The Golden Age Of Corruption has begun

[Hardcore troubadour 14,702]

40 minutes ago, Mike Honcho said:

"Golden Age of Corruption" what are you talking about? Trump just wants to make America the richest country in the world again, like it was in the late 1800's.  You know, when rich people had cute nicknames, like "robber barons".

The robber barons, while evil bastards, built things and left things behind.  Your pals on Wall Street do nothing. 

[Red White and Blue 81]

3 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

Well, then I'm sure you have a list of names to share, right?

That’s the POTUS job not mine.

[TBayXXXVII 2,453]

39 minutes ago, Red White and Blue said:

That’s the POTUS job not mine.

So no then.  Got it.  Why didn't you just say that you want your side to do it?  At least you'd be honest. 

[Red White and Blue 81]

Just now, TBayXXXVII said:

So no then.  Got it.  Why didn't you just say that you want your side to do it?  At least you'd be honest. 

Because that’s not the truth. HTH.

[TBayXXXVII 2,453]

5 minutes ago, Red White and Blue said:

Because that’s not the truth. HTH.

Sure it's not.  

[TrailGuy 552]

Musk and Trump steal $80M from NYC bank account.

https://nypost.com/2025/02/12/us-news/donald-trump-and-elon-musk-illegally-revoked-80-million-federal-aid-for-shelters-from-nyc-comptroller-alleges/

Time to press charges for theft.

[Red White and Blue 81]

21 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

Sure it's not.  

It doesn’t matter what I think. President Musk and his sidekick are doing it anyway. I suspect the way they’re going about it will backfire. I guess we’ll see.

[Fnord 1,940]

14 minutes ago, TrailGuy said:

Musk and Trump steal $80M from NYC bank account.

https://nypost.com/2025/02/12/us-news/donald-trump-and-elon-musk-illegally-revoked-80-million-federal-aid-for-shelters-from-nyc-comptroller-alleges/

Time to press charges for theft.

Come on man, you aren't doing yourself or anyone else any good with sensationalist tripe like the above. The money was not stolen. Let's try to stick to facts, and not sink to the level of propaganda, which you rightly rail against.

[Hardcore troubadour 14,702]

Liberals would feel more confident if Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were doing the auditing. Maxine too. Oh wait, she’s already in charge of oversight on the banks. She has done a very good job. 

[TrailGuy 552]

3 minutes ago, Fnord said:

Come on man, you aren't doing yourself or anyone else any good with sensationalist tripe like the above. The money was not stolen. Let's try to stick to facts, and not sink to the level of propaganda, which you rightly rail against.

The money was taken out of their account.  According to this article they don't have a right to do that without following procedure.

These are facts.  No propaganda.  Read the article.

Quote

 

City leaders said on Wednesday that they noticed $80 million had suddenly gone missing from city bank accounts. Shortly after, the Department of Homeland Security, which houses FEMA, confirmed that the money had been taken back on Tuesday, a significant escalation of President Trump’s attempts to freeze or reverse funding that had previously been appropriated by Congress.

City officials questioned the legality of the move, which appeared to be among the first known instances of the Trump administration seizing back congressionally appropriated funds from a locality.

The federal government is typically allowed to recoup funds already dispersed through grants if the payments are deemed improper or in violation of the grant agreement, though the process can be lengthy and administratively burdensome for agencies, according to the Congressional Research Service.

 

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/nyregion/doge-migrant-hotel-shelters.html

[Fnord 1,940]

3 minutes ago, TrailGuy said:

The money was taken out of their account.  According to this article they don't have a right to do that without following procedure.

These are facts.  No propaganda.  Read the article.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/nyregion/doge-migrant-hotel-shelters.html

I am not arguing that Mump do not have the authority to do this. They do not, what they are doing is seemingly illegal. What I am saying is that your post made it sound as if they pocketed the money, which is not the case. They impounded/revoked the money. It was not stolen. 

[TrailGuy 552]

1 minute ago, Fnord said:

I am not arguing that Mump do not have the authority to do this. They do not, what they are doing is seemingly illegal. What I am saying is that your post made it sound as if they pocketed the money, which is not the case. They impounded/revoked the money. It was not stolen. 

Not the intention boyo.

The US Govt has taken back money paid to NYC, as a result of Musk's post on X, which the legality of doing so is in question.

Better? 

[Fnord 1,940]

4 minutes ago, TrailGuy said:

Not the intention boyo.

The US Govt has taken back money paid to NYC, as a result of Musk's post on X, which the legality of doing so is in question.

Better? 

Thanks. Better. 

[TrailGuy 552]

2 minutes ago, Fnord said:

Thanks. Better. 

You're one of the good ones Fnord.  We're on the same team.  Thanks for keeping me honest.

[Hardcore troubadour 14,702]

I’m telling you, Maxine is the best person for this job.  All that experience. She came form the ghetto and now lives in mansion.   Not in the ghetto. Big success. 

[Hardcore troubadour 14,702]

1 minute ago, TrailGuy said:

You're one of the good ones Fnord.  We're on the same team.  Thanks for keeping me honest.

You sound like a 9 year old.  

[Fnord 1,940]

Just now, Hardcore troubadour said:

You sound like a 9 year old.  

You sound like you could use more people in your life saying you're one of the good ones.

[Hardcore troubadour 14,702]

Just now, Fnord said:

You sound like you could use more people in your life saying you're one of the good ones.

I’m all grown up. I pass that judgement on others now.  But if you need to hear it let me know. I’m sure I can find something 

[TrailGuy 552]

3 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

You sound like a 9 year old.  

 

3 hours ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

I’m just happy that he wants to ruin yours. 

[Fnord 1,940]

3 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

I’m all grown up. I pass that judgement on others now.  But if you need to hear it let me know. I’m sure I can find something 

I'll bite. Let me hear it. 

[Hardcore troubadour 14,702]

1 minute ago, Fnord said:

I'll bite. Let me hear it. 

You’re a loyal sports fan. Some people around  here abandon the team they grew up with. Shows a lack of character. You keeps it real. 

[Fnord 1,940]

7 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

You’re a loyal sports fan. Some people around  here abandon the team they grew up with. Shows a lack of character. You keeps it real. 

Damn, you were serious? I was expecting something funny/insulting, not real. Kudos. Your moments of humanity are acknowledged and greatly appreciated.

[Red White and Blue 81]

5 minutes ago, Fnord said:

Damn, you were serious? I was expecting something funny/insulting, not real. Kudos. Your moments of humanity are acknowledged and greatly appreciated.

HT is just trying to get my attention. He thinks I shouldn’t root for the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, even though I’ve lived here for over 30 years.  

[Fnord 1,940]

2 minutes ago, Red White and Blue said:

HT is just trying to get my attention. He thinks I shouldn’t root for the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, even though I’ve lived here for over 30 years.  

Damn, sorry to hear that. You should try living in a better city. Which is like, all of them. 

[purdygood 317]

17 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

I’m telling you, Maxine is the best person for this job.  All that experience. She came form the ghetto and now lives in mansion.   Not in the ghetto. Big success. 

Did she move on up to the East Side? Movinnnnn on up! Anybody over 70 (including Trump) should go!  Like don't yall have grandkids to take to the park and feed the ducks?

[Red White and Blue 81]

10 minutes ago, Fnord said:

Damn, sorry to hear that. You should try living in a better city. Which is like, all of them. 

No better football team though.  

[TBayXXXVII 2,453]

3 minutes ago, Red White and Blue said:

It doesn’t matter what I think. President Musk and his sidekick are doing it anyway. I suspect the way they’re going about it will backfire. I guess we’ll see.

The point is, anyone that anybody brings on to look into wasteful spending is going to be someone they have ties to.  Let's say that Harris won this past election and she wanted to look into this.  Who do you think she'd bring in?  It would be a DNC donor.  There's a 0.0% chance that anyone in the White House wouldn't bring in someone they or the party is comfortable with.  That person will be a political donor... guaranteed.

So, that's why I said, "you mean someone on your side".  You're ok with a Democrat president doing what Trump is doing and you'll acquiesce to whomever they choose to do what Musk is doing.

[TrailGuy 552]

2 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

The point is, anyone that anybody brings on to look into wasteful spending is going to be someone they have ties to.  Let's say that Harris won this past election and she wanted to look into this.  Who do you think she'd bring in?  It would be a DNC donor.  There's a 0.0% chance that anyone in the White House wouldn't bring in someone they or the party is comfortable with.  That person will be a political donor... guaranteed.

So, that's why I said, "you mean someone on your side".  You're ok with a Democrat president doing what Trump is doing and you'll acquiesce to whomever they choose to do what Musk is doing.

This is a little too cynical.  We have Inspector's General, or we had before Trump fired them, who were independent auditors.

I would propose we hire an independent auditor to do this, with full oversight and transparency, and no COI.

Trump decided to use the world's richest man and his most expensive donor who has huge conflicts of interest.

[edjr 6,537]

16 hours ago, The Psychic Observer said:

Look at the facts here...

 

please show us on the doll how trump and musk spit roasted you

[Red White and Blue 81]

9 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

The point is, anyone that anybody brings on to look into wasteful spending is going to be someone they have ties to.  Let's say that Harris won this past election and she wanted to look into this.  Who do you think she'd bring in?  It would be a DNC donor.  There's a 0.0% chance that anyone in the White House wouldn't bring in someone they or the party is comfortable with.  That person will be a political donor... guaranteed.

So, that's why I said, "you mean someone on your side".  You're ok with a Democrat president doing what Trump is doing and you'll acquiesce to whomever they choose to do what Musk is doing.

I’d expect anyone who gets brought in to be someone they have ties to. Having that person also be 1) your top donor to the tune of $300m AND 2) a government contractor whose businesses receive billions in contracts and subsidies is where the conflict of interest comes in.

This would be like President Harris bringing in George Soros. Republicans would hit the roof, and unlike Musk he isn’t on the government dole. 

HTH but I know it won’t.

[Fnord 1,940]

39 minutes ago, Red White and Blue said:

No better football team though.  

I will concede this. Congrats!

[TrailGuy 552]

With Elon Musk's social media platform X poised to launch a digital wallet and peer-to-peer payment services, Musk's associates have been granted access to confidential information about X's competitors, an official at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) told Musk Watch. Staffers at the United States Department of Government Efficiency Service, or DOGE, a White House body led by Musk, embedded themselves at the CFPB late last week.

[League Champion 1,895]

4 hours ago, TrailGuy said:

These are facts.  No propaganda.  Read the article.

   Full on Liberal Meltdown in effect 

[TrailGuy 552]

Exclusive: FDA staff reviewing Musk’s Neuralink were included in DOGE employee firings, sources say

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fda-staff-reviewing-musks-neuralink-were-included-doge-employee-firings-sources-2025-02-17/

[Fnord 1,940]

24 minutes ago, TrailGuy said:

Exclusive: FDA staff reviewing Musk’s Neuralink were included in DOGE employee firings, sources say

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fda-staff-reviewing-musks-neuralink-were-included-doge-employee-firings-sources-2025-02-17/

Mump has done more than that.

[The Psychic Observer 335]

Musk, Doge and SpaceX now working directly with the FAA and the DoD behind closed doors, agencies of which they have billions of dollars in contracts and are responsible for regulating them.  Trump was asked about this conflict of interest and remarked he was just hearing about this now,

[The Psychic Observer 335]

President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a sweeping executive order bringing independent agencies under the control of the White House — an action that would greatly expand his power but is likely to attract significant legal challenges.

It represents Trump’s latest attempt to consolidate power beyond boundaries other presidents have observed and to test the so-called unitary executive theory, which states that the president has the sole authority over the executive branch. And it reflects the influence of Russ Vought, Trump’s budget chief, one of several conservatives in his orbit who have called for axing independent arms of the executive branch.

The theory was long considered fringe, and many mainstream legal scholars still believe it is illegal, given that Congress set the agencies up specifically to act independently, or semi-independently, from the president. These include the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which enact regulations and can impose hefty fines on businesses that violate the rules.

Other presidents have not only declined to challenge the independence of these agencies in court, but have in many cases tried to avoid even the appearance of interference in their actions. Many leaders appointed to the agencies serve terms that last longer than a single presidency, in an effort to help shield them from political pressure.

Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/18/trump-order-power-independent-agencies-00204798

[RLLD 4,123]

Just now, The Psychic Observer said:

Musk, Doge and SpaceX now working directly with the FAA and the DoD behind closed doors, agencies of which they have billions of dollars in contracts and are responsible for regulating them.  Trump was asked about this conflict of interest and remarked he was just hearing about this now,

I get this tactic, I really do, and if this were happening with Biden I would probably use it as well; though I hope not.

Here is the problem you face with this tactic.  The more the WH exposes, the worse government looks....and the more people will not care about these asides.

Rather than attack Musk or Trump for exposing the malfeasance I suggest Democrats get on board and echo their sentiments, which is not straying from what most of them have said in the past.  Here is an opportunity to not oppose simple common sense and sane action, but to embrace it, giving the Democrats a toe hold for future elections. There is opportunity here if they are willing to stop simply vilifying.  JMHO

[The Psychic Observer 335]

7 minutes ago, RLLD said:

I get this tactic, I really do, and if this were happening with Biden I would probably use it as well; though I hope not.

Here is the problem you face with this tactic.  The more the WH exposes, the worse government looks....and the more people will not care about these asides.

Rather than attack Musk or Trump for exposing the malfeasance I suggest Democrats get on board and echo their sentiments, which is not straying from what most of them have said in the past.  Here is an opportunity to not oppose simple common sense and sane action, but to embrace it, giving the Democrats a toe hold for future elections. There is opportunity here if they are willing to stop simply vilifying.  JMHO

I have seen democrats support the wasteful spending.  That is not the issue.  The issue is the fraud and abuse taking place under the guise of uncovering wasteful spending.

You might be an "ends justify the means" kind of person.  In my experience these kind of people lack moral character and judgement.

[RLLD 4,123]

3 minutes ago, The Psychic Observer said:

I have seen democrats support the wasteful spending.  That is not the issue.  The issue is the fraud and abuse taking place under the guise of uncovering wasteful spending.

You might be an "ends justify the means" kind of person.  In my experience these kind of people lack moral character and judgement.

In the past Democrats have pronounced their opposition to wasteful spending, they could easily do it here and avoid losing more voters.

So....what I am saying is instead of reversing themselves JUST to oppose Trump at every and any turn.....stay true to their roots, work WITH doge to make this better.

They could add value to this process. Plus....if they cooperate they can influence the process, get access to strategies and undermine the Republicans with leaks.  Why not try that?