Wrwest

So, Donald has issued a slew of Executive orders. Hmm, I see some problems resulting. See if you might agree. Some verbage from The Guardian article addressing the same. 1. Birthright Citizenship: Birthright citizenship, which guarantees citizenship to anyone born on US soil, is protected by the 14th amendment and any attempt to revoke it will likely bring immediate legal challenges. The order attempts to deny documents recognizing US citizenship for individuals who meet that criteria and are born in the US 30 days after the order was signed. No, Donald, you do not have dictatorial powers as of yet. As this is part of the USA Constitution, then you will need to change the Constitution. It is a bit of a process, tough on you as you want your will carried out quickly. 2. Leaving World Health Organization: “World Health ripped us off, everybody rips off the United States. It’s not going to happen anymore,” Trump said at the signing. He accused the WHO mishandled the Covid-19 pandemic and other international health crises. Understood, Donald, you want US citizens angry with international cooperative institutions to isolate the USA so you can make US decisions on your say so alone. Well, we have turned toward isolationism before in our history. It was not a positive in our long term interests. As to mishandling the pandemic, the historical documentation is clear … you were responsible for the unneeded US citizen deaths. 3. Renaming Denali and the Gulf of Mexico: Trump ordered the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed the “Gulf of America”, something he promised earlier this month at a press conference. He will rechristen Alaska’s Mount Denali as Mount McKinley, a change first made by former president Barack Obama in 2015 to reflect the traditions of Alaska Natives as well as the preference of many Alaska residents. Again Donald you are not dictator yet. Your unilateral decision holds no weight either nationally nor internationally. Again you overstep. It will remain Denali and the Gulf of Mexico regardless of your attempt to appease your MAGA nationalistic base. 4. Reclassifying Federal Employees making them easier to fire: Trump effectively reinstates “Schedule F”, an executive order he signed in the last year of his first term, seeking to reclassify tens of thousands of federal workers. (Biden rescinded the order.) Key aides to Trump have called for mass government firings. Project 2025 made attacks on the deep or administrative state a core part of Trump’s second term. The rightwing playbook called for civil servants deemed politically unreliable to be fired and replaced by conservatives. Yeah, we’ll see. While this thinking is consistent with those in business, such as yourself, there will be plenty of lawsuits eating into your budget and there are those pesky courts getting involved … you don’t control all of them as yet. I would support a Federal Employee work action in response. Sorry, most Americans will not have studied why the ‘spoils system” was done away with in favor of securing a stable, experienced workforce in return for job security. 5. Creating a policy recognizing that there are only two genders: “Agencies will cease pretending that men can be women and women can be men when enforcing laws that protect against sex discrimination,” the order states. OK, I have wiggle room here and from the quote above there may well be some give. Just do keep in mind that this is a policy statement and not documented science … or does hermaphroditism not exit? Yes, I realize many following MAGA “common sense” want everything to be yes/no, right/wrong, black/white … sorry that you are faced with a more complicated reality demanding critical thinking skills. 6. Recinding 78 Biden Administration Executive Actions: “I’ll revoke nearly 80 destructive and radical executive actions of the previous administration,” Trump told a crowd in Washington after his inaugural speech. He also said he would end policy “trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life” and push for a “color blind and merit-based” society. OK, I have not looked at each of the 78 rescinded policies. I do note that there were reasons for perceived injustices that needed addressing. We are still, sadly, far from a “color blind and merit based” society. Thus, the Project 2025 ilk wants to fire federal employees judged not to be supportive enough of MAGA goals … never mind “merit”. And we have certainly witnessed the Neo-Nazi and KKK support for MAGA in opposition to those of a different skin color, religion, nationality, etc. 7. Declaring a National Border Emergency: “All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came,” Trump said in his inauguration speech. The executive action paves the way to send US troops to the southern border and makes good on campaign promises to implement hardline immigration policies. There are limited details about how the administration planned to execute its sprawling set of immigration actions that were all but certain to face legal and logistical challenges. Immigrant communities across the country are bracing for Trump’s promise to carry out the “largest deportation program in American history”, beginning as early as Tuesday morning. Jeez, Donald millions and millions of criminal aliens? Oh. Right you are unilaterally calling anyone who has applied for asylum, this who been here for decades (including the children brought by their parents as all “criminals;s”. Oh, I understand, Donald, again you are appealing to your baes wanting them to see anyone speaking another language, fleeing fro war, poverty, violence as those threatening the American nation. Thus calling for the US military to be used on US soil. Come on, just declare “martial law” … oops, sticky wicket that! Just a thought, we saw that legal American citizens were denied the right to vote by mistake … what makes you think mistakes in arresting American citizens will not happen? We might have had some better way of doing things but you killed the bipartisan immigration bill for your own political advantage. 8. Finally, Pardons for sentenced January 6th participants: “I’m going to be signing on the J6 hostages, pardons, to get them out,” Trump said during his rally speech. “We’ll be signing pardons for a lot of people, a lot of people.” Trump said he has pardoned about 1,500 defendants charged in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol and issued six commutations. Well, Donald, my fellow citizens sitting as Grand Juries found enough evidence presented to call for each of these defendants to have a trail. Separate citizen Trial Juries found these, some 1500 guilty and handed down sentences for their destroying my country’s capital, threatening lives and causing injury and death to law enforcement personnel trying to protect the Capitol and the lives threatened. Congratulations, another nail in the coffin of the American Justice System. Many of us already recognize the corruption in the system and have call ed for reform … but your actions only further alienate us from believing in and supporting the USA as it is currently. Perhaps this is exactly your goal, trust in nothing, believe in nothing, fight for nothing … jus follow me and I will lead the way!!!

Currently serving as Executor for my deceased Aussie Friend. We used PahBig at AssistThai Visa to draw up the Will, make sure all was in order, file with the Thai Court after my friend passed. Charge for the Will was 7K and worth the peace of mind. Friend passed mid-Dec., court appointment given early March to officially be appointed Executor and carry out the Will instructions.

nope... not if it is preemptive against stated threats coming from a position of power.

Good to know there is no such thing as hermaphroditism.

Yes, I used to do an EFT from my Fidelity Acct. to Bangkok Bank, NYC. Upon requiring IAT format, Fidelity declined to make the switch. I use the monthly transfer method for Visa Extensions. Fidelity Wire Transfer, once a month (no charge). Bangkok Bank here makes the exchange and charges 200 baht. Worse exchange rate than I got via Wise but, bottom line similar cost on monthly transfer of $2200 usd.

I am acting as Executor as stated in my deceased friend's WWill. It will be up to 4 months before Thai Court officially appoints me. Until then, bank accounts can not be accessed.

They were just tourists, peacefully demonstrating. Thus, it was determined by citizen Grand Juries determining there was enough evidence to call for a trial and then a separate citizen Trial Jury determine guilty of breaking the applicable laws. Katie, bar the door ...

Agreed ... "Katie, bar the door".

MAGA!!! Have at it ... you hold the House, Senate, White House and SCOTUS. Results and responsibility for those results are all in your hands ...

And that is the way documented history works? Biden did state that the incoming Trump team and the current Biden spoke with one voice on the agreement. Wait ... you mean Trump's team agreed with what had been negotiated? Think I'll wait to see if 1). it takes place and 2). the historical direction after time passes and the actual records are open-end before stating it was either already negotiated or what effect the election of Trump had on negotiations.

Agree one of the things male farangs looking for a permanent (as is there is such around the globe) is to be honest about financial arrangements. I basically stated what I bring to Thailand/own in Thailand will go to my Thai Wife. The retirement funds in the USA, earned while raising my two US Sons will go to them. I transfer $2200 usd each month ... that is what is available to spend or save for Thai/SE Asia travel (supplemented a small bit on occasion).

I think the posting is a positive, especially for those contemplating retirement in Thailand or newly arrived. Before I came due to my background I had read some 3 dozen books on Thai History, sociology, culture ... including novels set in Thailand which reflected Thai culture. So, I was one of the older, retired, divorced Americans stepping into a different culture with a different language (both linguistically and culturally). After 4 separate, monthlong visits, traveling around (casing the place) ... I made the move. Fat boy in the candy store upon arrival and I certainly enjoyed the single, bar scene. The Thai girls with whom I spent any time all treated me as a long term boyfriend and I had only positive experiences. Now at 13 years into Thai retirement and married to a Thai girl, I remain happy with my choice (yes, there are the irritations with immigration ... I am all for, after 10 years of trouble free, full-time residence being granted Permanent Residence status). I remain recommending consideration of western males retiring here ... with some preparation and personal refection on their own character/personalities.

As we are witnessing with the unqualified nominee foe Secretary of defense?

MAGA!!! I don't know why there is worry. The press will have every freedom accorded the press in the PRC.

Yes, in mob 13 years here in five different locations, if the electric goes off, it is usually restored with the hour. Only one time did I see a hotel overnight.

I certainly am supportive of a continuous process of reviewing all laws/regulations after at time to see if the original need for the law/regulation is still present. to see if the law/regulation has addressed the original need. And to decide if the law/regulation needs adjustments (those pesky unintended consequences) or if the need no longer exists. All of that done with thought not blind sweeping emotion. In the case of DEI? Citation of the studies determining that it is no longer needed?

After being in Thailand for a few months, I had wondered if the anti-porn, sex toy laws/regulations were not to protect P2P.

"Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge. https://www.open-bks.com/tp.gif"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. https://www.open-bks.com/tp.gif"And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?" https://www.open-bks.com/tp.gif"They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not." https://www.open-bks.com/tp.gif"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge.

I await the arrival of the Japanese toilet seat with ability to better control pressure, aim, even temperature on some. Available here but not widely found in the malls, as yet. Problem will be some folks spending inordinate amounts of time in the stalls!

Yes, my immediate thought. and yes, sometimes (far too rare), a good thing.

Already opened, as a result of the relatively recent SCOTUS ruling of broad immunity acting as President ...

Thanks! My laugh response usually is laughing at someone's comment. It is refreshing to be able to laugh enjoying the humor!!

I like Trudeau's observation of what it is like living next door to the USA. The actual quote: "Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt. Pierre Trudeau

Reminds me of the correct answer as to how many continents there are ... American student (as if most would even have a clue) or ask a European student ... 6 or 7?

The Donald wants to rename it after the Italian, Amerigo Vespucci?