Thoughts on the Trump presidency

[birchesgreen]

I've just watched the White House press conference.

What a remarkable event that was, with the President's sentiments totally echoed by the Sec of Defense, Sec of Transportation and the Vice-President.

Really shocked at the whole thing...

Grim but not really shocking was it? You'd bet your mortgage on the orange ape blaming DEI and/or woke.

 

[Ant1966]

I'd say at this point that we have a most likely cause, but it's too early to say that the definite cause is known.

What’s really scary is all his MAGA acolytes on social media happily believing every word. Trump knows the cause. He wouldn’t speculate. He has spoken to the chief investigator and he KNOWS. Truly terrifying

Its just reprehensible. Whatever your personal politics are, I fail to see how ANYONE could possibly defend this vile excuse for a human. I didnt think Trump could go any lower. I was wrong.

 

[najaB]

Its just reprehensible. Whatever your personal politics are, I fail to see how ANYONE could possibly defend this vile excuse for a human. I didnt think Trump could go any lower. I was wrong.

Not sure why you've quoted my post...

 

[ainsworth74]

And ask Chat GPT about the US blowing up Iran Air flight 655.

I asked ChatGPT:

What happened to Iran Air flight 655?

And it replied:

Iran Air Flight 655 was a scheduled passenger flight that was tragically shot down on July 3, 1988, by the United States Navy. The flight, an Airbus A300, was en route from Tehran to Dubai, flying over the Persian Gulf when it was struck by a missile fired by the USS Vincennes, a guided-missile cruiser.

The incident occurred in a highly tense and politically charged atmosphere during the Iran-Iraq War. The U.S. Navy had been on high alert in the region due to ongoing hostilities between Iran and Iraq, and the USS Vincennes had been involved in clashes with Iranian forces. The crew of the Vincennes mistook the civilian aircraft for a hostile military jet, despite the fact that the flight was at cruising altitude and transmitting the correct civilian identification signals. All 290 people on board the flight, including 66 children, were killed.

The U.S. government initially defended the actions of the crew, stating that they had acted in self-defense, but later, the U.S. expressed regret over the incident. In 1996, the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement in which the U.S. did not admit legal liability but agreed to pay compensation to the families of the victims.

The incident remains a tragic and controversial moment in the history of aviation and international relations.

Seems a pretty reasonable brief summary?

 

[Ant1966]

Not sure why you've quoted my post...

Sorry Naja, wasnt making a point to you, at all; was trying to say i agree with you. My bad. Just so angry about Trump right now.

 

[DaleCooper]

Grim but not really shocking was it? You'd bet your mortgage on the orange ape blaming DEI and/or woke.

He has already blamed Pete Buttigieg, former head of the FAA, and "diversity".

 

[Gloster]

Only 1451 days to go…although it may well be less.

 

[najaB]

Sorry Naja, wasnt making a point to you, at all; was trying to say i agree with you. My bad. Just so angry about Trump right now.

Okay. I was a bit confused. Don't worry, any right thinking person would be shocked by his actions on a daily basis.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Only 1451 days to go…although it may well be less.

And then we get Don Jr

 

[D6130]

And then we get Don Jr

....or Elon Musk?

 

[JamesT]

....or Elon Musk?

Not unless a constitutional amendment is passed allowing immigrants to run for president.

 

[Strathclyder]

That presumes that he is capable of feeling shame.

Given all that we've seen over the past 9 years with this cretin, the answer would be a resounding no. Am not at all shocked about what he's said in the aftermath of the Washington mid-air collision as it's par of the course, but that doesn't mean I ain't disgusted either. The two emotions ain't mutually exclusive when it comes to the sentient fart cloud we have to grit our teeth and acknowledge as the sitting US President as far as I'm concerned.

 

[sor]

Watched the NTSB press conference. I found it jarring that its chair (who was nominated by both Trump and Biden) giving an almost North Korean level of praise to Dear Leader, Dear Vice Leader, and the people they have seen fit to put into the defence and transportation roles.

 

[alex397]

Hearing what he is saying, especially alluding to disabled people being a cause in this, is so horrible to hear. I have many of the worst possible words to describe that orange thing but won’t repeat here! People like this really should never be tolerated in any position of power (or anywhere to be honest).

 

[brad465]

Only 1451 days to go…although it may well be less.

And then we get Don Jr

Or until the US gets its next revolution, leading to the entire constitution being ripped up and the system of government being different (for better or worse).

 

[najaB]

And then we get Don Jr

Unlikely. He's not nearly as popular as his father.

 

[jupiter]

Pffft he’ll win with, what’s the going dictator run rate, about 98% of the vote?

 

[DerekC]

I wouldn't be so quick to apportion blame to someone not following procedures. Apparently the southbound departure from the military base, across the approach for runway 33 is a long-standing arrangement.

But as I understand it, they do it on the basis that helicopters must get a visual sight on nearby commercial flights and are responsible for avoiding them. Hence the message to the pilot of the Blackhawk "[helicopter] have you got a visual on [the commercial flight]"

I'd say at this point that we have a most likely cause, but it's too early to say that the definite cause is known.

Far too early to give a most likely cause - all we have is a range of possible causes - and it may well be a combination of more than one. Most crashes in which human error is a factor (and a majority do, these days) have complex causes.

Okay. I was a bit confused. Don't worry, any right thinking person would be shocked by his actions on a daily basis.

I think he has reached a new low - using the deaths of 67 people, before all the bodies have even been recovered, as a weapon in his culture wars without a shred of evidence. i was completely expecting this kind of reaction, but it still makes me disgusted and angry.

Watched the NTSB press conference. I found it jarring that its chair (who was nominated by both Trump and Biden) giving an almost North Korean level of praise to Dear Leader, Dear Vice Leader, and the people they have seen fit to put into the defence and transportation roles.

She probably wants to keep her job for long enough to complete the investigation. One word of criticism and she will be sacked. It's what happens in autocracies.

 

[jon0844]

Far too early to give a most likely cause

Not for MAGA. It's case closed now. All the simps/bots/crazies will be sharing the memes and comments about DEI and Trump will have them talking about something else tomorrow.

If and when there's a full investigation (assuming Trump doesn't shut it down as he's already decided the cause) it will be too late for MAGA to care, and if it makes Trump look bad then it will be fake news.

 

[najaB]

But as I understand it, they do it on the basis that helicopters must get a visual sight on nearby commercial flights and are responsible for avoiding them. Hence the message to the pilot of the Blackhawk "[helicopter] have you got a visual on [the commercial flight]"

Yes. But the post I was replying to suggested that the helicopter pilot acted recklessly.

Far too early to give a most likely cause - all we have is a range of possible causes - and it may well be a combination of more than one. Most crashes in which human error is a factor (and a majority do, these days) have complex causes.

I think when the report is eventually published, the proximite cause is almost certainly going to be something along the lines of "Failure to maintain adequate separation during night VFR operations".

It's the contributing factors which are going to be interesting and involved.

 

[D6130]

Not unless a constitutional amendment is passed allowing immigrants to run for president.

I'm sure that Trump would happily sign an executive order to make an exception in Musk's case.

 

[najaB]

I'm sure that Trump would happily sign an executive order to make an exception in Musk's case.

As he's found out, EOs do not override the Constitution.

 

[jon0844]

As he's found out, EOs do not override the Constitution.

But it isn't stopping him trying, and if he does enough things the legal system will be overrun. It will then be a case of what he can get away with before decisions and enforcements/punishments are imposed.

 

[najaB]

But it isn't stopping him trying, and if he does enough things the legal system will be overrun. It will then be a case of what he can get away with before decisions and enforcements/punishments are imposed.

Yes, he is trying to jam up the legal system but the states run elections so it's extremely unlikely that any but the most MAGA secretaries of state would ignore the constitution on the basis of an EO that would inevitably be struck down.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

I guess after trying to overthrow an election interfering with an accident investigation must seem like small beer.

The man is not just despicable he is dangerous.

 

[Harpo]

The man is not just despicable he is dangerous.

Don’t worry. Lord Mandelson says he’s no longer thinks Trump’s dangerous.


(But I’d not trust Mandy either!)

 

[jon0844]

Don’t worry. Lord Mandelson says he’s no longer thinks Trump’s dangerous.


(But I’d not trust Mandy either!)

It's sad that people all over the world feel the need to suck up to Trump so as not to upset him. I don't believe for one second Mandelson has changed his mind, but he has to be diplomatic.

If only everyone ganged up and said no to Trump, but that isn't going to happen.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Utterly deplorable I was actually seething reading the BBC news article. Not surprised mind. His second presidency has emboldened him it would appear.

The moderators over on airliners.net have had a tough night as they don't allow any political talk.

 

[Falcon1200]

I think he has reached a new low - using the deaths of 67 people, before all the bodies have even been recovered, as a weapon in his culture wars without a shred of evidence.

When I read his comments my first thought was 'this is unbelievable'; But of course it is not.

 

[Howardh]

Washington DC plane crash: ‘black box’ data recorder recovered from Black Hawk helicopter – as it happened

Officials say over 100 family members of victims are in the Washington area for briefings and that every air traffic controller involved is under intense scrutiny

www.theguardian.com

ournalists also highlighted another exchange between the president and journalists. Trump responded to a question about whether he was going to visit the scene of the plane crash by saying: “What’s the site? The water? You want me to go swimming?”

If that were a British PM or minister - and even the worst wouldn't say that - they'd be gone before they reached the door. I think every ATC in the US should go in immediate and indefinite strike, bring all flights to a standstill and that includes military and Trump's own flights, until he goes. Not apologises, not sympathises (he doesn't appear to do sympathy) but a full-on resignation.

That's probably what would happen in France, almost certainly.