Generational Theory Forum: The Fourth Turning Forum: A message board discussing generations and the Strauss Howe generational theory

As bad as Tillerson is on occasion, he is a professional CEO and you have to have a modicum of rationality to run a big corporation. It is getting harder for him to tolerate the bunch of amateurs that the 77,774 misguided voters of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania have saddled us with.


Breaking News from Newsmax.com


Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s growing frustrations with the way the White House operates may lead to his resignation, CNN reported on Monday.

Doctors Witness Amazing Joint Pain Changes

In discussions with friends outside of Washington, Tillerson has seemed increasingly doubtful that the infighting with the White House would calm down any time soon. That’s according to two sources familiar with the conversations, who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity.

Part of the mounting frustration came from President Donald Trump’s overruling of top advisers to hire Anthony Scaramucci as communications director and the resignation of press secretary Sean Spicer.

Sources told CNN that an even bigger blow for Tillerson was the president’s sharp criticism of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, one of Trump’s earliest and major supporters. The secretary of state reportedly regarded the president’s public rebuke of Sessions as unprofessional.

These latest setbacks come on top of Tillerson’s ongoing differences with the White House over Iran policy and State Department personnel.

Trump Supporters Claim Trump Has Kept His Promises. Show Them This List To Shut Them Up.

by Bruce White Jul 19, 2017

Donald Trump made a lot of promises during his presidential campaign. A lot of people believed his promises and that ultimately won him the election.
http://politicaldig.com/the-list-trump-s...nt-to-see/


But, what has Trump done to keep those promises. Hard-core Trump supporters will argue that he has kept those promises and is “making America great again.” That’s obviously not true.

Trump has not done much in his first six months of being president. Rawstory.com has created this list to show all the “promises” Trump has failed to keep.

1. He told you he’d repeal Obamacare and replace it with something “beautiful.” You bought it. But he didn’t repeal and he didn’t replace. (Just as well: His plan would have knocked at least 22 million off health insurance, including many of you.)

(well, stayed tuned on this one. There's votes today-- E.M.)

2. He told you he’d cut your taxes. You bought it. But tax “reform” is stalled. And if it ever moves, the only ones whose taxes will be cut are the wealthy.

3. He told you he’d invest $1 billion in our nation’ crumbling infrastructure. You bought it. But his infrastructure plan, which was really a giveaway to rich investors, is also stalled.

4. He said he’d clean the Washington swamp. You bought it. But he’s brought into his administration more billionaires, CEOs, and Wall Street moguls than in any administration in history, to make laws that will enrich their businesses, along with former lobbyists, lawyers and consultants who are crafting new policies for the same industries they recently worked for.

5. He said he’d use his business experience to whip the White House into shape. You bought it. But he created the most chaotic, dysfunctional, back-stabbing White House in modern history, in which no one is in charge.

6. He said he’d close “special interest loopholes that have been so good for Wall Street investors but unfair to American workers.“ You bought it. But he picked a Wall Street financier Stephen Schwarzman to run his strategic and policy forum, who compares closing those loopholes to Hitler’s invasion of Poland.

7. He told you he’d “bring down drug prices” by making deals with drug companies. You bought it. But now the White House says that promise is “inoperative.”

8. He said that on Day One he’d label China a “currency manipulator.” You bought it. But then he met with China’s president and declared “China is not a currency manipulator.”

9. He said he wouldn’t bomb Syria. You bought it. But then he bombed Syria.

10. He called Barack Obama “the vacationer-in-Chief” and accused him of playing more rounds of golf than Tiger Woods. He promised to never be the kind of president who took cushy vacations on the taxpayer’s dime, not when there was so much important work to be done. You bought it. But in his first 6 months he has spent more taxpayer money on vacations than Obama did in the first 3 years of his presidency. Not to mention all the money taxpayers are spending protecting his family, including his two sons who travel all over the world on Trump business.

11. He said he’d force companies to keep jobs in America. You believed him. But despite their promises, Carrier, Ford, GM, and the rest are shipping jobs to Mexico and China.

12. He said he’d create coal jobs. You believe him. He hasn’t. But here’s what he has done: Since 1965 a federal program called the Appalachian Regional Commission has spent $23 billion helping communities in coal states fund job retraining, reclaim land, and provide desperately needed social services. A.R.C. helped cut poverty rates almost in half, double the percentage of high-school graduates, and reduce infant mortality by two-thirds. Trump’s first proposed budget eliminates A.R.C.

OK, we've changed White House chiefs of staff.  As some are spinning it, we've got rid of an insider who either knew how to make Washington worked, or was stuck in the same insider rut that mad sure Washington didn't work.  The replacement either doesn't know Washington or is not impeded by the long established bad habits.  You can get into fine arguments on whether getting rid of a insider or bring in another rich guy could be called 'draining the swamp' or 'hiring alligators.  Lots of ways to spin it.

As CNN is spinning it, if you like how the free wheeling independent thinking Trump has been doing great with his unique style, you'll be happy.  The new guy will enable more of the same, will free up Trump to be Trump.

If you're a worrier like me, and think Trump has problems, hang on to your hats.  The currently calm quiet well controlled White House might be about to go off the rails.

As another one bites the dust, CNN is pushing a non pretty picture.  It shows the president, vice president, and four ranking members of the White House Staff.  They seem to think it important that all four staff members have either been fired or quit their jobs.  They make a point that the four out are just the tip of the iceberg, that many more in lower posts are also gone.

I've been saying for a while that Trump hasn't the people skills to put together a working team.  You might say this confirms.  You can cross your fingers and hope that the second or third team that gets put together will stick.  We'll see.

Again, it's political reporting, and I assume all political reporting is spun.  CNN has an agenda, and it is not to make Trump look good.  Still, the basic truth is that the four guys are gone, and if all political articles are spun these days, how do you comment on anything political???

And another one bites the dust.  CNN has Sebastian Gorka gone from White House.  Apparently he's another victim of John Kelly's attempt to tame Trump's  early team.

(07-28-2017, 04:33 PM)X_4AD_84 Wrote: [ -> ]So here we are in an era where militarization of law enforcement and excessive use of force are acknowledged issues no matter whether one hails from the Right or the Left. At least anyone who is honest about issues will admit this. After all, these issues can be turned on both Rightists and Leftists. I'm thinking of the Elian Gonzales images of yore. In any case, into this climate, Fuckface Trump tells cops they should be more rough.

What a complete asshole. The biggest asshole to ever occupy the WH.

We had a chance to have bipartisan reform of prisons and law enforcement to protect human rights and avoid unfair punishments. Many on both sides agreed. Now Fuckface Drump and Sessions come in and turn it all backwards. Worst assholes indeed.

I've been following Brietbart for assorted reasons.  One article raised an eyebrow.  White House democrats and globalists under the new John Kelly regime are blocking Trumps access to Briebart?  What the heck are democrats and globalists doing anywhere near the control of information to Trump?

I'm usually sort of satisfied that I more or less understand Brietbart's spin, and will stick with the notion that a lot of the best propaganda has a root of truth in it.  Picking out the truth is sometimes amusing.  Has anyone a notion of how to treat that one?  Someone isn't happy with Trump's limited access to and influence of Brietbart?  Anyone with such nefarious plans must be a Democrat and/or globalist?  Is there no uglier insult available?

Drump's pardon of Sherriff Arpaio is an implicit approval of racial profiling, as well as political cronyism of the worst kind and disrespect for the rule of law.

Here's what Adam Schiff of the House committee investigating him says:

Last night, while a destructive hurricane descended on Texas, President Trump was focused on something else: pardoning ex-Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona.

Trump has emphasized time and again his affinity for “law and order.” But instead of trusting our courts and letting Arpaio serve his time for illegally racially profiling against Latinos, Trump used his very first presidential pardon ‪to reward a major campaign supporter.

Arpaio not only defied a court order to discriminate against Latinos, but also helped Trump spread his racist “birther” conspiracy theories against President Obama.

This move is a slap in the face to all Americans who believe the law applies to everyone and who oppose discrimination. It also comes right on the heels of the President’s expression of sympathy for white supremacists. This abuse of the presidential pardon is as unprecedented as it is appalling and I’m not afraid to say so.....

Thanks for standing with me,

Adam

President Trump bragged about how well he has done with the response to Hurricane Harvey before the storm was over.

30K people are displaced.

The job isn't over, and he is bragging about how well he has done.

(08-28-2017, 11:23 AM)pbrower2a Wrote: [ -> ]President Trump bragged about how well he has done with the response to Hurricane Harvey before the storm was over.

30K people are displaced.

The job isn't over, and he is bragging about how well he has done.

The area just lays low.  Much of New Orleans is below sea level.  Much of Texas is just flat.  It's not that the latest storm is that spectacular, but it hit a problematic target area.  It will take some time to clean up.

It's been said there hasn't been a major hurricane hit on the US in years.  In theory, that should have given the disaster relief agencies time to build readiness.  I guess we'll see if the instinct to cut domestic spending has crippled the federal response.  It seems so if the attempts to clean up after Sandy are any gauge.

Edit:  CNN reviews past struggles over funding with Hurricane Harvey likely to provoke polarizing fights.  One major theme is from the unraveling memes, cutting domestic spending.  When you need large amounts of domestic disaster relief, Republicans have liked there to be a cut in domestic spending elsewhere to balance.  The idea from the medical debate, "I've got mine, up yours" flares.  The idea that you want to share risks and costs fights a tribal notion that if the storm didn't hit your area, lets save money by letting folks suffer.  In the past, the Republicans have lost their attempts to cut other domestic spending, but the change in Congress's balance might change things.  On the other hand, the storm hit in the Republican south.  Who knows?

Another idea is that global warming causes climate change with more and bigger storms.  Perhaps.  One storm doesn't say a lot.  The long time between hurricanes striking the continental US doesn't make a for a great case.  On the other hand, the slow rise in sea levels isn't helping.

More proof if any more were needed, Drump's announced ending of DACA shows he is a racist.

(08-28-2017, 01:51 PM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-28-2017, 11:23 AM)pbrower2a Wrote: [ -> ]President Trump bragged about how well he has done with the response to Hurricane Harvey before the storm was over.

30K people are displaced.

The job isn't over, and he is bragging about how well he has done.

The area just lays low.  Much of New Orleans is below sea level.  Much of Texas is just flat.  It's not that the latest storm is that spectacular, but it hit a problematic target area.  It will take some time to clean up.

That's true about the topography of Florida and the Atlantic and Gulf plains. But let one of those storms strike hilly terrain, and things get messy. Texas Hill Country north of San Antonio and west of Austin? The southern and central Appalachians?

Quote:It's been said there hasn't been a major hurricane hit on the US in years.  In theory, that should have given the disaster relief agencies time to build readiness.  I guess we'll see if the instinct to cut domestic spending has crippled the federal response.  It seems so if the attempts to clean up after Sandy are any gauge.

Foresight and preparation are no longer sexy in a 'do-it-now-if-it-is-fun, take-the-money-and-run' culture. In view of how vile American social attitudes are it might take something like this to change the American character:

Quote:Edit:  CNN reviews past struggles over funding with Hurricane Harvey likely to provoke polarizing fights.  One major theme is from the unraveling memes, cutting domestic spending.  When you need large amounts of domestic disaster relief, Republicans have liked there to be a cut in domestic spending elsewhere to balance.  The idea from the medical debate, "I've got mine, up yours" flares.  The idea that you want to share risks and costs fights a tribal notion that if the storm didn't hit your area, lets save money by letting folks suffer.  In the past, the Republicans have lost their attempts to cut other domestic spending, but the change in Congress's balance might change things.  On the other hand, the storm hit in the Republican south.  Who knows?

Our politicians got the wrong message in 2016. If we still believe that stuff and so vote in 2018, 2020, and 2022, then we deserve to be a poor people. The GOP has much the same pitch as televangelists pushing a wealth cult, and I am tempted to believe that the people who can watch televangelists and not laugh at the quality of the discourse (until they can no longer laugh at the staleness of the stupidity) are vulnerable to the appeals of Donald Trump. "Send me your love offering and God will prosper (sic!) you" prepares people well to give up their freedom, the social welfare system, and prosperity to people like Donald Trump. Sure, I expect President Trump to fail, but unless the  character of America moves away from Unraveling/Degeneracy themes we will be vulnerable to the next demagogue, a political hustler who simply offers a Trump-like message with more sophistication and a better-planned 'reform' of public policy.

Quote:Another idea is that global warming causes climate change with more and bigger storms.  Perhaps.  One storm doesn't say a lot.  The long time between hurricanes striking the continental US doesn't make a for a great case.  On the other hand, the slow rise in sea levels isn't helping.

Irma is projected as a Category 5 storm.

(09-06-2017, 04:02 AM)pbrower2a Wrote: [ -> ]Irma is projected as a Category 5 storm.

One of the global warming predictions suggests not an increase in number of storms, but in the power of storms. There will just be more warm water around to help increase storm size. Harvey dropped large amounts of rain. Irma is bouncing around category 4 and 5. This matches some of the warming talk, but two storms proves nothing.

(09-06-2017, 06:39 AM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote: [ -> ]

(09-06-2017, 04:02 AM)pbrower2a Wrote: [ -> ]Irma is projected as a Category 5 storm.

One of the global warming predictions suggests not an increase in number of storms, but in the power of storms.  There will just be more warm water around to help increase storm size.  Harvey dropped large amounts of rain.  Irma is bouncing around category 4 and 5.  This matches some of the warming talk, but two storms proves nothing.

Agreed.  This is a game of statistics.  On the other hand, an increase in the number of high-energy storms seems likely, and we'll know for sure in the next few years ... not that this helps with our current troubles.

(09-06-2017, 10:53 AM)X_4AD_84 Wrote: [ -> ]

(09-06-2017, 06:39 AM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote: [ -> ]

(09-06-2017, 04:02 AM)pbrower2a Wrote: [ -> ]Irma is projected as a Category 5 storm.

One of the global warming predictions suggests not an increase in number of storms, but in the power of storms.  There will just be more warm water around to help increase storm size.  Harvey dropped large amounts of rain.  Irma is bouncing around category 4 and 5.  This matches some of the warming talk, but two storms proves nothing.

Correct, two storms proves nothing. One other fast fact is we have broken an 11 year drought of landfalling major hurricanes in CONUS. That was a long stretch with little action.

I think it certainly does prove something. The biggest storms ever (Harvey, Irma-- 180 miles an hour winds), the biggest fire ever in LA; they are bigger because of global warming. Individual storms happening doesn't prove anything, but the size and frequency does, and focusing only on storms that affect the CONUS proves nothing. And so much for Trump's and the GOP's hope for less government spending

I'm seeing the Republican Party as fractured.  They have the rural faction, close to Trump and perhaps Palin, we might push the rural values and intuitive unpredictability.  Then you have the Republican Establishment, which knows what has stumbled along in the past, is blamed for the failures of the past, which wasn't able to push its own candidates through the last election cycle.  They are not exactly great at Republican unity.  In many ways, the early Trump presidency has reflected a power struggle of the two Republican factions with political skirmishes between Congress and the White House.

And now Trump seems to be jumping over to the Democrats on how to handle long term financing, and how to get support on disaster relief.  To date, the Democrats have been a solid block of opposition forcing the two Republican factions together to get anything done.  Now, suddenly, the Democrats are in active play.

Which is interesting.  For years Trump was effectively a Democratic sympathizer.  Is he still a Republican at heart?  Was the split in the Republicans just an opportunity?

I still see Trump as a man of impulsive opportunity rather than one who adheres to a long term plan.  Predicting Trump based on a single incident might be akin to commenting on global warming based on a single storm.

Anyway, things are getting interesting, as if they weren't already interesting enough.

(09-06-2017, 11:12 AM)Eric the Green Wrote: [ -> ]<snip>
Correct, two storms proves nothing. One other fast fact is we have broken an 11 year drought of landfalling major hurricanes in CONUS. That was a long stretch with little action.

I think it certainly does prove something. The biggest storms ever (Harvey, Irma-- 180 miles an hour winds), the biggest fire ever in LA; they are bigger because of global warming. Individual storms happening doesn't prove anything, but the size and frequency does, and focusing only on storms that affect the CONUS proves nothing. And so much for Trump's and the GOP's hope for less government spending

Ehn. Meh.   Doom porn.  

Here's the real scoop.

You are correct in that Harvey dumped the 2nd most in the US . To get doom porn right wrt Harvey would have been if he smacked New Orleans after Houston.

Irma still has possibilities.  She might smack DC. That would be porn doom you can believe in. After going through Allison and Ike, it wonders me to no end why folks rebuilt in the same place that got blown down or swept away.

Maybe it's karma, but then again, maybe not.

(09-06-2017, 11:26 PM)Ragnarök_62 Wrote: [ -> ]

(09-06-2017, 11:12 AM)Eric the Green Wrote: [ -> ]<snip>
Correct, two storms proves nothing. One other fast fact is we have broken an 11 year drought of landfalling major hurricanes in CONUS. That was a long stretch with little action.

I think it certainly does prove something. The biggest storms ever (Harvey, Irma-- 180 miles an hour winds), the biggest fire ever in LA; they are bigger because of global warming. Individual storms happening doesn't prove anything, but the size and frequency does, and focusing only on storms that affect the CONUS proves nothing. And so much for Trump's and the GOP's hope for less government spending

Ehn. Meh.   Doom porn.  

Here's the real scoop.

You are correct in that Harvey dumped the 2nd most in the US . To get doom porn right wrt Harvey would have been if he smacked New Orleans after Houston.

Irma still has possibilities.  She might smack DC. That would be porn doom you can believe in. After going through Allison and Ike, it wonders me to no end why folks rebuilt in the same place that got blown down or swept away.

Maybe it's karma, but then again, maybe not.

Nature is crying "yes I can!" "Storms you can believe in." Direct karma for sure.

(09-06-2017, 11:26 PM)Ragnarök_62 Wrote: [ -> ]

(09-06-2017, 11:12 AM)Eric the Green Wrote: [ -> ]<snip>
Correct, two storms proves nothing. One other fast fact is we have broken an 11 year drought of landfalling major hurricanes in CONUS. That was a long stretch with little action.

I think it certainly does prove something. The biggest storms ever (Harvey, Irma-- 180 miles an hour winds), the biggest fire ever in LA; they are bigger because of global warming. Individual storms happening doesn't prove anything, but the size and frequency does, and focusing only on storms that affect the CONUS proves nothing. And so much for Trump's and the GOP's hope for less government spending

Ehn. Meh.   Doom porn.  

Here's the real scoop.

You are correct in that Harvey dumped the 2nd most in the US . To get doom porn right wrt Harvey would have been if he smacked New Orleans after Houston.

Irma still has possibilities.  She might smack DC. That would be porn doom you can believe in. After going through Allison and Ike, it wonders me to no end why folks rebuilt in the same place that got blown down or swept away.

Maybe it's karma, but then again, maybe not.

Irma won't smack DC (we will probably get a good rainstorm), but Mar-a-Lago is another story!

Trump's first pardon tells a lot about Trump.