We Are Only One Menstrual Cycle in and There Is Blood in the Water
February 16, 2017 1:00 PM Subscribe
Here we go. Good afternoon, everyone. As you just saw, the President was honored to host a press conference just a short time ago.
Under President Trump, the White House Press Corp will return to its original, core mission: to be a propaganda arm of the administration to ensure that the president's facts are distributed fairly and impartially for all Americans. President Trump is a world-class legal mind and experienced businessman, and the President is not pleased to see that leakers have finally put the press in their place as our nation’s top administrative disseminators.
After the President's press conference, the President intends to sign up to ten bills advanced using The Congressional Review Act and these bills are dedicated to ensuring coal companies can bring jobs back to our communities, reducing wolf attacks in Wyoming, and stopping hunters from being exposed to the occupational hazards of having to shoot animals in forests instead of from planes and helicopters.
Under President Trump, the White House Press Corp will return to its original, core mission: to be a propaganda arm of the administration to ensure that the president's facts are distributed fairly and impartially for all Americans. President Trump is a world-class legal mind and experienced businessman, and the President is not pleased to see that leakers have finally put the press in their place as our nation’s top administrative disseminators.
After the President's press conference, the President intends to sign up to ten bills advanced using The Congressional Review Act and these bills are dedicated to ensuring coal companies can bring jobs back to our communities, reducing wolf attacks in Wyoming, and stopping hunters from being exposed to the occupational hazards of having to shoot animals in forests instead of from planes and helicopters.
...So 53 hours and 14 minutes between new threads. I think may be a new record.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 1:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 1:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [27 favorites]
...and an amazing title.
posted by azpenguin at 1:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [65 favorites]
posted by azpenguin at 1:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [65 favorites]
...So 53 hours and 14 minutes between new threads. I think may be a new record.
Things move fast this side of Poe's Singularity.
posted by nubs at 1:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
Things move fast this side of Poe's Singularity.
posted by nubs at 1:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
TPM: The 8 Craziest Moments from Trump's Impromptu Press Conference
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [24 favorites]
Thank you for the new thread!
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 1:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 1:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
I had the first face to face meeting with my therapist since the election yesterday (I'd been trying to get an appointment since November). As she usually does, at the start of the session, she asked me what I hoped to leave the session with. She's very oriented towards finding tools to help me cope with shit.
Anyhow, I told her that since the election, I've been unable to stay focused at work because Trump is a nightmare person. She said that she's heard that from a ton of her patients. She's never seen anything like it and she says other therapists she knows are reporting the same thing.
I wanted to leave with some tools to help me retain focus and get some work done. I am sharing her advice with all of you in the hopes it does some good. Keep in mind, of course, that my therapist knows me pretty well and is good at identify stuff that works for me. Your mileage may vary like crazy.
First, I'm paraphrasing here and am maybe not remembering the exact words she used, she asked me to look at my activities from a perspective of pleasure and function. I'm to rate them from 1 to 10. An activity that gives me no pleasure and has no function is not healthy for me. For example, I would rate playing WoW like at a 9 on my pleasure scale right now (and probably like a 3 on function) and would rate reading about Betsy Devos and the actions I can take to oppose her as a 2 on the pleasure scale but like a 9 on function (since I can do something about it). I derive some satisfaction from both these activities.
But reading Trump's Nordstrom tweet? 0 on pleasure, 0 on function. It just makes me a shrieking ball of electric rage.
So, the trick becomes trying to recognize when I can take action about something that makes me mad ("Call Senator Schatz's office and speak to the nice people in his office") and when its just making me mad.
When I recognize the latter, I'm supposed to do something to keep myself from reaching supernova intensity before I become useless with rage and sorrow. She had me make a list of about 9 things I can do when I start getting really worked up (for example, I like walking, so I can go for a short walk). During the press conference, I probably added 2000 steps to my count for the day and really did feel quite a bit better.
So, in summary, when you find yourself getting impotently angry at the Trumpublicans, find something you can do that gives you some satisfaction before you get incoherently angry. I mean, I'm still angry, but I'm more focused and have been getting more work done today - and have thought more about how I can fight this insanity than normal.
Hope this is of some use to some of you.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [442 favorites]
Anyhow, I told her that since the election, I've been unable to stay focused at work because Trump is a nightmare person. She said that she's heard that from a ton of her patients. She's never seen anything like it and she says other therapists she knows are reporting the same thing.
I wanted to leave with some tools to help me retain focus and get some work done. I am sharing her advice with all of you in the hopes it does some good. Keep in mind, of course, that my therapist knows me pretty well and is good at identify stuff that works for me. Your mileage may vary like crazy.
First, I'm paraphrasing here and am maybe not remembering the exact words she used, she asked me to look at my activities from a perspective of pleasure and function. I'm to rate them from 1 to 10. An activity that gives me no pleasure and has no function is not healthy for me. For example, I would rate playing WoW like at a 9 on my pleasure scale right now (and probably like a 3 on function) and would rate reading about Betsy Devos and the actions I can take to oppose her as a 2 on the pleasure scale but like a 9 on function (since I can do something about it). I derive some satisfaction from both these activities.
But reading Trump's Nordstrom tweet? 0 on pleasure, 0 on function. It just makes me a shrieking ball of electric rage.
So, the trick becomes trying to recognize when I can take action about something that makes me mad ("Call Senator Schatz's office and speak to the nice people in his office") and when its just making me mad.
When I recognize the latter, I'm supposed to do something to keep myself from reaching supernova intensity before I become useless with rage and sorrow. She had me make a list of about 9 things I can do when I start getting really worked up (for example, I like walking, so I can go for a short walk). During the press conference, I probably added 2000 steps to my count for the day and really did feel quite a bit better.
So, in summary, when you find yourself getting impotently angry at the Trumpublicans, find something you can do that gives you some satisfaction before you get incoherently angry. I mean, I'm still angry, but I'm more focused and have been getting more work done today - and have thought more about how I can fight this insanity than normal.
Hope this is of some use to some of you.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [442 favorites]
I apologize for having to post it but there's a one week delay on new accounts making threads and Definitely Not Sean Spicer just wasn't ready for the task. Much like his real life alter ego.
posted by Talez at 1:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by Talez at 1:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [32 favorites]
Bizarre title, but thanks for the new thread.
posted by agregoli at 1:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by agregoli at 1:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
I said this in the other thread, but I'll say it here too.
Remember to be kind to one another in this thread.
posted by INFJ at 1:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [45 favorites]
Remember to be kind to one another in this thread.
posted by INFJ at 1:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [45 favorites]
Bizarre title, but thanks for the new thread.
It's a homage to Sam Bee's latest episode.
posted by Talez at 1:07 PM on February 16, 2017 [18 favorites]
It's a homage to Sam Bee's latest episode.
posted by Talez at 1:07 PM on February 16, 2017 [18 favorites]
"reducing wolf attacks in Wyoming"
So this is a priority. The last wolf attack in Wyoming was in 1908.
This is what happens when angry grandpa who shouts at the TV all day in his bathrobe becomes president.
posted by Kattullus at 1:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [142 favorites]
So this is a priority. The last wolf attack in Wyoming was in 1908.
This is what happens when angry grandpa who shouts at the TV all day in his bathrobe becomes president.
posted by Kattullus at 1:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [142 favorites]
find something you can do that gives you some satisfaction before you get incoherently angry
i keep trying to hug the yard cats but they just hiss angrily at me when they realize i do not have any chicken wings for them
posted by poffin boffin at 1:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [65 favorites]
i keep trying to hug the yard cats but they just hiss angrily at me when they realize i do not have any chicken wings for them
posted by poffin boffin at 1:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [65 favorites]
> It's gonna be awesome when the coal companies pollute our air, soil, and water and the jobs still don't come back.
that's because we aren't polluting them enough, you dirty socialist.
posted by Old Kentucky Shark at 1:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
that's because we aren't polluting them enough, you dirty socialist.
posted by Old Kentucky Shark at 1:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
I don't think I'm willing to watch the press conference. Does he blurt out, "Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!" at any point?
posted by ckape at 1:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by ckape at 1:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
I am proposing to Peter Alexander of NBC News. He's my new crush. ♥♥♥♥
“Why should Americans trust you when you accuse the information they receive as being fake when you’re providing information that’s fake?” Alexander pressed. ♥♥♥
posted by pjsky at 1:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [78 favorites]
“Why should Americans trust you when you accuse the information they receive as being fake when you’re providing information that’s fake?” Alexander pressed. ♥♥♥
posted by pjsky at 1:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [78 favorites]
i like how each old thread links to the new one at the end, joining them all together just like a Human Centipede
I think of it as a less fun Genital Jousting.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 1:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
I think of it as a less fun Genital Jousting.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 1:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
I want to weep but I have no tears.
posted by tommasz at 1:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by tommasz at 1:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
I can't even!
posted by pangolin party at 1:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by pangolin party at 1:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Imagine Obama watching that
posted by thelonius at 1:11 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 1:11 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
Imagine Obama watching that
Imagine Obama giving a press conference like that...
posted by Talez at 1:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Imagine Obama giving a press conference like that...
posted by Talez at 1:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
He was batshit crazy. Like, you cannot believe that someone would get up there and say such batshit crazy things.
It worked when you were trying to fool the dipshits. Guess what, everyone else is paying attention now. You have to eventually admit that you're not perfect...but I don't think you can. Hubris will hang you, old man, and soon.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 1:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [21 favorites]
It worked when you were trying to fool the dipshits. Guess what, everyone else is paying attention now. You have to eventually admit that you're not perfect...but I don't think you can. Hubris will hang you, old man, and soon.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 1:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [21 favorites]
Does he blurt out, "Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!" at any point?
No, that would be challenging phrasing and allusion for a significant fraction of his base.
posted by Coventry at 1:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [55 favorites]
No, that would be challenging phrasing and allusion for a significant fraction of his base.
posted by Coventry at 1:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [55 favorites]
I've barely been able to get through clips. I salute anyone who could watch the whole thing.
posted by pxe2000 at 1:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by pxe2000 at 1:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
Imagine Obama watching that
Miss me yet?
posted by dhens at 1:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Miss me yet?
posted by dhens at 1:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Cavuto on Fox News is desperately trying to identify positives that he can say are being ignored so that he can criticise the media's "lack of balance". One of which was the $7bn Intel investment, announced under Obama...
He also scrabbled around trying to explain Trump's "biggest electoral college victory since Reagan" by saying that he meant "biggest electoral college victory for a Republican". Oh, and that he made an honest mistake ("out by 4 years") as he should have said George Bush Sr.
Now when a commentator raised problems with what he said about Elijah Cummings and so on, Cavuto jumped in to change the subject and focus on the positives. My god, this is horrifying.
Ahhh, last thing, they're now saying that if the Intel announcement and so on had been announced under Obama the media would have been all over it. Argh!
posted by knapah at 1:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
He also scrabbled around trying to explain Trump's "biggest electoral college victory since Reagan" by saying that he meant "biggest electoral college victory for a Republican". Oh, and that he made an honest mistake ("out by 4 years") as he should have said George Bush Sr.
Now when a commentator raised problems with what he said about Elijah Cummings and so on, Cavuto jumped in to change the subject and focus on the positives. My god, this is horrifying.
Ahhh, last thing, they're now saying that if the Intel announcement and so on had been announced under Obama the media would have been all over it. Argh!
posted by knapah at 1:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
Imagine what he's going through mentally. For decades, he lived as he wished, with scores of people around him confirming his genius and value to the planet. Suddenly, he's dealing with constant turmoil, uncertainty and antagonism. He can't be coping well.
posted by davebush at 1:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [76 favorites]
posted by davebush at 1:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [76 favorites]
i like how each old thread links to the new one at the end, joining them all together just like a Human Centipede
At the end of all this (assuming there's an end we get to see), I'm going to be kinda tempted to dump them all into a giant PDF book called Metafilter: Posts from the Edge - The 2016 Election and Aftermath
posted by nubs at 1:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [74 favorites]
At the end of all this (assuming there's an end we get to see), I'm going to be kinda tempted to dump them all into a giant PDF book called Metafilter: Posts from the Edge - The 2016 Election and Aftermath
posted by nubs at 1:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [74 favorites]
This is what happen when angry grandpa who shouts at the TV all day in his bathrobe becomes president.
But, contrary to fake news from lying media, Sean Spicer has explicitly stated Trump "definitely doesn't own {a bathrobe}". Now, who are you going to believe, the White House Press Secretary or your lying eyes?
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
But, contrary to fake news from lying media, Sean Spicer has explicitly stated Trump "definitely doesn't own {a bathrobe}". Now, who are you going to believe, the White House Press Secretary or your lying eyes?
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
> Imagine Obama watching that
What about Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell and those dudes? What do you think they're thinking and doing when this shit happens? I mean, I get that Trump is just their useful idiot, but on the other hand I'm sure they probably prefer being alive to dead, and you can't starve any grannies if they're all dead, too.
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:15 PM on February 16, 2017 [14 favorites]
What about Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell and those dudes? What do you think they're thinking and doing when this shit happens? I mean, I get that Trump is just their useful idiot, but on the other hand I'm sure they probably prefer being alive to dead, and you can't starve any grannies if they're all dead, too.
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:15 PM on February 16, 2017 [14 favorites]
I'm available to serve on the inevitable truth and reconciliation commission.
posted by shothotbot at 1:15 PM on February 16, 2017 [28 favorites]
posted by shothotbot at 1:15 PM on February 16, 2017 [28 favorites]
Unhinged, but the most consistent and focused kind of unhinged, believe me:
"One person close to Trump said [his press conference] showed an 'unusually long' attention span they hadn't seen often in the White House." [Politico]
posted by AndrewInDC at 1:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [35 favorites]
"One person close to Trump said [his press conference] showed an 'unusually long' attention span they hadn't seen often in the White House." [Politico]
posted by AndrewInDC at 1:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [35 favorites]
I am both fascinated and horrified by his repetitiveness:
posted by zakur at 1:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [44 favorites]
As far as the new order, the new order is going to be very much tailored to the what I consider to be a very bad decision. But we can tailor the order to that decision and get just about everything, in some ways, more. But we’re tailoring it now to the decision, we have some of the best lawyers in the country working on it. And the new executive order, is being tailored to the decision we got down from the court. OK?Ummm, no. Not OK. WTF ARE U TALKING ABOUT?
posted by zakur at 1:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [44 favorites]
Telling the Jewish reporter who was asking a question about the recent rise of anti-Semitism to sit down was an especially charming touch.
posted by SisterHavana at 1:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [109 favorites]
posted by SisterHavana at 1:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [109 favorites]
No, that would be challenging phrasing and allusion for a significant fraction of his base.
"Look... people... I have works! Great works. They're the best works. Mighty mighty works. I'm telling you, people. Totally. I mean, you should be so sad!"
posted by knapah at 1:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [99 favorites]
"Look... people... I have works! Great works. They're the best works. Mighty mighty works. I'm telling you, people. Totally. I mean, you should be so sad!"
posted by knapah at 1:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [99 favorites]
I wonder how much you'd have to pay Russia to stencil the tips of their ICBMs with BUT HER EMAILS
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [111 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [111 favorites]
What do you think they're thinking and doing when this shit happens?
"Shit I hope he doesn't break his fingers or stroke out and forget how to sign the chicken scratch he calls a signature."
posted by Talez at 1:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
"Shit I hope he doesn't break his fingers or stroke out and forget how to sign the chicken scratch he calls a signature."
posted by Talez at 1:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
In an odd twist of events he's now moderately down on Russia leaving Actual Literal Nazis as the only people he will never complain about.
posted by Artw at 1:18 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by Artw at 1:18 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
Anyhow, I told her that since the election, I've been unable to stay focused at work because Trump is a nightmare person. She said that she's heard that from a ton of her patients.
My therapist and psychiatrist both agree that my crippling anxiety and depression are thoroughly justified and rational.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:18 PM on February 16, 2017 [83 favorites]
My therapist and psychiatrist both agree that my crippling anxiety and depression are thoroughly justified and rational.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:18 PM on February 16, 2017 [83 favorites]
Today's presser was fantastic cover to call my Congress Critters to support impeachment or removal from office by means of the 25th amendment.
Key phrases:
* Unhinged, irresponsible rhetoric shows him completely unfit to serve
* Clear and present danger not just to the country but to humanity itself
* Likely committed High Crimes and Misdemeanors
* Likely to have given Aid and Comfort to a hostile nation that interfered in our election
oh god i wish these points were hyperbole
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 1:18 PM on February 16, 2017 [120 favorites]
Key phrases:
* Unhinged, irresponsible rhetoric shows him completely unfit to serve
* Clear and present danger not just to the country but to humanity itself
* Likely committed High Crimes and Misdemeanors
* Likely to have given Aid and Comfort to a hostile nation that interfered in our election
oh god i wish these points were hyperbole
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 1:18 PM on February 16, 2017 [120 favorites]
Ummm, no. Not OK. WTF ARE U TALKING ABOUT?
he's probably having a bespoke bathrobe made later today
posted by poffin boffin at 1:18 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
he's probably having a bespoke bathrobe made later today
posted by poffin boffin at 1:18 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
My therapist and psychiatrist both agree that my crippling anxiety and depression are thoroughly justified and rational.
Yeah, she said just about exactly that to me too.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:19 PM on February 16, 2017 [14 favorites]
Yeah, she said just about exactly that to me too.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:19 PM on February 16, 2017 [14 favorites]
The next idiot who claims Trump is not a malignant narcissist needs to watch the replay of that anti-semitism question and answer 100 times.
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [74 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [74 favorites]
It worked when you were trying to fool the dipshits. Guess what, everyone else is paying attention now. You have to eventually admit that you're not perfect...but I don't think you can. Hubris will hang you, old man, and soon.
Dunno. If I learned anything from the Rob Ford years, it's that the crazy shit not only doesn't matter to his supporters, it actually probably helps. Being under constant attack is a feature, not a bug.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [27 favorites]
Dunno. If I learned anything from the Rob Ford years, it's that the crazy shit not only doesn't matter to his supporters, it actually probably helps. Being under constant attack is a feature, not a bug.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [27 favorites]
While failing president Trump tries to call out Chicago in his conference, this is what we're actually doing - marching for immigrants (#chistrikesback).
I teach high school, and couldn't march today, but my fellow teachers were talking in the break room about how we as a school and a union can support future actions like the women's strike. Our student science and medical clubs are trying to organize teach ins around the science march. Some of my students self published a "Nasty Woman" 'zine the week before the women's march (and donated proceeds to PP). We have a DREAMers club, and we're organizing info sessions for our undocumented students. And this is at just one school. These kids give me so much damn hope for the future.
posted by Wulfhere at 1:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [91 favorites]
I teach high school, and couldn't march today, but my fellow teachers were talking in the break room about how we as a school and a union can support future actions like the women's strike. Our student science and medical clubs are trying to organize teach ins around the science march. Some of my students self published a "Nasty Woman" 'zine the week before the women's march (and donated proceeds to PP). We have a DREAMers club, and we're organizing info sessions for our undocumented students. And this is at just one school. These kids give me so much damn hope for the future.
posted by Wulfhere at 1:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [91 favorites]
A long-time internet friend and associate of mine died yesterday, and I've been pleased -- well, not "pleased" -- impressed maybe? Impressed by the number of people who've said he had a positive impact on their lives. Which feeds back to my daily check on myself as I know I have a nasty streak that comes out when I'm frustrated or anxious: "Was that thing you did something that would increase the number of people who genuinely will miss you when you die?"
I feel sorry for Donald Trump in a way, knowing that his great-grandchildren are going to be embarrassed about his memory, not sad that he's gone. Granting that they'll be regular people and not sociopaths, which I realize may not be a sure thing given his pernicious influence.
posted by Quindar Beep at 1:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
I feel sorry for Donald Trump in a way, knowing that his great-grandchildren are going to be embarrassed about his memory, not sad that he's gone. Granting that they'll be regular people and not sociopaths, which I realize may not be a sure thing given his pernicious influence.
posted by Quindar Beep at 1:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
Just for fun, I went back to Obama's first press conference in 2009. Here are our two most recent Presidents talking about the auto industry and jobs; see if you can figure out who said what:
A new Rasmussen poll, in fact — because the people get it — much of the media doesn’t get it. They actually get it, but they don’t write it. Let’s put it that way. But a new Rasmussen poll just came out just a very short while ago, and it has our approval rating at 55 percent and going up. The stock market has hit record numbers, as you know. And there has been a tremendous surge of optimism in the business world, which is — to me means something much different than it used to. It used to mean, “Oh, that’s good.” Now it means, “That’s good for jobs.” Very different. Plants and factories are already starting to move back into the United States, and big league — Ford, General Motors, so many of them. I’m making this presentation directly to the American people, with the media present, which is an honor to have you. This morning, because many of our nation’s reporters and folks will not tell you the truth, and will not treat the wonderful people of our country with the respect that they deserve. And I hope going forward we can be a little bit — a little bit different, and maybe get along a little bit better, if that’s possible. Maybe it’s not, and that’s OK, too.or
The news coming out of the auto industry this week reminds us of the hardship it faces, hardship that goes far beyond individual auto companies to the countless suppliers, small businesses and communities throughout our nation who depend on a vibrant American auto industry. The auto industry is the backbone of American manufacturing and a critical part of our attempt to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I would like to see the administration do everything it can to accelerate the retooling assistance that Congress has already enacted. In addition, I have made it a high priority for my transition team to work on additional policy options to help the auto industry adjust, weather the financial crisis, and succeed in producing fuel-efficient cars here in the United States of America.posted by 0xFCAF at 1:21 PM on February 16, 2017 [157 favorites]
Just watching those clips gave me intense flashbacks to my mom's ex-husband. I feel shaken and sad.
posted by pxe2000 at 1:21 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by pxe2000 at 1:21 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
> As far as the new order, the new order is going to be very much tailored to the what I consider to be a very bad decision. But we can tailor the order to that decision and get just about everything, in some ways, more. But we’re tailoring it now to the decision, we have some of the best lawyers in the country working on it. And the new executive order, is being tailored to the decision we got down from the court. OK?
I hope whichever tailor he's going to is a spy taking his measurements and information, and then smuggling it to the resistance.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:21 PM on February 16, 2017 [24 favorites]
I hope whichever tailor he's going to is a spy taking his measurements and information, and then smuggling it to the resistance.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:21 PM on February 16, 2017 [24 favorites]
So last night I went to this panel discussion with Susanne Craig, David Farenthold and Daniel Dale.
Susanne Craig said something in particular that was really interesting and deeply unnerving.
She was telling the story of how, when she was investigating Trump's fleet of private planes, she called the FAA to look into their registration, and that's the point at which the FAA revoked the registration of one of them, so she was responsible for that happening. But that's where the story gets interesting because she sought comment from Trump on the story, and he called her back - three times in one afternoon - to keep talking about it. She assumed he was going to go off on her (because she was actually responsible for the plane he was actually supposed to be in at that very moment being grounded - he was in a helicopter instead), but he seemed to realize that any press was good press and consequently was pretty civil. She suggested it was almost a calculated willingness to engage, and that he knows EXACTLY what he's doing. She was heavily implying that the shitstorms and the mayhem are by design.
She went on to say something like (and this is paraphrase) that regardless of where you stand on certain issues, there's huge financial and deregulation moves coming down the pipe that will have a massive impact, and that the theatrics might be a dangerous distraction from what's going to shake out at a policy and regulatory level. She went on to say, of course, that it's their jobs as investigative journalists to document exactly what's going on so the public knows about it.
So now my blood runs even colder when something like today's press conference goes down.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [110 favorites]
Susanne Craig said something in particular that was really interesting and deeply unnerving.
She was telling the story of how, when she was investigating Trump's fleet of private planes, she called the FAA to look into their registration, and that's the point at which the FAA revoked the registration of one of them, so she was responsible for that happening. But that's where the story gets interesting because she sought comment from Trump on the story, and he called her back - three times in one afternoon - to keep talking about it. She assumed he was going to go off on her (because she was actually responsible for the plane he was actually supposed to be in at that very moment being grounded - he was in a helicopter instead), but he seemed to realize that any press was good press and consequently was pretty civil. She suggested it was almost a calculated willingness to engage, and that he knows EXACTLY what he's doing. She was heavily implying that the shitstorms and the mayhem are by design.
She went on to say something like (and this is paraphrase) that regardless of where you stand on certain issues, there's huge financial and deregulation moves coming down the pipe that will have a massive impact, and that the theatrics might be a dangerous distraction from what's going to shake out at a policy and regulatory level. She went on to say, of course, that it's their jobs as investigative journalists to document exactly what's going on so the public knows about it.
So now my blood runs even colder when something like today's press conference goes down.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [110 favorites]
It was all terrible and the way he spoke to people was disgusting, but I felt especially nauseous with his exchange with April Ryan (who's black) about meeting with the CBC (Congressional Black Caucus). Ryan asked why he hadn't met with them, and this happened:
“Do you want to set up the meeting?” he asked repeatedly.
“No, no, no; I’m just a reporter,” she said.
“Are they friends of yours?” he pressed.
Because, y'know, she's BLACK.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 1:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [71 favorites]
“Do you want to set up the meeting?” he asked repeatedly.
“No, no, no; I’m just a reporter,” she said.
“Are they friends of yours?” he pressed.
Because, y'know, she's BLACK.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 1:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [71 favorites]
I also give my heartiest thanks to those who liveblog the press conferences and similar. I'm at work, training some new credit analysts in two hour sessions where I can't look at my phone at all, and it's terrifying to come back and see "503 new comments" and just think OH FUCK WHAT NOW. I appreciate being able to read a recap here.
But seriously I'm out of favorites and evens and it's only lunch omg
posted by skycrashesdown at 1:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
But seriously I'm out of favorites and evens and it's only lunch omg
posted by skycrashesdown at 1:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
I hope whichever tailor he's going to is a spy taking his measurements and information, and then smuggling it to the resistance.
Then we just have to tinker with the soldier.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 1:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [29 favorites]
Then we just have to tinker with the soldier.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 1:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [29 favorites]
If I learned anything from the Rob Ford years
WILL SOMEONE PLEASE SMOKE CRACK WITH THE PRESIDENT ALREADY?
posted by murphy slaw at 1:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [46 favorites]
WILL SOMEONE PLEASE SMOKE CRACK WITH THE PRESIDENT ALREADY?
posted by murphy slaw at 1:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [46 favorites]
The President, commenting on his own performance while signing the "pollute streams with coal waste" bill: "We had an exciting news conference before and some people loved it...nobody hated it"
First, I'd like it to be clear for posterity that I, in fact, hated it.
Second, you know he must have gone back and watched all the TV networks talking about him the instant he finished.
posted by zachlipton at 1:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [40 favorites]
First, I'd like it to be clear for posterity that I, in fact, hated it.
Second, you know he must have gone back and watched all the TV networks talking about him the instant he finished.
posted by zachlipton at 1:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [40 favorites]
I was behind a vehicle this afternoon with multiple Trump stickers, just after the presser ended. The one thing I can say for the guy is, he used turn signals. Anyway: one was TRUMP: Like your gun? You can keep it! And that's the level some voters, many voters are on - they really believe that Hilary (not Obama anymore) was going to try to confiscate their guns.
Gun folks: YOU WON. The NRA has Congress locked up. The Democrats don't even ring the changes on gun control, hardly, anymore, in campaign speeches. But you believe any huckster who tells you, that's because they have a secret plan to confiscate guns. You're getting played!
posted by thelonius at 1:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
Gun folks: YOU WON. The NRA has Congress locked up. The Democrats don't even ring the changes on gun control, hardly, anymore, in campaign speeches. But you believe any huckster who tells you, that's because they have a secret plan to confiscate guns. You're getting played!
posted by thelonius at 1:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
At the end of all this (assuming there's an end we get to see), I'm going to be kinda tempted to dump them all into a giant PDF book called Metafilter: Posts from the Edge - The 2016 Election and Aftermath
Proceed at your own risk.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 1:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
Proceed at your own risk.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 1:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
"One person close to Trump said [his press conference] showed an 'unusually long' attention span they hadn't seen often in the White House." [Politico]
In other words, as bad as this was, he's usually worse.
Ok, fine I'm ready to get on the 25th Amendment train now.
Imagine what he's going through mentally. For decades, he lived as he wished, with scores of people around him confirming his genius and value to the planet. Suddenly, he's dealing with constant turmoil, uncertainty and antagonism. He can't be coping well.
If I can find any way to make him cope even worse, I will.
Because, y'know, she's BLACK.
I'm pretty sure he also doesn't know what a caucus is, so he thinks the Congressional Black Caucus is a lobbying group or something.
posted by tobascodagama at 1:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
In other words, as bad as this was, he's usually worse.
Ok, fine I'm ready to get on the 25th Amendment train now.
Imagine what he's going through mentally. For decades, he lived as he wished, with scores of people around him confirming his genius and value to the planet. Suddenly, he's dealing with constant turmoil, uncertainty and antagonism. He can't be coping well.
If I can find any way to make him cope even worse, I will.
Because, y'know, she's BLACK.
I'm pretty sure he also doesn't know what a caucus is, so he thinks the Congressional Black Caucus is a lobbying group or something.
posted by tobascodagama at 1:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES.
RUIN THEIR PHONE LINES.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:25 PM on February 16, 2017 [31 favorites]
RUIN THEIR PHONE LINES.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:25 PM on February 16, 2017 [31 favorites]
Suddenly, he's dealing with constant turmoil, uncertainty and antagonism. He can't be coping well.
I think today's press conference reflects that. I suspect it was a reaction to all the hostile press he's been getting, especially the new Time magazine cover.
posted by Coventry at 1:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
I think today's press conference reflects that. I suspect it was a reaction to all the hostile press he's been getting, especially the new Time magazine cover.
posted by Coventry at 1:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
She assumed he was going to go off on her (because she was actually responsible for the plane he was actually supposed to be in at that very moment being grounded - he was in a helicopter instead), but he seemed to realize that any press was good press and consequently was pretty civil. She suggested it was almost a calculated willingness to engage, and that he knows EXACTLY what he's doing. She was heavily implying that the shitstorms and the mayhem are by design.
Possibility 1: Donald Trump is the most brilliant and talented actor of our generation
Possibility 2: Donald Trump is so out of it he had no idea why his plane was grounded or who was responsible
posted by theodolite at 1:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [71 favorites]
Possibility 1: Donald Trump is the most brilliant and talented actor of our generation
Possibility 2: Donald Trump is so out of it he had no idea why his plane was grounded or who was responsible
posted by theodolite at 1:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [71 favorites]
He is a howling void. do not analyze his mind, do not analyze his tactics, do not second-guess his behavior. Now is not the time for analysis. Now is the time for action.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [113 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [113 favorites]
"We had an exciting news conference before and some people loved it...nobody hated it"
I loved it because I believe it portends paralysis and inefficacy. Also, it was very, very funny.
posted by Coventry at 1:27 PM on February 16, 2017
I loved it because I believe it portends paralysis and inefficacy. Also, it was very, very funny.
posted by Coventry at 1:27 PM on February 16, 2017
I read it somewhere that the clothes have no emperor.
If it wasn't here, then here it is.
The Republican Congress has discovered routes around the 1st amendment and legislative balance. I guess we're in for a ride, eh?
Go ahead and call me a sore loser.
posted by mule98J at 1:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
If it wasn't here, then here it is.
The Republican Congress has discovered routes around the 1st amendment and legislative balance. I guess we're in for a ride, eh?
Go ahead and call me a sore loser.
posted by mule98J at 1:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
I"m scared, y'all.
posted by vibrotronica at 1:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by vibrotronica at 1:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
Given that he insisted he was "Having a Great Time" but that the media would say he was "Ranting and Raving" but he wasn't, he was having a great time perhaps the headline of the papers tomorrow should be:
"Trump doesn't Rant and Rave at press conference"
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 1:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
"Trump doesn't Rant and Rave at press conference"
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 1:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
Here's an annotated transcript of the conference by NPR, and here's a shorter series of pullquotes from Vox to summarize some of the, uh, 'highlights.'
Here is a dramatic recreation of journalists trying to pick a headline from this conference.
posted by flatluigi at 1:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [36 favorites]
Here is a dramatic recreation of journalists trying to pick a headline from this conference.
posted by flatluigi at 1:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [36 favorites]
“This administration is running like a fine-tuned machine"
posted by octothorpe at 1:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 1:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Second, you know he must have gone back and watched all the TV networks talking about him the instant he finished.
The instant he finished? He's been caught watching them while he was on them.
posted by Etrigan at 1:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
The instant he finished? He's been caught watching them while he was on them.
posted by Etrigan at 1:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
I made the mistake of at a recent therapy session of going on about Sylvia Plath recently (not for any death reasons, but because somebody close to me knows like the names of the languages spoken by people at Ur and shit like that but he did not know Sylvia Plath and I got quite annoyed at my non-Sylvia-Plath knowing someone for these weird lacunae of ignorance he has.
So now my shrink is from time to time bringing up Sylvia Plath in his *let's see if there's something to be concerned about* voice. I'm like, naw man, although I understand especially the appeal of death right now, and my shrink sort of goes in again, like, *are you doing that stupid thing where you make jokes about suicide or is this real* and the sort of unspoken thing is *boy I can relate*
Actually, I made a joke about the peace of the grave at a session recently and my shrink just started laughing his head off. Hmm. Now I'm worried about him.
posted by angrycat at 1:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [28 favorites]
So now my shrink is from time to time bringing up Sylvia Plath in his *let's see if there's something to be concerned about* voice. I'm like, naw man, although I understand especially the appeal of death right now, and my shrink sort of goes in again, like, *are you doing that stupid thing where you make jokes about suicide or is this real* and the sort of unspoken thing is *boy I can relate*
Actually, I made a joke about the peace of the grave at a session recently and my shrink just started laughing his head off. Hmm. Now I'm worried about him.
posted by angrycat at 1:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [28 favorites]
It's understandable that Trump is confused about who might be in the "Congressional Black Caucus". Caucasians are from the Caucuses, so what the heck are black people doing in there? Makes no sense.
posted by 0xFCAF at 1:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by 0xFCAF at 1:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
I am both fascinated and horrified by his repetitiveness
There's a reason why those who've experienced dementia up close develop a sensitivity towards declining vocabulary.
posted by holgate at 1:30 PM on February 16, 2017 [42 favorites]
There's a reason why those who've experienced dementia up close develop a sensitivity towards declining vocabulary.
posted by holgate at 1:30 PM on February 16, 2017 [42 favorites]
like should i even bother doing my taxes this year or will we all be dead by april 15th anyway
what if i just lay on the floor eating cheese instead
posted by poffin boffin at 1:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [125 favorites]
what if i just lay on the floor eating cheese instead
posted by poffin boffin at 1:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [125 favorites]
I suspect it was a reaction to all the hostile press he's been getting, especially the new Time magazine cover.
Totally blown opportunity to hide a little piece of scotch tape behind that tie.
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
Totally blown opportunity to hide a little piece of scotch tape behind that tie.
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
Presser TLDNR: Yeah, there were horses, and a man on fire, and I killed a guy with a trident.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 1:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [39 favorites]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 1:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [39 favorites]
Smart people don't pay taxes.
posted by Mchelly at 1:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 1:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
what if i just lay on the floor eating cheese instead
CHEESE! C'mon, chocolate! Focus now, we don't have much time left.
posted by msalt at 1:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
CHEESE! C'mon, chocolate! Focus now, we don't have much time left.
posted by msalt at 1:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
She was heavily implying that the shitstorms and the mayhem are by design.
That's what I've been coming to believe on my own. The man is an unfocused shitgibbon and a dangerously ignorant bully and narcissist, but it's a calculated risk for him to let loose like today. His approval rates keep going down, but he's willing to take that risk because it certainly whips up his base.
posted by maudlin at 1:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
That's what I've been coming to believe on my own. The man is an unfocused shitgibbon and a dangerously ignorant bully and narcissist, but it's a calculated risk for him to let loose like today. His approval rates keep going down, but he's willing to take that risk because it certainly whips up his base.
posted by maudlin at 1:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
i have seriously considered setting my federal withholding to zero because i figure that funding for IRS enforcement will be one of the first things to go?
posted by murphy slaw at 1:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 1:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
cheese will kill me faster than chocolate
posted by poffin boffin at 1:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 1:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
what if i just lay on the floor eating cheese instead
I personally recommend purchasing a large slice of sushi-grade hamachi from a local upscale fishmonger and eating as much sashimi as you can manage. If there's one thing I don't want, it's to be vaporized in a nuclear holocaust without having eaten enough sushi. I think, in fact, that I will go out for sushi this weekend, and maybe every day from then until Trump is impeached or we all die.
Seriously, I am torn between "OMG I will lose my job and die in the street" and "OMG, society is going to implode, better eat nice things now".
posted by Frowner at 1:36 PM on February 16, 2017 [99 favorites]
I personally recommend purchasing a large slice of sushi-grade hamachi from a local upscale fishmonger and eating as much sashimi as you can manage. If there's one thing I don't want, it's to be vaporized in a nuclear holocaust without having eaten enough sushi. I think, in fact, that I will go out for sushi this weekend, and maybe every day from then until Trump is impeached or we all die.
Seriously, I am torn between "OMG I will lose my job and die in the street" and "OMG, society is going to implode, better eat nice things now".
posted by Frowner at 1:36 PM on February 16, 2017 [99 favorites]
Seriously, I am torn between "OMG I will lose my job and die in the street" and "OMG, society is going to implode, better eat nice things now".
whynotboth.jpg
posted by lalochezia at 1:36 PM on February 16, 2017 [36 favorites]
>like should i even bother doing my taxes this year or will we all be dead by april 15th anyway
what if i just lay on the floor eating cheese instead
You should do your taxes if you are getting money back from the federal government. If you instead have to pay money to the federal government, don't do 'em.
also change your withholdings for next year. Keep all your money and then don't pay on April 15th, 2018, if there is an April 15th, 2018.
and please do lay on the floor eating cheese. cheese tastes good. and the floor is a comfortable place to be right now.
lord. it is so disturbing how well-adapted my severe anxiety and depression are for this present moment. For people without anxiety and depression: the way you feel right now is the way we always feel.
yeah I know.
but it's possible to muddle through despite it all.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:36 PM on February 16, 2017 [68 favorites]
what if i just lay on the floor eating cheese instead
You should do your taxes if you are getting money back from the federal government. If you instead have to pay money to the federal government, don't do 'em.
also change your withholdings for next year. Keep all your money and then don't pay on April 15th, 2018, if there is an April 15th, 2018.
and please do lay on the floor eating cheese. cheese tastes good. and the floor is a comfortable place to be right now.
lord. it is so disturbing how well-adapted my severe anxiety and depression are for this present moment. For people without anxiety and depression: the way you feel right now is the way we always feel.
yeah I know.
but it's possible to muddle through despite it all.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:36 PM on February 16, 2017 [68 favorites]
it's a calculated risk for him to let loose like today. His approval rates keep going down, but he's willing to take that risk because it certainly whips up his base.
I do think he may end up distracting people from more important things than this presser.
posted by Coventry at 1:36 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
I do think he may end up distracting people from more important things than this presser.
posted by Coventry at 1:36 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
This continues to feel like the meanest joke in the history of the world.
posted by DynamiteToast at 1:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [36 favorites]
posted by DynamiteToast at 1:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [36 favorites]
i have seriously considered setting my federal withholding to zero because i figure that funding for IRS enforcement will be one of the first things to go?
The only problem with your scheme is that you are (presumably) not yet organizing all your friends and family to do the same. Tax revolt now.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
The only problem with your scheme is that you are (presumably) not yet organizing all your friends and family to do the same. Tax revolt now.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
OK, just need to share this here because while not directly related to Trump it was part of me realizing how horribly toxic my media intake can be for my mental health; there's been an absolutely horrific murder trial underway in my city for the past month (I'm not going to link to it because I think people have enough shit in their lives), and coverage of it combined with the Trump crazy train has been difficult at times.
Today the jury came back with a guilty verdict. It's an immense relief to have one of those over. But please, people, if it's getting too much, step away from the TV and the Twitter and the threads for a time.
posted by nubs at 1:38 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
Today the jury came back with a guilty verdict. It's an immense relief to have one of those over. But please, people, if it's getting too much, step away from the TV and the Twitter and the threads for a time.
posted by nubs at 1:38 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
it's a calculated risk for him to let loose like today. His approval rates keep going down, but he's willing to take that risk because it certainly whips up his base.
I know it feels like it's tanking but that's because his approval rate with Democrats can't really go any lower. His approval among Republicans is in the region of 80-something percent.
He's not universally disliked, hyper partisanism is just distorting the view and Democrats moderately outnumber Republicans.
posted by Talez at 1:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
I know it feels like it's tanking but that's because his approval rate with Democrats can't really go any lower. His approval among Republicans is in the region of 80-something percent.
He's not universally disliked, hyper partisanism is just distorting the view and Democrats moderately outnumber Republicans.
posted by Talez at 1:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
Does stress speed up dementia
posted by rabidsegue at 1:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by rabidsegue at 1:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
So I guess sometime tonight or tomorrow morning would be a good time for the Trump Administration to make an unavoidable but controversial announcement which they want the nation to mostly ignore.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:40 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:40 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Here is a dramatic recreation of journalists trying to pick a headline from this conference.
I think "Shitgibbon flings poo" is probably a good all-purpose choice.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 1:40 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
I think "Shitgibbon flings poo" is probably a good all-purpose choice.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 1:40 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
Trump: I think we’re setting a record or close to a record in the time of approval of a cabinet. I mean, the numbers are crazy. When I’m looking, some of them had them approved immediately.
Trump Has Fewest Cabinet Secretaries Confirmed Since George Washington
posted by zakur at 1:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [39 favorites]
Trump Has Fewest Cabinet Secretaries Confirmed Since George Washington
posted by zakur at 1:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [39 favorites]
"Trump shits actual gibbon."
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
I just tried to read the transcript of the press conference and couldn't make it through. For work I read books that have been translated into English, and write short reports for the editors on how good of a job the translator did.
If any translator submitted a book that included "I am talking — and really talking on this very entrenched power structure, and what we’re doing is we’re talking about the power structure; we’re talking about its entrenchment. As a result, the media is going through what they have to go through too often times distort - not all the time - and some of the media is fantastic, I have to say - they’re honest and fantastic" as text, I would advise not publishing the work at all, that it was unsalvageable.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [62 favorites]
If any translator submitted a book that included "I am talking — and really talking on this very entrenched power structure, and what we’re doing is we’re talking about the power structure; we’re talking about its entrenchment. As a result, the media is going through what they have to go through too often times distort - not all the time - and some of the media is fantastic, I have to say - they’re honest and fantastic" as text, I would advise not publishing the work at all, that it was unsalvageable.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [62 favorites]
So I guess sometime tonight or tomorrow morning would be a good time for the Trump Administration to make an unavoidable but controversial announcement which they want the nation to mostly ignore.
my takeaway is that someone has a videotape of Acosta eating a live baby?
posted by murphy slaw at 1:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
my takeaway is that someone has a videotape of Acosta eating a live baby?
posted by murphy slaw at 1:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Washington's cabinet was four people.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [34 favorites]
Hubris will hang you, old man, and soon.
Is that still a thing? Because I would watch that.
posted by bongo_x at 1:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Is that still a thing? Because I would watch that.
posted by bongo_x at 1:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
if it's getting too much, step away from the TV and the Twitter and the threads for a time.
If I make any further comments in a 'potus45' thread over the next 6 months which aren't directly related to furthering political protest in some specific way, feel free to ruthlessly give me shit about it. It's been fun, but it's time I broke the cycle.
posted by Coventry at 1:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
If I make any further comments in a 'potus45' thread over the next 6 months which aren't directly related to furthering political protest in some specific way, feel free to ruthlessly give me shit about it. It's been fun, but it's time I broke the cycle.
posted by Coventry at 1:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
> His approval among Republicans is in the region of 80-something percent.
This right here is why the U.S. is fucked even if Trump resigns tonight.
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [81 favorites]
This right here is why the U.S. is fucked even if Trump resigns tonight.
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [81 favorites]
Apparently, DJT's people sent out an email blast with a link to a survey on "Media Accountability". I'm like 90% sure it's only being passed around to gather more email addresses, but it'd just be a damned shame if an online poll went un-fucked-with.
posted by tobascodagama at 1:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by tobascodagama at 1:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Hubris will hang you, old man, and soon.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:45 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:45 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Rep. Gutierrez did some press after he and the rest of the Hispanic Caucus was asked by Paul Ryan's staff to leave the ICE meeting.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:45 PM on February 16, 2017 [28 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:45 PM on February 16, 2017 [28 favorites]
Are any conservatives paying attention, though? I mean voters. I would not want to parse the dark mental depths of those in Congress, but am I right in assuming most Trump voters are not paying any attention other than "woot! he's showin' 'em!" and going about their lives?
In the midst of the resignation scandal and questions about Russia, my local Fox station (which is generally fairly neutral) had a long story about a woman who got arrested for voting illegally five times (I think because she was undocumented). And I thought, that's probably what Trump voters are thinking about right now, not any of the horrors we are discussing here.
posted by emjaybee at 1:45 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
In the midst of the resignation scandal and questions about Russia, my local Fox station (which is generally fairly neutral) had a long story about a woman who got arrested for voting illegally five times (I think because she was undocumented). And I thought, that's probably what Trump voters are thinking about right now, not any of the horrors we are discussing here.
posted by emjaybee at 1:45 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
Is it sad that when I thought about, you know, if we are all going to die soon, what should I do? And the answer was basically that I need to do another Yuri on Ice rewatch and I need to stop at the Japanese place that actually serves katsudon.
It's the little things, I guess.
But I'm also going to be taking advantage of the good weather to step up from walking to starting the Couch to 5k again. I'm not really interested in trying to survive an apocalypse, but I should be doing what I can to make sure I can survive the many hardships that could fall short of that.
posted by Sequence at 1:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's the little things, I guess.
But I'm also going to be taking advantage of the good weather to step up from walking to starting the Couch to 5k again. I'm not really interested in trying to survive an apocalypse, but I should be doing what I can to make sure I can survive the many hardships that could fall short of that.
posted by Sequence at 1:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Republicans are a lost cause. But Democrats + Independents way outnumber Republicans.
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:47 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:47 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
Are any conservatives paying attention, though? I mean voters. I would not want to parse the dark mental depths of those in Congress, but am I right in assuming most Trump voters are not paying any attention other than "woot! he's showin' 'em!" and going about their lives?
Pretty much. When everyone is fucking you, even the guy who said he wouldn't fuck you, at least liberal tears are still delicious.
posted by Talez at 1:47 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Pretty much. When everyone is fucking you, even the guy who said he wouldn't fuck you, at least liberal tears are still delicious.
posted by Talez at 1:47 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Yeah I'm thinking about putting in my garden, it's already spring here pretty much. Seems sort of pointless but why not have some pointless beauty in your life?
posted by emjaybee at 1:47 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 1:47 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Republicans are a lost cause. But Democrats + Independents way outnumber Republicans.
a) When they show up.
b) When they're in the right state.
posted by Talez at 1:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [25 favorites]
a) When they show up.
b) When they're in the right state.
posted by Talez at 1:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [25 favorites]
I missed the entire press conference, too busy submitting questions into the bland, pointless void of Pat Toomey's Stealth Telephone Town Hall.
Catching up on the national shitshow that happened during my local shitshow has not been fun. On the plus side, i came home to find the postcards I printed up from soren_lorenson's templates have arrived, so I can begin sending them out to my representatives in copious quantities. I'm excited. Or possibly infuriated. Maybe both.
posted by Stacey at 1:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
Catching up on the national shitshow that happened during my local shitshow has not been fun. On the plus side, i came home to find the postcards I printed up from soren_lorenson's templates have arrived, so I can begin sending them out to my representatives in copious quantities. I'm excited. Or possibly infuriated. Maybe both.
posted by Stacey at 1:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
rabidsegue: "Does stress speed up dementia"
I don't think it speeds up the process but it makes it more clearly evident. The person with dementia has much a slower cognitive speed and can't ingest and process new information quickly so fast-moving stressful situations will easily overwhelm their ability to cope. I watched with happen with my mother as she suffered from the effects of vascular dementia. Watching Trump is giving me some real flashbacks.
posted by octothorpe at 1:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
I don't think it speeds up the process but it makes it more clearly evident. The person with dementia has much a slower cognitive speed and can't ingest and process new information quickly so fast-moving stressful situations will easily overwhelm their ability to cope. I watched with happen with my mother as she suffered from the effects of vascular dementia. Watching Trump is giving me some real flashbacks.
posted by octothorpe at 1:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
c) when they don't split the vote to nonsense candidates
posted by Justinian at 1:49 PM on February 16, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:49 PM on February 16, 2017 [27 favorites]
Charlie Pierce: The Founders Never Imagined This
By the end of Thursday's press conference, at which the president*'s trolley left the tracks far behind, Jake Tapper of CNN was saying that he'd gotten a text from a "Republican senator" who'd observed that what the president was evincing was behavior best left to a psychiatric clinic with very soft walls. Of course, this senator remains anonymous because, contrary to Hamilton's giddy optimism, they have no interest in taking the wheel from Toonces the Driving Cat until they get their tax cuts and their deregulation and their privatization and, if the car goes plunging off the cliff altogether, it's a small price to pay.posted by zombieflanders at 1:50 PM on February 16, 2017 [91 favorites]
how can we make him more stressed
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:50 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:50 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
She was heavily implying that the shitstorms and the mayhem are by design.
I don't agree. I think that could have previously be the case, because he historically has been very good at -- and only good at -- self-promotion. I think we're in a different place now. The campaign, and now the presidency, have opened him up to a lot of criticism and ridicule that he's never had to face at this level. He's always been able to bully his way through a situation, and he's learning that it doesn't work in this context. And it's driving him crazy.
I don't think he's the Hey, look over there *whistles nonchalantly* guy. I think he's the losing at Monopoly so he flips the table guy who is so incensed at losing that he then berates and belittles the people he was playing with for a full 70 minutes, ranting unceasingly about how he won the game last time in the greatest Monopoly victory EVER, and he would have won this time if you hadn't rigged the game so he kept getting cards like Baltic Avenue -- like, he drew ALL Baltic Avenue cards for the ENTIRE game and he TOTALLY would have won otherwise -- then going on to tell you that you're a loser because everyone ALWAYS loves playing Monopoly with him because he's the most lovable Monopoly player to ever play and also he always wins. Bigly.
I don't think this is calculation. I think this is absolutely a person who is losing his mind, operates under a completely delusional reality, and can't be convinced that his reality isn't real. It would be sad if it wasn't so fucking scary.
posted by mudpuppie at 1:50 PM on February 16, 2017 [121 favorites]
I don't agree. I think that could have previously be the case, because he historically has been very good at -- and only good at -- self-promotion. I think we're in a different place now. The campaign, and now the presidency, have opened him up to a lot of criticism and ridicule that he's never had to face at this level. He's always been able to bully his way through a situation, and he's learning that it doesn't work in this context. And it's driving him crazy.
I don't think he's the Hey, look over there *whistles nonchalantly* guy. I think he's the losing at Monopoly so he flips the table guy who is so incensed at losing that he then berates and belittles the people he was playing with for a full 70 minutes, ranting unceasingly about how he won the game last time in the greatest Monopoly victory EVER, and he would have won this time if you hadn't rigged the game so he kept getting cards like Baltic Avenue -- like, he drew ALL Baltic Avenue cards for the ENTIRE game and he TOTALLY would have won otherwise -- then going on to tell you that you're a loser because everyone ALWAYS loves playing Monopoly with him because he's the most lovable Monopoly player to ever play and also he always wins. Bigly.
I don't think this is calculation. I think this is absolutely a person who is losing his mind, operates under a completely delusional reality, and can't be convinced that his reality isn't real. It would be sad if it wasn't so fucking scary.
posted by mudpuppie at 1:50 PM on February 16, 2017 [121 favorites]
Washington Post has this on Flynn: Flynn in FBI interview denied discussing sanctions with Russian ambassador
posted by Brainy at 1:51 PM on February 16, 2017 [33 favorites]
posted by Brainy at 1:51 PM on February 16, 2017 [33 favorites]
There's a reason why those who've experienced dementia up close develop a sensitivity towards declining vocabulary.
posted by holgate at 4:30 PM
See also: a comparison of George W Bush over 10 years.
posted by lazaruslong at 1:51 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by holgate at 4:30 PM
See also: a comparison of George W Bush over 10 years.
posted by lazaruslong at 1:51 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
> Yeah I'm thinking about putting in my garden, it's already spring here pretty much. Seems sort of pointless but why not have some pointless beauty in your life?
Werner Herzog: You know, I have a very good answer to all this, why it doesn’t make me nervous: Martin Luther, in the 16th century, was asked, What would you do if tomorrow the world would disappear, if it would end in a cataclysmic catastrophe? And he answered, “I would plant an apple tree today.”
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [102 favorites]
Werner Herzog: You know, I have a very good answer to all this, why it doesn’t make me nervous: Martin Luther, in the 16th century, was asked, What would you do if tomorrow the world would disappear, if it would end in a cataclysmic catastrophe? And he answered, “I would plant an apple tree today.”
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [102 favorites]
Washington Post has this on Flynn: Flynn in FBI interview denied discussing sanctions with Russian ambassador
Lock him up?
posted by dis_integration at 1:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [26 favorites]
Lock him up?
posted by dis_integration at 1:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [26 favorites]
From the Washington Post article: The Jan. 24 interview potentially puts Flynn in legal jeopardy, as lying to FBI is a felony, but any decision to prosecute would ultimately lie with the Justice Department. Some officials said bringing a case could prove difficult in part because Flynn may attempt to parse the definition of sanctions.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yeah I'm thinking about putting in my garden, it's already spring here pretty much. Seems sort of pointless but why not have some pointless beauty in your life?
we are all candide now
posted by murphy slaw at 1:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [31 favorites]
we are all candide now
posted by murphy slaw at 1:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [31 favorites]
Washington Post has this on Flynn: Flynn in FBI interview denied discussing sanctions with Russian ambassador
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1001
posted by Talez at 1:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [33 favorites]
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1001
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully—YOU DON'T FUCKING LIE TO THE FBI EVER. Either he was a fucking moron for not listening to his lawyer or his lawyer was a complete fucking moron.
(1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;
(2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or
(3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry;
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both. If the matter relates to an offense under chapter 109A, 109B, 110, or 117, or section 1591, then the term of imprisonment imposed under this section shall be not more than 8 years.
posted by Talez at 1:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [33 favorites]
Had to subscribe to the Washington Post. That's the 3rd paper I've subscribed to. I gotta think papers are doing well right now.
posted by bongo_x at 1:55 PM on February 16, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 1:55 PM on February 16, 2017 [20 favorites]
Washington Post has this on Flynn: Flynn in FBI interview denied discussing sanctions with Russian ambassador.
Which would usually make him toast (and/or provide leverage to make him rat on others), in a non-Sessions Justice Department. Should be fun to see where this goes.
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:55 PM on February 16, 2017
Which would usually make him toast (and/or provide leverage to make him rat on others), in a non-Sessions Justice Department. Should be fun to see where this goes.
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:55 PM on February 16, 2017
Blistering Shep Smith segment on Fox News.
posted by My Dad at 1:55 PM on February 16, 2017 [64 favorites]
posted by My Dad at 1:55 PM on February 16, 2017 [64 favorites]
lord. it is so disturbing how well-adapted my severe anxiety and depression are for this present moment. For people without anxiety and depression: the way you feel right now is the way we always feel.
Yup. Treatment-resistant depression plus anxiety disorders here. Spent the last 20 years being a weird paranoid survivalist, always irrationally convinced that the nazis were going to come back and that technology would poison society and ranting about how it was all a goddamned illusion and that civilization was Wile E Coyote hanging in midair, legs spinning, waiting to look down. I was aware then that this was the product of illness, that it worsened my quality of life and reduced my prospects for the future. Now I actually feel a little ahead of the curve in being able to produce more calories than I need, having secure access to drinkable water, having the ability to patch together a fallout shelter, etc.
I'm not afraid of the thing coming, because the thing has come, even if we haven't fully felt it yet. Also my chronic suicidal ideation has disappeared, which is unexpected; I guess it's a sign of adaptation? Anyway welcome to my head, guys, and make yourselves at home. Bathroom's the 2nd door on the left and make sure to hold the handle down when you flush.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:55 PM on February 16, 2017 [98 favorites]
Yup. Treatment-resistant depression plus anxiety disorders here. Spent the last 20 years being a weird paranoid survivalist, always irrationally convinced that the nazis were going to come back and that technology would poison society and ranting about how it was all a goddamned illusion and that civilization was Wile E Coyote hanging in midair, legs spinning, waiting to look down. I was aware then that this was the product of illness, that it worsened my quality of life and reduced my prospects for the future. Now I actually feel a little ahead of the curve in being able to produce more calories than I need, having secure access to drinkable water, having the ability to patch together a fallout shelter, etc.
I'm not afraid of the thing coming, because the thing has come, even if we haven't fully felt it yet. Also my chronic suicidal ideation has disappeared, which is unexpected; I guess it's a sign of adaptation? Anyway welcome to my head, guys, and make yourselves at home. Bathroom's the 2nd door on the left and make sure to hold the handle down when you flush.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:55 PM on February 16, 2017 [98 favorites]
Apparently, DJT's people sent out an email blast with a link to a survey on "Media Accountability". I'm like 90% sure it's only being passed around to gather more email addresses, but it'd just be a damned shame if an online poll went un-fucked-with.
25. Do you believe that our Party should spend more time and resources holding the mainstream media accountable?
What does this really men? Are they asking if they should send out more surrogates? More "press conferences" in which he berates the press? Send Stephen Miller out to the Sunday morning shows to read a teleprompter?
posted by Dr. Zira at 1:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
25. Do you believe that our Party should spend more time and resources holding the mainstream media accountable?
What does this really men? Are they asking if they should send out more surrogates? More "press conferences" in which he berates the press? Send Stephen Miller out to the Sunday morning shows to read a teleprompter?
posted by Dr. Zira at 1:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Just a reminder that if you have Amazon Prime, WaPo (digital edition) is free for the first six months. Just sign up!
(And then it's 50% off after that, but still a great deal. Thanks, Bezos.)
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [37 favorites]
(And then it's 50% off after that, but still a great deal. Thanks, Bezos.)
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [37 favorites]
So. Two points.
First, the eerie mix of strands of reality and total reality-defiance reminds me most of all of my poor old mom who died of cancer in December and for whom I had the honor to care during her last month in life. With this experience fresh in my mind, my question would be: is it the drugs or is it the candy, but don't tell me it's nothing.
Second, re. SNL; the best thing they could do is to start with a short blurb about how they were criticized for bad casting, bad acting etc. and that they are taking the criticism seriously. Then a guy in a suit, no Trump imitation at all, just walks up and reads selections from the transcript with all the side-tracks and concentration lapses until time is up. Nothing more would be needed.
Third, what the actual I can't even
posted by Namlit at 1:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
First, the eerie mix of strands of reality and total reality-defiance reminds me most of all of my poor old mom who died of cancer in December and for whom I had the honor to care during her last month in life. With this experience fresh in my mind, my question would be: is it the drugs or is it the candy, but don't tell me it's nothing.
Second, re. SNL; the best thing they could do is to start with a short blurb about how they were criticized for bad casting, bad acting etc. and that they are taking the criticism seriously. Then a guy in a suit, no Trump imitation at all, just walks up and reads selections from the transcript with all the side-tracks and concentration lapses until time is up. Nothing more would be needed.
Third, what the actual I can't even
posted by Namlit at 1:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
before you go out gardening plz report back on yr calls to yr representatives
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Bathroom's the 2nd door on the left and make sure to hold the handle down when you flush.
Thank god you put the toilet paper the right way on the spindle.
posted by Celsius1414 at 1:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
Thank god you put the toilet paper the right way on the spindle.
posted by Celsius1414 at 1:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
If Donald Trump turns out to be some sort of criminal mastermind who is cunningly acting a role as part of his Master Plan, I will eat my laptop. The bad news is that if he's just an angry, mentally ill dude he still somehow bumblefucked his way into a job as President Of The United States. I'm honestly not sure which scenario I prefer.
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [31 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [31 favorites]
Blistering Shep Smith segment on Fox News.
why has no one mounted a commando raid to bust shep smith out of fox headquarters
his immaculately manicured eyebrows are waggling S.O.S.
posted by murphy slaw at 1:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
why has no one mounted a commando raid to bust shep smith out of fox headquarters
his immaculately manicured eyebrows are waggling S.O.S.
posted by murphy slaw at 1:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
make the sound that is in your head come out of your mouth and then make some shithead republican staffer listen to it
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [17 favorites]
If Donald Trump turns out to be some sort of criminal mastermind who is cunningly acting a role as part of his Master Plan, I will eat my laptop.
Spoiler alert: Nobody Knows What They're Doing.
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
Spoiler alert: Nobody Knows What They're Doing.
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
Just a reminder that if you have Amazon Prime, WaPo is free for the first six months. Just sign up!
Cheers: done.
posted by Celsius1414 at 1:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
Cheers: done.
posted by Celsius1414 at 1:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
Imagine what he's going through mentally. For decades, he lived as he wished, with scores of people around him confirming his genius and value to the planet. Suddenly, he's dealing with constant turmoil, uncertainty and antagonism. He can't be coping well.
This is pretty much the only thing that's allowed me to sleep at night this month. I wouldn't wish the actions of a psychologically breaking Trump on anyone, but by God does the idea of him personally suffering for his actions sit well with me.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 1:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
This is pretty much the only thing that's allowed me to sleep at night this month. I wouldn't wish the actions of a psychologically breaking Trump on anyone, but by God does the idea of him personally suffering for his actions sit well with me.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 1:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
yesterday I was hopeful, today it's blissful gallows humor, still hopeful, though.
Really weird since I spent most of Obama's years deeply depressed but I guess trump makes me so angry I am just enjoying life out of spite.
posted by Tarumba at 1:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
Really weird since I spent most of Obama's years deeply depressed but I guess trump makes me so angry I am just enjoying life out of spite.
posted by Tarumba at 1:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
my representative is barbara lee and if i called her she would teach me some things about being progressive but she's having a town hall on saturday and i'm going just to throw roses at her feet
posted by murphy slaw at 2:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [52 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 2:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [52 favorites]
I officially can't keep up.
posted by diogenes at 2:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by diogenes at 2:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
Shep Smith, dude, you can just say "lie." Doing a find-and-replace with "untrue thing" is awkward.
posted by soren_lorensen at 2:01 PM on February 16, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 2:01 PM on February 16, 2017 [14 favorites]
Does he blurt out, "Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!" at any point?
No, that would be challenging phrasing and allusion for a significant fraction of his base.
Ummm. And maybe him also?
He is not known to be a voracious reader of.....anything? Let alone poetry.
posted by notreally at 2:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
No, that would be challenging phrasing and allusion for a significant fraction of his base.
Ummm. And maybe him also?
He is not known to be a voracious reader of.....anything? Let alone poetry.
posted by notreally at 2:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
>Blistering Shep Smith segment on Fox News.
"He keeps telling untrue things."
He keeps telling _ _ _ _. Four letter word, starts with L, rhymes with ties. Telling what? Language can be used to amplify the truth, or to obscure it. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that even talking heads on Fox news can't completely ignore this, but let's use the right goddamn words.
On preview, what soren_lorensen said.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 2:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
"He keeps telling untrue things."
He keeps telling _ _ _ _. Four letter word, starts with L, rhymes with ties. Telling what? Language can be used to amplify the truth, or to obscure it. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that even talking heads on Fox news can't completely ignore this, but let's use the right goddamn words.
On preview, what soren_lorensen said.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 2:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
I think journalists never say "lie" because that implies knowing intent, which you can't.
posted by Brainy at 2:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Brainy at 2:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
Welp I'm coping with this presser by playing with Trumpies on twitter. Not the most mature thing to do but whatever, I have a headache now and I'm grumpy.
posted by Jalliah at 2:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm still kind of shocked that Trump came out and said that what he considers fake news is anything that isn't flattering towards him in every sense of the word. "The leaks are real but the news is fake" led to a digression on CNN and how what they report might be true but it's "mean and hurtful" and "biased" so it's """"fake.""""
It's exactly what everyone thought he meant, but you'd think he wouldn't have ever outright spelled it out like that.
posted by flatluigi at 2:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [31 favorites]
It's exactly what everyone thought he meant, but you'd think he wouldn't have ever outright spelled it out like that.
posted by flatluigi at 2:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [31 favorites]
@hughlaurie Will there be a separate news conference for the verbs?
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:07 PM on February 16, 2017 [96 favorites]
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:07 PM on February 16, 2017 [96 favorites]
murphy slaw, i will be there too! tiny oakland meetup??
posted by waitangi at 2:07 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by waitangi at 2:07 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
In ten years, the collective wisdom will be that no one saw that Trump's mental acuity was in serious decline until it was too late.
People of 2027, I implore you: We noticed. We tried.
posted by 0xFCAF at 2:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [105 favorites]
People of 2027, I implore you: We noticed. We tried.
posted by 0xFCAF at 2:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [105 favorites]
Meanwhile, in Pruitt news:
@MikeLeeFW
Oklahoma judge orders @AGScottPruitt's office to produce docs related to oil/coal groups, citing AG staff's 'abject failure' to follow law
posted by everybody had matching towels at 2:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [49 favorites]
@MikeLeeFW
Oklahoma judge orders @AGScottPruitt's office to produce docs related to oil/coal groups, citing AG staff's 'abject failure' to follow law
posted by everybody had matching towels at 2:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [49 favorites]
Second, re. SNL; the best thing they could do is to start with a short blurb about how they were criticized for bad casting, bad acting etc. and that they are taking the criticism seriously. Then a guy in a suit, no Trump imitation at all, just walks up and reads selections from the transcript with all the side-tracks and concentration lapses until time is up. Nothing more would be needed.
There's an episode of 30 Rock where a buffoonish politician hits the national scene who looks exactly like Tracy Jordan, and the writers are all champing at the bit to come up with ridiculous skits for Jordan to play him in. Then Jack Donaghy tells them that they're not allowed to write any material for the politician, because he's a Republican and Jack doesn't want to embarrass the Republicans. So, the crew decides to just have Tracy re-enact everything the politician does, verbatim and with no embellishment.
Alec Baldwin already knows exactly what needs to be done in this situation, in other words.
posted by tobascodagama at 2:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [90 favorites]
There's an episode of 30 Rock where a buffoonish politician hits the national scene who looks exactly like Tracy Jordan, and the writers are all champing at the bit to come up with ridiculous skits for Jordan to play him in. Then Jack Donaghy tells them that they're not allowed to write any material for the politician, because he's a Republican and Jack doesn't want to embarrass the Republicans. So, the crew decides to just have Tracy re-enact everything the politician does, verbatim and with no embellishment.
Alec Baldwin already knows exactly what needs to be done in this situation, in other words.
posted by tobascodagama at 2:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [90 favorites]
Harward asked for a couple of days to consider whether he'd replace Flynn. After today I'd be surprised if he went ahead with it.
posted by readery at 2:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by readery at 2:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
I think journalists never say "lie" because that implies knowing intent, which you can't.
The NPR dance-around.
posted by Artw at 2:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
The NPR dance-around.
posted by Artw at 2:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
Thanks for the favourites, everyone, but it just occurred to me that if you're looking up Werner Herzog quotes for comfort, shit has truly gone sideways.
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [97 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [97 favorites]
Apparently, DJT's people sent out an email blast with a link to a survey on "Media Accountability". I'm like 90% sure it's only being passed around to gather more email addresses, but it'd just be a damned shame if an online poll went un-fucked-with.
I'm not convinced they're even recording the answers from this- it appears to just be a way to get you to the fundraiser on the next page.
posted by dilaudid at 2:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'm not convinced they're even recording the answers from this- it appears to just be a way to get you to the fundraiser on the next page.
posted by dilaudid at 2:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
What still feels beyond comprehension is that as rational adults here, we al have a certain expectation of how people behave.
And like Shep Smith noted, it's EXTRAORDINARY but also CONFUSING AS FUCK that EVERYTHING that comes out of his mouth is such a clear lie. There's not one single grain of, "Well yeah, he gets props for this," because every little word that flies out of his facehole is just fucking wrong. One could disagree with Reagan or Obama but they weren't pathological liars who incessantly invented stories (my crowd size! my electoral college votes!) and made everything up in their bizarro fantasyland of lunacy.
What does it take to get rid of him? The joke's gone far enough. This man is clearly not stable.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 2:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [47 favorites]
And like Shep Smith noted, it's EXTRAORDINARY but also CONFUSING AS FUCK that EVERYTHING that comes out of his mouth is such a clear lie. There's not one single grain of, "Well yeah, he gets props for this," because every little word that flies out of his facehole is just fucking wrong. One could disagree with Reagan or Obama but they weren't pathological liars who incessantly invented stories (my crowd size! my electoral college votes!) and made everything up in their bizarro fantasyland of lunacy.
What does it take to get rid of him? The joke's gone far enough. This man is clearly not stable.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 2:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [47 favorites]
because that implies knowing intent, which you can't.
That's part of our problem. You totally can infer intent by synthesizing observations of a larger pattern of behavior over time, but because even the most open and shut cases of that kind of analysis don't usually produce a literal, obvious smoking gun, people act like it's not possible to draw reasonably sound conclusions about motives from a pattern of behavior. Nothing has changed with Trump's behavior. He's acting like the same power obsessed, bloviating rich legacy CEO who won't tolerate criticism or admit mistakes he's always been.
posted by saulgoodman at 2:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
That's part of our problem. You totally can infer intent by synthesizing observations of a larger pattern of behavior over time, but because even the most open and shut cases of that kind of analysis don't usually produce a literal, obvious smoking gun, people act like it's not possible to draw reasonably sound conclusions about motives from a pattern of behavior. Nothing has changed with Trump's behavior. He's acting like the same power obsessed, bloviating rich legacy CEO who won't tolerate criticism or admit mistakes he's always been.
posted by saulgoodman at 2:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
> I'm not convinced they're even recording the answers from this- it appears to just be a way to get you to the fundraiser on the next page.
Anyone got a spare botnet? cause the appropriate response to this is a DDOS.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Anyone got a spare botnet? cause the appropriate response to this is a DDOS.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Why liberals are wrong about Trump [funny]
posted by Melismata at 2:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 2:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [18 favorites]
i wasn't watching the presser and there's no goddam way i will, but was he doing that sniffing thing?
posted by localhuman at 2:18 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by localhuman at 2:18 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Given that Mr. Trump said he would have told Flynn to call the Russians, isn't he just going to pardon him if the DOJ did bring charges?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:18 PM on February 16, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:18 PM on February 16, 2017
I wonder if I could wrangle a cabinet level position if I dropped $50 on his reelection campaign. I'd enact a bunch of progressive policies that people would love and then tell him they were his ideas. Also, one of my superpowers is avoiding my bosses, so I'd likely almost never see him.
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:19 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:19 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
I think journalists never say "lie" because that implies knowing intent, which you can't.
This is bullshit. The same bullshit NPR put out. It's fair to a certain degree, but when someone has been informed of the truth and they continue to repeat it, it becomes fair to call it a lie.
Also, when I wrote to NPR to protest, I told them that if they're going to stop short of calling it a lie, then they at least need to report on why he would continue to spout untruths, and I expected them to report on whether or not he was delusional, or whether his staff was intentionally keeping him misinformed or what. Because if it's not a lie, I said, you owe it to use to find out what it really is.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 2:19 PM on February 16, 2017 [35 favorites]
This is bullshit. The same bullshit NPR put out. It's fair to a certain degree, but when someone has been informed of the truth and they continue to repeat it, it becomes fair to call it a lie.
Also, when I wrote to NPR to protest, I told them that if they're going to stop short of calling it a lie, then they at least need to report on why he would continue to spout untruths, and I expected them to report on whether or not he was delusional, or whether his staff was intentionally keeping him misinformed or what. Because if it's not a lie, I said, you owe it to use to find out what it really is.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 2:19 PM on February 16, 2017 [35 favorites]
You know how sometimes you go to the bathroom and it seems like a normal thing but then something starts to go wrong. Maybe it's an incomplete wipe, maybe the toilet paper is cheap 1-ply, but somehow, out of nowhere, bad stuff is just EVERYWHERE. So you're trying to clean it off and it gets on your hands, and then on the seat, and then it's on your shirt and the wall for some insane reason and you clean and you clean but nothing gets any better. Then you're just standing there realizing that you are now completely and totally covered in shit and you have no idea how to fix it.
Yeah. That's how I feel about this country now.
posted by teleri025 at 2:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
Yeah. That's how I feel about this country now.
posted by teleri025 at 2:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
Several White House staffers were dismissed Thursday morning after failing FBI background checks, according to sources familiar with the matter.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [78 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [78 favorites]
Then you're just standing there realizing that you are now completely and totally covered in shit and you have no idea how to fix it.
hello did you also recently have a colonoscopy
posted by poffin boffin at 2:21 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
hello did you also recently have a colonoscopy
posted by poffin boffin at 2:21 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
> Given that Mr. Trump said he would have told Flynn to call the Russians, isn't he just going to pardon him if the DOJ did bring charges?
no way. As far as failing President Donald is concerned, Flynn's a loser now. Booted out of the Cabinet. Sad!
posted by Old Kentucky Shark at 2:22 PM on February 16, 2017
no way. As far as failing President Donald is concerned, Flynn's a loser now. Booted out of the Cabinet. Sad!
posted by Old Kentucky Shark at 2:22 PM on February 16, 2017
Given that Mr. Trump said he would have told Flynn to call the Russians, isn't he just going to pardon him if the DOJ did bring charges?I don't think the DOJ is going to bring charges, but the charges would have to do with lying to the FBI. Who knows what President Dumbfuck would do, but I don't think it matters that he says that he would have told him to call the Russians.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 2:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
@jenstatsky: "I've never seen anyone be worse at his job & I once ordered a "screwdriver" from a bartender & he went in the back 2 look for a SCREWDRIVER"
posted by zachlipton at 2:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [86 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 2:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [86 favorites]
ok, but I'm not really feeling the title of this thread. I find it kind of insulting to women in a vague, nondescript way. I realize this is a derail, but next time something more gender neutral please. BUT SAMANTHA BEE!!!!!! I take it all back. carry on.
posted by bluesky43 at 2:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 2:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
i wasn't watching the presser and there's no goddam way i will, but was he doing that sniffing thing?
Coked to oblivion.
posted by Artw at 2:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Coked to oblivion.
posted by Artw at 2:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
My Dad: "Blistering Shep Smith segment on Fox News."
Wow. That was pretty brutal.
posted by octothorpe at 2:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
Wow. That was pretty brutal.
posted by octothorpe at 2:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
Several White House staffers were dismissed Thursday morning after failing FBI background checks, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Well. Oiled. Machine.
posted by dis_integration at 2:25 PM on February 16, 2017 [45 favorites]
Well. Oiled. Machine.
posted by dis_integration at 2:25 PM on February 16, 2017 [45 favorites]
I just want to see one newspaper article that says, "LIES! ALL LIES. VERIFIABLE LIES. LIAR FROM LIARSTAN, PANTS FULLY ON FIRE. HE LIES."
BECAUSE HE IS A LYING LIAR WHO IS LYING.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 2:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [21 favorites]
BECAUSE HE IS A LYING LIAR WHO IS LYING.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 2:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [21 favorites]
Flynn in FBI interview denied discussing sanctions with Russian ambassador
Drip-pause-drip-pause-drip-pause. This isn't like the Wikileaks strategy, which was to keep the press chasing after nothingburgers by making events of each release. Whoever's leaking here knows that there'll be a response from the subjects of the leaks, and that each response will offer up one or two statements of fact, and the next leak will put those statements to the test.
posted by holgate at 2:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [23 favorites]
Drip-pause-drip-pause-drip-pause. This isn't like the Wikileaks strategy, which was to keep the press chasing after nothingburgers by making events of each release. Whoever's leaking here knows that there'll be a response from the subjects of the leaks, and that each response will offer up one or two statements of fact, and the next leak will put those statements to the test.
posted by holgate at 2:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [23 favorites]
"Look... people... I have works! Great works. They're the best works. Mighty mighty works. I'm telling you, people. Totally. I mean, you should be so sad!"
SEE YOU IN COURTTM
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:27 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
SEE YOU IN COURTTM
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:27 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
"Stupid is as stupid does"
posted by Huffy Puffy at 2:30 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Huffy Puffy at 2:30 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
ICE Agents Arrest Men Leaving Alexandria Church Shelter: "Oscar Ramirez said he had just left the hypothermia shelter at Rising Hope Mission Church on Russell Road in Alexandria, Virginia, when about a dozen ICE agents surround him and other Latino men. Ramirez said the agents questioned all of them and scanned their fingers to find out if they had criminal backgrounds. Agents quickly cleared Ramirez, who has a green card, he said. But he and other witnesses told News4 that about six Latino men were arrested and taken away in two vans that pulled up to the area where they had been stopped."
(emphasis mine)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:30 PM on February 16, 2017 [36 favorites]
(emphasis mine)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:30 PM on February 16, 2017 [36 favorites]
I'm getting the feeling that very soon, Watergate is going to seem trivial.
posted by davebush at 2:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by davebush at 2:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [27 favorites]
Rep. Ted Lieu has a one sentence press release (plus an asterisk that cites it sources you should go read on the original page) on Trump's press conference: "The press conference by President Trump*** today reminded me of a fine-tuned machine."
posted by zachlipton at 2:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 2:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
What does it take to get rid of him? The joke's gone far enough. This man is clearly not stable.
Option 1: Section 4 of the 25th Amendment.
Majority vote of the Cabinet + Pence and a letter to the Senate and House indicating the President is unable to perform his duties. Then 2/3rd majority vote of the House and Senate to confirm the decision should Trump challenge it.
Option 2: Impeachment
Majority vote in the House to impeach because "reasons" and then 2/3 of the Senate to remove him from office.
Option 3: Letter of Resignation
President writes a letter to Congress quitting.
Option 4: The plan proposed in the plot against FDR.
President is forced to appoint someone as a General Secretary / Prime Minister over the Cabinet and White House staff. All Presidential authority is delegated to this person.
posted by humanfont at 2:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
Option 1: Section 4 of the 25th Amendment.
Majority vote of the Cabinet + Pence and a letter to the Senate and House indicating the President is unable to perform his duties. Then 2/3rd majority vote of the House and Senate to confirm the decision should Trump challenge it.
Option 2: Impeachment
Majority vote in the House to impeach because "reasons" and then 2/3 of the Senate to remove him from office.
Option 3: Letter of Resignation
President writes a letter to Congress quitting.
Option 4: The plan proposed in the plot against FDR.
President is forced to appoint someone as a General Secretary / Prime Minister over the Cabinet and White House staff. All Presidential authority is delegated to this person.
posted by humanfont at 2:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
I'm getting the feeling that very soon, Watergate is going to seem trivial.And again: this assumes the decency and fundamental patriotism of high-ranking members of the Republican party. If they don't do anything, nothing happens. What do you think are the chances they're going to do anything?
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 2:32 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
Majority vote in the House to impeach because "reasons"
Does the China trademark thing count?
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
Does the China trademark thing count?
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
I'd just like to point out that this press conference led to the greatest headline I've ever seen, courtesy of TPM.
posted by rouftop at 2:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by rouftop at 2:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [34 favorites]
Joe Scarborough: FWIW, Republicans on the Hill were panicked behind the scenes by Trump's performance today.
Nothing, Joe. It's worth fucking nothing. Take actual action, in public. Do your fucking jobs like an independent branch of the United States Government.
Behind the scenes fretting over what you idiots have done to us all is worth less than nothing at this point.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [116 favorites]
Nothing, Joe. It's worth fucking nothing. Take actual action, in public. Do your fucking jobs like an independent branch of the United States Government.
Behind the scenes fretting over what you idiots have done to us all is worth less than nothing at this point.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [116 favorites]
I'm getting the feeling that very soon, Watergate is going to seem trivial.
During the Bush/Cheney years, there were buttons reading "I can't believe I miss Watergate," and people were saying that at least Reagan could put together a coherent sentence.
posted by Melismata at 2:35 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
During the Bush/Cheney years, there were buttons reading "I can't believe I miss Watergate," and people were saying that at least Reagan could put together a coherent sentence.
posted by Melismata at 2:35 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
> Option 3: Letter of Resignation
President writes a letter to Congress quitting.
what if an anti-bannon faction in his staff tricks him into signing a letter of resignation
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:35 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
President writes a letter to Congress quitting.
what if an anti-bannon faction in his staff tricks him into signing a letter of resignation
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:35 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
what if an anti-bannon faction in his staff tricks him into signing a letter of resignationHonestly, that's as plausible scenario for the endgame here as any.
Actually, I think they should trick him into signing a letter of resignation and then stage everything so he doesn't realize he's not still president. It would take some effort to create a fake Fox News broadcast for him to watch every morning, but it could be done. I'm not sure how they clone the White House, but they can do nifty things with special effects these days, right?
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 2:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [28 favorites]
yes, hellban him from the presidency.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:38 PM on February 16, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:38 PM on February 16, 2017 [18 favorites]
They could just tell him that actually they've discovered he doesn't have to live at the White House anymore? He doesn't want to be there, anyway.
posted by Sequence at 2:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Sequence at 2:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
tell him he can go back to living in trump tower. saves the expense of building a fake white house. melania would probably hate it, but everyone else would be happy.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
"President Trump, today's order is a statement to the American People regarding your resignation. It's important to all of us that our President be determined, resolute, and resigned, and this statement will formally attest to that. Sign here."
posted by contraption at 2:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by contraption at 2:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
You can't tip a president
posted by Namlit at 2:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Namlit at 2:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
>Joe Scarborough: FWIW, Republicans on the Hill were panicked behind the scenes by Trump's performance today.
His Twitter account has the 'all that's necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" quote displayed under his name.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 2:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [18 favorites]
His Twitter account has the 'all that's necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" quote displayed under his name.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 2:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [18 favorites]
before you go out gardening plz report back on yr calls to yr representatives
Call my representatives, or stock up on [this section has been pre-redacted for Secret Service convenience]?
I am no longer even kind of kidding about the possible prospect of America becoming a radioactive hellhole.
posted by corb at 2:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
Call my representatives, or stock up on [this section has been pre-redacted for Secret Service convenience]?
I am no longer even kind of kidding about the possible prospect of America becoming a radioactive hellhole.
posted by corb at 2:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
Honestly, that's as plausible scenario for the endgame here as any.
I've mentioned this before, but I lack the imagination to invent a scenario of Trump exiting office that doesn't seem plausible. Resignation? Impeachment? Loses the 2020 election? Article 25? Arrested? Revolution? Friendly Fire Nuclear Explosion? Serves for 8 years? In order of worst outcomes.
Not a one of those would surprise me. I think all I would think is "Oh, but of course."
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
I've mentioned this before, but I lack the imagination to invent a scenario of Trump exiting office that doesn't seem plausible. Resignation? Impeachment? Loses the 2020 election? Article 25? Arrested? Revolution? Friendly Fire Nuclear Explosion? Serves for 8 years? In order of worst outcomes.
Not a one of those would surprise me. I think all I would think is "Oh, but of course."
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
President is forced to appoint someone as a General Secretary / Prime Minister over the Cabinet and White House staff. All Presidential authority is delegated to this person.
This sounds a bit like what it was like when the end was approaching for *gag* Rob Ford. City Council voted to strip him of his powers and he became Mayor in name only, he couldn't actually do anything. By that point the council was turning their backs on him whenever he spoke.
But it seems like Trump would still have to agree to it, no? And Republicans seem like they're still in the doubling-down-on-everything denial stage anyway.
A bit off topic, but I've been wondering...I'm not a particularly smart person, but I remember from the few US History classes I didn't skip that your government is supposed to have a system of "checks and balances" or whatever. What happened to that whole deal?
posted by chococat at 2:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
This sounds a bit like what it was like when the end was approaching for *gag* Rob Ford. City Council voted to strip him of his powers and he became Mayor in name only, he couldn't actually do anything. By that point the council was turning their backs on him whenever he spoke.
But it seems like Trump would still have to agree to it, no? And Republicans seem like they're still in the doubling-down-on-everything denial stage anyway.
A bit off topic, but I've been wondering...I'm not a particularly smart person, but I remember from the few US History classes I didn't skip that your government is supposed to have a system of "checks and balances" or whatever. What happened to that whole deal?
posted by chococat at 2:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
> Call my representatives, or stock up on [this section has been pre-redacted for Secret Service convenience]?
why not both?
> You can't tip a president
I am a dangerously lazy loudmouthed erratic extremely distractible vacillating media-addicted parasite with a habit of making promises that I can't keep, and I really hate knowing that I would make a vastly better president than the guy currently occupying that office.
I'd name soren_lorensen, eyebrows mcgee, sciatrix, frowner, and corb to my cabinet and then do whatever they told me.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:45 PM on February 16, 2017 [77 favorites]
why not both?
> You can't tip a president
I am a dangerously lazy loudmouthed erratic extremely distractible vacillating media-addicted parasite with a habit of making promises that I can't keep, and I really hate knowing that I would make a vastly better president than the guy currently occupying that office.
I'd name soren_lorensen, eyebrows mcgee, sciatrix, frowner, and corb to my cabinet and then do whatever they told me.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:45 PM on February 16, 2017 [77 favorites]
tell him he can go back to living in trump tower.
i wholeheartedly support this use of my NYC taxes actually
a small fucking price to pay for literally saving the world
posted by poffin boffin at 2:45 PM on February 16, 2017 [14 favorites]
i wholeheartedly support this use of my NYC taxes actually
a small fucking price to pay for literally saving the world
posted by poffin boffin at 2:45 PM on February 16, 2017 [14 favorites]
I think I will actually buy some potassium iodide to keep in my home.
posted by bq at 2:47 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by bq at 2:47 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm only sort of joking, but are we sure we're not trapped in some sort of Grant Morrison fever dream? Something out of the Invisibles where the Outer Church is trying to fine-tune a contagious insanity transmitted through language, and Trump is its patient zero? Just a couple more press conferences, a couple tweaks to the ur-language being used, we all go mad, and the Archons are free to enter our reality?
No? Just me then?
This attempt at humor brought to you by pants-shitting terror at the way things are going and vague memories of my grandmother succumbing to Alzheimer's when I was very young.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:50 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
No? Just me then?
This attempt at humor brought to you by pants-shitting terror at the way things are going and vague memories of my grandmother succumbing to Alzheimer's when I was very young.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:50 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
I think it's a metaphor for the plot of 2001 A Space Odyssey. He's the lonely guy at the end. Looking back, he remembers, he was super smart, but a robot or something got in the way. But he remembers further back, to a glorious time when America was great.
posted by stonepharisee at 2:50 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 2:50 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm only sort of joking, but are we sure we're not trapped in some sort of Grant Morrison fever dream?
listen i will jack off onto any graphic novel you want me to if you promise it will get us out of here.
posted by murphy slaw at 2:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [37 favorites]
listen i will jack off onto any graphic novel you want me to if you promise it will get us out of here.
posted by murphy slaw at 2:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [37 favorites]
> I'm only sort of joking, but are we sure we're not trapped in some sort of Grant Morrison fever dream?
The scientists in charge of our simulation are attempting to get insight into the workings of the Great Filter.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
The scientists in charge of our simulation are attempting to get insight into the workings of the Great Filter.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) were asked to leave a meeting between lawmakers and the country's top immigration enforcement official Thursday.
Um.
posted by rtha at 2:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [42 favorites]
Um.
posted by rtha at 2:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [42 favorites]
New from the Post: Trump family’s elaborate lifestyle is a ‘logistical nightmare’ — at taxpayer expense.
They're terrified that in the summer, he's going to start hanging out at his golf course in Bedminster, N.J., a small town with 16 police officers. When Trump spent the weekend there in November, six local officers were needed 24/7.
posted by zachlipton at 2:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
They're terrified that in the summer, he's going to start hanging out at his golf course in Bedminster, N.J., a small town with 16 police officers. When Trump spent the weekend there in November, six local officers were needed 24/7.
posted by zachlipton at 2:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
His [Joe Scarborough] Twitter account has the 'all that's necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" quote displayed under his name.
He may have been accused of being either or both of those things, but he's been acquitted due to lack of evidence.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 2:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
He may have been accused of being either or both of those things, but he's been acquitted due to lack of evidence.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 2:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Not a one of those would surprise me. I think all I would think is "Oh, but of course."
If he resigned of his own free will, and was proven to be of sound mind and body while doing so. I'd think something was up.
posted by dinty_moore at 2:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
If he resigned of his own free will, and was proven to be of sound mind and body while doing so. I'd think something was up.
posted by dinty_moore at 2:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
I went out to my car in the parking lot to smoke around 1:45 today. The radio came on when I turned on the car to open the windows and I heard him say this: “the greatest thing I could do is shoot that ship that’s 30 miles offshore right out of the water. Everyone in this country’s going to say, ‘Oh, it’s so great.’ That’s not great. That’s not great.”
I just couldn't listen to any more of his dangerous drivel since I had to go back into work and present my mature librarian mien to the students. But what the fuck? Motherfucker seriously believes the American people want him to blow up some Russian boat? (The boat had every right to be there, according to the NYT.) Bellicose belligerent bully in chief is trying to start WWIII?
posted by mareli at 2:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
I just couldn't listen to any more of his dangerous drivel since I had to go back into work and present my mature librarian mien to the students. But what the fuck? Motherfucker seriously believes the American people want him to blow up some Russian boat? (The boat had every right to be there, according to the NYT.) Bellicose belligerent bully in chief is trying to start WWIII?
posted by mareli at 2:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
FT reports (copy headline into Google if you get paywalled) that Robert Harward turns down Trump’s national security offer, but they're trying to get him change his mind:
“Harward is conflicted between the call of duty and the obvious dysfunctionality,” said one person with first hand knowledge of the discussions between Mr Trump and Mr Harward. The second person said Mr Trump had asked Mr Harward to return to the White House for another meeting to try to change his mind.posted by zachlipton at 2:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [26 favorites]
...
One of the people familiar with Mr Harward’s decision said he was concerned about whether the top advisers around Mr Trump would allow him to install his own staff on the NSC — particularly after suggestions that KT McFarland, Mr Flynn’s deputy, had been asked to remain. When he was offered the position, Mr Harward had told Mr Trump that he wanted some time to think over the idea.
A bit off topic, but I've been wondering...I'm not a particularly smart person, but I remember from the few US History classes I didn't skip that your government is supposed to have a system of "checks and balances" or whatever. What happened to that whole deal?
Not sure if you're actually looking for a straight answer, but the idea behind the checks-and-balances paradigm was that each branch of government would zealously guard its power against any attempt by the other two to usurp it. So Congress wouldn't stand for a president doing flagrantly illegal things because if the president can do whatever he wants then Congress' main power -- to make the law -- becomes irrelevant. The founders didn't expect that we'd arrive at a time where elected officials prioritize their political party over the branch of government to which they belong. Republicans in Congress don't care if Congress' power is eroded because their primary loyalty is to the Republican Party, and checking a Republican president would erode the power of the party.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [75 favorites]
Not sure if you're actually looking for a straight answer, but the idea behind the checks-and-balances paradigm was that each branch of government would zealously guard its power against any attempt by the other two to usurp it. So Congress wouldn't stand for a president doing flagrantly illegal things because if the president can do whatever he wants then Congress' main power -- to make the law -- becomes irrelevant. The founders didn't expect that we'd arrive at a time where elected officials prioritize their political party over the branch of government to which they belong. Republicans in Congress don't care if Congress' power is eroded because their primary loyalty is to the Republican Party, and checking a Republican president would erode the power of the party.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [75 favorites]
Harward turns down NSA offer
I mean, who wouldn't want to become part of such a fine-tuned machine?
posted by dis_integration at 2:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
I mean, who wouldn't want to become part of such a fine-tuned machine?
posted by dis_integration at 2:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
Kasie Hunt confirmed Scarborough's tweet about Congressional Republicans being panicked by Trump's performance. I believe it. I also believe they will do exactly nothing about it. Tax cuts for you! Tax cuts for you! Tax cuts for everybody!
posted by Justinian at 2:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 2:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
I put a nuclear exchange in the same category as the Yellowstone Caldera, i.e, "Welp, That's It for Us!" No use planning for something like that unless you think eating MREs in a hole in the ground for a few decades is some kind of future worth having. And if so, cheers to you.
But anyway, I'm thinking I will trim the roses, put in some beans, and the kid has asked if we can try growing spaghetti squash and eggplants this year so that sounds good too. And some rosemary I think.
(and yes I will keep calling my various representatives and marching and all the rest).
posted by emjaybee at 2:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
But anyway, I'm thinking I will trim the roses, put in some beans, and the kid has asked if we can try growing spaghetti squash and eggplants this year so that sounds good too. And some rosemary I think.
(and yes I will keep calling my various representatives and marching and all the rest).
posted by emjaybee at 2:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
Dammit zachlipton, and I searched to see if anyone had posted it too.
posted by dis_integration at 2:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by dis_integration at 2:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
I just want to urge everyone to do what I just did and reach out to all your MOCs with your feelings about that press conference. They need to hear reaction. I wrote out my feelings and emailed it to all of them. I kept it polite and as non-partisan as possible, but I pulled quotes from the transcript and talked about how scared and embarrassed they made me feel as an American. I expressed my concern that we are seeing evidence of unfitness to serve and mental decline.
I can't say it made me feel better. In fact putting it down in words made me feel quite a bit more anxious. But I think it's important.
posted by threeturtles at 2:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [18 favorites]
I can't say it made me feel better. In fact putting it down in words made me feel quite a bit more anxious. But I think it's important.
posted by threeturtles at 2:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [18 favorites]
I can't link on mobile, but Harward has turned Trump down.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
I remember how when I was like thirteen my mom got pissed at me because I was reading the autobiography of Richard Nixon. Now, mind you, I do realize that it would be better if she praised her nerdy daughter for being such a fucking nerd early on. But her loathing of Nixon was just thorough.
Now, looking back on it, my dad was called up during Vietnam, my mother's world view had been formed in the progressive ideals of the late sixties, and Nixon for her was a symbol of opposition to things in which she passionately believed.
That's how I felt about Reagan and I still am capable of saying awful shit about him. But that's because I'm a child of the eighties, like my mom was a child of the sixties.
Trump though. Trump is well and truly, as described above, the part in the colonoscopy prep where things escalate quickly and horribly. He's not an opposition to the ideals of Obama. He's a boil on the ass of humanity that has been untreated and allowed to poison the communal bloodstream.
I'm no historian, but Watergate kind of feels like a situation where the system worked; the thing is, if the system were working, we would be 25th amending this shit what like a week in.
posted by angrycat at 2:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [25 favorites]
Now, looking back on it, my dad was called up during Vietnam, my mother's world view had been formed in the progressive ideals of the late sixties, and Nixon for her was a symbol of opposition to things in which she passionately believed.
That's how I felt about Reagan and I still am capable of saying awful shit about him. But that's because I'm a child of the eighties, like my mom was a child of the sixties.
Trump though. Trump is well and truly, as described above, the part in the colonoscopy prep where things escalate quickly and horribly. He's not an opposition to the ideals of Obama. He's a boil on the ass of humanity that has been untreated and allowed to poison the communal bloodstream.
I'm no historian, but Watergate kind of feels like a situation where the system worked; the thing is, if the system were working, we would be 25th amending this shit what like a week in.
posted by angrycat at 2:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [25 favorites]
i knew harward sounded way too competent to voluntarily join this shitshow
posted by murphy slaw at 3:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 3:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Now this is a picture: "Aide stops Pres Trump from leaving bill-signing ceremony because he hadn't yet signed the regulation repeal measure."
posted by zachlipton at 3:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [49 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [49 favorites]
Let's hope Hareards condition for serving is Bannon off the NSC and that's what he's holding out over.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Somebody tell the GOP reps that Mike Pence can sign tax cut bills too.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 3:01 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Huffy Puffy at 3:01 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
The founders didn't expect that we'd arrive at a time where elected officials prioritize their political party over the branch of government to which they belong.
Thanks, Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish, that's exactly what I didn't understand.
posted by chococat at 3:01 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Thanks, Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish, that's exactly what I didn't understand.
posted by chococat at 3:01 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Another drawing of The Donald, rendered and posted so I don't scream too, too much today. I could only watch a minute of that presser, so bizarre and unintelligible.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 3:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [31 favorites]
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 3:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [31 favorites]
The second person said Mr Trump had asked Mr Harward to return to the White House for another meeting to try to change his mind.
Yeah, spending more time with Trump is not going to make Harward feel reassured about the dysfunctionality.
posted by FelliniBlank at 3:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
Yeah, spending more time with Trump is not going to make Harward feel reassured about the dysfunctionality.
posted by FelliniBlank at 3:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
"Aide stops Pres Trump from leaving bill-signing ceremony because he hadn't yet signed the regulation repeal measure."
Let him go, kid, let him go!!
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 3:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
Let him go, kid, let him go!!
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 3:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
Also, checks and balances are kinda working: they haven't actually done anything yet. It's not like they rolled into a new Parliament with a bunch of manifesto bills that they sailed through. No actual legislation yet.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 3:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Huffy Puffy at 3:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Another drawing of The Donald, rendered and posted so I don't scream too, too much today.
I think you copied the wrong link, this is just a normal photograph
posted by theodolite at 3:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [24 favorites]
I think you copied the wrong link, this is just a normal photograph
posted by theodolite at 3:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [24 favorites]
Also, checks and balances are kinda working: they haven't actually done anything yet. It's not like they rolled into a new Parliament with a bunch of manifesto bills that they sailed through. No actual legislation yet.
Well, that depends on your point of view. If it wasn't for them, we would not have had the straight-downticket red wave that we did.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 3:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Well, that depends on your point of view. If it wasn't for them, we would not have had the straight-downticket red wave that we did.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 3:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
The founders didn't expect that we'd arrive at a time where elected officials prioritize their political party over the branch of government to which they belong.
I mean, forgive me for saying this, but doesn't that seem kind of naive? I feel like prioritizing political party over branch of government is the norm from what I've seen of world politics, not an unexpected aberration.
posted by peacheater at 3:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
I mean, forgive me for saying this, but doesn't that seem kind of naive? I feel like prioritizing political party over branch of government is the norm from what I've seen of world politics, not an unexpected aberration.
posted by peacheater at 3:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
okay so the resignation letter has to start with a couple of short paragraphs describing how bad america is and how great trump is. just insult the shit out of america while praising the shit out of trump.
then two very long paragraphs that get super wonky — details of the planned ACA appeal or whatever. lots of big words close together. about two thirds of the way through the second paragraph is the sentence "I resign from the office of president effective immediately." then the paragraph finishes with more wonkery.
a few more short paragraphs about how great trump is and how bad america is. lots of attention-getting words — "terrible," "carnage," "disgusting," "wall," "Mexico," "rigged."
then the signature line.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 3:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
then two very long paragraphs that get super wonky — details of the planned ACA appeal or whatever. lots of big words close together. about two thirds of the way through the second paragraph is the sentence "I resign from the office of president effective immediately." then the paragraph finishes with more wonkery.
a few more short paragraphs about how great trump is and how bad america is. lots of attention-getting words — "terrible," "carnage," "disgusting," "wall," "Mexico," "rigged."
then the signature line.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 3:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
I'm pretty sure the main reason we have state legislatures is to make Congress look smart.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 3:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Huffy Puffy at 3:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
Harward on the Cabinet = maybe +1 vote for a 25A solution?
posted by Sauce Trough at 3:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Sauce Trough at 3:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
i knew harward sounded way too competent to voluntarily join this shitshow
Yeah, thats pretty much the problem. Even if Trump accidentally picked someone good and competent for a role, they would turn him down. The Cabinet is doomed to be full of people as bad as Trump, because no one else would choose to be there (even an ambitious person would probably recognize that a stint in Trump's cabinet will doom any future positions).
posted by thefoxgod at 3:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Yeah, thats pretty much the problem. Even if Trump accidentally picked someone good and competent for a role, they would turn him down. The Cabinet is doomed to be full of people as bad as Trump, because no one else would choose to be there (even an ambitious person would probably recognize that a stint in Trump's cabinet will doom any future positions).
posted by thefoxgod at 3:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
The founders didn't expect that we'd arrive at a time where elected officials prioritize their political party over the branch of government to which they belong.
I mean, forgive me for saying this, but doesn't that seem kind of naive? I feel like prioritizing political party over branch of government is the norm from what I've seen of world politics, not an unexpected aberration.
I mean, George Washington fought against the ideas of political parties in general and refused to be in one until the end of his Presidency. So yes, but I think they were also hoping that political parties weren't a given.
posted by dinty_moore at 3:07 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
I mean, forgive me for saying this, but doesn't that seem kind of naive? I feel like prioritizing political party over branch of government is the norm from what I've seen of world politics, not an unexpected aberration.
I mean, George Washington fought against the ideas of political parties in general and refused to be in one until the end of his Presidency. So yes, but I think they were also hoping that political parties weren't a given.
posted by dinty_moore at 3:07 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
I'm pretty sure the main reason we have state legislatures is to make Congress look smart.
Does not apply to the previous 4 years in NC.
posted by yoga at 3:07 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Does not apply to the previous 4 years in NC.
posted by yoga at 3:07 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Harward turns down NSA offer. I mean, who wouldn't want to become part of such a fine-tuned machine?
What kind of fine-tuned machine puts out a press release before they even ask the guy if he wants the job? This is nuts.
posted by JackFlash at 3:07 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
What kind of fine-tuned machine puts out a press release before they even ask the guy if he wants the job? This is nuts.
posted by JackFlash at 3:07 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
Coaly Joe Manchin in that photo there; what a man he is.
They're terrified that in the summer, he's going to start hanging out at his golf course in Bedminster, N.J.
Or the Bedford, NY house, or the Briarcliff Manor golf course. Or all of them.
Weirdo Hungaro-fascist cosplay guy Gorka was on BBC Newsnight in full Orwellian mode, saying that his boss is "fabulous on his feet" and "there is no chaos". Um.
posted by holgate at 3:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
They're terrified that in the summer, he's going to start hanging out at his golf course in Bedminster, N.J.
Or the Bedford, NY house, or the Briarcliff Manor golf course. Or all of them.
Weirdo Hungaro-fascist cosplay guy Gorka was on BBC Newsnight in full Orwellian mode, saying that his boss is "fabulous on his feet" and "there is no chaos". Um.
posted by holgate at 3:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
> I mean, forgive me for saying this, but doesn't that seem kind of naive? I feel like prioritizing political party over branch of government is the norm from what I've seen of world politics, not an unexpected aberration.
On the one hand the drafters of the constitution were so naive. but on the other hand they didn't have any recent precedents to build on so you can forgive them a bit. but on the little-known third hand, they were a pack of slaveowning sons of bitches so you can't really forgive them for anything.
america, land of contrasts.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 3:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [32 favorites]
On the one hand the drafters of the constitution were so naive. but on the other hand they didn't have any recent precedents to build on so you can forgive them a bit. but on the little-known third hand, they were a pack of slaveowning sons of bitches so you can't really forgive them for anything.
america, land of contrasts.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 3:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [32 favorites]
I'm not
Fucking up the country
It was like this
When I got here
Someone else
Fucked up the country
And if I did
Fuck up the country
Then it was good
And everyone was glad
That I
Fucked up the country
And if you would
JUST STOP
Saying that I
Fucked up the country
Then Definitely the country
Would not be
Fucked up
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [74 favorites]
Fucking up the country
It was like this
When I got here
Someone else
Fucked up the country
And if I did
Fuck up the country
Then it was good
And everyone was glad
That I
Fucked up the country
And if you would
JUST STOP
Saying that I
Fucked up the country
Then Definitely the country
Would not be
Fucked up
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [74 favorites]
President Trump Melted Down Over a Question About Anti-Semitism: Not only did he lash out, he hardly seemed to comprehend the question.
This was, in a nutshell, the entire press conference. Trump seemed unable to comprehend the most basic elements of the question asked of him. Then he lashed out at the media in another display indicating that he sees all this criticism of him, all that's demanded of him now as president, to be grossly unfair. Why can't they just cheer him on like at the rallies? (Next one is Saturday in Florida, FYI.) Why do they keep asking about all these complicated issues? Don't they know he scored 306 electoral votes, the "biggest win since Ronald Reagan" if you don't count five of the seven elections that came in between?posted by homunculus at 3:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [56 favorites]
The Cabinet is doomed to be full of people as bad as Trump, because no one else would choose to be there (even an ambitious person would probably recognize that a stint in Trump's cabinet will doom any future positions).
"I'm just here to steal the silverware."
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
"I'm just here to steal the silverware."
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'm no historian, but Watergate kind of feels like a situation where the system worked; the thing is, if the system were working, we would be 25th amending this shit what like a week in.
It was on the verge of working, but then Gerry Ford pardoned Nixon. Yeah, Nixon left office in total disgrace, but he didn't do time for it, and towards the end of his life, people had started seeing him to some degree as respected elder statesman, rather than the crook he was.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 3:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [24 favorites]
It was on the verge of working, but then Gerry Ford pardoned Nixon. Yeah, Nixon left office in total disgrace, but he didn't do time for it, and towards the end of his life, people had started seeing him to some degree as respected elder statesman, rather than the crook he was.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 3:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [24 favorites]
Motherfucker seriously believes the American people want him to blow up some Russian boat?
Yup, and the reason he isn't going to take this super popular action is that it would impede his ability to "make a deal." Whatever that means.
posted by diogenes at 3:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yup, and the reason he isn't going to take this super popular action is that it would impede his ability to "make a deal." Whatever that means.
posted by diogenes at 3:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is my current fear. Nothing but total incompetent dangerous boot lickers will now be willing to work in this administration.
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 3:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 3:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Nothing but total incompetent dangerous boot lickers will now be willing to work in this administration.
Well I'm pretty sure I don't want competent dangerous boot lickers...
posted by suelac at 3:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [20 favorites]
Well I'm pretty sure I don't want competent dangerous boot lickers...
posted by suelac at 3:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [20 favorites]
Harward on the Cabinet = maybe +1 vote for a 25A solution?
National Security Advisor isn't a Cabinet or Cabinet-rank appointment -- it's an "Aide to the President" position -- so it doesn't count among the "principal officers of the executive departments" for a 25A removal.
posted by holgate at 3:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
National Security Advisor isn't a Cabinet or Cabinet-rank appointment -- it's an "Aide to the President" position -- so it doesn't count among the "principal officers of the executive departments" for a 25A removal.
posted by holgate at 3:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
Do I have to take a course on Stupid as a second language now or will government documents be bilingual?
posted by srboisvert at 3:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 3:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
I want to expand on the "Trump is mentally not-OK" thing because I think there's a common thread of evidence here worth considering. Today at his press conference, Trump lied, again, about the size of his Electoral College victory. He's done this before. This is one of those "WTF are you doing" kind of lies, where it's verifiably false by spending about 20 seconds on Wikipedia.
Normal people do lie from time to time. A key thing we do when we lie is to construct plausible lies for some purpose. You tell your boss you were sick on Tuesday (plausible: this happens) to cover for the fact you were at a baseball game (purpose: avoid being fired). You tell the cashier the rope is for a swingset (plausible: also a thing) instead of your kinky sex thing (purpose: avoid embarrassment).
What's completely abnormal is to lie without plausibility or purpose. You don't tell your boss that you were out on Tuesday because you were abducted by aliens. You don't bother lying to the cashier if you really are using the rope for some boring purpose.
So then...
You can tick off all the lies in his speeches and they almost all follow this pattern.
The murder rate isn't at historic highs (easily debunked). Even if they were, to what end? He's not yet proposing anything where this matters. Just shitting on the state of the country doesn't improve his situation at all.
The 9th circuit court isn't overturned 80% of the time. Why lie about it? You can truthfully say the 9th is widely regarded as the most liberal court in the nation.
The unemployment rate is not 40%. That's insane, you would notice if 4 out of 10 people you know were unemployed. And what can you do with this claim? In reality we are very close to full employment and the structural forces causing lowered labor force participation rates are ongoing, so he's setting himself up for failure by citing a number that can only go up.
His inauguration crowd size was not the biggest ever. Again, obvious. But who cares? Everyone knows he's not popular. He's not going to fool anyone; there are photographs.
Why? Why? Politicians lie, all the time. It's a thing. But they do so with intent and discretion. Bill Clinton lied about his affairs because it was plausible there was at least one woman he didn't sleep with, and with purpose to protect his reputation. GWB lied about Iraq because it was plausible that Hussein had WMDs, and with purpose to justify the war he wanted. Why is Trump continuously telling implausible lies that serve no purpose? He fails to manage a basic level of forethought that any normal person would have.
posted by 0xFCAF at 3:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [207 favorites]
Normal people do lie from time to time. A key thing we do when we lie is to construct plausible lies for some purpose. You tell your boss you were sick on Tuesday (plausible: this happens) to cover for the fact you were at a baseball game (purpose: avoid being fired). You tell the cashier the rope is for a swingset (plausible: also a thing) instead of your kinky sex thing (purpose: avoid embarrassment).
What's completely abnormal is to lie without plausibility or purpose. You don't tell your boss that you were out on Tuesday because you were abducted by aliens. You don't bother lying to the cashier if you really are using the rope for some boring purpose.
So then...
"I put it out before the American people, got 306 electoral college votes. I wasn't supposed to get 222. They said there's no way to get 222, 230's impossible. 270 which you need, that was laughable. We got 306 because people came out and voted like they've never seen before so that's the way it goes. I guess it was the biggest electoral college win since Ronald Reagan. In other words, the media's trying to attack our administration because they know we are following through on pledges that we made and they're not happy about it for whatever reason."Trump's lie about the Electoral College fails on both counts. It's implausible because it's trivially debunked. It also serves no purpose -- his argument is that everyone thought he would lose by a lot, but instead he won. You don't have to win by the biggest margin evar to make that a good argument! I mean, it's a stupid argument, but the "I beat expectations" part is actually true and you can just run with that.
You can tick off all the lies in his speeches and they almost all follow this pattern.
The murder rate isn't at historic highs (easily debunked). Even if they were, to what end? He's not yet proposing anything where this matters. Just shitting on the state of the country doesn't improve his situation at all.
The 9th circuit court isn't overturned 80% of the time. Why lie about it? You can truthfully say the 9th is widely regarded as the most liberal court in the nation.
The unemployment rate is not 40%. That's insane, you would notice if 4 out of 10 people you know were unemployed. And what can you do with this claim? In reality we are very close to full employment and the structural forces causing lowered labor force participation rates are ongoing, so he's setting himself up for failure by citing a number that can only go up.
His inauguration crowd size was not the biggest ever. Again, obvious. But who cares? Everyone knows he's not popular. He's not going to fool anyone; there are photographs.
Why? Why? Politicians lie, all the time. It's a thing. But they do so with intent and discretion. Bill Clinton lied about his affairs because it was plausible there was at least one woman he didn't sleep with, and with purpose to protect his reputation. GWB lied about Iraq because it was plausible that Hussein had WMDs, and with purpose to justify the war he wanted. Why is Trump continuously telling implausible lies that serve no purpose? He fails to manage a basic level of forethought that any normal person would have.
posted by 0xFCAF at 3:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [207 favorites]
His Twitter account has the 'all that's necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" quote displayed under his name.
I've witnessed good men aiding and abetting evil on multiple occasions. I myself have done things as part of a job that, in retrospect, I realized I would have done more good if I had done nothing.
Looking over the decline of American Culture during my adult life (and specifically the Republican Party), I had pretty much expected a full-fledged supervillian to be elected President in my lifetime (and to be a 'pop culture star' prior to his political career). I'm actually somewhat relieved that we've ended up with someone much closer to The Joker than Lex Luthor.
Nothing but total incompetent dangerous boot lickers will now be willing to work in this administration.
Now I'm wondering how much Alexander Acosta is regretting his decision to accept the Secretary of Labor gig. At least he might be a solid vote for the 25th Amendment Solution.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
I've witnessed good men aiding and abetting evil on multiple occasions. I myself have done things as part of a job that, in retrospect, I realized I would have done more good if I had done nothing.
Looking over the decline of American Culture during my adult life (and specifically the Republican Party), I had pretty much expected a full-fledged supervillian to be elected President in my lifetime (and to be a 'pop culture star' prior to his political career). I'm actually somewhat relieved that we've ended up with someone much closer to The Joker than Lex Luthor.
Nothing but total incompetent dangerous boot lickers will now be willing to work in this administration.
Now I'm wondering how much Alexander Acosta is regretting his decision to accept the Secretary of Labor gig. At least he might be a solid vote for the 25th Amendment Solution.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
What kind of fine-tuned machine puts out a press release before they even ask the guy if he wants the job? This is nuts.
In my head I am seeing street hockey team selection where the captains are picking kids and Donald picks a kid first and the kid says no. It's pretty satisfying to me as a Canadian.
posted by srboisvert at 3:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
In my head I am seeing street hockey team selection where the captains are picking kids and Donald picks a kid first and the kid says no. It's pretty satisfying to me as a Canadian.
posted by srboisvert at 3:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
Remember the scandal and controversy over Obama's beer summit?
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's worth remembering that Trump is the oldest person to ever be elected president at 70. Reagan was only 69. It's, unfortunately, very plausible we're seeing signs of his old age.
posted by flatluigi at 3:19 PM on February 16, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by flatluigi at 3:19 PM on February 16, 2017 [14 favorites]
Why is Trump continuously telling implausible lies that serve no purpose? He fails to manage a basic level of forethought that any normal person would have.
Because he's using words not to convey information, but as a means of dominance. Lying and refusing to be corrected shows that he's more powerful than we are. At least, I think that's why.
posted by suelac at 3:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [51 favorites]
Because he's using words not to convey information, but as a means of dominance. Lying and refusing to be corrected shows that he's more powerful than we are. At least, I think that's why.
posted by suelac at 3:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [51 favorites]
The Cabinet is doomed to be full of people as bad as Trump, because no one else would choose to be there (even an ambitious person would probably recognize that a stint in Trump's cabinet will doom any future positions).
I give it a couple weeks before Donnie's cabinet just becomes Fox News' official intern program, put in 6 months in the White House and then you can move on to a paid position grabbing Steve Doocy's morning coffee.
posted by jason_steakums at 3:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
I give it a couple weeks before Donnie's cabinet just becomes Fox News' official intern program, put in 6 months in the White House and then you can move on to a paid position grabbing Steve Doocy's morning coffee.
posted by jason_steakums at 3:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
0xFCAF: All of those examples (and a lot of other baffling Trump lies) are basically inflated numbers: it's something I've noticed (and joked about) before, that he's totally incapable of saying a number without increasing it by somewhere between 10 and 75%. I wonder if it's a holdover from his business career, when exaggerating his available cash / building heights / TV ratings / casino profits / etc actually did serve a purpose.
posted by theodolite at 3:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 3:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [20 favorites]
It should be noted that there were no political parties when the constitution was written and many of the founders quite expressly were very anti parties just on principle. But a fptp electoral system kind of guarantees that that's what's going to happen.
posted by soren_lorensen at 3:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 3:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
Huh, looks like somebody told an Italian parade about the dream I have every night now.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
Before the NPR sagging goes on much longer, let me note that on Morning Edition today, Mara Eliasson tone of voice was dripping with derisive contempt when she was speaking of the Trumpster. Not the person I would have expected to show such disrespect for the dude.
And speating as one who rode.the Watergate rollercoaster daily back then, nothing is so redolent of that as this.current meltdown.
posted by y2karl at 3:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
And speating as one who rode.the Watergate rollercoaster daily back then, nothing is so redolent of that as this.current meltdown.
posted by y2karl at 3:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
> Trump's lie about the Electoral College fails on both counts. It's implausible because it's trivially debunked. It also serves no purpose -- his argument is that everyone thought he would lose by a lot, but instead he won. You don't have to win by the biggest margin evar to make that a good argument! I mean, it's a stupid argument, but the "I beat expectations" part is actually true and you can just run with that.
I was going to say "the purpose of the lies are...," but Trump is a creature that doesn't really act in terms of purpose.
So, bracketing off the question of purpose or intent — Trump is a philosophical zombie, and so it doesn't make sense to talk about him in terms of purpose or intent — the question becomes what is the function of these lies? And I think in some thread previous we determined that the function of the lies is to give his followers an opportunity to demonstrate their loyalty. If the words that come out of his mouth sound in any way like they might pertain to any reality, people might believe the lies, and then agree with him because they believe his lies. This is insufficient for the type of creature Trump is. When people follow him because they agree with him, this means that they're conditionally following him. If they stop agreeing with him, they might stop following.
If the lies are total moon-language gibberish, though, the only reason anyone would go along with them is if they're demonstrating how much they submit to Trump. Submission, unlike agreement, is understood by Trump as unconditional, and therefore trustworthy.
Again, this isn't to say that Trump plans in any way. He's a stimulus-response machine that seeks submission from those around him. All of this works on an affective rather than intellectual level. Trump likely doesn't realize what he's doing with the lies — likely he doesn't realize anything at all, because he doesn't have a brain fit for realizing anything — but he's unconsciously trained himself to lie vigorously, incoherently, and relentlessly, because that's the most reliable method for him to generate his preferred stimulus.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 3:27 PM on February 16, 2017 [76 favorites]
I was going to say "the purpose of the lies are...," but Trump is a creature that doesn't really act in terms of purpose.
So, bracketing off the question of purpose or intent — Trump is a philosophical zombie, and so it doesn't make sense to talk about him in terms of purpose or intent — the question becomes what is the function of these lies? And I think in some thread previous we determined that the function of the lies is to give his followers an opportunity to demonstrate their loyalty. If the words that come out of his mouth sound in any way like they might pertain to any reality, people might believe the lies, and then agree with him because they believe his lies. This is insufficient for the type of creature Trump is. When people follow him because they agree with him, this means that they're conditionally following him. If they stop agreeing with him, they might stop following.
If the lies are total moon-language gibberish, though, the only reason anyone would go along with them is if they're demonstrating how much they submit to Trump. Submission, unlike agreement, is understood by Trump as unconditional, and therefore trustworthy.
Again, this isn't to say that Trump plans in any way. He's a stimulus-response machine that seeks submission from those around him. All of this works on an affective rather than intellectual level. Trump likely doesn't realize what he's doing with the lies — likely he doesn't realize anything at all, because he doesn't have a brain fit for realizing anything — but he's unconsciously trained himself to lie vigorously, incoherently, and relentlessly, because that's the most reliable method for him to generate his preferred stimulus.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 3:27 PM on February 16, 2017 [76 favorites]
When caught in the lie about his EC victory margin, Trump's response was "That was information that was given to me."
@kurtbraunohler
"What's amazing about me is that I'm 14 feet tall!"
"Not true."
"I don't know, I was given that information."
posted by zakur at 3:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [39 favorites]
@kurtbraunohler
"What's amazing about me is that I'm 14 feet tall!"
"Not true."
"I don't know, I was given that information."
posted by zakur at 3:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [39 favorites]
Trump inflates his numbers like ancient chroniclers do when talking about ancient battles. Thermopylae? Totally 2.5 million persians, bigly stuff.
posted by Carillon at 3:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by Carillon at 3:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
"I only know what I read.....
...and I don't read anything..."
posted by Sing Or Swim at 3:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
...and I don't read anything..."
posted by Sing Or Swim at 3:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
yeah I have to say his reaction to the question about anti-Semitic threats made me flash on that woman in Threads who pees her pants when she sees the ICBMs launch. It's like, he is crazy. He is motherfucking certifiable. And his supporters don't care. Starting to understand that no atheists in foxholes line.
posted by angrycat at 3:30 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 3:30 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
Confabulation is a sign of memory loss and senile dementia.
History of damage to the brain
Neurological deficits
Untrue stories which may be detailed or strange
Conviction in the false memory
Imagination confused with memory
True memories confused with false memories
We've got 4 out of 6 and the two unconfirmed are not false but unknown.
posted by srboisvert at 3:32 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
History of damage to the brain
Neurological deficits
Untrue stories which may be detailed or strange
Conviction in the false memory
Imagination confused with memory
True memories confused with false memories
We've got 4 out of 6 and the two unconfirmed are not false but unknown.
posted by srboisvert at 3:32 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
While I supposed dementia is a possibility, I'm not sure speculation does much good. There is an even simpler explanation, i.e., words don't have any meaning. Trump is every skeevy used-car salesman you've ever met rolled into one. "This is the best car. My mom had one. You want to know about gas mileage, 40 mpg at least, probably more. Cylinders 12, I think."
It's all about making the sale, which as others have noted, is a form of dominance, just like the handshake thing. Higher brain function isn't very relevant when you're all id.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 3:40 PM on February 16, 2017 [47 favorites]
It's all about making the sale, which as others have noted, is a form of dominance, just like the handshake thing. Higher brain function isn't very relevant when you're all id.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 3:40 PM on February 16, 2017 [47 favorites]
I'm visualising Chris Christie, Mitt Romney and glasses of scotch clinking.
posted by davebush at 3:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by davebush at 3:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Well, if there's a nuclear war because the Trump administration is literally too stupid not to start one, at least none of us have to worry about the Medicare privatization, our credit card debts, etc.
My thought about this press conference was "Putin's pretty evil, but at least he's intelligent - he wouldn't start a nuclear war if he could avoid one, and might not even nuke us all in response to one battlefield nuke". Ladies and gentlemen, all that advice about writing things down at the start of the totalitarian regime - I absolutely should have taken that advice. I think and believe things I would never have expected to think and believe, and it literally has not been a month.
posted by Frowner at 3:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [50 favorites]
My thought about this press conference was "Putin's pretty evil, but at least he's intelligent - he wouldn't start a nuclear war if he could avoid one, and might not even nuke us all in response to one battlefield nuke". Ladies and gentlemen, all that advice about writing things down at the start of the totalitarian regime - I absolutely should have taken that advice. I think and believe things I would never have expected to think and believe, and it literally has not been a month.
posted by Frowner at 3:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [50 favorites]
Everyone should go take the media survey -- the high level of paranoia in some of the questions is hilariously alarming, i.e. "Do you believe that the media purposely tries to divide Republicans against each other in order to help elect Democrats?"
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 3:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 3:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
I could see dementia being an issue, although it is of course impossible to know. Except, in this picture, I think I can actually SEE dementia being an issue.
posted by mudpuppie at 3:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by mudpuppie at 3:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Does he blurt out, "Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!" at any point?He changed just one letter:
"Look on my words, ye mighty, and despair!"
posted by msalt at 3:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
Dementia is a painful, awful and humiliating way to go, isn't it?
I fucking hope it is.
FIngers crossed for it stepping up the pace a bit.
posted by Artw at 5:37 PM on February 16 [has favorites +] [!]
Please don't do this. Some of us have wonderful non-fascist loved ones with dementia.
posted by INFJ at 3:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [50 favorites]
I fucking hope it is.
FIngers crossed for it stepping up the pace a bit.
posted by Artw at 5:37 PM on February 16 [has favorites +] [!]
Please don't do this. Some of us have wonderful non-fascist loved ones with dementia.
posted by INFJ at 3:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [50 favorites]
This photo is like The Last Supper except all the apostles are trying to convince Jesus that it's for the best if he goes to live in a nursing home.
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 3:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [39 favorites]
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 3:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [39 favorites]
Serious question here about leak legality.
Who can authorize the dissemination of classified materials? Presumably media leaks are a well-honed weapon of the IC. Presumably they have a process for quietly scrubbing and approving material for release as part of an intelligence operation.
Is it possible that all these leaks are legal because they were quietly authorized by the right official? Or is there too much oversight/record keeping about declassification to keep a leak authorization like this on the DL?
posted by Sauce Trough at 3:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Who can authorize the dissemination of classified materials? Presumably media leaks are a well-honed weapon of the IC. Presumably they have a process for quietly scrubbing and approving material for release as part of an intelligence operation.
Is it possible that all these leaks are legal because they were quietly authorized by the right official? Or is there too much oversight/record keeping about declassification to keep a leak authorization like this on the DL?
posted by Sauce Trough at 3:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Do you believe that contrary to what the media says, raising taxes does not create jobs?
From the survey, I feel like they're missing a comma?
posted by Carillon at 3:47 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
From the survey, I feel like they're missing a comma?
posted by Carillon at 3:47 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Why is Trump continuously telling implausible lies that serve no purpose? He fails to manage a basic level of forethought that any normal person would have.
I had a fun conversation with a friend talking about trying to teach her 5 year old not to lie. She was afraid she was just teaching him not to get caught lying; teaching him how to be a better plausible liar to avoid the shame and repercussions of getting caught.
Trump feels no shame, he has never faced any repercussions in his life. Getting caught in an obvious lie isn't something that has caused any setbacks for him ever. Why would he stop now?
posted by peeedro at 3:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
I had a fun conversation with a friend talking about trying to teach her 5 year old not to lie. She was afraid she was just teaching him not to get caught lying; teaching him how to be a better plausible liar to avoid the shame and repercussions of getting caught.
Trump feels no shame, he has never faced any repercussions in his life. Getting caught in an obvious lie isn't something that has caused any setbacks for him ever. Why would he stop now?
posted by peeedro at 3:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
From the survey, I feel like they're missing a comma?
The comma and also the connection to reality and rational thought.
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:49 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
The comma and also the connection to reality and rational thought.
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:49 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
Morning Joe's Mika appears to have run out of fucks. She just tweeted: "The President needs to succeed for America but he has crossed the line too many times. This feels like a fake Presidency."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:51 PM on February 16, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:51 PM on February 16, 2017 [32 favorites]
What does (ph) mean?
posted by unliteral at 3:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by unliteral at 3:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Just imagine how low the corporate tax rate is going to be when there's no more society to maintain!
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
This survey is hard to fill out just because I believe the media has been unfair, but not in the way they're thinking.
posted by ckape at 3:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by ckape at 3:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
Shit
The FBI is not expected to pursue any charges against former national security adviser Michael Flynn regarding a phone call with Russia's ambassador, barring new information that changes what they know, law enforcement officials told CNN Thursday.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 3:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
The FBI is not expected to pursue any charges against former national security adviser Michael Flynn regarding a phone call with Russia's ambassador, barring new information that changes what they know, law enforcement officials told CNN Thursday.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 3:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
What does (ph) mean?
It is a convention in speech annotations to indicate the sound of breath, ie, the speaker breathed audibly at that time.
posted by chainsofreedom at 3:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
It is a convention in speech annotations to indicate the sound of breath, ie, the speaker breathed audibly at that time.
posted by chainsofreedom at 3:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump
'Trump signs bill undoing Obama coal mining rule'
[the attached Hill link includes within the tweet the text "The stream protection rule was intended to protect waterways from mining waste"]
Idiot.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
'Trump signs bill undoing Obama coal mining rule'
[the attached Hill link includes within the tweet the text "The stream protection rule was intended to protect waterways from mining waste"]
Idiot.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
> Ladies and gentlemen, all that advice about writing things down at the start of the totalitarian regime - I absolutely should have taken that advice. I think and believe things I would never have expected to think and believe, and it literally has not been a month.
The shit of it is, so many of the new things I believe directly contradict each other. Like, I find myself simultaneously believing that
if you catch me selling newspapers just shoot me, okay?
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 3:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
The shit of it is, so many of the new things I believe directly contradict each other. Like, I find myself simultaneously believing that
- democratic centralism is, despite my previous objections, a pretty good organizational structure in these troubled times, and also that
- direct action separate from any centralized leadership is crucial, and also that
- it would be a good thing if intelligence agencies threw a coup, and also that
- it's very important to call one's elected representatives every day, and also that
- stockpiling resources is a great idea.
if you catch me selling newspapers just shoot me, okay?
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 3:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
Morning Joe's Mika appears to have run out of fucks. She just tweeted: "The President needs to succeed for America but he has crossed the line too many times. This feels like a fake Presidency."
If she's truly out of fucks she should resign from that garbage fascist-coddling show on which she occasionally plays "bad cop" so they can retain some vague pretense of not being fascist-coddling Trump-enabler scum.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:55 PM on February 16, 2017 [24 favorites]
If she's truly out of fucks she should resign from that garbage fascist-coddling show on which she occasionally plays "bad cop" so they can retain some vague pretense of not being fascist-coddling Trump-enabler scum.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:55 PM on February 16, 2017 [24 favorites]
I'm getting the feeling that very soon, Watergate is going to seem trivial.
During the Bush/Cheney years, there were buttons reading "I can't believe I miss Watergate," and people were saying that at least Reagan could put together a coherent sentence.
After Reagan literally negotiating with terrorists in Iran-Contra, and Bush Jr. lying us into a trillion dollar war in Iraq, I am prepared to go on record as saying that Watergate absolutely pales to triviality compared to the behavior of subsequent Republican presidents.
I think I will buy some potassium iodide to keep in my home
Might I recommend potassium iodate instead? Just as effective at blocking radioactive iodine uptake by the thyroid, without the bitter taste.
Because we now live in a world where I'm finding that laughing off the paranoia of "Doomsday Preppers" is no longer as much fun as it once was. :-(
posted by darkstar at 3:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
During the Bush/Cheney years, there were buttons reading "I can't believe I miss Watergate," and people were saying that at least Reagan could put together a coherent sentence.
After Reagan literally negotiating with terrorists in Iran-Contra, and Bush Jr. lying us into a trillion dollar war in Iraq, I am prepared to go on record as saying that Watergate absolutely pales to triviality compared to the behavior of subsequent Republican presidents.
I think I will buy some potassium iodide to keep in my home
Might I recommend potassium iodate instead? Just as effective at blocking radioactive iodine uptake by the thyroid, without the bitter taste.
Because we now live in a world where I'm finding that laughing off the paranoia of "Doomsday Preppers" is no longer as much fun as it once was. :-(
posted by darkstar at 3:56 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
For the "but his base loves it" crowd.
@mckaycoppins
Remember when pundits judged Obama's success entirely by how his actions played with blacks, Latinos, & young liberals? Weird, me neither...
posted by chris24 at 3:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [50 favorites]
@mckaycoppins
Remember when pundits judged Obama's success entirely by how his actions played with blacks, Latinos, & young liberals? Weird, me neither...
posted by chris24 at 3:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [50 favorites]
Morning Joe's Mika appears to have run out of fucks. She just tweeted: "The President needs to succeed for America but he has crossed the line too many times. This feels like a fake Presidency."
You can see the exact moment she ran out of them on Monday. At 1:58
Since then she dumped Kellyanne and has just been done.
posted by Jalliah at 3:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
You can see the exact moment she ran out of them on Monday. At 1:58
Since then she dumped Kellyanne and has just been done.
posted by Jalliah at 3:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
After seeing the picture of Trump's aides having to stop him from wandering out of a signing ceremony before actually signing anything, I retract my previous suggestions for how to trick him into resigning. There is no need to hide the statement "I hereby resign the Office of President of the United States" in a paragraph full of wonky language. Just put a letter like Nixon's in front of him and tell him to sign.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 3:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 3:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
cnn is about to start discussing the Black Caucus/April Ryan fiasco. They also had Leon Panetta on and he is freaked out too. yikes.
posted by futz at 4:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by futz at 4:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Gov. Paul LePage on Trump: 'We got to tell him that the TV show's over and he's gotta move on now'
"I think he needs -- Reince Priebus and Pence, Vice President Pence, are good people and if he goes through Pence he's going to have somebody that he's very qualified, he understands the Congress, he understands how it works in Washington. He can help Donald Trump get his message out. He can be very, very helpful. I have great admiration for him. He's a great guy. I really believe that he's got the making of being a great president but he's got to have some structure in that White House."
he's losing LePage
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [71 favorites]
"I think he needs -- Reince Priebus and Pence, Vice President Pence, are good people and if he goes through Pence he's going to have somebody that he's very qualified, he understands the Congress, he understands how it works in Washington. He can help Donald Trump get his message out. He can be very, very helpful. I have great admiration for him. He's a great guy. I really believe that he's got the making of being a great president but he's got to have some structure in that White House."
he's losing LePage
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [71 favorites]
during the G.W. Bush administration, there was at least the (cold) comfort that the idiot president was being manipulated by evil men with rational (evil) motivations
this idiot president is being manipulated by people nearly as stupid as he is, with cartoon villain motivations
there is a crash-test dummy in the driver's seat and the guy in the back seat who's supposed to be driving the car via the hidden rigging is drunk and playing pokemon on his phone
posted by murphy slaw at 4:01 PM on February 16, 2017 [35 favorites]
this idiot president is being manipulated by people nearly as stupid as he is, with cartoon villain motivations
there is a crash-test dummy in the driver's seat and the guy in the back seat who's supposed to be driving the car via the hidden rigging is drunk and playing pokemon on his phone
posted by murphy slaw at 4:01 PM on February 16, 2017 [35 favorites]
So I called my rep, Jackie Speier, and was shocked when someone actually picked up. She's actually been tweeting out some sick burns, so I said thanks for her hard work and please, please work to hold bad behavior accountable. In the future is there other things I should be addressing with someone who I generally agree with?
posted by Carillon at 4:01 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Carillon at 4:01 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
What does (ph) mean?
It is a convention in speech annotations to indicate the sound of breath, ie, the speaker breathed audibly at that time.
Wait, really? I thought it indicated a phonetic transcription, i.e. "we're not 100% sure what this word was supposed to be, but this is what it sounded like."
posted by teraflop at 4:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
It is a convention in speech annotations to indicate the sound of breath, ie, the speaker breathed audibly at that time.
Wait, really? I thought it indicated a phonetic transcription, i.e. "we're not 100% sure what this word was supposed to be, but this is what it sounded like."
posted by teraflop at 4:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
There is no need to hide the statement "I hereby resign the Office of President of the United States" in a paragraph full of wonky language. Just put a letter like Nixon's in front of him and tell him to sign.
I was thinking somebody could just wake him up in a couple of days, tell him his month of "President Camp" is over, and wasn't it fun pretending to be President for a month, but it's over now, time to go home, time for another kid to get the chance.
posted by nubs at 4:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
I was thinking somebody could just wake him up in a couple of days, tell him his month of "President Camp" is over, and wasn't it fun pretending to be President for a month, but it's over now, time to go home, time for another kid to get the chance.
posted by nubs at 4:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
he's losing LePage
for extra fun, read LePage's statement in a foghorn leghorn voice
posted by murphy slaw at 4:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
for extra fun, read LePage's statement in a foghorn leghorn voice
posted by murphy slaw at 4:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
> this idiot president is being manipulated by people nearly as stupid as he is, with cartoon villain motivations.
Also Bush understood his own limitations and didn't try to steer the ship of state himself. Trump is congenitally incapable of seeing himself as limited in any way, and so he gets huffy and does dumb shit in order to prove that he's not a puppet.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
Also Bush understood his own limitations and didn't try to steer the ship of state himself. Trump is congenitally incapable of seeing himself as limited in any way, and so he gets huffy and does dumb shit in order to prove that he's not a puppet.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
I was thinking somebody could just wake him up in a couple of days, tell him his month of "President Camp" is over, and wasn't it fun pretending to be President for a month, but it's over now, time to go home, time for another kid to get the chance.
I'm pretty sure Trump would throw the same tantrum over this today as he would have at age eleven.
posted by Sequence at 4:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm pretty sure Trump would throw the same tantrum over this today as he would have at age eleven.
posted by Sequence at 4:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
For instance, Describing @POTUS as unhinged at today's press conference is kind. This is scary. #25thAmendment from @RepSpeier.
posted by Carillon at 4:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [28 favorites]
posted by Carillon at 4:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [28 favorites]
Wait, really? I thought it indicated a phonetic transcription, i.e. "we're not 100% sure what this word was supposed to be, but this is what it sounded like."
Oh, you are correct! I was thinking of this (ph).
posted by chainsofreedom at 4:05 PM on February 16, 2017
Oh, you are correct! I was thinking of this (ph).
posted by chainsofreedom at 4:05 PM on February 16, 2017
there is a crash-test dummy in the driver's seat and the guy in the back seat who's supposed to be driving the car via the hidden rigging is drunk and playing pokemon on his phone
The car is on fire, and there's no driver at the wheel
And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
And a dark wind blows
The government is corrupt
And we're on so many drugs
With the radio on and the curtains drawn (Source)
posted by Pink Frost at 4:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
The car is on fire, and there's no driver at the wheel
And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
And a dark wind blows
The government is corrupt
And we're on so many drugs
With the radio on and the curtains drawn (Source)
posted by Pink Frost at 4:08 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
The anti-Semitism question, annotated.
Trump: I want to find a friendly reporter. Are you a friendly reporter?
Reporter: I'm friendly.
Trump: Watch how friendly, he is. [In the later context, Trump is saying liar before the question starts.] Go ahead.
Reporter: So, first of all, my name is Jake [inaudible] magazine and, I, despite what so many colleagues might be reporting, I haven't seen anybody in my community accuse either yourself or anyone on your staff of being anti-Semitic. [Wow. That is friendly. Says that nobody in his community has accused Trump of his staff of being anti-Semitic.] However, what we are concerned about and what we haven't really heard you address is an uptick in anti-Semitism and how in this climate you're going to take care of it. [As close as he gets to a question. Now for background narrative.] There have been reports out that 48 bomb threats have been made against Jewish centers all across the country in the last couple of weeks. There are people who are committing anti-Semitic acts or threatening to --
Trump: You know he's said that he's going to ask a very simple, easy question. [No, he didn't. He said, he's friendly.] And it's not. It's not a fair question. [It's not even a question, you stopped him. But so far it had been fair.] Sit down. [Roll-over. Fetch.] I understand the rest of your question. [I have mind-reading skills and what you are really saying is: Why does Donald Trump hate Jews?] So here's the story, folks.
Number one, I'm the least anti-Semitic person you've seen in your entire life. Number two, racism, the least racist person. In fact, we did very well relative to other people running as a Republican — [ inaudible ]
Quiet, quiet, he lied about getting up asking a straight, simple question, so, you know, welcome to the world of the media. [sit down and now liar.]
Let me just tell you something, that I hate that charge. I find it repulsive. [He heard a personal insult at a register beyond human hearing.] I hate even the question because people that know me, and you heard the Prime Minister. You heard Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday. Did you hear him? Bibi, he said, "I've known Donald Trump for a long time. Then he said, forget it." [Can you get a more rousing endorsement than that?]
So you should take that instead of having to get up and ask a very insulting question. [WTF?]
In summary:
Q. You and your staff are not anti-Semitic, bomb threats against synagogues, what...
A. How dare you call me anti-Semitic? Sit down and shut up, [media-world conspiracy] liar. Netanyahu himself told me forget it. Take that!
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 4:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [96 favorites]
Trump: I want to find a friendly reporter. Are you a friendly reporter?
Reporter: I'm friendly.
Trump: Watch how friendly, he is. [In the later context, Trump is saying liar before the question starts.] Go ahead.
Reporter: So, first of all, my name is Jake [inaudible] magazine and, I, despite what so many colleagues might be reporting, I haven't seen anybody in my community accuse either yourself or anyone on your staff of being anti-Semitic. [Wow. That is friendly. Says that nobody in his community has accused Trump of his staff of being anti-Semitic.] However, what we are concerned about and what we haven't really heard you address is an uptick in anti-Semitism and how in this climate you're going to take care of it. [As close as he gets to a question. Now for background narrative.] There have been reports out that 48 bomb threats have been made against Jewish centers all across the country in the last couple of weeks. There are people who are committing anti-Semitic acts or threatening to --
Trump: You know he's said that he's going to ask a very simple, easy question. [No, he didn't. He said, he's friendly.] And it's not. It's not a fair question. [It's not even a question, you stopped him. But so far it had been fair.] Sit down. [Roll-over. Fetch.] I understand the rest of your question. [I have mind-reading skills and what you are really saying is: Why does Donald Trump hate Jews?] So here's the story, folks.
Number one, I'm the least anti-Semitic person you've seen in your entire life. Number two, racism, the least racist person. In fact, we did very well relative to other people running as a Republican — [ inaudible ]
Quiet, quiet, he lied about getting up asking a straight, simple question, so, you know, welcome to the world of the media. [sit down and now liar.]
Let me just tell you something, that I hate that charge. I find it repulsive. [He heard a personal insult at a register beyond human hearing.] I hate even the question because people that know me, and you heard the Prime Minister. You heard Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday. Did you hear him? Bibi, he said, "I've known Donald Trump for a long time. Then he said, forget it." [Can you get a more rousing endorsement than that?]
So you should take that instead of having to get up and ask a very insulting question. [WTF?]
In summary:
Q. You and your staff are not anti-Semitic, bomb threats against synagogues, what...
A. How dare you call me anti-Semitic? Sit down and shut up, [media-world conspiracy] liar. Netanyahu himself told me forget it. Take that!
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 4:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [96 favorites]
Honestly I bet he would be thrilled to sign a resignation letter without a quibble.
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 4:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 4:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
History of damage to the brain
Neurological deficits
Untrue stories which may be detailed or strange
Conviction in the false memory
Imagination confused with memory
True memories confused with false memories
Yikes! I can't say I have been innocent of the last two... I will have to plead Old timers syndrome.
posted by y2karl at 4:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Neurological deficits
Untrue stories which may be detailed or strange
Conviction in the false memory
Imagination confused with memory
True memories confused with false memories
Yikes! I can't say I have been innocent of the last two... I will have to plead Old timers syndrome.
posted by y2karl at 4:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
What happens if Congress moves against Trump and he starts saying to his base that a cabal of special interests and D.C. insiders are mounting a coup against him and our democracy?
posted by humanfont at 4:11 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by humanfont at 4:11 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Pink Frost: The car is on fire, and there's no driver at the wheel
And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
And a dark wind blows
I'm out of favorites so I'd just like to add that we woke up one morning and fell a little further down, for sure this is the valley of death. I open up my wallet. And it's full of Trump.
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
And a dark wind blows
I'm out of favorites so I'd just like to add that we woke up one morning and fell a little further down, for sure this is the valley of death. I open up my wallet. And it's full of Trump.
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
These fucking threads, jesus.
At the starting of the week
At summit talks you'll hear them speak
It's only Monday
Negotiations breaking down
See those leaders start to frown
It's sword and gun day
You could be sitting taking lunch
The news will hit you like a punch
It's only Tuesday
You never thought we'd go to war
After all the things we saw
It's April Fool's Day
You hear a whistling overhead
Are you alive or are you dead?
It's only Thursday
You feel the shaking of the ground
A million candles burn around
Is it your birthday?
Tomorrow never comes until it's too late
Think tomorrow's come I think it's too late
posted by supercrayon at 4:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
At the starting of the week
At summit talks you'll hear them speak
It's only Monday
Negotiations breaking down
See those leaders start to frown
It's sword and gun day
You could be sitting taking lunch
The news will hit you like a punch
It's only Tuesday
You never thought we'd go to war
After all the things we saw
It's April Fool's Day
You hear a whistling overhead
Are you alive or are you dead?
It's only Thursday
You feel the shaking of the ground
A million candles burn around
Is it your birthday?
Tomorrow never comes until it's too late
Think tomorrow's come I think it's too late
posted by supercrayon at 4:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
What happens if Congress moves against Trump and he starts saying to his base that a cabal of special interests and D.C. insiders are mounting a coup against him and our democracy?
They get really mad.
Some threaten people.
A few probably act on those threats.
Bad and painful times ensue.
posted by Jalliah at 4:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
They get really mad.
Some threaten people.
A few probably act on those threats.
Bad and painful times ensue.
posted by Jalliah at 4:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
> What happens if Congress moves against Trump and he starts saying to his base that a cabal of special interests and D.C. insiders are mounting a coup against him and our democracy?
Best case scenario: a clean, quick coup by the intelligence agencies. likely scenario: brutal civil war, Trumpist paramilitary gangs roving the countryside, mass starvation in many major cities. worst-case scenario: global nuclear war.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Best case scenario: a clean, quick coup by the intelligence agencies. likely scenario: brutal civil war, Trumpist paramilitary gangs roving the countryside, mass starvation in many major cities. worst-case scenario: global nuclear war.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
What happens if Congress moves against Trump and
I'm going to go ahead and stop you right there.
(But seriously, if that did happen, I don't think a lot of people outside of his most loyal followers would be convinced. And if he did something egregious enough for even the spineless congressional Republicans to move against him, he would probably have lost a lot his base as well. Maybe. Hopefully.)
posted by sporkwort at 4:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm going to go ahead and stop you right there.
(But seriously, if that did happen, I don't think a lot of people outside of his most loyal followers would be convinced. And if he did something egregious enough for even the spineless congressional Republicans to move against him, he would probably have lost a lot his base as well. Maybe. Hopefully.)
posted by sporkwort at 4:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
GQ's Natt Negrin cut this together: Donald Trump Can't Stop Talking About Hillary Clinton. He mentioned her by name 11 times today. Does he know he's not running against her anymore?
posted by zachlipton at 4:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [46 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 4:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [46 favorites]
Well, for one, there's a Russian ship like 5 miles off the coast of Long Island
"Hey, Flynnski, your Uber is here."
(stolen from someplace)
posted by Rumple at 4:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [28 favorites]
"Hey, Flynnski, your Uber is here."
(stolen from someplace)
posted by Rumple at 4:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [28 favorites]
Wait, really? I thought it indicated a phonetic transcription, i.e. "we're not 100% sure what this word was supposed to be, but this is what it sounded like."
That is correct. You see it more in rush transcripts when you don't have time to go back and replay a few times and google to see if it's an acronym you don't know instead of a nonsense bigly noise. as opposed to (sp) when you don't know how to spell someone's name but likewise don't have time to look it up.
also copiously used when the transcriber doesn't want to correct something bonkers into some kind of sense but also doesn't want to be accused of bias or invention. back when I edited this junk (ph) was the safe choice and [sic] was the nuclear option. so to speak. only for the most egregious quotes where we didn't want to just report what the person said but also point and laugh.
posted by queenofbithynia at 4:21 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
That is correct. You see it more in rush transcripts when you don't have time to go back and replay a few times and google to see if it's an acronym you don't know instead of a nonsense bigly noise. as opposed to (sp) when you don't know how to spell someone's name but likewise don't have time to look it up.
also copiously used when the transcriber doesn't want to correct something bonkers into some kind of sense but also doesn't want to be accused of bias or invention. back when I edited this junk (ph) was the safe choice and [sic] was the nuclear option. so to speak. only for the most egregious quotes where we didn't want to just report what the person said but also point and laugh.
posted by queenofbithynia at 4:21 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
He's the high school running back who 20 years later is still talking about how he ran for 4 TDs against Lincoln High.
posted by chris24 at 4:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [59 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 4:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [59 favorites]
His approval rates keep going down, but he's willing to take that risk because it certainly whips up his base.
I guess if your only concern is whipping approval from a small but vocal contingent, then great. It's not going to maintain your majorities in Congress in 2018, though. His base is a small rump population that is aging rapidly.
Same thing about the whole "who has more guns" fallacy as if Trump voters are going to rise up as an armed group and take control of liberal cities. Trump supporters are hardly a unified group (look at the intra-deplorable fighting! look at Priebus v. Bannon v. Mattis v. the IC!), hardly sizeable enough to control anything but a bunch of lightly populated counties, and they're getting old fast. They're nothing like al-Baghdadi's hardened former Iraqi military fighters.
The man sounds demented, and deeply unpredictable, but the fact of the matter is that he's accomplished very little thus far, besides riling up his political opponents. I definitely can see a successful impeachment proceedings once Congressional Rs get a whiff of the consequences as more likely than an IC coup or a civil war.
posted by Existential Dread at 4:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
I guess if your only concern is whipping approval from a small but vocal contingent, then great. It's not going to maintain your majorities in Congress in 2018, though. His base is a small rump population that is aging rapidly.
Same thing about the whole "who has more guns" fallacy as if Trump voters are going to rise up as an armed group and take control of liberal cities. Trump supporters are hardly a unified group (look at the intra-deplorable fighting! look at Priebus v. Bannon v. Mattis v. the IC!), hardly sizeable enough to control anything but a bunch of lightly populated counties, and they're getting old fast. They're nothing like al-Baghdadi's hardened former Iraqi military fighters.
The man sounds demented, and deeply unpredictable, but the fact of the matter is that he's accomplished very little thus far, besides riling up his political opponents. I definitely can see a successful impeachment proceedings once Congressional Rs get a whiff of the consequences as more likely than an IC coup or a civil war.
posted by Existential Dread at 4:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
GQ's Natt Negrin cut this together: Donald Trump Can't Stop Talking About Hillary Clinton. He mentioned her by name 11 times today. Does he know he's not running against her anymore?
She went to see Sunset Boulevard on Broadway last night and got a standing ovation. I think Donny is jealous. Actually, this is possibly why he had a press conference today.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [63 favorites]
She went to see Sunset Boulevard on Broadway last night and got a standing ovation. I think Donny is jealous. Actually, this is possibly why he had a press conference today.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [63 favorites]
I've been trying to remember who Stephen Miller reminds me of, except maybe a balloon with two black dots for eyes drawn on with a marker pen. Anyway, it's Roark Junior, the Yellow Bastard out of Sin City. Except not quite as compassionate, obvs.
posted by Grangousier at 4:25 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Grangousier at 4:25 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
1. Shouldn't it be "finely-tuned machine"?
2. The media quiz is hilariously paranoid - editorialize where you can and use fake contact info. Also, I filled it out about 20 minutes ago and just went back to look at it again and there are several new questions included.
3. Was it just me or did it sound/look like he was panting during the press conference?
4. Here's another opinion piece on four possible ways to impeach the Mango Mussolini.
posted by bendy at 4:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
2. The media quiz is hilariously paranoid - editorialize where you can and use fake contact info. Also, I filled it out about 20 minutes ago and just went back to look at it again and there are several new questions included.
3. Was it just me or did it sound/look like he was panting during the press conference?
4. Here's another opinion piece on four possible ways to impeach the Mango Mussolini.
posted by bendy at 4:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
In the meantime, we all wish he'd move on from Finding Dory to finding the door. My worry is that he won't remember how to open it, when the day is there.
posted by Namlit at 4:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Namlit at 4:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
the greatest thing I could do is shoot that ship that’s 30 miles offshore right out of the water
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that would be an act of war. That's outside the 12 nautical mile territorial waters and outside the 24 nautical mile contiguous zone. There's an exclusive economic zone out to 200 nautical miles, but:
All nations have an absolute right under international law to conduct military activities beyond the territorial sea of another nation.The red zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. There is no stopping in the white zone.
...
Most nations agreed with the position advocated by the major maritime powers, that “[m]ilitary operations, exercises and activities have always been regarded as internationally lawful uses of the sea. The right to conduct such activities will continue to be enjoyed by all States in the exclusive economic zone.”
posted by kirkaracha at 4:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [14 favorites]
1. Shouldn't it be "finely-tuned machine"?
No hyphen with adverbs.
Also no nazis should be in power, but here we are: it's mirror universe. Hyphenate the whole thing!
posted by Celsius1414 at 4:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
No hyphen with adverbs.
Also no nazis should be in power, but here we are: it's mirror universe. Hyphenate the whole thing!
posted by Celsius1414 at 4:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [22 favorites]
during the G.W. Bush administration, there was at least the (cold) comfort that the idiot president was being manipulated by evil men with rational (evil) motivations
And a fuckton of experience in high level government positions. Rumsfeld and Cheney were career Washington insiders and GW's dad was a president and former head of the CIA. He was pretty much backed by the Republican equivalent of a Mob family.
Trump? He has some family, some webmasters and a couple of 4channers.
posted by srboisvert at 4:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [25 favorites]
And a fuckton of experience in high level government positions. Rumsfeld and Cheney were career Washington insiders and GW's dad was a president and former head of the CIA. He was pretty much backed by the Republican equivalent of a Mob family.
Trump? He has some family, some webmasters and a couple of 4channers.
posted by srboisvert at 4:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [25 favorites]
4. Here's another opinion piece on four possible ways to impeach the Mango Mussolini.
method one was "prosecute under the Logan Act" so i stopped reading
posted by murphy slaw at 4:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
method one was "prosecute under the Logan Act" so i stopped reading
posted by murphy slaw at 4:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
So I did that media survey on Trumps page that someone linked above and gave it garbage contact info. When I submitted it, the site then took me to a page asking for money that said "step 2 of 3". I think this means your vote in that shitty survey only counts if you give him money. What a fucking asshole. Well I guess this assures a survey outcome that he wants.
posted by FireFountain at 4:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by FireFountain at 4:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Jake Tapper reports that Harward called the job offer a "shit sandwich".
posted by dis_integration at 4:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [75 favorites]
posted by dis_integration at 4:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [75 favorites]
Is Spicer writing his resignation letter right now? After today's shitshow, he's gotta be shitting himself thinking about his next press briefing.
posted by zakur at 4:35 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zakur at 4:35 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
After seeing the picture of Trump's aides having to stop him from wandering out of a signing ceremony before actually signing anything,
Where can I see this?
posted by drezdn at 4:35 PM on February 16, 2017
Where can I see this?
posted by drezdn at 4:35 PM on February 16, 2017
Why? Why? Politicians lie, all the time. It's a thing. But they do so with intent and discretion. Bill Clinton lied about his affairs because it was plausible there was at least one woman he didn't sleep with, and with purpose to protect his reputation. GWB lied about Iraq because it was plausible that Hussein had WMDs, and with purpose to justify the war he wanted. Why is Trump continuously telling implausible lies that serve no purpose? He fails to manage a basic level of forethought that any normal person would have.
Fair, but what if the lies have this level of forethought?
- He makes outrageous statements because they will fill the news cycle for days.
- Meanwhile, regulations will be repealed, the work of a new administration (slowly replacing appointees at the EPA, SEC, DOJ, etc.) will continue apace.
- The media is a tool to be used. This focus on press conferences, which are always in all cases about spin under the best administration you can imagine, distracts from the real work being done in remaking government in the image Trump and his backers want to see.
- Trump says the most horrendous things that you could imagine coming out of a POTUS in 2017, but really, who's making the decisions?
Last night, when I sat in a theatre listening to David Farenthold and two of his peers speak, Farenthold made this point (and here I'm paraphrasing from my notes): Basically, what we need to do is look at all of these bizarre [not Farenthold's word] pronouncements from both Trump and his appointees/staffers/surrogates and THEN look at what actually gets enacted. Because where there's a contradiction in terms of what's actually getting enacted vs. what is said by whomever as "This is what we're gonna do" tells us who's really making decisions.
But yeah, just taking as straight up POTUS-speaking-from-the-podium-stuff, the anti-Semitism question and answer that dances_with_sneetches posted above is frightening on a stand-alone basis, along with the other stuff (outright musing about committing acts of war, for example).
Don't get me wrong - his statements aren't to be dismissed - but the fucked-up theatrics (and those theatrics in and of themselves could have far-reaching unintended consequences) going on distract from the real stuff happening.
So the real stuff:
Mr. Trump’s belief that the United States is being destroyed by the success of Mexico, China, Japan or “radical Islam” has brought a flood of declinists to Washington: Among those who now brief the White House are the authors of Stop the Islamization of America; The Post-American Presidency; Arab Winter Comes To America; and Adios, America.
Europe’s far-right parties have been ushered into prominence – and given a better-than-usual shot in the French, German, Dutch and Italian elections this year – by a flood of bestsellers with titles such as Germany Abolishes Itself; The Last Days of Europe; After the Fall: The End of the European Dream and the Decline of a Continent; Reflections on the Revolution in Europe; Decline and Fall: Europe’s Slow-Motion Suicide; and Submission. All argue that a weakened, feminized, coddled, birth-controlled Western culture has become too soft and impassive to resist invasion and dominance by supposedly more muscular, more fertile and more aggressive Asian and Islamic cultures.
History offers two lessons here.
The first is that declinism is never really about your own decline. Living standards and equality and security have all improved in most Western countries (or, if they’ve dipped, it’s been part of a worldwide slowdown); 2017 is no more a moment of Western decline than was 1918, when The Decline of the West first became a bestseller.
Rather, it’s about things getting better for other people. Mexicans, or Chinese, or immigrants and religious minorities in Europe and the United States, are having better lives, thriving, becoming more equal. For the declinist, their success must equate to our failure.
The second is that when Western countries actually do experience decline, it’s because people have elected a declinist. Pessimistic leaders tend to respond by doing things – closing borders to trade and immigration, restricting minorities, ending international co-operation, starting wars – that end up fulfilling their prophecies of decline.
That is the basic paradox of declinism: It’s simple-minded fiction, unless you believe in it and turn it into policy. Then, in your hands, it becomes history.
To bring it around, last night the Trump-covering journalists I listened to were asked "So this has been good for your subscriptions, despite being called the 'failing New York Times", etc?"
Susanne Craig said "I guess in the same way that you might say 'war is good for the economy,' yeah."
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 4:36 PM on February 16, 2017 [39 favorites]
Fair, but what if the lies have this level of forethought?
- He makes outrageous statements because they will fill the news cycle for days.
- Meanwhile, regulations will be repealed, the work of a new administration (slowly replacing appointees at the EPA, SEC, DOJ, etc.) will continue apace.
- The media is a tool to be used. This focus on press conferences, which are always in all cases about spin under the best administration you can imagine, distracts from the real work being done in remaking government in the image Trump and his backers want to see.
- Trump says the most horrendous things that you could imagine coming out of a POTUS in 2017, but really, who's making the decisions?
Last night, when I sat in a theatre listening to David Farenthold and two of his peers speak, Farenthold made this point (and here I'm paraphrasing from my notes): Basically, what we need to do is look at all of these bizarre [not Farenthold's word] pronouncements from both Trump and his appointees/staffers/surrogates and THEN look at what actually gets enacted. Because where there's a contradiction in terms of what's actually getting enacted vs. what is said by whomever as "This is what we're gonna do" tells us who's really making decisions.
But yeah, just taking as straight up POTUS-speaking-from-the-podium-stuff, the anti-Semitism question and answer that dances_with_sneetches posted above is frightening on a stand-alone basis, along with the other stuff (outright musing about committing acts of war, for example).
Don't get me wrong - his statements aren't to be dismissed - but the fucked-up theatrics (and those theatrics in and of themselves could have far-reaching unintended consequences) going on distract from the real stuff happening.
So the real stuff:
Mr. Trump’s belief that the United States is being destroyed by the success of Mexico, China, Japan or “radical Islam” has brought a flood of declinists to Washington: Among those who now brief the White House are the authors of Stop the Islamization of America; The Post-American Presidency; Arab Winter Comes To America; and Adios, America.
Europe’s far-right parties have been ushered into prominence – and given a better-than-usual shot in the French, German, Dutch and Italian elections this year – by a flood of bestsellers with titles such as Germany Abolishes Itself; The Last Days of Europe; After the Fall: The End of the European Dream and the Decline of a Continent; Reflections on the Revolution in Europe; Decline and Fall: Europe’s Slow-Motion Suicide; and Submission. All argue that a weakened, feminized, coddled, birth-controlled Western culture has become too soft and impassive to resist invasion and dominance by supposedly more muscular, more fertile and more aggressive Asian and Islamic cultures.
History offers two lessons here.
The first is that declinism is never really about your own decline. Living standards and equality and security have all improved in most Western countries (or, if they’ve dipped, it’s been part of a worldwide slowdown); 2017 is no more a moment of Western decline than was 1918, when The Decline of the West first became a bestseller.
Rather, it’s about things getting better for other people. Mexicans, or Chinese, or immigrants and religious minorities in Europe and the United States, are having better lives, thriving, becoming more equal. For the declinist, their success must equate to our failure.
The second is that when Western countries actually do experience decline, it’s because people have elected a declinist. Pessimistic leaders tend to respond by doing things – closing borders to trade and immigration, restricting minorities, ending international co-operation, starting wars – that end up fulfilling their prophecies of decline.
That is the basic paradox of declinism: It’s simple-minded fiction, unless you believe in it and turn it into policy. Then, in your hands, it becomes history.
To bring it around, last night the Trump-covering journalists I listened to were asked "So this has been good for your subscriptions, despite being called the 'failing New York Times", etc?"
Susanne Craig said "I guess in the same way that you might say 'war is good for the economy,' yeah."
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 4:36 PM on February 16, 2017 [39 favorites]
Where can I see this?
Ctrl+F "last supper" in this thread.
posted by mudpuppie at 4:36 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Ctrl+F "last supper" in this thread.
posted by mudpuppie at 4:36 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Jake Tapper reports that Harward called the job offer a "shit sandwich".
I enjoyed the Twitter response: Nah man, a sandwich has two pieces of bread. This is just shit.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [33 favorites]
I enjoyed the Twitter response: Nah man, a sandwich has two pieces of bread. This is just shit.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [33 favorites]
Thanks for this new thread Talez. That previous one was stressin my device..
Can i ask you to add the tag "usa" to it?
posted by The_Auditor at 4:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Can i ask you to add the tag "usa" to it?
posted by The_Auditor at 4:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Is Spicer writing his resignation letter right now?
Why? He finally got to know today why his boss is unhappy with him. He doesn't yell enough. That can be fixed, no?
posted by Namlit at 4:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Why? He finally got to know today why his boss is unhappy with him. He doesn't yell enough. That can be fixed, no?
posted by Namlit at 4:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
And today we learned that CNN's standards allow reporters to tweet the word "shit" in a journalistic context. We're learning so many important things together.
posted by zachlipton at 4:38 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 4:38 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Last weekend, Stephen Miller said "statements that you can't criticize a judge demonstrate a profound misunderstanding of what it means to have separate and equal branches..." [emphasis added]. Huh, hey, what? No, the equality of the (power of the) branches is not a given. Weird. Was it a Freudian slip revealing he favors rolling back Brown v. Board of Education or are they trying to claim EOs shouldn't be subject to judicial review and hoping to resurrect an old phrase & give it a new meaning?
posted by ASCII Costanza head at 4:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ASCII Costanza head at 4:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
he won't remember how to open it
The prior Idiot King trademarked that move, yo.
posted by spitbull at 4:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
The prior Idiot King trademarked that move, yo.
posted by spitbull at 4:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
This finely-tuned shit sandwich goes to 11.
posted by holgate at 4:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by holgate at 4:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
Jake Tapper reports that Harward called the job offer a "shit sandwich".
If they were any good at Fascism, there would be a dozen reasons why the words "shit sandwich" would never reach our screens here.
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
If they were any good at Fascism, there would be a dozen reasons why the words "shit sandwich" would never reach our screens here.
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
In all his official statements, my congressmen, Ted. Lieu, adds an asterisk after Trump's name, much as one would do with Barry Bonds or Jose Conseco. Here is his response to the press conference. In full.
“The press conference by President Trump*** today reminded me of a fine-tuned machine.”
***In addition to losing the popular vote, Trump - as of January 20, 2017 - is in violation of the Emoluments Clause set forth in Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution due to massive conflicts of interests and his refusal to put his global business holdings in blind trusts. Trump also benefitted from Vladimir Putin ordering a multifaceted and brazen Russian influence and cyber hacking campaign with the goals of undermining faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrating Secretary Clinton’s electability, and helping Trump’s election chances. Trump and his press secretary also routinely make stuff up.
posted by Room 641-A at 4:40 PM on February 16, 2017 [70 favorites]
“The press conference by President Trump*** today reminded me of a fine-tuned machine.”
***In addition to losing the popular vote, Trump - as of January 20, 2017 - is in violation of the Emoluments Clause set forth in Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution due to massive conflicts of interests and his refusal to put his global business holdings in blind trusts. Trump also benefitted from Vladimir Putin ordering a multifaceted and brazen Russian influence and cyber hacking campaign with the goals of undermining faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrating Secretary Clinton’s electability, and helping Trump’s election chances. Trump and his press secretary also routinely make stuff up.
posted by Room 641-A at 4:40 PM on February 16, 2017 [70 favorites]
After Joe Trudeau and Malcolm Trumble, you too can have a Spicer-ized name. Hi, I'm Christ Sorge.
Spicer-ize my name: How White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer would say your name
posted by chris24 at 4:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Spicer-ize my name: How White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer would say your name
posted by chris24 at 4:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
So what is the life of an SNL writer like right now? 'Cuz I'm kinda seeing them getting a draft for Trump sketches together on Tuesday, only to scrap it and start re-writing on Wednesday, and then again on Thursday, and by Friday lunchtime they are probably holding their pages and praying that Trump stops for a while. Or do you just wait for Friday afternoon anyways and pick over the week to find the best sketch possibility?
posted by nubs at 4:42 PM on February 16, 2017
posted by nubs at 4:42 PM on February 16, 2017
Some guy named Matt we've never heard of here just put "shit sandwich" on a red hat. It works.
posted by zachlipton at 4:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [48 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 4:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [48 favorites]
during the G.W. Bush administration, there was at least the (cold) comfort that the idiot president
So, without any "time fogs the memory" stuff here, and fully aware that W. was a horrible president who actively worked to enrich the already rich at the expense of everyone else, to me, there's still one important difference between Shrub and Shitgibbon is that, is W. was walking down the street and came upon someone who'd just been in an accident and was lying on the sidewalk, bleeding, you get the feeling that, however ineffectual he'd be, he would at least try to do something, even if only to call someone else to take care of it.
With delusional grandpa, you get the feeling that he'd start yelling about how the person must be at fault, then talk about how he'd never be in an accident, because he's too smart, look at this dumb person.
I guess with Bush, there was still some veneer of civil behavior mixed in, and no matter how confused, at least an attempt to match the gravity of a situation with something approaching the demeanor it called for. Not that he succeeded, but he at least made a (C student) attempt.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [46 favorites]
So, without any "time fogs the memory" stuff here, and fully aware that W. was a horrible president who actively worked to enrich the already rich at the expense of everyone else, to me, there's still one important difference between Shrub and Shitgibbon is that, is W. was walking down the street and came upon someone who'd just been in an accident and was lying on the sidewalk, bleeding, you get the feeling that, however ineffectual he'd be, he would at least try to do something, even if only to call someone else to take care of it.
With delusional grandpa, you get the feeling that he'd start yelling about how the person must be at fault, then talk about how he'd never be in an accident, because he's too smart, look at this dumb person.
I guess with Bush, there was still some veneer of civil behavior mixed in, and no matter how confused, at least an attempt to match the gravity of a situation with something approaching the demeanor it called for. Not that he succeeded, but he at least made a (C student) attempt.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [46 favorites]
So what is the life of an SNL writer like right now? '
The next show is March 4th, two and a half weeks from now. I believe they are hoping we'll still be alive.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
The next show is March 4th, two and a half weeks from now. I believe they are hoping we'll still be alive.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
>> After seeing the picture of Trump's aides having to stop him from wandering out of a signing ceremony before actually signing anything,
> Where can I see this?
At 9:27 in this video
posted by ASCII Costanza head at 4:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
> Where can I see this?
At 9:27 in this video
posted by ASCII Costanza head at 4:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
That gives them plenty of time to find someone to play Sean Spicer's replacement.
posted by drezdn at 4:47 PM on February 16, 2017
posted by drezdn at 4:47 PM on February 16, 2017
Oh man, I just remembered that the main character in the movie Rockers gives a speech that ends with "all of the youth shall witness the day that Babylon shall fall!"
And I'm just now realizing, holy shit I think he was right.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 4:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
And I'm just now realizing, holy shit I think he was right.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 4:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
I really believe that he's got the making of being a great president but he's got to have some structure in that White House."
I remember being the subject of a lot of discussions like this from elementary school teachers
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [30 favorites]
I remember being the subject of a lot of discussions like this from elementary school teachers
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [30 favorites]
Trumps lying is fucking insane. When I'm talking to my patients they lie all the time, but they lie about shit that you would expect.
Me: "Do you drink alcohol?"
Them: "No! Just a every once in a while." while they are legit having two bottles of wine a night.
Me: "Have you been taking all your medications? Do you ever miss any?"
Them: "I take all my medications every day!" while they have not taken any meds for like months.
Me: "Have you been coping okay at home? Do we need to get someone in to give you a hand around the house?"
Them: "I'm doing just fine!" while they are fully setting their curtains on fire and falling every other day.
I expect this to some degree and accept it. This is the kind of lying I do not expect:
Me: "Have you ever had any previous surgeries? I see you've had previous coronary artery bypass grafts?"
Them, with huge sternal scar in the middle of their chest: "No, never."
Me: "So this is your third heart attack?"
Them: "No it isn't. I've never had a heart attack."
Me: "Tell me about how you lost your eye."
Them, wearing an eye patch: "I have never lost any eye what are you talking about lol."
If Trump lied like example one I would assume it was out of self preservation. This is how most people, including most politicans, lie. Trump lies like example two, which makes me want to give him a cognitive assessment. There is something seriously wrong with him, whether in his personality or in his organic brain matter I don't know, but wow.
posted by supercrayon at 4:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [70 favorites]
Me: "Do you drink alcohol?"
Them: "No! Just a every once in a while." while they are legit having two bottles of wine a night.
Me: "Have you been taking all your medications? Do you ever miss any?"
Them: "I take all my medications every day!" while they have not taken any meds for like months.
Me: "Have you been coping okay at home? Do we need to get someone in to give you a hand around the house?"
Them: "I'm doing just fine!" while they are fully setting their curtains on fire and falling every other day.
I expect this to some degree and accept it. This is the kind of lying I do not expect:
Me: "Have you ever had any previous surgeries? I see you've had previous coronary artery bypass grafts?"
Them, with huge sternal scar in the middle of their chest: "No, never."
Me: "So this is your third heart attack?"
Them: "No it isn't. I've never had a heart attack."
Me: "Tell me about how you lost your eye."
Them, wearing an eye patch: "I have never lost any eye what are you talking about lol."
If Trump lied like example one I would assume it was out of self preservation. This is how most people, including most politicans, lie. Trump lies like example two, which makes me want to give him a cognitive assessment. There is something seriously wrong with him, whether in his personality or in his organic brain matter I don't know, but wow.
posted by supercrayon at 4:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [70 favorites]
What does (ph) mean?
It means "phuuuuuuuuuuuuuck."
posted by kirkaracha at 4:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [21 favorites]
New episode of Pod Save America is plugging resistancerecess.com to coordinate attending a town hall during the congressional recess.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
Every network now has the "Harward turned down Trump" story. This wasn't just about turning him down; this was about doing it as loudly and publicly as possible.
posted by zachlipton at 5:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 5:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [14 favorites]
Well fuck me, I guess Republicans aren't the only ones who think their constituents take marching orders from a shadowy power-broker:
Senior Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday sought to stave off town hall protests from their own party, asking Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to reach out and urge activists to redirect their anger at Republicans instead of at moderate Democratic lawmakers.posted by J.K. Seazer at 5:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
NPR's evening report, though it covers some of the bizzare moments, is saying Trump was at times "funny" and "charming" at today's presser.
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
4. Here's another opinion piece on four possible ways to impeach the Mango Mussolini.
That MLK bust in the background of the photo looks like history staring the little man down unblinking and finding him wanting.
posted by jason_steakums at 5:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
That MLK bust in the background of the photo looks like history staring the little man down unblinking and finding him wanting.
posted by jason_steakums at 5:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump Winery Seeks Even More Foreign Workers
The winery, owned by Eric, has petitioned the federal government to bring in 23 foreign workers, in addition to the six workers they asked for in December.
So Eric's business, bearing the family name, has asked his dad's government to approve a petition. Might be a conflict of interest there, huh?
posted by zachlipton at 5:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [40 favorites]
The winery, owned by Eric, has petitioned the federal government to bring in 23 foreign workers, in addition to the six workers they asked for in December.
So Eric's business, bearing the family name, has asked his dad's government to approve a petition. Might be a conflict of interest there, huh?
posted by zachlipton at 5:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [40 favorites]
NPR's evening report, though it covers some of the bizzare moments, is saying Trump was at times "funny" and "charming" at today's presser.
NPR is worse than Fox News.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [35 favorites]
NPR is worse than Fox News.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [35 favorites]
Going back to the differences between Bush and Trump... I mean, the basic, simple duties of the president, Bush got that, for the most part. Show up, be pleasant, at the very least don't antagonize large swathes of the American public and/or foreign leaders. Trump? He fails at basic, humanizing things like filling out a March Madness bracket* or taking a moment to do the responsible presidential thing and say "anti-semitism is bad". As the op-ed points out, that's a softball pitch in a home run derby, just say those simple words, and you too can be presidential, but he can't even manage that. Sure, Bush would've made an embarrassingly illegible, fumbling attempt at it, but he would have at least recognized that he had an easy, and simple way to say something to make people think he could at least fulfill minimum requirements.
*In before "there's no need to fill in a bracket to participate this year, the Madness is (Gary Oldman voice) everywhere!
posted by Ghidorah at 5:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
*In before "there's no need to fill in a bracket to participate this year, the Madness is (Gary Oldman voice) everywhere!
posted by Ghidorah at 5:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Funny and charming.... for a fascist.
posted by valkane at 5:15 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by valkane at 5:15 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
NPR's evening report, though it covers some of the bizzare moments, is saying Trump was at times "funny" and "charming" at today's presser.
I turned off NPR after election day. They drove me nuts all through the cycle with their false equivalencies and not-calling-it-what-it-is bullshit. Used to love them, but the election really killed their main news stuff for me.
In the last three days, I've tried to give them a shot. This morning they had some guy on for an interview to talk about how unfair people are to Milo Y and his followers. Free speech, have better ideas, you're-so-mean-I'm-a-conservative-now stuff (I'm only barely paraphrasing there). And then, this afternoon, I heard Mara Liasson drop that "funny and charming" line.
I shouted at my radio. Like literally, angrily shouted, startled my girlfriend sitting in the front seat. It was only three words, but that's completely out of character for me. I feel awful for it. But I'm stuck with both the self-criticism of getting upset at the radio contrasted with my disgust that NPR is still pulling this shit. It's like they've learned nothing.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 5:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [56 favorites]
I turned off NPR after election day. They drove me nuts all through the cycle with their false equivalencies and not-calling-it-what-it-is bullshit. Used to love them, but the election really killed their main news stuff for me.
In the last three days, I've tried to give them a shot. This morning they had some guy on for an interview to talk about how unfair people are to Milo Y and his followers. Free speech, have better ideas, you're-so-mean-I'm-a-conservative-now stuff (I'm only barely paraphrasing there). And then, this afternoon, I heard Mara Liasson drop that "funny and charming" line.
I shouted at my radio. Like literally, angrily shouted, startled my girlfriend sitting in the front seat. It was only three words, but that's completely out of character for me. I feel awful for it. But I'm stuck with both the self-criticism of getting upset at the radio contrasted with my disgust that NPR is still pulling this shit. It's like they've learned nothing.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 5:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [56 favorites]
> Where can I see this?
At 9:27 in this video
... And, while he's sitting down to sign it; he reaches over and touches that woman's hand for no damn reason.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 5:21 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
At 9:27 in this video
... And, while he's sitting down to sign it; he reaches over and touches that woman's hand for no damn reason.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 5:21 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Historical note from The Atlantic, only relevant because, you know:
Kompromat and Politics in Washington
Kompromat and Politics in Washington
How one journalist’s predicament illustrates a paradoxical aspect of Washington’s relationship to toleranceposted by Joe in Australia at 5:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Going back to the differences between Bush and Trump...
So I don't want anyone to think I'm a fan of Dubya. I'm not. My views on him don't diverge very far from the general feelings about him on the blue. But compared to Twitler?
At more than $5 billion a year in humanitarian aid to Africa, President Bush has given more assistance to the continent than any other president. His administration's aid was largely targeted to fight the major global health issues facing the continent, HIV/AIDS and malaria.
That's what's so shocking. Even Dubya, with his wars and corporate giveaways and right-wing bullshit, even Dubya was capable of doing some real, significant, important good in the world. I can remember him saying things I really appreciated. I can remember moments of basic humanity from him that transcended partisan politics; it's crazy to say that, looking back on his tenure, but it happened.
And yet I can't fucking imagine being able to say that about Twitler. Like even in just this sort stretch of time, he should've been able to accidentally do the right thing in some way. I should be stuck with grudgingly giving him credit for something, right?
But I can't find it. I can't find anything. He's really that awful.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 5:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [110 favorites]
So I don't want anyone to think I'm a fan of Dubya. I'm not. My views on him don't diverge very far from the general feelings about him on the blue. But compared to Twitler?
At more than $5 billion a year in humanitarian aid to Africa, President Bush has given more assistance to the continent than any other president. His administration's aid was largely targeted to fight the major global health issues facing the continent, HIV/AIDS and malaria.
That's what's so shocking. Even Dubya, with his wars and corporate giveaways and right-wing bullshit, even Dubya was capable of doing some real, significant, important good in the world. I can remember him saying things I really appreciated. I can remember moments of basic humanity from him that transcended partisan politics; it's crazy to say that, looking back on his tenure, but it happened.
And yet I can't fucking imagine being able to say that about Twitler. Like even in just this sort stretch of time, he should've been able to accidentally do the right thing in some way. I should be stuck with grudgingly giving him credit for something, right?
But I can't find it. I can't find anything. He's really that awful.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 5:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [110 favorites]
That Politico thing about the background checks has some weirdness.
Some of the aides were "walked out of the building by security" on Wednesday after not passing the SF86, a Questionnaire for National Security Positions for security clearance.
You can't pass or fail the SF86. It's just an incredibly detailed form that is miserable to fill out. You can lie on it by not listing stuff, like say any drug use (in the last X years, depending on the clearance its being used for) or debts. You can, I suppose, just not fill the thing out which is the only way I can think that you "not pass" it. But the form is just the basis for a background investigation.
I guess they mean these people listed things that were deal-breakers. In theory that's just foreign entanglements (pause for your irony overload here if you need to) and stuff like drug use isn't necessarily disqualifying if it's not something that you can be blackmailed over. In reality that's surely never true, but depending on the position I think you could have used in the reporting period if it was long enough ago.
But "failed" doesn't really make sense.
posted by phearlez at 5:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
Some of the aides were "walked out of the building by security" on Wednesday after not passing the SF86, a Questionnaire for National Security Positions for security clearance.
You can't pass or fail the SF86. It's just an incredibly detailed form that is miserable to fill out. You can lie on it by not listing stuff, like say any drug use (in the last X years, depending on the clearance its being used for) or debts. You can, I suppose, just not fill the thing out which is the only way I can think that you "not pass" it. But the form is just the basis for a background investigation.
I guess they mean these people listed things that were deal-breakers. In theory that's just foreign entanglements (pause for your irony overload here if you need to) and stuff like drug use isn't necessarily disqualifying if it's not something that you can be blackmailed over. In reality that's surely never true, but depending on the position I think you could have used in the reporting period if it was long enough ago.
But "failed" doesn't really make sense.
posted by phearlez at 5:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
He's the high school running back who 20 years later is still talking about how he ran for 4 TDs against Lincoln High.
I'd definitely take Uncle Rico ahead of Trump, though.
posted by Rumple at 5:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
I'd definitely take Uncle Rico ahead of Trump, though.
posted by Rumple at 5:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
One could disagree with Reagan or Obama but they weren't pathological liars who incessantly invented stories (my crowd size! my electoral college votes!) and made everything up in their bizarro fantasyland of lunacy.
You are either misremembering or were mistaught Reagan. He was, I will grant, a lot more likeable. He was also a sitting, active president while his faculties declined due to dementia. He lied all the fucking time. I recognize that the discourse about the use of the word lies turns on intent. That is fucking bullshit. Ronnie was a shitgibbon too.
posted by mwhybark at 5:25 PM on February 16, 2017 [49 favorites]
You are either misremembering or were mistaught Reagan. He was, I will grant, a lot more likeable. He was also a sitting, active president while his faculties declined due to dementia. He lied all the fucking time. I recognize that the discourse about the use of the word lies turns on intent. That is fucking bullshit. Ronnie was a shitgibbon too.
posted by mwhybark at 5:25 PM on February 16, 2017 [49 favorites]
Trump is a philosophical zombie, and so it doesn't make sense to talk about him in terms of purpose or intent
I didn't sign up for the Peter Watts future, just for the record.
posted by adamgreenfield at 5:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
I didn't sign up for the Peter Watts future, just for the record.
posted by adamgreenfield at 5:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
James Fallows had a good couple of tweets on the antisemitism question. This is stuff is supposed to be the easy part of politicking. All you have to do is denounce something, condemn it, call it un-American, etc... I mean, an actual leader would do more and talk about how he's going to address the problem or say something inspirational or quote someone significant or whatever. But at the most basic level, "what do you think about BAD_THING_THAT_HAPPENED?" is a hard question to get wrong. You have to go pretty far out of your way to do it this badly. And yet here we are.
I'm surprised we haven't heard more spin on this one. If the White House is pressed on it, my prediction is that we'll be told that the President didn't hear the question properly (probably with a side of blaming the reporter for asking it wrong somehow) and that Netanyahu said everything's fine so how dare you even ask the question.
Of course, I'm guessing there won't be a press briefing tomorrow since the President is going to the Boeing plant, so Spicey doesn't have to sweat the follow-ups.
posted by zachlipton at 5:27 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
I'm surprised we haven't heard more spin on this one. If the White House is pressed on it, my prediction is that we'll be told that the President didn't hear the question properly (probably with a side of blaming the reporter for asking it wrong somehow) and that Netanyahu said everything's fine so how dare you even ask the question.
Of course, I'm guessing there won't be a press briefing tomorrow since the President is going to the Boeing plant, so Spicey doesn't have to sweat the follow-ups.
posted by zachlipton at 5:27 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
or taking a moment to do the responsible presidential thing and say "anti-semitism is bad"
The rise in anti-semitism (and its under-reporting, and Trumps repeated failure to condemn it) is the real canary in the coal mine. I know it seems like the whole mine is on fire, but things could indeed get much worse and this is, I think, the leading and truest indicator of the darkest (and perhaps likeliest) future..
posted by Rumple at 5:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [31 favorites]
The rise in anti-semitism (and its under-reporting, and Trumps repeated failure to condemn it) is the real canary in the coal mine. I know it seems like the whole mine is on fire, but things could indeed get much worse and this is, I think, the leading and truest indicator of the darkest (and perhaps likeliest) future..
posted by Rumple at 5:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [31 favorites]
You are either misremembering or mistaught Reagan.
I stand corrected and say in my defense it was the 80's and I was a college student then a nightclub DJ so my memory may have been influenced by the excesses of that era.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 5:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
I stand corrected and say in my defense it was the 80's and I was a college student then a nightclub DJ so my memory may have been influenced by the excesses of that era.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 5:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
To put Melania Trump keeping Michelle Obama's garden in context:
Politico, Oct. 2016: Michelle Obama sets her garden in stone
Politico, Oct. 2016: Michelle Obama sets her garden in stone
First lady Michelle Obama is making sure that whoever inhabits the White House next doesn’t rip out her iconic vegetable garden — at least not without a big fuss.posted by ZeusHumms at 5:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [25 favorites]
On Wednesday afternoon, Obama unveiled a much bigger version of the garden, which uses cement, stone and steel to make it a more permanent fixture on the South Lawn. The updates are seen not just as preserving Obama’s garden — recognized globally as a symbol of local food — but also as a way to dissuade, say, a President Donald Trump from scrapping it the way Ronald Reagan tore out Jimmy Carter's solar panels after he moved into the White House.
“I think people would be really upset,” said Marta McDowell, a landscape historian who recently wrote a book on White House gardens. She called Obama’s preservation plan “brilliant,” adding, “If it were taken out, it would truly just be a political statement.”
This is a new level of humiliation. Christie says Trump made him order the meatloaf at meal together
posted by zachlipton at 5:32 PM on February 16, 2017 [153 favorites]
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says President Donald Trump made him order meatloaf when they dined together at the White House this week. Christie and his wife, Mary Pat, joined Trump at the White House on Tuesday.Chris, Chris, Chris. Why the hell would you tell us this story? We already knew you were pathetic. Now you're telling us you weren't even allowed to select your own dinner choice from the menu? And apparently you just took it and got the meatloaf? Trump has done the unthinkable and actually made me feel bad for Chris Christie. Over meatloaf. What has happened?
The Republican governor said while guest hosting a New York sports talk radio show Thursday that Trump pointed out the menu and told people to get whatever they want. Then he said he and Christie were going to have the meatloaf.
‘‘This is what it’s like to be with Trump,’’ Christie said. ‘‘He says, ‘There’s the menu, you guys order whatever you want.’ And then he says, ‘Chris, you and I are going to have the meatloaf.’’’
posted by zachlipton at 5:32 PM on February 16, 2017 [153 favorites]
For those of you interested in the NPR comment on being Funny and Charming, the clip is online. That quote is at around 1:20. There's no transcript, so here's my go:
"This is the Donald Trump we got to know during the campaign. He was defensive, he was frustrated, he was aggrieved, he was combative -- but he was also funny and charming, like he was with the press during all those years in New York as a fixture in the tabloids. I am told he was pretty pleased with his performance today and that he is now in high spirits."
posted by miguelcervantes at 5:32 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
"This is the Donald Trump we got to know during the campaign. He was defensive, he was frustrated, he was aggrieved, he was combative -- but he was also funny and charming, like he was with the press during all those years in New York as a fixture in the tabloids. I am told he was pretty pleased with his performance today and that he is now in high spirits."
posted by miguelcervantes at 5:32 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
Jared Kushner Delivers Critique of CNN to Time Warner Executive
Kushner is now complaining both to Zucker and CNN's corporate parent about their coverage, including bashing specific panelists by name, as said corporate parent has a massive acquisition deal pending review by the federal government. This is all kinds of messed up.
posted by zachlipton at 5:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [29 favorites]
Kushner is now complaining both to Zucker and CNN's corporate parent about their coverage, including bashing specific panelists by name, as said corporate parent has a massive acquisition deal pending review by the federal government. This is all kinds of messed up.
posted by zachlipton at 5:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [29 favorites]
I think maybe DT doesn't have a theory of mind
posted by bq at 5:38 PM on February 16, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by bq at 5:38 PM on February 16, 2017 [23 favorites]
I am told he was pretty pleased with his performance today and that he is now in high spirits.
Oh that's no good, someone has to tell him how he actually did.
Also are sure that isn't just the cocaine buzz? Is he going to be all grumpy during his comedian tomorrow? Here's hoping he has to deal with something high stress.
posted by Artw at 5:40 PM on February 16, 2017
Oh that's no good, someone has to tell him how he actually did.
Also are sure that isn't just the cocaine buzz? Is he going to be all grumpy during his comedian tomorrow? Here's hoping he has to deal with something high stress.
posted by Artw at 5:40 PM on February 16, 2017
NPR has long been consumed by Stockholm Syndrome. Useless and timid journalism that sets out not to offend anyone.
posted by spitbull at 5:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 5:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
“We cannot simply play the entire press conference. Write a damn skit.”
- @jamisonfoser
I liked an idea put out in one of the responses. Have Baldwin, in full Trump voice, deliver an excerpt of Obama's speeches, word for word. A crude, depressing, and strangely funny way to show how quickly and far the WH has fallen.
posted by honestcoyote at 5:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
- @jamisonfoser
I liked an idea put out in one of the responses. Have Baldwin, in full Trump voice, deliver an excerpt of Obama's speeches, word for word. A crude, depressing, and strangely funny way to show how quickly and far the WH has fallen.
posted by honestcoyote at 5:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
I think it's worth noting that the reporter who asked the antisemitism question works for Ami Magazine and from his dress is very obviously an Orthodox Jew. Wikipedia describes Ami as
I have a feeling that Trump just fscked up: this guy was there as a circuit breaker and to make Trump look Presidential, but Trump was too erratic and offbalance to recognise or remember that so he just unloaded all his frustrations on the poor schmoe from Brooklyn having his one moment in the limelight. It's funny and scary and sad, all at once.
posted by Joe in Australia at 5:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [76 favorites]
one of the three leading magazines in the New York City Orthodox community, alongside Mishpacha and Binah.So we're not talking about something with a huge readership, even within its own community. It's surprising that their reporter would get a seat at a White House press conference, or get called on. We know that the Trump team has been trying to manipulate press conferences and the questions that get asked; here's someone who you wouldn't expect to get a question, who lobs a very respectful softballish one towards the President ... and gets blasted down.
I have a feeling that Trump just fscked up: this guy was there as a circuit breaker and to make Trump look Presidential, but Trump was too erratic and offbalance to recognise or remember that so he just unloaded all his frustrations on the poor schmoe from Brooklyn having his one moment in the limelight. It's funny and scary and sad, all at once.
posted by Joe in Australia at 5:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [76 favorites]
Trump has done the unthinkable and actually made me feel bad for Chris Christie. Over meatloaf. What has happened?
His name is Reek. And we don't feel bad for him. The reason he's taking this abuse is he's dying to stay in power in this shit sandwich of an administration. If he gets in some capacity, he'll be continuing causing untold damage to real people's lives just like he's done in New Jersey.
His name is Reek, and he deserves the fucking meatloaf.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [62 favorites]
His name is Reek. And we don't feel bad for him. The reason he's taking this abuse is he's dying to stay in power in this shit sandwich of an administration. If he gets in some capacity, he'll be continuing causing untold damage to real people's lives just like he's done in New Jersey.
His name is Reek, and he deserves the fucking meatloaf.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [62 favorites]
I think maybe DT doesn't have a theory of mind
dude i don't know if he has object permanence
posted by murphy slaw at 5:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [122 favorites]
dude i don't know if he has object permanence
posted by murphy slaw at 5:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [122 favorites]
In fairness, Christie probably appreciated that the President didn't make him order the shit sandwich. I hear it's a White House specialty now.
posted by zachlipton at 5:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 5:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Joe in Australia, a frum friend of mine is very familiar with the Orthodox reporter (she often publishes in Mishpacha) and is amazed at the attention being paid to this basically unknown reporter.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Also are sure that isn't just the cocaine buzz? Is he going to be all grumpy during his comedian tomorrow? Here's hoping he has to deal with something high stress.
He was experiencing a narcissitic injury episode and did what he had to do to make himself feel better and feel like he got control back. That presser was like therapy to him.
So yeah he'll feel great for a little while. At first it won't matter what people think HE DID AWESOME.
Won't last because it changed nothing. Made it all worse. So the cycle will start again.
posted by Jalliah at 5:45 PM on February 16, 2017 [18 favorites]
He was experiencing a narcissitic injury episode and did what he had to do to make himself feel better and feel like he got control back. That presser was like therapy to him.
So yeah he'll feel great for a little while. At first it won't matter what people think HE DID AWESOME.
Won't last because it changed nothing. Made it all worse. So the cycle will start again.
posted by Jalliah at 5:45 PM on February 16, 2017 [18 favorites]
Betsy DeVos’s Brother Is Setting Up A Private Army For China, Sources Say
Former associates of the 47-year-old Prince told BuzzFeed News that the controversial businessman envisions using the bases to train and deploy an army of Chinese retired soldiers who can protect Chinese corporate and government strategic interests around the world, without having to involve the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
In December, Frontier Services Group, of which Prince is chairman, issued a press release that outlined plans to open “a forward operating base in China’s Yunnan province” and another in the troubled Xinjiang region, home to the mostly Muslim Uighur minority.
“He’s been working very, very hard to get China to buy into a new Blackwater,” said one former associate. “He’s hell bent on reclaiming his position as the world’s preeminent private military provider.”
Holy SHIT.
posted by futz at 5:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [62 favorites]
Former associates of the 47-year-old Prince told BuzzFeed News that the controversial businessman envisions using the bases to train and deploy an army of Chinese retired soldiers who can protect Chinese corporate and government strategic interests around the world, without having to involve the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
In December, Frontier Services Group, of which Prince is chairman, issued a press release that outlined plans to open “a forward operating base in China’s Yunnan province” and another in the troubled Xinjiang region, home to the mostly Muslim Uighur minority.
“He’s been working very, very hard to get China to buy into a new Blackwater,” said one former associate. “He’s hell bent on reclaiming his position as the world’s preeminent private military provider.”
Holy SHIT.
posted by futz at 5:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [62 favorites]
You are either misremembering or were mistaught Reagan. He was, I will grant, a lot more likeable. He was also a sitting, active president while his faculties declined due to dementia. He lied all the fucking time. I recognize that the discourse about the use of the word lies turns on intent. That is fucking bullshit. Ronnie was a shitgibbon too.
Every Republican President since Nixon has been a distraction, not a leader. Ronnie preened for the cameras, GHWB stumbled through continuing Reagan's legacy, Dubya bumbled amiably, Trump threatens and blusters, and all of them are cover for the wonks and true believers behind them fucking dismantling America, handing it over to the wealthy and meddling in global affairs (the last being a euphemism for killing lots of people in the name of profit).
This is why I said that Trump was not a completely new and unique phenomenon and not that different from Reagan in an election thread, and got roasted for it. It was not a compliment in any way for Trump because Reagan did more damage to America than anyone else in my lifetime. What has changed over that time is forty years of relentless deregulation of the media, howling propaganda over the airwaves, what the Internet has done to us, and a gradual normalization and acceptance of horrible tactics and behavior. What was once unthinkable is our new status quo. I'm not sure that I want to see the next stage.
posted by delfin at 5:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [33 favorites]
Every Republican President since Nixon has been a distraction, not a leader. Ronnie preened for the cameras, GHWB stumbled through continuing Reagan's legacy, Dubya bumbled amiably, Trump threatens and blusters, and all of them are cover for the wonks and true believers behind them fucking dismantling America, handing it over to the wealthy and meddling in global affairs (the last being a euphemism for killing lots of people in the name of profit).
This is why I said that Trump was not a completely new and unique phenomenon and not that different from Reagan in an election thread, and got roasted for it. It was not a compliment in any way for Trump because Reagan did more damage to America than anyone else in my lifetime. What has changed over that time is forty years of relentless deregulation of the media, howling propaganda over the airwaves, what the Internet has done to us, and a gradual normalization and acceptance of horrible tactics and behavior. What was once unthinkable is our new status quo. I'm not sure that I want to see the next stage.
posted by delfin at 5:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [33 favorites]
It's surprising that their reporter would get a seat at a White House press conference, or get called on. We know that the Trump team has been trying to manipulate press conferences and the questions that get asked; here's someone who you wouldn't expect to get a question, who lobs a very respectful softballish one towards the President ... and gets blasted down.
Immediately before that exchange, Trump mused aloud that he wanted a "friendly reporter":
"Well, let's see who is I want to find a friendly reporter. Are you a friendly reporter? Watch how friendly he is. Wait wait - watch how friendly he is. Go ahead."
He's up there, scanning the room, and as he's saying this, he lands on a guy with a big beard and yarmulke. "Watch how friendly he is." Trump considers himself a hero to Jews - he reacts the way he does because he's so shocked that this guy isn't asking him how much of a friend he'll be to Israel.
posted by theodolite at 5:47 PM on February 16, 2017 [24 favorites]
Immediately before that exchange, Trump mused aloud that he wanted a "friendly reporter":
"Well, let's see who is I want to find a friendly reporter. Are you a friendly reporter? Watch how friendly he is. Wait wait - watch how friendly he is. Go ahead."
He's up there, scanning the room, and as he's saying this, he lands on a guy with a big beard and yarmulke. "Watch how friendly he is." Trump considers himself a hero to Jews - he reacts the way he does because he's so shocked that this guy isn't asking him how much of a friend he'll be to Israel.
posted by theodolite at 5:47 PM on February 16, 2017 [24 favorites]
Oh that's no good, someone has to tell him how he actually did.
That Kushner got sent over to CNN to complain about their coverage suggests that someone DID tell him how he actually did.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 5:47 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
That Kushner got sent over to CNN to complain about their coverage suggests that someone DID tell him how he actually did.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 5:47 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
@POTUS was in fact fully briefed on the content of those conversations that Gen. Flynn had with the Russian ambassador. (Fox News reporter - video)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [35 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [35 favorites]
TIL: Betsy DeVos is Erik Prince's sister. Now I understand how she got the job. Thanks, futz.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 5:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 5:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
Have Baldwin, in full Trump voice, deliver an excerpt of Obama's speeches, word for word. A crude, depressing, and strangely funny way to show how quickly and far the WH has fallen.
This was at the core of Tina Fey's effectiveness on Sarah Palin, she often more or less just repeated Palin's erratic, rambling statements.
which now sound so coherent and persuasive
posted by Rumple at 5:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
This was at the core of Tina Fey's effectiveness on Sarah Palin, she often more or less just repeated Palin's erratic, rambling statements.
which now sound so coherent and persuasive
posted by Rumple at 5:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
Donald is also really missing his people. He gets a bit of it at Mar-a-lago but he wants his cheering people. If you think about it all he's really seeing and hearing about are people coming out in big numbers against him.
Where are his people? Why aren't his people out there making noise like these Liberals and supporting me? So part of the presser really was for them. Not just so he feels like he's directly talking to them but also he wants them to show themselves. So he's playing the victim and telling them they're being victimized and it's time to fight. This weekends rally is part of that. Partly to help Trump feel good and partly to get his people to try to get off their butts and do something.
posted by Jalliah at 5:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
Where are his people? Why aren't his people out there making noise like these Liberals and supporting me? So part of the presser really was for them. Not just so he feels like he's directly talking to them but also he wants them to show themselves. So he's playing the victim and telling them they're being victimized and it's time to fight. This weekends rally is part of that. Partly to help Trump feel good and partly to get his people to try to get off their butts and do something.
posted by Jalliah at 5:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
Putin's distancing message to the state media looks like a smokescreen to me.
Thanks, Metafilter, for being here so I'm sure it's not just me seeing the nature of this shitstorm.
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 5:55 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Thanks, Metafilter, for being here so I'm sure it's not just me seeing the nature of this shitstorm.
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 5:55 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Fox News isn't suddenly going after Trump because they've found journalistic scruples. They're moving because the serious Republican machine nabobs are mad at Trump and want their evangelical wunderkind in as president. That dog doesn't bark without orders from its master.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 5:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 5:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
Oh yes XP.H, the ties are deep. I know that a lot of mefites don't like The Intercept but they have had the best reporting on this creep. Memail me or do a search.
More about Devos's brother, Erik Prince.
During the campaign, Prince donated $100,000 to the Trump Victory Committee, which supported both Trump’s election bid and the Republican Party. Jeremy Scahill, a journalist who has long covered Prince, recently wrote that the businessman is advising the Trump Administration.
Just four days before the election, Prince gave an interview to Breitbart radio, part of the media empire that Bannon used to run, in which Prince pushed an unfounded theory that the NYPD had been about to announce arrest warrants in the Clinton investigation but was blocked by the Justice Department, and that Hillary Clinton had been to a “sex island” with a convicted pedophile “at least six times.”
posted by futz at 5:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
More about Devos's brother, Erik Prince.
During the campaign, Prince donated $100,000 to the Trump Victory Committee, which supported both Trump’s election bid and the Republican Party. Jeremy Scahill, a journalist who has long covered Prince, recently wrote that the businessman is advising the Trump Administration.
Just four days before the election, Prince gave an interview to Breitbart radio, part of the media empire that Bannon used to run, in which Prince pushed an unfounded theory that the NYPD had been about to announce arrest warrants in the Clinton investigation but was blocked by the Justice Department, and that Hillary Clinton had been to a “sex island” with a convicted pedophile “at least six times.”
posted by futz at 5:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
‘‘This is what it’s like to be with Trump,’’ Christie said. ‘‘He says, ‘There’s the menu, you guys order whatever you want.’ And then he says, ‘Chris, you and I are going to have the meatloaf.’’’
This kind of behavior is not uncommon.
In 24/7 D/s relationships.
posted by thatwhichfalls at 5:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [42 favorites]
Fox News isn't suddenly going after Trump because they've found journalistic scruples. They're moving because the serious Republican machine nabobs are mad at Trump and want their evangelical wunderkind in as president. That dog doesn't bark without orders from its master.
Maybe Trump did stroke out and now can't work Norquist's proverbial pen.
posted by Talez at 5:59 PM on February 16, 2017
Maybe Trump did stroke out and now can't work Norquist's proverbial pen.
posted by Talez at 5:59 PM on February 16, 2017
It's surprising that their reporter would get a seat at a White House press conference, or get called on.
I'm not sure it's that surprising he would get a seat. I believe I've seen him at press briefings before (not with a seat) and press conferences are generally open to a pretty wide pool of publications. There were a lot of reporters there. It's a small publication, but they pay for someone to cover DC politics and that person is credentialed for the White House.
That he got called on is the part where it gets ugly. As theodolite mentioned, Trump said he was outright looking for a "friendly reporter" when he called on him. The guy wearing the yarmulke. Yeah.
And frankly, it was a friendly question. It started with the premise that Trump has Jewish family and nobody in the reporter's community has accused anybody at the White House of being anti-Semitic. And Trump cut him off and ordered him to sit down before he could even finish asking it. An unfriendly question would have invoked, say, the "sheriff's star" tweet or Steve Bannon's alleged comments about his kids' school or Holocaust Remembrance Day or the international banking conspiracy speech/ad or why he and his staff keep retweeting white supremacists or why Jewish reporters keep getting pictures of gas chambers sent to them. This was as friendly and straight as it gets, and all the man had to do to slide by with a gentleman's C was to listen to the question and somehow denounce or condemn bigotry. He didn't.
posted by zachlipton at 5:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [67 favorites]
I'm not sure it's that surprising he would get a seat. I believe I've seen him at press briefings before (not with a seat) and press conferences are generally open to a pretty wide pool of publications. There were a lot of reporters there. It's a small publication, but they pay for someone to cover DC politics and that person is credentialed for the White House.
That he got called on is the part where it gets ugly. As theodolite mentioned, Trump said he was outright looking for a "friendly reporter" when he called on him. The guy wearing the yarmulke. Yeah.
And frankly, it was a friendly question. It started with the premise that Trump has Jewish family and nobody in the reporter's community has accused anybody at the White House of being anti-Semitic. And Trump cut him off and ordered him to sit down before he could even finish asking it. An unfriendly question would have invoked, say, the "sheriff's star" tweet or Steve Bannon's alleged comments about his kids' school or Holocaust Remembrance Day or the international banking conspiracy speech/ad or why he and his staff keep retweeting white supremacists or why Jewish reporters keep getting pictures of gas chambers sent to them. This was as friendly and straight as it gets, and all the man had to do to slide by with a gentleman's C was to listen to the question and somehow denounce or condemn bigotry. He didn't.
posted by zachlipton at 5:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [67 favorites]
I feel like the most cutting SNL move might be to have some professional speechwriters go over Trump's word salad sputterings and edit them into cogent-sounding answers, then have Baldwin deliver them completely deadpan like a respectable and intelligent orator.
posted by contraption at 6:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by contraption at 6:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
How much do you have to love Nazis to fuck up "is antisemitism bad"?
posted by Artw at 6:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [65 favorites]
posted by Artw at 6:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [65 favorites]
Huh, looks like somebody told an Italian parade about the dream I have every night now.
That's only the secondmost horrible dream I've had represented in an Italian parade on YouTube. So, there's hope.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
That's only the secondmost horrible dream I've had represented in an Italian parade on YouTube. So, there's hope.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
I feel like the most cutting SNL move might be to have some professional speechwriters go over Trump's word salad sputterings and edit them into cogent-sounding answers, then have Baldwin deliver them completely deadpan like a respectable and intelligent orator.
Or have an actual Orangutan stand behind the podium and have the press corps compliment each series of grunts and screeches as the most coherent thing he's said since he's been in office.
posted by OHenryPacey at 6:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Or have an actual Orangutan stand behind the podium and have the press corps compliment each series of grunts and screeches as the most coherent thing he's said since he's been in office.
posted by OHenryPacey at 6:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Trump? He fails at basic, humanizing things like filling out a March Madness bracket* or taking a moment to do the responsible presidential thing and say "anti-semitism is bad".
What you have to remember about DJT is that he thinks he is a genius even though he is a moron, and the essence of what he thinks he is his genius is contrarianism, seeing what everyone else is doing and boldly doing something else. That this has often thrown him into bankruptcy doesn't faze him because he reframes that as "genius use of the bankruptcy provisions" and so on for his other failures. As long as he can find a bigger fool, and so far he always has, he doesn't have to admit to himself that he has ever made a mistake. And he believes his genius consists of a willingness to do what other people aren't doing. If you think about it those two things actually explain just about everything.
posted by Bringer Tom at 6:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [20 favorites]
What you have to remember about DJT is that he thinks he is a genius even though he is a moron, and the essence of what he thinks he is his genius is contrarianism, seeing what everyone else is doing and boldly doing something else. That this has often thrown him into bankruptcy doesn't faze him because he reframes that as "genius use of the bankruptcy provisions" and so on for his other failures. As long as he can find a bigger fool, and so far he always has, he doesn't have to admit to himself that he has ever made a mistake. And he believes his genius consists of a willingness to do what other people aren't doing. If you think about it those two things actually explain just about everything.
posted by Bringer Tom at 6:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [20 favorites]
Buzzfeed: White House Staff Are Using A ‘Secure’ App That’s Really Not So Secure: BuzzFeed News found the phone numbers of Spicer, along with Hope Hicks, the director of strategic communications, via a feature which allows users to see friends who have already joined.
In a phone call with BuzzFeed News, Spicer confirmed that he used the app, but said that he had done so only once, when asked to do so by a reporter “months ago.” He offered to show a BuzzFeed News reporter his phone as proof.
“I downloaded it, but I’m glad to show anyone my phone and that I’ve literally sent one message on Confide,” said Spicer. “These are personal phones… I also have iTunes on my personal phone, Solitaire, and other apps. Frankly I think the idea that you guys are writing a story, the idea of what apps I use on my phone, is an invasion of my privacy.”
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:11 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
In a phone call with BuzzFeed News, Spicer confirmed that he used the app, but said that he had done so only once, when asked to do so by a reporter “months ago.” He offered to show a BuzzFeed News reporter his phone as proof.
“I downloaded it, but I’m glad to show anyone my phone and that I’ve literally sent one message on Confide,” said Spicer. “These are personal phones… I also have iTunes on my personal phone, Solitaire, and other apps. Frankly I think the idea that you guys are writing a story, the idea of what apps I use on my phone, is an invasion of my privacy.”
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:11 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
Or have an actual Orangutan stand behind the podium
Orangutans are kind, gentle creatures. I expect you will be slandering manatees, next.
posted by My Dad at 6:15 PM on February 16, 2017 [37 favorites]
Orangutans are kind, gentle creatures. I expect you will be slandering manatees, next.
posted by My Dad at 6:15 PM on February 16, 2017 [37 favorites]
The 9th Circuit says it will hold off on considering the travel ban case en banc, pending a new executive order.
posted by zachlipton at 6:15 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 6:15 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
This kind of (meatloaf) behavior is not uncommon. In 24/7 D/s relationships.
The difference is that in the D/s relationship the D person is getting something out of it. I am sure Trump didn't get anything so titillating out of doing that to Christie; his thought process was something more like "I want to make sure Chris has the best meal here, and I'm having the meatloaf since it's the best meatloaf ever and I'm having it so that's that, and Chris needs to see how good the meatloaf is because he's going to be totally blown away by this meatloaf, it is such a Trump meatloaf, Chris you're having the meatloaf with me. We are totally going to manbond over this awesome meatloaf."
posted by Bringer Tom at 6:15 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
The difference is that in the D/s relationship the D person is getting something out of it. I am sure Trump didn't get anything so titillating out of doing that to Christie; his thought process was something more like "I want to make sure Chris has the best meal here, and I'm having the meatloaf since it's the best meatloaf ever and I'm having it so that's that, and Chris needs to see how good the meatloaf is because he's going to be totally blown away by this meatloaf, it is such a Trump meatloaf, Chris you're having the meatloaf with me. We are totally going to manbond over this awesome meatloaf."
posted by Bringer Tom at 6:15 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
Don't worry, the Orthodox community is still team Trump all the way. Seriously, I made the mistake of reading the comments on the anti-Semitism q/a video earlier, and the defense and denial from Orthodox Jews (my people) is enraging.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews, the readers of Ami magazine et al, do not focus on the Holocaust and its lessons the way other Jews worldwide have for the past few generations. So people whose parents and/or grandparents were literally killed in Germany, Russia, and Poland, are not the anti-fascists you'd think they would be.
I have many hypotheses for this (and general conservatism, support for Trump and Trump-like figures), and the one I've been crystalizing of late is that most Orthodox Jews live in (enclaves in) liberal cities and states. They've all the advantages of tolerance and multiculturalism (yes, yes, I know it's not perfect here, but relatively), and, I think, identify as "white." Once one is not worried about being actively discriminated against, it's easy to punch down.
Of course, we aren't, and never will be, white - at least not to those who care about "whiteness."
I don't know; it's complicated. But I've heard from members of my Shul full-throated defenses of SCROTUS, Sessions, etc, that their grandparents would probably slap them over.
posted by mhz at 6:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [23 favorites]
Ultra-Orthodox Jews, the readers of Ami magazine et al, do not focus on the Holocaust and its lessons the way other Jews worldwide have for the past few generations. So people whose parents and/or grandparents were literally killed in Germany, Russia, and Poland, are not the anti-fascists you'd think they would be.
I have many hypotheses for this (and general conservatism, support for Trump and Trump-like figures), and the one I've been crystalizing of late is that most Orthodox Jews live in (enclaves in) liberal cities and states. They've all the advantages of tolerance and multiculturalism (yes, yes, I know it's not perfect here, but relatively), and, I think, identify as "white." Once one is not worried about being actively discriminated against, it's easy to punch down.
Of course, we aren't, and never will be, white - at least not to those who care about "whiteness."
I don't know; it's complicated. But I've heard from members of my Shul full-throated defenses of SCROTUS, Sessions, etc, that their grandparents would probably slap them over.
posted by mhz at 6:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [23 favorites]
TIL: Betsy DeVos is Erik Prince's sister. Now I understand how she got the job. Thanks, futz.
Can we not do this? She got the job entirely on her own shitty Christianist/privatizing merits, not because of who she's related to.
posted by adamgreenfield at 6:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Can we not do this? She got the job entirely on her own shitty Christianist/privatizing merits, not because of who she's related to.
posted by adamgreenfield at 6:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
That Jewish reporter was a true Trump believer as of January 20. Trump can't even hit the softest of soft balls.
posted by Yowser at 6:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Yowser at 6:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
NPR's evening report, though it covers some of the bizzare moments, is saying Trump was at times "funny".
But not "ha ha" funny.
posted by jackbishop at 6:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
But not "ha ha" funny.
posted by jackbishop at 6:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
adamgreenfield, I don't believe that for even one second in this case. These chuckleheads are all tightly bound together in corruption. They're like the mafia. So, whenever a position needs to be filled, the only people they can find that they can trust are Vinnie, Vinnie, and Tommy Two-Shoes.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 6:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 6:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Can we not do this? She got the job entirely on her own shitty Christianist/privatizing merits, not because of who she's related to.
Why couldn't it both? I don't think it's necessarily sexist to note her personal connections -- if she were Prince's brother instead, I'd have the same suspicion.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
Why couldn't it both? I don't think it's necessarily sexist to note her personal connections -- if she were Prince's brother instead, I'd have the same suspicion.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
MeatloaFilter: This kind of behavior is not uncommon.
posted by mwhybark at 6:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by mwhybark at 6:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yes, but by your own admission, you hadn't previously been aware of her. Some of us had been.
posted by adamgreenfield at 6:22 PM on February 16, 2017
posted by adamgreenfield at 6:22 PM on February 16, 2017
Trump can't fuck up. He can't fail. He and the Republican agenda are a snowball in motion. It doesn't matter what they do or don't do...because so much of the populace is deeply entrenched in the propaganda. BROWN PEOPLE BAD. FOREIGNERS BAD. POOR PEOPLE BAD. FOREIGN RELATIONS BAD. NATIONAL SECURITY-CLOSE THE BOARDERS. Etc. and so on.
I personally believe that 9/11 was the Reichstag fire of the 21st century. It was then and that event that caused so many to LOSE THEIR FUCKING MINDS.
I was a Navy dependent living in Southern Europe during most of the 1980s and lived on installations that experienced terrorist acts. I was pretty damn close when General Dozier was kidnapped by the Red Brigade. When that shit happened, we all got "terrorism training". Even though I was a civilian teen dependent, I got training. It was all fact and science/intellectually based. It made sense and it worked.
When 9/11 happened the response was THE EXACT OPPOSITE. Nothing smart was implemented. Nothing intelligent or common sense. Immediately I knew (thought that) our leadership was weak as fuck.
The response was mostly OMG and weeping bald eagles and more OMG. Since when does the UNITED STATES all of a sudden be all "Oh, poor us! We're victims!"
The attack on the twin towers was definitely spectacular, but hardly the REAL AND ONGOING THREAT that it was made out to be.
I know I'm incoherently ranting now, but the important point is that, 9/11 created a situation that could only be resolved by having a "strong daddy"-Trump. All based on falsehoods and dismissal of reality.
That's why I'm advocating for the destruction of FOX news.
I swear there was a Twilight Zone episode that very clearly illustrated this very fucking problem.
(Maybe the one where they destroyed the computer in the cave that was guiding folks in a post apocalyptic world?)
(Sorry, yes, I am slowly losing my mind.)
posted by snsranch at 6:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [91 favorites]
I personally believe that 9/11 was the Reichstag fire of the 21st century. It was then and that event that caused so many to LOSE THEIR FUCKING MINDS.
I was a Navy dependent living in Southern Europe during most of the 1980s and lived on installations that experienced terrorist acts. I was pretty damn close when General Dozier was kidnapped by the Red Brigade. When that shit happened, we all got "terrorism training". Even though I was a civilian teen dependent, I got training. It was all fact and science/intellectually based. It made sense and it worked.
When 9/11 happened the response was THE EXACT OPPOSITE. Nothing smart was implemented. Nothing intelligent or common sense. Immediately I knew (thought that) our leadership was weak as fuck.
The response was mostly OMG and weeping bald eagles and more OMG. Since when does the UNITED STATES all of a sudden be all "Oh, poor us! We're victims!"
The attack on the twin towers was definitely spectacular, but hardly the REAL AND ONGOING THREAT that it was made out to be.
I know I'm incoherently ranting now, but the important point is that, 9/11 created a situation that could only be resolved by having a "strong daddy"-Trump. All based on falsehoods and dismissal of reality.
That's why I'm advocating for the destruction of FOX news.
I swear there was a Twilight Zone episode that very clearly illustrated this very fucking problem.
(Maybe the one where they destroyed the computer in the cave that was guiding folks in a post apocalyptic world?)
(Sorry, yes, I am slowly losing my mind.)
posted by snsranch at 6:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [91 favorites]
She got the job entirely on her own shitty Christianist/privatizing merits, not because of who she's related to.
It can easily be both. Trump takes pride in running a family business of different entangled interests and looks for the same in his allies.
posted by Candleman at 6:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
It can easily be both. Trump takes pride in running a family business of different entangled interests and looks for the same in his allies.
posted by Candleman at 6:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
The Italian parades are for carnival and the one in Viareggio is arguably the most popular. It's an art form. They are essentially an exercise in punching up (mostly. There is as usual some racist, xenophobic and sexist nonsense which is hard to swallow) and the carri are usually political satire. I remember some very raunchy ones featuring Bill Clinton from when I was a kid.
Berlusconi is a perennial laughing stock and now Trump has joined the party! Fun times. Here are some more Trump floats.
posted by lydhre at 6:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
Berlusconi is a perennial laughing stock and now Trump has joined the party! Fun times. Here are some more Trump floats.
posted by lydhre at 6:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
Yes, and I just discovered how she's connected to this corrupt group of people. And now it makes sense to me.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 6:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 6:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Can we not do this? She got the job entirely on her own shitty Christianist/privatizing merits, not because of who she's related to.
$$$$ She gave something like $800,000 to the rupubs including many who were "deciders" at her confirmation hearing.
posted by futz at 6:25 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
$$$$ She gave something like $800,000 to the rupubs including many who were "deciders" at her confirmation hearing.
posted by futz at 6:25 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Steady snsranch! Freaketh not the fuck out, the fight is on so fight!
posted by vrakatar at 6:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by vrakatar at 6:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
lydhre: Berlusconi is a perennial laughing stock and now Trump has joined the party! Fun times. Here are some more Trump floats.
Holy shit. Those are amazing.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:27 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Holy shit. Those are amazing.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:27 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Dammit. All the meatloaf talk made me pine for Mom's meatloaf. She makes the best meatloaf in the world. It would put your damn meatloaf to shame Donald.
I'm grateful to report that I wandered to my parents part of the house, got down on bended knee, told her the meatloaf story asked if she might be able to make hers sometime soon.
I just have to wait until dinner tomorrow!
So hey, that's something good that has come out of Trumpworld today. Taking whatever little thing I can get at this point.
posted by Jalliah at 6:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
I'll be over around 7 with a couple bottles of wine and this cool Pride and Prejudice game my brother got me for my birthday!
posted by Deoridhe at 6:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Deoridhe at 6:31 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Just a reminder that the election for DNC chair is next week. If you care about the direction the Democratic Party takes from here, you should contact the DNC members and let them know your preference for chair. Keith Ellison still seems a natural choice, from my perspective. Naturally, many DNC members are elected officials, so they ought to be fairly responsive to public feedback. This purports to be a list of DNC members from last year. I am not sure about its current accuracy. If you use it to contact people and find any inaccuracies, please MeMail me, and I'll try to set up something more current.
posted by Coventry at 6:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 6:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Fox News isn't suddenly going after Trump because they've found journalistic scruples.
Is this a fair characterization of what's going on? Fox News going after Trump? And not just... one surprisingly harsh segment? (It may well be, I'm not arguing, I genuinely want to know!)
posted by Andrhia at 6:35 PM on February 16, 2017
Is this a fair characterization of what's going on? Fox News going after Trump? And not just... one surprisingly harsh segment? (It may well be, I'm not arguing, I genuinely want to know!)
posted by Andrhia at 6:35 PM on February 16, 2017
I expect you will be slandering manatees, next.
"That's impossible! Manatees are a very, very kind and gentle animal. The most gentle, ask anyone. And some of my best friends are manatees! Here, talk to my good friend, Hugh!"
Try the veal, tip your waiter, here all week
posted by Ghidorah at 6:36 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
"That's impossible! Manatees are a very, very kind and gentle animal. The most gentle, ask anyone. And some of my best friends are manatees! Here, talk to my good friend, Hugh!"
Try the veal, tip your waiter, here all week
posted by Ghidorah at 6:36 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Keith Ellison has requested that people not contact DNC members directly. I'm not saying anyone shouldn't mention it to their elected officials, but that is what his campaign is requesting right now.
posted by zachlipton at 6:40 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 6:40 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
Coventry, who else is running for DNC chair? I know a little about Ellison, but shamefully little else about what the dems are up to on that front, and they are my party, hence shamefully. ENLIGHTEN ME!
posted by vrakatar at 6:42 PM on February 16, 2017
posted by vrakatar at 6:42 PM on February 16, 2017
He was experiencing a narcissitic injury episode and did what he had to do to make himself feel better and feel like he got control back. That presser was like therapy to him.
THIS THIS THIS. This entire press conference was Trump making himself feel better by lashing out at the people he had perceived as hurting him (the press.) He feels fucking great right now. He won't understand why the intensity of the criticism against him increases (goddamn I HOPE it fucking does). In his mind, when you get treated the way he treated the press today, the correct response is submission.
Of course to those of us living in reality, he went out there and acted completely batshit and unhinged and we're thinking about what serious things we can do about it. This is what it is like being around a narcissist. The "holy crap that person just WENT OFF for no reason, maybe we should call a professional" feeling. But in their mind they were justly retaliating for whatever you did to them first when you didn't fulfill their idea of how they should be treated.
Eventually he will realize that people aren't reacting by submitting and instead are continuing to question him. There will be another wave of anger (probably at his rally on Saturday.)
posted by threeturtles at 6:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [79 favorites]
THIS THIS THIS. This entire press conference was Trump making himself feel better by lashing out at the people he had perceived as hurting him (the press.) He feels fucking great right now. He won't understand why the intensity of the criticism against him increases (goddamn I HOPE it fucking does). In his mind, when you get treated the way he treated the press today, the correct response is submission.
Of course to those of us living in reality, he went out there and acted completely batshit and unhinged and we're thinking about what serious things we can do about it. This is what it is like being around a narcissist. The "holy crap that person just WENT OFF for no reason, maybe we should call a professional" feeling. But in their mind they were justly retaliating for whatever you did to them first when you didn't fulfill their idea of how they should be treated.
Eventually he will realize that people aren't reacting by submitting and instead are continuing to question him. There will be another wave of anger (probably at his rally on Saturday.)
posted by threeturtles at 6:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [79 favorites]
I think the time for reasonble debate, and refuting arguments and all that has been and gone in both the US and the UK. (well duh)
But maybe it's time to play the same game. Wildly irresponsible use of bots, channel jamming, message overload.
Millions of Memes about being nice to people.
Hordes of bots suggesting reasonable compromise.
Every single twitter conversation gets flooded with a bot Sealioning the notion of being a decent human being.
Jam the TV transmitters with broadcasts of 1970's open university courses on critical thinking.
Break into the daily mail print shop floor every day and replace the headlines with "Tolerance and Respect for Others Found to Cure Cancer" (And the express can run "EXCLUSIVE: Why Lady diana liked broadbase consensus policy making")
What else... Oh yeah, Spray paint every billboard with "Council Taxes pay for tidy streets and maybe a nice flowerbed on the high street"
Maybe we can get together and find some sort of barely coherant demagogue to spew a message of peace and tolerance!
"Believe me, it's gonna be great! We're going to make politics bearable again. Everyone knows that the notion of decency and tolerance is totally great, okay, totally great. The best. My opponents, who are actual people with feelings deep down , by the way probably have some good points to make, maybe great points. Okay. So I say let's have a constructive dialogue, no one does constructive dialogue like me okay, it's gonna be great"
If the GOP (and UKIP and the Tories and, well let's be honest pretty much the whole british political system) are going to replace reasonable political behaviour with populism and media manipulation I say we use media manipualtion and populism to advocate for reasonable political behaviour.
(I may have stopped making sense 299 words ago....)
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 6:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [42 favorites]
But maybe it's time to play the same game. Wildly irresponsible use of bots, channel jamming, message overload.
Millions of Memes about being nice to people.
Hordes of bots suggesting reasonable compromise.
Every single twitter conversation gets flooded with a bot Sealioning the notion of being a decent human being.
Jam the TV transmitters with broadcasts of 1970's open university courses on critical thinking.
Break into the daily mail print shop floor every day and replace the headlines with "Tolerance and Respect for Others Found to Cure Cancer" (And the express can run "EXCLUSIVE: Why Lady diana liked broadbase consensus policy making")
What else... Oh yeah, Spray paint every billboard with "Council Taxes pay for tidy streets and maybe a nice flowerbed on the high street"
Maybe we can get together and find some sort of barely coherant demagogue to spew a message of peace and tolerance!
"Believe me, it's gonna be great! We're going to make politics bearable again. Everyone knows that the notion of decency and tolerance is totally great, okay, totally great. The best. My opponents, who are actual people with feelings deep down , by the way probably have some good points to make, maybe great points. Okay. So I say let's have a constructive dialogue, no one does constructive dialogue like me okay, it's gonna be great"
If the GOP (and UKIP and the Tories and, well let's be honest pretty much the whole british political system) are going to replace reasonable political behaviour with populism and media manipulation I say we use media manipualtion and populism to advocate for reasonable political behaviour.
(I may have stopped making sense 299 words ago....)
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 6:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [42 favorites]
Do you suppose that after the day is done, and everyone goes home; the mental therapeutic community goes out for drinks, and high fives over how much money they are making, due to this election and ongoing administration?
posted by Oyéah at 6:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 6:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Oops, I under-exaggerated.
Here’s How Much Betsy DeVos And Her Family Paid To Back GOP Senators Who Will Support Her
Big donors often get positions in government, ambassadorships or ceremonial titles, but rarely do they come as big as DeVos. Sitting Republican senators have received $115,000 from Betsy DeVos herself, and more than $950,000 from the full DeVos clan since 1980. In the past two election cycles alone, her family has donated $8.3 million to Republican Party super PACs.
And at her confirmation hearing:
Sanders: “Mrs. DeVos, there is a growing fear, I think, in this country that we are moving toward what some would call an oligarchic form of society, where a small number of very, very wealthy billionaires control, to a significant degree, our economic and political life. Would you be so kind as to tell us how much your family has contributed to the Republican Party over the years?”
DeVos: “Senator, first of all thank you for that question. I again was pleased to meet you in your office last week. I wish I could give you that number. I don’t know.”
Sanders: “I have heard the number was $200 million. Does that sound in the ballpark?”
DeVos: “Collectively? Between my entire family?”
Sanders: “Yeah, over the years.”
DeVos: “That’s possible”
So yes, she got the job due to who she was related to and the mountain of money that they threw at republicans. It is both.
posted by futz at 6:45 PM on February 16, 2017 [42 favorites]
Here’s How Much Betsy DeVos And Her Family Paid To Back GOP Senators Who Will Support Her
Big donors often get positions in government, ambassadorships or ceremonial titles, but rarely do they come as big as DeVos. Sitting Republican senators have received $115,000 from Betsy DeVos herself, and more than $950,000 from the full DeVos clan since 1980. In the past two election cycles alone, her family has donated $8.3 million to Republican Party super PACs.
And at her confirmation hearing:
Sanders: “Mrs. DeVos, there is a growing fear, I think, in this country that we are moving toward what some would call an oligarchic form of society, where a small number of very, very wealthy billionaires control, to a significant degree, our economic and political life. Would you be so kind as to tell us how much your family has contributed to the Republican Party over the years?”
DeVos: “Senator, first of all thank you for that question. I again was pleased to meet you in your office last week. I wish I could give you that number. I don’t know.”
Sanders: “I have heard the number was $200 million. Does that sound in the ballpark?”
DeVos: “Collectively? Between my entire family?”
Sanders: “Yeah, over the years.”
DeVos: “That’s possible”
So yes, she got the job due to who she was related to and the mountain of money that they threw at republicans. It is both.
posted by futz at 6:45 PM on February 16, 2017 [42 favorites]
No; they are largely just as stressed out.
posted by yhbc at 6:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by yhbc at 6:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
That was low hanging fruit, I bet they are. They are professional attention payers, and therefore it must be twice as hard on them, since they get it fifty times over.
posted by Oyéah at 6:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Oyéah at 6:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
I checked out the links Coventry I got a handle on it. I like that Harrison guy, maybe next time.
posted by vrakatar at 6:49 PM on February 16, 2017
posted by vrakatar at 6:49 PM on February 16, 2017
For all of you who watched the press conference (and TV news generally), thank you from the bottom of my heart for passing it along here. I just can't do it. I'm currently sitting in a waiting room with the nightly news blaring out from the TV and I want to throw a brick at it (or my head - whatever shuts it up). I don't know how you all manage.
posted by downtohisturtles at 6:51 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by downtohisturtles at 6:51 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
vrakatar: List of DNC chair candidates.
posted by Coventry at 6:51 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 6:51 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
He's just running the country like a business. When you're the CEO, you get to go out and demean the employees all you want, yell, rant, lie to them, scream nonsense and they have to just take it, and applaud your every utterance, because they work for you. You pay them. They just have to take it. That's business.
Anyone that's worked for a large corporation recognizes this. But what he doesn't understand is government isn't a business, and the USA isn't a company, and we don't work for him. In fact, he's supposed to work for us.
I don't think he, or anyone who thinks the country can be run like a business will ever understand this.
posted by valkane at 6:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [32 favorites]
Anyone that's worked for a large corporation recognizes this. But what he doesn't understand is government isn't a business, and the USA isn't a company, and we don't work for him. In fact, he's supposed to work for us.
I don't think he, or anyone who thinks the country can be run like a business will ever understand this.
posted by valkane at 6:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [32 favorites]
The competitor to Ellison is Tom Perez. Neither of them are convincing me that the DNC and the Democratic Party are serious about winning or getting Progressives on board. I wish either of them could layout a cogent strategy that does not have to be walked back as a "misspoken" item.
posted by jadepearl at 6:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by jadepearl at 6:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Don't worry, the Orthodox community is still team Trump all the way.
They're loud, and they're there, but it's not actually overwhelming or even a majority. Only 39% of Orthodox Jews voted for Trump. And while I completely agree that it's mind-boggling how they can side with this man and all he clearly stands for, the ones I know all say the same thing - because of Ivanka and Jared, they still believe that Jews are in no actual danger. That they've always known about anti-semitism on the far right, it's always been there, David Duke and his cohort have been around for decades, but the growing anti-semitism coupled with anti-Israel activism on the left scares them more. FWIW.
posted by Mchelly at 6:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [20 favorites]
They're loud, and they're there, but it's not actually overwhelming or even a majority. Only 39% of Orthodox Jews voted for Trump. And while I completely agree that it's mind-boggling how they can side with this man and all he clearly stands for, the ones I know all say the same thing - because of Ivanka and Jared, they still believe that Jews are in no actual danger. That they've always known about anti-semitism on the far right, it's always been there, David Duke and his cohort have been around for decades, but the growing anti-semitism coupled with anti-Israel activism on the left scares them more. FWIW.
posted by Mchelly at 6:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [20 favorites]
So people whose parents and/or grandparents were literally killed in Germany, Russia, and Poland, are not the anti-fascists you'd think they would be.
You see this in the Hispanic community, too, especially among those groups who arrived in the US middle-class (or honestly, even working class) and not as housekeepers or migrant laborers. They can be phenomenally anti-black and prone to thinking that surely if they can act white enough, they'll be welcomed. My family did this, despite not having any money to speak of, because they were fairer. Fat lot of good it did--my dad died in poverty after losing the best job he ever had to discrimination years before. But damned if he ever voted Democrat. Or accepted welfare.
It's not okay, but it's not surprising, either. The people on top have invested a lot in making sure that everybody further down the ladder expends all their energy fighting each other to prevent anybody from going after the real power. The carrot is awfully tempting, and more so when you're able to ignore that there's a stick.
posted by Sequence at 6:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [26 favorites]
You see this in the Hispanic community, too, especially among those groups who arrived in the US middle-class (or honestly, even working class) and not as housekeepers or migrant laborers. They can be phenomenally anti-black and prone to thinking that surely if they can act white enough, they'll be welcomed. My family did this, despite not having any money to speak of, because they were fairer. Fat lot of good it did--my dad died in poverty after losing the best job he ever had to discrimination years before. But damned if he ever voted Democrat. Or accepted welfare.
It's not okay, but it's not surprising, either. The people on top have invested a lot in making sure that everybody further down the ladder expends all their energy fighting each other to prevent anybody from going after the real power. The carrot is awfully tempting, and more so when you're able to ignore that there's a stick.
posted by Sequence at 6:53 PM on February 16, 2017 [26 favorites]
No; they are largely just as stressed out.
Yeah, I've heard a few first-hand accounts of the effects on people with PTSD and other stress-accentuated mental illnesses, with clinicians in institutional / group settings requesting bans on cable news, especially as ambient background.
posted by holgate at 6:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yeah, I've heard a few first-hand accounts of the effects on people with PTSD and other stress-accentuated mental illnesses, with clinicians in institutional / group settings requesting bans on cable news, especially as ambient background.
posted by holgate at 6:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
DNC: If you haven't listened to both Tom Perez and Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg (boot-edge-edge) on Pod Save America (formerly Keepin' it 1600) you should. Honestly I like what I hear from both them and Ellison, and I'm mostly glad I don't have to vote in this one :)
Interview w/ Perez
interview with Mayor Pete
posted by Wulfhere at 6:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
Interview w/ Perez
interview with Mayor Pete
posted by Wulfhere at 6:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
CNN chief says Trump’s attacks are boosting morale
“They wear those insults as a badge of honor, because it means they are doing their jobs,” Zucker said, referring to the network’s reporters and employees. “I would say that morale is incredibly high ... They are not being intimidated, they are not backing down, they know they have my full support and it is a very exciting time, frankly, to be a journalist at CNN.”
Added Zucker, “If there is any issue, it is because they are exhausted. The pace has been nonstop, and it has not let up.”
posted by Jalliah at 7:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [38 favorites]
“They wear those insults as a badge of honor, because it means they are doing their jobs,” Zucker said, referring to the network’s reporters and employees. “I would say that morale is incredibly high ... They are not being intimidated, they are not backing down, they know they have my full support and it is a very exciting time, frankly, to be a journalist at CNN.”
Added Zucker, “If there is any issue, it is because they are exhausted. The pace has been nonstop, and it has not let up.”
posted by Jalliah at 7:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [38 favorites]
Keith Ellison has requested that people not contact DNC members directly.
I can't see a good reason for following that instruction.
posted by Coventry at 7:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
I can't see a good reason for following that instruction.
posted by Coventry at 7:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
I now have been reminded where I know Acosta's name from. I couldn't remember because every time I tried to remember him I only got Jim.
He prosecuted Jeffrey "13 months for repeatedly raping a minor" Epstein.
posted by Talez at 7:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
He prosecuted Jeffrey "13 months for repeatedly raping a minor" Epstein.
posted by Talez at 7:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
Here’s How Much Betsy DeVos And Her Family Paid To Back GOP Senators Who Will Support Her
See? The key to succeeding in the largest pyramid scheme ripoff in history is to be at the top of the pyramid!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
See? The key to succeeding in the largest pyramid scheme ripoff in history is to be at the top of the pyramid!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
emjaybee: I put a nuclear exchange in the same category as the Yellowstone Caldera, i.e, "Welp, That's It for Us!" No use planning for something like that unless you think eating MREs in a hole in the ground for a few decades is some kind of future worth having. And if so, cheers to you.Okay, look, that's it. Of all the defeatist shit we have to deal with, this is the kind that pisses me off the most: that you should either want to A) gleefully die in the first fire or B) live in a bizarre Mad Max wasteland.
Look, nobody wants this kind of future. But I have a baby girl. She's eight months old. Her smiles and laughter are the only thing keeping me going right now and you better fucking believe that I will do anything—anything—to give her as long of a life as I can.
I know if it's not nukes, it'll be socioeconomic collapse, and if it's not that, it'll be climate-change-induced famine, but goddammit I'm gonna fight for every last hour I can get.
Collige, virgo, rosas, yes—but while you gather roses, sow seeds.
posted by ragtag at 7:21 PM on February 16, 2017 [63 favorites]
Survey: 73% of Voters Oppose Eliminating Public-Television Funding
A new survey conducted jointly by leading Republican and Democratic pollsters found that 73% of voters — including a majority of Republicans — oppose eliminating federal funding for public television.
Conducted by Republican firm American Viewpoint and Democratic firm Hart Research Associates, the survey also found that 66% of people who voted for President Donald Trump favor increased funding for public television, as do 86% of Hillary Clinton voters. Public television was rated as a good value for tax dollars by 72% of those surveyed.
posted by futz at 7:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [32 favorites]
A new survey conducted jointly by leading Republican and Democratic pollsters found that 73% of voters — including a majority of Republicans — oppose eliminating federal funding for public television.
Conducted by Republican firm American Viewpoint and Democratic firm Hart Research Associates, the survey also found that 66% of people who voted for President Donald Trump favor increased funding for public television, as do 86% of Hillary Clinton voters. Public television was rated as a good value for tax dollars by 72% of those surveyed.
posted by futz at 7:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [32 favorites]
DNC: If you haven't listened to both Tom Perez and Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg (boot-edge-edge) on Pod Save America (formerly Keepin' it 1600) you should. Honestly I like what I hear from both them and Ellison, and I'm mostly glad I don't have to vote in this one :)
Interview w/ Perez
interview with Mayor Pete
And an interview with Keith Ellison from Keepin it 1600
And they discussed the DNC election with DeRay McKesson at some length this week on Pod Save America.
Honestly I wound up liking Mayor Pete a lot.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
Interview w/ Perez
interview with Mayor Pete
And an interview with Keith Ellison from Keepin it 1600
And they discussed the DNC election with DeRay McKesson at some length this week on Pod Save America.
Honestly I wound up liking Mayor Pete a lot.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:26 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
DNC: If you haven't listened to both Tom Perez and Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg (boot-edge-edge) on Pod Save America (formerly Keepin' it 1600) you should. Honestly I like what I hear from both them and Ellison, and I'm mostly glad I don't have to vote in this one :)
Can we get a triumvirate chair? Buttigieg, Ellison and Perez could actually work well to cover the coalition - Perez isn't the establishment hack he's been accused of being but he can work the establishment well and probably help pull the establishment left, Ellison has the grassroots organizing experience and Bernie backing, Buttigieg would be great guiding Dems in local and state races...
posted by jason_steakums at 7:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
Can we get a triumvirate chair? Buttigieg, Ellison and Perez could actually work well to cover the coalition - Perez isn't the establishment hack he's been accused of being but he can work the establishment well and probably help pull the establishment left, Ellison has the grassroots organizing experience and Bernie backing, Buttigieg would be great guiding Dems in local and state races...
posted by jason_steakums at 7:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
A Florist Who Refused A Gay Couple Just Lost At The Washington State Supreme Court
Flower "lady" says she is taking it to the SCOTUS (no R).
posted by futz at 7:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
Flower "lady" says she is taking it to the SCOTUS (no R).
posted by futz at 7:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [16 favorites]
I agree, jason_steakums. I think they all bring something important to the table, and whoever wins it, I hope the other two are all on WhatsApp or whatever together exchanging ideas and working their networks.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:30 PM on February 16, 2017
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:30 PM on February 16, 2017
And while I completely agree that it's mind-boggling how they can side with this man and all he clearly stands for, the ones I know all say the same thing - because of Ivanka and Jared, they still believe that Jews are in no actual danger.
Also, there's a default assumption in many (most?) ultra-Orthodox communities that most governments are more-or-less inimical or may become so at short notice. And historically, that has often been true. But, it's going to be Purim in a few weeks, which is an annual reminder of how to deal with antisemitic governments: find an opening to negotiate with the crazy guy running the show.
So, viewing this in terms of the Book of Esther, Bannon is Haman, Trump is Ahasuerus, and the luscious, doe-eyed Jared Kushner is Queen Esther. I bet a lot of people were thinking "we've been here before, we can handle this." In contrast, Clinton was portrayed as a sort of bookend for Obama's administration, and Obama was clearly uninterested in working with established Jewish powerbrokers. Each side of politics claimed that the other was antisemitic, but Trump's side fit into the well-established story of How the Jews Were Saved from Destruction. I don't think it would have been worth Hillary's time fighting this, and I'm not sure she could have done so anyway.
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:32 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
Also, there's a default assumption in many (most?) ultra-Orthodox communities that most governments are more-or-less inimical or may become so at short notice. And historically, that has often been true. But, it's going to be Purim in a few weeks, which is an annual reminder of how to deal with antisemitic governments: find an opening to negotiate with the crazy guy running the show.
So, viewing this in terms of the Book of Esther, Bannon is Haman, Trump is Ahasuerus, and the luscious, doe-eyed Jared Kushner is Queen Esther. I bet a lot of people were thinking "we've been here before, we can handle this." In contrast, Clinton was portrayed as a sort of bookend for Obama's administration, and Obama was clearly uninterested in working with established Jewish powerbrokers. Each side of politics claimed that the other was antisemitic, but Trump's side fit into the well-established story of How the Jews Were Saved from Destruction. I don't think it would have been worth Hillary's time fighting this, and I'm not sure she could have done so anyway.
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:32 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
You you that you just signed up to write the MetaFilter Purim spiel, Joe?
posted by zachlipton at 7:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 7:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
Miss Manners on Rudeness in the Age of Trump
Judith Martin is still among us and we need her more now than ever.
posted by Hypatia at 7:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
Judith Martin is still among us and we need her more now than ever.
posted by Hypatia at 7:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
Some amazing shade getting thrown by NYT here...
G.O.P.’s Grand Visions for Congress Now Look Like a Mirage
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 7:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [35 favorites]
G.O.P.’s Grand Visions for Congress Now Look Like a Mirage
Congressional Republicans, who craved unified control of the government to secure their aggressive conservative agenda, have instead found themselves on a legislative elliptical trainer, gliding toward nowhere."fake news", indeed.
After moving to start rolling back the Affordable Care Act just days after President Trump was sworn in last month, Republican lawmakers and Mr. Trump have yet to deliver on any of the sweeping legislation they promised. Efforts to come up with a replacement for the health care law have been stymied by disagreements among Republicans about how to proceed.
[...]
Even a simple emergency spending bill that the Trump administration promised weeks ago — which was expected to include a proposal for his wall on the Mexican border — has not materialized, leaving appropriators idle and checking Twitter.
At this point in Barack Obama’s presidency, when Democrats controlled Washington, Congress had passed a stimulus bill totaling nearly $1 trillion to address the financial crisis, approved a measure preventing pay discrimination, expanded a children’s health insurance program, and begun laying the groundwork for major health care and financial regulation bills. President George W. Bush came into office with a congressional blueprint for his signature education act, No Child Left Behind.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 7:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [35 favorites]
There was a time when listening to "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" on repeat for a week wasn't an appropriate and healthy activity.
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:41 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
... leaving appropriators idle and checking Twitter.
Is "appropriator" a job?
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Is "appropriator" a job?
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Congressional GOP has become so used to bullshit performances for the base -- and now includes so many of that base, as seen in those "abolish the entire department" stunt bills -- that it has forgotten how to legislate in ways that will actually become law, and for which it will be held accountable.
posted by holgate at 7:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by holgate at 7:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
There was a time when listening to "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" on repeat for a week wasn't an appropriate and healthy activity.
It's not, but if you're going to do it, listen to Patti Smith's performance of it at the Nobel Ceremony last year too.
posted by zachlipton at 7:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [14 favorites]
It's not, but if you're going to do it, listen to Patti Smith's performance of it at the Nobel Ceremony last year too.
posted by zachlipton at 7:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [14 favorites]
haven't seen this posted, but like some of us have pointed out, Trevor Noah explains that he just might be over the hill, and is exactly like every xenophobic grandpa we know.
posted by numaner at 7:45 PM on February 16, 2017
posted by numaner at 7:45 PM on February 16, 2017
Do I have to take a course on Stupid as a second language now or will government documents be bilingual? Governmentese, especially with the military twist, is a language like no other. It is far too grotesque to simply describe as stupid, it has way too many other unsavory nuances, and reredundundancies.
posted by Oyéah at 7:47 PM on February 16, 2017
posted by Oyéah at 7:47 PM on February 16, 2017
WILL SOMEONE PLEASE SMOKE CRACK WITH THE PRESIDENT ALREADY?
"I don't smoke crack. I'm straight up mentally ill!"
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:50 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
"I don't smoke crack. I'm straight up mentally ill!"
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:50 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Ellison as chair, Perez as his right hand man, a Buttigieg/Kander team going around supporting candidates and local/state party orgs trying to expand the map in red and purple states, and dedicated activist outreach and support teams who can tap into and help all the newly engaged activists out there who are doing great but also kind of learning on the job without much guidance in many areas without a big activist presence before this year... the DNC needs to go big or go home, the structure needs to be more nimble and able to tackle a broad range of battle conditions, and I don't believe the same old top-down structure will be as effective as we need because they'll have to work through a lot of state and local levels of the party that were effectively abandoned in the last 8 years, and inexperienced and prone to being insular fiefdoms because of it. The national DNC really needs to directly support and sometimes intervene in a lot of districts so they need experienced leaders on the ground who can put in a lot of miles doing that work, so I hope all the candidates for chair and other experienced Democrats around the country can pitch in and lead in new and interesting ways.
posted by jason_steakums at 7:51 PM on February 16, 2017 [29 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 7:51 PM on February 16, 2017 [29 favorites]
When you're the CEO, you get to go out and demean the employees all you want, yell, rant, lie to them, scream nonsense and they have to just take it, and applaud your every utterance, because they work for you. You pay them. They just have to take it.
This is true. I joke one good thing about the insanity of my office is it developed calluses to help me endure *gestures wildly at everything*.
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 7:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is true. I joke one good thing about the insanity of my office is it developed calluses to help me endure *gestures wildly at everything*.
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 7:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
In Trunp's defense the White House meatloaf is amazing. It started as a family recipe from Pat Nixon and was refined by the White House chefs over the years. Here is an article from 2014 with pics.
posted by humanfont at 7:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by humanfont at 7:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [23 favorites]
of course it's Nixon's meatloaf.
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:55 PM on February 16, 2017 [36 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:55 PM on February 16, 2017 [36 favorites]
So Fox News, of all outlets, has taken the Flynn story from "What did the President know, and when did he know it?" to "the President knew and he knew it all along." That's pretty damn huge.
I mean, it was always pretty unthinkable that Flynn was talking to Russia without Trump's knowledge. Trump is the kind of guy who would micromanage any conversation with the letter "P" in it, just in case Putin came up. But it's clear from this report that Pence is now working under a President who sent him out to lie on national television and did nothing about it (for the moment, I'm inclined to believe Pence didn't know).
posted by zachlipton at 7:55 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
I mean, it was always pretty unthinkable that Flynn was talking to Russia without Trump's knowledge. Trump is the kind of guy who would micromanage any conversation with the letter "P" in it, just in case Putin came up. But it's clear from this report that Pence is now working under a President who sent him out to lie on national television and did nothing about it (for the moment, I'm inclined to believe Pence didn't know).
posted by zachlipton at 7:55 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
I just received an email from "my representative" asking me to fill out some survey about what I think the priorities should be for 2017. Based on the list of suggestions, I assume this is a republican. I live in Canada. I am a Canadian. Would it be wrong for me to click the link and fill out the survey? Presumably someone with a name and email address similar to mine lives in this guy's district. Would this somehow end badly for me?
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Is "appropriator" a job?
i think they mean members of the appropriations committees?
either that or there are just a bunch of guys hanging around the capitol that will make off with anything that isn't nailed down?
posted by murphy slaw at 7:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
i think they mean members of the appropriations committees?
either that or there are just a bunch of guys hanging around the capitol that will make off with anything that isn't nailed down?
posted by murphy slaw at 7:59 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
If we're all saved by hard-hitting reporting from Fox News, I will just be laughing my ass off.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 8:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by Sing Or Swim at 8:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [27 favorites]
Nevermind. I just took a look at the survey. The first question is real name. Then the only real question has a list of options that are pretty much all dog whistles for yucky things and there's no option to enter an "other." So eventually this guy will say 67% of his constituents want him to do some yucky thing based on this methodological disaster of a survey.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:01 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:01 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
Well, I do think Fox News will be our canary in the coalmine for when the R establishment has had it with Trump. I'm not sure this current 24 hour cycle represents that moment yet, but I'll be looking for it.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:01 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:01 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Yeah, that's called a push poll, If only I had a penguin... It exists only to get people thinking positively about the yucky things, not to actually gauge opinion.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Right now foxnews.com is still just "Hannity: Today we saw a historic beatdown of alt-left media" and "FIGHTING BACK: Conservatives to mobilize amid anti-Trump protests" and "Paul Ryan: Plan for implementing Trump's agenda is on track." Not seeing the Great Fox Awakening that will save us all just yet.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
@JohnCleese:
People often ask me what makes me laugh these days.
One example : 'Running like a fine-tuned machine',when describing a headless chicken
posted by chris24 at 8:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [41 favorites]
People often ask me what makes me laugh these days.
One example : 'Running like a fine-tuned machine',when describing a headless chicken
posted by chris24 at 8:04 PM on February 16, 2017 [41 favorites]
You can't pass or fail the SF86. It's just an incredibly detailed form that is miserable to fill out. ... But the form is just the basis for a background investigation.
I'm pretty sure there are one or two things that get you automatically denied clearance -- drug use in the past year being the well-known one. There's a few "gotcha" questions I'm pretty sure you'll be bounced for if you answer incorrectly ("Have you EVER advocated for or knowingly been a part of a group which has advocated for the violent overthrow of the US government?"), but I've yet to hear of anyone who *has* done that.
Charitably, several of Trump's picks used drugs in the past year (maybe they threw a party -- who knows?).
posted by steady-state strawberry at 8:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm pretty sure there are one or two things that get you automatically denied clearance -- drug use in the past year being the well-known one. There's a few "gotcha" questions I'm pretty sure you'll be bounced for if you answer incorrectly ("Have you EVER advocated for or knowingly been a part of a group which has advocated for the violent overthrow of the US government?"), but I've yet to hear of anyone who *has* done that.
Charitably, several of Trump's picks used drugs in the past year (maybe they threw a party -- who knows?).
posted by steady-state strawberry at 8:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
I have to remember the Republican players including Pence have no bar, there is no high bar, no low bar, it is all about the money, that gives the power to a tiny slice of our society.
We are witnessing the death throes of the oil industry, then with their outrageous profits, they will monopolize the renewable energy field, turn the jobs over to robots, and corral the rest of us as undesirables, retrain us to fix industrial roombas that carry guns. While Elon Musk tries to sell our nervous systems, under patent to the previous buyers of mechanical girlfriends. To be fair there will be mechanical boyfriends too. Honey, the robot is here with the cake.
The Russian ship is here for those folks who failed their security clearances today. Or it is here to blow us all to hell, because no one is paying attention. I maintain they are misguided, because we are already in hell. Land shark. .
posted by Oyéah at 8:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
We are witnessing the death throes of the oil industry, then with their outrageous profits, they will monopolize the renewable energy field, turn the jobs over to robots, and corral the rest of us as undesirables, retrain us to fix industrial roombas that carry guns. While Elon Musk tries to sell our nervous systems, under patent to the previous buyers of mechanical girlfriends. To be fair there will be mechanical boyfriends too. Honey, the robot is here with the cake.
The Russian ship is here for those folks who failed their security clearances today. Or it is here to blow us all to hell, because no one is paying attention. I maintain they are misguided, because we are already in hell. Land shark. .
posted by Oyéah at 8:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
So Fox News, of all outlets, has taken the Flynn story from "What did the President know, and when did he know it?" to "the President knew and he knew it all along." That's pretty damn huge.
I mean, it was always pretty unthinkable that Flynn was talking to Russia without Trump's knowledge. Trump is the kind of guy who would micromanage any conversation with the letter "P" in it, just in case Putin came up. But it's clear from this report that Pence is now working under a President who sent him out to lie on national television and did nothing about it (for the moment, I'm inclined to believe Pence didn't know).
Do you know is it just that one segment where their reporter said this? Or are they talking about it more then that one time?
If it's one off, while goo,d it may be just a burp that not everyone that watches Fox will see it. If it's not one off then it looks like something could be changing due to word from the top.
Would be great, even if it's just that the power folks have decided they've had enough and are either trying to control him through the media or start the work of paving the way for Pence.
posted by Jalliah at 8:05 PM on February 16, 2017
I mean, it was always pretty unthinkable that Flynn was talking to Russia without Trump's knowledge. Trump is the kind of guy who would micromanage any conversation with the letter "P" in it, just in case Putin came up. But it's clear from this report that Pence is now working under a President who sent him out to lie on national television and did nothing about it (for the moment, I'm inclined to believe Pence didn't know).
Do you know is it just that one segment where their reporter said this? Or are they talking about it more then that one time?
If it's one off, while goo,d it may be just a burp that not everyone that watches Fox will see it. If it's not one off then it looks like something could be changing due to word from the top.
Would be great, even if it's just that the power folks have decided they've had enough and are either trying to control him through the media or start the work of paving the way for Pence.
posted by Jalliah at 8:05 PM on February 16, 2017
Oh also if whoever the DNC chair is could slap the keyboards out of the hands of whoever writes the emails for the DCCC and Democratic Governors Association that would be super appreciated, I thought the DCCC was bad enough on that but lately the DGA loves to do these "surveys"... Do you want to stop Trump from doing X? Yes... And X? Yes. Etc. And you get to the end and it's like "will you donate?" and I'm already through my donation budget for the month, so a No gets you this awful "So you don't want to stop Trump?" bullshit. Bleh.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:07 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 8:07 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
I'm amazed that we're right in the middle of this shitstorm and the DNC are still farting around with just picking a leader.
posted by indubitable at 8:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [36 favorites]
posted by indubitable at 8:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [36 favorites]
(maybe they threw a party -- who knows?)
I'm sure a lot of them never expected in mid-October to be applying for White House jobs.
posted by holgate at 8:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
I'm sure a lot of them never expected in mid-October to be applying for White House jobs.
posted by holgate at 8:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
If we're all saved by hard-hitting reporting from Fox News, I will just be laughing my ass off.
Maybe it will be easier to think of it as a Toronto connection. Daniel Dale didn't break the Rob Ford crack story, but he covered him like a champ, and it would be a neat bit of symmetry if JD Roberts did his bring to bring down Trump.
posted by maudlin at 8:10 PM on February 16, 2017
Maybe it will be easier to think of it as a Toronto connection. Daniel Dale didn't break the Rob Ford crack story, but he covered him like a champ, and it would be a neat bit of symmetry if JD Roberts did his bring to bring down Trump.
posted by maudlin at 8:10 PM on February 16, 2017
The Shep Smith thing linked way upthread had me questioning reality on the train this morning. An anchor or host or whatever of a program on Fox News, angrily and repeated calling out Trump for saying things that were "demonstrably untrue." I'm still really, really not sure how to process this.
posted by Ghidorah at 8:11 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Ghidorah at 8:11 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
Hands down weirdest Democratic fundraising-related thing I've seen this year is this card that showed up with a family wedding picture on it... I just left it on the table, assumed it was a friend of my SO. One day it catches my eye and... is that freaking Martin O'Malley? And sure enough, in tiiiny print on the back, it's from O'Malley's PAC, which neither of us to our knowledge donated to, but now we've got this weird wedding photo card of the O'Malley family with ZERO context about who they are or what it's for. So, money well spent there I guess?
posted by jason_steakums at 8:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 8:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
[Trigger warning for hate speech. Skip this and go to the 2nd link (Reuters) for the basic facts]
FBI arrests man in Myrtle Beach allegedly planning attack 'in the spirit of Dylann Roof' His momma doesn't want to be judged and believes he is innocent despite all the white power prison tattoos.
Reuters: South Carolina white supremacist dreamed of Roof-style attack: FBI
The arrest occurred just weeks after Reuters reported plans of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to reorganize a government program designed to counter all violent ideologies, including white supremacist groups, to instead focus solely on Islamist extremism.
And a Thank You to Reuters for keeping it real. For those who haven't seen it yet...
Reuters says it can handle reporting in Trump’s America because of experience in Russia and Yemen
Reuters Editor-in-Chief Steve Adler told his staff Tuesday that “the air is thick with questions and theories about how to cover the new administration” headed by President Trump, but that “we already know what to do because we do it every day and we do it all over the world.”
“To state the obvious,” Adler continued in a memo to journalists, “Reuters is a global news organization that reports independently and fairly in more than 100 countries, including many in which the media is unwelcome and frequently under attack. I am perpetually proud of our work in places such as Turkey, the Philippines, Egypt, Iraq, Yemen, Thailand, China, Zimbabwe and Russia, nations in which we sometimes encounter some combination of censorship, legal prosecution, visa denials, and even physical threats to our journalists.”
Let that sink in for a moment.
Adler stopped short of saying that reporting in Trump's America will be just like working in Russia and Yemen; he wrote later that covering the Trump administration will be “an opportunity for us to practice the skills we've learned in much tougher places.” Still, it is jarring to see the top editor of one of the world's largest news agencies warn that journalists in the United States now need the same tools as those who live under oppressive regimes.
I have sorely missed good journalism and I am still a bit wary but damn, the last few weeks have given me hope.
posted by futz at 8:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [47 favorites]
FBI arrests man in Myrtle Beach allegedly planning attack 'in the spirit of Dylann Roof' His momma doesn't want to be judged and believes he is innocent despite all the white power prison tattoos.
Reuters: South Carolina white supremacist dreamed of Roof-style attack: FBI
The arrest occurred just weeks after Reuters reported plans of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to reorganize a government program designed to counter all violent ideologies, including white supremacist groups, to instead focus solely on Islamist extremism.
And a Thank You to Reuters for keeping it real. For those who haven't seen it yet...
Reuters says it can handle reporting in Trump’s America because of experience in Russia and Yemen
Reuters Editor-in-Chief Steve Adler told his staff Tuesday that “the air is thick with questions and theories about how to cover the new administration” headed by President Trump, but that “we already know what to do because we do it every day and we do it all over the world.”
“To state the obvious,” Adler continued in a memo to journalists, “Reuters is a global news organization that reports independently and fairly in more than 100 countries, including many in which the media is unwelcome and frequently under attack. I am perpetually proud of our work in places such as Turkey, the Philippines, Egypt, Iraq, Yemen, Thailand, China, Zimbabwe and Russia, nations in which we sometimes encounter some combination of censorship, legal prosecution, visa denials, and even physical threats to our journalists.”
Let that sink in for a moment.
Adler stopped short of saying that reporting in Trump's America will be just like working in Russia and Yemen; he wrote later that covering the Trump administration will be “an opportunity for us to practice the skills we've learned in much tougher places.” Still, it is jarring to see the top editor of one of the world's largest news agencies warn that journalists in the United States now need the same tools as those who live under oppressive regimes.
I have sorely missed good journalism and I am still a bit wary but damn, the last few weeks have given me hope.
posted by futz at 8:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [47 favorites]
Here's an interesting tweet from a purportedly inside, leaking State Dept. source on Twitter.
Via @roguePOTUSstaff. Does anyone else follow them? Fascinating stuff that rings true to me.
posted by msalt at 8:18 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
"Today's Trump news conference wasn't chaos. It was the administration's first move to energize their base in creating a nationwide whip operation."Basically, they say that this is at attempt to prevent more defections from congressional Republicans by rallying the based to scare them from the right.
Via @roguePOTUSstaff. Does anyone else follow them? Fascinating stuff that rings true to me.
posted by msalt at 8:18 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
An anchor or host or whatever of a program on Fox News, angrily and repeated calling out Trump for saying things that were "demonstrably untrue." I'm still really, really not sure how to process this.
From what I've seen (I don't watch Fox News), Shep Smith is the closest thing they have to a reasonable journalist.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 8:19 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
From what I've seen (I don't watch Fox News), Shep Smith is the closest thing they have to a reasonable journalist.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 8:19 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Say what you want about Never Trumpers, but Ana Navarro is the bomb.
@ananavarro:
Really, Little Jared complaining about me cuz I get under President Daddy-in-Law's skin? Oh, baby boy, I'm so sorry. https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/jared-kushner-delivers-critique-of-cnn-to-time-warner-executive-1487292962
posted by chris24 at 8:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [24 favorites]
@ananavarro:
Really, Little Jared complaining about me cuz I get under President Daddy-in-Law's skin? Oh, baby boy, I'm so sorry. https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/jared-kushner-delivers-critique-of-cnn-to-time-warner-executive-1487292962
posted by chris24 at 8:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [24 favorites]
he administration's first move to energize their base
There are so many attempts to convince in that short sentence that my head's spinning. (a) First move? (b) Base? What base? It's eroding. (c) Nationwide whip operation? Cool Whip, maybe.
Stinks of desperation. Also, not great messaging to start with "it wasn't chaos!" Might as well end with: I meant to do that.
posted by Miko at 8:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
There are so many attempts to convince in that short sentence that my head's spinning. (a) First move? (b) Base? What base? It's eroding. (c) Nationwide whip operation? Cool Whip, maybe.
Stinks of desperation. Also, not great messaging to start with "it wasn't chaos!" Might as well end with: I meant to do that.
posted by Miko at 8:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Alexandra Petri, WaPo: Trump 2020 is off to a great start
Poor Mike Pence. It is bad enough that he gets his news from The Post. Pence had said that he speaks on the phone or in person to Trump every day, but it doesn’t seem as though Trump is as invested in this relationship as Pence is. Instead of telling him useful information about national security, Trump — perhaps missing Chris Christie – has been sending him to perform humiliating errands. I invite you to think of the saddest possible thing that a human being could be doing instead of being told that the national security adviser had misled him and he was looking like a fool in public. Do you have one?
Okay, here is what the Wall Street Journal said Pence has been doing: Trump told him to go see the statue of Douglas MacArthur at West Point, and so he walked out in the freezing cold to see the statue and mimed polishing its shoes. That is the act of a man who is in the loop and has lots of important things to do!
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [30 favorites]
Poor Mike Pence. It is bad enough that he gets his news from The Post. Pence had said that he speaks on the phone or in person to Trump every day, but it doesn’t seem as though Trump is as invested in this relationship as Pence is. Instead of telling him useful information about national security, Trump — perhaps missing Chris Christie – has been sending him to perform humiliating errands. I invite you to think of the saddest possible thing that a human being could be doing instead of being told that the national security adviser had misled him and he was looking like a fool in public. Do you have one?
Okay, here is what the Wall Street Journal said Pence has been doing: Trump told him to go see the statue of Douglas MacArthur at West Point, and so he walked out in the freezing cold to see the statue and mimed polishing its shoes. That is the act of a man who is in the loop and has lots of important things to do!
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:23 PM on February 16, 2017 [30 favorites]
The scariest thing about Eric Prince is that he is the direct link to Iraq, Blackwater, Halliburton, and Dick Cheney.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 8:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Petraeus may not take the NSC job even if offered: Former U.S. officials who had backed Harward to lead the NSC said the White House erred in letting news leak of Trump’s offer, because now the also-ran, retired Gen. David Petraeus, was unlikely to entertain taking the post after it was made clear he wasn’t the first choice. The other known candidate is Kellogg.
posted by maudlin at 8:25 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by maudlin at 8:25 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
The front page of the Washington Post right now, one after the other:
Flynn in FBI interview denied discussing sanctions with Russian ambassador
Michael Flynn, who resigned as the national security adviser this week, contradicted the contents of intercepted communications collected by intelligence agencies, current and former U.S. officials said. The Jan. 24 interview potentially puts Flynn in legal jeopardy, as lying to the FBI is a felony, but any decision to prosecute would ultimately lie with the Justice Department.
Trump’s pick to replace Flynn turns down offer, people familiar with decision say
Retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward, who would have replaced Michael Flynn, couldn't get a guarantee that he could select his own staff, according to someone close to the president with knowledge of the discussions.
Trump family’s elaborate lifestyle, a ‘logistical nightmare,’ comes at unusual cost to taxpayers
Barely a month into the Trump presidency, America’s new first family is straining the Secret Service and security officials, stirring financial and logistical concerns, and costing far beyond what has been typical for past presidents.
That's before we even get to the meat of it:
In an erratic performance, Trump shows his supporters who’s boss
Or the analysis:
If Trump can’t arrange his own meeting with black lawmakers, how does he unite the country?
How long can they keep this up? More importantly, how long can we keep this up?
posted by RedOrGreen at 8:27 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
Flynn in FBI interview denied discussing sanctions with Russian ambassador
Michael Flynn, who resigned as the national security adviser this week, contradicted the contents of intercepted communications collected by intelligence agencies, current and former U.S. officials said. The Jan. 24 interview potentially puts Flynn in legal jeopardy, as lying to the FBI is a felony, but any decision to prosecute would ultimately lie with the Justice Department.
Trump’s pick to replace Flynn turns down offer, people familiar with decision say
Retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward, who would have replaced Michael Flynn, couldn't get a guarantee that he could select his own staff, according to someone close to the president with knowledge of the discussions.
Trump family’s elaborate lifestyle, a ‘logistical nightmare,’ comes at unusual cost to taxpayers
Barely a month into the Trump presidency, America’s new first family is straining the Secret Service and security officials, stirring financial and logistical concerns, and costing far beyond what has been typical for past presidents.
That's before we even get to the meat of it:
In an erratic performance, Trump shows his supporters who’s boss
Or the analysis:
If Trump can’t arrange his own meeting with black lawmakers, how does he unite the country?
How long can they keep this up? More importantly, how long can we keep this up?
posted by RedOrGreen at 8:27 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
FBI arrests man in Myrtle Beach allegedly planning attack 'in the spirit of Dylann Roof'
In the sense he wanted to murder "non-whites," so he was targeting a synagogue? (Which the Reuters link doesn't mention, oddly enough).
posted by Rumple at 8:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
In the sense he wanted to murder "non-whites," so he was targeting a synagogue? (Which the Reuters link doesn't mention, oddly enough).
posted by Rumple at 8:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Before Hillary Clinton saw Sunset Boulevard on Broadway yesterday, she had dinner with her SNL double, Kate McKinnon.
posted by zachlipton at 8:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [61 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 8:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [61 favorites]
So, several people have mentioned polls showing a strong majority of Republicans still support Trump. But I'm confused by a few things there.
First, how do pollsters identify "Republicans" in their sample? If you aren't a Trumpite, perhaps you're less likely to self identify as a Republican right now. And if you are willing to identify as a Republican, perhaps you are embarrassed enough about that that you won't take a survey about Trump right now.
Especially given the weighting problems that showed up in polls of the election, shouldn't we be concerned there's a similar problem in opinion polls now? I dunno which way that would go here, but the problem of weighting a sample based on self-identified descriptors seems pretty big to be (and semi-unsolved as of quite recently).
posted by nat at 8:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
First, how do pollsters identify "Republicans" in their sample? If you aren't a Trumpite, perhaps you're less likely to self identify as a Republican right now. And if you are willing to identify as a Republican, perhaps you are embarrassed enough about that that you won't take a survey about Trump right now.
Especially given the weighting problems that showed up in polls of the election, shouldn't we be concerned there's a similar problem in opinion polls now? I dunno which way that would go here, but the problem of weighting a sample based on self-identified descriptors seems pretty big to be (and semi-unsolved as of quite recently).
posted by nat at 8:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
The scariest thing about Eric Prince is that he is the direct link to Iraq, Blackwater, Halliburton, and Dick Cheney.
Nah, I think the scariest thing about Erik Prince was when I heard him as a guest on the Milo Yiannopoulos Podcast advocating for a renewed Phoenix Program of torture and war crimes against radical Islam.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Nah, I think the scariest thing about Erik Prince was when I heard him as a guest on the Milo Yiannopoulos Podcast advocating for a renewed Phoenix Program of torture and war crimes against radical Islam.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
I tend not to believe that the press conference was base-energizing 11th dimensional chess, for these reasons:
1. It has obviously caused serious doubts and public criticism from previously hardened supporters, including Fox. If you want to energize your base, surely you don't alienate your base's major media.
2. What good does energizing the smallest, wingnuttiest portion of your base do when it also loses you other people?
3. If you act erratic enough, no amount of energizing the nuttiest percent of your base is going to preserve relationships with business and established politicians. They may not be ready to get up there and impeach you, but they sure will slow roll all of your terrible ideas because you scare them.
Trump could certainly have gone in there and given a normal press conference but with McCarthyite elements, and if he hadn't sounded so unhinged, it would have energized everyone and lost no one. If he were actually crafty, he could easily have done it. I'm not saying that Bannon et al aren't trying to play 11th dimensional chess - maybe they are. They're just super, super bad at it. Even chaos-agent Bannon - he's making a lot of people all across the political spectrum think that the regular old rule of law really isn't that bad, and maybe we shouldn't repeal Obamacare or dismantle every aspect of our government. I'm not saying that fear of Bannon is making Republicans into Democrats - but it's sure not converting them to Bannonism and state smashing.
posted by Frowner at 8:32 PM on February 16, 2017 [45 favorites]
1. It has obviously caused serious doubts and public criticism from previously hardened supporters, including Fox. If you want to energize your base, surely you don't alienate your base's major media.
2. What good does energizing the smallest, wingnuttiest portion of your base do when it also loses you other people?
3. If you act erratic enough, no amount of energizing the nuttiest percent of your base is going to preserve relationships with business and established politicians. They may not be ready to get up there and impeach you, but they sure will slow roll all of your terrible ideas because you scare them.
Trump could certainly have gone in there and given a normal press conference but with McCarthyite elements, and if he hadn't sounded so unhinged, it would have energized everyone and lost no one. If he were actually crafty, he could easily have done it. I'm not saying that Bannon et al aren't trying to play 11th dimensional chess - maybe they are. They're just super, super bad at it. Even chaos-agent Bannon - he's making a lot of people all across the political spectrum think that the regular old rule of law really isn't that bad, and maybe we shouldn't repeal Obamacare or dismantle every aspect of our government. I'm not saying that fear of Bannon is making Republicans into Democrats - but it's sure not converting them to Bannonism and state smashing.
posted by Frowner at 8:32 PM on February 16, 2017 [45 favorites]
because now the also-ran, retired Gen. David Petraeus, was unlikely to entertain taking the post after it was made clear he wasn’t the first choice.
Dude, you're on fucking probation. You wouldn't get an interview to flip burgers.
posted by holgate at 8:32 PM on February 16, 2017 [18 favorites]
Dude, you're on fucking probation. You wouldn't get an interview to flip burgers.
posted by holgate at 8:32 PM on February 16, 2017 [18 favorites]
I've figured out Trump's strategy. He told us he has "the best words." He wants that to be true so much that he'll say so much crazy stuff that everybody else is speechless, thus leaving him the one with the best words by default.
posted by zachlipton at 8:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 8:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
"Today's Trump news conference wasn't chaos. It was the administration's first move to energize their base in creating a nationwide whip operation."
If he came out today, waved his dick around, took a shit on the floor and smeared it all over himself while singing "Melancholy Baby" a significant portion of his base would be "energized." And certain factions would describe that as a clever strategy.
posted by neroli at 8:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [37 favorites]
If he came out today, waved his dick around, took a shit on the floor and smeared it all over himself while singing "Melancholy Baby" a significant portion of his base would be "energized." And certain factions would describe that as a clever strategy.
posted by neroli at 8:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [37 favorites]
The other known candidate is Kellogg.
IE the guy who ran Iraq the first year after George W. Bush's invasion. (Great job, Loggie!) So that's a pretty exciting resume item.
posted by msalt at 8:38 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
IE the guy who ran Iraq the first year after George W. Bush's invasion. (Great job, Loggie!) So that's a pretty exciting resume item.
posted by msalt at 8:38 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
You can't pass or fail the SF86. It's just an incredibly detailed form that is miserable to fill out. ... But the form is just the basis for a background investigation.
My assumption on that was that "failing" meant they had lied on their form. That they filled out the form when they started work, the background check was done, and it was discovered that they lied. And today was when that all came back or report were turned in or whatever and thus they were escorted out today.
I'm partly basing this on a friend who once had a security clearance and said they were mostly concerned that you answered honestly. (Except for, I presume, the automatically disqualifying questions.) So if they ask if you've ever used drugs and you say "no" and they find out you used something five years ago, well if you had been honest they would probably have let you go but you lied so you're out.
In short, I'm assuming Trump's people are too stupid to tell the truth.
posted by threeturtles at 8:38 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
My assumption on that was that "failing" meant they had lied on their form. That they filled out the form when they started work, the background check was done, and it was discovered that they lied. And today was when that all came back or report were turned in or whatever and thus they were escorted out today.
I'm partly basing this on a friend who once had a security clearance and said they were mostly concerned that you answered honestly. (Except for, I presume, the automatically disqualifying questions.) So if they ask if you've ever used drugs and you say "no" and they find out you used something five years ago, well if you had been honest they would probably have let you go but you lied so you're out.
In short, I'm assuming Trump's people are too stupid to tell the truth.
posted by threeturtles at 8:38 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
What good does energizing the smallest, wingnuttiest portion of your base do when it also loses you other people?
To paraphrase someone on my Twitter feed: "Nobody I know who voted for him watched that thing. Everybody who I know voted for him voted and went back to being white." Those people take comfort in knowing that whiteness has been restored to the presidency and don't sweat the details. I don't think there'll be a breakthrough there until there's a genuine non-self-inflicted crisis. Best hope is that there doesn't need to be one.
posted by holgate at 8:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [78 favorites]
To paraphrase someone on my Twitter feed: "Nobody I know who voted for him watched that thing. Everybody who I know voted for him voted and went back to being white." Those people take comfort in knowing that whiteness has been restored to the presidency and don't sweat the details. I don't think there'll be a breakthrough there until there's a genuine non-self-inflicted crisis. Best hope is that there doesn't need to be one.
posted by holgate at 8:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [78 favorites]
If you want to energize your base, surely you don't alienate your base's major media.
They're just arguing that it was the INTENT... not that Trump or any of his closest advisors aren't totally incompetent. It'll fail because failing is what Trump does best... he just had 40 years of media-based promotion helping him fail upward.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:45 PM on February 16, 2017
They're just arguing that it was the INTENT... not that Trump or any of his closest advisors aren't totally incompetent. It'll fail because failing is what Trump does best... he just had 40 years of media-based promotion helping him fail upward.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:45 PM on February 16, 2017
To paraphrase someone on my Twitter feed: "Nobody I know who voted for him watched that thing. Everybody who I know voted for him voted and went back to being white." Those people take comfort in knowing that whiteness has been restored to the presidency and don't sweat the details. I don't think there'll be a breakthrough there until there's a genuine non-self-inflicted crisis. Best hope is that there doesn't need to be one.
This is the thing that's been on my mind with all the polls showing him maintaining high Republican support - it's a game to them because they can afford for it to be a game. For now.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [18 favorites]
This is the thing that's been on my mind with all the polls showing him maintaining high Republican support - it's a game to them because they can afford for it to be a game. For now.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [18 favorites]
@roguePOTUSstaff is bullshit. Creepy, pandering, yet at the same time undermining bullshit. They are not legitimate, and in my opinion they are actively fucking with us. Please don't listen to them.
posted by pretentious illiterate at 8:49 PM on February 16, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by pretentious illiterate at 8:49 PM on February 16, 2017 [41 favorites]
"Nobody I know who voted for him watched that thing. Everybody who I know voted for him voted and went back to being white." Those people take comfort in knowing that whiteness has been restored to the presidency and don't sweat the details.
This is exactly it, this is the gross discrepancy. All those Trump voting white folks feel free to ignore the news, secure in the knowledge that they're taken care of. They're not, not really, as they will find out when they lose their health insurance and opioid addictions continue to ravage their communities and corporations keep taking and taking and taking. But for now they feel good, because there's a big strong white man in the office and he tells it like it is and he doesn't say any of that PC shit. So everything's fine.
Meanwhile, the rest of us are paying as close attention to the news as we can bear to, variously frantic and grim and horrified, because we have to pay attention. We have to know what war is coming for us, we have to know how much danger we're in. Of course, if you ever express any of this desperate fear to any of those Trump voters, or even any white people who are of that apathetic brand of citizen who didn't fucking bother to vote or pulled that "they're all equally bad" bullshit, they'll dismiss you as hysterical or overreacting. "He won't really do any of that," they'll say. Right. Sure. What the fuck about this first month suggests that to you.
I mean, personally, I'm done trying to convey any sense of urgency to people like that. They're not going to listen to it from POC or other marginalized people, and they never have. It's white supremacy all the way down for them, all the worse and more impossible to deal with because most of them aren't KKK style white supremacists or openly virulently racist.
posted by yasaman at 8:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [101 favorites]
This is exactly it, this is the gross discrepancy. All those Trump voting white folks feel free to ignore the news, secure in the knowledge that they're taken care of. They're not, not really, as they will find out when they lose their health insurance and opioid addictions continue to ravage their communities and corporations keep taking and taking and taking. But for now they feel good, because there's a big strong white man in the office and he tells it like it is and he doesn't say any of that PC shit. So everything's fine.
Meanwhile, the rest of us are paying as close attention to the news as we can bear to, variously frantic and grim and horrified, because we have to pay attention. We have to know what war is coming for us, we have to know how much danger we're in. Of course, if you ever express any of this desperate fear to any of those Trump voters, or even any white people who are of that apathetic brand of citizen who didn't fucking bother to vote or pulled that "they're all equally bad" bullshit, they'll dismiss you as hysterical or overreacting. "He won't really do any of that," they'll say. Right. Sure. What the fuck about this first month suggests that to you.
I mean, personally, I'm done trying to convey any sense of urgency to people like that. They're not going to listen to it from POC or other marginalized people, and they never have. It's white supremacy all the way down for them, all the worse and more impossible to deal with because most of them aren't KKK style white supremacists or openly virulently racist.
posted by yasaman at 8:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [101 favorites]
Oh hey it just hit me that actually for real if Vermin Supreme were President we'd have better standing in the world, a brighter future, and a more productive government.
posted by jason_steakums at 9:01 PM on February 16, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 9:01 PM on February 16, 2017 [21 favorites]
I saw a breakdown of some of roguepotusstaff tweets that posited it was written by a non english speaker *cough*russian*cough* because of odd misspellings like vakay instead of vacay and hitler-esk instead of hitleresque.
posted by M Edward at 9:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by M Edward at 9:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
More NYT snark: In 77 Chaotic Minutes, Trump Defends ‘Fine-Tuned Machine’
President Trump, smarting from a series of crises, moved his surrogates aside on Thursday and assigned the rescue of his month-old presidency to the only spokesman he’s ever really trusted — himself.posted by zachlipton at 9:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
For days, a frustrated and simmering president fumed inside the West Wing residence about what aides said he saw as his staff’s inadequate defense and the ineffectiveness of his own tweets. Over the objections of some top advisers who wanted to steer him away from confrontation, Mr. Trump demanded to face the media, determined to reject the narrative that his administration is sinking into chaos, scandal and incompetence.
...
For his supporters, the performance was certain to be energizing. Mr. Trump turned sober questions from journalists into, at times, mesmerizing television. He attempted to reassert his command of “dishonest” journalists at a time when the news media is questioning his capacity to lead. It all made the brooding boss feel better, people close to Mr. Trump said.
The news conference, they said, was Mr. Trump’s best effort at spitting the bit out of his mouth and escaping the bridle of the West Wing, where he views his only way to communicate his side of any argument is his 140-character limited Twitter feed.
Still, it is unlikely that Mr. Trump’s 77-minute performance will divert much long-term attention from questions about his campaign’s relationship with Russia, or reassure wavering Republicans on Capitol Hill that their agenda is on track. Yet Mr. Trump’s close allies said he had met his more immediate goal of soothing himself with a sense of control over his own administration.
"Today's Trump news conference wasn't chaos. It was the administration's first move to energize their base in creating a nationwide whip operation."
When I see a capacity for strategy & acting on it in them, I'll worry about this then. Also it contradicts the leaked anecdote that he walked in this morning & said "let's hold a press conference". And yes I believe the leak, see sentence 1.
posted by scalefree at 9:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
When I see a capacity for strategy & acting on it in them, I'll worry about this then. Also it contradicts the leaked anecdote that he walked in this morning & said "let's hold a press conference". And yes I believe the leak, see sentence 1.
posted by scalefree at 9:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
@roguePOTUSstaff
Agree, not real. Remember when that fake photo appeared that looked like Trump's hand was Photoshopped to look larger? Earlier the account had tweeted that Trump was asking around for people who knew Photoshop. Sounded fake, turned out to be fake.
posted by Room 641-A at 9:10 PM on February 16, 2017
Agree, not real. Remember when that fake photo appeared that looked like Trump's hand was Photoshopped to look larger? Earlier the account had tweeted that Trump was asking around for people who knew Photoshop. Sounded fake, turned out to be fake.
posted by Room 641-A at 9:10 PM on February 16, 2017
This kind of (meatloaf) behavior is not uncommon. In 24/7 D/s relationships.
i cannot fucking believe you made me read this with my own eyes
dishonor on your cow
posted by poffin boffin at 9:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [41 favorites]
i cannot fucking believe you made me read this with my own eyes
dishonor on your cow
posted by poffin boffin at 9:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [41 favorites]
Oh hey it just hit me that actually for real if Vermin Supreme were President we'd have better standing in the world, a brighter future, and a more productive government.
at least if vermin supreme was president, there wouldn't be pundits telling us that the boot on his head is actually a sign that he's fashion-forward and everyone will be wearing them in paris this year
posted by murphy slaw at 9:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
at least if vermin supreme was president, there wouldn't be pundits telling us that the boot on his head is actually a sign that he's fashion-forward and everyone will be wearing them in paris this year
posted by murphy slaw at 9:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
"Everybody who I know voted for him voted and went back to being white."
This very much describes how things seem to be here in Nebraska. They don't care what's happening in DC as long as it's in the trustworthy(?) hands of Anybody But Democrats. It's like an article of faith. Nobody seems to have even skimmed anything related to politics since shortly after the election, even though there's TVs with a news crawl all over my building, for example.
They've gone back to worrying about how to keep their teenage and college-age kids in line, and bitching about their tax bills, but even the latter without any particular attention paid to anything beyond taxes = bad. I think the primary thing that Fox achieves is telling people that things are basically normal and letting them change the channel, secure and hoping nothing more than that next year their tax bill will be smaller. (Although they're not actually going to adjust their damn withholding, so they're probably just going to be bitching again in 2018.)
posted by Sequence at 9:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
This very much describes how things seem to be here in Nebraska. They don't care what's happening in DC as long as it's in the trustworthy(?) hands of Anybody But Democrats. It's like an article of faith. Nobody seems to have even skimmed anything related to politics since shortly after the election, even though there's TVs with a news crawl all over my building, for example.
They've gone back to worrying about how to keep their teenage and college-age kids in line, and bitching about their tax bills, but even the latter without any particular attention paid to anything beyond taxes = bad. I think the primary thing that Fox achieves is telling people that things are basically normal and letting them change the channel, secure and hoping nothing more than that next year their tax bill will be smaller. (Although they're not actually going to adjust their damn withholding, so they're probably just going to be bitching again in 2018.)
posted by Sequence at 9:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [19 favorites]
I am reminded of a recent cartoon. I just want you to know, I lied to you. I am not a giraffe, I am 45 weasels in an overcoat.
posted by Oyéah at 9:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 9:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Google and the Treasure Trolls are reminding us all to never look at the comments, in a very cute 8-bit animation.
FUCK YOU. YOU DID THIS NOW FIX IT WITH PAID MODERATION YOU FUCKING FUCKERS! Fix it. Fix it. You broke it, fix it. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU...
And in conclusion, Google Delenda Est.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
FUCK YOU. YOU DID THIS NOW FIX IT WITH PAID MODERATION YOU FUCKING FUCKERS! Fix it. Fix it. You broke it, fix it. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU...
And in conclusion, Google Delenda Est.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Bannon is Haman
i don't care what you say i'm not going to eat his ears
posted by poffin boffin at 9:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
i don't care what you say i'm not going to eat his ears
posted by poffin boffin at 9:16 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
bannontaschen are short pastry with ground-up oxycontin in the middle, folded into a swastika
posted by murphy slaw at 9:21 PM on February 16, 2017 [59 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 9:21 PM on February 16, 2017 [59 favorites]
I think a lot of conservative voters are trying to blend back into the scenery or they are trying to do all sorts of rationalizations to themselves and anyone who will listen so if everything goes horribly wrong it's totally not their fault.
Congress has absolutely no intentions on passing the Trump/Bannon "build manly buildings" infrastructure program and even if it did it probably wouldn't make too much of a economic stimulus (although it would be a fucking gravy train for contractors).
The wall is effectively dead already because the potential price tag is crazy and nobody wants to pay for it and Ryan can't negotiate with the backbench lunatics in the house.
Nobody in Congress can figure out a way to repeal ACA that won't cost millions of people their insurance and while the Republicans are fundamentally good with that everyone knows that it would result in a bloodbath in 2018 which is why they wanted to postpone the impact until after 2020 but now the insurance companies who are massive political donors are making it very clear that uncertainty in the market it unacceptable. So the Republicans keep promising repeal when they know that they can't deliver.
Congress is basically unable to do anything significant, the executive branch is floundering with elements of it completely unstaffed with senior political appointees and other parts of it like DHS basically running amok because ICE and CBP are apparently staffed with right-wing assholes with basically no training.
The idea that Trump is doing some elaborate gish gallop at this point it complete nonsense that conservatives and liberals are telling themselves as a form of denial. Denial that the Trump administration is led by someone who is most likely suffering some form of organic brain disease and staffed by a bunch of incompetent sycophants.
Republicans have 2 choices at this point. Stay the course and hope that Trump doesn't cost you both houses of congress in 2018 and make it easy for generic Democrat to annihilate Trump in 2020 or start to assert independence and force Trump to back down and give him the choice of either agree to be a figurehead or be forced to resign.
posted by vuron at 9:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [45 favorites]
Congress has absolutely no intentions on passing the Trump/Bannon "build manly buildings" infrastructure program and even if it did it probably wouldn't make too much of a economic stimulus (although it would be a fucking gravy train for contractors).
The wall is effectively dead already because the potential price tag is crazy and nobody wants to pay for it and Ryan can't negotiate with the backbench lunatics in the house.
Nobody in Congress can figure out a way to repeal ACA that won't cost millions of people their insurance and while the Republicans are fundamentally good with that everyone knows that it would result in a bloodbath in 2018 which is why they wanted to postpone the impact until after 2020 but now the insurance companies who are massive political donors are making it very clear that uncertainty in the market it unacceptable. So the Republicans keep promising repeal when they know that they can't deliver.
Congress is basically unable to do anything significant, the executive branch is floundering with elements of it completely unstaffed with senior political appointees and other parts of it like DHS basically running amok because ICE and CBP are apparently staffed with right-wing assholes with basically no training.
The idea that Trump is doing some elaborate gish gallop at this point it complete nonsense that conservatives and liberals are telling themselves as a form of denial. Denial that the Trump administration is led by someone who is most likely suffering some form of organic brain disease and staffed by a bunch of incompetent sycophants.
Republicans have 2 choices at this point. Stay the course and hope that Trump doesn't cost you both houses of congress in 2018 and make it easy for generic Democrat to annihilate Trump in 2020 or start to assert independence and force Trump to back down and give him the choice of either agree to be a figurehead or be forced to resign.
posted by vuron at 9:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [45 favorites]
They don't care what's happening in DC as long as it's in the trustworthy(?) hands of Anybody But Democrats. It's like an article of faith
It is an article of faith. The GOP is a essentially a cult at this point. I mean, on some level, all politics can be because of how tribal it is. But when people start rejecting any information that doesn't support "the project" as false, you're not far from drinking the funny tasting Flavor Aid in Guyana.
posted by downtohisturtles at 9:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [17 favorites]
It is an article of faith. The GOP is a essentially a cult at this point. I mean, on some level, all politics can be because of how tribal it is. But when people start rejecting any information that doesn't support "the project" as false, you're not far from drinking the funny tasting Flavor Aid in Guyana.
posted by downtohisturtles at 9:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [17 favorites]
Nah, I think the scariest thing about Erik Prince was when I heard him as a guest on the Milo Yiannopoulos Podcast advocating for a renewed Phoenix Program of torture and war crimes against radical Islam.
Allow me to say what the ever-living actual fuck Milo. I thought the riots were justified for inciting lynch mobs, but he did THAT? My liberal tears are speechless, because I had a smidgen of sympathy, I had that little sort of "but he IS gay and MAYBE go easy on the dude because that's an actual point of oppression" but like, um, no, not anymore.
posted by saysthis at 9:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Allow me to say what the ever-living actual fuck Milo. I thought the riots were justified for inciting lynch mobs, but he did THAT? My liberal tears are speechless, because I had a smidgen of sympathy, I had that little sort of "but he IS gay and MAYBE go easy on the dude because that's an actual point of oppression" but like, um, no, not anymore.
posted by saysthis at 9:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
American Horror Story's Next Season Will Be About the Most Terrifying Thing Imaginable: The 2016 Election
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:27 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:27 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Milo is a Nazi, you should ever sympathize with him ever.
posted by Artw at 9:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by Artw at 9:28 PM on February 16, 2017 [26 favorites]
The idea that Trump is doing some elaborate gish gallop at this point it complete nonsense
Yeah, it's more like a QWOP gallop at this point.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 9:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [41 favorites]
Yeah, it's more like a QWOP gallop at this point.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 9:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [41 favorites]
Oh hey it just hit me that actually for real if Vermin Supreme were President we'd have better standing in the world, a brighter future, and a more productive government.
I've met Vermin Supreme. I like Vermin Supreme. The man is quick-witted, good-hearted, gracious, and fun to be around.
None of the ass-pandas in Trump's orbit are fit to polish Vermin Supreme's boot-hat.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 9:30 PM on February 16, 2017 [30 favorites]
I've met Vermin Supreme. I like Vermin Supreme. The man is quick-witted, good-hearted, gracious, and fun to be around.
None of the ass-pandas in Trump's orbit are fit to polish Vermin Supreme's boot-hat.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 9:30 PM on February 16, 2017 [30 favorites]
any oppression that milo may have experienced has been so completely outweighed by the pain and terror he has inflicted on others for no reason other than his own amusement that it doesn't bear considering.
posted by murphy slaw at 9:30 PM on February 16, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 9:30 PM on February 16, 2017 [26 favorites]
Oh, look, they took it down. Now I am crazy. I really am, I accept it. Depression and mania in unjust proportions. I'm just not seeing-stuff-not-there crazy. I am willing to accept there may have been a tab I had opened that had refreshed itself from content I was interested in for an animated treasure troll on Google's own landing page, hiding its face and telling me not to look at the comments. But I hit command-T and saw it. I hope to christ I was being punked by an elaborate web-design hoax on the one hand, and want to toss my laptop into a barrel fire as I have no control over what my web browsers show me on the other.
If it's real, it's worse.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
If it's real, it's worse.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Something really is up at Morning Joe. Starting this week, and especially Wednesday and this morning, they both flipped from "POTUS is a friend of the show but we criticize him at times" to "YOU ARE A FAKE PRESIDENT WE ALL MUST COME TOGETHER TO STAND AGAINST THIS FAKE PRESIDENT CONGRESS MUST ACT TO GUARD AGAINST THIS FAKE PRESIDENT." It's been jarring and weird (I agree with them but why now all the sudden?).
posted by sallybrown at 9:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 9:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
That 20-minute or so lag before the crazy is consistent with oral administration of experimental central nervous system stimulants.
A coworker of mine posited - the day before - that Kennedy 2.0 would be a compound that induced "crazy symptoms."
Idon't can't applaud laws that can be just. Not a lot of the out there; lawmakers, lets make more, eh?
posted by porpoise at 9:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
A coworker of mine posited - the day before - that Kennedy 2.0 would be a compound that induced "crazy symptoms."
I
posted by porpoise at 9:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Milo is a Nazi, you should ever sympathize with him ever.
posted by Artw at 1:28 PM on February 17 [1 favorite +] [!]
I did him the decency of just ignoring him before. I...that meaty *crack* you hear is the sound of my white privilege's neck snapping. My god. *mind blown because evil is status-blind* GROSS GET IT OUT OF ME.
posted by saysthis at 9:35 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Artw at 1:28 PM on February 17 [1 favorite +] [!]
I did him the decency of just ignoring him before. I...that meaty *crack* you hear is the sound of my white privilege's neck snapping. My god. *mind blown because evil is status-blind* GROSS GET IT OUT OF ME.
posted by saysthis at 9:35 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
lol the only value milo has to the human race is if he is processed into a nutritious protein slurry and fed to livestock or plants
posted by poffin boffin at 9:36 PM on February 16, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 9:36 PM on February 16, 2017 [41 favorites]
Slap*Happy can you explain what you're on about? Have you been eating the expensive candy bars?
posted by spitbull at 9:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 9:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [21 favorites]
I think Scarborough and company are doing trial balloons to see if the base will accept a change in leadership.
The reality is that Republicans are afraid of the Trump believers so they are treading lightly because part of the Trump populist message is anathema to Republican principles. If you attack the populist strongman directly you risk getting the crazies in your district wound up.
On the other hand people like Scarborough aren't elected officials anymore and are safe in secure inside of the Beltway elite so they can try out various positions that someone like Ryan or McConnell are going to be afraid of.
But if the crazies start coming around to the idea that no Trump is actually unstable then it's a good way of prepping them for an amendment 25 coup.
posted by vuron at 9:40 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
The reality is that Republicans are afraid of the Trump believers so they are treading lightly because part of the Trump populist message is anathema to Republican principles. If you attack the populist strongman directly you risk getting the crazies in your district wound up.
On the other hand people like Scarborough aren't elected officials anymore and are safe in secure inside of the Beltway elite so they can try out various positions that someone like Ryan or McConnell are going to be afraid of.
But if the crazies start coming around to the idea that no Trump is actually unstable then it's a good way of prepping them for an amendment 25 coup.
posted by vuron at 9:40 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
Oh, look, they took it down. Now I am crazy. I really am, I accept it
Slap*Happy, I saw it too, the *don't read the comments* animation, but now I'm questioning why and where. I use duckduckgo almost exclusively and I have no recent google searches in my browser history O_O
posted by mammal at 9:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Slap*Happy, I saw it too, the *don't read the comments* animation, but now I'm questioning why and where. I use duckduckgo almost exclusively and I have no recent google searches in my browser history O_O
posted by mammal at 9:44 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Oh hey it just hit me that actually for real if Vermin Supreme were President we'd have better standing in the world, a brighter future, and a more productive government.
I've met Vermin Supreme. I like Vermin Supreme. The man is quick-witted, good-hearted, gracious, and fun to be around.
None of the ass-pandas in Trump's orbit are fit to polish Vermin Supreme's boot-hat.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 1:30 PM on February 17 [+] [!]
Can we move him to Utah real quick? Chaffetz kinda...y'know...I mean I'll move there to vote for him, not even joking. Always been a fan, but dude needs platforming. I'm happy with boots on heads as long as they are worn willingly and aren't on slimy lizard people heads.
I'm seriously. Pirate Party this government. Third party Demtraitors etc., I know, I wouldn't where it counts, but I mean, local races, man, I would love to see a guy like that get properly put up in a position where he can do some Overton shifting.
#IOKIYNAR 4LYFE
posted by saysthis at 9:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
I've met Vermin Supreme. I like Vermin Supreme. The man is quick-witted, good-hearted, gracious, and fun to be around.
None of the ass-pandas in Trump's orbit are fit to polish Vermin Supreme's boot-hat.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 1:30 PM on February 17 [+] [!]
Can we move him to Utah real quick? Chaffetz kinda...y'know...I mean I'll move there to vote for him, not even joking. Always been a fan, but dude needs platforming. I'm happy with boots on heads as long as they are worn willingly and aren't on slimy lizard people heads.
I'm seriously. Pirate Party this government. Third party Demtraitors etc., I know, I wouldn't where it counts, but I mean, local races, man, I would love to see a guy like that get properly put up in a position where he can do some Overton shifting.
#IOKIYNAR 4LYFE
posted by saysthis at 9:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
Something really is up at Morning Joe. Starting this week, and especially Wednesday and this morning, they both flipped from "POTUS is a friend of the show but we criticize him at times" to "YOU ARE A FAKE PRESIDENT WE ALL MUST COME TOGETHER TO STAND AGAINST THIS FAKE PRESIDENT CONGRESS MUST ACT TO GUARD AGAINST THIS FAKE PRESIDENT." It's been jarring and weird (I agree with them but why now all the sudden?).
I don't knows about Joe, but strategically Republicans are in a pickle. They either need Trump to sober up (not going to happen) or a clean way to make a break with him. And they need to do it all at once and with a unified voice in order to prevent being taken down with him. They need a moment and a message so they can say "we had reservations before but thought he would get better. This one clear thing is what convinced all of us that he is the wrong person." Until then you'll see a lot of demurring on the big questions.
Which is to say I think a lot of people will end up switching pretty suddenly, when they switch.
posted by wemayfreeze at 9:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
I don't knows about Joe, but strategically Republicans are in a pickle. They either need Trump to sober up (not going to happen) or a clean way to make a break with him. And they need to do it all at once and with a unified voice in order to prevent being taken down with him. They need a moment and a message so they can say "we had reservations before but thought he would get better. This one clear thing is what convinced all of us that he is the wrong person." Until then you'll see a lot of demurring on the big questions.
Which is to say I think a lot of people will end up switching pretty suddenly, when they switch.
posted by wemayfreeze at 9:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
The reality is that Republicans are afraid of the Trump believers so they are treading lightly because part of the Trump populist message is anathema to Republican principles. If you attack the populist strongman directly you risk getting the crazies in your district wound up.
His base being angry at a candidate makes primaries unwinnable, or at least hotly contested (leaving less money for the general). His base being happy makes competitive generals much, much harder. Unfortunately for us all, because of gerrymandering, there aren't many heavily contested generals, so most of the action happens in the primary. Therefore, the utilitarian calculus is to keep the trumpists happy. However, from what I've heard, establishment republicans don't like trump because he doesn't inspire much political action beyond his own hero worship, and he's sapping donations. Conservative gamesmanship and intransigence has gotten them into an intractable situation - unfortunately it's gotten us all into that situation. I hope the men responsible have bleeding ulcers in their stomach from guilt, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that being the case.
posted by codacorolla at 9:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
His base being angry at a candidate makes primaries unwinnable, or at least hotly contested (leaving less money for the general). His base being happy makes competitive generals much, much harder. Unfortunately for us all, because of gerrymandering, there aren't many heavily contested generals, so most of the action happens in the primary. Therefore, the utilitarian calculus is to keep the trumpists happy. However, from what I've heard, establishment republicans don't like trump because he doesn't inspire much political action beyond his own hero worship, and he's sapping donations. Conservative gamesmanship and intransigence has gotten them into an intractable situation - unfortunately it's gotten us all into that situation. I hope the men responsible have bleeding ulcers in their stomach from guilt, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that being the case.
posted by codacorolla at 9:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
They need a moment and a message so they can say "we had reservations before but thought he would get better. This one clear thing is what convinced all of us that he is the wrong person."
it's the piss tape's time to shine!
posted by yasaman at 9:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [21 favorites]
it's the piss tape's time to shine!
posted by yasaman at 9:48 PM on February 16, 2017 [21 favorites]
Slap*Happy can you explain what you're on about? Have you been eating the expensive candy bars?
OK. I was cruising through my usual recipe websites, and wanted to look up kaffir lime leaves. I hit command-T which takes me to Google's landing page, where I can enter in "kaffir lime leaves" - right now, it is as it always is, a spartan page with a text box front and center, a logo in the upper left, a widget to the Googleverse in the upper right.
When I actually wanted to look up kaffir lime leaves, the new-tab-command (command-t on a Mac) brought me to the Google landing page, only beneath the text box was an 8-bit white-person-skin colored treasure-troll with reddish treasure-troll hair, covering it's eyes and uncovering them in a cutesy retro peekaboo animation. I was immediately charmed, until the 8-bit text showed up admonishing me never to look at the comments.
Kinda got angry at that point, as the record shows.
No longer there. I really hope I just accidentally fell into a parody site's landing page by mistake somehow. I hope in vain often.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:49 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
OK. I was cruising through my usual recipe websites, and wanted to look up kaffir lime leaves. I hit command-T which takes me to Google's landing page, where I can enter in "kaffir lime leaves" - right now, it is as it always is, a spartan page with a text box front and center, a logo in the upper left, a widget to the Googleverse in the upper right.
When I actually wanted to look up kaffir lime leaves, the new-tab-command (command-t on a Mac) brought me to the Google landing page, only beneath the text box was an 8-bit white-person-skin colored treasure-troll with reddish treasure-troll hair, covering it's eyes and uncovering them in a cutesy retro peekaboo animation. I was immediately charmed, until the 8-bit text showed up admonishing me never to look at the comments.
Kinda got angry at that point, as the record shows.
No longer there. I really hope I just accidentally fell into a parody site's landing page by mistake somehow. I hope in vain often.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:49 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
it's the piss tape's time to shine!
This is a joke, but it's probably very true. The GOP's savior would be a silver bullet that absolves them of guilt in destroying the golden boy of the extreme right, while still letting them slink back to the comparative normalcy of President Pence. I'm sure that the IC is looking for just such a thing.
However, Russia does have the hacked RNC docs. If the puppet they spent so much time and effort to install was ousted, I wonder what might be the next leak to hit...
posted by codacorolla at 9:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
This is a joke, but it's probably very true. The GOP's savior would be a silver bullet that absolves them of guilt in destroying the golden boy of the extreme right, while still letting them slink back to the comparative normalcy of President Pence. I'm sure that the IC is looking for just such a thing.
However, Russia does have the hacked RNC docs. If the puppet they spent so much time and effort to install was ousted, I wonder what might be the next leak to hit...
posted by codacorolla at 9:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
personally, I'm done trying to convey any sense of urgency to people like that. They're not going to listen to it from POC or other marginalized people, and they never have. It's white supremacy all the way down for them,
I'm kind of getting jangled by this a lot. But it's not just Trump voters. It's white dudes of all stripes, too, who are super happy to trash on Trump, but are at the same time saying "Man I hope Trump stays so he can sink the Republican Party and My Team Can Win!" I saw it in the campaign and I'm seeing it now, even sometimes here, though blessedly infrequently.
Because seriously, who the fuck cares about this shit anymore right now? Who has the goddamned privilege to worry about whether taxes are progressive or regressive or how much tuition increases or red team/blue team or I don't even care, whatever we fucking fight about in good times, when they are coming for all of us? The country is on fire. The country is on fire and some of us may be jailed or die before we get it back.
I have a trip out of the country scheduled, and I'm considering whether it makes more sense to get a one way flight out and use a military plane to get back or whether I should see how Customs is working or what I should do. I am thinking of this like a test case, because who the fuck knows? I'm trying to figure out how you set up Underground Railroads, and at what point you announce you're willing to help people escape.
I barely have anything in common with people who are like "lol, this is so zany!"
posted by corb at 9:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [61 favorites]
I'm kind of getting jangled by this a lot. But it's not just Trump voters. It's white dudes of all stripes, too, who are super happy to trash on Trump, but are at the same time saying "Man I hope Trump stays so he can sink the Republican Party and My Team Can Win!" I saw it in the campaign and I'm seeing it now, even sometimes here, though blessedly infrequently.
Because seriously, who the fuck cares about this shit anymore right now? Who has the goddamned privilege to worry about whether taxes are progressive or regressive or how much tuition increases or red team/blue team or I don't even care, whatever we fucking fight about in good times, when they are coming for all of us? The country is on fire. The country is on fire and some of us may be jailed or die before we get it back.
I have a trip out of the country scheduled, and I'm considering whether it makes more sense to get a one way flight out and use a military plane to get back or whether I should see how Customs is working or what I should do. I am thinking of this like a test case, because who the fuck knows? I'm trying to figure out how you set up Underground Railroads, and at what point you announce you're willing to help people escape.
I barely have anything in common with people who are like "lol, this is so zany!"
posted by corb at 9:52 PM on February 16, 2017 [61 favorites]
a friend of mine said the other day that "it feels like we have one party that can win elections and one party that can govern effectively and you don't have a functional party unless you can do both"
posted by murphy slaw at 9:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [36 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 9:54 PM on February 16, 2017 [36 favorites]
And they need to do it all at once and with a unified voice in order to prevent being taken down with him.
This can't happen. Remember all the trouble Boehner had trying to get anything done? Most of those schmucks are still there. There are two republican parties at this point - the establishment and trumpists. They like each other just slightly more than they like democrats.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 9:55 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
This can't happen. Remember all the trouble Boehner had trying to get anything done? Most of those schmucks are still there. There are two republican parties at this point - the establishment and trumpists. They like each other just slightly more than they like democrats.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 9:55 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Something really is up at Morning Joe. Starting this week, and especially Wednesday and this morning, they both flipped from "POTUS is a friend of the show but we criticize him at times" to "YOU ARE A FAKE PRESIDENT WE ALL MUST COME TOGETHER TO STAND AGAINST THIS FAKE PRESIDENT CONGRESS MUST ACT TO GUARD AGAINST THIS FAKE PRESIDENT." It's been jarring and weird (I agree with them but why now all the sudden?).
It's because of what Miller said and did on the Sunday shows. I posted this up thread but here is when it happened. At 1.58 Mika is just done and Joe is done for bit and then tries to keep the friend of the show thing but he's struggling with it. Looks like it just took a couple of days for this new thing to settle in his brain.
posted by Jalliah at 9:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
It's because of what Miller said and did on the Sunday shows. I posted this up thread but here is when it happened. At 1.58 Mika is just done and Joe is done for bit and then tries to keep the friend of the show thing but he's struggling with it. Looks like it just took a couple of days for this new thing to settle in his brain.
posted by Jalliah at 9:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
This is a joke, but it's probably very true.
Excuse you, this is my very sincere prophecy.
Glib one-line comment aside, the reasons you outline are convincing to me. If the piss tape or something similar exists, it's only a matter of time. At this point, it's a race against time to see if it will be that or Trump unequivocally mishandling some grave national disaster. Given the options, I find myself in the horrifying position of rooting for the piss tape.
posted by yasaman at 9:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Excuse you, this is my very sincere prophecy.
Glib one-line comment aside, the reasons you outline are convincing to me. If the piss tape or something similar exists, it's only a matter of time. At this point, it's a race against time to see if it will be that or Trump unequivocally mishandling some grave national disaster. Given the options, I find myself in the horrifying position of rooting for the piss tape.
posted by yasaman at 9:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Slap*Happy, I saw it too, the *don't read the comments* animation, but now I'm questioning why and where. I use duckduckgo almost exclusively and I have no recent google searches in my browser history O_O
As a professional Infosec wonk, all I can say is, "Crap."
I was reaaaaaly hoping I was out of my gourd there.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:57 PM on February 16, 2017
As a professional Infosec wonk, all I can say is, "Crap."
I was reaaaaaly hoping I was out of my gourd there.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:57 PM on February 16, 2017
@POTUS was in fact fully briefed on the content of those conversations that Gen. Flynn had with the Russian ambassador. pic.twitter.com/I70FlxuYCl
foxnews!
BREAKING: Fox News is reporting Trump was fully briefed on the Flynn call with Russia after it happened--and allowed Pence to be lied to.
posted by futz at 9:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [29 favorites]
foxnews!
BREAKING: Fox News is reporting Trump was fully briefed on the Flynn call with Russia after it happened--and allowed Pence to be lied to.
posted by futz at 9:58 PM on February 16, 2017 [29 favorites]
It's not recent but this Slate article has a treasure troll graphic with a similar rollover.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
So the major narrative that they are trying to establish is that if there is malfeasance on the part of the Trump administration Pence is totes removed from the halls of power and all the collusion with Russia was happening without his knowledge.
That way if they need to dump Trump Pence has plausible deniability. It's obviously bullshit but Pence is their golden boy whereas they would happily stab Trump in the back and leave him in a ditch.
posted by vuron at 10:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [17 favorites]
That way if they need to dump Trump Pence has plausible deniability. It's obviously bullshit but Pence is their golden boy whereas they would happily stab Trump in the back and leave him in a ditch.
posted by vuron at 10:06 PM on February 16, 2017 [17 favorites]
@ashleyfeinberg: This passage will haunt me for as long as I live (A derail)
posted by Going To Maine at 10:07 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Going To Maine at 10:07 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Chaffetz seeks charge of ex-Clinton aide in email inquiry
Way to keep your eye on the ball there, pal.
posted by tonycpsu at 10:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
Way to keep your eye on the ball there, pal.
posted by tonycpsu at 10:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [15 favorites]
time to stop drinking and rest up cause tomorrow's gonna be a loooong day.
posted by possibly sean spicer at 10:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by possibly sean spicer at 10:10 PM on February 16, 2017 [8 favorites]
I don't knows about Joe, but strategically Republicans are in a pickle.
He's probably best connected to the House GOP, and there are obviously some hold-your-nose members there: the Gingrich-era radicals have somehow become the old guard. As I said in the previous thread, there comes a point where the legislative aspirations meant to be delivered on the back of the magahats run into the activist opposition the White House occupant has triggered, and the opposition is sustained by the presence of people like Stephen "Incel" Miller close to the president. The holiday recess is going to tell us a lot about how much actual spine individual House GOP members have for the fight, and local news coverage of those who dare to hold actual town hall meetings will be a good benchmark.
posted by holgate at 10:11 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
He's probably best connected to the House GOP, and there are obviously some hold-your-nose members there: the Gingrich-era radicals have somehow become the old guard. As I said in the previous thread, there comes a point where the legislative aspirations meant to be delivered on the back of the magahats run into the activist opposition the White House occupant has triggered, and the opposition is sustained by the presence of people like Stephen "Incel" Miller close to the president. The holiday recess is going to tell us a lot about how much actual spine individual House GOP members have for the fight, and local news coverage of those who dare to hold actual town hall meetings will be a good benchmark.
posted by holgate at 10:11 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Chaffetz seeks charge of ex-Clinton aide in email inquiry
What a little shit
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:11 PM on February 16, 2017 [31 favorites]
What a little shit
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:11 PM on February 16, 2017 [31 favorites]
I have always bought the idea that Republicans are playing Trump and will eventually throw him under the bus, but I can't help wondering at this point if there aren't a lot more R's compromised than just him. There is a lot of frankly bizarre behavior going on.
posted by bongo_x at 10:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 10:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
He's keeping his eye on his own balls hoping that they (assuming he has 2) will lead him to Conservative Nirvana. I on the otherhand am hoping for DeflateGate.
posted by futz at 10:13 PM on February 16, 2017
posted by futz at 10:13 PM on February 16, 2017
Chaffetz seeks charge of ex-Clinton aide in email inquiry
“This man… this man snuck the beehive onto my chair! And now the bees are in me! The bees! Hurry, Jeff Sessions! Hurry! I muzt have revenge before it izzzz too late! Oh, nooooo…”
posted by Going To Maine at 10:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
“This man… this man snuck the beehive onto my chair! And now the bees are in me! The bees! Hurry, Jeff Sessions! Hurry! I muzt have revenge before it izzzz too late! Oh, nooooo…”
posted by Going To Maine at 10:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
I like bees.
posted by futz at 10:15 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by futz at 10:15 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Chaffetz seeks charge of ex-Clinton aide in email inquiry
Just following the orders of his boss... Vladimir...
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:16 PM on February 16, 2017
Just following the orders of his boss... Vladimir...
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:16 PM on February 16, 2017
man it's gonna be hard to maintain a coherent discussion around here now that drugs are cheaper than candy bars
posted by murphy slaw at 10:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 10:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [34 favorites]
It's not recent but this Slate article has a treasure troll graphic with a similar rollover.
Nope. Not it. Google was hacked, or Firefox was, or OS X, or my cheap router. Not certain which is worse. The next hack will not be so overt.
(Note to self, a Fortigate 30D is not as expensive as not having a full-fledged Fortigate upstream of my wireless router. This advice is useless for people who have not spent as much time hardening Fortigates as I have, or a discount program through your employer. I've spent more time on Checkpoint, Juniper SRX, Bluecoat(LOL!), Barracuda, Cisco ASA annnd SonicWall, tho. Yes, you want to shell out on Palo Alto gear if you have the money and lots of edges to protect, it's the new Netscreen. Fortigate is a comfy second place, very fast, and quite cheap.)
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Nope. Not it. Google was hacked, or Firefox was, or OS X, or my cheap router. Not certain which is worse. The next hack will not be so overt.
(Note to self, a Fortigate 30D is not as expensive as not having a full-fledged Fortigate upstream of my wireless router. This advice is useless for people who have not spent as much time hardening Fortigates as I have, or a discount program through your employer. I've spent more time on Checkpoint, Juniper SRX, Bluecoat(LOL!), Barracuda, Cisco ASA annnd SonicWall, tho. Yes, you want to shell out on Palo Alto gear if you have the money and lots of edges to protect, it's the new Netscreen. Fortigate is a comfy second place, very fast, and quite cheap.)
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
You know, I'm gonna put this here, because I think it's relevant.
I had this exchange with a FB Trumpite, and I got mad. Short of it is he called me a leftist obstructionist or something, and I was beered up enough that I just let loose (like I am now, but hey, we posted depression-as-coping-mechanism already, I think we all know where we're at).
I said, son, if you care enough to argue with me for not giving your guy a chance, get out there and GIVE him a chance. You cared enough to vote, right? Well, given the whole democracy we live in, you can also go call your MoC, donate, protest, organize, write for the press, whatever you gotta handle, you can do that. Go participate in this democracy if you're so mad we're gumming up the works. If you think we're not playing fair, go exercise the Constitutional rights you were born with, 'cause it's what they're there for. If you care, prove it. Otherwise, lay down and shut up while I trample on your right to own guns and take Soros' paychecks, because that's what you get for not using those rights. I got 'em, you got 'em, go exercise 'em so you can keep them safe from...me.
Dude didn't have much to say after that. Maybe that's how you call out the hypocrites?
posted by saysthis at 10:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [29 favorites]
I had this exchange with a FB Trumpite, and I got mad. Short of it is he called me a leftist obstructionist or something, and I was beered up enough that I just let loose (like I am now, but hey, we posted depression-as-coping-mechanism already, I think we all know where we're at).
I said, son, if you care enough to argue with me for not giving your guy a chance, get out there and GIVE him a chance. You cared enough to vote, right? Well, given the whole democracy we live in, you can also go call your MoC, donate, protest, organize, write for the press, whatever you gotta handle, you can do that. Go participate in this democracy if you're so mad we're gumming up the works. If you think we're not playing fair, go exercise the Constitutional rights you were born with, 'cause it's what they're there for. If you care, prove it. Otherwise, lay down and shut up while I trample on your right to own guns and take Soros' paychecks, because that's what you get for not using those rights. I got 'em, you got 'em, go exercise 'em so you can keep them safe from...me.
Dude didn't have much to say after that. Maybe that's how you call out the hypocrites?
posted by saysthis at 10:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [29 favorites]
Relax, Slap*Happy. Probably just a stupid A/B test by Google itself. They do them all the time.
posted by Coventry at 10:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 10:22 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
Maybe that's how you call out the hypocrites?
No, it's with bees. I am tired and this seems like a great plan because fuck all of this. You hold the spray bottle full of queen pheromone in one hand, and a cardboard box full of ten thousand bees in the other. Then spray, toss, and run! Whee! IS BEST PLAN.
posted by corb at 10:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [54 favorites]
No, it's with bees. I am tired and this seems like a great plan because fuck all of this. You hold the spray bottle full of queen pheromone in one hand, and a cardboard box full of ten thousand bees in the other. Then spray, toss, and run! Whee! IS BEST PLAN.
posted by corb at 10:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [54 favorites]
Fortigate is a comfy second place, very fast, and quite cheap
While you're talking about it, though, thoughts on Cujo, Meraki and Ubiquiti? (I know they're rather different. I use Meraki at work and Ubiquiti at home.) And is Shorewall still decent on a properly hardened box?
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:30 PM on February 16, 2017
While you're talking about it, though, thoughts on Cujo, Meraki and Ubiquiti? (I know they're rather different. I use Meraki at work and Ubiquiti at home.) And is Shorewall still decent on a properly hardened box?
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:30 PM on February 16, 2017
Relax, dude. Probably just a stupid A/B test by Google itself. They do them all the time.
I'm Team Blue. We can't relax. We're either breaking access to a garden tractor enthusiast's site for the CEO or allowing the CEO's purse to be sucked out through her WiFi wholesale. The in between is we get our budget cut.
Your answer is probably correct, and at the same time horrific. I am still going to work all through my vacation and make my wife take sick time too look after our kid on winter vacation as we audit how and why I saw a goddamn treasure troll, and did anyone on our protected network see it? I'm at home, on a consumer grade firewall, much to my regret, not behind our corporate defenses. Were they redirected? What do the browser caches see? (Mine are now preserved, but I'm to ticked off to look at them without peers. I know what I'll find. Nothing. Gotta document the nothing, tho.)
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm Team Blue. We can't relax. We're either breaking access to a garden tractor enthusiast's site for the CEO or allowing the CEO's purse to be sucked out through her WiFi wholesale. The in between is we get our budget cut.
Your answer is probably correct, and at the same time horrific. I am still going to work all through my vacation and make my wife take sick time too look after our kid on winter vacation as we audit how and why I saw a goddamn treasure troll, and did anyone on our protected network see it? I'm at home, on a consumer grade firewall, much to my regret, not behind our corporate defenses. Were they redirected? What do the browser caches see? (Mine are now preserved, but I'm to ticked off to look at them without peers. I know what I'll find. Nothing. Gotta document the nothing, tho.)
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
man it's gonna be hard to maintain a coherent discussion around here now that drugs are cheaper than candy bars
Yeah, I was going to mention that it's getting a little loose around here. But it is after midnight and we are possibly at the end of civilization.
posted by bongo_x at 10:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Yeah, I was going to mention that it's getting a little loose around here. But it is after midnight and we are possibly at the end of civilization.
posted by bongo_x at 10:34 PM on February 16, 2017 [9 favorites]
Mod note: Let's not go completely off-topic though, please!
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 10:35 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 10:35 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Meraki is like Netscreen after Juniper bought it. MEANINGFULL LOOK. (get... ouuuut... )
Done with the derail. Sorry. Loooong weekend ahead.
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:35 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Done with the derail. Sorry. Loooong weekend ahead.
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:35 PM on February 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Dude didn't have much to say after that. Maybe that's how you call out the [quote left out but note for brevity, is Trumpites who argue with you on Facebook corb's comment is how to engage them, CTRL+F to find] hypocrites?
No, it's with bees. I am tired and this seems like a great plan because fuck all of this. You hold the spray bottle full of queen pheromone in one hand, and a cardboard box full of ten thousand bees in the other. Then spray, toss, and run! Whee! IS BEST PLAN.
Fair enough. I'll be cautious with that suggestion, and thanks for the headcheck, but I am, however, in agreement with fuck all this.
(and edited within the brackets for clarity to avoid threadsitting)
posted by saysthis at 10:37 PM on February 16, 2017
No, it's with bees. I am tired and this seems like a great plan because fuck all of this. You hold the spray bottle full of queen pheromone in one hand, and a cardboard box full of ten thousand bees in the other. Then spray, toss, and run! Whee! IS BEST PLAN.
Fair enough. I'll be cautious with that suggestion, and thanks for the headcheck, but I am, however, in agreement with fuck all this.
(and edited within the brackets for clarity to avoid threadsitting)
posted by saysthis at 10:37 PM on February 16, 2017
Either I need a lot more of whatever you guys are having or you all need a lot less, but things have gotten very weird in here tonight.
posted by zachlipton at 10:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [40 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 10:39 PM on February 16, 2017 [40 favorites]
Did anybody see Trump's press conference today? It was bonkers!
posted by mazola at 10:40 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by mazola at 10:40 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
One hour plus of some of the best live action trolling ever produced. Very, very effective.
posted by buzzman at 10:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by buzzman at 10:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Either I need a lot more of whatever you guys are having or you all need a lot less, but things have gotten very weird in here tonight.
I am not seeing the weirdness. Weird indeed.
posted by futz at 10:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
I am not seeing the weirdness. Weird indeed.
posted by futz at 10:43 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Some news: State Dept layoffs under Rex Tillerson being carried out
One interesting bit is that nobody from State was involved in the Netanyahu meetings, just Jared. Career State Department officials are less than thrilled that the President's son-in-law seems to be running foreign policy without so much as their presence. What could go wrong?
posted by zachlipton at 10:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [33 favorites]
One interesting bit is that nobody from State was involved in the Netanyahu meetings, just Jared. Career State Department officials are less than thrilled that the President's son-in-law seems to be running foreign policy without so much as their presence. What could go wrong?
posted by zachlipton at 10:46 PM on February 16, 2017 [33 favorites]
I'm really glad it's not just me. You people are on serious drugs. I am sometimes on serious drugs but my back is feeling better so I am not currently. I mean, I'm not judging, see my post yesterday about the difficulty of parsing everyone's personal terms for Trump when on The Drugs.
Anyway, it hasn't been said recently, but you guys rock and let's all try to stay as sane as possible and I'm gonna go read a trashy romance novel and wait for my night meds to kick in.
posted by threeturtles at 10:51 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Anyway, it hasn't been said recently, but you guys rock and let's all try to stay as sane as possible and I'm gonna go read a trashy romance novel and wait for my night meds to kick in.
posted by threeturtles at 10:51 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Are we all striking tomorrow? I am. My son told me today that half his school was out today for day without immigrants and he wishes he had stayed home (I honestly didn't know the protest was to include students).
I did see today's event made the news as many restaurants were closed. I wonder if tomorrow's will be on the radar?
posted by OHenryPacey at 11:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
I did see today's event made the news as many restaurants were closed. I wonder if tomorrow's will be on the radar?
posted by OHenryPacey at 11:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Drugs not hugs.
posted by Celsius1414 at 11:00 PM on February 16, 2017
posted by Celsius1414 at 11:00 PM on February 16, 2017
Things HAVE gotten weird! So it's not just me! It's been a long weird day. Weird enough that I'm just gonna toss out there that I've been stressing about the term "kaffir" lime leaves for like 30 minutes.
posted by thebrokedown at 11:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by thebrokedown at 11:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
I made it! It's the end of the thread! I read it all, the nightmare is over!
posted by BS Artisan at 11:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by BS Artisan at 11:00 PM on February 16, 2017 [12 favorites]
I work from home so Day Without Immigrants wasn't super noticiable but the SO teaches at a very immigrant heavy school and said more then half his class was missing and a lot of teachers cancelled classes.
Anyway, just stay home to,orrow.
posted by The Whelk at 11:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Anyway, just stay home to,orrow.
posted by The Whelk at 11:02 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
BEES
posted by poffin boffin at 11:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 11:05 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
What a time to be afraid.
posted by guiseroom at 11:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by guiseroom at 11:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
NPR is worse than Fox News.
Oh, please. Considering the polarization of a populace split right down the middle plus given the tightropes they walk financially, NPR and PBS are still light years ahead of the commercial networks in accuracy and depth. And courage: Morning Edition has an ongoing radio diary about a trans girl and her mother. Sure it's a tad sappy but still... who else among the big networks is doing anything like that ? This NPR bashing is the circular firing squad on steroids: God damn you NPR, who cares if you are good --.why aren't you perfect ?
I have despised Mara Eliasson for years for her snide disdain for all things liberal but now I am surprised at the scorn and contempt that bleeds through at times in her remarks about Trump. But after all, she's been eating the same sammich filling Haward was offered for sometime now. I almost feel a sort of weird sympathy for her before the schadenfreude kicks back on. Then it's Haha turtles all way down...
posted by y2karl at 11:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
Oh, please. Considering the polarization of a populace split right down the middle plus given the tightropes they walk financially, NPR and PBS are still light years ahead of the commercial networks in accuracy and depth. And courage: Morning Edition has an ongoing radio diary about a trans girl and her mother. Sure it's a tad sappy but still... who else among the big networks is doing anything like that ? This NPR bashing is the circular firing squad on steroids: God damn you NPR, who cares if you are good --.why aren't you perfect ?
I have despised Mara Eliasson for years for her snide disdain for all things liberal but now I am surprised at the scorn and contempt that bleeds through at times in her remarks about Trump. But after all, she's been eating the same sammich filling Haward was offered for sometime now. I almost feel a sort of weird sympathy for her before the schadenfreude kicks back on. Then it's Haha turtles all way down...
posted by y2karl at 11:09 PM on February 16, 2017 [13 favorites]
AP: Trump, fond of signing executive orders, awaits more pens. They're custom made, including gold plating, by Cross.
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:12 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
Anyway, just stay home to,orrow.
i love this, this is one of those 19th century Scottish poet things, isn't it?
posted by bongo_x at 11:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
i love this, this is one of those 19th century Scottish poet things, isn't it?
posted by bongo_x at 11:13 PM on February 16, 2017 [10 favorites]
It's that feeling when you've been up for far too many hours and everything is becoming goofy and difficult and exhausting and the smallest most ridiculous ideas start seeming reasonable.
That's where we are as a country right now.
posted by downtohisturtles at 11:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
That's where we are as a country right now.
posted by downtohisturtles at 11:14 PM on February 16, 2017 [6 favorites]
It's been jarring and weird (I agree with them but why now all the sudden?).
I'm starting to consider a hypothesis about people's stages of acceptance and grief and monthly cycles or something. Every trip the moon takes around the earth, expect n% of people to go, "WTF IS THIS SHIT?"
posted by mikelieman at 11:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'm starting to consider a hypothesis about people's stages of acceptance and grief and monthly cycles or something. Every trip the moon takes around the earth, expect n% of people to go, "WTF IS THIS SHIT?"
posted by mikelieman at 11:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's that feeling when you've been up for far too many hours and everything is becoming goofy and difficult and exhausting and the smallest most ridiculous ideas start seeming reasonable.
That's where we are as a country right now.
posted by downtohisturtles at 3:14 PM on February 17 [+] [!]
New election with only previous election primary candidates eligible, excluding incumbents.
posted by saysthis at 11:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
That's where we are as a country right now.
posted by downtohisturtles at 3:14 PM on February 17 [+] [!]
New election with only previous election primary candidates eligible, excluding incumbents.
posted by saysthis at 11:17 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've been googling for information about the annual President's Physical Exam and not coming up with what I'm trying to find out which is, who performs it? More precisely, is this something that would get assigned to Trump's tame doctor or will there be actual medical professionals involved? And how soon can we expect it?
posted by TWinbrook8 at 11:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 11:20 PM on February 16, 2017 [4 favorites]
Guardian: Donald Trump's press conference is proof he'll never be presidential
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:21 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:21 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
TheAtlantic: Miss Manners [Judith Martin] on Rudeness in the Age of Trump
The renowned etiquette columnist offers an alternative list of virtues for a time when the U.S. president has violated all traditional expectations of statesman‐like behavior.posted by ZeusHumms at 11:24 PM on February 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
Trump has chosen to use the services of the Physician to the President, not Doctor Crazyman. He's kept on Obama's doctor, a US Navy Rear Admiral, though the President is free to replace him. I'm not sure there's any particular schedule or rules to it beyond "the President has a doctor in the building and can see him," though regular physicals and a summary for the press are a tradition.
posted by zachlipton at 11:27 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 11:27 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
I would think that they run/fly POTUS up to like Johns Hopkins' and do like a full workup like just in case?
Or are they maybe afraid that in a face to face interview with a medical professional, he might screen for some cognitive issues?
AWKWARD!
posted by mikelieman at 11:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Or are they maybe afraid that in a face to face interview with a medical professional, he might screen for some cognitive issues?
AWKWARD!
posted by mikelieman at 11:29 PM on February 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
If everyone follows tradition, then there's no need for a law. It wouldn't surprise me if Trump chose not to disclose any personal medical information, nor even mention whether or not he had a physical.
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:30 PM on February 16, 2017
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:30 PM on February 16, 2017
'the hell are you people on, anyway?
posted by StrawberryPie at 11:32 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by StrawberryPie at 11:32 PM on February 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
That press conference happened earlier today and it feels lke last week.
To quote Lenin “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.”
I have to keep reminding myself the reason more stuff hasn't happened on my end is because it's only been four weeks, 28 days, the shortest month ...
Yet, even just in my own circles dear god do you know how many rallies, fundraisers, sign making parties, protests, group actions, phone call events, and LGBT socialist happy hours I've been to? Like within the last few weeks? And every time it's to bigger crowds.
Everything is happening at once, it's like I'll have to mark my life as pre and post this.
posted by The Whelk at 11:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [28 favorites]
To quote Lenin “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.”
I have to keep reminding myself the reason more stuff hasn't happened on my end is because it's only been four weeks, 28 days, the shortest month ...
Yet, even just in my own circles dear god do you know how many rallies, fundraisers, sign making parties, protests, group actions, phone call events, and LGBT socialist happy hours I've been to? Like within the last few weeks? And every time it's to bigger crowds.
Everything is happening at once, it's like I'll have to mark my life as pre and post this.
posted by The Whelk at 11:33 PM on February 16, 2017 [28 favorites]
That's where we are as a country right now.
i haven't slept more than 6h in a row since november
sometimes i just laugh hysterically for no particular reason for like 20 minutes and then fall asleep for 3h
when i wake up i don't know what day it is
it's like the 90s all over again except rent is fucking insane
posted by poffin boffin at 11:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [61 favorites]
i haven't slept more than 6h in a row since november
sometimes i just laugh hysterically for no particular reason for like 20 minutes and then fall asleep for 3h
when i wake up i don't know what day it is
it's like the 90s all over again except rent is fucking insane
posted by poffin boffin at 11:37 PM on February 16, 2017 [61 favorites]
wait i want to go to gay commie cocktail parties
posted by poffin boffin at 11:38 PM on February 16, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 11:38 PM on February 16, 2017 [24 favorites]
I just realized something. Hillary Clinton had dinner with Kate McKinnon. What would happen if Hillary hosted SNL? I mean, I have the sense it's the sort of thing she doesn't actually like doing and I'd certainly understand if she never gets in front of so much as an iPhone camera again in her life, but just think how much it would mess with Trump's brain to have her up there, in his old hosting slot, mocking him with Baldwin.
posted by zachlipton at 11:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [31 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 11:42 PM on February 16, 2017 [31 favorites]
wait i want to go to gay commie cocktail parties
We had our FIRST LGBT happy hour at Julius just yesterday. It was amazing, we overran the bar. I personally signed up ten people while also putting the cabaret soundtrack on the jukebox. I found out about it via the new NYC DSA site, socialists.nyc Which has a very good calendar of events.
One guy at the bar was like, an old schoool Jewish leftist was like overjoyed we all invaded the bar and was making a cell call like "Mabel ! I'm with all the socialists and they're YOUNG"
posted by The Whelk at 11:57 PM on February 16, 2017 [113 favorites]
Also I had printed up copies of Oscar Wilde's THE SOUL OF MAN UNDER SOCIALISM which is like 27 pages long and I thought would be fun to give out in a limited group session sense but then like 50 people showed up so ....no.
(Mostly it was people who were not members and were interested in the DSA from friends or Facebook so I handed out a lot of flyers (me going "let me get you some literature" all night) and did a lot of talking about NYS bills and organizing and don't we deserve better?)
posted by The Whelk at 12:03 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
(Mostly it was people who were not members and were interested in the DSA from friends or Facebook so I handed out a lot of flyers (me going "let me get you some literature" all night) and did a lot of talking about NYS bills and organizing and don't we deserve better?)
posted by The Whelk at 12:03 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
So this was mentioned upthread but I wanted to emphasize this and give it some context: Alexander Acosta, when he was a prosecutor, cut Jeffrey Epstein a sweetheart deal to allow him to avoid Federal charges of child rape for his notorious sexual parties.
Federal charges would almost certainly have allowed much more in-depth investigation of those parties to occur, including investigation of the other alleged participants.
It was at one of these parties that Trump was alleged to have raped a 13 year old girl.
And now he is giving the prosecutor who made sure he wouldn't be investigated for his participation in those parties a Cabinet appointment.
posted by KathrynT at 12:06 AM on February 17, 2017 [174 favorites]
Federal charges would almost certainly have allowed much more in-depth investigation of those parties to occur, including investigation of the other alleged participants.
It was at one of these parties that Trump was alleged to have raped a 13 year old girl.
And now he is giving the prosecutor who made sure he wouldn't be investigated for his participation in those parties a Cabinet appointment.
posted by KathrynT at 12:06 AM on February 17, 2017 [174 favorites]
The only reason why I've been well adjusted about Trump is because I have spent the past week grieving and healing from a breakup. Keeping myself preoccupied emotionally is helpful with a wannabe dictator as president
posted by yueliang at 12:42 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by yueliang at 12:42 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
And now Trump's nomination of Acosta will reopen the Epstein case in the "court of public opinion" in a way that will make the media entities that previously let the story die for lack of 'sizzle' re-consider their decision. Not a smart way to keep a cover-up covered up.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:56 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:56 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
That doesn't necessarily end better, but it does get him through a 70 minute press conference or a 90-minute debate, and his meltdown happens offscreen.
He never got more than 20-30 minutes into a debate or a presser without melting down.
posted by mochapickle at 12:58 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
He never got more than 20-30 minutes into a debate or a presser without melting down.
posted by mochapickle at 12:58 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Disappointed to see cheerleaders for dementia in this thread. I know people are tired of Going High, but FUCK DEMENTIA. Count yourself lucky you've never seen it in your life.
It wouldn't change a thing anyhow. The Sith lords would deny he has it, keep him away from the press and only have prerecorded statements. They'd probably deny him treatment too, the vile fuckers. Easier for them to ask him to sign the 'birthday card' which is really an EO.
posted by adept256 at 1:39 AM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
It wouldn't change a thing anyhow. The Sith lords would deny he has it, keep him away from the press and only have prerecorded statements. They'd probably deny him treatment too, the vile fuckers. Easier for them to ask him to sign the 'birthday card' which is really an EO.
posted by adept256 at 1:39 AM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
We're going to take back the House in 18. For now, don't miss: Resistance Recess. We need to dwarf the Tea Party.
posted by persona au gratin at 1:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by persona au gratin at 1:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Hey Slap*Happy: the "never read the comments" bit is one of the current set of canned messages for the Firefox start page (screenshot). No need to panic.
(Discovered when I opened a new window and there it was. I was all, "so that's what all that stuff in the thread was about")
posted by zachlipton at 2:01 AM on February 17, 2017 [28 favorites]
(Discovered when I opened a new window and there it was. I was all, "so that's what all that stuff in the thread was about")
posted by zachlipton at 2:01 AM on February 17, 2017 [28 favorites]
I don't know when we decided we were going to fill that guy with bees, but it cheers me to see Corb calling for bringing forth the bees.
posted by angrycat at 2:07 AM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 2:07 AM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
I have no intention of kicking off a gun control derail, or another debate about the ethics of violence, so fyi I'm just leaving this one comment here because I think some people who are shy like me might find it helpful: I and my sweetie went to a beginners' firearms class over the weekend. The other people in the class were a Latino family, parents and their late teens or early 20s daughter and son. When we said goodbye, the mother and I wished each other good luck. The next morning, I realized I felt a LOT less anxious. Before, I'd had a mental cloud of "If I need to defend myself against an armed white supremacist or armed dickhead of whatever stripe, and a gun came near my hand, I wouldn't have a clue about how to handle it safely and so there's a good chance I'd panic and accidentally shoot myself."
At the class, I felt 3 different kinds of guns in my hand, practiced loading them, keeping them pointing downrange (uh, this is not necessarily as easy as it sounds, when you've never handled one before and your subconscious, you eventually realize, has absorbed gun-handling visuals from, like, Charlie's Angels), aiming and firing them. I know what the recoil for a .22 vs a Glock feels like. I was shit at hitting the bullseye on the target, especially with the bigger guns, but having even this very basic level of familiarity will give me better options if I turn out to need them.
I recommend checking Yelp reviews when selecting a class. I avoided ones where reviews said, "Injected their political opinions into the class," "ignored me, the only woman," etc. Anybody in the SF Bay area, feel free to MeMail me if you want my notes on the places I looked up.
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 2:10 AM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
At the class, I felt 3 different kinds of guns in my hand, practiced loading them, keeping them pointing downrange (uh, this is not necessarily as easy as it sounds, when you've never handled one before and your subconscious, you eventually realize, has absorbed gun-handling visuals from, like, Charlie's Angels), aiming and firing them. I know what the recoil for a .22 vs a Glock feels like. I was shit at hitting the bullseye on the target, especially with the bigger guns, but having even this very basic level of familiarity will give me better options if I turn out to need them.
I recommend checking Yelp reviews when selecting a class. I avoided ones where reviews said, "Injected their political opinions into the class," "ignored me, the only woman," etc. Anybody in the SF Bay area, feel free to MeMail me if you want my notes on the places I looked up.
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 2:10 AM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
Sean Spicer has explicitly stated Trump "definitely doesn't own {a bathrobe}". Now, who are you going to believe, the White House Press Secretary or your lying eyes?
The tax returns would show the bathrobe was owned by the Trump Corporation.
posted by rough ashlar at 2:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
The tax returns would show the bathrobe was owned by the Trump Corporation.
posted by rough ashlar at 2:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
has anyone thought that maybe he assumed 100 Grand was the pricetag
posted by flatluigi at 2:55 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by flatluigi at 2:55 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Grandpa's awake.
Bloody hell, not a moment's peace. What's he want now?
posted by valetta at 3:04 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Bloody hell, not a moment's peace. What's he want now?
posted by valetta at 3:04 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Disappointed to see cheerleaders for dementia in this thread.
Well it's more cheering for Trump to come to a sorry end than for dementia per se. I've been thinking for a while he's dementing. That article about him watching telly all night in his *debatable* bathrobe paints a pathetic picture. I mean, I can feel sorry for the monster in that there is nobody around him who cares enough about him to stop him being cynically used as a ridiculous puppet, or reassure him away from his combative paranoia (rather, I guess they stoke it) or even, apparently, check on his health.
And ever since I saw video comparing Bush's delivery in office to ten years previously I've been musing if, since Regan, dementing is the preferred state of a president, to those grey powers behind the Republican throne. Could it be a factor in who gets picked as election figurehead? Do they engineer brain damage in their successful candidates? Quite a dark screenplay for an implausible drama, if anything can be said to be implausible right now.
posted by glasseyes at 3:06 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Well it's more cheering for Trump to come to a sorry end than for dementia per se. I've been thinking for a while he's dementing. That article about him watching telly all night in his *debatable* bathrobe paints a pathetic picture. I mean, I can feel sorry for the monster in that there is nobody around him who cares enough about him to stop him being cynically used as a ridiculous puppet, or reassure him away from his combative paranoia (rather, I guess they stoke it) or even, apparently, check on his health.
And ever since I saw video comparing Bush's delivery in office to ten years previously I've been musing if, since Regan, dementing is the preferred state of a president, to those grey powers behind the Republican throne. Could it be a factor in who gets picked as election figurehead? Do they engineer brain damage in their successful candidates? Quite a dark screenplay for an implausible drama, if anything can be said to be implausible right now.
posted by glasseyes at 3:06 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Guys I think the last thread got hacked you should see some of the crazy shit written there about a press conference.
posted by um at 3:08 AM on February 17, 2017 [30 favorites]
posted by um at 3:08 AM on February 17, 2017 [30 favorites]
> Bloody hell, not a moment's peace. What's he want now?
He said we all only have three more weeks on Earth and that fossils were just something the Jews buried in 1924.
posted by guiseroom at 3:08 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
He said we all only have three more weeks on Earth and that fossils were just something the Jews buried in 1924.
posted by guiseroom at 3:08 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
He said we all only have three more weeks on Earth and that fossils were just something the Jews buried in 1924.
PLEASE ADD [FAKE] TAGS IF THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY TRUE.
There is, by now, literally nothing I won't believe he said. And meant it, too.
posted by PontifexPrimus at 3:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [59 favorites]
PLEASE ADD [FAKE] TAGS IF THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY TRUE.
There is, by now, literally nothing I won't believe he said. And meant it, too.
posted by PontifexPrimus at 3:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [59 favorites]
I feel like the what-is-dementia-and-can't-we/can-we-please-not-cheer-etc. derail needs to stop. If nothing else, as soon as people want to discuss the background of dementia, and the benefits or dangers involved when the US president maybe shows signs of a condition that resembles dementia, there should be trigger warnings all over the place.
Just to say that it's maybe not necessary to make a Trump thread (which is inherently not amusing as it is) positively agonizing for all those people here, who've had painful first-hand experience with dementia of friends or family. There will be a lot left to snark and joke about, it's true. It's gonna be great.
posted by Namlit at 3:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Just to say that it's maybe not necessary to make a Trump thread (which is inherently not amusing as it is) positively agonizing for all those people here, who've had painful first-hand experience with dementia of friends or family. There will be a lot left to snark and joke about, it's true. It's gonna be great.
posted by Namlit at 3:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Sorry, PontifexPrimus, I thought the Arrested Development video linked on my period with popup would suffice.
posted by guiseroom at 3:41 AM on February 17, 2017
posted by guiseroom at 3:41 AM on February 17, 2017
Anecdata:
I have family members who voted third party in PA. They're very friendly people, and they're all pro the DAPL protestors, and really these family members belong in some sort of socialist commune.
One family member is a Lyft driver and has been ferrying me around to medical appointments. I was watching the press conference unfold on my phone and the family member volunteered the info that he was a Libertarian and also wasn't really following what was going on, I mean it is hard to keep up, but ugh.
And as I've gotten older, I've gotten better at shutting out people and worse about it. In that I think *oh fuck I don't want your company* and read in their presence and give monosyllabic responses to questions. Worse about it in that I've been doing it not just to assholes but to nice people who mean well but are just ugh.
And when I heard this family member sort of proudly proclaim a) his Libertarianism and b) his ignorance of what was happening with the administration he helped usher in, I was just done. I did various shit on my phone as the nice family member ferried me around and said random shit. I should engage, should say but the benefits of federalism, should say, look man, you're a fucking Lyft driver, either educate yourself or shut up about it as you may piss off your customers.
Instead I was done. I guess a national tragedy will make me all love-thy-neighbor again, but until then, I can't stop being pissed off. Especially at people who voted for this monster and are unaware of what he's up to.
posted by angrycat at 3:47 AM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
I have family members who voted third party in PA. They're very friendly people, and they're all pro the DAPL protestors, and really these family members belong in some sort of socialist commune.
One family member is a Lyft driver and has been ferrying me around to medical appointments. I was watching the press conference unfold on my phone and the family member volunteered the info that he was a Libertarian and also wasn't really following what was going on, I mean it is hard to keep up, but ugh.
And as I've gotten older, I've gotten better at shutting out people and worse about it. In that I think *oh fuck I don't want your company* and read in their presence and give monosyllabic responses to questions. Worse about it in that I've been doing it not just to assholes but to nice people who mean well but are just ugh.
And when I heard this family member sort of proudly proclaim a) his Libertarianism and b) his ignorance of what was happening with the administration he helped usher in, I was just done. I did various shit on my phone as the nice family member ferried me around and said random shit. I should engage, should say but the benefits of federalism, should say, look man, you're a fucking Lyft driver, either educate yourself or shut up about it as you may piss off your customers.
Instead I was done. I guess a national tragedy will make me all love-thy-neighbor again, but until then, I can't stop being pissed off. Especially at people who voted for this monster and are unaware of what he's up to.
posted by angrycat at 3:47 AM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
This just sort of popped into my head, a take on something I'm pretty sure is up thread, about the ideal SNL cold open. Someone mentioned it should
just be the cast and writers and Baldwin watching the press conference, just stunned by the insanity of it. I like that, but my version would be Alec Baldwin, the cast, and the writers sitting, watching the tv. The camera is mounted on the tv, and the whole press conference is playing. At first, they're scribbling notes, laughing, doing impersonations. Slowly, the laughter fades. The note taking stops. People start tearing up, and turning to each other for solace. Hushed, almost inaudible whispers of shock and attempts at comfort. One by one, the get up and walk out, til it's just a couple of them, sharing a bottle. Finally, Baldwin is alone in the room, head down across crossed arms, loudly weeping. The kind of raw sobbing where you can't breathe properly, and start hyperventilating. Just the camera, pointed at his back, watching his shoulders rise and fall through the agonizing weeping.
I mean, sure, it's not funny, but neither is all this bullshit.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:54 AM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
just be the cast and writers and Baldwin watching the press conference, just stunned by the insanity of it. I like that, but my version would be Alec Baldwin, the cast, and the writers sitting, watching the tv. The camera is mounted on the tv, and the whole press conference is playing. At first, they're scribbling notes, laughing, doing impersonations. Slowly, the laughter fades. The note taking stops. People start tearing up, and turning to each other for solace. Hushed, almost inaudible whispers of shock and attempts at comfort. One by one, the get up and walk out, til it's just a couple of them, sharing a bottle. Finally, Baldwin is alone in the room, head down across crossed arms, loudly weeping. The kind of raw sobbing where you can't breathe properly, and start hyperventilating. Just the camera, pointed at his back, watching his shoulders rise and fall through the agonizing weeping.
I mean, sure, it's not funny, but neither is all this bullshit.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:54 AM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
he's totally buffing about obamacare, right? even the non-addled republican legislators haven't been able to thread that needle and they kniw that rushing a repeal is a good way to get slaughtered in 2018. he's got nothing.
posted by murphy slaw at 4:02 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 4:02 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Talez: It's a homage to Sam Bee's latest episode .
I just watched this video before coming to Metafilter today, and I think it's worth a look for everyone. Trump is no evil genius. He's just a sad, incompetent man in way over his head, but the daily shitshow he generates does serve as a very convenient distraction for the things the Republicans are doing in your Congress and Senate. In the FPP at the top of this thread Talez mentions some of those things, and Samantha Bee talks about them in the video too. People should keep track of what the Republicans are doing, so someone can hold them accountable when the times comes.
posted by Kevin Street at 4:02 AM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
I just watched this video before coming to Metafilter today, and I think it's worth a look for everyone. Trump is no evil genius. He's just a sad, incompetent man in way over his head, but the daily shitshow he generates does serve as a very convenient distraction for the things the Republicans are doing in your Congress and Senate. In the FPP at the top of this thread Talez mentions some of those things, and Samantha Bee talks about them in the video too. People should keep track of what the Republicans are doing, so someone can hold them accountable when the times comes.
posted by Kevin Street at 4:02 AM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Oh, I'll just say that yes I have had painful first hand experience of dementia with close family. That's where my thoughts are coming from.
posted by glasseyes at 4:19 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by glasseyes at 4:19 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Mark Knoeller is reporting that the White House will hire Mike Dubke as comms director.
"Dubke and his Crossroads friends did everything they could to kill the Trump movement and failed," one loyalist said.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
"Dubke and his Crossroads friends did everything they could to kill the Trump movement and failed," one loyalist said.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Mika just now, on Morning Joe: "The president needs to give a speech, and it can't have been written by a 31 year old tyrant."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
A speech for what? Pivot?
posted by tivalasvegas at 4:44 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by tivalasvegas at 4:44 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I actually recommend taking that survey on Media Accountability. I am pretty sure that based on my answers, my contact info will not be harvested as a potential supporter, so I had fun.
I was also pretty sure that based on my answers, they would stop reading my responses halfway through, so for the last question, I did not select an answer, and instead typed the lyrics to the song "Land of Confusion" into the comment box.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:48 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
I was also pretty sure that based on my answers, they would stop reading my responses halfway through, so for the last question, I did not select an answer, and instead typed the lyrics to the song "Land of Confusion" into the comment box.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:48 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Why is Trump continuously telling implausible lies that serve no purpose? He fails to manage a basic level of forethought that any normal person would have.
He can't lie coherently. Produces lie-shaped word-salad. Logorrhoea's equivalent of soft stools. Grifter past the end of his grift — William Gibson
posted by acb at 4:52 AM on February 17, 2017 [27 favorites]
He can't lie coherently. Produces lie-shaped word-salad. Logorrhoea's equivalent of soft stools. Grifter past the end of his grift — William Gibson
posted by acb at 4:52 AM on February 17, 2017 [27 favorites]
Andrew Sullivan: The White House Mole: I feel like I know Stephen Miller, the youthful Montgomery Burns who lectured the lügenpresse last Sunday morning in his charm-free Stakhanovite baritone. I feel like I know him because I used to be a little like him. He’s a classic type: a rather dour right-of-center kid whose conservatism was radicalized by lefties in the educational system. No, I’m not blaming liberals for Miller’s grim fanaticism. I am noting merely that right-of-center students are often mocked, isolated, and anathematized on campus, and their response is often, sadly, a doubling down on whatever it is that progressives hate. Before too long, they start adopting brattish and obnoxious positions — just to tick off their SJW peers and teachers. After a while, you’re not so much arguing for conservatism as against leftism, and eventually the issues fade and only the hate remains.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:54 AM on February 17, 2017 [31 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:54 AM on February 17, 2017 [31 favorites]
President's Day, a federal holiday, will be this Monday, February 20th. As a cruel joke it falls exactly one month into Trump's presidency.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 4:58 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 4:58 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
David Brooks: What a Failed Trump Administration Looks Like
The first conclusion is obvious. This administration is more like a medieval monarchy than a modern nation-state. It’s more “The Madness of King George” than “The Missiles of October.” The key currency is not power, it’s flattery.posted by octothorpe at 5:01 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
The corollary is that Trump is ripe to be played. Give the boy a lollipop and he won’t notice if you steal his lunch. The Japanese gave Trump a new jobs announcement he could take to the Midwest, and in return they got presidential attention and coddling that other governments would have died for.
If you want to roll the Trump administration, you’ve got to get in line. The Israelis got a possible one-state solution. The Chinese got Trump to flip-flop on the “One China” policy. The Europeans got him to do a 180 on undoing the Iran nuclear deal.
My son told me today that half his school was out today for day without immigrants and he wishes he had stayed home (I honestly didn't know the protest was to include students).
I took my daughter out of school but then halfway through the day I called her in half-sick in a panic. It was right around the time I realized there is no mechanism for legally removing the President without Congress no matter what he does.
posted by corb at 5:02 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
I took my daughter out of school but then halfway through the day I called her in half-sick in a panic. It was right around the time I realized there is no mechanism for legally removing the President without Congress no matter what he does.
posted by corb at 5:02 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
all the man had to do to slide by with a gentleman's C was to listen to the question and somehow denounce or condemn bigotry.
He didn't even need to go to bigotry.
"I'm the kind of guy who'll use the bigly power of this office to get things done the failers failed at. The FBI has dominion over bomb threats and I'll be sure remind them of that, ask for a report and get that over to you. Minion! Make that so!"
(The FBI made a press announcement on the 3rd of the month how they are all over getting this sorted out.)
posted by rough ashlar at 5:10 AM on February 17, 2017
He didn't even need to go to bigotry.
"I'm the kind of guy who'll use the bigly power of this office to get things done the failers failed at. The FBI has dominion over bomb threats and I'll be sure remind them of that, ask for a report and get that over to you. Minion! Make that so!"
(The FBI made a press announcement on the 3rd of the month how they are all over getting this sorted out.)
posted by rough ashlar at 5:10 AM on February 17, 2017
JOURNALIST: Deep State, is there a Deep State?
DEEP STATE: Hahahaha don't be silly of course there is no Deep State.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 5:14 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
DEEP STATE: Hahahaha don't be silly of course there is no Deep State.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 5:14 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Andrew Sullivan: The White House Mole
His description of schools is fucking nonsense. It just doesn't happen that way, despite the constant assertions of the neo-Nazis formerly known as the "alt-right." It's the kind of whiny libertarian nonsense we hear from people who believe Sesame Street sets a bad example for kids because it teaches them sharing (i.e., socialism) and how to play well together, or that we talk to little about wars and too much about how bigoted the Founders and everyone since then was. Besides, what evidence we have for Miller being a douchebag started before college, and it wasn't because of "SJWs." In high school, he was already well-known for spouting the usual conservative assholery with a shit-eating grin on his face.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:22 AM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
His description of schools is fucking nonsense. It just doesn't happen that way, despite the constant assertions of the neo-Nazis formerly known as the "alt-right." It's the kind of whiny libertarian nonsense we hear from people who believe Sesame Street sets a bad example for kids because it teaches them sharing (i.e., socialism) and how to play well together, or that we talk to little about wars and too much about how bigoted the Founders and everyone since then was. Besides, what evidence we have for Miller being a douchebag started before college, and it wasn't because of "SJWs." In high school, he was already well-known for spouting the usual conservative assholery with a shit-eating grin on his face.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:22 AM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
the current set of canned messages for the Firefox start page
Jeez. You'd have thought the Russians hacked Slap*Happy's (whose username has acquired a glint -- nay, a fine patina -- of eponysteria) cable router last night!
Also, check my comment history if you need proof, but I've been calling it for cocaine all along. Many years of coke (or other stimulant, maybe speed) abuse produces an addled affect
and lack of ability to regulate mood or stop talking even when the addict isn't using. It looks a lot like the early phases of dementia, which I know up close and personal too. But I know even more former cokeheads.
The president is a fucking cokehead, it's obvious. Which means he is gonna burn out like an American-made car halfway through this trip.
posted by spitbull at 5:23 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Jeez. You'd have thought the Russians hacked Slap*Happy's (whose username has acquired a glint -- nay, a fine patina -- of eponysteria) cable router last night!
Also, check my comment history if you need proof, but I've been calling it for cocaine all along. Many years of coke (or other stimulant, maybe speed) abuse produces an addled affect
and lack of ability to regulate mood or stop talking even when the addict isn't using. It looks a lot like the early phases of dementia, which I know up close and personal too. But I know even more former cokeheads.
The president is a fucking cokehead, it's obvious. Which means he is gonna burn out like an American-made car halfway through this trip.
posted by spitbull at 5:23 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Trump's NSA pick: "General Keith Kellogg, who I have known for a long time, is very much in play for NSA - as are three others." [real]
"I have decided to let @Schwarzenegger host the final competition for the job" [fake for now]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
"I have decided to let @Schwarzenegger host the final competition for the job" [fake for now]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
He's a Lyft driver
Simple tools for radicals: ask him how he plans to cover his retirement when robot cars (which already basically work) replace him?
posted by spitbull at 5:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Simple tools for radicals: ask him how he plans to cover his retirement when robot cars (which already basically work) replace him?
posted by spitbull at 5:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
This is all still happening, isn't it.
posted by BS Artisan at 5:27 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by BS Artisan at 5:27 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump
General Keith Kellogg, who I have known for a long time, is very much in play for NSA - as are three others.
I don't know if it's appropriate to keep doing the reality-show competition thing after the last guy you offered the job said no and called it a shit sandwich.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [47 favorites]
General Keith Kellogg, who I have known for a long time, is very much in play for NSA - as are three others.
I don't know if it's appropriate to keep doing the reality-show competition thing after the last guy you offered the job said no and called it a shit sandwich.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [47 favorites]
I can't help wondering at this point if there aren't a lot more R's compromised than just him
It would be interesting to have a list of every House or Senate Republican who used Wikileaks-released material in his or her 2016 campaign.
The pee tape (if it exists) will not bring Trump down. The entire country already knows he is a disgusting, immoral, depraved, pussy-grabbing, cheating, lying beast of a human.
posted by sallybrown at 5:39 AM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
It would be interesting to have a list of every House or Senate Republican who used Wikileaks-released material in his or her 2016 campaign.
The pee tape (if it exists) will not bring Trump down. The entire country already knows he is a disgusting, immoral, depraved, pussy-grabbing, cheating, lying beast of a human.
posted by sallybrown at 5:39 AM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
he's totally buffing about obamacare, right? even the non-addled republican legislators haven't been able to thread that needle and they kniw that rushing a repeal is a good way to get slaughtered in 2018. he's got nothing.
I wouldn't be so sure about that.
I think your conclusion presupposes a logical argument along the following lines:
Abolish Obamacare ==> Millions lose health insurance ==> Many people die ==> Those who gutted Obamacare are held responsible ==> Republicans lose in 2018
I think the more likely scenario is this:
Abolish Obamacare ==> Millions lose health insurance ==> Many people die ==> Obama will be held responsible ==> Democrats lose in 2018
One possible line to pin it on Obama might be "He knew that Obamacare would be repealed eventually and people will lose coverage, therefore it is all his fault. He should have thought of that when he forced Obamacare down our throats."
It doesn't make much sense, of course, but it's not any crazier than what the average American standing to lose coverage believes about Obama anyway.
posted by sour cream at 5:45 AM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
I wouldn't be so sure about that.
I think your conclusion presupposes a logical argument along the following lines:
Abolish Obamacare ==> Millions lose health insurance ==> Many people die ==> Those who gutted Obamacare are held responsible ==> Republicans lose in 2018
I think the more likely scenario is this:
Abolish Obamacare ==> Millions lose health insurance ==> Many people die ==> Obama will be held responsible ==> Democrats lose in 2018
One possible line to pin it on Obama might be "He knew that Obamacare would be repealed eventually and people will lose coverage, therefore it is all his fault. He should have thought of that when he forced Obamacare down our throats."
It doesn't make much sense, of course, but it's not any crazier than what the average American standing to lose coverage believes about Obama anyway.
posted by sour cream at 5:45 AM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
His description of schools is fucking nonsense.
But ascribing the motivation of young and angry right-wingers to "I like making liberals angry" probably isn't (this is the same Andrew Sullivan who went all in on "blacks are genetically inferior" with Herrnstein and Murray's "Bell Curve" back when he was the very young editor of the "even the liberal" New Republic).
posted by Pseudonymous Cognomen at 5:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
But ascribing the motivation of young and angry right-wingers to "I like making liberals angry" probably isn't (this is the same Andrew Sullivan who went all in on "blacks are genetically inferior" with Herrnstein and Murray's "Bell Curve" back when he was the very young editor of the "even the liberal" New Republic).
posted by Pseudonymous Cognomen at 5:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
(this is the same Andrew Sullivan who went all in on "blacks are genetically inferior" with Herrnstein and Murray's "Bell Curve" back when he was the very young editor of the "even the liberal" New Republic).
Uhh, he was still bringing this shit up a couple years ago or whenever he was last blogging before his welcome hiatus. Fuck Andrew Sullivan.
posted by chris24 at 5:48 AM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
Uhh, he was still bringing this shit up a couple years ago or whenever he was last blogging before his welcome hiatus. Fuck Andrew Sullivan.
posted by chris24 at 5:48 AM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
Michael Gerson: Reality Will Get Its Revenge on Trump
posted by sallybrown at 5:49 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
The world of Manhattan real estate must have seemed to Trump like the big leagues. It wasn’t. And the techniques that succeeded in his little world — the taunting, the exaggerations, the bluster, the threats, the bullying — do not translate well in dealing with real professionals. . . .This op-ed goes double for Steve Bannon and the rest of the big shots who think they can come in and run the table on the civil servants of DC because they see the bureaucracy as government drones in frumpy suits. We shall see.
But American institutions, it turns out, are pretty durable, at least so far. The checks have checked. The balances have balanced. In this scenario, it is good news that the Trump administration has been so inept, at least in conflicts with other institutions. We should be thankful that Trump is a figure much smaller than his schemes.
posted by sallybrown at 5:49 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Republicans headed for a potential defeat on their longed-for tax reform.
A handful of Ways and Means Republicans — including some with close ties to Trump — are fretting that retailers slapped with an import tax will ultimately pass the cost onto consumers. [YA THINK?] One member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Jim Renacci (R-Ohio), asked his chairman Wednesday to hold hearings on the proposal. . . .posted by sallybrown at 5:56 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
A source familiar with the White House’s thinking said it’s unlikely Trump would try to push through the border-adjustment tax if key administration officials and senators are still divided over it.
“It’s fair to say there’s a lot of questions about how it would work and the assumptions on which it’s based,” said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas). . . .
Senior House Republican sources who back him say the House has been working on tax reform for years and has already considered numerous financing mechanisms. But all of them have set off firestorms within various industries. A border adjustment tax, they say, is the best option on a limited menu.
Without it, they contend, tax reform will die.
> The pee tape (if it exists) will not bring Trump down. The entire country already knows he is a disgusting, immoral, depraved, pussy-grabbing, cheating, lying beast of a human.
A friend and I were discussing the hypothetical pee tape on our hypothetical pee tape podcast the other day and we had the thought that, if the pee tape does exist, the peeing would likely be the least offensive thing in the video. Assuming there is audio, imagine the kind of language Trump could be spouting as he instructs Russian prostitutes to urinate on the bed the Obamas—people he hates with a fiery, racist passion—once slept in. It would likely make the "grab her" video pale in comparison.
posted by guiseroom at 5:57 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
A friend and I were discussing the hypothetical pee tape on our hypothetical pee tape podcast the other day and we had the thought that, if the pee tape does exist, the peeing would likely be the least offensive thing in the video. Assuming there is audio, imagine the kind of language Trump could be spouting as he instructs Russian prostitutes to urinate on the bed the Obamas—people he hates with a fiery, racist passion—once slept in. It would likely make the "grab her" video pale in comparison.
posted by guiseroom at 5:57 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
Assuming there is audio, imagine the kind of language Trump could be spouting as he instructs Russian prostitutes to urinate on the bed the Obama's—people he hates with a fiery, racist passion—once slept in. It would likely make the "grab her" video pale in comparison.
But whom would this surprise? Trump supporters don't think he is some kind of paragon of virtue…they are tickled by his vices, or think "well this is just the way powerful guys are," or think "at least he's not as bad as X," or don't think his personal nature has bearing on the job he's doing, or are willing to make the tradeoff because they think he'll be effective.
posted by sallybrown at 6:03 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
But whom would this surprise? Trump supporters don't think he is some kind of paragon of virtue…they are tickled by his vices, or think "well this is just the way powerful guys are," or think "at least he's not as bad as X," or don't think his personal nature has bearing on the job he's doing, or are willing to make the tradeoff because they think he'll be effective.
posted by sallybrown at 6:03 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Huh. Chaffetz is looking into how Flynn got paid for his 2015 speeches in Russia. Direct link to his letter (pdf).
posted by peeedro at 6:05 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by peeedro at 6:05 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
But whom would this surprise? Trump supporters don't think he is some kind of paragon of virtue…they are tickled by his vices, or think "well this is just the way powerful guys are," or think "at least he's not as bad as X," or don't think his personal nature has bearing on the job he's doing, or are willing to make the tradeoff because they think he'll be effective.
They love him because he pisses off liberals. No more, no less.
posted by Talez at 6:07 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
They love him because he pisses off liberals. No more, no less.
posted by Talez at 6:07 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
"at least he's not as bad as X,"
I literally had someone use the "Hillary's killed like 30 people!" on me yesterday at work. Trying to continue his justification for voting for Trump.
posted by mayonnaises at 6:13 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
I literally had someone use the "Hillary's killed like 30 people!" on me yesterday at work. Trying to continue his justification for voting for Trump.
posted by mayonnaises at 6:13 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
When I first saw this thread on the front page, it had 666 comments, which seems like all the commentary the current situation needs.
posted by Mayor West at 6:14 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Mayor West at 6:14 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Russian solution for comprehending Trump...
posted by Mister Bijou at 6:17 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
On Friday, Russia's most popular tabloid, Komsomolskaya Pravda, accused President Trump of making "contradictory" statements about Nato.Russian media no longer dazzled by Trump (BBC)
The paper points out: "(During the election campaign) Trump had called the Alliance obsolete and useless. Less than two months have passed since he moved into the Oval Office and he's already expressed full support for Nato.
"As the saying goes, you need to be drunk to understand the true position of America's president."
posted by Mister Bijou at 6:17 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
> "As the saying goes, you need to be drunk to understand the true position of America's president."
Lord knows I've tried, but I guess I don't get *Russian* drunk.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:20 AM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
Lord knows I've tried, but I guess I don't get *Russian* drunk.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:20 AM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
Republicans headed for a potential defeat on their longed-for tax reform.
Yeah, large-scale tax reform is definitely not happening. They need the border adjustment to be able to afford their tax cuts, but half of the party doesn't want a border adjustment, including Koch brothers and Sen. Tom Cotton (Wal-Mart is based in his state). They want to eliminate all of the ACA taxes, but they have to cap or eliminate the exclusion for employer-provided health insurance in order to pay for that (i.e., the portion of health insurance paid for by your employer isn't considered taxable income; they want to change that) -- this would basically be a tax increase on half of the country. There is no way to satisfy both their donors and their base.
posted by melissasaurus at 6:21 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
Yeah, large-scale tax reform is definitely not happening. They need the border adjustment to be able to afford their tax cuts, but half of the party doesn't want a border adjustment, including Koch brothers and Sen. Tom Cotton (Wal-Mart is based in his state). They want to eliminate all of the ACA taxes, but they have to cap or eliminate the exclusion for employer-provided health insurance in order to pay for that (i.e., the portion of health insurance paid for by your employer isn't considered taxable income; they want to change that) -- this would basically be a tax increase on half of the country. There is no way to satisfy both their donors and their base.
posted by melissasaurus at 6:21 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
> But whom would this surprise? Trump supporters don't think he is some kind of paragon of virtue…they are tickled by his vices, or think "well this is just the way powerful guys are," or think "at least he's not as bad as X," or don't think his personal nature has bearing on the job he's doing, or are willing to make the tradeoff because they think he'll be effective.
Trump is capable of such vile, inhuman horror and atrocities that I genuinely believe a subset of his supporters who are decent, albeit misled and uninformed, people at their core would not be able to stomach. He has proven to be the breaking point for so many things never before thought possible in our history. Everyone has a breaking point. Right?
posted by guiseroom at 6:22 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump is capable of such vile, inhuman horror and atrocities that I genuinely believe a subset of his supporters who are decent, albeit misled and uninformed, people at their core would not be able to stomach. He has proven to be the breaking point for so many things never before thought possible in our history. Everyone has a breaking point. Right?
posted by guiseroom at 6:22 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Was listening to an 'American Republicans Abroad' woman on the radio just now, being interviewed about yesterday's.... event. Yes, I think it's safe to call it an event.
She's a Trump supporter, of course, but it's was fairly clear that she was a Republican loyalist first. She said the media was being unfair, but admitted 'there have been faults on both sides'. When pressed by the interviewer how the media should react when being told that unquestionably true things were 'fake news', she said that the media had misreported a fake Twitter account and Rolling Stone had made up a university rape story (! How much of a reach back into the past is that!) so they and Trump should 'meet half-way'.
She was clearly an intelligent woman, and also admitted to continuing to read the NYT et al, but said she was uncomfortable when CNN ran the sort of parody of Trump she'd expect from SNL.
Which is all very interesting, because while the interviewer wasn't at all hostile or aggressive - this wasn't an official representative of the GOP, just a supporter, and the story was 'how do people like that feel when they see things like this' - the bad equivalences and logical gaps in her self-defence didn't need highlighting, and I'm absolutely sure she was well aware oif them and most likely saying something completely different to her close friends than when she was on national BBC radio news. (No censure intended here, btw.)
Can she take four more years of this? I doubt it, by some margin. But I think it shows how it's important for the non-Trumpian media not to go to 'LYING LIAR LIES AGAIN' mode. I know it's nice for us to read, and really annoying for even a scintilla of refusal to say how downright bad this chap is. But every time that happens, it shores up the 'look, no wonder he's being so aggressive to these people' denial mechanism of the more aware Reps who are desperately trying not to have to betray their lifelong loyalties.
Better not to do that, I think. It'll be far more productive.
posted by Devonian at 6:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
She's a Trump supporter, of course, but it's was fairly clear that she was a Republican loyalist first. She said the media was being unfair, but admitted 'there have been faults on both sides'. When pressed by the interviewer how the media should react when being told that unquestionably true things were 'fake news', she said that the media had misreported a fake Twitter account and Rolling Stone had made up a university rape story (! How much of a reach back into the past is that!) so they and Trump should 'meet half-way'.
She was clearly an intelligent woman, and also admitted to continuing to read the NYT et al, but said she was uncomfortable when CNN ran the sort of parody of Trump she'd expect from SNL.
Which is all very interesting, because while the interviewer wasn't at all hostile or aggressive - this wasn't an official representative of the GOP, just a supporter, and the story was 'how do people like that feel when they see things like this' - the bad equivalences and logical gaps in her self-defence didn't need highlighting, and I'm absolutely sure she was well aware oif them and most likely saying something completely different to her close friends than when she was on national BBC radio news. (No censure intended here, btw.)
Can she take four more years of this? I doubt it, by some margin. But I think it shows how it's important for the non-Trumpian media not to go to 'LYING LIAR LIES AGAIN' mode. I know it's nice for us to read, and really annoying for even a scintilla of refusal to say how downright bad this chap is. But every time that happens, it shores up the 'look, no wonder he's being so aggressive to these people' denial mechanism of the more aware Reps who are desperately trying not to have to betray their lifelong loyalties.
Better not to do that, I think. It'll be far more productive.
posted by Devonian at 6:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
It’s ridiculous to suggest that a pee tape should be any more disqualifying than all the shit he’s done already, but you can see how it would be a convenient excuse for Fox/Congress/etc to turn on him if they thought he had outlived his usefulness.
They don’t really want to bring him down over something that has been public for a while, particularly before the election, because then they would have to bluster away about all the times they defended him before. The pee tape would be a new thing they could pretend to be shocked about. Plausible deniability: obviously I wouldn’t have endorsed him if I knew about this.
And it’s not too political: they can make it all about his personal sexual misconduct and the dignity of the office without tying it too closely to the GOP brand.
It would be rank hypocrisy, but we’re not going to get rid of Trump before 2021 without the right-wing establishment turning on him, and they will want to find the most painless possible way of doing it.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 6:26 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
They don’t really want to bring him down over something that has been public for a while, particularly before the election, because then they would have to bluster away about all the times they defended him before. The pee tape would be a new thing they could pretend to be shocked about. Plausible deniability: obviously I wouldn’t have endorsed him if I knew about this.
And it’s not too political: they can make it all about his personal sexual misconduct and the dignity of the office without tying it too closely to the GOP brand.
It would be rank hypocrisy, but we’re not going to get rid of Trump before 2021 without the right-wing establishment turning on him, and they will want to find the most painless possible way of doing it.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 6:26 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
There is no way to satisfy both their donors and their base.
posted by melissasaurus at 6:21 AM
errrrr.....this is one of the many universals in american politics.....
posted by lalochezia at 6:27 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by melissasaurus at 6:21 AM
errrrr.....this is one of the many universals in american politics.....
posted by lalochezia at 6:27 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
This is a fascinating interview with Mark Sanford.
posted by guiseroom at 6:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 6:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
The hypothetical tape has potential to be worse than what came before, not in a 'water sports are beyond the pale' kind of way, but in a 'how old were the girls?' kind of way.
But even that might not bring him down past 80% support with Republican voters who are the only ones that matter now.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
But even that might not bring him down past 80% support with Republican voters who are the only ones that matter now.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I ran for president to represent the citizens of our country.All citizens?
Obamacare is a disaster, folks. It's a disaster. You can say, oh, Obamacare -- I mean, they fill up our alleys with people that you wonder how they get there, but they're not the Republican people that our representatives are representing.Ok, got it.
posted by zakur at 6:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [37 favorites]
I wonder if something about his repetition, and not just of adjectives, makes him somehow more quotable by the his base supporters and, in turn, facilitates a camaraderie that's not actually born out by anything approaching a deeper knowledge or understanding of issues. As in they're having a tailgate, coffee break, water cooler, or whatever discussion where they can say to each other
Person 1: "Did you hear Trump last night when he said 'something something great something big something very well', man, ain't that right?"
Person 2: "Or when he said 'thing name best something job huge' right after that?"
...
Person Z: "That's right!"
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Person 1: "Did you hear Trump last night when he said 'something something great something big something very well', man, ain't that right?"
Person 2: "Or when he said 'thing name best something job huge' right after that?"
...
Person Z: "That's right!"
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
the bad equivalences and logical gaps in her self-defence didn't need highlighting, and I'm absolutely sure she was well aware oif them and most likely saying something completely different to her close friends than when she was on national BBC radio news
One of the news shows last night (wish I could remember which one) sent a reporter into a bar in Iowa to ask Trump supporters for reactions to the press conference. It seemed obvious that these people were still strongly behind Trump (and enjoyed chuckling about what they perceived as the media being brought down a peg) but were ready for him to actually get down to business, and were not blind to his contradictions. The reporter really pressed one guy to explain how it made sense that "the leaks are real but the news is fake." The Trump supporter's reasoning was "people are leaking real information, but there are also so many fake news stories because the media makes things up." When pressed on whether the news stories about the leaks themselves were fake, he sort of paused as if deciding how stubborn to be but then admitted the specific accusation didn't make sense. I do think there's a strong current of "even if I don't really feel this way, I love annoying liberals/the media by refusing to say a word against Trump!"
posted by sallybrown at 6:35 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
One of the news shows last night (wish I could remember which one) sent a reporter into a bar in Iowa to ask Trump supporters for reactions to the press conference. It seemed obvious that these people were still strongly behind Trump (and enjoyed chuckling about what they perceived as the media being brought down a peg) but were ready for him to actually get down to business, and were not blind to his contradictions. The reporter really pressed one guy to explain how it made sense that "the leaks are real but the news is fake." The Trump supporter's reasoning was "people are leaking real information, but there are also so many fake news stories because the media makes things up." When pressed on whether the news stories about the leaks themselves were fake, he sort of paused as if deciding how stubborn to be but then admitted the specific accusation didn't make sense. I do think there's a strong current of "even if I don't really feel this way, I love annoying liberals/the media by refusing to say a word against Trump!"
posted by sallybrown at 6:35 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Sales of anti-abortion license plates in the US are funding unregulated clinics that push medical lies: The plates are sold by local affiliates of Choose Life and proceeds are used for all sorts of things; in 18 states, a portion is used to fund adoption organizations. In Iowa, funds raised by the plates go to pay for roads and road repairs. But in others, they are used to fund crisis pregnancy centers—which reproductive health organizations say is an unconstitutional mixture of church and state. According to Guttmacher, in 15 states, a portion of the proceeds go to funding anti-choice or crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), which often provide biased and medically inaccurate information to women who are seeking family planning services.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:39 AM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:39 AM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
The Russians have got us all figured out: once or attentions move on from a threat or problem, once we've burned ourselves out thinking about a particular problem, it's super easy to redirect us into self criticism and petty social conflicts driven by insecurity about self image and paranoid ideas about personal authenticity and integrity. We spent decades waging secret wars and doing all kinds of nasty skullduggery to defend against the threat of Soviet territorial expansionism and hegemony, and now that we've got credible evidence Russian intelligence services finally succeeded in pulling off the kind of covert campaign to destabilize us socially and influence our internal affairs that they've been pursuing since at least the 50s, if not even farther back, we're too unsure of ourselves and untrusting to respond as decisively as we should.
We have a disastrous inability to care about or remember to consider important facts once we lose interest. I honestly believe our advertising and marketing culture have greatly exacerbated the effect by promoting the idea human life should or ever could be pain-free and effortless, with our personal tastes in the driver's seat, and nothing but personal truths that seem irreconcilable left in the absence of even any idea of a factual, independent reality that doesn't give one iota of a damn if we still remember or care about the past or if we have the right priorities to make wise choices. It seems to me the more rapid news cycle makes us more prone to forgetting what's important and losing interest in difficult problems and issues. There's a lot more base information workload on everybody's brains these days and that has to have big behavioral implications unless science is an idiot (which it's not).
posted by saulgoodman at 6:39 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
We have a disastrous inability to care about or remember to consider important facts once we lose interest. I honestly believe our advertising and marketing culture have greatly exacerbated the effect by promoting the idea human life should or ever could be pain-free and effortless, with our personal tastes in the driver's seat, and nothing but personal truths that seem irreconcilable left in the absence of even any idea of a factual, independent reality that doesn't give one iota of a damn if we still remember or care about the past or if we have the right priorities to make wise choices. It seems to me the more rapid news cycle makes us more prone to forgetting what's important and losing interest in difficult problems and issues. There's a lot more base information workload on everybody's brains these days and that has to have big behavioral implications unless science is an idiot (which it's not).
posted by saulgoodman at 6:39 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Priebus: Russia reports are 'grossly overstated and inaccurate': Priebus, speaking on "Fox and Friends" Friday morning, said that "I don't represent the campaign," but insisted that "what I just told you is what the highest levels of the intelligence community have told me." The chief of staff then pivoted to recounting the accomplishments of the new administration, including calls with foreign leaders and a measure Trump signed to roll back coal industry regulations.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:43 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:43 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Heitkamp, Manchin to support Trump EPA pick
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:44 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:44 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Politico's Donald Trump: 28 Days Later is a day-by-day recap of the story so far. Each day has a "Where things went off the rails" section and most days have a "Where things went according to plan" section.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:45 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 6:45 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
28 Days Later. Sounds like a horror movie.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:48 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:48 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Republicans headed for a potential defeat on their longed-for tax reform.
I don't understand the argument here. They have 2 whole years at the very least to push through whatever legislation they want, and tax "reform" is pretty much at the top of their list. Why are they going to give up in the first month after running the table on Democrats and seizing power?
A handful of Ways and Means Republicans — including some with close ties to Trump — are fretting that retailers slapped with an import tax will ultimately pass the cost onto consumers. [YA THINK?]
Is everybody going to collude on pricing?
posted by indubitable at 6:50 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I don't understand the argument here. They have 2 whole years at the very least to push through whatever legislation they want, and tax "reform" is pretty much at the top of their list. Why are they going to give up in the first month after running the table on Democrats and seizing power?
A handful of Ways and Means Republicans — including some with close ties to Trump — are fretting that retailers slapped with an import tax will ultimately pass the cost onto consumers. [YA THINK?]
Is everybody going to collude on pricing?
posted by indubitable at 6:50 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Zeynep Tufekci thread on usage of "Deep State" when referring to American IC leaks:
I keep seeing "deep state"—a concept from Turkey—used a lot in the US context. Like this [nyt linked] article. It doesn't work.posted by melissasaurus at 6:54 AM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
Permanent bureaucracy and/or non-electoral institutions diverging with the electoral branch not that uncommon even in liberal democracies.
In the Turkey case, that's not what it means. There was a shadowy, cross-institution occasionally *armed* network conducting killings, etc.
So, if people are going to call non electoral institutions stepping up leaking stuff, fine. But it is not "deep state" like in Turkey.
Oh, look, an article that gets the "deep state" stuff right, by talking to an informed Turkey expert! [link to Atlantic article]
atm I find comparing divergence between electoral and non-electoral institutions to be called a "deep state" a la Turkey kinda... offensive
Look, if State Dept teams up with Tony Soprano to create a "terror" attack to blame the administration for.. That's deep state a la Turkey.
I don't understand the argument here. They have 2 whole years at the very least to push through whatever legislation they want, and tax "reform" is pretty much at the top of their list. Why are they going to give up in the first month after running the table on Democrats and seizing power?
Trump won't sign tax reform without a border tax while rank and file conservatives won't go for tax return with border taxes.
posted by Talez at 6:56 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump won't sign tax reform without a border tax while rank and file conservatives won't go for tax return with border taxes.
posted by Talez at 6:56 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
President's Day, a federal holiday, will be this Monday, February 20th. As a cruel joke it falls exactly one month into Trump's presidency.
And two months before the date shared by Hitler's birthday and Marijuana Day; which seems somehow oddly apposite.
posted by acb at 6:59 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
The president is a fucking cokehead, it's obvious. Which means he is gonna burn out like an American-made car halfway through this trip.
But not before the Colombian delegation manages to get some sweet trade concessions.
posted by acb at 7:01 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
But not before the Colombian delegation manages to get some sweet trade concessions.
posted by acb at 7:01 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Geez, Manchin, Pruitt just got slapped by a judge in OK for not being forthcoming about his contacts with the oil industry while he was OK AG and suing the EPA over regs, and that's not enough for those two extraction state Dems to vote no.
posted by notyou at 7:04 AM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by notyou at 7:04 AM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
A handful of Ways and Means Republicans — including some with close ties to Trump — are fretting that retailers slapped with an import tax will ultimately pass the cost onto consumers. [YA THINK?]
Is everybody going to collude on pricing?
Why would they need to collude to raise pricing when slapped with an import tax…it's the rational thing to do, no?
posted by sallybrown at 7:04 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Is everybody going to collude on pricing?
Why would they need to collude to raise pricing when slapped with an import tax…it's the rational thing to do, no?
posted by sallybrown at 7:04 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Egg McMuffin: "For Republican leaders in Congress, there is no more room for cognitive dissonance. Instead, it is urgent that they recommit to patriotic prudence. They should demand that Attorney General Jeff Sessions appoint an independent special counsel to investigate Russia’s assault on American democracy and Mr. Trump’s possible collusion with the Kremlin. At a minimum, they must establish a bipartisan special select committee with subpoena power in the House or the Senate for the same purpose."
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:07 AM on February 17, 2017 [43 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:07 AM on February 17, 2017 [43 favorites]
Trump's Speech in Adjectives
Tallying Trump's adjectives is a very simple yet very telling exercise, especially since he relies on them so much to connect with his base. In the Q&A session, his favorites were "depleted" and "fantastic" (both three times), "tremendous" (four times), "strong" (five times), and "great" (eleven times). On one hand, verbal repetition is a tried-and-true sales technique, but on the other, shrinking vocabulary is one symptom of Alzheimer's.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:07 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Tallying Trump's adjectives is a very simple yet very telling exercise, especially since he relies on them so much to connect with his base. In the Q&A session, his favorites were "depleted" and "fantastic" (both three times), "tremendous" (four times), "strong" (five times), and "great" (eleven times). On one hand, verbal repetition is a tried-and-true sales technique, but on the other, shrinking vocabulary is one symptom of Alzheimer's.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:07 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
After Trump applauded Limbaugh for approving of his performance art piece last night, I made the questionable decision to look at Limbaugh's twitter feed (I won't link it here). Not good for my sanity. But it did reveal one interesting thing. He is using a hashtag #newtotalitarians to exploit a new list-blocking feature on twitter, so his minions only have to click once, and immediately, all undesirable twitterers disappear, and the informational bubble is cleansed of divergent opinion. This list-block thing might be another twitter disaster.
posted by stonepharisee at 7:07 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 7:07 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
What I'm worried about with the ACA is insurers fleeing and the program collapsing for that reason. OTOH, with luck voters will either fall into the "I understand why this happened, fuck the Republicans" camp or the "I don't understand at all but the Republicans were in charge, fuck them" camp.
posted by Frowner at 7:10 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 7:10 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
scaryblackdeath: That's what's so shocking. Even Dubya, with his wars and corporate giveaways and right-wing bullshit, even Dubya was capable of doing some real, significant, important good in the world.
Well, _rump has only had this job for less than a month at this point, what do you expect him to do in that time?
I'm jumping the gun a little here, but I'd like to remind everyone that during his first month in office, Barack Obama:
posted by filthy light thief at 7:12 AM on February 17, 2017 [28 favorites]
Well, _rump has only had this job for less than a month at this point, what do you expect him to do in that time?
I'm jumping the gun a little here, but I'd like to remind everyone that during his first month in office, Barack Obama:
- Signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
- Banned torture.
- Signed a $787 billion stimulus bill.
- Sent 17,000 additional troops to Afghanistan.
- Ended the month with a net job approval rating of +27 percent.
- Signed no legislation.
- Mostly signed executive orders that are either routine (pay freezes, a halt to new regulation, reversing the Mexico City rule) or little more than PR messages to his base (cracking down on drug cartels, financial regulatory reviews, rebuilding the military, etc.).
- Signed one executive order that was important, but rolled it out so incompetently that it caused massive chaos and was promptly overturned by the courts.
- Sat idly by at dinner while aides discussed a North Korean missile launch and then failed to respond in any way at all.
- Has presided over a White House so epically leak-prone and amateurish that people are already taking bets about which senior officials will get fired within the next few weeks.
- Ended the month with a net job approval rating of about -8 percent.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:12 AM on February 17, 2017 [28 favorites]
He has signed one bill as of today. It is an end to surface water protections in coal mining.
posted by cmfletcher at 7:16 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 7:16 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
AP: Trump administration considers mobilizing as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants.
There's no story yet. But fuck.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:17 AM on February 17, 2017 [30 favorites]
There's no story yet. But fuck.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:17 AM on February 17, 2017 [30 favorites]
While the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau still exists:
Consumerist: Court: CFPB Has Authority To Request Seven Years’ Worth Of Foreclosure Documents
The case against Harbour began back in Sept. 2016 when the CFPB began looking into whether financing offered by the company and others like it — referred to as an “Agreement for Deed” — were in violation of federal leading laws. ... On Wednesday, Judge Nancy Edmunds ruled that wasn’t the case, writing that the Bureau’s authority to issue the CID was “not ‘plainly lacking.’”
Additionally, she said that there is “plausible ground to believe that [Harbour] may have information related to a violation” of the Truth in Lending Act, and other federal laws.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:18 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Consumerist: Court: CFPB Has Authority To Request Seven Years’ Worth Of Foreclosure Documents
The case against Harbour began back in Sept. 2016 when the CFPB began looking into whether financing offered by the company and others like it — referred to as an “Agreement for Deed” — were in violation of federal leading laws. ... On Wednesday, Judge Nancy Edmunds ruled that wasn’t the case, writing that the Bureau’s authority to issue the CID was “not ‘plainly lacking.’”
Additionally, she said that there is “plausible ground to believe that [Harbour] may have information related to a violation” of the Truth in Lending Act, and other federal laws.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:18 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Why would they need to collude to raise pricing when slapped with an import tax…it's the rational thing to do, no?
They might also decide to absorb the tax in a narrower profit margin and leave prices as they are now. In which case monied corporate interests are paying new taxes. Which is, I think, the real objection here, not that consumers might pay more through raised prices. The only place where you can pass on a tax increase to consumers is if you have a lot of pricing power already or you're a regulated monopoly with a profit margin that is fixed by law (like a power company).
posted by indubitable at 7:20 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
They might also decide to absorb the tax in a narrower profit margin and leave prices as they are now. In which case monied corporate interests are paying new taxes. Which is, I think, the real objection here, not that consumers might pay more through raised prices. The only place where you can pass on a tax increase to consumers is if you have a lot of pricing power already or you're a regulated monopoly with a profit margin that is fixed by law (like a power company).
posted by indubitable at 7:20 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
AP: Trump administration considers mobilizing as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants.
There's no story yet. But fuck.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:17 AM on February 17 [1 favorite +] [!]
Legitimately terrifying. God help us all.
posted by marshmallow peep at 7:20 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
There's no story yet. But fuck.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:17 AM on February 17 [1 favorite +] [!]
Legitimately terrifying. God help us all.
posted by marshmallow peep at 7:20 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
cybercoitus interruptus - I'm in L.A. and a friend who is gun skilled is taking me out to the range next week because I haven't been in about 20 years and I DEFINITELY need a refresher. We may make her services available to other libs as well.
posted by Sophie1 at 7:20 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Sophie1 at 7:20 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
AP: Trump administration considers mobilizing as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants.
I hope someone points out to him how many of those troops are going to end up personally knowing undocumented immigrants. There's a reason that dictators set up and maintain their militaries and police as separate from the populace, to the point that you get second- and third-generation practically dynastic succession. The National Guard and Reserves are the exact opposite of that (though there is a ton of nepotism) -- he's going to try to mobilize people in their actual neighborhoods to enforce this stuff, which is not what any of them ever signed on for.
posted by Etrigan at 7:21 AM on February 17, 2017 [30 favorites]
I hope someone points out to him how many of those troops are going to end up personally knowing undocumented immigrants. There's a reason that dictators set up and maintain their militaries and police as separate from the populace, to the point that you get second- and third-generation practically dynastic succession. The National Guard and Reserves are the exact opposite of that (though there is a ton of nepotism) -- he's going to try to mobilize people in their actual neighborhoods to enforce this stuff, which is not what any of them ever signed on for.
posted by Etrigan at 7:21 AM on February 17, 2017 [30 favorites]
AP: Trump administration considers mobilizing as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants.
There's no story yet. But fuck.
That's the kind of thing that might actually start mass riots and/or a small insurgency.
posted by jaduncan at 7:22 AM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
There's no story yet. But fuck.
That's the kind of thing that might actually start mass riots and/or a small insurgency.
posted by jaduncan at 7:22 AM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Why are they going to give up in the first month after running the table on Democrats and seizing power?
Because their only chance to get it passed (without Dem input) is through budget reconciliation, but that process limits what they can actually do with respect to overall government revenues/expenditures (Byrd rule), and they can basically only do it once per year (and they want to spend their 2017 chance on ACA repeal). If they have any Republican Senator defections, they might not be able to pass the reconciliation bill at all and it would hurt their narrative, plus it needs to be signed by Trump (and they aren't going to risk having him veto something).
They want a "1986-style" tax code rewrite, but that required significant bipartisan effort with input from a ton of constituencies and a lot of work on the part of the Treasury Department. There were also a ton of loopholes that needed to be closed, which were a good source of revenue for the revenue reductions included in the rewrite, tax rates were much higher then, and Reagan had warned people in advance that some peoples' taxes might increase -- they weren't promising everyone a pony.
There aren't even consistent policy objectives between Republican congressional leaders and the Republican president. Largely because none of their ideas are good and you can really only finance one of them at a time. This is the problem with trying to govern on the basis of a strawman (i.e., that we have the highest taxes in the world and we need to reduce rates).
posted by melissasaurus at 7:23 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Because their only chance to get it passed (without Dem input) is through budget reconciliation, but that process limits what they can actually do with respect to overall government revenues/expenditures (Byrd rule), and they can basically only do it once per year (and they want to spend their 2017 chance on ACA repeal). If they have any Republican Senator defections, they might not be able to pass the reconciliation bill at all and it would hurt their narrative, plus it needs to be signed by Trump (and they aren't going to risk having him veto something).
They want a "1986-style" tax code rewrite, but that required significant bipartisan effort with input from a ton of constituencies and a lot of work on the part of the Treasury Department. There were also a ton of loopholes that needed to be closed, which were a good source of revenue for the revenue reductions included in the rewrite, tax rates were much higher then, and Reagan had warned people in advance that some peoples' taxes might increase -- they weren't promising everyone a pony.
There aren't even consistent policy objectives between Republican congressional leaders and the Republican president. Largely because none of their ideas are good and you can really only finance one of them at a time. This is the problem with trying to govern on the basis of a strawman (i.e., that we have the highest taxes in the world and we need to reduce rates).
posted by melissasaurus at 7:23 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
It's one thing to send ICE as a "deportation force" - those people signed up to do that job. Sending the National Guard out into communities to break up families is going to come with a hell of a lot more resistance.
posted by sallybrown at 7:23 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 7:23 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
Here's the AP story:
A draft memo obtained by The Associated Press outlines a Trump administration proposal under consideration to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants. Millions of those who would be affected in 11 states live nowhere near the Mexico border.
The 11-page document calls for the unprecedented militarization of immigration enforcement as far north as Portland, Oregon, and as far east as New Orleans, Louisiana. If the proposal is implemented, governors in the affected states would have final approval on whether troops under their control participate.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [36 favorites]
A draft memo obtained by The Associated Press outlines a Trump administration proposal under consideration to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants. Millions of those who would be affected in 11 states live nowhere near the Mexico border.
The 11-page document calls for the unprecedented militarization of immigration enforcement as far north as Portland, Oregon, and as far east as New Orleans, Louisiana. If the proposal is implemented, governors in the affected states would have final approval on whether troops under their control participate.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [36 favorites]
AP: Trump administration considers mobilizing as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants.
There's no story yet. But fuck.
Bet his base is going to hear about this at his rally tomorrow. Bannon is such an evil fucker.
Speculation: Float today. Get wtf reactions. (Can they even do this by order? Thought NG is state and they would have to federalize it? What is the mechinism for this? Do they need the legislature at all?)
Talk tomorrow about it and look base people, just look at all of the reactions I'm getting to what is right. I'm just trying to protect and MAGA. It's time to fight people. I need you to fight.
posted by Jalliah at 7:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
There's no story yet. But fuck.
Bet his base is going to hear about this at his rally tomorrow. Bannon is such an evil fucker.
Speculation: Float today. Get wtf reactions. (Can they even do this by order? Thought NG is state and they would have to federalize it? What is the mechinism for this? Do they need the legislature at all?)
Talk tomorrow about it and look base people, just look at all of the reactions I'm getting to what is right. I'm just trying to protect and MAGA. It's time to fight people. I need you to fight.
posted by Jalliah at 7:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
he's going to try to mobilize people in their actual neighborhoods to enforce this stuff, which is not what any of them ever signed on for.
No, no. Step 1 is that you send the National Guard unit to a place that isn't directly where they are from.
posted by jaduncan at 7:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
No, no. Step 1 is that you send the National Guard unit to a place that isn't directly where they are from.
posted by jaduncan at 7:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
Thanks roomthreeseven that answers some of my questions.
posted by Jalliah at 7:25 AM on February 17, 2017
AP: Trump administration considers mobilizing as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants.
Well, looks like it's time to dust off my "GI organizing" books again!
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.
posted by corb at 7:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
Well, looks like it's time to dust off my "GI organizing" books again!
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.
posted by corb at 7:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
If the proposal is implemented, governors in the affected states would have final approval on whether troops under their control participate.
"and that was how the USA ceased to exist."
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:26 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
"and that was how the USA ceased to exist."
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:26 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
Mod note: Couple comments removed. I know this is a tough and dispiriting time and if you're struggling with that I super feel you. Please feel 100% free to drop us a line at the contact form if you need to talk or vent or anything, any time. But let's avoid even rhetorical suggestions of self-harm in here.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:26 AM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:26 AM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
Yoga, time to take a break. We are all scared and there is a lot of catastrophizing here. Chances are things aren't as bad as we fear. Even here on MeFi I have seen a ton of stuff that was terrifying and ended up being just overaction and rumours.
Go to wholesome memes on reddit! It helps me a lot to see kind people in the world. I promise you things are not as bad as they seem. And you don't have a moral duty to punish yourself keeping track of all these things, it's okay to take a break.
While I was growing up in Peru, we had terrorist attacks every other month (shining path), inequality, racism and blatant corruption (much worse than here). And we survived, and things are still a little fucked up but slowly improving. Like Obama said, we go 3 steps forward, 2 backwards, but overall we make progress.
Don't despair!
posted by Tarumba at 7:27 AM on February 17, 2017 [28 favorites]
Go to wholesome memes on reddit! It helps me a lot to see kind people in the world. I promise you things are not as bad as they seem. And you don't have a moral duty to punish yourself keeping track of all these things, it's okay to take a break.
While I was growing up in Peru, we had terrorist attacks every other month (shining path), inequality, racism and blatant corruption (much worse than here). And we survived, and things are still a little fucked up but slowly improving. Like Obama said, we go 3 steps forward, 2 backwards, but overall we make progress.
Don't despair!
posted by Tarumba at 7:27 AM on February 17, 2017 [28 favorites]
Here are more details on the conflicting parts of the tax reform proposals, from the NYT.
posted by sallybrown at 7:28 AM on February 17, 2017
posted by sallybrown at 7:28 AM on February 17, 2017
That's heinous and I hope this memo leak is somebody in the white house getting it out there so the idea is squished flat before it gets further than "another terrible idea Bannon wrote up."
Jesus fuck.
posted by notyou at 7:29 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Jesus fuck.
posted by notyou at 7:29 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
More alternative fucks
posted by Namlit at 7:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Namlit at 7:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
he's going to try to mobilize people in their actual neighborhoods to enforce this stuff, which is not what any of them ever signed on for.
No, no. Step 1 is that you send the National Guard unit to a place that isn't directly where they are from.
But yeah, I'm sure a lot of them will be very unenthusiastic indeed, and some will be very enthusiastic indeed because they are white nationalists. I'd normally say that that's a drawback, but maybe it isn't if you're a believer in a forthcoming ethnic conflict that is rapidly turning against white people for demographic reasons.
It might not even be true that this is being pushed, but it's very telling indeed that nobody is sure if it is or isn't.
posted by jaduncan at 7:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
No, no. Step 1 is that you send the National Guard unit to a place that isn't directly where they are from.
But yeah, I'm sure a lot of them will be very unenthusiastic indeed, and some will be very enthusiastic indeed because they are white nationalists. I'd normally say that that's a drawback, but maybe it isn't if you're a believer in a forthcoming ethnic conflict that is rapidly turning against white people for demographic reasons.
It might not even be true that this is being pushed, but it's very telling indeed that nobody is sure if it is or isn't.
posted by jaduncan at 7:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
That's insane. Even for this administration, having already had their hands slapped on the immigration issue, that's insane. It's gotta be a false memo leaked to try to find the leaker.
It's gotta be.
I'll go inspect my AR, though, because that's where this is all headed if that's real. God dammit.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 7:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
It's gotta be.
I'll go inspect my AR, though, because that's where this is all headed if that's real. God dammit.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 7:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
It's gotta be a false memo leaked to try to find the leaker.
This suggests a level of niftiness that--after yesterday--I don't believe anyone has over there.
posted by Namlit at 7:33 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
This suggests a level of niftiness that--after yesterday--I don't believe anyone has over there.
posted by Namlit at 7:33 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Senior Assistant to Spicer says the National Guard news is "Not true." (This is not a verified account, but it was retweeted by the NYT's Maggie Haberman, who knows the White House staff well.)
A stronger denial than I remember seeing on other leaked proposals/ideas in the past from this Admin. Could also be a sign the divisions within the White House are continuing to grow (perhaps this was hidden from the Priebus faction?)
posted by sallybrown at 7:33 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
A stronger denial than I remember seeing on other leaked proposals/ideas in the past from this Admin. Could also be a sign the divisions within the White House are continuing to grow (perhaps this was hidden from the Priebus faction?)
posted by sallybrown at 7:33 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
AP: Trump administration considers mobilizing as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants.
Helpful that it leaked on a Friday morning so that people have plenty of time to plan this weekend's protests.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Helpful that it leaked on a Friday morning so that people have plenty of time to plan this weekend's protests.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yoga, here is what I think: I think that these are terrible, terrible times but there is a revolutionary opening. I think there's actually some possibility that we will look back in six years or so and see that the incompetence and evil of Trump together paved the way for the kind of real social change that most Americans actually want. (Healthcare for all, better job protections, pro-immigrant sentiment galvanized by disgust at Trump, etc). Trump is terrible and these are hugely dangerous times, but he and his people are also dumb as shit. Everything they are doing is weakening them - cutting them off from other Republicans and hardening their support down the the tiniest, craziest remainder.
There is a political ferment in this country that I have never, ever experienced, and it is led by a progressive-Democrat/left coalition. This is different from anything I've ever seen or even, in realistic moments, imagined.
I think we all ought to keep going if only because there's at least a chance that we're moving toward fully automated luxury communism for real now. There's never been a revolution that was easy or safe or risk-free, but I at least want to see what happens.
posted by Frowner at 7:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [37 favorites]
There is a political ferment in this country that I have never, ever experienced, and it is led by a progressive-Democrat/left coalition. This is different from anything I've ever seen or even, in realistic moments, imagined.
I think we all ought to keep going if only because there's at least a chance that we're moving toward fully automated luxury communism for real now. There's never been a revolution that was easy or safe or risk-free, but I at least want to see what happens.
posted by Frowner at 7:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [37 favorites]
According to CNBC's Steve Kopack, a "senior administration" official says it's false, but then he also has an update that DHS Secretary Kelly drafted it, and governors would have a choice whether guard troops would participate.
posted by yasaman at 7:36 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by yasaman at 7:36 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
a "senior administration" official says it's false, but then he also has an update that DHS Secretary Kelly drafted it
2017: it's false, but also DHS Sec. drafted it.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [72 favorites]
2017: it's false, but also DHS Sec. drafted it.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [72 favorites]
That's insane. Even for this administration, having already had their hands slapped on the immigration issue, that's insane. It's gotta be a false memo leaked to try to find the leaker.
It's gotta be.
I'll go inspect my AR, though, because that's where this is all headed if that's real. God dammit.
Not insane for Bannon. This is Bannon. It's textbook Bannon. The question I have is it someone leaking it because 'wtf?' or is it a float to gauge reaction or maybe provoke reaction.
Edited: See that it was the DHS secretary. Hope that's true. I'm perfectly okay with being wrong about it coming from Bannon.
posted by Jalliah at 7:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
I believe the technical term for this is "fucking with us." It's in the abuser's handbook, chapter 2.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:38 AM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:38 AM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
Here's the AP story in full.
"The memo is addressed to the then-acting heads of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It would serve as guidance to implement the wide-ranging executive order on immigration and border security that President Donald Trump signed Jan. 25. Such memos are routinely issued to supplement executive orders.
Also dated Jan. 25, the draft memo says participating troops would be authorized "to perform the functions of an immigration officer in relation to the investigation, apprehension and detention of aliens in the United States." It describes how the troops would be activated under a revived state-federal partnership program, and states that personnel would be authorized to conduct searches and identify and arrest any unauthorized immigrants.
Requests to the White House and the Department of Homeland Security for comment and a status report on the proposal were not answered.
The draft document has circulated among DHS staff over the last two weeks. As recently as Friday, staffers in several different offices reported discussions were underway."
posted by anastasiav at 7:38 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
"The memo is addressed to the then-acting heads of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It would serve as guidance to implement the wide-ranging executive order on immigration and border security that President Donald Trump signed Jan. 25. Such memos are routinely issued to supplement executive orders.
Also dated Jan. 25, the draft memo says participating troops would be authorized "to perform the functions of an immigration officer in relation to the investigation, apprehension and detention of aliens in the United States." It describes how the troops would be activated under a revived state-federal partnership program, and states that personnel would be authorized to conduct searches and identify and arrest any unauthorized immigrants.
Requests to the White House and the Department of Homeland Security for comment and a status report on the proposal were not answered.
The draft document has circulated among DHS staff over the last two weeks. As recently as Friday, staffers in several different offices reported discussions were underway."
posted by anastasiav at 7:38 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Here are the states that are included in the memo: California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:38 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:38 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Olivia Nuzzi also saying a senior source says it's false. Starting to look more like "we didn't know about this memo" than "this memo does not exist," imo.
posted by sallybrown at 7:39 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by sallybrown at 7:39 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
The AP article states:
-the draft memo was written by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly
-"The draft document has circulated among DHS staff over the last two weeks. As recently as Friday, staffers in several different offices reported discussions were underway."
So it's not surprising that the WH denies it, since there seems to be no communication between the WH and other executive branch agencies.
posted by melissasaurus at 7:39 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
-the draft memo was written by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly
-"The draft document has circulated among DHS staff over the last two weeks. As recently as Friday, staffers in several different offices reported discussions were underway."
So it's not surprising that the WH denies it, since there seems to be no communication between the WH and other executive branch agencies.
posted by melissasaurus at 7:39 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Remember, in 2017 "false/fake" doesn't mean "not true", it means "something that makes Trump's administration look bad". So yes, DHS really wrote it, it "leaked" (illegally, of course), and the immediate backlash against it automatically categorizes it as "fake news". No contradiction here.
posted by Roommate at 7:40 AM on February 17, 2017 [33 favorites]
posted by Roommate at 7:40 AM on February 17, 2017 [33 favorites]
According to CNBC's Steve Kopack, a "senior administration" official says it's false, but then he also has an update that DHS Secretary Kelly drafted it, and governors would have a choice whether guard troops would participate.
So a possible timeline is that Kelly wrote it, circulated it internally in the DHS, and someone more senior in the WH stepped on it as soon as they heard about it? If that was true, I guess I'd actually have a nameless WH person rise in my estimation.
posted by jaduncan at 7:41 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
So a possible timeline is that Kelly wrote it, circulated it internally in the DHS, and someone more senior in the WH stepped on it as soon as they heard about it? If that was true, I guess I'd actually have a nameless WH person rise in my estimation.
posted by jaduncan at 7:41 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
The fact that a member of the military was the person drafting this makes it even sicker to me. Does he not see that's a complete abuse of the oath National Guard members take? Shame on John Kelly if he did this.
posted by sallybrown at 7:41 AM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 7:41 AM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
Fine-tuned machinery.
posted by Devonian at 7:44 AM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by Devonian at 7:44 AM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
Devlin Barrett of the Wall Street Journal says "This discussion has been going on for a while - but the deputizing of many local cops as immigration agents is the biggest goal internally"
Effectively granting the wet dreams of all the over-militarized cops we've seen terrorize people of color the last few years. Can't see what could go wrong.
posted by sallybrown at 7:45 AM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
Effectively granting the wet dreams of all the over-militarized cops we've seen terrorize people of color the last few years. Can't see what could go wrong.
posted by sallybrown at 7:45 AM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
I think that the WH doesn't realize that the entire executive branch is, like, their problem. If an agency releases something, they can't just be like "that's not a White House document" (Spicer quote). That's not how this works.
posted by melissasaurus at 7:47 AM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by melissasaurus at 7:47 AM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
The Guardian article on using the National Guard.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 7:47 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 7:47 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm finding myself looking more and more at the Romanian model. They filled the benches with reform judges and then, each and every time a pol from any party steps over an ethical line, they go to fucking prison. And if the wags in office don't like it and try to slow them down, they send 3-5% of the population into the street every night to remind them that, by the way, they overthrew the last crooked-ass government with a revolution and they will absolutely do it again, motherfuckers.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:47 AM on February 17, 2017 [53 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:47 AM on February 17, 2017 [53 favorites]
The National Guard plan doesn't make much sense, it's more of a Gestapo task than a Wehrmacht task, and ICE have that covered.
posted by Artw at 7:49 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Artw at 7:49 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
"I wish you guys asked before you tweeted," Spicer tells AP reporter on plane. Reporter says they asked many times for comment. (cite)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:49 AM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:49 AM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
Something they are not thinking: Deportation is politically popular in part because it is not real to many citizens. It happens offstage, to people they never see or meet. I think that if there's anything which will generate pro-immigrant sentiment in this country, it will be cops in the streets everywhere checking papers and dragging people away in full view of citizens. If it does nothing now, it will radicalize the generation who are kids now. Bannon et al may think they're going full Nazi and everyone will be good Germans for them, but they've misjudged their moment.
posted by Frowner at 7:50 AM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 7:50 AM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
If this is true, I have some words I'd like to say to Kelly.
posted by corb at 7:50 AM on February 17, 2017 [69 favorites]
I will give to the selfless performance of my duty and my mission the best that effort, thought, and dedication can provide.Remember it, fucker?
To this end, I will not only seek continually to improve my knowledge and practice of my profession, but also I will exercise the authority entrusted to me by the President and the Congress with fairness, justice, patience, and restraint, respecting the dignity and human rights of others and devoting myself to the welfare of those placed under my command.
posted by corb at 7:50 AM on February 17, 2017 [69 favorites]
Wouldn't the AP be especially careful to verify the authenticity of the memo, knowing that the WH has been trying to discredit the press? I doubt very much they just like, got a leaked document from a random person and threw up a tweet and story about it without putting it through any verification (especially if they were seeking and not getting comments). Did they get burned by a good source?
posted by sallybrown at 7:53 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 7:53 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Why let the National Guard story hit the news before commenting on it? Nate Silver, "Because then they can decry the press for reporting "fake news". White House has used this tactic several times already."
posted by gladly at 7:54 AM on February 17, 2017 [39 favorites]
posted by gladly at 7:54 AM on February 17, 2017 [39 favorites]
The National Guard plan doesn't make much sense, it's more of a Gestapo task than a Wehrmacht task, and ICE have that covered.
They want to massively ramp up deportations. Obama administration averaged something like 400k from 2012-2016, they want to double, or triple that number, minimum. Trump's platform is to deport all 11-13million undocumented people in the US. All of them. Believe the autocrat. They can't do that with just the 20,000 or so current ICE employees. But there's several hundred thousand Guard members that could be deputized into de facto deportation squads.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:55 AM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
They want to massively ramp up deportations. Obama administration averaged something like 400k from 2012-2016, they want to double, or triple that number, minimum. Trump's platform is to deport all 11-13million undocumented people in the US. All of them. Believe the autocrat. They can't do that with just the 20,000 or so current ICE employees. But there's several hundred thousand Guard members that could be deputized into de facto deportation squads.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:55 AM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Hm, should I start carrying my US passport around? I'm kind of brown.
posted by Tarumba at 7:56 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Tarumba at 7:56 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
A few years ago, didn't Georgia try to cut down on immigrants, and then had to pull back when crops started rotting on the vine?
posted by drezdn at 7:57 AM on February 17, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 7:57 AM on February 17, 2017 [26 favorites]
Hm, should I start carrying my US passport around? I'm kind of brown.
I'm white and kind of freaked out that my green card doesn't mean shit anymore.
posted by Talez at 7:57 AM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
I'm white and kind of freaked out that my green card doesn't mean shit anymore.
posted by Talez at 7:57 AM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
It does sound like at some point they'll be abandoning the shreds of legal process and just shoveling people into trucks if they want to go that far.
posted by Artw at 7:58 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Artw at 7:58 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Detention, incarceration and deportation of undesirables works a lot better if you also seize their assets and give them to your supporters.
So, I'd keep an eye out for that in a memo at some point - if it's not already available. A lot of these damn aliens have had the chutzpah to be economically successful, create valuable businesses and accumulate assets.
Sign up to the program and win bigly, citizens!
posted by Devonian at 7:58 AM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
So, I'd keep an eye out for that in a memo at some point - if it's not already available. A lot of these damn aliens have had the chutzpah to be economically successful, create valuable businesses and accumulate assets.
Sign up to the program and win bigly, citizens!
posted by Devonian at 7:58 AM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
I'm white and kind of freaked out that my green card doesn't mean shit anymore.
I'm dreading whatever my next trip out the country will be and TBH considering just not going anywhere for the duration - I can't afford the chance that I won't be able to get back to my wife and kids.
posted by Artw at 8:00 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm dreading whatever my next trip out the country will be and TBH considering just not going anywhere for the duration - I can't afford the chance that I won't be able to get back to my wife and kids.
posted by Artw at 8:00 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
So, since I don't know anything about how this works, can somebody clarify for me?
1. President orders calling up of National Guard.
2. Governors in each requested state are required to comply.
3. Many states comply. CA (at least) does not.
4. President orders called up National Guard troops to round up immigrants in CA (at least).
5. CA (at least) authorizes it's National Guard troops to repel other state's troops from crossing its borders.
6. It's 1861 all over again.
posted by ragtag at 8:01 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
1. President orders calling up of National Guard.
2. Governors in each requested state are required to comply.
3. Many states comply. CA (at least) does not.
4. President orders called up National Guard troops to round up immigrants in CA (at least).
5. CA (at least) authorizes it's National Guard troops to repel other state's troops from crossing its borders.
6. It's 1861 all over again.
posted by ragtag at 8:01 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Detention, incarceration and deportation of undesirables works a lot better if you also seize their assets and give them to your supporters.
Under police asset forfeiture rules, they might not even need to make many new laws. :(
posted by drezdn at 8:01 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Under police asset forfeiture rules, they might not even need to make many new laws. :(
posted by drezdn at 8:01 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
A few years ago, didn't Georgia try to cut down on immigrants, and then had to pull back when crops started rotting on the vine?
Yep. That'll happen again nation wide, but they don't care. It's not about economics at all, it's about damaging demographic growth in Democratic leaning constituencies. And delivering on promises of a new White Reich.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:02 AM on February 17, 2017 [42 favorites]
Yep. That'll happen again nation wide, but they don't care. It's not about economics at all, it's about damaging demographic growth in Democratic leaning constituencies. And delivering on promises of a new White Reich.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:02 AM on February 17, 2017 [42 favorites]
I'm kind of brown.
Fake documentation.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 8:02 AM on February 17, 2017
Fake documentation.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 8:02 AM on February 17, 2017
I have no words for how economically destructive all this is going to be - but actual functioning industry and economy is a blue state thing so I guess they will be happy to see that burn a little.
posted by Artw at 8:03 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:03 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Governors in each requested state are required to comply.
Technically (by which I mean by assumption that rule of law is still a thing), they're required not to comply.
posted by zombieflanders at 8:03 AM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
Technically (by which I mean by assumption that rule of law is still a thing), they're required not to comply.
posted by zombieflanders at 8:03 AM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
Hm, should I start carrying my US passport around? I'm kind of brown.
I'm not sure that's going to stop us from becoming American desaparecidos, but you know, it never actually hurts.
posted by corb at 8:03 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm not sure that's going to stop us from becoming American desaparecidos, but you know, it never actually hurts.
posted by corb at 8:03 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Make America White Again/For The First Time?
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:04 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:04 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I have no words for how economically destructive all this is going to be - but actual functioning industry and economy is a blue state thing so I guess they will be happy to see that burn a little.
Didn't you get the memo? It's Brexit x 100!
posted by Devonian at 8:05 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Didn't you get the memo? It's Brexit x 100!
posted by Devonian at 8:05 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yep. That'll happen again nation wide, but they don't care. It's not about economics at all, it's about damaging demographic growth in Democratic leaning constituencies. And delivering on promises of a new White Reich.
The one that do acknowledge that this could or would happen also appear to believe in magic. Sure maybe short-term burps but all will be well cause the labor market will just adjust and all will be well in the world.
posted by Jalliah at 8:05 AM on February 17, 2017
If the memo is indeed real, then how does a report on it count as "fake news"? The WH can yell "fake news" all it wants, but if the AP can prove the authenticity of the memo then that attack isn't going to land with anyone other than the deranged Trumpkins who believe anything…maybe this is just more simple stupidity from the White House.
Ben Shapiro (former Breitbart editor) says: "If the AP report is factually accurate, and WH refused comment only to reject the report later, that's on Trump, not AP."
posted by sallybrown at 8:07 AM on February 17, 2017 [27 favorites]
Ben Shapiro (former Breitbart editor) says: "If the AP report is factually accurate, and WH refused comment only to reject the report later, that's on Trump, not AP."
posted by sallybrown at 8:07 AM on February 17, 2017 [27 favorites]
Just a reminder that if you have Amazon Prime, WaPo (digital edition) is free for the first six months.
Couldn't find a current link with an update from this week but Amazon last week still had not decided if it was going to pull ads from Breitbart.
posted by archimago at 8:08 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Couldn't find a current link with an update from this week but Amazon last week still had not decided if it was going to pull ads from Breitbart.
posted by archimago at 8:08 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
They want to massively ramp up deportations.
Deportations take time, and on average a person stays months in detention before being flown out. I imagine even if they detain you by mistake it would take a long time before they let you go.
If I am detained, I could end up losing my job (and house, etc.) while I wait for USCIS to confirm that I have citizenship. In a less likely scenario, they could pretend I did something to invalidate my citizenship (like if they look online and find something they don't like I suppose) and that's me gone.
I can't imagine it will get more efficient under trump, he's not well known for planning.
My husband and I agreed that when they start deporting people who were legally here, it is probably time for us to self deport.
Some non-immigrant will be lucky to buy our house for cheap since we'll be in a hurry.
posted by Tarumba at 8:08 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
Deportations take time, and on average a person stays months in detention before being flown out. I imagine even if they detain you by mistake it would take a long time before they let you go.
If I am detained, I could end up losing my job (and house, etc.) while I wait for USCIS to confirm that I have citizenship. In a less likely scenario, they could pretend I did something to invalidate my citizenship (like if they look online and find something they don't like I suppose) and that's me gone.
I can't imagine it will get more efficient under trump, he's not well known for planning.
My husband and I agreed that when they start deporting people who were legally here, it is probably time for us to self deport.
Some non-immigrant will be lucky to buy our house for cheap since we'll be in a hurry.
posted by Tarumba at 8:08 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
The National Guard plan doesn't make much sense, it's more of a Gestapo task than a Wehrmacht task, and ICE have that covered.
Actually, I really disagree. ICE don't have the numbers to fulfill this pledge to deport hundreds of thousands of people. If they are insane enough to actually try and do it, they need warm bodies. Trump said that "probably 2 million, it could even be 3 million" would be deported. Who else but the National Guard have the numbers for that? It's a properly insane level of effort just in sheer logistics, train usage and probably shipping. I feel like moving that amount of people sounds an awful lot easier than it is; the capacity of a coach tends to be 55 or 56 seats.
Let's (extremely) generously say that you don't need to secure those coaches, but you need 1 person on there to guide them.
3 million people is 54,545 coach rides. I would suggest that more than one coach ride might be needed, and that you might just possibly need more than one security guard. You also have to transfer them across the border, and to assume that Mexico(?) or Canada(?) would take people, because it turns out that many brown and even Hispanic people aren't Mexican nationals either but if you have to fly them the cost is truly, truly impressive and you have repeated planeloads of people in the air who might well not take too kindly to the transport. So maybe you have deportation ships, if you actually mean it. Cheap, but you have to get people to ports and hold up the port whilst you load and unload, meaning that import/export capacity is greatly impacted even assuming no sabotage. So you can add on cost and manpower to that.
You also need places to hold your deportees before deportation, and to deliver them to in a different country. It's hard to know how they'd have the supply chains to feed that many people, but let's say that is sorted out. You also have to ensure that the people concerned don't come back across the border.
But generously, let's say you only deport Mexicans and nobody else, and that Mexico takes them. Room to room searches are expensive, and make bad optics. The leadership might have to go hard and fast and terrify people into voluntarily leaving. Even then, "ICE now has more than 20,000 employees in more than 400 offices in the United States and 46 foreign countries." 20,000 for moving anywhere near the amount of people they have claimed is utterly, utterly insufficient. The issue with even the national guard, assuming that people even co-operate with that, is not that they aren't suited to it so much as that there also aren't enough Guards available.
Fascism in deportation, paranoia and walls, amongst other things, is really expensive. Plus you'd have so much court action and active resistance that it would be much more expensive than the mere logistics costs I've noted.
Do I think that Kelly might have written this? 2 weeks of discussions sounds like it. Do I think they could get even a Republican congress to sign off on the expense? No, call me an optimist but actually I don't think they could persuade a majority to sign off on an incredibly reputationally, morally and financially ruinous plan.
What really annoys me is that I'm only 90% sure that isn't the actual plan.
posted by jaduncan at 8:09 AM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
Actually, I really disagree. ICE don't have the numbers to fulfill this pledge to deport hundreds of thousands of people. If they are insane enough to actually try and do it, they need warm bodies. Trump said that "probably 2 million, it could even be 3 million" would be deported. Who else but the National Guard have the numbers for that? It's a properly insane level of effort just in sheer logistics, train usage and probably shipping. I feel like moving that amount of people sounds an awful lot easier than it is; the capacity of a coach tends to be 55 or 56 seats.
Let's (extremely) generously say that you don't need to secure those coaches, but you need 1 person on there to guide them.
3 million people is 54,545 coach rides. I would suggest that more than one coach ride might be needed, and that you might just possibly need more than one security guard. You also have to transfer them across the border, and to assume that Mexico(?) or Canada(?) would take people, because it turns out that many brown and even Hispanic people aren't Mexican nationals either but if you have to fly them the cost is truly, truly impressive and you have repeated planeloads of people in the air who might well not take too kindly to the transport. So maybe you have deportation ships, if you actually mean it. Cheap, but you have to get people to ports and hold up the port whilst you load and unload, meaning that import/export capacity is greatly impacted even assuming no sabotage. So you can add on cost and manpower to that.
You also need places to hold your deportees before deportation, and to deliver them to in a different country. It's hard to know how they'd have the supply chains to feed that many people, but let's say that is sorted out. You also have to ensure that the people concerned don't come back across the border.
But generously, let's say you only deport Mexicans and nobody else, and that Mexico takes them. Room to room searches are expensive, and make bad optics. The leadership might have to go hard and fast and terrify people into voluntarily leaving. Even then, "ICE now has more than 20,000 employees in more than 400 offices in the United States and 46 foreign countries." 20,000 for moving anywhere near the amount of people they have claimed is utterly, utterly insufficient. The issue with even the national guard, assuming that people even co-operate with that, is not that they aren't suited to it so much as that there also aren't enough Guards available.
Fascism in deportation, paranoia and walls, amongst other things, is really expensive. Plus you'd have so much court action and active resistance that it would be much more expensive than the mere logistics costs I've noted.
Do I think that Kelly might have written this? 2 weeks of discussions sounds like it. Do I think they could get even a Republican congress to sign off on the expense? No, call me an optimist but actually I don't think they could persuade a majority to sign off on an incredibly reputationally, morally and financially ruinous plan.
What really annoys me is that I'm only 90% sure that isn't the actual plan.
posted by jaduncan at 8:09 AM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
And let's not forget the existence of for-profit detention centers. People often are not just deported or "sent back" immediately - many are kept in horrific conditions, including families with children, in facilities that generate profit for large corporations owned by white men. They are often forced to work in these camps with little to no pay, and if they complain they're put in solitary.
posted by melissasaurus at 8:09 AM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by melissasaurus at 8:09 AM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
If they round people up in those kinds of numbers it will be large scale detention camps, not deportations. Comparisons to WWII era concentration camps will seem overblown until they are not.
posted by Artw at 8:11 AM on February 17, 2017 [72 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:11 AM on February 17, 2017 [72 favorites]
A DHS official says memo was "a very early, pre decisional draft... and was never seriously considered by the Department"
I'm torn between thinking that the administration wanted this out there -- as a trial balloon for increasing deportation force, meat for the base, and maybe to distract from the press conference coverage -- and thinking it was genuinely leaked. If the draft had been kicking around for weeks, I tend to believe the former.
posted by gladly at 8:12 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
I'm torn between thinking that the administration wanted this out there -- as a trial balloon for increasing deportation force, meat for the base, and maybe to distract from the press conference coverage -- and thinking it was genuinely leaked. If the draft had been kicking around for weeks, I tend to believe the former.
posted by gladly at 8:12 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
If the memo is indeed real, then how does a report on it count as "fake news"?
Words mean very little to true believers.
posted by Artw at 8:12 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Words mean very little to true believers.
posted by Artw at 8:12 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Detention, incarceration and deportation of undesirables works a lot better if you also seize their assets and give them to your supporters.
It's been done, and it aint even ancient history.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 8:12 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
It's been done, and it aint even ancient history.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 8:12 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
What was most striking to me about Trump's press conference/crazy time with the grown-ups, is that he seems basically incompetent.
For a while I thought Trump was maybe especially devious and clever. That he was kind of playing dumb to lure people, or else playing blustery, to put them off their game. But more and more I think it's actually that he is just plain old incompetent. He's blustery because he had one egg too many for breakfast or his coffee wasn't how he likes it or his meds were acting on him funny that day.
So when it comes to the logistical feat of mounting a coup or any kind of overthrow, I think we will be saved from his malice by his incompetence.
posted by From Bklyn at 8:13 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
For a while I thought Trump was maybe especially devious and clever. That he was kind of playing dumb to lure people, or else playing blustery, to put them off their game. But more and more I think it's actually that he is just plain old incompetent. He's blustery because he had one egg too many for breakfast or his coffee wasn't how he likes it or his meds were acting on him funny that day.
So when it comes to the logistical feat of mounting a coup or any kind of overthrow, I think we will be saved from his malice by his incompetence.
posted by From Bklyn at 8:13 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
What really annoys me is that I'm only 90% sure that isn't the actual plan.
posted by jaduncan at 12:09 AM on February 18 [+] [!]
You know who else had tremendous plans that didn't involve mass deaths?
posted by saysthis at 8:13 AM on February 17, 2017
posted by jaduncan at 12:09 AM on February 18 [+] [!]
You know who else had tremendous plans that didn't involve mass deaths?
posted by saysthis at 8:13 AM on February 17, 2017
> It's been done, and it aint even ancient history.
More recently than that.
(Minus deportation but still featuring stealing of all your stuff)
posted by fragmede at 8:14 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
More recently than that.
(Minus deportation but still featuring stealing of all your stuff)
posted by fragmede at 8:14 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
If they round people up in those kinds of numbers it will be large scale detention camps, not deportations. Comparisons to WWII era concentration camps will seem overblown until they are not.
If you have them over the border, you don't even have to feed them afterwards.
posted by jaduncan at 8:15 AM on February 17, 2017
If you have them over the border, you don't even have to feed them afterwards.
posted by jaduncan at 8:15 AM on February 17, 2017
It's official, we have a supervillain president.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 8:15 AM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 8:15 AM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
Some non-immigrant will be lucky to buy our house for cheap since we'll be in a hurry.
Yup. Exactly like what happened with Japanese internment. Even if they're blocked by the courts from actually deporting most of the people they want to deport, just detaining people who look like immigrants for any period of time longer than a few days will achieve most of their goals. There are lots of kinds of ethnic cleansing that don't require forcible deportation or murder camps.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:16 AM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
Yup. Exactly like what happened with Japanese internment. Even if they're blocked by the courts from actually deporting most of the people they want to deport, just detaining people who look like immigrants for any period of time longer than a few days will achieve most of their goals. There are lots of kinds of ethnic cleansing that don't require forcible deportation or murder camps.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:16 AM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
I'm torn between thinking that the administration wanted this out there -- as a trial balloon for increasing deportation force, meat for the base, and maybe to distract from the press conference coverage -- and thinking it was genuinely leaked. If the draft had been kicking around for weeks, I tend to believe the former.
Or the leaker held off until it looked like the plan was on the short list for implementation.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:18 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Or the leaker held off until it looked like the plan was on the short list for implementation.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:18 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
I made the mistake of eating and now feel like I'm going to throw up. I'm going to go inspect my backpacking gear in case I need to start walking north sometime in the near future, faster than I could ever have imagined two months ago.
posted by corb at 8:18 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by corb at 8:18 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Why let the National Guard story hit the news before commenting on it? Nate Silver, "Because then they can decry the press for reporting "fake news". White House has used this tactic several times already."
Would this be a strategy for identifying leakers? Circulate a bunch of crazy things internally to particular groups/people and see what shows up in the press?
posted by mazola at 8:19 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Would this be a strategy for identifying leakers? Circulate a bunch of crazy things internally to particular groups/people and see what shows up in the press?
posted by mazola at 8:19 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Fox News has Trump's approval rating at 39% today.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:19 AM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:19 AM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
I don't want to depress you guys but if we end up being sent away at some point I really would appreciate it if someone here could take care of my cat?
Memail me if you are in Virginia.
posted by Tarumba at 8:19 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Memail me if you are in Virginia.
posted by Tarumba at 8:19 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
If they round people up in those kinds of numbers it will be large scale detention camps, not deportations. Comparisons to WWII era concentration camps will seem overblown until they are not.
If you have them over the border, you don't even have to feed them afterwards.
posted by jaduncan at 12:15 AM on February 18 [+] [!]
And you don't need something so obvious as concentration camps to get the same effect.
posted by saysthis at 8:20 AM on February 17, 2017
If you have them over the border, you don't even have to feed them afterwards.
posted by jaduncan at 12:15 AM on February 18 [+] [!]
And you don't need something so obvious as concentration camps to get the same effect.
posted by saysthis at 8:20 AM on February 17, 2017
Buzzfeed: Steve Bannon’s Gay Agenda: “I don’t think [Bannon] has very strong views on the question at all … I mean gay rights broadly,” said Williams, one of the major social conservative voices on the site. “Probably pushed to it, he would probably say I think it’s gone too far, but he never pushes it, he never vocalizes it — it’s just not on the top ten list of things that he cares about.”
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:23 AM on February 17, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:23 AM on February 17, 2017
io9 (gizmodo): Congressman [David Cicilline (D-RI)] Compares Trump Administration to Stranger Things, Becomes Legend . He made a poster and spoke from the house floor.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:23 AM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:23 AM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
I mentioned this AP story to my elderly father over breakfast. He responded by saying he read yesterday about "some woman who isn't supposed to be here who voted like five times and she's going to prison and she still says she did nothing wrong."
This is why America is what it is. One bad anecdotal egg means all eggs are bad. Better to tear apart thousands of families than to let one person do wrong AND GET CAUGHT AT IT, because one who got caught means 2,999,999 others must be getting away with it.
Breakfast tasted funny.
posted by delfin at 8:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [28 favorites]
This is why America is what it is. One bad anecdotal egg means all eggs are bad. Better to tear apart thousands of families than to let one person do wrong AND GET CAUGHT AT IT, because one who got caught means 2,999,999 others must be getting away with it.
Breakfast tasted funny.
posted by delfin at 8:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [28 favorites]
Would this be a strategy for identifying leakers? Circulate a bunch of crazy things internally to particular groups/people and see what shows up in the press?
The memo was dated 1/25 and the AP report states that "staffers in several different offices reported discussions were underway." This isn't some clever ruse by the Trump team. This is the Trump WH not understanding how stuff works. The AP can say "Trump admin proposed this" when it was a DHS proposal because that is accurate. But Trump and his WH staff have a very narrow view of the definition of "The Trump Administration" that encompasses only Trump and maybe, occasionally, his senior staff.
posted by melissasaurus at 8:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
The memo was dated 1/25 and the AP report states that "staffers in several different offices reported discussions were underway." This isn't some clever ruse by the Trump team. This is the Trump WH not understanding how stuff works. The AP can say "Trump admin proposed this" when it was a DHS proposal because that is accurate. But Trump and his WH staff have a very narrow view of the definition of "The Trump Administration" that encompasses only Trump and maybe, occasionally, his senior staff.
posted by melissasaurus at 8:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
Would this be a strategy for identifying leakers? Circulate a bunch of crazy things internally to particular groups/people and see what shows up in the press?
This only works if you can be sure that nobody is talking to anybody else about the contents of the memos. AP's source claims the memo was "circulating" around Kelly's office for several weeks, so presumably it was not only seen by multiple people but discussed.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
This only works if you can be sure that nobody is talking to anybody else about the contents of the memos. AP's source claims the memo was "circulating" around Kelly's office for several weeks, so presumably it was not only seen by multiple people but discussed.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I know there's surely a meta where I should be posting this, but I just want to let y'all know I appreciate all of you and your contributions to these threads so, so much. I honestly can't imagine how I'd be coping/engaging with this whole mess if Metafilter didn't exist. <3
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 8:26 AM on February 17, 2017 [39 favorites]
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 8:26 AM on February 17, 2017 [39 favorites]
Soooooo....in the event this widely denied yet extremely plausible mobilization occurs, would posse comitatus apply? Or would that not be applicable due to national guard troops being dually state and federal units?
posted by Existential Dread at 8:26 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Existential Dread at 8:26 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Nixon's Meatloaf would be a great band/blog name.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 8:26 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 8:26 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Would this be a strategy for identifying leakers? Circulate a bunch of crazy things internally to particular groups/people and see what shows up in the press?
I would like nothing more than to believe this is a barium pill, but the problem is I can't be sure even if it is, they're not still serious.
posted by corb at 8:27 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
I would like nothing more than to believe this is a barium pill, but the problem is I can't be sure even if it is, they're not still serious.
posted by corb at 8:27 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Soooooo....in the event this widely denied yet extremely plausible mobilization occurs, would posse comitatus apply? Or would that not be applicable due to national guard troops being dually state and federal units?
You can consider rule of law suspended for all non whites and immigrants regardless of status.
posted by Artw at 8:27 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
You can consider rule of law suspended for all non whites and immigrants regardless of status.
posted by Artw at 8:27 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Citizenship or a greencard is not going to be any kind of barrier whatsoever.
posted by Artw at 8:28 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:28 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
A few years ago, didn't Georgia try to cut down on immigrants, and then had to pull back when crops started rotting on the vine?
I read up on this a few weeks ago. Apparently they turned to prison labor to do the work.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:28 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
I read up on this a few weeks ago. Apparently they turned to prison labor to do the work.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:28 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Is this "Mainstream Media Accountability Survey" even worth doing? I mean if they've made their collective ear available then I'd like to shout in it, but it seems unlikely that they will use the results honestly.
posted by Krulth at 8:29 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Krulth at 8:29 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
One thing we are not going to here from the WH: that this is a bad idea or that people are bad for proposing it.
posted by Artw at 8:29 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 8:29 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Soooooo....in the event this widely denied yet extremely plausible mobilization occurs, would posse comitatus apply? Or would that not be applicable due to national guard troops being dually state and federal units?
I would love to hear a lawyer's opinion on this. But National Guard units have been deployed in law enforcement-like capacities before (during the civil rights era), so I assume posse comitatus does not apply to them.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:29 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I would love to hear a lawyer's opinion on this. But National Guard units have been deployed in law enforcement-like capacities before (during the civil rights era), so I assume posse comitatus does not apply to them.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:29 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
From way up thread, all of a day ago, Obama in 2009: I have made it a high priority for my transition team to work on additional policy options to help the auto industry adjust, weather the financial crisis, and succeed in producing fuel-efficient cars here in the United States of America.
The new diesel Chevy Cruze gets up to 52-mpg on the highway.
posted by bonehead at 8:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
The new diesel Chevy Cruze gets up to 52-mpg on the highway.
posted by bonehead at 8:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
Ashley Killough of CNN: "Trump has said nobody in his campaign has been in contact with Russian officials. Do you believe him?"
Mitch McConnell: "I have no idea."
(Sources: 1 2)
Hmmmmmmmmmmm
posted by sallybrown at 8:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
Mitch McConnell: "I have no idea."
(Sources: 1 2)
Hmmmmmmmmmmm
posted by sallybrown at 8:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
Citizenship or a greencard is not going to be any kind of barrier whatsoever.
posted by Artw at 11:28 AM on February 17 [+] [!]
I agree. There are many things that could be used to invalidate your status here. For example there is a portion of the paperwork where you affirm you are not a communist, and I always thought well, according to republicans everyone on the left is! That alone would annul your status.
posted by Tarumba at 8:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 11:28 AM on February 17 [+] [!]
I agree. There are many things that could be used to invalidate your status here. For example there is a portion of the paperwork where you affirm you are not a communist, and I always thought well, according to republicans everyone on the left is! That alone would annul your status.
posted by Tarumba at 8:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Apparently they turned to prison labor to do the work.
Maybe that's the point of kicking out undocumented immigrants. Makes me want to read Chris Hayes' upcoming 'Colony In a Nation.'
posted by My Dad at 8:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Maybe that's the point of kicking out undocumented immigrants. Makes me want to read Chris Hayes' upcoming 'Colony In a Nation.'
posted by My Dad at 8:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Is this "Mainstream Media Accountability Survey" even worth doing?
Do you need 10 minutes of fun in your day? Then, yes, yes it is.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:31 AM on February 17, 2017
Do you need 10 minutes of fun in your day? Then, yes, yes it is.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:31 AM on February 17, 2017
He responded by saying he read yesterday about "some woman who isn't supposed to be here who voted like five times and she's going to prison and she still says she did nothing wrong."
That was a green card holder. But your elderly father is one of the many people who thinks non-citizens aren't "supposed to be here", and that's the crack into which you jam the crowbar.
posted by holgate at 8:32 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
That was a green card holder. But your elderly father is one of the many people who thinks non-citizens aren't "supposed to be here", and that's the crack into which you jam the crowbar.
posted by holgate at 8:32 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Looking at that list of states, there are at least three that I imagine will tell him to get fucked, another two or three that will quietly pass, and the rest will (with various levels of celebratory noise) dig in.
If this is a true leak, they're setting up a Loyal States vs Traitor States bit. Note how none of the far NE states are included, they don't want all of their enemies to be able to rally around a joint issue.
posted by Slackermagee at 8:32 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
If this is a true leak, they're setting up a Loyal States vs Traitor States bit. Note how none of the far NE states are included, they don't want all of their enemies to be able to rally around a joint issue.
posted by Slackermagee at 8:32 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
CityPages (Minneapolis) : CBC films a tired, very cold Somali refugee sneaking across the Canadian border [VIDEO]
The Canadians have a strange way of treating the refugees. They treat them like people in need, and try to find how best to resettle them without sending them somewhere to be murdered or die of starvation.posted by ZeusHumms at 8:33 AM on February 17, 2017 [44 favorites]
man, i read that Sanford interview up above, and then recalled that he's also one of the guys drafting the nasty-ass obamacare replacement bill and i remembered very viscerally that just because you're right it doesn't mean you're not an asshole
posted by murphy slaw at 8:33 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 8:33 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
In regard to border taxes - the margins for most consumer goods are such that neither the supplier nor the retailer would be willing or able to eat the cost of the tax unless it was very small.
Sure, a 1-5% import tax may not result in increased prices but anything other that certainly will. Grocery items tend to have the tightest margins so will be the most likely affected.
posted by nolnacs at 8:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Sure, a 1-5% import tax may not result in increased prices but anything other that certainly will. Grocery items tend to have the tightest margins so will be the most likely affected.
posted by nolnacs at 8:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
jerry brown will tell them to get fucked so loudly that he won't have to use a telephone for them to hear him at the white house
posted by murphy slaw at 8:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [50 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 8:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [50 favorites]
I'm wondering if we need to start preparing our attack strategy on the Wall. I heard a Trumpeter on the radio last night basically saying that he can do no wrong, but if he does not build that wall, then he needs to watch his back. Tapper had a piece about the wall in reality actually being a fence because it is more secure than a wall that you cannot see through, and that the recommendation from USCBP will be for the fence.
I think there is something to this -- in the vein of harassing him until he has the final meltdown. You said a wall, a fence is not a wall, a fence is a limp-dick version of a wall, etc.
However, he could ignore the recommendation completely and have his wall.
posted by archimago at 8:35 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I think there is something to this -- in the vein of harassing him until he has the final meltdown. You said a wall, a fence is not a wall, a fence is a limp-dick version of a wall, etc.
However, he could ignore the recommendation completely and have his wall.
posted by archimago at 8:35 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I wonder how many people the US can push into another country before the receiving country says 'No.'
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:36 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:36 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
The documentary 13th, which I would thoroughly recommend and it's right thee on Netflix ready for the veiwing, goes into the widespread use of prison Labor and also makes some speculation regarding the expansion of immigration detention. It was probably pretty chilling viewing pre-Trump, but these days even more alarming, but I would recommend it anyway.
posted by Artw at 8:36 AM on February 17, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:36 AM on February 17, 2017 [32 favorites]
He responded by saying he read yesterday about "some woman who isn't supposed to be here who voted like five times and she's going to prison and she still says she did nothing wrong."
When discussing the travel ban, DACA, and illegal immigration stuff with people who don't know much about it but are against illegal immigration in a "not fair! follow the law!" unthinking way, I've had success framing the issue as "breaking up American families." That cuts to the heart of how cruel this is. Suddenly they see deportation as the violent acts they are, inflicted on people who sit alongside us at the movies, shop alongside us in grocery stores, pray alongside us in church, send their kids alongside ours in schools, etc.
posted by sallybrown at 8:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
When discussing the travel ban, DACA, and illegal immigration stuff with people who don't know much about it but are against illegal immigration in a "not fair! follow the law!" unthinking way, I've had success framing the issue as "breaking up American families." That cuts to the heart of how cruel this is. Suddenly they see deportation as the violent acts they are, inflicted on people who sit alongside us at the movies, shop alongside us in grocery stores, pray alongside us in church, send their kids alongside ours in schools, etc.
posted by sallybrown at 8:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
I wonder how many people the US can push into another country before the receiving country says 'No.'
That's why it will be camps. They won't even have any idea who they have on there of where they are "from".
posted by Artw at 8:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
That's why it will be camps. They won't even have any idea who they have on there of where they are "from".
posted by Artw at 8:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
TBH if you can tell anyone about the 5 year old in cuffs and they aren't freaked out then they are utterly lost as a human being anyway.
posted by Artw at 8:38 AM on February 17, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:38 AM on February 17, 2017 [41 favorites]
If anyone feels like hitting the streets today, the National Lawyers Guild planned a bunch of #lawstrikesback rallies today as part of the #F17 general strike - the one in NYC is at 60 Centre St. at 1pm. There are also ones planned for the same time (ish) in Chicago, Boston, etc.
posted by melissasaurus at 8:40 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by melissasaurus at 8:40 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
They won't even have any idea who they have on there of where they are "from".
i'm pretty sure that trump doesn't even understand that the majority of hispanic immigrants in NYC aren't "mexican"
posted by murphy slaw at 8:40 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
i'm pretty sure that trump doesn't even understand that the majority of hispanic immigrants in NYC aren't "mexican"
posted by murphy slaw at 8:40 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina becomes the first GOP Rep to join the call for an independent commission into the Russian connection. And joins as cosponsor of the bill! Smart move, my friend.
posted by sallybrown at 8:42 AM on February 17, 2017 [65 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 8:42 AM on February 17, 2017 [65 favorites]
ICE agents lied about how they arrested a domestic violence victim
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:43 AM on February 17, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:43 AM on February 17, 2017 [34 favorites]
TBH if you can tell anyone about the 5 year old in cuffs and they aren't freaked out then they are utterly lost as a human being anyway.
I wasted hours in an online argument with my cousin over this. The grim punchline to that particular exchange is that my cousin is one of those "cool" nondenominational youth pastors who combines a shitload of tattoos with a tendency to randomly and loudly shout praise, unprompted. He lectured me that I was a hateful person who wasn't tolerant of other people's opinions. He suggested I learn how to open my heart to other viewpoints, such as his viewpoint that Muslims are prone to use children as suicide bombers and the 5 year-old was a major security risk.
I can't even wrap my head around a worldview that says I have to open my heart and mind with enough love to learn to hate and fear Muslim five year-olds.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:44 AM on February 17, 2017 [90 favorites]
I wasted hours in an online argument with my cousin over this. The grim punchline to that particular exchange is that my cousin is one of those "cool" nondenominational youth pastors who combines a shitload of tattoos with a tendency to randomly and loudly shout praise, unprompted. He lectured me that I was a hateful person who wasn't tolerant of other people's opinions. He suggested I learn how to open my heart to other viewpoints, such as his viewpoint that Muslims are prone to use children as suicide bombers and the 5 year-old was a major security risk.
I can't even wrap my head around a worldview that says I have to open my heart and mind with enough love to learn to hate and fear Muslim five year-olds.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:44 AM on February 17, 2017 [90 favorites]
sorry, i used "trump" and "understand" in the same sentence. won't happen again.
posted by murphy slaw at 8:45 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 8:45 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
In terms of mobilizing the national guard, let's not forget that it would step on a lot of gubernatorial toes and end up being very expensive. Even a conservative governor is not necessarily going to be into it. Here's the deal:
Let's say that you mobilize the guard. Any blue area of your state will go up like a flare. In CA and OR minimum, you are looking at the kind of mass protests that easily turn into riots. What happens then? What happens if the guard shoots someone? It's easy to say "ah ha Bannon will just declare martial law", but you have to ask - with what troops? Using riots as a pretext for a crackdown is all very well in a small heavily policed nation, but that's not what we have.
If MN were on the list (and I know it's not, but we're relatively representative) and I were the governor, I would be thinking "oh shit", because I would be thinking, "There will be massive, massive protests that will be very expensive to police and will eat up all our police hours, there will be small and possibly dangerous confrontations over specific deportations and there may very well be real, it's-going-down riots. If the Guard shoots someone during a confrontation, there really will be riots, possibly riots on a scale we've never seen before.". And that's leaving aside the economic hit to the state.
One of the things Trump is stupid about is not realizing that when he tells the states to do something difficult and expensive that also has lots of drawbacks for them, they are not necessarily going to be obedient. He keeps wanting all these things, like killing the Medicaid expansion, that will be a huge clusterfuck at the state level and be bad for state R's, and he expects that they'll be good little flunkies. None of his people have any skill at actual governing, or any kind of experience that would be transferrable.
posted by Frowner at 8:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [46 favorites]
Let's say that you mobilize the guard. Any blue area of your state will go up like a flare. In CA and OR minimum, you are looking at the kind of mass protests that easily turn into riots. What happens then? What happens if the guard shoots someone? It's easy to say "ah ha Bannon will just declare martial law", but you have to ask - with what troops? Using riots as a pretext for a crackdown is all very well in a small heavily policed nation, but that's not what we have.
If MN were on the list (and I know it's not, but we're relatively representative) and I were the governor, I would be thinking "oh shit", because I would be thinking, "There will be massive, massive protests that will be very expensive to police and will eat up all our police hours, there will be small and possibly dangerous confrontations over specific deportations and there may very well be real, it's-going-down riots. If the Guard shoots someone during a confrontation, there really will be riots, possibly riots on a scale we've never seen before.". And that's leaving aside the economic hit to the state.
One of the things Trump is stupid about is not realizing that when he tells the states to do something difficult and expensive that also has lots of drawbacks for them, they are not necessarily going to be obedient. He keeps wanting all these things, like killing the Medicaid expansion, that will be a huge clusterfuck at the state level and be bad for state R's, and he expects that they'll be good little flunkies. None of his people have any skill at actual governing, or any kind of experience that would be transferrable.
posted by Frowner at 8:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [46 favorites]
This is all still happening, isn't it.
Don't worry, you're actually in a coma
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 8:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Don't worry, you're actually in a coma
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 8:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
You guys, Comrade Doll and I are going to see Mavis Staples sing tonight at the Chicago Symphony Center and it may just save my sanity. I hereby promise you that when she sings to keep your eyes on the prize, I hope you can see it from where you are, too. And when she sings that she'll take us there, in my heart I'll be bringing you with me.
If doctors issued prescriptions for concerts, I am positive we'd all need a dose of Mavis Staples right now.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:47 AM on February 17, 2017 [30 favorites]
If doctors issued prescriptions for concerts, I am positive we'd all need a dose of Mavis Staples right now.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:47 AM on February 17, 2017 [30 favorites]
Goddamn nazis need to go open their own hearts with rusty hacksaw blades.
posted by Artw at 8:48 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:48 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
You can't pass or fail the SF86. It's just an incredibly detailed form that is miserable to fill out. ... But the form is just the basis for a background investigation.
I'm pretty sure there are one or two things that get you automatically denied clearance -- drug use in the past year being the well-known one. There's a few "gotcha" questions I'm pretty sure you'll be bounced for if you answer incorrectly ("Have you EVER advocated for or knowingly been a part of a group which has advocated for the violent overthrow of the US government?"), but I've yet to hear of anyone who *has* done that.
I wonder if they will be dropping the question about nazi party affiliation for the green cards / visas now.
posted by srboisvert at 8:49 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm pretty sure there are one or two things that get you automatically denied clearance -- drug use in the past year being the well-known one. There's a few "gotcha" questions I'm pretty sure you'll be bounced for if you answer incorrectly ("Have you EVER advocated for or knowingly been a part of a group which has advocated for the violent overthrow of the US government?"), but I've yet to hear of anyone who *has* done that.
I wonder if they will be dropping the question about nazi party affiliation for the green cards / visas now.
posted by srboisvert at 8:49 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Protest in downtown Tucson escalates quickly, ends in arrests
posted by MrVisible at 8:49 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by MrVisible at 8:49 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
If they round people up in those kinds of numbers it will be large scale detention camps, not deportations.
Only if they're in the US. If the camps are in Mexico, they'll be refugee camps, like in Jordon or the West Bank. Which I think is the model they're aiming for.
posted by bonehead at 8:49 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Only if they're in the US. If the camps are in Mexico, they'll be refugee camps, like in Jordon or the West Bank. Which I think is the model they're aiming for.
posted by bonehead at 8:49 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
If you need a little cheer, turn to Rep. Walter Jones's Wikipedia page:
posted by sallybrown at 8:51 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Jones has sided with the Democrats on economic issues such as raising the minimum wage. He is an animal lover and has said he would like a memorial created on the National Mall for war dogs. . . . In an annual survey conducted by Washingtonian magazine, Congressional staffers voted Jones the kindest member of the House.oops he also led the effort to rename "french fries" "freedom fries"
posted by sallybrown at 8:51 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
I can't even wrap my head around a worldview that says I have to open my heart and mind with enough love to learn to hate and fear Muslim five year-olds.
It's a perfect example of how so many people with this worldview consider themselves as the victims of some sort of nebulous, intangible persecution. But that's unfortunately as far as my understanding goes. I.e. it's unclear to me how people like your cousin are victims of anything.
posted by Brak at 8:52 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
It's a perfect example of how so many people with this worldview consider themselves as the victims of some sort of nebulous, intangible persecution. But that's unfortunately as far as my understanding goes. I.e. it's unclear to me how people like your cousin are victims of anything.
posted by Brak at 8:52 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Not that it needed an extra wrinkle of horrible, but the other fun fact about the picture of the five year-old in cuffs is that the child in question is a kindergartener from Maryland and a goddamned US citizen.
The other other fun fact is that after he was released, after being detained for five hours as a security risk, when he was reunited with his mother, she sang "Happy Birthday" to him, because it was his motherfucking birthday.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:55 AM on February 17, 2017 [163 favorites]
The other other fun fact is that after he was released, after being detained for five hours as a security risk, when he was reunited with his mother, she sang "Happy Birthday" to him, because it was his motherfucking birthday.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:55 AM on February 17, 2017 [163 favorites]
This is all still happening, isn't it.
Don't worry, you're actually in a coma
Sweet relief. If one of you would be a dear and up my pentobarbitol, it's getting seriously unpleasant in here.
posted by BS Artisan at 8:58 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Don't worry, you're actually in a coma
Sweet relief. If one of you would be a dear and up my pentobarbitol, it's getting seriously unpleasant in here.
posted by BS Artisan at 8:58 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
oops he also led the effort to rename "french fries" "freedom fries"
Now there's an old chestnut. Mrs. Mosley and I actually stopped at a restaurant in Greenville, Mississippi several years ago and noticed their menus still listed fries by that name. I figure it was an oversight or just a bunch of people who can't let a silly grudge go. I tend to think the later.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 8:58 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Now there's an old chestnut. Mrs. Mosley and I actually stopped at a restaurant in Greenville, Mississippi several years ago and noticed their menus still listed fries by that name. I figure it was an oversight or just a bunch of people who can't let a silly grudge go. I tend to think the later.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 8:58 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I Went to a Pro-Islamophobia Rally Hosted by Canada's Breitbart in My Hijab by Sarah Hagi
posted by melissasaurus at 8:59 AM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by melissasaurus at 8:59 AM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
You guys I hate gardening I really hope they don't send me to a labor camp.
posted by Tarumba at 8:59 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Tarumba at 8:59 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
People who whine on about citizenship and legality as regards to immigrants absolutely do not give a shit about either of those things.
You know when Trump casually started referring to all refugees as "illegals"? Exactly like that. He is their hideous avatar.
posted by Artw at 8:59 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
You know when Trump casually started referring to all refugees as "illegals"? Exactly like that. He is their hideous avatar.
posted by Artw at 8:59 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Using riots as a pretext for a crackdown is all very well in a small heavily policed nation, but that's not what we have.
One of the few times when our fucked-up, oversightless system of lots of completely independent municipal police departments actually seems like a good idea.
posted by tobascodagama at 9:00 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
One of the few times when our fucked-up, oversightless system of lots of completely independent municipal police departments actually seems like a good idea.
posted by tobascodagama at 9:00 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
io9 (gizmodo): Congressman [David Cicilline (D-RI)] Compares Trump Administration to Stranger Things, Becomes Legend . He made a poster and spoke from the house floor.
David Harbour of Stranger Things did it first.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:01 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
David Harbour of Stranger Things did it first.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:01 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Alonzo, you stopped at Sherman's and they're sweet folks but I can barely stand to go because there's nowhere there that I can sit without looking at Fox News. Anyway, carry on
posted by Countess Elena at 9:02 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Countess Elena at 9:02 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
The cynic in me says that one of the many Trump corporations will rent out space to ICE to house detainees.
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:03 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:03 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
So I listened to this press conference yesterday in its entirety, with transcript (provided by The Failing NYT) and I was kind of horrified. President Trump sounded a bit off-the-rails to me, talking about crap nobody cares about anymore (Hillary got debate questions ahead of time!!! I won with MANY ELECTORAL VOTES, SO MANY!!!) and seeming not to grasp that "high approval numbers" do not mean "doing a good job" or "being right". Approval numbers do not actually determine what the truth is, Mr. President. Also, are you ... campaigning? Do you realize that the election is over and you have won? We now need you to get to the governing part, sir. The GOVERNING part. The winning part is over.
So, horrifying to me that this person has the nuclear codes and seems unhinged and also unable to select people who can train him to read a teleprompter and stay on message.
Then brother-the-younger, usually a fairly sensible human being I've known for forty-odd years, posts the following on his facebook feed: I watched all of Trump's press conference, uncut, on youtube. The media coverage and characterization of it was so disconnected from reality that I have no idea what they watched. Trump is 100% right to go around the media and go directly to the public. The media will stop at nothing to destroy him. I've never seen anything like this hatred in my life.
Clearly, he's been replaced with one of the pod people. I can't even...
posted by which_chick at 9:04 AM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
So, horrifying to me that this person has the nuclear codes and seems unhinged and also unable to select people who can train him to read a teleprompter and stay on message.
Then brother-the-younger, usually a fairly sensible human being I've known for forty-odd years, posts the following on his facebook feed: I watched all of Trump's press conference, uncut, on youtube. The media coverage and characterization of it was so disconnected from reality that I have no idea what they watched. Trump is 100% right to go around the media and go directly to the public. The media will stop at nothing to destroy him. I've never seen anything like this hatred in my life.
Clearly, he's been replaced with one of the pod people. I can't even...
posted by which_chick at 9:04 AM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
I've never seen anything like this hatred in my life.
What charmed fucking lives these people live.
posted by tobascodagama at 9:05 AM on February 17, 2017 [69 favorites]
What charmed fucking lives these people live.
posted by tobascodagama at 9:05 AM on February 17, 2017 [69 favorites]
sorry, guys I thought the 5yr old in cuffs really was fake news??
the 5 yr old Syrian girls father confirmed she was not handcuffed and I haven't seen any evidence for the child who was (definitely detained ) but cuffed?
posted by Wilder at 9:05 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
the 5 yr old Syrian girls father confirmed she was not handcuffed and I haven't seen any evidence for the child who was (definitely detained ) but cuffed?
posted by Wilder at 9:05 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
So, horrifying to me that this person has the nuclear codes and seems unhinged and also unable to select people who can train him to read a teleprompter and stay on message.
hey so if Trump is actually suffering from early stage dementia what are the odds that he actually remembers the nuclear codes, or how to go about ordering a launch in the first place
posted by Existential Dread at 9:05 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
hey so if Trump is actually suffering from early stage dementia what are the odds that he actually remembers the nuclear codes, or how to go about ordering a launch in the first place
posted by Existential Dread at 9:05 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
A sample from the President Supervillain Twitter account
posted by nubs at 9:06 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by nubs at 9:06 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Also, are you ... campaigning?
Actually, yes. He's already declared the 2020 campaign, and the event this weekend in Florida is a "campaign rally."
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 9:07 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Actually, yes. He's already declared the 2020 campaign, and the event this weekend in Florida is a "campaign rally."
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 9:07 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Office the DNI wrote a cool Medium essay about how George Washington was a master spymaster. I prefer to read this as one long subtweet of Trump:
posted by sallybrown at 9:07 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
One of the most famous myths about Washington is that of the cherry tree. Nearly all Americans know it: as a child he cut down his father’s prized cherry tree with a hatchet. When confronted, he respond, with a phrase any grade schooler can recite: “Father, I cannot tell a lie.” The tale speaks to Washington’s inherent virtue, and further entrenches him in legend as the ideal for an American leader, a worthy “father” of our country. Children rarely learn that our honorable and honest founding father won the war for independence largely not only because of his military prowess, but also because of his ability to deceive. George Washington was many things during his life: farmer, dog lover, athlete, surveyor, soldier, President… the list seems endless. But many forget or never learn he was also a master spy. . . . “The necessity of procuring good intelligence is apparent,” wrote Washington in a letter in 1777. "…For upon secrecy, success depends in most enterprises of the kind, and for want of it, they are generally defeated.”(It's a cool and interesting piece.)
posted by sallybrown at 9:07 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
> I Went to a Pro-Islamophobia Rally Hosted by Canada's Breitbart in My Hijab by Sarah Hagi
That article made me sick to my stomach. That'll be Canada's next election. I guess that's pretty much *every* election these days; Bannon and his ilk are going to get their clash of civilizations, and if and when our society goes up in flames it'll be in large part because so many white people were angry that it was no longer socially acceptable to be openly racist.
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:10 AM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
That article made me sick to my stomach. That'll be Canada's next election. I guess that's pretty much *every* election these days; Bannon and his ilk are going to get their clash of civilizations, and if and when our society goes up in flames it'll be in large part because so many white people were angry that it was no longer socially acceptable to be openly racist.
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:10 AM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
I'm just hearing about (being reminded of, perhaps) a general strike that was scheduled for today. Does fucking around on Metafilter and YouTube all day count as a work slowdown?
posted by tobascodagama at 9:11 AM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by tobascodagama at 9:11 AM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
Ryan Teague Beckwith of Time links to the actual DHS memo: (tweet) (memo)
posted by sallybrown at 9:11 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 9:11 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
hey so if Trump is actually suffering from early stage dementia what are the odds that he actually remembers the nuclear codes, or how to go about ordering a launch in the first place
I think that, if we make it through this without a nuclear strike, history will eventually learn that we owe our survival to some American Stanislav Petrov, who delayed just long enough.
posted by Countess Elena at 9:12 AM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
I think that, if we make it through this without a nuclear strike, history will eventually learn that we owe our survival to some American Stanislav Petrov, who delayed just long enough.
posted by Countess Elena at 9:12 AM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
Fake real!
posted by Artw at 9:13 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 9:13 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Existential Dread: hey so if Trump is actually suffering from early stage dementia what are the odds that he actually remembers the nuclear codes, or how to go about ordering a launch in the first place
He doesn't have to. Rick who carries the nuclear football will help him.
posted by Too-Ticky at 9:13 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
He doesn't have to. Rick who carries the nuclear football will help him.
posted by Too-Ticky at 9:13 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Governors of Arkansas and Utah already out expressing reservations about the DHS idea:
The Huffington Post reached out to the governors of the 11 states listed in the memo. Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana and Utah said they had not heard from the Trump administration on the issue. But the GOP governors of both Arkansas and Utah expressed deep reservations about the idea.posted by sallybrown at 9:15 AM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
“I would have concerns about the utilization of National Guard resources for immigration enforcement with the current deployment responsibilities our guardsmen have overseas,” Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchison (R) said. “During my time at Homeland Security, we utilized National Guard partnerships for specific responsibilities along the border, so the concept is fine, but it’s a matter of resources. In Arkansas, I believe it would be too much of a strain on our National Guard personnel.”
Hutchison served as undersecretary for border and transportation security when the Department of Homeland Security was formed under President George W. Bush.
“While we cannot speculate as to what may be requested via official channels in the future, we have serious constitutional concerns about activating the National Guard to provide the mentioned services and the potential financial impacts of doing so,” the office of Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) said.
During the Bush 1 presidency, there was a joke floating around that, in the eventuality of Bush becoming incapacitated, the Secret Service had orders to shoot Vice President Dan Quayle, saving the country from being ruled by an incompetent. Perhaps there are similar orders to do with the nuclear football in the event of a particularly aggressive Twitter rant?
posted by acb at 9:15 AM on February 17, 2017
posted by acb at 9:15 AM on February 17, 2017
Vox.com : President Trump’s combative, freewheeling, “fake news” press conference, explained
But the larger strategic goal of the presser became clear with one theme Trump repeatedly returned to — the alleged “dishonesty” of the media, an institution that, it is now clear, Trump has decided to fully elevate as his most important foe.posted by ZeusHumms at 9:16 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
...
Trump seems to feel that he’s at his best when he’s fighting, but it wasn’t clear who his main opponent was now that he’s the most powerful man in the world.
the 5 yr old Syrian girls father confirmed she was not handcuffed and I haven't seen any evidence for the child who was (definitely detained ) but cuffed?
The five year-old Iranian-American boy in handcuffs is real and was even confirmed by Sean Spicer during a press conference. Spicer said the child "could have been a security threat."
Here's a link which has video of that, along with verification of some of the other stuff, including that the child was a US citizen and about his mom singing "Happy Birthday."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:17 AM on February 17, 2017 [39 favorites]
The five year-old Iranian-American boy in handcuffs is real and was even confirmed by Sean Spicer during a press conference. Spicer said the child "could have been a security threat."
Here's a link which has video of that, along with verification of some of the other stuff, including that the child was a US citizen and about his mom singing "Happy Birthday."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:17 AM on February 17, 2017 [39 favorites]
he 5 yr old Syrian girls father confirmed she was not handcuffed and I haven't seen any evidence for the child who was (definitely detained ) but cuffed?
The five year old was detained for hours and kept from his mother, but I have not heard anything about him being handcuffed. (I know someone who was with his mother at the airport, so that is pretty safe from the source.)
I think people are conflating that five year old with the images of a three year old who was handcuffed alongside his family by CBP. I can't find the images right now.
However, there WAS fake news that used an image of a small handcuffed boy and claimed it was the five year old at Dulles, but it was from another event entirely.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 9:20 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
The five year old was detained for hours and kept from his mother, but I have not heard anything about him being handcuffed. (I know someone who was with his mother at the airport, so that is pretty safe from the source.)
I think people are conflating that five year old with the images of a three year old who was handcuffed alongside his family by CBP. I can't find the images right now.
However, there WAS fake news that used an image of a small handcuffed boy and claimed it was the five year old at Dulles, but it was from another event entirely.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 9:20 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I am terrified that they have zero problems admitting they held a US citizen who was a child, which the order didn't even fucking authorize them to do. Somebody needs to be in some fucking handcuffs, for sure.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:22 AM on February 17, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:22 AM on February 17, 2017 [27 favorites]
the 5 yr old Syrian girls father confirmed she was not handcuffed
I would absolutely lie and say everything is fine, she was given candy! if I were in his situation, though. You are terrified and you have run away from hell, you don't want to antagonize powerful people.
I work in refugee resettlement and most refugees do that. They say yes to everything you say even when they don't understand what you are saying just because they want to please you and avoid confrontation. 100x more so with authority figures (people wearing uniforms, for example)
posted by Tarumba at 9:22 AM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
I would absolutely lie and say everything is fine, she was given candy! if I were in his situation, though. You are terrified and you have run away from hell, you don't want to antagonize powerful people.
I work in refugee resettlement and most refugees do that. They say yes to everything you say even when they don't understand what you are saying just because they want to please you and avoid confrontation. 100x more so with authority figures (people wearing uniforms, for example)
posted by Tarumba at 9:22 AM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
link to pic of handcuffed family, in response to discussion of separate detained five year old
posted by a fiendish thingy at 9:23 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by a fiendish thingy at 9:23 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
http://www.snopes.com/small-child-handcuffed-at-dulles/
posted by zakur at 9:23 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by zakur at 9:23 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Can we please stop linking Snopes? They are very often incorrect.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
The video clip above has Spicer confirming the handcuffed/detained child.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Please don't contribute to the normalization of the term "fake news," especially now that it's been fully co-opted by the Trump administration to mean 'news that isn't flattering towards them'
use any other phrase: later-disproven, mistaken conflation, anything like that
posted by flatluigi at 9:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
use any other phrase: later-disproven, mistaken conflation, anything like that
posted by flatluigi at 9:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
I mean, I know Spicer lies a lot, but I don't see the angle in falsely claiming to have handcuffed a kindergartener.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
the claim debunked by snopes is that that particular photograph is a picture of the handcuffed five year old, not that the event didn't happen
posted by murphy slaw at 9:26 AM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 9:26 AM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
video: Reporter: "Why not hold up [Scott Pruitt's] vote until the emails are released?" McConnell: "Because I choose not to."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:26 AM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:26 AM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
Spicer wasn't at the airport. He was reacting to inaccurate news stories. The people who were at the airport found plenty to be outraged about, but that particular child being handcuffed does not appear to have been one of them.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 9:27 AM on February 17, 2017
posted by a fiendish thingy at 9:27 AM on February 17, 2017
Can we please stop linking Snopes? They are very often incorrect.
They are? The worst I've seen is "unproven" for things that seem obviously true but can't be well sourced. What's something snopes got wrong?
posted by dis_integration at 9:27 AM on February 17, 2017 [44 favorites]
They are? The worst I've seen is "unproven" for things that seem obviously true but can't be well sourced. What's something snopes got wrong?
posted by dis_integration at 9:27 AM on February 17, 2017 [44 favorites]
DHS announces The Affordable Wall is actually going to be a really long coil of razor wire and a 100 meter wide minefield. [fake, but I'm calling it].
posted by Rumple at 9:27 AM on February 17, 2017
posted by Rumple at 9:27 AM on February 17, 2017
I've never seen Snopes to be outright incorrect. People are fond of linking to the website and not reading their full article on a subject, but I've never seen them to say something's true/untrue when evidence points otherwise.
posted by flatluigi at 9:27 AM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by flatluigi at 9:27 AM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
k I'm ready to go live in San Junipero now
posted by skycrashesdown at 9:28 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by skycrashesdown at 9:28 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
Yeah, I'd also like a cite for the claim that Snopes is "often incorrect."
posted by neroli at 9:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by neroli at 9:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
They are? The worst I've seen is "unproven" for things that seem obviously true but can't be well sourced. What's something snopes got wrong?
I know of at least one thing they have as false because they were not permitted access to (it was a private Facebook post that had proof of the thing occurring, which I myself had knowledge of). They made an executive decision to call it false. So I don't trust anything they post.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I know of at least one thing they have as false because they were not permitted access to (it was a private Facebook post that had proof of the thing occurring, which I myself had knowledge of). They made an executive decision to call it false. So I don't trust anything they post.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Now that the DHS memo is out, the initial reaction from Spicer calling it "fake news" and "100% wrong" looks flat-out dumb. These people are stupid and messy, not savvy.
posted by sallybrown at 9:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 9:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
What was their response when you gave them the evidence that they had no access to otherwise?
posted by flatluigi at 9:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by flatluigi at 9:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
What was their response when you gave them the evidence that they had no access to otherwise?
I wasn't involved in the thing. Just a bystander. I'm sorry I can't talk about it here.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:32 AM on February 17, 2017
I wasn't involved in the thing. Just a bystander. I'm sorry I can't talk about it here.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:32 AM on February 17, 2017
There is a political ferment in this country that I have never, ever experienced, and it is led by a progressive-Democrat/left coalition. This is different from anything I've ever seen or even, in realistic moments, imagined.
I think this hit me when I was in a beer hall meeting with the local socialist group like oh shit this is actually happening this is literally the stuff I spent my 20s reading about
posted by The Whelk at 9:33 AM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
I think this hit me when I was in a beer hall meeting with the local socialist group like oh shit this is actually happening this is literally the stuff I spent my 20s reading about
posted by The Whelk at 9:33 AM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
roomthreeseventeen: huge citation needed on that claim about Snopes. Nobody is perfect but they have a multi-decade reputation for doing research and citing sources. That claim is commonly made by right-wing extremists, conspiracy theorists, etc. but that's not company anyone would want to keep.
posted by adamsc at 9:33 AM on February 17, 2017 [52 favorites]
posted by adamsc at 9:33 AM on February 17, 2017 [52 favorites]
These people are stupid and messy, not savvy.
I think the word that applies here is "brazen."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:33 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
I think the word that applies here is "brazen."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:33 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
"Why not hold up [Scott Pruitt's] vote until the emails are released?" McConnell: "Because I choose not to."
It would be awesome if that smug McConnell response went viral. The whole thing is gold.
posted by Coventry at 9:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
It would be awesome if that smug McConnell response went viral. The whole thing is gold.
posted by Coventry at 9:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
It's fine, I'll drop the Snopes derail since I can't give the details.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I think the word that applies here is "brazen."
in the sense of "the brazen head of roger bacon"
posted by murphy slaw at 9:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
in the sense of "the brazen head of roger bacon"
posted by murphy slaw at 9:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I think "brazen" would have been - "We discuss many ideas. That was just one of them. And if we decide to do that, we'll let you know."
Instead it was "oh shit one of those things we decided was a bad idea after a weekend of airport protests leaked out…uhhhhh…do they have the memo? Did someone actually leak it? We have no way of knowing because we have no control over our people! Let's just call it fake news and hold on to our butts!"
posted by sallybrown at 9:36 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Instead it was "oh shit one of those things we decided was a bad idea after a weekend of airport protests leaked out…uhhhhh…do they have the memo? Did someone actually leak it? We have no way of knowing because we have no control over our people! Let's just call it fake news and hold on to our butts!"
posted by sallybrown at 9:36 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Right now I'm reading Brighton Rock by Graham Greene. It's kind of hard to stay in the story whenever I run into the gangster named "Spicer." (no other name)
Here's Sean Spicer (played by Sean Spicer), Spicer in the 1947 movie version of Brighton Rock (played by Wylie Watson), and Spicer from the 2010 movie version (played by Phil Davis).
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 9:38 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Here's Sean Spicer (played by Sean Spicer), Spicer in the 1947 movie version of Brighton Rock (played by Wylie Watson), and Spicer from the 2010 movie version (played by Phil Davis).
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 9:38 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Buzzfeed: Helping You See Outside Your Bubble: A new feature on some of our most widely shared articles. : The Outside Your Bubble feature will appear as a module at the bottom of some widely-shared news articles, and will pull in what people are saying about the piece on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, the web, and other platforms. It’s a response to the reality that often the same story will have two or three distinct and siloed conversations taking place around it on social media, where people talk to the like-minded without even being aware of other perspectives on the same reporting.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:40 AM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:40 AM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
Rick who carries the nuclear football will help him.
I hope this Rick fellow's last name isn't Grimes.
posted by juiceCake at 9:40 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
I hope this Rick fellow's last name isn't Grimes.
posted by juiceCake at 9:40 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Instead of Snopes I use Urban Dictionary.
posted by My Dad at 9:45 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by My Dad at 9:45 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
TPM: Chaffetz Breaks With Utah GOP’s Call To Delay Town Halls Over ‘Violence’
Salt Lake Tribune: Don’t hold town-hall meetings, Utah GOP leader says; Chaffetz disagrees
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:45 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Salt Lake Tribune: Don’t hold town-hall meetings, Utah GOP leader says; Chaffetz disagrees
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:45 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Buzzfeed: Helping You See Outside Your Bubble
I mean, I guess that's nice, but I still reject the framing that people who are well-informed about issues, making an effort to engage with reality, and involved with discussions that include a variety of people from diverse (across race, gender, sexuality, class, etc.) backgrounds are the ones living in a bubble.
posted by tobascodagama at 9:47 AM on February 17, 2017 [69 favorites]
I mean, I guess that's nice, but I still reject the framing that people who are well-informed about issues, making an effort to engage with reality, and involved with discussions that include a variety of people from diverse (across race, gender, sexuality, class, etc.) backgrounds are the ones living in a bubble.
posted by tobascodagama at 9:47 AM on February 17, 2017 [69 favorites]
the republican party must be destroyed.
this has been obvious for a long time, but at several points i thought that they would face consequences for their actions
now i'm afraid that the party will survive until the country itself is destroyed
posted by murphy slaw at 9:48 AM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
this has been obvious for a long time, but at several points i thought that they would face consequences for their actions
now i'm afraid that the party will survive until the country itself is destroyed
posted by murphy slaw at 9:48 AM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
I think we're all bummed out, let's be kinder to each other.
posted by Tarumba at 9:48 AM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by Tarumba at 9:48 AM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
Suspect in North Korea killing 'thought she was taking part in TV prank'
posted by AceRock at 9:50 AM on February 17, 2017 [61 favorites]
Tito Karnavian told reporters in Indonesia’s Aceh province that Siti Aisyah, 25, was paid to be involved in pranks.This, the actual existence of "bee-like pollinator drones", and the fact that the POTUS is a cartoon character is all the proof I need to conclude that we are all living in a Black Mirror season now.
He said she and another woman performed stunts which involved convincing men to close their eyes and then spraying them with water.
“Such an action was done three or four times and they were given a few dollars for it, and with the last target, Kim Jong-nam, allegedly there were dangerous materials in the sprayer,” Karnavian said. “She was not aware that it was an assassination attempt by alleged foreign agents.”
posted by AceRock at 9:50 AM on February 17, 2017 [61 favorites]
we are all living in a Black Mirror season now
black mirror was never this on-the-nose
posted by murphy slaw at 9:51 AM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
black mirror was never this on-the-nose
posted by murphy slaw at 9:51 AM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
I mean, I guess that's nice, but I still reject the framing that people who are well-informed about issues, making an effort to engage with reality, and involved with discussions that include a variety of people from diverse (across race, gender, sexuality, class, etc.) backgrounds are the ones living in a bubble.
Oh, there are definitely liberal bubbles. I live in one. I know people who are baffled as to why everyone can't shop at Whole Foods.
posted by Melismata at 9:53 AM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
Oh, there are definitely liberal bubbles. I live in one. I know people who are baffled as to why everyone can't shop at Whole Foods.
posted by Melismata at 9:53 AM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
Washington’s earliest experience with spycraft during his service as a young officer in the French and Indian War.
Actually he bungled one of his first missions and--whoopsie!--basically started the French and Indian War.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:54 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I mean, I guess that's nice, but I still reject the framing that people who are well-informed about issues, making an effort to engage with reality, and involved with discussions that include a variety of people from diverse (across race, gender, sexuality, class, etc.) backgrounds are the ones living in a bubble.
Happily, the silent subtext might well be that it's important to reach Trump voters who are getting the constant feedback that all of Buzzfeed is fake news. That would be a way to back them off the ledge, no?
posted by jaduncan at 9:56 AM on February 17, 2017
Happily, the silent subtext might well be that it's important to reach Trump voters who are getting the constant feedback that all of Buzzfeed is fake news. That would be a way to back them off the ledge, no?
posted by jaduncan at 9:56 AM on February 17, 2017
I mean, I guess that's nice, but I still reject the framing that people who are well-informed about issues, making an effort to engage with reality, and involved with discussions that include a variety of people from diverse (across race, gender, sexuality, class, etc.) backgrounds are the ones living in a bubble.
I really do see "the bubble" such as it is to be more about world view than information.
Do I know a lot of Rs that are ill-informed -- yes I do. But I also know quite a few who simply look at the same exact facts (today's National Guard thing is a good example) from a very different point of view. I do think its valuable (or at least educational) to read and hear their comments on why they would support these kinds of things.
posted by anastasiav at 9:56 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
I really do see "the bubble" such as it is to be more about world view than information.
Do I know a lot of Rs that are ill-informed -- yes I do. But I also know quite a few who simply look at the same exact facts (today's National Guard thing is a good example) from a very different point of view. I do think its valuable (or at least educational) to read and hear their comments on why they would support these kinds of things.
posted by anastasiav at 9:56 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
If I wanted to know what an angry racist old folks home thinks about things I'd read Facebook comments on local news sites.
posted by Artw at 9:58 AM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by Artw at 9:58 AM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
exact facts (today's National Guard thing is a good example) from a very different point of view.
but that point of view is based on foundational "facts" (falsehoods) like "immigrants are responsible for crime and terrorism and take jobs away from white people"
posted by murphy slaw at 10:00 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
but that point of view is based on foundational "facts" (falsehoods) like "immigrants are responsible for crime and terrorism and take jobs away from white people"
posted by murphy slaw at 10:00 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
It would be impossible to deport millions of people without some form of military units. Even with them, it would be impossible to locate, transport, house, and care for all of these people. Which doesn't mean it can't happen, only that as soon as it begins people will start dying. They'll "Resist arrest", or not receive food and medical care, or catch a disease in a poorly constructed camp, and so on and so forth.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:01 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:01 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Happily, the silent subtext might well be that it's important to reach Trump voters who are getting the constant feedback that all of Buzzfeed is fake news. That would be a way to back them off the ledge, no?
Well, but how well do you convey that by directing people toward random comments on /r/The_Donald? All that will likely achieve is convincing T_D's denizens to start brigading Buzzfeed's comments section.
The framing is complete bullshit, and I don't think it'll really achieve much of anything in terms of popping bubbles.
posted by tobascodagama at 10:03 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Well, but how well do you convey that by directing people toward random comments on /r/The_Donald? All that will likely achieve is convincing T_D's denizens to start brigading Buzzfeed's comments section.
The framing is complete bullshit, and I don't think it'll really achieve much of anything in terms of popping bubbles.
posted by tobascodagama at 10:03 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
You can watch the Senate debate and vote on Scott Pruitt live right now here.
I find it amazing that Wyoming has such a problem with the EPA, but I guess they'll find out why it was important soon enough.
posted by anastasiav at 10:03 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I find it amazing that Wyoming has such a problem with the EPA, but I guess they'll find out why it was important soon enough.
posted by anastasiav at 10:03 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I really do see "the bubble" such as it is to be more about world view than information.
Yep.
I do think its valuable (or at least educational) to read and hear their comments on why they would support these kinds of things.
Not really. You cannot reach these people. It's only useful in terms of strategy and tactics. They are to be defeated as an enemy. And frankly, all Buzzfeed is going to accomplish by showing off the "bubble" is hardening that divide.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 10:05 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yep.
I do think its valuable (or at least educational) to read and hear their comments on why they would support these kinds of things.
Not really. You cannot reach these people. It's only useful in terms of strategy and tactics. They are to be defeated as an enemy. And frankly, all Buzzfeed is going to accomplish by showing off the "bubble" is hardening that divide.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 10:05 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
The framing is complete bullshit, and I don't think it'll really achieve much of anything in terms of popping bubbles.
Fair. My cynical hat would also question if Buzzfeed thinks that conflict in the comments will drive engagement, because Buzzfeed.
posted by jaduncan at 10:06 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Fair. My cynical hat would also question if Buzzfeed thinks that conflict in the comments will drive engagement, because Buzzfeed.
posted by jaduncan at 10:06 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I venture outside the liberal bubble pretty often: I check in on r/the_donald, I read newspaper comments, hell, I've only blocked one conservative Facebook friend and only after he called Betsey DeVos "perhaps the most qualified person in America" to be Secretary of Education. I find being exposed to what people actually think to be an impediment to empathy and understanding, I'm much empathetic to hypothetical people than to the people I actually find in these places.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 10:06 AM on February 17, 2017 [46 favorites]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 10:06 AM on February 17, 2017 [46 favorites]
It would be impossible to deport millions of people without some form of military units
ICE regularly deported 400,000 people a year under Obama so I am guessing they could get to a million if they put their minds to it and didn't care who they removed.
posted by shothotbot at 10:10 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
ICE regularly deported 400,000 people a year under Obama so I am guessing they could get to a million if they put their minds to it and didn't care who they removed.
posted by shothotbot at 10:10 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
The problem with doing your due diligence on the current prevailing thoughts in conservative circles is that those particular right-wing sandcastles don't give you long to look them over when the tide of facts and logic starts to come in.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:14 AM on February 17, 2017
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:14 AM on February 17, 2017
I'm finding myself looking more and more at the Romanian model. They filled the benches with reform judges and then, each and every time a pol from any party steps over an ethical line, they go to fucking prison. And if the wags in office don't like it and try to slow them down, they send 3-5% of the population into the street every night to remind them that, by the way, they overthrew the last crooked-ass government with a revolution and they will absolutely do it again, motherfuckers.
It's mostly the Federal judiciary that matters here, and Congress kept Obama's appointees off the bench.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:14 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's mostly the Federal judiciary that matters here, and Congress kept Obama's appointees off the bench.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:14 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Trump falls below 40% approval in Gallup: 38-56. Boom.
posted by sallybrown at 10:15 AM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 10:15 AM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
Vox.com: Zero-sum Trump - What you learn from reading 12 of Donald Trump's books
NYTimes: What Donald Trump Doesn’t Understand About ‘the Deal’
The division of the world into those who win and those who lose is of paramount philosophical importance to him, the clearest reflection of his deep, abiding faith that the world is a zero-sum game and you can only gain if someone else is failing.Those parts would be the Manhattan Real Estate market, where a handful of entities dominate the scene, making money from rents and deals.
...
Whether he’s discussing real estate in New York, or his ’00s reality TV career, or his views on immigration and trade, he consistently views life as a succession of deals. Those deals are best thought of as fights over who gets what share of a fixed pot of resources. The idea of collaborating for mutual benefit rarely arises. Life is dealmaking, and dealmaking is about crushing your enemies.
...
Trump, the author, lays out a vision of the world based on his own limited and blinkered experience of the business world, one that mistakes the absolute worst, most dysfunctional parts of the American economy for the way the entire world works.
NYTimes: What Donald Trump Doesn’t Understand About ‘the Deal’
[Trump] is not just a rent-seeker himself; his whole worldview is based on a rent-seeking vision of the economy, in which there’s a fixed amount of wealth that can only be redistributed, never grow. It is a worldview that makes perfect sense for the son of a New York real estate tycoon who grew up to be one, too. Everything he has gotten — as he proudly brags — came from cutting deals.posted by ZeusHumms at 10:15 AM on February 17, 2017 [31 favorites]
I believe they just approved Pruitt and have moved on to Ross.
posted by anastasiav at 10:18 AM on February 17, 2017
posted by anastasiav at 10:18 AM on February 17, 2017
I'm much empathetic to hypothetical people than to the people I actually find in these places.
Yes. I have read T_D on occasion. To be honest, it ironically makes me hate people. I caught myself rather gently picking apart one of the wilder sides of someone's claim to avoid a banning and realised that I was implicitly not challenging the central extremely explicitly racist thrust.
At some point even engaging with open anti-semites and racists with anything more than open contempt just suggests that they might have the validity to debate. Slipping into that for a moment made me feel dirty and cheapened, and spending any time around all of that was like looking into the abyss. There's nothing of intellectual value there, and participation was just legitimising some Potemkin village of apologism for fascism mixed with ironic/"joke"/open Nazism*.
In short, fuck them.
*you can tell, because they have swastikas but don't mean it unless you agree.
posted by jaduncan at 10:19 AM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
Yes. I have read T_D on occasion. To be honest, it ironically makes me hate people. I caught myself rather gently picking apart one of the wilder sides of someone's claim to avoid a banning and realised that I was implicitly not challenging the central extremely explicitly racist thrust.
At some point even engaging with open anti-semites and racists with anything more than open contempt just suggests that they might have the validity to debate. Slipping into that for a moment made me feel dirty and cheapened, and spending any time around all of that was like looking into the abyss. There's nothing of intellectual value there, and participation was just legitimising some Potemkin village of apologism for fascism mixed with ironic/"joke"/open Nazism*.
In short, fuck them.
*you can tell, because they have swastikas but don't mean it unless you agree.
posted by jaduncan at 10:19 AM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
It would be awesome if that smug McConnell response went viral. The whole thing is gold.
As far as I'm concerned, McConnell owns every horrible thing that this administration does. I want to see him dragged out into the streets by his own enraged constituents. I'd put him under the "always punch a Nazi in the face when you see one" umbrella, but I'd be afraid that my hand would just be absorbed into the undulating, gelatinous mass that takes up the space where most of us have jawbones and skulls.
posted by Mayor West at 10:20 AM on February 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
As far as I'm concerned, McConnell owns every horrible thing that this administration does. I want to see him dragged out into the streets by his own enraged constituents. I'd put him under the "always punch a Nazi in the face when you see one" umbrella, but I'd be afraid that my hand would just be absorbed into the undulating, gelatinous mass that takes up the space where most of us have jawbones and skulls.
posted by Mayor West at 10:20 AM on February 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
Make America White Again/For The First Time?
Liberal Redneck: Make America White Again?
"Make America White Again"? When was America white? When white people first came to this country they had to kill most of the red people just to make room for the black people they were planning on subjugating. This country ain't never been all white.And by the time the English established Jamestown in 1607 the Spanish had been in St. Augustine, Florida since 1565 and settled Santa Fe de Nuevo México province in 1598.
posted by kirkaracha at 10:21 AM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
i am having a hell of a time reconciling that stoicism is the best approach to this situation as far as my brain chemistry is concerned with the desire that my white hot boiling rage becomes strong enough to make the west wing spontaneously combust
posted by murphy slaw at 10:23 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 10:23 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Not "just released," ordered by the court to be released on Tuesday. Not sure whether I'm madder at the Republicans for pushing him through before the documentation comes out or the parties/judges in the case for moving slowly enough to give them that window.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:23 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:23 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Liberal Redneck: Make America White Again?It's not about white people inhabiting the country. It's about white people holding all of the power and being first class citizens while everyone else is second.
"Make America White Again"? When was America white? When white people first came to this country they had to kill most of the red people just to make room for the black people they were planning on subjugating. This country ain't never been all white.
posted by Talez at 10:27 AM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
I wonder how many people the US can push into another country before the receiving country says 'No.'
Maybe that's how we get Mexico to build the wall.
haha sob
posted by emjaybee at 10:29 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Maybe that's how we get Mexico to build the wall.
haha sob
posted by emjaybee at 10:29 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
"Make America White Again"? When was America white? When white people first came to this country they had to kill most of the red people just to make room for the black people they were planning on subjugating. This country ain't never been all white.
Or as George Carlin put it:
Or as George Carlin put it:
"This country was founded by a group of slave owners who wanted to be free! So they killed a lot of white English people in order to continue owning their black African people, so they could wipe out the rest of the red Indian people, in order to move west and steal the rest of the land from the brown Mexican people, giving them a place to take off and drop their nuclear weapons on the yellow Japanese people. You know what the motto for this country ought to be? 'You give us a color, we'll wipe it out.'"posted by Celsius1414 at 10:29 AM on February 17, 2017 [73 favorites]
Maybe that's how we get Mexico to build the wall.
I'm beginning to suspect that in this timeline you do it by interning border crossers and deportees and forcing their labor. Because, Nazis.
The wretched alt-right anklebiter legal foundation that has recently set itself up is shopping around the original briefs from Korematsu with barely disguised glee.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:35 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm beginning to suspect that in this timeline you do it by interning border crossers and deportees and forcing their labor. Because, Nazis.
The wretched alt-right anklebiter legal foundation that has recently set itself up is shopping around the original briefs from Korematsu with barely disguised glee.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:35 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Trump falls below 40% approval in Gallup: 38-56. Boom.
Note that Obama never once fell below 40% in Gallup's tracking. Not a month in and dude's already more hated than 44 ever was. Although I guess it was white people hating Obama so maybe they're weighted heavier in the final analysis.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:40 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Note that Obama never once fell below 40% in Gallup's tracking. Not a month in and dude's already more hated than 44 ever was. Although I guess it was white people hating Obama so maybe they're weighted heavier in the final analysis.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:40 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Trump: "What can look so beautiful at thirty? An Airplane!"
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:41 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:41 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
And once again I hope for business interests to be Trump's undoing: The first casualties of Trump's trade wars are Texas cattle ranchers.
Texas doesn't remotely fit the mold of Trump's enfeebled America that is losing jobs to competitors overseas. Texas is the largest exporter among the 50 states with nearly $280 billion in exports, according to state data. The top destinations: Mexico, followed by Canada, Brazil and China, three of which are now embroiled in trade disputes with Washington even as Texas exports oil, coal, petrochemicals, heavy machinery and transportation equipment. That means Texas is home to some of the nation's busiest ports, such as Laredo, El Paso, Houston and Galveston. More Texans work in trade than in oil and gas. Nearly a half-million work for foreign-owned companies, which have pumped more than $20 billion annually into the economy.posted by threeturtles at 10:42 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Now all that is at varying forms of risk.
Why would they need to collude to raise pricing when slapped with an import tax…it's the rational thing to do, no?
They might also decide to absorb the tax in a narrower profit margin and leave prices as they are now.
Pull my other leg, that one's long enough already.
There's a lot of Republican voodoo on economic issues but they're dead right on the assertion that increasing costs on materials means increased prices on products. It's flat-out astonishing to see this Republican embrace of tariffs (which is what they are; "border adjustment" is just hair-splitting) in any non-negligible percentage.
If you really need proof that businesses aren't going to just cut their own margins out the goodness of their hearts you need look no farther than the rapid rise in CEO pay over the last decades. They didn't opt to lower product prices rather than pay those. Why would they do it for tariffs?
posted by phearlez at 10:44 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
They might also decide to absorb the tax in a narrower profit margin and leave prices as they are now.
Pull my other leg, that one's long enough already.
There's a lot of Republican voodoo on economic issues but they're dead right on the assertion that increasing costs on materials means increased prices on products. It's flat-out astonishing to see this Republican embrace of tariffs (which is what they are; "border adjustment" is just hair-splitting) in any non-negligible percentage.
If you really need proof that businesses aren't going to just cut their own margins out the goodness of their hearts you need look no farther than the rapid rise in CEO pay over the last decades. They didn't opt to lower product prices rather than pay those. Why would they do it for tariffs?
posted by phearlez at 10:44 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Assuming there is audio, imagine the kind of language Trump could be spouting as he instructs Russian prostitutes to urinate on the bed the Obamas—people he hates with a fiery, racist passion—once slept in. It would likely make the "grab her" video pale in comparison.
And it would probably strengthen his approval rating with his core supporters.
I have been half-listening to NPR's call-in show Indivisible these days in the evenings; I say "half-listening" because it's mainly just background noise. During last night's episode they were asking people to weigh in on the notion of the "cultural elite".
And one caller phoned in and in basically went off on this whole thing that sounded like the Protocols of the Elders of Zion for a couple minutes before the shocked host just sort of stopped him and moved on.
Trump is the uncovered rock and the worms are coming out.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
And it would probably strengthen his approval rating with his core supporters.
I have been half-listening to NPR's call-in show Indivisible these days in the evenings; I say "half-listening" because it's mainly just background noise. During last night's episode they were asking people to weigh in on the notion of the "cultural elite".
And one caller phoned in and in basically went off on this whole thing that sounded like the Protocols of the Elders of Zion for a couple minutes before the shocked host just sort of stopped him and moved on.
Trump is the uncovered rock and the worms are coming out.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
(also it took until November 19 2005 for George W Bush to sink to 38% approval)
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Trump: "What can look so beautiful at thirty? An Airplane!"
wow, incoherence, ageism, and sexism in nine words
posted by murphy slaw at 10:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [55 favorites]
wow, incoherence, ageism, and sexism in nine words
posted by murphy slaw at 10:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [55 favorites]
i guess i'm glad he didn't say "ivanka"?
posted by murphy slaw at 10:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 10:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
Krugman: "The point is that you can’t understand the mess we’re in without appreciating not just the potential corruption of the president, but the unmistakable corruption of his party — a party so intent on cutting taxes for the wealthy, deregulating banks and polluters and dismantling social programs that accepting foreign subversion is, apparently, a small price to pay."
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:51 AM on February 17, 2017 [68 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:51 AM on February 17, 2017 [68 favorites]
And once again I hope for business interests to be Trump's undoing: The first casualties of Trump's trade wars are Texas cattle ranchers.
Of course HRC, and Bernie Sanders were against the TPP as well, so at least some of those problems were inevitable. But if enough castle ranchers read the Dallas paper, maybe there will be some pushback.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 10:51 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Of course HRC, and Bernie Sanders were against the TPP as well, so at least some of those problems were inevitable. But if enough castle ranchers read the Dallas paper, maybe there will be some pushback.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 10:51 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I think that if there's anything which will generate pro-immigrant sentiment in this country, it will be cops in the streets everywhere checking papers and dragging people away in full view of citizens.
Just to be clear, this is happening right now. Today I saw a photo of border patrol pulling cars over. And white, middle-class soccer moms are almost in tears about it. The big flaw in the plans of the fascists is that they can't imagine people are really going to be upset about this. I mean, yes, I know there is historical precedent for people not caring. But I also think some of these people underestimate the extent to which communities, especially in border states, are blended ethnically. You know, Mexicans aren't some weird other down here. They are our neighbors and our coworkers and our church members and our friends. And it's ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY. I know places like Iowa don't get that.
posted by threeturtles at 10:52 AM on February 17, 2017 [77 favorites]
Just to be clear, this is happening right now. Today I saw a photo of border patrol pulling cars over. And white, middle-class soccer moms are almost in tears about it. The big flaw in the plans of the fascists is that they can't imagine people are really going to be upset about this. I mean, yes, I know there is historical precedent for people not caring. But I also think some of these people underestimate the extent to which communities, especially in border states, are blended ethnically. You know, Mexicans aren't some weird other down here. They are our neighbors and our coworkers and our church members and our friends. And it's ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY. I know places like Iowa don't get that.
posted by threeturtles at 10:52 AM on February 17, 2017 [77 favorites]
There's a bit in Sara Jeong's latest airport cases newsletter (which you should go subscribe to, because it's awesome snark-filled legal analysis of everything that's going on with the travel ban cases) that I thought I'd share, because it's one of the few things I've seen lately that contains a touch of hope. She's been a US Permanent Resident, and like so many other people, sent in the paperwork to become a citizen as soon as she could after the election. She's at the immigration office waiting for her fingerprinting appointment:
As I sat waiting, I noticed that the walls were adorned with framed posters of generic symbols of America. A bald eagle. The statue of liberty. The pledge of allegiance. There was no portrait of the president—perhaps it hadn't arrived yet. It was probably for the best—I couldn't imagine this room full of tense immigrants forced to sit patiently beneath his smirking gaze.posted by zachlipton at 10:59 AM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
When the immigration official was done taking my fingerprints, he handed me a civics study guide for my upcoming naturalization test. It's here, sitting on my desk right now.
It would be nice if all of us were asked to study up on this pamphlet (although, honestly, I only really have one particular citizen in mind). The naturalization test guide describes a country that ought to exist, one that may or may not have ever existed, and to summon it into being by describing it to its newest citizens. The airport cases do that too—they're trying to litigate into being an America we thought we lived in.
Perhaps that's why I feel compelled to write the Airport Cases newsletter. That, I guess, and also I need to practice my English writing skills in preparation for my upcoming exam, where I am required to prove that I am literate.
[picture of one of the exam questions: "what is 'the rule of law?'
* Everyone must follow the law
* Leaders must obey the law
* Government must obey the law
* No one is above the law"]
at this point the republican party is a coalition between
people who will literally let the world burn as long as they can use racial slurs without feeling bad about it
and
people who will literally let the world burn for their 30 pieces of silver
burn it down. burn it all down.
posted by murphy slaw at 10:59 AM on February 17, 2017 [28 favorites]
people who will literally let the world burn as long as they can use racial slurs without feeling bad about it
and
people who will literally let the world burn for their 30 pieces of silver
burn it down. burn it all down.
posted by murphy slaw at 10:59 AM on February 17, 2017 [28 favorites]
DHS: Study Materials for the Civics Test
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:02 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:02 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
No links as yet, but a friend is protesting at the Charleston SC Boeing plant where Trump is currently speaking, and reports about 25 #MAGA chuds versus hundreds of protestors.
In South Carolina.
Flip the goddamn House 2018
posted by Existential Dread at 11:02 AM on February 17, 2017 [86 favorites]
In South Carolina.
Flip the goddamn House 2018
posted by Existential Dread at 11:02 AM on February 17, 2017 [86 favorites]
If you work for Boeing then Trump has literally endangered your livelihood on multiple occasions now, at least once just for the hell of it. I can see them being cool on him.
posted by Artw at 11:04 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Artw at 11:04 AM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
i am having a hell of a time reconciling that stoicism is the best approach to this situation as far as my brain chemistry is concerned with the desire that my white hot boiling rage becomes strong enough to make the west wing spontaneously combust
Somewhere I picked up the maybe wrong idea that the old idea of stoicism was not that one is silent but that one comments on the action w/ an idea that we are all fate's fools. Thus, Kent in the stocks in Lear; Kent is such a smart ass, just has to say it how it is, to Lear, Gonereil, everybody.
And then he gets put in the stocks and is all *do do do, I'm in the stocks until the wheel of fortune turns again*
Maybe relatedly, yesterday I had this intense fantasy about DJT in the stocks and he was crying and I was basically laughing and nodding at this vision of torture.
posted by angrycat at 11:08 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Here's a take from a Trump fan. The American Spectator reporting from a parallel universe to which I have no access. I continue to find it incredibly disturbing that we are not operating in a consensus reality with millions of other Americans.
posted by prefpara at 11:09 AM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by prefpara at 11:09 AM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
Small bit of good news: Kansas legislature just voted to increase taxes and roll back most of Brownback's horrible tax policies. So at least some Republicans have learned something (half of the yes votes in the state senate were from freshman senators just elected in Nov).
posted by melissasaurus at 11:10 AM on February 17, 2017 [74 favorites]
posted by melissasaurus at 11:10 AM on February 17, 2017 [74 favorites]
As just one example from the comments:
President Trump also spoke without the aid of teleprompters, leaving out Barry's support words such as "uuuh, aand, let me be clear, uummm, I'll say this about that, I,Me, My."
This is a comment made by a human being who believes Trump to be more articulate than Obama.
I genuinely have no idea what to do with that.
posted by prefpara at 11:11 AM on February 17, 2017 [85 favorites]
President Trump also spoke without the aid of teleprompters, leaving out Barry's support words such as "uuuh, aand, let me be clear, uummm, I'll say this about that, I,Me, My."
This is a comment made by a human being who believes Trump to be more articulate than Obama.
I genuinely have no idea what to do with that.
posted by prefpara at 11:11 AM on February 17, 2017 [85 favorites]
Leader of GOP anti-Trump faction John McCain voted for Pruitt. I guess standing up to the president is less important than voting to murder Earth's biosphere.
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:12 AM on February 17, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:12 AM on February 17, 2017 [32 favorites]
Theory that John McCain is a vetebrate still unsupported, much like his big talk.
posted by Artw at 11:13 AM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by Artw at 11:13 AM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
>This is a comment made by a human being who believes Trump to be more articulate than Obama.
Yeah, well, sometimes Obama would pause to think about what he was saying for a second.
You'll never see Trump do that.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 11:14 AM on February 17, 2017 [52 favorites]
Yeah, well, sometimes Obama would pause to think about what he was saying for a second.
You'll never see Trump do that.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 11:14 AM on February 17, 2017 [52 favorites]
Lt. Calley was just following Geo. Washington's example:
... in 1779 George Washington sent 5,000 American troops under the command of General John Sullivan to destroy the villages of the Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca as punishment for aid which they had supposedly given to the British. Washington’s orders are for
“the total destruction and devastation of [the Indian] settlements and capture as many prisoners as possible.”
The American forces made no distinction between those who had been American allies and those who had aided the British. The Americans destroyed 40 villages and 160,000 bushels of corn.
A few years ago, didn't Georgia try to cut down on immigrants, and then had to pull back when crops started rotting on the vine?
And missed out on a chance to provide "those liberal college students" with a "valuable real world work experience."
...keeping them [guns] pointing downrange
If you're going to pick up a gun, this is the most important and hardest safety rule to follow. A pellet pistol and a cardboard box filled with wadded up newspaper is a cheap and effective way to practice until it becomes a conditioned reflex.
posted by ridgerunner at 11:14 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
... in 1779 George Washington sent 5,000 American troops under the command of General John Sullivan to destroy the villages of the Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca as punishment for aid which they had supposedly given to the British. Washington’s orders are for
“the total destruction and devastation of [the Indian] settlements and capture as many prisoners as possible.”
The American forces made no distinction between those who had been American allies and those who had aided the British. The Americans destroyed 40 villages and 160,000 bushels of corn.
A few years ago, didn't Georgia try to cut down on immigrants, and then had to pull back when crops started rotting on the vine?
And missed out on a chance to provide "those liberal college students" with a "valuable real world work experience."
...keeping them [guns] pointing downrange
If you're going to pick up a gun, this is the most important and hardest safety rule to follow. A pellet pistol and a cardboard box filled with wadded up newspaper is a cheap and effective way to practice until it becomes a conditioned reflex.
posted by ridgerunner at 11:14 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
I bet John McCain furrowed his brow sternly as he voted to ensure that his grandkids' skulls have cameo appearances in The Road.
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:16 AM on February 17, 2017 [44 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:16 AM on February 17, 2017 [44 favorites]
Here's a take from a Trump fan.
"Trump’s effectiveness in punishing the Democrat press"
And I'm out. These 27%ers are unreachable and unredeemable. Fuck them. They are enemies and should be treated as such.
The only people worth caring about are Obama-Obama-Trump voters who were fooled for whatever reason into voting for the "change" canidate once again, and people who didn't vote at all.
Enthusiastic Trump voters will always be around, but are never worth caring about what they think or say.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:17 AM on February 17, 2017 [38 favorites]
"Trump’s effectiveness in punishing the Democrat press"
And I'm out. These 27%ers are unreachable and unredeemable. Fuck them. They are enemies and should be treated as such.
The only people worth caring about are Obama-Obama-Trump voters who were fooled for whatever reason into voting for the "change" canidate once again, and people who didn't vote at all.
Enthusiastic Trump voters will always be around, but are never worth caring about what they think or say.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:17 AM on February 17, 2017 [38 favorites]
No public humiliation for Trump. No public anything for Trump. When we beat him he must be denied all public everything.
I had a truly wonderful dream this morning. the first good dream involving the fucker that I've ever had. It was about a late night talk show -- my point of view kept switching, so sometimes I was in the audience, sometimes I was the host. and sometimes I was a member of the crew. Trump was the second guest on the show. It started out with me as a member of the crew talking to him in the green room, which my literal-minded dream brain presented as a green screen room, with every wall bright green and with the only furniture being an overly ornate Trumpish chair. The first guest was running over, and Trump was FURIOUS, shouting and screaming and spitting. I was very calm, though, and kept telling him he would be on shortly. He sat down in his chair and grumped and played with his phone.
The next scene that I can remember, I was watching from the audience. The host introduced him as the former star of The Apprentice and Celebrity Apprentice. My POV switched to the host's, and as the host I said that I had been a big fan of Survivor and asked him what it was like to work with Mark Burnett. Trump was confused, but Trumped out a few words about Burnett being a tremendous guy. My POV switched back to the audience and I saw a member of the crew making a "wrap it up" gesture. The host said "that's all the time we have for now! Next up, Jack Hanna!"
Last scene I remember is watching from the audience as a member of the crew helped Trump up from the couch and took him backstage. Trump seemed deflated, and very, very old.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 11:20 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
I had a truly wonderful dream this morning. the first good dream involving the fucker that I've ever had. It was about a late night talk show -- my point of view kept switching, so sometimes I was in the audience, sometimes I was the host. and sometimes I was a member of the crew. Trump was the second guest on the show. It started out with me as a member of the crew talking to him in the green room, which my literal-minded dream brain presented as a green screen room, with every wall bright green and with the only furniture being an overly ornate Trumpish chair. The first guest was running over, and Trump was FURIOUS, shouting and screaming and spitting. I was very calm, though, and kept telling him he would be on shortly. He sat down in his chair and grumped and played with his phone.
The next scene that I can remember, I was watching from the audience. The host introduced him as the former star of The Apprentice and Celebrity Apprentice. My POV switched to the host's, and as the host I said that I had been a big fan of Survivor and asked him what it was like to work with Mark Burnett. Trump was confused, but Trumped out a few words about Burnett being a tremendous guy. My POV switched back to the audience and I saw a member of the crew making a "wrap it up" gesture. The host said "that's all the time we have for now! Next up, Jack Hanna!"
Last scene I remember is watching from the audience as a member of the crew helped Trump up from the couch and took him backstage. Trump seemed deflated, and very, very old.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 11:20 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
If you work for Boeing then Trump has literally endangered your livelihood on multiple occasions now, at least once just for the hell of it. I can see them being cool on him.
posted by Artw at 11:04 AM on February 17 [2 favorites +] [!]
Yeah but the SC plant just voted to remain 'right to work' rather than join Boeing's rather powerful labor union(s). So there's that.
posted by OHenryPacey at 11:20 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Artw at 11:04 AM on February 17 [2 favorites +] [!]
Yeah but the SC plant just voted to remain 'right to work' rather than join Boeing's rather powerful labor union(s). So there's that.
posted by OHenryPacey at 11:20 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Goddamn nazis need to go open their own hearts with rusty hacksaw blades.
They might need help.
posted by bongo_x at 11:22 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
They might need help.
posted by bongo_x at 11:22 AM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Welp, good luck to them. If they all get fired without notice we should chip in and sent them a crate of Liberal Tears mugs.
posted by Artw at 11:22 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Artw at 11:22 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Trump seemed deflated, and very, very old.
I know that this is petty, but it is somewhat consoling to consider that this is going to happen, and relatively soon, pretty much no matter what. He's not a young 70.
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:22 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I know that this is petty, but it is somewhat consoling to consider that this is going to happen, and relatively soon, pretty much no matter what. He's not a young 70.
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:22 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Leader of GOP anti-Trump faction John McCain voted for Pruitt.
McCain was not present for the vote. He's flying to Germany for a security conference.
posted by Etrigan at 11:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
McCain was not present for the vote. He's flying to Germany for a security conference.
posted by Etrigan at 11:24 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
And one caller phoned in and in basically went off on this whole thing that sounded like the Protocols of the Elders of Zion for a couple minutes before the shocked host just sort of stopped him and moved on.
The same thing happened on the NPR show 1A a couple weeks ago. I was out driving around and had the radio on--the show itself seems kind of bland in a very NPR way and they take call-ins which I hate, but I just wanted the background noise. So, the first call they take and this dude is all "I'M A NATIONALIST, THESE PEOPLE DON'T BELONG HERE, AMERICA FIRST!!" and I was like holy fuckballs what is even happening?! In my entire life up to this point I never thought I would hear the words "I am a nationalist" said proudly on an NPR call-in show.
posted by soren_lorensen at 11:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
The same thing happened on the NPR show 1A a couple weeks ago. I was out driving around and had the radio on--the show itself seems kind of bland in a very NPR way and they take call-ins which I hate, but I just wanted the background noise. So, the first call they take and this dude is all "I'M A NATIONALIST, THESE PEOPLE DON'T BELONG HERE, AMERICA FIRST!!" and I was like holy fuckballs what is even happening?! In my entire life up to this point I never thought I would hear the words "I am a nationalist" said proudly on an NPR call-in show.
posted by soren_lorensen at 11:25 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
.@POTUS at Boeing: "In the old days when I made a speech like this, I used to get paid a lot money. Now I get nothing...not a good deal."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:28 AM on February 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:28 AM on February 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
Of course, Pat "I'm not a rubber stamp" Toomey keeps his perfect 100% agreement with Trump streak going.
posted by cmfletcher at 11:29 AM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 11:29 AM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
A lot of anti-Trump people I meet seem caught up or confused about moralizing immigration. They have a weird sympathy about the ICE raids and people being kicked out of the country and families being torn apart, but there's almost always an asterisk attached to their sympathies, with statements such as "I feel bad for those people, but imagine the people who had to wait and work for years to be legal immigrants." What's the deal with this thought process? It's like because people had to go through an excruciating process to be "legal" they're more worthy of sympathy, as if coming into the country illegally is such a breeze.
posted by gucci mane at 11:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 11:30 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
John McCain at the German security conference (as quoted by former Conservative Prime Minister of Sweden, Carl Bildt): "Will the West survive?".
posted by kariebookish at 11:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by kariebookish at 11:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Of course, Pat "I'm not a rubber stamp" Toomey keeps his perfect 100% agreement with Trump streak going.
I quoted that "rubber stamp" business back at him on this week's postcard.
posted by soren_lorensen at 11:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
I've never seen Snopes to be outright incorrect. People are fond of linking to the website and not reading their full article on a subject, but I've never seen them to say something's true/untrue when evidence points otherwise.
The thing I've seen Snopes do a few times is:
CLAIM
VERDICT: FALSE
EXPLANATION THAT NOBODY READS: The claim is actually true but we're misunderstanding the claim in some way, or there is some irrelevant aspect of it that happens to be false.
The most obvious example is
CLAIM: JILL STEIN IS AN ANTIVAXXER
VERDICT: FALSE
EXPLANATION: An "antivaxxer" is *description of cartoon antivaxxer that doesn't exist*. While Stein has *lots of activities that real antivaxxers do*, she hasn't *activities that someone's idea of an antivaxxer would do but that real antivaxxers don't do*. Therefore, she is not an antivaxxer.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [36 favorites]
The thing I've seen Snopes do a few times is:
CLAIM
VERDICT: FALSE
EXPLANATION THAT NOBODY READS: The claim is actually true but we're misunderstanding the claim in some way, or there is some irrelevant aspect of it that happens to be false.
The most obvious example is
CLAIM: JILL STEIN IS AN ANTIVAXXER
VERDICT: FALSE
EXPLANATION: An "antivaxxer" is *description of cartoon antivaxxer that doesn't exist*. While Stein has *lots of activities that real antivaxxers do*, she hasn't *activities that someone's idea of an antivaxxer would do but that real antivaxxers don't do*. Therefore, she is not an antivaxxer.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [36 favorites]
Vox: Report: Trump transition ordered government economists to cook up rosy growth forecasts
Deep into his story about Trump budget hijinks (Wall Street Journal's Nick) Timiraos reveals that “what’s unusual about the administration’s forecasts isn’t just their relative optimism but also the process by which they were derived.” Specifically, what’s unusual about them is that they weren’t derived by any process at all. Instead of letting economists build a forecast, Trump’s budget was put together with “transition officials telling the CEA staff the growth targets that their budget would produce and asking them to backfill other estimates off those figures.”posted by rewil at 11:31 AM on February 17, 2017 [57 favorites]
Staff has been ordered to project that inflation-adjusted growth will average between 3 and 3.5 percent over the next decade, eventually settling at around 3.2 percent.
What's the deal with this thought process? It's like because people had to go through an excruciating process to be "legal" they're more worthy of sympathy, as if coming into the country illegally is such a breeze.
It's not that complex a thought process. They're putting a premium on rewarding those who follow rules over those who cut in line.
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:32 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's not that complex a thought process. They're putting a premium on rewarding those who follow rules over those who cut in line.
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:32 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
"Now I get nothing...not a good deal."
Fuck you, buddy.
posted by Artw at 11:32 AM on February 17, 2017 [32 favorites]
Fuck you, buddy.
posted by Artw at 11:32 AM on February 17, 2017 [32 favorites]
What's the deal with this thought process? It's like because people had to go through an excruciating process to be "legal" they're more worthy of sympathy, as if coming into the country illegally is such a breeze.
The deal is it's bullshit cover for something else (I ain't gonna say it) because those same people are often the same people who are cheering the Muslim Ban -- which targets people who have gone through the process and done it legally.
posted by notyou at 11:32 AM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
The deal is it's bullshit cover for something else (I ain't gonna say it) because those same people are often the same people who are cheering the Muslim Ban -- which targets people who have gone through the process and done it legally.
posted by notyou at 11:32 AM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
There's defintely a much thinner veneer over the musilm ban than DACA stuff.
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:34 AM on February 17, 2017
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:34 AM on February 17, 2017
They're putting a premium on rewarding those who follow rules over those who cut in line.
And are unwilling to examine whether those rules are good in and of themselves.
posted by Etrigan at 11:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
And are unwilling to examine whether those rules are good in and of themselves.
posted by Etrigan at 11:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
It's not that complex a thought process. They're putting a premium on rewarding those who follow rules over those who cut in line.
And if the rules change or just get ignored, not their problem.
posted by Artw at 11:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
And if the rules change or just get ignored, not their problem.
posted by Artw at 11:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
A fascist will always claim to care about rules but doesn't in the slightest.
posted by Artw at 11:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Artw at 11:34 AM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Staff has been ordered to project that inflation-adjusted growth will average between 3 and 3.5 percent over the next decade, eventually settling at around 3.2 percent.
huh, i think there's a word for that. oh yeah, "command economy". now if i could just remember the name of the last superpower that tried it…
posted by murphy slaw at 11:35 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
huh, i think there's a word for that. oh yeah, "command economy". now if i could just remember the name of the last superpower that tried it…
posted by murphy slaw at 11:35 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
This is the speech McCain gave this morning in Munich: Don't Count America Out
Our predecessors did not believe in the end of history — or that it bends, inevitably, toward justice. That is up to us. That requires our persistent, painstaking effort. And that is why we come to Munich, year after year after year.posted by sallybrown at 11:36 AM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
What would von Kleist’s generation say if they saw our world today? I fear that much about it would be all-too-familiar to them, and they would be alarmed by it.
They would be alarmed by an increasing turn away from universal values and toward old ties of blood, and race, and sectarianism.
They would be alarmed by the hardening resentment we see toward immigrants, and refugees, and minority groups, especially Muslims.
They would be alarmed by the growing inability, and even unwillingness, to separate truth from lies.
"Now I get nothing...not a good deal."
Here's an offer: Resign and go back to making money giving speeches.
Sounds like the deal of the century to me.
posted by notyou at 11:36 AM on February 17, 2017 [36 favorites]
Here's an offer: Resign and go back to making money giving speeches.
Sounds like the deal of the century to me.
posted by notyou at 11:36 AM on February 17, 2017 [36 favorites]
Nixon's Meatloaf
"I Would Do Anything For Power (Including That)"
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [49 favorites]
"I Would Do Anything For Power (Including That)"
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [49 favorites]
Chait has a pretty informative explainer about the problems Republicans are having with tax cuts. Basically, they want them to be permanent this time, to avoid them ever expiring automatically like the Bush cuts did. But doing that is actually pretty difficult, because of math.
Paul Ryan’s Dream of Tax Cuts for the Rich Will Not Be Denied Republicans hope to avoid such a fate for the Trump tax cuts. Their hope is to design tax cuts that technically do not lose any revenue, which would allow them to be permanent, and force Democrats to gain control of the House, Senate, and presidency in order to overturn them.
How do you design a huge tax cut for rich people without losing a lot of revenue? Republicans are looking at three pots of money to offset the cost: Dynamic scoring, Obamacare taxes, and a border-adjustment tax.
...
So where does that leave them? Probably in the same place they were in 2001. They could scale back on the tax cuts for the rich, but that would run counter to every impulse within the Republican Party. You will pry the tax cuts for the rich from Paul Ryan’s cold, dead hands.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Paul Ryan’s Dream of Tax Cuts for the Rich Will Not Be Denied Republicans hope to avoid such a fate for the Trump tax cuts. Their hope is to design tax cuts that technically do not lose any revenue, which would allow them to be permanent, and force Democrats to gain control of the House, Senate, and presidency in order to overturn them.
How do you design a huge tax cut for rich people without losing a lot of revenue? Republicans are looking at three pots of money to offset the cost: Dynamic scoring, Obamacare taxes, and a border-adjustment tax.
...
So where does that leave them? Probably in the same place they were in 2001. They could scale back on the tax cuts for the rich, but that would run counter to every impulse within the Republican Party. You will pry the tax cuts for the rich from Paul Ryan’s cold, dead hands.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Sounds like the deal of the century to me.
Hell, we'll fucking save money doing that.
posted by Celsius1414 at 11:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Hell, we'll fucking save money doing that.
posted by Celsius1414 at 11:37 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I would contribute to a GoFundMe to get him to resign.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:38 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:38 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Kinda getting bored with McCain saying the right things and following up by doing none of them.
posted by notyou at 11:39 AM on February 17, 2017 [123 favorites]
posted by notyou at 11:39 AM on February 17, 2017 [123 favorites]
This is the speech McCain gave this morning in Munich: Don't Count America Out
Stop favoring for Trumps bullshit you #NeverSpine coward.
posted by Artw at 11:39 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Stop favoring for Trumps bullshit you #NeverSpine coward.
posted by Artw at 11:39 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Kinda getting bored with McCain saying the right things and following up by doing none of them.
I'm more amazed how he gets around with giant brass balls but no spine.
posted by Talez at 11:40 AM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
I'm more amazed how he gets around with giant brass balls but no spine.
posted by Talez at 11:40 AM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
> "Now I get nothing...not a good deal."
It's not too late to quit and go back to your old job.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:40 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's not too late to quit and go back to your old job.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:40 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
And if the rules change or just get ignored, not their problem.
Even more, they're willing/eager to change the rules on the fly, and you'd better follow those too, if you want to remain one of the "good ones." The poor families of the "bad ones" get sanctimonious pity, but they musn't be rewarded, because of "unfairness" in resource allocation and "moral hazard" etc.
It's deeply cruel and mostly cynical.
A fascist will always claim to care about rules but doesn't in the slightest.
I feel like maybe there's a divide here between the fascists making the rules and the followers who delight in forcing their rectitude on others. But I'm no expert.
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:40 AM on February 17, 2017
Even more, they're willing/eager to change the rules on the fly, and you'd better follow those too, if you want to remain one of the "good ones." The poor families of the "bad ones" get sanctimonious pity, but they musn't be rewarded, because of "unfairness" in resource allocation and "moral hazard" etc.
It's deeply cruel and mostly cynical.
A fascist will always claim to care about rules but doesn't in the slightest.
I feel like maybe there's a divide here between the fascists making the rules and the followers who delight in forcing their rectitude on others. But I'm no expert.
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:40 AM on February 17, 2017
DeVos doubles down on guns and grizzly bears in latest interview
DeVos still isn’t sure if the federal government should be involved in education, acknowledging that “there have been important inflection points” for government intervention but that she “can’t think of any now.”
She thinks her infamous example of using guns in schools to protect students from grizzly bears was a “valid illustration.”
DeVos now says she “absolutely” supports the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which at her confirmation hearing she said was a matter “best left to the states.”
Here is the longer source article.
What Betsy DeVos wishes she said at her confirmation hearing
posted by futz at 11:41 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
DeVos still isn’t sure if the federal government should be involved in education, acknowledging that “there have been important inflection points” for government intervention but that she “can’t think of any now.”
She thinks her infamous example of using guns in schools to protect students from grizzly bears was a “valid illustration.”
DeVos now says she “absolutely” supports the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which at her confirmation hearing she said was a matter “best left to the states.”
Here is the longer source article.
What Betsy DeVos wishes she said at her confirmation hearing
posted by futz at 11:41 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Is fascism inherently zero-sum, or are they independent concepts?
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:42 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:42 AM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Isn't it interesting that McCain doesn't get on TV and give that speech in fucking America? The place where he has some power? The place he's talking about? Cowardly larva.
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:42 AM on February 17, 2017 [46 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:42 AM on February 17, 2017 [46 favorites]
>Kinda getting bored with McCain saying the right things and following up by doing none of them.
If by "bored" you mean "furious" then yes, I am also getting bored with McCain being a craven bootlicker striving to sound like the brave and reasoned resistance.
Fuck him. We are the brave and reasoned resistance. He can get in line or shut the hell up.
posted by lydhre at 11:43 AM on February 17, 2017 [33 favorites]
If by "bored" you mean "furious" then yes, I am also getting bored with McCain being a craven bootlicker striving to sound like the brave and reasoned resistance.
Fuck him. We are the brave and reasoned resistance. He can get in line or shut the hell up.
posted by lydhre at 11:43 AM on February 17, 2017 [33 favorites]
re: deVos
jesus christ lady, you got the job. why keep shooting at the bullet holes in your own feet?
posted by murphy slaw at 11:43 AM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
jesus christ lady, you got the job. why keep shooting at the bullet holes in your own feet?
posted by murphy slaw at 11:43 AM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Liberal Redneck:
Yay! Trey Crowder is a treasure. My wife went to see him and an opener friend in Raleigh a while back and they took audience questions at the end with a mix of funny and serious answers. Someone asked "Why do rednecks hate Hilary so much?" and he instantly said "Coz she's a woman." Having grown up in the south myself and alternately love/hating it I really appreciate his voice and the fact that he's preaching to other southern white men in a no-bullshit way that calls them on their hypocrisy. I would wager he's changed more than a few minds.
posted by freecellwizard at 11:44 AM on February 17, 2017 [36 favorites]
Yay! Trey Crowder is a treasure. My wife went to see him and an opener friend in Raleigh a while back and they took audience questions at the end with a mix of funny and serious answers. Someone asked "Why do rednecks hate Hilary so much?" and he instantly said "Coz she's a woman." Having grown up in the south myself and alternately love/hating it I really appreciate his voice and the fact that he's preaching to other southern white men in a no-bullshit way that calls them on their hypocrisy. I would wager he's changed more than a few minds.
posted by freecellwizard at 11:44 AM on February 17, 2017 [36 favorites]
jesus christ lady, you got the job. why keep shooting at the bullet holes in your own feet?
It is a little weird that Trump, and every level of bootlicker he's surrounded himself by, just. can't. stop. campaigning. It's almost like they're all afflicted with the same malignant narcissistic personality disorder stemming from years of over-privileged fuckwittery.
posted by Mayor West at 11:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [26 favorites]
It is a little weird that Trump, and every level of bootlicker he's surrounded himself by, just. can't. stop. campaigning. It's almost like they're all afflicted with the same malignant narcissistic personality disorder stemming from years of over-privileged fuckwittery.
posted by Mayor West at 11:46 AM on February 17, 2017 [26 favorites]
Hey guys imagine if every Trump month is like this Trump month
What if instead of this presidency aging him, it ages us
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 11:47 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
What if instead of this presidency aging him, it ages us
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 11:47 AM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
I certainly hope nobody in German believes a word McCain says, will be embarrassing when the T-90s are rolling down the strasse and he's all shruggo.
posted by Artw at 11:49 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Artw at 11:49 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
It is a little weird that Trump, and every level of bootlicker he's surrounded himself by, just. can't. stop. campaigning.
He's nothing without an enemy to rail against. He can't ever gain unless someone loses. And, in lieu of a foreign or political adversary, he rails against the media.
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:49 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
He's nothing without an enemy to rail against. He can't ever gain unless someone loses. And, in lieu of a foreign or political adversary, he rails against the media.
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:49 AM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
Admit it: Trump is unfit to serve His obligation was to earn the trust of the 60 percent of Americans who told exit pollsters on Election Day that they viewed him unfavorably. Instead, he has ratified their fears, and then some.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:50 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:50 AM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
What if instead of this presidency aging him, it ages us.
Worst Portrait of Dorian Grey Fan-Fiction. Ever.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 11:50 AM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
Worst Portrait of Dorian Grey Fan-Fiction. Ever.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 11:50 AM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
So can I call Chuck Schumer about Manchin? I am not a constituent of his but Schumer is Minority Leader and doesn't that count for something?
Someone needs to get that asshole to vote with the party or GTFO of the party.
posted by lydhre at 11:51 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Someone needs to get that asshole to vote with the party or GTFO of the party.
posted by lydhre at 11:51 AM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
What if instead of this presidency aging him, it ages us
oh god he must have a picture of the DNC in his attic, which just keeps getting older
posted by Mayor West at 11:51 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
oh god he must have a picture of the DNC in his attic, which just keeps getting older
posted by Mayor West at 11:51 AM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
jesus christ lady, you got the job. why keep shooting at the bullet holes in your own feet?
THOSE HOLES COULD BE FILLED WITH BEARS!
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:52 AM on February 17, 2017 [30 favorites]
THOSE HOLES COULD BE FILLED WITH BEARS!
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:52 AM on February 17, 2017 [30 favorites]
Admit it: Trump is unfit to serve
And this was published the day before yesterday's nightmare.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:52 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
And this was published the day before yesterday's nightmare.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:52 AM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
McCain: "I refuse to accept that our values are morally equivalent to those of our adversaries."
Not said: "but I absolutely will vote in line with that as and when required."
posted by Artw at 11:56 AM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Not said: "but I absolutely will vote in line with that as and when required."
posted by Artw at 11:56 AM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Tweet thread from Jeremy Konyndyk Former Director of US Foreign Disaster Assistance at USAID under Obama:
"Lot of speculation these days about how #Trump Admin will manage a REAL crisis, given its high level of baseline chaos. Let's dive in. 1/" ...Trump is undermining every crisis mgmt tool USG has in its arsenal...So as an emergency manager, welcome to my nightmare."
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:57 AM on February 17, 2017 [42 favorites]
"Lot of speculation these days about how #Trump Admin will manage a REAL crisis, given its high level of baseline chaos. Let's dive in. 1/" ...Trump is undermining every crisis mgmt tool USG has in its arsenal...So as an emergency manager, welcome to my nightmare."
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:57 AM on February 17, 2017 [42 favorites]
Fascism is both an inefficient industrial policy---nationalized kleptocracy---and an inefficient labour policy---by stigmatizing and excluding scapegoat minorities, typically those that are successful.
So it's lose (to corruption), lose (to a shrinking labour and talent pool).
It's not zero-sum, it's negative-sum.
posted by bonehead at 11:59 AM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
So it's lose (to corruption), lose (to a shrinking labour and talent pool).
It's not zero-sum, it's negative-sum.
posted by bonehead at 11:59 AM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
Outdoor Retailer is a twice-yearly show for the outdoor industry in Utah. It's a huge industry event bringing an estimated $45 million dollars a year to the state. After brands such as Patagonia, The North Face and others decided to boycot the show due to the anti-conservation stance of the GOP in the state, the show itself has announced it is leaving the state after 20 years. This is really big news for the state.
“It is clear that the governor indeed has a different perspective on the protections of public lands from that of our members and the majority of Western state voters, both Republicans and Democrats — that’s bad for our American heritage, and it’s bad for our businesses,” said a statement by the Outdoor Industry Association. “We are therefore continuing our search for a new home as soon as possible.”posted by misterpatrick at 12:00 PM on February 17, 2017 [99 favorites]
Comey has been briefing the Senate Intelligence Committee for "About 2 hours now." Schumer is also in the meeting. Hmmm.
posted by sallybrown at 12:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 12:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
Swell, now the ex USAID guy has exposed us all to the Trump Epidemic Nightmare.
posted by notyou at 12:03 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by notyou at 12:03 PM on February 17, 2017
Hey guys imagine if every Trump month is like this Trump month. What if instead of this presidency aging him, it ages us
Hey, a few years off our lives to sow four years of particularly toxic salt on Republican branding and ideology? Sounds like it might be a decent deal, if it worked that way.
posted by Coventry at 12:07 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Hey, a few years off our lives to sow four years of particularly toxic salt on Republican branding and ideology? Sounds like it might be a decent deal, if it worked that way.
posted by Coventry at 12:07 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
And are unwilling to examine whether those rules are good in and of themselves.
Ay, there's the rub.
I feel sometimes that maybe half of the country still believes in Divine Right. Except instead of believing that the Divine Right flows from God to a King, in America it flows from God to the laws themselves. You know, and maybe God changes his mind sometimes and a new law succeeds one that came before it, but that doesn't change the fact that whatever laws we currently have are Just and Good (until it is changed) and that anyone who breaks the laws are sinning against God.
This is part of why I don't like to say "illegal immigrant", even though it's technically correct and not as blatantly offensive as using "illegal" like it's a noun. Because about half the people you talk to won't be able to see past the fact that a Law has been Violated to identify with the people who break these laws. And if they can't identify with the people who are breaking an unjust law, they can never understand why the law is unjust.
posted by tobascodagama at 12:08 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
Ay, there's the rub.
I feel sometimes that maybe half of the country still believes in Divine Right. Except instead of believing that the Divine Right flows from God to a King, in America it flows from God to the laws themselves. You know, and maybe God changes his mind sometimes and a new law succeeds one that came before it, but that doesn't change the fact that whatever laws we currently have are Just and Good (until it is changed) and that anyone who breaks the laws are sinning against God.
This is part of why I don't like to say "illegal immigrant", even though it's technically correct and not as blatantly offensive as using "illegal" like it's a noun. Because about half the people you talk to won't be able to see past the fact that a Law has been Violated to identify with the people who break these laws. And if they can't identify with the people who are breaking an unjust law, they can never understand why the law is unjust.
posted by tobascodagama at 12:08 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
Because I am a sap, I still hold my breath hoping in his old age McCain will rise up and display the kind of moral courage he did in his youth. Somehow I'd love McCain to (metaphorically) slay the Donald and stand over him shouting "I like Presidents who aren't traitors!"
Of course, you could also argue his elevation of Sarah Palin to the VP slot paved the way for the Great Trumpening...
posted by sallybrown at 12:09 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Of course, you could also argue his elevation of Sarah Palin to the VP slot paved the way for the Great Trumpening...
posted by sallybrown at 12:09 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
U.S. top court to set guidelines for Trump treatment of non-citizens
The U.S. Supreme Court will decide three cases in coming months that could help or hinder President Donald Trump's efforts to ramp up border security and accelerate deportations of those in the country illegally. The three cases, which reached the court before Democratic President Barack Obama left office, all deal broadly with the degree to which non-citizens can assert rights under the U.S. Constitution.
posted by argonauta at 12:10 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
The U.S. Supreme Court will decide three cases in coming months that could help or hinder President Donald Trump's efforts to ramp up border security and accelerate deportations of those in the country illegally. The three cases, which reached the court before Democratic President Barack Obama left office, all deal broadly with the degree to which non-citizens can assert rights under the U.S. Constitution.
posted by argonauta at 12:10 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Aw, look, we've got Toomey on the run.
("lease is expiring," my fucking foot. "shit-scared and probably asked to leave by building management because his current office is housed in a regular ol' office building that is not equipped to have 150 angry people yelling while someone makes speeches on a bullhorn every week").
posted by joyceanmachine at 12:11 PM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
("lease is expiring," my fucking foot. "shit-scared and probably asked to leave by building management because his current office is housed in a regular ol' office building that is not equipped to have 150 angry people yelling while someone makes speeches on a bullhorn every week").
posted by joyceanmachine at 12:11 PM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
Of course, you could also argue his elevation of Sarah Palin to the VP slot paved the way for the Great Trumpening...
Unfortunately, I believe this could be true. Like a test balloon: how much dingdongwahwah can voters take and still smile?
It's kind of uncanny how we felt back in the Palin days that it couldn't get much worse.
posted by Namlit at 12:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Unfortunately, I believe this could be true. Like a test balloon: how much dingdongwahwah can voters take and still smile?
It's kind of uncanny how we felt back in the Palin days that it couldn't get much worse.
posted by Namlit at 12:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Jamie Dupree seems to be waiting on Senators getting out of the FBI meeting, if you want to follow the "no comments".
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm going to open a business where you pay me $79.95 and I take you into a soundproof room where you put on a protective worksuit and a face shield and I hand you an aluminum bat. Then I project the day's tv news onto a wall-sized tv screen. You get to scream your head off and bash the shit out of an orange mannequin with a combover for fifteen minutes. For $129.95, I fill the mannequin with calf guts.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [33 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [33 favorites]
And are unwilling to examine whether those rules are good in and of themselves.
My mom is like this. She's got a law orientation that really is hard to pierce. Don't break the law, ever, even if it's a stupid or unjust law. And if you ever did break the law then, welp, you get what's coming. She used to do fraud investigation so she saw a lot of people breaking a lot of laws first-hand, and she's unwilling to consider that not all laws are created equal. I did something harmless and mildly dumb in college that got me arrested, a nigh in jail, and fined. I have never told my parents about this because what for most parents would be "ha ha young and dumb amirite?" to my mom would be "I don't even know who you are anymore."
She's never been put in a situation where she had to choose between breaking the law and, like, survival. She likes to think that she'd still be a good rule-follower but she will never have to actually confront that for realsies and deep down she knows it.
Aw, look, we've got Toomey on the run.
His Pittsburgh office is moving as well, somewhere downtown, likely to some place a lot harder to protest in front of.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
Swell, now the ex USAID guy has exposed us all to the Trump Epidemic Nightmare.
Not just USAID either, every agency is rudderless right now. It's halfway through February and he's only nominated 1 Deputy or lower level Senate confirmed position. That's good from the stand point of their ability to actually implement their horrible agenda, but really, really bad from the standpoint of the government's ability to respond to any kind of crisis, natural, biological, military, anything.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:16 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Not just USAID either, every agency is rudderless right now. It's halfway through February and he's only nominated 1 Deputy or lower level Senate confirmed position. That's good from the stand point of their ability to actually implement their horrible agenda, but really, really bad from the standpoint of the government's ability to respond to any kind of crisis, natural, biological, military, anything.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:16 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
An an Arizonan, I cannot even form a sentence in English that could describe how over John McCain and his vacuous "maverick" act I am.
posted by Squeak Attack at 12:16 PM on February 17, 2017 [35 favorites]
posted by Squeak Attack at 12:16 PM on February 17, 2017 [35 favorites]
"Don't worry everybody, the person who elevated Sarah Palin to the national political stage will stand up for reason and competency!"
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:18 PM on February 17, 2017 [54 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:18 PM on February 17, 2017 [54 favorites]
An an Arizonan, I cannot even form a sentence in English that could describe how over John McCain and his vacuous "maverick" act I am.
All you need is a hashtag: #nevertrump
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:19 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
All you need is a hashtag: #nevertrump
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:19 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I find being exposed to what people actually think to be an impediment to empathy and understanding, I'm much empathetic to hypothetical people than to the people I actually find in these places.
So I've been somewhat engaging with my Republican House rep on facebook over the last few weeks. He does his own social media (and blocks people and deletes our comments sometimes). But we have had some fairly civil discussion threads about immigration and the muslim ban (which he supports wholeheartedly.)
But I got word that he had RT'd an alt-right fake news article about something horrible a Muslim refugee did in France. So I wrote a whole email about that to him and then went looking for his actual tweet. And I read his twitter feed.
OMG THE MAN IS AN IDIOT WHO ONLY CITES EXTREMELY RIGHT WING FAKE NEWS SOURCES.
Like, I am truly shocked at how much credit I was willing to give him, even as a Texas Republican who I disagree with on pretty much every issue. But because he's a freaking Congressman I kinda assumed he wasn't a total idiot. GUYS I WAS WRONG.
Yeah I'm WAY more willing to give people the benefit of the doubt when I don't have to actually see the kinds of things they are saying.
posted by threeturtles at 12:19 PM on February 17, 2017 [28 favorites]
So I've been somewhat engaging with my Republican House rep on facebook over the last few weeks. He does his own social media (and blocks people and deletes our comments sometimes). But we have had some fairly civil discussion threads about immigration and the muslim ban (which he supports wholeheartedly.)
But I got word that he had RT'd an alt-right fake news article about something horrible a Muslim refugee did in France. So I wrote a whole email about that to him and then went looking for his actual tweet. And I read his twitter feed.
OMG THE MAN IS AN IDIOT WHO ONLY CITES EXTREMELY RIGHT WING FAKE NEWS SOURCES.
Like, I am truly shocked at how much credit I was willing to give him, even as a Texas Republican who I disagree with on pretty much every issue. But because he's a freaking Congressman I kinda assumed he wasn't a total idiot. GUYS I WAS WRONG.
Yeah I'm WAY more willing to give people the benefit of the doubt when I don't have to actually see the kinds of things they are saying.
posted by threeturtles at 12:19 PM on February 17, 2017 [28 favorites]
Comey's briefing of the Senate Intel Committee is being held in a SCIF.
If you follow the tweets on Katie Bo Williams' twitter (she's a national security reporter for The Hill), reporters did not appear to be aware this was on the calendar or know much of anything about it. Senators seemed to leave (to vote on Pruitt I guess?) and then come back. They are still in there.
posted by sallybrown at 12:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
If you follow the tweets on Katie Bo Williams' twitter (she's a national security reporter for The Hill), reporters did not appear to be aware this was on the calendar or know much of anything about it. Senators seemed to leave (to vote on Pruitt I guess?) and then come back. They are still in there.
posted by sallybrown at 12:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
He's been a sell out tool for the party since W. and Rove broke his spirit with push polls in the 2000 primary. The McCain you're looking for died nearly 20 years ago.
posted by cmfletcher at 12:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 12:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
#nevertrump? #bunchachumps!
posted by nubs at 12:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by nubs at 12:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Comey's briefing of the Senate Intel Committee is being held in a SCIF.
Are there enough tables in the Mar-a-Lago dining room?
posted by Etrigan at 12:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
Are there enough tables in the Mar-a-Lago dining room?
posted by Etrigan at 12:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
Admit it: Trump is unfit to serve
He didn't run for President to 'serve' anybody or anything. He's there to RULE. And there are no minimum requirements for that, besides a loyal guard large enough to dispel the angry mobs.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
He didn't run for President to 'serve' anybody or anything. He's there to RULE. And there are no minimum requirements for that, besides a loyal guard large enough to dispel the angry mobs.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Not to be a downer or anything, but if it's not the Trump Epidemic Nightmare, it's the Trump Terrorist Attack Nightmare or the Trump Mass Shooting Nightmare or the Trump Global Crisis Nightmare. There's going to be some national tragedy/crisis/disaster, because there always is, and the current administration is going to be woefully unprepared to meet it. This is just the knife edge we're balanced on. It's only a question of what mess we're getting shoved off that edge into.
Props to all of us who can continue to function like everything is Fine, because honestly, the prospect of whatever this upcoming crisis will be has me unable to plan or imagine any further than the next week or so. Like, when the news of that horrifying National Guard to round up undocumented people tweet went out, and before I read that it was just a memo that wasn't going to be implemented (yet), in the space of seconds I thought, "well, time to adjust my life plan to account for taking to the barricades and/or civil war!"
posted by yasaman at 12:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
Props to all of us who can continue to function like everything is Fine, because honestly, the prospect of whatever this upcoming crisis will be has me unable to plan or imagine any further than the next week or so. Like, when the news of that horrifying National Guard to round up undocumented people tweet went out, and before I read that it was just a memo that wasn't going to be implemented (yet), in the space of seconds I thought, "well, time to adjust my life plan to account for taking to the barricades and/or civil war!"
posted by yasaman at 12:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
via The Hill's Jordain Carney: Closed-door meeting (w/ FBI Director James Comey?) appears to have accomplished the impossible: Silent senators
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
He didn't run for President to 'serve' anybody or anything. He's there to RULE.
He's not doing much of a job of ruling. At least not yet. The grift is going good, though.
posted by notyou at 12:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
He's not doing much of a job of ruling. At least not yet. The grift is going good, though.
posted by notyou at 12:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you find yourself in a car driven by someone who refers to immigrants as "illegals," please scream bloody murder at them if they violate any traffic law. Demand that they pull over if they're so much as a fraction of a mile per hour over the speed limit, regardless of what the speed of traffic is. Threaten to call the cops. Do not back down.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 12:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [50 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 12:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [50 favorites]
SCIF is an abbreviation for Cone of Silence.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 12:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 12:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
The first I ever heard of John McCain was the Lincoln Savings/Keating Five scandal in 1989, where the owner of a bankrupt bank had compromised five Senators with campaign contributions... McCain was the only one of the five who was a Republican (John F'ing Glenn was one of the Democrats!!!), probably because Keating assumed most Republicans would support his fraud just "out of principle". Haven't trusted McCain in the 28 years since.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
I'm going to open a business where you pay me $79.95 and I take you into a soundproof room where you put on a protective worksuit and a face shield and I hand you an aluminum bat. Then I project the day's tv news onto a wall-sized tv screen. You get to scream your head off and bash the shit out of an orange mannequin with a combover for fifteen minutes. For $129.95, I fill the mannequin with calf guts.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:15 PM
This exists in Houston, no mention of tvs but you could get them to print out the headlines and put them in frames or something. $30 for the first 5 minutes and $15 for every 5 after.
posted by DynamiteToast at 12:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:15 PM
This exists in Houston, no mention of tvs but you could get them to print out the headlines and put them in frames or something. $30 for the first 5 minutes and $15 for every 5 after.
posted by DynamiteToast at 12:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
this whining that is such a trademark of Trump.
Once I had this truly bizarro experience where I whizzed down a ramp in a my wheelchair, to have this young woman behind me go, "You're so lucky in a wheelchair. I hate walking! No offense!"
And I wasn't offended, it was more like, jeezum crow what is wrong with you lady. That is not a good look.
And I feel the same way about Trump. And I read that American Spectator piece and am like *if he actually literally starts reaching into his underwear and throwing his feces at reporters, will the neofacists be all well done sir jolly good show or however they drool out their expressions of approval*
and with the whining, it's like, he has no idea what real human being experience. That's how he was like dumbfuck wheelchair envy lady
posted by angrycat at 12:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [56 favorites]
Once I had this truly bizarro experience where I whizzed down a ramp in a my wheelchair, to have this young woman behind me go, "You're so lucky in a wheelchair. I hate walking! No offense!"
And I wasn't offended, it was more like, jeezum crow what is wrong with you lady. That is not a good look.
And I feel the same way about Trump. And I read that American Spectator piece and am like *if he actually literally starts reaching into his underwear and throwing his feces at reporters, will the neofacists be all well done sir jolly good show or however they drool out their expressions of approval*
and with the whining, it's like, he has no idea what real human being experience. That's how he was like dumbfuck wheelchair envy lady
posted by angrycat at 12:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [56 favorites]
Trump proposes including Chinese visitors in social media checks: U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are proposing to ask Chinese visitors to disclose their social media "handles" or other identifiers on common social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. The question would be asked online as part of an electronic system Chinese holders of long-term U.S. business and visitor visas use to advise of upcoming travel.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:32 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:32 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm going to open a business where you pay me $79.95 and I take you into a soundproof room where you put on a protective worksuit and a face shield and I hand you an aluminum bat. Then I project the day's tv news onto a wall-sized tv screen. You get to scream your head off and bash the shit out of an orange mannequin with a combover for fifteen minutes. For $129.95, I fill the mannequin with calf guts.This could be the soundtrack.
posted by pxe2000 at 12:33 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Unhinged, but the most consistent and focused kind of unhinged, believe me
That was my big takeaway as well. He seemed (at times) more at ease in his nonsense and in the presidency. Troubling times ahead.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
That was my big takeaway as well. He seemed (at times) more at ease in his nonsense and in the presidency. Troubling times ahead.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
WTF IS THIS? IT IS AWFUL STUFF.
Trump NSC Official's Apocalyptic Anti-Islam Fetish Revealed On Men's Style Message Board
and why it's important for everyone in a society to look the same and share the same background:
The homogenous ones have higher trust levels, greater levels of cross family cooperation, more public spiritedness, higher levels of volunteering, charity donations, etc. They are also more able and more willing to support safety nets — formal and informal — that benefit non-family members.
posted by futz at 12:38 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Trump NSC Official's Apocalyptic Anti-Islam Fetish Revealed On Men's Style Message Board
and why it's important for everyone in a society to look the same and share the same background:
The homogenous ones have higher trust levels, greater levels of cross family cooperation, more public spiritedness, higher levels of volunteering, charity donations, etc. They are also more able and more willing to support safety nets — formal and informal — that benefit non-family members.
posted by futz at 12:38 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Why every sane person in Republican national security circles has a duty to serve this shit sandwich administration if asked: unconfirmed reporting that the replacement for Adm. Harwick as National Security Advisor may be John Bolton.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Senators seemed to leave (to vote on Pruitt I guess?) and then come back. They are still in there.
Guess that pee tape goes on for a while
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
Guess that pee tape goes on for a while
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
Bolton? Nah. Remember when Trump didn't like his mustache?
That seems so long ago.
posted by box at 12:45 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
That seems so long ago.
posted by box at 12:45 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
The homogenous ones have higher trust levels, greater levels of cross family cooperation, more public spiritedness, higher levels of volunteering, charity donations, etc. They are also more able and more willing to support safety nets — formal and informal — that benefit non-family members.
So instead of just directly supporting the end goals:
- trust
- cooperation
- public spirit
- volunteering
- donating to charity
- supporting family members
- benefiting others
...he joins and supports a regime that is diametrically opposed to all of those things?!??
The levels of stupidity shown in that comment are just staggering.
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:47 PM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
So instead of just directly supporting the end goals:
- trust
- cooperation
- public spirit
- volunteering
- donating to charity
- supporting family members
- benefiting others
...he joins and supports a regime that is diametrically opposed to all of those things?!??
The levels of stupidity shown in that comment are just staggering.
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:47 PM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
I wonder how many people the US can push into another country before the receiving country says 'No.'
At some point Mexico could simply say they will not allow any bus to cross the border or any airplane to unload unless the U.S. can provide documents proving these are Mexican citizens. I doubt most of them are carrying around a Mexican passport or birth certificate.
This would be a difficult call on Mexico's part because they would be sentencing presumably their citizens to interment in concentration camps in the U.S. But it might be a worthwhile showdown to see if U.S. citizens can stomach and pay for concentration camps for 3 million people. Trump is already at 39% approval.
posted by JackFlash at 12:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
At some point Mexico could simply say they will not allow any bus to cross the border or any airplane to unload unless the U.S. can provide documents proving these are Mexican citizens. I doubt most of them are carrying around a Mexican passport or birth certificate.
This would be a difficult call on Mexico's part because they would be sentencing presumably their citizens to interment in concentration camps in the U.S. But it might be a worthwhile showdown to see if U.S. citizens can stomach and pay for concentration camps for 3 million people. Trump is already at 39% approval.
posted by JackFlash at 12:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
> I look at the world and I see a whole movement of people who want to kill me, destroy my country, and end my civilization.
That's funny, that's what the rest of the world sees when they look at the U.S. these days. Looks like Trump's Mirror isn't just a Trump thing.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
That's funny, that's what the rest of the world sees when they look at the U.S. these days. Looks like Trump's Mirror isn't just a Trump thing.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
"Tweet thread from Jeremy Konyndyk Former Director of US Foreign Disaster Assistance at USAID under Obama"
Storified for your convenience.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 12:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Storified for your convenience.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 12:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
I am not even kidding: Milo Yiannopoulos bathes in pig's blood at pro-Trump art show. Read all the way through to the end.
Also, I strongly recommend Male Fantasies: Women, Bodies, Floods, History. Yiannopoulos is a sort of upside-down freikorps type.
posted by Frowner at 12:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
Also, I strongly recommend Male Fantasies: Women, Bodies, Floods, History. Yiannopoulos is a sort of upside-down freikorps type.
posted by Frowner at 12:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
That's funny, that's what the rest of the world sees when they look at the U.S. these days. Looks like Trump's Mirror isn't just a Trump thing.
I'm sure this has been noted here before, but what we call Trump's Mirror is just a perfected form of standard right-wing projection and paranoia. These people always assume the worst of others because that is what is in their own hearts.
posted by Strange Interlude at 12:53 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
I'm sure this has been noted here before, but what we call Trump's Mirror is just a perfected form of standard right-wing projection and paranoia. These people always assume the worst of others because that is what is in their own hearts.
posted by Strange Interlude at 12:53 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
The homogenous ones have higher trust levels, greater levels of cross family cooperation, more public spiritedness, higher levels of volunteering, charity donations, etc. They are also more able and more willing to support safety nets — formal and informal — that benefit non-family members.
They always want to make us like them instead of just killing themselves.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 12:56 PM on February 17, 2017
They always want to make us like them instead of just killing themselves.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 12:56 PM on February 17, 2017
Also, you know what is suuuuuuper creepy? Yiannopoulos's and Thiel's blood obsession. Should we survive, there are a thousand dissertations waiting to be written.
posted by Frowner at 12:57 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 12:57 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
Predictable, but this Eli Lake piece for Bloomberg confirms Flynn has retained a lawyer.
posted by sallybrown at 12:57 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by sallybrown at 12:57 PM on February 17, 2017
Milo Yiannopoulos bathes in pig's blood at pro-Trump art show.
G_d, please please please let him have contracted impetigo like the guys in Watain regularly did.
posted by Existential Dread at 12:57 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
G_d, please please please let him have contracted impetigo like the guys in Watain regularly did.
posted by Existential Dread at 12:57 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
These people always assume the worst of others because that is what is in their own hearts.
This.
And also, they are cowards. Anyone who has ever read a history book or watched the news knows that whoever you are, there is probably some faction somewhere out there who wants to kill you. We're a violent species. But we live in an enormous, populous country that is in fact very difficult to get into and move around in that has a security and law enforcement apparatus that is, generally and in the grand scheme, fairly effective. Buck the fuck up.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:58 PM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
This.
And also, they are cowards. Anyone who has ever read a history book or watched the news knows that whoever you are, there is probably some faction somewhere out there who wants to kill you. We're a violent species. But we live in an enormous, populous country that is in fact very difficult to get into and move around in that has a security and law enforcement apparatus that is, generally and in the grand scheme, fairly effective. Buck the fuck up.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:58 PM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
I am not even kidding: Milo Yiannopoulos bathes in pig's blood at pro-Trump art show. Read all the way through to the end.
So, I'm extremely anti-"just ignore him" when it comes to appearances at college campuses and stuff. But when he's doing a stupid stunt for attention while surrounded by a bunch of fellow travelers, I don't see the point of talking about it.
posted by tobascodagama at 1:00 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
So, I'm extremely anti-"just ignore him" when it comes to appearances at college campuses and stuff. But when he's doing a stupid stunt for attention while surrounded by a bunch of fellow travelers, I don't see the point of talking about it.
posted by tobascodagama at 1:00 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
So a little antidote here:
A pastor in the Bible Belt opened his church to refugees.
This is not just the bible belt, but Pantego, Texas, which is a small suburb swallowed up by Arlington, mostly known when I was growing up to be so cheap about taxes that when you drove through it, you went from good road (Arlington) to three blocks of shitty two-lane road (Pantego) back to good road. It was a very white, very conservative, place. It hosted at least one Christian school that was the place people sent their kids who kept getting suspended from public school.
Arlington meanwhile has had a lot of immigrants since the 70s. South Asian, African, Pakistani, many others. And that is a big source of tension in that area, which still votes very red.
This article heartens me because it shows someone taking their Christian principles as something more than a club to beat the oppressed with, even in a place where no one would expect him to.
posted by emjaybee at 1:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [36 favorites]
A pastor in the Bible Belt opened his church to refugees.
This is not just the bible belt, but Pantego, Texas, which is a small suburb swallowed up by Arlington, mostly known when I was growing up to be so cheap about taxes that when you drove through it, you went from good road (Arlington) to three blocks of shitty two-lane road (Pantego) back to good road. It was a very white, very conservative, place. It hosted at least one Christian school that was the place people sent their kids who kept getting suspended from public school.
Arlington meanwhile has had a lot of immigrants since the 70s. South Asian, African, Pakistani, many others. And that is a big source of tension in that area, which still votes very red.
This article heartens me because it shows someone taking their Christian principles as something more than a club to beat the oppressed with, even in a place where no one would expect him to.
posted by emjaybee at 1:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [36 favorites]
I know that this is petty, but it is somewhat consoling to consider that this is going to happen, and relatively soon, pretty much no matter what. He's not a young 70.
It's all right, SNL already went there. In the most recent "Weekend Update" segment, Michael Che joked, “The pace of this presidency is exhausting. I never thought I'd say this, but I’m starting to feel bad for Donald Trump. In just the span of one day, he was in a losing battle with three federal judges, a decorated war hero, and a department store. Dude, pace yourself. Donald Trump can't keep this up, not with that old, bloated Kentucky Fried Chicken body. {...} It's sad, man, I hope he quits. I mean, Donald, is this really how you want to spend the last two years of your life?”
Now just imagine what Saturday's is going to be like after this week...
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
It's all right, SNL already went there. In the most recent "Weekend Update" segment, Michael Che joked, “The pace of this presidency is exhausting. I never thought I'd say this, but I’m starting to feel bad for Donald Trump. In just the span of one day, he was in a losing battle with three federal judges, a decorated war hero, and a department store. Dude, pace yourself. Donald Trump can't keep this up, not with that old, bloated Kentucky Fried Chicken body. {...} It's sad, man, I hope he quits. I mean, Donald, is this really how you want to spend the last two years of your life?”
Now just imagine what Saturday's is going to be like after this week...
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
4chan: The Skeleton Key to the Rise of Trump
Trump, in other words, is a way of owning and celebrating being taken advantage of.posted by J.K. Seazer at 1:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
Trump embodies buying the losing bet that will never be placed.
He is both despair and cruel arrogant dismissal, the fantasy of winning and the pain of losing mingled into one potion.
For this reason, the left should stop expecting Trump’s supporters to be upset when he doesn’t fulfill his promises.
Support for Trump is an acknowledgement that the promise is empty.
I just assumed everyone skipped Weekend Update.
posted by Artw at 1:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Artw at 1:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Please MeMail me if you'd like to work on a simple website (blog and calendar) for Mike Connolly, MA State Rep, former Occupy activist, and Our Revolution candidate.
posted by Coventry at 1:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 1:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Is anti-Semitism on the rise? Does anyone care?
posted by Artw at 1:05 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Artw at 1:05 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Comey has been briefing the Senate Intelligence Committee for "About 2 hours now."
That seems like a long time to explain that the accusations are "grossly overstated and inaccurate" (as Preibus claims he was told).
posted by diogenes at 1:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
That seems like a long time to explain that the accusations are "grossly overstated and inaccurate" (as Preibus claims he was told).
posted by diogenes at 1:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Side note: Frowner, I just want to say that I think your posts in these threads have been awesome. Every single one* is intelligent, thought provoking, and very well sourced. It's almost as if your MeFi account was some bot experiment intended to see how many favorites you could harvest. (I keed). Seriously - thank you!
* Every single one that I can recall, anyway.
posted by mosk at 1:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [59 favorites]
* Every single one that I can recall, anyway.
posted by mosk at 1:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [59 favorites]
This would be a difficult call on Mexico's part because they would be sentencing presumably their citizens to interment in concentration camps in the U.S. But it might be a worthwhile showdown to see if U.S. citizens can stomach and pay for concentration camps for 3 million people. Trump is already at 39% approval
But they'd blame it on Obama, since he's the one who 'let them in' in the first place.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 1:07 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
But they'd blame it on Obama, since he's the one who 'let them in' in the first place.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 1:07 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
This is part of why I don't like to say "illegal immigrant", even though it's technically correct and not as blatantly offensive as using "illegal" like it's a noun. Because about half the people you talk to won't be able to see past the fact that a Law has been Violated to identify with the people who break these laws. And if they can't identify with the people who are breaking an unjust law
As someone who is in favor of allowing more immigration to the U.S. albeit from a more consequentialist perspective, what exactly do you find to be unjust about current U.S. immigration law?
Is it the number of immigrants per year?
The process by which immigrants are selected from those who apply?
The lack of a path for current unauthorized residents to gain a legal right to remain?
I am not trolling. I am actually curious what restrictions, if any, would be considered just and appropriate.
posted by nolnacs at 1:07 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
As someone who is in favor of allowing more immigration to the U.S. albeit from a more consequentialist perspective, what exactly do you find to be unjust about current U.S. immigration law?
Is it the number of immigrants per year?
The process by which immigrants are selected from those who apply?
The lack of a path for current unauthorized residents to gain a legal right to remain?
I am not trolling. I am actually curious what restrictions, if any, would be considered just and appropriate.
posted by nolnacs at 1:07 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I have thought it would be simpler (and far more time-efficient) to replace my reading of these threads with a Frowner-favoriting bot.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 1:08 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 1:08 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
Predictable, but this Eli Lake piece for Bloomberg confirms Flynn has retained a lawyer.
Somebody who isn't an idiot would have done that before lying to the FBI, particularly since he was interviewed weeks after people were asking questions about violations of law from the Logan Act to treason.
Frankly, that level of stupidity ought to be more disqualifying than lying to Pence.
posted by zachlipton at 1:08 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Somebody who isn't an idiot would have done that before lying to the FBI, particularly since he was interviewed weeks after people were asking questions about violations of law from the Logan Act to treason.
Frankly, that level of stupidity ought to be more disqualifying than lying to Pence.
posted by zachlipton at 1:08 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
So, news from the Federal Register.
#1, the one that's maddening but not scary: The Army has withdrawn its plans to conduct an environmental impact study on the DAPL being constructed to cross Lake Oahe in ND, which is the fourth-largest reservoir in the US. Why? Basically, "the president told us we could, so we no longer need to evaluate the impact." Uh, a massive oil pipeline crossing a lake miiiiight just have some environmental impact, no?
#2, which is freaking me out a little bit: Two DoD working groups, the "Nuclear Deterrence in the 21st Century’s Multi-Polar, Multi-Threat Strategic Environment" task force and the "Countering Anti-access Systems with Longer Range and Standoff Capabilities" task force both had 2-day, closed-door meetings this week that they did not announce in accordance with open meeting Sunshine laws. The bulletins in the Federal Register are to say that the task forces met this week but, "due to circumstances beyond [their] control," they weren't able to provide the required public notice. These were also summer 2017 working groups, so the fact that they're meeting in February -- like, doesn't that seem like a bad thing?
I'm only up to 'D' in the alphabetical listing of notices published just today.
posted by mudpuppie at 1:09 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
#1, the one that's maddening but not scary: The Army has withdrawn its plans to conduct an environmental impact study on the DAPL being constructed to cross Lake Oahe in ND, which is the fourth-largest reservoir in the US. Why? Basically, "the president told us we could, so we no longer need to evaluate the impact." Uh, a massive oil pipeline crossing a lake miiiiight just have some environmental impact, no?
#2, which is freaking me out a little bit: Two DoD working groups, the "Nuclear Deterrence in the 21st Century’s Multi-Polar, Multi-Threat Strategic Environment" task force and the "Countering Anti-access Systems with Longer Range and Standoff Capabilities" task force both had 2-day, closed-door meetings this week that they did not announce in accordance with open meeting Sunshine laws. The bulletins in the Federal Register are to say that the task forces met this week but, "due to circumstances beyond [their] control," they weren't able to provide the required public notice. These were also summer 2017 working groups, so the fact that they're meeting in February -- like, doesn't that seem like a bad thing?
I'm only up to 'D' in the alphabetical listing of notices published just today.
posted by mudpuppie at 1:09 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
I still reject the framing that people who are well-informed about issues, making an effort to engage with reality, and involved with discussions that include a variety of people from diverse (across race, gender, sexuality, class, etc.) backgrounds are the ones living in a bubble.
Yes. So true. I've tried to get outside the "bubble" but the furthest right I can go is American Conservative (but I can't get through a Pat Buchanan column) or National Review (which, for a while, anyway, threw itself behind Donald Trump).
I've tried actually engaging in conversation with Trumpists such as James Carafano, who turns out to be a pompous, ignorant ass half the time, and a raving Islamaphobe the other part of the time.
I had a friend who is a Trumpist, but he turned out to be a deeply racist, deeply misogynist, deeply twisted sociopathic jerk.
Perhaps (?) there are some good ideas to be found (???) on the Trump side of the bubble, but the attitude is "we won, you lost, fuck you, shut up."
posted by My Dad at 1:12 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Yes. So true. I've tried to get outside the "bubble" but the furthest right I can go is American Conservative (but I can't get through a Pat Buchanan column) or National Review (which, for a while, anyway, threw itself behind Donald Trump).
I've tried actually engaging in conversation with Trumpists such as James Carafano, who turns out to be a pompous, ignorant ass half the time, and a raving Islamaphobe the other part of the time.
I had a friend who is a Trumpist, but he turned out to be a deeply racist, deeply misogynist, deeply twisted sociopathic jerk.
Perhaps (?) there are some good ideas to be found (???) on the Trump side of the bubble, but the attitude is "we won, you lost, fuck you, shut up."
posted by My Dad at 1:12 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
They are also more able and more willing to support safety nets — formal and informal — that benefit non-family members.
"white people can only make themselves care about other white people" yes thanks we're aware
posted by poffin boffin at 1:12 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
"white people can only make themselves care about other white people" yes thanks we're aware
posted by poffin boffin at 1:12 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
Adding to my previous comment: Yes, no EIR for the DAPL is "scary," it's just not scary-scary right this very minute.
posted by mudpuppie at 1:12 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by mudpuppie at 1:12 PM on February 17, 2017
There are an awful lot of zero-sum, black and white thinking people in the world.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:17 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:17 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
2014. Pretty much everything you need to rip Donny can be found in his own tweets.
@realDonaldTrump
If you read my last number of tweets, only one opinion can be formed - that our President, and therefore "leader," is grossly incompetent!
posted by chris24 at 1:19 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump
If you read my last number of tweets, only one opinion can be formed - that our President, and therefore "leader," is grossly incompetent!
posted by chris24 at 1:19 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
There are an awful lot of zero-sum, black and white thinking people in the world.
Trapped in adolescence, never maturing to abstract thought
posted by Existential Dread at 1:19 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Trapped in adolescence, never maturing to abstract thought
posted by Existential Dread at 1:19 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
No senator, including burr, Warner, Langford, king, Collins, cotton, would say a word leaving Comey briefing. Nothing. Unusually silent
this is fine, right. nothing to see here.
hold me
posted by murphy slaw at 1:19 PM on February 17, 2017 [61 favorites]
this is fine, right. nothing to see here.
hold me
posted by murphy slaw at 1:19 PM on February 17, 2017 [61 favorites]
Vox: Report: Trump transition ordered government economists to cook up rosy growth forecasts
...Trump’s budget was put together with “transition officials telling the CEA staff the growth targets that their budget would produce and asking them to backfill other estimates off those figures.”
Staff has been ordered to project that inflation-adjusted growth will average between 3 and 3.5 percent over the next decade, eventually settling at around 3.2 percent.
See? He is running government like a business!
posted by Gelatin at 1:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
...Trump’s budget was put together with “transition officials telling the CEA staff the growth targets that their budget would produce and asking them to backfill other estimates off those figures.”
Staff has been ordered to project that inflation-adjusted growth will average between 3 and 3.5 percent over the next decade, eventually settling at around 3.2 percent.
See? He is running government like a business!
posted by Gelatin at 1:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
did they find the pee tape? please tell me they found the pee tape
posted by localhuman at 1:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by localhuman at 1:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
Trump's 2014 tweets are like Time Travel is discovered sometime in the next few months and 2017 Trump goes back to 2014 just to troll us.
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 1:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 1:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
Media Matters has a summary of the reaction by anti-Semites to the press conference: Anti-Semites Praise Trump For Berating Jewish Reporter And Refusing To Condemn Anti-Semitism In Press Conference [contains hate speech, as that's kind of the point]. While I don't like quoting hate speech in any context, I think it's especially important to do so here, because it shows how the President's actions directly embolden white supremacists, who are hanging on his every word.
As one of the tamer examples, David Duke tweeted screenshots of Haaretz articles about Trump's words conference with comments like "Are we tired of winning yet, folks?" Another prominent white supremacist figure writes: "He blasted the media, the Jews, Mexicans, Obama -- all of his/our enemies."
This is the inevitable consequences of the President of the United States repeatedly refusing to condemn hate. And it's just going to get worse until more people are dead.
posted by zachlipton at 1:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [49 favorites]
As one of the tamer examples, David Duke tweeted screenshots of Haaretz articles about Trump's words conference with comments like "Are we tired of winning yet, folks?" Another prominent white supremacist figure writes: "He blasted the media, the Jews, Mexicans, Obama -- all of his/our enemies."
This is the inevitable consequences of the President of the United States repeatedly refusing to condemn hate. And it's just going to get worse until more people are dead.
posted by zachlipton at 1:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [49 favorites]
that empty, dead look in the eyes of a senator who has just seen the trump pee tape
posted by murphy slaw at 1:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 1:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
The Trump era to date has the same level of WTFishness as Charlie Sheen circa 2011 - only with less humor and more nukes.
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 1:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 1:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Trump's 2014 tweets are like Time Travel is discovered sometime in the next few months and 2017 Trump goes back to 2014 just to troll us.
They should be retweeted back at him, without attribution, to see how he reacts.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
They should be retweeted back at him, without attribution, to see how he reacts.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Whatever it is, no one could come up with anything remotely safe to say as a deflection. So it's either going to be huge ... or buried deeper than a South African gold mine.
posted by BS Artisan at 1:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by BS Artisan at 1:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Trump's 2014 tweets are like Time Travel is discovered sometime in the next few months and 2017 Trump goes back to 2014 just to troll us.
Or as Sam Wang tweeted earlier today: Nostradonald.
posted by chris24 at 1:30 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
Or as Sam Wang tweeted earlier today: Nostradonald.
posted by chris24 at 1:30 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
that empty, dead look in the eyes of a senator who has just seen the trump pee tape
Or perhaps incontrovertible evidence of the President being a Russian asset. PLEASE G-d, let it be something like, "Shit, we have a Constitutional Crisis..." rather than, "I can't eat dinner after watching that shit..."
posted by mikelieman at 1:33 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Or perhaps incontrovertible evidence of the President being a Russian asset. PLEASE G-d, let it be something like, "Shit, we have a Constitutional Crisis..." rather than, "I can't eat dinner after watching that shit..."
posted by mikelieman at 1:33 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Is there a bot that just retweets on Trump tweets from 3 years ago that condemn whatever it is he is doing wrong today? I'd follow.
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:34 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:34 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
man i'm hoping but if there's anything that the last 18 months have taught me, it's that hope is a sucker's game
posted by murphy slaw at 1:34 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 1:34 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Exclusive Flynn Pressured U.N. on Israel Vote Before Taking Office: In the end, the president-elect’s team was unable to persuade a single country to change their vote, including Britain, Egypt, and Russia, three countries that have gone out of their way to cultivate better ties with the new American leader.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:34 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:34 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Man this machine is tuned real finely: More White House Chaos Over Anti-Immigrant Policy Draft
A senior White House official told me it wasn’t true that they were considering deploying the National Guard as the AP described. Asked where the story came from, the official said, via text message, “Check what we said—I think it was early draft in november…I will double check.” Asked if that meant the White House had included a provision, like the one the AP reported, in a November document, the official said, “no,” then directed me to DHS and became unresponsive.posted by sallybrown at 1:36 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Meanwhile, Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, was talking to the press pool on Marine One. “That is 100 percent not true, it is false, it is irresponsible to be saying this,” he said. “There is no effort at all to round up, to utilize the National Guard to round up illegal immigrants.” He added, “I wish you guys had asked before you tweeted.” (DHS told me they weren’t “aware” of having been asked for comment.)
The pool report noted that “Spicer couldn’t categorically state that this was never a subject of discussion somewhere in the administration.” He said, “I don’t know what could potentially be out there, but I know that there is no effort to do what is potentially suggested.” He later tweeted, “This is not true. DHS also confirms it is 100% false.”
But contrary to Spicer’s claim, DHS confirmed the existence of the memo — a version of which was circulated by Time and Vox. David Lapan, the department’s spokesman, emailed me to say, “the story is inaccurate,” but he admitted the memo was very real. . . .
When President Trump signed a border-security executive order on January 25, Lapan said, the department was tasked with figuring out how to implement it — something he said required a lot of brainstorming and back and forth, which is done through the drafting of memos. He said it wasn’t as casual as spitballing, but it was a conversation that went, “Okay, here’s the president’s order. Here’s what he wants us to do. How do we put that into action? What are the types of things that we can do to implement the president’s executive order?”
“If people portray it in a way that makes it sound like the White House somehow drafted this, that’s not accurate,” Lapan said.
But asked if he could say for certain that the memo wasn’t written at the direction of, or with input from, the White House, he was at a loss. “I don’t know,” he said.
He could say for certain, however, that the White House and DHS communicated this morning as the story broke to figure out, “What are you guys saying, what are we saying?”
He added that the conversation included a question from the White House: “Is this true?”
Trump just tweeted and very quickly deleted: "The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @CNN, @NBCNews and many more) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American people. SICK! (screenshot)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
> PLEASE G-d, let it be something like, "Shit, we have a Constitutional Crisis..."
Something something darkest timeline...
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:38 PM on February 17, 2017
Something something darkest timeline...
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:38 PM on February 17, 2017
I am not trolling. I am actually curious what restrictions, if any, would be considered just and appropriate.
Then I will take the opposite extreme. My ancestors were Nordic folks and Irish folks who came over before immigration laws even existed. The first US immigration law was explicitly racist. They made no bones about it. It was explicitly called the "Chinese Exclusion Act."
Now laws have changed over the years to limit and exclude more and more groups, but is there even a point where you can say people took the racism out of it? If it started as racism, and there was never a point where people took a hard look at the laws to make sure they weren't racist, then doesn't it stand to reason that the laws are still motivated by racism?
Let me ask you, have you ever encountered an argument for immigration controls (not border controls) that were factually based rather than based on theory and anecdote? Because I have not.
As a person who believes that the government should not be restricting anyone's individual freedoms without solid, factual reasons, my current opinion is that the starting point should be absolutely no restriction on immigration, with subsequent restrictions to be added based on factual, statistical evidence of harm to the country, which do not take into either explicitly or implicitly.account race, ethnicity, religion, or country of origin. Heck, we're not even a socialist country, and there isn't much of a safety net that new immigrants could take advantage of.
To reiterate my point, immigration laws have never been based on factual national interest. All political arguments just seem to assume they should exist because they have existed for a long time without bothering a justification. But they started as blatant racism, so why should anyone who is not racism have cause to support them in any form?
That last question again, is not trolling or rhetorical. I would be very interested to know what a serious and unbiased economic study would say about the effect of immigration without restriction.
Just to be entirely clear, I'm not talking about border controls - who we should trust to let in - but immigration controls - how long people are allowed to stay once they've been deemed safe enough to allow into the country.
posted by Zalzidrax at 1:38 PM on February 17, 2017 [53 favorites]
Then I will take the opposite extreme. My ancestors were Nordic folks and Irish folks who came over before immigration laws even existed. The first US immigration law was explicitly racist. They made no bones about it. It was explicitly called the "Chinese Exclusion Act."
Now laws have changed over the years to limit and exclude more and more groups, but is there even a point where you can say people took the racism out of it? If it started as racism, and there was never a point where people took a hard look at the laws to make sure they weren't racist, then doesn't it stand to reason that the laws are still motivated by racism?
Let me ask you, have you ever encountered an argument for immigration controls (not border controls) that were factually based rather than based on theory and anecdote? Because I have not.
As a person who believes that the government should not be restricting anyone's individual freedoms without solid, factual reasons, my current opinion is that the starting point should be absolutely no restriction on immigration, with subsequent restrictions to be added based on factual, statistical evidence of harm to the country, which do not take into either explicitly or implicitly.account race, ethnicity, religion, or country of origin. Heck, we're not even a socialist country, and there isn't much of a safety net that new immigrants could take advantage of.
To reiterate my point, immigration laws have never been based on factual national interest. All political arguments just seem to assume they should exist because they have existed for a long time without bothering a justification. But they started as blatant racism, so why should anyone who is not racism have cause to support them in any form?
That last question again, is not trolling or rhetorical. I would be very interested to know what a serious and unbiased economic study would say about the effect of immigration without restriction.
Just to be entirely clear, I'm not talking about border controls - who we should trust to let in - but immigration controls - how long people are allowed to stay once they've been deemed safe enough to allow into the country.
posted by Zalzidrax at 1:38 PM on February 17, 2017 [53 favorites]
Side note: Frowner, I just want to say that I think your posts in these threads have been awesome.
Frowners posts are always good like that. I'm a big fan, too...
I still reject the framing that people who are well-informed about issues, making an effort to engage with reality, and involved with discussions that include a variety of people from diverse (across race, gender, sexuality, class, etc.) backgrounds are the ones living in a bubble.
The mindset of deliberately living in a personal reality bubble is definitely not limited to the old right or the so-called alt right. In general, it does seem like more of an issue on the right. But there are follower-types who don't think very critically or deeply but who imitate the politics of their closest politically engaged social influencers on the left, too, and there are times they go so deeply into their bubbles, it becomes contradictory--like some hardcore atheists I've known who reject nuance on certain scientific subjects defensively in favor of certain older scientific models that make their case stronger. There are some subjects on which specific liberals and leftists can be ideological and dogmatic to a point it occasionally runs afoul of commonsense, too, but it seems like a more idiosyncratic and less unified phenomena than the way that same dynamic plays out on the left. On the right, you get lots of people sharing reality bubbles without realizing it; on the left you sometimes find people who deliberately and knowingly choose to live in reality bubbles as some strange extension of personal expression. I've literally known people who argued in defense of living in fantasy bubbles as a form of self empowerment on the left. It's a different kind of dynamic, but we're all to some extent or another being coaxed toward personal bubbles by the way personalized marketing and online content presentation/filtering works and the larger trends toward targeted, niche lifestyle marketing strategies.
posted by saulgoodman at 1:40 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Frowners posts are always good like that. I'm a big fan, too...
I still reject the framing that people who are well-informed about issues, making an effort to engage with reality, and involved with discussions that include a variety of people from diverse (across race, gender, sexuality, class, etc.) backgrounds are the ones living in a bubble.
The mindset of deliberately living in a personal reality bubble is definitely not limited to the old right or the so-called alt right. In general, it does seem like more of an issue on the right. But there are follower-types who don't think very critically or deeply but who imitate the politics of their closest politically engaged social influencers on the left, too, and there are times they go so deeply into their bubbles, it becomes contradictory--like some hardcore atheists I've known who reject nuance on certain scientific subjects defensively in favor of certain older scientific models that make their case stronger. There are some subjects on which specific liberals and leftists can be ideological and dogmatic to a point it occasionally runs afoul of commonsense, too, but it seems like a more idiosyncratic and less unified phenomena than the way that same dynamic plays out on the left. On the right, you get lots of people sharing reality bubbles without realizing it; on the left you sometimes find people who deliberately and knowingly choose to live in reality bubbles as some strange extension of personal expression. I've literally known people who argued in defense of living in fantasy bubbles as a form of self empowerment on the left. It's a different kind of dynamic, but we're all to some extent or another being coaxed toward personal bubbles by the way personalized marketing and online content presentation/filtering works and the larger trends toward targeted, niche lifestyle marketing strategies.
posted by saulgoodman at 1:40 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Trump just tweeted and very quickly deleted: "The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @CNN, @NBCNews and many more) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American people. SICK! (screenshot)
show of hands, how many of us are gonna actually watch the pee tape
should we set up a fanfare post to liveblog it
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [37 favorites]
show of hands, how many of us are gonna actually watch the pee tape
should we set up a fanfare post to liveblog it
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [37 favorites]
He could say for certain, however, that the White House and DHS communicated this morning as the story broke to figure out, “What are you guys saying, what are we saying?”
dear askme i would like some help, how do i stop screaming
posted by poffin boffin at 1:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
dear askme i would like some help, how do i stop screaming
posted by poffin boffin at 1:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
Election-Era Trump starts to make sense if you think of him less as one single person and more as a series of unrelated Trumps sent back from the future, unsure of what year they are in.
Worst Terminator sequel ever.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Worst Terminator sequel ever.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Welp, apparently Comey is in on Team Trump. See Cornyn's latest tweet.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Minor oddity: I'm on the E.P.A. press release email mailing list, and you can read prior press releases here - they're nothing exciting for the most part, unless you like to see who got recognized for excellence or charged with a violation.
But they don't have the newest one up yet, so I'll copy it from my email and upload it here.
tl;dr: titled Scott Pruitt Confirmed and Sworn in as EPA Administrator, it's just glowing accolades for "a dedicated civil servant, [who] created policies that serve the people. He strongly believes environmental law, policy, and progress are all based on cooperation among the states, cooperation between the states and EPA, and cooperation between regulators and the public."
posted by filthy light thief at 1:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
But they don't have the newest one up yet, so I'll copy it from my email and upload it here.
tl;dr: titled Scott Pruitt Confirmed and Sworn in as EPA Administrator, it's just glowing accolades for "a dedicated civil servant, [who] created policies that serve the people. He strongly believes environmental law, policy, and progress are all based on cooperation among the states, cooperation between the states and EPA, and cooperation between regulators and the public."
posted by filthy light thief at 1:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump just tweeted and very quickly deleted: "The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @CNN, @NBCNews and many more) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American people. SICK! (screenshot)
I've been realistic on impeachment chances, but my hopes of a full-on breakdown and resignation/25th amendment solution are rising.
posted by chris24 at 1:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
I've been realistic on impeachment chances, but my hopes of a full-on breakdown and resignation/25th amendment solution are rising.
posted by chris24 at 1:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Trump just tweeted and very quickly deleted: "The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @CNN, @NBCNews and many more) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American people. SICK!
i have a feeling that the person who made the tweet and the person who deleted it are not the same.
he's losing it.
posted by murphy slaw at 1:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
i have a feeling that the person who made the tweet and the person who deleted it are not the same.
he's losing it.
posted by murphy slaw at 1:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
Sen. John Cornyn (member of Senate Intel Committee) just now:
"Shocking how much allegedly classified info is reported by gullible reporters who are manipulated in the process of reporting fake news."posted by sallybrown at 1:43 PM on February 17, 2017
"Leaking classified info is a crime that endangers American lives too"
show of hands, how many of us are gonna actually watch the pee tape
dude, this is a historical document. I'm just doing primary research
posted by Existential Dread at 1:43 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
dude, this is a historical document. I'm just doing primary research
posted by Existential Dread at 1:43 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
"Leaking classified info is a crime that endangers American lives too"
"Except when it's about pizzagate, that was totally real, and the best leak ever" [FAKE]
posted by filthy light thief at 1:44 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
"Except when it's about pizzagate, that was totally real, and the best leak ever" [FAKE]
posted by filthy light thief at 1:44 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Comey has kompromat on all of them, obviously.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 1:45 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 1:45 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Can someone clarify? Is it true, and classified, or fake and classified? Do we classify fake things?
posted by mikelieman at 1:46 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by mikelieman at 1:46 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
If I never hear the term "fake news" ever again as long as I live I will die happy.
Jesus. Out of all this horrifying shit, I find this the most grating. Words have meanings, dipshits!
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:46 PM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
Jesus. Out of all this horrifying shit, I find this the most grating. Words have meanings, dipshits!
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:46 PM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
Sen. John Cornyn (member of Senate Intel Committee) just now:
"Shocking how much allegedly classified info is reported by gullible reporters who are manipulated in the process of reporting fake news."
"Leaking classified info is a crime that endangers American lives too"
jerkoffmotion.gif
posted by Existential Dread at 1:47 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
"Shocking how much allegedly classified info is reported by gullible reporters who are manipulated in the process of reporting fake news."
"Leaking classified info is a crime that endangers American lives too"
jerkoffmotion.gif
posted by Existential Dread at 1:47 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Deluded optimist take: media found out what happened at Senate Intel Committee hearing and called the White House and Sen. Cornyn for comment before publishing, angering up the blood!
posted by sallybrown at 1:47 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 1:47 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Man this machine is tuned real finely: More White House Chaos Over Anti-Immigrant Policy Draft
At Spcier's next briefing, somebody needs to outright ask why Spicer has a job and why the White House Press Office even exists if it's going to refuse to respond to requests for comment, provide false information, provide information that conflicts with that given by other government agencies, and then blame the press for reporting things the White House wouldn't comment on. Just, why does this communications operation exist if it's providing net-negative informational value?
posted by zachlipton at 1:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
At Spcier's next briefing, somebody needs to outright ask why Spicer has a job and why the White House Press Office even exists if it's going to refuse to respond to requests for comment, provide false information, provide information that conflicts with that given by other government agencies, and then blame the press for reporting things the White House wouldn't comment on. Just, why does this communications operation exist if it's providing net-negative informational value?
posted by zachlipton at 1:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
If I never hear the term "fake news" ever again as long as I live I will die happy.
Gosh I hope you have other conditions for dying happy because we're stuck with fake news now until the icbms leave orbit.
posted by dis_integration at 1:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Gosh I hope you have other conditions for dying happy because we're stuck with fake news now until the icbms leave orbit.
posted by dis_integration at 1:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Trump just tweeted and very quickly deleted: "The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @CNN, @NBCNews and many more) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American people. SICK! (screenshot)
This is why I go to @RealRealDonaldTrump, a Twitter bot that re-tweets everything from Trump's personal Android phone and screens out all the ones from his staff's iPhones. (I can't believe they still haven't closed that loophole.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
This is why I go to @RealRealDonaldTrump, a Twitter bot that re-tweets everything from Trump's personal Android phone and screens out all the ones from his staff's iPhones. (I can't believe they still haven't closed that loophole.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
@KatyTurNBC: .
@RepJeffries says Steve Bannon is not welcome at any CBC/Trump meeting because he is a "stone cold racist" http://snpy.tv/2kxH6DE
posted by chris24 at 1:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [45 favorites]
@RepJeffries says Steve Bannon is not welcome at any CBC/Trump meeting because he is a "stone cold racist" http://snpy.tv/2kxH6DE
posted by chris24 at 1:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [45 favorites]
Enemy of the people tweet is back, without the word sick.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Or perhaps incontrovertible evidence of the President being a Russian asset. PLEASE G-d, let it be something like, "Shit, we have a Constitutional Crisis..." rather than, "I can't eat dinner after watching that shit..."
whynotboth.gif
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 1:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
whynotboth.gif
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 1:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
um, of all the problems with that tweet, "SICK!" was really the least of them.
posted by zachlipton at 1:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [29 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [29 favorites]
How is it possible that every major news outlet is fake news except fox? Also is leaving out PBS just because they're not as rich or are they real news?
posted by dis_integration at 1:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by dis_integration at 1:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
compromise, or was he just in a hurry to hit "send" after wresting the phone back?
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:51 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:51 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh, Trump deleted his earlier tweet because he wanted to add ABC and CBS to the mix.
posted by sallybrown at 1:51 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 1:51 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Also is leaving out PBS just because they're not as rich or are they real news?
At his press conference yesterday he called on a reporter from PBS and asked her to repeat where she was from, so maybe he has no clue what PBS is (good).
posted by sallybrown at 1:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
At his press conference yesterday he called on a reporter from PBS and asked her to repeat where she was from, so maybe he has no clue what PBS is (good).
posted by sallybrown at 1:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
could... could he not remember the letters ABC
is that what happened
posted by poffin boffin at 1:53 PM on February 17, 2017 [32 favorites]
is that what happened
posted by poffin boffin at 1:53 PM on February 17, 2017 [32 favorites]
That was my take, too, sallybrown. Straight-out declaring the press to be an Enemy of the People is some serious escalation, I'm tempted to infer a comparable off-stage narcissistic injury.
But maybe he just has gas or something.
posted by BS Artisan at 1:53 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
But maybe he just has gas or something.
posted by BS Artisan at 1:53 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
But maybe he just has gas or something.
Preemptive strike for what the senators heard about?
posted by Celsius1414 at 1:55 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Preemptive strike for what the senators heard about?
posted by Celsius1414 at 1:55 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
could... could he not remember the letters ABC
Is that perhaps because of the fact that
he has no clue what PBS is
???
*insert sad hi-hat cymbal crash here*
posted by RolandOfEld at 1:56 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
Is that perhaps because of the fact that
he has no clue what PBS is
???
*insert sad hi-hat cymbal crash here*
posted by RolandOfEld at 1:56 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
I think Trump's strategy is pretty clear at this point. He's realized he can only coast on attacking Hillary Clinton for so long, as even he can't make an emails-sized scandal out of walking in the woods, eating dinner, and seeing a Broadway show. But he needs a new villain to rail against. Attacking judges will only get you so far, and attacking Democrats just elevates the opposition and is pretty stupid since Democrats haven't really done much to him yet. So that leaves the press moving into the #1 spot.
posted by zachlipton at 1:56 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:56 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
You're giving him WAY too much credit, zachlipton. He's just acting narcissistic and crazy, nothing more.
posted by Melismata at 1:58 PM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 1:58 PM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
Soooo...are those outlets about to put out explosive stories, or is this just a generic declaration of war against the free press?
posted by yasaman at 1:59 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by yasaman at 1:59 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
NATO amd the EU will have to wait, Russia is off the table again, Nazis obviously totally off limits. So yeah, press or immigrants.
posted by Artw at 1:59 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by Artw at 1:59 PM on February 17, 2017
I don't recall him ever calling out ABC or CBS by name before, that feels like a whole new thing.
posted by Brainy at 2:00 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Brainy at 2:00 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
"Leaking classified info is a crime that endangers American lives too"
Flynn in danger of a polonium breakfast?
posted by Artw at 2:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Flynn in danger of a polonium breakfast?
posted by Artw at 2:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Given the hyperpartisanism in regards to SCROTUS the intent might be to further fracture the gulf between Trumpania and reality. If 40% of Americans are loyal to Herr Twitler (which appears to be the case) we have a huge problem.
posted by Talez at 2:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Talez at 2:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
That 38% approval rating today must have hurt. You know how he loves his ratings.
posted by sallybrown at 2:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 2:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
You're giving him WAY too much credit, zachlipton. He's just acting narcissistic and crazy, nothing more.
for him personally, agreed, but i think it would be naive to assume that any number of his various cronies aren't aware of the value of silencing or delegitmizing a free press.
posted by poffin boffin at 2:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
for him personally, agreed, but i think it would be naive to assume that any number of his various cronies aren't aware of the value of silencing or delegitmizing a free press.
posted by poffin boffin at 2:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Fox News putting him in the 30s must have especially stung, too; no way he missed that.
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
Well I guess the second wave of anger against the press I predicted yesterday is here, and earlier than I thought. Guess he watched the news.
posted by threeturtles at 2:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by threeturtles at 2:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
That 38% approval rating today must have hurt. You know how he loves his ratings.
It's #fakenews. He is convinced 70% of Americans love him.
posted by COD at 2:02 PM on February 17, 2017
Delegitimizing the press is pretty much fascism 101, isn't it?
posted by diogenes at 2:03 PM on February 17, 2017 [33 favorites]
posted by diogenes at 2:03 PM on February 17, 2017 [33 favorites]
BTW if he's cycling through injury/lashing out/feeling better faster and faster....that's both a bad sign and possibly a good sign if we're hoping he'll become so unhinged Republicans are forced to do something.
posted by threeturtles at 2:03 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by threeturtles at 2:03 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
Perhaps he left out PBS because he's planning to gut it and turn it into a state-run propaganda factory to combat the pernicious influence of every traditional media institution in the country, who he is now openly calling out as enemies of the state.
posted by contraption at 2:03 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by contraption at 2:03 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
You know how when a doomsday cult sets a specific date for the end of the world, and the world doesn't end, the hardcore cultists double down and come up with increasingly elaborate and deranged theories for why they're still right and everything else is wrong?
posted by theodolite at 2:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 2:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Delegitimizing the press is pretty much fascism 101, isn't it?
102. 101 is blaming everything on scapegoats.
posted by Talez at 2:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
102. 101 is blaming everything on scapegoats.
posted by Talez at 2:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Man, the White House Correspondents Dinner is going to be BRUTAL. And/or empty.
posted by argonauta at 2:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by argonauta at 2:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
You're giving him WAY too much credit, zachlipton. He's just acting narcissistic and crazy, nothing more.
I don't think that's giving him a lot of credit. It's not a claim he's playing 11th dimensional chess, just that he knows it's useful to have "an enemy" and he can whip up his base going after the media. Maybe he also has thought that de-legitimizing all media helps to insulate him from bad reporting, or perhaps he's just lashing out because pretty much everyone has called out his bullshit at this point.
But that's not ascribing any real genius to him, just acknowledging that he has some basic competency in whipping up a certain segment of society. Even pre-pubescent children can figure out the value of a scapegoat.
posted by phearlez at 2:05 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
I don't think that's giving him a lot of credit. It's not a claim he's playing 11th dimensional chess, just that he knows it's useful to have "an enemy" and he can whip up his base going after the media. Maybe he also has thought that de-legitimizing all media helps to insulate him from bad reporting, or perhaps he's just lashing out because pretty much everyone has called out his bullshit at this point.
But that's not ascribing any real genius to him, just acknowledging that he has some basic competency in whipping up a certain segment of society. Even pre-pubescent children can figure out the value of a scapegoat.
posted by phearlez at 2:05 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Trump just tweeted and very quickly deleted: "The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @CNN, @NBCNews and many more) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American people. SICK! (screenshot)
"You got the CBS/ and the ABC/ You got Time and Newsweek/ They're the same to me"
posted by Strange Interlude at 2:05 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
"You got the CBS/ and the ABC/ You got Time and Newsweek/ They're the same to me"
posted by Strange Interlude at 2:05 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
To reiterate my point, immigration laws have never been based on factual national interest. All political arguments just seem to assume they should exist because they have existed for a long time without bothering a justification. But they started as blatant racism, so why should anyone who is not racism have cause to support them in any form?
That last question again, is not trolling or rhetorical. I would be very interested to know what a serious and unbiased economic study would say about the effect of immigration without restriction
I don't believe that I have see any studies on an open border policy but I agree that it would be interesting to see the results of it.
My belief that there is a possible level of immigration that would overwhelm the existing infrastructure/housing supply in the short term so there may be a justification for throttling the amount down from unlimited. For instance, currently the US gets about 1 million new immigrants a year. Could we handle 20 million in a year? That would be a pretty massive increase in the population in a very short time.
But overall, I do have to agree with your point that immigration laws were highly motivated by racist beliefs.
posted by nolnacs at 2:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
That last question again, is not trolling or rhetorical. I would be very interested to know what a serious and unbiased economic study would say about the effect of immigration without restriction
I don't believe that I have see any studies on an open border policy but I agree that it would be interesting to see the results of it.
My belief that there is a possible level of immigration that would overwhelm the existing infrastructure/housing supply in the short term so there may be a justification for throttling the amount down from unlimited. For instance, currently the US gets about 1 million new immigrants a year. Could we handle 20 million in a year? That would be a pretty massive increase in the population in a very short time.
But overall, I do have to agree with your point that immigration laws were highly motivated by racist beliefs.
posted by nolnacs at 2:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
You know how when a doomsday cult sets a specific date for the end of the world, and when the world doesn't end, the hardcore cultists double down and come up with increasingly elaborate and deranged theories for why they're still right and everything else is wrong?
Reminds me of this dude. Aw Harold we all laughed at you but you weren't so far off!
posted by sallybrown at 2:06 PM on February 17, 2017
Reminds me of this dude. Aw Harold we all laughed at you but you weren't so far off!
posted by sallybrown at 2:06 PM on February 17, 2017
Man, the White House Correspondents Dinner is going to be BRUTAL. And/or empty.
Good. It's an embarrassment.
posted by phearlez at 2:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Good. It's an embarrassment.
posted by phearlez at 2:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Cornyn is using the same weird combination: the info is fake! And it's dangerous to leak it!
If it's fake...it's not dangerous. And if it's dangerous...it ain't fake.
posted by emjaybee at 2:08 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
If it's fake...it's not dangerous. And if it's dangerous...it ain't fake.
posted by emjaybee at 2:08 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
Goddamn I miss being governed by grownups who had some degree of impulse control.
posted by mosk at 2:09 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by mosk at 2:09 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
NYT Opinion: The Downfall of Kellyanne Conway
Once she took the reins of Donald Trump’s campaign, though, she went from smooth to slippery. She’d hammer Hillary Clinton for talking too much about gender and duck behind her femininity in the face of legitimate criticism. If she succeeded, it was because she was Kellyanne. If she failed, it was because she was a woman.posted by zachlipton at 2:10 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
In the months leading up to the election, Ms. Conway generously lent her womanhood as a smokescreen to the Trump campaign. She tried to insert a watered-down version of feminism into the candidate’s platform, despite the fact that no mainstream feminist-leaning organizations supported him. When her boss was caught on tape bragging about sexually assaulting women, Kellyanne Conway “as a woman”-ed her way out of it. Confronted about Mr. Trump’s chauvinism, she snapped back that women who were in poverty were not served during the Obama years, as though that somehow undid her boss’s history. I gasped so frequently when she spoke that after each interview was over, I’d feel faint, like I’d spent the last several hours blowing up balloons.
...
Ms. Conway made her bed. And now it’s time for her to get some sleep.
So Cornyn comes out of a senate intelligence committee meeting with the director of the FBI and immediately yells about fake news and doesn't provide any other details? That is intentionally muddying the waters. I don't believe that Comey told them that every single thing in the news is fiction. But by yelling "fake news," he's suggesting that we shouldn't believe anything we hear. That's him actively engaging in the delegitimization we're all talking about.
posted by diogenes at 2:11 PM on February 17, 2017 [28 favorites]
posted by diogenes at 2:11 PM on February 17, 2017 [28 favorites]
I would like the ACLU (or someone else with a budget and a conscience) to sue SCROTUS for a Records Act violation wrt deleted tweets. I want a court decision on whether a tweet is a Record.
While I'm dreaming...is he taking that android into SCIFs? What is the status and usage of that RNC email server? What about government business being done via (in)secure chat apps?
I am really, really disappointed that major MSM are not running the headline: _RUMP ADMINISTRATION USING PRIVATE EMAIL SERVER! CLASSIFIED EMAILS RUMORED!
This admin needs to be gutted on lawbreaking and security practices.
posted by j_curiouser at 2:12 PM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
While I'm dreaming...is he taking that android into SCIFs? What is the status and usage of that RNC email server? What about government business being done via (in)secure chat apps?
I am really, really disappointed that major MSM are not running the headline: _RUMP ADMINISTRATION USING PRIVATE EMAIL SERVER! CLASSIFIED EMAILS RUMORED!
This admin needs to be gutted on lawbreaking and security practices.
posted by j_curiouser at 2:12 PM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
guys, do you think if we just walk obama back into the oval office and have him stand there with his arms crossed, eventually trump will get super uncomfortable and just leave
posted by murphy slaw at 2:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [62 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 2:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [62 favorites]
Goddamn I miss being governed by grownups who had some degree of impulse control.
some days i just huddle under my blankies listening to adele and looking at omaba/biden bro memes
posted by poffin boffin at 2:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
some days i just huddle under my blankies listening to adele and looking at omaba/biden bro memes
posted by poffin boffin at 2:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
He clicked away from Fox and caught some of the IRL coverage of his presser.
posted by notyou at 2:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by notyou at 2:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Continuing to run the Nixon playbook, just with the hurry-up offense.
@BeschlossDC
On December 1972 tape, Nixon told Kissinger, “The press is the enemy, the establishment is the enemy, the professors are the enemy."
posted by chris24 at 2:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [27 favorites]
@BeschlossDC
On December 1972 tape, Nixon told Kissinger, “The press is the enemy, the establishment is the enemy, the professors are the enemy."
posted by chris24 at 2:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [27 favorites]
some days i just huddle under my blankies listening to adele and looking at omaba/biden bro memes
I spend my time listening to 90s music. It reminds me what a glorious time it was to be alive.
posted by Talez at 2:16 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
I spend my time listening to 90s music. It reminds me what a glorious time it was to be alive.
posted by Talez at 2:16 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
On December 1972 tape, Nixon told Kissinger, “The press is the enemy, the establishment is the enemy, the professors are the enemy."
Yeah but Nixon didn't put that in skywriting over every town and city on the planet alongside CHECK OUT SEX TAPE
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:17 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
Yeah but Nixon didn't put that in skywriting over every town and city on the planet alongside CHECK OUT SEX TAPE
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:17 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
I spend my time listening to 90s music. It reminds me what a glorious time it was to be alive.
yeah, but not Jesus Jones "right here, right now", it cuts too close to the bone
posted by murphy slaw at 2:18 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
yeah, but not Jesus Jones "right here, right now", it cuts too close to the bone
posted by murphy slaw at 2:18 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
guys, do you think if we just walk obama back into the oval office and have him stand there with his arms crossed, eventually trump will get super uncomfortable and just leave
No need for real obama, just a cardboard standee.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 2:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
No need for real obama, just a cardboard standee.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 2:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
So the news in every place around the world that has ever had a dictatorship or totalitarian government is currently reporting, "The President of the United States has published a list of enemies of the people." And they'll be using the same phrase as when their own governments declare/declared enemies of the people.
posted by XMLicious at 2:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 2:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
It disgusts me how nostalgic I'm growing for the halcyon days of George W. Bush. You know, back when a "bad president" meant someone whose qualifications fell somewhat short and when their "dangerous presidency" meant four years of someone working at least mostly within the system of established norms, customs, and ethical guidelines of the presidency to pursue policies we found objectionable and/or ill-advised.
As opposed to a loofah-faced shit gibbon with no regard for, understanding in, or respect for the basic tenets of American government, seeking to trample over all known precedent, run roughshod over even the most basic concepts of ethics in office, to enact a staggeringly destructive bunch of racist, classist, and nationalist bullshit that endangers the survival of the republic and global security.
I mean, GWB sucked, but I didn't actively fear for the fucking apocalypse with him around.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:21 PM on February 17, 2017 [48 favorites]
As opposed to a loofah-faced shit gibbon with no regard for, understanding in, or respect for the basic tenets of American government, seeking to trample over all known precedent, run roughshod over even the most basic concepts of ethics in office, to enact a staggeringly destructive bunch of racist, classist, and nationalist bullshit that endangers the survival of the republic and global security.
I mean, GWB sucked, but I didn't actively fear for the fucking apocalypse with him around.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 2:21 PM on February 17, 2017 [48 favorites]
i have this sick gut feeling that if protesters don't outnumber attendees 2:1 at trump's rally this weekend, it's too late
posted by murphy slaw at 2:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by murphy slaw at 2:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump's latest tweet is quite alarming. I just set up a google alert for "trump martial-law site:nytimes.com". Hopefully that will allow me to put this aside so I can get on with my life.
posted by Coventry at 2:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 2:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
I went from whatever punchy hysterically laughing place I was at yesterday to, with news of the Pruitt confirmation and a conferral with the SO about the appropriate contents of bug-out bags, back to all :O
I also made the mistake of offering to my SO, who'd been away, of recapping my experience by reading one of my metafilter comments. Which, as it turns out (but I had forgotten) was the one about him not knowing who Sylvia Plath was and this fact annoyed me to the extent that I brought it up with my shrink, who then thought that I was yearning for a giant dirt nap.
And I read him the comment and my SO, who has never freakin heard of Sylvia Plath, was all, why did your shrink think you were suicidal. And I couldn't stop myself from sighing.
Let this be a lesson to you, kids.
posted by angrycat at 2:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
I also made the mistake of offering to my SO, who'd been away, of recapping my experience by reading one of my metafilter comments. Which, as it turns out (but I had forgotten) was the one about him not knowing who Sylvia Plath was and this fact annoyed me to the extent that I brought it up with my shrink, who then thought that I was yearning for a giant dirt nap.
And I read him the comment and my SO, who has never freakin heard of Sylvia Plath, was all, why did your shrink think you were suicidal. And I couldn't stop myself from sighing.
Let this be a lesson to you, kids.
posted by angrycat at 2:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Welp, apparently Comey is in on Team Trump. See Cornyn's latest tweet.
I don't think you can read anything about what Comey said into Cornyn's tweets. Cornyn would have called it fake news no matter what.
posted by Justinian at 2:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
I don't think you can read anything about what Comey said into Cornyn's tweets. Cornyn would have called it fake news no matter what.
posted by Justinian at 2:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
Ah, the abuse aimed at Trump in response to that tweet is a beauty. He's flailing and he's goin down.
posted by Existential Dread at 2:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Existential Dread at 2:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Delegitimizing the press is pretty much fascism 101, isn't it?
It's both tactics, information warfare, but only part of the bigger project of delegitimizing or subverting all civil institutions, in favor of the State, police, and military...I'm most alarmed at the nativism, militarism, obsession with internal and external enemies, the government based on personal loyalty to the President, and other indicators.
posted by thelonius at 2:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
It's both tactics, information warfare, but only part of the bigger project of delegitimizing or subverting all civil institutions, in favor of the State, police, and military...I'm most alarmed at the nativism, militarism, obsession with internal and external enemies, the government based on personal loyalty to the President, and other indicators.
posted by thelonius at 2:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Joe Scarborough is having regrets after helping Trump get elected. Not everything you hoped, Joe?
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
Did anyone think Comey wasn't on Team Trump? He made his allegiance clear on November 4.
posted by tobascodagama at 2:30 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by tobascodagama at 2:30 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
Alexandra Petri, WaPo: Some suggested answers to Donald Trump’s Mainstream Media Accountability Survey
1. Do you believe that the mainstream media has reported unfairly on our movement?
Yes. The media contumaciously persists in describing events as they happen instead of as Donald Trump intended them to happen, which as we know is extremely unfair. Also, during the campaign, they printed approximately 348 dispatches from “flyover country” that began with the words “From his rusted truck, Dale can see where the mill used to be. It was once the center of this town, but now Dale spends his days polishing old nickels with a Gadsden Flag and firmly insisting that he is not racist” and after a certain point it was — too much, you know?
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 2:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [31 favorites]
1. Do you believe that the mainstream media has reported unfairly on our movement?
Yes. The media contumaciously persists in describing events as they happen instead of as Donald Trump intended them to happen, which as we know is extremely unfair. Also, during the campaign, they printed approximately 348 dispatches from “flyover country” that began with the words “From his rusted truck, Dale can see where the mill used to be. It was once the center of this town, but now Dale spends his days polishing old nickels with a Gadsden Flag and firmly insisting that he is not racist” and after a certain point it was — too much, you know?
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 2:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [31 favorites]
Joe Scarborough is having regrets after helping Trump get elected. Not everything you hoped, Joe?
no pity for scarborough; only bees
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [48 favorites]
no pity for scarborough; only bees
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [48 favorites]
i have this sick gut feeling that if protesters don't outnumber attendees 2:1 at trump's rally this weekend, it's too late
There was something circulating on Twitter yesterday -- and I'm not advocating the theory, because it could be crazy pants -- that the Trump rally is only bait to get protesters to attend, and that a mysterious "they" was going to cause trouble, and that the whole point was to get protesters worked into a lather so they could be arrested and so the government could then crack down on protests.
I think Trump wants the rally just to get people to fawn over him again, but I do find it plausible that others in the administration, and in Congress, would see this as an expedient way to get the public out of their face.
(There was also some yada-yada about the Rogue White House staff Twitter account being a Bannon disinformation platform, which apparently was "uncovered" by Louise Mensch, and the Rogue WH account was setting the trap by encouraging protesters to show up. So again, could all be crazy pants.)
posted by mudpuppie at 2:32 PM on February 17, 2017
There was something circulating on Twitter yesterday -- and I'm not advocating the theory, because it could be crazy pants -- that the Trump rally is only bait to get protesters to attend, and that a mysterious "they" was going to cause trouble, and that the whole point was to get protesters worked into a lather so they could be arrested and so the government could then crack down on protests.
I think Trump wants the rally just to get people to fawn over him again, but I do find it plausible that others in the administration, and in Congress, would see this as an expedient way to get the public out of their face.
(There was also some yada-yada about the Rogue White House staff Twitter account being a Bannon disinformation platform, which apparently was "uncovered" by Louise Mensch, and the Rogue WH account was setting the trap by encouraging protesters to show up. So again, could all be crazy pants.)
posted by mudpuppie at 2:32 PM on February 17, 2017
"Only a FAKE PRESIDENT would declare the First Amendment to be the enemy of the American people." (Joe Scarborough)
Sadly, Joe, he's not a fake president. He's real. Your normalizing and enabling bullshit helped put him there.
(on preview: what Rust Moranis said)
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:33 PM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
Sadly, Joe, he's not a fake president. He's real. Your normalizing and enabling bullshit helped put him there.
(on preview: what Rust Moranis said)
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:33 PM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
okay i'm freaking out again. time to turn off the computer.
posted by murphy slaw at 2:35 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 2:35 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Joe Scarborough is having regrets after helping Trump get elected. Not everything you hoped, Joe?
His bio:
posted by jaduncan at 2:35 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
His bio:
Joe ScarboroughJoe Scarborough: a man, or a poorly drawn ironic allegory?
@JoeNBC
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." ~Edmund Burke
posted by jaduncan at 2:35 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
If there's any conspiracy it's people making fake conspiracies to discourage people from protesting out of fear.
If anything happens tomorrow it will only lead to more protests. This admin cannot successfully run a flawless false flag operation. Especially in the digital age. Especially with the press against you.
posted by mayonnaises at 2:36 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
If anything happens tomorrow it will only lead to more protests. This admin cannot successfully run a flawless false flag operation. Especially in the digital age. Especially with the press against you.
posted by mayonnaises at 2:36 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
Rogue WH account was setting the trap by encouraging protesters to show up
Pretty sure no one needs a random twitter account to seed the idea of protesting a wildly unpopular president the first time he actually shows his face in public after inauguration. I think we could have gotten there all on our own.
posted by soren_lorensen at 2:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Pretty sure no one needs a random twitter account to seed the idea of protesting a wildly unpopular president the first time he actually shows his face in public after inauguration. I think we could have gotten there all on our own.
posted by soren_lorensen at 2:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Edmund Burke 2.0: Reflections on the shitgibbon in charge of the whitehouse.
"All circumstances taken together, the election of DJT is the most astonishing that has hitherto happened in the world."
posted by Carillon at 2:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
"All circumstances taken together, the election of DJT is the most astonishing that has hitherto happened in the world."
posted by Carillon at 2:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
@mehdirhasan: The irony is that Trump wouldn't be president today if it wasn't for all the help, softballs & free airtime from the 'enemies of the people'
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [42 favorites]
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [42 favorites]
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." ~Edmund Burke
Joe Scarborough: a man, or a poorly drawn ironic allegory?
It's only ironic if he's not writing from the perspective of Team Evil
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Joe Scarborough: a man, or a poorly drawn ironic allegory?
It's only ironic if he's not writing from the perspective of Team Evil
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
I don't think I'm willing to watch the press conference. Does he blurt out, "Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!" at any point?
I like to think that when the pre-election naked statues got torn down that in at least one case only the torso came way, leaving two vast and trumpless legs.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:39 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
I like to think that when the pre-election naked statues got torn down that in at least one case only the torso came way, leaving two vast and trumpless legs.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:39 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
I don't believe this administration is competent enough to run false flag operations, scheme things, or have evil plans.
But they are definitely going to fall ass backwards into a ton of shit. And Congress will merrily enable them all the way down.
posted by Glibpaxman at 2:39 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
But they are definitely going to fall ass backwards into a ton of shit. And Congress will merrily enable them all the way down.
posted by Glibpaxman at 2:39 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm not trying to give him too much credit. He's still lashing out randomly at anything and everything that seems to stand in his way. But he's not completely irrational. He's proven himself capable of strategically declaring war on specific enemies: "little Marco," "lyin' Ted," "crooked Hillary," "fake news media" (doesn't have quite the same ring to it) and hammering them until they fall. That doesn't mean he won't briefly take a break during that process and lash out at a judge or a celebrity too, but he's always got a main enemy, and that enemy right now is pretty clearly the press. And worse yet, as his tweet shows, he wants the press to be our enemy too.
I go back to a line from The West Wing a bunch, and it certainly fits with this afternoon's tweets. It's a strange moment that sort of comes out of nowhere (especially since the word "enemy" literally doesn't appear any other time in the episode) (clip). The President is lecturing Charlie and Josh on national parks, Josh saves the day by remembering the Antiquities Act exists, and they say goodnight. Then, as an afterthought, with no small amount of pathos:
And now we have a President and a White House that actively seeks out and creates enemies, that relishes the chance to talk about enemies every opportunity it gets, that has put fighting enemies ahead of even the pretense of governing. It's scary.
posted by zachlipton at 2:39 PM on February 17, 2017 [29 favorites]
I go back to a line from The West Wing a bunch, and it certainly fits with this afternoon's tweets. It's a strange moment that sort of comes out of nowhere (especially since the word "enemy" literally doesn't appear any other time in the episode) (clip). The President is lecturing Charlie and Josh on national parks, Josh saves the day by remembering the Antiquities Act exists, and they say goodnight. Then, as an afterthought, with no small amount of pathos:
Josh: "Mr President. We talk about enemies more than we used to."In the world of the show, that was understood to be a bad thing. It was a statement that they should, ideally, be talking about enemies less. It was a reminder that the White House is all too easily consumed by fighting enemies instead of the lofty liberal ideals everyone is supposedly there for. It's a line that comes from the character most associated with political grudges and retribution and winning. That line, and I'm curious whether it's inspired by anything in particular from the Clinton years, is a warning that it's supposed to be about more than enemies.
Bartlet "What?"
Josh: "We talk about enemies more than we used to. I wanted to mention that."
And now we have a President and a White House that actively seeks out and creates enemies, that relishes the chance to talk about enemies every opportunity it gets, that has put fighting enemies ahead of even the pretense of governing. It's scary.
posted by zachlipton at 2:39 PM on February 17, 2017 [29 favorites]
Pretty sure no one needs a random twitter account to seed the idea of protesting a wildly unpopular president the first time he actually shows his face in public after inauguration. I think we could have gotten there all on our own.
I'm in full agreement.
posted by mudpuppie at 2:40 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm in full agreement.
posted by mudpuppie at 2:40 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
>Some suggested answers to Donald Trump’s Mainstream Media Accountability Survey
Bear in mind that the survey is meant to be used as a propaganda tool. When the question says 'do you think the media is treating the President unfairly', all they're gonna do is count up the number of people who said 'yes' and report that, triumphantly. Somebody with an opposing point of view MIGHT find out how many people answered 'no' and report that as well. Picking 'other' and writing a whole bunch of stuff probably just means you won't get figured into either total. Sadly, the odds that anybody's gonna read what you wrote and think about it are vanishingly tiny.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 2:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Bear in mind that the survey is meant to be used as a propaganda tool. When the question says 'do you think the media is treating the President unfairly', all they're gonna do is count up the number of people who said 'yes' and report that, triumphantly. Somebody with an opposing point of view MIGHT find out how many people answered 'no' and report that as well. Picking 'other' and writing a whole bunch of stuff probably just means you won't get figured into either total. Sadly, the odds that anybody's gonna read what you wrote and think about it are vanishingly tiny.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 2:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I Don't Want To Hear Another Fucking Word About John McCain Unless He Dies Or Actually Does Something Useful For Once
posted by zombieflanders at 2:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [81 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 2:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [81 favorites]
Joe Scarborough Retweeted Donald J. Trump
Someone is cranky that Gallup has him at 38% and Pew has him at 39%. So now he's resorting to FAKE TWEETS. SAD!Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!
Joe Scarborough Retweeted Donald J. TrumpWTF? I guess Trump is never going back on Morning Joe then. Scarborough is tweeting so massively differently so fast that it's actively odd unless he feels the need to distance himself because he has heard more impressive rumours than are currently public.
It's not even Saturday morning and someone is already losing his shit.
posted by jaduncan at 2:43 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
(There was also some yada-yada about the Rogue White House staff Twitter account being a Bannon disinformation platform, which apparently was "uncovered" by Louise Mensch, and the Rogue WH account was setting the trap by encouraging protesters to show up. So again, could all be crazy pants.)
Rogue white house staff twitter is not white house staff but Mensch theory that it's run by Bannon is based on evidence that is pretty damn crazy pants and not really even logical. I can't recall the details of why she thinks it is only that it was a whole lot of conspiracy wtf. If you read the account as Bannon project the only way it makes sense is if he is playing some extra dimensional game and is some sort of super genius playing out a strategy which no one is smart enough to figure out. (Except Mensch)
Regardless of the identity of that Twitter, I've been uneasy about this rally and what extra stuff beyond allowing Trump to get his fix that they could be planning. Hoping that it's just paranoia and some past experiences with White Nationalist false flag schemes (they were thwarted before they could follow through) making me jittery.
posted by Jalliah at 2:43 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
And now we have a President and a White House that actively seeks out and creates enemies, that relishes the chance to talk about enemies every opportunity it gets, that has put fighting enemies ahead of even the pretense of governing. It's scary.
It's more intentional than that. They need enemies to obsessively discuss and attack precisely so that there's not the time for in depth discussion of policy. They need their Goldstein, and for the same loyalty-generating reasons.
posted by jaduncan at 2:45 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
It's more intentional than that. They need enemies to obsessively discuss and attack precisely so that there's not the time for in depth discussion of policy. They need their Goldstein, and for the same loyalty-generating reasons.
posted by jaduncan at 2:45 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
(and I meant the Lesson Learned should be Don't Be A Jerk to Your Lovely SO Because He Doesn't Know About Sylvia Plath, weirdly And Also Be Careful When Reading Aloud Your Metafilter Comments. I didn't mean don't date people who haven't read Sylvia Plath.)
posted by angrycat at 2:45 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by angrycat at 2:45 PM on February 17, 2017
how would you even tell the difference between "official Bannon project" and "independent proactive 8chan user project"
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:46 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:46 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
#NeverTrump? #BunchaChumps!
Due to this "EO leak", I spent most of today alternating between panic attacks, exhausting rage, and napping like the dead. McCain's speech was the first thing that gave me hope all day, that I wasn't crazy when I thought maybe people still believed in things other than a ravening maw.
#NeverTrump is powerless right now. We failed, and I'm goddamned sorry, I tried really fucking hard and we still failed. Trust me, I blame myself every day in the odd event making just one more phone call, working one more hour, would have stopped this. I blame myself more than you ever will or can, because I was right there and we had the people and we still failed. I will blame myself until I die or am disappeared.
It still somehow makes me feel shitty each and every time someone drops some "ha ha, so funny, NeverTrump!" shit in the thread. It makes me feel unwelcome and in this specific instance, it actually made me cry while in public. If that's the intent, then I guess carry on? But I already feel unwelcome in the world and in America today, and this is really not helping, and if that matters at all to you, it would be great to see less of this.
posted by corb at 2:47 PM on February 17, 2017 [132 favorites]
Due to this "EO leak", I spent most of today alternating between panic attacks, exhausting rage, and napping like the dead. McCain's speech was the first thing that gave me hope all day, that I wasn't crazy when I thought maybe people still believed in things other than a ravening maw.
#NeverTrump is powerless right now. We failed, and I'm goddamned sorry, I tried really fucking hard and we still failed. Trust me, I blame myself every day in the odd event making just one more phone call, working one more hour, would have stopped this. I blame myself more than you ever will or can, because I was right there and we had the people and we still failed. I will blame myself until I die or am disappeared.
It still somehow makes me feel shitty each and every time someone drops some "ha ha, so funny, NeverTrump!" shit in the thread. It makes me feel unwelcome and in this specific instance, it actually made me cry while in public. If that's the intent, then I guess carry on? But I already feel unwelcome in the world and in America today, and this is really not helping, and if that matters at all to you, it would be great to see less of this.
posted by corb at 2:47 PM on February 17, 2017 [132 favorites]
Joe Scarborough @JoeNBC 8m8 minutes ago
More
NOT FAIR! NO PRESS! NO COURTS! NO BAD POLLS!!!! #38% #39% #1stAmendment #JudicialReview #ChecksAndBalances #Madison #Hamilton #USA
The image needs to be seen to be believed. JFC. If he was a real journalist he'd get sacked.
posted by jaduncan at 2:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
More
NOT FAIR! NO PRESS! NO COURTS! NO BAD POLLS!!!! #38% #39% #1stAmendment #JudicialReview #ChecksAndBalances #Madison #Hamilton #USA
The image needs to be seen to be believed. JFC. If he was a real journalist he'd get sacked.
posted by jaduncan at 2:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
WTF? I guess Trump is never going back on Morning Joe then. Scarborough is tweeting so massively differently so fast that it's actively odd unless he feels the need to distance himself because he has heard more impressive rumours than are currently public.
I really do think that what Miller did on Sunday was his and Mika hit his and Mika's wtf line in the sand. They've both been different since then, though Joe took a few days struggling with it. If he's also hearing rumors they're just adding to that.
posted by Jalliah at 2:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I really do think that what Miller did on Sunday was his and Mika hit his and Mika's wtf line in the sand. They've both been different since then, though Joe took a few days struggling with it. If he's also hearing rumors they're just adding to that.
posted by Jalliah at 2:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
The image needs to be seen to be believed. JFC. If he was a real journalist he'd get sacked.
seems kind of an apposite response to the current situation tbh
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
seems kind of an apposite response to the current situation tbh
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
So we're living in one big Downfall parody video
posted by My Dad at 2:51 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by My Dad at 2:51 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
@davidfrum: Decoded: one or more of NYT, CNN or NBCNews has a very very damaging story in the pipeline … … whose accuracy has now been confirmed in advance
A gal can dream, right?
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 2:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [41 favorites]
A gal can dream, right?
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 2:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [41 favorites]
Conservatives Object to Obamacare Replacement's Tax Credits
This has become one of the biggest problems with any new healthcare plan. There's a whole GOP wing that is refusing to look at any proposals that involve tax credits, because that might, *gasp*, result in someone receiving more than they're putting in. If you refuse to touch tax credits, that just leaves tax deductions, and people are kind of going to notice how completely useless tax deductions are for a huge percentage of Americans. If a couple dozen Republicans hold firm on this one, it's hard to see how they can put any kind of plan together.
posted by zachlipton at 2:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
This has become one of the biggest problems with any new healthcare plan. There's a whole GOP wing that is refusing to look at any proposals that involve tax credits, because that might, *gasp*, result in someone receiving more than they're putting in. If you refuse to touch tax credits, that just leaves tax deductions, and people are kind of going to notice how completely useless tax deductions are for a huge percentage of Americans. If a couple dozen Republicans hold firm on this one, it's hard to see how they can put any kind of plan together.
posted by zachlipton at 2:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Is Scarborough trying to set Trump off into a twitter hate-spiral so he's already frothing when whatever is coming down the pipe hits?
posted by Freon at 2:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Freon at 2:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
A gal can dream, right?
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare
ಠ_ಠ
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:55 PM on February 17, 2017 [78 favorites]
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare
ಠ_ಠ
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:55 PM on February 17, 2017 [78 favorites]
Hugs to you, corb. Thanks for trying as hard as you could; this was such an avalanche of unlikely events coming together it's hard to know if there was ever a chance of avoiding it.
It's up to all of us to work together to prevent the worst from happening. It's a long slog, but we're tallying up successes, small as they might feel.
posted by Existential Dread at 2:56 PM on February 17, 2017 [36 favorites]
It's up to all of us to work together to prevent the worst from happening. It's a long slog, but we're tallying up successes, small as they might feel.
posted by Existential Dread at 2:56 PM on February 17, 2017 [36 favorites]
Corb: For the record, I have an awful lot of respect for what you did with #nevertrump, I hope that you continue to poke people where possible, but more than that I absolutely want you to know that the spinelessness of various elected officials is absolutely not reflective of you or your efforts. You're the type of person that actually makes America great, and your work has been inspiring.
I have been here for years, and in some ways my views have shifted. We don't agree on several major things, but I'm sure I don't only speak for myself when I say that I am actively appreciative of you on a political and personal level. You're principled and strong, and I admire what you've done. Be proud, because no matter how it works out you have fought extremely well and hard for a principled cause.
Thank you for what you have done.
posted by jaduncan at 2:57 PM on February 17, 2017 [111 favorites]
I have been here for years, and in some ways my views have shifted. We don't agree on several major things, but I'm sure I don't only speak for myself when I say that I am actively appreciative of you on a political and personal level. You're principled and strong, and I admire what you've done. Be proud, because no matter how it works out you have fought extremely well and hard for a principled cause.
Thank you for what you have done.
posted by jaduncan at 2:57 PM on February 17, 2017 [111 favorites]
It still somehow makes me feel shitty each and every time someone drops some "ha ha, so funny, NeverTrump!" shit in the thread. It makes me feel unwelcome and in this specific instance, it actually made me cry while in public. If that's the intent, then I guess carry on? But I already feel unwelcome in the world and in America today, and this is really not helping, and if that matters at all to you, it would be great to see less of this.
I don't think anyone thinks that you are a chump. We have watched you fight the good fight from inside the GOP for a year now. We have prayed or hoped or longed for you and your friends to somehow bring the Republican Party back from the nihilistic brink it was plunging itself over.
Speaking for myself, I really, really hope that you will stop banging your head against the goddamn brick wall that is the hypocrites who #NeverTrump with their lips but then bend over / push the 'Yea' button on command. I hate seeing you blame yourself for all this, or throwing yourself against the wall one last time, over, and over.
These people, McCain, and Sasse, and whoever else: they're bad people. They're self-serving assholes who in some ways are more infuriatingly horrifying than the actual evil fascists because they acknowledge the right thing to do and refuse to do it.
It's over, Corb. It's been over for a while. The big-tent, rational-minded, cautious, sensible GOP you (and I, and I think several other people in these threads) grew up with is dead and the fascist wraith that inhabits its corpse is fit only for the pyre.
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:58 PM on February 17, 2017 [70 favorites]
I don't think anyone thinks that you are a chump. We have watched you fight the good fight from inside the GOP for a year now. We have prayed or hoped or longed for you and your friends to somehow bring the Republican Party back from the nihilistic brink it was plunging itself over.
Speaking for myself, I really, really hope that you will stop banging your head against the goddamn brick wall that is the hypocrites who #NeverTrump with their lips but then bend over / push the 'Yea' button on command. I hate seeing you blame yourself for all this, or throwing yourself against the wall one last time, over, and over.
These people, McCain, and Sasse, and whoever else: they're bad people. They're self-serving assholes who in some ways are more infuriatingly horrifying than the actual evil fascists because they acknowledge the right thing to do and refuse to do it.
It's over, Corb. It's been over for a while. The big-tent, rational-minded, cautious, sensible GOP you (and I, and I think several other people in these threads) grew up with is dead and the fascist wraith that inhabits its corpse is fit only for the pyre.
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:58 PM on February 17, 2017 [70 favorites]
this was such an avalanche of unlikely events coming together it's hard to know if there was ever a chance of avoiding it.
Part of avoiding it is not giving the R's majorities in both houses, not campaigning for them, not working on R-directed ballot issues, and not supporting R politicians and policies. For a while now.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 2:59 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Part of avoiding it is not giving the R's majorities in both houses, not campaigning for them, not working on R-directed ballot issues, and not supporting R politicians and policies. For a while now.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 2:59 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Today I ate: leftover pizza, ice cream, and upma-as-taught-me-by-colleague-from-Hydrabad-but-with-more-butter. I was going to get up and achieve things, but I have not been able to. Every time I have a totally down day like this, I tell myself I'm going to get up and work hard on stuff in the future, and sometimes I do, but some days I just can't handle things. These past few months have just been so terrible.
I am going to go eat some more ice cream, actually.
posted by Frowner at 2:59 PM on February 17, 2017 [43 favorites]
I am going to go eat some more ice cream, actually.
posted by Frowner at 2:59 PM on February 17, 2017 [43 favorites]
We failed, and I'm goddamned sorry, I tried really fucking hard and we still failed.
The fix was in, Corb -- you saw it at the convention with the goons all over the place. Don't blame yourself.
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:00 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
The fix was in, Corb -- you saw it at the convention with the goons all over the place. Don't blame yourself.
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:00 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
Twitter seems to be cracking down on people saying mean things about the president.
posted by adamg at 3:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by adamg at 3:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Continued astonishment:
posted by jaduncan at 3:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [44 favorites]
Joe Scarborough @JoeNBCHe's certainly loaded for bear, maybe he actually means it. It's just hard to see what exactly the trigger for all this was, because he's gone far enough that it's going to be hard to walk it back. He is also, unusually for him, actually correct in both of those tweets.
This president attacks the judiciary's legitimacy, the intel community, and calls press outlets critical to him "the enemy of the people."
Joe Scarborough @JoeNBC
Conservatives, feel free to speak up for the Constitution anytime the mood strikes. It is time.
posted by jaduncan at 3:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [44 favorites]
Any good Reichstag fire sales this President's Day weekend?
posted by guiseroom at 3:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 3:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
good for twitter, finally getting serious about harassment and abuse [mordant chuckle that turns into a wet hacking cough, then retching, then dry, horrible screams, screams the sound of which you will never get out of your head]
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
My guess it was Trump's tweet about the media being enemies of the American People. Probably snapped something in Scarborough's little brain.
posted by Justinian at 3:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Justinian at 3:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
corb, do not blame yourself. You just can't, I'll cry if you do. Make yourself some of that upma and eat it with ice cream.
posted by Don Pepino at 3:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Don Pepino at 3:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
so i failed to turn off the computer
it really feels like there is maybe a month to get him out of office before it can't be done without at least small-scale civil war
or maybe it's already too late?
posted by murphy slaw at 3:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
it really feels like there is maybe a month to get him out of office before it can't be done without at least small-scale civil war
or maybe it's already too late?
posted by murphy slaw at 3:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Continuously documenting the hypocrisy and treasonous selling out of America by elected Republicans is vital.
There's also room for former Republican activists on the ground to continue fighting for America and against the Republican party.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:07 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
There's also room for former Republican activists on the ground to continue fighting for America and against the Republican party.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:07 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
10 minutes ago...
@marcorubio
I am now very confident Senate Intel Comm I serve on will conduct thorough bipartisan investigation of #Putin interference and influence
posted by chris24 at 3:08 PM on February 17, 2017 [40 favorites]
@marcorubio
I am now very confident Senate Intel Comm I serve on will conduct thorough bipartisan investigation of #Putin interference and influence
posted by chris24 at 3:08 PM on February 17, 2017 [40 favorites]
@marcorubio
I am now very confident Senate Intel Comm I serve on will conduct thorough bipartisan investigation of #Putin interference and influence
The weather-vane status of Rubio and the sudden disappearance of Republican resistance makes me fairly sure that whatever was said by Comey was really quite horrific.
posted by jaduncan at 3:10 PM on February 17, 2017 [46 favorites]
I am now very confident Senate Intel Comm I serve on will conduct thorough bipartisan investigation of #Putin interference and influence
The weather-vane status of Rubio and the sudden disappearance of Republican resistance makes me fairly sure that whatever was said by Comey was really quite horrific.
posted by jaduncan at 3:10 PM on February 17, 2017 [46 favorites]
Are they investigating because Trump is losing it or is Trump losing it because they are investigating?
posted by guiseroom at 3:11 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 3:11 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
it really feels like there is maybe a month to get him out of office before it can't be done without at least small-scale civil war
It may feel that way, but it's unlikely. Trumpists are scattered in low-population counties, may like to play-act at being hardcore gun nuts, but are generally as soft and untrained as the rest of us. The military may have leaned Trump before the election, but the more of them he gets killed in his shit-tastic unprepared raids the more his support will dwindle. Plus, Trumpists skew old. We are in a slow-burning constitutional crisis because Congressional Rs are doing nothing, but they're susceptible to pressure and Trump ain't exactly going to help keep them in office if they get voted out. We keep up the pressure and we can stop him. We flip Congress and we can nail him.
posted by Existential Dread at 3:11 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
It may feel that way, but it's unlikely. Trumpists are scattered in low-population counties, may like to play-act at being hardcore gun nuts, but are generally as soft and untrained as the rest of us. The military may have leaned Trump before the election, but the more of them he gets killed in his shit-tastic unprepared raids the more his support will dwindle. Plus, Trumpists skew old. We are in a slow-burning constitutional crisis because Congressional Rs are doing nothing, but they're susceptible to pressure and Trump ain't exactly going to help keep them in office if they get voted out. We keep up the pressure and we can stop him. We flip Congress and we can nail him.
posted by Existential Dread at 3:11 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
My guess it was Trump's tweet about the media being enemies of the American People. Probably snapped something in Scarborough's little brain.
He included @nbc, which I think is new? A lot of Trump's tantrum was probably inspired by hearing all over the place that his presser did not come off as he believed it did. His channel surfing was probably like . . . "[click] batshit [click] bombastic [click] unhinged [click] incoherent [click] abusive [click] statesmanlike vigor" (O'Reilly).
posted by FelliniBlank at 3:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
He included @nbc, which I think is new? A lot of Trump's tantrum was probably inspired by hearing all over the place that his presser did not come off as he believed it did. His channel surfing was probably like . . . "[click] batshit [click] bombastic [click] unhinged [click] incoherent [click] abusive [click] statesmanlike vigor" (O'Reilly).
posted by FelliniBlank at 3:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
The big-tent, rational-minded, cautious, sensible GOP you (and I, and I think several other people in these threads) grew up with is dead and the fascist wraith that inhabits its corpse is fit only for the pyre.
Time for a new party or two, I think.
I am on vacation today. I was supposed to be leaving for a trip today except the weather is terrible and we all elected to postpone leaving in it, so I am home, watching Luke Cage, reading this thread, and thinking, "Oh yeah, I should get cracking on that Trump voodoo doll I was thinking about." Something productive!
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Time for a new party or two, I think.
I am on vacation today. I was supposed to be leaving for a trip today except the weather is terrible and we all elected to postpone leaving in it, so I am home, watching Luke Cage, reading this thread, and thinking, "Oh yeah, I should get cracking on that Trump voodoo doll I was thinking about." Something productive!
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
um, of all the problems with that tweet, "SICK!" was really the least of them.
I saw a tweet somewhere along the lines that dropping the "SICK!" was a message to Paul Ryan, since that's what his healthcare plan involves.
posted by zombieflanders at 3:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
I saw a tweet somewhere along the lines that dropping the "SICK!" was a message to Paul Ryan, since that's what his healthcare plan involves.
posted by zombieflanders at 3:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
It was an NBC reporter who stood up and called out Trump for lying about his electoral college win yesterday.
posted by zachlipton at 3:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
Trump's approval rating among white voters, by level of education.
The problem is not all white voters; it is specifically and completely uneducated ones.
posted by Justinian at 3:16 PM on February 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
The problem is not all white voters; it is specifically and completely uneducated ones.
posted by Justinian at 3:16 PM on February 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
(Sadly, there are boatloads of those.)
posted by Justinian at 3:16 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 3:16 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Shorter Joe Scarborough:
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing . . . until it's likely a bit too late." ~Edmund Burke
posted by spitbull at 3:17 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing . . . until it's likely a bit too late." ~Edmund Burke
posted by spitbull at 3:17 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
i have a quarter's worth of community college credits and i think he should be shot out of a cannon into a volcano so don't pin this shit on me :P
posted by murphy slaw at 3:18 PM on February 17, 2017 [60 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 3:18 PM on February 17, 2017 [60 favorites]
A gal can dream, right?
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 2:52 PM on February 17 [8 favorites +] [!]
Eponhorrific
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 3:18 PM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 2:52 PM on February 17 [8 favorites +] [!]
Eponhorrific
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 3:18 PM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
Time for a new party or two, I think.
One, on the left. But it can't happen until the GOP is destroyed and the Democratic Party takes its actual place on the spectrum as a grown-up modern Conservative party.
Democrats as the party of national unity, now; next, smash the Fascists; then, build a social-democratic party on the left. That's the order of operations.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:19 PM on February 17, 2017 [35 favorites]
One, on the left. But it can't happen until the GOP is destroyed and the Democratic Party takes its actual place on the spectrum as a grown-up modern Conservative party.
Democrats as the party of national unity, now; next, smash the Fascists; then, build a social-democratic party on the left. That's the order of operations.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:19 PM on February 17, 2017 [35 favorites]
David Frum being interviewed by Greta Van Susteren on MSNBC: It's hard to read [the "enemies of the people" tweet] as anything other than an incitement to vigilante violence
posted by XMLicious at 3:19 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 3:19 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Corb, don't ever think that the #NeverTrump snark is about you or the people that fought beside you. You put EVERYTHING you had into trying to stop this evil before it could bloom, and you failed because the establishment decided that Trump wasn't really that bad after all, that they could control him, that they could point him in the direction they wanted. It's the political establishment who claimed to be #NeverTrump and then rolled over the moment it became politically difficult that are receiving our scorn, not the rank and file republicans who tried their damnedest and got railroaded.
I have nothing but respect for you and what you have done for the good of this country. I am glad you are here, and you and your friends deserve nothing but praise for walking the talk. It's the actual republican politicans that utterly failed, not you.
posted by zug at 3:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [74 favorites]
I have nothing but respect for you and what you have done for the good of this country. I am glad you are here, and you and your friends deserve nothing but praise for walking the talk. It's the actual republican politicans that utterly failed, not you.
posted by zug at 3:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [74 favorites]
I hope Scarborough doesn't get shot down in flames, actually. It would be very good if it's shown to be possible to walk away from Trump without being attacked from the left, as much as I think that's an obvious moral injustice.
posted by jaduncan at 3:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 3:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
Democrats as the party of national unity, now; next, smash the Fascists; then, build a social-democratic party on the left. That's the order of operations.
Disagree! First, we must smash the Fascists. Then we can be the party of national unity. And lastly, we build a social-democratic party on the left!
posted by Justinian at 3:21 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
Disagree! First, we must smash the Fascists. Then we can be the party of national unity. And lastly, we build a social-democratic party on the left!
posted by Justinian at 3:21 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
Are they investigating because Trump is losing it or is Trump losing it because they are investigating?
Please, Ghods, let the answer be "yes."
posted by ocschwar at 3:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Please, Ghods, let the answer be "yes."
posted by ocschwar at 3:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
I'm not a fan of Joe Scarborough, and I'm pissed that he backed Trump. But if the guy has genuinely seen the light and sticks with that (which remains to be seen) and uses his massive visibility to present a dissenting Republican message to Republicans, then I'm cool with that.
posted by FelliniBlank at 3:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 3:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
It may feel that way, but it's unlikely. Trumpists are scattered in low-population counties, may like to play-act at being hardcore gun nuts, but are generally as soft and untrained as the rest of us.
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not worried about assorted red state Trumpists, I'm worried about cops. I have been worried about cops, really worried about them, and not in that generic way any POC worries about cops, but in a specific "what happens when a paramilitary organization with the support of the state sets itself against innocent civilians" way, since Ferguson. While Obama was still president, I thought, "things can't get too bad," but uh. There goes that safety net.
The lessons of history are clear enough. So I'm not worried about rando Trumpists. And I'm not even that worried about CBP and ICE, because they've always been just this side of brownshirts. I'm worried about cops.
posted by yasaman at 3:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [63 favorites]
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not worried about assorted red state Trumpists, I'm worried about cops. I have been worried about cops, really worried about them, and not in that generic way any POC worries about cops, but in a specific "what happens when a paramilitary organization with the support of the state sets itself against innocent civilians" way, since Ferguson. While Obama was still president, I thought, "things can't get too bad," but uh. There goes that safety net.
The lessons of history are clear enough. So I'm not worried about rando Trumpists. And I'm not even that worried about CBP and ICE, because they've always been just this side of brownshirts. I'm worried about cops.
posted by yasaman at 3:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [63 favorites]
Decoded: one or more of NYT, CNN or NBCNews has a very very damaging story in the pipeline … … whose accuracy has now been confirmed in advance
Something's going on.
Scaraborough: Conservatives, feel free to speak up for the Constitution anytime the mood strikes. It is time.
Editorialized comment about Marco Rubio Tweet: Must've been one helluva briefing by Comey
posted by My Dad at 3:23 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Something's going on.
Scaraborough: Conservatives, feel free to speak up for the Constitution anytime the mood strikes. It is time.
Editorialized comment about Marco Rubio Tweet: Must've been one helluva briefing by Comey
posted by My Dad at 3:23 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm not gonna call Scarborough fair
brainy, sage, perceptive or bright
Remember who he used to support
He once thought that Donald was right
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [45 favorites]
brainy, sage, perceptive or bright
Remember who he used to support
He once thought that Donald was right
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [45 favorites]
Are they investigating because Trump is losing it or is Trump losing it because they are investigating?
¿por que no los dos?
posted by mon-ma-tron at 3:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
¿por que no los dos?
posted by mon-ma-tron at 3:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
It also has to be said that my annoyance about Comey's different approaches to a fucking email server versus possible compromise/blackmail of one candidate and confirmed ongoing contact between a campaign and a foreign power who previously employed the head of that campaign as their lobbyist and political operative whilst destabilising Ukraine...well, it isn't going down.
posted by jaduncan at 3:27 PM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 3:27 PM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
Gershom Gorenberg, WaPo opinion: Netanyahu doesn’t think Trump has a Jewish problem. And that’s a problem.
posted by zachlipton at 3:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
The problem is not all white voters; it is specifically and completely uneducated ones.
I think (though I can't prove it, and I'm not sure if the data to prove or disprove my theory even exist, sadly) that education is functioning as a false correlation for 'exposure to other viewpoints and other kinds of people'. It might be possible to compare the voting patterns of graduates from predominately white universities to those of grads from more diverse universities? But I don't know that this data exists.
I suspect that the underlying reason for the Trump-voting / education correlation among white people has to do with social interaction over an extended period of time with peers of other races, creeds, cultures, sexual orientations, etc.; it's just that for a lot of white people, this happened in college or post-grad, since our neighborhoods, schools, churches and even workplaces are so segregated (or to be more precise, the segregated, very-high-white-population areas are the ones that are more strongly pro-Trump). So that shows up in the education stats when -- honestly, I think that education in itself can just as easily lead to reinforcement of racial attitudes.
Knowledge or intelligence or education is not the same as wisdom or compassion or empathy, is what I'm getting at.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:29 PM on February 17, 2017 [48 favorites]
I think (though I can't prove it, and I'm not sure if the data to prove or disprove my theory even exist, sadly) that education is functioning as a false correlation for 'exposure to other viewpoints and other kinds of people'. It might be possible to compare the voting patterns of graduates from predominately white universities to those of grads from more diverse universities? But I don't know that this data exists.
I suspect that the underlying reason for the Trump-voting / education correlation among white people has to do with social interaction over an extended period of time with peers of other races, creeds, cultures, sexual orientations, etc.; it's just that for a lot of white people, this happened in college or post-grad, since our neighborhoods, schools, churches and even workplaces are so segregated (or to be more precise, the segregated, very-high-white-population areas are the ones that are more strongly pro-Trump). So that shows up in the education stats when -- honestly, I think that education in itself can just as easily lead to reinforcement of racial attitudes.
Knowledge or intelligence or education is not the same as wisdom or compassion or empathy, is what I'm getting at.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:29 PM on February 17, 2017 [48 favorites]
Editorialized comment about Marco Rubio Tweet: Must've been one helluva briefing by Comey
Eh, Rubio has been in what looks to be a permanent case of "submit to dominance plays" for the better part of a year. I'll believe he's evolved to a vertebrate when I see it.
posted by zombieflanders at 3:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Eh, Rubio has been in what looks to be a permanent case of "submit to dominance plays" for the better part of a year. I'll believe he's evolved to a vertebrate when I see it.
posted by zombieflanders at 3:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
A gal can dream, right?
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 2:52 PM on February 17 [8 favorites +] [!]
Eponhorrific
posted by CheeseDigestsAll
Metaponysterical?
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 2:52 PM on February 17 [8 favorites +] [!]
Eponhorrific
posted by CheeseDigestsAll
Metaponysterical?
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Happy Friday. The FTA just fucked over Caltrain (San Francisco-San Jose commuter rail).
posted by zachlipton at 3:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Eh, Rubio has been in what looks to be a permanent case of "submit to dominance plays" for the better part of a year. I'll believe he's evolved to a vertebrate when I see it.
The whole reason I think it was horrific is that I have so little respect for Rubio that I assume it now looks riskier to block investigation than it does to move with the prevailing wind. It's precisely because he has no spine that his stance is so revealing.
posted by jaduncan at 3:34 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
The whole reason I think it was horrific is that I have so little respect for Rubio that I assume it now looks riskier to block investigation than it does to move with the prevailing wind. It's precisely because he has no spine that his stance is so revealing.
posted by jaduncan at 3:34 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
Scarborough is a piece of shit, but he's a piece of shit conservative with a big bullhorn that Trump listens to. So if he wants to fuck with Trump to get him to implode, or can convince other conservatives to stand up - because god knows they're not going to listen to Dems - then I welcome him doing that. Doesn't make him my friend. But like with Russia in WWII, I'll take the help from the enemy of my enemy right now.
posted by chris24 at 3:35 PM on February 17, 2017 [43 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 3:35 PM on February 17, 2017 [43 favorites]
Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump 19m19 minutes ago
"One of the most effective press conferences I've ever seen!" says Rush Limbaugh. Many agree.
"Also, my mum says I'm cool."
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:36 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
"One of the most effective press conferences I've ever seen!" says Rush Limbaugh. Many agree.
"Also, my mum says I'm cool."
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:36 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
I spend my time listening to 90s music. It reminds me what a glorious time it was to be alive.
Whereas MeFites who grew up in the 80s have childhood nostalgia tinged with Cold War paranoia that seems all too relevant today. Here's how I'm splicing my Trump Mixtape: David Bowie's "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)", Queen and Bowie's "Under Pressure", Dead Kennedys' "Holiday In Cambodia", Talking Heads' "Life During Wartime", The Jam's "Going Underground", Laurie Anderson's "From the Air"/"O Superman", Split Enz's "Six Months in a Leaky Boat", Morrissey's "Every Day Is Like Sunday", and, of course, Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up". It, too, was a glorious time to be alive, even if a nuclear holocaust was always in the offing.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:36 PM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
Whereas MeFites who grew up in the 80s have childhood nostalgia tinged with Cold War paranoia that seems all too relevant today. Here's how I'm splicing my Trump Mixtape: David Bowie's "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)", Queen and Bowie's "Under Pressure", Dead Kennedys' "Holiday In Cambodia", Talking Heads' "Life During Wartime", The Jam's "Going Underground", Laurie Anderson's "From the Air"/"O Superman", Split Enz's "Six Months in a Leaky Boat", Morrissey's "Every Day Is Like Sunday", and, of course, Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up". It, too, was a glorious time to be alive, even if a nuclear holocaust was always in the offing.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:36 PM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
The U.S. Marshals Service says it is providing security for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos after a handful of protesters prevented her from entering a D.C. middle school.
posted by argonauta at 3:38 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by argonauta at 3:38 PM on February 17, 2017
"Effective" is an interesting choice of words. What effect, one wonders.
posted by Namlit at 3:38 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Namlit at 3:38 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Praising our leaders, we're getting in tune. The music's played by the mad men.
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:38 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:38 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Didn't he tweet about Rush this morning? Did he forget?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:39 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:39 PM on February 17, 2017
Next time Trump has a press conference, I'd like to hear someone ask him why he thinks the press dislikes him so much. My guess is that he'd fall back on "they like Hillary" but if he didn't it could be really interesting/revealing.
posted by drezdn at 3:39 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by drezdn at 3:39 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Didn't he tweet about Rush this morning? Did he forget?
A modern day warrior
Mean, mean stride
Today's Tom Sawyer
Mean, mean pride.
The meanest. We've got the best, the meanest pride, folks. Catch the spit!
posted by Existential Dread at 3:40 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
A modern day warrior
Mean, mean stride
Today's Tom Sawyer
Mean, mean pride.
The meanest. We've got the best, the meanest pride, folks. Catch the spit!
posted by Existential Dread at 3:40 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
Didn't he tweet about Rush this morning? Did he forget?
Why yes, yes he did.
@realDonaldTrump 12h12 hours ago
Thank you for all of the nice statements on the Press Conference yesterday. Rush Limbaugh said one of greatest ever. Fake media not happy!
@realDonaldTrump 19m19 minutes ago
"One of the most effective press conferences I've ever seen!" says Rush Limbaugh. Many agree.Yet FAKE MEDIA calls it differently! Dishonest
posted by chris24 at 3:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Why yes, yes he did.
@realDonaldTrump 12h12 hours ago
Thank you for all of the nice statements on the Press Conference yesterday. Rush Limbaugh said one of greatest ever. Fake media not happy!
@realDonaldTrump 19m19 minutes ago
"One of the most effective press conferences I've ever seen!" says Rush Limbaugh. Many agree.Yet FAKE MEDIA calls it differently! Dishonest
posted by chris24 at 3:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Whereas MeFites who grew up in the 80s have childhood nostalgia tinged with Cold War paranoia that seems all too relevant today.
Hey. I was born at the start of the 80s. I vaguely remember the wall coming down (both real and Alvin and the Chipmunks versions of events). I'm down with Aha, Alphaville, Nena, and FGTH. My first day after the election I basically had Two Tribes on repeat. But I'm trying to get away from it not deepen my misery.
posted by Talez at 3:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Hey. I was born at the start of the 80s. I vaguely remember the wall coming down (both real and Alvin and the Chipmunks versions of events). I'm down with Aha, Alphaville, Nena, and FGTH. My first day after the election I basically had Two Tribes on repeat. But I'm trying to get away from it not deepen my misery.
posted by Talez at 3:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
"I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not worried about assorted red state Trumpists, I'm worried about cops. I have been worried about cops, really worried about them, and not in that generic way any POC worries about cops, but in a specific "what happens when a paramilitary organization with the support of the state sets itself against innocent civilians" way, since Ferguson. While Obama was still president, I thought, "things can't get too bad," but uh. There goes that safety net."
Yes, this has been my main fear as well, and it started way before Trump. Couple the mounting pressure for citizens to visibly support police by putting signs and stickers for "Blue Lives Matter" on their cars or in their yards in towns across every part of America with the unabashed support of Trump by the police unions and well, I'm scared to death about how ugly this is going to get. People have already been conditioned to treat them as a special class of citizen and I often see otherwise rational folks feel the need to rush to make sure everyone knows how much they appreciate the police and what heroes most of them are before feeling safe in offering even the slightest bit of criticism about any given terrible case of brutality or corruption.
posted by stagewhisper at 3:43 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Yes, this has been my main fear as well, and it started way before Trump. Couple the mounting pressure for citizens to visibly support police by putting signs and stickers for "Blue Lives Matter" on their cars or in their yards in towns across every part of America with the unabashed support of Trump by the police unions and well, I'm scared to death about how ugly this is going to get. People have already been conditioned to treat them as a special class of citizen and I often see otherwise rational folks feel the need to rush to make sure everyone knows how much they appreciate the police and what heroes most of them are before feeling safe in offering even the slightest bit of criticism about any given terrible case of brutality or corruption.
posted by stagewhisper at 3:43 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Also, out of principle, I'll take "I got you" or "Message to my Girl" over six months in a leaky boat.
posted by Talez at 3:43 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Talez at 3:43 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Next time Trump has a press conference, I'd like to hear someone ask him why he thinks the press dislikes him so much. My guess is that he'd fall back on "they like Hillary" but if he didn't it could be really interesting/revealing.
I'd bet dollars to donuts it would involve the words "liberal elite". In fact, that's the free bingo square. Would he or will he not discuss 'real Americans', 'international financiers', Carlos Slim or that people are being misled/paid by George Soros? Watch and maybe win, and definitely drink incredulously in a depressed manner as you witness the steady intellectual degradation of the Presidency!
posted by jaduncan at 3:44 PM on February 17, 2017
I'd bet dollars to donuts it would involve the words "liberal elite". In fact, that's the free bingo square. Would he or will he not discuss 'real Americans', 'international financiers', Carlos Slim or that people are being misled/paid by George Soros? Watch and maybe win, and definitely drink incredulously in a depressed manner as you witness the steady intellectual degradation of the Presidency!
posted by jaduncan at 3:44 PM on February 17, 2017
"many agree" = Rush Limbaugh agrees with Rush Limbaugh
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 3:44 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 3:44 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
*just rambles off a string of profanities*
I would have to be beeped for an uncomfortable amount of time, like Jerry Springer amounts of time, if I were on tv right now.
posted by INFJ at 3:44 PM on February 17, 2017
I would have to be beeped for an uncomfortable amount of time, like Jerry Springer amounts of time, if I were on tv right now.
posted by INFJ at 3:44 PM on February 17, 2017
Joe Scarborough @JoeNBC 8m8 minutes ago
More
NOT FAIR! NO PRESS! NO COURTS! NO BAD POLLS!!!! #38% #39% #1stAmendment #JudicialReview #ChecksAndBalances #Madison #Hamilton #USA
Looks like he deleted this one.
posted by Mavri at 3:44 PM on February 17, 2017
More
NOT FAIR! NO PRESS! NO COURTS! NO BAD POLLS!!!! #38% #39% #1stAmendment #JudicialReview #ChecksAndBalances #Madison #Hamilton #USA
Looks like he deleted this one.
posted by Mavri at 3:44 PM on February 17, 2017
The U.S. Marshals Service says it is providing security for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos after a handful of protesters prevented her from entering a D.C. middle school.
So basically, that disgusting DeVos/Ruby Bridges cartoon has now literally come true?
I hate this timeline so damn much.
posted by zachlipton at 3:45 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
So basically, that disgusting DeVos/Ruby Bridges cartoon has now literally come true?
I hate this timeline so damn much.
posted by zachlipton at 3:45 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
Okay. So he's still talking about the press conference. A day later. Like as if the press conference were the thing. Does he understand that in fact the press conference part is not the main part of his new job? No! No he doesn't understaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahadescendsintogibberinghysteria
posted by Don Pepino at 3:46 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Don Pepino at 3:46 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
There's something very "boy who cried wolf" about Trump constantly banging on about FAKE NEWS when referring to (1) opinion pieces and (2) reputable, longstanding news outlets.
Fake news got a lot of attention during and after the campaign, but surely even his supporters know that 'real' fake news means:
- a completely invented story
- with zero external verification
- posted in a site designed to look like an online newspaper, but which is actually some guy's cynical & sneaky personal soapbox.
"FBI Sources Reveal Obama Owns Over 100 Child Sex Brothels in Africa" on TheSydneyHeraldTribune.ru would be fake news.
"I think Trump's performance was unstatesmanlike, inflammatory and embarrassing" in an article in the NYT or WaPo is an opinion piece. It's not even claiming to be news.
Is it possible that he doesn't even know the distinction between news vs opinion, and/or he doesn't have the intelligence to pick the obvious difference?
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
Fake news got a lot of attention during and after the campaign, but surely even his supporters know that 'real' fake news means:
- a completely invented story
- with zero external verification
- posted in a site designed to look like an online newspaper, but which is actually some guy's cynical & sneaky personal soapbox.
"FBI Sources Reveal Obama Owns Over 100 Child Sex Brothels in Africa" on TheSydneyHeraldTribune.ru would be fake news.
"I think Trump's performance was unstatesmanlike, inflammatory and embarrassing" in an article in the NYT or WaPo is an opinion piece. It's not even claiming to be news.
Is it possible that he doesn't even know the distinction between news vs opinion, and/or he doesn't have the intelligence to pick the obvious difference?
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
"I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not worried about assorted red state Trumpists, I'm worried about cops. I have been worried about cops, really worried about them, and not in that generic way any POC worries about cops, but in a specific "what happens when a paramilitary organization with the support of the state sets itself against innocent civilians" way, since Ferguson. While Obama was still president, I thought, "things can't get too bad," but uh. There goes that safety net."
Yes. I've been struggling with how to deal with the firehose of awful and also wondering where I can have any real effect since my electeds are all solid blue. I think local efforts to address police violence and support Black Lives Matter is where I'm gonna focus. Here in NYC, ending broken windows policing is essential.
posted by Mavri at 3:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
Yes. I've been struggling with how to deal with the firehose of awful and also wondering where I can have any real effect since my electeds are all solid blue. I think local efforts to address police violence and support Black Lives Matter is where I'm gonna focus. Here in NYC, ending broken windows policing is essential.
posted by Mavri at 3:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
Looks like he deleted this one.
It featured a crying Trump in a baby-sized suit of armour and crown. I would imagine that someone at MSNBC informed him that probably isn't a good look for someone who is at least nominally a news journalist.
posted by jaduncan at 3:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
It featured a crying Trump in a baby-sized suit of armour and crown. I would imagine that someone at MSNBC informed him that probably isn't a good look for someone who is at least nominally a news journalist.
posted by jaduncan at 3:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
he doesn't even understand that when previous presidents held press conferences, they were about something. yesterday's meltdown was putatively about nominating Acosta, but trump hasn't said a word about that since the two sentences at the beginning of the conference.
he called a press conference because holding press conferences is presidential and he wanted to let the press know how much he doesn't care if they love him, he really couldn't care less, the press is so terrible and failing but why are you so mean?
posted by murphy slaw at 3:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
he called a press conference because holding press conferences is presidential and he wanted to let the press know how much he doesn't care if they love him, he really couldn't care less, the press is so terrible and failing but why are you so mean?
posted by murphy slaw at 3:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Joe Scarborough @JoeNBC 8m8 minutes ago
More
NOT FAIR! NO PRESS! NO COURTS! NO BAD POLLS!!!! #38% #39% #1stAmendment #JudicialReview #ChecksAndBalances #Madison #Hamilton #USA
Looks like he deleted this one.
People bug me for always having so many tabs open. I just forget to close them and end up with a couple of dozen. Glad I'm a tab slob because yay got a screenshot!
posted by Jalliah at 3:51 PM on February 17, 2017 [14 favorites]
For some reason, some of the lyrics of Paul Simon's American Tune really seem to resonate these days.
Still, when I think of the road
we’re traveling on
I wonder what went wrong
I can’t help it, I wonder what’s gone wrong
(Yes, I know the lyrics in the YT video are full of spelling errors. Sorry, I could not find a better version.)
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Still, when I think of the road
we’re traveling on
I wonder what went wrong
I can’t help it, I wonder what’s gone wrong
(Yes, I know the lyrics in the YT video are full of spelling errors. Sorry, I could not find a better version.)
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Trump yells at CIA director over reports intel officials are keeping info from him
CBS News has learned that on Thursday, an angry President Trump called CIA Director Mike Pompeo and yelled at him for not pushing back hard enough against reports that the intelligence community was withholding information from the commander-in-chief.
The agency then drafted a strongly worded statement rebutting the claim. “We are not aware of any instance when that has occurred,” read Pompeo’s statement. “It is CIA’s mission to provide the President with the best intelligence possible and to explain the basis for that intelligence. The CIA does not, has not, and will never hide intelligence from the President, period.”
posted by futz at 3:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
CBS News has learned that on Thursday, an angry President Trump called CIA Director Mike Pompeo and yelled at him for not pushing back hard enough against reports that the intelligence community was withholding information from the commander-in-chief.
The agency then drafted a strongly worded statement rebutting the claim. “We are not aware of any instance when that has occurred,” read Pompeo’s statement. “It is CIA’s mission to provide the President with the best intelligence possible and to explain the basis for that intelligence. The CIA does not, has not, and will never hide intelligence from the President, period.”
posted by futz at 3:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Looks like he deleted this one.
It was Homer Simpson dressed as a king with DJT's peevish face pasted on.
This thing: http://reactiongifs.me/king-homer-laughing/
posted by Don Pepino at 3:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
It was Homer Simpson dressed as a king with DJT's peevish face pasted on.
This thing: http://reactiongifs.me/king-homer-laughing/
posted by Don Pepino at 3:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Scarborough is a piece of shit, but he's a piece of shit conservative with a big bullhorn that Trump listens to. So if he wants to fuck with Trump to get him to implode, or can convince other conservatives to stand up - because god knows they're not going to listen to Dems - then I welcome him doing that. Doesn't make him my friend. But like with Russia in WWII, I'll take the help from the enemy of my enemy right now.
I guess if Churchill and Roosevelt can shake hands with Stalin, I can begrudgingly grant this point.
I'm still mad about it though and if Rust Moranis accidentally trips over the beehive, spilling it open just as he drops a bottle of queen elixir or whatever the hell pheromone stuff and it splashes all over Scarborough's shirt I will not be sad.
tl;dr plan bee is still on the table
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
I guess if Churchill and Roosevelt can shake hands with Stalin, I can begrudgingly grant this point.
I'm still mad about it though and if Rust Moranis accidentally trips over the beehive, spilling it open just as he drops a bottle of queen elixir or whatever the hell pheromone stuff and it splashes all over Scarborough's shirt I will not be sad.
tl;dr plan bee is still on the table
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
Look it's nothing personal against Joe, and I wish him the best in smashing the fascist state, but this bee helmet has to go on somebody's head or the honey will be sour come the spring
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:55 PM on February 17, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:55 PM on February 17, 2017 [32 favorites]
Going briefly back to a previous subject:
The domestic violence victim that ICE arrested at the courthouse in El Paso was probably eligible to submit a VAWA self-petition to become a legal resident of the US, which makes what ICE did to her even more sickening and vile. It's like ICE was specifically trying to catch her and get her out of the country before she could file.
I want to hit something with a stick.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 3:56 PM on February 17, 2017 [39 favorites]
The domestic violence victim that ICE arrested at the courthouse in El Paso was probably eligible to submit a VAWA self-petition to become a legal resident of the US, which makes what ICE did to her even more sickening and vile. It's like ICE was specifically trying to catch her and get her out of the country before she could file.
I want to hit something with a stick.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 3:56 PM on February 17, 2017 [39 favorites]
The weather-vane status of Rubio and the sudden disappearance of Republican resistance makes me fairly sure that whatever was said by Comey was really quite horrific.
Maybe for the Republicans, but the Democrats have me really scratching my head as to why they would believe anything Comey tells them. Their own party line since the election was that he threw it for Trump, that he's clearly working toward his own ends instead of impartially serving the elected government, but they're willing to believe him now?
posted by indubitable at 3:58 PM on February 17, 2017
Maybe for the Republicans, but the Democrats have me really scratching my head as to why they would believe anything Comey tells them. Their own party line since the election was that he threw it for Trump, that he's clearly working toward his own ends instead of impartially serving the elected government, but they're willing to believe him now?
posted by indubitable at 3:58 PM on February 17, 2017
Let slip the bees of war...
...as soon as Donny is gone or Joe returns to Trumpian jackassery.
posted by chris24 at 3:59 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
...as soon as Donny is gone or Joe returns to Trumpian jackassery.
posted by chris24 at 3:59 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
So, something to feel a little better about the world.
Today, in Seattle:
Rep. Pramila Jayapal @RepJayapal: Community members in Seattle are demanding the immediate release of DREAMer Daniel Ramirez Medina. We stand together!
posted by Existential Dread at 3:59 PM on February 17, 2017 [27 favorites]
Today, in Seattle:
Rep. Pramila Jayapal @RepJayapal: Community members in Seattle are demanding the immediate release of DREAMer Daniel Ramirez Medina. We stand together!
posted by Existential Dread at 3:59 PM on February 17, 2017 [27 favorites]
yesterday's meltdown was putatively about nominating Acosta
I know, right? He mentioned Acosta's name three times. He mentioned Hillary Clinton eleven times.
Now, this might be excused if someone asked him a question about her, but no one did!
Dude's got a serious hang-up with her.
posted by zakur at 4:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
I know, right? He mentioned Acosta's name three times. He mentioned Hillary Clinton eleven times.
Now, this might be excused if someone asked him a question about her, but no one did!
Dude's got a serious hang-up with her.
posted by zakur at 4:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
For a community of people who want to believe in goodness and liberalism, the fantasy of #nevertrump was palpable. To believe that there are Republicans in the world who are good despite their party was lovely. But it hasn't been true for a long time. Republican and fascist are synonyms as far as I'm concerned, and I say #nevertrump to remind myself of what a sick parody Republican legislators are. I'm sorry that some good people got left behind by their party, but if that reminder saves anyone time wondering if they should invest any hope in someone with an (R) after their name, then we should use it constantly.
posted by TypographicalError at 4:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by TypographicalError at 4:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
Dude's got a serious hang-up with her.
Well, about 2.9 million reasons.
posted by chris24 at 4:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
Well, about 2.9 million reasons.
posted by chris24 at 4:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
White House fumes over document-based AP immigration story: Far-fetched though it may seem, there may come a day when the White House needs to rely on the credibility of the U.S. media. Who knows what the situation will be. Perhaps a foreign power will level some extravagant allegation at the Trump administration. The White House will vehemently deny it, using the strongest of language — such as, “This is 100 percent false!”
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Reporters need to start showing their work with this White House. Literally put in articles lines like: "The Bugle emailed the White House Press Office and Press Secretary Sean Spicer at 3:35pm on Tuesday and again at 7:42pm to request comment on this story, stating a deadline of 8pm, but received no response" and then literally link that sentence to copies of the emails. I know the press generally avoids doing that kind of thing, but they need to protect and defend themselves, and making more of their process public is the best way to do that.
posted by zachlipton at 4:12 PM on February 17, 2017 [56 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 4:12 PM on February 17, 2017 [56 favorites]
The agency then drafted a strongly worded statement rebutting the claim. “We are not aware of any instance when that has occurred,” read Pompeo’s statement. “It is CIA’s mission to provide the President with the best intelligence possible and to explain the basis for that intelligence. The CIA does not, has not, and will never hide intelligence from the President, period.”
This is kind of a weak denial. As I understand the original report, they were saying the intelligence methods were being withheld, not the intelligence itself. This is because they feared people in the Trump administration might tip off the Russians as to their secret surveillance methods or agents. This denial does not address that.
posted by JackFlash at 4:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
This is kind of a weak denial. As I understand the original report, they were saying the intelligence methods were being withheld, not the intelligence itself. This is because they feared people in the Trump administration might tip off the Russians as to their secret surveillance methods or agents. This denial does not address that.
posted by JackFlash at 4:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Reporters need to start showing their work with this White House.
The people who don't believe their news stories will not believe the proof of their news stories.
posted by Celsius1414 at 4:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
The people who don't believe their news stories will not believe the proof of their news stories.
posted by Celsius1414 at 4:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
Don't fill out that survey.
I confess I did. But I used the fake email address shitgibbon@gibbonhouse.com
posted by zakur at 4:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
I confess I did. But I used the fake email address shitgibbon@gibbonhouse.com
posted by zakur at 4:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
Perhaps a foreign power will level some extravagant allegation at the Trump administration.
Foreign power? Extravagant allegation?
Whatever could you mean?
posted by BS Artisan at 4:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Foreign power? Extravagant allegation?
Whatever could you mean?
posted by BS Artisan at 4:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
but surely even his supporters know that 'real' fake news means:
Surely you jest.
posted by RolandOfEld at 4:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Surely you jest.
posted by RolandOfEld at 4:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
The FTA just fucked over Caltrain (San Francisco-San Jose commuter rail).
It's probably time for California companies to start saying things like, "no, we're not going to open a branch/host a concert/contract for parts in that other state; unfortunately, we need to focus on California's economy because the fed gov't refuses to support our economic outreach into other states."
I know, not gonna happen. And neither is, "new Disney movie won't be released nationwide in order to create revenue for CA infrastructure."
A Discordian can hope.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 4:17 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
It's probably time for California companies to start saying things like, "no, we're not going to open a branch/host a concert/contract for parts in that other state; unfortunately, we need to focus on California's economy because the fed gov't refuses to support our economic outreach into other states."
I know, not gonna happen. And neither is, "new Disney movie won't be released nationwide in order to create revenue for CA infrastructure."
A Discordian can hope.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 4:17 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Those tiny Trump pictures have made my night.
posted by peeedro at 4:18 PM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by peeedro at 4:18 PM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
Have the journos seized their brethren who invented "fake news" and given them toilet swirlies yet? It's like the memetic weapons version of having your tanks captured by the enemy in perfect working condition...
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 4:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 4:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
The people who don't believe their news stories will not believe the proof of their news stories.
posted by tivalasvegas at 4:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.Cf., also, pearls before swine.
The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.
He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’
But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’
He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’
He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
posted by tivalasvegas at 4:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
This is kind of a weak denial. As I understand the original report, they were saying the intelligence methods were being withheld, not the intelligence itself. This is because they feared people in the Trump administration might tip off the Russians as to their secret surveillance methods or agents. This denial does not address that.
I mean I can kind of understand that but it rings a bit hollow when intelligence officials are straight up leaking it to the press themselves. I'm sure the Russian embassy has changed its opsec procedures since reading in the press that the US was listening to their conversations with Michael Flynn.
posted by indubitable at 4:25 PM on February 17, 2017
I mean I can kind of understand that but it rings a bit hollow when intelligence officials are straight up leaking it to the press themselves. I'm sure the Russian embassy has changed its opsec procedures since reading in the press that the US was listening to their conversations with Michael Flynn.
posted by indubitable at 4:25 PM on February 17, 2017
Congratulations, Judd Apatow: you the first person on NPR I've heard say that the president is a dangerous crazy person
posted by theodolite at 4:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 4:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
The Republican Party is a terrorist organization.
It doesn't make for very polite conversation to say this out loud, and I'm not really sure when they crossed the line from "responsible political party" to "fringe movement" to "terrorist." Honestly, think about the evils they are carrying out on the world:
Pushing numerous regressive policies designed to increase inequality
Knowingly encouraging climate change
Using violence in the form of wars and systematic police misconduct
Maliciously spreading false information to maintain power
Attempting to install unpopular theocratic policies
Ignoring longstanding rules, laws, traditions, and norms
Allowing an incapable authoritarian man child to have control of nuclear weapons
#nevertrump was always doomed to failure. The Republican Party I grew up in died a long time ago. Trump just kicked the rotting corpse out of the way and helped everyone see the truth.
posted by Glibpaxman at 4:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
It doesn't make for very polite conversation to say this out loud, and I'm not really sure when they crossed the line from "responsible political party" to "fringe movement" to "terrorist." Honestly, think about the evils they are carrying out on the world:
Pushing numerous regressive policies designed to increase inequality
Knowingly encouraging climate change
Using violence in the form of wars and systematic police misconduct
Maliciously spreading false information to maintain power
Attempting to install unpopular theocratic policies
Ignoring longstanding rules, laws, traditions, and norms
Allowing an incapable authoritarian man child to have control of nuclear weapons
#nevertrump was always doomed to failure. The Republican Party I grew up in died a long time ago. Trump just kicked the rotting corpse out of the way and helped everyone see the truth.
posted by Glibpaxman at 4:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
AP releases "totally false" draft memo about using National Guard for immigration enforcement.
posted by murphy slaw at 4:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 4:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
" it really feels like there is maybe a month to get him out of office before it can't be done without at least small-scale civil war"
Suddenly I'm really thankful for that awkward barbecue with our dear but loony libertarian friends where they decided to teach me how to use a gun just in case FEMA wants to fix the world's overpopulation.
I killed a water jug.
posted by Tarumba at 4:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Suddenly I'm really thankful for that awkward barbecue with our dear but loony libertarian friends where they decided to teach me how to use a gun just in case FEMA wants to fix the world's overpopulation.
I killed a water jug.
posted by Tarumba at 4:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
So, am I deluded to believe that the Joe Scarborough turning point might actually be it? I'm trying to figure out what made Joe turn on him so suddenly and so vehemently and the only thing I can come up with is that Joe himself knows the tide has turned or is just about to turn and is trying to get ahead of the crowd. So he can look principled and all.
Coupled with Trump unloading both barrels on the media in his latest twitter rant it makes me think that there actually might be story in the pipeline.
posted by lydhre at 4:30 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Coupled with Trump unloading both barrels on the media in his latest twitter rant it makes me think that there actually might be story in the pipeline.
posted by lydhre at 4:30 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Those are all terrible things, Glibpaxman, but "terrorist" doesn't simply mean "something terrible I really hate".
posted by Justinian at 4:30 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 4:30 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
I'm reasonably confident that the Russian Ambassador fully knew and expected his phone was tapped. Whether stuff is being intercepted from inside secure communication rooms inside the embassy is another story, but it's really not revealing any great secrets to indicate that the US and Russia have aggressively spied on each other's embassies for over 70 years now.
posted by zachlipton at 4:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 4:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
As much as I loathe him, I think Pence is the key to avoiding civil war. As long as he gets installed, enough Republicans will be placated that the truly nutbar Trumpists won't have enough critical mass to start shit.
posted by soren_lorensen at 4:33 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 4:33 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
Yeah, terrorist is more like mass violence as a method of intimidation. Like ISIS or the taliban.
posted by Tarumba at 4:33 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by Tarumba at 4:33 PM on February 17, 2017
Those are all terrible things, Glibpaxman, but "terrorist" doesn't simply mean "something terrible I really hate".
Indeed. Somebody should tell the Republicans.
posted by Celsius1414 at 4:33 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Indeed. Somebody should tell the Republicans.
posted by Celsius1414 at 4:33 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Trump ignores 'the grown-ups' in his Cabinet
-- Kushner, officially a senior White House adviser, has become something of a foreign policy proxy in the White House—a “shadow Secretary of State,” as one administration source described him—corresponding with governments at Trump's request. That’s causing consternation at Foggy Bottom as top State Department officials
-- The Strategic Initiatives Group, a new group in the West Wing led by Kushner and White House senior adviser Steve Bannon, has been set up to serve as a shadow National Security Council, which worries Edelman and other mainstream conservative foreign policy and defense experts concerned about the outsize influence of less experienced ideologues like Bannon ally Sebastian Gorka.
-- Tillerson is primarily peeved at Reince Priebus, the White House chief of staff who recently got Trump to sign off on a list of 15 ambassador appointments even though they’d promised their Secretary of State that he could fill those slots if he agreed to take the job.
Yep. A fine tuned machine.
posted by futz at 4:35 PM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
-- Kushner, officially a senior White House adviser, has become something of a foreign policy proxy in the White House—a “shadow Secretary of State,” as one administration source described him—corresponding with governments at Trump's request. That’s causing consternation at Foggy Bottom as top State Department officials
-- The Strategic Initiatives Group, a new group in the West Wing led by Kushner and White House senior adviser Steve Bannon, has been set up to serve as a shadow National Security Council, which worries Edelman and other mainstream conservative foreign policy and defense experts concerned about the outsize influence of less experienced ideologues like Bannon ally Sebastian Gorka.
-- Tillerson is primarily peeved at Reince Priebus, the White House chief of staff who recently got Trump to sign off on a list of 15 ambassador appointments even though they’d promised their Secretary of State that he could fill those slots if he agreed to take the job.
Yep. A fine tuned machine.
posted by futz at 4:35 PM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
The strategies the Republicans plan to use to try to get permanent tax cuts through Congress are nuts. I'm guessing most people didn't read it. But they are more or less planning to cook the books to "prove" that their tax cuts are revenue neutral over the long term. Which would allow them to use reconciliation to pass them and thus make them very hard to repeal.
It's insane. The idea that you can massively slash taxes and not have a revenue shortfall is insane. And yet they're apparently going to try to use reconciliation to pass such a measure.
posted by Justinian at 4:39 PM on February 17, 2017 [35 favorites]
It's insane. The idea that you can massively slash taxes and not have a revenue shortfall is insane. And yet they're apparently going to try to use reconciliation to pass such a measure.
posted by Justinian at 4:39 PM on February 17, 2017 [35 favorites]
Those are all terrible things, Glibpaxman, but "terrorist" doesn't simply mean "something terrible I really hate".
I understand it's a leap. We think of terrorists as ISIS or the Taliban because of mass violence. But when an organization just says to hell with facts, rules, people, and lives I see a startling similarity. And climate change is probably going to kill more people that all the terrorist organizations put together did.
The Republican exists to significantly harm others on the way to its own ideology. But maybe terrorist is harsh.
posted by Glibpaxman at 4:40 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
I understand it's a leap. We think of terrorists as ISIS or the Taliban because of mass violence. But when an organization just says to hell with facts, rules, people, and lives I see a startling similarity. And climate change is probably going to kill more people that all the terrorist organizations put together did.
The Republican exists to significantly harm others on the way to its own ideology. But maybe terrorist is harsh.
posted by Glibpaxman at 4:40 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
55% of Fox News viewers believe the press should cover Trump aggressively.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
Yep. A fine tuned machine.
Well, to be fair, maybe it's a machine to produce chaos. And if so, then it seems to be working really well.
posted by threeturtles at 4:43 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Well, to be fair, maybe it's a machine to produce chaos. And if so, then it seems to be working really well.
posted by threeturtles at 4:43 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
this is the kind of machinery I was thinking it is (last panel)
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm from Indiana. In no way do I believe Pence is going to be key in avoiding civil war. He's vile. And his awfulness is backed up by him having ideas and being hateful BUT unlike Trump he can give off the appearance of being capable of thinking.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 4:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 4:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Interesting bit from Laura Rozen:
posted by zachlipton at 4:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
contact says, Just was told Trump told KT McFarland to pick her new boss. She named Bolton. see where this goesChris Hayes replies that he has a somewhat different version on the KT McFarland part of the story from his source, but he'll have that on his show tonight.
contact earlier said the personnel disagreement btw Adm. Harward & Trump was centered on McFarland. KT is very close to the Trump family
She was apparently non-negotiable, and Trump wanted her to stay as Deputy NSA. The expectation is that she will serve 2 years on the NSC 3/
& then get appointed as Ambassador somewhere, she apparently wants Greece. Harward balked at the timeline 4/
posted by zachlipton at 4:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Rush Limbaugh will be a guest on Fox News Sunday. Why? No reason other than because he praised the President and the President tweeted about it.
posted by zachlipton at 4:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 4:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump told KT McFarland to pick her new boss. She named Bolton.
Trump told KT McFarland to pick her new boss.
pick her new boss
I …
no words
posted by murphy slaw at 4:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
Trump told KT McFarland to pick her new boss.
pick her new boss
I …
no words
posted by murphy slaw at 4:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
I love President Supervillain SO MUCH you guys
posted by Shepherd at 4:56 PM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by Shepherd at 4:56 PM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
Bolton
I said earlier that my fear about Eric Prince is his connection to Cheney. And now here's Bolton. Here's to my very first, "this is fine."
posted by Room 641-A at 5:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
I said earlier that my fear about Eric Prince is his connection to Cheney. And now here's Bolton. Here's to my very first, "this is fine."
posted by Room 641-A at 5:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
apparently petraeus is out for NSA, for the same reason as harward: McFarland is non-negotiable as DNSA. (aside from like, still being on parole)
posted by murphy slaw at 5:03 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by murphy slaw at 5:03 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
My favorite headline today, from CNN.
posted by flatluigi at 5:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [47 favorites]
posted by flatluigi at 5:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [47 favorites]
My favorite headline today, from CNN.
Didn't expect Nixon's Meatloaf to be a recurring character in this masterwork of madness but there you go.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
Didn't expect Nixon's Meatloaf to be a recurring character in this masterwork of madness but there you go.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
The people we need to be turning the heat up to 11 (or maybe 35) on are Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan. From Robert Reich's FB today, a conversation with a former republican senator he doesn't name, in which he asks him if they know You Know Who is nuts:
He: A few of them are talking about it right now, but McConnell and Ryan don’t want to rock the boat. They want to focus on repealing Obamacare, getting a giant tax cut, wiping out environmental regulations, you know the drill.
Me: But don’t they know the Trump issues are just going to get worse? Republicans need to get ahead of this or they’ll get bulldozed by it.
He: McConnell and Ryan don’t see it that way. They figure Trump will continue his circus act, stirring up the press, driving everyone crazy. So they can quietly work with Pence and get their agenda through when no one is paying much attention.
Me: You mean Trump is a decoy?
He (chuckling): Yeah. At least for now.
posted by yoga at 5:07 PM on February 17, 2017 [26 favorites]
He: A few of them are talking about it right now, but McConnell and Ryan don’t want to rock the boat. They want to focus on repealing Obamacare, getting a giant tax cut, wiping out environmental regulations, you know the drill.
Me: But don’t they know the Trump issues are just going to get worse? Republicans need to get ahead of this or they’ll get bulldozed by it.
He: McConnell and Ryan don’t see it that way. They figure Trump will continue his circus act, stirring up the press, driving everyone crazy. So they can quietly work with Pence and get their agenda through when no one is paying much attention.
Me: You mean Trump is a decoy?
He (chuckling): Yeah. At least for now.
posted by yoga at 5:07 PM on February 17, 2017 [26 favorites]
for five dollars, nixon's meatloaf can join this conversation
posted by murphy slaw at 5:07 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 5:07 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
get their agenda through when no one is paying much attention.
we can pay attention to more than one thing at a time, you repulsive turtle
posted by murphy slaw at 5:12 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
we can pay attention to more than one thing at a time, you repulsive turtle
posted by murphy slaw at 5:12 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
So they can quietly work with Pence and get their agenda through when no one is paying much attention.
Yeah, no. Gflwt is not just a village in Wales.
posted by holgate at 5:12 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Yeah, no. Gflwt is not just a village in Wales.
posted by holgate at 5:12 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
I think (though I can't prove it, and I'm not sure if the data to prove or disprove my theory even exist, sadly)
You'd probably be able to use the 2016 CCES when it's released.
that education is functioning as a false correlation for 'exposure to other viewpoints and other kinds of people'
Could be. There are a lot of ways to get at that. One would be to look at respondents' ZCTA and some set of nearest-ZCTAs or ZCTAs within a short distance of their ZCTA and check the diversity of those areas. Or just the diversity of the county or MSA. Even without precise geocodes though, you could probably get pretty darn close to ``percent of population within 10 miles of respondent's ZCTA centroid who are anglo.''
It might be possible to compare the voting patterns of graduates from predominately white universities to those of grads from more diverse universities? But I don't know that this data exists.
Almost no survey will have college attended, and even if it did you'd need diversity in 1975 or 1991 or whenever.
The other thing you'd really really want to check on "life experiences with other races" versus education is military service. One of the few places in American society where it's bog-normal for a black man to be yelling at a bunch of anglos and otherwise telling them what to do is the military.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 5:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
You'd probably be able to use the 2016 CCES when it's released.
that education is functioning as a false correlation for 'exposure to other viewpoints and other kinds of people'
Could be. There are a lot of ways to get at that. One would be to look at respondents' ZCTA and some set of nearest-ZCTAs or ZCTAs within a short distance of their ZCTA and check the diversity of those areas. Or just the diversity of the county or MSA. Even without precise geocodes though, you could probably get pretty darn close to ``percent of population within 10 miles of respondent's ZCTA centroid who are anglo.''
It might be possible to compare the voting patterns of graduates from predominately white universities to those of grads from more diverse universities? But I don't know that this data exists.
Almost no survey will have college attended, and even if it did you'd need diversity in 1975 or 1991 or whenever.
The other thing you'd really really want to check on "life experiences with other races" versus education is military service. One of the few places in American society where it's bog-normal for a black man to be yelling at a bunch of anglos and otherwise telling them what to do is the military.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 5:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
I literally just finished eating meatloaf 10 mins ago. Mom's meatloaf is the best. It was yummy.
posted by Jalliah at 5:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Didn't expect Nixon's Meatloaf to be a recurring character in this masterwork of madness but there you go.
19 hours ago few of us even knew Pat Nixon's Meatloaf was a thing. And now it has it's own twitter*.
------------
*I don't know. But probably.
posted by notyou at 5:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
19 hours ago few of us even knew Pat Nixon's Meatloaf was a thing. And now it has it's own twitter*.
------------
*I don't know. But probably.
posted by notyou at 5:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
From Robert Reich's FB today, a conversation with a former republican senator he doesn't name, in which he asks him if they know You Know Who is nuts:
Oh, is that Robert "Berkeley Was A False Flag Operation" Reich?
posted by indubitable at 5:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh, is that Robert "Berkeley Was A False Flag Operation" Reich?
posted by indubitable at 5:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
What Ryan and McConnell aren't counting on is that Trump is the reason people are paying really close attention. He's the reason millions of people marched last month; he's the reason thousands of people actually went to JFK voluntarily. Trump's antics might, maybe serve as a distraction from the smaller stuff they'd be forcing down our throats anyway, but the broad public opposition they're facing for their grand plans is far greater than if Romney were President, and that's all because of Trump. They can't just treat Trump as a circus clown to ignore, because Trump is precisely the reason so many people are fired up to oppose this stuff.
posted by zachlipton at 5:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 5:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [41 favorites]
Oh, is that Robert "Berkeley Was A False Flag Operation" Reich?
He's kind of like good Spock / evil Spock.
posted by My Dad at 5:16 PM on February 17, 2017
He's kind of like good Spock / evil Spock.
posted by My Dad at 5:16 PM on February 17, 2017
He: McConnell and Ryan don’t see it that way. They figure Trump will continue his circus act, stirring up the press, driving everyone crazy. So they can quietly work with Pence and get their agenda through when no one is paying much attention.
Okay, fine. But for this "master plan" to work, there actually needs to be some forward motion on legislation and stuff.
posted by notyou at 5:16 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Okay, fine. But for this "master plan" to work, there actually needs to be some forward motion on legislation and stuff.
posted by notyou at 5:16 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Yeah, no. Gflwt is not just a village in Wales.
okay not even google can save me on this one. what?
posted by murphy slaw at 5:19 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
okay not even google can save me on this one. what?
posted by murphy slaw at 5:19 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Okay, fine. But for this "master plan" to work, there actually needs to be some forward motion on legislation and stuff.
I think, after 8 years of tantrums and gridlock, that they don't remember that they've forgotten how to govern.
posted by leotrotsky at 5:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
I think, after 8 years of tantrums and gridlock, that they don't remember that they've forgotten how to govern.
posted by leotrotsky at 5:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
okay not even google can save me on this one. what?
Good fucking luck with that.
posted by leotrotsky at 5:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
Good fucking luck with that.
posted by leotrotsky at 5:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
OOOOOOOHHHHH.
And it kinda looks like Welsh.
posted by notyou at 5:21 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
And it kinda looks like Welsh.
posted by notyou at 5:21 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm going to get donnie a gift subscription to the failing NY times. Maybe thousands, maybe millions of people could do the same thing.
posted by vrakatar at 5:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by vrakatar at 5:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
...if only he could read.
posted by leotrotsky at 5:23 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by leotrotsky at 5:23 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Given that Trump is basically a giant blinking sign that says HEY EVERYONE LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON OVER HERE, where "here" means the entire federal government and not just the executive branch, I do not think this is going to turn out the way Ryan and McConnell are imagining. I mean, people aren't going to town halls and only taking about Trump. They are very much talking quite loudly about the ACA repeal plans, social security, and Medicaid.
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [40 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [40 favorites]
Sigh. I was sticking around the office to see if anything was going to go down, but I guess it isn't tonight. No big papers revealing anything so far.
posted by Brainy at 5:26 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by Brainy at 5:26 PM on February 17, 2017
^55% of Fox News viewers believe the press should cover Trump aggressively.
Note the poll says "We Should Cover the Pres Aggressively" which means it's likely at least a half of those Fox viewers thought Fox meant the media. :/
posted by stagewhisper at 5:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Note the poll says "We Should Cover the Pres Aggressively" which means it's likely at least a half of those Fox viewers thought Fox meant the media. :/
posted by stagewhisper at 5:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Didn't he tweet about Rush this morning? Did he forget?
OH NO HE DIDN'T HE BETTER LEAVE MY GEDDY OUT OF THI-
Oh. The *other* Rush. OK then. Carry on.
posted by spinifex23 at 5:32 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
OH NO HE DIDN'T HE BETTER LEAVE MY GEDDY OUT OF THI-
Oh. The *other* Rush. OK then. Carry on.
posted by spinifex23 at 5:32 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Oh. The *other* Rush. OK then. Carry on.
Today's Rush Limbaugh he gets high on OxyContin.
And the airwaves he invades. Trump's regime he'll underpin.
*keyboard riff*
posted by Talez at 5:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Today's Rush Limbaugh he gets high on OxyContin.
And the airwaves he invades. Trump's regime he'll underpin.
*keyboard riff*
posted by Talez at 5:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
I've been trying to remember who Stephen Miller reminds me of, except maybe a balloon with two black dots for eyes drawn on with a marker pen.
May I introduce you to young Jonathan Banks?
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
May I introduce you to young Jonathan Banks?
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Yes his mind it is for rent.
For the power of government.
posted by Talez at 5:38 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
For the power of government.
posted by Talez at 5:38 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
#NeverTrump is powerless right now. We failed, and I'm goddamned sorry,
I REALLY hate this swiping at the "Never Trump" people. It's childish, disingenuous, and scapegoating. The entire fucking government is failing us right now and the country is on the edge of falling apart. To pick out the small group that spoke against their own party and somehow pretend that they are more culpable is fucking ridiculous, and an immature version of "it wasn't MY people".
posted by bongo_x at 5:39 PM on February 17, 2017 [26 favorites]
I REALLY hate this swiping at the "Never Trump" people. It's childish, disingenuous, and scapegoating. The entire fucking government is failing us right now and the country is on the edge of falling apart. To pick out the small group that spoke against their own party and somehow pretend that they are more culpable is fucking ridiculous, and an immature version of "it wasn't MY people".
posted by bongo_x at 5:39 PM on February 17, 2017 [26 favorites]
It's still their party.
posted by Artw at 5:40 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Artw at 5:40 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
The irony is that Trump wouldn't be president today if it wasn't for all the help, softballs & free airtime from the 'enemies of the people'
And that's what made them enemies of the people, aiding and abetting the people's biggest enemy, Trump.
And when Rush L. first made the scene in the 1980s, I thought "if American Culture keeps going downhill like this, sooner or later we'll have a Fascist Media Celebrity as President" and I rated Rush L. as the most likely, with Donald T. barely in the top 10, behind several crappy actors and WWE Fake Wrestlers.
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:44 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
And that's what made them enemies of the people, aiding and abetting the people's biggest enemy, Trump.
And when Rush L. first made the scene in the 1980s, I thought "if American Culture keeps going downhill like this, sooner or later we'll have a Fascist Media Celebrity as President" and I rated Rush L. as the most likely, with Donald T. barely in the top 10, behind several crappy actors and WWE Fake Wrestlers.
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:44 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
CBS News has learned that on Thursday, an angry President Trump called CIA Director Mike Pompeo and yelled at him for not pushing back hard enough against reports that the intelligence community was withholding information from the commander-in-chief.
If anyone still thinks the Rogue WH twitter account is real, I should point out they did not tweet about this.
posted by ocschwar at 5:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
To pick out the small group that spoke against their own party
They didn't speak out against their party. They spoke against Trump while loyally voting for the Republican congressmen and senators who are Trump's enablers. They are still diehard Republicans today, despite the consequences in Congress.
posted by JackFlash at 5:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
They didn't speak out against their party. They spoke against Trump while loyally voting for the Republican congressmen and senators who are Trump's enablers. They are still diehard Republicans today, despite the consequences in Congress.
posted by JackFlash at 5:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
I've been trying to remember who Stephen Miller reminds me of, except maybe a balloon with two black dots for eyes drawn on with a marker pen.
Your foot?
Beavis?
Peewee Herman?
Roy Cohn?
Joseph Goebbels?
posted by zakur at 5:51 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Your foot?
Beavis?
Peewee Herman?
Roy Cohn?
Joseph Goebbels?
posted by zakur at 5:51 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Child’s Play: Team Trump Rewrites a Department of Energy Website for Kids
posted by futz at 5:55 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by futz at 5:55 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've been trying to remember who Stephen Miller reminds me of, except maybe a balloon with two black dots for eyes drawn on with a marker pen.
@UweBollocks
Just realized Stephen Miller is the crazy neighbor kid in "Toy Story" as a grownup [pix]
posted by chris24 at 5:59 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
@UweBollocks
Just realized Stephen Miller is the crazy neighbor kid in "Toy Story" as a grownup [pix]
posted by chris24 at 5:59 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
People I'm pissed at;
1. Those that supported Trump.
2. Democrats that aren't fighting tooth and nail.
3. Republicans that opposed Trump but didn't speak out.
4. Those that want to fight from the Left while the ship is sinking and just see this as opportunity.
"Never Trump" people don't even make the list. That's like the bar fight where you pick out the smallest guy in the room, "you want some?"
posted by bongo_x at 6:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
1. Those that supported Trump.
2. Democrats that aren't fighting tooth and nail.
3. Republicans that opposed Trump but didn't speak out.
4. Those that want to fight from the Left while the ship is sinking and just see this as opportunity.
"Never Trump" people don't even make the list. That's like the bar fight where you pick out the smallest guy in the room, "you want some?"
posted by bongo_x at 6:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
so the modern republican hard-on for coal is because it's inefficient, polluting, and difficult to extract without massive environmental damage and risking human lives, right?
like if someone came up with a fuel that was all those things but also gave cancer to puppies, they'd like that even better because more liberal tears?
posted by murphy slaw at 6:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [31 favorites]
like if someone came up with a fuel that was all those things but also gave cancer to puppies, they'd like that even better because more liberal tears?
posted by murphy slaw at 6:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [31 favorites]
Chris Hayes specifically has it (video tweet) that the most important reason for Harward declining the job wasn't KT McFarland and Flynn's staff, but that he refused to take the job unless there was a clear chain of command where he would be the sole national security advisor and report directly to the President and that Bannon wouldn't be allowed on the Principles Committee. The White House wouldn't provide such assurances, so Harward sent a letter declining the job. They asked him to reconsider and he was thinking about it, but after watching Trump's press conference yesterday, he noped the heck out of there.
posted by zachlipton at 6:05 PM on February 17, 2017 [69 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 6:05 PM on February 17, 2017 [69 favorites]
This is fine.
Britain starting to reassess US as an ally, Scottish Tory leader says
Britain starting to reassess US as an ally, Scottish Tory leader says
During an interview at the Women in the World summit in Washington, Davidson said: “At the moment, from the UK, we have always seen America as being a very strong, a reliable ally, and now, even after only 26 days or however long [Donald Trump’s] tenure has been so far in Pennsylvania Avenue, we are beginning to reassess how reliable an ally the United States is.posted by chris24 at 6:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [28 favorites]
“And that’s a huge change in Europe. That’s a massive, massive shock. We are going to want to make sure any deals that are done [Trump] is going to honour. We have to be sure of that.”
Every Republican President since Nixon has been a distraction, not a leader. Ronnie preened for the cameras, GHWB stumbled through continuing Reagan's legacy, Dubya bumbled amiably, Trump threatens and blusters...
I was a grade-schooler when Nixon fell from grace (to me, Watergate was the boring show of guys with ties talking which pre-empted The Flintstones and Gilligan's Island after school). I was in high school when Reagan was in office -- pretty certain I was going to be vaporized in a nuclear fireball before I reached adulthood -- and then I was a young adult when Bush the I came into office.
I remember a rainy winter night marching in a massive protest with my new wife when Operation Desert Storm began. I could not have imagined then that GHW Bush would stand out as the most statesmanlike, compassionate, and competent Republican president of my life.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:08 PM on February 17, 2017 [49 favorites]
I was a grade-schooler when Nixon fell from grace (to me, Watergate was the boring show of guys with ties talking which pre-empted The Flintstones and Gilligan's Island after school). I was in high school when Reagan was in office -- pretty certain I was going to be vaporized in a nuclear fireball before I reached adulthood -- and then I was a young adult when Bush the I came into office.
I remember a rainy winter night marching in a massive protest with my new wife when Operation Desert Storm began. I could not have imagined then that GHW Bush would stand out as the most statesmanlike, compassionate, and competent Republican president of my life.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:08 PM on February 17, 2017 [49 favorites]
Britain starting to reassess US as an ally, Scottish Tory leader says
Luckily, they still have Europe as an ally!
posted by indubitable at 6:10 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
Luckily, they still have Europe as an ally!
posted by indubitable at 6:10 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
Bomb shelter sales skyrocket in response to Trump presidency
Bomb shelter manufacturers are reporting a 700 per cent spike in sales since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The surge in demand is making it hard for Gary Lynch, co-owner of Rising S Bunkers, to keep up.
He tells The Current's guest host Laura Lynch there's a whole new clientele purchasing bunkers these days — people he never pegged as costumers.
"This is a totally new demographic. They are the ones who voted for Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders," says Gary.
posted by futz at 6:10 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Bomb shelter manufacturers are reporting a 700 per cent spike in sales since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The surge in demand is making it hard for Gary Lynch, co-owner of Rising S Bunkers, to keep up.
He tells The Current's guest host Laura Lynch there's a whole new clientele purchasing bunkers these days — people he never pegged as costumers.
"This is a totally new demographic. They are the ones who voted for Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders," says Gary.
posted by futz at 6:10 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
This is fine.
Britain starting to reassess US as an ally, Scottish Tory leader says
I've talked about this sort of things eventually happening as a consequence of Trump Co. Didn't think the rumblings would start so quickly though.
posted by Jalliah at 6:11 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Britain starting to reassess US as an ally, Scottish Tory leader says
Seriously, though, Trump is in Florida all weekend. Joe Biden isn't so far away that he can't take a trip to DC, walk into the White House doors, and change the goddamn locks.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
Seriously, though, Trump is in Florida all weekend. Joe Biden isn't so far away that he can't take a trip to DC, walk into the White House doors, and change the goddamn locks.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
The last time @JoeNBC got a little frisky, Trump tweeted this little gem, and Joe fell back in line. Trump's got dirt on him but maybe Joe's out of fucks.
posted by klarck at 6:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by klarck at 6:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I saw the weirdest thing on my way home from work tonight. It was a mid-sized sedan wih a vinyl "UNIONS MADE US GREAT DUMP TRUMP" wrap on the back window.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 6:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by ArgentCorvid at 6:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
Wow, it took less than a month for Britain to start moving their stuff out our shared apartment. That's accelerationism for accelerationists, right there.
posted by lydhre at 6:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by lydhre at 6:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
Britain starting to reassess US as an ally, Scottish Tory leader says
Shit, England barely has Scotland as an ally right now — and they're in the same country.
posted by Celsius1414 at 6:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
Shit, England barely has Scotland as an ally right now — and they're in the same country.
posted by Celsius1414 at 6:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
The Truth About The Trump Data Team That People Are Freaking Out About: "Cambridge Analytica says its “behavioral communications” techniques helped land Trump in the White House. Don’t believe it, say former campaign staffers, employees, and other GOP digital strategists. “You get a lot of snake oil like this in data work,” one said."
posted by zachlipton at 6:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 6:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
Alexandra Petri at The Washington Post: “Chris Christie’s Meatload Humiliations”
Christie did not necessarily want the meatloaf, but it was all right enough, once he ate it. (Meatloaf always tastes a little like humiliation, anyway, even if the bread crumbs are perfectly fresh.)posted by Going To Maine at 6:14 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
so the modern republican hard-on for coal is because it's inefficient, polluting, and difficult to extract without massive environmental damage and risking human lives, right?
You know, living in an area that has substantial NG and Coal reserves, I just don't get many things about the love for coal. Coal is, more than anything else in the world, being undone by Natural Gas which is cheaper, easier to ship, easier to burn and a better product in every measurable sense. Whatever gutting the EPA does to lower gas prices will hurt coal more than removing any regulation on it - because coal sucks.
If they really loved coal jerbs, they'd be anti-fracking.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 6:17 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
You know, living in an area that has substantial NG and Coal reserves, I just don't get many things about the love for coal. Coal is, more than anything else in the world, being undone by Natural Gas which is cheaper, easier to ship, easier to burn and a better product in every measurable sense. Whatever gutting the EPA does to lower gas prices will hurt coal more than removing any regulation on it - because coal sucks.
If they really loved coal jerbs, they'd be anti-fracking.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 6:17 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
They didn't speak out against their party. They spoke against Trump while loyally voting for the Republican congressmen and senators who are Trump's enablers. They are still diehard Republicans today, despite the consequences in Congress.
Exactly. Trump made the subtext text. The racist, misogynist subtext of the Republican party is now text. There's no denying it.
posted by Mavri at 6:17 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Exactly. Trump made the subtext text. The racist, misogynist subtext of the Republican party is now text. There's no denying it.
posted by Mavri at 6:17 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
The last time @JoeNBC got a little frisky, Trump tweeted this little gem, and Joe fell back in line. Trump's got dirt on him but maybe Joe's out of fucks.
I saw that on reddit klarck, is that where you found the tweet?
posted by futz at 6:21 PM on February 17, 2017
I saw that on reddit klarck, is that where you found the tweet?
posted by futz at 6:21 PM on February 17, 2017
he refused to take the job unless there was a clear chain of command where he would be the sole national security advisor and report directly to the President
The White House occupant wants to be surrounded by generals and admirals, yet when they request military-style command structures with experienced people at the top, President Bannon steps in and overrules it.
posted by holgate at 6:21 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
The White House occupant wants to be surrounded by generals and admirals, yet when they request military-style command structures with experienced people at the top, President Bannon steps in and overrules it.
posted by holgate at 6:21 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
so either the senate intelligence committee and the FBI are planning the biggest surprise pizza party that congress has ever seen or something is up
Senators on the Intelligence Committee delayed leaving for recess to meet with Jim Comey. This feels serious
This is weird. Reached out to a couple Senate aides and they won't say anything about this.
Here's one Senate aide, when I asked what was up with this meeting: "No clue. They didn't even tell staff."
posted by murphy slaw at 6:23 PM on February 17, 2017 [51 favorites]
Senators on the Intelligence Committee delayed leaving for recess to meet with Jim Comey. This feels serious
This is weird. Reached out to a couple Senate aides and they won't say anything about this.
Here's one Senate aide, when I asked what was up with this meeting: "No clue. They didn't even tell staff."
posted by murphy slaw at 6:23 PM on February 17, 2017 [51 favorites]
Trump made the subtext text. The racist, misogynist subtext of the Republican party is now text.
And IF America makes it through and comes out the other side, history will be relatively relieved that Trump did that.
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
And IF America makes it through and comes out the other side, history will be relatively relieved that Trump did that.
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
That's a very big caps to that IF.
posted by Artw at 6:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 6:25 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yep. A fine tuned machine.
I misread this as "a fine turd machine" and YEP.
Bomb shelter sales skyrocket in response to Trump presidency
A serious question that occurred to me on the drive home: At what point during the Cold War was it deemed necessary to designate public fallout shelters? Those signs were still up well into the late 80s, if not longer. I remember when it was news that it was okay to take them down. But when was the decision made to put them up? When does that happen?
posted by mudpuppie at 6:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I misread this as "a fine turd machine" and YEP.
Bomb shelter sales skyrocket in response to Trump presidency
A serious question that occurred to me on the drive home: At what point during the Cold War was it deemed necessary to designate public fallout shelters? Those signs were still up well into the late 80s, if not longer. I remember when it was news that it was okay to take them down. But when was the decision made to put them up? When does that happen?
posted by mudpuppie at 6:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
so either the senate intelligence committee and the FBI are planning the biggest surprise pizza party that congress has ever seen or something is up
Happy with both outcomes, because a government that is on good enough terms with itself to have surprise pizza parties is a good government.
posted by Going To Maine at 6:27 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Happy with both outcomes, because a government that is on good enough terms with itself to have surprise pizza parties is a good government.
posted by Going To Maine at 6:27 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
.@johnrobertsFox: @POTUS was in fact fully briefed on the content of those conversations that Gen. Flynn had with the Russian ambassador.
When you've lost Fox News...
posted by Chessboxing at 6:27 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
When you've lost Fox News...
posted by Chessboxing at 6:27 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Britain starting to reassess US as an ally, Scottish Tory leader says
That's not the scariest thing.
What is seriously scary about US unreliability is that a reliable US hegemony is the lynchpin of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty:
You agree to forego getting nukes against your enemy, and your enemy agrees to forego getting nukes against you, because the United States is committed to make BOTH of you bitterly regret being the first to choose nukes.
Now we have a president who is ON RECORD advising non-nuclear countries to run out and get their own.
Some of them are going to. And this will not end well.
posted by ocschwar at 6:27 PM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
That's not the scariest thing.
What is seriously scary about US unreliability is that a reliable US hegemony is the lynchpin of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty:
You agree to forego getting nukes against your enemy, and your enemy agrees to forego getting nukes against you, because the United States is committed to make BOTH of you bitterly regret being the first to choose nukes.
Now we have a president who is ON RECORD advising non-nuclear countries to run out and get their own.
Some of them are going to. And this will not end well.
posted by ocschwar at 6:27 PM on February 17, 2017 [24 favorites]
"I saw that on reddit klarck, is that where you found the tweet?"
No, I it stuck in my mind when @sarakendzior retweeted it back then to assert Trump holds a little bit of kompromat of his own.
posted by klarck at 6:27 PM on February 17, 2017
No, I it stuck in my mind when @sarakendzior retweeted it back then to assert Trump holds a little bit of kompromat of his own.
posted by klarck at 6:27 PM on February 17, 2017
from Roll Call:
Senators Silent After Meeting With FBI Director Comey
as someone who screams at the tv when a season ends on a cliffhanger my nervous system is shrieking
posted by murphy slaw at 6:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
Senators Silent After Meeting With FBI Director Comey
as someone who screams at the tv when a season ends on a cliffhanger my nervous system is shrieking
posted by murphy slaw at 6:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
Dammit internet don't leave me with hanging on a cliffhanger like a secret intelligence committee meeting that nobody will say anything about, and then never have anything come of it. C'mon gimme the scandal the dirt the low down. I'm dyin' over here.
posted by dis_integration at 6:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by dis_integration at 6:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Comey shows up at the Capitol unannounced to see the SSCI on an afternoon when most congresscritters are heading to the airports, just as the White House occupant (presumably with his top staffers) leaves DC to ogle planes in Charleston. Hmm.
posted by holgate at 6:30 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by holgate at 6:30 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I think it's really just best to assume they saw a 2 hour pee tape.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
Well I hope you're happy with what you've made
In the land of the free and the home of the brave
posted by Meatbomb at 6:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
In the land of the free and the home of the brave
posted by Meatbomb at 6:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
One thing about the whole #NeverTrump hatefest is that there are a bunch of different groups that have been put under that label. And the ones who actually wield power have proven wholly unworthy of it. Ted Cruz was NeverTrumpy. John McCain was NeverTrumpy. Lindsey Graham was NeverTrumpy. The first two walked it back cravenly and Graham has been talking a good game but not actually doing anything.
There are definitely voters and low-to-mid-level political functionaries (I get the impression corb is/was one of the latter) who have shown the courage of their conviction. They don't deserve contempt. But pretty much every NeverTrumper in a position to either steer the party or to effect useful obstruction in government --- and at one time there were a lot of those --- has thrown in their lot with the administration, out of cowardice or ambition or the sort of blind party loyalty which for a while it looked like they might not have. And those are the guys we look at and say, "Man, NeverTrumpers were playing us all for suckers."
posted by jackbishop at 6:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
There are definitely voters and low-to-mid-level political functionaries (I get the impression corb is/was one of the latter) who have shown the courage of their conviction. They don't deserve contempt. But pretty much every NeverTrumper in a position to either steer the party or to effect useful obstruction in government --- and at one time there were a lot of those --- has thrown in their lot with the administration, out of cowardice or ambition or the sort of blind party loyalty which for a while it looked like they might not have. And those are the guys we look at and say, "Man, NeverTrumpers were playing us all for suckers."
posted by jackbishop at 6:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
I just don't get many things about the love for coal. [...] If they really loved coal jerbs, they'd be anti-fracking.
They love coal MINING jobs. It's that whole toxic masculinity thing. Strapping young man goes off to the mines to wrestle with rock and explosives and hammers and get all dirty and maybe die and then go home to his lil' wife. They're in love with the emotion of coal.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 6:32 PM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
They love coal MINING jobs. It's that whole toxic masculinity thing. Strapping young man goes off to the mines to wrestle with rock and explosives and hammers and get all dirty and maybe die and then go home to his lil' wife. They're in love with the emotion of coal.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 6:32 PM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
I think it's really just best to assume they saw a 2 hour pee tape.
Good heavens, those women have impressive bladders.
posted by jackbishop at 6:34 PM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
Good heavens, those women have impressive bladders.
posted by jackbishop at 6:34 PM on February 17, 2017 [19 favorites]
The meeting with Comey better not have been about the goddamn hrc emails. That the thought even remotely crossed my mind as a possibility is annoying.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 6:35 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 6:35 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
The meeting with Comey better not have been about the goddamn hrc emails. That the thought even remotely crossed my mind as a possibility is annoying.
Don't worry. If it was about the emails someone would have held a grandstanding press conference within moments of leaving the briefing.
posted by Glibpaxman at 6:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [55 favorites]
Don't worry. If it was about the emails someone would have held a grandstanding press conference within moments of leaving the briefing.
posted by Glibpaxman at 6:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [55 favorites]
Nah, if it had been about the emails then Republicans coming out of it would be crowing and sharing it all with the media, and Democrats would be bitching about having their time wasted. If they're spooked, they have something to be spooked about. The email server would be a matter of festive celebration among Republicans and of icy indifference among Democrats.
posted by jackbishop at 6:38 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by jackbishop at 6:38 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Absolutely won't have been. If it was, Rubio and others would have looked smug as hell.
posted by jaduncan at 6:38 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by jaduncan at 6:38 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Mining is a community operation and a huge economy booster. You get an export. You need young men. You need heavy machinery, transport in and out of the area, construction equipment, specialized clothing, and equipment for the mine itself. There is so so much more than just people in the mines, and almost everyone in the community benefits.
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Mitt Romney: Trump ‘off to a very strong start’
“The campaign is over,” Mr. Romney said. “I think we come together with hope. And there are encouraging signs on a number of fronts and I’m holding on to those at this stage.”
Mr. Romney said the president has pursued his agenda “with vigor.”
“We’re all watching with interest,” he said. “He’s obviously gotten off to a very strong start in terms of making a series of executive orders and making the changes that he promised during the campaign.”
Despite his praise, Mr. Romney said he has no regrets about labeling Mr. Trump a “fraud” and a “phony” during a speech last year.
For fuck's sake, Mitt.
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [47 favorites]
“The campaign is over,” Mr. Romney said. “I think we come together with hope. And there are encouraging signs on a number of fronts and I’m holding on to those at this stage.”
Mr. Romney said the president has pursued his agenda “with vigor.”
“We’re all watching with interest,” he said. “He’s obviously gotten off to a very strong start in terms of making a series of executive orders and making the changes that he promised during the campaign.”
Despite his praise, Mr. Romney said he has no regrets about labeling Mr. Trump a “fraud” and a “phony” during a speech last year.
For fuck's sake, Mitt.
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [47 favorites]
If it had been about HRC the CNN homepage would currently be pictures of Republican Congressmen dancing in the streets. So no, it wasn't emails. Whatever it was coughpeetapescough it either humbled some folks or scared all of them shitless.
posted by lydhre at 6:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by lydhre at 6:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
The meeting with Comey better not have been about the goddamn hrc emails.
No reason to assume it's related, but CNN reports that Chaffetz has recommended prosecuting HRC's hapless IT guy.
posted by contraption at 6:42 PM on February 17, 2017
No reason to assume it's related, but CNN reports that Chaffetz has recommended prosecuting HRC's hapless IT guy.
posted by contraption at 6:42 PM on February 17, 2017
Some pushback on who networks would take as surrogates this weekend. Priebus now being sent out as lone face of West Wing. -- @maggieNYT
i guess we won't have Stephen Miller to kick around anymore
posted by murphy slaw at 6:45 PM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
i assume it's totally unrelated because Chaffetz is in the house and wasn't in the Comey meeting
posted by murphy slaw at 6:46 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by murphy slaw at 6:46 PM on February 17, 2017
MetaFilter, I think this thread may be writing checks about this Comey meeting that the future won’t be able to cash.
posted by Going To Maine at 6:46 PM on February 17, 2017 [47 favorites]
posted by Going To Maine at 6:46 PM on February 17, 2017 [47 favorites]
No reason to assume it's related, but CNN reports that Chaffetz has recommended prosecuting HRC's hapless IT guy.
We'll that'll be a great time for a compilation tape of all the much more serious security infractions commited by Trump and his staff in the past 4 weeks.
Like, you know, making a goddamn Russian spy NSA. That can be the cherry on top.
posted by Artw at 6:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
We'll that'll be a great time for a compilation tape of all the much more serious security infractions commited by Trump and his staff in the past 4 weeks.
Like, you know, making a goddamn Russian spy NSA. That can be the cherry on top.
posted by Artw at 6:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Mining is a community operation and a huge economy booster. You get an export. You need young men. You need heavy machinery, transport in and out of the area, construction equipment, specialized clothing, and equipment for the mine itself. There is so so much more than just people in the mines, and almost everyone in the community benefits.
That's old-fashioned mining, which is never coming back. Modern mining involves a lot fewer people and a lot more heavy equipment. At the end, the mountain is gone, and so is the valley and the stream that formed it. And so is the land that the people used to live on, and the water they used to drink. That's the kind of mining that this administration is endorsing.
posted by hydropsyche at 6:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [79 favorites]
That's old-fashioned mining, which is never coming back. Modern mining involves a lot fewer people and a lot more heavy equipment. At the end, the mountain is gone, and so is the valley and the stream that formed it. And so is the land that the people used to live on, and the water they used to drink. That's the kind of mining that this administration is endorsing.
posted by hydropsyche at 6:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [79 favorites]
Independent Movie Theatres Nationwide Will Screen ‘1984’ to Protest Donald Trump
posted by octothorpe at 6:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 6:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [26 favorites]
Comey's not going to do shit or tell anybody shit that is any way worthwhile.
posted by Artw at 6:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Artw at 6:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
Seriously, if you haven't looked at a satellite view of West Virginia recently, you don't understand the scope of mountain-top removal mining.
posted by hydropsyche at 6:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [63 favorites]
posted by hydropsyche at 6:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [63 favorites]
I'm half expecting Trump set his rally at an airport so he can try to make a break for it.
posted by jason_steakums at 6:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 6:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Thanks, hydrospyche. I was going to make that point. Coal mining in the Appalachians doesn't support communities anymore, it just destroys ecosystems.
posted by mollweide at 6:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by mollweide at 6:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
I don't want to agree with Going to Maine (in this particular instance - not in general or anything like that) but I do. I'd _like_ to be wrong but I don't want to get my hopes up too high personally.
posted by Golem XIV at 6:55 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by Golem XIV at 6:55 PM on February 17, 2017
I feel like this is the fifth time or thereabouts that intelligence officials have had a tight-lipped meeting with some members of Congress or others, and it looked super exciting for a while until nothing ever happened.
posted by Andrhia at 6:59 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Andrhia at 6:59 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
No, I get that extraction jobs are "good" jobs. I grew up on extraction jobs - dad worked for the steel mines. The money was good(ish) when the mines were running, but when the prices came down, the mines would shutter and Little Pogo ate government cheese and powdered milk and cornflakes from a white and black box.
I'm saying that coal has a competitor in natural gas. Cheap natural gas reduces demand for coal. Making coal cheaper by eliminating output regs also makes natural gas cheaper, and anyway, NG is a better product, so even if there were price parity, coal would still lose.
What I don't understand is rubes who don't see that a pro-extraction administration is necessarily bad for coal because coal sucks compared to NG. Coal's dead, baby. Coal's dead.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 7:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
I'm saying that coal has a competitor in natural gas. Cheap natural gas reduces demand for coal. Making coal cheaper by eliminating output regs also makes natural gas cheaper, and anyway, NG is a better product, so even if there were price parity, coal would still lose.
What I don't understand is rubes who don't see that a pro-extraction administration is necessarily bad for coal because coal sucks compared to NG. Coal's dead, baby. Coal's dead.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 7:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [17 favorites]
The last picture of the 21 best photos of the week, in the Washington Post, is one of the most telling photos of all times. It shows Trump leaving the dais, after the 77 minute speech. On the right you see Conway crumbling, Priebus hugging himself with head down, another person, all in shock. Under Trump's arm is Bannon, gloating over the destruction he has wrought. It is a truly amazing photograph, one of the better political photos, I have ever seen.
Here is the best link I can summon.
posted by Oyéah at 7:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
Here is the best link I can summon.
posted by Oyéah at 7:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [23 favorites]
Whereas MeFites who grew up in the 80s have childhood nostalgia tinged with Cold War paranoia that seems all too relevant today.
Over the last few years as I've been reading about this shit taking hold of the States I've frequently had Fun Boy Three's The Lunatics have taken over the Asylum.
posted by juiceCake at 7:07 PM on February 17, 2017
Over the last few years as I've been reading about this shit taking hold of the States I've frequently had Fun Boy Three's The Lunatics have taken over the Asylum.
posted by juiceCake at 7:07 PM on February 17, 2017
I feel like this is the fifth time or thereabouts that intelligence officials have had a tight-lipped meeting with some members of Congress or others, and it looked super exciting for a while until nothing ever happened.
Yes, this only happened about a month ago.
posted by bonje at 7:08 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Yes, this only happened about a month ago.
posted by bonje at 7:08 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
What I don't understand is rubes who don't see that a pro-extraction administration is necessarily bad for coal because coal sucks compared to NG.
Because saying that coal sucks is like saying that your grandad sucked. And I suspect it's also because communities that mine coal still burn coal: residential NG is not a big thing in Appalachia because of the physical challenges.
(Direct link to the photo Oyéah mentioned.)
posted by holgate at 7:12 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Because saying that coal sucks is like saying that your grandad sucked. And I suspect it's also because communities that mine coal still burn coal: residential NG is not a big thing in Appalachia because of the physical challenges.
(Direct link to the photo Oyéah mentioned.)
posted by holgate at 7:12 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Look at me writing a check!
@EricGeller: Initially didn't pay much attention but now starting to think today's classified SSCI briefing w/ Comey was a game changer in some way
posted by Going To Maine at 7:18 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
@EricGeller: Initially didn't pay much attention but now starting to think today's classified SSCI briefing w/ Comey was a game changer in some way
posted by Going To Maine at 7:18 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
Uday and Qusay are keeping themselves (and the Secret Service) busy.
posted by holgate at 7:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by holgate at 7:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
there's a whole new clientele purchasing bunkers these days — people he never pegged as costumers.
And now I'm picturing a bunch of people in Ren Faire garb sitting in a fallout shelter.
(Which wouldn't really be that odd, come to think of it. The Venn Diagram of historical reenactors and doomsday preppers has quite a bit of overlap IME.)
posted by threeturtles at 7:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
And now I'm picturing a bunch of people in Ren Faire garb sitting in a fallout shelter.
(Which wouldn't really be that odd, come to think of it. The Venn Diagram of historical reenactors and doomsday preppers has quite a bit of overlap IME.)
posted by threeturtles at 7:22 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
jackbishop up above is completely right and, if anything, understates the problem.
The Bill Maher quip about #NeverTrump was that "Hillary is wrong for America, but she is wrong within normal parameters." Here's the thing. As horrifying as Trump is, _there is no one_ in the modern GOP who could replace him and be even vaguely trusted to be wrong within normal parameters. Not one. The current so-called leader is a problem; _what he is leading_ is a scarier problem.
What percentage of Americans have been conditioned to actually believe this #FakeNews bullshit? To reflexively trust their Facebook feeds and their Mirror Universe Media as sources of truth and dismiss everything else? To believe that Islam, immigrants, gay marriage and George Soros really are active threats to the American way of life and to the safety of its citizenry? A high enough percentage to keep the House scarlet, the state legislatures and governors scarlet enough to be nearly at Constitutional crisis levels, and to make the GOP Senate bend the knee to every one of Trump's clown car of nominees.
The SAVING GRACE of Trump is that he is an incompetent surrounding himself with incompetents. Which is legitimately terrifying. But getting him out of Washington will not solve the problem of the millions of Americans who think he's exactly what America needs.
posted by delfin at 7:23 PM on February 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
The Bill Maher quip about #NeverTrump was that "Hillary is wrong for America, but she is wrong within normal parameters." Here's the thing. As horrifying as Trump is, _there is no one_ in the modern GOP who could replace him and be even vaguely trusted to be wrong within normal parameters. Not one. The current so-called leader is a problem; _what he is leading_ is a scarier problem.
What percentage of Americans have been conditioned to actually believe this #FakeNews bullshit? To reflexively trust their Facebook feeds and their Mirror Universe Media as sources of truth and dismiss everything else? To believe that Islam, immigrants, gay marriage and George Soros really are active threats to the American way of life and to the safety of its citizenry? A high enough percentage to keep the House scarlet, the state legislatures and governors scarlet enough to be nearly at Constitutional crisis levels, and to make the GOP Senate bend the knee to every one of Trump's clown car of nominees.
The SAVING GRACE of Trump is that he is an incompetent surrounding himself with incompetents. Which is legitimately terrifying. But getting him out of Washington will not solve the problem of the millions of Americans who think he's exactly what America needs.
posted by delfin at 7:23 PM on February 17, 2017 [20 favorites]
Late to the Steven Miller lookalike party, but I finally figured out that he's the subway ghost in Ghost, played by Vincent Schiavelli.
posted by Caxton1476 at 7:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Caxton1476 at 7:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
The last picture of the 21 best photos of the week, in the Washington Post, is one of the most telling photos of all times. It shows Trump leaving the dais, after the 77 minute speech. On the right you see Conway crumbling, Priebus hugging himself with head down, another person, all in shock. Under Trump's arm is Bannon, gloating over the destruction he has wrought. It is a truly amazing photograph, one of the better political photos, I have ever seen.
Here is the best link I can summon.
Direct link to image
posted by Going To Maine at 7:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
Here is the best link I can summon.
Direct link to image
posted by Going To Maine at 7:26 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
Ok the Miami Herald has a good one: Accused ‘frontman’ in Venezuelan drug ring also tees it up at Trump’s Doral golf resort:
posted by zachlipton at 7:29 PM on February 17, 2017 [31 favorites]
The Trump administration this week froze the assets of a wealthy Venezuelan businessman named Samark Lopez Bello, accusing him of being the “frontman” in a narco-trafficking scheme run by the country’s vice president.And the White House response is not remotely adequate:
It turns out that Lopez Bello, a petroleum distribution executive in Venezuela, is also a member of one of President Donald Trump’s luxury golf course resorts in South Florida.
Helen Ferre, special assistant to the president and director of media affairs, responded to questions about Lopez Bello with a short email statement: “This is not a White House issue, the President is divested from the business.”Except he never did actually divest.
posted by zachlipton at 7:29 PM on February 17, 2017 [31 favorites]
re the SSCI meeting -- Capitol Hill reporters interact with the pols and their staffers every day, and they seem to think "huh, that's not typical" about this afternoon:
"My colleagues agree w/ me - it was very odd - how quiet all Senators were after today's Comey Senate Intel meeting... Often after a briefing, lawmakers give you a wink & a nod, but today after Comey, there was no small talk, nothing."
posted by holgate at 7:30 PM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
"My colleagues agree w/ me - it was very odd - how quiet all Senators were after today's Comey Senate Intel meeting... Often after a briefing, lawmakers give you a wink & a nod, but today after Comey, there was no small talk, nothing."
posted by holgate at 7:30 PM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
Maybe they watched a movie together. I hear Don's Wick Chapter 2 is intense.
posted by humanfont at 7:39 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by humanfont at 7:39 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Jared Kushner looks exactly the same way he always does in that photo: like he sees mummy coming with his crumpets.
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:41 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
The last picture of the 21 best photos of the week, in the Washington Post, is one of the most telling photos of all times. It shows Trump leaving the dais, after the 77 minute speech. On the right you see Conway crumbling, Priebus hugging himself with head down, another person, all in shock. Under Trump's arm is Bannon, gloating over the destruction he has wrought. It is a truly amazing photograph, one of the better political photos, I have ever seen.
I just don't see the crumbling, shock etc. Bannon looks constipated. It just looks like a snapshot in time, perhaps there is more to it but I am just not seeing it...not to disparage what anyone else sees in the photo. Video might be more revealing.
posted by futz at 7:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
I just don't see the crumbling, shock etc. Bannon looks constipated. It just looks like a snapshot in time, perhaps there is more to it but I am just not seeing it...not to disparage what anyone else sees in the photo. Video might be more revealing.
posted by futz at 7:42 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Hot take time: Trump is right — drugs are often cheaper than candy bars
posted by zachlipton at 7:42 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by zachlipton at 7:42 PM on February 17, 2017
"Often after a briefing, lawmakers give you a wink & a nod, but today after Comey, there was no small talk, nothing."
Maybe Comey got done telling them how much he knew about all the skeletons in their closets.
(Just trying to set expectations for myself, here.)
posted by tobascodagama at 7:44 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Maybe Comey got done telling them how much he knew about all the skeletons in their closets.
(Just trying to set expectations for myself, here.)
posted by tobascodagama at 7:44 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm waiting for the day we find that Ivanka and Jared have bailed in the dark of night to a country with no extradition treaty.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
What the hell? I just saw an ad on MSNBC for "Neil Gorsuch is the Supreme Court judge we need right now..." (paraphrasing because I don't have a DVR on this TV.) Who is paying for this? Why is MSNBC taking their money?
posted by bluecore at 7:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by bluecore at 7:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Someone looking for me?
posted by pee tape at 7:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [72 favorites]
posted by pee tape at 7:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [72 favorites]
In 2015, for instance, the Baltimore Sun reported that “peewee” capsules of heroin were selling for about $6 per dose on one West Baltimore street corner. That's not much more than the price of a 12.6 ounce bar of Toblerone at Target, and probably less when you account for taxes (which drug dealers typically don't charge).
A large size Tolberone seems an odd baseline for candy.
posted by Artw at 7:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [37 favorites]
A large size Tolberone seems an odd baseline for candy.
posted by Artw at 7:50 PM on February 17, 2017 [37 favorites]
"An unusually tight hold... pretty abrupt" per NBC's Kasie Hunt from the entrance to the Senate subway this afternoon (not the usual place to do a live shot). Like I said, Hill reporters have a sense of what's typical, even typical tight-lippedness around intel committee business, and today wasn't it.
posted by holgate at 7:51 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by holgate at 7:51 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Was it the ad with the self described "Obama staffer" who approves of Gorsuch? Her name may actually be mentioned in the ad. I thought it was really odd too!
posted by futz at 7:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by futz at 7:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
What the hell? I just saw an ad on MSNBC for "Neil Gorsuch is the Supreme Court judge we need right now..." (paraphrasing because I don't have a DVR on this TV.) Who is paying for this? Why is MSNBC taking their money?
Maybe it's a local area ad spot sold by someone else?
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:55 PM on February 17, 2017
Maybe it's a local area ad spot sold by someone else?
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:55 PM on February 17, 2017
I have seen the ad on MSNBC for at least a week watching with Direct TV Now.
posted by johnpowell at 7:57 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by johnpowell at 7:57 PM on February 17, 2017
I saw a similar ad spot during the episode of "The Price is Right" that Mrs. jferg had TiVo-ed the other day and had on as background noise. It was really weird.
Only tangentially related, Stephen Colbert's cold open from last night was fabulous. "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled is ... whatever Sean Spicer is saying."
posted by jferg at 8:00 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
Only tangentially related, Stephen Colbert's cold open from last night was fabulous. "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled is ... whatever Sean Spicer is saying."
posted by jferg at 8:00 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
re: Comey's briefing. I'll believe it when something comes of it. This is just Lucy and the football.
posted by Justinian at 8:03 PM on February 17, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 8:03 PM on February 17, 2017 [27 favorites]
"The Trump Well-Tuned Machine" reminds me of the machinery in the Suicide Booths in 'Futurama'
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
> Seriously, if you haven't looked at a satellite view of West Virginia recently, you don't understand the scope of mountain-top removal mining.
Even starker in time lapse form.
posted by tonycpsu at 8:05 PM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
Even starker in time lapse form.
posted by tonycpsu at 8:05 PM on February 17, 2017 [21 favorites]
I've been seeing an ad for hiring at customs/border patrol with rock music, ATVs tooling around, doggies, and a tag line like AMERICA"S FRONTLINE NOW HIRING. Anyone else seen that?
posted by vrakatar at 8:06 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by vrakatar at 8:06 PM on February 17, 2017
Popular Domestic Programs Face Ax Under First Trump Budget
It sounds like the plan is start with stuff like this, which is small potatoes, to make a point, and then have deeper cuts at cabinet-level agencies from there.
posted by zachlipton at 8:10 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
The White House budget office has drafted a hit list of programs that President Trump could eliminate to trim domestic spending, including longstanding conservative targets like the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Legal Services Corporation, AmeriCorps and the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities.The article also says the National Drug Control Policy is on the list to get the ax, which seems pretty bonkers since Trump is always yelling about drugs.
It sounds like the plan is start with stuff like this, which is small potatoes, to make a point, and then have deeper cuts at cabinet-level agencies from there.
posted by zachlipton at 8:10 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
like look I don't like the practice of Democratic Presidents appointing Republicans as Secretary of Defense, but nevertheless corb is absolutely sec. def. in my fantasy mefite cabinet. #nevertrump is vast and contains multitudes. the #nevertrump electeds were lying craven weasels. the #nevertrump grassroots, though, is something else.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 8:11 PM on February 17, 2017 [30 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 8:11 PM on February 17, 2017 [30 favorites]
The New Yorker: The Border Patrol Was Primed for President Trump
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
I've been seeing an ad for hiring at customs/border patrol with rock music, ATVs tooling around, doggies, and a tag line like AMERICA"S FRONTLINE NOW HIRING. Anyone else seen that?
I saw one of those go on in the theater before Hidden Figures, which is a pretty spectacular placement misfire
posted by theodolite at 8:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
I saw one of those go on in the theater before Hidden Figures, which is a pretty spectacular placement misfire
posted by theodolite at 8:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
the #nevertrump grassroots, though, is something else.
Particularly the WA delegation. I heard one or two of them interviewed on NPR at the Republican National Convention, and they were spitting fire.
posted by Existential Dread at 8:17 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
Particularly the WA delegation. I heard one or two of them interviewed on NPR at the Republican National Convention, and they were spitting fire.
posted by Existential Dread at 8:17 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
The White House budget office has drafted a hit list of programs that President Trump could eliminate
If the Trump Administration survives a full term, we may end up in an "envy the dead" situation, as it may ultimately be easier for a Good Government in the U.S. to re-start killed programs than to change programs the Trumpists have been administering from inept/evil/stupid to something that does good...
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
If the Trump Administration survives a full term, we may end up in an "envy the dead" situation, as it may ultimately be easier for a Good Government in the U.S. to re-start killed programs than to change programs the Trumpists have been administering from inept/evil/stupid to something that does good...
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
From waaay upthread:
Trump proposes including Chinese visitors in social media checks: U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are proposing to ask Chinese visitors to disclose their social media "handles" or other identifiers on common social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. The question would be asked online as part of an electronic system Chinese holders of long-term U.S. business and visitor visas use to advise of upcoming travel.
I was just in China briefly a couple weeks ago and while I'd done my prep for hotels, transport, SIM, money, etc, I'd forgotten internet accessibility other than ticking off the "has wifi" box. So I was initially flummoxed when I couldn't get onto my tablet's browser homepage (Google) and then I realised that Google Maps and Google Translate weren't going to pull me out of a jam, fine, there are other similar apps. I could still keep up on Metafilter but nearly every tantalizing link was to Twitter or someone's Facebook page: no go. No Instagram either and well, now I forget what other sites were not accessible; there were a number of blocks (YouTube?) and yet the BBC and other news sites were totally readable. Anyway, is it possible that the CBP is as uninformed as I was?
yes, I know VPNs are a workaround but how would the CBP prove one is using it?
posted by TWinbrook8 at 8:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Trump proposes including Chinese visitors in social media checks: U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are proposing to ask Chinese visitors to disclose their social media "handles" or other identifiers on common social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. The question would be asked online as part of an electronic system Chinese holders of long-term U.S. business and visitor visas use to advise of upcoming travel.
I was just in China briefly a couple weeks ago and while I'd done my prep for hotels, transport, SIM, money, etc, I'd forgotten internet accessibility other than ticking off the "has wifi" box. So I was initially flummoxed when I couldn't get onto my tablet's browser homepage (Google) and then I realised that Google Maps and Google Translate weren't going to pull me out of a jam, fine, there are other similar apps. I could still keep up on Metafilter but nearly every tantalizing link was to Twitter or someone's Facebook page: no go. No Instagram either and well, now I forget what other sites were not accessible; there were a number of blocks (YouTube?) and yet the BBC and other news sites were totally readable. Anyway, is it possible that the CBP is as uninformed as I was?
yes, I know VPNs are a workaround but how would the CBP prove one is using it?
posted by TWinbrook8 at 8:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
glibpaxman >> The Republican Party is a terrorist organization.
[various] > uh wut
This argument holds a bit more water when we remember that the now POTUS has called for violence from followers, with promise of financial support. Of course, being who he is, he seems to have weaseled out on paying up.
Still, it seems disingenuous to me to start picking out which high-profile organizations to make comparisons against. Holding off on that for now.
[Not seen any followup vaguely curious, quick googling failing me]
posted by Enturbulated at 8:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
[various] > uh wut
This argument holds a bit more water when we remember that the now POTUS has called for violence from followers, with promise of financial support. Of course, being who he is, he seems to have weaseled out on paying up.
Still, it seems disingenuous to me to start picking out which high-profile organizations to make comparisons against. Holding off on that for now.
[Not seen any followup vaguely curious, quick googling failing me]
posted by Enturbulated at 8:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure what Jim Acosta in the back is thinking, but I kinda want to be wherever his mind is right now.
Jim Acosta is my secret boo and we're getting ripped on Mojitos right now.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 8:31 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
It sounds like the plan is start with stuff like this, which is small potatoes, to make a point
I was thinking today about the way in which 21st-c conservative politics in the developed world is churning towards cleek's law in its broadest sense: "does doing X piss off Y, whom we dislike? Therefore we must do X, no matter what." Tony Blair gave a speech on Brexit today -- a very good speech from a very flawed man -- where he rightly noted that it would become a justification for Tories to dismantle the British social contract, and the immediate response from the right was "well, let's go full-steam ahead to piss him off." Defunding PBS or the NEA is the politics of spite and vengeance, the politics of "mug of liberal tears." Repealing the ACA is, fundamentally, about taking pleasure when people you've never met but you're sure have opinions you'd hate are left begging to pay medical bills.
Wishing to grow the pie of misery is not sustainable. It ends badly.
posted by holgate at 8:34 PM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
I was thinking today about the way in which 21st-c conservative politics in the developed world is churning towards cleek's law in its broadest sense: "does doing X piss off Y, whom we dislike? Therefore we must do X, no matter what." Tony Blair gave a speech on Brexit today -- a very good speech from a very flawed man -- where he rightly noted that it would become a justification for Tories to dismantle the British social contract, and the immediate response from the right was "well, let's go full-steam ahead to piss him off." Defunding PBS or the NEA is the politics of spite and vengeance, the politics of "mug of liberal tears." Repealing the ACA is, fundamentally, about taking pleasure when people you've never met but you're sure have opinions you'd hate are left begging to pay medical bills.
Wishing to grow the pie of misery is not sustainable. It ends badly.
posted by holgate at 8:34 PM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
I've been seeing an ad for hiring at customs/border patrol with rock music, ATVs tooling around, doggies, and a tag line like AMERICA"S FRONTLINE NOW HIRING. Anyone else seen that?
It isn't a military agency and immigrants are not a military enemy. It's not a front line, and the idea that CBP officers are in the equivalent of an open war is profoundly unhelpful and misleading no matter how ostentatiously the advert and CBP want to pretend that they are.
I'd criticise it for being one step away from "America, fuck yeah", but then I suspect that an advert like that serves much of the same purpose as misspelled emails from Nigerian princes. Both will mainly induce useful/jingoistic/fascist idiots to apply rather than the type of people that might ask too many questions.
posted by jaduncan at 8:35 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
It isn't a military agency and immigrants are not a military enemy. It's not a front line, and the idea that CBP officers are in the equivalent of an open war is profoundly unhelpful and misleading no matter how ostentatiously the advert and CBP want to pretend that they are.
I'd criticise it for being one step away from "America, fuck yeah", but then I suspect that an advert like that serves much of the same purpose as misspelled emails from Nigerian princes. Both will mainly induce useful/jingoistic/fascist idiots to apply rather than the type of people that might ask too many questions.
posted by jaduncan at 8:35 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
Jim Acosta is my secret boo and we're getting ripped on Mojitos right now.
I'm jelly. If I bring a bottle of apple jack can I come party, too?
posted by jammer at 8:36 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm jelly. If I bring a bottle of apple jack can I come party, too?
posted by jammer at 8:36 PM on February 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
See I also noticed Indian Dude in that photo and to me he was clearly telegraphing "there is a dangerously insane man right over there, no sudden movements, y'all."
posted by threeturtles at 8:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by threeturtles at 8:37 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Jim Acosta is my secret boo and we're getting ripped on Mojitos right now.
I'm jelly. If I bring a bottle of apple jack can I come party, too?
posted by jammer at 22:36 on February 17 [+] [!]
Yeah, we got pizza rolls too.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 8:40 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
I've been seeing an ad for hiring at customs/border patrol with rock music, ATVs tooling around, doggies, and a tag line like AMERICA"S FRONTLINE NOW HIRING. Anyone else seen that?
I was channel surfing the other night and chanced upon one of those outdoorsy athletic competition reality shows where people jump through the hoop, shoot the whatever, etc. The first thing I noticed was a woman who was practicing throwing a spear at a mannequin, you know, down at the spear-throwing range, as you do. And what I saw right after that was a row of hay bales arrayed on the ground next to this woman. And prominently displayed on each little hay bale was a poster for Customs and Border Patrol: Now Hiring -- visit cbp.gov.
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 8:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
I was channel surfing the other night and chanced upon one of those outdoorsy athletic competition reality shows where people jump through the hoop, shoot the whatever, etc. The first thing I noticed was a woman who was practicing throwing a spear at a mannequin, you know, down at the spear-throwing range, as you do. And what I saw right after that was a row of hay bales arrayed on the ground next to this woman. And prominently displayed on each little hay bale was a poster for Customs and Border Patrol: Now Hiring -- visit cbp.gov.
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 8:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Alternet.org: A United States of Hate Has Exploded Under Trump
The Trump administration has ripped the lid off a Pandora’s Box of racial, right-wing hate, as the Southern Poverty Law Center reveals.posted by ZeusHumms at 8:49 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
BOOM. @donlemon just killed segment because Trump surrogate wouldn't quit misusing "fake news" to describe a story he didn't like.
posted by murphy slaw at 9:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [31 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 9:13 PM on February 17, 2017 [31 favorites]
Video of Don Lemon shutting that shit down.
posted by holgate at 9:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [50 favorites]
posted by holgate at 9:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [50 favorites]
I do believe this is the clip in question?
posted by Enturbulated at 9:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by Enturbulated at 9:24 PM on February 17, 2017 [15 favorites]
I've been seeing an ad for hiring at customs/border patrol with rock music, ATVs tooling around, doggies, and a tag line like AMERICA"S FRONTLINE NOW HIRING. Anyone else seen that?
I just saw one a few hours ago on MSNBC.. Had to do a bit of a double on it. Back to Coach Trip.. I am not British.
posted by johnpowell at 9:25 PM on February 17, 2017
I just saw one a few hours ago on MSNBC.. Had to do a bit of a double on it. Back to Coach Trip.. I am not British.
posted by johnpowell at 9:25 PM on February 17, 2017
Comic characters punching Nazis, from the fan art request column The Line it is Drawn, in case anybody needs a quick, visual break.
posted by sardonyx at 9:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by sardonyx at 9:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
The thing about #nevertrump, even if you assume they all meant it with all their hearts, is that all they were saying was "We're not going to engage in THAT GUY'S particular brand of evil".
The other plan was Ted Cruz.
Who would've beaten Clinton, all other things equal.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:43 PM on February 17, 2017
The other plan was Ted Cruz.
Who would've beaten Clinton, all other things equal.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:43 PM on February 17, 2017
Bill Maher Gets Upstaged by Milo Yiannopoulos on ‘Real Time’
I haven't seen the segment and would really prefer not to, but it sounds like Maher was less effective as an interviewer than Jim Webb was as a Presidential candidate (remember that guy? I think about Martin O'Malley a lot lately too) and made basically no effort to push back on anything.
posted by zachlipton at 9:44 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I haven't seen the segment and would really prefer not to, but it sounds like Maher was less effective as an interviewer than Jim Webb was as a Presidential candidate (remember that guy? I think about Martin O'Malley a lot lately too) and made basically no effort to push back on anything.
posted by zachlipton at 9:44 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Bill Maher Gets Upstaged by Milo Yiannopoulos on ‘Real Time’
did Maher even stop to wonder why Scahill noped on outta there with a couple days of notice?
posted by indubitable at 9:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
did Maher even stop to wonder why Scahill noped on outta there with a couple days of notice?
posted by indubitable at 9:48 PM on February 17, 2017 [5 favorites]
Meanwhile I looked again at that image from the Washington Post. Their mouths are all pushed shut, masking expression. The posture is closed. If Senators didn't talk after Comey met with them today, it is likely because of threats over the "leaks." It is not because of something good, or something new. Comey is Trump's man. He will never be anything else, even if he isn't.
It looks very much like the startup of a totalitarian state, but no one is getting it. I hope they do, and I have not the vaguest idea how they will fix this whole effort to take down 50 years of environmental work, human rights, and prosperity of any kind beneath the 1%. Mainly I see a catastrophe in our nation. I see a potential for civil war, with the discussion of using the National Guard to shake down our nation, one by one to look for illegals. This is a complete degeneration of our rights as US citizens to go about our lives, unmolested by our government. I am sure this has been said a thousand different ways here.
posted by Oyéah at 9:51 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
It looks very much like the startup of a totalitarian state, but no one is getting it. I hope they do, and I have not the vaguest idea how they will fix this whole effort to take down 50 years of environmental work, human rights, and prosperity of any kind beneath the 1%. Mainly I see a catastrophe in our nation. I see a potential for civil war, with the discussion of using the National Guard to shake down our nation, one by one to look for illegals. This is a complete degeneration of our rights as US citizens to go about our lives, unmolested by our government. I am sure this has been said a thousand different ways here.
posted by Oyéah at 9:51 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
Regarding the "fake news" line he is pushing, evidence strongly suggests suggests Trump has read one book.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/09/trump-files-donalds-big-book-hitler-speeches
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/10/24/the-ugly-history-of-luegenpresse-a-nazi-slur-shouted-at-a-trump-rally/?utm_term=.e8fadd2b9ef2
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/09/trump-files-donalds-big-book-hitler-speeches
Marie Brenner's 1990 profile of Donald Trump for Vanity Fair captured the real estate mogul in turmoil, as he struggled to hold onto his empire amid a nasty divorce fight. It's a juicy piece, but one anecdote in particular stands out: that Trump owned a copy of Adolf Hitler's speeches and allegedly read them for inspiration:
Ivana Trump told her lawyer Michael Kennedy that from time to time her husband reads a book of Hitler's collected speeches, My New Order, which he keeps in a cabinet by his bed. Kennedy now guards a copy of My New Order in a closet at his office, as if it were a grenade. Hitler's speeches, from his earliest days up through the Phony War of 1939, reveal his extraordinary ability as a master propagandist.
"Wow," you're thinking. "But did Trump also respond to this allegation in a shady and kind of revealing way?"
Yes:
"Did your cousin John give you the Hitler speeches?" I asked Trump.
Trump hesitated. "Who told you that?"
"I don't remember," I said.
"Actually, it was my friend Marty Davis from Paramount who gave me a copy of Mein Kampf, and he's a Jew." ("I did give him a book about Hitler," Marty Davis said. "But it was My New Order, Hitler's speeches, not Mein Kampf. I thought he would find it interesting. I am his friend, but I'm not Jewish.")
Later, Trump returned to this subject. "If I had these speeches, and I am not saying that I do, I would never read them."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/10/24/the-ugly-history-of-luegenpresse-a-nazi-slur-shouted-at-a-trump-rally/?utm_term=.e8fadd2b9ef2
BERLIN — When a video of two Donald Trump supporters shouting “Lügenpresse” (lying press) started to circulate Sunday, viewers from Germany soon noted its explosive nature. The defamatory word was most frequently used in Nazi Germany. Today, it is a common slogan among those branded as representing the “ugly Germany”: members of xenophobic, right-wing groups.posted by sebastienbailard at 9:52 PM on February 17, 2017 [22 favorites]
Its use across the Atlantic Ocean at a Trump rally has worried Germans who know about its origins all too well. Both the Nazi regime and the East German government made use of it, turning it into an anti-democracy slogan.
maher thinks of himself as the only smart man in any room, so of course he's a sucker for milo's "transgressive" brand of hate
posted by murphy slaw at 9:53 PM on February 17, 2017 [33 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 9:53 PM on February 17, 2017 [33 favorites]
CNN has been doing a good job as of late. They have had some terrific commentators and the lady hosts have been taking no shit from right wingnut Congress fuckers. There was a woman on today hosting one of Wolf's hours and she rocks every time I see her. Name escapes me alas but she interviewed Yoho (sp?) today. Please keep it up CNN. Don't make me regret praising you.
posted by futz at 9:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by futz at 9:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Maher, what a tit.
posted by Artw at 9:58 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Artw at 9:58 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
Clinton was defeated by the fucking emails. Jeb! could have beaten her.
posted by Artw at 9:58 PM on February 17, 2017
posted by Artw at 9:58 PM on February 17, 2017
Not only did Maher stop to think about Scahill cancelling, he released a statement trashing him and then agreed with Milo when he further trashed him. I wasn't expecting much from the interview, but Maher didn't even clear my already lowered bar. They sounded like two teens at a sleepover.
posted by bootlegpop at 10:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by bootlegpop at 10:02 PM on February 17, 2017 [9 favorites]
Maher was part of the problem years before Milo learned to abuse the word "ethics".
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
Maher is a smug little prick who constantly seeks validation . Sound familiar? If you ever watch keep an eye out for how pleased he is with his own 'jokes' and how insecurely he glances around the table for affirmation. Ugh.
posted by futz at 10:05 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by futz at 10:05 PM on February 17, 2017 [13 favorites]
Maher serves only to give a platform to fascism. He's worse than useless.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:06 PM on February 17, 2017 [6 favorites]
I think that no matter who the dems and the repubs sent up in the primaries, these shady Russian shenanigans would have won Trump no matter what in the general. This was fixed by foreign interference before anyone had even declared candidacy. So relitigating primaries and #Nevertrump is pointless.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 10:07 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 10:07 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
CNN has been doing a good job as of late.
They can never atone for their sins in the campaign.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:07 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
They can never atone for their sins in the campaign.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:07 PM on February 17, 2017 [11 favorites]
Meanwhile I looked again at that image from the Washington Post. Their mouths are all pushed shut, masking expression. The posture is closed. If Senators didn't talk after Comey met with them today, it is likely because of threats over the "leaks." It is not because of something good, or something new. Comey is Trump's man. He will never be anything else, even if he isn't.
I doubt that's what the meeting was about. Comey isn't stupid. He knows that he's not going to be able to threaten Senators about leaks without hard evidence. He knows he can go in there and tell them to stop leaking and that it's not going to to a damn thing. If these guys want info to leak, it's going to get out and they know exactly how to do it without leaving a trail.
Simply put, it was a classified briefing session, and these senators - unlike tRump - are very careful about classified information and aren't going to discuss the subject matter with the press. We can speculate all we want but no one outside of that room knows what they were discussing.
posted by azpenguin at 10:09 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
I doubt that's what the meeting was about. Comey isn't stupid. He knows that he's not going to be able to threaten Senators about leaks without hard evidence. He knows he can go in there and tell them to stop leaking and that it's not going to to a damn thing. If these guys want info to leak, it's going to get out and they know exactly how to do it without leaving a trail.
Simply put, it was a classified briefing session, and these senators - unlike tRump - are very careful about classified information and aren't going to discuss the subject matter with the press. We can speculate all we want but no one outside of that room knows what they were discussing.
posted by azpenguin at 10:09 PM on February 17, 2017 [12 favorites]
CNN has been doing a good job as of late.
They can never atone for their sins in the campaign.
Yes yes yes, I know. It has probably been said a hundred times here and yet I still wrote my comment knowing that someone would respond with that immediately. Shrugs.
posted by futz at 10:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [18 favorites]
CNN et al are responding to viewership, and the jet airliners of noise millions of frightened and suddenly politically engaged people are making. Keep it up and so will CNN. No atonement required.
posted by notyou at 10:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by notyou at 10:15 PM on February 17, 2017 [10 favorites]
shothotbot: ICE regularly deported 400,000 people a year under Obama so I am guessing they could get to a million if they put their minds to it and didn't care who they removed.
This is from way, way up thread, but it's really important to correct this. For a variety of reasons, the exact definition of what exactly constitutes a "removal" by ICE has varied from administration to administration. The Obama administration used a much more expansive definition than previous administrations, meaning the official statistics include, for example, people caught during border crossings, and often the same individuals caught and turned back multiple times. The somewhat vague definition of "deportation," however, means that when most people see figures like 400,000 per year, they're thinking of 400,000 people living and working within the United States being kicked out, what ICE calls "interior removals". Unfortunately, this misconception has been exploited by both anti-immigrant activists ("See how many 'illegals' are here, and these are just the ones they're catching! We're being overrun!") and pro-immigrant activists ("Obama talks big about immigrant rights, but he's deported more immigrants than Bush!") to make it seem like interior removals spiked dramatically during the Obama administration, but because of the changing definitions it's not really clear what the true trends are. From the report shothotbot linked, though, ICE had about 65,000 interior removals in 2016, which is probably more representative of frequency of the kind of deportations most people are concerned about.
What is clear is that ICE has not been finding and kicking out 400,000 people living in the United States per year over the last 8 years, and they almost certainly do not have the ability to engage in mass deportations at the scale of millions that Trump is talking about without a dramatic increase in funding and personnel. That doesn't mean they won't be happy to try, though.
posted by biogeo at 10:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [107 favorites]
This is from way, way up thread, but it's really important to correct this. For a variety of reasons, the exact definition of what exactly constitutes a "removal" by ICE has varied from administration to administration. The Obama administration used a much more expansive definition than previous administrations, meaning the official statistics include, for example, people caught during border crossings, and often the same individuals caught and turned back multiple times. The somewhat vague definition of "deportation," however, means that when most people see figures like 400,000 per year, they're thinking of 400,000 people living and working within the United States being kicked out, what ICE calls "interior removals". Unfortunately, this misconception has been exploited by both anti-immigrant activists ("See how many 'illegals' are here, and these are just the ones they're catching! We're being overrun!") and pro-immigrant activists ("Obama talks big about immigrant rights, but he's deported more immigrants than Bush!") to make it seem like interior removals spiked dramatically during the Obama administration, but because of the changing definitions it's not really clear what the true trends are. From the report shothotbot linked, though, ICE had about 65,000 interior removals in 2016, which is probably more representative of frequency of the kind of deportations most people are concerned about.
What is clear is that ICE has not been finding and kicking out 400,000 people living in the United States per year over the last 8 years, and they almost certainly do not have the ability to engage in mass deportations at the scale of millions that Trump is talking about without a dramatic increase in funding and personnel. That doesn't mean they won't be happy to try, though.
posted by biogeo at 10:20 PM on February 17, 2017 [107 favorites]
I confess I did. But I used the fake email address shitgibbon@gibbonhouse.com
i used shitgeyser@toilet.poop and i've been cackling about it for 5 hours now
posted by poffin boffin at 10:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
i used shitgeyser@toilet.poop and i've been cackling about it for 5 hours now
posted by poffin boffin at 10:28 PM on February 17, 2017 [25 favorites]
Vice chair of Wasatch County GOP apologizes for letter on equal pay for women He has since resigned. See second link below.
-- “Traditionally men have earned more than women in the workplace because they are considered the primary breadwinners for families,” he wrote. “They need to make enough to support their families and allow the Mother to remain in the home to raise and nurture the children.”
-- “If businesses are forced to pay women the same as male earnings, that means they will have to reduce the pay for the men they employ… simple economics,” he wrote.
Green goes on to say that this will make it harder for men to support their families, “which will mean more Mothers will be forced to leave the home (where they may prefer to be) to join the workforce to make up the difference.”
(same site has a second story with more info go Salt Lake!)
-- “You wouldn’t believe the hateful, vile comments and messages I’ve received,” Green said of the reaction.
Ooo eee oo ah ah Ting tang walla walla bing bang! I love the backlash ocurring everywhere. $100 that this dude never saw this coming.
posted by futz at 10:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [42 favorites]
-- “Traditionally men have earned more than women in the workplace because they are considered the primary breadwinners for families,” he wrote. “They need to make enough to support their families and allow the Mother to remain in the home to raise and nurture the children.”
-- “If businesses are forced to pay women the same as male earnings, that means they will have to reduce the pay for the men they employ… simple economics,” he wrote.
Green goes on to say that this will make it harder for men to support their families, “which will mean more Mothers will be forced to leave the home (where they may prefer to be) to join the workforce to make up the difference.”
(same site has a second story with more info go Salt Lake!)
-- “You wouldn’t believe the hateful, vile comments and messages I’ve received,” Green said of the reaction.
Ooo eee oo ah ah Ting tang walla walla bing bang! I love the backlash ocurring everywhere. $100 that this dude never saw this coming.
posted by futz at 10:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [42 favorites]
> i used shitgeyser@toilet.poop and i've been cackling about it for 5 hours now
I always fallback on clown@clownpenis.fart. That way they know I am the clown.
posted by guiseroom at 10:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
I always fallback on clown@clownpenis.fart. That way they know I am the clown.
posted by guiseroom at 10:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [8 favorites]
re: odious CBP/ICE hiring ads
>* I saw one of those go on in the theater before Hidden Figures, which is a pretty spectacular placement misfire.
Not a bug. It's an intimidation tactic.
*I really like the ^ upthread. Adding titile="xx" right before the </> with a space after the last " can be super helpful for context. Try a mouseover over the links here.
posted by porpoise at 10:56 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
>* I saw one of those go on in the theater before Hidden Figures, which is a pretty spectacular placement misfire.
Not a bug. It's an intimidation tactic.
*I really like the ^ upthread. Adding titile="xx" right before the </> with a space after the last " can be super helpful for context. Try a mouseover over the links here.
posted by porpoise at 10:56 PM on February 17, 2017 [4 favorites]
that totally rings true, porpoise. i am surprised that i am surprised by this.
posted by j_curiouser at 11:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by j_curiouser at 11:01 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
A Neuroscientist Explains Why Donald Trump Needs LSD
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:04 PM on February 17, 2017 [3 favorites]
This is a bit odd. NYT: A Young Reporter Makes a Soft Query and Pleases an Upset President
A young guy is called on at the press conference and asks the President a kind of weird softball about what Melania Trump does for the country. Trump is pleased and asks who he's with. The reporter says UNF News and Trump says he's going to start watching.
Turns out UNF News is Universal News Forever, which is just this 19-year-old who really likes news and has a website. He mostly hangs out at City Hall in New York covering the mayor from a basement press room, but has been chilling at the White House lately and attending Spicer's brefings (this kind of thing is why I said upthread that it's not super surprising that Ami Magazine was credentialed to be at the press conference; the standards really aren't all that much usually). And then the President called on him, because he seemed to be calling on people almost at random sometimes instead of having any idea what he was doing, which is the sort of thing that happens when you wake up one morning and declare an emergency press conference because you feel sad.
posted by zachlipton at 11:29 PM on February 17, 2017 [29 favorites]
A young guy is called on at the press conference and asks the President a kind of weird softball about what Melania Trump does for the country. Trump is pleased and asks who he's with. The reporter says UNF News and Trump says he's going to start watching.
Turns out UNF News is Universal News Forever, which is just this 19-year-old who really likes news and has a website. He mostly hangs out at City Hall in New York covering the mayor from a basement press room, but has been chilling at the White House lately and attending Spicer's brefings (this kind of thing is why I said upthread that it's not super surprising that Ami Magazine was credentialed to be at the press conference; the standards really aren't all that much usually). And then the President called on him, because he seemed to be calling on people almost at random sometimes instead of having any idea what he was doing, which is the sort of thing that happens when you wake up one morning and declare an emergency press conference because you feel sad.
posted by zachlipton at 11:29 PM on February 17, 2017 [29 favorites]
I need LSD.
That article's mostly crap.
posted by porpoise at 11:32 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
That article's mostly crap.
posted by porpoise at 11:32 PM on February 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
A senior Republican strategist.
@JWGOP:
Comey must have scared the hell out of them, as I sense, for the first time, some resolve from GOP members.
posted by chris24 at 11:36 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
@JWGOP:
Comey must have scared the hell out of them, as I sense, for the first time, some resolve from GOP members.
posted by chris24 at 11:36 PM on February 17, 2017 [16 favorites]
I’m going into tomorrow imagining that everyone at Trump’s rally will be wearing a pussy hat. Nobody tell me otherwise.
posted by Going To Maine at 11:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Going To Maine at 11:54 PM on February 17, 2017 [7 favorites]
asks the President a kind of weird softball about what Melania Trump does for the country.
I don't think this is a softball, and I'd like a good answer.
I don't buy the idea that she's throwing off any shackles by further freeing the first lady. HRC did this. Michelle Obama did this. Melania Trump could do this, she could do so, so much (while still allowing Barron to finish school) but she simply doesn't give a shit. She hasn't engaged the American people in any meaningful way. She hasn't hired all her staff, and the work she's refusing to do as first lady still needs to be done by someone, probably another woman, and she is costing tax payers a ton of money. And I don't give her points for not actively destroying a semi-permamant garden on the grounds of the White House, either.
Feb 14th: Melania Trump Announces White House Tours Will Resume Next Month
Tour requests for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, which are handled by the office of the first lady, have been piling up since the Trump administration took charge of the White House, according to The New York Times.
That's our house.
That said, the whole idea that POTUS is calling on total randoms during a live press confrence is nuts. "Yes, thank you Mr. President. After this morning's tragedy, will you be meeting with bababooey?"
posted by Room 641-A at 12:03 AM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
I don't think this is a softball, and I'd like a good answer.
I don't buy the idea that she's throwing off any shackles by further freeing the first lady. HRC did this. Michelle Obama did this. Melania Trump could do this, she could do so, so much (while still allowing Barron to finish school) but she simply doesn't give a shit. She hasn't engaged the American people in any meaningful way. She hasn't hired all her staff, and the work she's refusing to do as first lady still needs to be done by someone, probably another woman, and she is costing tax payers a ton of money. And I don't give her points for not actively destroying a semi-permamant garden on the grounds of the White House, either.
Feb 14th: Melania Trump Announces White House Tours Will Resume Next Month
Tour requests for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, which are handled by the office of the first lady, have been piling up since the Trump administration took charge of the White House, according to The New York Times.
That's our house.
That said, the whole idea that POTUS is calling on total randoms during a live press confrence is nuts. "Yes, thank you Mr. President. After this morning's tragedy, will you be meeting with bababooey?"
posted by Room 641-A at 12:03 AM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
Actual [real] NYT correction, because we're already to the point where these distinctions are necessary:
posted by zachlipton at 12:18 AM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
Because of an editing error, an earlier version of the headline with this article misquoted the tweet President Trump wrote. He described the nation’s news media as the “enemy of the American people,” not the “enemy of the people.”This year blows.
posted by zachlipton at 12:18 AM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
Demanding that Melania perform her assigned domestic duties, because of who she is married to, is disgusting. She didn't apply for the job and she doesn't want the job. The White House tours don't depend on her any more than vacuuming the carpets do.
When Lindsay Graham, who is not married, was a presidential candidate, he said there would be a new First Lady every month. I thought this gave him a great pick-up line. And would squash the 1950s idea of what the First Lady is and is supposed to do.
posted by llc at 12:35 AM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
When Lindsay Graham, who is not married, was a presidential candidate, he said there would be a new First Lady every month. I thought this gave him a great pick-up line. And would squash the 1950s idea of what the First Lady is and is supposed to do.
posted by llc at 12:35 AM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
oh this is a beauty:
Japan’s interpreters struggle to make sense of ‘Trumpese’
“He is so overconfident and yet so logically unconvincing that my interpreter friends and I often joke that if we translated his words as they are, we would end up making ourselves sound stupid."
and
Japan’s interpreters struggle to make sense of ‘Trumpese’
“He is so overconfident and yet so logically unconvincing that my interpreter friends and I often joke that if we translated his words as they are, we would end up making ourselves sound stupid."
and
In fact, it is no secret that “Trumpese” — as his phraseology is called — is by and large simple, characterized by repetition, easy grammar and elementary-level vocabulary.posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:37 AM on February 18, 2017 [18 favorites]
A “readability analysis” of presidential campaign speeches by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s Language Technologies Institute (LTI) revealed last March that Trump’s lexical richness was the lowest — at seventh-grade level — of his rival candidates and past U.S. presidents.
The study also described his grammatical level as grade 5.7, the second-worst after George W. Bush, who barely topped the fifth-grade level.
Demanding that Melania perform her assigned domestic duties, because of who she is married to, is disgusting. She didn't apply for the job and she doesn't want the job.
Ffs, I'm not demanding anything. She has a ceremonial role and I'm not impressed with how she's handling it. I also expected Bill to help support the country, too.
posted by Room 641-A at 12:52 AM on February 18, 2017 [29 favorites]
Ffs, I'm not demanding anything. She has a ceremonial role and I'm not impressed with how she's handling it. I also expected Bill to help support the country, too.
posted by Room 641-A at 12:52 AM on February 18, 2017 [29 favorites]
Bill Maher Gets Upstaged by Milo Yiannopoulos on ‘Real Time’
posted by jaduncan at 12:56 AM on February 18, 2017 [65 favorites]
"Stop taking the bait, liberals!” exclaimed Maher. “The fact that they all freaked out about this little, impish, British fag? You fucking schoolgirls. You schoolgirls. Right?”Uh, WTF now? Homophobia, xenophobia, apologia for fascism and repeated misogyny. Plus, he wants to know about stuff for schoolgirls? Teen Vogue didn't take the normalising fascism bait like he did, and made more coherent arguments in not doing so.
posted by jaduncan at 12:56 AM on February 18, 2017 [65 favorites]
Japanese teen translates Trump's twitter and gets 60,000 followers.
Buzzfeed link.
On the one hand, I'm glad this kid is making the effort. On the other, I wish he didn't have to do it with the kind of foul non-language that Trump uses.
Which reminds me, my non-English-speaking mom recently told me rather proudly that she started following Trump on Twitter because "Even I can understand what he's saying!" I'm beginning to think his Twitter is pretty effective ESL material.
posted by misozaki at 1:00 AM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
Buzzfeed link.
On the one hand, I'm glad this kid is making the effort. On the other, I wish he didn't have to do it with the kind of foul non-language that Trump uses.
Which reminds me, my non-English-speaking mom recently told me rather proudly that she started following Trump on Twitter because "Even I can understand what he's saying!" I'm beginning to think his Twitter is pretty effective ESL material.
posted by misozaki at 1:00 AM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
The NYT story on Milo on Bill Maher has an additional detail that's unsettling:
posted by zachlipton at 1:03 AM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
But in an online-only segment that ran after the HBO broadcast, Mr. Yiannopoulos said that transgender people were “vastly disproportionately involved in sex crime,” drawing jeers, boos and a shout of “liar” from Mr. Maher’s audience.The article has a dead link there, but it sounds like from what I'm seeing the interview got crazy transphobic, Maher of course did fuck all, Larry Wilmore said hell no, and HBO didn't air that segment.
posted by zachlipton at 1:03 AM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
HBO never airs the "overtime" segments; they aren't bits spliced out of the middle of the rest, it's a separate part shown online after the regular filming is over.
posted by Justinian at 1:07 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Justinian at 1:07 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
The fact that a random set of Maher audience members were more prepared to stand up to that than Maher was is at once unsettling and comforting. Never forget how the popular vote went.
posted by jaduncan at 1:07 AM on February 18, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 1:07 AM on February 18, 2017 [41 favorites]
The White House tours don't depend on her
Except they do, as it's currently a function of the office of FLOTUS. I would totally support her challenging that assumption and moving it to WH staff, but that's not what happened. I mean, I wasn't expecting her to lead the damn tours herself.
posted by Room 641-A at 1:10 AM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
Except they do, as it's currently a function of the office of FLOTUS. I would totally support her challenging that assumption and moving it to WH staff, but that's not what happened. I mean, I wasn't expecting her to lead the damn tours herself.
posted by Room 641-A at 1:10 AM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
And now for our interlude, the 'Paul' from Peter, Paul and Mary will sing Impeachable, to the tune of Unforgettable.
posted by Thella at 1:11 AM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Thella at 1:11 AM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
Wow, Larry Wilmore did lay the smack down on Milo.
posted by Justinian at 1:14 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:14 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Take the show away from Maher and give it to Larry Wilmore.
posted by zachlipton at 1:16 AM on February 18, 2017 [58 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:16 AM on February 18, 2017 [58 favorites]
Pence today:
posted by jaduncan at 2:27 AM on February 18, 2017 [32 favorites]
Vice President Pence @VP 1h1 hour agoThank the fates that we have true moderates like Pence referring to ash-heaps and crushing other countries in relation to nukes rather than anyone extremist. If it wasn't for that moderation and restraint, he could have strengthened the Iranian hardline argument that Iran needs nukes as a defensive measure against the US 'crushing' them or something.
Under @POTUS, the US will remain committed to ensuring Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon capable of threatening our countries or allies.
Vice President Pence @VP 1h1 hour ago
As @POTUS has made clear, the US will fight tirelessly to crush these enemies & consign them to the ash-heap of history, where they belong.
posted by jaduncan at 2:27 AM on February 18, 2017 [32 favorites]
Also from Pence at Munich (!):"This is President Trump's promise: we will stand with Europe today and every day, because we are bound together by the same noble ideals – freedom, democracy, justice and the rule of law," Pence told the Munich Security Conference.
Have those words ever come from POTUS45? Is he even capable of phrasing them? Or have those words come from POTUS45.1?
posted by Devonian at 2:36 AM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
Have those words ever come from POTUS45? Is he even capable of phrasing them? Or have those words come from POTUS45.1?
posted by Devonian at 2:36 AM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
After being confronted by another panelist, former U.S. Navy officer and cryptology expert Malcolm Nance, Yiannapolous turned to Maher and quipped: “You always invite such awful people on your show! They’re so stupid!”
That really set Wilmore off. “First of all, hold on, Bill: You can go fuck yourself,” Wilmore said to Yiannopoulos. “If your argument is that these people are stupid, you didn’t hear a word this man [Nance] said earlier in the segment, because he can talk circles around your pathetic, douchey little ass from England, alright?” --The Daily Beast
Larry Wilmore is awesome.
posted by valkane at 2:38 AM on February 18, 2017 [84 favorites]
That really set Wilmore off. “First of all, hold on, Bill: You can go fuck yourself,” Wilmore said to Yiannopoulos. “If your argument is that these people are stupid, you didn’t hear a word this man [Nance] said earlier in the segment, because he can talk circles around your pathetic, douchey little ass from England, alright?” --The Daily Beast
Larry Wilmore is awesome.
posted by valkane at 2:38 AM on February 18, 2017 [84 favorites]
I did like the overtime segment. Nance also told him to fuck off when he realized that he isn't American. I doubt that they converted anyone, but Wilmore and Nance did at least give him a small taste of the disrespect that he so richly deserves.
Maher, on the other hand, is used to having at least one shitstain on almost every show, and was clearly incapable of detecting that this one reeked more than his usual BS guests. He even seemed to think that this 30+-year old pissant of immense proportions was some sort of youth to be counseled and converted.
posted by bootlegpop at 3:20 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Maher, on the other hand, is used to having at least one shitstain on almost every show, and was clearly incapable of detecting that this one reeked more than his usual BS guests. He even seemed to think that this 30+-year old pissant of immense proportions was some sort of youth to be counseled and converted.
posted by bootlegpop at 3:20 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
And I'm out. These 27%ers are unreachable and unredeemable. Fuck them.
Nixon had 15-18% approval as he was drafting his letter to resign. There are always gonna be some supporters. And there will be no way to reach 'em.
posted by rough ashlar at 3:58 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
Nixon had 15-18% approval as he was drafting his letter to resign. There are always gonna be some supporters. And there will be no way to reach 'em.
posted by rough ashlar at 3:58 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
I can almost sympathize. If Hillary Clinton was about to be impeached for some verified and heinous stuff I'd still be tempted to be assume it's all lies and still be on team Hillary. It's hard to admit you're wrong.
posted by ian1977 at 4:01 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 4:01 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's a lot harder when you're also evil and stupid.
posted by spitbull at 4:25 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 4:25 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
On the matter of the ads for Gorsuch mentioned upthread, here's one example. It has been running here in Massachusetts, too, and appears to be the handiwork of something called Judicial Crisis Network. Evidently, they've pledged to spend $10M on these kinds of ads nationwide.
posted by AwkwardPause at 4:27 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by AwkwardPause at 4:27 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
The NRA just persuaded Congress to legalize the killing of bear cubs in wildlife refuges
Respect the culture!
posted by zombieflanders at 4:30 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Respect the culture!
posted by zombieflanders at 4:30 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
That should keep bears out of the schools.
I can't wait to see what cute baby animals will be targeted next. You’re officially on notice, puppies and kittens!
posted by guiseroom at 4:34 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
I can't wait to see what cute baby animals will be targeted next. You’re officially on notice, puppies and kittens!
posted by guiseroom at 4:34 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Trump supporters quickly taking over George Takei's Twitter vote, but that's how democracy rolls....
posted by Wilder at 4:38 AM on February 18, 2017
posted by Wilder at 4:38 AM on February 18, 2017
Demanding that Melania perform her assigned domestic duties, because of who she is married to, is disgusting.
She has a ceremonial function which she agreed to do because her husband ran for president. It's disgusting to defend her failure to do her job.
posted by winna at 4:49 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
She has a ceremonial function which she agreed to do because her husband ran for president. It's disgusting to defend her failure to do her job.
posted by winna at 4:49 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
I think you just broke my brain here
Women are apparently just hosts.
posted by Talez at 4:57 AM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
Women are apparently just hosts.
posted by Talez at 4:57 AM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
"Disgusting" to fail to take over an obligation foisted on her by the megalomaniac aspirations of her abusive psychopathic husband? No no no no no no no no no
posted by stonepharisee at 4:59 AM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 4:59 AM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
We can speculate all we want but no one outside of that room knows what they were discussing.
FBI has discovered secret to immortality: keep your face expressionless and talk as little as possible. Highly classified! Do not discuss beyond this room!
posted by indubitable at 5:04 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
FBI has discovered secret to immortality: keep your face expressionless and talk as little as possible. Highly classified! Do not discuss beyond this room!
posted by indubitable at 5:04 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
There are diplomatic functions that need to be happening that are historically done by the person in the FLOTUS role (usually the president's spouse but not always). If FLOTUS is unwilling or unable to do those things, then the WH neeeds to arrange for a staff member to do them. This is less about what Melania should or shouldn't be doing and more about what the WH is failing to do.
posted by melissasaurus at 5:07 AM on February 18, 2017 [98 favorites]
posted by melissasaurus at 5:07 AM on February 18, 2017 [98 favorites]
You know, in all the talk of mobilizing the national guard, no one has pointed out to control the round ups and population you need to control the guns of the populace. Seriously, all those freaked out gun right nuts who feared Obama and the liberals taking away their guns not thinking the present admin including batshitinsane 2: Pence Bugaloo won't come after their guns?
First sweep Muslims; second sweep "Mexicans"; third and fourth sweep will be blacks and transgressive sexual elements but at some point it will be divergent religious groups. I am including Christian groups who may not be considered mainstream Christian, such as the Mormons. I cannot recall if the apocalypse eschatology of the evangelicals require the Mormons to convert like the Jews for the end times but that would point to policy shaping i.e. driving people away vs overt, violent pressure.
posted by jadepearl at 5:08 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
First sweep Muslims; second sweep "Mexicans"; third and fourth sweep will be blacks and transgressive sexual elements but at some point it will be divergent religious groups. I am including Christian groups who may not be considered mainstream Christian, such as the Mormons. I cannot recall if the apocalypse eschatology of the evangelicals require the Mormons to convert like the Jews for the end times but that would point to policy shaping i.e. driving people away vs overt, violent pressure.
posted by jadepearl at 5:08 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
If Melania does not want to take on the duties of a First Spouse, that is definitely her right. She should then simply say so, making it possible for someone else to do that job. In other words, she should either shit or get off the pot.
posted by Too-Ticky at 5:22 AM on February 18, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by Too-Ticky at 5:22 AM on February 18, 2017 [24 favorites]
One of the classic sociopathic tendencies is having the ability to thrive in chaotic circumstances and deliberately creating confusion and chaos in order to use it as cover for taking advantages for yourself. That's not something sociopathic types do because they're clever or consciously and deliberately doing it as a strategy, it just comes naturally to them and usually works, so they keep doing it and when others reinforce the idea they're being smarter than most people to behave in these ways, rather than correctly pointing out they're only winning by breaking society's most basic assumptions of trust and decency, it rewards their egos. Best not to imagine Trump as anything more or less than a big old dumb shark swimming in unfamiliar waters where he doesn't understand the food chain. The others--the ones using him--really watch out for them. They're even more dangerous than that.
posted by saulgoodman at 5:24 AM on February 18, 2017 [39 favorites]
posted by saulgoodman at 5:24 AM on February 18, 2017 [39 favorites]
white house toady and former breitbart commissar news editor sebastian gorka declares that asking the administration hard questions is manufacturing fake news in a BBC interview.
he also forgets that using the "are you still beating your wife" construction to complain about entrapment is less effective when you are in the middle of beating your wife when it is asked.
posted by murphy slaw at 5:32 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
he also forgets that using the "are you still beating your wife" construction to complain about entrapment is less effective when you are in the middle of beating your wife when it is asked.
posted by murphy slaw at 5:32 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
Nixon had 15-18% approval as he was drafting his letter to resign. There are always gonna be some supporters. And there will be no way to reach 'em.
Alex P. Keaton in particular.
posted by srboisvert at 5:34 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Alex P. Keaton in particular.
posted by srboisvert at 5:34 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
This is the must disturbing thing to me about the Roll Call article re Friday evening's Comey meeting (emphasis mine):
But leaving that secure room in the Capitol Visitor Center, senators declined to even confirm the presence of the FBI director, much less the substance of the meeting
How...? What...?
posted by Room 641-A at 5:36 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
But leaving that secure room in the Capitol Visitor Center, senators declined to even confirm the presence of the FBI director, much less the substance of the meeting
How...? What...?
posted by Room 641-A at 5:36 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
That's not something sociopathic types do because they're clever or consciously and deliberately doing it as a strategy, it just comes naturally to them and usually works, so they keep doing it
I think this is true of all SCROTUS's strategies, not just the creation of chaos, and I've been looking for a way to put it this succinctly for a while.
posted by ambrosen at 5:36 AM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
I think this is true of all SCROTUS's strategies, not just the creation of chaos, and I've been looking for a way to put it this succinctly for a while.
posted by ambrosen at 5:36 AM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Almost half of Germans with an interest in traveling to the U.S. won’t do so now because they feel unwelcome or don’t want to endorse President Donald Trump.
posted by chris24 at 5:42 AM on February 18, 2017 [46 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 5:42 AM on February 18, 2017 [46 favorites]
CNN et al are responding to viewership, and the jet airliners of noise millions of frightened and suddenly politically engaged people are making. Keep it up and so will CNN. No atonement required.
As happy as I've been to see journalistic organizations grow a spine suddenly, I've got quite a bit of background anxiety about it, because I know that they're only doing it because it's currently profitable for them to do so. The current political crisis is selling big. Them pushing back sells big.
And so did giving Trump tons of free publicity during the election. So did the unwarranted focus on emails and the Clinton Foundation. So did all but completely ignoring reporting on policy. Helping Trump get elected profited them, and now fighting him profits them.
Most of them aren't invested in selling news anymore. They're selling tickets to the show. Right now the headliner of the show is the future of our democracy, so yay, glad you're on board, even if it's for the wrong reasons. But CNN's reputation (and Matt Lauer's, and, and) 30 days ago was very different, and I don't believe for a second that the change to today had a thing to do with channeling the spirit of Edward R. Murrow.
When mercenary interests align with your own, it's okay to be grateful to have them on board, but if you're not wondering what happens when that changes, you're in for some heartbreak.
posted by middleclasstool at 5:45 AM on February 18, 2017 [32 favorites]
As happy as I've been to see journalistic organizations grow a spine suddenly, I've got quite a bit of background anxiety about it, because I know that they're only doing it because it's currently profitable for them to do so. The current political crisis is selling big. Them pushing back sells big.
And so did giving Trump tons of free publicity during the election. So did the unwarranted focus on emails and the Clinton Foundation. So did all but completely ignoring reporting on policy. Helping Trump get elected profited them, and now fighting him profits them.
Most of them aren't invested in selling news anymore. They're selling tickets to the show. Right now the headliner of the show is the future of our democracy, so yay, glad you're on board, even if it's for the wrong reasons. But CNN's reputation (and Matt Lauer's, and, and) 30 days ago was very different, and I don't believe for a second that the change to today had a thing to do with channeling the spirit of Edward R. Murrow.
When mercenary interests align with your own, it's okay to be grateful to have them on board, but if you're not wondering what happens when that changes, you're in for some heartbreak.
posted by middleclasstool at 5:45 AM on February 18, 2017 [32 favorites]
clown@clownpenis.fart
i usually fall back on the somewhat prosaic but on-target fuckyou@eatshit.com.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 5:53 AM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
i usually fall back on the somewhat prosaic but on-target fuckyou@eatshit.com.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 5:53 AM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
But then they won't know who is clown.
posted by guiseroom at 5:58 AM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 5:58 AM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump
Don't believe the main stream (fake news) media.The White House is running VERY WELL. I inherited a MESS and am in the process of fixing it.
Pay no attention to the man behind the fine-tuned, well-oiled curtain.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:58 AM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Don't believe the main stream (fake news) media.The White House is running VERY WELL. I inherited a MESS and am in the process of fixing it.
Pay no attention to the man behind the fine-tuned, well-oiled curtain.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:58 AM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
But then they won't know who is clown.
Par for the course when interacting with quonsar.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 6:00 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Par for the course when interacting with quonsar.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 6:00 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
No clown. No clown. You're the clown.
posted by ian1977 at 6:03 AM on February 18, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 6:03 AM on February 18, 2017 [27 favorites]
Serious question that demonstrates I do not understand law or if this would even matter but, considering that 45 makes derogatory statements about the media and specifically calls news organizations "fake news," would there be any value in all of them banding together to file some type of lawsuit for slander?
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 6:04 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 6:04 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
@StephenAtHome
Trump tweeted that the media is "the enemy." Assuming he meant "the enema," given how the media is constantly making him lose his shit.
posted by chris24 at 6:04 AM on February 18, 2017 [30 favorites]
Trump tweeted that the media is "the enemy." Assuming he meant "the enema," given how the media is constantly making him lose his shit.
posted by chris24 at 6:04 AM on February 18, 2017 [30 favorites]
In other words, she should either shit or get off the pot.
And since (according to her husband) she doesn't shit, we have a problem.
posted by holgate at 6:08 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
And since (according to her husband) she doesn't shit, we have a problem.
posted by holgate at 6:08 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
> Almost half of Germans with an interest in traveling to the U.S. won’t do so now because they feel unwelcome or don’t want to endorse President Donald Trump.
I was at a dinner party last night, and there were two couples there who had decided against traveling to the U.S. this summer. Multiply this by who knows how many times and it's not going to take long for the American tourism industry to start tanking.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:09 AM on February 18, 2017 [15 favorites]
I was at a dinner party last night, and there were two couples there who had decided against traveling to the U.S. this summer. Multiply this by who knows how many times and it's not going to take long for the American tourism industry to start tanking.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:09 AM on February 18, 2017 [15 favorites]
He forget to say "Leader of the Free World" Angela Merkel.
@Kevinliptakcnn
With Mike Pence looking on, Angela Merkel says journalists must be respected. "Freedom of the press is a pillar of Democracy," she says
posted by chris24 at 6:14 AM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
@Kevinliptakcnn
With Mike Pence looking on, Angela Merkel says journalists must be respected. "Freedom of the press is a pillar of Democracy," she says
posted by chris24 at 6:14 AM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
But then they won't know who is clown.
Par for the course when interacting with quonsar.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon
Don't forget about the rest of us. It's clowns all the way down.
posted by azpenguin at 6:14 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Par for the course when interacting with quonsar.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon
Don't forget about the rest of us. It's clowns all the way down.
posted by azpenguin at 6:14 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Nothing but clowns down here.
posted by guiseroom at 6:18 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by guiseroom at 6:18 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Demanding that Melania perform her assigned domestic duties, because of who she is married to, is disgusting. She didn't apply for the job and she doesn't want the job. The White House tours don't depend on her any more than vacuuming the carpets do.
While I agree that the expectations on the First Lady are ridiculous and out-dated, she clearly intends/intended to monetize the position (or so her lawsuit claims) and saw it as a golden opportunity for marketing herself and her products. If she wants to make out like a bandit from being FLOTUS, then the least she could do is actually then do some work.
posted by lesbiassparrow at 6:21 AM on February 18, 2017 [57 favorites]
While I agree that the expectations on the First Lady are ridiculous and out-dated, she clearly intends/intended to monetize the position (or so her lawsuit claims) and saw it as a golden opportunity for marketing herself and her products. If she wants to make out like a bandit from being FLOTUS, then the least she could do is actually then do some work.
posted by lesbiassparrow at 6:21 AM on February 18, 2017 [57 favorites]
> Almost half of Germans with an interest in traveling to the U.S. won’t do so now because they feel unwelcome or don’t want to endorse President Donald Trump.
I was at a dinner party last night, and there were two couples there who had decided against traveling to the U.S. this summer. Multiply this by who knows how many times and it's not going to take long for the American tourism industry to start tanking.
I go to the Grand Canyon on a regular basis and sometimes up into Utah as well. These places are very heavily visited by foreign tourists. Once you start getting to the towns like Williams, Page, Kanab, and the small towns on US89 going towards Zion and Bryce, you quickly see how these places are dependent on tourism. These are the kinds of places I worry about when you start thinking about a tourism slump, and I fear that's going to be coming starting this year. (On a somewhat related note, a lot of these towns also see a lot of tourists for Grand Staircase - Escalante, a drop dead gorgeous place that Utah politicians with the help of people like Chaffetz want to shrink by 3/4. Opening the area to coal mining and oil/gas drilling would destroy tourism there.). I'm going to Kanab in May and Grand Canyon in June and I'll be very curious what the locals have to say as far as how business is going.
posted by azpenguin at 6:23 AM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
I was at a dinner party last night, and there were two couples there who had decided against traveling to the U.S. this summer. Multiply this by who knows how many times and it's not going to take long for the American tourism industry to start tanking.
I go to the Grand Canyon on a regular basis and sometimes up into Utah as well. These places are very heavily visited by foreign tourists. Once you start getting to the towns like Williams, Page, Kanab, and the small towns on US89 going towards Zion and Bryce, you quickly see how these places are dependent on tourism. These are the kinds of places I worry about when you start thinking about a tourism slump, and I fear that's going to be coming starting this year. (On a somewhat related note, a lot of these towns also see a lot of tourists for Grand Staircase - Escalante, a drop dead gorgeous place that Utah politicians with the help of people like Chaffetz want to shrink by 3/4. Opening the area to coal mining and oil/gas drilling would destroy tourism there.). I'm going to Kanab in May and Grand Canyon in June and I'll be very curious what the locals have to say as far as how business is going.
posted by azpenguin at 6:23 AM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
But CNN's reputation (and Matt Lauer's, and, and) 30 days ago was very different, and I don't believe for a second that the change to today had a thing to do with channeling the spirit of Edward R. Murrow. When mercenary interests align with your own, it's okay to be grateful to have them on board, but if you're not wondering what happens when that changes, you're in for some heartbreak.
I give them a little more benefit of the doubt than that. I mean yeah, it was probably a little bit that, but I think they, like a lot of us (including myself) were mostly just complacent. Surely this guy couldn't get elected, and even if he did, surely he wouldn't actually do the ridiculous things he was saying. Surely "the establishment" had the situation in hand and wouldn't let anything really happen. Surely democracy was just a show anyway, a means of self expression. Surely the world was stable, and couldn't be toppled by a joker like this.
It's already getting hard to remember that mindset, but I think it was very common before the election. I think even a lot of people who voted for Trump believed he couldn't really win or wasn't really serious, and might not have voted for him otherwise.
I think Jill Stein and Glen Greenwald were pushing this POV the most and I blame them for some of the complacency on the left, but really I think we all felt it at times. 538 gave Trump a 30% chance and people thought that was laughably high. I freaked out at points during the campaign, but on election day I was also thinking "She's got this."
I think CNN et al did a lot of harm just under the assumption that nothing bad could really happen. It was a different world.
posted by OnceUponATime at 6:29 AM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
I give them a little more benefit of the doubt than that. I mean yeah, it was probably a little bit that, but I think they, like a lot of us (including myself) were mostly just complacent. Surely this guy couldn't get elected, and even if he did, surely he wouldn't actually do the ridiculous things he was saying. Surely "the establishment" had the situation in hand and wouldn't let anything really happen. Surely democracy was just a show anyway, a means of self expression. Surely the world was stable, and couldn't be toppled by a joker like this.
It's already getting hard to remember that mindset, but I think it was very common before the election. I think even a lot of people who voted for Trump believed he couldn't really win or wasn't really serious, and might not have voted for him otherwise.
I think Jill Stein and Glen Greenwald were pushing this POV the most and I blame them for some of the complacency on the left, but really I think we all felt it at times. 538 gave Trump a 30% chance and people thought that was laughably high. I freaked out at points during the campaign, but on election day I was also thinking "She's got this."
I think CNN et al did a lot of harm just under the assumption that nothing bad could really happen. It was a different world.
posted by OnceUponATime at 6:29 AM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
I was at a dinner party last night, and there were two couples there who had decided against traveling to the U.S. this summer. Multiply this by who knows how many times and it's not going to take long for the American tourism industry to start tanking.
Lots of snowbirds in my area. Have already overheard to conversations about people coming back a couple of months early this year. Also heard one of the local coffee groups chatting about about selling the property they own for snowbirding. Should we sell? Should we wait and see and if we wait will it be harder to sell later. Should we sell now in order to get ahead in case their is a rush.
Alternative snowbirding locales I've heard mentioned are Cuba, Mexico and Costa Rica.
My nephew is in a program in high-school that includes several week long field trips a year for practical work and study experience. Several of these are in the US. Sister said that the program is now looking for alternatives, mainly because they are no longer certain they will be able to get all the kids in plus there is also the moral element. And also the fact that the actual kids (13 year olds) have said they do not want to go to the US any more even if where the are going is really cool. No way and no how. My nephew has said that some are scared but mostly it's because they said the US hates a couple of their classmates (Muslim and one from the seven countries) and they don't want anything bad to happen to them if they go, plus the US can fuck right off with the racist BS.
posted by Jalliah at 6:29 AM on February 18, 2017 [45 favorites]
I was watching a clip from the O'Reilly Factor on FOX and the smug, young guest host is absolutely filled with glee over the Presser given by DJT. Both he and another male panelist act triumphant as though their team just won the championship. When a female panelist dared to object they steamroll her and assert that DJT won the Presidency because of his bombastic style: "They let Trump be Trump and he won!"
That is not true and their delight is misplaced. During the last few weeks of the election DJT was carefully controlled. He was kept on the teleprompter and he was not allowed to tweet. I think this was a factor in winning over independents and some previous Obama voters. There is also a tendency by DJT and his supporters to tout his very high approval among his base (91%) without seeming to be concerned about his terrible approval rate among independents. The Republican Party needs those independents.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:32 AM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
That is not true and their delight is misplaced. During the last few weeks of the election DJT was carefully controlled. He was kept on the teleprompter and he was not allowed to tweet. I think this was a factor in winning over independents and some previous Obama voters. There is also a tendency by DJT and his supporters to tout his very high approval among his base (91%) without seeming to be concerned about his terrible approval rate among independents. The Republican Party needs those independents.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:32 AM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
If she wants to make out like a bandit from being FLOTUS, then the least she could do is actually then do some work.
She also had no problem doing the magazine covers and interviews. And siccing Trump's Nazi legions after Julia Ioffe when she didn't like a GQ profile, and then saying Julia deserved the anti-Semitic death threats and had brought it on herself.
And she had no trouble getting up and lying about her husband at the RNC, plagiarizing Michelle to do so. Or plagiarizing Marla Maples in her oh-so-ironic speech against cyber-bullying.
And she had no qualms about going birther and asking for Obama's birth certificate in an interview.
I'm sure being married to Trump is a nightmare, but Melania has agency. She chose to marry him, she chose to stay with him, she chose to do the awful things she's done. It's possible to be in a bad/unhappy marriage and still be a horrible person.
posted by chris24 at 6:32 AM on February 18, 2017 [101 favorites]
She also had no problem doing the magazine covers and interviews. And siccing Trump's Nazi legions after Julia Ioffe when she didn't like a GQ profile, and then saying Julia deserved the anti-Semitic death threats and had brought it on herself.
And she had no trouble getting up and lying about her husband at the RNC, plagiarizing Michelle to do so. Or plagiarizing Marla Maples in her oh-so-ironic speech against cyber-bullying.
And she had no qualms about going birther and asking for Obama's birth certificate in an interview.
I'm sure being married to Trump is a nightmare, but Melania has agency. She chose to marry him, she chose to stay with him, she chose to do the awful things she's done. It's possible to be in a bad/unhappy marriage and still be a horrible person.
posted by chris24 at 6:32 AM on February 18, 2017 [101 favorites]
At 8:51am, Donald reported: "Will be having many meetings this weekend at The Southern White House."
The SAME MINUTE, the pool reporter stated "the fleet" had pulled into the golf resort for the day.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:34 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
The SAME MINUTE, the pool reporter stated "the fleet" had pulled into the golf resort for the day.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:34 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Also from Pence at Munich (!):"This is President Trump's promise: we will stand with Europe today and every day, because we are bound together by the same noble ideals – freedom, democracy, justice and the rule of law," Pence told the Munich Security Conference.
Not in so many words, Trump hasn't said that. From this WashPo article about the manic press conference:
Not in so many words, Trump hasn't said that. From this WashPo article about the manic press conference:
President Trump had a lot to say at his long-awaited news conference yesterday. His performance — characteristically rich in calculated provocations, bizarre asides and even the occasional bit of genuine news — generated enough material to keep the press corps occupied for weeks. As is so often the case with Trump, however, the most significant thing may be what he chose not to say.posted by peeedro at 6:37 AM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
In the nearly 14,000 words of the news-conference transcript, Trump never mentioned the words “freedom” or “democracy.” This is merely the latest installment in a well-established pattern.
This is the must disturbing thing to me about the Roll Call article re Friday evening's Comey meeting (emphasis mine):
But leaving that secure room in the Capitol Visitor Center, senators declined to even confirm the presence of the FBI director, much less the substance of the meeting
How...? What...?
posted by Room 641-A at 13:36 on February 18 [1 favorite +] [!]
You can probably safely read that as "no matter what questions we shouted at them, they either didn't respond whilst walking past or said 'no questions today'". It's almost certainly less sinister and more like it's serious business so nobody is wanting to do media statements yet.
posted by jaduncan at 6:40 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
WSJ: Trump and Candidates for National Security Adviser Spar Over Staffing: Mr. Trump also is satisfied with the current staff, the official said. For instance, it was Mr. Trump, not Mr. Flynn, who picked K.T. McFarland for the deputy job at the NSC. The president believes she is doing a good job and doesn’t think she should be ousted, the official said.
“It is dumb to demand Flynn’s people go. Why are you creating embarrassment?” said the official. “If you make that a precondition, you are not a loyal soldier and you don’t deserve the job.”
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:41 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
“It is dumb to demand Flynn’s people go. Why are you creating embarrassment?” said the official. “If you make that a precondition, you are not a loyal soldier and you don’t deserve the job.”
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:41 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Both Politico and the New York TImes have stories out this morning about Mar-A-Lago.
NYT
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:42 AM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
NYT
Membership lists reviewed by The New York Times show that the club’s nearly 500 paying members include dozens of real estate developers, Wall Street financiers, energy executives and others whose businesses could be affected by Mr. Trump’s policies. At least three club members are under consideration for an ambassadorship. Most of the 500 have had memberships predating Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign, and there are a limited number of memberships still available.[...]Politico
Mar-a-Lago[...]is now a place where the president of the United States might seek guidance on a major government project the way another New Yorker might ask around for a good orthopedist.
When Mr. LeFrak paid a visit to Mr. Trump at Mar-a-Lago last weekend, he appeared a little startled when Mr. Trump, in a brief interlude during the conversation, told him that the Department of Homeland Security was quoting a price of more than $20 billion for the proposed border wall with Mexico.
“He said, would I consider doing it? And then he suggested that the price that was being quoted in the media seemed absurdly high to him,” Mr. LeFrak said. He is not interested in the work, but said, “And I didn’t react to him one way or the other because I don’t know what the facts are.”
Mr. LeFrak said to the president, “I thought you were going to have homeland security deal with this,” he recalled, describing Mr. Trump as stymied by the bureaucracy. “And he said, ‘Yes, maybe General Kelly will call you.’”
We’re doing a lot of interviews tomorrow — generals, dictators, we have everything,” Trump told the crowd, according to an audio tape of his closed-press remarks obtained by POLITICO from a source in the room. “You may wanna come around. It’ll be fun. We’re really working tomorrow. We have meetings every 15, 20 minutes with different people that will form our government."This morning DJT himself referred to Mar-A-Lago in a tweet as "The Southern White House" so it is not going to just be a winter thing.
"We’re going to be interviewing everybody — Treasury, we’re going to be interviewing Secretary of State,” he continued. “We have everybody coming in — if you want to come around, it’s going to be unbelievable….so you might want to come along.”
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:42 AM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
I'm sure being married to Trump is a nightmare, but Melania has agency. She chose to marry him, she chose to stay with him, she chose to do the awful things she's done. It's possible to be in a bad/unhappy marriage and still be a horrible person.
This is an area I feel uncomfortable touching. I assume some type of abusive/hostile/scary situation where she doesn't feel safe or have the resources to leave him. I think choosing to stay in NY is as far as she feels safe distancing herself. I do have massive disgust that we're forced to pay for her ridiculous alternate housing, and also disgusted we're paying for his phony country club and maybe that place in NJ. Shouldn't there be some type of cap about how many homes taxpayers need to keep secure?
Also, getting into Melania takes emphasis off what a terrible POS 45 continues to demonstrate he is. I need to keep my disgust focused.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 6:42 AM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
This is an area I feel uncomfortable touching. I assume some type of abusive/hostile/scary situation where she doesn't feel safe or have the resources to leave him. I think choosing to stay in NY is as far as she feels safe distancing herself. I do have massive disgust that we're forced to pay for her ridiculous alternate housing, and also disgusted we're paying for his phony country club and maybe that place in NJ. Shouldn't there be some type of cap about how many homes taxpayers need to keep secure?
Also, getting into Melania takes emphasis off what a terrible POS 45 continues to demonstrate he is. I need to keep my disgust focused.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 6:42 AM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
So, Trump owns Mar-a-Lago, club fees go to him, and in return members of the club get input and even government positions? Am I getting that right?
posted by flatluigi at 6:45 AM on February 18, 2017 [67 favorites]
posted by flatluigi at 6:45 AM on February 18, 2017 [67 favorites]
So, Trump owns Mar-a-Lago, club fees go to him, and in return members of the club get input and even government positions?
Yeah -- it seems the entire Mar a Lago setup has just GOT to be illegal.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 6:50 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
Yeah -- it seems the entire Mar a Lago setup has just GOT to be illegal.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 6:50 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
So, Trump owns Mar-a-Lago, club fees go to him, and in return members of the club get input and even government positions?
But Hillary took a meeting with a Nobel Peace Prize winner who also received a Congressional Gold Medal and a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
posted by chris24 at 6:54 AM on February 18, 2017 [45 favorites]
But Hillary took a meeting with a Nobel Peace Prize winner who also received a Congressional Gold Medal and a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
posted by chris24 at 6:54 AM on February 18, 2017 [45 favorites]
Yes, in the NYT article the club manager even claims the Presidency "enhances" the value of the membership
NBC: Jaffe Report: Inside the Claims Against Trump's D.C. Hotel
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:57 AM on February 18, 2017 [40 favorites]
Bernd Lembcke, the club’s managing director, said that applications had risen since Mr. Trump’s election.This situation is untenable as is the one with the DC Hotel.
“It enhances it — his presidency does,” Mr. Lembcke said, referring to membership in the club. “People are now even more interested in becoming members. But we are very careful in vetting them.” And potential members must be sponsored by a current one, he said. “You still have to be introduced.”
NBC: Jaffe Report: Inside the Claims Against Trump's D.C. Hotel
If there's any doubt President Trump is personally in the lawsuit, court documents include his signature on Exhibit 1, a copy of the lease agreement.So he is profiting off the Presidency by charging exorbitant fees for Mar-A-Lago membership and by pushing foreign leaders to hold events at the DC Hotel while at the same time he is stiffing the contractors who worked for him on the DC Hotel refurbishment. Is he really that desperately short of cash or is this just an old habit? The GSA needs to end the lease now because DJT has broken the contract but as he is the boss of the GSA office I doubt it will happen. There is no attempt by DJT to be "seemly" or appear to act appropriately and the whole country is trying to catch up. I like to imagine these are the things that will bring him down.
Trump could have avoided the claims by not repeating his company's pattern of short-changing contractors. Freestate said Trump offered to pay a third of the costs "evidencing a typical business practice meant to force subcontractors to accept 'pennies on the dollar'" instead of full payment, according to its complaint.
Since Freestate's suit, M.C. Dean, one of the region’s most prominent contractors, filed a mechanics’ lien with the D.C. government for $250,313 in unpaid bills, according to documents filed with D.C. government.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:57 AM on February 18, 2017 [40 favorites]
Almost half of Germans with an interest in traveling to the U.S. won’t do so now because they feel unwelcome or don’t want to endorse President Donald Trump.
I was at a dinner party last night, and there were two couples there who had decided against traveling to the U.S. this summer. Multiply this by who knows how many times and it's not going to take long for the American tourism industry to start tanking.
I hate to say "good, keep it up" because I know that the US economy or a major sector of it tanking will hurt many of us and fall disproportionately on the people who already struggle, but I'm not sure what other than economic calamity will motivate the powers that be to do anything to fix this situation. They don't care about human decency or lives being lost and ruined or giving aid and comfort to destructive adversaries or the US becoming a laughingstock non-entity in the world and will let this dangerous terrible man do whatever he wants as long as they're able to keep making the rich get richer. So good, keep it up, boycott the US, make the rich get poorer.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:58 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
I was at a dinner party last night, and there were two couples there who had decided against traveling to the U.S. this summer. Multiply this by who knows how many times and it's not going to take long for the American tourism industry to start tanking.
I hate to say "good, keep it up" because I know that the US economy or a major sector of it tanking will hurt many of us and fall disproportionately on the people who already struggle, but I'm not sure what other than economic calamity will motivate the powers that be to do anything to fix this situation. They don't care about human decency or lives being lost and ruined or giving aid and comfort to destructive adversaries or the US becoming a laughingstock non-entity in the world and will let this dangerous terrible man do whatever he wants as long as they're able to keep making the rich get richer. So good, keep it up, boycott the US, make the rich get poorer.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:58 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
This NYT reporter is live-tweeting the Sanford/Scott town hall in South Carolina this morning.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:58 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:58 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Yeah -- it seems the entire Mar a Lago setup has just GOT to be illegal.
Hey, as far as we know they are still working on avoiding both the straight up contractual breach in the DC Old Post House and any form of divestment or blind trust for a medium sized business licencing operation involving his own name. Oh, and the question of if reactivation of Trump Organisation projects in foreign nations counts as new foreign deals, of how much TO might owe foreign nationals, and how much TO can spread across the US without the permit issuance being a conflict of interest. If it was *any* other federal position but the one he's in, Trump would have to deal with an awful lot before Mar a Lago even bubbled up to amongst the most important ethics issues.
posted by jaduncan at 6:58 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Hey, as far as we know they are still working on avoiding both the straight up contractual breach in the DC Old Post House and any form of divestment or blind trust for a medium sized business licencing operation involving his own name. Oh, and the question of if reactivation of Trump Organisation projects in foreign nations counts as new foreign deals, of how much TO might owe foreign nationals, and how much TO can spread across the US without the permit issuance being a conflict of interest. If it was *any* other federal position but the one he's in, Trump would have to deal with an awful lot before Mar a Lago even bubbled up to amongst the most important ethics issues.
posted by jaduncan at 6:58 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
This NYT reporter is live-tweeting the Sanford/Scott town hall in South Carolina this morning.
The crowds are huge. From another reporter:
@alexis_levinson
The 9am Sanford/Scott townhall hit capacity by 8:09am. Sanford committed to stay after and do a second round bc this is the crowd outside [crowd pic]
posted by chris24 at 7:00 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
The crowds are huge. From another reporter:
@alexis_levinson
The 9am Sanford/Scott townhall hit capacity by 8:09am. Sanford committed to stay after and do a second round bc this is the crowd outside [crowd pic]
posted by chris24 at 7:00 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
Almost half of Germans with an interest in traveling to the U.S. won’t do so now because they feel unwelcome or don’t want to endorse President Donald Trump.
I'm American but live in Brazil with my Brazilian wife who looks like she could be from anywhere not european. We bought tickets to visit my family in May. Every day I feel a little less sure about going. I'm still at like 90% but it's only been a month and May is a long time from now.
posted by Glibpaxman at 7:01 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'm American but live in Brazil with my Brazilian wife who looks like she could be from anywhere not european. We bought tickets to visit my family in May. Every day I feel a little less sure about going. I'm still at like 90% but it's only been a month and May is a long time from now.
posted by Glibpaxman at 7:01 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
What the Mar-A-Lago story has going for it is:
1) It is here in the States.
2) Direct correlation between $200,000 fee to DJT and job offers.
3) Named eyewitnesses and documented events. Politico has audio tape.
This is proof of Pay to Play in a clear and unbroken line. You pay Donald and you get a job. I don't know how much clearer it could be unless an FBI agent dresses up as Saudi royalty and manages to get a contract for building the border wall.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:05 AM on February 18, 2017 [57 favorites]
1) It is here in the States.
2) Direct correlation between $200,000 fee to DJT and job offers.
3) Named eyewitnesses and documented events. Politico has audio tape.
This is proof of Pay to Play in a clear and unbroken line. You pay Donald and you get a job. I don't know how much clearer it could be unless an FBI agent dresses up as Saudi royalty and manages to get a contract for building the border wall.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:05 AM on February 18, 2017 [57 favorites]
Garry Kasparov has a great idea: "International Unfollow Trump Day".
posted by StrawberryPie at 7:06 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by StrawberryPie at 7:06 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
WHY IS NOTHING HAPPENING WHEN HE IS SO FLAGRANTLY DOING THESE THINGS
posted by mothershock at 7:06 AM on February 18, 2017 [59 favorites]
posted by mothershock at 7:06 AM on February 18, 2017 [59 favorites]
I have such mixed feelings about Mark Sanford. He's a lot like Egg in the sense of being smart, reasonable, respectful, thoughtful, and unafraid of speaking out with integrity. While at the same time what I know of his policy positions and political goals is appalling and atrocious, and he's sort of a wackjob too.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:06 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:06 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Sounds like not every one at the rally is a big supporter: Aaaand back to Trump... Attendee: "Ever since the election, I have felt like a passenger in a car that’s being driven by a drunk driver."
I think we all share that feeling.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:06 AM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
I think we all share that feeling.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:06 AM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
Oh not the rally, I meant the townhall. sorry. I had the Florida rally on my mind.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:08 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:08 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
> I hate to say "good, keep it up" because I know that the US economy or a major sector of it tanking will hurt many of us and fall disproportionately on the people who already struggle, but I'm not sure what other than economic calamity will motivate the powers that be to do anything to fix this situation.
The other potential problem is that when somebody's restaurant goes under because they lost too big a chunk of their tourism business they might go looking for scapegoats, and historically-speaking people haven't been great at identifying the real culprits for their economic woes. But if you can't vote in an election, you can at least vote with your wallet.
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:08 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
The other potential problem is that when somebody's restaurant goes under because they lost too big a chunk of their tourism business they might go looking for scapegoats, and historically-speaking people haven't been great at identifying the real culprits for their economic woes. But if you can't vote in an election, you can at least vote with your wallet.
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:08 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
More Republican congressmen having fun at town halls this morning.
@bfouhy
.@RepTomReed getting peppered w more q's about ACA, Planned Parenthood, Medicaid. "We don't want to replace! Listen to us!"
posted by chris24 at 7:08 AM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
@bfouhy
.@RepTomReed getting peppered w more q's about ACA, Planned Parenthood, Medicaid. "We don't want to replace! Listen to us!"
posted by chris24 at 7:08 AM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
WHY IS NOTHING HAPPENING WHEN HE IS SO FLAGRANTLY DOING THESE THINGS
My guess is that it's not solid enough and not grievous enough that anyone is willing to put their balls on the line.
posted by INFJ at 7:09 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
My guess is that it's not solid enough and not grievous enough that anyone is willing to put their balls on the line.
posted by INFJ at 7:09 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
>sorry. I had the Florida rally on my mind.
Can't blame you. It's going to be an ugly, violent thing.
posted by Catblack at 7:10 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Can't blame you. It's going to be an ugly, violent thing.
posted by Catblack at 7:10 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
"Yes, thank you Mr. President. After this morning's tragedy, will you be meeting with bababooey?"
"A follow-up question: what is the official White House stance on updog?"
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 7:10 AM on February 18, 2017 [20 favorites]
"A follow-up question: what is the official White House stance on updog?"
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 7:10 AM on February 18, 2017 [20 favorites]
The other potential problem is that when somebody's restaurant goes under because they lost too big a chunk of their tourism business they might go looking for scapegoats, and historically-speaking people haven't been great at identifying the real culprits for their economic woes
I think they've already got their scapegoats. And Trump is already doing their work for them in kicking those people around and throwing them out of the country. So, sure they might move on to other scapegoats, but I think they'll do that anyway, as one of the things about scapegoats is that you always need more because turning on the original one does nothing. Which is a long winded way to say that I think this already happened and will keep happening no matter what happens with the tourism, so not sure this will make anything worse.
posted by lesbiassparrow at 7:21 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
I think they've already got their scapegoats. And Trump is already doing their work for them in kicking those people around and throwing them out of the country. So, sure they might move on to other scapegoats, but I think they'll do that anyway, as one of the things about scapegoats is that you always need more because turning on the original one does nothing. Which is a long winded way to say that I think this already happened and will keep happening no matter what happens with the tourism, so not sure this will make anything worse.
posted by lesbiassparrow at 7:21 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
NYT Editorial Board: President Trump, White House Apprentice: If there is any upside here, it is that the administration’s ineptitude has so far spared the nation from a wholesale dismantling of major laws, including the Affordable Care Act, though he may yet kill the law through malign neglect. In the meantime, however, as Mr. Harward’s retreat on Thursday suggests, the chaos carries other risks. A Navy SEAL turned corporate executive, Mr. Harward cited family and financial considerations for refusing the national security job, but privately he was reported to be worried about the effect of a mercurial president on national security decision making. As Gen. Tony Thomas, head of the military’s Special Operations Command, said this week: “Our government continues to be in unbelievable turmoil. I hope they sort it out soon, because we’re a nation at war.”
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:23 AM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:23 AM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
“It enhances it — his presidency does,” Mr. Lembcke said, referring to membership in the club. “People are now even more interested in becoming members. But we are very careful in vetting them.” And potential members must be sponsored by a current one, he said. “You still have to be introduced.”
Any foreign intelligence service must be drooling over the fact that they can put an asset directly adjacent to the POTUS for $200k. It's the bargain of the century.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:24 AM on February 18, 2017 [48 favorites]
Any foreign intelligence service must be drooling over the fact that they can put an asset directly adjacent to the POTUS for $200k. It's the bargain of the century.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:24 AM on February 18, 2017 [48 favorites]
I think CNN et al did a lot of harm just under the assumption that nothing bad could really happen.
I disagree that it was just negligence. I think their definition of "something bad happening" is a far cry from mine, which is why I was so upset by what they blithely let slide before the election. It's just that things have gone so far south at this point that we are finally in agreement that terrible things are currently happening.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 7:24 AM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
I disagree that it was just negligence. I think their definition of "something bad happening" is a far cry from mine, which is why I was so upset by what they blithely let slide before the election. It's just that things have gone so far south at this point that we are finally in agreement that terrible things are currently happening.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 7:24 AM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
i think trump's strategy is to commit so many impeachable acts that we spend so much trying to figure out what to nail him on that we never get around to actually prosecuting him
lol naw, there's no strategy
posted by murphy slaw at 7:30 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
lol naw, there's no strategy
posted by murphy slaw at 7:30 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Any foreign intelligence service must be drooling over the fact that they can put an asset directly adjacent to the POTUS for $200k. It's the bargain of the century.
Remember the scandal when the Clintons let donors stay in the Lincoln bedroom? We were still talking about that almost 20 years later.
posted by peeedro at 7:31 AM on February 18, 2017 [31 favorites]
Remember the scandal when the Clintons let donors stay in the Lincoln bedroom? We were still talking about that almost 20 years later.
posted by peeedro at 7:31 AM on February 18, 2017 [31 favorites]
WHY IS NOTHING HAPPENING WHEN HE IS SO FLAGRANTLY DOING THESE THINGS
IOKIYAR
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 7:34 AM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
IOKIYAR
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 7:34 AM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
My mind is blown EVERY SINGLE DAY. I go to bed thinking "well, THAT was the most egregious thing to happen yet!" And every single day it gets topped again. I cannot get over these Republicans utterly selling out our country in every way imaginable, and freaking happy to do it. I feel crazy-go-nuts.
posted by thebrokedown at 7:38 AM on February 18, 2017 [29 favorites]
posted by thebrokedown at 7:38 AM on February 18, 2017 [29 favorites]
Any foreign intelligence service must be drooling over the fact that they can put an asset directly adjacent to the POTUS for $200k. It's the bargain of the century.
It doesn't cost $200k to get a job at a resort.
posted by Going To Maine at 7:39 AM on February 18, 2017 [33 favorites]
It doesn't cost $200k to get a job at a resort.
posted by Going To Maine at 7:39 AM on February 18, 2017 [33 favorites]
They're sure that eventually someone is going to put out this fire in the candy store, and damned if they aren't going to grab as much candy as they can before it happens.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:40 AM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 7:40 AM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
It doesn't cost $200k to get a job at a resort.
Made even easier by the Trump Organization hiring foreign guest workers to keep wages down.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:41 AM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
Made even easier by the Trump Organization hiring foreign guest workers to keep wages down.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:41 AM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
Dude, for sheltered lawful good Hermiones everywhere, this is a time of extreme crazy-go-nuts. I do feel like something weird is breaking in my brain, and I thought I already was a cynical misanthrope. Turns out, not nearly cynical and misanthropic enough to deal with this level of blatant hypocrisy and lying.
I still feel like the only real thing I can do is just go sit somewhere in public and invite other people to sit with me until this is fixed. That's all I got.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:47 AM on February 18, 2017 [35 favorites]
I still feel like the only real thing I can do is just go sit somewhere in public and invite other people to sit with me until this is fixed. That's all I got.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:47 AM on February 18, 2017 [35 favorites]
It doesn't cost $200k to get a job at a resort.
And there is this thing where people higher in the power hierarchy will just sort of ignore the fact that some lowly peon is standing around and seemingly thoughtlessly talk about things that they would never talk about around other collegues, friends etc.
I've been a peon at times and my life and it's amazing what you hear and see because it's like they forget you're there or have this inherent belief that oh of course it doesn't matter that peon girl hears this.
posted by Jalliah at 7:48 AM on February 18, 2017 [50 favorites]
My mind is blown EVERY SINGLE DAY. I go to bed thinking "well, THAT was the most egregious thing to happen yet!" And every single day it gets topped again. I cannot get over these Republicans utterly selling out our country in every way imaginable, and freaking happy to do it. I feel crazy-go-nuts.
And, meanwhile, the Reasonable Moderates are tut-tutting our outrage, saying that it's NOT FAIR that we're going to war against President Trump because He Hasn't Even Done Anything Yet and He Deserves A Chance and Nobody Knows What He'll Want To Do, He Might Be Great At It!
And this is why I am upping my quantity and octane of drink.
posted by delfin at 7:48 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
And, meanwhile, the Reasonable Moderates are tut-tutting our outrage, saying that it's NOT FAIR that we're going to war against President Trump because He Hasn't Even Done Anything Yet and He Deserves A Chance and Nobody Knows What He'll Want To Do, He Might Be Great At It!
And this is why I am upping my quantity and octane of drink.
posted by delfin at 7:48 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
Metafilter: existential threats can be invigorating.
posted by Bringer Tom at 7:49 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Bringer Tom at 7:49 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Remember the scandal when the Clintons let donors stay in the Lincoln bedroom? We were still talking about that almost 20 years later.
Rand Paul was asked about the inconsistencies in stances and came back with "Oh I'm sorry. I didn't realize Donald's last name was Clinton. Oh it's not? Well shit, then I don't care." [fake]
posted by Talez at 8:01 AM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
Rand Paul was asked about the inconsistencies in stances and came back with "Oh I'm sorry. I didn't realize Donald's last name was Clinton. Oh it's not? Well shit, then I don't care." [fake]
posted by Talez at 8:01 AM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
This is proof of Pay to Play in a clear and unbroken line.
It's clear that Republicans do not care. Trump could be impeached today over his myriad ethical violations, they won't do it. Their new reality is literally, "laws do not apply to Republicans".
It's going to take a lot more than ethics to get them to act against Trump. Blood in the streets might be the turning point, but probably not even then. The Republican brans is now the Trump brand, they've hitched themselves so completely to his fate than they'll never go back on him, or even exert some authority to reign him in.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:03 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's clear that Republicans do not care. Trump could be impeached today over his myriad ethical violations, they won't do it. Their new reality is literally, "laws do not apply to Republicans".
It's going to take a lot more than ethics to get them to act against Trump. Blood in the streets might be the turning point, but probably not even then. The Republican brans is now the Trump brand, they've hitched themselves so completely to his fate than they'll never go back on him, or even exert some authority to reign him in.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:03 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
i have the best congresswoman, for reals folks
posted by murphy slaw at 8:03 AM on February 18, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 8:03 AM on February 18, 2017 [22 favorites]
She'd make a fine Senator.
posted by contraption at 8:06 AM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by contraption at 8:06 AM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
And, meanwhile, the Reasonable Moderates are tut-tutting our outrage
According to Gallup, the presidential approval rating is 38%, and that's skewed due to his popularity with RS. Those moderates aren't that common.
posted by Going To Maine at 8:07 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
According to Gallup, the presidential approval rating is 38%, and that's skewed due to his popularity with RS. Those moderates aren't that common.
posted by Going To Maine at 8:07 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
WHY IS NOTHING HAPPENING WHEN HE IS SO FLAGRANTLY DOING THESE THINGS
Mr. Rogers lied to us: there are no helpers to look to for help. And I am TRYING to hold my shit together, but it's getting harder.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 8:10 AM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
Mr. Rogers lied to us: there are no helpers to look to for help. And I am TRYING to hold my shit together, but it's getting harder.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 8:10 AM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
if you ever, for a split second, think that mitch mcconnell should get a quick breather between infinite punches in the face, read this article.
Depending on one’s political perspective, McConnell pulled off one of the most successful strategic maneuvers of modern politics — helping hold the Senate majority, aiding a Republican takeover of the White House and keeping a conservative majority on the Supreme Court — or he is responsible for one of the most duplicitous obstructions ever seen on Capitol Hill.posted by murphy slaw at 8:10 AM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
From McConnell’s perspective, everything went according to plan.
“I felt, personally, very invested in this issue,” McConnell recalled in a recent interview in his Capitol office, still boastful nearly three weeks later. “One of the happiest nights of my Senate career.”
I have the best congresswoman
I'm sorry so many people have awful Reps, but I do love seeing people talk about the good ones like they're rock stars.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:11 AM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
I'm sorry so many people have awful Reps, but I do love seeing people talk about the good ones like they're rock stars.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:11 AM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
bee helmet for the turtleman
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:11 AM on February 18, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:11 AM on February 18, 2017 [14 favorites]
It's clear that Republicans do not care. Trump could be impeached today over his myriad ethical violations, they won't do it. Their new reality is literally, "laws do not apply to Republicans".
No. It's worse than that. The reality is "the end justifies the means". That important distinction is the reason why Trump has an approval rating of 8% among Democrats and 80+% with Republicans. You won't convince a Republican on moral grounds because they see it all as necessary to stop babies from being killed, from the money of good people being squandered on the lazy and undeserving, to see strict Christian values becoming more dominant in the public sphere. These people see the breakdown of the nuclear family as the breakdown of society and if they have to put up with Trump and his philandering, his corruption, his sheer incompetence to restore it then so be it.
This is what makes the situation so dangerous and why "WHY IS NOTHING HAPPENING WHEN HE IS SO FLAGRANTLY DOING THESE THINGS".
posted by Talez at 8:12 AM on February 18, 2017 [28 favorites]
No. It's worse than that. The reality is "the end justifies the means". That important distinction is the reason why Trump has an approval rating of 8% among Democrats and 80+% with Republicans. You won't convince a Republican on moral grounds because they see it all as necessary to stop babies from being killed, from the money of good people being squandered on the lazy and undeserving, to see strict Christian values becoming more dominant in the public sphere. These people see the breakdown of the nuclear family as the breakdown of society and if they have to put up with Trump and his philandering, his corruption, his sheer incompetence to restore it then so be it.
This is what makes the situation so dangerous and why "WHY IS NOTHING HAPPENING WHEN HE IS SO FLAGRANTLY DOING THESE THINGS".
posted by Talez at 8:12 AM on February 18, 2017 [28 favorites]
How Many Chances Do You Get to Be an American Hero?
NY Mag McCain peice. Comes with the cover strap "Just how far will the Senator go?" - am assuming that is measured in inches.
posted by Artw at 8:13 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
NY Mag McCain peice. Comes with the cover strap "Just how far will the Senator go?" - am assuming that is measured in inches.
posted by Artw at 8:13 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
bee helmet for the turtleman
replace all his skin with an infinite recursion of bees being stung by yet smaller bees
posted by murphy slaw at 8:14 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
replace all his skin with an infinite recursion of bees being stung by yet smaller bees
posted by murphy slaw at 8:14 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
NY Mag McCain peice. Comes with the cover strap "Just how far will the Senator go?" - am assuming that is measured in inches.
McCain has bent over backwards for SCROTUS at so large an angle that his head now physically has no other place to go than up his own ass.
posted by Talez at 8:15 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
McCain has bent over backwards for SCROTUS at so large an angle that his head now physically has no other place to go than up his own ass.
posted by Talez at 8:15 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
Bees for the Turtleman is my favorite imaginary Cat Stevens album
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:15 AM on February 18, 2017 [46 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:15 AM on February 18, 2017 [46 favorites]
For those of you feeling dejected. A tumblr post of a tweetstorm about staying strong.
posted by INFJ at 8:15 AM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by INFJ at 8:15 AM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
Just a thought about and the duties and responsibilities of the offices of President and FLOTUS.
The Bush Dynesty got it. Clinton Got it. Obama Got it.
President Shitgibbon and Melinia? New-money trash never gets it.
posted by mikelieman at 8:16 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
The Bush Dynesty got it. Clinton Got it. Obama Got it.
President Shitgibbon and Melinia? New-money trash never gets it.
posted by mikelieman at 8:16 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
According to Gallup, the presidential approval rating is 38%, and that's skewed due to his popularity with RS. Those moderates aren't that common.
Yes, but the approval polling is all over the map and suffers from even worse issues than the campaign horse race polls. He does better in online polls, again. He does better with registered voters than all audiences. He does a lot better with likely voter screens. And opinion polling means basically nothing right now, 20 months out from the midterms.
It's a very open question still whether polls are at all reliable in the age of Trump, much less 2 years ahead of time and before untold rounds of voter suppression kicks in.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:17 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Yes, but the approval polling is all over the map and suffers from even worse issues than the campaign horse race polls. He does better in online polls, again. He does better with registered voters than all audiences. He does a lot better with likely voter screens. And opinion polling means basically nothing right now, 20 months out from the midterms.
It's a very open question still whether polls are at all reliable in the age of Trump, much less 2 years ahead of time and before untold rounds of voter suppression kicks in.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:17 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
These people see the breakdown of the nuclear family as the breakdown of society and if they have to put up with Trump and his philandering, his corruption, his sheer incompetence, then so be it.
There also appears to be a segment that really and truly believes that all pols and all people in power are like this, are corrupt like this and generally are like Trump and what makes Trump good is that he doesn't bother to try to hide it. So he gets cookies for being a truthful corrupt, incompetent liar.
posted by Jalliah at 8:17 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
There also appears to be a segment that really and truly believes that all pols and all people in power are like this, are corrupt like this and generally are like Trump and what makes Trump good is that he doesn't bother to try to hide it. So he gets cookies for being a truthful corrupt, incompetent liar.
posted by Jalliah at 8:17 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
New-money trash never gets it.
rejection by old money is half of what tied trump's brain into its current pretzel so maybe we can just not engage in the social pissing contests of an aristocratic looter class that doesn't care if we live or die
posted by murphy slaw at 8:20 AM on February 18, 2017 [55 favorites]
rejection by old money is half of what tied trump's brain into its current pretzel so maybe we can just not engage in the social pissing contests of an aristocratic looter class that doesn't care if we live or die
posted by murphy slaw at 8:20 AM on February 18, 2017 [55 favorites]
So, back in 1999, I was a little concerned that the Y2K bug could conceivably cause a hiccup in our national financial and economic networks that might take a few weeks to sort out. I accumulated a few month's worth of supplies, just in case the stores weren't being re-stocked in a timely manner.
When Y2K fizzled, it was a little embarrassing, but no harm done. I simply used up the extra batteries, toilet tissue, rice, beans and canned goods over the first few months of 2000. It was a rational thing to be a little prepared for what seemed to be a rationally feasible disruption.
Now, in just three months since Trump's election, I find to my shock that I have become a prepper. I look at my pantry and I have somehow accumulated a year's supply of food in there. My linen closet has become a mini-Walgreen's Pharmacy. The garage is now stocked with barrels of water and the attic has more new camping and survival gear than I will (hopefully) ever need in three lifetimes.
I have canned Red Feather butter. I have fish antibiotics. I have a shortwave radio. I have books on homesteading. I have a shotgun. I have even have a box of various heirloom seeds in my freezer. Just in case.
This does not make me feel good. How did this happen? I don't remember becoming paranoid in the last 12 weeks. I feel like my mind has been hacked by the zeitgeist.
I am not a paranoid man, I tell myself. But then I look in the pantry, in the closets, in the attic at what has become prepper's wet-dream and I have to wonder: am I? Or are the times truly this frightening?
posted by darkstar at 8:29 AM on February 18, 2017 [45 favorites]
When Y2K fizzled, it was a little embarrassing, but no harm done. I simply used up the extra batteries, toilet tissue, rice, beans and canned goods over the first few months of 2000. It was a rational thing to be a little prepared for what seemed to be a rationally feasible disruption.
Now, in just three months since Trump's election, I find to my shock that I have become a prepper. I look at my pantry and I have somehow accumulated a year's supply of food in there. My linen closet has become a mini-Walgreen's Pharmacy. The garage is now stocked with barrels of water and the attic has more new camping and survival gear than I will (hopefully) ever need in three lifetimes.
I have canned Red Feather butter. I have fish antibiotics. I have a shortwave radio. I have books on homesteading. I have a shotgun. I have even have a box of various heirloom seeds in my freezer. Just in case.
This does not make me feel good. How did this happen? I don't remember becoming paranoid in the last 12 weeks. I feel like my mind has been hacked by the zeitgeist.
I am not a paranoid man, I tell myself. But then I look in the pantry, in the closets, in the attic at what has become prepper's wet-dream and I have to wonder: am I? Or are the times truly this frightening?
posted by darkstar at 8:29 AM on February 18, 2017 [45 favorites]
20 months out from the midterms.
Reading this part of your comment was both comforting and terrifying.
posted by srboisvert at 8:32 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Reading this part of your comment was both comforting and terrifying.
posted by srboisvert at 8:32 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
How Many Chances Do You Get to Be an American Hero?
McCain has a knack for getting chances to be an American hero, over and over again. He just never takes them.
posted by jedicus at 8:33 AM on February 18, 2017 [40 favorites]
McCain has a knack for getting chances to be an American hero, over and over again. He just never takes them.
posted by jedicus at 8:33 AM on February 18, 2017 [40 favorites]
> How Many Chances Do You Get to Be an American Hero?
I don't know, but John McCain has blown all of them since the Vietnam War.
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:33 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
I don't know, but John McCain has blown all of them since the Vietnam War.
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:33 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
How Many Chances Do You Get to Be an American Hero?
Luckily for McCain the stakes get raised every time he fails. It's like he plays double or nothing with his own legacy and loses repeatedly. But everyone deserves one more chance to not be a giant disappointment, right?
posted by Glibpaxman at 8:36 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Luckily for McCain the stakes get raised every time he fails. It's like he plays double or nothing with his own legacy and loses repeatedly. But everyone deserves one more chance to not be a giant disappointment, right?
posted by Glibpaxman at 8:36 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
And, meanwhile, the Reasonable Moderates are tut-tutting our outrage, saying that it's NOT FAIR that we're going to war against President Trump because He Hasn't Even Done Anything Yet and He Deserves A Chance and Nobody Knows What He'll Want To Do, He Might Be Great At It!
I'm sure someone is urging that we wait for a Friedman Unit, but the David Brooks thing someone posted here yesterday seemed like it was very anti-Trump. so maybe all those wise men will be coming around.
posted by thelonius at 8:37 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm sure someone is urging that we wait for a Friedman Unit, but the David Brooks thing someone posted here yesterday seemed like it was very anti-Trump. so maybe all those wise men will be coming around.
posted by thelonius at 8:37 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
And there is this thing where people higher in the power hierarchy will just sort of ignore the fact that some lowly peon is standing around and seemingly thoughtlessly talk about things that they would never talk about around other collegues, friends etc.
I've been a peon at times and my life and it's amazing what you hear and see because it's like they forget you're there or have this inherent belief that oh of course it doesn't matter that peon girl hears this.
As a caddy at an exclusive golf club I learned that the really rich don't understand money at ordinary scales at all, that they are almost all jerks and actively try to out jerk each other for fun and that the food they eat makes them really gassy.
Also they are all for social darwinism for others but as soon as it applies to themselves they invent golf handicaps.
posted by srboisvert at 8:39 AM on February 18, 2017 [83 favorites]
I've been a peon at times and my life and it's amazing what you hear and see because it's like they forget you're there or have this inherent belief that oh of course it doesn't matter that peon girl hears this.
As a caddy at an exclusive golf club I learned that the really rich don't understand money at ordinary scales at all, that they are almost all jerks and actively try to out jerk each other for fun and that the food they eat makes them really gassy.
Also they are all for social darwinism for others but as soon as it applies to themselves they invent golf handicaps.
posted by srboisvert at 8:39 AM on February 18, 2017 [83 favorites]
Mr. Rogers lied to us: there are no helpers to look to for help.
How dare you? Mr. Rogers did not lie, he just had the good fortune to live and die in happier times.
posted by contraption at 8:41 AM on February 18, 2017 [42 favorites]
How dare you? Mr. Rogers did not lie, he just had the good fortune to live and die in happier times.
posted by contraption at 8:41 AM on February 18, 2017 [42 favorites]
I love golf as a sport, but golf culture is the absolute fucking worst.
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:46 AM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:46 AM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Mr. Rogers lied to us: there are no helpers to look to for help.
if you look all around for the helpers and don't see them, the helpers is you.
posted by murphy slaw at 8:49 AM on February 18, 2017 [131 favorites]
if you look all around for the helpers and don't see them, the helpers is you.
posted by murphy slaw at 8:49 AM on February 18, 2017 [131 favorites]
if you look all around for the helpers and don't see them, the helpers is you.
Serious question, then: what exactly does one do? I call, email, sign petitions, and will run for local office. What else?
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 8:53 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Serious question, then: what exactly does one do? I call, email, sign petitions, and will run for local office. What else?
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 8:53 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
One of the few pleasant surprises of the current emergencies has been the amount of people who give a damn. Look to the matches and protests, the helpers are there.
posted by Artw at 8:55 AM on February 18, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:55 AM on February 18, 2017 [32 favorites]
Alex P. Keaton in particular.
I don't know if Micheal J. Fox would go for it, but an adult Alex P. Keaton on SNL freaking out about Trump and having none of the Worst Wing crew or the alt-right meltdowns (Rosie plays Milo!) could be pretty great.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:56 AM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
I don't know if Micheal J. Fox would go for it, but an adult Alex P. Keaton on SNL freaking out about Trump and having none of the Worst Wing crew or the alt-right meltdowns (Rosie plays Milo!) could be pretty great.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:56 AM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
Serious question, then: what exactly does one do? I call, email, sign petitions, and will run for local office. What else?
Serious answer? Keep going. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself.
posted by Celsius1414 at 8:56 AM on February 18, 2017 [32 favorites]
Serious answer? Keep going. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself.
posted by Celsius1414 at 8:56 AM on February 18, 2017 [32 favorites]
Serious question, then: what exactly does one do? I call, email, sign petitions, and will run for local office. What else?
If there's no local protest/resistance movements forming in your area that you can join, then you are probably in an area where there are people more vulnerable to persecution than you. You can get ready to shelter/protect/transport them if matters worsen.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:57 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
If there's no local protest/resistance movements forming in your area that you can join, then you are probably in an area where there are people more vulnerable to persecution than you. You can get ready to shelter/protect/transport them if matters worsen.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:57 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
As a caddy at an exclusive golf club I learned that the really rich don't understand money at ordinary scales at all, that they are almost all jerks and actively try to out jerk each other for fun and that the food they eat makes them really gassy.
Also they are all for social darwinism for others but as soon as it applies to themselves they invent golf handicaps.
I spent years teaching the really rich how to snowboard and can concur on the money and scale thing.
It's not just a rich people thing though in my experience. It's a mix of social power and heirarchy and what seems to be just a familiarity thing where you just become part of the backdrop and they just act like you aren't there.
I was a cook in place with a small dining part right off the kitchen area. People would just wander in an out all day to get coffee and snacks. They would either sit down or just stand around with each other and talk. After a month of that I knew how the social structure of that entire org functioned, what the different cliques were, had an overview of company security plans and where the big problems were, knew who was BSing who, knew what the higher-ups long term strategies were, knew who was on their way to getting kicked out days before everyone else knew and heard about the plans of the asshole clique to try to thwart one of the guys in charge and get their guy in their place. That one I ended up tattling on because it was just awful. I think they are still wondering why their clever plan didn't work.
By the end I understood the cliche 'If you want to really know what's going on in a ship go ask the cook'.
posted by Jalliah at 8:57 AM on February 18, 2017 [63 favorites]
Also they are all for social darwinism for others but as soon as it applies to themselves they invent golf handicaps.
I spent years teaching the really rich how to snowboard and can concur on the money and scale thing.
It's not just a rich people thing though in my experience. It's a mix of social power and heirarchy and what seems to be just a familiarity thing where you just become part of the backdrop and they just act like you aren't there.
I was a cook in place with a small dining part right off the kitchen area. People would just wander in an out all day to get coffee and snacks. They would either sit down or just stand around with each other and talk. After a month of that I knew how the social structure of that entire org functioned, what the different cliques were, had an overview of company security plans and where the big problems were, knew who was BSing who, knew what the higher-ups long term strategies were, knew who was on their way to getting kicked out days before everyone else knew and heard about the plans of the asshole clique to try to thwart one of the guys in charge and get their guy in their place. That one I ended up tattling on because it was just awful. I think they are still wondering why their clever plan didn't work.
By the end I understood the cliche 'If you want to really know what's going on in a ship go ask the cook'.
posted by Jalliah at 8:57 AM on February 18, 2017 [63 favorites]
tfw you just got elected president of a war-scarred nation and the ambassador from a superpower presents you with a hat
posted by murphy slaw at 9:07 AM on February 18, 2017 [45 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 9:07 AM on February 18, 2017 [45 favorites]
Mr. Rogers liked to visit the Land of Make-Believe, but he knew enough to not live there. He also knew that Henrietta Pussycat wasn't a good Press Secretary.
King Friday meow meow Russia meow Fake News meow meow meow
posted by delfin at 9:08 AM on February 18, 2017 [22 favorites]
King Friday meow meow Russia meow Fake News meow meow meow
posted by delfin at 9:08 AM on February 18, 2017 [22 favorites]
I must admit, it's fun to watch Tom Nichols, old school cold warrior and Nixon staffer, have a shitfight with an alt-righter.
posted by Talez at 9:11 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Talez at 9:11 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Guys if we don't stop with the Mr. Rogers political stuff the odds of an inappropriate Mister McFeely joke approach 100%.
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:14 AM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:14 AM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
When Y2K fizzled
It's a tangent, but I feel compelled to point out when this sort of thing that comes up that Y2K "fizzled" because a small army of computer-y people (and I was one of them) worked long hours making sure that it did.
You wouldn't have had planes dropping out of the sky or anything--probably--but all those people are the reason why, for instance, your insurance company didn't suddenly start thinking you were -60 years old.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 9:16 AM on February 18, 2017 [76 favorites]
It's a tangent, but I feel compelled to point out when this sort of thing that comes up that Y2K "fizzled" because a small army of computer-y people (and I was one of them) worked long hours making sure that it did.
You wouldn't have had planes dropping out of the sky or anything--probably--but all those people are the reason why, for instance, your insurance company didn't suddenly start thinking you were -60 years old.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 9:16 AM on February 18, 2017 [76 favorites]
This morning DJT himself referred to Mar-A-Lago in a tweet as "The Southern White House"
I can't tell if this is a deliberate shout out to neo-Confederates and Lost Cause types or not.
posted by zombieflanders at 9:21 AM on February 18, 2017 [19 favorites]
I can't tell if this is a deliberate shout out to neo-Confederates and Lost Cause types or not.
posted by zombieflanders at 9:21 AM on February 18, 2017 [19 favorites]
You wouldn't have had planes dropping out of the sky or anything--probably--but all those people are the reason why, for instance, your insurance company didn't suddenly start thinking you were -60 years old.
Yes Y2k is a great example of humans freaking out about a potential problem and then actually being proactive about it. Although, as you say it wasn't a planes falling out of the sky level of problem there were issues. They got dealt with. End result, 'see there wasn't ever really a problem to begin with'.
posted by Jalliah at 9:22 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
Yes Y2k is a great example of humans freaking out about a potential problem and then actually being proactive about it. Although, as you say it wasn't a planes falling out of the sky level of problem there were issues. They got dealt with. End result, 'see there wasn't ever really a problem to begin with'.
posted by Jalliah at 9:22 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
You know, I'd love to see an expanded Unfollow Trump day, where people share international news stories instead, because I feel like those are getting eclipsed by our own problems. I'm going to think of ways to float this on Facebook to the groups I know.
posted by daisystomper at 9:24 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by daisystomper at 9:24 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Absolutely, Mr. B.! I was working in software development at the time and many of my friends were on the Y2K emergency task forces in their respective companies. So that's why it struck me as a rational concern - I heard about it every time we got together.
Indeed, Y2K never blew up because lots of people like yourself worked hard to defuse it. A good analogy for what's going on now, I think, with all of the activists working to defuse the Trump time bomb before it explodes in our faces.
posted by darkstar at 9:26 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Indeed, Y2K never blew up because lots of people like yourself worked hard to defuse it. A good analogy for what's going on now, I think, with all of the activists working to defuse the Trump time bomb before it explodes in our faces.
posted by darkstar at 9:26 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
My guess was that the Southern White House is a reference to Nixon's Western White House in San Clemente. I guess it's also a pivot away from Winter White House 'cause he plans to weekend there every weekend.
Our president is such a tool. It just never ends.
posted by notyou at 9:30 AM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
Our president is such a tool. It just never ends.
posted by notyou at 9:30 AM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
Indeed, Y2K never blew up because lots of people like yourself worked hard to defuse it. A good analogy for what's going on now, I think, with all of the activists working to defuse the Trump time bomb before it explodes in our faces.
unfortunately, old programmers who know how to binary-patch ancient COBOL executables are of very little help in the current situation
posted by murphy slaw at 9:30 AM on February 18, 2017 [21 favorites]
unfortunately, old programmers who know how to binary-patch ancient COBOL executables are of very little help in the current situation
posted by murphy slaw at 9:30 AM on February 18, 2017 [21 favorites]
Y2K really would have been a mess, actually. I had some very old equipment that did not get updated (old sun sparcstations), and they actually became unbootable without jiggery-pokery after y2k.
I keep hoping we tackle climate change in the same way, so that we can all look back on it and say "aw, shucks, that wasn't a big deal! we made a fuss over nothing!" sadly, it doesn't look like that's going to happen.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 9:32 AM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
I keep hoping we tackle climate change in the same way, so that we can all look back on it and say "aw, shucks, that wasn't a big deal! we made a fuss over nothing!" sadly, it doesn't look like that's going to happen.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 9:32 AM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
Trump wasn't "new money", he's "inherited money" and all the cliches about the sons of millionaires fits him a lot better than his suits. His ego-driven nonsense should have relegated him to the dustbin of history decades ago, fixed like the Y2K bug, but the New York Media considered him 'entertaining' (and for the Times, a good source of Real Estate Ad money), he expanded to New Jersey and Florida, where the standards are even lower, then NBC needed somebody to play a Fake Mogul on a Fake Reality Show, and he ended up perfectly positioned for his Presidential Run.
I think I'll just call him the 2K+16 Bug.
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:40 AM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
I think I'll just call him the 2K+16 Bug.
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:40 AM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
This may have been noted in a prior thread, but MeFi's own cstross noted a couple weeks ago on his blog that aside from one trip that he bought non-refundable plane tickets for, he has cancelled all US visits for the foreseeable future.
posted by skycrashesdown at 9:44 AM on February 18, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by skycrashesdown at 9:44 AM on February 18, 2017 [15 favorites]
I keep hoping we tackle climate change in the same way, so that we can all look back on it and say "aw, shucks, that wasn't a big deal! we made a fuss over nothing!" sadly, it doesn't look like that's going to happen.
Well I fired up an 11.3kW DC PV array yesterday. It hope it helps a little.
posted by Talez at 9:48 AM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
Well I fired up an 11.3kW DC PV array yesterday. It hope it helps a little.
posted by Talez at 9:48 AM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
Kellyanne Conway seems to have slipped away. Just a couple of perfunctory tweets the past few days. Any ideas on her whereabouts?
posted by notyou at 10:02 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by notyou at 10:02 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
New-money trash never gets it.
aristocrat worship isn't a good look on anybody. The middle classes adore talking knowledgeably about new and old money because they superstitiously believe that if they approve of just the right kind of undeserved power, some of it will rub off on them, because they're so discerning. Only the real old money upper class knows the right way to behave --> I know how to behave --> I must be upper class in my soul, if not in any other way.
it's embarrassing. as is the repeated mantra that money can't buy class. It is in fact the only thing that can. the idea that it's not only true but right and proper that you can't buy class for yourself, only for your great-grandchildren, because money takes some time to settle in and age like a good Bordeaux, and that the stench of the shop needs to be purified by a few generations of useless genteel living to muffle the suspicion that sometime, somewhere, someone in the family once worked for something, is something people really ought to be ashamed of repeating so eagerly and so often.
posted by queenofbithynia at 10:05 AM on February 18, 2017 [69 favorites]
aristocrat worship isn't a good look on anybody. The middle classes adore talking knowledgeably about new and old money because they superstitiously believe that if they approve of just the right kind of undeserved power, some of it will rub off on them, because they're so discerning. Only the real old money upper class knows the right way to behave --> I know how to behave --> I must be upper class in my soul, if not in any other way.
it's embarrassing. as is the repeated mantra that money can't buy class. It is in fact the only thing that can. the idea that it's not only true but right and proper that you can't buy class for yourself, only for your great-grandchildren, because money takes some time to settle in and age like a good Bordeaux, and that the stench of the shop needs to be purified by a few generations of useless genteel living to muffle the suspicion that sometime, somewhere, someone in the family once worked for something, is something people really ought to be ashamed of repeating so eagerly and so often.
posted by queenofbithynia at 10:05 AM on February 18, 2017 [69 favorites]
Kellyanne Conway seems to have slipped away.
good
Any ideas on her whereabouts?
don't care
posted by murphy slaw at 10:05 AM on February 18, 2017 [43 favorites]
good
Any ideas on her whereabouts?
don't care
posted by murphy slaw at 10:05 AM on February 18, 2017 [43 favorites]
> After a month of that I knew how the social structure of that entire org functioned, what the different cliques were, had an overview of company security plans and where the big problems were, knew who was BSing who, knew what the higher-ups long term strategies were, knew who was on their way to getting kicked out days before everyone else knew and heard about the plans of the asshole clique to try to thwart one of the guys in charge and get their guy in their place. That one I ended up tattling on because it was just awful.
Be the Hercules Mulligan you would like to see in the world.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:07 AM on February 18, 2017 [26 favorites]
Be the Hercules Mulligan you would like to see in the world.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:07 AM on February 18, 2017 [26 favorites]
The complete list of all 80 false things Donald Trump has said in his first 4 weeks as president
The Toronto Star’s running tally of the bald-faced lies, exaggerations and deceptions the president of the United States of America has said, so far.
posted by sacre_bleu at 10:10 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
The Toronto Star’s running tally of the bald-faced lies, exaggerations and deceptions the president of the United States of America has said, so far.
posted by sacre_bleu at 10:10 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
Tee hee. This will surprise absolutely no one here, but UPenn Student Paper Debunks DJT's Claim of Graduating At the Top of His Class. They dug up the graduation program: no honors of any kind, and definitely not even in the top 15%...
posted by TwoStride at 10:16 AM on February 18, 2017 [49 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 10:16 AM on February 18, 2017 [49 favorites]
For some reason I think an amalgam of Hercules Mulligan and Joe Biden might save the day. I dunno, strength of the Irish, something.
posted by angrycat at 10:16 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 10:16 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
> New-money trash never gets it.
aristocrat worship isn't a good look on anybody.
Not only that, but the implication that the Clintons and the Obamas are somehow "old money" is kind of hilarious.
posted by biogeo at 10:16 AM on February 18, 2017 [35 favorites]
aristocrat worship isn't a good look on anybody.
Not only that, but the implication that the Clintons and the Obamas are somehow "old money" is kind of hilarious.
posted by biogeo at 10:16 AM on February 18, 2017 [35 favorites]
Russia wants pragmatic relations with the United States but also is hoping for the creation of a "post-West world order," the country's foreign minister said Saturday, dismissing the NATO military alliance as a relic of the Cold War.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:21 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:21 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Another bit of anecdotal evidence: my friend in Toronto was going to visit this fall but has decided she doesn't want to visit the U.S. as long as Trump is president, partially on moral grounds, partially because she doesn't want to risk getting jammed up in Customs. I guess I'll go see her instead, but I was really wanting to show her Big Bend.
posted by Tuba Toothpaste at 10:22 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Tuba Toothpaste at 10:22 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
The Pope is subtweeting the Republican Party again.
@Pontifex
How often in the Bible the Lord asks us to welcome migrants and foreigners, reminding us that we too are foreigners!
posted by chris24 at 10:23 AM on February 18, 2017 [47 favorites]
@Pontifex
How often in the Bible the Lord asks us to welcome migrants and foreigners, reminding us that we too are foreigners!
posted by chris24 at 10:23 AM on February 18, 2017 [47 favorites]
Russia wants pragmatic relations with the United States but also is hoping for the creation of a "post-West world order," the country's foreign minister said Saturday, dismissing the NATO military alliance as a relic of the Cold War.
Thanks, every asshole that voted for this.
posted by Artw at 10:24 AM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
Thanks, every asshole that voted for this.
posted by Artw at 10:24 AM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
Also Flynn may have been the conduit to the FSB but never doubt for a moment that the administration is heavily compromised by Russia. Probably worth assuming Flynn is still hanging around also.
posted by Artw at 10:26 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Artw at 10:26 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
The Pope is subtweeting the Republican Party again.
I'm sure that's aimed at least as much at European nativists as at the Republicans. That threat is at least as bad (especially with the French election coming up) and much closer to home.
posted by biogeo at 10:26 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm sure that's aimed at least as much at European nativists as at the Republicans. That threat is at least as bad (especially with the French election coming up) and much closer to home.
posted by biogeo at 10:26 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
I do have massive disgust that we're forced to pay for her ridiculous alternate housing, and also disgusted we're paying for his phony country club and maybe that place in NJ.
There's a difference between securing the president when he travels and maintaining a separate permanent residence. His trips to Mar-a-Lago are egregious because it looks like he's going every single weekend, not because he goes at all. We paid to secure the Obamas when they went to Martha's Vineyard or Hawaii. Once. A. Year.
I made a site to track the bill we've run up to secure Trump Tower since the inauguration. We're at an estimated $11.6 million and counting.
posted by kirkaracha at 10:29 AM on February 18, 2017 [45 favorites]
I can't tell if this is a deliberate shout out to neo-Confederates and Lost Cause types or not.
If you have to wonder, then the answer is probably "yes."
posted by indubitable at 10:34 AM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
If you have to wonder, then the answer is probably "yes."
posted by indubitable at 10:34 AM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
aristocrat worship isn't a good look on anybody. The middle classes adore talking knowledgeably about new and old money because they superstitiously believe that if they approve of just the right kind of undeserved power, some of it will rub off on them, because they're so discerning. Only the real old money upper class knows the right way to behave --> I know how to behave --> I must be upper class in my soul, if not in any other way.
Preach.
posted by medusa at 10:36 AM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
Preach.
posted by medusa at 10:36 AM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
kirkaracha: I made a site to track the bill we've run up to secure Trump Tower since the inauguration. We're at an estimated $11.6 million and counting.
Nice! (You can delete "dollars" from "$35 million dollars" because it's redundant if you have the dollar sign there.) /copyeditor
posted by emelenjr at 10:40 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Nice! (You can delete "dollars" from "$35 million dollars" because it's redundant if you have the dollar sign there.) /copyeditor
posted by emelenjr at 10:40 AM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Democracy for America is seeking applications for DFA endorsement of progressive candidates for elected office. If you're thinking of running for anything, it might come in handy.
posted by Coventry at 10:43 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Coventry at 10:43 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is pursuing at least three separate probes relating to alleged Russian hacking of the U.S. presidential elections
posted by argonauta at 10:45 AM on February 18, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by argonauta at 10:45 AM on February 18, 2017 [21 favorites]
Bordeaux
Having once sold fine wine for a living, I can assert that new money pulls up in a Lexus and buys Ch. Haut Brion or Margaux in a drinkable vintage and has it delivered to their flashy but mortgaged mansion. Old money pulls up in a beater Volvo and buys 4 cases of the cheapest drinkable plonk you have. And takes it themselves to their private island.
posted by spitbull at 10:47 AM on February 18, 2017 [30 favorites]
Having once sold fine wine for a living, I can assert that new money pulls up in a Lexus and buys Ch. Haut Brion or Margaux in a drinkable vintage and has it delivered to their flashy but mortgaged mansion. Old money pulls up in a beater Volvo and buys 4 cases of the cheapest drinkable plonk you have. And takes it themselves to their private island.
posted by spitbull at 10:47 AM on February 18, 2017 [30 favorites]
Someone just realized that the day they were drafting the national guard memo, Trump was talking about sending the feds into Chicago.
posted by Talez at 10:53 AM on February 18, 2017 [37 favorites]
posted by Talez at 10:53 AM on February 18, 2017 [37 favorites]
Remember the Chinese trademark story? Turns out trademarking the name of a foreign leader is illegal under Chinese law. Meaning that there is no possible way Trump received the trademark through normal legal channels. It was an emolument.
If the Russian connection isn't nefarious enough to tank him but his popularity continues to nosedive to the point where it threatens GOP control of Congress in 2018, the GOP now has a slam dunk impeachment case under the Emoluments Clause.
posted by sallybrown at 10:53 AM on February 18, 2017 [62 favorites]
If the Russian connection isn't nefarious enough to tank him but his popularity continues to nosedive to the point where it threatens GOP control of Congress in 2018, the GOP now has a slam dunk impeachment case under the Emoluments Clause.
posted by sallybrown at 10:53 AM on February 18, 2017 [62 favorites]
Having once sold fine wine for a living, I can assert that new money pulls up in a Lexus and buys Ch. Haut Brion or Margaux in a drinkable vintage and has it delivered to their flashy but mortgaged mansion. Old money pulls up in a beater Volvo and buys 4 cases of the cheapest drinkable plonk you have. And takes it themselves to their private island.
having to choose between good wine but no private island or a private island but not very good wine is like gift-of-the-magi level upsetting. why anybody who could afford both would not choose both is far beyond me. thank god I am no kind of money so I can evade these dilemmas
posted by queenofbithynia at 10:53 AM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
Is Melbourne, FL pronounced /ˈmɛlbn̩/, like the real one?
it's pronounced "the accursed land, the thrice-damned plain, the steading of our affliction"
posted by murphy slaw at 10:54 AM on February 18, 2017 [22 favorites]
it's pronounced "the accursed land, the thrice-damned plain, the steading of our affliction"
posted by murphy slaw at 10:54 AM on February 18, 2017 [22 favorites]
@natesilver538 How often GOP "mavericks" have voted with Trump so far:
Graham: 100%
Rubio: 100%
McCain: 94%
Paul: 90%
posted by Artw at 10:55 AM on February 18, 2017 [45 favorites]
Graham: 100%
Rubio: 100%
McCain: 94%
Paul: 90%
posted by Artw at 10:55 AM on February 18, 2017 [45 favorites]
I don't know, but I can tell you that the old money types I've rubbed elbows with, which includes Cabots and Forbeses, are often and remarkably *cheap as fuck* about luxuries and pleasures. Maybe that's why they can afford islands.
posted by spitbull at 10:57 AM on February 18, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 10:57 AM on February 18, 2017 [19 favorites]
Is Melbourne, FL pronounced /ˈmɛlbn̩/, like the real one?
is this the first instance of accusing somewhere of being a Fake City?
posted by indubitable at 10:57 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
is this the first instance of accusing somewhere of being a Fake City?
posted by indubitable at 10:57 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Rumour has it that the Sec. of the Navy nom, Philip Bilden, is pulling out.
Hashtag finetunedmachine
posted by dis_integration at 10:59 AM on February 18, 2017 [24 favorites]
Hashtag finetunedmachine
posted by dis_integration at 10:59 AM on February 18, 2017 [24 favorites]
Rumour has it that the Sec. of the Navy nom, Philip Bilden, is pulling out.
Hashtag finetunedmachine
And the WH response I read is that Spicer has talked to him today and this rumor is 100% not true.
posted by Jalliah at 11:05 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Hashtag finetunedmachine
And the WH response I read is that Spicer has talked to him today and this rumor is 100% not true.
posted by Jalliah at 11:05 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
From the McCain article:
posted by sallybrown at 11:05 AM on February 18, 2017 [14 favorites]
"There’s a lot of friends of mine who are older white males that contact me all the time and say, ‘Stick with Trump! What’s the matter with you, John?’ I said, ‘Well, we have some disagreement about trade,’ and they say, ‘You don’t care about America!’ I try to be nice, but they’re fired up.”I may not be a Senator and former Presidential candidate but at least I don't have shitty friends like that!
posted by sallybrown at 11:05 AM on February 18, 2017 [14 favorites]
Having once sold fine wine for a living, I can assert that new money pulls up in a Lexus and buys Ch. Haut Brion or Margaux in a drinkable vintage and has it delivered to their flashy but mortgaged mansion. Old money pulls up in a beater Volvo and buys 4 cases of the cheapest drinkable plonk you have. And takes it themselves to their private island.
This is more or less the entirety of the classic text on the subject, Paul Fussell's Class, in one paragraph.
posted by adamgreenfield at 11:08 AM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
This is more or less the entirety of the classic text on the subject, Paul Fussell's Class, in one paragraph.
posted by adamgreenfield at 11:08 AM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
(And FWIW, this strikes me as being entirely accurate.)
posted by adamgreenfield at 11:09 AM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by adamgreenfield at 11:09 AM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
WSJ: Trump Weighs Travel Ban That Addresses Issues of Contested Previous Order: Mr. Kelly said “it is a good assumption” that green-card holders would be allowed into the U.S. He said there would be a “short phase-in period.”
“If they are in motion from some distant land, when they arrive, they will be allowed in,” Mr. Kelly said.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:09 AM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
“If they are in motion from some distant land, when they arrive, they will be allowed in,” Mr. Kelly said.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:09 AM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
DeVos criticized teachers at D.C. school she visited — and they are not having it
Jefferson educators found her comments about their work hard to take: On Friday evening, the school responded to DeVos via its Twitter account, taking exception to the education secretary’s characterization of Jefferson teachers.
“We’re about to take her to school,” the first of 11 rapid-fire tweets said
posted by futz at 11:10 AM on February 18, 2017 [31 favorites]
Jefferson educators found her comments about their work hard to take: On Friday evening, the school responded to DeVos via its Twitter account, taking exception to the education secretary’s characterization of Jefferson teachers.
“We’re about to take her to school,” the first of 11 rapid-fire tweets said
posted by futz at 11:10 AM on February 18, 2017 [31 favorites]
And the WH response I read is that Spicer has talked to him today and this rumor is 100% not true.
Oh this fallen world we inhabit. Like, it's just a rumour, but for some reason, Spicer's denial confirms its truth. But I guess it's really an Eigenvalue of a denial. If Spicer says it's false, it's either false, or true. (period)
posted by dis_integration at 11:11 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Oh this fallen world we inhabit. Like, it's just a rumour, but for some reason, Spicer's denial confirms its truth. But I guess it's really an Eigenvalue of a denial. If Spicer says it's false, it's either false, or true. (period)
posted by dis_integration at 11:11 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Serious question, then: what exactly does one do? I call, email, sign petitions, and will run for local office. What else?
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 11:53 AM on February 18
Something I do personally that is not always easy, I try to be pleasant and kind and smile. When the sullen black teenager walks down the road I make sure I look up from my gardening and smile and wave so that he knows he is not invisible. When Omar at the big box store shows me where the weed mat is located I smile, say , "Thank you." and even add "Donald Trump does not speak for me" because maybe someone has said something shitty to him. When my postal worker starts walking up my path with a heavy box, I meet her half way and tell her how much I appreciate her service.
This stuff does not come easy to me and sometimes I feel very foolish but what is that matter if just a few of my smiles get through and make people feel better for a second.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:15 AM on February 18, 2017 [46 favorites]
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 11:53 AM on February 18
Something I do personally that is not always easy, I try to be pleasant and kind and smile. When the sullen black teenager walks down the road I make sure I look up from my gardening and smile and wave so that he knows he is not invisible. When Omar at the big box store shows me where the weed mat is located I smile, say , "Thank you." and even add "Donald Trump does not speak for me" because maybe someone has said something shitty to him. When my postal worker starts walking up my path with a heavy box, I meet her half way and tell her how much I appreciate her service.
This stuff does not come easy to me and sometimes I feel very foolish but what is that matter if just a few of my smiles get through and make people feel better for a second.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:15 AM on February 18, 2017 [46 favorites]
I don't know, but I can tell you that the old money types I've rubbed elbows with, which includes Cabots and Forbeses, are often and remarkably *cheap as fuck* about luxuries and pleasures. Maybe that's why they can afford islands.
I have heard this and believe it is not entirely self-mythologizing on the part of that class, but I think it's funny (if not that funny) that that's exactly what Trump's allegedly like -- the whole thing about his sad tuna sandwiches for lunch and incompetent martinis and cheap suits and no books and no art. He only cares about appearances for his very strange and distorted idea of the effect they have on other people, not for themselves. guess he had to save all his pennies up to gold-plate the walls. but it confirms me in my belief that money is wasted on the rich, of whatever vintage, in the same way that youth is wasted on the young.
no question that I could have a nice retirement account if I spent less money on fine wines and other tiresome luxuries nobody wants to hear about. but that's what money is for, I mean aside from giving to charity and doing good. it's for facilitating the creation and acquisition of beautiful and wonderful things. and I say there should be an imagination tax on people who can think of nothing worthwhile to buy with their millions. because I fucking well could and it is a criminal waste not to give me a shot.
posted by queenofbithynia at 11:15 AM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
I have heard this and believe it is not entirely self-mythologizing on the part of that class, but I think it's funny (if not that funny) that that's exactly what Trump's allegedly like -- the whole thing about his sad tuna sandwiches for lunch and incompetent martinis and cheap suits and no books and no art. He only cares about appearances for his very strange and distorted idea of the effect they have on other people, not for themselves. guess he had to save all his pennies up to gold-plate the walls. but it confirms me in my belief that money is wasted on the rich, of whatever vintage, in the same way that youth is wasted on the young.
no question that I could have a nice retirement account if I spent less money on fine wines and other tiresome luxuries nobody wants to hear about. but that's what money is for, I mean aside from giving to charity and doing good. it's for facilitating the creation and acquisition of beautiful and wonderful things. and I say there should be an imagination tax on people who can think of nothing worthwhile to buy with their millions. because I fucking well could and it is a criminal waste not to give me a shot.
posted by queenofbithynia at 11:15 AM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
Leaked Trump tape: 'You are the special people'
That Secret Life of Gravy linked to above is Batshit Insane.
posted by futz at 11:17 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
That Secret Life of Gravy linked to above is Batshit Insane.
posted by futz at 11:17 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
DeVos criticized teachers at D.C. school she visited — and they are not having it
posted by sallybrown at 11:18 AM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
“They’re waiting to be told what they have to do, and that’s not going to bring success to an individual child,” DeVos told a columnist for the conservative online publication Townhall. “You have to have teachers who are empowered to facilitate great teaching.”Money can't buy cla--oh wait we're not saying that any more. How about: Bless your heart, you stone-cold unqualified undignified mannerless ethic-less psycho piece of crap.
posted by sallybrown at 11:18 AM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
Hey Filterians. It's cha boy here in Melbourne FL. I'm going into the hellmouth in about an hour. Will try to keep you updated as events and cell connection allow. ✊
posted by Kitty Stardust at 11:19 AM on February 18, 2017 [127 favorites]
posted by Kitty Stardust at 11:19 AM on February 18, 2017 [127 favorites]
Almost half of Germans with an interest in traveling to the U.S. won’t do so now because they feel unwelcome or don’t want to endorse President Donald Trump.
We were planning to go to the US this year as a family, but now we are going to Rome instead. My youngest is still going to the US on a school trip, though.
About "old" money: I know a lot of people who are technically very rich, their families own a lot of land and a lot of irreplaceable art. But they struggle to pay the taxes and maintenance, because their income is tiny. I don't feel sorry for them and I don't feel we need to change laws to help them, but "old money" isn't necessarily rich. They could let go of their land, but that would be a monumental failure for them because they see themselves as custodians of cultural heritage.
As a consequence, those friends I have who are "old money" detest populists like Trump, because their real life experience is much closer to people struggling on welfare than to debt-riddled entrepreneurs like Trump. They don't go on holidays, they don't drink or eat fancy stuff at all, they work 60 hour weeks and they never brag.
posted by mumimor at 11:21 AM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
We were planning to go to the US this year as a family, but now we are going to Rome instead. My youngest is still going to the US on a school trip, though.
About "old" money: I know a lot of people who are technically very rich, their families own a lot of land and a lot of irreplaceable art. But they struggle to pay the taxes and maintenance, because their income is tiny. I don't feel sorry for them and I don't feel we need to change laws to help them, but "old money" isn't necessarily rich. They could let go of their land, but that would be a monumental failure for them because they see themselves as custodians of cultural heritage.
As a consequence, those friends I have who are "old money" detest populists like Trump, because their real life experience is much closer to people struggling on welfare than to debt-riddled entrepreneurs like Trump. They don't go on holidays, they don't drink or eat fancy stuff at all, they work 60 hour weeks and they never brag.
posted by mumimor at 11:21 AM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
Seriously, how awful of a person do you have to be publicly badmouth specific public school teachers in a school you tried to visit to get PR photos with children? Even TRUMP didn't say "oh we lost that Ninth Circuit argument because the DOJ lawyers didn't do a good enough job!"
I don't even have kids…I can't imagine how angry so many parents and teachers are.
posted by sallybrown at 11:23 AM on February 18, 2017 [18 favorites]
I don't even have kids…I can't imagine how angry so many parents and teachers are.
posted by sallybrown at 11:23 AM on February 18, 2017 [18 favorites]
“If they are in motion from some distant land, when they arrive, they will be allowed in,” Mr. Kelly said.
is it just me or is this phrasing really weird?
posted by murphy slaw at 11:25 AM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
is it just me or is this phrasing really weird?
posted by murphy slaw at 11:25 AM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
I have heard this and believe it is not entirely self-mythologizing on the part of that class,
It's not at all self-mythologizing — it's good solid ethnography, if a tad gimlet-eyed. Observing and reporting on the lifeways and lifeworlds of the very very fucking rich is not the same thing as sharing their class values, or excusing their conduct (either as a class or as individuals).
posted by adamgreenfield at 11:25 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's not at all self-mythologizing — it's good solid ethnography, if a tad gimlet-eyed. Observing and reporting on the lifeways and lifeworlds of the very very fucking rich is not the same thing as sharing their class values, or excusing their conduct (either as a class or as individuals).
posted by adamgreenfield at 11:25 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
“If they are in motion from some distant land, when they arrive, they will be allowed in,” Mr. Kelly said.
is it just me or is this phrasing really weird?
Nah, Google Translate's russian-to-english is always a little weird.
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:27 AM on February 18, 2017 [19 favorites]
is it just me or is this phrasing really weird?
Nah, Google Translate's russian-to-english is always a little weird.
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:27 AM on February 18, 2017 [19 favorites]
I don't know...people love to blame teachers for pretty much everything. A high school teacher of mine has a cartoon on her fridge; the caption is "TEACHING: THEN AND NOW." On the "THEN" side, two parents and their child are meeting with a teacher and the parents are holding up a report card towards their kid and saying "How can you explain these marks". On the "NOW" side they're holding it up towards the teacher.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:27 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:27 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
my dad is a retired college professor and a student's dad once called his office and threatened to beat him up with a baseball bat because his kid got a low grade.
hug a teacher today
posted by murphy slaw at 11:29 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
hug a teacher today
posted by murphy slaw at 11:29 AM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
More notes for the fine-tuned machine file:
NSC aide Craig Deare fired for critical remarks
posted by dis_integration at 11:33 AM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
NSC aide Craig Deare fired for critical remarks
posted by dis_integration at 11:33 AM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
The crux of the DeVos problem:
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:34 AM on February 18, 2017 [31 favorites]
“I find it very interesting that the chancellor saw teachers that were pushing rigorous learning, students asking each other high-level questions and cultivating high-level responses, and teachers who take initiative and give their lives to the education of these children,” said Jefferson teacher Caroline Hunt. “DeVos saw something so different. … Maybe if DeVos knew more about education she would realize just how amazing the students, teachers and staff are.”She really has no experience of public schools, teaching, or modern education philosophies. All she has her background as a billionaire's daughter raised in an extreme Christian cult who believes autism can be overcome with "biofeedback." She would be a dilettante if only she had bothered to educate herself a little on public schools and the modern day challenges that teachers face. As it is she is just an obstacle in the road.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:34 AM on February 18, 2017 [31 favorites]
So people have dug up this New York Post classic from 2006 about KT McFarland, now the Deputy National Security Advisor supposedly in charge of picking her own boss from an increasingly shrinking pool of candidates. KOOKY KT’S SPY TALE; HILL’S HELICOPTERS WATCHING ME: RIVAL. It's the Post, but the story has attributed sources:
posted by zachlipton at 11:38 AM on February 18, 2017 [37 favorites]
“Hillary Clinton is really worried about me, and is so worried, in fact, that she had helicopters flying over my house in Southampton today taking pictures,” according to a prominent GOP activist who was at the event.This paranoid person is currently our top national security official.
“She wasn’t joking, she was very, very serious, and she also claimed that Clinton’s people were taking pictures across the street from her house in Manhattan, taking pictures from an apartment across the street from her bedroom,” added the eyewitness, who is not involved in the Senate race.
posted by zachlipton at 11:38 AM on February 18, 2017 [37 favorites]
NSC aide Craig Deare fired for critical remarks
i was hoping there was a supercut of Azula from Avatar:TLA banishing people to link here but this will have to do
posted by murphy slaw at 11:38 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
i was hoping there was a supercut of Azula from Avatar:TLA banishing people to link here but this will have to do
posted by murphy slaw at 11:38 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
A serious question that occurred to me on the drive home: At what point during the Cold War was it deemed necessary to designate public fallout shelters? Those signs were still up well into the late 80s, if not longer.
Longer. I noticed one on the front of Notre Dame School on West 13th in Manhattan four months ago.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:41 AM on February 18, 2017
Longer. I noticed one on the front of Notre Dame School on West 13th in Manhattan four months ago.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:41 AM on February 18, 2017
NSC aide Craig Deare fired for critical remarks
Craig Deare was a problematic pick to begin with. There are questions about his role in covering up US support for the military coup in Honduras, and this allegation:
posted by zachlipton at 11:42 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Craig Deare was a problematic pick to begin with. There are questions about his role in covering up US support for the military coup in Honduras, and this allegation:
Among those, Caffrey said, was Deare’s loss of his security clearance after it was discovered that he’d falsified a U.S. Army performance report while assigned to the staff of then-Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., who at the time was chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee; Deare even used the office robo-pen to forge the senator’s signature.That said, I really want to know what he said at the think tank about Trump's call with Enrique Pena Nieto.
posted by zachlipton at 11:42 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
From the Craid Deare article:
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:43 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
The president is interviewing candidates for his replacement this weekend at Mar-a-Lago after his first choice, Admiral Robert Harward, declined the offerand thanks to the NY Times article from this morning about Mar-A-Lago we know that DJT will be inviting his paying guests to stand around and watch him interview candidates. Maybe they will even get to vote on who he hires (sorta fake but who knows?)
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:43 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Long New Yorker piece by Nicholas Schmidle on Michael Flynn, General Chaos: includes the assertion that RT paid him 40K for his little trip to Russia in 2015 (which he did not report), and builds an extremely discomfiting picture of an administration filled with people who want boots on the ground in Iran.
posted by sallybrown at 11:43 AM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 11:43 AM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
Is Melbourne, FL pronounced /ˈmɛlbn̩/, like the real one?
posted by qcubed at 1:53 PM on February 18 [+] [!]
Sure, if you've got an Australian accent.
posted by Sys Rq at 11:44 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by qcubed at 1:53 PM on February 18 [+] [!]
Sure, if you've got an Australian accent.
posted by Sys Rq at 11:44 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Ladies and gentleman, the N̶a̶z̶i̶ Republican Party.
Milo Yiannopoulos Tapped as Keynote Speaker at Conservative Political Action Conference
posted by chris24 at 11:44 AM on February 18, 2017 [25 favorites]
Milo Yiannopoulos Tapped as Keynote Speaker at Conservative Political Action Conference
posted by chris24 at 11:44 AM on February 18, 2017 [25 favorites]
they couldn't even get an American nazi for christ's sake
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:45 AM on February 18, 2017 [37 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:45 AM on February 18, 2017 [37 favorites]
Oh lovely literal Nazi keynoting, and he's not even a citizen of America.
Well done Republicans.
posted by Yowser at 11:47 AM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
Well done Republicans.
posted by Yowser at 11:47 AM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
As it is she is just an obstacle in the road.
I move that from now on speed bumps be called "devosses."
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:47 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
I move that from now on speed bumps be called "devosses."
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:47 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
that's what money is for
That, and also private islands.
And it's funny you should mention ethnography, adamgreenfield. I am in fact an ethnographer of American working-class communities (of almost 30 years). My experience as a fine wine salesman was 30 years or so ago, and as much hobnobbing with either kind of money as I could stand.
posted by spitbull at 11:47 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
That, and also private islands.
And it's funny you should mention ethnography, adamgreenfield. I am in fact an ethnographer of American working-class communities (of almost 30 years). My experience as a fine wine salesman was 30 years or so ago, and as much hobnobbing with either kind of money as I could stand.
posted by spitbull at 11:47 AM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
they couldn't even get an American nazi for christ's sake
Immigrants doing the job that Americansdon't shouldn't want to do.
posted by Candleman at 11:47 AM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
Immigrants doing the job that Americans
posted by Candleman at 11:47 AM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
Milo Yiannopoulos Tapped as Keynote Speaker at Conservative Political Action Conference
As long as his keynote comprises him bathing in pig's blood on stage I'm okay with it.
posted by PenDevil at 11:48 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
As long as his keynote comprises him bathing in pig's blood on stage I'm okay with it.
posted by PenDevil at 11:48 AM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Is Melbourne, FL pronounced /ˈmɛlbn̩/, like the real one?
If you're actually asking: No. It's just mel-burn. Male-burn if you're southerny.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:52 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
If you're actually asking: No. It's just mel-burn. Male-burn if you're southerny.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:52 AM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Indeed, I can report that a certain 90s tech titan you've heard of once ordered a case of 1986 Ch. Margaux for a pool party he was throwing ... chilled.
Also, the band Foghat used to order generic vodka by the case.
posted by spitbull at 11:56 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
Also, the band Foghat used to order generic vodka by the case.
posted by spitbull at 11:56 AM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
This week's Peggy Noonan column is (while still very Noonan-y) pretty scathing on Trump, for anyone who enjoys criticism from the right. Also notable in that she does not dismiss the possibility of Trump's campaign colluding with Russia or the idea of an independent Congressional investigation.
posted by sallybrown at 11:56 AM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
The president complains about leaks in angry tweets. They look weak, as if he’s saying: Hey, America, you better solve this problem!(linking to a version available online rather than the WSJ)
No, buddy, you solve it. . . .
There’s a lot going against the new White House — the mainstream media, the spies, the antic nature of the president himself, the ambivalence of his own party, the rise of the passionate left.
And another thing: the president’s band of exotics.
Mr. Trump is an unusual character and it’s no surprise he surrounded himself with unusual characters. They’re a band of outsiders with an eye to the historical chance. They’re a highly individualistic, highly idiosyncratic crew.
They’re dressed like Supergirl at a party; they glower around in skinny ties and skinny suits with skinny sideburns; they’re telling reporters to please quote them when they say “Shut up and listen.” They are spoofed on TV because they’re so easily spoofable.
And we see a lot of them. Sometimes they are explaining away their boss’s faux pas. Sometimes they’re explaining their own. We see them in fiery, confrontational interviews. They speak quickly, dramatically, vividly.
They aren’t calming things down and inspiring trust and confidence.
In fairness, they’re working in a White House in which they cannot confidently predict their own president’s views, actions and statements. They don’t necessarily know where they stand, long term, with him or one another. (He apparently likes things loosey-goosey. He’s got what he wanted.) They’re under heavy pressure. And like their boss, they’ve never been there before.
But it may mean something that the other night in a speech in Trump-loving Oklahoma, I said of the president’s colorful aides, “They should get off TV,” and the room burst into applause.
They should go and sit in their offices and plan something. White Houses, which are always dramatic places that deal with daily crises, don’t need more drama. They need systems, order, process, calm. They need clear lines of authority and responsibility.
Let the cabinet members, now that they’re confirmed and so officially exist, advance policy and explain thinking. Let the president and the vice president do the asserting and context-giving.
I used to think White Houses needed more independent, brilliant people. This one needs more shy, quiet, process people.
Give more attention to planning than promotion and marketing. If you plan better, you’ll need fewer cleanup crews.
Sit down and have a cup of coffee. Handle the incoming. There’s always enough.
posted by sallybrown at 11:56 AM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
2014. Pretty much everything you need to rip Donny can be found in his own tweets.
@realDonaldTrump
If you read my last number of tweets, only one opinion can be formed - that our President, and therefore "leader," is grossly incompetent!
Those of us who sat through the Rob Ford dress rehearsal are familiar with this. As a perennial gadfly city councillor, he took every opportunity to slam his predecessors in the big chair. The criticisms usually bobbed to the surface in the Sea of Irony a few years later.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:57 AM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump
If you read my last number of tweets, only one opinion can be formed - that our President, and therefore "leader," is grossly incompetent!
Those of us who sat through the Rob Ford dress rehearsal are familiar with this. As a perennial gadfly city councillor, he took every opportunity to slam his predecessors in the big chair. The criticisms usually bobbed to the surface in the Sea of Irony a few years later.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:57 AM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
Locals generally say Mell-burn. Mell-born if feeling fancy. I actually attended a campaign event at this venue for GWB when I was in high school, back when responsible parents could take their kids to such things regardless of politics as a safe, normal civics lesson. Its hard to believe how much has changed.
posted by gatorae at 11:59 AM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 11:59 AM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
This paranoid person is currently our top national security official.
Correction: Deputy top national security official. Kellogg is the acting chief. We regret the error.
posted by zachlipton at 11:59 AM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Correction: Deputy top national security official. Kellogg is the acting chief. We regret the error.
posted by zachlipton at 11:59 AM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Remember Martin O'Malley? He's coming to Boston for a fundraiser for Matt O'Malley, a Boston city councilor who supported him during his brief run for president - and who got confused for him online (sort of like how Twitter basement dwellers keep confusing Boston's Berklee College of Music with UC Berkeley).
posted by adamg at 12:00 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by adamg at 12:00 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
I am absolutely and thoroughly disgusted by every single action and word from this man and this kleptocracy. Not a single deed or utterance has been anything but destruction, hatred and greed. During the Sad and Rabid Puppies Hugo award situation, for the first time ever I felt abandoned by my science fiction fandom, and it hit me hard. With this "presidency," I feel similarly abandoned by America and her democracy. I didn't even know how good I had it until tiny, heartless men took it away from me. I feel dismay that there are people who are so broken they would break the world just because they want to, and utter despair that they are in a position to do so without hindrance. I wish I believed in hell, because I could surely populate it.
posted by thebrokedown at 12:02 PM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by thebrokedown at 12:02 PM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
you know people keep calling this an administration of supervillains, but i would take victor von doom over these clowns any day of the week
posted by murphy slaw at 12:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 12:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [20 favorites]
like you just know that latveria has single-payer
posted by murphy slaw at 12:06 PM on February 18, 2017 [43 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 12:06 PM on February 18, 2017 [43 favorites]
Oh, now this is really interesting. Harward is going to be on ABC This Week tomorrow. Wonder why he feels the need to do this.
posted by Jalliah at 12:06 PM on February 18, 2017 [24 favorites]
Harward is going to be on ABC This Week tomorrow. Wonder why he feels the need to do this.
i would say this is completely unprecedented but that kind of goes without saying these days.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:08 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
i would say this is completely unprecedented but that kind of goes without saying these days.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:08 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
they couldn't even get an American nazi for christ's sake
(With apologies to the Guess Who)
American Nazi, stay away from me
American Nazi, volk, let me be
Don't come hanging around my door
Don't wanna see your shadow no more
posted by nubs at 12:08 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
(With apologies to the Guess Who)
American Nazi, stay away from me
American Nazi, volk, let me be
Don't come hanging around my door
Don't wanna see your shadow no more
posted by nubs at 12:08 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
The Hill: Poll: Americans want Democrats to work with Trump
Yeah, no.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 12:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
Yeah, no.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 12:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
people keep calling this an administration of supervillains
More like third-rate Bond villains. Goldfinger wanted to irradiate all the gold in Fort Knox to make his own worth more; does Trump want to destroy America to enhance the value of his foreign real estate holdings?
posted by Pseudonymous Cognomen at 12:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
More like third-rate Bond villains. Goldfinger wanted to irradiate all the gold in Fort Knox to make his own worth more; does Trump want to destroy America to enhance the value of his foreign real estate holdings?
posted by Pseudonymous Cognomen at 12:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Harward is going to be on ABC This Week tomorrow. Wonder why he feels the need to do this.
Probably just going to cover his ass
"It's not that I think this administration is a Fascist puppet, no no, of course not, it's just that I've got this ship in a bottle I've been working on, and there's the new Gilmore Girls, so"
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:11 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
Probably just going to cover his ass
"It's not that I think this administration is a Fascist puppet, no no, of course not, it's just that I've got this ship in a bottle I've been working on, and there's the new Gilmore Girls, so"
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:11 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
I think it's fantastic that CPAC will have a raging Nazi as keynote speaker. The more that right-wingers put their most inflammatory exemplars of nationalist bigotry front and center, the more that influenceable centrists will shy away from them, and the more that non-voting progressives will feel compelled to get involved.
That's one theory, anyway. Though it is unsettling to think that there were probably some Germans that said the same about Hitler in 1933...
posted by darkstar at 12:12 PM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
That's one theory, anyway. Though it is unsettling to think that there were probably some Germans that said the same about Hitler in 1933...
posted by darkstar at 12:12 PM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
i would say this is completely unprecedented but that kind of goes without saying these days.
the word you're looking for is unpresidented!
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 12:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
the word you're looking for is unpresidented!
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 12:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
>That's one theory, anyway.
SURELY THIS
posted by Sing Or Swim at 12:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
SURELY THIS
posted by Sing Or Swim at 12:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Probably just going to cover his ass
"It's not that I think this administration is a Fascist puppet, no no, of course not, it's just that I've got this ship in a bottle I've been working on, and there's the new Gilmore Girls, so"
Even if this is true it still doesn't answer the question of why he would feel he needs to cover his ass by being interviewed.
He gave his official reason, it's looks like he wasn't quiet at all about his real reasons and now he sudden't feels like he needs to go and say 'oh it's just cause of my family?' It's not like he has to protect himself for a job or anything. He's retired.
posted by Jalliah at 12:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
"It's not that I think this administration is a Fascist puppet, no no, of course not, it's just that I've got this ship in a bottle I've been working on, and there's the new Gilmore Girls, so"
Even if this is true it still doesn't answer the question of why he would feel he needs to cover his ass by being interviewed.
He gave his official reason, it's looks like he wasn't quiet at all about his real reasons and now he sudden't feels like he needs to go and say 'oh it's just cause of my family?' It's not like he has to protect himself for a job or anything. He's retired.
posted by Jalliah at 12:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
I suspect wording counts for a lot in that poll. "Hey, co-operation and doing good things and everything not being crazy would be good, right?"
posted by Artw at 12:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 12:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
I just looked at the Pope's twitter message about immigrants. There were people attacking him with "muslims are killers" and "skylord, snort" comments.
What a world.
posted by bongo_x at 12:18 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
What a world.
posted by bongo_x at 12:18 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
I think it's fantastic that CPAC will have a raging Nazi as keynote speaker.
Market forces. NRLC have a Christian Dominionist authoritarian theocrat as their keynote speaker, CPAC have to get a Nazi.
posted by Talez at 12:18 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Market forces. NRLC have a Christian Dominionist authoritarian theocrat as their keynote speaker, CPAC have to get a Nazi.
posted by Talez at 12:18 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
During the Sad and Rabid Puppies Hugo award situation, for the first time ever I felt abandoned by my science fiction fandom, and it hit me hard. With this "presidency," I feel similarly abandoned by America and her democracy. I didn't even know how good I had it until tiny, heartless men took it away from me.
The day after the election, a colleague said to me "The Americans aren't who we thought they were." And at the time, I really felt that. But things like the Women's March and the rallies around the Muslim ban make me realize that yes, there are Americans who are who I thought they were; and they're going to fight. I take heart from that at the times when it seems like it's all going to shit. It isn't over; but there will be times when we all feel overwhelmed and despair. Don't deny those feelings, but don't give into them either - there are many who feel like you do. Find them, stand with them. If you can't find anyone at this moment, go find something inspiring to read or to watch. Or exercise. Or do something that will give you energy. Sitting and reading and commenting on the internet isn't always a good thing for your mental health.
posted by nubs at 12:18 PM on February 18, 2017 [44 favorites]
The day after the election, a colleague said to me "The Americans aren't who we thought they were." And at the time, I really felt that. But things like the Women's March and the rallies around the Muslim ban make me realize that yes, there are Americans who are who I thought they were; and they're going to fight. I take heart from that at the times when it seems like it's all going to shit. It isn't over; but there will be times when we all feel overwhelmed and despair. Don't deny those feelings, but don't give into them either - there are many who feel like you do. Find them, stand with them. If you can't find anyone at this moment, go find something inspiring to read or to watch. Or exercise. Or do something that will give you energy. Sitting and reading and commenting on the internet isn't always a good thing for your mental health.
posted by nubs at 12:18 PM on February 18, 2017 [44 favorites]
I previously stated that, as a supervillain, Trump is less Lex Luthor and more Joker. But now it's obviously Bizarro*, the 'anti-Superman' who Batman is quoted as saying "makes the Joker seem sane."
*NOT to be confused with Bizarro, the newspaper comic by Dan Piraro that started as one of the '80s "Far Side copies" but has incredibly been CLOSE TO as good as Far Side for 32 years... twice as long as Far Side ran before Gary Larson retired out of fear of burning out.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:19 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
*NOT to be confused with Bizarro, the newspaper comic by Dan Piraro that started as one of the '80s "Far Side copies" but has incredibly been CLOSE TO as good as Far Side for 32 years... twice as long as Far Side ran before Gary Larson retired out of fear of burning out.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:19 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
How and why in god's name would anyone on the liberal/left/Democratic side of things think that it would be desirable or even possible to make "deals" with Donald Trump?
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
Senator Wyden (member of the Senate Intel Committee) tweeted this morning: "Trump has nothing to do with Russia? Not so much." and linked a video compilation of Trump talking about Russian connections.
!
posted by sallybrown at 12:23 PM on February 18, 2017 [47 favorites]
!
posted by sallybrown at 12:23 PM on February 18, 2017 [47 favorites]
Hey, we made "deals" with the U.S.S.R. and it helped keep us from getting blowed up for 50 years...
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:26 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:26 PM on February 18, 2017
So I went ahead yesterday and called my Republican representative. He's Tea Party (WA - Newhouse)
I met him in passing in November. He was going door to door campaigning, and I explained that I voted against him in the primary, and would vote against him, given the option, in the election, too. (As it happened, it was him or a -worse- tea party guy as our only options for my district, sigh).
He said at the time "I'll be happy to represent your interests, regardless".
So I called his office and spent a few minutes on the phone explaining that I want something done about the fact that our President is behaving like a third world dictator, with his war with the media and facts.
His office was... strangely receptive to it. I don't know if they were just being polite or no, and I'm trying not to take away any particular hopes for it, because frankly, I don't trust Congress to organize a kegger in a distillery right now.
I spent the entire call literally -quivering- with frustration and rage, because I'm so violently unhappy with our current situation.
I still feel like I'm not doing enough. /sigh
posted by Archelaus at 12:26 PM on February 18, 2017 [28 favorites]
I met him in passing in November. He was going door to door campaigning, and I explained that I voted against him in the primary, and would vote against him, given the option, in the election, too. (As it happened, it was him or a -worse- tea party guy as our only options for my district, sigh).
He said at the time "I'll be happy to represent your interests, regardless".
So I called his office and spent a few minutes on the phone explaining that I want something done about the fact that our President is behaving like a third world dictator, with his war with the media and facts.
His office was... strangely receptive to it. I don't know if they were just being polite or no, and I'm trying not to take away any particular hopes for it, because frankly, I don't trust Congress to organize a kegger in a distillery right now.
I spent the entire call literally -quivering- with frustration and rage, because I'm so violently unhappy with our current situation.
I still feel like I'm not doing enough. /sigh
posted by Archelaus at 12:26 PM on February 18, 2017 [28 favorites]
The Latest: Pence praised by U2 front man Bono
Vice President Mike Pence is holding an impromptu meeting with U2 front man Bono, who calls the vice president "the second busiest man on Earth."
Pence met with the Irish rock star along the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Bono offered his appreciation to the vice president for meeting and noted that Pence had twice supported bills in Congress to provide AIDS medication to African nations.
Bono called it an "extraordinary historic accomplishment" and credited Pence with playing a "leading role." Reporters were then ushered away.
Bees for Bono
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:27 PM on February 18, 2017 [44 favorites]
Vice President Mike Pence is holding an impromptu meeting with U2 front man Bono, who calls the vice president "the second busiest man on Earth."
Pence met with the Irish rock star along the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Bono offered his appreciation to the vice president for meeting and noted that Pence had twice supported bills in Congress to provide AIDS medication to African nations.
Bono called it an "extraordinary historic accomplishment" and credited Pence with playing a "leading role." Reporters were then ushered away.
Bees for Bono
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:27 PM on February 18, 2017 [44 favorites]
When it came to NSA spying, Wyden proved to be a master at carefully hinting at important truths while scrupulously avoiding revealing any actual classified information. Watch him closely.
posted by zachlipton at 12:28 PM on February 18, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 12:28 PM on February 18, 2017 [22 favorites]
Pence had twice supported bills in Congress to provide AIDS medication to African nations.
Maybe he shoulda supported bills to send them to Indiana instead.
posted by jackbishop at 12:31 PM on February 18, 2017 [31 favorites]
Maybe he shoulda supported bills to send them to Indiana instead.
posted by jackbishop at 12:31 PM on February 18, 2017 [31 favorites]
More like third-rate Bond villains. Goldfinger wanted to irradiate all the gold in Fort Knox to make his own worth more; does Trump want to destroy America to enhance the value of his foreign real estate holdings?
No, but he might irradiate Iran's oil fields to make Russia's oil more valuable.
posted by notyou at 12:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
No, but he might irradiate Iran's oil fields to make Russia's oil more valuable.
posted by notyou at 12:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
I think it's fantastic that CPAC will have a raging Nazi as keynote speaker.
Oh, it's CPAC? Isn't Milo super in-your-face gay as part of his schtick? I wonder how the God botherer faction is going to feel about that.
posted by indubitable at 12:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh, it's CPAC? Isn't Milo super in-your-face gay as part of his schtick? I wonder how the God botherer faction is going to feel about that.
posted by indubitable at 12:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Hundreds of Texans may have voted improperly
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas election officials have acknowledged that hundreds of people were allowed to bypass the state’s toughest-in-the-nation voter ID law and improperly cast ballots in the November presidential election by signing a sworn statement instead of showing a photo ID.
The chief election officers in two of the state’s largest counties are now considering whether to refer cases to local prosecutors for potential perjury charges or violations of election law. Officials in many other areas say they will simply let the mistakes go, citing widespread confusion among poll workers and voters.
...An Associated Press analysis of roughly 13,500 affidavits submitted in Texas’ largest counties found at least 500 instances in which voters were allowed to get around the law by signing an affidavit and never showing a photo ID, despite indicating that they possessed one.
posted by futz at 12:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas election officials have acknowledged that hundreds of people were allowed to bypass the state’s toughest-in-the-nation voter ID law and improperly cast ballots in the November presidential election by signing a sworn statement instead of showing a photo ID.
The chief election officers in two of the state’s largest counties are now considering whether to refer cases to local prosecutors for potential perjury charges or violations of election law. Officials in many other areas say they will simply let the mistakes go, citing widespread confusion among poll workers and voters.
...An Associated Press analysis of roughly 13,500 affidavits submitted in Texas’ largest counties found at least 500 instances in which voters were allowed to get around the law by signing an affidavit and never showing a photo ID, despite indicating that they possessed one.
posted by futz at 12:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
OK - can we please leave the bees alone! They've got colony collapse to deal with, an EPA that is going to let any pesticide on the market that makes someone at Bayer money, and almost all of them are female.
LEAVE THE BEES ALONE!
posted by Sophie1 at 12:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [27 favorites]
LEAVE THE BEES ALONE!
posted by Sophie1 at 12:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [27 favorites]
the bee-helmet is an honor for the bees and Bono alike; to be silent is to dishonor them
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yeah, I'm not down with making bees do our dirty work.
posted by lydhre at 12:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by lydhre at 12:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
If there was damning Russian-connection stuff in yesterday's briefing, what can the senators therein who were already playing up Russian connections do? They talk about Russia, it sounds like they're alluding to classified information which they shouldn't be alluding to. They stop talking about Russia, that looks suspiciously like some sort of weird intelligence-receipt canary (by analogy to the warrant-canary notion). Is there anything for a Democratic member of the Senate Intelligence Committee to do that doesn't look like a backchannel classified-info leak?
posted by jackbishop at 12:36 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by jackbishop at 12:36 PM on February 18, 2017
Achtung Bee-bee
posted by ian1977 at 12:36 PM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 12:36 PM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
Reuters U.S. inquiries into Russian election hacking include three FBI probes
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [25 favorites]
This counterintelligence inquiry includes but is not limited to examination of financial transactions by Russian individuals and companies who are believed to have links to Trump associates. The transactions under scrutiny involve investments by Russians in overseas entities that appear to have been undertaken through middlemen and front companies, two people briefed on the probe said.They are looking into Trump-Russia business ties. This could blow up. This could be what he was so worried about.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [25 favorites]
Everyone needs to do their part, even the bees.
posted by notyou at 12:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by notyou at 12:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [18 favorites]
Last night, F-15s were scrambled to intercept an unresponsive plane near Mar-a-Lago. Residents were reportedly panicked over the sonic booms and overwhelmed 911 call centers.
Either that or DJT just wanted to impress his guests with a show of military power. ;-)
posted by zakur at 12:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Either that or DJT just wanted to impress his guests with a show of military power. ;-)
posted by zakur at 12:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
... the classic text on the subject, Paul Fussell's Class
really interesting read! i hadn't heard of it before. i took a few minutes to skim through it and now i want to murder the rich, burn their mansions and be a hermit for the rest of my life so i won't be infected by the staggering pettiness and contempt of human society
seriously, please tell me paul fussell was self-aware enough not to believe any of what he was writing
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 12:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
really interesting read! i hadn't heard of it before. i took a few minutes to skim through it and now i want to murder the rich, burn their mansions and be a hermit for the rest of my life so i won't be infected by the staggering pettiness and contempt of human society
seriously, please tell me paul fussell was self-aware enough not to believe any of what he was writing
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 12:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
The Latest: Pence praised by U2 front man Bono
That guy has always confused me.
posted by bongo_x at 12:39 PM on February 18, 2017
That guy has always confused me.
posted by bongo_x at 12:39 PM on February 18, 2017
he will not confuse bee
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:40 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:40 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
Bono will probably humbly accept the bees cuz he is jealous of sting
posted by ian1977 at 12:42 PM on February 18, 2017 [84 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 12:42 PM on February 18, 2017 [84 favorites]
Secret Life of Gravy: The transactions under scrutiny involve investments by Russians in overseas entities that appear to have been undertaken through middlemen and front companies, two people briefed on the probe said.
*cough* Rosneft *cough*
posted by bluecore at 12:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
*cough* Rosneft *cough*
posted by bluecore at 12:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
Bono will probably humbly accept the bees cuz he is jealous of sting
my god, man
posted by sallybrown at 12:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [33 favorites]
my god, man
posted by sallybrown at 12:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [33 favorites]
Are you guys getting enough oxygen in here
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [63 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [63 favorites]
Vox Today in Obamacare: the GOP’s latest plan gives the wealthy extra help to buy insurance
That means that the biggest financial benefits would go to older Americans, like, say, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. If he didn’t have a job in the Trump cabinet and access to government coverage, a 64-year-old multimillionaire like him would get the same amount of financial assistance as someone his age, living in poverty, and he would get substantially more money than a poor, young person.[...]posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:49 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Why switch to age-based tax credits?
This is a question I’ve put to about half a dozen conservative health care experts over the past few months, in formal interviews and less formal conversations. I kept hearing again and again that this wasn’t really a matter of principle — it’s just easier. While there are some policy arguments for age-based credits, what experts found most appealing was that the structure is just way simpler to administer.
so all along conservatives have favored the flat tax because they're not good at math?
posted by murphy slaw at 12:51 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 12:51 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
> Are you guys getting enough oxygen in here
Yes my tracheae are fine, thank you.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:51 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yes my tracheae are fine, thank you.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:51 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
please tell me paul fussell was self-aware enough not to believe any of what he was writing
Absolutely. His other well known book, The Great War, is magnificent stuff. Class is satirical.
For those looking for something current to read on social class in the US, not as facile as Hillbilly Elegy, I suggest Christine Walley's *Exit 0,* or Arlie Hochschild's new Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right
Hochschild's book previewed before the election in Mother Jones. It reads as prescient now.
posted by spitbull at 12:55 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
Absolutely. His other well known book, The Great War, is magnificent stuff. Class is satirical.
For those looking for something current to read on social class in the US, not as facile as Hillbilly Elegy, I suggest Christine Walley's *Exit 0,* or Arlie Hochschild's new Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right
Hochschild's book previewed before the election in Mother Jones. It reads as prescient now.
posted by spitbull at 12:55 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
An interesting twitter thread that starts: 1/ I’d like to pushback a little bit on the idea that McCain et. al are not really opposing Trump.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 12:55 PM on February 18, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 12:55 PM on February 18, 2017 [22 favorites]
LEAVE THE BEES ALONE!
RELEASE THE WASPS
posted by Fish, fish, are you doing your duty? at 12:55 PM on February 18, 2017 [24 favorites]
RELEASE THE WASPS
posted by Fish, fish, are you doing your duty? at 12:55 PM on February 18, 2017 [24 favorites]
Does anyone know if I write swears on a postcard will it still be delivered to my Senators? Because I am finding it increasingly difficult not to include the word FUCK on my daily postcards.
posted by bq at 12:57 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by bq at 12:57 PM on February 18, 2017
this wasn’t really a matter of principle — it’s just easier
At least they admit it's not based on principles. I'm sure it makes it a whole lot easier...to make sure upper class seniors that vote in disproportionately higher numbers stay tucked into the Republican Party. Screw those poor, young people who don't vote for us, anyway!
just way simpler to administer
You know what would be even simpler to administer?
posted by darkstar at 12:57 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
At least they admit it's not based on principles. I'm sure it makes it a whole lot easier...to make sure upper class seniors that vote in disproportionately higher numbers stay tucked into the Republican Party. Screw those poor, young people who don't vote for us, anyway!
just way simpler to administer
You know what would be even simpler to administer?
posted by darkstar at 12:57 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
where's a wicker man when we need one
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 12:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 12:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
really interesting read! i hadn't heard of it before. i took a few minutes to skim through it and now i want to murder the rich, burn their mansions and be a hermit for the rest of my life so i won't be infected by the staggering pettiness and contempt of human society
Or, as we call it, Saturday!
posted by Celsius1414 at 12:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Or, as we call it, Saturday!
posted by Celsius1414 at 12:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Bees for Bono
That guy has had to listen to U2's music every day of his life for the past 30 years, don't you think that's punishment enough?
posted by peeedro at 1:01 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
That guy has had to listen to U2's music every day of his life for the past 30 years, don't you think that's punishment enough?
posted by peeedro at 1:01 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
RELEASE THE WASPS
Bunny and I are ready.
posted by The Whelk at 1:02 PM on February 18, 2017 [14 favorites]
Bunny and I are ready.
posted by The Whelk at 1:02 PM on February 18, 2017 [14 favorites]
Hey now, The Joshua Bee was a great album
posted by ian1977 at 1:03 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 1:03 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
Why switch to age-based tax credits?
Obamacare already takes age into account in a more efficient manner. While Obamacare subsidies are based on income, they are also effectively increased by age. Because the premiums for the elderly are allowed to be three times those for the young, under Obamacare the elderly will be awarded a higher subsidy to compensate for the higher premium cost, assuming equivalent income levels. But there will be no subsidy if the income is too high.
An ideal plan would be like Medicare where everyone is subsidized to the same amount. But that only works if the subsidy is large enough to allow even the poorest to afford it. Under the Republican plan they are simply taking the relatively small amount of money for subsidies that are distributed according to need in Obamacare and redistributing them to the wealthy. If you want to do it right, you need to make premiums universal and cheap and that means higher taxes.
posted by JackFlash at 1:06 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
Obamacare already takes age into account in a more efficient manner. While Obamacare subsidies are based on income, they are also effectively increased by age. Because the premiums for the elderly are allowed to be three times those for the young, under Obamacare the elderly will be awarded a higher subsidy to compensate for the higher premium cost, assuming equivalent income levels. But there will be no subsidy if the income is too high.
An ideal plan would be like Medicare where everyone is subsidized to the same amount. But that only works if the subsidy is large enough to allow even the poorest to afford it. Under the Republican plan they are simply taking the relatively small amount of money for subsidies that are distributed according to need in Obamacare and redistributing them to the wealthy. If you want to do it right, you need to make premiums universal and cheap and that means higher taxes.
posted by JackFlash at 1:06 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
2/ It’s true that if you look at the vote tallies, almost all GOP Senators have supported Trump.
Well, that was a short thread.
posted by Artw at 1:07 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
Well, that was a short thread.
posted by Artw at 1:07 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
> An interesting twitter thread that starts: 1/ I’d like to pushback a little bit on the idea that McCain et. al are not really opposing Trump.
I'd like to call out tweet 7 in this string. quote:
Until the political realignment that started with the Gingrich counterrevolution, it was common for Senators to cross party lines. Even now, when the Republican party has organized its legislators on the parliamentary model, with Senators and Representatives aggressively whipped to vote for the party line no matter what, it is common for Democratic Senators to oppose Democratic Presidents. There is a long lineage of anti-large-D-Democratic and anti-small-d-democratic Senators in the Democratic party: consider, to take the most flagrant examples, Zell Miller, Joe Lieberman, and now Joe Manchin.
The tweet string as a whole makes the argument that the silence of the Republican electeds is itself the best available mode of resistance. Silent accommodation in the face of fascism is not resistance. It is collaboration.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:08 PM on February 18, 2017 [73 favorites]
I'd like to call out tweet 7 in this string. quote:
7/ First, it is radically unusual that party Senators are opposing the President AT ALL. It’s basically unprecedented.This is wildly ahistorical. Also, it's not true.
Until the political realignment that started with the Gingrich counterrevolution, it was common for Senators to cross party lines. Even now, when the Republican party has organized its legislators on the parliamentary model, with Senators and Representatives aggressively whipped to vote for the party line no matter what, it is common for Democratic Senators to oppose Democratic Presidents. There is a long lineage of anti-large-D-Democratic and anti-small-d-democratic Senators in the Democratic party: consider, to take the most flagrant examples, Zell Miller, Joe Lieberman, and now Joe Manchin.
The tweet string as a whole makes the argument that the silence of the Republican electeds is itself the best available mode of resistance. Silent accommodation in the face of fascism is not resistance. It is collaboration.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:08 PM on February 18, 2017 [73 favorites]
>I’d like to pushback a little bit on the idea that McCain et. al are not really opposing Trump.
Yeah, when Trump's shitty appointees are done destroying public schools, the EPA, etc., I will be deeply grateful to McCain et al for voting to confirm while making stern, disapproving faces.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 1:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [26 favorites]
Yeah, when Trump's shitty appointees are done destroying public schools, the EPA, etc., I will be deeply grateful to McCain et al for voting to confirm while making stern, disapproving faces.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 1:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [26 favorites]
Can they please send Sinéad O'Connor to have a talk with Mike Pence instead
posted by mubba at 1:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [30 favorites]
posted by mubba at 1:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [30 favorites]
McCain: Dictators 'get started by suppressing free press'
and
“I didn’t know what to make of it, but everyone knows the Russians do use women and sex when people go to Russia,” he said. “It’s an old KGB honeypot.”
McCain. You've burned me so many goddamned times, and I don't know why I can't quit you, but so far so good. Keep it up or bees.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [32 favorites]
and
“I didn’t know what to make of it, but everyone knows the Russians do use women and sex when people go to Russia,” he said. “It’s an old KGB honeypot.”
McCain. You've burned me so many goddamned times, and I don't know why I can't quit you, but so far so good. Keep it up or bees.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [32 favorites]
you'll know if mccain really means it when democrats start quoting him to make their points and he doesn't start walking it back.
so, like, never.
posted by murphy slaw at 1:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
so, like, never.
posted by murphy slaw at 1:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
I want to buzz, I want to fly
I want to tear down the hexagonal wax cells that hold me inside
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:15 PM on February 18, 2017 [35 favorites]
I want to tear down the hexagonal wax cells that hold me inside
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:15 PM on February 18, 2017 [35 favorites]
The irony is that the running joke here is that McCain would look troubled and serious whilst voting for the camps. It isn't enough.
posted by jaduncan at 1:15 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
"There is a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part. You can't even passively take part! And you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop! And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it — that unless you're free, the machine will be prevented from working at all!"That notably doesn't say 'repeatedly give permission for the machine to work, continue to fund it, actively vote in favour of it, but look concerned and make vague comments about how machines can be bad'.
posted by jaduncan at 1:15 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
> really interesting read! i hadn't heard of it before. i took a few minutes to skim through it and now i want to murder the rich, burn their mansions and be a hermit for the rest of my life so i won't be infected by the staggering pettiness and contempt of human society
It's not murder. It's self-defense.
also don't burn their mansions. expropriate them.
also don't become a hermit. join your local antifa instead.
but other than that, yes, your response is correct.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:15 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's not murder. It's self-defense.
also don't burn their mansions. expropriate them.
also don't become a hermit. join your local antifa instead.
but other than that, yes, your response is correct.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:15 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Can they please send Sinéad O'Connor to have a talk with Mike Pence instead
I nominate shane macgowan
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 1:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [22 favorites]
I nominate shane macgowan
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 1:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [22 favorites]
Bono's like, on his best days, nowhere near close to the edge of influence, current events, or even music.
I see you
posted by sallybrown at 1:17 PM on February 18, 2017 [32 favorites]
I see you
posted by sallybrown at 1:17 PM on February 18, 2017 [32 favorites]
Next week Trump will tweet how proud he is to be supported by the great rock band YouTube.
posted by spitbull at 1:19 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 1:19 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
Re: Maher -- just watched it this morning. The interview segment with Milo was predictable. No follow ups re: the provocations, doxxing, harassment or the substance of his antisemitism and misogyny. That was bad enough.
The overtime segment was even worse, except for Wilmore. Maher went in for bathroom panic, accepted misgendering and agreed that it was fair to consider trans people 'weirdos' who women and children need to be protected from.
Fucking nuts and needs to be brought to wider attention.
posted by snuffleupagus at 1:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
The overtime segment was even worse, except for Wilmore. Maher went in for bathroom panic, accepted misgendering and agreed that it was fair to consider trans people 'weirdos' who women and children need to be protected from.
Fucking nuts and needs to be brought to wider attention.
posted by snuffleupagus at 1:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
And say how much better Bono is since he split from Cher.
posted by spitbull at 1:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 1:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
oh god, i have seen trump's taste in every other field of artistic endeavor but it never ocurred to me that there might be a mix tape of his favorite songs. the horror, the horror…
posted by murphy slaw at 1:22 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 1:22 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Don't worry, it's just Bee Doors Down greatest hit on loop
posted by ian1977 at 1:24 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 1:24 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's the playlist he used before every rally, I assume; the one with "Tiny Dancer" and "Sympathy for the Devil."
posted by EarBucket at 1:24 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by EarBucket at 1:24 PM on February 18, 2017
I ran into that Fusell Class book on a relative's shelf when I was 20, and as a working class kid who wound up in art history academia, have been self-conscious about how I pronounce "patina" ever since.
posted by Capybara at 1:25 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Capybara at 1:25 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
He probably THINKS he has Bono on his mixtape but it's really BonJovi.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:26 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:26 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's the playlist he used before every rally, I assume; the one with "Tiny Dancer" and "Sympathy for the Devil."
More on Trump's playlist.
posted by sallybrown at 1:28 PM on February 18, 2017
More on Trump's playlist.
posted by sallybrown at 1:28 PM on February 18, 2017
thanks to the NY Times article from this morning about Mar-A-Lago we know that DJT will be inviting his paying guests to stand around and watch him interview candidates.
I realize that you are only implying this from the NYT article, but it turns out to be literally true. A newly leaked audio tape from shortly after the election has Trump inviting members to his interviews with candidates.
“We’re doing a lot of interviews tomorrow— Generals, dictators, we have everything,” Trump tells the crowd of Bedminster members, adding later: “Tomorrow we’re here and Sunday we’re here. We’re going to be interviewing everybody. Treasury. We’re going to be interviewing Secretary of State. We have everybody coming in. And we’re going to have— And I don’t know if you want to come around, but if you want, it’s going to be unbelievable. It’s going to be an unbelievable day. So you might want to come along.”
He is literally running the country like a reality show episode of the Apprentice and he needs a studio audience.
This man is mentally unsound.
posted by JackFlash at 1:28 PM on February 18, 2017 [43 favorites]
I realize that you are only implying this from the NYT article, but it turns out to be literally true. A newly leaked audio tape from shortly after the election has Trump inviting members to his interviews with candidates.
“We’re doing a lot of interviews tomorrow— Generals, dictators, we have everything,” Trump tells the crowd of Bedminster members, adding later: “Tomorrow we’re here and Sunday we’re here. We’re going to be interviewing everybody. Treasury. We’re going to be interviewing Secretary of State. We have everybody coming in. And we’re going to have— And I don’t know if you want to come around, but if you want, it’s going to be unbelievable. It’s going to be an unbelievable day. So you might want to come along.”
He is literally running the country like a reality show episode of the Apprentice and he needs a studio audience.
This man is mentally unsound.
posted by JackFlash at 1:28 PM on February 18, 2017 [43 favorites]
"Who wants to play with the football?"
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:29 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:29 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
I will never understand why Americans are so against single-payer, like, it's good!
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 1:29 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 1:29 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
I would expect Trump's musical taste to have stagnated in his 20's; so... whatever was popular in the mid-1960's.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 1:29 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 1:29 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
I will never understand why Americans are so against single-payer, like, it's good!
Because a poor/black person might get something they didn't earn.
posted by Talez at 1:31 PM on February 18, 2017 [37 favorites]
Because a poor/black person might get something they didn't earn.
posted by Talez at 1:31 PM on February 18, 2017 [37 favorites]
I wonder if the Empire Carpet commercial is on his playlist?
Five five eight, two three hundred empire!
posted by ian1977 at 1:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Five five eight, two three hundred empire!
posted by ian1977 at 1:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
i would take victor von doom over these clowns any day of the week
HE WAS A BRILLIANT DISTINGUISHED AND WELL EDUCATED DOCTOR OF SCIENCE
posted by poffin boffin at 1:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
HE WAS A BRILLIANT DISTINGUISHED AND WELL EDUCATED DOCTOR OF SCIENCE
posted by poffin boffin at 1:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
I will never understand why Americans are so against single-payer, like, it's good!
Americans love single payer. Single-payer Medicare is second only to Social Security as one of the most universally popular government programs in history.
Unfortunately all of those deplorable old folks on Medicare voting overwhelmingly Trump want to keep it all for themselves.
posted by JackFlash at 1:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
Americans love single payer. Single-payer Medicare is second only to Social Security as one of the most universally popular government programs in history.
Unfortunately all of those deplorable old folks on Medicare voting overwhelmingly Trump want to keep it all for themselves.
posted by JackFlash at 1:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
Because a poor/black person might get something they didn't earn.
posted by rhizome at 1:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [53 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 1:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [53 favorites]
If you need cash now🎼
posted by spitbull at 1:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 1:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
where's a wicker man when we need one
sorry i overslept
posted by poffin boffin at 1:36 PM on February 18, 2017 [15 favorites]
sorry i overslept
posted by poffin boffin at 1:36 PM on February 18, 2017 [15 favorites]
HE WAS A BRILLIANT DISTINGUISHED AND WELL EDUCATED DOCTOR OF SCIENCE
Victor von Doom is an example of somebody who’s done an amazing job and is getting recognized more and more, I notice.
posted by jaduncan at 1:36 PM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
Victor von Doom is an example of somebody who’s done an amazing job and is getting recognized more and more, I notice.
posted by jaduncan at 1:36 PM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
Maher went in for bathroom panic, accepted misgendering and agreed that it was fair to consider trans people 'weirdos' who women and children need to be protected from.
Surely, this will finally convince people to stop giving a fuck what Maher thinks about anything.
posted by tobascodagama at 1:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
Surely, this will finally convince people to stop giving a fuck what Maher thinks about anything.
posted by tobascodagama at 1:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
I don't care what you call Maher so long as he gets the bees
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:41 PM on February 18, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:41 PM on February 18, 2017 [22 favorites]
Yes, Maher appears to be walking well down the reactionary old man road. In some ways, his schtick is like a much more restrained Milo; he's very much in the 'I say what needs to be said' mould even while the less kind observer might wonder if he's just saying pointlessly offensive things for a lack of wittier insight.
posted by jaduncan at 1:42 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 1:42 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
Constituents from Rep. Brian Mast's district (FL-18) made him an awesome music video asking for an in-person town hall - and he responded by setting one up!
posted by sallybrown at 1:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 1:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
Going back to the "Bee Helmet" discussion, the bees are doing enough work, and one subspecies was added to the Endangered Species list days before Obama left office only to have the Trumpsters cancel the order, for which they are being very justifiably sued and for which all bees would be justifiably angry.
But wasps are the more appropriate stinging insects to subject Trump and his Deplorables to, if only because (and I think some of you younger MeFites may not know this) I grew up knowing W.A.S.P. as an acronym for White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, the racial subgroup I ashamedly belong to, the group responsible for most of the hate and badness of my lifetime, and the almost-exclusive membership of the Trump Administration and it's affiliated country clubs and gun clubs. Subjecting the W.A.S.P.s to wasps raises the 'cool irony' level to 11.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:45 PM on February 18, 2017 [15 favorites]
But wasps are the more appropriate stinging insects to subject Trump and his Deplorables to, if only because (and I think some of you younger MeFites may not know this) I grew up knowing W.A.S.P. as an acronym for White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, the racial subgroup I ashamedly belong to, the group responsible for most of the hate and badness of my lifetime, and the almost-exclusive membership of the Trump Administration and it's affiliated country clubs and gun clubs. Subjecting the W.A.S.P.s to wasps raises the 'cool irony' level to 11.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:45 PM on February 18, 2017 [15 favorites]
Maher must be a "classical liberal."
He's a South Park Libertarian posing as a liberal.
posted by Talez at 1:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [39 favorites]
He's a South Park Libertarian posing as a liberal.
posted by Talez at 1:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [39 favorites]
Also, hornets. hornets are the angry bees.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 1:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 1:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
"South Park Libertarian" is a very good and accurate description of Bill Maher.
posted by Justinian at 1:50 PM on February 18, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:50 PM on February 18, 2017 [15 favorites]
Hornets are of the devil. They will just full on French kiss these people.
posted by ian1977 at 1:50 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 1:50 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
White House dismisses NSC aide after harsh criticism of Trump
it's starting to look like that...
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 1:51 PM on February 18, 2017 [14 favorites]
The White House abruptly dismissed a senior National Security Council aide on Friday after receiving reports that he had publicly laced into the president and his senior aides, including son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka Trump at an event hosted by a Washington think tank.You know how when a finely-tuned race car crashes, and all the bits go flying off?
The aide, Craig Deare, was serving as the NSC's senior director for Western Hemisphere Affairs. Earlier in the week, at a private, off-the-record roundtable hosted by the Woodrow Wilson Center for a group of about two dozen scholars, Deare harshly criticized the president and his chief strategist Steve Bannon and railed against the dysfunction paralyzing the Trump White House, according to a source familiar with the situation.
He complained in particular that senior national security aides do not have access to the president -- and gave a detailed and embarrassing readout of Trump's call with Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto.
it's starting to look like that...
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 1:51 PM on February 18, 2017 [14 favorites]
I wonder if the Empire Carpet commercial is on his playlist?
Donnie seems more like a NAtional-2 9000 kinda guy somehow.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:51 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Donnie seems more like a NAtional-2 9000 kinda guy somehow.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:51 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
"South Park Libertarian" is a very good and accurate description of Bill Maher.
"Asshole" is fewer letters.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:52 PM on February 18, 2017 [32 favorites]
"Asshole" is fewer letters.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:52 PM on February 18, 2017 [32 favorites]
Also, wasps and hornets don't die when they sting, and can sting repeatedly.
Also, sending wasp/hornet swarms to bedevil your enemy has Biblical precedent.
I, for one, welcome our new insect warriors.
posted by darkstar at 1:52 PM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
Also, sending wasp/hornet swarms to bedevil your enemy has Biblical precedent.
I, for one, welcome our new insect warriors.
posted by darkstar at 1:52 PM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
It's true, Bill Maher is Eric Cartman after he starts (started?) smoking weed.
posted by spitbull at 1:56 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by spitbull at 1:56 PM on February 18, 2017
Personally I think maher has a crush on Milo. He tenderly touched his arm like 40 times.
posted by ian1977 at 1:57 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 1:57 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
People, forget bees and wasps and hornets.
Arctic mosquitoes. Huge and they swarm in giant mobs so dense that you whack your sleeve and kill 30 at once. The sound alone makes you lose your sanity. Simply breathing means ingesting a few. And god help you if you have exposed skin. A day or so on the tundra naked in July oughta do the trick. .
posted by spitbull at 1:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
Arctic mosquitoes. Huge and they swarm in giant mobs so dense that you whack your sleeve and kill 30 at once. The sound alone makes you lose your sanity. Simply breathing means ingesting a few. And god help you if you have exposed skin. A day or so on the tundra naked in July oughta do the trick. .
posted by spitbull at 1:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
For those who derive satisfaction from this sort of thing, Fox News is having a show of hands for an investigation into Trump's ties with Russia.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 2:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Sing Or Swim at 2:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
just wanted to link to this short and moving speech by Mario Savio.
(jaduncan quoted it upthread..i have to admit that i only vaguely recognized the words..& had to google it, so thankyou for putting this out there. it lifted me.) Bodies upon the gears
posted by The_Auditor at 2:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
(jaduncan quoted it upthread..i have to admit that i only vaguely recognized the words..& had to google it, so thankyou for putting this out there. it lifted me.) Bodies upon the gears
posted by The_Auditor at 2:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
Ann Coulter could probably survive Arctic mosquitoes though, as they are attracted to blood.
posted by spitbull at 2:05 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 2:05 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
Is talking about bloodsuckers technically a derail, all things considered?
posted by dis_integration at 2:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by dis_integration at 2:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
That's none of your beeswax.
posted by guiseroom at 2:12 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by guiseroom at 2:12 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
David Petraeus is out of the running for National Security Advisor (cite)
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm seeing clips of Pence on the news at the Munich Security Conference giving NATO his/Trump's/America's full vocal support. But who the hell is Pence? He's just the guy hung out to dry by Trump et al over the Flynn thing, someone who expressly doesn't have the support or ear of the US President. Maybe he might get to play Gerald Ford's part one day, maybe. Definitely not someone who speaks for the Tweetmander-in-Chief.
posted by comealongpole at 2:17 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by comealongpole at 2:17 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
The fact that a man STILL ON PROBATION for criminally mishandling classified information was ever IN the running for National Freaking Security Advisor is...just...incomprehensible.
posted by darkstar at 2:19 PM on February 18, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by darkstar at 2:19 PM on February 18, 2017 [34 favorites]
Just woken up & logged on.
What's the buzz? Have you all been combing through the last 8 hours of news?
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
What's the buzz? Have you all been combing through the last 8 hours of news?
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
So when does Trump's shindig start? And, more importantly, when can we expect info (honest info) on what happened there?
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 2:20 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 2:20 PM on February 18, 2017
I get the bee thing, but are you not familiar with Tarantula Hawks?
posted by bongo_x at 2:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by bongo_x at 2:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
David Petraeus is out of the running for National Security Advisor (cite)
FYI, he was taken out of the running for publicly pointing out, in a speech, only an idiot would take the job without an ironclad guarantee that they are actually running the agency.
posted by Talez at 2:22 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
FYI, he was taken out of the running for publicly pointing out, in a speech, only an idiot would take the job without an ironclad guarantee that they are actually running the agency.
posted by Talez at 2:22 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
Livestream of Trump's Florida rally from Washington Post
posted by bodywithoutorgans at 2:22 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by bodywithoutorgans at 2:22 PM on February 18, 2017
who the hell is Pence?
He's the next President of the United States!
posted by notyou at 2:23 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
He's the next President of the United States!
posted by notyou at 2:23 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
Just a friendly reminder that April 28 is when the federal government currently shuts down. Given Congress's glacial pace and inability to achieve much of anything, that date is increasingly concerning.
posted by zachlipton at 2:24 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 2:24 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
"Who wants to play with the football?"
This needs to be made into a New Yorker-style cartoon. Hilarious.
posted by Coventry at 2:24 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
This needs to be made into a New Yorker-style cartoon. Hilarious.
posted by Coventry at 2:24 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Mod note: Folks, let's stick a pin in the extended bees/mosquitoes entomology side conversation. And -- if anyone's streaming the rally, gonna ask that we not do contextless reaction liveblogging; please keep it comprehensible for people not watching.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 2:24 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 2:24 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
I'm pretty sure at this point in time, people have realized that National Security Adviser is just going to be Bannon's patsy when shit hits the fan.
posted by Talez at 2:25 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Talez at 2:25 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
...which is probably why Bannon doesn't just take the job himself. He wants No Job Title, Just Power and Deniability.
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:27 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:27 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
So far the rally has been a five+ minute prayer and a parade of white shiteating congressmen dropping catchphrases and lying through their shit-covered teeth, including one who said Donald Trump made the Dow Jones peak instead of crash + killed Fidel Castro
posted by flatluigi at 2:28 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by flatluigi at 2:28 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Pam Bondi is addressing the crowd, says that when Trump was running, she used just two words: Supreme Court. Now she has three words for you: Justice Neil Gor-chucks.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:30 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:30 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Pam Bondi is addressing the crowd, says that when Trump was running, she used just two words: Supreme Court. Now she has three words for you: Justice Neil Gor-chucks.
I thought her two words were "PAC donation" and three are "Trump University Investigation".
posted by indubitable at 2:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
I thought her two words were "PAC donation" and three are "Trump University Investigation".
posted by indubitable at 2:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
Guys, taking a little weekend trip to Ontario from Mich. Did this cool thing, took a ferry across the narrow St Clair River. So the 1st canadians I talked today were just locals who'd come on foot for a quick errand in States.
They were talking about current unfavorable (to them) exchange rate. I made a face and said, "Well, depending on what happens here..." Woman says, "You'll be OK. I like him. I wish we had someone that strong." So, trying to keep it light, I replied, "But YOURS is cuter." At which she made a face and a snark about the drama major.
O, Canada. I guess I didnt know/ forgot that rural SW Ontario doesn't just LOOK like rural Michigan, it thinks like it too.
posted by NorthernLite at 2:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
They were talking about current unfavorable (to them) exchange rate. I made a face and said, "Well, depending on what happens here..." Woman says, "You'll be OK. I like him. I wish we had someone that strong." So, trying to keep it light, I replied, "But YOURS is cuter." At which she made a face and a snark about the drama major.
O, Canada. I guess I didnt know/ forgot that rural SW Ontario doesn't just LOOK like rural Michigan, it thinks like it too.
posted by NorthernLite at 2:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
Oh, and another congressman trotted out the "professional protestors" line so fuck him
posted by flatluigi at 2:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by flatluigi at 2:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Donald Trump is upset that Democrats are taking his biased survey on media bias
Yet another link to the survey.
posted by Coventry at 2:36 PM on February 18, 2017 [19 favorites]
Yet another link to the survey.
posted by Coventry at 2:36 PM on February 18, 2017 [19 favorites]
The Air Force One soundtrack is playing as AF1 arrives at the Melbourne Airport hanger. This would be surreal if this were a campaign stop.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
This would be surreal if this were a campaign stop.
It is. Trump has already filed for 2020 and can now accept donations.
posted by jaduncan at 2:39 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
It is. Trump has already filed for 2020 and can now accept donations.
posted by jaduncan at 2:39 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
Am I madder-than-usual or is he perhaps setting himself up to run again as an Independent (or because nothing is unbelievable here in 2017, as Democrat) once he gets ousted/impeached?
posted by comealongpole at 2:43 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by comealongpole at 2:43 PM on February 18, 2017
Still, campaign stop and/or autocratic rally, but what's that between friends?
posted by jaduncan at 2:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by jaduncan at 2:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Backlit by the setting Florida sun, an ocean of smartphones looks on as Trump and Melania disembark to the sounds of Lee Greenwood
posted by dis_integration at 2:45 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by dis_integration at 2:45 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
He will not be ousted, even if Republicans suffer an electoral shock in 2018. He need some them to parasitise off of and they need him for their base.
posted by Artw at 2:45 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 2:45 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
The suit and no tie look is weird. Means all the Secret Service around him also going without ties.
posted by zachlipton at 2:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 2:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Melania is reading a prayer, and introducing her husband. All of the signs behind her read "Blacks for Trump 2020" [real]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Ivanka's leading the crowd in the Our Father, if you're wondering how that separation of church and state is going.
posted by flatluigi at 2:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by flatluigi at 2:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
OMG Melania is saying the Our Father right now.
SHE'S READING IT OFF A PAPER. [real]
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [34 favorites]
SHE'S READING IT OFF A PAPER. [real]
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [34 favorites]
Welp, I'm already in "where is the fire from heaven" mode and President Trump hasn't even taken the damn podium yet.
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:48 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:48 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
Incidentally, blacksfortrump2020.com links to some truly next-level, borderline timecube weirdness.
posted by dis_integration at 2:49 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by dis_integration at 2:49 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Tags, please fake/real? Because this is all too too
posted by From Bklyn at 2:49 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by From Bklyn at 2:49 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
... are there any Blacks in the crowd?
posted by TwoStride at 2:51 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by TwoStride at 2:51 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
SHE'S READING IT OFF A PAPER.
I hope she googles Ezekiel 25:17 before the next rally.
posted by peeedro at 2:51 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
I hope she googles Ezekiel 25:17 before the next rally.
posted by peeedro at 2:51 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Straight-up admitting that the only reason he's here is because he wants to be around people who like him for once.
posted by flatluigi at 2:51 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by flatluigi at 2:51 PM on February 18, 2017
I take it back. This isn't the logical end of reaganism. It's just another step along the way.
posted by morspin at 2:53 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by morspin at 2:53 PM on February 18, 2017
ah, yes, the Lord's prayer, which is a couple of verses away from Jesus saying
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward. But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.posted by murphy slaw at 2:53 PM on February 18, 2017 [37 favorites]
"Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln, many of our greatest presidents, often fought with the media." [real] [that is, real thing that Trump said]
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:53 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:53 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Just a friendly reminder that April 28 is when the federal government currently shuts down. Given Congress's glacial pace and inability to achieve much of anything, that date is increasingly concerning.
On balance I'd say a government shutdown would be a positive thing for the world right now.
posted by Glibpaxman at 2:53 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
On balance I'd say a government shutdown would be a positive thing for the world right now.
posted by Glibpaxman at 2:53 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
He's trying in vain to consolidate his power from his followers.
If he gets removed there will be civil war.
posted by Talez at 2:54 PM on February 18, 2017
If he gets removed there will be civil war.
posted by Talez at 2:54 PM on February 18, 2017
He takes the time to note that a speech that Thomas Jefferson made that he's quoting about suspicion is the day of his birthday. [real]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:54 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:54 PM on February 18, 2017
Incidentally, blacksfortrump2020.com links to some truly next-level, borderline timecube weirdness.
They got some coverage in the last campaign, they are timecube-level crazy.
posted by peeedro at 2:55 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
They got some coverage in the last campaign, they are timecube-level crazy.
posted by peeedro at 2:55 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
I am so PROUD of my upstate NY like-minded progressives at a series of town halls! A great showing to protest the misinformation of Tom Reed. Highlight :
“I do not support taxpayer-funded paying of abortion,” Reed said, prompting boos. A woman in the front of the crowd immediately fact-checked his remark.
“You, an elected official, [are] giving misinformation,” she said. “Right now, our taxes do not pay for abortions. They pay for mammograms, they pay for birth control.”
“Planned Parenthood, less than 3 percent of the services they provide is abortion. And none of that 3 percent is funded by you,” she added.
Indeed, the Hyde Amendment, passed in 1976 by Congress, prohibits the use of public funds to pay for abortions, so there is no “taxpayer-funded paying of abortion.”
posted by bluesky43 at 2:55 PM on February 18, 2017 [69 favorites]
“I do not support taxpayer-funded paying of abortion,” Reed said, prompting boos. A woman in the front of the crowd immediately fact-checked his remark.
“You, an elected official, [are] giving misinformation,” she said. “Right now, our taxes do not pay for abortions. They pay for mammograms, they pay for birth control.”
“Planned Parenthood, less than 3 percent of the services they provide is abortion. And none of that 3 percent is funded by you,” she added.
Indeed, the Hyde Amendment, passed in 1976 by Congress, prohibits the use of public funds to pay for abortions, so there is no “taxpayer-funded paying of abortion.”
posted by bluesky43 at 2:55 PM on February 18, 2017 [69 favorites]
"We're going to put the minors back to work. The minors go back! To work!" [real... ish]
posted by jammer at 2:57 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by jammer at 2:57 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
On balance I'd say a government shutdown would be a positive thing for the world right now.
I know this is a joke but no no no no no no no with a side of no no no no no no. Keeping our economy strong is one of the things that will help us ward off fascism...
posted by sallybrown at 2:58 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
I know this is a joke but no no no no no no no with a side of no no no no no no. Keeping our economy strong is one of the things that will help us ward off fascism...
posted by sallybrown at 2:58 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
Mr Donald Trump at the campaign event, for your edification and entertainment.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 2:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 2:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
A litany of "You want..." (clean coal / strong borders / etc), "You understand..."
What he's doing is classic dictator -- arguing that he is but the instrument, the voice, the Embodiment of the Will of the People.
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
What he's doing is classic dictator -- arguing that he is but the instrument, the voice, the Embodiment of the Will of the People.
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
On balance I'd say a government shutdown would be a positive thing for the world right now.
Do you think this is how Ted Cruz always feels?
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Do you think this is how Ted Cruz always feels?
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
This is much-of-a-muchness with his actual campaign and seems like a pretty weak move. "Hey America, I only know how to do one thing (and it isn't running a country, because else I'd be doing that)"
posted by comealongpole at 2:59 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by comealongpole at 2:59 PM on February 18, 2017
I know this is a joke but no no no no no no no with a side of no no no no no no. Keeping our economy strong is one of the things that will help us ward off fascism...
It would also legitimise the Republicans doing it next time.
posted by jaduncan at 3:00 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
It would also legitimise the Republicans doing it next time.
posted by jaduncan at 3:00 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
What does he mean by "foreign currency manipulation?"
posted by flatluigi at 3:01 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by flatluigi at 3:01 PM on February 18, 2017
Trump just admitted he didn't read his orders about the pipelines, just asked someone who makes the pipe.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:02 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:02 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
What does he mean by "foreign currency manipulation?"
"GI-na".
posted by Talez at 3:02 PM on February 18, 2017
"GI-na".
posted by Talez at 3:02 PM on February 18, 2017
He tends to claim that the PRC aggressively devalue the yuan. It was once arguably true, but it's at a reasonable market value now. Naturally, he has not let go of the claim.
posted by jaduncan at 3:02 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by jaduncan at 3:02 PM on February 18, 2017
Definitely doing the greatest hits here, including the whole "the media won't show the huge crowd" bit.
why am I listening to this? what void gapes in my soul?
posted by dis_integration at 3:03 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
why am I listening to this? what void gapes in my soul?
posted by dis_integration at 3:03 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
I give it a 2/3 chance that he reads The Snake.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
"A lot of people don't know Air Force 1 is two planes, but it's two planes, why it's two planes we'll have to talk about that"
you dumb piece of shit
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [76 favorites]
you dumb piece of shit
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [76 favorites]
Everytime I hear Trump talk about "Hire American" I want to pimp slap him upside the head.
posted by Talez at 3:06 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by Talez at 3:06 PM on February 18, 2017
Has the media shown anything about crowd size?
This WaPo feed panned the crowd for a million billion years before he walked onstage.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:06 PM on February 18, 2017
This WaPo feed panned the crowd for a million billion years before he walked onstage.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:06 PM on February 18, 2017
"We believe in two simple rules: buy American and hire American" [real]
Except for companies owned by the Trump Organization, naturally.
posted by zachlipton at 3:07 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
Except for companies owned by the Trump Organization, naturally.
posted by zachlipton at 3:07 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
"The EPA was clogging up the veins of our country."
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:07 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:07 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
"they're clogging up the veins of the country with their environmental impact statements and their regulations"
great, good, cool.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:07 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
great, good, cool.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:07 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
The crowd is 9,000 people per local police.
posted by zachlipton at 3:07 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:07 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
See if people die because of lack of regulations then that's just new job spaces for people to fill
posted by flatluigi at 3:07 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by flatluigi at 3:07 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump says he is worried that a man is going to give him a kiss. [real]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:09 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:09 PM on February 18, 2017
(talking about the election) "We got support from law enforcement, military... basically, people who wear uniforms like us." [real, totally not fascist at all]
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:09 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:09 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
Trump is inviting someone up... Say's he's afraid he'll give him a kiss. They hug. It's the greatest moment of this man's life. Shit now he just let him use the microphone.
Bonkers.
posted by dis_integration at 3:09 PM on February 18, 2017
Bonkers.
posted by dis_integration at 3:09 PM on February 18, 2017
Now a random man is addressing the crowd. [real]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
I think Trump just found his new National Security Advisor.
posted by dis_integration at 3:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by dis_integration at 3:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [25 favorites]
Now he's telling us he was watching TV on the way there and they interviewed some random guy who said nice things about Trump and Trump just got him up on stage and gave him the podium. The Secret Service must be loving this. [real]
posted by zachlipton at 3:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
"We got support from law enforcement, military... basically, people who wear uniforms like us."
Gah. Donald, you're a real-estate developer with bone spurs.
posted by jaduncan at 3:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [15 favorites]
Gah. Donald, you're a real-estate developer with bone spurs.
posted by jaduncan at 3:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [15 favorites]
"I wouldn't say that Secret Service was thrilled with that, but we know our people, right? We know our people" [real]
posted by zachlipton at 3:12 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:12 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Haha! Trump said again "the media won't show the crowd" and the MSNBC panned to the crowd.
won't matter though because he's not making a truth statement, he's making a statement that the media is Lügenpresse.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:13 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
won't matter though because he's not making a truth statement, he's making a statement that the media is Lügenpresse.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:13 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
Reminder that police mortality rates are at the lowest they've ever been.
posted by flatluigi at 3:13 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by flatluigi at 3:13 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
From the editor of the Dallas Morning News: What you need to know about the enemies of the American people the president warned you about
One enemy of the people mentioned she takes a full class schedule, has a leadership role at the student newspaper and logs 20 hours a week at a news organization in Austin. I asked her whether she came from a family of enemies of the people, and she said yes, as a matter of fact, her mother was an enemy of the people, but she died a couple of months ago. I said I was sorry and she said, “It’s OK,” but I knew it was not OK and will never be OK.posted by zachlipton at 3:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [82 favorites]
In my job I oversee about 250 enemies of the people. We have enemies of the people who make maps, cover high school baseball, send tweets about the Cowboys, assign book reviews, critique restaurants, track North Texas home prices and write profiles of tech entrepreneurs. One enemy of the people spends his days talking to grieving families and carefully crafting the stories of the dead.
...
We have enemies of the American people who cover the nation’s most powerful and important leader, bearing witness to everything he says. Enemies of the people understand the importance of choosing the right words because they know the damage the wrong words can do.
Can someone clarify whether the imminent big story being prepared by news outlets turned out to be the Mar-A-Lago recording? Or is there something else cooking.
posted by postagepaid at 3:14 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by postagepaid at 3:14 PM on February 18, 2017
Big boos for the Judicial Branch.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:14 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:14 PM on February 18, 2017
Now he's reading a statute that he lost his EO over.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:16 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:16 PM on February 18, 2017
Our Father
Who art in Moscow
Shirtless be they theme.
Thy scheming done
Thy will be done
By the Potomac and the Seine.
Give us this day our daily taste
And forgive us our grift
As we forgive those who have grifted against us
And lead us not into penury,
But deliver us via genius use of the bankruptcy laws.
For thine are the hormones and the memes and the hookers,
At least until the nukes fly
Amen.
posted by Bringer Tom at 3:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
Who art in Moscow
Shirtless be they theme.
Thy scheming done
Thy will be done
By the Potomac and the Seine.
Give us this day our daily taste
And forgive us our grift
As we forgive those who have grifted against us
And lead us not into penury,
But deliver us via genius use of the bankruptcy laws.
For thine are the hormones and the memes and the hookers,
At least until the nukes fly
Amen.
posted by Bringer Tom at 3:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
Oh God, President Trump is trying to do textual analysis on the law.
It's not going well.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:17 PM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
It's not going well.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:17 PM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
My toddler has a longer attention span than this guy.
posted by ryoshu at 3:17 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by ryoshu at 3:17 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Now the President is reading the US Code about immigration, interspersing it with his commentary and legal analysis in order to tell us why the 9th Circuit is wrong. [also, sadly, real]
In the middle of it, he notices that it refers to the President as "he," goes on a riff about how it should say "he or she," and then further turns that into a riff about how many women voted for him.
posted by zachlipton at 3:18 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
In the middle of it, he notices that it refers to the President as "he," goes on a riff about how it should say "he or she," and then further turns that into a riff about how many women voted for him.
posted by zachlipton at 3:18 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
"I listen to these judges talk and talk and talk, so unfair." "I disagree with them bigly."
This is just like when Obama was on the Harvard Law Review.
posted by jaduncan at 3:19 PM on February 18, 2017 [52 favorites]
This is just like when Obama was on the Harvard Law Review.
posted by jaduncan at 3:19 PM on February 18, 2017 [52 favorites]
On refugees: "We've let thousands of people into our country, there was no documentation, there was no nothing."
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Wait. What happened last night in Sweden?
posted by zachlipton at 3:20 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by zachlipton at 3:20 PM on February 18, 2017
Pushing safe-zones in Syria, says "the gulf states" will pay for it. Doesn't he know he's President now? you can't make foreign policy at a rally.
Also this means boots on the ground in Syria.
posted by dis_integration at 3:20 PM on February 18, 2017
Also this means boots on the ground in Syria.
posted by dis_integration at 3:20 PM on February 18, 2017
Wow. He should probably ask the gulf states if they want to pay for Syrian safe zones first.
posted by jaduncan at 3:21 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 3:21 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
"We're going to put the minors back to work. The minors go back! To work!" [real... ish]
I think he meant MINERS, like coal miners, rather than MINORS, like children.
at least i hope so
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:22 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
I think he meant MINERS, like coal miners, rather than MINORS, like children.
at least i hope so
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:22 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
In reality, the gulf states who will pay for it probably means: TX, LA, MS, AL, FL, but then again, they're mostly net tax-receivers.
posted by dis_integration at 3:22 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by dis_integration at 3:22 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
Wait. What happened last night in Sweden?
An asylee got in a bar fight probably and broke some dude's nose
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:22 PM on February 18, 2017
An asylee got in a bar fight probably and broke some dude's nose
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:22 PM on February 18, 2017
Also, that does make me wonder if he's aware of what it would mean to have Sunni Gulf states pay for safe zones in a Shia majority state and government and pay for the invasion of that Shia state.
Because I'm pretty fucking sure that half of State are currently very unhappy indeed.
posted by jaduncan at 3:23 PM on February 18, 2017
Because I'm pretty fucking sure that half of State are currently very unhappy indeed.
posted by jaduncan at 3:23 PM on February 18, 2017
A purposeful derail away from the orange one to report one more tasty tidbit from Tom Reed (upstate new york rep) and the comments from the crowd at a town hall today. The NYT reports that Reed was looking for a softball question so he asked a little girl in the front row to ask a question. She said "WHY DO YOU WANT TO ABOLISH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY?"
THIS GIVES ME SO MUCH HOPE PEOPLE!!!!!!!
posted by bluesky43 at 3:23 PM on February 18, 2017 [102 favorites]
THIS GIVES ME SO MUCH HOPE PEOPLE!!!!!!!
posted by bluesky43 at 3:23 PM on February 18, 2017 [102 favorites]
He needs to keep up a minimum number of BLATANT LIES per public appearance. Who's keeping count?
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:24 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:24 PM on February 18, 2017
I think he meant MINERS, like coal miners, rather than MINORS, like children.
at least i hope so
Bad news
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:26 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
at least i hope so
Bad news
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:26 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
I think he meant MINERS, like coal miners, rather than MINORS, like children.
He did. I could probably have made it more clear that I was joshing there.
This is the happiest this shitgibbon has looked in a long time. He loves being among "his people". I wouldn't be surprised if he decides to start doing this every weekend now. Especially if he's getting the government to pay for his 2020 campaign trips!
posted by jammer at 3:26 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
He did. I could probably have made it more clear that I was joshing there.
This is the happiest this shitgibbon has looked in a long time. He loves being among "his people". I wouldn't be surprised if he decides to start doing this every weekend now. Especially if he's getting the government to pay for his 2020 campaign trips!
posted by jammer at 3:26 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
On refugees: "We've let thousands of people iInto our country, there was no documentation, there was no nothing."
Below is the text of something I wrote up for a friend, who asked me for info about the refugee vetting process so she could go back to her father armed with facts. I typed out the info I saw in an infographic on Obama's old web site.
I reproduce it here for people's copying-and-pasting needs when discussing refugee vetting with relatives/friends/etc.
There is the misconception that refugees are let into the country upon their request, willy-nilly. On the contrary – the screening process for refugee entry to the united states is as follows.
The applicant contacts the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, in their current country of residence. They must present all identification paperwork that they possess. The UNHCR records this, and also records their name, current address, birthday, and place of birth. In the case of Syrians and other refugees from Middle Eastern nations, it collects a biometric ID scan (it scans their iris). The UNHCR then condicts an interview with them to confirm that they are indeed a refugee who is indeed fleeing a condition of hardship. It then re-verifies all the information from the interview, and the original information presented (name, current address, birthdate, etc.), and does an assessment to ascertain whether they would be strong candidates for resettlement – i.e., whether they would be likely to assimilate into the US, whether they have existing family members in the US that can help them assimilate, whether they may be secretly interested in fomenting rebellion, etc.
Only 1% of applicants pass this initial screening.
The ones who pass this initial screening are referred to a federally-funded resettlement support center (still located in their country of origin). They also collect copies of identification documents and conducts a biographic security check.
The biographic security check is as follows:
1. The National Counterterrorism Center, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department all screen the candidate, looking for outstanding warrants, connections to known terrorists or criminals, or any other information indicating a security risk.
2. In the case of Syrian cases, the Department of Homeland Security conducts a second check of this same information in collaboration with the USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate to screen out any falsified data.
This biographic security check is repeated all over again any time they discover a previously unstated address or phone number, an alternate spelling of the name, etc.
Then the Department of Homeland Security collaborates with USCIS officers to conduct yet more screening interviews. The USCIS officers have been specially trained to screen out security risks. Then the USCIS and DHS collect the applicant’s fingerprints and does a fingerprint check. If the interviews or the fingerprints reveal more information, the applicant is sent back to the biographic security check process yet again.
Then the applicant’s fingerprints are screened against the FBI’s records, the DHS’s records, and the US Department of Defense’s records. The DHS’s database contains watch-list information, and the US Department of Defense contains records which were captured in Iraq.
If there are still security concerns at this stage, the applicant is rejected. Otherwise, the process continues.
Applicants then undergo a medical check. For cases where an applicant has a communicable, but treatable, disease, they are removed from the system and provided medical treatment, and are only released when cured. For cases where they are deemed too ill or infirm, they are rejected.
After the medical check, the applicants are given cultural orientation classes, still in their current country of residence. In these classes, applicants are instructed on the exact nature of the resettlement process, the exact role of the resettlement agency, how to begin to obtain housing in the United States, how to apply for a job in the United States, the different modes of travel in the United States, the education system in the United States, health and hygiene, money management, the rights and responsibilities of a United States Citizen, and other cultural adjustment topics. The exact topics vary depending on the group receiving instruction (for instance, a class of mostly urban professionals would not be told about the agriculture industry in the United States).
While the applicant is receiving training, a US-based non-government organization is ascertaining the best resettlement location, taking into consideration factors like the likelihood of job placement, whether the applicant has family in a certain area, whether there is an existing population of immigrants from the applicant’s home country, etc.
Throughout this period of cultural classes and location scouting, the security organizations have been continuing spot-checks against terrorist databases. Once the applicant has completed training and a location is chosen and there are still no security flags, they continue the process.
The International Center for Migration books their travel. At this stage, the US Customs and Border Protection conducts its own screening of the applicant, as does the Transportation Security Administration. Only applicants who still have no security flags are permitted to board their planes and come to the US.
This full process takes two years.
Now – the purported justification for the ban is that refugees need to be subjected to a “More rigorous process”. But refugees in the US are already screened, repeatedly, by ten separate US Government Agencies, using data collected from international databases and including databases captured from enemy agents, and such screening includes biometric data that cannot be falsified. Moreover, refugees are required to subject themselves to further ongoing monitoring and screening as part of the mandatory application for a Green Card, to which all refugees must apply.
Which begs the question – exactly what further rigor could be applied that would convince the skeptic that a person has been sufficiently screened?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:27 PM on February 18, 2017 [194 favorites]
Below is the text of something I wrote up for a friend, who asked me for info about the refugee vetting process so she could go back to her father armed with facts. I typed out the info I saw in an infographic on Obama's old web site.
I reproduce it here for people's copying-and-pasting needs when discussing refugee vetting with relatives/friends/etc.
There is the misconception that refugees are let into the country upon their request, willy-nilly. On the contrary – the screening process for refugee entry to the united states is as follows.
The applicant contacts the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, in their current country of residence. They must present all identification paperwork that they possess. The UNHCR records this, and also records their name, current address, birthday, and place of birth. In the case of Syrians and other refugees from Middle Eastern nations, it collects a biometric ID scan (it scans their iris). The UNHCR then condicts an interview with them to confirm that they are indeed a refugee who is indeed fleeing a condition of hardship. It then re-verifies all the information from the interview, and the original information presented (name, current address, birthdate, etc.), and does an assessment to ascertain whether they would be strong candidates for resettlement – i.e., whether they would be likely to assimilate into the US, whether they have existing family members in the US that can help them assimilate, whether they may be secretly interested in fomenting rebellion, etc.
Only 1% of applicants pass this initial screening.
The ones who pass this initial screening are referred to a federally-funded resettlement support center (still located in their country of origin). They also collect copies of identification documents and conducts a biographic security check.
The biographic security check is as follows:
1. The National Counterterrorism Center, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department all screen the candidate, looking for outstanding warrants, connections to known terrorists or criminals, or any other information indicating a security risk.
2. In the case of Syrian cases, the Department of Homeland Security conducts a second check of this same information in collaboration with the USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate to screen out any falsified data.
This biographic security check is repeated all over again any time they discover a previously unstated address or phone number, an alternate spelling of the name, etc.
Then the Department of Homeland Security collaborates with USCIS officers to conduct yet more screening interviews. The USCIS officers have been specially trained to screen out security risks. Then the USCIS and DHS collect the applicant’s fingerprints and does a fingerprint check. If the interviews or the fingerprints reveal more information, the applicant is sent back to the biographic security check process yet again.
Then the applicant’s fingerprints are screened against the FBI’s records, the DHS’s records, and the US Department of Defense’s records. The DHS’s database contains watch-list information, and the US Department of Defense contains records which were captured in Iraq.
If there are still security concerns at this stage, the applicant is rejected. Otherwise, the process continues.
Applicants then undergo a medical check. For cases where an applicant has a communicable, but treatable, disease, they are removed from the system and provided medical treatment, and are only released when cured. For cases where they are deemed too ill or infirm, they are rejected.
After the medical check, the applicants are given cultural orientation classes, still in their current country of residence. In these classes, applicants are instructed on the exact nature of the resettlement process, the exact role of the resettlement agency, how to begin to obtain housing in the United States, how to apply for a job in the United States, the different modes of travel in the United States, the education system in the United States, health and hygiene, money management, the rights and responsibilities of a United States Citizen, and other cultural adjustment topics. The exact topics vary depending on the group receiving instruction (for instance, a class of mostly urban professionals would not be told about the agriculture industry in the United States).
While the applicant is receiving training, a US-based non-government organization is ascertaining the best resettlement location, taking into consideration factors like the likelihood of job placement, whether the applicant has family in a certain area, whether there is an existing population of immigrants from the applicant’s home country, etc.
Throughout this period of cultural classes and location scouting, the security organizations have been continuing spot-checks against terrorist databases. Once the applicant has completed training and a location is chosen and there are still no security flags, they continue the process.
The International Center for Migration books their travel. At this stage, the US Customs and Border Protection conducts its own screening of the applicant, as does the Transportation Security Administration. Only applicants who still have no security flags are permitted to board their planes and come to the US.
This full process takes two years.
Now – the purported justification for the ban is that refugees need to be subjected to a “More rigorous process”. But refugees in the US are already screened, repeatedly, by ten separate US Government Agencies, using data collected from international databases and including databases captured from enemy agents, and such screening includes biometric data that cannot be falsified. Moreover, refugees are required to subject themselves to further ongoing monitoring and screening as part of the mandatory application for a Green Card, to which all refugees must apply.
Which begs the question – exactly what further rigor could be applied that would convince the skeptic that a person has been sufficiently screened?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:27 PM on February 18, 2017 [194 favorites]
Huh, my boo Acosta tweeted last night that he's taking time off. I wonder if he's out of evens or if Jared's whinybaby tantrum at CNN did this. I guess I missed it when I ran out for more pizza rolls.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 3:27 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 3:27 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
He needs to keep up a minimum number of BLATANT LIES per public appearance. Who's keeping count?
I count pretty good but not that good
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:28 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
I count pretty good but not that good
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:28 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
You can tell the exact moment at which the scriptwriter's bit kicks in.
posted by jaduncan at 3:29 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 3:29 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
"WE FIGHT POLITICALLY CORRECT WARS"
my fucking god what the fuck
posted by flatluigi at 3:31 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
my fucking god what the fuck
posted by flatluigi at 3:31 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
Trump says that 18 years ago, people were making more money at one job than they do at two now.
18 years ago, Bill Clinton was the president.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:31 PM on February 18, 2017 [46 favorites]
18 years ago, Bill Clinton was the president.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:31 PM on February 18, 2017 [46 favorites]
Wow. You could see precisely when Bannon/Miller's part started and he's actually reading it.
posted by zachlipton at 3:31 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:31 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
He mispronounced "chasms" didn't he?
posted by bluecore at 3:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by bluecore at 3:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
Damn, he's on the good drugs tonight. A lot of people are going to like this speech.
posted by uosuaq at 3:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 3:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yes. This is now pretty much open fascism.
posted by jaduncan at 3:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 3:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
He's actually speaking well. I think that's the most coherent close I've ever heard from him.
posted by jaduncan at 3:34 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by jaduncan at 3:34 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is an entirely different speech. The first half was peak Trump, calling a random dude up on stage and stuff. This is unfiltered Bannon.
posted by zachlipton at 3:34 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:34 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
This full process takes two years.
That is too much screening. I do not support this much screening>
posted by Frowner at 3:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
That is too much screening. I do not support this much screening>
posted by Frowner at 3:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
And cue "you can't always get what you want" to play us out as we contemplate being murdered by paramilitary death squads.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
And we end with "You Can't Always Get What You Want," because why the fuck not?
posted by zachlipton at 3:35 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by zachlipton at 3:35 PM on February 18, 2017
He was inches away from breaking into the 14 words there at the end
posted by flatluigi at 3:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by flatluigi at 3:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Regarding Face the Nation tomorrow, on which Preibus will appear: "When Dickerson asked again whether the press was necessarily “the enemy,” Priebus responded: “I think that the media should stop with this unnamed source stuff. Put names on a piece of paper and print it. If people aren’t willing to put their name next to a quote, then the quote shouldn’t be listed.”
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump makes me feel bad, so I'm going to go play Doom
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:36 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:36 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
And we end with "You Can't Always Get What You Want," because why the fuck not?
The YouTube feed I was watching went to "Ride of the Valkyries".
posted by uosuaq at 3:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
The YouTube feed I was watching went to "Ride of the Valkyries".
posted by uosuaq at 3:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Priebus is not entirely wrong about unnamed sources. However, most of the unnamed sources happen to work for him, so he really doesn't get to blame anyone but himself.
posted by zachlipton at 3:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Reporters are roasting Priebus for the "no unnamed sources" stuff. I get the sense he's a frequent unnamed source.
The YouTube feed I was watching went to "Ride of the Valkyries".
oh man this brings me back to some of the first election threads. we were so young then...
posted by sallybrown at 3:38 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
The YouTube feed I was watching went to "Ride of the Valkyries".
oh man this brings me back to some of the first election threads. we were so young then...
posted by sallybrown at 3:38 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Priebus is not entirely wrong about unnamed sources.
He is entirely wrong.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:39 PM on February 18, 2017 [28 favorites]
He is entirely wrong.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:39 PM on February 18, 2017 [28 favorites]
I can't edit my previous comment but want to add that if Jared is the reason for Acosta's leave of absence, does that make him the first journalist silenced by the administration?
posted by fluttering hellfire at 3:39 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 3:39 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
And we end with "You Can't Always Get What You Want," because why the fuck not?
Seriously, has anyone ever figured this out? This is one of those things that makes me question reality.
posted by bongo_x at 3:42 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
Seriously, has anyone ever figured this out? This is one of those things that makes me question reality.
posted by bongo_x at 3:42 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
This is unfiltered Bannon.
I also wonder if that's the bit of speech that will get approving comment on Fox and the right wing media with a fluttering flag in the background, so there's a potential feedback loop there. It at least sounded strong and emotive, and played with patriotism in the classical fascist way. If that does happen I think he might go more and more populist nationalist.
A slightly appalled bit of me wonders if we've just seen the pivot.
posted by jaduncan at 3:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
I also wonder if that's the bit of speech that will get approving comment on Fox and the right wing media with a fluttering flag in the background, so there's a potential feedback loop there. It at least sounded strong and emotive, and played with patriotism in the classical fascist way. If that does happen I think he might go more and more populist nationalist.
A slightly appalled bit of me wonders if we've just seen the pivot.
posted by jaduncan at 3:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Listen, this guy is terrible, but I went to a pro-immigrant march today that was about 1200 people - not a particularly well-promoted march and not on the Day Without An Immigrant day. It was a crowd mostly of people who were not familiar to me from other events, and obviously a liberal middle class group - not a radical group. Those people were tearing it up by the end of the march - "Build a wall? We'll tear it down!" is not a chant I would have expected from this crowd in, say, 2014, and that was the most popular one.
So basically, at the drop of a hat you could have a neighborhood march (this was SMPLS, not the capitol) put on by an actually slightly unpopular socialist organization (there are a lot; people have mixed feelings about this group because they're maoists) and get 1200 people, more than 1/9 of Trump's big rally. And this wasn't even in response to anything in particular, just a march.
Trump is a fascist, but he's un-fucking-popular. He hasn't won yet, remember. We can fight this asshole on the beaches, we can fight him in the streets and in the fields, we will never surrender. We can defeat him. Hard times are coming but we will defeat him.
posted by Frowner at 3:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [90 favorites]
So basically, at the drop of a hat you could have a neighborhood march (this was SMPLS, not the capitol) put on by an actually slightly unpopular socialist organization (there are a lot; people have mixed feelings about this group because they're maoists) and get 1200 people, more than 1/9 of Trump's big rally. And this wasn't even in response to anything in particular, just a march.
Trump is a fascist, but he's un-fucking-popular. He hasn't won yet, remember. We can fight this asshole on the beaches, we can fight him in the streets and in the fields, we will never surrender. We can defeat him. Hard times are coming but we will defeat him.
posted by Frowner at 3:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [90 favorites]
Priebus is not entirely wrong about unnamed sources.
He wants people to give their names so he can fire them. Or worse. If I were one of these sources I would be legit afraid of afraid of arrest or violence. That's WHY the media is willing to report with unamed sources.
Trump has a lot of power. It is reasonable for these people to be afraid. I hope the media guards their anonymity very carefully and is willing to go to jail if necessary to protect them.
posted by OnceUponATime at 3:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
He wants people to give their names so he can fire them. Or worse. If I were one of these sources I would be legit afraid of afraid of arrest or violence. That's WHY the media is willing to report with unamed sources.
Trump has a lot of power. It is reasonable for these people to be afraid. I hope the media guards their anonymity very carefully and is willing to go to jail if necessary to protect them.
posted by OnceUponATime at 3:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
I think that's the most coherent close I've ever heard from him.
Pretty typical of his campaign speeches, actually.
posted by Coventry at 3:44 PM on February 18, 2017
Pretty typical of his campaign speeches, actually.
posted by Coventry at 3:44 PM on February 18, 2017
Remember, no confirming judges during an election campaign.
posted by Artw at 3:44 PM on February 18, 2017 [67 favorites]
posted by Artw at 3:44 PM on February 18, 2017 [67 favorites]
I can't edit my previous comment but want to add that if Jared is the reason for Acosta's leave of absence, does that make him the first journalist silenced by the administration?
Is there any basis to believe this other than the report about Jared complaining to Time Warner? It seems far-fetched to think CNN would do this and Acosta wouldn't be vocal about it.
posted by sallybrown at 3:45 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Is there any basis to believe this other than the report about Jared complaining to Time Warner? It seems far-fetched to think CNN would do this and Acosta wouldn't be vocal about it.
posted by sallybrown at 3:45 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
And we end with "You Can't Always Get What You Want," because why the fuck not?
Seriously, has anyone ever figured this out? This is one of those things that makes me question reality.
I have an abusive narcissist parent who would sing that song tauntingly to me throughout my childhood to assert their dominance when I would complain about injustices and abuses. His playing it at the end of every rally always made perfect sense to me: "you're going to take what I give you whether you like it or not, because I say so."
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:45 PM on February 18, 2017 [39 favorites]
Seriously, has anyone ever figured this out? This is one of those things that makes me question reality.
I have an abusive narcissist parent who would sing that song tauntingly to me throughout my childhood to assert their dominance when I would complain about injustices and abuses. His playing it at the end of every rally always made perfect sense to me: "you're going to take what I give you whether you like it or not, because I say so."
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:45 PM on February 18, 2017 [39 favorites]
(don't worry about Acosta, he's drinking tequila)
posted by sallybrown at 3:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by sallybrown at 3:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Posting this here so I can resist the urge to tweet it.
Seems like I haven't heard much from Richard Spencer lately, but I just can't put my fist on why.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 3:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [33 favorites]
Seems like I haven't heard much from Richard Spencer lately, but I just can't put my fist on why.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 3:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [33 favorites]
Trump is a fascist, but he's un-fucking-popular. He hasn't won yet, remember. We can fight this asshole on the beaches, we can fight him in the streets and in the fields, we will never surrender. We can defeat him. Hard times are coming but we will defeat him.
Oh, I think he'll be incredibly unpopular in general but incredibly popular with a core of authoritarians and racists. I think he'll lose, because in 4 years lots of people will have been hurt, and because fundamentally fascism isn't that popular and he isn't that good a communicator or strategist. I'm just also aware that we thought that during the primaries, and it will be a much harder fight than it should be.
posted by jaduncan at 3:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Oh, I think he'll be incredibly unpopular in general but incredibly popular with a core of authoritarians and racists. I think he'll lose, because in 4 years lots of people will have been hurt, and because fundamentally fascism isn't that popular and he isn't that good a communicator or strategist. I'm just also aware that we thought that during the primaries, and it will be a much harder fight than it should be.
posted by jaduncan at 3:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
if Jared is the reason for Acosta's leave of absence, does that make him the first journalist silenced by the administration?
Depends on how you define things. There was the story axed from the Liberty University school newspaper. Also, here's an NYTimes story about an axed commentary segment from 'Texas Week", a PBS public affairs program in San Antonio.
posted by peeedro at 3:47 PM on February 18, 2017
Depends on how you define things. There was the story axed from the Liberty University school newspaper. Also, here's an NYTimes story about an axed commentary segment from 'Texas Week", a PBS public affairs program in San Antonio.
posted by peeedro at 3:47 PM on February 18, 2017
I am seriously impressed:
Protesters In Barcelona Urge Spain To Take In More Refugees
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- At least 160,000 protesters marched Saturday in Barcelona to demand that Spain's conservative-led government increase its efforts to take in refugees from war-torn countries like Syria.
Spain has accepted just 1,100 refugees of the over 17,000 it has pledged to take in.
posted by futz at 3:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [52 favorites]
Protesters In Barcelona Urge Spain To Take In More Refugees
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- At least 160,000 protesters marched Saturday in Barcelona to demand that Spain's conservative-led government increase its efforts to take in refugees from war-torn countries like Syria.
Spain has accepted just 1,100 refugees of the over 17,000 it has pledged to take in.
posted by futz at 3:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [52 favorites]
Bret Stephens speaks at thhe Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture
I’m profoundly honored to have this opportunity to celebrate the legacy of Danny Pearl, my colleague at The Wall Street Journal.
My topic this evening is intellectual integrity in the age of Donald Trump. I suspect this is a theme that would have resonated with Danny.
When you work at The Wall Street Journal, the coins of the realm are truth and trust — the latter flowing exclusively from the former. When you read a story in the Journal, you do so with the assurance that immense reportorial and editorial effort has been expended to ensure that what you read is factual.
Not probably factual. Not partially factual. Not alternatively factual. I mean fundamentally, comprehensively and exclusively factual. And therefore trustworthy.
This is how we operate. This is how Danny operated. This is how he died, losing his life in an effort to nail down a story.
posted by Artw at 3:52 PM on February 18, 2017 [25 favorites]
The Air Force One soundtrack is playing as AF1 arrives at the Melbourne Airport hanger. This would be surreal if this were a campaign stop.
He might want to consider avoiding comparisons to a movie about Russian spies infiltrating and attempting to overthrow the U.S. government?
posted by sallybrown at 3:53 PM on February 18, 2017 [27 favorites]
He might want to consider avoiding comparisons to a movie about Russian spies infiltrating and attempting to overthrow the U.S. government?
posted by sallybrown at 3:53 PM on February 18, 2017 [27 favorites]
Donald need the phonetic spelling of chasm on the teleprompter.
posted by Jalliah at 3:54 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by Jalliah at 3:54 PM on February 18, 2017
F-15s were scrambled to intercept an unresponsive plane near Mar-a-Lago
Big light in sky slated to appear in East.
Sonic booms scareminority groupsrich people in Sector B.
And there's hamburger all over the highway in Mystic, Connecticut.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:55 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Big light in sky slated to appear in East.
Sonic booms scare
And there's hamburger all over the highway in Mystic, Connecticut.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:55 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
My kittens, who before the Trump speech were adorably sleeping in each other's paws, are now chasing each other around the house and mindlessly bounding over furniture.
I told them not to listen to the fascist propaganda but you know how cats are.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:55 PM on February 18, 2017 [14 favorites]
I told them not to listen to the fascist propaganda but you know how cats are.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:55 PM on February 18, 2017 [14 favorites]
people on twitter are saying that he did an incredibly racist impression of prime minister Abe?!? did that actually happen?
posted by murphy slaw at 3:58 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by murphy slaw at 3:58 PM on February 18, 2017
Everyone knows cats are anarho-syndicalist.
posted by Artw at 3:58 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Artw at 3:58 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
The Air Force One soundtrack is playing as AF1 arrives at the Melbourne Airport hanger. This would be surreal if this were a campaign stop.
He actually played this at his hangar stops during the campaign. For real.
posted by mochapickle at 3:59 PM on February 18, 2017
He actually played this at his hangar stops during the campaign. For real.
posted by mochapickle at 3:59 PM on February 18, 2017
So is he basically only going to appear at heavily access controlled fenced off compounds from now on, for fear of facing an unfiltered crowd?
posted by Artw at 4:01 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Artw at 4:01 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
And at Mar-A-Lago they would play Hail To The Chief upon his arrival, also during the campaign, per an interview with his longtime butler.
posted by mochapickle at 4:01 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by mochapickle at 4:01 PM on February 18, 2017
> put on by an actually slightly unpopular socialist organization (there are a lot; people have mixed feelings about this group because they're maoists) and get 1200 people, more than 1/9 of Trump's big rally.
wait are you saying that revcom was able to get together 1200 people for a last-minute rally? that's amazing...
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:01 PM on February 18, 2017
wait are you saying that revcom was able to get together 1200 people for a last-minute rally? that's amazing...
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:01 PM on February 18, 2017
blacksfortrump2020.com isn't just timecube weirdness: it's anti-Semitic timecube weirdness. Of course.
posted by zachlipton at 4:02 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 4:02 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
This is unfiltered Bannon.
I also wonder if that's the bit of speech that will get approving comment on Fox and the right wing media with a fluttering flag in the background, so there's a potential feedback loop there.
Definitely. They shot some sweet stock propaganda footage with that segment. He stayed on script, and appeared to have even rehearsed.
It was Stones on the Washington Post feed. A song about drugs, go figure. I have to say it was somewhat soothing to listen to as the camera panned the crowd. I needed soothing after listening to that last part. Terrifying.
posted by valetta at 4:03 PM on February 18, 2017
I also wonder if that's the bit of speech that will get approving comment on Fox and the right wing media with a fluttering flag in the background, so there's a potential feedback loop there.
Definitely. They shot some sweet stock propaganda footage with that segment. He stayed on script, and appeared to have even rehearsed.
It was Stones on the Washington Post feed. A song about drugs, go figure. I have to say it was somewhat soothing to listen to as the camera panned the crowd. I needed soothing after listening to that last part. Terrifying.
posted by valetta at 4:03 PM on February 18, 2017
Death of Stalin Gets Reprint for New Movie, Reminds Us Dictators Sucks
posted by Artw at 4:03 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 4:03 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Apparently Fox News was talking to somebody about all the bad things refugees do in Sweden and how the terrible government is covering them up.
That makes much more sense now as to why Trump was talking about Sweden.
posted by sardonyx at 4:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
That makes much more sense now as to why Trump was talking about Sweden.
posted by sardonyx at 4:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
And we end with "You Can't Always Get What You Want," because why the fuck not?
Seriously, has anyone ever figured this out? This is one of those things that makes me question reality.
In his supporters' interpretation, "you" means SJW snowflakes.
In Trump's interpretation, "you" means "all y'all"
posted by ckape at 4:05 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
Seriously, has anyone ever figured this out? This is one of those things that makes me question reality.
In his supporters' interpretation, "you" means SJW snowflakes.
In Trump's interpretation, "you" means "all y'all"
posted by ckape at 4:05 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
Random dude who Trump had address the nation is now being interviewed on CNN.
What is this even?
posted by zachlipton at 4:05 PM on February 18, 2017
What is this even?
posted by zachlipton at 4:05 PM on February 18, 2017
Cult of the leader. He touched the aura, which makes him important.
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:08 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:08 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
So if someone asks me why is Milo bad/whats wrong with him, what are some of the worst things he has done? Explaining gamergate probably will take too much time.
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 4:09 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 4:09 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
The media going back to it's comfy pre-election routine.
Maybe they can do a bit on CLinton's emails.
posted by Artw at 4:09 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
Maybe they can do a bit on CLinton's emails.
posted by Artw at 4:09 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
MisantropicPainforest , Milo wrote that trans people are "deeply mentally damaged, and they are failed by a liberal establishment obsessed with making them feel good about themselves." Just use his own fucking words.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:11 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:11 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
> So if someone asks me why is Milo bad/whats wrong with him, what are some of the worst things he has done? Explaining gamergate probably will take too much time.
Giving "talks" at universities that feature him displaying the names and faces of trans students and undocumented students in the hopes that his audience will do violence against them / try to get them deported.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:12 PM on February 18, 2017 [39 favorites]
Giving "talks" at universities that feature him displaying the names and faces of trans students and undocumented students in the hopes that his audience will do violence against them / try to get them deported.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:12 PM on February 18, 2017 [39 favorites]
A university takes on one of its own, alumna Kellyanne Conway
...The president of Trinity Washington University, though, has had plenty to say about one of its graduates. “Presidential Counselor Kellyanne Conway, Trinity Class of 1989, has played a large role in facilitating the manipulation of facts and encouraging the grave injustice being perpetrated by the Trump Administration’s war on immigrants among many other issues,” Patricia McGuire wrote recently.
...McGuire said it’s not about politics. (She also said the university does not support Pelosi’s support for abortion rights.) “People can agree or disagree around national policy or domestic policy. You can have a raging debate about Obamacare … But when you lie so consistently as this administration does, that’s a moral issue. We are teachers. We have an honor system here. We believe deeply in upholding the value of truth. … it’s urgent not to be shy about it.
In a blog post, “On Lies and the Truths We Must Tell,” Maguire included some thoughts about Conway
posted by futz at 4:12 PM on February 18, 2017 [20 favorites]
...The president of Trinity Washington University, though, has had plenty to say about one of its graduates. “Presidential Counselor Kellyanne Conway, Trinity Class of 1989, has played a large role in facilitating the manipulation of facts and encouraging the grave injustice being perpetrated by the Trump Administration’s war on immigrants among many other issues,” Patricia McGuire wrote recently.
...McGuire said it’s not about politics. (She also said the university does not support Pelosi’s support for abortion rights.) “People can agree or disagree around national policy or domestic policy. You can have a raging debate about Obamacare … But when you lie so consistently as this administration does, that’s a moral issue. We are teachers. We have an honor system here. We believe deeply in upholding the value of truth. … it’s urgent not to be shy about it.
In a blog post, “On Lies and the Truths We Must Tell,” Maguire included some thoughts about Conway
posted by futz at 4:12 PM on February 18, 2017 [20 favorites]
Explaining gamergate probably will take too much time.
Eh. Not really. Some online trolls had launched a hate campaign where they used a false pretext to harass women, he came along an acted as a coordinator and amplifier for the hate campaign. That's pretty much what he does: amplify hate and act as a cheerleader for harassment.
posted by Artw at 4:12 PM on February 18, 2017 [31 favorites]
Eh. Not really. Some online trolls had launched a hate campaign where they used a false pretext to harass women, he came along an acted as a coordinator and amplifier for the hate campaign. That's pretty much what he does: amplify hate and act as a cheerleader for harassment.
posted by Artw at 4:12 PM on February 18, 2017 [31 favorites]
The guy Trump invited on stage has a 6 foot cardboard cut out of Trump that he salutes and prays to/for every day..
Trump supporter who got on stage is legit nutballs.
posted by dis_integration at 4:17 PM on February 18, 2017 [50 favorites]
Trump supporter who got on stage is legit nutballs.
posted by dis_integration at 4:17 PM on February 18, 2017 [50 favorites]
You and your not worshiping a fascist idol bubble.
posted by Artw at 4:18 PM on February 18, 2017 [29 favorites]
posted by Artw at 4:18 PM on February 18, 2017 [29 favorites]
Yiannopoulous believes that straight men should turn to robots and sex toys because flesh women are too demanding. He urges straight men to stop having sexual relationships with real humans and replace real humans with, I shit you not, robots, chat programs and sex toys. That's a pretty big ask coming from a gay guy, for one thing, and it's pretty bizarre and gross, even if not evil precisely.
posted by Frowner at 4:19 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 4:19 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
"Amplify hate and act as a cheerleader for harassment" is the perfect description. Applies to Gamergate, the racist harassment of Leslie Jones on twitter, his talks doxxing trans and undocumented students, and like every Breitbart article he writes.
Let's not forget his supporters shooting a protester at one of his rallies. This is not just about "speech."
posted by OnceUponATime at 4:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
Let's not forget his supporters shooting a protester at one of his rallies. This is not just about "speech."
posted by OnceUponATime at 4:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
Interesting comment in /r/politics:
posted by J.K. Seazer at 4:23 PM on February 18, 2017 [93 favorites]
Every time this dotty old racist decides he wants to golf, our family's flight school loses 10-30k in business. We've been unable to fly for 3 weeks, as most of our students fly Fri-Sun for lessons.Several people have been urging them to go to the media with this story.
Trump is literally bankrupting my family with his golf habit.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 4:23 PM on February 18, 2017 [93 favorites]
dis_integration: Backlit by the setting Florida sun, an ocean of smartphones looks on as Trump and Melania disembark to the sounds of Lee Greenwood
Ah, Lee Greenwood. "Where at least *I* know *I'm* free." That song is perfect for the "Fuck you I got mine" types.
posted by emelenjr at 4:24 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
Ah, Lee Greenwood. "Where at least *I* know *I'm* free." That song is perfect for the "Fuck you I got mine" types.
posted by emelenjr at 4:24 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
It really does sound like Trump confused a Fox News story about Sweden last night with some kind of terrorist attack happening there, right around the same time he was bashing the press for making stuff up.
posted by zachlipton at 4:24 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 4:24 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
News from Alt-World is not fake though, because reasons.
posted by Artw at 4:28 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 4:28 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
First, Lobster Mitt Romney takes away our bees, and now Frowner beat me to posting about Yiannopoulous' evil sex robots.
It's my own fault, I was in flagrante with my timeshare fembot and my cardboard cutout of Chester Cheetah.
posted by guiseroom at 4:28 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
It's my own fault, I was in flagrante with my timeshare fembot and my cardboard cutout of Chester Cheetah.
posted by guiseroom at 4:28 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
I think they're playing Ride of the Valkyries in the minute preceding the Trumps debarking the plane. Video. Isn't that a Nazi thing?
posted by Coventry at 4:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Coventry at 4:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
this tweet is spot on:
The guy Trump brought onstage is the shill-- the guy who's there to trick the other marks into thinking the conman's legit.
posted by longdaysjourney at 4:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [53 favorites]
The guy Trump brought onstage is the shill-- the guy who's there to trick the other marks into thinking the conman's legit.
posted by longdaysjourney at 4:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [53 favorites]
I think they're playing Ride of the Valkyries in the minute preceding the Trumps debarking the plane. Video. Isn't that a Nazi thing?
If you're watching the Youtube feed, that's added by the streamer, not played at the rally.
posted by chris24 at 4:34 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you're watching the Youtube feed, that's added by the streamer, not played at the rally.
posted by chris24 at 4:34 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
They weren't actually playing Ride of the Valkyries live, that was added in by the streamer. It wasn't on Washington Post's stream.
posted by flatluigi at 4:34 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by flatluigi at 4:34 PM on February 18, 2017
I always have like a one year plan and a five year plan. I mean, I'm not saying I'm an organized person, I have receipts in my bag from the last century probably, but I always have an idea of where I want to be geographically, career-wise, publishing wise, in the 1-5 year future.
Because of my SO's income we might be able to flee the country and we've been circling around this idea because now it is a serious question and my SO is former military and took an oath to defend this country and I just can't leave. I mean, it would break my heart. And I'm in my mid-forties, even if everything goes to shit, I had my run.
But today I was like pushing at the outlines of the five year plan with the SO, and I love cities, man. One of my worst fears is that I would end up living someplace rural. Growing up in Southern Oregon, living in rural areas meant that you probably had a relationship with guns and missing teeth.
But we're talking about someplace rural. Because in a rural place, we can have a well. We can raise chickens. We can grow a garden w/o hydroponics. If things go down the toilet, we can build a bunker.
I feel really fucking guilty about this. I'm pretty sure not a one of my community college students has the wherewithal to do this. And I love cities. Portland, New York, and Philadelphia all have pieces of my heart.
But I'm scared, man. And as I'm not ready to go down the heroin addition route or eat a bullet, these feel like both reasonable decisions and also something from a dystopian tale that *isn't* real; it *can't* be real.
posted by angrycat at 4:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [20 favorites]
Because of my SO's income we might be able to flee the country and we've been circling around this idea because now it is a serious question and my SO is former military and took an oath to defend this country and I just can't leave. I mean, it would break my heart. And I'm in my mid-forties, even if everything goes to shit, I had my run.
But today I was like pushing at the outlines of the five year plan with the SO, and I love cities, man. One of my worst fears is that I would end up living someplace rural. Growing up in Southern Oregon, living in rural areas meant that you probably had a relationship with guns and missing teeth.
But we're talking about someplace rural. Because in a rural place, we can have a well. We can raise chickens. We can grow a garden w/o hydroponics. If things go down the toilet, we can build a bunker.
I feel really fucking guilty about this. I'm pretty sure not a one of my community college students has the wherewithal to do this. And I love cities. Portland, New York, and Philadelphia all have pieces of my heart.
But I'm scared, man. And as I'm not ready to go down the heroin addition route or eat a bullet, these feel like both reasonable decisions and also something from a dystopian tale that *isn't* real; it *can't* be real.
posted by angrycat at 4:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [20 favorites]
Thanks, chris24.
posted by Coventry at 4:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 4:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
@brianschatz (Senator from HI):
There are a few encouraging signs, privately and publicly, that some Senate Republican are going to put country first. Let's see.
posted by melissasaurus at 4:40 PM on February 18, 2017 [18 favorites]
There are a few encouraging signs, privately and publicly, that some Senate Republican are going to put country first. Let's see.
posted by melissasaurus at 4:40 PM on February 18, 2017 [18 favorites]
"Ah, Lee Greenwood. "Where at least *I* know *I'm* free." That song is perfect for the "Fuck you I got mine" types."
Also it has a single fucking pointless 2/4 bar in the last chorus of a song that is otherwise 4/4 all the way through ("And I proudly stand up -- BAM BAM -- next to her ..."). Just exists to fuck with musicians who have a chance to rehearse it exactly once before the Memorial Day concert with the special guest singer, and then fuck it up in performance.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 4:41 PM on February 18, 2017 [30 favorites]
Also it has a single fucking pointless 2/4 bar in the last chorus of a song that is otherwise 4/4 all the way through ("And I proudly stand up -- BAM BAM -- next to her ..."). Just exists to fuck with musicians who have a chance to rehearse it exactly once before the Memorial Day concert with the special guest singer, and then fuck it up in performance.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 4:41 PM on February 18, 2017 [30 favorites]
When it came to NSA spying, Wyden proved to be a master at carefully hinting at important truths while scrupulously avoiding revealing any actual classified information. Watch him closely.
The death squads have not yet been here. Watch closely for the removal of this Senator.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 4:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
The death squads have not yet been here. Watch closely for the removal of this Senator.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 4:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
The National Security Council as Canary in the White House.
posted by adamvasco at 4:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by adamvasco at 4:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also it has a single fucking pointless 2/4 bar ... And I proudly stand up -- BAM BAM -- next to her ...
That's the cheer moment. We used to play this song at my Florida public school rallies. That's how I know. You cheer right then because you love America so god damn much. I can still see my 4th grade teacher crying during this song. I bet she was at that rally.
posted by dis_integration at 4:45 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
That's the cheer moment. We used to play this song at my Florida public school rallies. That's how I know. You cheer right then because you love America so god damn much. I can still see my 4th grade teacher crying during this song. I bet she was at that rally.
posted by dis_integration at 4:45 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
"But we're talking about someplace rural. Because in a rural place, we can have a well. We can raise chickens. We can grow a garden w/o hydroponics. If things go down the toilet, we can build a bunker."
Good news! In just about every scenario barring a nuclear attack (which would target cities), you're more likely to survive catastrophe in an urban area! There's more help, it's closer, it's organized, even in the absence of communication technology it CAN organize because it's close enough to talk ... historically you are way better off being in a city than in the countryside when the shit hits the fan. I mean, historically, country people COME IN to the towns to survive catastrophe. Lone country homesteads/farms/freeholdings don't survive disasters and wars. And if people are actually organizing militias to face off against one another, your lone farmstead is simply not holding off the Great Portland Area Punks With Guns.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 4:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [40 favorites]
Good news! In just about every scenario barring a nuclear attack (which would target cities), you're more likely to survive catastrophe in an urban area! There's more help, it's closer, it's organized, even in the absence of communication technology it CAN organize because it's close enough to talk ... historically you are way better off being in a city than in the countryside when the shit hits the fan. I mean, historically, country people COME IN to the towns to survive catastrophe. Lone country homesteads/farms/freeholdings don't survive disasters and wars. And if people are actually organizing militias to face off against one another, your lone farmstead is simply not holding off the Great Portland Area Punks With Guns.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 4:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [40 favorites]
Question: what actually is the vetting process at these events? Instead of showing up with anti-Trump signs, ready to protest, what if we simply showed up, waited in line, went in, and sat silently, with our hands folded over our chests? Is there anything that would prevent that?
posted by pretentious illiterate at 4:48 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by pretentious illiterate at 4:48 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
> Question: what actually is the vetting process at these events? Instead of showing up with anti-Trump signs, ready to protest, what if we simply showed up, waited in line, went in, and sat silently, with our hands folded over our chests? Is there anything that would prevent that?
Enter wearing redcaps. wait for agreed-upon time. simultaneously switch to pussyhats.
... at which point the brawl starts. hope that pussyhats outnumber redcaps.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:50 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
Enter wearing redcaps. wait for agreed-upon time. simultaneously switch to pussyhats.
... at which point the brawl starts. hope that pussyhats outnumber redcaps.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 4:50 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
if you attend and you're not protesting outside, you're either lending legitimacy by swelling crowd sizes or there's going to be violence.
posted by murphy slaw at 4:52 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 4:52 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
Lee Greenwood may be an ass (I don't know, and from the date of the song I assume it was in some way related to the first Iraq war), but fuck letting these asshats have all the patriotic songs. I *will* proudly stand up and defend America, flawed country though she may be, and that's what I was doing when I marched on January 21.
Right now I can't do so much in person standing-up, because I'm living abroad, but when I come back in August, presuming there's still a country to come back to, you better fucking believe I'll be defending America. Against the fascist fucks. And I'm gonna be standing next to all of you to do it.
(also I don't have a wife and kids so yeah maybe that song doesn't apply so much to me, somehow I never noticed those lyrics before until I went and looked just now)
posted by nat at 4:57 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
Right now I can't do so much in person standing-up, because I'm living abroad, but when I come back in August, presuming there's still a country to come back to, you better fucking believe I'll be defending America. Against the fascist fucks. And I'm gonna be standing next to all of you to do it.
(also I don't have a wife and kids so yeah maybe that song doesn't apply so much to me, somehow I never noticed those lyrics before until I went and looked just now)
posted by nat at 4:57 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
legit though, protesting inside a fascist rally in a fascist-ruled country is a thing you do only when you're sure you can win the civil-war-in-microcosm inside the rally space and also the civil-war-in-macrocosm that would occur immediately after. it's not a thing.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:05 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:05 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Apparently I am very hung up on DeVos.
Former D.C. schools chief takes on DeVos: ‘Sorry lady … this is so amateur and unprofessional’
Kaya Henderson, the former chancellor of District of Columbia Public Schools, is none too happy with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s comments about teachers at a D.C. public school she recently visited.
Sorry lady. Tried to give you the benefit of the doubt. But this is so amateur and unprofessional that it's astounding. We deserve better.
posted by futz at 5:06 PM on February 18, 2017 [30 favorites]
Former D.C. schools chief takes on DeVos: ‘Sorry lady … this is so amateur and unprofessional’
Kaya Henderson, the former chancellor of District of Columbia Public Schools, is none too happy with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s comments about teachers at a D.C. public school she recently visited.
Sorry lady. Tried to give you the benefit of the doubt. But this is so amateur and unprofessional that it's astounding. We deserve better.
posted by futz at 5:06 PM on February 18, 2017 [30 favorites]
So the Jefferson quote that Trump used today (out of context) was likely cribbed from a Washington Post article published online earlier today: Memo to Donald Trump: Thomas Jefferson invented hating the media. It should also be noted that Jefferson helped to pioneer fake news in US politics by financially supporting James Callender's attacks on Federalist politicians.
posted by peeedro at 5:09 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by peeedro at 5:09 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
That's a good point, You Can't Tip a Buick - I wonder how viable a counter-protest might be:
- Organize enough rally protesters.
- Go in MAGAhat/incognito but with a hidden pussyhat
- When Donnie shows up, everyone put on pussyhats
- Turn back on Donnie, sit down, non-violent passive protest; maybe even chant to try to drown out the vileness
Problem is, if there was enough organization, the MAGAhat administration will find out about it, possibly search all attendees.
Second problem is the very real and almost certain risk of violence against the protestors.
Third problem is if the MAGAhat administration seeds rallies with false flag pussyhats who stir shit up and do deplorable crap to denounce protesters as a whole.
Crap. Now I'm (even more) depressed. Then again, at least the pink colouration of pussyhats is fortunate; I wonder how many male MAGAhatters are confident enough in their cis het 'masculinity' to put on a pink knit hat thats named a 'pussyhat'?
posted by porpoise at 5:09 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
- Organize enough rally protesters.
- Go in MAGAhat/incognito but with a hidden pussyhat
- When Donnie shows up, everyone put on pussyhats
- Turn back on Donnie, sit down, non-violent passive protest; maybe even chant to try to drown out the vileness
Problem is, if there was enough organization, the MAGAhat administration will find out about it, possibly search all attendees.
Second problem is the very real and almost certain risk of violence against the protestors.
Third problem is if the MAGAhat administration seeds rallies with false flag pussyhats who stir shit up and do deplorable crap to denounce protesters as a whole.
Crap. Now I'm (even more) depressed. Then again, at least the pink colouration of pussyhats is fortunate; I wonder how many male MAGAhatters are confident enough in their cis het 'masculinity' to put on a pink knit hat thats named a 'pussyhat'?
posted by porpoise at 5:09 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
The Trumpists would start violence immediately after the reveal. Recall that they were violent against lone protestors at rallies before the election. They would get violent against any number of protestors — unless the protestors massively outnumbered the fascists — even if they weren't tipped off to the plan... and there's no way they'd wouldn't be tipped off to the plan. There would likely be actually fewer deaths if the resistance tried to storm the building from the outside. and there would be so, so many deaths if that happened.
"protest a rally from inside" is 2015 thinking. we're in 2017/the Upside Down now.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:13 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
"protest a rally from inside" is 2015 thinking. we're in 2017/the Upside Down now.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:13 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
yeah, the way to counter a fascist rally is not to show up at the rally. it's to casually organize a counterprotest in the next few days with 10x the turnout.
posted by murphy slaw at 5:13 PM on February 18, 2017 [55 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 5:13 PM on February 18, 2017 [55 favorites]
So...
Lee Greenwood wrote "God Bless the USA" in 1984, and in response to the shooting down of Korean Airlines Flight 007. It was sung for Reagan at the 1984 GOP convention. It has been increasingly omnipresent at patriotic moments ever since.
posted by spitbull at 5:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Lee Greenwood wrote "God Bless the USA" in 1984, and in response to the shooting down of Korean Airlines Flight 007. It was sung for Reagan at the 1984 GOP convention. It has been increasingly omnipresent at patriotic moments ever since.
posted by spitbull at 5:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
well the ideal way to counter a fascist rally is to throw a genuine no-foolin' general strike day of, complete with shutdowns of all routes by which the fascist supporters could reach the rally. but organizing gigantic counterprotests the next day is good practice for that.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:22 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:22 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
that is a good question.
god I wish he was stupid enough to try to throw a rally in northern california. we would shut hella shit down.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:29 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
god I wish he was stupid enough to try to throw a rally in northern california. we would shut hella shit down.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:29 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Realistically, though, I bet he'll never even set foot on the west coast for the entire length of his maladministration.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:30 PM on February 18, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:30 PM on February 18, 2017 [14 favorites]
yes, mister president, please come and survey the blasted hellscape that you imagine Oakland to be
i suspect you will find it hellish for different reasons than you expect.
posted by murphy slaw at 5:31 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
i suspect you will find it hellish for different reasons than you expect.
posted by murphy slaw at 5:31 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
we have boots riley and we're not afraid to deploy him
posted by murphy slaw at 5:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 5:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
"yeah, the way to counter a fascist rally is not to show up at the rally. it's to casually organize a counterprotest in the next few days with 10x the turnout."
Yeah, when the KKK was very powerful in Indiana and marched in Goshen (a Mennonite town with a major Mennonite college), after fighting through the courts to deny them a marching permit and losing, the town organized a "celebrate diversity!" picnic in a local forest preserve at the same time as the march. The KKK was reduced to marching down a completely empty main street, save for cops to prevent looting; the entire city was in the forest preserve eating multicultural food and celebrating diversity. (It became a yearly event, even.)
Similarly, when Missouri lost a lawsuit and was forced to let the KKK adopt a highway, they simply renamed it Rosa Parks Highway, and the Klan quit almost immediately.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 5:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [107 favorites]
Yeah, when the KKK was very powerful in Indiana and marched in Goshen (a Mennonite town with a major Mennonite college), after fighting through the courts to deny them a marching permit and losing, the town organized a "celebrate diversity!" picnic in a local forest preserve at the same time as the march. The KKK was reduced to marching down a completely empty main street, save for cops to prevent looting; the entire city was in the forest preserve eating multicultural food and celebrating diversity. (It became a yearly event, even.)
Similarly, when Missouri lost a lawsuit and was forced to let the KKK adopt a highway, they simply renamed it Rosa Parks Highway, and the Klan quit almost immediately.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 5:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [107 favorites]
Maybe what I'm looking for, angrycat, is an urban neighborhood of kindhearted, mutually supportive liberals and progressives, living in modest, sustainably built housing, with fortified, bombproof basements interconnected by underground tunnels, surrounded by 15-foot walls with gates and vehicle choke points, with armed patrols and a nice community garden.
I'm only half joking.
posted by darkstar at 5:34 PM on February 18, 2017 [18 favorites]
I'm only half joking.
posted by darkstar at 5:34 PM on February 18, 2017 [18 favorites]
Also it has a single fucking pointless 2/4 bar in the last chorus of a song that is otherwise 4/4 all the way through ("And I proudly stand up -- BAM BAM -- next to her ..."). Just exists to fuck with musicians who have a chance to rehearse it exactly once before the Memorial Day concert with the special guest singer, and then fuck it up in performance.
Won't be a problem after the Lee Greenwood sound trucks have been rolling for about 6 weeks; you'll know where that bar is, then
posted by thelonius at 5:34 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Won't be a problem after the Lee Greenwood sound trucks have been rolling for about 6 weeks; you'll know where that bar is, then
posted by thelonius at 5:34 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
complete with shutdowns of all routes by which the fascist supporters could reach the rally.
definitely with barricades of burning tires
posted by indubitable at 5:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
definitely with barricades of burning tires
posted by indubitable at 5:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
It sort of is. Every march, town hall protest, and demonstration strengthens the networks larger actions require to get off the ground, while normalizing participation.
Holy crap that took forever to type. I think the thread's outgrown my phone.
posted by BS Artisan at 5:36 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Holy crap that took forever to type. I think the thread's outgrown my phone.
posted by BS Artisan at 5:36 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Lack of organised labour unions makes general strikes really, really hard. Who wants to walk off the job or not show up for work when you don't know if any of your coworkers will join you?
I agree that a strike would be probably the most effective way to handle fascist rallies. But the structures that enable strikes to work do not exist. (By design. Thanks, "right to work!")
Counter-protests that overshadow the original are probably the best response we actually have available to us. The timing on the Women's March was quite brilliant, actually, in that the comparisons to the inauguration were inevitable and taking place the day after meant that the exact same space was available to be used.
posted by tobascodagama at 5:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
I agree that a strike would be probably the most effective way to handle fascist rallies. But the structures that enable strikes to work do not exist. (By design. Thanks, "right to work!")
Counter-protests that overshadow the original are probably the best response we actually have available to us. The timing on the Women's March was quite brilliant, actually, in that the comparisons to the inauguration were inevitable and taking place the day after meant that the exact same space was available to be used.
posted by tobascodagama at 5:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
i was talking to a german friend of mine about the differences in protest culture between the US and Europe and he was telling me about how when there was an action, protesters would pull up the cobblestones in the streets to intimidate the cops and then put them all back in place when the protest was over
posted by murphy slaw at 5:38 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 5:38 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
when Missouri lost a lawsuit and was forced to let the KKK adopt a highway, they simply renamed it Rosa Parks Highway, and the Klan quit almost immediately.
They also quit because people kept tossing garbage at them out the window as they zoomed by at seventy mph. And stealing the roadsigns that credited them with cleaning up the Rosa Parks Highway.
posted by EarBucket at 5:39 PM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
They also quit because people kept tossing garbage at them out the window as they zoomed by at seventy mph. And stealing the roadsigns that credited them with cleaning up the Rosa Parks Highway.
posted by EarBucket at 5:39 PM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
- When Donnie shows up, everyone put on pussyhats
- Turn back on Donnie, sit down, non-violent passive protest; maybe even chant to try to drown out the vileness
If you have the numbers, forget about the pussy hats.
Just turn your backs to him and do nothing else.
posted by ocschwar at 5:39 PM on February 18, 2017
- Turn back on Donnie, sit down, non-violent passive protest; maybe even chant to try to drown out the vileness
If you have the numbers, forget about the pussy hats.
Just turn your backs to him and do nothing else.
posted by ocschwar at 5:39 PM on February 18, 2017
Nobody should pay their taxes until Marmalade Mussolini releases his. Have a taxpayer revolt.
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 5:41 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 5:41 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Lee Greenwood, by the way, is noted for nothing else in his mediocre career but this song, amongst country music fans. Think of the private hell it must be to be literally a one hit wonder who has to keep singing the same song every night for 33 years. And pity Lee Greenwood.
The song is masterfuly insipid. There is great patriotic country music, not all of it right wing in sentiment. In addition to being a wine saleman, I also worked through my 20s as a country cover band musician and occasionally had to play that song. We always got really high first.
posted by spitbull at 5:41 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
The song is masterfuly insipid. There is great patriotic country music, not all of it right wing in sentiment. In addition to being a wine saleman, I also worked through my 20s as a country cover band musician and occasionally had to play that song. We always got really high first.
posted by spitbull at 5:41 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
The Discommendation of Donald
posted by indubitable at 5:42 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by indubitable at 5:42 PM on February 18, 2017
I dunno, paying taxes is what makes us better than him.
posted by Artw at 5:42 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Artw at 5:42 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
This really drunk older long-haired gentleman is moving into the apartment below us. The SO and I were like FUUUU because we saw coming up this gentleman's shit all over the place, but we saw him rooting around in his car with a bumper sticker that read, "Shut the fuck up, Donnie" and I had to say something supportive of the sentiment.
And oh my God. This drunken gentleman in disarray, his lecture was like a Drunk History rendering of all these metafilter threads. I think we got away after maybe twenty minutes.
We were like oohs shiiiiit because we're used to the apartment below us being empty and now there are like ten people there including Drunk Metafilter Election Thread Guy so we have to not drop and avoid yelling and stuff.
But then we were all, *but what if angry drunk dude was a Trump supporter* and I had a little anxiety attack at the thought.
Thanks for the insight about urban v rural, EM. That might mean the difference between Pittsburgh and deep-red PA, not that the two are that far geographically apart from one another.
posted by angrycat at 5:45 PM on February 18, 2017 [14 favorites]
And oh my God. This drunken gentleman in disarray, his lecture was like a Drunk History rendering of all these metafilter threads. I think we got away after maybe twenty minutes.
We were like oohs shiiiiit because we're used to the apartment below us being empty and now there are like ten people there including Drunk Metafilter Election Thread Guy so we have to not drop and avoid yelling and stuff.
But then we were all, *but what if angry drunk dude was a Trump supporter* and I had a little anxiety attack at the thought.
Thanks for the insight about urban v rural, EM. That might mean the difference between Pittsburgh and deep-red PA, not that the two are that far geographically apart from one another.
posted by angrycat at 5:45 PM on February 18, 2017 [14 favorites]
It seems the media was way ahead of me on that story about Trump's weekly vacations shutting down the airports around Palm Beach.
Trump's Mar-a-Lago visits are hurting business, companies saystoryterrifying portent of what is to come from Palm Beach: Middle-school student threw wood block at Trump’s motorcade
posted by J.K. Seazer at 5:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [25 favorites]
Trump's Mar-a-Lago visits are hurting business, companies say
Marian Smith, owner of Palm Beach Flight Training, said her 19-year-old business is losing 24 flights daily when closed and three students cancelled. She lost $28,000 combined the last two weekends and will lose $18,000 on this President’s Day weekend. She estimates her 19 instructors are each losing up to $750 a weekend.The Secret Service of the Skies
“What’s frustrating is that we get little notice when this is going to happen,” she said.
This week, rumors began Monday. The closure notice arrived Wednesday.
South Florida officials have met with the Secret Service and the F.A.A. seeking ways to mitigate the damage, like creating a narrow flyway in and out of the airspace so that Lantana Airport can resume some degree of function. But Commissioner Kerner said that the Secret Service has been “resolute in its restrictions.”Bonus
President Trump is unlikely to intervene. For more than two decades he repeatedly sued Palm Beach County over air traffic noise, at one point accusing the local airports director of “intentional battery” by maliciously directing jets to fly over Mar-a-Lago. Lawyers for the county responded that they couldn’t help it that the estate is just off the end of the airport’s main east-west runway.
Now, when the president visits, airplanes will be required to turn almost immediately after takeoff and fan out and away from the estate, in line with what was demanded in the lawsuits. Requests for comment from the White House went unanswered. But then, getting an answer was about as likely as getting clearance to fly Lazy 8’s in the president’s airspace.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 5:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [25 favorites]
I dunno, paying taxes is what one of many, many things that makes us better than him.
posted by Artw at 5:42 PM on February 18 [1 favorite +] [!]
posted by Golem XIV at 5:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Artw at 5:42 PM on February 18 [1 favorite +] [!]
posted by Golem XIV at 5:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
> I dunno, paying taxes is what makes us better than him.
posted by Artw at 5:42 PM on February 18 [2 favorites +] [!]
Aw hell no. Not being fascists is what makes us better than him.
Organize your community to all set your withholdings for next year to 0. sock away money with every intent to pay on april 15th, 2018. the threat of a tax revolt may be more effective than the execution.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:57 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Artw at 5:42 PM on February 18 [2 favorites +] [!]
Aw hell no. Not being fascists is what makes us better than him.
Organize your community to all set your withholdings for next year to 0. sock away money with every intent to pay on april 15th, 2018. the threat of a tax revolt may be more effective than the execution.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:57 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
Well, carry on playing by the rules that the fascist, rapist crackhead is thumbing his nose at. It would get attention and make a statement if lots of people refused to do it while saying why - no doubt about that.
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 5:57 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 5:57 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
BREAKING: Block thrower's accomplices identified.
Block thrower, a Mr Butters Totch, says they made him do it.
posted by vrakatar at 5:58 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
Block thrower, a Mr Butters Totch, says they made him do it.
posted by vrakatar at 5:58 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
A thought: the past couple of days, when people were talking about this rally, they were talking about it as a provocation/Reichstag Fire by Bannon, there was sure to be violence, etc. If you were like me, you were actually pretty anxious!
None of that seems to have materialized. The clown had a rather small rally (9000 isn't that big) at which he made a dumb speech like all his other dumb speeches, more coherent than some, less coherent than others. He's still repulsive and horrible, his supporters are either evil or dupes, and some heroic junior high student threw a wooden block.
I think it's worth considering - this was just dumbshit theatrics by our asshole president, it wasn't some kind of violent attack on the left. I think he would be hard put to manage any real mass rightwing violence. He doesn't have enough people in any one place, even though he has a...well, a not negligible minority of support elsewhere. I think we have to try to be realistic about how and when to be afraid of him. He's unpopular, his policies are widely loathed and he has accomplished very little.
posted by Frowner at 6:01 PM on February 18, 2017 [59 favorites]
None of that seems to have materialized. The clown had a rather small rally (9000 isn't that big) at which he made a dumb speech like all his other dumb speeches, more coherent than some, less coherent than others. He's still repulsive and horrible, his supporters are either evil or dupes, and some heroic junior high student threw a wooden block.
I think it's worth considering - this was just dumbshit theatrics by our asshole president, it wasn't some kind of violent attack on the left. I think he would be hard put to manage any real mass rightwing violence. He doesn't have enough people in any one place, even though he has a...well, a not negligible minority of support elsewhere. I think we have to try to be realistic about how and when to be afraid of him. He's unpopular, his policies are widely loathed and he has accomplished very little.
posted by Frowner at 6:01 PM on February 18, 2017 [59 favorites]
and some heroic junior high student threw a wooden block.
You sabotage what you can with what you have.
posted by mikelieman at 6:03 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
You sabotage what you can with what you have.
posted by mikelieman at 6:03 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
The only people really pushing the "there will be violence" claim was @roguePOTUSstaff. In other words, nobody.
posted by zachlipton at 6:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 6:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
I want to buy the kid who threw the block a 100$ U.S savings bond. Maybe thousands of other people could do it, too.
posted by vrakatar at 6:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by vrakatar at 6:10 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm really not a fan of throwing pieces of wood at motorcades, as it accomplishes essentially nothing in terms of protest and could easily hurt someone.
posted by zachlipton at 6:13 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 6:13 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm going to open a business where you pay me $79.95 and I take you into a soundproof room where you put on a protective worksuit and a face shield and I hand you an aluminum bat. Then I project the day's tv news onto a wall-sized tv screen. You get to scream your head off and bash the shit out of an orange mannequin with a combover for fifteen minutes. For $129.95, I fill the mannequin with calf guts.
Can you really get calf guts for less than $0.10 a pound?
posted by skyscraper at 6:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Can you really get calf guts for less than $0.10 a pound?
posted by skyscraper at 6:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'm regretting linking to that article now, as we have already crossed the line into inciting violence.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 6:15 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by J.K. Seazer at 6:15 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
( can we get a 'bees' entry on the wiki? I think I know what's going on, but could use clarification. )
posted by mikelieman at 6:15 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by mikelieman at 6:15 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
Well, carry on playing by the rules that the fascist, rapist crackhead is thumbing his nose at. It would get attention and make a statement if lots of people refused to do it while saying why - no doubt about that.
Hey now, unless there's proof that 45 is a legit crackhead, I'd like to inform you that the crack enthusiast community STRONGLY objects to that word being used to describe Failing US President Donald Trump.
posted by some loser at 6:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [15 favorites]
Hey now, unless there's proof that 45 is a legit crackhead, I'd like to inform you that the crack enthusiast community STRONGLY objects to that word being used to describe Failing US President Donald Trump.
posted by some loser at 6:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [15 favorites]
Bono will probably humbly accept the bees cuz he is jealous of sting
my god, man
Me: Hey! What's the difference between Bono and Sting?
You: I dunno, what is the difference between Bono and Sting?
Me: Bono kept his good drummer!
posted by The Noble Goofy Elk at 6:17 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
my god, man
Me: Hey! What's the difference between Bono and Sting?
You: I dunno, what is the difference between Bono and Sting?
Me: Bono kept his good drummer!
posted by The Noble Goofy Elk at 6:17 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
if Jared is the reason for Acosta's leave of absence, does that make him the first journalist silenced by the administration?
Lawrence O'Donnell tweeted that Fox's decision to not renew George Will was at Trump's request (and the first journalist to loose a job because of him).
posted by AwkwardPause at 6:17 PM on February 18, 2017 [19 favorites]
Lawrence O'Donnell tweeted that Fox's decision to not renew George Will was at Trump's request (and the first journalist to loose a job because of him).
posted by AwkwardPause at 6:17 PM on February 18, 2017 [19 favorites]
Maybe the kid is an early adapter, zach, because that is probably what it will come to given the approval ratings and general drift of the past month.
posted by vrakatar at 6:17 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by vrakatar at 6:17 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
I dunno about violence, but if enough people told HR to send the money withheld into a savings account for payment next year, you'd see IRS strike teams serving no-knock warrants soon enough.
posted by mikelieman at 6:18 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by mikelieman at 6:18 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Lawrence O'Donnell tweeted that Fox's decision to not renew George Will was at Trump's request (and the first journalist to loose a job because of him).
couldn't they have split the difference and just fired his bow tie? it would have been just as hurtful to George I'm sure
posted by queenofbithynia at 6:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Like, it sounds like a stupid kid thing, and I profoundly hope it's treated as such and not as a "homeland security threat level orange" freakout, but the aftermath of police on motorcycles who've fallen during motorcades is pretty damn ugly (deaths happen from time to time), and I don't really think it's a funny thing to even jokingly encourage. Sorry for the lack of humor about this.
posted by zachlipton at 6:21 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 6:21 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
The only people really pushing the "there will be violence" claim was @roguePOTUSstaff. In other words, nobody.
posted by zachlipton at 9:04 PM on February 18 [3 favorites +] [!]
They weren't the first. I saw people talking about the possibility and being spread around in several places before Potustaff started talking about it. There were a couple of memo type letters floating around twitter that had nothing to do with potusstaff.
posted by Jalliah at 6:24 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 9:04 PM on February 18 [3 favorites +] [!]
They weren't the first. I saw people talking about the possibility and being spread around in several places before Potustaff started talking about it. There were a couple of memo type letters floating around twitter that had nothing to do with potusstaff.
posted by Jalliah at 6:24 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
To clarify I was talking about sending the kid a US savings bond, not throwing wood blocks, when I encouraged thousands of people to do it. That kid could be in trouble and sending him or her a bond says, to me, that the republic shall endure. But I'm a crazy old coot so I'll drop it.
posted by vrakatar at 6:30 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by vrakatar at 6:30 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
> Lee Greenwood wrote "God Bless the USA" in 1984, and in response to the shooting down of Korean Airlines Flight 007. It was sung for Reagan at the 1984 GOP convention. It has been increasingly omnipresent at patriotic moments ever since
It was played at a naturalization ceremony I attended, and the next town over plays it repeatedly during the fireworks on the 4th of July. I've written to everyone I can think of to try to get both of those to quit it, but no luck -- or response -- so far.
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
It was played at a naturalization ceremony I attended, and the next town over plays it repeatedly during the fireworks on the 4th of July. I've written to everyone I can think of to try to get both of those to quit it, but no luck -- or response -- so far.
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
you'd see IRS strike teams serving no-knock warrants soon enough.
No, they would end up taking more money from the protestors, straight from their bank accounts. You can't ŵin head to head against the IRS unless you step out ôf the finance and property systems altogether.
posted by Coventry at 6:34 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
No, they would end up taking more money from the protestors, straight from their bank accounts. You can't ŵin head to head against the IRS unless you step out ôf the finance and property systems altogether.
posted by Coventry at 6:34 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
I dunno about violence, but if enough people told HR to send the money withheld into a savings account for payment next year, you'd see IRS strike teams serving no-knock warrants soon enough.
IRS strike teams? Is that... a thing?
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:34 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
IRS strike teams? Is that... a thing?
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:34 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
>IRS strike teams? Is that... a thing?
I should think not. The IRS will just tack some penalties and interest onto what you owe them, and calmly attach your wages a few years from now if you haven't paid up. Paying your taxes is only optional if you can afford enough politicians to have the tax code rewritten in your favor.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 6:42 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
I should think not. The IRS will just tack some penalties and interest onto what you owe them, and calmly attach your wages a few years from now if you haven't paid up. Paying your taxes is only optional if you can afford enough politicians to have the tax code rewritten in your favor.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 6:42 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
That is the square of the Nazi alignment chart he inhabits, yes. Also may or may not have a claim to being Jewish.
Note: still a fucking Nazi.
posted by Artw at 6:42 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Note: still a fucking Nazi.
posted by Artw at 6:42 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
I should think not. The IRS will just tack some penalties and interest onto what you owe them, and calmly attach your wages a few years from now if you haven't paid up. Paying your taxes is only optional if you can afford enough politicians to have the tax code rewritten in your favor.
Yes, indeed -- my point is, let's not do hyperbole about hypothetical IRS strike teams, at a time when millions of American residents are legitimately worried about government door-knocking.
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:53 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
Yes, indeed -- my point is, let's not do hyperbole about hypothetical IRS strike teams, at a time when millions of American residents are legitimately worried about government door-knocking.
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:53 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
Hmm.. You know, I was half kidding, but... They do have cops
I don't know about SWAT gear, but they do get those windbreakers with the cool departmental pull-out on the back.
posted by mikelieman at 6:55 PM on February 18, 2017
I don't know about SWAT gear, but they do get those windbreakers with the cool departmental pull-out on the back.
posted by mikelieman at 6:55 PM on February 18, 2017
Party of fiscal responsibility, you say? Trump Family Security Expenses for One Month Nearly What Obamas Cost in One Year.
posted by TwoStride at 6:56 PM on February 18, 2017 [35 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 6:56 PM on February 18, 2017 [35 favorites]
Anybody photographed riding around in his very own gold elevator is probably not a good choice to represent the Party Of Fiscal Responsibility.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 6:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by Sing Or Swim at 6:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [19 favorites]
> This is a fascinating interview with Mark Sanford.
Wow, I missed that earlier, good read! When Mark "I was hiking the Appalachian Trail" Sanford has a problem with your lying...
posted by jason_steakums at 7:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
Wow, I missed that earlier, good read! When Mark "I was hiking the Appalachian Trail" Sanford has a problem with your lying...
posted by jason_steakums at 7:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
Hmm.. You know, I was half kidding, but... They do have cops
I don't know about SWAT gear, but they do get those windbreakers with the cool departmental pull-out on the back.
Would you stop with the hyperbolic fear-mongering?
There's a lot of legitimately shitty things happening, and chicken-little-ing is actually not helpful.
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:08 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
I don't know about SWAT gear, but they do get those windbreakers with the cool departmental pull-out on the back.
Would you stop with the hyperbolic fear-mongering?
There's a lot of legitimately shitty things happening, and chicken-little-ing is actually not helpful.
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:08 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
Didn't we learn in 2016 that a lot of polling is crap?
Not really. In early Nov, 538 noted that Trump was within normal polling error of Clinton. As predicted, Clinton did win the national vote, by quite a bit. What their later analysis showed was that national polling was respectable, but state polling had a good deal more error. It was the state voting (i.e. electoral college) that put Trump in the White House.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 7:08 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
Not really. In early Nov, 538 noted that Trump was within normal polling error of Clinton. As predicted, Clinton did win the national vote, by quite a bit. What their later analysis showed was that national polling was respectable, but state polling had a good deal more error. It was the state voting (i.e. electoral college) that put Trump in the White House.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 7:08 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
From Reuters: Eight people flee US border patrol to seek asylum in Canada
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:09 PM on February 18, 2017 [35 favorites]
As a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officer seized their passports and questioned a man in the front passenger seat of a taxi that had pulled up to the border in Champlain, New York, four adults and four young children fled the cab and ran to Royal Canadian Mounted Police on the other side.There's just such pathos in that sentence. The photos showed the US officer was carrying a weapon. From all the recent horrible reports, I expected a much more tragic ending.
One by one they scrambled across the snowy gully separating the two countries. RCMP officers watching from the other side helped them up, lifting the younger children and asking a woman, who leaned on her fellow passenger as she walked, if she needed medical care.
[...]
The man turned to a pile of belongings and heaved pieces of luggage two at a time into the gully -- enormous wheeled suitcases, plastic shopping bags, a black backpack.
"Nobody cares about us," he told journalists. He said they were all from Sudan and had been living and working in Delaware for two years.
[...]
The man then appeared to grab their passports from the U.S. officer before making a run for the border. The officer yelled and gave chase but stopped at the border marker. Canadian police took hold of the man's arm as he crossed.
The border patrol officer told his counterpart that the man was in the United States illegally and that he would have detained him.
Officers on both sides momentarily eyed the luggage strewn in the snow before the U.S. officer took it, and a walker left on the road, to the border line. [my bf]
The RCMP carried the articles to their vehicles, and the people piled in to be driven to a nearby border office to be interviewed by police and to make a refugee claim.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:09 PM on February 18, 2017 [35 favorites]
Folks, let's stick a pin in the extended bees/mosquitoes entomology side conversation.
posted by LobsterMitten
Isn't this, like, an arthropod conflict-of-interest? /saturdaynight
wonderful pun though.
posted by sylvanshine at 7:09 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten
Isn't this, like, an arthropod conflict-of-interest? /saturdaynight
wonderful pun though.
posted by sylvanshine at 7:09 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
Doesn't Yiannopoulos also deny that gay women exist? And he supports this by pointing out that a lot of women's sex toys are dick-shaped? I think that young man may not be too bright.
posted by um at 7:11 PM on February 18, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by um at 7:11 PM on February 18, 2017 [18 favorites]
From all the recent horrible reports, I expected a much more tragic ending.
... That story, particularly the little bit about the luggage for some reason, gives me a tiny sliver of hope.
I should go to bed before something else rips it away today.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 7:15 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
... That story, particularly the little bit about the luggage for some reason, gives me a tiny sliver of hope.
I should go to bed before something else rips it away today.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 7:15 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
There's a lot of legitimately shitty things happening, and chicken-little-ing is actually not helpful.
I think the dangers to the organizers of any effective-looking withholding tax-revolt are quite real, and they can expect the full weight of every arm of the government to oppose them. We're talking about threats to the cash-flow here, a kid with a wooden block is nothing compared to that.
posted by mikelieman at 7:16 PM on February 18, 2017
I think the dangers to the organizers of any effective-looking withholding tax-revolt are quite real, and they can expect the full weight of every arm of the government to oppose them. We're talking about threats to the cash-flow here, a kid with a wooden block is nothing compared to that.
posted by mikelieman at 7:16 PM on February 18, 2017
Doesn't Yiannopoulos also deny that gay women exist? And he supports this by pointing out that a lot of women's sex toys are dick-shaped? I think that young man may not be too bright.
I saw someone on Twitter say Milo was that guy you meet at a party who is high as a kite and tries to get you to explain why a cat isn't a dog.
posted by nubs at 7:26 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
I saw someone on Twitter say Milo was that guy you meet at a party who is high as a kite and tries to get you to explain why a cat isn't a dog.
posted by nubs at 7:26 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
Filter be with you. Checking in after the protest. They herded us into a strip of land located across the street from the hangar, which was between the road and a ditch. We had about 1000 people. The crowd was in good spirits, chanting while one or two MAGA cultists tried to taunt us by holding "President Trump" signs as if that abomination wasn't the reason we were all there. Our Congressman, Bill Posey, who has outright refused to hold a public town hall since 2008 showed up to speak. Dump was late and they filled by having a bunch of other local yokels talk. The police claimed 9000 attendees, which is actually less than turned out for his previous campaign stop here. Our local Repubs claimed that they expected 25,000 to attend, which would be about 50% of the county's population. Nevertheless, we saw several buses with out-of-state plates dropping people off.
There were several warnings posted to the Facebook page of our local progressives group about the potential for a Reichstag-fire situation. I fought these for a few days, but several people were scared off anyway. There was supposed to be a big contingent of Bikers for Trump coming to block us. An alt-right group posting on 4Chan was supposed to come and punch us. Local LEOs were rumored to be working with KKK and we were going to provoked so they could fire tear gas on us. Black Bloc was going to come in and break shit so we would get blamed. None of those things happened. The organizers asked everyone to disperse at 6pm so we could leave before the Trump crowd started to pour out and mostly that happened. I feel vindicated in reminding people that these dolts aren't playing 10-D chess and masterfully engineering a false flag to crack down on protest and free speech. Not to imply they wouldn't relish the opportunity, I just think theyre too incompetent. There weren't even any proper Nazis there that I saw, outside of an awkward alt-right teen doing Infowars interviews.
So there was supposed to be a SpaceX launch today that scrubbed. One would think Dump might bother to say something about the space program here, but he isn't even a mildly competent realtor & didn't bother to reference it (which used to be an absolute death blow to any politician looking for votes here). A lot of the people inside the hangar started to leave before he finished speaking. If he came here looking for a surge of validation, I don't think he got it. Even the MAGA cult seems demoralized.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 7:26 PM on February 18, 2017 [126 favorites]
There were several warnings posted to the Facebook page of our local progressives group about the potential for a Reichstag-fire situation. I fought these for a few days, but several people were scared off anyway. There was supposed to be a big contingent of Bikers for Trump coming to block us. An alt-right group posting on 4Chan was supposed to come and punch us. Local LEOs were rumored to be working with KKK and we were going to provoked so they could fire tear gas on us. Black Bloc was going to come in and break shit so we would get blamed. None of those things happened. The organizers asked everyone to disperse at 6pm so we could leave before the Trump crowd started to pour out and mostly that happened. I feel vindicated in reminding people that these dolts aren't playing 10-D chess and masterfully engineering a false flag to crack down on protest and free speech. Not to imply they wouldn't relish the opportunity, I just think theyre too incompetent. There weren't even any proper Nazis there that I saw, outside of an awkward alt-right teen doing Infowars interviews.
So there was supposed to be a SpaceX launch today that scrubbed. One would think Dump might bother to say something about the space program here, but he isn't even a mildly competent realtor & didn't bother to reference it (which used to be an absolute death blow to any politician looking for votes here). A lot of the people inside the hangar started to leave before he finished speaking. If he came here looking for a surge of validation, I don't think he got it. Even the MAGA cult seems demoralized.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 7:26 PM on February 18, 2017 [126 favorites]
just leaving a note to my future self: when you get this far in the thread, take out the trash. And leave a cold beverage out for Tehhund
posted by petebest at 7:29 PM on February 18, 2017 [45 favorites]
posted by petebest at 7:29 PM on February 18, 2017 [45 favorites]
9:56 pm: Trump administration to expand groups of immigrants to be deported: documents
-- Two sources familiar with the plans told Reuters the documents have been approved by Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, but are under final review by the White House. They are expected to be released to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) early next week.
-- One memo instructs ICE agents to ignore Obama’s memos on immigration priorities that targeted only recent arrivals and convicted criminal migrants for deportation. Instead, migrants who have been charged with crimes but not convicted would be prioritized for deportation. The guidance also allows ICE agents wide discretion in deciding who to deport and considers anyone in the United States illegally to be subject to deportation.
--The ICE memo also states that immigrants will not be afforded rights under U.S. privacy laws.
The second memo instructs CBP officers to crack down on illegal migration at the border by holding migrants in detention until a determination in their case is made.
The Department of Homeland Security did not deny any information contained in the draft memos but did not provide further detail.
posted by futz at 7:30 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
-- Two sources familiar with the plans told Reuters the documents have been approved by Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, but are under final review by the White House. They are expected to be released to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) early next week.
-- One memo instructs ICE agents to ignore Obama’s memos on immigration priorities that targeted only recent arrivals and convicted criminal migrants for deportation. Instead, migrants who have been charged with crimes but not convicted would be prioritized for deportation. The guidance also allows ICE agents wide discretion in deciding who to deport and considers anyone in the United States illegally to be subject to deportation.
--The ICE memo also states that immigrants will not be afforded rights under U.S. privacy laws.
The second memo instructs CBP officers to crack down on illegal migration at the border by holding migrants in detention until a determination in their case is made.
The Department of Homeland Security did not deny any information contained in the draft memos but did not provide further detail.
posted by futz at 7:30 PM on February 18, 2017 [11 favorites]
There was supposed to be a big contingent of Bikers for Trump coming to block us.
They got lost on the way to the Inauguration, and nobody has seen them since.
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:30 PM on February 18, 2017 [21 favorites]
They got lost on the way to the Inauguration, and nobody has seen them since.
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:30 PM on February 18, 2017 [21 favorites]
I think the dangers to the organizers of any effective-looking withholding tax-revolt are quite real, and they can expect the full weight of every arm of the government to oppose them. We're talking about threats to the cash-flow here, a kid with a wooden block is nothing compared to that.
The "government" isn't a monolith. Minimization is not good; but neither is undue catastrophizing.
Look, I don't particularly care about this whole tax-withholding plot/scheme or whatever one way or the other, but I do care that we be realistic in both directions: genuinely acknowledging how dire the situation is, and also genuinely recognizing what avenues for hope exist, which means not pretending that the federal government is a perfectly controlled, top-down system that operates by, say, the mere pressing of buttons in a secret drawer of the Resolute Desk. That's how the President seems to think the government works; I hope that we are not as foolish as he.
Indeed, President Trump has a lot of power. But he is neither omnipotent nor omniscient, nor, when it comes down to it, is he particularly intelligent. And his advisors and appointees are similarly both powerful, and also are merely humans.
For the resistance to be effective, it must be clear-eyed; and for it to be clear-eyed, it must be neither blind due to willful avoidance nor blind due to panic.
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:39 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
The "government" isn't a monolith. Minimization is not good; but neither is undue catastrophizing.
Look, I don't particularly care about this whole tax-withholding plot/scheme or whatever one way or the other, but I do care that we be realistic in both directions: genuinely acknowledging how dire the situation is, and also genuinely recognizing what avenues for hope exist, which means not pretending that the federal government is a perfectly controlled, top-down system that operates by, say, the mere pressing of buttons in a secret drawer of the Resolute Desk. That's how the President seems to think the government works; I hope that we are not as foolish as he.
Indeed, President Trump has a lot of power. But he is neither omnipotent nor omniscient, nor, when it comes down to it, is he particularly intelligent. And his advisors and appointees are similarly both powerful, and also are merely humans.
For the resistance to be effective, it must be clear-eyed; and for it to be clear-eyed, it must be neither blind due to willful avoidance nor blind due to panic.
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:39 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
C'mon, y'all.
Second problem is the very real and almost certain risk of violence against the protestors.
There was a whole bunch of fearmongering on Twitter over the last few days about today's rally being his Reichstag moment, complete with false-flag protestors and agitators going to do violence so that Bannon could blame it on the leftists. Didn't happen. Sure, a Trumpist or two has been caught on camera punching a protestor, but the protestors in question were already being hauled out by security. No, Donnie. These men are cowards.
Also, with the tax revolt: I like the idea in principle, but in practice it would be hard to pull off. If you aren't withholding enough, you're likely to get nailed with penalties unless you're paying the difference quarterly. You could find yourself in a world of hurt if the revolt is unsuccessful or not large enough to make a policy change necessary. It would require a level of organizing on par with the Women's March.
posted by Existential Dread at 7:41 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Second problem is the very real and almost certain risk of violence against the protestors.
There was a whole bunch of fearmongering on Twitter over the last few days about today's rally being his Reichstag moment, complete with false-flag protestors and agitators going to do violence so that Bannon could blame it on the leftists. Didn't happen. Sure, a Trumpist or two has been caught on camera punching a protestor, but the protestors in question were already being hauled out by security. No, Donnie. These men are cowards.
Also, with the tax revolt: I like the idea in principle, but in practice it would be hard to pull off. If you aren't withholding enough, you're likely to get nailed with penalties unless you're paying the difference quarterly. You could find yourself in a world of hurt if the revolt is unsuccessful or not large enough to make a policy change necessary. It would require a level of organizing on par with the Women's March.
posted by Existential Dread at 7:41 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
-- One memo instructs ICE agents to ignore Obama’s memos on immigration priorities that targeted only recent arrivals and convicted criminal migrants for deportation. Instead, migrants who have been charged with crimes but not convicted would be prioritized for deportation. The guidance also allows ICE agents wide discretion in deciding who to deport and considers anyone in the United States illegally to be subject to deportation.
So just a big fuck you to the 14th Amendment, then.
posted by jason_steakums at 7:41 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
So just a big fuck you to the 14th Amendment, then.
posted by jason_steakums at 7:41 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
The second memo instructs CBP officers to crack down on illegal migration at the border by holding migrants in detention until a determination in their case is made.
Looks like those investments in private prisons will be worth their weight in indefinitely detained people.
posted by Existential Dread at 7:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Looks like those investments in private prisons will be worth their weight in indefinitely detained people.
posted by Existential Dread at 7:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
a big fuck you to the 14th Amendment, then.
They can't count that high. You decide if they stopped at 10 or 2.
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
They can't count that high. You decide if they stopped at 10 or 2.
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
If police are deputized ICE agents, and anyone here illegally can be prioritized for deportation by being charged with a crime.. damn. They aren't even trying to hide what this is.
posted by gatorae at 7:50 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 7:50 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
Wait hang on, wouldn't a tax revolt just be doing exactly what they want? "Oh no, now the government has less money, we have no choice but to shut down all the agencies and programs we hate. No no, don't throw me in that briar patch! Anything but that!" My beef is not with the entire federal government. In fact, I quite like the federal government and am trying to save it from the, like 200 or so people seeking to destroy it.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:54 PM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:54 PM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
They can't count that high. You decide if they stopped at 10 or 2.
It's 2, and also they skipped 1.
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:55 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
It's 2, and also they skipped 1.
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:55 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
They really are saving a lot of legal fees just writing the plaintiff's argument and judge's decision rationale right into the plan like that. "We're just going to get rid of that pesky 'trial' thing after charges, sound good?"
I'm freaked out by this, of course (what gatorae said), but this feels like there's another round of Trump flipping out on Twitter about the judiciary and then backpedaling again in the very near future.
posted by jason_steakums at 7:56 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm freaked out by this, of course (what gatorae said), but this feels like there's another round of Trump flipping out on Twitter about the judiciary and then backpedaling again in the very near future.
posted by jason_steakums at 7:56 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
@scorrlinnen: Motion as taxpayers to Airbnb the White House since it's sitting vacant every weekend.
posted by Artw at 7:57 PM on February 18, 2017 [31 favorites]
posted by Artw at 7:57 PM on February 18, 2017 [31 favorites]
I'm not sure how I never knew that Milo Yiannopoulos was gay and British but I just learned both of these things.
And we all thought Darth Vader creating C-3PO was silly. Guess we have to cut George some slack.
posted by condour75 at 7:58 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
And we all thought Darth Vader creating C-3PO was silly. Guess we have to cut George some slack.
posted by condour75 at 7:58 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
i really think that bannon, miller et. al. think that because it's written down on white house letterhead, it's the law and not subject to further consideration
posted by murphy slaw at 7:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 7:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [6 favorites]
Doesn't plea bargaining remove most trials already?
posted by Artw at 7:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 7:59 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
MetaFilter: There weren't even any proper Nazis.
posted by Floydd at 8:00 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Floydd at 8:00 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
Doesn't plea bargaining remove most trials already?
Plea bargaining results in conviction. They want to deport upon arrest, not conviction. And I bet it's on arrest, not even charging. If they think just being in the country without permission is enough to deport, there's no reason to waste a court's time with an indictment.
posted by suelac at 8:01 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Plea bargaining results in conviction. They want to deport upon arrest, not conviction. And I bet it's on arrest, not even charging. If they think just being in the country without permission is enough to deport, there's no reason to waste a court's time with an indictment.
posted by suelac at 8:01 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
like you would think if you were trying to subvert a government from the inside you would understand at least as much about how it works as the average 17 year old participating in Presidential Classroom but i guess not
posted by murphy slaw at 8:02 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 8:02 PM on February 18, 2017 [5 favorites]
A couple more notes from the protest. There was a small contingent of ours that went inside and walked out when he started speaking. Didn't really get noticed as lots of others were leaving anyway. Also, the people inside were given the signs. No one was was allowed to bring in a their own signs. All signs were supplied.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 8:06 PM on February 18, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by Kitty Stardust at 8:06 PM on February 18, 2017 [41 favorites]
Doesn't plea bargaining remove most trials already?
If they weren't fucking idiots they'd have built this around plea bargains, basically giving ICE and deputized immigration cops or whatever directives to be on call and readily available to facilitate deportation plea deals and putting some other incentives in place to set up little immigration rocket dockets, and the pressures of the overburdened judicial system would naturally find more prosecutors pushing those pleas because it gets cases closed with little effort, especially if they opened the grant money spigot to give conditional benefits to compliant police departments and prosecutors' offices. That would be some real subtle and effective evil. But, well, they're fucking idiots who sloppily overplay their hand at every turn and have basically painted a big target on ICE as an organization for the next time Dems have any power.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:08 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
If they weren't fucking idiots they'd have built this around plea bargains, basically giving ICE and deputized immigration cops or whatever directives to be on call and readily available to facilitate deportation plea deals and putting some other incentives in place to set up little immigration rocket dockets, and the pressures of the overburdened judicial system would naturally find more prosecutors pushing those pleas because it gets cases closed with little effort, especially if they opened the grant money spigot to give conditional benefits to compliant police departments and prosecutors' offices. That would be some real subtle and effective evil. But, well, they're fucking idiots who sloppily overplay their hand at every turn and have basically painted a big target on ICE as an organization for the next time Dems have any power.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:08 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
This is really scary: Two troubling cases suggest immigration officials may have intentionally broken the law while policing.
posted by Joe in Australia at 8:12 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 8:12 PM on February 18, 2017 [16 favorites]
Trump Has No Foreign Policy: What is different is that right now not only is there no discernible doctrine guiding President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, the United States currently has no real foreign policy at all. By that I mean not that the policies are objectionable, or that the Trump team is struggling with the learning curve each new administration faces at the outset, as it reviews its predecessors’ approach and settles on its own. Rather, I mean that we are experiencing an unprecedented degree of policy incoherence on virtually every major issue the country faces.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [19 favorites]
Also, the people inside were given the signs. No one was was allowed to bring in a their own signs. All signs were supplied.
This raises significant questions about the "blacks for Trump" crowd, who had signs hawking their timecube-crazy website (more on that from Joy-Ann Reid) and why they were featured so prominently.
posted by zachlipton at 8:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
This raises significant questions about the "blacks for Trump" crowd, who had signs hawking their timecube-crazy website (more on that from Joy-Ann Reid) and why they were featured so prominently.
posted by zachlipton at 8:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [13 favorites]
There were several warnings posted to the Facebook page of our local progressives group about the potential for a Reichstag-fire situation. I fought these for a few days, but several people were scared off anyway. There was supposed to be a big contingent of Bikers for Trump coming to block us. An alt-right group posting on 4Chan was supposed to come and punch us. Local LEOs were rumored to be working with KKK and we were going to provoked so they could fire tear gas on us. Black Bloc was going to come in and break shit so we would get blamed. None of those things happened.
Needs to be repeated, frequently.
The Enemies of the Decent People (my new designation for the Trumpists) are NOT playing 11-dimensional chess; they just flip the table when they're losing. Nail the table to the floor and superglue the gameboard to the table and enjoy watching them give themselves hernias TRYING to flip it. The Democrats and Team Hillary outsmarted themselves and Team Trump convinced themselves they were smart when they were just lucky. Yes murphy slaw, they do NOT "understand at least as much about how it works as the average 17 year old participating in Presidential Classroom", but they do have certain assets - particularly Fascists and Racists in law enforcement.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
Needs to be repeated, frequently.
The Enemies of the Decent People (my new designation for the Trumpists) are NOT playing 11-dimensional chess; they just flip the table when they're losing. Nail the table to the floor and superglue the gameboard to the table and enjoy watching them give themselves hernias TRYING to flip it. The Democrats and Team Hillary outsmarted themselves and Team Trump convinced themselves they were smart when they were just lucky. Yes murphy slaw, they do NOT "understand at least as much about how it works as the average 17 year old participating in Presidential Classroom", but they do have certain assets - particularly Fascists and Racists in law enforcement.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:16 PM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
Of course, the most obvious explanation is that #BlacksForTrump2020 paid for product placement. But who did they pay? The advance team? Somebody close to The Donald? Or did you notice his pockets looked fuller than usual when he arrived?
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:20 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Re: the tax revolt, that seems like a good one to keep in the back pocket for the gerrymandering and voter suppression fights ahead. "No taxation without representation" has a nice ring to it.
Actually... with proper organization and calculation tools, maybe even apps that automate it, I'm wondering about the feasibility of a coordinated tax-deductible donation campaign as an effective tax revolt. IIRC you can only deduct up to like 50% of your AGI at most but if you withheld taxes, paid the donations out and then paid the remaining tax bill, that's still a big hit to revenues with enough people and you're untouchable. I'm probably missing something but it's intriguing.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:21 PM on February 18, 2017
Actually... with proper organization and calculation tools, maybe even apps that automate it, I'm wondering about the feasibility of a coordinated tax-deductible donation campaign as an effective tax revolt. IIRC you can only deduct up to like 50% of your AGI at most but if you withheld taxes, paid the donations out and then paid the remaining tax bill, that's still a big hit to revenues with enough people and you're untouchable. I'm probably missing something but it's intriguing.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:21 PM on February 18, 2017
The Enemies of the Decent People
People Against Goodness And Normalcy?
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:22 PM on February 18, 2017 [12 favorites]
a coordinated tax-deductible donation campaign
That's not a bad idea (well-placed donations are always good!), but it's not value-neutral for the participants, since an AGI deduction doesn't mean you get back the equal of your contribution, just the equal of its tax liability. I'm not saying "don't donate!" but donating 50% of your AGI means you individually are out somewhere between 50% and 30.2% of your income for the year. Which, if you can afford it, more power to you, but you're not going to convince a whole hell of a lot of people to do that even for good causes.
posted by jackbishop at 8:27 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
That's not a bad idea (well-placed donations are always good!), but it's not value-neutral for the participants, since an AGI deduction doesn't mean you get back the equal of your contribution, just the equal of its tax liability. I'm not saying "don't donate!" but donating 50% of your AGI means you individually are out somewhere between 50% and 30.2% of your income for the year. Which, if you can afford it, more power to you, but you're not going to convince a whole hell of a lot of people to do that even for good causes.
posted by jackbishop at 8:27 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump really is failing, isn't he? I mean, the Republicans are still going to do enormous damage to the country, but a lot of it will be from sheer stupidity, not even greed per se.
Also, on Yiannopoulos: He reminds me of Draco Malfoy, and not fanfic Draco, either; also, between the "straight guys should have sex with robots" and "gay women don't exist because dildos", I am really not believing his whole "I am a sexually successful guy" routine. Those are things that aren't at all "I am gay so I don't really think a lot about how straight people do it" , they are "I have only rudimentary knowledge of how and why people have sex" things. Is there a tell-all memoir impending from some ex-alt-right guy which is all "Milo is bad in bed, no I mean really bad in bed. Worse than that. No, worse"?
posted by Frowner at 8:27 PM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
Also, on Yiannopoulos: He reminds me of Draco Malfoy, and not fanfic Draco, either; also, between the "straight guys should have sex with robots" and "gay women don't exist because dildos", I am really not believing his whole "I am a sexually successful guy" routine. Those are things that aren't at all "I am gay so I don't really think a lot about how straight people do it" , they are "I have only rudimentary knowledge of how and why people have sex" things. Is there a tell-all memoir impending from some ex-alt-right guy which is all "Milo is bad in bed, no I mean really bad in bed. Worse than that. No, worse"?
posted by Frowner at 8:27 PM on February 18, 2017 [23 favorites]
This raises significant questions about the "blacks for Trump" crowd, who had signs hawking their timecube-crazy website (more on that from Joy-Ann Reid) and why they were featured so prominently.
Zachlipton, I have a similar suspicion about "Jews for Trump": I've seen the same guy in more than several photos taken months apart, and his sign is very consistent.
Here he is in a photo reproduced in Ha'aretz (cached) from October 20 2016, and here he is in a Fox News still from 5th February 2017. Same guy, similarly professional signs, but they're not the same signs; somebody is supplying them.
posted by Joe in Australia at 8:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Zachlipton, I have a similar suspicion about "Jews for Trump": I've seen the same guy in more than several photos taken months apart, and his sign is very consistent.
Here he is in a photo reproduced in Ha'aretz (cached) from October 20 2016, and here he is in a Fox News still from 5th February 2017. Same guy, similarly professional signs, but they're not the same signs; somebody is supplying them.
posted by Joe in Australia at 8:32 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Most people don't have the gumption for effective tax resistance, anyway. My wife knows a few people who refuse to pay taxes because they morally can't be complicit in US violence. For it to be effective, you can't have a bank account, you can't draw legal wages and you can't legally own property. You have to live on charity, and any possessions you keep are effectively extra-legal.
For people who go this route, it's irresponsible to have kids, let alone a mortgage or a plan for retirement. So the vast majority of Americans (certainly over 90%) couldn't hack it.
posted by Coventry at 8:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
For people who go this route, it's irresponsible to have kids, let alone a mortgage or a plan for retirement. So the vast majority of Americans (certainly over 90%) couldn't hack it.
posted by Coventry at 8:33 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
An organized campaign to lower withholdings with intent to pay later functions as something like a "stochastic tax revolt" — once it starts, some people involved will for whatever reason neglect to pay.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 8:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 8:35 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
That's not a bad idea (well-placed donations are always good!), but it's not value-neutral for the participants, since an AGI deduction doesn't mean you get back the equal of your contribution, just the equal of its tax liability. I'm not saying "don't donate!" but donating 50% of your AGI means you individually are out somewhere between 50% and 30.2% of your income for the year. Which, if you can afford it, more power to you, but you're not going to convince a whole hell of a lot of people to do that even for good causes.
Yeah I can't stress my "I'm probably missing something" caveat enough! I did my taxes today through a web service that walked me through it and that's just about the level of expertise I have. Is the deduction for donations that qualify 100% of what you donated? You don't have to donate up to 50% of your AGI, that's just the highest cap level for total deductions from what I saw - I was just thinking about significantly cutting into what you'd owe in withheld taxes. If your tax rate is like 10%, then try to cover as much of that 10% as you can in donation deductions so what you would pay in taxes would go to the organizations you want to support. Again, idk if it actually works that way, but if it did...
posted by jason_steakums at 8:37 PM on February 18, 2017
Yeah I can't stress my "I'm probably missing something" caveat enough! I did my taxes today through a web service that walked me through it and that's just about the level of expertise I have. Is the deduction for donations that qualify 100% of what you donated? You don't have to donate up to 50% of your AGI, that's just the highest cap level for total deductions from what I saw - I was just thinking about significantly cutting into what you'd owe in withheld taxes. If your tax rate is like 10%, then try to cover as much of that 10% as you can in donation deductions so what you would pay in taxes would go to the organizations you want to support. Again, idk if it actually works that way, but if it did...
posted by jason_steakums at 8:37 PM on February 18, 2017
There were several warnings posted to the Facebook page of our local progressives group about the potential for a Reichstag-fire situation. I fought these for a few days, but several people were scared off anyway. There was supposed to be a big contingent of Bikers for Trump coming to block us. An alt-right group posting on 4Chan was supposed to come and punch us. Local LEOs were rumored to be working with KKK and we were going to provoked so they could fire tear gas on us. Black Bloc was going to come in and break shit so we would get blamed. None of those things happened.
Needs to be repeated, frequently.
The Enemies of the Decent People (my new designation for the Trumpists) are NOT playing 11-dimensional chess; they just flip the table when they're losing.
I'm going to have to disagree a bit with this. Yes these things did not happen. Being at least cautious about them potentially happening at this time is not an over-reaction because it's only been a month and we're still sussing out how far they are willing to go and how far they are capable of going. So far it's looking on the lack a capability side which is great but just dismissing it as a possibility and not at least being aware that some of low-lifes could actually follow through with their chatter plans is asking for trouble.
Getting people to come and counter protest and purposely cause trouble IS NOT playing 11 dimensional chess. Many of the political tactics that I see people talking about here (for years) and describe them as some sort of dimensional playing are not. They're just basic to clever political tactics. It wouldn't be the first time that 'the state' has sent in people to screw around with activist groups.
These types of tactics counter protest are not that hard to pull off if people really want to and you don't have to be a super genius to set it up. You might have to be a bit more of genius to pull it off without getting caught but that doesn't mean that people won't try it. I know this because I have dealt with neo-nazi's type before who constantly were trying to do shit and pin it on the natives. These people were relative idiots and they got pretty close to completing at least one major 'blame the natives' plan, a plan that included pipe bombs. Trying to do shit and framing other people for it is one of the tactics they love to talk about. They get off on it. And occasionally their talk actually leads to something.
posted by Jalliah at 8:39 PM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
Needs to be repeated, frequently.
The Enemies of the Decent People (my new designation for the Trumpists) are NOT playing 11-dimensional chess; they just flip the table when they're losing.
I'm going to have to disagree a bit with this. Yes these things did not happen. Being at least cautious about them potentially happening at this time is not an over-reaction because it's only been a month and we're still sussing out how far they are willing to go and how far they are capable of going. So far it's looking on the lack a capability side which is great but just dismissing it as a possibility and not at least being aware that some of low-lifes could actually follow through with their chatter plans is asking for trouble.
Getting people to come and counter protest and purposely cause trouble IS NOT playing 11 dimensional chess. Many of the political tactics that I see people talking about here (for years) and describe them as some sort of dimensional playing are not. They're just basic to clever political tactics. It wouldn't be the first time that 'the state' has sent in people to screw around with activist groups.
These types of tactics counter protest are not that hard to pull off if people really want to and you don't have to be a super genius to set it up. You might have to be a bit more of genius to pull it off without getting caught but that doesn't mean that people won't try it. I know this because I have dealt with neo-nazi's type before who constantly were trying to do shit and pin it on the natives. These people were relative idiots and they got pretty close to completing at least one major 'blame the natives' plan, a plan that included pipe bombs. Trying to do shit and framing other people for it is one of the tactics they love to talk about. They get off on it. And occasionally their talk actually leads to something.
posted by Jalliah at 8:39 PM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
"Rather, I mean that we are experiencing an unprecedented degree of policy incoherence on virtually every major issue the country faces."
This is not news. I mean, it should definitely be reported by all available outlets ... but it's not news. It's IOTTMCO.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:39 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
This is not news. I mean, it should definitely be reported by all available outlets ... but it's not news. It's IOTTMCO.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:39 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Getting people to come and counter protest and purposely cause trouble IS NOT playing 11 dimensional chess. Many of the political tactics that I see people talking about here (for years) and describe them as some sort of dimensional playing are not. They're just basic to clever political tactics. It wouldn't be the first time that 'the state' has sent in people to screw around with activist groups.
Heh. The FBI is one of the usual suspects for this, but I have a feeling they're a bit distracted with Donnie's Russian escapades to pitch in as much as usual right now.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:44 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Heh. The FBI is one of the usual suspects for this, but I have a feeling they're a bit distracted with Donnie's Russian escapades to pitch in as much as usual right now.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:44 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
Guillermo Del Toto tweets:
1/2 When I get a bad review - even a brutal one - I think about what I could do better. I don't Tweet about "Fake Reviews"
@RealGDT 2/2 It is the basic understanding of any professional adult, that the world is vast and varied and that it is not-about-you.
It occurs to me - part of why Trump supporters are bizarre to me is they see this guy who has never had to act like an adult, and never behaved as a professional, and they don't immediately disregard him from consideration as someone who does not know how to act in the world.
Now I wonder - is this the class difference? Are Trump supporters people who by chance or desire have never had a proffesion and had to behave in a professional manner?
posted by Artw at 8:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [48 favorites]
1/2 When I get a bad review - even a brutal one - I think about what I could do better. I don't Tweet about "Fake Reviews"
@RealGDT 2/2 It is the basic understanding of any professional adult, that the world is vast and varied and that it is not-about-you.
It occurs to me - part of why Trump supporters are bizarre to me is they see this guy who has never had to act like an adult, and never behaved as a professional, and they don't immediately disregard him from consideration as someone who does not know how to act in the world.
Now I wonder - is this the class difference? Are Trump supporters people who by chance or desire have never had a proffesion and had to behave in a professional manner?
posted by Artw at 8:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [48 favorites]
Yeah I can't stress my "I'm probably missing something" caveat enough! I did my taxes today through a web service that walked me through it and that's just about the level of expertise I have. Is the deduction for donations that qualify 100% of what you donated?
No, donations always take money out of your pocket, you just don't get taxed on that money. If I give $100 to the local food bank, it ends up saving me around $15 on my taxes because of my tax bracket, so the net cost to me is around $85. If I were really rich, my $100 donations would save me $39.60 on my taxes, so I'd still bet out $60.
posted by skewed at 8:49 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
No, donations always take money out of your pocket, you just don't get taxed on that money. If I give $100 to the local food bank, it ends up saving me around $15 on my taxes because of my tax bracket, so the net cost to me is around $85. If I were really rich, my $100 donations would save me $39.60 on my taxes, so I'd still bet out $60.
posted by skewed at 8:49 PM on February 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
See, this is why I float my dumb ideas around smart people :D
posted by jason_steakums at 8:53 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by jason_steakums at 8:53 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
No, donations always take money out of your pocket, you just don't get taxed on that money. If I give $100 to the local food bank, it ends up saving me around $15 on my taxes because of my tax bracket, so the net cost to me is around $85. If I were really rich, my $100 donations would save me $39.60 on my taxes, so I'd still bet out $60.
Mostly true. Truly cynical businesses such as PayPal like to allow charities to clear payments for free/give them PayPal credit to spend on transaction fees and then write off the value of those fees. That really is just putting money in the company's pocket (and they then don't donate that to the charity in general).
posted by jaduncan at 8:57 PM on February 18, 2017
Mostly true. Truly cynical businesses such as PayPal like to allow charities to clear payments for free/give them PayPal credit to spend on transaction fees and then write off the value of those fees. That really is just putting money in the company's pocket (and they then don't donate that to the charity in general).
posted by jaduncan at 8:57 PM on February 18, 2017
Is the deduction for donations that qualify 100% of what you donated?
Yes, but I think you're confusing deductions (which modify the total income from which your tax is computed) and credits (which modify the tax liability directly). Since tax is only a percentage of your AGI, the effect a deduction (any deduction) has on your taxes is only a percentage of the deduction's size. So, yes, that entire $1000 donation to Good Causes ends up on your Schedule A, and on line 40 of your 1040, but the computation on your tax isn't going to end up being a $1000 reduction of your taxes, but more likely something in the $100-$200 range.
posted by jackbishop at 8:58 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yes, but I think you're confusing deductions (which modify the total income from which your tax is computed) and credits (which modify the tax liability directly). Since tax is only a percentage of your AGI, the effect a deduction (any deduction) has on your taxes is only a percentage of the deduction's size. So, yes, that entire $1000 donation to Good Causes ends up on your Schedule A, and on line 40 of your 1040, but the computation on your tax isn't going to end up being a $1000 reduction of your taxes, but more likely something in the $100-$200 range.
posted by jackbishop at 8:58 PM on February 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
I guess my big demographic insight there basically boils down to "Trump supporters are fail-folk both poor and rich", which is not really all that new or insightful.
posted by Artw at 9:03 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 9:03 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
@RealGDT 2/2 It is the basic understanding of any professional adult, that the world is vast and varied and that it is not-about-you.
Now I wonder - is this the class difference? Are Trump supporters people who by chance or desire have never had a proffesion and had to behave in a professional manner?
No. 1: The demographics I read on Trump voters indicated that they included a fair number of not super wealthy people, but that they also weren't poor. 2: The folks I know who have had jobs rather than a profession are, in general, quite well aware that the world is not-about-them.
posted by eviemath at 9:06 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
Now I wonder - is this the class difference? Are Trump supporters people who by chance or desire have never had a proffesion and had to behave in a professional manner?
No. 1: The demographics I read on Trump voters indicated that they included a fair number of not super wealthy people, but that they also weren't poor. 2: The folks I know who have had jobs rather than a profession are, in general, quite well aware that the world is not-about-them.
posted by eviemath at 9:06 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
Maybe it's people who do supposedly have professional job s but are incapable of acting in an adult and proffesional manner, so mouthing goes particularly well for the most so they are perpetually resentful about it.
posted by Artw at 9:10 PM on February 18, 2017
posted by Artw at 9:10 PM on February 18, 2017
When I get a bad review - even a brutal one - I think about what I could do better.
In honesty, I (and I imagine most folks, including GdT) have a brief momentary flash of resentment for a bad assessment. It's a pretty mundane human emotion, I think, to respond to being contradicted by figuring that the other guy is probably wrong. But on reconsideration, many people, you're right, end up slotting objections to their work into one of four categories:
(1) this person is authentically correct and I screwed it up.
(2) this person is coming from a valid point of view distinct from mine. I don't have to respect it but I can't actually contradict it.
(3a) this person is wrong and I can and should push back on their wrongness.
(3b) this person is wrong but it's inexpedient to contradict them, so I won't.
If you don't engage in any self-reflection, you're going to end up in pool (3) a lot. But you can get by in professional life pretty well if you're willing to take route (3b). And then you end up adoring the guy who can get away with (3a).
posted by jackbishop at 9:13 PM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
In honesty, I (and I imagine most folks, including GdT) have a brief momentary flash of resentment for a bad assessment. It's a pretty mundane human emotion, I think, to respond to being contradicted by figuring that the other guy is probably wrong. But on reconsideration, many people, you're right, end up slotting objections to their work into one of four categories:
(1) this person is authentically correct and I screwed it up.
(2) this person is coming from a valid point of view distinct from mine. I don't have to respect it but I can't actually contradict it.
(3a) this person is wrong and I can and should push back on their wrongness.
(3b) this person is wrong but it's inexpedient to contradict them, so I won't.
If you don't engage in any self-reflection, you're going to end up in pool (3) a lot. But you can get by in professional life pretty well if you're willing to take route (3b). And then you end up adoring the guy who can get away with (3a).
posted by jackbishop at 9:13 PM on February 18, 2017 [17 favorites]
Immigration attorney Greg Siskind (twitter) is reading through the leaked border security memos and live-tweeting.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:19 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:19 PM on February 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
This is from way up there and sorry if I missed any other replies: As someone who is in favor of allowing more immigration to the U.S. albeit from a more consequentialist perspective, what exactly do you find to be unjust about current U.S. immigration law?
Is it the number of immigrants per year? The process by which immigrants are selected from those who apply? The lack of a path for current unauthorized residents to gain a legal right to remain?
I am not trolling. I am actually curious what restrictions, if any, would be considered just and appropriate.
Not that you were asking me specifically, but I can share my very white stance that is less pro-immigration and more anti-anti-immigrant? When it comes to deciding who to let into the country ... I have no idea what moral reasoning even applies. I think reasonable people can disagree, and I agree that's a really good question.
But for people already in our house, so to speak, the moral calculus is pretty clear. Deporting people has a cost to it - the monetary cost is the least important, in my view, and it's still pretty hefty. There's the social cost when we disrupt families and neighborhoods. There's a social cost to having a precarious underclass of "illegal" people - people who can't report a crime, can't report when their wages are stolen, can't take their landlord to court. There's a moral cost when we detain people in facilities that are inhumane. There's a psychic cost as well - a damage that's done to the soul - that's specific to USA culture, and the way anti-immigrant sentiment is entwined with racism, that honestly I can't even begin to describe.
With all of those costs in mind, it's worth asking, what the hell is the benefit of enforcing immigration laws? How does it stack up? In my opinion, it doesn't.
And there are some ancillary points for the moral balance - 1) Crossing the border illegally is not a violent crime. It doesn't harm anyone until you get to second and third order effects. 2) The USA has had a hand in destabilizing and impoverishing much of the world, particularly Central America. 3) Sometimes "illegal immigrants" are refugees, or should be considered refugees.
I have no idea what the immigration laws should be and honestly that's a hell of a big ask, imo. We don't have to figure out the whole endgame in order to articulate things that are wrong with the current state.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 9:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [43 favorites]
Is it the number of immigrants per year? The process by which immigrants are selected from those who apply? The lack of a path for current unauthorized residents to gain a legal right to remain?
I am not trolling. I am actually curious what restrictions, if any, would be considered just and appropriate.
Not that you were asking me specifically, but I can share my very white stance that is less pro-immigration and more anti-anti-immigrant? When it comes to deciding who to let into the country ... I have no idea what moral reasoning even applies. I think reasonable people can disagree, and I agree that's a really good question.
But for people already in our house, so to speak, the moral calculus is pretty clear. Deporting people has a cost to it - the monetary cost is the least important, in my view, and it's still pretty hefty. There's the social cost when we disrupt families and neighborhoods. There's a social cost to having a precarious underclass of "illegal" people - people who can't report a crime, can't report when their wages are stolen, can't take their landlord to court. There's a moral cost when we detain people in facilities that are inhumane. There's a psychic cost as well - a damage that's done to the soul - that's specific to USA culture, and the way anti-immigrant sentiment is entwined with racism, that honestly I can't even begin to describe.
With all of those costs in mind, it's worth asking, what the hell is the benefit of enforcing immigration laws? How does it stack up? In my opinion, it doesn't.
And there are some ancillary points for the moral balance - 1) Crossing the border illegally is not a violent crime. It doesn't harm anyone until you get to second and third order effects. 2) The USA has had a hand in destabilizing and impoverishing much of the world, particularly Central America. 3) Sometimes "illegal immigrants" are refugees, or should be considered refugees.
I have no idea what the immigration laws should be and honestly that's a hell of a big ask, imo. We don't have to figure out the whole endgame in order to articulate things that are wrong with the current state.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 9:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [43 favorites]
Trump Has No Foreign Policy
This is a natural consequence of a shotgun marriage between what remains of the traditional Republican party, largely confined to foreign policy people at this point, and at least 3 other factions claiming the mantle of legitimate authority through Trump - 1) the hardcore religious right 2) Paul Ryan and the merry band of Granny Starvers 3) Steve Bannon's death cult trying to bring down the entire post-war liberal order, for reasons.
On every issue including foreign policy, these three factions are all fighting each other, and claiming to speak authoritatively for the United States. And that's how you get Mike Pence and John McCain trying to reassure NATO allies this weekend at the same time Trump holds a rally in Florida shitting on everything those alliances have ever stood for. Recycle for every substantive policy discussion facing the nation.
Trump is incapable of actual leadership in any particular direction other than self-enrichment and self-aggrandizement, so all his backers can somewhat credibly claim to have his backing, and he's unlikely to disagree with them no matter the contradictions or consequences. It's the fractal government, no part communicating with the other and no coherent direction or consistency on almost anything except what are today the only things that constitute "core Republican values" - white supremacy, tax cuts, and punitive punishment of anything identifiable as associated with or approved by Barack Obama personally or liberals in the aggregate.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [21 favorites]
This is a natural consequence of a shotgun marriage between what remains of the traditional Republican party, largely confined to foreign policy people at this point, and at least 3 other factions claiming the mantle of legitimate authority through Trump - 1) the hardcore religious right 2) Paul Ryan and the merry band of Granny Starvers 3) Steve Bannon's death cult trying to bring down the entire post-war liberal order, for reasons.
On every issue including foreign policy, these three factions are all fighting each other, and claiming to speak authoritatively for the United States. And that's how you get Mike Pence and John McCain trying to reassure NATO allies this weekend at the same time Trump holds a rally in Florida shitting on everything those alliances have ever stood for. Recycle for every substantive policy discussion facing the nation.
Trump is incapable of actual leadership in any particular direction other than self-enrichment and self-aggrandizement, so all his backers can somewhat credibly claim to have his backing, and he's unlikely to disagree with them no matter the contradictions or consequences. It's the fractal government, no part communicating with the other and no coherent direction or consistency on almost anything except what are today the only things that constitute "core Republican values" - white supremacy, tax cuts, and punitive punishment of anything identifiable as associated with or approved by Barack Obama personally or liberals in the aggregate.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:47 PM on February 18, 2017 [21 favorites]
Ha, so guys, there's a pattern on Ravelry atm that's super popular, for an illusion* knit scarf that says FUCK TRUMP. In the pattern comments, there are a lot of people cheering the designer on, and a predictable (and also very small) contingent of people complaining about the language, the unfairness, the disrespectfulness etc, and the designer is responding hilariously:
Complaining person: Really…we should not be using language like this on this site. Whatever your feelings are about President Trump. We are supposedly mature adults!
Designer: “I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn’t get there, and she was married. Then all of a sudden I see her, she’s now got the big phony tits and everything.” -mature adult Donald Trump
*Illusion knitting is when a pattern (picture or words) is created by textures and is only visible from certain angles.
posted by glitter at 10:13 PM on February 18, 2017 [92 favorites]
Complaining person: Really…we should not be using language like this on this site. Whatever your feelings are about President Trump. We are supposedly mature adults!
Designer: “I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn’t get there, and she was married. Then all of a sudden I see her, she’s now got the big phony tits and everything.” -mature adult Donald Trump
*Illusion knitting is when a pattern (picture or words) is created by textures and is only visible from certain angles.
posted by glitter at 10:13 PM on February 18, 2017 [92 favorites]
whatever your feelings about melania, this is creepy as hell
posted by murphy slaw at 10:30 PM on February 18, 2017 [39 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 10:30 PM on February 18, 2017 [39 favorites]
RESITANCE wise, there's pretty big 12-4 rally planned for Central Park in NYC on Monday, President's day called NOT MY PRESIDENT
posted by The Whelk at 10:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 10:43 PM on February 18, 2017 [7 favorites]
Geez, that Melania video linked to by murphy slaw gave me the creeps. That reaction ain't right, no way. Chilling.
posted by vac2003 at 10:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by vac2003 at 10:46 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
To me the signs looked like ZOZO Led Zeppelin thing.
posted by futz at 11:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by futz at 11:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Hahahaha re: one of the responses:
"She keeps asking for a divorce, but he thinks she's saying DeVos, and now here we are."
posted by mochapickle at 11:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [14 favorites]
"She keeps asking for a divorce, but he thinks she's saying DeVos, and now here we are."
posted by mochapickle at 11:04 PM on February 18, 2017 [14 favorites]
A few thoughts on the tax revolt.
1. The W-4 is executed under penalties of perjury. The requirements for marking EXEMPT are listed on the form. IRC 7206 states that a person found to have lied on such a form ..."shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction therefore, shall be fined not more than $100,000 ... or imprisoned not more than 3 years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution." Arguably, the same penalty would apply if you list 99 dependents. Also, if this is determined to be a willful attempt to evade taxes (i.e., if you don't actually pay the next April), the sentence can be up to 5 years. See IRC 7201.
2. One of the stated goals of this administration is to defund Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid. This is what the FICA portion of your taxes that cannot be changed by changing your exemptions or upping your donations, etc. So I would be very concerned that if there are not enough general funds to pay to keep Melania in her golden tower and the creeper in chief flying down to Florida every weekend, and for whatever insane war gets started, they will raid these trusts. And then even if we right the ship in two years or four years, I would worry we won't be able to put that money back in the trusts that were raided.
So while I appreciate the spirit of the idea, maybe let's first think through the potential consequences, both individually and for the country.
posted by susiswimmer at 11:05 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
1. The W-4 is executed under penalties of perjury. The requirements for marking EXEMPT are listed on the form. IRC 7206 states that a person found to have lied on such a form ..."shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction therefore, shall be fined not more than $100,000 ... or imprisoned not more than 3 years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution." Arguably, the same penalty would apply if you list 99 dependents. Also, if this is determined to be a willful attempt to evade taxes (i.e., if you don't actually pay the next April), the sentence can be up to 5 years. See IRC 7201.
2. One of the stated goals of this administration is to defund Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid. This is what the FICA portion of your taxes that cannot be changed by changing your exemptions or upping your donations, etc. So I would be very concerned that if there are not enough general funds to pay to keep Melania in her golden tower and the creeper in chief flying down to Florida every weekend, and for whatever insane war gets started, they will raid these trusts. And then even if we right the ship in two years or four years, I would worry we won't be able to put that money back in the trusts that were raided.
So while I appreciate the spirit of the idea, maybe let's first think through the potential consequences, both individually and for the country.
posted by susiswimmer at 11:05 PM on February 18, 2017 [8 favorites]
Also, wouldn't it be interesting if it was IRC 7217 that brought the creeper in chief down? It's titled "Prohibition on executive branch influence over taxpayer audits and other investigations."
Subsection (a) provides "It shall be unlawful for any applicable person [includes POTUS, VPOTUS or any employee of the executive office of either] to request, directly or indirectly, any officer or employee of the Internal Revenue Service to conduct or terminate an audit or other investigation of any particular taxpayer with respect to the tax liability of such taxpayer."
(b) requires officers or employees of the IRS to report such requests.
(d) violating (a) or failing to report under (b) can carry a penalty of up to five years.
Just sayin.
posted by susiswimmer at 11:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
Subsection (a) provides "It shall be unlawful for any applicable person [includes POTUS, VPOTUS or any employee of the executive office of either] to request, directly or indirectly, any officer or employee of the Internal Revenue Service to conduct or terminate an audit or other investigation of any particular taxpayer with respect to the tax liability of such taxpayer."
(b) requires officers or employees of the IRS to report such requests.
(d) violating (a) or failing to report under (b) can carry a penalty of up to five years.
Just sayin.
posted by susiswimmer at 11:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [10 favorites]
Guys that ICE article JoeInAustralia posted is INSANE. I'm fucking fuming.
posted by threeturtles at 11:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [73 favorites]
Its evidence for this allegation centered around an appeal that Ramirez wrote after arriving at the detention center requesting to be removed from its gang unit. The government said it included the line, “I have gang affiliation with gangs so I wear an orange uniform.” But on Thursday, the Stranger published a photograph of the appeal—and it clearly shows that Ramirez had written in pencil: “I came in and the officers said I have gang affiliation with gangs so I wear an orange uniform. I do not have a criminal history and I’m not affiliated with any gangs.”There's a picture.
Ramirez’s lawyers allege that ICE officials doctored the document to prove that he belonged to a gang. The words “I came in and the officers said” were clearly erased so that the statement began with the statement “I have gang affiliation.”
posted by threeturtles at 11:14 PM on February 18, 2017 [73 favorites]
Now I wonder - is this the class difference? Are Trump supporters people who by chance or desire have never had a proffesion and had to behave in a professional manner?
Partly, yes. I think there are people like this at all levels who manage to get away with bad behavior. But in some professions, if you make a bad name for yourself, it's going to be a lot harder for you to find work. The fewer employers there are looking for someone with your skills, the fewer places you can really piss off before no one is left to hire you. Plus some professions like medicine and law can take away your license if you seriously fuck up.
For uneducated people who are working non-specialized jobs, though, there's always another retail store or restaurant or construction company and you're just another anonymous cog they don't expect to stick around long anyway. I watched my narcissist mother-in-law move from one minimum wage job to another about every six months when she got pissed off enough to throw a temper tantrum and try to get them to fire her. (Specifically she tried to get them to fire her so she could get unemployment and knew how to win the case that it wasn't firing for cause.)
And then when the unemployment ran out she'd go find another shitty job at a local restaurant or Wal-mart or convenience store. She stayed poor and she never got benefits and she never advanced, but she never had to learn to get along with anyone either. I mean if it came down to saying "Fuck you" to the boss and lose your job or smiling and keep it, she landed on "Fuck You" every time.
And when she ran out of jobs in one shitty town, they'd pack up and move to another one, or another state. My husband grew up rarely spending more than a year in one place before the age of 12.
posted by threeturtles at 11:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
Partly, yes. I think there are people like this at all levels who manage to get away with bad behavior. But in some professions, if you make a bad name for yourself, it's going to be a lot harder for you to find work. The fewer employers there are looking for someone with your skills, the fewer places you can really piss off before no one is left to hire you. Plus some professions like medicine and law can take away your license if you seriously fuck up.
For uneducated people who are working non-specialized jobs, though, there's always another retail store or restaurant or construction company and you're just another anonymous cog they don't expect to stick around long anyway. I watched my narcissist mother-in-law move from one minimum wage job to another about every six months when she got pissed off enough to throw a temper tantrum and try to get them to fire her. (Specifically she tried to get them to fire her so she could get unemployment and knew how to win the case that it wasn't firing for cause.)
And then when the unemployment ran out she'd go find another shitty job at a local restaurant or Wal-mart or convenience store. She stayed poor and she never got benefits and she never advanced, but she never had to learn to get along with anyone either. I mean if it came down to saying "Fuck you" to the boss and lose your job or smiling and keep it, she landed on "Fuck You" every time.
And when she ran out of jobs in one shitty town, they'd pack up and move to another one, or another state. My husband grew up rarely spending more than a year in one place before the age of 12.
posted by threeturtles at 11:37 PM on February 18, 2017 [9 favorites]
Jebus (from the creepy Melania clip/gif), those "Blacks for Trump" signs are crudely hand drawn. The "Jews for Trump" signs from the NY "rally" are obviously mass printed (but with very basic design input). iirc, the previous "Blacks for Trump" signs were similarly mass printed.
Did someone intentionally give the African American Trump shills shitty placards to wave around?!
Ok [gis] previous BfT signs weren't the standard blue pattern and were B&W, but the ones in the current Melania clip are even less professional than the black and white (but typeset as opposed to these felt-penned/paint-brushed) seen previously.
posted by porpoise at 12:13 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Did someone intentionally give the African American Trump shills shitty placards to wave around?!
Ok [gis] previous BfT signs weren't the standard blue pattern and were B&W, but the ones in the current Melania clip are even less professional than the black and white (but typeset as opposed to these felt-penned/paint-brushed) seen previously.
posted by porpoise at 12:13 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
“We’re doing a lot of interviews tomorrow— Generals, dictators, we have everything,” Trump tells the crowd of Bedminster members, adding later: “Tomorrow we’re here and Sunday we’re here. We’re going to be interviewing everybody. Treasury. We’re going to be interviewing Secretary of State. We have everybody coming in. And we’re going to have— And I don’t know if you want to come around, but if you want, it’s going to be unbelievable. It’s going to be an unbelievable day. So you might want to come along.”
Those nutty adverts you have where car dealership owners dress up as cowboys and have 30 seconds to tell you to come on down, where the prices are rock bottom etc - that's what that sounds like.
Also this and this.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 12:17 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Those nutty adverts you have where car dealership owners dress up as cowboys and have 30 seconds to tell you to come on down, where the prices are rock bottom etc - that's what that sounds like.
Also this and this.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 12:17 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
nypost:
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is telling friends and staff he is taking a role with the Trump administration, according to a source close to the White House.posted by sebastienbailard at 12:54 AM on February 19, 2017
The GOP governor’s position has not been worked out, but he would not replace Reince Preibus as the president’s chief-of-staff, the source said.
...
Jebus (from the creepy Melania clip/gif), those "Blacks for Trump" signs are crudely hand drawn. The "Jews for Trump" signs from the NY "rally" are obviously mass printed (but with very basic design input). iirc, the previous "Blacks for Trump" signs were similarly mass printed.
Did someone intentionally give the African American Trump shills shitty placards to wave around?!
Professional doesn't quite give the same grass roots 'they came because they love him' feel on the teevee. They'd better hope that people don't actually visit that site though, because he appears to have broadened his appeal from white anti-Semites to PoC anti-Semites.
posted by jaduncan at 12:57 AM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Did someone intentionally give the African American Trump shills shitty placards to wave around?!
Professional doesn't quite give the same grass roots 'they came because they love him' feel on the teevee. They'd better hope that people don't actually visit that site though, because he appears to have broadened his appeal from white anti-Semites to PoC anti-Semites.
posted by jaduncan at 12:57 AM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is telling friends and staff he is taking a role with the Trump administration, according to a source close to the White House.
The GOP governor’s position has not been worked out, but he would not replace Reince Preibus as the president’s chief-of-staff, the source said.
Intern?
posted by jaduncan at 12:58 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
The GOP governor’s position has not been worked out, but he would not replace Reince Preibus as the president’s chief-of-staff, the source said.
Intern?
posted by jaduncan at 12:58 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
Food taster.
posted by gofargogo at 12:59 AM on February 19, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by gofargogo at 12:59 AM on February 19, 2017 [32 favorites]
He's going to make him eat meatloaf for every single meal isn't he? Just because he can.
posted by zachlipton at 1:03 AM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:03 AM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
Is there a word that doesn't mean pity, exactly, but the feeling that would be pity if someone weren't both responsible for and oblivious to their degradation? Because that's how I feel when I read stories about Chris Christie.
posted by Joe in Australia at 1:05 AM on February 19, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 1:05 AM on February 19, 2017 [18 favorites]
The GOP governor’s position has not been worked out, but he would not replace Reince Preibus as the president’s chief-of-staff, the source said.
Groom of the Stool.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 1:12 AM on February 19, 2017 [19 favorites]
Groom of the Stool.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 1:12 AM on February 19, 2017 [19 favorites]
Court Jester. He'll be the dancing monkey.
posted by Justinian at 1:14 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:14 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
urbanwhaleshark, I'm impressed. That's a very nice and polite way to say 'shitlord'.
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:24 AM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:24 AM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
The world is waking up to the former Swedish Premier Carl Bildt asking "what has he been smoking?" because nothing happened in Sweden yesterday, apart from another pre-round for the European song contest. And now, there is #lastnightinsweden, of course...
posted by Namlit at 1:25 AM on February 19, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by Namlit at 1:25 AM on February 19, 2017 [14 favorites]
Now I wonder - is this the class difference? Are Trump supporters people who by chance or desire have never had a proffesion and had to behave in a professional manner?
I think it's probably more about people who do have to act in a professional manner but really, really resent having to do so as they see it as having to grovel to people who think they're better than they are just to keep a job. Trump appeals because they see him as way above the people they themselves have to grovel to - he's independently wealthy so can say what he wants. And he says the things they wish they could get away with saying at about the same level of sophistication they would be saying them with. It all ties in with their ideas about freedom, a concept they venerate above almost everything else because they themselves feel so constrained in their actions and words. See also resentment about political correctness.
posted by hazyjane at 1:28 AM on February 19, 2017 [48 favorites]
I think it's probably more about people who do have to act in a professional manner but really, really resent having to do so as they see it as having to grovel to people who think they're better than they are just to keep a job. Trump appeals because they see him as way above the people they themselves have to grovel to - he's independently wealthy so can say what he wants. And he says the things they wish they could get away with saying at about the same level of sophistication they would be saying them with. It all ties in with their ideas about freedom, a concept they venerate above almost everything else because they themselves feel so constrained in their actions and words. See also resentment about political correctness.
posted by hazyjane at 1:28 AM on February 19, 2017 [48 favorites]
To be fair I've seen Eurovision Song Contest performances that were worse than the Bowling Green Massacre.
posted by mmoncur at 1:28 AM on February 19, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by mmoncur at 1:28 AM on February 19, 2017 [13 favorites]
It's serious. I heard a group of Swedes sending out an SOS.
posted by jaduncan at 1:31 AM on February 19, 2017 [52 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 1:31 AM on February 19, 2017 [52 favorites]
Not to mention the question "What made Blue Swede blue?"
"Ooga chucka?" Somebody was getting tortured...
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:33 AM on February 19, 2017
"Ooga chucka?" Somebody was getting tortured...
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:33 AM on February 19, 2017
So the random Swede in charge of @sweden on Twitter this week (they hand over the account to a different random Swedish person, a custom that seemed far more charming before our President invited a random man who happens to pray for a cardboard cutout of him to address the nation today) is having a bit of a day explaining that there was no terrorist attack in Sweden yesterday.
posted by zachlipton at 2:38 AM on February 19, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 2:38 AM on February 19, 2017 [17 favorites]
There were several warnings posted to the Facebook page of our local progressives group about the potential for a Reichstag-fire situation.
I'm starting to think at this point they'll just make the Reichstag fire situation up out of whole cloth. The Swedish terrorist attacks and the Bowling Green Massacre are never going to be disbelieved by the faithful.
posted by Talez at 3:06 AM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm starting to think at this point they'll just make the Reichstag fire situation up out of whole cloth. The Swedish terrorist attacks and the Bowling Green Massacre are never going to be disbelieved by the faithful.
posted by Talez at 3:06 AM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm starting to think at this point they'll just make the Reichstag fire situation up out of whole cloth. The Swedish terrorist attacks and the Bowling Green Massacre are never going to be disbelieved by the faithful.
Yes, why have all the bother with organizing something? Also they are ridiculously inept at organizing anything.
However, every administration has something catastrophic happening at some point, and this administration is really not prepared for anything - neither natural or man-made disaster. I truly hope Trump is out before something happens.
(Knocks on wood, spits over shoulder etc.)
posted by mumimor at 3:13 AM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
Yes, why have all the bother with organizing something? Also they are ridiculously inept at organizing anything.
However, every administration has something catastrophic happening at some point, and this administration is really not prepared for anything - neither natural or man-made disaster. I truly hope Trump is out before something happens.
(Knocks on wood, spits over shoulder etc.)
posted by mumimor at 3:13 AM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
And he says the things they wish they could get away with saying at about the same level of sophistication they would be saying them with.
So they love Trump because he's punching down on the people they want to punch up on.
posted by Thella at 3:17 AM on February 19, 2017 [13 favorites]
So they love Trump because he's punching down on the people they want to punch up on.
posted by Thella at 3:17 AM on February 19, 2017 [13 favorites]
Those nutty adverts you have where car dealership owners dress up as cowboys and have 30 seconds to tell you to come on down, where the prices are rock bottom etc - that's what that sounds like.
Indeed, President Shitgibbon's style is pure hucksterism. There's that moment when he almost doesn't sign the rollback of coal-waste-dumping regulations because he's working the room the only way he knows how.
Indeed, President Shitgibbon's style is pure hucksterism. There's that moment when he almost doesn't sign the rollback of coal-waste-dumping regulations because he's working the room the only way he knows how.
THE PRESIDENT: You’re right about that. They have been fantastic. Everybody’s been — actually, everybody’s been great, and we appreciate it very much. Special people. Special workers. We’re bringing it back, and we’re bringing it back fast. We didn’t have to wait a long period of time. It’s been very few days since I’ve been here, and I think this is long ahead of schedule, right? Wouldn’t you say even —posted by mikelieman at 3:37 AM on February 19, 2017
SENATOR MANCHIN: Absolutely.
THE PRESIDENT: Even you might say — (laughter) — this is about four years faster than they thought would have happened. So it’s my honor. And, fellas, go back to work, all right? I think we’ll take them into the Oval Office, right? Let’s take them into the Oval Office. Let’s have a little tour, okay? They’ve probably been there many times before. (Laughter.) Come on. Come with me. Good.
Thank you, everybody. Thank you, very much.
AIDE: Sign the bill here.
THE PRESIDENT: Oh. (Laughter.) I could have gotten away with it.
PARTICIPANT: It’s the important part.
So they love Trump because he's punching down on the people they want to punch up on.
Some of that and some of "he's punching down on the people they know they should be able to punch down on too."
posted by Etrigan at 4:08 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
Some of that and some of "he's punching down on the people they know they should be able to punch down on too."
posted by Etrigan at 4:08 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
From someone who went inside the rally last night: "And yes, no handmade signs allowed, they gave them out for free."
posted by Kitty Stardust at 4:19 AM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Kitty Stardust at 4:19 AM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
Human chair.
posted by ian1977 at 5:41 PM on February 19 [+] [!]
Y'know, this. You got Milo going "but free speech", and wtf, did we all forget Bruno? Did we all forget Borat? There's a way to do "edgelord" that doesn't make you legitimately f**king evil. Whatever you want to say about Sascha Baron-Cohen, he obviously didn't mean it. It's not like we've never seen envelope-pushers.
Never, ever forget Dom Tullipso. We need these people more than ever now. Especially now. Where are they???
(edited for italics)
posted by saysthis at 4:20 AM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 5:41 PM on February 19 [+] [!]
Y'know, this. You got Milo going "but free speech", and wtf, did we all forget Bruno? Did we all forget Borat? There's a way to do "edgelord" that doesn't make you legitimately f**king evil. Whatever you want to say about Sascha Baron-Cohen, he obviously didn't mean it. It's not like we've never seen envelope-pushers.
Never, ever forget Dom Tullipso. We need these people more than ever now. Especially now. Where are they???
(edited for italics)
posted by saysthis at 4:20 AM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
Who will ask Trump about the recent NSA Roswell leaks? Who will ask Spicer about the Obama pledge to allow Ngwanka's Brithwami tribe's transgender milkgiver caste to adopt Louisiana orphans (and remember they were the only coalition of the willing member from Africa!)? Who will question Conway on the recent spate of extremist Durkadurkistani refugee violence? And who, pray tell who, will ask Stephen Miller about the Breitbart interviewer he toasted with a full wine glass who was later revealed to be 19 and still in high school?
THE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW.
posted by saysthis at 4:47 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
THE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW.
posted by saysthis at 4:47 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
Y'know, this. You got Milo going "but free speech", and wtf, did we all forget Bruno? Did we all forget Borat? There's a way to do "edgelord" that doesn't make you legitimately f**king evil. Whatever you want to say about Sascha Baron-Cohen, he obviously didn't mean it.
The main joke in Borat and Bruno was punching up, in that both revealed the prejudices of those around them, presented them in a way that mocked them, and rejected them in a way that essentially lampoons the powerful more than the powerless. Both films also attempted to preserve the humanity of the central character as a member of the group being punched by the people being lampooned/revealed and as someone the audience was invited to empathise with.
Milo is different in that he punches down socially (intellectually appears more of a stretch) and invites the viewer to glory in their freedom to do the same, to feel free to those less powerful than them, and to fundamentally reject the demand for equality of opportunity and respect. In fact, Milo laughs at respect for that, because respect and the demand for equality for all are for liberal snowflakes whoretain some level of humanity aren't hardcore enough to just accept that the world is a place of cruelty and it's good to kick people who are down because their pain is amusing.
posted by jaduncan at 4:50 AM on February 19, 2017 [11 favorites]
The main joke in Borat and Bruno was punching up, in that both revealed the prejudices of those around them, presented them in a way that mocked them, and rejected them in a way that essentially lampoons the powerful more than the powerless. Both films also attempted to preserve the humanity of the central character as a member of the group being punched by the people being lampooned/revealed and as someone the audience was invited to empathise with.
Milo is different in that he punches down socially (intellectually appears more of a stretch) and invites the viewer to glory in their freedom to do the same, to feel free to those less powerful than them, and to fundamentally reject the demand for equality of opportunity and respect. In fact, Milo laughs at respect for that, because respect and the demand for equality for all are for liberal snowflakes who
posted by jaduncan at 4:50 AM on February 19, 2017 [11 favorites]
Milo is different in that he punches down socially (intellectually appears more of a stretch) and invites the viewer to glory in their freedom to do the same, to feel free to those less powerful than them, and to fundamentally reject the demand for equality of opportunity and respect.
So my legitimate question, and I think it is very legitimate and relevant, is how do we troll Milo? Richard Spencer was easy - punch him on camera, make him look the fool, he's out the national spotlight. Next is Milo and his ilk. How do we pwn HIM?
posted by saysthis at 4:53 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
So my legitimate question, and I think it is very legitimate and relevant, is how do we troll Milo? Richard Spencer was easy - punch him on camera, make him look the fool, he's out the national spotlight. Next is Milo and his ilk. How do we pwn HIM?
posted by saysthis at 4:53 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
So my legitimate question, and I think it is very legitimate and relevant, is how do we troll Milo? Richard Spencer was easy - punch him on camera, make him look the fool, he's out the national spotlight. Next is Milo and his ilk. How do we pwn HIM?
You can't because he has no sense of shame or any sort of desire to maintain a logical consistency. He doesn't care if he's a hypocrite. He doesn't care if he's wrong. He'll just do stuff to piss you off until you get pissed off and he'll laugh at you.
The only way to truly disarm him is to completely ignore him. Don't give him any attention whatsoever. The problem with this is his views are so abhorrent it's hard to just let him come on a campus and give a hateful talk without anyone who's offended by him telling him to go fuck himself. Even a single person telling him to go fuck himself he will bring down the world's biggest spotlight and magnifying glass and show how PC is killing America.
posted by Talez at 5:03 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
You can't because he has no sense of shame or any sort of desire to maintain a logical consistency. He doesn't care if he's a hypocrite. He doesn't care if he's wrong. He'll just do stuff to piss you off until you get pissed off and he'll laugh at you.
The only way to truly disarm him is to completely ignore him. Don't give him any attention whatsoever. The problem with this is his views are so abhorrent it's hard to just let him come on a campus and give a hateful talk without anyone who's offended by him telling him to go fuck himself. Even a single person telling him to go fuck himself he will bring down the world's biggest spotlight and magnifying glass and show how PC is killing America.
posted by Talez at 5:03 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
Milo?
One of the guests on that Bill Maher show called him "Baby Goebbels".
For an instant, Milo looked super irritated.
posted by Mister Bijou at 5:04 AM on February 19, 2017 [33 favorites]
One of the guests on that Bill Maher show called him "Baby Goebbels".
For an instant, Milo looked super irritated.
posted by Mister Bijou at 5:04 AM on February 19, 2017 [33 favorites]
jaduncan: it's good to kick people who are down because their pain is amusing.
saysthis: Next is Milo and his ilk. How do we pwn HIM?
I don't think you can constructively engage with a sociopath. If HIS OWN FRAMING is "pain is amusing", there's an obvious solution that he'll understand, but I wouldn't actually advocate for it.
posted by mikelieman at 5:05 AM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
saysthis: Next is Milo and his ilk. How do we pwn HIM?
I don't think you can constructively engage with a sociopath. If HIS OWN FRAMING is "pain is amusing", there's an obvious solution that he'll understand, but I wouldn't actually advocate for it.
posted by mikelieman at 5:05 AM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
That process has already begun with twitter no-platforming him.
Wherever he goes, whomever he tries to get a sitdown with, bring up the targeted harassment at Unis. Inform the host of why Twitter finally banned him. Ask them if they reaaally want to risk having the guy do something actionable on their platform.
And do it quietly, unlike Trump he appears to thrive on both positive and negative news.
posted by Slackermagee at 5:06 AM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
Wherever he goes, whomever he tries to get a sitdown with, bring up the targeted harassment at Unis. Inform the host of why Twitter finally banned him. Ask them if they reaaally want to risk having the guy do something actionable on their platform.
And do it quietly, unlike Trump he appears to thrive on both positive and negative news.
posted by Slackermagee at 5:06 AM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
And I know I'm on a spamroll here, but I mean, in China, Pepe memes means pot smoker and LSD user. That's not a stretch, it's straight up picture-behind-the-DJ-at-the-rave fact. They're a thing in China too, but they're not fashy at all and never will be. Same with the fashy sidebuzz. It's a thing in China, and they just think it looks good. And milk-guzzling, I hear anecdotally, is a Romanian protester thing and a favela thing. And it's not like the left lacks a tradition of subversive art. We invented it dammit.
We can push the envelope too. We know how better than they ever will, because they can only push in one direction.
Milo, right, ignore him and quietly mock, but what about the rest of them? We have the ability to shred them with parody, like getting this projected on the White House and redstate capitals. We can and should go deeper. Their privilege is still built on the foundation that "I deserve respect and I get it when I win a fight". Don't just make it come from SNL, make it come from everywhere. That should be our weapon, and it's time to take it back. Defy them edginess itself. That's a battle we're losing right now.
posted by saysthis at 5:15 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
We can push the envelope too. We know how better than they ever will, because they can only push in one direction.
Milo, right, ignore him and quietly mock, but what about the rest of them? We have the ability to shred them with parody, like getting this projected on the White House and redstate capitals. We can and should go deeper. Their privilege is still built on the foundation that "I deserve respect and I get it when I win a fight". Don't just make it come from SNL, make it come from everywhere. That should be our weapon, and it's time to take it back. Defy them edginess itself. That's a battle we're losing right now.
posted by saysthis at 5:15 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
If I could wave a magic wand, it would make media bookers treat him as an immature dickhead rather than, to quote Maher, 'impish'. He's not all that, he just has good PR.
That said, I think the reason it's harder with Milo is that he is good at adjusting his status as he needs to. When he wants to be, he's very high-status macho, but fundamentally that's leavened by the fact that he can just retreat into the claim that as a gay man who sleeps around with black men he can't be prejudiced. His defence is always that it's just a joke, which means that you are a joke if you take anything he says seriously. The joke is your irritation and your pain.
If you want to nullify him (and I took a while to answer here because I was thinking about this) I suspect that step 1 would be to have him not booked and just say that he's an immature man who likes to hurt people and has already created a situation in which someone was shot. He's actually an evil but slightly tragic figure, because he can never really own nor completely deny his own beliefs. So just sigh and say that he's an irrelevant and immature dickhead.
And yeah, put pressure on shows not to book someone who is, if not a Nazi, close enough that Stormfront hate him with the intensity that fringe groups reserve for those they think of as splitters rather than ideological antipodes. He isn't an exciting boundary pusher, he really is just an immature dickhead with a simple schick that he can't take seriously because it's intellectually paper thin and he knows it.
"I deserve respect and I get it when I win a fight".
I'd argue it's more 'when I provoke a reaction/tears'.
posted by jaduncan at 5:26 AM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
That said, I think the reason it's harder with Milo is that he is good at adjusting his status as he needs to. When he wants to be, he's very high-status macho, but fundamentally that's leavened by the fact that he can just retreat into the claim that as a gay man who sleeps around with black men he can't be prejudiced. His defence is always that it's just a joke, which means that you are a joke if you take anything he says seriously. The joke is your irritation and your pain.
If you want to nullify him (and I took a while to answer here because I was thinking about this) I suspect that step 1 would be to have him not booked and just say that he's an immature man who likes to hurt people and has already created a situation in which someone was shot. He's actually an evil but slightly tragic figure, because he can never really own nor completely deny his own beliefs. So just sigh and say that he's an irrelevant and immature dickhead.
And yeah, put pressure on shows not to book someone who is, if not a Nazi, close enough that Stormfront hate him with the intensity that fringe groups reserve for those they think of as splitters rather than ideological antipodes. He isn't an exciting boundary pusher, he really is just an immature dickhead with a simple schick that he can't take seriously because it's intellectually paper thin and he knows it.
"I deserve respect and I get it when I win a fight".
I'd argue it's more 'when I provoke a reaction/tears'.
posted by jaduncan at 5:26 AM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
I also have to say that right now going after Milo with more than contempt is like fighting against Wormtongue instead of Sauron.
posted by jaduncan at 5:30 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 5:30 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
(FWIW I just checked if bretbert.com and braitbert.com are taken. They're not. I don't suggest anyone buy them and set up a very real news site at which one might contribute very real news articles. edited to notate drunk poster)
posted by saysthis at 5:35 AM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by saysthis at 5:35 AM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
jaduncan: I also have to say that right now going after Milo with more than contempt is like fighting against Wormtongue instead of Sauron.
Milo has been inciting targeted violence towards minorities for his entire career and just recently went onto campuses to single out a trans student for attack (complete with name and picture) and then planned to do the same with undocumented students before protests turned him away.
He deserves a hell of a lot more than just contempt and suggesting otherwise is an intense disservice to everyone he's targeted.
posted by flatluigi at 5:41 AM on February 19, 2017 [27 favorites]
Milo has been inciting targeted violence towards minorities for his entire career and just recently went onto campuses to single out a trans student for attack (complete with name and picture) and then planned to do the same with undocumented students before protests turned him away.
He deserves a hell of a lot more than just contempt and suggesting otherwise is an intense disservice to everyone he's targeted.
posted by flatluigi at 5:41 AM on February 19, 2017 [27 favorites]
Hmm. Yes, that's entirely true. You know, I take it back, and I want to make that a lot clearer. More than intellectual contempt. Let's not suggest he's got any equality of ideas, but yes, he certainly is someone who is a threat and should be resisted. I wouldn't want to elevate him intellectually, if that makes sense.
But like I said, if not a Nazi, close enough that genuine Nazis hate him like a wayward family member. He's certainly scum and to be rejected hard.
posted by jaduncan at 5:42 AM on February 19, 2017
But like I said, if not a Nazi, close enough that genuine Nazis hate him like a wayward family member. He's certainly scum and to be rejected hard.
posted by jaduncan at 5:42 AM on February 19, 2017
Lessons I learned from Greece (Twitter thread from @SKalyvas)
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 5:49 AM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 5:49 AM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
Mod note: So, okay, I was distracted with other site stuff for a bit, but let's back off of making this all about Yiannopoulos, please. There's another thread that's more suitable, and we don't have the bandwidth here.
posted by taz (staff) at 5:52 AM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 5:52 AM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
In case anyone doesn't know who Stathis Kalyvas is, he's the greatest scholar of civil wars ever and is the smartest and wrote an absolutely amazing book that spawned 100 dissertations. He's also Greek so I assume he knows a lot about contemporary Greece.
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 6:23 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 6:23 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
nothing happened in Sweden yesterday
A horse named Biscuit almost fell down a 10 meter deep well, but a two-alarm effort by local fire departments saved the day. #MakeBiscuitDryAgain
(for some more updates, a Swedish newspaper has provided an English-language news summary. Includes the adventures of a horny moose, because why not.)
posted by effbot at 6:38 AM on February 19, 2017 [22 favorites]
A horse named Biscuit almost fell down a 10 meter deep well, but a two-alarm effort by local fire departments saved the day. #MakeBiscuitDryAgain
(for some more updates, a Swedish newspaper has provided an English-language news summary. Includes the adventures of a horny moose, because why not.)
posted by effbot at 6:38 AM on February 19, 2017 [22 favorites]
NYT Editorial Board: Breaking the Anti-Immigrant Fever: "Where could the demonizing and dehumanizing of the foreign born lead but to a whiter America? You have heard the lies from Mr. Trump: that immigrants pose a threat, when they are a boon. That murders are up, when they are down. That refugees flow unimpeded into the country, when they are the most meticulously vetted people to cross our borders. That immigrants and refugees are terrorists, when they are the ones being terrorized."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:18 AM on February 19, 2017 [40 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:18 AM on February 19, 2017 [40 favorites]
So this clip is from 2003 but I'd never heard of it before. It's Janeane Garofalo taking on Fox News during the buildup to the second Gulf War. The host tries all the tricks that made Fox infamous, interrupting, bullying, moving the goalposts and fuck me, it doesn't phase her one bit. She has all the facts and quotes and completely owns him. And of course, events proved her right
Of course she wasn't worried about maintaining future access to WH spokeszombies so she called her interviewer out every time he shaded the truth. We need more Garofalos (and no, that would not be 'Morning Joe'.)
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:21 AM on February 19, 2017 [22 favorites]
Of course she wasn't worried about maintaining future access to WH spokeszombies so she called her interviewer out every time he shaded the truth. We need more Garofalos (and no, that would not be 'Morning Joe'.)
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:21 AM on February 19, 2017 [22 favorites]
(If you need more garafalo (albeit not political just for fun) then I'd highly recommend the Seeso show 'Debate'. She was pretty hilarious in her episode (vacation vs staycation))
posted by ian1977 at 7:26 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ian1977 at 7:26 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
So 538 created a Trump Score, a crude first approximation on how Trump friendly a senator is (by how often they vote with Trump) vs how friendly their state was to Trump.
The Democrat with the highest score? Dianne Feinstein.
Primary the living shit out of her, people.
On the Republican side, it looks like Dean Heller might be vulnerable in 2018. Democrats in Nevada need to chain the fucker to the Trump anchor and let it drag him down. It's probably the only light in a bleak set of Senate races in 2018.
posted by Talez at 7:48 AM on February 19, 2017 [28 favorites]
The Democrat with the highest score? Dianne Feinstein.
Primary the living shit out of her, people.
On the Republican side, it looks like Dean Heller might be vulnerable in 2018. Democrats in Nevada need to chain the fucker to the Trump anchor and let it drag him down. It's probably the only light in a bleak set of Senate races in 2018.
posted by Talez at 7:48 AM on February 19, 2017 [28 favorites]
Priebus on Face The Nation, asked about what McCain said at the Munich Security Conference, tried to say that the problem was with "the media" being such liars and enemies of the people, and then when asked whether the White House PR strategy was now to respond to any question whatsoever by trying to fault the media said that if only the media wouldn't ask such vague questions about no one in particular, but would ask specific questions about what specific people specifically said, then he would respond.
Lindsey Graham interviewed in Munich: "America is not becoming a dictatorship." And he can't resist taking swipes at "the media" himself despite putting out a few token valid criticisms of Trump.
posted by XMLicious at 7:54 AM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
Lindsey Graham interviewed in Munich: "America is not becoming a dictatorship." And he can't resist taking swipes at "the media" himself despite putting out a few token valid criticisms of Trump.
posted by XMLicious at 7:54 AM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
Mike Pence and his family visited Dachau today.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:57 AM on February 19, 2017
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:57 AM on February 19, 2017
Mike Pence and his family visited Dachau today.
I thought about making a stupid "looking for inspiration" joke but it's just not funny. Fuck you, Pence. The blood will be on your hands, whenever and wherever it comes.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:00 AM on February 19, 2017 [35 favorites]
I thought about making a stupid "looking for inspiration" joke but it's just not funny. Fuck you, Pence. The blood will be on your hands, whenever and wherever it comes.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:00 AM on February 19, 2017 [35 favorites]
So 538 created a Trump Score, a crude first approximation on how Trump friendly a senator is (by how often they vote with Trump) vs how friendly their state was to Trump.
This may be useful for the post regime trials.
posted by Artw at 8:01 AM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
This may be useful for the post regime trials.
posted by Artw at 8:01 AM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
I thought about making a stupid "looking for inspiration" joke but it's just not funny. Fuck you, Pence. The blood will be on your hands, whenever and wherever it comes.
Seconded. These creeps pretending to give a toss about past holocausts whilst actively planning future ones is just obscene.
posted by Artw at 8:02 AM on February 19, 2017 [23 favorites]
Seconded. These creeps pretending to give a toss about past holocausts whilst actively planning future ones is just obscene.
posted by Artw at 8:02 AM on February 19, 2017 [23 favorites]
Seconded. These creeps pretending to give a toss about past holocausts whilst actively planning future ones is just obscene.
He's strolling through the places where my family was murdered, somber expression on his face, probably thinking about how to use his visit to justify some crime against humanity at home or abroad. I cannot describe the anger.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:07 AM on February 19, 2017 [40 favorites]
He's strolling through the places where my family was murdered, somber expression on his face, probably thinking about how to use his visit to justify some crime against humanity at home or abroad. I cannot describe the anger.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:07 AM on February 19, 2017 [40 favorites]
Fuck Mike Pence.
posted by spitbull at 8:09 AM on February 19, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 8:09 AM on February 19, 2017 [14 favorites]
Listening to The Todd and guest Leon Panetta on MtP this morning, it occurred to me... with all the complaining whining coming from the White House about the intelligence analysts/agents "leaking" info to the press and/or withholding intel from the PotUS, has any reputable media outlet actually publicly confirmed that it's the intel folks doing it? Could this instead be bullsh!t from Bannon (and Kushner, since he's apparently drinking Bannon's Flavor-aid now) to deliberately undermine the career intel folks, so the WH has an excuse to purge their ranks to later fill with more pliable/loyal folk favorable to the WH (and Puppetmaster Pootie-Poot)?
posted by Fiberoptic Zebroid and The Hypnagogic Jerks at 8:11 AM on February 19, 2017
posted by Fiberoptic Zebroid and The Hypnagogic Jerks at 8:11 AM on February 19, 2017
So, the weirdo guy who salutes his Trump idol daily, did everyone else just sort of assume he seig heils it?
posted by Artw at 8:22 AM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:22 AM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
Lessons I learned from Greece (Twitter thread from @SKalyvas)
That's a useful set of lessons, much like the lessons Venezuelans learned resisting Chavez, and like many Twitter threads, it's short enough to quote in full:
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:23 AM on February 19, 2017 [77 favorites]
That's a useful set of lessons, much like the lessons Venezuelans learned resisting Chavez, and like many Twitter threads, it's short enough to quote in full:
#1: abysmal incompetence of populist government leads many to mistaken belief it will be over quicklyThere are enough obvious object lessons in how an opposition fools/foils itself - e.g. Brexit, Berlusconi, and Rob Ford - that nobody can complain there weren't warnings for us living under the Trump administration.
#2: for a long time you think you've seen the worst, but you haven't seen anything yet
#3: the things that strike you as utterly shocking are applauded by others, perhaps even the majority
#4: when assessing a populist govt it's always hard to tell whether it's just incompetence or dark designs
#5: nothing like a populist government to re-legitimize mainstream politics. If you manage to survive
#6: best way to boost opposition populist agenda/candidates? Ask experts to show why they are wrong
#7: populist parties are protest movements; they often ask good questions but have neither answers nor clues
#8: populists gain traction by scolding the "elites" for corruption, but when in power they out-corrupt them
#9: populist govts won't end just because their record is terrible; they can last if opposition is in disarray
#10: because populist govts have few achievements to sell, they manufacture polarization, division, hatred
#11: worst enemy of those opposed to populist governments? Believing "this is so bad, it can't possibly go on"
#12: most wrenching realization? That the demise of populism might require a major disaster
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:23 AM on February 19, 2017 [77 favorites]
While taking out the trash, I wondered why everyone's thinking about this asshole so much.
posted by Coventry at 8:23 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Coventry at 8:23 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
ARGH the most rage-inducing thing about the administration's attack upon the press is that for it to work the populace has to not understand that sources speaking on background is 100% standard operating procedure and absolutely essential to the operation of a free press in the face of an uncooperative government
AND IT JUST MIGHT WORK
posted by murphy slaw at 8:25 AM on February 19, 2017 [9 favorites]
AND IT JUST MIGHT WORK
posted by murphy slaw at 8:25 AM on February 19, 2017 [9 favorites]
You're going to have to be more specific, Coventry. We currently have an overabundance of assholes to think/talk about.
posted by Fiberoptic Zebroid and The Hypnagogic Jerks at 8:26 AM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Fiberoptic Zebroid and The Hypnagogic Jerks at 8:26 AM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
asshole-rich environment
posted by murphy slaw at 8:27 AM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 8:27 AM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
(rich asshole environment)
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:28 AM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:28 AM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
I know we ain't supposed to be talking about him, but sorta on topic; I've been wondering if he's paid by the Russians (him being Milo, ofc). I mean I don't think he is, but I certainly gave it a few minutes thought watching him Friday night.
posted by mllm at 8:29 AM on February 19, 2017
posted by mllm at 8:29 AM on February 19, 2017
Zebroid: Apologies, it looks like the comment I was responding to and relying on for context has been deleted. Thanks for pointing out the discrepancy.
posted by Coventry at 8:30 AM on February 19, 2017
posted by Coventry at 8:30 AM on February 19, 2017
Pretty sure he's just floating through life doing his own Nazi thing. You might want to ask some questions about his bosses though.
posted by Artw at 8:30 AM on February 19, 2017
posted by Artw at 8:30 AM on February 19, 2017
stop talking about him, you know he has a google alert on his name and every time he sees liberals talking about him he masturbates and he doesn't deserve any orgasms ever
posted by murphy slaw at 8:31 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 8:31 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
4chan: The Skeleton Key to the Rise of Trump
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:32 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:32 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Term-searching really is the unifying fail-stench of the right.
posted by Artw at 8:33 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:33 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
4chan: The Skeleton Key to the Rise of Trump
This has it's own thread.
posted by Jalliah at 8:35 AM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
This has it's own thread.
posted by Jalliah at 8:35 AM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
I know you need to see Biscuit/Skorpa, and here she is
posted by mumimor at 8:43 AM on February 19, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by mumimor at 8:43 AM on February 19, 2017 [14 favorites]
OMG THEY SAVE THE PONY AND IT'S A GOOD FLUFFY PONY
posted by murphy slaw at 8:47 AM on February 19, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 8:47 AM on February 19, 2017 [12 favorites]
It looks like a Fluffy Pony Islamic terrorist to me. I can totally see how Trump might have been confused.
posted by Coventry at 8:49 AM on February 19, 2017
posted by Coventry at 8:49 AM on February 19, 2017
the adventures of a horny moose, because why not
Radical mooselimp with a case of Trump d'oeil.
posted by Namlit at 8:49 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Radical mooselimp with a case of Trump d'oeil.
posted by Namlit at 8:49 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
> So they love Trump because he's punching down on the people they want to punch up on.
How do we recast Trump as the asshole punching down on them?
posted by fragmede at 8:59 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
How do we recast Trump as the asshole punching down on them?
posted by fragmede at 8:59 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
@ChelseaClinton:
What happened in Sweden Friday night? Did they catch the Bowling Green Massacre perpetrators?
posted by chris24 at 8:59 AM on February 19, 2017 [53 favorites]
What happened in Sweden Friday night? Did they catch the Bowling Green Massacre perpetrators?
posted by chris24 at 8:59 AM on February 19, 2017 [53 favorites]
This is an interesting but depressing twitter thread about the possibility of violence in our future. It starts here:
Erika Heidewald: I don't have a TV so I never watch cable news. I've been at my aunt's house for a week and it's been interesting to compare CNN/Fox/MSNBC
posted by bluecore at 9:00 AM on February 19, 2017 [31 favorites]
Erika Heidewald: I don't have a TV so I never watch cable news. I've been at my aunt's house for a week and it's been interesting to compare CNN/Fox/MSNBC
posted by bluecore at 9:00 AM on February 19, 2017 [31 favorites]
So apparently Harward canceled at the last minute?
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 9:03 AM on February 19, 2017
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 9:03 AM on February 19, 2017
This is an interesting but depressing twitter thread about the possibility of violence in our future
QFMFT
posted by murphy slaw at 9:06 AM on February 19, 2017 [42 favorites]
People excusing "jokes" get it wrong. If fascists laugh, it doesn't mean they won't hurt you. It means they'll laugh while they hurt you.
QFMFT
posted by murphy slaw at 9:06 AM on February 19, 2017 [42 favorites]
'Ironic' Nazi shit should always just be assumed to be Nazi shit with an excuse these days.
posted by Artw at 9:16 AM on February 19, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by Artw at 9:16 AM on February 19, 2017 [25 favorites]
Indeed: irony is all about context.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:28 AM on February 19, 2017
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:28 AM on February 19, 2017
As someone who doesn't watch Maher and who until the last couple of weeks only had a vague idea of who MY is, I am sort of fascinated about what Maher is on about. Did his show getting canceled after he made some crack after 9/11 make him venerate anybody who uses the First Amendment as a shield to say whatever? Is he transphobic? Anti-immigrant? Is he somebody like me, who had only the faintest idea of what GamerGate was all about?
I mean, the doxxing stuff alone it seems is like plenty of reason where Maher and Universities have an obligation to say NOPE. To act like the First Amendment justifies the doxxing stuff is nonsense.
It's just one of those weird things, like when Victoria Jackson started saying all that heinous shit and you're like, lady, what the hell happened to you?
posted by angrycat at 9:32 AM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
I mean, the doxxing stuff alone it seems is like plenty of reason where Maher and Universities have an obligation to say NOPE. To act like the First Amendment justifies the doxxing stuff is nonsense.
It's just one of those weird things, like when Victoria Jackson started saying all that heinous shit and you're like, lady, what the hell happened to you?
posted by angrycat at 9:32 AM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm beginning to think Chelsea Clinton was the mastermind of DELETE YOUR ACCOUNT.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:35 AM on February 19, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:35 AM on February 19, 2017 [23 favorites]
Bill and Hillary Clinton's waiter on Friday night was a man who is an Albanian immigrant who was rescued from Kosovo.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:39 AM on February 19, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:39 AM on February 19, 2017 [17 favorites]
Re: Maher -- This has been his shtick forever. 1st Amendment Lite, invite provocateurs on cable show for reliable ratings boost. As noted above though his anti-Islamic sentiment has become more strident over the years, as has his mocking of conventional liberal sensibilities. He's not really a libertarian either. He's more of a simple a libertine.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:39 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:39 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
As far as I'm concerned Chelsea Clinton can say whatever the fuck she likes. She's a smart, caring woman and we need all the smart, caring women in the spotlight that we can get.
posted by lydhre at 9:42 AM on February 19, 2017 [119 favorites]
posted by lydhre at 9:42 AM on February 19, 2017 [119 favorites]
I think the Trump Campaignistration (tm) will soon realize when they use the names of existing places like Bowling Green and "Sweden" that people can fact-check them easier. My prediction is that they will begin using fictional names such as Narnia, Freedonia, Texlahoma, etc. I think we'll be hearing about the Atrocities on the Sea of Belegaer pretty soon.
posted by Cookiebastard at 9:43 AM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Cookiebastard at 9:43 AM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
Maher was dumped by ABC from a show almost identical to what he's doing now. Shortly after 9/11, one of his panelists called the hijackers cowards. He disputed this and said giving your life for your cause wasn't cowardly. He tried to bait his panel and his audience with some shock jock methods and it backfired on him pretty hard.
posted by cmfletcher at 9:44 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 9:44 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
yes, unlike many comics who suddenly became hard-right after 9-11, maher was not a victim of the brain eater, because it starved to death. he is "actually" in human form.
posted by murphy slaw at 9:44 AM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 9:44 AM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
I think the Trump Campaignistration (tm) will soon realize when they use the names of existing places like Bowling Green and "Sweden" that people can fact-check them easier. My prediction is that they will begin using fictional names such as Narnia, Freedonia, Texlahoma, etc. I think we'll be hearing about the Atrocities on the Sea of Belegaer pretty soon.
It surprises me that he hasn't gone to the gold standard 'I wish I could tell you about the things we've already stopped', but then it's quite possible that some IC person or five would say they haven't stopped any attacks yet in this Administration.
posted by jaduncan at 9:45 AM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
It surprises me that he hasn't gone to the gold standard 'I wish I could tell you about the things we've already stopped', but then it's quite possible that some IC person or five would say they haven't stopped any attacks yet in this Administration.
posted by jaduncan at 9:45 AM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Maher is yet another example of a white male comedian who, regardless of overall talent or schtick, has an apparent inability to conceive of “liberty” in any other terms than “the absence of challenges to white male comedians.” (See also: Jerry Seinfeld, Patton Oswald, …)
posted by nicepersonality at 9:46 AM on February 19, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by nicepersonality at 9:46 AM on February 19, 2017 [9 favorites]
So.... about Sweden. A couple of weeks ago a commenter in a Facebook conversation kept referencing the under reported "atrocities" that Syrian refugees were committing in Europe, and one of the ones they mentioned in passing was the "rape crisis in Sweden". I doubt there is a refugee rape crisis in Sweden that somehow nobody is reporting on, but I feel sure that DJTs remarks were a dog whistle to that, wherever it comes from.
posted by anastasiav at 9:48 AM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by anastasiav at 9:48 AM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
Please link a screenshot of the hacked server because
1) it won't be hacked by the time many people read this
2) it is almost certainly brimming with horrific malware
posted by murphy slaw at 9:49 AM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
1) it won't be hacked by the time many people read this
2) it is almost certainly brimming with horrific malware
posted by murphy slaw at 9:49 AM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
There's been a bunch of white supremacist attacks stopped but I guess that doesn't help them very much and they're probably just vaguely disappointed.
posted by Artw at 9:52 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Artw at 9:52 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
So, really, though, either the Trump Campaignistration has such shitty intel that Trump and his people are, on the regular, a month in, believing in nonexistent terrorist attacks (Trump: Sweden. Conway: Bowling Green, Spicer: Atlanta) or they are confused and befuddled so constantly by basic facts that they have little control of their lips and can't help but blurt out nonsense in front of a press they already consider adversarial, or this is a coordinated messaging campaign designed to misinform the electorate into believing in nonexistent dangers.
None of these possibilities are of any comfort, and I am open to hearing anyone else's theory on how the Trump Campaign and Administration have bungled basic knowledge about terrorism three highly visible times since the inauguration. Terrorism was a topic that was a linchpin of the campaign, and no one in the administration seems to be treating it in the least bit seriously.
Donald Trump took a question from a reporter that was about the rising number of incidents of anti-Semitic hate crimes, a softball question that should have been answered with "we will work to end anti-Semitic hate-crimes," and he and took it as a personal insult, saying he was the least-anti-Semitic person. And he used it as an opportunity to brag about his electoral results. With incorrect numbers and statistics on information that is easily verifiable and publicly available - Electoral vote counts.
Homegrown white-supremacist, anti-Semitic terror is being ignored by the President and his administration while they address made-up fantasyland terror incidents. That does not make me feel safer, it terrifies me.
And it terrifies me whether it is out of ignorance, incompetence, or malice. Which is it?
posted by Cookiebastard at 9:52 AM on February 19, 2017 [12 favorites]
None of these possibilities are of any comfort, and I am open to hearing anyone else's theory on how the Trump Campaign and Administration have bungled basic knowledge about terrorism three highly visible times since the inauguration. Terrorism was a topic that was a linchpin of the campaign, and no one in the administration seems to be treating it in the least bit seriously.
Donald Trump took a question from a reporter that was about the rising number of incidents of anti-Semitic hate crimes, a softball question that should have been answered with "we will work to end anti-Semitic hate-crimes," and he and took it as a personal insult, saying he was the least-anti-Semitic person. And he used it as an opportunity to brag about his electoral results. With incorrect numbers and statistics on information that is easily verifiable and publicly available - Electoral vote counts.
Homegrown white-supremacist, anti-Semitic terror is being ignored by the President and his administration while they address made-up fantasyland terror incidents. That does not make me feel safer, it terrifies me.
And it terrifies me whether it is out of ignorance, incompetence, or malice. Which is it?
posted by Cookiebastard at 9:52 AM on February 19, 2017 [12 favorites]
A conservative coworker used the 'Swedish refugee rape crisis' as justification for the 'not-a-Muslim-ban'. I didn't know anything about it so I didn't say anything. I later googled it and only found right wing sources talking about it. What is that all about?
posted by ian1977 at 9:52 AM on February 19, 2017
posted by ian1977 at 9:52 AM on February 19, 2017
A tweet from about an hour ago with a screenshot of the hacked Trump donation page.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:52 AM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:52 AM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
And it terrifies me whether it is out of ignorance, incompetence, or malice.
you might want to sit down.
it's all three.
posted by murphy slaw at 9:53 AM on February 19, 2017 [20 favorites]
you might want to sit down.
it's all three.
posted by murphy slaw at 9:53 AM on February 19, 2017 [20 favorites]
Mod note: Couple comments removed. Don't intentionally link to malware-compromised sites, no matter how ha ha the context may be, c'mon.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:53 AM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:53 AM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
Swedish refugee rape crisis
sweden records rape statistics differently than most other countries in europe. conservatives use this as proof that socialism causes a massive rape epidemic
posted by murphy slaw at 9:54 AM on February 19, 2017 [14 favorites]
sweden records rape statistics differently than most other countries in europe. conservatives use this as proof that socialism causes a massive rape epidemic
posted by murphy slaw at 9:54 AM on February 19, 2017 [14 favorites]
Sweden has now apparently asked the U.S. government just WTF our President was talking about last night when he mentioned Sweden.
Can you defame an entire country? Is it actionable? SO MANY QUESTIONS
posted by yhbc at 9:55 AM on February 19, 2017 [22 favorites]
Can you defame an entire country? Is it actionable? SO MANY QUESTIONS
posted by yhbc at 9:55 AM on February 19, 2017 [22 favorites]
Interesting. Can you point me towards more information Murphy slaw? I'd love to have something meaningful to counter with next time he brings that up.
posted by ian1977 at 9:55 AM on February 19, 2017
posted by ian1977 at 9:55 AM on February 19, 2017
Probably a reference to this made up story from Germany.
posted by Artw at 9:57 AM on February 19, 2017
posted by Artw at 9:57 AM on February 19, 2017
So.... about Sweden. A couple of weeks ago a commenter in a Facebook conversation kept referencing the under reported "atrocities" that Syrian refugees were committing in Europe, and one of the ones they mentioned in passing was the "rape crisis in Sweden". I doubt there is a refugee rape crisis in Sweden that somehow nobody is reporting on, but I feel sure that DJTs remarks were a dog whistle to that, wherever it comes from.
He saw it on Fox News. Tucker Carlson did a segment about the supposed rape crisis and that the government is covering up. That's why Sweden was in his mind.
Some of his followers will be familiar with it though. Sweden for some months has been an right wing example of a country gone all to hell because of refugees with rape being the big one. Because of right wing propaganda there are people that believe that white Swedish woman can no longer walk the streets alone.
posted by Jalliah at 9:57 AM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
He saw it on Fox News. Tucker Carlson did a segment about the supposed rape crisis and that the government is covering up. That's why Sweden was in his mind.
Some of his followers will be familiar with it though. Sweden for some months has been an right wing example of a country gone all to hell because of refugees with rape being the big one. Because of right wing propaganda there are people that believe that white Swedish woman can no longer walk the streets alone.
posted by Jalliah at 9:57 AM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
Maher was dumped by ABC from a show almost identical to what he's doing now. Shortly after 9/11, one of his panelists called the hijackers cowards. He disputed this and said giving your life for your cause wasn't cowardly.
In fairness, no matter what you would call it, it's hard to call even an extremely immoral kamikaze mission cowardly.
posted by jaduncan at 9:58 AM on February 19, 2017 [16 favorites]
In fairness, no matter what you would call it, it's hard to call even an extremely immoral kamikaze mission cowardly.
posted by jaduncan at 9:58 AM on February 19, 2017 [16 favorites]
Yeah, sorry -- I forget that just saying "this is a hacked page" doesn't serve for everyone here.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:59 AM on February 19, 2017
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:59 AM on February 19, 2017
Donald Trump and the siege of Washington
It is hard to predict how long it would take to resolve the battle between Mr Trump and the so-called deep state. It is also hard to say how long a Republican Congress could stand the heat. As I say, multiply the past four weeks by three, or six, or nine. The neutral ground will vanish. At some point this will boil down to a choice between Mr Trump and the US constitution.posted by Coventry at 10:00 AM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
what makes it especially disgusting about right wingers bringing that up is 'oh NOW all of the sudden you care about women's rights and sexual violence?' The hypocrisy and intellectual dishonesty is so palpable you can practically taste it in the air.
posted by ian1977 at 10:00 AM on February 19, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 10:00 AM on February 19, 2017 [19 favorites]
In fairness, no matter what you would call it, it's hard to call even an extremely immoral kamikaze mission cowardly.
it's "cowardly" because it was a horrific attack on noncombatants. it's a war crime. it doesn't need fine parsing.
posted by murphy slaw at 10:00 AM on February 19, 2017 [10 favorites]
it's "cowardly" because it was a horrific attack on noncombatants. it's a war crime. it doesn't need fine parsing.
posted by murphy slaw at 10:00 AM on February 19, 2017 [10 favorites]
Yeah, sorry -- I forget that just saying "this is a hacked page" doesn't serve for everyone here.
Honestly, if you're browsing with Chrome and don't open any downloads using other applications you're pretty safe these days. There have been a few effective attacks, but Chrome's architecture forces them to be stupendously elaborate.
posted by Coventry at 10:06 AM on February 19, 2017
Honestly, if you're browsing with Chrome and don't open any downloads using other applications you're pretty safe these days. There have been a few effective attacks, but Chrome's architecture forces them to be stupendously elaborate.
posted by Coventry at 10:06 AM on February 19, 2017
Kamikazee missions were on military targets. This was a mass murder suicide of civilians.
posted by cmfletcher at 10:06 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 10:06 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yeah, sorry -- I forget that just saying "this is a hacked page" doesn't serve for everyone here.
"Heads up, there's a hacked page you can look up if you really want to" is basically always a reliably better approach. Tossing up a live link is like choosing to forego "hey, there's a bear trap 100 meters yonder" in favor of "check it out, I found this bear trap, I'll just leave it here but uh step carefully". In this context the convenience has no upside and contradicts the spirit of the warning.
posted by cortex at 10:10 AM on February 19, 2017 [9 favorites]
"Heads up, there's a hacked page you can look up if you really want to" is basically always a reliably better approach. Tossing up a live link is like choosing to forego "hey, there's a bear trap 100 meters yonder" in favor of "check it out, I found this bear trap, I'll just leave it here but uh step carefully". In this context the convenience has no upside and contradicts the spirit of the warning.
posted by cortex at 10:10 AM on February 19, 2017 [9 favorites]
Of course if you mention Juliann Assange I bet you'll hear a radically different take on Swedish rape statistics. These guys are nothing if not flexible and immune to cognitive dissonance.
posted by Artw at 10:10 AM on February 19, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by Artw at 10:10 AM on February 19, 2017 [20 favorites]
it doesn't need fine parsing.
Maher's whole thing is being the smirking "well, actually" guy. College dorm contrarianism.
He reminds me of my Dad and a lot his supposedly liberal peers ("from the 60s!") who support enough equality and freedom such that they can get high and get laid, but aren't willing to tolerate any real change in social position effecting what they get paid or who they have to speak to and how.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:11 AM on February 19, 2017 [26 favorites]
Maher's whole thing is being the smirking "well, actually" guy. College dorm contrarianism.
He reminds me of my Dad and a lot his supposedly liberal peers ("from the 60s!") who support enough equality and freedom such that they can get high and get laid, but aren't willing to tolerate any real change in social position effecting what they get paid or who they have to speak to and how.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:11 AM on February 19, 2017 [26 favorites]
Vox explainer on right-wing "Swedish rape epidemic" meme.
posted by OnceUponATime at 10:11 AM on February 19, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by OnceUponATime at 10:11 AM on February 19, 2017 [22 favorites]
Honestly, if you're browsing with Chrome and don't open any downloads using other applications you're pretty safe these days...
True enough, and likewise Firefox, but that was still super lazy of me and Cortex is entirely correct.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:14 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
True enough, and likewise Firefox, but that was still super lazy of me and Cortex is entirely correct.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:14 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Maher was mincing words just to be provocative. I mean, clearly it takes....guts? to fly a plane into a building. It's obviously not an act for timid church mice. That doesn't mean it's an act of bravery. And maher was purposefully conflating the two just to get a rise out of people. It's the same thing a know it all 15 year old would say to be contrary. Right up there with 'I'm not racist, I hate everyone. Ha ha ha aren't I clever'
posted by ian1977 at 10:14 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 10:14 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
A couple of weeks ago a commenter in a Facebook conversation kept referencing the under reported "atrocities" that Syrian refugees were committing in Europe, and one of the ones they mentioned in passing was the "rape crisis in Sweden". I doubt there is a refugee rape crisis in Sweden that somehow nobody is reporting on, but I feel sure that DJTs remarks were a dog whistle to that, wherever it comes from.
In addition to the Sweden Is Special reasons given above, it needs to be pointed out that this "refugees and asylum seekers are raping our women!!!" is definitely a real thing the far right is doing. Even in Canada, a certain far-right Big Oil/Big Whitey ex-tv channel that has been relegated to YouTube has been going bananas shouting things like "Why isn't the CBC reporting the wave of rapes committed by refugees at West Edmonton Mall?" Um, maybe because it was one guy, and there's not enough television in the world to report every sexual assault, and the fact that he's Syrian isn't relevant, and one man's alleged actions in no way represent the massive refugee crime wave the far-right is presenting them as?
It's clearly all calculated to coincide with, and drown out, the recent revelation that reports of a rash of New Years sexual assaults in Germany were a complete fabrication.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:14 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
In addition to the Sweden Is Special reasons given above, it needs to be pointed out that this "refugees and asylum seekers are raping our women!!!" is definitely a real thing the far right is doing. Even in Canada, a certain far-right Big Oil/Big Whitey ex-tv channel that has been relegated to YouTube has been going bananas shouting things like "Why isn't the CBC reporting the wave of rapes committed by refugees at West Edmonton Mall?" Um, maybe because it was one guy, and there's not enough television in the world to report every sexual assault, and the fact that he's Syrian isn't relevant, and one man's alleged actions in no way represent the massive refugee crime wave the far-right is presenting them as?
It's clearly all calculated to coincide with, and drown out, the recent revelation that reports of a rash of New Years sexual assaults in Germany were a complete fabrication.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:14 AM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'm at the Today I Am A Muslim Too rally in Times Square.
Muslim Girls Are Feminist AF
We The People
Oh, and Susan Sarandon got booed when she spoke.
posted by chris24 at 10:15 AM on February 19, 2017 [45 favorites]
Muslim Girls Are Feminist AF
We The People
Oh, and Susan Sarandon got booed when she spoke.
posted by chris24 at 10:15 AM on February 19, 2017 [45 favorites]
Stephen Miller called Brooklyn U.S. Attorney at home and told him how to defend travel ban in court
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:20 AM on February 19, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:20 AM on February 19, 2017 [9 favorites]
A Swedish newspaper helpfully listed in English what happened on Friday. Apologies if this has already been linked. Beware of the auto video. My kid says, tongue in cheek, that Trump was referring to this: "The famous singer Owe Thörnqvist had some technical problems during rehearsal for the singing competition 'Melodifestivalen'. (However, the 87 year old singer still managed to secure the victory the very next day.)"
posted by Bella Donna at 10:21 AM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 10:21 AM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
Even Chris Wallace has had enough.
I wonder when we're going to hear from SCROTUS regarding it.
posted by Talez at 10:24 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
I wonder when we're going to hear from SCROTUS regarding it.
posted by Talez at 10:24 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
and likewise Firefox
No, critical security vulnerabilities in Firefox are substantially more frequent and recent than in chrome.
posted by Coventry at 10:24 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
No, critical security vulnerabilities in Firefox are substantially more frequent and recent than in chrome.
posted by Coventry at 10:24 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
A Back-Channel Plan for Ukraine and Russia, Courtesy of Trump Associates
posted by Talez at 10:29 AM on February 19, 2017 [36 favorites]
A week before Michael T. Flynn resigned as national security adviser, a sealed proposal was hand-delivered to his office, outlining a way for President Trump to lift sanctions against Russia.Holy shit. How fucking deep does this rabbit hole go?
Mr. Flynn is gone, having been caught lying about his own discussion of sanctions with the Russian ambassador. But the proposal, a peace plan for Ukraine and Russia, remains, along with those pushing it: Michael D. Cohen, the president’s personal lawyer, who delivered the document; Felix H. Sater, a business associate who helped Mr. Trump scout deals in Russia; and a Ukrainian lawmaker trying to rise in a political opposition movement shaped in part by Mr. Trump’s former campaign manager Paul D. Manafort.
posted by Talez at 10:29 AM on February 19, 2017 [36 favorites]
Stephen Miller called Brooklyn U.S. Attorney at home and told him how to defend travel ban in court
more like a fine-tuned melodica
posted by murphy slaw at 10:29 AM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
more like a fine-tuned melodica
posted by murphy slaw at 10:29 AM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's clearly all calculated to coincide with, and drown out, the recent revelation that reports of a rash of New Years sexual assaults in Germany were a complete fabrication.
For the sake of accuracy, probably best if you specify that this refers to reports from Frankfurt this past NYE, not the verified mass assault that occurred in Cologne the previous year.
So Nazis and racists are taking a true thing that happened and using it to manufacture lies.
Really not helpful to muddy the waters. If you start cherry picking atrocities you obscure the truth, and that's where bigotry thrives. You also throw women under the bus.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:30 AM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
For the sake of accuracy, probably best if you specify that this refers to reports from Frankfurt this past NYE, not the verified mass assault that occurred in Cologne the previous year.
So Nazis and racists are taking a true thing that happened and using it to manufacture lies.
Really not helpful to muddy the waters. If you start cherry picking atrocities you obscure the truth, and that's where bigotry thrives. You also throw women under the bus.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:30 AM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
To paraphrase President Bush the More Recent:
Don't Forget Sweden !!!
posted by y2karl at 10:35 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Don't Forget Sweden !!!
posted by y2karl at 10:35 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
On Chrome vs. Firefox, comparing a bugtracker to an outside report on only code execution vulnerabilities doesn't seem like apples to apples, but I'm not a security guy and this feels derailish. I wouldn't want anyone to click that link without more protection than just their browser itself, so that was a dumb way to go about it.
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:38 AM on February 19, 2017
posted by snuffleupagus at 10:38 AM on February 19, 2017
D.C. activists don’t have senators to call. So they found their own way to fight Trump.
posted by argonauta at 10:49 AM on February 19, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by argonauta at 10:49 AM on February 19, 2017 [16 favorites]
Mod note: A few deleted. To Repeat: if you want to talk about Yiannopoulos, head over here. 2000+ comments in on a catch-all potus thread is not a good place to post another few hundred comments about MY.
posted by taz (staff) at 10:56 AM on February 19, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 10:56 AM on February 19, 2017 [11 favorites]
The hypocrisy and intellectual dishonesty is so palpable you can practically taste it in the air.
posted by ian1977
Well, you can certainly smell it.
posted by yoga at 11:01 AM on February 19, 2017
posted by ian1977
Well, you can certainly smell it.
posted by yoga at 11:01 AM on February 19, 2017
Holy shit. How fucking deep does this rabbit hole go?
It's ok. Because:
posted by sebastienbailard at 11:02 AM on February 19, 2017 [22 favorites]
It's ok. Because:
Mr. Cohen and Mr. Sater said they had not spoken to Mr. Trump about the proposal,It's totally normal for the president's personal lawyer to hand deliver sketchy Putin-flavored stuff like this to the National Security Adviser and not tell the president about it?
posted by sebastienbailard at 11:02 AM on February 19, 2017 [22 favorites]
That line of BS worked for Iran-Contra, so trot it out again.
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:23 AM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 11:23 AM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
Jim Sciutto: Just in: Senate Intel Committee tells Trump administration to "preserve records" related to #Russia -@mkraju reports
posted by guiseroom at 11:24 AM on February 19, 2017 [50 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 11:24 AM on February 19, 2017 [50 favorites]
Dude already has dementia lined up as a defense.
posted by Artw at 11:24 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 11:24 AM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
In case anyone doesn't know who Stathis Kalyvas is, he's the greatest scholar of civil wars ever and is the smartest and wrote an absolutely amazing book that spawned 100 dissertations.
Thanks for posting this, Misanthropic Painforest. I read the introduction to The Logic of Violence in Civil War, and it looks very insightful.
posted by Coventry at 11:25 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Thanks for posting this, Misanthropic Painforest. I read the introduction to The Logic of Violence in Civil War, and it looks very insightful.
posted by Coventry at 11:25 AM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
About Sweden — I watched a few minutes of the Fox show, and in a way, it was funny. See, the right wing in Scandinavia really wants to paint the areas with majority immigrant population as "ghettos", similar to American inner cities in the 70's-80's. Dangerous places where white people can't go, and which are filled with burnt out cars and drug dealers. And it just isn't there. Most of the areas are large social housing developments with ample green spaces, and well designed schools, libraries and other institutions. The apartments are large and have balconies. And there is free health-care and there are tons of social programs trying to help people who find it hard to integrate and find jobs and networks. There are real problems - no doubt about it. But for any American visiting, those problems are hard to find, and they are tiny compared to what they have been told and imagine.
So in the Fox segment, there are these nice sunny pictures of Stockholm and suburbs, and the hate-mongering director tries to convince us that in spite of what our lying eyes are seeing, these are dangerous areas. Which is not only wrong, but doubly wrong, because some of the images are from central Stockholm, which is as safe and peaceful as an all-girls college campus on a Sunday morning.
I've been working (in Denmark) with these areas for 15 years now, and I think the main thing is that there is a lot less tolerance for squalor and other social issues in Scandinavia than most other places. So what we see as problematic is hardly registered in other countries. The last couple of years I've led a program for international students studying urban renewal in run-down urban developments, and one of the fun facts about this is that the students can't see the problems in the areas we work in. Where Danes see bad maintenance, too high density and too many unintegrated immigrants, the international students see lovely green courtyards, great housing and tight social networks. We've been invited to go to Malmö but haven't found the time yet. I'm rather convinced that the municipality there wouldn't invite us if it was dangerous, so I'm guessing it is much the same…
Again - that doesn't mean there are no problems. It just means it makes no sense to try to use "Sweden" as an example of how immigration can go wrong.
posted by mumimor at 11:32 AM on February 19, 2017 [55 favorites]
So in the Fox segment, there are these nice sunny pictures of Stockholm and suburbs, and the hate-mongering director tries to convince us that in spite of what our lying eyes are seeing, these are dangerous areas. Which is not only wrong, but doubly wrong, because some of the images are from central Stockholm, which is as safe and peaceful as an all-girls college campus on a Sunday morning.
I've been working (in Denmark) with these areas for 15 years now, and I think the main thing is that there is a lot less tolerance for squalor and other social issues in Scandinavia than most other places. So what we see as problematic is hardly registered in other countries. The last couple of years I've led a program for international students studying urban renewal in run-down urban developments, and one of the fun facts about this is that the students can't see the problems in the areas we work in. Where Danes see bad maintenance, too high density and too many unintegrated immigrants, the international students see lovely green courtyards, great housing and tight social networks. We've been invited to go to Malmö but haven't found the time yet. I'm rather convinced that the municipality there wouldn't invite us if it was dangerous, so I'm guessing it is much the same…
Again - that doesn't mean there are no problems. It just means it makes no sense to try to use "Sweden" as an example of how immigration can go wrong.
posted by mumimor at 11:32 AM on February 19, 2017 [55 favorites]
Jim Sciutto: Just in: Senate Intel Committee tells Trump administration to "preserve records" related to #Russia -@mkraju reports
Ronpaulitshappening.gif
posted by dis_integration at 11:33 AM on February 19, 2017 [9 favorites]
Ronpaulitshappening.gif
posted by dis_integration at 11:33 AM on February 19, 2017 [9 favorites]
I wonder if the Sweden thing is related to this article from October?
posted by jferg at 11:39 AM on February 19, 2017
posted by jferg at 11:39 AM on February 19, 2017
Stephen Miller called Brooklyn U.S. Attorney at home and told him how to defend travel ban in court
Ronald Klain, who worked in the White House under Clinton and Obama, described this as "grounds for dismissal in both WHs in which I served" by anyone except the White House Counsel's Office. It's pretty appalling that Miller would be directly directing the government's legal strategy.
posted by zachlipton at 12:02 PM on February 19, 2017 [30 favorites]
Ronald Klain, who worked in the White House under Clinton and Obama, described this as "grounds for dismissal in both WHs in which I served" by anyone except the White House Counsel's Office. It's pretty appalling that Miller would be directly directing the government's legal strategy.
posted by zachlipton at 12:02 PM on February 19, 2017 [30 favorites]
I wonder if the Sweden thing is related to this article from October?
No, Trump is not a DJ throwing down some deep cuts.
posted by rhizome at 12:02 PM on February 19, 2017 [9 favorites]
No, Trump is not a DJ throwing down some deep cuts.
posted by rhizome at 12:02 PM on February 19, 2017 [9 favorites]
Trump Administration Considers Change in Calculating U.S. Trade Deficit
They want to mess with the way the figures are determined to make the trade deficit look larger, so they can claim trade agreements need to be renegotiated. It would make the trade deficit with Mexico nearly double. Seems like the bureaucrats weren't thrilled and leaked the plan to the WSJ.
posted by zachlipton at 12:06 PM on February 19, 2017 [41 favorites]
They want to mess with the way the figures are determined to make the trade deficit look larger, so they can claim trade agreements need to be renegotiated. It would make the trade deficit with Mexico nearly double. Seems like the bureaucrats weren't thrilled and leaked the plan to the WSJ.
posted by zachlipton at 12:06 PM on February 19, 2017 [41 favorites]
I wonder if the Sweden thing is related to this article from October?
No, Trump is not a DJ throwing down some deep cuts.
Was it possibly mentioned in passing on Fox?
(One of the tweets from the person running @sweden this week seemed to suggest that but I wasn't sure if it was just humor.)
posted by snuffleupagus at 12:12 PM on February 19, 2017
No, Trump is not a DJ throwing down some deep cuts.
Was it possibly mentioned in passing on Fox?
(One of the tweets from the person running @sweden this week seemed to suggest that but I wasn't sure if it was just humor.)
posted by snuffleupagus at 12:12 PM on February 19, 2017
It's pretty appalling that Miller would be directly directing the government's legal strategy.
Baby Goebbels doesn't even have a law degree, just an undergrad from Duke (of course).
posted by leotrotsky at 12:15 PM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
Baby Goebbels doesn't even have a law degree, just an undergrad from Duke (of course).
posted by leotrotsky at 12:15 PM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
FFS Miller isn't even a lawyer!
He has as much expertise in guiding the justice attorneys as I do in telling a surgeon how to perform open heart surgery.
posted by cmfletcher at 12:16 PM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
He has as much expertise in guiding the justice attorneys as I do in telling a surgeon how to perform open heart surgery.
posted by cmfletcher at 12:16 PM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
A Back-Channel Plan for Ukraine and Russia, Courtesy of Trump Associates
Follow the money. A solution to Ukraine == ending sanctions == go ahead for the $500 billion oil deal between Exxon and Russia.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 12:23 PM on February 19, 2017 [10 favorites]
Follow the money. A solution to Ukraine == ending sanctions == go ahead for the $500 billion oil deal between Exxon and Russia.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 12:23 PM on February 19, 2017 [10 favorites]
They want to mess with the way the figures are determined to make the trade deficit look larger, so they can claim trade agreements need to be renegotiated.
Goddammit, they are just...cheaters. Like beyond the hatred forever looking for release, they have no sense of honor or fairness. It's like they reject the social contract on a personal, visceral level.
They are misanthropic nihilists. Do they even enjoy their own company? Are any but the sadists among them ever truly happy?
posted by schadenfrau at 12:27 PM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
Goddammit, they are just...cheaters. Like beyond the hatred forever looking for release, they have no sense of honor or fairness. It's like they reject the social contract on a personal, visceral level.
They are misanthropic nihilists. Do they even enjoy their own company? Are any but the sadists among them ever truly happy?
posted by schadenfrau at 12:27 PM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
He has as much expertise in guiding the justice attorneys as I do in telling a surgeon how to perform open heart surgery.
Count your blessings; do you really want someone competent making the calls that relate to how successful test cases for fascism are?
posted by jaduncan at 12:28 PM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
Count your blessings; do you really want someone competent making the calls that relate to how successful test cases for fascism are?
posted by jaduncan at 12:28 PM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
Yep. Tucker Carlson had a Sweden segment the night before the rally. The likely explanation is that the President watched a thing on Fox News, got confused, and passed along a rather incorrect version of the already twisted story, making his information gathering and disseminating strategy roughly the same as most of his voters.
posted by zachlipton at 12:29 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 12:29 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
boy I would love to be in the stream-of-consciousness of that attorney Miller talked to. Just like everybody, I bet that attorney assumed they'd be dealing with an HRC WH at this time and maybe even more than all of us is going *is this fucking real* at this point
posted by angrycat at 12:31 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 12:31 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Jim Sciutto: Just in: Senate Intel Committee tells Trump administration to "preserve records" related to #Russia -@mkraju reports
time for a shredding party!
posted by murphy slaw at 12:35 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
time for a shredding party!
posted by murphy slaw at 12:35 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Seems like the bureaucrats weren't thrilled and leaked the plan to the WSJ.
from now on, every time someone says "faceless government bureaucrat" with disdain, i'm going to stand up for these goddamn heroes
posted by murphy slaw at 12:38 PM on February 19, 2017 [49 favorites]
from now on, every time someone says "faceless government bureaucrat" with disdain, i'm going to stand up for these goddamn heroes
posted by murphy slaw at 12:38 PM on February 19, 2017 [49 favorites]
What actually are the rules regarding what constitutes destruction of evidence? Are you on the hook if it comes out that you destroyed evidence before you knew an investigation commenced?
posted by Coventry at 12:38 PM on February 19, 2017
posted by Coventry at 12:38 PM on February 19, 2017
Jim Sciutto: Just in: Senate Intel Committee tells Trump administration to "preserve records" related to #Russia -@mkraju reports
This is a warning. There is no way the records aren't already "preserved" — if anyone in the White House tries to destroy them, that will be what takes them down. Far simpler than proving treason.
posted by mumimor at 12:40 PM on February 19, 2017 [21 favorites]
This is a warning. There is no way the records aren't already "preserved" — if anyone in the White House tries to destroy them, that will be what takes them down. Far simpler than proving treason.
posted by mumimor at 12:40 PM on February 19, 2017 [21 favorites]
Wanna bet that the only fine tuned machine in this WH is a shredder?
posted by lydhre at 12:40 PM on February 19, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by lydhre at 12:40 PM on February 19, 2017 [26 favorites]
the executive branch has document retention regulations that would make your average IT admin break down sobbing. you can't flush a piece of toilet paper without double-checking. it would be very, very easy for an administration that systematically destroyed documents to be in violation.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:42 PM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 12:42 PM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
I think the only "records" this WH has are a wad of post-it notes and a couple doodled-up desk blotters.
posted by klarck at 12:44 PM on February 19, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by klarck at 12:44 PM on February 19, 2017 [11 favorites]
Donald Trump took a question from a reporter that was about the rising number of incidents of anti-Semitic hate crimes, a softball question that should have been answered with "we will work to end anti-Semitic hate-crimes," and he and took it as a personal insult, saying he was the least-anti-Semitic person.
Actually, the "correct" Trumpian answer would have been along the following lines: "Thanks for your question. Number 1: Most attacks against Jews, worldwide, are done by Muslims. Hundreds of Jews are killed by Muslims in Israel every year. In Europe, synagogues are a frequent target of Muslims bombs. It's a desaster. Number 2: I tried to limit the number of people coming to the US from countries where Jews are systematically discriminated against, like Iran. Number 3: But our actions to protect the Jewish people in this country were torpedoed not only by the lying press, but also by activist judges. I don't know why those judges hate the Jews so much, but we're looking into that right now. Meanwhile, we are doing the best we can to limit the number of 'bad dudes' coming into this country."
posted by sour cream at 12:46 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Actually, the "correct" Trumpian answer would have been along the following lines: "Thanks for your question. Number 1: Most attacks against Jews, worldwide, are done by Muslims. Hundreds of Jews are killed by Muslims in Israel every year. In Europe, synagogues are a frequent target of Muslims bombs. It's a desaster. Number 2: I tried to limit the number of people coming to the US from countries where Jews are systematically discriminated against, like Iran. Number 3: But our actions to protect the Jewish people in this country were torpedoed not only by the lying press, but also by activist judges. I don't know why those judges hate the Jews so much, but we're looking into that right now. Meanwhile, we are doing the best we can to limit the number of 'bad dudes' coming into this country."
posted by sour cream at 12:46 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
all of those answers present a coherent (if false) defense and take the focus off of donald trump, so he'd never give them
posted by murphy slaw at 12:48 PM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 12:48 PM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
Are you on the hook if it comes out that you destroyed evidence before you knew an investigation commenced?
If it's related to a crime, yes, that's a big no no. But I think in general the President is legally required to preserve all records.
posted by dis_integration at 12:50 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
If it's related to a crime, yes, that's a big no no. But I think in general the President is legally required to preserve all records.
posted by dis_integration at 12:50 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Let's talk about Felix Sater for a second. He's all mobbed up, spent a year in prison for stabbing a guy in the face with a margarita glass during a bar fight, and has been in the Trump orbit for years, working at various times on plans for a Moscow Trump Tower and helping finance the Trump SoHo project. When asked about Sater in an interview, of course, Trump claimed to not really know who he was.
The weirder part involves his role in a stock fraud scheme. Sater was involved in a massive pump-and-dump scheme with mob ties and pled guilty in 1998. The scheme stole millions from victims, but he skated with a $25,000 time, no jail time, and no restitution in exchange for doing something or another involving national security with the CIA and the FBI. His court records were sealed by Loretta Lynch.
So yeah. It's hard to underscore just how crazy it is to have this guy involved in a backchannel negotiation over Russia with Trump's personal lawyer and a member of the Ukrainian opposition. This shit really stinks.
posted by zachlipton at 12:55 PM on February 19, 2017 [38 favorites]
The weirder part involves his role in a stock fraud scheme. Sater was involved in a massive pump-and-dump scheme with mob ties and pled guilty in 1998. The scheme stole millions from victims, but he skated with a $25,000 time, no jail time, and no restitution in exchange for doing something or another involving national security with the CIA and the FBI. His court records were sealed by Loretta Lynch.
So yeah. It's hard to underscore just how crazy it is to have this guy involved in a backchannel negotiation over Russia with Trump's personal lawyer and a member of the Ukrainian opposition. This shit really stinks.
posted by zachlipton at 12:55 PM on February 19, 2017 [38 favorites]
Has this stupid NYT opinion piece been posted here yet? Because it's making my blood boil.
Are liberals helping trump?
posted by bongo_x at 12:55 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Are liberals helping trump?
posted by bongo_x at 12:55 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Meet One of the "Moderate Conservatives" Who, Shockingly, Isn't Off the Trump Train
Progressives have been protesting Donald Trump since his inaugural and -- bafflingly -- huge segments of the Trump electorate haven't switched sides and joined the resistance. What's wrong with the left? Why haven't the minds of millions of Trump voters been changed already? It's been a whole month!posted by tonycpsu at 12:57 PM on February 19, 2017 [53 favorites]
That's essentially the argument of "Are Liberals Helping Trump?," a New York Times story by Sabrina Tavernise. Instead of asking whether it's a difficult task to change minds across the ideological divide in a highly polarized electorate, Tavernise accuses Trump opponents of engaging in ideological thuggery: [...]
Tavernise draws this conclusion after interviewing three "moderate conservatives" (wow, huge sample size!). Let's meet one of them: [...]
Tavernise suggests that Youngquist's support for Trump was lukewarm, and was largely a reaction to Trump opponents. Let's take a look at what he posted on Facebook a week and a half before the election and see if that's really the case: [...]
Benghazi? Check. Emails? Check. Suspicions of Huma Abedin that go unstated because, well, it's just so obvious why she's a problem? Check. Invocation of James O'Keefe videos? Check. Assumption that the mainstream media and the Clinton campaign were "conspiring"? Check. [...]
Oh, and did I mention that Youngquist attended Trump's inaugural? Seriously -- Tavernise thinks that someone who attended a presidential inaugural might turn against the president within a month of that event? It's not as if she doesn't know about his attendance -- there was a story about it in the Times. She wrote it.
Here's a link to the text of the Federal Records Act at the National Archives website if you want to check it out as well as their FAQ about the statutory requirements.
posted by Dr. Zira at 12:57 PM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Dr. Zira at 12:57 PM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
I can't emphasize enough how important that back-channel deal story Talez posted is. You have all these people with personal and business connections to Trump negotiating a deal about Russia, supposedly blessed by a top Putin aide, that ended up on the desk of the National Security Advisor. This is truly crazy.
posted by zachlipton at 1:01 PM on February 19, 2017 [33 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:01 PM on February 19, 2017 [33 favorites]
Nonsense like that is why I haven't been able to pull the trigger on subscribing to the Times during the recent push to support journalism.
posted by Mavri at 1:03 PM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Mavri at 1:03 PM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
Ugh, the "Are Liberals Helping Trump" article:
posted by Joe in Australia at 1:05 PM on February 19, 2017 [119 favorites]
“The name calling from the left is crazy,” said Bryce Youngquist, 34, who works in sales for a tech start-up in Mountain View, Calif., a liberal enclave where admitting you voted for Mr. Trump is a little like saying in the 1950s that you were gay.It can get you arrested and/or assaulted? Your social gatherings will be broken up by police? The government will keep a dossier on you, and deny you employment?
posted by Joe in Australia at 1:05 PM on February 19, 2017 [119 favorites]
I feel so bad for the writers at Veep.
posted by schadenfrau at 1:06 PM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by schadenfrau at 1:06 PM on February 19, 2017 [8 favorites]
“The name calling from the left is crazy,” said Bryce Youngquist, 34, who works in sales for a tech start-up in Mountain View, Calif., a liberal enclave where admitting you voted for Mr. Trump is a little like saying in the 1950s that you were gay.
To paraphrase Atwood: they're afraid that we'll call them names, we're afraid that they'll murder us.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:08 PM on February 19, 2017 [64 favorites]
To paraphrase Atwood: they're afraid that we'll call them names, we're afraid that they'll murder us.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:08 PM on February 19, 2017 [64 favorites]
N.C. conservative activists accused of threatening to kill Muslims
The meeting at a restaurant included a presentation on “a supposed Muslim plot to conquer the United States,” the council said, citing local media reports of the meeting.
“Shed some blood, too,” the same participant said in response to the presenter’s call to “shed some light” on the issue, according to the council.
posted by futz at 1:08 PM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
The meeting at a restaurant included a presentation on “a supposed Muslim plot to conquer the United States,” the council said, citing local media reports of the meeting.
“Shed some blood, too,” the same participant said in response to the presenter’s call to “shed some light” on the issue, according to the council.
posted by futz at 1:08 PM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
You have all these people with personal and business connections to Trump negotiating a deal about Russia, supposedly blessed by a top Putin aide, that ended up on the desk of the National Security Advisor. This is truly crazy.
Not so crazy, it's a logical extension of lobbyists supplying the text of Congressional bills which are then voted on and often passed.
posted by rhizome at 1:08 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Not so crazy, it's a logical extension of lobbyists supplying the text of Congressional bills which are then voted on and often passed.
posted by rhizome at 1:08 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
or a tech start-up in Mountain View, Calif., a liberal enclave where admitting you voted for Mr. Trump is a little like saying in the 1950s that you were gay.
A better analogy might be 'a liberal enclave where saying you voted for trump is a little like saying you voted for literal nazis. Oh wait no, it's exactly like that.'
posted by ian1977 at 1:11 PM on February 19, 2017 [46 favorites]
A better analogy might be 'a liberal enclave where saying you voted for trump is a little like saying you voted for literal nazis. Oh wait no, it's exactly like that.'
posted by ian1977 at 1:11 PM on February 19, 2017 [46 favorites]
The quote that got Bill Maher fired from ABC was not just calling the 9/11 terrorists "not cowards," but adding on this (arguably more defensible but more inflammatory) preamble as bait for the militarists:
We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That’s cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it’s not cowardly.”
posted by spitbull at 1:13 PM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That’s cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it’s not cowardly.”
posted by spitbull at 1:13 PM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Not so crazy, it's a logical extension of lobbyists supplying the text of Congressional bills which are then voted on and often passed.
Apparent betrayal aside, lobbyists employed by the company owned by the person they were lobbying in that person's capacity as a governmental decision maker and budget holder isn't a small extension at all. It's no kidding around prison.
posted by jaduncan at 1:13 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Apparent betrayal aside, lobbyists employed by the company owned by the person they were lobbying in that person's capacity as a governmental decision maker and budget holder isn't a small extension at all. It's no kidding around prison.
posted by jaduncan at 1:13 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
There's got to be a whole bunch of questions about the extent to which Cohen and Sater and company were acting as foreign agents lobbying the US Government and whether they were legally required to register as such.
posted by zachlipton at 1:14 PM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:14 PM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
the executive branch has document retention regulations that would make your average IT admin break down sobbing. you can't flush a piece of toilet paper without double-checking. it would be very, very easy for an administration that systematically destroyed documents to be in violation.
And the FBI and Senate Intelligence Committee have copies of the documents that the White House is going to destroy, I guess.
posted by sebastienbailard at 1:17 PM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
And the FBI and Senate Intelligence Committee have copies of the documents that the White House is going to destroy, I guess.
posted by sebastienbailard at 1:17 PM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
A better analogy might be 'a liberal enclave where saying you voted for trump is a little like saying you voted for literal nazis. Oh wait no, it's exactly like that.'
Next they'll say they were born nazis and it isn't a life choice.
posted by Talez at 1:20 PM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Next they'll say they were born nazis and it isn't a life choice.
posted by Talez at 1:20 PM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Then the discussion will be nazi aversion therapy vs in vitro nazi test.
posted by ian1977 at 1:21 PM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 1:21 PM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's "illiterate Nazi", though, at the very least.
posted by Namlit at 1:21 PM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Namlit at 1:21 PM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'd like to know what the WH is doing to defend America from the Witch-King of Angmar, could someone ask Purmt at the next press conference?
posted by um at 1:30 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by um at 1:30 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
To paraphrase Atwood: they're afraid that we'll call them names, we're afraid that they'll murder us.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:08 PM on February 19 [+] [!]
N.C. conservative activists accused of threatening to kill Muslims[...]
posted by futz at 1:08 PM on February 19 [+] [!]
That is an amazing sequence of posts which completely proves the point.
posted by honestcoyote at 1:31 PM on February 19, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:08 PM on February 19 [+] [!]
N.C. conservative activists accused of threatening to kill Muslims[...]
posted by futz at 1:08 PM on February 19 [+] [!]
That is an amazing sequence of posts which completely proves the point.
posted by honestcoyote at 1:31 PM on February 19, 2017 [15 favorites]
Maybe us straight white males should attend more of these meetings to out these chickenshit loud and proud behind closed doors conservatives.
posted by Talez at 1:37 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Talez at 1:37 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Meanwhile in Sweden hoards of them are streaming over the border.
posted by homunculus at 1:39 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 1:39 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
NBC's Ari Melber, showing his work with regard to asking Stephen Miller to defend his voter fraud claims:
Stephen Miller last Sun:posted by zachlipton at 1:39 PM on February 19, 2017 [41 favorites]
"I'm prepared to go on any show, anywhere, anytime" re fraud
WH now: "Stephen is not available"
I think this Vox article on why it is a really bad idea for us to grant Putin his wish and pull away from NATO is worth reading. I feel like it explains some things I've been trying to figure out about our foreign policy for a long time...
Trump says American allies should spend more on defense. Here's why he's wrong.
posted by OnceUponATime at 1:41 PM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
Trump says American allies should spend more on defense. Here's why he's wrong.
posted by OnceUponATime at 1:41 PM on February 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
That Bill Maher quote that got him fired is substantially the same point as Trump's “There are a lot of killers. We have a lot of killers,” Trump said. “Well, you think our country is so innocent?”
posted by OnceUponATime at 1:50 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by OnceUponATime at 1:50 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
You know, I'm more weirded out than I like to admit about Bono praising Pence. I guess because back in my twenties I used to jog around Manhattan listening to their pre-Joshua Tree stuff and now the spreading shitstain has poisoned those memories? Didn't Bono hang out with Bill Clinton at one point? Does Bono not know that Pence is not a friend to the HIV+ advocacy community? Is Bono a secret Brexit supporter? I'm not saying Bono's music is any good any more or sunshine comes out of his dick or anything, but I thought he was sort of reliably on the right side of history.
posted by angrycat at 1:53 PM on February 19, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 1:53 PM on February 19, 2017 [15 favorites]
Donald Trump is right, there was a recent attack in Sweden. By neo-Nazis on a refugee centre. US President could have been referring to largely underreported 'politically motivated' incident in Gothenburg (autoplays video.)
posted by homunculus at 1:54 PM on February 19, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 1:54 PM on February 19, 2017 [16 favorites]
The NYT isn't perfect, but dismissing them is falling into the trap of perfectionism. It's the divisiveness that the Right is aiming for. Better to call them out and hold them accountable. That was a really shitty opinion piece. But they are doing more good than bad.
President Trump, White House Apprentice
posted by bongo_x at 1:54 PM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
President Trump, White House Apprentice
posted by bongo_x at 1:54 PM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
What's interesting about the Maher quote is what dinesh d'souza said right after he said it: "you're right"
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 1:54 PM on February 19, 2017
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 1:54 PM on February 19, 2017
Angrycat, it certainly felt like U2 had more conciousness and conscience a while back. Not just before Joshua Tree. There's a lot of that on Rattle and Hum, even though the grandiosity had started to show through. Oh well.
posted by snuffleupagus at 1:59 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by snuffleupagus at 1:59 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh this is fun to watch:
posted by Talez at 2:00 PM on February 19, 2017 [29 favorites]
Peter Wehner @Peter_WehnerFor those who don't realize who these people are: Peter Wehner is a Reagan/Bush I/Bush II staffer turned NYT columnist. Matt Schlapp is chair of the American Conservative Union, the organization hosting CPAP, and the schmuck giving Milo a free soap box. Tom Nichols an old school Nixon cold warrior turned policy professor and is as close as you get to a real #NeverTrumper after corb.
More evidence of the moral decay of conservatism: Milo Yiannopoulos speaking at CPAC. Read this by @jaynordlinger
Matt Schlapp @mschlapp
Pete look around decay is not from the movement but from society and if we don't all wake up and fight there will no one left to preach to
Peter Wehner @Peter_Wehner
He's a malicious figure, Matt, who among other things wants to destroy conservatism, and you're helping his cause.
The problem @mschlapp is figures like Milo are accelerating decay in society and you're helping to validate him.
Tom Nichols @RadioFreeTom
"Conservative" decries moral decay to defend giving Milo a stage. No, really. This actually happened.
posted by Talez at 2:00 PM on February 19, 2017 [29 favorites]
can we stop talking about Milo?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:02 PM on February 19, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:02 PM on February 19, 2017 [16 favorites]
Oh I don't give a shit about Milo, I'm more amused at watching principled conservatives actually calling out power hungry nitwits for what they are.
posted by Talez at 2:04 PM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Talez at 2:04 PM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
Donald has defended his statement about Sweden. :/
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:09 PM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:09 PM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
Fucking moron.
posted by Artw at 2:11 PM on February 19, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by Artw at 2:11 PM on February 19, 2017 [15 favorites]
The more I think about it, this Russia deal thing just stinks worse and worse. Michael Cohen is a lawyer who represents the Trump Organization. So who was he working for when he helped broker this proposal and brought it to Flynn? Was he working for the Trump Organization, at which point you have the President's private business lobbying the President's National Security Advisor? Was he working for Trump personally? Was he working for someone else, and does that pose a conflict of interest because he also represents Trump? It's hard to see how this isn't ugly from pretty much every angle you look at it.
And then of course there's the obvious question: what did the President know and when did he know it?
posted by zachlipton at 2:11 PM on February 19, 2017 [23 favorites]
And then of course there's the obvious question: what did the President know and when did he know it?
posted by zachlipton at 2:11 PM on February 19, 2017 [23 favorites]
Josh Marshall comments on that NYT 'Back-Channel Plan' article: A Big Shoe Just Dropped
posted by sporkwort at 2:13 PM on February 19, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by sporkwort at 2:13 PM on February 19, 2017 [23 favorites]
Donald has defended his statement about Sweden. :/
Spoiler alert: It basically says "I didn't mean a terrorist attack when I put it in a list of places affected by terrorist attacks. It was about a story on Fox News!"
posted by Talez at 2:14 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Spoiler alert: It basically says "I didn't mean a terrorist attack when I put it in a list of places affected by terrorist attacks. It was about a story on Fox News!"
posted by Talez at 2:14 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Ouhhh. Trump knows something about Sweden that the Swedish people don't know! The plot thickens.
posted by Namlit at 2:17 PM on February 19, 2017
posted by Namlit at 2:17 PM on February 19, 2017
Is Bono a secret Brexit supporter?
Bono is Irish.
posted by srboisvert at 2:29 PM on February 19, 2017
Bono is Irish.
posted by srboisvert at 2:29 PM on February 19, 2017
Michael "Sez Who" Cohen is on Twitter reading and responding to Louise Mensch's conspiracy-theorist tweets about whether he did or didn't go to Prague. (Mensch, who is now crazily claiming the emails discovered on Anthony Weiner's laptop were planted there by Russian spies coordinating with the NY FBI office and Rudy Giuliani!) I really…how dumb can this guy be? How dumb is this entire administration? Creating a public written record of all their crap on a social media platform when they're under multiple federal investigations?! If we survive this and somehow expel these people from our government I'm going to be insulted by how stupidly they went about this.
posted by sallybrown at 2:32 PM on February 19, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 2:32 PM on February 19, 2017 [12 favorites]
That Bill Maher quote that got him fired is substantially the same point as Trump's “There are a lot of killers. We have a lot of killers,” Trump said. “Well, you think our country is so innocent?”
Except for all the ways those quotes are different. Maher was pointing out that the hijackers had the courage of their convictions; they were not just willing to send men out at the risk of dying, but to die themselves to strike a blow for their cause. Whereas we send our guys to sit in an air conditioned room in Colorado and blow up weddings and commit other war crimes with no risk at all either personally for the remote-control pilots or of their commanders having to inform the survivors of their sacrifice.
Also, Maher wasn't the President and therefore nominally the person putting those guys in the air conditioned rooms and authorizing them to push the button.
posted by Bringer Tom at 2:32 PM on February 19, 2017 [10 favorites]
Except for all the ways those quotes are different. Maher was pointing out that the hijackers had the courage of their convictions; they were not just willing to send men out at the risk of dying, but to die themselves to strike a blow for their cause. Whereas we send our guys to sit in an air conditioned room in Colorado and blow up weddings and commit other war crimes with no risk at all either personally for the remote-control pilots or of their commanders having to inform the survivors of their sacrifice.
Also, Maher wasn't the President and therefore nominally the person putting those guys in the air conditioned rooms and authorizing them to push the button.
posted by Bringer Tom at 2:32 PM on February 19, 2017 [10 favorites]
The Trump Administration’s Lies About Voter Fraud Will Lead to Massive Voter Suppression: Twenty-one states are now considering new laws to make it harder to vote.
Voter fraud paranoia vs. voting rights protection: Sherrilyn Ifill of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and Ari Berman of The Nation, join Joy Reid to discuss the rising tide of bills that will make it more difficult to vote, as Donald Trump’s camp continues to promote unproven rumors of rampant voter fraud.
posted by homunculus at 2:33 PM on February 19, 2017 [22 favorites]
Voter fraud paranoia vs. voting rights protection: Sherrilyn Ifill of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and Ari Berman of The Nation, join Joy Reid to discuss the rising tide of bills that will make it more difficult to vote, as Donald Trump’s camp continues to promote unproven rumors of rampant voter fraud.
posted by homunculus at 2:33 PM on February 19, 2017 [22 favorites]
the executive branch has document retention regulations that would make your average IT admin break down sobbing. you can't flush a piece of toilet paper without double-checking. it would be very, very easy for an administration that systematically destroyed documents to be in violation.
and the punishment for that violation is nothing.
The Dubya Whitehouse deleted thousands of emails.
Beep. Boop. Gone.
posted by srboisvert at 2:34 PM on February 19, 2017 [16 favorites]
and the punishment for that violation is nothing.
The Dubya Whitehouse deleted thousands of emails.
Beep. Boop. Gone.
posted by srboisvert at 2:34 PM on February 19, 2017 [16 favorites]
Does Bono not know that Pence is not a friend to the HIV+ advocacy community?
I strongly suspect that he had no idea just how aweful Pence has been on this issue (and others). I also strongly suspect that he's heard about it now.
posted by Surely This at 2:34 PM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
I strongly suspect that he had no idea just how aweful Pence has been on this issue (and others). I also strongly suspect that he's heard about it now.
posted by Surely This at 2:34 PM on February 19, 2017 [7 favorites]
It's 60 today in New England so I took one son for a hike and bought some food and stopped by Gillette Stadium to bend a knee and went home to make chili and then went on two walks with the boys and then showed one of them how to use a camp stove and now the pizza stone is heating for dinner and...WTF did you people do?! 1200 new comments?! I can't catch up to that!!
posted by wenestvedt at 2:36 PM on February 19, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 2:36 PM on February 19, 2017 [15 favorites]
The American Experiment in Exile
The historic oddity of this situation points to a common dynamic Americans now face at home and abroad. Our partners in the international order we created - some of whom we conquered to make it possible - are now seeking to defend it from us. Let's say that again, Defend it from us.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:36 PM on February 19, 2017 [13 favorites]
The historic oddity of this situation points to a common dynamic Americans now face at home and abroad. Our partners in the international order we created - some of whom we conquered to make it possible - are now seeking to defend it from us. Let's say that again, Defend it from us.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:36 PM on February 19, 2017 [13 favorites]
I strongly suspect that he had no idea just how aweful Pence has been on this issue (and others). I also strongly suspect that he's heard about it now.
I strongly suspect bees
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:36 PM on February 19, 2017 [13 favorites]
I strongly suspect bees
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:36 PM on February 19, 2017 [13 favorites]
Mensch, who is now crazily claiming the emails discovered on Anthony Weiner's laptop were planted there by Russian spies coordinating with the NY FBI office and Rudy Giuliani!
I hope this means people will stop pointing to Mensch as someone to whom we should listen. She is unhinged.
posted by Justinian at 2:37 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
I hope this means people will stop pointing to Mensch as someone to whom we should listen. She is unhinged.
posted by Justinian at 2:37 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Scrutiny on Sater really feels like A Big Deal in all of this. There have been a number of stories written about the shady figures like Sater around Trump and it always comes down to Trump going "I barely know the guy" despite evidence to the contrary, denials that wouldn't hold up under the slightest bit of investigation by the FBI. Lines between Russian mob and intelligence figures and oligarchs are blurry at best and Trump's been swimming in those waters for years, this could be the start of not only uncovering the truth behind allegations that Trump's been cultivated for years now but it also feels like it could play out similar to the FIFA corruption stuff and implicate figures internationally, like Le Pen, Farage, etc. I'm not ready to get my hopes up yet but this is starting to feel like stories we've all seen play out before, a trail of money and corruption. It also makes me look a little more closely at those rumors floating around about corruption in the NYC FBI office, lot of dirty Russian money floating around in the vicinity and something is behind the Comey/NYC FBI power struggles.
posted by jason_steakums at 2:42 PM on February 19, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 2:42 PM on February 19, 2017 [16 favorites]
Well, she's now got MSNBC's Joy Reid retweeting her theories about Sez Who Cohen flying around on Russian planes, so I suspect things will only get Menschier from here on out.
posted by sallybrown at 2:43 PM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 2:43 PM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Lines between Russian mob and intelligence figures and oligarchs are blurry at best and Trump's been swimming in those waters for years, this could be the start of not only uncovering the truth behind allegations that Trump's been cultivated for years now but it also feels like it could play out similar to the FIFA corruption stuff and implicate figures internationally, like Le Pen, Farage, etc.
This January NYT article on the Russian connection investigations notes that the Treasury's financial crimes unit is involved. That unit's major focus is money laundering.
posted by sallybrown at 2:47 PM on February 19, 2017 [14 favorites]
This January NYT article on the Russian connection investigations notes that the Treasury's financial crimes unit is involved. That unit's major focus is money laundering.
posted by sallybrown at 2:47 PM on February 19, 2017 [14 favorites]
Has this stupid NYT opinion piece been posted here yet? Because it's making my blood boil.
Are liberals helping trump?
Liberal girls are mean for not dating guys who support an admitted sexual molester. It's their fault we're becoming Nazis.
posted by chris24 at 2:48 PM on February 19, 2017 [29 favorites]
Are liberals helping trump?
Liberal girls are mean for not dating guys who support an admitted sexual molester. It's their fault we're becoming Nazis.
posted by chris24 at 2:48 PM on February 19, 2017 [29 favorites]
It also makes me look a little more closely at those rumors floating around about corruption in the NYC FBI office, lot of dirty Russian money floating around in the vicinity and something is behind the Comey/NYC FBI power struggles.
Exactly my thoughts. Man, this is bad
posted by mumimor at 2:48 PM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
Exactly my thoughts. Man, this is bad
posted by mumimor at 2:48 PM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
If they've got Sater tied to Cohen, that's like whoa hold the phone we got the serious dirt, isn't it?
I mean, what the FBI/GOP will do with it, I don't know, but if we had let's say a fucking rational gov't, this would be huge, the Sater/Cohen tie, right?
posted by angrycat at 2:48 PM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
I mean, what the FBI/GOP will do with it, I don't know, but if we had let's say a fucking rational gov't, this would be huge, the Sater/Cohen tie, right?
posted by angrycat at 2:48 PM on February 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
I can't see Mensch's angle if she's trying to push disinformation, nobody involved with the investigation would just take her theories as evidence, but she's spotlighted enough things that really do need a closer look. I figure that on some things she's really overthinking it and making wild leaps - Weiner probably did get legit caught being a scumbag, I'm not sure how a hacker takes his Formspring password and turns that into some sleeping virus, and the FBI wouldn't need a complicated hacking and evidence planting process to do the perfectly timed ratfucking thing. But those flight logs are very interesting.
posted by jason_steakums at 2:53 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by jason_steakums at 2:53 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Oroville Dam is in trouble. Some live cams are aimed at it now.
posted by ocschwar at 2:54 PM on February 19, 2017
posted by ocschwar at 2:54 PM on February 19, 2017
If the Oroville situation is busying up again, reminder of this thread for it, so head over there with news etc.
posted by cortex at 2:55 PM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by cortex at 2:55 PM on February 19, 2017 [4 favorites]
The Dubya Whitehouse deleted thousands of emails.
this is old, but i think it's important to get the scale right: 22 million emails deleted by bush2 repub whitehouse. as soon as they heard a subpoena was on it's way.
posted by j_curiouser at 2:56 PM on February 19, 2017 [27 favorites]
this is old, but i think it's important to get the scale right: 22 million emails deleted by bush2 repub whitehouse. as soon as they heard a subpoena was on it's way.
posted by j_curiouser at 2:56 PM on February 19, 2017 [27 favorites]
If nothing else, Louise Mensch's detective work has uncovered Michael Cohen comparing himself to a young Andy Garcia…I need all the laughs I can get right now.
posted by sallybrown at 2:58 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by sallybrown at 2:58 PM on February 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
I made a new thread because my phone is starting to shit itself loading this one.
posted by Talez at 3:00 PM on February 19, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Talez at 3:00 PM on February 19, 2017 [12 favorites]
Does Anyone Know What Happened to Those 22 Million Emails From the Bush White House?
posted by homunculus at 3:01 PM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 3:01 PM on February 19, 2017 [2 favorites]
I can't see Mensch's angle if she's trying to push disinformation
Well, actually, after I post that, I can see one angle - get the press to bite on these allegations and pursue them loudly and fanatically, only for it to come out that Trump is found clean as a whistle on Russia by the investigations, as a massive rope-a-dope by the administration, Congress, her News Corp bosses and the entire intelligence community to pin an enormous "FAKE NEWS" scandal on the media leading to state crackdowns on journalism. But as much as that idea scares the shit out of me I highly doubt it, there are too many players involved and basically all the leaking and incompetence we've seen on literally every issue with this administration would have to be for show, and I just don't buy it.
posted by jason_steakums at 3:01 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Well, actually, after I post that, I can see one angle - get the press to bite on these allegations and pursue them loudly and fanatically, only for it to come out that Trump is found clean as a whistle on Russia by the investigations, as a massive rope-a-dope by the administration, Congress, her News Corp bosses and the entire intelligence community to pin an enormous "FAKE NEWS" scandal on the media leading to state crackdowns on journalism. But as much as that idea scares the shit out of me I highly doubt it, there are too many players involved and basically all the leaking and incompetence we've seen on literally every issue with this administration would have to be for show, and I just don't buy it.
posted by jason_steakums at 3:01 PM on February 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
One thing that gets me about the Sweden business is that it's a continuation of the structural incoherence the administration continues to show. If, say, George W. Bush had been watching Fox News and seen something about Sweden he might want to talk about, he would give Colin Powell or Condi Rice a call, say, "hey, there's someting I'd like more info about in Sweden," and they would make it happen because that's kind of what a State Department does. But the administration is empty of key sub-cabinet positions and both of the careerists still working at the State Department are overworked, and it doesn't occur to Trump to get someone to run research for him anyways.
And this is no way to run a country. The executive should be serving as an enormous funnel pulling in information and directing the important bits upwards. This administration seems not to have any sort of informational apparatus at all.
But I suppose we should be grateful they're so very inept.
posted by jackbishop at 3:03 PM on February 19, 2017 [20 favorites]
And this is no way to run a country. The executive should be serving as an enormous funnel pulling in information and directing the important bits upwards. This administration seems not to have any sort of informational apparatus at all.
But I suppose we should be grateful they're so very inept.
posted by jackbishop at 3:03 PM on February 19, 2017 [20 favorites]
If they've got Sater tied to Cohen, that's like whoa hold the phone we got the serious dirt, isn't it?
This is what today's NYT report established:
- Sater is tied to Cohen, but also to Trump himself, to an extent Trump has repeatedly denied. So, not only is Sater tied to Trump, but Trump has been lying about it.
- A Russian official was at the RNC, where he met with unknown people. Remember, Trump's team is the reason for the RNC platform change on Ukraine.
- Putin's goal seems to be to push for a "deal" in which the US drops sanctions on Russia and Russia agrees to enter into a "peace" with Ukraine, in which Russia gets to keep Crimea. As the article notes, Ukraine's current government will not agree to this plan, because it's not so much a peace deal as it is Ukraine ceding Crimea to Russia for the foreseeable future. To get Ukraine in a more agreeable mood, Putin's people in Ukraine are going to "expose" "corruption" in the current Ukrainian government. This deal is essentially Russia getting everything it wants, Ukraine shooting itself in the foot, and the US going along because ??? why?
- Trump's personal lawyer, his former National Security Advisor, and unknown other people are aware of this plan and have been coordinating with various Russian and Ukrainian figures involved.
What we're still missing is proven collusion between Russia and the US related to the election hack, while it was going on. (Multiple articles based on anonymous sources have said contacts between Trump's team and Russia during the election DO exist.) We know what the Trump team wants to do to help Russia…we just don't know why Trump is in such a helpful mood (money? election hacking? both?).
posted by sallybrown at 3:07 PM on February 19, 2017 [30 favorites]
This is what today's NYT report established:
- Sater is tied to Cohen, but also to Trump himself, to an extent Trump has repeatedly denied. So, not only is Sater tied to Trump, but Trump has been lying about it.
- A Russian official was at the RNC, where he met with unknown people. Remember, Trump's team is the reason for the RNC platform change on Ukraine.
- Putin's goal seems to be to push for a "deal" in which the US drops sanctions on Russia and Russia agrees to enter into a "peace" with Ukraine, in which Russia gets to keep Crimea. As the article notes, Ukraine's current government will not agree to this plan, because it's not so much a peace deal as it is Ukraine ceding Crimea to Russia for the foreseeable future. To get Ukraine in a more agreeable mood, Putin's people in Ukraine are going to "expose" "corruption" in the current Ukrainian government. This deal is essentially Russia getting everything it wants, Ukraine shooting itself in the foot, and the US going along because ??? why?
- Trump's personal lawyer, his former National Security Advisor, and unknown other people are aware of this plan and have been coordinating with various Russian and Ukrainian figures involved.
What we're still missing is proven collusion between Russia and the US related to the election hack, while it was going on. (Multiple articles based on anonymous sources have said contacts between Trump's team and Russia during the election DO exist.) We know what the Trump team wants to do to help Russia…we just don't know why Trump is in such a helpful mood (money? election hacking? both?).
posted by sallybrown at 3:07 PM on February 19, 2017 [30 favorites]
If you want to do it right, you need to make premiums universal and cheap and that means higher taxes.
Sure. If one thinks "insurance" is needed in 'healthcare'. In my world, heathcare comes from doctors and other medical-people. "Insurance" is just an additional layer who looks to pick my pocket.
posted by rough ashlar at 10:57 AM on February 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Sure. If one thinks "insurance" is needed in 'healthcare'. In my world, heathcare comes from doctors and other medical-people. "Insurance" is just an additional layer who looks to pick my pocket.
posted by rough ashlar at 10:57 AM on February 20, 2017 [7 favorites]
Way late in a dead thread but I must note what rough ashlar said. My father was an Underwriter of Liability Insurance for 30 years and he said Health Insurance was the black sheep of the business. Then I went to work for a while in the accounting department of a Life Insurance company (while Hillary was failing to reform anything in '93-'94) and everyone there agreed. It's not well-known but every Insurance Company without a Health division (and some that do) would cheer loudly if the whole business disappeared tomorrow.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:48 PM on February 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:48 PM on February 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
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posted by tobascodagama at 1:03 PM on February 16, 2017 [43 favorites]