In a case that should have the Founders of the USA spinning in their graves, The Intercept has got hold of documents relating to Peter Thiel's NZ citizenship. These documents reveal that Thiel would not normally qualify for citizenship, which requires the holder to actually reside in New Zealand. NZ law provides for citizenship under "exceptional circumstances and public interest" for people who don't plan to live in NZ.
Thiel's extreme wealth was the exceptional circumstance that allowed for citizenship and which in turn allowed Thiel to avoid certain administrative protocols that a non-citizen would have had to follow relating to the purchase of his large estate in NZ.
As part of taking up citizenship, Thiel had to pledge an oath of loyalty to HM Queen Elizabeth II (in her role as Queen of New Zealand), which certainly raises questions about either his sincerity or his fitness to be an advisor to the President.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 06 2017, @03:54PM
Name one. Be specific.
To be fair, Obama did not ask for a Nobel Peace Prize; he didn't even do any intense backdoor lobbying for it like a certain past President. In fact, my impression at the time was that he was just a little bit embarrassed by the whole thing...but how do you politely say no to a Nobel Peqace Prize? And Obama did try to shut down Guantanamo; his suggestion was to move all the Guantanamo prisoners into the Federal court system but that went over like a lead balloon with many in Congress. So, how do you think he should have shut down Guantanamo? Screw due process and summarily execute everyone of the prisoners? I'm actually curious to hear how you would do it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 06 2017, @06:03PM
Early on in his term Obama ended up with a supermajority. Congressional obstruction is used by both parties as a reason nothing gets done, but as is frequently the case it's a lie.
As for what Trump is doing, one thing I'd immediately point to is the TPP. Him canceling that treat is enormously beneficial for the average American. He's also helped start bringing back some more desirable jobs to the US. The quantity is negligible (relative to the entire country) but it's another undeniably good thing and another step in the right direction. It remains to be seen where this will all go, and whether it will continue, but at least for now I've been pleasantly surprised.