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Donald Trump 2019

Francisco 2.0

By Francisco 2.0
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GHOSTUSER
GHOSTUSER

I fucking love this President. My 2 faves during my lifetime are Trump and Nixon. They share a lot of similarities and were besieged by the same groups of assholes. No I’m not trolling. Y’all, the lef

Francisco 2.0
Francisco 2.0
Brisketexan
Brisketexan

This.....is magnificent. The "younger generation" is going to have to work double-time to fund YOUR Social Security, which YOUR generation of elected officials raided the fuck out of.  And which,

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Francisco 2.0

Francisco 2.0 32,432

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Trump offered NASA unlimited funding to get a manned mission to Mars by 2020:

http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/01/trump-offered-nasa-unlimited-funding-to-go-to-mars-by-2020.html

 

Quote

Donald Trump nearly derailed a televised call to the International Space Station after he got distracted, first by a sudden fantasy of going to Mars before the end of his first term in the White House, and then by a trip to the bathroom to check his reflection in the mirror, according to Team of Vipers, a new book by Cliff Sims, who worked as a communications official for Trump on his presidential campaign and in the West Wing.

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Trump sat at his desk in the Oval Office, flanked by his daughter and adviser, Ivanka, and astronaut Kate Rubins, and read prepared remarks off a sheet of paper while other members of his staff — Jared Kushner, Reince Priebus, Sean Spicer, and Betsy DeVos — looked on. Suspended aboard the Space Station, Whitson and Colonel Jack Fischer fielded his questions, including, “What are we learning by being in space?”

 

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The only major hiccup visible to the public came when Trump asked about Mars. “Tell me, Mars — what do you see a timing for actually sending humans?” he said. Whitson responded by noting that just a month earlier, Trump had signed a bill outlining such timing. “Well, I think as your bill directed, it would be in the 2030s,” she said. “Unfortunately spaceflight takes a lot of time and money, so getting there will take some international cooperation.”

Quote

Trump didn’t accept her answer. “Well, I think we want to do it in my first term or at worst in my second term,” he said. “So I think we’ll have to speed that up a little bit.” By Trump standards, the comment barely registered as news. The New York Times suggested he’d said it “perhaps jokingly.”

But, according to an excerpt from Team of Vipers obtained by Intelligencer, Trump wasn’t joking. He was suddenly very serious about getting to Mars as soon as possible.

Spoiler

From the moment Sims broached the subject of the video call to the Space Station with Trump, it seemed to inspire in him a chimerical mood. “We don’t capture people’s imaginations anymore,” Trump said, in what Sims described as “a rare moment of wistfulness.” Trump continued: “We used to do big things — incredible things. No one could do the things we could do. You have to inspire people. They went to the moon. But the call would be great. Honestly, how cool is NASA?”

Sims detailed the logistics of setting up the call, something that required NASA engineers and diagrams of the Oval Office and a walk-through beforehand. But the most important aspect of the plan, Sims learned, would be the timing. An engineer explained something called “orbital mechanics” to him, how the Space Station would only be reachable during a specific period of about 20 minutes when it was in just the right place. “The President would have to be right on time, a rarity,” Sims wrote.

The day of the event, Sims conducted a final briefing in the Private Dining Room with Trump, DeVos, Rubins, and Robert Lightfoot Jr., the acting NASA administrator. “We had about ten minutes before the broadcast,” Sims wrote, “which I stressed to the President had to start and end exactly on time.”

As Sims explained to the president what was about to happen, “he scanned over his prepared remarks, crossing out some of the text with a Sharpie.” Meanwhile, Sims wrote, “the giant flat-screen TV hanging on the wall was turned to Fox News, on mute.” Trump asked him where the cameras would be positioned and “which side of his head would be most prominently featured.” Sims wrote that he “made sure the press cameras would be positioned on the right side,” which was Trump’s preference.

Then, something happened. Trump “suddenly appeared distracted, distant,” wrote Sims. “I could sense the gears inside of his head starting to turn. I was losing him.” As the clock ticked down, Trump “suddenly turned toward the NASA administrator.” He asked: “What’s our plan for Mars?”

Lightfoot explained to the president — who, again, had recently signed a bill containing a plan for Mars — that NASA planned to send a rover to Mars in 2020 and, by the 2030s, would attempt a manned spaceflight.

“Trump bristled,” according to Sims. He asked, “But is there any way we could do it by the end of my first term?”

Sims described the uncomfortable exchange that followed the question, with Lightfoot shifting and placing his hand on his chin, hesitating politely and attempting to let Trump down easily, emphasizing the logistical challenges involving “distance, fuel capacity, etc. Also the fact that we hadn’t landed an American anywhere remotely close to Mars ever.”

Sims himself was “getting antsy” by this point. With a number of points left to go over with the president, “all I could think about was that we had to be on camera in three minutes … And yet we’re in here casually chatting about shaving a full decade off NASA’s timetable for sending a manned flight to Mars. And seemingly out of nowhere.”

Trump did not seem worried about the time. Sims wrote that he leaned in toward Lightfoot and made him an offer. “But what if I gave you all the money you could ever need to do it?” Trump asked. “What if we sent NASA’s budget through the roof, but focused entirely on that instead of whatever else you’re doing now. Could it work then?”

Lightfoot told him he was sorry, but he didn’t think it was possible. This left Trump “visibly disappointed,” Sims wrote. “But I tried to refocus him on the task at hand. We were now about 90 seconds from going live.”

Trump wasn’t ready to refocus yet, however. As he walked with Sims from the dining room to the Oval Office, he stopped just outside the door. “He decided to stop in his white-marbled bathroom for one final check in the mirror,” Sims wrote. He had 30 seconds before he was supposed to be on camera, and Sims was “now nearing full on panic.”

In the bathroom mirror, Trump smirked and said to himself, “Space Station, this is your President.” He told Sims to go ahead into the Oval, assuring him, “I’ll be right in.”

He made it with barely a second to spare. “If I’d ever doubted that his showbiz background actually brought any value to this job, I certainly never would again,” Sims wrote.

The White House press office did not respond to a request for comment.

 

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FondrenRoad

FondrenRoad 4,378

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8 minutes ago, Francisco 2.0 said:

Trump offered NASA unlimited funding to get a manned mission to Mars by 2020:

http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/01/trump-offered-nasa-unlimited-funding-to-go-to-mars-by-2020.html

 

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From the moment Sims broached the subject of the video call to the Space Station with Trump, it seemed to inspire in him a chimerical mood. “We don’t capture people’s imaginations anymore,” Trump said, in what Sims described as “a rare moment of wistfulness.” Trump continued: “We used to do big things — incredible things. No one could do the things we could do. You have to inspire people. They went to the moon. But the call would be great. Honestly, how cool is NASA?”

Sims detailed the logistics of setting up the call, something that required NASA engineers and diagrams of the Oval Office and a walk-through beforehand. But the most important aspect of the plan, Sims learned, would be the timing. An engineer explained something called “orbital mechanics” to him, how the Space Station would only be reachable during a specific period of about 20 minutes when it was in just the right place. “The President would have to be right on time, a rarity,” Sims wrote.

The day of the event, Sims conducted a final briefing in the Private Dining Room with Trump, DeVos, Rubins, and Robert Lightfoot Jr., the acting NASA administrator. “We had about ten minutes before the broadcast,” Sims wrote, “which I stressed to the President had to start and end exactly on time.”

As Sims explained to the president what was about to happen, “he scanned over his prepared remarks, crossing out some of the text with a Sharpie.” Meanwhile, Sims wrote, “the giant flat-screen TV hanging on the wall was turned to Fox News, on mute.” Trump asked him where the cameras would be positioned and “which side of his head would be most prominently featured.” Sims wrote that he “made sure the press cameras would be positioned on the right side,” which was Trump’s preference.

Then, something happened. Trump “suddenly appeared distracted, distant,” wrote Sims. “I could sense the gears inside of his head starting to turn. I was losing him.” As the clock ticked down, Trump “suddenly turned toward the NASA administrator.” He asked: “What’s our plan for Mars?”

Lightfoot explained to the president — who, again, had recently signed a bill containing a plan for Mars — that NASA planned to send a rover to Mars in 2020 and, by the 2030s, would attempt a manned spaceflight.

“Trump bristled,” according to Sims. He asked, “But is there any way we could do it by the end of my first term?”

Sims described the uncomfortable exchange that followed the question, with Lightfoot shifting and placing his hand on his chin, hesitating politely and attempting to let Trump down easily, emphasizing the logistical challenges involving “distance, fuel capacity, etc. Also the fact that we hadn’t landed an American anywhere remotely close to Mars ever.”

Sims himself was “getting antsy” by this point. With a number of points left to go over with the president, “all I could think about was that we had to be on camera in three minutes … And yet we’re in here casually chatting about shaving a full decade off NASA’s timetable for sending a manned flight to Mars. And seemingly out of nowhere.”

Trump did not seem worried about the time. Sims wrote that he leaned in toward Lightfoot and made him an offer. “But what if I gave you all the money you could ever need to do it?” Trump asked. “What if we sent NASA’s budget through the roof, but focused entirely on that instead of whatever else you’re doing now. Could it work then?”

Lightfoot told him he was sorry, but he didn’t think it was possible. This left Trump “visibly disappointed,” Sims wrote. “But I tried to refocus him on the task at hand. We were now about 90 seconds from going live.”

Trump wasn’t ready to refocus yet, however. As he walked with Sims from the dining room to the Oval Office, he stopped just outside the door. “He decided to stop in his white-marbled bathroom for one final check in the mirror,” Sims wrote. He had 30 seconds before he was supposed to be on camera, and Sims was “now nearing full on panic.”

In the bathroom mirror, Trump smirked and said to himself, “Space Station, this is your President.” He told Sims to go ahead into the Oval, assuring him, “I’ll be right in.”

He made it with barely a second to spare. “If I’d ever doubted that his showbiz background actually brought any value to this job, I certainly never would again,” Sims wrote.

The White House press office did not respond to a request for comment.

 

In.  Do it, Trump.  Hell, I could even vote for Trump in 2020 if he brings us back to serious manned space exploration. 

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Hugo Stiglitz

Hugo Stiglitz 23,367

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21 minutes ago, retread said:

many of them are seriously compromised.

I still don’t buy the kompromat angle unless we’re talking about them being afraid of Russia’s influence machine.

To gain control of the elites, Putin jailed the richest oligarch and demanded half from the remaining oligarchs.

After watching what Putin did to Hillary, what ambitious politician would want to fuck with that when they can just be a silent bystander instead? 

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FondrenRoad

FondrenRoad 4,378

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30 minutes ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

Unless there is some master plan where they all turn on him at once. 

Nah...

Everyone who has stepped in Mueller's court has turned on him. Senators won't be different. Trump is an incapable mob boss. He doesn't reward loyalty. Nor does he deter disloyalty. Putin puts the loyal guy's family in a penthouse and feeds the disloyal guy polonium. Just like the mafia. Trump sucks at it because he doesn't give a shit about any of the people that help him in the first place. He could have set Cohen's family up for a generation, and Cohen would have just rotted in jail with a closed mouth. 

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UpperWestside

UpperWestside 6,191

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38 minutes ago, ChiTownDoc said:

LOL @ these Trump supporters that wanna turn on him now.  WTF did you expect, you stupid motherfuckers?  This is exactly who you supported.  He fucked over any group he could and you were fine with it, but after missing a couple paychecks, you pieces of shit decide you've had enough?  LOL  

Fuck all of you. 

The simple answer is it's okay so long as those evil brown people are feeling Dotard's wrath.

Thinking that Jim Bob in bumbfuckville had enough money to wait out this shutdown is where Dotard really screwed the pooch. He will cave and he will be humiliated. His base will still blame the Democrats. Just look at history to see how rubes will support authoritarians who feed them a steady stream of whatever the hell sounds good to them. It is going to be a painful moment for all of us when Dotard's cultists finally wake up and realize the the ruse they have supported was all a mirage.

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FondrenRoad

FondrenRoad 4,378

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6 minutes ago, Celery Man said:

and Mexico will pay for it.  Believe me.

Nope. American flag planted on Mars. Right next to the Trump Olympus Mons Hotel and Casino.

For real, how else can Total Recall come true?  You think dem socialists are gonna withhold air from people?  Trump is the exact type of guy that gets us to 3 tit hookers and Kuato. 

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Mdhorn

Mdhorn 5,990

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6 minutes ago, Red Five said:

Yes by all means let’s rush a manned mission to Mars so that it’s done by 2020. Nothing could go wrong there.

By all means rush it.  And load it with only the best MAGA f'ers.  It if explodes, fantastic.  If it doesn't--let them enjoy the heat of Mars.  Either way, less MAGA douches here on earth.    

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yaqdum

yaqdum 182

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1 hour ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

I still don’t buy the kompromat angle unless we’re talking about them being afraid of Russia’s influence machine.

To gain control of the elites, Putin jailed the richest oligarch and demanded half from the remaining oligarchs.

After watching what Putin did to Hillary, what ambitious politician would want to fuck with that when they can just be a silent bystander instead? 

my very great suspicion is these people are some of the lowest shit in the nation, and we would be shocked to learn of things they have done since,  maybe, middle school.  almost guarantee you putin knows a lot of it.

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hayden_horn

hayden_horn 11,365

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19 minutes ago, yaqdum said:

my very great suspicion is these people are some of the lowest shit in the nation, and we would be shocked to learn of things they have done since,  maybe, middle school.  almost guarantee you putin knows a lot of it.

Hint: it's that Russian NRA money. 

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RomaVicta

RomaVicta 30,034

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42 minutes ago, hayden_horn said:

Hint: it's that Russian NRA money. 

The stink has been coming from that story for months. Imagine if it were the only story. Trump again benefits from all the chaff he puts in the air and all the shitpiles he's set afire. This story is devastating and it doesn't require the reader to figure out active measures, distinguish different Russian names, or have to know the terribly complicated (I know, it's only two steps sanctions against criminals and the Russian response of cutting off adoptions of Russian kids, but we're talking about an electorate that has regularly sunk to new lows in stupidity.) Magnitsky Act.

It's simple. Somebody in the GOP knew that the NRA was the instrument Russia was using to bribe and compromise American elected officials. Simple. Hang 'em all.

I think politicians knowingly and unknowingly took Russian money. They probably knew the amount of NRA money was suspicious compared to earlier years, but I don't know that everyone who took NRA money knew it was Russian.

The Russians can't lose with that scheme. You either knowingly dip your beak in the Russian soup or you just drank it without bothering to find out its origin. Either way, you're fucked.

As usual, some good people will be sucked into the vortex of this emerging scandal. A few who got the money from the party without thinking there was any reason to believe it was any slimier than the corporate slush that the law allows.

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TornACL

TornACL 7,733

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7 hours ago, FondrenRoad said:

In.  Do it, Trump.  Hell, I could even vote for Trump in 2020 if he brings us back to serious manned space exploration. 

See the way it works is, he'll promise the best space exploration you've ever seen - - it will be so amazing you won't even believe it, you'll fall for it like a total rube, and then nothing will ever come of it. 

We fucking elected Lyle Lanley without the personality. 

Edited by TornACL
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Homercles

Homercles 10,206

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See the way it works is, he'll promise the best space exploration you've ever seen - - it will be so amazing you won't even believe it, you'll fall for it like a total rube, and then nothing will ever come of it. 
We fucking elected Lyle Lanley without the personality. 


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Js1

Js1 85,638

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Daaaamn.

CBS has Trump at 36-59 - that's the highest disapprove yet.

70% aren't on Trump's side for the border wall being worth a prolonged shutdown (so, that magical 30% base)

Pelosi wins who is doing a better job during the shutdown - 47% Pelosi/35% Trump

Split 48/48 on whether Trump should give a SOTU during the shutdown

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jimmyjazz

jimmyjazz 46,305

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16 hours ago, HenryJames said:

 

So literally the Democratic position for the last month. Eight hundred thousand people went without paychecks for a month for no reason. And I’m fairly certain the only reason they’re voting on it now is because Trump wants his state of the union in the House.

Oh, it goes beyond that.  He will crow about re-opening the government.  It's the art of the deal.

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Jack Straw

Jack Straw 2,954

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16 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

Oh, it goes beyond that.  He will crow about re-opening the government.  It's the art of the deal.

no matter how it all ends, trump and his supporters will be doing victory dances.  within a matter of days, all the folks who voted R in 2018 will be blaming the democrats for all of it,  and trump's support numbers will be right back where they were before the shutdown, or higher.  nothing will change.

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