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New Book Trashes Jared and Ivanka for Self-Dealing

As inexperienced, untalented, and "bubble-ized" as we all know the Trump offspring to be, the new book "Kushner, Inc" shows just how much Donald Trump has imperiled the nation with his nepotism and the tawdry list of characters he has appointed and fired. It's hard to take sides when they are all so appalling.

White House staffers mocked Kushner as the “secretary of everything” for his wide-ranging meddling and derided Ivanka Trump’s team as Habi – “home of all bad ideas”.

...John Kelly, formerly Trump’s chief of staff and homeland security secretary, is quoted as dismissing the couple as “just playing government”.

[More...]

...Bannon recalls Kushner furiously shouting at him at the White House in 2017 after he confronted Kushner about holding secret talks with senators on immigration reform. “He goes from a little boy to, like, this f*cking devil,” Bannon is quoted as saying.

Bannon also claims to have told Ivanka Trump: “Go f*ck yourself … you are nothing” in front of her father, during an argument over who was the bigger leaker to the media. Ivanka Trump is said to have called Bannon a “f*cking liar”.

And, get this: Both Ivanka and D. Jr. think they will become President one day and that their family is a dynasty. (I'm calling him D. Jr. from now on because every time I type out his name, I type "Dumbo" right after, and I don't like to name-call. I also want to avoid publicizing him).

For her part, Ivanka Trump is focused on cementing a Trump dynasty to rival the Kennedys and Bushes by becoming commander-in-chief herself one day, according to Ward. “She thinks she’s going to be president of the United States,” Cohn is quoted as saying.

Neither one of them should get their hopes up. The scandals are still coming. The New York Attorney General isn't done with the Trump Foundation Charity yet, claiming they deceived at every turn. NY wants $5.6 million in payback.

"In this vacuum of oversight and diligence, Mr. Trump caused the foundation to enter repeatedly into self-dealing transactions and to coordinate unlawfully with his presidential campaign," James said, citing the charity’s internal emails, government filings and admissions made under oath.

A judge is weighing the state’s request to ban Trump from serving on a New York not-for-profit for 10 years and bar his children for one year. Trump, who claims the case is politically motivated, agreed to shutter the foundation under an agreement that gives James oversight of how the charity’s remaining funds will be disbursed.

You can read the Attorney General's pleading here.

And if all this isn't enough to ruin your day, check out this Washington Post article on the beyond wasteful Trump inaugural.

That goes for all of them.

< Trump Vetoes Funding Bill | Joe Biden: Your Father's Oldsmobile is Honking at Us >
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  • Display: Sort:
    Mueller's report... (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by desertswine on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 04:18:56 PM EST
    Even though I don't want know more (none / 0) (#1)
    by fishcamp on Mon Mar 18, 2019 at 06:27:41 AM EST
    about Kushner the twerp,  I think I'll read it on my iPad.  That way I can switch to a real spy novel and get rid of him with a flick of the finger.

    It seems impossible (none / 0) (#2)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 18, 2019 at 09:18:09 AM EST
    The bubble would be so dense she actually believes she will be president.

    But I believe it.

    Maybe she will be president of cell block 12a

    Will not read (none / 0) (#3)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 18, 2019 at 09:45:25 AM EST
    the book, but I definetly will read any indictments.

    Sorry, (none / 0) (#4)
    by KeysDan on Mon Mar 18, 2019 at 09:49:46 AM EST
    Make that...definitely,  or..for sure.

    Parent
    All These Books... (none / 0) (#5)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Mar 18, 2019 at 02:52:30 PM EST
    ...are nothing more that fantasy unless someone can prove something.  

    There are so many it would take a break in the laws of time for them all them to be true and all they have really accomplished is proving the paranoia Trump and his supporters have in regards to the media, it not actually paranoia.

    Peach Pie (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Repack Rider on Mon Mar 18, 2019 at 05:26:06 PM EST
     

        4 pounds peaches, peeled and cut into wedges
        3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
        1/4 cup all-purpose flour
        1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
        1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
        1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
        1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
        2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
        1 large egg

    Toss the peaches in a bowl with 3/4 cup sugar, the flour, lemon juice and spices.

    Lightly dust a large piece of parchment paper with flour. Roll out 1 piece of the dough into a 12-inch round on the parchment. Ease the dough into a 9-inch pie plate. Add the filling, mounding it slightly in the center; dot with the butter and refrigerate. Roll out the second piece of dough into a 12-inch round and cut it into 1/2-inch-wide strips. Lay half of the strips on the pie in one direction, leaving about 1 inch of space between each strip. Lay the remaining strips on top, crossing them diagonally to make a lattice pattern (no need to weave); trim the edges of the strips, leaving a small overhang. Fold the overhanging dough under itself and crimp the edge of the crust with your fingers.

    Beat the egg with 1 tablespoon water and brush on the crust edge and lattice top. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.

    Position a rack in the lower third of the oven. Put a baking sheet on the rack and preheat to 425 degrees F. Put the pie on the hot baking sheet and bake 20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F and continue baking until the pie is golden and the filling is bubbly, 50 minutes to 1 hour. (Cover loosely with foil if the top is browning too quickly.) Transfer to a rack to cool completely before slicing.

    Don't forget the whipped cream!


    Parent

    oh yummmmm! Peaches.... (none / 0) (#7)
    by leap on Mon Mar 18, 2019 at 06:33:08 PM EST
    Now that the snow is fast disappearing, what with temps in the 60s, I need to prune my peach tree this week, and the apricot tree, and the nectarine tree. Actually, I have a friend do that. He did a lot of fruit-tree pruning in local orchards before he became an expert house remodeler. So he know how to do it, and thinks five years ahead for what the trees will need. Mmmmmmmm, fresh fruit's a'comin. Raspberries first, though! Then the blueberries. I pruned all those two days ago.

    Oh boy, I'm so glad this winter is done.

    Parent

    Same (none / 0) (#8)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 18, 2019 at 06:36:47 PM EST
    Looking forward to moving all the plants out on the deck.  They are looking forward to it too.

    Parent
    You have (none / 0) (#9)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Mar 18, 2019 at 06:41:49 PM EST
    to get some peaches from Georgia to make this. They are the best :).

    Parent
    Sorry, no (none / 0) (#10)
    by Peter G on Mon Mar 18, 2019 at 07:01:57 PM EST
    New Jersey peaches

    Parent
    Good peaches can be found (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 08:40:20 AM EST
    growing in PA. Lots of groves around Biglerville in Adams County.

    Parent
    peaches (none / 0) (#11)
    by leap on Mon Mar 18, 2019 at 07:07:58 PM EST
    peaches, no matter where

    Parent
    She's right (none / 0) (#12)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 18, 2019 at 07:13:31 PM EST
    About Georgia peaches

    Parent
    I (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by FlJoe on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 08:47:00 AM EST
    lean towards Im-peaches at the moment.

    Parent
    Ben & Jerry's (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 09:06:02 AM EST
    Should jump on this.

    Parent
    Fake news! (none / 0) (#13)
    by Peter G on Mon Mar 18, 2019 at 10:21:37 PM EST
    Vidalia onions, yes. Peaches, good, but second to NJ.

    Parent
    Nope. Not Vidalia onions. (5.00 / 3) (#50)
    by caseyOR on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 09:26:50 PM EST
    The best are Walla Walla sweets from the Pacific Northwest.

    Parent
    How about my (none / 0) (#14)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Mar 18, 2019 at 10:30:55 PM EST
    Court packing question in another thread?

    Parent
    It's actually a very complex and (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Peter G on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 09:42:04 AM EST
    difficult question, to which I don't have a blog-comment-sized answer that I'm confident about, at least not yet. Sorry, Capt.

    Parent
    Starting to worry a little (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 12:06:20 PM EST
    About democratic candidates attempting to pander and over promising things they can't deliver.  I think this is unwise particularly in the coming election because they will be so many first time, or first presidential election, voters.

    Packing the court.  Eliminating the electoral college.  Reparations.

    I'm not really against any of those things in the abstract but all would be fantastically hard to deliver.

    Parent

    Thank you that was my feeling as well. (none / 0) (#19)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 09:51:00 AM EST
    Not quite sure how to feel about it.  Not saying that's what you mean but looking forward to some insight.  Clearly it's going to be an issue in 2020.

    Parent
    Just my $0.02, but ... (none / 0) (#54)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Mar 21, 2019 at 02:16:28 AM EST
    ... if the Republicans hadn't first bulldozed through and blown off most of the Senate's democratic norms in order to both paralyze the federal government and pack our federal courts with right-wing nutballs and ideological zealots, there would otherwise be no need for us to have to discuss a potential and prospective expansion of the U.S. Supreme Court from 9 to 15 justices as a counterbalancing measure.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I have never (none / 0) (#51)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Mar 20, 2019 at 06:28:40 AM EST
    had NJ peaches but my friend from high school and college who lives in the Philly area raves about them. However you don't get good GA peaches in the grocery store. I get them at the farmer's market from family farms that have been growing peaches for like over 100 years. These farms are in central GA where the first peach plants came directly from China and they are originals that have not been messed with genetically.

    Parent
    Same here. For real NJ peaches (none / 0) (#53)
    by Peter G on Wed Mar 20, 2019 at 05:40:23 PM EST
    you go to a farm stand in south Jersey.

    Parent
    I wish we could get fresh peaches out here. (none / 0) (#55)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Mar 21, 2019 at 02:23:48 AM EST
    But in order to ship them to the islands, the fruit has to be picked so early that it's like buying a case of baseballs when we get them in the local grocery stores. And if they've been plucked off the trees too early, they'll simply rot without ever having ripened, and we end up throwing the entire lot away.

    Parent
    You are both wrong. (none / 0) (#42)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 03:05:26 PM EST
    Everyone knows that Palisade peaches grown in the shadow of beautiful Grand Mesa are the best.

    Warm days and cool nights bring out the natural sweetness.

    Parent

    gonna move to the country (none / 0) (#57)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Mar 21, 2019 at 08:50:57 AM EST
    So I Take It... (none / 0) (#22)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 10:56:58 AM EST
    ... not discussing uncomfortable topics has been replaced with recipes and the thread gets hijacked with 101 versions of 'that sounds yummy'.

    Parent
    Did not understand (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by KeysDan on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 11:05:49 AM EST
    the recipe responses either.  Recipes had been reserved for "Ivan".  If someone did not like your comment, they could have responded with their own comment or given a low mark. Usual TL way.  

    Parent
    That Remins Me... (none / 0) (#28)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 11:42:53 AM EST
    ...where did Jim or JIMakaPPK go ?

    Parent
    He banned (none / 0) (#30)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 11:44:10 AM EST
    He certainly had his day in the sun (none / 0) (#34)
    by jondee on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 12:55:31 PM EST
    He had years in the sun. (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by desertswine on Wed Mar 20, 2019 at 11:18:41 AM EST
    was here in 2001 (none / 0) (#43)
    by jmacWA on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 03:39:23 PM EST
    When I first discovered Talk Left.  He participated in many epic arguments over the years. I think I agreed with him once :).  Also if I recall correctly he gave sarcastic unnamed one his handle

    Parent
    Ha! Thanks for the trip down memory lane! (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 04:15:14 PM EST
    Back in the day, TL did not require names/handles to post comments, and if you didn't choose a handle your post would automatically appear with the handle "unnamed."

    So having not yet chosen a handle my posts appeared as "unnamed," and someone I sarcastically disagreed with then referred to me as "sarcastic unnamed one."

    Although I do not remember who the commenter was I'm sure it was not Jim, as I rarely read his comments and even less often responded to them.

    It wasn't Dadler either, but maybe he was around at the time and remembers who it was?

    Parent

    Around 2006 (none / 0) (#92)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 07:53:41 PM EST
    when TalkLeft moved from Movable Type to Scoop and the comments were moved over, everyone became a "TalkLeft Visitor" with no name. There was no way to transfer the names. There were a few exceptions for some reason, but maybe that's how you became unnamed. All the "Talkleft Vistors" did use their "chosen handles" when they made the comment, the handles just didn't survive the move. TalkLeft has never allowed anonymous comments -- only registered readers can comment.

    I don't remember how you became know as Sarcastic.

    Parent

    Thanks J. (none / 0) (#103)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Mar 25, 2019 at 11:45:23 AM EST
    Anyone Remember Why... (none / 0) (#45)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 03:51:54 PM EST
    ...he got das boot ?

    I remember him and jondee were tight and that he had his own blog, pajama pants or pajama party ?  

    Parent

    Two peas in a pod (5.00 / 5) (#48)
    by jondee on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 04:24:50 PM EST
    that was us

    Parent
    Heh. I figured I'd let you handle that one (none / 0) (#49)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 04:26:39 PM EST
    yourself.

    Parent
    Tall Cotton (none / 0) (#47)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 04:19:19 PM EST
    Oe something like that was his RWNJ "blog".

    Parent
    Because he could not stop (none / 0) (#91)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 07:49:42 PM EST
    from making himself the topic rather than the subject of the post. Every open thread turned into bickering with personal attacks between him and whoever was arguing with him in that particular thread. It lowered the level of discourse here. He also, towards the end, started trolling, posting opinions he had shared hundreds of time just to start a fight. Too many readers would fall for it.

    Parent
    Not that uncomfortable (none / 0) (#25)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 11:36:49 AM EST
    Really

    Parent
    One (none / 0) (#24)
    by FlJoe on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 11:18:09 AM EST
    book may be a fantasy, two books may be a fable, three books start to become a narrative...many books that repeat the same story(chaos in the WH)and soon you have historical fact.

    Not to mention the rest of the evidence that is plain to see.

    Parent

    Who here trusts Bannon? (none / 0) (#20)
    by thomas rogan on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 10:24:20 AM EST
    I didn't know that people here trusted Bannon to tell the truth about anything.

    Nobody Trusts Bannon (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Repack Rider on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 10:50:14 AM EST
    ESPECIALLY Mueller does not trust Bannon. Anyone reading the news during the last three years knows that Bannon can't be trusted.

    I hope YOU don't trust Bannon.

    Mueller had no reason to "trust" Whitey Bulger, who was a murderer. Nobody has accused Bannon of murder. But Whitey Bulger's testimony put John Gotti in prison.

    It turns out that experienced prosecutors like Mueller don't trust ANYBODY, so they back up testimony from multiple sources.

    Now that you know that, I hope you feel better about "trusting" Bannon.

    Parent

    I Guess... (none / 0) (#26)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 11:40:15 AM EST
    ...you don't distinguish between, 'people here', and special counsel Robert Mueller?

    The author, Jeralyn, is posting it here; with all her talk about libelous and whatnot; there is an implication of posting it here.  And as far as, I, or you know, Special counsel Robert Mueller hasn't read the book, much less used it to indict anyone.

    No one here knows if it is factual, yeah, judging the people involved, it's most likely hitting the truth more than not, but the idea that we just take another book about Trump on it's face seems silly, especially when it's got information from unsavory characters such as Bannon.  And I doubt anyone thinks any of these books are 100% accurate.

    As mentioned above, that you so cutely derailed with a recipe, all the books simply cannot be true.  And to me, without knowing what is real and what is false, we shouldn't be throwing accusations around just because we don't like the guy or his family, especially a book that has information from the likes of a Steve Bannon.

    Who in the hell is Vicky Ward anyway ?

    It's a damn state of sad affairs when:

    • Trump could kill someone and his supporters would defend it
    • That anyone can put anything in a book about Trump and D's will believe it

    Two sides of the same coin.

    Parent
    Why (none / 0) (#27)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 11:42:46 AM EST
    Can't they be true?

    Parent
    Not saying they are (none / 0) (#29)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 11:43:56 AM EST
    Just curious why you think they "can't "

    Parent
    4 Reasons (none / 0) (#35)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 01:02:41 PM EST
    1. The majority of sources are people that work for Donald Trump, did not work for DT, and/or are politicians.  IOW, people highly motivated to lie.

    2. The most famous book, "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House", has had a lot of the claims discredited.

    3. There are only so many hours in the day.  There's been what, 15 books, each about 300 pages, of all the things that Trump and family has done that is unsavory in  2.5 years.  I mean come on, even the devil isn't that busy engaging in mayhem.

    4. Common sense.

    Please don't confuse this with my personal opinion.  I think Trump has committed many felonies, I think they will be able to prove some of them, and I think the democratic party won't do a GD thing about it because they would rather talk than walk.  There is truth in these books, but to think they are factual is silly and the more that come out the more they seem like hit jobs from a party that can't deal with losing.

    Parent
    The people whose minds (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by jondee on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 01:43:01 PM EST
    really need to be changed either don't read, or would need to be forcibly ripped away from the Bible, Ayn Rand, or some 8Chan conpiracist "white genocide" discussion thread.

    I do think though that Trump's well-known reputation for suing people at the drop of a hat would tend to steer writer's accounts in the direction of veracity.

    Parent

    For the record (5.00 / 2) (#37)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 01:53:33 PM EST
    Anyone who has followed Trump even just going back to the 80s and ignoring the history of his father know that not only is it almost a certainty that everything in everyone of those tell all books are true but that that do not even represent a scratch of the surface or the tip of the iceberg.

    Google is (mostly) our friend.


    Parent

    And speaking of the book (none / 0) (#38)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 01:57:12 PM EST
    That is the subject of this blogpost I have been seeing the author in interviews.   Strikes me as pretty damn credible.

    And in spite of Sara Sanders statements otherwise there are lots of "on the record" comments.

    Parent

    I view these books, and (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by KeysDan on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 02:30:08 PM EST
    admit to having read a couple of them, including Fire and Fury, as a part of the political landscape.

    In the Trump era, these books may bring some scandalous or even, titillating, perspectives, but nothing as damning as what we hear right out of the "horses mouth"--- so to say.  Conspiracy, collusion, obstruction/abuse of power, self-dealing---all out in the open, no books required.  

    Michelle Goldberg, in today's NYTimes, provides a review of the book in discussion, and, at its core, the author brings no new, real information.  To the surprise of no one, Ivanka and Jared are spoiled rich kids who reached an adulthood made for each other and the Trump Administration's cast of characters. I avoid cliches like the plague, but "the apples do not fall far from the tree", could be a subtitle.

    The Ivanka/Jared team seems to be charged with responsibilities vastly over their pay grade (even though they work for "free"), and the Kushner family bought a white elephant at 666 Park Ave and Jared has been scrambling to get a bail out. And, what are friends and networks for if not to help. Qatar, Bone Saw Prince, are just such new friends who may provide benefits.

    The Democratic Party did not have strong options during the first two years, blocked in the House and Senate (cf. Devin Nunes et al). However, the resistance and the 2018 elections were not unimportant.

    It was a victory of sorts to get a Special Prosecutor appointed and, then, not fired.  What will  come of the felonious and other wrongful conduct of the Trump inner orbit remains to be seen.

    There has been more than talk, in my view, and a lot of walking. The task at hand, with impeachment votes or electoral votes, is to remove from office the orange occupant of this blighted presidency and to stop the ongoing and serious damage to the country.  

    Parent

    Note (none / 0) (#40)
    by KeysDan on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 02:33:52 PM EST
    make that Special Counsel. (not Special Prosecutor).

    Parent
    "Fire and Fury" was a lot of gossip. (none / 0) (#56)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Mar 21, 2019 at 02:47:58 AM EST
    ScottW714: "The most famous book, 'Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House"', has had a lot of the claims discredited."

    I'm not aware that much, if any, of its claims has since been debunked and / or discredited. I'll grant you that there were a lot of White House officials who were unhappy with or embarrassed by it. But the bottom line is that the book's still mostly gossip -- and gossip is, well, gossip. I tend to not have too much faith in gossip, regardless of how salacious and juicy it is.

    Christopher Steele's dossier, on the other hand, is not gossip but actual raw intelligence gathered by a former MI6 operative who's a well-respected Russian affairs specialist. And it has since proven to have some serious legs, despite the efforts by the GOP right to discredit its author since it was first leaked in January 2017. About one-third of its contentions have been verified by investigators, and none of it has been debunked.

    Between "Fire and Fury" and the Steele dossier, the latter has much more credence that the former, and its allegations are far more serious from the perspective of national security.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I think Fire and Fury (none / 0) (#97)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 08:28:04 PM EST
    is pretty informative -- especially on things like the plane ride home from Europe when the response to the New York Times article on DT Jr's Russia meeting was crafted (reportedly by Hicks and Kushner -- the book said Ivanka had taken a sleeping pill and gone to sleep. His version credibly (in my opinion) explains how the story they were crafting led to Mark Corallo's and Trump's lawyer (I forget his name now) resigning.

    I actually have a PDF copy of the book I can cut and paste from, and have gone back re-read sections  several times when stories come out about various white house personnel resigning.

    Parent

    You (none / 0) (#31)
    by FlJoe on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 11:57:44 AM EST
    are acting like these books exist in a vacuum Even if none of them existed my judgement of the insanity, incompetence and illegality of tRump's WH
    would remain the same.

    Parent
    One of the problems with (none / 0) (#33)
    by jondee on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 12:34:37 PM EST
    the Age of Trump is that in contemplating for too long how far off the deep end the Right has gone, we seem to be at times in danger of slipping over the edge ourselves.

    Maybe that's what Nietzsche meant when he said if you gaze into the abyss for too long the abyss gazes back.

    Parent

    Don't think (none / 0) (#41)
    by KeysDan on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 02:47:34 PM EST
    Nietzsche, on the other hand, was affirming bothsiderism ow whataboutism. This is, in my view, a danger from the media---equating the fanatical, authoritative Right with the left...e.g., institutionalized horrors, such as white supremacist, racist (or the softer, economic anxious)...versus a comment by a freshman Democratic member of Congress on something green.

    Parent
    No he was just saying (5.00 / 3) (#44)
    by jondee on Tue Mar 19, 2019 at 03:39:58 PM EST
    don't let the crude, stupid, and unprincipaled drag you down to their level.

    Stuff our grandmas warned us about

    Parent

    Recordings and Double Sourcing (none / 0) (#94)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 08:13:51 PM EST
    Michael Wolff (Fire and and Fury) says he recorded Bannon's interviews.  Vicky Ward says she double sourced everyone:

    "I mean, one of the challenges when you report a book like this is not to take just one person's version of events," Ward said. "I think that particularly when you have sources who want to be anonymous, it's really important that you double source everything so you can be absolutely assured that the scene about Jared pushing the president to fire James Comey did not--just because Bannon is in the room, that there is multiple sourcing, eyewitnesses on that."

    I think Bannon sounds similar in both books. Which doesn't make the comments attributed to him true or false, but it does seem like he probably made them.

    I didn't promote the book or vouch for Ward or the book's contents. I wrote about its publication because it's in the news.  None of the quotes I mentioned are libelous -- it's not a crime to want to be President, and I don't think anyone would contest  that Trump's children don't have prior relevant experience for the positions they hold, or that their positions weren't the result of nepotism.

    Parent

    Link for article (none / 0) (#95)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 08:14:48 PM EST
    with Ward's quote is here.

    Parent
    The Outrage... (none / 0) (#58)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Mar 21, 2019 at 01:08:06 PM EST
    ...over Trump trashing McCain is seriously funny, from democrats acting like McCain was their best buddy, to republicans acting like they are offended for the thousandth time by the guy everyone knows they will vote for, including the McCains.

    What's (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by FlJoe on Thu Mar 21, 2019 at 01:41:35 PM EST
    with the both-siderism? This is not a partisan issue whatsoever, by all accounts McCain was a decent human being and a loyal American. Simple humanity demands respect for such a person even if he was a lifetime political foe.

    On the other hand for the truly evil.....

    Parent

    Except that Whole Thing... (3.50 / 2) (#60)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Mar 21, 2019 at 02:03:22 PM EST
    ...in 2008 involving Obama and Palin and there wasn't a kind word to be said about McCain and little respect from the left, but now that Trump is dumping on him, he's larger than life man who doesn't deserve a disparaging remark form anyone.

    If by both siderism you mean both sides are full of it when it comes to McCain outrage, then ya, I'm a both siderist when it comes to defending John McCain's honor.

    Parent

    I think it is the whole 'speaking ill of the dead' (5.00 / 4) (#63)
    by vml68 on Thu Mar 21, 2019 at 03:11:04 PM EST
    that a lot of people object to.
    I will be honest and say that if I had nothing nice to say about a person when they were alive, I am not going to change my tune after they die.

    As far as McCain is concerned, I think many democrats appreciated this moment.
    "I can't trust Obama. I have read about him, and he's not, um, he's an Arab," a woman said to McCain at a town hall meeting in Lakeville, Minnesota in October 2008.

    McCain grabbed the microphone from her, cutting her off. "No, ma'am," he said. "He's a decent family man [and] citizen that just I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that's what the campaign's all about. He's not [an Arab]."

    I have also read a lot of accounts from people who  talked about watching the moment McCain gave his thumbs down for the repeal of the ACA and what it meant to them personally. His no vote meant that it would save their life or the life of a loved one that depended on the ACA, that is a powerful thing.

    The fact that McCain requested that Tr*mp not be at his funeral is enough for me to like the man. While I am not about to put him on a pedestal or lionize him, I will say, he had his redeeming moments.

    Parent

    I'll Remember That Next Time Someone is... (none / 0) (#69)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 09:19:56 AM EST
    ... trashing Nixon, Reagan, or Bush. Or have they been dead long enough to disparage posthumous?

    McCain may have called out an OWL, old white lady, but he pulled Palin into the mix to do what he didn't have the stomach to do, insinuate that Obama was a foreigner with ties to terrorism.

    I think it's just as telling that she wasn't invited to his funeral as well.

    My point that seems to have been deluded a bit, it isn't that McCain wasn't a good guy or a decent human being, only that the people that are jumping to his defense aren't doing it out of altruism, that that is pretty damn funny.

    And for F's sake, can we please stop acting offended every time Trump sends out an offensive tweet ?  That is his rocket fuel, he lives for it and so do the people who put him in office.  Most of his appeal is not being politically correct.

    It's like no one has learned a GD thing since 4 years ago.  
    They keep feeding the monster.

    Parent

    I think you are missing the point. (5.00 / 5) (#70)
    by vml68 on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 10:48:38 AM EST
    I'll Remember That Next Time Someone is trashing Nixon, Reagan, or Bush. Or have they been dead long enough to disparage posthumous?

    I don't believe anyone here is saying that you can't trash McCain (or anyone else who is deceased) or that there is a waiting period once a person dies before you can say something negative about said person.
    Speaking for myself only, I think bashing McCain for Palin is fair game. Mocking his service during the Vietnam war is not.

    I think Tr*mp trying to take credit for McCain's funeral by saying that he gave McCain "the kind of funeral he wanted" rubbed people the wrong way.
    Trashing people who are dead makes no difference to the deceased but can be hard on their loved ones who are still around and most often are not responsible in any way for the deceased person's action/words. They are the only ones who will be hurt.

    the people that are jumping to his defense aren't doing it out of altruism, that that is pretty damn funny.

    We all have our own reasons for defending McCain. It is a bit unfair to assume that no one is doing it out of altruism. There is nothing wrong with showing simple human decency and good manners.

    And for F's sake, can we please stop acting offended every time Trump sends out an offensive tweet ?  That is his rocket fuel, he lives for it

    I confess I am exhausted from being outraged by all that Tr*mp has said and done. I am glad that there are others who are not. I believe that the minute we all become numb and just shrug our shoulders at his latest offense, it will normalize every vile thing he has said and done. We cannot afford that.
    I disagree with you that acting offended is Tr*mp's rocket fuel. The man craves adulation. He is so thin-skinned, he cannot handle the slightest perceived slight. We need to keep showing him how much he disgusts us.


    Parent
    OTOH (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 10:59:09 AM EST
    This is not a "tweet".

    It's a days long sustained attack that, yes, is clearly intended to distract from the looming media hell about to descend on Trump.

    That said we can ignore it and normalize the vile behavior it is or we can walk and chew gum at the same time.

    Parent

    While we may disagree on some (5.00 / 6) (#71)
    by vml68 on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 10:54:34 AM EST
    things, we are still on the same team.
    So, as a peace offering...
    Here is a video that makes me laugh everytime I watch it.

    Parent
    That was (5.00 / 2) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 11:07:15 AM EST
    AWSUM

    Parent
    Remember (none / 0) (#74)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 11:12:08 AM EST
    this?

    Seriously

    How would we survive without them

    Parent

    Peace Offering ? (none / 0) (#75)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 12:11:15 PM EST
    I feel like my absence has everyone forgetting that when it's slow sometimes I will stir the pot a little.  Call me crazy, but without Jim, everyone agreeing on almost everything is pretty boring.  Put JBinDC in that same camp, before HRC she was a good source for a good opinion that wasn't so homogeneous.

    No peace offering needed because this is just me being me.  That is not to say that I don't find the McCain non-sense funny, I do.  But dang, I just don't remember TL being so damn agreeable.  I like arguing about things that I really don't care about.

    When recipes start taking up real estate at a political blog... someone needs to kick the dog.  Excellent video BTW.

    Parent

    I agree with you that it is boring when we (none / 0) (#76)
    by vml68 on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 12:42:34 PM EST
    all agree. And normally, I wouldn't care if we snipe at each other over pointless little things. But, I loathe Tr*mp so much that I prefer that instead of bickering with each other, we direct all  our animosity towards him and his henchmen.

    I can't say that I miss Jim. He just repeated the same things over and over again but I do miss JbinDc.

    The "peace offering" is me pretending to be something I'm not on the internet ;-)!  In real life, I am like a dog with a bone when it comes to arguments

    Parent

    I knew you liked arguing (none / 0) (#77)
    by jondee on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 01:52:13 PM EST
    for the sake of arguing when we were talking about the Packers and you said Sterling Sharpe wasn't that good.

    Parent
    Hopefully Clay Mathews has a couple (none / 0) (#78)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 01:56:42 PM EST
    good years left in him.

    For 30MM/year, he better.

    Parent

    Correction, ftr his deal is 4.6/year base (none / 0) (#109)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Mar 26, 2019 at 03:31:18 PM EST
    max around 9.2 with incentives.

    Not sure where I got the 30 number in my comment above, but it was way off.

    Parent

    JJ Watt... (none / 0) (#110)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Mar 27, 2019 at 09:49:21 AM EST
    ...Clay's good twin from Wisconsin, received a $30M signing bonus ?

    Parent
    That's is Silly (none / 0) (#79)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 02:24:32 PM EST
    Everyone knows Shannon is the one that is way overrated.

    Parent
    McCain's "Hail Mary" Pass (none / 0) (#96)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 08:18:45 PM EST
    in picking Palin was inexcusable and unforgivable. I have no fondness for him. The reason Trump's comments were out of line is that he's picking on a recently deceased person who can't fight back and because McCain honorably served in the military and was a prisoner of war.

    Parent
    I've not (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Mar 21, 2019 at 03:26:50 PM EST
    seen anybody saying McCain was their best buddy.

    In 2008 Obama's campaign should have gone after McCain's and Palin's bad ideas instead of going after him personally.

    Parent

    I Keep Forgetting... (none / 0) (#62)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Mar 21, 2019 at 02:54:06 PM EST
    ...how thin skinned TL is in regards to criticism of democrats.  

    Can I amend my last comment to say, "Yeah people who never gave two squirts about John McCain should most certainly jump on the 'Trump Has Again Sunk to His Lowest Level' bandwagon because it will solidify a win for democrats in 2020.

    Then broil on high for 10 mins and let cool before sticking a fork in it and declaring it done.

    Name one Democrat (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Mar 21, 2019 at 03:19:09 PM EST
    that has disparaged John McCain's service to his country.

    His politics, sure. His very poor choice of running mate, definitely.

    But name a Democrat that has ever spoke ill of his military service or the time he spent at the Hanoi Hilton. "I like people who don't get captured." Not a Democrat.

    Parent

    That's really the point (none / 0) (#66)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 21, 2019 at 03:33:42 PM EST
    Isn't it.

    I disagreed with pretty much all of McCains political positions.  But he walked the walk.  It wasn't my walk.  Mine was sadly closer to Trump.  And I can say I would not have gone to Vietnam because I opposed the war, I did, but the truth is I did not want to die.  I could not afford the out Trump took.  I "won" the lottery.  So I did not need to.  But I would have done almost anything to avoid going.  I knew enough men who went and came back.  

    But McCain was from a military family.  He had to go. He went.  When he was offered a chance to leave because he was from a storied family he turned it down.

    That quite apart from the stuff about being the last republican to speak truth to the whacked out crazies and voting to save the ACA.

    I think what Trump is doing is beyond and below despicable.  If someone can't see that it's not my problem.

    Parent

    Quoting Words that I Never Wrote ? (none / 0) (#67)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Mar 21, 2019 at 03:57:22 PM EST
    Name one Democrat that has disparaged John McCain's service to his country.

    I believe only Trump has done that.

    Name one Democrat that didn't put McCain's judgement or state of mind on the block when he decided on Sarah Palin as a running mate ?

    Off topic, but one could argue that Palin paved the way for Trump, which is really funny and something surely Meghan has pondered a time or two.

    Parent

    First, you need to distinguish (none / 0) (#98)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 08:35:32 PM EST
    between TalkLeft and TalkLeft commenters.

    As to TalkLeft, this is a site that supports the Democrats, whatever faults they have, because I believe they are better than Republicans when it comes to every issue of importance to me personally and to persons accused of crime.

    I never interfere with well-written comments that criticize Democrats' strategy or a particular Democrat's position on an issue. I only intercede   when the comment includes name-calling, personal attacks or is patently false.

    I also don't allow comments that shill for votes for Republicans or third party candidates in an election year. People need to get their own blogs for that.

    Parent

    Mueller has submitted (none / 0) (#82)
    by Chuck0 on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 04:33:01 PM EST
    his report to the AG. Lots of speculating on the talking head shows.

    Being (none / 0) (#83)
    by FlJoe on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 05:02:30 PM EST
    spun as a big win for team tRump and I won't disagree.

    Parent
    We will see (none / 0) (#84)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 05:09:27 PM EST
    Barr says he will pass off info this weekend.   He say he will consult with Rosenstein and Mueller on what to release.

    I reserve judgement.

    Parent

    I do not think Trump would have (none / 0) (#85)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 05:12:05 PM EST
    Been spinning so wildly out of control if he thought that was the case.

    Parent
    Lawyer question (none / 0) (#86)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 05:53:50 PM EST
    Is there any reason to think there are or ARE NOT sealed indictments?  Now that it's over and they are not yet announced.

    Parent
    I do not think there are (5.00 / 4) (#99)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 08:38:19 PM EST
    sealed indictments because the report would tip off who they are and give anyone charged an opportunity to destroy evidence, such as on their phones and computers.

    If there were new indictments, I would expect them to be preceded by arrests, not the announcement of a report.

    Just my opinion.

    Parent

    Thanks (none / 0) (#101)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Mar 23, 2019 at 08:11:21 AM EST
    We just kept hearing about these sealed indictments that were supposed to be out there some where.

    Parent
    Because we are being told (none / 0) (#87)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 06:15:38 PM EST
    There will not be further indictments.

    So wondering if there may be existing sealed indictments.

    Parent

    No reason, one way or the other (none / 0) (#88)
    by Peter G on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 06:59:41 PM EST
    For these folks, secret is secret and sealed is sealed.

    Parent
    Thanks (none / 0) (#89)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 07:06:57 PM EST
    So (none / 0) (#90)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 07:23:54 PM EST
    If there are sealed indictments they would not be unsealed when the investigation is concluded?

    As a result of the conclusion?  I guess is what I was wondering.

    Why would they remain sealed?  Because of other ongoing investigations?  Maybe.


    Parent

    I really don't know why indictments would remain (none / 0) (#93)
    by Peter G on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 08:04:11 PM EST
    sealed. In all my experience, the only reason I have ever seen for an indictment being sealed is allow the successful execution of an arrest warrant for someone who might flee the jurisdiction if they knew an indictment had issued against them. In this context, it could be someone who is overseas (a Russian, for example), and who might travel to a place where a U.S. (or Interpol) warrant can be executed if they didn't know that an arrest awaited them if they did so. That's the only theory I have. If there is another, I don't know what it would be.

    Parent
    I agree Peter, (none / 0) (#100)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Mar 22, 2019 at 08:39:09 PM EST
    I wrote my comment before reading yours.

    Parent
    Is Jeralyn the Only Poster ? (none / 0) (#102)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Mar 25, 2019 at 11:04:08 AM EST
    What happened to, shoot I can't remember his name, but he would post the occasional sports related post.

    It is March, and from what I can tell, there was a hell of a lot of madness going on, especially in Tulsa where Houston advanced to the Sweet 16.  They will play Kentucky on Friday in Kansas City.

    Only J these days. (none / 0) (#104)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Mar 25, 2019 at 11:50:42 AM EST
    I (none / 0) (#105)
    by FlJoe on Mon Mar 25, 2019 at 11:57:46 AM EST
    thinks you are referring to Big Tent Democrat. Alas he has abandoned us for the twitter-verse.

    Parent
    Yes, That Was the Name That Alluded Me (none / 0) (#106)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Mar 25, 2019 at 01:15:59 PM EST
    If I remember right, he was highly adverse to the social media blow-ups around here, so that is odd that he would head over to Twitter, where those blow-ups are pretty common.

    Parent
    I haven't been a big college hoops fan (none / 0) (#107)
    by McBain on Mon Mar 25, 2019 at 01:39:22 PM EST
    since the players started leaving after one season. There's still some good talent but the overall quality of play isn't what it used to be.  

    Parent
    I see one of the Sandy Hook parents (none / 0) (#108)
    by jondee on Mon Mar 25, 2019 at 09:25:01 PM EST
    just committed suicide.

    McBain, maybe you've got some theories as to why it is that the singling out and blaming of someone like Nick Sandmann has elicted a concerted campaign of outrage in some quarters, while the ongoing harassment, and victimization of the grieving Newtown families has been treated like an inconvenient or embarrassing event unworthy of acknowledgment.

    The Newtown Board of Education delivered a formal request to Trump that he simply publicly acknowledge that the Sandy Hook muderers occurred and rebuke those involved in the ongoing campaign to harass the grieving families, and he didn't have the decency to acknowledge that he recieved the request.

    Parent