• 14th_cylon@lemmy.zip
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    94
    ·
    2 days ago

    isn’t any gift received by the president property of the government? or so i gathered from watching the west wing 😆

    • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      67
      ·
      2 days ago

      So much of our government worked on the idea that nobody would be brazen enough to break convention, and the untested belief that voters would immediately and vehemently reject anyone trying to openly abuse their power.

      We now know both of those assumptions were wrong.

    • Lucky_777@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      19
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      2 days ago

      It was gifted to his presidential library. So no. Only Trump can use it. Pretty fucked up huh?

      • pelespirit@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        39
        ·
        2 days ago

        But it’s going to cost around 1 billion to renovate by our tax dollars.

        Hey Doge! I think you can cut some waste right here!

        • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          13
          ·
          2 days ago

          That’s the part that doesn’t make sense to me. It’s either a gift to him, and it’s his problem to take care of, or a gift to the government, and their problem.

          When you get elected president your car(s) doesn’t suddenly get overhauled with bullet proof glass and security features paid for by the government. You hop in a government provided vehicle, and when you leave (outside of specific instances and time frames) you hop back in your normal car and live your life. Sure the secret service is around for things, but George Bush buys a truck from dealership, it doesn’t get taken to a military installation and reworked with our taxes.

          • ohulancutash@feddit.uk
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            5
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            1 day ago

            Ex-presidents are banned from driving unless they have declined secret service protection.

            And their properties are renovated at taxpayer expense to add secure communications, guardhouses, helipads and covered space for vehicles.

        • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          2 days ago

          This is a really good case for sabotaging the retrofit. Slow it wwwwaaaaaayyyyy doooowwwnnn, and do all the merely cosmetic tacky gilt stuff first. Once he retires, the protective shielding and communications and weaponry won’t be necessary anymore. And he won’t care, as long as it looks lavish enough.

          Also I think we really need to start using “retires” rather than “leaves office.” Or “goes private” if it seems like he doesn’t want to feel old enough for retirement. We have to make it seem like something he’d want. If we really made it appealing he’d quit early, because he’s sure the fuck not doing this job for the sake of the nation.