What is the measure of competence?

[berg80]

Gosh, what a week. trump's pick to lead the nation's institutions in charge of public health blew up the CDC. It's not like he hadn't been told RFK isn't of sound mind.

In an attempt to gain control over the Fed, and thus interest rate policy, trump tried to dismiss Fed governor Lisa Cook. Never before has a Fed governor been fired. The SC recently explained the Fed enjoys unique autonomy from interference by the executive branch. Don ignored it.

In a petty act of belligerence he took away Kamala Harris's Secret Service security detail. Not the first time he's done this to a perceived enemy.

Don's friend Vlad gave his official response to the former's efforts with respect his quest for a Nobel peace prize. Apparently, trump thought Putin would stop the war as a personal favor. Reminds me of when Bush said he looked in to Putin's soul and said he trusted him. Ooooops.

2 Weeks After Trump Talks, Russia Bombards Kyiv, Killing at Least 23​

An hourslong barrage of Russian missiles and drones early Thursday killed at least 23 people in Ukraine’s capital, including four children, officials said.

The assault, less than two weeks after President Trump’s summit in Alaska with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, showed how the recent American diplomatic flurry has done little to change the Kremlin’s determination to continue fighting in Ukraine.

Since Mr. Trump pulled Mr. Putin out of Western diplomatic isolation by inviting him to Anchorage, Russia has made no significant concessions on any of the major sticking points between it and Ukraine, leaving the two sides no closer to peace.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/world/europe/ukraine-russia-strikes.html

The premise upon which trump's entire economic vision for the country rests, tariffs, was invalidated by an appeals court. It's not like he hadn't been told they are illegal.

Most Trump tariffs ruled illegal by appeals court, dealing major blow to trade policy​

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/29/trump-trade-tariffs-appeals-court-ieepa.html

Don announced his intention to pass major crime prevention legislation in concert with congressional Repubs. They said they have no idea what he's talking about.

Abrego Garcia, after being illegally sent to be tortured in an El Salvadorian prison, brought back to the US to face charges on human smuggling despite trump claiming he had no power to bring him back (how did they get that wrong), is being threatened with deportation to Uganda. This would be an incredibly damaging scandal for any other presidency. For trump's it's one of many.

Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, who authored a report detailing just how full of hooey trump was when he said Iran's nuclear facilities had been obliterated, was fired. In another act of retribution, 30 FEMA employees were suspended after warning Congress about how the running of the agency was jeopardizing the safety of Americans. Neither the firing nor the suspensions were justified.
..........................................................................................................................................................................................
IMO, a strong case can be made just from the events of one week (I didn't even mention everything cuz wow, there was a lot) that competence is not a strength of this government. Competence being something trump devotees spend a lot of time complaining about when it comes to how the prior admin. conducted itself.

The legality of tariffs is just one of the many dubiously legal matters this government has made claim to. Legal challenges to policy thus far being the hallmark of trump 2.0. Begging the question, are the constant attempts to expand the power of the executive what competency looks like to the supporters of this government? Is competency being equated with the quest for absolute, unchallenged power? Should it be?

 

[Nostra]

Sux to be you.

 

[Woodznutz]

Gosh, what a week. trump's pick to lead the nation's institutions in charge of public health blew up the CDC. It's not like he hadn't been told RFK isn't of sound mind.

In an attempt to gain control over the Fed, and thus interest rate policy, trump tied to dismiss Fed governor Lisa Cook. Never before has a Fed governor been fired. The SC recently explained the Fed enjoys unique autonomy from interference by the executive branch. Don ignored it.

In a petty act of belligerence he took away Kamala Harris's Secret Service security detail. Not the first time he's done this to a perceived enemy.

Don's friend Vlad gave his official response to the former's efforts with respect his quest for a Nobel peace prize. Apparently, trump thought Putin would stop the war as a personal favor. Reminds me of when Bush said he looked in to Putin's soul and said he trusted him. Ooooops.

2 Weeks After Trump Talks, Russia Bombards Kyiv, Killing at Least 23​

An hourslong barrage of Russian missiles and drones early Thursday killed at least 23 people in Ukraine’s capital, including four children, officials said.

The assault, less than two weeks after President Trump’s summit in Alaska with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, showed how the recent American diplomatic flurry has done little to change the Kremlin’s determination to continue fighting in Ukraine.

Since Mr. Trump pulled Mr. Putin out of Western diplomatic isolation by inviting him to Anchorage, Russia has made no significant concessions on any of the major sticking points between it and Ukraine, leaving the two sides no closer to peace.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/world/europe/ukraine-russia-strikes.html

The premise upon which trump's entire economic vision for the country rests, tariffs, was invalidated by an appeals court. It's not like he hadn't been told they are illegal.

Most Trump tariffs ruled illegal by appeals court, dealing major blow to trade policy​

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/29/trump-trade-tariffs-appeals-court-ieepa.html

Don announced his intention to pass major crime prevention legislation in concert with congressional Repubs. They have no idea what he's talking about.

Abrego Garcia, after being illegally sent to be tortured in an El Salvadorian prison, brought back to the US to face charges on human smuggling despite trump claiming he had no power to bring him back (how did they get that wrong), is being threatened with deportation to Uganda. This would be an incredibly damaging scandal for any other presidency. For trump's it's one of many.

Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, who authored a report detailing just how full of hooey trump was when he said Iran's nuclear facilities had been obliterated, was fired. In another act of retribution, 30 FEMA employees were suspended after warning Congress about how the running of the agency was jeopardizing the safety of Americans. Neither the firing nor the suspensions were justified.
..........................................................................................................................................................................................
IMO, a strong case can be made just from the events of one week (I didn't even mention everything cuz wow, there was a lot) that competence is not a strength of this government. Competence being something trump devotees spend a lot of time complaining about when it comes to how the prior admin. conducted itself.

The legality of tariffs is just one of the many dubiously legal matters this government has made claim to. Legal challenges to policy thus far being the hallmark of trump 2.0. Begging the question, are the constant attempts to expand the power of the executive what competency looks like to the supporters of this government? Is competency being equated with the quest for absolute, unchallenged power? Should it be?

Our laws and rules make us incompetent, like tying both hands behind our back. Our immorality and stupidity cause these laws and rules to be written. So, we're kinda stuck with our incompetency.

 

[berg80]

Our laws and rules make us incompetent

I'm speechless.

 

[Auld Phart]

Gosh, what a week. trump's pick to lead the nation's institutions in charge of public health blew up the CDC. It's not like he hadn't been told RFK isn't of sound mind.

In an attempt to gain control over the Fed, and thus interest rate policy, trump tied to dismiss Fed governor Lisa Cook. Never before has a Fed governor been fired. The SC recently explained the Fed enjoys unique autonomy from interference by the executive branch. Don ignored it.

In a petty act of belligerence he took away Kamala Harris's Secret Service security detail. Not the first time he's done this to a perceived enemy.

Don's friend Vlad gave his official response to the former's efforts with respect his quest for a Nobel peace prize. Apparently, trump thought Putin would stop the war as a personal favor. Reminds me of when Bush said he looked in to Putin's soul and said he trusted him. Ooooops.

2 Weeks After Trump Talks, Russia Bombards Kyiv, Killing at Least 23​

An hourslong barrage of Russian missiles and drones early Thursday killed at least 23 people in Ukraine’s capital, including four children, officials said.

The assault, less than two weeks after President Trump’s summit in Alaska with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, showed how the recent American diplomatic flurry has done little to change the Kremlin’s determination to continue fighting in Ukraine.

Since Mr. Trump pulled Mr. Putin out of Western diplomatic isolation by inviting him to Anchorage, Russia has made no significant concessions on any of the major sticking points between it and Ukraine, leaving the two sides no closer to peace.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/world/europe/ukraine-russia-strikes.html

The premise upon which trump's entire economic vision for the country rests, tariffs, was invalidated by an appeals court. It's not like he hadn't been told they are illegal.

Most Trump tariffs ruled illegal by appeals court, dealing major blow to trade policy​

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/29/trump-trade-tariffs-appeals-court-ieepa.html

Don announced his intention to pass major crime prevention legislation in concert with congressional Repubs. They have no idea what he's talking about.

Abrego Garcia, after being illegally sent to be tortured in an El Salvadorian prison, brought back to the US to face charges on human smuggling despite trump claiming he had no power to bring him back (how did they get that wrong), is being threatened with deportation to Uganda. This would be an incredibly damaging scandal for any other presidency. For trump's it's one of many.

Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, who authored a report detailing just how full of hooey trump was when he said Iran's nuclear facilities had been obliterated, was fired. In another act of retribution, 30 FEMA employees were suspended after warning Congress about how the running of the agency was jeopardizing the safety of Americans. Neither the firing nor the suspensions were justified.
..........................................................................................................................................................................................
IMO, a strong case can be made just from the events of one week (I didn't even mention everything cuz wow, there was a lot) that competence is not a strength of this government. Competence being something trump devotees spend a lot of time complaining about when it comes to how the prior admin. conducted itself.

The legality of tariffs is just one of the many dubiously legal matters this government has made claim to. Legal challenges to policy thus far being the hallmark of trump 2.0. Begging the question, are the constant attempts to expand the power of the executive what competency looks like to the supporters of this government? Is competency being equated with the quest for absolute, unchallenged power? Should it be?

In a petty act of belligerence he took away Kamala Harris's Secret Service security detail.

her VP protection should have ended after 6 months, in June.

the Autopen extended it.


ALL HAIL THE AUTOPEN.

 

[Nostra]

 

[Oddball]

SSDD...3 1/2 years to go....

 

[berg80]

A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from carrying out fast-track deportations of people detained far from the southern border, removing, for now, one of the cornerstones of President Trump’s campaign to carry out mass deportations.

The case focused on a policy shift announced during the first week of Mr. Trump’s second term that authorized the Department of Homeland Security to launch quick deportations, across the country and without court proceedings, of undocumented immigrants who cannot prove they have lived in the country for more than two years.

Such quick deportations, known as expedited removal, have been carried out for decades, but they were concentrated among people arrested at or near the southern border. The Trump administration sought to expand the practice nationwide, to hasten the removal of people arrested deep inside the country.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/us/politics/judge-fast-track-deportations.html

If obtaining absolute power is equated with competence, and those efforts continually are found to be illegal, can we say trump's regime is incompetent.

 

[Oddball]

A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from carrying out fast-track deportations of people detained far from the southern border, removing, for now, one of the cornerstones of President Trump’s campaign to carry out mass deportations.

The case focused on a policy shift announced during the first week of Mr. Trump’s second term that authorized the Department of Homeland Security to launch quick deportations, across the country and without court proceedings, of undocumented immigrants who cannot prove they have lived in the country for more than two years.

Such quick deportations, known as expedited removal, have been carried out for decades, but they were concentrated among people arrested at or near the southern border. The Trump administration sought to expand the practice nationwide, to hasten the removal of people arrested deep inside the country.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/us/politics/judge-fast-track-deportations.html

If obtaining absolute power is equated with competence, and those efforts continually are found to be illegal, can we say trump's regime is incompetent.

Wow, a federal judge greatly exceeded his authority and tried to play co-prez.

Another day that ends with "Y".

 

[otto105]

Gosh, what a week. trump's pick to lead the nation's institutions in charge of public health blew up the CDC. It's not like he hadn't been told RFK isn't of sound mind.

In an attempt to gain control over the Fed, and thus interest rate policy, trump tried to dismiss Fed governor Lisa Cook. Never before has a Fed governor been fired. The SC recently explained the Fed enjoys unique autonomy from interference by the executive branch. Don ignored it.

In a petty act of belligerence he took away Kamala Harris's Secret Service security detail. Not the first time he's done this to a perceived enemy.

Don's friend Vlad gave his official response to the former's efforts with respect his quest for a Nobel peace prize. Apparently, trump thought Putin would stop the war as a personal favor. Reminds me of when Bush said he looked in to Putin's soul and said he trusted him. Ooooops.

2 Weeks After Trump Talks, Russia Bombards Kyiv, Killing at Least 23​

An hourslong barrage of Russian missiles and drones early Thursday killed at least 23 people in Ukraine’s capital, including four children, officials said.

The assault, less than two weeks after President Trump’s summit in Alaska with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, showed how the recent American diplomatic flurry has done little to change the Kremlin’s determination to continue fighting in Ukraine.

Since Mr. Trump pulled Mr. Putin out of Western diplomatic isolation by inviting him to Anchorage, Russia has made no significant concessions on any of the major sticking points between it and Ukraine, leaving the two sides no closer to peace.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/world/europe/ukraine-russia-strikes.html

The premise upon which trump's entire economic vision for the country rests, tariffs, was invalidated by an appeals court. It's not like he hadn't been told they are illegal.

Most Trump tariffs ruled illegal by appeals court, dealing major blow to trade policy​

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/29/trump-trade-tariffs-appeals-court-ieepa.html

Don announced his intention to pass major crime prevention legislation in concert with congressional Repubs. They said they have no idea what he's talking about.

Abrego Garcia, after being illegally sent to be tortured in an El Salvadorian prison, brought back to the US to face charges on human smuggling despite trump claiming he had no power to bring him back (how did they get that wrong), is being threatened with deportation to Uganda. This would be an incredibly damaging scandal for any other presidency. For trump's it's one of many.

Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, who authored a report detailing just how full of hooey trump was when he said Iran's nuclear facilities had been obliterated, was fired. In another act of retribution, 30 FEMA employees were suspended after warning Congress about how the running of the agency was jeopardizing the safety of Americans. Neither the firing nor the suspensions were justified.
..........................................................................................................................................................................................
IMO, a strong case can be made just from the events of one week (I didn't even mention everything cuz wow, there was a lot) that competence is not a strength of this government. Competence being something trump devotees spend a lot of time complaining about when it comes to how the prior admin. conducted itself.

The legality of tariffs is just one of the many dubiously legal matters this government has made claim to. Legal challenges to policy thus far being the hallmark of trump 2.0. Begging the question, are the constant attempts to expand the power of the executive what competency looks like to the supporters of this government? Is competency being equated with the quest for absolute, unchallenged power? Should it be?

Shitlers! new pick to head the CDC has NO medical or science background.

 

[berg80]

Shitlers! new pick to head has NO medical or science background.

He's nothing if not consistent.

 

[Woodznutz]

SSDD...3 1/2 years to go....

View attachment 1156349

I like to use my liberal sister as an example of the Dems. She once enrolled in a woodworking class; the project was building a paneled door. She soon quit as it was beyond her abilities to finish the project, which she thought wouldn't be difficult or take very much time. Fact is that she wasn't prepared in any way to take on the task. She had no experience with the tools needed, or the time, skill, and effort it would take. It was a rude awakening for her and just another in a series of failed efforts where she stepped into roles that she thought would be easy but ended in a trainwreck.
She was very infected with women's lib at the time, and I think she was trying to prove that she could do anything a man could do, if just to herself.

She found her redemption in gardening and landscaping, in which she was quite skilled.

 

[Rawley]

I'm speechless.

We should be so lucky

 

[westwall]

I'm speechless.

An improvement.

 

[Oddball]

We should be so lucky

 

[otto105]

Another example of failing up in the maga movement.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/30/business/media/trump-benny-johnson.html

 

[berg80]

Another example of failing up in the maga movement.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/30/business/media/trump-benny-johnson.html

They are using press events for the purpose of staged propaganda.

The day after President Trump announced the federal takeover of law enforcement in Washington, the White House invited the podcaster Benny Johnson to sit in what is called the new media seat at the administration’s press briefing. The privilege includes being called on first by the press secretary, Karoline Leavitt.

Mr. Johnson took the opportunity at the briefing to recount what he claimed was his own experience with crime in the nation’s capital in recent years. He said that he had recorded murders on a camera outside his home, and that his “house was set ablaze in an arson.” Any claims that Washington wasn’t dangerous, he said, were “lies.”

 

[Woodznutz]

I'm speechless.

In other words, I've pretty much covered it.

 

[berg80]

I like to use my liberal sister as an example of the Dems. She once enrolled in a woodworking class; the project was building a paneled door. She soon quit as it was beyond her abilities to finish the project, which she thought wouldn't be difficult or take very much time. Fact is that she wasn't prepared in any way to take on the task. She had no experience with the tools needed, or the time, skill, and effort it would take. It was a rude awakening for her and just another in a series of failed efforts where she stepped into roles that she thought would be easy but ended in a trainwreck.
She was very infected with women's lib at the time, and I think she was trying to prove that she could do anything a man could do, if just to herself.

The story about your sister is analogous to trump though he has not quit despite the presidency being beyond his abilities. He too having "no experience with the tools needed, or the time, skill, and effort it would take."

 

[berg80]

In other words, I've pretty much covered it.

IOW, your idiocy has overwhelmed me.