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Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2

02 Apr 25 - 12:36 PM (#4220180)
Subject: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage

We're still sticking to just one Trump thread, but it appears that some of the longer ones are troublesome when loading so that last one is "closed for repairs." Here's the new one.

We can't open the entire former thread but you can see what individuals posted to that or any other thread if you go to your personal page or search on someone else and look at their individual thread messages.

This was my final message (on March 31) on the last thread:

In his continuing offensive offensive, when Trump put himself in charge of the Kennedy Center he offended a whole bunch of people. Intentionally.

From the Daily Beast Musician Who Quit Kennedy Center Issues a Chilling Warning About Trump

A musician who quit the Kennedy Center after Donald Trump took over as chair earlier this year issued a chilling warning about the president’s “authoritarian instinct.”

Ben Folds, the former artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra, told CBS News Sunday that he’s never seen political interference in the arts at this scale.

02 Apr 25 - 12:47 PM (#4220181)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage

And in the good news for today, all of Musk's money didn't win them that Wisconsin supreme court seat, so the lawsuit against Musk that will go before that court isn't a slam dunk to let him off the hook.

The Justice Department judge (Ho) who was told to drop the case against the New York City mayor did so, but with prejudice. That means that while the mayor is probably guilty and in a Harris administration with no interference would mean he'd be found guilty. The matter before us is that since Trump wanted a cudgel to use against the mayor the corrupt Justice Department wanted charges dropped but still hanging over Mayor Adam's head and if he doesn't do what they want, then re-charge him. By dismissing with prejudice, the judge is saying they can't charge him again, so Trump has no more say in the matter.

What a slimy bunch of sewer rats.

02 Apr 25 - 12:57 PM (#4220182)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen

Thanks SRS and to all the moderators here for your hard work in keeping Mudcat working properly.

I was pleased to read this article today because hitting (f)Elon Musk's "hip pocket nerve" may be the only way to really get to him and make him realise he is not financially and strategically bullet-proof.

[Note: Aussie slang: hip pocket nerve "An imaginary nerve that reacts whenever demands are made on one's money (especially in contexts such as government proposals to increase taxes). The term is from hip-pocket 'a trouser pocket that traditionally contains a wallet'."]

Tesla sales fall in first months of 2025 amid Elon Musk backlash

"In short: Tesla sales in the first three months of 2025 have fallen by a bigger-than-expected margin, will a slump in sales in the US, Europe and China.

"It comes amid increased electric vehicle competition and chief executive Elon Musk's embrace of far-right politics.

"What's next? Chinese company BYD is set to unseat Tesla as the world's number one EV seller later this year."

"Sales of Tesla electric vehicles have slumped 13 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, the company's worst quarterly result since 2022.

"It comes amid strengthening competition in the car market and a backlash to chief executive Elon Musk's embrace of far-right politics.

"The company's share price fell 2 per cent on Wednesday as the company recorded a bigger-than-expected drop in sales.

"The company sold just 336,681 vehicles between January to March, roughly 50,000 fewer cars than for the same period last year."

,,,



Also, on another topic, Australia and other countries are also waiting for the tariff announcements today. It looks like a lot of countries have counter-measures being laid out in waiting so the end result will probably be higher prices for US people. How Trump thinks this is good for the American people is beyond me!

02 Apr 25 - 02:23 PM (#4220188)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: robomatic

So much of this seems to be chaos for chaos' sake. Such as the recent stories of going for a third Presidential term here at the outset of TRMP 2. Dedicate yourself and yours to first principals, first making sure you have some.

02 Apr 25 - 03:48 PM (#4220192)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage

So many shiny objects swirl around in the blowback from the muzzle blast that Bannon talks about. One suspects that the hard core MAGA are the audience for the third-term stuff, to keep them from noticing their social security is being whittled away or access completely gone to Medicaid.

If you can open this, here is a link to Timothy Snyder on Substack, the post is a video of John Lithgow reading the 20 lessons from his book On Tyranny.

02 Apr 25 - 09:56 PM (#4220200)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

The only reason Trump has the power to create global tariffs is because he declared an economic emergency on day one. The Economist magazine called the US economy the envy of the world but Donald says otherwise.

The Senate passed a law that reverses the Trump economic emergency powers and must be voted on by the House within 7 days.
The speaker of the House then made a rule that changes space time.
REALLY! He has declared that one legal day equals one orbit of the Earth around the Sun. The HOUSE now has 7 years to bring the emergency power bill to a vote.

How do ya like them apples?

If this new definition of time applies to a Presidential term it could make the term hundreds of years long.

02 Apr 25 - 10:07 PM (#4220202)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage

Yes - the speaker of the house is the one who needs to fix that debacle they created when they said all of this legislative year counts as one day. Lunacy. (Does that mean I can put off paying my taxes?) I will be writing to my representative tomorrow about fixing that.

Meanwhile, Trump, who doesn't seem to understand the difference between customs duty paid at the border versus tariffs, imposed tariffs on the world.

02 Apr 25 - 10:13 PM (#4220203)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen

That's ok because the world is now in the process of imposing reciprocating tariffs on the US. :-)

Even more costs to be borne by the average person while the rich oligarchs make merry in their mansions. Fiddling while Rome burns.

02 Apr 25 - 10:29 PM (#4220205)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

Perhaps the one day equals a year only applies to one year, but the Parliamentarian has yet to respond.

A couple of months ago, I speculated how Trump could grift on his global tariff idea. Today, many of the tariff nations and islands are uninhabited, but when a country is large enough to pay for an exemption fee to be free of Trump tariffs, there still could be a boat load of cash that might be grifted. We shall see if 'special deals' or renegotiations are made. If not, an American consumer of a foreign nation's product will pay an exorbitant tax or do without.

03 Apr 25 - 01:23 AM (#4220207)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Backwoodsman

And ‘aliens’ who work for businesses outside the US whose products are sold into the US will be at increased risk of losing their jobs as demand for those now-over-priced products falls.

It’s international economic terrorism.

03 Apr 25 - 03:50 AM (#4220210)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Dave the Gnome

He has no understanding of basic economics let alone complex world trade. Or maybe he does but predicts that his MAGA minions do not. Either way, Carney will make mincemeat of him!

03 Apr 25 - 04:14 AM (#4220213)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Sandra in Sydney

trump's latest - 29% tariffs on Norfolk Island - a beautiful tiny little island, a tourist destination (pop. 2188) that is part of Australia & doesn't do any trade!

I've been there twice in 1975 & 2016, it's full of historic buildings & a graveyard where a number of American whalers were buried! Whaling on the Middle Ground

No known exports': Australia's Norfolk Island says it won't have to pay higher US tariffs Two uninhabited Australian islands and the external territory Norfolk Island were singled out for US tariffs....Norfolk Island was facing a 29 per cent tariff, which the US said was in response to the 58 per cent tariff (including currency manipulation and trade barriers) it faced from Norfolk Island.

A spokesperson for the Norfolk Island administrator told SBS News it had "no known exports" to the US.

"Tourism is the main industry on Norfolk Island and the primary driver of economic activity," she said.

"There are no known exports from Norfolk Island to the United States of America and no tariffs or known non-tariff trade barriers on goods coming to Norfolk Island," the spokesperson said. ...

... There was also confusion around why the Heard and McDonald islands, both uninhabited Australian external territories, were also singled out on Trump's list

The islands are populated by seals, penguins, and birds — but not by people.

The US has suggested a 10 per cent tariff will be placed on goods from these islands, a "reciprocal" tariff on the 10 per cent it believes it pays ...

03 Apr 25 - 04:32 AM (#4220214)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Sandra in Sydney

I'm having fun!!
Reuters - A tiny Australian outpost gets a steep Trump tariff despite few exports    Reciprocal tariffs of 29% levied on Norfolk Island's exports to US
    US data shows it has had trade deficits with island for past 3 years
    Island's main industry is tourism, some of its business owners say

SYDNEY, April 3 (Reuters) - For Richard Cottle, owner of a concrete-mixing business on Norfolk Island, there was only one explanation when U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a hefty 29% tariff on the tiny territory about 600 miles off eastern Australia: "it was just a mistake".
Though the rugged volcanic island in the southern Pacific does ship a modest amount of Kentia palm seeds abroad, typically worth less than $1 million a year, mostly to Europe, news of the unusually steep tariff passed through its 2,188 residents on Thursday with a mixture of amusement and confusion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Norfolk Islanders overjoyed at brief elevation to tariff bad boys list

~~~~~~~~~~~~
The tiny Australian islands no one expected to draw Trump’s fury It’s two specks of land populated by penguins and seals.

Heard and McDonald islands, which sit 4000 kilometres south-west of Perth and are home to Australia’s only active volcanoes, are uninhabited apart from an occasional visit by scientists to check in on the unusual wildlife. (good pic of the inhabitants, caption - The inhabitants of Heard and McDonald islands – a tariff threat to the United States)

~~~~~~~~~~~

‘Nowhere on earth is safe’: Trump imposes tariffs on uninhabited islands near Antarctica ... Heard Island and McDonald Islands are among several “external territories” of Australia listed separately in the tariff list to Australia, which will see a 10% tariff imposed on its goods.

External territories are part of Australia and not self-governing but have a unique relationship with the federal government. Such territories featured on the White House list were the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island and Norfolk Island.

.... In 2023, Norfolk Island exported US$655,000 (A$1.04m) worth of goods to the US, with its main export being US$413,000 (A$658,000) worth of leather footwear, according to Observatory of Economic Complexity data.

But George Plant, the administrator of Norfolk Island, disputed the data. He told the Guardian: “There are no known exports from Norfolk Island to the United States and no tariffs or known non-tariff trade barriers on goods coming to Norfolk Island.”

Albanese said on Thursday: “Norfolk Island has got a 29% tariff. I’m not quite sure that Norfolk Island, with respect to it, is a trade competitor with the giant economy of the United States, but that just shows and exemplifies the fact that nowhere on earth is safe from this.”

The export figures from Heard Island and McDonald Islands are even more perplexing. The territory does have a fishery but no buildings or human habitation whatsoever.

Despite this, according to export data from the World Bank, the US imported US$1.4m (A$2.23m) of products from Heard Island and McDonald Islands in 2022, nearly all of which was “machinery and electrical” imports. It was not immediately clear what those goods were.

In the five years prior, imports from Heard Island and McDonald Islands ranged from US$15,000 (A$24,000) to US$325,000 (A$518,000) per year ...

OMG - leather footwear????? machinery & electrical devices??? - those penguins are very clever.

Who is inventing this "data"

03 Apr 25 - 04:49 AM (#4220217)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Backwoodsman

"Who is inventing this data?"

He's 'heard it' somewhere...

03 Apr 25 - 05:32 AM (#4220219)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Aethelric

“Hi Donald
My people think your people are starting to suspect our little arrangement.
We think you should get mad at me for a while.”

“Yeah O.K. Vlad, I’m good at getting mad.”

“You’re the best Donald. Oh, and no tariffs for Russia”

“You want me to get mad at you but not hit you with tariffs? How do I do that?

“One is the Ukraine and the other is the economy, stupid”

“OK. You can rely on me Vlad.”

“We both know that Donald.
????????”

03 Apr 25 - 07:13 AM (#4220222)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: SPB-Cooperator

I was thinking this morning - ok I know that is bad for my health! Anyway there are 7bilion people in world so with a population of 300-400 million in the end the words doesn't really need the US market, so supply chain companies and other exporters could just decide it is not worth doing business with US any more and and cooperate towards a world wide reverse Boston Tea Party.

03 Apr 25 - 09:08 AM (#4220229)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

This debacle is being called worse than the worst case scenario.
The Trump message to all the nations of the world "Sit tight and take it. Do not retaliate or tariffs will go up. Wait and the current tariffs will be the high water mark that might be adjusted."

Aha, he wants bribes, while Americans will pay more, and Walmarts, Targets, and automakers will downsize. Farmers are on the immediate brink of bankruptcy. Last time, Trump had to bail out agriculture with 50 billion dollars.

This is not the gilded golden age anyone asked for.
Once everything is broken from food supply to health care and SS it tends to stay broken until it is slowly rebuilt during a depression after the current regime is gone.
How long is pain on a temporary basis?
Answer: Optimistically, it will take years. We already live in a world that is not coordinated and is set upon itself in many selfish ways.

Guess who did not go to the rescue of the 3,000 people killed in the recent earthquake. The MAGA YELL "Fuck them aliens". Down with USAID.
China helped.

03 Apr 25 - 09:23 AM (#4220230)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: pattyClink

Not only are Trump and Musk insane and incompetent, but the minions cooking up these tariff rates are demonstrating their gross incompetence. I imagine they are what is being produced by evangelical 'universities' these days. Major: Religion. Minor: Enshittification.

Yes, SPB-C, that's what's going on, the world order is changing and will no longer revolve around the USA.

Thomas Friedman on where the future is:

Original — https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/opinion/trump-tariffs-china.html

Archived — https://archive.ph/OZrfa#selection-4585.327-4585.335

03 Apr 25 - 09:23 AM (#4220231)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Backwoodsman

The only 'alien' (how I hate that fucking disgusting Americanism for anyone who happens to not have been born a Yank) in this whole crock o'shite is Donald Tump. He truly is NOT of this world.

03 Apr 25 - 09:25 AM (#4220232)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Backwoodsman

Or even Trump!

03 Apr 25 - 09:49 AM (#4220234)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

We all are in an experiment by something bigger than Trump.
It is called Sentient and it is classified but you can find out a little bit about it. Sentient

Culture is random. We as a species are becoming more monocultural compared to ancient humans. That creates an obstacle or weakness for evolution. If you are a nerd, you might see that Trump is trying to create an autopoietic nation. He won't know what that means, but it takes an entire planet system in turmoil to create life, not a single locale. I don't think he knows much beyond making a quick buck by deception.

03 Apr 25 - 11:31 AM (#4220246)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Fred

Re: Trump.


There's an old Star Trek line that says it best:

"It's life, Jim, but not as we know it!"

Fred

03 Apr 25 - 11:32 AM (#4220247)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk

*Agree*, BWM, on both counts (both the loathing of the expression and the identification of the lizard person). I've been saying for Simply Ages that our King should withdraw that invitation to tea at Buck House, on the grounds that the orange moron is an enemy alien and a danger to our national security.

Meanwhile, there's an article by Rob Slade in RISKS 34:60, which I find pertinent (qv for link to the full lesson):

*Security for ordinary folks*: Lessons from Signalgate 1 - Rules

[ ... ]

So, day by day, herewith some security lessons, applicable to seniors, homemakers, owners of your own business, students of security, security professionals, and all the way down to vice presidents of superpowers.

"Security for ordinary folks": Lessons from Signalgate 1 - Rules

Lesson one: this is why we have information classification rules.

[ ... ]

First of all, this whole story, and scandal, couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. I mean that, quite literally. Nicer people are people who tend to follow the rules. The MAGA camp is led by someone who not only doesn't think that the rules apply to him, he doesn't think that there *are* any rules at all. [ ... ]

03 Apr 25 - 11:43 AM (#4220250)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage

This seems to be the point at which the congress decides to act. Their gored oxen is the stock market. Until now just normal citizens worrying about social security wasn't enough to budge them. Now if the senate can light a fire under Johnson to stop the stupid one day is one year thing. So much happening, what was that about again?

03 Apr 25 - 11:48 AM (#4220251)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk

News flash (from BBC ticker): French president Macron calls for suspension of investment in the US.

03 Apr 25 - 02:02 PM (#4220252)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Dave the Gnome

It was just pointed out to me that the tariffs are not an economic measure but a political one. Economicly they do not make sense but politically they do. As well as giving the hard of thinking the impression that the turnip is a strong man, it gives him a great sense of power over others. In some ways, sadly, they do give him power. Once he has broken the country and the electorate start to rebel against his regime he can relax some of the tariffs, lowering prices and pacifying those railing against the regime.

Hopefully the majority over there are wise to this but can action be taken soon enough?

03 Apr 25 - 02:31 PM (#4220253)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Fred

It's not just the US, it's more or less EVERY country. The people (or most of them) struggle and those in power don't.

It wouldn't matter who was in the White House, in No 10 or anywhere else, nothing can change and nothing WILL change until those in power put the people before self.

Just my opinion.

Fred

03 Apr 25 - 02:39 PM (#4220254)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Backwoodsman

£20 Grand disappeared off Mrs Backwoodsperson’s Pension fund since the tariffs announcement yesterday. Thank you very much, you fat, ugly, orange c**t.

03 Apr 25 - 03:06 PM (#4220256)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Fred

Bw,

I WAS wondering cos that's not the you I'm used to. Now it's clear. That stinks man!

Fred

03 Apr 25 - 03:56 PM (#4220257)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Fred

Bw,

About your wife's pension fund, I mean.

Fred

03 Apr 25 - 04:23 PM (#4220258)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Backwoodsman

Yeah, sorry about the sweary bit Fred, but she’s worked her butt off and saved hard for years, for what she hopes will be a comfortable retirement, only to see her money disappearing because of that fat, greedy, selfish waste of oxygen.

03 Apr 25 - 04:34 PM (#4220259)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

Hitler did better in the Great Depression.

The WSJ finally agrees with my bribery/tariff scheme.

03 Apr 25 - 05:04 PM (#4220260)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Fred

Bw,

No, I totally get it mate. I'd be the same to be fair.

Fred

03 Apr 25 - 07:05 PM (#4220268)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Raggytash

This may have slipped under the radar in the USA.


https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/03/donald-trump-ordered-pay-legal-costs-steele-dossier-lawsuit

03 Apr 25 - 07:21 PM (#4220271)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Raggytash

I've been browsing through a book about words and their meaning by the UK lexicographer Susie Dent.

Tonight in my reading I got up to "Trumperiness" to which she says

"This 19 the century word describes a state of being extremely showy but utterly worthless - in other words trashy. It is the first cousin tp "trumpet", from the French trompe. Trumpet"

A perfect description I think.

03 Apr 25 - 07:21 PM (#4220272)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

the United States is not a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), although it played a role in establishing the Rome Statute that created the ICC, and has previously signed the treaty, it has not ratified it and has withdrawn its signature. Now Hungary has quit the World Criminal Court. Our friends in Russia, North Korea etc. welcome the news.

03 Apr 25 - 07:25 PM (#4220274)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage

All I can say is that the grassroots in the US is working on this. Hopefully Trump won't know what hit him when all of it finally starts working. I'd really love him to have a debilitating stroke from the angry response, but whatever. He needs to be disarmed (the Executive Orders and the proclamations are something Congress can cancel) and impeached.

03 Apr 25 - 07:33 PM (#4220275)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

We need a new/old national anthem. National Anthem by Trump

03 Apr 25 - 08:11 PM (#4220276)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

The Senate now has a new bill to limit Trump's tariff power.

Trump is in his castle and all of us, American or not, are the outside power. We can surround the castle and hold a siege.
It may be the fight of our lives. It may reveal the king is a coward or that he cares so little about other people that many are killed.
But now it is a fight for survival and not just an inconvenience.

03 Apr 25 - 08:12 PM (#4220277)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen

The question about the following review is whether Trump will interfere with it and whether he will sweep it under the rug, with all his other muck and garbage. (h to be back in olden times where the checks and balances, investigations and judicial systems could be trusted! :-(


Pentagon watchdog to review Pete Hegseth’s use of Signal app to convey plans for Houthi strike

"In short: The Pentagon's acting inspector general says he will review Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the Signal messaging app to convey plans for a military strike in Yemen.

"In a memorandum addressed to Mr Hegseth, the Inspector General's office said it would examine whether the use of Signal met Defense Department guidelines.
What's next?

"Mr Stebbins said the review would take place in Washington, DC as well as at Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida."

03 Apr 25 - 08:25 PM (#4220278)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

I foresee a march larger than the women's march during Trump's 1st term. A siege is not trashing the White House but creating an embargo of the presidency. The Senate has reached its limit but the House is still hanging together for the time being.

03 Apr 25 - 11:38 PM (#4220279)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage

Some of this nonsense the House and Senate can stop if they decide to act. "IF" being the key word here.

I have mutual funds that are down 12% right now.

04 Apr 25 - 12:59 AM (#4220281)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen

SRS, on the topic of Trump's health, I noticed in the tariff announcement video that he appeared to be very stiff, not moving his head because his neck seemed stiff, and his stance was very stiff. I didn't watch the whole speech but I noticed the stiffness just before he turned to walk away at the end. He moved and walked like an automaton including keeping his body and head aligned and turning like he was made of a big block of wood.

He doesn't look very healthy in his face either. I think the stress is getting to him so a stroke might indeed be a possible health event for him.

I've resisted the temptation to say this, so you can delete it if you want, but given that he is a convicted rapist he probably hasn't had many women coming near him in private, so that form of stress relief might be being denied to him. (Sad! NOT!)

04 Apr 25 - 03:17 AM (#4220284)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Backwoodsman

”He needs to be disarmed (the Executive Orders and the proclamations are something Congress can cancel) and impeached.”

On the current showing, it ain’t gonna happen. Congress appear to be paralysed (or in cahoots with The Mango Mussolini), and we all know how the other impeachments turned out.

Barring a debilitating health issue, or someone getting lucky with a bullet (I never thought I’d find myself supporting the American laissez-faire gun-ownership laws!), we’re stuck with the fat, ugly bastard for the next four years.

04 Apr 25 - 07:20 AM (#4220289)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: gillymor

Last week I shifted my mutual funds into money market accounts. I'm not saying hurray for me, I'm just putting this out there as an option.

04 Apr 25 - 07:28 AM (#4220290)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

There is resistance and fighr in the people but in the meantime how will the poor survive such times as these? Many won't

04 Apr 25 - 07:50 AM (#4220293)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

A good question earlier was, "Where did these Trump numbers come from?"

His minions only looked at the trade deficit numbers of a nation and applied the highest tariffs on those.

That was nonsense economics and nonsense math. There is a bad case of history deficit disorder going on but Trump believes he's a genius.

04 Apr 25 - 08:32 AM (#4220295)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Backwoodsman

If you believe this shit-show is all Trump's own work, you are either very naive or very deluded. Trump is the garrulous glove-puppet, the distraction tactic if you will, for a bunch of very wealthy, very dangerous, very fascistic politicians and businessmen.

Keep your eyes on the ball.

04 Apr 25 - 09:50 AM (#4220298)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: gillymor

Trump may an ignorant dupe but he is the head of this treacherous snake and without him this insanity wouldn't be possible.

04 Apr 25 - 01:22 PM (#4220303)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage

From yesterday to today, starting from the same number on my mutual funds, they are now down 18%.

The pressure is finally being placed on Trump, but it took the Senators and House members probably looking at their own stock portfolios to begin to act. Piss poor reason for starting to speak up for their constituents.

04 Apr 25 - 01:52 PM (#4220304)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

Life is just a bowl of cheeries was popular in the 1930's.
Life is just a bowl of coronaries today.

The market has not crashed like in 1929, but it could go lower.
It has lost over 3 trillion dollars, but Trump sez we have 7 trillion rolling in. I recall that Hitler believed he had army divisions that did not exist, probably out of a denial his ego demanded.

Just because some US billionaires caved in to Trump does not mean the world will pay to play Trump's fear and favor game.
I believe he has lost. Its all over except for his firing purge of those he will blame. Meanwhile, what is lost is gone and will never suddenly reappear. If a correction does happen it will take 3 months to stabilize at an overall loss.

04 Apr 25 - 03:07 PM (#4220306)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

A South Korean Court removed their President today.
The people were behind the court. Stranger things could happen here.

04 Apr 25 - 04:59 PM (#4220307)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Backwoodsman

Only in your dreams…

04 Apr 25 - 05:51 PM (#4220308)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Sandra in Sydney

comment from one of our political commentators this morning -

As the internet came alive with memes of outraged Heard Island penguins protesting at being hit with 10 per cent tariffs by the US on Thursday, others online were speculating about just how the Trump administration had come up with its tariffs formula, which not only hit the scenic penguin colony but the US military base on Diego Garcia.

There was some speculation that the White House might have asked ChatGPT for some suggestions the night before.

sandra

personally I go with the Hollow Earth theory - the penguins have established an industrial complex making leather shoes for their friends in Norfolk Island (no penguins there, but lotsa' birds) & electrical goods for themselves! I wonder what they are making for their Diego Garcia friends.

04 Apr 25 - 05:55 PM (#4220310)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Sandra in Sydney

comment from one of our political commentators this morning -

As the internet came alive with memes of outraged Heard Island penguins protesting at being hit with 10 per cent tariffs by the US on Thursday, others online were speculating about just how the Trump administration had come up with its tariffs formula, which not only hit the scenic penguin colony but the US military base on Diego Garcia.

There was some speculation that the White House might have asked ChatGPT for some suggestions the night before.

sandra
Hollow Earth theory - the penguins have established an industrial complex making leather shoes for their friends in Norfolk Island (no penguins there, but lotsa' birds) & electrical goods for themselves! I wonder what they are making for their Diego Garcia friends.

04 Apr 25 - 06:15 PM (#4220315)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: keberoxu

Tomorrow, Saturday April 5, there are protests large and small
planned all over the United States.
The umbrella title appears to be Hands Off.

04 Apr 25 - 06:45 PM (#4220320)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage

It's much larger than just the US. At this point there are protests scheduled in many other countries as well. https://handsoff2025.com/

There is one scheduled in London on the
North Terrace in front of the National Gallery (3pm on Sat, 5 April) at Trafalgar Square, London, UK
London WC2N 5DS, DC 20001

Also in Edinburgh, as well as in Netherlands, Belgium, France, and two in Portugal. There's also one on American Samoa, though I don't see any in Australasia.

They're all over the US. I'll be going to one in the town directly south of me. Alas, my city doesn't have one scheduled.

04 Apr 25 - 07:32 PM (#4220322)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen

I haven't heard of any protests organised in Australia for April 5 but I'm sure there will be protests somewhere, maybe on a different day. We believe in free speech here so it's just another normal activity for us.

04 Apr 25 - 09:46 PM (#4220326)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

I previously linked to an author of project 2025 interview and his views on tariffs and government destruction. His name was Ron Vera,
...................................................................
IT TURNs OUT RON VERA IS NOT A REAL PERSON

The name is an anagram of Navarro. Ron Navarro is the Trump minion who has plunged the world into recession with his Trump approved plan.
It was Kutchner who initially went to the Amazon bookstore to find any like minded economist his father in law might enjoy to support.

source Rachel Maddow.

04 Apr 25 - 09:57 PM (#4220327)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

From: Donuel - PM
Date: 03 Apr 25 - 08:25 PM

I foresee a march larger than the women's march during Trump's 1st term.

A siege is not trashing the White House but creating an embargo of the presidency. The Senate has reached its limit but the House is still hanging together for the time being.

05 Apr 25 - 02:09 AM (#4220329)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Sandra in Sydney

Stilly, we have a Federal election in a few weeks, so folk are busy there.

05 Apr 25 - 03:19 AM (#4220332)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Doug Chadwick

IT TURNs OUT RON VERA IS NOT A REAL PERSON

The name is an anagram of Navarro


No it isn't!

DC

05 Apr 25 - 03:25 AM (#4220333)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Doug Chadwick

Ron Navarro is the Trump minion who has plunged the world into recession with his Trump approved plan.

Do you mean Peter Navarro?

DC

05 Apr 25 - 07:05 AM (#4220336)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk

Apologies for the lengthy copy/paste: I lack time to make it shorter.

Trump fires NSA boss, deputy

'Nonpartisan' intelligence chief booted less than two years into the job

President Trump yesterday fired the head of the NSA and US Cyber Command and his deputy.

The removal was confirmed today by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The Pentagon declined to comment. [ ... ]

Senator Warner not only hit out at the dismissal of the NSA Director, but also alleged the decision was made following lobbying from a political ally-slash-fangirl of the President.

"It’s so crazy it defies belief: Trump refused to fire the people that embarrassed America and risked servicemembers’ lives in the Signalgate scandal," he tweeted. "But fired General Haugh, a nonpartisan national security expert, at the advice of a self-described 'pro-White nationalist.'"

The nationalist in question is Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist who visited President Trump on Thursday. She publicly describes herself as a proud Islamophobe and White nationalist.

The firing was also confirmed by Representative Jim Himes (D-CT), who is a ranking member on the US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He said the decision made America less safe and demanded an explanation.

"I am deeply disturbed by the decision to remove General Haugh as Director of the National Security Agency," he said on Facebook.

"I have known General Haugh to be an honest and forthright leader who followed the law and put national security first - I fear those are precisely the qualities that could lead to his firing in this Administration. The Intelligence Committee and the American people need an immediate explanation for this decision, which makes all of us less safe."

[ ... ]

All in all it has been a bad 48 hours for America's national security community. At least five members of the National Security Council were given their marching orders on Thursday after the Loomer meeting.

"Always, we’re going to let go of people we don’t like, or people we don’t think can do the job, or people who may have loyalties to somebody else," Trump said on Air Force One while on his way to a Saudi Arabia-backed golf tournament. He denied Loomer had anything to do with it.

The Orange Excuse really does lack an output filter. He's actually said the quiet bit out loud.

05 Apr 25 - 09:44 AM (#4220338)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk

> If you believe this shit-show is all Trump's own
> work, you are either very naive or very deluded.

*Agree*, BwM: he was only the original enabler. But once the lid's off the kludgie ---

His Execrance may or may not survive* long enough to (want to) repeal the "two terms and you're out" Amendment, but the succession is already settled .... unless Jealous Dunce pisses him off once too often first. In the meantime, he's stuck in his Isengard, obsessing over the palantir that binds him to his belovéd Controller.

* The sanity-clause Amendment (25th?) will be irrelevant: they'd just bribe the examiner.

05 Apr 25 - 10:21 AM (#4220341)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

I think Navarro is correct. When I speak from personal knowledge and opinion, I say what I mean literally or metaphorically. When I simply repeat a news report, I am only a messenger, despite typos. I did find Ron Vera curious and extreme. btw, Peter Navarro is a different Trumpy guy.

Lets suppose that Trumponomics would actually work with the US manufacturers exploding with new factories and robots. What goes along with manufacturing is the pollution they create. Without an EPA, the results would be A VERY NASTY MESS. Have you ever seen pictures of the Asian garbage fields and pollution from manufacturing? Woof!

Those with a 401K or similar savings who are about to retire are being told by Trump talking heads to sit back and wait another 5 years or more for the market to recover and reach 50,000. Don't believe it.

05 Apr 25 - 10:36 AM (#4220342)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

My parents lived through the Great Depression. Some of us lived through the recession.
They are not the same folks.

The implication of tariffs is MASSIVE and dwarfs the elimination of all government services, safety nets, and disaster relief.

05 Apr 25 - 11:21 AM (#4220344)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: gillymor

Seems like you're a bit confused about the Ron "Vara"/Peter Navarro story, Don. This article might shed some light on the matter. Raw Story


Wouldn't be surprised if the crackpot winds
up back in the Clink.

05 Apr 25 - 01:15 PM (#4220347)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage

They are very close to tearing the support system in the US to shreds.

https://5calls.org/issue/house-budget-cuts-medicaid-billionaire-tax-breaks/

Gotta make a big noise about this. Is there a way to stop final approval? Probably not, but the outcome will be so dreadful that we must try.

05 Apr 25 - 02:14 PM (#4220350)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk

My mistake: the succession is far from settled. Now that Herself's finished the Sudokus (Sudoki?) in this week's New European and I've had time to read it, it appears JD has zero MAGA cred: no macho aura, and an incurable urge to look clever. Hegseth has the first without the second, plus practice as a F*x News presenter, and was heavily defended by the Glorious Leader over Signalgate, for starters. Matthew D'Ancona tips an interesting dark horse (Megyn Kelly), with supporting arguments, and there's doubtless other hot horses who I've not seen named yet.

But these speculations are all so much Kremlinology. There's also a worrying two-page article with the headline "When Fred Trump lost his mind", and the subhead "What happens if Donald goes the same way as his senile father --- and what if he already has?" Fred's end was deeply tragic: sitting every day in a Potemkin office, with "thick pads of cheap notepaper and an endless supply of blue Flair markers", signing forms which were never read, let alone acted on, and thinking he was still running his property empire.

I'll leave it there awhile.

05 Apr 25 - 02:58 PM (#4220351)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

Donnie does take after his dad. Who is more harmful to society, Charles Manson or Donald Trump?
Too bad Donnie canceled Alzheimer's research.

05 Apr 25 - 03:24 PM (#4220355)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Raggytash

Heard a whisper that Trump has ordered his family to sue his personal safety team in the event he is shot, The figure mentioned was millions per member of his team.

06 Apr 25 - 03:53 AM (#4220373)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: The Sandman

https://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-tariffs-2-6668989-Apr2025/ a link to the journal and an article on Tariffs

06 Apr 25 - 05:30 AM (#4220377)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk

> Too bad Donnie canceled Alzheimer's research.

He refused to publish his health records (when Hilary did publish hers), or have a scan after the first shooting ....   Anyone would think he was terrified they'd find something.

But on a point of order: Was it him or Brain-Worm Junior who did the cancellation? for completeness of the Record.

06 Apr 25 - 05:36 AM (#4220378)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk

Oh, and to answer your question, Donuel: Manson had a somewhat smaller blast radius.

06 Apr 25 - 05:47 AM (#4220379)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk

That sounds about right, Raggy. Do the whispers mention poisoning? which leads me on to what may or may not have been a Dave Allen sketch:

The king receives a goblet of wine, and hands it to his poison-taster. The taster sips it, nods, and hands it back. The king takes a swallow. "April fool!" says the taster, and falls backwards, grinning happily.

06 Apr 25 - 11:45 AM (#4220386)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Stilly River Sage

In the US there are private equity firms that buy companies and take them apart. They make a profit on the pieces and whatever else is left struggles along, now paying rent to the party that bought the buildings they used to own to operate in. This happens to stores, to hospitals, to restaurants. To people who live in single-family homes. Those need to be outlawed.

Citizens United was the decision that gave personhood to businesses and allowed for the huge amounts of money that go into campaigns. It's how Musk bought Trump. That needs to be outlawed (again).

The $800+ Billion that goes into services for many millions of poor and old Americans via Medicaid supports hospitals, nursing homes, medical practices, medical temp agencies, medical equipment businesses, drug stores, housing assistance and more will go away - but the need for all of those services won't. People will die. Social Security pays only a pittance - a couple hundred dollars - toward burial costs (at least they used to). So as bodies stack up like cordwood, the billionaires will lose a major source of shoppers.

We pay into Medicare but the services supported by Medicare are also supported by Medicaid: if one goes away, the other is extremely crippled. So even those who aren't the extremely poor and old are going to lose a lot of access to care also. Oops. Oh, well.

But people say they voted for Trump because they thought a "businessman" could reduce the price of things. As media sources spiral downward what will be the lowest common denominator for news of what is going on? That's where the GOP will be spinning this mess and blaming it on Biden.

Our work ahead is dreadful.

06 Apr 25 - 01:23 PM (#4220388)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen

But on a more positive note, read this article and have a look at some of the placards and the over-life-sized Trump themed costumes - some of them made me laugh out loud:

Thousands protest against Trump and Musk in 'Hands Off!' rallies across US and Europe

"Tens of thousands of protesters have taken part in an anti-Trump protest in a score of locations across the US in what organisers expect to be the largest single day of protest against President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk.

"So-called 'Hands Off!' demonstrations were organised for more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states in the United States by more than 150 civil rights organisations, labour unions, LBGTQIA+ advocates, veterans and elections activists.

"From the National Mall in Washington DC — where organisers told Reuters more than 20,000 were expected to attend — to Boston Common in Massachusetts, protesters assailed Mr Trump's and Mr Musk's actions on downsizing, the economy, immigration, recent tariffs and human rights."

...

06 Apr 25 - 02:19 PM (#4220392)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen

Also, some other positive news in Oz.

As a result of the anti-Trump sentiments around the world Peter Dutton (the leader of the Oz opposition party, i.e. the conservative Liberal Party) has walked back a couple of his Trump-style policies for the Federal election next month. I think we can thank Trump's very unpopular tariff announcements for that. (Note: lucky for us the Liberal Party is not in the same extreme end of politics as the current US Republican party line but one of Dutton's political opponents referred to him as DOGE-y Dutton this week, comparing his policies to fElon Musk's abominable snowman tactics.)

And, a billionaire would-be politician here called Clive Palmer decided to rename his hugely unsuccessful political party Trumpet of Patriots, referring to Trump and hoping to hook the people in Oz who might sympathise with Trump's crazy ideas. Our local paper has been overloaded with daily ads for that party for the last few weeks, pending the Federal election, but when I read the Saturday edition there were no ads so the fall-out from Trump's tariff disaster may have hit Clive Palmer where it hurts.

06 Apr 25 - 04:39 PM (#4220401)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

Stilly, those equity firms have an equivalent animal in nature, the vulture.
Romney made his fortune as a vulture as much as a loan shark.
His 'corporations are people' argument became flesh and blood reality with Citizens United.

40 million Americans get food born illness per year, and 3,000 die.
Now that DOGE has hollowed out the FDA expect those numbers to go up.
The irony of Trump being food poisoned at McDonalds will also increase slightly. Produce causes half the reported illness' and meat causes the rest.

What will also become more poisonous are Trump's Maul Cops.

06 Apr 25 - 06:11 PM (#4220406)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Sandra in Sydney

following on from Helen - our yellow man Clive (all his ads have a bright yellow background) spent $60 million in the 2019 Federal election & didn't get a single seat! This real fact led to a very clever - fake ad "from" IKEA saying he could have paid $27.99 for one of their popular chairs!

He spent $100 million in the 2022 election & got one seat, a MAGA style parrot who agrees with everything clive & trump say, spending for next month's election will no doubt will be more.

06 Apr 25 - 07:22 PM (#4220409)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen

Sandra, I was going to use the word "parrot" too. I assume you meant that Clive is parroting Trump and Musk.

Maybe the name of the party could be changed to Strumpets of Parrots. LOL

Hubby sent me an image from an online computer game he plays where players can set up some scenes in the game. The image shows an end-of-the-world scenario with burning Teslas in front of a car dealership with a sign above the shopront saying "FELON MOTORS".

07 Apr 25 - 05:16 AM (#4220418)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Helen

This week I watched the 1990 movie of The Handmaid's Tale, starring Natasha Richardson and based on Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel which I read when it was first published. When I first read it and first saw the movie back in the '90's I really didn't think it was possible for that situation to become a reality.

With Trump's moves to build up the power of rich, white men and reduce the power of poorer people and specifically target women with his dystopian policies I have to admit that the situation in the novel and movie is not as far-fetched as I once thought. One of the key premises for the story is that climate change has had a negative impact on the ability of women to have children so fertile women are used as commodities to help rich powerful couples to have children and are subject to the power of those couples, and especially to the power of the man of the house.

I had to watch the movie in stages because it was so confronting. It's a different ballgame reading the book or watching the movie and thinking that it is so far out of the realms of possibility that it is just a fantasy, compared with seeing some of those dystopian fantasies becoming a reality IRL.

The whole basis of the story is scary.

The final series of the TV show will begin airing this week in Oz. I didn't like the TV show because I thought they dragged it out to great lengths and over-played the cruelty and torture, compared with Margaret Atwood's book which is cleverly subtle.

I'll watch the final TV series, but I'm not really expecting much compared with the original book and movie. It is being billed as the women fighting back and hopefully regaining control over their own lives.

The reason I am posting this in this thread is because I blame Trump and his cronies for bringing these types of dystopian fantasies into real life and watching the old movie again makes that realisation hit home with me even more.

07 Apr 25 - 05:37 AM (#4220420)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: MaJoC the Filk

> In the US there are private equity firms that buy
> companies and take them apart.

We get them in the UK too: the polite term for them is "asset strippers". They're easy to spot, as one or both of the words "capital" or "management" appear in the company name. One such predatory company is in the process of attempting to ingest Thames Water as we speak, ironically because Thames Water bankrupted itself by paying out dividends to shareholders from bank loans.

07 Apr 25 - 07:37 AM (#4220431)
Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47 Pres /Musk coup 2
From: Donuel

With enough elapsed time, the bad news for America is very good news for European economies and especially Chinese opportunities as everyone looks east and even Japan and the Pacific teams up with China.