Summary
Donald Trump has exempted himself from key ethics guidelines required under the Presidential Transition Act, which he signed into law in 2020.
By rejecting federal funding for his transition team, Trump avoids donor limits and disclosure requirements, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and transparency.
Critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren and government watchdogs, warn that Trump’s refusal to submit an ethics plan undermines accountability and could open the door to corruption.
This move marks a break from precedent and has sparked alarm over potential personal enrichment during his presidency.
lol. Watchdogs. Hilarious. Let me know when we have a government again.
Don’t hold your breath.
it usually takes 4-6 years or so for democrats to fix most of whatever republciants screw up.
donvict part 1 will take a generation, at least.
donvict part 2 will take a lot longer and require practically-impossible coordination and commitment to get non-republicants to the levels of representation needed for amendment ratifications and impeachments.
The “United” States of America is over.
We’re gonna end up with the “Blue States of America” and the “Republic of Jesusland”
you see that’s the thing, its not exactly blue stats. its blue city’s, islands surrounded by hundreds of miles of red oceans
Mostly empty oceans
Lets be honest, average iq of the red ocean is negative, theres no “people” there. And for the record i live in red ocean
I’m in the purple ocean! But our laws are very very red
Rural/urban divide is not unique to the US in any way whatsoever. Also, expect polarization to self perpetuate as blue voters move to blue states and red states to move to red states.
Turkey is very similar in this regard. Progressive cities, backwards countryside.
It’s also roughly the size and population of Texas alone. Does it have a wildly unfair Electoral College?
Whoa, lets call it like it is. There will be blue states, and there will be welfare states.
Me in Europe for the first time a long time ago asking the same question in every country and getting the truth from a woman in Rome: “oh, we don’t hate the Jews. You’re fine here… But leave the cities… Yeah, it’s like anywhere”
That red ocean is like 3 people on a fucking farm or in a trailer.
An ocean of empty land.
I saw a post about that the other day, it showed a map of all the states with populations smaller than LA county. Almost every single red state was highlighted. Really shows you how silly the electoral college system is.
it usually takes 4-6 years or so for democrats to fix most of whatever republciants screw up.
Liberals never actually fix what conservatives screw up. We never closed Gitmo and we still have troops based in Iraq. We never actually ended the War on Drugs (which has left Republicans a loophole to ban contraceptives by listing them as controlled substances). We never truly repealed Jim Crow and much of the country still relies on forced labor even in liberal bastions like California or New York.
Trump’s just pulling back the curtain on how much has rotted.
Liberals never actually fix what conservatives screw up.
Clinton fucking balanced the budget.
The real problem is Republican spend 4-8 years screwing everything up. Over the next 4 years, with the slimmest of margins, Democrats roll back 80% of it. Then you come in and say “both sides”.
If we want things to stop racheting to the right, we have to elect Dems more than half the time.
Clinton fucking balanced the budget.
For what? A few months? And largely by balancing off the SS Trust, a trick you can only do once (as Bush Jr discovered when he was too far in debt to privatize it).
The real problem is Republican spend 4-8 years screwing everything up.
Half the Democratic Party was along for the ride on the Bush agenda. Kennedy embraced NCLB, Clinton and Kerry fully endorsed the AUMF, Joe Biden authored much of the Patriot Act Hell, Graham-Leech-Biley was signed under Clinton, queuing up the financial crash of 2008.
This isn’t just Republicans. The problem is broadly bipartisan.
Liberals never actually fix what conservatives screw up.
They do, it’s just they mostly concern themselves with the economic screw ups, less-so the rights ones.
Think ‘gay people can marry and have kids to give us more economic slaves’ vs. ‘gay people can’t marry, can’t have kids, and we’re going to use them as a scapegoat for our issues.’
Liberals (which I’m taking to mean Democrats) didn’t “fix” gay marriage. Right up until the Iowa Supreme Court decision, in the early 2000’s, the argument in Democratic circles was that gay-rights organizations should pipe down, settle for civil unions, and stop making gay marriage an issue. They were afraid of handing the Republicans a weapon. It was the gay-rights organizations that pushed it through the courts, and prominent Democratic politicians like Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden “evolved” their positions to support it. I mean no criticism by the use of quotes. Kudos to them for changing their minds, but it wasn’t liberals that made it happen.
I’d say it was liberals that made it happen once there was overwhelming public support, which again, is performative, but drastically different from actively suppressing it. Someone has to pass the things into laws, and in the US it’s either Republicans or Democrats, and across the board any services those poor people do have was introduced through Democrats.
Again, under duress, I don’t argue otherwise. Up here in Canada it was the Liberals being forced to put Healthcare as a ‘universal’* right by the NDP (our Left wing party), then the NDP again to force Liberals to put Dental care through. But they actually did it, and the Conservatives don’t.
Think ‘gay people can marry and have kids to give us more economic slaves’ vs. ‘gay people can’t marry, can’t have kids, and we’re going to use them as a scapegoat for our issues.’
Gay marriage was legalized under a majority conservative court system way back in 2003. When it went to a poplar vote in the bright blue State of California in 2008, Prop 8’s plan to kill it passed by a healthy margin
This was the same year Obama was tiptoeing around full legalization of gay marriage for fear of pissing off too many swing voters in the Midwest.
Gay marriage wasn’t fully legalized into 2015, again by the conservative courts. Efforts to legislate civil rights for LGBT people have largely failed even when the Pres and Leg were fully in Dem control.
Gay marriage was legalized under a majority conservative court system way back in 2003.
Again, under a Liberal government. And I keep saying over and over – I know they phone it in and constantly give bigot ‘swing voters’ things they want. I’ve never said anything against that. It had a 60% approval by the public in 2015 when it was fully legalized. So again, for like the fifth goddamn time – Liberal governments can be forced to do these things by popular will. Conservatives won’t (I’m sure there’s like two examples someone will bring up, again, exception proves the rule.)
To sum: Liberals have to be forced to allow LGBT rights by popular opinion. Conservatives do this.
Again, under a Liberal government.
The Republicans controlled every branch of government in 2003, as well as a majority of state legislatures and governorships.
What broke for gay marriage in 2003 was a libertarian strain of conservatism defecting from the mainstream. Liberals accepted the change with the same passivity as they accepted the status quo.
It had a 60% approval by the public in 2015 when it was fully legalized.
Again by a majority conservative court. The Obama legislature dragged its heels.
Liberal governments can be forced to do these things by popular will.
They can be forced to do things by powerful socio-economic interests. In this case, a big chunk of the legal community broke for gay marriage and Obama didn’t try to get in the way.
But they didn’t do anything. They just let the change happen.
“Hey! You’re not supposed to do that!”
“Is there a specific law being broken?”
“Well…no, not exactly. But it breaks with tradition!”
It does seem a bit silly to focus on this, but you know how the news is. Let’s not forget about Obama in that tan suit sending republicans off the deep end.
From a republican, about a tan suit:
“There’s no way, I don’t think, any of us can excuse what the president did yesterday. I mean, you have the world watching”
Even if there was a law being broken, time has shown that Trump is pretty much above the law at this point.
“Dont enforce democratic norms with tradition” should be in the historical rulebook. Right next to not printing money to pay bills, not invading Russia in winter, and not touching Americas boats
Maybe someone should pair the watchdogs with guard dogs to do the biting when the former bark
If we allow the government to have control of either group, the guard dogs will just kill the watch dogs.
Maybe the people should start biting.
That is a very good point. The people should be controlling the government, after all.
Well, the people wanted this
I don’t think they did. A minority voted for this, but I don’t think they actually grasped or knew the extent of what they were voting for.
They’re gonna be barking a whole lot more the next four years.
I wonder if falling out of windows will be a common thing.
Those poor dogs. Someone should call the SPCA and repo… Defunded you say?
Maybe a network of volunteers can foster care for some, a few have sweet temperaments ?
I can volunteer some pet food
And what are they going to do about it? If breaking the oath bears no teeth, the oath is pointless.
I face more punishment breaking my Paladin oath in Baldurs Gate 3…
Just like all checks and balances in government, it assumes the branches are somewhat independent and ethical, at least claim to serve their constituents, and protect their own power. It’s up to the legislative branch or the judicial branch
One Final Check
State Vs Federal.
Grab your popcorns, because you wont be able to afford it in the future!
Turns out the concept of “checks and balances” was always a stupid lie.
If it’s a law then he broke the law which means no other politician should be involved in the process as it’s a matter for the police, he should be prevented from taking power by those who enforce the law, aka the police.
Nullification Crisis v2.0: Blue States Boogaloo
I still never finished act 2… patches and mod updates sent me back to RTS and 4x. My last run was a dope oath breaking paladin
I’m trying to keep my ancients oath but every dialogue option seems like a trap to make you lose it. I fucking lost it talking to a bird for fucks sake. I’ve lost so many hours of progress resetting because I don’t want to pay 1000 gold, it’s literally 1/10th that cost to change your class.
I wish paladins had a morality slider instead, like KOTOR
Do you play with any mods? UI?
I’d be happy that Trump voters finally got what they deserve, but unfortunately, the rest of us have to suffer the consequences alongside them. As well as the rest of the world.
I don’t know why, but most of the world voting their political parties into power is trending to the conservative right not towards the progressive left.
Because things are getting more worrying on a global scale (economical slow down, ecological crisis and wars) and the usual human reflexes are conservatism and blaming the people who are different. I think progressive ideas rather spread in times of peace and prosperity, or after catastrophic events like WW2.
the usual human reflexes are conservatism
Like voting in to power the people causing the economic and environmental issues. It’s absolutely mind-boggling how easy humans can be convinced to vote against their own interests.
I think “easy” is unfair. I mean, you really have to admit that the right-wing propaganda machine worked its ass off for the last 30 years and succeeded in its evil intent.
Have you seen how blatant the propaganda is?
Sure, but they had to work up to that exponentially. If they came out swinging like that even 10 years ago, there would have been a LOT more “it was a joke” back peddling.
On the surface for some people, it’s just voting for people who they think are not going to add restrictions on their daily lives, which comes way before ecology or the wellbeing of strangers, when you struggle. It’s the end of the month vs end of the world dilemma that right populism seems to utilize better than left populism.
I think the billionaire class has decided it’s better to be in control of government right now so they can use the power of state violence to keep their material wealth. There is an ongoing refugee crisis that is going to affect every single country as climate change makes certain places uninhabitable.
The final battle of the class war is upon us.
Pfffft you think therell be a battle? Well just slowly backslide into feudalism and the world will think it was inevitable. Im almost inclined to agree seeing how people behave now and historically
Those who try to actively pilot their lives are the minority. The preference is to not think about and simply do whatever it is that they want to do in the moment.
We aren’t actually a race of beings able to see or plan ahead mostly. To a degree the sociopaths are right to play the populace like a fiddle it’s just a shame most of them are idiots without a plan either.
Historically this does seem to be the trend. However it could be worth pointing out that the original New Deal was enacted during a period of historic economic turmoil and upheaval. Could be worth refreshing ourselves on how that came about to help prepare for what’s coming next.
“Most of the world” isn’t voting at all. And that is how the right wing gains power.
Turnout in the UK this year was 59.7%. Ireland’s 60%, Japan 54%, France 63%, South Africa 59%, Mexico 61%. Indonesia 82%. India 65%. Sri Lanka 79%. America’s around 65%.
In 2022 Italy had 63%, Brazil 79%, Australia 92%.
In 2021, Germany’s was 76%.
What does “most of the world isn’t voting at all” mean?
By your own numbers (Thanks for doing that work! Next time please remember to share the source you pulled from.) in most countries at least a third of people couldn’t be bothered to do the most meaningful action they can to impact the world. That’s sad.
The infobox from Wikipedia is the source for all but the Irish elections and American elections, neither of which are finished counting (although Ireland’s was only this weekend…). It really isn’t that much work to type “election turnout (country)” into Google and click the first result. I’m not writing a dissertation, so I’m afraid that will have to do you.
“Couldn’t be bothered” is an extreme oversimplification of the matter, but regardless, most people are voting, and when higher than usual numbers do vote - as in America - it hasn’t meant defeat for the right wing.
The trend is technically voting out the establishment - trying something new out of desperation. Unfortunately, the extreme right is more than willing to pretend that they have a solution. Usually, it’s to blame the other and promise to get rid of the other. You know, Nazi shit.
Technology has enabled the centralization of power and wealth in an unprecedented way. Also Russian influence campaigns, for the same reason.
You know that old saying, “every accusation is a confession”? When conservatives all over the world started getting hysterical about the WEF, I think what we all needed to be looking at was the IDU.
Him not signing an ethics pledge is probably the most honest move he did in his lifetime.
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It’s funny how Brazil (a country that’s seen the consequences of authoritarianism) is handling their own attempted coup vs the U.S., we are basically welcoming Trump back after everything he’s done.
After the coup attempt he should have been barred from office and arrested. This is such a ridiculous timeline.
Societies get the leaders they deserve.
I hate that sentiment and especially wording, but there is sadly truth behind it…
I guess… he barely won the popular vote, and didn’t pick up any significant amount of new voters. I wouldn’t say the basically half of voters who voted against this deserve it.
This is the part that hurts the most.
I canvassed, I rallied, I pushed people to vote. I did what I could to ensure the fascist didn’t win again, but he still did. Enough of my country either didn’t care, found some excuse to not vote for her, or wanted him to to be president.
I was denied a chance at a primary, but I was excited for Kamala. There is no person who can sit and represent 300 million people and make them all happy, but she was more on my side than not, and I’m willing to push for ‘better right now’ and then push for ‘better later’ too as distinct events.
As part of the now vocal minority, I don’t relish what is to come. I didn’t ask for it and I don’t want it; but lumped in with ‘Americans’, we sure seem to.
Yeah, it sucks. I really wish we would have dealt with the issue when he planned a coup iinstead of basically letting him walk all over everyone back into power.
The 80 million people who didn’t vote deserve it.
Man, no wonder we go to war with people all the time. Can’t even not wish harm on people simply for not voting. Is it frustrating, sure, but i don’t wish harm on people over it.
Critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren and government watchdogs, warn that Trump’s refusal to submit an ethics plan undermines accountability and could open the door to corruption.
Fucking could? It’s kinda been proven that he is corrupt and this is the best the watchdogs can do? Where’s their teeth?
Not even kinda proven! It’s 100 fucking percent proven he’s corrupt. The man was found guilty of 34 felonies. He’s been doing this shit literally for decades… Fucking pussies…
Alarm! Concern! Criticism! Hand-wringing!
Furrowed brows!
we are well past the point of hand-wringing. this calls for a strongly worded letter
What are you doing about it?
Lowly me? Preparing to [email protected]
I’ll have to look into that.
The news outlets will SLAM him for this!
indeed they will
Those alarms already had the copper wire stolen from behind them.
Opens the door to corruption?
The door was burnt for firewood years ago.
People are generally quite stupid, so they need to feel the effects that everyone knew was coming two decades ago. When you destroy education and let money control media and politics, you get America.
We have learned (and are still learning) that precedent doesn’t mean shit
It is spelled “president”
(/a)
It was.
Now it’s Fuhrer.
Okay, I give up. What on earth is /a supposed to mean!? Some sources decode it as “alterous”, but that doesn’t help me either. Is this just a typo of /s?
Probably just a typo
Just a typo, (and fat fingers) but I’m going to say it stands for “ambiguous” because…
There once was a man from Jamaica, Who liked to sling pieces of paper. The tropical sun was a topical one, And the walri could see it much deeper.
Can someone explain this to me
Recite it in concordance with Jamaican patois phonology, and it rhymes.
Is there more to it than rhyme? It makes no sense to me. 💩🧠💩😅
The more I see this unfold the more I understand why Trump won. (This is in no way me supporting Trump, the guy deserves the worst this world has to offer!)
Anyways, the establishment and dems are a bunch of toothless liars! If I was some poor chap doing my best to just stay alive in the US I likely also would’ve have lost hope in my vote mattering. Legally speaking, it quite literally doesn’t. The dems regularly shitting on the primaries is a great example of this (and ofc the electoral collage).
Nobody in politics cares about the people. After the 2008 crash, both the reps and dems bailed out all the banks responsible for the mass fraud, while the people that suffered barely got shit.
The vast majority of people didn’t vote and some voted Trump out of desperation, wanting any change at all. It’s fucking sad.
Trump is America’s self-inflicted gunshot wound
And even if it heals, the medical bills will wreck us.
“And that’s MXC’s impact replay of the day!”
Seriously, I want that on a bumper sticker.
Warren is a good example of someone who does care and I can only recommend her books on the matter. She came from the same place as everyone else and managed to get where she has been for a good while now.
If she’d been president 2016 or any time after that things would’ve looked a lot different, probably globally, I can almost guarantee as much.
Edit: and by different I mean a lot fucking better, to be clear.
You mean Bernie, not Warren. Plus Bernie was winning primaries and insanely more popular than Warren.
If he’s so popular why wasn’t he elected after every primary
Because you don’t live in a democracy. And you don’t get elected after every primary, primaries are held before election to see who is popular. Sanders approval rating is through the roof and has been consistently over the years, easily the most popular senator across the board.
Your answer is the DNC, ain’t that complicated. Sanders won the votes of the people, but the liberals and dems pushed Hillary anyway in 2016, and lost.
Yeah, but she’s not progressive enough for the leftists (plus they hate her for some perceived slight against Bernie), and too left for the moderates.
I mean the universe spent years letting us all know this guy was corrupt as fuck.
Americans voted for corruption.
We WANT corruption.
We’ll be no better than Russia by the end of our lives. And it will have been no one else’s fault but our own.
Not mine, thanks
same. I’m sick of being lumped in with the vocal minority. which they are. “Americans” as a majority do not want this.
I’m sick of being lumped in with the vocal minority. which they are.
This would have made sense to say last time Trump won with a minority of votes. But he won the majority this time. The majority of Americans chose to put an anti-democratic felon rapist in the Oval Office. Sorry, but that’s the reality. The stupids in this country aren’t a minority.
no, the majority of votes went to him. the majority of adult Americans did not vote for him.
The one thing we can absolutely be sure of is that this dispicable con-man will do all that he can to enrich himself, without regard for any limiting principle or structural restraint.
Its not a question of “if” he “may” be corrupt, but only how brazen the supposed patriots in the Republican party will let him be as he does it.
“which he signed into law in 2020.” You’ve got to be fucking kidding
