The Trump Administration: A Clusterfuck in the Making

[Ambrosio_Spinola]

Any bets on how long it’s going to take Trump to viciously attack Otto Warmbier’s parents? I’m thinking by the end of the weekend.

[eschereal]

Oh, he will win the Peace Prize, just, maybe not the one he was expecting.

[Snowboarder_Bo]

I wrote about this when it was still impending, but I can’t for the life of me remember which thread it was in, so I’m posting my “follow-up” here: the 3 member board that hears federal worker disputes is now completely vacant.

The Merit Systems Protection Board, a quasi-judicial government body tasked with settling workplace disputes for millions of federal workers, is officially vacant for the first time in its 40-year history.

The board became empty at midnight Thursday, after the Senate failed to act on a measure to extend the term of the board’s sole remaining member and acting chairman, Mark Robbins. The House approved the extension Monday.

The three-member board needs at least two members to decide appeals from civil servants. All three members are presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed for staggered seven-year terms, with no more than two affiliated with the same political party. After one member termed out in 2015 and a second did so in January 2017, both without replacements, Robbins became the board’s sole member. His term expired at midnight on Feb. 28.

And so here’s the problem(s):

Robbins has been by himself on the board for more than two years. He’s diligently reviewed the nearly 2,000 cases that have come across his desk, but without a second member to cast a vote on a resolution, those cases have sat idle in a fast- growing backlog. With no members on the board, that backlog will keep growing.

Without a quorum, Robbins hasn’t been able to fulfill other MSPB duties, including releasing studies on the civil service and conducting reviews of the rules and regulations at OPM, over which the MSPB has oversight.

Robbins on Thursday told a House Committee on Oversight and Reform subcommittee that he expects it would take three years to clear the backlog.

[gytalf2000]

@Snowboarder_Bo

I wrote about this when it was still impending, but I can’t for the life of me remember which thread it was in, so I’m posting my “follow-up” here: the 3 member board that hears federal worker disputes is now completely vacant.And so here’s the problem(s):

Wow! That’s pathetic. And typical for this current administration, of course…

[ThelmaLou]

Tweet from Robert Reich

Robert Reich
‏Verified account @RBReich

Trump on world leaders:
May: “Wrecked”
Trudeau: “Dishonest & weak”
Merkel: “Controlled by Russia”
Abe: “I remember Pearl Harbor”
Macron: “Low Approval”

Trump on authoritarians:
Kim: “Real leader”
Putin: “Very smart”

What an embarrassment.
1:58 PM - 1 Mar 2019

[Tatterdemalion]

I was listening to my local NPR station, and they had a squib from the BBC reporting on world financial news. The BBC announcer was speaking of the current administration, and referred to “President Chump, er Trump.”

[eschereal]

Weekend Update mocks Individual-1 using his own words.

Fake News!

I hear SNL is laying off writers, because, who needs them?

[Rick_Kitchen]

Individual 1’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize was forged. Twice.

And it has been referred to the Oslo Police and the FBI.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/world/eu
rope/nobel-peace-prize-trump-fake-nomination.html

[Morgyn]

@Rick_Kitchen

Individual 1’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize was forged. Twice.

And it has been referred to the Oslo Police and the FBI.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/world/europe/nobel-peace-prize-trump-fake-nomination.html

Fixed the link for you.

[Rick_Kitchen]

@Morgyn

Fixed the link for you.

Thanks.

[steatopygia]

Richard Nixon is the happiest dead president ever.

[Little_Nemo]

@Rick_Kitchen

Individual 1’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize was forged. Twice.

And it has been referred to the Oslo Police and the FBI.

The authorities have identified John Barron as a person of interest.

[Kobal2]

@gytalf2000

Wow! That’s pathetic. And typical for this current administration, of course…

Man, I kinda pity the next guy in the seat. It’s going to feel like Augeas’ stables. “Wait, he’s turned that to shit too ?!” “Yes sir. Three coats. Sorry sir.”

[Locrian]

@Little_Nemo

The authorities have identified John Barron as a person of interest.

In a phone interview on Wednesday, Mr. Njolstad of the Nobel committee, said, “We verify all nominations, at least the ones with a shadow of doubt.”

[Grim_Render]

Thats sad. I mean the number of people who may nominate candidates is pretty enormous. Having to fake a nomination is just…sad.

Did the fake contain the word “covfefe”?

[Smapti]

@Locrian

In a phone interview on Wednesday, Mr. Njolstad of the Nobel committee, said, “We verify all nominations, at least the ones with a shadow of doubt.”

“The sleazy and conflicted Nobel Peace Prize committee denying my “win” for the Great progress Trump has achieved, while giving O a victory (investigate?), is a Fake Award! VERY BAD!”

[Crotalus]

@Smapti

“The sleazy and conflicted Nobel Peace Prize committee denying my “win” for the Great progress Trump has achieved, while giving O a victory (investigate?), is a Fake Award! VERY BAD!”

You are getting disturbingly good at this.

[Maus_Magill]

@Rick_Kitchen

Individual 1’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize was forged. Twice.

And it has been referred to the Oslo Police and the FBI.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/world/eu
rope/nobel-peace-prize-trump-fake-nomination.html

A little off topic, but the former chairman of the Nobel Committee has the coolest name: Thorbjorn Jagland. “Thunderbear.”

[Happy_Lendervedder]

@Rick_Kitchen

Individual 1’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize was forged. Twice.

And it has been referred to the Oslo Police and the FBI.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/world/eu
rope/nobel-peace-prize-trump-fake-nomination.html

This story is a year old, FYI.

[Gyrate]

@Happy_Lendervedder

This story is a year old, FYI.

Which would explain why this year he badgered Abe into submitting the nomination.