Department of Government Efficiency - DOGE

[NCFisher]

If Defense escapes DOGE it will be a huge fail.

Not singling you out but responding generally.

A fail. But by what measure and timeframe? Is our military capable today of waging a multi-front war including China and/or Russia? And what of the depletion of armament - primarily due to Ukraine, and lesser degree Israel - and correcting that? How does our armed capability measure against China?

I don't know and no_one_here does either. You have a guy in the WH that is war-averse but the core obligation of this government is national security and protecting the rights of the individual. Everything else is multi-colored sprinkles on the cake. It's possible to more efficiently manage the military funding and STILL need to increase spending depending on the answers to those questions. It's ludicrous to posture from our keyboards that "boy, if I don't see military cuts, this is a failure".

It isn't 1980 anymore. We better hope we have some super secret hell on wheels responses to these questions.

 

[gcbvol]

Not singling you out but responding generally.

A fail. But by what measure and timeframe? Is our military capable today of waging a multi-front war including China and/or Russia? And what of the depletion of armament - primarily due to Ukraine, and lesser degree Israel - and correcting that? How does our armed capability measure against China?

I don't know and no_one_here does either. You have a guy in the WH that is war-averse but the core obligation of this government is national security and protecting the rights of the individual. Everything else is multi-colored sprinkles on the cake. It's possible to more efficiently manage the military funding and STILL need to increase spending depending on the answers to those questions. It's ludicrous to posture from our keyboards that "boy, if I don't see military cuts, this is a failure".

It isn't 1980 anymore. We better hope we have some super secret hell on wheels responses to these questions.

I get what you're saying. I just think we all understand it's a huge chunk of our spending and there is assuredly waste in there. If they actually make a serious effort and cuts, I would be open to hearing what additional spending they might need. This whole 'iron dome' thing sounds impractical, as we're talking tactical nukes.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

Sure. Real stable genius starting random trade wars. He's doing so well, he with his dementia lean.

Old boomers should not be president. Period. I really don't care how the echo chamber takes this. It's cool if the local fluffers don't like me.

Won bigly today Chief. Get used to it. You won too.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

He receives billions in government contracts. Its a conflict for sure

government contracts --- insider information. Meh. At least we know who he is, and it is all above board so far. Of course congressmen talking behind closed doors to lobbyists presents nothing but purity. Bernie is owned by big pharma. For example. No conflict of interest there.... nah.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

hes on video smoking weed, and yes, is a ket fiend. a few minutes observing his mannerisms show hes a functional addict trying not to geek out too much in public.

dude aint fit to work for the railroad.

So isn't weed supposed to be something natural that should be legalized errywhere? Isn't it decriminalized in a ton of places? Or has every major city in the USA had an overabundance of skunks turned out in the last couple of years. Besides, I thought weed was OK to help mellow you out and cure all sorts of ailments. An absolute ****ing miracle.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

He receives billions in government contracts. Its a conflict for sure

Well lets see if congress calls him out on it then. I am pretty sure they would all burst into flames from the hypocrisy that would be spewing from their pie holes.

 

[volfanhill]

government contracts --- insider information. Meh. At least we know who he is, and it is all above board so far. Of course congressmen talking behind closed doors to lobbyists presents nothing but purity. Bernie is owned by big pharma. For example. No conflict of interest there.... nah.

Hmmm. Donations for Trump.


The powerful drug lobby Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration. So did drugmakers Bayer and Johnson & Johnson. The National Association of Manufacturers, a lobbying group that represents numerous industries, including the pharmaceutical sector, also donated $1 million.

Other health care industry donors included medical device company Abbott Laboratories ($500,000), hospital chain HCA Healthcare ($250,000), and health insurers Elevance Health ($150,000) and Centene ($50,000)..

Trump's Inauguration Donors: Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Tech, Crypto, and More

Donald Trump’s inaugural committee was funded by Amazon, Chevron, Coinbase, Coca-Cola, Comcast, ExxonMobil, GEO Group, Goldman Sachs, and Meta.

www.rollingstone.com

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

Hmmm. Donations for Trump.


The powerful drug lobby Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration. So did drugmakers Bayer and Johnson & Johnson. The National Association of Manufacturers, a lobbying group that represents numerous industries, including the pharmaceutical sector, also donated $1 million.

Other health care industry donors included medical device company Abbott Laboratories ($500,000), hospital chain HCA Healthcare ($250,000), and health insurers Elevance Health ($150,000) and Centene ($50,000)..

Trump's Inauguration Donors: Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Tech, Crypto, and More

Donald Trump’s inaugural committee was funded by Amazon, Chevron, Coinbase, Coca-Cola, Comcast, ExxonMobil, GEO Group, Goldman Sachs, and Meta.

www.rollingstone.com

And how much to Bernie and Pocahontas, and...... The point is that they all have conflict of interest. Most of them hide behind closed doors. Elon is right out where you can see what's going on. And it's effective.

Big win today. I'm reveling in it.

 

[volfanhill]

And how much to Bernie and Pocahontas, and...... The point is that they all have conflict of interest. Most of them hide behind closed doors. Elon is right out where you can see what's going on. And it's effective.

Big win today. I'm reveling in it.

So Trump is as corrupted by big pharma as Bernie. But you complain about Bernie. Totaly makes sense.

As far as today goes, Canada was nothing burger. I'll give him credit for Mexico.

 

[Franklin Pierce]

Disabled 'Climate Leaders' in Asia, 'Indigenous Language Tech' in Latin America, and Terror Sympathizers in the Middle East: Where the Biden Admin Funneled USAID Money​

$1 Million To Make Disabled Tajikistanis 'Climate Leaders'

$1 Million for Foreign DEI Programs, Including 'Indigenous Language Technology' in Guatemala

Nearly $100K to a Palestinian Activist Group Whose Leaders Hailed PFLP Terrorism

$1 Million to a Hamas-Linked Charity

$1.5 Million Effort To 'Empower' Female Climate Activists in Northern Kenya

$15 Million for 'Contraceptives and Condoms’ in Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan

USAID has long struggled to ensure taxpayer cash goes to its intended use. A 2024 inspector general report, for example, found that the agency had issues combating "corruption, abuse, and fraud."

Disabled 'Climate Leaders' in Asia, 'Indigenous Language Tech' in Latin America, and Terror Sympathizers in the Middle East: Where the Biden Admin Funneled USAID Money

As the Trump administration works to shrink the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and place it under the State Department's umbrella, congressional Democrats have argued that the move "endangers lives and undermines U.S. national security." But away from funding for...

freebeacon.com

 

[NCFisher]

I get what you're saying. I just think we all understand it's a huge chunk of our spending and there is assuredly waste in there. If they actually make a serious effort and cuts, I would be open to hearing what additional spending they might need. This whole 'iron dome' thing sounds impractical, as we're talking tactical nukes.

There's assuredly waste there. I'm a longtime proponent of Eisenhower's warning against the MIC, and Jefferson's re: entanglements re: European conflicts.

I've floated this several times and received 'meh' response, but end the war in Ukraine by bringing Russia into NATO and putting to rest all concern regarding its proximate presence to them. And re-establishing the natural barrier between them and China. Become best buddies with India, further isolating China.

And this time, don't lump Russia in with every podunk country in the world by telling them to fill out an application(!), as if they're not the most heavily nuked country on earth. That was a grave mistake of hubris committed by the posturing effeminates heading NATO, when Putin was interested and inquired prior. They could have already turned Ukraine into a glass parking lot, and some Russki military commentators opine that Putin has been a moderating force on those elements within Russian government. Put another way, should Putin exit, those behind him are not as patient.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Virtually everyone technically has a conflict. Elon musk has contracts with the federal government in the billions?

There is some reaching going on at the moment. Imo

You aren't that dumb. Well, maybe.......

 

[CagleMtnVol]

Elon Musk isn't autistic. He has Asperger's Syndrome.

Edit: Okay. I see that in 2013, the "science" was changed to now label it as "autism spectrum disorder" (ASD). It used to be classified separately from autism. I also remember when Pluto was a planet.

Some experts view Asperger's as a "high-functioning" form of ASD, meaning the symptoms are less severe than other kinds of autism spectrum disorders.

I knew all that but it's considered a form of autism.

 

[CagleMtnVol]

Are you making a case for or against him having security clearance with this?

I'm defending him when someone is falsely saying he's a drug addic because of his mannerisms.

Elon Musk is the Einstein & Henry Ford of our time!

 

[marcusluvsvols]

Doge member

https://news.unl.edu/article-2

Farritor named co-winner of $700,000 prize for ID’ing scroll passages​

Thanks. I had read about the scrolls years ago. Didnt know about any progress reading them. So cool

 

[marcusluvsvols]

View attachment 719281

Elaines right foot turns all the way around backwards?!?

When that happens in football, careers end. Marcus Lattimore style...and he was absolutely amazing.

 

[norrislakevol]

I get what you're saying. I just think we all understand it's a huge chunk of our spending and there is assuredly waste in there. If they actually make a serious effort and cuts, I would be open to hearing what additional spending they might need. This whole 'iron dome' thing sounds impractical, as we're talking tactical nukes.

Iron dome is fine, but yes, there can be significant cuts once everything is sorted out I feel. Me thinks that a lot of contractors overcharge for their services to the military.

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

On a serious note, I suppose a sovereign wealth fund could be good depending on setup. But do we really want the federal government owning TikTok? A little different than Amtrak and NASA.

No, gov't needs to be smaller, not bigger.....

I cant believe how anyone thinks this is a good idea. Just proves that Rs will abandon any views on size of govt if Trump proposes it...

 

[rekinhavoc]

As DOGE exposes more corrupt or questionable spending the more people are going to get onboard.

IF they keep it up people will question why the money couldn't go to people in NC , CA , etc.... or what ever your favorite issue is.

 

[walkenvol]

On a serious note, I suppose a sovereign wealth fund could be good depending on setup. But do we really want the federal government owning TikTok? A little different than Amtrak and NASA.

No, we don’t want the government to buy TikTok IMO. Great opportunity for the private sector to start a new online platform similar to TikTok then the government can ban TikTok. We need to shrink the government, not expand it into owning social media companies

 

[Majors]

Pretty telling seeing the liberal politicians on X more mad about Elon and DOGE eliminating programs, and not the money that was wasted.

 

[walkenvol]

Not unfounded, for sure.

But this is a start, more than anyone else has done. Military, SS, healthcare and entitlements are the heavy hitters and certainly need to be addressed, but this shaving the fat off the edges is still a good thing.

Please educate us on the waste in SS. Don’t think the American public wants to pay 15% of their lifetime income into a retirement plan only to have some billionaires decide to reduce the earned benefits.

 

[InVOLuntary]

I'm defending him when someone is falsely saying he's a drug addic because of his mannerisms.

Elon Musk is the Einstein & Henry Ford of our time!

He was until he supported Trump. Now he's Hitler.

 

[hndog609]

Not singling you out but responding generally.

A fail. But by what measure and timeframe? Is our military capable today of waging a multi-front war including China and/or Russia? And what of the depletion of armament - primarily due to Ukraine, and lesser degree Israel - and correcting that? How does our armed capability measure against China?

I don't know and no_one_here does either. You have a guy in the WH that is war-averse but the core obligation of this government is national security and protecting the rights of the individual. Everything else is multi-colored sprinkles on the cake. It's possible to more efficiently manage the military funding and STILL need to increase spending depending on the answers to those questions. It's ludicrous to posture from our keyboards that "boy, if I don't see military cuts, this is a failure".

It isn't 1980 anymore. We better hope we have some super secret hell on wheels responses to these questions.

I think (most anyway) people understand that if we're going to have a capable, much less the "best" military/defense it's going to cost. There no way around it. If you want cutting edge you pay cutting edge money. That doesn't mean you can't try to be efficient about it.

Say you're stupid wealthy and tell Jeeves to go out and fetch a new Ferrarri F80 for you. It's a given that's going to be quite spendy but you knew that going in. Months later Jeeves comes back with a lovely F80 but also with a bill that makes even your eyes water. Turns out Jeeves had gone to every Ferrerri dealer in the whole world. Not only that but wined and dined people at each place to make a good impression. Didn't treat himself poorly in the air travel/accommodation expenses either. The end result was sure, you got yourself an apex level hypercar but was the approach taken even remotely the most cost effective way to go about it? No it wasn't. We're going to spend big bucks if we're going to keep up, nevermind improve, our military capability. We can also try to limit the Jeeves approach as much as possible in doing so.

 

[volfanhill]

Virtually everyone technically has a conflict. Elon musk has contracts with the federal government in the billions?

There is some reaching going on at the moment. Imo

“His companies were promised $3 billion across nearly 100 different contracts last year with 17 federal agencies.
FEDERAL CONTRACTS
Two of Elon Musk’s companies account for at least $15.4 billion in government contracts over the past decade.”

U.S. Agencies Fund, and Fight With, Elon Musk. A Trump Presidency Could Give Him Power Over Them.

Mr. Musk, who holds billions in federal contracts, wants to be in charge of the regulators that oversee him if Donald Trump wins.

www.nytimes.com