trump’s promises

[jfish26]

One of the most profound challenges we're facing, in terms of meeting the moment, is essentially that MAGA has convinced ~half the country that trifles like "the Constitution" and "the rule of law" are partisan issues.

And that standing up for them is to take a political side.

This is of course an inversion; standing up for the Constitution and the rule of law is only taking a political side in that one of our two political sides has, for the first time in at least 8-9 generations, taken a stand openly opposed to those things.

And it should not, in the zoomed-out sense, be all that surprising that the 14th Amendment - adopted and made part of the Constitution as a response to what happened 8-9 generations ago - is at the top of that breakaway side's list of targets.

The problem being that MAGA has also convinced themselves that they are the group most true to the Constitution, all the while using as toilet paper to wipe Donald Trump's ass with.

Ultimately, it shouldn't be a surprise. When the Constitution was created, only wealthy white men mattered in this country. Blacks and women were merely support staff. Since then, it has been amended to try to be a better representation of "ALL men are created equal" and now those wealthy white men aren't very happy with those changes.

...and have convinced millions upon millions of varyingly-lesser-degrees-of-wealthy white men to throw in with them.

[pdub]

My brother is in a spot now where he can't do his job without fear of possible legal liability because these nondescript executive orders, of which include this fucking nonsense:

"Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related
to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency
activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial
assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the
green new deal."

[zsn]

My daughter is a PhD student in a STEM field at a UC and they have received vague threats like the one above and everyone is terrified.

Winning!!!!!

[pdub]

The EO is 'frozen' but the fear of retribution if the order is then unfrozen is keeping workers from doing their jobs.

[jfish26]

Which is a feature, not a bug.

It's like (and obviously zero argumentative intent, just a touchstone we're all familiar with here) the purposeful vagueness of the old NCAA rulebook. The whole idea is that if the rules are fuzzy and vague enough, then (1) there is a chilling effect generally, and (2) the fuzziness and vagueness of the rules allow for easy selective enforcement.

Or, what one might call weaponization.

[pdub]

Which is a feature, not a bug.

It's like (and obviously zero argumentative intent, just a touchstone we're all familiar with here) the purposeful vagueness of the old NCAA rulebook. The whole idea is that if the rules are fuzzy and vague enough, then (1) there is a chilling effect generally, and (2) the fuzziness and vagueness of the rules allow for easy selective enforcement.

Or, what one might call weaponization.

Good analogy.

[pdub]

FUCK YOU TRUMP!!!!!
( minor victories!!! )

https://www.axios.com/2025/01/29/federa ... -rescinded

[Shirley]

The Trump Administration has rescinded the order to Freeze Federal Aid Funding.

[Shirley]

FUCK YOU TRUMP!!!!!
( minor victories!!! )

https://www.axios.com/2025/01/29/federa ... -rescinded

What a bunch of know-nothing, fucking amateurs.

Sowing chaos is all they're good at, and all they'll need to do before much longer.

[japhy]

This sounds promising!

President Donald Trump is making plans to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence with an “extraordinary celebration” and a new national monument.

Trump is expected to sign an executive order Wednesday establishing a task force to coordinate and plan the event, according to a White House document shared with The Associated Press. The United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary — also known as the semiquincentennial — on July 4, 2026.

The order is also expected to revive Trump's plans to build a “ National Garden of American Heroes ” with statues memorializing 250 historical figures and to commission artists for the first 100.

The women will all be blue eyed and prominently bosomed (even Harriet Tubman although she will not be one of the first 100), the men will be tall and barrel chested. Everyone will be striking heroic poses, like this maybe.



I wonder if he ever danced with that sword, that would have been fucking awesome.

In a 2020 speech celebrating Independence Day at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, Trump first announced his plans to create what he said would be “a new monument to the giants of our past." Trump himself curated the list of who was to be included — Davy Crockett, Billy Graham, Whitney Houston, Harriet Tubman and Antonin Scalia, among others.

No site was selected, and the garden was never funded by Congress. President Joe Biden abolished the task force that Trump formed to create the monument.

Trump's announcement came at a time of conservative backlash to efforts to take down statues dedicated to Confederate leaders and slave owners in the wake of George Floyd’s killing and subsequent protests.

Wednesday’s action is also expected to reinstate an executive order Trump signed in 2020 that was aimed at protecting monuments, memorials and statues from destruction and vandalism. Trump had signed the order after police thwarted an attempt by protesters to pull down a statue of President Andrew Jackson in a park across from the White House.

“The National Garden will honor American heroism after dozens of monuments to Americans, including Presidents and Founding Fathers, have toppled or destroyed and never restored,” according to a White House document on the order shared with the AP.

Plans of the expected signing were first reported by Fox News.

During his 2024 campaign, Trump had talked about creating a yearlong “Salute to America 250” celebration. He said that on his first day back in office he would convene a task force that would be responsible for coordinating with state and local governments to plan festivities, beginning this Memorial Day.

He said he wanted the plan to include a yearlong “Great American State Fair” in Iowa, featuring pavilions that would “showcase the glory of every state in the Union, promote pride in our history, and put forth innovative visions for America’s future."

Trump also wanted to launch the “Patriot Games," sports contests featuring high school athletes from across the country that he said would "allow young Americans from every state to show off the best of American skill, sportsmanship, and competitive spirit.”

Is this a prequel to the Hunger Games? Oh fuck yeah, let's do this!

[Overlander]

No doubt the largest statue will be of Trump.
I wonder, will it be astronaut Trump? Rambo Trump? Uncle Sam Trump?

Whichever he chooses, the hair will be amazing and the biceps HUGE!

[Overlander]

No doubt the largest statue will be of Trump.
I wonder, will it be astronaut Trump? Rambo Trump? Uncle Sam Trump?

Whichever he chooses, the hair will be amazing and the biceps HUGE!
(with the appropriate "tough guy" scowl)

[twocoach]

This sounds promising!

President Donald Trump is making plans to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence with an “extraordinary celebration” and a new national monument.

Trump is expected to sign an executive order Wednesday establishing a task force to coordinate and plan the event, according to a White House document shared with The Associated Press. The United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary — also known as the semiquincentennial — on July 4, 2026.

The order is also expected to revive Trump's plans to build a “ National Garden of American Heroes ” with statues memorializing 250 historical figures and to commission artists for the first 100.

The women will all be blue eyed and prominently bosomed (even Harriet Tubman although she will not be one of the first 100), the men will be tall and barrel chested. Everyone will be striking heroic poses, like this maybe.



I wonder if he ever danced with that sword, that would have been fucking awesome.

In a 2020 speech celebrating Independence Day at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, Trump first announced his plans to create what he said would be “a new monument to the giants of our past." Trump himself curated the list of who was to be included — Davy Crockett, Billy Graham, Whitney Houston, Harriet Tubman and Antonin Scalia, among others.

No site was selected, and the garden was never funded by Congress. President Joe Biden abolished the task force that Trump formed to create the monument.

Trump's announcement came at a time of conservative backlash to efforts to take down statues dedicated to Confederate leaders and slave owners in the wake of George Floyd’s killing and subsequent protests.

Wednesday’s action is also expected to reinstate an executive order Trump signed in 2020 that was aimed at protecting monuments, memorials and statues from destruction and vandalism. Trump had signed the order after police thwarted an attempt by protesters to pull down a statue of President Andrew Jackson in a park across from the White House.

“The National Garden will honor American heroism after dozens of monuments to Americans, including Presidents and Founding Fathers, have toppled or destroyed and never restored,” according to a White House document on the order shared with the AP.

Plans of the expected signing were first reported by Fox News.

During his 2024 campaign, Trump had talked about creating a yearlong “Salute to America 250” celebration. He said that on his first day back in office he would convene a task force that would be responsible for coordinating with state and local governments to plan festivities, beginning this Memorial Day.

He said he wanted the plan to include a yearlong “Great American State Fair” in Iowa, featuring pavilions that would “showcase the glory of every state in the Union, promote pride in our history, and put forth innovative visions for America’s future."

Trump also wanted to launch the “Patriot Games," sports contests featuring high school athletes from across the country that he said would "allow young Americans from every state to show off the best of American skill, sportsmanship, and competitive spirit.”

Is this a prequel to the Hunger Games? Oh fuck yeah, let's do this!

For a guy that was put into office to bring about more fiscal responsibility, this sure seems like a huge waste of money being spent solely to feed Trump's ego over his perceived legacy.

[japhy]

For a guy that was put into office to bring about more fiscal responsibility, this sure seems like a huge waste of money being spent solely to feed Trump's ego over his perceived legacy.

That is all well and good, but this is about thanking his Imperial Majesty for bringing America back from the depths of the black man's tan suits and apology tour.

Was too much money spent building the Colossus of Rhodes or the Statue of Liberty? Speaking of which we need to remove that damn poem at the base ASAP.

Anyhow, I think spending our tax dollars on this bullshit is the least we can do to repay this great self-serving grifter. He has been attacked so unfairly, for so long, we need to pay homage to his ego.

[jfish26]

For a guy that was put into office to bring about more fiscal responsibility, this sure seems like a huge waste of money being spent solely to feed Trump's ego over his perceived legacy.

That is all well and good, but this is about thanking his Imperial Majesty for bringing America back from the depths of the black man's tan suits and apology tour.

Was too much money spent building the Colossus of Rhodes or the Statue of Liberty? Speaking of which we need to remove that damn poem at the base ASAP.

Anyhow, I think spending our tax dollars on this bullshit is the least we can do to repay this great self-serving grifter. He has been attacked so unfairly, for so long, we need to pay homage to his ego.

It is truly distressing that there are those who still associate the Republican Party with fiscal responsibility, family values, small government, personal freedom, protection of the environment, opposition to Russia, etc.

But enough about MICH.

[KUTradition]

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/2 ... n-00201235

[Shirley]

So...much...winning...

Congratulations MAGA. You wanted Trump to punish your enemies, and it looks like it's working.

So "Christian". So "Family Values" party. So, "is it good for the children?"

(BTW, wasn't this only supposed to impact Black and Brown people?)

Warning! Bad Language!



Follow up:

[japhy]

I am hearing from folks in the DOD this morning. An email was sent out titled "Fork In The Road" and it has the deferred resignation offer in it. Here is the email memo. It is my understanding that resignations are starting to pour in. No word on the fallout in the Intelligence branch yet, assumptions are that there will be similar. The "bold" emphasis is mine not the email.

From: HR <hr@opm.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 3:43 PM
Subject: Fork in the Road

During the first week of his administration, President Trump issued a number of directives concerning the federal workforce. Among those directives, the President required that employees return to in-person work, restored accountability for employees who have policy-making authority, restored ac-countability for senior career executives, and reformed the federal hiring process to focus on merit. As a result of the above orders, the reform of the federal workforce will be significant.
The reformed federal workforce will be built around four pillars:

1) Return to Office: The substantial majority of federal employees who have been working remotely since Covid will be required to return to their physical offices five days a week. Going forward, we also expect our physical offices to undergo meaningful consolidation and divestitures, potentially resulting in physical office relocations for a number of federal workers.

2) Performance culture: The federal workforce should be comprised of the best America has to offer. We will insist on excellence at every level — our performance standards will be updated to reward and promote those that exceed expectations and address in a fair and open way those who do not meet the high standards which the taxpayers of this country have a right to demand.

3) More streamlined and flexible workforce: While a few agencies and even branches of the military are likely to see increases in the size of their workforce, the majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force. These actions are likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status for a substantial number of federal employees.

4) Enhanced standards of conduct: The federal workforce should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work. Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward. Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination.

Each of the pillars outlined above will be pursued in accordance with applicable law, consistent with your agency's policies, and to the extent permitted under relevant collective-bargaining agreements.
If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an im-proved federal workforce. At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions.

If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program. This program begins effective January 28 and is available to all federal employees until February 6. If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025 (or earlier if you choose to accelerate your resignation for any reason). The details of this separation plan can be found below.

Whichever path you choose, we thank you for your service to The United States of America.
*********************************************************************
Upon review of the below deferred resignation letter, if you wish to resign:
1) Select “Reply” to this email. You must reply from your government account. A reply from an ac-count other than your government account will not be accepted.
2) Type the word “Resign” into the body of this reply email. Hit “Send”.
THE LAST DAY TO ACCEPT THE DEFERRED RESIGNATION PROGRAM IS FEBRUARY 6, 2025.
Deferred resignation is available to all full-time federal employees except for military personnel of the armed forces, employees of the U.S. Postal Service, those in positions related to immigration enforcement and national security, and those in any other positions specifically excluded by your employing agency.
DEFERRED RESIGNATION LETTER
January 28, 2025
Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from employment with my employing agency, effective September 30, 2025. I understand that I have the right to accelerate, but not extend, my resignation date if I wish to take advantage of the deferred resignation program. I also understand that if I am (or become) eligible for early or normal retirement before my resignation date, that I retain the right to elect early or normal retirement (once eligible) at any point prior to my resignation date.
Given my impending resignation, I understand I will be exempt from any “Return to Office” requirements pursuant to recent directives and that I will maintain my current compensation and retain all existing benefits (including but not limited to retirement accruals) until my final resignation date.
I am certain of my decision to resign and my choice to resign is fully voluntary. I understand my employing agency will likely make adjustments in response to my resignation including moving, eliminating, consolidating, reassigning my position and tasks, reducing my official duties, and/or placing me on paid administrative leave until my resignation date.
I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition during my remaining time at my employing agency. Accordingly, I will assist my employing agency with completing reasonable and customary tasks and processes to facilitate my departure. I understand that my acceptance of this offer will be sent to the Office of Personnel Management (“OPM”) which will then share it with my agency employer. I hereby consent to OPM receiving, reviewing, and forwarding my acceptance. *********************************************************************
Upon submission of your resignation, you will receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of your email. Any replies to this email shall be for the exclusive use of accepting the deferred resignation letter. Any other replies to this email will not be reviewed, forwarded, or retained other than as required by applicable federal records laws.
Once your resignation is validly sent and received, the human resources department of your employing agency will contact you to complete additional documentation, if any.
OPM is authorized to send this email under Executive Order 9830 and 5 U.S.C. §§ 301, 1103, 1104, 2951, 3301, 6504, 8347, and 8461. OPM intends to use your response to assist in federal workforce reorganization efforts in conjunction with employing agencies. See 88 Fed. Reg. 56058; 80 Fed. Reg. 72455 (listing routine uses). Response to this email is voluntary. Although you must respond to take advantage of the deferred resignation offer, there is no penalty for nonresponse.

Hail Victory!

[twocoach]

I am hearing from folks in the DOD this morning. An email was sent out titled "Fork In The Road" and it has the deferred resignation offer in it. Here is the email memo. It is my understanding that resignations are starting to pour in. No word on the fallout in the Intelligence branch yet, assumptions are that there will be similar. The "bold" emphasis is mine not the email.

From: HR <hr@opm.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 3:43 PM
Subject: Fork in the Road

During the first week of his administration, President Trump issued a number of directives concerning the federal workforce. Among those directives, the President required that employees return to in-person work, restored accountability for employees who have policy-making authority, restored ac-countability for senior career executives, and reformed the federal hiring process to focus on merit. As a result of the above orders, the reform of the federal workforce will be significant.
The reformed federal workforce will be built around four pillars:

1) Return to Office: The substantial majority of federal employees who have been working remotely since Covid will be required to return to their physical offices five days a week. Going forward, we also expect our physical offices to undergo meaningful consolidation and divestitures, potentially resulting in physical office relocations for a number of federal workers.

2) Performance culture: The federal workforce should be comprised of the best America has to offer. We will insist on excellence at every level — our performance standards will be updated to reward and promote those that exceed expectations and address in a fair and open way those who do not meet the high standards which the taxpayers of this country have a right to demand.

3) More streamlined and flexible workforce: While a few agencies and even branches of the military are likely to see increases in the size of their workforce, the majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force. These actions are likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status for a substantial number of federal employees.

4) Enhanced standards of conduct: The federal workforce should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work. Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward. Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination.

Each of the pillars outlined above will be pursued in accordance with applicable law, consistent with your agency's policies, and to the extent permitted under relevant collective-bargaining agreements.
If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an im-proved federal workforce. At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions.

If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program. This program begins effective January 28 and is available to all federal employees until February 6. If you resign under this program, you will retain all pay and benefits regardless of your daily workload and will be exempted from all applicable in-person work requirements until September 30, 2025 (or earlier if you choose to accelerate your resignation for any reason). The details of this separation plan can be found below.

Whichever path you choose, we thank you for your service to The United States of America.
*********************************************************************
Upon review of the below deferred resignation letter, if you wish to resign:
1) Select “Reply” to this email. You must reply from your government account. A reply from an ac-count other than your government account will not be accepted.
2) Type the word “Resign” into the body of this reply email. Hit “Send”.
THE LAST DAY TO ACCEPT THE DEFERRED RESIGNATION PROGRAM IS FEBRUARY 6, 2025.
Deferred resignation is available to all full-time federal employees except for military personnel of the armed forces, employees of the U.S. Postal Service, those in positions related to immigration enforcement and national security, and those in any other positions specifically excluded by your employing agency.
DEFERRED RESIGNATION LETTER
January 28, 2025
Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from employment with my employing agency, effective September 30, 2025. I understand that I have the right to accelerate, but not extend, my resignation date if I wish to take advantage of the deferred resignation program. I also understand that if I am (or become) eligible for early or normal retirement before my resignation date, that I retain the right to elect early or normal retirement (once eligible) at any point prior to my resignation date.
Given my impending resignation, I understand I will be exempt from any “Return to Office” requirements pursuant to recent directives and that I will maintain my current compensation and retain all existing benefits (including but not limited to retirement accruals) until my final resignation date.
I am certain of my decision to resign and my choice to resign is fully voluntary. I understand my employing agency will likely make adjustments in response to my resignation including moving, eliminating, consolidating, reassigning my position and tasks, reducing my official duties, and/or placing me on paid administrative leave until my resignation date.
I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition during my remaining time at my employing agency. Accordingly, I will assist my employing agency with completing reasonable and customary tasks and processes to facilitate my departure. I understand that my acceptance of this offer will be sent to the Office of Personnel Management (“OPM”) which will then share it with my agency employer. I hereby consent to OPM receiving, reviewing, and forwarding my acceptance. *********************************************************************
Upon submission of your resignation, you will receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of your email. Any replies to this email shall be for the exclusive use of accepting the deferred resignation letter. Any other replies to this email will not be reviewed, forwarded, or retained other than as required by applicable federal records laws.
Once your resignation is validly sent and received, the human resources department of your employing agency will contact you to complete additional documentation, if any.
OPM is authorized to send this email under Executive Order 9830 and 5 U.S.C. §§ 301, 1103, 1104, 2951, 3301, 6504, 8347, and 8461. OPM intends to use your response to assist in federal workforce reorganization efforts in conjunction with employing agencies. See 88 Fed. Reg. 56058; 80 Fed. Reg. 72455 (listing routine uses). Response to this email is voluntary. Although you must respond to take advantage of the deferred resignation offer, there is no penalty for nonresponse.

Hail Victory!

Trump will screw them over and they will only pay a fraction of what is agreed to.

[japhy]

Trump will screw them over and they will only pay a fraction of what is agreed to.

The problem for Eloon and the cost cut tyrants and the abusive dad president, is that these people deal with government contracts and payment/invoice concerns all day long. These aren't rubes they are sending this to. There will be much strategizing before their departure. And they will be sharing insights amongst themselves.

The radical Kipling, set to guitar.



Rome never looks where she treads
Always her heavy hooves fall
On our stomachs, our hearts and our heads
And Rome never hears when we bawl

Her sentries pass on -- that is all
And we gather behind them in hordes
And plot to reconquer the Wall
With only our tongues for our swords

For we are the little folk -- we!
Too little to love or to hate
Leave us alone and you'll see
That we can bring down the state

Mistletoe killing an oak
Rats gnawing cables in two
Moths making holes in a cloak
How they must love what they do!

Yes -- and we little folk too
We are as busy as they
Working our works out of view
Watch, and you'll see it some day

No indeed! We are not strong
But we know of Peoples that are
Yes and we'll guide them along
To smash and destroy you in war

We shall be slaves just the same?
Yes, we have always been slaves
But you -- you will die of the shame
And then we will dance on your graves

We are the worm in the wood!
We are the rot at the root!
We are the taint in the blood!
We are the thorn in the foot!