Because Trump 2.0

[JWB]

US court blocks Trump from imposing the bulk of his tariffs

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/28/business/us-court-blocks-trumps-tariffs

[rmgill]

For how long? 

 

[Murph]

Good Question, expect another 5-4 or 6-3 decision.  The Supreme's will be busy.  

[Stuart Galbraith]

21 hours ago, Ol Paint said:

You should look at the pictures again. 

First one is the lobby of Parliament, the elected body representing the citizens.

The second one is the French National Assembly.  Who rather famously did what to the monarchy?

The third is Norway's Storting, again chosen as chambers of the elected representatives of the citizens and because the Scandinavians are often considered to be both reserved and egalitarian.

Those specific examples were used in anticipation of you making precisely these deflections.  You walked right in to it, in spite of the identification of the spaces as chambers of representative bodies.

The only Imperial head of state in the post is your own Buckingham.  Because you chose to make commentary about Trump using the US Army as a ceremonial organization because of ONE parade.  

Now you want to drag the Anglican church into it.  A Puritanical Pilgrim beginning in the northeast translated into the separation of church and state.  As a result, you can find Lutheran churches sharing the same block or neighborhood as Catholic, Baptist, or Presbyterian.  They can be ornate or unadorned as their congregation decides.  Not a federal government or presidential role.

Doug 

Firstly, Parliament doesnt really represent the citizens. That was the polite fiction, although latterly it became somewhat truth. They were/are respresentives of the monarch. When they say 'His Britannic Majesties Government', then you are getting close to the truth. Alright, so the monarch allows the citizens to choose HIS Government now, very nice of him. But when the Palace of Westminster was constructed, that wasnt the way it really worked, and not surprisingly, the oppulence that went with it (and indeed the Foreign Office, which is famously even more ornate) is not altogether surprising.

Second room is labelled Salon Delacroix. Doing a search I find that it was constructed in 1833. Im sure you remember that the French monarchy was reinstalled in 1830, and that one of Delacroix's installations was called 'Salon de Roi' which is a pretty strong indicator that most of his work was for the French Monarchy.

Third is the Storting in Oslo. Im sure as I dont need to point out, this is a Monarchy, and I strongly suspect in 1866 when it was constructed, Norway had just the same issues as being a Constitutional Monarchy as we had.

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

 

So these buildings exist. So why use them, why not demolish and move on? There was actually a call in the 1960's to demolish the British Foreign Office and build something new, ultimately the buildings survived. Im sure there is a similar debate in states that have become more egalitatrian and democratic about the buildings that respresent a far earlier period. I can point to dozens of stories where there are calls to turn the Palace of Westminster into a museum. Buckingham Palace is nearly derelict, and is undergoing a sustained restoration to save it, again with much soul searching. Because these places represent whom we were, not whom we are. Their survival is thus always going to be problematic and open to debate.  Sooner or later they will be turned into museums and we will move on to something rather more fitting the modern states we are.

Yes, you can all post up crowns of monarchs. Absolutely. For we are and remain monarchies (or in the case of the French, still prefer to retain the trappings of one). The Poles even went so far as to rebuild their Monarchs castle AND throne as a sign of defiance, remarkably under the communists (they took about 15 years of soul searching to do that). So it shows these old trappings, CAN take on nationalist form, even if they were never intended as such. 

We dont need to apologise for that, for it says where we came from, and hence indicate how far we have come. For a country that set itself up as a rebellion AGAINST monarchy, presenting these gaudy trappings is an obvious problem. You were revolutionaries, of course you couldnt and didnt adopt the trappings of where you came from. It was anathema to your belief that 'all men are born equal.' Clearly a bit of a problem if you suddenly set up a Monarch with trappings that set him apart from his peers, something Washington, to his great credit, rejected. Its kind of like the Soviet General secretary putting on a Crown. Or Premier Xi suddenly claiming the title of Emperor. Or Che Guevara presenting himself as the Duke of Argentina. Its not done. Or at least, was not done, until Trump decided he wanted to surround himself with the faux opulence of Monarchs.

One must take it too far. It doesnt look like real gold. Its probably some cheap tat he bought on Temu or fleabay. OTOH, he is building a grand ballroom. One wonders if its going to look anything like the Versailles throne room when he is done? And if he does, how many of you will cheer it 'because those Europeans do it too.'

Well we Europeans do Gun control and Socialised Medicare, you planning on doing that as well? 

 

 

Edited August 30, 2025 by Stuart Galbraith

[Stuart Galbraith]

16 hours ago, Mr King said:

I find it hard to take the opinion on over golding from a person who wears this gaudy monstrosity. It looks like something an Atlanta pimp would wear complete with a gold tooth and fur coat. 

No argument from me. But then it was built to respresent the polar opposite of what the United States is. So when the United States adopts opulence that mirrors ours, what is that ultimately saying? The Revolution was a mistake? That Trump is the new monarch?

I wonder how you would all react if Trump adopted a gilt edged Maga hat? Im sure you would all defend that too, without really understanding what it would be saying. These things are symbols, even if you all apparently remain clueless of what its really saying. We Europeans can read it, because we were brought up with it. But of course  we cant possibly understand because we arent Americans, even though its not American symbolism at all.

[Mr King]

53 minutes ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

No argument from me. But then it was built to respresent the polar opposite of what the United States is. So when the United States adopts opulence that mirrors ours, what is that ultimately saying? The Revolution was a mistake? That Trump is the new monarch?

I wonder how you would all react if Trump adopted a gilt edged Maga hat? Im sure you would all defend that too, without really understanding what it would be saying. These things are symbols, even if you all apparently remain clueless of what its really saying. We Europeans can read it, because we were brought up with it. But of course  we cant possibly understand because we arent Americans, even though its not American symbolism at all.

Gold leaf is dirt cheap. I can buy books of it on Amazon for less than $20. It's often used by restaurants on ridiculously expensive dishes to fool people who don't know any better that the dish is worth the cost. It's so inexpensive that it is put into mass produced liquor. 

 

 

[Ol Paint]

5 hours ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

No argument from me. But then it was built to respresent the polar opposite of what the United States is. So when the United States adopts opulence that mirrors ours, what is that ultimately saying? The Revolution was a mistake? That Trump is the new monarch?

I wonder how you would all react if Trump adopted a gilt edged Maga hat? Im sure you would all defend that too, without really understanding what it would be saying. These things are symbols, even if you all apparently remain clueless of what its really saying. We Europeans can read it, because we were brought up with it. But of course  we cant possibly understand because we arent Americans, even though its not American symbolism at all.

Americans didn't take a vow of poverty and adopt a uniform of sackcloth and ashes.  It was more about throwing off the chains of colonialism that were preventing Americans from moving forward.  No taxation without representation, don't tread on me, and such.

Ryan already posted about the Federal Style of architecture.  Which was in effect for the 50 years immediately following the Revolutionary War.  The founding of the US was no Pol-Pot style Communist revolution where personal achievement was inequality to be crushed and destroyed, nor was it a Reformation where the adornments in churches were stripped away/painted over.  

There's always been an urge to decorate, whether antebellum architecture, gothic revival, victorian, art deco, etc.  For example, this is a locomotive from 1858:

This is the 1890s:

(Hmm, maybe we should put one of those on the front of the Zumwalt-class...   )

1930s:

http://www.fm-tesseracted.com/olpaint71/PETE2018/PETE2018Photos/PETE040.jpg

1970s:

http://www.fm-tesseracted.com/olpaint71/PETE2018/PETE2018Photos/PETE019.jpg

I don't know where you get your strange ideas about what is, or isn't, "American." 

Doug

Edited August 30, 2025 by Ol Paint
Fixed link that worked in preview, but not after posting.

[JWB]

Climbing the ladder to SCOTUS.

 

[Ivanhoe]

Don't forget the neo-Egyptian pillar (Washington Monument), neo-Classical buildings (Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Capitol, White House), etc. 

As for our penchant for embellishment;

 

[rmgill]

13 hours ago, Stefan Fredriksson said:

If you like the added gold paint in the White House, why so many words to admit it? Sometimes a simple "yes" is enough. 👍

No. Don't put words in my mouth. 

I'm ok with it. Like or don't like doesn't enter into it. 

I didn't  have to pay for it. So, what's the issue? 

Tell us, what does YOUR national legislature chambers look like? 

Please post a photo. 

[rmgill]

12 hours ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

No argument from me. But then it was built to respresent the polar opposite of what the United States is. So when the United States adopts opulence that mirrors ours, what is that ultimately saying? The Revolution was a mistake? That Trump is the new monarch?

Did you eaven pay attention do our goverment structure? 

The Senate is patterend after the House of lords but with elected senators, originally appointed by the states. 

The US House was patterned after the House of Commons. 

What the hell did they teach you in grade school about the Revolution? We weren't rejecting EVERYTHING English. In fact, we retained the. English/Scottish Enlightenment and expanded upon it. Whereas, as far as I can tell, you lot have binned its teachings. 

 

12 hours ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

I wonder how you would all react if Trump adopted a gilt edged Maga hat?

What do you think is on the Scrambled Eggs of the brim of US military officer's caps? 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/954315363/us-navy-admirals-hat-united-states-khaki


Too late sport.

12 hours ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

Im sure you would all defend that too, without really understanding what it would be saying.

I think you're flailing about not even understanding what you're flailing at. 

Edited August 30, 2025 by rmgill

[DKTanker]

Clowns are as clowns do.

[rmgill]

Oh and BTW. This is Georgia’s capitol building. Yes. That is gold leaf.  Not paint. 
 

 

[seahawk]

Why should the greatest country in earth not openly show its greatness? 

[rmgill]

21 minutes ago, Stefan Fredriksson said:

There you go!

I will let you do the posting of pictures. Perhaps even a separate topic on gilded buildings in Europe.

Marble from the state. Gold leaf from same. Originally built in 1889.

[Stuart Galbraith]

6 hours ago, Stefan Fredriksson said:

There you go!

I will let you do the posting of pictures. Perhaps even a separate topic on gilded buildings in Europe.

Oh Gosh, please! I can let out my inner Dan Cruickshank.

 

[Ivanhoe]

2 hours ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

Oh Gosh, please! I can let out my inner Dan Cruickshank.

 

Its telling that you don't want to let out your inner Kenneth Clark. 

[Ivanhoe]

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/08/29/secretary-noem-terminates-inept-fema-employees-after-uncovering-massive-cyber
 

Quote

 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that she is firing two dozen members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) IT department after it was discovered that they brazenly neglected basic security protocols

Fortunately, this problem was caught before any American citizens were directly impacted. Despite this failure and neglect, no sensitive data was extracted from any DHS networks.

FEMA Chief Information Officer (CIO) Charles Armstrong, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Gregory Edwards, and 22 other FEMA IT employees directly responsible were immediately terminated.

 

THIS is what I voted for. 

 

Quote

 

While conducting a routine cybersecurity review, the DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) discovered significant security vulnerabilities that gave a threat actor access to FEMA’s network. The investigation uncovered several severe lapses in security that allowed the threat actor to breach FEMA’s network and threaten the entire Department and the nation as a whole.

The entrenched bureaucrats who led FEMA’s IT team for decades resisted any efforts to fix the problem. Instead, they avoided scheduled inspections and lied to officials about the scope and scale of the cyber vulnerabilities.

Failures included: an agency-wide lack of multi-factor authentication, use of prohibited legacy protocols, failing to fix known and critical vulnerabilities, and inadequate operational visibility.

FEMA spent nearly half a billion dollars on IT and cybersecurity measures in Fiscal Year 2025 alone and delivered virtually nothing for the American people. Despite burning hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, FEMA’s IT leadership still neglected its basic duties and exposed the entire Department to cyberattacks.

 

DoD has been using CACs (and actually PIV cards now, to be technically correct) for two decades now. If FEMA's CIO can't find a way to implement hardware token based MFA, he/she shouldn't just be fired, he/she should be shot. Start with the kneecaps. 

And the tragically funny thing is the "prohibited legacy protocols" i.e. FTP or whatever. It is trivial to set up network monitoring and do packet inspection, and in fact that capability should be baked into every large network. If even one packet carrying a prohibited protocol is detected, set off the alarms and cut off network links ASAP. 

It sure sounds like FEMA is little more than a fully-paid "summer camp" for people who are functionally limited to attending meetings and attending rainbow protests. 

 

[NickM]

Just now, Ivanhoe said:

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/08/29/secretary-noem-terminates-inept-fema-employees-after-uncovering-massive-cyber
 

THIS is what I voted for. 

 

 

Well I voted for......"NEXT TIME THERE WON'T BE ANY COURTS MARTIAL!! EXECUTION ON THE SPOT!"

[Stuart Galbraith]

23 hours ago, Ivanhoe said:

Its telling that you don't want to let out your inner Kenneth Clark. 

Ive done that on here before.

 

[JWB]

he ruling in the case brought by California Gov. Gavin Newson (D) determined that the federal government violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which forbids members of the military from enforcing civilian laws.

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

Pussy Communist?

[Ivanhoe]

https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/2025/09/space-command-hq-headed-to-alabama-heres-what-we-know-ahead-of-trump-announcement.html
 

Quote

 

U.S. Space Command will move to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, President Trump announced Tuesday.

The move will relocate U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville, reversing a decision by President Joe Biden’s administration.

Flanked by Alabama’s Republican Congressional delegation, Trump said the new location will be at the “beautiful locale of a place called Huntsville, AL, forever to be known, from this point forward, as Rocket City.”

“It’s an honor to give it (Space Command) to Huntsville,” the president added.

 

 

Quote

 

The Air Force in 2021 identified Army Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville as the preferred location for the new U.S. Space Command. The city was picked after site visits to six states that compared factors such as infrastructure capacity, community support and costs to the Defense Department.

Then-President Joe Biden in 2023 announced Space Command would be permanently located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which had been serving as its temporary headquarters. Biden’s Democratic administration said that keeping the command in Colorado Springs would avoid a disruption in readiness.

A review by the Defense Department inspector general was inconclusive and could not determine why Colorado was chosen over Alabama. Trump, a Republican who enjoys deep support in Alabama, had long been expected to move Space Command back to Alabama.

 

 

[DKTanker]

21 minutes ago, Ivanhoe said:

https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/2025/09/space-command-hq-headed-to-alabama-heres-what-we-know-ahead-of-trump-announcement.html
 

A review by the Defense Department inspector general was inconclusive and could not determine why Colorado was chosen over Alabama. Trump, a Republican who enjoys deep support in Alabama, had long been expected to move Space Command back to Alabama.

 

Except Colorado wasn't chosen over Alabama.  in 2021 Alabama was determined to be the best location and then two years later the Autopen decided it knew politically best and changed the location to CO.

[17thfabn]

9 hours ago, JWB said:

he ruling in the case brought by California Gov. Gavin Newson (D) determined that the federal government violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which forbids members of the military from enforcing civilian laws.

 

What is the odds that the appeals court or USSC will over rule this judge?