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Wednesday Open Thread

Physicist Stephen Hawkings has died. He was 76.

A former sheriff's deputy named Michael Hari who put in a bid to build Trump's border wall has been arrested on arson and illegal possession of firearms charges in relation to in a mosque bombing of in MN and an attempted bombing of a women's health clinic that provided abortions in Illinois.

The FBI alleges in the affidavit to the Complaint:

[Informants told the FBI] Hari said he would pay McWhorter and Morris $18,000 for their participation in the mosque bombing, according to the FBI affidavit. All three men allegedly drove up to Minnesota in a rented truck for the attack.

As to the mosque: m[More...]

The affidavit states that McWhorter later confessed to the FBI that he, Hari and Morris bombed the mosque to “scare [Muslims] out of the country” because they think they push their beliefs on non-Muslims. McWhorter said the bombing was mostly to say, “Hey, you’re not welcome here, get the f*ck out.”

Hari "ran Crisis Resolution Security Services Inc., which had put in a bid for Trump’s border wall. "

School Kids are taking some time off from school today to march against guns.

United is in trouble again. A flight attendant allegedly told an 11 year old girl her bulldog had to go in the overhead compartment. The dog died. There's some disagreement as to whether the flight attendant knew there was a dog in the girl's bad. United, smartly, is taking the blame and aplogizing:

United Airlines said in a statement to ABC News that it takes full responsibility and that pets should never be placed in the overhead bins.

United Airlines statement:

"This was a tragic accident that should never have occurred, as pets should never be placed in the overhead bin. We assume full responsibility for this tragedy and express our deepest condolences to the family and are committed to supporting them. We are thoroughly investigating what occurred to prevent this from ever happening again."

Another Trump-backed candidate loses -- this time in Pennsylvania.

Did anyone see Oprah on James Corden a few nights ago? She was on with Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling to promote a Wrinkle in Time. Oprah looked particularly relaxed and happy and did a lot of joking with James. It's on You Tube on the Late Late Show channel.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

< Rex Tillerson Fired | United Sends Dog to Japan Instead of Kansas City >
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    My favorite story about (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by ragebot on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 12:48:22 PM EST
    Hawking concerns a bet he made with Kip Thorne about singularities.  Hawkings lost the bet and every time he came to Cal Tec he had to wear a Tshirt saying "I lost a bet to him" with an arrow pointing to Kip.

    Hawking' death was a great loss but lets not forget there are a lot of other great minds that sometimes get lost in the mix.

    As an aside there is no s at the end of his surname.

    Stephen Hawking.

    Fittingly (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 02:12:18 PM EST

    He went out on Pi day.

    Parent
    He once said.. (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by desertswine on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 06:51:31 PM EST
    `It would not be much of a universe if it wasn't home to the people you love.'

    Parent
    A (none / 0) (#9)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 07:58:46 PM EST
    It's sad that he died (2.00 / 1) (#10)
    by linea on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 08:21:34 PM EST
    But I was never a fan. All reports are that he was unpleasant to work with, treated his graduate students poorly and forced them to perform nursing duties, and that he frequented strip clubs - dragging his nurses and graduate students along.

    He made some contributions in the 1970s but from everything I've read, theoretical physicists wouldn't put him on a top ten list of the modern era. He certainly isn't as highly regarded as Edward Witten who most people have never heard of.

    Really, he became well-known because of his disability and leveraged that into celebrity status with a series of books, television appearances, and sensational statements like, `The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.... It would take off on its own, and re-design itself at an ever increasing rate.' He's really the equivalent of Bill Nye The Science Guy.


    Parent

    Neither Hawking nor Witten Won the Nobel Prize (none / 0) (#11)
    by RickyJim on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 08:39:25 PM EST
    Their work has not been verified by experiment.  Of course the physics Nobel prize goes more often to experimentalists than theorists.  Both Hawking and Witten are on this list of today's 50 most influential scientists .

    Parent
    I'll bet Hawking (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 08:44:00 PM EST
    Didn't know a thing about dieting

    Parent
    Not sure (none / 0) (#18)
    by ragebot on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 10:22:41 PM EST
    I am buying that list.  My boy Kip Thorne is not on the list.  Thing is he did win a Noble Prize in 2017, kind of a big OK in my book.  Not to mention these awards.

    According to wiki Thorne has been elected to:

    the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1972)
    the National Academy of Sciences,
    the Russian Academy of Sciences, and
    the American Philosophical Society.

    He has been recognized by numerous awards including:
    the American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award in Physics and Astronomy,
    the Phi Beta Kappa Science Writing Award,
    the American Physical Society's Lilienfeld Prize,
    the German Astronomical Society's Karl Schwarzschild Medal (1996),
    the Robinson Prize in Cosmology from the University of Newcastle, England,
    the Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society's Common Wealth Awards for Science and Invention, and
    the California Science Center's California Scientist of the Year Award (2003).
    the Albert Einstein Medal in 2009 from the Albert Einstein Society, Bern, Switzerland
    the UNESCO Niels Bohr Medal from UNESCO (2010)
    the Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2016)
    the Gruber Prize in Cosmology (2016)
    the Shaw Prize (2016) (together with Ronald Drever and Rainer Weiss).
    the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics (2016) (together with Ronald Drever and Rainer Weiss).
    the Tomalla Prize (2016) for extraordinary contributions to general relativity and gravity.
    the Georges Lemaître Prize (2016)
    the Harvey Prize (2016) (together with Ronald Drever and Rainer Weiss).
    the Princess of Asturias Award (2017) (jointly with Rainer Weiss and Barry Barish).
    the Nobel Prize in Physics (2017) (jointly with Rainer Weiss and Barry Barish)
    He has been a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, Danforth Fellow, Guggenheim Fellow, and Fulbright Fellow. He has also received the honorary degree of doctor of humane letters from Claremont Graduate University.
    He was elected to hold Lorentz chair for the year 2009 Leiden University, the Netherlands.
    Thorne has served on:
    the International Committee on General Relativity and Gravitation,
    the Committee on US-USSR Cooperation in Physics, and
    the National Academy of Sciences' Space Science Board, which has advised NASA and Congress on space science policy.
    Kip Thorne was selected by Time magazine in an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the American world in 2016.

    Parent

    Isn't Thorne (none / 0) (#21)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 10:46:21 PM EST
    The one who posited that we are living inside  black hole and that we were actually two dimensional and that space is an illusion of our perception?  Which would explain so called "spooky action at a distance".

    I could be totally confused.  I watch a lot if Science Channel.

    To lazy to Google

    Parent

    Bill Nye? (none / 0) (#17)
    by McBain on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 10:21:27 PM EST
    Hawking's work on black holes was better than anything science related Bill Nye ever did.  I'm sure Nye would admit to that. Your comparison is way off.

    If you want to talk about comedy, that's another story.  Nye was park of a decent sketch comedy group called Almost Live!    

    Parent

    Bill Nye (none / 0) (#19)
    by linea on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 10:33:49 PM EST
    As in a `science populizer.' Like Carl Sagan. Except I like Carl Sagan. Hawking wrote pop-science books and children's book with the help of his daughter. He appeared on Star Trek and the Big Bang Theory and other shows. He's a celebrity. I realize some people adore celebrities. It's just that I've never been a fan.

    Parent
    [cough] Ivanka [cough] (5.00 / 9) (#23)
    by vml68 on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 11:48:56 PM EST
    I realize some people adore celebrities.


    Parent
    When few words are better than many (5.00 / 3) (#40)
    by CoralGables on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 11:17:00 AM EST
    A better comparison for Bill Nye (none / 0) (#29)
    by McBain on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 08:59:34 AM EST
    is Neil DeGrasse Tyson but even that is a stretch.

    You don't have to be a fan of Hawking to understand he was more than just a celebrity.  The work he did wasn't fairly complex (black hole and quantum mechanics).  If you want to make the argument his status as a scientist was overrated because of his popularity, I'll listen to that. But to dismiss him as a "science populizer" who made cameos on TV shows isn't giving him enough credit.

    Parent

    Same thing with Steven Hawking, Neil DeGrasse Tyson and the late Carl Sagan. Their gift is the ability synthesize complex ideas into readily understandable terms.

    This skill is particularly valuable in times such as ours, when the intellectual pursuits are under fierce and sustained attack by the sincerely ignorant and conscientiously stupid. No small wonder why so many Americans believe that climate change is a hoax.

    Most scientists tend to talk over people's heads, being far more used to interacting professionally with their intellectual peers than with the common man. They're sitting ducks for political flim-flam artists like Newt Gingrich, who nakedly appeal to the public's base suspicions about hoity-toity perfesser-types.

    We need more science populists like Bill Nye, Hawking, Tyson and Rachel Carson, not less. Two of the most influential bestselling books of 20th century nonfiction literature were Ms. Carson's The Sea Around Us and Silent Spring. Her work was attacked and mocked mercilessly by corporatists, but it held up in public opinion because people could readily grasp those scientific concepts which she explained to them.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Okay (none / 0) (#41)
    by linea on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 11:27:21 AM EST
    His status as a scientist was overrated because of his popularity.

    I've also never liked him after hearing how he treated his graduate students and the other things I mentioned.

    Parent

    Here is some perspective (none / 0) (#42)
    by linea on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 12:09:21 PM EST
    What do physicists think of Stephen Hawking?

    Andy Buckley, PhD in particle physics, visiting researcher at CERN, lecturer in physics

    The technicalities of quantum field theory (QFT) in curved spacetime is pretty rarified stuff that has yet to significantly trickle into other branches of physics, and Hawking radiation is expected to be undetectable unless we happen to find quantum black holes which decay that way. There are plenty of other theoretical physicists who have done work of comparable or superior depth, and who are virtually unknown in the public eye, e.g. Roger Penrose, Edward Witten, and Michael Atiyah (and I'm sure there are more). And that's just restricting to "abstract" theorists on the borderline of physics & mathematics -- there are yet more unknown great theoretical physicists as one ventures closer to calculations of direct experimental relevance. The only ~recent physicist of remotely comparable fame was Feynman, who at least in the UK would be an unfamiliar name to most. Before that, Einstein.... The reason for that fame -- which I'm surprised that other answers have not mentioned -- is of course his disability. An able-bodied physicist who had done the work that Hawking did would be regarded very highly in their sub-field, but would probably be largely unknown even in the wider physics community. Please don't interpret this as attacking a disabled man: his achievements have been extraordinary given the limitations of his condition, but his fame has been enabled by it.


    Parent
    Sheldon (none / 0) (#44)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 01:37:03 PM EST
    thinks he's pretty spiffy.

    Parent
    Like to stop worrying about Pompeo? (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 10:36:31 PM EST
    Start worrying about Bolton.

    The American Conservative

    Beware the Coming of Bolton

    Sources said Trump fired Tillerson partly because Tillerson opposed Trump's oft-stated desire to scuttle the Iran nuclear deal--Trump even mentioned their disagreement when speaking to the press. And three sources told me that the next official likely to go is National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, who, like Tillerson, had advocated for remaining in the deal.

    Last Tuesday, Trump met with ultra-hawkish former U.N. ambassador John Bolton in the Oval Office to discuss a potential job offer. Bolton has for years argued that the United States should pre-emptively attack Tehran. In 2015, he wrote a New York Times op-ed headlined, "To Stop Iran's Bomb, Bomb Iran," and last month, he wrote a Wall Street Journal op-ed outlining the legal case for a pre-emptive strike against North Korea.

    According to a person who spoke with Bolton after the meeting, Bolton recalled that Trump said he wanted him to join the administration: "We need you in here, John." Bolton responded that there were only two jobs he'd consider: secretary of state and national security adviser. Trump said, "O.K, I'll call you really soon."

    If Bolton replAces McMaster it will be very clear that, as I heard today, Trump is putting together a war cabinet.

    Last night's election IMO made this more possible.  Clearly the voters are coming for Trumps enablers.  He WILL do anything to try to save himself.  Including something as desperate as delaying the election because nuclear war.

    But his mustache! (none / 0) (#22)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 11:33:31 PM EST
    Word is Bonespurs doesn't like it and he won't shave it.

    Parent
    Maybe (none / 0) (#25)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 07:54:08 AM EST
    They will hire the Justice League team to digitally remove it.

    Every day.

    Parent

    Bill Kristol tweeted a rumor (none / 0) (#26)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 08:10:17 AM EST
    Acknowledged it was rumor with a bit of credibility. Tweeted that Trump might fire Sessions and replace him with Pruitt. And Pruitt will then fire Mueller.

    Parent
    I heard that, too. (none / 0) (#27)
    by Anne on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 08:36:13 AM EST
    I just can't anymore.  

    These people are taking a buzz saw to everything.

    Parent

    Can Pruitt Fire Mueller (none / 0) (#28)
    by RickyJim on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 08:55:56 AM EST
    without first being confirmed by the Senate?  I doubt he could get 50 votes.

    Parent
    I agree (none / 0) (#30)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 08:59:35 AM EST
    The Senate will not allow it

    Parent
    I actually (none / 0) (#31)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 09:03:02 AM EST
    Don't think they would confirm Bolton either

    Parent
    NSC (none / 0) (#37)
    by FlJoe on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 11:07:58 AM EST
    does not require confirmation if I am not mistaken.

    Parent
    Damn (none / 0) (#38)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 11:16:00 AM EST
    The Vacancies Act allows Trump (none / 0) (#32)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 09:18:26 AM EST
    To replace Sessions with another cabinet member who was Senate confirmed. The way the act is written though, if he fired Sessions and replaced him with Perry or Pruitt that might be challenged in court. If Sessions quits though, Trump can replace him with an already confirmed cabinet member.

    I guess we now know why Trump has been publicly humiliating Sessions, he's trying to make Sessions quit.

    Parent

    Sessions (none / 0) (#34)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 09:33:17 AM EST
    Did not dine out with the number two and three at justice beause he was thinking about quitting.  He will not quit.

    This investigation can not and will not be stopped.  The Senate will not allow it.  There are enough Republicans who have publically said so, two are needed and there is probably three times that many, that with the Democrats they will not allow Muller to be fired.  

    Or if by some miracle Trump managed it it would trigger an instant costitutional crisis and just speed everything up.

    If you want to worry about something I would recommend war.

    Just my opinion.

    Parent

    Doesn't need to be confirmed (none / 0) (#39)
    by CoralGables on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 11:16:11 AM EST
    he can step right in since the Senate has already confirmed him to another post (I think)

    Parent
    With Sessions on the hot seat (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by CST on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 12:44:58 PM EST
    This seems like big news.

    "The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, has subpoenaed the Trump Organization to turn over documents, including some related to Russia, according to two people briefed on the matter. The order is the first known time that the special counsel demanded documents directly related to President Trump's businesses, bringing the investigation closer to the president.

    The breadth of the subpoena was not clear, nor was it clear why Mr. Mueller issued it instead of simply asking for the documents from the company, an umbrella organization that oversees Mr. Trump's business ventures. In the subpoena, delivered in recent weeks, Mr. Mueller ordered the Trump Organization to hand over all documents related to Russia and other topics he is investigating, the people said."

    I hope Mueller is as methodical as every one says (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by vml68 on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 01:52:20 PM EST
    he is and has everything lined up so when (no longer an if) Tr*mp fires him, the whole Tr*mp clan and their enablers go down.

    Parent
    We have a terrible bridge collapse (none / 0) (#47)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 02:32:27 PM EST
    And the news will appropriately focus on that. I'm starting to believe that Trump will/would use such a tragedy to do something risky.

    Odd how he is choosing to sanction Russia today too. I mean other than it looks like Russia failed Trump in Pennsylvania on Tuesday. But the sanctions are strongly desired by most of the country, so giving us something we all want because he's about to also do something very upsetting. He's so strange, who knows how he arrives at his conclusions?

    Parent

    :...subpoena (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by KeysDan on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 02:23:26 PM EST
    delivered in recent weeks."   How many recent weeks?  Looks like the reason in recent weeks for the pressure on Sessions to fire McCabe, so Trump can fire Sessions for not doing so.  And, just a part of seeking "perfection" by firing and shuffling around Cabinet/NSA posts.  

    Parent
    Yessss! (none / 0) (#49)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 02:33:26 PM EST
    All this

    Parent
    We are way overdue (none / 0) (#52)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 02:48:05 PM EST
    For an indictment party.  my day now.

    Parent
    If we make it through this (none / 0) (#53)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 02:56:28 PM EST
    We need to have a real party.

    Parent
    My solution is (none / 0) (#54)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 03:00:30 PM EST
    Daily mini parties

    Parent
    I'll end up in rehab at this rate (none / 0) (#56)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 03:04:23 PM EST
    If Tr*mp and his clan go down, my celebration (none / 0) (#59)
    by vml68 on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 03:10:32 PM EST
    will lead to alcohol poisoning :-)

    Parent
    Look forward (none / 0) (#55)
    by KeysDan on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 03:00:39 PM EST
    to "Indictment Friday."    Trump may think he can fire Sessions as he did Preet Bharara---fire the lot of them to cover it up.   Just getting new faces, such as Pompeo for Rexxon (who can spend more time polluting the earth), Bolton for McMaster (who can plan the military parade), and Ivanka for Kelly (who can spend more time with some very fine Nazis).  Not too surprised if he replaces Rob Porter with OJ.

    Parent
    You did it (none / 0) (#58)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 03:09:54 PM EST
    You figured out who will replace Kelly. And it was so simple. I was making it hard.

    The law escorting Trump's body man out the door, that was a John Kelly move. Between John Kelly effing with Jared and really being a pain in the a$$ about no in house criminals, I think Trump's furious with Kelly. But I couldn't figure out who Trump would replace him with. Nobody wants that effing job, except of course Ivanka. Silly me

    Parent

    Secretary (none / 0) (#63)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 03:24:09 PM EST
    Yes, and Ivanka (none / 0) (#64)
    by KeysDan on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 04:13:39 PM EST
    can set up a boutique gift shop in the White House for tourists offering her spring line of handbags and jewelry.  And, special feature: Don Jr. hairnets.

    Parent
    Also in recent weeks (none / 0) (#57)
    by CST on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 03:07:39 PM EST
    Hope Hicks (and Trump's personal security guard from the Trump Organization) resigned and Jeff Sessions went out to dinner.

    Pretty sure Mueller is stomping all over Trump's red line.

    Also, the subpoena reaks of a trap.

    Parent

    Explain the trap part CST (none / 0) (#60)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 03:10:38 PM EST
    I would assume it means (5.00 / 2) (#61)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 03:19:23 PM EST
    If they don't comply or try any thing really other than full compliance it's confrontation time.

    Parent
    They already have the information (5.00 / 3) (#62)
    by CST on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 03:23:17 PM EST
    They're looking for from another source.   They want to see what gets left out.  Otherwise why not just request them?

    Parent
    Happy Birthday, (5.00 / 3) (#48)
    by KeysDan on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 02:33:25 PM EST
    Justice Ginsburg (b. March 15, 1933).  

    RIP (5.00 / 1) (#99)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 04:21:54 PM EST
    Michael Avenatti - Stormy's lawyer (5.00 / 1) (#130)
    by Yman on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 10:12:11 AM EST
    Was just on AM Joy/MSNBC with a woman (reporter) who was discussing how Michael Cohen threatened to destroy someone in vulgar terms.  Avenati's response pointing out tht no attorney should ever behave like that, to make it clear that if he tries that garbage in this case he's "going to get his ticket punched", and to challenge Cohen's bravado as a "Ray Donovan" fixer by pointing out that Cohen's been silent on this for the past several weeks.

    Love this guy.  I really hope this NDA gets kicked and this can go public.  Avenaati will eat Cohen for lunch without breaking a sweat.

    I love him too (5.00 / 1) (#131)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 10:15:27 AM EST
    In THAT way and in a lawyerly way

    I can't believe CBS won't do it.  Simply for the ratings if nothing else.

    Parent

    One thing Joy asked him (5.00 / 3) (#133)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 10:20:05 AM EST
    That I have been wondering about is why are they SO worried about this.  Seriously.  Given Trumps history of bragging about assault and peeping on teenagers and God only knows what, what the HELL could this woman have that terrifies them so much.

    Parent
    This should be news (5.00 / 1) (#145)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Mar 18, 2018 at 11:25:39 AM EST

    The Assassination of Human Rights Activist Marielle Franco Was a Huge Loss for Brazil -- and the World

    We don't yet know who murdered Marielle and her driver, Anderson Pedro Gomes, though early indications are that the police might have been involved. Investigators reportedly determined that the bullet casings found at the crime scene had been purchased by the Federal Police in 2006. Bullets from the same lot were used in a series of brutal attacks that killed at least 17 and wounded seven in São Paulo on one night in 2015. Two police officers and one municipal guard were convicted for the massacre



    I'm trying to imagine (5.00 / 2) (#146)
    by CST on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 09:36:16 AM EST
    What the response would be to the news that Obama threatened his staff with $10 million dollar lawsuits if they ever spoke in public about his administration.

    Meanwhile, this isn't even cracking front page news today.

    I'm about to be (5.00 / 3) (#147)
    by CST on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 10:51:12 AM EST
    A 4th time Aunt.  All of them are boys.

    I'll file this one under articles I won't be sending to my sister.

    "Black boys raised in America, even in the wealthiest families and living in some of the most well-to-do neighborhoods, still earn less in adulthood than white boys with similar backgrounds, according to a sweeping new study that traced the lives of millions of children.

    White boys who grow up rich are likely to remain that way. Black boys raised at the top, however, are more likely to become poor than to stay wealthy in their own adult households."

    Funny (5.00 / 1) (#153)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 04:50:39 PM EST
    Gay love story about Mike Pences rabbit is #1 on Amazon

    Why do I think someone here will be deeply offended?

    Andrew McCabe (none / 0) (#1)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 12:46:49 PM EST
    Should get his damn pension.

    if THEGATEWAYPUNDIT is against it

    I'm for it

    Season four of Black Mirror has been excellent (none / 0) (#4)
    by McBain on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 02:25:24 PM EST
    Just finished the dating app episode called Hang The DJ. They've all been good so far, especially Metalhead and USS Callister.

    I thought I was going to enjoy Counterpart after seeing first episode but I lost interest by the third one.

    I finally got around to watching the Stephen King movie It.  Kind of a mixed bag but worth seeing if like horror or small towns where just about everyone is crazy, homicidal or some kind of a bully.

    Trying to work up the courage to watch Justice League.  My girlfriend is a bigger fan of comic book films than I am.    

    I liked Justice League (none / 0) (#13)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 08:55:51 PM EST
    By I am an admitted Zack Snyder fan boy.  

    But it's worth seeing just to see the ridiculous moustache removal on superman.  Yes,  that's what I said.  Moustache removal.

    They spent millions doing it.  And they did not get their money's worth.

    When I first saw it I thought "what the hell is wrong with Henry Cavilles face?"

    It just looked off.  Looks off.

    I did not learn why until later.

    Parent

    They should have (none / 0) (#14)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 08:57:42 PM EST
    Tried it on Saccone

    Parent
    I forgot about the mustache (none / 0) (#33)
    by McBain on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 09:19:41 AM EST
    I guess they had to do some reshoots.  

    Parent
    The other reason (none / 0) (#36)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 10:15:32 AM EST
    To watch any Snyder movie is the music.  The man nails the music.  Every time.

    He seems particularly fond of Leonard and kickazz covers of his songs.  As am I.

    Like Sigrid doing Everybody Knows

    Parent

    Saw Justice League last night (none / 0) (#138)
    by McBain on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 01:08:09 PM EST
    Better than I expected. I'm not saying it was great but it was as good as any Avenger movie I can remember.  Overall, Marvel makes better films but they're a bit overrated.  

    Parent
    Instead of contesting the PA 18 election results, (none / 0) (#5)
    by vml68 on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 03:35:09 PM EST
    Moustache (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 03:37:07 PM EST
    How on earth would Trump know if (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by Anne on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 04:11:27 PM EST
    someone understood North Korea?  Wouldn't he have to understand it first?

    And I'm willing to bet that the things Trump thinks Saccone knows that "many people" don't, are things everyone knows...obvious things.

    Lordy.

    Parent

    You mean obvious things like the difference (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by vml68 on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 09:44:26 AM EST
    between a trade deficit and a trade surplus?

    President Donald Trump boasted at a private fundraiser Wednesday of making up trade claims during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before knowing whether they were true.

    I want to be shocked by this article but I am not. I am numb. My brain is just not capable of processing any more stupidity.

    Parent

    5th Circuit upholds Texas law (none / 0) (#15)
    by linea on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 09:44:39 PM EST
    The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds all but one provision in Texas Senate Bill 4 (SB4).

    The 5th Circuit ruled that ICE detainers are sufficient to hold persons in a jail even if they've been granted bail or their charges have been dropped.

    SB4 makes it a misdemeanor for police, sheriffs, and deputies to ignore ICE detainers and allows police to ask about immigration status during a lawful detention, such as traffic stops.

    The one part of SB 4 that is still on hold is a provision that punishes local officials from "adopting, enforcing or endorsing" policies that specifically prohibit or limit enforcement of immigration laws. The judges kept that injunction in place, but said it only applies to the word "endorse." The bill, as passed and signed, would have made elected and appointed officials subject to a fine, jail time and possible removal from office for violating all or parts of the legislation



    Ruling is on the ACLU site (none / 0) (#16)
    by linea on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 09:58:31 PM EST
    John Christopher Ludwick (none / 0) (#24)
    by linea on Wed Mar 14, 2018 at 11:51:14 PM EST
    who claims to have assisted Joran van der Sloot in disposing of Natalee Holloway`s body, died of a knife wound received while trying to kidnap a woman in Florida.

    Wednesday's incident took place along the 4300 block of Wesley Lane, police said. A woman, who was not identified by North Port police, was exiting her driveway when Ludwick attempted to kidnap her. The woman fought back, police said, and in the ensuing struggle Ludwick suffered a stab wound.


    Why can't SHS stand still? (none / 0) (#50)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 02:39:07 PM EST
    Annoys the heck out of me by the end of a presser, back and forth and back and forth like she's a hamster.

    Maybe it's her "tell" - she may (none / 0) (#65)
    by Anne on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 04:45:00 PM EST
    move more when she's lying - and by that, I mean really telling whoppers.

    One thing's for sure, having something nasty to say about Democrats is her go-to when all else fails.

    I shudder to think about the minds she's molding as a mother...

    Parent

    In lapsus veritas or (none / 0) (#69)
    by KeysDan on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 05:34:35 PM EST
    lapsus linguae?   Sarah Huckabee S. on subpoenas: "We'll continue to cooperate with the office of the special counsel and look forward to them to coming to the same collusion."

    Parent
    Treasury Secretary Munchin, (none / 0) (#51)
    by KeysDan on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 02:43:00 PM EST
    has spent, between Spring/Fall 2017, $1 million on on seven trips on military aircraft.  Munchin tried, without success, to use military aircraft for his honeymoon with his third wife, Louise Linton.  Ben Carson seems a piker in attempting to spend $31,000 for dining room set for his office, when compared with not only Munchin, but also, Secretary Zinke who wants those $130,000 doors.  But, of course, all of these miscreants pale in the face of the grifter in chief.

    I think that you spelled Munchin's name wrong. (none / 0) (#82)
    by desertswine on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 10:07:44 PM EST
    It's Munchkin.  

    (No offense meant to real Munchkins)

    Parent

    Calling all the single ladies: Jr.'s wife is (none / 0) (#66)
    by Anne on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 04:48:52 PM EST
    dumping him:

    Donald Trump Jr.'s wife, Vanessa, filed for divorce Thursday in Manhattan Supreme Court, according to a Page Six report.

    Vanessa Trump reportedly filed for an uncontested proceeding where "she's not expecting a legal battle over custody of the couple's five children or their assets."

    The couple married in November 2005, but the New York Post first reported Wednesday that they had been "living separate lives" despite not being legally separated.

    Trump Jr.'s social media habits had reportedly caused a rift in their marriage, the Post reported Wednesday.

    Feel bad for the kids, but I felt bad for them before this news.

    It was the hair net (none / 0) (#67)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 05:02:18 PM EST
    You simply can never unsee that

    Parent
    Does she get to keep the assets if Tr*mp (none / 0) (#68)
    by vml68 on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 05:03:27 PM EST
    and his progeny are indicted for money laundering?
    Since, the Keebler elf is such a fan of Civil Asset Fortfeiture, maybe he can take care of it.

    Parent
    Ari is breaking some news (none / 0) (#70)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 05:35:45 PM EST
    About buzzfeed also sending letters to the white house telling them to preserve documents

    The interesting thing is the documents they want are related to Stormy and the other centerfold

    But it is in the lawsuit about the dossier

    ??

    And a Black Hawk is reported to have crashed (none / 0) (#71)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 05:40:04 PM EST
    In the Sunni triangle in Iraq. Could have been special forces, or a commander and staff, but it's more souls than two pilots. Makes me nauseous, because we have no real leadership. Whoever has crashed, nobody really has your back, sorry.

    Parent
    And McMaster is out (none / 0) (#73)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 07:52:39 PM EST
    How do you fire a slave? Is he now a covfefe boy?

    How Does Trump Pick A NSA? (none / 0) (#75)
    by RickyJim on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 08:34:24 PM EST
    Several candidates have emerged as possible McMaster replacements, including John Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and Keith Kellogg, the chief of staff of the National Security Council.

    Kellogg travels with Trump on many domestic trips, in part because the president likes his company and thinks he is fun. Bolton has met with Trump several times and often agrees with the president's instincts. Trump also thinks Bolton, who regularly praises the president on Fox News Channel, is good on television.

    Link

    Parent

    Easy: he'll just pull someone from (none / 0) (#76)
    by Anne on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 08:52:34 PM EST
    Trump TV - Fox News.

    Parent
    I think Bolton (none / 0) (#77)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 09:04:09 PM EST
    Especially if, as FLJoe says, he needs no confirmation

    Just because it will make libruls cry

    Parent

    That's a pretty amazing story (none / 0) (#79)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 09:17:05 PM EST
    The mood inside the White House in recent days has verged on mania


    Parent
    And now McMaster isn't out? Yet (none / 0) (#80)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 09:36:27 PM EST
    OMG Jesus Christ!

    Effing insanity

    Parent

    So says SHS (none / 0) (#81)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 09:50:57 PM EST
    WSJ confirming he is out.  But is to be given even a "soft landing".  And maybe a forth star.

    Parent
    Is Donald Trump using conflicting leaks (none / 0) (#83)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 06:58:02 AM EST
    From himself to attempt to create episodic cliffhangers?

    Parent
    I (none / 0) (#84)
    by FlJoe on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 07:55:56 AM EST
    would say yes.

    Parent
    I read/heard that there were (none / 0) (#85)
    by Anne on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 08:13:25 AM EST
    19 administration officials who confirmed the "McMaster's out" story - if it's not a mass hallucination, or a raging game of "gossip," I'd say Trump's using Sanders - and Twitter, of course - to keep the controversy bubbling.

    Someone said that this change in Trump is because he's no longer afraid to be president and is enjoying his power.  Trump unleashed is not good news.

    I think this is all building up to the Sessions/Mueller firing; we should get a pool going on date and time for that.

    Parent

    You know what? (none / 0) (#86)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 09:08:05 AM EST
    I'm not buyin it.  When has he ever been leashed?

    I think that is pure spin to try to control the news of "mania" in the WH.

    I think this explosion of chaos is directly related to the Trump org subpoena.  

    I do agree it appears to be building to some kind of explosion that could very well include attempts to reorganize the justice dept to better suit his needs.

    I think one of the most interesting parts of that story is that we now "coincidentally" know this was issued weeks ago which if you watch the news you know tracks perfectly with the building crazy.

    I think Mueller is poking him.  Tweeking him.  Provoking him.  I think be is trying to make him blow.

    I think he will succeed.   ProbAbly sooner than later.

    Parent

    I (none / 0) (#87)
    by FlJoe on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 09:59:58 AM EST
    don't think Mueller is specifically trying to tweek tRump,  that's not his style. On the other hand, in his relentless but methodical pursuit of justice he does not give a fk who he pisses off.

    Mueller, Rosenstein and even Sessions are way smarter than tRump and his lawyers and as things stand now they all have a defacto immunity from being canned.

    tRump cannot fire Mueller directly, he would have to fire Rosenstein first and continue down the chain until he found someone willing to do it. I think that ploy would be much too blatant even for tRump.

    tRumps logical choice would be to fire Sessions but I believe that Sessions knows enough to bring him down and he knows it. Sessions has plenty of allies in the Senate, and given the current state of play even the Democrats would rather him stay on.

    I am not sure what if anything Sessions has told Mueller but I suspect that if he were canned he might run to his Senate buddies and spill enough dirt that they might turn completely against tRump.

     

    Parent

    Or that (none / 0) (#88)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 10:01:28 AM EST
    I think he has unleashed himself, (none / 0) (#92)
    by Anne on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 10:10:21 AM EST
    believe it or not - there's a feeling i get that he's just not going to be tempered or handled to any degree anymore - he's not even going to fake it.  He's done with having people around who won't agree with him - which makes me nervous.

    As for Mueller, I think the things he's doing to nail down the details of his case are having the effect of poking Trump, but I don't know that I believe that poking him is a deliberate part of his strategy.  I don't see Mueller doing anything that isn't in line with getting to the truth.

    I'm coming to wonder if he will ultimately force Trump to choose between watching his son and son-in-law go on trial for the crimes Mueller will get indictments for, or agreeing to resign in exchange for their not being charged with the worst of the crimes, instead.

    The big march is a week from tomorrow - with so many people already going to be in the streets, I wonder what would happen if sometime late next week, he cans Sessions, and Mueller gets fired.

    Parent

    The Stormy 60 minutes thing (none / 0) (#93)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 10:14:17 AM EST
    Is the following day.

    I really think it's going to be explosive

    See below

    Parent

    I agree (none / 0) (#94)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 11:32:43 AM EST
    I think Trump is done with the already minute idea that he could be controlled and has just said screw it.

    Interesting factoid I read today said that Vanessa Trump has hired a criminal defense lawyer instead of a divorce lawyer.

    Parent

    The Generals had him leashed on everyone needs (none / 0) (#95)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 12:48:31 PM EST
    A security clearance. That's really why they are both being fired. And when they are gone our security clearance rules for the White House will be completely gone.

    Parent
    Ok, this is just weird (none / 0) (#74)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 08:22:16 PM EST
    I will type carefully.
    Jeralyn if you do not wish this discussed here delete it.  I just think it very strange and it is an active legal debate happening right now.

    Ch!ld s€x dolls.

    Congressman: CSDs Are Coming--And We're Not Ready

    To wit, Donovan has proposed the Curbing Realistic Exploitative Electronic Pe----hilic Robots (CREEPER) Act to ban their import and make possession of them illegal. Donovan spent an entire career locking up pe---iles and he says that, "Every case has stayed with me--there is no situation where a child was hurt or victimized that doesn't leave your thoughts." And now, as then, he adds: "I will do everything possible to stop crimes against children."

    There is a case currently happening in Canada.  They are already banned in the UK.

    Canadian court to determine whether etc etc etc


    Experts have disagreed whether the item, shipped in a cardboard box from abroad, constitutes p----raphy.

    Dr James Cantor, a clinical psychologist, told CBC that child po---aphy is evidence itself of a crime being committed, which is not the case with a doll.

    "There is no actual person. It is a piece of latex. So, if there is no victim where is there, exactly, a harm being committed?"

    I have nothing to add here.  No opinion.  I just think it's a fascinating look into the future where we will be dealing with actual AI.

    you may remember the Speilberg movie by that name about a child robot.  What you may not know is that was originally going to be Kubrics next movie and his version dealt openly with the subject.  The Speilberg version of course only in the most oblique way by having his best friend be an adult s€x worker.

    Anyway, welcome to modern Life.

    That caadian link (none / 0) (#78)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 15, 2018 at 09:10:00 PM EST
    Was a year old but the case seems to still be happening

    Parent
    Storm warning March 25 (none / 0) (#89)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 10:06:15 AM EST
    Just saw a pretty interesting interview on MJ while on the staircase with Stormys hot lawyer that I expect you are going to be hearing a lot about.

    He said she was physically threatened and they can prove it.

    I would guess it was Cohen but if it was Trump IMO it's the end.  Even if it Cohen it could be the end.

    Here (none / 0) (#90)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 10:08:05 AM EST
    The lawyers and prosecutors (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 10:10:17 AM EST
    Seemed to agree this alone could invalidate the NDA

    Parent
    If this happened (none / 0) (#97)
    by Yman on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 03:08:29 PM EST
    ... before signing the NDA, absolutely.  Coercion is a basis for invalidating any agreement.  Even if it happened afterwards, it it could hurt Cohen's arguments for enforcing it.

    Sadly, even if she is able to prove the threats and tie them to DD or someone in his immediate circle, his supporters probably won't care.  

    Parent

    Some of them won't (none / 0) (#98)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 03:19:50 PM EST
    For sure.

    I have to think some of them will.  Might.

    Parent

    Russian businessman.. (none / 0) (#96)
    by desertswine on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 01:03:30 PM EST
    who was found dead Monday in London is now considered a homicide.  Glushkov was an associate of Boris Berezovsky, a Russian oligarch and Kremlin critic who died under disputed circumstances in 2013.

    Sessions fires McCabe....the show continues. (none / 0) (#100)
    by desertswine on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 08:46:50 PM EST


    Pete Williams (none / 0) (#101)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 08:51:41 PM EST
    Says he still may be able to get at least some of his pension which he would have gotten on Sunday.

    Parent
    Wow... Trump is just one big fat... (none / 0) (#105)
    by desertswine on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 09:32:14 PM EST
    s--mbag.

    Parent
    Ya (none / 0) (#107)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 09:39:41 PM EST
    Clearly it was rushed for the purpose of getting his pension.

    They are saying he was denied due process, a hearing anyone is entitled to.

    I really think there are so many way this could blowback on Trump.

    Imagine you are an FBI agent.  For instance.  McCabe was seen as basically a hero within the agency, or so they say.

    Imagine how much it's going to pi$$ off, for instance, Mueller.

    Parent

    McCabe will win it all on appeal (none / 0) (#108)
    by Towanda on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 09:44:14 PM EST
    says the labor lawyer who won a case for me -- and went on to work as an EEOC litigator for decades. He recently retired on his federal pension. He knows fedeal pension law well.

    And so, I am outa youk owwhats to give for McCabe. He and Comey worked hard to help hand the presidency to the guy who got them fired. They are not martyrs, when this is karma.

    Parent

    True (none / 0) (#110)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 09:48:28 PM EST
    Still, as someone who fully appreciates what it means to have a pension yanked - one day before you get it - for what is clearly political rat fu@king, this sucks.

    I hope you are right about the pension.

    Parent

    Bill Krystol (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 10:04:16 PM EST
    Is saying Sessions did this to protect himself and Mueller.

    Could be.

    Parent

    I wondered (none / 0) (#117)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 08:33:39 AM EST
    the same thing. I wondered if Sessions did not carry out these orders to keep from firing Mueller. Strange days but it all seems to be starting to roll downhill right headed toward Trump and his cronies.

    Parent
    I believe (none / 0) (#102)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 08:57:09 PM EST
    This could backfire

    Parent
    It was just pointed out (none / 0) (#103)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 08:59:03 PM EST
    This was done less than an hour after the news of Trump trying to move Stormy to a federal court.

    Parent
    McCabe (5.00 / 1) (#104)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 09:14:59 PM EST
    statement

    In a nutshell he says it's all about discrediting him as a witness in the Mueller investigation

    Parent

    I wonder (none / 0) (#106)
    by linea on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 09:32:40 PM EST
    Whether he could be charged under the false statements statute for `misleading internal investigators` and how they are arriving at the seemingly random and arbitrary application of that law. By the way, if it's not obvious, I'm strongly opposed to the existence of that statute.  

    The FBI's Office of Professional Responsibility recommended firing McCabe as punishment for allegedly authorizing the sharing of information with the Wall Street Journal in October 2016 and then misleading internal investigators about his actions.


    Parent
    John Kelly showing once again what a (none / 0) (#109)
    by vml68 on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 09:46:13 PM EST
    Rachel (none / 0) (#111)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 09:53:09 PM EST
    Explained this is not only tacky it is absolutely not true.

    It's a flat out lie.  According to Tillerson himself.

    In fact a state department guy who today released a statement from Tillerson disputing this was fired today.

    And they admitted he was fired for the statement.  Which while true was not "the story"

    This sh!t is reaching SOME KIND of climax.

    Parent

    Interesting tactic tho (none / 0) (#113)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 10:17:11 PM EST
    They want to put out a fake story that covers up the fact Tillerson was fired by tweet the day after he said mean things about Russia so they put this out.

    If you Google Tillerson toilet you can see every news outlet on earth ran with the story.  Because of the toilet part.

    Absolutely fu@king insidious

    Parent

    Rachel (none / 0) (#118)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 08:43:38 AM EST
    seriously, watch this

    It's currently the featured clip.  If you do this later it's titled

    Trump shows disturbing pattern with officials critical of Russia


    Parent

    Wow (none / 0) (#114)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 10:50:27 PM EST
    Barry R McCaffrey
    @mccaffreyr3
    Reluctantly I have concluded that President Trump is a serious threat to US national security. He is refusing to protect vital US interests from active Russian attacks. It is apparent that he is for some unknown reason under the sway of Mr Putin.

    3:46 PM - Mar 16, 2018


    John Brennan tweet this morning @8:00 am sharp (none / 0) (#116)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 07:09:12 AM EST
    When the full extent of your venality, moral turpitude, and political corruption becomes known, you will take your rightful place as a disgraced demagogue in the dustbin of history. You may scapegoat Andy McCabe, but you will  not destroy America...America will triumph over you.  

    Parent
    Bout time the deep state (none / 0) (#119)
    by Chuck0 on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 08:45:15 AM EST
    woke up.

    Parent
    This feels like Trump and Sessions (5.00 / 1) (#120)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 09:16:01 AM EST
    Walked right up to the constitutional crisis cliff and chucked a rock over it. What do they push off next?

    McCabe is going to challenge the loss of his pension in court. Hopefully the full picture of what has occurred becomes known to us all.

    I still can't believe Ryan and McConnell do nothing. They have passed a red line too. No matter what happens now, they have destroyed their historical reputations.

    Parent

    Kristol (none / 0) (#121)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 09:23:43 AM EST
    Opined that since Trump was able to get a statement from the OIG Sessions probably thought if he did not do what he was told Trump would use it to get rid of him saying he ignored an OIG report, he's been coopted by the deep state, etc.

    He went on to speculAte it was Sessions and Kelly working together to protect the Mueller investigation and that it could also have effected the lies Kelly told about Tillerson.

    I would love to say that is implausible but I can't.

    Parent

    We were just discussing who (5.00 / 1) (#123)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 09:36:55 AM EST
    Would thwart Presidential authority and risk jail in order to save the country. It's just our household opinion, but Jeff Sessions and John Kelly were at the very bottom of that list :)

    John Kelly is fired the minute Trump feels he no longer needs the perception of credibility that Kelly lends. I don't think that fool Kelly understands that.

    You know what fries me? Just fries me to the bone? Remember John Kelly suggesting Trump use a ceremonial sword on the press? Then that entitled SOB Kelly has ANOTHER off the record meeting with the press in which he admits Trump manipulates the press and tells the press Tillerson learned he was being fired while sitting on a toilet ill. John Kelly is a self important standardless rudderless scumbag.

    Parent

    Perhaps (none / 0) (#127)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 10:06:35 AM EST
    OTOH

    Who else is there?

    Parent

    Smaller taters in the West Wing (none / 0) (#132)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 10:18:10 AM EST
    DOJ or FBI

    Comey is accused of making off with classified information. He's pretty gutsy. He didn't just give it all back. McCabe could go deep throat, he seems like he'd take some risks.

    Parent

    You know Comey has (none / 0) (#134)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 10:21:20 AM EST
    A book coming out.  He has said he is going into Trump country on his book tour.

    Parent
    I don't expect Comey's book to be a tell all (none / 0) (#136)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 11:49:29 AM EST
    Not that it has no value, but he can't share everything in his book.

    Parent
    Here we go (none / 0) (#135)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 11:01:30 AM EST
    In a statement reported by the Washington Post, McCabe's lawyer, Michael R. Bromwich, who is himself a former inspector general for the Justice Department, said he had never seen "the type of rush to judgment--and rush to summary punishment--that we have witnessed in this case." Referring to critical comments about McCabe that Trump made on his Twitter account and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House spokeswoman, made in her daily briefing on Thursday, Bromwich said they were "quite clearly designed to put inappropriate pressure on the Attorney General to act accordingly."

    New Yorker

    Parent

    Being reported McCabe also (none / 0) (#137)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 12:04:59 PM EST
    Kept personal memos on his dealings with Trump like Comey did.

    Parent
    If I were the GOP (none / 0) (#139)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 02:55:21 PM EST
    I would seriously be worried. McCabe is not Comey and McCabe has been smeared by the GOP for months before his "firing". McCabe has had plenty of time to prepare and gather up evidence and apparently he is not going to be shy about talking to the press.

    Parent
    As Digby tweeted (none / 0) (#141)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 06:53:07 PM EST
    It's almost like the GOP has a super natural confidence they'll win.

    Parent
    After the (5.00 / 1) (#142)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Mar 18, 2018 at 08:49:13 AM EST
    story broke yesterday about Cambridge Analytica we all now know where that smugness comes from. They are in receivership of stolen data that they think can make them rule forever.

    Parent
    They are (none / 0) (#143)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Mar 18, 2018 at 09:46:19 AM EST
    Mistaken

    Parent
    Certainly (none / 0) (#144)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Mar 18, 2018 at 10:05:19 AM EST
    now that their cover has been blown.

    Parent
    GOP sugar daddy Robert Mercer (none / 0) (#152)
    by jondee on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 04:21:55 PM EST
    and his daughter Cruella not surprisingly were all-in on the Analytica thing..

    One of the original founders of the company described the Mercers and Bannon as having a culture war, jihadist mentality..

    Parent

    There goes my million bucks... again. (none / 0) (#115)
    by desertswine on Fri Mar 16, 2018 at 10:54:10 PM EST
    For the first time in the history of the men's NCAA tournament, a No. 16 seed has defeated a No. 1 seed.

    The University of Maryland, Baltimore County stunned the University of Virginia, 74-54, in the biggest upset in tournament history. The Retrievers were 22.5-point underdogs. Before this loss, Virginia was 31-2 on the season.

    Here we go (none / 0) (#122)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 09:26:31 AM EST
    Just happened

    President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, John Dowd, told The Daily Beast on Saturday morning that he hopes Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will shut down the Mueller probe.

    Reached for comment by email about the firing of former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, sent The Daily Beast the text of Trump's most recent tweet on the subject, which applauded the firing. Then he wrote that Rosenstein should follow Sessions' lead

    "I pray that Acting Attorney General Rosenstein will follow the brilliant and courageous example of the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility and Attorney General Jeff Sessions and bring an end to alleged Russia Collusion investigation manufactured by McCabe's boss James Comey based upon a fraudulent and corrupt Dossier," Dowd then wrote.

    He told The Daily Beast he was speaking on behalf of the president, in his capacity as the president's attorney.

    Dowd also emailed the text below, which is an annotated version of a line from a well-known 20th century play:

    "What's that smell in this room[Bureau}? Didn't you notice it, Brick [Jim]? Didn't you notice a powerful and obnoxious odor of mendacity in this room[Bureau}?... There ain't nothin' more powerful than the odor of mendacity[corruption]... You can smell it. It smells like death." Tennessee Williams -- `Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'



    This statement was sent to three different (none / 0) (#124)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 09:39:34 AM EST
    Journalists and seems to transitioned from not being sent on behalf of the President to being sent on behalf of the President.

    Parent
    And back again (none / 0) (#128)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 10:08:20 AM EST
    Gotta keep up

    Parent
    Flynn's back on the campaign trail (none / 0) (#125)
    by Yman on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 09:50:11 AM EST
    This time he's campaigning for a rightwing Republican challenging Maxine Waters.  A guy who, coincidentally, was also convicted of a crime last year - illegally putting a tracking device on his wife's car.  One criminal endorsing another.

    The party of law and order.

    Heh.

    My God (5.00 / 1) (#126)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 09:59:59 AM EST
    Disgusting

    Parent
    Along with Sheriff Joe (none / 0) (#129)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 10:09:35 AM EST
    And Alex Jones

    Parent
    Totalitarian China (none / 0) (#140)
    by linea on Sat Mar 17, 2018 at 05:38:41 PM EST
    Chinese reporter's dramatic eye-roll goes viral before she disappears from view | The Times > uk
    23 hours ago · She rolled her eyes, and then she was gone. Liang Xiangyi, who raised her eyebrows and turned away from a fellow journalist who was asking a servile question during China's choreographed National People's Congress on Tuesday, has not been seen or heard from since.

    Her act guaranteed instant national and global attention and triggered a huge effort by China's internet censors to suppress the footage, although memes inspired by her eye roll are still circulating.

    What might have been seen elsewhere as an expression of frustration at a colleague was viewed by the authorities as a subversive attempt to disrupt the tightly scripted theatre of the parliamentary assembly and China's rigid political structure.

    In Pictures: An eye-roll goes viral in China, as censors put a lid on it


    Just posted an rather scathing rant (none / 0) (#148)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 03:02:57 PM EST
    On FACEBOOK, which is ironically the only way to reach most people on FACEBOOK, than contained this link

    #DeleteFacebook is trending: Here's how to delete your Facebook account

    With the title WHY ARE YOU STILL ENABLING FACEBOOK?

    It's been a couple of hours and not a single like

    Go figure

    Update (none / 0) (#149)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 03:26:13 PM EST
    2 likes and a weepy face

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    Check (none / 0) (#150)
    by FlJoe on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 04:13:40 PM EST
    this out Revealed: Trump's election consultants filmed saying they use bribes and sex workers to entrap politicians

    Cambridge Analytica, is suddenly(at least to the uninitiated) becoming a center of gravity in this whole mess.
     

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    They absolutely are (none / 0) (#151)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 04:21:53 PM EST
    I saw that earlier.  

    There is also a creepy clip going around of Trumps data guy saying FB was Trumps highway to victory or some sh!t like that.

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    Just heard that (5.00 / 1) (#165)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 08:53:15 AM EST
    Back at the beginning the Mercers made it a condition of their involvement in the Trump campaign that Cambridge Analytica be hired.

    How sweet would it be for them to get really sucked into this?

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    I just tried to delete one of my FB accounts (none / 0) (#159)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 07:07:18 PM EST
    They have disabled the page that allows you to do that.

    Oh yeah

    That'll make your members happy

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    Never been on Facebook (5.00 / 1) (#162)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 09:40:01 PM EST
    It's really disappointing (none / 0) (#168)
    by vicndabx on Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 09:43:22 AM EST
    I remember all the talk about Obama's NSA and Snowden exposing how terribly, terribly, horrible those Dems were for enabling such horrid treatment of Americans.  All the while people talking about some crap they saw on Facebook.

    Even now, I see people posting links to Wikipedia like it's some vetted source of information we should just trust.  People really seem to either not realize or forget the internet is just a bunch of connected computers with very little oversight & information standards.

    Ancient black proverb: "we tried to tell y'all"


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    My Facebook Page (none / 0) (#170)
    by MKS on Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 09:56:09 AM EST
    has my name and that's it.  That was the bare minimum to get an account so I could research other Facebook entries.

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    Same here (none / 0) (#171)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 09:59:11 AM EST
    Name and email.  Do you ever like or share things?

    That's what they use.

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    Don' think (none / 0) (#172)
    by MKS on Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 10:02:16 AM EST
    I have done that....

    Just not real comfortable with the overall concept.

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    Here's what I think (none / 0) (#173)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 10:29:09 AM EST
    And what I just said in another rant on FB.

    They are paying attention, finally, because the stock lost billions yesterday.  It's the only thing they care about.  It's the only thing they will ever understand.

    We have their attention.  We need to keep it.  They need to lose more billions.  They can afford it.  We can not afford what they are doing

    Surrendering soap box

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    WILD WILD COUNTRY (none / 0) (#154)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 05:17:42 PM EST
    New NETFLIX doc

    I just started this.  It's pretty great.

    It wasn't until 2014 that we were talking with a film archivist up in Portland who asked us what we were going to do for our next documentary project. Mac and I had a couple of ideas, but nothing we were totally in love with. And he said, "Well, we have this collection of over 300 hours of never-before-seen archival footage about the most bizarre story that ever happened in Oregon."

    He quickly told us about this guru who built this $100 million utopian city, and then they took over the small town of Antelope politically, and then they bussed in thousands of homeless people to take over Wasco County, which then led to this mass poisoning of 750 people. I remember Mac and I looking at each other and saying, "There's no way he has this story right, because we would have definitely heard about it." [Laughs] How could something like this have happened in America and you're not taught about it? We all seem to know about Waco and Jonestown, so how has this slipped under the radar for so long? The first thing we started doing was transferring and digitizing all these old archival tapes. And sure enough, everything this archivist had told us showed up in the footage.



    The Rajneesh saga did not slip under (5.00 / 1) (#156)
    by caseyOR on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 06:40:10 PM EST
    the radar in Oregon. It was a nightmare that seemed like it would never end. It had everything: money, sex, attempted murder, political corruption, a fleet of Rolls Royces, a plot to assasinate the U.S. attorney of Oregon, and the first bioterrism attack in the U.S.

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    I knew about it (none / 0) (#158)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 06:44:07 PM EST
    But you should try the doc.  

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    I know the story pretty well (none / 0) (#160)
    by jondee on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 07:09:49 PM EST
    but I'll try to check it out.

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    casey, I knew that guy (none / 0) (#164)
    by fishcamp on Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 08:27:56 AM EST
    that started the whole thing in Antelope, Oregon.  He had previously been a ski instructor from Aspen.  Came from a very wealthy family.

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    A number of the Rajneesh's followers (none / 0) (#174)
    by caseyOR on Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 11:47:20 AM EST
    had money. That is how he supported his lifestyle.

    It was a bizarre episode in Oregon's history.

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    The mystery man came over.. (none / 0) (#155)
    by jondee on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 06:19:02 PM EST
    And he said I'm outa' sight
    He said for a nominal service charge
    I could reach nirvana tonight..

    I had a friend back in the day who was a Rajneesh sanyaasi or whatever they called themselves..


    Parent

    So did i (none / 0) (#157)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 06:43:23 PM EST
    Still in the area I think

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    Watched the first episode last night (none / 0) (#166)
    by McBain on Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 09:29:27 AM EST
    Liked it and will continue.  There was another good cult documentary a few years ago called Holy Hell.  

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    After hoards of orange-robed (none / 0) (#161)
    by jondee on Mon Mar 19, 2018 at 07:22:06 PM EST
    sanyasis, blissed-out spiritual megalomaniacs, assassination plots etc a little soul food and jazz music didn't seem so bad in retrospect after all.

    Watched a good movie on Amazon Prime (none / 0) (#163)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 08:04:40 AM EST
    Saturday night. Battalion. It's Russian (I know, they're the bad guys these days). Dialog is in Russian with English subtitles. But I love historical  movies and/or period pieces. It's a story about the formation a women's battalion in the Russian army during WWI. Takes place in 1917 after the February revolution, but before the October Revolution.

    Couple of interesting dots (none / 0) (#167)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 09:34:38 AM EST
    We're connected last night on Rachel. As they often are.

    You may have seen the headlines splashed across the interwebs about Mueller convicted ped0phile witness.   Lots of news about this just in the last few days that include sealed court information.
    Happening at the same time is Donalds man crush on his new "attorney" Joseph DeGenova.

    The case against Nader seems to have been tossed because of investigator misconduct.

    The interesting is that the prosecutor who lost that case against was, wait for it, Joseph DeGenova.

    Finally, the Biggest Issue Gets Discussed (none / 0) (#169)
    by RickyJim on Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 09:55:31 AM EST
    Well, Some Things Bothered Me (none / 0) (#175)
    by RickyJim on Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 11:49:36 AM EST
    Only concrete suggestions given were at the end and done too fast. Too much mixing of racial issues with economic ones.  Why was Trayvon Martin even mentioned?  You want to win back the people who voted for Trump, not turn them off.

    Parent
    Bernie needs to shut up (5.00 / 2) (#176)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 11:53:17 AM EST
    The massive demonstration on Saturday will, intentionally and openly, have NO politicians as speakers.

    They want them to listen.

    They do not want self serving pablum.

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    In the interest of balance (5.00 / 2) (#177)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 12:00:59 PM EST
    Hillary also needs to stop talking.  Take 5 (months).  This is a critical election year.   Stop talking about the people who did not vote for you.

    Time to be an elder statesperson

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    It's not enough (none / 0) (#178)
    by CST on Tue Mar 20, 2018 at 12:02:44 PM EST
    To "win back" Trump voters.

    You also have to keep the base.  The base is not going to sit down and shut up about racial issues because it makes Trump voters uncomfortable.

    Bernie didn't win the Democratic primary and it wasn't that close.  He's never going to be president if he can't win the primary first.

    Parent