Tag: Donald Trump

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Justice Department Files Appeal To 9th Circuit Court Regarding Trump Immigration Policy

The Department of Justice has filed an appeal to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to lift a temporary restraining order by U.S. Federal Judge James Robart concerning President Trump’s executive order on immigration policy.

The EO, issued a week ago, banned travel to the US from seven Muslim-majority countries and suspending refugee entry to the US. The Washington state Attorney General filed suit in his state saying the travel ban was unconstitutional. Judge Robart, a Bush appointee, agreed.

Considering how quickly the Trump administration has been moving, I’m surprised it took almost 24 hours to file the appeal.

The Department of Homeland Security announced it had suspended all actions to implement the immigration order and would resume standard inspections of travelers as it did prior to the signing of the travel ban.

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Hypocrisy: Trump Plays First Round Of Golf Three Months Earlier Than Obama

Today, for the first time since being sworn in as president, Donald Trump played his first round of golf at Trump International Golf Club outside West Palm Beach.

This is notable only because it’s nearly three months sooner than President Obama played his first round in 2009.

According to Mark Knoller of CBS News, Obama played his first round of golf on April 26, 2009. And President George W. Bush hit the “presidential” links on July 3, 2001.

Remember when Donald Trump incessantly derided President Obama for playing golf?

And this time, at a campaign rally in December 2015, when the Trumpster called out Obama for having “played more golf than Tiger Woods.”

“It was reported today [Obama] played 250 rounds of golf and he’s going to be in Hawaii, I think did they say for three weeks?” Trump said. “Two hundred and fifty rounds, that’s more than a guy who plays in the PGA Tour plays. He played more golf last year than Tiger Woods. We don’t have time for this. We have to work. … I don’t have time for that. I love golf, I think it’s one of the greats, but I don’t have time.”

Politico reported yesterday that the president’s trip this weekend to his Mar-A-Lago resort could cost taxpayers over $3 million.

Now, let’s take one more trip in the way back machine, shall we?

(h/t New Civil Rights Movement)

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President Explodes At “So-Called” Judge Who Blocked Travel Ban

Just hours after U.S. District Judge James L. Robart temporarily blocked the enforcement of President Trump’s immigration ban, the Donald took to Twitter (where else?) to complain about the “so-called” judge’s ruling.

Just two weeks into his presidency, and President Trump is openly questioning the legitimacy of the judiciary.

Not sure about the “so-called” part – Robart was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed in the Senate by a vote of 99-0. Hard to say Robart is being partisan with that pedigree.

Trump continued tweeting anyway:

I guess he hadn’t got all his temper tantrum out, so he started lashing out at any old enemy:

Still not done, President Babyhands resorted to campaign slogans:

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BREAKING: Federal Judge Blocks Trump Travel Ban

A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order from enforcing President Trump’s executive order banning immigration from 7 Muslim-majority countries.

From USA Today:

U.S. District Judge James Robart of Seattle on Friday issued a nationwide restraining order blocking the travel ban put in place by President Trump last week, KOMO news reported.

Trump’s ban, created through an executive order, sought to block people from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the United States.

In issuing his decision, Robart was siding with Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who filed a suit to block key provisions of the president’s executive order, which also bars Syrian refugees from entering the country.

Outside the courthouse where Judge Robart had issued his ruling, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson told reporters, “The decision shuts down the executive order immediately.”

That said, the executive order issued last week caused travel visas to be voided. So folks in those 7 countries would have to go back to their consulates in their countries to request new visas.

So, I don’t see this affecting anything soon. The Trump administration will undoubtedly run to an appeals court to have the restraining order struck down.

Stay tuned – developing story…

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Poll: Trump Has Highest Disapproval Of Any Newly Elected President In History

According to the latest CNN/ORC poll, President Trump has the highest disapproval ratings of any newly elected president.

The survey shows that 53% of Americans disapprove of how Trump is handling his job, while 44% approve. Trump is the first president in U.S. history to have a net-negative rating so soon after taking office.

Trump’s high disapproval numbers are a departure from those of his predecessors.

Ronald Reagan’s initial approval rating of 51% was not that far above Trump’s current rating of 44% now. However, Reagan’s disapproval number (13%) was much lower than Trump’s.

George W. Bush fared much better – 57% approval in February of his first year in office, with only 25% disapproving.

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Viral Video: America First, The Netherlands Second

These videos are a part of the ongoing European series entitled “Every Second Counts“, which seek to poke fun at Mr.Trump’s declaration of “America First” during his inaugural address.

Here’s the video from the Netherlands:

Dear Mr. President, welcome to this introduction video about the Netherlands. It’s going to be a great video. It’s going to be absolutely fantastic.

We totally understand it’s going to be “America first.” But can we just say: the Netherlands second?

And, of course, Switzerland wasn’t going to leave this unchallenged. Check out their “invitation” video:

Dear Mr. President, welcome to this introduction video about Switzerland, the sexiest country in Europe. Look at those mountains those big fat mountains. We’re not flat, like for example the Netherlands. They’re so flat. Total disaster.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

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Uber CEO Quits Trump Advisory Council Over Immigration Ban

I’m guessing enough accounts were deleted to get the attention of Uber’s CEO, Travis Kalanick.

Via The Daily Beast:

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick left President Trump’s business advisory council on Thursday over the administration’s ban on refugees and visitors from Muslim countries, according to a memo obtained by Recode.

Uber faced an enormous backlash from users after Kalanick initially said that he would continue to engage with Trump after the president’s recent executive order.

In a memo to his employees, obtained by The New York Times, Kalanick wrote: “Earlier today I spoke briefly with the president about the immigration executive order and its issues for our community. I also let him know that I would not be able to participate on his economic council. Joining the group was not meant to be an endorsement of the president or his agenda but unfortunately it has been misinterpreted to be exactly that.”

See, folks? Taking action can result in change.

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Podcast: Mixed Signals From Trump White House On LGBT Rights

In my latest podcast for The Randy Report, I recap the developing news story regarding the Trump administration’s announcement that President Obama’s executive order on LGBT workplace protections will remain in place – for now.

President Trump maintains that he is a friend of the LGBTQ community, but advocates are not quite sure of what’s to come.

The LGBT community has been on the lookout for some kind of announcement from the White House since Donald Trump won the presidential race last November. This week it looks like we finally got an answer.

Late Monday evening, the Trump White House announced Obama’s 2014 pro-LGBT executive order will continue to be enforced.

But a draft of an executive order that began circulating in Washington over the weekend called for allowing discrimination against LGBTs in the federal workforce and by federal contractors based on “religious freedoms.”

Listen in as I explore the concerns of those in the LGBTQ community and the positions of those who oppose these vital protections.

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White House On ‘Religious Freedoms’ Executive Order Draft: “A Lot Of Ideas Being Floated”

Keen News Service reports on a question that came up during today’s White House press briefing about the circulating draft executive order that could legalize discrimination against LGBTs in the name of “religious freedom.”

Asked whether the draft in circulation is one being considered by President Trump, Press Secretary Sean Spicer said at a White House briefing Thursday, “Right now, there are no executive orders we are able to read out.” He added, however, that there are a “lot of ideas being floated out,” and “input and ideas” being provided “on a variety of subjects.” But he said that “until the president makes up his mind, there’s nothing going out.”

The answer provided little relief to LGBT legal activists, particularly given that President Trump on Wednesday, met with almost a dozen representatives of right-wing groups, including those with specifically anti-LGBT agendas. And at the National Prayer Breakfast Thursday morning, President Trump reiterated his support for eliminating the “Johnson Amendment,” which prohibits tax exemptions for organizations participating in political activity.

You’ll note that Spicer repeatedly refers to the idea of LGBT rights in the vein of “political correctness.” And the word “pendulum” gets repeated over and over, as if the concept of equal rights for LGBTs has had it’s time.

Just one comment off-topic: Umm, that tie? Really? See what happens when you don’t have gay friends?

Watch below. The question comes up at the 9:32 mark.