"Congress is not even pretending to provide oversight on these conflicts of interest."

[Demovictory9]

https://archive.is/hMqZ3


Should middle America study the content of Trump’s deals, might it have something to say? Most of the alarm since January has focused on the spectre of Trump’s authoritarianism, especially over deportations and free speech. But as author Anne Applebaum has convincingly argued, autocracy’s twin is kleptocracy. On the latter, Trump seems much further advanced. Congress is not even pretending to provide oversight on these conflicts of interest. Perhaps Capitol Hill is paralysed by the breadth of choice.

They also raise questions about the motives behind Trump’s foreign policy, particularly with Qatar. The small Gulf kingdom has done a huge amount to support Hamas by pouring tens of millions of dollars into Gaza. It also plays host to the Palestinian militant group. Yet the Trump family is up its eyeballs in commercial deals with them.

This April, the Trump Organization struck a deal with Qatar to build an 18-hole golf course with luxury branded Trump villas. Qatar is also an investor in Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner’s investment fund and is expected to unveil at least $200bn in US investments this week. Though large chunks of such headline numbers might prove to be a mirage, non-patrimonial systems like Canada’s cannot operate this way. This gives a huge advantage to non-democracies in negotiating with Trump.


Such deals are also hard to reconcile with Trump’s promise of “America First”. Should Qatar come good on its free jumbo jet, Trump’s so-called palace-in-the-sky would be at the expense of Boeing, which is under contract to resupply the ageing Air Force One fleet. How will Trump’s rash of impending Gulf towers and resorts serve America’s economic or diplomatic interests? That is open to debate. Yet the financial boost to Trump and his family is plain for all to see. The suspicion arises that the US president’s real agenda is Trump First. The rest is sleight of hand.

[gab13by13]

1. Autocracy rolls on.

Congress has been neutered and if the upcoming Supreme Court decision on birth-right citizenship goes the wrong way it will neuter the lower courts. That decision is about much more than birth-right citizenship, it is about neutering the lower courts forcing everything to the Supreme Court, bypassing the lower courts. Magats are claiming that the lower courts can't make decisions that have consequences outside of their circuits.

Get your morning news from freespeechtv.com to stay informed.

[kentuck]

2. Democrats need to be talking to the American people...

..in my opinion.

They are wasting their breath attempting to talk or negotiate with the Republican cult in Washington.

We need to get out amongst the people.

[Demovictory9]

3. Agreed. Kristi Noem has that deportation ad running nonstop, why cant Dems run a

"Here is how corrupt and depraved Trump is" ad?

[gab13by13]

5. Republicans own messaging

they spend money on it and have experts controlling the narrative and they speak in unison, in lock step, using repetition.

The town hall that was recently on MSNBC about the federal workers who were fired was riveting. That is the style of town halls that Democrats need to do. have actual citizens in the audience telling their stories how Magats are destroying this country.

I have a grand idea of a town hall dedicated to SignalGate - NLRB Gate, hosted by Malcolm Nance with security experts in the audience telling their stories. Get a big name (looking at you General Mattis) to tell his story about the harm that Krasnov is doing to our national security.

[gab13by13]

4. Absolutely, they should be doing towns halls based on issues.

Do a town hall on the Big Beautiful Bill all across the country. Make the argument that billionaires do not need more money taken from poor people who lose their health care.

Have people present who are on Medicaid and are working but who would not be able to meet the new requirement to work 80 hours per week.

There needs to be an argument and I have not seen one strong enough from Democrats, to kill giving any tax increases to billionaires. All I see are arguments over how bad will poor people suffer. It should not be a given that billionaires need more money and this bill will make the cuts permanent. How fucking stupid is this country? Democrats have a hill to die on, why aren't they going for it?

No tax breaks. The cost won't be 4.5 trillion, or 4.7 trillion, it will be at least 7 trillion.

[usonian]

6. Hey Dems! Get the word out. I've done more with my FAFO flags than the DNC has.

GET THEM ALL
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219770873