POLITICAL THREAD

[AustinTXCat]

** Wise Words Department **

“The trouble with free elections is that you never know how they are going to to turn out.”

-Vyacheslav Molotov, 1954

 

[JumperJack]

Elon and Vivek will have a field day if allowed to get serious. Just focusing on Federal Health Care waste could claw back a couple hundred BILLION taxpayer dollars a year...This story is a gross under-estimate...Why does it go on? In part because the government hasn't instituted the very basic security measures that let credit card companies instantly stop your (stolen) card from buying 25 airline tickets to Hawaii if that isn't your pattern of behavior... Crook doctors are allowed to bill ten hip replacement surgeries for the same patient, nonsense like that...

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/09/how-medicare-and-medicaid-fraud-became-a-100b-problem-for-the-us.html

Honestly, I think that the amount of waste is too overwhelming for just a few people to sniff out and eliminate.

The bureaucracy has insulated and protected itself with countless laws and friendly judges.

All they can do is try.

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

Scott Jennings would be good for Press Secretary. Countering KJP with Sage Steele would be hilarious.

 

[Dore95]

Jennings would be great in that role but probably makes too much money on CNN.

 

[Dore95]

Yes. My research indicated that there have been AGs over the years that were not even lawyers. That surprised me.

Which ones were not lawyers? I don't believe any in recent/modern years.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Which ones were not lawyers? I don't believe any in recent/modern years.

I would hope not. I get its mostly a figurehead position but even that needs to have the appearance of being capable.

 

[TKE_]

Jennings would be great in that role but probably makes too much money on CNN.

Not a fan of Jennings after he blatantly lied in an Op-Ed to Courier Journal about a youth baseball game incident. I was there, saw it all go down and he omitted a lot of facts that were important just to push his agenda. He lives in Louisville.

 

[megablue]

Which ones were not lawyers? I don't believe any in recent/modern years.

Yes. You are correct. None in recent years, for sure. But, there have been a few, but it was a long time ago. I was surprised to see that being a member of the bar is not an actual requirement. I falsely assumed it has always been an automatic. There have been some appointed with very minimal legal experience, however. RJK was certainly one., as I learned last night from another poster here. Thanks for the reply and the interest.

There are a very few that are not listed with "Lawyer" or "Attorney" ... fwiw

United States Attorney General - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[55wildcat]

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

 

[Bill Cosby]

I would hope not. I get its mostly a figurehead position but even that needs to have the appearance of being capable.

Eric Holder, Bill Barr and Merrick Garland were certainly not just figureheads. They were incredibly impactful, though maybe not for what one would expect an AG to do.

Next president can worry about someone who appears capable. Trump needs to just get someone in who is capable of burning it all down.

 

[8titles]

Honestly, I think that the amount of waste is too overwhelming for just a few people to sniff out and eliminate.

The bureaucracy has insulated and protected itself with countless laws and friendly judges.

All they can do is try.

This is going to be much bigger than two guys going out to talk to people. The business case is so large they could call in Deloitte, PWC whomever to come in and audit an entire organization and get answers pretty quickly, especially if you hire senior resource. The political/judicial challenges won't hold water once they have a plan together. I am very excited to see how this progresses and what the resulting changes will be.

 

[Dore95]

I would hope not. I get its mostly a figurehead position but even that needs to have the appearance of being capable.

I don't think the AG is a figurehead position at all. That person has the entire federal law enforcement machine at their disposal.

 

[Dore95]

Eric Holder, Bill Barr and Merrick Garland were certainly not just figureheads. They were incredibly impactful, though maybe not for what one would expect an AG to do.

Next president can worry about someone who appears capable. Trump needs to just get someone in who is capable of burning it all down.

I think Gaetz himself has mentioned getting rid of the FBI. That's as dumb as "defund the police". Gaetz won't be in charge of "burning it down". He'll be in charge of running it, which is a different thing altogether.

 

[awf]

I think Gaetz himself has mentioned getting rid of the FBI. That's as dumb as "defund the police". Gaetz won't be in charge of "burning it down". He'll be in charge of running it, which is a different thing altogether.

Gaetz will be in a position to make meaningful changes........no one wants to "burn it down"..........but the DOJ needs some serious house cleaning......

 

[Dore95]

Gaetz will be in a position to make meaningful changes........no one wants to "burn it down"..........but the DOJ needs some serious house cleaning......

He certainly can make meaningful policy changes. For example, the DOJ's policy under Biden is to use the Sherman Antitrust Act to go after a bunch of proposed mergers which I believe has harmed the economy and slowed down M&A activity. I hope he will change that although I'm not sure of what Trump thinks about that.

 

[Bill Cosby]

I think Gaetz himself has mentioned getting rid of the FBI. That's as dumb as "defund the police". Gaetz won't be in charge of "burning it down". He'll be in charge of running it, which is a different thing altogether.

Getting rid of the corrupt FBI is nowhere near as dumb as defunding state and local law enforcement. Given their recent track record, the FBI should be eliminated in its current form, and they can reestablish an agency that isn’t corrupt to its core if necessary.

 

[55wildcat]

 

[BlueRunner11]

Any guesses?

 

[55wildcat]

 

[BlueRunner11]

Haha

 

[TKE_]

I think Gaetz himself has mentioned getting rid of the FBI. That's as dumb as "defund the police". Gaetz won't be in charge of "burning it down". He'll be in charge of running it, which is a different thing altogether.

Hope and would think he meant 'get rid of politically biased brass at' FBI... Getting rid of the FBI is a non-starter.

 

[FirewithFire]

Biden is to use the Sherman Antitrust Act to go after a bunch of proposed mergers which I believe has harmed the economy and slowed down M&A activity.

Threatened maybe, but filed no. Truth is, under the Trump admin more mergers were stalled and charges filed. Under the Biden admin filings stayed steady or decreased while requests for mergers went through the roof. So yet again Biden did jack and ish.

I wish the government would take anit-trust much more seriously. Too few companies own way to much equity in the economy, and letting it get worse bodes ill for the future.

Antitrust Under Biden: Taking a Closer Look at the Numbers

Leading up to the U.S. presidential election this November, our Antitrust & Competition team continues to offer insights into what antitrust

www.antitrustlawblog.com

 

[Dore95]

Threatened maybe, but filed no. Truth is, under the Trump admin more mergers were stalled and charges filed. Under the Biden admin filings stayed steady or decreased while requests for mergers went through the roof. So yet again Biden did jack and ish.

I wish the government would take anit-trust much more seriously. Too few companies own way to much equity in the economy, and letting it get worse bodes ill for the future.

Antitrust Under Biden: Taking a Closer Look at the Numbers

Leading up to the U.S. presidential election this November, our Antitrust & Competition team continues to offer insights into what antitrust

www.antitrustlawblog.com

Well maybe you think Lina Kahn at FTC is doing a good job as she's also going after what she believes are antitrust violations. I'm not a big fan of the federal government interfering with economic activity in that way (unless it is just an obvious and egregious antitrust issue). I also was not a fan at all of Kahn's attempt to ban non-compete agreement which was since enjoined by a TX federal court. I have to think that Kahn and her way of thinking will be out once the Trump administration gets going. On the other hand, Trump is not really "pro business" in the traditional Republican sense.

 

[megablue]

Threatened maybe, but filed no. Truth is, under the Trump admin more mergers were stalled and charges filed. Under the Biden admin filings stayed steady or decreased while requests for mergers went through the roof. So yet again Biden did jack and ish.

I wish the government would take anit-trust much more seriously. Too few companies own way to much equity in the economy, and letting it get worse bodes ill for the future.

Antitrust Under Biden: Taking a Closer Look at the Numbers

Leading up to the U.S. presidential election this November, our Antitrust & Competition team continues to offer insights into what antitrust

www.antitrustlawblog.com

"I wish the government would take anti-trust much more seriously. Too few companies own way to much equity in the economy, and letting it get worse bodes ill for the future."

I agree with this ^^^^ ... There is so much money and lobbying in politics now, it easily affects how elected officials deal with this issue. To my view, more competition is better for the economy and everyone in it.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Eric Holder, Bill Barr and Merrick Garland were certainly not just figureheads. They were incredibly impactful, though maybe not for what one would expect an AG to do.

Next president can worry about someone who appears capable. Trump needs to just get someone in who is capable of burning it all down.

I don't think the AG is a figurehead position at all. That person has the entire federal law enforcement machine at their disposal.

I meant figurehead in the sense they aren't going to court arguing motions nor drafting anything themselves. Theyre running a branch of government.

Thats why I can see it not having as requirements a licensed attorney, but it would be odd for both appearances and as effective leadership.

 

[UKBrassowTipIN]

 

[BigBlueDave]

More winning.

 

[FirewithFire]

One down. Thousands to go.