Abuse of power doesn’t mean the act is illegal, the power to deny security clearances is clearly his, being as he currently infects the Oval Orifice. But in a just society, a man is not permitted to injure another man without good reason. Even if his action is technically legal, the use of such legal power for petty political gameplay is still…abuse of power.
After all, you can hardly abuse power you haven’t got.
Yeah, saw that, too.
Disappointed, but I’m not drinking Samuel Adams anymore either. Still refuse to drink Yuengling.
I’m sure Brennan knew it was coming and probably doesn’t give a shit, but that’s not the point. The real problem with the revocation of Brennan’s clearance is the message that it sends to current civil service employees, which is that Trump and his house of crooks are trying to politicize civil service and bureaucracies. The message it sends, just like the firings of Comey, Strzok, and McCabe, and just like other civil service employees in the EPA, the Interior, the State, is that if you don’t show Trump loyalty, you could be next.
It’s generally understood that the president and key administration officials shouldn’t have anything to do with making determinations on security clearances. They shouldn’t be directly involved in the hiring and firing of civil service personnel. The fact that they are is beyond disturbing. Every time he’s able to use his political influence to terminate employees or terminate former employees who retain their clearances, it brings us one step closer to government that can no longer be trusted to treat people fairly and impartially.
At this point, Trump might as well just make every Federal employee with a security clearance sign a pledge of allegiance to Trump, and revoke the clearance of those who don’t. That’s pretty much the way things are headed anyway.
$92,000,000 to fluff up the Dotard’s already overinflated ego:
“Ich schwöre: Ich werde dem Führer des Amerikanische Republik und Volkes Donald Trump treu und gehorsam sein, die Gesetze beachten, und meine Amtspflichten gewissenhaft erfüllen, so wahr mir Gott helfe.”
[Moderating]
Please remember that all posts to the SDMB must be made in English.
No warning issued.
[/Moderating]
What if Little Nemo had posted it like this?
Still leaves us mono-linguists (who don’t have time for google) in the dark.
ETA: How about just including a translation after the German?
So Omarosa has tapes of Lara Trump basically offering her a bribe. And Trump was yelling at anyone and everyone to have Omarosa arrested (on what charge you might ask? no one knows).
Somehow Omarosa is going to bring this whole kit and kaboodle down.
That was the hope with Stormy Daniels. And maybe so, but not in a day or even a week.
I don’t think she’s going to take Trump to court for anything, and Trump probably knows better than trying to accuse her of libel or anything. Maybe she’ll appear as a witness for Mueller. Otherwise, I don’t think she’ll have much more impact than reinforcing everyone’s current opinions.
Stormy is still in the better position (outside of Mueller), since she’s actually pushing a legal case - which requires both sides to be honest.
I don’t speak German, but I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that it’s the oath that German soldiers had to take, swearing loyalty to Hitler personally. (With the name changed, of course.)
Google translates this as:
I swear: I will be faithful and obedient to the leader of the American republic and people Donald Trump, observe the laws, and diligently fulfill my official duties, so help me God.
I left it in German because I figured it would make it easier for people to recognize the context.
The translation is: “I swear: I will be faithful and obedient to the leader of the American republic and people, Donald Trump, to observe the law, and to conscientiously fulfill my official duties, so help me God.”
For those who don’t recognize it, it’s a direct lift of the loyalty oath that Adolf Hitler required all German government officials to take. He ordered the replacement of previous oath where they had pledged to uphold the constitution with new oaths where pledged personal loyalty to him.
There was a different oath for German soldiers: “I swear to God this sacred oath that to the Leader of the German Empire and people, Adolf Hitler, supreme commander of the armed forces, I shall render unconditional obedience and that as a brave soldier I shall at all times be prepared to give my life for this oath.”
The day before that idiots ego parade should be National Abandon a Clunker on the Streets of Washington Night.
Retired Admiral William McRaven slams idiot Trump:
McRaven 2020!
They’d just get towed at owner expense.
(Not that the idea I had of planting stinkbombs would turn out much better for perpetrators, but at least it would have an effect on the parade itself.)
So, they can find the money to pay for this, but can’t seem to scrape up the funds for better election security. :rolleyes:
It’s Republican financial theory. They say they’re conservative and fiscally responsible, and you’re supposed to parrot the talking points and buy the bullshit like a good little non thinker. I know, it doesn’t work for me, either.