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Tweety, BSN, RN · May 11

toomuchbaloney said:

Oh look! Transactional Trump is on the receiving end of a really big public transaction.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-qatar-gift-jet-air-force-one-7f9afb461c6b3ac16fca3bb0973715ff

If this is a problem for Trump I suspect that the Trump sychophants in congress will cover for him. They might have to take time out of their busy schedule making fools of themselves investigating fencing clubs that have no federal funding.

It just a plane, and it's a gift because they are up front about it, he has the right to take a gift does he not? It's not like it's a bribe or anything.

sarcasm

Sarcasm aside why would his security (or congress) allow him to accept a foreign gift and allow it to be Air Force 1. Would that even be secure?

heron, ASN, RN · May 12

Tweety said:

It just a plane, and it's a gift because they are up front about it, he has the right to take a gift does he not? It's not like it's a bribe or anything.

sarcasm

Sarcasm aside why would his security (or congress) allow him to accept a foreign gift and allow it to be Air Force 1. Would that even be secure?

Security considerations seem to be a bit of a non sequitur these days, given the data looting by the doge bros and trump's lobotomieed executive branch.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · May 12

ABC News

Trump administration poised to accept 'palace in the sky' as a gift for Trump from Qatar: Sources

Quote

...In what may be the most valuable gift ever extended to the United States from a foreign government, the Trump administration is preparing to accept a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar -- a gift that is to be available for use by President Donald Trump as the new Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office, at which time ownership of the plane will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation, sources familiar with the proposed arrangement told ABC News....

...The highly unusual -- unprecedented -- arrangement is sure to raise questions about whether it is legal for the Trump administration, and ultimately, the Trump presidential library foundation, to accept such a valuable gift from a foreign power.

Anticipating those questions, sources told ABC News that lawyers for the White House counsel's office and the Department of Justice drafted an analysis for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth concluding that is legal for the Department of Defense to accept the aircraft as a gift and later turn it over to the Trump library, and that it does not violate laws against bribery or the Constitution's prohibition (the emoluments clause) of any U.S. government official accepting gifts "from any King, Prince or foreign State."...

Sources told ABC News that Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trump's top White House lawyer David Warrington concluded it would be "legally permissible" for the donation of the aircraft to be conditioned on transferring its ownership to Trump's presidential library before the end of his term, according to sources familiar with their determination.

The sources said Bondi provided a legal memorandum addressed to the White House counsel's office last week after Warrington asked her for advice on the legality of the Pentagon accepting such a donation....

The plane will initially be transferred to the United States Air Force, which will modify the 13-year-old aircraft to meet the U.S. military specifications required for any aircraft used to transport the president of the United States, multiple sources familiar with the proposed arrangement said.

The plane will then be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation no later than Jan. 1, 2029, and any costs relating to its transfer will be paid for by the U.S. Air Force, the sources told ABC News.

According to aviation industry experts, the estimated value of the aircraft Trump will inherit is about $400 million, and that's without the additional communications security equipment the Air Force will need to add to properly secure and outfit the plane in order to safely transport the commander in chief....

How many YEARS to get this plane retrofitted to met U.S standards and at what COST?

Gee, Pam Bondi accepted $25,000 donation to her FL AG reelection campaign from Trump--and poof his Trump University case went away. A huge problem with her allowing this --cough---bribe, in that Bondi used to lobby Congress on behalf of Qatar, earning $115,000 per month prior to AG appointment,

Trump ETHICS 101 be dammed. Grift never ending.

Jan. 2017 First Trump Admin: Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Appointees

Jan 2025: Trump axes Biden-era ethics order, lobbying restrictions

Quote

Trump's ethics order included a lobbyist gift ban, a five-year ban on lobbying their former agencies and lifetime ban on foreign lobbying that would require them to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). But, Holman said, it lacked the teeth to enforce it....

On the last day of his first term, Trump revoked the ethics requirements and released current and former officials from their commitment as of Jan. 20, 2021.

How many EARS will be listening to Trumps conversations in this "gift" plane?

Modernized Air Force 1 from Boeing was due in 2022. Now USAF, Boeing May Modify Air Force One Requirements to Get Delivery by 2027 instead of current projected 2029.

Sigh...

Kafka Fan44 · May 12

GrumpyRN said:

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/29/nx-s1-5327518/donald-trump-100-days-retribution-threats

Pretty dictatorial.

Where? Name nations. Europe is more than one country.

I think Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King and many others may disagree with you on that. Curious what you think of people being snatched off the streets who are in your country perfectly legaly and then being sent to a foreign prison with no legal representation?

It was inciting riots against coloured people with misinformation following the killing of 3 little girls.

AfD classified as extreme-right by German intelligence.

"Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian political ideology characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized control, extreme nationalism, and the suppression of opposition. It emphasizes the subordination of individual interests to the perceived good of the nation or race, often accompanied by militarism and social regimentation."

BECAUSE OF THE WAR!

Absolutely stupid thing to say by someone who has no idea of what they are talking about. Seriously, learn some geopolitics. Putin is the aggressor.

"The Kiel Institute is a German-based think tank tracking support going into Ukraine. It calculated that the United States spent $119.7bn (£94.3bn) on aid between January 2022 and December 2024.

Others have reached a higher figure - but with a broader definition of what counts as spending on Ukraine.

The US Department of Defense has provided a figure looking at all spending on Operation Atlantic Resolve - a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It says $182.8bn has been "appropriated" - a figure that covers US military training in Europe and replenishment of US defence stocks.

Either way, both figures are considerably lower than claimed by the president." (My Bold)

As you were asked earlier, where do you get your news and information?

The only thing I could come up with for that is :- 😂🤣😃😅

I have tried to remain polite throughout this discourse and hopefully I have given you a few things to think about. Please find independent and honest sources to get your facts and information from - there are plenty out there.

Have a good weekend.

Independent news outlets and you post NPR? Left wing tax paying funded propaganda that is currently being addressed by the new impartial moderate administration.... You should win a Howard Zinn award for revisionist history. You have some biased explanation for everything with nothing to back any of it up. How would you feel if the modern day GOP made it illegal for the "Democrat" party to run in future elections due to their affinity for violence, terrorism, intolerance, heterophobia, financial bigotry. misandryism, anti-whiteism, and support of the current invasion fo foreign illegals? You wouldn't like it right?

toomuchbaloney · May 12

NRSKarenRN said:

ABC News

Trump administration poised to accept 'palace in the sky' as a gift for Trump from Qatar: Sources

How many YEARS to get this plan retrofitted to met U.S standards and at what COST?

Gee, Pam Bondi accepted $25,000 donation to her FL AG reelection campaign from Trump--and poof his Trump University case went away. A huge problem with her allowing this --cough---bribe, in that Bondi used to lobby Congress on behalf of Qatar, earning $115,000 per month prior to AG appointment,

Trump ETHICS 101 be dammed. Grift never ending.

Jan. 2017 First Trump Admin: Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Appointees

Jan 2025: Trump axes Biden-era ethics order, lobbying restrictions

How many EARS will be listening to Trumps conversations in this "gift" plane?

Modernized Air Force 1 from Boeing was due in 2022. Now USAF, Boeing May Modify Air Force One Requirements to Get Delivery by 2027 instead of current projected 2029.

Sigh...

Isn't it interesting when people with zero ethical standards get to decide what is ethical?

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 12

I don't know about the plane gift "to the government". It certainly doesn't highlight that "he's just like us". At the end of the day, the warm welcome from the wealthy oil nations of the Middle East is nothing new, they've rolled out the red carpet for him before, and I ain't mad. He will come out of with many billions in deals and we'll turn a blind eye to some of their goings on.

On the better news front:

US and China agree to cut tariffs helping out US and world markets.

https://allnurses.com/--t762859/?page=66&tab=comments#comment-8281528

Quote

President Donald Trump will revive a controversial policy that aims to slash drug costs by tying the amount the government pays for some medicines to lower prices abroad, White House officials said.

The order is a blow to the pharmaceutical industry, which is already bracing for Trump's planned tariffs on prescription drugs.

It is Trump's latest effort to try to rein in U.S. prescription drug prices, which are two to three times higher on average than those in other developed nations.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/12/trump-drug-pricing-order-most-favored-nation.html

Hamas to release final American held hostage.

https://www.npr.org/2025/05/12/g-s1-65868/hamas-release-israeli-american-hostage-edan-alexander

GrumpyRN, NP · May 12

Kafka Fan44 said:

Independent news outlets and you post NPR? Left wing tax paying funded propaganda that is currently being addressed by the new impartial moderate administration.... You should win a Howard Zinn award for revisionist history. You have some biased explanation for everything with nothing to back any of it up. How would you feel if the modern day GOP made it illegal for the "Democrat" party to run in future elections due to their affinity for violence, terrorism, intolerance, heterophobia, financial bigotry. misandryism, anti-whiteism, and support of the current invasion fo foreign illegals? You wouldn't like it right?

Seriously?

I give you a source that does not have a paywall for Americans (NPR) but instead of doing your own due diligence and finding out through other sources you immediately say I am biased. I have told you to find independent sources for your information because what I say will stand up to scrutiny. Actually you are correct to a certain degree, I am biased against stupidity and ignorance. Just curious now, who would you say is a good place to get my news and information? I feel that you won't trust the British media so who out there? Russian? Chinese? Certainly not Karoline Leavitt.

I think you will find that the GOP is doing, or trying to do, enough bad things as it is. I feel that you - again - have not done enough research. Let me make this very clear:- I AM NOT AMERICAN. However, I do worry about what is happening as it is not pleasant watching a country tear itself apart.

By the way, just so you know. Socialism is not Communism. (Howard Zinn reference).

Kafka Fan44 · May 12

GrumpyRN said:

Seriously?

I give you a source that does not have a paywall for Americans (NPR) but instead of doing your own due diligence and finding out through other sources you immediately say I am biased. I have told you to find independent sources for your information because what I say will stand up to scrutiny. Actually you are correct to a certain degree, I am biased against stupidity and ignorance. Just curious now, who would you say is a good place to get my news and information? I feel that you won't trust the British media so who out there? Russian? Chinese? Certainly not Karoline Leavitt.

I think you will find that the GOP is doing, or trying to do, enough bad things as it is. I feel that you - again - have not done enough research. Let me make this very clear:- I AM NOT AMERICAN. However, I do worry about what is happening as it is not pleasant watching a country tear itself apart.

By the way, just so you know. Socialism is not Communism. (Howard Zinn reference).

Why Are Taxpayers Paying NPR to Push Leftist Propaganda? | The Heritage Foundation

https://www.heritage.org/progressivism/commentary/why-are-taxpayers-paying-npr-push-leftist-propaganda

If you aren't American why do you want us to fall into an authoritarian dystopia? We will not become France, Germany, Romania, North Korea, Ukraine, or any other oppressive non democratic dystopia.

The divisiveness we see in America stems from Barack Obama and his Anti-American propaganda. When people believe in conspiracy theories like system racism or income inequality it will create division. His rhetoric has inspired an entire generation of mass murderers and school shooters. Trump has come in and tried to bring nationalism back, we need patriotism, we need love for our nation. America is by far the greatest nation on Earth. The opportunity here is overwhelming at times.

toomuchbaloney · May 12

https://www.npr.org/2025/05/12/g-s1-65988/episcopal-church-white-afrikaners-ends-partnership-u-s-government

Quote

In a striking move that ends a nearly four-decades-old relationship between the federal government and the Episcopal Church, the denomination announced on Monday that it is terminating its partnership with the government to resettle refugees, citing moral opposition to resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa who have been classified as refugees by President Trump's administration.

Quote

The request, Rowe said, crossed a moral line for the Episcopal Church, which is part of the global Anglican Communion, which boasts among its leaders the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a celebrated and vocal opponent of apartheid in South Africa.

"In light of our church's steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step," Rowe wrote. "Accordingly, we have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government."

Rowe stressed that while Episcopal Migration Ministries will seek to "wind down all federally funded services by the end of the federal fiscal year in September," the denomination will continue to support immigrants and refugees in other ways, such as offering aid to refugees who have already been resettled.

Trump and his team might have trouble getting these folks resettled because they cut the federal funding that supported the nonprofits that did the work. Apparently, some of the organizations haven't even been paid for work already done. If true, that's consistent behavior from Trump.

Quote

Rowe noted his announcement comes as the Trump administration has otherwise all but frozen the refugee program, with Afrikaners among the few — and possibly only — people granted entry as refugees since January. Shortly after he was sworn in, Trump signed an executive order that essentially halted the refugee program and stopped payments to organizations that assist with refugee resettlement — including, according to one group, payments for work already performed.

That change has left refugees — including Christians fleeing religious persecution — without a clear path forward and has forced the 10 refugee resettlement groups, seven of which are faith based, to lay off scores of workers while still trying to support refugees who had recently arrived. Four of the faith groups have since filed two separate lawsuits, one of which recently resulted in a ruling that should have restarted the program. However, refugee groups have accused the government of "delaying compliance" with the court order.

Delaying compliance with a court order seems commonplace for this felon and his administration.

GrumpyRN, NP · May 14

Kafka Fan44 said:

We will not become France, Germany, Romania, North Korea, Ukraine, or any other oppressive non democratic dystopia.

Where do you get the idea that those countries, with the exception of North Korea are oppressive non democratic dystopias? Did you just pick random countries out of a geography book? Ukraine is at war so it does what it needs to to survive. North Korea is a totalitarian dictatorship. Romania is a unitary semi-presidential representative democratic republic. France and Germany probably have more freedoms and rights for their citizens than the USA.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_North_Korea

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Romania

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France

The Heritage foundation is a Conservative think tank who are right wing so hate anything they see as socialist or left leaning.

Kafka Fan44 said:

When people believe in conspiracy theories like system racism or income inequality it will create division.

I have no idea what you are talking about there. But conspiracy theories like Pizzagate, Parklands and multiple others seem to be endemic in the USA.

Kafka Fan44 said:

Trump has come in and tried to bring nationalism back, we need patriotism, we need love for our nation.

That sounds awfully like what was said in 1861.

Kafka Fan44 said:

America is by far the greatest nation on Earth.

Try looking at some world data sites. Plenty out there.

I can do no more than this :- https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=wTjMqda19wk

Home Health Columnist / Guide · May 16

New Republic 5/15/25

Trump's Corruption Is a Huge Problem. But It's a Hard Sell to Voters.

The scant polling evidence suggests that corruption is not a decisive factor for voters—yet there is a way for Democrats to leverage the president's malfeasance in next year's midterm elections.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Trump receives the Order of Zayed, the UAE's highest civilian award, during a bilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Quote

President Donald Trump's plan to accept from Qatar a luxury 747 jumbo jet worth $400 million to use as Air Force One—and then transfer it to his presidential library foundation upon leaving office—has finally inspired Democrats to act like the opposition party. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer put a hold on all Department of Justice nominees, and other top senators want to vote to censure the plan. Of all the violations Trump has already committed in his first term in office, from deporting legal residents to eliminating government agencies without Congress's approval, why is this the one Democrats have drawn a line in the sand on?...

...Voters often think that political shadiness and bribes happen in the shadows, so the fact that Trump is brazenly unethical and openly brags about "deals" like Qatar's plane gift might make it seem less bad. "If you've already written off the entire political system as fundamentally corrupt, then individual scandals don't change the equation much,” said Sarah Kreps, a professor at Cornell University. "They might roll their eyes at some of his antics, but they see him as playing the same rough game his opponents are, just doing it more commendably because he doesn't even have the pretense.”...

...Corruption rarely factors as a top concern for voters, although perhaps that's because pollsters never ask voters to rank corruption among their top concerns. But the issues that rose to the top for most voters in 2024 were the economy and inflation....

Other issues simply matter more to voters than corruption. Stanley Feldman, a political science professor at Stony Brook University, said Trump voters fall into two camps: the MAGA faithful and swing voters who chose Trump because he promised to fix the economy. The latter group "were unhappy with inflation, thought that the Democratic Party had, if not brought on inflation, ... not done enough to deal with [it] because it was focused on problems about minority groups and transgender rights when [it]

Sure this award will be in his Presidential Museum.

Beerman, BSN · May 16

NRSKarenRN said:

New Republic 5/15/25

Trump's Corruption Is a Huge Problem. But It's a Hard Sell to Voters.

The scant polling evidence suggests that corruption is not a decisive factor for voters—yet there is a way for Democrats to leverage the president's malfeasance in next year's midterm elections.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Trump receives the Order of Zayed, the UAE's highest civilian award, during a bilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Sure this award will be in his Presidential Museum.

I would think so.