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Tuesday Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 09:52:00 AM EST
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Here's a new open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Tuesday Open Thread | 201 comments (201 topical)
    With GOP Gov. Charlie Baker's support, ... (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 03:24:39 PM EST
    ... the Massachusetts Attorney General has filed suit against the Trump administration regarding the travel ban.

    i read there (none / 0) (#24)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 03:40:21 PM EST
    was a scientist going to Boston that now cannot take her job because of the travel ban.

    Parent
    RIP John Wetton. (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 05:52:59 PM EST
    Best known as the bass player and vocalist for Asia. Also did stints with King Crimson, Uriah Heep and Wishbone Ash. Got to see him live just a couple years ago with Asia.

    Bummer, rip. I saw them in their 1st concert. (none / 0) (#33)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 05:59:32 PM EST


    Parent
    Something real to talk about (none / 0) (#41)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 10:52:42 PM EST
    Someone who helped make my youth bearable :)

    RIP John Wetton. He tended a nice garden.

    Parent

    Trump also berates (5.00 / 2) (#73)
    by MKS on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 09:09:10 PM EST
    and then hangs up on Aussie PM.

    How can one eff up relations with the Land of Oz and Mexico in one day?  These are gimmes.  Friends.

    But, ah, Trump has Vladimir.

    Heh, those of you who pooh-poohed me on the 25th Amendment, you never know.

    He told the Australian PM... (none / 0) (#81)
    by desertswine on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 09:52:18 PM EST
     "This was the worst call by far."

     

    Trump blasted Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over a refu­gee agreement and boasted about the magnitude of his electoral college win, according to senior U.S. officials briefed on the Saturday exchange. Then, 25 minutes into what was expected to be an hour-long call, Trump abruptly ended it.


    Parent
    What's wrong with this picture? (5.00 / 1) (#100)
    by KeysDan on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 11:24:55 AM EST
    US military vehicles festooned with a "Trump Flag" as a replacement for the American Flag.

    The blackshirts are at the gate. (none / 0) (#107)
    by desertswine on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 01:46:59 PM EST


    Parent
    Oh well, at least they have lawyers (none / 0) (#108)
    by jondee on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 01:49:31 PM EST
    one can never have too many.

    Parent
    As they should, before the discipline (none / 0) (#125)
    by Peter G on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 04:22:24 PM EST
    is imposed.

    Parent
    Matthew 13:12 (none / 0) (#128)
    by jondee on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 04:29:59 PM EST
    whoever has will be given more..should've been extended to include whoever has lawyers will be given more lawyers.

    Parent
    Jesus...well those guys have never been sane (none / 0) (#150)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 10:33:48 PM EST
    I have been told numerous times that the SEALs tend to be very pro-Trump. They're so freakin coddled compared to Delta. Delta and Rangers can walk 5 miles on an Op, not SEALs, they refuse. And I know a Ranger who had to do a joint Op with SEALs in Afghanistan. He was in the field already and two SEALs dropped in to assist him. They brought no food, no real water, they were each carrying 2 bottles of Aquafina..and no calories, in the middle of Afghanistan nowhere. He was stunned at how high maintenance they feel entitled to be.

    I realize most of them consider all the needles that had to be threaded for Obama a form of abuse. Just wait though till not only does the boss not sweat your outcomes, but he doesn't really give a feck about you either. Then we have to go through all those betrayal feelings again like you all had to go through with Dubya. It's a sort of soap opera. I predict though no Trump flags in 4 yrs, just a cup of not liberal tears.

    Parent

    Remember that "voter fraud" ... (5.00 / 1) (#133)
    by Yman on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 06:18:04 PM EST
    ... executive order Trump was going to sign to back up his tinfoil conspiracy theory?

    Neither does Trump or his fellow conservatives.  As someone around here likes to argue ... guess they're afraid of what it will show.

    Wow guys....you know the phuck up in Yemen? (5.00 / 1) (#152)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 12:16:41 AM EST
    Get this....you won't believe it, but you will. It was SEAL team 6 with? The new Blackwater out of the United Arab Emirites. Blackwater, or whatever they go by now, just will not stop being the stuff of nightmares.

    So that's why no helicopters, because then the Army would know. This was a full on Trump-fiasco where you pair SEAL team 6 with whatever Erik Prince has cooked up, and you drop them off in an Osprey cuz you don't want to run this through anyone else cuz you're a star or something. And they do walk 8 kilometers in. And they get all shot to hell, it sounds like they walk 8 kilometers back just to get out too. Wow...what a disaster

    And girls, girls were shooting them all up according to the version of the story out right now. They claim the women of the house took positions and started shooting at them. Like snipers? I'm not saying girls can't kill you, but you're SEALs, and how ever Erik Prince has handicapped you. It must have been a hell of a really bad handicap or they had to have an excuse for all the dead women killed in the bombing they finally had to call in.

    They were supposed to get loads of Intel. This was supposed to be Trump's Bin Laden raid. They set it all on fire though bombing the place from overhead so they could get the operators out. They got nothing except hurt and killed

    Yes, The TDS is strong (none / 0) (#155)
    by TrevorBolder on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 05:23:39 AM EST
    Indeed, a more in-depth New York Times report shows that the operation was actually planned during the Obama administration but held over to Trump because the need for a dark night to minimize enemy visibility: President Barack Obama's national security aides had reviewed the plans for a risky attack on a small, heavily guarded brick home of a senior Qaeda collaborator in a mountainous village in a remote part of central Yemen. But Mr. Obama did not act because the Pentagon wanted to launch the attack on a moonless night and the next one would come after his term had ended. CNN's reporting agrees with the New York Times: Both defense and Obama administration officials said the operation was never vetoed by Obama and that "operational reasons" were why it was pushed back after January 20 and why Obama left the task of authorizing the raid to his successor. As the Times makes clear, there were "months of detailed planning" that took place under Obama, and the Department of Defense had conducted a legal review that Trump approved. Oh, and it turns out that Trump approved the raid at a dinner attended not just by General Mattis, but also by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the vice president, and his national security adviser (a man who has enormous experience with special forces operations).

    http://tinyurl.com/joj9gze

    In keeping with Washington's toxic political environment, Trump opponents seized upon this as evidence the president carelessly put American troops in harm's way. This is nonsense.

    The special operations plan was reviewed by the Pentagon and recommended for Trump's approval. If the commander on the ground believed the intelligence and support were insufficient, he could have aborted the mission. Trump did not force an unwilling SEAL team into a dangerous raid. He was approving what the military said should be done.

    For any military official to blame Trump for the raid's technical and operational problems is as unacceptable as it is factually untrue. Such conduct undermines trust and damages the military's credibility. It also creates an impression that officials seek presidential approval for operations with the intention of avoiding blame if things go wrong.

    http://tinyurl.com/jb5bw63

    Parent

    Yes, we (5.00 / 2) (#158)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 06:43:19 AM EST
    can count on you to start shopping the Trump apologia and alternative facts.

    Fact is this mission was brought to Obama but he turned it down. Obama did not think the intel was good enough. Trump is the one that signed off on it. We're going to see many more of these due to the incompetence of the GOP in general in using Prince's organization and the mental instability of Donald Trump.

    Congrats Trevor. You're not only helping Putin but you're helping ISIS.

    Parent

    Go ahead Trevor (5.00 / 3) (#162)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 08:03:13 AM EST
    Trump has Seal Team 6 back to baby killers the first day out.

    Parent
    It doesn't matter.. (5.00 / 1) (#175)
    by jondee on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 11:11:39 AM EST
    privatization is ALWAYS a good thing.

    It wouldn't matter if the administration hired the Manson Family to carry out covert operations.

    The profit motive is always conducive of excellence.

    Someone needs to need to brush up on their Free Market theology.

    Parent

    But we did this before AND THEY JUST KILLED PEOPLE (5.00 / 2) (#176)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 11:32:06 AM EST
    THAT IS ALL THEY ACCOMPLISHED ALONG WITH DESTROYING THE REPUTATION OF THE UNITED STATES AND US FORCES. This was supposed to be a capture/intel mission. Now we know that the target knew they were coming, and they knew the target knew. The only way you get intel is surprise. When Al Qaeda knows SEALs are a mile out they destroy everything....duh.

    But they keep on coming, and then they killed everybody just to get out. You don't even have someone who can answer a question. WHAT THE HELL???

    Parent

    Buzzfeed reporting that the video (5.00 / 1) (#182)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 02:00:20 PM EST
    CentCom put up to prove they got important intel is video that is 10 yrs old.

    WTF? We are already at Tillman? We have had the Monday Night Massacre, the Bowling Green Massacre, and now CentCom is utterly full of $hit? Already?

    Parent

    Wow (none / 0) (#190)
    by Yman on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 05:40:52 PM EST
    That's nuts - and their explanation as well as their further statements trying to justify the raid sound really weak.

    Parent
    I don't know when we will finally (none / 0) (#191)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 06:06:59 PM EST
    Be leaked what happened. A lot of news orgs still leaving out that this wasn't just SEALs, that UAE commandos were involved. One report I've found so far that UAE commandos were in the lead with SEALs backing them.

    How would they get intel though when they had to call in jets and gunships and they had one dead and three wounded and the LZ was 8 kilometers away? One report that the 8 yr old girl was shot, still alive, and left to bleed out. Was that when they were gathering their intel? While she was bleeding out?

    Parent

    I don't get the (none / 0) (#192)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 06:09:51 PM EST
    whole 8 year old girl being shot. I'm assuming it was an accident or if it's Blackwater we could be looking at something deliberate due to their history.

    Parent
    They had jets and gunships shooting the place (none / 0) (#193)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 06:13:31 PM EST
    Up too from overhead. But they called in serious firepower. They got their asses handed to them.

    Parent
    NO TREVOR (5.00 / 3) (#161)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 08:01:52 AM EST
    We have TWITTER denials along with every other form of calling bull $hit from Obama administration officials, this raid was NOT one they planned. And President Obama would have NEVER planned a raid with Blackwater alongside SEAL team 6. Why would he? That ridiculous. This isn't Survivor, this isn't reality TV where you throw a bunch of washed out people in with a professional dancer and they produce the successful Al Qaeda raid. I wonder WHO would do something like that though? Who would think that sounds like a good idea? Who would pair Dom Perignon with spaghettios just because he can?

    It's okay Trevor. I realize you don't know what one of these things completely phucked from GO looks like, I can wait this one out. I mean we all know who the first 3 SEALs on the stairs in the Bin Laden raid were because they TALK. Go head SEALS. Start talking.

    Parent

    The military (5.00 / 3) (#163)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 08:05:59 AM EST
    is already leaking to the press from what I have seen how Donald screwed this up. Not from Seal Team 6 yet but others in the Pentagon and other places are spilling the beans.

    Trevor is a Trump apologist and an alternative facts guy. I guess he's spending his time today commemorating the Bowling Green Massacre.

    Parent

    Oh yeah, they are going to send up flares (5.00 / 4) (#168)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 09:03:44 AM EST
    Like...Emirates Commandos....hey everyone...that's Erik Prince and his new Blackwater. Read the press releases carefully, they are sending up flares.

    Then when reporters really start asking questions, the BIG leaks go down.

    We haven't heard THE HALF of what went down here. But uhhhh...we know that right after this Trump didn't want to here from the Joint Chief anymore. It couldn't be because he told Trump not to do this and Trump said "Feck you Dimford, I'm the President and I'm doing it!" It can't be that Trump then learned some new curse words bellowing out of the situation room disturbing his sweet dreams that night.

    That room is going to be called the situation room from now on not because of the situations it monitors but because of the situations that occur inside of it.

    Parent

    It's (5.00 / 2) (#160)
    by FlJoe on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 07:55:39 AM EST
    a sad day (in alternate history) as we commemorate the terrible Bowling Green Massacre

    Remember the Bowling Green Massacre ... (5.00 / 1) (#178)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 11:46:42 AM EST
    ... and join Kellyanne Conway's "Alternative Lives Matter" movement, because the parallel universe you save may be your own.

    Parent
    I can't (none / 0) (#164)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 08:08:10 AM EST
    believe that Trump et al are stupid enough to keep that incompetent idiot. She's become the butt of jokes everywhere.

    This is what happens when you've been allowed to lie and lie and lie without question. She now thinks she can just continue to lie without anyone fact checking her.

    Parent

    No (none / 0) (#167)
    by FlJoe on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 08:39:24 AM EST
    it's true, there is even video evidence that it really happened.

    Parent
    I'll have you know Kellyanne's (5.00 / 3) (#174)
    by jondee on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 10:53:09 AM EST
    information was thoroughly vetted by the Office of Legal Compliance before she went on the air.

    Parent
    Baa waa waa (none / 0) (#169)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 09:04:46 AM EST
    That is too funny.

    Parent
    Not all speech is free (3.50 / 2) (#105)
    by vicndabx on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 01:09:20 PM EST
    NYT Link
    If U.C. Berkeley does not allow free speech and practices violence on innocent people with a different point of view - NO FEDERAL FUNDS?
    Reuters
    The Trump administration wants to revamp and rename a U.S. government program designed to counter all violent ideologies so that it focuses solely on Islamist extremism, five people briefed on the matter told Reuters.

    The program, "Countering Violent Extremism," or CVE, would be changed to "Countering Islamic Extremism" or "Countering Radical Islamic Extremism," the sources said, and would no longer target groups such as white supremacists who have also carried out bombings and shootings in the United States.

    and yet....

    But the breakdown of extremist ideologies behind those attacks may come as a surprise. Since Sept. 11, 2001, nearly twice as many people have been killed by white supremacists, antigovernment fanatics and other non-Muslim extremists than by radical Muslims: 48 have been killed by extremists who are not Muslim, including the recent mass killing in Charleston, S.C., compared with 26 by self-proclaimed jihadists, according to a count by New America, a Washington research center.

    Phuck that.  Some speech invades my rights to personal security, citizenship, and equality.

    Vandalism is wrong. (none / 0) (#106)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 01:27:13 PM EST
    But I find it interesting the number of conservatives rushing to defend a Neo Nazi.

    Parent
    Pisses me off anyone would defend dissemination (2.00 / 1) (#110)
    by vicndabx on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 02:06:27 PM EST
    of speech that in the past has led to the death of innocent people merely because they are different.

    A few broken windows is, IMO, a small price to pay to wake people up to the fact that we have at least two branches of gov't currently aligned to support it.

    Parent

    This house last night (none / 0) (#177)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 11:40:07 AM EST
    My husband and son going on and on, can't have violence. I agree, until the masses aren't heard though...what did Jefferson say?

    But I found a writing that calmed everyone down about...

    Poverty is violence
    Denying healthcare is violence
    Mass incarceration is violence
    Inciting constant fear is violence


    Parent

    All you say is true, MT, yet (none / 0) (#188)
    by Peter G on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 05:05:19 PM EST
    nonviolence is a far more powerful and effective tool for the oppressed than violence. Much harder to use, but more powerful.

    Parent
    Agreed (none / 0) (#189)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 05:40:33 PM EST


    Parent
    Small price to pay (none / 0) (#186)
    by BTAL on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 04:48:33 PM EST
    unless you are the small family business that just had their livelihood torched.

    Amazing how much rationalization can be applied when its not your bull being gored.

    Parent

    What does Yiannopoulos say or do that (none / 0) (#109)
    by McBain on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 02:03:27 PM EST
    people are so afraid of?  I haven't really followed  him.  What harm would come from letting him speak at places like Berkeley?

    Parent
    I wholeheartedly support... (5.00 / 3) (#112)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 02:13:58 PM EST
    letting any and all speak, and letting those in disagreement with said speaker speak as well.  In the speaking hall, and the overflow on the street.

    Safe spaces have a deafening echo.

    Parent

    Hear! hear! Cisco Houston (5.00 / 1) (#129)
    by jondee on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 04:40:48 PM EST
    open air is the best disinfectant.

    Parent
    The entire McBain clan is a blight on this country (5.00 / 1) (#113)
    by vicndabx on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 02:21:53 PM EST
    and should be eradicated.  We should all rise up together and be sure the McBains are relegated to the smallest corner of the country where their ill effects on the good citizens of the US can be minimized.

    Let's repeat that across the internet via twitter, facebook and other social media sharing coupled w/a not so stellar history of Americans having the McBains back and see how you "feel."  Let's bring that hatred for the McBains to a college campus near you to encourage even more to agree with it.

    This is not about "feelings".  This is about groups that have threatened you in the past and still do today gaining access to the levers of power in the US and spreading that message of hatred.

    Parent

    And (5.00 / 1) (#114)
    by FlJoe on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 02:33:39 PM EST
    if the McBains don't like it they should STFU because of free speech.

    Parent
    Take your meds dude (none / 0) (#116)
    by McBain on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 02:46:03 PM EST

     

    Parent
    Thanks but I'm good (none / 0) (#119)
    by vicndabx on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 02:56:02 PM EST
    I see by your response that the snark was lost on you eh?  

    and yet, but, but, but what could be wrong with what Milo said?

    Parent

    Nobody is (none / 0) (#111)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 02:10:03 PM EST
    afraid of him but do tell why do you think spreading Neo Nazi propaganda is something that should be done?

    Parent
    What does he say that rises to the level of (none / 0) (#117)
    by McBain on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 02:50:34 PM EST
    Neo Nazi?  

    Parent
    He was one of the writers (none / 0) (#120)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 02:57:42 PM EST
    of the alt-right manifestos that is the conglomeration of Neo-Nazis, the Klan, assorted white supremacists and misogynists. You can read their manifesto if you want to but I'm not going to link to it.

    Parent
    Somehow I doubt that's true (none / 0) (#121)
    by McBain on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 03:15:34 PM EST
    but maybe someone else can specifically site something he said that's worthy of violent protests or even non violent protests.

    Parent
    Doubt it all you like (5.00 / 1) (#122)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 03:34:43 PM EST
    but it is the truth. Google is your friend on all this.

    But here is the National Review of all people: Alt-rights racism and moral rot

    Parent

    Sounds more like he's politically incorrect (3.50 / 2) (#124)
    by McBain on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 04:12:54 PM EST
    and figured out a way to get attention and make money from it.  

    Parent
    Politically incorrectness (5.00 / 3) (#126)
    by jondee on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 04:26:29 PM EST
    is being invoked these days by the Right to provide cover for a lot of scoundrels who would, in saner times, be nothing but a public embarrassment -- but now they're needed, so they've now become daringly "politically incorrect".

    Quite a spin job.

    I wanna try this: the "anarchists" burning stuff at Berkeley were just transgressive performance artists willing to suffer for their art.

    The Right not understanding that just proves they have no aesthetic sense or sense of humor.

    Parent

    To those who constitute the alt-right, ... (5.00 / 1) (#131)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 05:56:38 PM EST
    McBain: "Sounds more like he's politically incorrect and figured out a way to get attention and make money from it."

    ... the term "politically incorrect" represents a banal and polite euphemism for the sort of incendiary expressions of bigotry and discrimination which most decent people would otherwise find both abhorrent and immoral.

    The use of "politically incorrect" is nothing more than a feeble attempt by some conservatives (but not all, by any measure) to inoculate themselves from any potential adverse consequences arising from their own openly expressed prejudices.

    As far as I can see, nobody has proposed that Milo Yiannopolous's First amendment rights be curtailed. Speaking for myself only, I would merely argue that the First Amendment doesn't further require that the University of California at Berkeley provide this rather strident and provocative Trumpette with a microphone for the purpose of inciting the crowd.

    And given the longstanding history of both UCB and the Berkeley community as a hotbed of on-campus and off-campus activism, I'd further ask whether granting him the privilege of doing so was a responsible thing for the UC administration to do in this particular instance. Because for anyone who knows Berkeley, last night's events were entirely predictable, if also somewhat lamentable. Vandalism in any guise is totally inexcusable, regardless of pretext.

    As it turns out, it looks as though Mr. Yiannopolous's demagogic reputation has long preceded him to Berkeley, and the crowd responded accordingly, loud and clear. And regarding his stated intent to provoke and incite said crowd, I'd say that he really didn't need that microphone after all.

    This is what resistance looks like. Get used to it.

    Parent

    Ms Yiannopolous was invited to speak (5.00 / 1) (#132)
    by jondee on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 06:08:21 PM EST
    by the college Republicans.

    As a representative of the dispassionate, reasonable voice of today's conservative movement; with it's universal appeal to the spirit that once made this country great.

    Parent

    That's what he and others are counting on, Donald (5.00 / 1) (#135)
    by McBain on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 06:30:47 PM EST
    Resistance, protests, vandalism and violence.  Democrats don't need to win over the crowd at Berkeley or anywhere in California.  They need the swing states.  How do you think this plays in Ohio?

    Parent
    Maybe (5.00 / 1) (#136)
    by FlJoe on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 07:23:13 PM EST
    that's the point
    That's what he and others are counting on
    , what kind of administration hopes for chaotic resistance to advance their agenda?  I agree, they will spin the hell out of it, fascists always do, but submitting peacefully to this travesty is not an option.

    No big fan of violence, but a bit of it is always going to happen when large scale angry protests happens, especially in hotbeds of "radicalism" such as Berkley.

    Yes the violence and vandalism is wrong, but it is no big deal in the great scheme of things and it's certainly no reason to abandon or mute the protests against tyranny.

    History will smile upon those who stood up to Trump, no matter what our fate, probably even the rowdy ones.  


    Parent

    Typical social justice response (none / 0) (#138)
    by McBain on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 07:31:45 PM EST
    the tide has turned

    Parent
    Typical (5.00 / 3) (#140)
    by FlJoe on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 07:54:02 PM EST
    Fascist response, you use the word justice like it's a bad thing.

    Parent
    Social Justice (5.00 / 1) (#141)
    by MKS on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 08:12:21 PM EST
    So much for the Pope and Catholic teaching on social justice.

    See, these folks, Christians? Not so much.

    But Ayn hated Jesus, so no surprise here, either.

    Parent

    Revealing phrasing you use there (none / 0) (#139)
    by vicndabx on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 07:47:19 PM EST
    social justice
    kowtowing won't get us any votes in Ohio either.

    Parent
    And they strike again, on the other coast (none / 0) (#156)
    by TrevorBolder on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 05:35:09 AM EST
    http://tinyurl.com/gqjdprp

    Eleven people were arrested after tumultuous protests broke out ahead of a Thursday night event at New York University featuring combative right-wing speaker Gavin McInnes, police said.

    Parent

    Yeah "they", as in (none / 0) (#172)
    by jondee on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 10:26:37 AM EST
    right wing knuckle-walkers who refer to black women as "monkeys", and wouldn't have a job at all, if they didn't know how to make good use of a set of knee pads in the offices of some conservative foundation or think tank..

    Maybe they learn their schtick at the "Office of Legal Compliance", eh Trevor?

    Parent

    No (none / 0) (#196)
    by TrevorBolder on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 08:32:16 PM EST
    The Office of Legal Compliance had nothing to do with this. That is in the Justice Department.
    This was left wing protesters and rioters determined to shut down speech
    Violently

    Parent
    No (none / 0) (#198)
    by Yman on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 08:38:31 PM EST
    This was anarchists - outside agitators that had nothing to do with the student protesters - and you have no idea what their objective was.

    Parent
    because... (5.00 / 1) (#200)
    by linea on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 09:01:41 PM EST
    they couldnt find prof. isaacson's lecture on "Exoplanets in the Kepler Era" and randomly stumbled on to this protest?


    Parent
    never heard of him (none / 0) (#201)
    by linea on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 09:12:18 PM EST
    his group seems a laughable sort:

    The Proud Boys are a fraternal organization founded on a system of beliefs and values of minimal government, maximum freedom, anti-political correctness, anti-racial guilt, pro-gun rights, anti-Drug War, closed borders, anti-masturbation, venerating entrepreneurs, venerating housewives, and reinstating a spirit of Western chauvinism during an age of globalism and multiculturalism.



    Parent
    "Sounds like?" (5.00 / 1) (#171)
    by Repack Rider on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 10:06:44 AM EST
    Sounds more like he's politically incorrect and figured out a way to get attention and make money from it.

    "Politically incorrect" is Newspeak for "racist and hater of women."  It has ALWAYS paid well.  I myself would cash in on this lucrative market in rubes by taking a job as a radio preacher, except for one thing.

    Only sociopaths need apply.  I have a conscience and I have to sleep at night.

    Parent

    Hell of (none / 0) (#127)
    by FlJoe on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 04:27:21 PM EST
    a way to make a living
    Twitter barred one of the most egregious and consistent offenders of its terms of service, Milo Yiannopoulos, in an attempt to show that it is cracking down on abuse.

    The ban against Mr. Yiannopoulos, a technology editor at the conservative news site Breitbart and known by his Twitter handle, @Nero, follows a campaign of prolonged abuse against Leslie Jones, a comedian and co-star of the recently released "Ghostbusters" movie.

    Hundreds of anonymous Twitter commenters hurled racist and sexist remarks at the star's Twitter account, rallied and directed by Mr. Yiannopoulos this week. The news media picked up on the abuse after Ms. Jones began retweeting screenshots of the litany of comments sent to her over the past few days.


    Parent
    Just watched Yiannopoulos intervied by (none / 0) (#143)
    by McBain on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 08:28:26 PM EST
    Tucker Carlson.  Yiannopoulos looks more like a stand up comedian than anything else.  Not sure I could tolerate 30 minutes of him but he's got a good act.

    Parent
    Springtime (5.00 / 1) (#144)
    by FlJoe on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 08:32:40 PM EST
    for Hitler was also amusing. The guy is a proven online bully, but I suppose that's a feature not a bug for the fascist fanboys.

    Parent
    That's great. (5.00 / 1) (#151)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 11:41:21 PM EST
    McBain: "Just watched Yiannopolous intervied by Tucker Carlson. Yiannopoulos looks more like a stand up comedian than anything else.  Not sure I could tolerate 30 minutes of him but he's got a good act."

    An unapologetic neo-conservative screaming queen is interviewed on a rightwing cable network by a smarmy white rectal cavity who, just like Trump, was born on third base and yet insists that he somehow got there by hitting a triple.

    Sounds like scintillating, must-see TV. (Cue eye roll.)

    Parent

    Throw all the insults you want (none / 0) (#173)
    by McBain on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 10:31:04 AM EST
    I still don't see what's so threatening about this guy.  Why does Yiannopolous get under your skin? Why is it necessary to shut down one of his speeches/performances?

    I keep saying this.... the left needs to pick and choose it's battles.  Freaking out about everything isn't going to work.  It's going to water down the legitimate protests.  

    Parent

    I'll be sure to relay your helpful advice ... (5.00 / 1) (#179)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 12:29:01 PM EST
    ... at the left's next executive board meeting. And just who are you, exactly, that you feel qualified to determine which protests are to be considered legitimate or otherwise?

    Far from our being fearful of some right-wing scream queen, it appears that the other night's events in Berkeley have gotten under your own skin, and you feel very threatened by events there. As I said, this is what resistance looks like and you best get used to it, because it's likely to grow in both size and intensity.

    Given that you're obviously not part of the left, you really ought to cease your concern trolling of us and instead mind your own business, perhaps by looking for another police shooting of an unarmed civilian that you can defend with your own alternative facts.

    In the meantime, the flamboyantly fabulous Mr. Yiannopolous can address the Young Republicans organization at Bowling Green State University in commemoration of the awful imaginary massacre which apparently took place there, and speak to the importance of the Alternative Lives Matter movement.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    in the videos i saw (5.00 / 1) (#194)
    by linea on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 07:12:07 PM EST
    the "anti-Yiannopolous" protesters were violent criminals. the smashed windows, destroyed property, and started fires (arson). it was a violent riot by any resonable standard. in the videos, the protesters pushed and assaulted people and sprayed a woman in the face with tear gas or a pepper spray. it was violent and horrible. they should have been arrested. i realize the police were trying to not incite the violent mob but they were criminal in their assaults and the police should have arrested them. in my opinion.

    Parent
    Change that "the" to "some" (none / 0) (#195)
    by jondee on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 07:29:58 PM EST
    and you'll be onto something.

    This has been an ongoing problem with (again) SOME demonstrations, particularly on the west coast.

    No matter how well organized the protests are, these violent provacateurs seem to appear out of the woodwork, playing right into the Right's hands.

    Btw, the "anti-Yiannopolous protestors" weren't the only folks being belligerent. How were you able to ascertain that just from viewing the video footage?

    Parent

    So at about (none / 0) (#1)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 07:29:09 AM EST
    10 days into a Trump presidency we've already had the Monday night massacre. He's given ISIS a PR blitz. When Trump praised Kim Jong-un it should have been a warning to a lot of people. He sure is acting like he's the twin brother of Kim Jong-un.

    Not that it matters to you (2.25 / 4) (#9)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 10:52:11 AM EST
    but the Asst AG publicly declared she would not work in behalf of the President's constitutional order.

    Instead she declined on moral grounds.

    That's fine. She should have just resigned at the same time and she would have been seen as following her conscience and not playing politics.

    Parent

    Wrong (5.00 / 5) (#12)
    by Steve13209 on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 11:17:56 AM EST
    It is the AG's job to uphold the Constitution, not rubber stamp the President. She felt the order was not legal, and that is HER JOB, so she made her decision. Resigning would be irresponsible. At least she held her ground and made the President show the country what he is all about: OBEY ME!

    Parent
    God, we had this conversation this morn (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 12:12:43 PM EST
    General officers resigning during the Iraq War was the appropriate thing to do in resistance to a White House that would not listen. Refusing to lead individuals to a pointless death, though the deaths continued anyhow for awhile. They jacked up acceptance of an orderly march to the meat grinder, and it was all they could do.

    To preserve rule of law to whatever degree we can, she had to use her super power of calm and stand in place and be fired.

    Parent

    Signed off on (1.50 / 2) (#43)
    by TrevorBolder on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 05:53:06 AM EST
    The Justice Department Office of Legal Compliance had signed off on the measure,

    Parent
    Could you provide a source or link (none / 0) (#48)
    by Peter G on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 09:16:43 AM EST
    for that? In my 40 years of federal legal experience I have never heard of the existence of any such office in the Justice Department. There is an Office of Legal Counsel; could that be what you mean? That would be the same office through which U.C. Berkeley Prof. John Yoo twisted himself into logical pretzels to sign off on the Bush/Cheney CIA's torture program.

    Parent
    Even I can answer that question, Peter G (5.00 / 2) (#55)
    by Mr Natural on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 12:53:09 PM EST
    That office is a subreddit in the new Ministry of Truth.

    Parent
    Remember when trotting out the MiniTruth meme (none / 0) (#104)
    by Mr Natural on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 12:52:28 PM EST
    was an obvious exaggeration?

    Today it is not.  The technological underpinnings are completely in place.  All that was lacking was a will.  

    All that was lacking...

    Parent

    Double Plus Bigly.... (5.00 / 1) (#134)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 06:30:15 PM EST
    I say.

    Ya know Nat I could swear this Trump Gin tastes like turpentine but The Donald and other great people say it's the best gin so I'm sure it's the most amazing gin phenomenal gin am I right Nat and it's just my taste buds are a little low energy right now.

    Parent

    Not that out matters to you (5.00 / 4) (#13)
    by Yman on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 11:18:16 AM EST
    ... but you have no idea whether his order was "constitutional" or not.   Moreover, her letter clearly states that her primary objection was based on her opinion of whether the law was defensible and consistent worth the law.

    Parent
    Actually, we do have an idea (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by Peter G on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 01:45:01 PM EST
    whether the Executive Order is constitutional. Five federal judges, in various courts all over the U.S., on Saturday night issued emergency orders enjoining its enforcement, at least in part. One requirement for any such order is a "probability of success on the merits." I think that gives us a pretty good basis to have at least "an idea" on the subject.

    Parent
    I noticed today that Neil Young (none / 0) (#22)
    by Mr Natural on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 03:11:08 PM EST
    no longer objects to rejoining a CSNY reunion tour.

    tin soldiers and trump are coming...

    Parent

    I'll take Dershowitz for $200 and solve (none / 0) (#28)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 05:48:24 PM EST
    the puzzle.

    Dershowitz: Fired Acting AG Sally Yates "Made A Political Decision, Rather Than A Legal One"

    Parent

    You didn't "solve" anything (5.00 / 2) (#36)
    by Yman on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 06:12:10 PM EST
    You merely offered someone's opinion you agree with.  I know you Trumpers have trouble dealing with facts, but opinions aren't facts, and in some cases ... they're worthless.

    Parent
    Given that not one, not two, but FOUR ... (5.00 / 2) (#37)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 06:48:47 PM EST
    ... federal judges have thus far ruled against the Trump administration's executive order on immigration, I'll trust Ms. Yates' judgment that defending the administration's position is legally problematic because the order is likely unconstitutional.

    But Dershowitz is absolutely right that the EO itself constitutes "very bad policy." I would further offer that dropping such a knowingly controversial and divisive order without warning on an unsuspecting traveling public, apparently without any prior input and concurrence from those DOJ attorneys who would be tasked with defending it in court, is a breach of both administrative etiquette and normal interagency protocol.

    This dubious penchant of the Bannon-led West Wing for engaging in mindless intrigue and provocations, by which nearly everyone outside his inner circle is seen as either a real or potential opponent, is why the Trump White House is quickly going to find itself evermore in the weeds with both an angry citizenry and perturbed federal government personnel, unless some current behaviors change quickly.

    Further, what little political capital Trump has, if any, has been wasted on picking dumb fights with the White House press corps, and self-creating unnecessary controversy over inaugural crowd sizes, Holocaust Remembrance Day and "alternative facts." Republicans on Capitol Hill are soon going to think twice before spending any of their own on the White House's behalf.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Thats it? (1.33 / 3) (#44)
    by TrevorBolder on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 05:55:32 AM EST
    Just 4?
    Hah, then its legal. with all the Democrat appointed judges in this country, and only 4 enacted a stay, I will go with all the legal scholars that say those stays will be reversed.

    Parent
    Oh, for Pete's sake! Do you have any idea how ... (5.00 / 3) (#53)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 12:17:09 PM EST
    ... the court system even works? Judges cannot unilaterally rule by decree. They first require a plaintiff to bring a motion before them. Given that the order is only five days old, four different federal judges striking it down over the weekend is a very good indication that it's legally and perhaps constitutionally flawed.

    You obviously have no clue as to what you're talking about, and are just trolling.

    Parent

    And? (none / 0) (#68)
    by TrevorBolder on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 08:17:21 PM EST
    There was no shortage of motions brought before them. I am quite sure that they could find a judge sympathetic to their cause, and much like Yates, feel sympathetic. But it means nothing as to legality. when it all comes out in the wash, I will wager that the travel ban stands.

    Judge shopping is done all the time, just keep at it until you find one that agrees with you.

    Parent

    Utterly false. Your claim is totally false. (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by Peter G on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 09:48:52 PM EST
    You cannot judge-shop in federal court. One judge is pre-assigned, months in advance, to handle any emergency matter that may arise during a given weekend. That's the judge you get, if you file something (as in the E.D.N.Y./JFK case) at 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday, and the judge that the court computer randomly assigns upon filing is unavailable. You have no idea what you are talking about here, Trevor; just making excuses. Nor was any decision (including that of Acting AG Yates) based on sympathy. That's not what she said, nor what any of these judges said. As I pointed out earlier, there may be appeals, but you cannot legitimately denigrate the decisions that the four district judges made on the emergency applications.

    Parent
    Four out of four, to whom a case (5.00 / 3) (#62)
    by Peter G on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 04:02:27 PM EST
    was presented. Not one disagreed. Those orders are, in fact, appealable, so I suppose we might hear further from one or more appellate courts, in a few weeks, if the "new" Department of "Justice" files one or more appeals.

    Parent
    The White House (i.e., Bannon) refused (5.00 / 4) (#19)
    by Peter G on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 02:11:19 PM EST
    to vet (so to speak) the E.O. through the normal legal channels, which in this case would have been the Legal Office at the State Department and the Office of Legal Counsel at the Dept. of Justice. The results of that arrogance are now apparent.

    Parent
    Not so (1.33 / 3) (#45)
    by TrevorBolder on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 05:57:42 AM EST
    The Justice Department Office of Legal Compliance had signed off on the measure

    Parent
    no such office (none / 0) (#60)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 03:14:01 PM EST
    Unless Drumpf invented it this week.

    Parent
    It originated in the office (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by jondee on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 03:36:44 PM EST
    of right wing meme compliance.

    Parent
    It's official (5.00 / 2) (#64)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 04:09:39 PM EST
    name is the Ministry of Truth. Trevor must be their person dedicated to spreading the ministry's propaganda here on TL.

    Parent
    I believe that's just down the hall ... (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 04:15:56 PM EST
    ... from the President's Office of Your Own Private Idaho.

    Parent
    It's a male hair thing (none / 0) (#2)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 08:45:36 AM EST
    You wouldn't understand.

    Parent
    Especially (none / 0) (#3)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 08:51:52 AM EST
    considering the fact that my husband is bald yeah, I'm sure I would not. LOL.

    Parent
    Zero to Nixon in Ten Days (none / 0) (#4)
    by Mr Natural on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 09:31:28 AM EST
    un freakin' believable

    the header was a nod to jefferson airplane and (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Mr Natural on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 09:37:37 AM EST
    one of the two greatest bass lines ever.  (the other is whichever you believe the greatest bass line ever.)

    Eff the present.  I intend to live the next four years in the past.  

    Good luck to us all.

    Parent

    If you don't know Jorma... (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 10:39:06 AM EST
    you don't know Jack!

    Cassidy still thumping the 4 string to this day...ya can't keep the good groove down.

    Past...or future works too.  ACLU is flush in funds and ready to do battle for human dignity. The Chump's pathetically desperate need for attention has people awake and in the street (or the airport).  He's the best thing to happen to activism since Bull Connor and George Wallace.

    It's always darkest before dawn.  

    Parent

    True (5.00 / 3) (#8)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 10:42:18 AM EST

    But perhaps it's because I am recently officially (financially) retired but I have really been trying to take a more macro view.
    I honestly see very encouraging things.  All the ME-lineals who were just to pure to vote for Hillary are now getting a crash course on Why Elections Matter.  This is good.  We all know demographics is death for the Republican Party.  As long as said demographics vote.  If we had ordered a boogie man from central casting I can't imagine one who would motivate them more than President Donald J. Trump.  The day after the election I wondered if turning the office into a reality show might actually get people to pay attention, maybe it is.  
    I am not optimistic because of the old tired clueless leadership of the Democratic Party who even more than Trump.org has shown a breathtaking incompetent and singular ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory but the new and growing base.
    Also, let's be clear, this is a sh!tshow.  People are already looking for exits.  It only takes a couple of republicans to stop the most dangerous stuff.  I can think of a half dozen.  Yeah yeah, I don't trust them....., no what I trust them to do is cover their asses.  Ass covering time is coming.
    Shorter version, be of good cheer.  We will survive this.  Even be made stronger by it.  
    Personally, for now, I believe in the system we have to correct this.  The pendulum has become a metronome with a quickening beat but it will still work.  I think....

    Also, sorry I ignored you...you know.  I went away for a while.
    But I'm back.

    Parent

    The management (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 11:17:45 AM EST
    Is not responsible for any replies to this comment

    Parent
    heh (none / 0) (#16)
    by vicndabx on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 11:42:13 AM EST
    sardonic as always

    Parent
    Well Howdy, Howdy and welcome back (none / 0) (#10)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 11:07:05 AM EST
    You and I were the only two around here who saw Trump winning, or perhaps you didn't but recognized the possibility.

    Anyway, I applaud your call to reasonableness. The system does work and if the citizens don't like Trump's policies and actions they will elect someone else.

    Just as they finally fired Obama via his surrogate, Hillary.

    In the meantime all the demonstrations, riots, wild statements in the press is just peachy for Trump. They didn't work in '68 and even with a totally supportive media they won't work now. Trump can, and will, go right by the media via FB and other Social Media to the people.

    In the meantime there are lots of Repubs who have empathy, but not sympathy, for you folks. They felt what you're feeling.....twice.

    Parent

    FALSE - once again (5.00 / 4) (#15)
    by Yman on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 11:29:47 AM EST
    They did not "fire Obama".  Unlike Trump, large majority (60%) approved of the job Obama was doing.

    BTW - "The citizens" rejected Trump and chose Hillary by a margin of @ 3 million votes.  The system/electoral college chose Trump ... along with your buddy Putin.

    Parent

    Hillary won CA (1.00 / 2) (#29)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 05:50:10 PM EST
    by a super margin. I'll give her that.

    But take that away and she lost.

    But you know that.

    Parent

    She won the COUNTRY (5.00 / 2) (#34)
    by Yman on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 06:09:04 PM EST
    ... by 3 MILLION votes.  California has 38 million people, by far the most populous state.  More people than most of the Bubba states combined.  Highly educated, with a GDP that makes a laughing stock of those states.  Oddly enough, Californians are also American citizens - the people you falsely claimed spoke in favor of Trump.  The same citizens who approve of Obama's job performance by a large majority and DISapprove of your human Cheetoh.

    You'll need to learn to deal with that.

    Parent

    both candidates (3.00 / 4) (#42)
    by linea on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 12:58:55 AM EST
    ran to win the electoral college.

    if america had a proper democracy where every vote was equal, the political parties would be completely different and the candidates would be completely different. in my opinion.

    Parent

    Completely irrelevant ... (5.00 / 2) (#59)
    by Yman on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 03:10:36 PM EST
    ... to my point.  Just like your candidate, you can't claim to speak for the people/citizens  unless you actually win more votes, regardless of the electoral college.

    BTW - In a "proper democracy", each vote would be given equal weight.   One person,  one vote.

    Parent

    i dont understand (4.00 / 1) (#67)
    by linea on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 07:56:15 PM EST
    why you look for conflict where none exists.

    In a "proper democracy", each vote would be given equal weight.   One person,  one vote.
    that's what i wrote.

    Parent
    Because it wasn't relevant to my post (none / 0) (#76)
    by Yman on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 09:16:01 PM EST
    Moreover, your claim about the parties/candidates being "completely different" has no evidence to support it.

    Parent
    you are argumentitive for no purpose (none / 0) (#83)
    by linea on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 11:12:46 PM EST
    re: Moreover, your claim about the parties/candidates being "completely different" has no evidence to support it.

    OBVIOUSLY if presidential candidates were elected by popular vote rather than the electoral college, the parties and candidates would be radically different.

    i would expect candidates would run on issues and platforms much like the city councilmembers of los angelas, portland, seattle, and new york. because capturing the major metropolitan areas wins the election. in a popular vote, moderate democrats would be right-wing and republicans woudnt exist. in my opinion.

    Parent

    That's nice you believe that (none / 0) (#89)
    by Yman on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 07:20:52 AM EST
    But adding the word "OBVIOUSLY" doesn't change the fact that it's just baseless speculation,  even if you use all caps.

    Parent
    No (none / 0) (#69)
    by TrevorBolder on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 08:19:48 PM EST
    You are the chief executive when you when the majority of electoral votes, then you speak and for the country, and preside as President.

    Been that way for a long long time, and it will not be changing any time soon.

    Parent

    The EC is an outdated (5.00 / 1) (#71)
    by MKS on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 09:01:00 PM EST
    carryover from slavery.

    Throughout the 20th Century, it did not matter, as the popular vote winner won the EC.

    Now, twice in the last 16 years we have the popular vote loser win the EC.  This last time was quite stark as Hillary just did not eke out a popular vote win; she won convincingly--along the lines of W's win in 2004.

    The EC needs to go.  The Republicans have benefitted, but the anomaly must end. Elections everywhere else and in every other situation are  decided based on who gets the most votes.  It is a basic principle of democracy....

    Parent

    So one state should determine who us Prez? (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 07:21:58 AM EST
    If you take California out of the popular vote equation, then Trump wins the rest of the country by 1.4 million votes. And if California voted like every other Democratic state -- where Clinton averaged 53.5% wins -- Clinton and Trump end up in a virtual popular vote tie.

    Link

    The country hangs together because one small corner of the republic can't call the tune for the rest.

    Parent

    Heck (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 07:43:27 AM EST
    one state Ohio decided that George W. Bush was going to be president in 2004 and you apparently thought that was fine. So many states don't even count when it comes to electing a president these days that's a bogus argument. It should be one person one vote and if more people live in California then more votes are going to come from there. What you are saying is showing exactly while Trump is failing already as president.

    And no, all those votes didn't come from California. Trump couldn't even carry his home state of NY which is a very populous state.

    Parent

    Yes, Bush won (none / 0) (#92)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 08:02:21 AM EST
    the electoral college vote.

    And your point is???

    Parent

    Trying to (5.00 / 1) (#93)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 08:19:16 AM EST
    reason with a conservative is like administering medicine to the dead.

    Parent
    Any other obvious statements? (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by Yman on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 09:12:51 PM EST
    Congrats on figuring out the electoral college, but that wasn't what I said.  If you look at the post I was responding to, I was responding to Jim's claim that the "citizens" "fired" Obama/Hillary.  

    The system does work and if the citizens don't like Trump's policies and actions they will elect someone else.

    Just as they finally fired Obama via his surrogate, Hillary.

    They didn't.  In fact, the "citizens" chose Hillary by @ 3 million votes, and a large majority (60%) approve of the job Obama did.

    But you knew that.

    Parent

    So according to Jim ... (none / 0) (#32)
    by Erehwon on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 05:57:40 PM EST
    does that mean Californians should count as less than 3/4 Americans? Just wondering why he wants to discount these Americans ...

    Parent
    What that means is that (none / 0) (#39)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 07:55:30 PM EST
    CA should give its Electoral College votes to the winner.

    Using its super majority to claim that Hillary won is meaningless and serves only to divide the country for no good end.

    As Howdy noted, you will get another chance. Be calm.

    But CA is welcome to have her as President until 2020. Perhaps if CA secedes, as some have suggested, she will its first President.

    Parent

    What it means (5.00 / 3) (#40)
    by Yman on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 08:03:29 PM EST
    ... is that the only way wingers can claim that Trump speaks for "citizens" or "Americans" - or has any kind of mandate at all - is to exclude the largest state in the country and its 30 million people.  It makes them feel better.

    Parent
    Boisterous demonstrations (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by Peter G on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 02:16:16 PM EST
    are not "riots." Nor is isolated vandalism by a few crackpots spinning off of a demonstration. Demonstrations are exercises of the right of the people to assemble peaceably and to petition their government for a redress of grievances. To coin a phrase.

    Parent
    Is what happening at UC Berkely (none / 0) (#70)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 08:55:49 PM EST
    a boisterous demonstration?

    Or is burning things and refusing to let someone speak a riot??

    Parent

    Is relying on Breitbart (none / 0) (#74)
    by jondee on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 09:09:15 PM EST
    for information an expression of intellectual curiosity, or a self-administered lobotomy?

    Parent
    LA Times (none / 0) (#87)
    by TrevorBolder on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 05:52:39 AM EST
    "This is not a proud night for this campus, the home of the free speech movement," said Dan Mogulof, a Berkeley spokesman. He noted that the vandalism interfered with the ability of the Berkeley College Republicans -- who hosted Yiannopoulos -- to exercise their 1st Amendment rights.

    http://tinyurl.com/gstbwle

    At Berkeley, police clashed with protesters, and much of the university was placed on lockdown. Campus police repeatedly ordered protesters to leave the area, threatening the crowd with arrest. Most refused to leave.


    Parent
    Feelings are obviously very raw (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by jondee on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 10:39:29 AM EST
    right now, but the best way to voice opposition to what Milo stands for would have been to have engaged a rebuttal speaker and then challenge Milo to a debate and shame him if he refused.

    I don't know who "black-clad" violent provacateurs are that keep showing up at West Coast demonstrations, but I'd like to find out.

    Parent

    anarchists (none / 0) (#137)
    by linea on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 07:31:31 PM EST
    re: I don't know who "black-clad" violent provacateurs are that keep showing up at West Coast demonstrations, but I'd like to find out.

    anarchists wear black, and often black hoodies, and sometimes ski-masks or guy fawkes masks. on occasion, they will fly the red-black anarchist flag.

    Parent

    Basically, demonstraters acting (none / 0) (#147)
    by jondee on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 09:09:42 PM EST
    EXACTLY the way the far-right would prefer that they acted.

    Parent
    The state has a long history (5.00 / 1) (#153)
    by jondee on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 01:15:28 AM EST
    of using agent provacateurs

    We all know about Cointelpro.

    CBS uncovered an Army report alleged that 1 out of 6 demonstrators at the '68 convention was either a federal agent or an informant, and Terry Norman, an undercover informant, has been alleged to have triggered the Kent State shootings by discharging a 38 revolver..

    Fast forward, the loathsome Freeper community was all over the net discussing little schemes to disrupt Occupy gatherings; the deservedly dead Breitbart himself attempted to trigger a police riot by yelling rape! at at least one demonstration..

    Who would put it past these dirty tricksters to be behind at least Some of the "black-bloc" vandalism and violence we keep hearing about?

    Parent

    The vAndalusia was not ... (none / 0) (#101)
    by Yman on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 12:42:08 PM EST
    ... the student protesters.   It was outside agitators/anarchists who hijacked the peaceful student protest for their own purposes.

    Parent
    "vandalism" (none / 0) (#102)
    by Yman on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 12:42:41 PM EST


    Parent
    For the record, I do not support (none / 0) (#82)
    by Peter G on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 09:57:25 PM EST
    crowds or mobs preventing people from speaking, based on disagreement with their point of view. As for whatever you are referring to at Cal, I am not aware of it, wasn't there, and cannot evaluate it.

    Parent
    Peter. I do not doubt you. (none / 0) (#88)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 07:06:15 AM EST
    And I wasn't there either.

    But the TV scenes showed a riot.

    It is clear that the situation is getting worse and worse. Enemies of free speech, on either side, should be publicly and firmly criticized and shamed and a call for non support made.

    Parent

    I would not choose the word "riot" (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by Peter G on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 09:03:58 AM EST
    with its connotation of aimless and uncontrolled mob violence driven by unfocused anger. I would describe what I saw a bit of, and read about, as a "violent protest." And no, I don't support it.

    Parent
    Fox News did the same thing in Seattle ... (none / 0) (#180)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 12:47:42 PM EST
    ... after the Seahawks won the 2014 Super Bowl, labeling overly boisterous celebrations there as a "riot" - that is, until people called them out for showing the same burning dumpster in the Belltown district from different camera angles, and then falsely implying that all these screen shots were somehow separate incidents supposedly taking place around the city.

    Parent
    '68 worked alright.. (none / 0) (#21)
    by jondee on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 02:41:04 PM EST
    it fed directly into the Nixonian paranoia which was his eventual undoing and disgrace.

    Just think what the holding up of a big mirror in front of someone of lesser intellect and self control like Trump will eventually do.

    The hairline fissures in that would-be tinpot dictator's psyche are already apparent.

    How will Trump defend himself? By having Aryan Brother Steve Bannon post a bunch of "so unfair!" articles at Not-So-Breitbart?

    Parent

    the alt.facts.right Minister of Truth (none / 0) (#35)
    by Mr Natural on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 06:12:02 PM EST
    Steve Bannon

    I'm gonna look on the bright side.  for the kind of comics I like, the Lewis Blacks and Doug Stanhopes of this world, the next four years will be a gold mine.

    Parent

    Actually 68 (none / 0) (#157)
    by TrevorBolder on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 05:39:42 AM EST
    Led to a overwhelming Nixon victory in 72, from a narrow victory in 68.
    The violent protests turned many away from the opposition party.
    These violent protests, either by anarchists or outraged Democrats, I doubt will convince many in the RustBelt to change their vote, it might just have the opposite result

    Parent
    Good to know (5.00 / 1) (#165)
    by Yman on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 08:09:42 AM EST
    Did it have the same effect when those in the right burned and lynched effigies of Obama?

    Parent
    Lol (none / 0) (#197)
    by TrevorBolder on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 08:36:38 PM EST
    Too funny

    1968 were violent protesters, and turned the country off,
    Made Richard Milhous Nixon (a man as unlikable as The Donald) a landslide winner in 1972.

    If the left wants to replay 1968, well, history usually repeats itself.
    A vulgar unlikable President, will reap the rewards of unfettered violent protest once again

    Parent

    And what also happened in '72? (none / 0) (#170)
    by jondee on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 10:03:19 AM EST
    Nixon's siege-mentality induced paranoia finally got the best of him and was the  undoing of him and the rest of his rogue's gallery of conservative creeps.

    Parent
    Yep (none / 0) (#6)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 10:04:57 AM EST
    and there's no such thing as an honorable Republican these days. We're screwed.

    Parent
    Sen. Feinstein votes no on Sessions and says why. (none / 0) (#25)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 04:12:53 PM EST
    "The president's nominee [Sen. Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III], a colleague of ours for some 20 years, is well known for his positions and point of view. He has been a staunch campaign partisan for the president.

    "He has reinforced and supported the Trump mission, style, rhetoric and views. He was the first senator to endorse. He has attended at least 45 Trump campaign events. He wore the hat. He was a leading voice. And, during the campaign, he spoke at large rallies, smiling, while crowds chanted, `Lock her up.'

    "Then, in October of last year, at one of the presidential debates, and again at a rally in Virginia, candidate Trump repeatedly referenced him as `my attorney general.'

    "It is very difficult to reconcile for me the independence and objectivity necessary for the position of attorney general with the partisanship this nominee has demonstrated."
    - Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee (January 31, 2017)

    Sen. Feinstein meticulously deconstructed the nomination of Sen. Sessions as U.S. Attorney General, and offered a detailed accounting and effective argument that's both political and practical as to why he's inherently unfit for the job.

    The full text of Sen. Feinstein's statement is HERE. Bravo, Madame.

    Conservative Republican, (none / 0) (#26)
    by KeysDan on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 04:14:10 PM EST
    David Brooks (NYTimes, Jan 31)calls Republicans on their Faustian Bargain.  The Republicans are willing to tolerate a little Trumpian circus behavior to get what they want done. But, Brooks assesses the Administration as not being Republican, but rather, as "an ethnic nationalistic administration."  Trump's ideology is not only " noxious", but "incompetent--less a government than a small clique of bloggers and tweeters."

    "..an aroma of bigotry infuses the whole operation and anybody who aligns too closely will end up sharing the stench."  .."It will not be surprising"..continues Brooks, .." if his term ends not in four or eight years, but sooner with impeachment or the 25th Amendment."

    David Brooks is a Democrat (none / 0) (#46)
    by TrevorBolder on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 06:02:45 AM EST
    And the NY Times portrays him as their conservative writer, lol.

    a good measure of this Obama fellow, and I must say I like the cut of the man's jib.



    Parent
    Folund your mistake (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by Repack Rider on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 10:48:09 AM EST
    David Brooks is a Democrat And the NY Times portrays him as their conservative writer, lol.

    You have identified why the NYT was able to shill for the invasion of Iraq.  It can make claims that are obviously false, and because it is the "paper of record," people like you, who disagree with it most of the time as a "liberal rag," cite it when it is convenient to reinforce a falsehood.

    If David Brooks is a Democrat, there is no need for a Republican Party, since his version of being a "Democrat" is indistinguishable from Orrin Hatch's political philosophy.  This should have been your clue that Democrat <=> conservative: even Dianne Feinstein, who would have been a Republican a few years ago, disagrees with Brooks, and that should be proof right there.

    If you can read what Brooks has written and consider him a Democrat, then there is no reason to treat any statement of yours as serious.

    Parent

    I guess one is expected to become (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by jondee on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 11:22:31 AM EST
    a mindless, ideological foot soldier; a stooge for the TEAM at all times, if one expects to be considered a real Republican these days.

    Like joining a cult.

    Abandon all free thought and critical thinking, ye who enter here..

    Parent

    You don't (none / 0) (#47)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 06:17:50 AM EST
    need David Brooks. You can go with Jennifer Rubin and George Will. They make the same points. You Faustian Vichy Republicans have sold out the entire country.

    Parent
    lol. And the National Review? (none / 0) (#49)
    by jondee on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 10:27:54 AM EST
    Are they Democrats too? lol.

    Someone like Brooks warming to Obama just reveals the hard-right meme about Obama's "radical agenda" for the sleazy Nixonian smear it always was.

    Parent

    Tonight, at 8 pm, (none / 0) (#27)
    by KeysDan on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 04:33:52 PM EST
    Trump will announce his nominee for Supreme Court Associate Justice.   Reports are that the contenders are Neil Gorsuch and Thomas Hardiman--both appellate court judges. Hardiman has Trump's sister and Santorum in his corner; Gorsuch has dead Scalia.  Curiously, Trump has invited both Gorsuch and Hardiman to Washington today. Maybe, he has not yet made up his mind. After all, he does have a couple of hours before showtime.

    Or, maybe, in keeping with the Trump/Bannon deliberate design of government by chaos, Trump is thinking not of appointing a nominee, but nominees-- requesting Congress to expand the Court to ten members.  Unlikely, of course, but not out of the realm of possibilities.

    Huffington Post (none / 0) (#31)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 05:54:57 PM EST
    is likening it to celebrity apprentic.

    Parent
    can somebody (none / 0) (#38)
    by linea on Tue Jan 31, 2017 at 07:25:48 PM EST
    interpret this for me?

    are these anti-Assad rebels the same "moderate rebels" the u.s./cia are arming and financing or are they different factions?

    Syria rebels merge with ex-Qaeda affiliate
    January 28, 2017

    Beirut (AFP) - Several Syrian rebel factions merged with the Fateh al-Sham Front on Saturday after days of clashes between armed opposition groups and the former Al-Qaeda affiliate, they said.

    The jihadist group and four rebel factions -- including the influential Nureddin al-Zinki faction -- labelled the new alliance Tahrir al-Sham. Islamist factions Liwa al-Haq, the Ansar al-Din Front and Jaish al-Sunna also signed the declaration.

    The new alliance, whose name means "Liberation of Syria", emerged days after other rebel factions joined the powerful Ahrar al-Sham group.
    More on (none / 0) (#51)
    by FlJoe on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 10:52:29 AM EST
    the Tulsi Gabbard Saga; Gabbard To Reimburse For Syrian Trip After Expenses Tied To Pro-Assad Group    
    Her announcement follows a story in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser today, noting that her travel sponsor, Bassam Khawam, and his brother Elie had been members of a group called the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, which according to news reports, has backed Assad and has links to terrorist activities.
    That woman is an embarassment to our district. (none / 0) (#54)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 12:19:19 PM EST


    Parent
    Can she be Primaried? (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by MKS on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 01:27:03 PM EST
    I don't think the voters of Hawaii got what they thought they were voting for.

    Parent
    I wrote extensively about Tulsi a week ago. (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 04:08:21 PM EST
    You can read the entire sub-thread HERE. There is a lot of stuff about her that most mainland folks don't know about -- particularly her troublesome association with her local Krishna spiritual leader in Honolulu, the odiously homophobic / Islamophobic Chris Butler, a white American who converted to fundamentalist Krishna Hinduism several decades ago and now goes by the name of Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa. I recommend clicking on the links I've provided if your interested in learning more.

    Yes, she will be primaried, even if I have to do it myself.

    Parent

    If you run, I will (none / 0) (#66)
    by MKS on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 07:22:49 PM EST
    contribute to your campaign.

    Parent
    Oh My freakin God! (none / 0) (#85)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 02:07:39 AM EST


    Parent
    Trump business associate Sergei Millian ... (none / 0) (#56)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 01:21:13 PM EST
    ... is now considered the likely source for key claims made in former MI6 analyst Christopher Steele's dossier on the president's ties to Russia, according to London's Daily Mail.

    If that is true (none / 0) (#58)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 02:09:56 PM EST
    then he had better watch out because Putin is going to send someone to put a bag over his head and make him disappear.

    Parent
    Trump threatens (none / 0) (#72)
    by MKS on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 09:04:04 PM EST
    military action against Mexico.

    Well, that didn't take long.

    Yep. One week later, we're back to baiting Mexico. (none / 0) (#77)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 09:20:50 PM EST
    Associated Press (Time) | February 1, 2017
    President Trump Threatens to Send U.S. Troops to Mexico to Take Care of 'Bad Hombres' - "President Donald Trump threatened in a phone call with his Mexican counterpart to send U.S. troops to stop 'bad hombres down there' unless the Mexican military does more to control them itself, according to an excerpt of a transcript of the conversation obtained by The Associated Press. The excerpt of the call did not make clear who exactly Trump considered 'bad hombres,' -- drug cartels, immigrants, or both -- or the tone and context of the remark, made in a Friday morning phone call between the leaders. It also did not contain Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto's response."

    This guy's unbalanced and delusional. And it's pissing ME off, because my in-laws are originally from Mexico. As we saw last week, nothing good can come from this.

    Does something have to turn into a major crisis before somebody finally starts acting like an adult?

    Parent

    And he is mad (none / 0) (#79)
    by MKS on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 09:33:13 PM EST
    at Iran because of its failed missile test.  He ain't gonna take that sitting down.

    Loose canons have a better reputation.

    The loss of our Special Operator in the most recent raid was in a Trump ordered raid--it was not an Obama carryover.  And it was apparently a cluster-fu*k.

    Only a matter of time before he really commits a major military blunder.  Almost makes me nostalgic for W.

    Parent

    Did you see the defense department leaks (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 02:19:04 AM EST
    On the Yemen raid? Armando has a retweet on Twitter. Looks like it was run out of that shadow NSC known as Flynn and Bannon. They went in without the full aid of the Intel orgs. Hardened in wasnt unexpected, number of well armed Al Quaida unplanned for. They lost an Osprey? WTF...on an op like that what the phuck was an Osprey doing there and not little birds? Are they just trying to America Great Again pretentious? Well phucking lose...WRONG. IThey had to destroy the Osprey to preserve the tech. And it doesn't look like the civilian deaths are inflated

    Parent
    Yep. One week later, we're back to baiting Mexico. (none / 0) (#78)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 09:23:11 PM EST
    Associated Press (Time) | February 1, 2017
    President Trump Threatens to Send U.S. Troops to Mexico to Take Care of 'Bad Hombres' - "President Donald Trump threatened in a phone call with his Mexican counterpart to send U.S. troops to stop 'bad hombres down there' unless the Mexican military does more to control them itself, according to an excerpt of a transcript of the conversation obtained by The Associated Press. The excerpt of the call did not make clear who exactly Trump considered 'bad hombres,' -- drug cartels, immigrants, or both -- or the tone and context of the remark, made in a Friday morning phone call between the leaders. It also did not contain Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto's response."

    This guy's unbalanced and delusional. And it's pissing ME off, because my in-laws are originally from Mexico and he's got them scared. As we saw last week, nothing good can come from this.

    Does something have to turn into a major crisis before somebody finally starts acting like an adult?

    :-(

    Parent

    Trump is showing every sign of having learned (none / 0) (#183)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 02:08:19 PM EST
    all he knows about history and foreign policy - from hollywood.

    Parent
    That reminds me of another Republican President (none / 0) (#185)
    by Peter G on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 04:28:32 PM EST
    we had, about 30 years ago.

    Parent
    But how else would we have ever learned that ... (5.00 / 1) (#202)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 10:01:30 PM EST
    ... "Trees cause more pollution than automobiles do," or that "Facts are stupid things"? Ronald Reagan was the man on the white horse who first told us that it was indeed okay to be sincerely ignorant and conscientiously stupid, so long as it was in service of a righteous and almighty cause -- like, say, getting one's self elected to public office.

    Even today, Reagan serves as a prime-time role model for corporate servility. In 1947, with his big-screen career on the wane, he was elected president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), where he became well known for his efforts to rid Hollywood of Communist influence. Much less known today are his simultaneous efforts at SAG to facilitate the business interests of his own agent and friend Lew Wasserman, the ruthless head of MCA.

    In the 1950s, Wasserman effectively king of Hollywood, with MCA the world's top talent agency representing most Hollywood stars, and further running a television production arm that by 1958 created and owned 60% of the content then seen on prime-time TV. Not coincidentally, Reagan decided to forsake the movie studios and focus on TV work, and his career rebounded. He was hired as host of General Electric Theatre, also not coincidentally an MCA production.

    As SAG president, Reagan repaid his benefactor by striking deals that not only exempted MCA from conflict-of-interest clauses, but also cheated his fellow actors out of their TV residuals from MCA productions. At Wasserman's request and Reagan's urging, SAG's board of directors voted to waive a union rule so MCA could act as both employer and agent to actors. That very controversial move prompted an outpouring of public complaints from other talent agents, who were otherwise bound and constrained by union rules. More importantly, that uproar eventually attracted the attention of federal regulators.

    As a result, MCA was investigated by two federal agencies for antitrust violations, and subsequently indicted for such violations by a federal grand jury. And as a consequence of his own role in the late 1940s and early '50s as Wasserman's union stooge at SAG, Reagan himself came under federal scrutiny. Wasserman eventually settled with the federal government in 1958, while Reagan stepped away from his union activities for the last time in 1959.

    With the federal investigation behind him, Wasserman purchased both Universal Studios and Decca Records in 1962, and came to dominate the entertainment industry. After installing his friend Jack Valenti as head of the Motion Picture Association of America, Wasserman essentially dictated how Hollywood operated and was allowed to do business for the next several decades.

    And of course, back in 1966, as Lew Wasserman was approaching his pinnacle of power as an entertainment industry titan, his erstwhile client Ronald Reagan decided to throw his hat into the ring and run for governor of California against the popular incumbent, Edmund "Pat" Brown.

    In the months before the election, Wasserman quietly arranged for MCA's purchase of his friend's old movies from Warner Bros. Studios, which were then distributed to local TV stations throughout California and run on the air repeatedly during the crucial weeks leading up to Reagan's surprise victory. Brown complained, but to no avail; those TV stations were in Wasserman's hip pocket.

    Ah, Peter, those were the days. Just think of all the things that you and I could do, were we not so damned ethical.

    ;-D

    Parent

    oh my god!! (none / 0) (#84)
    by linea on Wed Feb 01, 2017 at 11:57:57 PM EST
    i would die to be ivanka!

    President Donald Trump follows his daughter Ivanka to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. (AP Photo)

    With Ivanka's daddy (none / 0) (#95)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 09:27:51 AM EST
    occupying the White House, you are more likely to end up just dying.

    Parent
    I'm really hoping ... (none / 0) (#103)
    by Yman on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 12:49:35 PM EST
    ... this was snark/sarcasm, but somehow I doubt it.

    Parent
    We're doomed. (5.00 / 1) (#123)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 03:58:39 PM EST
    Probably be at war with the Aussies by 4 of July. (ok, that one's a snark).

    Parent
    Not (none / 0) (#96)
    by FlJoe on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 09:29:06 AM EST
    a religious man, but dear God
    President Donald Trump veered off script at the start of the National Prayer Breakfast Thursday when he asked a room full of lawmakers, foreign dignitaries and religious leaders to pray for Arnold Schwarzenegger so that ratings of his show -- NBC's "The Apprentice" -- would go up
    ....
    "We know how that turned out," Trump said, knocking Schwarzenegger. "The ratings went right down the tubes. It has been a disaster."
    Trump then turned to the audience and said: "I want to just pray for Arnold ... for those ratings."
    Looks like (none / 0) (#98)
    by KeysDan on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 11:15:22 AM EST
    that Christian Focus on the Family guy, James Dobson, was right about Trump, when he said Trump was a "baby Christian."

     Many Trumpkins will soon be on their knees praying to St. Nielson.

    Parent

    Yes, (none / 0) (#99)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 11:17:13 AM EST
    very embarrassing but the evangelicals will have their excuses made up in short order for this behavior.

    Parent
    Drain that swamp! (none / 0) (#115)
    by vicndabx on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 02:38:11 PM EST
    Bloomberg

    The House of Representatives is set to vote this week on killing a Securities and Exchange Commission edict that requires publication of overseas payments by oil, natural gas and mining companies. The industry says the rule, part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank act, gives global rivals a competitive edge.

    The idea behind the measure is simple: If foreign oil companies disclose payments of $1 million to the government of Country X, then the lawmakers and citizens of Country X will know that $1 million should show up on the country's budget. If less shows up, that means it has been diverted for private use.

    Just an odd coincidence some dude from Exxon was just made Secretary of State.

    Putin sure (none / 0) (#118)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 02:52:37 PM EST
    is getting his money's worth. Already Trump is easing off sanctions with Russia.

    Parent
    Low Energy. (none / 0) (#130)
    by KeysDan on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 05:39:35 PM EST
    It is reported that the Affair Down Under, was due to the telephonic discussion with the Australian PM, being at the end of a long day, and Trump was tired and fatigue was beginning to set in.

    Certainly understandable, what with all that ideologic terrorism being perpetrated in the first days in office.

    so... (5.00 / 1) (#142)
    by linea on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 08:22:07 PM EST
    australia dumps muslim refugees on a remote prison island that critics describe as a "concentration camps" and everybody...

    ...is mad at Trump instead of Prime Minister Turnbull? that makes sense.

    Australia defended its tough immigration policy on Tuesday in the face of criticism from human rights group Amnesty International that alleged its treatment of asylum seekers on the Pacific island of Nauru amounted to "torture" and a "systematic regime of neglect and cruelty."



    Parent
    Well, how many (5.00 / 1) (#145)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 08:57:56 PM EST
    know about that prison? You're the first person I have seen even mention it. However Trump made a complete fool out of himself and since he's president our country too with his phone call. So since what most of us read is America centric press why would we know about what is going on in Australia?

    Parent
    NPR and BBC radio news (5.00 / 1) (#184)
    by Peter G on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 04:26:48 PM EST
    have reported on the deplorable Australian island-based refugee detention camp several times. That's how I knew of it. Those are my principal sources of news, btw, along with the local Philadelphia newspapers, not any form of TV, and no websites other than WaPo. Plus TL.

    Parent
    Yes, as you (none / 0) (#187)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 04:49:26 PM EST
    can guess I do not listen to either of those on the radio though I do occasionally watch the BBC news.

    Parent
    I'm glad you brought that up, Linea (5.00 / 1) (#181)
    by Peter G on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 01:24:20 PM EST
    You are 100% right about Australia's awful policy and track record. But it is not necessary to choose which one to criticize here. Turnbull and Tr*mp are both seriously wrong, albeit for different reasons.  And good for the Obama administration for making a deal (which I hadn't heard about previously) to rescue half the detainees from Australia's unlawful and inhumane refugee camps.

    Parent
    Is Nikki off the reservation? (none / 0) (#146)
    by TrevorBolder on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 09:02:04 PM EST
    Oh well, Vlad 's play didn't work

    T

    he new US ambassador to the United Nations used her inaugural statement to the international body to condemn Russian aggression in Ukraine.

    "I consider it unfortunate that the occasion of my first appearance is one in which I must condemn the aggressive actions of Russia," Haley said.

    "It is unfortunate because it is a replay of too many instances over many years in which United States representatives have had to do that."

    She singled out Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
    She's (none / 0) (#148)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 09:49:49 PM EST
    getting rolled under the bus. Vlad gets to do what he wants in the Ukraine and Nikki can take the fall.

    Parent
    I saw a snippet (none / 0) (#149)
    by MKS on Thu Feb 02, 2017 at 09:54:37 PM EST
    of Haley at the UN. Trump is probably not paying attention...

    Surreal.....

    We should investigate the botched Yemen raid.  Big screw up there by Bannon.

    Parent

    Tillerson...An impressive introduction (none / 0) (#154)
    by TrevorBolder on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 05:14:13 AM EST
    http://tinyurl.com/htkz7o4   You tube

    http://tinyurl.com/js47mkj   CNN

    More than confident with Tillerson, and others in the Cabinet.

    Now if only they could take The Donalds phone away, and stifle him

    Of course (5.00 / 1) (#159)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 06:44:33 AM EST
    Putin stooges are always impressive to you.

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#199)
    by TrevorBolder on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 08:38:54 PM EST
    Someone has to get the message to Nikki Haley!!!

    Parent
    Ivanka Trump's shoes/clothing ... (none / 0) (#166)
    by Yman on Fri Feb 03, 2017 at 08:34:49 AM EST
    ... line dropped by Nordstrom.

    Such a shame.

    Tuesday Open Thread | 201 comments (201 topical)