The Trump Presidency: Part 21

[The Atheist]

Originally Posted by Trebuchet

"His" meaning George, or Trump? Makes a difference!

Trump's arse, of course.

[SezMe]

Originally Posted by ChrisBFRPKY

There was a lot of misinformation about the virus coming from China and the WHO Trump.

Edited for the sake of correctness.

Originally Posted by ChrisBFRPKY

Our economy will bounce back as Globalism has finally been revealed for what it is, a shortage of vital interests.

I have no idea what you're saying with this sentence. Please restate in clearer terms.

Originally Posted by ChrisBFRPKY

I expect to see many major startups and many products that were made elsewhere before will be made in the USA again after all is said and done.

Why? The economics of cheap foreign labor will not change because of the pandemic. Trends in robotics and AI will play a larger role in manufacturing and, increasingly, in services than any transient pandemic effects.

How will you know when "all is said and done". Covid-19 infections and deaths are now a fact of life and are likely to remain so for a long time.

[Fast Eddie B]

It’s being reported Trump is weighing the option of suspending Congress under some sort of emergency authority.

Hate to know how to process that. Game show host just thriving on controversy or something he’s really considering.

Edited to add: Rachel Maddow’s chyron now showing 32,000 US deaths.

[SezMe]

Originally Posted by uke2se

Not a skirt, but still...

https://www.google.com/search?q=trum...ehxW3kyOvdrclM

Now I'll have horrible nightmares all night long. Thanks.

[Stacyhs]

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie B

It’s being reported Trump is weighing the option of suspending Congress under some sort of emergency authority.

Hate to know how to process that. Game show host just thriving on controversy or something he’s really considering.

It's being reported by whom?

IF true, I don't think even Trump could get away with suspending Congress.
But, I do hope he tries. It would be rather enjoyable watching the GOP Congress turn on Dear Leader.

[dmaker]

It occurred to me today while watching the daily press thingy that an interesting comparison would be how many times has Trump said something comforting about the number of deaths and suffering Americans vs how many times he has either boasted about his travel ban or complained about an inherited broken system.

I would bet that one would be a single digit while the other would easily be triple digits.

[The Atheist]

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie B

It’s being reported Trump is weighing the option of suspending Congress under some sort of emergency authority.

Sounds legit.

Total authority clearly means he can do anything.

Please let that be true - the LULZ on that would be worth the price of admission.

[Fast Eddie B]

Originally Posted by Stacyhs

It's being reported by whom?

Apparently the NY Times. Pushed to me via AppleNews.

[DallasDad]

Originally Posted by Stacyhs

It's being reported by whom?

IF true, I don't think even Trump could get away with suspending Congress.
But, I do hope he tries. It would be rather enjoyable watching the GOP Congress turn on Dear Leader.

Trump himself, at today's briefing; multiple media commentaries about it, too.

A never-used Article I power allows the President to adjourn Congress if the two houses cannot agree on an adjournment date or a resumption date after adjournment. A similar power allows him to convene emergency sessions if Congress happens to be be adjourned during a national emergency.

The problem with the power to force an adjournment is that Congress (both houses) are technically still in session (not recessed), gavelling in and out with the bare minimum of personnel to meet the requirements, and they don't disagree about adjournment/resumption dates. Congress would have to recess without adjournment for Trump to invoke this extraordinary step.

Trump also made clear his reason for threatening to do this: He wants to make recess appointments, which can only happen when Congress is recessed or adjourned for 10 or more days and the appointment is considered necessary.

McConnell has been ensuring that the Senate is not in recess by having pro-forma gavelling in/out every couple of days.

Of note, the question of recess appointments during times when the Senate is only holding pro-forma sessions has already been to SCOTUS and resoundingly rejected. Obama or Bush 43 (don't recall) tried the recess appointment trick when the Senate was holding only pro-forma sessions specifically to prevent being in recess. SCOTUS said the Senate has the sole power to decide how to manage its affairs, and whether the conduct is a pretext or honest is not up to the courts to hear, let alone decide.

At best, this is an attempt at a legal strategy that's already been ruled against by SCOTUS. Even if Trump tried it, McConnell (who is jealous of the Senate's prerogatives, if not sensible about anything else) could simply call the Senate back into session before Trump could make any appointments.

It's grandstanding, nothing more.

[SezMe]

Originally Posted by Ladewig

So, the “re-open” committee is going to have such metric-savvy people as Ivanka.

A committee full of people who are going to give their proxy vote to President Trump.

Quelle surprise

I did a quick look around to see the composition of this committee but couldn't find anything. Got a link?

[BobTheCoward]

Originally Posted by DallasDad

Trump himself, at today's briefing; multiple media commentaries about it, too.

A never-used Article I power allows the President to adjourn Congress if the two houses cannot agree on an adjournment date or a resumption date after adjournment. A similar power allows him to convene emergency sessions if Congress happens to be be adjourned during a national emergency.

The problem with the power to force an adjournment is that Congress (both houses) are technically still in session (not recessed), gavelling in and out with the bare minimum of personnel to meet the requirements, and they don't disagree about adjournment/resumption dates. Congress would have to recess without adjournment for Trump to invoke this extraordinary step.

Trump also made clear his reason for threatening to do this: He wants to make recess appointments, which can only happen when Congress is recessed or adjourned for 10 or more days and the appointment is considered necessary.

McConnell has been ensuring that the Senate is not in recess by having pro-forma gavelling in/out every couple of days.

Of note, the question of recess appointments during times when the Senate is only holding pro-forma sessions has already been to SCOTUS and resoundingly rejected. Obama or Bush 43 (don't recall) tried the recess appointment trick when the Senate was holding only pro-forma sessions specifically to prevent being in recess. SCOTUS said the Senate has the sole power to decide how to manage its affairs, and whether the conduct is a pretext or honest is not up to the courts to hear, let alone decide.

At best, this is an attempt at a legal strategy that's already been ruled against by SCOTUS. Even if Trump tried it, McConnell (who is jealous of the Senate's prerogatives, if not sensible about anything else) could simply call the Senate back into session before Trump could make any appointments.

It's grandstanding, nothing more.

Why does McConnell want to have pro forms sessions?

[SezMe]

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop

Trump Retweeted

The White House
@WhiteHouse
President @realDonaldTrump is halting funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess WHO's role in mismanaging the Coronavirus outbreak.

Perfect. The people who mismanaged the Coronavirus in the USA are going to review the people who mismanaged the Coronavirus around the world. What could go wrong?

[SezMe]

Originally Posted by Horatius

It won't. Even if he loses the election, we're stuck with him until January.

And I'm betting that those months are going to make us nostalgic for the relative calm of March and April.

Yep. Those few months promise to be ball-busters.

[Stacyhs]

Originally Posted by SezMe

I did a quick look around to see the composition of this committee but couldn't find anything. Got a link?

See my post #171 page 5. The link is there.

[SezMe]

Originally Posted by TragicMonkey

So who got their corona money already? Mine's showing as "pending" for tomorrow as a direct deposit. It just says "IRS" something something, no mention of Trump.

Don't have mine yet. If the processing goes alphabetically, my last name (IRL) begins with an "S" so it might be a week or so.

[Stacyhs]

Originally Posted by SezMe

Don't have mine yet. If the processing goes alphabetically, my last name (IRL) begins with an "S" so it might be a week or so.

Mine also begins with "S" and I got mine already.

[pgwenthold]

Originally Posted by SezMe

Don't have mine yet. If the processing goes alphabetically, my last name (IRL) begins with an "S" so it might be a week or so.

I looked at the IRS website and it said ours was expected today. I didn't check the bank to see if it showed up.

[Stacyhs]

Originally Posted by DallasDad

Trump himself, at today's briefing; multiple media commentaries about it, too.

A never-used Article I power allows the President to adjourn Congress if the two houses cannot agree on an adjournment date or a resumption date after adjournment. A similar power allows him to convene emergency sessions if Congress happens to be be adjourned during a national emergency.

The problem with the power to force an adjournment is that Congress (both houses) are technically still in session (not recessed), gavelling in and out with the bare minimum of personnel to meet the requirements, and they don't disagree about adjournment/resumption dates. Congress would have to recess without adjournment for Trump to invoke this extraordinary step.

Trump also made clear his reason for threatening to do this: He wants to make recess appointments, which can only happen when Congress is recessed or adjourned for 10 or more days and the appointment is considered necessary.

McConnell has been ensuring that the Senate is not in recess by having pro-forma gavelling in/out every couple of days.

Of note, the question of recess appointments during times when the Senate is only holding pro-forma sessions has already been to SCOTUS and resoundingly rejected. Obama or Bush 43 (don't recall) tried the recess appointment trick when the Senate was holding only pro-forma sessions specifically to prevent being in recess. SCOTUS said the Senate has the sole power to decide how to manage its affairs, and whether the conduct is a pretext or honest is not up to the courts to hear, let alone decide.

At best, this is an attempt at a legal strategy that's already been ruled against by SCOTUS. Even if Trump tried it, McConnell (who is jealous of the Senate's prerogatives, if not sensible about anything else) could simply call the Senate back into session before Trump could make any appointments.

It's grandstanding, nothing more.

Yep. But he can't do it because:

Quote:

A McConnell spokesman said Trump and McConnell spoke about the issue on Wednesday: "The Leader pledged to find ways to confirm nominees considered mission-critical to the Covid-19 pandemic, but under Senate rules that will take consent from Leader (Chuck) Schumer."
That last point is an important one. McConnell, who is careful with his words, appears to be saying any solution to the confirmation issue will require Democratic consent.

Link

[SezMe]

Originally Posted by Joe Random

On one level it's not how you filed, but how you had a refund returned to you. I just today mailed in my 2019 return. I also today received that $1,200 as a direct deposit, because for 2018 I mailed in a paper form but had my whopping $5.00 refund done as a direct deposit to that same account.

I'm sure there are other permutations, but regardless of how you filed and if you have or haven't filed 2019 yet, if you received a refund from 2018 as a direct deposit you'll get the $1,200 DD'd to that same account.

I think Social Security recipients who do direct deposit will automatically get their payment in the same manner.

[Meadmaker]

When I tried to sign on to see the status of my stimulus payment, I got a message saying they can't determine my eligibility for a refund.

Well ain't that peachy? I filed taxes in 2018 and 2019, although I didn't get a refund either year. I was expecting to have to get to the site and enter my bank information for direct deposit, but I didn't get that far.

I put in my social security number, address, and zip code, and it said they couldn't determine anything.

[SezMe]

Originally Posted by Stacyhs

Mine also begins with "S" and I got mine already.

Must be some other ordering of the direct deposits then. I'm on the coast of the west coast so maybe its sweeping east to west. The poor folks in Hawaii.

[Ladewig]

Originally Posted by SezMe

I did a quick look around to see the composition of this committee but couldn't find anything. Got a link?

I confessed to be absolutely 100% wrong about this on a previous page.

I have no problem admitting my error on this page also.

[TragicMonkey]

Originally Posted by SezMe

Don't have mine yet. If the processing goes alphabetically, my last name (IRL) begins with an "S" so it might be a week or so.

They're not. I'm not far from "S" myself. They may be doing it in order of who has the simplest filings. I had nothing but the standard deduction for 2019 so my taxes were as simple as they come. It's based off the AGI for that year so if your tax situation involves anything complicated to calculate your AGI that might be a reason for a delay.

[Fast Eddie B]

Originally Posted by Meadmaker

When I tried to sign on to see the status of my stimulus payment, I got a message saying they can't determine my eligibility for a refund.

Well ain't that peachy? I filed taxes in 2018 and 2019, although I didn't get a refund either year. I was expecting to have to get to the site and enter my bank information for direct deposit, but I didn't get that far.

I put in my social security number, address, and zip code, and it said they couldn't determine anything.

Exactly our situation.

No refund for either 2018 or 2019, but both my wife and I get Social Security direct deposits to our bank account - in fact those payments hit today. Hopefully we’ll see our stimulus payments in short order, though we’re lucky in that we’re not in dire need of said payments.

[Stacyhs]

Originally Posted by SezMe

Must be some other ordering of the direct deposits then. I'm on the coast of the west coast so maybe its sweeping east to west. The poor folks in Hawaii.

I also live on the West Coast.

[abaddon]

Originally Posted by The Atheist

Speaking of Tubby Kim, he sent another rocket into the sea yesterday.

Yup. That got lost in the mess.

[Blue Mountain]

This may not be the appropriate thread for this, but Canada's response for anyone out of work due to the epidemic is the CERB: Canada Emergency Relief Benefit. It's $2,000/month for up to four months. People have to apply for it and self-declare that they're eligible.

I applied and it was very straightforward. It appears the goal is to get money to the people who apply as quickly as possible, and look for irregularities later. I don't know if the plan is to audit every claim once the emergency is over or to look for patterns that might indicate unsupported claims. As of today over 6 million Canadians have applied. My roommate, who applied for E.I. when he was laid off from his job due to COVID-19, was automatically enrolled in the CERB when it was announced. He received his first payment this week.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Originally Posted by Stacyhs

I also live on the West Coast.

I'm in Vegas and a bunch of people I know here have received them.

[lomiller]

Originally Posted by Stacyhs

It's being reported by whom?

IF true, I don't think even Trump could get away with suspending Congress.
But, I do hope he tries. It would be rather enjoyable watching the GOP Congress turn on Dear Leader.

Even suspending Congress wouldn't cause that to happen.

[chrispy]

Haven't seen anything yet in my account, though the few gringos living in my area all have it now. Oh, well. Left behind...again.

[a_unique_person]

Originally Posted by The Atheist

Speaking of Tubby Kim, he sent another rocket into the sea yesterday.

He is suffering hugely from the amount attention he is missing out on. The only thing he could do to get it back would be to fire a nuke.

[Fast Eddie B]

Originally Posted by abaddon

Yup. That got lost in the mess.

I’m of a generation where SOP was local news at 6P, national news at 6:30P. Though I absorb news from multiple sources during the day, I still enjoy the 30 minute summary I get from network news.

That said, for weeks now it’s been virtually nothing but Coronavirus news. That is, of course, important, but could be condensed to no more than 20 minutes or so, leaving time for other stories. Like deadly tornadoes in the south a few days ago not far from us, or Kim Jong Un’s shenanigans, China’s military maneuvering, threats by Trump to adjourn Congress and so on.

[Captain_Swoop]

Trump Tweets

Crazy “Nancy Pelosi, you are a weak person. You are a poor leader. You are the reason America hates career politicians, like yourself.” @seanhannity She is totally incompetent & controlled by the Radical Left, a weak and pathetic puppet. Come back to Washington and do your job!

@OANN Poll “Gives President Trump a 52% Approval Rating in North Carolina, and a seven point lead over (Sleepy) Joe Biden. The President also helps other Republican Candidates, including @SenThomTillis, who has a 4% lead over his Democrat rival.”

[shemp]

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop

Trump Tweets

Crazy “Nancy Pelosi, you are a weak person. You are a poor leader. You are the reason America hates career politicians, like yourself.” @seanhannity She is totally incompetent & controlled by the Radical Left, a weak and pathetic puppet. Come back to Washington and do your job!

@OANN Poll “Gives President Trump a 52% Approval Rating in North Carolina, and a seven point lead over (Sleepy) Joe Biden. The President also helps other Republican Candidates, including @SenThomTillis, who has a 4% lead over his Democrat rival.”

Reputable poll taken 4/14-15 shows Biden with a 48/47 edge in North Carolina:

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com...orth-carolina/

[carlitos]

Originally Posted by Meadmaker

When I tried to sign on to see the status of my stimulus payment, I got a message saying they can't determine my eligibility for a refund.

......
I put in my social security number, address, and zip code, and it said they couldn't determine anything.

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie B

Exactly our situation.

Same here. I'm hoping that they are prioritizing those who need it more than I do.

[Resume]

Quote:

@OANN Poll . . .

Bwahahhahhahhah.

[Meadmaker]

Originally Posted by carlitos

Same here. I'm hoping that they are prioritizing those who need it more than I do.

I'm not thinking that's likely. I don't think that computer has enough information to determine need.


I would have preferred they did that in the first place, instead of just printing a bunch of money and throwing it out to everyone. i.e. I think "Give everyone money" is a really terrible plan. However, since they did it, I would like to get my hands on the part that has been allocated to me.

[Craig4]

Don't let the checks going out distract you. Those checks are a band-aide on a sucking chest wound. It's the failure of getting the unemployment for people who need it started that's the real story.

[shemp]

Meanwhile, the $349 billion small business loan program is tapped out.

The government's small business loan money is gone. Now what?

Quote:

(CNN)The money is gone.

On Thursday morning, the $349 billion emergency small business lending program officially tapped out. The Small Business Association officially ran out of money for the Paycheck Protection Program, according to a message for lenders posted on the administration's website.

Negotiations on Capitol Hill have yet to generate a path forward to replenish the money, all as the US economy continues to stagger under the pressure of near-nationwide closures.

Bottom line: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Democrats will reconvene Thursday to try and reach agreement on a package that will immediately increase funding for the program. But they aren't there yet and this is no longer a theoretical exercise. The program had, and continues to have, glitches and difficulties. But it also rolled through $349 billion in less than two weeks. That's how urgent it is for small business owners. That's how desperate, how flat catastrophic, the economic situation is amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Nah, it'll all be fine, Trump has said so!

[Stacyhs]

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie B

I’m of a generation where SOP was local news at 6P, national news at 6:30P. Though I absorb news from multiple sources during the day, I still enjoy the 30 minute summary I get from network news.

That said, for weeks now it’s been virtually nothing but Coronavirus news. That is, of course, important, but could be condensed to no more than 20 minutes or so, leaving time for other stories. Like deadly tornadoes in the south a few days ago not far from us, or Kim Jong Un’s shenanigans, China’s military maneuvering, threats by Trump to adjourn Congress and so on.

Ditto.

So many news stories are being lost in the All Covid 19, All the Time coverage.