Thread

1. bix6 · 1790652307 · focus · HN ↗

   So seriously, what is the administrations intention here? They’ve used all the missiles and drained all the gas. Are they trying to get the U.S. invaded?

   1. toomuchtodo · 1790652351 · focus · HN ↗

      Keep fuel prices low enough using the SPR to try to not lose at midterms. They don’t care what happens after, just as they don’t care about their constituents losing their Medicaid.

      The cost of putting unsophisticated grifters in the ultimate position of power.

      ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

      (Green New Deal via incompetence)

      1. mahboi · 1790652543 · focus · HN ↗

         Shouldn't they at least care about the presidential election 2 years after that?

         1. rectang · 1790653197 · focus · HN ↗

            There have been Republican elected representatives who have confronted Trump. With very few exceptions, they have gone down to defeat in subsequent Republican primary elections.

            The Republican electorate will not stand for Trump being constrained or criticized by Republicans. That's why there are almost no remaining Republican elected officials who are willing to confront the Trump administration aside from a handful of lame ducks like Tillis and Massie.

            Functionally, the Republican congress is unable to hold the Trump administration to account, because Republican voters have ensured that it cannot. The only way Trump will ever be constrained is via Democrats.

            1. parineum · 1790654380 · focus · HN ↗

               Trump's influence has been fading and history shows he'll have practically none as a lame duck. The spell is breaking. As they say, at first gradually then all at once.

               1. rectang · 1790655526 · focus · HN ↗

                  Who knows what the future holds? Right now he can get away with anything: paying for partisan ads with taxpayer money, shaking down industry for bribes to pay for various monuments... There is no amount of corruption or incompetence that this Republican congress would not enable.

                  The majority of the Republican electorate demands an authoritarian leader unconstrained by the rule of law. Trump won't be the last.

               2. Dylan16807 · 1790663654 · focus · HN ↗

                  When did lame duck change definition? It was supposed to be just the month or two after the election. Not most of the term of someone that's facing a term limit.

                  1. parineum · 1790692737 · focus · HN ↗

                     It's not really a changed definition. I'm just assuming he's going to fail to win re-election in 2028.

                     > An elected officeholder or group continuing in office during the period between failure to win an election and the inauguration of a successor.

                     Many senators aren't going to be up for election until 2030. Their allegiance to Trump due to his influence only lasts as long as he can threaten their re-election 2 years after he's an ex-president (and let's face it, he's quite old...). As I've said, we've already seen his influence fade. Just a bit, but this kind of thing goes fast once it does.

                     1. mahboi · 1790794896 · focus · HN ↗

                        Lame duck is supposed to be after the successor is chosen. Trump isn't eligible to run again, but it makes a difference who the successor is and what party.

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