45th President of the United States, Donald Trump. Vol 2

[Stickyfinger]

Eric Mc said:

At last, a decent question.

Politicians will, of course, have other family members who have business interests of their won. Nothing wrong or unusual about that.

Name a leader who built/ran a large high profile business and returned to that business after they were a high profile politician ?

I cannot think of any.

[frisbee]

Alpinestars said:

Odd for any other leader of a country, but I can understand Trump doing it. Not sure when it was organised, but it plays to his ego to be surrounded by supporters rather than reporters. The bigger question is does anybody actually understand what he says?

As an example, other than his usual rhetoric, he talked about negotiating a lower cost for the F-35, for Japan? How does that help a U.S. Multinational and the U.S. Itself? Maybe I'm missing something.

So the Japanese don't pull out and go buy something from the French instead. The defence industry is massively subsidised, military programs are also a sneaky way of subsidising commercial side, being seen to sell them to other countries makes things look a little better. Better than splurging out a few billion on a new air force one anyway.

Trump has no filter between his brain and mouth but at least some of his act is planned.

[Eric Mc]

Stickyfinger said:

Eric Mc said:

At last, a decent question.

Politicians will, of course, have other family members who have business interests of their won. Nothing wrong or unusual about that.

Name a leader who built/ran a large high profile business and returned to that business after they were a high profile politician ?

I cannot think of any.

I can.

I can even think of at least one who maintained his business interests whilst being a successful politician (the ultimate owner of this very website).

There is nothing wrong with that and there are no rules in either the UK or the US blocking it. The point I am making (which you didn't spot) was that, whilst in office, the rules say you cannot use your political position to promote those businesses or the businesses of family members.

[Stickyfinger]

Eric Mc said:

I can.

I can even think of at least one who maintained his business interests whilst being a successful politician (the ultimate owner of this very website).

There is nothing wrong with that and there are no rules in either the UK or the US blocking it. The point I am making (which you didn't spot) was that, whilst in office, the rules say you cannot use your political position to promote those businesses or the businesses of family members.

Enlighten me on the site owner:

I did anticipate: hence my text (not Trump)

[greygoose]

Stickyfinger said:

Eric Mc said:

I can.

I can even think of at least one who maintained his business interests whilst being a successful politician (the ultimate owner of this very website).

There is nothing wrong with that and there are no rules in either the UK or the US blocking it. The point I am making (which you didn't spot) was that, whilst in office, the rules say you cannot use your political position to promote those businesses or the businesses of family members.

Enlighten me on the site owner:

I did anticipate: hence my text (not Trump)

Michael Heseltine owns Haymarket and was a Conservative Minister for many years.

[davepoth]

Eric Mc said:

I can.

I can even think of at least one who maintained his business interests whilst being a successful politician (the ultimate owner of this very website).

There is nothing wrong with that and there are no rules in either the UK or the US blocking it. The point I am making (which you didn't spot) was that, whilst in office, the rules say you cannot use your political position to promote those businesses or the businesses of family members.

The difference I guess is that in Haymarket's case the owner is not intrinsic to the brand - I had to google it to find out who the owner was, and I expect a lot of other people will too (I won't spoil the surprise!)

Trump's business is Trump. Even his children's businesses are Trump - you can see that by the way they've been so negatively affected by him. Take Trump away from the business and there's no business any more.

[Eric Mc]

Trump's name is certainly at the forefront of his and his family's business empire. But the general point I was making was that politicians have often had outside business interests WHILST IN POWER and the rules do allow it.

[Bill]

davepoth said:

Trump's business is Trump. Even his children's businesses are Trump - you can see that by the way they've been so negatively affected by him. Take Trump away from the business and there's no business any more.

Who knows how well it could do with him further from the helm?

[Stickyfinger]

Could Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates do it without being swamped by a st storm from the press/internet ?

[Eric Mc]

Who knows?

It would depend on how they arranged their affairs and whether they broke the rules on business promotion whilst in office.

Part of Trump's problem is his 100% aggressive stance against the media - which seems to be getting more and more manic. He now thinks he can dispense completely with their coverage and that he can go over their heads and use Trump controlled sources only - such as his non-stop Twitter feed.

The danger for him is that he is going to alienate even those sections of the media who have been supportive of him. He thinks he doesn't need anybody.

An ego out of control - after only 4 weeks in office.

Edited by Eric Mc on Sunday 19th February 10:01

[greygoose]

Bill said:

davepoth said:

Trump's business is Trump. Even his children's businesses are Trump - you can see that by the way they've been so negatively affected by him. Take Trump away from the business and there's no business any more.

Who knows how well it could do with him further from the helm?

[Alpinestars]

frisbee said:

So the Japanese don't pull out and go buy something from the French instead. The defence industry is massively subsidised, military programs are also a sneaky way of subsidising commercial side, being seen to sell them to other countries makes things look a little better. Better than splurging out a few billion on a new air force one anyway.

Trump has no filter between his brain and mouth but at least some of his act is planned.

Thanks you. Surely pricing should be down to the Corporation? Is he going to set the price of a Big Mac as well?

[Blackpuddin]

By transporting the media to his events and putting them into a media enclosure for public mockery Trump has finally found his true vocation as a Victorian fairground barker with a travelling freak show.

[anonymous-user]

Stickyfinger said:

Eric Mc said:

At last, a decent question.

Politicians will, of course, have other family members who have business interests of their won. Nothing wrong or unusual about that.

Name a leader who built/ran a large high profile business and returned to that business after they were a high profile politician ?

I cannot think of any.

The usual course is that the Presidency is a one way trip. Google Nixon or Carter, or JFK (inherited, not built up). Post presidency there are different earning opportunities, though Carter for example did not use them as well as say Clinton.

It's a price to pay to sit in the big chair. That simple. And if you have family members with businesses you don't go using Govt power or money to advantage them.

One of Trump's points is that his business is actually branding. Which seems to have some truth to it: he does a lot less property development than is popularly perceived. He sells his name for others to put on their buildings and products. (The interesting backstory is why; that seems to involve him not having the ability to get enough credit to develop stuff himself, due to previous business failures).

He disregards the fact that his sons, who now run the business, also have the Trump name. His approach to the whole issue suggests logically that when he dies his business empire must collapse. Which anyone who knows anything about branding knows is rubbish.

Compare his approach to self interest vs duties of office to that of say Putin, or the leader of a failing tinpot state and things make a bit more sense.

[jmorgan]

Lucas CAV said:

5ohmustang said:

"Goodbye, lying media" hahaha, a good example of reaping what you sow BBC.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39018096

The man is an embarrassment.

But it's a bit like your aunts poodle giving your ankle an amorous seeing to when you visit.

[anonymous-user]

jmorgan said:

Lucas CAV said:

5ohmustang said:

"Goodbye, lying media" hahaha, a good example of reaping what you sow BBC.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39018096

The man is an embarrassment.

But it's a bit like your aunts poodle giving your ankle an amorous seeing to when you visit.

I find it odd that 5ohmustang thinks it's some kind of victory for Trump and the BBC getting its comeuppance.

I don't think any of this attempted marginalisation of the media is going to help Trump in any way at all. It just makes him look petulant and childish. Its great viewing but a bit surprising all the same.

[B'stard Child]

Halb said:

I wonder how many threads this admin will sustain over the years.

Rough calcs (based only on this being the primary thread)

Vol 1 filled up in 101 days

4 year term is 1460 days

So at a similar posting rate (assuming he carries on being Trump) then 14 volumes by the end of his first term and 28 Volumes by the end of his second term

[johnxjsc1985]

he doesn't need the printed press anymore or even some TV he is using all of social media and its pissing them off . He is as far as I can see being the same Donald Trump as he always has been. What is still stunning is the childish opposition who shout and stamp their collective feet because things haven't gone the way they were told they would. Its much more interesting to stand back and watch what happens over the next 12 months or so because by then he will have made good on a lot of his promises or failed to deliver them but the opposition will have worn themselves out.
The more you push him the more he pushes back and his position now means he can push back hard and is doing.
If he does get the Nato allies to stump up more cash will he get any credit for it or if people get a much better deal for their healthcare will that be acknowledged ?.
Its hard to imagine this level of angst and anger can continue for four years.

[anonymous-user]

When he was talking about the safe zones he said he would get the Gulf States to pay.
I am sure he said 'because all they have is money'

Did I hear the correctly?

[Blue Cat]

El stovey said:

jmorgan said:

Lucas CAV said:

5ohmustang said:

"Goodbye, lying media" hahaha, a good example of reaping what you sow BBC.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39018096

The man is an embarrassment.

But it's a bit like your aunts poodle giving your ankle an amorous seeing to when you visit.

I find it odd that 5ohmustang thinks it's some kind of victory for Trump and the BBC getting its comeuppance.

I don't think any of this attempted marginalisation of the media is going to help Trump in any way at all. It just makes him look petulant and childish. Its great viewing but a bit surprising all the same.

Mr Mustang, did you go to the rally last night by chance?

https://www.buzzfeed.com/salvadorhernandez/trump-s...