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[Draignean]

'Epic' is not a word that I think a president should use during a speech.

Still, I have to admit, it could have been worse. This was Trump's best attempt at being encouraging and supportive, and it didn't devolve into in mindless self-centered bullshit. It started with mindless self-centered bullshit, and managed to become inappropriately optimistic and quasi supportive from there.

[smjjames]

Nothing wrong with trying to stay positive, even if it's a little on the "what drugs are you on?" side with the rhetoric.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

That might be true if the positivity wasn't sourced in "you may have lost your homes, your valuables, and your children, but at least you've still got me, your President".

[smjjames]

True that, and as Ari Fleischer remarked, Trump hasn't really shown much empathy yet, at least not in a way that wouldn't appear detached.

Also, Trump has yet to respond (or otherwise accept) Mexico's offer to help with relief. Not sure what Trumps bases' (EXCLUDING the racists, neonazis, KKK, etc) opinion is on Mexico offering aid, but I'm sure they'd appreciate any sort of aid in the disaster.

So, we'll have to wait and see how it all compounds out.

[MrRoboto75]

Also, Trump has yet to respond (or otherwise accept) Mexico's offer to help with relief. Not sure what Trumps bases' (EXCLUDING the racists, neonazis, KKK, etc) opinion is on Mexico offering aid, but I'm sure they'd appreciate any sort of aid in the disaster.

Mexico has plenty of money for Harvey, but still refuses to pay for the wall!  Worst trade deal, perhaps ever in history!  Sad!

[misko27]

Catholic Sean Spicer finally got his meeting with the Pope, after being snubbed by Trump during Francis' visit to DC. He's a devout Catholic so I'm sure he's happy about it. Borderline irrelevant I know, but a break from stormpol is nice.

[Max™]

I actually saw that twittering earlier with the guy half-jokingly suggesting that "sure enough Trump will find some way to bring up crowd size at an evacuation shelter" and everyone is like "dude, don't do the thing... come on man, stop" and BAM he did the thing!

https://twitter.com/KT_So_It_Goes/status/902596087432830976

[Frumple]

Catholic Sean Spicer finally got his meeting with the Pope, after being snubbed by Trump during Francis' visit to DC. He's a devout Catholic so I'm sure he's happy about it. Borderline irrelevant I know, but a break from stormpol is nice.

For what it's worth, there's pictures and spicer looked pretty happy about the meeting. Might even be in the article but I'm way to gorram tired to deal with a news site right now.

I'unno if I'd say he deserves it considering he got himself into what mess he's been in the last while, but it's something approaching the sentiment.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Mattis freezes military transgender ban, pending completion of a study on the impact of transgender personnel.

[Draignean]

God Damn, Mad Dog, I was raised on stories of you being an honorable badass. I am so fucking glad to see you live up to the reputation. 

[MetalSlimeHunt]

On balance, he's not directly contravening Trump's orders (Trump delegated deciding to him), and Mattis also put in place the initial pause on integrating trans personnel back in January (to end in July, thus Trump's tweet-orders).

But Mattis' statement indicates he'll recommend allowing or baring trans personnel based on the results of the study, and other legit studies say the impact is meaninglessly small, so if he's as good as his word then it won't lead to a ban. Unless Trump doesn't care and orders it done anyway, which is...yeah...likely.

Also, rumors abound that Trump's whole involvement with this was to draw in some Republican Congressthralls on funding THE WALL? It is the kind of thing they'd choose for their pound of flesh, I have to admit.

[Draignean]

On balance, he's not directly contravening Trump's orders (Trump delegated deciding to him), and Mattis also put in place the initial pause on integrating trans personnel back in January (to end in July, thus Trump's tweet-orders).

But Mattis' statement indicates he'll allow or bar trans personnel based on the results of the study, and other legit studies say the impact is meaninglessly small, so if he's as good as his word then it won't lead to a ban.

Also, rumors abound that Trump's whole involvement with this was to draw in some Republican Congressthralls on funding THE WALL? It is the kind of thing they'd choose for their pound of flesh, I have to admit.

Honestly, I don't know if Mattis' actions will change that much. Even when the panel agrees that the impact is too minor to be significant, it doesn't allow him to say 'no' to the commander in chief. It just allows him to say 'based on all evidence available, this order is meaningless drivel regurgitated from the mouths of mewling cowards who would humiliate themselves before serving their country in the field'. Sadly, Trump can still say that he's cool with that and, iirc, Mattis either has to resign or comply.

I think Mattis is the kind of man who would stay, not because he doesn't balk at the stupid, but because it still allows him some measure of control.

Of course, I'm a bit biased on the issue.

[Trekkin]

I wonder: is it possible that he could simply ask for study after study and wait out the current administration?

[Rolan7]

Is it wrong that that sounds like an improvement at this point?
Funding studies, if only to delay, might at least leave us with more useful data.

[smjjames]

Theres already useful data from other countries that have transgender troops. I'm sure people will go "Oh, but their training standards are different!", but Israel has transgender troops and I'd dare a Congressperson to call them weak just because they have transgender troops.