SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
The fallout of the American Presidential election of 2016 continues, and many are concerned about what the eventual consequences will be. One potential member of a Trump administration has many more worried than not. Observe:
As Donald Trump commences his ghastly slouch toward Washington, a coterie of sycophants snatches at his coattails: Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani, Chris Christie—we knew this particular trio would scurry after heightened relevance and authority. Unsurprisingly, all three have slavered their way to the president-elect's transition team, and possibly into the Cabinet. Less expected, perhaps, was billionaire PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel's recent appointment to the same advisory committee. And yet, an alliance between Trump and Thiel, however appalling, seems so fitting that hindsight renders it almost preordained.
One wonders about the temperament of the President-Elect, but even more about the basket of, um, unemployed, that swarm around him seeking positions in the new administration. Peter Thiel is well know for having bankrupted Gawker over the Hulk Hogan affair, but for personal reasons.
But Thiel did not bankroll Hogan's lawsuit in a show of fraternity. He had nurtured a grudge since December 2007, when Gawker published an article entitled, "Peter Thiel is totally gay, people." Thiel condemned Gawker for publicly outing him, though the site contended that he had already disclosed his sexuality to those in his social sphere. Although Thiel referred to Gawker as "a singularly terrible bully," he did not pursue legal action. Instead, his rancor smoldered until, nine years later, he landed a belated—but fatal—blow.
What might such vindictiveness accomplish with more than millions of dollars, but the full faith and credit of the United States, if it sought to silence criticism, whistle-blowing, truth-telling and journalism? Should Soylentils be worried?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 21 2016, @02:25AM
He is also appointing a gay dude. Wasn't the establishment primarily against the same-sex folks? Looks like you only see what you want to see eh?
(Score: 1) by Francis on Monday November 21 2016, @03:56AM
I'm waiting for the smoke to clear before I make too many judgments about his Presidency. I find some of these choices to be rather disturbing, such as Bannon, but by the same token, TPP is dead and Clinton would almost certainly have continued pushing for it. So, on the count there's at least one bit of silver-lining.
The thing though is that he's already been elected, it would require an unprecedented 3 dozen electors to swap their votes for Clinton without any swapping the other way in order for her to win the vote. And that's assuming that she'd even take it at this point, the whole idea of the electoral college needs to go, it made sense when they established the practice, but there's just too much access to information now to require it.
We'll see what ultimately comes of this, but if anything bad comes, remember to lay the blame squarely where it belongs, on Trump and the incompetents working for the DNC and Clinton.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Phoenix666 on Monday November 21 2016, @12:00PM
They wouldn't do something like that. It would be the end of the United States right now.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 22 2016, @05:01AM
> It would be the end of the United States right now.
So instead we are kicking the can down the road.
If something crazy happens on this manbaby's watch, like N Korea decides to nuke tokyo, we are sooo fucked.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 22 2016, @05:35AM
The electors don't have to choose between clinton and trump.
They can pick another republican.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/tulis-levinson-suri-hail-mary-defeat-donald-trump-article-1.2882315 [nydailynews.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 21 2016, @08:28PM
Appointing a gay dude doesn't magically make his other choices better. People like Bolton and Guilani are utterly toxic.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 22 2016, @04:59AM
No bonus for hiring a gay guy if your vice president is the kind homophobe who:
(1) Signed Indiana's anti-gay rights Religious Freedom Restoration Act with a bunch of unapologetic homophobes literally at his back. [glaad.org]
(2) Campaigned for congress on this platform: [buzzfeed.com]
• Congress should oppose any effort to put gay and lesbian relationships on an equal legal status with heterosexual marriage.
• Congress should oppose any effort to recognize homosexual’s as a “discreet and insular minority” entitled to the protection of anti-discrimination laws similar to those extended to women and ethnic minorities.
• Congress should support the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act only after completion of an audit to ensure that federal dollars were no longer being given to organizations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus. Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.
(3) Opposed gay people serving in the military [esquire.com]
(4) Wanted tax dollars spent on gay conversion therapy [politifact.com] - aka "pray the gay away."