant and insufficient acknowledgment of important issues.

"In fact, on a range of issues that called for presidential leadership, Trump routinely spoke and acted in his own interests rather than the country's.

"There was silence and denial on the Russian efforts to undermine the US elections in 2016, most starkly in Helsinki when Trump stood with Vladimir Putin against the verdict of US intelligence agencies. There was the failure to bring up with Putin the report of Russian bounties being offered on American soldiers in Afghanistan. "No, that was a phone call to discuss other things, and frankly, that's an issue that many people said was fake news," Trump told Axios' Jonathan Swan.

"And Trump was silent for days when Russia engineered perhaps the most widespread and damaging hack ever of the US government computer systems, putting our national and economic security at risk. When pressed, Trump contradicted his own secretary of state and questioned Russian involvement at all."

Can anyone argue with Lockhart? If so, I would love to hear it.

Of course not. Trump's followers, like Trump himself, are in hiding. There is nothing they can say.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

The Times reports, "The Senate on Friday voted overwhelmingly to override President Trump’s veto of the annual military policy bill as most Republicans joined Democrats to rebuke Mr. Trump in the final days of his presidency.

"The 81-to-13 vote was the first time lawmakers have overridden one of Mr. Trump’s vetoes. It reflected the sweeping popularity of a measure that authorized a pay raise for the nation’s military.

"The House passed the legislation on Monday in a similarly lopsided 322-to-87 vote that also mustered the two-thirds majority required."

During the waning days of his administration, as he has done for the past four years, Trump is making a complete fool of himself. He was never interested in the duties as President. He was only interested in the power of the Presidency along with the pomp and circumstance.

Since his overwhelming defeat at the polls, he has challenged the will of the American people, our Constitution, and our laws. He was shot down by members of his own party.

Trump strongly urged the socialist giveaway of $2,000 to the majority of Americans. He was shot down by members of his own party.

For purely personal reasons that were totally unrelated to our defense, Trump ridiculously vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act. He was shot down by members of his own party.

How did Trump react to news of the veto? You have to see it to believe it.



Donald J. Trump

@realDonaldTrump

I hope to see the great Governor of South Dakota @KristiNoem, run against RINO @SenJohnThune, in the upcoming 2022 Primary. She would do a fantastic job in the U.S. Senate, but if not Kristi, others are already lining up. South Dakota wants strong leadership, NOW!

10:40 AM · Jan 1, 2021

You can't make this up. Trump has turned into a recluse. He has a really serious mental problem.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

It will be a long time before the Republican Party is trusted again!

Despite the fact that in 59 court cases Trump's attorneys were unable to provide evidence of fraud; the attorney general of the United States, Trump's lawyer, Bill Barr, ruled there was little evidence of election fraud; the Supreme court with three judeges appointed by Trump declared insufficient evidence to bring the case forward; and all 50 states certified the election results, most of them with a Republican government; twelve Senators have decided to challenge the results of the fair election.

In addition, the cyber security director at DHS declared the election free of fraud. He was fired by the Republican President.

In addition, 140 Republican members of the House will challenge the election results.

So, a substantial part of the Republican Party is challenging the will of the American people, attempting to violate the 12th Amendment of our Constitution, and they wish to break a few of our federal laws.

This will be remembered for a long time!

It is logical to ask, why is the Republican Party doing this? Why is it they are forcing Republicans who recognize reality when they see it to vote against the Republican President while defending the Democratic President-elect?

Here is their statement.

Congress should immediately appoint an Electoral Commission, with full investigatory and fact-finding authority, to conduct an emergency 10-day audit of the election returns in the disputed states. Once completed, individual states would evaluate the Commission’s findings and could convene a special legislative session to certify a change in their vote, if needed.

Accordingly, we intend to vote on Jan. 6 to reject the electors from disputed states as not 'regularly given' and 'lawfully certified' ... unless and until that emergency 10-day audit is completed.

They offer no basis for the need of a "full investigatory and fact-finding authority or an emergency 10-day audit of election returns" while completely ignoring the judicial history of the election.

Typical of Trump Republicans, they just say it as if that was sufficient basis.

On Jan. 5, voters in Georgia will decide if Republicans control the Senate for the next two years.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

So, a substantial part of the Republican Party is challenging the will of the American people, attempting to violate the 12th Amendment of our Constitution, and they wish to break a few of our federal laws.

The twelve Senators are Ted Cruz (Texas), Ron Johnson (Wis.), James Lankford (Okla.), Steve Daines (Mont.), John Kennedy (La.), Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.) and Mike Braun (Ind.) and Sens.-elect Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.), Roger Marshall (Kan.), Bill Hagerty (Tenn.) and Tommy Tuberville (Ala.).

“The election of 2020,” they said, “like the election of 2016, was hard fought and, in many swing states, narrowly decided. The 2020 election, however, featured unprecedented allegations of voter fraud, violations and lax enforcement of election law, and other voting irregularities.”

No hard evidence for such claims has been presented. As shown in the post above, the opposite if true. The election was fair according to GOP leaders. The courts and influential members of the Trump administration have ruled election fraud played no part in the Presidential election.

In other words, the above statement is pure B.S. meant strictly for Trump's base because they believe anything.

So, why is it a substantial number of Republicans are going along with this con of Trump loyalists?

The question answers itself. These Republicans are earning America's scorn because they are afraid of Trump's base.

That is beyond ludicrous. In the first place, Trump is a buffoon. He was the most incompetent President in American history, has shown signs of mental illness, and has become a recluse, afraid to face the American people and the press.

This man has a political base?

That's ridiculous and the GOP leadership can't wait to be rid of him.

What about this so-called base, Trump's cult, his followers? As this thread shows, they can't even defend their President of choice, the amateurish Trump. For chrissake, they can't even defend themselves.

Put a different way, Trump can have them. Only the foolish would regard them as a political force. This is why the Republican Party is earning America's scorn?

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Trump is a pathetic little man. He was defeated badly in the election, and now he wants to take his party down with him.

His own party rejected his liberal demand that a majority of Americans each receive $2,000.

He vetoed the defense bill -- a first in sixty years -- for purely personal reasons unrelated to our nation's defense. His own party led the effort to override his veto. That, too, was a first for a Trump veto.

The Post reports, "Trump urged fellow Republican Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state, to “find” enough votes to overturn his defeat in an extraordinary one-hour phone call Saturday that legal scholars described as a flagrant abuse of power and a potential criminal act."

CNN reports, "Early Sunday, Trump claimed on Twitter that the number of cases and deaths of the "China Virus is far exaggerated" because of the CDC's "ridiculous method of determination" compared to other countries, which "report, purposely, very inaccurately and low.'"

CNBC reports, "Trump on Sunday said he will attend protests in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, the day Congress certifies Electoral College votes and declares President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
The president shared a video clip on Twitter encouraging supporters to protest the November election results and said he will be there."

"The Proud Boys, a far-right group that has promoted violence, have vowed to attend incognito," the network added.

Little wonder why Trump's followers do not wish to talk about him. The little man is an embarrassment.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

The Republican President lost by over seven million votes. Then he was swamped in the Constitutionally mandated Electoral College which ultimately decides the winner of a Presidential election.

Recently, the Republican President committed election fraud when he spoke for an hour with the Republican secretary of the state of Georgia. He demanded that Raffensperger "find" 11,780 votes for him. "All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have because we won the state."

Then the Republican President threatened the Republican secretary of state and his lawyer with criminal prosecution. "That’s a criminal — that’s a criminal offense. And you can’t let that happen. That’s a big risk to you and to Ryan, your lawyer." Highlights of Trump’s Call With the Georgia Secretary of State

On Wednesday, the Republican Party will support the defeated Republican President by usurping the power of the American people.

Twelve Republican Senators and up to 140 Republicans in the House wish to dismiss the Constitutionally mandated Electoral College results in certain states and install electors of their own. Consequently, the Republican Party wishes to disregard the will of the American people, the 12th Amendment to our Constitution, and federal law.

The Republican President doesn't care about the Republican Senators from Georgia and their runoff election tomorrow. He only cares about his election. He even said so. "How can you certify an election when the numbers being certified are verifiably WRONG. You will see the real numbers tonight during my speech [today]," Trump said in a tweet.

Tomorrow, will the voters in Georgia decide to give control of the Senate to the Republican Party?

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Twelve Republican Senators and up to 140 Republicans in the House wish to dismiss the Constitutionally mandated Electoral College results in certain states and install electors of their own. Consequently, the Republican Party wishes to disregard the will of the American people, the 12th Amendment to our Constitution, and federal law.

The Times reports, "Trump on Tuesday escalated his efforts to force Vice President Mike Pence to overturn President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s victory, falsely asserting that Mr. Pence had the power to unilaterally throw out electoral votes on Wednesday when Congress meets to certify the election results.

"But there is nothing in the Constitution or the law that explicitly gives a vice president that power, and aides close to Mr. Pence, who concede that he is facing a politically perilous moment, are convinced he will follow the normal procedures and confirm Mr. Biden’s election.

"Still, most agree that Wednesday promises to be a long and confusing day on Capitol Hill — and a potentially agonizing one for Mr. Pence — as Mr. Trump’s Republican allies move to challenge Mr. Biden’s victory and force at least one vote on the matter that is expected to fail.

"The proceeding will test what had long been considered little more than a paperwork exercise in American democracy: the certification of the election by Congress. The vice president’s role is to be the master of ceremonies rather than arbiter of the outcome, declaring the winner based on who has the most electoral votes."

Georgia will decide today if the Republicans control the Senate for the next two years. Does anyone think they deserve it? If so, please explain and do not use fantasies. Only hard, cold facts will do. Please consider the conduct of the Republican President.

No reply is anticipated. Trump's followers are too embarrassed to respond.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Recently, the Republican President committed election fraud when he spoke for an hour with the Republican secretary of the state of Georgia. He demanded that Raffensperger "find" 11,780 votes for him. "All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have because we won the state."

CNN reports. "Cleta Mitchell, a lawyer who assisted President Donald Trump on the January 2 call when Trump pressured Georgia officials to "find" him votes, has resigned from her law firm.

"National law firm Foley & Lardner previously said it was "concerned" with Mitchell's involvement in Trump's call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and said the firm wasn't engaged in any legal work challenging the election results. Tuesday, it announced Mitchell was no longer with the firm."

The Star-Tribune reports, "The top federal prosecutor in Atlanta left his position Monday, a day after an audio recording was made public in which President Donald Trump called him a "never-Trumper."

"Byung J. "BJay" Pak, who was appointed by Trump, announced his resignation as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia in a news release. The statement did not say why Pak was leaving or what he plans to do next.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Twelve Republican Senators and up to 140 Republicans in the House wish to dismiss the Constitutionally mandated Electoral College results in certain states and install electors of their own. Consequently, the Republican Party wishes to disregard the will of the American people, the 12th Amendment to our Constitution, and federal law.

CBS reports, "In an extraordinary rebuke just before the joint session convened, Vice President Mike Pence defied the president and told lawmakers he does not have the authority to reject states' electoral votes. Mr. Trump has repeatedly pressured Pence to reject votes from several states, a power the vice president does not have under the Constitution.

"The plan from some GOP lawmakers to challenge the electoral votes has split Senate Republicans, with more than a dozen committing to counting the results. The effort to throw out certain electors would require a majority of both chambers, and is virtually certain to fail."

It appears as though the Republican Party is going to lose everything as a consequence of the Trump Presidency. That was Trump's intent after he lost the election. He has worked feverishly to take down the GOP with him.

Warnock has been declared the winner in Georgia, and Ossoff is heavily favored to win as well.

The Republican Party won the Oval Office, Senate, and House in 2016. They lost the House in 2018 largely because of Trump, Now it looks like they will lose the Senate largely because of Trump's incompetence and strange behavior that borders on a mental illness.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

As I speak there is an insurrection in Washington. The insurrection was being led by our President, and authorities ordered out police and the national guard to clear out Trump’s mob from the capital building.

“These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots [?] who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long,” Trump tweeted Wednesday evening after spending the day watching the violence unfold, violence perpetrated by a mob of his followers.

By breaking into the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday and disrupting the electoral vote count, Trump's mob has committed a federal felony in a seditious conspiracy.

As Trump supporters bounded up the Capitol steps to occupy the building, the President encouraged the mob with a tweet. “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify. USA demands the truth!”

Finally, tongue in cheek, Trump told his rioters to go home. “You have to go home now,” he said in a video message filmed at the White House and posted on Twitter.

“We love you. You’re very special,” and “I know how you feel,” our President added.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

As I speak there is an insurrection in Washington. The insurrection was being led by our President, and authorities ordered out police and the national guard to clear out Trump’s mob from the capital building.

Finally, tongue in cheek, Trump told his rioters to go home. “You have to go home now,” he said in a video message filmed at the White House and posted on Twitter.

“We love you. You’re very special,” and “I know how you feel,” our President added.

Vladimir Putin, a communist and the Russian dictator, helped Trump get elected in 2016.

He is enormously proud of our President today.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Warnock has been declared the winner in Georgia, and Ossoff is heavily favored to win as well.

It is official. Ossoff won.

Ignoring those who wanted to reward the Republican Party for extremely bad behavior, the fine people of Georgia gave our country a united government. Thank you.

The people of Georgia along with all Americans will benefit from this wise decision. We will have real President now, and supported by a unified Congress.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Here is the remarkable thing about Trump's followers.

They don't talk!

They do not defend Trump -- or themselves -- on this thread. As shown, they don't say a thing.

That is also true of Trump's followers in Congress. Leading up to today, the twelve Senators and 140 House members who were challenging the election results didn't say a thing to the media.

That includes today. CNN reports, "Sen. Josh Hawley would not answer when asked if he would still object to Pennsylvania's electoral votes, and Sen. Roger Marshall would not answer if he still planned to object to Georgia and Pennsylvania's presidential election votes."

Others in Congress have spoken, but nary a word from Trump's supporters.

Yet, we are told Trump and his minions are a political force to be reckoned with.

But they are afraid to speak. I don't get that. Perhaps it is an intelligence thing.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Vladimir Putin, a communist and the Russian dictator, helped Trump get elected in 2016.

He is enormously proud of our President.

Hillary Clinton said "half" of Trump supporters fit into a "basket of deplorables." Judging by events on Jan. 6, turns out she was right.

“If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore,” our President told the crowd, urging them to head to the Capitol. By nightfall, 4 people were dead, and offices throughout the Capitol were trashed by the angry rampage, and lawmakers were forced to barricade themselves within the capitol.

The media, a handful of lawmakers, and others are urging that Trump be removed via the 25th Amendment or he be impeached. Neither suggestion is practical, and , most likely, neither will happen.

The 25th Amendment was designed to remove an incapacitated President from office. While many argue Trump is insane, that is an opinion, not a medical prognosis. Trump is not incapacitated. Moreover, Pence is not likely to invoke the 25th.

Due to time constraints, impeachment is extremely unlikely, and an impeachment trial in the Senate on such short notice is impossible.

Besides, what is the point? Trump will become past tense in thirteen days. In the meantime, he is powerless and isolated. His supporters are leaving like rats scurrying off a ship. Yes, he is still the commander-in-chief, but our military does not obey an unlawful order.

So, the solution is to wait -- briefly. On Jan. 21 Trump can be charged with second degree murder, manslaughter, conspiracy, sedition, or a combination of these and other crimes.

His days as a powerbroker are over.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

“If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore,” our President told the mob, urging them to head to the Capitol.

The backlash has started. It is only the beginning.

"As of Thursday night, 82 people have been arrested in connection with the violent mob that overran the Capitol," the L.A. Times.

The Times reports, "Simon & Schuster said on Thursday that it would cancel the publication of an upcoming book by Senator Josh Hawley, one of several members of Congress who tried to overturn the results of the presidential election," and high fived the mob that captured the capitol.

MSNBC reports, "The editorial board of the Kansas City Star concluded that Hawley has "disgraced his office and our state," and "must either resign or be removed from the U.S. Senate." The editorial board of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, his home state's other major daily, also called for the Republican to resign, adding that he "deserves to be cast into political purgatory.'"

During his Presidency, Trump has enjoyed one-way communication afforded by social media. No one, particularly the savvy press, could question his statements. Trump has made policy, fired subordinates, created conspiracies, and generally made a fool of himself all on social media, primarily Twitter. That is now over.

Our President has been banned from Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Think about that for a moment.

No longer can he communicate with his gullible base while facing no questions from inquiring minds.

He can still face the press with an announcement without answering questions, but, now on live television, Americans will be able to watch as he cowardly turns his back on inquisitive reporters. That is a huge difference from launching a tweet in the comfort of his bedroom.

Trump has been a recluse for over two months. It will be interesting to see what he does now. Nothing would be good. Go to Mar-a-Lago. Play golf.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Hillary Clinton said "half" of Trump supporters fit into a "basket of deplorables." Judging by events on Jan. 6, turns out she was right.

To prove my point, this is deplorable.

While speaking at the rally on Wednesday, Trump issued a chilling call for his supporters to “fight like hell.”

“We’re going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue … and we’re going to the Capitol,” our President continued. “We’re going to try to give our Republicans — the weak ones, because the strong ones don’t need any of our help — we’re going to try to give them the kind of pride and boldness they need to take back our country. So let’s walk down Pennsylvania Avenue.”

The result of the Trump inspired insurrection, five dead, our capitol ransacked, several items stolen, and the business of government halted.

According to CNN, while the capitol was occupied, our President called Senators, asking them to support the steps being taken to void the Electoral College results. Any reasonable person would call that deplorable.

While the capitol was occupied, Trump knew our vice-president was in the building. Not once did Trump inquire about the welfare of the vice-president. Now that is deplorable.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

So, the solution is to wait -- briefly. On Jan. 21 Trump can be charged with second degree murder, manslaughter, conspiracy, sedition, or a combination of these and other crimes.

The White House issued a warning to Democrats in the House.

"A politically motivated impeachment against a President, who has done a great job, with 12 days remaining in his term will only serve to further divide our great country."

Is this a joke? Is this someone's idea of humor?

Impeachment would not be "politically motivated." It would be motivated by Trump clearly inciting an insurrection in our capital.

Trump has not done a great job. He is the most incompetent, least popular President in modern American history.

The Trump White House calling for unity? That is the height of hypocrisy. Notwithstanding his divisive four years in office, for over two months the reclusive President has been encouraging division in our country leading up to his role in the insurrection on Jan. 6.

Perhaps the White House thinks so, maybe Trump is having a good laugh, but the judgement of the American people is, the statement was not the least bit funny.

 

[Sandy Shanks]

The Trump White House calling for unity? That is the height of hypocrisy. Notwithstanding his divisive four years in office, for over two months the reclusive President has been encouraging division in our country leading up to his role in the insurrection on Jan. 6.

The Post reports, "Trump's steadfast grip on Republicans in Washington is beginning to crumble, leaving him more politically isolated than at any other point in his turbulent administration.

"After riling up a crowd that later staged a violent siege of the U.S. Capitol, Trump appears to have lost some of his strongest allies, including South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. Two Cabinet members and at least a half dozen aides have resigned."

Ari Fleischer has been one of the leading apologists for Trump. No more.

“At this point, I won’t defend him anymore,” said Fleischer, a former White House press secretary for George W. Bush and a GOP strategist who voted for Trump. “I won't defend him for stirring the pot that incited the mob. He's on his own.”

Trump is no longer a political force. He ended that with his abject stupidity and monstrous ego.

The Post adds, "When the week began, Trump was without question the most dominant political force in Republican politics and a 2024 kingmaker, if not the GOP’s next presidential nominee himself. On Friday, there was a growing sense that he was forever tarnished — and may be forced from office before his term expires in 12 days."

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Trump's steadfast grip on Republicans in Washington is beginning to crumble, leaving him more politically isolated than at any other point in his turbulent administration.

After riling up a crowd that later staged a violent siege of the U.S. Capitol, Trump appears to have lost some of his strongest allies, including South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. Two Cabinet members and at least a half dozen aides have resigned.

It is my contention that Trump, although he is dumb as a rock, knew exactly what he was doing.

That assertion is based on certain educated assumptions.

I assert, while not the brightest bulb in the room, Trump had a working knowledge of 4th grade math. He knew he lost the election because he knew 81 million is seven million more than 74 million, and 306 Electoral College votes is greater than 232.

I further assert, because his lawyers, the DOJ, the White House staff could not find evidence of Presidential election fraud, he knew there was no fraud.

I assert some more. We know that throughout his term Trump was a prolific liar. He lied to his supporters, his base at the grassroots level and his diehard supporters in Congress.

The narcissistic Republican President wanted take the Republican Party down with him.

Since his loss, the Republican President has become a recluse, afraid to face the American people and the press. The Republican President is proving to the world that he is the worst President in American history.

He has attacked Republicans and the Republican leadership, even his own vice-president.

The Republican Party will forever be shamed because a Republican President, twelve Republican Senators, and 138 Republicans in the House led an insurrection in our capital. Five died, the capitol building was ransacked, a session of our Congress was interrupted, and countless items were stolen from the building. Our lawmakers were forced to hunker down away from the mob, and guns were drawn to protect them.

Trump could care less about his legacy. He never attempted to be a good President,, and he never attempted to unite the country. Instead, during his four years, he encouraged divisiveness.

Trump knew exactly what he was doing, and Putin is extremely proud of his choice!

 

[Sandy Shanks]

Impeachment is an extremely bad idea.

The President-elect wants to unify the country. Impeachment will accomplish the opposite.

There is no time for a Senate trial. A Senate impeachment trial after Trump has left office is ludicrous and serves no worthwhile purpose.

On Jan. 21, Trump can be indicted for any number of crimes. Let the courts decide the legal ramifications of Trump's actions, not politicians, roughly half of whom are Trump loyalists. Conviction in the Senate requires a two-thirds vote.

A Senate impeachment trial will cause serious harm to Biden's agenda. He wants to combat the raging pandemic, help the unemployed, jump start the economy, and get the kids back in school where they belong. He will need the help of Republicans to achieve those goals. An impeachment trial is absolutely the worst scenario from that viewpoint.

If the Democratic President does not want impeachment, the Democratic House should not impeach.

For those reasons, as well as others, I don't believe the House will impeach.