5 ms·

Unless I have missed something (always a real possibility to be fair) there are also no clear details about what DOGE is, what its powers or lack thereof are, w

Unless I have missed something (always a real possibility to be fair) there are also no clear details about what DOGE is, what its powers or lack thereof are, what its staffing is, or what its actual processes will be. We’ll find out more when the actual Trump administration starts I guess, but so far it seems like a broad concept that two guys can use for tweets.

alephnerd 2y ago
> there are also no clear details about what DOGE is, what its powers or lack thereof are It's (edit: going to be after Innauguration Day) a Presidential Task Force Presidential Task Forces have zero power, as they can only give recommendations. All this hyperventilating over DOGE is distracting from actual issues to worry about - like the upcoming showdown between Senate GOP Leadership and the Executive Branch over a number of confirmations.
- dragonwriter 2y ago
  > It's a Presidential Task Force It can't be a Presidential Task Force in the present tense because Trump isn’t President and Biden didn't establish it.
  - alephnerd 2y ago
    You are technically correct, the best kind of correct.
- dpkonofa 2y ago
  >All this hyperventilating over DOGE is distracting from actual issues to worry about It's not hyperventilating. It may start as a task force but it can easily and quickly be upgraded to a full-on department of the federal government by Congress.
  - alephnerd 2y ago
    > it can easily and quickly be upgraded to a full-on department It cannot easily be converted. The house margin is razor thin now that Gaetz and Stefanik gave up their seats for nominations, and filibuster-able. And Senate leadership is status quo GOP with Sen Thune as Senate Majorty leader, and his allies Grassley and Cornyn, as well as shakey Senators like Collin and Murkowski reducing that majority, and the Senate is still filibuster-able as well. And given the amount of controversy over a number of Secretary choices, it'll take 6-9 months alone just to go through the Senate Confirmation backlog.
    - dpkonofa 2y ago
      Where were you for the last 8 years? If there's one thing the GOP is great at, it's coalescing around votes. Even with the thin margins, there are ways for them to achieve their goals quickly. I think you're not giving them enough credit here...
      - alephnerd 2y ago
        > Where were you for the last 8 years Partaking in the revolving door (early-mid Obama 2 era) and chatting with friends of mine who still work on the Hill about these kinds of topics. > Even with the thin margins, there are ways for them to achieve their goals quickly. What ways? Thin margins BY DEFAULT slow everything down. The house is functionally split 218-215 now that Gaetz and Stefanik have been nominated. Just 3 defection means House votes fail, and managing a caucus is DIFFICULT - especially given how split the GOP is.
    - atmavatar 2y ago
      It is only the Senate which has the filibuster, and it merely exists as a Senate rule. It can be removed with a simple majority vote, though I believe rule changes must occur at the beginning of the new Congress. For example, SR 15 in the 113th Congress ultimately removed the filibuster for judicial appointments (see: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-resolution/15 https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-resoluti...). That may be a moot point with regard to cabinet positions should the incoming Republican Senate go along with Trump's request for recess appointments, though.

alephnerd 2y ago

> there are also no clear details about what DOGE is, what its powers or lack thereof are It's (edit: going to be after Innauguration Day) a Presidential Task Force Presidential Task Forces have zero power, as they can only give recommendations. All this hyperventilating over DOGE is distracting from actual issues to worry about - like the upcoming showdown between Senate GOP Leadership and the Executive Branch over a number of confirmations.

dragonwriter 2y ago
> It's a Presidential Task Force It can't be a Presidential Task Force in the present tense because Trump isn’t President and Biden didn't establish it.
- alephnerd 2y ago
  You are technically correct, the best kind of correct.
dpkonofa 2y ago
>All this hyperventilating over DOGE is distracting from actual issues to worry about It's not hyperventilating. It may start as a task force but it can easily and quickly be upgraded to a full-on department of the federal government by Congress.
- alephnerd 2y ago
  > it can easily and quickly be upgraded to a full-on department It cannot easily be converted. The house margin is razor thin now that Gaetz and Stefanik gave up their seats for nominations, and filibuster-able. And Senate leadership is status quo GOP with Sen Thune as Senate Majorty leader, and his allies Grassley and Cornyn, as well as shakey Senators like Collin and Murkowski reducing that majority, and the Senate is still filibuster-able as well. And given the amount of controversy over a number of Secretary choices, it'll take 6-9 months alone just to go through the Senate Confirmation backlog.
  - dpkonofa 2y ago
    Where were you for the last 8 years? If there's one thing the GOP is great at, it's coalescing around votes. Even with the thin margins, there are ways for them to achieve their goals quickly. I think you're not giving them enough credit here...
    - alephnerd 2y ago
      > Where were you for the last 8 years Partaking in the revolving door (early-mid Obama 2 era) and chatting with friends of mine who still work on the Hill about these kinds of topics. > Even with the thin margins, there are ways for them to achieve their goals quickly. What ways? Thin margins BY DEFAULT slow everything down. The house is functionally split 218-215 now that Gaetz and Stefanik have been nominated. Just 3 defection means House votes fail, and managing a caucus is DIFFICULT - especially given how split the GOP is.
  - atmavatar 2y ago
    It is only the Senate which has the filibuster, and it merely exists as a Senate rule. It can be removed with a simple majority vote, though I believe rule changes must occur at the beginning of the new Congress. For example, SR 15 in the 113th Congress ultimately removed the filibuster for judicial appointments (see: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-resolution/15 https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-resoluti...). That may be a moot point with regard to cabinet positions should the incoming Republican Senate go along with Trump's request for recess appointments, though.