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Co-President Musk

But it is Congress that makes the decision. If Congress votes to over fund the military, it is over funded. There is no,"but a businessman would not spend but 75%" clause in the Constitution. We went DEEP in debt during the Revolution. Do you recall Washington surrendering to save money? A businessman may well have told Japan if they paid damages we would call it square. If money is your only objective building that military, the most powerful in world history, was a waste no business man would accept

Or look at our military strategy, since WW2 it has been "steel, not blood". We invest heavily to guarantee casualties are lower. Fire superiority and airpower rule American strategy. But it is far cheaper to take the Russian route, let the privates die en masse.

We aren't a business. But the next time a hurricane hits Florida, let's tell them it isn't profitable to send aid. And to point it out, St Louis will be destroyed when New Madrid let's go. Sorry, I don't see how I can recoup my taxes by sending you aid. But best wishes.
I get it. The hope harkens back again to the article I keep referencing. That Musk shining a big light will influence congress to be more discerning to assuage bitching from their own constituents

As for the hurricane that’s part of what we do or don’t prioritize. But we can’t subsidize everything. That UPenn article says 20 years. We have to start making painful decisions. Twenty noted how we can raise more revenue. That’s easier to do, an easier sell I think, with concurrent cuts
 
Thanks dude. No I’m done. 53 is too old. Will just focus on my existing businesses. No more new things

Considering Bitcoin CAGR is 45%, I doubt there is currently a better idea. Buying Bitcoin, chilling, and playing pickleball is the smart play.

Starting a business, that might fail, and deal with endless headaches sounds terrible in comparison. Plus, you would miss out on pickleball.
 
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Considering, Bitcoin CAGR is 45%, I doubt there is currently a better idea. Buying Bitcoin, chilling and playing pickleball is the smart play.

Starting a business, that might fail, and deal with endless headaches sounds terrible in comparison. Plus, you would miss out on pickleball.
Starting a business is the most fun thing I’ve done in my entire work life. And doing it with friends is even better. But there’s a timeframe and years you need to build in and there’s just not enough time to do it again. Or money really. We’ve put everything we have and don’t have into these
 
I get it. The hope harkens back again to the article I keep referencing. That Musk shining a big light will influence congress to be more discerning to assuage bitching from their own constituents

As for the hurricane that’s part of what we do or don’t prioritize. But we can’t subsidize everything. That UPenn article says 20 years. We have to start making painful decisions. Twenty noted how we can raise more revenue. That’s easier to do, an easier sell I think, with concurrent cuts

He said the magic words. Cutting needs done, I have no qualms. But we need revenue too. A $1000 Bitcoin transaction tax would go a long way...

I still do not recall Trump saying one time he would submit this to Congress.

I am not a fanof Senator Warren, don't hate her like some but didn't vote for her, but she sent a letter identifying $2 trillion in cuts over 10 years. Now there are cuts, but some are revenue by cutting loopholes. She didn't have to terrorize workers nor put a backdoor into the system



The biggest cost-saving idea in Warren’s letter is to preserve $200 billion by renegotiating Defense contracts. She points to an Inspector General report from 2011 that found contractors regularly hike prices for the military. One egregious example includes the Air Force overpaying 7,943% on soap dispensers. To rectify the problem, she urged passing legislation she previously introduced with Mike Braun, the former Republican Senator from Indiana, that would close loopholes to prevent defense contractors from price gouging the DOD. “There is a huge problem of the government being able to supervise these contractors carefully enough to be able to make sure we're getting our money's worth,” says Don Kettl, an expert on government administration and former dean of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland.​

One area ripe for bipartisan cooperation may be tackling wasteful spending and abuse in the healthcare industry, such as ending or overhauling Medicare Advantage. Non-partisan analysts estimate the insurance program overcharged taxpayers by more than $83 billion last year alone. Warren also wants to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, an idea for which Trump has previously expressed support. At the same time, Warren proposed cracking down on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), which Trump once castigated as “famous middlemen” who “rip off Medicare patients.” There has already been some movement in Congress. Last year, Warren introduced legislation with Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri that would prohibit the parent company of a PBM from owning a pharmacy—a form of market domination that allows them to charge higher prices with impunity.​
 
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He said the magic words. Cutting needs done, I have no qualms. But we need revenue too. A $1000 Bitcoin transaction tax would go a long way...

I still do not recall Trump saying one time he would submit this to Congress.

I am not a fanof Senator Warren, don't hate her like some but didn't vote for her, but she sent a letter identifying $2 trillion in cuts over 10 years. Now there are cuts, but some are revenue by cutting loopholes. She didn't have to terrorize workers nor put a backdoor into the system



The biggest cost-saving idea in Warren’s letter is to preserve $200 billion by renegotiating Defense contracts. She points to an Inspector General report from 2011 that found contractors regularly hike prices for the military. One egregious example includes the Air Force overpaying 7,943% on soap dispensers. To rectify the problem, she urged passing legislation she previously introduced with Mike Braun, the former Republican Senator from Indiana, that would close loopholes to prevent defense contractors from price gouging the DOD. “There is a huge problem of the government being able to supervise these contractors carefully enough to be able to make sure we're getting our money's worth,” says Don Kettl, an expert on government administration and former dean of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland.​

One area ripe for bipartisan cooperation may be tackling wasteful spending and abuse in the healthcare industry, such as ending or overhauling Medicare Advantage. Non-partisan analysts estimate the insurance program overcharged taxpayers by more than $83 billion last year alone. Warren also wants to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, an idea for which Trump has previously expressed support. At the same time, Warren proposed cracking down on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), which Trump once castigated as “famous middlemen” who “rip off Medicare patients.” There has already been some movement in Congress. Last year, Warren introduced legislation with Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri that would prohibit the parent company of a PBM from owning a pharmacy—a form of market domination that allows them to charge higher prices with impunity.​
Yep all great stuff
 
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A process that respects that Congress determines what is spent?

I agreed with conservatives, Biden did not have the power to blanket waive student loans. The exact same principle applies.

If they take it to Congress, great. I may well agree with much. But so far I have not heard Musk or Trump say they want Congress involved
Congress is the source of the fraud & corruption. The courts can decide if the Executive branch is overreaching.
 
People keep saying the problems are in Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid. It is true, everything else combined is just the skin of the apple.

What has been proposed by Trump to solve those problems?
The same thing that’s been proposed for the past however long. They are going after WASTE and FRAUD, & the people griping about it are either beneficiaries or only care about WHO is doing it, not what they’re doing.
 
Congress has no appetite for it. And honestly much of congress are just dipshit people. Little relevant experience in anything. Just politicians. Adept at running campaigns.

MM66, I won't even give House Reps credit for being adept at campaigning as over 90% of the campaigns aren't competitive. Furthermore, the negative ads they run are put together by campaign consultants and all sound the same depending on the party.

Worse of all, the negativity displayed in the ads about political opponents carries over to the body politic as can be seen on social media.
 
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Americans in my opinion voted for Trump due mainly to issues such as inflation and what has been called open borders.

On top of that, the Harris and Biden shift just seemed a violation of the traditional American way. Harris simply didn't earn the nomination.

Opponents to Trump warned us about a takeover of the Federal government which would result in placing too much power in the Oval Office.

A takeover which runs contrary to the Founders philosophy about checks and balances.

I for one, thought Trump' s opponents exaggerated the power threat.

Lately I've begin to think many of the Trump voters may wake up someday thinking they are getting more than they bargained for.

Still hoping my fears are unfounded.
Woke ideology hurt dems badly as well.

Please list the reasons for your change of heart. What Trump moves have you so concerned about a power threat.
 
but what can we do
First, stop accepting that we can not do the hard, heavy lifting things, because if we do we will not be elected again.
second. ... I got nothin.

We either die together, OR we die together with hope of re-election because we didn't do the hard things to fix shit. OHH OHHH how much $$$ can I get for being re-elected? <-- The problem.
 
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The same thing that’s been proposed for the past however long. They are going after WASTE and FRAUD, & the people griping about it are either beneficiaries or only care about WHO is doing it, not what they’re doing.

On the spending side all we hear about is waste, fraud, and abuse.

Meanwhile on the revenue side we seem to believe businesses and individuals always pay all the taxes they owe. IRS agents along with their scrutiny and auditing are simply part of the waste and abuse.
 
On the spending side all we hear about is waste, fraud, and abuse.

Meanwhile on the revenue side we seem to believe businesses and individuals always pay all the taxes they owe. IRS agents along with their scrutiny and auditing are simply part of the waste and abuse.
Nobody believes that businesses & individuals pay all they owe & doing good on one isn’t dependent on the other.
 
First, stop accepting that we can not do the hard, heavy lifting things, because if we do we will not be elected again.
This is so damn true Joe.

I feel like past generations of Republicans would pay lip service to Conservative ambitions but then wilt once in office. Or throw their defeatist hands up and say” it’s too hard”. Most of all, they were scared of provoking a reaction from the left.

1. We want to be done with Roe v Wade
2. We want to move the embassy to Jerusalem
3. We need to gut Chevron
4. We want to cut the department of education (we’ll see how this goes)
5. We need to massively slash corporate taxes

Trump tries hard to keep his promises. That’s admirable.
 
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Thanks dude. No I’m done. 53 is too old. Will just focus on my existing businesses. No more new things

with GIF


Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
 
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Opponents to Trump warned us about a takeover of the Federal government which would result in placing too much power in the Oval Office.
The executive department of the United States has played a significant role in where we are. While Congress must make appropriations, those appropriations don’t get off the ground without the presidents approval. The recitation of the total lack of basic spending verification controls is the fault of the executive and is a problem. The executive acting like an executive is not putting too much power in the Oval Office, it’s the executive doing what we expect and what must be done.
 

Ss need to raise caps and age
Let’s start by making sure the SS payments go to those with verifiable SS numbers. We don’t even do that!
 
The executive department of the United States has played a significant role in where we are. While Congress must make appropriations, those appropriations don’t get off the ground without the presidents approval. The recitation of the total lack of basic spending verification controls is the fault of the executive and is a problem. The executive acting like an executive is not putting too much power in the Oval Office, it’s the executive doing what we expect and what must be done.

Do you believe that the executive branch has carte blache to operate however they prefer? For example, Congress has passed laws, signed into existence, with regard to IT security measures that are to be enforced upon executive branch employees. Can the President or his appointees ignore such requirements that are codified law?

Trump 1.0 ran aground in many areas because they ignored administrative act procedures. And it seems they are heading down the same road again.
 
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“Federal judge blocks DOGE from accessing sensitive Treasury department records”….this is the right thing to do. There are some things they don’t understand and shouldn’t have access to.

Europe is off the rails about USAID. It was a big money maker for their fake economy based on fraud.



There is no way Bessent should be barred. Judge needs impeached.



This would never happen. Can’t pay for special forces in conflict areas or other clandestine ops.
 
Do you believe that the executive branch has carte blache to operate however they prefer?
Yes. (I assume you mean cart blanch within the constitutional definition of executive function)
Congress has passed laws, signed into existence, with regard to IT security measures that are to be enforced upon executive branch employees.
yes it has. Those laws cannot be construed to prevent the executive from exercising its constitutional Authority. Obviously when SS administration approves a social security entitlement for a newly eligible recipient, the number and the individual will be known. The same goes for the executive auditing or reviewing those payments. Contrast this with the Lois Lerner fiasco where she and her subordinates violated IRS protocols for a political purpose.
Can the President or his appointees ignore such requirements that are codified law?
Of course not. But the law can’t prevent an audit (even by a contractor) or impose other restrictions prohibiting an Executive from doing a necessary executive function.

We have contractors rummaging around many different agencies performing presumably necessary tasks. Seeing restricted data cannot prevent the duties.
 
Yes. (I assume you mean cart blanch within the constitutional definition of executive function)

yes it has. Those laws cannot be construed to prevent the executive from exercising its constitutional Authority. Obviously when SS administration approves a social security entitlement for a newly eligible recipient, the number and the individual will be known. The same goes for the executive auditing or reviewing those payments. Contrast this with the Lois Lerner fiasco where she and her subordinates violated IRS protocols for a political purpose.

Of course not. But the law can’t prevent an audit (even by a contractor) or impose other restrictions prohibiting an Executive from doing a necessary executive function.

We have contractors rummaging around many different agencies performing presumably necessary tasks. Seeing restricted data cannot prevent the duties.

I understand all of that. And there are procedures for both civilian and contractor employees in the exec branch to be able to access sensitive and classified data.

There are also procedures in place regarding IT systems... They must go through their own audit and certification process before they can ever go online.

It appears neither were followed in recent situations.
 
I understand all of that. And there are procedures for both civilian and contractor employees in the exec branch to be able to access sensitive and classified data.

There are also procedures in place regarding IT systems... They must go through their own audit and certification process before they can ever go online.

It appears neither were followed in recent situations.
Based on the Musk statement posted in this thread, the lack of fiscal safeguards in authorizing payments is astounding and troubling. The executive department caused this. I expect the executive department to fix it. We all should. We need to stop whining about Trump, Musk, and politics. This is way beyond politics. This is about competency and accountability.
 
Yes. (I assume you mean cart blanch within the constitutional definition of executive function)

yes it has. Those laws cannot be construed to prevent the executive from exercising its constitutional Authority. Obviously when SS administration approves a social security entitlement for a newly eligible recipient, the number and the individual will be known. The same goes for the executive auditing or reviewing those payments. Contrast this with the Lois Lerner fiasco where she and her subordinates violated IRS protocols for a political purpose.

Of course not. But the law can’t prevent an audit (even by a contractor) or impose other restrictions prohibiting an Executive from doing a necessary executive function.

We have contractors rummaging around many different agencies performing presumably necessary tasks. Seeing restricted data cannot prevent the duties.
You don't have anyone poking around secret data that hasn't passed an extensive security check. Even having access to PII requires a check, as less stringent one to be sure, but a check nonetheless.
 
This is about competency and accountability.
And yet when we are telling you that Musk and his team are not doing even the most basic things that we ask of all other government individuals to ensure a level of accountability, you want to shrug that off. Their failure to follow long established security procedures speaks to their competence (or lack thereof) as well.

The potential fallout of them releasing the wrong info could literally get people killed.
 
And yet when we are telling you that Musk and his team are not doing even the most basic things that we ask of all other government individuals to ensure a level of accountability, you want to shrug that off. Their failure to follow long established security procedures speaks to their competence (or lack thereof) as well.

The potential fallout of them releasing the wrong info could literally get people killed.
He would be apologetic if the other side was doing the very thing.
 
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You don't have anyone poking around secret data that hasn't passed an extensive security check. Even having access to PII requires a check, as less stringent one to be sure, but a check nonetheless.
Are they not being checked? Check them. Easy. It’s not like Musk himself isn’t about the most known person in the world. Hasn’t been a ceo with fiduciary duties. Had boards. Been under intense gov scrutiny for years.

trump should have the checks run be done with it
 
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Are they not being checked? Check them. Easy. It’s not like Musk himself isn’t about the most known person in the world. Hasn’t been a ceo with fiduciary duties. Had boards. Been under intense gov scrutiny for years.

trump should have the checks run be done with it
We went from wanting to lock up a Secretary of State for having classified data on her email to being cool with 19 year old unvetted "Big Balls" plugging external servers in at OPM. Square the circle for me.
 
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We went from wanting to lock up a Secretary of State for having classified data on her email to being cool with 19 year old unvetted "Big Balls" plugging external servers in at OPM. Square the circle for me.
Yeah. Run checks on em like everyone else. We’re 35 trillion in debt. This isn’t a race. Just do it right. At worst concurrently
 
Yeah. Run checks on em like everyone else. We’re 35 trillion in debt. This isn’t a race. Just do it right. At worst concurrently

When a reporter found "Big Balls" was found to have been fired for leaking company secrets, where he previously worked, what was Elons response? He called for the reporter to be fired.

Why weren't checks done on the dude who made clearly racist comments, and yet after resigning, is hired back. What could go wrong there?

They don't want checks done. They want to do whatever they want.
 
When a reporter found "Big Balls" was found to have been fired for leaking company secrets, where he previously worked, what was Elons response? He called for the reporter to be fired.

Why weren't checks done on the dude who made clearly racist comments, and yet after resigning, is hired back. What could go wrong there?

They don't want checks done. They want to do whatever they want.
He’s just a kid and already known as Big Balls. That’s pretty impressive to be honest. Like that’s what people call him.get his security check done and let him do what he does. Let. Big Balls. Cook!!!!!!!

Then get him a reality show
 
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