President Trump: Making America Great Again...

[Jeff Lebowski]

This Rogan podcast with Marc Andreesen is fantastic. Even if you don’t like either, it’s worth a listen. Andreesen is always an interesting interview and brings a different perspective. It makes me a lot more optimistic about Trump 2.0.

That is hard to believe. The problem with Rogan is that he platforms so much conspiracy theory stuff.

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[frank ryan]

That is hard to believe. The problem with Rogan is that he platforms so much conspiracy theory stuff.

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Rogan is high all the time too.

[Donuthole]

YO becoming the board's second biggest Trump simp was not on my 2024 Bingo card, but it has been a wild year, so I can't say i'm shocked.

[YOhio]

That is hard to believe. The problem with Rogan is that he platforms so much conspiracy theory stuff.

Marc Andreesen isn’t a conspiracy theorist.

I think that’s one of the best things about Rogan. If a guest is wrong, then he or she is immediately called out and disputed on the socials. But quite often they’re raising uncomfortable topics that need to be addressed. I think it provides a healthy counterbalance.

[YOhio]

YO becoming the board's second biggest Trump simp was not on my 2024 Bingo card, but it has been a wild year, so I can't say i'm shocked.

Funny thing is I still don’t like Trump, but don’t hate him the way I used to. Which probably does make me the second biggest Trump simp here. The first time around I did the ‘everything he does is bad’ routine and believed every rumor and was certain he’d finally be exposed for the Russian plant he was. I remember thinking the Steele dossier was legit and would end his presidency before he took office. I was judgmental of his supporters to the point it impacted some of my personal relationships. It was dumb, unhealthy and intellectually dishonest.

Now he’s our next president and I’m taking a different approach. I don’t think he’s Hitler 2.0 or Putin’s puppet. I won’t freak out over every tweet or silly statement. I’ll support and comment on actions, appointments, and policies I like and oppose those I don’t. I’ve found it much more interesting this go round.

[tooblue]

Marc Andreesen isn’t a conspiracy theorist.

I think that’s one of the best things about Rogan. If a guest is wrong, then he or she is immediately called out and disputed on the socials. But quite often they’re raising uncomfortable topics that need to be addressed. I think it provides a healthy counterbalance.

He may not be a conspiracy theorist, but he sounds like one. That is not to say debanking does not occur. De-insurancing also occurs. The problem is, at what point does the supposed remedy become worse than the disease? Just today, this purportedly occured:

Elon Musk publicized the names of government employees he wants to cut. It’s terrifying federal workers

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/27/busin...ets/index.html


If only we had an example of exactly how Trump would govern. Oh, wait, we do. His first term was a mixed bag, and economically never matched up to the promises:


Many remember solid economy under Trump, but his record also full of tax cut hype, debt and disease

https://apnews.com/article/trump-eco...0f2afb91cdc785


Disruption can be a good thing, except for when it's not especially considering we have already witnessed the ineffectiveness of the game plan.

[falafel]

Apropos of nothing, Elon's new dept. (funny that he has to make a new gov. dept. to remove other gov. depts.) is called the Department of Government Efficiency. Or DOGE.

This brilliant mastermind of the universe can't come up with more than 2 or 3 names for things. X. Space-X. The Tesla X. His kid X.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Marc Andreesen isn’t a conspiracy theorist.

I think that’s one of the best things about Rogan. If a guest is wrong, then he or she is immediately called out and disputed on the socials. But quite often they’re raising uncomfortable topics that need to be addressed. I think it provides a healthy counterbalance.

His arguments sure sounded like a conspiracy to me. Liz Warren running her own government agency without any oversight specifically to persecute conservatives? Our national banking infrastructure systematically debanking conservatives? Come on.

[YOhio]

His arguments sure sounded like a conspiracy to me. Liz Warren running her own government agency without any oversight specifically to persecute conservatives? Our national banking infrastructure systematically debanking conservatives? Come on.

It’s more hyperbole than conspiracy.

[Omaha 680]

He may not be a conspiracy theorist, but he sounds like one. That is not to say debanking does not occur. De-insurancing also occurs. The problem is, at what point does the supposed remedy become worse than the disease? Just today, this purportedly occured:

Elon Musk publicized the names of government employees he wants to cut. It’s terrifying federal workers

https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/27/busin...ets/index.html


If only we had an example of exactly how Trump would govern. Oh, wait, we do. His first term was a mixed bag, and economically never matched up to the promises:


Many remember solid economy under Trump, but his record also full of tax cut hype, debt and disease

https://apnews.com/article/trump-eco...0f2afb91cdc785


Disruption can be a good thing, except for when it's not especially considering we have already witnessed the ineffectiveness of the game plan.

I'm torn on their promises at greater government efficiency. It is a need that is well past being addressed. Our federal departments/agencies are bloated and inefficient and yes susceptible to political intrigue with lifetime staffers working against the current executive inappropriately. But you can't take a wrecking ball to it; these agencies still (mostly) perform vital functions, they just need to do them better. And you can't name names like Musk is doing and run a campaign of intimidation.

I will say two things that summarize my thoughts on the issue:

1. If you think nothing needs to be done to reform government employment requirements and public sector union practices in general, you have never had public sector unions negatively impact your work. I would go as far as saying they should be illegal and are the source of a lot of our problems with inefficiency. Even if they haven't directly impacted you, public sector unions are costing you a lot of money.

2. While I state all the above in principle, dancing around the edges of government waste and efficiency by targeting non-defense discretionary spending is largely useless and a sideshow. Even if the DOGE is wildly successful in what they want to do, our fiscal cliff will still be there in front of us if they don't touch defense, social security, and medicare. Mostly the latter 2, but defense needs to be looked at if a grand bargain between the two extreme parties is ever going to be possible. Spoiler: It isn't going to be possible.

[frank ryan]

Musk calling for punishing Alexander Vindman for treason for whistleblowing about Trump's corruption should concern people.

[frank ryan]

It’s more hyperbole than conspiracy.

What JL referred to is not hyperbole. Rogan's Russia take is pitiful too. Rogan is not a truth-teller and is anything but an objective moderate.

Listen to his takes, you'd come away thinking Russia invaded Ukraine.

He thinks RFK is amazing.

[frank ryan]

I'm torn on their promises at greater government efficiency. It is a need that is well past being addressed. Our federal departments/agencies are bloated and inefficient and yes susceptible to political intrigue with lifetime staffers working against the current executive inappropriately. But you can't take a wrecking ball to it; these agencies still (mostly) perform vital functions, they just need to do them better. And you can't name names like Musk is doing and run a campaign of intimidation.

I will say two things that summarize my thoughts on the issue:

1. If you think nothing needs to be done to reform government employment requirements and public sector union practices in general, you have never had public sector unions negatively impact your work. I would go as far as saying they should be illegal and are the source of a lot of our problems with inefficiency. Even if they haven't directly impacted you, public sector unions are costing you a lot of money.

2. While I state all the above in principle, dancing around the edges of government waste and efficiency by targeting non-defense discretionary spending is largely useless and a sideshow. Even if the DOGE is wildly successful in what they want to do, our fiscal cliff will still be there in front of us if they don't touch defense, social security, and medicare. Mostly the latter 2, but defense needs to be looked at if a grand bargain between the two extreme parties is ever going to be possible. Spoiler: It isn't going to be possible.

I don't think this is all about efficiency or Elon and Ramaswamy wouldn't be heading it up, what with all their expertise. This is strongly performative and Musk's weird nebulous role will involve going at government employees in a way to gets rid of dissenters for political reasons. This has been their game plan for a while.

[Maximus]

Trump saying X and foreign governments saying uh no is going to be fun for 4 years

[frank ryan]

Trump saying X and foreign governments saying uh no is going to be fun for 4 years

It's funny we get scolded for being concerned about project 2025 but when they start following that roadmap remain unconcerned.

Trump is not normal, he is uniquely awful.