Trump Brings the Apprentice to Congress

By Jeralyn, Section Trump Administration
Posted on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 07:06:00 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

Donald Trump held a meeting of some members of from Congress on immigration and DACA and allowed it to be televised. He played the role of deal maker. Of course, no deals were made.

Several media reports I've read on the meeting make it appear he actually conceded something. He didn't. He took every position under the sun, oblivious to inherent contradictions. And of course, promises from Donald Trump aren't worth the time spent typing them.

By the time the president finally kicked reporters out of the meeting, he had said yes to everyone while clarifying virtually nothing. And what was undeniably a victory for government transparency had turned into another frustrating experience for Republicans, who repeatedly implored Trump to tell them exactly what he would accept in a DACA bill.

As I was reading, the phrase that came to mind repeatedly was "Eloquent profanity, it rolls right off my tongue. Roll 'um easy" (Linda Ronstadt, video here.) His promises are nothing but dressed-up dirty lies,

There was something for everyone. Except those with their eyes open.

More...

He wants his wall built in exchange for extending DACA. He's trying to hold DACA hostage to his wall. It's a Faustian bargain. Democrats must oppose wasting billions on his stupid wall, that he insists on only to save pride. How we know this? Today he conceded that there can be no wall across the entire border, something that has been pointed out time and time again. He said at some point today he'd settle for beefed up "electronic fencing" and the like (and later went back to calling it a wall. He intends to take credit for electronic improvements and enhancements to existing border security by conflating them with his "wall" which is never going to be built. So why fund it?

He was clueless today about what people were talking about when they mentioned a "clean bill". He said that was fine with him, until his fellow Republicans objected and said that the bill also had to include the wall and measures preventing chain (im)migration. Finally, the light bulb went on in his head and he realized a clean bill meant a bill on DACA only, and he reversed course again to insist any action on DACA had to include the wall and chain immigration.

He also called for a "bill of love." Memo to Donald: Silver Threads and Golden Needles.

He said he'd "take the heat" from Republicans for supporting a bill that didn't include some of their important demands. Bring it.

I just don't trust a word the man says. He speaks out of both sides of his mouth.

< Monday Open Thread | Friday News and Open Thread >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Trump Brings the Apprentice to Congress | 43 comments (43 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

Now I saw Kellyanne say (5.00 / 1) (#24)
by ruffian on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 11:39:15 AM EST

"The Wall" might really be partly electronic and partly repairs of existing fencing....

Sounds pretty much like what Obama was doing and HRC proposed.

But the Trump base won't care as long as his rhetoric is sufficiently racist.

HOLY WOW!!!! (5.00 / 1) (#36)
by Militarytracy on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 07:24:14 PM EST

Ana Navarro!

He speaks out of both sides of his (none / 0) (#1)
by Anne on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 06:48:15 AM EST

mouth because he really has no depth of knowledge about much of anything. He picks up little tidbits of talking points and acronyms, tosses them together, and out comes incoherent word salad.

Watching his exchange with Feinstein and Hirono, you could just feel the GOP members of the group losing their minds at how Trump was responding, as Trump was saying things that were completely undermining what the "real" GOP agenda/plan is.

I thought his exchange with Hirono was bizarre. She asks about tying DACA to the $18 billion for the wall, and he goes off on a riff about how he could get the cost down, come in on time and under budget. Not the point of her question.

This was a show. And some in the media bought it, hook,line and sinker, marveling at "this" Donald Trump, "this" president. I mean, I get that people really don't want to think their president could be cognitively or psychologically impaired, but this little dog-and-pony show does not make all that go away.

And besides, even if viewed in the best possible light, what people saw yesterday was still a man out of his depth, in over his head, with little knowledge or understanding of the issues beyond bumper-sticker talking points.

I'm guessing he'll need more Executive Time today to make up for actually working yesterday.

I haven't seen anyone buy it (none / 0) (#2)
by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 07:14:32 AM EST

Hook line or sinker but I'm usually on MSNBC.

It's said this was a show they put on to assure people he was not a drooling idiot. Which was the forming opinion. To show he could a actually speak in complete sentences and engage in more or less normal conversation.

The law of unintended consequences asserted itself.

That said, I'm sure Trump boosters got exactly what they were supposed to get.

See! He's not crazy!

They were just playing clips of him verbally abusing Bush for speaking of immigration as an "act of love".


Some examples: (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by Anne on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 07:59:58 AM EST

Dana Bash on CNN (yeah, I know)

CNN's Dana Bash delivered praise for the nearly hour-long recorded meeting President Trump held with Congressional leaders on immigration reform Tuesday afternoon. However, the CNN correspondent was nervous what the reaction would be when she delivered commentary on the transparent meeting.
"I'm sure I will get hit for this and I don't really care," Bash made sure to qualify her remarks. "The bottom line is that this is, a year ago, this is the presidency that many people thought Donald Trump was capable of."

Sentiments echoed here (CNN again, so yeah):

Tuesday's unexpected encounter that showcased Trump's flair for drama and his capacity to create a unexpected, reality show-style look behind the scenes of Washington bargaining. And it was perhaps Trump's most effective effort yet to harness the theatrics and symbolism of the presidency to position himself as the dominant player at a key political moment -- a skill he was slow to master in a tumultuous first year in office when his erratic behavior alienated many voters.
[...]
Still, Trump, seated between top Democrats Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, projected a picture of confidence and flexibility, posing as the epitome of bipartisanship and civility while living up to his self-image as someone who is always on the lookout for a deal.
He was clearly able to follow the debate, and mount a defense of his own controversial positions -- on a border wall, for example -- without causing obvious offense, and appeared magnanimously open to other viewpoints.

The republic is safe!


i continue (none / 0) (#5)
by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 08:02:41 AM EST

to be baffled why anyone watches CNN.


I watch (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by FlJoe on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 10:24:02 AM EST

CNN almost exclusively so I an gauge the coverage of the the so called "centrist" network. Watching the ebb and flow of their news cycle and the scope and slant of the coverage gives me an inkling of how the soft propaganda is launched in the MSM.

I have tried watching MSNBC and I do enjoy it, but often I feel like I am just part of the choir being preached to and I lose my focus on the overall media picture.

For the most part CNN has been decent in calling out tRumps flaws, but the do have an unfortunate tendency to occasionally snap back to both-siderism and announcing the long awaited "pivot" at the drop of a hat.

The also give too much airtime to scum like Miller, Lewandowski, The Mooch and o0ther ridiculous lying enablers.

They do bring on plenty of interesting anti-tRumpers. I particular like Richard Painter who says things like "I don't need no stinkin book to tell me tRump is unfit for office"(I paraphrase here). It's a strange world when Bush's ethics lawyer has become my new hero.


I mostly watch CNN too (none / 0) (#12)
by Militarytracy on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 06:12:09 PM EST

I also like Painter, and John Dean when he's on. I am now a fan of both.


Both on MSNBC (none / 0) (#16)
by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 07:02:11 PM EST

All the time. Painter is pretty much daily. He's easier to watch since he is able to blink both eyes.


: Both weighed in early (none / 0) (#18)
by Militarytracy on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 07:45:21 PM EST

With their concerns about this administration. I give them both big kudos for that. I feel like I've listened to them for years now. It's only really been months though, not years. I recall Dean here and there over the years before Trump. Enough that I knew his face. Painter though? No, not really.

One of several moments (none / 0) (#3)
by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 07:40:55 AM EST

Of this that has maybe been undercovered was Trumps suggestion of bringing back earmarks.

: To be clear (none / 0) (#7)
by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 10:05:23 AM EST

I don't think, with controls, this is a horrible idea
I.e.
If it takes a few millino for a safe tunnel for turtles under a FL highway to get actual appropriations bill, oh well.

: But you know Paul Ryan (none / 0) (#13)
by Militarytracy on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 06:15:51 PM EST

Is grinding his teeth to dust that Trump went there.
I am certain Ryan's id had a freakin seizure.

The transcript of this (none / 0) (#6)
by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 09:36:38 AM EST

Has been released with the conversation between DiFi and Trump about DACA edited out.

I couldn't find a link (I didn't look that hard) I just heard it on MSNBC

Apparently, Stephen Miller scrubbed (none / 0) (#11)
by caseyOR on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 01:19:00 PM EST

The transcript of yesterday's meeting eliminating the exchange between Trump and Feinstein.

So not surprised this was done by Miller.


How the hell does that work? (none / 0) (#14)
by Militarytracy on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 06:18:19 PM EST

We have video.

How does an official transcript of a public meeting get such a scrub? Really unethical! Imagine if an Obama flunky did such a thing.


Heard an interesting question (5.00 / 1) (#15)
by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 07:00:48 PM EST

If they are willing to do such a ham handed attempt at revisionist history with the cameras running what are they revising when they are not running.

I think it's been "restored"


: When have so many shameless (none / 0) (#17)
by Militarytracy on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 07:39:22 PM EST

Peeps ever coalesced?

OMG (none / 0) (#9)
by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 11:14:08 AM EST

Trump is this minute on T.V. discussing this and....
Seriously, you just have to hear it.

: Not having access to TV at the moment, (none / 0) (#10)
by Anne on Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 12:11:26 PM EST

I can only imagine that the notion that yesterday's event "proved" he was an engaged, informed, focused and coherent president is...as ridiculous as most of us thought.

If the "deep state" (none / 0) (#19)
by Chuck0 on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 07:58:41 AM EST

really existed, the dotard would be dead already.

If (none / 0) (#20)
by FlJoe on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 08:17:10 AM EST

The deep state existed he would have never been elected.


: Fair point. (none / 0) (#21)
by Chuck0 on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 08:24:50 AM EST

Site violator (none / 0) (#23)
by Yman on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 11:03:32 AM EST

Now I'll know where to go and what to do ... (none / 0) (#28)
by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 04:49:47 PM EST

... when and if I ever go to Dubai, a destination which ranks right down there on my bucket list, just below the island of St. Helena and Magadan, Siberia.


: Two places I would love to see (none / 0) (#29)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 05:10:18 PM EST

And probably would never visit, Dubai an Singapore.

The strain of acting semi-Presidential (none / 0) (#25)
by Peter G on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 04:11:31 PM EST

yesterday was apparently just too much.

My God (5.00 / 1) (#30)
by Militarytracy on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 05:40:38 PM EST

Josh managed to make me laugh (5.00 / 1) (#31)
by Militarytracy on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 05:48:28 PM EST

Says nobody from Norway wants to come here, and especially not if Trump is the President.


Reporting this on tv (5.00 / 2) (#32)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 05:52:27 PM EST

They are showing the headline but won't say the word.

Which makes me laugh


The (5.00 / 3) (#34)
by FlJoe on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 06:11:11 PM EST

word went the Full Monty on CNN with an epic rant by Phil Mudd among others, Acosta and other are just flat all calling him a racist.


: Phil Mudd is on this morning (none / 0) (#39)
by Militarytracy on Fri Jan 12, 2018 at 05:43:21 AM EST

And he's trying not to rant

Business Insider (5.00 / 1) (#33)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 05:56:41 PM EST

White House staffers reportedly think Trump's 'shithole countries' remark will play well with his base

Did they hear the crowd in Atlanta? (none / 0) (#35)
by Militarytracy on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 06:30:18 PM EST

Do they understand their base isn't so sure about this path anymore?


And it happens again (none / 0) (#40)
by Militarytracy on Fri Jan 12, 2018 at 07:36:37 AM EST

The White House defends something that Trump says, then the next day he denies he said it.

Can't tell if Trump is saying he didn't say shithole referencing only African countries or if he's trying to say he didn't say shithole at all. He's probably trying to say both, just throw him a lifeline.


If he couldn't lie, he couldn't function. (none / 0) (#41)
by Anne on Fri Jan 12, 2018 at 08:19:10 AM EST

If you can call this "functioning," and I'm not sure you can. Maybe "dysfunctioning." Or "a$$-talking."

He doesn't even know what DACA is, thinks it's something different from Dreamers. Doesn't understand FISA, either.

Maybe it's a good thing he's "working" part time; I shudder to think how much worse it would be if he was putting in 10-hour days.


Maybe professional prejudice (5.00 / 1) (#42)
by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 12, 2018 at 09:26:02 AM EST

But this is, I think, my favorite.

At a press conference yesterday Donald Trump announced the successful delivery of F-52 and F-35 fighter jets to Norway, marking what was perhaps a momentary confusion from Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg and his audience. Because while the F-35 fighter jet is indeed a real piece of military hardware, the F-52 is not -- unless you happen to be playing 2014's Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. The fictional plane does, in fact, make an appearance in the "Throttle" mission, which has the player flying the jet down a tight canyon to attack a rogue PMC bent on conquering the world.

OMG.... (none / 0) (#43)
by Militarytracy on Fri Jan 12, 2018 at 09:58:01 AM EST

What does anyone say to that?

I think you need to confess Capt, you are really a White House aide who has elbowed your way into the sanctum and you are now briefing Trump.


: Ya got me (none / 0) (#44)
by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 12, 2018 at 09:58:58 AM EST

But seriously
I'm out of words

Not a chance (5.00 / 1) (#38)
by MKS on Fri Jan 12, 2018 at 12:55:57 AM EST

Scandinavia wants nothing to do with him....

Egalitarian Sweden? Trump would be left alone on a tiny windswept island if he went there.


Back to (none / 0) (#26)
by FlJoe on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 04:17:44 PM EST

form today

"I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un," Mr. Trump said in the Thursday interview. "I have relationships with people. I think you people are surprised."

"Why are we having all these people from s**thole countries come here?" Trump said in the White House meeting with a bipartisan group of senators, the Washington Post reported, referring to African countries and Haiti.

[my edit] Link
on top of this
Confused Trump Tricked by Fox News Into Opposing His Own Surveillance Bill and it's not even Big-Mac time.

: You know what's going to be funny (none / 0) (#27)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 04:35:17 PM EST

When Trump gets caught on a hot Mic talking about the rubes who so love his "plain speaking". And they learn what he really thinks about them.
Considering his oral diarrhea it seems inevitable.

Good day to be Chinese. (none / 0) (#37)
by Chuck0 on Thu Jan 11, 2018 at 09:13:37 PM EST

Considering the economic gift handed them today by the dotard. China is already heavily involved in providing infrastructure in Africa. After insulting the entire continent, why should they do any business with Americans? I certainly would not. China's stature and influence grows while thanks to the dotard, the US's diminishes.