Trump’s ‘stunningly unqualified’ diplomatic team shapes up at breakneck speed

[blaze master]

10 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Trump?

Musk?

Farage? (According to Musk)

 

These 'characters'?

 

In your mind sure. To each their own.

[Will B Good]

Just now, Keep Right said:

Yes, it is so sad that Trump is replacing qualified Administration personnel that Biden has so wisely chosen:

 

How does their appearance prevent them from being effective administrators?.....Musk dresses up all the time and Trump must spend an hour each day on his makeup......but that's okay?

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

In your mind sure. To each their own.

 

 

....and in Musk's?

[transam]

1 minute ago, Keep Right said:

Yes, it is so sad that Trump is replacing qualified Administration personnel that Biden has so wisely chosen:

Not again........🙄

[blaze master]

17 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

....and in Musk's?

 

Contrary to blueanon Musk is not nor will not be president.

[placeholder]

7 hours ago, blaze master said:

 

Contrary to blueanon Musk is not nor will not be president.

He'll settle for Trump Whisperer.

[blaze master]

19 minutes ago, placeholder said:

He'll settle for Trump Whisperer.

 

So who was doing it for Biden ? 

[placeholder]

4 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

So who was doing it for Biden ? 

Right wingers have offered such a huge smorgasbord of candidates, many of them being actual people, that it's impossible for me to choose

[ericthai]

On 12/21/2024 at 11:47 PM, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

And then there's Donald Trump's appointment of Elon Musk to be President of the United States, a position he's not qualified to hold due to the fact that he's a naturalized citizen. 

have you been smoking?   American politics dont work like that...it's not like Thailand!

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

16 minutes ago, ericthai said:

have you been smoking?   American politics dont work like that...it's not like Thailand!

I think Donald Trump’s campaign received something like 277 million votes for Elon Musk to be president.

[ericthai]

On 12/22/2024 at 5:22 AM, cdemundo said:

"unleash the DOGE phenomenon."

 

It's not a new idea.

Been promised and tried before, easy to promise, hard to do.

Whose ox is gonna be gored (for the sacrifice)? I believe is the saying that applies.

Every nickel of Federal spending benefits somebody and they are gonna be talking to their elected officials to preserve the programs they benefit from.

It's a good idea, more power to them if they can do something.

I think some work can be done.   here are some very wasteful grants that were issued by the US government

 

 $6 Million to Boost Egyptian Tourism

It is puzzling how the concept of foreign aid ever got off the ground. One can at least understand the reasoning for spending taxpayer money on local schools, roads, and the like, even if you disagree. But how on earth did they sell foreign aid to taxpayers? “Ok, here’s the deal. We’re going to take your money without your consent, and then we’re going to send it to our friends in a far-away country. There’s pretty much nothing in it for you, dear taxpayers.”

Um…thanks?

In just the latest example, the federal government spent $6 million to boost tourism—yes, tourism—in Egypt last year. “The U.S. has spent over $100 million on Egyptian tourism so far,” the report notes. “What’s next – rebuilding the pyramids? Apparently, Congress and the agencies it funds think our treasury is a bottomless pit.”

 

 Training DHS Employees to Be Their ‘Authentic & Best Selves’

The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has been pursuing some…creative training programs as of late. In a federally funded workshop last year, CISA employees focused on “effective strategies to build and sustain psychological safety that allows individuals to show up to work as their authentic and best selves.” The workshop was part of a 5-year “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA)” strategic plan.

“Ironically, the workshop coincided with CISA’s efforts to suppress protected speech on social media platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Paul notes. “Even I was censored at the behest of our government speech minders. And all while I thought I was being my best self.”

 

 $38 Million to Dead People

According to a special task force for tracking COVID payments from the federal government, $38 million went to people who were known to be dead in 2023. In fact, $1.3 million of that money went to 30 individuals who had been dead for at least a year.

COVID-relief funding has of course been rife with fraud and mismanagement since the beginning. You’d think politicians would have learned their lesson by now. Then again, it’s not like it’s their money on the line, so why should they care? What are taxpayers going to do, take their money to a competing relief organization?

 

 $8,395 for a Lobster Tank

The Department of Defense pays for a lot of tanks, but a $8,395 lobster tank probably isn’t what taxpayers have in mind when they picture a tank expenditure. Yet this is exactly what was purchased last year by the DOD, presumably to improve the diet of military personnel.

What’s concerning about this purchase is not so much the dollar figure itself but what it represents. No doubt countless other purchases like this take place every day in the military. And all those luxuries really add up.

 

 Two Graphic Novels Combating ‘Disinformation’

In addition to their DEIA initiative, CISA has been hard at work creating not one, but two graphic novels about “disinformation” as part of their “Resilience Series.” The first one covers foreign interference in elections. The second covers COVID vaccines. “There is nothing comical about wasting taxpayer money to justify censorship of constitutionally protected speech,” Paul notes in his report.

 

$200 Million to Famous Music Artists from the ‘Small Business’ Administration

Through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, the Small Business Administration (SBA) funneled $200 million to some of the biggest names in entertainment. “So-called ‘small business owners,’ such as Post Malone, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, and Smashing Pumpkins, received up to $10 million each,” the report notes. “Even Nickelback received $2 million.”

The purpose of the program was to provide financial relief to small entertainment businesses during the pandemic shutdowns. But apparently, the SBA has a hard time defining the word small.

 

 

 

[ericthai]

On 12/22/2024 at 2:21 PM, Walker88 said:

Pointing out reality and getting a good laugh at 45/47 isn't bitter; it's joyous.

 

I probably would be bitter if I had failed to benefit from the Biden Economic Boom. Sorry you missed it.

 

The pathological dislike of Biden caused lots of the MAGAs to miss out on some of the easiest wealth-building opportunities in a long time. For those not self-hobbled, the cash register was ringing almost continuously for 4 years. Thanks, Joe and Kamala, for the embarrassment of riches.

yes, the registers were ringing with high food costs, housing costs are out of control.

I know several people that had to take a second job to be able to afford rent increases. Yes, things were just peachy!  

 

Biden's employment growth came after Covid when people were returning to work, and even those numbers were wrong and lower than what has published by the government. 

 

 

[placeholder]

13 minutes ago, ericthai said:

yes, the registers were ringing with high food costs, housing costs are out of control.

I know several people that had to take a second job to be able to afford rent increases. Yes, things were just peachy!  

 

Biden's employment growth came after Covid when people were returning to work, and even those numbers were wrong and lower than what has published by the government. 

 

 

And how were those high costs different from those plaguing both developed economies and most of the rest of the world? Is it your contentionr that Joe Biden's policies were responsible for that too? Sensible people would look for a common cause. Like a gap between supply and demand due to covid. But apparently, covid only works as a reason and excuse for America's poor economic performance during the last year of the Trump administration

As for employment figures, were they overstated during the Trump administration, too? 

[thaibeachlovers]

On 1/5/2025 at 3:15 PM, stevenl said:

'evidence seems to suggest' means there's evidence. I'm not talking about what it seems to suggest, but about the evidence you claim there is. Still waiting.

Given how many posts you have made about that nothingness I have to assume you are baiting me, so bye bye. More will be considered as stalking.

[thaibeachlovers]

15 hours ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

....and in Musk's?

IMO Musk's mind is an unknown quantity. I suspect even he doesn't know what is in his own mind.

It's no wonder he and Trump became best buds, as like seeks out like.

 

Future civilizations will theorise how 2 blokes that should have never got beyond blathering down the pub got to rule the world.

[blaze master]

8 hours ago, placeholder said:

Right wingers have offered such a huge smorgasbord of candidates, many of them being actual people, that it's impossible for me to choose

 

What a strange way to deflect away from talking about a truly serious issue. You even talked about sensible people in your last comment. Yet here you are playing the same games as you always do. 

 

Ok im going to cover my eyes you guys all go hide now

 

[placeholder]

Just now, blaze master said:

 

What a strange way to deflect away from talking about a truly serious issue. You even talked about sensible people in your last comment. Yet here you are playing the same games as you always do. 

 

Ok im going to cover my eyes you guys all go hide now

 

A serious issue? Like a stolen election? Or Joe Biden being corrupt? Yours is just ianother conspiracy allegation. On what issues did Biden reverse himself in a way I couldn't be explained by ordinary electoral politics? Whereas Trump's enthusiastic embrace of the H-1B program is a reversal that goes to the heart of what MAGA is all about. I reversal of how he characterized the H-1B program previously.

[blaze master]

22 minutes ago, placeholder said:

A serious issue? Like a stolen election? Or Joe Biden being corrupt? Yours is just ianother conspiracy allegation. On what issues did Biden reverse himself in a way I couldn't be explained by ordinary electoral politics? Whereas Trump's enthusiastic embrace of the H-1B program is a reversal that goes to the heart of what MAGA is all about. I reversal of how he characterized the H-1B program previously.

 

What are you on about now. You keep pushing the strange bar to new levels.

 

I am not talking about any of those things you mentioned. Again deflecting away from the real issue. 

 

You're clearly not dealing well with the dem loss. Get help.

[Hanaguma]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO Musk's mind is an unknown quantity. I suspect even he doesn't know what is in his own mind.

It's no wonder he and Trump became best buds, as like seeks out like.

 

Future civilizations will theorise how 2 blokes that should have never got beyond blathering down the pub got to rule the world.

You mean the real estate billionaire, son of immigrants, who became president. And the naturalized citizen who is literally electrifying the auto industry, flying rockets to MARS, and performing the miracle of helping the blind to actually see.  Yeah, just guys who should be ignored and belittled by the likes of you. 

[candide]

16 hours ago, ericthai said:

yes, the registers were ringing with high food costs, housing costs are out of control.

I know several people that had to take a second job to be able to afford rent increases. Yes, things were just peachy!  

 

Biden's employment growth came after Covid when people were returning to work, and even those numbers were wrong and lower than what has published by the government. 

 

 

So when the post-Covid recovery shows some positive aspects, it's due to Covid, and when there are negative aspects, it's Biden's fault. 555! 🤣

[placeholder]

8 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

You mean the real estate billionaire, son of immigrants, who became president. And the naturalized citizen who is literally electrifying the auto industry, flying rockets to MARS, and performing the miracle of helping the blind to actually see.  Yeah, just guys who should be ignored and belittled by the likes of you. 

Love how you invoke the trope of "son of immigrants". And the son inherited hundreds of millions from his humble immigrant father. And destroyed the business his father left him. And actually would have gone bankrupt if not for the extraordinary obstacles bankruptcy law put in the way of banks seeking to reclaim their cash.

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

20 hours ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

I think Donald Trump’s campaign received something like 277 million votes for Elon Musk to be president.

 

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-277-million-trump-republican-candidates-donations/

 

Ok, it was to other Republicans, too, but still, it must buy something.

[cdemundo]

23 hours ago, ericthai said:

I think some work can be done.   here are some very wasteful grants that were issued by the US government

 

 $6 Million to Boost Egyptian Tourism

It is puzzling how the concept of foreign aid ever got off the ground. One can at least understand the reasoning for spending taxpayer money on local schools, roads, and the like, even if you disagree. But how on earth did they sell foreign aid to taxpayers? “Ok, here’s the deal. We’re going to take your money without your consent, and then we’re going to send it to our friends in a far-away country. There’s pretty much nothing in it for you, dear taxpayers.”

Um…thanks?

In just the latest example, the federal government spent $6 million to boost tourism—yes, tourism—in Egypt last year. “The U.S. has spent over $100 million on Egyptian tourism so far,” the report notes. “What’s next – rebuilding the pyramids? Apparently, Congress and the agencies it funds think our treasury is a bottomless pit.”

 

 Training DHS Employees to Be Their ‘Authentic & Best Selves’

The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has been pursuing some…creative training programs as of late. In a federally funded workshop last year, CISA employees focused on “effective strategies to build and sustain psychological safety that allows individuals to show up to work as their authentic and best selves.” The workshop was part of a 5-year “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA)” strategic plan.

“Ironically, the workshop coincided with CISA’s efforts to suppress protected speech on social media platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Paul notes. “Even I was censored at the behest of our government speech minders. And all while I thought I was being my best self.”

 

 $38 Million to Dead People

According to a special task force for tracking COVID payments from the federal government, $38 million went to people who were known to be dead in 2023. In fact, $1.3 million of that money went to 30 individuals who had been dead for at least a year.

COVID-relief funding has of course been rife with fraud and mismanagement since the beginning. You’d think politicians would have learned their lesson by now. Then again, it’s not like it’s their money on the line, so why should they care? What are taxpayers going to do, take their money to a competing relief organization?

 

 $8,395 for a Lobster Tank

The Department of Defense pays for a lot of tanks, but a $8,395 lobster tank probably isn’t what taxpayers have in mind when they picture a tank expenditure. Yet this is exactly what was purchased last year by the DOD, presumably to improve the diet of military personnel.

What’s concerning about this purchase is not so much the dollar figure itself but what it represents. No doubt countless other purchases like this take place every day in the military. And all those luxuries really add up.

 

 Two Graphic Novels Combating ‘Disinformation’

In addition to their DEIA initiative, CISA has been hard at work creating not one, but two graphic novels about “disinformation” as part of their “Resilience Series.” The first one covers foreign interference in elections. The second covers COVID vaccines. “There is nothing comical about wasting taxpayer money to justify censorship of constitutionally protected speech,” Paul notes in his report.

 

$200 Million to Famous Music Artists from the ‘Small Business’ Administration

Through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, the Small Business Administration (SBA) funneled $200 million to some of the biggest names in entertainment. “So-called ‘small business owners,’ such as Post Malone, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, and Smashing Pumpkins, received up to $10 million each,” the report notes. “Even Nickelback received $2 million.”

The purpose of the program was to provide financial relief to small entertainment businesses during the pandemic shutdowns. But apparently, the SBA has a hard time defining the word small.

 

 

 

 

No one denies there is waste in government.

Lots of examples could be produced.

I think some of the programs you have listed are not ongoing so not a target for saving money.

 

For ongoing programs the point stands, someone benefits, they had sufficient juice to originate the programs.

They may have sufficient juice to preserve them.