I am Alarmed

Donald J. Trump‏

Verified account 

@realDonaldTrump

At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is "no reason to be alarmed!"

Khan said in a statement that there was no cause for alarm, he was referring specifically to a visible increase in police activity on the streets of London in the wake of the attack. "Londoners will see an increased police presence today and over the course of the next few days. There's no reason to be alarmed," he said.

Mayor Khan was referring to an increased police presence. Apparently, according to POTUS, an increased police presence is something about which one should be alarmed.   Assuming that what POTUS said is what he meant, I am alarmed.

 January 25, 2017  Executive Order Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States

Sec. 7.  Additional Enforcement and Removal Officers.  The Secretary, through the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, shall, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations, take all appropriate action to hire 10,000 additional immigration officers, who shall complete relevant training and be authorized to perform the law enforcement functions described in section 287 of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1357).

January 25, 2017 Executive Order: Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements

Sec. 8.  Additional Border Patrol Agents.  Subject to available appropriations, the Secretary, through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall take all appropriate action to hire 5,000 additional Border Patrol agents, and all appropriate action to ensure that such agents enter on duty and are assigned to duty stations as soon as is practicable.

January 23, 2017 Presidential Memorandum Regarding the Hiring Freeze MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order a freeze on the hiring of Federal civilian employees to be applied across the board in the executive branch. As part of this freeze, no vacant positions existing at noon on January 22, 2017, may be filled and no new positions may be created, except in limited circumstances. This order does not include or apply to military personnel. The head of any executive department or agency may exempt from the hiring freeze any positions that it deems necessary to meet national security or public safety responsibilities.

If an increased police presence is a basis for alarm then we have been beguiled into a false sense of security.  As you can see, one of the first acts of President Trump was to execute a hiring freeze within the Executive branch of government for anything other than military and police. 

Following that Executive Order by 2 days were President Trump's orders to hire an additional 15,000 personnel to discharge police duties within U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs enforcement. 

This post is not tongue in cheek.  As an U.S. citizen I know Donald Trump is my President according to the process by which we elect the President of the United States of America.  He either meant what he said in his tweet that an increased police presence is cause for alarm or he has chosen to deliberately mock the Mayor of London. 

If he is sincere in his statement regarding an increased police presence then how alarmed should we be with regard to POTUS' actions in increasing our own police forces?  If he has chosen to intentionally impugn an elected office holder of our closest ally how does that reflect upon him as President and us as those he represents on the international stage?

Whaduyathink?

Terra Damnatus or (Doomed Land)

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

President Donald J. Trump spoke by telephone today with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, and Prime Minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom. The President personally explained his decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accord. He thanked all four leaders for holding frank, substantive discussions on this issue during his first months in office. He also reassured the leaders that America remains committed to the Transatlantic alliance and to robust efforts to protect the environment. He noted America’s strong record in reducing emissions(1) and leading the development of clean energy technology(2), and he reiterated that the United States under the Trump Administration, will be the cleanest and most environmentally friendly country on Earth(3). The leaders all agreed to continue dialogue and strengthen cooperation on environmental and other issues going forward.

Boldface and Notations (1), (2), and (3) added.

(1)World Resources Institute Apr. 5, 2016

The Roads to Decoupling: 21 Countries Are Reducing Carbon Emissions While Growing GDP

Change in CO2 emissions 2000-2014

Denmark -30%, Ukraine -29%, Hungary -24%, Portugal -23%, Romania -22%, Slovakia -22%, United Kingdom -20%, France -19%, Finland -18%, Ireland -16%, Czech Republic -14%, Spain -14%, Belgium -12%, Germany -12%, Switzerland -10%, Netherlands -8%, Sweden -8%, USA -6%, Bulgaria -5%, Austria -3, Uzbekistan -2%.  Ok, maybe we're not really leading the way in reducing emissions but at least we're in the top 19.

(2)cleantechnica.com Feb. 4, 2016.  ­

How 11 Countries Are Leading The Shift To Renewable Energy

Sweden, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Scotland, Germany, Uruguay, Denmark, China, Morocco, USA, Kenya.  Hey, at least we're ahead of Kenya. 

(3)No doubt a key to achieving this admirable goal is to begin by debilitating the EPA.  Here's what POTUS has suggested for FY2018. 

REDUCTION: CATEGORICAL GRANTS Environmental Protection Agency

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides categorical grants to help fund State environmental program offices and activities.  Many States have been delegated authority to implement and enforce Federal environmental laws including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Safe Drinking Water Act.  The Budget proposes to reduce many of these grants and eliminate others to better focus and prioritize environmental activities on core functions required by Federal environmental laws.

Funding Summary (In millions of dollars) -482

ELIMINATION: ENERGY STAR AND VOLUNTARY CLIMATE PROGRAMS Environmental Protection Agency

The Budget eliminates funding for Energy Star and several other voluntary partnership programs related to energy and climate change.  These programs are not essential to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) core mission and can be implemented by the private sector.

Funding Summary (In millions of dollars) -66

REDUCTION: ENFORCEMENT Environmental Protection Agency

The Budget proposes to reduce the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) environmental enforcement activities.  The reduction to EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance programs will allow the agency to re-focus enforcement priorities on programs that are not delegated to States and avoid duplication of effort in States with delegated enforcement authority.

Funding Summary (In millions of dollars) -129

ELIMINATION: GEOGRAPHIC PROGRAMS Environmental Protection Agency

Geographic Programs fund a variety of ecosystem protection activities within specific watersheds, including the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, Puget Sound, and others.  These activities are primarily local efforts and the responsibility for coordinating and funding these efforts generally belongs with States and local partnerships.

Funding Summary (In millions of dollars) -427

REDUCTION: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Environmental Protection Agency

The Budget reconfigures and restructures the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) activities in research and development to focus on research objectives that support statutory requirements. Extramural Science to Achieve Results (STAR) grants will not receive funding.

Funding Summary (In millions of dollars) -234

REDUCTION: SUPERFUND Environmental Protection Agency

The Budget proposes to reduce funding for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Hazardous Substance Superfund Account, focusing on reining in Superfund administrative costs and promoting efficiencies.  The Budget proposes that EPA would optimize the use of existing settlement funds for sites where those funds exist and will look for ways to remove some of the barriers that have delayed the program's ability to return sites to the community.

Funding Summary (In millions of dollars) -330

No doubt this $1,668,000,00 will make a significant difference in the budget deficit and promote the creation of many, many jobs.  I find the reductions in enforcement and the Superfund to be particularly poignant.  Note the multiple references to the EPA's mission and core functions.  Here's the mission statement of the EPA, "The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mission Statement: EPA's mission is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment air, water, and land upon which life depends."  I would think enforcing environmental regulations and being able to remediate sites where those regulations are violated would be pertinent to the performance of core functions.  Obviously we no longer need be concerned about  risks to our health or environment.  Things like Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant where the groundwater was contaminated with methylene chloride and trichloroethene. Perchlorate, lead, and mercury were also found on the site and in nearby streams are a thing of the past.  Oops, my bad, that one is an ongoing concern.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

According to researchers from MIT, if every nation that signed the Paris Climate Accord met all of their commitments until the end of the century, the impact on the climate would be negligible.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology officials said U.S. President Donald Trump badly misunderstood their research when he cited it on Thursday to justify withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. 

"How much of a difference will the Paris Agreement make?" showing that if countries abided by their pledges in the deal, global warming would slow by between 0.6 degree and 1.1 degrees Celsius by 2100. 

"If we don't do anything, we might shoot over 5 degrees or more and that would be catastrophic," said John Reilly, the co-director of the program, adding that MIT's scientists had had no contact with the White House and were not offered a chance to explain their work.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

Therefore, in order to fulfill my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord -- (applause) -- thank you, thank you -- but begin negotiations to reenter either the Paris Accord or a really entirely new transaction on terms that are fair to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people, its taxpayers.  So we’re getting out.  But we will start to negotiate, and we will see if we can make a deal that’s fair.  And if we can, that’s great.  And if we can’t, that’s fine.

President Emmanuel Macron told U.S. President Donald Trump that the Paris climate deal could not be renegotiated and that while France would continue to work with Washington, it would no longer discuss climate issues with the United States, a French source said.

"The president spoke with President Trump in a five-minute phone call. The exchange was direct," a source close to Macron said.

"The president said that they could continue to talk, but indicated that nothing was renegotiable with regard to the Paris accords. The United States and France will continue to work together, but not on the subject of climate," the source added.

From <http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-climatechange-france-idUSKBN18S6H3>

Well, so much for that idea.

Whaduyathink?

A Scary Story

On May 9th of this year at the Hanford Nuclear reservation, a tunnel collapsed.  In the interest of full disclosure, according to the Department of Energy, it was only a partial collapse.  This tunnel was built in 1956 and sealed closed in 1965. 

Considering the state of U.S. infrastructure there is no particular cause for surprise.  Bridges, buildings, and towers collapse.  Occasionally there is some loss of life accompanying these events.  With few exceptions the only people who remember these events are the ones fortunate enough to survive and the friends and families of the deceased.  Therefore, allow me to refresh your memory. 

In Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 1st, 2007 the I35-W bridge over the Mississippi river collapsed.  There were 13 killed and 145 injured.  The NTSB said that undersized gusset plates, increased concrete surfacing load, and weight of construction supplies/equipment caused this collapse.  On October 27th, 2009 on the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge  two tension rods and a crossbeam from a recently installed repair collapsed during the evening commute, causing the bridge to be closed temporarily.  This time there were no fatalities "only" 1 was person was injured and there was of course the attendant economic loss precipitated by any major thoroughfare closure.  In South Boston in 2006 the ceiling of the Big Dig collapsed killing 1 and injuring 1.  On July 19th, 2015 a bridge on I-10 in California collapsed resulting in 1 injury.  The Delhi Dam failed in Iowa and 8,000 people had to be evacuated.  The Big Bay Dam in Mississippi failed and 104 buildings were damaged or destroyed.  This list is merely representative of the types of failures of infrastructure within the U.S. it should by no means be considered to be comprehensive.

The events listed in the preceding paragraph have myriad causes, structural failure, meteorological, operator error.  They also are, hopefully, singular events which except for the loss of life can be corrected and prevented in the future.

The collapse of the tunnel at the Hanford Nuclear reservation is a much more significant event.  Within the tunnel there is about 780 cubic yards of radioactive waste.  This is a result of the extraction of plutonium for nuclear weapons.  The Energy Department, the party responsible for oversight, has been aware of the susceptibility of the waste storage areas to failure.  You may determine this in their own reports. 

On June 1, 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Enforcement issued a Consent Order (NCO-2015-02) to Bechtel National, Inc., the management and operating contractor for DOE’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP), for deficiencies in nuclear safety associated with misalignment between design documents and facility authorization bases; welds in vessels fabricated for and accepted at the plant; and implementation of WTP quality assurance and corrective action management programs.  The contractor agreed to the Consent Order.

On April 25, 2014, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Health, Safety and Security's Office of Enforcement and Oversight issued an Enforcement Letter (NEL-2014-01) to CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company relating to the discovery of a sealed radioactive source found outside its shielded assembly, resulting in unexpected radiological doses to four individuals at the Plutonium Finishing Plant at DOE's Hanford Site.

On September 13, 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Health, Safety and Security’s Office of Enforcement and Oversight issued an Enforcement Letter (NEL-2012-02) to CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company related to a series of radiological work deficiencies at the Plutonium Finishing Plant and 105 K-East Reactor Facility at DOE's Hanford Site.

There are additional shortcomings and deficiencies that have been noted by the DOE for this same facility.  Now the DOE is faced with a potentially catastrophic event.  Here is their response.  They have contracted with CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Company(CH2M) to place a plastic cover over the tunnel and secure it on the sides with heavy concrete blocks.

If the only concern proceeding from this event was to insure no one could be injured by entering the area this is probably a sufficient precaution.  However, this is not the case.  We are discussing a nuclear materials incident.  I will assume the tunnel was lined with concrete for additional protection and security.  It seems practical to assume as well that tons of dirt and debris suddenly being moved to contact with a concrete lining would result in compromise of this containment system. The cover placed by CH2M has a high density polyethylene woven core.  It is resistant to puncture, abrasion, chemicals, ultraviolet rays and oxidation.  According to the agency it will also limit water intrusion to the tunnel. 

I do not find this particularly comforting.  This is an enclosed space that has been subject to alpha and beta emissions for decades.  The materials, containers, and enclosure itself are saturated with radiation.  There is what I would consider a substantial risk of ground water contamination. The Hanford Nuclear reservation is adjacent to the Columbia river.   Furthermore, with the collapse, there is no longer a definitive understanding of the configuration in which these materials exist.  In the world of radioactive materials this is a vital component of safety and security. 

I worry about environmental degradation as a result of petroleum pipeline failures.  I find the idea of invisible plumes of radioactive particles snaking across the country to be scary as hell.

Whaduyathink?

More Potus hilarity

This is hilarious.

Remarks by President Trump at United States Coast Guard Academy Commencement Ceremony.

"I won’t talk about how much I saved you on the F-35 fighter jet. I won’t even talk about it. Or how much we’re about to save you on the Gerald Ford, the aircraft carrier. That had a little bit of an overrun problem before I got here, you know that. Still going to have an overrun problem. We came in when it was finished. But we’re going to save some good money. And when we build the new aircraft carriers they’re going to be built under budget and ahead of schedule, just remember that. (Applause.) That will allow us to build more."

No doubt, if the USCG had any fighter aircraft this would be pertinent. They do not have any. What they do have are 211 aircraft of the flowing types:
C-37A Gulfstream V
HC-144A The Ocean Sentry
HC-130J Super Hercules
HC-130H Hercules
HU-25 Guardian
MH-65 Dolphin
MH-60J/T Jayhawk

Also, ROFLMAF, the USCG has boats and cutters, but no aircraft carriers. So, regardless of budgets and schedules it doesn't matter to the Coast Guard. I'm sure they were touched by your germane comments regarding the capabilities and mission of their service branch.

This was amusing as well: "Look at the way I’ve been treated lately -- (laughter) -- especially by the media. No politician in history -- and I say this with great surety -- has been treated worse or more unfairly."

May want to bone up on some 19th/20th century U.S. history Mr. President. According to WordPress; "Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln were portrayed by contemporary newspapers as backwoods yokels, clever schemers, and evil tyrants. Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson suffered widespread attacks both on their policies and on their characters. Franklin Roosevelt was subjected to an unparalleled ten-year campaign of abuse and vilification by a great majority of the nation’s newspapers and magazines. Harry Truman was held up to ridicule and contempt by the press through most of his time in the White House. John Kennedy felt that he was dealt with unfairly by the press—mainly by some of the leading metropolitan newspapers in the East and by the news magazines. And Lyndon Johnson believed that the entire press was so nostalgic for Kennedy and so dominated by snobbish Easterners that it was incapable of appreciating his own accomplishments, or even of treating him decently. All these Presidents resented the attacks on them, despised the press for willfully distorting the truth as they saw it, and felt that the press often had grievously harmful effects on the nation. Still, they knew that nothing could be done to prescribe bounds to the press, because its freedom was guaranteed by the Constitution in order to give the people some independent means of learning what their government was doing, and because it would be impossible to assert what was fair and what was unfair without asserting a dictatorial power over the press."
I would recommend you pay particular attention to the last sentence

A Critique; Day 45 of #45

A Critique Day 45 of #45

Monday, March 6, 2017

2:59 AM

• "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

On January 20, 2017 Donald J. Trump took the above oath of the office of President of the United States having met all the requirements to assume this office.

In matters of preservation and protection and defense my working assumption is the entire U.S. Constitution will be subject to these. 

On February 16, 2017 President Trump said, "The press has become so dishonest that if we don’t talk about it, we are doing a tremendous disservice to the American people -- tremendous disservice. We have to talk about it to find out what's going on, because the press honestly is out of control. "    During a Q&A at the same press conference the President also said "But I am having a good time.  Tomorrow they will say, Donald Trump rants and raves at the press.  I’m not ranting and raving.  I’m just telling you, you're dishonest people."  February 17, 2017 the President tweeted as @realDOnaldTrump "The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!" On February 18, 2017 at a Press Gaggle aboard Air Force One the President said " Life is a campaign.  Making our country great again is a campaign.  For me, it's a campaign.  To make America great again is absolutely a campaign.  It's not easy, especially when we're also fighting the press and the media.  So, I'll see you out there."

Are there fake news stories and do people, including journalists, publish lies? Yes, they do.  NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams lied about riding in a helicopter that was shot down in Iraq in 2003.  Fox News Channel star Bill O'Reilly lied about experiencing war in 1982 between Argentina and England.  The New York Times staff reporter Jayson Blair was caught lying about entire stories, sometimes making up quotes and scenes that never occurred.

However, the fact that a story or report does not agree with your point of view, nor depict you in the manner you desire does not it fake or the people or organization who are promulgating it dishonest.  Regardless, the citizens of the United States of America are not stupid.  We are capable of discerning truth for ourselves.  If a story or report is fake it will soon out.  This is assuming we will maintain a free and unfettered  press as promised in the 1st amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  That being the document the President is sworn to preserve, protect, and defend. 

DO that Mr. President, rather than engaging the casting of aspersions and twitter wars.  Surely the office of the Presidency has enough duties to fill your day. 

• The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States;

The President of the United States holds this position so that civilian control of the military may be exercised.  This is not a power that exists so you may demonstrate how powerful you are and to instill fear in those you oppose.  The military of the United States exists to defend our borders and our allies.  Of course, I understand that is in an ideal world and the militaries of all countries are frequently used to make or enforce policy when diplomacy has failed or patience comes to an end.  Also, as Commander in Chief, when you do employ our military forces you also are assuming responsibility for them.  Do not be so shallow as to embark upon a poorly conceived or executed mission and then place the blame for failure upon the actors.  The Director has a part to play as well in providing a vision and enabling the cast to bring that vision to fruition.  Furthermore, if you are going to practice war, then have Congress do there part and DECLARE war.  Place the entire country on a war footing instead of expecting a small percentage of the population to shoulder the entire burden.  If the citizenry and their directly elected representatives are not willing to do this then why are we spending our treasure and spilling our blood?

• He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur;

Unless the United States shall isolate itself from the rest of the world the President of the United States will be called upon to make treaties.  Treaties, alliances, trade agreements, these are all devices that may be employed instead of, or to forestall, military conflict or war.  Career diplomats and civil servants are crucial to this effort.  Your proposal to cut the State Department budget by 37% would indicate a lack of foresight and/or knowledge.  4 Years ago Defense Secretary James Mattis while commander of US Central Command: "If you don't fully fund the State Department, then I need to buy more ammunition."  Mr. President, you nominated this man, you may want to heed his counsel.  You have said you wish to have peace through strength.  You have to be strong to negotiate and compromise.  Just because you have a hammer does not make everything else a nail.

As I write this you have already had 1 cabinet member tender his resignation and another, your Attorney General, feel it necessary to recuse himself from an investigation due to lying to Congress.   You've had a WH staffer violate ethics rules publicly.   This is only 45 days into your administration.  Had your entire staff/cabinet already been confirmed, a condition which I know causes you great consternation, it boggles the mind to imagine what other misadventures may have already taken place.

In deed, if not word the Executive Order: Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States, dated January 27, 2017 is an impediment to immigrants, refuges, and visa seekers and holders based upon a particular religion.  In addition, members of a "minority" religion based upon geographic location are specifically granted precedence.  The 1st amendment to the U.S. Constitution begins with; Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;.  This must be preserved, protected and defended along with the rest of the Constitution.  Surely you do not make the argument the vast majority of citizens of the 7 countries you have addressed in this Executive Order are members of the Islamic State, aka ISIS, aka Da'esh.  Were this the case the caliphate ISIS seeks to create would already be established. 

There is a lot more that has happened in the first 45 days of the Trump administration.  This is not a comprehensive account of those days.  However, POTUS has made an impact.  Whaduyathink?

POTUS press conference/Commentary 2-16-17

"I don’t think there’s ever been a president elected who in this short period of time has done what we’ve done."

"But a new Rasmussen poll just came out just a very short while ago, and it has our approval rating at 55 percent and going up." 

Rasmussen's daily Presidential Tracking Poll found a 55 percent approval rating for Trump among voters. But Pew Research Center only found Trump with 39 percent support — a 16 point-difference between the two polls. Rasmussen, which has traditionally found results that are more positive for Republicans than other polls, seems to be an outlier among major polls, with Gallup also giving Trump a lower 41 percent approval rating in its most recent weekly average. The Pew poll was conducted between Feb. 7-12 and surveyed a pool of 1,503 adults. The poll revealed that a 56 percent majority of Americans disapprove of the president while 46 percent strongly disapprove of the commander-in-chief. The Pew survey also noted that Trump's strong disapproval has surpassed the strong disapproval of former President Obama during his entire presidency. On the other hand, the Rasmussen poll showed that only 45 percent of Americans disapproved of the president and 36 percent felt strongly about their disapproval. The Rasmussen poll surveys 500 likely voters per night and presents the results on a three-day rolling average basis .The survey's full sample includes 1,500 likely voters with a margin of error of 2.5 percent.

"This morning, because many of our nation’s reporters and folks will not tell you the truth, and will not treat the wonderful people of our country with the respect that they deserve." 

"The press has become so dishonest that if we don’t talk about, we are doing a tremendous disservice to the American people. Tremendous disservice. We have to talk to find out what’s going on, because the press honestly is out of control. The level of dishonesty is out of control." 

"As a result, the media is going through what they have to go through too often times distort - not all the time - and some of the media is fantastic, I have to say - they’re honest and fantastic." 

I assume the test for which camp you fall into is According to Stephen Miller, advisor to POTUS, "...our opponents, the media and the whole world will soon see as we begin to take further actions, that the powers of the president to protect our country are very substantial and will not be questioned."  

"To be honest, I inherited a mess. It’s a mess. At home and abroad, a mess. Jobs are pouring out of the country; you see what’s going on with all of the companies leaving our country, going to Mexico and other places, low pay, low wages, mass instability overseas, no matter where you look. The middle east is a disaster. North Korea - we’ll take care of it folks; we’re going to take care of it all. I just want to let you know, I inherited a mess." 

You volunteered and spent millions to assume responsibility for the mess.  Quit whining and blaming others.  Address the issues, provide solutions.  Please stop telling me how great you will make it and do it. 

"On foreign affairs, we’ve already begun enormously productive talks with many foreign leaders," 

"We have had great conversations with the United Kingdom, and meetings. Israel, Mexico, Japan, China and Canada, really, really productive conversations. I would say far more productive than you would understand." 

OK, he also said he was speaking directly to the populace and allowing the media to be there.  So, just what does POTUS consider to be the limits of our understanding?  I am an Army veteran, I have assembled nuclear weapons, I was a part of the Initial Response Group for American Airlines on 9/11.  I am well-read and even adequately educated.  Personally, I have always held that if you cannot explain something in a manner which allows me to understand it that is actually a reflection that you have not fully grasped the concept you wish to share.  Get back to me when you are prepared.  This kind of condescension pisses me right the F off.   

"I’ve ordered plan to begin building for the massive rebuilding of the United States military." 

"We’ve pursued this rebuilding in the hopes that we will never have to use this military" 

"But our country will never have had a military like the military we’re about to build and rebuild" 

Mr. President, here is the ranking of the U.S. military for 2016 based on weapons systems, available manpower, logistics, and capabilities according to Global Fire Power;

United States of America

Ranked as 1 of 126

GFP Power Index rating of 0.0897 (0.0000 being perfect)  

What the hell are you afraid of that we need more? 

"We have to have a strong law enforcement also. So we do not go abroad in the search of war, we really are searching for peace, but its peace through strength." 

Here's the deal.  A lack of conflict based upon possessing an overwhelming military superiority is not peace.  Peace is the desire of each party to not inflict harm upon the other.   

"We got 306 because people came out and voted like they’ve never seen before so that’s the way it goes. I guess it was the biggest electoral college win since Ronald Reagan." 

Actually, here are the electoral votes received by the winner over the past 44 years from 2012-1972 respectively; 332, 365, 286, 271, 379, 370, 426, 525, 489, 297, and 520.  So, Reagan garnered 489 electoral votes in his first campaign and 525 in his second.   Since Reagan's 2nd success there have been 7 Presidential election prior to yours.  You received more electoral votes than 2 of those.  

"I turn on the T.V., open the newspapers and I see stories of chaos. Chaos. Yet it is the exact opposite. This administration is running like a fine- tuned machine, despite the fact that I can’t get my cabinet approved." 

No comment 

"We’re going to make trade deals but we’re going to have one on one deals, bilateral. We’re going to have one on one deals." 

Outstanding, do you intend to withdraw from the WTO?  Does this mean you will be unable to conduct business with groups of trading partners? 

"We’ve stood up for the men and women of law enforcement, directing federal agencies to ensure they are protected from crimes of violence."

Awesome, because there is nothing local law enforcement and citizens prefer more than Federal oversight. 

"We’ve ordered the Department of Homeland Security and Justice to coordinate on a plan to destroy criminal cartels coming into the United States with drugs. We’re becoming a drug infested nation. Drugs are becoming cheaper than candy bars. We are not going to let it happen any longer" 

I'm on board with this.  However, there appears to be no discussion of curbing demand.  Were the U.S. not clamoring for the goods and services the cartels provide the would be no infestation.  Will your approach to curbing demand be to offer a health care system that treats addiction issues or incarceration in the name of economic growth with a burgeoning private prison system? 

"And the wall is going to be a great wall and it’s going to be a wall negotiated by me. The price is going to come down just like it has on everything else I’ve negotiated for the government. And we are going to have a wall that works, not gonna have a wall like they have now which is either non-existent or a joke." 

What everything else are you referring to and where is that data available? 

"We’ve ordered a crackdown on sanctuary cities that refuse to comply with federal law and that harbor criminal aliens, and we have ordered an end to the policy of catch and release on the border. No more release. No matter who you are, release. We have begun a nationwide effort to remove criminal aliens, gang members, drug dealers and others who pose a threat to public safety. We are saving American lives every single day." 

"The court system has not made it easy for us. And are even creating a new office in Homeland Security dedicated to the forgotten American victims of illegal immigrant violence, which there are many." 

"The court system has not made it easy for us. And are even creating a new office in Homeland Security dedicated to the forgotten American victims of illegal immigrant violence, which there are many." 

If there is 1 crime victim that is too many, regardless of the perpetrator.  However, I can find no report from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting that has this data.  What are the numbers, "many" is ambiguous and from where are the derived?  However, I do support saving American lives.  Hell, I support saving all lives.  I'd even try to save the lives of undocumented aliens who die making the trek with no water. 

"In fact, we had to go quicker than we thought because of the bad decision we received from a circuit that has been overturned at a record number. I have heard 80 percent, I find that hard to believe, that is just a number I heard, that they are overturned 80 percent of the time. " 

I presume POTUS means by overturned, a combination of reversed/vacated. This claim is at best disingenuous.  The body which would reverse a Circuit Court decision is the Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court hears an average of 64 cases a year from ALL the Circuit Courts.  That means SCOTUS will render some type of decision on less than 1% of the cases of the Circuit Courts.  Of the cases head by the Supreme Court, a significant number of those are reversed or vacated.  The vacated/reversed rate of cases heard ranges from 55.3%-83.3% depending on the particular Circuit Court.  There are 13 Circuit Courts. 

"We’re issuing a new executive action next week that will comprehensively protect our country." 

That's a pretty impressive claim for 1 Executive Order 

"We have also taken steps to begin construction of the Keystone Pipeline and Dakota Access Pipelines. Thousands and thousands of jobs, and put new buy American measures in place to require American steel for American pipelines. In other words, they build a pipeline in this country, and we use the powers of government to make that pipeline happen, we want them to use American steel." 

I am sure those CEO's will be thrilled to have you dictate their supply sources.  What's next, price controls?  Will Jimmy Carter be validated? 

"To drain the swamp of corruption in Washington, D.C., I’ve started by imposing a five-year lobbying ban on White House officials and a lifetime ban on lobbying for a foreign government." 

Good work.  

"We’ve begun preparing to repeal and replace Obamacare. Obamacare is a disaster, folks. It is’s disaster. I know you can say, oh, Obamacare. I mean, they fill up our alleys with people that you wonder how they get there, but they are not the Republican people our that representatives are representing." 

Who are these people and what alleyways are they filling up? 

"Jobs have already started to surge. Since my election, Ford announced it will abandon its plans to build a new factory in Mexico, and will instead invest $700 million in Michigan, creating many, many jobs." 

Excellent, according to Ford there will be 700 new jobs.  Is this many, many?  I don't know, but it's 700 so, GO FORD!  

"Fiat Chrysler announced it will invest $1 billion in Ohio and Michigan, creating 2,000 new American jobs." 

Again, well done.  

"Intel just announced that it will move ahead with a new plant in Arizona that probably was never going to move ahead with. And that will result in at least 10,000 American jobs." 

Well, almost, according to Intel CEO Brian Kraznich it will result in approximately 3000 new jobs.  So, it's not 10,000 but it's nice. 

"Walmart announced it will create 10,000 jobs in the United States just this year because of our various plans and initiatives."  

Wtg, Walmart.   

"This last month has represented an unprecedented degree of action on behalf of the great citizens of our country. Again, I say it. There has never been a presidency that’s done so much in such a short period of time. And we have not even started the big work yet. That starts early next week." 

Kinda difficult to quantify. 

"Mike Flynn is a fine person, and I asked for his resignation. He respectfully gave it."

Does this sound like POTUS requesting a resignation?

"And, you know, you can talk all you want about Russia, which was all a, you know, fake news, fabricated deal, to try and make up for the loss of the Democrats and the press plays right into it".

"It’s all fake news. It’s all fake news."

So, why did Flynn resign?  

"I called, as you know, Mexico. It was a very, very confidential, classified call. But I called Mexico. And in calling Mexico, I figured, oh, well that’s — I spoke to the president of Mexico; I had a good call. All of a sudden, it’s out there for the world to see. It’s supposed to be secret. It’s supposed to be either confidential or classified, in that case."  

"Same thing with Australia. All of a sudden, people are finding out exactly what took place. The same thing happened with respect to General Flynn. Everybody saw this. And I’m saying — the first thing I thought of when I heard about it is: How does the press get this information that’s classified? How do they do it?" 

"You know why? Because it’s an illegal process and the press should be ashamed of themselves" 

OK, something being classified does not mean it is always secret or confidential.  Saying something is classified does not have any inherent meaning.  However, I guess this is an example of that fine-tuned machine in action.  For your edification, here are the levels of classification used by the U.S. government:  Restricted, Controlled, Public Trust, Confidential, Secret, Top Secret, Code Word, and Restricted Data/Formerly Restricted Data.  I am unsure what classification the above phone calls would be subject to and apparently so is POTUS. 

"Well, I don’t know, I was given that information. " 

Response to being advised of the inaccuracy of his electoral college victory description.  Always easier to place blame than to take responsibility. 

"Because there’s nobody I have more respect for — well, maybe a little bit but the reporters, good reporters." 

"People — I mean, you have a lower approval rate than Congress. I think that’s right. I don’t know, Peter), is that one right?" 

I thought you were addressing the "people".   

"I think we’re setting a record or close to a record in the time of approval of a cabinet." 

Maybe some of that extreme vetting could have helped. 

"They’re giving stuff — what was said at an office about Hillary cheating on the debates.

Which, by the way, nobody mentions. Nobody mentions that Hillary received the questions to the debates." 

Why would they?  You were sworn in on January 20, 2017.  The campaign is over. 

"QUESTION: Did you direct Mike Flynn to discuss sanctions with the Russian ambassador —

TRUMP: No, I didn’t.

No, I didn’t direct him, but I would have directed him if he didn’t do it. OK?" 

So, you would have instructed him to violate the Logan Act?  No, it's not ok. 

"I won. I won. And the other thing, chaos because zero chaos. We are running - this is a fine-tuned machine and Reince happens to be doing a good job but half of his job is putting out lies by the press .

You know, I said to him yesterday this whole Russia scam that you guys are building so that you don’t talk about the real subject which is illegal leaks, but I watched him yesterday working so hard to try and get that story proper. And I’m saying “here’s my chief of staff,” a really good guy, did a phenomenal job at RNC. I mean, he won the election, right?

We won the presidency. " 

Yes, you did.  Why is that being addressed? 

Flynn resigned after reports that he had discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia with the Russian official before Trump took office.  Where is the scam part of this?  

"I think they don’t believe it. I don’t think the public - that’s why the Rasmussen poll just has me through the roof. I don’t think they believe it. Well, I guess one of the reasons I’m here today is to tell you the whole Russian thing, that’s a ruse. That’s a ruse." 

How big is your conspiracy world?  

"Hillary Clinton gave them 20 percent of our uranium" 

Yeah, that's just not true. 

"The greatest thing I could do is shoot that ship that’s 30 miles off shore right out of the water." 

Wait a minute, you think engaging in an act of war is the greatest thing you could do? 

"Tax reform is going to happen fairly quickly. We’re doing Obamacare. We’re in final stages. We should be submitting the initial plan in March, early March, I would say. And we have to, as you know, statutorily and for reasons of budget, we have to go first. It’s not like, frankly, the tax would be easier, in my opinion, but for statutory reasons and for budgetary reasons, we have to submit the health care sooner.

So we’ll be submitting health care sometime in early March, mid- March. And after that, we’re going to come up, and we’re doing very well on tax reform." 

So, you intend to put together a replacement for the ACA in 1 month?  I ask that question because I spoke to Senator Cruz' office today and they said there was no plan at this point.  This being the middle of February I think your time frame may be a little hopeful. 

"QUESTION: On the travel ban — we could banter back and forth. On the travel ban would you accept that that was a good example of the smooth running of government...

TRUMP: Yeah, I do. I do. Let me tell you about this government...

QUESTION: Were there any mistakes...

TRUMP: Wait. Wait. I know who you are. Just wait.

Let me tell you about the travel ban. We had a very smooth rollout of the travel ban. But we had a bad court. Got a bad decision. We had a court that’s been overturned. Again, may be wrong. But I think it’s 80 percent of the time, a lot.

We had a bad decision. We’re going to keep going with that decision. We’re going to put in a new executive order next week some time. But we had a bad decision." 

See above regarding 9th Circuit 

"I am the least antisemitic, least racist, person in the world." 

I am going to take you at your word.  According to what you said, you are a racist and antisemitic, however you are the least of these.

Is this how a police state starts?

Compare and contrast.  Regardless of the presentation, any expansion of police powers in a democracy is cause for concern.  This is particularly true when that expansion is a product of Executive declaration rather than as a result of legislative compromise and action.  The proposal to prevent violence, on its face, is quite admirable.  However, when one considers means there is pause for concern.  Other than fortified settlements, the American approach to defense is that it is the result of a robust offensive capability.  Consider the MAD doctrine promulgated during the cold war.  How might one enhance the protection and safety of Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement?  Before we pursue that, as an aside, it amuses me this Executive Order includes tribal law enforcement in lower case and concurrently with the Presidential Memorandum Regarding Construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline which allows private industry to exploit native lands.  But, to the issue at hand.  What makes a strong defense for a police force?  That would include, but not be limited to, improved body armor, more capable weaponry, vehicles more resistant to small arms and rifle fire, and fewer restrictions on surveillance activities.  Of course, more flexible rules of engagement would be a big help.  This would make shootings much easier to justify, based on preventing violence or providing an effective defense. 

February 9, 2017 Presidential Executive Order

Defining new Federal crimes and increasing the penalties for existing Federal crimes will definitely be a boon for the prison industry.

Is the current strategy use of existing Federal laws to prosecute individuals who commit crimes inadequate, if so, how?  How do you define "attempting to commit a violent crime"?

Will the coordination of these items require new agencies capable of exercising multi-jurisdictional authority?  Would this result in increased Federal oversight or a diminution of  State, local, or indigenous people's authority?

Presidential Executive Order on Preventing Violence Against Federal, State, Tribal, and Local Law Enforcement Officers

further enhance the protection and safety of Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement officers; and

define new Federal crimes, and increase penalties for existing Federal crimes

develop a strategy for the Department's use of existing Federal laws to prosecute individuals who commit or attempt to commit crimes of violence

 coordinate with State, tribal, and local governments, and with law enforcement agencies at all levels, including other Federal agencies, in prosecuting crimes of violence against Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement officers in order to advance adequate multi-jurisdiction prosecution efforts;

review existing Federal laws to determine whether those laws are adequate to address the protection and safety of Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement officers

make recommendations to the President for legislation to address the protection and safety of Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement officers, including, if warranted, legislation defining new crimes of violence and establishing new mandatory minimum sentences for existing crimes of violence against Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement officers, as well as for related crimes;

recommend to the President any changes to grant funding, based on the evaluation required by subsection (f) of this section, including recommendations for legislation, as appropriate, to adequately support and protect Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement officers.

From <https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/02/09/presidential-executive-order-preventing-violence-against-federal-state>

German Police in the Nazi State

Hitler posed as a champion of law and order, claiming he would uphold traditional German values.

The Nazi state in fact alleviated many of the frustrations the police experienced in the Weimar Republic.

The Nazis centralized and fully funded the police to better combat criminal gangs and promote state security. The Nazi state increased staff and training, and modernized police equipment. The Nazis offered the police the broadest latitude in arrests, incarceration, and the treatment of prisoners. The police moved to take "preventive action," that is, to make arrests without the evidence required for a conviction in court and indeed without court supervision at all.

The Third Reich has been called a dual state, since the normal judicial system coexisted with the arbitrary power of Hitler and the police.

I don't know, whaduyathink?