President Donald Trump
I assume it's still acceptable to have a Trump thread in a Politics forum?
So this is an obvious lie - basically aimed at
ChatGPT prompt:
Please rank the most corrupt American administrations in order, top 5, and explain why they are sequentially the most corrupt.
1. Donald J. Trump (2021– )
Why top of the list:
Contemporary sources label his administration as the most corrupt in U.S. history, citing “unadulterated self-interest” and conflicts of interest.
Major issues include acceptance of foreign gifts/emoluments (e.g., luxury airplane from Qatar) and alleged pay-for-access schemes including a meme-coin tied to personal access to the president.
The Washington Post
The scale of business entanglements, personal profit-motive, and erosion of institutional safeguards set a new benchmark.
From a philosophical/engineer’s viewpoint: the feedback loops of oversight were weakened, the system’s integrity compromised by design.
Why ranked #1: Because unlike many previous administrations where corruption was more passive (allowing cronies to exploit), here you see an active blurring of personal/private interest + public office + institutional powers. The risk to the system is more systemic.
2. Warren G. Harding (1921–1923)
Why high on the list:
His administration is practically synonymous with the Teapot Dome scandal (leasing of naval oil reserves to private interests under Secretary Fall) which remains one of the most notorious U.S. government corruption episodes.
Multiple sub-scandals: Veterans’ Bureau abuse (director Forbes defrauded Veterans’ funds) etc.
Harding’s personal failure of oversight (or willingness to ignore) his “Ohio Gang” and appointees who exploited the spoils system.
Why ranked #2 instead of #1: Although egregious, the corruption has somewhat less direct overlap with the personal profiteering of the president himself (Harding’s own personal gain is less documented). And the institutional infra-structure (though badly abused) remained more intact than in the Trump era.
3. Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1877)
Why high on the list:
Although personally honest in many accounts, Grant’s administration was afflicted by multiple major scandals: the Whiskey Ring (diversion of tax revenues via collusion with distillers) and the Sanborn Contract scandal, among others.
Historians coined the term “Grantism” to refer to the era of graft, patronage and cronyism under his watch.
From an engineering systems angle: the feedback and control mechanisms in his administration were overwhelmed by rapid expansion and weak internal controls, leading to systemic failure of oversight.
Why ranked #3: Because although corruption was widespread, it was more structural and indirect rather than an outright personal profiteering machine at the top. Grant did attempt reform efforts (e.g., special prosecutors) albeit belatedly.
4. Richard M. Nixon (1969–1974)
Why high on the list:
His administration culminated in the Watergate scandal: a break‐in, cover-up, abuse of law enforcement powers, misuse of executive privilege.
Analysis argues this was corruption of the constitution itself: the office used for personal/political gains rather than public service.
The culture of loyalty over legality, of secret units inside the White House acting outside of institutional constraints, is deeply corrupt.
Why #4 instead of higher: While the cover-up and misuse of power were profound, the scale of financial graft might have been less than earlier eras of patronage and economic corruption (e.g., Harding/Grant). Also, because the system was still more intact (Congress, courts intervened) which limits somewhat the pure systemic “engineering” of corruption.
5. Ronald Reagan (1981–1989)
Why inclusion, and ranking here:
The Iran-Contra affair built a shadow foreign-policy network that defied Congress and international law. Senior officials lied to Congress, destroyed evidence, and funneled arms money to Nicaraguan rebels. Add to that the Savings & Loan crisis, rampant deregulation abuse, and cabinet ethics scandals, and the “shining city” looks foggier by the day.
Why #5: His administration institutionalized ideological corruption — covert illegality justified as patriotism — and normalized corporate capture of government.
And the theme here is...
I don’t think he’s will live that long so seems like a dumb bet, but I’m sure you have substantial sums on “No”, right? Just free money laying around for you
It's a joke bet for the idiots, that Polymarket decided to pull the trigger because it's free money for them.
No one sane would bet No for a 4% gain because they'd earn more by just having their cash sit in an interest account over the years than making this idiotic bet.
No one sane would bet Yes because there is a zero % chance of it happening. So we have this idiotic trade that only the top tier fools would partake in. But it will probably get a lot of attention, shoot up to 8-10% far enough out for it not to be a smart wager, and some people here will wrestle with the idea buying in.
lol how do you post that NON ZERO % TRUMP 2028 market as evidence against his attempted dictatorship
I'm doing my best to keep it as low as possible while I load up. No way Trump decides to just voluntarily leaves office. Have you seen his attitude?
Trump has actually become a billionaire by hook and by crook through the office of the presidency, paved over the rose garden and indiscriminately demolished a wing of the *checks notes* literal White House
But ya, sure, tell me more about he plans to leave when his term is up
To argue to the contrary you either 1. Know he won’t and just don’t care or 2. Are the stupidest ****ing idiot living
Yeah, because selling Trump 2028 hats and demolishing the East Wing of the White House to build a ballroom is what people who plan to leave in three years do.
I mean, you're a straight unitard if you think Trump isn't going to try (if he remains healthy enough to remain in office).
Looks more like a two and a half minute video of an ICE agent pointing a gun at someone. I'm sure you can find it if you want to verify the veracity of its contents.
I mean, you're a straight unitard if you think Trump isn't going to try (if he remains healthy enough to remain in office).
Sure. People try lots of things.
People trying lots of things is not the same as a us president trying to remain in power.
Trump wouldn't try it if it didn't work for other world leaders. Why do you think the government is so strong that it could prevent it when everyone in control in the government is shitting on the constitution?
People trying lots of things is not the same as a us president trying to remain in power.
Trump wouldn't try it if it didn't work for other world leaders. Why do you think the government is so strong that it could prevent it when everyone in control in the government is shitting on the constitution?
Seemed to work in 2021 when he tried.
I guess the theory is he's broken down the government enough now that he'll be able to do it in 3 years.
I'll take not gonna happen for $200 please alex.
Seemed to work in 2021 when he tried.
I guess the theory is he's broken down the government enough now that he'll be able to do it in 3 years.
I'll take not gonna happen for $200 please alex.
Yes, he is on the trajectory to break the government down enough within the next three years. By failing in 2020, he learned what mistakes he had made and the biggest one was appointing people who had a line they wouldn't cross.
Everyone in his cabinet is his personal servant - they do what he tells them to do and not to their sworn oath to the Constitution because they all have been promised a preemptive pardon. That's the only reason he commuted Santos - to let them know he has their back as he stated that he did it because he's a loyal Republican.
The key to understanding them is to stop overestimating them. These people really are just that dumb. Like this soybean farmer not only looks like how you'd draw an offensive caricature, he ia the leader of an association of soybean farmers and voted for Trump after his first term decimated his industry and potentially killed it off for good now.
I assumed just some AI stuff, but nope...
this is probably correct. just like trump only had any interest in continuing in 2021 until he exhausted all legal and constitutional challenges.
So you don't remember the illegal efforts as well?
Self-aware MAGAs are pretty much forced to talk as if most of the Trump terms are fictional. They know that actually talking about some of the insane crap Trump and his administration says and does would make them look like idiots.
So you meta-debate the issues instead. You don't talk about Trump changing a weather-map with a sharpie because he can't admit he said the wrong state earlier, or how his administation forced officials to make his idiocy official. Instead you talk about how silly and pathetic all those "lefties" are. Remember that it is always lefties, this is very important to your case. Also, always point out how funny people are when they are angry with Trump. Not that it is actually funny, but you can pretend it is funny, because that would mean you're above something as menial as actual politics.
Seemed to work in 2021 when he tried.
I guess the theory is he's broken down the government enough now that he'll be able to do it in 3 years.
I'll take not gonna happen for $200 please alex.
I believe u don’t give enough props to pence .
Now with vance ?
Self-aware MAGAs are pretty much forced to talk as if most of the Trump terms are fictional. They know that actually talking about some of the insane crap Trump and his administration says and does would make them look like idiots. So you meta-debate the issues instead. You don't talk about Trump changing a weather-map with a sharpie because he can't admit he said the wrong st
Self-aware MAGAs are pretty much forced to talk as if most of the Trump terms are fictional. They know that actually talking about some of the insane crap Trump and his administration says and does would make them look like idiots. So you meta-debate the issues instead. You don't talk about Trump changing a weather-map with a sharpie because he can't admit he said the wrong st
Well said.
The actual discourse from the White House is getting more and more juvenile too. We went from serious to twentysomething to late teens (FAFO to senior military in an official briefing!) to early teens in the talk.
'Your mom said' as a response to a serious journalistic question, wtaf
What's next 'my dad can beat up your dad'?
Is it a reasonable assumption that, if a lot of people get their healthcare costs doubled because of the republicans, and there were fair elections in 2026, the GOP would get a major kicking at the polling stations?
I feel this is totally obvious, but I just would like a US perspective on this.
Is it a reasonable assumption that, if a lot of people get their healthcare costs doubled because of the republicans, and there were fair elections in 2026, the GOP would get a major kicking at the polling stations?
I feel this is totally obvious, but I just would like a US perspective on this.
Not necessarily, IMO. The administration and Mike Johnson are going to figure out some way to blame it on the Democrats, and most of the idiots will believe them.
Also, this Trump thing for sending so much money to Argentina.... is this Project 2025's parachute so they got somewhere to run in case it doesn't work out, like their ww2 nazi forerunners?
Not necessarily, IMO. The administration and Mike Johnson are going to figure out some way to blame it on the Democrats, and most of the idiots will believe them.
ok thanks. I just wondered if it's more they've decided that they're just going all in and stick with Trump's US nazification.
Not necessarily, IMO. The administration and Mike Johnson are going to figure out some way to blame it on the Democrats, and most of the idiots will believe them.
Well yeah, the base is always going to believe anything they say. They consider themselves freethinkers because they listen to Trump and crew and not news media. They are not big enough to sway elections, so as posed, his hypothesis is correct.
Instead you talk about how silly and pathetic all those "lefties" are. Remember that it is always lefties, this is very important to your case.
Ya, you could make a good argument for him on the list as well. LLM's a real time reasoning engines. Ask where Reagan should be on the list of top 10.
