The Trump Administration: The Clusterfuck Continues

[Monty]

I wonder how the felon’s going to blame two jets in a week or so falling off the USS TRUMAN.

Another F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier has been lost in the Red Sea, the second jet lost from the carrier in just over a week, five people familiar with the matter told CNN.

It is not entirely clear what happened yet, as the investigation is ongoing, but two of the people said there was some kind of arrestment failure as the jet was trying to land on the carrier and the pilot and weapons systems officer had to eject. They were recovered by a rescue helicopter and are both alive, but they suffered minor injuries, one of the people said.

The jet crashed into the sea and has not been recovered, two of the people familiar with the incident said.

Separately, the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group “took a shot” at the Truman on Tuesday, four of the people said, despite President Donald Trump announcing an apparent ceasefire with the group hours earlier. It is not clear whether the two incidents are related.

And that’s some deal you made there, felon! Evidently you forgot to include the Houthis.

Another deal the deal master forgot to tell the other party about.

Even as Carney insisted his country wasn’t ever going to be for sale, Trump replied, “Never say never.”

Trump also told reporters that there was nothing Carney could say during their meeting that would convince him to lift the tariffs. Asked why, the president said, “That’s just the way it is.”

Here’s an interesting list of stuff imported from China, said imports which will trickle off or flat out disappear thanksto this asinine trade war the felon started.

Here are some products from China that could soon be hard to come by in the U.S. as a result of tariffs, according to TD Cowen’s analysis.

Down feathers: The U.S. imports $1.9 billion in down feathers from China. That amounts to 77% of the country’s total imported supply of down. Down is commonly used for insulation in comforters and outerwear.

Toys, games and sports equipment: More than $30 billion in toys, games and sports equipment sold in the U.S. is imported from China. That accounts for just over 73% of the country’s total imports in the category. The trade war could spell shortages in children’s toys come Christmastime, experts, as well as President Trump, have warned.

Good one, putting down feathers first in that list. Aren’t those used in pillows?

Someone forgot to tell the felon’s flack what the VA’s actual goal is.

The head of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Tuesday defended the agency’s slashing of thousands of jobs and said its goal is to cut an additional 15% of its workforce, as he testified for the first time since taking the helm.

In testy exchanges with multiple members of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Secretary Doug Collins said that his agency was looking into potentially cutting another 70,500 nonessential positions in a move that would make the agency more efficient.

“The department’s history shows that adding more employees to the system doesn’t automatically equal better results,” said Collins, a Navy veteran and former U.S. representative, who was sworn in in February.

The VA announced this year that it had fired more than 2,400 employees and planned to end 585 contracts. Many committee members peppered Collins with questions about the consequences of those reductions. When asked to elaborate on which positions and contracts were terminated, he said he would provide them with the information later.

And of course one of the reasons for slashing jobs is in this bit with my bolding.

He said the agency would keep front-line health care workers, such as doctors and nurses, but would phase out nonessential roles, like interior designers and those who work in diversity, equity and inclusion.

One would think slashing jobs is not the mission of the VA. One would think taking care of veterans is the mission of the VA. But, then, one would not be a convicted felon or his sycophant.

And yet another stupid name game from the felon.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to announce while on his trip to Saudi Arabia next week that the U.S. will now refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia, two U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Oh, that’s on a visit (dare I call it a pilgramage?) to Saudi Arabia? I wonder why he’s making this move. (From the same link.)

A spat developed in 2017 during Trump’s first term when he used the name Arabian Gulf for the waterway. Iran’s president at the time, Hassan Rouhani, suggested Trump needed to “study geography.”

“Everyone knew Trump’s friendship was for sale to the highest bidder. We now know that his geography is, too,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote online at the time.

This part made me laugh at the felon some more.

Trump can change the name for official U.S. purposes, but he can’t dictate what the rest of the world calls it.

But what happened to I run the country and the world?

Here’s a dream I’ve been having for a few days. One of these world leaders will finally get tired of his inanities, capriciousness, dishonesty, and just plain ickiness and then tell him to his face he’s incompetent and clueless.

Alas, it’s just a dream.

[dtilque]

@Monty

Good one, putting down feathers first in that list. Aren’t those used in pillows?

Indeed they are. And when there’s the inevitable shortage of feathers and the price goes through the ceiling, we can say that under the Trump admin, down is up.

[Alessan]

[Smothers @dtilque with a pillow].

[Horatius]

@Monty

But what happened to I run the country and the world?

He’s busy trying to tell Stockholm what to do.

USA Urges Stockholm to Cease Diversity Initiatives | Sweden Herald

[Gyrate]

@Monty

Good one, putting down feathers first in that list. Aren’t those used in pillows?

Should be a boost for those US companies who make shitty foam-filled pillows, like the one Dominion Voting Systems will soon own.

[Pardel-Lux]

“Excellency, pray tell: What the fuck do you care? How on Earth is this a business of yours?”

[DesertDog]

@Alessan

[Smothers @dtilque with a pillow].

But it has to be a foam rubber pillow – not one by that pillow guy.

[smithsb]

Something from the past is current again.

[Coriolanus]

@Horatius

USA Urges Stockholm to Cease Diversity Initiatives | Sweden Herald

I can’t keep up. So no pardoning for State Crimes? Keep that one in mind fatass.

Did the Hollywood ambassador’s actually accept the EO? Name Arnold and he’ll Terminate Liberal Hollywood or tell the president that he (trump) is a very stupid man (and maybe Austria/Germany has a single word for that?)

I am sad that Kelsey Grammar supports trump. It can’t all be about tax cuts any more.

Columbus was one of the worst early mariners ever. So that becomes a day-off what, instead of MLK, who probably could have been yet was not a renowned shitty mariner.

We could do a Mariner’s day off, yet most of those guys were Vikings, Dutch and Spanish.

I’ve got my VE day flags set up on their bamboo stakes: UK union jack, Upside-down USA (distress) flag and the red hammer and sickle Soviet Union flag.I’ll take a pic tomorrow.

ETA: Those Germans have a word for everything (Homer Simpson)

“Präsidentenvollpfosten”

• A made-up compound, but very typically German.
• Roughly: “presidential dumbass.”

[smithsb]

I don’t have a freebie to give but the headline and blurb convey all the stupidity.
https://www.wsj.com/world/greenland-spying-us-intelligence-809c4ef2

[Coriolanus]

Dammit. Now I’m reminded he’s turning in his King-for-a-day invite next week. to meet (ISTR it was up in Scotland and anyone complaining gets San Salvador or Killarney - trumps choice) KCIII.

So it’ll be on his way back from the UK he accepts the Danes gift of honour and American security territory.

We’ll need a new name. Something gold, like trump. And something stupid like trump. Mel, Sly - any ideas?

Did India and Pakistan have some issue? I tell ya, I’m no lawyer yet if it’s about golf they ought to come to Mar-a-lago and work it out.

[OttoDaFe]

@Monty

I wonder how the felon’s going to blame two jets in a week or so falling off the USS TRUMAN.

He’ll blame it on the Gerald R Ford’s “digital” catapult system (the fact that the Truman has steam catapults won’t even register in his very good brain).

[CalMeacham]

Evidently Trump’s EPA is shutting down the EnergyStar system

This is bi-partisan, noncontroversial, and saves the public huge amounts in energy costs. But evidently anything reeking of “environmental concern” is verboten these days. Be PROUD to spend more for your appliances so we can show our disdain for “Green” policies!

Why would Trump’s EPA shut down the successful Energy Star program?

[crowmanyclouds]

E.P.A. managers announced during a staff meeting on Monday that divisions that oversee climate change and energy efficiency would be eliminated as part of an agency reorganization. That includes the E.P.A.’s climate change office as well as the division that oversees Energy Star.

Up Next: EPA bans thermometers.

[dasmoocher]

@Monty

I wonder how the felon’s going to blame two jets in a week or so falling off the USS TRUMAN.

Democrats. This is what happens when you name a boat after a Democrat.

This makes me wonder how Navy ship names are chosen. I imagine the aircraft carrier USS Obama would infuriate MAGAs. Could a Democratic Congress and President make this happen, and could the next concurrent Republican Congress and President reverse it?

[dasmoocher]

@crowmanyclouds

Up Next: EPA bans thermometers

For liquid-based thermometers, what if they use mercury instead of alcohol? Mercury is bad for the environment, yes?

[Great_Antibob]

More relevant, mercury isn’t great for human beings. But one suspects the current administration does not greatly care about the environment or human health.

[crowmanyclouds]

Norman, Norman, Norman
Elon, Elon, Elon

[ThelmaLou]

@dasmoocher

For liquid-based thermometers, what if they use mercury instead of alcohol? Mercury is bad for the environment, yes?

@Great_Antibob

More relevant, mercury isn’t great for human beings

Ban mercury? Hell, make it mandatory!

[bobot]

Kristi Noem visited Illinois to criticize JB Pritzker, who they are clearly afraid of, and to spread misinformation about sanctuary cities.
Gov. Pritzker issued a public service statement concerning her visit:

“We would urge all pet owners in the region to make sure all of your beloved animals are under watchful protection while the secretary is in the region,” his office wrote, referencing a part of Noem’s memoir in which she wrote about her decision to kill a dog that she called “untrainable and dangerous.”

Kristi Noem blasts JB Pritzker in Springfield, Illinois governor responds