The Imperial Presidency, Part 2

[robkelk]

Fuck Trump and all his fuckery making the US a laughingstock when it's not outright the bad guy. May a meteorite, lightning bolt, and/or runaway piano strike the bastard dead, because it can't come soon enough.

Assuming you don't repeal the Twenty-Second Amendment (which could happen in a year or so judging from history), whoever is your President in 2029 will have a lot of rebuilding of bridges to do. Unless you go isolationist, but (despite what His Orangeness says), you don't import our goods, services, and resources out of the goodness of your hearts.

[classicdrogn]

I feel I should amend my previous statement: While it would be darkly humourous, I don't want a runaway piano to strike and kill the current US President. That would be a tradgedy, not something to laugh at. After attacking a (nominal) human, the poor piano would have to be put down!

[Labster]

The neighbors: I never would have suspected it, I always thought that piano was low key

[Norgarth]

Other Neighbour: "Really? I thought it was pretty tightly strung."

[Jinx999]

It was always very quiet, Pianissimo.

[robkelk]

But now it's gone flat. Poor thing.

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Dual citizens weigh Trump, taxes in decision to renounce U.S. citizenship

[Labster]

Bingo card update: Inflation projected at 4.2 percent amid Iran war fears.  Hmm, I'm starting to worry that I made the events too easy this year.  If it looks like global average inflation is +4% due to Trump, that's a bit more than just screwing up America.

I feel like I'm losing the plot. My mother asked me today if she's going to need to get a U.S. Passport in order to vote, and my honest answer was, "I don't know."  Right now, nothing is making sense.  Trump said he would sign nothing unless the "SAVE America Act" was passed, and that's the one that requires proof of citizenship to vote, and tries to federalize elections.  Off-the-record, Speaker Johnson has been cool on the idea because he thinks his own party's voters are less likely to show up with appropriate documents.  But what if the goal is simply to destabilize the election enough that it calls into question the results?  Will this bill pass, will it be implemented, will the court strike it down – hard maybe to all three?

And on the Iran war military operation, it's pretty obvious that it's in none of the interests of the three belligerents to continue the war, at least in terms of security, economy, and morality.  But like, why would any of them back down now?  If Trump, Netanyahu, or the Islamic Republic (in general) stop now, they lose the war and likely lose their freedom, if not the next election.  Trump could always just lie and declare victory like he always does... but couldn't just Iran just keep the strait closed?  Or set up a Sound Toll so they get a portion of the revenue through the Gulf?  Israel essentially wins if Iran becomes a failed state... but that means lots of refugees heading to Europe, which likely means Israel will end up totally isolated.  The Iranian leaders could surrender... and then be killed by the new regime.  At this point the bell can't be unrung.

But stranger things have happened.  Stranger things keep happening constantly.  After a month of shutdown at airports, Trump decided he's had enough, and will pay the TSA whether Congress authorizes the money or not.  Jesse Ventura went on the news to suggest that the assassination attempt on Trump was somewhat faked, and Trump did a blade trick that pro wrestlers do.  The U.S. Army raised their admission standards up to age 42, which means I'm only barely unqualified.  Trump is attacking the U.S. Supreme Court for allegedly working for foreign entities.  Melania went on stage with a robot to talk about replacing teachers.

I'm looking at my bingo card, and I'm realizing that I can't even assign probabilities any more.  Anything could happen.  Fair and free elections, nuclear winter, and a revival of Buffy all seem equally likely at this point, and also equally unlikely. One third of Americans now think that the world will end in their lifetimes, to which I say: sure, why not?  Will America become a "handmaid" theocracy, Iran become a liberal democracy, or Archie Windsor becomes the next President?  Why not all three, that seems as likely as anything, right?  After all, causality is just a myth perpetuated by Crooked Hillary!  Thank you for your attention to this matter.

[robkelk]

U.S. judge halts construction of Trump's $400M White House ballroom until he gets Congressional approval

The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!

[Labster]

Update on the voting by mail issue: You-Know-Who just issued an executive order to the U.S. Postal Service, telling them not to deliver mail-in ballots to anyone not cleared as a citizen by the federal government.  It seems prima facie unconstitutional even to novices like me, but who knows?  What if the court case lasts until next year?  What if He-Who-Should-Not-Be-President dies in the next month?

What if the missing Epstein files turn up at Night Court?

[classicdrogn]

What if the missing Epstein files turn up at Night Court?

Then we get to hear that good ole laugh track that every 80s sitcom used again.

[robkelk]

How's that claim about Iran being "beaten and completely decimated" holding up?

2 U.S. aircraft go down; 1 crew member missing as war in Iran takes dramatic turn

One U.S. service member was rescued and at least one was missing after two U.S. military planes went down in separate incidents Friday.

It was the first time U.S. aircraft have been downed in the conflict and came just two days after President Donald Trump said in a national address that the U.S. has "beaten and completely decimated Iran."

One fighter jet was shot down in Iran, officials said. A U.S. crew member from that plane was rescued, but a second was missing. A U.S. military search-and-rescue operation was underway.

Separately, Iranian state media said a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft crashed in the Persian Gulf after being struck by Iranian defence forces. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive military situation, said it was not clear if the aircraft crashed or was shot down.

The war now entering its sixth week is destabilizing economies around the world as Iran responds to the U.S. and Israeli attacks by targeting the Gulf region's energy infrastructure and tightening its grip on oil and natural gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

[classicdrogn]

Weren't there like, three F-16s shot down by Kuwaiti air defense because some idiot didn't tell their allies what was happening before starting this whole shitshow? I suppose they mean the first US aircraft downed by the actual nominal enemy instead of "friendly" fire.

Protip for everyone whose bone spurs kept them off CoD server: Friendly fire isn't.

[robkelk]

I know that an A-10 went down in Kuwait... Anyway.

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Pam Bondi's loyalty to Trump wasn't enough to keep her job. Here's why

tl;dr: Despite being loyal to her boss (instead of being loyal to the Constitution), she wasn't working fast enough for His Orangeness.

[Labster]

Well, Easter happened.  Last year, You-Know-Who tweeted a Happy Easter, even to the "losers".  We were so innocent back then.  BBC's story on the this year's Easter tweet includes this warning:

The paragraph below contains very strong language.

I mean, "strong" is one way to describe it, though it doesn't feel like it comes from strength.  "Deranged" or "unhinged" or "villianous"?  Except the "Praise be to Allah" part, I can get behind that.  It's only a matter of time before he recites the Shahada.  Of course, it will still be a lie.

I expect his Presidency will end sometime this month, one way or another. Inshallah, of course.